Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 The United States and the European Union are working to protect energy supplies to Europe "against shocks stemming from the Ukraine crisis," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. His remarks came during a briefing with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borell. "We're coordinating with our allies and partners, with the energy sector stakeholders, including on how best to share energy reserves in the event that Russia turns off the spigot or initiates a conflict that disrupts the flow of gas through Ukraine," Blinken said. He promised "real and profound consequences if Russia decides to continue its aggression." We developed a high-impact, quick-action response that would inflict massive costs on the Russian economy and financial system including sanctions and significant export control, Blinken said, adding that the EU is preparing complementary actions. Those efforts include surge energy supplies and sharing energy reserves, he said. We and our allies and partners are united across the board, Blinken said. When Russia halted gas supplies over a dispute with Ukraine in 2009, people died from the cold. And when energy supplies fail, economies falter, he said. Were determined to prevent that from happening and to mitigate the impact on energy supplies and prices should Russia choose to cut natural gas supplies to Europe more than it already has. Borrell said the US and EU partners have been in speed-dial mode, coordinating a response to the threats posed by Russia in Ukraine. He stressed that the goal was to become carbon-neutral while addressing short-term security risks in the context of the Russia and Crimea crisis. Russia doesnt hesitate to use the significant energy supplies to Europe as leverage for geopolitical gains, he said. And when gas prices in the European Union from 6 to 10x higher than they were one year ago...this has a major impact on consumers and the economy. Borrell said its important for nations to diversify the sources of energy, and to do so by transitioning from fossil fuels to renewables. It is the best way of facing the challenge of climate change. We believe that the diplomatic way out of the crisis is still possible and this is our clear and first priory and thats what we are investing all our efforts. But at the same time we remain firm in our resolve that further aggression against Ukraine would have...major consequences. We hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Should Russia continue on a path of aggression, European Union and United States actions will be closely aligned, including on sanctions, he assured. NEWS.am digest: Turkey says they have agreements with Armenia on border clarification PACE initiates resolution on threats to journalists and human rights defenders in Azerbaijan Diplomat kidnapped in Haiti Hungarian president asks Orban to form new government Georgia PM hands over first part of questionnaire answers for accession to EU Resistance Movement participants march in central Yerevan Half of Japanese oppose change of peaceful constitution Resistance movement rally on France Square in Yerevan Blinken and Armenia FM sign memorandum on strategic cooperation in nuclear energy Another earthquake registered on Armenian-Georgian border FLYONE ARMENIA launches regular direct flights between Yerevan and Tbilisi Georgia abolishes requirement to wear masks in closed spaces One dollar drops below AMD 450, euro also falls in Armenia Georgia PM receives Justice Minister of Armenia Armenia MFA says there is no discussion, agreement on re-demarcating border with Turkey Cavusoglu claims there is agreement to clarify Armenia-Turkey border Azerbaijan president receives Brice Roquefeuil Armenia ex-defense minister: These authorities are able to use force inside the country Police: 244 people apprehended in Yerevan as of 2pm Incident involving disobedience march participants occurs at Armenian State Pedagogical University Yerevan Police apprehend opposition MP Police: 199 people apprehended in Yerevan as of noon Armenia defense ministry refutes Azerbaijan MOD statement Resistance Movement coordinator says they will assemble at France Square in downtown Yerevan at 6pm Armenia parliament opposition faction leader: More than 200 people apprehended The Azeri Times: Azerbaijan closes airspace for Russia military aircraft to disrupt transportation to Armenia Bill Gates warns of more fertile' COVID-19 variant Police: 3 dozen intersections in Yerevan were closed off by citizens since morning Armenia PM congratulates several Arab countries leaders on Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr 3 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Journalist falls ill during scuffle at civil disobedience action in Yerevan Armenia ex-ruling party official: I assess these actions of disobedience very positively Armenia FM to head for US, will meet with Blinken Armenia Police: 189 people apprehended so far in Yerevan UN announces blocking of millions of tons of grain in Ukraine ports Small plane crashes in Canada, 4 dead 125 people taken to Yerevan police stations Erdogan says will hold talks with Putin this week Quake hits Armenia-Georgia border zone One person falls ill during oppositions peaceful disobedience action in downtown Yerevan Resistance Movement coordinator says 14 streets currently blocked by citizens in Yerevan Peaceful civil disobedience actions kick off in Yerevan early morning Hungary says 10 European countries opened bank accounts in Russia to pay for natural gas in rubles Finland to build fences along Russia border Armenia ex-President Serzh Sargsyan: For 10 years international community said Artsakh should self-determine Putin signs decree on measures to ensure Russia information security 3rd President Serzh Sargsyan is at Yerevans France Square Opposition continues to keep France Square in downtown Yerevan closed Europe asks Russia natural gas giant to increase supplies Clashes break out between police and anarchists in Paris The Jerusalem Post: Time for Israel to not fear Turkey and to recognize Armenian Genocide Armenia opposition lawmaker: People are constantly approaching ex-president Kocharyan (VIDEO) Putin bans foreign investors from organizing regular transfers on public-private, city-private partnership basis Ex-defense minister: Prior to 44-day war it was possible to negotiate in such way that Armenia will not be at war Police dispatching additional forces to Yerevans France Square Opposition to set up tents at France Square in downtown Yerevan (PHOTOS) Armenia opposition MP: How did US, France, Russia talk about Karabakh status after war? Resistance Movement coordinator: Armenian people told whole world that they are masters of their destiny, future Huge opposition rally kicks off in downtown Yerevan Armenia former ruling party official says ex-President Serzh Sargsyan will attend today's opposition rally Russia to impose $101M fine on Google Resistance Movement marches reach French Square in Yerevan Turkey police beat, detain dozens in May Day demonstrations Armenia international airports passenger traffic doubles in first quarter of 2022 Nancy Pelosi visits Kyiv, meets with Zelenskyy Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan defense ministry disseminating disinformation Armenia ex-President Kocharyan joins opposition march to Yerevan US Embassy in Armenia: Large crowds are unpredictable Germany supports EU plans to give up Russian oil Russia MOD announces airstrike on Odessa military airport Italy cancels Covid certificates Resistance Movement marches reaching Yerevan Artsakh President receives Armenian Relief Society delegation 4 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Blinken, Kuleba discuss return of American diplomats to Ukraine Armenia PM: Thanks to joint efforts and work we were able to overcome these crisis situations Person commits suicide by hanging self in Armenias Artik US, UK hold talks to reduce risk of war with China over Taiwan 1 dead, several injured in US festival shooting Drought causes megafire in US New Mexico Biden resumes White House Correspondents' Dinner tradition, Kim Kardashian among celebrity guest Turkey expresses readiness to support UN efforts on Ukraine Survey: Erdogan's rating falls again after slight improvement China launches new remote sensing satellites Clashes between police and protesters against anti-coronavirus measures in Ottawa Denmark sends Piranha 3 APCs and heavy mortars to Ukraine Macron promises Zelenskyy to increase military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine Egyptian tricycle carrying 13 children sinks in Nile Delta killing at least 8 children Iraqi PM: Tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia are coming to an end Russian MFA: Dialogue with US on strategic stability is frozen Indian authorities seize 90 kg of heroin-soaked yarn worth $58 million at port Germany sues Italy to the International Court of Justice Parents of fallen soldiers protests at Armenian Prosecutor General's Office building Politico: Germany supported sanctions on uranium imports from Russia Pentagon says American soldiers in Germany began training Ukrainian soldiers Armenia confirms 2 COVID-19 new cases Ecuador declares state of emergency due to rise in crime Armenian and Georgian FMs visit Genocide memorial Armenia opposition: Tomorrow we'll start decisive stage of our struggle with nationwide rally Armenian MFA reacts to Aliyev's statements that Syunik is historical territory of Azerbaijan Emory historian Carol Anderson, whose research and award-winning books address the ways racial inequality affects the creation and unraveling of U.S. policy, has been selected for the Joseph B. and Toby Gittler Prize. Brandeis University announced Andersons selection this week. The award honors those who have made outstanding and lasting scholarly contributions to racial, ethnic and religious relationships. It comes with a $25,000 prize and medal that Brandeis will present to Anderson during a public lecture at the university in October. Carol Andersons insights into the problems of racial inequality are uniquely powerful because of the vision and rigor that she brings as a historian, says Emory College Dean Michael A. Elliott. I am thrilled to see her recognized in this way, and for new audiences to have the opportunity to listen to her. The Charles Howard Candler Professor of African American Studies, Andersons public scholarship entered national conversations with her Washington Post analysis of white pushback against Black progress as a way to understand the Ferguson riots in 2014. She has since become a leading scholar whose work attempts to reshape current debate through a more thorough understanding of history. Anderson won the 2016 National Book Critics Circle Award for White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide, the groundbreaking book that expanded on her editorial examining white Americans efforts to marginalize and oppress African Americans since the Civil War. In 2018, she published something of a sequel to that book with One Person, No Vote: How Voter Suppression Is Destroying Our Democracy, which outlines the history of voter suppression to the current era. Her most recent book, The Second: Race and Guns in a Fatally Unequal America, takes aim at the anti-Black origins of the Second Amendment and the consequences to Black lives. It was named a New York Times Editors pick and Best Social Science Book of 2021 by Library Journal. Anderson has been elected into the Society of American Historians and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She also was named the 2021 W.E.B. Du Bois Fellow of the American Academy of Political and Social Sciences and a 2018 Guggenheim Fellow. Hopefuls to begin Philippines poll campaign Ferdinand Marcos Jr waves to supporters after filing his presidential candidacy paper. File photo: AFP Campaigning for the Philippines' general election gets underway officially on Tuesday, with Covid-19 curtailing the traditional fanfare and big rallies and turning the focus to social media as the key battleground for the May 9 contest. As with the 2016 polls that catapulted Rodrigo Duterte to the presidency, social media will be crucial in the three-month election buildup, while platforms will be under pressure to combat the rampant misinformation that has intensified in the Philippines in recent years, driving hate campaigns and deepening social divisions. The pandemic has upended campaigning for thousands of positions, from the president down to city council posts, with candidates shifting activities online to reach a population that ranks as one of the world's biggest social media consumers. Marie Fatima Gaw, communications research professor at the University of the Philippines, said social media was crucial democratic space but had become "hyper partisan", with hidden political content everywhere and insufficient blocking of inauthentic material. "The significance of social media now has been exponential," she added. It has been a vital tool in particular for Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the son and namesake of the former dictator of the 1970s and 1980s. Marcos is clear favourite for the presidency and is drawing support from a massive social media campaign, one that critics say is attempting to rewrite the family's controversial history. The limits on big rallies comes with the Philippines lagging behind with its Covid-19 vaccinations outside of urban centres, with half of the 110 million population inoculated so far, and campaigning under way just weeks after a run of record daily infections. Roughly 67.5 million Filipinos are eligible to vote, including 1.7 million overseas, in an election for a president, vice president, about 300 lawmakers and roughly 18,000 local government positions. (Reuters) Executive appointments to strengthen financial and legal leadership during the transformation of the company ST. GALLEN, Switzerland -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Regulatory News: AD HOC ANNOUNCEMENT PURSUANT TO ART. 53 LR Vifor Pharma Group today announced the appointment of acting Chief Financial Officer Alexandros Sigalas and Group General Counsel Dr. Oliver P. Kronenberg as members of the Vifor Pharma Executive Committee, effective 1 February 2022. Alexandros Sigalas, a 13-year Executive at Vifor Pharma and currently Global Head of Finance, will become acting Chief Financial Officer and succeeds Colin Bond who retired from the company at the end of 2021 at his own request. The Swiss citizen holds a Licentiate Degree (M.Sc.) in Accounting and Business Management from University of St. Gallen and is a Certified Public Accountant in Switzerland. Dr. Oliver P. Kronenberg, a Swiss citizen, joined Vifor Pharma in 2008. Following his tenure as Group General Counsel of Galenica Group from 2013 until the successful IPO of Galenica Sante in 2017, he resumed his previous role as Group General Counsel of Vifor Pharma. He holds a PhD in law from University of Basel, an LL.M. degree from the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium, and has completed the Finance for Executives program at INSEAD. Abbas Hussain, Chief Executive Officer of Vifor Pharma Group, commented: I am pleased to welcome Alex and Oliver to the Executive Committee. Both are experienced and highly valued leaders of our organization who have a proven track record in their areas of expertise and are dedicated to our mission." About Vifor Pharma Group Vifor Pharma Group is a global pharmaceuticals company. It aims to become the global leader in iron deficiency, nephrology and cardio-renal therapies. The company is a partner of choice for pharmaceuticals and innovative patient-focused solutions. Vifor Pharma Group strives to help patients around the world with severe and chronic diseases lead better, healthier lives. The company develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products for precision patient care. Vifor Pharma Group holds a leading position in all its core business activities and consists of the following companies: Vifor Pharma and Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma (a joint company with Fresenius Medical Care). Vifor Pharma Group is headquartered in Switzerland, and listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange (SIX Swiss Exchange, VIFN, ISIN: CH0364749348). For more information, please visit viforpharma.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220201005982/en/ CONTACT: Media Relations Nathalie Ponnier Global Head Corporate Communications +41 79 957 96 73 media@viforpharma.com Investor Relations Laurent de Weck Investor Relations & Treasury Senior Manager +41 58 851 80 95 investors@viforpharma.com UK-founded technology company secures Series B investment from Permiras growth fund LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GWI, the leading audience insights company, announces it has raised over $180 million in Series B funding, valuing the company at over $850 million. Financing was led by Permiras growth fund. Founded in 2009 by CEO, Tom Smith, GWI has become the leading global market research and audience insights software platform. Receiving $40 million Series A funding from the New York-based growth fund Stripes in 2018, GWI has since tripled recurring revenue, reaching nearly 400 employees globally. GWI delivers global insights at scale, enabling the worlds top brands, agencies, and media organisations to gain deep understandings of their audiences. Clients can analyse harmonised-data sets across geographies through an easy-to-use platform, gaining faster insights and time-to-market. This investment will further advance GWIs software as a service (SaaS) platform, extending coverage and reach and capturing more data points from more consumers worldwide - particularly from underserved markets and segments - and innovating in UX, machine learning, and natural language. GWI will also launch further product offerings, bolstering existing data sets. CEO and Founder, Tom Smith, comments, Companies today need an instantaneous view of their audience everywhere in the world. The traditional approach of market research is not fit for purpose - too slow, incredibly expensive, and lacks the scale and detail needed. Our technology has solved this problem and the result has been incredible growth over the last three years. We cant wait to work with Permira on our five-year goal to put audience insights in the workflow of every professional. GWI joins Carta, FullStory, G2, Klarna and Sysdig, among others, as a Permira portfolio company. Alex Melamud, Principal at Permira, comments, Understanding the digital consumer will continue to be increasingly important to brands, agencies, and media organisations who focus on engaging and acquiring customers through digital channels. Companies competing in todays marketplace need instant audience insights and we believe GWIs modern platform and globally, harmonised data set provides a unique solution to any data storyteller. We look forward to leveraging our global platform to support GWIs continued growth and expansion across international markets. Ron Shah, Partner at Stripes, adds, GWIs exceptional products should be in the hands of every professional who wants to better understand their customers and make smarter, data-driven decisions, and this milestone is a powerful step forward for the company. Since our original investment in 2018, Tom and the GWI team have made great strides in delivering a transformative and superior product and we believe theyre just getting started. Were thrilled to have Permira join us in this journey to make GWIs ambitions a reality. GWI was supported by Jefferies. Permira was advised by Moelis & Company. - ENDS - NOTES TO EDITORS: About GWI GWI is the leading audience insights company. Its SaaS platform and custom data products are trusted by the worlds biggest brands, media organizations, and agencies on a daily basis to gain a deep understanding of their audiences at speed. The companys flagship survey represents 2.7 billion people globally. Through a combination of survey data and analytics, clients can gather in-depth insights into behaviours, attitudes, and interests from rich data sets including GWI Core, GWI Kids, GWI Sports, GWI USA, GWI Gaming, and GWI Work. About Permira Permira is a global investment firm that backs successful businesses with growth ambitions. Founded in 1985, the firm advises funds with assets under management of approximately US$65bn (58bn) and makes long-term majority and minority investments. The Permira funds have made approximately 300 private equity investments in four key sectors: Technology, Consumer, Services and Healthcare. The Permira funds have an extensive track record in tech investing, having invested US$18.7 billion in 67 companies across enterprise SaaS, cybersecurity, digital commerce, fintech and online marketplaces. Permira employs over 350 people in 15 offices across Europe, North America and Asia. Permiras growth strategy is to back disruptive and market leading companies as they scale to the next level. The Permira growth funds have previously backed and helped scale some of the largest and fastest-growing internet and technology businesses globally, including Klarna, Minted, FlixBus, Mirakl, Zwift, Nexthink, Full Truck Alliance, Relativity, G2, FullStory, Carta, mParticle, AllTrails and Sysdig. Permira Growth Opportunities closed its second fund in December 2021 at $4 billion. About Stripes Stripes is a leading growth equity firm that partners with founders who are building amazing products in the software and consumer markets. Stripes software platform invests in leading horizontal and vertical software companies servicing customers from SMB to Enterprise around the world. Stripes strives to serve its partners by delivering valuable resources to create transformative companies. Sonipat (Haryana) [India], February 7 (ANI/OP Jindal University): Jindal Global Law School (JGLS), O.P. Jindal Global Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University (JGU), has expanded its international partnership by signing 10 new Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with top universities in 6 countries. The new international collaborations have been entered into with leading universities from Canada, Italy, Peru, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. As part of its global ambition and out of its commitment to provide its students global learning experience, the University has extended its reach to institutions in Peru and Taiwan, which is in addition to its many collaborations in Canada, Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States. These partnerships have become part of the total 40 collaborations entered into only during the Pandemic. It needs to be noted that JGLS has established international collaborations with over 250 law schools/universities in the world since its founding in 2009. During the COVID-19 pandemic, JGLS has developed many new international opportunities for students to benefit from in the post-pandemic world. As JGLS prepares to welcome students back on campus, new programmes have been added for international mobility for undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students. The list of new partner institutions are as follows: 1. Faculty of Law, University of Calgary, Canada 2. Universita degli Studi Suor Orsola Benincasa, Italy 3. School of Law, Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru, Peru 4. College of Law, National Chengchi University, Taiwan 5. School of Law, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan 6. The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom 7. The University of Nottingham, United Kingdom 8. American University Washington College of Law, American University, United States of America 9. Drexel University, United States of America 10. Seattle University School of Law, Seattle University, United States of America The new MoUs create a range of opportunities for JGLS students. Partnerships with School of Law, Seattle University, and Faculty of Law, University of Calgary, provide an accelerated Juris Doctor (JD) degree programme which brings JGLS students one step closer to practice law in the United States and Canada, respectively. Student exchange programmes with American University Washington College of Law, and College of Law, National Chengchi University (NCCU) in Taiwan offers learning experience in a global setting. JGLS is committed to providing a broad range of international perspective through international mobility to create a truly global learning experience for students. Negotiations continue with new partners in Italy, Peru, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States to develop student and faculty mobility and other unique collaborations like joint clinics, collaborative courses, postgraduate degree programmes for JGLS graduates, advanced degree arrangements for B.A. (Legal Studies) programme, language courses, research and internship opportunities focused on emerging fields like law and technology. Through the difficult months of the Pandemic, JGLS persevered and remained committed towards providing international exposure to its students. A list of curated partners was created who were able to offer long-term and short-term mobility options, keeping in mind the health and safety concerns with respect to the Covid-19 pandemic. Approximately 40 students explored student exchange options and more than 25 students pursued advanced degree programmes at top institutions in Australia, UK, and USA since 2020 through partnership arrangements. JGLS opted to explore unique options with select partners like University of Bristol and City, University of London, to bring global classrooms to student homes by organizing first of its kind collaboratively taught online short courses in niche areas of law like alternate dispute resolution and business and human rights. Additionally, JGLS organized an introductory course on Indian commercial law through its online platform for students from University of Birmingham. More than 100 students from JGLS and partner institutions combined benefitted from the various online programmes and had the opportunity to build a community through virtual platform. All these collaborations have resulted in deeper relationships between the institutions in form of joint research, advanced degree programmes and joint grant applications. As restrictions on travel ease around the world, JGLS is optimistic to raise overall numbers for student mobility. Professor (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, Founding Vice Chancellor, JGU and Founding Dean of Jindal Global Law School, observed that "It is the ambition of the University to fulfil the promise of global education it has made to the students of our nation. Whenever JGU reached out to partner institutions in the world, their affirmative response and commitment to jointly implement the ideas proposed is truly refreshing. This acceptance is a testimony of our hard work and fulfilment of our dream to create a world-class institution in India--a cause for which our nation today stands." Professor (Dr.) Sreejith S.G., Executive Dean, JGLS, observed that "The School has made use of the 'stillness' created by the Pandemic for preparing for the post Pandemic world. Opportunities to recover whatever possibilities of learning have been lost due to the monstrous presence of the Pandemic have been made available to the students when they will return to the University physically". Ambassador Professor (Dr.) Mohan Kumar, Dean, Office of International Affairs and Global Initiatives (IAGI) observed "The Pandemic has in no way negatively impacted the University's function of promoting internationalization; rather it has only shifted to another level of function by adopting through newer strategies and approaches. Kudos to the collective spirit and team-work of all members of JGU." Professor Malvika Seth, Associate Dean (International Collaborations), JGLS, added "In the last two years, students have had a limited access to international programmes because of uncertainties and restrictions owing to the Pandemic. However, our vision since late 2020 has been to prepare for post-Covid era and welcome students with a higher number of partnerships than before. Our partners are excited to have international students back on their campuses as these kind of mobility arrangements bring together students from around the world and create a thriving global dialogue, adding to campus life. With our new collaborations we continue to strengthen our bonds with countries and top institutions around the world." 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) Out of the 6,721 tendered projects, work orders have been issued in 6,124 projects worth Rs 1,62,908 crore while 3,421 projects worth Rs 58,735 crore have been completed. As on 21 January 2022, the Government of India has released Rs 28,413.60 crore for 100 Smart Cities, out of which Rs 23,668.27 crore (83 per cent) has been utilised, Puri said in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha. The Government of India launched Smart Cities Mission (SCM) on 25 June 2015. 100 Smart Cities have been selected through 4 rounds of competition from January 2016 to June 2018. As per SCM Guidelines, Central Government is supposed to provide financial support to the extent of Rs 48,000 crore over five years i.e., on an average Rs 100 crore per city per year. An equal amount on a matching basis is contributed by the State Government/Urban Local Body (ULB), the minister said. "Presently, there is no proposal under consideration of the Government for adding more cities under SCM," Puri said. (ANI) New Delhi [India], February 7 (ANI/PRNewswire): The 8th International IIHM Young Chef Olympiad drew to a close with a glittering Closing Ceremony organised at IIHM Kolkata's Global Campus. Matteo Cignetti of Italy won the coveted gold trophy, a digital certificate, a cheque for USD 5,000 and was crowned Best Young Chef of 2022. The silver went to Chong Jia De of Singapore while Halldor Haflidason of Iceland bagged bronze. After seven eventful days across six continents and 24 time zones, a remarkable edition of the world's Biggest Culinary Battle came to a close. Connecting over 50 countries of the world through state-of-the-art technology and infrastructure, YCO22, was one of the biggest in size and scale with 176 cameras catching all the action of 40 participants, 200 judges, 150 hospitality stalwarts. The Closing Ceremony, on the online platform, was as grand and exciting as the offline event. IIHM Global Campus in Kolkata had turned into YCO Global Studio, that was the nerve centre of all the action that was happening over the seven days of this mega culinary event. The winners, connected over video conferencing at different ends of the world and sitting in different time zones, rejoiced and celebrated their win on video, as their names were announced by Prof David Foskett, Chairman of the Jury, YCO and Padma Shri Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, the Principal Judge of YCO. Besides the top three, YCO 2022 had a long list of special category winners. The Plate Trophy round held with the next best ranked between 11 to 20 in the competition, went to Gayane Simonyan of Armenia. The Kitchen Cut Management Award went to Switzerland. The Best Vegetarian Dish went to England while the Best Creme Caramel Dish went to Bulgaria. Six Mentor Awards were given away based on each of the mentor's recommendations about their respective participants. The awards went to Nigeria, Canada, Italy, Nepal, Spain, and England. The six Best Young Chef Ambassador Awards went to India, Mexico, Switzerland, Iceland, Greece, and Namibia. Participants were also marked on Best Hygiene and Kitchen Practice maintained during competition and this award went to four participants from Greece, Iceland, Iran and Nepal. The Best Knife Skills Award went to four participants from Iran, Italy, Canada and Namibia. Three special awards of The Spirit of YCO 2022 went to Kulsum Hussin, CEO, Welcome Skills International School of Hospitality, Bangladesh, Chef Andreas Mueller, Programme Director (International Cuisine) at VTC, Hong Kong, who was also one of the chief judges at YCO 2022 and Chef Enzo Oliveri, Sicilian Celebrity Chef with Six Italian Restaurants in London and Sicily. Organised by the International Hospitality Council (IHC) and hosted by the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM), YCO 2022 was a larger and more inclusive edition thanks to the technological advancement that broke all barriers. YCO 2022 had a brilliant panel of esteemed judges from around the world. The event was led by Prof David Foskett, Chairman of the Jury and Chief Judge, Chef Andreas Muller, Programme Director (International Cuisine) at VTC, Hong Kong. Michelin-starred chefs Chris Galvin, co-founder Galvin Restaurants and John Wood, the Founder and Director of Kitchen Cut, Chef Gary Maclean, National Chef of Scotland, Chef Stuart Littlejohn, former Executive Chef of Oxford and Cambridge Club, UK, Sicilian Chef Enzo Oliveri, Chef George Smith, Lecturer TU Dublin University, Chef Garth Stroebel, South African chef, Chef Brian Turner, celebrity TV chef and President of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts were senior judges of the competition among several other iconic culinary professionals from around the world. Other renowned chef judges of the competition included Chef Stephen Hogan, Executive Chef, The Corinthian Palace Hotel, Malta, Chef Geoff Acott, MBE, Fund Manager Army Catering Training Trust, England, Sharad Dewan and several other renowned chef judges. YCO 2022 had a very important and significant theme that aims to achieve the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A special award, the Zenobia Nadirshaw Diamond Research Award went to students who had done research on the SDGs and on how to achieve them to make the world a better place to live. Four awards in this category went to Kenya, Bangladesh, India and Italy. YCO 2022 successfully connected the world on a single virtual platform and left everyone awestruck with its scale and organisation by IIHM. From the Opening Ceremony, the cook-offs, the United World of Young Chefs, the symposiums and even the glamorous Closing Ceremony saw seamless connection of participants, mentors and judges from different geographies and time zones together at the same time on the same platform. "YCO 2022 has been exemplary in showing how we can beat a pandemic and the obstacles that it brings with it and we have done it together. This has been an incredible YCO with the support of the countries, mentors, judges and everyone who was involved. It has been tough for everyone including those who have even tested Covid positive during the competition. YCO 2022 has shown the light of hope and positivity to the hospitality industry and I think this is the beginning of good days again. We are absolutely committed to the UN SDGs and we are also proud and grateful to the UNWTO Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili for his support. This YCO was dedicated to the SDGs and it is an honour to be able to be associated with these goals," said Dr Suborno Bose, CEO, International Hospitality Council (IHC) and Founder, YCO. Closing Ceremony and the Awards Night may be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyaQc-PMNRw More updates on the competition can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/user/IIHMhotelschool/videos 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 the Indismart Hotels. IIHM campuses are located across ten 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 Young Chef Olympiad, a unique idea and initiative inviting young culinary talents across the world to participate in the biggest cookery reality shows of all times. 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 and 2019. 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. This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 7 (ANI/PRNewswire): La Tim Metal & Industries (BSE: LATIMMETAL) (Script Code # 505693), a listed company in the steel trade since 1987, dealing with importing and trading of Colour Coated Steel Sheets, launched their new website today. The new website has a fresh new look with a moving banner depicting a wide range of colour hues as the brand specialises in colour coated steel sheets and two new videos showcasing the manufacturing process as well as a 'Man and The Machine' video done to some catchy beats. The company's focus is on establishing a marketing plan for a pan India distribution network of colour coated steel and after experiencing a steady growth in business over the last year, decided to have a fresh look and showcase the wide range of colour coated steel through its new website. The last earnings delivered a robust Q2 and half year 2021 consolidated earnings: Pat up 90%, at Rs 1220.39 Lakhs. "The South of India is a very big market for this product which has higher demand due to the fact most of the main plants like Jindal Steel, Essar Steel, Uttam Steel, Tata Steel etc. are located either in Eastern, Western and Northern India. We cater to that market either by Imported Goods or goods from our factory sent through the coastal route. This has turned out to be an extremely viable and profitable model for us. We continue to see and foresee substantial economic growth in India in the years to come. Steel is a commodity that is directly linked and proportionally connected to the growth of a nation. We are in the constant search and lookout for worthy partners and investors who can help us leverage this market and model and create a dynamic strategy towards exponential growth," said Rahul Timbadia, Managing Director of La Tim Group. Colour coated steel sheets have many advantages, such as light weight, high on strength, variety in colours, corrosion resistance performance and good processing flexibility. These characteristics make it extremely durable and make way for less construction time, easy handling and installation. Many architects and designers are choosing colour coated sheets as it offers a wide choice of colours, can be moulded into unique shapes and also offers matt, gloss and other textures. Visit latimsteel.com to explore the new website. The La Tim Group is also in the business of Real Estate and Hospitality. Its real estate division, La Tim Lifestyle & Resorts, initiated land trading and real estate development from Panvel and its surrounding areas. Currently, La Tim has a land bank more than 1000 acres spread out along the Khopoli Pali Road (State Highway 92), which is approximately 90 kms from Mumbai and 95 kms from Pune. La Tim Hospitality includes the well-known 'Saj Resorts' brand which owns hotels in stunning locations such as Mahabaleshwar and Malshej Ghat, while also developing an upcoming hotel in Pench Tiger Reserve, 95 kms from Nagpur. Additionally, it operates fine dining restaurants in Goa. This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire) Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], February 7 (ANI/NewsVoir): TVS Motor Company reported a highest ever operating revenue of Rs. 5,706 Crores in the third quarter of 2021-22 as against Rs. 5,391 Crores in the third quarter ended December 2020. The Company's Operating EBITDA margin is at 10% during the quarter as against 9.5% during the third quarter ended December 2020. The Company registered highest ever Operating EBITDA of Rs. 568 Crores during this quarter as against Rs. 511 Crores reported in the quarter ended December 2020. Company also registered highest ever PBT of Rs. 391 Crores during the quarter under review as against Rs. 362 Crores reported in the quarter ended December 2020. Profit After Tax (PAT) for the quarter ended December 2021 grew by 9% at Rs. 288 Crores against Rs. 266 Crores reported in the quarter ended December 2020. The Company registered total two-wheeler sales of 8.35 Lakh units in the current quarter as against 9.52 Lakh units in the quarter ended December 2020. Two-wheeler export sales grew by 12% compared to Q3 of the last financial year. Motorcycles registered sales of 4.46 Lakh units as against sales of 4.26 Lakh units and Scooters registered sales of 2.56 Lakh units as against 3.11 Lakh units in the quarter ended December 2020. Total three-wheelers grew by 17% registering sales of 0.44 Lakh units in the quarter ended December 2021 as against sales of 0.38 Lakh units in the quarter ended December 2020. Cumulative nine months results The total two-wheeler sales of the Company including exports is 23.23 Lakh units during the nine months ended December 2021 as against 20.42 Lakh units in the nine months ended December 2020. Total three-wheeler sales grew by 57% to 1.30 Lakh units in the nine months ended December 2021 from 0.83 Lakh units in the nine months ended December 2020. The total export of the Company grew by 68% registering sales of 9.38 Lakh units during the nine months ended December 2021 from 5.57 Lakh units in the nine months ended December 2020. Operating revenue reported for the nine months ended December 2021 is Rs. 15,260 Crores as against Rs. 11,429 Crores reported for the nine months ended December 2020. The Company's Profit Before Tax (PBT) before exceptional items for the nine months ended December 2021 is Rs. 871 Crores as against Rs. 439 Crores during nine months ended December 2020. During the period, the Company incurred Rs. 30 Crores towards COVID-19 related expenses and the same is shown as exceptional item. Profit After Tax (PAT) for the nine months ended December 2021 is Rs. 619 Crores against Rs. 323 Crores reported for the nine months ended December 2020. TVS Motor Company is a reputed two and three-wheeler manufacturer globally, championing progress through Mobility with a focus on sustainability. Rooted in our 100-year legacy of Trust, Value, and Passion for Customers and Exactness, we take pride in making internationally aspirational products of the highest quality through innovative and sustainable processes. We are the only two-wheeler company to have received the prestigious Deming Prize. Our products lead in their respective categories in the J.D. Power IQS and APEAL surveys for five years. We have been ranked No. 1 Company in the J.D. Power Customer Service Satisfaction Survey for consecutive four years. Our group company Norton Motorcycles, based in the United Kingdom, is one of the most emotive motorcycle brands in the world. Our subsidiaries in the personal e-mobility space, Swiss E-Mobility Group (SEMG) and EGO Movement have a leading position in the e-bike market in Switzerland. TVS Motor Company endeavours to deliver the most superior customer experience in over 70 countries in which we operate. For more information, please visit www.tvsmotor.com. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) India exported tractors worth USD1.025 billion during the first nine months of the current financial year, the Commerce and Industry Ministry said on Monday. India's export of tractors rose by more than 72 per cent to $1025 Million during April-December 2021 compared to $594 million during April-December 2013. The major destination for export of tractors is USA (25.2 per cent), Nepal (7.3 per cent), Bangladesh (6.5 per cent), Thailand (5.4 per cent) and Sri Lanka (5.3 per cent), according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The Economic Survey 2017-18 stated that Indian tractor industries have emerged as the largest in the world and account for about one-third of total global tractor production. Budget 2022 proposed to phase out the concessional rates in capital goods and project imports gradually. This is another step towards creating level playing field for domestic manufacturers and capacity creation in the sector which includes tractors. India has been seeing consistent growth in exports. It may be noted that India's merchandise exports in January 2022 increased by 23.69 per cent to $34.06 billion over $27.54 billion in January 2021. India's exports stood at $25.85 billion in January 2020. India's merchandise export in 2021-22 (April-January) rose by 46.53 per cent to $335.44 billion over $228.9 billion in 2020-21 (April-January). The Government has taken a number of proactive and effective measures since 2014 to boost the India's export. A new Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2015-20 was launched on 1st April 2015. The policy, inter alia, rationalised the earlier export promotion schemes and introduced two new schemes, namely Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) for improving export of goods and 'Services Exports from India Scheme (SEIS)' for increasing exports of services. Duty credit scrips issued under these schemes were made fully transferable, the ministry said. (ANI) British actor Helen Mirren, who will be portraying Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir in an upcoming biopic, has responded to the debate regarding her casting. According to Variety, 'Golda', which wrapped in December and also stars Camille Cottin, has been directed by Israeli filmmaker Guy Nattiv. Last winter, around the time the film was shooting in London; there was disquiet over the casting after photographs emerged of Mirren looking drastically different for the role. Actor Maureen Lipman had siad to Variety in January, "Helen will be great. Good actress, sexy and intelligent. Looks the part. [But] my opinion, and that's what it is, a mere opinion, is that if the character's race, creed or gender drives or defines the portrayal then the correct, for want of an umbrella [term], ethnicity should be a priority." Mirren had declined to comment at the time, however, in an interview with a news outlet, last week, she reportedly said, "It was certainly a question that I had, before I accepted the role." "[Meir] is a very important person in Israeli history. I said, 'Look Guy, I'm not Jewish, and if you want to think about that and decide to go in a different direction, no hard feelings. I will absolutely understand.' But he very much wanted me to play the role, and off we went," Mirren continued. The actor added, "I do believe it is a discussion that has to be had, it's utterly legitimate. [But] You know, if someone who's not Jewish can't play Jewish, does someone who's Jewish play someone who's not Jewish?" Mirren went on to compare the debate around her casting as Meir to that around authentically casting gay characters. She reportedly said, "I know actors like Ian McKellen would, I think, take big issue with that. Because what happens then if you're a gay actor? Shouldn't you be able to play straight parts? Is this really a path you want to go down?" Further discussing the wider debate around authentic casting, 'The Queen' actor, who won an Oscar for her portrayal of the British monarch, said, "There's a lot of terrible unfairness in my profession. If there's an actor who's disabled, who's brilliant but has had very few opportunities, and now a wonderful role comes along that's for a disabled actor, everything being righteous, he or she should have that role." She continued, "I'm from Essex. Can an Essex girl play a woman from Newcastle? I'm sure there's a lot of fabulous lasses from there who would object to my portrayal." "I very much respect Maureen. And I love her as an actress, absolutely. I'd love to bump into her and sit and have a cup of tea and talk about it," Mirren added. (ANI) As Parineeti Chopra's film 'Hasee Toh Phasee' with co-star Sidharth Malhotra clocked eight years since its release on Monday, the actor opened up about how her character shattered stereotypical representation of a heroine on screen. Talking about her character, Parineeti shared, "Hasee Toh Phasee' is a very special film in my filmography. Meeta's character is very close to my heart as I got to play the role of a quirky scientist in the film! She was the dark horse in her family and she is extremely sharp and has many ideas happening in her head all the time. I feel so blessed that I got to play the role of Meeta who in a way, broke the stereotype of how a heroine should be or look on screen." Parineeti also hopes that the quirky romantic film gets a sequel. She said, "To date, I receive so much love for 'Hasee Toh Phasee' and I am constantly asked by people if there will be a sequel to the film. I feel it's a great idea to have a Part 2 to 'Hasee To Phasee' and visit what Meeta and Nikhil would be doing today! Now over to the makers!" The actor also shared a post on her Instagram account to celebrate eight years of the film's release. To mark the occasion, she sang a few lines of 'Zehnaseeb', one of the songs from the movie. She captioned the post, "Was dubbing at the studio all day. Took a break. Decided to record this impromptu .. Best way to rejuvenate?? Happy 8 years HTP! @sidmalhotra @karanjohar @dharmamovies @polyvynil @fuhsephantom @chinmayisripaada." Meanwhile, Parineeti's upcoming projects include 'Animal' with Ranbir Kapoor and Sooraj Barjatya's 'Uunchai' with co-stars Amitabh Bachchan, Anupam Kher and Boman Irani. (ANI) After two years of virtual editions lost due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Edinburgh TV Festival is planning to return to an in-person event this year. As per The Hollywood Reporter, this year's festival, scheduled to take place from August 24 to 26, will bring together key players from TV networks, producers and streamers and offer its traditional packed schedule of panel discussions, interviews and other sessions. While details on speakers and sessions will be announced "in due course," organizers said on Monday that "there will also be a number of in-person and live-streamed sessions related to topical issues, hosted in the months leading up to the festival." "We're thrilled to be back in the city we love to bring the whole TV industry together for a much-needed and well-deserved celebration," said Edinburgh TV Festival managing director Campbell Glennie. "The past two years have raised vital issues, which we will continue to address at 2022's festival, as well as showcasing the very best of the global TV landscape." (ANI) The thing that everyone hates but can't get rid of overnight, is undoubtedly, acne. People spend money on every possible facewash, serum or scrub that can help them get rid of it. Now, a recent study of the genetics of acne has identified 29 regions of the genome that influence the condition. The study was published in 'Nature Communications'. These genetic insights offered potential new targets for treatment. They may also help clinicians identify individuals at high risk of severe disease. The research, was the largest study of its kind, involving genetic data from over 20,000 individuals with acne. It was supported by the National Institute for Health Research Guy's and St Thomas' BRC. The study was led by investigators at the St John's Institute of Dermatology at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London and the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Brisbane. Acne is a common skin condition. Estimates indicate it affects 80 per cent of teenagers. Spots and cysts, pigment changes and scarring are all common features. The face is the most common site, with the chest and back also frequently involved. The negative psychological consequences of acne are seen in all ages, but perhaps of particular concern for teenagers. The study analysed nine genome wide association study datasets from patients around the world. It involved scanning the whole genomes 20,165 people who had acne and 595,231 people who did not. The study identified 29 new genetic variants that are more common in people with acne. It also confirmed 14 of the 17 variants already known to be associated with the condition. This brings the total number of known variants to 46. Professor Catherine Smith, a Professor of Dermatology and Therapeutics at St John's Institute of Dermatology at Guy's and St Thomas', said: "Despite major treatment advances in other skin conditions, progress in acne has been limited. As well as suffering from the symptoms of acne, individuals describe consequent profound, negative impacts on their psychological and social wellbeing. It's exciting that this work opens up potential avenues to find treatments for them." A number of genes were identified that are common in people with acne and are also linked to other skin and hair conditions. The team believed that this will help to understand the causes of acne, which could be a mix of factors. Professor Michael Simpson, the Head of the Genomic Medicine Group at King's College London, said: "We know that the causes of acne are complicated, with a mix of biological factors such as genetics and hormones, and environmental factors. Understanding the genetics of the condition will help us to disentangle some of these causes, and find the best way to treat the condition. This is a really promising area for further study, and opens up a lot of avenues for research." The research also found a link between the genetic risk of acne and disease severity. Individuals who have the highest genetic risk are more likely to have severe disease. While further research is required, this finding raises the potential to identify individuals at risk of severe disease for early intervention. (ANI) Karnataka government has launched a self-defence training programme 'Obavva Art of Self Defence Training' for 50,000 girl students in schools and colleges. During his address at the launch ceremony of the training programme organised by the Social Welfare department, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that the Home Department has been instructed to use Police Training Schools to provide self-defence training to women. "An ambitious programme is being charted to provide self-defence training for 50,000 girls students in Backward Classes and Social Welfare department hostels. It has been aptly named after Onake Obavva, the name itself gives the strength to fight," Bommai said. "Women have venerable respect and position in society. But the perverts look at them in a cheap manner. Many laws have been passed, programmes formulated and funds have been spent to stop harassment and atrocities on women. But there is a need for imparting self-defence training too for them. The rogue elements could be taught a lesson if women are trained in self-defence," he added. The chief minister further said that the departments of Law, Education, the Home along with society should work together to ensure the safety and dignity of women. "Good programmes have been formulated through boarding schools of the state for women's protection. This programme should go on throughout the year. All the programmes would be integrated and a new programme would be implemented for women's safety," he added. Emphasizing the importance of self-confidence in a person, Bommai said that it is the prime requirement for learning self-defence. "One who is self-confident would defend oneself most ably. Self-confidence is like a tonic for self-defence. The Social Welfare minister and officials of the department are giving that tonic to you," he stated. "We all have read the courageous story of Onake Obavva. Karnataka is proud of its legacy of such courageous women. Kitturu Chennamma, Belavadi Mallamma, Onake Obavva.. were more courageous than men. They are our inspiration," he said. "The state government would work to provide education, employment and inspiration to achieve the top spot in the country by the time the state would celebrate 75th Rajyotsava," Bommai stated. He further informed that the State government has decided to induct 7,500 more NCC cadets annually with an allocation of Rs 1200 per cadet. "75 more NCC units would be started in schools and colleges. NCC Cadet strength in the state would be raised to over 50,000 by 2023. A special programme is being formulated to impart self-defence training on par with military training for women," Bommai said while talking about Special Programme for women's protection. "A strong foundation has been laid today for self-defence programmes. It has been decided to celebrate Keladi Chennamma and Belavadi Mallamma Utsavs," he added. (ANI) Union Minister of Power RK Singh on Sunday held a meeting with the officials of the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO) in Guwahati to review the progress of the various projects. At the meeting, the Union Power Minister appreciated the rapid capacity addition and substantial increase in green energy generation by NEEPCO and also exhorted NEEPCO to become a 4,000 MW plus company in the next seven years and assured full support for it. (ANI) Cachar district police on Sunday raided a makeshift godown at Bandarkhal under Borkholla police station in Assam. The police seized 2,500 bags of urea from the godown. As per the police, there was no record of the urea bags stored in the godown and a diversion from the government stock is suspected. Further details are awaited. (ANI) Two drug peddlers were arrested and heroin worth Rs 5 crores were seized from the Vasai area in Palghar during the search operation carried out by Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in Maharashtra. "The team received information that drug trafficking was taking place in Pelhare village in the Vasai area of Palghar district, after which 1 kg and 724 grams of heroin drugs were recovered by raiding the place along with Rs 2,60,000 cash, and 2 mobile phones," said ATS on Sunday. ATS further added that both the accused Aleem Mohammad Akhtar, 46 years and Chhota Mohammad Nasir, 40 years are residents of Uttarakhand. They were arrested after registering a case under the NDPS Act against the accused and presented in the court where the court has sent them to the custody of ATS till February 15. The ATS also stated that during their investigation, they found that the accused supplies drugs to Mumbai from Rajasthan using empty space in the middle of the sole of the new pair of shoes. ATS has registered a case against 3 peddlers and arrested 2 of them from Vasai and is on the lookout for the absconding accused. (ANI) Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is to attend two public meetings in Uttar Pradesh's Shahjahanpur and Bulandshahr Assembly constituencies on Monday. In a day-long event, the senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader will be addressing people during the campaign. Singh will start his first public address from Katra under Shahjahanpur constituency followed by Sikandaraabaad in Bulandshahr. "I shall be addressing public meetings in Katra (Shahjahanpur) and Sikandaraabaad (Bulandshahr) assembly constituencies today. Looking forward to it," Singh tweeted. As the first of seven phases of elections in Uttar Pradesh is slated on February 10, the Defence Minister is continuously addressing public gatherings in different constituencies in Uttar Pradesh as well as other in poll-bound states of Punjab and Uttarakhand for nearly last one month. While addressing three public gatherings in Uttar Pradesh's Hamirpur, Rath and Mahoba in his day-long visit to the state on Sunday, the Minister compared between previous governments of other parties and present BJP government in Centre and Uttar Pradesh, saying "no one can say that any BJP minister has been accused of corruption". The Minister said as long as there is corruption, the kind of development we want will not happen. Singh also made a veiled reference to corruption allegations faced by Congress-led subsequent UPA governments at the Centre and Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party government inUP before BJP came to power at both Centre and state. Singh on Sunday ensured people that their trust in BJP is the party's wealth and that the party will never break this trust, and keep providing employment as well as ration and medicine for the poor in Uttar Pradesh. "Your trust is BJP's wealth. We never broke your trust and we will never break it," Singh asserted. Mentioning that "there is a competition between the party which focuses on the development and those who are against development". "If you choose development, there will be good governance, the homes of the poor will be illuminated. There will be employment for youth and their income will increase. There will be free ration and medicine for the poor," Singh ensured. The Minister also ensured "har ghar nal and jal" (tap water in every home). Singh said what the BJP promised it completed and its work will continue like this. The Minister said that an individual can be wrong in the party but the party will not be wrong ever. He praised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for his action against criminals and creating fear in hurts of "mafias" (known criminals). He also hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his recent statement in Parliament, blaming the BJP-led government's foreign policy to bring China and Pakistan together. Referring to a violent clash between Indian and Chinese soldiers in Ladakh's Galwan valley, the Defence Minister had said the Indian soldiers displayed exemplary courage and valour in the line of duty and even sacrificed their lives. Taking a jibe at Gandhi over the number of casualties on the Chinese side, he had said, "It means you (Rahulji) will accept whatever Chinese mouthpiece Global Times says." Singh referred to a report published in the Australian newspaper "The Klaxon", which stated the possibility of 38-50 Chinese casualties. Singh also said that, unlike other parties, the BJP fulfilled all its promises what it made to the public. The Minister informed how the BJP government abrogated Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir and brought Citizenship Amendment Act for the reliably persecuted Indians residing in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. A day ago, Singh also attacked Samajwadi Party accusing it of doing "politics of appeasement", and asserted that "only BJP can do development" in Uttar Pradesh. Assembly Elections will be held over a total of seven phases for the five states. Uttar Pradesh will go to the polls in seven phases, Manipur in two, the rest in a single phase. Goa, Uttarakhand, and Punjab will go for polls on February 14 in one phase, and Manipur from February 27. The 403-member Uttar Pradesh Assembly is scheduled to go to the polls in seven phases on February 10, February 14, February 20, February 23, February 27, March 3 and March 7. The counting of votes will be taken up on March 10. (ANI) According to police officers, out of five men carrying weapons, three managed to flee from the spot. A case has been registered at the Kundapur police station. The two arrested have been identified as Haji Abdul Majid and Rajjab who hail from Gangolli, a village near Kundapur. The protests are over the alleged denial of entry to students wearing hijabs to a college in the Kundapur area of Udupi on Friday. The protests have triggered a political row with the Congress and the BJP attacking each other over the issue. The pre-University education board on Saturday released a circular stating that only the uniform that the school administration decided can be allowed to be worn and no other religious practices will be allowed in colleges. (ANI) Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Monday promised to make Uttarakhand an "international spiritual capital for Hindus" if the party is voted to power in the Assembly elections. Kejriwal stated the elevation of Uttarakhand as an international spiritual capital will give a boost to tourism extensively in the state, besides providing employment opportunities to thousands of youth. Addressing a press conference in Haridwar today, Kejriwal said, "We will make Uttarakhand an international spiritual capital for Hindus. This will enhance tourism extensively. We hope that it will provide employment to thousands of youth here." Kejriwal also promised to take steps to facilitate the travel of pilgrims to major religious destinations in the country. "Darshan of Ayodhya ji will be facilitated for people of Uttarakhand. Muslims will be facilitated to have darshan of Ajmer Sharif," he said citing an example of such initiative in Delhi. Delhi chief minister also said that "Mukhyamantri Tirth Yatra Yojana" in Delhi has helped about 40,000 people to visit various religious places in the country. Terming Uttarakhand Assembly polls "historic", Kejriwal said that there can be a major change. "An honest government can be formed in the state for the first time through which corruption can be eliminated," said Kejriwal. He also promised that every woman above 18 years of age will be given Rs 1000 each per month for their needs. The amount will be transferred to their bank accounts, he added. Uttarakhand is scheduled for polls on February 14. The results will be announced on March 10. (ANI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday appealed to people to cast their votes in favour of the BJP, saying "if new India is to be made, then a new Uttar Pradesh is also needed". Addressing a public gathering at Katra under Shahjahanpur constituency, the minister appealed to people to give their support to fulfill the need of the time and write the "fortune of Uttar Pradesh by supporting Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath" to retain in power for another five years. "The election of this time is the election for the creation of a new Uttar Pradesh, because if a new India is to be made, then a new Uttar Pradesh is also needed for it... Only people can do the work of writing the fortune of new Uttar Pradesh because you are not only a voter but also a creator of fortune," said Singh. The Minister also referred to works of BJP-led government in the Centre, saying "the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modiji has succeeded in increasing India's prestige and self-respect in the international world". "Earlier, India's point of view was not taken seriously in international forums. Today if India says anything, the whole world listens to it," said the Minister. Referring to surgical strikes and air strikes conducted by the Indian armed forces after the terrorist attack on India's paramilitary forces in Uri and Pulwama, the Minister said, "Our army personnel went to Pakistan's soil and eliminated the terrorist bases." With the move, Singh said, "We have given a clear signal to the whole world that India is no longer a weak country". "If some nefarious force in the world dares to raise an eye towards us, then we can kill on this side also and if needed we can kill on that side also," he asserted. The minister compared between previous governments of other parties and the present BJP government at the Centre and Uttar Pradesh, saying "no one can say that any BJP minister has been accused of corruption". He said as long as there is corruption, the kind of development we want will not happen. Singh also made a veiled reference to corruption allegations faced by Congress-led subsequent UPA governments at the Centre and Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party government in UP before BJP came to power at both the Centre and state. He also ensured people that their trust is BJP party's wealth and that the party will never break this trust, and keep providing employment as well as ration and medicine to poor in Uttar Pradesh. "Your trust is BJP's wealth. We never broke your trust and we will never break it," Singh asserted. Mentioning that "there is a competition between the party which focuses on the development and those who are against development". "If you choose development, there will be good governance, the homes of the poor will be illuminated. There will be employment for youth and their income will increase. There will be free ration and medicine for poor," Singh ensured. The Minister also ensured "har ghar nal and jal" (tap water in every home). Singh said what the BJP promised it completed and its work will continue like this. The minister said that an individual can be wrong in the party but the party will not be wrong ever. He praised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for action against criminals and creating fear in hurts of "mafias" (known criminals). He also hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his recent statement in Parliament, blaming the BJP-led government's foreign policy to bring China and Pakistan together. Referring to a violent clash between Indian and Chinese soldiers in Ladakh's Galwan valley, the Defence Minister had said the Indian soldiers displayed exemplary courage and valour in the line of duty and even sacrificed their lives. Taking a jibe at Gandhi over the number of casualties on the Chinese side, he had said, "It means you (Rahulji) will accept whatever Chinese mouthpiece Global Times says." Singh referred to a report published in the Australian newspaper "The Klaxon", which stated the possibility of 38-50 Chinese casualties. Singh also said that, unlike other parties, the BJP fulfilled all its promises what it made to the public. The minister informed how the BJP government abrogated Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir and brought Citizenship Amendment Act for the reliably persecuted Indians residing in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. A day ago, Singh also attacked Samajwadi Party accusing it of doing "politics of appeasement", and asserted that "only BJP can do development" in Uttar Pradesh. The 403-member Uttar Pradesh Assembly is scheduled to go to polls in seven phases on February 10, February 14, February 20, February 23, February 27, March 3 and March 7. The counting of votes will be taken up on March 10. (ANI) The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice on a plea challenging the Tamil Nadu government's decision pertaining to the reservation in the NEET super speciality. A bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and BR Gavai adjourned the matter to February 25, 2022. The matter was argued by Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, assisted by advocate Shankar Narayanan and Suhrith Parthasarathy. The petition was filed by advocate on record, Rashmi Nandakumar. The Court was hearing a petition challenging the Tamil Nadu government's decision purporting to reserve 50 per cent seats at the Super Specialty level in Government Medical Colleges to doctors who are serving under the State of Tamil Nadu. The petitioners, including N Karthikeyan, are candidates who have participated in the NEET-SS-2021 which was conducted on January 10, 2022. The results are expected to be released by the end of this month. The petitioners said that the Tamil Nadu government's decision dated November 7, 2020, is in clear violation of Article 14 of the Constitution as it creates an impermissible classification, contrary to the law. According to the petition, petitioners and other candidates have given the examination pursuant to the information bulletin which states that there is no special provision. The Petitioners submitted that writ petitions have been filed in the Madras High Court seeking injunctions to enforce the government order to provide for reservations for the present academic year and the petitioner has filed an application for impleadment in the writ petition. "Various states have been attempting to impose different quotas on super specialty seats in Government Medical Colleges within their jurisdiction. The NEET-SS is a national examination conducted in pursuance of the mandate to coordinate standards of education across the country," the petition said. The Petitioners submitted that until the validity of the special provisions in the super speciality is determined by this Court and a uniform policy is drawn, no reservation can be created for in-service candidates at this level. The Petitioners submitted that in any case, no such reservation can be created mid-way through the examination process. Therefore, the petitioner has sought to declare the government order dated November 7, 2020, as unconstitutional being in violation of Article 14 of the Constitution of India and to order that admissions pursuant to NEET-SS 2021 be conducted without providing reservations to in-service doctors. (ANI) A Delhi court has granted regular bail to two accused persons, who, as per the police report, were involved in 11 criminal cases including several Arms Acts cases. The Tis Hazari Court's Additional Sessions Judge Vishal Singh in an order passed on February 2, 2022, said that considering the submissions that the charge sheet has already been filed, there is no requirement to keep both the accused in judicial custody for the purpose of investigation. Both have been in judicial custody since May 1, 2021, the court noted. Considering the custody period of the accused persons and on the principle of parity with co-accused, who have already been granted bail, the bail applications are allowed. Both the accused Surender and Mahavir are admitted to bail subject to furnishing bail bogs in the sum of Rs. 25,000 each with one surety of like amount. Advocate Ravi Drall, appearing for both the accused persons, argued that the pendency of other cases is not a bar to grant of bail as the investigation has been completed and the charge sheet has already been submitted. Advocate Drall further argued that the complainant is well aware of the legal provisions and the present case is a false one as the complainant himself is a bad character of the area and presently he is lodged in Tihar jail in a murder case. According to the Delhi Police's present FIR, three accused persons were booked under section 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code, 341 IPC (Punishment for wrongful restraint), 506 IPC (Punishment for criminal intimidation), 308 IPC (Attempt to Commit Culpable Homicide), 34 IPC (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) for allegedly beating the complainant due to a monetary dispute and the complainant was later admitted to a hospital. As per the allegation, the accused persons fired a shot outside the house of the complainant also in regard to which a separate FIR has been lodged. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday strongly attacked the Congress saying that it has not been able to win an election in several states including Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu for decades due to its policies and since it "has made up its mind not to come to power for next 100 years, maine bhi tyaari kar li hai (I have also prepared for it)." Replying to the debate on the motion of thanks to the President's Address in the Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister accused the Congress of arrogance. He said Congress has not been able to come to power in Odisha for over two decades. PM Modi said Congress was last time in power in West Bengal over four decades back and in Tamil Nadu nearly six decades back. The Prime Minister also referred to Congress as "not getting entry" to power in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar for decades. He said in Jharkhand, that Congress has not been able to come to power on its own. "Despite facing so many electoral losses, you have not lost your arrogance," he said. He accused Congress of opposing government schemes for the sake of opposition. "You can oppose me, but why are you (Congress) opposing the Fit India Movement and other schemes? No wonder you were voted out in many states years ago...I think you have made up your mind not to come to power for the next 100 years," he said. "Now that you (Congress) have made up your mind not to come to power for the next 100 years,then, 'Maine bhi tyaari kar li hai'," he added. PM Modi said Congress and some other opposition parties have not been able to the BJP coming to power at the Centre in 2014 with a resounding victory. "It is unfortunate that many of you are still stuck in 2014 and are not able to come out of it. The people of the country have recognized you, some people have recognized you earlier, some people are recognizing you now and some people are going to recognize you in the coming time," he said. (ANI) Indian Army troops are carrying out patrolling in heavy snowbound areas using skis along the border with China in Uttarakhand.This year, there has been very heavy snowfall in the areas along the border and walking around these areas has become very difficult. "The troops are using skis to move around their areas of operation to keep an eye on the activities there," Army officials said.This helps in covering more areas during patrols and the movement also becomes faster in places where skis can be used, they said. According to Indian Army officials, troops have been specially trained to use the skis as it helps them to reach larger areas during patrols. "Indian Army troops carrying out patrolling in heavy snow using skis along the border with China. Troops have been specially trained to use the skis as it helps them to reach larger areas during patrols," Army officials said. (ANI) Senior BJP leader and Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday urged the people of Uttar Pradesh to keep their distance from those doing politics based on caste, creed and religion. He alleged that Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Congress are indulging in "politics of appeasement". Addressing a public gathering in Sikandaraabaad in Bulandshahr Assembly constituency, the Defence Minister said that Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) motto is "justice to all and appeasement of none". The BJP practices politics of "justice and humanity", added the minister. "You all should maintain distance from politicians who indulge in politics of caste, creed and religion. Such kind of politics is done by SP, BSP and Congress. They have been doing politics of appeasement. The BJP's motto is justice to all and appeasement of none," Singh said. He also said that there should not be any difference in the name of Hindu or Muslim. Singh asserted that "all those who are involved in wrongdoings get equal punishment irrespective of their religion". "Our party will not compromise on corruption. We are committed to free the society with the menace of corruption," Singh said. Further, he claimed that unlike the politicians of SP, BSP and the Congress, "not a single BJP leader in state or Centre is facing charges of corruption" "We are committed to development for the welfare of society and country," Singh said. Hitting out at the SP, the Defence Minister said that the Opposition party is now "sinking" as its leaders are roaming with "lal potli (red bundle filled with grains)", and "even the 'lal potli' cannot save them from certain defeat in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections". Urging for votes in favour of the BJP, Singh said that the upcoming Assembly polls will shape "fortune of Uttar Pradesh". "The election now is for the creation of new Uttar Pradesh because if a new India is to be made, then a new Uttar Pradesh is also needed. This Assembly election will create the fortune of Uttar Pradesh. Only you people can do the work of writing the fortune of new Uttar Pradesh because you are not only a voter but also the creator of fortune," said Singh. Lauding the achievements of the BJP-led Central government, Singh said, "The government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modiji has succeeded in increasing India's prestige and self-respect in the international world. Earlier, India's point of view was not taken seriously in the international forums. Today, if India says anything, the whole world listens to it." Referring to the surgical strike and airstrike conducted by the Indian forces after the terrorist attack on India's paramilitary forces in Uri and Pulwama, the Defence Minister said "Our army personnel went to Pakistan's soil and eliminated the terrorist bases. We have given a clear signal to the whole world that India is no longer a weak country." "If some nefarious force in the world dares to raise an eye towards us, then we can kill on this side also and if needed we can kill on that side also," Singh asserted. Comparing the present government with previous governments in Uttar Pradesh, he said, " As long as there is corruption, the kind of development we aspire for will not happen." Making a veiled reference to corruption allegations faced by Congress-led erstwhile UPA government at the Centre and Akhilesh Yadav-led SP dispensation in UP before the BJP came to power at both Centre and state, Singh said, "Your trust is BJP's wealth. We never broke your trust and we will never break it." The 403-member Uttar Pradesh Assembly is scheduled to go to polls in seven phases on February 10, February 14, February 20, February 23, February 27, March 3 and March 7. The counting of votes will be taken up on March 10. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday tore into the Opposition parties in Parliament accusing the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party of contributing to the widespread spread of COVID in the initial days by pushing migrant labourers to leave Mumbai and Delhi, thereby triggering a crisis. "The Congress Party has crossed all limits during the first wave COVID pandemic. During the first wave, when people were following lockdowns, in the entire world guidelines were suggesting that people stay where they are... then Congress leaders were standing at Mumbai station and scaring innocent people. They pushed migrant workers in Mumbai to return to their states," the PM said in his reply to the Motion of Thanks debate in Lok Sabha. The prime minister said that the (Congress) had crossed all limits and committed a 'Paap' (sin) and a 'mahaapradh'... "pushed migrant labourers into difficulties." "Congress gave free train tickets to migrant workers to leave Mumbai. At the same time, the Delhi government went around slums in jeeps and announced on mics that whoever wants to go home, buses have been arranged.to leave the city.... This led to the spread of COVID in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand. What kind of politics is this? How long will this politics will continue? The entire country is shocked by the behavior of Congress," he added. Attacking the Opposition further, he said, "Now Congress has made up its mind not to come to power for the next 100 years. You can oppose me, but why are you (Congress) opposing the Fit India Movement and other schemes? No wonder you were voted out in many states years ago. If we are talking about being 'vocal for local', are we not fulfilling the dreams of Mahatma Gandhi? Then, why was it being mocked by the Opposition?" The Prime Minister said that all this was being done because "some people thought that the coronavirus will damage the image of Modi." "We are firm believers in democracy. And, we also believe that criticism is an essential part of democracy. But, blind opposition to everything is never the way ahead. We are all people committed to democracy by culture, by behavior and not from today, but for centuries. It is true that criticism is the ornament of a vibrant democracy, but superstition is a disrespect to democracy," he added. The 2022 Budget Session of the Parliament commenced on January 31 with President Ram Nath Kovind's address. The first part of the budget session is being held from January 31 to February 11 and the second part will take place from March 14 to April 8. (ANI) Studies have previously shown that wisdom is a personality trait, underpinning mental health and well-being. Recently, researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine looked at gender differences relative to wisdom, using two different validated scales. The study was published in 'Frontiers in Psychology'. It assessed gender differences in wisdom and associated constructs, including depression, loneliness, well-being, optimism and resilience. Six hundred and fifty-nine community-based participants, ages 27 to 103, participated in the study and completed both the San Diego Wisdom Scale (SD-WISE) and the 3-Dimensional Wisdom Scale (3D-WS). The SD-WISE includes 24 items related to six defined components of wisdom: pro-social behaviours (empathy and compassion), emotional regulation, self-reflection, acceptance of uncertainty and diversity of perspectives, decisiveness and social advising. The 3D-WS contains 39 items covering three dimensions of wisdom: cognitive, affective or compassionate/and reflective. The researchers found that, in general, women scored higher on compassion-related items and on self-reflection while men scored higher on cognitive-related items and on emotional regulation. Generally speaking, the total 3-D-WS score was higher in women than in men, but there was no gender difference in the total score on the SD-WISE. In both women and men, wisdom was associated with greater mental well-being, optimism, and resilience and lower levels of depression and loneliness. "We wanted to gain information on potential differences in wisdom between men and women that could impact well-being," said senior author Dilip V. Jeste, MD, senior associate dean for the Center of Healthy Aging and Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Neurosciences at UC San Diego School of Medicine. "We found women and men have different relative strengths in wisdom, likely driven by both sociocultural and biological factors." "Our latest findings are only a piece of the overall puzzle. There are several paths toward achieving a wise life. People approach wisdom differently and looking at gender is one way to assess those potential differences," said Emily Treichler, PhD, first author of the study and assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UC San Diego School of Medicine and a research psychologist in the Desert Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC) at the VA San Diego Healthcare System. "Having a better understanding of wisdom and how to improve it has health benefits and value for individuals and society. Other studies have shown that the levels of certain components of wisdom like empathy/compassion and emotional regulation can be increased with appropriate psycho-social and behavioural interventions. Studies such as ours may help tailor wisdom interventions to individuals based on specific characteristics." The researchers emphasize there were limitations of the study: It was cross-sectional rather than longitudinal. And it did not look at wisdom profiles of non-binary people or ask people whether they identify as transgender, and that should be one of the next steps. "More work needs to be done, but we can take what we have learned and apply it to future studies to make the results applicable to different groups, with the ultimate goal of promoting healthier lives," said Jeste. (ANI) The assent came a day after Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan held a meeting with the Governor over the ordinance at Raj Bhawan. The Kerala government will now be empowered to accept or reject the verdict of the Lokayukta. (ANI) Delhi reported 1,151 new COVID-19 cases during the last 24 hours with the positivity rate declining to 2.62 per cent. With this, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the national capital has gone up to 18,45,084. As per a bulletin provided by the health department, a total of 4,3991 samples were tested during the last 24 hours. During the last 24 hours, 2,120 people recovered from the infection, taking the total recoveries to 18,11,201. As many as 15 people lost their lives to the deadly virus during the last 24 hours.The death toll in the state due to the virus stands at 25,998. There are currently 7,885 active COVID-19 cases in Delhi, of which 5,715 are in home isolation. There are 28,980 active containment zones in the national capital. As per the bulletin, 936 patients are admitted to hospitals across Delhi, of which 61 are suspected to have COVID-19 and 875 people are confirmed to have the disease. Of the confirmed cases of the virus, 665 are from the national capital while 210 are from outside. The bulletin said that 93.92 per cent of beds in the dedicated COVID-19 hospitals across the national capital are vacant, with only 936 out of 14,480 beds occupied by the patients. Similarly in the COVID Care Centres, there is currently 96.89 per cent of beds vacant, with only 144 out of 4,482 beds currently occupied. In COVID Health Centres, currently, 98.99 per cent of beds are vacant, with only 2 out of total 196 beds being occupied by the patients. As per the bulletin, 15,532 COVID-19 vaccination doses were administered during the last 24 hours of which 3,619 people were given the first dose of the vaccine and 10,868 people received their second dose of the vaccine. During the last 24 hours, 1,045 precaution doses of the vaccine were given to healthcare workers, frontline workers and senior citizens above 60. This takes the total precaution doses administered in the national capital to 3,16,552. The bulletin said 5,497 beneficiaries aged 15-18 received their first dose of the vaccine during the last 24 hours, taking the list of beneficiaries who have received their first dose to 9,22,723. To date, 2,99,63,854 vaccine doses have been administered in the national capital of which 1,70,76,521 people have received their first dose of the vaccine while 1,25,70,781 people have received the second dose of vaccine. (ANI) Congress MP from Thrissur in Kerala, TN Prathapan, on Monday, raised the Karnataka hijab issue in the Lok Sabha and said we the country cannot lose its diversity. "Where are we taking our India? We cannot lose our diversity. I request the Education Minister to intervene in this matter to ensure the constitutional rights of the students," TN Prathapan, Congress MP from Kerala said in the Lower House during the Budget Session of the Parliament. The Hijab protests began on February 4 at the Government Girls PU college in Udupi district when some students alleged that they had been barred from attending classes. Some students wearing hijabs were allowed to enter the campus of Government PU College on Monday in the Kundapura area of Udupi district in Karnataka. However, no classes were held. The Minister in the Lower House said, "Many colleges in Karnataka are banning girl students with hijabs from entering classrooms and colleges. Now, these girls with hijab are sitting outside the colleges and demanding their fundamental rights." The Minister then went on to say that hijab is the religious identity of Muslim women. "Hijab is part of the culture and religious identity of Muslim woman. it is like mangalsutra for Hindus, crucifix for Christians and turbans for Sikhs," the Congress MP said. The pre-University education board on Saturday had released a circular stating that the students can only wear the uniform approved by the school administration and no other religious practices will be allowed in colleges. (ANI) In the backdrop of the Rajasthan Eligibility Examination for Teachers (REET) exam paper leak case, the state government on Monday said that the level 2 of the 2021 exam will be cancelled and will be re-conducted. In a series of tweets, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said: "It has been decided to cancel the REET Level-2 exam. The level-1 process will continue as before." Now there will be recruitment for a total of 62,000 posts at both levels, he said while adding that the "Youth should rest assured" as the state government is standing by them in their interest. Further, the Chief Minister said that the Special Operation Group (SOG) of police is investigating discrepancies in the REET exam of 2021. "Our government will ensure justice to the youth by punishing everyone who is guilty," he said. Recently, the police SOG had arrested REET Jaipur district coordinator Pradeep Parashar in connection with the exam paper leak case. As per the official statement, the role of Parashar in the case came to light during the interrogation of another arrested accused Ramkripal Meena. "A total of 36 people have been arrested in connection with the case," reads the statement. The paper of the REET exam which was held on September 26, 2021, was leaked two days before the examination. In September 2021, a gang of five people, including a woman, was arrested and a cheating racket was busted by Rajasthan Police who acted after sensing foul play by a candidate who appeared at an Ajmer centre of the REET on September 26 last year. The incident came to light when aspirant, Ganesh Ram Dhaka (28), who had arrived at the Acharya Shri Dharam Sagar Digambar Jain Secondary Medium School Centre in Ajmer was found wearing a Bluetooth-equipped chappal. Rajasthan government had suspended government officers, teachers, education department employees and police personnel suspecting their involvement in cheating in REET 2021. Several people have been arrested by the police so far for their involvement in cheating in the REET exam. (ANI) NIA Spokesperson Sanyukta Parashar confirmed to ANI that a case has been registered against Dawood and others. The agency filed the case based on a recent order received from the Ministry of Home Affairs to register a case against Dawood. Subsequently, sources said, the anti-terror agency filed a case under UAPA against Dawood and others. It is learnt that a special team, led by a Deputy Inspector General (DIG) rank officer in the NIA along with a Superintendent of Police, will probe the case. In the FIR, sources said, names of Dawood and several of his associates have been named mentioning their roles in terror activities against India through various means, including pumping hawala money. NIA's move comes just one month after India's Permanent Representative TS Tirumurti while speaking at the International Counter-Terrorism Conference 2022, had said that linkages between terrorism and transnational organised crime must be fully recognised and addressed vigorously. This was deemed as a veiled reference to Dawood Ibrahim believed to be hiding in Pakistan. "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. Underworld don Dawood Ibrahim is India's 'most wanted' fugitive. On March 12, 1993, a series of 13 bomb explosions ocurred in Mumbai killing 257 people and injuring over 713 others. The attacks were planned by Dawood Ibrahim. (ANI) In view of a significant decline in COVID-19 cases, the Supreme Court on Monday issued a circular stating that from February 14, it will revert to hybrid hearings. The top court had revived the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on October 7, 2021, by which it started a hybrid hearing of the cases. On October 7, the apex had issued SoP for hybrid hearings as per which, all cases on Wednesday and Thursday are to be heard only in the physical presence of the counsels/parties in courtrooms while hybrid mode will be allowed on the rest of the days. "In view of a significant decline in the number of COVID-19 cases and positivity rate, and in the light of the various instructions issued by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority, Government of NCT of Delhi vide Order dated February 4, 2022, the Chief Justice of India, in consultation with the Committee of Judges, has been pleased to direct that the Modified Standard Operating Procedure notified on October 7, 2021, for hearing before the Court shall stand revived, and all hearings before the Court from February 14, 2022, shall be in accordance with the said Modified Standard Operating Procedure notified on October 7, 2021," the circular issued on Monday stated. As per October 7 circular, the matters listed on Tuesday, as a non-miscellaneous day, would also be heard in physical mode, however, on prior application by the AOR for the party, appearance through video/teleconferencing mode will be facilitated. Three lawyers per party will be allowed inside courtrooms while clerks can carry files up to courts, the SOP stated. "In view of the encouraging response from the Bar and with a view to further facilitate hearing through physical mode, all the matters listed on Wednesday and Thursday, as non-miscellaneous days, would be heard only in the physical presence of the counsels/parties in courtrooms," the statement had said. It had said there may be break(s) for a period of about 15 minutes at the discretion of the Bench during the hearings in the courtroom in the physical mode so that the courtroom may be sanitized, for which it is necessary that the entire courtroom be vacated. On Saturday, the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) wrote to the Chief Justice of India NV Ramana urging to resume physical hearing in the Supreme Court with strict compliance with COVID protocols and appropriate behaviour. SCBA President and senior advocate Vikas Singh, in the letter to the CJI, said considering that the pandemic in the country has been very much in control in the last two weeks requested for the opening of the top court in physical mode. The letter stated that the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has decided to reopen schools, colleges, and gyms in Delhi with effect from February 7 and offices are now allowed to function with a 100 per cent capacity. On January 2, 2022, the top court has decided to shift to the virtual system of hearings from January 3 in view of the rising Omicron variant of Covid-19 cases. Suspending the physical and hybrid option of the hearing, the apex court decided to shift to complete virtual hearing for two weeks. (ANI) A woman has approached the Delhi High Court for compensation for the death of her husband in jail. The petition alleged there was a dereliction of duties and negligence on the part of concerned authorities in the treatment of her husband, a murder convict. The man suffered continuous chest pain, the plea claimed. Justice V Kameswar Rao in a recent order said that the Delhi government Assistant Standing Counsel (ASC) Satyakam shall place on record the documents of which reference has been made in the inquest report conducted by the Metropolitan Magistrate. The bench also said that he shall produce any other document relevant to the medical condition of the deceased on the next date of hearing. The petition has been listed for hearing on March 3. The petitioner has moved the petition for compensation through Advocate Jitendra Sethi in which she has alleged the dereliction of duties and negligence on the part of jail officials. The petition alleged that the husband of petitioner died in April 2020 in Jail. He was suffering from heart disease. His left and right arteries were blocked more than 90 percent. Advocate Jitendra Sethi argued that the petitioner Sanju had met her husband in the first week of March 2020. At the time his condition was not good and was suffering from chest pain and breathlessness. This was informed to the jail authorities. The petition alleged that the deceased had informed his wife that he had applied for parole on the medical ground. He wished to undergo treatment. Before that, he died in the first week of April 2020. He was taken to DDU hospital where he was declared brought dead. The petition also said the petitioner has three daughters. They had moved a representation for compensation to LG in August 2020 but it is not decided till date. (ANI) On Sunday, based on reliable information, the troops of Border Out Post Pargumati, 118 Battalion, Sector Kolkata, launched a search operation in the area. During the operation, the jawans observed the suspicious movement of four persons near Uketan Niketan Club in Pargumati village, the official said. The BSF troops challenged and apprehended the four. As per the official statement, the apprehended persons have been identified as Surma Khatoon (19), Noor Hasan (5), Nooror Jamal (24) and Nazima Khatoon (50). During preliminary interrogation, Soorma Khatoon revealed that she is a Bangladeshi citizen who came to India illegally 10 years ago with her parents. Nazima Khatoon also revealed that she had come to India 13 years back. Indian tout named Mujibar took them to the border by bike. The woman revealed that as soon as they were trying to cross the border, the troops apprehended them. In another similar incident, troops of Border Out Post Gowardha, 153 Battalion, during a search operation, apprehended an Indian tout who helps people to cross the border illegally. The apprehended person has been identified as Zakir Hussain Ghazi (24 ), a resident of the North 24 Parganas. During the interrogation, the man revealed that he is an Indian citizen. He helps people on the border to cross the border illegally and for this work, he gets Rs 1,000 per person. All the apprehended persons have been handed over to Hingalganj and Swarupnagar respectively for further legal action. Public Relations Officer, South Bengal Frontier, stated in a statement that "the Border Security Force is taking strict measures to check smuggling along the Indo-Bangladesh border." Further, the officer stated in strong words that the BSF will not allow smuggling under any circumstances. (ANI) Days after the attack on the convoy of AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, Telangana Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former MLC Ram Chander Rao on Monday urged Owaisi to accept the Z category security cover being provided to him by the central government. "Even before the Uttar Pradesh incident, the Government of India had provided security to Asaduddin Owaisi which he refused and when he visited Uttar Pradesh for the election campaign, he did not inform the local authorities, more importantly, police authorities regarding his visit or meetings," Rao said. He said identifying the people behind the attack is a matter of investigation. "Today Home Minister Amit Shah in the Parliament also urged him to take Z category security cover. The government comes with its own report and inputs of threat on him. He should take it. If anything happens to him, who will be responsible? We have seen what happened in Hyderabad. His own people have come on the streets. For the sake of his security and to avoid clashes, he should take Z category security." Notably, two men have been arrested allegedly for firing at the convoy of Asaduddin Owaisi when he was leaving Meerut's Kithoudh area for Delhi after poll campaigning on Thursday, informed Uttar Pradesh Police. The AIMIM president was in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh's Meerut for campaigning. Following the attack, the central government reviewed the security of the AIMIM chief and provided him with Z security of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) with immediate effect, said sources on Friday. However, the AIMIM chief refused to take the security cover. (ANI) Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has turned blind eye to the accusations of West and rights groups against China over suppressing Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang as he supported Beijing on Xinjiang issue on Sunday and the leader also backed the communist regime on the South China Sea as well as One-China Principle. "The Pakistan side expressed its "commitment to One-China Policy and support for China on Taiwan, South China Sea, Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet," read a joint statement released following the meeting of Imran Khan and Chinese Presiden Xi Jinping in Beijing on Sunday. Islamabad gave its support to China on issues related to the One China Policy and the South China Sea, which the West sees as arbitrary rules policies made by Beijing to foster its expansionist approach. "The Chinese side reaffirmed its support for Pakistan in safeguarding its sovereignty, independence and security, as well as promoting its socio-economic development and prosperity," it added. Islamabad's support to Beijing against the accusation of human rights violation by China in the Xinjiang region came at a time when recently 243 global groups called for action against China over human rights abuses in the country. The groups in late January had urged the countries to join the diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympic Games. Under President Xi Jinping, Chinese authorities have been committing mass abuses against Uyghurs, Tibetans, ethnic groups, and religious believers from all independent faith groups said the Human Rights Watch in late January. They have eliminated independent civil society by persecuting human rights activists, feminists, lawyers, journalists, and others. The government has eviscerated a once-vibrant civil society in Hong Kong, expanded tech-enabled surveillance to significantly curtail the rights to expression, association, and peaceful assembly, and allowed the use of forced labour, in violation of international law, the Human Rights Watch added. (ANI) Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson has declared a state of emergency in the city amid the ongoing protests against COVID-19 vaccine mandates, the city administration said. The current wave of protests against COVID-19 measures in Canada started when thousands of demonstrators gathered in Ottawa expressing strong opposition to vaccine mandates for truckers crossing the US-Canada border. "Declaring a state of emergency reflects the serious danger and threat to the safety and security of residents posed by the ongoing demonstrations and highlights the need for support from other jurisdictions and levels of government," the City of Ottawa announced on Sunday. According to a press statement, the state of emergency is to provide "greater flexibility" within the city administration to maintain the work of essential services and help purchase the necessary equipment for first responders and frontline workers. Earlier on Sunday, Watson said that the ongoing protests are "the height of irresponsibility and criminal behaviour". He added that city residents and local businesses are suffering because of the major disruptions the truckers and protesters are causing. "The situation at this point is completely out of control," the mayor said, slamming the "outrageous behaviour by these individuals who think this is a big party and a big joke." The ongoing "Freedom Convoy" protests have been generally peaceful. However, dozens of criminal investigations have been launched into a series of incidents and at least seven people have been arrested in the capital city. (ANI) An Amnesty International report released last week stating that the Israeli state governed Palestinians in "a system of oppression and domination which met the international definition of apartheid", caused a strong reaction from many sides, which accused Amnesty International of "antisemitism". Amnesty's 280 - page long report examines cases of discrimination against Arabs within Israel, the blockade of the Gaza Strip, the denial of the rights of citizenship, and the de facto annexation of parts of the West Bank, where Jewish settlers keep creating new settlements. Additionally, the report looks into the forcible relocation of people, the expropriation of Palestinian land, extrajudicial killings, and the forcible relocation of people. Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid attacked the Amnesty report even before it was published. The Israeli government which, in some mysterious way had obtained an early copy of Amnesty International's report, immediately condemned it as "antisemitic," but it neglected to disproof the points raised in the report. It stressed, however, that the methodology of the Report was biased. Lapid said: "Israel is not perfect, but it is a democracy committed to international law and open to scrutiny." The government of Israel rejects the allegation of "apartheid", pointing to Israeli Arab citizens who have full rights. It should be noted that that was not the first time human rights organizations had described Israel's actions as "apartheid". In January 2021 human rights group B'Tselem - The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories - labeled Israel an "apartheid regime," sparking a fierce controversy by using a term that Israeli leaders have vehemently rejected. Three months later, Human Rights Watch (HRW) in its own report titled: "A Threshold Crossed" assessed whether specific acts and policies carried out by Israeli authorities amounted to the crimes of apartheid and persecution as defined under international law. At that time, Israel's Foreign Ministry called the HRW report a "propaganda pamphlet" and added that it has "no connection to facts or reality on the ground. The fictional claims that HRW concocted are both preposterous and false." Reacting to Amnesty International report, US State Department Spokesman Ned Price last week said: "I reject the view that Israel's actions constitute apartheid. The State Department's own reports have never used such terminology." Many members of the US Senate and the House of Representatives including the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (Dem) Bob Menendez, expressed outrage. Menendez said: "This outrageous accusation belies history, facts, and common sense. This report diminishes the very real apartheid that brutalized Black South Africans for decades. " For his part, House Foreign Affairs Sub Committee on the Middle East (Rep) Ted Deutch said Amnesty's report was "full of the same mischaracterizations, the same false accusations and the same biased language that have been hurled at Israel and its advocates for decades." It is remarkable that while on almost all the issues before the US Congress, Republicans and Democrats fail to agree on anything, there was a bipartisan consensus in condemning Amnesty International's claim that Israel is committing the crime of apartheid against the Palestinians. As was expected, Palestinians welcomed the report as recognition of "apartheid's victims and called for sanctions to be imposed on Israel like those imposed on South Africa. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Ishtayyeh described the report as "one of the most professional and transparent international reports" on Israel's violations of Palestinian rights". The Hamas Islamic movement, which rules Gaza, said in a statement that Amnesty's report "is an essential part of the international legal efforts that seek to deliver justice for the Palestinian people." German Foreign Ministry spokesperson Christopher Burger speaking at a press conference said: "We reject expressions like apartheid or a one-sided focusing of criticism on Israel. That is not helpful to solving the conflict in the Middle East." Burger added that the Foreign Ministry continued to oppose Israeli settlement in the occupied Palestinian territories and that Berlin remained in favor of a two-state solution in the Middle East conflict. The Central Council of Jews in Germany labeled Amnesty's report "antisemitic" and called on Amnesty International's German chapter to distance itself from it. Responding to the chorus of condemnation of the "apartheid" characterization, Amnesty International's Secretary-General, Agnes Callamard, categorically rejected the claims of antisemitism, saying that they are "baseless attacks" that are "nothing more than a desperate attempt to evade scrutiny." She made it clear that "Amnesty recognizes the state of Israel and denounces antisemitism." The report does not compare Israel to apartheid South Africa, but it says it was evaluating Israel's policies based on international conventions. Callamard repeated that Amnesty found that "Israel's cruel policies of segregation, dispossession, and exclusion across all territories under its control clearly amount to apartheid." As Amnesty International is one of the most respected international human rights organizations, with more than 10 million people in over 150 countries, dedicated to ending abuses of human rights, its findings should have been carefully examined by the Israeli government and given a detailed answer, not rejected in a wholesale manner as antisemitic. Anshel Pfeffer, senior columnist of Israeli newspaper Haaretz, writing on the Israeli reaction to the Amnesty report pointed out: "Whatever the legitimate claims Israel has against the report, this all-out attack on Amnesty, rather than arguing about the report on its merits, is basically a declaration of war on the entire human rights community. It will convince no one but the already convinced. And as usual in such cases, it is more about pandering to domestic political constituencies. (ANI) Sri Lankan Foreign Minister arrived in Delhi on Sunday for a three-day visit to India. Both the ministers are expected to discuss economic support to Sri Lanka and other possible infrastructure projects. Several issues concerning fishermen's rights could also feature in the talks. During his visit, Peiris is also expected to meet Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla. "Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka Prof. G. L. Peiris arrives in Delhi on an official visit," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted on Sunday. Jaishankar last met Peiris in September last year in New York where they held a comprehensive discussion on the close partnership between the two countries. Sri Lanka's Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa travelled to India in December last year. His trip focused on measures concerning the economic crisis faced by the island nation. Jaishankar had a virtual meeting with Sri Lankan Finance Minister on January 15, where he conveyed that India has always stood with Sri Lanka and will continue to extend support. This visit comes days after the USD 400 million SAARC currency swap facility was extended to Sri Lanka and the ACU settlement of USD 515.2 million was deferred by two months. Another USD 500 million LOC for the purchase of fuel from India has also been extended. Last week, India delivered 100,000 Rapid Antigen Self Test Kits to Sri Lanka to assist it in the fight against COVID-19. (ANI) Taking to Twitter, Pakistani journalist Azaz Syed raised concern about the issue of desecration in Hafizabad district and asked the government to take action against the perpetrators. In Pakistan today, anti-Ahmadi Muslim sentiment is very strong. It is amongst one of the most persecuted minority communities in the country. "Reportedly PunjabPolice/@DHafizabad has desecrated 45 graves of the Ahmadiyya community in Premkot, district Hafizabad. Persecution against any community is in violation of basic human rights and Islamic values.Govt must take action," Azaz Syed tweeted. Back in 2020, a detailed report by the UK-based All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) had revealed details about the discrimination the Ahmadi community has been facing in Pakistan. The APPG Inquiry heard disturbing evidence that anti-Ahmadi hatred is taught to children in schools, including in their textbooks. The All-Party Parliamentary Group had called for the repeal of anti-Ahmadi laws in Pakistan and some of its key recommendations to the Government of Pakistan include removing the publications ban on Ahmadi Muslim literature and ensure full freedom of religion for all religious communities in Pakistan. (ANI) The main source of livelihood of some local farmers residing in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) is under threat due to a surge in the import of Chinese walnuts, placing the lives of 30,000 families at stake. There is strong competition for organic Kashmiri walnuts in the market with the arrival of Chinese walnuts. Although, walnuts coming from China have soft shells and white kernels but Pok walnuts are locally grown are organic and better in taste. Unfortunately, they are outnumbered by the Chinese nuts in volume. Writing for the Dawn newspaper, Pakistani Prof Sajid Mir said growing organic walnuts at home provided easy seasonal income for villagers in PoK. However, climate change and lack of government attention are turning opportunities into a challenge. According to Mir, there is a general downturn in the walnut business due to several reasons including the unusual phenomenon of rains over the last decade. This has led to drop in dry fruit rates to a quarter of their price over the last 10 years, thereby diminishing the source of earning for the farming population comprising some 30,000 families. According to experts, another factor connected with changing weather is insect infestation and the spread of diseases on tree stems and kernels. "We didn't have insect infestation in walnut crops in the past," Dawn quoted Zafar Jahangir, a Muzaffarabad-based agriculture scientist as saying. He added, "but they have become very common as they are getting a favourable environment due to changing climatic conditions. "Our walnuts were exported to other countries not long ago," the Pakistani newspaper quoted Khalid Shah, a trader from Neelum as saying. Further explaining the farmers' predicament, Shah said, "due to the deteriorating quality of crops that are producing brown kernels, we are importing walnuts from China [for the last 8 to 10 years]." For Kashmiri traders, the arrival of Chinese walnuts in the Pakistani market has added to their problems. Given these impediments in selling Kashmiri nuts, local landlords are losing interest in walnut cultivation, and that will severely hit local businesses, said Shah. (ANI) Tokyo [Japan], February 7 (ANI/Sputnik): The Japanese government has expressed its objection to Russia regarding the scheduled live-fire military drills close to the South Kuril Islands, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said on Monday. Moscow informed Tokyo of the firing drills near the Kunashir Island on Tuesday, the official said at a press conference. "In this regard, we have protested to Russia through diplomatic channels. The strengthening of Russia's military presence in the Northern Territories is unacceptable and contradicts the government's position," he explained. The Japanese Coast Guard has issued a warning about the possible danger of maritime navigation in the area in question. Japan lays claims to the Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and Habomai islands in Russia's Kuril Island chain, known in Russia as the Southern Kurils, citing the 1855 bilateral treaty on trade and borders. Moscow insists that its sovereignty over the islands, which became part of the USSR after WWII, is undisputed. In 1956, the Soviet Union and Japan signed a joint declaration in which Moscow agreed to consider the possibility of transferring the Habomai and Shikotan islands to Japan after the conclusion of a peace treaty, while Kunashir and Iturup islands were not mentioned in the document, which the Soviet Union expected to put an end to the dispute. Japan, however, considered it only as part of the solution to the issue and did not give up its claims to all the islands. Subsequent negotiations never resulted in a peace treaty. Serious opposition arose from the United States, which is believed to have threatened to harden the process of returning Okinawa under the Japanese sovereignty if Japan agreed to the transfer of only two of the four Kuril Islands. In 2018, Japan and Russia agreed to speed up negotiations on the peace treaty based on the 1956 Japanese-Soviet Joint Declaration. (ANI/Sputnik) On Sunday, Argentina joined China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) during Argentine President Alberto Fernandez's visit to Beijing China to attend the Winter Games. Fernandez and Chinese President Xi spoke of their "deep friendship" and signed an agreement in which China reasserted its support for Argentina's claim to the Falklands. Taking to Twitter, the UK Foreign Secretary said Falklands are part of the British family and they will "defend their right to self-determination." "We completely reject any questions over sovereignty of the Falklands. The Falklands are part of the British family and we will defend their right to self determination. China must respect the Falklands' sovereignty," Truss tweeted. In a joint statement issued on Sunday, China had said Argentina should be able to exercise its sovereignty over the Falklands Islands issue. The two sides also signed the Memorandum of Understanding about cooperating within the BRI initiative. Belt and Road is China's international project seeking to promote cooperation between Beijing and over 60 of its trading partners in Asia, Africa and Europe. However, several analysts have pointed out the lack of transparency and dubious nature of funding in these projects. Some experts have even said that China is funding projects that are economically viable and burdening developing countries with large scale debt. (ANI) This conference comes as Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan continues to turn blind eye to reports of rights abuses in China's Xinjiang province. Imran Khan's refusal to condemn China's human rights violence against the Muslim-majority Uyghur has exposed his image as the world's leading anti-Islamophobia crusader. Usman Noorani Chairman of ATI moderated the conference, which saw the participation of Safdar Shah Gilani, Secretary General Jamiat Ulema E Pakistan and Iqbal Harper, Editor in Chief, Weekly Tasawwur. The Speakers discussed the ongoing persecution of Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang autonomous region in northwest China and described potential actions that the Civil society of Pakistan can take to mitigate the crisis. Safdar Gilani said that we are holding this conference in remembrance of Ghulja massacre happened in 1997, in which hundreds of Uyghur Muslims were killed by the Chinese army. He said that we expressed our deep concern over China's unprecedented persecution of Uyghur and other Turkic groups and the silence of nations to the crimes against humanity and genocide in the Uyghur homeland. Moderator of the conference and Chairman of Anjuman Talba E Islam Usman Mohiuddin Noorani said that students could do on campus and within their communities to raise awareness about the Uyghur genocide. He encouraged students to educate themselves and others about the crisis, challenge professors to use their platforms to educate students and peers, get involved in student government, and host events on campus to bring attention to the crisis. Anjuman Talaba-e-Islam is a student organization related to the Barelvi school of thought. (ANI) by sportswriters Yao Youming and Ma Bangjie YANQING, Beijing, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Michelle Andrea, an international volunteer in Yanqing Olympic village, is spending the best time of her life at the ongoing 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games. Andrea is a student of Beijing International Studies University (BISU). In Yanqing, besides her, three other international students from BISU, including Kyae Sinn Linn Lett from Myanmar, Areum Eom from South Korea and Takudzwa Duncan Maluwa from Zimbabwe, are volunteering in the home of the Olympians around the world. "Specifically, my workplace is in Yanqing Village as an interpreter for the Athletes," Andrea told Xinhua. "The most challenging moment is when I have to interpret English words to Chinese words that I don't know. I need to explain using basic words, illustrations, or show a picture from the internet," "But no worries, both the Chinese staff and the athletes understand my situation since I am a foreigner, they even support my work," the Indonesian added. In order to ensure the volunteers are physically healthy, the organizers of the big event provide nucleic tests every morning, plus healthy and fresh meals three times a day. According to the COVID-19 countermeasures, the volunteers must not only have enough space and time to rest, but also wear personal protective suits when they are on eight hours duty. When talking about the unique moment in her volunteer life, the student said that it is when she randomly asked other volunteers to shoot short videos. "It's really interesting because I still can explore my hobbies while I work. My dad told me once that the experiences are really expensive. Since we are still young, do and explore the world unless I will regret it when I'm old," Andrea wrote in her Olympic diary. "I want to develop my photography and videography skills, having people on camera and connecting can stimulate different kinds of emotions that the written word can't. I also want to tilt my memories toward the good experiences I've had during Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. That's important to me." The diary read. When the athletes felt satisfied after accepting Andrea's help, many of them thanked the girl from Southeast Asia and gave her their country's pins. Andrea said that although she is busy, a simple sound of "hello" as the athlete is approaching her is just a magical, incredible, and touching moment for her and the other volunteers. "I enjoy the opportunity to put my time to good use, and I love being busy. Volunteering definitely keeps me on my toes. The feeling of involvement that has been provided," she said. "I like the fact that I am able to help people who I have never come in contact with and will probably never see again. It gives me the feeling that I am an unsung hero to somebody somewhere. It is a great learning experience," Andrea added. The explosion took place on Quetta's Sariab Road. The FC personnel were on routine patrol in a village when the bomb -- fitted in a motorcycle on the side of the road -- was detonated remotely as they approached the site, Dawn newspaper reported citing the Frontier Corps spokesperson as saying. The injured officials have been shifted to the FC hospital, said the spokesperson. There has been an uptick in violence in Balochistan with several attacks and explosions reported since the start of the year. At least 13 separatists were killed and seven security personnel, including an officer, killed during armed attacks on two security forces' camps in the province's Naushki and Panjgur districts last week, Dawn newspaper reported. Last month, 17 people, including two policemen had been injured in a grenade attack in Dera Allahyar town of Jaffarabad district. (ANI) Signs of cracks are emerging between Pakistan and the Taliban over Durand Line row and Islamic Emirate support for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). When the Taliban took over the Afghan capital Kabul, in August last year, many in Islamabad cheered. However, the disagreements over the demarcation of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and support for the TTP have caused tensions, reported The Frontier Post. If no resolution is reached on these issues, it could cause a rift in relations with significant consequences for both Pakistan's national security and regional stability, said the publication. The Durand Line was demarcated between British-ruled India and Afghanistan in 1893. Since the establishment of Pakistan in 1947, Kabul has not only objected to the border demarcation, but has also challenged the inclusion of Pashtun tribal areas within Pakistani borders. In recent years, the problem has persisted, with both former Afghan presidents, Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani, reaffirming the Afghan rejection of the Durand Line. The Taliban has stuck to the same traditional stance and is showing no signs of making concessions to Pakistan. In recent days, engagement between the two sides failed to make any progress on the issue. In late January, Pakistan's National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf visited Kabul but was only able to negotiate a bilateral coordination mechanism to facilitate border crossing movement and trade; the border fence issue remained unaddressed, reported The Frontier Post. Another source of tensions between Kabul and Islamabad has been the TTP. The armed group fought alongside the Afghan Taliban against the US and its allies for years and the two have a strong bond. When the Taliban took power on August 15, they set free hundreds of TTP men, including some prominent leaders, incarcerated in Afghan jails. Since it was founded in 2007, the TTP has been responsible for deadly violence in Pakistan, attacking both security forces and civilians. A ceasefire between the armed group and the Pakistani military negotiated with the help of the Afghan Taliban government in November was short-lived. The TTP resumed their attacks in December against security forces and civilians, even as secret talks with representatives of the Pakistani government have continued. So far, the mediation of the Afghan Taliban has not produced any significant results and its support for the TTP continues. If violence in Pakistan escalates, that could put more strain on Kabul-Islamabad relations, reported The Frontier Post. So far, there are no indications that the border issue between Afghanistan and Pakistan can be resolved, as the Taliban appears quite eager to maintain the Pashtun unity rhetoric. If this issue continues to fester, it could provide fertile ground for further border incidents that could spark tensions. Similarly, despite efforts by the Pakistani government to engage in talks with the TTP, peace with the armed group seems quite unlikely, given internal pressure to maintain its violent direction. (ANI) Women of Jammu and Kashmir called on the international community to take notice of the "deplorable state of educational opportunities" to the women in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. They rebuked the Pakistani leadership for resorting to religious conservatism as a means of political domination and obstructing the rights of women to secular education. "A vast majority of Pakistan's population only have access to religious education through a flourishing chain of Madrassas. Education cannot be fettered by dogmatic ideas and students have a right to the vast expanse of knowledge that exists.", they said. Additionally, talking about the state of women in Afghanistan they said, "Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan, all schools and educational institutions for girls have been shut down." They shared that the two decades of enforced peace under an international mandate had provided a glimmer of hope to thousands of girls and their families that Afghan girls could finally have access to education without fear however everything changed. "The geopolitical compromise of August 15, 2021, changed all that in the blink of an eye without a thought to the implications for half of that country's population. If the plight of Afghan women and men is to be the responsibility of Afghans alone, then they should have been left alone a long time ago.", they empathised with the Afghan women. Pushing for international attention they said, "It is the responsibility of the international community to ensure that not just food and shelter, but education, particularly for girls, is also included in the humanitarian relief endeavour. The international community needs to acknowledge the issue of education of Afghan women with all the seriousness that it deserves. " In addition to this, they talked of brewing propaganda working to throttle the educational opportunities and said, "The propagandists conveniently ignore the wide gap in the educational opportunities afforded to the girls of J-K in comparison with their sisters in those parts of J-K which are illegally under foreign occupation." The women said that Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan today have been sadly left behind on the education front, depriving their sisters of the right to modern and secular education. "Absence of modern schools and colleges in PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan has deprived our sisters of the opportunity that we have come to take for granted in India. Not just in J&K, we have access to any institution of our choice anywhere in India.", the women said. "In the absence of employment opportunities, students of these Madrassas end up becoming teachers themselves, further proliferating these institutions and their teachings.", they added. Discouraging the Pakistani government, they mentioned that the situation is no better in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where all moderate and progressive political forces have been sacrificed. "The Province has seen a level of Talibanization that is not there even in Afghanistan. The educational prospects of the girl child in KP can be described in two words: Malala Yusufzai", they said. Moreover, the women pointed out, "Our sisters in KP face as bleak a future as those in Afghanistan. Unless the rot is stemmed, very soon most of our Pakistani sisters, barring the rich and powerful, would be subject to the same future. Excellency, we have deliberately not included facts and figures as these are well documented and publicly available for anyone to see. " The women asked the world community to raise this matter objectively and apolitically and sought solutions to this 'grave' human rights problem. (ANI) Jammu and Kashmir's People's Justice Front organized a seminar on Sunday in Jammu to promote peace and unity in the Union Territory. The speakers from different social and political backgrounds put forth their views regarding unity, peace and brotherhood. Speakers emphasized the role of education and cultural coherence. While addressing the gathering, Agha Syed Abbas Rizvi, the president of J-K People's Justice Front, said that we should educate our young ones about tolerance and peace. Speaking about the current social scenario Rizvi said that the biggest threat to present-day youth is drug addiction. He said, "We see in Afghanistan the children were kept away from modern education for decades and this gave rise to extremist ideology and rise of Taliban and other terrorist organisations, all at the behest of Pakistan. The lack of education had destroyed the generations there". The culture of madrasas in Pakistan has given birth to factories of terrorists. This has impacted the peace and unity of the whole region. Agha Sahab also conveyed that similarly, our youths have become disoriented due to the subversive activities carried out by our neighbouring country. Our youths want to be teachers, doctors, administrators but have been swayed towards terrorism and drug addiction. "You people may be surprised that our neighbouring country observes Solidarity Day for Kashmiris. What kind of solidarity is it? Our youths are misled and forced to terrorism and drug addiction. We need to call this bluff and save our youths by providing them good modern education so that they can be good and responsible citizens", said Agha Sahab. Another social activist and a prominent figure Ali Mohammad Parray said that teachers and parents have an important role to play in the present situation; as today's world is an era of technology and kids have easy access to the social evils too. "We should keep eye on our wards so that they can be taught proper good education and guided on moral-social aspects", he said. This seminar was also addressed by Mohammad Umar, a social activist who highlighted the role of teachers in spreading brotherhood and peace. Master Abdul Naheem also spoke at the event and said that brotherhood and tolerance is the key to progress. He stressed that children shall be given pens in their hands, not guns or drugs. He cited an example of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan where people are opposing polio vaccination as they think that it might cause infertility. They attack the people who visit their homes to vaccinate the young children for their good health. This ignorance is due to a lack of proper education. Mr Adil Hussain, a political activist, highlighted the role of educated people to bring an end to social evils like dowry and drug addiction. Agha Syed Mubashir Kazmi Coordinator JKPJF also spoke at the event and said that religious scholars should also highlight the role of formal and modern education so that the goal of peace, justice and unity could be achieved. (ANI) With claims of hate-related incidents under investigation and arrests made amid reports of rocks and eggs thrown, Canada on Monday (local time) entered the second week of protests over COVID-19 regulations. The protest was started by a group of truckers who drove into the heart of Ottawa on January 29 to protest new coronavirus vaccine and testing rules that required truckers entering Canada to either be fully vaccinated or face testing and quarantine requirements. It spread to other major cities across the nation, reported CNN. Moreover, more than 60 criminal investigations are underway in Ottawa that involves hate crimes, property damage, thefts and mischief, police said, reported CNN. At least seven arrests were made Sunday and at least 450 citations issued since Saturday morning, the Ottawa Police Service said. Police have responded to more than 650 calls for service in relation to the demonstrations since they began, they said on Sunday. The city's hate-motivated crime hotline -- established after reports of anti-Semitic, racist and homophobic acts at the COVID-19 protests -- has also got more than 200 calls, according to police, reported CNN. "We already have a number of hate-related incidents that we're investigating," Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly said last week. "We encourage anyone who's been the victim of a hate crime or think they may have been the victim of a hate crime or exposed to hate incidents to contact us." In Vancouver, several hundred vehicles traveled through the city en route to the demonstration there, Vancouver Police said. Five people were arrested Saturday amid reports of "rocks and eggs being thrown, cars being kicked, and nails being strewn on roadways," police said. Among them was a 29-year-old US citizen from Washington state who was arrested after officers saw him wearing a balaclava and pulling a wagon full of egg cartons, police said. The man had a knife in a sheath tied to his belt, and two eggs in his jacket pocket, they said, reported CNN. "Everyone has the right to peacefully assemble and express their views. Today's protests attracted thousands of people who feel passionately about their causes. While most protesters were peaceful, some had to be arrested for violent behavior and unlawful conduct," said police Sgt Steve Addison In Winnipeg, a demonstration Friday night turned dangerous when a man drove into a crowd, hitting four people, according to the Winnipeg Police Department. The suspect, who was arrested after a brief struggle with law enforcement, faces 11 charges, including assault with a weapon, dangerous operation of a conveyance and failure to stop after an accident, authorities said, reported CNN. Canada has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world, with about 4 in every 5 Canadians fully vaccinated, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. (ANI) A Cabinet meeting of the Government of Nepal on Monday has decided to hold the local level elections on May 13 this year, a sitting Minister confirmed ANI. The Cabinet meeting held in Administrative Center Singha Durbar this afternoon finalized the date for election preponing it by a week as suggested by the Election Commission. "Today's meeting has decided to hold the local level election on May 13 in a single phase. A formal announcement will be made by the Spokesperson of the government," a sitting Minister seeking anonymity present in the meeting told ANI over the phone. Earlier, the Election Commission (EC) had recommended the government to announce the date of local elections on May 18 this year. At the end of January this year, the meeting of the ruling coalition had decided to hold the local polls by mid-June. Office bearers during the meeting also informed the Prime Minister that there is no need to amend the election-related laws if the local level elections are held before May 19. The government had earlier held consultations with constitutional and legal experts in order to remove the ambiguities related to local elections in the constitution and the Act. The Election Commission has also stated that it may need Nepalese Rs 12 billion to conduct the local polls in a single phase. The commission has said the previous local polls held in three phases had cost Rs 8 billion and two million voters have increased in the past five years. (ANI) Afghanistan is experiencing the wettest winter in the past 15 years as snowfall and rainfall have been seen in the whole country, reported Khaama Press while quoting Bakhtar News agency. Local residents said that 15 people have so far been confirmed dead while five others are still trapped under the snow. Rescue operations are still underway. Earlier, an avalanche inflicted casualties to over twenty people in western Afghanistan, reported the news agency. When the Taliban took over the Afghan capital Kabul, in August last year, many in Islamabad cheered. However disagreements have emerged over the demarcation of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and support for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The Durand Line was demarcated between British-ruled India and Afghanistan in 1893. Since the establishment of Pakistan in 1947, Kabul has not only objected to the border demarcation but has also challenged the inclusion of Pashtun tribal areas within Pakistani borders tensions. (ANI) Pakistan and China have called for the release of Afghan bank assets to improve the humanitarian situation in the country. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan who was invited to Beijing for the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games 2022, met with China's President Xi Jinping and discussed a range of issues, including Afghanistan, reported Tolo News. In a joint statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China on Sunday, the two sides reiterated that a peaceful Afghanistan is in the interest of the region. "The two sides underscored the need to expedite humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and its people to avert the looming crisis and called upon the international community to provide continued and enhanced assistance and support to Afghanistan including through unfreezing of Afghanistan's financial assets," the statement read. Following the collapse of the former Afghan government, over USD 9 billion in assets of Afghanistan's central bank were frozen in Europe and the United States. Afghanistan is now facing a humanitarian crisis due to economic problems, reported Tolo News. "On Afghanistan, the two sides agreed that a peaceful, stable, united, safe, and secure Afghanistan is fundamental for prosperity and progress in the region," added the statement. Khan and Xi also discussed the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and called on the international community to support the people of Afghanistan by providing humanitarian assistance as well as releasing Afghanistan's central bank assets frozen abroad, mainly in the United States, reported Tolo News. According to the statement, Pakistan and China are ready to discuss with Afghanistan the extension of a China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan. The Taliban took over control of Kabul on August 15 and following this the country has been battered by deepening economic, humanitarian, and security crisis. A combination of a suspension of foreign aid, the freezing of Afghan government assets, and international sanctions on the Taliban have plunged a country already suffering from high poverty levels into a full-blown economic crisis. Meanwhile, the international community, from governments to non-governmental organizations, has been providing various assistance to the Afghan people. It has been nearly six months after the Taliban recaptured power in Afghanistan but they have not been recognized by any country yet. Taliban, who are desperate to seek international recognition, and have time and again been reminded that respect for women and human rights, establishing inclusive government, not allowing Afghanistan to become a safe haven of terrorism are the preconditions for the recognition set by the international community. (ANI) Paris [France], February 7 (ANI/Sputnik): French President Emmanuel Macron's plane has taken off for Moscow, where he is scheduled to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, after a slight delay of 30-45 minutes, the French broadcaster BFM TV reported on Monday. According to the French leader, his visit to Russia is aimed at preventing an escalation of the situation around Ukraine. The Kremlin said that the presidents would primarily discuss security guarantees. They are also expected to hold a joint press conference following the meeting. On Tuesday, Macron will travel to Kyiv for face-to-face talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The negotiations will also focus on tensions at the Russian-Ukrainian border. In the past few months, the West and Ukraine have accused Russia of amassing troops near the Ukrainian border in alleged preparation for invasion. Russia replied that it has no intention of invading Ukraine while stressing that it has the right to move its forces within its own territory. Russia has also expressed concerns over NATO military activity near its borders and ongoing military support of Ukraine, including an increase in the number of Western instructors in the breakaway Donbas region. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow is not excluding that the "hysteria" around Ukraine fueled by the West is aimed at concealing Kyiv's plans to sabotage the Minsk Agreements on Donbas. (ANI/Sputnik) The Rastriya Ekata Abhiyan has handed over a memorandum to the United Nations saying that China has encroached on Nepal's land in Humla district and urged the international community to heed to the Chinese land grabbing of the land of the neighbouring countries and make a due intervention in the issue. Ekta Abhiyan chairperson Binay Yadav reached the UN office in Kathmandu on Monday and handed over the memorandum to UN Resident Coordinator Richard Howard through Office Information Officer Rajendra Man Banepali, reported Khabarhub. Recalling that the government had formed a panel to study the border dispute between Nepal and China in Humla on September 1, 2021, the Abhiyan also urged the Nepali Congress-led government to take action as suggested by the committee formed under its initiation. The government had earlier formed a committee under the coordination of Home Ministry Joint Secretary Jaya Narayan Acharya to study the dispute over the Nepal-China border in Humla district last year. "According to the study, the area between pillar number 5 (2) and the middle of the Kit Khola has been marked as the border between the two countries since the 1963 Boundary Protocol," the Rastriya Ekta Abhiyan's appeal said, "However, it has been discovered that the Chinese side has erected fences and wires in Nepali land," reported Khabarhub. The report is now pending with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It was reported that the border encroachment was intensified in Humla during the then KP Oli-led government. But then-Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, referring to a study done in 2016, said the structures were built on Chinese soil. Similarly, the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu had clarified that the structures were constructed in its own territory and there was no border dispute between Nepal and China. However, the then main opposition party, the Nepali Congress had issued a statement accusing the government of trying to cover up the border despite evidence that it had crossed the line. Interestingly, the NC-led government has not published the report formed under its own initiation. The Abhiyan has been continuously conducting various campaigns against the Chinese encroachment of Nepal. The memorandum called for China to withdraw from the encroached land, urged both Nepali and Chinese governments to jointly inspect the border under the supervision of the international community. It has also urged both governments and the international community to keep a record of all border posts with GPS. China's expansionist designs in the Himalayan nation have led to illegal encroachments by Beijing in bordering districts including Humla, Gorkha, Darchula, Dolakha and Sindhupalchowk. The memorandum has been sent to the US Embassy in Kathmandu, the European Union Representative in Nepal, the Russian, Chinese, and Indian embassies in Kathmandu, reported Khabarhub. (ANI) KRATIE, Cambodia, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia inaugurated a Chinese-funded stretch of National Road No. 7 on Monday, which connects rural and urban areas in Northeastern province. Linking between Kratie provincial town and Sambour district, the 93.5-km-long and 11-meter-wide road was built by the Shanghai Construction Group under the grant aid from the Chinese government, and it took 24 months to be completed. Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian presided over the inauguration ceremony, which was attended by more than 1,000 people. Speaking at the event, Hun Sen said the construction had been made after the road had been devastated by floods in past years and that the road would greatly contribute to improving the livelihoods of local people. "China's grant aid for the repair of this road has importantly contributed to connectivity in Cambodia's northeastern region," he said. "COVID-19 has disrupted but cannot stop our development." He also thanked the Shanghai Construction Group for building the road in good compliance with technical standards. Ambassador Wang is confident that the road will play an important role in reducing poverty in the northeastern region of Cambodia effectively. "It is a new testament to the development of China-Cambodia friendship and the community with a shared future between China and Cambodia," he said. "China is very pleased to assist Cambodia in its socio-economic development and to further deepen the ironclad friendship with Cambodia." Tsing-hua University law professor Lao Dong-yan speech titled "Facing the Real World," deploring certain trends in China and the state of the rule of law in the country were removed from the internet on Sunday, just two hours after it had been posted on WeChat. In a 6,000-character transcript the professor rebuked the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) saying that they deceive the masses into accepting their misery by talking giving rhetoric about "positive energy" surrounding Chinese society, reported Taiwan News. She slammed CCP and mentioned an incident where a woman miscarried outside a hospital after being denied access because she was from a "high risk region," despite testing negative for COVID-19. She also took up the case of migrant workers who were discouraged from returning home for the Lunar New Year and smeared as having "malicious motives," and must be "first quarantined and then detained" for wanting to see their families. Meanwhile, a sound-minded school teacher was sent to a psychiatric hospital just for asking questions on social media, Lao observed, reported Taiwan News. She said the words "harmony" and "safety" were now used to shackle the Chinese people through surveillance technology and constant internet connectivity. Lao said one lesson from the 20th century is that humanitarian catastrophes are almost always caused by evil systems that exacerbate the evil of human nature itself. She said she can hear the "sound of the state machine crunching here and churning there" and that this entity is granted supreme status, while the lives of those living under its authority are worthless, reported Taiwan News. (ANI) CSJ reports suggest, roughly 70 per cent of female victims of extrajudicial murders on blasphemy charges come from these minority communities, and the bulk of the victims are Christian women. "If you're a Christian woman in Pakistan, you're probably the most likely to be charged with blasphemy following torture, a lengthy trial, and, most likely, a death sentence are the end results," reported Times of Israel. Despite making up just 5 per cent of the population, minority populations are implicated in roughly one-third of all blasphemy cases, suggests the report's findings. Blasphemy laws in Pakistan are used to settle personal disputes, reported the Times of Israel. Over half of the 484 members of minority communities charged with blasphemy were Christians (264), nearly 40 per cent were Ahmadis (188), and the rest were Hindus (21), Pervaizis (7), Ismailis (1), Sikhs (1), and Buddhists (2). According to a report from the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) in Islamabad, of those accused of blasphemy, 89 have been subjected to extrajudicial murder by lynch mobs since the country's inception in 1947. Most of the cases, approximately 70 per cent, occurred in Punjab. The remaining instances primarily occurred in Sindh, where 177 accusations were reported during the ten year period, and Islamabad, where 55 cases were reported during the same time. (ANI) Canada can benefit by partnering with Taiwan's tech titans by boosting its semiconductor industry, according to a recently released report. Canadian policy think tank the MacDonald Laurier Institute has released a report exploring how Canada could better build on trade ties with Taiwan to spur the development of its home-grown ICT industry, reported Taiwan News. The in-depth report prepared by Taiwan tech analyst Matthew Fulco said that by backing Taiwan's Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) bid, Ottawa could help remove barriers between countries' tech industries. The CPTPP membership would lower tariff barriers between the countries and enable Ottawa to better partner with Taiwanese tech companies. The two countries should also push forward with the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Arrangement (FIPA) the two sides are currently negotiating, added the report. CPTPP is a major free-trade bloc made up of 11 nations including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam with the objective of supporting sustainable and inclusive economic development. It was launched on December 30, 2018. Fulco pointing to the recent economic pain the auto chip shortage has brought to the Canadian auto industry, with vehicle production dropping to its lowest point in four decades said in his report that building stronger partnerships between Taiwanese suppliers and Canadian automakers would better guard against further disruptions going forward, reported Taiwan News. "For Canada, the automotive chip shortage has been especially painful given... the auto sector is one of the largest of Canada's manufacturing industries," he said, adding, "The ongoing automotive chip shortage shows how a stable semiconductor supply is crucial for Canada's economic well-being." Meanwhile, the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) announced it will increase the supply of automotive microcontroller units (MCUs) by 60 per cent in 2022 to alleviate the squeeze. Though Canada has been slower in moving toward supply chain onshoring than other Western countries, Fulco said that Ottawa could kick start its localization efforts by first tapping into its great natural abundance of rare earth elements (REE), which are crucial for manufacturing ICT products. Since China still dominates the global REE ecosystem and has a history of weaponizing its grip on the elements, an alternative Canadian supply chain would have geopolitical significance, reported Taiwan News. "As a trusted partner of the US, Taiwan, Japan and other key semiconductor-producing nations, Canada has an opportunity to be at the forefront of a new, secure supply chain," he wrote. The country is already building its first processing plant in Saskatoon, along with a new REE mine in Nechalacho. Fulco recommended Canada continue this momentum by extending its manufacturing capacity further downstream through partnerships with TSMC. "Given its dominance in the foundry segment, TSMC could potentially play a large role in helping Canada develop its semiconductor manufacturing capability," he added, reported Taiwan News. (ANI) The country's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Monday said that Prime Minister Imran Khan will visit Moscow this month at the invitation extended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Daily Times reported. The foreign minister made the announcement about the Russian tour while giving a briefing about the prime minister's recently concluded visit to China and its outcomes. According to the publication, the Prime Minister will be accompanied by a high-level delegation of senior ministers from his cabinet. During his visit to Russia, the discussions will focus on enhancing cooperation in the spheres of economy, trade, defence and energy. Imran Khan who was invited to Beijing for the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games 2022, met with China's President Xi Jinping and discussed a range of issues. As per The HK Post, Pakistan's dependence on China for its economic wellbeing- short, medium and long-term- is heavy and promises to increase. According to Pakistani economist Kaiser Bengali, Pakistan is now 100 per cent dependent on China for financial and economic assistance. (ANI) The Myanmar security forces have killed at least 114 children since the military takeover a year ago, including 18 children killed in January alone, United Nations spokesperson Farhan Haq said on Monday. "Since the military takeover last February 1, at least 114 children between the ages of three and 17 have been killed by the security forces, including at least 18 children in January alone," Sputnik News Agency reported Haq as saying. The UN spokesperson said the number of injured children has been significantly larger. Haq reminded the country's security forces of their obligations to uphold children's rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Myanmar signed in 2019. On February 1, 2021, the Myanmar military seized control of the country in a coup, prompting nationwide protests. The military said it had to act because of election fraud committed by the ruling party and placed senior officials, including the democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi, under arrest. 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) Frankfort, Kentucky You can smell the chocolate the minute you walk into Rebecca Ruth Candy's white cottage headquarters in Frankfort. Caramel-colored walls surround a small dining area and a museum room. The main shop features glass cases lined with dozens of chocolates: molded horse heads of dark and white chocolate, coconut creams, raspberry jellies, pretzel turtles, brittle and old-fashioned Kentucky cream pulled candy. Then there are the refrigerators, filled with boxes and boxes of seven kinds of bourbon-filled candies from dark chocolate-covered bourbon balls to bourbon caramels, cherries, and truffles. Just beyond the retail counter and those chocolate-filled refrigerators is the factory where all the chocolate is made on equipment dating back to the 1960s: marble slabs, copper pots and a chocolate conveyor belt straight out of "I Love Lucy." It's a dream of a shop for anyone with a sweet tooth. And for anyone who loves the iconic sweet boozy treat known as the bourbon ball, it all started at Rebecca Ruth's. The chocolate shop at 116 E. Second St. in Frankfort, Kentucky has been making more than 100 kinds of chocolate candy for more than 100 years. Each year, 35 employees make and sell 5 million pieces of chocolate candy, both in-person and from shipments sent all over the country. About 3 million of those 5 million pieces of candy are the iconic sweet boozy treat known as the bourbon ball, which Rebecca Ruth Candy invented more than 80 years ago in 1938. The same creativity and love for chocolate that inspired company founder Ruth Booe to invent the iconic bourbon ball lives on today through her grandson and current owner, Charles Booe, who is fiercely proud of his chocolate and family's legacy. "Typically when we're developing a piece of candy, we go to a lot of trouble to figure out the best way to do it right," he said. "My grandmother worked on the recipe for bourbon balls, for instance, for two years before it was released. We don't tend to have to go backward and fix things that are broke because they're already functional before we bring them out." Story continues 'Every piece of chocolate has to be perfect' Missy Cooksey, left, and Joey Dickerson place pecans on bourbon balls on a conveyor belt at Rebecca Ruth Candy in Frankfort, Ky. Invented by Ruth Booe in 1938, the original Bourbon Ball is the most popular item sold by Rebecca Ruth Candy, with over three million sold per year. Feb. 1, 2022 All 5 million pieces of candy sold are made with incredible care, from the creamed pull candy pulled by hand on a metal hook to the meticulously cut bourbon balls. Most chocolates are made on a series of machines connected by a large conveyor belt. After bourbon ball dough is mixed in a giant mixer, it's fed into an extruder, which cuts it with a wire into perfect spheres. The balls then roll through not one but two layers of base chocolate to cover the bottom before an enrober pours dark chocolate on top. Two employees sit in the middle of the room with large boxes of pecans, individually placing them on top of the chocolates, which then roll through a cooler before arriving at the end of the line at the "I Love Lucy" station. Here, two more employees quickly pick out any imperfect chocolates to put in a "boo boo bag" and load the other bourbon balls into 16-ounce boxes, which are then sealed in plastic and prepped for shipment. Rebecca Ruth's bourbon balls are made with Evan Williams 100-proof bourbon with a strong oak flavor. Hints of earthy cocoa, creamy vanilla and caramel from the chocolate balance out the sweet boozy treat. The ingredients may sound straightforward, but getting the candy just right is not. Every piece of chocolate has to be perfect, Charles told the Courier Journal. "The dark chocolate has to have some presence, it can't be waxy chocolate like a lot of people use. It has to have some flavor to it," he said. "And it all has to be balanced so that when you bite into it, it gets through a few different phases of your palate." Bourbon balls, now synonymous with Kentucky, are made at confectionaries across the state and Charles said that while people have different opinions on how bourbon balls should be eaten, his way is best. He likes to pop the whole candy into his mouth and let it warm on the tongue and get soft. Then you bite into it, pause for the chocolate aromas to hit your nasal cavity, and then chew and swallow. Basically, he said, you want to savor it. "You have to take the time to eat it slowly," he said, "which is hard to do." More: 7 places in Louisville where you can buy bourbon balls, and a recipe to try at home How a chance meeting led to the creation of bourbon balls Megan Wilhoite, left, prepares a box of chocolates for a customer after leading a tour group through the Rebecca Ruth Candy facility in Frankfort, Ky. Invented by Ruth Booe in 1938, the original Bourbon Ball is the most popular confection at Rebecca Ruth Candy, with over three million sold per year. Feb. 1, 2022 Rebecca Ruth Candy was founded in 1919 by Rebecca Gooch and Ruth Hanly Booe, two young women in their 20's. While a lot of people underestimated the young female entrepreneurs, they began by dipping chocolates in a rented bar room at the Frankfort Hotel during prohibition, promoting the chocolates themselves, with decent success. That all changed a few years later when Ruth Hanly married Douglas Booe in 1924 and had a son, John Charles Booe, in 1927. Douglas died a few months later. Chocolate partner Rebecca decided to get married in 1929 and sold her portion of the business back to Ruth. Just 10 years after founding Rebecca Ruth Candy, Ruth became a single mother and sole owner of the company just as the Great Depression hit the U.S. Candy orders dropped from boxes of sweets to single pieces. With orders waning, Ruth used the downtime to experiment and invented the Ruth's Mint Kentucky Colonel, the most famous chocolate at the time. Even with that success, the years were hard: a fire in 1933 destroyed everything at Ruth's home and small factory except a marble slab she used to temper chocolate, and she had to start from scratch again. But a chance meeting in 1936 turned her world around and formed the idea for the bourbon ball as we know it today. A dignitary at Frankfort's sesquicentennial celebration gave Ruth the idea of mixing candy and bourbon together. She diligently worked on a recipe for two years before debuting her bourbon balls in 1938. Unsurprisingly, they were a wild success. They became so popular that customers would bring Ruth their sugar rations and coffee tins during World War II just so they could get some chocolates. "My grandmother kept up with a lot of people," Charles said. "Frank Sinatra bought candy here. Fred Astaire bought candy. Just all kinds of celebrities were part of her life." An expansion on the way and the future of Rebecca Ruth Candy Ruth retired in 1964, passing the business to her son John, who developed the company's wholesale business and additional liquor-filled chocolates, expanded the factory, and increased candy production. He sold the business to his son, current owner Charles Booe, in 1997. Charles runs the candy shop and was recently joined by his daughter Sarah Booe when she graduated from college in 2020. Over the last few years, Charles has expanded the company's production facility, including adding a 40,000-square-foot warehouse across town and a new retail store at 629 Versailles Road, bringing the total number of Rebecca Ruth Candy retail shops to three. A 5,000-square-foot expansion is being added to the factory headquarters to allow for more room for tours. Though the expansion has been in the works for decades, Charles hopes to complete it in the next year or so. As for other retail locations, he's not sure Frankfort needs more than three. "I think that's pretty well balanced out," he said. "But it depends what the new blood wants to do, you know. My son's still in college, so he may or may not come into the business and my daughter has plenty of ideas of what she might want to try." Throughout the century, one thing in the Booe family that doesn't change: their love of chocolate. "Come and take a tour, it's a very unique experience," Charles said. "And of course, buy some chocolates while you're here. They're not your regular big-box type of chocolates." Features reporter Dahlia Ghabour covers food, dining trends and restaurants in the Louisville area. Send tips on new places or story ideas to dghabour@courier-journal.com or follow on Twitter @dghabour. Rebecca Ruth Candy WHAT: Rebecca Ruth Candy is a chocolate company founded in Frankfort, Kentucky in 1919 by two women, Ruth Hanly Booe and Rebecca Gooch. The shop famously invented bourbon balls in 1938 and is now owned by Ruth Booe's grandson, Charles. WHERE: There are three retail stores: 116 E. Second St., 3296 Versailles Road and 629 Versailles Road, all in Frankfort, Kentucky. TOURS: Tours at the factory at 116 E. Second St. are held Monday to Saturday at 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Tours are $6 for adults and $4 for children under 18 and can be booked on Trip Advisor. MORE INFORMATION: To order chocolates or for more information, visit rebeccaruthonline.com. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Inside Rebecca Ruth Candy in Kentucky- the founder of bourbon balls Lincoln Historic site conducts bat remediation and collections work at Tunstall Store. An invading colony of bats and deterioration of the foundation of a historic building at Lincoln Historic Site were addressed last year with a $400,000 renovation project. More: A call for volunteers: Revitalization of Fort Stanton, Old Lincoln require volunteers The renovation at Lincoln Historic Site focused on Tunstall Store. The building, "a focal point of the Lincoln County War," according to a news release from the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, is listed on both the National Historic Register and the New Mexico Register of Cultural Properties. At the store, crews worked to repair a deteriorating foundation, including faults and cracks in the walls of the structure. More: NM Department of Cultural Affairs pledges change as historic sites grapple with maintenance, staffing issues Officials with the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) said that the work at the location disrupted the habitat of two species of bats - Mexican Freetail and Pallid bats - which were living in the attic of the building. Lincoln Historic site conducts bat remediation and collections work at Tunstall Store. "This situation came to light during the summer when several juvenile bats entered the main building through an opening created through the restoration and could not find their way out," a news release read. More: One woman's determination unlocked science behind reforestation on an arid southwest forest Wildlife biologists and bat removal specialists were asked by DCA to help remediate the situation. DCA said officials waited for the nesting season to end and the colony to leave for the winter before sealing the site to prevent them from re-entering the building. As part of its preparation for the restoration work, staff from the New Mexico History Museum helped relocate the collection inside the store to Fresquez house. Those items and artifacts were returned to Tunstall Store when the restoration was completed in December. Lincoln Historic site conducts bat remediation and collections work at Tunstall Store. A deep-clean and reinstallation of exhibits is planned ahead of the area's spring opening to the public. Story continues "...the historic structure will provide a fresh new experience for visitor and ensure that bats and other wildlife stay outside," read a news release from the DCA. Jessica Onsurez can be reached at jonsurez@gannett.com, @JussGREAT on Twitter at by phone at 575-628-5531. This article originally appeared on Ruidoso News: $400,000 renovation at Lincoln Historic Site completed Feb. 7In this weekly feature, we put five questions before someone in the community. Today, we chat with Stephanie Massey, of Newborns in Need of the Heartland. 1. What is Newborns in Need of the Heartland, and when was it established? Newborns in Need is a national nonprofit organization with a mission to help meet the basic needs of newborn babies when born ill, prematurely or impoverished. NIN can provide the resources for those babies to eat better, sleep better and thrive in uncontrollable circumstances. There are chapters all over the United States (www.newbornsinneed.org). Missouri's local chapter, NIN of the Heartland, was established in 2021 by Stephanie Massey when she met a grandmother struggling to find items for her granddaughter a granddaughter she did not know about and was born in jail. She needed help with basic supplies like diapers, formula and a car seat in order to bring her granddaughter home, and many organizations did not have what she needed. She was overwhelmed and scared that something would happen to the baby if she didn't gather what she needed. Situations like this are more common than not, and NIN of the Heartland was created to be a breath of hope in a tough time for these families. 2. Who is served by NIN of the Heartland? NIN of the Heartland serves families and babies throughout Barton, Jasper, Newton and McDonald counties in Missouri. 3. How does NIN of the Heartland assist surrounding communities and families in need? Anyone with a newborn in need can receive help. Newborns in Need distributes items free of charge. Chapters serve their own communities by contacting local agencies, hospitals and shelters and provide items wherever needed. 4. What are some current needs of the charity? NIN of the Heartland is looking to establish partnerships with local hospitals and clinics to help supply care kits for families in need. These care kits would include basic baby items blankets, diapers, wipes, hygiene products, etc. to help set up families when bringing their newborn home. Donations of these items or any baby essentials are always welcome as well. Story continues 5. Where can donations be dropped off? Donations can be dropped off at any Economic Security Corp. location at the following addresses: 302 S. Joplin Ave. in Joplin. 739 E. Seventh St. in Carthage. 116 N. Jefferson St. in Neosho. 405 Walnut St. in Lamar. 712 Business 59 Highway in Anderson. Other pickup arrangements can be made by contacting the chapter via email at heartlandmo@newbornsinneed.org or messaging the group on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NINoftheHeartland. Toxic jobs can wreck your health. But there are some red flags you can spot early on during the job interview. (Photo: sesame via Getty Images) Being in a toxic work environment is the top reason people say they are quitting their jobs during the pandemic, new research shows. A toxic work culture is a whopping 10 times more important than compensation when it comes to predicting turnover, according to a new analysis of more than 1.4 million Glassdoor reviews of 500 of the largest U.S. companies between last April and September. The researchers defined a toxic culture as an environment where unethical behavior runs rampant, workers feel disrespected and diversity, equity and inclusion work is dismissed. Clearly, a toxic job involves more than just having a bad day. Its a living nightmare in which you cant stop thinking about your tyrannical boss when you are supposed to be relaxing at home. Its when you go to work each day filled with dread about dealing with belittling, backstabbing co-workers. For the sake of your well-being, a toxic job should be avoided at all costs. But is it possible to suss out a toxic job before you get hired? The truth is, sometimes you may not realize that the role you were excited about is actually a big mistake until after you get hired. But often, you can pick up on red flags during the job interview. Heres what to watch out for: 1. Interviewers bad-mouth the person who had your job previously or the people youll be working with. How someone treats a person when they are not in the room says a lot about how they may one day treat you. One way to find out if this could be a problem is to ask what happened to the person who previously held your job, according to Donna Ballman, a Florida-based employment attorney and author of Stand Up For Yourself Without Getting Fired: Resolve Workplace Crises Before You Quit, Get Axed or Sue the Bastards. If they bad-mouth the person or hem and haw, then thats probably a bad sign. If they bad-mouth current employees, run, Ballman told HuffPost. If you are going to supervise employees, find out how many are on the team, how they are performing, and ask questions about their duties. If they bad-mouth your team, get out of there. Story continues E. Kevin Kelloway, research chair in occupational health psychology at St. Marys University, said ostracism is a sign of a toxic workplace that you can watch out for during the interview process. Look for individuals who seem to be on the outside in the workplace so the person who does not go to breaks with the others or who seems to be the butt of jokes, he said. [These are] classic signs of bullying and ostracism that might suggest that there are some really inappropriate behaviors going on in the workplace. 2. The hiring manager doesnt want you to talk to anyone else on the team. In a healthy work environment, employees are free to be honest about what its like to work there. But in a toxic workplace, bosses tightly control how employees communicate, even to potential new hires. If a hiring manager is hesitant or unwilling to connect you to anyone else on the team youd be working with, that signals a toxic workplace, said Laura Gallaher, an organizational psychologist at the consulting firm Gallaher Edge. This is a sign that they do not trust their employees, which can create an exhausting work environment, she told HuffPost. If leaders dont trust their people, they tend to micromanage, create rigid policies and stifle input. Gallaher said it can also suggest that theres an unhealthy power dynamic between the manager and the other employees. If they perceive the whole interview process as a one-way street Im hiring, so I have all the say here they will behave similarly in the leader-employee dynamic, she said. In a healthy workplace, because Im the boss is not a phrase that is used. 3. Interviewers refuse to admit to any of the companys shortcomings. No job is perfect. But in a toxic workplace, managers are unwilling to acknowledge any areas of improvement for their team or the company. If your interviewers are unwilling to be honest about any weaknesses of the team or organization, that is a red flag, Gallaher said. A healthy workplace has enough psychological safety that it is OK to be vulnerable. If leaders put out a vibe that everything is perfect, it creates beliefs that others are meant to do the same, she said. Then people start hiding mistakes, pretending to understand things when they dont, and blaming others when things go wrong. These behaviors are toxic and will drain the life and energy out of people. 4. The way they talk about success is cutthroat. Manuela Priesemuth, a management professor at Villanova University who researches toxic workplaces, pointed out that since recruiters tend to paint a more positive picture of the company, the clues of toxicity are likely to subtle. Thats why she recommends reading between the lines to understand what the companys values are. Phrases like This is how we do things or Thats how it is in this industry tell you what the organizations norms and standards are, Priesemuth said. So if those phrases are used in reference to worrying behaviors such as micromanaging or only caring about the bottom line, thats a potential red flag. If theres anything that you find offensive or feels like it does not conform with the values you share, then it might not be the right workplace. It might not be that good of a culture, Priesemuth told HuffPost. For example, asking about the organizations rewards structure can be revealing. If rewards are merely monetarily oriented and not people-oriented or not purpose-oriented or not other-oriented, that could suggest employees are incentivized to get bonuses over being collaborative, she said. If leaders dont trust their people, they tend to micromanage, create rigid policies and stifle input.Laura Gallaher, an organizational psychologist at the consulting firm Gallaher Edge Prioritizing bonuses as the primary way of being rewarded could also be a sign youll encounter unethical corporate behavior. Research shows that when someones livelihood is based on a bonus, they are more likely to risk looking the other way. Past U.S. banking scandals have been linked to organizations that incentivize employees to engage in inappropriate behavior, such as bribery and creating fake accounts to meet sales targets when wages are tied mostly to bonuses. How management talks about success can also reveal a lot about how employees advance. Does the prospective employer talk about rewards as if it is a fixed pie there will be winners and losers in terms of securing desired outcomes? asked Rebecca Greenbaum, a professor in Rutgers Universitys school of management and labor relations. This may suggest that employees are pitted against one another as they try to stand out for advancement and reward purposes. 5. Recruiters are cagey about employment agreements you will need to sign when you start. Job interviews are the time to get clarity on the expectations of the job. If a hiring manager or recruiter refuses to answer questions about employment agreements, thats a red flag, Ballman said. She said job candidates should ask during the interview process whether they will be required to sign any agreements at the start of employment. If they say yes, ask to get a copy so you can review before you start. If they decline, they are probably hiding an obnoxious noncompete agreement that will limit your ability to work after you leave, Ballman said. Some states, but not a majority, require that noncompetes be disclosed before the person starts the job. Many toxic workplaces have them as an attempt to force employees to stay in a terrible work situation. Ballman also recommended running a search of lawsuits in state and federal court involving the employer, and reading Glassdoor complaints. 6. Everyone who works there seems like they are in terrible mood. One of the more subtle hints of a toxic workplace is the vibe. Ballman recommended closely observing how staff members interact with each other. How are you greeted? Do the people working there look happy? Or are they avoiding eye contact with you? Is there yelling? Are people chatting in the break room, or are they scurrying in and out quickly? she said. The atmosphere there can give you clues about the workplace. It can be painful to waste time and energy on interviews that ultimately dont lead to a new job. But its better to follow your gut and say good riddance than to be stuck in a toxic job you hate. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related... Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams (D) fired back at her likely Republican opponents following criticism over a photo of herself unmasked at a school event. "It is shameful that our opponents are using a Black History Month reading event for Georgia children as the impetus for a false political attack, and it is pitiful and predictable that our opponents continue to look for opportunities to distract from their failed records when it comes to protecting the public health during the pandemic," Abrams said in a statement posted to social media. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R), who is facing a primary challenge from former Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.), in a tweet on Saturday criticized the photo of Abrams in a Decatur elementary school. "Stacey Abrams wants state government mask mandates for Georgians and their children. But it looks like they wouldn't apply when she's attending a photo op," the governor said. Purdue, whom former President Trump has endorsed to replace Kemp, also criticized Abrams in a statement on Sunday. "Where is Stacey's mask? We all know Stacey Abrams' hypocrisy knows no bounds," Perdue's statement said. "Liberals' thirst for power during this pandemic has caused enormous damage to our kids, while the elite like Stacey continue living their lives. What is even worse is that this is a classroom in Brian Kemp's Georgia, not New York or California," he added. All of the children and other adults in the photo are masked. In her response on Sunday, Abrams also took aim at Perdue and Kemp over their public health track records. "One of Stacey's opponents downplayed the virus while trading stock to profit off the pandemic after his private coronavirus briefings as a Senator," her statement said in a nod to Perdue's controversial record of trading stocks during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Another of her opponents attacked mayors seeking to protect their citizens and has failed to expand access to Medicaid even as rural hospitals close," she said of Kemp, who feuded with former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) over the city's mask mandate. "This pathetic, transparent and silly attack is beneath anyone who claims he wants to lead Georgia," the statement added of the criticism from the GOP candidates. A campaign spokesperson for Abrams told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the gubernatorial candidate encourages masking requirements for students, faculty and staff members at schools. CAIRO, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Following the grand opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday held a flurry of meetings with leaders from the Middle East, charting the course for ever closer ties marked by deepening political trust and mutually beneficial cooperation. Meeting separately with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Xi underscored the importance of dovetailing the development strategies between the two sides. In his meeting with Sisi, Xi urged China and Egypt to join hands to take the lead in China-Arab and China-Africa cooperation, accelerate the building of the China-Arab community with a shared future for the new era, and promote African development and prosperity. During talks with Qatari and UAE leaders, Xi reiterated China's willingness to work with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), of which Qatar and the UAE are both members, to accelerate free trade agreement negotiations. The agreement, if reached, is expected to generate market opportunities that benefit all parties. Positive momentum already emerged three weeks ago as Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosted his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Turkey, and Iran, as well as the secretary general of the GCC, in east China, marking the first round of intensive diplomatic interactions between China and Mideast countries since the start of the new year. Against the backdrop of the raging COVID-19 pandemic and emerging geopolitical changes in the Middle East, enhanced China-Mideast cooperation will leverage respective advantages and tap into their development potentials, particularly in such fields as pandemic response, infrastructure and energy. China has been a staunch supporter for the Middle East in its fight against COVID-19 from the very start. China donated and exported a large quantity of COVID-19 vaccines to Middle East countries in dire need of them, at a time when Western countries largely hoarded vaccines for their own good. In Egypt, Algeria and the UAE, China has helped localize vaccine production to meet the rising demand, demonstrating ever-deepening friendship and mutual trust and opening new areas of cooperation. The development strategies of China and Mideast countries are also highly complementary. China, a big energy consumer and a major country leading the global green efforts, could expand cooperation with Mideast countries in diversifying their economies and optimizing its own energy structure. Meanwhile, China has long upheld the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs and insisted that its collaboration with foreign countries have no political strings attached. This principle as well as natural advantage promises broad prospects for practical cooperation between China and Mideast countries, which are long plagued by interference, sanctions and threats from U.S.-led West. Going forward, China and Mideast countries will continue to benefit from increasingly fruitful cooperation and their common aspiration to build a community with a shared future for mankind. The U.S. Air Force must pay more than $230 million in damages to survivors and victims families of a 2017 Texas church massacre for failing to flag a conviction that might have kept the gunman from legally buying the weapon used in the shooting, a federal judge ruled in San Antonio on Monday. More than two dozen people were killed, including eight children, when Devin Patrick Kelley opened fire during a Sunday service at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs. Kelley, who died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after being shot and chased by two men who heard the gunfire at the church, had served in the Air Force before the attack. U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez had ruled in July that the Air Force was 60% liable for the attack because it failed to submit Kelleys assault conviction during his time in the Air Force to a national database. An Air Force record of the Kelley court-martial says he pleaded guilty to multiple specifications of assault, including striking his wife, choking her with his hands and kicking her. He also was convicted of striking his stepson on the head and body with a force likely to produce death or grievous bodily harm. In 2012, several months before his conviction in the domestic violence case, Kelley briefly escaped from a mental health center in New Mexico and got in trouble for bringing guns onto a military base and threatening his superiors there, police reports indicate. Deputies were called to Kelleys home in New Braunfels in June 2013 about the rape case and investigated for three months, Comal County Sheriff Mark Reynolds said. But it appeared that they stopped investigating after they believed Kelley left Texas and moved to Colorado. Reynolds said the case was then listed as inactive. Under Pentagon rules, information about convictions of military personnel in crimes like assault is supposed to be submitted to the FBIs Criminal Justice Investigation Services Division for inclusion in the National Criminal Information Center database. Story continues For unspecified reasons, the Air Force did not provide the information about Kelley as required. Lawyers for survivors and relatives of those killed had asked for $418 million, while the Justice Department proposed $31.8 million. Jamal Alsaffar, the Austin lawyer who led the plaintiffs' legal team, was pleased with the judge's award. These families are the heroes here. While no amount can bring back the many lives lost or destroyed at the hands of the governments negligence, their bravery in obtaining this verdict will make this country safer by helping ensure that this type of governmental failure does not happen in our country again," he said. Messages left Monday by The Associated Press with the Justice Department and Air Force were not immediately returned. The approximately 80 claimants include relatives of those killed and 21 survivors and their families. Authorities put the official death toll at 26 because one of the 25 people killed was pregnant. By Richard Lough PARIS (Reuters) - Emmanuel Picot says he and two friends were beaten up one summer night in 2019 near the river Seine in central Paris by men of apparent African origin - an unprovoked attack that has hardened his political views, driving him further to the right. The engineering student, now aged 23, says he suffered a broken knee cap and bruised face in the assault. He shows photos he said were taken after the incident of his black eye and his knee in a brace. Reuters could not verify his account. Picot said the assault had left him convinced there was a strong link between immigration and street crime - a belief that has led him to back far-right candidate Eric Zemmour in the presidential election due in April. Zemmour, 63, who holds convictions for inciting racial hate, says he wants to become president to save France from a decline that he blames on what he describes as uncontrolled immigration and on Islam. "The assault ... pushed me towards a political camp that protects the French," Picot told Reuters on the embankment near Notre-Dame Cathedral where he says he and his two white friends were attacked. Politics in France today, Picot said, was split between those "who are there to look after the French and ensure we can live serenely" and those inclined to say "we'll let everyone in because we're kind and sweet, whatever the risk". Zemmour says the solution to street crime is not more police but fewer immigrants. France does not publish data, including on crime, based on race or ethnicity. Political scientist Virginie Martin called Zemmour's rhetoric around immigration absurd. "With Zemmour ... it's as if immigrants have street crime running through their veins, as if they can't stop themselves," said Martin. "He points the finger at the LGBT community, he points a finger at women, at immigrants, at people whose colour of skin is not white, at people who aren't of Christian culture." Story continues Right-wing politicians linking immigration and street crime cite justice ministry data showing a disproportionate number of foreigners in jail. Their opponents on the left and sociologists say any correlation is the result of social inequality. UNITING THE RIGHT? Picot, who grew up in the affluent Paris suburb of Sevres, the youngest of seven children to Catholic parents, said the conservative Les Republicains party had been his natural political home but that its presidential candidate, Valerie Pecresse, was too soft on immigration and crime. Zemmour wants to unite the far right and voters like Picot who have traditionally voted for the mainstream right. Opinion polls put Zemmour behind President Emmanuel Macron, his main far-right challenger Marine Le Pen and Pecresse in the race for the Elysee. Asked what the France he dreamed of looked like, Picot, who wears a cygnet ring bearing his family coat of arms, expressed nostalgia for an era his grandparents had described when streets were safe and people took pride in the country's history, including its darker moments. Zemmour, a writer and broadcaster who is the son of Berber Jews from Algeria, has described immigration as "the mother of all battles". On the campaign trail he seeks to reach out to voters he says feel foreign in their own country. In a debate with far-left presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon, Zemmour said he wanted to defend France's heritage. "You are a racist," Melenchon retorted. Picot said it was not Zemmour's rhetoric that was violent, but the reality of modern day France. He denied that his beliefs, and Zemmour's politics, were anti-diversity, calling them pro-France instead. Their message to immigrants, he said, was clear: "You can live in France if you respect certain rules and if you accept certain conditions, in particular becoming French." (Reporting by Richard Lough; additional reporting by Elizabeth Pineau and Layli Foroudi; Editing by Gareth Jones and Andrew Heavens) By Renju Jose and Jamie Freed SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australia said on Monday it will reopen its borders to vaccinated travellers this month, ending two years of misery for the tourism sector, reviving migration and injecting billions of dollars into the world No. 13 economy. The move effectively calls time on the last main component of Australia's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which it has attributed to relatively low death and infection rates. The other core strategy, stop-start lockdowns, was shelved for good in December. The country had taken steps in recent months to relax border controls, like allowing in skilled migrants and quarantine-free travel arrangements - "travel bubbles" - with select countries like New Zealand. But the reopening, which takes effect on Feb. 21, represents the first time since March 2020 that people can travel to Australia from anywhere in the world as long as they are vaccinated. "If you're double-vaccinated, we look forward to welcoming you back to Australia," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said at a media briefing in Canberra. The tourism industry, which has relied on the domestic market that has itself been heavily impacted by movement restrictions, welcomed the decision which comes three months before Morrison is due to face an election. "Over the two years since the borders have been closed the industry has been on its knees," said Australian Tourism Export Council Managing Director Peter Shelley by phone. "Now we can turn our collective efforts towards rebuilding an industry that is in disrepair," he added. Tourism and Transport Forum CEO Margy Osmond said the industry was "thrilled" by the reopening, but would need coordination to ensure Australia was competitive as a destination. "It's not as simple as just turning on the tap and we see numbers of international tourists back where they were pre-COVID," she told reporters. Story continues International and domestic tourism losses since the start of the pandemic totalled A$101.7 billion ($72 billion), according to government body Tourism Research Australia. International travel spending in Australia plunged from A$44.6 billion in the 2018-19 financial year to A$1.3 billion in 2020-21, TRA said. Shares of tourism-related stocks soared as investors cheered the prospect of a return to profit growth. Shares of the country's main airline Qantas Airways Ltd jumped 5% while shares of travel agent Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd surged 8%. Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said in a statement the company was looking at flight schedules to determine ways to restart flights from more international locations soon. As elsewhere in the world, Australian COVID cases have soared in recent weeks due to the Omicron variant which medical experts say may be more transmissable but less virulent than previous strains. But with more than nine in 10 Australians aged over 16 fully vaccinated, new cases and hospitalisations appear to have slowed, the authorities say. The country reported just over 23,000 new infections on Monday, its lowest for 2022 and far from a peak of 150,000 around a month ago. Morrison meanwhile said the government would send up to 1,700 Australian Defence Force personnel to fill staffing shortages in the aged care sector, following complaints of understaffing and fatigue due to increased pressures brought by the pandemic. Around 2.4 million cases have been recorded in Australia since the first Omicron case was detected in Australia in November. Until then, Australia had counted only around 200,000 cases. Total deaths stand at 4,248 since the pandemic began. ($1 = 1.4106 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Renju Jose and Jamie Freed; Writing by Byron Kaye; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman, Stephen Coates and Michael Perry) Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard have said they shot a one-year-old Venezuelan boy while trying to intercept a migrant boat (Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard/Facebook) A one-year-old Venezuelan boy was shot dead in his mothers arms after Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard officers opened fire while trying to intercept a migrant boat on Sunday. Authorities from the Caribbean country claim they were acting in self-defence and said the boats captain ignored their warnings to turn back. Venezuelan leaders and human rights activists have criticised the use of deadly force and called for a full investigation. The child has been identified as Ya Elvis Santiago, the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian reported. His mother Darie Elvis Eliagnis Sarabia was also injured and was taken to the Sangre Grande Hospital. The mother, her son and a daughter had been trying to reunite with the childrens father in Trinidad, and were among a group of 20 Venezuelan immigrants onboard the vessel, family said. Coast Guard public affairs officer Kerron Valere said the crew initially tried to intercept the migrant boat using horn, searchlight, flares and warning shots, but it continued forward and tried to ram the boat, in a statement published on Facebook. Mr Valere said the crew members feared for their lives as the larger migrant vessel continued to act in an aggressive manner, and fired at the boat. It was only after the ship had stopped that the Coast Guard became aware there were migrants hidden on board, according to the statement. The wounded mother was stabilised onboard the ship, but her son was found unresponsive. The Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard extends sincerest condolences to the family and loved ones of the infant and takes the opportunity to wish the injured female a speedy recovery, the statement read. Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido denounced the deaths in a post on Twitter. The death of a Venezuelan boy, who along with his mother fled from the dictatorship, hurts our soul as a country. The shots fired by the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard are unjustified, they killed him. Mr Guaido said the dictatorship of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro had caused more than six million citizens to flee. Story continues We claim the right of our people to receive protection and seek refuge, as they flee a complex humanitarian emergency and human rights violation. The southern tip of Trinidad and Tobago lies just 11kms off the coast of Venezuela and has become a common route for those trying to escape the South American countrys economic meltdown. The southern tip of Trinidad is just a few kilometers off the coast of Venezuela (Google Maps) The mothers sister-in-law, Daicelis Salgado, told the Washington Post she had tried to convince the boats captain to turn around when they first encountered the Coast Guard. But the Guard followed them and started shooting at the engines, Ms Salgado told the Post. She was close to the engine. She said she felt something hit her in the chest and immediately looked down and saw the babys head broken. She had him in her chest when she was shot. Trinidad human rights lawyer Nafeesa Mohammed described the shooting as barbaric. MILAN Renato Balestra, known for his couture gowns, signature painterly embroidery, blend of different fabrics and transparencies, and even a distinctive color Balestra blue is seeing his brands heritage revisited by his family to update it for the times. I prefer to say we are reloading the brand, rather than revamping it, because we have specific targets and goals we are aiming at, said the designers granddaughter, Sofia Bertolli Balestra. During an exclusive interview with WWD here, she is clearly fully charged, bubbling with ideas and energy. More from WWD Steering Balestras research, development and brand identity, Bertolli Balestra has been building the brands impressive archive, which includes over 40,000 sketches and drawings, hundreds of gowns, videos and newspaper articles, and declared of historical interest by the Italian Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities. The brand will present its first ready-to-wear collection as part of the new course at a presentation during Milan Fashion Week on Feb. 24. Renamed simply Balestra in sync with other storied brands focusing on the surname of the founder the label will have a new logo in a new font. However, it will link with the couturier, as it revisits the hand-drawn version designed by Renato Balestra in 1971 and appears in his signature color. The new Balestra logo. - Credit: image courtesy of Balestra image courtesy of Balestra We waited for the right moment to present the project, and I believe now there is more attention to the product, after the pandemic slowed everything down, contended Bertolli Balestra. She emphasized the all-female leadership team as the brand remains privately owned by the family, with the founders daughters Fabiana Sofias mother and Federica Balestra at the head of the fashion house, touting as well as its made in Italy production and craftsmanship. Bertolli Balestra has been developing a new conceptual website and visual identity to reflect this new beginning with a contemporary aesthetic. We are changing, exploring and evolving new languages for a wider community, she said. We want to engage with and inspire a new generation, reinventing our signature optimism and glamour with an authentic contemporary twist. Balestra is creativity through generations. Story continues The brand is designed by a team and the plan is to continue to create couture looks. Renato Balestra, who is now 97, opened his first atelier in Rome in 1959, where the company is still based, after an apprenticeship with Jole Veneziani and working for the likes of Emilio Schubert, Maria Antonelli and Sorelle Fontana. Born into a family of architects and engineers, he stood out for his artistic spirit and was defined as the painter of fashion. A Renato Balestra look from the spring 1987 collection. - Credit: image courtesy of Balestra image courtesy of Balestra His strong passion for cinema led him to design costumes for Ava Gardner in The Barefoot Contessa and The Sun Also Rises; for Gina Lollobrigida in Beautiful but Dangerous; for Sophia Loren in Lucky to Be a Woman, and for Candice Bergen in The Adventurers, among others, becoming a favorite of movie stars including Elizabeth Taylor, Claudia Cardinale and Carroll Baker, to name a few. He designed exclusive collections for Isetan in Tokyo as well as Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Foleys, Neiman Marcus and Lord & Taylor. In 1970, he included mens looks in a womens fashion show a pioneer in creating unisex collections on coed catwalks, underscored his granddaughter. Renato Balestra in 1965. - Credit: image courtesy of Balestra image courtesy of Balestra Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. PORT ST. LUCIE Trina Long and her family and Demetrius Gollett and his family took turns Monday affixing organ donation decals to St. Lucie County Fire District vehicles, sharing their stories about how a loved one's death could help save lives. Longs son, Logan Daily, 30, died in October 2019 after a car crash in Port St. Lucie. Daily was an organ donor, and his tissue and cornea donations impacted more than 500 people. Surprisingly it has helped in this grieving process to know that his life benefited so many, Long said. If I can share Logan's story, if people can become more aware of how many lives can actually be affected by organ donation and tissue donation, then the more lives my son's life will impact, so it's a ripple effect. And it's a beautiful gift. Trina Long, of Port St. Lucie, and her two grandchildren Liam Daily (left), 9, and Anthony Daily, 13, finish placing an Organ Donation Saves Lives decal on the side of an ambulance at St. Lucie Fire District station 3 in Port St. Lucie on Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, in honor of Longs son Logan Daily, 30, an organ donor, who was killed in a car crash in October 2019. Logan Dailys eyes and tissue helped 543 people, including six burn victims that received skin grafts. Those decals will be placed on all fire trucks throughout St. Lucie County. This week is known nationally as Burn Awareness Week. Dailys children, Anthony Daily, 13, and Liam Daily, 9, and Long helped place a sticker reading "Organ Donation Saves Lives" and "Donate Life" on a Fire District truck at station 3 on Northwest Ravenswood Lane in Port St. Lucie. Hero dog: Sarah, a beagle mix, helps rescue 81-year-old man from pond in Port St. Lucie 'I'm happy that they saved me': Firefighters saved his life when he was 8 years old. Seven years later, he gets the chance to thank them. Pedestrian death: Man jailed on charges including DUI manslaughter after leaving fatal crash, FHP says Meanwhile, Demetrius Gollett, 17, of Fort Pierce, and his family did the same to another Fire District vehicle. Demetrius has had dozens of medical procedures after a fire Feb. 18, 2013, at his great-grandparents' Fort Pierce home. His great-grandmother died that day and, two months later, his great-grandfather succumbed to injuries caused by the fire. It saves lives, Demetrius said of organ donation, noting he encourages people to become donors. Demetriuss mother, Chiquita Andrews, 41, of Fort Pierce, said skin grafts gave her son a normal life. Story continues He was able to do normal activities such as anyone would be able to do daily, Andrews said. So it has made a big difference in his life and appearance. Burn victim Demetrius Gollett, 17, of Fort Pierce, places an Organ Donation Saves Lives decal on the side of an firetruck, with the help from his mother Chiquita Andrews and grandmother Delores Andrews (foreground) at the St. Lucie Fire District station 3 in Port St. Lucie on Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, in recognition of Burn Awareness Week. Gollett was severely burned during a fire that killed his grandparents in February 2013 and received skin grafts to aid in his recovery. Long, 59, said her son was a cornea donation recipient when he was 16 after a paintball injury in North Carolina. It's because of the gentleman that so selflessly gave that my son could have sight that Logan decided to register to be an organ donor, Long said. Registering to be an organ donor, you also register at that time to be an eye and tissue donor as well. Long said her son had gotten off work at a car dealership in Fort Pierce shortly before the crash happened on U.S. 1. Daily didnt live long enough to be a vital organ donor. But through his cornea and his tissue donation, he was able to improve the lives of 543 people, Long said. Andrews said her son is an example of the importance of becoming a donor. It does save lives and there are patients who need the help, Andrews said. By donating, you're giving another person a chance of life. Its a point stressed by Ralph Pagano, who said he benefited from donations. Pagano said he owns a number of restaurants in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Pagano attended the Monday event and expressed thanks to Legacy Donor Services Foundation. Legacy is a tissue bank that works throughout Florida, and is involved with skin for burn patients, tendons and bones for rehabilitation or back or neck surgery, according to Patricia Darrigan, director of public relations and communications for the organization. Pagano said he was injured in 2017 while opening a restaurant in The Bahamas. A gas leak in the kitchen blew up as he was in the middle of the room, Pagano said. He said he sustained third-degree burns to 40 percent of his body. If it wasn't for what they do and the science behind it, I wouldn't be here in the situation that I'm in right now, he said. I couldn't be any more thankful. Darrigan said Legacy has its roots in a tissue bank at the University of Miami in 1970, but in 2014 became Legacy Donor Services. Those who wish to become organ, tissue and eye donors can get more information at DonateLifeFlorida.org/Register, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Delores Andrews, Demetriuss grandmother, said Demetrius is expected to have his 40th surgery in Miami in March. Those who wish to support them can call Delores Andrews 772-359-0224 or Chiquita Andrews at 772-940-4468 or contact Chiquita Andrews at andrewsc130@outlook.com. Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on Twitter @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-692-8936. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com If you're a subscriber, thank you. If not, become a subscriber to get the latest breaking news and crime coverage. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Burn Awareness Week: Port St. Lucie holds event Monday Former U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, an avid and longtime proponent of school choice, headlined a virtual kick-off on Feb. 2 for a GOP-supported ballot measure opponents argue would suck funds out of public schools. I trust parents and I believe in students. Unfortunately, that doesnt seem to be a shared value in Lansing, DeVos told parents and supporters during the Let MI Kids Learn Facebook livestream Wednesday morning. Ive been told what many of you have been told over the years: Sit down, go away. This isnt your role. Youre not the expert, were the experts. Leave it to us, said DeVos, a former Michigan GOP chair who ran the U.S. Education Department under former President Donald Trump. Well, I happen to believe that the best expert for a child is that childs family. Its why I believe that we have to change the power structure in education and give students and families more control. Sign up here for The 74s daily newsletter. Donate here to support The 74's independent journalism. DeVos joined a panel of pro-school choice parents during the virtual event to launch the Let MI Kids Learn initiative. The ballot initiative was unveiled by Republicans in November to create a school voucher-style system that would use public tax dollars to fund private education. Opponents argue the plan violates the Michigan Constitution. In 1970, voters passed the Blaine Amendment, which prohibits public money from going to private schools. And opponents to these bills say they violate that constitutional amendment. The DeVos family already had given the measure $350,000, plus $25,000 from the DeVos-backed Great Lakes Education Project, the Detroit News reports. Other big donors include Get Families Back to Work, which has the same address as the Republican Governors Association, and gave $800,000. The State Government Leadership Fund, an offshoot of the Republican State Leadership Committee, also contributed $475,000. Story continues The initiative came after Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer vetoed voucher-style education bills earlier that month that would have given tax credits to Michiganders who contributed to a scholarship program for non-public schools. But now, since the Let MI Kids Learn ballot drive has been approved by the state Board of Canvassers, supporters including the powerful right-wing DeVos family can begin drumming up support and collecting signatures. If the group successfully collects 340,000 signatures, the GOP-controlled Legislature will be able to vote the petition into law instead of voters deciding in November. Whitmers signature is not needed for this to happen, nor can the Democratic governor veto the measure. Im more fired up now than ever. Its hard to believe anyone would oppose this opportunity, DeVos said Wednesday. Democrats and groups like AFT Michigan a union which represents 35,000 educators and healthcare providers in schools across the state oppose the measure and others like it, arguing they redirect public dollars from already-struggling public schools to fund tuition for private educations. The Michigan Parent Alliance for Safe Schools (MiPASS) also opposes the initiative. Members released a statement Wednesday blasting DeVos for exploiting the pandemic to push her charter school agenda. Now is not the time to be siphoning money from community schools and giving it to for-profit charters and that is exactly what the DeVos initiative will do, said Katie Deck, a Livingston County parent and MiPASS organizer. Former Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos speaks with state and local leaders from Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio, in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Thursday, October 3, 2019. (Stephanie Chasez via Flickr Public Domain) Furthermore, it is deeply concerning that DeVos is partnering with conspiracy theory driven groups like Moms for Liberty that have been terrorizing school board members, employees and teachers. Now is the time to bring people together to support our kids and classrooms, not tear them apart. Moms for Liberty is a conservative nonprofit organization that has been fighting against mask and vaccine mandates across the country, including in Michigan. Several hundred members from the groups Livingston County chapter were booted by Facebook in December for reportedly sharing disinformation about COVID-19 and bullying. The group has also called for parents to participate in a mass exodus from public schools. DeVos, one of Trumps most controversial cabinet picks, hails from West Michigan. She and her family have been longtime champions for school choice and have led initiatives to promote it across the country while donating millions to conservative candidates and causes. The Dick & Betsy DeVos Family Foundation has also donated millions to both charter and Christian schools. Dick DeVos unsuccessfully ran for governor as a Republican in 2006. Students dont have to be held hostage any longer and schools that needlessly remain closed or stuck in schools that dont offer the courses they want to take. Parents dont have to send their kids to schools that dont care what mom and dad think, DeVos said. Currently, there are virtually no COVID-19 restrictions in the state. Still, some schools and businesses are choosing to close down due COVID-19 surges. During the virtual event Tuesday, DeVos asked parents on the panel questions about what made them want to homeschool their children or move them to a private school before urging supporters to spread the word about the petition. To one parent who spoke about her son struggling to find what he can offer to the world, DeVos said, I hope you dont beat yourself up over that lack of opportunity for your son. But I hope that you will turn that into advocacy for really recognizing that we need to have wide ranges of options and menus for students to pursue and exposing them to them at a much younger age. This story was originally published on February 2, 2022 by Michigan Advance. Michigan Advance is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Michigan Advance maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Susan Demas for questions: info@michiganadvance.com. Follow Michigan Advance on Facebook and Twitter. Related: Sign up for The 74s newsletter WASHINGTON President Joe Biden on Monday said the U.S. would bring an end to the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline if Russia invades Ukraine. If Russia invades that means tanks or troops crossing the border of Ukraine then there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it. Biden said while standing next to the new chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz, at a White House news conference. When pressed for details on how he would keep that promise given that the pipeline is not under U.S. control, Biden did not elaborate. I promise you, we will be able to do it, he told reporters. Scholz, meanwhile, declined to take a firm stance on the fate of Nord Stream 2, telling reporters that Germany was acting together with its allies and promising very, very harsh steps against Russia if it invades Ukraine. The U.S. has warned that the pipeline could make Germany overly reliant on Russia for energy. The Ukrainian government, which will lose out on a substantial amount of revenue due to the new pipeline, has called Nord Stream 2 an existential threat to its security. Scholz has faced scrutiny over the pipeline, which bypasses Ukrainian transit infrastructure to deliver Russian gas directly to Germany. The pipeline has been built but is not yet operational. Biden also cautioned Monday that Americans in Ukraine who are not U.S. government employees should leave the country. "I think it would be wise to leave the country," Biden said. "Id hate to see them get caught in a crossfire." The United States and its NATO partners have expressed increasing concern that Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has positioned 100,000 troops near the Ukraine border, plans to invade sometime soon. Image: President Joe Biden holds a joint news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the White House on Feb. 7, 2022. (Leah Millis / Reuters) Biden went on to say that while Putin is "in a position now to be able to invade," the U.S. does not know whether he will take that step. "What he's going to do, I don't know. And I don't think anybody knows but him," Biden said. Story continues Scholz, who took over leadership of his country in December, has faced sharp criticism at home and abroad for not playing a more active role in addressing tensions between Russia and Ukraine. Scholz has refused to send arms to Ukraine, instead offering 5,000 helmets, which Kyivs mayor, Vitali Klitschko, dismissed as "a joke." And Scholz has also declined to specify what type of sanctions he would support if Russia were to invade. Scholz faced scrutiny over the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline, a 745-mile natural gas pipeline that bypasses Ukrainian transit infrastructure to deliver Russian gas directly to Germany. Image: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Joe Biden speak to reporters before the start of a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office at the White House on Feb. 7, 2022. (Al Drago / The New York Times-Pool/Getty Images) The two leaders were also expected to discuss the coronavirus pandemic, climate change, and economic and security issues, the White House said ahead of Monday's meeting. BAGHDAD, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Iraq's parliament on Monday failed to hold a session to vote on a new president due to a lack of quorum and political disputes among parliamentary political blocs. A source from the parliament's media office told Xinhua that the session was indefinitely postponed due to a lack of the required two-thirds quorum of the 329-seat parliament, and turned into a meeting to address various topics. "We didn't attend today's session because our candidate Hoshyar Zebari was suspended due to a decision by the Federal Supreme Court, and no one can obtain the quorum unless we are present," Mishaan al-Jubouri, a lawmaker from the Sunni al-Siyada Alliance, told Xinhua. Zebari was the candidate of the Sadrist Movement, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), and al-Siyada Alliance to run for presidential election. On Sunday, the federal court decided to suspend the nomination of Zebari as a candidate for the presidency until a corruption lawsuit against him would be resolved. Later on Sunday, the KDP, headed by the Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani, and the al-Siyada Alliance, headed by Sunni businessman Khamis al-Khanjar, decided to boycott Monday's parliament session to pave the way for further negotiations between the political blocs. On Feb. 5, the Sadrist Movement, loyal to Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, which won 73 seats out of 329 seats, also decided to boycott Monday's parliament session. On Jan. 31, the Iraqi parliament announced the names of 25 candidates for the presidential election scheduled for Feb. 7, including incumbent President Barham Salih who represents the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, former Foreign Minister and Finance Minister Zebari from the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), and Rizgar Mohammed Amin, former chief judge of the Iraqi Special Tribunal that organized the trial of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. According to the Iraqi constitution, lawmakers should elect a new Iraqi president from the candidates by a two-thirds majority of its members, and the president will be limited to serving two four-year terms. Once elected, the new president will ask the largest parliamentary alliance to name a prime minister-designate to form a government within 30 days. On Oct. 10, 2021, Iraq held the fifth parliamentary election, where Shiite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's Sadrist Movement emerged as the biggest winner with 73 out of the 329 seats. President Biden speaks in the Roosevelt Room of the White House President Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Sunday about tensions in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, while also accepting his invitation to visit Israel. "The President thanked the Prime Minister for his invitation to visit Israel and said he looks forward to a visit later this year," the White House said in a statement about the call. During the call, the leaders also "discussed the recent U.S. operation against the ISIS leader in northwestern Syria and the ongoing U.S. commitment to protect the American people and support the defense of its partners across the Middle East region." The White House's statement also noted that Biden also voiced "his administration's full support for replenishing Israel's Iron Dome system," an air defense system meant to intercept short-range rockets. The leaders also spoke about the potential for Russian aggression against Ukraine and other matters including "the threat posed by Iran and its proxies." Israel has previously voiced concerns about the U.S.-led efforts to restore the Iranian nuclear deal of 2015, an agreement that former President Trump left in 2018. Israel, a long-time adversary of Iran, was also opposed to the initial agreement and argues that it will not keep Iran from developing nuclear weapons capabilities. Last week, a senior State Department official said that the U.S. and Iran only have "a handful of weeks left to get a deal." Boll weevil Kansas cotton producers are proposing that lawmakers create a prevention program for boll weevils, an insect that could decimate a crop of growing importance to the state's agricultural economy. Boll weevils are a beetle that feeds on cotton buds and flowers. The bugs are notorious for how a plague of the insects can wipe out a crop, which is why House Agriculture Committee members are taking up the issue. Rep. Ken Rahjes, R-Agra and the committee chair, even played part of Brook Benton's song, "The Boll Weevil," during Thursday's committee meeting. "Spoiler alert on the song, every time the farmer sees the weevil there's more of them, because they reproduce like crazy, and that is the truth," said Rex Friesen, a crop consultant for the Southern Kansas Cotton Growers Cooperative. The insect is native to Mexico but migrated to the United States in the late 19th century and had infested all major cotton-growing areas of the country by the 1920s, devastating the industry in the American South. History shows the bugs can be "completely devastating, wiping out cotton crops in states," said Brandi Miller, of the Kansas Cooperative Council. 'A boll weevil free state' House Bill 2559 would establish the Kansas cotton boll weevil program. Kyle Hamilton, an assistant revisor, said the program's board of directors would have the power to establish a cotton pest monitoring plan, including the authority to enter private property to inspect fields. If boll weevils or other pests are discovered, the board could develop an eradication plan. The bill would allow the board to levy an assessment on cotton bales, paid by the grower at the time of deposit at the cotton gin, to fund for the program. "This bill gives us tools we need to carry out the mission of maintaining a boll weevil free state," Friesen said. Cotton producers have already created a voluntary trapping program, but now they want the state to make participation mandatory. Story continues The growth in the state's cotton industry has surpassed the capacity of the voluntary program, Gary Feist of the Kansas Cotton Association testified. The state is unable to meet national minimum standards. The current voluntary charge is 50 cents per cotton bale. The new levy would be a mandatory levy of up to $2. Feist said the voluntary program currently has a surplus of $21,000, which could be used to spray pesticide in case there were an infestation. The program board could reduce the levy if the fund were to have excess money. Oklahoma also charges $2. The Kansas Farm Bureau and Kansas Department of Agriculture both back the bill. The committee received no opponent or neutral testimony. It plans to work the bill this week. More: Poaching threatens the ornate box turtle, Kansas' state reptile. Lawmakers are trying to help Protecting a $82M industry While Kansas is known as the Wheat State, cotton is expected to continue taking over more acreage amid water supply problems, especially in the southwest corner of the state. Cotton is more drought resistant and requires less water than other crops grown in the region. Kansas State University researchers are studying how best to grow cotton in the state. The Kansas Department of Agriculture reported that a record high of 184,000 acres of cotton were harvested statewide in 2020. That's up from 54,000 in 2012. "Cotton has continued to grow in acreage in the state of Kansas," Miller said, "and so we've been hearing about the concerns from our neighbors about monitoring specifically to make sure that we don't introduce boll weevils into the state." Feist said a bale of cotton weights 480 pounds and currently sells for about $1.20 per pound which is much higher than the 60-70 cents he has historically seen. Dryland production is about 1.5 to 1.75 bales per acre, while irrigated land can produce two or three bales an acre. The state's 2020 harvest was worth about $82.6 million, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics. That year, the 184,000 acres harvested produced about 300,000 bales, valued at a little more than $0.58 per pound. Meanwhile, the state's corn production was valued at $3.3 billion, soybean yield came in at $2.1 billion, the wheat crop was worth $1.3 billion and sorghum was valued at $1.1 billion. Kansas infestation unlikely Rep. Brett Fairchild, R-St. John, noted the proposed mandatory program would be "100% funded by this new tax or fee or whatever you call it on cotton farmers." He asked whether state general fund money should be used to help fund the program. Kansas has a projected budget surplus of about $2.9 billion for the fiscal year. More: With $2.9 billion surplus, how will Kansas lawmakers spend your tax dollars or cut taxes this year? "We're having trouble even finding ways to spend that money," Fairchild said. "So I just thought that might be something that maybe could have been a better option, as far as transferring a little bit of money so that we're not imposing a new tax or fee on farmers." A National Cotton Association representative suggested that state funding would be welcome, but it is uncommon unless there is an active eradication. Rahjes, the committee chair, asked why Kansas needs to participate in the national efforts. "It's unlikely that we'll ever see them in Kansas because Oklahoma serves as a good buffer," Friesen said. Harvest equipment must be certified weevil-free before leaving the infestation area, as well as when crossing state lines. The risk may be slim, but it is still there, Friesen said. "Over these last few years, Kansas has been short of harvesters to handle the crop that we have," Friesen said. "We're becoming more and more self-sufficient. So the need for bringing in custom harvesters, especially from South Texas, I would expect that need to go down." Friesen said a boll weevil infestation knocks the fruit off the plant. Because of their biological cycle, once the population is established, it is "nearly impossible to get rid of them without very costly treatments." Rep. Michael Murphy, R-Sylvia, asked whether the weevils can survive a Kansas winter. "In my opinion, I think they would survive because they're excellent little critters in finding places to hide to pass the winter," Friesen said. "If cotton can survive, I think the weevils could, too." Risk from harvest equipment The insect was long ago eradicated from much of the United States, but it remains an ever-present threat to return, Friesen said. Friesen has experience as a pest management extension agent for cotton in Texas. Southern Texas near the Mexico border is the only place in the country where boll weevils are presently a pest. "Boll weevils continue to immigrate from Mexico, posing a constant threat to U.S. cotton production," Friesen said. While the federal government has been working with Mexico, eradication efforts there have not seen the same level of success. He said efforts to prevent the bugs from spreading in the U.S. have been "overwhelmingly successful." However, there is a possibility the weevils could fly or "hitchhike" on custom harvesting equipment that is moved across state lines. That's why other states in the Cotton Belt continue to have monitoring programs. "Kansas needs an independent, self-funded organization to manage trapping and associated tasks to guarantee the rapid detection and response to any boll weevil infestation, should it arise," Friesen said. Jason Tidd is a statehouse reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jtidd@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jason_Tidd. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Cotton farmers, lawmakers want to keep Kansas free of boll weevils The New York Times Oleg Y. Tinkov was worth more than $9 billion in November, renowned as one of Russias few self-made business tycoons after building his fortune outside the energy and minerals industries that were the playgrounds of Russian kleptocracy. Then, last month, Tinkov, the founder of one of Russias biggest banks, criticized the war in Ukraine in a post on Instagram. The next day, he said, President Vladimir Putins administration contacted his executives and threatened to nationalize his bank if it d The Brit Awards are almost upon us, and with that comes speculation over who will win each prize. The 2022 awards ceremony is the first to ditch gender-based awards, and so prizes such as Best Male Solo and Best Female Solo have been replaced with Artist of the Year. Despite fears that this would negatively impact the representation of women at the Brits, this years nominations include the biggest number of women or female-fronted acts in over a decade. Among the female and female-fronted acts nominated this year are groups Little Mix, Wolf Alice and London Grammar, rappers Little Simz and Doja Cat, and singers Adele, Dua Lipa, Joy Crookes, Griff and Self Esteem. Grime, rap and hip-hop artists have also fared well in this years set of nominations, with nods for Little Simz, Ghetts, AJ Tracey, Dave and newcomer Central Cee. Here are our predictions for each category: Artist of the Year Adele WILL WIN Dave Little Simz Ed Sheeran Sam Fender Reason: While each of these artists is a strong contender in their own right, Adeles comeback was without a doubt the biggest event for the music industry since the 2021 Brits. The fact shes attending the ceremony also suggests the Brits organisers dont plan on sending her home empty-handed... Album of the Year Little Simz is up for her first round of Brit nominations this year (Getty Images) 30 Adele Were All Alone In This Together Dave Sometimes I Might Be Introvert Little Simz WILL WIN = (Equals) Ed Sheeran Seventeen Going Under Sam Fender Reason: Again, any of these albums could win, so then you think about who really deserves it... Little Simz has been snubbed by the Brits until now, so they have some making up to do. Also, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert is an extraordinarily accomplished, ambitious album, which The Independent picked as its 2021 Album of the Year. Best Group Little Mix Coldplay D-Block Europe Wolf Alice WILL WIN London Grammar Reason: Wolf Alices latest album Blue Weekend is a spectacular record that earned them a second run at the Mercury Prize last year, along with five-star reviews across the board. With some exceptions, this category tends to favour rock-based acts previous winners have included Arctic Monkeys, Royal Blood and Foals... it would be great to see a female-fronted act win this time round. Story continues Song of the Year Justin Bieber is up for a Brit with Kid Laroi (Getty Images) Latest Trends A1 and J1 Easy on Me Adele Dont Play Annie-Marie, KSI, Digital Farm Animals Remember Becky Hill with David Guetta Obsessed With You Central Cee Clash Dave ft Stormzy Bad Habits Ed Sheeran Cold Heart (PNAU Remix) Elton John, Dua Lipa Heat Waves Glass Animals WILL WIN Bed Joel Corry, Raye, David Guetta Holiday KSI Wellerman (220 Kid and Billen Ted Remix) Nathan Evans Friday (Dopamine Re-edit) Riton x Nightcrawlers ft Mufasa and Hypeman Body Tion Wayne and Russ Millions Little Bit of Love Tom Grennan Reason: Ed Sheeran and Adele might be the heavyweights in this category, but Glass Animals did what neither one of them could when sleeper hit Heat Waves broke the record for the longest climb to the Top 5 in the history of the US Hot 100, after 51 weeks. Its also a fantastic song... Best New Artist Central Cee WILL WIN Griff Joy Crookes Little Simz Self Esteem Reason: Self Esteem has a good shot at this, after her debut topped a number of critics lists in 2021 as the album of the year. But Central Cee is the rising star of UK rap; his debut mixtape Wild West debuted at No 2 on the UK Albums Chart, with his second scheduled for release later this month. Meanwhile, his single Obsessed with You, which sampled fellow up-and-comer PinkPantheress, went viral on TikTok and currently has more than 90 million streams on Spotify. Rock/Alternative Sam Fender (Charlotte Patmore) Coldplay Glass Animals Sam Fender WILL WIN Tom Grennan Wolf Alice Reason: Sam Fenders second album Seventeen and Going Under was a superb follow-up to his 2019 debut Hypersonic Missiles, and topped the UK charts to boot. Hes demonstrated a songwriting ability like few others his age, while his sound revels in the Americana stylings of artists such as Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty a real breath of fresh air for the UK. Hip hop/grime/rap Dave WILL WIN Little Simz AJ Tracey Central Cee Ghetts Reason: Dave has fared well at the Brits in the past, winning Best British Album for his debut Psychodrama in 2020. The classically trained pianist is also performing at this years ceremony it would be a real surprise if he doesnt get to walk out onto that stage more than once. Dance Becky Hill Calvin Harris Fred Again Joel Corry Raye WILL WIN Raye experienced a tumultuous 12 months after revealing difficulties with her former label, Polydor, before announcing shed gone solo. Shes done exceedingly well in the dance-pop world, with hit singles including Bed with Joel Corry and Secrets with Regard. It seems about time she gets some recognition. Pop/R&B Ed Sheeran performs during the 2021 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) at the Papp Laszlo Budapest Sportarena in Budapest in November (Ian West/PA) (PA Wire) Adele Dua Lipa Ed Sheeran WILL WIN Griff Joy Crooks Reason: Adele might be serious competition, but it seems highly unlikely that the Brits organisers would see one of its most successful artists walk away without a single prize particularly after releasing a new album, = (Equals). International Artist Billie Eilish Doja Cat Lil Nas X WILL WIN Olivia Rodrigo Taylor Swift Reason: We were tempted to pick Billie Eilish for this prize, but she won last year. Instead, we reckon Lil Nas X could get the award after releasing his resplendent debut album Montero which hit No 2 in the US and the UK in September last year. International Group Maneskin perform at the American Music Awards 2021 (Getty Images for MRC) Abba BTS Maneskin WILL WIN Silk Sonic/ Bruno Mars/ Anderson. Paak The War on Drugs Reason: Plenty of strong contenders, including K-pop titans BTS, but Maneskin had a huge 2021 including their Eurovision triumph, touring with the Rolling Stones, and becoming the first Italian act to have two songs in the UK Top 10 at the same time. Theyve been credited with helping revive the rock scene in the US, and appeared on late-night shows including Jimmy Fallon. Theyre also loads of fun, so we can see them causing a stir on Brits night. International Song of the Year Your Love (9pm) ATB x Topic x A7S Happier Than Ever - Billie Eilish Love Nwantiti (ah ah ah) Ckay Kiss Me More Doja Cat ft Sza Girls Want Girl Drake ft Lil Baby Heartbreak Anthem Galantis, David Guetta, Little Mix Black Magic Jonasu Stay Justin Bieber, Kid Laroi WILL WIN Montero (Call Me by Your Name) Lil Nas X Calling My Phone Lil Tjay ft 6lack Wanna Be Your Slave Maneskin Good 4 U Olivia Rodrigo Rap Star Polo G The Business Tiesto Save Your Tears The Weeknd Reason: Really, it could be any of them, but the strongest contenders are Bieber with Kid Laroi, The Weeknd, Billie Eilish, Maneskin and Lil Nas X. Were going with Biebs simply because its the biggest, with more than 1.4 billion streams on Spotify. The Brit Awards 2022 take place on Tuesday 8 February everything you need to know about the ceremony is here Jennifer Dodds and Bruce Mouat face Norway again for a place in the Olympic final (Andrew Milligan/PA) (PA Wire) Jennifer Dodds and Bruce Mouat are relishing the prospect of immediate revenge as they prepare to face Norway for a place in the mixed curling gold medal match at the Beijing Olympics on Monday. Dodds and Mouat rounded off their round-robin programme with a 8-4 win over the United States on Monday morning, a result which confirmed a semi-final meeting with Norway, to whom they lost 6-2 on Sunday night. Dodds and Mouat beat the Norwegian duo Kristen Skaslien and Magnus Nedregotten 9-7 in the final of last years World Championship in Aberdeen. Bruce Mouat and Jennifer Dodds lost to Norway in the round-robin phase (Andrew Milligan/PA) (PA Wire) Its going to be a battle out there tonight, said Dodds. If we tighten up the errors we made against them last night, it will be a close game every time we have played them so far has always been close. Obviously we didnt play our best against them last night, but after that performance against the USA, I think we can take a lot of confidence into tonights match. Dodds and Mouat had the luxury of going into their final game secure in the knowledge that their semi-final berth and with it a guaranteed shot at a medal was secured by virtue of their overall record. It's going to be a battle out there tonight. If we tighten up the errors we made against them last night, it will be a close game - every time we have played them so far as always been close. Jennifer Dodds The British duo ended the round-robin phase in third place with six wins from their nine games, behind the Norwegians and Italy who won all nine of their group matches and will face fourth-placed Sweden in the last four. Despite a strong start, Dodds and Mouat have struggled for consistency throughout the tournament but will be bolstered by the manner of their win over the US, and also by a proven ability on the big occasion, having claimed the world title on home soil last year. This is what weve dreamed of for a long time to be in a semi-final in our first Olympics is exactly what weve trained for and envisaged. Story continues It was very important (to beat the US) for our momentum going forward. We just have to keep going and battle really hard tonight. We are going to be a bit more clinical than yesterday. Skaslien and Nedregotten received a retrospective bronze medal from the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang following the expulsion of the team from the Russian Olympic Committee due to a doping offence. The winners of Monday nights semi-final go through to the gold medal match in Beijing on Tuesday night, while the losers contest the bronze on Tuesday afternoon. After taking ownership of Burgaw's Pender Landing, a Charlotte-based commercial real estate company is looking to expand its footprint in Burgaw. New South Properties of the Carolinas, LLC. is planning to make changes to the Food Lion Anchored Center at 602 U.S. 117. Broker Mark Petrone said the company is in the process of doing a major uplift of the area with painting, new roofs and plans for a new parking lot. "We're just waiting on some COVID delays to resolve themselves before we repave the parking lot," he said. "Basically, we're breathing a lot of life into the center." New South Properties purchased the area a few years ago. At one point in time, they owned about 10 shopping centers with the grocery store chain nearby. In addition to Food Lion, some of the other Pender Landing tenants include Subway, MeMa's Chick'n' & Ribs, Southern Real Estate, Co., Silhouette Salon, and a martial arts studio. A variety of shopping and dining options are available at Pender Landing in Burgaw As the owners of Bandanas Restaurant and Grill are planning to retire, New South Properties is working to find a new tenant for that 4,800 square-foot spot and another nearby suite, which is 2,750 square feet. More: As businesses leave downtown Burgaw, officials hope its 'Hallmark feel' offers resurgence "We're going to be super excited to have a new younger entrepreneur coming into our space and it's going to benefit the town," he said. "We love working with local people and it really helps everybody. It benefits the town, there's local faces and everybody doesn't love just seeing McDonald's on the corner." Landing in the right spots New South Properties is looking to build in other areas beyond the shopping center. Petrone said there is a lot of active interest from national brands and said it's great for economic development and job growth. When it comes to big brands they work with, Petrone said high traffic counts and closeness to interstates are major needs for their numbers. In Burgaw, U.S. 117 intersects with N.C. 53. Story continues "Traffic is increasing and the city of Wilmington is growing, so there is a lot going on," he said. There's a lot of interest from national brands, which brings interest from developers. Obviously there going to work with people in the town to develop that land and brings those brands which brings jobs, growth, and benefits to everybody. It's an exciting time." Owners of the Pender Landing Shopping Center are continuing the make investments in Burgaw. Like us on Facebook: Head to Pender Today to join the conversation on county events and issues More: 'That is Burgaw': What's next for iconic downtown storefront with 'personality'? At the moment due to confidential business matters, the interests from the companies could not be disclosed. Some of the listed retail clients include Chick-fil-A, Staples, Dominoes, UPS, and Panda Express. Wells Fargo, Fairway Investments, Grubb Properties, and Vulcan Materials Company. Petrone mentioned Pender County experiencing a good pace of economic has a lot to do with getting consideration from big name companies. "The entire state is seeing a resurgence as more and more people are moving to North Carolina, which is exciting especially for a lot these smaller towns that missed economic growth over the last 10 to 20 years," Petrone said. "They now can experience it. As these smaller metros like Wilmington grow, you see people a little farther out to get more value and peace of mind or whatever fits their bill. Communities like Burgaw can really benefit from it." More: 'Breath of fresh air': Burgaw's next mayor the first woman elected already inspiring Mayor Oliva Dawson said Pender Landing is another great asset to Burgaw, in addition to the charm welcoming visitors through banners and decorations during holidays such as Christmas. "Pender Landing has been a long standing development providing space for many businesses, Food Lion, restaurants, and much more," Dawson said. "It has always been a location located off the interstate and highway, now along with Walmart and the fast food restaurants this remains as the first impression of coming into Burgaw before visiting the downtown area. The addition of the nice light poles, Christmas decor, and now banners welcoming you to Burgaw adds to the charm that Burgaw offers to its locals and visitors." Reporter Chase Jordan can be reached at cjjordan@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Real estate broker, big brands eye Burgaw's growing highway corridor The Minneapolis judge who presided over Derek Chauvin's state murder trial was on duty when the warrant was signed that led to the fatal police shooting of Amir Locke last Wednesday. Judge Peter Cahill was the signing judge last week, which means that he would have reviewed and signed off on applications for search warrants, a spokesman for the Hennepin County District Court said in a statement. "The warrant granting authority to search the apartment is not publicly available so the Court cannot comment whether Judge Cahill specifically signed that application," the spokesman, Matt Lehman, said. "Judge Cahill cannot comment on this particular application or any application for a search warrant because the Minnesota Code of Judicial Conduct (Rule 2.10) prohibits judges or Court staff from commenting on active or pending cases." Cahill was thrust into the media spotlight last year after he was picked to oversee the trial that ended in former Minneapolis Police Officer Chauvin's conviction on charges of second- and third-degree murder, as well as second-degree manslaughter, in the death of George Floyd. Chauvin, who is white, knelt on Floyd's neck for 9 minutes on May 25, 2020, while the Black man was handcuffed, facedown and pleading that he could not breathe. Cahill sentenced Chauvin to 22 years in prison. Locke, a 22-year-old Black man, was fatally shot by Minneapolis police in an early morning raid at an apartment complex as officers served a no-knock search warrant. A brief police body camera video shows Locke lying on a couch under a blanket, until an officer kicked the couch. Locke could be seen beginning to move, with a pistol in his hand just before an officer fires his weapon. His parents have called his death an execution. They said he was startled from a deep sleep and reached for a legal firearm to protect himself. The Minneapolis police news release of the incident describes the handgun as having been "pointed in the direction of the officer." However, in the footage it's not clear whether the gun was pointing at an officer. Story continues The entire encounter took less than 10 seconds. Locke's family has retained civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who also represented the family of Breonna Taylor, 26, a Black medical worker who was fatally shot by police in Louisville, Kentucky, in March 2020 during a botched raid on her apartment. "Like the case of Breonna Taylor, the tragic killing of Amir Locke shows a pattern of no-knock warrants having deadly consequences for Black Americans," Crump said in a statement Thursday. "This is yet another example of why we need to put an end to these kinds of search warrants so that one day, Black Americans will be able to sleep safely in their beds at night." The Minneapolis Police Department's SWAT team had been carrying out a warrant for the Saint Paul Police Department's homicide unit. At a news conference Thursday, interim Police Chief Amelia Huffman said Locke was not named in the original search warrant and that it was unclear if or how he was connected to the St. Paul Police Department's investigation. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on Friday ordered an immediate halt to no-knock warrants. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, whose office prosecuted Chauvin and Kim Potter, a white former Brooklyn Center police officer found guilty of manslaughter in the death of Daunte Wright, a Black motorist, said his office would join a review of the shooting of Locke. By Jody Godoy (Reuters) - The former head of a Chicago bank was sentenced on Monday to a year and a day in prison for approving millions of dollars in risky loans in exchange for a post in the Trump administration. Stephen Calk, 57, former chairman and chief executive of Federal Savings Bank, was convicted in July of bribery and conspiracy after prosecutors accused him of helping greenlight $16 million in unsound loans to Paul Manafort, former campaign manager for then President Donald Trump. Calk's prison sentence is to be followed by two years of supervised release, including 800 hours of community service. He was also sentenced to pay $1.25 million dollars in fines. "It is important that we as a society not tolerate corruption and secret handshake deals," said U.S. District Judge Lorna Schofield. Calk will remain free on bail pending his appeal. Prosecutors said Manafort recommended to Trump's post-election transition team that Calk be appointed Army secretary, the service's top civilian job. Calk, who served in the Army reserves for 16 years, interviewed in January 2017 for a job as under secretary of the Army but never joined the administration. Prosecutors had sought a sentence of between 51 and 63 months in prison to deter others. Calk's attorneys had asked for no prison time, saying he had lived an otherwise law-abiding life and was not motivated by greed. Manafort was convicted of tax evasion and bank fraud in 2018 and sentenced to 7-1/2 years in prison, but was later released to home confinement. Trump pardoned Manafort in December 2020. (Reporting by Jody Godoy; Editing by Noeleen Walder and David Gregorio) UW-Milwaukee head coach Pat Baldwin turns toward his bench in the second half of a Horizon League game against Oakland on Thursday, January 20, 2022, at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. The last time the UW-Milwaukee Panthers faced one of the Horizon League's top teams, they put together arguably their best game of the season with a convincing upset victory over Oakland. Their matchup with another conference heavyweight on Sunday afternoon didn't go nearly as well. UWM shot under 35% for the third time in its last five games and never recovered after letting the game get out of hand just prior to halftime in an eventual 84-71 loss at Cleveland State. The setback left the Panthers (7-17, 5-10) 0-4 on their latest Horizon League road swing and extended their overall losing streak to five games one shy of tying their season high at a time when teams expecting to make noise in conference tournaments typically are jelling. "Disappointing, because you want to win all of them," coach Pat Baldwin said. "We feel like we have some areas that we can address and get better at. We've just got to continue to find a way to get better, and the only way we can do that is to continue to work and watch film and do all the things we can to try and turn this thing around." BOX SCORE: Cleveland State 84, UWM 71 DeAndre Gholston led three players in double figures with 14 points for UWM, with his 5-for-17 effort from the floor typifying the team's struggles. Patrick Baldwin Jr., meanwhile, was a non-factor with just five points on 1-for-8 shooting to go along with six rebounds in 30 minutes of action. While Baldwin was back in the lineup and seeking to build off his 13-point return game Friday, the Panthers were without two other starters in forward Vin Baker Jr. (toe) and center Joey St. Pierre (back). Moses Bol made his first start in place of St. Pierre, but otherwise it was much the same cast of characters as UWM remained within striking distance of first-place Cleveland State (16-5, 12-2) for a good portion of the first half. Gholston provided the offense early and Josh Thomas (13 points) took the baton from there, and after consecutive three-pointers by Donovan Newby (12 points) the Panthers were within 29-23 with 3 minutes 55 seconds remaining. Story continues Things fell apart quickly from there, however, as UWM managed just five points and one Thomas field goal until intermission. A turning point came with 1:24 left, when Baldwin was whistled for a technical foul his first of the season in the aftermath of a missed shot by Baldwin Jr. under the basket at the other end that left the freshman forward 0 for 6 to that point. The Vikings hit both free throws, then D'Moi Hodge drained a long three from the right wing on the ensuing possession. Two Thomas free throws halted the momentum for a short time, but another defensive breakdown by the Panthers on the other end led to a three-point play for Cleveland State with 6.2 seconds on the clock and a 44-28 halftime deficit. "I'm just fighting for my team," Baldwin said of the technical. "I don't look at what happens afterwards. So, that's it I'm just fighting for my team, and I'll continue to do that." UWM was out-shot, 51.7% to 27.3%, and of the Panthers' nine baskets in the initial 20 minutes, five came from beyond the arc. It was also a head-scratching first half for Baldwin, who managed just one point and two rebounds despite playing a team-high 17 minutes. He missed all three of his three-point attempts and struggled to finish inside while mostly fending for himself, with very little if any offense being run for him in an attempt to jump-start the team's biggest weapon. Two Cleveland State dunks in the first 2:15 of the second half got the Vikings going again, and with 14:11 remaining the deficit had grown to 61-37 for the Panthers. Baldwin's first and only make came on a fadeaway jumper from the free-throw line at the 10:23 mark, and he capped his day offensively with a couple free throws with 2:13 remaining and UWM having not come close to putting together any sort of game-changing run. "You hate to look at things just from an individual standpoint," Baldwin said. "But I think there are times and areas he can hunt and find his shot. We have to go to the film and watch and look at those opportunities that we can take advantage of his skill set and his ability." Only a handful of late makes saved the Panthers from putting up one of, if not their worst, shooting performances of the season. A 31% performance in a loss at Florida on Nov. 18 set that mark. Now, the Panthers return home to play four straight, with the next against Northern Kentucky at 7 p.m. Wednesday. "There's a lot of time," Baldwin said. "What we're focused on is the one game, right in front of us. That's the most important game. We just have to continue to buckle down and continue to be ready for the next one." Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: UW-Milwaukee loses to Cleveland State, drops fifth straight overall Congressional leaders released a short-term spending patch Monday afternoon, buying three more weeks to lock in an expansive government funding deal. The House and Senate are expected to pass the stopgap bill before federal cash runs dry at midnight on Feb. 18, kicking the next shutdown deadline to March 11. The measure is the third patch Congress has taken up since the fiscal year kicked off in October a tide-me-over approach that has kept federal spending from lapsing as leaders have struggled to lock in a bipartisan compromise that overhauls spending totals set at the end of Donald Trumps presidency. House lawmakers plan to begin an 18-day break in floor action this week, so the lower chamber is expected to pass the temporary patch, known as a continuing resolution, well before funding expires in 11 days. While the eight-page bill would mostly keep funding static through mid-March, it includes a few anomalies or spending exceptions. It would provide the military with an extra $350 million to handle the contamination of drinking water in Hawaii following the recent leak from a military fuel storage facility. The measure would also allow the Interior Department to use extra cash for cybersecurity safeguards and for the Pentagon to spend money to build nuclear submarines. ANKARA, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's state pipeline operator announced that the full flow of natural gas to industrial plants will resume on Tuesday, after it temporarily limited gas use because of a breakdown on an Iranian pipeline. "We would like to thank our industrialists for their understanding and cooperation in this process," Turkey's Petroleum Pipeline Corporation (BOTAS) tweeted Monday. Turkey reduced gas supply to industrial sites and power stations by 40 percent on Jan. 20 after Iran cut the gas flow to Turkey on the grounds of "technical failure." In its statement on Jan. 28, BOTAS said the gas supply from Iran had started in limited quantities, and the rate of cuts applied to industrial enterprises would be reduced to 20 percent from Jan. 31. With the increasing demand during the cold weather conditions in Turkey, about 288 million cubic meters of gas was consumed on Jan. 19, breaking an all-time record. Turkey's annual natural gas consumption varies between 55 billion cubic meters to 60 billion cubic meters. Nearly 40 percent of heating and electricity generation in the country are provided by natural gas. Turkey is dependent on imported gas, mainly from Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran. Iranian gas has a share of 8 percent to 10 percent in Turkey's overall supply. Turkey will bring in an additional 4 million cubic meters of natural gas per day through the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline in February from Azerbaijan to meet its increasing demand during the harsh winter conditions, state-run Anadolu agency reported on Jan. 26. Due to COVID-19, some meeting times might have changed or have been canceled. Call ahead to guarantee that the meeting is still scheduled. Email your regular support group or club meetings for the Daily Calendar to americannews@aberdeennews.com. Include town, event, time, place and a number to contact if there are questions. Publication in this calendar is not guaranteed. Today Alcoholics Anonymous: 1 and 8:30 p.m.; Big Book Meeting at 7 p.m. (closed), Yellow House, 519 S. Arch St. 605-225-1292. Family history research: 1-3 p.m., free instruction on genealogical research. Individual consultation by appointment. Aberdeen Family History Center, 1103 24th Ave. N.E. Call 605-225-0407 or 605-290-7303. Steps 2 Recovery, Al-Anon family group: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., 422 5th Ave SE, #111 (west door), Aberdeen. steps2recovery57401@gmail.com. Alcoholics Anonymous Sixth Sense: Back to Basics: 6 p.m. (closed/nonsmoking), 422 Fifth Ave. S.E. (west door). Rich, 605-380-4784. Narcotics Anonymous: Open meeting, 7 p.m., Faith United Methodist Church, 503 S. Jay St. Use south door, downstairs. Jeff, 605-290-4675. Gamblers Anonymous: 7 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, 1732 S. Main St. Kathy 605-225-8632. Hub City Amateur Radio Club: 7 p.m., Community Room, Brown County Courthouse, 25 Market St. Hub Toastmasters: 5:30 p.m., New Life Fellowship, 600 N. U.S. Highway 281. Kenneth Maas, 605-229-1727 or 605-216-2059. maas@nvc.net. Embracing Grace Dementia/Alzheimers Support group: 6:30 p.m., First Methodist Church community room, call Jerry 605-228-1254 for information. Exchange Club of Aberdeen: Noon, Best Western Ramkota, 1400 Eighth Ave., NW, Aberdeen, SD. Tuesday Alcoholics Anonymous: 1 and 8:30 p.m., Yellow House, 519 S. Arch St. 605-225-1292. Narcotics Anonymous: Open meeting, 7 p.m., Faith United Methodist Church, 503 S. Jay St. Use south door, downstairs. Jeff, 605-290-4675. Alcoholics Anonymous Sixth Sense: Step meeting: 8 p.m. (closed/nonsmoking), 422 Fifth Ave. S.E. (west door). Rich, 605-380-4784. Gift of Life transplant group: 6 p.m., Millstone, 2210 Sixth Ave. S.E. This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Daily calendar for Feb. 7, 8 A Dallas woman who convinced her boyfriend to gun down her husband pleaded guilty Monday to orchestrating the homicide, federal authorities said. Jennifer Faith, 49, pleaded guilty to the murder-for-hire charge before U.S. District Judge Jane J. Boyle as part of a plea agreement with federal prosecutors. She had been charged with obstruction and then prosecutors added the use of interstate commerce in the commission of murder-for-hire, a charge that carried a potential for a death sentence. In return for her plea, prosecutors agreed to drop an obstruction of justice charge and recommended a life sentence. Federal authorities said on Monday sentencing will be ultimately be at the discretion of the judge. Darrin Lopez, Faiths boyfriend, was arrested in January 2021 in Tennessee and charged with the Oct. 9, 2020, murder of James Faith, an American Airlines IT director who was gunned down while the couple walked their dog in the 1000 block of Waverly Drive in Dallas. Lopez, who has pleaded not guilty, faces a murder charge in Texas and a gun crime charge in federal court. In an interview with Dallas homicide detective Chris Walton just after the homicide, Jennifer Faith said the killer, who was wearing a blue face mask, repeatedly shot her husband, and then attacked her, knocking her to the ground and placing duct tape around her hands. She screamed for help and the suspect fled, she told police. Text messages between Lopez and Jennifer Faith revealed that as she publicly projected to be a grieving widow, privately, she repeatedly instructed Lopez to get rid of evidence in the case, according to federal authorities. I am pleased to see that there were no stones left unturned during the course of this investigation, and that our collaborative efforts have brought those involved to justice, said Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia in a news release. I am also excited to continue this partnership with the USDOJ in our ongoing determination to remove the criminal elements off the streets. Story continues Federal authorities said Jennifer Faith was having an affair with Lopez, who she dated in high school and college. From Sept. 30 to Oct. 30, 2020, she and Lopez exchanged 14,363 texts, according to federal court documents. I truly cant be without you at this point, Jennifer Faith texted Lopez in December 2020. James Faith and his wife were having marital problems at the time he was killed, authorities said. Credit reports reviewed following the killing of James Faith showed that Lopez was having financial problems. According to payment history for his home in Cumberland Furnace, Tennessee, Lopez had $38,157 past due on his mortgage. Utility records showed that his water had been turned off in October. In October 2020, Lopez is accused of driving from Tennessee to the Faiths Dallas home, waiting until the couple left to walk their dog, then shooting James Faith seven times before fleeing. Just hours after the killing, a GoFundMe account was established called Support for Jennifer Faith. More than $60,000 was raised. On Oct. 13, 2020, more than $30,000 was withdrawn from the account. A MetLife Insurance Co. agent contacted Dallas police in November and told them that James Faith had a life insurance policy in excess of $600,000 and that the beneficiary was Jennifer Faith. Through the investigation, Lopez was arrested in January 2021 and detectives discovered in Lopezs home a .45-caliber handgun that ballistic tests proved match the one that killed James Faith. Authorities also learned that Lopez owned a Nissan Titan pickup that matched witnesses description of the shooters vehicle. Weeks after the fatal shooting, Tennessee authorities observed a distinctive T on the trucks back window which matched descriptions by witnesses. In January 2021 Jennifer Faith admitted she called Lopez daily, but denied having an intimate relationship, authorities said. WISCONSIN People in Wisconsin who destroy vaccines or other drugs can face up to three and a half years of prison time after new legislation was signed into law, Gov. Tony Evers announced Friday. Anyone who intentionally mishandles or stores a vaccine or other therapeutic drug and renders it ineffective will be charged with a Class I felony, the law text said. Offenders can face a fine up to $10,000 and prison time up to three and a half years, the governor's office said. "Under the bill, it will be a Class I felony to recklessly handle, store or treat a vaccine, drug or any other biologic product used as a therapeutic treatment in a manner that may render the vaccine, drug or product unsafe, tainted, spoiled, ineffective or otherwise unusable," according to a memo shared in the Wisconsin Legislative Council. The law was enacted Friday and was authored by both Republican and Democratic lawmakers. Evers signed 18 bills into law on Friday. Steven Brandenburg, an ex-pharmacist in Grafton, was sentenced to three years in prison in June 2021 for tampering with COVID-19 vaccines in the hospital he worked, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement. The ex-pharmacist took a box of vaccine vials out from a refrigeration unit and left them out for two nights to let them spoil in December 2020, the department said. The spoiled doses were given to 57 people before authorities found out what Brandenburg had done. See Also: Ex-WI Pharmacist Who Tried To Spoil COVID-19 Vaccines Sentenced Brandenburg told the Department of Justice that he was skeptical of vaccines in general. He also admitted to believing in other conspiracy theories, like ones about the 9/11 terrorist attacks, The Associated Press reported. This article originally appeared on the Milwaukee Patch The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued one of its starkest terrorism advisory bulletins Monday on the heels of a recent hostage situation at a Texas synagogue and bomb threats at historically Black universities across the country. The National Terrorism Advisory System bulletin again warns of the role disinformation is playing in motivating domestic extremists. But a senior DHS official said the new bulletin includes its "highest degree of specificity" with a stress on the interest in targeting religious and racial minorities. "We're seeing a greater level of specificity as it relates to calling for acts of violence or acts of targeted violence against certain elements of our society to include faith-based institutions, institutions of higher learning" and government entities as well as greater specificity in the types of tactics called for, another official said. "They're calling people to use mass shootings, using vehicles, knife attacks, and [offering] some greater specificity in the types of targets they're urging people to target," the official said. "In addition to that, after the events in Colleyville, Texas, we've also observed an increase in calls by these same organizations for followers to replicate what occurred," the official added. The official was referencing a January hostage situation in which a man held four members of Congregation Beth Israel for hours inside the synagogue, with the group ultimately escaping without being physically harmed. A senior DHS official said the event has since sparked chatter among both white supremacists and "thought leaders across the globe who tend to be supportive of ISIS and Al Qaeda operations actually pointing to Colleyville as an example of the types of activities that lone actors or others should be taking." DHS officials said they have not yet seen such explicit references to the bomb threats at historically Black colleges and universities, where the FBI said it arrested six juveniles who used sophisticated methods to attempt to conceal their identities. Story continues "This is a threat environment where people tend to look at what happened in the past. They look at the reactions of activities that were taken whether it's shooting or bomb threats, and then we're always concerned about people saying, 'Hey, that's a great idea. Let me try at copycatting it," an official said. DHS noted nonprofits like places of worship and universities can apply for grants to bolster their security. It's a grant program that was already accessed by Congregation Beth Israel several years ago. The advisory retains many elements of the prior bulletin last issued in November, including the stress on disinformation and its impact in exacerbating distrust of the government, particularly around themes like election fraud and COVID-19. It also warns of the calls to lone actors to carry out mass acts of violence on soft targets who may be gathered in crowds. The bulletin also noted that groups outside the U.S. are seeking to take advantage of disinformation. "Foreign terrorist organizations and domestic threat actors continue to amplify preexisting false or misleading narratives online to sow discord and undermine public trust in government institutions. Some of these actors do so to encourage unrest," the bulletin states. Updated at 2:55 p.m. GLENVIEW, IL School officials in Glenbrook High School District 225 said there are no changes in mask requirements for all on district campuses and vaccine requirements for staff despite a ruling by a judge in Sangamon County Friday. District 225 was not one of 145 school districts named in the Austin v. Pritzker lawsuit brought by parents across the state last year. Changes in policy that make masks optional went into effect for some districts in the state Monday in response to a Sangamon County judge issuing a temporary restraining order declaring that certain emergency rules adopted last year by the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education are void. The ruling means that students who do not want to wear a mask and unvaccinated school staff who do not want to be required to be vaccinated or take weekly COVID-19 tests must be afforded due process. RELATED: Judge Blocks School Mask Mandate, Voids COVID-19 Emergency Orders "The ruling applies only to individuals within districts named in the lawsuits, not District 225, and is neither a blanket change to state-mandated COVID-19 mitigation strategies, nor a ruling on the effectiveness of the mitigation measures," District 225 Superintendent Charles Johns said in a statement. "The Attorney General has appealed the ruling, and further litigation is expected immediately. This issue will not be resolved until the Appellate Court and/or Illinois Supreme Court rules. The Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation was renewed Friday night and the Cook County Department of Public Health directives are still in place. The District will continue to review how this and future rulings may affect our community." Guidelines in District 225 include universal masking, a minimum of five days of isolation for those who test positive for COVID-19, a minimum of five days of quarantine for unvaccinated individuals who experience a close contact with a COVID-19 positive individual, weekly testing for students participating in high-risk activities, and weekly testing for unvaccinated staff. This article originally appeared on the Glenview Patch THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) Dutch police have received five reports of alleged criminal abuse linked to The Voice of Holland talent show and some 20 reports of inappropriate behavior and possible sexually transgressive behavior by people linked to the show. The police statement on Monday revealed no further details of the complaints, citing privacy. The online investigative show BOOS the Dutch word for angry reported last month that it had received multiple claims ranging from an allegation of rape to sexually-tinted WhatsApp messages sent by two panelists on The Voice of Holland and its pianist and band leader. The show's former producer, media tycoon John de Mol, apologized and told BOOS that in his years as The Voice of Holland's producer he only received one complaint, and that was against the shows pianist and band leader Jeroen Rietbergen, in 2019. Rietbergen was the partner of De Mols sister, the Dutch television star Linda de Mol. She ended their relationship and the popular talent show was taken off the air amid the allegations. Rietbergen apologized for his behavior. Two other panelists have denied wrongdoing. Police said in a statement Monday that they are working with the country's Public Prosecution Service to investigate the reports and whether they merit opening criminal investigations. This process takes time. We want to do this, as always, with the utmost care in the interest of the victims, the force said. The reports of abuse at the ratings juggernaut that is broadcast in local versions around the world has re-opened the #MeToo debate in the Netherlands. In an unrelated case, one of the most senior administrators at Amsterdam soccer club Ajax quit Sunday night and apologized for sending inappropriate messages to female colleagues. Marc Overmars, a former star player with Ajax, Arsenal, Barcelona and the Netherlands' national team, apologized in a statement released by Ajax. He said that he "didnt realize that I was crossing the line with this, but that was made clear to me in recent days. The Capitol in Washington on Dec. 7, 2021. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times) As a frightening new virus began spreading around the world in early 2020, a few lawmakers made some very well-timed stock trades . Republican Sen. Richard M. Burr of North Carolina sold shares in hotel companies that would lose value as travel dropped amid the rising pandemic. Then-Sen. Kelly Loeffler, a Georgia Republican, and her husband bought stock in a company that makes teleworking software, which gained value as millions of people began working from home weeks later. The wife of GOP Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky bought stock in Gilead Sciences , which went on to develop an antiviral drug used to treat COVID-19. All of this was before the coronavirus upended normal life in the U.S., sickened millions of people and caused wild changes in stock prices. But it was after senators were privately briefed in late January on the emerging threat the new virus posed to the nation. The Justice Department closed its insider trading investigations of Loeffler and Burr without filing charges, as well as of California Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, whose husband sold stock unrelated to the pandemic; she said she did not attend the private briefing. But the prospect that public officials might have personally benefited from their access to sensitive information about COVID-19 triggered a wave of ethical concerns still rippling through the country. A poll last month found that 63% of voters including majorities of both Democrats and Republicans say members of Congress should be banned from trading stock. We agree. It is important that elected officials behave ethically but also that people perceive that ethics are foundational in our government. Restricting the ability of lawmakers to trade stock can build trust that they are working in the public interest and have no financial motive when they vote on legislation affecting companies and industries. Bipartisan proposals to limit lawmakers from trading stock have been introduced in the House and Senate. The bills take slightly different approaches one would require lawmakers to sell their stock before they take office; another would allow stocks to be placed in a blind trust. They also vary on whether lawmakers spouses would be allowed to own individual stocks. None would bar lawmakers from investing in mutual funds. Story continues This ought to be a political slam dunk at a time when populist energy is surging on both the left and the right. Besides, most members of Congress dont report trading any stock, and their image is tarnished by those who do. At least 113 lawmakers disclosed stock transactions made by themselves or family members in 2021, according to a MarketWatch report trades worth an estimated $355 million. What really stinks: Many of these lawmakers are buying and selling stock in companies that routinely lobby Congress. Their decisions on how to regulate tech, healthcare and energy companies could play a role in how much the stock is worth. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Fremont) reported that his family members made an estimated $52.7 million in stock trades in 2021, including buying shares in Microsoft, Apple and Facebook parent company Meta. The assets belong to his wife and are not held in a joint account, Khannas spokesperson told MarketWatch. Similarly, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) does not personally own stock, but her husband is a frequent trader. He bought an estimated $12 million worth of stock in 2021, according to MarketWatch. Those included shares in Google parent company Alphabet, as well as in software giant Salesforce and video game platform Roblox. Pelosis husband is such a successful trader that someone developed a blog to help retail investors learn from his moves. There is no evidence that he has inside information, but thats clearly the perception. Khanna and Pelosi are not typical theyre among the lawmakers who report the most stock trading. More common are smaller transactions, like Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Burbank) selling an estimated $25,000 in stock in the AbbVie biopharmaceutical company in two transactions last year, or Rep. Mike Garcia (R-Santa Clarita) buying an estimated $65,000 in Tesla stock last April and selling it in October . (It's not clear if he made a profit or took a loss because the amounts are reported in ranges.) Pelosi initially rebuffed the idea of limiting stock trading by members of Congress, saying they should be able to participate in the free market. More recently she said shes open to restrictions and assigned a committee to review the proposals. Perception is reality in politics, the adage goes. Lawmakers must get behind a robust plan to limit their colleagues stock trading so that the perception and the reality is that they're doing the people's business. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. CAIRO (AP) Egypts president on Monday hosted his Djiboutian counterpart for talks on improving ties and a controversial dam that Ethiopia is building on the Nile Rivers main tributary, which Egypt deems an existential threat, Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh landed in the Egyptian capital of Cairo on Sunday. He was received at the airport by President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi. Guellehs visit comes more than eight months after el-Sissi paid a rare visit to the strategic Horn of African nation. El-Sissi was the first Egyptian leader to visit Djibouti since it declared independence in 1977. It was part of Egypts efforts to build more African alliances during an ongoing water dispute with Ethiopia, which borders Djibouti. The Egyptian leader reiterated his country's demand for a legally binding deal on the filling and operation of the massive reservoir of Ethiopias $4.6 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. El-Sissi said such a deal should be within a convenient timespan to help bolster regional security and stability. The dam dispute talks between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan stalled in April last year. Both Egypt and Sudan have repeatedly called for the international community to help reach a legally binding deal that would spell out how the dam is operated and filled. International and regional efforts have since attempted without success to revive the negotiations amid the Tigray civil war in Ethiopia. Th leaders of Egypt and Djibouti also discussed the security of the Red Sea and the strategic Horn of Africa, el-Sissi said without elaborating. Guelleh described the talks as constructive and fruitful, saying that they discussed ways to reinforce and develop our bilateral relations on all levels. The two leaders spoke in a televised news conference. But neither president took questions from reporters. File Houston police department investigating a crime scene on 27 January 202 (AP) Members of the Navarro County in eastern Texas are in shock after eight people were shot, including five dead, in a suspected murder-suicide incident. Early Saturday, Corsicana police responded to an emergency call just after midnight when a caller reported that a man had shot more than half a dozen of his family members. The suspect, one of the people among the dead, was found "critically injured from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head" in his car after the police tracked him using GPS, said a statement by police chief Robert Johnson. The officers found a male and a female dead from gunshot wounds at a home in the 2900 block of West Second Avenue. The suspect, identified as Kevin Milazzo, is believed to have allegedly killed his mother, 61, and his stepfather, 68, reported Local12. A short distance away in Frost, Texas, where Milazzo reportedly drove to allegedly kill his 21-year-old son and a four-year-old boy, the son of his ex-girlfriend. Three others were left injured in the incident, including an adult female who sustained multiple gunshot wounds. She was taken to a Dallas trauma centre and her condition is unknown, officer Johnson said. The detectives were able to identify and track down the alleged shooters vehicle with the help of GPS navigation system and intercepted him on FM 1129, south of Roane Road. "At that time, we instructed the monitoring service to remotely turn off the vehicles engine," officer Johnson said in Saturdays statement. "As the vehicle came to a full stop off the road, Corsicana Swat officers approached the vehicle to find the driver critically injured from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head." The alleged shooter was taken to Navarro Regional Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries and was announced dead. Police are leading the investigation into the murder-suicide case. The neighbours who were left in shock after the incident said they have not seen anything like this before in the town. Story continues You dont expect it from a small town like this, a neighbour said. Another neighbour Ethan Lusk said they had been living there for 16 years and the incident is scary. Its just traumatising to hear about, he added. The identities of the victims have not been revealed yet. If you are experiencing feelings of distress and isolation, or are struggling to cope, The Samaritans offers support; you can speak to someone for free over the phone, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Helpline is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you. VIENNA, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Talks on reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), will resume here on Feb. 8, the diplomatic service of the European Union said on Monday. In a statement, the European External Action Service (EEAS) said that the participants in the eighth round of negotiations will "continue the discussions on the prospect of a possible return of the United States to the JCPOA and how to ensure the full and effective implementation of the agreement by all sides." The Iran nuclear talks were most recently halted in late January as the negotiators returned to their capitals for consultations. EEAS Deputy Secretary-General Enrique Mora tweeted on Monday that given the "undesirable trends undermining the JCPOA, there is a need to swiftly conclude these negotiations." "We need spirit of compromise to take us back to full implementation," Mora said. Iran and the five other signatories to the JCPOA -- China, Russia, the United Kingdom, France and Germany -- have held rounds of talks in the Austrian capital to revive the deal, from which Washington withdrew in 2018 under former President Donald Trump. The Elmira City School District faces a lawsuit after family members claim a student with developmental disabilities was raped on multiple occasions by another student on the Elmira High School campus, and eventually became pregnant. The lawsuit was filed in state Supreme Court in Chemung County by the grandparents of the student, who are also her legal guardians. The victim, identified in court papers as Judy Doe, and her grandparents, listed as John and Jane Doe, are residents of Chemung County and enlisted the Ithaca law firm of Schlather, Stumbar, Parks & Salk to represent them in court. The plaintiff filed an initial notice of claim against the school district in December 2019 regarding attacks that allegedly took place earlier that year. The girl became pregnant and delivered a baby following the last attack, according to the court papers. The Elmira City School District faces a lawsuit over the alleged rape of a student with developmental disabilities by another Elmira High School student. The alleged rapes According to the lawsuit, Judy Doe, who is intellectually and developmentally disabled, was raped on school grounds in June 2019 by a male student identified only by his initials. She was unsupervised by adults at the time, the suit alleges. The document went on to say Judy Doe didn't report the rape to anyone because the suspect threatened to beat her up. Judy was checked by doctors on at least two occasions after complaining of stomach pains. In September 2019, the suspect allegedly raped Judy again on high school grounds, and again she didn't report it out of fear, the suit claimed. On Oct. 9, 2019, the suit alleges a school administrator discovered the suspect raping Judy on school grounds again. A pregnancy and police report The administrator informed the grandmother, who scheduled an emergency appointment with Judy's therapist. When questioned, Judy revealed to the therapist that the suspect had threatened and raped her on multiple occasions on school grounds. Jane Doe took Judy to a doctor, who performed a pregnancy test and confirmed Judy was pregnant. Story continues Jane Doe also reported the rapes to the Chemung County Sheriff's Office, according to the lawsuit. Sheriff Bill Schrom said due to the pending litigation, he can't comment on any investigation into the matter. Judy gave birth in February 2020. Her grandparents are currently legal guardians of both her and the child. Public safety: Waverly man dies after being trapped in material silo Sunday at Anchor Glass For subscribers: Mask limbo: Schools still enforcing state mandate while pursuing change Politics: Proposed NY political maps could hurt Republicans in House battle The lawsuit claims The lawsuit claims the school district was negligent in the matter for several reasons. Among them: District employees had reason to know it was not safe to leave Judy unsupervised by adults due to her disabilities. District staff allowed Judy to be on school property with her assailant unsupervised. The district failed to follow its own relevant policies and standards under the circumstances. The district failed to warn and train teachers and other district staff of the dangers certain students posed, and how those students needed to be controlled or supervised. Through its legal representative, New Jersey-based law firm McGivney, Kluger, Clark & Intoccia, the school district said it couldn't comment on the matter due to the pending litigation. The lawsuit claims Judy Doe suffered mental anguish, pain and suffering, low self-esteem, anger, public embarrassment and shame as a result of the attacks. It also states John and Jane Doe are entitled to monetary damages to compensate for medical care, treatment and medications for Judy, along with current and future expenses for the care of Judy's child. The lawsuit filing doesn't specify how much money is sought by the plaintiffs. State Supreme Court Justice Christopher P. Baker scheduled a preliminary conference on the matter for Feb. 22. Follow Jeff Murray on Twitter @SGJeffMurray. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Lawsuit: Elmira High student with disabilities raped on campus nullFAR HILLS, New Jersey Former New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean, who went from the rough elbows of Trenton politics to guide the highly regarded 9/11 Commission, has called on the Biden administration to declassify all top-secret files on Americas worst terrorist attack especially those examining the possible involvement of Saudi government officials. But Kean, whose comments came in a wide-ranging interview with NorthJersey.com and the USA TODAY Network at his office in Central Jerseys horse country, cautioned that he does not expect the American public long suspicious of a Saudi connection to 9/11 will learn anything new about the terrorist attacks that took the lives of nearly 3,000 people. Ive read the files, Kean said. There is no smoking gun. Despite such a warning, Kean now takes center stage as the most significant figure yet in the long-running investigation of the attacks of September 11, 2001 to suggest that all top-secret files should be opened up to the public, especially those that touch on allegations that Saudi officials helped the 19 Islamist jihadists who hijacked four commercial jetliners and crashed them into New Yorks World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania farm field. The 911 Committee Chair Tom Kean looks back 20 years after teh attacks Fifteen of those 19 hijackers were Saudi citizens. At least two of them were met by Saudi officials with links to that nations spy service when they landed in California. As America is about to commemorate the 20th anniversary of 9/11 with a series of solemn, carefully choreographed ceremonies, Keans unexpected call for a massive declassifying will likely lend energy to the growing demand for America's intelligence-gathering agencies to come clean on what they know about the so-called Saudi connection. More than 10,000 relatives of 9/11 victims have filed a massive federal lawsuit in New York to hold the Saudi Arabian government accountable for the attacks. The lawsuit, which has moved at less-than-glacial speed for several years through a federal legal quagmire that involves demands for secrecy by the CIA and FBI and counter-demands by Saudi attorneys to dismiss all legal challenges, may still take years to resolve. Story continues Kean indicated that he wants to speed up the process. Ive always been in favor of releasing everything, Kean said. Ive seen those files. People are going to be disappointed when they release them. Its not going to give the families what they want. Its not there. Earlier this summer, attorneys for the relatives completed a series of depositions of Saudi officials that were ordered by a U.S. federal judge. But those depositions were placed under court seal, with attorneys on all sides blocked from talking about what they learned or did not learn. U.S. 'should listen to Tom Kean' Keans demand for the release of the numerous investigative files compiled by the FBI, the CIA and other U.S. intelligence services was met with cheers by 9/11 relatives. The White House, the FBI and CIA could not be reached for comment. Wow. Thats amazing, said Brett Eagleson of Middletown, Connecticut, who was a high school sophomore when his father, Bruce, was killed in the collapse of Trade Centers twin towers in lower Manhattan after they were struck by two hijacked planes. But Eagleson, now an outspoken advocate in the families' lawsuit, said he disagrees with Keans assessment that the secret files will not reveal any major evidence of Saudi efforts to help the hijackers. Eagleson pointed to an 2016 internal FBI report Operation Encore that reportedly examines the bureau's inquiry into a number of questionable ties between two figures connected to the Saudi government and two hijackers who entered the United States in Los Angeles. The Saudi officials helped future hijackers, Khalid al-Mihdhar and Nawaf al-Hazmi neither of whom spoke English settle into an apartment and meet other Saudis. But did those Saudi officials know of the 9/11 plot or that al-Mihdhar and al-Hazmi were members of Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda terrorist network? That question has never been conclusively answered. The problem with the FBI's report on its Operation Encore investigation is that it's still secret. Also, it's based in part on investigations conducted by the 9/11 Commission. But "Operation Encore" revealed deep divisions within the FBI over the potential involvement of Saudi officials in the 9/11 attacks and a series of missed opportunities by U.S. investigators to find the truth, according to a January 2020 report by the ProPublica news organization and the New York Times. For that reason, lawyers for the 9/11 families say the report could be vital to their lawsuit -- and perhaps finding the truth about a Saudi link to 9/11. Kean disagrees. He said he had not read the "Operation Encore" report. But based on the work by the 9/11 Commission and earlier Congressional probes, he said he did not believe it would reveal any information that conclusively ties Saudi officials to the 9/11 attacks. Nonetheless, Kean said that the "Operation Encore" report should be released. Another potentially controversial issue stems from a recent CBS News report that British and U.S. investigators found a notebook from one of the Saudi officials targeted by the FBI Omar al-Bayoumi that contained mathematical calculations and other drawings that appeared to show pilots how to crash a jetliner into a low level target. Al-Bayoumi played a key role in helping al-Mihdhar and al-Hazmi find an apartment after they arrived in California. Al Mihdhar and al-Hazmi, who eventually turned up in New Jersey and stayed at the Congress Inn Motel in South Hackensack, were on board the jetliner that crashed into the Pentagon -- a low-level target. I think the United States government should listen to Tom Kean and for once and for all finally put to bed the questions regarding the Saudi Arabian role in 9/11, Eagleson said. I think the Saudis themselves should be calling for the release. Terry Strada, who gave birth to her youngest child a son only four days before her husband perished in the 9/11 attacks and has now emerged as a leader in the lawsuit, also praised Kean. I think to have him coming out and saying to release everything is a positive thing for all of us, said Strada, whose husband died in the World Trade Center's North Tower. His voice does carry weight. But, like Eagleton, Strada also disagreed with Kean. She believes that the files will likely show some form of Saudi support for the hijackers. We should release everything, said Strada, who recently moved from her home in Basking Ridge, New Jersey to Florida. Im confident that we will find something." "The 9/11 commission is an archaic investigation," Strada said, adding that it "never had the tools" to fully probe allegations of Saudi links to 9/11 and that "it's absurd to assume there is no Saudi connection based on that rushed and under-funded body of work." "Operation Encore did what the 9/11 Commission failed to do," Strada said. "It investigated the Saudis with professional FBI agents spanning the globe. Kean is way off the mark here in dispelling the Saudis were heavily involved in murdering thousands." James Kreindler, one of the squad of U.S. attorneys who represent the 9/11 relatives, added that he would love all the material to be released and to have a half hour with Tom Kean and go over the importance of it. Kreindler said he is quite confident he would convince Kean that the declassified material was not just significant but probably show that a variety of Saudi officials were linked to the 9/11 attacks. 'We were unable to nail down anybody' With the coming 20th anniversary of 911 former 911 Commissioner and New Jersey Governor Tom Kean discusses what we know about the attacks 20 years later and their lasting impact on America. The Governor spoke from his office in Far Hills, NJ on August 24, 2021. The ongoing mystery about Saudi Arabias links to 9/11 has been a long-running flashpoint. Last year, this columnist reported exclusively that lawyers for the 9/11 families had even reached out to dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Soon after meeting with one of the lawyers investigators, Khashoggi contacted the Saudi embassy in Washington. A year later, Khashoggi was murdered by Saudi intelligence operatives while on a trip to Turkey. Were the events connected? Many 9/11 relatives and their attorneys think so. But the sequence represents the level of spy-versus-spy mystery that has cloaked the whole narrative about Saudi Arabias alleged links to the 9/11 attacks. In the interview, Kean was especially critical of what he called Americas long reluctance to criticize Saudi policies or even suspicious actions for fear that the kingdom would cut off oil exports to the United States customers. People kowtowed to the Saudis for years, Kean said. But we dont need to do that anymore. Kean suggested that the hijackers likely were helped unwittingly in a variety of ways by Americans especially in some Muslim communities like those in Paterson, New Jersey. But Kean insisted that this help was not part of a terrorist conspiracy. I started off thinking there had to be people on the ground helping the hijackers, Kean said. He said the 9/11 Commission assigned a full investigative team to run down leads of an American-based conspiracy to support the hijackers as they prepared to hijack the four jetliners on Sept. 11, 2001. Kean said the investigators looked and looked and were unable to find anybody. He added that the Commission received plenty of rumors but we were unable to nail down anybody. Kean also said that he does not believe that a massive attack on the level of 9/11 could be carried out now. He praised the various federal reforms that require Americas various intelligence-gathering agencies, from the FBI to the CIA, to work together. But Kean sharply criticized U.S. spy agencies for the swift takeover of Afghanistan by Taliban forces. "It was one of the greatest intelligence failures in the history of our government," Kean said. "This has given us internationally as big a black eye as anything in my memory." Kean said the most dangerous form of terrorism today may come from so-called lone wolves, acting alone or with just a few conspirators. Were a democracy, he said. We cant put the kind of clamps that you can put on if you were a dictatorship of some sort. As long as we have freedom of motion and freedom of speech, you cant say were not vulnerable. Mike Kelly is an award-winning columnist for NorthJersey.com. To get unlimited access to his insightful thoughts on how we live life in New Jersey, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. Email: kellym@northjersey.com Twitter: @mikekellycolumn This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Will this be enough to finally solve the mystery of Saudi Arabia's 9/11 link? Feb. 7Trinity senior Trenten Bertelsen will follow in the footsteps of past players out of the Titans' football program to continue their athletic careers in college. On Wednesday, Feb. 2, as part of National Signing Day, Bertelsen committed to Minnesota State University Moorhead to continue his football career. He is one of two from southwest North Dakota, along with Bowman County's Brody Headley , to play for the Dragons this coming fall. Playing along both the offensive and defensive line, Bertelsen was a three-year starter for Trinity, helping them to two playoff appearances in his time in Dickinson. He's a two-time All-Region selection and finished with 103 career tackles. The thought of continuing his football career in college didn't form until about six months ago, when he was writing a paper about the pros and cons of college. The pros obviously outweighed the cons and he decided to pursue college football. The recruiting process began and he took many visits to Moorhead, cementing them as one of his finalists. Also among his choices was Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana, due to strong family ties to the university. "I have a lot of family that went there," Bertelsen said. "My cousins played football there so I kind of knew the program." But ultimately, it was MSUM that won him over, citing the tight-knit community they showed. "I fell in love with the family aspect they have," Bertelsen said. "I got to meet some players, coaches. I just liked everything they have going on." A Division II institution out of Moorhead, Minnesota, the Dragons compete in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, having won 14 conference titles. Bertelsen said they project him to play on the offensive line. Just like he said about MSUM, he had the same thing to say about Trinity and their family aspect and the strong bond he felt within the program. "Being brothers and things like that," Bertelsen said. "Moorhead is continuing that...I'm very excited. My uncle did it, my cousins did it. My dad is a big advocate for football and loves it." A week before Christmas, disaster struck in Rocky Mount as fire engulfed a distribution center of the online marketer QVC. One employee died in the fire and 1,953 employees, after a period of extended pay, were laid off last Tuesday. Now those jobless workers will go from an accidental disaster into a deliberate one North Carolinas broken unemployment insurance program. Republican state lawmakers took a hammer to the program in 2013. They limited eligibility, cut the maximum weekly benefit by 35 percent and shortened the duration of coverage. The maximum benefit, unchanged after nine years, is $350 a week, although the average payment is about $230 a week. The duration of benefits, which is tied to the unemployment rate, is currently 12 weeks less than half the 26-weeks most states provide and North Carolina previously provided. Most QVC employees lost jobs that paid $25,000 to $35,000 annually and included benefits. They will be hard-pressed to pay their bills and afford health insurance with what the state will provide. Twelve weeks is not a lot, and a maximum of $350 in this day and age makes it awfully difficult, said David Farris, CEO of the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce. I cant imagine the stress that puts them under. The chamber and the United Way of the Tar River Region are collecting donations to help the QVC workers. So far, Farris said, about $250,000 has come in. The state Department of Commerce is helping to arrange job fairs. Meanwhile, instead of offering adequate financial help, Republican lawmakers are telling those who lost their incomes to a fire to get a job. State Sen. Wiley Nickel, a Wake County Democrat, has pressed his Republican colleagues on the Joint Legislative Committee on Unemployment Insurance to improve the program. Its just political malpractice not to fix this system, Nickel told me. The goal in the legislature is to let this program wither and die on the vine. The unemployment insurance program payout is so meager that even a modest tax on employees about $130 per year per employee is piling up cash in the programs trust fund. Wiley said the fund now holds $3.1 billion about $2 billion more than most states have in their funds.. As the jobless receive paltry payments, he said, We are hoarding this cash. Story continues John Quinterno, a principal with the Chapel Hill research company South by North Strategies who studies North Carolina workforce issues, said the states feeble assistance reflects a misunderstanding of unemployment insurance. It is not a safety net program, he said; it is an insurance program that pools revenue to cover an individuals unexpected losses and cushion the wider economy when unemployment spikes. The strong supplements to unemployment benefits that the federal government provided earlier in the pandemic masked the weakness of North Carolinas ability to deal with widespread job losses. But the higher payments broadly distributed to company and self-employed workers demonstrated the value of providing benefits that meet the need. We showed that a better system is possible in the United States, and now we are trying to unlearn those lessons and return to a system that was not very beneficial, Quinterno said. Back in Rocky Mount, Farris said donations to help the QVC workers have come in from places around the nation in amounts large and small. I just think its wonderful that people are that caring at whatever level, he said. Just that little generosity of people who dont know anyone here and their heart leads them to do something. Too bad that Republican state lawmakers, with $3.1 billion in reserve, dont feel feel the same. To donate to help the QVC workers, go to www.unitedwaytrr.org/firefund, or write to: United Way Tar River Region, 2501 Sunset Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804 Associate opinion editor Ned Barnett can be reached at 919-829-4512, or nbarnett@ newsobserver.com French President Emmanuel Macron. Yoan Valat/AFP via Getty Images French President Emmanuel Macron is heading to Moscow on Monday and Kyiv on Tuesday, as part of diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between Russia and Ukraine. Russia has about 100,000 troops stationed along the border with Ukraine, and the United States and United Kingdom say they have intelligence suggesting Russian President Vladimir Putin may order an invasion in the near future. Leading up to his Moscow visit, Macron has been on the phone, speaking with Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, President Biden, and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Russia is demanding security guarantees from the U.S. and NATO, including that Ukraine is permanently barred from ever being admitted to NATO. "We're heading to Putin's lair, in many ways it's a throw of the dice," one person close to Macron told Reuters. Macron is hoping that his meetings with Putin and Zelensky will buy some time, two people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters, and keep anything major from happening before April elections in France, Hungary, and Slovenia. You may also like Woody Allen goes out with a whimper The fantasy of a Trump-slaying Republican Trudeau flees as trucker convoy enters Ottawa PARIS (Reuters) - A new publicly funded multi-billion euro fund is being created to boost investment in Europe's tech sector, to allow it to compete with U.S. and Asian rivals, France's finance minister said on Monday. Bruno Le Maire said home-grown European tech start-ups needed far higher levels of financing if Europe is to reduce its dependence on foreign tech giants. He added that he would give details of the new fund of funds on Tuesday with his German counterpart Christian Lindner, but said it would feed 10 to 20 funds "at a minimum value of one billion euros to finance tech champions". "Our ultimate target is to have 10 technology companies worth more than 100 billion euros each by 2030," Le Maire said as he opened a conference on digitial sovereignty. The German finance ministry said in a statement that Berlin would add one billion euros to the fund. Europe's venture capital funds are often too small to be able to finance the development of European tech start-ups, leaving them few choices other than turning to much bigger U.S. funds. Meanwhile, many U.S. and Chinese tech firms have benefitted from public funding at some stage in their development, something which has been more complicated in the past for European firms due to the EU's strict state aid rules. ($1 = 0.8747 euros) (Reporting by Tassilo Hummel and Leigh Thomas; additional reportinng by Holger Hansen in Berlin; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta, Kirsten Donovan) BRAINTREE Family, friends and police officers from across the state packed in to St. Francis of Assisi Church on Washington Street in Braintree on Monday to pay their respects at the funeral of slain Boston police officer John O'Keefe. Dozens of Boston police officers lined the street and a large American flag hung outside the church Monday morning. "Moving forward, I will do my best to continue his legacy of caring and supporting others ... even though I know I will never come close to the way he did," Paul O'Keefe said in his eulogy of his older brother. John O'Keefe was found outside a Canton home on Fairview Road during a nor'easter Jan. 29. Karen A. Read, his girlfriend, has been charged with manslaughter and motor vehicle homicide in connection with his death. Boston police officer John O'Keefe, a Braintree native, was found dead outside a Canton home in the middle of a nor'easter on Jan. 29, 2022. His funeral was at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Braintree on Monday, Feb. 7, 2022. O'Keefe was raised in Braintree and lived in Canton. He was a Boston police officer for 16 years after obtaining a master's degree in criminal justice from the University of Massachusetts. He was a Braintree High School graduate and a former intern at the Braintree Police Department. When O'Keefe's sister and brother-in-law died, he took in his niece and nephew. From the DA: Boston police officer found dead outside Canton home during Saturday's storm So much generosity: Fund for niece and nephew of police officer found dead in Canton "John was a kind person dedicated to his family and will be greatly missed by his coworkers and anyone who had the privilege of meeting him," Boston Police Superintendent-in-Chief Gregory Long said in a statement. Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe, a Braintree native, was found dead outside of a Canton home in the middle of a nor'easter on Jan. 29, 2022. He was laid to rest at the St. Francis of Assisi Church in Braintree Monday, Feb. 7, 2022. Charged with manslaughter Karen Read was arraigned Stoughton District Court on Wednesday. Prosecutors said she dropped O'Keefe off at home on Friday, Jan. 28, as a nor'easter rolled into the region. The next day, officials said, she returned to the house to look for him and found his body in the snow. First responders took him to Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton, where he was pronounced dead several hours later. Story continues Prosecutors said Read was unsure if she had hit him with her car Friday night. First responders said they heard her say: "I hit him. I hit him. I hit him?," according to prosecutors. Read was released after posting $50,000 cash bail. She is scheduled to return to court for a probable cause hearing March 1. The top 20: Our latest list of the most expensive homes recently sold on the South Shore Sushi, spring rolls, sea bass: Asian flavors spice up Nomai, Hingham's newest restaurant Boston police officer John O'Keefe, a Braintree native, was found dead outside a Canton home in the middle of a nor'easter on Jan. 29, 2022. His funeral was at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Braintree on Monday, Feb. 7, 2022. Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Patriot Ledger subscription. Here is our latest offer. Reporters Wheeler Cowperthwaite, Alexandra Weliever and Fred Hanson contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Hundreds attend funeral of late Boston officer from Braintree Gawker has published an article entitled We Have Kyrsten Sinemas Social Security Number in what seems to be a thinly-veiled threat against the senior senator from Arizona. The piece brags about filing a records request for Sinemas divorce papers, thereby providing readers with instructions for how to obtain it themselves. Sinema has incurred the wrath of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party since defeating incumbent Republican senator Martha McSally in 2018. Most recently, Sinema has been criticized and hounded for opposing the Biden administrations Build Back Better spending bill, and the abolition of the legislative filibuster. In October, progressive activists supportive of Build Back Better followed Sinema into a restroom and filmed her after she entered a stall. President Biden hedged in his response to the incident, admitting that it was not appropriate while also calling it part of the process. Besides announcing its possession of Sinemas social security number, Gawker also listed the communal items shared and split by her and her ex-husband. The Gawker article concludes with the musing that, one might hope her familiarity with debt and social-worker salaries might have made her sympathetic to legislation aimed at increasing the federal minimum wage, which has languished at $7.25 since July 24, 2009. It did not, to which we can only say: . More from National Review BERLIN (AP) The body overseeing Berlin's museums will hand over Hawaiian ancestral remains collected by a German naturalist in the 19th century to authorities in Hawaii. The Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation said Monday that the remains of 32 individuals, known as iwi kupuna," will be handed over Friday to a representative of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, a semi-autonomous state agency directed by Native Hawaiians. Human remains from colonial contexts have no place in our museums and universities, Germany's culture minister, Claudia Roth, said a statement. Their return must be a priority. The remains were part of collections that the heritage foundation took over from Berlin's Charite hospital in 2011 and whose provenance it is researching. The foundation said the bones were acquired by collector and naturalist Hermann Otto Finsch around 1880 during a voyage to the South Pacific and were sent to Berlin. Most of the bones are probably several hundred years old and were collected from a beach at Waimanalo on Oahu island. Two more skulls came from a place in Hawaii that can't be identified precisely, the foundation said. Discussions about repatriating the remains had been ongoing since 2017. The German foundation has said it will return human remains from colonial contexts if the countries and groups they come from are known and their return is desired. In addition to the human remains, the Berlin foundation plans to return to Hawaii this year funerary items that were removed from burial caves around 1885. Feb. 6Moments after one of the most disappointing losses her career, Gonzaga women's Coach Lisa Fortier was looking ahead to the next game. There was no choice. The Zags had just blown a 15-point lead and eventually the game Saturday afternoon against Brigham Young. They still owned a piece of first place in the West Coast Conference, but they also had to pick up the pieces in a hurry because there's another game. On Monday night, the Zags host San Francisco in a game that was originally scheduled for Dec. 30 but postponed by COVID-19 protocols. It will be GU's third game in five days; that's hard enough, but the Zags also must try to erase the memory of Saturday's second-half meltdown. "How do you flush this?" Fortier said in the postgame presser. "I hope I come up with something smart between now and then." "But we all have had hangovers, and they can bite you," Fortier said. "That will be part of the message." Saturday's defeat not only cost the Zags a chance at their best quality win to date, but also left them with almost no margin for error in earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. Gonzaga is 17-5 overall and 8-1 in the WCC, but is firmly on the tournament bubble after dropping three spots, to 28th, in the NCAAs NET rankings. A loss to USF (119th in NET) or any other WCC team not named BYU would probably force the Zags to win the WCC tournament to reach March Madness. The Dons are a modest 12-11 overall and 6-5 in the WCC, but have won six of their last seven games. USF is coming off a home sweep of San Diego and Pepperdine, winning both games comfortably. In Saturday's 78-57 win over the Waves, sophomore guard Ioanna Krimili scored 25 points to reach the 1,000-point mark. "She's one of the most athletic players in the conference," Fortier said of Krimili, a 5-foot-10 dual threat guard who averages 17.3 points a game and 4.3 rebounds. Story continues Rebounding figures to be a point of emphasis for the Zags, who came into the BYU game as one of the top teams in the country but were outplayed on the boards in the second half against BYU Gonzaga has won the last 10 meetings with the Dons, and not at home since 2006. Gonzaga is back on the road this week, Thursday night at Santa Clara and Saturday for the rematch with USF. TALLAHASSEE Critics of Gov. Ron DeSantis request for the state Supreme Court to issue a quick opinion about potentially revamping a sprawling North Florida congressional district argue that the ill-conceived attempt to hijack the redistricting process is improper and outside the courts jurisdiction. Meanwhile, DeSantis and supporters of his request said in briefs that they are simply seeking needed judicial guidance as part of the once-a-decade redistricting process. The issue centers on what is now Congressional District 5, which stretches about 200 miles from Jacksonville to west of Tallahassee and was designed to help elect a minority candidate. It is held by Al Lawson, a Black Democrat. More coverage of the 2022 redistricting effort: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks during a fireside chat at the Florida chapter of the Federalist Societys annual meeting at Disneys Yacht Club resort in Walt Disney World Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. DeSantis last week asked the Supreme Court for an advisory opinion about dramatically changing the design of the district to make it more compact and only in Northeast Florida. The House and Senate will ultimately have to agree on a congressional map, which then would go to DeSantis, who has veto power. In briefs submitted Monday to the Supreme Court, Attorney General Ashley Moody, Republican legislative leaders and Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry backed DeSantis request for an advisory opinion. Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry speaks during a Jan. 14, 2022 virtual celebration of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. 's birthday. Curry argued that such an opinion would let voters in his city know the district in which they vote and the candidates for whom they vote will withstand constitutional scrutiny. The groups Common Cause Florida, Fair Districts Now and All On The Line Florida and South Florida Democratic Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick submitted briefs opposed to DeSantis request. Story continues Henry Coxe III, an attorney for Common Cause Florida and Fair Districts Now, contended the Florida Constitution does not provide the governor with the right to ask the court to advise him whether he should veto a hypothetical congressional redistricting bill. Any other result would implicate the constitutional principle of separation of powers by entangling the (Supreme) Court in the legislative drafting process, Coxe wrote. Cherfilus-McCormick, who is Black, said that beyond the potential impact to minority voters in District 5, the governors proposed map significantly diminishes the voting strength of minorities in her South Florida district. In a redistricting map released on Martin Luther King Day, Gov. Ron DeSantis proposes to wipe out Lawsons district and the one now represented by Orlando Democrat Val Demings. The Senate has passed a congressional map that generally would keep the current design of District 5. But DeSantis request paused the House congressional redistricting efforts. It was not immediately clear when the court will rule on DeSantis request for an advisory opinion. DeSantis proposed map would also vastly alter an Orlando-area district held by U.S. Rep. Val Demings, a Black Democrat, and potentially would increase the number of Republicans in Floridas congressional delegation from the current 16 to 18. In a Feb. 1 letter to Chief Justice Charles Canady seeking an advisory opinion, DeSantis focused, in part, on what is known as a non-diminishment standard in the Florida Constitution. That standard prevents districts from being drawn that will diminish the ability of minority voters to elect candidates of their choice. The letter also said, Florida's non-diminishment standard like the (federal) Voting Rights Act's non-diminishment standard is a potent, race-based solution to a race-based problem. I ask for your opinion to help me be sufficiently conscious of race to comply with the Florida Constitution's anti-diminishment provision but avoid being so conscious of race that my actions could violate the U.S. and Florida Constitutions. Congresswoman Val Demings speaks to Volusia County Democrats at a dinner in January 2020. Demings, who announced she is running for U.S. Senate, is no stranger to Volusia and Flagler counties. A brief filed Monday by DeSantis highlights the role of the executive in the once-a-decade reapportionment process specifically his veto power and raised questions about the diminishment issue. DeSantis argued the need for guidance about the Florida Constitutions minority-voting-protection provision, including whether it requires a district in northern Florida that stretches hundreds of miles to connect a black population in Jacksonville with a black population in Gadsden and Leon counties so that they can elect a candidate of their choice, even though not a majority. Thomas Zehnder, an attorney for All On The Line Florida, which is linked to the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, argued the governor doesnt have a role in drawing the congressional lines, even if he has power to veto the ultimate legislation. The governors request for an advisory opinion at the 11th hour after the Senate has already passed a congressional plan is an ill-conceived attempt to hijack the process by asking this court to make decisions about congressional district lines before the Legislature has even enacted a plan, Zehnder wrote. Coxe wrote that DeSantis request goes beyond part of the Constitution that allows him to seek opinions on executive powers and duties. House Speaker Chris Sprowls and Senate President Wilton Simpson COLIN HACKLEY PHOTO This request seeks an advisory opinion purportedly to inform his possible, hypothetical, exercise of his legislative veto power on a bill that has not yet been drafted, much less passed by both houses of the Legislature or presented to the governor for signing, Coxe wrote. In this context, it is well-settled that the governors query about his veto power asks about a legislative function not susceptible to an advisory opinion. Such a request for guidance from this court before a bill is passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor is improper. But House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, and Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, jointly backed DeSantis on what they said was the narrow scope of the question posed by the governor that would provide needed judicial guidance. Meanwhile, Moody said the governor isnt asking if his proposed map was unconstitutional, but if the Florida Constitution requires the drawing of a certain congressional district a matter that will inform, though not conclusively control, the outcome of the congressional reapportionment process. There is a strong interest in ensuring that this process proceeds under a correct understanding of the requirements of the Florida Constitution, Moody said in the brief. If the Legislature enacts a map inconsistent with those requirements, the result would be significant uncertainty on the part of voters and candidates regarding the validity of the congressional maps. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Critics angry at Florida governor Ron DeSantis over redistricting A group of Ukrainians gathered outside the Orange County courthouse Sunday to show their support for their country amid growing tensions over a possible Russian invasion. The crowd of 26 assembled amid increasing tension over Russias military presence on the border of Ukraine and as the Biden administration announced Wednesday the deployment of about 3,000 troops in an attempt to stop a potential invasion. We are here to show support for Ukraine and ask for support from the American government, said Vasyl Boichook, one of the rally organizers and president of St. Mary Protectress Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Apopka. If Russia were to invade Ukraine, it could lead to a war which would mean Ukraine would suffer the most due to its proximity, Boichook, 55, said. We need help to fight Russia, Boichook said. Similar rallies were held Sunday across the country in New York City, Philadelphia and Washington D.C., said Mykola Havrlyuk, 39, a Ukrainian rally organizer. In Orlando, the rallygoers sang the Ukrainian national anthem, waved large flags and chanted Glory to Ukraine. If I need to, I would go and fight or if they need it, I would help support Ukraine financially, Havrlyuk said. We want to show respect to our country. Many Ukrainians want their country to become part of NATO in order to ease struggles in the nation and gain help from the European Union, Havrlyuk said. Russia always wants to tell other countries what to do, but we want to be independent, Havrlyuk said. Ukrainians very much dont want to be part of Russia. They want to preserve what Ukraine has accomplished and preserve the culture, Havrlyuk said. Ukraine has a lot to offer; [the people] are hardworking, make some great art and music so it would be sad to lose that, Volodymyr Boichook, 26, said. Yuliia Konstantinova, 28, last went to Ukraine in August 2021 to visit her family before Russia added more troops to the border. People still go to school and work and they live normal lives, Konstantinova said. I was more scared when everything first started. Konstantinova said she and other Ukraninans feel greatly appreciative that the U.S. is showing that they care through troop deployment and media coverage of the action at the border. The Heritage Foundation has long shaped mainstream Republican policy in Washington. It drafted much of Ronald Reagan's agenda to slash federal spending and launched a ferocious campaign to repeal Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act. But in recent months, the venerable think tank in the shadow of the U.S. Capitol has revamped its leadership after its former president, Kay Coles James, was subject to a torrent of criticism from a prominent conservative cable host. Heritage replaced James with a Texas firebrand more determined to fight pandemic restrictions, "critical race theory" in schools, and "teaching transgenderism to kindergartners," bending the institution toward issues that have resonated with former president Donald Trump and his allies. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. The leadership changes mark a retreat from traditional but stodgy fiscal and foreign policy issues in favor of the hot-button education and vaccine debates that increasingly defined the Republican Party in the era of Trump. The change also comes as Heritage is struggling to compete for right-wing dollars while new think tanks are cropping up around town, including several launched by such Trump acolytes as former White House budget chief Russ Vought and top domestic policy aide Brooke Rollins. Video: Trump's powerful hold over the GOP Under James, who led Heritage until last year, the foundation clashed with Trump allies over the killing of George Floyd, policies toward Big Tech, and the massive explosion of federal spending under Trump. Frequently attacked by Fox News host Tucker Carlson, James announced in March that she soon would be stepping down. The new director, Kevin Roberts, most recently led the conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation. He told the Heritage news organization, the Daily Signal, that his top three priorities at Heritage are "education, education, and education." Story continues The leadership change also more closely aligns the leadership of the Heritage Foundation with the views of several members of its board of trustees, who believed that James had not moved aggressively enough to position Heritage as opposed to coronavirus-related government restrictions at the outset of the pandemic, according to four people with direct knowledge of the matter. "Shouting out Reagan platitudes in 2020 is not what you want to hear, and Kevin gets all that," said one conservative strategist, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to frankly discuss the situation. In an interview, Roberts strongly disputed that Heritage would be less focused on economic and fiscal issues, pointing to existing and upcoming work with GOP lawmakers on that topic. Rob Bluey, Heritage's chief spokesman, said James's decision to leave her post in 2021 was "totally her choice." A spokesman for James, who now serves in the Cabinet of Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and remains a Heritage trustee, did not respond to requests for comment. Heritage's sway over the Republican Party has dramatically weakened, in part because of how Trump changed the party. The coronavirus also proved a divisive force within the building. As the coronavirus pandemic spread in the spring 2020, Heritage leadership under James rejected an article from one of its scholars denouncing government restrictions, two people with knowledge of the matter said. Heritage's offices stayed closed for about three months, and signs urging masking became something of a joke for many conservatives who mocked the concept. "Heritage came around to opposing the lockdowns later, but at the beginning the idea was, 'Let's not attack lockdowns,' " one person familiar with the matter said. "It was very controversial inside the building." By contrast, under the leadership of Roberts, the Texas Public Policy Foundation reopened two weeks after the coronavirus first hit. Roberts said he was among the most outspoken members of Gov. Greg Abbott's, R-Texas, pandemic "state strike force" in pushing for an end to coronavirus-related restrictions. By April 3, 2020, the Texas Public Policy Foundation was already warning that the isolation orders were far more dangerous than the pandemic. "I was among the most outspoken that the shutdowns were awful - that they were worse than the disease itself," Roberts told The Washington Post in an interview. "And I am sorry to report that I was 100% right." Bluey said in an email to The Post that the institution "has consistently opposed government lockdowns," pointing to a set of April 2020 recommendations that said state and local leaders should quickly reopen businesses and schools "except in communities where an outbreak is occurring or believed to be imminent." Later Heritage reports criticized a model used to justify coronavirus restrictions and focused on their economic consequences. Roberts's opinion is widely shared among conservative cable news hosts and many Republican politicians. The pandemic has killed more than 900,000 Americans. Heritage now finds itself trying to catch up after watching some of its core tenets become shredded during Trump's tenure. Even as Heritage staffers cycled into the federal government to staff the Trump administration, the think tank found itself repeatedly at odds with then-President Trump's allies. Heritage officials have long decried big government deficits, but Trump added nearly $8 trillion to the national debt, the most by any president. Trump also imposed enormously controversial tariffs on foreign countries, while Heritage has long advocated free trade. Trump took direct aim at the Silicon Valley giants who donate heavily to conservative causes, and Heritage experts criticized Trump's attacks on China. Carlson, a Trump ally and arguably the most influential conservative voice in the country, often led the charge. In 2019, Carlson said Heritage "no longer represents the interest of conservatives, at least on the question of tech" and criticized a Heritage report that rejected government intervention that would punish tech companies for removing conservative speech. In 2020, Carlson included James in a roundup of conservative leaders who "joined the left's chorus" in not strongly enough denouncing violence and property destruction at protests of the murder of George Floyd. James, who is Black, wrote an op-ed for Fox News' website in May 2020 saying that she does "not condone the violence spreading across this country in response to Floyd's horrific killing." She also condemned the "ugly racism that stains our nation's history and afflicts us like a cancer of the soul." Carlson called the op-ed a "long screed denouncing America as an irredeemably racist nation," and he urged Heritage donors to direct their dollars elsewhere. In August 2021, months after James had announced her resignation, Carlson aired a segment accusing Heritage of taking money from powerful tech companies, a claim the group called "patently false," citing James's rejection of Facebook and Google donations in 2020. "We agree with Tucker Carlson on many issues, including his concerns about Big Tech," Bluey said, adding that the think tank applauds Carlson "for his pursuit of the truth when so many others are afraid to ask tough questions." Carlson declined to comment. Heritage's evolution comes after former top Trump aides started rival think tanks competing for conservative dollars. Vought, the former OMB director, started a group called Center for Renewing America, which is focused on voter fraud, Big Tech and "critical race theory." Another former senior Trump official, Brooke Rollins, launched America First Policy Institute with former Trump senior aides Larry Kudlow, Chad Wolf and Linda McMahon. Mark Meadows, Trump's former chief of staff, joined the Conservative Partnership Institute started by former Heritage president Jim DeMint, after leaving the administration. One former Trump official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to frankly describe the state of the party, said the "red meat" among Republicans is now issues such as school choice and opposing vaccine mandates, with the economic issues that Heritage used to focus on existing in a second tier. Heritage's biggest name among former Trump officials is former vice president Mike Pence, now reviled within the Trump wing of the GOP for his refusal to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. "People do not walk around in fear of the Heritage Foundation the way they did 10 years ago," said Avik Roy, a former health-care policy adviser to Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, and the president of the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity, a think tank. "Heritage's model, or self-conception, is that it gets to define what is conservative and everyone else has to fall in line. Particularly if you think about how Trump disrupted what it means to be a conservative, Heritage is no longer in a position to be a party-line enforcer." Added Jane Calderwood, who served as chief of staff to former senator Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, of Heritage: "They were a big player, and anything they said was considered gospel by certain people. Now it's just whatever Trump wants, he gets." Roberts, the new Heritage president, downplayed these challenges in an interview and stressed that he and other Heritage officials are in close communication with senior GOP officials in crafting the party's agenda. A spokesman for Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., the House GOP minority leader, said Heritage remains involved with McCarthy's office on policy and on oversight measures related to the Biden administration. The think tank is positioning itself to play a key role in the emerging flash points for the party. Roberts has made clear in several interviews that he views cultural questions - including over education and "critical race theory" - as top priorities. He has talked critically of Silicon Valley, after Carlson chastised James for being allegedly too soft on Big Tech. He has defined a "movement conservative" as someone who opposes same-sex marriage. "There's another group of conservatives who are not movement conservatives, because they are weak and wrong on the social issues. Marriage, transgender stuff," Roberts said. Roberts insisted that economic policy remains "crucial" to the think tank's mission and said he was personally involved in crafting an economic blueprint likely to be released soon. "Those are tensions inside the movement, and to the extent that Heritage reflects the movement, yeah, we have those tensions. But there's a whole series of worse situations than the word 'tension,' " Roberts said. "I believe in creative conflict." Related Content The Brian Flores experience? 'That's the reality for most Black coaches' John Mellencamp still has plenty of fight left in him A popular Uzbek commander fought for the Taliban for more than two decades. He was arrested anyway. GALESBURG A former Hill Correctional Center inmate was sentenced to seven years in prison Tuesday in Knox County Court after pleading guilty to three counts of aggravated batter to a correctional officer. On Tuesday, Ike Larry Jr., 27, pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated battery to a correctional officer and was sentenced to the maximum sentence of seven years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, according to a release sent Monday from State's Attorney Jeremy Karlin's office. More: Inmates charged for striking correctional officers at Henry Hill Correctional Center On April 2, 2021, Larry, an inmate in the Hill Correctional Center, was discovered in another inmates cell without authorization. A magnet piece had been placed over the locking mechanism of the cell door that prevented it from securing shut. Larry attacked three correctional officers that attempted to remove him from the cell, resulting in all three being sent to OSF St. Mary Medical Center for treatment. In a hearing in October 2021, Larry and Kelvin A. Gathings III, 31, appeared before 9th Circuit Judge Nigel Graham and were appointed public defenders. Graham stated the men used closed fists to strike several correctional officers at the Galesburg prison on April 2. Karlin did not mention the case against Gathings in the Monday release. More: Cottage Hospital owners report death threat; police respond to bomb threat on hospital's closing day Larry will serve the seven-year sentence after he completes the original sentence 25-year murder sentence in connection with a 2017 shooting in St. Clair County. Additionally, Larry was transferred to a different correctional center and also received administrative punishment. In a statement, Knox County States Attorney Karlin said, Everyday correctional officers within the state prison and county jail are called upon to perform difficult tasks, under difficult circumstances with, often, the most difficult of people. We will do our best to prevent and combat violence against correctional officers. We will make sure that punishment will run consecutive to any sentence that an inmate is currently serving. This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: Hill inmate gets 7 more years prison for battery against guards Scotlands Jamie Ritchie went off injured on Saturday (Jane Barlow/PA) (PA Wire) Scotland flanker Jamie Ritchie will miss this weekends Six Nations clash with Wales through injury. The 25-year-old was taken off on the buggy during the second half of Saturdays 20-17 victory over England after suffering damage in his hamstring and groin area. He left the stadium on crutches afterwards, casting doubt on his participation in the remainder of the tournament. It was confirmed on Monday by the Scottish Rugby Union that Ritchie, who was one of the teams vice-captains in the victory over Tonga in October, has not joined up with the squad to prepare for the trip to the Principality Stadium. Bath back-row forward Josh Bayliss, who has been suffering from concussion recently, is still not ready to join up with the squad. Edinburgh hooker Dave Cherry has been called into Gregor Townsends pool ahead of the trip to Wales. A statement on the SRUs Twitter feed confirmed: Jamie Ritchie and Josh Bayliss have not met up with the squad this week through injury. Dave Cherry has joined up with the team today. Retrieved artifacts are displayed at a museum in Baghdad, Iraq, Feb. 8, 2022. The Iraqi authorities on Monday retrieved from Lebanon 337 ancient artifacts which were looted after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood) BAGHDAD, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi authorities on Monday retrieved from Lebanon 337 ancient artifacts which were looted after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. Among the retrieved artifacts are 331 cuneiform tablets dating back to the Akkadian Empire and other early dynasties more than 4,000 years ago, while the remaining six date from the Old Babylonian Empire more than 3000 years ago, said Laith Hussein, head of the State Board of Antiquities and Heritage, at a press conference. The 337 artifacts were retrieved from the private Nabu Museum in Lebanon, he added. Late in 2021, Iraq announced the recovery of 17,916 looted and smuggled antiquities from the United States and European countries, including tablets dating back to 4,500 years ago and bearing cuneiform inscriptions documenting the trade exchanges during the Sumerian civilization. More antiquities will soon be retrieved from several European countries, and "we will continue to work to recover the last artifact outside Iraq," Hussein noted. A day earlier, Lebanese Culture Ministry handed over to Iraq the 337 ancient artifacts that had been on display in a Lebanese museum for years after confirming they belong to Iraq, according to the Iraqi official. According to the official statistics, about 15,000 pieces of cultural relics from the Stone Age, the Babylonian, Assyrian, and Islamic periods were stolen or destroyed by looters after Saddam Hussein's regime was toppled by U.S.-led troops in 2003. The Mosul Museum and the ancient cities of Hatra and Nimrud were destroyed and large numbers of antiquities smuggled after the Islamic State militants took control of large territories in northern and western Iraq in 2014. More than 10,000 sites in Iraq are officially recognized as archaeological sites, but most of them are not safeguarded and many still being looted. Retrieved artifacts are displayed at a museum in Baghdad, Iraq, Feb. 8, 2022. The Iraqi authorities on Monday retrieved from Lebanon 337 ancient artifacts which were looted after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood) A cuneiform tablet is displayed at a museum in Baghdad, Iraq, Feb. 8, 2022. The Iraqi authorities on Monday retrieved from Lebanon 337 ancient artifacts which were looted after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood) A photographer takes photos of retrieved artifacts at a museum in Baghdad, Iraq, Feb. 8, 2022. The Iraqi authorities on Monday retrieved from Lebanon 337 ancient artifacts which were looted after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood) VIENNA (Reuters) - Indirect talks in Vienna between Iran and the United States on reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal will resume on Tuesday, the European Union, which is coordinating the talks, confirmed on Monday. "Following a short break, the 8th round of negotiations in Vienna in the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) will resume tomorrow, on Tuesday 8 February," the EU said in a statement. Envoys headed home 10 days ago to ask their bosses to help resolve the thorniest remaining issues. (Reporting by Francois Murphy; Editing by Toby Chopra) JERUSALEM (AP) Former Israeli and Palestinian peace negotiators have drawn up a new proposal for a two-state confederation that they hope will offer a way forward after a decade-long stalemate in Mideast peace efforts. The plan includes several controversial proposals, and it's unclear if it has any support among leaders on either side. But it could help shape the debate over the conflict and will be presented to a senior U.S. official and the U.N. secretary-general this week. The plan calls for an independent state of Palestine in most of the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, territories Israel seized in the 1967 Mideast war. Israel and Palestine would have separate governments but coordinate at a very high level on security, infrastructure and other issues that affect both populations. The plan would allow the nearly 500,000 Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank to remain there, with large settlements near the border annexed to Israel in a one-to-one land swap. Settlers living deep inside the West Bank would be given the option of relocating or becoming permanent residents in the state of Palestine. The same number of Palestinians likely refugees from the 1948 war surrounding Israel's creation would be allowed to relocate to Israel as citizens of Palestine with permanent residency in Israel. The initiative is largely based on the Geneva Accord, a detailed, comprehensive peace plan drawn up in 2003 by prominent Israelis and Palestinians, including former officials. The nearly 100-page confederation plan includes new, detailed recommendations for how to address core issues. Yossi Beilin, a former senior Israeli official and peace negotiator who co-founded the Geneva Initiative, said that by taking the mass evacuation of settlers off the table, the plan could be more amenable to them. Israel's political system is dominated by the settlers and their supporters, who view the West Bank as the biblical and historical heartland of the Jewish people and an integral part of Israel. Story continues The Palestinians view the settlements as the main obstacle to peace, and most of the international community considers them illegal. The settlers living deep inside the West Bank who would likely end up within the borders of a future Palestinian state are among the most radical and tend to oppose any territorial partition. We believe that if there is no threat of confrontations with the settlers it would be much easier for those who want to have a two-state solution, Beilin said. The idea has been discussed before, but he said a confederation would make it more feasible. Numerous other sticking points remain, including security, freedom of movement and perhaps most critically after years of violence and failed negotiations, lack of trust. Israels Foreign Ministry and the Palestinian Authority declined to comment. The main Palestinian figure behind the initiative is Hiba Husseini, a former legal adviser to the Palestinian negotiating team going back to 1994 who hails from a prominent Jerusalem family. Other contributors include Israeli and Palestinian professors and two retired Israeli generals. Husseini acknowledged that the proposal regarding the settlers is very controversial but said the overall plan would fulfill the Palestinians' core aspiration for a state of their own. Its not going to be easy, she added. "To achieve statehood and to achieve the desired right of self-determination that we have been working on since 1948, really we have to make some compromises. Thorny issues like the conflicting claims to Jerusalem, final borders and the fate of Palestinian refugees could be easier to address by two states in the context of a confederation, rather than the traditional approach of trying to work out all the details ahead of a final agreement. Were reversing the process and starting with recognition, Husseini said. It's been nearly three decades since Israeli and Palestinian leaders gathered on the White House lawn to sign the Oslo accords, launching the peace process. Several rounds of talks over the years, punctuated by outbursts of violence, failed to yield a final agreement, and there have been no serious or substantive negotiations in more than a decade. Israel's current prime minister, Naftali Bennett, is a former settler leader opposed to Palestinian statehood. Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, who is set to take over as prime minister in 2023 under a rotation agreement, supports an eventual two-state solution. But neither is likely to be able to launch any major initiatives because they head a narrow coalition spanning the political spectrum from hard-line nationalist factions to a small Arab party. On the Palestinian side, President Mahmoud Abbas' authority is confined to parts of the occupied West Bank, with the Islamic militant group Hamas which doesn't accept Israel's existence ruling Gaza. Abbas' presidential term expired in 2009 and his popularity has plummeted in recent years, meaning he is unlikely to be able to make any historic compromises. The idea of the two-state solution was to give the Palestinians an independent state, while allowing Israel to exist as a democracy with a strong Jewish majority. Israels continued expansion of settlements, the absence of any peace process and repeated rounds of violence, however, have greatly complicated hopes of partitioning the land. The international community still views a two-state solution as the only realistic way to resolve the conflict. But the ground is shifting, particularly among young Palestinians, who increasingly view the conflict as a struggle for equal rights under what they and three prominent human rights groups say is an apartheid regime. Israel vehemently rejects those allegations, viewing them as an antisemitic attack on its right to exist. Lapid has suggested that reviving a political process with the Palestinians would help Israel resist any efforts to brand it an apartheid state in world bodies. Next week, Beilin and Husseini will present their plan to U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Beilin says they have already shared drafts with Israeli and Palestinian officials. Beilin said he sent it to people who he knew would not reject it out of hand. Nobody rejected it. It doesnt mean that they embrace it." "I didnt send it to Hamas, he added, joking. I dont know their address. TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Monday he wants to speed up the country's COVID-19 booster shot programme to 1 million shots a day by the end of the month, about double the current pace. Kishida told a televised parliamentary budget committee meeting that he has instructed ministers to work with local governments to speed up inoculations as much as possible. Nationwide infections surpassed 100,000 on Saturday for the first time. Most regions are now under infection control measures to try to blunt the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant that has exploded among a population where less than 5% have received vaccine booster shots. Tokyo and 12 other prefectures are planning to extend the curbs, which had been due to expire on Feb. 13, by about three weeks, government sources told Reuters. (Reporting by Kentaro Sugiyama, Yoshifumi Takemoto and Rocky Swift; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Toby Chopra) Bruce Mouat and Jennifer Dodds missed out on a place in the Olympic final (Andrew Milligan/PA) (PA Wire) Jennifer Dodds and Bruce Mouat face the painful task of regrouping for a shot at Olympic bronze after losing their mixed curling semi-final in a 6-5 defeat to Norway at the National Aquatics Centre in Beijing. The British pair looked in control for much of the match but it swung on a three-point Norwegian power-play in the sixth, which ultimately afforded Kristen Skaslien to roll in the decisive stone and clinch victory in the final end. Mouat and Dodds did not hide their disappointment in the wake of the contest but immediately sought to shift focus onto Tuesday afternoons match against Sweden which will decide whether they make it onto the Olympic podium. Were disappointed not to be in the final but theres still a bronze medal to play for tomorrow, said Dodds. I think if we play like we did for the majority of that game it will be a really good fight against Sweden. Dodds and Mouat had lost their penultimate round-robin match to the Norwegians 24 hours earlier, but rebounded to secure a swift chance at revenge when they overcame the already-eliminated Americans on Monday morning. They started strongly against their opponents, whom they had beaten to win the world title in Aberdeen last year, and led for more than half the match in what coach David Murdoch called their strongest passage of play in the tournament so far. Its going to hurt, that one, said Murdoch, who endured his own fair share of pain during three Olympic appearances as a player, including when he came up short in the mens final against the USA in Sochi in 2014. It was a really well controlled game and they were doing everything we asked of them. Its the best Ive seen us play all week and for five ends we were clearly the better team. Unfortunately when it comes to the power-play, if you do have a couple of small errors you can easily lose three. And that was actually the deciding point of the game. We're disappointed not to be in the final but there's still a bronze medal to play for tomorrow, I think if we play like we did for the majority of that game it will be a really good fight against Sweden. Story continues Jennifer Dodds It was a missed take-out attempt by Dodds in the seventh that proved pivotal, handing the Norwegians the three, and when Britain could only respond with one in the next, Norway took the hammer or final stone advantage into the last end. In mixed doubles its had to say youre in control the entire game mixed doubles is so hard to keep on top of things, said Mouat. The fact that we tried to make her play a really tough one in the last shows how resilient we were. We were basically trying to guard everything and they were trying to make the hits, so with Jens last we just needed to put it in a really good position to force Kristen into playing a really tough draw. But unfortunately we over-swept it a bit and gave her too much backing to play her draw, so were a little bit disappointed with how we handled that. Boris Johnsons spokesperson has condemned Jimmy Carrs Holocaust joke about travellers. The prime ministers spokesperson said that the the comedians comments, made during a Netflix stand-up special, were deeply disturbing. Obviously, those comments are deeply disturbing and it is unacceptable to make light of genocide, the full quote read. When asked whether the PM thought Netflix should remove the special, the spokesperson added; That would be a matter for them. We are clear that mocking the atrocities of the Holocaust is unacceptable. However, he added that legislation is being pushed through to make streaming services more accountable for dangerous content on their platforms. We are looking at toughening measures for social media and streaming platforms which dont tackle harmful content on their platforms, the spokesperson said. We are looking at regulatory changes for streaming companies. We are clear that any change in legislation needs to be proportionate, to ensure freedom of speech within the law is not stifled. Carr has found himself at the centre of widespread controversy after a clip from the special was highlighted on social media on Friday (4 February). The comedian himself is yet to officially comment on the controversy, but addressed the furore during a stand-up set on Saturday (5 February) after being heckled by an audience member. It is reported that he made light of the backlash during the show. Boris Johnsons spokesperson called Jimmy Carrs joke deeply disturbing (Brian J Ritchie/Hotsauce/Shutterstock) In the footage, the 8 Out of 10 Cats presenter says: When people talk about the Holocaust, they talk about the tragedy and horror of six million Jewish lives being lost to the Nazi war machine. But they never mention the thousands of gypsies that were killed by the Nazis. He then adds: No one ever talks about that because no one wants to talk about the positives. Carrs joke has been derided by several MPs, including Savid Javid, and organisations like the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust. Netflix is being urged to remove the special, with David Baddiel, a close friend of the comedian, calling the joke mean-spirited and indefensible. Jimmy Carr in London, England. (Photo by Alberto Pezzali/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Downing Street has commented on Jimmy Carr's genocide joke, calling it 'deeply disturbing'. Carr has been under pressure since a clip from his latest Netflix special, His Dark Material, started doing the rounds on social media last week. In the clip, the 8 out of 10 Cats host comments on the awfulness of "6 million Jewish lives being lost" before going on to say "thousands of Gypsies" being killed by the Nazis was one of "the positives" of the Holocaust. Read more: Jimmy Carr addresses 'racist' travellers joke during stand-up set Asked about Carr's joke, Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesperson said: Those comments are deeply disturbing and it is unacceptable to make light of genocide. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaving No:10 Downing Street, 2022. (Rasid Necati Aslim/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) However, the spokesperson refused to comment on whether the special should remain on Netflix, saying: Im not necessarily going to draw on a specific example. We are clear that any change in legislation should be proportionate to ensure freedom of speech that is within the law is not stifled. He continued that it was a "matter for them" referring to Netflix on whether they should remove Carr's show. Jimmy Carr performs onstage for 'Give It Up For Comic Relief', 2013 (Dave J Hogan/Getty Images) Other members of government have been more direct in their criticism of the comedian. Health Secretary, Sajid Javid, called on people to boycott the comedian and his work and called the joke "horrid". He went on to tell Times Radio: I think we all have a right to react to that. And one of the best ways anyone can react to that is show these platforms what they think about Jimmy Carr by not watching or listening to him, and that will send him a very strong message. Jimmy Carr speaks onstage at The Comedy Central Roast of Rob Lowe. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) Culture Secretary, Nadine Dorries also said that Carr's comments were "abhorrent" and "shouldn't be on television". Downing Street had previously announced new legislation that would give the government greater control over the content on streaming services which are currently not regulated in the same way as TV channels, which are overseen by Ofcom. Story continues Carr has also been criticised by organisations such as Hope Not Hate, the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust and the Auschwitz Memorial. Watch: Jimmy Carr responds to cancellation John Whaite has had a negative lateral flow test while on the Strictly live tour. (BBC) Strictly Come Dancing finalist John Whaite is re-joining the live tour after his coronavirus test result proved to be a false positive. The Great British Bake Off winner was forced to miss two shows of the live dance tour in Glasgow on Sunday (6 February) after receiving a positive lateral flow test. But Whaite announced on social media on Monday: "PCR came back negative so I'll be back on stage in Glasgow tonight." Read more: AJ Odudu 'gutted' as she pulls out of 'Strictly' tour due to injury The 32-year-old baker missed two performances with his dance partner Johannes Radebe at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow on Sunday after his positive lateral flow result meant he was forced to isolate in his hotel room. Whaite shared a video on Instagram Stories from his bed, revealing: Hi everyone, little bit of bad news Im afraid. A lateral flow this morning has come back positive so I now have to sit here in this glamorous captivity until a result of a PCR come back and Im hoping they come back negative because I feel fine. John Whaite shared an update form his hotel bed. (Instagram) Im triple jabbed, I had coronavirus in summer, so Im hoping its just a false positive." He added: That does mean of course that I wont be able to perform today or tonight in Glasgow. I am very, very, very, very, very sorry if anyone was hoping to see me shake my thing on the dance floor because I just wont be there shaking it. John Whaite and his dance partner Johannes Radebe made the final of Strictly 2021. (BBC) Ill be in my hotel room probably still shaking it but that isnt something I wish the world could see because it isnt pretty, darling. When youre not in sparkles and sequins, it aint pretty. Anyway, Im sorry I cant be there. I hope you enjoy the show nonetheless, and good luck to all my friend who are in the show today. Im sorry Im letting you all down. John Whiate could not join Johannes on the dancefloor for the Glasgow live shows on Sunday. (BBC) Finalist AJ Odudu was forced to pull out of the entire Strictly tour because of her ongoing ankle injury. The TV presenter had to withdraw from the final of the BBC ballroom contest after suffering ligament damage. And her hopes of touring with her pro partner Kai Widdrington and other contestants were also dashed. Story continues Read more: Strictly's John and Johannes confess they fell out during training The line-up for the Strictly 2022 live tour includes winner EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis, semi-finalist Rhys Stephenson, CBBC presenter Tilly Ramsay and Dragon's Den star Sara Davies. Former contestant Maisie Smith is filling in for Odudu and The Wanted singer Max George, who competed in Strictly in 2020, is also on the tour, BBC Breakfast host Dan Walker is not taking part, despite making it to the quarter final. Watch: John Whaite and Johannes admit they fell out during Strictly rehearsals Justin Ahrens is not a particularly prolific poster when it comes to social media. He has a TikTok account but has never posted a video, hasnt utilized his Twitter account since Oct. 26 and has posted just one message to Instagram this year. That was on New Years Day, and the Ohio State senior posted a few photos of himself in action with a caption: Manifesting my dreams & minding my business with a checkmark emoji. At the time, the Buckeyes were finally poised to emerge from a 22-day COVID-19 layoff that cost them three games. Their last time out, Ahrens had gone 1 for 4 from 3-point range in a 73-55 home win against No. 17 Wisconsin. It was only the second time through the first 10 games he had failed to make multiple 3-pointers in a game. He was shooting a career-best 43.1% (25 for 58) to that point. Ohio State basketball insider: Stay in the know with texts from beat reporter Adam Jardy Rob Oller: Buckeyes flex muscle, take care of business against overmatched Maryland Ohio State basketball: In season without rhythm, where do Buckeyes stack up nationally? Justin Ahrens: 'Feels like the whole fan base is against you' during shooting slump Go back one game, and through nine games Ahrens was at 44.4% and on his way to a potentially record-breaking season. Instead, what has followed is more than a month of staring into the abyss and trying to translate good practice effort into game results. But as shot after shot clanged off the rim, in arenas in Indiana, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Purdue and even at home, minding my own business was growing harder for the Ohio State senior. Its frustrating, Ahrens said Sunday afternoon. It feels like the whole fan base is against you when youre not doing what youre supposed to be doing. Ahrens comments came moments after the announced crowd of 15,912 and the uncounted millions watching at home on national television were unequivocally in his corner. For the first time since his 5-for-10 effort against Towson on Dec. 8, Ahrens shook off the shooting slump that had taken hold and went 4 for 7 to help power No. 16 Ohio State past Maryland, 82-67. Story continues The challenge is to get back to shooting at a high level on a consistent basis. But after that nine-game stretch that saw him connect on 9 of 42 (21.4%) of his 3-point attempts, Ahrens could breathe a little easier after facing Maryland. Obviously when youre not making shots thats, my job, Ahrens said. Theres no excuses. Nobody wants to hit those shots more than I do. To have my teammates believing in me throughout that stretch when I really couldnt get anything to fall, and my family, that helped me to stay with it. He credited teammates E.J. Liddell, Jamari Wheeler and Malaki Branham for helping keep his spirits and confidence high. To get out of his own head, Ahrens said he played video games. He relied on his faith in God and the support he gets from his extended family. During this game, the fans helped. Ahrens made his first 3-pointer with 10:12 to play in the first half, less than two minutes into his first appearance of the game. His second came with 1:12 left in the half, and when he drilled another with 12:39 to play in the second half, the applause continued to grow exponentially. Coach Chris Holtmann said he could feel that, just like he felt the weight of expectations on Ahrens shoulders during his recent stretch. Hes got a lot of fans, and I believe this, that watched the game today and were thrilled for Justin Ahrens, Holtmann said. Thats what I believe is out there in Buckeye Nation. Im sure hes had people that have been frustrated with him like they are with me, but I know he had a lot of fans who looked at that and said, Were happy for that kid, because we know he struggled. Throughout the stretch, Holtmann and his assistant coaches have praised Ahrens for his approach. That has been a constant since his arrival at Ohio State four years ago when he was the nations No. 249 national prospect according to 247Sports.com. He is 14 3-pointers shy of reaching the top 10 in the Ohio State record books, and his career 40.0 3-point shooting percentage currently sits fifth-best. There is a large enough body of work that indicated Ahrens was due to break out at some point. The longer it dragged on, the more frustrating it grew. Im a shooter, Ahrens said. When Im not making shots, I feel like Im almost useless out there. Im one guy that coach said I can be out on the court and not hit shots and still have a positive impact on the game with a bunch of different things, my communication, my rebounding, talking on defense, a lot of little things some guys dont bring to the floor. Staying with it each and every day was the main thing for me to get through that stretch. During the last few days, Ahrens said assistant coach Ryan Pedon pointed to three areas where he was still impacting the game even if shots werent falling: toughness, defense and rebounding. After the Purdue loss, a game in which he played a season-low 11 minutes and finished with 3 points, Holtmann said Ahrens was the same, vocal leader in practice. He repeatedly called him a pros pro for his mindset. Most kids, when they have a bad game and if you lose, they come in and they dont have the same spirit that Justin had, Holtmann said. His spirit has not waned through this stretch. Hes been disappointed, but his work has not waned. This game doesnt guarantee anything going forward. Some teams will hug Ahrens defensively and refuse to allow him open looks, and there will be more games where shots just wont fall. Thats the life of a shooter playing in the Big Ten. But this was a pretty clear reminder that Ahrens still has the chance to be a significant factor on an Ohio State team with lofty postseason goals. When the Buckeyes play at Rutgers on Wednesday night, hell get a chance to build on this performance. Hell approach it the same way hes done the last 101 games. Ive learned in the last few weeks to brush it off, he said. Theres a lot more games to be played. You cant sit back and dwell on every mistake you make. If you keep doing that, youre going to keep making more mistakes. Time off leads to energized performance by Buckeyes Ohio State was not supposed to have a week in between games. Thursdays tipoff against Iowa was postponed when the Hawkeyes first had mechanical issues with their plane and then were unable to fly to Columbus during the weeks winter storm. The next day was not a fun one for the Buckeyes. We practiced really hard these last two days, Holtmann said. I was really hard on them two days ago. A part of that was probably I was just ready for a game. Im concerned about these consistent layoffs that weve had. We can get out of shape pretty quickly. Key said Thursday was a strange day but one that helped pave the way for a dominant win Sunday. We wanted to play Iowa, he said. Due to the weather and some unforeseen circumstances, we couldnt. It's tough. Youre getting read to play, game day, the game is postponed. Its definitely tough, but the guys are always ready to play. Definitely had some built-up energy ready to go. Purdue loss referenced at halftime On the scoreboard, the Buckeyes held a comfortable lead as they headed into the locker room. Ohio State had shot 61.5% (16 for 26) through the first 20 minutes and led, 42-29. In the locker room, Holtmann had two challenges for the Buckeyes, and they directly related to their last time on the court. Down nine at No. 6 Purdue last Sunday, Ohio State was outscored 8-0 in the opening minutes of the second half to create a deficit that was ultimately too much to completely overcome. So, yes, that was mentioned. We told them that, Holtmann said. We reminded them of our first four minutes at Purdue. We didnt have any offensive rebounds, which was disappointing. They had seven defensive rebounds. Those were the two points we really hit on at halftime. We needed better force to the ball and what kind of urgency were we going to come out of the halftime with. Ohio State took that 13-point lead and grew it to 18 points thanks to a pair of Ahrens free throws at the under-16 media timeout. That came with 15:37 left, and Ohio State was ahead 53-35. During the second half, Ohio State outrebounded Maryland 21-16 and finished with seven offensive rebounds three from Liddell and two apiece from Kyle Young and Key. Coach Holtmann said we have to get more offensive rebounds, Key said. We have to crash the glass a lot harder than we were doing. The team took that to heart. We came out in the second half, rebounded a lot more. Offensive rebounding is big for us. E.J. Liddell, Ohio State playmaker For a fifth straight game, Liddell finished with at least three assists. For the second time in that stretch, he also dished out five assists. And for a second straight game, he did not have a turnover. During those five games, Liddell has had 19 assists and seven turnovers. He now has 57 assists, behind just Jamari Wheelers team-leading 66. What weve seen of late is him grow in that area, Holtmann said. This year weve said, you get a defensive rebound, you push it. Now sometimes hes turned it over, but more times hes gotten something good out of it. Its important for him. I think we play a little faster that way, but it allows him to showcase a bigger part of his game. Its a small part: What the NBA people said they wanted to see from him, they didnt say we want to see a bust-out guy. I think it helps. It cant hurt with having five assists and no turnovers. Liddell is putting up a statistically rare season. EJ Liddell is the only player since 2008 to average the following: 19.5 points per game 7.5 rebounds per game 2.5 assists per game 2.5 blocks per game Courtesy of the great @EvanMiya Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) February 6, 2022 Zed Key and E.J. Liddell: mistaken identity As Ahrens finished his press conference, Key remained and a team spokesman told reporters they could direct more questions to the remaining player. He called Key E.J., which led to a chuckle from the sophomore. When a reporter pointed to Key and called him the player of the year, he smiled and said, Maybe Ill start shooting jumpers now, since Im E.J. He hasnt shown it in games yet, but Key has been developing a jumper that is looking more consistent during pregame warmups. Bill Hosket, Michael Redd among captains on hand for game When Ohio States game with Nebraska scheduled for Jan. 22 was postponed, the Buckeyes lost their opportunity to recognize their former team captains during their annual event. Ohio State men's basketball: 'I love the sweat': Former Ohio State, NBA star Michael Redd finds new challenge in yoga During the Maryland game, 15 former Buckeye captains were recognized during a timeout. Heres who was able to make it this time: Gene Millard (1957) Dick Furry (1960) Bill Hosket Jr. (1968) Denny Meadors (1969) Rick Smith (1979) Ron Stokes (1984-85) Tony White (1989) Jamie Skelton (1994) Michael Redd (2000) Terence Dials (2004-06) J.J. Sullinger (2006) Matt Terwilliger (2008) Aaron Craft (2014) By the numbers Ohio State is now 9-3 against Maryland when scoring at least 70 points. The Buckeyes are winless in six games where they dont score at least 70. Maryland entered the game tops in the Big Ten in free throws made (338) and is second in free throws attempted (449). Both teams made 11 free throws, but Ohio State attempted 17 compared to 16 for Maryland. The Buckeyes finished with six turnovers. It marked their fifth straight game in single digits. During that stretch, Ohio State is 4-1 and averaging 7.0 turnovers per game. In the process, the Buckeyes have climbed to No. 70 nationally in turnover percentage. ajardy@dispatch.com @AdamJardy Get more Ohio State basketball news with our podcasts This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State basketball: Justin Ahrens breaks through in Maryland win MOGADISHU, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Somali National Army (SNA) killed seven al-Shabab terrorists in a security operation in the country's southern state of Jubbaland on Sunday, local media reported. The special forces also destroyed the militant group's hideouts in four villages in the state, SNA commanders who led the operation told Radio Mogadishu. The commanders said they will not halt the operation until all terrorists are wiped out. Somalia has stepped up security operations against al-Shabab in the central and southern regions. However, the terrorist group still controls large swaths of rural areas where they ambushed military forces. Kentucky remains one of 13 states without safe access to medical marijuana, but it doesnt need to be that way. Kentuckians have a rare opportunity to lead the American cannabis industry, but only if Republican legislative leaders allow it. The good news is that most Kentuckians agree that marijuana should be legal in Kentucky. The bad news is that Republican legislative leaders dont seem to care. Gov. Andy Beshear and Democratic Party leaders have voiced their support for passing medical marijuana this legislative session. But all the desire in the world from Democrats isnt worth much in Frankfort because Republicans control both chambers with supermajorities. Polling shows that 59% of Kentuckians support legalizing marijuana, which is above the national average of 57%, based on data collected between July 2019 and January 2021 by the Democracy Fund and UCLA Nationscape. This data was published throughout the 2020 election cycle by USA Today. The same poll shows that only 25% of Kentuckians were against legalization, while 15% remain unsure. Cannabis plants in a licensed grow operation, Mendo Select, in Potter Valley in Mendocino County, California Kentucky General Assembly: What to expect when the 2022 session kicks off Tuesday Its not just a majority of Kentuckians who believe we should legalize marijuana, but a majority of Kentucky Republicans, too. When broken down along party lines, marijuana legalization is supported by 71% of Democrats (and independents who lean Democratic) and 52% of Republicans (and leaners). Its important to note that the survey question asked about legalizing marijuana, as in full legalization. If Republican support for full legalization is this high, then support for medical marijuana is almost certainly higher. Republican support for marijuana legalization is only 45% in Kentuckys Second Congressional District, which includes Elizabethtown, Owensboro and Bowling Green. But in every other Congressional district in Kentucky, Republican support for marijuana is over 55%, bringing the state average of Republicans support for legalization to 52%. Only 34% of Republicans oppose legalization, while 14% are undecided. Story continues When looked at generationally, younger Republicans are significantly more likely to support marijuana legalization than older Republicans. In fact, the difference across generations of Kentucky Republicans is more than 20%. Sixty-four percent of Generation Z Republicans (those who are 18 to 25 years old) support legalization, while only 42% of Republican Baby Boomers agree that cannabis should be legal in Kentucky. Nikki Lastreto trims the buds on cannabis at the farm she has with Swami Chaitanya of Swami Select cannabis farm in Mendocino County in California. In fact, the only age group where Republican support is below 50% is Baby Boomers and above. Almost every other age group supports full legalization. It seems clear from this polling that Kentucky remains one of 13 states without medical marijuana because the 34% of Republicans who are opposed to legalization are preventing the rest of Kentucky from moving forward. Advocacy for changing this sad fact has been met with a dismissive attitude for years, with legislative leaders telling voters that marijuana legalization would never happen in Kentucky. Thats simply not true. You may like: Does a bill to finally legalize medical marijuana in Kentucky have a shot? It doesnt take a weatherman to know which way the wind blows. Of the seven states that border Kentucky, five have legalized medical marijuana Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, West Virginia and Virginia. And of those same states, fully legal cannabis is now available in Illinois, will soon be available in Virginia and will likely get passed in Missouri this year. How long can we allow one-third of the Republican Party to dictate Kentuckys cannabis policy? If Republican leadership continues to stand in the way of the wishes of its own party, it will not be soon forgotten. The time for legalization is now. Jim Higdon is the co-founder of Cornbread Hemp and the author of The Cornbread Mafia. He resides in Louisville Jim Higdon is the co-founder of Cornbread Hemp and the author of The Cornbread Mafia. He resides in Louisville. Jim is a Kentucky native with degrees from Centre College, Brown University, and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. He worked briefly for the New York Times before returning home to write his first book, The Cornbread Mafia. Published in 2012, the Cornbread Mafia tells the story of the biggest domestic marijuana syndicate in American history. The books success opened the door to a journalism career, allowing Jim to cover Kentucky news for the Washington Post and cannabis policy for POLITICO. Jim leveraged his expertise and connections in the hemp industry to co-found Cornbread Hemp with his cousin Eric Zipperle. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentuckians support legalizing marijuana, so why wait? | Opinion Kyler Murray created a stir on social media Sunday night when he removed references to the Arizona Cardinals on his Instagram account and stopped following his team on Instagram and Twitter. His Instagram account now contains just two photos one about him winning the Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma and a gallery of him at the Pro Bowl on Sunday that leads off with him with former Oklahoma teammate CeeDee Lamb. Murray is eligible for a contract extension this offseason from his four-year rookie deal. Speculation ran rampant after the moves wondering if Murray was upset with the Cardinals. More: Kyler Murray unfollowing Arizona Cardinals triggers speculation about contract, salary More: Kyler Murray unfollows Cardinals on social media, scrubs them from his Instagram account Soooooooo either Kyler Murrays IG page is under construction or he/his team removed all the references to the @AZCardinals and stopped following them. pic.twitter.com/MTIdmrS1TQ Cameron Cox (@CamCox12) February 7, 2022 Cards Wire's Jess Root wrote: "Since he hasnt said anything, we can only speculate, but this is often the sort of move a player moves when he is unhappy with the team. We have seen this in the past with other Cardinals players before. Cornerback Patrick Peterson did it when he was unhappy with how the Cardinals were handling things. Murray is eligible for a contract extension this offseason, but assuming the Cardinals exercise his fifth-year option on his contract, the team has control for two more seasons. If there is any tension between him and the organization, surely we will hear something and wont be left with only what he did with his social media accounts." More: Arizona Cardinals' Kyler Murray deserves less blame for playoff loss to Los Angeles Rams Story continues NFC quarterback Kyler Murray passes against the AFC. Some on social media wondered if Murray was trying to send a message to the Cardinals. Kyler Murray scraped all Cardinals content from his Instagram. This is what happens when a perennially bottom-dwelling organization wastes their star QBs rookie scale contract bc they were happy to have a midseason winning record twice in 3 seasons. Changes MUST be made. Soon. Alex Clancy (@ClancysCorner) February 7, 2022 Kyler unfollowing the Cards on IG and twitter is a little worrying I cant lie but hopefully its nothing lmao andrew leezus (@AndrewLeezus) February 7, 2022 If something is indeed up with Murray, my recommendation for the team is to do whatever necessary to make it work. Its a quarterback league and if you dont have oneyoure done. Its over. https://t.co/1fIIelI68T Johnny Venerable (@JohnnyVenerable) February 7, 2022 Others didn't see a need to overreact, and thought that his social media changes really didn't mean anything. People share, delete, and archive posts/pictures all the time on social media. I wouldn't pay much attention to what Kyler Murray did on Instagram. It is an effective way to silence all the notis he gets daily and to clear his mind going into the offseason Andy Kwong (@akwong31) February 7, 2022 Seriously, dude? He just played the last football game of his season today. That means hesgoing on vacation. Just wants to get away from anything for a month or so. Ive seen people do this before. PHX_237 (@PHX_237) February 7, 2022 Kyler Murray deleted all Cardinals pictures from his Instagram. He also deleted all pictures of his family. Does this mean he no longer loves them?? Branden Marotta (@brmarotta_) February 7, 2022 What do you think his social media actions mean (if anything)? More: Arizona Cardinals' Kyler Murray slammed for NFL playoff performance vs. Los Angeles Rams More: Why Arizona Cardinals should not fire Kliff Kingsbury, overreact to Kyler Murray's woes Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff. Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kyler Murray sending message to Arizona Cardinals on social media? Recording artist Travis Scott and beauty mogul Kylie Jenner attend the 2021 Parsons Benefit in New York. (Andy Kropa / Invision/AP) Rapper Travis Scott and beauty mogul Kylie Jenner have welcomed their second child. On Sunday, Jenner posted a sweet black-and-white photo of the infant's hand and revealed that the baby was born Feb. 2 a day after their daughter Stormi Webster's fourth birthday. Scott commented on the image with a series of blue and brown heart emojis. The birth comes several months after reports surfaced that the celebrity couple was expecting a sibling for Stormi. In August, Jenner was reported to be in the early stages of the pregnancy a rumor she confirmed with a video of a positive pregnancy test in September. In the comment section of her latest Instagram update, Jenner's mother, Kris Jenner, as well as her famous sisters Khloe Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian and Kendall Jenner left congratulatory messages and welcomed the Kylie Cosmetics billionaire to the "mommy of two life." Jenner also shared footage of colorful floral bouquet gifts on her Instagram story to the tune of Adele's "My Little Love." "As 2022 is approaching ive been reflecting on this last year and the blessings that it brought but also the many heartaches it held," Jenner captioned a photo of herself showing her growing baby bump on New Year's Eve. "I will never forget this year and all the significant changes it made to my life. I pray this new year is filled with a lot of love for all of you and i hope everyone stays safe and healthy during this time." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Republican Representative Adam Kinzinger blasted twice-impeached ex-president Donald Trump as someone he wants his newborn son to know as the worst president the United States of America ever had just days after the Republican National Committee censured him for participating in the House probe into the 6 January 2021 insurrection. Mr Kinzinger, who recently announced he would not stand for office in this years November midterm elections, told CNNs New Day host John Berman he wants to make sure his son, who was born just three weeks ago, can get a full accounting of the worst attack on the Capitol since 1814 when he is old enough to begin studying history. I want to make sure that every Republican member of Congress, when their kids and grandkids are in school, they're gonna look and be like: Hey, mom, or dad or grandma and grandpa, how did you vote on January 6? he said, adding that he thinks his colleagues who voted against certifying President Joe Bidens victory that day who were not on the side of truth will have a hard time explaining their actions in five or 10 years. Mr Kinzinger also said he hopes his son will learn that Mr Trump was a liar, a charlatan, and a man with a more fragile ego than anybody I've ever met. The irony of it is he walks around like the tough guy, but he's the one that gets more offended and wounded and sad than anybody I know, he observed. The Illinois Republican said he hopes he can tell his son that the 6 January attack and the attempts to overturn the 2020 election which preceded it was the moment America hit the bottom of its slide towards authoritarianism and we woke up. He added that he hopes his child will be proud of what he did by becoming one of just two Republicans to stand up against Mr Trumps continued control of the party and the GOPs growing authoritarian tendencies. I'm confident he will be because short of this thing really going off the rails this thing being our country in this experiment I think we're gonna look back and say: Wow, that was a moment we might have flown too close to the sun and we can never do that again, he said. That's my hope and prayer, because if not, we're in real trouble. BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) - Libya's eastern-based parliament said on Monday there would be no elections this year and it would choose a new interim prime minister on Thursday, potentially setting up a new factional struggle over control of government. The parliament, which has been working on a political roadmap since the collapse in December of a planned election process amid disputes over the vote's rules and constitutional basis, voted on Monday to adopt the plan. The internationally recognised Government of National Unity (GNU), which was installed a year ago through a U.N.-backed peace process, says its mandate is still valid and that it has no intention of stepping aside. It is not yet clear whether that means Libya is moving towards a new division between rival warring administrations or to another phase of negotiations as the political and military elite reconfigure their alliances to maintain power. However, disputes over the validity of the government and how and when elections should happen threaten to undermine the fragile peace that has held in Libya since the collapse of an eastern assault on Tripoli in summer 2020. Under the roadmap, Libyan political institutions would first amend the constitutional declaration that has served as Libya's de facto interim constitution since the 2011 revolution and offer it to referendum. National elections would then not follow for another 14 months. This week candidates as prime minister, including the powerful former interior minister Fathi Bashagha, will appear in parliament to seek support from legislators. The U.N. special adviser on Libya, along with Western countries, have since December been urging political institutions to prioritise a new election date rather than setting up another transition period. Libya has gone through several ostensible transitions during the decade of violent chaos after the 2011 NATO-backed uprising against Muammar Gaddafi. Many of the same political leaders have been allowed to retain their power throughout the process. Story continues The parliament, which was elected eight years ago and mostly sided with eastern forces during the civil war, was part of a transition that was meant to include a new constitution. Another body, the High State Council, is made up of members of an earlier 2012 transitional parliament and was created through a 2015 political accord meant to end the civil war. The existing transitional administration, the Government of National Unity, was selected through a U.N. process in 2020 and 2021 that was meant to end in elections to replace all Libya's political institutions. (Reporting by Ayman al-Warfali, writing by Angus McDowall, editing by Mark Heinrich) Feb. 7A local cardiologist will speak on the topic of heart health in a community discussion focusing on coronary artery disease. Dr. Mian Alam's discussion will focus on coronary artery disease (CAD), the most common type of heart disease in the United States. It's caused by plaque buildup in the walls of the arteries that supply blood to the heart and other parts of the body, according to a Mercy Health Springfield Regional Medical Center press release. The speaking event will take place from 2 to 3 p.m. Feb. 16. It will offer both online viewing via Zoom as well as in-person attendance at CoHatch, located at 100 South Fountain Avenue. February is also known as American Heart Month, a time to focus on all things involving cardiovascular health, and the conversation is a the February edition of the Mercy Health Speaker Series. For some people, the first sign of CAD is a heart attack. Alam will speak to the importance of patients knowing their baseline and staying up to date on follow-up care, as well as other heart health tips, Mercy Health said. In-person attendance is limited so pre-registration is required. Those who are interested can send an email to jdahlberg@mercy.com to pre-register. Victoria's Secret former owner Leslie Wexner, who stepped down as chair and CEO from parent company L Brands two years ago after his close ties to Jeffrey Epstein came under scrutiny, gave $250,000 last month to the Republican Governors Association, according to three sources with knowledge of the donation. It was Wexners first six-figure political contribution since 2018, when he also contributed $250,000 to the RGA. A spokesperson for Wexner declined to comment on the donation. An RGA spokesperson also declined to comment. Wexners political donations receded sharply after his close association with Epstein drew scrutiny in 2019. Their relationship dated to the 1980s, when Wexner hired the relatively unknown Epstein to be his money manager. Wexner gave Epstein power of attorney over his finances in 1991. The retail magnate also gifted Epstein a $56 million mansion in New York's Upper East Side in 2011, even though his spokesman told the New York Times they had severed ties about a decade prior. After Epstein died in prison while awaiting trial, Wexner told L Brands investors in September 2019: Being taken advantage of by someone who is ... so depraved is something Im embarrassed Im even close to. In the present, everyone has to feel enormous regret for the advantage that was taken of so many young women. Wexner has not been charged with a crime. The New York Times reported in 2020 that three L Brands executives alerted Wexner in the 1990s that Epstein was using his relationship with him to pose as a model scout for Victorias Secret to lure young women to be sexual assaulted. Maria Farmer has alleged Epstein assaulted her on Wexners Ohio compound in 1996, where she said she was held against her wishes for 12 hours while she waited for her father to arrive. Wexner and his wife Abigail told The Washington Post in a 2019 statement that they had never heard of Farmer before her accusation. A vocal critic of Donald Trump, Wexner announced in 2018 that he was leaving the Republican party. Story continues "I just decided Im no longer a Republican," Wexner said at the time. "Im an independent. I wont support this nonsense in the Republican Party. Ive been a Republican since college, joined the Young Republican Club at Ohio State. Even after he left the GOP, Wexner and his wife Abigail continued to donate to Republican candidates, including Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Ohio). Since 2017, he and his wife Abigail have donated $60,000 to Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine either personally or through his L Brands PAC. DeWine faces a primary challenge in May from former Ohio Rep. Jim Renacci, who was endorsed by Trump during his unsuccessful 2020 Senate bid. Trump has not endorsed in Ohio's current gubernatorial primary. Wexners last contribution to the DeWine campaign was in 2020, when he and his wife gave the maximum donation of $26,500. Wexner, the wealthiest Republican donor in Ohio with a reported net worth of $5.8 billion, has donated more than $3.5 million to federal candidates and party committees since 1980, according to federal election records. Since Epsteins arrest in 2019, Wexner has donated to a few federal candidates. Among the recipients of his donations since then are Portman, Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), Stivers and Montana Senate candidate Steve Bullock, as well as some Ohio-based PACs. Wexners $250,000 donation will be publicly reported on March 31 in the RGAs next quarterly filing. The GOP-led Louisiana Legislature is using public funds to pay a law firm with ties to the Republican party to advise on creating new political districts. BakerHostetler has offices throughout the country and extensive experience working on redistricting and election litigation for states and candidates. One of its attorneys, Mark Braden, was general counsel to the Republican National Committee for 10 years. He is also on the board of the Republican National Lawyers Association, which named him the Republican lawyer of the year in 2014. Louisiana lawmakers are currently in the middle of a special session on political redistricting where they are redrawing the lines for Louisianas U.S. House seats, state Senate, state House of Representatives, Public Service Commission and Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. They may also rework the state Supreme Court districts. Civil rights organizations have threatened to sue if the lawmakers approve maps for the U.S. House and the Legislature that dont add majority-minority seats. Louisianas population is 33% Black, but majority-Black districts make up less than a third of Louisianas political seats at the federal and state level. So far, the Republican leadership in the Legislature has not been willing to add majority-minority seats to political maps. All of the GOP leaderships proposals maintain majority-minority districts at their current levels, making lawsuits from the NAACP and ACLU of Louisiana likely. Earlier in the week, Senate President Page Cortez, R-Lafayette, said the Louisiana Senate and House had coordinated to hire the same law firm to provide guidance on the redistricting process. The law firm, in turn, had hired a political consultant to conduct a racially polarized voting analysis, which is supposed to determine the extent to which voters of different races prefer different candidates in Louisiana. Racially polarized voting often becomes a factor in federal voting rights lawsuits. Courts use it to help determine how many majority-minority districts are reasonable. Story continues Cortez said Legislative leadership is not using public funds to pay any other outside contractor to work on redistricting. He said he had not hired redistricting consultants through his campaign account or a political action committee. The Senate President said he was unaware of any specific party ties that BakerHostetler had before the firm was picked for the redistricting work. They were chosen solely because of their experience and expertise with regard to redistricting matters, Cortez said in a text Saturday. Why redistricting matters: Will Louisiana's Senate seats reflect its minority population? More: Population shifts in Louisiana could affect redistricting. Here's how. Democratic leaders said the law firm was hired without any input from them. House Democratic Caucus Chairman Sam Jenkins, of Shreveport, said he hasnt been given an opportunity to talk to the BakerHostetler attorneys about redistricting options. He didnt even know the firm had been hired at all until a reporter contacted him Saturday. We were never consulted about engaging a law firm for the House to act in any capacity for redistricting, Jenkins said. Jenkins said the Democratic Caucus is working with its own political redistricting consultant provided by the Louisiana Democratic Party, though the caucus isnt paying for the services. The person has been on loan from the state party as Democratic lawmakers draw their political map proposals. Its not clear that Braden, specifically, is advising the Legislatures leadership on redistricting. Cortez told a reporter in a text message Friday night that BakerHostetler had received the legal contracts, but didnt say which of the firms attorneys had been assigned to do the work. Braden specializes in state election law and handles much of the high-profile redistricting and election litigation at BakerHostetler. He has worked as lead counsel on election and voting rights litigation in Virginia, New York, Wyoming, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Georgia, Nevada, Maryland and Connecticut. Prior to joining the law firm, he was the counsel to the Ohio Elections Commission and successfully defended that states Republican-drawn political maps against a legal challenge in 2012. At the time, a lawsuit filed by Ohio voters accused Republicans of drawing political lines that unfairly benefited the GOP in statehouse elections. Michigans redistricting commission a nonpartisan body tasked with drawing that states political maps was criticized last year for hiring BakerHostetler to work on its proposals. Advocates for nonpartisan redistricting were particularly worried that the law firm had defended Republican-drawn maps in other states that were eventually thrown out over gerrymandering concerns, according to the Detroit Free Press. Analysis: Reanimation of Greene tragedy, and timing, could have far-reaching consequences BakerHostetler defended itself in Michigan by saying that it had worked both sides of the issue by representing clients who were both accusing government bodies of gerrymandering and those that needed defense from gerrymandering accusations. Louisianas redistricting session in 2011 became mired in controversy over a similar law firm contract. Former House Speaker Jim Tucker, R-Algiers, left House Democrats in the dark before hiring Holtzman Vogel law firm to work on redistricting that year. The firm helped Louisianas political maps earn pre-clearance from the U.S. Department of Justice and was supposed to defend Louisiana if any redistricting lawsuits cropped up. Holtzman Vogel is also affiliated with Republicans. The firm had already advised the Louisiana House Republican delegation on redistricting before Tucker hired the attorneys, with taxpayer dollars, to represent the full House. At the time, House Democrats said the law firms work for the House Republican delegation created a conflict of interest and that the law firm shouldnt be representing the entire House. Tucker defended the decision, saying that Holtzman Vogel had not been paid for advice it offered to the GOP delegation. Gov. John Bel Edwards, who was the head of the House Democratic Caucus in 2011, was among those who criticized the Holtzman Vogel contract. You cant represent the whole body when you spent the session advising on part of the House, said Edwards in 2011, referring to Republicans. The Times-Picayune reported the contract with Holtzman Vogel ended up costing the House $81,000. Tucker paid for it by keeping some House employee positions vacant. The Senate Louisiana did not use outside counsel in 2011, and relied on staff attorneys and demographers to create its maps. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Redistricting: Louisiana legislature hires Republican firm for maps According to U.S. Air Force Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian, the commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa, the service has found opportunities to go train, largely with our partners across Europe, on close air support. He confidently asserted that he was very comfortable that we[can] operate with their joint terminal air controllers, their entities on the ground, from the Baltics down into the Med and even into Romania, pointing out the continued interaction with them that has allowed us to keep our close air support capabilities at the right level and continue to improve our readiness. But such confidence is misplaced. In the event of a conflict with Russia, U.S. and NATO air forces will confront a contested air littoral that is, the airspace between ground forces and high-end fighters and bombers. Russias integration of small tactical drones, low-flying missiles, electronic warfare systems, and loitering munitions will vie for control of the air from below the altitudes of conventional air superiority. With a contested boundary standing between the air and ground, NATO ground forces cannot count on fighting under a protective aerial umbrella or effective close air support. Russian Chief of the General Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov noted in 2018 that modern combat is unthinkable without drones they are used by gunners, scouts, pilots everyone. Large numbers of Russian combat drones and radar-guided anti-aircraft artillery, as well as short-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) and man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) like the SA-24 Igla-S and SA-25 Verba series will make the air littoral both more dangerous and more deadly. In eastern Ukraine, since 2014, Russia and its proxies have used multiple small drones, flying at different altitudes, to acquire targets and spot artillery strikes. Russian artillery fires were deadly accurate as a result. In the future, Russia plans to use swarms of loitering munitions also known as kamikaze dronesto create a kind of aerial minefield. Story continues With Russia disputing control of the air littoral, NATO will struggle to deliver effective close air support. High-end aircraft are simply too expensive and few in number to put at risk in a contested air littoral. With these aircraft pushed further back from the ground fight, they will be less effective in a close-air-support role. Although the F-35 can deliver ground fires from safer altitudes, the standoff distance required by advanced SAMs will lengthen the window for Russian ground units to shoot and scoot; by the time the munition arrives there may be no target. A critical challenge for NATO is that this close-air-support mission shortfall cannot be offset by land-based fire systems, given NATOs deficit in heavy artillery. Whereas Russia relies on artillery for 65 percent of its firepower, NATO depends on airpower for approximately 80 percent of its total fires. The end of the Cold War, and three decades of counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations, which favored precision airstrikes often from high altitudes, have left U.S. and European armies with critical shortages in heavy artillery. At the start of military conflict with Russia, NATO ground troops would be seriously outgunned and at risk of defeat in detail. Although NATO militaries awakened to this danger after the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, they remain unprepared to fend off swarms of drones and short-range missiles. Such systems, operating at a range of frequencies and close to the ground, will be resistant to jamming and offer an unfavorable economic exchange rate. Adding to the challenge, these small and low-flying platforms are also harder to detect and engage than traditional air combatants. The Pentagon has invested billions of dollars in counter-drone systems in recent years, but it still fails to detect 60% of drones in tests, according to reports. Effective air defense is inherently difficult. Most dangerous of all, it might give the Russians the idea that they could win a quick victory at a relatively low cost, leading to deterrence failure. What practical steps can NATO take to meet this new threat? The alliance must first close the capabilities gap. NATO militaries could upgrade or acquire more heavy artillery and ground-based air defense systems, but correcting this shortfall would take considerable time and investments. The better option is to effectively contest the air littoral from above and below. Allied forces should acquire and integrate large numbers of small, cheap aerial drones with other high-end air assets and ground-based fires into NATOs scheme of maneuver to gain localized air superiority and added firepower delivery, as well as blunt Russian advantages. It might just be enough to help turn the Russian advance into a tough and costly slog, buying time for NATO reinforcements to arrive in theater. But technological solutions alone will be insufficient. NATO must also close the conceptual gap. NATOs Joint Air Power Strategy, published in 2018, fails to address emerging threats to lower-altitude airspace. Addressing these threats requires a reconceptualization of air control, which NATO currently defines as the required degree of freedom in the air domain necessary for the exploitation of the air. As control of the air littoral rapidly decouples from that above, NATOs doctrinal concepts must adapt accordingly, with air control understood in three dimensions, as a function of time, distance, and altitude. Above all, NATO must prepare to control the air littoral, even if it may not be the easiestor most appealing mission to U.S. and NATO air forces. The glory days of fighter planes and swirling dog fights may or may not have passed, but they are no longer the only or most important fights in the sky. Maximilian K. Bremer is a United States Air Force colonel and the Director of the Special Programs Division at Air Mobility Command. The opinions expressed here are his own and do not reflect the views of the Department of Defense and/or the United States Air Force. Kelly A. Grieco (@ka_grieco) is a resident Senior Fellow with the New American Engagement Initiative at the Atlantic Councils Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security and formerly taught at the Air Command and Staff College. KHARTOUM, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Fresh protests began on Monday in Sudan's capital Khartoum and other cities to demand civilian rule and call on authorities to punish alleged killers of protesters. Large groups of protesters gathered at Khartoum's busiest bus station Sharwani before marching towards the Republican Palace in central Khartoum, eye-witnesses told Xinhua. Since early morning, military units have been deployed at the entrances of most of the bridges over the Nile River linking the three major cities of Khartoum, Bahri and Omdurman. Security forces closed most of the roads around the army's general command headquarters with concrete barriers and barbed wire, while the routes leading to the presidential palace were also closed, eyewitnesses said. For nearly two months, the Sudanese capital Khartoum and other cities have been rocked by regular mass protests demanding civilian rule. Sudan has been suffering a political crisis after the general commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan declared a state of emergency on Oct. 25, 2021, and dissolved the Sovereign Council and the government. Ukraine Tensions Europe (ASSOCIATED PRESS) French President Emmanuel Macron is set to hold talks in Moscow Monday in a bid to to help de-escalate the tense situation around Ukraine The concentration of an estimated 100,000 Russian troops near Ukraine has fueled Western worries that it heralds a possible offensive. Russia has denied any plans to attack its neighbor, but is urging the U.S. and its allies to bar Ukraine and other ex-Soviet nations from joining NATO, halt weapons deployments there and roll back NATO forces from Eastern Europe. Washington and NATO have rejected the demands. Macron, who is set to meet in the Kremlin with Russian President Vladimir Putin before visiting Ukraine Tuesday, said last week that his priority is "dialogue with Russia and de-escalation. Before heading to Moscow, Macron had a call Sunday with U.S. President Joe Biden. They discussed ongoing diplomatic and deterrence efforts in response to Russias continued military build-up on Ukraines borders, and affirmed their support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, the White House said in a statement. Continuing the high-level diplomacy, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will travel to Kyiv and Moscow on Feb. 14-15. In 2015, France and Germany helped broker a peace deal for eastern Ukraine in a bid to end the hostilities between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed separatists that erupted the previous year following the Russian annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. The agreement signed in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, helped stop large-scale fighting, but efforts at a political settlement have stalled and frequent skirmishes have continued along the tense line of contact in Ukraine's eastern industrial heartland called Donbas. The leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany last met in Paris in December 2019 in the so-called Normandy format summit, but they failed to resolve main conflicting issues. Amid the tensions over the Russian military buildup, presidential advisers from the four countries held talks in Paris on Jan. 26, but they didnt make any visible progress and agreed to meet again in Berlin in two weeks. Story continues Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pushed for another four-way Normandy summit, but the Kremlin said a meeting of leaders would only make sense if the parties agree on the next steps to give a special status to the rebel east. Putin and his officials have urged France, Germany and other Western allies to encourage Ukraine to fulfill its obligations under the 2015 agreement, which envisaged a broad autonomy for the rebel east and a sweeping amnesty for the separatists. The agreement stipulated that only after those conditions are met would Ukraine be able to restore control of its border with Russia in rebel regions. The Minsk deal was seen as a betrayal of national interests by many in Ukraine and its implementation has stalled. Amid the latest tensions, Ukrainian authorities have strongly warned the West against pressuring Ukraine to implement the agreement. Last week, Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraines National Security and Defense Council, told The Associated Press that an attempt by Ukraine to fulfil the Minsk deal could trigger internal unrest that would play into Moscows hand. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba noted that Moscow wants the rebel regions reintegrated into Ukraine in order to use them to effectively block the country's pro-Western aspirations, vowing that this is not going to happen." The Madison County Election Commission met on Wednesday to officially establish early voting times and days leading up to the county primary elections scheduled for May 3. The commission is required to make three hours of time available for voting for 15 days before election day. And theyre more than fulfilling that obligation as they officially set the hours at 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. until noon on Saturday. The only change to this election cycles schedule is April 15 is a state holiday, so there will be no early voting on that day. Election Commission board member Wendy Trice-Martin did bring up a desire to have further change to voting hours. Is there any way we could extend hours into the evening or alternate days that start and end later to give people who work in the day a chance to vote early? said Trice-Martin. The notion of extending voting hours has been brought up in the past, but past Madison County Election Commissioner Kim Buckley said funding was an issue because of paying workers for more hours worked would add up. Since Buckley retired at the end of 2020, Lori Lott is going through her first round of elections in the position. Other board members Phyllis Means and Lovette Brooks weighed in on the issue, Brooks supporting a change and Means explaining why it would be difficult to change. There was a time when I wasnt able to vote before 4 p.m. because of my job and other obligations, but 4 p.m. is just early voting, Means said. The hours are longer on Election Day. Board member Tim Wilson also mentioned that its a state law that employers allow their employees time off to vote. I realize that, Brooks said. But Tennessee is also a right to work state, and if I plan to get off at 3:15 to go vote but my boss tells me I need to stay until 3:45 or theyll find someone who will, its going to be more difficult for me to vote than if voting hours were going on later than 4. After a few minutes of discussion, Trice-Martin said shed like to continue the discussion for the next round of elections, which are in August for the general election for county and state primaries. Reach Brandon Shields at bjshields@jacksonsun.com or at 731-425-9751. Follow him on Twitter @JSEditorBrandon or on Instagram at editorbrandon. This article originally appeared on Jackson Sun: Madison Co. Election Commission discusses expanding early voting hours Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Getty Brainwashing is the kind of thing that never happens to you; its always what you accuse someone else of. No one likes to be called out on their bullshit, of course, and its a rare soul indeed who has the integrity to admit when theyre regurgitating received opinion. When institutional, political, and scientific means get in the mix, thats when we start sinking into murkier moral and legal waters. To better understand what we talk about when we talk about brainwashing, Joel E. Dimsdale, a professor of Psychiatry at UC-San Diego, undertook Dark Persuasion: A History of Brainwashing from Pavlov to Social Media. American journalist Edward Hunter coined the term brainwashing. Hunter worked with the Office of Strategic Services, the World War II precursor of the CIA, and its interesting to see how much of a Cold War fetish brainwashing was, on both sides of the Iron Curtain. The UFO Anti-Sex Cult That Preached Castration and Mass Suicide At the beginning of the 20th century, Dr. Ivan Pavlov experimented with how dogs responded to different stimuli, prompting specific reactions based on sounds and smells. Even though Pavlov wasnt a Bolshevik, Lenin was very much intrigued by his experiments potential for mass social conditioning. Dimsdale potently connects this state-mandated idea of consent with the Stalinist show trials a couple of decades later, once Stalin had solidified his grip on the party apparatus. Victims, often high-ranking party members, were spontaneously arrested, jailed, and coerced into declaring themselves guilty of fake or exaggerated crimes and then swearing eternal allegiance to the glory of the very party whose official policy was to have them erased or murdered. If this makes brainwashing sound like an exclusively Russian phenomenon, rest assured that the free world engaged in it quite a bit, especially during the paranoia-drenched 1950s. After the Korean War, the CIA warmed to the idea that basic changes in the functional organization of the human mind cannot be brought about by the traditional methods of physical torture newer or more subtle techniques had, therefore, to be considered. Its quite ironic that the CIA policy for fighting Communist brainwashing was to try and develop more and better ways to brainwash people themselves. Story continues These included, but were not limited to, psychosurgery, electrical shock, or drugs while oceans of grant money poured into universities that pledged to research behavioral research programs, a Manhattan Project of the Mind. The CIAs MK-Ultra program had an administrator named Sidney Gottlieb who routinely slipped LSD and other drugs into his staffs food, drinks, or cigarettes just to gauge their reactions, sometimes with tragic results. Once word got out, Gottlieb testified to Congress that [this] country was involved in a real covert war I considered all this work to be extremely unpleasant, extremely difficult, extremely sensitive, but above all, to be extremely urgent and important. Dimsdale devotes a couple of chapters to the Stockholm Syndrome, wherein someone who is kidnapped or held captive ends up feeling sympathy or agreement with their captors, such as in the widely publicized case of Patty Hearst, the publishing heiress whose abduction and subsequent conversion to militant radicalism made national news and fed into ambient fears about seventies-era counterculture. Hearst wasnt genuinely radicalized through argument or evidence; her change of name and bank robbing seemed to have much more to do with how traumatized she was by her abduction. Interestingly, Hearst had quite a few prominent advocates from across the political spectrum and letters asking for clemency for Hearst were the seventh most popular reason for writing President Carter, who commuted her sentence to 22 months in prison in 1979. The cults and mass suicides of Jamestown and Heavens Gate, which were major scandals in the 1980s. Jim Jones, clad in black sunglasses, aped radical rhetoric about community and rebellion against the powers that be and convinced, through constant reiteration of slogans and paranoid accusations, a disturbing number of people to move with him to Guyana and commit revolutionary mass suicide through drinking cyanide once it looked like the jig was finally up. Dimsdale suggests that as applied to the Jonestown cult the term brainwashed isnt quite sufficient. After all, many congregants were educated, idealistic, and articulate. Perhaps the better term is persuaded since it suggests how easily otherwise ordinary people can fall for it. Persuasion, of one kind or another, is everywhere. Its our job to figure out whats worth being convinced of and what isnt. Maybe if you can be talked into something, you can be talked out of it, which makes understanding why people open themselves up to persuasion, and why governments are so interested in exploring it, so important. The jury might still be out as to whether or not the term brainwashed still means what its supposed to, or if it has been sapped of its power through zealous overuse and disingenuous misapplication, as with terms like bipartisanship or socialist (but not, to be sure, fascist). There is a tendency, especially in politics, to throw loaded phrases around as though they were self-evident truths or de facto proof. Maybe brainwashing is like bad breath: the ones who most urgently need to recognize it are usually the last to know. The Daily Beast emailed professor Dimsdale about the reasons why he wrote the book, the difference between brainwashing and persuasion, the Heavens Gate cult, why evil is not monochromatic, and the deadly beauty of flame. What made you want to write this book? I have always been interested in trying to understand how people make destructive decisions. In my previous book Anatomy of Malice , I studied the Nazi cabinet ministers on trial at Nuremberg to understand how they could orchestrate genocidal malice. But what about the Nazis followers, how were they persuaded to do such horrible things? Was it that they were innately murderous? Was it propaganda? Or was it brainwashing? And what on earth did that term mean? Where did it come from? Nonetheless, I probably never would have started writing Dark Persuasion except for my neighbors in the Heavens Gate commune who castrated themselves and conducted a mass suicide. It is one thing when a cult half a world away does such horrible things, but when it happens close to home, it grabs your attention. At one point you make a distinction between brainwashing proper and what you call persuasionwhy do you think theres a difference between the two? Words matter and the borders that separate overlapping concepts are rarely as clear as we would like. While brainwashing shares some common territory with persuasion, the crucial distinction is that brainwashing involves coercion. Brainwashing is a flamboyant word coined by a retired OSS propaganda operative. Experts have always preferred the term coercive persuasion, because it is more precise. However, popular culture vastly prefers the term brainwashing, so we are stuck with it. You quote the father of one of the Jonestown cult members as saying, Theres a thin line separating sensitivity to realities from fantasies of persecution. Can you elaborate on the difference between the two, at least for the people involved? Psychiatrists and psychologists are familiar with persecutory delusions in psychotic patients, but persecutory beliefs are actually quite common and can be stoked by astute leaders, be they politicians or clergy. When people are isolated, when they cannot check out information from other sources and rely on input from limited sources, persecutory beliefs get amplified. In some ways, it seems like the CIA & the KGB were using very similar methods of brainwashing, even though of course they couldnt be further apart politically. Each government had very different goals in mind but used similar methods. Can you say more about this? Coercive persuasion is a tool that is available for any political persuasion. The Heavens Gate cult sure sounded a lot like a self-help groupit tightly regulated the behavior of the members, it got them off drugs, fast food, etc. Do you think that imposition of order and structure is what helped persuade people to join who felt like their lives were unmanageable? Or was there a different, deeper need that they were addressing? There were many things that attracted people to Heavens Gate but most of all, these individuals were searching and felt lost in their lives. Heavens Gate gave them structure, a shared set of beliefs and community of friends. Many of the members who killed themselves had been in the commune for decades and had no one else in their lives other than their close associates in the movement. You write that I wish I could say that there was a clear distinction between a belief and an inflexibly held opinion. There isnt. Could you say more about that? Let me back into this indirectly. Doctors love it when we can make a crisp diagnosis (He has condition A or She has condition B), but regrettably so much in life and illness is on a continuum. When it comes to the varieties of belief, we are confronted by different shades of gray. One question that has always bothered me (particularly when looking at American politics over the past few years) is that Im not sure if people are being manipulated through being told what they already want to hear, and thus having their own beliefs reflected back to them, or because they are attracted to an exciting new idea or image that seems exciting and so they want to follow it. What do you think? One of the things that I learned from my work on Nuremberg was that evil is not monochromatic. The backgrounds, motivations, and presence or absence of psychiatric conditions varied enormously across the war criminals at Nuremberg. I suspect that if we looked closely at people who are manipulated by things like QAnon, we would see similar diversity. Whatever brought them to the movement initiallyonce they stay long enough, they get hooked. In his prayer for an addict, the poet John ODonohue described addiction as a fatal attraction. I think it is very apt. On its way through the innocent night, The moth is ambushed by the light . Now nothing else can satisfy But the deadly beauty of flame. Yale University Press Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti appears before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in December. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times) Mayor Eric Garcettis onetime chief spokeswoman has filed a complaint with local, state and federal prosecutors, demanding that he be prosecuted for perjury for repeatedly denying that he knew about another former aides alleged sexual misconduct. A nonprofit law firm sent a 31-page letter on behalf of Naomi Seligman to the U.S. Department of Justice, the California attorney general's office and Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. George Gascon last week, accusing Garcetti of lying and conspiring with top staffers to cover up multiple accusations of sexual harassment against Rick Jacobs, the mayors former deputy chief of staff. Seligman said she hopes felony charges will be filed against the mayor for allegedly lying under oath, in a legal deposition and in testimony to a U.S. Senate committee. She said she hopes that the letter also will have a political impact causing the U.S. Senate to block Garcettis confirmation as U.S. ambassador to India. The allegations were forwarded to more than half the members of the Senate, said Seligman's lawyers, who also filed the complaints with the California State Personnel Board, the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission and the California State Auditor's Office, under provisions of the state's whistleblower protection law. Senators should be outraged that someone nominated to represent our country in a key diplomatic post would lie to their faces so brazenly, Seligman said in a statement. It's time for them to take a serious look at the evidence that I and others have presented and live up to the commitment that many of them have made to protect victims of predatory behavior in the workplace. Jacobs has repeatedly denied that he sexually harassed anyone when he worked as one of Garcettis top aides and political advisors, claims that became public in 2020 in a lawsuit filed by a former member of the mayors LAPD security detail. Garcetti has said he knew nothing of the accusations by Officer Matthew Garza, and later others, until Garzas lawsuit became public in July of 2020. Story continues There is nothing new here and these false claims about the mayor are just as ridiculous now as they were when they were first made, a statement from Garcettis office said. The mayor stands by his testimony unequivocally, and more than a dozen witnesses have testified under oath that he was never made aware of any improper behavior. The standards for filing a felony perjury charge are extremely exacting, making it unlikely that prosecutors would lodge a case against Garcetti, said Laurie Levenson, a Loyola Law School professor and expert on criminal law and procedure. The attempt to block Garcetti's ambassadorial appointment would also tend to make prosecutors shy away from a case that seems more suited to a political resolution, Levenson said. "It's an uphill battle for them to charge perjury," Levenson said. "It may or may not be that he lied, but proving that beyond a reasonable doubt is another matter." President Biden nominated Garcetti last July to the India post. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved the nomination in January, after only one senator asked a question about the Jacobs matter. Most political observers expect Garcetti to be confirmed by the full Senate in the coming months, meaning he would leave City Hall before his second term ends in December. The letter from Seligman's lawyers provides no new evidence but summarizes what has emerged over several months in media accounts and through the release of depositions in the Garza lawsuit. Seligman, Garcettis onetime director of communications, first went public with her complaints about Jacobs and the mayor in a December article in New York magazine. She described an incident in which she alleged Jacobs burst into her office at City Hall in 2016 and grabbed her and forcibly kissed her for a "long, uncomfortable period of time as her staff looked on. That incident is recounted again in the letter from Seligmans lawyers at Whistleblower Aid, a Washington, D.C., nonprofit legal organization. The letter says that Seligman took her complaint to the mayors chief of staff, Ana Guerrero, but that Guerrero told Ms. Seligman that no complaints would be tolerated because Mr. Jacobs was important to the mayor." Guerrero said in a deposition in the Garza lawsuit that she didnt see any inappropriate behavior by Jacobs and only became aware of complaints about the advisor shortly before the LAPD officer filed his lawsuit. Seligmans letter details other instances in which people in and around City Hall complained about Jacobs' behavior. Many of the complaints were lodged in the media and others in sworn depositions as part of the LAPD officers lawsuit. The letter provides granular detail about others who said they saw inappropriate behavior by Jacobs. They include journalist Yashar Ali and several current and former members of Garcetti's staff: Julie Ciardullo, former chief counsel to the mayor; Henry Casas, who headed the office of public engagement; Suzi Emmerling, who succeeded Seligman as communications chief; and Alex Comisar, the mayor's current chief spokesman. Both Ciardullo and Comisar said under oath they didn't consider Jacobs' actions to be sexual harassment. Seligman left the mayors office in September of 2017, a little more than two years after being hired to head Garcettis communications efforts. Her lawyers say in last week's letter that her departure amounted to a constructive discharge because she had been facing ongoing intimidation and harassment" and had been "stymied in three separate efforts to make lawful complaints of harassment." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Lesser prairie chickens, dunes sagebrush lizards, Texas hornshell mussels and other species nearing extinction throughout New Mexico could be supported by legislation moving through the State Senate during the ongoing 2022 Legislative Session. Senate Joint Memorial 2 would call on the federal government to develop a national plan to address extinctions or threats to species of plants and animals nationwide, following a report last year from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that 23 species had died out and should be removed from the federal list of endangered species. Sponsored by Sen. Mimi Stewart (D-17), SJM 2, would demand federal agencies devise a strategy to restore imperiled species, set goals for how prevent extinction and collaborate with state, local and Tribal governments. More: New Mexico congresspeople help push bill to fund wildlife recovery through U.S. House A male lesser prairie chicken attempts to attract females to mate with, April 9, 2021 at preserve near Milnesand, New Mexico. The national biodiversity plan should follow a national goal, supported by New Mexicos administration, to conserve 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030, the resolution read. That goal was initially known as 30x30 and later as the America the Beautiful initiative and was championed by the Biden administration and conservation groups across the U.S. The Senate Rules Committee passed the resolution unanimously Jan. 28 with a do pass recommendation and the Senate Conservation passed the legislation Feb. 3 on a 7-2 vote. More: Feds release plan to restore rare New Mexico mouse after years of debate with landowners During the Senate Conservation Committee hearing of SJR 2, Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez (D-16), who voted for the resolution, said conserving New Mexicos species was essential to mitigate the environmental impacts of human actions like oil and gas development. New Mexico Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez (D-16) When a species dies, it is a loss that we can never calculate, she said. We will never understand what that loss meant, and especially in times of climate change. Loren Patterson, president of the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association spoke in opposition to the resolution during the Senate Rules Committee hearing, arguing against its association with the American the Beautiful project which agriculture leaders worried could stymie their land access. Story continues More: Looking back: Federal actions in 2021 could save New Mexico's rarest species The New Mexico Wool Growers Association also spoke in opposition for similar reasons. Patterson worried this could disproportionately affect particularly rural communities tax bases and thus funding for public services like schools. New Mexico cattle growers believe in stewardship of our natural resources. We believe in biodiversity, its how we gauge the health and use of our ranches all over the state, Patterson said. We do believe that a blanket level of conservation or species being declared endangered can cause significant issues to those communities in the state that economies revolve around natural resources. More: New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich's bill to save animals from extinction heard in US Senate committee If passed by the full legislature, a copy of the resolution would be sent to U.S. President Joe Biden, his cabinet, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and the states congresspeople. The resolution argued New Mexico had the fourth-most native species in the U.S. with 4,583 in the state, and the fourth-highest plant diversity. There were 116 species listed as endangered or threatened on the state level as of 2020, the resolution read, and more than 70 listed for federal protections. More: Federal protection from oil and gas exploitation sought for southeast New Mexico cave system The people of New Mexico have an important relationship with nature and have called on their local, state and federal governments to preserve and protect nature both within New Mexico and across the United States, the resolution read. New Mexico and the United States are facing an unprecedented biodiversity crisis, largely driven by human activity. The resolution argued declines in biodiversity adversely impacted Native American and minority communities, calling for increased attention to environmental justice issues. The dunes sagebrush lizard is a small, light brown phrynosomatid lizard (family Phrynosomatidae, genus Sceloporus). Shinnery oaks provide food, shade and a breeding ground for the Dunes sagebrush Lizard. The decline of biodiversity disproportionately impacts indigenous and other communities that rely on nature for essential services, including Native Americans, who offer unique perspectives and traditional ecological knowledge critical to preserving biodiversity, the resolution read. Communities of color, low-income communities, tribal communities and other populations that have been systematically and deliberately targeted for siting environmentally degrading activities and excluded from conservation efforts face disproportionate impacts from biodiversity loss. More: U.S. Rep. Herrell hopes bill will protect oil and gas industry from species conservation The lack of collaboration between the federal and other levels of government was another reason for species loss, the resolution read, and the U.S. should follow other nations in devising a standardized strategy. There is no coordinating policy to maximize the effectiveness of the federal government's conservation efforts and collaboration with the states, local governments, tribes, private landowners and other nongovernmental stakeholders, read the resolution. The United States should play a leading role on the international stage in addressing the biodiversity crisis, yet, unlike most other countries, the United States does not have a national biodiversity strategy as part of the intergovernmental science-policy platform on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-618-7631, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on Twitter. This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: New Mexico lawmakers call on feds to save endangered species SANTA FE Lawmakers in New Mexico are considering major investments in cybersecurity, following two serious cyberattacks against school districts in the state just last month, and increased vulnerability of information technology in K-12 schools nationally. On Monday, the House Education Committee unanimously advanced a bill that would allocate $45 million to hire cybersecurity experts for the state and a grant program for school districts to bolster their cyber defenses. It will be considered by another House committee. New Mexico lags behind other states in establishing cybersecurity protocols and training in state agencies as well as in schools, according to Legislative analysts. Last month, ransomware attacks shut down access to student attendance and grade databases in Albuquerque and Truth or Consequences. A similar cyberattack in Las Cruces in 2019 shut down all access to computers in the district for months. Related: Cyberattacks in Albuquerque remind Dona Ana County officials of constant threat The proposed bill would mandate the creation of a cybersecurity office for schools inside the state Public Education Department, while also adding positions at the Department of Information Technology. The education department is reluctant to absorb responsibility for school cybersecurity, according to comments cited by Legislative analysts. The agency is already struggling to fill dozens of open positions, including around seven information technology jobs. Cedar Attanasio is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: New Mexico lawmakers propose $45M school cybersecurity fund Missouri Republican lawmakers are paring back some of the state worker raises that Gov. Mike Parson has proposed to address critical staff shortages, in part over concerns it would give the state an unfair advantage over private business. A proposed supplemental budget that lawmakers passed out of the House Budget Committee on Monday cuts $7.8 million from the $119 million in pay raises that Parson had requested be ready for his signature Feb. 1. Parson had asked for roughly 8,800 of the states lowest-paid workers be raised to a baseline of $15 an hour, but fellow Republicans have balked at creating a new state workers minimum wage. Instead, in the plan advanced Monday some of those workers would be raised to only a $12 an hour. I dont think everybody should go to $15 an hour just because we can, House Budget Chair Cody Smith, a Carthage Republican, said Monday. There are state jobs that take a minimal amount of skill and experience. There is a 26% rate of worker turnover across Missouri government. In jobs paying less than $30,000 a year, that rate is more than 50%. The state is flush with revenue, having ended its last fiscal year in July with a $1 billion surplus. The raises to $15 would be reserved for workers in the Departments of Mental Health, Public Safety, Social Services and Corrections that are entrusted with the direct care and well-being of individuals or those otherwise in the custody of the state. Its not clear how many employees that describes. Some positions that would still get raised to a $15 minimum include workers at state hospitals and veterans homes, foster care staff and childrens case workers in the juvenile justice system. Others that would only see a raise to $12 could include custodial staff or certain call center or desk workers, said Rep. Peter Merideth, a St. Louis Democrat. Arguing for the raises, state budget director Dan Haug told lawmakers in January that the state is competing with private companies that can afford to boost starting salaries beyond the minimum wage during an ongoing labor shortage. Story continues Missouris minimum wage is $11.15 an hour this year. In Fulton, Haug told the committee a month ago, a prison and mental health facility are competing with a local Dollar General that is starting employees at $17 an hour. The changes infuriated Democrats, who have backed Parsons pay plan and accused Smith of going back on his word after supporting the governors proposal in December. Smith said he supported the idea of giving workers a raise in general, but not a $15 state worker minimum wage. He suggested departments use money budgeted for currently vacant positions to temporarily give workers a raise beyond $12, if needed. The size of the Missouri state workforce has shrunk by about one-sixth in the past 15 years. Under Smiths plan, all 51,000 state employees would still receive an across-the-board 5.5% raise. The intention here is not to give the lower rungs lesser increases as much as it is to not pay more than minimum-wage wages for jobs that require no skills or experience, Smith said. Smith, a business owner, raised concerns that it would give the state an unfair advantage over private employers who are also struggling with staff shortages. Is it an unfair advantage or are we just paying them whats competitive in the market as the governor and everyone else has suggested? Merideth said. Rep. Scott Cupps, a Shell Knob Republican, accused Parsons administration of not tailoring the proposed raises enough to specific positions and said a blanket $15 minimum would be too high for some positions and useless to recruit against the private market for others. He told state workers who can make substantially more in the private sector even beyond $15 they should quit. When you come to us and say, $15 an hour for everybody thats under $15 an hour, theres nothing real about that, he said. That is a fake number. Each week, well offer insights into new businesses, developments and closings in the area. And well answer your questions about whats happening in a vacant store or empty lot. Email us at wpotter@theadvertiser.com. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is partnering with groups in Vermilion Parish to host Accelerate Vermilion part of an 18-month initiative to promote economic development across Acadiana. UL's Louisiana Entrepreneurship and Economic Development Center will work with the Vermilion Economic Development Alliance and the Nehemiah Projects of Acadiana to lead the three-week Accelerate Vermilion program, which will help new business owners grow their businesses in Vermilion Parish. More: UL Leed Center, Evangeline Chamber partnering to help entrepreneurs with new program More: North Lafayette arts resource center aims to be help artists showcase their talents Accelerate Vermilion is an opportunity for anyone dreaming of starting a business or anyone wishing to improve their current small business to engage in three sessions that are designed to help entrepreneurs grow," said Geoffrey Stewart, the director of the LEED Center and the Moody Company/BORSF Endowed Chair in Regional Business Development. "Working with Anne Falgout at the Vermilion Economic Development Alliance and Kenneth Campbell at The Nehemiah Projects of Acadiana Inc. will help to build a program that is sustainable and one that lasts beyond the scope of this grant. Finally, entrepreneurship is about empowerment, and it is an honor to collaborate with citizens and community leaders that are seeking to build economy, jobs, and momentum through the growth of new businesses," Stewart said. Accelerate Vermilion will include workshops on three consecutive Wednesdays on Feb. 9, 16 and 23. The workshops include topics like business planning, financial resources and support, and marketing. The events will be at the Abbeville Event Center, located at 1907 Veterans Memorial Drive in Abbeville. Story continues The program costs $450, but scholarships of up to $425 are available. For more information, go to business.louisiana.edu/leed/acceleratevermilion. Moncus Park soon playing host to food trucks Food Truck Fridays have begun at Moncus Park. Vendors will be at the park every Friday in February and will highlight local Black entrepreneurs in honor of Black History Month, according to the park's Facebook post. More: Food truck Fridays are coming to Lafayette's Moncus Park. See which trucks will be there. The trucks will be set up on the festival lawn, which is near the parking lot, 2913 Johnston Street. The vendors are as follows: Feb. 11, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Nina Creole, a creole food truck Feb. 18, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. AwwShucks. a seafood food truck Feb. 25, 5-7 p.m. C'est Bon Manager, a creole and soul food truck Former Dat Dog to be new restaurant and bar The former Dat Dog in Downtown Lafayette was purchased by a group of investors headed by Ravi Daggula to bring a new restaurant and bar to the space, the Downtown Development Authority said in a newsletter. The building is at 201 Jefferson Street. Ochsner receives permit for medical center construction The Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center received a permit last week for renovations totaling more than $6.4 million, records from Lafayette Consolidated Government show. No details were included on LCG's permit website, but the medical center is slated for numerous updates and renovations as part of its sale to the Ochsner Health System. Ochsner opens Crowley clinic Ochsner Lafayette General opened a new family medicine clinic in Crowley in late January, providing full family care services to Crowley and the surrounding area. The Ochsner Acadia General Health Center Crowley is a 4,007 square-foot facility located at 1325 Wright Avenue. The services offered at the clinic include pediatric wellness visits and vaccinations, work/sports physicals, preventive care visits, diabetic care, contraceptive counseling, womens health services, hypertension management/care, and Flu/Strep/COVID/RSV testing, vaccinations and treatment. Continuing our mission and commitment of bringing exceptional care closer to home, this new facility will help us further our goal of providing more robust healthcare services to the community and the people in and around Crowley, said Joseph Mitchell, CEO of Ochsner Acadia General Hospital. CONSIDER SUBSCRIBING TODAY: Help support journalists like William Taylor Potter Contact reporter William Taylor Potter with tips or questions at wpotter@theadvertiser.com or on Twitter at @wmtaylorpotter. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Moncus Park launches 'Food Truck Fridays'; UL starts Accelerate Vermilion KAMPALA, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Ugandan military on Sunday marked its 41st founding anniversary with President Yoweri Museveni presiding over a ceremony held in the eastern district of Mbale. The televised ceremony was held on the theme of "Retracing the Peoples' Struggle for Peace and Security for a Modern Uganda." Museveni said the army is strong and guarding peace in the country which is undergoing social and economic transformation. Gen. Wilson Mbadi, chief of Defense Forces, said peace and security are a pre-requisite for the country to implement its development blueprint, the Uganda Vision 2040. Moreover, the army will continue to support regional peace and stability, Mbadi said. The Kentucky Department of Corrections has racked up nearly $13.9 million in overtime pay expenses since the fiscal year began July 1, according to documents obtained by the Herald-Leader. The agency that runs the states 13 adult prisons housing about 9,700 inmates cant hire or keep anywhere close to enough corrections officers. Only 917 of its 1,955 positions are filled, Justice and Public Safety Secretary Kerry Harvey said Friday. Were not crying wolf here, Harvey said. We have a statewide vacancy rate of 53 percent of our correctional officers, and in some of our facilities, we have an astounding vacancy rate of 70 percent or more. So you can see there are critical needs here. Stretching security so thin has brought greater risks behind bars, he added, including a significant increase in drug and gang activity. Our inmates are pretty keen observers of the environment that theyre living in. They know when were short-staffed in a severe way, as we are now. And of course, some of them are going to try to take advantage of that in nefarious ways, he said. All of those unfilled jobs means the officers who are available for duty must work incredibly long hours, Harvey said. The Corrections Department also relies on probation and parole officers and other department employees to help fill in at the prisons, and they, too, are collecting overtime, he said. Justice Secretary Kerry Harvey Staff have worked 60-hour weeks and 72-hour weeks, routinely, Harvey said. Some state agencies can shorten their operating hours or close some locations if they dont have enough staff, but obviously in a correctional facility, that is impossible, Harvey said. Contributing factors Over the past two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has not only made the prisons a more difficult place to work, sickening and killing inmates and staff, but quarantines required for infections have depleted the ranks of who is available for any given shift. As of Feb. 1, there were 177 infected staff and 1,523 infected inmates. Story continues However, the long-term problem is that working in a Kentucky state prison doesnt look like an attractive job to many people. Job postings identify the starting salaries for corrections officers as $33,000. Thats not much better than the $15 hourly wage offered to start at an Amazon warehouse in Kentucky. In fact, to be more competitive, Amazon last year offered to boost starting pay even higher, to $18 an hour, with signing bonuses up to $3,000. At the back end, the legislature reduced the states retirement benefits several years ago to address the massive pension debt. Traditional pensions were replaced with hybrid cash-balance plans that put more responsibility on state workers to save enough for their retirements. While lawmakers concerns about pension debt are understandable, state pensions were a necessary and valuable tool that we needed to recruit and retain people to work inside these facilities, Harvey said. These jobs are stressful, he said. Stressful doesnt really do it justice. They are intense. They are not for everybody. Potential solutions To help with recruiting and retention, Gov. Andy Beshear in December approved a 10% pay increase for security staff at the prisons. The Justice Cabinet announced Friday it also will provide smaller incentives, including an extra $2.13 per hour for employees working between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. at the adult prisons. Harvey said the Beshear administration supports House Bill 135, which would restore traditional pensions for corrections officers and other hazardous-duty positions in government. The bills estimated cost would be $5.9 million in fiscal year 2023 for the state government and $15.4 million in that same period for local governments. The bill was filed Jan. 4 by Rep. Buddy Wheatley, a Democrat from Covington in a Republican-majority legislature where Democratic-backed bills seldom are called up for action. The bill has not moved so far, although Wheatley said Monday that he hopes it will get a House committee hearing in the near future. Law enforcement officers and firefighters are starting to speak in favor of the bill, which could give it some momentum at the Capitol, Wheatley said. Most states have some sort of set-aside that recognizes their hazardous-duty employees, but Kentucky hardly does, Wheatley said. Meanwhile, the Corrections Department is on track to spend more than $23 million for overtime by the end of the fiscal year June 30. The $228 million that it planned to spend on adult prisons personnel this year already was up 15% from the sum budgeted in the previous year. The problem wont be fixed until more people want to take a job in the prisons, Harvey said. Think about how difficult it is to work in these facilities, Harvey said. Think about doing that 60 hours a week, 72 hours a week. We have to address this. We have to have a compensation package that gets us in the market. Corrections officers must have a high school diploma or a GED, a drivers license and no convictions for felonies or misdemeanor crimes related to domestic violence or trafficking in drugs. There is a five-week training academy for all applicants who are hired. Canadian authorities have arrested multiple people in Ottawa who were part of a "Freedom Convoy" protesting COVID-19 vaccine mandates. In a statement on Sunday, the Ottawa Police Service said it has launched 60 criminal investigations from the protests, stemming from mischief, property crimes and thefts all the way to hate crimes. According to The Washington Post, Ottawa Police said they have made seven arrests in relation to property damage and other acts of "mischief" as of Sunday evening. Police also said that multiple vehicles and fuel have been seized during the protests, according to the statement. Authorities also issued more than 500 tickets over the weekend for notices such as "excessive honking" and seat belt violations, the Post reported. "More than 100 Highway Traffic Act and other Provincial Offence Notices were issued including excessive honking, driving the wrong way, defective muffler, no seat belt, alcohol readily available and having the improper class of driving licence," OPS said in its statement. The city of Ottawa declared a state of emergency on Sunday in response to the second week of protests against local COVID-19 restrictions. "Declaring a state of emergency reflects the serious danger and threat to the safety and security of residents posed by the ongoing demonstrations and highlights the need for support from other jurisdictions and levels of government," Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson said in a statement. Truck drivers starting last month were required to enter Canada fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, following a similar requirement the U.S. government implemented on truck drivers entering the country. In a statement last week, the Canadian Trucking Alliance condemned the actions of some demonstrators during the protest, calling it a "disgusting act." MUNCIE, Ind. A Muncie postal worker has been accused of stealing mail, targeting greeting cards in her search for cash. Rachael Brim, 36, was charged last week in Delaware Circuit Court 1 with official misconduct, a Level 6 felony carrying up to 30 months in prison, and theft, a misdemeanor. According to a report by a special agent with the U.S. Postal Service, an investigation into allegations Brim might be stealing mail was launched last September. At that time, authorities said about 120 pieces of mail had been received at the local USPS processing and distribution center "unsealed, without contents and/or (with) the contents tampered with." Brim at that point "had conducted multiple collection runs for the Muncie main post office over the last few weeks." MORE NEWS: Man's fatal overdose leads to charges against Blackford woman An affidavit said at least eight "rifled" greeting cards could be linked to a collection route assigned to Brim on Sept. 9. Interviewed by postal officials on Sept. 23, Brim reportedly admitted she had been "rifling" mail, specifically greeting cards, looking for cash. The Muncie woman said she "needed money for food and rent," the document reported. She estimated she had stolen about $100 in total. and recalled using a $10 gift card from Walmart found with one greeting card in August. Investigators later found USPS collection tubs, along with "rifled mail, specifically greeting cards," in Brim's private vehicle. Brim, who had worked for the postal service for about a year, resigned from her position as a "city carrier assistant" on Sept. 28. The Muncie woman will receive a summons to appear at an initial hearing in Circuit Court 1 on March 16. STAY INFORMED AND SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM: Subscribe today using the link at the top of this page. Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Muncie woman charged with misconduct, accused of stealing mail By Kay Johnson BANGKOK (Reuters) - Myanmar military leader Min Aung Hlaing agreed to arrange for an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) special envoy from Cambodia to meet members of the ousted ruling party on a future visit, a senior Cambodian official said on Monday. The pledge, made in a Jan. 26 video call with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, represents a small concession in a deadlocked peace process since Myanmar's military seized power a year ago from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD). Min Aung Hlaing did not identify which members of the NLD might be made available, said Kao Kim Hourn, a minister in Hun Sen's office who was part of the video meeting. "They have said during the video conferencing between our prime minister and senior general Min Aung Hlaing that they would provide access to some of the NLD figures, but we don't know those yet," Kao Kim Hourn told Reuters by telephone. A spokesman for Myanmar's junta did not answer a telephone call seeking comment. Myanmar has been in crisis since the military seized power, with about 1,500 civilians killed in the junta's crackdown on its opponents, according to figures cited by the United Nations human rights office. Involving all parties to Myanmar's crisis in dialogue is a key pillar of an ASEAN peace process adopted by the 10-nation bloc last year. Among the others are ending violence and welcoming a special envoy. Kao Kim Hourn acknowledged that it was unlikely for the envoy, Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, to meet on his initial trip with Suu Kyi, who has been detained since the coup and is facing various criminal charges that carry jail terms adding up to nearly 150 years. "The idea, the goal is to meet with all relevant, important stakeholders. But it may not be on one go - it could be a number of visits," Kao Kim Hourn said. "So, of course, it would be great to have Madame Suu Kyi be included." Story continues Dozens of NLD party members have been detained since the Feb. 1, 2021, coup. Nay Phone Latt, a spokesperson of the NLD's exiled remaining leadership, said any meetings with the ASEAN envoy should be agreed on by the party. Min Aung Hlaing's pledge was not enough for Cambodia to invite Myanmar to next week's ASEAN foreign minister's retreat. Cambodia, this year's ASEAN chair, last week asked Myanmar to name a non-political representative, continuing the exclusion of junta officials that began at last year's annual leaders' summit. (Additional reporting by Reuters Staff; Editing by Robert Birsel) Schuyler County will provide residents with free COVID-19 home testing kits and N-95 masks at several distribution sites around the county this week. Schuyler County fire and emergency management staff will distribute the test kits and masks for as long as supplies last, county officials said. How to get tests and masks in Schuyler County Distribution will take place at the following locations, on the days and at the times listed: Monterey Fire Department, Tuesday, 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Human Services Complex drive-through site in Montour falls, Wednesday, noon to 4 p.m. Burdett Fire Department drive through site, Wednesday, 5 to 7 p.m. Hector Presbyterian Church, Thursday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Odessa Fire Department, Friday, 10 a.m. to noon. Security Desk at the Human Services Complex during regular business hours. Kits will also be available at Schuyler County public libraries during regular business hours beginning on Wednesday. For subscribers: How Claudia Tenney shakes up the landscape of NY's new 23rd District Politics: Marty Chalk seeking reelection to Chemung County Legislature in 10th District Dining out: Valentine's Day specials near Elmira and Corning: Restaurant reservations, menus and more Additionally, Schuyler County transit buses will carry limited supplies for riders and the Schuyler County Office for the Aging will distribute to clients in need. County officials 'working hard' to get state-provided supplies out to residents The state continues to push out COVID test kits to us, and we are working hard to get them to our residents as quickly as possible, said Schuyler County Administrator Fonda Chronis. Testing and masking are critical mitigation steps to slow the spread of the virus. Chronis encouraged residents who are unable to obtain test kits to utilize the New York state rapid testing site in Watkins Glen. Appointments for the site are available now. Follow Neal Simon on Twitter @HornellTribNeal. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: N-95 masks, COVID-19 test kits available at Schuyler County sites Alabama Law Enforcement Agency State Trooper patrol car seen on Highway 69 South on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017. [Staff Photo/Erin Nelson] A Northport man was killed and a state trooper injured in a three-vehicle collision Sunday on Interstate 20/59. Breun L. Murray, 28, was killed as a result of the 6:10 p.m. crash. Cpl. Reginal M. King, a spokesman for the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, said Murray was driving a 1994 Ford Ranger when it struck the 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe driven by the on-duty ALEA state trooper near the 62 mile marker, less than one mile south of Fosters, in Tuscaloosa County. Murray and the unnamed trooper were taken to an area hospital for treatment, where Murray was pronounced dead a short time after arrival. Child sex sting: Ten Alabama men charged in Tuscaloosa child sex sting A third vehicle was involved in the crash after the initial impact, but no details were released about this motorist. No further was made available as troopers with ALEAs Traffic Homicide Unit continue the investigation. Reach Jason Morton at jason.morton@tuscaloosanews.com. This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Tuscaloosa Interstate 20/59 crash: Man killed, state trooper injured NAIROBI, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta Monday launched the national scale-up of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) which seeks to ensure that all Kenyans access quality healthcare. Kenyatta who launched the ambitious health plan in the coastal city of Mombasa said the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to bear the urgent need for the country to upscale implementation of the UHC. He affirmed the government's commitment to spreading the benefits of UHC across the country through the development of a focused policy to accelerate its implementation. He said his administration has developed the UHC Policy, covering the period 2020-2030, to guide the acceleration of the progress in attaining UHC. It is part of Kenyatta's Big Four agenda comprising of food security, manufacturing, affordable housing and universal healthcare. The President said the UHC which started in 2013 with the launch of the highly acclaimed free maternity program dubbed "Linda Mama" (protect mother) currently benefits over one million mothers annually. He outlined various initiatives the Government has put in place to ensure the successful implementation of UHC including investment in health infrastructure and development of a digital health platform to support the effective monitoring of the health sector. And he said the investments the government has made since 2013 have seen an increase of 43 percent in public health facilities from a stock of 4,429 facilities in 2013 to 6,342 currently. "In the same period, our ICU capacity has increased by an impressive 502 percent; and our total hospital bed capacity has also increased significantly by 47 percent," Kenyatta said, adding the government has also fully funded the upgrading hospitals across all the 47 counties as national referral hospitals with specialized state-of-the-art medical equipment. The Kenyan leader said the Government has developed the Kenya Essential Medicines List, the Essential Medicals Supplies List and the Kenya Medical Laboratory List to enhance availability of essential medicines and supplies. He said the country has over the past 10 years increased the total number of health workers in the public and private sector by 41 percent to address the human resource shortage. 15,234 healthcare workers were recruited under the UHC program and COVID-19 management. NEPTUNE CITY - A Nylabone employee is facing charges after a bomb threat was called into the Sylvania Avenue facility early Saturday morning, according to Neptune City Police. City police responded to the factory about 3 a.m. in response to the bomb threat and evacuated about 70 employees, Police Chief Matthew J. Quagliato said in a news release. Bomb-sniffing K9 officers from the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office searched the building, Quagliato said. Once cleared by authorities, Nylabone employees returned to work, police said. Nylabone employee Anthony King, 33, of Neptune Township was charged with making a false public alarm of a bomb threat, possession of drugs and calling 911 without needing the service, according to Monmouth County Jail records and Quagliato. "The cellphone used to make the call was pinged, and the location was found to be Nylabone," Quagliato said in an email. "King was working at the time, and he was observed on surveillance cameras making the call." King was arrested later that morning at his home, the chief said. He was also in possession of a crack pipe, police said. On Monday, he remained in the Monmouth County Jail, Freehold. Military: Former Manalapan HS football star dies after 'Hell Week' training for Navy SEAL candidates Investigations: Neptune official who promised to call 'good friend' on traffic tickets faces ethics board Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers Brick, Barnegat and Lacey townships as well as the environment. She has worked for the Press for more than a decade. Reach her at @OglesbyAPP, aoglesby@gannettnj.com or 732-557-5701. This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Nylabone employee charged after bomb threat in Neptune City COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine temporarily renamed three state parks on Monday in honor of the Super Bowl-bound Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals face off against the Los Angeles Rams in Los Angeles Sunday. DeWine said he renamed Burr Oak State Park in southeastern Ohio Burrow Oak State Park in honor of Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, who grew up in nearby Athens. The governor renamed Paint Creek State Park in southwestern Ohio Evan McPherson Extra Point Creek State Park in honor of the kicker whose field goals helped propel Cincinnati to the championship. The governor also renamed Hueston Woods State Park between Cincinnati and Dayton Ickey Woods State Park in honor of legendary Bengals running back Ickey Woods. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) South Korea will no longer use GPS monitoring to enforce quarantines and will also end daily checkup calls to low-risk coronavirus patients as a fast-developing omicron surge overwhelms health and government workers. The speed of transmissions has made it impossible to maintain a tight and proactive medical response, Jeong Eun-kyeong, the countrys top infectious disease expert, said Monday. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency reported 38,691 new cases of the virus, a nine-fold increase from the levels seen in mid-January, when omicron became the countrys dominant strain. Jeong said the country may see daily jumps of 130,000 or 170,000 by late February. South Korea had been seen as a success story during the earlier part of the pandemic after it contained infections and hospitalizations more effectively than most countries in the West. Health authorities worked closely with biotech companies to ramp up laboratory tests and aggressively mobilized technological tools and public workers to trace contacts and enforce quarantines. But the countrys strengths have been rendered irrelevant by the unprecedented spike in infections fueled by the omicron variant, which has stretched health and administrative resources. Officials had already been forced to expand at-home treatments, reduce quarantine periods, and reshape testing policy around rapid antigen test kits, despite concerns over their reliability, to save laboratory tests for people in their 60s or older and those with existing medical conditions who are at higher risk for serious illness. The plans to further ease the monitoring and quarantines came as health and public workers struggle to keep up with the near 150,000 people being treated at home for mild or moderate symptoms, which have led to delays in drug prescriptions and has paralyzed contact tracing. Officials say public workers who had been monitoring virus carriers through GPS-enabled smartphone apps will now be assigned to help with at-home treatments. Virus carriers will no longer be required to report to local health offices when they leave home to visit doctors, while their cohabiting family members can now freely go out to buy food, medicine and other essentials. Story continues Low-risk virus carriers, who are in their 50s or younger and have no pre-existing medical conditions, will now be left to monitor their conditions on their own and contact local hospitals if their symptoms worsen. Health workers will still make daily checkup calls to people in their 60s and older or those with pre-existing medical conditions. We are planning to transition toward an anti-virus strategy thats concentrated on maintaining essential social functions while dealing with huge numbers of infections and people placed under quarantine, Jeong, the KDCAs commissioner, said during a government briefing. While omicron is spreading much faster than previous versions of the virus, the rates of hospitalization and death have so far been lower than cases linked to delta, which drove a devastating surge in December and early January. The KDCA said 270 patients were in serious or critical conditions as of Monday, while less than 46% of the countrys intensive care units designated for COVID-19 treatment were occupied. Still, experts say the countrys rapidly growing caseload is likely to drive up hospitalizations in coming weeks. As of Monday, 86% of a population of more than 51 million people have been fully vaccinated and nearly 55% have received booster shots. WASHINGTON The Pentagons new software modernization strategy calls for establishing an enterprise-level software factory ecosystem to make the tools and applications used by its development hubs a more regular part of doing business. The document, released late last week, says the 29 software factories that exist today across the military services have made significant progress, but the Department of Defense needs to better take advantage of that innovation. Danielle Metz, deputy chief information officer for the information enterprise, told reporters on Monday the goal is to harness the success of those factories and inculcate that into the DNA of the department. Todays software factories serve as centralized teams that provide software development services to various program offices. Well-known hubs include the Air Forces Kessel Run, the Navys Overmatch Software Armory and the Armys Coding Resources and Transformation Ecosystem. Metz and Pentagon Chief Software Officer Jason Weiss told reporters the department doesnt necessarily want to make changes to how the factories operate, but instead wants to hear from those organizations about what policy changes and standardization might be most helpful. Weiss said the department expects to gain efficiencies and cost savings by being more strategic about how the factories operate and ensuring any redundancies arent inhibiting economies of scale. If we can achieve that, then that allows the software factory ecosystem to continue to grow, but to operate with higher degrees of scale and precision without having to start from scratch at every point, he said. Beyond establishing an enterprise-wide development ecosystem, the strategy identifies two other goals: accelerating the DoD enterprise cloud environment and transforming processes to enable resilience and speed. As part of the cloud acceleration focus, the strategy calls for an innovative portfolio of cloud contracts to offer better access to cloud services. It also emphasizes the need to secure data in the cloud and improve infrastructure outside the continental United States to ensure those installations can take advantage of cloud capabilities. To improve its software development and acquisition processes, the department must reevaluate its policies and guidance to make sure theyre not overly restrictive and continue to support flexibility in the way it acquires and funds software, the strategy says. A memo accompanying the strategy, signed by Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, says the department will develop an implementation plan over the next six months. A newly formed Software Modernization Senior Steering Group will coordinate and prioritize efforts under the strategy and will develop a yearly action plan. The group will also create a software capability portfolio to inform budget decisions and make sure efforts are integrated across DoD. As a school counselor, it's vital to ensure social, emotional and academic support for students. "School counselors are the calm in the chaos, the voice of reason in the unknown and the constant in the change," Moore Magnet Elementary Administrator Kelsea Cox said. These are just some of the reasons why Austin Peay State University and the Clarksville Montgomery County School System are holding a joint celebration in honor of National School Counseling Week. Private event, public outreach APSU's department of psychological sciences and Counseling Assistant Professor Eva Gibson will be hosting a private event at the university on Feb. 10. It will feature school counselors and national guest speakers from the American School Counseling Association as well as networking opportunities for graduate students working towards their degrees in school counseling. This opportunity will be transparent and will bring awareness to the roles of the school counselor, Gibson said. National School Counseling Week, Feb. 7-11, is all about focusing attention on the contribution of school counselors within school systems across the country. This has been a tough year and a half for everybody," she added. "People who work in the school system have really been feeling that pressure, and many times, often dont get the recognition and accolades they deserve. 'Our counselors are truly the pillars of our school' There are more than 90 school counselors in CMCSS. All elementary schools have one to two counselors, middle schools are staffed with three to four and the district's high schools have four to six, according to district spokesperson Anthony Johnson. Byrns L. Darden Elementary Administrator Dr. Nabraundra Jackson said local schools are fortunate to have counselors who are invested in their students and staffs well-being. Our counselors show an unwavering commitment to ensuring that students experience success within the classroom by first making sure that their social needs are met, so that in turn, their academic success will be easier to attain," Jackson said. Story continues "Our counselors are truly the pillars of our school and the students and staff are better equipped to tackle all tasks that come their way because of them. Work shops at Learning Center Although the APSU event will not be open to the public, Gibson said the department is collaborating with the school system to offer parent and preschool student work shops at the Learning Center as a community initiative. The workshops for the preschool students will focus on responsibility and perseverance, while the parent work shops will consist of stress management and parent support. Here's the schedule Preschool classes are Feb. 24 and March 3. Any parent may attend parent workshops scheduled for March 31 and April 7. All four classes begin at 6 p.m. For more information about the workshop, including how to sign up, contact Gibson via email at gibsone@apsu.edu. Families interested in attending can sign up here. Alexis Clark can be reached at aclark@gannett.com or 931-217-8519. This article originally appeared on Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle: APSU, CMCSS celebrates National School Counseling Week RICHLAND, Wash. (AP) Authorities are searching for a man who opened fire Monday at a grocery store in Washington state, killing one person and injuring another. The suspect in the shooting at a Fred Meyer store in Richland is Aaron Christopher Kelley, 39, police said late Monday. The suspect fled the store after the shooting, though it was not known he left by foot or in a vehicle, Richland police Commander Chris Lee said. The suspect has had contact with law enforcement in the past, police said. Dispatchers received a call reporting yelling and possible gunshots in the store at 11:03 a.m. The first officers responding arrived just one minute later, police said. Richland interim Police Chief Brigit Clary said responding officers found the two victims in close proximity to one another in the store and said although life-saving measures were tried, one had already died. The other, a store employee, was taken to a hospital, she said. He had undergone surgery and was listed in critical condition, police said Monday afternoon. Both were described as white males. Their names haven't been released. "What happened in our city today was a senseless and tragic act," Clary said. The suspect and the victim who died had an interaction before the shooting, according to store video footage seen by police. Police said they dont know what the apparent conversation entailed and dont know if the two people knew each other. The person who died was not a store employee, according to police. Screenshots from store surveillance footage showed the suspect was wearing a plaid shirt with a dark-colored down vest, a black gaiter or scarf pulled over his nose, light-colored pants and athletic shoes, the Tri-City Herald reported. Employees and customers were escorted out of the store to a parking lot while officers went aisle by aisle searching for the shooter or other victims. No other victims were found, nor was the shooter, police said. Story continues We feel very confident that we will locate the suspect sooner than later, the police chief said Monday afternoon, adding that multiple law enforcement agencies were helping the police department search and investigate. Fred Meyer officials said in a statement on Twitter they were deeply saddened and cooperating with law enforcement. The entire Fred Meyer Family offers our thoughts, prayers, and support to all affected individuals and families during this difficult time, and we have initiated counseling services for our associates, the statement said. Richland is about 200 miles (320 kilometers) southeast of Seattle. It's part of the Tri-Cities area, which includes Kennewick and Pasco and has a combined population of more than 280,000. Schools were placed on a partial lockdown Monday as well. Update: The Missouri Highway Patrol identified the man shot by police as 36-year-old Shawn W. Wilson of Kansas City. Police shot and killed a 36-year-old man early Monday while investigating a domestic disturbance involving a child in a Kansas City neighborhood, a spokesman for the Missouri Highway Patrol said. The highway patrol identified the man killed by officers as Shawn W. Wilson of Kansas City. Officers responded to the disturbance around 2:25 a.m. near 51st and Olive streets, said Sgt. Bill Lowe, a spokesman for the Missouri Highway Patrol. Arriving officers told investigators that they encountered Wilson, who they said was holding a knife, outside a home in the neighborhood, Lowe said. According to the highway patrol, officers said they told Wilson to drop the knife. Wilson did not, and when he allegedly advanced toward officers, they shot him, Lowe said. Wilson was taken to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries and he later died. It was unknown how many officers were involved in the deadly shooting or how many officers had fired their weapons, Lowe said. The killing is Kansas Citys 16th homicide so far this year, according to data maintained by The Star. There were 157 killings in 2021, the second deadliest year in the citys history. WARSAW (Reuters) - Polish Finance Minister Tadeusz Koscinski has resigned, a spokesperson for the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party said on Monday, after a dispute over the rollout of tax reforms. The Polish Deal, introduced in January, was a reform that was meant to benefit all Poles, barring the highest earners, but sparked an outcry when some lower earners, like teachers, received pay cuts rather than raises. The new rules remain unclear, even to tax experts, critics said. "The minister accepts political responsibility for certain shortcomings that occurred in the implementation of the new tax rules," PiS spokesperson Anita Czerwinska told a news conference. "Until a new candidate is selected, this function will be performed by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki." Koscinski, a former deputy finance minister and an ally of Morawiecki, was one of the leading figures behind the reform and faced criticism along with some of his deputy ministers. (Reporting by Joanna Plucinska and Alicja Ptak; Editing by Gareth Jones and Mark Heinrich) Republican Senate candidate J.D. Vance needs a course correction ASAP and thats according to the well-funded super PAC supporting him. A 98-page PowerPoint presentation produced by Tony Fabrizio, who has been polling for the pro-Vance Protect Ohio Values super PAC since last year, paints a dire picture of the candidates prospects. According to the slide deck, Vance has seen a precipitous decline in Ohios GOP Senate primary since last fall, when a pair of outside groups backing a rival began a multimillion-dollar TV advertising blitz using five-year-old footage of Vance attacking former President Donald Trump. Driving his negatives is the perception that he is anti-Trump. This has only grown since November, said the presentation, which is based on polling data of 800 likely primary voters conducted Jan. 18-20. The Senate race in Ohio is a high-profile example of how Trump is dominating Republican down-ballot primaries, and how his support is seen as make-or-break for those seeking the partys nomination. Vance refashioned himself as a Trump supporter long ago, but his past comments are sticking to him. Meanwhile, Republican candidates are welding themselves to the former president and aggressively seeking out his endorsement; last spring, a handful of the Ohio Republican candidates met with Trump for an Apprentice-style boardroom audition for his support. Vance, a venture capitalist and the author of Hillbilly Elegy, has been working to make inroads with both Trump supporters and Trump himself: Last year, Vance and his main financial benefactor, tech billionaire Peter Thiel, quietly met with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in South Florida. Vance allies downplayed the memo, noting that the poll is nearly three weeks old and that several major developments have taken place in the race in the last few weeks, including the withdrawal of one of Vances rivals. But Fabrizio, who is also a longtime Trump pollster, wrote in the presentation that Vance is now underwater with strong Trump supporters and very conservative voters, groups needed to win a GOP primary. He added that Vances association as a Never Trumper has only grown since November and that being anti-Trump is the #1 reason voters do not like Vance. Story continues Several months out from the May 3 primary, the presentation says that consideration of Vance has fallen most dramatically with those on the right: conservatives and strong approvers of Trump, and that the perception of Vance as a moderate or even as a liberal continues to steadily grow. The groups where Vance has improved are those we dont want him doing better with: Trump disapprovers and moderate/liberals, Fabrizio wrote. Vances decline follows a $2 million-plus TV ad campaign from the Club for Growth and USA Freedom Fund, outside groups that are backing Vance rival Josh Mandel, which have portrayed Vance as an anti-Trump figure. The commercials, which use footage from 2016, show Vance describing himself as a Never Trump guy and calling Trump an idiot, noxious and offensive, appear to have made a dent. According to the slide deck, anti-Trump is by far the top thing the 50% of voters who have seen an ad about Vance remember. Still, the polling paints the picture of a close, crowded race. The survey shows Mandel, a former state treasurer who unsuccessfully ran for Senate in 2012, out ahead with 15 percent. He is followed closely in the results by self-funding investment banker Mike Gibbons, with 14 percent, former state GOP Chair Jane Timken with 13 percent, business owner Bernie Moreno with 11 percent, and Vance at 9 percent. (Moreno dropped out of the primary last week, several weeks after the poll was taken.) In a statement to POLITICO, Fabrizio pointed out that the race has taken several turns since the January survey was conducted that make the results outdated. In addition to Morenos departure, the Club for Growth has begun an advertising offensive targeting Timken, and another candidate, wealthy state Sen. Matt Dolan, has begun spending heavily. Fabrizio also noted that since the poll was taken, Vance won the endorsement of Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, the conservative firebrand popular among Republican grassroots activists, and held a campaign event with her in Ohio. Vance also recently embarked on a 20-stop, town hall tour through the state. The polling memo contends that Vance has an opening to make further inroads with conservatives by stressing messages such as cutting federal aid to localities that allow non-citizens to vote, and requiring proof of citizenship to get public assistance. The report's conclusion: "Vance needs a course correction ASAP that will resolidify him as a true conservative. He has a ton of strong messaging to make that happen and he should push it hard." A representative for the pro-Vance super PAC declined to comment. Fabrizio, who last week transitioned from working for the super PAC to working for Vances official campaign, noted in a statement that to date, J.D. Vance has had the most money spent against him and virtually none on his behalf. That could change quickly: The super PAC went into 2022 with more than $6 million in its bank account, according to recent campaign finance disclosures. Thiel seeded the group with $10 million last year. Fabrizio also pointed to the changes in the race since the poll was taken and said that, with his endorsement from Greene, Vance was shoring up his credentials as the conservative outsider in the race. Yet its another, as-yet-undelivered endorsement that hangs over the race: Trumps. Fabrizios slide deck suggests that is the one that could really propel Vance. The presentation includes a six-page section devoted to exploring the impact of a Trump endorsement and concludes that, in the event he received the former presidents support, Vances vote share would jump from 9 percent to 35 percent, the polling suggested, more than tripling the support held by his nearest rival in that scenario. HANOI, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- About 17 million students across Vietnam are expected to return to school in the next few weeks starting Monday after prolonged online learning due to COVID-19, according to the country's Ministry of Education and Training. All 63 Vietnamese cities and provinces will resume in-person classes for secondary and high school students by Feb. 14, local Chinhphu (Government) online newspaper cited the ministry as reporting on Monday. Meanwhile, 60 localities will reopen kindergartens and primary schools in February. All universities and colleges too would have students returning to classes this month, according to the report. In the Vietnamese capital Hanoi, the country's current COVID-19 hotspot, face-to-face learning will be resumed from Thursday for students from the first to sixth grades in 18 suburban districts and towns, the Vietnam News Agency reported. Students of grades one to six in 12 urban districts and those in high-risk areas will continue to study online, while preschoolers will stay home, said the news agency. For southern Ho Chi Minh City, about 1.7 million students of all grades are expected to return to school by Feb. 14, according to the municipal Department of Education and Training. Kindergartens and primary schools in the city will reopen on Feb. 14, with educational activities to be organized in accordance with the localities' pandemic situation. Google-owner Alphabet faces a massive lawsuit in Europe. It's being sued by price-comparison firm PriceRunner for around $2.4 billion. The Swedish company alleges the tech giant manipulated search results. PriceRunner wants Google to pay compensation for profits it claims it has lost in the UK since 2008; and Sweden and Denmark since 2013. A Google spokesperson said the company would defend the lawsuit in court. It claimed changes made to shopping ads five years ago have worked successfully. It also said PriceRunner chose not to use shopping ads on Google, so may not have seen the same successes as others. But PriceRunner said it was ready to fight for years, with financing in place and steps prepared in the event it does not win. In November Google lost an appeal against a fine of over $2.7 billion imposed by the European Commission in 2017. It found that the search giant used its own price comparison shopping service to gain an unfair advantage over smaller European rivals. The seven-year investigation came about due to complaints that Google distorted internet search results in favour of its own shopping service. PriceRunner is currently in the process of being bought by payments firm Klarna. An uncropped image showing Andrew, Ms Giuffre and Maxwell, with a blur in the corner (Virginia Giuffre) The photograph of a photograph that shows a 41-year-old heir to the British throne with his arm casually draped around the bare midriff of a 17-year-old girl sent shockwaves through the royal family when it was first published in 2011. Eleven years on, that image is likely to be a key piece of evidence when Prince Andrews sexual assault lawsuit gets underway in a civil court in New York later this year. Virginia Giuffre is suing the royal for intentional emotional harm and battery over claims she was forced to have sex with him three times in 2001. Andrew, 61, has denied any wrongdoing and signalled in court filings that his defence will revolve around the fallibility of Ms Giuffres memory, her shifting statements and alleged role in Jeffrey Epsteins empire of abuse. The Duke of York and his supporters have sought to cast doubt on the photos authenticity by claiming it was somehow faked, Photoshopped, or even that an Irish body double had been edited into the frame. The original image is said to be in the FBIs possession, and could be subpoenaed by either the Princes or Ms Giuffres attorneys. I wanted something to show my mom Virginia Giuffre with her lawyer David Boies in 2019 (REUTERS) Ms Giuffre fell into Jeffrey Epsteins orbit after a chance meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted in December of grooming and recruiting young girls for him, at Mar-a-Lago in 2000, when she was 16 years old. She has since told in depositions and public interviews how she was sexually abused by Epstein and trafficked to have sex with his friends, during trips from Florida to his properties in Manhattan, New Mexico, and the US Virgin Islands. Ms Giuffre gave a detailed account of the night that the photo was taken to BBCs Panorama in 2019. She said she had been at the Tramp nightclub in central London on 10 March 2001 with Prince Andrew, Maxwell and Epstein. Andrew bought her a drink and they danced together, she said, before they drove back to Maxwells house in Belgravia, London, in separate vehicles. Story continues During the drive back, Ms Giuffre said she was instructed to do for Andrew what I do for Jeffrey by Maxwell. That made me sick. I just didnt expect it from royalty. She earlier told the Mail on Sunday that the four of them went upstairs at Maxwells flat and she asked Epstein to snap a picture of me with the Prince. I wanted something to show my mom, she said. Andrew, who denies any wrongdoing, has questioned the photographs authenticity. Prince Andrew claimed the photograph was a fake during his infamous BBC interview in 2019 (ENTERPRISE NEWS AND PICTURES) He told BBCs Newsnight in 2019: From the investigations that weve done, you cant prove whether or not that photograph is faked or not because it is a photograph of a photograph of a photograph. Maxwell, who is awaiting sentencing for sex-trafficking, has also previously claimed the photo could have been faked. In a 2016 deposition she gave in relation to Ms Giuffres defamation case against her, she said the surroundings looked familiar, but added: We cant really establish the photograph and all that. I dont know if thats true, if thats a real picture or not. Andrews former girlfriend Lady Victoria Hervey this week added fuel to the conspiracy theories by claiming in an Instagram Stories post to her 113,000 followers that an Irish body double had been photoshopped into the image. Herveys unverified claims appear to suggest that another mans frame was swapped into the photograph with a photo of Andrews head added, and the real photo was taken on a yacht in the south of France during a birthday party for Naomi Campbell. Ms Giuffre has always insisted the image was authentic and said she gave the original to the FBI in 2011. The Independent has approached the FBI to try to verify this. If it was fake then why is Prince Andrew not suing? Ms Giuffre broke off all contact with Epstein and Maxwell after meeting her husband Robert Giuffre in Thailand in 2002. By 2011, she had settled into a new life in Glendinning Valley, a small coastal town about 66km north of Sydney, Australia. Rumours of a new FBI investigation into Epsteins sexual offending led Mail on Sunday journalist Sharon Churcher to trace Ms Giuffre halfway around the world to her new home. Fearful of Epstein and the powerful friends whose secret she had kept for a decade, she was initially reluctant to open up about her past, according to the Mail. But she eventually agreed and produced a collection of teenage snaps showing the years of travel with Epstein and Maxwell. She was paid $160,000 (120,000) for the interview. Among them was an image of Prince Andrew with Ms Giuffre and Maxwell. Its believed that Epstein was behind the camera. It is thought that the duke may try to settle with Ms Giuffre to try to protect the monarchy (Getty) Michael Thomas, a freelance photographer from New Zealand, travelled to Australia to meet Ms Giuffre and recalled her casually pulling the picture of Prince Andrew from a bundle of photographs she had held on to. It was a normal print that you would get back from the chemist in the time of negatives, Mr Thomas told The Independent by email. Ms Giuffre didnt seem to grasp the impact the photograph would have, and had kept it in a bundle with other images from her travels. Mr Thomas added: What I struggle to understand is that if it was fake then why is Prince Andrew not suing every media outlet in the world for running it? Surely if they were reproducing a fake photo with all the implications it has had for him that is the first thing he would do. At the end of the day I just copied a photograph, I never expected it to turn into this. At no stage have I ever doubted it is a genuine photograph. An uncropped version the photographs released in 2019 appeared to show Epsteins finger or thumb in the bottom right hand corner of the frame. It also showed a piece of art hanging on a wall next to Maxwell, which could also be used to try to verify the image. Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Getty For months, fringe groups have been knocking on doors across the country, inquiring about residents 2020 votes. But in Otero County, New Mexico, those door-knocks might soon come as part of a nearly $50,000 contract between the county, a conspiracy-peddling tech group, and an even further-right Telegram channel. Otero County is a Republican stronghold in New Mexico. More than 60 percent of Otero voters cast ballots for Donald Trump in 2020, in contrast to the states pro-Biden majority. That hasnt stopped some locals, chiefly an Otero County commissioner currently facing charges related to the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, from calling for an audit into the countys vote. In January, the county approved a nearly $49,750 audit contract with EchoMail, a company founded by election conspiracy promoter Shiva Ayyadurai. EchoMail, in turn, says it will contract the New Mexico Audit Force to conduct a door-to-door canvas of county voters. MAGA Audit Fans Turn on Cyber Ninjas After Court Ruling But the audit effort could face early obstacles. New Mexicos actual state auditor, Brian Colon, has opened a special examination into the Otero audits legality. Meanwhile, EchoMails recent work in an audit of votes in Maricopa County, Arizona received a damning rebuttal from local officials, and the New Mexico Audit Force is not a company at all, but a Telegram group that traffics in conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. Colon said his examination will look into whether the EchoMail contract followed state and local codes, as well as whether it is a worthwhile use of taxpayer money. Is there supporting justification for expenditures? Colon told The Daily Beast. That's where we get into the contemplation of whether or not this is wasteful spending, or if it is in the best interest of the citizens of Otero County. Colon said his office opened its investigation after an Otero County resident contacted them with concerns. Its not the first time in recent history that the state auditors office has been called to investigate Otero County spending. Story continues In 2020, Colons office slapped the county with a risk advisory for travel expenses, after county commissioner Couy Griffin expensed a $3,237 trip to a Trump event in D.C.. Griffin, a former restaurateur and founder of the group Cowboys for Trump, later repaid the county. The 2019 trip was not Griffins last journey to D.C.. On Jan. 6, 2021, he was filmed on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, giving a speech via bullhorn to Trump fans during the attack on the building. Griffin is set to go to trial next month on counts of allegedly entering restricted grounds and impeding government business on Jan. 6. Griffin has denied both counts, and allegations that the attack was a mob, stating that we could have a 2nd Amendment rally on those same steps that we had that rally yesterday. You know, and if we do, then its gonna be a sad day, because theres gonna be blood running out of that building. Griffin, who did not return The Daily Beasts requests for comment, was a vocal advocate for the Otero County audit. When the countys attorney raised legal worries about the audit (namely civil rights lawsuits) during a Jan. 13 county meeting, Griffin dismissed his concerns. Should I honor my oath and be loyal to the people or should I cow to the state and say oh no, I might get sued or I might get in trouble? Griffin asked during the meeting. What would you do? Griffins past pro-Trump spending, plus his advocacy for an audit, could put the campaign in jeopardy with state investigators. Canadas Anti-Vax Answer to Jan. 6 Is an Indefinite Blockade of Ottawa We always have to consider red flags, Colon said. Prior misconduct is going to be a red flag on any given set of future circumstances. And in this case, we know that the individual who most aggressively advanced the interest of having the county enter this contract was somebody that we have had to hold accountable in the past. Otero is neither the first county to conduct a controversial election audit, nor the first to contract with EchoMail. The company, originally an email service founded by Ayyadurai, was one of several contractors involved in Maricopa Countys budget-blowing audit in 2021. Ayyadurai and other contractors had repeatedly promoted election fraud conspiracy theories. Although the audit eventually confirmed that President Joe Biden won Maricopa County (it actually increased Bidens victory margin), it surfaced a list of 75 supposed errors in the countys voting record. Maricopa County officials quickly debunked 74 of the claims (the final, an instance of 50 double-counted ballots, might be true, local officials say). Despite EchoMail and Ayyadurais recent record, Otero Countys contract with EchoMail gives the company permission to analyze approximately up to 25,000 Ballot Images and to perform door-to-door canvass of Otero County voter registration database to determine accuracy of voter registration database. The Big MAGA and QAnon Civil War Keeps Getting Nuttier and Sleazier Those canvassing efforts, which consist of knocking on doors and asking residents about their votes, are legal but controversial. Several pro-Trump groups, both local and national, spearheaded similar efforts in late 2021. The visits were not always well received, with Pennsylvania officials accusing canvassers of intimidation and one national canvassing organization admitting that some of its volunteers had exhibited pedophilic leanings. EchoMails contract with Otero County states that its canvass will be staffed by volunteers under the direction of New Mexico Audit Force (Volunteers) with guidance from EchoMail. Neither EchoMail nor Ayyadurai returned requests for comment about its relationship with the New Mexico Audit Force (NMAF) or the group planned to screen and train its door-to-door team. And while none of the involved parties would clarify whether Otero County has a direct contract with NMAF, such a relationship appears unlikely, as NMAF does not appear to be a legally incorporated entity. (No business of that or similar names exists in New Mexico business registry records.) Instead, the NMAFs primary online presence is a Telegram group, where leaders regularly allege fraud in the 2020 presidential election. The group frequently shares posts from the likes of Ron Watkins, the former 8kun administrator accused of authoring parts of the QAnon conspiracy theory. Group leader Erin Clements has also claimed, incorrectly, that the 2020 presidential vote tallies show evidence of algorithmic manipulation in Bidens favor. Reached via Telegram, Clements told The Daily Beast she would answer questions after this reporter read a New Mexico Audit Force report entitled Election Fraud In New Mexico. Informed that this reporter had already reviewed the document, Clements declined to answer questions, and instead asked the New Mexico Audit Force Telegram channel to contact this reporter. During a Jan. 13 meeting, Oteros county attorney R.B. Nichols noted that the canvass effort was one of several potential legal liabilities to EchoMails proposed audit. He asked whether the NMAF canvassers would be representing the county when they knocked on doors. Some people are not going to like someone coming up to their door and asking them about where they're registered to vote, how they're registered to vote, Nichols said, in remarks first reported by the Alamogordo Daily News. Some people could see that as intimidation." Clements, who was attending the meeting on behalf of EchoMail, said the group would not portray itself as associated with the county. "That part of the audit is actually volunteer-based so youre not contracting with the canvassers, all you're doing is receiving the report from the canvassers," Clements said. We would introduce ourselves as New Mexico Audit Force and not mention the county at all. Like the chaotic Maricopa County audit, the Otero effort is using taxpayer money, as well as privately raising funds for unspecified expenses. The county struck a $49,750 deal with EchoMail, although Nichols cautioned that actual expenses might well exceed $50,000. During a Jan. 13 county commission meeting, Nichols noted that many of the audit documents would likely have to be obtained via New Mexicos Inspection of Public Records Act, a move that would rack up administrative fees. Im assuming EchoMails not gonna want to pay that because that would be a bad business move by them, Nichols said. The countys wanting this to be done, so the county would be incurring this additional cost of the IPRA production, in addition to the burden on the clerks office and their already fairly demanding duties. Outside official channels, the New Mexico Audit Force is also soliciting funds for its canvassing effort. In a fundraiser promoted by MAGA lawyer Lin Wood (and hosted on one of his websites), the group is trying to raise $100,000 for its efforts. (In a contract with EchoMail, and in the Jan. 13 county meeting, the NMAF and EchoMail described NMAF as a volunteer group.) On its Telegram channel on Tuesday, the NMAF shared a post claiming to have raised $20,000 through the Wood-backed fundraiser. Already the funds total a significant share of the taxpayer money that Otero County plans to spend on the audit. Were talking about almost $50,000, Nichols said, which is not an insignificant amount. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. If there's a LEGO-obsessed kid at J.H. Workman Middle School with dreams of becoming an engineer, machine technician or aviation mechanic who would rather be tinkering with an engine than hunched over a textbook, then their dreams are about to come true. Florida Power & Light Co. recently awarded J.H. Workman Middle School a STEM classroom makeover grant worth $50,000. School administrators will use about half of the grant to renovate J.H. Workman Middle School's Technology Education classroom, turning it into the "Center of Invention and Innovation." The rest of the grant money has been allocated toward a new STEM program to be taught within the renovated space. Aviation Maintenance Academy students Caleb Pereira, 17, left, and Bella Minshe, 18, practice safety wire skills on an aircraft engine at Booker T. Washington High School on Thursday. A new J.H. Workman Middle School STEM program, We Build It Better, will act as a feeder program to get students into the Aviation Maintenance Academy, then into maintenance careers later in life. The STEM program, called We Build It Better, was developed by Flight Works Alabama and is meant to teach middle schoolers the foundations of industrial design and equip them with mechanical skillsets they can apply in the real-world. Because the curriculum was created by Flight Works, some of its projects and presentations will incorporate aeronautic concepts, according Steven Harrell, director of Workforce Education for the Escambia County School District. "So, the beauty of it being at Workman is that the school is walking distance away from (Booker T.) Washington High School and is one of the feeder schools for Washington High School," Harrell said. Booker T. Washington High School already has its own aviation technology program, and the new program at Workman Middle School will now have the potential to create a pipeline of future aviation mechanics. Growing industry: New UPS, ST Engineering training program aims to bring top aviation mechanics to Pensacola "Project Titan": 'Project Titan' takes off as $210 million ST Engineering complex finally under construction The new program means there's now a chance that students who start out learning the basics of industrial technology in the We Build It Better program at Workman Middle School will then choose to join the aviation program at Booker T. Washington High School. Story continues Eventually, these same students may become professional airplane mechanics, helping to grow the workforce for one of area's fastest growing industries aviation mechanics and maintenance. "We have an aviation technology program at Washington. They work on airplane engines and learn the mechanics of flight, and you know, it's all of the things like driving rivets and putting composite materials together, the electrical systems of airplanes," Harrell said. "But you can't do all of those things if you can't swing a hammer and use a tape measure and use a micrometer and things like that first. "So, middle school is that exploratory timeframe, ... then you can focus more on it when you get to high school, and then you focus even more in post-secondary at George Stone," he continued. Maverick Matair, 17, works on a safety wire trainer Aviation Maintenance Academy at Booker T. Washington High School on Thursday. A new J. H. Workman Middle School STEM program, We Build It Better, will act as a feeder program to get students into the Aviation Maintenance Academy, then into maintenance careers later in life. George Stone Technical College's Aviation Airframe Mechanics program prepares students for jobs in the commercial and general aviation industry, according to its website. According to the college, the career field has an annual salary range of $51,000 to $82,000, with the average in Pensacola sitting at about $56,000. Harrell said he has been looking for a way to bring the We Build It Better program into the Escambia County School District for a long time, and the FPL grant has now made it a reality. What is the STEM classroom makeover grant? Workman Middle School was one of five schools across Florida to receive STEM classroom makeover grant this year from FPL as part of a larger commitment from the company. FPL has pledged to donate $2 million over the next four years to increase Black students' exposure to STEM education and jumpstart interests in STEM-related careers. Pamela Rauch, vice president of external affairs and economic development for FPL, commented on the company's mission in a written statement. "Our STEM Classroom Makeover Grant allows us to invest in our next generation to help provide transformational learning opportunities for Black students in a STEM classroom setting," Rauch said in the statement. "We are excited that these projects will be one of the first, as we complete our inaugural year of implementing this grant, which allows us to support both educators and students, our next generation of leaders." All recipient schools who received the classroom makeover grants were comprised of at least 25% Black students. Harrell said the classroom renovation work at Workman Middle School is expected to be completed over the summer and that program should be up and running as soon as the fall of 2022. We Build It Better program will be more than just aviation About 25 students will be able to participate in the program. Flight Works Alabama will provide a toolbox filled with industry-grade tools and provide specialized training to the Workman Middle School teacher selected to lead the program. Additionally, Harrell noted students will learn STEM skills that can be applied to many different careers, not just to fields focused on aviation design. "The STEM curriculum developed by Flight Works Alabama gets students interested early on in the technical side of the design process and gives them foundational skills for aviation manufacturing," Harrell said. "But it also teaches kids skills like precision measurement, how to use a caliper and a micrometer, and a torque wrench and things like that. They do everything from learning to read a tape measure and swinging a hammer all the way up to printing things with a 3-D printer." Five trades to learn: Five trades you can start learning today, then start earning in one to two years Trade professionals lack interest: Despite high wages and job openings, trade professionals in area note lack of interest He added students could easily transfer such STEM skills "into skilled trades like HVAC or plumbing, construction, whatever it might be later on in their lives, but they're going to have those hands-on skills in addition to the design skills." In part of the program, students will be encouraged to design their own industrial product, solve preset challenges on the way to creating their product and eventual print their product using a 3-D printer. "In a year, anyone who comes back and sees the results of this curriculum on our students will be surprised by how much they'll have learned," Harrell said. Colin Warren-Hicks can be reached at colinwarrenhicks@pnj.com or 850-435-8680. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Workman Middle School gets We Build It Better design program Austin Smith, firefighter with St. Paul Fire District A public memorial service will be held Saturday for a volunteer St. Paul firefighter who died from injuries suffered in a barn fire explosion in northern Marion County. Family, friends and first responders plan to honor Austin Smith with a procession and memorial service at the St. Paul Rodeo grounds. Smith, 30, was one of the multiple volunteer firefighters from the St. Paul Fire District who responded to a barn fire on Champoeg Creek Lane NE off McKay Road near Champoeg early Thursday. Firefighters said the explosion happened during the fire, critically injuring Smith. He was taken by helicopter to Oregon Health and Science University hospital where he died later the same day. The cause of the fire is still unknown. Previous coverage: St. Paul firefighter dies from injuries suffered in explosion during barn fire in Marion County Smith, whose family roots in St. Paul go back decades, leaves behind a wife and extended family, officials said. He had been a volunteer with the district since 2015. He also served as president of the St. Paul Jaycees, a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the St. Paul community. "This is a tragic loss for our community and family. We are all heartbroken," St. Paul Fire District Chief Bryan Lee said. St. Paul Fire District captain and public information officer Mark Daniel described Smith as a man of service. Daniel and Smith started at the fire district after going through fire training together. He had his whole life in front of him," Daniel said. "He was a good guy. I can't express the feeling of loss. This type of thing does not happen very often and it's an absolute tragedy." The memorial, planned by the St. Paul Fire District and the Oregon State Fire Marshal, will likely include a large presence of first responders with several pieces of equipment. Agencies planning to attend are asked to fill out a contact form at forms.gle/hDqSiJumCRaTu59n6 by the end of the day Tuesday, Feb. 8. Story continues If you plan to go The memorial is open to the public. It will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, at the St. Paul Rodeo grounds, 4174 Malo Ave NE. Those with questions about the memorial may contact public information officer Gert Zoutendijk at 503-807-8207. Donations In lieu of flowers, the Smith family is asking for donations to either the St. Paul Fire District or the GoFundMe account for family expenses. Donations to the St. Paul Fire District may be gifted through stpaulfire.org/donate or mailed to: St. Paul Fire District, 4233 Church Ave NE, P.O. Box 1, St. Paul, OR 97137. Those who wish to donate to the Smith family may do so through the family's GoFundMe Page at tinyurl.com/2p8z2sy8 Virginia Barreda is the breaking news and public safety reporter for the Statesman Journal. She can be reached at 503-399-6657 or at vbarreda@statesmanjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter at @vbarreda2. This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Public memorial for Oregon firefighter Austin Smith set for Saturday Lawmakers are set to take the first serious step toward legalizing recreational marijuana in Pennsylvania. A hearing scheduled Monday in the Senate Law & Justice Committee will be the first time a legislative committee in the General Assembly has vetted this issue, although legislation to legalize or decriminalize marijuana has been around for years. Committee Chairman Mike Regan, R-Cumberland/York counties, has invited representatives from law enforcement and the criminal justice arena to speak at this first in a series of hearings. "We have some expert panelists that will be testifying and I am looking forward to the hearing, Regan said. "Its not going to be all one-sided. Its going to be based on their broad experience in law enforcement on the federal, state and local levels." The committee expects to hold at least two more hearings to hear from regulators and operators from some of the 18 states that have legalized recreational cannabis as well as advocacy groups on either side of the issue, said Regans chief of staff Bruce McLanahan. Regan, a former U.S. marshal, along with Philadelphia Democratic Rep. Amen Brown are in the process of drafting legislation to end the prohibition on recreational marijuana. The hearings are intended to help identify the best practices to incorporate into their bill. Some places like Michigan and others have legalized and then had to go back and fix things that were initially in the bill, Regan said. I want to get it right the first time so were really taking our time to make sure we have a really good solid product because it wont be taken seriously if its not a good product. We are beyond past due for legalizing marijuana here in Pennsylvania, said Brown. Both Brown and Regan said their companion bills will include details about regulating and taxing the sale of cannabis, how the tax revenue will be used, along with other related issues including decriminalization and expungement. Story continues With legalization comes righting wrongs and expunging records for those with non-violent drug offenses, Brown said. It also means that we work with law enforcement to ensure that we are not in conflict or on opposite sides as we work toward legalization. We can and should work together, and in fact, its safer for both the police and the community when we work in tandem. Gov. Tom Wolf is in favor of legalizing adult-use marijuana and hopes the hearings will move the issue forward in a positive way, said the governors spokeswoman Beth Rementer. In the meantime, she said the governor is committed to continuing with an expedited review of pardons for non-violent marijuana-related offenses until the legislature commits to giving Pennsylvanians what they want and giving this commonwealth the economic benefits we know will result from legalization. Signs of progress Over the past decade or more, Democratic lawmakers have led the charge in Pennsylvania to advance marijuana legalization. It wasnt until this year that two Republican senators agreed its time has come. Fellow Republican Sen. Dan Laughlin, R-Erie County, this year teamed up with Sen. Sharif Street, D-Philadelphia, to announce their bi-partisan-backed adult use marijuana legalization bill, which sits in Regans committee awaiting action. Feb. 2021 report: Pennsylvania's Sen. Laughlin sponsors marijuana legalization bill for adults 21 and older Home grown: State Sen. Dan Laughlin cosponsors bill to permit home cultivation of medical marijuana Thats among the signs that has Regan believing the opposition to marijuana legalization is softening. When he was serving in the House of Representatives and medical marijuana legislation was first proposed, he said, the nos were more visceral than the nos are for this. And I think part of that is because of medical marijuana. People have seen theres 600,000 users out there and the world hasnt imploded. I think thats important. Beyond that, he said more of his Republican colleagues are privately coming around to the idea although he declined to provide names. Plus, some prosecutors are now publicly saying legalizing it could reduce violent crimes. Warren County District Attorney Robert Greene has instructed police officers in his county the only marijuana-related DUIs hell prosecute are ones where the driver shows outward signs of impairment. Regan admits convincing statewide organizations representing law enforcement to alter their position on marijuana legalization will be a tough sell, but the former law enforcement officer himself is hoping to barter with them when they come to asking for his support on other issues. I think we can make progress there, Regan said. Id like to get them to neutral. Along with that, theres the issue of whats happening around Pennsylvania. Its an important issue especially as New Jerseys legalization will probably roll out in the next month or two as well as will New Yorks, said Jeff Reidy, executive director of Lehigh Valley NORML, a marijuana legalization activist group. Well soon be surrounded in Pennsylvania by legal states and Pennsylvania is going to have to either admit they are willing to let all of those potential tax dollars go to another state because people will cross borders to get to a legal marketplace. Projections of what taxing marijuana could generate for Pennsylvania vary from former state Auditor General Eugene DePasquales 2018 estimate of $580 million annually if taxed at 35%, upwards to the Independent Fiscal Offices projection last year of as much as $1 billion in new tax revenue. Those estimates are not out of the ballpark of what other states have collected. Illinois brought in more than $400 million from recreational marijuana sales in 2021 and Michigan, $250 million, according to a report from The Badger Project, a nonprofit investigative journalism organization. But as more states enter the marketplace, Pennsylvania should consider allowing cannabis-infused products such as brownies, gummies and other edibles - which New Jerseys law doesnt allow - to set it apart from the competition, said Steen Schain, a Philadelphia-based cannabis attorney. Further, he would like to see the state mandate statewide delivery of adult-use cannabis while permitting individual communities to opt out from allowing dispensaries to open up within their borders. Statewide delivery of cannabis is essential, Schain said. Sixty percent of Americans prefer home delivery of cannabis over shopping at dispensaries. in their communities. Pennsylvanias adult use program should mandate statewide delivery regardless of whether towns opt out. Is it the time? House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre County, remains unsold on the need to legalize a drug while the state continues to struggle with an opioid epidemic. Other opponents want to give the medical marijuana program more time to develop before expanding to recreational use. As for the idea that Pennsylvania should move to full legalization because other states are doing it, opponents arent buying it. Pennsylvanians should understand the time tested lesson of the question: If all of your friends jumped off a cliff, would you jump too? said Kevin Sabet, president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana and a former senior drug policy adviser to the Obama Administration. Sabet, regarded as one of the nations leading marijuana legalization opponents, called Regans position on the issue out of step with public health and his law enforcement colleagues across the state and predicts it is going nowhere fast this year. Dan Bartkowiak, communications director for the conservative-leaning Pennsylvania Family Institute, said as Regan admits, law enforcement officials nationally as well as in Pennsylvania are adamantly opposed to full legalization and for good reason. He added: If we value public safety, if we value protecting children and families in Pennsylvania, any pursuit to commercialize the sale of what science proves to be a harmful and addictive drug should absolutely be opposed. But polls show an overwhelming majority of Pennsylvanians and Americans favor legalization. A Pew Research Center survey conducted in spring 2021 found fewer than one-in-ten (8%) shared the view of Sabet and Bartkowiaks organizations. Closer to home, an October 2021 survey from Franklin & Marshall College found that 60% of Pennsylvania voters back adult-use legalization. Thats the highest level of support for the issue since the firm started polling people about it in 2006. Regan thinks that could be a difference maker in building support in the legislature. People are starting to realize the polling on this, Regan said. Its 60-plus percent across the state. I think some people who think they maybe would receive negative feedback from their constituents are now maybe thinking they wont. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Recreational pot in PA: Legislative hearing set for Monday WASHINGTON Conservatives are signaling they intend to draw attention to third-party "dark money" groups as part of the looming fight to replace Associate Justice Stephen Breyer on the Supreme Court no matter who President Joe Biden nominates. Days after Breyer announced he would step down following a nearly 30-year stint on the nation's highest court, one conservative group began airing a TV ad decrying "secret money from liberals" it claims is influencing the process. Days later, Sen. Chuck Grassley, the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, sounded a similar alarm. "What we wont do is rubber stamp someone committed to implementing a radical progressive agenda by legislating from the bench," the Iowa Republican said during a hearing this month. "I've talked about liberal dark money many times. Seems like these groups have already made it clear that's what they expect." If the issue of outside influence by third-party advocacy groups plays heavily into the confirmation process it will represent a flipped script for Republicans, who have been on defense over similar criticism from Democrats for years. Third-party groups helped vet and promote all three of President Donald Trump's nominees to the Supreme Court. Dark money groups, usually nonprofits, raise and spend money to influence public policy debates. Unlike political campaigns and other entities that engage in advocacy relating to elections, the groups are generally not required to disclose their donors or comply in other ways with federal campaign finance laws. The short list: A look at California Justice Kruger, under consideration for the Supreme Court First Black woman: Race, gender become factors in Supreme Court confirmation battle Conservative groups involved with judicial issues have long been seen as better funded and better organized than their liberal counterparts, although there are indications progressive organizations are beginning to catch up. A New York Times analysis of tax records this year found that dark money groups aligned with Democrats in some cases surpassed Republican operations in the 2020 presidential campaign. Story continues The U.S. Capitol Building stands across First Avenue from the Supreme Court building on Jan. 26, 2022. Carrie Severino, president of the Judicial Crisis Network, asserted that liberal groups want "payback" for their support of Biden and other Democrats in the 2020 election in the form of a left-leaning Supreme Court justice. Severino's group which does not disclose its donors said conservative groups are starting an anti-nominee campaign now to highlight what they see as hypocrisy on the left. The Judicial Crisis Network, which has promoted conservative jurists for years, is financing what it says is a $2.5 million ad campaign targeting Arabella Advisors, a consulting firm with ties to several left-leaning organizations and that was founded by Eric Kessler, who worked in President Bill Clinton's administration. "The president, and the Senate were bankrolled by Arabella Advisors," the Judicial Crisis Network asserted in the initial version of its ad.The ad claims, those groups are seeking "a liberal activist" on the Supreme Court. "I think it's important for people to see the connection," Severino said. Arabella Advisors spokesman Steve Sampson said the claims in the ad are false and "deliberately mischaracterize the work" of the firm. The company "is not the source of funding," Sampson said, "and we do not exert control over the spending decisions." Over the weekend, Judicial Crisis Network changed the script of its ad to claim Democrats received money from the "Arabella Advisors network," widening the target from just Arabella to other groups. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris meet with Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, right, and Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, left, the ranking Republican, to discuss the Supreme Court vacancy on Feb. 1, 2022. Democrats say it is conservative groups such as Judicial Crisis Network that are engaging in hypocrisy, attempting to demonize a practice they helped to normalize. The group is allied with a network of organizations that have loose ties to Leonard Leo, a conservative legal advocate who has helped promote GOP nominees for the high court for more than a decade. That effort has paid off with a 6-3 conservative court that has signaled it may overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that established a constitutional right to abortion and limit the power of states to regulate the open-carry of handguns. "They accused us of hypocrisy and try to change the subject from the fact that they set the terms," said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., who has been the most outspoken member of the Senate Judiciary Committee questioning the influence of outside groups on the Supreme Court. "And if we don't fight back on the terms that they set, they just beat the crap out of us with their dark money. This is that play in action." Whitehouse used his time during Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation hearing in 2020 to draw attention to dark money on the right, which he argues is having a profound effect on the legal system that extends beyond the selection of jurists. Exactly how much money flows into Supreme Court confirmation battles from either conservative or liberal dark money groups is difficult to discern. Because the groups are not engaged in advocacy related to elections they are not regulated by the Federal Election Commission and they disclose very little detail about their donors or how they spend their money. While outside spending has already emerged as a political messaging weapon in the upcoming confirmation process, it's not yet clear whether Biden's nominee will arouse the same degree of passion from outside groups as previous nominees. The stakes are lower because Biden, a Democrat, is replacing a justice who was a reliable liberal vote. 'Stealthy': Justice Breyer had a big impact on abortion. That legacy is now in jeopardy So, the court's 6-3 conservative balance is not in jeopardy. One of the progressive groups frequently targeted by the right is Demand Justice, which in 2020 committed to spending $10 million to block Trump's nominee to replace Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg until after the inauguration. Trump wound up nominating Barrett and she was confirmed 27 days later. Demand Justice had promoted several of the candidates Biden is now considering for the Supreme Court, including Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. While conservative groups have called attention to that fact, it's highly likely Biden would have landed on Jackson anyway: The president promised to name a Black woman to the Supreme Court for the first time and there are only a handful of Black women federal judges that could have been considered. 'Tone matters': Some predict Justice Breyer's exit will deepen polarization on Supreme Court Brian Fallon, cofounder and executive director of Demand Justice, accused Judicial Crisis Network of "trying to muddy the water" about its own role in confirmations. "It's somewhat laughable for JCN to pretend that we've caught up to their side," he said. "We are losing by a score of six to three." Biden is expected to announce his nominee by the end of the month. The list of candidates the president is considering includes Leondra Kruger, an associate justice on California's Supreme Court and U.S. District Judge J. Michelle Childs. If Republicans raise questions about liberal dark money in the confirmation hearing this spring they will likely repeat many of the same points they brought up when Jackson was before the Senate Judiciary Committee in April for her nomination to the appeals court. Several Republicans pressed Jackson at that time on whether she supported some positions taken by Demand Justice, such as its call to expand the size of the high court. "Demand Justice is a dark money liberal group whose first priority is getting left wing judges who will follow a liberal agenda instead of the Constitution," Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said during Jackson's confirmation hearing last year. "How is this any different from what Democrats have accused Republicans of for the last four years?" Neither Tillis nor Grassley responded to a request for comment. Jackson, who responded to Tillis by noting she has "no control" over what outside groups say or do, was ultimately confirmed to the appeals court in June. She won the support of all Senate Democrats and three Republicans. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: GOP signals fight over 'dark money' in Supreme Court confirmation Lions don't typically dance in the street on Bainbridge Island. First came the drumming, then the sound of firecrackers exploding at the intersection of Winslow Way and Madison Avenue on Sunday afternoon. White smoke wafted through the air. Two lions, played by performers dressed in red and yellow who lifted the lion head and lion body, moved with the beat of the drum. The lions stepped into Ba Sa restaurant as crowds packed the front door to see the show. The restaurant prepared two plates of chicken buns for them. That was the deal eat the buns and lions can get red envelopes, which represent good fortune. Performers in the lion costumes ate the meals quickly then moved the lions' mouths to "chew" some lettuce. The lions then threw the leaves into the air. The crowds clapped and cheered as lettuce fell over the floor. The actions were designed to bring good luck to the Year of the Tiger. It comes from Vietnamese traditions and a culture that Ba Sa owner Trinh Nguyen belongs to. We believe people who catch the lettuce can get good fortune," said Nguyen, who runs Ba Sa Restaurant with her sibling Thai. A youngster holds a red envelope after dining at Ba Sa on Sunday. The envelopes contained new dollars to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Not only in Chinatown It was the second year that Ba Sa partnered with Mak Fai Kung Fu Dragon & Lion Dance Association to host a lion dance for the festival. It's a fun way to share East Asian culture with patrons, bring good fortune and at the same time remember their ancestors' accomplishments at the beginning of the Lunar New Year, Nguyen said. "It's like Christmas in America," Nguyen said. It's a big celebration that we absolutely have to celebrate." Seattle-based Mak Fai lion dance troupe has provided such shows in the greater Seattle area since 1974. The troupe has over 70 bookings around the time of the Lunar New Year, said Royal Tan of Mak Fai. In the lunar calendar, Feb. 1 was the first day of the Year of Tiger. Many Asian communities celebrate the festival by hosting family reunions, sending red envelopes to family members, pasting "spring couplets" (verses affixed to the front door), setting off firecrackers and more. Story continues Ba Sa served some special dishes to celebrate the festival with customers. When the first Lunar New Year after the Nguyen family opened Ba Sa approached in February 2020, Nguyen canceled her plans for the show as COVID-19 had started to spread. In 2021, Nguyen was able to invite the troupe again during the festival to do the show, and the restaurant received great feedback. People who saw it on social media were like, 'Oh, my God, that was so much fun. Let me know when you're doing it,' Nguyen said. So the owners decided to continue the tradition. Suzane Bartel and her husband, Art, are regulars of the restaurant and close friends of Nguyen. The Bartels watched the show on Sunday. "I like the firecrackers and it was very colorful, very fun," Suzane said. Art, a longtime Bainbridge Islander, said the show was authentic. "I'm from San Francisco. (In) Chinatown, it's always a big deal. And this is fantastic," he said. "Nice to bring it here." Seattle residents Stella Palaveeva and Katie Strausz-Clark smile as the red lion from the Mak Fai Lion Dance Team saunters over to their table at Ba Sa on Sunday. Ron Elzig and his wife, Lisa, sat at the bar, one of the closest dining areas where patrons could enjoy the show. The lions ate the chicken buns and spit the lettuce right in front of them. Mak Fai Lion Dance Team's Brian Tan and Joshua Zhen don their red lion costume in front of Ba Sa on Bainbridge Island on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. "I loved it," Ron said. A lion dance is an annual event at Seattle's Sheraton Hotel that Ron had joined to celebrate Chinese New Year with his colleagues before, but this was his first time to see one on Bainbridge Island. "I was wondering how they (lions) were going to get it all in ... but it was awesome," Lisa said. Julie Nguyen and Joshua Banks took a ferry from Seattle to enjoy the sunny weekend on Bainbridge Island. The three arrived at Ba Sa when the show was about to begin and stood near the front door of the restaurant when the firecrackers exploded. "It was really cool," Banks said. "I like how they incorporate, you know, the Lunar New Year," Nguyen said. "It's like a celebration of many other Southeast Asian countries." Reach breaking news reporter Peiyu Lin at pei-yu.lin@kitsapsun.com or on Twitter @peiyulintw. Support local journalism. Subscribe to kitsapsun.com today. This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Restaurant owners start Lunar New Year tradition in Kitsap County Kyiv, Ukraine Russia continues to move troops and weaponry ever closer to Ukraine's borders, drawing warnings from the U.S. and its allies that President Vladimir Putin could order an invasion of the country. Russia and its own ally Belarus, which sits just north of Ukraine, have announced 10-day joint military exercises to kick off on February 10, aimed, they say, at training forces to repel any attack on Belarus' southern border. Satellite images released over the weekend by Maxar Technologies show Russian and Belarusian forces now positioned only about 30 miles from Ukrainian soil. The images show troops deployed at three locations, armed with missiles, multiple rocket launchers and attack aircraft. As CBS News foreign correspondent Imtiaz Tyab reports, the U.S. and its European allies have issued increasingly dire warnings that the imagery and other intelligence indicates Russia could invade Ukraine any day. A satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows Sukhoi Su-25 ground attack aircraft at Luninets airfield, in Belarus, less than 30 miles from the country's southern border with Ukraine, on February 4, 2022. / Credit: Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies Moscow insists it has no plans to do so and accuses the West of stoking the tension on the far eastern border of Europe. Russian officials point to NATO's own buildup of forces in the region and accuse the U.S. of ignoring the Kremlin's demands for "security guarantees" from the transatlantic military alliance. Over the last 24 hours, dozens of elite American airborne troops arrived in Poland part of efforts to bolster NATO's defenses. It was just the latest influx of U.S. troops and military hardware to the region. U.S. Army Soldiers exit a U.S. Air Force Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft at Jasionka Rzeszow Airport on February 6, 2022, in Rzeszow, Poland. / Credit: Omar Marques/Getty As NATO and Russia trade blame and gather their respective forces, Ukraine is caught in the middle. Tyab met a group of civilians training near Ukraine's capital of Kyiv to use automatic weapons. They're not soldiers, but they're using real guns and real bullets to prepare for a possible war with a very real adversary. Whether Russia will actually invade is still anyone's guess, but those who came to get trained up were preparing for the worst, and they were being taught by people who already have experience in the fight. Story continues Military veterans who've spent years fighting pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine have been instructing the urban fighters-in-the-making. Tyab asked a Ukrainian sergeant leading one of the training sessions if it was terrifying to have so many Russian forces and so much Russian weaponry right on his country's doorstep. "It's not too terrifying for us, because we fight already for eight years, you know? War every day, from 2014," he replied, referring to the last time Putin sent troops over Ukraine's border, unilaterally annexing the Crimean Peninsula in the process. U.S. intelligence officials have warned that a Russian invasion could result in up to 100,000 civilian deaths. But many Ukrainians remain unconvinced that Putin will attack. On newscasts across Ukraine, there's barely a mention of the tension along the country's borders. Instead, the top stories over the last day or so have been about a supermarket scandal, and Ukraine's fashion week. "I don't believe in big invasion right now. It's actually not in the interest of Putin," former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin told CBS News. "What Putin needs now is to raise the stakes, to ratchet up pressure." That, he has done, and the pressure has brought a flurry of international diplomacy as world leaders seek an end to the conflict that doesn't involve bloodshed. French President Emmanuel Macron was meeting Putin in Moscow on Monday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov played down hopes of any major breakthrough ahead of the sit-down, calling the standoff "too complicated to expect any decisive changes in the course of one meeting." But noting that France currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, Peskov called it a "very important meeting," and urged the world to wait and see how both Macron and Putin assessed it. In Washington, meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was to sit down with President Joe Biden at the White House, before heading straight back to Berlin to confer with Macron and Poland's leader on Tuesday. Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida Republicans propose special police force to investigate election fraud After 70 years on the throne, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II is longest-reigning monarch in history NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell responds to Brian Flores lawsuit, says league will do better TOKYO, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Monday said he has put into action plans to rapidly increase the number of COVID-19 booster shots available to combat the highly-transmissible Omicron variant of the virus that is wreaking havoc on the country. At a lower house budget meeting on Monday, Kishida said he has informed his ministers to quickly increase the number of booster shots being administered to 1 million per day. "By setting a clear goal, the government as a whole will work to deliver shots to those who hope to be vaccinated as soon as possible," Kishida told the parliamentary session. The Japanese premier told the budget committee that the booster shots, or the third shots, will be paramount in mitigating the severity of symptoms in affected patients and thus helping to alleviate the strain on the medical system. Kishida said before the parliamentary session that he had instructed Health Minister Shigeyuki Goto and other relevant ministers to achieve the target of 1 million shots per day at the very earliest juncture. He said he has told his ministers to urge local governments to expedite the distribution of vaccination coupons to the public and to set up more vaccination centers. He also said that businesses that were capable of vaccinating their staff with their own qualified doctors in-house should do so. The Japanese leader added that vaccinating frontline workers such as police officers and firefighters should be prioritized so key services can remain unaffected. Teachers and nursery school staff should also be vaccinated as a matter of urgency, he added. Kishida's push for the country to once again step up its vaccination campaign comes as out of Japan's population of 125 million people, only 4.8 percent have received their booster shots as of late last week. As the world's third-largest economy, Japan is flagging a long way behind other advanced nations, despite the Omicron variant here having run rampant for a long while. In Britain, France and Germany, for example, more than 50 percent of their populations have already received their third jabs. Time is of the essence for Japan, which has been recording daily nationwide infections upwards of 100,000 recently, with Saturday's figure hitting 102,371. In Tokyo, cases are also worryingly high, with the metropolitan government reporting 21,122 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, marking the second-highest daily tally on record. Mass vaccination centers that have been reopened in Tokyo last week and in Osaka on Monday, and are being operated by the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) are administering vaccinations at a rate well-below capacity, with Kishida saying the number of jabs per day will be increased. The mass vaccination centers will offer jabs to people aged 18 or older through July 31, the government has said. LAS VEGAS (AP) Police learned Saturday that New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara was a suspect in a pre-dawn beating of a man at a Las Vegas nightclub, but did not arrest Kamara until after Sundays NFL Pro Bowl, a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department spokesman acknowledged Monday. The alleged victim in the attack was treated for facial injuries at a Las Vegas hospital, where he told patrol officers that the incident occurred about 10 hours earlier, according to a police department statement. There was a delay in reporting due to the victim receiving treatment, the statement said. The name of the victim, his hometown and a motive for the alleged attack won't be made public immediately, Officer Larry Hadfield said. Kamara, one of the top running backs in the NFL, is charged with felony battery resulting in substantial bodily harm. Detectives went to the Cromwell hotel-casino, home to the rooftop Drais After Hours club on the Las Vegas Strip, to identify Kamara, but did not immediately contact him, Hadfield said. It was known that (Kamara) would be participating in the Pro Bowl, the department statement said. Kamara was interviewed and arrested at Allegiant Stadium after Sundays game, which started at noon local time, and taken to the Clark County Detention Center. Court and jail records showed Monday he posted bond and was released with a March 8 court date. Records did not immediately identify Kamaras attorney. A conviction on the felony charge could result in a sentence of one to five years in state prison. The Saints and Kamaras agent didnt respond to messages about the charge. Kamara had four catches for 23 yards for the NFC in the Pro Bowl, which the AFC won, 41-35. This season for the Saints, he had 1,337 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns on the way to being picked for his fifth Pro Bowl in five seasons. ___ More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL FARMINGTON A half-dozen San Juan County residents have joined forces to provide financial, logistical, moral and other support to a family of Afghan refugees who recently moved to the area. Fruitland's Ann Marie McCarthy and Farmington's Rick Burns are two members of the local Sponsor Circle Program for Afghans, which is a joint project of the U.S. State Department and the Community Sponsorship Hub, a program of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisers Inc. The Sponsor Circle Program is designed to create opportunities for individuals and community groups across the country to support Afghans who have been relocated to the United States under Operation Allies Welcome, according to a statement from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Read more: Fruitland woman says Afghan-American friend and family have escaped Kabul Members of the San Juan County Sponsor Circle are helping ease the transition for the four members of an Afghan family that arrived here in January. The family consists of a mother, two young adult daughters and a 10-year-old son. The Daily Times is not identifying the family as a safety precaution, since the mother was a member of the Afghan military who fought against the Taliban. McCarthy, a retired nurse practitioner who spent six years in the U.S. Army Reserve and decades working for the U.S. Public Health Service, said the woman was the equivalent of a U.S. Special Forces operative. Sponsor Circle members each have put up more than $2,300 to provide financial support for the family, and they all have areas of expertise that are being used to help the Afghans adjust to their new surroundings and eventually become self-sufficient, McCarthy said. A local couple has provided housing for the family in the form of a small casita on their property, although the long-term plan is to find a larger, permanent home for the Afghans at a price they can afford. McCarthy said members of the circle also are trying to find jobs for the woman and her two daughters, and to secure affordable transportation for them. Story continues "The basics are taken care of," McCarthy said, explaining that the members of the family have been guided through the process of applying for political asylum, work permits, permanent residence and public assistance. The three women are taking English language classes, and the son is enrolled in a local school and already has signed up for a youth soccer team, she said. "On a practical level, it's a steep learning curve, but the bottom line is, it's an honor to do this," McCarthy said of her work with the family. "I'm part of a great circle. Everybody's standing up to do whatever needs to be done. Those of us in the Sponsor Circle are on our way to being lifelong friends, and I believe we'll be lifelong friends with the family, too. It's nice to be part of a solution to the horrible situation that happened in Afghanistan." Refugees 'make us better as Americans' Burns a history and government teacher at Piedra Vista High School, and retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel who served three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan raved about the resilience the family has shown, adding that he believes they are remarkable people who will have an outsized impact on their new community and country. Rick Burns "These are the kinds of people we look back on in our own history and we marvel when we look at what they went through," he said. "If we're smart, we'll bring more of them into our communities because they make us better as Americans." Burns said he is planning on beginning to take lessons this week from the woman and her daughters on how to speak Dari, the language with which they were most familiar in Afghanistan. "I want to at least make an attempt at speaking their language," he said. "I think you understand people better when you can converse with someone in their language." The language barrier is one of the more significant challenges facing the family, McCarthy said. She said the mother understands a good deal of English and the daughters understand some, but they need to improve their skills in order to find work and be able to pass a written test for a driver's license. She said the interactions between members of the Sponsor Circle and the family mostly have taken place through the assistance of the Google Translate app, a multilingual neural machine translation service. "You speak into a phone, and it translates for you," she said. McCarthy said she has learned enough about the family to understand they are exceptional people who have survived an ordeal. The family spent a month in Kabul after the Taliban took over awaiting evacuation, she said, so while their present circumstances may not be ideal, they certainly are much better than they were in Afghanistan. Fruitland resident Ann Marie McCarthy is part of the San Juan County Sponsor Circle Program, a group that is supporting a family of Afghan refugees that arrived here in January. "There are no bombs going off, and nobody's shooting at them," she said. Burns said he believes the family is adjusting well, despite the culture shock. He is convinced they are committed to succeeding in America. "But it's a struggle, right?" he said. "They need some help. We would all need help in a situation where you don't speak the language." The two daughters are getting enrolled in a GED program here after they were forced to drop out of high school in Afghanistan, McCarthy said. Both are excellent cooks and may be inclined to look for work in the restaurant field. The mother is a high school graduate and is hoping to find work in the field of security where she can put her military training to use. McCarthy said that while her interactions with the mother have been limited because of the language barrier, she feels like their shared experiences in the military give them a great deal in common. "I think we're going to wind up having a nice bond," she said. McCarthy has no doubt the mother will pick up English quickly, since she already speaks several other languages. McCarthy said that is only one of the woman's admirable qualities. "If you want to look up the word hardy in the dictionary, you'll see her," she said. Related: Piedra Vista teacher, Army vet reflects on nonprofit work in Iraq, Afghanistan Burns, who also has founded a nonprofit organization called the Karadah Project International that works with displaced women and children in Afghanistan and Iraq, said he has been very impressed with most of the women from Afghanistan he has encountered in his work. He said he was drawn to join the Sponsor Circle for a variety of reasons. "We own them because of our involvement in Afghanistan," he said. "As a veteran, I felt obligated to the people from Afghanistan who worked with us and bought into what we were selling. As an American and a humanitarian, I feel like we owe it to them to do everything we can to facilitate their success." Burns said he sometimes uses the example of displaced Afghan citizens to put things in perspective for his high school students. Many of those students come from difficult personal circumstances themselves, he said, and they certainly have their trials and travails as they transition from adolescence to adulthood. "But, generally speaking, they're not getting shot at," he said. Joining the circle McCarthy encouraged other local residents to consider becoming members of a Sponsor Circle, explaining that there are only 30 such groups around the country and more are desperately needed. To become a member, there is an application process and a background check, along with the required financial contribution to the family the circle helps support. But McCarthy said the time commitment is not heavy, and the rewards of participating in the program are great. At some point, she said the local Sponsor Circle likely will consider bringing in another Afghan family, so more help will be needed down the road. The two families also could provide each other with a sense of cultural familiarity and comfort in a community where there is no other Afghan presence, McCarthy said. But she doesn't doubt that people here are up to the task of welcoming this family and perhaps another. "The one thing that's really cool about San Juan County is it really values family," McCarthy said. Anyone interested in helping the local Afghan family with its transition can contact McCarthy at 505-320-5209. To apply for participation in the Sponsor Circles program, visit sponsorcircles.org. Mike Easterling can be reached at 505-564-4610 or measterling@daily-times.com. Support local journalism with a digital subscription. This article originally appeared on Farmington Daily Times: Program enlists help of local residents to support Afghan refugees PUYALLUP, WA Looking to get a COVID-19 test on the go in Pierce County? Well, it should be easier than ever before, says the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. The TPCHD says it has secured enough PCR tests that, in lieu of a nasal swap, visitors to their mass testing sites at the Washington State Fair Bronze lot and Canyon Road will instead be handed a PCR kit to take in their cars. The recipient then takes the test right then in their car, and hands it back to the site staff for processing. According to TPCHD, this change means that lines can move quicker, and visitors can get their results sooner. Visitors to the Bronze Lot can, however, still take antigen tests if they would prefer. The mass testing sites are likely the best option for a COVID-19 test if you're in a hurry, but there are other options available. Washingtonians can order up to four free rapid antigen coronavirus tests through a federal government website covidtests.gov to help ease a nationwide shortage of the tests. Each Washington household is eligible to receive up to five tests from the state's website, which are delivered for free by Amazon. During the first distribution, some kits arrived within one day. Evergreen State residents should plan ahead to have the rapid COVID-19 tests on hand before they need them whether as part of test-to-stay protocols in schools and workplaces, or after potential exposure to COVID-19. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends at-home testing for people who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms five days after a potential exposure. Those symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, respiratory symptoms and muscle aches. "Certainly if you're going to gather with family, if you're going to a gathering where people are immunocompromised or where they're elderly or where you have people who might be unvaccinated or poorly protected from a vaccine, that might be an opportunity you want to test," Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the CDC director, said. The federal and state websites aren't the only way to get rapid antigen coronavirus tests. A government order requiring private insurance companies to cover at-home tests took effect in January, though most companies will require upfront payment at pharmacies and online retailers. This article originally appeared on the Puyallup Patch A file photo of a Cobra snake. Getty Images The snake catcher Vava Suresh was discharged from the hospital, according to the news outlet Onmanorama. A video of Suresh being bit by a venomous snake on January 31 circulated online. Suresh is popular on the internet, with many followers across YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. The snake catcher and social media star Vava Suresh was discharged Monday from an Indian hospital a week after he was bit by a venomous snake, according to the Indian outlet Onmanorama. Suresh left the Kottayam Medical College Hospital in Kottayam, India around 11 a.m. in good condition, Onmanorama reported. A cobra snake had bitten him a week earlier on January 31 while he was trying to pick it up, according to the outlet. A video of the moment was shared online by the outlet Indian Express. In the 21 second clip, Suresh can be seen holding a wriggling snake and trying to place it in a large bag. After a few seconds, the snake appeared to latch onto his leg as onlookers cried out and fled after he dropped the cobra on the ground. A single bite from a cobra contains enough venom to kill as many as 20 people, according to a report from Newsweek. Suresh, who went into cardiac arrest after the snake bite, was transported to the hospital and regained consciousness on Thursday after he spent several days in an Intensive Care Unit and on a ventilator, Onmanorama reported. He was treated with 65 bottles of anti-venom, Onmanorama reported. According to the outlet, 25 bottles of the anti-venom are typically used, but Suresh required the higher dosage to combat the effects of the bite. Suresh is widely known across the internet. He has over 500,000 subscribers and 51 million views on YouTube, where he has posted numerous videos showing him catching snakes. He also has 2 million Facebook followers and almost 75,000 on Instagram. The outlet India Today called Suresh the "Steve Irwin" of Kerala, India, a reference to the late Irwin's reputation as a fearless crocodile hunter. Suresh first caught a snake when he was 12 years old, and has captured over 30,000 snakes over the years, according to India Today. Suresh did not respond to a request for comment. Read the original article on Insider CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - South Africa's state-owned nuclear energy firm, NECSA, on Monday launched a tender to replace its ageing nuclear research reactor, Safari 1, and help maintain its position as one of the world's top producers of Molybdenum-99 used in medical diagnostic imaging. Molybdenum-99, or Mo-99, is used in millions of diagnostic tests for cancer, heart disease and other illnesses worldwide. NTP Radioisotopes is a subsidiary of the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (NECSA) and uses the 20 megawatt Safari 1 research reactor at Pelindaba, in operation since 1965, to produce Mo-99. The plant had to be shutdown for three months at the beginning of 2018 after a hydrogen leak was detected. It is currently in care and maintenance, NECSA said, as it released a request for information (RFI) to the market on Monday, the first step in a tender process to help gauge appetite from a potential preferred supplier to construct a new multi-purpose reactor (MPR). "The MPR will continue with the legacy of producing medical radioisotopes, which are used to treat thousands of patients diagnosed with cancer all over the world," Loyiso Tyabashe, group chief executive at NECSA, said in a statement. The NTP is a top four global supplier of medical radioisotopes to the United States, Japan and countries in Europe and the Middle East, NECSA said. The request for information ends on March 10, the company added. (Reporting by Wendell Roelf; editing by Jason Neely) The House Education committee revisited and passed a bill tabled last week that would fund homeschool students' participation in athletics and other activities. House Bill 1119 would compensate public school districts for the costs incurred by homeschool students or students in alternative instruction who aren't enrolled in the district, but participate in district activities. The issue was a legislative priority for the Associated School Boards of South Dakota. Without the bill, districts are working under an unfunded mandate created in last year's session when lawmakers voted to loosen rules around homeschooling and let students in alternative instruction participate in their local districts, Rep. Rocky Blare explained last week. More: House committee stalls bill to cover cost of homeschoolers' sports participation Proponents of the bill had included ASBSD, School Administrators of South Dakota and the South Dakota Education Association. In the Sioux Falls School District, 10 students who are enrolled in alternative instruction participate in activities, with six in fine arts and four in athletics, spokeswoman DeeAnn Konrad has said. More: South Dakota school districts want funding to cover homeschool students' participation in sports One opponent was Morgan Gruebele with the Bureau of Finance and Management, who said the bill will create ongoing costs that aren't currently in Gov. Kristi Noem's budget proposals. This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: South Dakota schools may get another chance at funding homeschool students' activities MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's ruling Socialist Party proposed on Monday creating an independent commission headed by the country's ombudsman to investigate sexual abuse of minors by Catholic Church staff. The commission would include experts, victims' associations and the clergy and it would submit a report to the government and the judicial system, Hector Gomez, spokesperson for the Socialist group in the lower house, said on Monday. Suspected abuse of children has been in the spotlight in the country since El Pais newspaper reported it found 1,200 cases two months ago - leading to several proposed means of investigation without any yet fully starting to delve into the allegations and bring the perpetrators to justice. Last month, the conference of bishops announced it would set up commissions at diocese level to hear complaints from abuse victims.. Last week, the public prosecutor gave its regional offices 10 days to provide the results of judicial investigations while parliament approved eventually holding a vote on whether to set up its own investigation into the issue after a proposal by some small leftist parties. The socialists, which rule in a minority coalition with junior partner far-left Unidas Podemos, filed a request to parliament on Monday to drum up support from other political groups for creating the ombudsman-led commission. Minister Felix Bolanos, who handles government relations with the Church, told Cadena Ser radio station the government wanted to protect the victims, ensuring they are heard in a friendly and confidential environment. "Some victims rightfully want to make their story public ..., but there may be dozens of victims who don't want to make their story public because it is too painful," Bolanos said. Other parties back the proposed public investigation in parliament precisely to shed light on the all the alleged abuses and possible cover ups. (Reporting by Emma Pinedo and Inti Landauro; Editing by Alison Williams) Daniel Ek, founder and chief executive officer of Spotify, attends the Cannes Lions International Festival in 2016. (Antoine Antoniol/Getty Images) Seeking to quiet the furor over Joe Rogan, Spotify Chief Executive Daniel Ek issued an extraordinary memo to employees Sunday, apologizing for the drama they had to endure surrounding the controversial podcast host. There are no words I can say to adequately convey how deeply sorry I am for the way The Joe Rogan Experience controversy continues to impact each of you, Ek wrote in a memo obtained by the Los Angeles Times. Not only are some of Joe Rogans comments incredibly hurtful I want to make clear that they do not represent the values of this company. In his memo, Ek said the company had discussed with Rogan his history of using "some racially insensitive language" on "The Joe Rogan Experience," which resulted in Rogan choosing to remove episodes from the streaming service last week. On Saturday, Rogan apologized for using the N-word after musician India Arie shared online a compilation of examples when Rogan had uttered the racial slur on his podcast. Ek in his memo said that while he condemns what Rogan said, he does "not believe that silencing Joe is the answer." The memo is the latest attempt by Spotify to contain mounting criticism over Rogan and his relationship with the Swedish music streaming giant that has become a leading player in the podcast industry. Last month, more than 250 people including scientists and medical professionals wrote an open letter to Spotify, blasting Rogan for spreading misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines on his podcast and calling on the company to make its COVID content moderation policies public. Their message was amplified by musician Neil Young when he pulled his music from Spotify over concerns about Rogan, prompting other musicians to join his boycott. Last weekend, Spotify posted its content moderation rules and said it would add content advisory labels on COVID-related podcasts. Rogan also said that he would do a better job of balancing different perspectives. Story continues Still, some Spotify employees raised concerns over how the company has handled Rogan's podcast, which became exclusive to the streaming platform in 2020. A multiyear deal said to be worth $100 million gave the host creative control over "The Joe Rogan Experience." The agreement helped propel Spotify into the podcast space, with Rogan's show being the most listened to podcast in more than 90 markets. In his memo, Ek said the company is committing to "an incremental investment of $100 million" for licensing, development and marketing of music and audio content from historically marginalized groups. He also said he's asked Spotify's teams to expand the number of outside experts it consults with regarding balancing creator expression with user safety. He reiterated his vision for the company to one day reach 1 billion users and to be the audio platform for more than 50 million creators. To get there, he said "these kinds of disputes will be inevitable." "That mission makes these clashes worth the effort," Ek wrote. Spotify did not respond to a request for comment about Ek's memo. Times staff writer Matt Pearce contributed to this report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Pastor Hopes to End Cancel Culture NEWS PROVIDED BY Church United Feb. 7, 2022 WASHINGTON, Feb. 7, 2022 /Christian Newswire/ -- Pastor Jim Domen, who leads a national ministry engaging pastors in cultural issues impacting their communities, will hold a news conference Tuesday, Feb. 8, 11 a.m. ET at the U.S. Supreme Court requesting justices hear an appeal of his sexual orientation and religious discrimination lawsuit against the video platform Vimeo. Domen, founder of Church United, a California-based ministry to more than 2,000 pastors, filed suit against Vimeo after the social media company shuttered Church United's account in November 2018, saying five of its videos promoted change therapy in violation of its terms of service. The Vimeo policy in essence squelches their ability to share their own true-life stories, which contradict the narrative of LGBT advocates who falsely allege change isn't possible and such therapy is harmful. "We're hopeful the court will see the injustice, the discrimination done to me as a former homosexual," said Domen. Domen said his case is another example of how Big Tech hides behind Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act 1996, which essentially shields social media platforms from free speech requirements governing more traditional media outlets such as newspapers and broadcast news. Vimeo's motives were exposed, he said, when the platform pulled all 89 videos in the Church United library, not just the five in question. Scheduled to speak, are: Opening Prayer - Dave Kubal, CEO and Executive Director for Intercessors for America, Virginia Nothing but the Blood of Jesus - Vocal Artist and Pastor Edward Byrd, Georgia (Former Androgynous, Gender Queer) Pastor and Author Jim Domen, California (Former Homosexual) Attorney Mariah Gonderio, Advocates for Faith and Freedom, Montana Pulse Night Club Massacre Survivor, Luis Ruiz, Florida (Former Homosexual) Pastors John and Latita Taylor, California Pastor Larry Ihrig, Celebration Church, Livermore, California Pastor Che Ahn, senior pastor of Harvest Rock Church in Pasadena, California, lauds Domen's pursuit of justice. Just last year, Ahn successfully sued the state over the forced closure of his congregation due to COVID-19, winning a $1.35 million settlement. "As Americans, we are guaranteed our First Amendment rights to the freedom of speech and to religious liberty." Ahn said, adding, "This unconstitutional discrimination betrays political and ideological biases, targeting Pastor Domen based on his expression of faith, religious views, and sexual orientation. It is imperative that we join forces to push back against the cancel culture that is trying to silence law-abiding citizens, who espouse a different worldview than what the mainstream culture endorses." SOURCE Church United CONTACT: Connie Inggs, 704-787-3249, ET, Connie@churchunited.com Florida Democrats announce a voter registration drive aimed at reversing the party's lost lead in the state. After losing their historic lead over Republicans among Florida registered voters, state Democrats Monday announced a $2.5 million effort to add more voters to the rolls before this falls elections. Florida Democratic Party Chair Manny Diaz was joined by state House and Senate Democrats, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and a leader of a Democratic donor group in promoting the effort, which they said is targeted toward adding voters in five regions of the state. Those on a Zoom call wouldnt offer details of the plan, however, or even which regions are drawing focus. But Diaz summarized simply what is driving the push. Manny Diaz, the former Miami mayor, is chair of the Florida Democratic Party. Our goal is to register more Democrats, Diaz said. The move comes after Florida Republicans have been putting a heightened focus on adding voters to their numbers in recent election cycles and enter this year with a 43,102-voter edge over Florida Democrats. DeSantis touted shift: DeSantis says Republicans outnumber Democrats in Florida for the first time in history Troubling signs for Democrats: Toss-up Florida gets even tighter as Republicans narrow voter registration gap GOP elections changes may help GOP: Records show efforts to gain partisan advantage through election law billed as security measure When the lead shifted away from Democrats at the end of last year, it marked the first time in modern Florida history that Republicans led in voter registration. In 2008, when former President Barack Obama won Florida for the first time, there were 657,775 more registered Democrats than Republicans in the state. Democrats have taken their foot off the gas," Diaz said. "Theres no question about it. While the $2.5 million put behind the effort may not go far in a big, diverse state like Florida, home to 14.2 million registered voters, leaders called it an "initial investment," with continued attention and money expected for get-out-the-vote. Florida Commissioner of Agricultural Nikki Fried speaks against SB 146, a proposed abortion bill in the Florida Senate, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022. Democratic committees uniting behind drive Story continues Also, they said it was notable that the Democratic committees, including the Legislatures Victory Funds, which often operate independent of the party, were uniting behind the voter drive. Similarly, Florida Alliance a Democratic fundraising non-profit also said it will steer its money for the registration campaign to the Florida Democratic Party, which will coordinate the push. For Democrats, the loss of the voter registration edge amounted to another bleak milestone for a party that currently is represented by only one statewide elected official, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, who is among three prominent Democrats challenging Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in this falls elections. Florida hasnt elected a Democratic governor since 1994 and the Legislature has been in Republican control for 26 years. And from all appearances, Democrats are struggling to field candidates for three statewide Cabinet posts on the ballot this fall. Senator Lauren Book speaks in favor of her amendment to SB146, a proposed abortion bill in the Florida Senate, Wednesday Feb. 2, 2022. Sen. Lauren Book, D-Plantation, leader of the Florida Senate's Democratic Caucus, said her partys lack of political muscle has allowed dangerous, GOP-backed policies to flourish. This legislative session, new limits on abortion, election law changes and strict policies on immigration and classroom teaching about race, sexuality and gender are advancing. These arent the kinds of policies everyday Floridians are asking for, Book said. In communities across the state, Floridians care about putting food on the table, affording rent or homeowners insurance ... Democrats are fighting for the people. John Kennedy is a reporter in the USA TODAY Networks Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jkennedy2@gannett.com, or on Twitter at @JKennedyReport This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida Democrats launch $2.5 million voter registration drive By Supantha Mukherjee STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -Swedish price comparison firm PriceRunner said on Monday it was suing Alphabet-owned Google for about 2.1 billion euros ($2.4 billion), the latest firm to take legal action alleging the search giant manipulated search results. Google in November lost an appeal against a 2.42 billion-euro fine it received in 2017 which found using its own price comparison shopping service gave the company an unfair advantage over smaller European rivals. "They are still abusing the market to a very high extent and haven't changed basically anything," PriceRunner Chief Executive Mikael Lindahl told Reuters in an interview. PriceRunner, which is in the process of being bought by Swedish fintech Klarna, said a lawsuit it filed in Sweden aimed to make Google pay compensation for the profit it had lost in Britain since 2008, as well as in Sweden and Denmark since 2013. A Google spokesperson said the company would defend the lawsuit in court. "The changes we made to shopping ads back in 2017 are working successfully ... PriceRunner chose not to use shopping ads on Google, so may not have seen the same successes that others have," the Google spokesperson said. Lindahl said PriceRunner was prepared to fight for many years, had secured tens of millions of euros in external financing and had steps in place in the event it did not win. The European Commission's 2017 fine was the result of a seven-year investigation triggered by scores of complaints that Google distorted internet search results to favour its shopping service, harming rivals and consumers. The Commission found https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_17_1784 Google systematically gave prominent placement to its own comparison shopping service and demoted rival comparison shopping services in its search results. "European consumers have been denied real choice in shopping services for many years and this is one step to ensuring this ends now," a Klarna spokesperson said. Story continues Klarna in November agreed to buy PriceRunner from investment firm Creades for 1.06 billion Swedish crowns ($124.36 million). The deal is expected to close in the first quarter. Axel Springer's price comparison shopping service Idealo https://www.idealo.de/unternehmen/pressemitteilungen/idealo-suing-google-for-damages-caused-by-its-abuse-of-market-dominance then sued Google in 2019 for 500 million euros. ($1 = 0.8749 euros) (Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee, European Technology & Telecoms Correspondent, based in Stockholm; editing by Simon Johnson and Jason Neely) These Tory Burch boots are on sale but not for long! (Photos via Nordstrom) Yahoo Lifestyle Canada is committed to finding you the best products at the best prices. We may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability are subject to change. There are few things we love more in life than a new pair of boots except for a new pair of boots on sale. For those who share our footwear-loving sentiments, we have good (read: extraordinary) news to share: we found a pair of Tory Burch ankle boots on sale for more than half off. Right now, Nordstrom Canada shoppers can save a whopping 55 per cent (and Americans can save 60 per cent at Nordstrom U.S.) on these oh-so-chic leather ankle boots from celeb-favourite brand Tory Burch. Tory Burch Heeled Ankle Boot (Photo via Nordstrom) $233 $517 at Nordstrom Canada $159 $398 at Nordstrom U.S. The details The '70s-inspired boots have a 3-3/4-inch block heel and a 3/4-inch platform, making them perfect for a night on the town or jazzing up your office attire. In the U.S., sizes for the leather boots are mostly in stock, but for Canadian shoppers, the Tory Burch ankle boots are selling out fast, so you'll want to act quickly to take advantage of the 55 per cent off sale price. What people are saying While the Tory Burch boots have only collected a handful of reviews, fans of the shoes say they are "stunning." "These boots are amazing," raves one Nordstrom shopper. They're "stunning and extremely high quality." They "run true to size" and "were comfortable from the minute I put them on," they continue. Click here to sign up for Yahoo Canada's lifestyle newsletter. I "love them," writes another reviewer. They "fit perfectly." However, some Nordstrom shoppers say the boots are "extremely stiff," despite their otherwise positive reviews. They "feel higher than they look," and "the leather is extremely stiff," writes one shopper. "Very hard leather" and "no cushion on the insole" echos another. Story continues Tory Burch Heeled Ankle Boot (Photo via Nordstrom) $232 $517 at Nordstrom Canada $159 $398 at Nordstrom U.S. The verdict On sale for 55 per cent off at Nordstrom Canada (60 per cent off at Nordstrom U.S.), you'll be hard-pressed to find a better deal on Tory Burch boots. However, despite shoppers calling the boots "stunning" and "extremely high quality," some reviewers note the leather is stiff, something to keep in mind before heading to checkout. Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram and sign up for our newsletter. Former Trump campaign chief Bill Stepien is set to join Ohio Republican Mike Gibbons's Senate campaign, getting involved in one of the most contentious GOP Senate primaries in the country. Stepien, who helmed former President Trump's campaign during the summer and autumn of 2020, will join Gibbons's camp as a senior adviser, according to a source familiar with the matter. Justin Clark, who works with Stepien at National Public Affairs and served as his deputy on the Trump campaign, is also joining the Gibbons campaign. Stepien also helped elect former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) to two terms and worked in various roles on Trump's 2016 campaign and in his administration. Fox News first reported on the hires. The news underscores the role the former president is playing in the Ohio Senate race to replace retiring Sen. Rob Portman (R). Trump met with several contenders at his Mar-a-Lago resort in the spring, and many of the candidates in the field have lurched to the right in an apparent bid to win his endorsement. Several of the candidates have also tied themselves to people in Trump's orbit, including "Hillbilly Elegy" author J.D. Vance, who is close with tech titan and Trump ally Peter Thiel. Bernie Moreno, who just dropped out of the race, was being advised by Kellyanne Conway, a former senior official in the Trump administration. Gibbons, a real estate developer and investment banker, first ran for Senate in 2018 and is among the top candidate in the GOP primary field, along with Vance, former state Treasurer Josh Mandel and former Ohio Republican Party Chairwoman Jane Timken. RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Two potential successors to 86-year-old Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas were named on Monday to top posts in the Palestine Liberation Organization at a meeting boycotted by his Islamist rivals. Official Palestinian news agency WAFA said the PLO's 141-member Central Council appointed Hussein Al-Sheikh, 61, an Abbas confidant who serves as key liaison with Israel and the United States, to the PLO's Executive Committee. He is likely to replace the late Saeb Erekat as the committee's secretary-general. The council, meeting for the first time in nearly four years, picked Rawhi Fattouh, 73, another Abbas aide, to head the PLO's highest decision-making body, the National Council. Both men were nominated by the Western-backed Abbas and his Fatah party and are widely seen in the Palestinian territories as possible successors. They are not expected to promote any shift in policies over the handling of the conflict with Israel. The Hamas and Islamist Jihad movements turned down an invitation to attend the council's two-day session, which began on Sunday, saying Abbas had to institute power-sharing reforms first. "These appointments are void, illegal and lack (national) consensus. It is nothing but a redeployment of (Abbas's) team," Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said in Gaza. Abbas heads the PLO and the Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited self-rule in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. His main rival, Hamas, runs the Gaza Strip, also an Islamic Jihad stronghold. Both groups have accused Abbas, who hasn't held a presidential election since 2005, of not doing enough to heal Palestinian divides holding up a ballot. Abbas blames Hamas for the current split. Palestinian analysts said the Central Council's appointments could improve Sheikh's and Fattouh's prospects of succeeding Abbas, but internal divisions and other potential challengers cloud the political picture. Abbas, who has a history of heart problems, has not proposed a successor. (Reporting by Ali Sawafta in Ramallah and Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza; Writing by Jeffrey Heller in Jerusalem; Editing by Leslie Adler) President attends ploughing festival in Ha Nam President Nguyen Xuan Phuc joined officials and residents in the northern province of Ha Nam at the traditional Tich Dien (ploughing) festival on February 7, which prays for bumper crops. President Nguyen Xuan Phuc joins delegates and local people to perform a ritual of ploughing the field at the festival. (Photo: VNA) The event is held every year on the seventh day of the first lunar month to pray for a year of bumper harvests and prosperity. According to historical records, the festival dates back to 987 during the Le Dynasty when King Le Dai Hanh decided to plough a field in Doi Son commune, Duy Tien district in now Ha Nam province to encourage rice cultivation. The practice became an annual tradition observed through many dynasties before falling into oblivion under the reign of King Khai Dinh of the Nguyen Dynasty. It was restored in 2009. Rituals held within the festival include the procession of a huge drum and memorial tablet of King Le Dai Hanh. The procession then proceeds to the field where the king ploughed. This is followed by a ceremony to pay homage to the God of Agriculture to pray for a high-yield season and prosperity. In his remarks, Phuc stressed that given natural disasters and diseases, particularly COVID-19 last year, the agricultural and rural sector has helped ensure food security, create a foundation for social stability, and contribute to Vietnams international integration, export, and prestige promotion. Hailing the meaningful message of the Tich Dien festival, the President stressed that the Party and State always encourage the development of agriculture in the cause of national construction and protection. Highlighting significant changes of Vietnams rural areas after more than a decade of implementing the new-style rural building programme, Phuc lauded progresses recorded in Ha Nam that have raised the local living standards and ensured social welfare and security. He requested that the authorities and people press ahead with the transition from agricultural production to agricultural economy, which prioritises value and output of a number of key products. All resources ought to be mobilised for farming and rural growth, while greater attention should be paid to the application and transfer of scientific and technological advances toward the formation of a smart agricultural sector, the State leader noted. He recommended all-level administrations and sectors work to capitalise on international markets on the basis of Vietnams 15 existing free trade agreements (FTA), including the EU-Vietnam FTA, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). (Reuters) - U.S. Special Climate Envoy John Kerry will travel to Mexico City on Wednesday and meet with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and other government officials, the U.S. State Department said on Monday. Kerry will aim to increase cooperation on the climate crisis, including on expanding renewable power generation, combating methane pollution, transitioning to zero-emissions transportation, and ending deforestation, the State Department said in a statement. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Special Envoy for Iran Robert Malley on Sunday said he would soon return to Vienna for the next round of talks on returning to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, insisting it could still be revived. The Biden administration has been trying to revive the deal, which lifted sanctions against Tehran in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear activities until former President Donald Trump pulled Washington out in 2018. Iran later breached many of the deal's nuclear restrictions and kept pushing well beyond them. "President (Joe) Biden still wants us to negotiate in Vienna," Malley told MSNBC in an interview on Sunday night. "We'll come back next week. That's a symbol or a sign of our continued belief that it is not a dead corpse - that we need to revive it because it is in our interest." Malley appeared to be referring to the coming week. A State Department spokesperson was not available to clarify when the talks would resume. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a European official said top envoys to the Vienna talks - which are indirect because Iran has refused to sit down with U.S. diplomats - were likely to meet on Tuesday in the Austrian capital. Diplomats and analysts say the longer Iran remains outside the deal, the more nuclear expertise it will gain, shortening the time it might need to race to build a bomb if it chose to, thereby undermining the accord's original purpose. Iran denies it has ever sought to develop nuclear arms. On Friday, the United States restored sanctions waivers allowing international nuclear cooperation with Iran on projects designed to make it harder for Iran's nuclear sites to be used to develop weapons, although a senior State Department official said that was not a signal Washington was on the verge of reaching an agreement. (Reporting by Simon Lewis and Eric Beech in Washington; Additional reporting by Francois Murphy in Vienna, Humeyra Pamuk in Washington and Arshad Mohammed in Saint Paul, Minn.) By Hadeel Al Sayegh DUBAI (Reuters) -Uber's Middle East business Careem is looking to hire more than 200 people, according to a company LinkedIn post, as it expands the roll out of its "Super App" which offers services outside its core ride-hailing business. Careem said it was looking to fill jobs "from engineers to data analysts, operations managers to platform designers, and everything in between." The company was bought by Uber Technologies Inc in 2019 for $3.1 billion, giving the U.S. firm market dominance across the Middle East and Pakistan. Ruth Fletcher, senior vice president of People at Careem, said in a statement the market opportunity for a 'Super App', offering services such as food delivery, digital payments and courier services, in Careem's region is worth trillions. She said the company, which also operates in North Africa, continues to grow its presence across ride-hailing, food and grocery delivery, payments and micro-mobility - which refers to a range of small, lightweight vehicles. "As we expand these services to more markets were looking for smart and ambitious people," the statement said. Uber's initial public offering in 2019, after it acquired Careem, raised $8.1 billion from investors and valued the company at $82.4 billion. Reuters reported in December that Uber was in talks with the management of Careem to bring outside investors into the business, citing four sources familiar with the matter. (Reporting by Hadeel Al Sayegh;additional reporting by Lisa Barrington; Editing by Edmund Blair, Kirsten Donovan) BEIJING (AP) Britain on Monday firmly rejected a statement from China that affirmed Beijing's support for Argentina's claim to the Falkland Islands, as relations between London and Asia's leading power remain strained. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said in a tweet that the United Kingdom completely" rejected "any questions over sovereignty of the Falklands. The Falklands are part of the British family and we will defend their right to self determination. China must respect the Falklands sovereignty, she wrote. Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Argentine counterpart Alberto Fernandez issued a joint statement on Sunday that said China reaffirms its support for Argentinas demand for the full exercise of sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands, using the Argentine name for the territory. The two leaders met as Fernandez was in Beijing for the Winter Olympics. Argentina believes the Falklands were illegally taken from it in 1833 and invaded the British colony in 1982. The United Kingdom sent troops and Argentina lost the two-month war for the South Atlantic archipelago in a conflict that claimed the lives of 649 Argentines and 255 British soldiers. Argentina still claims the islands. London says the Falklands are a self-governing entity under its protection. Relations with China have already been strained on multiple fronts, including Britain's joining a U.S.-led diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics to protest China's human rights record. The joint statement also said Argentina reaffirms its adherence to the one-China principle," a reference to China's claim to the self-governing island democracy of Taiwan. China and Argentina agree to carry on with close communication and coordination in international affairs, and safeguard the overall interests of the two countries and other developing countries," the statement said. Xi and Fernandez also pledged closer economic cooperation and signed a memorandum of understanding on Argentina joining the Belt and Road Initiative, Xis signature project to build Chinese infrastructure worldwide. Story continues China has overtaken Brazil as Argentinas main commercial partner, and if talks with Beijing remain on track, Argentina would become the first of the four major Latin American economies to join the initiative. Belt and Road Initiative integration wont be a paradigm shift but rather a continuation of broader trends of growing Argentina-China engagement, said Pepe Zhang, director and fellow at the Atlantic Councils Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center. During his visit, Fernandez also laid a wreath at the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, where the embalmed body of Mao Zedong, the communist revolutionary who founded the People's Republic, is displayed inside a crystal sarcophagus. ___ Associated Press writer Debora Rey in Buenos Aires, Argentina contributed to this report. By Alexander Ratz and Pavel Polityuk KYIV (Reuters) -Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock promised unequivocal German support for Ukraine on a visit to Kyiv on Monday as the two sides sought to narrow differences on Ukraine's request for weapons to prepare for a possible attack from Russia. In a joint press conference, Baerbock and her Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba said no one would be able to drive a wedge between their two countries, and Baerbock stressed Germany was willing to pay a high economic price to contain Moscow. But there was also confusion about whether or not Baerbock was going to meet President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Two diplomatic sources said the meeting had been cancelled, Zelenskiy's office said no such meeting had been scheduled, while Kuleba said the absence of such a meeting should not be taken as a sign of anything. Ukrainian officials have publicly criticised Germany for refusing to sell defensive weapons to Kyiv and over its perceived reluctance to stop gas flowing through the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia if Moscow launches an attack. Baerbock's visit to Kyiv, her second in three weeks, is one of a series by senior officials from NATO member states intended to show solidarity with Ukraine since Russia massed tens of thousands of troops near its borders. Moscow says it has no plans to attack but is seeking Western security guarantees, including a promise that Ukraine will never join NATO, a demand that the military alliance has said is a non-starter. Western powers have threatened Russia with new sanctions if it launches an attack. "We stand with Ukraine," Baerbock said. "No one will succeed in driving a wedge between us," she said, adding: "Dear Dmytro, you know that you can count on Germany." Baerbock added that the ball was in Moscow's court to de-escalate the situation. Kuleba said Baerbock had not tried to force Ukraine into concessions ahead of new planned talks between Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France that are due to take place in Berlin. Story continues On the issue of weapons, Kuleba said: "It was a frank conversation - we have different positions here. But our task is...to look for common ground and solutions. And I think that today we have found both common ground and a draft solution. Now we will wait for the steps of the German government." UKRAINE ASKS FOR MILITARY HARDWARE Baerbock held talks in Kyiv one day before the arrival of French President Emmanuel Macron https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/frances-macron-flies-moscow-high-risk-diplomatic-mission-2022-02-06, who met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday. Germany and France are co-sponsors of peace talks between Ukraine and Russian-backed forces fighting a separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine since 2014. Germany also has the closest economic ties to Moscow of any major Western power, buying half its natural gas from Russia. That has long given Berlin a strong incentive to keep relations with Moscow smooth. Ukraine has pressed Germany for military hardware. According to a letter last week from the Ukrainian embassy, seen by Reuters, Kyiv is requesting anti-aircraft and anti-rocket systems, anti-drone weapons and demining equipment. The crisis poses the first big foreign policy test for Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who took office last year after 16 years of leadership by Angela Merkel, and who faces division within his coalition over how to respond to Russian pressure. Scholz was to meet U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House on Monday and will visit Kyiv next week. In the Ukrainian capital, Baerbock visited a German-funded military hospital and will fly early on Tuesday to eastern Ukraine, closer to the front line of Ukraine's eight-year war with Russian-backed forces. (Additional reporting by Natalia Zinets in Kyiv and Andreas Rinke in Berlin; writing by Matthias Williams, editing by Timothy Heritage and Mark Heinrich) Photo Illustration by Kristen Hazzard/The Daily Beast/Getty In May 2020, I injured my ankle so badly I couldnt move a toe. The slightest twitch sent a paralyzing bolt through my leglike head-splitting microphone feedback that makes you recoil and cover your ears. Thats what back labor felt likebut in my spine. My baby was sunny side upa vaguely appetizing term that meant his head was pushing against my spine. Every time I had a contraction, it felt like my back was breaking. The pain felt unfairlike an injustice. Surely, this must be against some law! I thought, followed quickly by, I must call the head of the hospital! As the pain intensified, it became, I need to call the police! Finally, I landed on the president. Actually, scratch that. Kamala. Shed know what to do. Madam Vice President, if theres any way you could put in a call to my uterus and ask this kid his ETA? See if hed consider assuming a more comfortable position? Im sure you have friends in high places, soooo I was in labor for so long I genuinely forgot I was in the hospital to have a baby. The pain had taken over, and I thought my life was just going to be about managing it. The doctors had already tried to give me an epidural, but it didnt work, so my options were limited: I begged the doctors to try the epidural one more time. (They couldnt.) I begged my husband to squeeze my hips every time I had a contraction. (He did.) I begged Siri to turn on my Breathe & Chill playlist. (She said I had to unlock my phone first. We havent spoken since.) Colbert Goes Off on SCOTUS Over Roe Challenge: We Dont Live in a Democracy Just when I believed I was at the very end of my rope, the nurse told me I was ready to push. And I did. For two glorious hours, I pushed like a champion. Between pushes, I cracked jokes. I told the nurses this is how I should record my stand-up special. When else would I get such a captive audience? I was sweaty, exhausted and hilariouseven if only to myself. My baby arrived slimy, half-covered in his own poop, and heavy as a bowling ball. As the nurse placed his little, loud body on my chest, I remembered why I was there and why Id gone through all this. I remembered that this was what I had chosen to do. I wanted to create a family. I knew that this was the first of many ginormous sacrifices I would make in my sons life. Story continues For me, birth was bearable because I had chosen it. I could only manage the nausea, pain, and expenses (financial and emotional) of pregnancy because I wanted a child. Now that Ive experienced a full-term pregnancy and given birth, I find myself thinking about how imprisoning it would be to go through this if I didnt choose it. If I was forced into it because laws didnt give me any other option. Unfortunatelyterrifyinglythis isnt some far-off dystopian thought experiment. In 2021 alone, 600 abortion restrictions were introduced across the country; 90 were enacted into law. Thats more than any year since Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973. And right now, the Supreme Court is deliberating a case that could overturn Roe v. Wade. This is not a drill, people. All of us with a uterus may soon be stripped of the constitutional right to an abortion. Forced pregnancy and birth sounds medievalas medieval as secret, unsafe abortions. And yet, here we are. My life as I know it, and motherhood as I know it, was shaped by my right to make choices about my own body. In that way, my birth story is inseparable from my abortion story. Ten years ago, I was pregnant for the first time. I was living in an apartment I could barely afford with my first boyfriend out of college. We were doing whatever it took to get by. I was taking random babysitting jobs, working at a smoothie shop, and performing improv in tiny LA theaters as often as anyone would allow me on stage. I accidentally missed a day or two of my birth control, and my period was late. So, I did what countless women have done since pioneer times: I bought a two-pack of pregnancy tests, took them right there in the drug store bathroom, and buried the positive results in the trash underneath some wet paper towels. I immediately knew the right thing to do was to have an abortion. There was no handwringing, no confusion, no sleepless nights. Ive always had a strong moral compassthe kind that sets off blaring sirens and flashing red lights in my chest if I feel like Im doing something wrong. In this case, all was silent. My compass pointed very clearly in the direction of not bringing a child into the world that I did not want and could not care for. Within two weeks, I had a safe procedure in my doctors office, and it was no big deal. My abortion story is uncomplicated and straightforward, based on a decision that was all my own. I understand this is a privilege. I also understand that access to abortion should never be a privilege; it should be a protected right. Over the past decade, Ive hardly thought about my abortion, except for when I think of those who may not have access to one. Abortion restrictions disproportionately harm those already most vulnerable in our countryfrom Black, Latino, and Indigenous communities to young people, immigrants, those living in poverty, and rural areas. This comes as no surprise. Marginalized Americans have always been the most impacted by racist and classist reproductive policies throughout history. Im haunted by the prospect of what we all stand to lose. If the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, half of U.S. states could control our personal reproductive decisions by summer. Over 36 million people could be forced to give birth. Becoming a mother has made me even more adamant about access to safe, legal abortions. I now know how hard it is to carry a bowling ball-sized human to full term. I know the back-breaking will it takes to give birth to a baby. I know the toll of sleepless nights and a torn body, the necessity of support, the pause it puts on your career, relationships, and goals. I cannot fathom the cruelty of enduring all this plus a lifetime of childrearing if you do not want it. I wouldnt wish the labor pain I experienced on anyone. Okay, except maybe the politicians who continue to use their power to try to strip us of our rights. But I wish this for them in a benevolent way. Maybe laboring would grow their empathy toward those of us whose bodies they use as talking points in their re-election campaigns. Activists hold a clothes hanger at a rally in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 22, 2022, in Washington, D.C. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Its never been more apparent to me that the abortion debate is not about life or even policy; its about power. And while I dont have the power to cast a vote in the Supreme Court case, I do have the power to raise my voice as one of the nearly 25 percent of women who will have an abortion in their lifetime. So, as we approach the 49th Anniversary of Roe v Wade, I am telling you all these personal details because I believe in the power of our stories to offer perspective. And more than that, the ability of our actions to create protections for everyone. Deep down, I think most Americans understand that we should all have the freedom and power to make choices about our bodies, lives, and futures. Its 2022! I want to shout at my newsfeed. How could we live in a country where people are forced into doing something so life-altering, so personal? But shouting just wakes up the baby and accomplishes little else. Instead, we need to take action. The Senate will soon vote on the Womens Health Protection Act (WHPA). This is critical legislation that would protect the right to abortion throughout the country. Im calling my senators and urging them to pass the Womens Health Protection Act. I hope youll join me. We need to get their attention every way we know howemail, letters, calls, protests, and, of course, that one precious vote we each have. For so many reasons, I am grateful for the beautifully boring abortion I had and the essential health care I received. Mainly because today, I can show up for my little person with open arms knowing Ive chosen our life together. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. If you would have told 18-year-old me that in college, I would get to interview Michael Vick, cover the longest football game in ACC history or be in Brooklyn, New York, while the Hokies won their first-ever ACC Championship on the hardwood, I probably would not have missed the Collegiate Ti Sat., Jan. 8, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; A protester holds a sign against vaccine mandates during the "Maximum Freedom" Rally at the Ohio Statehouse. Several groups rallied at the Statehouse against vaccine mandates as a response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Opposition to vaccine mandates grew during the COVID-19 pandemic, several U.S. Senate candidates are self-funding and Ohio just got 1,800 pages on criminal justice reform. We break down what it all means on this week's episode of Ohio Politics Explained. A podcast from the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau where we catch you up on the state's political news in 15 minutes or less. This week host Anna Staver was joined by reporter Titus Wu. 1) The rise of the "medical freedom" movement Anti-vaccine mandate activists have diluted Ohio's immunization requirements over the last two decades, but it wasn't until the COVID-19 pandemic hit that their ideas went mainstream. "With COVID-19, if it did nothing else, it's mainstreamed medical freedom. There's no doubt about that," said Stephanie Stock, head of Ohio Advocates for Medical Freedom, a group lobbying against vaccine requirements. 2) Campaign cash Campaign finance reports were due this week, and the data gave a window in the races for U.S. Senate and governor. Many of the Republicans in the race to replace Sen. Rob Portman are self-funding their primary campaigns, including Mike Gibbons who has loaned himself $11.4 million. And when it comes to the Democratic primary for governor, the two candidates are about even when it came to cash on hand. Nan Whaley had $1.77 million and John Cranley reported $1.9 million. 3) Who is in it to win it Even though the lines for Ohio's House and Senate seats are still up in the air, that didn't stop folks from filing. Michele Reynolds, who worked for Gov. Mike DeWine up until last week, announced she would be challenging Sen. Tina Maharath, D-Canal Winchester, for her suburban Columbus seat. The new lines for Senate District 3 could favor Maharath, but Reynolds sounded confident as she kicked off her campaign. Republican state Rep. Diane Grendell, however, came to a different conclusion. Her safe district looks like it will be Democratic-leaning, so she's running for Geauga County auditor. Story continues 4) The kitchen sink of criminal justice reform bills The Ohio Senate introduced a massive, 1,800-page criminal justice reform bill this week. The legislation would make it easier to expunge certain criminal convictions and reduce sentences for people who completely rehab. "This is a bill that is five years in the making, and I want to try to get it done by the end of this General Assembly," Senate President Matt Huffman, R-Lima, said. Listen to "Ohio Politics Explained" on Spotify, Apple, Google Podcasts and TuneIn Radio. The episode is also available by clicking the link at the top of the article. The USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau serves The Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio. Get more political analysis by listening to the Ohio Politics Explained podcast This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Vaccine opposition, campaign cash, election 2022: Ohio Politics podcast LEESBURG, Va. (AP) The Supreme Court of Virginia on Monday rejected on procedural grounds a petition from parents seeking to invalidate Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin's executive order prohibiting school systems from enforcing mask mandates in the classroom. Youngkin and Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares are battling in court on multiple fronts to defend the executive order. But the ruling is far from definitive. In a footnote, the justices say they offer no opinion on the legality of EO 2, the executive order that seeks to undo mask mandates, which are aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus. The Supreme Court ruling dismisses the petition submitted by a group of parents in Chesapeake that sought an unconventional form of relief called a writ of mandamus. The court ruled that writs of mandamus are reserved for extraordinary circumstances, which it said don't exist in this case. Still, Youngkin and Miyares each issued statements calling the ruling a victory for parents in Virginia. Miyares said the state has "better risk mitigation strategies and vaccines, and we know much more about the efficacy of requiring children to wear masks all day two years into the pandemic, Miyares said in a statement. But Kevin Martingayle, a lawyer who filed the petition on behalf of the Chesapeake parents, said the ruling is only a procedural defeat, and noted language in the court's opinion suggesting that local school boards have a degree of discretion under state law on whether to impose mandates. This is far from over, Martingayle said in a statement. The ruling comes three days after an Arlington county judge issued a temporary injunction barring enforcement of Youngkin's executive order while the case proceeds. In that case, the judge ruled preliminarily that Youngkin does not have the authority given to local school boards under state law to decide what steps are necessary and practicable in keeping students and staff safe during in-person learning. Story continues A third lawsuit is being heard in Loudoun County, where parents opposed to the mask mandate are suing the local school board for refusing to enact Youngkin's executive order. The Loudoun school board has asked the judge to delay hearing the case, saying that the legal issues are nearly identical to those in the Arlington case. The school board's lawyers argue it makes more sense to let that case make its way through the appeals process rather than having two cases on parallel tracks. The judge scheduled a hearing for next week on whether to delay the case. Youngkin issued the order on his first day in office last month. Since then, some school boards have eliminated mask mandates that were required under the previous administration, while others have defied his order, arguing it usurps local authority and dismantles a policy that has worked well in reducing transmission of the coronavirus. The Virginia Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a lawsuit a group of parents brought against Governor Glenn Youngkin over his executive order making mask-wearing optional in schools. Judges ruled that the group of Chesapeake parents had no grounds for the suit and that the court could not issue a writ of mandamus or ban the Chesapeake School Board from making masks optional. The dismissal was based on technical and procedural grounds, not on the merits of the order. The judges said a writ of prohibition did not apply because that generally applies to courts and a writ of mandamus did not apply because parents had not demonstrated a clear and unequivocal duty that Youngkin had failed to fulfill, according to WTOP News. However, the court said in dismissing the case it offers no opinion on the legality of [the executive order] or any other issue pertaining to petitioners claims. Virginia attorney general Jason Miyares celebrated the ruling on Monday, saying he and the governor are pleased with todays ruling, which was a victory for Virginia families. Youngkin on Monday vowed to continue to protect the rights of parents to make decision regarding their childs health, education, upbringing and care. The attorney representing the parents in Chesapeake said in a statement to the Washington Post that the case is far from over. So while the [Supreme Court of Virginia] has rejected the Chesapeake parents case on procedural grounds it has not decided whether EO2 is legal. This is far from over, said attorney Kevin E. Martingayle. Meanwhile, Youngkins order was put on hold in at least seven school districts last week by an Arlington judge after the school boards for those districts filed a separate lawsuit aiming to reverse the governors order. That hold will remain in place until the case is decided, according to the Washington Post. Youngkins executive order on masking was one of seven order he signed on his first day in office last month. Story continues Executive Order Number Two delivers on his Day One promise to empower Virginia parents in their childrens education and upbringing by allowing parents to make decisions on whether their child wears a mask in school, his office said at the time. The repeal of the mask mandate immediately faced legal challenges by those who argued it contradicts a law passed by the states General Assembly requiring schools to take measures recommended by the CDC to prevent the spread of Covid-19. More from National Review The deadliest issue in the U.S.-China relationship right now isnt the potential for military conflict over Taiwan, but the thousands of overdose deaths in the U.S. each year from illicit fentanyl made from Chinese raw materials. Chinas reluctance to tighten controls on chemical production and exports has spurred a clash with U.S. legislators, and will be the focus of a long-awaited report this week on its role in fueling the flow of drugs that Mexican cartels process into synthetic opioid fentanyl. The report from the Commission on Combating Synthetic Opioid Trafficking, to be released Tuesday, must also contend with Beijings politicizing of counternarcotics cooperation, which has stymied efforts to reduce the supply of fentanyl and related chemicals flooding U.S. streets. Fentanyl, a drug approved for pain treatment, killed more than 64,000 Americans from April 2020-April 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A recent Stanford-Lancet study warned that the U.S. opioid overdose death toll could rise to 1.2 million by 2029. Those grim numbers have politicians fuming. Chinas critically involved in the 64,000 deaths we had because they are pretty much the lone supplier of [fentanyl] precursor chemicals and pre-precursor chemicals, which they are shipping to Mexico, said Rep. David Trone (D-Md.), the commissions co-chair. They know its being shipped to Mexico, its being done by Chinese middlemen who are selling it directly to the Mexican cartels where it is being turned into fentanyl, which is then being mixed into other drugs like counterfeit pills [including] Oxycontin, Xanax, Valium [and] Adderall, Trone added. [It] is coming into the U.S. by the hundreds of millions of pills and the chain all starts in China. Its not as if Washington has been blind to the danger. President Joe Biden declared on Dec. 15 that the trafficking of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids into the U.S. constituted a national emergency. The declaration didnt mention China, but national security adviser Jake Sullivan revealed on Nov. 16 that Biden had included health security and counter-narcotics as one area for cooperation during his virtual meeting the previous day with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Story continues Meanwhile, fentanyl-related overdose deaths continue, with victims including celebrities such as actor Michael K. Williams and a swathe of the homeless population of San Francisco, whose 1,360 overdose fatalities in the past two years have been more than double the citys total Covid death toll in the same period. The bulk of the illegal synthetic opioids that reach the U.S. are sourced in China by Mexicos Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels. They buy from legitimate and illicit Chinese suppliers through purchases made on the open market, smuggling chemicals hidden in legitimate commercial shipments, the 2020 DEA National Drug Threat Assessment noted. Successful bilateral cooperation in combating the fentanyl flow peaked in May 2019 when Xi responded to U.S. pressure by making all forms of fentanyl subject to production controls and anti-trafficking measures. That prompted a drastic reduction in direct shipments of fentanyl and related compounds from China. But Mexican cartels and their Chinese suppliers quickly pivoted to the export and processing of unregulated chemicals that can be processed into synthetic opioids. The Chinese government moved to block that trade in June by adding six fentanyl precursor chemicals to the list of substances requiring government approval. Chinese suppliers responded by marketing the unregulated raw materials for precursors. Drug trafficking organizations adapted to the PRCs [regulatory controls] of all fentanyl-related substances, and now appear to have increased the purchase of fentanyl precursors from the PRC to manufacture fentanyl in Mexico, indicating a pronounced shift in how fentanyl is trafficked into the United States, a State Department spokesperson told POLITICO. The response from Chinese chemical producers and exporters underscores the challenges of regulatory fixes that dont keep up with the ability of the industry to skirt those laws. [Chinese suppliers] are acting like water, theyre just finding the gaps and cracks in the law, said Bryce Pardo, drug policy researcher at RAND Corp. They have gone on to [synthetic opioid component chemicals] that are used in all sorts of other medications and other commercial applications that can never be controlled because it would be way too burdensome for industry and genuine consumption purposes to control these other kinds of chemicals. On the Hill, Chinas role as a drug chemical supplier for illicit synthetic opioids has become a political lightning rod, particularly for lawmakers from states such as Ohio that are suffering soaring increases in synthetic opioid-related overdose deaths. Under this administration, Mexican transnational criminal organizations have increased their work with criminal gangs in China to import into Mexico the ingredients used to make fentanyl devastating families in Ohio, Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) told POLITICO in a written statement. The Biden administration must pressure China to do more to address this issue. Potential solutions for slowing that flow of chemicals from China range from improving Chinese shipping procedures to prevent deliberate mislabeling of compounds to tighter regulatory scrutiny of Chinese chemical producers and distributors. There is a lot of talk about private public partnerships, with the sellers being asked to do due diligence and to know your customer [but] there is really no history of such systems in China, said Vanda Felbab-Brown, senior fellow at the Brookings Institutions Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology. The potential for huge profits is another handicap. The DEAs estimate of millions of dollars in profit from street sales derived from a kilogram of Chinese-sourced fentanyl powder that cost a few thousand dollars applies equally to the new market for synthetic opioid component chemicals. Such sales are a lucrative enticement for a Chinese chemical manufacturing sector battered by the economic impact of the pandemic. Can the production of [synthetic opioid] precursors sustain an unprofitable company? The answer is, Hell, yes, said Marshall Meyer, Tsai Wan-Tsai professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Inadequate numbers of inspectors of chemical production facilities hobbles the Chinese governments ability to identify and shut down facilities that supply Mexican cartels. A 2019RAND analysis revealed that out of a total of around 5,000 pharmaceutical producers, Chinese government regulators inspected a total of only 15 manufacturers of controlled substances in 2017. The Chinese government rejects as utterly false allegations that its domestic industries supply the raw materials for Mexican cartel synthetic opioids that feed the U.S. opioid overdose epidemic. China has not found any scheduled precursor chemicals trafficked to Mexico or received any notification from the Mexican side about seizing scheduled chemicals originating from China, noted the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., in a written statement. Beijing insists that its scheduling of fentanyl and various precursors and its readiness to prosecute Chinese citizens implicated in their trade demonstrate their goodwill. China also slams what it calls the U.S. governments inadequate response to the opioid overdose crisis. The US has a fentanyl problem more rampant than other countries, but it has not officially scheduled fentanyl substances permanently yet, the Chinese Embassy said. That response dodges the critical role that Chinese chemical producers and exporters play in the U.S. synthetic opioid overdose crisis. [The Chinese government] can absolutely make a difference if they decided to make a difference," Trone said. It would literally starve the Mexican cartels on precursors and pre-precursors for a time period as they would have to scramble for other sources, which we then could go work to shut down and block." Unusually, the Chinese criticism of lax U.S. regulatory controls on synthetic opioids strikes a bipartisan chord on Capitol Hill. Portman and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) last year sought to require the Drug Enforcement Agency to permanently schedule fentanyl-related compounds with their co-sponsoring of the FIGHT Fentanyl Act. That effort failed, but its supporters persist. Our reciprocal agreement with China to crack down on fentanyl and precursors is only as strong as our domestic commitment to ban this poison, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), co-chair of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, told POLITICO in a written statement. Thats why we need a permanent law that once and for all sends a message to drug traffickers in the U.S., China and elsewhere that pushing fentanyl and its knockoffs will not be tolerated. But wider U.S.-China tensions particularly those linked to U.S. allegations of genocide against Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang have spilled into bilateral counternarcotics efforts. Beijing is furious that the Department of Commerce placed Chinas Ministry of Public Securitys Institute of Forensic Science on a sanctions list for alleged ties to human rights abuses. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin warned in December that the sanction listing will only disrupt the law enforcement cooperation on combating narcotics between China and the U.S. It may be already happening. The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission reported in August that the Chinese government had reduced its cooperation with U.S. agencies on bilateral anti-synthetic opioid operations in areas, including inspections and money laundering probes. There seems to be a lot of political wind pushing back now [in China], saying were not going to do anything unilaterally [against synthetic opioids], Pardo said. Trone describes politicizing counternarcotics cooperation as harmful to the U.S. and China. Theres so many other issues that are out there that we have with the Chinese government but this one doesnt cost them anything other than cracking down a little bit and saying know your customer to stop these precursors that are going to go to Mexico, Trone said. And thats going to go a long way in helping reset the American attitude that China is behind the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans that it could actually do something about. Public health experts say that a focus on reducing supply of synthetic opioids is a losing proposition borne out by the U.S. governments failed 50-year war on drugs. The U.S. approach to the opioid overdose crisis should hinge on reducing demand and providing harm reduction strategies for people who use drugs, said Ethan Nadelmann, founder of the nonprofit Drug Policy Alliance and host of the Psychoactive podcast. Trying to focus on the supply side is essentially a fools errand because so long as theres a demand there will be a supply and when it comes to precursors, underground chemists can be incredibly resourceful in identifying alternative chemicals and coming up with alternative ways of making these drugs, Nadelmann said. The Biden administration allocated $4 billion in April to fund initiatives to address demand for illicit synthetic opioids as part of theAmerican Rescue Plan, overseen by the Office of National Drug Control Policy. The ONDCP did not respond to requests for comment. The commissions recommendations will include initiatives to reduce U.S. dependence on synthetic opioids that are killing so many Americans. The long term solution is weve got to fix the demand problem we have in America by destigmatizing substance use disorder, Trone said. Meanwhile, there is no shortage of countries that could replace China as the primary synthetic opioid chemical component supplier to Mexicos cartels. Its going to be a cat-and-mouse game, [drug producers] innovating to the point where you simply cannot be [regulating] everything, Felbab-Brown said. This is what makes the synthetic [opioid] world so different from heroin or cocaine and other plant-based drugs. Congress this week will take a closer look at military policies regarding remote air strikes against foreign enemies, amid criticism from outside groups that the Defense Department hasnt done enough to limit civilian casualties. On Tuesday, members of the House Select Intelligence committee will hold a closed-door briefing on a drone strike in Afghanistan late last August which killed 10 civilians. Military officials initially insisted the strike had killed terrorist leaders, but later backtracked after independent media disputed that. However, no military personnel were punished for that attack. On Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a public hearing on the broader issue of those drone attacks, and the legal and human costs of military policies regarding them. Last week, in the aftermath of a military mission which killed the head of the Islamic State group in Syria, White House officials said they ruled out using a drone strike for the operation because of the potential civilian casualties such an action might cause. Tuesday, Feb. 8 Senate Armed Services 9:30 a.m. G-50 Dirksen Nominations The committee will consider the nomination of Lt. Gen. Michael Kurilla to be the next head of U.S. Central Command. Senate Homeland Security 10 a.m. 342 Dirksen Cyber attacks Outside experts will testify on recent cyber attacks and challenges ahead. House Foreign Affairs 10 a.m. online hearing Education in Africa Outside experts will testify on improving access to education in Africa. Senate Foreign Relations 10 a.m. 106 Dirksen Nominations The committee will consider several pending ambassador nominations. House Select Intelligence 10 a.m. closed briefing Kabul drone strike Defense officials will testify on intelligence related to the Aug. 29 drone strike in Kabul which killed multiple civilians. House Foreign Affairs 1 p.m. online hearing Pending business The committee will consider several pending bills. House Armed Services 2 p.m. 2118 Rayburn Military personnel management Personnel officials from the services will testify on military talent management policies. House Veterans' Affairs 2 p.m. online hearing Survivor/dependent services VA officials will testify on support services for survivors and dependents of veterans. Wednesday, Feb. 9 Senate Foreign Relations 10 a.m. closed briefing Iran State Department officials will give a classified briefing to committee members on security concerns related to Iran. Senate Judiciary 10 a.m. 216 Hart Drone strikes Officials will testify on military remote strike policies and procedures. Senate Foreign Relations 2:30 p.m. 106 Dirksen Afghanistan Outside experts will testify on the growing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. House Veterans' Affairs 10 a.m. online hearing IT modernization VA officials will testify on plans to update and upgrade department technology systems. Sherri McConnell rushed to the balcony of her oceanfront condo in Daytona Beach, Florida, last week after a neighbor texted that shed spotted a North Atlantic right whale mother and calf. Anytime McConnell and her neighbors spy one of the 60-ton, critically endangered mammals so close to shore that they can see their v-shaped blows misting into the air, its an occasion for snapping photos to share on Facebook. Its very exciting, she said. Everybody is always looking; we just have to be lucky to see them. Each of the 13 calves born so far this winter have been greeted with joy, the news shared along the whales migration route from the waters off New England and Canada to the calving grounds off Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. But with an estimated population at 336 and falling, theres no escaping the math, or the impact of human activities on the worlds most endangered large whale. An estimated 30 whales die each year, according to federal officials. Vessel traffic, commercial fishing gear and a warming climate all threaten the whales. An average of 11 calves were born each season over the past decade. It would take four times that many over a number of years to bring the whales back to a sustainable population, said Barb Zoodsma, large whale recovery coordinator for the Southeast for the National Marine Fisheries Service. Weve never seen that many calves. The whales are doing what they can to survive and reproduce, Zoodsma said. But the scary part is these animals, theyre just not capable of calving themselves out of this predicament that weve put them into, she said. That emphasizes the importance of reducing the number of injuries and mortalities to these animals. Its going to take everybody. Though the situation is dire, its not hopeless," said Philip Hamilton, senior scientist at the Anderson Cabot Center at the New England Aquarium. Theyve come back before, Hamilton said. Fewer than 100 North Atlantic right whales remained when a League of Nations whaling ban was adopted in the 1930s. Before a rapid decline that started around 2010, the estimated population was more than 500. Story continues The whales live 45 to 65 years. And females can produce calves throughout their lives, Hamilton said. We just have to stop killing them, and theyll do the rest. Documentary filmmaker Nadine Pequeneza was first attracted to the whales story in 2017. That year 17 whale deaths were confirmed, 12 in Canada and 5 in the U.S. Many of the deaths were attributed to boat strikes and fishing gear entanglements as the whales were forced to move to new locations in search of food after their prey shifted in response to warming water temperatures. A species was facing extinction because we were responsible, said Pequeneza, whose new film, Last of the Right Whales, will premiere on Feb. 16 at the New England Aquarium in Boston. During the three years she and the crew were filming, they experienced joys and sorrows. This was the first time Ive been that close to great whales. It was incredible, she said of their work on a boat with a federal permit for approaching the whales. They came over to the boat and then dove beneath our boat and never even rocked us. Just to hear them breathing, I thought, was the most spectacular sound. "Slalom," No. 1245 in the North Atlantic right whale catalog, was the first mother with a new calf to be spotted in the calving grounds off the Southeastern United States Coast this winter. The critically endangered whales were first seen off South Carolina on Nov. 24, through an aerial survey partnership between the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. But during the filming, the population continued to fall. A complex combination of circumstances are to blame. The whales need immense quantities of microscopic crustaceans to survive and will swim great distances to find them. They swim through clouds of this zooplankton, filtering it through the massive baleen plates in their mouths. After the catastrophic summer of 2017, scientists said warming waters in the Gulf of Maine and other surrounding waterways were moving the zooplankton and forcing the whales into new feeding habitats, some of which didn't share the same protections as their traditional feeding grounds. The Gulf of Maine is warming faster than almost any other body of water on the planet, Hamilton said. Its surface water temperatures rose at seven times the global average between 2003-2018, a rate of about 1.1 degrees Fahrenheit every 10 years. Fall 2021 was the hottest on record, following the second warmest summer on record, the Gulf of Maine Research Institute reported. Before 2010, the gulfs fall sea surface temperature had been above 57 degrees only one time since 1982. Since then, it hasnt fallen below 57. Scientists attribute the rapid warming to three things: location; overall ocean warming as greenhouse gas emissions rise; and melting ice in Greenland and the Arctic Ocean. The gulf sits at a key intersection between a current of cold water flowing south and the Gulf Stream, a current of warm water flowing north. Pulses of fresh water from melting ice can alter larger ocean circulation patterns. Several studies indicate the Gulf Stream and a larger related circulation in the Atlantic may be slowing and pushing warmer water toward Maine and the Bay of Fundy. All of this has occurred in and around the whales primary feeding grounds off New England and Canada. As a result, Hamilton said theyve seen whales moving from those areas to other locations, such as Cape Cod Bay and an area south of Nantucket. More whales also moved into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, where they encountered fisheries and shipping traffic without the protective restrictions in place on other feeding grounds. Seeing critically endangered North Atlantic right whales and their calves this close to shore is thrilling for residents and visitors along Florida's east coast during the whales' winter calving season. Here, right whale catalog No. 3430 and her calf were seen off Jacksonville Beach on Dec. 24, 2021. Difficulty in finding food is also thought to be a reason for the drop in calves, from a high of 39 in the 2008-2009 season to zero in 2018. The intervals between calving for many females have grown longer, leading researchers such as veterinarian Michael Moore at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution to conclude female whales need to be fat and well fed to get pregnant and nurse a calf. To give birth, the whales migrate along a busy coast dodging freighters, Navy ships and recreational vessels of all shapes and sizes. Officials have worked for years to create more safe passage for the whales. Aerial surveys take place in the Southeast. Sightings are reported and relayed to ships, and posted to a Whale Alert cell phone app for mariners. But deadly vessel strikes continue. One of last years calves was killed near an inlet in St. Augustine, Florida, where a fishing boat returning to port plowed into the calf. The boat started taking on water and the fishermen had to be rescued, but it was too late for the calf. It floated up nearby the next morning, disappointing right whale watchers who had just welcomed its arrival. The calfs mother was later found suffering from similar injuries. On their feeding grounds, whales share the waters with fishing gear for snow crab and lobster, as well as abandoned gear. As theyre feeding, fishing ropes get caught in their baleen and wrapped around flippers and tails. In rare footage, Pequeneza filmed a right whale newly entangled in rope. The animal thrashed madly, blood oozing into the ocean as the line cut into its flesh. Scientists at the New England Aquarium say an estimated 83% of the whales bear evidence of entanglements. Hamilton said entanglements can interrupt feeding and foraging and may affect growth, reproduction and longevity. The aquarium curates a photo catalog used to identify the whales and is one of the organizations using a broad array of research to better understand the whales and how additional protections might help. Moore, the Woods Hole veterinarian, is raising money with fishermen and scientists in government and private organizations to expand the development and use of buoyless systems in lobster fisheries. In his new book, We Are All Whalers, Moore writes two things are needed: widespread vessel speed restrictions and removal of rope from the water column. These measures have to become the norm over months, years, decades and centuries if this species is to survive, recover and thrive. Moore also calls for greater individual recognition of how actions such as seafood consumption and using goods transported by container ships have an impact. One of the 13 North Atlantic right whale mother-calf pairs seen so far off the Southeastern United States coast this winter is right whale catalog no. 1515 and her calf. The pair was seen on Jan. 23 near Cumberland Island, Georgia. The whale is at least 37 years old and this is her eighth calf. Her last calf was born in 2017. To those who treasure their whale sightings, the measures seem worth it. Floridian Joe Will was out for a Sunday drive on Jan. 30 when he noticed a group of people with cameras pointed out toward the ocean near Flagler Beach. Sheer joy welled up when he pulled over and saw right whales frolicking in the waves. It was really exciting, said Will, who hadnt seen a whale from the beach since 1985. We ought to drop everything we are doing and do whatever is necessary to insure their safety. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Climate change hurting endangered right whales and their calves Watch: Woman falls to her death from rising drawbridge PALM BEACH, Fla. A woman fell to her death Sunday afternoon from a rising drawbridge that began opening before she could move off it, police said. West Palm Beach police said the woman was walking off the bridge with a bicycle and was within 10 feet of the barrier arms that halt traffic when the drawbridge started to rise, sending her careening into an open chasm. A man standing on the other side of the barrier arms grabbed her as she fell but could not hold on, police said. She plummeted more than 50 feet. She was walking her bike from east to west and had almost reached the furthest point of the moveable span when it went up, police spokesman Mike Jachles said. He tried to help her, but he wasnt able to hold onto her and she fell about five to six stories below. Detectives are investigating why the drawbridge rose before all pedestrians had a chance to clear it. The accident happened shortly after 1 p.m. The bridge was closed for nearly six hours as rescue workers recovered the womans body and detectives and crime scene investigators inspected the scene. Police declined to identify the woman Sunday. Watch: Driver caught jumping over rising drawbridge after smashing through barrier A woman fell to her death when a section of the Royal Park Bridge opened Feb. 6. Police described the bridge tender as distraught when officers and rescue workers were on the scene. The tenders actions before the bridge opened will be a focus of the investigation, Jachles said. The bridge is maintained by the state Department of Transportation, but it's tended by staff from a private state contractor, he said. Follow Andrew Marra on Twitter: @AMarranara This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Woman falls and dies on drawbridge in downtown West Palm Beach A campaign Twitter account for Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin attacked a 17-year-old boy for posting about a news story that suggested that the governor's mansion may eliminate an education program about slaves. (Photo: Al Drago via Getty Images) Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkins campaign team attacked a 17-year-old boy on Twitter over the weekend after the teen shared a report suggesting that an educational program about slavery at the Republican governors mansion could be eliminated. The Team Youngkin Twitter account fired back at high school senior Ethan Lynne on Saturday by posting a photo of the teen standing with former Gov. Ralph Northam (D). It included a racist photo of Northam from his 1984 yearbook, which first made news in 2019. Heres a picture of Ethan with a man that had a Blackface/KKK photo in his yearbook, read the since-deleted Tweet that was preserved by public radio station VPM. Glenn Youngkins campaign Twitter account attacked a Hanover County high school student, @ethanclynne, last night after he shared my story. The Tweet was deleted after blowback and Ive asked Youngkins team for an explanation. Ethan says he hasnt heard anything from them. pic.twitter.com/YWMmLCOQys Ben Paviour (@BPaves) February 6, 2022 The bizarre photo response was an apparent comeback to Ethan who identifies in his Twitter profile as a political intern and high school senior sharing news of the resignation of the mansions historian and archeologist, Kelley Fanto Deetz, as reported by VPM. Deetz, who educated the public about the houses former slaves, had been hired during the Northam administration and her position since Youngkin took office in January was reportedly unclear. Last month she told VPM that she arrived at the mansion to find that her office had been emptied, that period pieces on loan from historic sites had been moved, and a TV had been placed inside of what was planned as an education space for mansion visitors. Ethan told The Washington Post on Sunday that the posted photo of him was deleted more than 12 hours after it was tweeted and that he did not receive an apology. Story continues A governors campaign account has attacked a minor to me that was a new low, he told the Post. I received no apology, no communication, nothing. Matt Wolking, a consultant at Axiom Strategies which VPM reported has helped run Youngkins campaign, said in a statement to VPM that the tweet was removed after learning that it came from a minor. An apology was not issued. A spokesperson for Youngkin did not immediately respond to HuffPosts request for comment. Youngkin addressed the incident in a tweet Monday, calling the initial post unauthorized. On Saturday night, an unauthorized tweet came from a campaign account. I regret that this happened and it shouldnt have. I have addressed it with my team. We must continue to work to bring Virginians together. There is so much more that unites us than divides us. Glenn Youngkin (@GlennYoungkin) February 7, 2022 This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Monday said he has put into action plans to rapidly increase the number of COVID-19 booster shots available to combat the highly-transmissible Omicron variant of the virus that is wreaking havoc on the country. At a lower house budget meeting on Monday, Kishida said he has informed his ministers to quickly increase the number of booster shots being administered to 1 million per day. By setting a clear goal, the government as a whole will work to deliver shots to those who hope to be vaccinated as soon as possible, Kishida told the parliamentary session. The Japanese premier told the budget committee that the booster shots, or the third shots, will be paramount in mitigating the severity of symptoms in affected patients and thus helping to alleviate the strain on the medical system. Kishida said before the parliamentary session that he had instructed Health Minister Shigeyuki Goto and other relevant ministers to achieve the target of 1 million shots per day at the very earliest juncture. He said he has told his ministers to urge local governments to expedite the distribution of vaccination coupons to the public and to set up more vaccination centers. He also said that businesses that were capable of vaccinating their staff with their own qualified doctors in-house should do so. The Japanese leader added that vaccinating frontline workers such as police officers and firefighters should be prioritized so key services can remain unaffected. Teachers and nursery school staff should also be vaccinated as a matter of urgency, he added. 3100 Honda Motor is getting ready to switch off its engines. As part of a radical restructuring leading to an all-electric future, Honda has cut its domestic auto production capacity to slightly over 800,000 vehicles a year, down by around 40% from its 2002 peak. Most of the retrenchment has come by halting production of finished cars at its plant in Sayama, Saitama Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, at the end of last year. Honda also announced other cost-cutting steps last year, including adopting a new vehicle development system and pulling the plug on its Formula One racing program. The company is retooling its manufacturing operations in line with its vision for the future. It has announced that it its entire lineup of cars will be electric by 2040. On Dec. 27 last year, a "line-off ceremony" was held at the Sayama plant to mark the end to production of finished cars. "Like you, I will miss it all," President Toshihiro Mibe told those present. Only a few executives attended the ceremony due to COVID-19 restrictions. But it was livestreamed to allow workers in different parts of the plant to watch the proceedings. Mibu showed up in an old Honda and spoke of being mentored by exacting senior employees during his time at the plant, where he worked as a young engineer developing engines. "We will continue making automobiles that meet the needs of consumers at home and abroad," he said. ODELL -- Where some saw a building destined for demolition, a group of citizens in southern Gage County saw potential in an Odell building and launched plans to turn a former hospital into what would become the Rice Lodge and Conference Center. It has now been 10 years since the building was put into service offering lodging in Odell, but the building's history dates back much further. Gwen Vitosh, one of a handful of people who worked to get the project off the ground and who remains active with the building, said it opened as a hospital in 1929 operated by Dr. Clarence Rice. It ran as a hospital until the early 1960s. We havent pinpointed a date yet," she said. "By then, he had lost a lot of his fingers because of X-ray equipment. They didnt take precautions like going out of the room, and the head nurse was doing most everything, anyway. After the hospital closed, the building was converted for use as apartments before being abandoned sometime in the late 1990s. Eventually, four couples got together and decided to find new life for the aging structure. We determined there were three things we could do, Vitosh said. Let it sit as it was, knock it down or do something with it. We started brainstorming and visited the Wilber hotel and visited the Convent House in Steinauer. We kicked around a bunch of ideas and finally came up with the idea of a hotel. Once a plan was formed, the group had to raise the money to renovate the building. Many area residents pledged money and time to put toward the project, though receiving grants from the Gage County Convention and Visitors Bureau and Nebraska Department of Economic Development were milestone achievements. Between those two, we applied for like $100,000, Vitosh said. If we got the grant, we were a go, if not, we were sunk. We had people pledge dollars, and if it was a go we would go to them to donate. We got $88,000 in grants, so it was a go. That was huge, and we decided to move forward. In 2010 volunteers came from everywhere. The two buildings involved were completely overhauled and have a capacity to sleep 26 people. Rooms are named after donating families and contain family artifacts. Even the paint schemes in the rooms were chosen by the family the rooms are named after. The Village of Odell owns the property, though Vitosh said the lodge is completely self-sustaining and the village has not contributed financially to the project. This August will mark 10 years since the lodge opened. I still remember the first ones, it was for a wedding in town, she recalled. Everybody stayed here. That was priceless. Then three years later we started on the other building and opened that one in May 2015. Last year, 590 people stayed at the Rice Lodge and Conference Center, bouncing back from a pandemic year when occupancy was down. Vitosh said many of those who stay are return customers who enjoy the charm the Rice Lodge can offer. A lot of people just keep coming back, she said. If someone asks how we got from step A to step Z, I cant even give them an answer. I was there every step of the way, but why did we think to do this or that? How did we get to this point? Its a blur. A Bellevue woman has sued the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services for refusing to provide treatment to her mentally ill son despite a court order. In the meantime, 21-year-old Quentin Renner remains at the Sarpy County Jail, which his mother, Melissa Renner, alleges is a violation of his civil rights. His case raises an issue known to happen in Lancaster County, Sarpy County and elsewhere in the state. Defendants accused of crimes and found incompetent for trial sit in jail sometimes several months sometimes longer than they could face if convicted of the underlying allegations waiting for a bed at the Lincoln Regional Center. In Renner's case, it started over an incident June 6 where Quentin Renner had been acting strange and talking to himself all morning, then began kicking the couch at his mom's house. When she tried to let the dog out, he pushed her into the door, according to a Bellevue police officer's affidavit. Two months later, on Sept. 1, police arrested Renner for it, and Sarpy County prosecutors charged him with third-degree assault and criminal mischief, misdemeanors. In a civil complaint filed this week in Lancaster County District Court, the Renners' attorney, Dave Domina, said Quentin Renner has remained in jail since he appeared in court Nov. 5 on a motion raising the question of his competency. Then, in an order Jan. 7, Sarpy County Court Judge Robert Wester found him incompetent to stand trial and ordered HHS to "provided suitable treatment and care to restore competence." But, Domina said, HHS refused to accept him as a patient, despite what he called their "nondiscretionary duty" to commit him to their care and provide treatment under a state statute regarding competency. By statute, if a judge determines a defendant is mentally incompetent to stand trial but that there's a substantial probability the defendant will become competent within the reasonably foreseeable future, "the judge shall order the defendant to be committed to the Department of Health and Human Services to provide appropriate treatment to restore competency. This may include commitment to a state hospital for the mentally ill, another appropriate state-owned or state-operated facility, or a contract facility or provider pursuant to an alternative treatment plan proposed by the department and approved by the court ... until such time as the disability may be removed. When the judge learned about the department's refusal to take Renner, Wester ordered Dannette Smith, the CEO of HHS, to appear in his courtroom to give testimony. And HHS gave notice of its intention to appeal. In a filing, Special Assistant Attorney General Ryan Patrick said the court had been wrong to order her to testify and to order Renner to be placed at an inpatient psychiatric hospital at noon Jan. 11 at HHS's expense unless another suitable placement had been arranged. The matter hasn't yet been resolved by a district court judge, and HHS hasn't yet filed an answer in the newly filed civil lawsuit. In it, Domina said: "Without any justification, and without any legal authority to do so, one or more of the defendants, acting together and in concert with one another, refused to obey the courts order committing Mr. Renner to DHHS care." To detain him at jail, rather than as a patient, poses a substantial likelihood of continuing the violation of his civil rights, he said. A spokeswoman for HHS didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Reach the writer at 402-473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSpilger We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Migration should not be dealt with as an emergency but should rather be approached with a sense of responsibility and solidarity, and a security first approach should be abandoned, stresses the report of King Mohammed VI, Leader on the issue of migration. The report on the follow-up to the operationalization of the Morocco-headquartered African Migration Observatory was presented Sunday before the 35th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly, held in Addis Ababa Feb.5-6. The African Migration Observatory is a direct response to the Marrakech Compact, and in particular its first objective, which is to collect and use accurate data to develop policies based on factual knowledge, says the Report. I have sought to ensure that the main goal behind the operationalization of the African Migration Observatory is for the Continent to take ownership of the migration issue and of the various dynamics it implies inside Africa, the Sovereign said in his report, presented by Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita. Another aim for me was to deconstruct the negative perception of migration by establishing a new, positive and objective approach to the issue, while highlighting the human element as a lever for the Continents development, the Sovereign noted in the report, adding that from design, to development to implementation, Morocco has spared no effort to carry out each one of the steps aimed at turning my proposal to set up the African Migration Observatory into a reality. The report dealt in length with the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on migration, pointing out that the pandemic will eventually end very soon, hopefully but migration is here to stay. Border closures and restrictive measures to contain the spread of the pandemic have had an impact on migrant mobility in all continents -and particularly in Africa. Restrictions on cross-border movement have contributed to migrants vulnerability and exposure to human trafficking, putting migrants at greater risk of exploitation by criminals, smugglers and traffickers. Border restrictions have not stopped crossings but have affected migration routes, leading to the emergence of even more dangerous ones, the report underlines. The economic and social effects of migration have increased the precariousness of migrant workers, particularly women and young people. They have been disproportionately affected by socio economic inequalities such as unemployment, the drop in income in the informal sector and lack of social coverage. In addition to the consequences of the pandemic, there have also been impacts relating to conflicts and climate change, such as those of droughts, cyclones and floods that have hit the African continent, the report adds. The global health crisis has also slowed down the efforts and the progress made by African States towards the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union Agenda 2063, the document states. Yet, the pandemic has demonstrated, once again, the positive impact of migrants on host countries and that of the diasporas on their countries of origin. In addition to being essential workers in their host countries, migrants have harnessed their potential and have contributed to finding creative, innovative solutions to the pandemic. The importance of the diaspora is such that it is rightly referred to as the sixth region of Africa. The diaspora has been playing an increasingly important role in fostering socio-economic development, particularly through remittances. It actively contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), skills development initiatives and the transfer of technology, the document points out, noting that contrary to predictions that remittances would decline by 20% because of the pandemic, remittances to Africa reached $78.4 billion in October 2020, accounting for 11.7% of total remittances in the world. Despite a slight decline compared to 2019, remittances have proved to be a more resilient and reliable source than foreign direct investment flows. However, Africa has the sad record of having the highest cost for sending remittances in the world. They average 8.5% of the total amount sent, which is nearly three times the Sustainable Development Goal target of 3%. The report notes that, according to some studies, the deductions made by international money transfer organizations can be as high as 15%, representing a shortfall of approximately 1.6 billion in annual earnings for the African continent. Moreover, only 10% of these remittances are invested in projects or savings products in Africa. The pandemic has underscored the great importance of the Marrakech Compact and confirmed the relevance of its objectives. In particular, the crisis has reminded us of the risks of irregular migration, the importance of regularizing migrants status and the need to guarantee migrants access to social security. The pandemic has not prevented fake news about migration in Africa from continuing to circulate. However, stereotypes do not stand up to scrutiny: Thus, the destination of African migrants is mostly Africa. It even increased by 13% between 2015 and 2019, the report says. African migration accounts for only 14% of the total international migrant population, far less than migrants coming from other continents, the report highlights, noting that most migrants move within the African continent and within their home region, especially in West Africa. The creation of the African Continental Free Trade Area with its corollary of free movement of people should reinforce this trend. The report deplores that the humanitarian crisis caused by the thousands of deaths on migration routes is still continuing. While the central Mediterranean remains the deadliest route in the world, more than 11,094 missing persons have been recorded in Africa in recent years. Whether it is migration or the pandemic, Africa is paying a heavy price. Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said that Algeria has been blocking progress towards a UN political solution to the Sahara issue while claiming that it was not a party to the confllict. Speaking to French media on the sidelines of the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Bourita recalled that Algeria rejected the round table process along with the latest UN resolution. The UN Secretary-Generals personal envoy for the Sahara has a mandate, has a framework for action, he himself says that he works for the round tables. If Algeria doesnt want to, thats its problem, he said. Morocco, which is in its territory and is in its self-defense, has never sought confrontation. Morocco is for a solution within the framework of the United Nations, within the framework of autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty, reiterated Bourita, stressing the Kingdoms adherence to UN resolutions. Since its return to the African Union, global support for Moroccos sovereignty over the Sahara grew with over 20 countries opening consulates in the territory. In 2020, the US recognition for Moroccos full map from Tangier to Lagouira came as a blow to Algerias separatist chimera in southern Morocco. Since then, Algerias rulers reacted by instigating the Polisario to declare an end of the ceasefire agreement in defiance of the UN. Algiers has also taken self-harming measures such as cutting ties with Morocco, closing its airspace to Moroccan aircrafts and halting a gas pipeline that used to supply Morocco and Spain. These unilateral measures show that Algeria is the real party to the Sahara issue, Bourita said. Algeria has taken unilateral positions, it is its right. His Majesty the Kings approach has been not to escalate, not to even react to these unilateral decisions and that will always be our position, stressed the minister, for whom Algeria is in excess and what is excessive is insignificant, but the positions of Morocco are clear. On the possibility of a military confrontation with Algeria, the minister replied that Morocco is not in the escalation. Morocco is not insulting the future. And Morocco thinks that we never change the geography, reiterating the royal approach which is not to go into escalation and to focus on what unites us, not on what divides us. Tunisias judicial council, the countrys legal body warranting the independence of the judiciary, has vowed to withstand with all legal means President Kais Saieds intention to dissolve it. The Tunisian leader in a statement made Saturday during a visit to the ministry of interior indicated that the council belongs to the past. The judicial council belongs to the past from now on, he said. Saied made the statement amid a feud between him and the council. He has accused the council for being in league with some politicians and refusal to ruler over some corruption and assassinations cases in the country. Saied has also canceled all privileges offered to the members of the council. In reaction to Saieds indication, Youssef Bouzakher, chairman of the council on Sunday told local radio Mosaique FM, the judiciary will resist the president. The President of the Republic has no legal mechanism to dissolve the council, he said, adding that his colleagues will remain in their positions and will use all legal instruments to fight Saied. Saied in July seized all major powers in the North African country as he fired the then Prime Minister, froze the activities of the parliament and suspended the immunity of its members. Several critics believe the move has rolled back the democratic gains achieved following the 2011 revolution. 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. The number of Americans looking to start their own business is on the rise, as the coronavirus pandemic creates opportunities for some would-be entrepreneurs. Some lost their job and decided to make their "side hustle" their main occupation. Others reevaluated their priorities and left the corporate world. Some took advantage of the flexibility of working remotely and lower commercial rents. Photo: Anna Moneymaker/AFP via Getty Images The state of New Jersey will no longer require masks in school next month. The New York Times reports that Governor Phil Murphy on Monday will announce the end of the statewide mask mandate. As of the second week of March, masks will be optional for both students and school employees. The move by New Yorks neighbor puts additional focus on Governor Kathy Hochul and whether shell eventually follow suit. On Friday, Hochul suggested that improved vaccination numbers among children will ultimately determine if and when masks in school will come off. The more children we have vaccinated, the safer they will be when they go to school at the time they get to where they wont need a mask anymore. Its something were striving for, but were just not there yet, Hochul said. Murphy isnt the only governor to recently phase out mask requirements. Tom Wolf, the governor of Pennsylvania and a fellow Democrat, announced back in November that his administration wouldnt be renewing its mask mandate, letting the final decision fall to local school officials in the new year. Glenn Youngkin, the newly elected Republican governor of Virginia, has made opposition to mask requirements a key part of his agenda, signing an executive order allowing parents to opt out of mask mandates. Seven school boards in Virginia have sued Youngkin over the order. WASHINGTON (AP) A White House review found credible evidence that top scientist Dr. Eric Lander violated its "Safe and Respectful Workplace Policy," but the administration plans to keep him on the job after giving him counseling. An internal review last year, prompted by a workplace complaint, found evidence that Lander, the director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and science adviser to President Joe Biden, bullied staffers and treated them disrespectfully. That put him at odds with Biden's day-one directive that he expected "honesty and decency" from all who worked for his administration and would fire anyone who shows disrespect to others "on the spot." White House press secretary Jen Psaki said senior administration officials had met with Lander about his actions and management of the office. "Following the conclusion of the thorough investigation into these actions, senior White House officials conveyed directly to Dr. Lander that his behavior was inappropriate, and the corrective actions that were needed, which the White House will monitor for compliance moving forward," she said. Psaki added, "The president has been crystal clear with all of us about his high expectations of how he and his staff should be creating a respectful work environment." Pressed why Lander still had a job despite Biden's comments, Psaki said the administration was following a "process" to handle workplace complaints. The White House said Lander and OSTP are required to take certain corrective actions as part of the review. It also said the review did not find "credible evidence" of gender-based discrimination and that the reassignment of the staffer who filed the original complaint was "deemed appropriate." On Friday, Lander issued an apology to staffers in his office, acknowledging "I have spoken to colleagues within OSTP in a disrespectful or demeaning way." "I am deeply sorry for my conduct," he added. "I especially want to apologize to those of you who I treated poorly, or were present at the time." The letter and the findings against Lander were first reported by Politico. Lander, whose position was elevated to Cabinet-rank by Biden, appeared prominently with the president last week when he relaunched his "Cancer Moonshot" program to marshal federal resources behind research and treatment for cancer diseases. The founding director of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Lander is a mathematician and molecular biologist. He was lead author of the first paper announcing the details of the human genome, the so-called "book of life." His confirmation to his role in the Biden administration was delayed for months as senators sought more information about meetings he had with the late Jeffrey Epstein, a disgraced financier who was charged with sex trafficking before his suicide. Lander also was criticized for downplaying the contributions of two Nobel Prize-winning female scientists. At his confirmation hearing last year, Lander apologized for a 2016 article he wrote that downplayed the work of the female scientists. At the hearing, he also called Epstein "an abhorrent individual." Staff Writer Brad Hundt came to the Observer-Reporter in 1998 after stints at newspapers in Georgia and Michigan. He serves as editorial page editor, and has covered the arts and entertainment and worked as a municipal beat reporter. General Hospital Days of Our Lives [ BIG SPOILER-Y RUMOR FLOATING AROUND TWITTER ] [ One More Just in Case ] So apparently Abigail is rumored to be killed off brutally and permanently?! No idea how true this is but the reliable soap spillers on Twitter have been talking about it. Since I'm guessing neither Kate nor Marci want to commit long term to the role either recast or send her off canvas for a while but I don't necessarily think killing her off is the solution. Seems like a short-sighted decision, since I imagine she'll just end up being revived a few years down the road, since death is rarely permanent in Salem. The Young and the Restless The Bold and the Beautiful This Week in Soaps history... February 8th-12th, 2010 This week on the US Daytime Soaps...Jake was tempted to give a false statement in order to frame David for the attack on Fusion. Tad, Liza, and Amanda managed to persuade Jake not to stoop to David's level.Adam guessed that JR's cancer was out of remission. Adam informed Annie and Scott of JR's dire condition after JR was rushed to the hospital.Colby videotaped Annie and Scott during a passionate kiss. Colby hoped to use the footage to expose Annie to Adam. Annie managed to destroy the damaging videotape before Colby could show it to Adam.Jackson returned from Paris to talk to Erica about Erica and Ryan's relationship. Erica feared that she and Ryan were holding each other back, so she broke things off. Erica and Ryan parted as friends.Jack was overjoyed when Greenlee revealed herself to him. Greenlee implored her father to keep quiet about her miraculous recovery. David and Greenlee proceeded with their plans to get married. Jack raced into the chapel to stop the wedding. Everyone was stunned when Greenlee lifted her veil to inform her father that she intended to go through with her marriage to David. Ryan was shocked when he saw Greenlee standing at the altar.At Alison's request, Susan prescribed her daughter the morning-after pill, but said Alison wasn't ready to get married.Paul snagged a lock of Mick's hair and had Mick arrested. When the hair's DNA matched James Stenbeck, Paul confronted Mick at the police station. While battling his personalities, Mick experienced a nosebleed, and Paul took him to the hospital. Once there, Mick knocked out a police guard and whisked Alison away to explain that James had brainwashed Mick to do James's bidding. Alison went home to Casey, and Mick succumbed to James's wishes to destroy James's family.Janet continued to fret over Liberty and lean on Jack for support. Janet and Dusty bonded during bone marrow testing, and Carly awkwardly helped Jack pick out a Valentine's Day gift for Janet.Meg broke into Lily's house to plead her case, but Lily called the police. After Molly helped Meg escape, Molly convinced Meg to turn herself in. Luke met with a sailor from Damian's freighter, who reported that a body might have washed off the ship.Luke suspected that Holden had something to do with it, but Lily didn't want to believe it. Just as Holden and Molly made up, WOAK assigned Molly to cover Damian's disappearance. When Reid discovered that Henry was snooping into Reid's past, Reid quarantined Henry at the hospital. Henry escaped and later assured Barbara that she was still a vibrant woman. Luke unsuccessfully appealed to Reid to let Luke see Noah, and Noah and Maddie decided to move in together.Ridge freaked out after seeing "Forrester Creations, a division of Spencer Publications" a few too many times. Steffy vowed to get the company back into Forrester hands. Steffy visited Bill, and she teased that she would make him forget out all about Katie if he spent a few hours with her. Donna tattled that she saw Bill and Steffy together, and Katie ordered Bill to meet her at home where she flipped out on him for letting Steffy come on to him. Bill and Katie argued, and Katie walked out again. Steffy was eavesdropping outside the house, and quickly moved indoors to seduce Bill. Steffy and Bill were in the bedroom when Katie returned home.Sandy told Nick that she loved him, but she said that she would never interfere in his marriage to Bridget. When Bridget found out Sandy was in love with her husband, she reminded the surrogate that she was nothing more than an incubator for Nick and Bridget's baby.Whip cooked a romantic dinner for Taylor, and kisses led to hot romance and lovemaking. Brooke hinted to Ridge that Bill and Katie's marriage was hitting a rough patch.Chloe learned that she was pregnant and surprised Daniel with the good news.Abe reinstated Hope to the Salem PD.Brady gave Arianna his mother's bracelet as a token of his love for her.Rafe and Sami reconciled, much to E.J.'s dismay.Lucas warned Philip that Melanie and Nathan might still have feelings for each other. Melanie had unresolved feelings for Nathan and considered cancelling the wedding. Vivian forced Melanie to go through with the wedding so that she could move forward with her ultimate revenge on Carly: murdering Melanie on her wedding day.Gus kidnapped Carly.Victor assured Hope that Melanie would be safe from Vivian. Hope figured out the truth that Melanie was Carly's daughter and that Victor switched the tiaras. Hope's attempt to rescue Carly and arrest Vivian went awry when Gus intervened on Vivian's behalf; Hope and Carly were injured in the scuffle. Carly called Bo for help as Hope lay unconscious.Stephanie selfishly intercepted Melanie's note to Nathan and told her that Nathan didn't read the note when he saw it was from her. Melanie resolved to forget about Nathan and married Philip amidst an unusual crowd of well-wishers. Nathan arrived at the Kiriakis mansion to stop the wedding, but changed his mind at the last minute.Sonny tried to reach out to Dante. Sonny told Dante about the abuse that Adella and Sonny had suffered at the hands of Sonny's stepfather, Deke. Dante didn't think that a terrible childhood was a valid excuse for Sonny to have chosen a life of crime.Elizabeth tried to reach out to Lucky, but Lucky cruelly lashed out at her. Elizabeth's emotional state continued to deteriorate. Lucky discovered Elizabeth's unconscious body in an abandoned church.Helena returned to Port Charles when she learned of the rift between Nikolas and Lucky. Helena announced that it was time for Nikolas to produce a true Cassadine heir. According to Helena, Spencer's bloodline was tainted because of Courtney and Sonny.Johnny paid Anthony a visit in jail. Johnny announced his intention to rebuild the Zacchara organization. Anthony warned Johnny that it would be an uphill battle.Michael tried to confess to killing Claudia, but Mac didn't believe Michael. Mac was certain that Michael was making a false statement in an attempt to help Sonny avoid prosecution.Mac offered Dante a job with the Port Charles Police Department on the condition that Dante would not compromise the force by protecting Sonny. Dante agreed to Mac's terms.Kelly and Adriana bumped into each other in Paris.Schuyler revealed that he was the father of Stacy's baby. Rex was furious when he realized that Stacy had duped him. Mitch forced Stacy out into the blizzard after Stacy revealed that Rex was not the father of the baby. Mitch decided that he would father the next messiah with Jessica. Brody arrived in time to save Jessica from being raped by her own father. Charlie caught up with Mitch.Mel helped Dorian see the error of her ways. Dorian raced to catch up with Charlie before Charlie could kill Mitch. Tragedy struck when Dorian tried to stop Charlie from hitting his target. The shot went wild and then struck Jessica. Jessica was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Mitch was taken into custody after the police arrived on the scene.Gigi found Stacy stranded in the show. Stacy went into labor once Gigi helped Stacy to the cabin. Gigi delivered Stacy's baby girl. Stacy named her daughter Sierra Rose. Gigi realized that there was something wrong with the baby. While trying to get the baby to a hospital, Gigi wandered onto a frozen lake. As the ice began to crack under Gigi's feet, Rex, Schuyler, and Oliver arrived at the lake.Paul called Emily because Patty's doctor was out of town, and he was concerned for his sister. Emily visited Patty at the mental hospital. Patty drugged Emily and dyed Emily's hair blonde with peroxide. Patty escaped from the hospital by pretending to be Emily. Paul found Emily unconscious with a suicide note in her hand and assumed that she was his sister. Emily was taken to the hospital, but she slipped into a coma due to the drugs Patty had given her. Meanwhile, Patty dressed up in Emily's wedding gown and went to the church to marry Jack.Jack was certain that Victor had rigged the auction for Jabot, and he vowed to prove it. Victor fired Jack and Ashley and made Victoria the CEO of Jabot. Victor also made Gloria an ambassadress for Jabot, infuriating Jack.Victoria and J.T. decided that their marriage was over.Phyllis went to Harvard to do some digging on Adam and Dr. Taylor. Adam found out about Phyllis' trip and became worried.Adam took Sharon on a belated honeymoon.WEEK OF FEBRUARY 7th-11th, 2000Charity had a premonition of danger as Grace and Sam set off for their ski vacation.Ivy booked a room next to Sam and Grace's room. She later drugged Grace and confronted Sam while Ivy was completely naked.Kay planned to have Charity institutionalized. Source 3 and Investigation of Workers Fatal Fall finds Henderson Sawmill, Pallet Manufacturer Exposed Workers to Willful, Serious Hazards W.D. Townley and Son Lumber Company Inc. faces $389K in penalties. A federal investigation into fatal injuries suffered by an 86-year-old worker at a Henderson, Texas sawmill and pallet manufacturer found the company exposed workers to hazardous energy sources and lack of machine guarding. OSHA opened an inspection on July 28, 2021, after receiving a report that the worker had fallen from a stack of pallets on July 6, 2021, at W.D. Townley and Son Lumber Company Inc. According to a press release, OSHA cited the company for willful violations for failing to use energy control procedures and implement a hearing conservation program, as required by law. The agency also issued citations for serious violations for lack of machine guarding, failing to use PPE, not addressing the hazards from operating powered industrial trucks and neglecting to notify OSHA within eight hours of a work-related fatality as required. The lumber company faces $389,706 in proposed penalties. Sawmill operations can be hazardous work, but it should not be life-threatening, said OSHA Area Director Basil Singh in Dallas. W.D. Townley and Son Lumber Company Inc. showed a complete disregard for their employees well-being. OSHA will hold employers accountable when they neglect their legal responsibility to provide workers with a safe workplace. The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHAs area director or contest the findings before the independent OSHRC. Learn more about machine guarding, lockout/tagout procedures and powered industrial truck safety. Crude oil inventories at Cushing, Oklahomathe designated delivery point for WTI Crude oil futures contractshave been falling for the past four weeks, reaching what could be uncomfortably low levels and pointing to a potential further upside for oil prices. In the latest reporting week to January 28, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said that Cushing crude inventories fell to 30.5 million barrels, down by 1.2 million from the previous week. Cushing inventories are now down by 37.3 percent compared to this time of the year in 2021. Crude inventories dropped from 37.3 million barrels on December 31, 2021, to just over 30 million barrels as of January 28, EIA data showed. Traders are betting heavily that those levels would further drop when the EIA reports inventories this week, and probably further decline throughout February, Bloomberg Opinion columnist Javier Blas notes. Shrinking Cushing inventories could push oil prices higher in the coming weeks. Due to operational reasons, crude at Cushing cannot really reach zero, so the perceived tank bottoms is when inventories drop below 25 million barrels, Bloombergs Blas notes. Its not a given that crude inventories at Cushing will reach the so-called tank bottomsupcoming refinery maintenance in the United States could drop the drawdowns. Nevertheless, low levels of physical crude at the delivery point for WTI Crude oil futures contracts is still a bullish sign for the oil market. After hitting $92 a barrel on Friday, WTI Crude fell on Monday morning by 1.21% at $91.19 as of 10:25 a.m., and Brent Crude was down 0.53% at $92.83, amid signs of possible progress in the nuclear talks aimed at bringing the United States and Iran back to the so-called Iran nuclear deal. On Friday, the U.S. Administration restored sanction waivers allowing Iran international cooperation for civil nuclear purposes. This was interpreted as a positive signal from the so-far difficult talks, which, if successful, would lead to the U.S. removing sanctions on Iranian oil exports. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Many of the Senators which have signed off on this letter have campaigned against pipelines within their states, forcing them to import natural gas from abroad. The appeal comes at a time when Europe is being crippled by sky-high energy prices, with U.S. LNG potentially providing a lifeline to help keep the lights on in the region. A group of Democrat Senators has just sent a letter pleading for the Biden Administration to limit U.S. LNG exports while the Department of Energy conducts a review of the exports and their impact on domestic prices. Just as U.S. exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) serves as the main cog in helping keep the lights on and homes heated in Europe in this windless winter, a group of Democratic senators sends a letter to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm urging her and the Biden administration to take action to limit U.S. LNG exports. In their letter, these 10 senators "...urge the Department to conduct a review of LNG exports and their impact on domestic prices and the public interest, and develop a plan to ensure natural gas remains affordable for American households. Until such a plan is completed, the Department should consider halting permit approvals of U.S. LNG export facilities." There are several problems with this approach. The first is that, as stated above, Europe is in desperate need of U.S. LNG this winter and likely beyond as its wind industry fails to deliver on its promises. Second is the fact that, despite record levels of LNG exports in recent months, U.S. natural gas production continues to enjoy a steady surplus over demand for it. The U.S. price, currently standing at about $4.80 per Mmbtu at the Henry Hub, is not connected to prices for international natural gas, which in Europe is currently selling for upwards of 6 to 7 times the U.S. price. The U.S. proven resource of natural gas is equal to hundreds of years of current consumption. Shouldnt we as a nation should celebrate our ability to pitch in a small sliver of what we produce to help avoid a looming humanitarian catastrophe across the European continent? That crisis was brought on by the wrong-headed energy policies adopted by governments who share the general energy outlook of Granholm, Biden, and this group of senators. Here is a list of the senators who signed this letter: Jack Reed (D-RI), Angus King (D-ME), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). Now, take a look at that list and notice the states they represent: Two of them are from Sec. Granholms home state of Michigan, obviously recruited by the others to elevate the priority of this letter with the Secretary, a former governor of that state. Then you have Tina Smith of Minnesota, who opposes anything the U.S. oil and gas industry does as a matter of course. Where are the 7 other senators from? Maine, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont. All New England states. This leads us to the second logical problem with this approach, where the senators get the question of the impacts of importing/exporting LNG to their constituents exactly backward. Related: How Close Is An All-Electric Passenger Aircraft? Where high natural gas prices for utility consumers are concerned, what do all New England states have in common in recent years? Theyve all found themselves cut off from the massive natural gas supply provided by the Marcellus and Utica Shale formations of the Pennsylvania/West Virginia/Ohio and Michigan region. Why? Because their fellow Democrats in New York State, led by disgraced ex-Governor Andrew Cuomo, have refused to allow pipelines to be built across that state, which forms a land blockade from the Marcellus/Utica shale basins to New England. Thus, we see the spectacle every winter of LNG being imported into Boston Harbor by tanker after tanker coming not from U.S. exporters, but from thousands of miles across the ocean from other exporting nations, including from 4,000 miles distant in Vladimir Putins Russia. If lowering natural gas costs for their constituents were really the goal of these senators, their best, most effective approach would be advocating for the building of a few hundred miles of new pipelines across New York from Pennsylvania, rather than invoking bans that ensure the continuation of the illogical, carbon-intensive practice of bringing natural gas into Boston Harbor from 4,000 miles away in Russia. At the end of the day, this letter to Sec. Granholm only demonstrates that these 10 senators either have no understanding of the true potential benefits involved in the import/export equation for LNG, or that they intentionally misrepresent these benefits for the U.S. and the world for purely political reasons. Neither option is especially flattering. By David Blackmon for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: U.S. and Iran may soon close a nuclear deal that could take the wind out of the latest oil rally's sails, according to traders interviewed by Reuters. The talks between Washington and Tehran resume this week, and expectations are that this would be the final round that would end with either a deal or a "nuclear crisis", according to the U.S. side. "This can't go on forever because of Iran's nuclear advances. This is not a prediction. It's not a threat. It's not an artificial deadline. It's just a requirement..." said an unnamed official from the State Department who briefed media last week on the condition of anonymity. "Given the pace of Iran's advances, its nuclear advances, we only have a handful of weeks left to get a deal -- after which point it will unfortunately be no longer possible to return to the JCPOA and to recapture the nonproliferation benefits that the deal provided for us," the official also said. Ahead of the final round of talks, Washington made a gesture of goodwill by restoring sanction waivers for foreign companies doing nuclear power business with Tehran to allow international cooperation in non-military nuclear energy utilization. The waiver, however, aims to also make it harder for Iran to use its nuclear sites for weapons development, Reuters noted in a report from last week. Meanwhile, any progress on the talks would weigh on oil prices, with some noting that it was by design. "There has been speculation that this rally was going to encourage some sanctions relief and get more Iranian oil on the market," John Kilduff from Again Capital told Reuters. A State Department official, however, said that nothing was certain yet, and the waiver did not mean that a deal was in the making. It was, the official said, necessary to launch technical discussions on the deal. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: If the natural gas flows from Russia via Ukraine were to stop in an escalation of the Russia-Ukraine crisis, LNG imports would be enough to replace the flows to Europe via Ukraine, IHS Markit said in a report on Monday. Gas flows from Russia to Europe via Ukraine were already at historical lows in January, and if the remaining transit via Ukraine is shut off completely, it would have a relatively limited additional impact on European supply, the analytics company said. However, in an extremeand according to IHS Markit, a highly unlikelyscenario that all Russian pipeline gas supply to Europe is cut off, LNG imports alone would not be able to meet the shortfall, and additional supply levers would be required. So far, this is more of a price crisis than a physical supply crisis, Shankari Srinivasan, vice president, global gas, IHS Markit, said in a statement. While gas supply is sufficient to meet most market needs through the end of the winter heating season, high prices are already leading to closures of some industry and furloughing of workers in Europe, Srinivasan added. Under an extreme, if highly unlikely, scenario where all Russian pipe flows were cut off, the tightness of global LNG supply and limited spare European LNG regasification capacity means that other supply levers would be needed to close the gap, said Michael Stoppard, chief strategist, global gas, IHS Markit. In such a scenario, more coal and nuclear power generation capacity will have to come back online or plant closures need to be delayed, along with additional withdrawal from natural gas storage sites, according to Stoppard. The United States and Europe are scrambling to secure LNG supply for Europe in case the Russia-Ukraine crisis escalates into a conflict. Major LNG exporter Australia said last month it was ready to ship LNG cargoes to Europe to support its friends and allies, while Qatar has signaled willingness to divert some cargoes if the European Union restricts the resale of gas cargoes outside the EU. There is still spare capacity that can be used to receive additional gas supplies, in particular through LNG terminals, EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson said last week. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The U.S. Administration is currently reviewing a request from Chevron to potentially allow the U.S. oil giant to take and trade crude from Venezuela as a form of payment for the millions of dollars the South American producer owes Chevron for its joint ventures there, Reuters reported on Monday, quoting sources with knowledge of the talks. Chevron is the last remaining U.S. oil producer with staff and offices in Venezuela and has a joint venture with the local state-controlled oil firm PDVSA. The U.S. major is now lobbying with the Biden Administration to be allowed sanctions relief and be able to take and trade Venezuelan crude as a means to recover the dividends and payments it is owed by the joint venture with PDVSA, according to Reuters sources. The administration has an incentive to ease some of the sanctions on Venezuela, most importantly, to bring something to the negotiating table with the Venezuelan regime, one of those sources told Reuters. Yet, some officials in the Biden administration are not inclined to the Administrations easing of the sanctions in any way, at least not until Nicolas Maduro makes first steps toward ensuring democratic elections, the sources added. Last week, reports emerged that Chevron was in talks with the Venezuelan government to gain more control over their joint venture and help Caracas boost oil production. Bloomberg reported that the negotiations are being led by the chief of Chevrons Venezuelan division, Javier La Rosa, and PDVSAs president, Asdrubal Chavez, according to unnamed sources in the know. The two had discussed PDVSA giving the U.S. supermajor greater control over the joint operation in exchange for some debt relief. For now, however, the negotiations are informal because Chevron would need a sanctions waiver to make any formal commitments. Chevron and PDVSA operate four oilfields together. Before U.S. sanctions, these produced around 200,000 bpd, according to Bloomberg. Now, they are producing around 140,000 bpd, the report also said. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The IRS is facing widespread backlash right now and no, its not because of the agencys backlog of tax returns. The latest criticism is over the IRSs use of facial recognition software, which has drawn the attention of lawmakers and privacy advocates, among others. Starting this summer, Americans who want access to certain records via the IRS website, like information about child tax credits and payment plans, will need to use a new sign-in and identity verification system that includes taking a video selfie. The IRS is using ID.me, a third-party technology company that provides online identity verification. People who already have accounts with the IRS can continue to use their existing credentials until this summer, but are being prompted to create an ID.me account as soon as possible, according to a statement the IRS issued in November. If youre a new user and need to create an IRS account, the agency says that you should create an account with ID.me, which the agency describes as its trusted technology provider in helping to keep your personal information safe. You dont need to submit a selfie to the IRS to file your taxes. But there are certainly useful aspects to an account with the IRS, like the ability to request an online tax transcript. While online, your personal information is constantly exposed to bad actors. Protect your identity TODAY. Don't fall prey to cybercriminals looking to steal your hard-earned dollars. Find the best Identity Theft Protection now by clicking on your state. The IRS, facial recognition and privacy concerns The IRS already has tons of our personal information, but people are understandably creeped out by the idea of the agency also having recordings of our faces. 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, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee Ron Wyden, D-Ore., tweeted in January. While e-filing returns remain unaffected, Im pushing the IRS for greater transparency on this plan. In a letter sent Monday to IRS commissioner Charles Rettig, Wyden called the facial recognition move simply unacceptable and called on the agency to reverse its decision, The Washington Post reported. (The Posts editorial board also weighed in on the controversy in an opinion piece, saying the extra verification procedure would be a mistake and that low-income Americans often lack the necessary technology, and research shows people of color are more likely to be misidentified.) Wyden isnt alone. Politicians on both sides of the aisle are demanding more transparency from the IRS. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., and Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., sent a letter to Rettig last week demanding that the agency immediately discontinue any programs that collect, store, and use any type of biometric data to identify American taxpayers, according to a press release from Blunts office. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., sent Rettig a letter asking for additional information from the IRS, including how the IRS came to the decision, if there will be an option to opt-out of the requirement and whether there are controls in place to limit ID.mes use of taxpayer data. Meanwhile, Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., tweeted that the facial recognition requirement by the IRS was a very, very bad idea that will will further weaken Americans privacy. Consumer advocates are also condemning the move. Jeramie Scott, senior counsel at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, told NPR there are safety concerns with outsourcing this information and that it creates another kind of target for criminals. Several civil rights groups have also started a petition asking the IRS to reverse its decision. We all need protection from Identity Theft Take action today and protect your identity with the latest software available. Just click below and Identity Guard will take care of the rest. Whats next for IRS face scanning? Blake Hall, CEO and founder of ID.me, issued a statement that the company is committed to ensuring everyone can verify their identity online and use it to access essential services. He added that the 1:1 face match is comparable to taking a selfie to unlock a smartphone and that ID.me does not sell the personal information of its users. We are committed to working together with the IRS to implement the best identity verification solutions to prevent fraud, protect Americans privacy, and ensure equitable, bias-free access to government services, ID.me said in a written statement to Money. Still, the government may now be backtracking. The Treasury Department is reconsidering the IRSs use of ID.me for access to the agencys website, Bloomberg News reported in late January. When asked for comment from Money, the IRS provided an earlier statement from the Treasury, which said, The IRS is consistently looking for ways to make the filing process more secure but to be clear, no American is required to take a selfie in order to file their tax return. We believe in the importance of protecting the privacy of taxpayers, while also ensuring criminals are not able to gain access taxpayer accounts. The statement also said that the lack of funding for IRS IT modernization has made it impossible for the IRS to invest in state-of-the-art technology and that the agency uses third-party providers to validate the identification of people attempting to improperly gain access to taxpayers accounts. Money Classic To celebrate our 50th anniversary, we've combed through decades of our print magazines to find hidden gems, fascinating stories and vintage personal finance tips that have withstood the test of time. Dive into the archives with us. More from Money: Copyright 2021 Ad Practitioners, LLC. All Rights Reserved. This article originally appeared on Money.com and may contain affiliate links for which Money receives compensation. Opinions expressed in this article are the author's alone, not those of a third-party entity, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed. Offers may be subject to change without notice. For more information, read Moneys full disclaimer. Bellevue University education students got a front row seat to hear about the profession from Lee Perez, Nebraska Teacher of the Year, on Jan. 27. Perez is the first male, first person of color and first ESL teacher to hold the Nebraska Teacher of the Year title. Even with a teachers schedule, Perez makes the time to go and meet with students at universities. One of my objectives is to recruit more teachers, typically recruit more teachers of color, but I just want really good teachers in the classroom that love kids and will provide good quality instruction, Perez said. Perezs speech at Bellevue University was his sixth speech in that week alone. Im just trying to go to universities and reassure their teacher education programs that they are in the right profession and that their talents are needed in classrooms, not just in Omaha, but over the state of Nebraska, Perez said. One of Perezs main goals is to recruit more people of color to become teachers. In the United States most teachers are not teachers of color, but when you look at student populations, theres a big population of our student body that are students of color, Perez said. Perez said growing up, he did not have many teachers of color but did form a bond with a Hispanic teacher he had. It was just kind of really empowering to see someone that looked like me who was successful and who was college educated, Perez said. In addition to recruiting a more diverse workforce, Perez wants to promote more culturally responsive teaching practices. Culturally responsive teaching is just getting to know just different viewpoints from around the world, whether you know, the persons from Somalia or Guatemala or Russia or Japan, he said. Its just this idea of being a lifelong learner and wanting to know more about the world and the people that live in it. For example, when someone walks into Perezs classroom, they will see several different countries, languages, races and religions being represented. Perez also wants to get more ESL training for mainstream teachers. Theres just a lot of misinformation that goes around about ESL students in ESL training and what its like to be an ESL teacher, he said. One of the workshops that Im going to do throughout the state is just to teach teachers that arent ESL certified, how to work with English language learners in the classroom. Perez said he looks forward to representing the state of Nebraska as the Nebraska Teacher of the Year. I just look forward to sharing my stories and my testimonies about my experiences with English language learners and Im excited to get started, Perez said. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. U.S. District Judge John Gerrard announced Monday that he will move to senior status in 2023, paving the way for President Joe Biden to appoint a federal judge in Nebraska. Gerrards move doesnt mean hes retiring. In fact, he said he will maintain a full caseload pending the confirmation of his successor and will maintain a significant caseload thereafter. It does mean that Nebraskas two U.S. senators Republicans Deb Fischer and Ben Sasse are expected to begin vetting candidates for the judgeship. In recent presidential administrations Donald Trumps and Barack Obamas it has taken about a year to 13 months from the announcement of a vacancy to U.S. Senate confirmation, according to a report last week from the Washington, D.C.-based Brookings Institution. Gerrard, who is 68, seemed to take that timeline into account. He said he expects to move to senior status a year from now. When he does, he will join two other senior district judges. Nebraska has three active U.S. District judgeships two based in Omaha and one based in Lincoln. Nebraska has a long history of promptly filling vacancies on the federal bench, Gerrard said in a prepared statement. And I am confident that Sen. Deb Fischer and Sen. Ben Sasse will work with President Biden toward the timely nomination and confirmation of a highly qualified successor judge. Because Nebraska has only three active federal district judgeships, it is important that the vacancy be filled as soon as possible for this busy court. Nebraskas federal district averages about one district judge appointment per presidential term or terms. Trump nominated Brian Buescher. Obama nominated Robert F. Rossiter Jr. Since taking office a year ago, Biden has been on a brisk pace of appointing judges. He has had more judicial appointments confirmed than any president since President John F. Kennedy in 1961, according to the Brookings report. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The 41-year-old Oklahoma man who was assaulted over the weekend at an Old Market bar has died of his injuries, Omaha police said Monday. Rodney Pettit of Lawton, Oklahoma, died Monday morning at the Nebraska Medical Center, where he had been taken after the assault. Pettit was found unconscious inside the Parliament Pub at 12th and Harney Streets. Police were called about 11:45 p.m. Saturday. Earlier Monday, police said they had arrested 22-year-old Nolan M. King of Omaha on suspicion of first-degree assault with a weapon in connection with the assault in the bar. King was booked into the Douglas County Jail about 11:30 p.m. Sunday. Police have not said what led up to the incident. They said they would work with the Douglas County Attorneys Office to amend the charges against King. Pettits death marks the fourth homicide in Omaha so far this year. King also was involved in a fatal stabbing on Sept. 28, 2019, near 33rd and Howard Streets. King initially was taken into police custody after the stabbing of 31-year-old Shane E. Inks, 31, who died of his injuries at the Nebraska Medical Center. But King was released after police determined that he was the victim of an assault by Inks and a then-21-year-old woman. A court affidavit said that the woman had been in a relationship with both King and Inks and that she and and Inks had lured King to the area intending to harm him. King was found at the scene with blunt-force trauma to the head and body, according to the affidavit. Anyone with information about what happened at the Parliament Pub may contact Omaha Crime Stoppers at 402-444-STOP, at omahacrimestoppers.org or on the P3 Tips mobile app. Tipsters can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Douglas County Board took the first small step last week toward a major project that potentially could take up most or even all of the countys $55 million in 2022 federal COVID recovery money. It could also address long-discussed desires of some county leaders: reducing the numbers of people with mental illnesses housed in the Douglas County Jail, and moving the Douglas County Community Mental Health Center out of the countys nursing home at 42nd Street and Woolworth Avenue. The potential project would be a new mental health center to treat people in trouble with the law, and also people from the general public, possibly near the Douglas County Jail in downtown Omaha. The County Board voted Tuesday to commission a study to determine space and other needs of the countys Corrections Department and the mental health center. The consultants, Carlson West Povondra Architects, are expected to develop a detailed concept for a stand-alone model facility at a hypothetical site, according to the contract. Theyll also provide a cost estimate and timeline. The County Board will then debate and vote on how to proceed, including what to build or renovate, where to locate it and how much money to spend on the project out of the countys allotment of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money. It appears likely that the county will do something and use a substantial portion of its ARPA money for it given that the County Board has designated mental health and county functions as top priorities for spending the federal dollars. Congress and the Biden administration allocated $110 million to Douglas County in ARPA money in two halves to spend and distribute in local communities. The County Board has committed most of the $55 million from 2021 to a variety of government and community uses. It hasnt formally decided what to do with the $55 million due in 2022. The initial study for a mental health center costs $35,000. The board voted 5-2 last week to approve it. Mary Ann Borgeson, Mike Friend, Chris Rodgers, P.J. Morgan and Maureen Boyle voted yes. Roger Garcia and Jim Cavanaugh voted no. Garcia and Cavanaugh wanted the study to expressly consider alternatives to what they consider a plan for a single joint facility downtown. That could include renovating the current, but soon to be former, Douglas County Youth Center near 42nd and Woolworth. Morgan and Friend expressed concerns about major unanswered questions: How much would it cost to operate such a center, and how would the county pay for it? But they supported the study as a needed first step, in part to help answer those questions. Borgeson said the study is the boards first concrete step toward an amazingly unique, wanted, needed project. She said the federal COVID recovery money finally gives the county the opportunity to address two long-term needs. Its twofold, she said. One, kind of uplifting the community mental health center out of our long-term care facility and relocating it. Two, finding a way to reduce the number of people who are in our jail with mental illness. And how do we have this collaboration and cooperation between these two departments create something uniquely amazing to address those two issues? Its unclear how the center would reduce the jail population. Its yet to be determined, Borgeson said, if the center would be in a single building with a secure portion where current inmates would be housed for treatment, as well as an unsecured portion for the general public. The countys corrections director, Michael Myers, and Community Mental Health Center Director Sherry Driver discussed the concept of a new center during a County Board ARPA committee meeting in December. They said their departments often work together already, serving many of the same people, and would be more effective if they were located closer to each other. Driver said the mental health center has six programs specifically designed to work with the Corrections Department. Soon, she said, we will have close to 50% of the staff members who work in our Community Mental Health Center outpatient psychiatric clinic, working specifically in conjunction with corrections in the best way we can to help reduce recidivism into corrections, and to help prevent individuals from entering corrections. Myers said at that December meeting that the Corrections Department has become kind of a de facto mental health agency and oftentimes the agency last resort. Typically 36-37% of our population are diagnosed with a mental illness. And about half of them are diagnosed with a serious illness such as schizophrenia. He said that presents issues for which the jail isnt designed and its staff arent trained. If there was a more therapeutic yet secure environment that we could operate in conjunction with a community partner, I think we would have a much better outcome with those most seriously mentally ill individuals, Myers said. The study is supposed to be completed by April. There could be a second phase that produces a more specific design at a specific site. Borgeson said that the site has not been determined and that she doesnt want to get into a discussion about it that would sidetrack the conversation about the need. Asked whether Garcia is right that the center could use all $55 million of the countys ARPA money, Borgeson said the cost is not yet known. Morgan said Garcias figure could be right, but that depends on the size of the center, among other factors. Morgan said the ongoing operating cost and how that would be paid is more important. The county, which is funded primarily through property taxes, should not raise taxes, he said. It likely would need partners such as CHI Health and the University of Nebraska Medical Center to run such a center, Morgan said. Garcia said the full board has not held a public discussion on the big idea in general of a new standalone facility for this project, nor collected input from people who run businesses or live near the jail. Do we really want to spend all of our ARPA 2022 dollars, all $55 million and some change, on this one idea, on this one project? Garcia said. As opposed to potentially continuing to provide COVID-related relief through multiple and various, you know, both nonprofit and government services that would really continue to help people during this pandemic. Omaha World-Herald: Afternoon Update The latest headlines sent at 4:45 p.m. daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Bicycle Ride Across Nebraska is back after a two-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The event, in its 40th year, is scheduled for June 5 to June 11. The ride starts in Alliance and finishes in Wahoo. Cyclists can choose three- or four-day rides in addition to the typical seven-day tour. Overnight stops will be made in Hyannis, Thedford, Callaway, Ord, St. Edward and Shelby. Cyclists will ride on paved highway shoulders on Nebraska Highway 2. The cost of the tour is $350 for the full seven days, $200 for four days or $150 for three days. Registration prices increase after April 15. The fee includes transportation of gear, road support, showers, coffee, a T-shirt and a water bottle. Bus rides to the starting town are an extra fee. Proceeds from the ride go toward scholarships for high school seniors in host communities to attend Nebraska trade schools, colleges, universities or other postsecondary opportunities. In past years, the ride has drawn 600 or more riders. Riders have ranged in age from 8 to 85. Our ultimate goal is to offer bicyclists a safe and fun ride each year, organizers said. To register, or for more information, visit bran-inc.org. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Jared Leto only had a "minute and a half" clip of Paolo Gucci speaking to go by to master his accent in 'House of Gucci'. The 49-year-old actor portrayed the bumbling fashion designer in the 2021 crime drama, and he's revealed how he learns different accents by picking up the "mistakes" and "habits" the person makes. However, he didn't have much to go by when preparing for the role of Italian Paolo. He said: I had about a minute and a half of his voice in an interview." Once he was done filming 'House of Gucci' in Italy, the 'Suicide Squad' star had to jet out to New York for his part as Israeli Adam Neumann in Apple TV+'s miniseries 'WeCrashed'. Speaking during a TCA panel, he said: I literally went from Italy to New York, just coming from 'House of Gucci' where I was playing Italian, and little did I know they actually have a lot of similarities, the two accents. "With Adams accent I wasnt really doing an Israeli accent, I was doing Adams accent. An accent is just a series of mistakes. You learn how to say a word and maybe you dont say it correctly, whatever that means, but its just a series of habits. Its the way your mouth makes shapes. Everyone learns theirs differently." The 30 Seconds to Mars rocker insisted it was easy to pick up the latter accent because he was in a "bubble" with other Israelis while shooting the drama about the rise and fall of co-working firm WeWork. Jared added: I think probably the insurance against things slipping into caricature is to dive into as much truth as possible, right? In this case, I had a great team of Israelis surrounding me that I was working with. We kind of had our own bubble during this time when we all were in a bubble, so that voice and that accent was around me all the time. Originally published on celebretainment.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. BLOOMINGTON The Public Safety Citizen Relations Board will meet Friday to discuss a $59,000 contract with Flock Safety for 10 automatic license plate reader cameras. The meeting will be held at 3:30 p.m. on the fourth floor of the McLean County Government Center, 115 E. Washington St. The seven-member board is a citizen advisory committee to the Bloomington police chief and city manager. The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois and several Bloomington residents have urged the city to allow people to comment and discuss the contract during the PSCRB meeting prior to the city council moving forward with purchasing the cameras. The Bloomington City Council is expected to make a decision on the contract with Flock Safety during its Feb. 14 virtual meeting. Contact Sierra Henry at 309-820-3234. Follow her on Twitter: @pg_sierrahenry. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CHICAGO - Bail was denied Sunday to a 16-year-old high school sophomore facing first-degree murder and attempted murder charges related to a fatal shooting in the Little Village neighborhood that left a teen from Iowa dead. Cook County prosecutors accused Kayden Torres of firing several shots at a fleeing vehicle, while his accomplice, a 15-year-old, fired shots inside the vehicle, striking the driver and another male passenger. Killed was Leonardo Bautista Jr., 16, according to the Cook County medical examiners office. The 15-year-old gunman had been contacted by his ex-girlfriend prior to the shooting to inquire whether he would buy marijuana from her cousins boyfriend, who was in town visiting relatives from Iowa, authorities told a judge during an afternoon bail hearing broadcast on YouTube. The unidentified teen agreed and met with Bautistas group, which included Bautistas girlfriend and two cousins who were all sitting in a vehicle parked in an alley in the 2300 block of South Sawyer Avenue around 1:20 p.m., according to prosecutors. After getting inside the rear passenger seat and shaking hands with the occupants, the 15-year-old pulled out a handgun and put it to Bautistas head. At that time, Torres allegedly tried to open the rear drivers side door. but Bautista locked the door. Torres knocked on the window with the butt of a handgun, prosecutors said. Bautista then tried to drive away, leading Torres to allegedly open fire on the fleeing vehicle, while the 15-year-old fired his weapon inside the vehicle, striking Bautista in the head and body. After the vehicle crashed, the teen shot a 17-year-old cousin twice. The young gunman jumped out of the stopped vehicle and demanded a backpack the wounded cousin had, authorities said. The cousin turned over the bag, and the teen and Torres fled from the alley. One of the victims recognized Torres from social media photos he had taken with the other gunman prior to the shooting and later identified Torres as one of the gunmen. Bautista was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital where he was later pronounced dead, according to the medical examiners office. A second victim, 17, also went to Mount Sinai for a gunshot wound to the neck, but survived his injury. He remains hospitalized unable to speak but was also able to identify Torres through a photo lineup, prosecutors said. Authorities added that surveillance video from near the scene corroborated the version of events presented by one of the eyewitnesses. Torres attorney, Liam Kelly, asked the court to deny a petition to deny his client bail, pointing out his young age, attendance in high school and lack of a criminal background. But Judge Mary C. Marubio pointed to the dangers posed in a broad daylight shooting in public before denying bail. Torres is expected to return to court next week. The identity of the second gunman is known to authorities, but he remained at large. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 CHICAGO Gov. J.B. Pritzker said a Sangamon County judge's ruling to grant a temporary restraining order against the enforcement of COVID-19 mitigations, like masks and vaccines, "cultivates chaos" for school districts. Judge Raylene Grischow granted temporary restraining orders in two lawsuits on Friday. One is for a student case regarding masks and quarantines in schools, and the other is for school employees, including teachers, regarding the requirement to either get the COVID vaccine or submit to weekly testing. In nearly 170 school districts, the students and staff named as plaintiffs in the suits will not have to follow those mandates. Grischow declined to certify the lawsuits as a class action, which means that the temporary restraining order will not extend to anyone not named as a plaintiff. During an unrelated press conference on Monday, Pritzker urged the schools not named as defendants in the lawsuits to continue to follow the guidance issued by the Illinois Department of Public Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. In the fall, Pritzker issued executive orders for universal masking in schools and required school employees to either be vaccinated or get tested regularly. Monday, he said such measures are "common sense" and that failing to practice them will lead to more cases in schools and, as a consequence, more remote learning days. "It constrains the ability of the named school districts to maintain safe, in-person learning requirements, as if kids need a minute more of remote learning when there are common sense tools we have to reduce and prevent it," Pritzker said. Pritzker has asked Attorney General Kwame Raoul to appeal Grischow's ruling. When asked which metrics he's using to determine if mask mandates are still necessary, Pritzker said hospitalizations. In January, Illinois COVID hospitalizations peaked at 7,380 patients, according to data from the Illinois Department of Public Health. Last summer, mitigations were rolled back when the number of state-wide hospitalizations dropped. On June 11, when mask requirements were lifted, there were 684 hospitalizations. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Avian Influenza (AI) is a disease of viral etiology that ranges from a mild or even asymptomatic infection to an acute, fatal disease of chicken, turkey, guinea fowl and other avian species, especially migratory waterfowl. The first Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 outbreak was reported in Ghana in April 2007 in a farm at Kakasunanka, near Michel Camp in the Tema Metropolis in the Greater Accra Region. This was followed by further outbreaks at New Dormaa in Sunyani in the then Brong Ahafo Region and Aflao in the Volta Region. The disease re-occurred in the year 2015 and crossed to the year 2016 in six regions, namely Greater Accra, Central, Eastern, Western, Volta and Ashanti, affecting 148,448 birds. In June 2018, H5N1 outbreaks were reported at Bonkra and Atia in the Ashanti Region, as well as Nkawkaw in the Eastern Region, affecting 12,175 birds. Recent outbreak An outbreak of Avian Influenza type A subtype H5 (bird flu) was confirmed by the Accra Veterinary Laboratory on July 8, 2021, following reports that came from farms at Nungua, Lashibi, Klagon, Darkuman and Community 25, all in the Greater Accra Region. Further cases of the disease were also confirmed at Domenase near Potsin and Denu in the Gomoa East and Ketu South municipalities respectively. Rate of spread An update on the regional breakdown of the spread of the disease in the country indicated that a total of 10 regions out of 16 had so far recorded cases of HPAI. In all, 703,966 bird mortalities have been recorded in the affected regions and of the said number, 555,227 birds had to be destroyed as part of containment measures by the ministry, while the remaining 143,406 deaths were as a result of HPAI infections. Thus far, the total number of farms affected in the country is 159. Measures are being taken by the government to contain the spread of the HPAI, otherwise known as bird flu. Interventions Intervention by the government is centred on how to empower the Veterinary Service Directorate (VSD) to discharge its mandate effectively. The government considered the intervention an imperative, given the strategic role of the VSD in the development of the poultry and livestock industry. The ministrys action plan approved by Cabinet to stem the spread of the disease and address the institutional weakness of the VSD includes the following activities: The recruitment of 1,100 veterinary professionals for deployment throughout the country. Financial clearance to that effect has already been secured to cover the recruitment of an initial 550 veterinary professionals. The remaining 550 will be engaged within a period of two years to strengthen the institutional human resource capacity of the VSD. This has been lacking well before the government of President Nana Akufo-Addo assumed office in 2017. Procurement of vehicles, motorbikes, chemicals and other logistics has been approved by the government to revamp the VSD for enhanced operations manifested by effective surveillance, early detection, rapid response and control of animal diseases. Intensification of farm visits to ensure biosecurity, depopulation and disinfection to eliminate any threats to public health. All these activities will be preceded by the rollout of a comprehensive sensitisation programme nationwide within February. An implementation committee to coordinate the sensitisation programme and oversee the general containment of the HPAI was inaugurated on Friday, January 27, 2022. Compensation It is worth reiterating that the government has approved compensation payment to farmers affected by the HPAI as a component of the total approved budget of about GH44 million. At this point, let me assure the house that the exercise will be carried out transparently to ensure justice for all. Finally, to forestall the frequent recurrence of outbreaks of the HPAI and other trans-border animal diseases, the government has finalised the Animal Health Bill for the consideration of Parliament. The passage of the bill will ensure effective regulation of the livestock and poultry industry. The ministry, through the VSD, will be empowered to enforce management standards in all animal farms in the country. The introduction of a new legal framework will also vest authority in the VSD to certify all animal farms and also apply sanctions against recalcitrant farmers such as closure of farms to serve as a deterrent to others. If successfully implemented, these measures will go a long way to insulate the livestock and poultry industry from disease outbreaks and help build a robust and resilient animal sector. The zoonotic nature of the disease calls for public alert and vigilance to mitigate the possible impact on the poultry industry and public health in general. Through effective surveillance and disease control management, the VSD is on the alert and very much up to the task. Source: graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has reiterated the need for investors to take advantage of the opportunities in the countrys agricultural sector. He said the countrys agricultural sector, over the past five years, had undergone transformation as a result of the rollout of the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) initiative under the leadership of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Breakfast meeting Addressing potential investors at a breakfast meeting organised by the Tony Blair Institute of Ghana (TBIG) last Thursday, the minister said the huge investments in the sector had yielded results, stressing that Ghana had become the food basket for the West African sub-region. Take soya bean, for example. Before 2017, we were producing less than 100,000 tonnes, but today, we are producing more than a quarter of a million tonnes. We have quadrupled our rice production, and we are net exporter of maize to neighbouring countries, he said. Dr Akoto said the success story of the flagship programme had attracted lots of interests from some governments in the sub-region, citing, for instance, that Burkina Faso, Togo, Malawi, and Trinidad and Tobago had visited the country at different times to learn about the programme and to possibly replicate it in their respective countries. Vast opportunities The minister pointed out that despite the fact that the production capacities of some food crops such as maize, rice and soya bean had seen significant increases since the rollout of the various interventions under the PFJ programme, the country was still producing below capacity, hence the need for more investments. Dr Akoto, therefore, emphasised the need for investors, both domestic and foreign, to shift their focus to the agricultural sector and explore the opportunities available in the sector. He said the agricultural sector had suffered serious investment deficit until the last five years when President Akufo-Addo revamped and turned the fortunes of the sector around. The minister explained that hitherto, the agricultural sector was in the doldrums largely because of the failure on the part of the previous administration to pay the needed attention to it. Dr Akoto stressed that things are now different, and so agriculture, under the current regime, has seen total transformation. Ghanas agricultural sector now provides new areas of opportunities along the value chain for both foreign and domestic investors, he added. He said, for instance, that there were huge prospects in the poultry industry, as well as areas of marketing, packaging, branding and advertising for investors to explore. The minister noted that his ministry had enjoyed a smooth collaboration with the Tony Blair Institute, and commended the former UK Prime Minister for providing the platform to interact with potential investors and captains of industries from across the country. International reputation Mr Blair, for his part, extolled Ghanas high international reputation, which, he said, distinguished the country among her peers, stressing that it was always an honour to visit this country and to interact with its people. He, therefore, encouraged the government to continue to pursue the path of economic transformation through the use of technology and value addition, as well as to engage in the right dialogue between leadership and the populace. Source: graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, MP, on Monday 7th February 2022, inaugurated a five-member Ministerial Committee of Inquiry, chaired by a distinguished Minerals Engineer and Vice Chancellor of the Paa Grant University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa (UmaT), Prof. Richard Amankwah, to review the health and safety regime of the mining industry. The other members of the Committee are Prof. Grace Ofori-Sarpong, a professor of minerals engineering, and Dean of the School of Postgraduate Studies at Paa Grant University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa, representing the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences; Ms. Effie Oppong-Fosu, an Associate of Menka-Premo and Co. Law Firm, with specialisation in mining and energy law, representing the Ghana Bar Association, Mr. Benjamin Aryee, a former Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, and Mr. Kwesi Enyan, a former inspector of mines, and a former Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti. The setting up of the Committee became necessary following the Appiatse explosion incident which claimed thirteen (13) lives and destroyed the entire Appiatse community. Speaking at the inauguration, the Minister said unfortunate though the incident was, it should serve as a wake up call for us to take proactive measures to prevent such disasters. He referred to similar actions taken by the United States following the BP oil spill in 2010 and South Africa, after the Vaal Reefs disaster in 1995. Mr. Jinapor also noted that the Appiatse incident is not an isolated one in the mining industry. He indicated that in the course of this week, the Ministry will be updating the nation on some of the consequential actions following the report of the investigation. He however, referred to various cave-ins of mining pits in Ayanfuri and Breman, both in the Upper Denkyira West District of the Central Region, and the recent one in AngloGold Ashantis Obuasi Mine last year. He stressed that We cannot continue to treat these as isolated incidents. We must take a holistic approach to dealing with the health and safety issues in the mining sector. The Committee is, therefore, not to look at the Appiatse incident or explosives only, but the entire health and safety regime of the mining industry. Their terms of reference are to undertake a general review of the health and safety regime in the mining industry; to review the existing laws, regulations, and guidelines on health and safety standards in the mining industry; to inquire into any matter relating to health and safety in the mining industry; and to make recommendations to Government for legislative, policy, and other reforms it may deem fit. The Minister gave the Committee one (1) month to present their report. He said the President of the Republic, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is committed to making Ghana the mining hub of Africa, and this requires a safe and healthy environment for mining. Responding to the Minister, the Chairman of the Committee, Prof. Amankwah, thanked the Minister for the confidence reposed in them. He expressed worry about the Appiatse incident and the other incidents the Minister referred to. Prof Amakaw said out of this disaster must be the opportunity, as is the case in other countries to come up with extensive and far reaching results. He promised that the Committee will work diligently to support Governments vision to create a safe and healthy environment for mining. 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 Vehicles involved in the piled-up motor crash on the Tema Motorway on Sunday have been removed. The police have also opened the road to normal traffic flow. The crash, which involved a gas tanker, an articulated truck, and a rigid cargo truck, happened between the Accra Shopping Mall and the toll booth, leaving only a single lane for motorists proceeding on the N1 to Tema. A news brief from the Police thanked all motorists who plied the Tema - N1 Highway for their patience during the roadblock. It also commended the Ghana National Fire Service and Road Safety Management Service Limited crew for the quick responses in securing the hazardous material and removing the vehicles, respectively. The police cautioned heavy-duty and loaded articulated vehicle drivers, and those carrying hazardous goods to always ensure their vehicles were roadworthy, securely loaded, and use appropriate lanes with moderate speeds on highways. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Cloud computing has revolutionized the world of business. It provides options for companies that didnt exist before. This is especially true for businesses in Thailand, where it can be difficult to find high-speed internet access and reliable electricity. From 2021, the trend in cloud computing adoption in Thailand has been increasing. The search volume on Google for terms related to, cloud server Thailand, cloud service Thailand and cloud server are growing. Which represents the demand in this industry. So if youre considering moving your business to Thailand, read on for some things to consider in order to make the best decision. Thailand offers tax breaks, lower labor costs, and close proximity to other countries in Southeast Asia. But is it worth the risk? Here are 5 tips to consider before pursuing cloud computing in Thailand. Tax breaks One of the benefits about setting up a business in Thailand is the tax breaks. There are significant incentives for businesses that choose to set up shop, and those incentives can be worth about 5% of your businesss annual revenue. Labor Costs One of the most attractive benefits of Thailand is the lower labor costs. In Thailand, you can find employees for one-third less than what you would pay in the US. This is a major cost-cutting measure that could be the difference between bankruptcy and success for your business. Power Availability Before you start planning for your cloud computing venture in Thailand, evaluate the power availability. There is a major shortage of electricity in Thailand, which could disrupt your operations if your business requires a consistent supply of power. However, there are ways to mitigate this potential problem. For example, you could use an on-demand energy service to supplement the unreliable electric power grid in Thailand. You can also build or locate your office near a reliable source of electricity. Low-cost Data Centers Data centers are a vital aspect of cloud computing. If your data center goes down, then all your data is gone. Thailand has low-cost data centers that can be used to store your companys files and information. Locations of Cloud Providers One of the first things to consider is where your cloud provider is located. According to thaisharp.net, the farther away you are from the provider, the higher the latency will be. This could impact how well your business runs and how effective cloud programs will be. Youll want to make sure that you choose a location as close as possible to your business. The aftermath of a 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Scientists led by The University of Texas at Austin have devised a new way of imaging subduction zones that could give vital information about the next such megaquake. Credit: Direct Relief Thanks to 20 years of seismic data processed through one of the world's most powerful supercomputers, scientists have created the first complete, 3D visualization of a mountain-size rock called the Kumano Pluton buried miles beneath the coast of southern Japan. They can now see the rock could be acting like a lightning rod for the region's megaquakes, diverting tectonic energy into points along its sides where several of the region's largest earthquakes have happened. Scientists have known about the pluton for years but were aware of only small portions of it. Thanks to new research by an international team of scientists led by The University of Texas at Austin, researchers now have a view of the entire subterranean formation and its effect on the region's tectonics. The findings will provide critical information for a major new Japanese government-funded project to find out whether another major earthquake is building in the Nankai subduction zone, where the pluton is located, said Shuichi Kodaira, director of the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology and a co-author of the study published Feb. 3 in the journal Nature Geoscience. "We cannot predict exactly when, where, or how large future earthquakes will be, but by combining our model with monitoring data, we can begin estimating near-future processes," said Kodaira, who was among the scientists who first spotted signs of the Kumano Pluton in 2006. "That will provide very important data for the Japanese public to prepare for the next big earthquake." The pluton appears as a red bulge (indicating dense rock) in the center of this 3D visualization by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin. The pluton is large enough to interfere with the nearby Nankai subduction zone and, most likely, also the region's earthquakes. White circles mark the location of earthquakes. Credit: Adrien Arnulf/University of Texas Institute for Geophysics The full extent of the Kumano Pluton was revealed using the LoneStar5 supercomputer at UT's Texas Advanced Computing Center to piece together 20 years of seismic data into a single high-definition 3D model. "The fact that we can make such a large discovery in an area that is already well studied is, I think, eye opening to what might await at places that are less well monitored," said Adrien Arnulf, a research assistant professor at the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics and the study's lead author. The model shows the region around the Nankai subduction zone, with the Earth's crust bending under the pluton's weight. In another unexpected finding, the pluton was seen diverting buried groundwater into the Earth's interior. The researchers think the pluton's interference with the wider subduction zone is influencing the tectonic forces that cause earthquakes. Researchers led by The University of Texas at Austin have completed the first ever 3D visualization of a mountain-size rock called the Kumano Pluton buried miles beneath the coast of southern Japan. To build the 3D model, the scientists used Japan's network of earthquake monitoring sensors (red symbols) to trace seismic shockwaves (colored ray paths) to their source (blue symbols) and extract information on the surrounding geology. Compiled with the help of the Frontera supercomputer at UT's Texas Advanced Computing Center, it is the largest seismic data set ever createdjust 2% is shown here. Credit: Adrien Arnulf/University of Texas Institute for Geophysics Seismic imaging uses sound waves to create pictures of the Earth's subsurface. Over the years, Japan's vast network of sensors has collected millions of seismic recordings from thousands of locations along the Nankai subduction zone. The sensors are primarily used to record earthquakes and tremors, but the team widened their search to include chance recordings of passing scientific surveys using a technique Arnulf and coauthor Dan Bassett, a research scientist at GNS Science, had perfected while working on small-scale projects in New Zealand. The researchers compiled the massive amounts of information into a single data set and turned it into a 3D model with the help of LoneStar5. The Kumano Pluton in southern Japan appears as a red bulge (indicating dense rock) in the center of a new 3D visualization by The University of Texas at Austin. The pluton is large enough to interfere with the nearby Nankai subduction zone and the region's earthquakes. Credit: Adrien Arnulf. The Kumano Pluton is in southern Japan near the Nankai subduction zone. A research team led by The University of Texas at Austin compiled seismic data to create a 3D model of the Earth beneath the study area. Credit: UT Jackson School of Geosciences In addition to shedding light on how the pluton may be influencing how and where earthquakes occur, the study is a major demonstration of how big data could revolutionize earthquake science. Arnulf envisions the same methods being used to make regional-scale images in other areas, such as northeast Japan, New Zealand, and Cascadia in the U.S. Pacific Northwestall of which have subduction zones known to host the Earth's largest earthquakes. More information: Adrien F. Arnulf et al, Upper-plate controls on subduction zone geometry, hydration and earthquake behaviour, Nature Geoscience (2022). Adrien F. Arnulf et al, Upper-plate controls on subduction zone geometry, hydration and earthquake behaviour,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41561-021-00879-x An international team led by researchers at the University of Huddersfield has used ancient DNA to rewrite the history of the Orkney islands. The research has been published by the official journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and is entitled Ancient DNA at the edge of the world: Continental immigration and the persistence of Neolithic male lineages in Bronze Age Orkney by Katharina Dulias, George Foody, Pierre Justeau et al. Credit: Graeme Wilson An international team led by researchers at the University of Huddersfield has used ancient DNA to rewrite the history of the Orkney islands to show that Orkney actually experienced large-scale immigration during the Early Bronze Age, which replaced much of the local population. The project was a close collaboration between genetic researchers in Huddersfield and Edinburgh, led by Professor Martin Richards and Dr. Ceiridwen Edwards, and archaeologists living and working on Orkney. Orkney is world-famous for its archaeological heritage. Around 5,000 years ago, during the Neolithic period when farming first took hold, it was a hugely influential cultural center. With many superbly preserved stone dwellings, temples and megalithic monuments, and a style of ceramics that appears to have spread out across Britain and Ireland, it has even been described as "Britain's ancient capital." Over the thousand years that followed however, as Europe moved into the Bronze Age, it has been widely viewed that somehow Orkney became left behind. Its influence dwindled and the islands became more insular. But with fewer archaeological remains to study, much less was known about this time. By combining archaeology with the study of ancient DNA from Bronze Age human remains from the Links of Noltland site, on the remote northern island of Westray, researchers now know much more about this time than ever before, and the results have come as a great surprise to geneticists and archaeologists alike. Firstly, despite the supposed insularity, the team has shown that Orkney experienced large-scale immigration during the Early Bronze Age, which replaced much of the local population. The new arrivals were probably the first to speak Indo-European languages, and carried genetic ancestry derived in part from pastoralists living on the steppe lands north of the Black Sea. This mirrored what was happening in the rest of Britain and Europe in the third millennium BC. But the researchers found a fascinating difference that makes Orkney highly distinctive. Across most of Europe, the expansion of pastoralists on the eve of the Bronze Age was typically led by men, with women being sucked into the expanding populations from local farming groups. But in Orkney the researchers found exactly the opposite. The Bronze Age newcomers were mainly women, while male lineages from the original Neolithic population survived for at least another thousand yearssomething not seen anywhere else. These Neolithic lineages, however, were replaced from the Iron Age and are vanishingly rare today. But why was Orkney so different? Dr. Graeme Wilson and Hazel Moore of the Orkney-based EASE Archaeology, who excavated the Links of Noltland, argue that the answer may lie in the long-term stability and self-sufficiency of farmsteads on Orkney, which the genetic data suggests may have already been male dominated by the peak of the Neolithic. When a Europe-wide recession hit towards the end of the Neolithic, they may have been uniquely placed to weather harsher times and maintain their grip on the population as newcomers arrived. This implies that Orkney was much less insular than has long been assumed, and that there was a protracted period of negotiation between the indigenous males and the newcomers from the south, over many generations. "This shows that the third-millennium BC expansion across Europe was not a monolithic process but was more complex and varied from place to place," explained Dr. George Foody, one of the lead researchers on the project from the University of Huddersfield. The results have been surprising for both the archaeologists and geneticists on the team, although for different reasons: the archaeologists did not expect such large-scale immigration, whereas the geneticists did not foresee survival of the Neolithic male lineages. The University's Director of the Evolutionary Genomics Research Center Professor Martin Richards said: "This research shows how much we still have to learn about one of the most momentous events in European prehistoryhow the Neolithic came to an end." The research has been published by the official journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and is titled "Ancient DNA at the edge of the world: Continental immigration and the persistence of Neolithic male lineages in Bronze Age Orkney," by Katharina Dulias, George Foody, Pierre Justeau et al. Explore further Archaeologists discover almost 40 new monuments close to Newgrange More information: Ancient DNA at the edge of the world: Continental immigration and the persistence of Neolithic male lineages in Bronze Age Orkney, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2022). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Ancient DNA at the edge of the world: Continental immigration and the persistence of Neolithic male lineages in Bronze Age Orkney,(2022). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2108001119 IceBird Summer 2020. Credit: Esther Horvath/MOSAiC Hundreds of international researchers are currently analyzing observations from the one-year MOSAiC expedition, during which hundreds of environmental parameters were recorded with unprecedented accuracy and frequency over a full annual cycle in the Central Arctic Ocean. They have now published three overview articles on the MOSAiC atmosphere, snow and sea ice, and ocean programs in the journal Elementa, highlighting the importance of examining all components of the climate system together. These results present the first complete picture of the climate processes in the central Arctic which is warming more than two times as fast as the rest of the planetprocesses which affect weather and climate worldwide. Diminishing sea ice is a symbol of ongoing global warming: In the Arctic, its extent has almost halved in summer since satellite records began in the 1980s. Less well studied but equally relevant are the thickness and other properties of the ice. The question of what this means for the future Arctic and how these changes will affect the global climate were the impetus for the historic MOSAiC expedition with the German research icebreaker Polarstern from September 2019 to October 2020. With these results coming out now, the researchers are building the most complete observation-based picture of climate processes in the Arctic, where the surface air temperature has been rising more than two times as fast as on the rest of the planet since the 1970s. To study the relevant processes for a full year required a special concept, in part because the Central Arctic Ocean is still ice-covered in winter and therefore difficult to access. During the expedition, the icebreaker froze to a large ice floe and drifted with the natural transpolar drift across the Arctic Ocean. And this is where the first surprises came. "We found more dynamic and faster drifting pack ice than expected. This not only challenged the teams on the ground in their daily work, but above all resulted in changed sea-ice properties and sea-ice thickness distributions," reports Dr. Marcel Nicolaus, sea-ice physicist at the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) and co-leader of Team Ice in the MOSAiC project. One of the reasons for the rapid drift is provided by the analysis of the atmospheric research team: "Near the surface there were particularly low temperatures and associated persistent strong winds in the winter months that pushed Polarstern faster than expected. Large-scale atmospheric pressure and wind patterns in January to March led to a particularly strong polar vortex around the Arctic, in addition to a record ozone hole in the Arctic stratosphere," explains Dr. Matthew Shupe, atmospheric scientist at CIRES at the University of Colorado and NOAA and co-leader of Team Atmosphere. The oceanography team is analyzing how atmosphere and sea ice changes are related to the water temperature and salinity. "We observe an increasing connection between the upper ocean and the deeper warm water layers in the Central Arctic Ocean, year-round," reports Dr. Celine Heuze, physical oceanographer at the University of Gothenburg and co-leader of the MOSAiC Team Ocean. "We were able to fully map ocean eddies over a complete annual cycle during the expedition. Nearly simultaneous measurements from Polarstern, our camp set up next to it on the ice and the distributed network up to 50 kilometers away from the ship provide the first assessment of small-scale events up to the regional scale," adds Dr. Benjamin Rabe, co-leader of the MOSAiC Team Ocean and physical oceanographer at the AWI. Autonomous sensors were mounted on, in and under the ice to provide coordinated measurements of properties like temperature, winds or currents in the atmosphere, in the sea ice and down to several hundred meters in the ocean below. Atmospheric winds push the ice and cause snow to drift. The researchers investigated in detail how the winds affect the sea ice, for example, by recording the tension in the ice and measuring cracks and the height of the rising ice ridges. These properties in turn influence where and how snow is deposited or swept away. Snow stands out for its extreme physical properties, as it insulates the sea ice against the atmosphere, reflects most of the sun light and contains of fresh water. "We were able to show how short-term atmospheric events (storms in winter, warm spells in spring, meltwater fluxes in summer or rainfall in autumn) have large effects on the snow and sea-ice properties over the coming months," Marcel Nicolaus describes the current findings. "We found larger spatial variations in the snow cover than expected, due to atmospheric processes and the structure of the underlying sea ice. This extreme variability means that we have to consider the snow in much more detail for future model simulations and the interpretation of satellite observations. As we have also been able to make remote sensing measurements on the ice, thesecombined with the detailed snow and ice observationspave the way for new and improved sea-ice observations from upcoming satellite missions. In addition, this enables a better uncertainty assessment of existing satellite time series," the AWI sea-ice physicist continues. Atmospheric scientist Matthew Shupe adds: "During MOSAiC, we observed more than 20 Arctic cyclones, or storms, of various scales that passed over our ice floe. We have described these events in unprecedented detail, characterizing the vertical wind structure and momentum transfer to the sea ice and ocean, leading to sea-ice movement and fracture. During these events, the impacts of warm air masses moving into the Central Arctic with their associated clouds caused significant shifts in all components of the surface energy balance, affecting the sea-ice temperature, growth, and/or melt. Additionally, year-round information on the variability of atmospheric composition and aerosols provides new insights into the relative influences of long-range transport versus local processes, with important implications for climate-relevant cycles (e.g. the carbon cycle), clouds, and the radiative balance." The three overview articles serve as references for a vast array of future scientific work. "The physical observations are the basis for interpreting biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem processes, and for supporting coupled models that we use to learn even more about climate feedbacks and the global repercussions of Arctic change. These changes can affect weather and climate worldwide," says Prof. Markus Rex, head of MOSAiC and atmospheric scientist at the AWI. "It is fascinating how accurately we can map individual processes and relate them to each other. I am pleased to see how several hundred MOSAiC participants have collaborated on these publications. International cooperation with expedition participants from so many countries continues productively in a highly coordinated manner, even though the expedition has been over for more than a year. In this way, we will be able to provide ever more important insights into climate change, which will provide a knowledge base for societal transformation towards a sustainable approach to planet Earth," says MOSAiC leader Markus Rex. Background information on MOSAiC During the Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) expedition, experts from 20 nations explored the Arctic for an entire year. From autumn 2019 to autumn 2020, the German research icebreaker Polarstern drifted frozen in the ice through the Arctic Ocean. MOSAiC was coordinated by the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI). In order to make this unique project a success and to obtain the most valuable data possible, more than 80 institutes had pooled their resources in a research consortium. The total cost of the expedition was about 150 million euros, mostly funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Explore further Scientists moor ship in Arctic ice for a year to better understand climate change More information: Marcel Nicolaus et al, Overview of the MOSAiC expedition, Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene (2022). Marcel Nicolaus et al, Overview of the MOSAiC expedition,(2022). DOI: 10.1525/elementa.2021.000046 Matthew D. Shupe et al, Overview of the MOSAiC expeditionAtmosphere, Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene (2022). DOI: 10.1525/elementa.2021.00060 Shupe, M.D. et al, Overview of the MOSAiC expedition: Physical oceanography. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene (2022). DOI: doi.org/10.1525/elementa.2021.00062 Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Anger is a key emotion in understanding public opinion towards crime and punishment: it is frequently mobilized in public discourse and is elicited by specific incidents. But what role do emotions play in questions of punishment for crime? In a new article published in Psychology, Crime & Law, a research team from the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), University of Ottawa and McGill University, were able to quantify for the first time that individuals deciding whether a criminalized person should be incarcerated, experienced an almost instantaneous emotional reaction. "We are very excited about these findings because it allows us to show when and how emotion emerges when making decisions regarding punishment for crime," says lead researcher, Carolyn Cote-Lussier, who is a professor of urban studies at INRS and an assistant professor in the Department of Criminology at the University of Ottawa. She conducted this research at the INSPIRE Laboratory , while she was at the University of Ottawa. An innovative approach in criminology "There is a growing interest in intuitive anger, in the field of criminology but there is absolutely no one who has been able to measure it. We succeeded," states Professor Cote-Lussier. The researchers used a technology called facial electromyography (fEMG) to measure, in microvolts, the activation of muscles that are responsible for frowning. Participants (87 students) were asked to decide, whether or not, a pictured individual should be given a prison or non-prison sentence. They were asked to make this decision as quickly as possible based on their gut reaction to nearly 50 pictures of criminalized men. Although it took an average of 1.3 seconds to make a punitive decision, anger was apparent within less than a second (0.5 seconds). The speed of this angry emotional response suggests it is automatic and effortless. "The research shows that the experience of anger is apparent before an individual can formulate an opinion about a specific crime or about the current crime rate, or even the purpose of sending someone to prison," explains co-author on the project, Jean-Denis David, who is a Ph.D. student in Sociology at McGill University. Moreover, this angry emotional reaction was stronger when responding to a pictured individual that resembled a "stereotypical criminal." These criminalized individuals tend to be seen as being less warm, more callous, and also as having a low social status, for instance having low educational attainment or a low paying job. Emotions over facts Previous research led by Professor Cote-Lussier in 2013 has shown that criminalized individuals with angry facial expressions were more likely to be punished harshly. However, it lacked the capacity to show that intuitive angry reactions led to such decisions. "Part of what this research does is to remind us that we can't get rid of emotion. It's omnipresent," adds Cote-Lussier. "I want policy makers to keep that in mind, especially when analyzing opinion polls. If we can become aware of our biases, our emotions, it could help us have a more critical eye." The researchers are working on additional analyses linking these reactions to broader attitudes toward criminal justice policy. "We want to demonstrate that when people say we should punish crime more harshly, they are relying on intuitive emotional reactions and not on cold hard facts about crime" says Cote-Lussier. About the study The article "Intuitive anger in the context of crime and punishment," by Carolyn Cote-Lussier et Jean-Denis David, was published on January 17, 2022 in the journal Psychology, Crime & Law. Explore further Autistic people find it harder to identify anger in facial expressions, new study shows More information: Carolyn Cote-Lussier et al, Intuitive anger in the context of crime and punishment, Psychology, Crime & Law (2022). Carolyn Cote-Lussier et al, Intuitive anger in the context of crime and punishment,(2022). DOI: 10.1080/1068316X.2022.2027946 Provided by Institut national de la recherche scientifique - INRS The Remarkable Rocks on Kangaroo Island, South Australia. Credit: Dinkum/Wikimedia Commons, CC0 1.0 South Australia's parks are quickly becoming the jewel in the crown of the state's tourism offering with a new report highlighting the economic worth on top of the conservation value. The report shows South Australia's national parks and reserves contribute more than $374 million to the state economy every year, supporting thousands of jobs across South Australia. The innovative study, undertaken by the State Government in collaboration with the University of Adelaide's Centre for Global Food and Resources, School of Economics and Public Policy, used real visitor data and contemporary economic analyses to determine the economic value of nature-based tourism in the state's parks and reserves. Premier Steven Marshall said the report reveals for the first time just how substantial a driver of economic growth our parks and reserves are, supporting 1,211 private sector jobs in regional communities. "Every dollar spent on park management is returning a $10 benefit to South Australia's economy, supporting thousands of local jobs," Premier Marshall said. "South Australia's national parks are wonderful places to visit and we all know just how important they are from an environmental, recreational and health and well-being standpoint. "South Australia has always been well known for its beautiful wineries and stunning beaches, but our parks are quickly becoming the jewel in the crown of our tourism offerings. "Adelaide has recently been recognized as the most liveable city in Australia and as the world's second National Park City and our network of parks is a key reason for this." Associate Professor Adam Loch from the University of Adelaide's Centre for Global Food and Resources was involved in the modeling work to examine the indirect economic contribution driven by visitation to South Australia's parks. "Beyond the revenue from the parks themselves, there are also a wide-range of indirect benefits to the local economy. This includes revenue raised by visitor spending on items such as accommodation, food and fuel at nearby businesses," said Associate Professor Loch. "Our economic modeling includes this revenue and also the value of the local employment opportunities created from flow-on spending." Minister for Environment and Water David Speirs said South Australia is developing a reputation for world-class nature-based tourism. "We know just how much South Australians value green, open space and the Marshall Liberal Government is undertaking a record expansion of national parks backed up by the biggest ever government investment to boost conservation, improve the visitor experience and create jobs," Minister Speirs said. "We have always known the environmental and social benefits that national parks bring and for the first time we now know the economic value as well. "South Australian park visitor numbers have gone through the roof over the past couple of years with more and more people choosing to explore what our great state has to offer. South Australia has nature like nowhere else, and we want to share it with the world. "Importantly for our rural communities, the data also shows that for every dollar a visitor spends in a park, they inject a further $23 into the state's regional economy." Minister Speirs said by using 201819 data, the study establishes a crucial pre-COVID pandemic benchmark that will enable researchers to track parks visitor use and the associated economic contribution in future years once border restrictions and lockdowns are removed. "The data shows that interstate and international activity generated 76 percent of all visitor revenue traveling to and enjoying South Australian parks and reserves in the year prior to the pandemic," Minister Speirs said. A case study on the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail shows that infrastructure investment in parks yields a high return on investment, with the economic benefits outweighing the cost of initial investment in a short timeframe. This study shows that the new Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail was cash flow positive before it was damaged by the 201920 bushfires. Now that borders have reopened, Kangaroo Island's key visitor segment is likely to return, driving further economic benefit of the rebuilding efforts currently underway. The findings presented in this study are conservative and do not capture our parks' total economic contribution. "We know some of our parks visitors stay off-park in other regional accommodation, and revenue made by parks tour operators has not been included in this study. Contribution from all of these visitors benefit regional economies, supporting local regional businesses," Minister Speirs said. "Future studies will investigate the economic contribution of health, well-being and ecosystem benefits that support industry and South Australian businesses." The report summaries can be accessed online. Explore further What COVID-19 travel bans have done to conservation tourism in Africa The endangered California red-legged frog is highly susceptible to chytridiomycosis. Credit: CONSERVACION DE FAUNA DEL NOROESTE There's a pandemic sweeping across the globe. No, not COVID, a different one. For decades, a brutal fungal infection has been decimating amphibians worldwide. "We call it a panzootic," said Andrea Adams, an assistant researcher in the Earth Research Institute at UC Santa Barbara. "It's like a pandemic, only with animals." Scientists are hard at work investigating the disease's origin, trajectory, genetics and impact in an effort to safeguard vulnerable and valuable biodiversity. Biologists from Southern and Baja California have published the first major accountand most comprehensive studyof the amphibian disease chytridiomycosis in the Mediterranean region of Baja California. Their results, which appear in Global Ecology and Conservation, indicate that the disease is more prevalent on the peninsula than in similar areas of Southern California. "Contrary to what we had expected," said Adams, the lead author, "what's going on in Baja California is very different than what's going on with chytrid fungus in Southern California, where the species are pretty much the same, and the environment is very similar." Chytrids form a large group of mostly soil-dwelling fungi. They're quite common, and generally pose no harm. However, two species have evolved to infect the skin of amphibians. In highly infected animals, the skin responds by thickening. This has a downside. "You probably heard frogs drink through their skin," Adams said. It's true. They also exchange salts and minerals through their skin. So when their skin thickens, it can be a death sentence for many individuals. The team wanted to know what environmental and biological factors influence chytrid infection in Baja California, particularly at different elevations. Unfortunately, there has been little research on the topic in the Mediterranean region of Baja California. "We knew chytrid was here, but we didn't know how it was affecting different species or which variables mattered most," said co-author Anny Peralta-Garcia, director of Conservacion de Fauna del Noroeste, a nonprofit organization dedicated to research and conservation in Baja California, especially for less charismatic species. Along with UC Santa Barbara professor Cherie Briggs, Adams teamed up with Peralta-Garcia's group and Carlos A. Flores-Lopez, a researcher at the Autonomous University of Baja California, to carry out a survey of the disease in local frogs. The scientists collected samples quarterly from November 2015 to October 2016. They visited three sites in Baja California, each at a different elevation. The lowest is a perennial stream about 12 miles south of Ensenada. The area's hot springs make it a popular recreational spot. The middlemost location is about 2,000 feet up in the foothills of the Sierra San Pedro Martir, a mountain range in northern Baja California. Lastly, the team surveyed a mountain meadow 6,700 feet high in Sierra de San Pedro Martir National Park, where despite some impacts from livestock, native amphibians still appear to thrive. The Mexican team spent 2-3 days per location catching animals at night. They swabbed the frogs' skin to collect samples of the fungus, then released them back into the wild. Altogether, they collected enough data to analyze the disease prevalence and load in four species, including the endangered California red-legged frog and the invasive American bullfrog. "We found that when it comes to chytrid infection, the most important things are where you live and who you are," Adams said. In other words, elevation and species. Chytrid infections were more common and more intense at higher elevations, where the cooler, moister environment provides ideal conditions for the fungus. Some species are also more susceptible to the infection than others. For instance, the California red-legged frog was among the most infected, with the highest observed infection intensity and prevalence compared to other species. The team found that chytrid was much more prevalent in Baja California, where 68% of animals they surveyed had the fungus, compared to 15% in Southern California, as observed in a previous study. The difference was particularly striking for California red-legged frogs. In another study in Southern California, only 30% of the species was infected. "In Baja California, we found that 99% of the California red-legged frogs at the highest-elevation site were infected," Adams remarked. Not only was the disease more prevalent, infected animals also carried a higher pathogen load in Baja California. The team was curious when the fungus first arrived in Baja California. If it appeared recently, that could help explain the high infection intensities compared with Southern California. "When the fungus first arrives to a place it can cause die-offs and declines in susceptible species," Adams explained. Fortunately, the San Diego Natural History Museum has a wealth of amphibian specimens from Baja California that the team used to investigate the history of chytrid's arrival. The scientists found the fungus in specimens collected as early as 1932. Previous research found the earliest record of chytrid detection from Baja California is 1926. For comparison, the first record of the fungus in Southern California was found in specimens from Los Angeles County in 1915. This makes some sense, as invasive species often arrive at ports of entry and then fan out into the landscape. The combined ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are the largest on the West Coast. So, if chytrid has been in both placesBaja California and Southern Californiafor about the same amount of time, what could explain the differences the team found? Much like the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the chytrid fungus has evolved over time. As the fungus mutates and adapts, more virulent or infectious strains may emerge in different locations. Understanding what's going on will require long-term monitoring, tracking individuals over time and establishing baselines. "These data help us prioritize sites that need conservation actions," Peralta-Garcia said. "For example, La Grulla, our highest elevation site, needs to continue to be monitored for disease." The group is continuing their sampling and rehabilitation work, though getting samples tested will require more funding. "Right now, our main focus is trying to increase populations of California red-legged frogs in Baja California and Southern California," Peralta-Garcia said. They've had success reintroducing eggs, which lack keratin, so are not susceptible to the fungus, to historical sites in California. This means eggs can't transfer the fungus from one site to another. Adams does similar work in the United States. "Anny and I are actually doing very similar things," she said. "We are both working to find the best ways to bring these frogs back to places they've disappeared from, and we learn a lot from each other." Chytrid is always part of the discussion, she added. "We can still be moving forward on chytrid questions and chytrid monitoring, while also trying to remedy species declines." More information: Andrea J. Adams et al, High fungal pathogen loads and prevalence in Baja California amphibian communities: The importance of species, elevation, and historical context, Global Ecology and Conservation (2021). Andrea J. Adams et al, High fungal pathogen loads and prevalence in Baja California amphibian communities: The importance of species, elevation, and historical context,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01968 A small tributary to the Congo River in the so-called Cuvette Centrale, a large depression of the Congo Basin characterized by swamps and wetlands. Credit: M. Barthel / ETH Zurich The Congo Basin is the second-largest contiguous tropical forest area on earth. Even though it is so vast and plays such a major role in the global climate system, there is no empirical data on the forest's gas exchange with the atmosphere. Especially with regard to the greenhouse gases nitrous oxide and methane, research is still in the dark. Other tropical forests are known to be a major source of nitrous oxide and a sink for methane. But because comparable data are lacking for the Congo, the study of how these greenhouse gases behave there has so far been limited to modeling. The data used for the models comes from the Amazon, Indonesia and the tropical part of Australia; thus, scientists assumed until today that the Congo Basin behaved similarly to these other tropical forests. Now, an international research team led by ETH Professor Johan Six has partly filled this blank spot. In an elaborate and difficult measurement campaign lasting several years, the scientists determined how much methane and nitrous oxide the tropical forest of the Congo Basin absorbs or releases. Their studyone of the first available on the subject for that part of the worldhas just been published in the journal Nature Communications. Between 2016 and 2020, the researchers measured gas fluxes at multiple sites in three different forest types in the Congo Basin. The forest types studied include montane forest, lowland tropical forest and periodically flooded swamp forest. Divergent gas fluxes This shows for the first time that the gas fluxes of the tropical forests of the Congo Basin differ from those of other tropical regions of the world. For example, nitrous oxide emissions from the forest are comparatively low. "This was unexpected," says Matti Barthel, a research associate with Six and the study's lead author. "Our measurements from both the first short measurement campaigns and subsequent long-term studies didn't confirm the model assumptions," he says. The situation is different for methane. According to the models, the Congo Basin should be a methane sink. The ETH researchers were able to confirm this for the montane and lowland tropical forests. However, because the much smaller swamp forests of the Congo Basin periodically emit enormous amounts of this greenhouse gas, the Congolese tropical forest as a whole seem to be a source of methane. During the rainy season, swamp forests emit up to 1,500 times more methane than during the dry season, negating the sink capacity of the other two forest types. To understand why the Congo Basin forest behaves differently with respect to these climate gases, the researchers "looked into the soil," as Six says. In one study, they studied microorganisms and their functions, and for another, the isotopic composition of the nitrogen in the nitrous oxide. Both studies suggest that soil microbes convert most nitrous oxide to gaseous nitrogen (N 2 ) in order to generate energy for their metabolism. This removes this potent greenhouse gas from the atmosphere. N 2 itself is harmlessit makes up 80 percent of the atmosphere. Research under different conditions For this study, the ETH researchers conducted the first ever gas measurements in the Congo Basin. "Africa is underrepresented in such climate gas measurements, and the Congo Basin is particularly poorly researched," Barthel says. To his knowledge, there is only one study for this area, dating from 1963, by Belgian researchers. Not only did research in Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of Congo, collapse almost completely after Mobutu took power, but the huge equatorial country is still rather poorly accessible and its infrastructure is in a parlous state. Professor Six began the preliminary work for this study in 2008/09, taking part in two expeditions to the Congo River. Given the results from these two expeditions, he asked Barthel to study the flow of gas from this tropical foresta missing piece in the global carbon cycle puzzle. Barthel conducted initial measurements in 2016 as part of a two-month scouting expedition. This expedition took him to the Kivu region in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The data analyses showed him that surprisingly little nitrous oxide was escaping into the atmosphere from the montane forest. Permanent observations carried out for the first time In subsequent years, Barthel and local scientists set up two permanent monitoring stations, one in the region around Kisangani, the other in Kahuzi-Biega National Park, eastern Congo. There, gas exchange between the atmosphere and the ground was then measured during several seven- to 14-day measurement campaigns throughout the year. From 2019 to 2020, the researchers operated an additional measurement station in the western part of the country, in the swamp forests of what is known as the Cuvette Centrale. "Methane emissions there were exorbitant at times," Barthel says. These swamp forests occupy only about 7 percent of the total tropical forest area in the Congo Basin, but emit such a large amount of methane that it more than compensates for the negative emissions of the rest of the forest, the researcher says. "During the first scouting expedition, we quickly realized that we wouldn't be able to use high-tech measuring equipment," Barthel says, adding that the general supply situation is too poor, with no way to obtain spare parts if anything broke. The power supply is also not stable, he says, "so we worked with devices that are as easy to use, reliable and robust as possible, and that can run on batteries." Researchers from local universities supervised the measuring stations. Local employees also took gas samples, filled them into vials and sent them to Zurich for laboratory analysis. Of the more than 6,500 samples, not a single one was broken or lost during transport. "That's almost a miracle, because often, the cardboard boxes in which the tubes were sent on their journey definitely looked the worse for wear," Barthel says. Explore further Smallholder clearing found to be dominant reason for forest loss in the Congo Basin More information: Matti Barthel et al, Low N2O and variable CH4 fluxes from tropical forest soils of the Congo Basin, Nature Communications (2022). Journal information: Nature Communications Matti Barthel et al, Low N2O and variable CH4 fluxes from tropical forest soils of the Congo Basin,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-27978-6 Credit: CC0 Public Domain Most of the Great Lakes will remain above their long-term average water levels in the coming months but won't reach the record highs of recent years, Army Corps of Engineers hydrologists said in their latest forecast. "We're well below the record high levels we experienced in 2019 and 2020," Detroit District Great Lakes Watershed Hydrology Chief Keith Kompoltowicz said. "And our forecast does not show the likelihood of any of the lakes really approaching those record highs again over the next six months." The Detroit District released its latest monthly lake level bulletin Friday. Hydrologists reviewed January lake levels and weather patterns and projected a range of possible water levels for each lake over the next six months. All of the Great Lakes declined somewhat in January, hydrologists found. The region experienced less precipitation than usual that month. Drier than average weather, particularly in 2021, has caused lake levels to decline from their record highs, Kompoltowicz said. The area around Lake Superior has been particularly dry, pushing the northerly lake below its average water levels. It likely will remain below average in the next six months, hydrologists found. "We've see very dry and even extremely dry over the Lake Superior basin, while the other lakes have been closer to average but still dry weather," he said. Conversely, Lake Ontario could reach close to record high levels in the coming months, hydrologists found. Its watershed has experienced wetter weather conditions than other parts of the region, Kompoltowicz said. Lakes Michigan and Huron, technically one lake, and Lake Erie will continue to get closer to their long-term average water level this year, hydrologists found. They will trend away from the high water records set in 2019 and 2020. The snow storm that swept through the Midwest last week wasn't strong enough to fuel an increase, said Andrew Gronewold, a hydrologist and associate professor of ecosystem science at the University of Michigan. "It's really hard to look at any one event, like the one we just had, and map it onto a noticeable long-term change in water levels," he said. Two factors play a major role in determining Great Lakes water levels, he said: precipitation, which adds water to the lakes, and evaporation, which takes it out. Both are expected to increase as the climate warms. More precipitation could fuel surges in water levels, while warmer temperatures could increase evaporation and fuel declines in water levels. They might balance each other out in the long term, but Gronewold said Great Lakes levels are expected to fluctuate more between extreme highs and lows as the climate warms. "Over short time periods, they're not necessarily going to be offsetting each other on yearly or monthly time scales," he said. "That's when we would expect to see big swings in water levels." Ice started to form on the lakes in January, far behind schedule. It is causing a problem in the St. Clair River, where residents have reported rising water levels caused by ice jams, the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Detroit said Thursday. The river isn't flooding, but there is an ice plug in the river. The Canadian and U.S. coast guards are working together to break the ice jam. 2022 detroitnews.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain A college degree has long been touted as the great equalizer in our country, but a new Portland State University study suggests that the rising tuition and subsequent debt burdens that families shoulder limit the power of higher education to reduce socioeconomic disparities between children from different family backgrounds. Using data from the National Survey of College Graduates, sociology postdoctoral fellow Byeongdon "Don" Oh examined whether parents' socioeconomic status is related to their children's student loan repayment after graduation. The study found that college graduates from lower-income families are more likely to hold a large amount of educational debt in adulthood compared to their counterparts from higher-income families, holding the amount borrowed, educational outcomes, occupation, earnings, and other socioeconomic attainment constant. This can then have negative ripple effects on a graduate's financial investment, savings, home ownership and wealth accumulation. While Oh's findings support the idea that universal student debt forgivenesssomething the Biden administration is consideringwould alleviate the educational debt burdens for college graduates from lower-income families, he cautions that it's only a temporary fix. "Even though we may have one-time student loan forgiveness, new generations will still go to college and considering rising college tuition, they'll have to borrow more than previous generations and the inequalities will be reproduced over and over again," Oh said. "The fundamental solution would be to provide more accessible financial aid for college students from lower-income families." Portland State is addressing financial aid accessibility through programs such as Four Years Free. There are two sides to the ongoing debate on student debt cancelation programs: Opponents argue that these programs are regressive because they would help an already privileged group, while others have found evidence that universal student loan forgiveness would provide more benefits to the disadvantaged groups. Oh's study supports the latter by showing that the same amount of debt could be more burdensome for college graduates from lower-income families. As rising college tuition increases the amount college students borrow, parents' background and socioeconomic status plays an increasingly important role in a college graduate's ability to pay off their loans, Oh said. During hard times like a pandemic, children from higher-income families can alleviate their economic distress to some extent by relying on their families' affluence, a resource that may not be available to their peers from lower-income families. Oh said that while it's still true that higher education can increase the chance of upward mobility for children from lower-income families and provide them paths toward a high-paying job, their life chances will remain relatively restricted if they hold more education debt than their peers from higher-income families after graduation. Explore further Student loans linked to greater harm for parents who borrow for their children than people who borrow for themselves More information: Byeongdon Oh, Do Parents Matter for Student Loan Repayment after Graduation?, Socius: Sociological Research for a Dynamic World (2022). Byeongdon Oh, Do Parents Matter for Student Loan Repayment after Graduation?,(2022). DOI: 10.1177/23780231211072683 Credit: CC0 Public Domain With the federal government planning to hold the largest sale of offshore wind farm leases in the nation's history, a new Cornell University study could help inform the development of offshore wind farms by providing detailed models characterizing the frequency, intensity and height of low-level jet streams over the U.S. Atlantic coastal zone. The research was published in the journal Energies. The study finds that jet streams do occur low enough to reach wind turbine rotor planes at planned wind farms offshore from the U.S. East Coast, according to co-author Jeanie Aird, doctoral student in the Barthelmie Wind Energy Laboratory at Cornell. Low-level jetsfast-moving currents of air in the lowest 2 kilometers of the atmospherecan have pros and cons for wind turbines. They usually result in an increase in wind speed which can improve turbine performance, such as power output, but they can also increase the loads on turbine blades and towers with higher wind shear and turbulence. Understanding their occurrence is important for planning wind turbine longevity and power production. Aird analyzed two years of simulations from the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model provided by Sara C. Pryor, professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Cornell. She found that low-level jets occur more frequently at the offshore wind energy lease areas south of Massachusetts than those in the New York Bight (stretching roughly from coastal New Jersey to eastern Long Island) and further south. "Our study specifically focuses on low-level jets that occur with maxima at approximately 500 meters or below," Aird said, "since at lower heights they are more likely to interact with wind turbines." Aird found that the low-level jets can occur at approximately 150 meters above sea level, which means that they are likely to interact with offshore wind turbines planned for the U.S. East Coast. For example, turbines selected for the Vineyard Wind farm off the coast of Massachusetts have a hub height of 140 meters. "Our analysis provides maps of low-level jet occurrence showing these phenomena occur up to 12% of the time in the late spring and early summer when there are strong horizontal temperature gradients," Aird said. "We hope this research will assist offshore wind farm developers and we are working to develop a predictive method for low-level jet occurrence." Prior to this research there was uncertainty about how frequently low-level jets would occur in this area, or their speeds and heights, due to a relative lack of wind climatology measurements for the East Coast. This study is unique in that the team utilized two years of high-resolution WRF data over a wide geographical domain, covering 13 of the 16 planned offshore lease areas to analyze the low-level jets. Explore further US to hold largest-ever offshore wind farm auction next month More information: Jeanie A. Aird et al, Occurrence of Low-Level Jets over the Eastern U.S. Coastal Zone at Heights Relevant to Wind Energy, Energies (2022). Jeanie A. Aird et al, Occurrence of Low-Level Jets over the Eastern U.S. Coastal Zone at Heights Relevant to Wind Energy,(2022). DOI: 10.3390/en15020445 Recreation of Abditosaurus kuehnei life appearance. Credit: Oscar Sanisidro / Museu de la Conca Della Researchers from the Institut Catala de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont (ICP), the Conca Della Museum (MCD), the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB), the University of Zaragoza (UNIZAR) and the NOVA University of Lisbon (UNL) have described the new species of titanosaur dinosaur Abditosaurus kuehnei from the remains excavated at the Orcau-1 site, in the southern Pyrenees (Catalonia, Spain). The semiarticulated 70.5-million-year-old skeleton is the most complete specimen of this herbivorous group of dinosaurs discovered so far in Europe. Moreover, Abditosaurus is the largest titanosaur species found in the Ibero-Armorican island an ancient region nowadays comprising Iberia and the south of France representing a senescent individual estimated to be 17.5 meters in length with body mass of 14,000 kg. It is precisely the size of this giant one of the most surprising facts to researchers. "Titanosaurs from the Upper Cretaceous of Europe tend to be small or medium-sized due to their evolution in insular conditions," explained Bernat Vila, paleontologist at the ICP leading the research. During the Upper Cretaceous (between 83 and 66 million years ago), Europe was a large archipelago made up of dozens of islands. The species that evolved there tend to be relatively small, or even dwarves compared to their relatives living in large landmasses, due primarily to the limitation of food resources in islands. "It is a recurring phenomenon in the history of life on Earth, we have several examples worldwide in the fossil record of this evolutionary trend. That's why we were astonished by the large dimensions of this specimen," said Vila. The fieldwork conducted over several decades unearthed 53 skeletal elements of the specimen. These include several teeth, vertebrae, ribs, and limb, scapular and pelvic bones, as well as a semiarticulated fragment of the neck formed by 12 cervical vertebrae. "We were really lucky, it is unusual to find such complete specimens in the Pyrenees due to its troubled geologic history," explains Angel Galobart, ICP researcher and director of the Conca Della Museum (Isona, Catalonia). Fossil preparation process at the Museu de la Conca Della, in Isona. Credit: Meritxell Bellera The excavation of the neck in 2014 was a technical challenge. Once prepared for extraction, the neck was encased in a large block of polyurethane foam, becoming one of the largest jackets ever excavated in Europe. The history of the research that has led to the description of the new species dates back to 1954, when German paleontologist Walter Kuhne collected the first remains and sent them to Madrid. The site fell into oblivion until 1986, when some more remains began to be extracted until a great storm forced the cancelation of the excavation. Subsequently, fieldwork on the site fell again into oblivion until a paleontologist from the ICP resumed systematic excavations in Orcau-1. The story of this finding was featured in the 2017 documentary Europe's last giant. The generic name Abditosaurus means 'forgotten reptile' and the specific epithet kuehnei is a tribute to its discoverer. Neck extraction process at the Orcau-1 site. Credit: Ivan Mardones / Institut Catalan of Paleontology Miquel Crusafont A migrating dinosaur In their article published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, researchers conclude that Abditosaurus belongs to a group of saltasaurine titanosaurs from South America and Africa, different from the rest of European titanosaurs that are characterized by a smaller size. These authors hypothesize that the Abditosaurus lineage reached the Ibero-Armorican island taking advantage of a global drop in sea level that reactivated ancient migration routes between Africa and Europe. "Other evidence support the migration hypothesis," explains Albert Selles, paleontologist at the ICP and co-author of the article. "In the same site we have found eggshells of dinosaur species known to have inhabited Gondwana, the southernmost continent." The new finding is a major advance in the understanding of the evolution of sauropod dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous and brings a new perspective to the phylogenetic and paleobiogeographic puzzle of sauropods in the last 15 million years before their extinction. Silhouette of Abditosaurus kuehnei with the remains excavated in different excavation campaigns highlighted in different colors. The light pink color shows fossils excavated in the last century that were lost. Credit: Bernardo Gonzalez Riga. In addition to Vila, Selles and Galobart, Novella Razzolini (Institut Catala de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont and Conca Della Museum), Miguel Moreno (Museu de Lurinha and NOVA University of Lisbon), Inaki Canudo (Aragosaurus-IUCA Group, University of Zaragoza) and Alejandro Gil (Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona) participated in this study. "During the Jurassic and Cretaceous, Iberia was the point of connection between Eurasia, Africa and North America. Studying how Abditosaurus relates to the fauna of these continents helps us to understand when there were connections between them, and when they became isolated," says Miguel Moreno, researcher at the Museu de Lurinha and NOVA University of Lisbon that has performed the paleobiogeographic study. The large Cretaceous herbivores Titanosaurs are a group of sauropod dinosaurs that become very diverse and abundant in the terrestrial ecosystems of the Cretaceous. All of them were quadrupeds and phytophagous. Titanosaurs had a small and pointed skull, with small nail-shaped teeth used to uproot vegetation. Their body was robust, with forelimbs shorter than the hindlimbs and a long necks and tails. Some species sported a skin covered with bony plates named osteoderms that may have served as a protective shield or as a reserve of calcium. Different fossil remains of Abditosaurus kuehnei at the Orcau-1 site (a), the excavation process (b and c) and the neck after fossil preparation (d). Credit: Institut Catala de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont (ICP) The paleontological sites within the Catalan Pyrenees have provided exceptional dinosaur fossils over the last century. Research is especially significant as its fossil record includes the last vertebrate faunas, including non-avian dinosaurs, that lived in Europe right before the global extinction event that took place 66 million years ago. Explore further Three fossils shed light on dinosaurs in China More information: Bernat Vila, A titanosaurian sauropod with Gondwanan affinities in the latest Cretaceous of Europe, Nature Ecology & Evolution (2022). www.nature.com/articles/s41559-021-01651-5 Journal information: Nature Ecology & Evolution Bernat Vila, A titanosaurian sauropod with Gondwanan affinities in the latest Cretaceous of Europe,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41559-021-01651-5 Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain In a new University of Houston study using an advanced remote imaging system known as synthetic aperture radar interferometry, three glaciers at the South Pole are being documented with levels of clarity and completeness never seen before. The new remote sensing data system is not just uncovering icy secrets from Earth's least explored continent, it also is raising alarms about global climate risksboth present and future. Documentation of the rapid and unprecedented retreat of the Pope, Smith and Kohler glaciers in West Antarctica's Amundsen Sea Embayment is detailed in an article published in Nature Geoscience. "Thanks to the new generation of radar satellite, we have been able in recent years to witness retreat rates faster than ever observed among glaciers around the world. That's a warning sign that things are not settling, not stabilizing at all. This could have severe implications for the equilibrium of the entire glacier system in this area," said radar scientist Pietro Milillo, assistant professor of civil engineering at UH and the article's lead author. In this ongoing international study of data collected via the TanDEM-X and COSMO-SkyMed satellites, Milillo is joined by University of California Irvine researchers and scientists from three national space agencies: NASA, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the Italian Space Agency (ASI). The research team plans to expand the scientific understanding it gains from the relatively small and less studied Pope, Smith and Kohler glaciers to their giant and fragile West Antarctica neighbors, the Thwaites and Pine Island glaciers, as well as to the entire Antarctic glacier system. "The issue here is that we found such a high retreat rateso high that we actually see these three smaller glaciers could actually capture the basin from the nearby Thwaites glacier, which would cause Thwaites to lose more mass," Milillo said. "In Antarctica, glaciers don't melt because of interaction with the sun. They melt because they accelerate and inject more ice into the ocean. That is one of the principal mechanisms of mass loss." At the southmost point of the Earth, the South Pole is in darkness most of the year. Its extreme weather means researchers can visit for only short periods of time, limiting their research. (Milillo points out Antarctica is so remote that most often the nearest humans are astronauts orbiting the earth aboard the International Space Station.) "Radar is perfect for those applications. The beauty of radar is that it can penetrate clouds. It can look in any weather condition. It is also an active sensor, so we don't have to rely on the light of the sun," he said. "In the past, we needed to wait several years in order to accumulate enough useful data. For that reason, we could observe only long-term trends. Now we can look at retreats on a monthly basis and can capture a new level of detail that will help improve glacier models, and in turn, refine our sea level rise estimates," Milillo said. Among those monthly measurements, the team measures bi-weekly elevation changes to assess retreat at a glacier's grounding line, the boundary on the underside of a glacier where frozen land meets warmer water. The grounding line becomes especially vulnerable because the warm water carves out an ice shelf that starts to float and could easily break completely away. "If all ice above floatation in Antarctica would melt, the sea level would go up on average by 58 meters (190 feet)," Milillo said. "If the signals we are looking at are confirmed, the mass loss from Antarctica, as well as Greenland, will rise. As they rise, the sea level will increase." "If all these glaciers melt, the sea water could raise rapidly. With 267 million people worldwide living on land less than 2 meters (6.6 feet) above sea level, an abrupt migration could result. Also, subsidence could eventually see large structures sinking in vulnerable locales, including Houston," Milillo said. "That's why people should care about this issue. Even if doesn't affect their life, it will affect their kid's life and their grandkid's life." For now, Milillo concentrates on the near future, including NASA's plans in 2023 to launch its NISAR satellite, designed to provide even more quantity and more frequent data acquisitions than the current state-of-the-art synthetic aperture radar. Also known as NASA-ISRO SAR, the satellite will measure the changes in ecosystems, dynamic surfaces and ice masses, providing Milillo and fellow scientists a bolder picture of our changeable Earth. Explore further Huge cavity in Antarctic glacier signals rapid decay More information: P. Milillo et al, Rapid glacier retreat rates observed in West Antarctica, Nature Geoscience (2022). Journal information: Nature Geoscience P. Milillo et al, Rapid glacier retreat rates observed in West Antarctica,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41561-021-00877-z Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Refugees are less likely to be employed the longer they live in the United States, despite unique and early access to employment services, according to new Cornell University research. Gaining lawful permanent residency status immediately helps refugees find jobs, but after five years their employment actually declines, researchers found in their study, "Explaining Refugee Employment Declines: Structural Shortcomings in Federal Resettlement Support." The paper, which published Jan. 5 in the journal Social Problems, was co-authored by Shannon Gleeson, professor and chair of the Cornell University Department of Labor Relations, Law and History, in the ILR School. "We find that declines in federal funding support, market-based mandates emphasizing rapid employment and quickly achieved self-sufficiency, and a patchwork of disparately funded and poorly networked support organizations all help explain why federal resettlement resources fall short in aiding the long-term employment prospects of refugees," the researchers wrote. "These results have important implications for studies of immigrant integration, state support for social welfare, and organizational sociology." The paper was co-authored by A. Nicole Kreisberg of the Harvard Center for Population and Developmental Studies and Els de Graauw of Baruch College. The researchers used two waves of the New Immigrant Survey, a nationally representative and longitudinal survey that tracks cohorts of new immigrants, including refugees, after they receive lawful permanent resident status. They also drew on interviews with 61 refugee-serving organizations across the country. The authors point to a steady decline in federal resettlement funding, notably after 9/11. During the 1980s, refugees could count on three years of government support, but that funding now lasts generally no more than six months. They also found that refugees' integration is hindered by the expectations to achieve self-sufficiency as quickly as possible. Instead of being given the time to learn English and find jobs that match their skills and abilities, refugees are funneled into low-paying jobs that do not offer long-term sustainable employment and offer few opportunities for upward mobility. Two types of refugee support organizationsthose that are funded by the federal government and focus on short-term resettlement, and those that help find long-term employment and draw on other funding sourcesrarely coordinate, the researchers found. As a result, refugees struggle to get employment assistance once their federally funded job placement support ends. "Based on our research, my co-authors and I argue that coordinating across organizations will allow refugees greater dignity and more independence as they resettle in the United States," Gleeson said. "Refugees are more likely to succeed with greater coordination. But organizations need state support to make that happen." Explore further Inadequate humanitarian funding increases refugees' risk of chronic poverty More information: A. Nicole Kreisberg et al, Explaining Refugee Employment Declines: Structural Shortcomings in Federal Resettlement Support, Social Problems (2021). A. Nicole Kreisberg et al, Explaining Refugee Employment Declines: Structural Shortcomings in Federal Resettlement Support,(2021). DOI: 10.1093/socpro/spab080 The Miami blue butterfly (Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri). Recent research suggests that changes in precipitation related to climate change will have a greater impact on the Miami blue population than changes in temperature. Credit: Jaret Daniels When we think of climate change, we often imagine how a warmer world will impact species, but a new study highlights the importance of changes in precipitation. The finding suggests that paying attention to the environmental triggers within each species' lifecycle will help us better understand how they will be affected by climate change. The research focused on the Miami blue butterfly (Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri), a federally-listed endangered species that exists solely in a pocket of habitat in southern Florida. Their federal status directs more resources towards their conservation, and understanding the Miami blue's lifecycle in relation to our changing climate is critical for predicting how they will fare in the future. Like many tropical insect species, the lifecycle of Miami blue butterflies includes a state called "diapause," when larvae suspend their development during dry conditions. The onset of the wet season triggers diapausing larvae to restart their development into adult butterflies. The duration of the dry period, and therefore the duration of diapause, can have a significant effect on population numbers. If larvae have a short diapause, then they are more likely to reach adulthood and reproduce than if there is a long dry season with an extended period of diapause. "We found that shifting rainfall patterns can determine whether the Miami blue butterfly populations grow or shrink, even without any other environmental variables changing," says Erica Henry, a postdoc in applied ecology at NC State and author of the study. "This is not only concerning for this rare butterfly, but for all insects in precipitation-driven systems. Both the tropics and rainfall patterns have been largely overlooked in the conversation about climate change and animal lifecycles." Recent research from NC State University suggests shifting rainfall patterns will determine whether the Miami blue butterfly populations grow or shrink, even without any other environmental variables changing. Credit: Neil McCoy Several species have precipitation-based environmental triggers within their lifecycles. And unlike temperature, which largely trends up under climate change, shifts in precipitation will be more varied and nuanced across the globe: some areas will dry out, some will become inundated, and some will see no change. And in some places, like southern Florida, it's uncertain how rainfall patterns will shift with climate change. To account for this, the researchers simulated future conditions using 20 different climate models to test how Miami blue populations would respond. In most of those tests, butterfly populations declined when rainfall was delayed and the diapause duration increased, even when all other environmental conditions did not change. "The tropics, and more specifically that fuzzy area we call the sub-tropics, covers an extremely diverse set of ecosystems that are much more sensitive to projected shifts in precipitation than temperature," says Adam Terando, a U.S. Geological Survey Research Ecologist and adjunct professor in the Department of Applied Ecology at NC State who co-authored the study. "The problem is, there's also a lot more uncertainty about those precipitation changes as the planet warms. We wanted to bring attention to these rainy-season ecosystems and demonstrate how linking climate science with ecology can give us new insights into what to expect in the future." This research is one of the first efforts to examine a tropical insect under climate change using the lens of precipitation rather than temperature. Tropical insect species in areas that are expected to dry under climate change will likely see similar impacts on their lifecycles, possible declines. In fact, changes in precipitation patterns may explain currently declining populations. "Climate change is happening everywhere," says Henry. "We can get a better handle on what actions may minimize the negative impacts to biodiversity by thinking more broadly about what that change really means in different parts of the globe." The article was published in the journal Climate Change Ecology. Explore further Interactions between humanmodified habitat change and climate change shape tropical butterfly biodiversity in Yunnan More information: Erica H. Henry et al, Shifting precipitation regimes alter the phenology and population dynamics of low latitude ectotherms, Climate Change Ecology (2022). Erica H. Henry et al, Shifting precipitation regimes alter the phenology and population dynamics of low latitude ectotherms,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.ecochg.2022.100051 The vertical red line in the data plot indicates the time of the eruption. The horizontal squiggles show electron density profiles over time, as recorded in the signals of four GNSS constellations, or groups of satellites: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou. The slanted dashed and dotted lines indicate the velocity of the waves. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/GDGPS NASA detected the shockwave from the underwater eruption high up in the atmosphere. The powerful underwater volcanic eruption that blanketed the island nation of Tonga with ash and sent tsunami waves across the world also caused ripples in Earth's ionosphere, according to measurements from the Global Differential Global Positioning System (GDGPS) managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. When the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano erupted on Jan. 15, 2022, it unleashed a violent explosion with the equivalent force of 4 to 18 megatons of TNT, according to estimates from NASA geologist Jim Garvin. This explosion produced an acoustic shockwave that was strong enough to perturb the ionosphere, the outer layer of the atmosphere that starts about 50 to 56 miles (80 to 90 kilometers) above Earth's surface and contains electrons ionized by the Sun's energy. The eruption also caused a tsunami, which was enhanced by the atmospheric pressure waves of the explosiona phenomenon known as a meteotsunami. The deformation of the ocean's surface from these large waves further disturbed the ionosphere. The GDGPS observed ionospheric disturbances caused by the explosion and subsequent meteotsunami in real time. The system monitors the density of electrons in the ionosphere (measured as total electron content units, or TECU) by tracking the delay of global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) signals as they travel through the atmosphere. This video shows a series of GOES-17 satellite images that caught an umbrella cloud generated by the underwater eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haapai volcano on Jan. 15, 2022. Crescent-shaped bow shock waves and numerous lighting strikes are also visible. Credit: NASA Earth Observatory image, Joshua Stevens using GOES imagery courtesy of NOAA and NESDIS GNSS data can serve an important role in contributing to tsunami early warning systems, shaving precious time off tsunami warnings when every second of advanced notice can save lives. The NASA Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Science (ROSES) A.37 project Local Tsunami Early Warning With GNSS Earthquake Source Products, funded by the Applied Sciences Disasters program area, is using this GNSS data to detect ground movement and model earthquake activity that could lead to tsunamis. The team is integrating this data into tsunami early warning systems operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Center for Tsunami Research (CTR). NASA's Space Geodesy Project also supports tsunami risk reduction through collaborations with the International GNSS Service, which manages the GNSS-enhanced Tsunami Early Warning Systems (GTEWS), the International Association of Geodesy's Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS), and the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) Geodesy for the Sendai Framework Community Activity. In the future, the ionospheric disturbance recorded by the GDGPS could also be integrated into these tsunami warning systems, increasing their effectiveness to warn communities and get people out of harm's way before tsunami waves strike. Patrick Assumpcao, a rural producer and partner with The Nature Conservancy in Brazil, walks through Coruputuba Farm in August 2018. New research quantifies the cooling benefits of trees planted on cultivated land in the American and African tropics. Credit: Felipe Fittipaldi/Courtesy of The Nature Conservancy Farmers struggling to adapt to rising temperatures in tropical regions can unleash the benefits of natural cooling, alongside a host of other wins, simply by dotting more trees across their pasturelands. For the first time, a study led by the University of Washington puts tangible numbers to the cooling effects of this practice. Researchers at the UW and The Nature Conservancy, along with Duke University, the University of California San Diego and Stony Brook University Hospital, find that adding trees to pastureland, technically known as silvopasture, can cool local temperatures by up to 2.4 C (4.3 F) for every 10 metric tons of woody material added per hectare (about 4 tons per acre) depending on the density of trees, while also delivering a range of other benefits for humans and wildlife. The paper was published Feb. 4 in Nature Communications. "The way in which lands are used has implications for human health and safety," said first author Lucas Vargas Zeppetello, who did this work as a UW doctoral student in atmospheric sciences. "Our past studies demonstrated how deforestation can increase local temperatures to unsafe levels. Here, we show that planting additional trees on low-latitude pasturelands can provide substantial cooling benefits, highlighting one pathway for adding further resilience to the rising heat being experienced in these settings." Workers with the Conservador das Aguas project in September 2018 separate seedlings in Extrema, in southeastern Brazil, to be taken to the planting areas. New research quantifies the amount of cooling provided by trees in the tropical pastureland. Credit: Felipe Fittipaldi/Courtesy of The Nature Conservancy The researchers analyzed satellite data from 2018 to compare the annual average temperature at each location across the American and African tropics with an existing data set of bare pastureland and pastureland with different amounts of tree cover, in order to quantify the local cooling effect of the trees. Using projections for rising global temperatures for the year 2050, the authors then identified where rural communities could gain most from practicing silvopasture in the future. The authors note that the cooling effect works on all spatial scaleseven smallholder farmers could access these cooling benefits, they said, by intensifying tree-planting on their own pasturelands. "We already have plenty of peer-reviewed evidence for the multiple socioeconomic and ecological benefits agroforestry systems like silvopasture can providefrom increased food security and farmer incomes, to greater biodiversity and better access to traditional (and affordable) medicines in remote rural communities," said corresponding author Yuta Masuda, a senior scientist at The Nature Conservancy. "Adding our findings on the localized cooling potential of silvopasture to the mix only serves to underline the huge spectrum of advantages that come from trees in pastureland, ultimately benefiting not only vulnerable rural communities in tropical hotspots, but people and wildlife in general." Several of this study's co-authors also collaborated on another recent paper that revealed the extent to which localized temperature rises, driven by a deadly combination of global warming and tropical deforestation, are making outdoor work increasingly perilous for vulnerable communities across the tropics. Explore further In last 15 years, deforestation made outdoor work unsafe for millions More information: Lucas R. Vargas Zeppetello et al, Consistent cooling benefits of silvopasture in the tropics, Nature Communications (2022). Journal information: Nature Communications Lucas R. Vargas Zeppetello et al, Consistent cooling benefits of silvopasture in the tropics,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28388-4 Glens Falls picked up two new incumbents and lost two district offices, under the once-a-decade redistricting legislation that Gov. Kathy Hochul signed on Thursday. Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce President Michael Bittel said there will be some economic impact from the loss of district offices, but the bigger concern is keeping downtown Glens Falls prominent in the attention of new elected officials who will represent the city. Bittel said the chamber will urge whoever is elected in November in the new 20th Congressional District and 113th Assembly District to open district offices in downtown. Under the legislation, Glens Falls, Queensbury and Moreau are drawn into the new 20th Congressional District, where Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, will be the incumbent. That means Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, would have to close her downtown Glens Falls district office at the end of the year, as she will no longer represent the city. Stefanik will run for re-election in the new 21st District, which includes all or parts of 18 counties, including all of Washington County and the Warren County towns north of Queensbury. Also under the legislation, Glens Falls is drawn into the new 113th Assembly, where Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, D-Round Lake, will be the incumbent. Assemblyman Matt Simpson, R-Brant Lake, will be the incumbent in the new 114th District, which includes all of Warren County except for Glens Falls. He, too, would have to close his Glens Falls district office at the end of the year. Aside from the vacancy of two prime downtown office suites, the most significant economic impact would be the loss of pedestrian traffic. About 600 people annually visit Stefaniks Glens Falls office to meet with the congresswoman or her staff, said Palmer Brigham, a Stefanik congressional office spokesman. Dozens more routinely come to downtown to demonstrate outside Stefaniks district office, sometimes drawing groups of counterdemonstrators. Thats not negligible, said Bittel, referring to pedestrian traffic. Certainly, it will have some economic impact. Im more concerned about the recognition that office brings to Glens Falls. On the Senate side, Dan Stec, R-Queensbury, will run for re-election in the new 47th Senate District, which includes all of Warren, Washington, Essex, Clinton and Hamilton counties, and extends south into Saratoga and Fulton counties. Sen. Daphne Jordan, R-Halfmoon, will run in a dramatically reconfigured, but more compact, new 46th Senate District. The redistricting plan now moves to the courts. At least one lawsuit was filed on Friday, contending that the plan does not comply with the state constitution. Stefanik, in an interview on the Fox Business program Mornings With Maria on Friday, said she expects many more lawsuits will be filed contesting the plan, which she called the definition of gerrymandering. Democratic legislators in Albany have said that lawyers thoroughly reviewed the plan to make sure it is constitutional. Stefanik said in a statement Thursday that she is deeply disappointed that Glens Falls and Queensbury and some municipalities in Saratoga and Jefferson counties, including Watertown, were drawn out of the district, but she looks forward to representing municipalities that have been added. A portion of Fort Drum was drawn out of the district, and a portion remains in the new 21st District, which include all or portions of 18 counties. As the North Country deeply understands, Fort Drums impact is regional, statewide, national and international, she said. Stefanik said multiple reporters have called the new 21st District a GOP super seat because of its heavy concentration of Republican and Conservative voters. President Trump, in 2020, carried the newly configured 21st District with 59.6 percent of the vote, a 19.2 percentage-point advantage, nearly double the 10.4 percent advantage in the current 21st District, according to a recent New York Times analysis. In the Fox Business interview on Friday, Stefanik said overall, the redistricting plan does not meet the constitutional requirement to draw compact and contiguous districts. Area state legislators criticized the redistricting plan. As a Legislature, we must be held responsible to the will of the people. This redistricting process has not reflected that. I will continue to say that gerrymandering is wrong, no matter the party in power, Simpson said in a statement. Redistricting was supposed to be independent and not driven by partisan politics, Jordan said in a statement. That is what voters wanted. That is what voters were promised. That is what these maps should have reflected. Stec, in remarks on the Senate floor on Thursday, said that five of 20 Republican Senate members got a very unkind turn in the redistricting plan, while three of 43 Democrats face minor inconveniences. Stec said Democrats attempt to justify this by saying that Republicans used the redistricting process to their advantage in 2012 and 2002, when Republicans were in the majority in the Senate. So, well pay for this sin, I guess. ... I understand that, he said. But I also understand that my teenage son, when he was much younger, he learned that two wrongs dont make a right. And I think most New Yorkers, most intelligent people, would agree. Woerner did not return a message left with an aide seeking comment for this report. Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 5 As the COVID testing data and contact tracing procedures are handed over to the state, local health departments continue to provide limited updates pertaining to daily COVID data. Warren County According to New York state COVID data on Sunday, only 16 positive cases were identified out of the 247 Warren County residents tested for COVID on Saturday. State data indicates the county has recorded a total of 12,847 positive cases out of the 267,473 test results since the onset of the pandemic. As of Sunday, the vaccine tracker on the state COVID website showed a total of 51,246 county residents have received their first dose of the vaccine and 47,929 have completed the vaccine series. Washington County According to state COVID data on Sunday, 24 positive cases were recorded in Washington County on Saturday out of the 320 test results collected. The seven-day rolling positivity rate was at 10.5% on Sunday, according to state data. As of Sunday, the vaccine tracker on the state COVID website, reported 41,021 county residents have received one dose of the vaccine and 38,644 have completed the vaccine series. Statewide On Sunday, the New York state COVID testing tracker indicated 5,680 positive cases were reported statewide out of the 161,261 tests administered on Saturday. The state has recorded a total of 4,830,510 positive COVID cases since the pandemic began. As of Sunday, 16,244,205 New Yorkers have received one dose of the COVID vaccine and 14,458,475 state residents have completed the vaccine series. COVID-related fatality data reports show as of Saturday 53,620 New Yorkers have died from the virus. On Saturday, 558 new COVID-related hospital admissions were recorded statewide and reported on Sunday. Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. GREENWICH A midday fire Sunday destroyed a building in Greenwichs historic downtown district. The three-story brick building at 126 Main St. had businesses on the first floor, including the office of Judith Klingebiel, CPA, and apartments on the upper two floors. The property is owned by Wilmarth Building Ltd., according to Washington County online property records. Greenwich Fire Chief Michael White said the alarm came in at 12:10 p.m. When the first crew arrived, there was heavy fire on the second and third floors, White said. Two more alarms went out for mutual aid. White didnt know how many fire companies eventually responded but said there were 75 to 80 firefighters on the scene. Eight residents of the upstairs apartments were displaced by the fire. One resident suffered burns and Easton-Greenwich EMS took the person to a hospital, White said. A news release Sunday evening from the Northeastern New York Chapter of the American Red Cross said its volunteers provided immediate emergency aid to four people after the fire. The building was part of a row of 19th-century brick buildings on the west side of Main Street. Firefighters were able to confine the fire to 126 Main St., White said. The building to the south, Greenwich Hardware Antiques, had minor damage from smoke and water. The former Glens Falls National Bank building to the north was undamaged, White said. The building that burned was an old historic beautiful building, said village Mayor Pamela Fuller. Its completely destroyed. An update from Washington County Department of Public Safety said National Grid cut power to that section of the village because a primary power line passes directly in front of the building. According to National Grids website, 233 customers lost power at 1:02 p.m. The utilitys crews were on the scene and power was expected to be restored around 9 p.m. Sunday. By 6:30 p.m. Sunday, the fire was essentially out and excavation work was beginning, according to the county Department of Public Safety. White said county fire officials were on the scene but the cause was yet to be determined. Main Street, which is also state Route 29 in that block, was closed to traffic in front of the fire. Wallies Restaurant, in the next block south, posted on its Facebook page that it would be closed for the evening due to the road closure and power outage. Because of the heavy demand on the village water system, Washington County Public Safety asked residents to conserve water and to expect dirty water and low pressure as the system recovers. Main Street in front of the fire scene was closed until further notice while work at the site continued. The Cambridge-Greenwich Police Department, New York State Police and Washington County Sheriffs Office assisted at the scene. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 12 Angry 3 MALTA A man from Stony Creek, in Warren County, was one of two people killed Sunday in a multi-vehicle crash on the Northway in Malta. State police on Monday released details of the early Sunday morning accident. Police responded about 3:49 a.m. Sunday to the crash site. Fred Baxtrome, 59, of Fort Edward, was traveling in the center southbound lane of the highway in a 2016 Honda SUV when his vehicle was struck by Jesica B. Dorronsoro, 28, of Halfmoon, driving a 2018 Buick SUV, police said. The investigation revealed Dorronsoro lost control of her vehicle after the collision and crossed the median, landing in the northbound center lane of the Northway. While Dorronsoros vehicle was disabled, a fellow motorist, David H. Johnson, 54, of Stony Creek, stopped to assist her. According to police, Dorronsoro and Johnson were standing behind her SUV when they were struck by a box truck. Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The driver of the truck, Jennifer Aidoo, 34, of New Britain, Connecticut, was not injured. Two occupants of Baxtromes vehicle were transported to Saratoga Hospital for evaluation, according to the report. Police stated the crash is still under investigation. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 2 Sad 27 Angry 2 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. 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. EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP Egg Harbor Township Police are looking for an Atlantic City man they say assaulted a Walmart employee who accused him of shoplifting on Friday. Police say they have identified the suspect as Matthew Sturdivant, 24, of Atlantic City, and said he grabbed the employee by the neck, pinned her to a wall and spit on her. He left the area in a Hyundai Sonata, according to police. Police received the call at 2:03 p.m. Friday that a shoplifting incident had turned violent. Three officers, Michael Keeping, William Burns and Tim Colella met with the stores loss prevention officer, who was not identified in a statement from police released Monday. The store employee was able to provide a description of the suspect and the vehicle, police said. She told police she approached the man as he left the store with merchandise she said was not purchased. Sturdivant faces charges of robbery, simple assault and shoplifting. Judge Timothy McGuire approved a warrant for the charges, police said. As of Monday, he remained at large. The employee was not injured. The suspect has not been apprehended, as of yet, reads a statement from police. Anyone with information on Sturdivants whereabouts is asked to contact the Egg Harbor Township Police Department at 609-927-5200 or their local police department. The department store is in the Farmington section of the township in Oak Tree Plaza on the Black Horse Pike. This story is developing. Check back for updates. Contact Bill Barlow: 609-272-7290 bbarlow@pressofac.com Twitter @jerseynews_bill Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. TRENTON New Jerseys top health officials and Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday that the state will remove its in-school mask mandate next month for schools and child care centers. State officials said ending the mandate represents another step toward a return to normalcy. The mandate will end March 7, giving school districts and child care centers a month to prepare for the change and decide how to manage COVID-19 outbreaks independently, Murphy said at his Monday COVID-19 news briefing. I must thank the overwhelming majority of students, parents, administrators, educators, and support staffers who have worn their masks without problem or protest since our schools reopened for in-person learning, Murphy said. Thankfully, we have reached a point where we feel confident that we can take another step toward normalcy for our kids. Delaware will similarly end its school mask mandate at the end of March, Gov. John Carney said Monday. Connecticut (Feb. 28) and Oregon (March 31) also announced plans to lift the mandate. New Jersey, until then, will keep the mandate in place when the governor extends the states public health emergency. Murphy previously reinstated it last month after the state Legislature chose to forgo passing legislation continuing the governors executive COVID-response powers outside of the health emergency. The mandate will also remain in place while updated school guidance from the New Jersey Department of Health is crafted, protocols that Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said Monday should be available within the coming weeks. School districts on March 7 will independently choose their COVID-19 protocols for students, staff and visitors. In the event of a school outbreak, it will be important for the districts to work with the local health department to determine what preventive measures are best for the children and the staff in their school, Persichilli said. The decision is being made while COVID-19 caseloads, which had skyrocketed over the winter because of the omicron variant, have sharply decreased in the past few weeks. Murphy announced Monday that the states rate of transmission stands at 0.52, and indicated that omicrons threat is descending quickly. Part of the decision to end the mandate falls on federal health officials expecting to permit Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine for younger kids in a two-dose regimen. The FDAs vaccine committee is expected to vote on the decision soon. Many statewide have been eager for Murphy to lift the controversial mandate, which he previously said was still possible this year despite a winter surge of COVID-19. The mask mandate has often been viewed by alarmed parents as too authoritative. Many believe the decision to mask children is one that should be made by parents and not state lawmakers. Many have been seen protesting mandates at school board meetings, as well as at public demonstrations, with hundreds holding signs pleading for their kids to breathe freely in school. Others view it as a necessary safety precaution for kids, many of whom have not been able to get vaccinated against the coronavirus until recently. Eight Republican-led states, including Florida and Texas, have bans on school mask mandates, though some have been suspended amid legal fights with districts and parents who want to require masks, according to the National Academy for State Health Policy. Since the pandemic began, Murphy has been criticized for his decisions to thwart COVID-19, including the in-school mask mandate. Hes often been admonished by GOP members urging him to place parents in control. Many Republicans are continuing to condemn the governor, saying New Jersey shouldnt wait another day to allow schoolchildren to remove their face coverings, a practice in place since schools resumed in-person instruction in September 2020 after the pandemics infancy phase shifted schools online. The answer is simple, this decision is guided by political science, state Sen. Michael Testa, R-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic, said in a statement Monday. If this was truly guided by the science, this arbitrary mandate would have been lifted 23 months ago, and the governor knows that. I have been calling for an end to school mask mandates since last summer, and the science that we had at that time supported my call. U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd, who also has long criticized Murphys handling of the pandemic and its accompanying mandates, agreed with Testa in saying while lifting the mandate is a good decision now, it should have happened earlier. Our children have had to deal with virtual school and masks for the past two years, which has resulted in a strain on our childrens ability to learn and interact with one another, Van Drew said. Others Monday expressed gratitude for the governor, saying that Murphy is continuing to look out for school children and prioritize their interests over politics. As we have said from the beginning of the pandemic, it is critical to follow the data and listen to public health experts when implementing or removing COVID protocols, New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller, Vice President Steve Beatty and Secretary-Treasurer Petal Robertson said in a joint statement. As of today, that data is trending strongly in the right direction, and we look forward to additional public health guidance supporting the move away from mandatory masking in schools. In a statement, the New Jersey Education Association, the states largest teachers union, noted that trends show COVID-19 heading in the right direction, and added: It is appropriate for Gov. Murphy to allow local districts to continue to require masking in communities where that is prudent based on local conditions. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday that universal mask-wearing in schools still remains our recommendation, but she did not fault states for dropping the requirement. Its always been up to school districts. Thats always been our point of view and always been our policy from here, she said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Contact Eric Conklin: 609-272-7261 econklin@pressofac.com Twitter @ACPressConklin Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. One week after somebody was appointed to fill a vacant council seat in Somers Point, the seat is vacant once again. Ken Adams resigned from the Somers Point City Council on Thursday after being appointed only seven days before. He faced calls to step down due to past criminal convictions from 2004 that barred him holding public office. Adams, who served as Northfield police chief for about four years starting in 1998, was charged with the improper taking of thousands of dollars in federal and city funds in 2002 and was convicted on five of the 14 counts he was charged with in 2004. A jury determined that Adams had exhibited official misconduct by taking $3,420 from the Northfield Police Departments Federal Drug Enforcement fund for personal use in 1999; and that he had stolen a $2,000 city check intended for the federal forfeiture fund during that same year. He was also convicted of having police secretaries improperly do clerical work for a former Northfield attorney. A New Jersey Superior Court judge sentenced Adams to five years in state prison. He served 184 days before being released into an intensive supervisory program. Also as part of the sentence, Adams was barred from being able to hold public office again. Adams could not be reached for comment. City Council voted unanimously to have Adams fill the vacant seat on Jan. 27. Per state statute for filling governing-body vacancies, Adams had been nominated by the Somers Point Republican Club, along with two other candidates, for the position. He was to fill the seat of former 1st Ward Councilwoman Stacy Ferreri. City Solicitor Thomas Smith said the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office sent him a copy of the order of judgment pertaining to Adams 2004 sentencing Tuesday evening. He said the copy of the order of judgment indicated that Adams was not allowed to hold public office. Although noting the issue was now moot because Adams had resigned, Smith said that any action to try to remove Adams from his council seat would have had to be taken by the county Prosecutors Office. The Prosecutors Office did not return requests for comment. The Somers Point Republican Club did not respond to a request for comment that was sent via email Friday. Somers Point City Councilman Sean McGuigan, who represents the 1st Ward, said that he was aware of Adams legal history but was not familiar with the details of his conviction or with the accompanying disqualification from public office. McGuigan said Adams had high character and that he would have been able to serve the city admirably had circumstances been different. I know based on my judgment of him and his current standing in life that he appeared to me to be a fine, hardworking person, who I felt could contribute to City Council, and I made that evaluation based on that, thats why I voted for him, McGuigan said. I was unaware that he was disqualified by the conviction and by the order of the judge back then. Somers Point Mayor Jack Glasser echoed McGuigans praise for Adams and believed that he could have benefited the city if it were not for the disqualification. I thought he was a bright, intelligent guy who was going to help the city, Glasser said. It is unfortunate due to circumstances with his life that he cannot serve. Somers Point Democratic Club President Kimberly OBrien said the Republican Club and City Council had displayed poor judgment by appointing Adams to the vacant seat. She said members of council should have taken Adams history of theft and official misconduct more seriously. She added that the council also should have openly discussed Adams criminal history during the Jan. 27 council meeting, something OBrien said would have benefited city residents and saved Adams future distress. For us, its not a done story, they ignored the law, OBrien said of City Council and the Republican Club. I mean, its just egregious. The Somers Point City Council is currently controlled by a 5-1 GOP majority, with one seat vacant. OBrien said what she characterized as the council majoritys decision to ignore the law would help Democrats against the GOP in the coming November 2022 elections. She encouraged residents to stay engaged with local politics and keep a watch over municipal government actions. They clearly have too much confidence to think that they could just ignore the law, and the city will be OK with that, and I think theyre wrong, OBrien said. With the seat empty, the procedure for filling vacant government offices set by state law begins again. The Somers Point Republican Club will nominate three candidates for the position and City Council will vote to appoint one to fill the vacant seat. Contact Chris Doyle cdoyle@pressofac.com Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. MAYS LANDING A major South Jersey center for addiction treatment is getting new leadership. Corey Richey was made the new CEO of the Recovery Centers of America at Lighthouse, located in Mays Landing, according to an RCA news release. She takes over the role from Dawn Belamarich, who has been promoted to senior vice president of clinical and operational excellence. A native of Atlantic County, Richey has previously worked as the Lighthouse admissions director and as the interim CEO at RCA Bracebridge Hall in Maryland, leading it through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Richey began working in the field a decade ago as a case manager and then became a mental-health screener at a psychiatric crisis center. She was inspired to help those in crisis gain their footing on a path to recovery. She received a B.A. in psychology from The College of New Jersey and an M.S. in psychology from Walden University in Minneapolis. Richey has seen how addiction to drugs and alcohol have deepened as crises in South Jersey. According to the news release, she is dedicated towards making contribution to her community and ensuring that Lighthouse remains a Beacon of Hope for those struggling with addiction. Throughout her career, Richey has dedicated herself to helping those who cannot help themselves, working to facilitate patients access to treatment and negotiating with insurance companies on her patients behalf. Lighthouse offers multiple levels of treatment, depending on patient need and creating what Richey has previously described as a full continuum of care. It provides inpatient, partial-hospitalization and outpatient programs and has 35 detox beds and 98 residential beds on site. It also boasts an RCA alumni network which helps patients keep connected with their treatment. Richey said that she was excited to lead a team of people similarly dedicated to providing help and care for people with addiction. In my new role as CEO, I am lucky enough to lead an entire facility full of people who are passionate about helping others and are one hundred percent behind our mission, Richey said in the news release. Richey also emphasized in the news release how the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has worsened the situation around addiction. According to a January CDC report, there were over 101,000 estimated overdose deaths in the United States, from June 2020 to June 2021, the highest 12-month death toll on record, according to the CDC.There were over 100,000 estimated overdose deaths in each of the one-year periods from May 2020 to May 2021 and from April 2020 to April 2021. The work that every individual does in our building, whether inpatient or outpatient, is so important and has become even more critical as we see mental health issues and addiction continue to rise throughout the pandemic, Richey said in the news release. Our staff has continued to come in to work every day and their dedication is unmatched. I am blessed to be able to be part of and lead such an amazing team. Contact Chris Doyle cdoyle@pressofac.com Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Affordable Care Act, which not that long ago appeared doomed by Republican determination to kill it, has quietly become an integral and accepted part of Americas health care system. A record 14.5 million Americans this year have signed up to get their health insurance through the acts insurance marketplaces, thanks in large part to the Biden administrations efforts to reverse the sabotage of the Trump years and make the program work. The ACA, better known as Obamacare, is still far from perfect. But with the partisan wrangling and court battles finally subsiding, the long-term judgment of history for this once-controversial program is coming into focus. As Americans this year decide whether to hand Congress back to the party that spent a decade frantically trying to prevent Obamacares benefits from being realized, its worth stepping back and reviewing this epic achievement. When then-President Barack Obama and a Democratic Congress approved the act in 2010, over fervent Republican resistance, Americas health care system was a national tragedy and a global embarrassment. Tens of millions of Americans couldnt obtain health insurance because their jobs didnt provide policies, or they had preexisting medical conditions for which insurance companies could refuse them coverage. For huge swaths of society, preventive care was out of reach, and lifelong medical debt was just one heart attack or car accident away. Even under those dire conditions, America was not (and likely is not yet) ready to rethink the notion that health care should be treated as a for-profit industry instead of a fundamental human right. So the ACA, using ideas that originated with conservative think tanks, was structured to work with the private insurance industry, rather than to replace it. Controls were put on insurance premiums, particularly focused on ensuring that people with preexisting conditions wouldnt be priced out; Americans who still couldnt afford the premiums were eligible for government subsidies. Republican cries of death panels and rationed care were always nonsense, as the clarity of hindsight now proves. Yet the GOPs yearslong efforts to kill Obamacare were relentless. Red states like Missouri refused to expand Medicare, a key component of the program, even though the federal government would cover the cost. Reams of legislation and litigation attempting to kill it were filed perennially. The Trump administration, unable to formally end the program, yanked its advertising funding to make it less accessible to Americans. In real ways, the Republican Party did everything in its power to pull away the newly acquired health care coverage that millions of Americans finally had. The recent silence from Republican politicians on this issue that previously obsessed over them indicates that even they understand the battle is over. The ACA has become an important resource in keeping Americans healthy, and the sky hasnt fallen. Losing it now would be catastrophic. Voters should remember that as they go to the polls this fall. Other views is a sampling of other editorial board opini ons on national issues. The Quad-Cities school districts have received several awards of federal money to offer support through the pandemic. A large amount of the assistance has been in the form of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief, or ESSER, funds, released as a series of grants to the states, then distributed to school districts. The money is to be used to address students learning loss because of pandemic-related interruptions to school and on COVID-19 mitigation efforts. Here are some of the uses Quad-Cities districts have planned to use the money: Moline-Coal Valley The Moline-Coal Valley School District was allocated about $18.5 million in the third distribution, called ESSER III, according to a report on the districts website. Of that, $11.7 million will be used to improve air quality or the heating and cooling systems at a number of the districts schools. Another $6.8 million will be used to address learning loss, through summer and after-school programs, a psychologist, teachers and summer programming. Finally, $80,000 is being spent on extra nursing staff hours and COVID-19 testing. Davenport The Davenport Community School District ESSER III allotment is more than $48.3 million, according to a district report. About $9.6 million will be used to offset learning loss, according to the district and the Iowa Department of Education, and spent on funding elementary literacy teachers, reading materials and summer programming. They will also purchase sanitation supplies used for mitigation efforts and educational technology, and address mental health concerns, including by making counselors available. Rock Island-Milan The Rock Island-Milan School Districts ESSER III award is more than $23.8 million, according to its report on the funding. They will use $8.6 million to improve ventilation at district buildings, including replacing and upgrading rooftop units. Another $1.2 million will be used for summer programming to offset learning loss, the districts report states. Bettendorf Bettendorf Community School District received more than $3.7 million, with $756,034 set aside to counter learning loss, according to a presentation given during the recent state of the district address. They plan to provide intervention programming for students in literacy and math, purchase cleaning and sanitation supplies, and improve indoor air quality. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CAMBRIDGE Henry County is opening the application period for community grant funding under the American Rescue Plan Act. Organizations serving the community can find application forms on the county's website at henrycty.com. Applications may be submitted through April 1. Applications must be project-based, with all bids or cost of service provided during the application process. Projects must be in response or directly related to the COVID pandemic. They must meet the requirements of the American Rescue Plan Act and have appropriate documentation and/or written estimates or quotations for all described projects. Additional criteria may be found on the henrycty.com website. Projects can be retroactive if all supporting documents are included. Additional resources for identifying qualifying projects can be found at at https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/SLFRPFAQ.pdf All projects will be vetted through the Henry County Ad Hoc American Rescue Plan committee and must meet the COVID criteria to be considered viable. Finalists will be selected for interviews and funding announced May 15. Questions can be addressed to Henry County Administrator Erin Knackstedt at 309-937-3402 or eknackstedt@henrycty.com. Nahant Marsh Education Center has raised $4.2 million to construct new trails, build a new operations center, buy more land for habitat restoration and expand programming. The nonprofit board that oversees the 305-acre preserve and education center in west Davenport exceeded its $3.7 million campaign goal. The fundraising started in 2019. Nahant Marsh Executive Director Brian Ritter said the successful capital campaign would have long-lasting positive impacts for the marsh, the river and for the community. Weve already put some of this money to work." he said in a news release. "We restored a 39-acre crop field back to prairie and wetlands. Weve begun constructing a trail spur that will connect Nahant Marsh to the Mississippi River Trail and we have purchased a variety of research equipment that is being used by staff and interns to better study the marsh. The money will be used to fund projects in three areas: education, conservation-and-research and recreation. Projects include: A two-story, 5,200-square-foot operations building to be built east of the existing education center. The $800,000 building will contain a classroom, equipment and lab space for college-level research and education, public restrooms, staff offices and a maintenance shop for equipment. It is expected to be finished by the end of 2022. A total of $500,000 that will pay for field trips or in-school environmental programs for schools with a high percentage of students who qualify for the free and reduced-price lunch program. Other funds will finance the hiring of a research coordinator/educator and another educator. Nahant buying three properties totaling about 100 additional acres. One of the properties is in Illinois, part of an area known as the Milan Bottoms. A 30-acre parcel on the north side of Nahants main lake has been graded to create 30 short ridges for the planting of 1,000 oak, pecan and hickory trees and 30 shallow ponds for seasonal wetlands that can support various kinds of aquatic life. A 40-acre parcel south of the railroad tracks toward the Mississippi River that has been turned into a wetland mitigation bank. Additional trails that will be built on the property, including a spur to the Mississippi River Trail. Alma Gaul contributed to this story. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. President and CEO of the Quad Cities Chamber Paul Rumler will leave his job in mid-March to take a job as the top executive at CCIM Institute, a commercial real estate association based in Chicago. Rumler was the chamber's chief executive for four years. In 2018, he returned to the Q-C economic development group from Grand Rapids, Michigan, after having worked for the Quad-Cities chamber in various roles from 2006 to 2016. It has been a privilege to serve the Quad Cities region and work with a talented Chamber team to help create a more prosperous regional economy, Rumler said according to a prepared press release. Im excited to join CCIM Institute and help guide this world class organization. Mike Oberhaus, the chamber's chief strategy officer, will take on an interim CEO role as the chamber conducts a national search for a new chief executive. Im honored and humbled to serve as an interim leader of the Quad Cities Chamber, Oberhaus said. We have an amazing team of dedicated professionals who work each day to make our QC region better. The Quad Cities chamber, according to its website, serves an area of six counties and a 479,000 metro population. During Rumler's tenure, Amazon announced it would build a five-story, 2.9 million gross square foot fulfillment center in Davenport, which promises to employ more than 1,000 people and city and chamber leaders hope will raise local wages and inject millions of dollars into the local economy. Local businesses also faced turbulent times during the COVID-19 pandemic over the last two years, facing closures, staff shortages, and a persistent virus that disrupted how people lived and worked. We are grateful for Pauls leadership and wish him well in his new endeavor, knowing that we have a life-long QC supporter and friend, said A.J. Loss, Chamber Board Chair and CEO of Bush Construction. Paul is leaving the Quad Cities Chamber on sound financial footing with a solid blueprint for the future rooted in talent attraction and development, business and economic growth and placemaking. The chamber's goal is to grow the regions GDP to $35 billion ($27.7 billion in 2019), expand the population to 500,000 (470,973 in 2019) and engage with 25% of area businesses (10% in 2021). The Quad Cities Chamber is in a great position to find a passionate and capable professional to lead us into the future, said LaDrina Wilson, Chamber Board Vice Chair and CEO of IMAN Consulting. Were committed to finding the right person to represent our region and help us reach our audacious goals of growing our regions GDP and economy, as well as engaging more businesses. In July, Rumler was named a Certified Chamber Executive by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. Rumler's tenure wasn't without controversy. Rumler and the Chamber are defendants in a lawsuit brought by two previous employees who claimed age and gender discrimination contributed to their dismissals. The trial is scheduled for February 2023. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. On Acissa Chamia's first day selling samosas flaky pastries filled with vegetables, meat, or fish at the Freight House farmers market, she ran out in two hours. "I thought, 'Oh, that's good; next time I will make more," Chamia recalled. The next weekend she sold out after three hours. She kept adding more until she was selling more than 1,000 samosas each weekend at the farmers' market. Now, customers book orders for frozen samosas directly, and brick-and-mortar eateries such as Chill Ice Cream and Eats at the Freight House in Davenport and Radicle Effects Brewerks in Rock Island offer her samosas on their menus. On her list of goals is opening a food truck and hiring additional employees to propel her business, called Mozbites. Chamia was one of four Black women entrepreneurs to undergo an eight-week workshop from SCORE Quad-Cities, a small-business incubator, and pitch their business Shark Tank-style to compete for available funds. Thomas Trone, the district director of SCORE, said the program was the first of its kind for any chapter of SCORE, and he hoped the pilot program would grow to include more entrepreneurs from underserved populations in the Quad-Cities. "SCORE has been around for years, but we have not done a good job of serving many segments in our communities, including Black entrepreneurs, Hispanics, women and veterans," Trone said. "So, over the past year, SCORE has built a platform, a set of resources to address the specific and unique needs of those segments of our community. This program is a pilot, where we focused on Black women entrepreneurs in this community, in partnership with Project NOW, who helped us identify candidates and helped us host this program." The four women were scored on identifying a problem and solution with their business, customer, market viability, value proposition, and marketing and growth strategy. Chamia won $750 on Friday after she delivered her pitch to a panel of four local judges at Rock Island High School. She plans to use it to purchase a warmer to keep samosas hot at the farmers market. Autistic and Loved Dr. Kit Ford, another presenter, drew inspiration from experiences with two people very close to her heart her kids. Her two children, Imani and Justice, were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at a very young age, she told the panel of judges on Friday. Her son, in particular, has sensory-processing disorder and often chews on things. She and her husband started buying "chewelry," silicon plastic jewelry that, like the name indicates, is chewable. The non-toxic plastic provides sensory input to the mouth, diverting children and adults from chewing on clothes, pencils and other items. "We realized, OK, so either we are going to buy him a wardrobe of shirts every week or we need to find another alternative," Ford said. "So we discovered something called chewelry." Driving Imani and Justice to Balance Autism everyday, where they're both enrolled in an Applied Behavioral Analysis Program, Ford said as a professor of culture and diversity, she noticed that the children served by Balance Autism were from all different ethnicities and backgrounds. In designing chewelry, Ford said she wanted to represent the diversity of kids with autism that she saw. "My goal with my chewelry is to celebrate the diversity of beautiful autistic children," Ford said. "...There was no chewelry, there is no chewelry, that has the beautiful faces of autistic children." Ford plans to start with two designs that emulate her kids, each are a round pendant, one that depicts a girl with pigtails and pink ribbons, her daughter Imani, and a boy with an afro, her son Justice. Ford is partnering with Canadian-based Munchables, which Ford said created products that lasted much longer than other brands her son had tried. Ford won the top award, winning $1,000 that she said would go toward the printing of one of her chewlery designs. Ford also operates Agrow House, a social enterprise that sells bath and body products created by women who've experienced domestic violence. Living My Truth For Destiny Smith, testing positive for HIV, she thought at the time, would be a death sentence, she told the panel of judges. She was pregnant with her second child and fell into a depression. But four years later, she's channeling her energy into blogging, connecting others who live with HIV, selling merchandise, planning speaking engagements and authoring a book to build a sense of community with other people who share an HIV positive diagnosis. "My depression was so bad that I wasn't taking proper care of my son. And that woke me up. So, I found a community online of other people living with HIV that looked like me. So, women, Black women. And I started blogging. And with that, I was writing so much that I ended up making a book, self-published on Amazon, and then started Living My Truth. So, we help youth and young adults living with HIV show themselves love by selling clothing with inspirational sayings," Smith said. Some of her videos on Facebook have gained tens of thousands of views, and her private message folder is frequently flooded with people confiding in her about their own diagnoses and thanking her for sharing her message. "If I didn't tell my story, I never would've gotten those inboxes," Smith said. "I had people say, 'I've never told anyone in 30 years, but you've inspired me.' As long as I can help one person, it's worth it." Smith won $500, which she plans to use for new spring inventory for her clothing collection. She also has a speaking engagement planned in Georgia later this year. Biages' Creations Charlotte Biage, who is mom to Smith, opened a custom gift basket-sales shop in October at NorthPark Mall. Called Biages' Creations, she takes orders for anniversaries, birthdays, bridal and baby showers, Valentine's Day, Easter and other holidays. Biage asks gift-givers about their loved one, and she whips up a basket complete often with candy, a decorative mug or vase, favorite candies and other doo-dads decorated to fit the giftee's interests. "I found I had a love for couponing and also a God-given creative side. So I combined those two passions and started in the pandemic to do essential gift baskets for people that had all the different things that you would need in the time of the crisis that we're going through. I did that mostly for my family and my friends; they began to gift those things to others, and through word of mouth and the people that were gifted I began to to start Biage's creations after others started coming to me," Biage said. The gift-basket business grew from Facebook market place, to pop-ups in shops, to her own space at the North Park Mall, where she has pre-made baskets that can be added to or adjusted. She won $250 from the competition and said she plans to pay her shop's next month's rent at North Park mall. The program was hindered by the pandemic, Trone said. Originally, they hoped to present pitches at the end of 2021, but with COVID-19 case numbers surging, they delayed it to February, which happened to coincide with the beginning of Black History Month. Going forward, Trone and Project NOW Executive Director Dwight Ford said they hope to expand the program to other areas of the Quad-Cities and other underserved groups. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. State and local governments from across the country reported more than $117 billion of revenue losses in the first year of the coronavirus pandemic, according to an Associated Press analysis. More than two-thirds of those reporting their revenues showed at least some losses. Though revenue figures were left blank by nearly one-quarter of the roughly 3,700 governments that filed reports, the data nonetheless provides the most comprehensive picture yet of the financial strain that faced governments during the pandemic's first year. But those shortfalls proved less severe than originally feared. Many of those same governments are now awash in record amounts of money, thanks to the American Rescue Plan Act. In response to the dramatic turnaround, governors, lawmakers and local officials have proposed a surge in spending as well as a new wave of tax cuts. Here's a look at how the various governmental bodies around the Quad-Cities plan to use their ARPA funding. Moline Moline reported a decrease in revenue of $5.5 million in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. "However, due to the federal government estimating 4.1% in new revenue growth year-over-year, in its ARPA revenue replacement calculation for that year, Moline was able to report a revenue loss of $9.5 million," Finance Director Carol Barnes said. "That is the actual $5.5 million in lost revenue plus an assumed $3.9 million in growth, which gets you to the $9.5 million figure." Barnes said things were looking much better for 2021 numbers, with most of the citys revenues projected to return to 2019 pre-pandemic levels. "We dont have a final number yet as accruals through February count toward that 2021 final number," she said. "But we are anticipating revenues meeting expenses for 2021, in part due to an infusion of federal ARPA funds." Barnes said the city managed its revenues losses through spending cuts, and as a result, there was no need to dip into reserves. A hiring freeze was enacted, there were reduced hours at some public buildings, the Riverside Pool closed for a season. Those actions reduced the number of seasonal employees and cut back on overtime, training and travel. The city also refinanced its debt and issued new pension obligation bonds to reduce the unfunded liability on police and fire pensions. The city issued $85 million in pension bonds last November, resulting in savings to the city totaling over $58 million over the life of the bonds, or around $3 million per year, Barnes said. "We are seeing solid bounce-back in revenues," Barnes said. "In addition, the city is receiving $20.8 million in ARPA funds, which will not only help make up for the lost revenue, but allow the city to invest in strategic goals and capital projects. The city is actively hiring positions from laborers and seasonal workers all the way up to director-level jobs, increasing capital projects and boosting public works staff with an eye on expanding services and projects." Rock Island Interim City Manager John Gripp said Rock Island also reported more than $5 million in lost revenue in 2020 and 2021. At one point, the city was losing more than $347,000 just in gaming revenue per month at the beginning of the pandemic when casinos and gaming parlors were closed. Gripp said some services were impacted by the losses, such as parks and recreation, the library and the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center. Services not affected included the police, fire and public works departments. "The city continued to provide essential services, and provided a lot of virtual services (such as) parks, library, MLK Center, virtual fitness, concerts, youth education and more," Gripp said. "While revenues were down, expenses were also down; no employees were laid off." Rock Island is receiving $27.5 million in American Rescue Plan funds, a portion of which is being allocated for the revitalization of the downtown district. "The city continues to provide all essential services," Gripp said. "The parks department, library and MLK (Center) all function in accordance with the ever-changing COVID guidelines. It has been amazing how much the city has provided during this time. While we have seen some improvement, staffing continues to be a challenge." Rock Island County Rock Island County also is receiving $27.5 million in ARPA funds, some of which will be used to cover operational expenses, including pandemic-related costs in the 2022 budget. County Board Chairman Richard Quijas Brunk said he did not have a specific number for how much the county lost in revenue because of the pandemic but that board members took steps early in the pandemic to brace for a downturn. "These steps included requesting that elected office-holders and department heads review their respective budgets to defer spending where possible," Brunk said. "It also involved some short-term layoffs in the circuit clerks office, less than a handful of layoffs in other offices and leaving some positions vacant. "While the economic uncertainty continues, there have been some items that have helped the county weather the pandemic, including the internet sales tax and cannabis tax," he said. "The relief dollars provided through various federal legislation, such as the ARPA, have been helpful as well, allowing us to fill staff vacancies in recent months and start addressing issues such as the court backlog that was created as a result of the pandemic. With items like the court backlog to work through, the full economic impact of the pandemic on the county is yet to fully be seen." Sarah Hayden Smaller cities seeing less ARPA funding Cities considered "non-entitlement units" under the Treasury Department's rule, typically cities with fewer than 50,000 people or not considered key metro cities by Housing and Urban Development, won't have to report COVID-19 losses until April 30 of this year. Smaller cities will receive significantly less funds than larger Quad-Cities. East Moline's allocation totaled about $2.8 million. East Moline estimated in April 2020 that its general fund revenues would decrease between $1 million and $1.5 million, Annaka Whiting, the city's finance director, wrote in an email. The actual impact was about $830,000, she wrote. The city already was grappling with a structural deficit, where the city was spending more than it was taking in, when COVID-19 arrived and the city put together its 2021 budget. To help close the gap, the city froze hiring six positions between the fire and police departments. The city plans to hire all but two of the deferred positions by the end of 2022. East Moline plans to use its funding for personal protective equipment for the fire department, resurfacing the Great River Trail, a drainage project, security cameras, storm sewer repair on Archer Drive, and in the water plant, a booster pump replacement, inspection and a valve in the 10th Street tower. The city has also listed about $1.7 million under the "Revenue Loss Category" in its recommendations, which Whiting said is more flexible than other categories. The use of those funds haven't yet been determined, she said, since the city won't receive its second installment until this fall. Silvis Of Silvis' $1 million in COVID-19 relief funds, the city has so far allocated $21,000 for seven local nonprofits and advanced a proposal to use relief funds for police incentives. City Administrator Nevada Lemke said the city hadn't yet calculated the impact of COVID-19 yet and was planning to do so before the city's ARPA report is due in April. Bettendorf Bettendorf hasn't yet allocated its $5.44 million from the American Rescue Plan, but with City Council members ready to hammer out the budget in the next few weeks, Finance Director Jason Schadt said city staff planned to present potential projects to city council and narrow the list. With uncertainty of the pandemic's trajectory, Schadt said the city did cut spending in capital projects and equipment purchases funded by sales tax revenue. He said the city also limited operations at cultural and recreational enterprises such as the Family Museum, Life Fitness Center and Splash Landing to cut down on costs. Schadt said revenues had mostly returned to pre-pandemic levels in the city. "Governmental revenues such as sales taxes were not impacted as negatively as we anticipated and have actually exceeded expectations," Schadt said. "Gaming tax revenue was sharply reduced due to the temporary closure of the Isle Casino but has since rebounded. Revenues at our cultural and recreation enterprises have not fully returned to pre-pandemic levels but are rebounding as visitors are more comfortable gathering in larger numbers." Sarah Watson Scott County Scott County supervisors have given preliminary approval to spend more than $7 million of the $33.6 million awarded to the county in ARPA funds to build a planned 40-bed Youth Justice & Rehabilitation Center estimated to cost $21.75 million. A coalition of civil rights, social justice and community organizations led by the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa as well as Scott County residents and Democratic Supervisor Ken Croken have challenged the plans. The ACLU argues using COVID-19 funds to build the facility is unlawful and that building a new and expanded juvenile detention facility will deepen racial disparities within the juvenile court system. The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued a final rule last month stating the use of funds to respond to public health and negative economic impacts of the pandemic must be related and reasonably proportional to a harm caused or exacerbated by the pandemic." And expressly stated construction of new correctional facilities and new congregate facilities to decrease spread of COVID-19 were ineligible "because such construction is generally expected to be more costly than alternative approaches or capital expenditures that may be equally or more effective in decreasing spread of the disease." County officials including Scott County Attorney Michael Walton contend governments that report revenue losses to the Treasury have the option of using some of their American Rescue Plan money on government services that might not otherwise be eligible under Treasury rules, including juvenile detention. County Budget Director David Farmer said the opinion was based on guidance from the Treasury, Iowa State Association of Counties, National Association of Counties and the county's external auditing firm. Farmer noted the Treasury Department had advised recipients "have broad latitude to use funds for government services up to their amount of revenue loss due to the pandemic." Scott County, however, reported $0 estimated revenue loss because of the pandemic last year. Farmer said the calculations were based on Treasury guidelines estimating 5.2% in new revenue growth year-over-year. While some revenues declined, others particularly sales tax revenues exceeded expectations. Farmer, though, said county-wide revenue growth was obscured by property tax adjustments between the 2020 and 2023 fiscal years. Rather than utilize the Treasurys lost revenue calculation, Farmer said Scott County will likely claim a standard allowance of $10 million to spend on government services. The final rule states the Treasury "presumes" local governments lost up to $10 million in revenue because of the pandemic "based on an extensive analysis of average revenue loss across states and localities." And recipients are permitted to use that amount to fund government services, rather than calculate their actual revenue loss. "Revenues and expenditures may not return to pre-pandemic levels and become new normal," Farmer wrote. "The county is in the midst of adopting the fiscal year 2023 budget and is using all available resources to make best estimates moving forward." Scott County has yet to spend a dollar of the $33.6 million awarded in ARPA funds. Other planned projects on which supervisors plan to use ARPA funds include: $7.3 million to repair existing and install new storm sewer pipes to prevent flooding, and replace deteriorated pavement in Park View and Mount Joy. $6.14 million (roughly $3 million each) to help Humility Homes and Services, Inc. and The Salvation Army of the Quad Cities offer supportive housing, case management services, temporary shelter and rent assistance to assist people facing chronic homelessness during the pandemic and households facing imminent eviction because of COVID-19. $3 million to provide improved air handling and ventilation equipment at the county administration building. $4 million ($2 million for each project) to provide sewer connections to Scott County campgrounds and picnic areas, and for county trail improvements. $1.6 million toward the expansion of existing sanitary sewer to enable a West Locust Street business park corridor for future commercial development. The city of Davenport has begun the planning process of designating more than 700 acres at Interstate 280 and Locust Street for a business park. $1 million in renovations to the Scott County Jail to provide COVID-19 mitigation measures to contain and prevent the spread of coronavirus among inmates. $500,000 to support local tourism and aid Visit Quad Cities in tourism marketing. Davenport The city of Davenport was awarded nearly $41 million in ARPA funds, and the Davenport City Council formally adopted a spending plan in July outlining strategic projects and priorities. "Since the adoption of the plan, numerous projects have moved forward, due diligence phases are occurring, and funding opportunities and strategic partnerships are ongoing," Assistant City Administrator and Chief Financial Officer Mallory Merritt responded in an email. Rather than utilize the Treasurys lost revenue calculation, the city of Davenport elected to take the standard allowance of $10 million to spend on government services and directly fund projects included in the adopted spending plan. Projects to be funded by the $10 million claimed in lost revenue include flood mitigation, administrative personnel costs, regional transitional housing, construction of a new recreation trail that runs north/south to connect the Mississippi River Trail to Eldridge, and to support the development and construction of the Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza next to the MLK Interpretive Center at 501 Brady St. The outdoor space will allow larger groups to participate in cultural education and awareness activities, while serving as a tourism destination, memorial and hub for events, according to city staff. "Revenues within the citys major operating funds remain strong and are currently trending in line with budgeted projections," Merritt wrote. 'The city remains committed to spending FY 2021 rollover funds, and any excess FY 2022 funds, in alignment with feedback from the most recent community survey and the strategic priorities established by the City Council." Tom Barton Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Sarah Hayden Follow Sarah Hayden 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 Tom Barton Follow Tom Barton 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 China, Mongolia to strengthen cooperation in all-round way: joint statement Xinhua) 08:44, February 07, 2022 BEIJING, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- China and Mongolia have agreed to strengthen cooperation on development in an all-round way in the spirit of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, according to a joint statement of the two countries' governments published on Sunday. The two countries are good neighbors, good friends and good partners, and have always developed bilateral relations from a strategic long-term perspective, said the statement. Respecting each other's chosen development paths, the two sides adhere to the principles of mutual respect for independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality, mutual benefit and peaceful coexistence. Mongolia reiterated its firm adherence to the one-China principle, and supports China's position on issues related to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet. The two sides spoke highly of the China-Mongolia cooperation in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, and agreed to continue working together and supporting each other. They also called on the international community to strengthen communication and cooperation, adhere to science in the fight against COVID-19, oppose politicization of the pandemic and build a global community of health for all. The two sides agreed to strengthen development cooperation in an all-round way in the spirit of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. Mongolia appreciates and supports the Global Development Initiative (GDI), and both sides are willing to further synergize the China-proposed GDI and the Belt and Road Initiative with Mongolia's "Vision 2050" long-term development policy and the new revival policy, to expand cooperation in trade, investment, finance, minerals, energy, interconnectivity, infrastructure, digital economy and green development. The two countries will strengthen cooperation on ecological environment as well as prevention and control of desertification, jointly address global climate change, create a clean and beautiful ecological environment, and build a community of life for human and nature, said the statement. China appreciates Mongolia's plan to plant 1 billion trees and stands ready to actively conduct relevant exchanges and cooperation with Mongolia, it added. The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation on international and regional affairs of common concern, work together to address global and regional challenges, reaffirm the pivotal role of the United Nations (UN) in maintaining international peace, security and sustainable development, uphold the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, jointly safeguard multilateralism and support the international community's efforts to promote peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom as the humanity's common values. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Liang Jun) The Rock Island Elks 980 Lodge in cooperation with the Illinois Elks Children's Care Corporation will sponsor a children's orthopedic assessment clinic 2:30-4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 22 at the office of Dr. Michael Pyevich at ORA Orthopedics, 520 Valley View Drive, Moline. The clinic will be by appointment only for low income families residing in Illinois. No medical referral is necessary but physicians are welcome to refer patients for a specific reason or second opinion. School nurses also are welcome to refer children and families to the clinic. All services at the clinic will be free. This clinic is an ideal time to have a child reviewed for bone and joint development. If a child has feet pointing out or in, complains of back, knee, leg, ankle pain or has a back curvature they can be seen at this clinic. There is no charge for any diagnostic services at this clinic and the Elks will provide financial assistance to the best of their ability for children needing further treatment or specialty equipment if the family lacks sufficient resources to do so. To make an appointment, call the Illinois Elks Children's Care office at 800-272-0074 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. STAFF Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Students, teachers and staff in the Rockridge School District can now choose whether or not to wear a mask in school in the effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The rural district in Rock Island County announced that decision Sunday after Sangamon County Judge Raylene Grischow issued a temporary restraining order last Friday blocking 145 school districts throughout Illinois from enforcing mask requirements, quarantine, COVID-19 vaccination mandates and testing rules. Over 700 parents filed a lawsuit in October 2021 against the COVID-19 mandates in the 145 districts, including parents in the Rockridge School District. In a letter to parents of children enrolled in the district, Rockridge Superintendent Perry Miller said the district plans to comply with the judge's order as long as it is in effect. Removing the mask mandate was a point of controversy in the Rockridge district in December 2021. On Dec. 13, Rockridge Board of Education voted to make masks optional during the 2022 school year, but rescinded that plan three days later after a number of other schools said sporting events in the Rockridge district would be dropped from schedules because of a lack of masking. According to an update of COVID-19 numbers reported last Friday, 56 students and three staff members in the Rockridge district were absent from school because of COVID-19 protocols. Nine students and two staff members were positive for the virus, while 31 students were home in quarantine because of COVID-19 symptoms. In Illinois schools have the option of keeping masking and other COVID-19 safety protocols in place. Rock Island County Health Department COO Janet Hill said Monday she hopes all school districts will keep mask mandates for now. "We know masks help cut back on transmission," Hill explained. "And we do know (the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) says we should be wearing a mask in public places when there are large groups of people with mixed vaccination status. "At the health department, we strongly encourage masking it's a crucial step in curbing transmission. The goal is to keep kids in school. We know kids do better with school. We know families function better when kids are in school." COVID-19 hospitalizations For the second time in as many weeks, the number of COVID-19 patients at UnityPoint Health-Trinity and Genesis Health System fell. The healthcare systems reported a combined 74 patients battling the virus Monday 42 at Trinity and another 32 at Genesis. Genesis officials noted the COVID-19 patient count in its medical centers was "down 13 from one week ago" and is the lowest weekday number since 33 patients on Nov. 19, 2021. Last Monday, Genesis and Trinity reported a combined total of 101 COVID-19 patients 56 at Trinity and 45 at Genesis. Those 45 patients at Genesis medical centers were the lowest weekday number of January. The highest number of COVID-19 patients at Genesis during the month was 72 on Jan. 10. The health care systems' seven-day positivity rate showed signs of improving, too. Trinity reported a rate of 31.5% after the entire month of January had a positivity rate of 46.5%. Genesis reported a seven-day positivity rate of 17.54%, a significant drop from last Monday's rate of 27.56%. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. DES MOINES AARP Iowa is making a renewed push to persuade the Legislature to make elder abuse a crime in the state. Weve come so close. We want to get this done, AARP Iowa spokesman Anthony Carroll said about the groups efforts to win Iowa House passage of Senate File 522. The bill, which would set penalties and mandatory minimum sentences for the abuse of a person age 60 or older, was approved 47-0 last year by the Iowa Senate. A House Judiciary Committee subcommittee unanimously recommended passage, but the full committee didnt take up the bill in 2021. Advocates say that elder abuse often hidden takes many forms, including physical, sexual, emotional, neglect and financial exploitation. The Iowa Department of Human Services saw a 37% increase in dependent abuse reports from the first half of 2020 to the second half of 2021, with 5,800 cases. However, about half of those reports are rejected by the department, which does not keep its own statistics on elder abuse. That the department rejected about half those reports is an indication of the holes in state law, Carroll said. The alleged victim is a dependent adult, a narrow definition that starts with someone aged 18 and plus, he explained, and the alleged perpetrator has to fit the narrow legal definition of a caretaker. SF 522 would give Iowa law enforcement and financial institutions tools to stop and prevent elder abuse, Carroll said. Defining elder abuse as a crime punishable by law had the support of 95% of Iowans 50 and older surveyed by AARP in July 2021, giving it more support than any other issue. Getting legislation across the finish line during this session is a top priority for AARP Iowa, said Chuck Betts of Keokuk, state AARP president. We wont let off the gas until everything is settled and we get this pushed through. AARP isnt alone in the effort to codify elder abuse. Law enforcement, banking interests, caregivers and several groups that serve seniors are backing passage of SF 522. No lobbyist is registered to oppose the bill, according to state disclosures. Over 40 lobbyists for organizations are registered in support, while 17 are registered as undecided. SF 522 would give county attorneys an appropriate tool to prosecute these unique and difficult crimes, according to Iowa County Attorneys Association Executive Director Jessica Reynolds. Alzheimer's Association of Iowa is on board because people with dementia are especially vulnerable because the disease may prevent them from reporting the abuse or recognizing it, said Robyn Mills, public policy director. They also may fall prey to strangers who take advantage of their cognitive impairment. In Iowa, where 18% of the population is 65 or older, there were 64,000 people with Alzheimer's in 2018, 66,000 two years later, and that number is projected by the Alzheimer's Association to grow to 73,000 by 2025. SF 522 would establish several crimes, including older individual assault, theft against an older individual and financial exploitation of an older individual. Criminal penalties would range from a serious misdemeanor to a Class C felony, depending on the circumstances and extent of injuries. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Have A Heart is Evans Ace Hardwares month-long fundraiser for the Bitter Root Human Association with a special event on Feb. 12. BRHA Board Member Michele Craig said it is a great collaboration. "We are so excited to work with David Evans and Evans Ace Hardware. He has a true love of this community and the nonprofits that support this valley, Craig said. I spend so much time at Ace on the weekends. It's like my second home, and it is so nice to see the face and the family behind the local Ace Hardware." Every day in February, each cash register in Evans Ace Hardware has Have A Heart valentines and photos of adoptable animals at the Bitter Root Humane Associations animal shelter. Evans Ace has Valentines Day hearts available for customers to purchase for $5 each to send to an available shelter animal. If customers buy valentines for all the shelters animals, the donation money will be matched by Evans Ace Hardware and their cat, Traeger. Our goal is to sell as many hearts as we have adoptable animals right now that is about 100 cats and dogs, Craig said. We wanted to do this event in February since it is the month of love and valentines." Evans Ace Hardware is having a Have A Heart Animal Appreciation Day on Saturday, Feb. 12. BRHA Board members and volunteers will be at Evans Ace Hardware, 714 N. 1st St., in Hamilton from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 12, handing out free Valentines Day cookies and sharing information about the shelter, their 50th anniversary in the valley and how they support the community. Craig said the valentine event is a great kickoff to the BRHA's 50th year. Our 50th anniversary is testament to the services we provide to the community, and the support that the community gives to us, Craig said. It is fitting that we have a new and efficient building to get us through the next 50 years but we do continue to need support from the community. We are still paying off the costs of our new building. The Bitter Root Humane Association is a private nonprofit organization, which receives no ongoing taxpayer funding and is funded only through generous donations and their fundraising efforts. We really do depend on the generosity of individuals and businesses like Evans Ace Hardware, Craig said. We are so excited to participate in this fun and playful challenge." On Saturday, Feb. 12, volunteers will show off adoptable shelter dogs and will have a photo display of all their adoptable animals. To add to the event the employees of Evans Ace Hardware will have a photo display of all their family pets. In honor of the event, Evans Ace Hardware will offer a rounding up of purchases at each of the registers to raise money for the Bitter Root Humane Association. Ace employee Rachel Nay said the Have A Heart program has been well received by customers. The Bitter Root Humane Association seems to do a lot in the community and takes more than the typical pets, so it is great, Nay said. Ace employee Chris Smith said he appreciates that the community has stepped forward. Its great to see the community come out and support the animals, Smith said. We love anything to do with supporting the animals too. Anything we can do to help is always fun. Ace employee Amanda Payne said that by Feb. 4 the store had already sold 24 valentines. We are so grateful for business owners like David Evans of Evans Ace Hardware who support the nonprofits in Ravalli County, Craig said. "The Have a Heart event with Evans Ace Hardware is a perfect way to show your love to animals at the shelter during the month of February. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Its the middle of a cold winters night when the trail camera begins to record its grainy, black-and-white video. Theres snow falling when the spike bull elk walks into the frame with a mountain lion hanging from its neck. Over the next 20 minutes, the female lion brings down the elk right in front of the camera. As the mornings first light begins to spill across the scene, it becomes apparent the elk has dropped right in front of the mountain lions den. Its kittens come out and begin feeding on the elk. The clip was one of hundreds that left Missoula filmmaker Colin Ruggiero shaking his head in disbelief over the last three years as he meticulously searched through thousands of video clips gathered over a decade by hundreds of cameras strategically placed on the MPG Ranch and surrounding lands. The cameras are part of a unique non-invasive mountain lion study headed by MPG researcher Joshua Lisbon. The men combined their talents to create a film called Tracking Notes. The Secret World of Mountain Lions that will premiere on Sunday, Feb. 27 at the Missoulas Wilma Theater as part of the annual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival. People will be able to stream the 90-minute film from Feb. 28 to March 3. Everything about this project is homegrown, Lisbon said. Our study area is just south of Missoula. Colin and I live in Missoula. This is local guys telling a local story. Both say their film is unlike anything that people have seen before. The motion-detection trail camera system thats been in place on the MPG Ranch for 10 years has captured millions of video clips that offer an untrammeled view into the natural world. There may not be anything like it in the world. When Ruggiero first agreed to take on the project to create a 15-minute film that highlighted Lisbons mountain lion study, he had no idea that decision would lead him to a journey into the natural world that very few have had ever seen. When I looked at their archives, I discovered they had terabytes and terabytes of video that had captured these amazing moments that no had ever seen before, Ruggiero said. I would go through hundreds of these clips in a row and not see a thing of interest, he said. It would be clips of grass blowing in the wind or a squirrel running through a frame and then on the 436th clip you find something amazing like an elk running with a mountain lion chasing it. I started getting addicted to finding these little pieces and trying to connect the dots, Ruggiero said. Literally like a million clips and a couple of years later, I found that I could make a story out of it. Lisbons love for mountain lions started years before he found his way to tracking them at the MPG Ranch. I have been fascinated with them forever, Lisbon said. I had been tracking mountain lions for fun for at least 10 years before I came to work here. I would follow them around, try to find kill sites and then attempt to piece together all the clues. Now I get paid to do that, he said. I feel like Ive won the lottery. Unlike other mountain lion studies, MPGs doesnt handle mountain lions in any way. Were not handling or collaring cats, Lisbon said. We go out tracking them in the snow but we go the opposite direction that they are going. We try to avoid interactions. Lisbon collects hair and scat, which is analyzed at the University of Montanas genomics laboratory for DNA. Through genetics, we figure out our resident and transient populations and the relativeness of individuals, he said. Year by year, we track them over time to see how those families and resident populations evolve. That DNA information, combined long hours of field time and the video imagery from the extensive trail camera network, offers a pretty complete picture of whats taking place on the landscape. Lisbon initially pitched the idea of doing a short film telling the story of a female mountain that had a compelling life story captured by the trail cameras. They would later name her Willow because she was tall, thin and lanky. The film starts telling the story of this one female who has a unique life story, Lisbon said. It was a story of survival and triumph which then follows her offspring through the years. The film becomes much more than that. It became a story of the land and how all these other creatures inhabit the mountain lions world, Lisbon said. And how all those connections weave together. Sometimes beautifully. Sometimes tragically. Its a story of the cats but its also the story of the land. Ruggiero remembers thinking there was no way that trail camera footage could be used to make a full-length film. I didnt really think it would be useable because the quality isnt great, he said. I thought maybe if we found some clips of exceptional behavior, then we could throw in one or two. I thought we basically would have to reshoot everything. That all changed when he started seeing what those trail cameras had captured. I changed from saying were not using any of that to were going to use mostly all of that, Ruggiero said. Ive never seen a film like I just made, he said. Ive never seen anyone try to make a film connecting dots between trail cam footage and thats partly because MPGs trail cam network is pretty much unparalleled on the planet. I dont know of any other place that deployed a network of cameras quite like that. Both guarantee that people watching their film will see things that theyve never seen captured on video before. I hope that it gives people an appreciation for the complexity of life out there in the mountains, Ruggiero said. And all the different stories that play out in all the different ways and how little we know about all of those interactions. For example, Ruggiero believes they captured the first footage of unrelated mountain lions feeding on an elk that died in a mud wallow. It was amazing footage of mountain lions feeding on an elk in the open, he said. We collected a lot of hair and scat and through DNA testing found they were unrelated cats. Ruggiero has looked hard, but hes not been able to find any other video showing unrelated mountain lions sharing a meal. The science of mountain lions is evolving, Lisbon said. Since I been studying them, we have come to understand that mountain lions are more socially complicated creatures than we previously gave them credit for. Social interactions between unrelated mountain lions is something that researchers are yearning to understand. You get a glimpse into those interactions in this film, Lisbon said. Theres not a minute that goes by in this film that youre seeing something captured on film that has never been captured on video before. Some of these interactions on a kill site with unrelated individuals just hasnt been filmed in un-collared populations. My hope for the film is that it helps people fall in love with the natural world just a little bit more, Lisbon said. I really hope that people can have a positive relationship with nature and that work I do can foster that. If people care about the natural world then they are more likely to want to protect it, he said. Thats my hope. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The power of place is a big part of what makes a national park, said Doyle Sapp, superintendent of Richmond National Battlefield Park. Whether its a historical site or a natural area, Sapp said, the place where something happened or the place where theres a beautiful natural process is very important. The National Park Services most recent local land acquisition 371 acres of Malvern Hill Farm, along Route 5 in eastern Henrico County, at the edge of Charles City County is a perfect example. It complements the portion of the Malvern Hill battlefield already owned by the park service, further telling the story and also preserving the farmland and forests and centuries of other history that exist on the property that doesnt look altogether different than it did during the Civil War. When he can, Sapp likes to walk the battlefield and stand on the hill on the newly acquired land where Federal cannons fired down on the advancing Confederate infantryman in the final, bloody clash of the Seven Days Battle in 1862. We cant and we shouldnt recreate the carnage and the suffering that took place, but we can at least provide a sense of place where the visitor can perhaps see a little bit of what the soldiers saw themselves, he said. The newly acquired land is a very powerful addition to the park, Sapp said. The Malvern Hill Farm piece brings the park services holdings to about 1,300 acres at the Malvern Hill battlefield, ensuring most of the battlefield will be preserved. In all, the park service owns almost 4,000 acres for all of its Richmond National Battlefield Parks 13 Civil War sites around Richmond. The park service acquired the land from the Capital Region Land Conservancy, a nonprofit land preservation group, which in 2018 completed a $6.6 million deal to purchase the 871-acre farm from the family that had owned it for almost 80 years in order to prevent it from being developed. Having a single nonprofit handle the initial purchase makes for a more nimble and straightforward process for the seller, said Parker Agelasto, CRLCs executive director. From the beginning, CRLCs intentions were to perform the heavy lifting negotiating the agreement with the more than two dozen heirs of the Ferguson family and working out the details of the transaction while using grants and philanthropic support to pay for the purchase so that it eventually could transfer the land to its partners: the park service, Henrico and the James River Association. The land conservancy financed the purchase with The Conservation Fund while waiting on contributions from such organizations as the Cabell Foundation, the Mary Morton Parsons Foundation, the Richard S. Reynolds Foundation, the American Battlefield Protection Program, the American Battlefield Trust, the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation, the Virginia Battlefields Preservation Fund and the Virginia Outdoors Foundations Open Space Land Preservation Trust Fund. The land transfer with the park service was completed in December and announced in late January. The county took ownership of its piece of the farm property more than 400 acres in 2020. The county will use its portion of the property as parkland and an outdoor learning environmental for a new high school specialty center. An additional 60 acres in Charles City County that was part of the original purchase sold last year subject to the terms of a conservation easement held by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. CRLC now owns none of it. We no longer have any interest in the land, Agelasto said, other than we helped secure and protect it. *** Malvern Hill Farms colonial history goes back to the 17th century; ruins from the earliest dwelling remain on the farm. The Ferguson family came to Malvern Hill in 1942, when William Ferguson and his wife, Myrtle Deane, purchased the property. Ferguson was manager of the nearby Curles Neck farm and a member of the Henrico Board of Supervisors. It was so great, said Meade Ferguson Welch, William and Myrtle Fergusons granddaughter, who grew up on the farm with her three siblings, when asked what childhood was like at Malvern Hill. Its so pretty out there: the pasture and the fields and the forests. Welch spoke of star-filled skies, the songs of whippoorwills and bobwhites, and catching fireflies on summer nights. Her parents moved from the farm a few years ago, and the family which included children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren decided to sell. We looked for the best possible way to be good stewards of the land, Welch said. As for the sale to the land conservancy that ensured the property would be saved from development, said Welch, noting she was speaking only for herself, I am thrilled that its being preserved. Itll be so nice that everybody will be able to enjoy the land. Prior to the sale, there was concern the farm could become a residential subdivision with hundreds of homes. I would submit that would have impacted the cultural landscape, the viewshed and that feeling of that sense of place to a certain amount because it would be right there on the edge of the property that we owned, Sapp said. Though the park service has not had time to come up with any firm plans for its portion of the farm property, Sapp envisions an expansion of the parks existing approach to its battlefield interpretation with the development of trails and wayside exhibits. Henrico considers its part of the property a park asset but also more of a conservation area, said Neil Luther, the countys director of recreation and parks. Long-term, he doesnt envision development beyond a visitor center and a network of trails that connect to the battlefield park and the nearby Virginia Capital Trail, the 52-mile bike and pedestrian path that runs between Richmond and Williamsburg. This is parkland, but it is specifically restricted for environmental and historical interpretation, so it would never be programmed for active recreation, ball fields, that kind of stuff, he said. In the spring, the county plans to offer tours of the property led by experts from different fields. Sheep graze on part of the land, helping to keep hillside grass down. A portion of the property is still actively farmed and will continue to be on a leased basis, Luther said, in keeping with the historical use of the land. A canoe/kayak launch on Turkey Island Creek developed by the James River Association to provide access to the James River and Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail is part of the county property and is now open to public access. The farm also will be a site for educational activities associated with the new Center for Environmental Studies and Sustainability that opens in the 2022-23 academic year at Varina High School. Considering its location on a mostly level plateau that drains into Turkey Island Creek and Crewes Channel and then into the James River to the south, the farm could serve as a site for watershed and water quality studies and a comparison to other areas along the James, such as Deep Bottom and Wilton Farm where Henrico is considering the location of an environmental studies center, said Eric Rhoades, Henrico schools science specialist. The historic dwellings and history of Malvern Hill will serve as a rich opportunity for students to learn about Henrico and Virginia history, Rhoades wrote in a statement. The centers students will have a variety of Henrico locations for their environmental studies as they consider how they can preserve Henrico for future citizens. For the first time since the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Connecticut children will likely soon be permitted to go maskless in schools and childcare settings. Gov. Ned Lamont announced Monday that he will recommend the state lift its mask mandate as of Feb. 28, leaving decisions on whether to require masks up to local school districts. Advertisement I think that were at a very different place than we were six months ago, Lamont said, citing the prevalence of vaccines, booster shots and N95 masks. Certainly a very different place than we were a year ago. Though Lamonts emergency powers are set to expire next week, the state legislature is expected to extend certain orders he has signed during the pandemic, including one concerning masks in schools and childcare settings. Advertisement [ Daily coronavirus updates: Connecticut reports COVID-19 positivity rate below 5% for first time since November ] That will leave the decision whether to require masks in schools in the hands of the commissioners of public health and education, both of whom voiced support Monday for the timeline Lamont outlined. One thing that were going to have to get used to [is] the idea of ramping up and ramping down the various tools and interventions that we have that can prevent the spread of disease, Dr. Manisha Juthani, the states public health commissioner, said. And if transmission and overall rates of this virus are down, a community can decide that it is a time when masks are likely less necessary, especially if you have a highly vaccinated population. Mask mandates will remain in place in health care facilities, on public transit and in correctional facilities, Lamont said. Connecticuts COVID-19 numbers have improved substantially in recent weeks, with the states seven-day average of new cases dropping from more than 10,000 at one point in January to 1,268 currently. Masks in schools and childcare settings are one of the few pandemic control measures remaining in place in Connecticut after most were repealed last spring. Until recently, Lamont had maintained that masks were necessary in those venues given the close proximity of students over long periods of time. Lamont said Monday he would consider recommending a restoration of a statewide mask mandate in schools if another COVID-19 variant emerged but that he didnt expect that to happen in the near future. If zombiecron comes along and it spikes up as fast as its sister omicron does, we would reserve the right to make a change, to keep you safe, he said. Lamonts announcement on masks in schools comes after governors in New Jersey and Delaware announced timelines for the end of their respective school mask mandates. In New Jersey, the mandate will end March 7, while in Delaware it will last through March 31. Advertisement We are not going to manage COVID to zero, Murphy, a Democrat, tweeted Monday. We have to learn how to live with COVID as we move from a pandemic to an endemic phase of this virus. Connecticuts school mask mandate has sparked increasing debate in recent weeks. Some parents have argued they should have a choice of whether to send their kids to school in masks, while others as well as major teachers unions have maintained that universal masking remains necessary to keep all students and staff safe. Breaking News As it happens Get the latest updates on Coronavirus and other breaking news events happening across Connecticut > Health experts in Connecticut have largely weighed in on favor of keeping a broad mask mandate in place. Dr. Ulysses Wu, chief epidemiologist at Hartford HealthCare, said Monday he would wait a few more weeks. When it comes to rescinding mask mandates, the best thing I can say is that maybe getting through the respiratory season, which would be February, and then possibly think about rescinding it in March would be something to consider, Wu said. Dr. Juan Salazar, physician-in-chief at Connecticut Childrens Medical Center, said even once the mandate is listed, he will still recommend that parents send their kids to school in masks. If Im a parent, Im still going to tell my son or daughter, Look, for the next two or three weeks go and ahead and still wear your masks, he said. Thats just common sense. Advertisement Fran Rabinowitz, executive director of the Connecticut Association of School Superintendents, said she supports the Lamont Administrations decision to left the school mask mandate and leave authority with local officials. If they feel that we are at a place now where we can move to a different path, Im fine with that, she said. Alex Putterman can be reached at aputterman@courant.com. WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump was in the Oval Office with his daughter Ivanka and Vice President Mike Pence's national security adviser on the morning of Jan. 6, 2021, when he made yet another push to pressure Pence. Trump again told Pence that he had a duty to reject Electoral College votes that would formalize Democrat Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election, something the vice president had no authority to do in his ceremonial role in Congress that day. "You don't have the courage to make a hard decision," Trump told Pence, according to congressional testimony. Even after Trump called him a "wimp," Pence rebuffed the demand, issuing a lengthy statement afterward laying out his conclusion that he had no power to influence the outcome. When the call ended, Ivanka Trump turned to retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg and said, "Mike Pence is a good man." "Yes, he is," Kellogg replied. Now the House committee investigating the riot wants to know what else Ivanka Trump heard and saw that day as they try to stitch together the narrative of the riots and the former president's role in instigating them. There was a frantic effort by many of Trump's top supporters to persuade him to intervene, and some directly sought to use his daughter as their conduit. Keep scrolling for a photo gallery from Jan. 6, 2021 A committee aide said they are hopeful that she will soon commit to a time to meet. Throughout her time in the White House, Ivanka Trump was known as a rare voice who could get through to her father and talk him out of bad decisions, though her success was mixed. The former first daughter has kept an extraordinary low profile since her father left office and has distanced herself from him and politics since moving to Florida. But her proximity to him on Jan. 6 could provide the committee with direct access to what Trump was doing during those crucial three hours when his supporters violently stormed Capitol. "Ivanka Trump has details about what occurred in the lead-up to and on Jan. 6 and about the former president's state of mind as events unfolded," Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla, a member of the panel, told The Associated Press. It is highly unusual for congressional investigators to target a family member of a president, but as a senior adviser to her father, she also had a perch close to power. Kellogg disclosed the exchange with the committee, but so far Ivanka Trump, who famously guards her image and public profile, has not talked to the panel. The answers could have significant repercussions not only for Donald Trump, who is eyeing a political comeback in 2024, but for those in the Republican Party who have downplayed his role in the insurrection. A spokeswoman for Ivanka Trump did not respond to multiple requests for comment. But in a statement issued in late January, a representative for her noted that Ivanka Trump did not speak at the rally near the White House where the then-president urged his supporters to "fight like hell" as Congress convened to certify the 2020 election results, and said she still believed that "any security breach or disrespect to our law enforcement is unacceptable." Members of the committee hope to get beyond such vague assertions. Hours after Trump's call to Pence, Ivanka Trump joined brother Donald Trump Jr., Rudy Giuliani and Kimberly Guilfoyle under a large tent at the rally to listen to Trump's speech. She reportedly told aides she "decided to attend only because she had hoped to calm the president and help keep the event on an even keel." After Trump's speech, as rioters began to smash through Capitol police barriers and break windows, the former president tweeted: "Mike Pence didn't have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution ..." That tweet, according to court testimony, only added to the anger fueling the mob. Back in the White House, as staffers watched in shock at what was unfolding down Pennsylvania Avenue on television screens positioned throughout the West Wing, Trump's attention was so rapt that he hit rewind and watched certain moments again, according to Stephanie Grisham, a former White House press secretary. "Look at all of the people fighting for me," Trump said, according to Grisham, who also served as chief of staff to first lady Melania Trump. At one point, the president was confused why staffers weren't as excited as he was watching the unrest unfold. Kellogg testified that staff wanted the president to take immediate action to address the violence consuming the Capitol, but Trump refused. "Is someone getting to potus? He has to tell protestors to dissipate. Someone is going to get killed," Alyssa Farrah Griffin, a former White House communications official, texted Ben Williamson, an aide to White House chief of staff Mark Meadows. "I've been trying for the last 30 minutes. Literally stormed in outer oval to get him to put out the first one. It's completely insane," Williamson wrote back. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., then called Ivanka Trump, pleading that the president "ask people to leave." "We're working on it," she replied. At that point, staffers acknowledged that despite efforts by Meadows, press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and Kellogg, the only person who could get through to him would be his daughter. Ivanka Trump, according to testimony, went on to make at least two "tenacious" attempts to reason with her father as staffers were bombarded with messages from Trump allies begging him to quell the violence. "Can he make a statement. I saw the tweet. Ask people to leave the (Capitol)," Fox News host Sean Hannity texted Meadows. But inside the West Wing, Kellogg strongly recommended that they not ask the president to appear in the press room, where a group of reporters would be waiting for him. "Apparently, certain White House staff believed that a live unscripted press appearance by the President in the midst of the Capitol Hill violence could have made the situation worse," lawmakers wrote in their letter to Ivanka Trump. The president ultimately agreed to a video statement. Multiple takes were filmed but not used. In each one of the initial takes, according to the committee, he failed to ask rioters to leave. The final video was released on Twitter at 4:17 p.m. nearly two hours after Trump's initial tweet criticizing Pence. "This was a fraudulent election, but we can't play into the hands of these people," Trump said in the video. "We have to have peace. So go home. We love you; you're very special." Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., the vice chair of the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection, has said it's hard to "imagine a more significant and more serious dereliction of duty" than Trump's failure to quell the riots. Trump's last words that day came at 6:01 p.m. when he tweeted that the 2020 election was "unceremoniously and viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly and unfairly treated for so long." He ended with, "Go home with love and in peace. Remember this day forever." The committee has been aggressively interviewing witnesses nearly 500 so far and has subpoenaed Meadows and Trump's personal lawyer. They are asking Ivanka Trump to cooperate voluntarily. *** It wasn't the first time that someone found a disparity in the number of older Black youth who end up in adult court for trial on criminal charges, compared with their proportion to Virginia's population. But the "racial and ethnic impact statement" attached to a Senate bill that would shift many of those cases into juvenile courts was a first under a new state law. It requires the legislature's watchdog agency to assess the effects of proposed criminal justice legislation on racial and ethnic minorities, if asked. The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, the state's watchdog agency, conducted its first - and so far only - impact statement under the law for Senate Bill 134, introduced by Senate Judiciary Chairman John Edwards, D-Roanoke, who also asked for the review. The statement said that Edwards' bill - which proposes to change the legal venue for cases involving youths from 18 to 21 years old - would most affect Black or other minority youths who represent a disproportionate number of cases tried in general district and circuit courts. The number of cases is much higher in general district courts, which handle lesser charges, but the disparity is greatest in circuit court, where Black and other minority youth are twice as likely to be tried than others of their age in the general population, JLARC found. In general district courts, Black people and other minorities were 1.4 times more likely to be tried. The legal outcomes and penalties are much different for youths tried in adult courts than in juvenile and domestic relations courts, JLARC said. "Cases resolved in J&DR court generally result in less severe sanctions and greater access to rehabilitative services," the agency said, referring to juvenile and domestic relations court. "In addition, some juveniles who commit less severe offenses are eligible to have their cases diverted from the system and handled without court involvement." Currently, youths under 18 are tried in juvenile court, although they can be transferred to circuit court for trial on serious charges. JLARC said that general district courts handled the cases of 25,000 older youths a year from 2018 through 2021. Circuit courts handled about 1,900 cases per year during that period, "excluding individuals charged with the most serious offenses, which would still be tried in circuit court." The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 9-0 to support the bill and refer it to the Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee to assess any effect on the state budget, which would be significant for the courts and Department of Juvenile Justice, according to a separate fiscal impact statement prepared by the Department of Planning and Budget. Last year, then-Del. Lashrecse Aird, D-Petersburg, proposed legislation to require racial and ethnic impact statements. Her bill passed the House of Delegates by a vote of 69-31 and the Senate by a 20-18 margin. Sen. Joe Morrissey, D-Richmond, joined with Republicans to oppose it. He said Monday that he opposed the bill last year because he was concerned about legislative delay, whether it was necessary and because he contended it did not specify a process for JLARC to follow. "I supported the intent behind the bill but without a process, how are we, as legislators, to know what was even studied?" Morrissey said in an email. Previously, JLARC has prepared financial impact statements on legislation if requested by the legislature as second opinions on the budget implications of proposed bills. The new law allows the chairs of the Senate Judiciary and House Courts of Justice committees to request that JLARC prepare up to three racial and ethnic impact statements in each General Assembly session. JLARC Director Hal Greer said Edwards' bill is the only one the agency has been asked to review of its racial and ethnic impact. "There has been a substantial amount of work to prepare for this new function as well as to conduct the analysis and research for the first statement," Greer said. "However, we have been able to handle the work with our existing staff." The Virginia Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a parental challenge of Gov. Glenn Youngkins executive order to prevent public schools from requiring students to wear face masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The ruling comes three days after an Arlington County judge found that Youngkin did not have authority to supersede the judgment of local school boards in setting policy for reducing the threat of COVID to students, teachers and other school employees. Multiple legal cases in opposition or support of the governors executive order are moving through the courts while school systems await clarity. In the Richmond area, schools in the city of Richmond and Henrico County continue to require masks while schools in Chesterfield and Hanover counties are mask-optional. Unlike the ruling by Arlington Judge Louise DiMatteo, the Supreme Court did not rule on the merits of the executive order, only the legal path that a group of 13 parents in Chesapeake used to challenge the governors order allowing parents to choose to send their children to school unmasked. By this dismissal, we offer no opinion on the legality of [Executive Order] 2 or any other issue pertaining to petitioners claims, the court states in a footnote on the last page of the three-page order. Attorney General Jason Miyares issued a statement that called the decision a victory for Virginia families. In a statement on Twitter, Youngkin said, We are pleased by the dismissal. We will continue to protect the rights of parents to make decisions regarding their childs health, education, upbringing, and care. To be clear, this is not about pro-mask vs. anti-mask, but rather parents making decisions about whats best for their childs health, the governor said. And we are pleased to see that other states, including New Jersey and Delaware, are following our reasoning and a path to normalcy. Kevin Martingayle, the attorney for the Chesapeake parents who filed the lawsuit, called the decision a procedural ruling based on the lawsuits use of two legal paths to reach the Supreme Court directly. The court said neither of those paths works in the parents challenge of Executive Order Two, which Youngkin signed on Jan. 15, the day of his inauguration. But Martingayle cited the footnote as proof that the Supreme Court has not ruled on the merits of the order itself. It is a clear signal that the Supreme Court continues to have questions about Executive Order Two, he said in an interview. This is not a ruling on the merits. Carl Tobias, a professor of constitutional law at the University of Richmond, agreed with Martingayle. Theyre not ruling on the merits or the legality, Tobias said Monday, calling the grounds of the ruling really technical stuff. Victoria LaCivita, a spokeswoman for Miyares, said, We consider this a win because the court rejected the challenge to EO2, which is what we asked for. LaCivita also noted that the high court said in its opinion that Senate Bill 1303 adopted by the General Assembly last year to compel public schools to reopen to in-person instruction during the pandemic does not impose a universal mask mandate, as the other side has argued. The state law requires school boards to follow the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to the maximum extent possible. Those guidelines include requiring all students to wear face masks in school. Consequently, some school boards including Richmond and six others that challenged the executive order in Arlington have interpreted the law to require universal masking. But the Supreme Court said Monday that the law necessarily gives the boards a degree of discretion to modify or even forgo those [CDC] strategies as they deem appropriate for their individual circumstances. With respect to implementing policies on student masking, that discretion persists even if [Executive Order] 2s masking exemption provisions are unlawful, the court said. The high courts interpretation of the state law appears consistent with that of DiMatteo, who made clear during oral arguments last week that she does not consider the state law a mandate for universal masking. However, the Arlington judge said in her opinion on Friday that the law and the constitutional provision that gives school boards power to supervise public schools override Youngkins authority to issue an executive order that would supersede them. The single issue before the court is whether the governor, via his emergency powers, can override the decision of local school boards delegated to them under SB 1303, DiMatteo wrote. On this pivotal point, the court concludes that the governor cannot. What remains unclear from her opinion is how it applies to school divisions that were not part of the lawsuit, especially those that ended their requirements of universal masking after Youngkin issued the executive order. Those includes school boards in Chesterfield and Hanover, as well as Chesapeake which lifted its requirement after the parents filed suit to challenge the governors order. The Hanover board approved a policy making masks optional on Jan. 24, and it took effect a week later on Jan. 31. The Chesterfield School Board voted Jan. 25 to give parents a choice on face masks. Martingayle said his clients are awaiting the judges order to carry out the opinion to determine its scope and application across the state. But he said, Theres only one opinion in Virginia so far on the legality of Executive Order Two: It came out of Arlington and the [attorney general] lost. Two other lawsuits are pending over the executive order, one filed in federal court by the American Civil Liberties Union to challenge the governors action because of its effect on families with disabled children, and the other by Loudoun County parents over the School Boards refusal to comply with the governors order. Both viewpoints were reflected in political debate on the floor of the House of Delegates on Friday. Del. Nick Freitas, R-Culpeper, expressed outrage over the Loudoun boards reported threat of criminal arrest of any student who comes to school without a mask. In the commonwealth of Virginia, we should not be sending someone to jail because they decided not to wear a mask in the public school system, Freitas said. Loudoun Public Schools said the allegation is untrue and that no student has been arrested on a trespassing charge for coming to school without a mask. The system has 22 students suspended for defying the policy, down from 29 on Friday. The school system does not have the authority to arrest or charge any suspended students or their parents for trespassing, Superintendent Scott Ziegler told parents and employees on Friday. Furthermore, LCPS has not requested that local law enforcement charge any student with trespassing in connection with recent suspensions. Del. Kelly Convirs-Fowler, D-Virginia Beach, said she considers it offensive that the governors order would allow unmasked students to potentially threaten the health of her child, whose immune system is compromised because of a disability. It is time for our governor to listen to all of the parents, Convirs-Fowler said, not just the parents he is pandering to. Hanover County teenager Ethan Lynne, 17, found himself in the national spotlight this past weekend after an online spat with a Twitter account for Gov. Glenn Youngkins election campaign. Lynne, a senior at Patrick Henry High School and a Democratic activist, retweeted a Richmond public radio stations report about a historian resigning her Executive Mansion position telling stories of the enslaved. The radio stations report contained an error, which Lynne noted on Twitter hours later after the station issued a correction. By then, Team Youngkin, the official Twitter account for the governors campaign, had posted a photo of Lynne with former Gov. Ralph Northam at a Democratic fundraiser in October, The Associated Press reported. Heres a picture of Ethan with a man that had a Blackface/KKK photo in his yearbook, Team Youngkin tweeted shortly before 5 p.m. Saturday, pairing the October photo with a racist picture from Northams 1984 medical school yearbook that surfaced in 2019. Lynne has been outspoken on Twitter and critical of the governor, posting tweets like This has been the worst first 3 weeks for a Virginia Governor in recent history, on Saturday. And Truly embarrassing that it hasnt even been a month and Youngkin is already facing 4 major lawsuits, he tweeted on Friday. While its normal in politics for both sides to trade attacks back and forth, Lynne said, attacking minors is never the norm for politicians. It gets called out on both sides historically. Thats what shocked me. I never thought a minor would be attacked, Lynne said on Monday, speaking from his Ashland home. I was surprised and quite honestly I couldnt even believe that it was real, he added. I could have never imagined that the governor would use his platform to bully a high school student. National publications like The Washington Post, Newsweek.com and The Guardians website scooped up the story over the weekend and wrote about it. After Youngkins campaign posted the tweet, Lynne said he was inundated with messages from hundreds of thousands of online trolls who were told to ridicule and humiliate me. People from all over immediately rushed in to mock and harass me all because of the governors action, Lynne said. To my knowledge, no governors campaign account has ever done this or has stooped this low. Part of the reason why its grabbed so much attention is because this is something Donald Trump would do. I think its made people stop and stare in disgust and call out what they see as wrong, Lynne said. The Youngkin campaign deleted the tweet on Sunday morning. It was brought to [our] attention that this Democrat Party official repeatedly elevated by Senator Louise Lucas as a source of official Democrat Party communications is actually a minor, so the tweet was removed, said Matt Wolking of the Youngkin campaign. On Monday, Youngkin disavowed the tweet from his campaign and claimed no responsibility for it. On Saturday night, an unauthorized tweet came from a campaign account, the governor wrote on Twitter. I regret that this happened and it shouldnt have. I have addressed it with my team. We must continue to work to bring Virginians together. There is so much more that unites us than divides us. But Lynne said the governor has created a culture of toxicity and thinks the governor should personally apologize for the offending tweet. If young people get into the political arena and they argue, certainly they dont get a free pass, said Bob Holsworth, a veteran commentator on local politics and a former professor and dean at Virginia Commonwealth University. But the issue here is that they put up a picture of a minor, then linked it to the Northam yearbook picture which holds the implication someone is endorsing racism in general I think thats what crossed the line here. Holsworth said he thought a personal phone call and an apology to Lynne would be a more appropriate response. I think this was a very poor example of how the Youngkin campaign responds to divisive comments, he said. This wasnt modeling the appropriate behavior. Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, the president pro tempore of the Virginia Senate who has become a prominent voice on Twitter for Democrats with over 40,000 followers, encouraged her followers to follow Lynne on Twitter and called on every reporter in this state to get on this [story] immediately. The Governor is attacking a high school student. Before the weekend, he had roughly 25,000 followers on Twitter. After the flap and the national recognition, he scooped up followers and now has nearly 40,000. While Lynne and Lucas have been trading tweets back and forth, Lynne said he doesnt consider Lucas a mentor and that hes never been an intern for her. He did recently serve as a page in the Virginia Senate. Shes been great on Twitter amplifying the voices of teachers and against dangerous charter schools. Shes a good person to follow on Twitter, he said. Lynne got involved in politics at 10 years old, helping flip a 30-year GOP held Hanover Board of Supervisors seat to blue, he said, and has never stopped. Besides being the co-founder of VATeenDems and being active politically, he works part time at a grocery store and at a restaurant. He has been speaking out about Youngkins executive order on parents opting out of masks in schools and has been gathering signatures to keep masks in Hanover schools. Its important to me to stay involved because politics affect students and my future. The planet we live on, the roads we drive on, how safe we are in school and the rights to make decisions over our own bodies can all be changed based on who wins in November, he said. ccurran@timesdispatch.com (804) 649-6151 Twitter: @collcurran Politics Editor Andrew Cain and The Associated Press contributed to this report. In a unique opportunity to celebrate Black History Month and the 100th anniversary of women students at Virginia Tech, the Military Womens Memorial is bringing a special traveling exhibition, The Color of Freedom: Honoring the Diversity of Americas Servicewomen, to Newman Library. Virginia Techs Blacksburg campus is the inaugural stop on the exhibitions tour, which is sponsored by Virginia Humanities. It will be on display Feb. 10-28 on the librarys fourth floor, across from the Corps of Cadets Museum space. Visitors will be able to immerse themselves in the contributions of military women of color who have served throughout American history. It includes their stories along with QR codes to access oral histories that provide firsthand accounts of select servicewomen featured in the exhibit. The exhibitions goal is to build awareness of the sacrifices of women from diverse backgrounds who forged a path for women of all backgrounds to serve in and with the U.S. military. That mission is important to the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, which partnered with the Military Womens Memorial to bring the exhibition to campus, said Capt. Jamie McGrath, director of the corps Rice Center for Leader Development. In 1973, Virginia Tech was among the first of the senior military colleges to admit women to its Corps of Cadets, three years before the federal service academics. In 2005, the Corps of Cadets named its first Black female regimental commander, Christina Royal, who graduated in 2006 with a degree in sociology from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences and was commissioned into the U.S. Air Force. The most recent Black female in that role was Mame Ngom in fall 2020, who graduated in 2021 with a degree in political science from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences and was commissioned into the Air Force. The University Libraries partnered with the Corps of Cadets to host the exhibition in Newman Library. It is an honor to help highlight the military contributions of women of color to the U.S. Armed forces, womens history, and to share their achievements here at Virginia Tech, said Scott Fralin, University Libraries exhibit curator and learning environments librarian. Located at the gateway to Arlington National Cemetery, the Military Womens Memorial is the only historical repository documenting all womens service, through an interactive database, educational exhibits and world-class collections. The period from July 2021 through December 2022 marks two major milestones in Virginia Tech history: the 150th anniversary of the universitys founding and the 100th anniversary of women students at Virginia Tech. Women were first admitted to the university for full-time studies in 1921. The Military Womens Memorials mission is to honor and tell the stories of women, past and present, who serve our nation, McGrath said. Bringing the Color of Freedom traveling exhibit here highlights the strong tradition of women leaders at Virginia Tech and demonstrates our commitment to honoring those whove served and encouraging those who will serve our nation in uniform. - Submitted by Virginia Tech Ukrainian emergency services say 10 people were wounded when a Russian missile hit a 25-story apartment building in Kyiv on Thursday evening and set off a fire, which partially destroyed the first and second floors. The bombardment came barely an hour after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a news conference with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who said Ukraine has become an epicenter of unbearable heartache and pain. A spokesperson said Guterres and his team were safe. The attack is the boldest the capital city has seen since Russian forces retreated weeks ago. Elsewhere, Ukrainian authorities reported intense Russian fire in the Donbas, the eastern industrial heartland that the Kremlin is bent on capturing. LYNCHBURG BWX Technologies, based in Lynchburg, hopes to supply the fuel that will propel a spacecraft to Mars and back. To that end, the nuclear-services firm, which employs about 2,600 people in the Lynchburg area, is continuing its work with NASA to deliver coated reactor fuels to support a space nuclear propulsion project. Nuclear thermal propulsion is one of the technologies capable of propelling a spacecraft to Mars and back. It comes with a unique challenge: the fuels and reactors required for the mission must be able to withstand the extremely high temperatures and corrosive conditions experienced in the engine during spaceflight. Joe Miller, president of BWXT Advanced Technologies which supports the companys research and development interests in applications for nuclear technologies said the purpose of nuclear thermal propulsion is to cut the travel time significantly from low-earth orbit to Mars. The work BWXT is doing is one step in a larger plan to help NASA. Theres a big focus right now from NASA and from the Department of Defense on thermal propulsion and BWXT is well poised to meet those needs and meet that desire, Miller said. Theres almost a transformation in the way in which humans are thinking about our relative space, and its all about how can you get there, how fast, how much energy can you have in space to make these long transits? So, not just from a thermal propulsion standpoint, but also from a power production standpoint in space, and its a super exciting time right now and weve been able to put all of the capabilities and infrastructure to make these things a reality in the next decade. He said NASA has been asking itself for many years how much performance it can get out of a spacecraft to reduce transit time, because astronauts dont want to be in space for nine months just traveling to Mars, which on average is about 140 million miles away from Earth. He said NASA wondered how it could reduce this time by one-third and what kinds of technologies could help make this possible. NASA does a fantastic job of road mapping where the technologies are, how mature they are in preparation for launching a spacecraft and then operating that spacecraft to travel to Mars, Miller said. Nuclear thermal propulsion technology has been around since the late 1950s, and a lot of work was done in the 1960s and early 1970s, Miller said. BWXT entered into a contract with NASA in 2017. BWXTs engagement in Nuclear Thermal Propulsion goes all the way back to the 1960s when it contributed to NASAs Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Application (NERVA) program that involved the design, building and testing of reactors and rocket engines, Miller said. NASA is making advances in space nuclear propulsion, working collaboratively across government and with industry for fuel supply. Innovative nuclear fuels and reactors that support nuclear thermal propulsion are vital to our plans for future human missions to Mars, said Dayna Ise, manager of space nuclear propulsion at NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Because of the unique capabilities of BWXT in that it not only manufactures reactors and nuclear fuel but also has a design group who focus on nuclear space, NASA asked it to mature the technology in preparation for a mid-2030s proposed mission and launch to Mars, Miller said. Now BWXT, in collaboration with Idaho National Laboratory and NASA, is to design the reactor, manufacture and fabricate test pieces and test those elements. Since we have all of the talent, we have all the facilities and we have the licensing and know how to treat and handle nuclear fuel, theyve been very pleased with the amount of progress that weve made in maturing nuclear thermal propulsion, Miller said. BWXT now is testing the fuel. A test element is the enclosed fuel that goes into a test reactor in Idaho National Laboratory. So since we understand a lot more about what the internals of the nuclear reactor need to look like, including the nuclear fuel, weve done a lot of development on the nuclear fuel, Miller said. Now that were making that fuel, we can encapsulate that into a test element and get a lot of relevant data out of a test reactor inside of one of the National Laboratories. He said this is the exciting part because the design is a good concept on paper but testing can prove the concept. When you get test data back from a test element, thats the truth of what will take place in a relevant environment when the reactor is operated, he said. Nuclear thermal propulsion is a game-changing technology and testing of fuel elements allows you to escalate the product maturity pretty rapidly. Thats why its such an exciting time. Over the next couple of years, there will be a series of rigorous tests that will occur in addition to fuel element testing to continue to mature the reactor design, Miller said. Then there will be more testing that will occur for the spacecraft during the next 5 to 10 years. Then there will be manufacturing and in-space testing, including the initial launch and proposed crewed mission to Mars in the mid-2030s. A small number of technologies are being considered that could propel a spacecraft to Mars. Although other companies could become involved, BWXT is the only company at this point that has a contract to produce fuel for testing, Miller said. Miller described the fuel as looking similar to little BB pellets. The fuel is a sphere of uranium and has a coating on the outside of the sphere to be able to protect the uranium and encapsulate the fuel itself. Thousands of those BBs are packed in and consolidated into a fuel form, which would go into a fuel rod that is inserted into a reactor the size of a 55-gallon drum. Well be creating a whole new product for the government to explore deep space, he said. And so getting astronauts into deep space is a step that this countrys been wanting to take for several decades. And this is the enabling technology to get there. Challenges in creating the fuel include the environmental conditions, Miller said. The reactor is extremely hot, he said. There are lots of nuclear reactors that operate for power production. The temperature of this reactor is many magnitudes hotter than those reactors. So the challenge is really a material science challenge. Miller said about 50 BWXT staff members are working on this fuel. My staff is very proud. Thats one of the reasons why they love to come to work every day. Its a very intense program, but they know they are enabling the next major step for all of humankind, he said. LaNita Poe, whose husband Maurice is incarcerated at the St. Brides Correctional Center in Chesapeake, said she was surprised to see news about some state lawmakers hoping to accelerate the timeline for legal sales of recreational marijuana in Virginia. She and Maurice wondered if that would come with a second look at his sentence where a series of marijuana charges, while he was on probation stemming from other nonviolent drug-related counts, resulted in a 10-year sentence. The Poes are among hundreds of people in Virginia awaiting legislation from the General Assembly that could lead to release from or shortening of prison sentences for people convicted of marijuana-related crimes as the state moves to legalize the drug and create a new legal market. Legislation moving tenuously through the House and Senate, with the support of Democrats and Republicans, could offer that recalibration. Resentencing for people incarcerated or on probation for marijuana-related crimes is one piece in the complicated, wide-ranging effort to legalize recreational marijuana in Virginia. What was a heated process among Democrats last year, when the party controlled both chambers of the legislature, is now an exercise in compromise between Democrats and Republicans. Del. Carrie Coyner, R-Chesterfield, is leading efforts in the GOP-controlled House to adjust marijuana-related sentences. Coyner said in an interview that the state is wasting public resources by incarcerating people who would be free had the drug been legalized before they were sentenced. As a state, we ended the prohibition in 2021, and yet were still wasting limited public resources, Coyner said. Thats not the best use of public dollars and space in our jails. We want those folks to be out in the community, being productive. Coyner introduced legislation that would allow a circuit court judge to hold a hearing and adjust a persons sentenceone bill would make those hearings automatic for anyone who qualifies, and another would require them to file a petition. Neither of Coyners bills has been scheduled for a hearing. Del. Rob Bell, R-Albemarle, who chairs the House courts panel, said in an interview he didnt believe the legislation should move forward alone. He said he would wait to see how legislation to establish the new legal market and rework criminal penalties around marijuana played out before scheduling the resentencing bills for a hearing. In January, days before the General Assembly session began, the Cannabis Oversight Commission voted to recommend accelerating retail sales from January 2024 to January 2023. In the Senate, a bill from Sens. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax and Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth would allow circuit judges to re-examine the sentences of people convicted for marijuana-only crimes. People who were convicted of other felonies, and whose sentences may have been exacerbated by a marijuana conviction, would need to petition the Virginia Parole Board for resentencing. Surovell said the approach, which was unveiled Friday afternoon, would be less costly to the state, giving it a better chance at passage. Resentencing by the courts would be vastly more expensive, he said, though the state is still processing the fiscal impact of the proposal. This issue is unfinished business and it needs to be resolved, he said. He said his and Lucas version of the resentencing measure would be part of the broader package from Senate Democrats to legalize marijuana. The whole marijuana issue is a multi-headed species right now. Virginias Parole Board is made up of five members appointed by the governor. Gov. Glenn Youngkin on his first day in office delivered on a key campaign promise to replace all five members who served under Gov. Ralph Northam, who had come under fire by Republicans for a series of release decisions. The more conservative group Youngkin named includes Cheryl Nici-OConnell, a former Richmond police officer who appeared in a campaign ad for the governor, and Chadwick Dotson of Wise County, a former prosecutor and judge who last year sought the GOP nomination in a special election for the Senate seat of Ben Chafin, who died from COVID-19. Its a compromise that gets us somewhere. I dont believe its a good compromise, but if we dont get something passed, no one will get a hearing, said Valerie Slater, the executive director of RISE for Youth, a criminal justice group that is supportive of the Senate bill. In an interview, Slater said a circuit court judge is the more appropriate place for resentencing requests because the parole boards purview is currently to determine if someone is rehabilitated enough to be released, not to recalibrate sentences. She said it would provide little to no path for appeals. But to have not done anything, like last year, would have landed us with absolutely no opportunity for these individuals, who must get an opportunity to have their sentences looked at at this point, she said. The Surovell and Lucas approach also got the support of other criminal justice groups, like Nolef Turns and the Virginia NAACP. The Virginia Association of Commonwealths Attorneys opposes the bill. The group warned against reconsidering sentences for crimes like delivery of marijuana to prisoners and distributing at or near a school. The committee should consider whether those are offenses for which retroactive action is to be considered, said Jim Hensley, who spoke on behalf of the association during a Senate panel Friday. In light of the legalization of marijuana they involve conduct that goes beyond just marijuana possession, he said. Hensley added that reconsidering sentences for people who were convicted for marijuana-related crimes along with other felonies opens the door to a huge number of people for reconsideration. That broad pool hasnt been quantified. The pool of people convicted on marijuana-only related charges is between 400 and 500, Surovell said. Gracie Burger, the state policy director of the Last Prisoner Project, a group advocating for resentencing reform, said all are deserving of a second look, in line with the spirit of equity with which Virginia launched into marijuana legalization. The reason that prohibition was repealed is because, in part, there is data that shows enforcement and prosecution and particularly sentencing had rampant racial disparities, Burger said. Sentences were meted out during a time of prohibition, at a time when sentencing was disparate across the state along racial and ethnic lines. When Northam moved to legalize marijuana in Virginia, he said the state should focus on repairing the harm that resulted from the racially disparate enforcement of marijuana laws. That concern remains present for advocates and some lawmakers as it concerns the legal market and the recalibration of penalties related to the drug. The legislature is working through efforts to accelerate legal sales, and how to ensure that people who were impacted by marijuana enforcement can profit from the new market. On Thursday a Senate Finance & Appropriations subcommittee rejected a proposal from Senate Minority Leader Tommy Norment, R-James City, to eliminate the slated dedication of 30% of the revenue from a new tax on marijuana to the Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Fund. Norment proposed to instead send the money to the general fund for lawmakers to spend. The assembly created the fund last year to direct a portion of the money from the marijuana tax to initiatives to help predominantly minority communities that had been most harmed by past enforcement of laws against drug possession and distribution. Marijuana Justice and other groups have warned that speeding up sales will give established businesses a leg up in the market as lawmakers appear poised to speed up sales with the goal of ensuring safe and regulated products are being sold across the state. The Virginia Mercury recently reported that while marijuana sales remain illegal, many companies across different parts of the state carry products that contain delta-9 THC, the intoxicant in marijuana. Those businesses include a shop Lucas owns in Portsmouth. Poe said she hopes that people who are incarcerated will not be left behind for another year as the state and businesses stand to profit. Now that they want to legalize it for recreation, faster, why continue to hold these people? Poe said. Itll be beneficial that the government recognizes the mistakes of the past and let these people go. The world is changing. The laws are changing. CHARLOTTESVILLE After weeks of record COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, the omicron-fueled surge appears to be slowing down in the area, but the challenge of caring for such large numbers of patients has left nurses and other health care workers exhausted. While we are declining, we are still seeing a very high number of cases, said Dr. Costi Sifri, UVa Healths director of hospital epidemiology, at the medical centers weekly briefing. Even if the cases continue to drop, well still have people in the hospital and will continue to deal with this for weeks to come. At some point [case numbers] will come down to a lower level, but until then we are in a period of high case counts and it behooves us to take precautions. Those precautions include getting vaccinated, wearing a high-quality mask, staying home when you dont feel good and social distancing. The University of Virginia Medical Center and Augusta Health recently partnered on a public education campaign to encourage the community to follow the precautions. UVa started to see the number of COVID-19 patients at the hospital drop this week to under 100, but doctors and hospital leadership have said the recent surge has pushed health care workers to their breaking points. Theres a group of people who have been with us in the ICU from the beginning of the pandemic, but I think for some folks, its become a sense of duty to see this through, said Dr. Taison Bell, director of the medical intensive care unit at UVa Medical Center. I wonder when this is finally over whenever thats going to be I actually think we might have a wave of resignations across the country at that point. Area hospital leaders have described the omicron surge as the most serious challenge the hospitals have faced thus far in the pandemic. Hitting nearly two years into the pandemic, the surge has exacerbated staffing issues. Frontline health care workers were already worn out before the surge, and the more transmissible variant increased the chances that hospital staff would test positive or have to quarantine, which increased the strain on other staff members. Bell said theres no escape from the pandemic for the nurses, nurse practitioners and other staff working the ICU. With high case counts leading to other disruptions in the community, omicrons reach and impact on health care workers has extended beyond the hospital walls. Some might have family members who have gotten sick or become infected themselves. Omicron is literally affecting your life in an adverse way, then youre trying to take care of critically ill patients who are mostly unvaccinated, he said. Although the omicron variant of the coronavirus has been described as mild, Bell said hes seen very sick patients in the medical ICU. Many times theyre young, including 20s and 30s, people that are pregnant, people who dont have a lot of medical conditions, and the only common linkage is that theyre unvaccinated, said Bell. In late January, the medical center had 131 COVID-19 patients, which is more than what the hospital has seen at other points in the pandemic. On Jan. 25, 37 of the hospitals 101 patients were in the ICU and 22 were on a ventilator, according to a breakdown shared by UVa on social media. Since then, the patient count dropped to 89, but 28 people were still in the ICU and 17 were on a ventilator. Dr. Kyle Enfield, director of intensive care at the medical center, said that at one point last month, half of the ICU patients had COVID. Its challenging, because weve been running this race for two years now, said Enfield, who is also a critical care physician. And I think most of us at least hoped, at some level, that we would be in a different spot than we are today and would like to not be spending as much time thinking about, worrying about, and treating COVID. Enfield said the ICU staff is committed but weary. What theyve gone through for the past two years would be trying for anybody, but to do it over and over again, I think takes its toll, he said. The exhaustion has meant that team members might be shorter with one another and less excited to come to work. At the same time, theres a huge amount of professionalism in the team here, he said. Because of that people do keep showing up and are willing to go the extra mile for each other and for our patients, but they are tired, and you can see that in their interactions with each other and their interactions with patients. Inside the ICU By almost every metric, January was the worst month of the pandemic for the Charlottesville area. The health district recorded 11,245 new cases and 191 new hospitalizations far surpassing records set during previous surges. Another 989 new cases have been reported this month already. The new cases added since Jan. 1 make up 30% of all positive cases in the health district since March 2020. The district is currently averaging 256 new cases over a seven-day period. The seven-day average peaked at 435 twice last month. Determining how many died from COVID-19 takes time, but the state started to report deaths from the surge Feb. 2. So far this year, 23 people have died from COVID-19, according to an analysis of health district data. About 73% of people in the Blue Ridge Health District who are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine have received at least one dose, 68.5% are fully vaccinated and 36.8% have gotten the booster. For Bell, the omicron surge has been different from other surges because the hospital staff had a good idea of who would be getting sick or critically ill at the hospital. Chances are I have a middle aged patient, relatively healthy, and they have severe COVID, and theyre unvaccinated, he said. Its all preventable at this point. Thats whats so sad about it. Before the pandemic, Bell said that he used to have to explain in detail to a patient what it meant to go on a ventilator. But now, his patients know. They understand that sentence to mean this might be my last moment alive on Earth, he said. That is whats different about this moment now, because people truly understand how sick they are when theyre sick. Bell said they are continuing to see pregnant women critically ill from COVID in the ICU, which concerns him. That group is among the least vaccinated adult groups, he said, but the COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective for pregnant women. Luckily, weve been able to deliver everyone with healthy babies, but there are a lot of consequences, he said. Those new moms lungs dont function well because of COVID and theyre still on oxygen, he said. Everyone five years and older is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination. To learn more or to make an appointment, go to vdh.virginia.gov/blue-ridge/covid-19-vaccination. A little disoriented Nearly a quarter of UVas nursing staff turned over in 2021, spokesman Eric Swensen said. The overall staff turnover rate was 21.7%. Both rates are in line with national trends. For most of our leaders, this is the highest turnover theyve ever seen in their careers, Swensen said. UVa is planning to spend $30 million on compensation increases this fiscal year and has boosted recruiting efforts. Swensen said UVa Health has hired 865 new team members from Aug. 25 to Jan. 11. UVa Health recently hired a senior director for talent acquisition and retention who is tasked with crafting recruitment and retention strategies. To increase the pool of nursing candidates, UVa also is working with Piedmont Virginia Community College. The medical center also has started in-house training programs for local community members such as one that trains new pharmacy technicians and then employs them here at the medical center. As a temporary solution, Swensen said the medical center has also hired hundreds of travel nurses on short-term contracts to fill in as needed. Enfield said the hospital also has opened up more overtime shifts for nurses and doctors and paused the post-COVID clinic to free up staff. The travel nurses have helped, he said, but working with new staff creates other challenges. [Travelers] are often committed professionals, but theyre just not the same as the people youve worked with for a number of years, he said. And you dont have that same rhythm with them. Bell echoed that. With the influx of new hires and those on temporary contracts, everyones a little disoriented, he said. Whether youve been working here for a long time, or you just started, you still dont feel like youre on your A game, he added. Enfield said that hes working to ensure that nurses and the frontline workers have the supplies they need to care for patients and stay safe, which is one way he copes with the stress of the surge. UVa hasnt seen a significant number of providers getting COVID from work, he said, attributing that to the protective measures. He hopes the community will listen to the messages from UVa and Augusta Health to help ease the burden on frontline workers. What I cant protect people from is sort of the emotional strain of working here, he said. A caravan of vehicles drove through Minneapolis demanding justice in the death of Amir Locke, the 22-year old Black man who was fatally shot by Minneapolis police as officers served a no-knock search warrant. Sundays caravan of about 50 vehicles was organized by the Racial Justice Network and other police accountability groups. Advertisement People stand by a cross planted in the boulevard outside homes at the intersection of and Dean Parkway and W. 28th St. in Minneapolis Sunday night, Feb. 6, 2022. At least 150 demonstrators in a caravan of dozens of cars gathered outside a home thought to be where Interim Minneapolis Police Chief Amelia Huffman resides on Dean Parkway to call for justice for Amir Locke, who was shot and killed by Minneapolis Police the previous week. (Jeff Wheeler/AP) Some in the caravan then gathered in a neighborhood outside whats believed to be the home of interim Police Chief Amelia Huffman. They chanted the names of Locke as well as Breonna Taylor, a Black woman who was killed by Kentucky police during a no-knock raid in 2020. They also called for Huffmans resignation, the Star Tribune reported. Advertisement Were asking for her job, said activist Toussaint Morrison over a microphone outside the home, because it seems like the only time they pay attention is when it affects their jobs or their money. But we pull up when it affects our lives. The gathering follows a march Saturday that drew hundreds of demonstrators to the streets of Minneapolis. The protesters met outside the Hennepin County Government Center before marching through downtown streets. Locke was fatally shot Wednesday when a SWAT team entered a downtown Minneapolis apartment without knocking. A police bodycam video shows an officer kicking the couch where Lockes family said he was sleeping. On the video, he is seen wrapped in a blanket, beginning to move, with a pistol in his hand just before an officer fires his weapon. Lockes parents, Andre Locke and Karen Wells, say their son was executed after he was startled from a deep sleep and reached for a legal firearm to protect himself. No nursing home resident should ever have to settle for poor quality care. But thats whats happening at many nursing homes in Virginia. Long before the pandemic delivered a grim reminder of the chronic issues residents and staff face in nursing homes, many were cited frequently for problems related to understaffing, such as pressure wounds and resident falls. Nearly 30,000 people live in Virginias 287 nursing homes. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 170 Virginia facilities are rated on a five-star scale as much below average (1 star) and below average (2 stars) in staffing. More than 100 Virginia nursing homes have overall quality ratings of 1 or 2 stars, and 117 received 1 or 2 stars due to poor health inspections. Since the start of the pandemic, AARP has heard from thousands of people nationwide concerned about their loved ones living in nursing homes. AARP Virginia staff recently spoke to a resident of a Virginia nursing home, who told us about having to go three days without her medication and 44 patients sharing one nurse. If one person has an emergency, everybody has an emergency, she said, pointing out that if the nurse is busy tending to a resident with an urgent need, no one else on the unit gets their medication or other skilled nursing care. She also noted that 30 of her fellow residents died from COVID-19, highlighting that this is truly a life or death issue. Everyone should have a minimum amount of time with their CNA (certified nurse aide), whether they are ambulatory or not, said the nursing home resident, whose identity we are keeping private due to fear of retaliation. Just because I can walk doesnt mean I dont need help. My colleague, Ginger Thompson, transferred her mother from a nursing home after she found her in night clothes and still in bed at noon on Mothers Day, with a dirty bedpan sitting on top of a pile of clothes on the guest chair. Gingers mother now resides in facility that is being more responsive, but she still witnesses the dangers of understaffing, such as her mother being moved with a mechanical lift by only one staff person. Two people should perform this task to prevent falls. It is disappointing that Virginia is one of only 18 states without any nursing home direct care minimum staffing requirement. Its past time to hold Virginias nursing homes accountable for providing high quality care and safe environments for our loved ones. The Virginia General Assembly is considering legislation that would do just that. House Bill 646 will require minimum hourly staffing standards for Virginias nursing homes. The bill will be voted on in a subcommittee on Tuesday, Feb. 8. The members of that subcommittee will decide if the legislation moves forward. Del. Chris Head (R-Botetourt) is the chairperson of that subcommittee. AARP is fighting for HB 646 because it would require the following minimum staffing ratios: A minimum of 2.8 direct care hours must be provided by a certified nurse aide (CNA) per resident, per day. A minimum of 1.3 direct care hours must be provided by a registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN) per resident, per day. A minimum of 0.75 hours of the total direct care hour requirements above (4.1 hours) must be provided by a RN per resident, per day. Virginia has no established standards, so staffing ratios are left up to individual care facilities. Some nursing homes perform well in this area, but others do not. This legislation would establish statewide standards. This legislation also establishes quarterly training for nursing home staff on the following items: First aid. Medication administration. Compliance with nursing home policies and procedures. Virginia voters like it, too. A recent survey by AARP of registered voters age 18+ in Virginia showed overwhelming support for a variety of measures to hold nursing homes accountable. About 71% of all voters support the establishment of minimum hourly staffing thresholds, with support consistent across genders, age groups, and regions. This proposal is supported by 78% moderate voters and 62% of conservative voters. Support is even stronger in southwest Virginia, where 75% of voters support the measure. The Nursing Homes Abuse Advocate (NHAA) tracks problems in nursing homes and maintains a watchlist of facilities where harm has occurred to residents. Currently 117 Virginia facilities are on the list. We know that most people who need long-term care services prefer to receive that care at home. But for those in nursing homes, we must ensure they are getting the best possible care. Virginias seniors confront an outdated long-term care system badly in need of attention. Some of our most vulnerable residents live in nursing homes. They deserve better. AARP urges state leaders to support HB 646. The time for action is now. Natalie Snider is AARP Virginias state advocacy director. She is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University and resides in Richmond. Contact her at aarpva@aarp.org. MARION, S.C. Marion City Councilman Ralph Atkinson was honored for his 32-years of service in local government and the community Thursday as family, friends and colleagues celebrated his retirement. Atkinson was presented a joint resolution from the House of Representatives and the Senate by local delegates Rep. Lucas Atkinson and Sen. Kent Williams. Its wonderful to have family and friends being here to celebrate my years of service, Atkinson said. Its been a good life and its going to be a good retirement. Atkinson is stepping away from council and as chief executive officer at Pee Dee Federal Savings Bank to spend time with family. The 67-year old U.S. Air Force veteran and The Citadel graduate is a member of the board of directors for the bank. Atkinson is also a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church in Marion. My banking career and my public service couldnt be done without friends and family to help support me, Atkinson said. Ive enjoyed working with everybody and felt my whole career has been working as a team. Rep. Atkinson said he was happy to make the presentation to his uncle. This couldnt be done for anybody better, he said. Sen. Williams congratulated Atkinson, calling his retirement well deserved. You have had a major impact on this city and on this county and we appreciate you, Williams said. The reason why he has done so well is because he was raised right. He comes from a good family. Mayor Ashley Brady said hes known Atkinson for years. I thank you for all the years of service youve done for Marion and I will miss you sitting on my left, Brady said. Youve been a blessing to the city of Marion and city council thanks you. Pee Dee Federal Banks George McMillan said he still looks forward to a long future ahead with Atkinson. We wish you well and we appreciate your continued service on the board here at the bank, McMillan said. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Sentencing court's "abandonment of impartiality and unwillingness to follow the law" prompts reversal and rebuke | Main | Taking stock of state felon disenfranchisement as federal reform falters February 7, 2022 Celebrating "real" recidivism is essentially nil, and even technical violations stunningly low, for CARES home confinement cohort Data from the US Sentencing Commission indicates that roughly 1 in 4 persons who serve time in federal prison gets rearrested within the first two years after release (see Table 2 in this 2016 USSC report), though some rearrests are for a violation of supervision conditions rather than a new crime. Though I dislike when recidivism is broadly defined to included just "technical" violations, these USSC data provide useful and needed context for this Washington Times article headlined "320 federal inmates reoffended while on pandemic-related home confinement." Here are excerpts (with emphasis added): More than 300 federal inmates who were transferred to home confinement as a pandemic mitigation strategy reoffended and were sent back to prison, a top federal official said Thursday. Bureau of Prisons Director Michael Carvajal told the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security that substance abuse was the most common offense that landed inmates back behind bars. About 160 of those 320 were for abuse of alcohol or drugs, Mr. Carvajal said. Some of them were escapes they werent where they were supposed to be most of them were violations of that nature. Some was misconduct, eight of those were new crimes committed, the rest of those were technical violations. A bureau spokesperson told The Washington Times that six of the eight new crimes were drug-related, one was for escape with prosecution and one was for smuggling non-citizens.... During Thursdays hearing, he said the 320 reoffending inmates are among more than 37,000 who were transferred to home confinement since Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) in March 2020 to address threats posed by the pandemic. The CARES Act allows the bureau to transfer certain low-level inmates convicted of nonviolent crimes to home confinement if they meet the COVID-19 risk factors identified by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While some transfers have been put back in prison, others have completed their sentences and 5,485 inmates are still in home confinement. In other words, it seems that not one single violent crime has been committed by more than 37,000 persons released early to home confinement under the CARES Act authority. This is an amazing reality to be robustly celebrated, in part because it reveals that our federal system can effectively identify low-risk offenders who can be released early at essentially no risk to public safety. This great new Inquest piece by Jessica Morton & Samara Spence, titled "Home Rule: In weighing the future of thousands placed on home confinement during the pandemic, the government should prioritize where they are now: in their communities," places these data in another bit of telling context: BOPs own numbers show that people placed on home confinement pursuant to the CARES Act do not need to be returned to prison to prevent them from committing crimes. According to BOP data, only 9 of the 4,879 people placed on home confinement under the CARES Act that is, less than two-tenths of a percent have been reincarcerated for new criminal conduct. By way of comparison, more than 100 BOP employees have been arrested, convicted of, or sentenced for crimes since the beginning of 2019. Given that BOP has 36,739 employees, BOP employees have a 1.5 times higher rate of alleged criminal conduct than the people the agency supervises on CARES Act home confinement, over a roughly similar period. This Inquest piece should be read in full because it has a number of additional great points beyond the remarkable reality that BOP employees are apparently more of a public safety threat than the CARES home confinement cohort. But the broader point is that federal experience over the last two years shows that is is possible to decarcerate a certain prison population without posing any real threats to public safety; indeed, done the right way and at the right time it may be possible to have more freedom and less crime. That is in part the premise driving various elements of the FIRST STEP Act, and the CARES home confinement cohort has, in essense, demonstrated "proof of concept." Of course, home confinement release with constant risk of reconfinement during a pandemic is not "normal" in any respect and so I do not think it fair to try to extrapolate too far from these encouraging recidivism data. Nevertheless, whether a fan or a foe of modern criminal justice reform efforts, the impressively good behavior of the CARES home confinement cohort should be something that everyone can celebrate. February 7, 2022 at 03:30 PM | Permalink Comments Yep, lets celebrate this. Its nice when people obey the law. Interesting, Doug, that you have no comment about Loudoun County school administrators wanting to saddle kids with an arrest record for wearing a mask in school. Posted by: Federalist | Feb 9, 2022 10:47:26 AM Not aware of story, federalist, please link. Posted by: Doug B. | Feb 9, 2022 12:47:35 PM I found the following story in the NY Post. There appear to be differing accounts of what's actually going on. The security officer's leaked email memo seems to me to be pretty aggressive. https://nypost.com/2022/02/08/loudoun-county-school-staff-trained-to-get-warrants-for-mask-refusal-email/ In related news, the Virginia Senate just passed a bill essentially codifying the Governor's statewide "parents-get-to-choose" order. Since the lower Virginia House (the House of Delegates) in controlled by Rs, I would expect this bill to become law very shortly. The idea that one might even consider arresting a child for not wearing a mask, or anything like that, strikes me as just as preposterous as the idea of putting a 9 year-old on the sex registry. Posted by: Bill Otis | Feb 9, 2022 1:59:37 PM Here is a story from a few years ago about hundreds of kids under 10 getting arrested in Florida schools: https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local-news/i-team-investigates/kids-treated-as-criminals-hundreds-of-young-florida-children-arrested-within-the-last-two-years Have you asked Gov DeSantis about this, Federalist? I am pleased to hear you are now concerned about the overpolicing of kids. Hope you stay on this important beat! Posted by: Doug B. | Feb 9, 2022 2:57:02 PM Many, but not all states have a minimum age for arresting and charging a child (usually younger than 10 years old) with any crime. The idea is that young children's brains have not sufficiently developed to understand criminal actions and to form the intent (mens rea) to commit a crime. One of my favorite stories about this issue concerns a 9-year old who climbed over the console from the back seat to the driver's seat of her mother's SUV, which was parked, but with the engine running. The mother had gone into the Colorado Dept. of Public Safety to pay a traffic fine. The girl's 13-year old sister was in the passenger's seat of the car, but did nothing to stop her younger sister from putting the car in drive, and rolling it thru a brick wall! No one was injured. A police officer purported to arrest the 9-year old for driving without a driver's license and reckless driving. At arraignment, a Judge dismissed the charges and reminded the police officer that under Colorado law, no child younger than 10 can be charged and prosecuted for any offense. The entire idea of criminalizing a child's failure to wear a mask at school is just preposterous and overly zealous. This should be a school disciplinary matter, not a crime. Posted by: Jim Gormley | Feb 10, 2022 8:49:09 AM Jim Gormey -- What the cop should have done was console the nine year-old, who was very likely scared out of her wits, and go inside and give holy hell to the mother who didn't take the three-fifths of a second it required to turn off the damn engine. Posted by: Bill Otis | Feb 10, 2022 2:46:08 PM The article from Murdoch-owned, local Fox News publication NY Post is deceptive. Go to the actual document from the school security director, no one will be arrested for trespass without an arrest warrant issued by a magistrate. The trespass seemingly occurring after a maskless student or parent is denied admission to the school building, but persists in entering or attempting to enter. The media is so FUBAR right now. And people just suck it up. You aren't supposed to agree with the news, ffs. Posted by: Fat Bastard | Feb 15, 2022 10:35:55 PM Post a comment Intriguing squabble in Idaho over capital commutation authority | Main | Celebrating "real" recidivism is essentially nil, and even technical violations stunningly low, for CARES home confinement cohort February 6, 2022 Sentencing court's "abandonment of impartiality and unwillingness to follow the law" prompts reversal and rebuke As noted in this Newsweek piece, headlined "Court Says Judge Overstepped with Ruling, May Be In 'Wrong Line of Work'," a sentencing reversal in Michigan last week is making national headlines because of some of the strong words in the ruling of a unanimous court of appeals. Here are some highlights from the press report: A Michigan judge known for giving criminals higher sentences than what guidelines recommend and making controversial comments from the bench was told by a higher court Tuesday that remaining a judge may not be the job for him. Jackson County Judge John McBain was reprimanded by the Michigan Court of Appeals' ruling on the case of Dawn Marie Dixon-Bey, a 49-year-old woman convicted of fatally stabbing her boyfriend on Valentine's Day in 2015. Dixon-Bey said she acted in self-defense. "If a trial judge is unable to follow the law as determined by a higher appellate court, the trial judge is in the wrong line of work," the appeals court said in its opinion, which followed a previous reprimand for how McBain handled the case.... The case began in 2017 when McBain sentenced Dixon-Bey to serve a minimum of 35 years in prison, 15 years over the recommended guidelines, for the second-degree murder of her boyfriend Greg Stack. During the sentencing hearing, McBain made comments to Dixon-Bey such as "I hope you are haunted by the vision of you stabbing him. After this day, you don't exist," and that the one major flaw Stack had was "that he stayed in a relationship with you," Michigan Live reported. In 2020, the appeals court derided McBain for the sentence he gave Dixon-Bey and said he treated the defendant as if she was convicted of premeditated murder and "grilled her" in court. At the time, the judges' panel overturned the initial ruling, but McBain ignored it and gave Dixon-Bey a 30-year sentence. McBain argued at the hearing Dixon-Bey had planned the killing saying "she stabbed the victim in the heart not once, but twice, and murdered him in cold blood," according to Associated Press. He also said he could consider the evidence presented in the case as premeditation, despite the defendant not being convicted of that crime. With the second sentencing sent back to the Court of Appeals, the panel unanimously overturned McBain's ruling and ordered he be removed from any future hearings related to the case. The judges said McBain's decision to hand out a high sentence based on finding Dixon-Bey's crime as premeditated and deliberated, contrary to the jury's verdict, "was an abuse of discretion and a willful violation of controlling precedent from our Supreme Court," their opinion said. A helpful reader provided me with copy of the full ruling in Michigan v. Dixon-Bey, No. 354866 (Mich. Ct. App. Feb. 1, 2022) (available for download below). Sentencing fans should take the time to read the entire opinion, which addresses sentencing topics ranging from the consideration of acquitted conduct to the right of allocution. And, among other notable statements, the opinion concludes with the appeals court stating that the "trial courts conduct and statements may warrant investigation by the Judicial Tenure Commission." Download Dawn Marie Dixon-Bey Michigan Court of Appeals February 6, 2022 at 06:56 PM | Permalink Comments Although misguided about the law of acquitted conduct, this Judge has been elected and re-elected by his voters 4 times (terms are for 6 years), most recently in 2020. Posted by: Jim Gormley | Feb 6, 2022 10:32:46 PM Post a comment Theres no denying the growth of health tech globally over the past three years thanks to the pandemic. The event has accelerated the use of telemedicine, virtual care and drug delivery, thus fuelling investor interest in the sector. Investment has also trickled down to Africa, with large checks going into growth-stage startups. Lagos- and Texas-based digital healthcare provider Reliance Health is the latest beneficiary and is doing so in grand style, raising $40 million. The Series B round is the largest of its kind in African health tech. Reports say health tech in Africa should reach a market value of over US$11 billion by 2025, and Reliance Health is looking to play a pivotal role in the continent reaching that capitalization. The company was founded in 2016 by Femi Kuti, Opeyemi Olumekun and Matthew Mayaki. It uses an integrated process to provide health insurance and telemedicine via partnerships with hospitals and healthcare facilities. Our mission is super simple. I mean, the definition is simple, but the execution is sometimes more difficult than that, chief executive Kuti told TechCrunch on a call. So essentially what were trying to do is to use technology to make quality health care accessible and affordable in emerging markets. Kutis comments highlight critical issues with healthcare in Nigeria: accessibility and affordability. In Nigeria, and some emerging markets, its common for people to take healthcare for granted. No metrics are in place to guarantee the optimality of healthcare when used, so people tend to accept whatever healthcare is available. In terms of pricing, hospitals havent found a way to charge patients not necessarily at the cheapest fee possible but using price points the general public can comfortably afford. Reliance Health has bundled both vital concepts so that users can get access to an integrated suite of healthcare products via subscriptions. Some of that healthcare is provided by Reliance Health directly -- through its telemedicine platform, drug delivery system and two clinics based in Lagos, Nigeria. Others are via third-party provider partners: hospitals, diagnostic centres and pharmaceutical centres. Story continues In 2015, the three co-founders launched Kangpe, a telemedicine-focused startup in Nigeria with a doctor in your pocket slogan. But a year into running the business and realizing how early the market was and the systemic follow-up gaps and processes that existed, they pivoted to Reliance. Back then, for example, if a patient chats with this doctor and he recommends an x-ray checkup or after that, a surgery, what happens next? he queried. We werent able to manage all those [end-to-end] processes and that necessitated sort of a soft pivot from the whole telemedicine focus thing to this integrated healthcare provider that were doing today. Reliance Health operates business-to-business and business-to-customers models. Reliance HMO is the companys health insurance plan for both sets of customers where individuals can select monthly, quarterly or yearly health plans ranging from 3,500 (~$7.00) to 148,500 (~$297.00). On the other hand, businesses can make subscriptions on behalf of their employees, which Kuti said are slightly cheaper than plans used by retail customers. Over 200,000 individuals in total from both models use Reliance Health. But the platform has seen the most stickiness with its business customers. The platform serves 600 of them, including Biersdorf Nivea, Jumia and PwC, while maintaining an attributable intention rate of 99%, said Kuti. With an app, these customers can chat with a doctor, find healthcare providers near them to visit or get medications from and manage the delivery of their drugs. Based on frequent usage, Kuti said Reliance, for instance, could suggest lifestyle changes if a customer was diagnosed with diabetes and make hospital referrals if a user spent hours on the line at his last visit to the clinic. Essentially, what we try to do is to guide people to the best option in terms of the care that we can receive, he said. And regardless of that option is provided by a third-party partner or us, we are more concerned with how we work with the customer to guide them to the best option when it comes to accessing the healthcare data. Reliance Health Image Credits: Reliance Health The six-year-old startup said it has averaged a 3.5x year-over-year revenue growth from 2016. The new round of funding led by General Atlantic will fuel this continued growth. It is the first investment made by the U.S.-based growth equity investor in Africa, adding to the growing list of first-time investors leading growth rounds in the last two years, such as FTX, Avenir, SVB Capital and Fidelity. General Atlantic is thrilled to announce our first technology investment in Africa in Reliance Health, backing a team focused on improving healthcare quality for millions of patients in Nigeria and abroad, said Chris Caulkin, the managing director of General Atlantic and head of EMEA Technology in a statement. We have been consistently impressed by Femi and Ope, who exemplify the entrepreneurialism and innovation we see across the African continent. Other investors involved in the round include Partech, Picus Capital, Tencent Exploration, Asia Africa Investment and Consulting (AAIC), P1 Ventures, Laerdal Million Lives Fund and M3, Inc. This investment is coming two years after the companys $6 million Series A in January 2020. Reliance previously raised a $2 million seed round months post-YC in 2017. Investors in both rounds include Partech, Y Combinator, Golden Palm Investments, Ventures Platform, LoftyInc Capital -- and Tencent and Picus, who have participated in the three rounds totalling $48 million. The chief executive said Reliance Health plans to use a part of the funding to build two more clinic facilities in two Nigerian cities, Abuja and Port Harcourt. Reliance Health also intends to hire talent and scale new product lines, especially for Nigerians in the diaspora. The healthtech company will expand into new markets. Egypt is top of that list, with Reliance Health already hiring a country manager to launch by mid this year. Kuti adds that the company will enter two or three countries before the year runs out. After years of government- and donor-backed funding initiatives, venture capital in African healthtech is picking up. In 2020, healthtech startups across the continent raised less than $100 million, but that number increased to $370 million last year, according to reports on the African VC landscape. While the sector still makes up less than 10% of total funding, big rounds over the last two years from startups such as Vezeeta, Helium Health, 54gene, mPharma, Africa Health Holdings and now Reliance Health mean African healthtech is coming of age buoyed by market drivers such as the pandemic, population size, data analytics, and consumer-centricity. Lincoln, NE (68508) Today Rain likely. Becoming windy in the afternoon. High 46F. Winds NE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Cloudy. Periods of rain and windy at times early. Low 39F. Winds N at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. Higher wind gusts possible. WICHITA, Kan., February 04, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPR) senior leadership will discuss the companys long-term growth and diversification strategies, financial framework and innovation initiatives during its Investor Day on Wednesday, March 2nd, 2022. Presenters will include: Tom Gentile, President and Chief Executive Officer; Mark Suchinski, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; Sam Marnick, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and President of Commercial; Duane Hawkins, Executive Vice President and President of Defense and Space; Kailash Krishnaswamy, Senior Vice President of Aftermarket Services; and Kevin Matthies, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology and Quality Officer. The investor conference will be broadcast online from approximately 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Live stream of the presentation along with the supporting slideshow presentation will be available at http://investor.spiritaero.com/. A replay of the event will be available on the website following the conclusion of the broadcast. Individuals are advised to check the website ahead of time to ensure their computers are configured for the webcast. On the web: www.spiritaero.com On Twitter: @SpiritAero About Spirit AeroSystems Inc. Spirit AeroSystems is one of the worlds largest manufacturers of aerostructures for commercial airplanes, defense platforms, and business/regional jets. With expertise in aluminum and advanced composite manufacturing solutions, the companys core products include fuselages, integrated wings and wing components, pylons, and nacelles. Also, Spirit serves the aftermarket for commercial and business/regional jets. Headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, Spirit has facilities in the U.S., U.K., France, Malaysia and Morocco. More information is available at www.spiritaero.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220204005112/en/ Contacts Ryan Avey or Aaron Hunt, Investor Relations, (316) 523-7040 Molly Edwards, Corporate Communications, (316) 523-2479 Most freezers in America are stocked with a frozen pizza. According to Statista, domestic sales of frozen pizzas are projected to reach $6.06 billion, up from $5.47 billion in frozen pizza sales in 2020. Not all pre-packaged pies need come from a global brand conglomerate: small independent (and much beloved) pizzerias across the country have found ways to flash-freeze their pies and quickly ship them to your door. With this sort of access to the wide variety of pizza in America, any night can be pizza night at home. (Chicago, IL) Since 1971, Lou Malnatis has been serving up the perfect example of Chicago deep dish pizza. Get your knife and fork ready for this to show up at your door. (New Haven, CT) With a history that dates back to the 1930s, Zuppardis Apizza is proof that New York City is not necessarily the pizza capital of the northeast and they make a strong case for Connecticut. The Neapolitan-style, thin and chewy crust has earned Zuppardis fans around the globe. (Brooklyn, NY) Robertas reputation as being a hipster paradise is quickly forgotten with one bite of their pizza. Pools of white, molten mozzarella and blistered wood fire pockmarks are cornerstones of Robertas pizza, and their pies are easy to warm up in a home oven. (St. Louis, MO) Imos has grown from a two-person operation to 100 stores across the Midwest. With a thin, crispy crust and a cheese blend of Swiss, Provolone and Cheddar, this pizza has a taste and appearance like no other. When people think of St. Louis-style pizza, they usually think of Imos. (Detroit, MI) Detroit is a city of innovation and the industrious nature of the Motor City has translated to pizza-making with pies that can now be shipped around the world. Somewhat similar to Chicagos deep-dish style, the recognizable rectangle shape and thick, dark pan-baked crust makes it uniquely Detroit-style pizza. (Old Forge, PA) Old Forge has deemed itself the pizza capital of the world with iconic local pizzeria, Arcaro and Genell. The shop has been making pies since 1962, are routinely ranked a top pizzeria in the country and ship their pies wherever it is demanded. (Philadelphia, PA) Some might say tomato pie is more focaccia than pizza, but for the Sicilian-Americans that made tomato pie famous throughout New York and eastern Pennsylvania, it is the quintessential pizza pie. Corropolese Bakery in Philadelphia is a pilgrimage stop for tomato pie lovers and ships their frozen pies around the country. (Brockton, MA) The New England seaboard is peppered with Greek, Italian and Portuguese communities that put their own spin on pizza and Cape Cod Cafe now with four locations throughout the greater Boston area incorporates a little bit of each into its wafer-thin pizza pies that they call bar style. (Buffalo, NY) Referred to lovingly as cup and char pizza by Buffalo natives, Picassos makes pizza with plenty of sweet sauce and lots of pepperoni, which turns upward and contains its own fat once it is baked. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 ELK POINT, S.D. -- Authorities have released the name of a driver who died Thursday as a result of a single-vehicle crash near Elk Point. Joseph Hoover, 54, of Sioux City, was pronounced dead after being flown from the crash site about six miles north of Elk Point to a Sioux City hospital, the South Dakota Department of Public Safety said in a news release. Hoover was driving south on Interstate 29 in a 1998 Toyota Tacoma at 4:39 p.m., when his vehicle entered the median. Hoover overcorrected, causing the vehicle to cross both southbound lanes, enter the west ditch and roll. Hoover, the only occupant, was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from the vehicle. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SOUTH SIOUX CITY -- Child bedlessness is a national problem, and it's something that Meredith Davies-Vogt, an East Middle School teacher, sees too often. "I'll have a student who can't stay awake in class," she explained. "I'll ask why and the student will say, at home he sleeps with a blanket on the floor because he doesn't have a bed." "It is heartbreaking because every child deserves to have a place to lay his head that is warm and soft and promotes a good night's sleep," Davies-Vogt added. Looking for a solution, she started a Sioux City chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP), an organization dedicated to building and delivering beds to kids in need in Sioux City, South Sioux City, North Sioux City, Dakota City, Sergeant Bluff and Hinton, Iowa. It is a local offshoot of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, which was founded by Luke and Heidi Mickelson, in Twin Falls, Idaho, in 2012. The organization garnered national attention after it was spotlighted in a segment of the web television series "Dirty Jobs" hosted by Mike Rowe. Davies-Vogt and more than 100 volunteers worked to construct more than 100 beds during an all-day build day, Saturday at Crossroads Church, 920 West 21st. St., South Sioux City. In addition to constructing and donating beds, the local SHP chapter also provides a mattress, linens, a pillow and a comforter. "We had our first big build by building 56 beds right before Christmas (2021)," Davies-Vogt said. "Saturday's build will more than double that." Luckily, SHP had a good group of volunteers that consisted of everybody from corporate executives to members of the Morningside University Mustangs female volleyball team. But Davies-Vogt admitted there is still more demand for beds. "A lot of people heard about Sleep in Heavenly Peace through Mike Rowe," she said. "Since that segment aired, the organization has become something of a movement." "When more and more people realize that child bedlessness is a problem in Siouxland, I'm sure more people will help out," Davies-Vogt continued. Indeed, it is a problem she sees frequently. "There are always students with struggling families that teachers know about," Davies-Vogt said. "However, I'm sure there are kids who are possibly falling through the cracks." This may be more problematic for families trying to make ends meet in an uncertain economy. "There are times when providing a roof over your head is the only thing a mom and dad can do," Davies-Vogt noted. "Having said that, no kid should sleep on the floor in our town." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SIOUX CITY -- Sioux City police have arrested a second man sought in an alleged robbery that ended with a person being stabbed with a sword. Police served an arrest warrant on Bumatet Duop, 23, of Omaha, on Friday. Duop was booked into the Woodbury County Jail on one count of first-degree robbery. Court documents filed Monday charge him with first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary, going armed with intent and intimidation with a dangerous weapon. His bond was set at $100,000. He and Kuyien Kang are accused of entering a Sioux City apartment building on Jan. 17 and robbing a man at gunpoint before Kang was stabbed. According to court documents, the apartment's occupant told police that he and a friend were in his apartment at 1716 Nebraska St. when a man he knew entered, followed by Kang and Duop. After Kang and Duop entered, the visitor left. Kang then pulled out a gun and said "this is a robbery" and hit one of the men in the head with the gun before Duop took $80 in cash from the man's pockets. The other man in the apartment grabbed his sword and pointed it at Kang, who then fired at least one shot. The man stabbed Kang in the abdomen before Duop ripped it from the man's hands and fled with Kang, who collapsed outside his own apartment building in the 500 block of 17th Street. Footage from a surveillance camera showed Kang give the gun and an ammunition magazine to Duop, who left around the side of the building, court documents said. Kang was found bleeding by a Sioux City police officer and transported to a hospital for treatment. The man who stabbed Kang reported the robbery to police the following day. Kang, 24, of Sioux City, was arrested on Jan. 24 and has been charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary, going armed with intent, being a felon in possession of a firearm and intimidation with a dangerous weapon. He has yet to be arraigned. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. MILFORD, Iowa -- A woman shot last week in Milford has died, and the suspect now has been charged with murder. Shelby Woizeschke, was shot at least twice in the parking lot at GrapeTree Medical Staffing, where she worked, in Milford shortly after 8 a.m. Thursday. She was flown to Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, where she had been placed in a medically induced coma while physicians tested brain activity and body functionality, according to a post on a CaringBridge website page set up for her. She died Sunday at the hospital. Dickinson County Attorney Amy Zenor on Monday filed an amended complaint against Christian Goyne-Yarns, upgrading his charge from attempted murder to first-degree murder. Goyne-Yarns, 25, of Jackson, Minnesota, is being held in the Dickinson County Jail on a $1 million bond. According to court documents, Woizeschke called 911 after being shot and identified Goyne-Yarns as the person who shot her. He was arrested about an hour and a half after the shooting. During interviews with law enforcement officers, Goyne-Yarns has not made any statement about a motive for the shooting, Darrell Simmons, special agent in charge at the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, said Monday. Woizeschke, 24, of Spencer, Iowa, had two sons, ages 5 and 3, from a previous relationship with Goyne-Yarns. In a post on CaringBridge, she was described as "a very fun-loving, strong, kind woman" who family and friends said was the "best mother, sister, daughter, aunt, friend out there." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 2 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. PRIMGHAR, Iowa -- A Sheldon, Iowa, woman has been placed on probation for allowing the continued abusive actions of her infant daughter's father that led to the death of the child. Brittanee Baker, 22, pleaded guilty Wednesday in O'Brien County District Court to one count of child endangerment, a Class D felony. On Thursday, District Judge Nancy Whittenburg, following terms of a plea agreement, suspended a five-year prison sentence and placed Baker on two years' probation. Baker will be required to undergo substance abuse and mental health evaluations. A second count of child endangerment was dismissed. Baker and the child's father, Lawrence Ruotolo Jr., were arrested in March. Ruotolo was caring for the child on July 26, 2020, at the home he shared with Baker when the child began crying and Ruotolo was unable to quiet her. He lost his temper and pushed the girl's face into the floor and committed other abusive actions, court documents said. Baker took the child to the emergency room, where she was treated for abrasions and bruising on her forehead, ears and neck and released. The following day, the child was again in Ruotolo's care when she was found with no pulse and was not breathing. She was taken to the emergency room and then airlifted to a Sioux Falls hospital, where she died four days later. The death was caused by "a suffocation event of an indeterminate nature," court documents said. Ruotolo Jr., 21, was sentenced in September to five years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of child endangerment. Stacie Hurlburt, 50, of Sheldon, was charged with two counts of accessory after the fact for helping the parents concoct a story about how the child was injured. She is scheduled for trial in April. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ALLEGAN, Mich. A man serving life sentences in Virginia for raping and killing a woman in 1980 was sentenced Monday to an additional 35 to 50 years in prison in Michigan for the 1989 killing of his 14-year-old daughter. Dennis Bowman pleaded no contest to second-degree murder in December for the killing of his daughter Aundria Bowman, whose body was found two years ago buried in his backyard in Hamilton, about 25 miles southwest of Grand Rapids. A no contest plea is not an admission of guilt but is treated as such for the purpose of sentencing. Advertisement His numerous assaults, his behavior in this case, other convictions all indicate Mr. Bowman is a serious, dangerous man that has harmed many communities, many families, Allegan County Circuit Court Judge Margaret Zuzich Bakker said during Mondays sentencing, which Bowman attended in-person. Its impossible to even articulate the words to describe what he has done. Reading what he has done is sickening. Aundria Bowman was last seen in March 1989. Her body was discovered in February 2020 under a concrete slab in the backyard of Bowmans Hamilton home after he confessed to her killing. Advertisement [ More: Decades-old Norfolk cold case closed as man, now 71 and tied to another killing, pleads guilty ] Bowman told police he pushed the teen down stairs, killing her, after she threatened to report that he had molested her. He called police that day to report that his daughter had stolen $100 from him and his wife, and had run away from home. Bowman told police that he used an axe to cut off Aundrias legs so that her body would fit in a barrel. He said he buried the barrel at the familys Holland-area home at the time and then reburied it at their new home in Hamilton after they moved. Bowman is serving two life sentences for the 1980 rape and murder of Kathleen Doyle in Norfolk. She was the 25-year-old wife of a U.S. Navy pilot when she was killed. Authorities said forensic evidence led to Bowmans November 2019 arrest in that case, and that after his arrest, he confessed to killing Aundria, whom he and his wife had adopted. Aundrias biological mother, Cathy Terkanian, told reporters after Mondays hearing that she is seeking custody of Aundrias remains. This is just so surreal. I spent 10 years trying to see that happen, Terkanian said. After discovering that some uncool cats had created a Twitter account impersonating her campaign, gubernatorial candidate Carol Blood received help from one of the stars of the Netflix series Tiger King to shut down the account. Blood said she recently got help from Carole Baskin, whose online greeting hey all you cool cats and kittens became a meme in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when Tiger King exploded in popularity. The deceitful Twitter account used Baskins image as a profile photo. Blood, a state legislator and the only Democrat so far in the governors race, views the account as part of a broader, troubling trend of negative campaigning in state politics. We live in a world of Us vs. Them, she said. And I think its wrong that any of the parties and not just the Republican Party when they participate in that narrative, then they just make politics more divisive, make campaigns more divisive. The fake account appeared when Blood announced her candidacy for governor, she said, as did other fake social media accounts. Baskin is the CEO of Big Cat Rescue and was the target of a murder-for-hire scheme at the center of Tiger King, which debuted in 2020. The account used a convincing username (@BloodForGov, while her official campaign account is @Blood4G), and a recent tweet from the account featured a photo lifted from Bloods official account, according to screenshots shared by Blood. She said tweets from the account were misleading about her positions and her campaign. The account directed people to vote Nov. 9, one day after Election Day. Theyre purposely putting out misinformation, she said. Some people who support her candidacy accidentally followed the fake account first, she added. Blood accused members of the Nebraska GOP of having a track record of clandestine campaigning methods in a statement about the ordeal last week. She stopped short of tying the account directly to the party in an interview with the Omaha World-Herald but said she thinks that, at the very least, the party encouraged it. She said her campaign tracked the Twitter accounts IP address and has an idea of where it came from. According to screenshots, the account linked to a website featuring a negative ad targeting Blood. A disclaimer on the ad says it was paid for by the Nebraska GOP, and a link on the page labeled pitch in to help defeat radical leftists leads to a fundraising page for the party. In a statement Friday, state GOP Executive Director Taylor Gage said he was not aware of the genesis of the website or the deactivated Twitter account but added that the Nebraska Republican Party strongly opposes liberal Carol Bloods bid for governor. Blood doesnt think that the fundraising link is a coincidence. She said she and others reported the account to no avail. Then she contacted Baskin about the use of her image last weekend, she said. Baskin contacted Twitter, and the account was suspended, according to Blood. Baskin responded to a tweet from the now-defunct account: This account has been reported to Twitter for using my photo without my permission for their smear campaign against someone I dont even know. Blood cited legal concerns about using Baskins image. She also said the account appears to be part of an overall shift toward dirty politics. Blood mentioned a 2020 legislative race in Southeast Nebraska that got especially heated and involved accusations of racism and lies. Janet Palmtag, a Nebraska City real estate agent who lost that race to Sen. Julie Slama, has sued the state GOP for defamation. I dont get negative, and I dont think Ive ever had a campaign where my opponents didnt go negative and off the rails, Blood said. And this is a really good example. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Mike Foley and Larry Anderson are competing on the Republican ticket in the primary. One will advance to face Legal Marijuana Now candidate L. Hyderabad: Chief Minister K.Chandrashekar Rao did not accompany Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Hyderabad on Saturday. CMO sources stated that Chandrashekar Rao had developed fever in the morning and had decided to stay away. The CM was listed to receive Modi at the Shamshabad airport and accompany him to ICRISAT sat to take part in its golden jubilee celebrations and later to the Chinna Jeeyar Swamy ashram in Muchintal to unveil the Statue of Equality. The CM asked Talasani Srinivas Yadav, who was nominated minister-in-waiting, to receive Modi and also send him off at the airport, to accompany the Prime Minister. Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan and Union tourism minister G. Kishan Reddy received the PM at the airport, along with Srinivas Yadav, Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar and DGP M. Mahendar Reddy. Dr Soundararajan and Kishan Reddy accompanied Modi to the Muchintal ashram. No one was present from the Telangana state government at the event at the ashram. This triggered speculation that the intensifying political slugfest between the TRS and the BJP since Huzurabad Assembly bypoll and the bitter criticsm of Modi by the Chief Minister after the Union Budget was presented, had spilled over into the visit. TRS sources said that it was evident from the designation of Srinivas Yadav as minister-in-waiting that Chandrashekar Rao would skip the events, but CMO officials refused to confirm the same till Saturday morning. CMO officials sought to create the impression that Chandrashekar Rao would receive the PM and travel with him as per protocol. However, a few minutes before the arrival of the PM, news was leaked that the Chief Minister was suffering from fever. Even then, it was stated if his fever subsides, the Chief Minister would attend the Ramanujacharya statue unveiling ceremony in the evening. That also did not come to be, which fuelled political speculation further. Care and Feeding is Slates parenting advice column. Have a question for Care and Feeding? Submit it here or post it in the Slate Parenting Facebook group. Dear Care and Feeding, Im really struggling to feel good about being part of my family right now. Im an adoptive mom of two boys, 5 and 6. We adopted them from the foster care system about two years ago. They are great young people but have some behavioral issues and maladaptive behaviors due to their history. Their bio mom was an addict and was largely absent, so they spent their early lives neglected, hungry, and unsupervised. Advertisement Today they are doing well in school, making friends, and are smart, interesting kidsall great things. We have a team of therapists working with us to help us with the behavioral issues, which consist of inappropriate physical violence against each other when they are mad, stealing food, lying, not following rules (running through aisles in stores, screaming in indoor situations, etc.) and meltdowns/tantrums that are not typical for their ages. We are working through these things and know they didnt have the same opportunity to develop manners and positive behaviors kids from non-neglect households do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All that said, Im really struggling. As foster and adoptive parents you know the journey will be different from traditional families, but after years of work and with COVID often preventing consistent access to therapists I feel stuck. We have no family to help us in the area and COVID risk prevents them from flying in to assist us. A babysitter isnt an option. Weve tried that but their behavior escalates so badly babysitters refuse to come back. The last time they were climbing furniture, showing the babysitter their butts, calling them names, and throwing things at them. Advertisement Advertisement I generally start the day waking up to one of them looking for candy to steal from a cabinet, punching the other because they want to watch a different show, or screaming when I ask them to get dressed because they dont want to. I cant remember the last time we had a peaceful, or even ok, morning. On weekends all day is spent arguing with them to get them to complete the smallest task followed by tantrums. School days are often getting calls from their teachers for not behaving in class or getting into physical altercations in after care (they are now separating them as much as possible). There are typically meltdowns around dinner when they are tired and hungry, then they complain about the dinner I make. The day ends with them screaming they dont want to go to bed, throwing tantrums because they dont want to brush their teeth, and all of us feeling generally exhausted. Advertisement Advertisement I feel like a slave to a family that hates me. I work from home full-time running a business and take on the household responsibilities, and my husband is a teacher. We adore these kids but we are just so spent. We are constantly working at therapy but with a mostly inconsistent schedule due to COVID the process is moving very slowly. Advertisement Advertisement Im starting to mourn the loss of being an actual mom. I feel like Im just a manager. Im so jealous when I see other families at the zoo enjoying themselves while my kid throws a tantrum because he cant have more ice cream and throws his shoe at an unlucky passerby. I want to be the mom who can read a book while her kids play at the park instead of the mom who, mortified, has to pry her fist-fighting children apart every time we go. I dream of doing crafts or playing with blocks together and laughing and telling stories. I want to play in the snow together without being called stupid because I tell them its too cold out to go without a jacket. I just want a few family moments that feel good, that I can take pictures of, that we can remember as good times. My husband is far more immune to the arguing than I am and dealing with the constant stress much better. I feel like Im drowning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Is this common for adoptive families? I was so excited to finally adopt these kids and I feel like Im completely failing them. Im so unhappy and feel so guilty and just dont know what to do. Any advice would be very much appreciated. Manager, Not Mom Dear Mom, Im sorry youre feeling so discouraged and overwhelmed during what sounds like a highly stressful, constantly challenging time. Your feelings are understandable and valid, except for the one that fears youre failing your children. It sounds like youre doing the best to manage their needs, and those needs are considerable, given all that theyve been through. Youre showing up, day in and day out. Youre using the resources at your disposal to seek therapy. And even given the limitations of COVID, it sounds like youre trying to ensure that the kids get some time to be active and outdoors. Youre doing your best to manage their temperaments, and Im sure thats difficult work with some adoption-specific challenges. Advertisement Advertisement You may be mourning the experience of motherhood you wished for when you welcomed your children into your household (and thats okay), but what youve described in your letter is actual mothering. You are an actual mom. It requires refereeing, teaching your kids not to berate one another (or you), managing behaviors in public and private and modeling love at the height of frustration. Advertisement Its really hard. If you havent already, consider joining a support and resource group for adoptive parents of school-aged kids. You may find new coping strategies there or patient, understanding families willing to meet up for some of the (safe, outdoor) activities you hope to do with your kids. Since your husband seems less stressed than you are when it comes to parenting tasks, ask him to take a few more of them. Make sure that youre building a few weekly breaks into your schedule. Take a walk alone. Spend an hour reading in the tub. Call a friend in a quiet room. Go on a solo drive. In addition to family counseling, try talking to a therapist on your own. Let your husband know you need a few opportunities to step away from the homebound chaos to reset and recharge. Advertisement Parenting any child requires stamina. This is especially true of children whove suffered harm before they were in your care. But stamina is built over time. You shouldnt be expected to have it suddenly or to build it in isolation. Find community. Celebrate family wins, no matter how small. Hang in there. Best wishes to you all. Advertisement Advertisement Dear Care and Feeding, Im 17. My mom and dad recently found out about me and my boyfriend. They say that they dont agree with this relationship, so we have no choice other than to text secretly. Advertisement Advertisement Im worried that if the both of us move in together in the future (if we are still together), my mom and dad will find out and might get really really angry and try to separate us. We both really love each other and want to spend time with each other. Every day, I fear that theyll catch me talking to him. I know theyre my parents and they worry for me. But I just want to know that if were still together in the future (when I move out and become independent), if they are disapproving now, will they approve in the future? I know this might sound crazy! Advertisement Confused in Calabasas Dear Confused in Calabasas, This doesnt sound crazy at all. You want to remain in a relationship your parents disapprove of, but their disapproval is making it difficult for you to enjoy your relationship. Youre forging ahead in fear, and that fear cant be good for you or your partner. It sounds like its also putting quite the strain on your relationship with your parents, whose opinions you seem to value and respect. Advertisement Did your parents tell you why they disapprove? Is your boyfriend 18 or older, while youre still a minor? Is their concern rooted in fear about your safety? If so, is there any way for you to reassure them that you are not in a high-risk or unsafe situation? Have they met your boyfriend? Would they be open to spending time with him? Has he made any effort to help you allay their concerns? Advertisement Sometimes, serious relationships face opposition from the people who care most about us. When this happens, it can be valuable to face the pushback head on, rather than hide from it. Advertisement Is there a history of trust between you and your parents? Do they believe that youre a good judge of character when it comes to friends and loved ones? If so, remind them of that history and ask for them to trust you to make a sound decision here. In the end they may still disapprove. If so, youll have to decide whether or not you can live with that. Parents dont agree with every choice their children make, and when children become adults, they have to grow accustomed to accepting that and making their own choices despite it. At 17, you may not be there yet. But youll get there eventually. If your relationship is healthy, it may be able to withstand the transition. Good luck! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Catch Up on Care and Feeding If you missed Sundays column, read it here. Discuss this column in the Slate Parenting Facebook group! Dear Care and Feeding, I was raised in one of the Christian movements that encourages families to have as many children as God will bless them with. My parents had thirteen kids and there was just never enough time and attention to go around let alone food and money. As the oldest daughter I was also seen as a Mom in Training and a lot of the childcare especially for the youngest kids fell on me. Honestly it was really scarring and I left home the second I could and dont have contact with my family anymore. Advertisement I spent basically all of my twenties working through all the crap from my childhood and have finally gotten to what I feel like is a good place. I am now married, and my husband and I, while excited to become parents, have always planned on being one and done. Advertisement We recently found out we are having twins and it honestly feels like a cruel joke. No matter how much I try to convince myself that there is a difference between having two kids and thirteen, I worry endlessly that I am not going to have enough time for them, or they are going to feel like I love one more than the other. My husbands family is also already grouping them together as the twins and one of the things I hated about growing up was that you were always part of a unit and now they arent even born and I am already seeing this happen to them. Advertisement Advertisement Ive been reading message boards online, but all I am getting from them is that twins are indeed a lot of work, and you wont feel like you have enough time, and no matter how hard you try people wont see them as individuals. I was hoping this would be a happy time, and instead I am miserable. What can I do to make sure my kids dont feel overlooked or unloved? Double Trouble? Dear Double Trouble?, First, take a break from the message boards. One of the best lessons you can learn as an expectant parent is that your experience will be distinct, shaped by your and your husbands backgrounds, as well as the people you entrust to support you. Advertisement Your background is already having some bearing on how you prepare to raise your twins. Youre worried about having enough love and attention to provide them as individuals because you didnt receive as much individual attention as you needed growing up. The good news is our children dont automatically inherit our childhood trauma. It isnt a forgone conclusion that your twins will feel the way you did as one of 13 siblings. You and your husband have quite a bit of freedom over how to develop a parenting style that emphasizes affection, attention and individuality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Try writing out some specific approaches youd like to take to ensure that your twins will be treated the way you wouldve wanted to be treated when you were a kid. Can you and your husband agree to take them on one-on-one outings? Will you give them non-rhyming, non-alliterative names? Dress them differently? Ask your loved ones to refer to them by their names, rather than as the twins? Even if you dont execute all the plans you write down, the exercise may ease your anxiety. At minimum, it could serve to remind you how much control you really do have over your own parenting style. Advertisement Want Advice From Care and Feeding? Submit your questions about parenting and family life here. Its anonymous! (Questions may be edited for publication.) Dear Care and Feeding, I am thrilled to say Im 14 weeks pregnant! I married a wonderful man with an equally wonderful daughter, who is now 13, from a previous marriage. My stepdaughter and I have had a close relationship and spend a lot of time together, but shes (understandably) having a hard time with our family growing. Shes generally a sweet, even-tempered kid, but she got so upset when we told her the good news after the first trimester that she yelled and stomped up to her room, which is very out of character for her. Advertisement Advertisement Weve talked a lot since then, and most of the time she seems fine, but if anything pregnancy-related comes up she gets moody and hides in her room. I love being around her, but shes become especially clingy, and I worry its because she doesnt feel a secure attachment to me anymore. Im only going to get more visibly pregnant, and I worry that this will get more distressing for her, especially when so much attention will inevitably be focused on the baby once theyre born. Weve had the Love is as infinite and expanding as the universe and my love for this baby will not affect my love for you talk several times, and Im spending as much time and affection on her as humanly possible with our schedules, but she still gets stormy when shes reminded that Im pregnant in some way. What can I do to help this soon-to-be older sibling feel secure in her place in our lives, and come to love our new family member? Advertisement Advertisement Secure Attachment Stepmom Dear Secure Attachment Stepmom, You seem to be taking great strides toward reassuring your stepdaughter about her place in the family. Spending time with her, expressing affection, and giving her space to be upset are all wonderful ways to support her during this transition. Advertisement Advertisement Try asking her to express how she thinks things might change after the baby is born. What is her greatest worry or fear about it? She already has some experience with family restructuring because of her parents divorce and her fathers remarriage. Your pregnancy may be triggering some of the complicated emotions she felt during that time. Its impossible to know how best to address her feelings if she hasnt been able to articulate them clearly. Advertisement While its great to reassure her that your love for her wont change, she knows at 13 that her responsibilities will. Shell be expected to share her time with you and her father. Shell have to cede some attention. Shell likely have to pitch in with baby-related tasks, too. All of that may be unpleasant for her to consider. Have that conversation, too. Let her know that you understand why this might be hard for her. Remind her that accepting change, even when you dont want to, is part of growing up. Family roles evolve, and that can be scary but it can also be exciting. Try reassuring her that youll still need her after the babys born, not just for new sisterly duties or to be mature and understanding, but also for talking and laughing and hanging out, too. Some things wont change. Advertisement In the end, it may also just take time. Its impossible to know exactly how a new baby will change your family dynamic. Continue to extend patience and grace to your stepdaughter and to provide her the support she needs, even if the transition isnt a smooth one. Wishing you all the best! Advertisement Dear Care and Feeding, I am a 39-year-old woman married to a 39-year-old man and we have a 4-year-old son. I feel very blessed and lucky to have the family I have, and I am so thankful for them. My son is kind, funny, sweet, empathetic, smart and really the joy of my life. My husband is my best friend and so incredibly supportive. Advertisement However, I feel this huge void. Weve been trying to have another baby for 3 years and it hasnt happened. I actually took a new job to have fertility benefits as it looks like IVF may be our only option. I am working closely with my doctors and have a great team. The thing is now I dont think I want to do IVF; I have a great family and Im an only child, I know my son will have a wonderful life regardless of siblings. Im very sad though and grieving what I thought would be. We have an attic full of baby things and my heart is broken. I want to give myself permission to mourn but I feel ungrateful and selfish. I have a wonderful child and people dont seem to understand that pain of secondary infertility. People also ask about our plans for more children constantly and the amount of unsolicited advice is overwhelming! I dont need my mothers friends to tell me go away and split a bottle of wine and it will happen or have other people tell me you cant have just one, its not fair to your son and youre taking away an experience here deserves to have or why dont you just adopt like it is that easy. I dont know how to navigate this and answer other people when I dont know what to do myself! I do have a great therapist. How do I tell people enough without losing my cool? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Enough is Enough Dear Enough is Enough, Youve gone through an emotionally taxing journey, from planning for more than one child, to discovering that having another biological child wouldnt be possible and making peace with that, to embracing the unique joys of raising an only child. Youve done a great deal of processing work and you should be proud of yourself for it. You know exactly how hard-won your resolve is. No one else will unless you tell them. When someone offers you unsolicited advice about how to grow your family, let them know that, at least for now, youre learning to enjoy things the way they are. Youre settling into being a one-kid family, and you and your husband are discovering all the delights attendant to that. But also let them know arriving at your current resolve was a process, and even if their intentions are good, it isnt helpful or supportive for them to make suggestions that undermine that process. Hopefully that will shut down any further recommendations about how to add another child to your (already complete and happy) family. If it doesnt, consider placing some space and silence between you and these well-meaning advice-dispensers. Stacia More Advice From Slate My husband and I are expecting our first child. Were both in graduate school and have a pretty tight income right now. We have lots of flexibility with our schedules, but both have a lot of work to accomplish, and that work takes a lot of mental energy and focus. We qualify for a child care subsidy that would put day care within the realm of possibility. My husband is open to this but has suggested we split up the childcare between us. Im deeply skeptical. What should we do? Marc Short, who was Mike Pences chief of staff, came to the defense of the former vice president amid continuing attacks from former President Donald Trump. As far as Short is concerned, Trump received lots of bad advice on Pences authority to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Unfortunately, the president had many bad advisers who were basically snake oil salesman giving him really random and novel ideas as to what the vice president could do, Short said on NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday. Advertisement TODAY: Former President Trump "got a lot of bad advice," former Chief of Staff to Vice President Mike Pence @marctshort says. "Unfortunately the president had many bad advisers who were basically snake-oil salesmen." pic.twitter.com/KMxRaXD4IZ Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) February 6, 2022 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Short spoke up mere days after Pence offered his strongest rebuke of Trump to date, rejecting the former presidents contention that he could have overturned the results of the election. President Trump is wrong, Pence said Friday. I had no right to overturn the election. Short said the vice presidents office studied the issue at the time and realized there was no way the results could somehow be changed. Our office, you know, researched that and recognized that was never an option, Short said. Advertisement Advertisement When host Chuck Todd asked whether Trump had the wrong information from bad advisers or whether the former president was actually seeking the bad advice, Short said he didnt know. I dont know the answer to that question, Short said. I think that honestly he did get a lot of bad advice. Just like Pence on Friday though, Short seemed eager to walk a fine line and didnt completely dismiss concerns about the election even as he affirmed that Joe Biden is the duly elected president of the United States. Short called the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot partisan, but said he was complying with a subpoena without going into details of his testimony. At the same time, he raised doubts about whether Pence would testify before the committee. I think its very different to subpoena a former vice president to talk about private conversations he had with the president of the United States, Short said. Its never happened before. And I think we have significant concerns about the committee. On Sunday, the mayor of Ottawa, Ontario, Jim Watson, declared a state of emergency as an estimated 5,000 people and 1,000 trucks joined the ongoing trucker protest over the countrys COVID-19 protocols. Were in the midst of a serious emergency, Watson said, the most serious emergency our city has ever faced. This week, the Freedom Convoy begins its eleventh day in the Canadian capital, honking loud truck horns all night, harassing locals, and urinating on a national war memorial while setting up bouncy castles and hot tubs. Local residents, protestors, and authorities have described the truckers descent on the capital as an occupation. While the protest started as a movement of truckers who objected to the cross-border Canada-U.S. vaccination or quarantine mandate, it has sprawled into a protest of all COVID orders, lockdowns and mitigation protocols. As of today, a major shopping mall, Ottawa City Hall, two public library branches and two COVID-19 vaccination clinics remain closed due to road closures and harassment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local police issued more arrests on Sunday and began to work to halt fuel supplies from being transferred to the truckers as protests and counter protests have sprung up in Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver and cities across a country with an 79 percent vaccination rate. Meanwhile, 90 percent of Canadian truckers are vaccinated, according to the Canadian Trucking Alliance, which has disavowed the Freedom Convoy protests. Comparisons to Jan. 6, 2021, are inevitable, and its plain that much of the support is coming from the U.S.: Crowdfunding is disproportionately coming from American donors and information spread by far-right influencers. Republican lawmakers promised to investigate GoFundMe for removing an account that had raised $9 million in support of the truckers. Sen. Ted Cruz suggested on Twitter that unvaxxed truckers should leave Vancouver with empty shelves. Former president Donald Trump unsurprisingly tweeted support, saying the drivers are peacefully protesting the harsh policies of far left lunatic Justin Trudeau. Banners on display at the demonstration have included confederate and Nazi flags, Make Canada great again, Fk Trudeau, or Trump 2024. Notably, one of the demands of the protestors is a dissolution of the current government. Advertisement Advertisement Canadian novelist and journalist Stephen Marche recently published The Next Civil War: Dispatches From the American Future, a deeply researched and wildly chilling set of dispatches about how the next American civil war could begin. As a cautionary tale to Americans who insist that such a thing couldnt possibly happen in the United States, I was curious to find out whether recent events across Canada suggest that armed insurrection, occupation, and the toppling of institutions might just as easily happen in Canada. Our conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity. Advertisement Dahlia Lithwick: First off, congratulations on the book. I loved it/hated it. Your final scenarioabout white supremacy and the constitutionality of secessionhas been the stuff of my nightmares in recent years as is the research on constitutional sheriffs. One of the reasons I wanted to hear from you on the Ottawa truckers rally is that a lot of the same themes you diagnosed in American politics have surfaced in Canadian guise, starting from the language of freedom and use of the media, to flirtation with white supremacist movements. Are comparisons to Jan. 6 inapt? What about this is American and whats homegrown? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stephen Marche: I mean, I think its pretty natural to compare them. They have the same carnivalesque spirit, and they have the same messianic vision of an unattainable freedom behind them. But they are, when you look closer, quite, quite different. There are several reasons. The first is that, other than a few horrific incidents, the protest has been relatively peaceful. There were some swastikas out but, as I understand it, they were mostly there to call Justin Trudeau a Nazi. At its peak, the protests reached 8,000 people. Thats nothing compared to American protests. To be honest, I think Americans are more obsessed with this story than Canadians are. This Saturdays Globe and Mail didnt lead with it. It didnt make the cover of any of the sections. Its my American friends who are worried, not my Canadian ones. Not that whats happening in Ottawa isnt serious and grotesque. It just isnt Jan. 6. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres why I think its not Jan. 6. First, the protests are massively unpopular. About 60 percent of the country find the truckers offensive and inappropriate. Close to 70 percent disapprove. Significant numbers of conservatives are in that number. Secondly, they have virtually no mainstream political support. Both Doug Ford and Jason Kenney (the premieres of Ontario and Alberta, respectively, and by far the most conservative Canadian politicians out there) have been clear that they are against the truckers, and are now some of the truckers main targets. Third, this could not be a less effective form of protest. They are disturbing middle class people trying to get to work and put their children to sleep. Every day they stay out there, the power of their position declines. Advertisement But it was never very strong to begin with. Eighty-eight percent of Canadians over the age of five have received at least one dose of the vaccine. Advertisement One of the complaints Im hearing is that the police response in Ottawa has been flaccid; that the overwhelming response from law enforcement has been, at best, paralysis and,at worst, high fives. You wrote about race and policing in The Next Civil War and I find myself wondering, as I did after Charlottesville 2017, and Jan. 6, 2021, whether the police response would have been different if the occupiers were people of color or indigenous folks? Is there carryover from your American research here? Advertisement Well, I think the Ottawa police didnt see it coming. And how could they? Once the Toronto and Montreal police learned from their mistakes, they were quite effective. The police have made it quite clear that they dont want the truckers in their cities and have opened several criminal investigations already. The government shut down their funding through GoFundMe, which they didnt with a lot of leftwing protest movements. Only one person was arrested for tearing down a statue of the countrys founder John A. MacDonald a year ago. The police have arrested dozens in Ottawa and are confiscating their fuel now. The Conservatives asked whether Trudeau was going to offer an olive branch to the protestors and he certainly hasnt done that. Needless to say, their convoy will have zero effect on actual health policy in this country. I do not believe, for a moment, that there is widespread sympathy for the trucker convoy among police departments. Again, the contrast with America is substantial. In the United States, there is so much support for white power movements in police departments that the FBI cannot use watch lists. That is very much not the situation here. The truth, to me, is that Canadians of all political stripes despise disorder, whether it comes from the left or the right. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Your chapter on The Fall of New York focuses on threat multipliers for instability economic, climate, property. Part of me wonders if part of the Canadian protest in a country known for being almost smugly civil and polite and law abiding is just a growing recognition that stuff is broken, governments are bankrupt, the climate is an existential threat, and that institutions are not up to the task of repair. I guess what I am asking is, when lawful Canadians are boiling over, is it a sign that the conditions you identified in the U.S. are in fact worldwide? There is no question that the Trucker Convoy is the toxic American political environment spilling across our border. I mean, its biggest supporters, by far, have been Donald Trump and Elon Musk. But when you say Canadians are boiling over, were talking about a few thousand Canadians boiling over. And who can blame them? I mean, honestly, I sympathize with the frustrations of these truckers. Im sick of this Covid shit, too. It makes me want to go to a major city in a piece of machinery and blare the horn too. But I dont think the Trucker Convoy is anywhere near as significant as Jan. 6, and not simply because it happened in Canada! Its a temper tantrum. And everyone in the country is disgusted by the temper tantrum. But its not much more than that. Advertisement So in a way, youre saying that even this Canadian event is somehow more revealing about whats going on in America than in Canada? There is political insanity everywhere. Thats not unique to America. The question is how ready the systems are to deal with the insanity. Covid happened everywhere. It was brutal everywhere. It led to political unrest everywhere. But it was vastly more toxic, and more divisive, in America than elsewhere. Thats true about much more than Covid. For example, during the tour for this book, Ive been asked how much social media is driving Americas toxic politics. Of course, it does have an impact but look at the rest of the world. Theyve all had to deal with Facebook too. But they didnt have their entire political apparatus disrupted. German political parties entered into a gentlemans agreement not to spread foreign misinformation. Which would never be possible in the United States today. Advertisement Advertisement America is ripe for conflict in a way that Canada simply isnt. The forces that cause civil war are manifesting in the States. The legitimacy of its institutions are in decline, its legal system is increasingly partisan, inequality is exploding, and climate change is starting to manifest in direct destruction. These are the subjects of The Next Civil War. I get the sense youre not as anxious about all this as, well, like, me? The truckers actually entered my neighborhood in Toronto yesterday. I went to check it out. They certainly disgusted me. But later, on my way home, I saw them shopping on my block. They marveled at all the pot shops and fancy bakeries. Their trip to the big city. China and Russia recently piled on new tech regulations. For China, that includes new data security and personal information laws, and for Russia, a requirement that foreign tech firms open an office in-country. U.S. businesses and foreign law enforcement agencies are at loggerheads over one increasingly important thing: data, or more specifically access to data. Its well-known that U.S. companies gather data on Americans, but they also collect enormous volumes of data on people around the world: data about citizens of foreign countries, about interactions between those citizens, and, most critically, about the alleged criminal activities of those foreign citizens. Foreign law enforcement agencies need access to that data to do their jobs, and governments the world over, including in Beijing and Moscow, are inventing ingenious ways of ensuring that access. That includes requiring companies to have employees and offices in-countrywhich make for very convenient bargaining chips. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the good old days, law enforcement had an easier job accessing the data they needed to investigate and prosecute crimes. As the vast majority of their citizens had very little if any interaction with companies located abroad, they needed only to utilize domestic mechanisms. Think local phone companies, business records stored on the premises, court or county records, or even witnessesall were generally located in the same country. So, the countrys lawmakers could empower their law enforcement agencies as they saw fit. Cases entangled with a multinational were rare, and the imperfect system of mutual legal assistance treaties, police-to-police cooperation, and letters rogatory (from one countrys judge to another) functioned because of the low number of data requests. Advertisement The past decades data explosion has upended this landscape, and the number of requests across jurisdictions has exploded, with the vast majority directed at the United States. American firms have tons of data on foreign citizensfrom the likes of Facebook, Amazon, Google, and Microsoft to payment providers, messaging apps, and many other companies. Many people around the world also use these services, including for criminal (or criminal) activity. To boot, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and others operate physical internet infrastructure, such as globally distributed cloud networks, that hold data. And because of the U.S. nexus in the global internet network, up to 70 percent of all global internet data traffic passes through one small city in Virginia. The United States has become a de facto decider of which countrys data requests are legitimate and which deserve the very meager resources allocated to fill law enforcement requests for data. Some data requests reflect legitimate ones made by U.S. allies, such as with investigations into local robberies or murders, or the distribution of child sexual abuse material. Unsurprisingly, however, many requests take an authoritarian view of illegal activitythe state moving against journalists, dissidents, citizens. If they run afoul of U.S. law, they arent fulfilled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authoritarian countries, especially China and Russia, want this data from U.S. firms. Wielding new data localization and other legal authorities, they are bringing these requests to U.S. companies doorstepsbecause even if the data is overseas, employees and offices may be well within reach. Chinese and Russian law enforcement agencies will directly approach U.S. companies to ask for this information on their citizens; intelligence and security services may also harass or intimidate employees on the ground in local offices, pointing to data access laws and demanding they hand it over. Sometimes, the threat is made quietly or implicitly. Other times, failure to comply is met with outright force: When Google and Apple refused to delete an opposition app in September 2021, the Kremlin threatened staff on the ground in Russia and sent armed, masked thugs to sit around Googles Moscow office. Particularly as U.S. tensions continue to heighten with China and Russia, there is little indication this pressure will fade. Advertisement Advertisement To be clear, U.S. businesses are not just dealing with these issues in China and Russia. Many countries, including U.S. allies and partners, legitimately need access to information around criminals, terrorists, and spies in their borders. This need has catalyzed everything from renegotiations of the U.S.-EU Privacy Shield framework to Washingtons executive CLOUD Act agreement with the U.K., which permits a British judge to decide, under certain circumstances, whether U.K. law enforcement meets the burden of proof to request data from a U.S. firm. A key driver of data localization proposals in India, to give another example, is the horribly slow and inefficient process for Indian law enforcement to file data requests to the U.S. government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The risks are pronounced in authoritarian regimes, however, for at least two main reasons: Companies are now forced to decide which requests are legitimate and which are aimed at repression. Should they reject a request, those countries may turn around and threaten employees, haul executives to jail, or otherwise jeopardize the physical safety of in-country offices and employees. Even in India, a crucial U.S. partner, the state raided a Twitter office in March 2021 (though no employees were there) when the company wouldnt comply with demands. Advertisement Washington is feeling enormous pressure from allies and partners to make data much more accessible. For the administration, the key lies in continuing to negotiate cross-border data flow and data access requirementsincluding where that pressure is driving data localization, like in India. The U.S. can also work with individual countries to speed up and standardize the process for requesting data from American firms. Advertisement Companies operating in authoritarian regimes are staring down far more difficult decisions. For those businesses that touch priority issues for Beijing and Moscowlike online speech, elections, and dissentkeeping offices and employees in those jurisdictions is very likely going to enable those regimes to coerce compliance. Broadly, U.S. companies need to learn to navigate multiple legal jurisdictions at the same time, where this navigation will require them to synchronize their international behavior with unique data regimes. In the meantime, its employees and offices on the ground that form the front lines of this fightand authoritarian regimes have them in their crosshairs. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. There is a fascinating, frustrating debate on the left, or maybe just on the left Twitter, about whether people on the leftsome named suspects are the New York Times David Leonhardt, economist Emily Oster, and writer Matt Yglesiasare too cavalierly calling for a return to normal life in vaccinated and blue America. Science, Leonhardt recently said, argues for living your life in a way that reflects that youve been vaccinated. The sentiment generated considerable pushback. The Political Gabfest was joined on Thursdays episode by Joseph Allen, whos an associate professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and director of its Healthy Buildings program. Allen recently wrote an op-ed for the Washington Post about the four factors the government should use to determine when to lift pandemic restrictions. Allen spoke with David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson about his article and what it might mean to get back to normal. What is normal now? How would we measure it? And is it really time to talk about that? The conversation has been transcribed, condensed, and lightly edited for clarity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement David Plotz: What does it even mean to get back to normal? Is there a normal to get back to, given how much the world has changed? Joseph Allen: Its been unnecessarily contentious, a lot of these debates. And I think its understandable that people feel differently about where we are in the pandemic, when to loosen controls, when to put them back. Weve been white-knuckling for two years. Some people are ready to let go if theyve been vaccinated, boosted, feel comfortable. Others are holding on tight. Thats totally understandable. To your point about, whats normal? Were never going back to quote-unquote normal or 2019, right? Pandemics, like other disasters, fundamentally change societies. And we can actually use that to propel us to a better normal than we had. But at the same time, to think were not all fundamentally altered I think would be a mistake. And so my article was just about how do we know or what data sources do we use for decision-making? So we know when its OK to pull back from controls, and when we might have to re-up them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve stayed on red alert too long. Too many people are saying, Im done with this. Their frustration is understandable. But we can use data actually to inform decision-making. Plotz: Can you quickly just tell us the four factors that you said we should look at? Allen: I think its four underutilized metrics. The first is the wastewater data. This is the data that we just sample from the water. Look, we shed this virus. When we go to the bathroom, its in our stool. So its a great unbiased metric. Two, we should be looking at health care capacity. This is important, particularly for governors and mayors that are managing these large societal-collapse-type problems through a pandemic. So how much capacity do we have? Are we about to overrun? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three, an important measure thats been overlooked, I think, is this question of, are you in the hospital due to COVID? Youre sick with COVID, it put you there, and thats what youre being treated for. Or did you show up at the hospital for something else, but because of routine screening, they detect it? And the fourth measure is one that Ive been harping on for a really long time. And thats using risk-based analysis in our decision-making. So the two biggest determinants with risk are vaccination status and age. Yet, look at our policies, we barely incorporate that into decision-making. The most strict controls right now are on kids that have the lowest risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement John Dickerson: Should school capacity be included in your metrics as well? In other words, there are times when schools are so overburdened because people are out because you just dont have enough substitute teachers. Which is a slightly different problemit seems more like the hospital capacity thing. Would it be wise or instructive to add a school capacity metric in this new approach? Allen: Well, I think kids have to be in school. I think closing schools will go down as one of the biggest mistakes of the entire pandemic. I dont think theres a question about thatit was a mistake. So the best metric you can track for how to keep people safe in school? Get all the adults vaccinated and boosted. There should be a mandate. And same thing for child care. Advertisement Emily Bazelon: One of the other specific ideas that you have for this next phase is this idea that if you are concerned about your own risk, you can keep wearing a mask. Particularly an N95 mask, which gives lots of protection. I am latched onto this, I think, because it seems like a way out of the current norm of everyone wearing a mask, especially in school and university settings, which I think is hard on the kids who are at much less risk. And its different than how we thought about masking in the beginning of the pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Allen: Masks definitely work. And that gives you protection regardless of what others around you are doing. Thats a key message. If you dont feel safe going to the grocery store because some district said were going to pull back from masking, well, get vaccinated, get boosted. By all means, wear your high-grade mask. Advertisement And this one-way masking with an N95, thats about as low-risk as you can get. Look, Im a certified industrial hygienist. I have set up programs and control programs and set up PPE, personal protective equipment controls. So fully understand masking. Good masks can protect you. And it doesnt necessarily matter what others around you are doing. Bazelon: Is that true for immunocompromised people? Allen: Yes, absolutely. The N95 has a minimum effectiveness of 95 percent, if you focus on the two Fs, filtration and fit. N95 means its 95 percent effective at filtering. But you want to make sure that all the air is going through that filter, so you focus on the second F, the fit. Tight around your nose, flush against the face, under your chin. Advertisement Plotz: How do we have a better debate about the return to normal? Advertisement Advertisement Allen: Maybe the first thing to do is we should stop pretending its such a clear dichotomy. Its not right to say let it rip and anybody could do whatever the heck they want to do. Its also not right to say were going to shutter things down again and pursue zero COVID. Its a false dichotomy. We have to protect the public, and we have the tools to also let people get back to some aspects of their life. A fundamental tenet of public health is that health is more than the absence of disease, right? Weve been doing a disease avoidance for two years. Of course, thats critically important, but theres so much more to health. Theres well-being. Theres thriving. Theres kids being in school, socialization, learning. All of these other factors are really important. And I think weve treated it as all or nothing on either side. Recognizing that the risk has changed for people who are vaccinated, and particularly vaccinated and boosted, doesnt mean that we stop doing all the other things we need to do in public health. We continue to work hard to get the unvaccinated vaccinated. Thats the single biggest problem. The service provider, the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), is said to be unresponsive, though the IMD officials lodged complaints many times. (Representational Image/ File Image) Hyderabad: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) working round the clock to monitor climate is unable to share its forecasts with the outside world. That is because the IMD telephone lines are dead for the past 10 days and they are inaccessible to the public and media. Two of its three telephone lines are dead since many days. The only working line is connected to the fax machine and is engaged most of the time. The service provider, the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), is said to be unresponsive, though the IMD officials lodged complaints many times. An official at the IMD said, "We have lodged the complaint but there was no response from the BSNL. With only one working line, that too connected to the fax machine, we are facing a tough time. The line is engaged most of the time. We are unable to provide information to everyone who is calling us." "Now there is a yellow alert of a cold wave, and if this information is circulated well, the elderly can take extra care. The authorities should try to fix such problems sooner for departments like ours, who provide weather alerts, especially, cold wave warnings, thunderstorms, heavy rains, hailstorms, foggy conditions etc," he added. The IMD, with 15 employees at Begumpet and 17 at Shamshabad centre, issues information on weather conditions and forecasts, especially during hazardous conditions. Their alerts are life savers for authorities and the public to avert untoward incidents in rough weather. For the civil aviation department, the IMD provides reports, based on which flights are scheduled. Government agencies and media representatives gather information on climate from the IMD. However, ever since the phone lines are dead, there is little communication. There was no response when the BSNL was contacted. The Faculty of Management is the only faculty in Slovakia ranked in the Eduniversal Ranking as an Excellent Business School. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled The Faculty of Management at Comenius University in Bratislava offers a Bachelor's programme, a Master's programme, and a PhD programme accredited in the English language. The Management study programme provides university education in the field of economics, business management and business administration. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: The facultys most significant advantage over other universities is its intensive orientation to the connection with practice. Experts from practice directly participate in the teaching process and involve students in various activities and model situations in companies. These activities focus primarily on developing its students' and graduates creative abilities, flexibility, and adaptability. Within the study field of management, the emphasis is based on analytical-synthetic techniques, communication skills and abilities and new trends in management theory and practice. There are many other opportunities for students to develop their specific skills during their studies. They also have multiple schemes at their disposal, such as the Erasmus+ programme, which supports students mobility and appetite for something new and enriches their knowledge. Of all the faculties in Slovakia, FMCU sends abroad and at the same time welcomes the most students every semester. Bachelor: the deadline for applications: 31.03.2022 The tuition fee for one academic year for students in the English programme is 1,990 . The standard length of study is three years for full-time study. the deadline for applications: 31.03.2022 The tuition fee for one academic year for students in the English programme is 1,990 . The standard length of study is three years for full-time study. Master: the deadline for applications: 31.05.2022 The tuition fee for one academic year is 2,490 . The standard length of study is two years for full-time study. the deadline for applications: 31.05.2022 The tuition fee for one academic year is 2,490 . The standard length of study is two years for full-time study. The entrance exam is oral and consists of a motivational interview in the English language. It will be performed through a videoconference call with the Admission Committee. The whole process will take place remotely without the need to travel for the admission procedure. is oral and consists of a motivational interview in the English language. It will be performed through a videoconference call with the Admission Committee. The whole process will take place remotely without the need to travel for the admission procedure. The faculty of Management also provides post-graduate Ph.D. study. More details about the faculty and study programmes you can find on the official faculty website: www.fm.uniba.sk/en/ Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement DIPLOMA IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT HAS THE REAL VALUE Our graduates find employment in domestic, foreign, multinational companies, consulting firms, the public sector, and other institutions. The acquired knowledge and skills create an essential competitive advantage for them to fill attractive positions and are reflected in their career growth. Many of them hold crucial managerial practice positions, are well-known personalities in the banking and financial spheres, or work successfully at universities. Faculty of Management is the only faculty in Slovakia ranked in the Eduniversal Ranking, the annual ranking of business schools and universities, with an evaluation as Excellent Business School. WHY TO STUDY AT THE FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT All teachers have international or practical experience . . The study is provided in small international groups with students from all over the world, preparing the graduates ready to work in an international environment. with students from all over the world, preparing the graduates ready to work in an international environment. We provide an individual approach suitable for our students. In the English study programme, students have their study advisor. suitable for our students. In the English study programme, students have their study advisor. We work with potential employers . Several companies host classes as visiting lecturers through their representatives or business specialists. They also offer internships and positions that our students commonly use. . Several companies host classes as visiting lecturers through their representatives or business specialists. They also offer and positions that our students commonly use. Interconnections with potential employers, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and successful managers help students in their decisions concerning issues during their studies and in their career paths and prospects. STUDYING IN ENGLISH FOR SUCCESS IN PRACTICE We emphasize graduates language readiness by increasing the number of professional subjects taught in the world languages (English, German, French). Through academic discussions, a team-oriented environment, and socializing with a variety of foreign classmates, students develop their academic, personal, and social skills and confidence. Our graduates are therefore very successful in practice. The faculty of Management also provides an interdisciplinary study programme in English with the Faculty of Law of Comenius University in Bratislava, named Management and Law. Bratislava is a lucrative place for international students to study and live, mainly for those looking for a pleasant, green, and safe environment with many offers for part-time jobs, promising career opportunities, and a perspective business environment. In case you have any additional questions, please contact our international department at: studywithus@fm.uniba.sk www.fm.uniba.sk www.fmcu.sk www.facebook.com/fm.uniba/ Comenius University Bratislava Comenius University Bratislava is a modern European university that in 2019 celebrated its 100th anniversary. It is the only Slovak university to be regularly ranked in the international rankings of the best universities in the world. With thirteen faculties, it offers the widest selection of study programmes. For students, this presents tremendous opportunities for development as well as building relationships and friendships. Comenius University is a research institution that runs hundreds of domestic and international research projects.Comenius University became a part of the ENLIGHT alliance, which offers opportunities for the gradual coming together of universities in planning joint courses, summer schools, and study programmes. I am proud that our university has become part of this pan-European network. I believe that studying at Comenius University will be even closer to the standards of the best European universities, said Marek Stevcek, the Rector of Comenius University. This article was created by the Faculty of Management, Comenius University in Bratislava. No complications were caused, but the mayor of the Karlova Ves borough calls for solutions. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled A family of wild boars wandered the streets of Bratislava on Friday, February 4. Several videos sent to the police capture them wandering along the tram line near Nabrezie Armadneho Generala Ludvika Svobodu Street. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Their walk ended successfully; there were no people injured and no complications in transport reported, the police wrote on Facebook. Yet, Dana Cahojova, the mayor of the Karlova Ves borough, said state authorities should start paying attention to the overpopulation of wild animals in the municipalities. As she wrote, the employees of the borough met some 50 animals right in the middle of the borough a few days prior, adding they may have been in distress. She stated that wild animals do not belong to the city. Hospitals gradually stop using them. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Some hospitals in Slovakia have stopped using monoclonal antibodies to treat Covid because they do not work against the Omicron variant. As a result, the Health Ministry expects that all hospitals across the country will stop using monoclonal antibodies in about a week. The question is what to do with those already delivered to Slovakia. The ministry is currently discussing the steps with experts. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Monoclonal antibodies have been given to 9,504 patients so far, which is an insignificant number when compared with the number of fully vaccinated people. Nearly 2.7 million people have been administered two Covid vaccine doses so far, which represents more than 49 percent of the Slovak population. They are negotiating on whether they would connect and run in tandem. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled The capital and Bratislava self-governing region have the first two candidates who would like to be elected to the posts in the upcoming municipal and regional elections. Current mayor Matus Vallo and incumbent chair of Bratislava Region Juraj Droba would like to retain their positions. They are the first two to announce that they will run in the autumn election. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement The municipal and regional elections will take place on the same day for the first time in Slovak history. The precise day has not been scheduled, but it is expected that the election will take place at the end of October or the beginning of November. In these two elections, even foreigners with permanent residence in Slovakia can vote and run for election. It is a simple question. How many foreigners vote in Slovakia? Read more Vallo establishes Team Bratislava Bratislava Mayor Matus Vallo founded the Team Bratislava municipal party. The founding members of the party are Vallo's current co-workers as well as new people. To register as a party, they have to collect at least 10,000 signatures. The party started to gather them on February 7. We managed to maintain the city in an atmosphere of cooperation, thanks to which we were able to implement many important changes for the development of our city, Vallo said, as quoted by the SITA newswire. From the biggest ones, which require a lot of money, to details that can be seen on the streets every day. Foreigners community has a big voice, but it needs to be more organised Read more He added that they have new ideas, a new energy and new things to offer the city. Matus Vallo became the mayor of Bratislava for the first time in 2018 among ten candidates. He was running with the support of Team Vallo and the parties Progressive Slovakia and Spolu. Droba may connect with Vallo Chair of Bratislava self-governing region, Juraj Droba (SaS), announced that he is running for re-election on February 7 along with coalition chair SaS Richard Sulik. I want to re-apply for this position and continue with work that makes sense, Droba said, as quoted by the TASR newswire. Bratislava's regional chair proposes three solutions for ongoing issue with bus operator Read more If he retains the post, he promises to continue the construction of the bypass in the region of Male Karpaty, help with the development of rail transport, and the construction of campuses in Bernolakovo, Modra and Bratislava. He also has plans in other competence areas of the region, including culture and sports. Sulik said that there is the possibility of an agreement with the mayor and his team. Droba said that they are still negotiating this option. Addressing the mayor of Bratislava, Droba stated that, unlike other regions, they have had exemplary cooperation for four years. A website with job ads published a record number of job ads in January. Monoclonal antibodies will not be administered in Slovakia soon. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Good evening. The Monday, February 7 edition of Today in Slovakia is ready with the main news of the day in less than five minutes. Bratislava mayor and chair of Bratislava region want to retain positions Matus Vallo (left) and Juraj Droba (right) (Source: TASR) The first candidates for the mayor of the capital and chair of Bratislava self-governing regions are known - incumbent mayor Matus Vallo and incumbent chair Juraj Droba seek to retain their positions. Matus Vallo is establishing a municipal party along with his team; Droba did not rule out that they will further cooperate in the pre-election campaign. The negotiations are still ongoing. The joint regional and municipal elections are expected to take place in autumn of 2022. In these two types of elections, foreigners with permanent residence in Slovakia can run for the position and also vote. 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. Monoclonal antibodies will be no longer available Monoclonal antibodies (Source: UNLP) People who tested positive with Covid who would like to be treated with monoclonal antibodies will soon have no access to this kind of cure. The reason is that they do not work against the Omicron variant, which is prevailing in Slovakia. Some hospitals in Slovakia have already stopped using monoclonal antibodies and the Health Ministry expects all hospitals across the country to stop using monoclonal antibodies in about a week. Monoclonal antibodies have been given to 9,504 patients so far, an insignificant number when compared with the number of fully vaccinated people. Nearly 2.7 million people have been administered two Covid vaccine doses, which represents more than 49 percent of the Slovak population. The vaccine is about one-third more efficient in fighting Covid than monoclonal antibodies. More coronavirus and vaccination news (Source: AP/SITA) 9,965 people were newly diagnosed as Covid positive out of 17,97 PCR tests performed on Sunday. The number of people in hospitals is 1,909 people. 15 more deaths were reported on Sunday. The vaccination rate is at 50.94 percent, 2,801,516 people having received the first dose of the vaccine. More stats on Covid-19 in Slovakia here. out of 17,97 PCR tests performed on Sunday. The number of people in hospitals is 1,909 people. 15 more deaths were reported on Sunday. The vaccination rate is at 50.94 percent, 2,801,516 people having received the first dose of the vaccine. More stats on Covid-19 in Slovakia here. Home isolation in the case of people who tested positive on Covid is five days, according to the current ordinance of the Public Health Authority. However, a person who recovered from Covid can ask for the EU Digital Covid Certificate at korona.gov.sk only on the 11th day since the PCR test came out positive. Travel information Australia has opened its borders to fully-vaccinated tourists as of February 21. One of the strictest and longest-lasting travel measures during the pandemic will thus come to an end. as of February 21. One of the strictest and longest-lasting travel measures during the pandemic will thus come to an end. Greece relaxed conditions on arrival to the country they will no longer require showing a negative test, an EU vaccination certificate will be enough. Unvaccinated people will still have to show a negative PCR test for coronavirus, not older than 72 hours or the negative result of an antigen test not older than 24 hours. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Video of the day A family of wild boars wandered the streets of Bratislava. Several videos sent to the police capture them wandering along the tram line near Nabrezie Armadneho Generala Ludvika Svobodu Street. https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKRPZBA%2Fvideos%2F441843317621507%2F&show_text=false&width=267&t=0 Feature story for today Robert Fico only flirted with Russia until 2014. Why is pro-Russian rhetoric working so well for the current opposition? The Sme daily set out to discover how the public opinion on Russia has developed since the 1990s, how politicians used it for their aims, and why they could not have benefit from this if it had not been for the leader of the 19th-century national awakening movement, Ludovit Stur. Why Russia is winning the information war in Slovakia Read more If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription. Thank you. In other news Aluminum producer Slovalco has shut down almost half of its production . At the end of last year, the company idled 47 furnaces, and another 44 have been taken offline. Currently, a mere 135 out of 226 furnaces are in operation in Ziar nad Hronom. The company attributed the gradual reduction in production to the high price of emission allowances and the government's inaction . . At the end of last year, the company idled 47 furnaces, and another 44 have been taken offline. Currently, a mere 135 out of 226 furnaces are in operation in Ziar nad Hronom. The company attributed the gradual reduction in production to the . Problems with personal train transport in the area around the capital continues. The Slovak Railway Company (ZSSK) cancelled almost 70 connections in the week between February 7 and 11 for the regional lines in the west of the country . The reasons are the lack of engine drivers and a serious failure of the signaling equipment at the Bratislava-Petrzalka railway station. . The reasons are the lack of engine drivers and a serious failure of the signaling equipment at the Bratislava-Petrzalka railway station. Police accused another Catholic priest of sexual abuse . He had reportedly sent a girl erotic photos and messages since she was 13 and also sent her to confession after sex. The church knew about the accusations, but he remained a priest and was made chaplain of another parish. (tvnoviny) . He had reportedly sent a girl erotic photos and messages since she was 13 and also sent her to confession after sex. The church knew about the accusations, but he remained a priest and was made chaplain of another parish. (tvnoviny) Profesia.sk published a record number of job ads in January, specifically 30,270 . Most job ads were in trade, production and information technologies. Ads in those three areas were about 48 percent of all job-ads. . Most job ads were in trade, production and information technologies. Ads in those three areas were about 48 percent of all job-ads. In the first month of this year, 734 debtors in Slovakia filed for personal bankruptcy , according to an analysis drafted by the CRIF - Slovak Credit Bureau. In January 2021, the number of personal bankruptcies reached 297. The number of personal bankruptcies thus grew 147.1 percent y-o-y. In monthly terms, their number dropped 17 percent from 884 in December 2021. , according to an analysis drafted by the CRIF - Slovak Credit Bureau. In January 2021, the number of personal bankruptcies reached 297. The number of personal bankruptcies thus grew 147.1 percent y-o-y. In monthly terms, their number dropped 17 percent from 884 in December 2021. The proportion of women on the boards of the largest companies in Slovakia is 25 percent, which is more than anywhere else in the world. A global average of just 19.7 percent of board seats are held by women, a 2.8 percent increase compared to data published in 2019. This information ensues from the report Women in the Boardroom: A global perspective published by Deloitte Global. Do not miss in Spectator.sk today Strong wind hits Slovakia again Read more The old Little Hungarian will choo-choo in Kysuce yet again 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/20220207/2011-transphobic-tweet-by-dwayne-the-rock-johnson-resurfaces-after-he-shows-joe-rogan-support-1092832149.html 2011 Transphobic Tweet by Dwayne The Rock Johnson Resurfaces After He Shows Joe Rogan Support 2011 Transphobic Tweet by Dwayne The Rock Johnson Resurfaces After He Shows Joe Rogan Support Dwayne The Rock Johnson is getting called out for an offensive tweet he wrote in 2011. The tweet resurfaced after he initially voiced support for Joe Rogan... 07.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-07T19:47+0000 2022-02-07T19:47+0000 2022-02-07T19:47+0000 spotify joe rogan caitlyn jenner /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/0d/1082612415_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_22dff9adc414eee41be602372b8641f7.jpg The screenshot of The Rocks tweet from 2011 was shared by Donald Trump, Jr. with the caption, Wow, @TheRock, you cant just try to quietly delete transphobic attacks without giving a groveling apology and expect to ever work in Hollywood again. Do @UnderArmour, @Ford, @Apple, @Netflix and the rest of his sponsors/partners agree with this hateful rhetoric?The tweet in question is from 2011, and shows the wrestler-turned-actor telling a Twitter user Its not our fault youre turning tranny tricks to put yourself thru nursing school.That prompted Caitlyn Jenner, the retired Olympic gold medalist and politically controversial member of the transgender community, to speak out. Hmmmm... the double standard is real. @TheRock I love you but cmon dude...let's be real. Cancel culture has got to go. Use your platform. @DonaldJTrumpJr thanks for highlighting, Jenner tweeted.Johnson is one of several artists who has inserted himself in the ongoing Joe Rogan scandal, which began with folk rockstar Neil Young pulling his music from Spotify in response to a complaint leveled against Rogan by medical professionals, who have accused him of hosting individuals responsible for the spread of covid misinformation.Joni Mitchell followed Young and also pulled her music from the platform. Other prominent individuals who have left Spotify include Nils Lofgren, India.Arie, Crosby Stills & Nash, writer Roxane Gay, research professor Brene Brown, and Mary Trump.The controversy surrounding Rogans leniency towards covid misinformation has snowballed since then. The podcaster is being lambasted for his use of the n-word, as well as other racial slurs on his show. After learning of Rogans use of the word, Johnson has done a complete u-turn in his support of the podcaster.I was not aware of his n-word use prior to my comments, but now Ive become educated to his complete narrative, Johnson wrote in a tweet on Saturday. Learning moment for me.The musical artist India.Arie, who has also removed her music from Spotify, posted a video compilation of Joe Rogan saying the n-word several times from different episodes of his podcast over a timespan of 12 years.In response, Rogan argues the clips were taken out of context while lamenting his shame and regret in an apology video he posted to Instagram. But a video posted by the Twitter account @PatriotTakes shows Rogan, who is a white man, debating the seriousness of the slur with another white male comedian, while also discussing the level of offense of other racial slurs can generate. He then urges his white male guest to say the n-word and bursts out laughing when he does."So we know how social media can be. Things can be doctored, people are taken out of context, it's happened to me many times," said artist India.Arie after sharing the compilation of Rogan to Instagram on Friday. "However, I want to be clear in no uncertain terms where I stand on this. ... He shouldn't be uttering the word. Don't even say it under any context."Caitlyn Jenner, who ran as a Republican candidate in a failed bid for California governor, cant seem to pick a side. In response to artists leaving Spotify in protest of Rogan, she wrote, Bye bye Leftover hippies from the 60s boycotting @joerogan on Spotify. Nobody will miss you. Thank you @Spotify for standing up for Rogan, she tweeted on Friday, even though she has previously labeled Rogan as transphobic in response to a joke he made about her transitioning in his 2016 Netflix special. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Mary Manley https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg Mary Manley https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Mary Manley https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg spotify, joe rogan, caitlyn jenner https://sputniknews.com/20220207/as-us-withholds-millions-in-aid-from-egypt-local-expert-says-it-wont-bring-cairo-to-its-knees-1092809515.html As US Withholds Millions in Aid From Egypt, Local Expert Says It Won't Bring Cairo 'to Its Knees' As US Withholds Millions in Aid From Egypt, Local Expert Says It Won't Bring Cairo 'to Its Knees' Egypt has been the recipient of an average of $2 billion in annual military and economic aid from the US since 1979, when it signed a peace treaty with Israel... 07.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-07T06:41+0000 2022-02-07T06:41+0000 2022-02-08T12:27+0000 egypt us /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/02/07/1092813935_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_634d7a49486b644ef235d6e17f128a9e.jpg At the end of January, the United States announced it would cut $130 million in annual economic assistance to Egypt, citing human rights concerns.Washington demands that Cairo stop persecuting political critics, journalists, women, and members of civil rights groups. It also urges to release several prisoners who hold US citizenship.Consistent Foreign Policy?Reports suggest this is the first time a secretary of state hasn't issued a formal national security waiver to provide the aid, but Maged Botros, professor of political science and Fulbright scholar, says that cutting economic assistance has been a "consistent policy of all US administrations".Egypt started receiving annual military and economic assistance from Washington (around $2 billion) in 1979, after it signed a peace treaty with Israel.Much of its assistance - $1.3 billion - goes to the military. The economic package varies. In 1979 it stood at $258 million, by 2009 it was $150 million, and Botros says the numbers have been gradually declining ever since.Cash as a ToolThe reasons for the reductions have varied over the years. Initially, they were connected to the world order having changed with the collapse of the Soviet Union and there no longer being a need to boost Egypt with so much cash to ensure its loyalty towards the West.Then came 9/11 and with it, the desire of Washington to reform all political systems in the Middle East. At the time, US decision-makers believed oppression was behind radicalism, and they wanted to eradicate it by introducing more human rights to the region. If local authorities dared to object to their policies, America knew which button to press. Very often it was the button of cash injections.One of the most notorious cases was that of Saad Al-Din Ibrahim, a political activist and a professor at the American University in Cairo, who in 2002 was jailed for charges of fraud and receiving foreign funding. Washington demanded his release and when Cairo refused, economic assistance was reduced.Another example was seen in 2005, when Ayman Nour, another political activist and a presidential candidate, was prisoned on charges of forgery. Here again, the US did not hesitate to use its cash injections to punish Cairo for its "misbehaviour", and this is also what they are trying to do now.Won't Knock Us to Our KneesAlthough Botros says his country needs the cash Washington has been injecting to maintain the nation's military equipment and technologies, he also claims the money "cannot bring Egypt to its knees".One of the reasons for this is that Washington's assistance constitutes only a mere two percent of Egypt's GDP, and thus it doesn't have the impact it had in 1979, when it was first granted.Another reason is the lessons Egypt has learned from the past and the fact that since 2014 it has chosen to diversify its military purchases, acquiring weapons not only from the US but also from Russia, France, Germany, and China.It was also the realisation that the US is dependent on Cairo not only because of its intelligence and military cooperation, but also because of the Suez Canal and the energy hub Egypt has recently become.For now, Washington is playing it safe. While the $130 million will be deducted, the US okayed $2.5 billion in arms sale to Egypt at the end of January, and that might be an indication the White House understands the importance of Cairo, and it doesn't want to lose it. egypt us Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Elizabeth Blade Elizabeth Blade News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Elizabeth Blade egypt, us https://sputniknews.com/20220207/berlin-admits-it-has-no-evidence-cyber-attack-on-marquard--bahls-linked-to-russia-1092824437.html Berlin Admits It Has No Evidence Cyber Attack on Marquard & Bahls Linked to Russia Berlin Admits It Has No Evidence Cyber Attack on Marquard & Bahls Linked to Russia BERLIN (Sputnik) - The German Interior Ministry on Monday said that there is no data to prove that a cyber-attack against German company Marquard & Bahls is... 07.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-07T13:01+0000 2022-02-07T13:01+0000 2022-02-07T13:02+0000 germany europe hacker attack hack attack ransomware cybercrime /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/07/05/1083309445_0:144:2561:1584_1920x0_80_0_0_8420f5c33e1fd2f41cb769f6c5096c93.jpg "There is no reliable attribution of the origin of hackers", the ministrys spokesperson said.Bloomberg has reported, citing sources, that a potential link with Russia in this case was visible.The Hamburg-based Mabanaft and Oiltanking Deutschland, daughter companies of the fuel distributor Marquard & Bahls, said they discovered on 29 January that their IT systems had been hit by hacks. Oiltanking Deutschland, a large German tank storage logistics company, said its terminals were operating with limited capacity and declared "force majeure".The German Interior Ministry said that the attack on Mabanaft, which stores and distributes fuel, posed a risk to critical infrastructure. The federal information technology security agency is involved in the probe."The prosecutor's office has opened an investigation on suspicion of blackmail after a ransomware attack on Mabanaft GmbH & Co. KG and Oiltanking Deutschland GmbH", a spokesperson for the Hamburg public prosecutor's office told Sputnik on 3 February. germany Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 germany, europe, hacker attack, hack attack, ransomware, cybercrime https://sputniknews.com/20220207/could-cash-payments-spur-smokers-to-quit-bad-habit-1092812892.html Could Cash Payments Spur Smokers to Quit Bad Habit? Could Cash Payments Spur Smokers to Quit Bad Habit? Smoking is a worldwide health bane that kills more than 8 million people every year, prompting the authorities to devise more ingenious ways to combat it. 07.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-07T06:57+0000 2022-02-07T06:57+0000 2022-02-07T06:57+0000 health science tech scandinavia denmark smoking news europe /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/103996/41/1039964190_0:0:1280:720_1920x0_80_0_0_30dd227f18f0eca6c9e59e8c037548d1.jpg Despite numerous inquiries and tonnes of methods on how to persuade people to stop smoking, it appears that a little extra money may be the most convincing, as novel Danish research has indicated that even a modest financial stimulus may help smokers quit their bad habit.In a study in partnership with the Danish Cancer Society, smokers in three Danish municipalities were promised DKK 1,200 ($185) if they stopped smoking and remained smoke-free six weeks later.By contrast, three other municipalities received financial support for large campaigns to persuade people to stop smoking. On an ongoing basis, the participants were examined using carbon monoxide tests, which can indicate whether they have smoked or not, to eliminate cheating.The research found no significant difference in how many smokers were recruited, but significantly higher odds that citizens who received a financial reward quit their habit.In the municipalities where smokers were rewarded for quitting, 32 percent of those who quit were non-smokers six months later, and 22 percent remained non-smokers one year later.In the other three municipalities, the percentages were lower, at 22 and 18 percent, respectively, the survey showed.Niels Them Kjr of the Danish Cancer Society called it "a good investment" in the public sector.Today, however, there is no legal basis for municipalities to provide a financial reward to people for quitting smoking. And that shouldn't be changed, Danish MPs said, despite the promising results.Henrik Dahl of the Liberal Alliance said that the state must "stay out of people's homes and people's habits".Lars Boje Mathiesen and Liselott Blixt of the New Right and the Danish People's Party representing the other side of the country's political spectrum, were likewise critical. The Health Ministry, though, said it noted the study.Annual surveys in Denmark indicate a smoking prevalence of about 20 percent. Several years ago, the government announced "the most ambitious goal" of achieving a completely smoke-free youth by 2030.Smoking-related diseases cost the lives of 13,000 Danes every year, according to the Danish Cancer Society. Worldwide, smoking kills more than 8 million people every year, according to the World Health Organisation. scandinavia denmark Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Igor Kuznetsov Igor Kuznetsov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Igor Kuznetsov health, science, tech, scandinavia, denmark, smoking, news, europe Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Monday visited Yadadri temple to review the arrangements for the inauguration of the renovated temple complex. (Photo: Twitter) HYDERABAD: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Monday visited Yadadri temple to review the arrangements for the inauguration of the renovated temple complex, scheduled on March 28. The Chief Minister conducted an aerial survey of the entire temple complex area and the ground identified for Yagashala where Maha Kumbha Samprokshana will be held marking the formal opening of the temple. The much-awaited inauguration will be preceded by eight to nine days of Ankurarpana including Mahasudarshana Homam. The Chief Minister spent about six hours at Yadadri. He reached the temple at 2 pm, went around the temple premises and examined the ongoing construction works which are nearing completion. He inspected the sanctum sanctorum, Pushkarini, Kalyana Katta, separate bathrooms for men and women devotees, RTC bus stand, Annadanam Complex and Vratha Mandapams among others. The Chief Minister later conducted a review meeting till 8 pm with temple authorities for two hours. Official sources said the Chief Minister expressed severe anger at Yadadri Temple Development Authority officials for the slow pace of works and fixed a deadline of February 28 to complete all the pending works. He told them that he would again visit the temple in March first week to examine whether all pending works were completed and if not, severe action would be initiated against the officials concerned. He reportedly told them that about 3,000 Ruthviks, Vedic scholars and assistants would participate in the yagam at 1,048 sacred fire spots. Vedic scholars and priests from 45 countries, Chief Ministers, Governors, VIPs of the Union government and lakhs of devotees would turn up every day during the yagam. "I am making grand plans for the inaugural event but the pace of work shows that you are not taking things very seriously. This will not be tolerated. Expedite works and finish all the balance works by February end," he reportedly warned. Energy minister G. Jagadish Reddy, roads and buildings minister Vemula Prashanth Reddy, MLAs Sunitha Mahender Reddy, P. Sekhar Reddy, Gadari Kishore Kumar, Chirumarthi Lingaiah, Marri Janardhan Reddy, Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, special chief secretary for finance K. Ramakrishna Rao, principal secretary to CMO S. Narsing Rao and others were present. https://sputniknews.com/20220207/hypocrisy-is-palatable-abby-martin-condemns-georgias-effort-to-salvage-struck-down-anti-bds-law-1092833238.html Hypocrisy is Palatable: Abby Martin Condemns Georgias Effort to Salvage Struck Down Anti-BDS Law Hypocrisy is Palatable: Abby Martin Condemns Georgias Effort to Salvage Struck Down Anti-BDS Law Georgia state lawmakers recently approved an amendment to a law struck down last year that banned state contracts with persons boycotting Israel. Journalist... 07.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-07T21:04+0000 2022-02-07T21:04+0000 2022-02-07T21:04+0000 abby martin boycott, divestment and sanctions (bds) movement georgia unconstitutional first amendment israel opinion /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/02/07/1092833131_0:0:2403:1353_1920x0_80_0_0_6657d5b298c6dfe3586d6714bdc57887.png Late last month, Georgias state legislature approved House Bill 383, which amended a 2016 law banning state contracts with persons engaged in a boycott of Israel. The state is just one of 35 to have used such laws to crack down on the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which aims to put pressure on Israel to change its policies toward Palestinians in Israel and the West Bank.The amended law raised the laws application benchmark for contracts of at least $1,000 to contracts of at least $100,000. Speaking in a video on her Empire Files YouTube channel on Sunday, Martin said the change is purely cosmetic, since the laws mechanism remains unconstitutional, and that the Israeli government had directly pressured the Georgia state government to amend the policy in order to save face amid repeated damning human rights reports, the most recent of which was from Amnesty International, titled, Israels apartheid against Palestinians: a cruel system of domination and a crime against humanity.Sputnik spoke with Martin about the states move and how it fits into the larger BDS movement.Sputnik: You said the law remains unconstitutional, despite the amendment. So why would Israel, or the Georgia legislature, bother with amending a law they still cant use?Abby Martin: The whole point of the Israeli lobby doing this is purely a propaganda victory for them. They know very well that this law is unenforceable and has been deemed unconstitutional, but they just want the propaganda victory of keeping it on the books. Because if they didnt amend the law, then theres no choice other than for them to just remove it. They cant have that because that would set an incredible precedent across the country.Three days after Georgia approved the amended bill, a Texas judge struck down that states anti-BDS law on similar grounds.Sputnik: When we talked after the court ruling last May, you said you want to see this law stricken from the books totally, and you reiterated that in your video tonight. Can you talk about how you intend to do that?Abby Martin: Because the law was amended to this $100,000 cap, now there has to be a plaintiff found that is willing to challenge this amended law, which is obviously much harder, because this isnt just about an individual anymore, were talking about a corporation or someone that has a huge contract. $100,000 is not a small sum of money, so it has to be someone in a professional standing thats overseeing some sort of massive contract with the state, or celebrity, or someone like that who can conjure such a large sum of money. So it is a lot more difficult, which is exactly what the purpose was of amending this law. This is unconstitutional no matter how much money were talking about because you cant put a dollar amount on our free speech rights.Sputnik: Just three days after this amendment was passed, Amnestys latest report on Israel dropped. It provoked unbridled fury from both Republicans and Democrats, but it seems like an important seam holding Israels public relations campaign together is nonetheless coming undone. Do you think that makes your fight against these anti-BDS laws easier or harder?Abby Martin: So this Amnesty International report is a huge move and its a really, really big deal. It may not seem like a big deal, but it is an enormous defeat of Israeli Hasbara, because the last thing that Israel needs is a liberal-leaning human rights organization that tens of millions of American liberals subscribe to, donate to, and really trust as their source of news on human rights. Its a big deal for them to unequivocally declare that Israel is an apartheid state.And now that it has declared that, as well as these other official organizations, now the conversation becomes: what can we do about apartheid, instead of is this apartheid? And once the consciousness shifts on, yes, this is an apartheid state and we have to figure out what can be done to create a fair, equal democratic society for the 5 million Palestinians that are living unjustly in an undemocratic sense.I do think that as consciousness continues to shift more and more and the pressure continues to mount, and more people of course wake up to the fact that these BDS laws are on the books - which I think the vast majority of people dont know - yes, the fight will become easier, Martin said, adding that it takes people who are courageous and willing to put their necks out there and just say Im going to be a vehicle to take these laws on, to call attention to the fact that these laws are on the books and Im going to challenge them, and I do think that it will be easier to defeat.We have to make it uncomfortable for these people to actually take a Zionist position, and thats exactly what we saw in the last onslaught [in May 2021], that [US President Joe] Biden actually called [then-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu and he was like I can no longer hold back the pressure. You have to find a solution to this. Whereas a week earlier, Biden was like, you have a green light, basically. And then we saw these mass protests across the country, the largest pro-Palestine demonstrations in the history of this country, and thats when we saw Biden say I cant hold this back. Which really signifies how incredibly important the power of the movement is. The grassroots pressure, the mobilizations, the putting pro-Palestine messaging front and center and linking it to several other struggles, and thats just happening more and more every day.Sputnik: Georgia says it has to maintain good relations with Israel. To the south, Floridas Governor Ron DeSantis boasts hes the most pro-Israel governor in the country. Is it weird that individual US states have foreign policies toward Israel, or indeed, any country? Especially since an actual Israeli politician apparently flew to Georgia to influence this bill?Abby Martin: It is quite astounding that in a country that is dominated with discourse about foreign interference from countries like Russia and China, Israel is just part and parcel with Americana. Its like no one questions the fact that Israel has this undue amount of influence over our policy-making. I dont think that the tail wags the dog, obviously, I think that people have it completely flipped, but Israel knows its position as a geopolitical tool for US imperialism, and it acts accordingly. And thats exactly what it is for: as Biden famously said, if Israel didnt exist we would need to create her to preserve our interests.Martin noted that the passage of many of the anti-BDS laws had been veiled under some fight against antisemitism. The language is so stupid that these people just idiotically are subverting the First Amendment and our free speech rights to protect Israel. It is completely illogical and its completely offensive that these politicians are literally swearing an oath on the Constitution to get sworn into office and they just know that they are voting to uphold a law that completely undermines our First Amendment, the most sacred constitutional right that we have.So a lot of these people like Governor DeSantis, who cosplay as some sort of free speech warrior, and all of these people - [former New York Mayor Bill] DeBlasio, all of these people in New York who are just up in arms at the mere thought of BDS. When even the comptroller of New York issued a statement condemning the BDS movement when he himself had advocated for BDS against apartheid in South Africa. So, the hypocrisy is palatable. Its disgusting that people cant connect the two. georgia israel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Morgan Artyukhina https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/17/1082703728_0:0:800:800_100x100_80_0_0_0b6ce8daa7411284d60c8a0b6d84186d.jpg Morgan Artyukhina https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/17/1082703728_0:0:800:800_100x100_80_0_0_0b6ce8daa7411284d60c8a0b6d84186d.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Morgan Artyukhina https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/17/1082703728_0:0:800:800_100x100_80_0_0_0b6ce8daa7411284d60c8a0b6d84186d.jpg abby martin, boycott, divestment and sanctions (bds) movement, georgia, unconstitutional, first amendment, israel, opinion https://sputniknews.com/20220207/josep-borrell-and-antony-blinken-speak-at-eu-us-energy-council-1092829477.html Josep Borrell and Antony Blinken Speak at EU-US Energy Council Josep Borrell and Antony Blinken Speak at EU-US Energy Council Two weeks ago, US President Joe Biden and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen issued a joint statement in which they stressed the importance of accelerating the... 07.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-07T17:09+0000 2022-02-07T17:09+0000 2022-02-07T17:09+0000 us europe energy renewable energy /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/02/07/1092829452_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_2d07de0ea4c5bfd19a71dc4eb3db8c3e.jpg The European Union's foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell and his American counterpart, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, are delivering speeches in Washington, where EU and US representatives are attending the US-EU Energy Council. The format, which first started in 2009, will reportedly be devoted to two topics this year: climate change and European energy security.The two sides are to discuss broader efforts to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and other ways of fighting climate change. They will also discuss finding alternative sources of natural gas for Europe in light of the ongoing tensions in Ukraine exacerbated by the West's allegations that Russia is possibly planning to "invade" it. Last year, the EU faced soaring gas prices amid a shortage of global LNG supplies, big domestic demand, and failure to fill up European gas reservoirs in time before winter. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0d/1093831826_0:0:216:216_100x100_80_0_0_e3f43a960af0c6c99f7eb8ccbf5f812c.jpg Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0d/1093831826_0:0:216:216_100x100_80_0_0_e3f43a960af0c6c99f7eb8ccbf5f812c.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Josep Borrell and Antony Blinken Speak at EU-US Energy Council Josep Borrell and Antony Blinken Speak at EU-US Energy Council 2022-02-07T17:09+0000 true PT29M16S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0d/1093831826_0:0:216:216_100x100_80_0_0_e3f43a960af0c6c99f7eb8ccbf5f812c.jpg us, europe, energy, renewable energy, https://sputniknews.com/20220207/politics-got-so-ugly-andrew-cuomo-mothers-name-wiped-clean-from-mentorship-programme-she-founded-1092820006.html 'Politics Got So Ugly': Andrew Cuomo Mother's Name Wiped Clean From Mentorship Programme She Founded 'Politics Got So Ugly': Andrew Cuomo Mother's Name Wiped Clean From Mentorship Programme She Founded The New York Office of Children and Family Services, which oversees the programme, said the removal of Matilda Cuomo's name was a mistake. And while she is... 07.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-07T11:43+0000 2022-02-07T11:43+0000 2022-02-07T11:43+0000 us cuomo andrew cuomo /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/02/07/1092819895_0:0:2422:1362_1920x0_80_0_0_5ca307023704e66531a4bf023bd3ae22.jpg Matilda Cuomo, the 90-year-old founder of the New York State Mentorship programme, was removed from its advisory council and every mention of her name was wiped from the description of the organisation. The omission of her name follows the scandal involving her son, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, the New York Post has reported, citing anonymous sources.The programme was first founded by Matilda Cuomo in 1984 when her husband, Mario Cuomo, held the governor's office, but was later ended when he failed to win re-election for a fourth term in 1994. Andrew Cuomo restarted the mentorship in 2015 and installed his mother as the honorary chairperson and a member of the advisory council.New York's Office of Children and Family Services, which oversees the programme, said the removal of Matilda Cuomo's name from the mentorship's website was a mistake and promised it will be rectified.Has Anything Changed?The archived snapshots of the New York State Mentorship's "About" webpage from January 2022 indeed show that Matilda Cuomo's name is not mentioned anywhere including on the list of advisory council members. The actual version of the said webpage mentions her as the founder of the original mentorship in 1984 in one line, but Cuomo is still nowhere to be found on the advisory council.New York's Office of Children and Family Services did not mention her removal from it or potential reinstatement.Despite Matilda Cuomo's name formally being returned to the mentorship's website, it's a far cry from the way she was mentioned prior to the Andrew Cuomo scandal. The archived version of the page from May 2021 not only mentions her as an advisory council member, but also includes an extensive portion dedicated to Matilda Cuomo's biography and her work in the mentorship programme.Her apparent expulsion from the mentorship organisation came in the wake of the sexual harassment allegations pressed by 11 women against Andrew Cuomo, forcing him to resign from office in 2021. Andrew Cuomo continues to reject all the accusations against him, calling them biased and inaccurate. In addition, his brother, Chris Cuomo was removed from CNN, where he hosted a prime time show, after his involvement in helping Andrew to deal with the fallout from the aforementioned accusations was revealed. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0d/1093831826_0:0:216:216_100x100_80_0_0_e3f43a960af0c6c99f7eb8ccbf5f812c.jpg Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0d/1093831826_0:0:216:216_100x100_80_0_0_e3f43a960af0c6c99f7eb8ccbf5f812c.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0d/1093831826_0:0:216:216_100x100_80_0_0_e3f43a960af0c6c99f7eb8ccbf5f812c.jpg us, cuomo, andrew cuomo https://sputniknews.com/20220207/putin-macron-meet-in-moscow-amid-crisis-over-ukraine-1092821100.html Putin, Macron Meet in Moscow Amid Crisis Over Ukraine Putin, Macron Meet in Moscow Amid Crisis Over Ukraine According to Macron, the main goal of his visit is "not Ukraine, but a clarification of the rules...with NATO and the EU". After the meeting with Putin, Macron... 07.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-07T15:34+0000 2022-02-07T15:34+0000 2022-02-07T15:36+0000 russia france ukraine moscow vladimir putin emmanuel macron /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/02/07/1092822772_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_4fa2441f274bcc82d6cb60dc359eef8e.jpg Sputnik is live from Moscow, as Russian President Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron hold a meeting on the security situation in Europe amid tensions over Ukraine.In recent months, Western countries have been accusing Moscow of planning to invade Ukraine, with the US, Britain, and their allies boosting their presence near Russia. Moscow has repeatedly slammed the allegations as fake, saying that the false narrative of an "invasion" is being used as a pretext to deploy more NATO forces near the Russian border.Follow Sputnik's Live Feed to Find Out More! france ukraine moscow Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Putin, Macron Meet in Moscow Amid Crisis Over Ukraine Putin, Macron Meet in Moscow Amid Crisis Over Ukraine 2022-02-07T15:34+0000 true PT7M34S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 russia, france, ukraine, moscow, vladimir putin, emmanuel macron, https://sputniknews.com/20220207/scholz-to-meet-with-biden-on-monday-amid-tensions-over-ukraine-nord-stream-2-1092811798.html Scholz to Meet With Biden on Monday Amid Tensions Over Ukraine, Nord Stream 2 Scholz to Meet With Biden on Monday Amid Tensions Over Ukraine, Nord Stream 2 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is about to be hosted by US President Joe Biden in Washington on Monday as the two countries need to figure... 07.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-07T05:47+0000 2022-02-07T05:47+0000 2022-02-07T06:04+0000 us russia nord stream 2 germany ukraine europe joe biden olaf scholz gas supplies gas /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/0a/1082036069_0:116:3229:1932_1920x0_80_0_0_3105d615e9e4b7f0a8491b9f09da0c51.jpg In late January, both Germany and the US confirmed that the new German chancellor would visit the US capital in February. The visit will be taking place against the backdrop of a major geopolitical crisis in Eastern Europe, as Russia stands accused of preparing to "invade" Ukraine, despite multiple claims to the contrary by Moscow.Despite declaring its complete solidarity with Kiev, Berlin has been subjected to much criticism from its NATO allies, especially after refusing to send weapons to Ukraine as well as wanting to keep Nord Stream 2 out of the current tensions.The pipeline itself is currently having trouble getting certified in Germany even after Nord Stream 2 AG has established a subsidiary - Gas for Europe GmbH - in the country, as regulators are expecting more documents to be submitted in order to complete the process within the specified four-month time frame.According to Paul Poast, an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Chicago, Germany has to take a softer approach to Russia as it is too weak militarily and is closer to the location of a potential conflict, even though such a stance provokes US anger over Berlin's policy.Nevertheless, Germany reportedly assured the United States that in the event of a conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the gas would not run via Nord Stream 2. This was confirmed by US Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland, who said that Washington will work with Berlin to make sure that the Nord Stream 2 pipeline does not move forward should Russia take hostile actions against Ukraine.Riccardo Alcaro, a research coordinator and head of the Global Actors Programme at the Istituto Affari Internazionali in Rome, thinks that Germany is committed to the Atlantic framework and will go along with the US if push comes to shove.Meanwhile, Alan Cafruny, a professor of international affairs with the Department of Government at Hamilton College, told Sputnik that powerful forces in the US, such as exporters of liquefied natural gas, would like to terminate the pipeline, creating tensions between the two countries that predate the crisis over Ukraine.Some, however, think that it is the pipeline itself that may play a constructive role in alleviating the tensions, including Roderick Kiewiet, a professor of political science at the California Institute of Technology. germany ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 us, russia, nord stream 2, germany, ukraine, europe, joe biden, olaf scholz, gas supplies, gas https://sputniknews.com/20220207/uk-foreign-secretary-liz-truss-to-visit-russia-on-thursday-amid-tensions-over-ukraine-reports-say-1092815363.html Visit by Britain's Liz Truss to Russia May Take Place on 10 February Amid Tensions Over Ukraine Visit by Britain's Liz Truss to Russia May Take Place on 10 February Amid Tensions Over Ukraine London previously claimed that Russia is planning an invasion of Ukraine, and even said that Moscow wants to install "a puppet government" in Kiev. 07.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-07T08:17+0000 2022-02-07T08:17+0000 2022-02-07T09:31+0000 russia uk liz truss /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/16/1082150755_0:0:2995:1685_1920x0_80_0_0_b5409d85d70ebf6e7d039a84869ef607.jpg UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will pay a visit to Russia on Thursday, 10 February, in a bid to ease tensions around Ukraine, The Times reported on Monday. The Russian Foreign Ministry has since addressed the report, saying that the possibility of the visit is currently being worked out.Last month, the UK government said that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had asked Truss to travel to Russia for talks in the coming days. However, in early February, Truss said that she had tested positive for COVID-19 and would postpone her visit.The foreign secretary's visit is planned amid tensions between London and Moscow, as the United Kingdom repeatedly accused Russia of planning aggression against Ukraine and threatened the Russian government with a new round of sanctions. Truss herself previously claimed that American intelligence has "shocking evidence", suggesting that Moscow plans to invade its neighbour.The United Kingdom, as well as the US, Canada, Poland, and the Baltic States have supplied several batches of weapons to Ukraine, with Washington dispatching additional forces to neighbouring Poland and Romania. There have also been reports suggesting that London sent special troops to train Ukrainian soldiers "sabotage tactics" amid the "invasion" hype.Russia has repeatedly denied the accusations, saying it does not plan to attack any country, including Ukraine, and blasted the "invasion" reports as fake, saying it is Kiev that is planning a provocation.Moscow has also warned that NATO's plans to expand eastward (which include Ukraine and Georgia) represent a threat to Russia's national security. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Evgeny Mikhaylov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/07/1080390164_0:0:1440:1440_100x100_80_0_0_46c187f2ab0908f86849a7d09a7def57.jpg Evgeny Mikhaylov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/07/1080390164_0:0:1440:1440_100x100_80_0_0_46c187f2ab0908f86849a7d09a7def57.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Evgeny Mikhaylov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/07/1080390164_0:0:1440:1440_100x100_80_0_0_46c187f2ab0908f86849a7d09a7def57.jpg russia, uk, liz truss https://sputniknews.com/20220207/us-blinken-and-eus-borrell-to-discuss-energy-supply-issues-amid-ukraine-crisis-1092813453.html US' Blinken and EU's Borrell to Discuss Energy Supply Issues Amid Ukraine Crisis US' Blinken and EU's Borrell to Discuss Energy Supply Issues Amid Ukraine Crisis WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and European Union High Representative Josep Borrell will meet in Washington this week to discuss... 07.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-07T06:25+0000 2022-02-07T06:25+0000 2022-02-07T06:25+0000 antony blinken josep borrell us eu russia ukraine gas supplies /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/01/18/1092483248_0:276:2997:1961_1920x0_80_0_0_213d931aa349cc50834fc6402b45fb2b.jpg Blinken and Borrell will hold a bilateral meeting on Monday followed by an expanded meet including EU Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson and US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, Borrell's office said in a release last week.US President Joe Biden and EU President Ursula von der Leyen said in a joint statement in late January that the EU-US Energy Council meeting on Monday will be a chance to move forward to work to encourage major energy producers to surge supplies.On Tuesday, Borrell is also scheduled to meet with members of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, which is currently putting together an anti-Russia sanctions bill should there be military escalation with Ukraine.The precarious situation around Ukraine has worsened over the past several months after Russia was accused of building up troops near the Ukrainian border and allegedly preparing for an invasion. Moscow has denied the accusations, pointing to NATO's military activity near Russian borders, which it deems a threat to its national security.The United States and its European partners have mulled sanctions targeting Russia's energy supplies over the situation in Ukraine. The Biden administration has recently been encouraging major energy producers to increase production. However, US media reported that sanctions on Russian energy are off the table for now. us ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 antony blinken, josep borrell, us, eu, russia, ukraine, gas supplies https://sputniknews.com/20220207/west-should-focus-on-real-threat-of-us-nuclear-weapons-in-europe--russian-foreign-ministry-1092808654.html West Should Focus on Real Threat of US Nuclear Weapons in Europe - Russian Foreign Ministry West Should Focus on Real Threat of US Nuclear Weapons in Europe - Russian Foreign Ministry MOSCOW, (Sputnik) - The West should think about the real threat of the deployment of US nuclear weapons in Europe instead of talking about a hypothetical... 07.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-07T01:45+0000 2022-02-07T01:45+0000 2022-02-07T04:01+0000 us russia ukraine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/106605/03/1066050372_0:81:2000:1206_1920x0_80_0_0_619cb4413e10af81a19c03fc1f6c35ba.jpg A senior US State Department official said last month that proposed changes to the Belarusian Constitution indicate Minsk's plans to allow both Russian conventional and nuclear forces to be stationed on its territory.He emphasised that the participation of European non-nuclear states in NATO's "joint nuclear missions" directly contradicts their basic obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons."We categorically disagree with such duplicity of Western countries", Yermakov told Sputnik. us ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 us, russia, ukraine Due to the Super Bowl, this week will see trotters and pacers in action at Cal-Expo on Friday and Saturday nights (Feb. 11-12), with a return to the regular Friday/Sunday schedule next week. Next week will also the return of California Sire Stakes action for four-year-old pacers, while three-year-old pacers will also get their first shot at the big money. (Cal-Expo) In 2018, the government sanctioned Rs 22 crore for cleaning and beautification of the lake. Till now, the government has spent Rs 8 crore and completed a portion of the work. Representational image/DC HYDERABAD: Hundreds of people living around the Ibrahimbagh lake staged a protest against the proposed Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in the lake, on Sunday. They staged a protest by holding placards, and demanding the government to withdraw the installation of the STP, which would cause damage to the ecosystem of the lake. Ibrahimbagh lake, which is also known as Pedha Cheruvu, at Neknampur, sprawling across 99 acres, has a history of 400 years. It was the main source of drinking water before the drastic urbanisation took place here. Around this lake, there are about hundred apartments and gated communities that mushroomed in a short span of time. Sewage from Manikonda municipality and surrounding colonies is flowing into this lake. In 2017, the residents formed a committee to rejuvenate the lake, and with their efforts, the lake has been beautified. In 2018, the government sanctioned Rs 22 crore for cleaning and beautification of the lake. Till now, the government has spent Rs 8 crore and completed a portion of the work. Arasu Nageshwari, a resident of Floatilla, a gated community, said, The ecosystem will be disturbed. This lake is a part of our history. Migrant birds, peacocks, and some animals which are living here will be disturbed once the STP comes up. The STP will occupy 10 acres of the lake. Radhika Punjala, a lake committee member, said, This used to be a source of drinking water. But the apathy of the government authorities made this historical water body a dump of filth. Construction permissions were granted, even though there were no sewage facilities in this area. By the proposed STP, authorities are damaging this lake more. Jithender Merugu, a resident near this lake, said, The authorities should plan to divert the sewage to some other outlet rather than pumping into this lake. Saving the lake and retaining its glory is more important. Gov. Glenn Youngkin has appointed Dr. Danny Avula to be the states commissioner of the Department of Social Services, likely ending his time as director of the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts. The appointment is subject to General Assembly confirmation. Dr. Melissa Viray has been named acting director of the health districts, having served as deputy director since 2017. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Avula has become one of the most recognizable faces of the local and state governments response. Last year, then-Gov. Ralph Northam named him the states vaccine coordinator, a position he held for almost a year. As head of Social Services, Avula will oversee a department designed to help the states most vulnerable citizens. DSS administers a number of programs, including Medicaid, adoption, child care assistance, refugee resettlement, Child and Adult Protective Services, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. So much of the support that ultimately impacts families health and resilience lies within DSS, Avula said in a statement. That said, its bittersweet to close out my time with Richmond and Henrico Health Districts. Its been life-giving to see the dedication of my team and all theyve been able to accomplish; Im in awe of them and am proud to have worked alongside them. Avula earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Virginia, attended Virginia Commonwealth University for medical school and completed residencies at VCU and Johns Hopkins University, where he also earned a Masters of Public Health. He has been the districts health director since 2016, after spending seven years as deputy director. Before coming to Virginia, Viray was the deputy state epidemiologist for the Hawaii Department of Health. She previously worked for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as an epidemic intelligence service officer and medical epidemiologist. She studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for her undergraduate degree, completed medical school at the University of Pennsylvania, residency at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City and a fellowship in adult infectious diseases at Washington University in St. Louis. I know that all of RHHD staff join me in congratulating Dr. Danny Avula in expressing gratitude for his leadership, Viray said. His leadership has been transformative in RHHD becoming the agencies they are today. 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Current Affairs T emard Butterfield has been appointed Vice Principal of the Ona Glinton Primary School within the Ministry of Education, Labour, Employment and Customer Services, the office of the Deputy Governor has announced. Commenting on his appointment Mr. Butterfield said: "I am honoured and delighted to be able to serve in the capacity as the Vice Principal of this noble institution. The Ona Glinton Primary School (OGPS) is a dynamic educational institution in Grand Turk. There are many opportunities to provide high-quality and holistic educational experiences for our students, and I am grateful to be a part of this educational process. I look forward to working in partnership with our talented students, supportive-parents, the management team and the staff of OGPS, as I am committed to building upon our existing academic strengths and achievements, as OGPS continues to Soar for Excellence. Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service Anya Williams in extending congratulatory remarks to Mr. Temard Butterfield said: It gives me great pleasure to congratulate Mr. Temard Butterfield on his appointment to the post of Vice Principal of the Ona Glinton Primary School and to welcome him back to the public service following his distinguished service as a Member of the House of Assembly of the Turks and Caicos Islands. A former educator at both the Eliza Simons and H.J. Robinson High Schools, we are certain that Mr. Butterfield will be an asset to the staff and student body of the Ona Glinton Primary School which has demonstrated continued academic success over the years. I wish him well on his appointment and look forward to the continued success of this noble institution in the months and years to come. Butterfield holds a Bachelor of Education Degree in Technical Vocational Education from the University of Technology in Jamaica (2011); a Caribbean Vocational Qualification Certification in Assessor, Internal and External Verifier Training from the National Training Agency in Trinidad (2016) and a Certification in Parliamentary Governance from McGill University in Montreal, Canada (2020). Upon the completion of his studies in 2011, he joined the Turks and Caicos Islands Public Service as an Information Technology Teacher at the Eliza Simons Primary School, before joining the H.J. Robinson High School in 2013 as an Information Technology, Principles of Accounts and CVQ instructor. In 2016 Mr. Butterfield was granted the esteemed privilege of being appointed as the Governors Appointed Member of the Turks and Caicos Islands House of Assembly where he served as a Member of Parliament, Member of the Appropriations, House and Privilege Committee and House of Assembly Youth Parliament until February 2021. Mr. Butterfield during the period 2017 to present has also served as an Adjunct TCI Studies, Religious Education and Research Lecturer at the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College Current Affairs P remier of Turks and Caicos Islands Washington Misick and a local delegation met Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, on Thursday, February 3rd, 2022. Premier Misick was in Barbados to attend a meeting of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), which is headquartered there. Accompanying the premier was his wife Delthia Misick, Deputy Premier and Minister for Finance, Trade and Investment, Jay Saunders, Permanent Secretary of Finance, Athenee Harvey-Basden, Deputy Secretary for the Office of the Premier and Public Policy, Miquel Swann and Bentley Johnson, Aide De Camp. On her Facebook page, Mottley, who created history by winning all 30 seats in the January 19th, 2022 elections as she did in 2018, said: "It was a pleasure to welcome the Hon. Charles Washington Misick, @TCIPremier of the Turks & Caicos Islands and Mrs. Misick; the Hon. E. Jay Saunders, Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance, Investment and Trade; and his delegation who are visiting Barbados on Government business." Premier Misick recently assumed the chairmanship of the CDB. Turks and Caicos Islands will host CDBs 52nd Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors this June year. The last time the country hosted CDBs Annual Meeting was in 2017. While at CDB, Premier Misick met with its president Dr. Gene Leon and senior management of the Bank, including Vice-President (Corporate Services) Yvette Lemonias Seale and Vice-President (Operations), Mr. Isaac Solomon, as well as the strategic advisory team. Praising CDB for its continued longevity and relevance as a regional institution, he underscored the shared goal of serving and advancing the Caribbeans development agenda. We have a commonality, and that is to make sure that together, we create a better environment and a better quality of life for the people that we all work for. Whether we are politicians or whether we are technicians, we all have an obligation to do the best that we can for the people he said. During his visit, Premier Misick addressed staff and participated in an interactive question and answer session during a hybrid in-person/virtual meeting. He highlighted the issues of the climate crisis and seeking climate justice, strengthening intra-regional transportation connections, and accelerating the transition to renewable energy as some of the most pressing issues facing the Region as a whole. I think there are big, big issues that we have to face in the Caribbean, most of which are not of our own making.Top of our agenda has to be the issue of the climate crisis which is now requiring us to focus more away from the crisis and more in terms of climate justice as the Prime Minister of Barbados likes to say. Another big issue we have to face is the connectivity of the region as it relates to transportation and thirdly another big issue has to do with renewable energy which goes hand in hand with the climate crisis that we face, Misick said. Current Affairs T he Office of the Deputy Governor has announced the appointment of Mrs. Valeda Arthur-Gardiner to the post of Vice Principal of the Raymond Gardiner High School within the Ministry of Education, Labour, Employment and Customer Services. Arthur-Gardiner who hails from Conch Bar on the island of Middle Caicos began her public service career in January 2000 as a Business Teacher at the Raymond Gardiner High School where she also served as the Head of the Business Department. She holds a Business Diploma in Teaching from the University of Technology in Jamaica; a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; as well as a Masters Degree in Human Resource Management from the same university. Commenting on her appointment Mrs. Valeda Arthur-Gardiner said: I am deeply honoured and humbled by the confidence placed in my ability to become the Vice Principal of the Raymond Gardiner High School. I know that with the help of the Almighty God I will do well, which coincides with He who must lift you must be on higher ground- a mantra that I have adopted and maintained as a guiding principle over the years. I aspire to establish a school culture and educational program conducive to students learning and socialization needs. I will seek to promote staff professional growth and development, as well as teamwork and cooperation." She added: "I look forward to working with parents to ensure students remain disciplined and focused and receive appropriate attention to meet their varying needs. I will endeavour to abide by the obligations under the Education ordinance and remain committed to my school to lead with integrity and Godly principles. I look forward to working with all stakeholders to continue developing well-rounded students that will contribute to nation-building. Thanks to the Deputy Governor, who is the head of the Civil Servant Body, the Ministry of Education and the Education Department for entrusting me with such a great responsibility. I am looking forward to serving with pride and dignity! Deputy Governor Anya Williams in extending congratulations to Mrs. Arthur-Gardiner said: It gives me great pleasure to congratulate Mrs. Valeda Arthur-Gardiner on her appointment as the new Vice Principal of the Raymond Gardiner High School where she not only is a former alumni, but has also dedicated over 20 years of service. We are certain that she will do well in this new leadership capacity as she continues to impart knowledge into the lives of our youth. I encourage her to remain steadfast in the pursuit of her goals and to remain passionate about the pursuit of excellence in the field of education. Congratulations on your well deserved promotion Valeda! The number of overdose deaths in Southwest Virginia rose 18% in the year between October 2020 and October 2021. In 2020, overdose deaths claimed the lives of 93,000 people across the country. After he cited those statistics, John Graham reflected, That ought to wake us up. Graham was updating the Smyth County Board of Supervisors on the progress of the Appalachian Center for Hope, a proposed residential drug treatment center to serve the region. Graham is Smyth Countys clerk of circuit court as well as a pastor and community advocate. He was accompanied by Joey Carico, Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Societys executive director. Both men serve on the proposed centers board. They serve alongside of Sheriff Chip Shuler and a cross-section of health and behavioral health leaders. The board, Graham said, is supported by an active working group of 30 to 40 individuals who represent the school system, workforce development, churches, health and mental health care, local government, and other community agencies and services. The need and idea for the center were created by a consortium of leaders brought together to help assess Smyth Countys health needs when Mountain States Health Alliance and Wellmont were preparing to merge and form Ballad Health. In 2019, Graham, one of those leaders, explained that once they assessed the needs and saw how serious many of them were, the group members couldnt walk away once their report was filed. They had to act. They saw drug treatment as one of their highest priorities, most especially the need for a residential treatment center in the region where none currently exists. Graham observed that many people know someone who has been to detox for seven to 14 days or 30 days with especially good insurance. However, as soon as they return to the environment where they were using, a majority go back to using drugs. Early recovery housing is needed where individuals can continue their treatment and prepare to transition back into society, Graham explained. A recent study, Graham said, found that a need for about 2,000 in-patient beds exists in Southwest Virginia. The vision for the Appalachian Center for Hope includes residential treatment, collaborative recovery planning, and re-entry assistance through workforce development and education as well as a day reporting center. We still have momentum to bring hope, Graham said last week as he noted that the Appalachian Center for Hope now has its official IRS status as a non-profit. Its leaders want to locate the center on the grounds of Southwestern Virginia Mental Health Institute in a long unused building. They hope state legislators will help make that happen. In 2019, this regions legislators toured the building and expressed support for the project. Graham remembers that it was the late Virginia Sen. Ben Chafin who suggested during that tour that the center serve the entire region. He asked the planners: Why dont you all go big and serve all of Southwest Virginia? Sen. Todd Pillion and Del. Israel OQuinn also remember Chafins message. They, along with Del. Jeff Campbell, have filed legislation that would allow the commonwealth to convey the building and 2.5 acres of land for parking to Smyth County. Graham also reminded officials that the Smyth County Community Foundation announced late last year that it will award the center a $3 million grant. We are on a mission, Graham said, to work together to bring hope and healing to people struggling with substance abuse in Southwest Virginia. Supervisor Courtney Widener, who works with the Smyth County Sheriffs Office, told Graham and Carico that he sees the need regularly, and he thanked them for their work. The center will benefit the county and region, he said. Supervisor Lori Deel reflected that the center will offer far more than a Band-Aid. Assuming the legislature and governor approve giving the building to the county, Graham told the officials that center leaders hope to begin renovations on the building as soon as the deed is signed. Another Union Budget has come and gone and for a couple of days we have seen and read what people have to say about the economy. Much of this is limited to two things. The first is about the governments taxing and spending and its deficits. And the second on what sops and subsidies have been given. This is of course what the Budget is for and it is what is expected. The curious thing is that the economy does not appear to be a relevant subject in Indias political debate. It is not a part of the electoral debate. We can go a step further and say that a lack of economic performance and inability to deliver growth does not seem to harm the ruling party. This is not a new phenomenon and we can observe that for decades we had low economic growth, what used to be called the Hindu rate of growth under Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, of about three per cent. Despite this, they and their parties remained popular and remained in office. A related phenomenon is about jobs. India has, according to the governments own data, the lowest labour participation rate in South Asia and one of the lowest in the world. This refers to those people over 15 who are working or are looking for work. In the United States, this rate is 60 per cent, in Thailand around 70 per cent and in China and Vietnam around 75 per cent. In India it is 40 per cent, lower than Pakistan and even Afghanistan. The theory is that people have stopped looking for jobs because they are impossible to find. MNREGA is today four times the size that it was in 2004 and yet demand for it is unmet because the government has no money. Though fewer people are in the labour market, the number of the unemployed (those who are looking for work but cannot find it) had reached a record of six per cent in 2018 according to the government, and has not fallen below this rate since. This problem of jobs has gone along with the softening of the economy. Once again, we only need to see the governments own data here too. GDP growth began to decline from January 2018 and fell sequentially for two years and three months before the Covid-19 pandemic. And then the pandemic produced a recession. This years high growth rate will only take us back to where we were two years ago. Taken together, we can see that Indias economy and its capacity to give its people work has been in trouble for a long time. But this is not a part of our political debate and there is no pressure on the ruling party to defend its record on this front. It also appears that it is not easy for the Opposition to mobilise people around these two issues of economic failure and mass unemployment. The mobilisation that has happened on this was spontaneous, such as the Patidar andolan for jobs a few years ago and what is currently happening with railway recruitment in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The Opposition parties want to take the debate away from the Hindu-Muslim and communal polarisation issues and other such things towards the economy and jobs, but it is not able to. The question is why. One answer could be, as Ravish Kumar the news anchor has suggested, that the media chooses not to cover all these issues. He has said that if the media would focus on jobs for two weeks in a row, the government would give in to the demands of those on the street. Perhaps this is so. But in todays era, with the social media, one does not really require the mainstream media to the extent that one did 15 years ago and so it is unlikely that this is being kept suppressed by a lack of attention from the media. The answer to the question appears to lie in something deeper. It seems that broad issues such as the economys health and competent management and the ability of the government to create an environment where jobs are available are not of particular concern to us as voters. If these are important, they are less so than other things, like more temples and stopping young women wearing hijab from entering college as we are doing of late in Karnataka, and more statues. When some of us who are directly affected by this economic crisis are mobilised, as happened under Hardik Patel in Gujarat or as is now happening for the railway recruitment, then there is some activity on the ground. But for the most part our popular politics appears to exclude issues that are crucial in many other democracies, especially those of the West. Things that make or break leaders and political parties and which are the constant subject of daily debate and concern do not seem to be of importance in our India. We can reflect on what that means about us as voters and us as a nation, and also, if this continues, where we will find ourselves as we enter the Amrit Kaal of our democracy. Editors note: Information is provided by the Cowlitz County Corrections Department and local law enforcement agencies. Each individual named in this report is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Harassment Cowlitz County sheriffs deputies Saturday arrested Maria A. Clark, 32, of Longview, on suspicion of felony harassment and fourth-degree assault. Identity theft Cowlitz County sheriffs deputies Saturday arrested Jason Brock Graham, 47, of Kelso, on suspicion of being a fugitive from justice, possession of stolen property, second-degree identity theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, first-degree criminal impersonation and forgery. Drugs Cowlitz County sheriffs deputies Sunday arrested Bailey N. Ibrahimi McCullough, 20, of Auburn, Washington, on suspicion of selling a legend drug. Theft Longview police Sunday arrested Ryan Shawn Caparco, 36, of unknown residence, on suspicion of second-degree theft. Harassment Longview police Sunday arrested Ronald Carl Ellis Jr., 48, of Castle Rock, on suspicion of felony harassment. Theft Longview police Sunday arrested Robert Allen Williams, 32, of Seattle, on suspicion of being a fugitive from justice, second-degree theft, possession of stolen property and organized retail theft. Burglaries 1600 block of Lewis River Road, Cougar. Saturday. Motorcycle, Sea-Doo jet ski, trailers, TV and personal property stolen. 2000 block of Maple Street, Longview. Saturday. Storage unit at the apartment complex broken into. 2000 block of Washington Way, Longview. Sunday. Security company called in break in of main doors, found a light on that wasnt on before, nothing missing. Stolen vehicles 1200 block of 12th Avenue, Longview. Saturday. Silver 2000 Honda Civic. Oregon 202FLL. Tinted windows, black wheels, black tail lights. Minor dent in the passenger door. City View Boulevard, Longview. Saturday. Dark blue 2004 Honda Accord. Washington AES1759. Thefts 9000 block of Lewis River Road, Ariel. Saturday. Subjects trespassing and stealing wood on PacificCorp property. Gate lock destroyed, truck loaded with fresh-cut wood found and impounded. 400 block of Three Rivers Drive, Kelso. Saturday. Rear license plate taken. 1400 Dike Access Road, Woodland. Saturday. iPhone with license, credit cards taken from pharmacy. 900 block of Eighth Avenue, Longview. Sunday. White 1978 moped taken. Vandalism/malicious mischief 800 block of Elizabeth Street, Kelso. Unknown suspect broke a window. 500 block of Allen Street, Kelso. Subject broke the front door window with a stick, on video. 100 block of Hillshire Drive, Woodland. Door jam damaged. 30th Avenue and Pine Street, Longview. Sunday. Juveniles in a vehicle throwing things at passing vehicles, people on bikes. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Tecno is launching its first 5G smartphone tomorrow - Tecno Pova 5G. Here is all you need to know. Tecno is set to launch its first 5G smartphone, Tecno Pova 5G in India tomorrow, which is February 8. The smartphone company confirmed the launch date via its official Twitter handle, though no official release time for the same has been revealed. Tecno Pova 5G has already been introduced in Nigeria in December 2021, which comes with a 120Hz display and triple rear camera setup. Ahead of the launch, Tecno has confirmed that the Pova 5G will feature Memory Fusion + LPDDR5 RAM which can expand its RAM capacity up to 11GB. The colour variants will be - Dazzle Black, Polar Silver, and Power Blue. Here is what we know so far about the phone: Tecno Pova 5G specs and features In the series of Tweets about the launch of Tecno Pova 5G, it is confirmed that the smartphone will feature a 6.9-inch FHD+ Dot-in display with a 120Hz of refresh rate which will come with MediaTek Dimensity 900 chipset. According to its launch in Nigeria, it is equipped with an octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 900 SoC, 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and 128GB of built-in UFS 3.1 storage. The smartphone is powered by a 6,000 mAh battery with the support for 18W fast charging. Pova 5G will come pre-installed with HiOS 8.0, which is based on Android 11, and the integrated fingerprint sensor into the power button on the side. For the optics, the company confirmed that Pova 5G will feature a triple camera setup at the back with a 50MP main camera sensor along with a 2MP secondary sensor and an AI lens. While in the front, it packs a 16MP selfie camera with Dual-LED flash. Tecno Pova 5G price As mentioned earlier, the smartphone has already been launched in Nigeria, where it was priced at NGN 129,000 for its 8GB RAM and 128GB storage variant. While keeping in mind Tecno Pova 5G price tag in Nigeria, the handset is expected to be launched within a price cap of Rs. 23,000. In a shocking case, a UK woman has received a bottle of hand soap instead of the 1,500 iPhone 13 Pro Max she had paid for. Needless to say, she is frothing angry. What will you do if you order something very expensive from an ecommerce website and you end up getting a very different, and extremely cheap, product? There are several instances where people have purchased some product while they received something else packed in the box. And recently a similar incident has happened with a woman in the UK. The woman ordered a new iPhone 13 Pro Max priced at 1,500 and what she received was a hand soap. Shocking right! iPhone 13 Pro Max price is the highest in the iPhone 13 series. Looking for a smartphone? To check mobile finder click here. Also read: The woman named Khaoula Lafhaily, aged 32, had ordered the iPhone at her North London home on January 24 from Sky Mobile, according to a report by The Sun. She paid 150 upfront and signed a 36 month contract which cost her a hefty 1,521 for the iPhone 13 Pro Max. But, when she got the package delivered after two days, she was shocked to find a bottle of soap in the box instead. The iPhone 13 Pro Max was purchased by Lafhaily on January 24 and was supposed to be delivered to her the very next day. But this too didn't happen. She was contacted by the driver to inform her that he was "stuck in traffic." As per the information provided by Khaoula, according to The Sun, the driver reached her on January 26, but did not hand her the iPhone and took a picture of the front door and left. It was only after three days of her placing the order when the delivery person dropped off the package and that too a wrong one. On January 27, she finally received the delivery, but when she opened the package a refill bottle of blue hand soap was found instead of the iPhone 13 Pro Max. The woman said that she called Sky Mobile immediately after receiving the package and claimed that the carrier launched an investigation on the same. But to her disappointment again, Lafhaily said it's been a week and she has not been contacted by the carrier. The Sun quoted Khaoula saying, "We live in a first-floor flat, so have to watch out the window when we get deliveries otherwise they get delivered to the wrong flat. We saw the driver pull up to our house, take a photo from outside the house, then leave. But the driver told us that he came to the door, knocked and no one was there so he would return the next day but we were watching at the window - it was a complete lie!" "A different delivery driver came on Thursday, my husband went down to collect the parcel at 8.50am, which we opened at around midday because I was asleep - and it was a bottle of hand soap. Can you imagine? I was in complete shock and really need the phone. It's definitely been stolen - it's awful," she added. Microscopy photo of chip with bond wires. Credit: Ruffino et al. Researchers at Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) and the Hitachi Cambridge Laboratory have recently designed an integrated circuit (IC) that integrates silicon quantum dots with conventional readout electronics. This chip, introduced in a paper published in Nature Electronics, is based on a 40-nm cryogenic complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology that is readily and commercially available. "Our recent paper builds on the expertise of the two groups involved," Andrea Ruffino, one of the researchers at EPFL who carried out the study, told TechXplore. "The goal of our group was to build cryogenic (Bi)CMOS integrated circuits for readout and control of quantum computers, to be co-packaged or co-integrated in the final stage with silicon quantum processors. On the other hand, the team at the Hitachi Cambridge Laboratory have been studying silicon quantum devices for many years." Ruffino and his colleagues at EPFL joined forces with the team at the Hitachi Cambridge Laboratory with the common goal of uniting classical circuits and quantum devices on a single chip. Their paper builds on some of their previous efforts, including the proposal of cryogenic CMOS ICs for quantum computing, as well as the realization of fast-sensing and time-multiplexed sensing of silicon quantum devices. "In our new paper, we tried to propose a fully-integrated circuit version with the goal to demonstrate a scalable architecture for quantum device readout, the co-integration of classical electronics and quantum devices in a single chip in an industrial technology, integrated gate-based dispersive readout at microwave frequencies and finally time-, frequency- and combined time-/frequency-multiplexed readout," Ruffino explained. The primary objective of the recent study by Ruffino and his colleagues was to combine the fast-sensing and time-multiplexing techniques devised by the team at the Hitachi Lab, to achieve two-dimensional (i.e., time and frequency) multiplexed sensing. To achieve this, they built a 2D transistor array and applied both these techniques to it. "We also wanted to integrate all the components introduced in our previous works (i.e., sensors, control/access mechanisms and devices) into one single chip, using standard manufacturing technology," Tsung-Yeh Yang, a researcher at the Hitachi Cambridge Laboratory involved in the study, told TechXplore. "Hence, the prototype we demonstrated can be readily scaled up." The chip designed by the researchers is made of CMOS transistors that resemble those used to fabricate smartphones and other common electronic devices. In contrast with conventional transistors, however, the ones integrated inside the new chip operate at cryogenic temperatures (i.e., at 50 mK) and also contain an array of silicon quantum dots. "By sending a microwave signal to the gate of the quantum devices and reading the reflected signal response, the state of the quantum devices can be detected," Ruffino explained. "In this chip, the array of nine quantum devices is divided in three rows and three columns. Each row is connected to a microwave resonator responsive at a different frequency, giving a frequency-multiplexing feature, and each column is connected to access transistors that allow to connect/disconnect the quantum devices, thus giving a time-multiplexing feature." The unique design employed by Ruffino and his colleagues allows their chip to simultaneously read multiple quantum devices connected by a single wire and at different frequencies. In addition, the devices to be read out can be individually selected through the access transistors. "The chip contains two main modules: a device module and a sensor module," Yang said. "The device module is built with a 40nm bulk silicon metaloxidesemiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) 2D array, while the sensor module is built with metal inductor-capacitor (LC) resonator as the electrometer." Remarkably, the researchers' chip integrates all the elements necessary to read-out information, including quantum devices, classical transistors and microwave resonators. In contrast with other previously developed chips, the IC can be used to readout larger quantum systems, while retaining a flexible architecture. "The structure of our chip is based on the dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) architecture, i.e., a row-column structure, to control/access the MOSFET array," Yang said. "The first advantage of using DRAM architecture is that the number of control lines only scales sublinearly with the number of FETs, instead of scaling linearly for one-line-one-FET case. The second is that electrical states of the FETs are sensed by the LC resonators using microwave frequency reflectometry technique, which is faster, with higher resolution and fewer footprint on the chip compared to conventional d.c. transport measurement." A key advantage of the new chip is that its two modules (i.e., the device and sensing modules) are combined using standard and commercially available 40nm CMOS technology. This means that in the future it could easily be manufactured on a large-scale. "The 40-nm bulk silicon MOSFETs we used behave like typical FETs at room temperature," Yang said. "However, we found that quantum dots (QDs), which is the foundation of building silicon-based quantum bits (qubits), can be induced at deep cryogenic temperatures ( Using their IC, the researchers were able to demonstrate 2D time and frequency multiplexed sensing. These results demonstrate that 2D arrays of silicon-based quantum dots can be fabricated, controlled, and monitored using existing electronic components, such as in CMOS technology. "I think the most important achievements of this work are the demonstrations that all the elements required for readout (i.e., quantum devices, classical transistors, microwave resonators, etc.) can be integrated on a single integrated circuit in commercial technology operating at 50 mK, that gate-based microwave dispersive readout is possible in a single integrated chip, and that the proposed architecture with combined time- and frequency-multiplexing allows to readout greater numbers of quantum devices while minimizing the number of required wires," Ruffino said. In the future, the unique architecture introduced by this team of researchers could be used to read out large 2D arrays of silicon quantum dots, as well as qubits. Ultimately, it could thus help to address some of the scaling-related limitations of existing silicon quantum processors. In their next studies, Ruffino, Yang and their colleagues plan to explore the possibility of integrating high-fidelity silicon-based qubits into their proposed chip architecture. Their hope is to demonstrate control/access and readout of a two-dimensional qubit array using a DRAM architecture, which can be manufactured using existing electronic components. "Our plans for future development in this area mainly lie in the extension of this work to larger arrays and in the improvement of several characteristics of our demonstration, such as the quality of the quantum devices and the quality factor of microwave resonators," Ruffino said. "Moreover, our final research goal will be to demonstrate our architecture on a system implementing co-integrated silicon qubits." Explore further Making quantum computers even more powerful More information: Andrea Ruffino et al, A cryo-CMOS chip that integrates silicon quantum dots and multiplexed dispersive readout electronics, Nature Electronics (2021). Andrea Ruffino et al, A cryo-CMOS chip that integrates silicon quantum dots and multiplexed dispersive readout electronics,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41928-021-00687-6 M. Fernando Gonzalez-Zalba et al, Gate-Sensing Coherent Charge Oscillations in a Silicon Field-Effect Transistor, Nano Letters (2016). DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.5b04356 Simon Schaal et al, A CMOS dynamic random access architecture for radio-frequency readout of quantum devices, Nature Electronics (2019). DOI: 10.1038/s41928-019-0259-5 Bishnu Patra et al, Cryo-CMOS Circuits and Systems for Quantum Computing Applications, IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits (2017). DOI: 10.1109/JSSC.2017.2737549 Journal information: Nature Electronics , Nano Letters 2022 Science X Network This photo provided by Gatik, shows Gautam Narang, CEO and co-founder of Gatik. Late last year, autonomous vehicle startup Gatik announced a big step-- it eliminated the safety operator from behind the wheel of two self-driving trucks as part of its partnership with discounter Walmart. Now, the Palo Alto, California company is looking to speed up the process of fully driverless truck operations in the next few years. Credit: Gatik via AP Late last year, autonomous vehicle startup Gatik announced a big step: It eliminated the safety operator from behind the wheel of two self-driving trucks as part of its partnership with discounter Walmart. Now, the Mountain View, California firm is looking to speed up the process of fully driverless truck operations in the next few years. The company stands apart from other autonomous delivery companies because it doesn't haul goods directly to shoppers. Rather, its autonomous trucks deliver groceries and other goods from big distribution centers to retail locations on fixed, repetitive, short distances, a critical link to the delivery system. For example, Gatik's two fully autonomous driving vehicles for Walmart haul goods on a fixed 7.1 mile (11.4 kilometers) route in Bentonville, Arkansas, where Walmart's headquarters is based. Gatik, which operates a fleet of 25 autonomous trucks, has pilot programs with Walmart in Louisiana and Arkansas as well as Loblaw Cos. in Ontario, Canada. Last year, it expanded into Texas with fresh sources of capital. It has developed proprietary software that is a hybrid between classic robotics and machine learning-based algorithms, and its trucks feature sensors with a 360 degree view. Among its rivals are TuSimple, which did a fully autonomous test of a semitruck on a freeway in Arizona last year. There's also Aurora, which is working with Volvo on an autonomous truck, and Alphabet Inc.'s Waymo, which is working with UPS. The pandemic-induced online spending surge only accelerated interest in autonomous trucking. It's put more pressure on retailers to deliver goods in a few hours and has pushed more stores to place small distribution hubs around its stores, instead of relying on one big distribution center located several hours away. Autonomous trucking can also help ease the trucking shortage made worse by the pandemic and cut logistic costs by up to 35%, says Gatik CEO and co-founder Gautam Narang. The Associated Press recently interviewed Narang about the future of autonomous driving and the regulatory environment. The interview has been edited for clarity and length. Q. How's it going? A. Over the last few months, we have been operating these trucks seven days a week, multiple times daily. A lot of learnings. Obviously over the last few months, the algorithms have gotten even better. In the early days, we did have a safety passenger and a chase vehicle. We still are operating in that fashion today. But we are now even more confident that in the next few months, we will be able to operate these trucks without anyone in the passenger seat and without a chase vehicle as well. Q. How much has the trucking shortage spurred interest in autonomous trucks? A. There's a need for over 60,000 drivers in the local trucking space. That was last year. That number is expected to grow north of 160,000 by the end of this decade. And these are conservative estimates. We can address this growing shortage by adopting automation. What we have seen is all the big companies are now very open to adopting a solution. So this is inevitable. The biggest question that we're trying to answer is how quickly can we get the solution out at scale in a safe manner and what applications of autonomy would be automated first. Q. So how fast can you scale it? A. In Arkansas, we started our commercial operations in the summer of 2019. It took us about 24 months to get to a point where we could take the driver out from behind the steering wheel and operate in a repeated fashion. That time to learn is reducing as we get more data, more experience and our technology gets better. So that window where the driver can be taken out safely is shrinking. Q. Will you concentrate on short-haul delivery in the future? A. This is going to be the focus for the next few years, but it's easier for us to move upstream and handle longer routes. So today as a company, we can handle routes that are anywhere from single digit miles all the way up to 300 miles (483 kilometers). We do drive in complex urban scenarios and highway driving as well. So driving in a highway scenario is very much possible. Q. How do you address safety concerns? A. When you talk about connecting point A to point B, we do take the safest possible routes. We avoid making multiple lane changes. We can avoid schools, hospitals, fire stations. So all of that is fair game. As long as we move those orders from point A to point B within that delivery window. And that has been our focus from day one. Safety is front and center to everything that we do. We're not rushing to anything. It's important for us to do it right. Q. What's the regulatory landscape look like? A. There are 21 states in the U.S. that allow for driverless operation. That means we can take a driver out in 21 states in the U.S. and commercialize ourselves. But for long-haul trucking, they have to work with multiple states to make that long-haul trip possible because today all the policies are still very much at the state level. There's no federal policy today. Obviously, there are bills that are being voted upon that we expect to come through in the next few years. But for now, all the policies in the space are still very much at the state level. So it benefits us a lot. Explore further In Texas, driverless trucks are set to take over roads 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. The Swedish tech startup said Google had a 'monopoly like position' in Europe. Swedish price comparison site PriceRunner said Monday it was suing tech giant Google for 2.1 billion euros ($2.4 billion) for promoting its own shopping comparisons in search results. Europe has cracked down on the business practices of Big Tech in recent years, while the EU is moving forward with legislation to tighten regulation. US behemoths are facing facing fines and legal challenges in many European nations. The Swedish tech startup said it expected the "final damages amount of the lawsuit to be significantly higher", given that "the violation is still ongoing." Chief executive Mikael Lindahl said the lawsuit was also a fight "for consumers who have suffered tremendously from Google's infringement of the competition law for the past fourteen years and still today". The Swedish tech startup filed its suit with the Patent and Market Court in Stockholm after the European Union General Court ruled that Google "breached EU antitrust laws by manipulating search results in favour of their own comparison shopping services." In November, the EU court upheld a 2.4-billion-euro fine the European Commission had slapped on Google in 2017, saying results from Google's own comparison service were "displayed in a more eye-catching manner." In an email to AFP, Google defended itself and stressed that changes had been made after 2017 and that it "is subject to intensive monitoring by the European Commission and two external expert groups". "PriceRunner chose not to use ads on Google, so it may not have been as successful as others. We are ready to defend our position in court," Frederic Abrard, director of CSS Shopping Ads at Google, said. PriceRunner said it was seeking damages for profits it lost in Britain since 2008 as well as in Sweden and Denmark since 2013. PriceRunner said Google had a "monopoly-like position" within the European Economic Area (EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway), with over 90 percent of the market share for internet search engines. The price comparison site is based in Sweden but also operates in Denmark, Norway and the UK. It has previously said it plans to expand to more countries. In November, Swedish fintech Klarna bought PriceRunner for an undisclosed sum, with media reports putting the price at over $1 billion. Explore further Google appeals 2.4-bn-euro Shopping fine at top EU court 2022 AFP remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. China, Kyrgyzstan to further cooperation on green development, regional security: joint statement Xinhua) 08:45, February 07, 2022 BEIJING, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- China and Kyrgyzstan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on green development and pledged to further safeguard regional security and stability, according to a joint statement issued on Sunday. The joint statement came following a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and incoming Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov, who attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Winter Games. The two sides spoke highly of the current development of China-Kyrgyzstan relations and underscored the need to strengthen all-round cooperation between the two countries, the statement said. The two leaders pointed out that since the establishment of diplomatic ties 30 years ago, the two countries have forged and developed a partnership of friendliness and trust, and carried out mutually beneficial cooperation in such areas as politics, economy, culture and security, it said. Attaching great importance to the implementation of economic, social and infrastructure cooperation projects of great significance to Kyrgyzstan, the two leaders spoke highly of the MoU on promoting investment cooperation in green development signed during this meeting, the statement said. The joint efforts of the two countries have laid a solid foundation for their cooperation, and close political exchanges have pushed for substantial development of bilateral practical cooperation, it added. The two heads of state believe that cooperation in such fields as infrastructure construction, transportation, energy, processing, agriculture, mining, digitalization, tourism and at the local level, as well as in combating climate change and developing green energy, are important directions for bilateral economic and trade cooperation with broad prospects, according to the statement. The two countries will continue to tap cooperation potential, expand trade, optimize trade structure and process, and promote the balanced development of mutually beneficial bilateral economic and trade cooperation, it said. They will strengthen cooperation in the prevention and control of the cross-border spread of COVID-19, and ensure that the number of transit cargo vehicles between the two countries returns to the pre-pandemic level, it added. Noting the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is the main driving force for economic, social and cultural cooperation projects between the two countries, the two heads of state believe that the Belt and Road cooperation should give full play to the potential of transportation and transit transportation, and the development of existing and new routes, especially the construction of new railway lines including the China-Kyrgyztan-Uzbekistan railway, is of great significance to the economic and social development of the region. The statement said both sides are willing to accelerate the project, which will be an important step to fully tap the potential of transit transportation in Central Asia and an important link to promote the BRI. Maintaining regional security and stability has always been one of the priorities of the two countries' foreign policies, said the statement. Recently, the world is facing various global threats and challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and regional security issues resulting from the spillover of the situation in Afghanistan, it said. Both sides believe that it is imperative to support each other on such major issues as fighting the pandemic and maintaining regional security and stability, the statement added. They are willing to further enhance coordination and mutual trust as well as strengthen cooperation between relevant departments of the two countries in such issues as regional security and quick response to security and stability threats of the two countries and the region, according to the document. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Liang Jun) You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close The Nebraska Muzzle Loading Rifle Associations Gun and Sport Show attracted more than 2,000 people over the weekend, the biggest crowd the show has drawn in two or three years. Steven Gallagher, of the Muzzle Loading Rifle Association, said 1,300 people attended the show Saturday. About 800 were predicted Sunday. Dealers were selling their wares at 280 tables set up inside the Pinnacle Bank Expo Center. Those dealers were happy and moving a lot of product, Gallagher said. Customers were mainly looking for guns and other items you cant buy in a sporting goods store, he said. While looking over the firearms, gun show customers love to visit. At gun shows, Clyde Dillman said, he sees people hes had discussions with once or twice a year for 30 years. Dillman, a dealer from Hastings, recognized 200 or 300 people at the show. He doesnt know the names of many, but theyve talked lots of times in the past. Over the last 30 years, Dillman has done business with most of the dealers who were on hand over the weekend, either buying items from them or selling them something. Dillman shared a table with two other Hastings men Larry McCance and Bob Wolf. McCance was selling rifles and ammunition, and Wolf was selling fishing reels. The men were happy to have a table next to Heidi Bergen of Hampton, who was selling nuts, candy and other edibles. Eating Bergens candy made the weekend more fun. Big topics among hunters are the shortage of ammo and the high prices charged for it. Dillman said a box of 20 rifle cartridges cost $32 three years ago. Now, a box goes for $70. The price of primers and other supplies has also gone up substantially. Dillman, by the way, isnt a fan of ice fishing. A fish under ice doesnt have much life to it, he said. Its like pulling in an old shoe. At a gun show, you can buy a lot more than guns. Vaughn Hesselgesser of Grand Island was selling wall hanging art made from 18-gauge steel. The art, made for indoor or outdoor use, is cut from 4- by 8-foot sheets. Instead of being painted, the wall hangings are powder-coated. Hesselgessers company is called Creative Iron. He was assisted by his wife, Vicki, and their son, Tyler. Their best seller is a replica of a tattered American flag. The items are priced to sell, Vaughn Hesselgesser said. I dont like to carry it home all the time. Greg Geist of Kearney was helping his wife, Tammy, sell products for her company, Leash Loft Pro. The metal products hold dog leashes, keys and other items. Greg has his own company, Mach 1 Manufacturing, which does precision laser sheet and tube cutting. Slogans seen at the event make it clear that gun show customers are largely conservative. Hunting equipment, rather than politics, was the primary subject in the minds of most people, though. A small car in the parking lot bore this sticker: Im saving fuel to buy more guns. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. MOUNT VERNON A murder suspect and four missing children were located in Mount Vernon following an Amber Alert and a warrant issued by Bardstown, Kentucky police. Richard Gray, 32, was located by Mount Vernon police after police responded to the scene for a "fight in progress" call at 9:38 p.m. on Friday. He has been charged with murder, unlawful imprisonment, criminal damage to property, possession of a stolen firearm, resisting/obstructing arrest, obstructing identification, aggravated battery and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, Mount Vernon police said. The four missing children were found safe inside his vehicle and were transported to the police department. The Division of Children and Family Services responded to the police department to assist in returning the children to the family, police said. Approximately four hours earlier, Bardstown police were dispatched for a welfare check in Kentucky where they found a deceased woman laying on the kitchen floor, Bardstown police said. During the investigation, police identified Gray as a suspect and an Amber Alert was issued for four children believed to be with Gray, police said. Police located Gray after responding to a report of a fight in progress at the Mach 1 gas station in Mount Vernon. Upon arrival, the officers were able to separate the two male subjects involved; however, one of the males did not cooperate and was arrested, police said. That man was later identified as Gray. Gray had given police false information regarding his identity, police said. Police investigated the identity of the suspect and found that the registration on the vehicle in the parking lot that was originally driven by Gray had an amber alert on it, police said. Officers continued their investigation and confirmed the man was Gray, and that he was wanted for first-degree murder and unlawful imprisonment. At that point, the children had been successfully located, police said. Detectives from the Bardstown Police Department traveled to Mount Vernon where detectives from the Mount Vernon Police Department and the Jefferson County States Attorney's Office assisted them with the investigation. Gray has been incarcerated in the Jefferson County Justice Center. Any media questions related to the offenses in Kentucky should be made to the appropriate Kentucky authorities. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. For the first time in months, Isaiah Duckworth went to school Monday without a face mask. All across the state and region, students in Illinois public schools including Duckworth, a Carbondale Community High School junior, were not required to wear face coverings at school following a temporary restraining order against Gov. J.B. Pritzkers school mask mandate. In response to a lawsuit filed by teachers and parents, Sangamon County Circuit Judge Raylene Grischow on Friday ruled that the governor did not have the authority to issue the mandate as well as one that required vaccinations for school employees. The ruling directly impacts the 146 Illinois school districts named in the lawsuit filed by parents. The judge declined to give the suit class certification which potentially could have made the ruling applicable for all districts. However, in a foot note to the decision, Judge Grischow indicated that she had declared the emergency rules at issue from the Illinois Department of Public Health and Illinois State Board of Education void. Thus, non-named Plaintiffs and School Districts throughout this State may govern themselves accordingly, she wrote. The governor decried the decision and quickly urged Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul to appeal. In Southern Illinois, the ruling left school districts scrambling to interpret the decision. I think you could put ten lawyers in the room looking at this and probably get ten different and varying opinions, said Herrin Superintendent Nathaniel Wilson. Working with our board president, the union and administration, we looked to see if the restraining order applies to us. Its not a class action, so it does not, but if you look at the footnotes, it does render some of these things null and void. Given that analysis, Wilsons district chose to relax mask requirements at least for the time being. We are mask recommended right now, he said, adding that the district would not be enforcing mask-wearing, but will continue to follow other mitigation efforts including social distancing. Were not trying to make a political statement, defy the governor or make a scene; were trying to do what we feel is right for us right now, he said. Wilson said he visited all of the districts school buildings Monday morning. I saw a mix. There were teachers and students both with and without masks, he said. Either way, we are going to support them. Superintendent Joshua Stafford of Vienna High School said in an email his interpretation is that students could go without masks according to the ruling. "Vienna will be following the directives of the current ruling, meaning that we will not be enforcing and requiring any of the items listed in the temporary restraining order (masking, mandatory staff vaccination, contact exclusion, unvaccinated staff testing)," he said. Other area districts including Carbondale Community High School District No. 165, Marion Unit District No. 2, Carterville Unit School District No. 5, Goreville Community Unit School District No. 1 and more also relaxed their mask policies. As a result of the ruling, effective immediately, Unit #2 will change to a mask optional policy for students and staff, cease close contact exclusions and cease mandatory testing for unvaccinated staff, the Marion district posted on its Facebook page Sunday. Goreville School Superintendent Steve Webb posted on his districts social media page: masks are again optional in schools, per the ruling and until further notice. However, masks are still federally mandated on all public transportation including a busyour child may wear a mask in school if you so choose. In their statements, most of the districts indicated that policies are subject to change depending on appeals to the ruling. Other area districts including Elverado Community Unit School District No. 196 and Carbondale Elementary School District No. 95 chose not to change their protocols and will continue to require students, faculty and staff to wear face coverings. In a post on its Facebook page, the Elverado district said it prefers to be prudent and would continue with the existing mask rules. The Elverado Board of Education and administration are trying to balance what is best for students and staff, the post said. Carbondale Elementary School District Superintendent Janice Pavelonis wrote in a letter emailed to parents Sunday evening, The judge ruled that her decision only applies to the specific students, staff and districts named in the lawsuit. She explained since the district was not party to the suit, the restraining order did not apply to her schools and students. We will continue to keep our communitys safety and the best learning environment possible as our priorities, she wrote. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Get 25% off of the regular $65 annual All Access rate. With this subscription you will get: Digital access to ElPasoInc.com and archives (value $45) Print subscription home or business delivered (value $65) Book of Lists (annual rate only, value $50) El Paso Inc. Magazine (value $20) El Paso Kids Inc. Special sections - OR - Get 15% off of the regular $45 annual Digital-only rate. With this subscription you will get: Complete digital access to ElPasoInc.com. Dear Doctors: My husband's office went remote during the pandemic. He used to ride his bike to work and walk at lunch. Now, he's at his desk from when he gets up until bedtime. I read that working long work hours can give you high blood pressure. If that's true, maybe he'll slow down. Dear Reader: Making the switch from the structured rhythm of an office environment to working from home can be a challenge. Employees often feel pressure to prove their productivity, so they wind up putting in extra hours. The pandemic is also causing staff numbers to shrink, so many workers are seeing their workloads expand. Unfortunately, these changes can take a toll on employees' health. Research has shown that people who put in long work hours can be at higher risk of developing high blood pressure than those who work shorter hours. In a study published three years ago in Hypertension, the journal of the American Heart Association, researchers looked at blood pressure in 3,500 office workers from three insurance companies in Canada. They collected data during three different periods over the course of five years. Each person's resting blood pressure was measured in the morning in a clinical setting that was designed to resemble a doctor's office. The employees were then outfitted with portable blood pressure monitors that they wore throughout their workdays. The devices checked their blood pressure every 15 minutes, and gave a minimum of 20 readings each day. The study's authors set readings at or above 135/85 as the benchmark for high blood pressure. At the end of the five-year study, the data showed that when someone worked 49 or more hours per week, their risk of developing sustained hypertension increased by 66%. Employees who worked 41 to 48 hours per week were 33% more likely to have sustained high blood pressure than were their colleagues who worked fewer hours. This proved to be true for both the male and the female employees. The researchers were also interested in something known as "masked hypertension." This is a phenomenon where someone's blood pressure reading is within the normal range when it is being checked at the doctor's office but is otherwise high. The AHA study found that extended work hours increased the employees' risk of developing masked hypertension by 70%. Even after accounting for additional risk factors such as weight, body mass index, smoking, age, gender, activity levels and stress, long work hours proved a significant factor in developing hypertension. Although the study wasn't designed to explain why this would be the case, the researchers have some ideas. One is that when you're working long hours, you're not getting enough sleep, which itself has been shown to increase cardiovascular risk. Extended sitting has also been linked to high blood pressure. The flip side of that is when you spend so much time sitting each day, you're not getting enough -- or sometimes any -- exercise. Encourage your husband to balance his long hours with daily exercise, hourly breaks and better sleep hygiene. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SANTEE Santee Town Council approved first reading of an ordinance to amend its official zoning map to provide for general commercial development and construction of a residential planned unit development along Old Number Six Highway. About a third of the property is already in the town, and the other was outside of the town. It is being done in three areas. The front part of this property is on Highway Number 6 going toward Eutawville. All of the property thats fronting on Number 6 will be commercial, and all of the property in the rear of that will be residential, Santee Mayor Donnie Hilliard said. Mt. Pleasant-based Hussey Gay & Bell is the project developer. Super Land Holdings LLC is the entity that sold the land to the developer, Hilliard said. According to South Carolina secretary of state online records, Super Land Holdings LLC was incorporated on Dec. 27, 2019. The company lists James W. Roquemore of Orangeburg as the registered agent. The front part, which is the commercial property, will remain as is until someone comes along and wants to build a store or whatever. I dont know what thats going to be, but thats what that front part will end up being once the zoning is finalized, Hilliard said. The town council will meet again on Feb. 9 to consider final second reading approval of the zoning changes. The largest portion of the land is zoned for single-family residential, which will be rezoned to residential planned unit development, as well as a portion to general commercial. A portion of the land already zoned general commercial will also be rezoned to residential planned unit development. The rear part of the property will be subdivided into what is termed as a planned unit development. That is where the developer has agreed to work with the town and try to create an environment where the homes will be somewhat affordable instead of building exclusive homes, Hilliard said. A lot of the people are upset and saying that thats what is going to happen: Its going to be a gated community. No, its not going to be a gated community," he said. "The developer has agreed that he will be subject to the restrictions that the council and the town ask for in making the homes somewhat more affordable." The mayor said the project will be built in phases. Right now theyre looking at anywhere from 50 to 100 units in phase one. The remainder of the property, if they would build it out to completion there could be a possibility of 400 homes being built on the 69 acres, he said. Theyre projecting that. I dont see it, but, then again, thats me. Im not an engineer. All we (town council) do is regulate just like a regular county or town in terms of getting building permits and what have you thereafter, Hillard said. The town has no investment whatsoever in this property. He said the project is nonetheless welcome as it will help further develop the interchange on and off of I-95 and U.S. 301. Spring 2017 included the opening of the new Exit 97 and U.S. 301 Extension interchange from S.C. Highway 6 to Interstate 95. The stretch of roadway is also known as the U.S. 301/S.C. Highway 6 Connector. The $45 million project formed the eastern anchor of South Carolinas Global Logistics Triangle. The Global Logistics Triangle is the name Orangeburg County uses to market the area bordered by I-26, I-95 and U.S. 301. Town council welcomes it. It falls within our comprehensive plan. The Town of Santee has been trying now for some 20 years to develop an environment for growth. We got that $40 million interchange out there saying, Here we are, come, but we never really have any, what I call, inventory to try to attract people, he said. He continued, If you get a factory in Santee, theres no place for people to stay. But this is helping us along the way in getting to that point. Even with the Dubai project, looks like some activity is going on out there after all these years. Although thats right outside of the town limits, its still within the footprint of Santee. Its been more than a decade since Dubai World, parent company of Jafza International, said it was considering Orangeburg County for a $600-700 million logistics, manufacturing and distribution center. While the company purchased land in the Santee area, the project never materialized as planned following the global economic recession that began in December 2007. Now there is movement again at the 1,322-acre South Carolina Gateway Industrial Park, formerly JAFZA Magna Park. Two pads have been built at the site to house future speculative buildings attracting companies to the area. One pad is on a 22-acre site and will house a 250,000-square-foot speculative building. The other pad is a 20-acre site and will house a 125,000-square-foot speculative building, according to the project's website. Contact the writer: dgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5534. Follow "Good News with Gleaton" on Twitter at @DionneTandD Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Regional Medical Center is warning local residents that scammers have used the phone number belonging to the South Carolina Orthopaedic Institute. The scammers are pretending to be employees of SCOI. These calls are not authorized calls by anyone employed by SCOI or RMC. RMC says the scammers are using caller ID spoofing, which allows the scammers to disguise their calls as if they were coming from the hospital. If you have received what you believe to be one of these fraudulent calls, RMC apologizes for any trouble it may have caused, the hospital said in a release. RMC says it is doing everything possible to correct the problem, but asks people to be aware of the following: If you have not been a patient at RMC or SCOI, or are not currently scheduled for a medical procedure, it is unlikely you would be receiving a call. If you are a RMC or SCOI patient, and you are unsure why a representative of the practice may be calling you, ask for the callers name, hospital department and a direct number where you can call them back. If you receive a call from South Carolina Orthopaedic Institute that you believe is fraudulent, please contact the Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office at 803-534-3550 to report the abuse. Alternatively, you may contact Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIMESC. Some important tips from the Federal Communications Commission include: You may not be able to tell right away if an incoming call is spoofed. Be careful about responding to any request for personal identifying information. Never give out personal information such as account numbers, Social Security numbers, mother's maiden names, passwords or other identifying information in response to unexpected calls or if you are at all suspicious. If you get an inquiry from someone who says they represent a company or a government agency seeking personal information, hang up and call the phone number on your account statement, in the phone book or on the company's or government agency's website to verify the authenticity of the request. Use caution if you are being pressured for information immediately. If you have a voicemail account with your phone service, be sure to set a password for it. Some voicemail services are preset to allow access if you call in from your own phone number. A hacker could spoof your home phone number and gain access to your voicemail if you do not set a password. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 This subscription will allow existing subscribers of The World to access all of our online content, including the E-Editions area. NOTE: To claim your access to the site, you will need to enter the Last Name and First Name that is tied to your subscription in this format: SMITH, JOHN If you need help with exactly how your specific name needs be entered, please email us at admin@countrymedia.net or call us at 1-541 266 6047. JACKSON Kristina French is a recent college graduate, but she still remembers Joe Sato known fondly as Mr. Joe helping her when she was on crutches in fifth grade. Joe was always very kind and sweet, and there for kids whenever they needed help, she told the Jackson Hole Daily on Monday. I remember him being quiet and patient and always having a smile. After building homes in Jackson late into his 60s, Sato joined Teton County School District No. 1 as a custodian for Wilson Elementary School. At 81, he was still working at Jackson Hole High School in November when he was diagnosed with Stage 3 esophageal cancer. Hes a really hard worker, his daughter, Stacey Sato, said Wednesday. He wasnt ever planning on retiring. Stacey Sato recently left her job as a chef for Koi Sushi and Poke to care for her father in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Shes staying at a hotel while he receives radiation and chemotherapy. Both of them are also recovering from COVID-19. His memory is not like it used to be, Sato said. Hes kind of weak, so I dress him, and hes got a feeding tube, so I have to do all that. For the next few weeks at least, her father is booked for daily hospital appointments. Her brother, Stephen, is at their home in Jackson, working and caring for their pets. Joe has been a dedicated employee for two decades who barely missed a day of work, school district Facilities Director Deanna Harger said in an email. We wish Joe the very best and a speedy recovery. A fundraiser started for the family has already brought in nearly $20,000. Hours after it was posted, stories of connection poured in: A retired kindergarten teacher recalled fond memories of Sato brightening her students days; current senior Mia Fishman described Sato as the absolute best, writing that he always knows how to put a smile on her face; and a Jackson counselor chimed in with these sage words: Every positive adult makes a difference in the lives of children. The fundraiser was launched by Rachel Freundlich, a first-grade teacher at Wilson Elementary who worked with Sato for 14 years. Donations are welcomed online at GoFundMe.com/help-mr-joe. Hes an amazing person, Freundlich told the Daily. A quiet, humble man, Joe Sato has been blown away and a little embarrassed by all the community support, his daughter said. He doesnt like to talk about that kind of stuff. He doesnt like attention, she said, adding that her father has been healthy his entire life before now, never requiring surgery or medication. Stacey Sato said the family hasnt heard much of a prognosis from the Idaho Falls doctors; theyre still waiting to see how chemo goes. In the meantime, the outpouring of community support has meant the world to them, she said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Gov. Mark Gordon has asked for federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law money to fix the dangerous LaPrele Dam as he wrangles with state water developers over priorities for hundreds of millions of federal infrastructure and stimulus dollars. The dam above Douglas meets conditions for aid outlined in the federal legislation thats also called the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Bill, Gordon wrote Jan. 10 in a letter to the commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The request comes as the governor and Wyoming lawmakers jostle over millions of dollars in federal infrastructure and American Rescue Plan Act funds. All told, water developers seek some $301 million in four bills the legislature will consider in its 2022 budget session that starts Feb. 14. Many of those appear to court federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law although those measures largely support drinking water and unsafe structures, not new agricultural irrigation. Tensions over control of the federal money surfaced in November when lawmakers rejected Gordons plan for Wyomings top five elected officials to administer a $95 million ARPA tranche in a pending water grant bill. Instead, the states Water Development Commission would be in charge, according to legislation lawmakers advanced late last year. Members of the Select Water Committee want millions of dollars more than that, advancing other bills that seek another $206.6 million. The bulk is earmarked for storing, diverting and moving river flows for agricultural irrigation projects. As the Legislature girds for its 2022 budget session, Gordon has hired a consultant to guide the state on what projects qualify for ARPA funds. U.S. Treasury Department guidelines released Jan. 6 appear to rule out agricultural dams, reservoirs and irrigation as candidates for those funds. To further guide state spending, Gordon named an Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act coordinator Friday who will analyze and prioritize grant applications to make sure state entities align efforts to Wyomings values. LaPrele appears to be exhibit A for state priorities and seems to be an agricultural project that fits with federal infrastructure guidelines regarding safety. Gordon seeks certification from Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner M. Camille Camimlim Touton that the dangerous structure above Douglas qualifies for infrastructure-act support. Rehabilitation is unlikely and water developers estimate replacement would cost $50 million or more. [I]t is my understanding that the LaPrele Dam meets the criteria to qualify for Federal support, Gordons Jan. 10 letter reads. The dam has reached [the end of] its useful life, poses significant health and safety concerns and I request the Federal support that has been authorized. Gordon had not received a response by Thursday, his spokesman Michael Pearlman said in an email. The infrastructure act directs water funding toward dams and reservoirs with safety problems, not new irrigation projects, according to the law, a summary and Wyoming lawmakers discussions. The other federal relief package, the American Rescue Plan Act, also omits agriculture, irrigation and water-diversion infrastructure in favor of drinking water projects, a topic Gordon believes is best administered by the Office of State Lands and Investments.It would seem most efficient to pass the overall grant application process and the administration of the grants [from a $95-million ARPA bill] to the Office of State Lands, Randall Luthi, Gordons chief energy advisor, told the Legislatures Select Water Committee in November. Gordon effectively leads the state land office as chairman of the Wyoming Board of Land Commissioners, which is made up of Wyomings five statewide elected officials and oversees the office. On the other hand, legislators on the Select Water Committee control funding requests from the Wyoming Water Development Office and its governing commission. Several of those water committee legislators lined up to bash Luthis and Gordons November ARPA entreaty with charges that the state land office director had said the agency was swamped. Instead, the water development office should be the top agency administering the proposed $95 million grant program, they insisted. But Beth Blackwell, grants and loans manager at the state lands office, said the criticism was misplaced. Any notion that the office is overwhelmed is a misunderstanding of testimony, she said. In describing a crush of work, office director Jenifer Scoggin had referred to the trust side of the lands bureau, Blackwell said. Grant administrators remain ready and capable, Blackwell said. We are a very separate little group within the office that administers 12 different grant loan programs, she said. That includes clean- and drinking-water grants ARPA strongly supports. I just wanted to clarify that because there seems to be a misunderstanding, Blackwell said. House Bill 0006 ARPA funds for water and wastewater projects, proposes the $95 million be principally controlled by the Water Development Office, with input from the state lands office and Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality. Since the bill was filed, the U.S. Department of the Treasury has reaffirmed that funds are meant for drinking water, not irrigation. The final rule does not include infrastructure projects related to dams and reservoirs unless they meet the conditions discussed drinking water and the management of wastewater and storm water, the rule states. Wyomings Select Water Committee last week recommended passage of three other sizable water bills, including the Water Development Offices annual omnibus planning and construction bills. Those two total $51.8 million, funded largely through the diversion of a portion of mineral severance taxes. The third committee bill Supplemental water development funding, calls for $154.8 million without identifying a revenue source. Counting the ARPA bill, planning bill, construction bill and supplemental-funding bill, water developers are seeking to scoop up some $301 million. Some of the four major projects proposed for funding in the supplemental water bill are troubled by unreliable cost estimates and other price increases. The $70.3 million bid for a 10-times expansion of the Upper Leavitt Reservoir north of Shell in Big Horn County, for example, recently came in $31 million over the original $39 million estimate. That bid could be a harbinger. Weve been through these cycles before where material costs are very high and volatile, Interim State Engineer Brandon Gebhart told the Select Water Committee last week. Theres a lot of unknowns theres a lot of [federal] money coming out [that] put[s] a stress on labor force, the ability to get projects completed as well as [on] materials across the country. The supplemental water bill also calls for $35 million for the Alkali Reservoir, also in Big Horn County. The estimate for that project near Hyattville jumped by $24 million in 2020, from $35 million in 2015 to $59 million and the project has an existing $59 million appropriation. Engineers attribute that 69% increase to geotechnical investigations that revealed a crummy site and embankment material. Construction bids have yet to be advertised for and let. Another $25 million in the supplemental water bill would upgrade the Fontenelle Dam in Lincoln County, a project thats been estimated to cost anywhere from $8.2 million to $37.5 million, according to reporting by the Rock Springs Rocket Miner. Another $21.8 million would aid reconstruction of damaged irrigation tunnels in Goshen County. The 130-foot-high LaPrele Dam, subject of Gordons infrastructure request to the USBOR, was built in 1909, is in danger of an abrupt, catastrophic failure and is a hazard looming above Douglas, Ayers Natural Bridge Park and Interstate 25. Its design, age and geologic environment make it so dangerous that operators have limited the amount of water stored behind it. Ensuring that storage and irrigation infrastructure is safe and resilient is crucial to the lives and livelihoods of the citizens of Wyoming, Gordons letter to Reclamation Commissioner Touton reads. The rehabilitation of aging water infrastructure is a top priority for my administration, our Congressional delegation and this state as a whole. Gordon made that assertion despite opposition to the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Bill from Wyomings entire congressional delegation. U.S. Sens. John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis and U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney all voted against the measure. When the Wyoming Legislature convenes it will see a Gordon budget thats fairly flat, compared to last year, Sen. Mike Gierau (D-Jackson), a member of the Joint Appropriations Committee told the Select Water Committee last week. The Appropriations Committee wanted to stick with things that we thought would really help the economy, Gierau said. I think water really was top of that list, he said. Regarding ARPA funds, we left a significant amount of money for the floors [of the Wyoming House and Senate] to let the members bring ideas of their own, Gierau said. I know theres a lot of ideas percolating out there about what to do with that money. WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 When it comes to the wealthiest Wyoming locales, its no exaggeration to say that Teton County is in a class of its own. Actually, forget Wyoming that statement can be applied to the entire United States. Nobody is even close, Jackson economist and town council member Jonathan Schechter said. Our rich people arent other peoples rich people. The founder of the Jackson-based Charture Institute likes to illustrate the point by breaking up American household income into tiers of roughly $100,000. The difference between first-place Teton County and second-place New York County is about $100,000, Schechter said. The difference between second-place New York County and 63rd-place Delaware County, Ohio, is about $100,000. And the difference between Delaware County and the absolute last-place county in America, a place called Rock County, Nebraska, is $92,000. Teton Countys average household income, $312,442, stands alone in the top tier. The next 62 highest-income earning counties comprise the next tier, followed by the remaining 3,000-some counties, boroughs and parishes in the bottom bracket. Schechter derived his data from the Internal Revenue Service, dividing counties adjusted gross income from 2019, the most recent year of data available, by the number of tax returns filed. The IRS dataset is not detailed enough to allow computations of the median income. Wyomings other 22 counties have good company, falling in the bottom tier, occupied by 98% of the nations counties. Converse County, where the household income eclipses $95,000, shows up highest on the list. Nearest the bottom: Hot Springs County, where income comes to around $49,000 per tax filing. Teton County wasnt always so much wealthier than everywhere else. On the heels of the Great Recession of the aughts, its average household income only marginally exceeded the Wyoming average. But change has come on strong. In 2019, Teton County accounted for 5% of all the tax returns filed in the state, while simultaneously accounting for 20% of the statewide income, according to Schechter. Some 35% of Wyomings overall investment income is derived from Teton County, he said, as is 72% of the states total charitable contributions. Its a very different world, Schechter said. The data points are staggering even excluding 2020 and 2021, years where ultra-wealthy COVID-19 migrants started flocking to Jackson Hole. Schechter anticipates the income data from those years will be nuttier still, he told subscribers of his CoThrive newsletter. Bottom line: If it feels like things are not just crazy, but spinning-out-of-control crazy, theres a good reason for it, Schechter wrote. The massive infusion of wealth has exacerbated troubling trends afoot in Teton County. Last summer, 95% of businesses reported that the communitys workforce housing crisis was at the core of their staffing struggles, according to the Jackson Hole News&Guide. Pay has spiked out of necessity in response. A Target store is soon opening where workers will start at $24 an hour equivalent to a $50,000 salary per year. But even those types of wages arent keeping hundreds of desperate seasonal laborers from living in places like the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Even Teton Countys traditionally higher-earning residents are getting pinched. A life change recently caused Animal Care Clinic veterinarian Ernie Patterson to seek out an apartment. The 69-year-old longtime Jackson resident is grateful for what he found, even though rent for the one-bedroom unit eats up more than 40% of his take-home pay. I really cant afford to buy anything, so now Im just in the rental market, Patterson said. Its tight. WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 A pregnant mother and her family affected by the Quarry Street New Years Day fire say they felt pressured to accept an Oropune Gardens apartment as a permanent home after their years long efforts to find secure housing. The family, who had previously spent months surrounded by debris and without electricity, told the Express they felt as though they were being pushed to mortgage the apartment as a quick fix to their problem. The fact that 106 police killings dating from January 2019 to now are under investigation by the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) is staggering. Whether the number reflects an actual increase in fatal police shootings, or is the result of greater public willingness to file complaints, growing public confidence in the PCA or the PCAs own willingness to initiate investigations, would require more than bald figures. However, it underscores the PCAs importance as an independent authority with the power to hold the police to account. The Delta, 135 S. 6th Ave., was recently opened downtown by the same team behind the Southern-inspired restaurant, The Parish. In addition to signature cocktails like the "Mississippi Lane" and "Phoebe Down South," The Delta's grill menu features giant fried chicharrones, savory popcorn dishes, pork belly skewers, seafood and dessert. Eagles Wings of Grace 3618 E. Pima St., Tucson, Arizona 85716 520-906-9915 Poverty disproportionately impacts women. Eagles Wings of Grace helps women rise from the devastation of abuse and poverty to long term independence, restoring their dignity and hope. Our comprehensive approach to renewal includes career preparedness, professional attire, mentoring, teaching financial management and preventative health. Your gift helps provide not only new clothes through our Clothed in Compassion clothing program, but a new life for women who thought their lives were over. Hands of Hope Tucson 5240 E. Knight Drive, Suite #122 Tucson, AZ 85712 520-622-5774 Instead of joy when the pregnancy test is positive, many women are uncertain about their decision. Hands of Hope Tucson offers the hope found in Christ, free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, and STI testing as well as a gift basket and the support needed for mothers continuing with their pregnancy. For over 40 years Hands of Hope Tucson has been the go to resource for women and men facing unexpected pregnancies. Your loving support for Hands of Hope Tucson through your tax credit donation brings hope to expectant mothers and life to children! VFW Post 549 of Tucson Charities 8424 E. Old Spanish Trail Tucson, AZ 85710 520-790-4626 VFW Post 549 of Tucson Charities is operated by veterans dedicated to assisting veterans and their families in need in the Tucson/Pima County area. The primary focus of the effort is alleviation of hunger and homelessness. Our efforts span the range of those who have served and who are still serving. The Star want to help nonprofits help our community We want to hear from organizations whose donations qualify for the Qualifying Charitable Organizations or Qualifying Foster Care Charitable Organizations Arizona Tax Credit. We are asking those organizations to share their information through a form at tucson.com/taxcredit In the body, give a 50-word description of the organization and what it does, and then in the same field, in addition to the 50 words, list the organizations name, address, website and phone number for publication. In the topic field, please click on tax credit. The Star will publish some of these each Tuesday on the Giving page. Questions? Email jeubank@tucson.com Johanna Eubank is a digital producer for the Arizona Daily Star and tucson.com. She has been with the Star in various capacities since 1991. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. PHOENIX Arizona lawmakers are moving to block state agencies from giving a third option for those who identify as neither male nor female. HB 2294 would put in statute that any document issued by a state agency, board, commission or department that now is required to indicate an individuals sex may only show that person as male or female. The measure was approved this past week by the House Committee on Government and Elections, with only Republicans in favor, despite pleas from multiple parents who said those choices do not define who their children are. It now awaits a vote of the full House. Rep. John Fillmore, R-Apache Junction, said he believes there currently are no forms that provide an alternative. Instead, he called it kind of a precautionary thing, given that other states, including California, do allow that option. Historically, what happens in California is like a tidal wave, Fillmore said. It just kind of rolls our way. But unbeknownst to Fillmore, that already is happening: The Arizona Department of Transportation does provide an option for driver licenses to have an X instead of M or F where sex is listed. That, however requires an applicant to present a government document presumably from another state showing their gender as non-binary. It is not an option for an Arizonan simply seeking a change in designation. Fillmore said all his measure does is recognize reality. There are two biological sexes, he said, regardless of how people identify themselves. Not true, testified Erica Keppler, telling lawmakers that about 1.3 out of every 1,000 children born are intersex, with ambiguous visible sex organs. It used to be they were assigned a sex at birth, sometimes with surgical alteration, often to tragic results when later on they did identify with the sex assigned to them, Keppler said. And Kristin Downing, said its not just about those children. Downing told lawmakers she drove up from Tucson to tell them about her amazing 15-year-old child who is nonbinary. When they came out about three years ago, our whole community rallied around us, she said. My child is loved and celebrated for who they are, Downing continued. However, every time we have to fill out paperwork, my child does not feel supported because the fact is the state of Arizona only has male and female as options on a form. And that, Downing said, will become even more obvious when her child goes for a drivers license and will have to choose a sex that does not accurately reflect gender. Megan Mogan, another Tucson mother, had her own story. From the moment our non-binary child could walk, could talk, could play, could dress themselves, it was very clear to us that they did not conform to typical gender standards, even though all they saw under their own roof was pretty stereotypical gender standards, she said. Mogan said that did require a learning curve, even among her own parents in their 70s. What we learned is that gender is very nuanced, she said. Its not what we grew up knowing. Fillmore said people can still identify as what they believe they are. But that doesnt make it true. I identify as a little, short, fat, obnoxious guy, he said. And everyone agrees with me, Fillmore continued. But then, again, the day I said I was a multi-millionaire that looked like Troy Donahue, they all kind of rolled their eyeballs. He said thats their business. But we need to have some kind of uniformity or structure as a society in order to be able to deal with this, Fillmore said. House Minority Leader Reginald Bolding, D-Laveen, said things arent that simple. Consider, he said, the issue of people who are of mixed race. In many cases you may be asking people whether you are Black or white or Hispanic or Native, Bolding said. He said those categories have evolved and changed with time. Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, said sometimes people have to choose from what are the legal options, saying thats the case with the U.S. Census. That, however, is not true. In 2000 the federal agency for the first time allowed those who do not identify as white to choose not just Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska native, Asian or Pacific Islander, or some other race, to say they are two or more races. And by 2020 more than 11 percent picked that option. Kavanagh, asked about that later, said he would be more than open to provide an alternative designation to someone who is biologically more than one gender or has more than one genders physical attributes. But thats it. I do not think that a person who is a biological male or female should be able to say theyre something else just because in their minds they are, Kavanagh said. And Rep. Teresa Martinez, R-Casa Grande, said sometimes people just have to choose, citing the experience of her mixed-race son, who is sometimes asked about his race. He just picks one, she said. And then he lives his life and he enjoys the many benefits of the different cultures. Bolding, however, said he doesnt see the harm in the state acknowledging that sometimes choices are not binary. By simply mandating that individuals have to check a male or female box I think is hypocritical to what we want to do as a state, he said. We want to make sure were a welcoming state, an open place, and we allow people to be who they are. Fillmore, however, said he sees it as a matter of accuracy and truth, saying its no different than letting people unilaterally decide their own race. During the 1970s and 1980s when they had affirmative action, I would have loved to identify as Black, he said. But I didnt think I could get away with that one. Allowed non-binary designations Here are some non-binary designations that appear on official documents in other states: Arkansas As of 2018, the state was issuing gender-neutral ID cards and driver licenses. California A 2017 law allows a third, non-binary gender marker on birth certificates, driver licenses and identity cards. Colorado Since late 2018 that state allows those who do not identify as male or female to use the X designation on driver licenses. New Mexico Lawmakers amended the state's Vital Records Act in 2019 to add a third designation on state identification documents. Oregon Following a 2016 court ruling, the state agreed to allow a non-binary gender marker on state IDs and driver licenses. And the state in 2018 agreed to allow people to amend their birth certificates to make a similar designation. Utah The state has been issuing X markers on identification cards since 2018, and that option has been available for birth certificates since 2017. Also, the U.S. Department of State issues passports with an X gender marker. The agency also allows applicants to select M or F as a binary gender option even if it does not match the gender on supporting documentation on birth certificates, previous passports or state ID. Capitol Media Services Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. PHOENIX The top House Republican is unilaterally quashing legislation that would have given lawmakers the power to reject election results. Strictly speaking, Speaker Rusty Bowers is not killing House Bill 2596, he told Capitol Media Services on Wednesday. Thats something he could do by simply refusing to assign it to any committee to be considered. Instead, Bowers has taken the unprecedented step of assigning the proposal to each and every one of the 12 House committees, saying he knows full well there is no way it can secure approval of each. Most bills go to no more than two committees. The maneuver drew an angry reaction from the bills sponsor, Rep. John Fillmore, R-Apache Junction. He complained to Capitol Media Services that his highness was abusing his powers in deep-sixing a measure that 14 other Republicans, out of 47 in the Legislature, support fully enough to sign on as co-sponsors. He does things like hes God, Fillmore said of the speaker. But Fillmore acknowledged he doesnt have the votes at least among those in his caucus willing to stand up to oust Bowers as speaker and install someone who would allow the plan a chance of getting to the House floor for a vote. Sometimes there are a great many of the legislators (who) dont have the intestinal fortitude to do what is right, Fillmore said. His proposed legislation is a grab bag of changes to election laws. It would: Repeal laws allowing anyone to get an early ballot, saying only those with an excuse, like being hospitalized, would get that right. Bar all other forms of early voting, requiring that ballots be cast only on Election Day. Prohibit the use of Election Day voting centers available to anyone within a county, restricting people to casting ballots only in their home precinct. We need to get back to 1958-style voting, Fillmore said. But the provision that alarmed Bowers and some others would have required the Legislature to call itself into special session after every election to review the ballot tabulating process for both the primary and general elections. More to the point, it would permit lawmakers to accept or reject the election returns, with the latter option paving the way for anyone to file suit to seek a new election. That is unacceptable, Bowers told Capitol Media Services. We gave the authority to the people, the Mesa Republican said. For somebody to say we have plenary authority to overthrow a vote of the people for something we think may have happened, where is it (the evidence)? Bowers said of the unproven and unverified claims made by those seeking a new 2020 vote. He said the audit of Maricopa Countys 2020 election returns ordered by Senate President Karen Fann has not produced any evidence that, as some have contended, the election was stolen from Donald Trump. The point is, when we gave a fundamental right to the people, I dont care if I win or lose, that right was theirs, Bowers said. And Im not going to go back and kick them in the teeth. The speaker also said he could not go along with another provision that would have scrapped the current system of having ballots tabulated by machine, replacing that with a hand count of the all the votes cast, a figure that exceeded 3.4 million in 2020. Proponents have argued that machine counts cannot be trusted, with allegations all never proven that the tabulators were either hacked or programmed to produce winning numbers for Joe Biden. Bowers said the solution of hand counts is worse than any potential problem. Theres individual elements (of the bill) that harm accuracy, speed and dependability of a vote, Bowers said. And if I can stop it, Im not going to let that happen. Bowers acknowledged there are those within his own party who continue to insist the last presidential election was rigged. And he said he is willing to consider changes in law designed to protect the right to vote and protect against cheating. For example, he has allowed bills to go forward that would alter the early voting process or increase identification requirements. But Bowers said hes not willing to go along with capricious alterations to the law sought by people of that ilk, the screaming, demanding, arrogant, self-righteous bunch. And the speaker said it is his job to stand up and say no, even when others cannot or will not. I would say that most Republicans dont like it that way, he said of the election-results deniers. Theyre just intimidated by these people. Killing Fillmores bill is just a message, Bowers said. Fillmore said Bowers has it wrong in saying the Legislature should have no role in reviewing and potentially voiding election returns. The Supreme Court has said that voting is our responsibility, he said Wednesday after being informed of the speakers decision. Who else, if not the state Legislature, would deal with this? Fillmore, in introducing the legislation, said he isnt buying arguments by election officials who say that machine counts are more accurate. Nor was he swayed by the fact that current law already requires there be a hand count of ballots from selected precincts to compare that tally with what the machines registered. If those results are within a specified percentage, then the results statewide are presumed accurate. That is what happened after the 2020 election. A judge separately ordered inspection of more than 1,600 ballots cast in the general election after allegations the machines had not properly tabulated the presidential race. In that case, the hand count found just nine with errors in the presidential race, not enough to declare Trump the winner here, even if that error rate ran through all similar ballots. Bowers said that, in assigning HB 2596 to all 12 committees, he actually is giving Fillmore what he wants: the chance for one or more hearings. That could not have occurred if he refused to refer it to any committee at all, he said. But Bowers made it clear that there is no way this bill would ever become law. He gets that power not just by virtue of being the speaker and deciding what bills are put up for votes of the full House. Theres also the fact that there are only 31 Republicans in the 60-member chamber. And with no Democrats in support, that means a single GOP vote against it including his would kill it if if even got that far. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Glad city, towns could work it out Re: the Jan. 29 article "After give-and-take, city remains in RTA." Hooray to Ted Maxwell for putting forth a solution and for Mayor Ed Honea, Supervisor Rex Scott, and even though he is not mentioned, I am certain city of Tucson Manager Mike Ortega with the support of Mayor Regina Romero, together with the rest of the board, for finding a way to have the city of Tucson remain in the RTA. Roads do not stop at city limits and regional planning and funding is far more efficient than separate plans by each community. Conditions arose that were not considered in the original plan and relief was needed for the city of Tucson. At the same time, funding needs to be assured for the smaller cities that surround the city of Tucson. Finding a way to navigate the many needs will continue, but at least we will find those solutions from within an organization that best serves the interests of all of the citizens of the region. Chris Sheafe Foothills Everyone needs a safe workplace Rep. Quang Nguyen, R-Prescott Valley, and HB 2043, should be worrying about keeping our economy moving instead of penalizing companies for mandating their employees get vaccines. Granted, some may choose to state a religious reason and they should be accommodated. How you ask? Test the employee each morning on arrival. Test results can be seen quickly. If negative, they can proceed to work (plus masking and distancing). If not, then go home. One needs to ask how any business can continue to operate if even one employee is positive. No one wants to get sick. But many have health issues which put them at risk for serious illness or death. Getting COVID on top of a serious health issue can be a crapshoot unless you stay home and stay away from everyone. HB 2043 needs to be reevaluated. Joyce Harrison East side Economics drive border crossers In a recent conference call with state governors, President Joe Biden spoke about people coming from Central America by posing the question of 'figuring out why they're leaving in the first place,' Come on, Biden, half the world still thinks America's streets are paved with gold. Joe does not know that most Central Americans are fleeing from poverty? He should read the expose by former Star reporter Perla Trevizo titled 'Passports to the American Dream.' She documented whole villages in Guatemala emptied out coming here for mostly economic reasons. And that parents brought their children along believing they had a better chance of staying, which proved right under Biden. Is Biden so dumb to not understand the border crisis he created by reversing Trump's border policies? Is he so dumb not knowing people are abusing our asylum system, claiming they are fleeing from violence, but actually are fleeing from poverty? We cannot accommodate half the world's population that want to come here. Biden however is giving it his best shot! Alan Jeffords Midtown Fare-free transit worth exploring Re: the Feb. 2 article "Tucson considers making fare-free transit permanent." Fare-free transit would be an excellent idea for lower-income residents. They should not be penalized for a few bad apples who abuse drivers and take advantage of the system. One way to alleviate this problem would be issuing a free bus pass to anyone employed. In that way people who use the buses recreationally will help subsidize the service. Victor Panizzon Northwest side Statehood path was a rocky one To paraphrase the Bard, something's rotten in the state of Arizona and it's the state Legislature! These so-called representatives of the people have no sense of or respect for Arizona history! It took 49 years for Arizona to become a state, a longer wait than any other applicant for statehood. It was because Arizona was too progressive for the rest of the United States. Arizona's "faults" included insistence on the initiative, recall, and referendum one of which, the initiative, the state Senate is trying to take away by its proposed legislation that limits the public's right to submit its own proposed legislation. Arizona was also penalized in its statehood wait for insisting on maintaining its child and women's labor protection laws. Seems to me that our contemporary Legislature and state government are striving to take us back to pre-statehood days! Shame on all of them! Barbara Benjamin Northeast side Stale response from Sinema I recently wrote to Sen. Kyrsten Sinema in opposition to the death penalty. Today I received an email reply which is unsatisfactory, annoying, even insulting on two counts. First, it appears to have been hauled unchanged from a 2019 file, making no reference to the 13 executions carried out in 2020 by the Trump administration. Second, and unfortunately, this is all too often true of her nonresponsive replies, it gives absolutely no indication of her position on Rep. Ayanna Pressley's HR 4052 of 2019, which would have eliminated the death penalty under federal law. Further, in her stock reply Sinema offers no insight into her personal senatorial opinion on the constitutionality, legality and morality of this barbaric practice which has been outlawed throughout most of the civilized world. Whatever her thoughts on the subject, let her stand up and share them with her constituents now in 2022, not in a rehashed message from 2 years ago. Frank Bergen Northeast side Troops heading to wrong border A million-plus undocumented migrants pouring across our southern borders. Record fentanyl seizures with this very deadly drug killing kids and adults on the streets. It seems smuggling gangs are in control of the border, our own Border Patrol overwhelmed. But President Joe Biden is sending thousands of American troops to the Ukraine border? What the heck is going on? A rhetorical question, as we all know very well what is going on in a tragic bizarro world. Biden, it's time to straighten up and get this wonderful nation of ours under control. C'mon, man! Debra Mantecon East side Traffic cameras are needed again Re: the Feb. 3 article "Speed cameras on way?" Today during the 30 minutes I was out running errands, I witnessed two cars starting to go through intersections after the light had turned red. Years ago, we had speed cameras in Tucson, and car deaths went down. I lived away from Tucson for 10 years, and upon my return, speed cameras were voted out. A recent article reported that car accident rates in Tucson are up. A possible correlation? Of course, a correlation. I would welcome the return of speed cameras throughout Tucson. Janet Sabb Northeast side Supply chain woes and crime Recently, the president said, that there are no supply chain problems and everyone was able to get what they wanted for Christmas. Some months ago, a problem delivering chips for electronics and auto manufacturers was occurring. Production for both industries dropped, meaning fewer new cars. Demand was constant and supply decreased, resulting in new-car prices increasing. Along with new-car prices rising, used-car prices also increased. Thus, both new and used cars became more lucrative for thieves. In the last several weeks, two elected government officials have been carjacked (both Rep. Mary Gay Scanlons Acura MDX and Illinois state Sen. Kimberly Lightfoots Mercedes-Benz). So, Mr. President, at least two industries did not get everything they wanted for Christmas! Warren Wright Oro Valley Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. JACKSON, Mississippi (AP) If you are Black or Hispanic in a conservative state that already limits access to abortions, you are far more likely than a white woman to have one. And if the U.S. Supreme Court allows states to further restrict or even ban abortions, minority women will bear the brunt of it, according to statistics analyzed by The Associated Press. The numbers are unambiguous. In Mississippi, people of color comprise 44% of the population but 80% of women receiving abortions, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, which tracks health statistics. In Texas, theyre 59% of the population and 74% of those receiving abortions. The numbers in Alabama are 35% and 70%. In Louisiana, minorities represent 42% of the population, according to the state Health Department, and about 72% of those receiving abortions. Abortion restrictions are racist, said Cathy Torres, a 25-year-old organizing manager with Frontera Fund, a Texas organization that helps women pay for abortions. They directly impact people of color, Black, brown, Indigenous people ... people who are trying to make ends meet. Why the great disparities? Laurie Bertram Roberts, executive director of the Alabama-based Yellowhammer Fund, which provides financial support for women seeking abortion, said women of color in states with restrictive abortion laws often have limited access to health care and a lack of choices for effective birth control. Schools often have ineffective or inadequate sex education. If abortions are outlawed, those same women often poor will likely have the hardest time traveling to distant parts of the country to terminate pregnancies or raising children they might struggle to afford, said Roberts, who is Black and once volunteered at Mississippis only abortion clinic. Were talking about folks who are already marginalized, Roberts said. Amanda Furdge, who is Black, was one of those women. She was a single, unemployed college student already raising one baby in 2014 when she found out she was pregnant with another. She said she didnt know how she could afford another child. Shed had two abortions in Chicago. Getting access to an abortion provider there was no problem, Furdge said. But now she was in Mississippi, having moved home to escape an abusive relationship. Misled by advertising, she first went to a crisis pregnancy center which tried to talk her out of an abortion. By the time she found the abortion clinic, she was too far along to have the procedure. Why cant you safely, easily access abortion here? asked Furdge, 34, who is happily raising her now 7-year-old son but continues to advocate for women having the right to choose. Torres said historically, anti-abortion laws have been crafted in ways that hurt low-income women. She pointed to the Hyde Amendment, a 1980 law that prevents the use of federal funds to pay for abortions except in rare cases. She also cited the 2021 Texas law that bans abortion after around six weeks of pregnancy. Where she lives, near the U.S.-Mexico border in the Rio Grande Valley, women are forced to travel to obtain abortions and must pass in-state border patrol checkpoints where they have to disclose their citizenship status, she said. Regardless of what legislators say, Torres insisted, the intent is to target women of color, to control their bodies: They know who these restrictions are going to affect. They know that, but they dont care. Having evolved from a World War II munitions plant to one of the largest manufacturing clusters in the world, MidAmerica Industrial Park, by any yardstick, has been an unequivocal success. But advocates for the Mayes County park claim that for it to be truly transformative for decades to come, it needs one more ingredient: a tax increment financing district (TIF). There is a significant opportunity in different industries that has presented itself, and when you combine that with all of the geopolitical issues around the U.S., it has changed the entire business dynamic of the Midwest, David Stewart, who heads MAIP, said by phone. That opportunity is here and we are competing at a much larger scale. When you deal with large companies, you have to be competitive. Through a seven-member review committee, the Mayes County Board of Commissioners is examining whether to establish a TIF district on 700 acres of undeveloped MAIP land that has no employers. TIFs are economic tools used to promote economic development. They allow governmental entities to use a portion of property taxes generated within the district to invest in the districts infrastructure, providing an incentive for private investment. As we compete with other states these are our table stakes we have to do something like a TIF in order to compete, Stewart said. Right now, with all that weve gone through with the pandemic and labor and all these issues, states are taking a much more aggressive look at these companies. I think thats had a lot to do with it. MAIP started as a U.S. government site that developed black powder during World War II. That plant shut down in 1945, and 15 years later, a public trust called the Oklahoma Ordnance Works Authority (OOWA) was formed to spark economic growth and create jobs. Operator of the industrial park, OOWA derives its revenues from the operation of a water plant, waste treatment plant, the sale or lease of authority properties, interest earned on investment holdings and, at certain times, loans made to industrial park tenants. Search-engine giant Google is among the roughly 80 companies spread over about 9,000 acres at MAIP. Last year, electric car manufacturer Canoo announced plans to build a $400 million plant at the park. Property taxes are the main source of non-grant revenue for school districts, counties, and career-tech systems, and the entities that would receive property tax revenue from development in the proposed TIF are Mayes County, Northeast Tech, Mayes County Health Department and the Chouteau-Mazie Public School District, which currently receives no benefit from the undeveloped acreage. Only the increment, or increased tax revenue in a TIF, can be earmarked for economic development, which in this case would provide infrastructure such as roads, electricity and water. Stewart projects that private investment in the TIF, if approved, would be $5 billion to $6 billion over the first five years of the TIF, which is capped by state statute at 25 years. The incentive is a discount off what they would have paid without the TIF, Stewart said. They (new employers) are writing checks and then essentially their check is lower. But they still write checks (pay taxes) for that 25-year period. Two public hearings will be scheduled on the proposed TIF. Its review committee, chaired by Mayes County Commissioner Darrell Yoder, will make a recommendation to Mayes County commissioners, who could vote on whether to approve the TIF in the next three to four months, Stewart said. Counties across the State of Oklahoma have successfully established 95 Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Districts to revitalize their communities, Scott Mueller, Oklahomas Secretary of Commerce and Workforce Development, said in a statement. A new development built within a TIF District creates proven results in higher property values and increases the Countys ad valorem (property) tax revenue which is reinvested within the TIF District to pay for the development. A TIF District in Mayes County, when combined with the State of Oklahomas already strong incentive programs, will provide a compelling opportunity to recruit a major new employer to the region. This really is an opportunity to transform Mayes County and northeast Oklahoma for the better. Mayes County commissioners and the county assessor would provide oversight for the TIF during its term, project backers say. In addition, a third-party organization would produce an annual report/audit. Grand River Dam Authority is a longtime MAIP partner. We offer abundant, reliable energy at one of the lowest costs in the nation, GRDA CEO Daniel Sullivan said in a statement. This has resulted in proven success when competing for new business development opportunities. GRDA provides a tremendous asset to leverage as part of an incentive package. The competition is fierce for companies seeking to expand in the Central U.S. Establishing a TIF District does not take away any current funding but does incentivize new investment that will create jobs and opportunities for Mayes County citizens. <&rule> Featured video(tncms-asset)a7cdc611-8178-5c01-8536-e48093f14981[0](/tncms-asset) Subscribe to Daily Headlines Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. 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 Dave Knott co-owner of Pippin's Taproom at High Gravity Fermentations tells us about Bubblegum Spice and Everything Nice, a Belgian golden strong ale that comes in at 9.5% ABV. "A great beer especially when the weather's cold, because it will help warm you up. This beer was brewed with a under pitch of three different yeast strains, all struggling to make their impression on it. What we end up with is a lot of bubblegum esters along with good complex fruit. We use some candy sugar to boost the alcohol. This beer is in perfect condition right now. You could see how brilliantly clear it is," Knott said. The beer is available at Pippin's Taproom at High Gravity just north of Sun and Ski at 6808 S. Memorial Drvie. Dave and Desiree Knott have had a home brewing retail supply store for 13 years. They sell all the supplies for brewing beer and making wine at home. All the professional brewers in Tulsa were homebrewers at one point. And Dave and Desiree know all of them. They moved into their current location five years ago and were able to add a new dimension to their operation. "We started brewing beer and supplying our taproom (Pippin's) and when we first started, it was 3.2% (alcohol by weight) beer that we were brewing because that was the first license that we were able to get. We had some strange laws, and we had to comply with putting up ropes to keep kids and adults separated," Knott said. "The laws kept changing and it's a different landscape today. We'd been brewing one barrel batches for the taproom for the last five years and keeping everything full and it seemed like there was more demand to be met. We have added some new equipment and we're upping our game, increasing our production capacity from eight barrels to 28 on the fermentation side. And we have both the one-barrel brewhouse and a five-barrel brewhouse." "Now we can produce different batch formats depending on what we're doing. We've got some extra beer now that can be distributed and we're putting our kegs out in other places around town. Now you can get our beer at McNellie's north and south and Roosevelts. And new places are coming online very soon," Knott said. Past Beers of the Week: Tom Gilbert 918-581-8349 tom.gilbert@tulsaworld.com Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Redbud grants: The Oklahoma State Department of Education announced Monday that 330 school districts and charter schools across the state will receive a combined $38.5 million in Redbud School Funding Grants. The grant program was created during the 2021 legislative session and is funded by the Common School Building Equalization Fund and tax revenue from medical marijuana sales. School districts and brick and mortar charter schools below the state average per student in local property taxes for the building fund and the county-wide millage are eligible to receive these funds, which must be used to acquire and improve school facilities. Tulsa-area recipients include Bartlesville, Berryhill, Broken Arrow, Caney Valley, Claremore, Claremore Sequoyah, Collegiate Hall, Collinsville, Coweta, Deborah Brown Charter Schools, Dove Schools of Tulsa, Glenpool, Inola, Kellyville, Kiefer, KIPP Tulsa, Liberty, Lone Star, Mannford, Mounds, Pretty Water, Sankofa Middle School, Sand Springs, Sapulpa, Skiatook, Sperry, Tulsa Honor Academy, Tulsa Legacy Charter School, Tulsa School of Arts and Sciences and Wagoner. Senate Youth Program delegates: Inola senior Jonathan Menzel has been selected as one of two Oklahoma delegates to the U.S. Senate Youth Program. Along with 102 delegates from across the country, Menzel and Oklahoma Citys Aishwarya Swamidurai will participate in a virtual education and leadership forum in March. The forum is slated to include online meetings and briefings with U.S. Senators, President Joe Biden and cabinet members. Each student will also receive a $10,000 college scholarship. Presidential scholar candidates: Almost 30 high school seniors have been named as candidates for the U.S. Presidential Scholar program. Launched in 1964 and overseen by the U.S. Department of Education, the program recognizes distinguished graduating seniors nationwide for their accomplishments in academics, the arts and career and technical education fields. Area students named as candidates include Hailey Barnes, Nathaniel Beitel, Kayla Cao, Luke Chey, Suzan Cumings, Maria Fite, Ella Hall, Emilio Hoover, Derek Huang, Evan Kamriguel, Morgan King, Krish Kumar, Seinna Leach, Reva Mahajan, Charles McDonald, Ashlyn Milford, Rose Newhouse, Kurt Nguyen, Hailey Polson, Skyler Price, Noah Pursell, Haeyn Seo, Jackson Stone, Kate Tuttle, Jorge Vasquez, Isaac Walker and Jacob Wise. Semi-finalists will be announced later this year and the 161 honorees nationwide will be announced in May by the U.S. Department of Education. Postponements: Due to the winter storms tracking across most of the state, the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association has postponed the state academic bowl tournament to April 2. Twelve area schools have qualified for the event across five of the six classifications. Those storms also prompted Tulsa Public Schools to postpone its enrollment expo for midtown and west side schools to Saturday. Shuttle service will be available at the districts Education Service Center from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Additionally, the Muscogee Nation Challenge Bowl has been postponed due to COVID-19 concerns. As per a spokesman for the tribe, a decision will be made in mid-February about a new date and whether to proceed virtually or in person. Help wanted: Broken Arrow Public Schools transportation department is hosting a job fair on Monday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the lobby of the Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center. Potential applicants are asked to bring a copy of their drivers license and their resume. Interviews will be conducted on site. COVID-19 by the numbers: With inclement weather forcing mass closures and pivots to distance learning, only two local school districts released updated COVID-19 case counts on Friday. Bartlesville Public Schools reported four positive cases among its employees and 10 among its students. The district has an additional two staff and 83 students in quarantine due to close contact exposure. Owasso Public Schools reported 45 cases among its students and 17 among its staff. OPS does not differentiate among sites in its public-facing reporting. Berryhill, Bixby, Broken Arrow, Collinsville, Glenpool, Jenks, Sand Springs, Sapulpa, Skiatook, Tulsa and Union did not publish updated case counts by the close of business Friday. School board calendar: The boards of education for Broken Arrow, Sand Springs and Tulsa are scheduled to meet Monday. Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. OKLAHOMA CITY Gov. Kevin Stitt didnt exactly promise a chicken in every pot during his fourth annual State of the State address on Monday, but he did suggest the possibility of six-figure teacher salaries, more state financial support of private schools, and new, smoother and wider roads, all while cutting or eliminating the states two primary revenue sources. Now is the time for big, bold decisions, Stitt said near the end of the 50-minute speech. State of the State addresses are usually more about big, bold statements than devilish details, but with virtually complete control of state government, Republicans can do just about whatever they want during the legislative session that began Monday. For Stitt, that includes radical changes to the education system and a 10-year, $13 billion road-building program. Oklahomans have elected the largest (Republican) supermajority in state history, said Stitt. We have a very clear mandate to enact strong conservative policies that protect liberty. The extent to which legislative leaders priorities mesh with those outlined by Stitt in Mondays address and the fiscal year budget proposal he submitted to House and Senate leaders remains to be seen. Stitt laid out four checkpoints for the coming session and year, but really there were five; he actually began his speech with another attack on the U.S. Supreme Courts 2020 McGirt decision. McGirt solidified tribal sovereignty in the state and gives the federal government and Indian nations more law enforcement and judicial responsibility and the state less authority in those areas. By moving it ahead of his legislative agenda, Stitt indicated the significance he gives the matter. Oklahoma has been robbed of the authority to prosecute crimes, he said, echoing previous statements. Put simply, McGirt jeopardizes justice. Stitts attempts to overturn or neutralize McGirt have further strained his already frosty relations with the states 39 tribes. Muscogee Nation Principal Chief David Hill and two other Muscogee officials, present at the invitation of Speaker Charles McCall, sat stonily through Stitts speech and appeared to be the only tribal nation officials present. Afterward, Hill accused Stitt of playing Chicken Little and throw(ing) himself down kicking and screaming. I have no tolerance for his continued ignorance of the facts and his sowing of false fear, Hill said. In truth, the Legislature would seem to have little role in Stitts fight with the tribes, and he said as much before proceeding to lay out a legislative agenda and his checkpoints. Those checkpoints include drastic changes to public education, protecting Oklahomans and our way of life, making the state more business friendly, and government innovation. Each of those categories included many proposals, but common themes included essentially dismantling public education as it now exists by aligning the entire system, adopting a financial system in which every child in the state is allotted a set amount of state money to be spent on K-12 education however the parents or guardians see fit, and rewarding public colleges and universities that produce more graduates in certain fields. Stitt says he also has a plan to pay some teachers six figures to keep them in the classroom. Stitt did not address the ongoing Epic Charter Schools scandal, in which founders are accused of misspending millions of dollars, but he did say money should go to classrooms, not into the pockets of bureaucrats. His budget does not include additional money for common or higher education or career tech. Stitt came out in favor of eliminating the state sales tax on groceries, which has previously been a Democrat-backed proposal. Doing so would cost the state an estimated $280 million a year. Stitt also proposed implementing a reduction or phase out of income taxes based on state revenue. Sales and income taxes are by far the states two largest revenue sources. Stitt zeroed in on medical marijuana, saying Oklahomans did not know what they were voting on when they OKd its legalization in 2018, and he cast aspersions on the initiative and petition process that allows citizens to put issues to statewide votes. Oklahomas experiment with medical marijuana has created significant problems for law enforcement and residents who have seen property values skyrocket because of the proliferation of grow operations. Drug cartels, organized crime and foreign bad actors have no place in Oklahoma, said Stitt. A call for $13 billion worth of highway improvements appears to be largely tied to Oklahomas turnpike system, which means much of the cost would be covered by bonds underwritten by tolls. The state is also in line to receive significant federal infrastructure funding. Stitt touted his success in attracting and retaining businesses, and he introduced Canoo founder Tony Aquila in the gallery. He also bragged about keeping the state open through most of the COVID-19 pandemic and said his administration had kept schools open longer than any in the country. He did not specifically mention the states relatively high COVID-19 mortality and infection rates and the resulting strain on Oklahoma health care facilities. In his discussion of the McGirt decision, Stitt highlighted the case of Billy Lord, an 11-year-old Wagoner boy who was killed by a drunken driver in 2013. The driver, Richard Ray Roth, was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 19 years in prison. Last fall, the Oklahoma Criminal Court of Appeals overturned that decision because Billy was a tribal citizen and his death occurred in Indian Country. Almost all cases overturned by McGirt have been taken up by federal or tribal authorities, but some, like this one, are in limbo while the case is on appeal. Roth remains in prison pending a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, according to court documents. Despite heightened security, two people identified as Cheyenne Morgan, 30, and Kelsey Cooper, 28, managed to create a brief disturbance in the House chamber while Stitt was speaking. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said the two were charged with disturbing state business after they allegedly tried to unfurl a banner from the east gallery. A similar incident occurred during then-Gov. Mary Fallins State of the State speech four years ago. Oklahoma City firefighters removed several banners critical of Stitt from an oil derrick on the Capitol grounds. They apparently were attached during the night or early Monday. During and after the speech, abortion abolitionists chanted and sang hymns outside the House chamber. The movement advocates ignoring federal laws or court decisions protecting abortion rights. Featured Gallery: Tour the Oklahoma governor's mansion with $2 million renovation nearly done Uploaded Photos Gov Mansion The Governor's Mansion was recently renovated with major updates but preservering the history of the house in OKC, OK, Sep. 13, 2021. Stephen Uploaded Photos Gov Mansion The Governor's Mansion was recently renovated with major updates but preservering the history of the house in OKC, OK, Sep. 13, 2021. Stephen Uploaded Photos Gov Mansion The Governor's Mansion was recently renovated with major updates but preservering the history of the house in OKC, OK, Sep. 13, 2021. 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Stephen Uploaded Photos Gov Mansion First Lady Sarah Stitt gives a tour of the Governor's Mansion that was recently renovated with major updates but preservering the history of t Uploaded Photos Gov Mansion The Governor's Mansion in OKC, OK, Sep. 13, 2021. Stephen Pingry, Tulsa World Uploaded Photos Gov Mansion The Governor's Mansion was recently renovated with major updates but preservering the history of the house in OKC, OK, Sep. 13, 2021. Stephen Uploaded Photos Gov Mansion First Lady Sarah Stitt gives a tour of the Governor's Mansion that was recently renovated with major updates but preservering the history of t Uploaded Photos Gov Mansion The Governor's Mansion was recently renovated with major updates but preservering the history of the house in OKC, OK, Sep. 13, 2021. Stephen Uploaded Photos Gov Mansion The Governor's Mansion was recently renovated with major updates but preservering the history of the house in OKC, OK, Sep. 13, 2021. 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Stephen Uploaded Photos Gov Mansion The Governor's Mansion was recently renovated with major updates but preservering the history of the house in OKC, OK, Sep. 13, 2021. Stephen Uploaded Photos Gov Mansion The Governor's Mansion was recently renovated with major updates but preservering the history of the house in OKC, OK, Sep. 13, 2021. Stephen Uploaded Photos Gov Mansion View of the Capital from the Governor's Mansion in OKC, OK, Sep. 13, 2021. Stephen Pingry, Tulsa World Uploaded Photos Gov Mansion The Governor's Mansion was recently renovated with major updates but preservering the history of the house in OKC, OK, Sep. 13, 2021. Stephen Uploaded Photos Gov Mansion The Governor's Mansion was recently renovated with major updates but preservering the history of the house in OKC, OK, Sep. 13, 2021. Stephen Uploaded Photos Gov Mansion The Governor's Mansion was recently renovated with major updates but preservering the history of the house in OKC, OK, Sep. 13, 2021. Stephen Uploaded Photos Gov Mansion The Governor's Mansion was recently renovated with major updates but preservering the history of the house in OKC, OK, Sep. 13, 2021. Stephen Uploaded Photos Gov Mansion The Governor's Mansion was recently renovated with major updates but preservering the history of the house in OKC, OK, Sep. 13, 2021. Stephen Uploaded Photos Gov Mansion The Governor's Mansion was recently renovated with major updates but preservering the history of the house in OKC, OK, Sep. 13, 2021. Stephen Uploaded Photos Gov Mansion The Governor's Mansion was recently renovated with major updates but preservering the history of the house in OKC, OK, Sep. 13, 2021. Stephen Uploaded Photos Gov Mansion The Governor's Mansion was recently renovated with major updates but preservering the history of the house in OKC, OK, Sep. 13, 2021. Stephen Uploaded Photos Gov Mansion The Governor's Mansion was recently renovated with major updates but preservering the history of the house in OKC, OK, Sep. 13, 2021. Stephen Uploaded Photos Gov Mansion Staicase with past governors names a the Governor's Mansion that was recently renovated with major updates but preservering the history of the Uploaded Photos Gov Mansion The Governor's Mansion was recently renovated with major updates but preservering the history of the house in OKC, OK, Sep. 13, 2021. Stephen Uploaded Photos Gov Mansion The Governor's Mansion was recently renovated with major updates but preservering the history of the house in OKC, OK, Sep. 13, 2021. Stephen Uploaded Photos Gov Mansion First Lady Sarah Stitt gives a tour of the Governor's Mansion that was recently renovated with major updates but preservering the history of t Uploaded Photos Gov Mansion The Governor's Mansion was recently renovated with major updates but preservering the history of the house in OKC, OK, Sep. 13, 2021. Stephen Uploaded Photos Gov Mansion The Governor's Mansion was recently renovated with major updates but preservering the history of the house in OKC, OK, Sep. 13, 2021. Stephen Uploaded Photos Gov Mansion The Governor's Mansion was recently renovated with major updates but preservering the history of the house in OKC, OK, Sep. 13, 2021. Stephen Uploaded Photos Gov Mansion The Governor's Mansion in OKC, OK, Sep. 13, 2021. Stephen Pingry, Tulsa World Uploaded Photos Gov Mansion The Governor's Mansion was recently renovated with major updates but preservering the history of the house in OKC, OK, Sep. 13, 2021. Stephen Uploaded Photos Gov Mansion The Governor's Mansion was recently renovated with major updates but preservering the history of the house in OKC, OK, Sep. 13, 2021. Stephen Uploaded Photos Gov Mansion The State Capitol can be seen from the Governor's Mansion. Digital offer Get our latest digital-only offer and subscribe now at: Tulsaworld.com/subscribe HIDE VERTICAL GALLERY ASSET TITLES Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The city of Tulsas proposed new franchise agreement with PSO heads to the voters Tuesday. Thats news in and of itself, because the public doesnt get a say over the contract very often. The last time Tulsans voted on a PSO franchise agreement was 25 years ago. This time around, the city is proposing a 15-year deal that includes several firsts. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Franchise agreements lay out the terms under which private companies can use public rights of way and the associate fees those entities pay in return for that access. PSO currently pays the city 2% of its gross receipts generated within the city limits. That money approximately $9 million a year goes into the citys general fund to pay for day-to-day city operations. The proposed new agreement would keep the franchise fee at 2% and add a 1% charge to fund the maintenance and repair of public ways, such as streets, highways and rights of way. The 1% charge is expected to raise $4.5 million a year, or $76 million over the life of the agreement, that would go into a special revenue fund to ensure that the money is used for its intended purpose. It is not a huge amount of money in one year, but the difference that this will make over a 15-year period of time when you add all those years up will be tremendous, said Mayor G.T. Bynum. Bynum noted that it wasnt long ago that many of the citys highway lights were out and the city had to scramble to find funds to repair them. It (the franchise agreement) establishes funding to address some of our more long-term issues here in Tulsa and specifically funding to replace and maintain highway lighting, which is something that most major cities in the U.S. have in their franchise agreements, Bynum said. The city has been fortunate to have PSO as its electric provider for the past century, Bynum said, especially during times of crisis. As we have seen in any number of different natural disasters that have occurred in the last 20 years, it makes all of the difference when you have a company that has the national footprint that PSO does, Bynum said. They can bring in resources from all over the country to respond to an ice storm or a tornado or a flood. Gary Allison, co-organizer of The Ready for 100 Tulsa Action Campaign, said the organization will not oppose the franchise agreement. It had lobbied unsuccessfully to have clean renewable energy provisions included in the franchise agreement. Allison said after researching the issue he has concluded that PSO was well on its way to becoming a 100% clean renewable electricity provider, and I dont know that there is any other utility anywhere near here that is that far down the line. Tuesdays vote comes less than two weeks after Public Service Company of Oklahoma President and CEO Peggy Simmons told the Tulsa World that the average residential customers bill throughout the utilitys service area could increase by about $4.06 a month over 20 years to cover fuel and purchased power costs PSO incurred during last Februarys historic cold spell. PSO is not allowed to make a profit off of the fuel and purchased power it uses to power its plants. The $675.2 million securitization case is before the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. PSO spokesman Wayne Greene said the Corporation Commission has the exclusive authority to spread the costs of utility service over a period of time to reduce the monthly impact on customer bills. The franchise Tulsans will vote on February 8 and the securitization of fuel costs are entirely separate issues, Greene said. Bynum made a similar distinction. That is an unfortunate matter of coincidence of timing that that announcement came out right before this vote, but the two have no connection whatsoever, Bynum said. This vote is about how our rights of way, that the citizens own, will be utilized by the power company and what they pay in exchange for the opportunity to do that over that period of time. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. State Rep. Tammy Townley, R-Ardmore, filed a bill to make "the Holy Bible the official state book." The bill violates Article I, sections 1-1 and 1-2 of the Oklahoma Constitution and also the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Townley argues, "we are people of great faith" and "the Holy Bible is an integral part of numerous faiths . . . ." Her press release says, "The vast majority of Oklahomans identify the Bible as the dominate book of faith. According to data from Pew Research Center, 79% of Oklahomans identify as Christians." "Faith" points to the problem. Whose faith? Catholic? Protestant? Eastern Orthodox? Jewish? Muslim? Millions of persons have been killed, tortured, imprisoned, exiled, and ruined all because of differences in their "faith." And the Bible? Whose edition? Whose translation? Christians have been burned at the stake because they published a different version of the Holy Bible. Nothing is more diverse than religious beliefs. The founders of this country excluded religion from our government not because they were irreligious but because they wanted to protect religious liberty. Crowley says it is okay for the majority to dictate to the minority. Dictatorships abuse their minorities. Democracies embrace them. Abraham Lincoln wisely observed, "that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." He did not say government of the majority, by the majority, for the majority. The misuse of the power of the majority destroys democracy. Thus, our constitution must remain separate from religion. Letters to the editor are encouraged. Send letters to tulsaworld.com/opinion/submitletter. Subscribe to Daily Headlines Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. For more than a decade, Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, who now works at the University of Minnesota in the U.S., has been researching a single topic: the development of a chip and associated technology to support a robotic arm that helps the disabled regain a true sense of touch. To many fans of science movies like Star Wars, robotic arms may be an old fairy tale. For technology scientists like Dr. Tuan, what he has researched and accomplished over the past decade is only a modest fraction of what was shown in science films decades ago. Lucky to explore passion early Born in 1992, he admits that he knew what his passion was as a young student. Tuan was also fortunate to study with Prof. Yang Zhi when he was teaching at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Yang found the Vietnamese man to have a lot of potential as a researcher, even though he was only a freshman, and invited him to work in his laboratory. Both Prof. Yang and Dr. Tuan strongly believe that they can develop a possible interface that connects a person's brain to computers, thanks to the brain and neurological signals. If their idea proves successful, it would usher in a new era of linking humans and computers in unimaginable ways. The topic was covered in some key parts of Tuan's doctoral thesis and he was able to win the most outstanding doctoral thesis award from the National University of Singapore in 2014 and the same award later at the University of Minnesota in 2021. While studying at NUS, Tuan and his colleagues managed to develop a chip processor that can both read brain signals and stimulate nerve tissue. They could also figure out the new algorithms that process brain signals effectively. The combination between the chip and the new algorithms creates a two-way neural interface that connects human neural tissue and computers. This is an important technological area of the ambitious project to develop a robotic arm. In other ways, they have created an AI-based system that translates the electrical information from the nerves into commands for executing the appropriate arm, hand, and finger movements built into the arm, according to Nvidia's website. Dr. Tuan and other collaborators in Prof. Yang's lab firmly believe that one day they will be able to make a robotic arm that will restore a natural sense of touch to disabled people who have lost their arm or arms for some reason. Although it may not be in the near future, they are confident in their ability to make it work. This supplied photo shows Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan. The first of its kind Despite the significant achievements, both Prof. Yang and Dr. Tuan are not satisfied. The two do not want their scientific research to remain on paper forever, but to do some good for the community after all. After many discussions between them, Prof. Yang decided to return to the U.S. in 2015 to find a new path for their research and application. He did not come back alone. Dr. Tuan became a postdoctoral fellow in the department of biomedical engineering at the University of Minnesota and joined Yang's lab at Minnesota State University in 2016 to further realize their dream of a robotic arm. His work with his team is detailed in a paper titled 'A Portable, Self-Contained Neuroprosthetic Hand with Deep Learning-Based Finger Control.' They got an excellent opportunity to apply their research in 2017 when Prof. Yang's lab was invited by Nerves Company to participate in a project to develop a neurological interface that helps armless people flexibly control a robotic arm and regain their natural sense of touch in the arm. Tuan's team used their innovative chip, which they had been developing for many years, in this project to replace the popular signal brain receivers utilized by many teams at the time. They were able to quickly develop an AI algorithm capable of decoding the neurological signals received from a patient with nearly 100 percent accuracy. Their technological system, which processes brain signals, is able to help a patient control their prosthetic arm naturally. Accordingly, amputees can now control their prosthetic limbs simply by thinking about the movement. This means they can use their own minds to control each of the prosthetic's five fingers, instead of performing a few pre-programmed actions, as is the case with some existing products. Because this type of prosthetic arm connects directly to the neutral neurological system rather than through parts that remain in the patient's arm, its effectiveness does not depend on disability status. Using neural decoders and Deep Learning, this system allows humans to control pretty much anything digital with their thoughts, including playing video games and a piano, according to the Nvidia company's blog. "As far as I know, our neuroprosthetic arm is the first of its kind in the U.S., as we are developing a prosthetic arm that uses microelectrodes and artificial intelligence to decode neural signals to help amputees regain their natural ability to control their lost limb," Dr. Tuan proudly told Tuoi Tre News. Prof. Yang founded Fasikl, of which he is now CEO, in 2019 with the aim of attracting investment from domestic and foreign partners. The team behind Fasikl has filed five patents for approval, including neural interface technology and AI. One has been approved by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the other four are pending. The team is working with some leading physicians at the University of Minnesota to expand the testing scale. Indeed, Fasikl is not only focusing on amputees but also wants to use its product to diagnose and treat other diseases with diminished consciousness, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and painful nerve conditions. Volunteer Cameron Slavens sits next to Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan as he visits the lab at the University of Minnesota in the U.S. in this supplied. Gratitude to volunteers Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, who has been working with Nerves Company since 2016, had the chance to work with two former soldiers, Cameron Slavens and Shawn Findley, who live in Texas. It would be unforgettable for Tuan to observe the moment when the two could regain a real sense of touch after dozens of years. To them, Tuan and the other members of his team owe a great debt of gratitude. They gave him and the team a valuable opportunity to test an innovative technology that is still too new to be safe for the public. "If we can commercialize the arm, the very first thing I would like to do is make it available to the volunteers who participated in our testing phase with great enthusiasm and fairness," said Dr. Tuan. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson on Sunday declared a state of emergency to help deal with an unprecedented 10-day occupation by protesting truckers that has shut down much of the core of the Canadian capital. "(This) reflects the serious danger and threat to the safety and security of residents posed by the ongoing demonstrations and highlights the need for support from other jurisdictions and levels of government," he said in a statement. Watson, who complained earlier in the day that the demonstrators outnumbered police and controlled the situation, did not give details of what measures he might impose. The "Freedom Convoy" began as a movement against a Canadian vaccine requirement for cross-border truckers but has turned into a rallying point against public health measures and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government. A person waves a Canadian flag in front of a truck, as truckers and supporters continue to protest coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine mandates, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, February 5, 2022. Photo: Reuters Amid residents' fury at the lack of official response, Ottawa police relocated some protesters and put up fresh barricades on Sunday, saying they are "collecting financial, digital, vehicle registration ... and other evidence that will be used in criminal prosecutions." They also announced they would clamp down on people attempting to bring in canisters to refuel the hundreds of large trucks blocking most roads in the city center. Protesters have paralyzed downtown Ottawa for the past nine days, with some participants waving Confederate or Nazi flags and some saying they want to dissolve Canada's government. Convoy organizers say they will not leave until the vaccine mandates are ended. People carry signs, as truckers and supporters continue to protest coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine mandates, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, February 6, 2022. Photo: Reuters Canadian Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said on Sunday that the government would not back down on the issue. "We put the question of vaccines and vaccine mandates on the ballot ... in the (2021) election and we're simply carrying out the promise that we made with the support of the vast majority of Canadians," he said on CBC television. Amid incessant horn blaring and occasional fireworks, a polished supply chain -- including portable saunas, a community kitchen and bouncy castles for children -- has sustained the protesters. People wave flags on top of a truck in front of Parliament Hill as truckers and their supporters continue to protest against the COVID-19 vaccine mandates in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, February 6, 2022. Photo: Reuters The well-organized blockade has relied partly on funding from sympathizers in the United States, police said. GoFundMe took down the Freedom Convoy's donation page, angering some U.S. Republican lawmakers who pledged to investigate the move by the website. Former U.S. President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk have praised the truckers. Police said they had charged four people with hate crimes and were investigating threats against public figures jointly with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Trudeau, who is isolating after testing positive for COVID-19 last week, has ruled out using the military to disband the protest. Due to security concerns, Trudeau and his family left their downtown home last weekend and his location has not been disclosed. A person stands beside jerry gas cans, as truckers and supporters continue to protest coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine mandates, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, February 6, 2022. Photo: Reuters The prime minister has said the convoy represented a "small fringe minority" and the government would not be intimidated. About 90% of Canada's cross-border truckers and almost 79% of the population has had two COVID-19 vaccine shots. Convoy organizers said they would refrain from using their horns on Sunday for four hours "as a gesture of goodwill". Police officers walk through protest crowd in front of the Parliament Hill, as truckers and supporters continue to protest coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine mandates, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, February 6, 2022. Photo: Reuters A senior member of the Liberal government said the ease with which the convoy shut down the area around the parliament and the seeming impotence of police was a "national humiliation". Senior opposition Conservatives who encouraged the protests, including taking selfies with truckers, did not reply to requests for comment. Last week, the party ditched its leader in part for not initially backing the blockade enthusiastically enough. Police in Ho Chi Minh City arrested a man who caused the death of two people after kicking their motorbike in a road rage incident last week. A source close to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper confirmed on Sunday that the police unit in Binh Tan District had apprehended Nguyen Thanh Huy, 25, who hails from the Mekong Delta province of An Giang. Preliminary information showed that Huy was riding his motorbike in Binh Tan District on Thursday night last week when he had a minor collision with 21-year-old N., who was carrying 13-year-old B. on a motorcycle. Huy and N. had an argument before the latter left the scene. The victims crash into a utility pole on the side of the street in this still photo taken from CCTV footage. However, Huy then chased after N. and B. to Tan Ky Tan Quy Street and kicked their motorcycle while they were traveling at high speed, causing them to crash into a utility pole on the side of the road. The crash killed N. on the spot, while B. succumbed to serious injuries despite treatment at the hospital. Huy left Ho Chi Minh City for his hometown in An Giang Province following the incident. Police in Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City later coordinated with their counterparts in Tan Chau Town, An Giang Province to arrest Huy. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Most ways leading to Ho Chi Minh City, including the Cat Lai Ferry, were crammed with people and vehicles returning to the city on Sunday after the Lunar New Year, or Tet, holiday. Vehicles began to fill all the entrances to the southern city from late Sunday afternoon, while cars lined up on a one-kilometer road section near the terminal of Cat Lai Ferry in Dong Nai Provinces Nhon Trach District, as noticed by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters. The enterprise managing the ferry said it had expected to receive 70,000 passengers at the terminal, which connects Dong Nai with Thu Duc City under Ho Chi Minh City, on Sunday. It therefore had to operate seven ferries continuously to transport people to Ho Chi Minh City from Dong Nai and other eastern localities. Vehicles are seen on the way leading to the Cat Lai Ferry, a gateway to enter Ho Chi Minh City from neighboring Dong Nai Province, February 6, 2022. Photo: Duc Phu / Tuoi Tre Traffic police officers in Dong Nai were deployed to the ferry area to regulate the traffic and ease the congestion. The same situation developed at the Long Phuoc toll station area on the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway, where long lines of cars were inching to get through the toll booth, located in Thu Duc City. On a section of National Highway 1A in Binh Chanh District, numerous motorbikes carrying people from the Mekong Delta region back to Ho Chi Minh City and other eastern provinces for work resumption. Employees of the Cat Lai Ferry in Dong Nai Province, Vietnam are seen selling tickets to passengers on February 6, 2022. Photo: Duc Phu / Tuoi Tre Phan Thanh, a woman back from Ca Mau, said the traffic on the highway was heavy but there was no severve congestion. The Tet break lasted nine days from January 29 until February 6. A long line of cars waiting for crossing the Dong Nai River through the Cat Lai Ferry to come back to Ho Chi Minh City on February 6, 2022. Photo: Duc Phu / Tuoi Tre This photo shows a lot of cars waiting to get through the Long Phuoc toll station on the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway on February 6, 2022. Photo: Duc Phu / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Many people in Quang Nam Province, central Vietnam visited clinics and hospitals to test for COVID-19 as required by their employers after a week-long Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday. The visitors queued at Song Khoe and Thien Nhan Clinics, as well as Minh Thien Hospital in Tam Ky City, Quang Nam on Sunday, as observed by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters. The people, mostly domestic migrant workers, wanted to take rapid COVID-19 tests to meet the requirements of their workplaces, which either are factories and industrial parks or are located in other localities. The province's daily record of hundreds of coronavirus cases during the Tet holiday from January 29 to Sunday was also the additional cause that drove the people to take tests for their health safety. People wait to take rapid COVID-19 tests in Quang Nam Province, Vietnam after the Lunar New Year holiday, February 6, 2022. Photo: L. Trung / Tuoi Tre Quang Nam reported more than 11,440 COVID-19 cases from January 1 to Saturday, including 8,958 community-based infections, according to the provincial committee for COVID-19 prevention and control. Above 1.17 million of the provinces 1.84 million people have received at least one vaccine dose while upwards of 1.13 million have been jabbed twice, according to the national COVID-19 vaccination portal. Millions of people around Vietnam moved from urban cities where they work back to their hometowns for family reunions as a tradition during Tet. Tourist attractions were filled with visitors throughout the nine-day Lunar New Year break after Vietnamese citizens were placed under movement restrictions to stall COVID-19 transmission for months last year. People wait to take rapid COVID-19 tests in Quang Nam Province, Vietnam after the Lunar New Year holiday, February 6, 2022. Photo: L. Trung / Tuoi Tre A man takes a rapid COVID-19 test in Quang Nam Province, Vietnam after the Lunar New Year holiday, February 6, 2022. Photo: L. Trung / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! In recent years, a wave of millennials in Vietnam have joined forces to build the countrys digital ecosystem from the ground up. Museum digitization During Hanois mandated COVID-19 social distancing periods, many people had spent time experiencing iMuseum VFA, an application that allows users to find information about artwork displayed and stored at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum in the capital city. Launched in April 2021, the application enables users to virtually check out 100 artworks on display at the museum, as well as collections highlighting national treasures, Vietnamese women, Hanoi in the past, and many more. iMuseum VFA does not just allow art enthusiasts to visit the museum from a distance, it also permits visitors to scan QR codes or input serial numbers that take them to webpages where they can learn a great deal about each piece. This is the first multimedia application which supports visitors to the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum in up to eight languages, iMuseum VFAs project manager Cai Thai Hoang Uyen said. With it, people from around the world can access our cultural heritage more easily. A visitor accesses iMuseum VFA, an application that supports users to find information about artworks displayed and stored at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum in Hanoi, Vietnam in this supplied photo. French visitor Jay Gottlieb expressed his delight in touring the museum using the application. He said it reminded him of a similar application used by the famous Louvre Museum in Paris. Jay Gottlieb, an aficionado of Vietnams fine arts, said he was unable to source much information when visiting the museum previously. However, with the [iMuseum VFA] applications language support, I can learn the stories behind the art," he said. "It makes Vietnamese fine arts much more attractive to me. Ill definitely recommend this to my friends. iMuseum VFAs project manager Uyen and her partners came up with the idea of digitizing the museum after attending a painting exhibition held by the Da Nang Fine Arts Museum in the central city of Da Nang in 2018. I was surprised to learn about Vietnam's amazing cultural heritage [at the event] but it seemed that many people could not access relevant information, 28-year-old Uyen explained. As a young person who loves Vietnamese culture and has the opportunity to master technology, I felt that I needed to do something to bring the Vietnamese culture to the world. It took Uyen and her team more than 160 trial versions to finalize the app. She shared that the project involved understating each art pieces artistic value, as well as the limitations of on-site visits, in order to ensure a proper digital transformation. The transition from in-person to online visits must really explore the best ways to bring the artworks to visitors, from building appropriate and useful features to having a user-friendly interface. The COVID-19 lever Necessity is the mother of invention. During the pandemic, many Vietnamese entrepreneurs have tried to leverage any opportunities they could find. Nguyen Ha San, the founder of MindX Technology School, a technology training center for kids and adults in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, said that the institute having to switch to online teaching due to COVID-19 has brought the school more chances to reach out to learners in other provinces and cities. Now, a quarter of MindX Technology Schools students are from Hai Phong, Binh Duong, Thanh Hoa, Ha Giang, Yen Bai, and even from abroad. Thanks to online lessons, the school is also able to invite instructors who are engineers working at some of the worlds top businesses, like Google. Online studying is not something very familiar to learners, their parents, and even the school, so we all had to learn and adapt, 28-year-old San said. However, it turned out that young learners are able to adapt much faster than adults. In fact, most of the children who learn using our online platform are still able to achieve the results as they did when they were learning offline. They were born and grew up in the digital era, so they are digital natives, not digital immigrants like adults." A young boy in Ho Chi Minh City is studying with MindX Technology School on his laptop in this supplied photo. Meanwhile, Ngo Anh Tuan, founder of BoardgameVN, one of the biggest board game brands in Vietnam, said the pandemic has forced his business to be more assertive with plans that it had hesitated with before. Digital transformation is a must in order to survive and develop in the industry, as it has brought Tuans business to newer, less competitive markets, according to the 32-year-old. One of BoardgameVNs biggest hits is 'Lop Hoc Mat Ngu: Show Your Star,' an animated series adapted from the best-selling comic series 'Lop Hoc Mat Ngu' and broadcast on YouTube for free since December 2020. According to Tuan, it is not something very big but his team was so proud because with 'Lop Hoc Mat Ngu,' they digitally transformed fans experience into an animated series which allowed viewers to meet their beloved characters in a more realistic setting. A supplied poster of BoardgameVNs Lop Hoc Mat Ngu: Show Your Star adapted from Lop Hoc Mat Ngu comic series Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnams Ministry of National Defense has set a goal to grow 2,469 hectares of forest and 3.3 million trees across the country in 2022. The goal was announced at a ceremony held at Regiment 916 under the Air Defense and Air Force Service on Sunday to launch the Tet (Lunar New Year) tree planting movement among the entire armed services. At the event, General Phan Van Giang, Minister of National Defense, expressed his belief that the tree planting and afforestation movement will achieve good results, contributing to the implementation of the program for planting one billion trees by 2025, under the message 'For a Green Vietnam,' initiated by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on April 1, 2021. To accomplish the above goal, the minister requested all subordinate agencies and units to continue raising awareness among all officers, soldiers, and employees about the role, significance, and humanity value of tree planting, afforestation, forest protection, and ecological environment protection, the minister said. General Phan Van Giang, Vietnams Minister of National Defense, is seen speaking at the launching ceremony for the Tet tree planting movement in the whole army on February 6, 2022. Photo: Thuy Du / Tuoi Tre Each army unit is required to set up its specific plan for tree planting and afforestation, General Giang said. Agencies and units stationed in urban areas facing difficult conditions in terms of land banks should prioritize growing large trees, perennial, and multi-purpose trees such as shade trees and valuable fruit trees. Along with the tree planting campaign, the minister requested that all army units protect and take care of trees while coordinating with departments of agriculture and rural development nationwide to apply scientific and technological advances to increasing the productivity, quality, and value of planted trees. Immediately after the ceremony, participants took part in the first drive of planting about 5,150 trees, mainly acacia, black star, and camphor. Tree planting will help reforest bare lands and barren hills, prevent and mitigate natural disasters, regulate the climate, improve the environment, create green, clean, and beautiful landscapes, and generate jobs, the minister said. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! 2022 horror film The Cellar, by Irish writer-director Brendan Muldowney and starring Elisha Cuthbert and Eoin Macken, will screen on Shudder in April. The film is set to have its world premiere at SXSW and is also the closing film of FrightFest Glasgow. The Cellar is a riveting story that we think will appeal to both horror lovers and broader audiences alike, and were delighted to work with RLJE Films to bring it to the widest possible audience, said Craig Engler, GM of Shudder, Brendan and this talented team have crafted a dark and haunting tale that were excited to share with audiences this April. Ever since we made the short film The Ten Steps, which The Cellar is based on, I have seen the profound effect and power it has had on audiences, said Muldowney. I am really excited to be working with Shudder and RLJE Films in bringing this feature-length version of the nightmare to a wider audience. The Cellar will have a day-and-date premiere on April 15th, streaming exclusively on Shudder in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand with a U.S. theatrical release through RLJE Films, a business unit of AMC Networks. Filmed on location in Roscommon, Ireland, The Cellar tells the story of Keira Woods (Cuthbert), whose daughter mysteriously vanishes in the cellar of their new house in the country. Keira soon discovers there is an ancient and powerful entity controlling their home that she will have to face or risk losing her familys souls forever. The Cellar is an Irish/Belgian co-production with Conor Barry of Savage Productions and Richard Bolger of Hail Mary Pictures serving as producers. It is co-produced with Benoit Roland from Wrong Men Films in Belgium. Patrick Ewald of Epic Pictures Group, Lesley McKimm of Screen Ireland, John Gleeson and Oisin ONeill for BCP Asset Management Sarah Dillon of the WRAP Fund and Patrick ONeill of Wildcard Distribution are executive producers. Production investment was provided by Screen Ireland, Epic Pictures, BCP Asset Management, The Western Region Audiovisual Producers Fund / WRAP Fund and Wallimage, BNP Paribas Fortis Film Finance, VOO & BETV. Friday 15 April on Shudder. In a BBC-Foreign Correspondent co-production, reporter Yalda Hakim returns to Afghanistan for the first time since the Taliban took power. The series returns to ABC this week. Hakim travels around Afghanistan and witnesses the devastating impact on ordinary people of two decades of war and new economic sanctions. She finds a war-ravaged country on the brink of starvation and economic collapse, and a new terror threat on the rise. In a paediatric hospital, she meets malnourished children and desperate families, and learns its not only the patients and their families struggling to survive. Many of the health workers here havent been paid for months. In the southern provinces of Kandahar and Helmand the Talibans traditional power base Hakim finds that the security promised by the Taliban remains elusive. Filming with the Taliban police, Hakim witnesses the emerging ISIS-K insurgency which is planting bombs in mosques and hospitals and infiltrating Taliban ranks. One woman who lost her husband in an ISIS-K attack says the children are too afraid to go to school, afraid of being caught up in an attack. Hakim discovers that the new government, desperate for cash, has broken its promise to stop opium production. At a poppy farm in Helmand, she speaks with farmers who explain how the high prices fetched by opium make it an irresistible cash crop. In the capital, Hakim finds the Taliban have reneged on another promise that they will allow all girls to continue to go to school. She speaks with a middle-class family who are lying low after protesting publicly for girls to have the right to attend school. The mother is now educating her young daughter at home. Finally, Hakim scores an exclusive interview with a rising star in the new Taliban regime, Anas Haqqani. The Haqqani name is infamous. The group has been linked to Al Qaida and been responsible for some of the most devastating terrorist attacks inside Afghanistan. Anas Haqqani says now the war is over. But what about reprisals against Afghans who helped foreign forces or supported the former government? Have the Haqqanis and the Taliban really changed? Or, after two decades of war, will Afghanistan become a pariah state once more and a hotbed for terrorism? 8pm Thursday on ABC. You have to admire the versatility of Natascha McElhone. Best known as David Duchnovys wife in Californication, she heads the cast of Foxtels new period drama Hotel Portofino, screening just weeks before her role in Paramount+ sci-fi Halo. Created by Matt Baker (Before We Die, Professor T) the series is set in 1920s Italy, shot in both Italy and Croatia. McElhone stars as Bella Ainsworth, daughter of a wealthy industrialist and manager of the boutique hotel, referred to as A very english hotel on the Italian Riviera. As the series opens with terribly Downton-esque music, you get the feeling this is hoping for a similar run. The family-run hotel sees wealthy Brits in the management upstairs roles and more than a few locals in the downstairs servants roles. The guests are similarly wealthy, allowing for both class-driven storylines and the finest of frocks -more on that later. Its no wonder Bella is running the show. Husband Cecil (Mark Umbers) has debts and a wet personality. hes hoping dashing son Lucien (Oliver Dench) will marry into money through guest Rose (Aussie Claude Scott-Mitchell), visiting with easily-shocked mother Julia Drummond-Ward (Lucy Akhurst). Viewers need to stay alert as a parade of characters are introduced, including daughter Alice ( Olivia Morris), Dr. Anish (Assad Zaman) who was with Lucien when he was wounded in WWI, Italian aristocrats Count Carlo Albani (Daniele Pecci) and son Roberto (Lorenzo Richelmy), difficult guest Lady Latchmere (Anna Chancellor), visiting Americans Jack Turner (Adam James) and Claudine (Lily Frazer) plus staffers cook Betty (Elizabeth Carling), porter Billy (Louis Healy) and more. Two other key roles include newly-arrived nanny Constance (Louisa Binder) and local councillor Signor Vincenzo (Pasquale Esposito) who quickly establishes himself as Bellas local nemesis. Rippling underneath the pleasantries and melodrama is the rising fascism movement under Mussolinis Italy. This is one of the more interesting aspects, if only briefly touched upon in early episodes. Much of the foreground drama is familiar stuff. Who has secrets? Who is getting intimate with whom? Backstories unfolding. Its largely been done many times before whether by Julian Fellowes hit series, some smashing Merchant Ivory films or even a bit of Agatha Christie -I kept waiting for a dead body to show up, leaving everyone as a suspect. Having said that, the backdrop is heavenly. There are alluring costal shots, pastel buildings, cool aquamarine waters, which will either make you want to book a Mediterranean holiday or resent it being denied to you for two years. The costumes are so pristine its like theyve only been taken off the rack for Episode 1 (theyre not exactly lived in). If the experience is something from a storybook, so too is some of the dialogue. Come for the scenery. Stay for the scenery. and youll have a perfectly pleasant stay. Hotel Portofino double episode Tuesday, February 8 at 8.30pm on FOX Showcase. Stan has announced it has extended its exclusive content partnership with MGM which has deep library of iconic films. The deal will see a slate of first-run series, including Billy the Kid, The Box, The Reunion, feature films House of Gucci, Licorice Pizza, Respect, The Addams Family 2 and in 2023, No Time To Die. Acting Stan CEO Martin Kugeler said: MGM is one of the worlds most instantly recognisable Hollywood studios, its iconic film and television content is celebrated around the world. We look forward to continuing our partnership with MGM and further building on Stans local leadership position in market with more first-run exclusive series and blockbuster films to complement our unrivalled lineup of Australian made originals. MGM President, Worldwide Television Distribution & Acquisitions, Chris Ottinger said: We are thrilled to continue our longstanding relationship with Stan through this robust content partnership, and look forward to sharing an incredible lineup of MGM films and series with even more audiences around the world. Stan recently signed new content agreements with NBCUniversal, Lionsgate and WarnerMedia. New and exclusive first-run MGM series featured in the agreement and coming soon to Stan include: Billy the Kid, an epic romantic-adventure series based on the famous American outlaw and written by Michael Hirst (Vikings, The Tudors) for MGMs premium U.S. cable network Epix; The Box, a supernatural psychological thriller starring Anna Friel (The Girlfriend Experience), from Shades of Blue creator Adi Hasak and directed by Steve Shill (The Wire) and John Brisinger (Suddenly); and the French-Riviera-set series The Reunion, based on Guillaume Mussos best-selling novel and starring Ioan Gruffudd (Liar, Harrow), Ivanna Sakhno (Pacific Rim Uprising) and Gregory Fitoussi (Spiral), with Bill Eagles (Beautiful Creatures, 12 Monkeys) set to direct. In addition, an extensive new slate of major Hollywood blockbusters will become available to stream on Stan in 2023, including director Ridleys Scotts acclaimed drama House of Gucci, starring Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Jared Leto, Jeremy Irons, Jack Huston, Salma Hayek and Al Pacino; Paul Thomas Andersons newly released coming-of-age comedy-drama Licorice Pizza, starring Alana Haim, Cooper Hoffman, Sean Penn, Tom Waits, Bradley Cooper and Benny Safdie; the celebrated biographical musical drama Respect, starring Jennifer Hudson as the legendary Aretha Franklin; and the upcoming animated family comedy The Addams Family 2, starring Oscar Isaac and Charlize Theron. As part of the newly extended partnership, the famed James Bond franchise is now available to stream on Stan with the most recent film, No Time To Die, starring Daniel Craig in his final performance as Bond, coming to the platform in 2023. Tyler, TX (75702) Today Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 86F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies this evening. Thunderstorms likely late. Low 69F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%. The world needs to act now to tackle Afghanistan's growing humanitarian crisis and help the children being locked up in prisons and sold by their desperate families to buy food because they are so hungry, England's children's commissioner has told Sky News. A Sky News team in the Taliban-run country has seen children as young as 12 inside Herat's prison - and many of them have said they are there for "stealing bicycles". Several parents also told Sky how they have resorted to selling their kidneys - and their children - so they can feed the rest of the family. Responding to the Sky News reports, Dame Rachel de Souza echoed former PM Gordon Brown's calls for western countries to commit funding to help those in need through a "pledging conference". Reports 'absolutely heartbreaking' "An international conference is the least we can do. This needs major action," the children's commissioner told Sky News. "It's absolutely heartbreaking to see those reports, but we mustn't turn away, and I think this is one of those situations where everybody - all of us - every government, internationally, must act to support those children. "It's just awful. To think of those children in the middle of winter... and the stories about selling young girls, is just awful and we really must act." She added: "We can't in 2022 have children experiencing this." Mr Brown, who was PM from 2007 to 2010, has warned that the United Nations says $4.4bn (3.2bn) is urgently needed and the money "must come now or Afghans will conclude the West will never help them - even in their hour of greatest need". Writing for the Mirror online he said Afghanistan is "now a land all but forgotten - and our eyes have turned away as the planet's biggest humanitarian disaster unfolds and people die, many frozen to death". He added: "Urgently needed aid to pay for food, healthcare and girls' schooling is not flowing in anything like the amounts needed even as TV crews, bravely taking on the critical role journalism can play in informing the world, are exposing the scale of the catastrophe: children dying in front of our eyes from starvation or frozen to death; fathers selling their kidneys; mothers selling their babies - all in a desperate attempt to feed those still alive." Story continues The former prime minister was speaking after viewing a Sky News report from the Taliban-run country, showing "malnourished, horribly weak" children and a toddler who had frozen to death. 'The tip of the iceberg' Several aid organisations fear millions of Afghans could starve as the winter progresses. Responding to Alex Crawford's Sky News report last week, Sir Mark Lowcock, a former UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, said: "That graphic, compelling, heartbreaking set of stories is really the tip of the iceberg of what's going on in Afghanistan right now. "The vast majority of the population are starving and that is the reason people resort to these extreme measures. "It's not at all appropriate to enforce a sort of collective punishment on the total population of the country because you don't like the regime that those people haven't chosen." Reports of organ selling 'extremely concerning' The UK Foreign Office has now pledged an additional 97m of emergency aid for Afghanistan this winter, which the department says will provide more than 2.7 million people with food, health services and water amid a worsening crisis. Last August, the UK government promised to double aid sent to the country, but up until now just 145 million out of the 286 million it said it would provide has been dispersed. The latest pledge came after Baroness Amos, another former UN under-secretary-general, told Sky News that if money wasn't urgently sent into the country, there would "be three million children under five who will face acute malnutrition by March. Of those, a million children will die." Foreign Secretary Liz Truss described a Sky News report showing how Afghans are resorting to desperate measures to feed themselves after the Taliban takeover as "extremely, extremely concerning". Follow the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker Russia has 70 per cent of the military capability needed for an invasion of Ukraine, according to US officials. Freezing weather expected in mid-February could see the ground harden, allowing Russian troops to bring in heavier equipment for a full-scale invasion in the coming weeks, the unnamed officials said. More than 100,000 troops have assembled themselves near to Ukraines border, but Vladimir Putin denies an attack is imminent. The officials who gave the 70 per cent figure did not provide any evidence for their conclusion but said it was based on intelligence, it has been reported in US media. A US Air Force transport plane transporting military equipment and troops is unloaded at Polands Rzeszow-Jasionka airport on Sunday (AFP via Getty Images) White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan has told US media that Russia could invade Ukraine within days or weeks but could still opt for a diplomatic path forward. Two anonymous US officials told Reuters that freezing weather conditions on the border would give Russian troops a peak window to move equipment between mid-February and the end of March. According to reports, the sources forecast that an attack could result in as many as 50,000 civilian deaths. They also said an invasion could see Kiev, Ukraines capital, fall within days and spark a humanitarian crisis as millions flee the former Soviet republic. It comes as US troops began arriving in nearby Poland in a bid to boost Natos forces in the region. President Biden announced plans to send nearly 3,000 additional military personnel to eastern Europe amid tensions over Russias military build-up near the Ukrainian border. (AFP via Getty Images) The first group landed at Rzeszow, in the countrys south-east, on Saturday. Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said minutes after the plane landed that this was the first group of American soldiers from an elite unit. More planes will be landing in the coming hours. The soldiers will operate in the southeastern part of our country, he added. Moscow, which denies it is planning an attack, says its troops are in the region for military drills. But Ukraine and its Western allies, including the UK and US, fear an attack is imminent. Story continues In 2014, Russia launched a military operation and annexed 10,000 square miles of Ukraine territory in its south Crimea peninsula, and backed a rebellion in the eastern Donbas region. The Kremlin has accused the Ukrainian government of failing to implement the Minsk agreement - an international deal to restore peace to the east, where Russian-backed rebels control swathes of territory and at least 14,000 people have been killed since 2014. Russia is insisting that Ukraine should not be allowed to join Nato. After a careless start in their 37-10 win against Italy in their Six Nations opener on Sunday, France scrum-half and stand-in captain Antoine Dupont has warned his team-mates that they must improve quickly ahead of this weekends clash with Ireland. Les Bleus ill-discipline cost them during the early stages against the Azzurri, who scored an early try through debutant Tommaso Menoncello, but a hat-trick from Gabin Villiere paved the way to victory in wet conditions for France. Impressive start from Ireland And although they eventually won their Six Nations opener by a big margin, Dupont conceded that a similar performance would not be good enough against Ireland, who started their campaign with an impressive 29-7 win over Wales. The supporters will have seen that we made a lot of errors this evening and a lot of poor decisions in difficult conditions, Dupont said. At least we can be satisfied with the result. We were imprecise in all parts of the pitch, we gave them things, penalties, forward passes. We have to correct those and be more serious and rigorous. The chances will then follow. We know Ireland is a big cheese, surely the favourites for the championship. They showed how good they are yesterday, we know what awaits us. Villiere got his first try late in the first half, then helped France make sure of victory in a more assured second-half showing. You have to be at your best on the first day, and there you go we were, it gives me great pleasure and does me good, especially in front of this crowd, the Toulon wing said. This endorses two weeks of hard work and the score reflects that, the bonus point in the bag. Therefore we will not spit on the performance. Italys performance was better than the final score suggested, and captain Michele Lamaro said there was plenty to build on ahead of next weeks match against England. Theyve created a lot, yet we were pretty good in defence, we were pretty good physically but we have to get consistency in the whole game, he said on the Six Nations website. Story continues The forwards did a pretty good performance, especially on the physical side. We faced them with all we had and thats all I can ask of the boys. Im happy for that but theres still lots of things to work on. READ MORE: Six Nations: Gabin Villiere hat-trick helps France to bonus-point victory over battling Italy The article Six Nations: Antoine Dupont calls for improvement from France against Ireland appeared first on Planetrugby.com. French President Emmanuel Macron is set to meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow this afternoon in an attempt to calm tensions on the Ukrainian border. "The priority for me on the Ukrainian question is dialogue with Russia and de-escalation," Mr Macron told reporters in France. "I'm very worried by the situation on the ground." At the same time, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is in Washington to meet US President Joe Biden as talks take place on both sides of the Atlantic to try to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis. 'Heading to Putin's lair' Over the past week, Mr Macron has made a frenetic series of phone calls with Western allies, as well as to Mr Putin and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy. On Sunday, a French presidency source said Mr Macron had spoken with Mr Biden on a 40-minute long call ahead of his trip to Moscow in a "coordination logic". The conversation is said to have allowed the two leaders to "share information about contacts made during the weekend" for good coordination ahead of the trip, the source said. Mr Macron's plan is to visit the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on Tuesday, staking a lot of political capital on a mission that could yield a disappointing outcome if he returns empty handed. "We're heading to Putin's lair, in many ways it's a throw of the dice," one source close to Mr Macron reportedly told Reuters news agency. Russia has placed more than 100,000 troops near its border with Ukraine, but Mr Putin has denied he is planning an attack. It has also demanded NATO and US security guarantees, including that NATO never admits Ukraine as a member. 'Freezing' Russia crisis ahead of Europe elections According to sources close to Mr Macron, the aim of his visit is to buy time and freeze the situation for several months, at least until a "Super April" of elections in Europe - in Hungary, Slovenia and, crucially for the French leader, in France. Story continues On the other side of the Atlantic, Mr Biden is set to meet Mr Scholz in the White House. Mr Scholz has said that Moscow would pay a "high price" in the event of an attack, but his government's refusal to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine, bolster its troop presence in eastern Europe or spell out which sanctions it would support against Russia has drawn criticism abroad and at home. In a recent interview with Sky News, Mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko went as far as to say that Germany's help has so far been "a joke". Follow the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker Meanwhile, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said that Russia could invade Ukraine "any day", and launching a conflict would come at an "enormous human cost." He said: "If war breaks out, it will come at an enormous human cost to Ukraine, but we believe that based on our preparations and our response, it will come at a strategic cost to Russia as well." Mr Macron's visit to Moscow and Ukraine comes less than three months before France's presidential election - and he has yet to announce whether he will run. Jeff Fortenberry. US House of Representatives Attorneys for GOP Rep. Jeff Fortenberry say he was confused when questioned by the FBI. A federal grand jury in October indicted him on charges of lying to the FBI in connection with an investigation into potential campaign finance violations. His attorneys plan to call up an expert who can speak to the fallibility of memory and aging. Attorneys representing GOP Rep. Jeff Fortenberry plan to argue the Nebraska lawmaker was confused because of his age during FBI questioning on potential campaign finance violations, according to new court documents. Pretrial briefs filed on Friday say his attorneys plan to call up an expert who can speak to the fallibility of memory and aging to contest the accusation that he lied to the FBI, The Omaha World-Herald reported. According to the report, his lawyers said they wanted his entire conversation with the FBI played for the jury to show agents' questions were repetitive and Fortenberry was confused rather than lying. Representatives for Fortenberry did not immediately return Insider's request for comment on Sunday. Prosecutors pushed back on the request, saying such an expert would only make common-sense observations about memory, according to the report. A federal grand jury in October indicted Fortenberry, 61, on charges of lying to the FBI. The indictment charged him with one count of "scheming to falsify and conceal material facts" and two counts of making false statements to investigators in connection with an FBI investigation into potential campaign finance violations. Fortenberry is among several lawmakers who investigators said received illegal campaign contributions from the Lebanese-Nigerian billionaire Gilbert Chagoury, violating federal laws banning foreign nationals from donating to political candidates. "A number of years ago, some very bad people illegally transferred money into my campaign, along with several other members of Congress," Fortenberry said in October in response to the accusations. "They were caught, they were punished and they've been held accountable, thankfully." Story continues According to an FBI affidavit filed earlier this year, the donations went to Fortenberry's campaign in March 2016. "I answered their questions. Later, we went back and answered further questions," Fortenberry said in a YouTube video. "I told them what I knew and what I understood. They've accused me of lying to them and are charging me with this. We're shocked. We're stunned. I feel so personally betrayed. We thought we were trying to help and so now we will have to fight." Fortenberry has pleaded not guilty to all charges. A hearing in the case is scheduled for Tuesday before US District Judge Stanley Blumenfeld Jr. of Los Angeles. A trial date has not yet been set, The Omaha World-Herald reported. Insider's Grace Panetta and Sonam Sheth contributed to this report. Read the original article on Business Insider We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Oil rigs off the coast of Norway near Stavanger. (Photo by: Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) THE Norwegian experience of oil extraction and the setting up of a reserve fund of approximately $1.15 trillion must be of interest to Scotland, as several of your correspondents have pointed out, but may not provide any lesson or cause for grief over a missed opportunity. The respective national circumstances are not comparable. Norways achievement was only made possible in a world order to which Norway has contributed very little and the maintenance of which has been borne disproportionately by Britain and the United States. That world order provided Norway with the operational shipping routes, international transport infrastructure, a world financial order, reliable trading treaties and effective import/export rules and military superiority over international malign forces. These factors enabled the exploitation of Norwegian oil and the accumulation of the oil reserve fund. Norway, on the other hand, has pursued a long-standing policy of military neutrality and exclusion of nuclear weapons and Nato infrastructure from its soil. If all of the nations of the free world had followed similar policies there would most likely be no free world and no place for a capitalistic economy such as Norway to thrive or even survive. This is now more than ever the case since Norway is reported now to derive more of its income from oil fund investment returns than it does from profits from its oil industry and is therefore more dependent upon a free capitalist world order than ever before. This is not to grudge the good fortune of Norway which has, after all, to contend with a frontier with the Russian federation and has, in any case, contributed generously to the promotion of international, peaceful, not military, objectives. It is not, however, a legitimate comparator for Scotland. Michael Sheridan, Strachur, Argyll. WHEN 50+1 WOULD BE FAIR THE most significant point in replies to my letter of February 3 by R Murray and Peter Russell (Letters, February 4) concerns whether a future Scottish independence referendum should be settled by 50 per cent +1 of the vote. Story continues Of course, as R Murray points out, General Elections come along every five years, but the fact is that of the 13 referenda organised by several Prime Ministers, not just David Cameron, 50%+1 has been the criterion for success, with a single notable exception. The Cunningham Amendment to the 1978 Scotland Act required 40% of the Scottish electorate to vote in favour of a Scottish Assembly, as well as 50%+1 of those voting. Therefore, of all the referenda, UK-wide or in a single UK nation (for example, Scotland) or part of a UK nation (for example, 1998 in Greater London), the only exception to this rule has concerned Scotland, which the unionist camp now seeks to extend to another independence referendum. Therefore, while 50%+1 has become tradition through custom and practice, in Scotland its just not adequate. Mr Russell is even more transparent as it is clear that his problem with 50%+1 is when he doesnt agree with a proposition, such as Brexit. Actually we agree about the folly of leaving the EU, but is it really democracy to call for greater obstacles for a proposition that you dont agree with? Or is it a symptom of realising that you are losing a debate? In that regard, his claim that I see no need for the nationalists to give us a detailed prospectus is both wrong and quite telling. My often-expressed view is that both propositions independence and the Union should be critically tested. Mr Russell, though, considers the Union case requires none. However, that aside, perhaps scrutiny is the answer, since if both propositions have been properly and thoroughly scrutinised in a public debate, devoid of baseless scare stories, and with equal access to the media, then, in principle, do we require an outcome above 50%+1? Merriam-Webster defines democracy as government by the people: majority rule. Majority, not majority + whatever percentage it is this week. If that majority has been achieved in open and fair debate, should it not be respected? Or do we look for inspiration to the late George Cunningham? Alasdair Galloway, Dumbarton. * THE UK is formed by one nation with a substantial population, and three other minority nationalities. With no written constitution, it should be incumbent on the largest population to respect the rights of minorities, allowing them the same rules, prerogatives and obligations they enjoy themselves. The UK had an EU referendum in 2016, then a UK government (Theresa May) offered to hold a second EU referendum in 2019, with neither a majority in Parliament nor electoral approval (mandate) for it. Messrs Murray and Russell think that Scotland should not be allowed a second independence referendum, but if one were to occur, then a simple pro-independence majority vote would not count. This is a dangerous nonsense, allowing no legitimate, democratic route to Scottish independence. Meanwhile, the Labour Party (whose nationalism it seems, is indeed, British) has stated it would stay neutral on a Northern Ireland border poll, whose constitutional right to self-determination is written into the UK constitution. Does Mr Russell agree with his party on this, and what size super majority does he advocate for that poll? GR Weir, Ochiltree. * I NOTE the debate in your Letters Pages regarding the merits of various election voting systems in the UK. Suffice to say that the British Establishment always picks a voting system to get the result they want. PR was introduced in Scotland to stop the possibility of the SNP sweeping the boards, both at Holyrood and in local councils, as demonstrated in the SNP waves of 1968 and 1974. In Northern Ireland, from 1921, a property vote and boundary gerrymandering kept Unionists in local council power. The current Northern Ireland system ensures a nationalist/unionist balance at Stormont. In multi-racial London, a unique 5% rule was added to PR to keep racist groups from gaining a major platform. True to form, British supporters in Scotland want to change the Westminster system because it no longer produces the result they want. Tom Johnston, Cumbernauld. BROWN'S WORK SHOULD BE HEEDED REBECCA McQuillan (The real threat to independence that could save the Union, The Herald, February 4) effectively counters the unrelenting nationalist opposition to giving the electorate a third option in a future referendum. She points out that two polls this month show a dead heat between Yes and No, the inference being that Scottish politics sometimes seems to be condemned to attrition, but thats only true if the third way option continues to be ignored. In this context I refer to the work of Our Scottish Future and its Commissions on Economic Growth (chaired by Professor Ronald MacDonald of Glasgow University), Health (Professor David Kerr, Oxford University), Environment (Robin Harper, former Green MSP) and Poverty. Each commission aims to show how cooperative working by governments within the United Kingdom can deliver the change we all seek. Furthermore, in the first of a series of podcasts Gordon Brown discusses with the mayors of Greater Manchester and Liverpool City Region the nature of the UK, and on how their cities can work more closely with cities and towns in Scotland. This is work of real substance which should be welcomed by citizens of all party allegiances and none as a valuable and ongoing contribution to the constitutional debate. John Milne, Uddingston. PAY ATTENTION TO AFGHANISTAN AFGHANISTAN, not Ukraine, is the crisis the world should be acting on now. Not only are millions starving and many dying of lack of basic medicines, partly due to western sanctions, but many desperate parents are selling their children as the only way to avoid them starving to death. The posturing by Russia and Nato governments over Ukraine is mostly an attempt by both sides to distract from domestic political issues. Even the Ukrainian President has said that the main effect of hyping up the prospects of a Russian invasion is to damage his countrys economy by worrying investors. The US Government has told banks to allow money transfers to Afghanistan for aid, but banks may also need guarantees they wont be prosecuted if some transfers arent for what they claim to be for. The Taliban certainly share the blame, but more needs to be done by everyone in power. Ukraine has 200,000 troops, 400,000 veterans, thousands of tanks and artillery pieces, plus anti-tank and anti-air arms and training and the threat of sanctions on Russia from Nato countries to help it defend itself. Afghan children and their parents have no one defending them. The media needs to focus first on saving lives, not on promoting the agendas of governments, nor even Boris Johnsons farcical Partygate saga. The suffering of the people of Afghanistan and the need to donate to the Disasters and Emergency Committee (DEC), plus the need to get governments to act to loosen sanctions and provide aid themselves, should be in the headlines constantly until they do whats needed. Some, limited sanctions are required to stop the Taliban getting arms and money for them, but the whole population of Afghanistan must not be made to suffer any more. Duncan McFarlane, Carluke. Libcoin Libcoin to Launch Ethereum-Based Tokens Singapore, Singapore, Feb 7, 2022 - (ABN Newswire) - The digital economy is meeting head-on with the drive toward more "greening" of the world's electromobility estem - in fact, redefining it. Responding to renewed emphasis on infrastructure development in its many forms, a group of financial, engineering, banking, and legal professionals have come together to launch Libcoin (LIB), a "governance and reward" crypto token. The green LIB tokens will be accessed through Ethereum blockchain technology, soon to convert to Ethereum 2.0 upon its release. An initial exchange offering (IEO) comprises 15% of the total token supply to investors through crypto currency exchanges that will number in the dozens. Adding an initial dex offering (IDO), also over Ethereum, is planned. Investment in LIB tokens will support establishment of India's first lithium-ion manufacturing Gigafactory (where the Libcoin initiative begins). India has set an aggressive goal of reaching a greater percentage of electric motor vehicles on its roads by 2030 and plans for the LIB-funded Gigafactory and an EV plant to be constructed by Australia-based Avass Group are under way. Avass is a subsidiary of the Duggal Family Trust, broad-based international business conglomerate active across many industry sectors, with special interest in advancing the causes of clean and renewable energy projects and initiatives. The Avass Touring Bus holds the Guinness World Record for an Electric Bus travelling more than 1,000 km on a single charge, and Avass is also the first Australian Electric Vehicle manufacturer to obtain a World Manufacturer ID (WMI) and be registered with the Department of Transport and Regional Services (DOTARS). Libcoin Pte Ltd, registered in Singapore, where DFT centralizes much of its activity, chooses India as its launch point due to that country's high standing in world auto sales and as a ripe market for EV sector growth. In addition to India, the Libcoin launch will include Indonesia, whose government demonstrates similar enthusiasm for DFT's ideas and Libcoin's plan. Other markets will follow, with active discussions begun before year end 2021. A small supply of LIB tokens will be sold at a discount to strategic investors, inversely proportional to the vesting schedules of long-term investors. A portion of net profits will divert to an annual token "burn" that will be monitored by a top-tier auditing company. Early investors will have direct stake in the growth of Libcoin. Commenting on the launch, Libcoin Executive President George H. Gregor states, "Libcoin comes to the right place at the right time. India is the place, and our talent-integrated team of managers, operators, and financial engineers coalesce just as attention upon clean and renewable energy in improving countries' infrastructures is being more keenly fixed. We believe that Libcoin is the first crypto asset to offer its holders both financial opportunity and exposure to the thriving battery technology industry. Advanced storage batteries, electric vehicles of all types, and charging stations. Yes, their time is now. . . and here through Libcoin we are uniting the 'twin technologies' of EV excellence with the financial means of a governance payback token model. All in one renewable energy sector - for the benefit of people as citizens and as investors." Story continues About Marston Webb International: Marston Webb International is a highly respected pioneer in the field of International Investor Relations and Public Relations. Throughout its three decades of operation, Marston Webb has represented the London Stock Exchange (AIM), Bahamas' Financial Secretariat, Toronto Stock Exchange, Madrid Stock Exchange, Prague Stock Exchange, Bermuda's Ministry of Finance as well as several UN Economic Missions. As the registered IR agency for various exchanges throughout the world, Marston Webb has built a substantial database of high net worth corporations and emerging companies (CEO's, CFO's, COO's and Chairman). Contact: Victor Webb Marston Webb International EMAIL: marwebint@cs.com Source: Marston Webb International Copyright (C) 2022 ABN Newswire. All rights reserved. French President Emmanuel Macron Picture date: Monday November 1, 2021.. French president Emmanuel Macron is set to hold talks in Moscow in a bid to to help de-escalate the tense situation around Ukraine. The concentration of an estimated 100,000 Russian troops near Ukraine has fuelled Western worries that it heralds a possible invasion, with White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan warning on Sunday that Russia could invade Ukraine "any day", triggering a conflict that would come at an "enormous human cost". Russia has denied any plans to attack its neighbour, but is urging the US and its allies to bar Ukraine and other ex-Soviet nations from joining Nato, halt weapons deployments there and roll back Nato forces from eastern Europe. Washington and Nato have rejected the demands. Mr Macron, who is set to meet in the Kremlin with Russian president Vladimir Putin before visiting Ukraine on Tuesday, said last week that his priority is "dialogue with Russia and de-escalation". Before heading to Moscow, Mr Macron had a call on Sunday with US president Joe Biden. The leaders discussed "ongoing diplomatic and deterrence efforts in response to Russia's continued military build-up on Ukraine's borders, and affirmed their support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity", the White House said in a statement. The French presidency said Mr Macron sought to ensure "good co-ordination" with Mr Biden in the call. In an interview with French newspaper Journal du Dimanche published on Sunday, Mr Macron said that "we won't get unilateral gestures but it is indispensable to prevent a degradation of the situation before building confidence gestures and mechanisms". He added: "The geopolitical objective of Russia today is clearly not Ukraine, but to clarify the rules of cohabitation with Nato and the EU. "The security and sovereignty of Ukraine or any other European state cannot be a subject for compromise, while it is also legitimate for Russia to pose the question of its own security." Story continues Continuing the high-level diplomacy, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is set to meet with Mr Biden on Monday for talks expected to focus on the Ukrainian stand-off. Mr Scholz is set to travel to Kyiv and Moscow on February 14 and 15. Mr Scholz has said that Moscow would pay a "high price" in the event of an attack, but his government has faced criticism over its refusal to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine, bolster its troop presence in eastern Europe or spell out which sanctions it would support against Russia if it invades. On Sunday, German defence minister Christine Lambrecht raised the possibility that the country could send more troops to Lithuania to reinforce its presence on Nato's eastern flank. Mr Biden has ordered additional US troops to be deployed to Poland, Romania and Germany, and a few dozen elite US troops and equipment were seen landing on Sunday in south-eastern Poland near the border with Ukraine, with hundreds more infantry troops of the 82nd Airborne Division set to arrive. In 2015, France and Germany helped broker a peace deal for eastern Ukraine in a bid to end the hostilities between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed separatists that erupted the previous year following the Russian annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. The agreement signed in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, helped stop large-scale fighting, but efforts at a political settlement have stalled and frequent skirmishes have continued along the tense line of contact in Ukraine's eastern industrial heartland called Donbas. The leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany last met in Paris in December 2019 in the so-called Normandy format summit, but they failed to resolve main conflicting issues. Amid the tensions over the Russian military build-up, presidential advisers from the four countries held talks in Paris on January 26, but they did not make any visible progress and agreed to meet again in Berlin in two weeks. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has pushed for another four-way Normandy summit, but the Kremlin said a meeting of leaders would only make sense if the parties agree on the next steps to give a special status to the rebel east. Mr Putin and his officials have urged France, Germany and other Western allies to encourage Ukraine to fulfil its obligations under the 2015 agreement, which envisaged a broad autonomy for the rebel east and a sweeping amnesty for the separatists. The agreement stipulated that only after those conditions are met would Ukraine be able to restore control of its border with Russia in rebel regions. The Minsk deal was seen as a betrayal of national interests by many in Ukraine and its implementation has stalled. Amid the latest tensions, Ukrainian authorities have strongly warned the West against pressuring Ukraine to implement the agreement. Last week, Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, told The Associated Press that an attempt by Ukraine to fulfil the Minsk deal could trigger internal unrest that would play into Moscow's hands. Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba noted that Moscow wants the rebel regions reintegrated into Ukraine in order to use them to effectively block the country's pro-Western aspirations, vowing that "this is not going to happen". U.S. troops arrive in Poland to reinforce Eastern Europe allies U.S. Military vehicles are parked outside the G2A Arena near the Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport WARSAW (Reuters) - A plane carrying U.S. troops landed in Poland on Sunday, a Reuters witness said, as Washington reinforces its NATO allies in Eastern Europe amid a Russian military build-up on Ukraine's border. U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday ordered nearly 3,000 extra troops to Poland and Romania, as Washington moves to reassure jittery NATO allies. The Pentagon said that around 1,700 service members, mainly from the 82nd Airborne Division, would deploy from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to Poland. Sunday's arrival of the C17 aircraft followed a plane carrying the commanding general of the 82nd Airborne Division, U.S. Army Major General Christopher Donahue, which landed on Saturday at Rzeszow-Jasionka airport, and a few planes with U.S. military equipment and an "advance group". It was not immediately clear how many troops arrived, but a C17 aircraft is "designed to airdrop 102 paratroopers and their equipment", according to the U.S. Air Force website. "Our national contribution here in Poland shows our solidarity with all of our allies here in Europe and obviously during this period of uncertainty we know that we are stronger together," Donahue said on Sunday. Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said minutes after the plane landed that this was the first group of American soldiers "from an elite unit". "...More planes will be landing in the coming hours. The soldiers will operate in the southeastern part of our country," he added. Russia has denied plans to invade Ukraine but has deployed more than 100,000 troops near Ukraine's borders and says it could take unspecified military measures if its demands are not met, including a promise by NATO never to admit Ukraine. (Reporting by Anna Koper and Kuba Stezycki; Editing by Nick Macfie) Azerbaijan has released eight Armenian prisoners in an effort to facilitate new talks with France and the European Union on the border conflict between the two countries, said French President Emmanuel Macron and European Council President Charles Michel. "The release by Azerbaijan and reparation to Armenia of 8 Armenian detainees is another sign of positive developments following the meeting with @EmmanuelMacron, @azpresident and @NikolPashinyan," wrote Charles Michel on Twitter. "The EU supports stability and prosperity in the region," added Michel. Macron added that France had sent over a plane to pick up the released Armenian prisoners. "Thanks to our diplomats as well as our soldiers who were mobilised for this operation," wrote Macron on Twitter. Last October, Azeri troops drove ethnic Armenian forces out of territory they had controlled since the 1990s in and around the Nagorno-Karabakh region, before Russia brokered a ceasefire. Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia had subsequently said last November that they had signed a deal to end the military conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region after more than a month of bloodshed (REUTERS) Former leader of the Conservative Party Michael Howard speaks to Guto Harri (right) (PA Wire) Boris Johnsons new spin doctor said his bosss integrity is hard to judge in comments that have resurfaced. Guto Harri became the new director of communications for Downing Street on Saturday after former incumbent Jack Doyle dramatically left the post earlier this week. However, it has emerged that Mr Harri gave a critical interview about Mr Johnsons character on the BBC Newscast podcast on January 26. Mr Harri was speaking in anticipation of the release of the Sue Gray report into parties in No 10 and across Whitehall during lockdown. He said Mr Johnsons competence could be bolstered if you change the team convincingly and comprehensively. He added: So youre left with the issue of integrity and thats the one thats hard to judge and different people will come to different conclusions. He also questioned the Prime Ministers judgement amid claims he was involved in the decision to evacuate animals from Afghanistan following the fall of Kabul. Mr Johnson denies involvement in the evacuation despite leaked emails appearing to show the opposite. Mr Harri said: I think that is a very serious one. The issue (of) whether you put dogs ahead of human beings on an escape flight out of Afghanistan, for me, is far more important than cake in Downing Street. And if this allegation is as appears then its a very, very serious issue in terms of integrity, competence, priorities, and indeed it raises that other spectre that never goes away of who is influencing him and we all know whos being accused of doing so on this occasion, because she is an animal lover more than him really. Asked if he was referring to the PMs wife Carrie Johnson, he replied: You said it, not me. Mr Harri told Newscast Mr Johnson had always underestimated how critical it is to have a fantastic team around him. He said: I think the challenge for Boris, and this will be one of the questions for his party now, there is no doubt hes one of those really creative players say a nifty little winger for those of you who like rugby who thinks that even when the team is doing badly and theyre going backwards, and its horrible conditions, that if only he gets the ball he can run through everything and score a try. Story continues Now thats great if youre a winger, and its great for your glory, but Boris has always underestimated how critical it is to have a fantastic team around him, and I dont think even if he can pull this back, he will be allowed to do it unless he promises to his party that hes going to overhaul that machinery. He said he did not think the PM necessarily needs to change, but he needs to cover his weaknesses. He added: So somebodys got to corner him, get him to really work out what he wants, and then communicate that with authority to everybody else so that it gets done. Earlier in January, Mr Harri appeared on Newsnight and said Mr Johnson needed to issue a grovelling apology a really grovelling apology over the partygate saga. He dubbed the scandal toxic and told the BBC programme: I think we can safely assume that there were many more gatherings like this because it seems to be a pattern. Somebody needs to put them in context and explain, yes maybe theyre unforgivable but theyre also understandable at the time in some ways. The problem at the moment is that nobody seems to be getting a grip, and the Prime Minister has to invite an inquiry to conclude what went on in his own house. The Foreign Secretary has planned a trip to Moscow (Aaron Chown/PA) (PA Wire) Conservative MP Robert Jenrick has questioned the Foreign Secretarys planned trip to Moscow this week amid the Ukraine crisis. Liz Truss has scheduled a trip to Russian capital to meet with her counterpart, Sergei Lavrov. Speaking to BBC Radio 4s The Westminster Hour programme, the former housing secretary said: Im not sure it is actually wise to go to Moscow. I think that honours Vladimir Putin and plays into his hand I just question the good sense of going to Moscow and honouring Vladimir Putin at a time when he is so aggressive towards Ukraine. Im not sure thats wise. On Sunday, Ms Truss said the depths of Russias attempts to threaten to Ukraine were clear. Russias actions show their claims to have no plans to invade are false, she wrote in a Twitter post. We and our allies stand united in support for Ukraine and our resolve to raise the cost to Russia if they take further action. Ms Truss missed a trip to Ukraine with the Prime Minister last week after testing positive for Covid-19. The Foreign Secretarys visit to Russia would be the first to the country since 2017, when Boris Johnson met with Mr Lavrov. Had to postpone my Ukraine visit this week but will be visiting as soon as possible. I spoke on the phone to @DmytroKuleba on support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. The UK and our allies stand with Ukraine. https://t.co/8Py53E17y6 pic.twitter.com/O4pcyn6sjZ Liz Truss (@trussliz) February 2, 2022 It comes after a former oligarch said the UK providing weapons and training to Ukrainian forces shows to Putin that the war wont be such an easy ride. Story continues Exiled Russian businessman Mikhail Khodorkovsky said bolstering Ukraine defences was the most important way that London could show solidarity with Kyiv in the face of Russian aggression on the border. Speaking on Trevor Phillips On Sunday on Sky News, Mr Khodorkovsky was asked whether putting more pressure on the assets of allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin in the UK would deter Moscow from launching an invasion in Ukraine. The pressure on the assets and the properties of the Russians in Britain has two sides, he said. Putins clique illegally pressurise the British political system, its done in numerous ways. There are legal firms who work for them, sometimes its direct influence on British governing bodies. Its really important to fight this, its a dangerous thing for Britain. Thats one part of it the influence of Putins clique. The other thing is an ethical issue, its a question for British society whether its happy and whether the system is happy to have dirty money on the British territory. As far as Putin is concerned these assets are in enemy territory, he sees this as a betrayal unless these people are influencing the British system. Ukraine Russian tensions Prime Minister Boris Johnson with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, Ukraine (Peter Nicholls/PA) But Mr Khodorkovsky added: More important is supplying weapons and training Ukrainians that shows to Putin that the war wont be such an easy ride if hes planning one. On Saturday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson discussed the situation with French President Emmanuel Macron. They agreed that finding a diplomatic solution to the current tensions must remain the overriding priority, a No 10 spokesman said. US army troops unloading vehicles from a transport plane after arriving in south-eastern Poland, on Sunday (Czarek Sokolowski/AP) (AP) The Prime Minister and President Macron stressed that Nato must be united in the face of Russian aggression. They agreed to continue to work together to develop a package of sanctions which would come into force immediately should Russia further invade Ukraine. European leaders are also due to travel to both Moscow and Kyiv in a bid to calm tensions on the Ukrainian border. Mr Macron is set to visit Moscow on Monday and Kyiv on Tuesday, while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will travel to Kyiv on February 14 and Moscow on February 15. Popular airline re-launches flights from Glasgow to Reykjavik A BUSY flight from Glasgow bound for Reykjavik departed this morning to restart the route between the two cities. Popular airline Jet 2 relaunched package deals to Iceland today, flying out for three nights on February 28 and for four nights on March 31 which will allow holidaymakers to take full advantage of seeing the Northern Lights. The Nordic island also boasts an abundance of natural sights such as volcanic springs and the famous Blue Lagoon thermal pool. READ MORE: UK weather: Met Office snow update for February amid '-5 freeze and Arctic assault Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: We are delighted to be resuming our programme of dedicated trips to Iceland from Glasgow Airport. "As travel starts to return to normal, we are seeing strong demand for flights and holidays to this bucket list destination as customers in the region look to make the most of being able to enjoy the unrivalled natural wonders of Iceland once again. "With a choice of three once-in-a-lifetime trips available from Glasgow Airport, our customers have the biggest and best flexibility when it comes to visiting the Nordic Island with Jet2.com and Jet2CityBreaks. It was a game of two penalties. Senegal's star striker Sadio Mane missed a spot kick seven minutes into their Africa Cup of Nations final against Egypt. Nearly three hours later, he buried the penalty in the shoot-out that brought his country its first trophy in the 65-year history of the competition. What came in between the nadir and the apotheosis ranged from gruelling to excruciating and downright frustrating. Senegal, beaten finalists in 2002 and 2019, took the game to an Egypt side who appeared to revel in absorbing the pressure. Star Instead of playing to the strengths of their skipper and wonder striker Mo Salah, the tactic hatched and honed against lesser opposition throughout the tournament appeared to privilege defensiveness and negativity. Even after the reprieve of Gabaskis early penalty save, Egypt continued to live dangerously. Ismaila Sarr, a substitute in Senegals surge through the knockout stages, started down the right and his rangy running provided two tantalizing crosses into the box. Miss Mane failed to connect on both occasions. Sarr even had a crack from distance but the lash failed to trouble an increasingly impregnable Gabaski. The match settled into a familiar pattern. Assaults on the Egypt goal and then destruction on the counter-attack. On one such foray down the right just before half-time, Salah twisted his way in between two defenders and shaped to cross but instead fired a shot towards the top right hand corner of Edouard Mendys goal. It was palmed away. Egypt showed they could threaten along other avenues. With 15 minutes remaining and the game scoreless, Marwan Mehany muscled his way in front of Abdou Diallo but his header dropped wide of Mendys left post. It was the start of sustained menace. Egypt's midfield kept the ball, diligently attempting to puch a hole in the Senegalese rearguard. The skill begged the question: why play like barbarians? Saves Senegal maintained their nobility. In the opening minutes of extra-time Cheikh Dieng was sent clear down the left but he failed to ram his shot past Gabaski. Story continues He flung himself to his left minutes later to beat away Diengs goal-bound header. It was one of the parries that earned him the man-of-the-match award. Mendy showed his mettle pushing Mehanys drive over the bar. It fizzled out after 120 minutes and no goals to the one-on-one. For the third time in the knockout stages, Egypt broached a penalty shoot-out with a goalkeeper defying the space-time continuum. Gabaski was close to Senegal's first two penalties but could not keep them out. Mohamed Abdelmonem hit the post with Egypt's second kick but Gabaski kept his team in contention saving Senegal's third from Bouna Sarr. Egypt defender Mahmoud Alaa Eldin slotted in to level proceedings at 2-2. Dieng finally outwitted his nemesis to make it 3-2 to Senegal and Mendy dropped swiftly to his right to stop Mohanad Lasheen's effort. That paved the way for Mane. He embraced a few of his teammates and strode towards legend. "We're champions of Africa," beamed Senegal coach Aliou Cisse who dedicated the victory to the Senegalese people. "It's was a long and difficult match. We missed the penalty and several other good chances but we never gave up. I think that shows the mentality of this team." Photo credit: simon_leviev_official/Instagram Netflix is completely owning the true crime game lately, and the streaming service has a new documentary you definitely dont want to miss. Its called The Tinder Swindler and it tells the story of a man who claimed to be Simon Leviev, a son of a diamond billionaire. 'Simon' ran through a series of cons to get millions of dollars from women he met on Tinder, jumping to the next victim before a woman realises whats actually happened. The story is fascinating and terrifying at onceand its already trending on Netflix despite only being released on Wednesday. But who is the man behind The Tinder Swindler and where is he now? Heres what you need to know. What is the Tinder Swindlers real name? While he usually went by the name Simon Leviev, the Tinder Swindler's real name is Shimon Yehuda Hayut. Shimon has a criminal record and had to flee to Israel, where he grew up, when he was in his 20s. How did the Tinder Swindler con women? Several women shared in the documentary that Simon claimed to be the son of diamond billionaire Lev Leviev, who is a real person. (Leviev reportedly has nine kids, BTW.) Simon would find women on Tinder and blow them away with things like rides on private jets and stays at luxury hotels. But eventually, he would fake some kind of crisis and get them to cough up thousands upon thousands of dollars to help him outranging from $20,000 (15K) to more than $140,000 (103K). By the time a woman realises shes been the victim of an elaborate con, hes already moved on to the next woman. Simon swindled women around the world. Simon moved through women from all over the worldincluding London, Rome, Barcelona, Mykonos, and Tel Aviv. Photo credit: Pernilla Sjoholm/Instagram He fled Israel to avoid charges. Simons criminal behaviour goes back more than a decade. He was charged in Israel with theft, forgery, and fraud in 2011 for cashing stolen checks, according to The Times of Israel. But, the paper says, he fled the country before he was sentenced. Story continues Photo credit: TORE KRISTIANSEN - Getty Images He was caught and convicted in Finland for defrauding women and was sent back to Israel in 2017, but he fled the country again, the paper says. Did Simon go to jail? Simon was arrested in Athens, Greecethanks to intel provided by his victims Cecilie Fjellhy, Pernilla Sjoholm, and Ayleen Charlotte. The Times of Israel says that he was imprisoned in Israel after pleading guilty to fraud charges, but was released after serving five months of a 15-month sentence 'reportedly as part of a program aimed at reducing the prison population amid fears of a coronavirus outbreak among inmates.' So, where is Simon Leviev now? After he got out of jail, Simon started posting photos of himself doing rich people things on Instagramlike hanging out in private jets, smoking a cigar on a yacht, and hanging out in an expensive-looking car. FWIW: He hasnt posted since October, although it's unclear if that's related to the documentary or something else. Simon actually did an interview with Israels News 13 where he said he was 'wronged for things I never did. I always loved the good life, I will not lie.' When he was asked if he had any connection with the Leviev family, Simon said, 'I did not know there was a copyright to this family name.' Does Simon have a girlfriend? So, he's not on Tinder anymore. But based on social media, he seems to have settled down with an Israeli model, according to the Metro. Her identity is not known, and no one knows how long they've been together. You Might Also Like The University of North Georgia (UNG) will host the 25th annual Hoag Lecture Series featuring Dr. Susan Neiman at 4 p.m. Feb. 16 via Zoom. Registration is required at go.ung.edu/hoaglectureseries22. Neiman, an Atlanta native, will discuss her recent work "Learning From the Germans: Race and the Memory of Evil," in which Neiman explores how Germans commemorate their history through monuments and symbols and how Americans commemorate theirs. Dr. James Badger, director of UNG's Center for Language Education and professor in UNG's College of Education, recommended Neiman for the series. "Recent discussions over the last few years have been looking at Confederate statues and monuments, raising questions for many about the presence and place of those historical symbols. The result has been some of them have been removed because of their connection to the past," Badger said. "In Neimans recent book, she describes the many statues and monuments in Germany to Jews who were killed during the Holocaust and absence of Nazi memorials to explain how Germans confront their past." Neiman is director of the Einstein Forum. She earned her Ph.D. and master's degrees in philosophy at Harvard University and also completed graduate work at the Free University of Berlin. Previously Neiman was professor of philosophy at Yale University and Tel Aviv University. She has authored several works, including "Slow Fire: Jewish Notes from Berlin"; "The Unity of Reason: Rereading Kant"; "Evil in Modern Thought"; "Moral Clarity: A Guide for Grown-up Idealists"; and "Why Grow Up?". "Her credentials and her publications are vast. She speaks to both the academic community and the general public," Badger said. "Her ideas are disseminated to a wider population, not just academics." The aim of the series is to reflect former UNG President Merritt E. Hoag's educational philosophy that higher education should educate students beyond the traditional classroom environment and enable them to develop intellectual fullness by encouraging learning in a variety of disciplines. University of North Georgia (UNG) students recently partnered with the Dahlonega Cemetery Committee to put permanent markers on the unmarked graves of about 280 African Americans buried in Mount Hope Cemetery in the decades after the town was founded in 1833. Often overlooked are the stories of people of color, some free, and others who were enslaved, who found their way to Dahlonega as a result of the Georgia Gold Rush of 1829. Rosann Kent, director of the Appalachian Studies Center and senior lecturer at UNG, has worked with the city on a variety of initiatives in the cemetery, but this was one of her favorites. She enlisted some of her Appalachian studies students and welcomed Honors Program freshmen to assist in honoring the memory of people whose initial markers were obscured by time. "We all have a story and we all deserve to be remembered," Kent said. Chris Worick, chairman of the Dahlonega Cemetery Committee, expressed gratitude for UNG's assistance. He enjoys helping students learn more about the people buried in Mount Hope and also how to clean headstones. Some of the Honors Program students have displayed academic posters at City Hall highlighting their work in the cemetery. JEFFERSON CITY Does the next director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services need to be a Christian? That is the question after Gov. Mike Parson said in a statement Tuesday that he would only choose someone for the job who shared the same Christian values as him. Parson, a Republican, was blasting conservative hard-liners in the Missouri Senate who had just jettisoned his pick for state health director, Donald Kauerauf, a pro-vaccine and pro-mask public health professional with 35 years of experience. But in defending his pick, Parsons statement, which his office also shared on social media, prompted a whole new round of criticism. Im curious Governor, is this a standard you traditionally use? state Rep. Adam Schwadron, a St. Charles Republican, asked on Twitter. Article VI of the US Constitution strictly prohibits a religious test as a qualification to any office or public trust. Considering that, I then must ask the question. Would someone who is Jewish, such as myself, be considered for nomination? In his statement, Parson said, Don is a public health expert that is on record opposing masking requirements and COVID-19 vaccine mandates. He is outspokenly pro-life and morally opposed to abortion. Missourians know that I share these beliefs and would not have nominated someone who does not share the same Christian values. Brian Kaylor, the editor of Word&Way, a Jefferson City-based publication founded in 1896 and focused on the Baptist faith and other topics, said in an interview he found Parsons statement inappropriate but also not surprising. Its a little shocking just to see the governor make such an explicitly sectarian claim about who he would pick for this type of position, said Kaylor, who is a board member of the St. Louis chapter of the Americans United for Separation of Church and State, according to his online biography. Kaylor also referenced a news release Parson had sent earlier defending Kauerauf, saying he is guided by our Missouri principles: Christian values, family values, and love for this nation. He was already kind of framing this as a you all should just vote for my guy because Im a Christian, hes a Christian, were all Christians, Kaylor said. The only religious reference in the United States Constitution is that there be no religious test for office, Article VI, Kaylor said. This is a public office. So it is unconstitutional to suggest that someone should be a Christian to be the director of the states DHSS. This is a state where this director is going to be serving people of many faiths and no faith, Kaylor said, and so I think thats very concerning that a governor would send a message that only Christians need to apply to this type of position, which not only impacts any applicants, or people who might be chosen, but also sends a message to the rest of the state that maybe youre a second-class citizen. Chuck Hatfield, a Jefferson City attorney who has worked in state government, said Parsons use of Christian values instead of plainly saying he would only hire a Christian could be the states saving grace if and when jilted job applicants start filing employment discrimination lawsuits because of the statement. Religious discrimination in employment is illegal under both federal and state law. He pulled up just short of saying, Im not going to hire someone whos not a Christian, Hatfield said. But by saying Im only going to hire people who share my Christian values, as opposed to my values, I think he does open the state up (to lawsuits) if there are folks out there who, you know, do not share the Christian religion whove not been hired for jobs. Theyve got a plausible claim that perhaps Missouri discriminates against folks who arent Christians, Hatfield said. Asked if saying he would hire someone with Christian values instead of saying he would only hire a Christian would save the state from legal liability, Kaylor said he wasnt a lawyer but thought the message was pretty clear. Who shares Christian values thats not a Christian? Kaylor asked. If hes talking about some generic nonsectarian values, those arent Christian values, right? If hes talking about being pro-life, well, there are non-Christians who are pro-life and there are some Christians who are not pro-life. As a minister, I would suggest that you really cant hold Christian values and not be a Christian, Kaylor said. The chief of all Christian values from the early church, and for 2,000 years, is that declaration, the foundational declaration, that Jesus is Lord. Kelli Jones, a spokeswoman for Parson, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday regarding the governors remarks. The Madison, Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation, which says it works as an umbrella for those who are free from religion and are committed to the cherished principle of separation of state and church, on Wednesday called on Parson to delete his tweet. The ban on religious tests in the United States Constitution is one of the truly great and original bulwarks for freedom of thought and expression, Annie Laurie Gaylor and Dan Barker, co-presidents of the foundation, wrote in a letter to Parson dated Wednesday. Our Constitution is godless, omitting any mention of god or Jesus a unique contribution of our founders. The group also linked to a Pew Research Center article that said according to telephone surveys in 2018 and 2019, the number of American adults who said they were Christians had dropped 12% over the past decade, to 65%. A March 2021 Pew survey found most U.S. adults support the separation between church and state but that many Americans supported more Christian influence within public institutions. The survey found 19% of respondents wanted the federal government to stop enforcing separation of church and state, for example. Kaylor said the episode is the same type of Christian nationalism that we saw helping storm the Capitol on Jan. 6 (2021). Its dangerous, Kaylor said. As a Christian myself, I speak up against (it) because its dangerous politically. I also think its a heresy of the Christian faith. Jack Suntrup 573-556-6186 @JackSuntrup on Twitter jsuntrup@post-dispatch.com Trump tweets statement. "Republicans are getting creamed with the phony redistricting going on all over the country." For once, former disgraced twice impeached one-term President Trump has tweeted the truth. He's right Republicans are getting absolutely creamed in their efforts to redraw redistricting maps to gerrymandering them to ensure they take over the House of Representatives next year. Trump's added boast in his latest tweet-statement that "Even the Fake New York Times is having a hard time believing how ridiculous things have gotten." is absolutely on target a day after the Republican National Committee, who called the January 6 insurrection riot a 'legitimate political discourse' while censuring Republican Representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger. Those representatives are defending the democracy and the Constitution of our Republic. On the other hand, Trump seemed to be a bit as cloudy as he believes President Biden is. Trump appears to have misunderstood the North Carolina Supreme Court's decision on Friday to strike down the state's new Republican gerrymandered map for the state's congressional and General Assembly seats. They declared that state courts do have the authority to throw out lines engineered to secure a long-term Republican advantage in an otherwise closely divided state. The Republican legislature has no room to maneuver given the landmark 2019 U.S. Supreme Court decision on partisan gerrymandering. North Carolina's highest court ordered the GOP-controlled state legislature to redraw the plans by Feb. 18 and explain how they calculated the partisan fairness of the new boundaries. A majority of justices declared that while federal courts aren't the place to settle partisan gerrymandering disputes, state courts could adjudicate these matters. Trump should be forgiven for his oddly capitalized email-tweet that Democratic victory turned back the GOP's gerrymandering efforts. The National Democratic Redistricting Committee, led by former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, has successfully challenged redistricting maps drawn up in key states like Ohio and Wisconsin and won a huge victory in Alabama that could expand the political power of black populations throughout the south. Trump has misinterpreted this as a victory. Trump appears to have no clue and is unaware that so far, the attempt to gerrymander a GOP take back of the House of Representatives has gone nowhere. Is he also unaware that some of the voter suppression efforts passed by GOP-controlled legislatures have already been thrown out, and others in several GOP-controlled states appear to be vulnerable to Democratic filed lawsuits? The highly respected political website FiveThirtyEight shows that Republicans have lost two Congressional seats, and the Democrats have gained 10. The GOP gerrymandering campaign will fail if maps in Florida, Ohio, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Alabama, and North Carolina are tossed. In which case, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) may get at least one more encores term. While Biden's approval numbers hover at 41%, with the 6+ million job gains during his first year in office, the omicron pandemic waning, and Trump's interference in Senate and Gubernatorial primary races. The Democrats could gain Senate seats in Ohio, Florida, North Carolina, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania and hold their seats in Nevada and Arizona in the 2022 election. A 3-5 seat pick-up for Democrats in the U.S. Senate would assure the full passage of the "Biden Build Back Better" agenda and ensure the Democrats hold control of the White House in 2024. Trump needs a fact check, a proofreader besides a raft of first-class lawyers in Manhattan, Fulton Country, and the District of Columbia. At the very least, he needs to stay off Twitter. With each passing day, he appears to be in danger of campaigning for President in an orange jumpsuit. N.C. Supreme Court strikes down proposed redistricting maps - YouTube Iowa bars could be taken to court and held liable for shootings, assaults and riots committed by unruly patrons who spill out of their establishment into alleys, streets and adjacent property under proposed legislation. An Iowa House subcommittee advanced a bill last week being pushed by the city of Davenport to amend state law to help cities shut down nuisance bars for safety concerns. City officials have requested lawmakers allow cities to bring a case before local district courts to abate public safety nuisances caused by alcohol establishments, rather than having to rely on the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division. The issue is a familiar one to Waterloo officials, who over the years have tried many times to deny liquor licenses to establishments considered nuisance properties, only to have the denials overturned by the state. During fiscal year 2011, the City Council rejected eight liquor licenses all of which were successfully appealed by the applicants through the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division. Davenport tried several times to deny the now-shuttered Shenanigans Irish Pub at 303 W. Third St. a liquor license based on its public safety history but was overruled by the ABD, which is responsible for regulating and investigating complaints about alcohol establishments. Police responded to more than 2,000 calls for service to the establishment over a three-year period before the bar shut down in December 2019. The final straw was a large fight that broke out at the pub during which a gun was fired and a bullet went through the window of Macs Tavern, located across the street at 316 W. Third St., and narrowly missed a patron. Yet, the bar was not closed because the state suspended its liquor license but rather because the landlord terminated its lease. Going through local courts, which typically handle nuisance complaints in all other capacities, will bring parity to the process and, hopefully, swifter resolution, according to city officials. Had this amendment been in place at the time, the city of Davenport and local district courts could have been able to deal with this grave nuisance at a local level to address this violent behavior rapidly as opposed allowing the nuisance to continue for three years, city of Davenport officials wrote in a statement in support of the bill. House Study Bill 633 would allow city and county attorneys to sue alcohol establishments for creating a serious threat to public safety and seek a temporary injunction prior to trial. Licensed food establishments that sell alcohol, such as restaurants, would be exempt. The bill states a public safety nuisance exists if it is established by clear and convincing evidence that an owner, manager, employee, contemporaneous patron or guest of the licensed premises commits any of the following acts either on the premises or within 1,000 feet of the premises. The acts include unlawful use of a firearm or offensive weapon, assault with a dangerous weapon, or being the scene of a riot on three or more dates within a 12-month period. Should a district court determine a threat to public safety exists, the court could temporarily close the business, revoke its alcohol license or require a change in business practice or operations. It could also require the owner post bond to keep the property open pending final resolution of the lawsuit. Lobbyists for the city of Des Moines and Metropolitan Coalition have registered in support of the bill. The Iowa Restaurant Association, which represents Iowas restaurant and beverage industry, is registered in opposition to the bill. State Rep. Rick Olson, D-Des Moines, a member of the House Public Safety subcommittee, raised concerns about holding establishments liable for activity that occurs beyond their property and clarifying which food establishments would be exempt. I think it has to be (limited) to the parking lot, something they control, Olson said. He suggested lawmakers instead focus on amending the burden of proof required to revoke a beer, wine or liquor license before the ABD. Davenport city officials argue current code limiting the prevention of illegal activity to the licensed premise, including the grounds and parking lot, allows owners to skirt responsibility by pushing fights and other illegal acts out their door onto other property. What this bill is doing is acknowledging that there may be patrons of an alcohol establishment ... who drink and then maybe right outside the establishment, though not on the licensed premise, are creating a public safety nuisance, Sarah Ott, chief strategy officer for the city of Davenport, said after the hearing. Ott, though, said the city is willing to look at a different radius, if that is what helps get this passed. The city originally proposed within 1,500 feet for a licensed premise. Similar efforts have failed to gain traction in the Legislature in previous years over objections from Iowas restaurant and beverage industry. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 CEDAR FALLS A brand new community outreach tool arrived at the Cedar Falls Public Library at the end of January. The unique apparatus is a three-wheeled book bike. It comes with a rear seat for the rider and a back wheel, like a typical bike. But at the front is a large storage unit for books, supported by two wheels on both sides to it. Genealogy event planned at Cedar Falls Public Library An emphasis will be placed on learning about the challenges faced by African Americans when trying to uncover their roots, in honor of Black History Month. Once the weather heats up, the bike will travel to events carrying 200 to 250 books people can check out with their library card. No kick-off event is scheduled at the moment to introduce the community to the bike. But it will make appearances at childrens and adult functions. One example is its story times at the parks, which typically attract about 100 kids per session. An image of an open book, as well as the slogan, Great communities deserve great libraries, are printed on all sides of the silver book storage unit. Were the first around here to get one, said Library Director Kelly Stern. Were excited to have it, so come check it out. To grab a better look at the book bike, it can be found parked in the librarys front lobby with a large teddy bear sitting in the riders seat. The library purchased the bike to remove another barrier to books and increase access for residents who cant get to the actual library on Main Street, for example, because of a physical limitation or lack of a vehicle. The library had its eye on the fun tool, and used a $5,000 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant from the State Library of Iowa to bring it to Cedar Falls sooner rather than later. In addition to the book storage unit, which is in the shape of a box, the bike has a number of other features. It has electric peddling assistance, a bell, and a rear rack to attach a knapsack or duffle bag. Once the front storage unit is fully opened up, a person will see a wraparound shelf inside it. A chalkboard and small foldout table also become available, and attached to the side is an accessory capable of hoisting a large umbrella for sunny days. The library also plans to use the bike to issue new library cards to whomever might need one. While the bike may look to be an easy ride, the library will have a designated operator trained to ride it to events not too far away from the library. Its not a tool one will be able to check out like a book or other library resource. For those thinking, why doesnt the library get a book mobile? Stern said its been on her wish list since she became director in 2019 but right now, is not feasible because of the annual costs, like maintenance, associated with it. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Iran says no initiative received from U.S. in Vienna nuke talks Xinhua) 08:46, February 07, 2022 TEHRAN, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- Iran has so far received no proposed text from the United States in the Vienna talks on the restoration of a 2015 nuclear deal, the Iranian foreign minister said. Hossein Amir Abdollahian said in an interview with IRIB state TV that Iran has seen "no serious or remarkable initiative" from the United States. The negotiations, he added, will achieve progress based on expert views and agreements, the outcome of which will be a "good agreement" that would serve the interests of the country and its people. The Iranian minister said Tehran welcomes any executive order or measure by the Biden administration that would lead to the lifting of the sanctions reimposed after the U.S. unilateral withdrawal from the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). "What is important to us is the American side's action. We look at what happens on the ground," Amir Abdollahian said. Asked about the possibility of a temporary two-year agreement, he said, "We are looking for a good agreement, not a limited one that lasts for a specific period of time." The U.S. government announced on Friday that it was waiving sanctions on Iran's civilian nuclear program, which allows international nuclear cooperation projects. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Liang Jun) 1984 is somewhat here, the left has just cleverly disguised government control as private actors By Rachel Alexander web posted February 7, 2022 Conservatives have sat in paralysis for a good part of the past 25 years now not knowing how to address the lefts radical transformation of society that is canceling conservatives and forcing the lefts rules on everyone. Amazon bans our books and only a few people who are ridiculed compare it to George Orwells 1984. Its because we think the takeover is being done by private corporations and actors in a free society, so we dont know how to react. Most of us arent ready to call it communism or socialism; it doesnt seem to violate the Constitution. The reality is, while on the surface the new situation may appear to involve private actors, the truth is much more sinister. And its been done deliberately this way, in order to sneak it past the scrutiny of half of society that believes in a free society and the Constitution. Were basically being ruled by a hybrid oligarchy of government and large corporations. We need to stop defending Google, Facebook, Amazon, and other massive corporations as private actors allowed to do whatever they want. They are no longer operating as purely private actors. They get subsidies from the government, they are regulated by the government and they regularly succumb to pressure from activists who use the government to punish them if they dont. The right rarely threatens corporations over politics, its something that originated on the left. Jesse Jacksons Rainbow Coalition was famous for starting it, making race-related demands that were followed up by boycotts and complaints to the government. The Human Resources departments of corporations have long lists of rules and regulations they must comply with, that most people are unaware of because they operate behind the scenes. Many of these rules get promulgated by obscure left-wing bureaucrats working in federal agencies, or in the fine print of bills with hundreds of pages of text. They are rarely publicized so no one ever finds out about them unless they work in HR and the left flocks to HR departments due to its tendencies for low-level bureaucratic control think Karens so theyre the least likely people to be whistleblowers. We saw the early rise of this with Public-Private Partnerships . They fooled people into thinking it was the government hiring the private sector to perform government functions more efficiently than the government. But in reality they have operated like government-sanctioned monopolies, unthreatened by competition so free to charge enormous amounts of money and neglect innovation. A strange bedfellow in this situation is the self-described libertarian socialist and intellectual Noam Chomsky. He has warned for years against eventual societal control by a handful of major corporations. He didnt foresee the government involvement, and much of his perceptions are off, but hes one of very few people who have predicted some semblance of this. For those unfamiliar with Noam Chomsky, the short 2016 documentary Requiem for the American Dream discusses this concern. He explains how the biggest corporations now make money from merely moving money around, and how they benefit from American workers who are forced to compete with overworked starving workers overseas. He points out that bank lobbyists write the laws regulating the bank industry. He rails against bailing out banks, admitting thats not a true capitalist system. The Fourteenth Amendment, which was passed to protect freed slaves, ended up predominantly protecting corporations instead, treating them as persons. He starts getting a little off on his analysis when he compares corporations controlling things to students who take out school loans who are then tethered to paying them off for years. He claims that James Madison believed power should be in the hands of wealthy men. This is inaccurate, Madison and the Founding Fathers feared power concentrated in the hands of a few elites their mistake was not recognizing the equality of women and blacks at the time. Chomsky says he didnt anticipate the strength of the backlash to the egalitarian efforts of the 1960s but other than the Civil Rights movement and some aspects of the womens movement, that era hurt free society by dramatically decreasing the attitude that society needs morality. Other Chomsky beliefs can be dismissed as straight Keynesian economics. He says taxes on the wealthy have been reduced in recent years, but the data shows the opposite . He claims that theres no evidence that lowering taxes on the wealthy creates jobs and improves the economy, but theres plenty out there. Chomsky cites the Powell Memorandum from 1971 as evidence of conservative support for big business, but it was merely one persons confidential letter to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, future Supreme Court Justice Jerome Powell ranting about how certain government regulations negatively affect business. Chomsky thinks one solution is unions, claiming theyre a democratizing force. He ignores the fact that unions are controlled by wealthy hypocrites who are often in bed with big business. Look how the demands of labor unions eventually materialize and coalesce with big business a few years ago they were fighting for a minimum wage of $15/hour, now thats passe. Large corporations govern much of our lives now, and over half the workforce is employed by big business so they are even further constrained; those workers could be fired for engaging in what used to be considered free speech. That number continues to grow every year, thanks to sneaky maneuvers like allowing big businesses like Amazon and Walmart to stay open during the COVID-19 pandemic while locking down small businesses. Studies everywhere report that a quarter to a third of small businesses shut down due to the restrictions. And even so, small businesses are increasingly subject to workplace regulations. Much of this could be happening organically, it doesnt matter if its organized or not. There are massive numbers of people on the left side of the spectrum who push and push from every angle to get their agenda implemented, and they have discovered this is the way they can fundamentally transform society right under our noses with the right divided over how theyre doing it. Even our Founding Fathers did not envision this coming. Rachel Alexander and her brother Andrew are co-Editors of Intellectual Conservative . She has been published in the American Spectator, Townhall.com, Fox News, NewsMax, Accuracy in Media, The Americano, ParcBench, Enter Stage Right and other publications. Home CEDAR FALLS -- Dave Williams told himself he would serve just two terms and be done when he won a seat in the Iowa House of Representatives in 2018. Now that he's on the last session of his second term, that's still the plan, the Democrat from District 60 said. "I think it was an easy decision," said Williams, 68, who announced his retirement last week. "Nothing really came along that said, 'No, you should go for three,' so I stuck with my original plan." For both of Williams' terms, he's been solidly in the minority party, facing a Republican trifecta in the House, Senate and governor's office. But he said that didn't factor in much to his decision. He thinks he's been able to be persuasive and help solve problems at the committee level, even finding common ground with some colleagues. "You can't measure how much influence you really have being in the minority," he said. But Williams said he was never seeking the limelight, that background work mattered. "By asking the right questions and making suggestions, personally I've been fine with that," he said. That doesn't mean he's doesn't stand up for his values. Williams pointed to heated discussion around public education in the 2021 legislative session, an issue that originally motivated him to run for office, noting he spoke to the larger body about adequately funding schools. More recent issues, like book bans and cameras in classrooms, also have angered him. He will continue advocating for schools on a volunteer basis. "Education's our future for this state, so that's really sad and frustrating," he said. "I think the majority party has gone so far -- that's another factor -- that the public is going to wake up to this, and in the long run bring the pendulum back to the middle." Redistricting also may have been a factor. Williams' new District 76 would likely have changed a lot about his political strategy. Instead of House District 60 extending west and south within Black Hawk County -- a district the Democrat won with 51.2% of the vote in 2020 -- District 76 stretches south and east, capturing new towns like La Porte City, Traer and Dysart, and portions of northern Benton and Tama counties. A good portion of that new District 76 is the old Districts 72 and 75, districts Republicans won with more than 60% of the vote, and represented by Reps. Dean Fisher and Thomas Gerhold. Fisher lives in Montour, which places him in the new District 53, and Gerhold lives in Atkins, in the new District 84. That could leave an opening for someone like Kate Wyatt, a Democrat and eight-year member of the Hudson City Council, who announced shortly after Williams' retirement announcement she would run in the new district. Wyatt is the first in either party to make a campaign announcement. "With (Williams') decision to stop, I decided it was the right time for me to step up," Wyatt, 44, said. "I think fresh eyes always bring in a good change." A 1995 graduate of Hudson High School and a self-described "fourth-generation Hudson resident," Wyatt said she wants to bring to the Legislature what she's brought to the council -- a supportive small business environment and focus on growth that allows small, rural communities like hers to thrive. "I want to make sure our small towns are heard," she said. "So having that connection between the smaller towns and the larger communities, I think is so important right now for us all." An insurance agent for Dupaco Community Credit Union, she said her big issues are mental health services -- something the state has recently taken back from counties -- as well as maintaining vital rural emergency services, infrastructure and natural resources. "To me, it's really not as much about Republican-Democrat as it is about small-town connections and making sure that our communities have this voice out there for us," she said. "I want to be the cheerleader for District 76 to get the most out of our state as we can." Love 2 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Check out a list of the best high schools in Iowa from Niche. Blacklight Bouldering Comp For glory, bragging rights, and possibly the title of best beginner boulderer in all of Utah come participate in our first-ever Blacklight Boulder Comp! Winners will represent Weber State at the Utah Collegiate Boulder Comp hosted by the University of Utah. The Utah Collegiate Boulder Comp is an inter-collegiate, bouldering competition for students, where you will compete as an individual in your category for the chance to make your gym's final team. Date: February 25, 2022 Time: 9 p.m. - Midnight Location: Weber State TTC/Climbing Wall Price: $15 (Students Only) - Finalists will receive free entry to the UCBC Utah Collegiate Boulder Comp: Date: April 10, 2022 Time: 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Location University of Utah Schedule: Recreationa:l 8:00 a.m. -10:00 a.m. Intermediate: 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Advanced: 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Open: 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Qualifying Competitions: Dixie State: March 5, 2022 U of U: March 13-23, 2022 Westminster: March 31, 2022 USU UVU Weber, February 25, 2022 SUU 2022 COMP RESULTS Well people.Chicken Little and the Sky is falling, has nothing over these guys and gals in the loony bin within the USA Admin. Another foot in mouth moment at Capital Hill National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has claimed in a series of interviews that the US government believes Russia might invade Ukraine in a matter of weeks or even days. We are in the window. Any day now, Russia could take military action against Ukraine, or it could be a couple of weeks from now. [] We believe that there is a very distinct possibility that Vladimir Putin will order an attack on Ukraine, Sullivan said In interviews with Fox News and ABC. Source: So Much for Non-Provocative Rhetoric? Sullivan Claims Russia May Invade Ukraine in Matter of Days 06.02.2022, Sputnik International The Ukrainians may not believe that says the blond newscaster to the warmonger Here is a link for when they remove the truth as in this video from YouTube (Russian invasion of Ukraine could happen as soon as tomorrow Jake Sullivan ABC News) You cannot make this stuff up and there it is on video above I even read that he said it could happen today? So I will be on the look out for suspicious Russian activityI will ask SweetPea? Nope! Just cold, snowing, good coffee and kids going to school WtR PS: It is obvious that the US and their puppets are fantasizing for it to happen. It would make a truly welcome distraction for their discontented masses.Why they even tried to say that Canada and her truckers are being corrupted by Russian infiltration Weather Alert ...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM PDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...West winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 55 mph expected. Locally stronger gusts in wind prone locations. Sierra ridge wind gusts near 100 mph. Waves 2 to 4 feet on Pyramid Lake and Lake Tahoe. * WHERE...Greater Lake Tahoe Area, Greater Reno-Carson City- Minden Area and Western Nevada Basin and Range including Pyramid Lake. * WHEN...From 11 AM this morning to 8 PM PDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Choppy conditions for Lake Tahoe and Pyramid Lake with waves 2 to 4 feet expected. Travel restrictions for high profile vehicles are possible. Check with CalTrans and 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. && A black female SCOTUS judge wont do a darn thing to help blacks By Selwyn Duke web posted February 7, 2022 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-size 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 elevating 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 . Home loading......... Malibu, CA, Feb 7, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - In this segment of The Ellis Martin Report, CEO Jordan Trimble of Skyharbour Resources ( CVE:SYH )( OTCMKTS:SYHBF ), makes the case from a supply side economic, clean tech and geopolitical perspective as to why perhaps now more than ever investors should consider uranium and junior exploration and development companies such as this one a potential investment opportunity. We also review the latest news from the Moore Uranium Project and partner companies doing business with Skyharbour.To view the interview, please visit:About Skyharbour Resources Ltd. Skyharbour Resources (CVE:SYH) (OTCMKTS:SYHBF) holds an extensive portfolio of uranium and thorium exploration projects in Canada's Athabasca Basin and is well positioned to benefit from improving uranium market fundamentals with six drill-ready projects. In July 2016, Skyharbour acquired an option from Denison Mines, a large strategic shareholder of the Company, to acquire 100% of the Moore Uranium Project which is located approximately 15 kilometres east of Denison's Wheeler River project and 39 kilometres south of Cameco's McArthur River uranium mine. Moore is an advanced stage uranium exploration project with high grade uranium mineralization at the Maverick Zone. Drill results have returned up to 6.0% U3O8 over 5.9 metres, including 20.8% U3O8 over 1.5 metres at a vertical depth of 265 metres. Skyharbour has signed option agreements with Orano Canada Inc. and Azincourt Energy whereby Orano and Azincourt can earn in up to 70% of specific segments of the Preston Project through a combined $9,800,000 in total exploration expenditures, as well as $1,700,000 in total cash payments and Azincourt shares. Preston is a large, geologically prospective property proximal to Fission Uranium's Triple R deposit as well as NexGen Energy's Arrow deposit. The Company also owns a 100% interest in the Falcon Point Uranium Project which hosts a high-grade surface showing with up to 68% U3O8 in grab samples from a massive pitchblende vein, the source of which has yet to be discovered. The Company's 100% owned Mann Lake Uranium project on the east side of the Basin is strategically located adjacent to the Mann Lake Joint Venture operated by Cameco, where high-grade uranium mineralization has been identified. Skyharbour's goal is to maximize shareholder value through new mineral discoveries, committed long-term partnerships, and the advancement of exploration projects in geopolitically favourable jurisdictions. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal Guardedly optimistic is how state Education Secretary Kurt Steinhaus said he feels regarding the chances that a $3.87 billion education budget makes it through this years short legislative session, underscoring his year of literacy. The House on Thursday approved that budget, which now goes to the Senate where, Steinhaus acknowledged, it could be amended, approved or rejected. Even so, Ive never seen the executive branch and the legislative branch come together so quickly and so clearly aligned, he said, noting that there was only a $1 million difference between the budget he and the executive branch prepared, and the education budget assembled by the Legislative Finance Committee. Steinhaus, a lifelong educator who retired as Los Alamos Public Schools superintendent before being named Public Education Department secretary-designate in July, was confirmed as secretary on Wednesday. Upon being named to the position, Steinhaus vowed to make this the year of literacy, and initiated a campaign to boost student achievement and well-being, have better and more transparent assessment of student skills, increase teacher salaries, provide more professional development and promote reading for children. He said the campaign has thus far garnered a lot of attention. The deans of all the colleges of education met with me and they all brought books that they were donating to children; local school boards have done resolutions; and our governor, myself and many other people have been in schools, reading to children, he said in an interview following his confirmation. As part of the year of literacy, Steinhaus said, the signature initiative that Ive proposed to the Legislature is to fund training for every elementary teacher in New Mexico to learn the science of reading using a program called LETRS Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling. The teachers Ive talked to who have taken this training say it is by far the best training. The cost of adopting the program statewide is $11.5 million, he said. LETRS gives elementary school educators a deeper understanding of how the brain learns to read, how to identify reading difficulties and how to assess the effectiveness of instructional resources. People enrolled at state universities training to become teachers would also benefit from the program, Steinhaus said. So when somebody becomes a brand new teacher, and theyre getting a bachelors degree they will get this LETRS training and walk into a classroom already prepared to use the science of reading. Kindergarten through 2nd grade teachers are already learning the program. Also encouraging is the Legislatures support of an average 7% raise for all school employees, raising the minimum salaries of teachers, and providing an additional 3% on top of that to teachers who participate in schools that extend the school year, he said. If approved, the minimum salary for teachers in the states three-tier licensing system would increase to $50,000, $60,000 and $70,000, respectively. That would make New Mexicos teacher salaries more than competitive by putting us above Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Oklahoma and Texas, Steinhaus said. The PED education budget also includes funding for a number of Indian education initiatives, including $15 million for the Indian Education Fund for tribal education departments, tribal libraries and Native American language programs. Still, there is no avoiding the setback to the literacy initiative from the COVID pandemic. Many of the literacy programs around the state rely heavily on volunteers, who have been impacted by emergency safety measures to stem transmission rates. Some of that has been mitigated by using online platforms to match tutors and mentors from throughout the state with children and adults in literacy programs that have seen their available pools of volunteers shrink, Steinhaus said. Two literacy programs in the Albuquerque metro area Oasis Intergenerational Tutoring program and Albuquerque Reads have seen their programs curtailed. Its a combination of schools implementing COVID restrictions and volunteers and mentors wanting to avoid close contact during the pandemic. That has led to far fewer students receiving help. Oasis program director Vicki DeVigne said pre-COVID, she had about 425 trained tutors working with 615 students mostly in first through fourth grades at elementary schools in Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Belen and Bernalillo. That pool shrunk to 110 tutors at the height of the pandemic, but is now back up to 240 tutors working with about 250 kids. Most of the OASIS tutors are age 55 and older and many have underlying health conditions, which is the very demographic that they say needs to be very careful about contracting COVID, DeVigne said, adding that about 200 tutors are sitting on the sidelines right now. Albuquerque Reads, a project of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, places trained tutors in three Title 1 Albuquerque elementary schools, working mostly with kids in kindergarten and first grade. Pre-COVID, the program had a pool of about 300 tutors to work with 250 kids a year. The number of tutors decreased during the pandemic to about 100, although the number has now risen to 150, and there are about 60 kids taking advantage of that resource, said program director Margarita Rodriguez-Corriere. Because of social distancing guidelines, weve adjusted our curriculum so that the volunteer doesnt sit next to the student for more than 10 minutes, she said. Were all working really hard to serve the kids, but COVID has made it really challenging. Recognizing that, Steinhaus said teachers, instructional assistants, volunteers and all the people on the frontlines out in the schools are doing an incredible job in the face of the COVID pandemic. I consider them our heroes, he said. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal The Gold King Mine disaster turned the Animas and San Juan rivers yellow and orange with acid mine drainage in August 2015. Now, the New Mexico Office of the Natural Resources Trustee has released a proposal for using the $1 million it received from last years settlement with mining company Sunnyside Gold Corp. Trustee Maggie Hart Stebbins said the project proposals that her office received focused on economic losses in northwestern New Mexico, where the spill affected water and land. These will be tangible, visible projects that hopefully help people feel a little bit compensated for what theyve lost, she said. The four proposed projects include $160,000 for San Juan County to build a boat ramp on the Animas River in Cedar Hill near the Colorado state line. Hart Stebbins said increased river access would target outdoor recreation revenue losses that happened after the blowout, when residents and tourists avoided the river that was laden with heavy metals and mine sludge. A $300,000 farmers market pavilion at Gateway Park along the river in Farmington would also be funded under the proposal. The city says the project would address regional agricultural losses with a new venue for local farmers to sell their crops. Many farmers in the area did not irrigate for that (2015) season, and some have never gone back to irrigating their fields, Hart Stebbins said. There continues to be a stigma where people dont want to purchase agricultural products from that area because of fear of contamination from the Gold King Mine release. The San Juan County Soil and Water Conservation District would use $280,000 to start a soil health project with farmers who faced irrigation shutoffs after the disaster. The district estimates that a regenerative agriculture program could significantly reduce sediment runoff into the river. The Tse Daa Kaan, or Hogback, Navajo community would receive $250,000 for three new irrigation pumps to deliver San Juan River water to 55 farmers on nearly 1,000 acres. The office will publish a final plan after the public comment period closes March 2. Project contracting could begin by the end of March. The state of New Mexico and the Navajo Nation each received $10 million from last years settlement. New Mexicos litigation against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over the Gold King spill is ongoing. Theresa Davis is a Report for America corps member covering water and the environment for the Albuquerque Journal. New Mexico Republicans are rallying around their electors, who submitted a certificate that aimed to award the states five electoral votes to Donald Trump instead of President Joe Biden, saying the matter is being hyped up by the media and there was nothing illegal or sinister about the act amid the state attorney generals ongoing review of the matter. A statement from the Republican Party of New Mexico last week said five New Mexico Republicans signed and submitted the certificate just in case it might later be determined they were the rightful electors. The statement also said an elector representative had a conversation with Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver on Dec. 14, 2020, prior to the certificate being officially submitted. State GOP officials called on the secretary to publicly release details about the conversation. The electors were not fake or fraudulent, said the statement, which was released by state GOP spokesman Mike Curtis. They were casting votes in the event that standing legal challenges prevailed and changed the outcome of the election. New Mexico Republicans after the 2020 election joined GOP electors from several others states that Biden won who submitted certificates attempting to award the electoral votes to Trump. Last month, New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas said his office is reviewing the case under state law and has referred the matter to federal agencies as well. Alex Curtas, a spokesman for Toulouse Oliver, said the only conversation Toulouse Oliver had with Republicans about the electors was a text exchange on Dec. 14, 2020, with Anissa Ford-Tinnin, a former executive director of the state Republican Party and one of the five Republican electors who signed the document. Curtas said Ford-Tinnin asked that the GOP electors be allowed into a meeting at the state Capitol that day, when the states electoral votes were awarded to Biden. Curtas said Toulouse Oliver texted Ford-Tinnin that the group couldnt enter the building and that was the end of the conversation. It seems (New Mexico Republicans) are implying that Maggie (Toulouse Oliver) gave them some sort of go-ahead or permission (to send in the certificate), and that is absolutely not the case, Curtas said. Curtis declined to elaborate further on the conversation between a party official and the secretary of state. We stand by our statement, he said. ALBUQUERQUE HAS SUFFERED ENOUGH: Rep. Yvette Herrell, R-N.M., is weighing in on the issues in her recently reconfigured district, saying its past time to end this consent decree and remove this burden from the city of Albuquerque and the Albuquerque Police Department and wind down a yearslong police reform effort. The Albuquerque Police Department is in the middle of the reform effort brought on by a Department of Justice investigation that concluded in 2014 the APD had a pattern of using excessive force, which included police shootings. The findings have led to a lengthy court case where APDs progress with agreed-upon reforms is tracked by an independent monitoring team that reports to a federal judge. Herrell said in a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland last week that the reform process is costly to taxpayers, ineffective, strains officers and has been a contributing factor in rising crime rates in Albuquerque. The city set a record for homicides in 2021 and legislation aimed at fighting crime is being debated at the Roundhouse during an ongoing legislative session. But Herrell suggested the DOJ-reform effort is souring police officers to the job and a contributing factor to rising crime. They do little to weed out bad actors yet place undue burdens on those who are best able to reduce crime in our cities, she said. Albuquerque has suffered enough. She said Albuquerque is entitled to a termination hearing. Herrell, the states lone Republican in Congress, was elected to represent a district that included most of southern New Mexico. But after redistricting, her district in the 2022 election will include large sections of Albuquerques West Side and the southwest part of the city. Ryan Boetel: rboetel@abqjournal.com TORONTO The mayor of Canadas capital declared a state of emergency Sunday and a former U.S. ambassador to Canada said groups in the U.S. must stop interfering in the domestic affairs of Americas neighbor as protesters opposed to COVID-19 restrictions continued to paralyze Ottawas downtown. Mayor Jim Watson said the declaration highlights the need for support from other jurisdictions and levels of government. It gives the city some additional powers around procurement and how it delivers services, which could help purchase equipment required by frontline workers and first responders. Thousands of protesters descended in Ottawa again on the weekend, joining a hundred who remained since last weekend. Residents of Ottawa are furious at the nonstop blaring of horns, traffic disruption and harassment and fear no end is in sight after the police chief called it a siege that he could not manage. The freedom truck convoy has attracted support from many U.S. Republicans including former President Donald Trump, who called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a far left lunatic who has destroyed Canada with insane COVID mandates. Canada US relations used to be mainly about solving technical issues. Today Canada is unfortunately experiencing radical US politicians involving themselves in Canadian domestic issues. Trump and his followers are a threat not just to the US but to all democracies, Bruce Heyman, a former U.S. ambassador under President Barack Obama, tweeted. Heyman said under no circumstances should any group in the USA fund disruptive activities in Canada. Period. Full stop. WASHINGTON In a flurry of diplomacy across two continents, President Joe Biden met with Germanys new leader Monday and vowed the crucial Nord Stream 2 Russia-to-Germany gas pipeline will be blocked if Russia further invades Ukraine. Russias Vladimir Putin retorted that the U.S. and its allies are the only ones talking invasion. Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron met for more than five hours in Moscow at the same time Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke at the White House in efforts to defuse the crisis before armed conflict breaks out. Russia has massed thousands of troops at the Ukraine border, adding military might almost daily. The White House has expressed increasing alarm about the prospects of war, and Biden has been looking to solidify support among European allies for economy-jarring sanctions against Russia if it attacks. If Russia invades, that means tanks and troops crossing the border of Ukraine again, then there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2, Biden said. We will bring an end to it. That would hurt Russia economically but also cause supply problems for Germany. Construction of the pipeline has been completed, but it is not yet operating. We are jointly ready, and all of NATO is ready, Biden said, referring to the powerful Western alliance, though Ukraine is not a member. While Biden reiterated with certitude that the pipeline would not move forward, Scholz stressed the need to keep some ambiguity about sanctions in order to press Russia to de-escalate the crisis. Its necessary for Russia to understand that a lot more could happen than theyve perhaps calculated with themselves,. Scholz said. The buildup of over 100,000 Russian troops near Ukraine has fueled Western worries of a possible offensive. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan warned Sunday that Russia could invade Ukraine any day, triggering a conflict that would come at an enormous human cost. At the same time, Biden and NATO allies have made clear there are no plans for sending in troops to fight Russia on Ukraines behalf. Macron and Putin, during their lengthy meeting with a dinner that featured the choice of sturgeon or reindeer registered their disagreements but also emphasized a need for more talks. Putin noted that the U.S. and NATO have ignored Moscows demands that the alliance guarantee it will keep Ukraine and other ex-Soviet nations out, refrain from placing weapons in Ukraine and roll back alliance forces from Eastern Europe. We are categorically against any further NATOs expansion eastward because it poses a threat to us, Putin said. Its not us whos advancing to NATO, its NATO coming to us and so its illogical to talk about Russias aggressive behavior. He scoffed at Western descriptions of NATO as a defensive alliance, saying sarcastically that people of Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan have learned it from their own experience. And he threatened a wider war if Ukraine should join the alliance and perhaps try to win back Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014. European countries will automatically be drawn into a military conflict with Russia, Putin said. You will be drawn into that conflict beyond your will. There will be no winners. Macron described the talks as substantial, deep with a focus on conditions that could help de-escalation. We tried to build converging elements, he said. The upcoming days will be crucial and deep discussions together will be needed. Putin signaled his readiness to continue negotiations and denied anew that Russia has any intention of invading Ukraine. In the meantime, Biden warned it would be wise for Americans other than essential diplomats to leave Ukraine. On a positive note, Putin said without elaboration that some of Macrons proposals could serve as a basis for a settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, adding that they agreed to have a call after Macrons visit to Kyiv Tuesday. Likewise, Biden said when asked if there remained an offramp for Russia in the standoff, The answer is yes. Before meeting Biden, Scholz told German media that there will be a very high price if Ukraine is attacked militarily. And we are preparing for this very precisely and have been talking about the details for a long time. Scholz will travel to Kyiv and Moscow Feb. 14-15. German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said her country would add up to 350 troops within a few days to about 500 already a part of a NATO battlegroup in Lithuania. With this, we are strengthening our contribution to forces on NATOs eastern flank and sending a very clear signal of unity to our allies, she said. Biden already has deployed additional U.S. troops to Poland, Romania and Germany, and a few dozen elite U.S. troops and equipment landed Sunday in southeastern Poland near the border with Ukraine, with hundreds more infantry troops of the 82nd Airborne Division set to arrive. Britain said the U.K. was sending 350 troops to Poland to bolster NATO forces, joining 100 Royal Engineers already there. At a news conference in Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell defended the increasingly dire Western warnings that a Russian invasion may be imminent. This is not alarmism. This is simply the facts, Blinken said. And the facts are that weve seen over the last few months a massive amassing of Russian forces on Ukraines borders. Borrell noted that 140,000 troops massed on the border is not to go to have tea. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance is weighing a more permanent military presence in southeast Europe in response to Russias massive military deployment near Ukraine. We are considering more longer-term adjustments to our posture, our presence in the eastern part of the alliance, Stoltenberg said after talks in Brussels with Polish President Andrzej Duda. If Russia really wants less NATO close to the borders, they get the opposite. Stoltenberg gave no details and said no final decision has been made, but the move could mirror NATOs long-term military presence in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, where about 5,000 troops are stationed. It would see a similar force based in Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia. The aim would be only to bolster the defenses of NATO allies in the region. The troops would not cross into Ukraine should Russia invade. Biden and Scholz also discussed contingency plans for providing gas supplies to Europe should Russia cut off supply. Europe is already dealing with liquefied natural gas supplies being sapped by a cold winter last year, a summer with little renewable energy generation and Russia delivering less than usual. Biden asserted the U.S. and other countries could make up a significant portion of supplies lost should Russia move to cut off Europe. But energy experts say replacing Russian gas would be complicated and cant be done overnight. Export terminals cost billions of dollars to build and are working at capacity in the U.S. __ Corbet and Isachenkov reported from Moscow. Associated Press writers Matthew Lee, Colleen Long and Zeke Miller in Washington, Lorne Cook in Brussels, Yuras Karmanau in Kyiv, Ukraine, Geir Moulson and Frank Jordans in Berlin and Jill Lawless in London contributed. WASHINGTON President Joe Bidens top science adviser Eric Lander resigned Monday, hours after the White House confirmed that an internal investigation found credible evidence that he mistreated his staff, marking the first Cabinet-level departure of the Biden administration. An internal review last year, prompted by a workplace complaint, found evidence that Lander, the director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and science adviser to Biden, bullied staffers and treated them disrespectfully. The White House rebuked Lander over his interactions with his staff, but initially signaled Monday that he would be allowed to remain on the job, despite Bidens Inauguration Day assertion that he expected honesty and decency from all who worked for his administration and would fire anyone who shows disrespect to others on the spot. But later Monday evening, press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden had accepted Landers resignation with gratitude for his work at OTSP on the pandemic, the Cancer Moonshot, climate change, and other key priorities. Lander, in his resignation letter, said, I am devastated that I caused hurt to past and present colleagues by the way in which I have spoken to them. I believe it is not possible to continue effectively in my role, and the work of this office is far too important to be hindered, he added. The White House said Biden did not request Landers resignation. Earlier Monday, Psaki said senior administration officials had met with Lander about his actions and management of the office, but indicated he would be allowed to stay in the job, saying the administration was following a process to handle workplace complaints. Following the conclusion of the thorough investigation into these actions, senior White House officials conveyed directly to Dr. Lander that his behavior was inappropriate, and the corrective actions that were needed, which the White House will monitor for compliance moving forward, she said. Psaki added, The president has been crystal clear with all of us about his high expectations of how he and his staff should be creating a respectful work environment. The White House said Lander and OSTP would be required to take certain corrective actions as part of the review. It also said the review did not find credible evidence of gender-based discrimination and the reassignment of the staffer who filed the original complaint was deemed appropriate. Lander on Friday issued an apology to staffers in his office, acknowledging I have spoken to colleagues within OSTP in a disrespectful or demeaning way. I am deeply sorry for my conduct, he added. I especially want to apologize to those of you who I treated poorly, or were present at the time. The White House review was completed weeks ago, but it was confirmed and Lander apologized only after reporting by Politico. Bidens Safe and Respectful Workplace Policy was instituted when he took office and was meant to serve as a contrast from the often-demeaning way former President Donald Trump and his aides treated one another and political foes. Landers conduct and the White Houses initial decision to stand by him sparked some consternation inside the White House and among Biden allies and created an unnecessary distraction from Bidens agenda. By late Monday, Lander came to believe he was in an untenable position and resigned effective no later than Feb. 18, in order to permit an orderly transfer. There are five deputy directors four women and one man at the Office of Science and Technology Policy. Kei Koizumi is the deputy director for policy. Former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration chief Jane Lubchenco is the deputy for climate science. Sally Benson is the deputy for energy. Carrie Wolinetz is the deputy director for health and life science. Alondra Nelson is the deputy director for science and society. The worlds largest general science society disinvited Lander from speaking at their annual meeting shortly before his resignation was announced. American Association for the Advancement of Science Chief Executive Officer Sudip Parikh said he didnt know if that had anything to do with the resignation. I hope that we sent the right message about whats important, Parikh told The Associated Press Monday night. The time of letting these things go is over. Not just in sciences, but in workplaces all across America. This is an administration that has put a lot of their political capital into science and technology, Parikh added. Its a tough role to fill. Its very possible and very likely that that person could be a woman. Lander, whose position was elevated to Cabinet-rank by Biden, appeared prominently with the president last week when he relaunched his Cancer Moonshot program to marshal federal resources behind research and treatment for cancer diseases. The founding director of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Lander is a mathematician and molecular biologist. He was lead author of the first paper announcing the details of the human genome, the so-called book of life. His confirmation to his role in the Biden administration was delayed for months as senators sought more information about meetings he had with the late Jeffrey Epstein, a disgraced financier who was charged with sex trafficking before his suicide. Lander also was criticized for downplaying the contributions of two Nobel Prize-winning female scientists. At his confirmation hearing last year, Lander apologized for a 2016 article he wrote that downplayed the work of the female scientists. At the hearing, he also called Epstein an abhorrent individual. Lander said he understated the importance of those key advances by biochemists Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna. The two were later awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Landers departure on the grounds of Bidens respectful workplace policy echoed the February 2021 resignation of then-White House deputy press secretary TJ Ducklo, who was suspended and then resigned over threatening conversations with a reporter. ___ Associated Press writers Matthew Daly and Seth Borenstein contributed to this report. LONDON Gun salutes rang out in London and Edinburgh on Monday to mark the official start of Queen Elizabeth IIs Platinum Jubilee year, as the 95-year-old monarch prepared for a busy season of public duties. Britains longest-serving monarch, Elizabeth became queen on the death of her father, King George VI, from lung cancer at age 56 on Feb. 6, 1952. The monarch doesnt celebrate the anniversary of the date she became queen, known as Ascension Day, as it is also the anniversary of her fathers death. In a statement released Saturday, the queen remembered the death of her father and recalled the seven decades of extraordinary progress that her reign has spanned. The queen made clear she intended to continue as head of state, renewing the pledge she made on her 21st birthday to devote her entire life to the service of the U.K. and the Commonwealth. She also sought to shore up the future of monarchy by saying it was her sincere wish that Prince Charles wife, Camilla, should be known as Queen Consort when her son becomes king. With those words, Elizabeth sought to answer once and for all questions about the status of Camilla, who was initially shunned by fans of the late Princess Diana, Charles first wife. While Sundays anniversary was low-key, public celebrations of the Platinum Jubilee are scheduled for June, when the weather is usually sunnier. The festivities will include a military parade, a day of horse-racing and neighborhood parties. There is also a competition to create a new dessert to be consumed over the jubilee weekend June 2-5. The queen will mark a more somber milestone on March 29, when she attends a memorial service for Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey. The queens husband of 72 years died in April 2021 at the age of 99. The queen is also scheduled to attend a string of in-person public engagements in the coming weeks, including audiences with politicians and diplomats, a diplomatic reception at Windsor on March 2 and the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on March 14. It marks a step by the monarch to more public duties since she was told to rest by her doctors after spending a night in hospital for tests in October. She was forced to cancel appearances at several key events, including Remembrance Sunday services at the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland. ST. PAUL, Minn. George Floyd could have been saved if Minneapolis police officers had moved him into a position to breathe more easily, and his chances of survival doubled or tripled if they had performed CPR as soon as his heart stopped, a lung specialist testified Monday at the trial of three former officers charged with violating Floyds civil rights. Floyd died because his upper airway was compressed by Officer Derek Chauvins knee, while his position on hard asphalt with his hands cuffed behind his back as two other officers helped hold him down did not allow his lungs to expand, Dr. David Systrom said. That restricted the flow of oxygen and raised carbon dioxide levels in his body, Systrom, a pulmonologist and critical care physician at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston, said at the federal trial for J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao. Oxygen delivered to the heart and brain is critical to survival, Systrom said, later calling Floyds death an eminently reversible respiration failure event. The trial is in its third week of testimony after it was suspended last week when one defendant tested positive for COVID-19. The judge has said the trial could take four weeks. Kueng, Lane and Thao are accused of depriving Floyd, 46, of his rights when they failed to give him medical aid as Chauvin knelt on the Black mans neck for 9 1/2 minutes. Kueng and Thao are also accused of failing to intervene in the May 2020 killing that triggered protests worldwide and a reexamination of racism and policing. Kueng knelt on Floyds back and Lane held his legs while Thao kept bystanders back. Systrom, who is also an associate professor at Harvard Medical School, testified that video from Kuengs body camera shows him holding Floyds wrist while pressing it down on Floyds back, which would have prevented Floyd from being able to relieve the pressure. In video from Lanes body camera, it looks like Kuengs knee is putting pressure on Floyds abdomen, Systrom said. He said its difficult to know if Floyd would have died without the pressure Kueng applied. He said Lanes restriction of Floyds legs also would have prevented Floyd from getting into a position to breathe properly. Prosecutor Manda Sertich asked what could have been done before Floyd lost consciousness. Systrom responded that it could have been as simple as removal of pressure on the upper airway by a knee or letting Floyd sit up. When asked about Floyds chances of survival if officers had immediately begun CPR after his cardiac arrest, Systrom replied: They would have been doubled or tripled. Dr. Andrew Baker, Hennepin Countys chief medical examiner, testified last week that Floyd died after police subdual, restraint and neck compression caused his heart and lungs to stop. He said heart disease and drug use were factors but not the top line causes. Systrom said Floyd did not die of his coronary artery disease or hypertension, and that there was no evidence of a heart attack. Floyds medical records showed he had high blood pressure, but mostly normal heart rate and rhythm, he said. Would he have died of heart disease on that day if not for the officers restraint? Sertich asked. A definitive no, replied Systrom. While Baker did not rule asphyxiation as a cause of Floyds death, Systrom agreed under cross-examination by Thaos attorney, Robert Paule, that his opinion was entirely different. He noted that Baker has said he would defer to a pulmonologist and other experts on some issues. Systrom acknowledged under questioning by Kuengs attorney, Tom Plunkett, that its difficult to tell from videos how much pressure Kueng is applying to Floyd. But he said all the pressure points on Floyds body added up. Systrom also said he reviewed multiple videos, Floyds medical records, Bakers grand jury transcripts and testimony from experts at Chauvins murder trial last year to assemble a big picture view. When Plunkett suggested that Systrom had a lot more information available to him than Kueng did, Systrom pushed back. From my opinion, counsel, Mr. Kueng had a front-row seat as to what was going on, Systrom said. Lanes attorney, Earl Gray, got Systrom to acknowledge that Lane asked Kueng to check Floyds pulse after not being able to find one in Floyds ankle and that Lane got into the ambulance with paramedics to try to help resuscitate Floyd. Kueng, who is Black, Lane, who is white, and Thao, who is Hmong American, are charged with willfully depriving Floyd of his constitutional rights while acting under government authority. The charges allege that the officers actions resulted in Floyds death. Chauvin was convicted of murder and manslaughter in state court last year and pleaded guilty to a federal civil rights charge. Lane, Kueng and Thao also face a separate state trial in June on charges alleging that they aided and abetted murder and manslaughter. ___ Webber contributed from Fenton, Michigan. ___ Find APs full coverage of the killing of George Floyd at: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd A brief history of conservative publications in Canada updated to 2022 (Part Two) By Mark Wegierski web posted February 7, 2022 The Conrad Black media revolution of the mid- to late-1990s, it could be argued, reconstructed the hitherto unspectacular Southam papers (and the former Financial Post) into a snazzier, as well as more intellectually diverse, format with some surprisingly sharp-edged conservatism that had virtually never before been seen in Canada. As Blacks fortunes ebbed, the ideological sharpness of the papers markedly diminished, but the changes could not be entirely expunged. Black had also controversially taken over Saturday Night, which, however, at no time came to resemble a conservative magazine. Indeed, as far as the author knows, that venerable magazine has now completely folded. The Byfield newsmagazines, practically a Canadian conservative institution for decades, failed shortly after the beginning of the Twenty-First Century. It is difficult to say what exactly happened; some have argued that the Byfields simply got tired of their draining undertaking. Those circulation numbers certainly appeared to have made the magazines sustainable. In the aftermath of the Byfield failure, Ezra Levant and others established The Western Standard (newsmagazine format). It certainly seemed to be able to fill the niche left by the collapse of the Byfield newsmagazines. The demand for only news-stories largely excluded freelancers from the magazine. The Western Standard also folded in curious circumstances; apparently, the investors were demanding a quick return on their investment. It should be known by now that that should be a secondary consideration, for political publications. Social conservatism in Canada is now represented mostly by The Interim: Canadas Life and Family Newspaper (and the website, lifesite.net), Faithful Insight magazine (a successor to Catholic Insight), as well two major magazines put out by the CARDUS think-tank, Convivium, and Comment. After appearing as a print magazine, Convivium is now an online-only publication. I recall seeing in the 1990s a thin magazine of the Canadian TFP (Tradition, Family, Property), and a broadsheet called Michael Journal, published by the remnants of the Quebec Creditistes. There is today the major, French-language, Quebec-based social conservative journal, Egards (Considerations). The arising of the Internet after 1995 did certainly open up some new forums for Canadian conservatives. The main edited e-zine has for a long time been enterstageright.com (as well as Judi McLeods Canada Free Press); the main self-posting forum is freedominion.ca ; and conservativeforum.org is an archive of interesting articles that is not updated. In recent years, Free Dominion has been subjected to vicious lawfare, and its situation is highly tenuous. In 2007, there arose the major webzine quarterly, c2cjournal.ca. Recently, Ezra Levants The Rebel (or The Rebel Media) website has arisen, with dozens of bloggers contributing to it. Another substantial media initiative is Candice Malcolms True North Canada. There is also The Post-Millennial website. Representing Western Canada, there is the new Western Standard website. Three websites of the culturalist opposition are actforcanada.ca, capforcanada.com, and eurocanadian.ca . There are also the party-based Blogging Tories. The impact of lesser-known websites, and more prominent personal blogs (such as those of Kate McMillan, the late Kathy Shaidle, or Richard Klagsbrun) is sometimes ephemeral and difficult to estimate. It still remains to be seen whether political discourse on the Internet can become a basis for generating enough financial resources and infrastructural weight in society to create major social, cultural, and political shifts. In recent years, there have arisen a few conservative print publications The Dorchester Review (with mostly reviews of works of history) (published twice a year in a classic quarterly digest format); The Canadian Observer (which, after a promising start, has failed) (newmagazine format); and Convivium (magazine format, glossy, full-colour cover, monochrome inside) published by the social conservative think-tank CARDUS. In January 2017, the last print issue of Convivium appeared it is now a web-only publication. They also publish a quarterly called Comment, in a smaller digest format (full-colour cover, monochrome inside). The author liked the first editorial of The Canadian Observer, which said it wanted to be a Cite Libre of the Right. (Cite Libre was the intensely intellectual and intensely left-wing journal founded by Pierre Elliott Trudeau and his associates in the 1950s in Quebec, when the prospects for the Left in Canada seemed especially thin. It was said to be the seedling from which both the so-called Quiet Revolution in Quebec, and the subsequent Trudeau revolution in all of Canada, arose.) There is also a local, agrarian-focussed magazine published in Eastern Ontario, The Landowner. In July 2013, a daily webzine, Freedom Press Canada Journal, was launched with great fanfare, but it mostly stopped publication after November 30, 2013, and has now apparently been entirely removed from the Internet. New postings had begun to very sporadically appear on the website (freedompress.ca) since mid-2014, but now the whole website appears to be no longer extant. In any case, Canadian conservatives are still looking for a National Review North. The main concept behind an intellectually- and ideologically-focussing magazine or daily-updated webzine is that it would be a nucleus around which other political institutions such as think-tanks and other publications could grow. It was clearly the early years of National Review which were the most important in creating the American conservative movement. It remains to be seen whether Canada can ever begin to follow along a similar path. This journey through the history of attempts at creating a sustainable conservative publication in Canada as an intellectual anchor (the role that the early National Review played in America), raises two points: the fragmented conservative community in Canada might lack either the will or the necessary focus to unite together around an authoritative Canadian conservative publication; while the Left in Canada, on the other hand, has amply displayed the ability to maintain more than one iconic publication. Mark Wegierski is a Canadian writer and historical researcher. Home TRENTON, N.J. The governors of four states announced plans Monday to lift statewide mask requirements in schools by the end of February or March, citing the rapid easing of COVID-19s omicron surge. The decisions in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey and Oregon were announced as state and local governments grapple with which virus restrictions to jettison and which ones to keep in place. The changes also come amid a growing sense that the virus is never going to go away and Americans need to find a way to coexist with it. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy called the move a huge step back to normalcy for our kids and said individual school districts will be free to continue requiring masks after the state mandate ends March 7. Meanwhile, California announced plans to end its indoor masking requirement for vaccinated people next week, but masks will still be the rule for schoolchildren in the nations most populous state. The four states are among a dozen with mask mandates in schools, according to the nonpartisan National Academy for State Health Policy. New Jerseys requirement has been in place since classes resumed in person in September 2020. Murphy cited the dramatic decline in our COVID numbers in announcing the rollback. The omicron variant fueled a spike in infections over the holidays, but cases in the state are down 50% and hospitalizations dropped off by one-third since last week, he said. We are not and Ive said this many times going to manage COVID to zero, the governor said. We have to learn how to live with COVID as we move from a pandemic to an endemic phase of this virus. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont recommended ending the statewide mandate in schools and child care centers on Feb. 28. Delaware Gov. John Carney said his states school mask mandate will run through March. Oregons mask requirements for schools will be lifted March 31. The statewide mask requirement for indoor public places will be lifted no later than the end of March, health officials announced. Dr. Dean Sidelinger, the state medical officer and epidemiologist, said education and health officials will meet in the coming weeks to revise guidance to ensure schools can continue operating safely and keep students in class once the mask rule is lifted. The March 31 deadline was selected using predictions by health scientists that COVID-19-related hospitalizations will decrease to 400 or fewer by that time a level that Oregon experienced before the omicron variant surge. In California, unvaccinated people will still be required to be masked indoors after Feb. 15, and everyone will have to wear masks in higher-risk areas such as public transit and nursing homes and other congregate living facilities, state officials said. Local governments can continue their own indoor masking requirements. State officials also announced that indoor mega events with more than 1,000 people will have to require vaccinations or negative tests, and those who are unvaccinated will be required to wear masks. For outdoor events with more than 10,000 people, there is no vaccination requirement, but masks or negative tests will be recommended. The debate over masks in schools has been polarizing in much of the U.S., with parents protesting at school board meetings and slates of candidates pro- and anti-mask seeking school board seats in an attempt to shape policies. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday that universal mask-wearing in schools still remains our recommendation, but she did not fault states for dropping the requirement. Its always been up to school districts. Thats always been our point of view and always been our policy from here, she said. Eight Republican-led states, including Florida and Texas, have bans on school mask mandates, though some have been suspended amid legal fights with districts and parents who want to require masks, according to the National Academy for State Health Policy. In Illinois, where a judge last week struck down Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzkers statewide school mask mandate, the Democratic attorney general said Monday he will appeal the ruling. The Chicago school system, where teachers recently refused to hold in-person classes until an agreement was reached on safety measures, including providing KN95 masks to students and staff, said the ruling doesnt apply and the nations third-largest district will continue to require masks. Murphy faced pressure from Republicans and some parents who have held rallies at the statehouse demanding an end to the mandate. But the governor has had support for the mask rule from the New Jersey Education Association, the states biggest teachers union. In a statement, the union noted that trends show COVID-19 heading in the right direction, and added: It is appropriate for Gov. Murphy to allow local districts to continue to require masking in communities where that is prudent based on local conditions. Nationwide, new COVID-19 cases per day have plunged by more than a half-million since mid-January, when they hit a record-shattering peak of more than 800,000. Cases have been declining in 47 states over the past two weeks, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Also, the number of Americans in the hospital with COVID-19 has fallen 28% since mid-January to about 111,000. Deaths are still running high at more than 2,400 per day on average, the most since last winter, reflecting a lag between when victims become infected and when they die. In New Jersey, it is unclear how many and how soon the states 600-plus school districts might end the wearing of masks. In Paterson, the states third-biggest city, the school system will take time to consult with administration officials, principals, parents and staff, said district spokesperson Paul Brubaker. Melissa Alfieri-Collins, a mother of two who disagrees with mask mandates in schools, saying she prefers choice, called the governors decision good news. But she raised concern that districts might keep mask rules in place. For this reason, parents need an opt-out option for when and if districts do this, she said. Connecticut will also allow school districts to retain the mandate. Its unclear if Delaware will follow suit, but the governor said he wanted to give school districts time to consider a local mandate. Stephen White, a 55-year-old father of a 14-year-old son, said that if the lifting of the mandate were to take effect immediately, he wouldnt be in favor of it. But four weeks from now is a different story. By that time period, if the rates are going down and they can say that OK, kids are vaccinated if they have a substantial amount of kids that are vaccinated I dont have a problem with them not wearing a mask at school, he said. Francis Amegah, a 63-year-old with two children in the Newark school district, said the end of the mandate is well overdue. They shouldnt be wearing masks. If something happens, well be able to handle that. The parents should be able to take care of that, he said. Republicans claimed responsibility for pushing the governor to end the mandate. Gov. Murphy will never admit that the pressure is getting to him, but it absolutely is, GOP Senate Leader Steve Oroho said. ___ Associated Press writers Sara Burnett in Chicago; Susan Haigh in Hartford, Connecticut; and video journalist Ted Shaffrey in Montclair, New Jersey, contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic PHOENIX A judge rejected a bid to throw out evidence against a man charged in the 2014 killing of an Arizona man who was bound, gagged and struck with an ax in a death allegedly involving people affiliated with a white supremacist prison gang. Attorneys for Christopher Paul Mason asked the court to toss evidence collected at a friends apartment where authorities say Joshua Calkins was killed. Investigators say Mason attacked Calkins because Calkins romantic relationship with a woman affiliated with the Aryan Brotherhood had ended badly and because Calkins had robbed a drug dealer who was a friend of Calkins ex-girlfriend. They say Calkins, who was badly beaten over the course of a day, begged for his life and was forced to apologize over the phone for having robbed the drug dealer. His body was later found wrapped in a rug and plastic in a Phoenix alley. Defense lawyers argued Mason had a reasonable expectation of privacy as an overnight guest at his friends apartment and that police made illegal searches there because they didnt have search warrants. Superior Court Judge Timothy Ryan rejected the argument on Wednesday, saying Mason was more like a squatter than an invited overnight guest when a property manager posted a notice of abandonment on the apartment. Masons friend, the only registered tenant, had been arrested and hadnt been seen in a several weeks. In rejecting the bid to throw out evidence from the searches of the apartment, the judge concluded it was reasonable for Phoenix police to treat the apartment as abandoned. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Mason, who has pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges. His trial is scheduled for July 19. Prosecutors say efforts were made to clean up and hide evidence from the killing and noted that a bloody tissue was found in a garbage can inside the apartment. They said a witness told police she saw Mason clean up the floor twice with bleach during that period. Last month, another man, Charles Robbins, was sentenced to nine years in prison for helping move Calkins body. He had pleaded guilty to hindering prosecution and abandoning a dead body. Instagram Celebrity The tattoo artist, who puts her $15 million home on the market, is awakened and left frightened after she saw a beam of light moving around the house when she and her 3-year-old son were asleep. Feb 7, 2022 AceShowbiz - Kat Von D has suffered a break-in at her Los Angeles home. The celebrity tattoo artist was left frightened after her mansion was burglarized by a home intruder who claimed that he's about to buy the house and needed to use the bathroom. On Saturday, February 5, law enforcement told TMZ that the "LA Ink" star was asleep with her 3-year-old son, Leafar Von Drachenberg Reyes, at around 10:15 P.M. She then woke up when a "beam of light" moved across her Hancock Park home. Kat then rushed out of the mansion holding her son Leafar and called 911. Police found the burglar wandering around the upper level of her home. The suspect reportedly told authorities he needed to use the restroom and also claimed he was buying the property. The man was taken into custody and booked for residential burglary. It's unclear if he knew specifically who the home belonged to. The authorities alleged that the burglar, believed to be in his 30s, got onto the property by jumping the fence. It's also unknown whether the man entered the mansion via a door or window. However, reports said there was no evidence of forced entry. Although it's not clear if the intruder had intentions to purchase the home, Kat recently listed the luxurious gothic Los Angeles mansion for $15 million. Last month, Kat announced via Instagram that she already put her L.A. home on the market as she's going to move to rural Indiana after having purchased a $1,525,000 home in Vevay last year. "As some of you may have heard, we have officially put our beloved Queen Anne Victorian home on the market this week, as we make our way to Indiana to move into another Victorian house we are currently restoring," she captioned her post. In October, Kat told her fans and followers that she and her husband Rafael Reyes "realize we feel more at home [in Indiana] than we do here in LA." The TV personality added, "After much thought, we have decided we will permanently be moving to Indiana at the end of this year." Kat purchased her Los Angeles home in 2016 for $6.5 million and restored it with the addition of a hidden bar, library and seven fireplaces. Among the unique amenities is a red pool located in her backyard. The exterior of the Victorian property was painted a deep burgundy shade, and statues were erected poolside. Kat's mansion also features resplendent rooms anchored in dark hardwood floors, indented walls and elegant chandeliers hanging from the gold tint ceilings. Several of the rooms are dripping in gold with metallic touches embedded into the walls, giving the space royal energy. A few of the rooms resemble an actual palace with gold-infused into mint green walls and a beautifully painted ceiling. Instagram TV In last February, the stuntwoman-turned-actress, who played Cara Dune on 'The Mandalorian', was let go from the 'Star Wars' spin-off show over her political posts connected to the Holocaust. Feb 7, 2022 AceShowbiz - Actress Gina Carano weighed in on the drama surrounding Whoopi Goldberg, who was suspended from "The View" over her insensitive comment on the Holocaust. Taking to her Twitter account, the former star of Disney+'s "The Mandalorian" slammed ABC for the decision. "I want to send blessings & love out to the Jewish community," Gina, who was previously axed from the "Star Wars" TV series over political posts connected to the Holocaust, wrote on the blue bird app on February 2. Comparing the matter to her own experience, she added, "When I was being smeared, cancelled & misunderstood, it was a Jewish man @benshapiro who reached out & asked if I'd like to talk about it. Maybe @WhoopiGoldbergcould talk to Ben. Conversation over cancellation." In a separate tweet, the former MMA fighter added, "Two weeks to slow the double standards." Gina Carano commented on Whoopi Goldberg's suspension from 'The View'. Gina was in a similar situation back in early 2021. In last February, the stuntwoman-turned-actress, who played Cara Dune on the "Star Wars" spin-off show, was fired by Lucasfilm after sharing her radical beliefs on social media as she compared life as a conservative in modern America to that of a Jew in Nazi Germany. That prompted hashtag #FireGinaCarano to trend on Twitter. "Gina Carano is not currently employed by Lucasfilm and there are no plans for her to be in the future," a Lucasfilm spokesperson said in a statement at the time. "Nevertheless, her social media posts denigrating people based on their cultural and religious identities are abhorrent and unacceptable." It was also reported that Lucasfilm had "been looking for a reason to fire her for two months, and today was the final straw." As for Whoopi, the Oscar-winning actress was suspended from "The View" after saying in the Monday, January 31 episode of the talk show that "the Holocaust isn't about race... It's about man's inhumanity to man. That's what it's about." Following backlash against the co-host, ABC News president Kim Godwin said in a statement, "Effective immediately, I am suspending Whoopi Goldberg for two weeks for her wrong and hurtful comments. While Whoopi has apologized, I've asked her to take time to reflect and learn about the impact of her comments. The entire ABC News organization stands in solidarity with our Jewish colleagues, friends, family and communities." In her apology, Whoopi wrote on Twitter hours after the episode aired, "On today's show, I said the Holocaust 'is not about race, but about man's inhumanity to man.' I should have said it is about both. The Jewish people around the world have always had my support and that will never waiver. I'm sorry for the hurt I have caused." She doubled down on her statement in the show's Tuesday episode. "Yesterday on our show, I misspoke. I tweeted about it last night but I want you to hear it from me directly," she stated. "I said something that I feel a responsibility for not leaving unexamined, because my words upset so many people, which was never my intention." Instagram Celebrity The Queen previously said that 'when, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes King,' it's her 'sincere wish' that Camilla will be known as Queen Consort. Feb 7, 2022 AceShowbiz - Prince Charles is honoring two women in his life on a poignant day. The Prince of Wales led the nation in tribute to his mother Queen Elizabeth as she passed her historic milestone of 70 years on the throne on Sunday, February 6. In his tribute, Charles thanked his "darling wife" Camilla for her "steadfast support." In a statement for Accession Day in the U.K. and across the Commonwealth of nations where the Queen is head of state, the Duke of Cornwall wrote, "On this historic day, my wife and I join you all in congratulating Her Majesty The Queen on the remarkable achievement of serving this nation, the Realms and Commonwealth for 70 years." "The Queen's devotion to the welcare of all her people inspires still greater admiration with each passing year," he went on to say. Charles later addressed the Queen's assertion late Saturday that it was her hope that Camilla would be titled Queen Consort when the time came for Charles to be King. "We are deeply conscious of the honour represented by my mother's wish. As we have sought together to serve and support Her Majesty and the people of our communities, my darling wife has been my own steadfast support throughout," the father of Prince William and Prince Harry continued. The Queen previously said that "when, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes King, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support that you have given me" in her message on the eve of Accession Day. "And it is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service," the monarch added. In response to the heartwarming message, Charles' spokesman told PEOPLE late on Saturday that the couple was "touched and honored" by the Queen's statement. A weekend of festivities has been planned for June to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. The festivities, which are set to begin in June 2, will include Trooping the Colour, the lighting of Platinum Jubilee beacons, a service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul's Cathedral, the Derby at Epsom Downs, a live concert called "Platinum Party at the Palace", the Big Jubilee Lunch as well as the Platinum Jubilee Pageant. Instagram Celebrity The 'Uncut Gems' actress sparks the split speculation after she removes her photos with the rapper on her social media account, but it's reportedly because the 'mean' comments she received. Feb 7, 2022 AceShowbiz - Kanye West and Julia Fox's relationship remains intact despite reports suggesting otherwise. The "Gold Digger" rapper and the Gotham Award-winning actress are not breaking up after Julia sparked the speculation with her social media activities. The split rumors began to swirl after the 32-year-old deleted pictures featuring her and her boyfriend from her Instagram page. She, however, has now taken to her Instagram Story to explain her actions. "Guys relax, I unfollowed the fan accounts because I was tired of seeing myself," she said in a video, which showed her speaking to the camera while seemingly getting topless in a bathroom. "Suddenly Instagram was not a fun place anymore," she continued. The Italian-born beauty further elaborated, "I took the f**king photos down because I read the comments and everyone was like, 'Oh my god, you clearly only posted photos you looked good in.' " Echoing Julia's statement, a source allegedly close to her told Page Six that she removed her photos with Ye because of the "mean" comments she received underneath the posts. "She deleted the photos because commenters were being really mean and she didn't want to deal," the source claimed. Despite removing most of her photos with Ye, Julia kept one post in which she gave a shout-out to her boyfriend for helping her celebrate her birthday. "And of course special thanks to Ye [a heart emoji," she wrote along with snaps taken during her recent birthday celebration. She added, "pics by @arnold_daniel. YES IM AWARE I ONLY CHOSE PHOTOS THAT I LOOK GOOD IN." In other news, Julia has reportedly weighed in on Ye's feud with his estranged wife Kim Kardashian. The mother of one, who went through her own divorce with Peter Artemiev in 2020, "understands" how hard a split can be, especially with children, but still hopes that the exes will soon find common ground, according to Page Six. "Julia's been in the same predicament, so she understands that divorces are messy and when kids are involved it makes it almost impossible," the source told the news outlet. "She just wants them to resolve their issues." Julia allegedly also questions the timing of the estranged couple's online back-and-forth as she finds it "a little strange and coincidental that after any big outing they have in the press, something like this happens." The source believes "there's been more instances of subtle retaliation and gaslighting," claiming that the reality TV star allegedly "does stuff to purposely trigger him because she knows he'll take the bait." Kanye and Kim have been at war over their daughter North's TikTok account, which she runs with her mother. Responding to Ye's statements on his Instagram page, the mother of four said, "Kanye's constant need for attacking me in interviews and on social media is actually more hurtful than any TikTok North might create." She argued, "As the parent who is the main provider and caregiver for our children, I am doing my best to protect our daughter while also allowing her to express her creativity in the medium that she wishes with adult supervision - because it brings her happiness." "Divorce is difficult enough on our children and Kanye's obsession with trying to control and manipulate our situation so negatively and publicly is only causing further pain for all," she continued in the statement, adding that she wished to "handle matters regarding our children privately." Despite the estranged spouses' feud, Kanye has been reunited with his kids. He was seen with all of his four children at an event in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 6 without Kim being seen anywhere around them. Ye has since removed his social media posts in which he ranted against the SKIMS founder. Instagram TV In a new interview, the real estate agent reveals that she understands where the speculations that her former best friend, who welcomed her baby boy in May 2021, faked her pregnancy may come from. Feb 7, 2022 AceShowbiz - "Selling Sunset" star Mary Fitzgerald is weighing on the rumors that her co-star and foe Christine Quinn faked her pregnancy on the Netflix series. In a new interview, Mary reveals that she understands where the speculations come from. "I only saw her one time when she was pregnant," Mary told Us Weekly on Thursday, February 3. "She came in[to] the office and that was the only time I ever, ever saw her pregnant." The South Dakota native went on to say of her former best friend, "But, I mean, she was [pregnant]. I can see why people would say [she wasn't] because she was so tiny just with this perfect little bump. And then she was right back to her normal size within, like, a day." Believing that it's impossible, Mary said that Christine must have "the most incredible genes in the world" for her to be able to bounce back that quickly. "I can see why people would say that [she faked it]. As far as I know, she really did [deliver her baby]. She really was pregnant, but we don't talk and I don't really see her. So I couldn't say one way or the other," she opined. Mary added that she has yet to meet Christine's baby boy though she saw the infant once in the Oppenheim Group Real Estate office. "I think it was filmed, but I didn't really interact or engage because I don't think that's really appropriate for me to go grab her baby," the reality star shared. "If we're not really friends, I'll just sit back and say, 'Congrats.' " Christine announced that she and her husband Christian Richard were expecting their first child together in February 2021. The real estate agent then gave birth to son Christian three months later. The fake pregnancy rumors didn't go unnoticed by the Netflix star as she shut them down in an Instagram Story post after season 4 of "Selling Sunset" was released on the streaming giant last November. "K y'all are beyond f**king sick," the "How to Be a Boss B***h" author wrote on her Instagram Story at the time. "This is seriously so hurtful." She also claimed in an interview with ET Canada back in December that being on the Netflix show during her pregnancy made her suffer from panic attacks. "I was pregnant on top of dealing with postpartum depression this season was really difficult for me," the TV star said. "I did the best that I could with the emotions that I was dealing with at the time and that I'm still dealing with now." "They make fun of the fact of me being late in the show. It's because I was literally having panic attacks and I was worried about my pregnancy and something going wrong," Christine added. She also compared the Oppenheim Group office to a "lion's den." She also slammed the Netflix show for falsely portraying her pregnancy journey. "I had my baby and then [it appeared] I was doing a yoga scene. But in real life, in that yoga scene, I was actually pregnant," she explained. "They edited me from, you know, the boobs up, so I got a lot of backlash on social media, [with people] saying, 'I can't believe you're doing yoga two weeks after giving birth after having an emergency C-section.' " "I was laboring for some time and the complexity of it all when I got there. I couldn't do what I wanted to do, so that's when we had to make the decision," the luxury real estate agent continued. "It was definitely scary in my mind to think about having an operation, but it went great." The ailing TV host claims she has suffered 'imminent and irreparable financial damage' as the bank has frozen her assets for two weeks, believing she 'was of unsound mind.' Feb 8, 2022 AceShowbiz - Wendy Williams has been locked out of her own bank account while she continues battling health issues. The TV personality is taking Wells Fargo to court after the bank froze her assets, citing her ongoing health woes. According to The Grip, Wendy's attorney filed a petition on Friday, February 4, asking a New York court to restore her access to a bank account containing "several million dollars." Her petition said she has suffered "imminent and irreparable financial damage" as a result of the bank's action. "Wells Fargo's actions and the actions of its agents have impeded and unlawfully prevented [Williams] access to her property," the petition alleged. In its defense, the bank argued its agreement with Wendy allowed it to "pause or reject instructions for a proposed transaction" if the company suspects "financial exploitation, dementia, or undue influence," according to the petition. Additionally, Wendy's former financial advisor advised the bank that Wendy "was of unsound mind." Now, Wendy seeks her account to be restored while she resolves her dispute with Wells Fargo via arbitration. The petition asked the court to "reopen any frozen accounts or assets" and to let her access "any accompanying statements, currently identifiable as accounts and/or policies which contain funds that were removed and/or withheld" from her accounts within 48 hours from Friday. Wells Fargo has not responded to the petition. Wendy had an estimated net worth of $40 million as of September 2021, according to The Sun. Wendy has not hosted her talk show, "The Wendy Williams Show", since its season 13 premiered last October as she has been battling serious health issues. However, her brother and spokesperson have denied reports that she's battling dementia. The 57-year-old was last seen last month when making a rare public outing in Miami, Florida. At the time, she was spotted wearing a bright red robe and a pair of reading glasses while visiting her younger sibling on Sunday, January 23. SHASTA COUNTY, Calif. - A murder suspect was in court on Friday to answer murder charges related to the death of Patrick Baker in June of last year in Redding, the Shasta County District Attorney said Monday. 28-year-old Supensive Lee was in court Friday after he was extradited from Minnesota on Dec. 7, 2021, and was booked into the Shasta County Jail the following day. Lee was identified as the suspect in the murder of Baker on June 25, 2021, after police responded to the 3600 block of Churn Creek Road. Police said an investigation revealed the suspect shot and killed Baker in front of his wife and 8-year-old daughter. On July 7, 2021, Redding detectives obtained an arrest warrant for the homicide of Baker. Lee was arrested in Minnesota when officers responded to a routine noise complaint, police said. He will be back in court on Feb. 18 for his arraignment and is being held on a $1 million bail. Gurgaon-based digital agency AdYogi, has achieved 2022 Premier Partner status in the Google Partners program. AdYogis team of experts provides unmatched expertise in paid search for e-commerce companies, starting from campaign creation to final conversion and optimization with automated prospecting, retargeting, and cross-selling, using cutting-edge technology, to drive sales for Direct-to-consumer eCommerce (D2C) brands all over India. Explore the full range of offerings on their website. Speaking on the announcement, Anshuk K Aggarwal Co-Founder, AdYogi said Were excited to share that AdYogi is a 2022 Google Premier Partner. Were proud of our teams achievement of earning Premier Partner status and look forward to our continued partnership with Google. This recognition allows us access to more insights, resources, and data which will help us maximize our clients efforts on Google Ads. By being a Google premier partner, AdYogi will be able to stay ahead of the curve and remain dedicated to keeping up with Googles continuous changes and new features and thereby help its clients increase revenue in the most efficient manner. This February, Google recognized the achievements of top-performing digital marketing partners across the globe by awarding Premier Partner status as part of the new Google Partners program. The Google Partners program has undergone significant changes for 2022, including redefining what it means to be a Premier Partner through new, advanced program requirements and offering new Premier Partner benefits to support growth and success with Google Ads. Congratulations to our Premier Partners for being among the top 3% of Google Partners in India. These companies stand out based on their commitment to developing product expertise, building new client relationships, and helping their current clients grow. We look forward to supporting them as they help their customers succeed online. - Davang Shah, Senior Director, Google Ads Marketing AdYogi is part of a select group of Premier Partners in the Google Partners program. This program is designed for advertising agencies and third parties that manage Google Ads accounts on behalf of other brands or businesses. Its mission is to empower companies by providing them with innovative tools, resources, and support to help their clients succeed and grow online. A program for Conservatives By Mark Wegierski web posted February 7, 2022 One should begin with an examination of the reasons for the Conservative failure in the federal election of September 20, 2021, and some general insights that can be derived therefrom. In the authors opinion, the attempted move to the centre to try to win over blue-collar, as well as suburban and urban voters, especially in Ontario, Quebec, and B.C., was a good idea. However, it was hobbled by the policy delineated in the Plan (the detailed Conservative election platform) to rescind the Liberal anti-assault rifle Order-in-Council, which the Liberals were able to zero in on with a laser-like intensity. It was also weakened by Erin OTooles refusal to come on board with vaccine mandates which also became a huge target for the Liberal campaign. These two matters were wedge-issues which generated huge support for the Liberals. If the Conservative Party was going to move to the centre these two matters should have been appropriately addressed. Delineated below are the some of the main possible policy planks of the CPC in future elections. The obvious fiscal irresponsibility of the current Administration may lead to a virtual economic collapse in a matter of years. The CPC should be leading a crusade against the fiscal profligacy of the current Administration. In the Canadian context, the author accepts that abortion rights and same-sex marriage are an indelible part of the Canadian political landscape today. Nevertheless, he believes that it is possible to promote pro-family policies (especially through the tax-system) that can win broad acceptance in Canadian society today. For example, the tax-penalty on households with one main breadwinner in the marriage, should be ended. The author believes that significant efforts should be directed towards enunciating and promoting a Green Conservatism. Conservation issues and the defence of the environment should not be left to opponents of the CPC. Therefore, some kind of carbon pricing should be supported. The author believes that the excesses of multiculturalism and very high immigration policies, as being promulgated by the current Administration, are vulnerable to criticism. The need for the promotion of Canadian values among immigrants, could be given serious consideration. There is also an ecological argument that can be made for reducing immigration levels. The author also believes that the dangerous weakening of the Canadian military and security assets under the current Administration, could be an effective point of criticism. Military spending should be increased, and they should be supported as much as possible in the general culture. Some further attention should be paid to broader cultural issues. There is today in Canada a massive cultural fracturing, under the pressures of the American pop-culture, of the extremes of multiculturalism, and of excessive Aboriginal claims. Ironically, the greatest champions of Canadian culture today are also usually mavens of political correctness. The core Canadian identity is in danger of disappearing, the centre cannot hold, only the so-called fringes are powerful today. The goal would be to re-orient cultural funding to give more voice to core Canadian identity, and core Canadian culture and history. Also, the climate in the Canadian academy today (especially in the humanities and social sciences) has become unbearably woke, devoted to identity politics, and intersectionality. Non-woke voices are frequently silenced. There should be legislation to try to restore greater freedom of speech in the academy, and in society as a whole. The unrelenting emphasis in academic funding on equity, diversity, inclusion should be shifted towards recognizing academic excellence. And there is the multifarious crisis of family and morality. It has been pointed out by various commentators that no matter how many rights and benefits a given society offers, it may still be considered a failing society, if it fails in the most essential task of reproducing itself both in the purely physical as well as cultural sense. The government must therefore substantially increase the incentives for married couples to have or adopt children, through a variety of tax-policies. Related to the crisis of morality is the triumph of the permissive society the death of respect for legitimate authority and the sometimes absurdly lax operation of the criminal justice system. There should be a general tightening up of the legal system as far as real punishments for real crimes as opposed to the imagined offenses against political correctness. All these ideas should be confidently and unflinchingly presented to the Canadian public by a Conservative leadership who are effective communicators. It is only by challenging the currently-regnant left-liberalism in the areas where, in the authors opinion, it is most vulnerable, that significant electoral victories and changes in policy could eventually happen. Mark Wegierski is a Toronto-based, Canadian writer and historical researcher, published in Alberta Report, Calgary Herald, Ottawa Citizen, and The Hill Times (Ottawa), among others. His article about Canada was reprinted in Annual Editions: World Politics, 1998-99 (Dushkin/McGraw-Hill, 1998). Home A gripping murder. An intriguing case. A web of secrets. Put them all together, and youve got the making of a great binge watch. If you have been wondering where to make your pick, Disney+ Hotstar has you covered with its Hotstar Specials The Great Indian Murder, directed by thriller maestro Tigmanshu Dhulia. With a gripping new saga of crime, politics and vengeance, the 10-episode-long series spins around a strange group of suspects, speculated to have murdered an industrialist and son of a Home Minister, Vicky Rai. The 7.8 IMDb rated series is already being praised by critics for its brilliant dialogues, engaging and rewarding story, and gritty narrative. The series promises an edge-of-the-seat thriller noir with a stellar cast, including Richa Chadha, Pratik Gandhi, Ashutosh Rana, Shashank Arora, Raghubir Yadav, among others. Here is why The Great Indian Murder is a must-watch for all the thriller fanatics streamingon Disney+ Hotstar in Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Bengali. Eagerly-awaited book-to-series adaptation The Great Indian Murder has been taken from the pages of Vikas Swarups riveting novel, Six Suspects- a story that masterfully blends mystery, murder, and fate. The Bollywood potboiler trappings of the book see its characters carry unique individualities and backgrounds, adding to the raw eclectic feel of The Great Indian Murder. Drives an intellectual rush of participating in a mystery The Great Indian Murder presents a new outlook into the lives of the powerful, corrupt and ambitious people on screen. It flawlessly ties them to a cold-blooded murder assumed to be committed out of vengeance. The series grows on you as it looks deeply into the mindsets of characters who are downright evil, or at best, morally ambiguous, making it a thrilling adventure in itself. The twist and turns of the thriller will keep your adrenaline rushing. A power-packed cast The show features a stellar cast led by thriller queen Richa Chadha and celebrated actor Pratik Gandhi in exciting new roles. They are joined by a powerhouse talent that includes screen favourites Ashutosh Rana, Shashank Arora, Raghubir Yadav and others in pivotal roles. All of them are celebrated for their versatility in front of the camera and have won love and adoration for their craft from all over the world. Bringing together the best Screenplay writers Co-written for the screen by a powerful duo - Tigmanshu Dhulia and Vijay Maurya, The Great Indian Murder features a non-linear enigmatic story format. The shows format serves as a mystery waiting to be solved as it invites the viewer to solve the murder case with its investigative officers. It masterfully explores several versions of a single murder. ~ Tune into Disney+ Hotstar to join Richa Chaddha and Pratik Gandhi on their journey to uncover the mystery of Vicky Rais murder in The Great Indian Murder streaming now on Disney+ Hotstars ~ Kolkata Thunderbolts on Sunday announced that premium plywood brand Austin Plywood has signed with the franchise as Associated Partners for the 2022 edition of the Rupay Prime Volleyball League. The announcement has come just a day before the start of the Kolkata Thunderbolts' campaign. Speaking on the collaboration, Chairman and Managing Director of Pulkit Veneer Mills Private Limited Mr. Pawan Kumar Patodia, who is also the Chairman and Co-Owner of the Kolkata Thunderbolts franchise, said that the partnership will add prestigious value to the franchise. "The brand Austin Plywood is synonymous with premium quality and has garnered a reputation for their elegant strength and brand value. It is a known brand across every household not only in Kolkata or West Bengal but it is popular for its Quality and Value for money across india, and with this association, we want our franchise to reach every household in this country" Mr Pawan Kumar Patodia said. "At the same time, the reputation preceding the brand will also develop the same level of trust in volleyball fans in Kolkata Thunderbolts as they have with the quality of Austin Plywood, and thus the fans will recognise, follow, and associate with the franchise on a deeper level. We are delighted to have Austin Plywood on board as Associated Partners for the 2022 edition and we are convinced that this will be a long-running relationship that will nurture with years to come," he added. Mr. Nishant Agarwal, Director of Austin Plywood, said that he is proud to align with the prestigious Prime Volleyball League's franchise Kolkata Thunderbolts. "We are really proud to associate with an organisation that represents the city of Kolkata and its beautiful people at the prestigious Prime Volley League,"Mr Nishant Agarwal said. "It gives us great joy to see that through this collaboration, we will able to contribute a little in bringing about this revolution in the country in the sport of volleyball. We are sure this partnership will help us both in achieving our long-term goals," he added. Kolkata Thunderbolts will open their campaign at the Prime Volleyball League on Monday (7th February 2022) against Calicut Heroes at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad. Otipy, Indias first community group buying platform for fresh produce, today announced the appointment of Amresh Kumar as Chief Product Officer. An industry veteran, Amresh comes with 16 years of experience of being the product head at various renowned brands like Times Internet (E-commerce venture), Cardekho.com and Unified Messaging Systems (now Everbridge) . He holds a Bachelor's degree in Engineering from IIT Kharagpur. In his last stint, Amresh was the Head of Analytics and Product Strategy at Times Internet. At Otipy, he will be responsible for spearheading the product verticals across its Consumer, Community Leader and Farmer ecosystems as well as driving products for Otipys tech-powered fast supply chain that enables consumers to get the freshest product at the lowest price. Varun Khurana, Founder & CEO, Otipy Said, Amresh is an experienced leader who has led and scaled consumer products in his previous roles. As Otipy reaches millions of users, we look forward to Amresh building the best consumer and community leader experience for the Indian market. Commenting on his appointment, Amresh said, Otipy is redefining the fresh segment in India. With pandemic the daily essentials industry and technology has taken a different turn and is playing a pivotal role in driving the sector. I look forward to being a part of this phenomenon and bringing a positive change in the lives of millions of people. Otipy is the market leader in NCR and moves more than 100 tonnes of fresh produce everyday from farm to consumers. It serves more than 4 Lakh consumers in Delhi NCR leveraging its 20,000+ community leader network. Otipy procures its produce from more than 10,000 farmers across Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra. Leveraging its unique prediction-based model, Otipy has been able to decrease food wastage in the supply chain from 40% down to just 3%. Recently Otipy has crossed more than a million downloads and close to 100K DAUs on its consumer application. From a Samosa stall in Moga, Punjab, Sonu Sood has shared a message for his fans! The new host of MTV Roadies says hes really excited to host the new season of MTV Roadies. Sonu mentions that the upcoming 18th season will be filled with fun & adventure and will have the best roadies across the country. Being a foodie, Sonu then speaks of indulging in samosa and chaat before he leaves for the journey ahead in South Africa as he may not get to have the delicious Indian delight in South Africa. Shooting for MTV Roadies Season 18 begins in the second week of February 2022 while the show is expected to go live in March on MTV India. Viraj Nair has been appointed AVP-marketing, thought leadership and digital communications at Kalaari Capital. Nair will report to Vani Kola, at Kalaari Capital, managing director, Kalaari Capital. Nair has more than 12 years of work experience, including almost a decade in corporate and financial journalism, covering a broad range of industries. In his new role, based in Bengaluru, Nair will lead marketing for Kalaari Capital, a technology-focused venture capital firm. He will be focusing on enhancing the firms reputation and be an industry thought leader through data-driven insights. Nair will also work on digital content strategies to build the companys brand identity. He started his career with Thompson Reuters as a journalist, then moving to Financial Express as a senior correspondent covering energy, power, and coal. He has also worked with Economic Times, Mint, Fortune India magazine, and Nikkei Asian Review. Nair has done his post-graduate diploma in journalism from the Asian College of Journalism. The Federal Council Bern, 02.02.2022 - The Federal Council approved the Foreign Policy Report 2021 at its meeting on 2 February 2022. Switzerland's foreign policy was marked last year by the termination of negotiations on the institutional agreement with the European Union and the growing importance of good offices. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences continued to shape foreign policy. Switzerland's policy towards the European Union was marked in 2021 by the decision to discontinue the negotiations on the institutional agreement with the EU. The Federal Council nevertheless underlined its determination to pursue the bilateral path. It implemented a series of measures to stabilise relations with the EU and took mitigating steps to address a number of matters. Nevertheless, breaking deadlocks that hamper progress on these dossiers has been a major challenge for the Federal Council. While geopolitical tensions became more pronounced in 2021, the major powers also expressed their willingness to address their differences through dialogue. Switzerland's good offices and role as a neutral host state took on greater importance. This was underlined by the choice of Geneva to host the summit between US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin in June, as well as the discussions between US and Chinese representatives in Zurich in October. In the face of growing tensions over security issues in Europe, Switzerland continues its efforts to promote an inclusive dialogue on European security and find solutions to conflicts. COVID-19 remains front and centre The pandemic remained a major concern of Swiss foreign policy in 2021. In order to support third countries in their fight against the pandemic and to respond to changing needs, Switzerland continuously realigned its development programmes and contributed to the mechanism to give developing countries speedier access to tools to combat COVID-19. As part of its humanitarian aid, Switzerland sent respirators, testing kits and protective equipment to several countries. The health crisis also slowed down diplomatic work. For example, the Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons could not be held last year. The FDFA's Crisis Management Centre was kept very busy in 2021, and not only because of the pandemic. The situation in Afghanistan necessitated the evacuation of 385 people with links to Switzerland and the temporary closure of the Swiss cooperation office in Kabul. Innovation and science diplomacy In line with the Digital Foreign Policy Strategy 202124, science diplomacy was one of Switzerland's priorities in 2021. The first Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA) summit took place in October. This foundation was established in 2019 at the initiative of the Federal Council and the State Council of the Canton of Geneva in order to enable better adaptation to the rapid pace of scientific and technological advances. A special representative for science diplomacy was appointed during the year under review in order to strengthen Switzerland's action in the field of science diplomacy. Coherent foreign policy Overall, good progress was made in implementing the foreign policy strategy 2020-2023. Switzerland's foreign policy was further strengthened with the adoption of new geographical follow-up strategies (China and Sub-Saharan Africa). Furthermore, as part of its cascading foreign policy strategies, the FDFA issued the Human Rights Guidelines 202124. Address for enquiries For further information: FDFA Communication Tel. +41 58 462 31 53 Tel. Press service +41 460 55 55 kommunikation@eda.admin.ch Publisher The Federal Council https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start.html Federal Department of Foreign Affairs https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html Alton, IL (62002) Today Partly cloudy skies this morning will give way to cloudy skies and rain during the afternoon. High 68F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight A steady rain this evening. Showers with perhaps a rumble of thunder developing overnight. Low around 60F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Locally heavy rainfall possible. At the start of February, the soybean market was laser-focused on South America, mainly soybean production and the weather. For soybeans, everything has been focused on South America. The reports were hearing (indicate) the northern regions are looking at about 10 percent lower production than expected pretty much across the board, said Randy Martinson, president of Martinson Ag Risk Management, Fargo, N.D. Too much rain in the north has hurt the bushels and the quality, so thats lowered some of the production. That is starting to show up now when they're starting to get a little deeper into the harvest, he continued. The center/southern (region) has gotten hit really hard by the drought, especially in the southern regions like Rio Grande do Sul, which is looking at a huge crop problem with huge losses expected. Martinson noted that private analysts and the government agencies in both Argentina and Brazil have consistently continued to lower production estimates, almost on a weekly basis. It seems to be now that were in a race to who can get to the lowest number the fastest, he said, adding that a few analytical and other agencies used to come out monthly and theyre now doing it every two weeks and they are starting to get now below the 130 million metric ton (MMT) mark in a lot of their estimates. It does look like we are now going to see an adjustment and the crop is now likely to go below that 135 MMT for estimates, he said. Right now, USDA is at 139 MMT and most of the private ones are between 128 and 133 MMT, so were still looking at a pretty good drop. The (state of) Rio Grande do Sul (accounts for) about 16-18 percent of the countrys soybeans and they look like theyre going to have basically a crop failure because of it being so hot and dry, he added. Another region close by looks like it will come in a little bit below average, but the region has picked up some rains and will be a little bit better. All of that is kind of making some of the buyers a little bit nervous and we have seen strong demand for soybeans in the export market over the last 10 days, he said, adding that the U.S. saw three huge sales taken place the last week of January, including China and then an unknown destination coming in to buy. That tells us that theyre a little bit worried about where the supply is going to be and that South America might not be able to meet their late summer needs. Thats bringing some of that demand to us, which is helping prop the price up, and beans are trying to buy acres or at least try to hold on to acres and not lose them to other crops. For the Northern Plains region in the U.S., Martinson said that every crop has to buy acres and there will be strong competition for those acres this spring. We need to increase the wheat acres. We need to increase barley and all of the specialty crops. So theres going to be a good competition for acres and right now were finally starting to see beans (compete), he said. Basis levels are tightening up for new crop, were seeing futures rally, so its the best of both worlds right now taking place in the soybean market as they try to buy acres for 2022. Basis levels have tightened almost 40 cents in a matter of a week, so thats telling us that there is some export demand thats out there and these elevators are needing to try and secure product in their area and theyre trying to get the acres brought in, he continued. And weve got the crush plants, so theyre starting to come into play, too. Some areas, even though theyre not going to be buying this year, by next year theyre going to be looking at buying, so there is some competition and some jockeying for acres in some areas. Martinson is anticipating that there will be an increase in planted acres for both soybeans and corn, but feels that spring wheat acres will be down. The key will be how much or what kind of contracts come with the specialty crops. With the price of soybeans going up, thats going to increase the price of dry edible beans because they have to compete against each other, so its going to be interesting to see who wins out, he said. I know barley is getting some acres, oats is starting to see some attraction, canola and sunflower all these crops need to add acres and theyre all going to be competing. Right now beans are trying to grab the biggest share of that. Looking at local prices, at one elevator in western Minnesota regularly followed in this column, as of Feb. 1, the February delivery price was $14.81 per bushel and basis was -45 cents under. The June 2022 futures price was listed at $15.27 13.04 and basis was +35 13 cents over. One factor that may influence planting decisions is the price of fertilizer. Just a few weeks ago those prices were on the rise, but lately Martinson has seen a change with some producers able to negotiate a little lower price with suppliers and about a $150 a ton drop in fertilizer prices. Farm & Ranch Guide Weekly Update Get the latest agriculture news delivered to your inbox from Farm & Ranch Guide. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. To make plans for the future, one needs a road map with a starting point. In this case, two years ago that first step was taken. It involved i VOLGA, Iowa Matt Winters says there nothing prettier than cattle wandering around on green grass. Its a beautiful sight, he says. Winters and his wife Cassie were recently named Commercial Producers of the Year by the Iowa Cattlemens Association. The couple farms near here in Clayton County, Iowa, with their four children Audrey, 7; Grant, 5; Lauren, 4; and Carson, 2. Their operation, Spring Valley Ranch, includes mostly Simmental, Angus and SimAngus genetics in the cow herd, with Hereford and Simmental bulls. The family also raises registered quarter horses that they use in the farming operation. In addition to the 100-plus cows on their northeast Iowa operation, the Winters are also partners with a ranch in western South Dakota. Winters says about 90% of their farm is pasture ground, although they do grow some corn for silage. Calves have been sold to the same local feedlot for the past 15 years. Winters says the Hereford bulls were introduced into the herd two years ago. We wanted to improve the milk production in our replacement heifers, he says. Its worked out pretty well. Winters says he started farming on his own in 2004. The cattle we have now are fairly close to what we had back then, he says. We keep cows around as long as we can. I would say two-thirds of our cows are over 10 years old, and we have one cow that is 18 years old. Several traits are priorities for the operation, including carcass performance, disposition, milk production and udder quality. Replacement heifers are selected based on size, body depth and carriage, along with disposition. Matt says they get carcass and performance data from the feedlot. Caring for the environment is also a priority for the couple. They use rotational grazing to help keep pastures in good shape. The ranch is home to several springs, which has led to projects to utilize them for water needs and protect the resource. Community involvement is also important to the couple. Winters is active in the Iowa Cattlemens Association where he currently serves as District 6 alternate director, a member of the ICA board of directors and also sits on the beef products labeling task force. In the past, he and Cassie were active members of the Clayton County Cattlemens beef board where they served as president and helped with county fair beef activities. They have other community activities close to home. Its important to be involved in our community and our industry, he says While the current size of the operation is manageable, Winters says they are hoping to grow in the near future. I still want to grow two or three times the size we are now, he says. We are growing with the partnership ranch since we cant compete with the rental rates for pasture in Iowa. So we are focusing a lot on the South Dakota partnership and will look for opportunities to grow here in Iowa as well. Midwest Messenger Weekly Update Get the latest agriculture news delivered to your inbox from the Midwest Messenger. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. That time Democrats discovered a dead cop to prop By Mark Alexander web posted February 7, 2022 Having spent the early years of my career as a law enforcement officer, I share a strong sense of fraternity with our first responders who serve and protect. With that as a backdrop, on one occasion last year when Democrats could use a dead cop as an agenda prop, they pulled out all the celebratory stops. Likewise, in one case of an unjustifiable shooting by a cop that didn't fit their agenda, they did everything in their power to protect that cop. The Democrat Party and its socialist protagonists have been cop-haters for decades. In May of 2020, they used the unjustifiable death of a criminal thug, George Floyd , as fodder to promote the BIG Lie that our nation was besieged with systemic racism . On that lie, they launched their " defund the police " movement and painted a target on the backs of LEOs nationwide. What followed was the Demos' burn, loot, and murder " summer of rage " featuring their Marxist so-called " Black Lives Matter " radicals and their antifa movement of self-styled "anti-fascist" fascists. Cops, who form the frontline gauntlet of defenders for persons and property, found themselves the subject of constant condemnation and ridicule, as Demo governors and mayors suppressed their ability to protect the innocent. As the leftist hate-hustling rage was brought to a boil ahead of the 2020 election, even The New York Times noted , "Across 20 major cities, the murder rate at the end of June was on average 37 percent higher than it was at the end of May." Two months later The Wall Street Journal reported that the homicide rate registered "double-digit increases in 36 of 50 biggest cities amid pandemic." The Demos' lies about " systemic racism " had worked. That is one reason why, in the 2020 presidential contest between Donald Trump and Joe Biden , the nation's largest police union, the Fraternal Order of Police, backed Trump. By year's end, the FBI's 2020 crime data report indicated murder rates swelled by 25%, with the number of homicides exceeding 20,000 for the first time since 1995 when Bill Clinton was in office. The Democrats had unleashed a deadly torrent of violence on citizens and on cops and it was about to get much worse. Indeed, as 2021 came to a close, it proved to be the deadliest year for LEOs since 2011, under the cop-hating administration of Barack Obama . That reality didn't stop Biden from moving forward with his recent executive order for so-called "police reform," making life more dangerous for citizens and cops alike and he did so when one of the American people's top concerns is crime . That indifference helps explain Biden's basement-dwelling voter approval rating , which is currently the lowest of any president at the end of their first year in 50 years. It also helps explain Gallup's quarterly political party identity poll , which shows the number of people who self-identify as Democrats, and which has plunged since Biden took office from 49% to 42%. Meanwhile, the number of voters who identify as Republicans grew from 40% to 47%. In one year, that is a net 14-point swing. But there is nothing that exhibits the Demos' disregard for cops more than the fact that, on very rare occasions, they find a deceased officer they can use as a prop because he or she fits their political agenda. Such was the case after the death of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick , whose memory Biden and Nancy Pelosi desecrated by lying about how he died and then placing his body in the Capitol rotunda as a political prop for Pelosi's post-January 6th theatrical " insurrection inquisition ." That inquisition is the stage for Biden's " right-wing extremist " delusion. So, in the deadliest year for cops in a decade, apparently Biden and Pelosi deemed no other officer was worthy of high honors and recognition, because no other officer than Brian Sicknick fit their political narrative. In the first month of this year, in the wake of the massive turnout to honor NYPD rookie officer Jason Rivera , who along with his partner, Wilbert Mora, was targeted and murdered last month, Biden and Pelosi have been AWOL, nowhere to be seen or heard on the topic of murderous violence toward cops. Meanwhile, Biden spokes-parrot Jen Psaki laughed off rising crime rates , prompting FOP President Patrick Yoes to call out Psaki : "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. The world we find ourselves in is dangerous and is becoming increasingly more so. Tens of thousands of people have been the victims of crime this month alone and some of them never made it back home." Hoping to divert from the fact Biden is also AWOL on crime nationwide , he is set to visit New York City this week . He is endeavoring to distance himself from the Demos' " defund police " platform, but it will be hung around his neck. And what about those rare occasions when a police officer unjustifiably kills a person? Well, if the officer was white and the victim black, batten down the hatches. But if the officer is black and the victim white, move on, nothing to see here. Recall that Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, in another theatrical political charade, kneeled for George Floyd in the Capitol rotunda, using his death as a prop in order to ignite their constituents' "summer of rage." Indeed, the prosecution of the officer involved in Floyd's unjustified death was front-page, above-the-fold news right up until his conviction. But there was one officer-involved shooting last year in which Biden, Pelosi, and Schumer did everything in their power to protect that officer and prevent any investigation of his actions. After an incompetent black Capitol Police Officer, whom we reported to be Lt. Michael Byrd , unjustifiably (by any objective account) shot and killed an unarmed white female, Ashli Babbitt , during the January 6 Capitol riot, the DoJ closed its investigation , as did the DC Metro Police, the primary agency conducting the shooting review, with no standard interview of Byrd . And in stark contrast to all other officer-involved shootings, no details, zero details, have been released about any investigation into Babbitt's death. Again, occasionally Democrats find a dead cop they can honor, and on even more rare occasions they can find and protect a cop who kills the "right" victim. I remain deeply troubled about both the Democrats' desecration of Brian Sicknick and their protection of Michael Byrd. Mark Alexander is the executive editor of the Patriot Post. While 2021 was a challenging year for many reasons, exports were a bright spot for U.S. agriculture. The U.S. Department of Agriculture released Novembers export numbers in early 2022 that showed strong overseas demand for American beef and pork. Despite obstacles like supply chain disruptions and backups at shipping ports, the November report continued a trend of strong U.S. meat exports. Export momentum began accelerating around late July or early August, with that trend continuing into November, especially for beef, according to Dan Halstrom, president and CEO of the U.S. Meat Export Federation. The U.S. exported 123,000 metric tons of beef in November, which is 7% higher than a year ago. Its broad-based growth and not one particular market driving the expansion. Its the same theme we saw in the previous four months worth of export numbers, Halstrom said. USMEF saw significant growth in Japan, China, Korea, as well as Central and South America. While the export growth remained strong, he said the value of those exports also grew. U.S. beef exports in November were valued at just over $1 billion, the second time in 2021 that exports topped the billion-dollar mark. We are easily on pace for a record year in beef exports, Halstrom said. We will easily top $10 billion in sales, which is an all-time record. While the overall value is quite significant, the value per head was also quite high, coming in at $480. That number is 42% higher or up by $142 over the previous year. Things are strong on the beef side, said. Beef producers with boots on the ground dont always think about exports, but they do know how valuable exports are when producers market their cattle. Steven Hansen is president-elect for the Nebraska Cattlemens Association. Even from his operation in Elsie, Nebraska, Hansen notices that overseas buying is picking up in several markets. Japan is up 6%, Korea is up 13% and China is up an incredible amount, he said. He credits the Phase 1 Trade Agreement, which allowed hormone-treated beef into China, as a major contributor. Its expected to increase exports to $2 billion in each of those markets. Thats a really big deal, Hansen said. Those international markets are important because they allow the U.S. to sell products that American consumers may not want, Hansen added. That might include the tongue, the tripe, intestines, the liver and other parts that dont sell well domestically. They give us a good price for those products, which helps the value per head go up significantly, he said. November was also a good month for exporting the Other White Meat. Pork exports came in at 238,000 metric tons, which is a good number, but Halstrom said its lower than the previous year. The drop is due to China rebuilding its hog herds from the African Swine Fever outbreak that hit the country hard. Year to date, were probably down 25%, which is about where we thought wed be in 2021, Halstrom said. The good news is that the 8% drop in November, due in large part to lower Chinese buying, was mostly offset by increased purchases in many other markets. Mexico bought 87,000 tons in November, up 34%. Korea rose 24% to almost 13,000 tons, while Central and South America were up 16 and 30%, respectively. The big one was Columbia, which almost doubled their pork purchases from the previous year, Halstrom said. Other than China, pork was similar to beef in that pork saw broad-based growth in multiple markets. Pork producers also dont think about exports every day, but they do appreciate the opportunity to sell products that Americans might not choose at their local grocery store. Its a chance to open up some new markets that dont always take what we would consider being the prime meats, said Craig Andersen, past president of the South Dakota Pork Producers Association. Markets like China buy what we would consider the off type of stuff, what they call variety meats. The parts of a pig that we dont eat are often considered delicacies in other countries. Despite the accelerating pace of exports later in 2021, Halstrom says exports stayed consistent throughout the year. He says all throughout the challenges brought on by COVID-19, the moral of the story is that overseas demand is booming. Restaurant demand is down in some markets due to COVID restrictions, which we still have plenty of in Asia, Halstrom said. However, the retail sector is booming because people are eating a lot more at home, but they still want a nice experience, so theyre willing to pay more at the store. Looking ahead this year, Halstrom says USMEF sees continuing strong base demand for Americas pork and beef exports. The only thing he sees changing is the cycle of production for both beef and pork. I think production might be a little lower for both in 2022, Halstrom said. While that typically means less product to export, the demand will continue to be strong. Its also broad-based demand and not one market driving that demand. Our forecast for beef exports this year will continue to grow, probably at a slower pace, somewhere in the five-to-six percent range, he said. The pork forecast for this year hinges on China and where theyre at in terms of repopulating their herds after ASF. Our pork forecast is for similar or slightly-lower results than the previous year. There will still be growth but a little tempered in 2022. Chad Smith can be reached at editorial@midwestmessenger.com. Midwest Messenger Weekly Update Get the latest agriculture news delivered to your inbox from the Midwest Messenger. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Making savvy financial decisions in 2022 could mean the difference between profit and loss for farming operations. Higher fertilizer costs are a top concern, but land rent, fuel, chemicals, and insurance premiums are also expected to be higher. David Bau, University of Minnesota Extension financial analyst, has offered several meetings to discuss 2022 budgets through his popular program, What is a Fair Farmland Rental Rate Agreement? Through the Adult Farm Business Management program, Bau has access to financial data from roughly 1,200 farms in southern Minnesota. He also manages four marketing groups and receives an average of three phone calls every day regarding land rents. What do you think farmers input costs will do in 2022? Stay the same, go down, go up? Normally they stay about the same as last year. Thats very commonplace, but not this year. Everything is going up, and very few things are going down, he said. High corn and soybean prices The good news is that prices remain high for corn and soybeans, and farmers are expecting normal yields in 2022. For soybeans, Bau is figuring an average yield of 54 bushels per acre and an average price of $11.50, gross return per acre is $621. Using southern Minnesota FINBIN data, the range in gross return from 2011-20 is $493.04-$693.11 per acre. For corn, figuring an average yield of 200 bushels per acre at $4.50 per bushel offers a gross return of $900. Thats a big number historically high for 2022, he said. Again, using southern Minnesota FINBIN data, the range in gross return from 2011-20 is $671.17-$1,182.77 per acre. Farmers received significant government payments because of COVID, but Bau doesnt expect payments in 2022, unless something changes dramatically. We had good yields in 2021 and good prices, so I dont really expect ARC or PLC to pay anything this year, he said. On top of that, I dont expect government payments, because we have good situations right now. While the income looks good, its easy for expenses to expand out of control. The types of decisions farmers make in commodity prices as well as inputs costs could determine if they get a profitable year raising corn or soybeans. Purchasing decisions have a big role in net return per acre. With normal yields, acceptable prices, and acceptable costs, well pay our bills and living expenses, Bau said. High fertilizer costs The bad news is just how much fertilizer costs have increased. This is a big black eye in the budgets for farmers, said Bau during his virtual McLeod County presentation. Fertilizer prices have gone up at least 100 percent. I have $195 in my forecast. I buy fertilizer now and put it on in the spring, Id probably increase it up to $260, Bau continued. So, its a really big increase going up, fertilizer going up has really offset the budgets dramatically. Even $260 might be low, with Illinois budgets for fertilizer mentioning $195 for nitrogen and another $100 for other fertilizers, adding up to $295 per acre for fertilizer. Higher nitrogen prices are the result of what is happening with natural gas, said Michael Boland, professor in the University of Minnesota Department of Applied Economics. He spoke during the Minnesota Crop Improvement Association annual meeting on Jan. 12. Natural gas is needed to produce nitrogen fertilizer, Boland said. While it is not an issue for this year in the U.S., countries like Turkey and India could be facing a lack of nitrogen. In addition, a Dec. 17 letter from the National Corn Growers Association took Mosaic to task for tariffs that were imposed last March by the U.S. International Trade Commission at the fertilizer companys behest. only 15 percent of phosphorus imports now come into the U.S. without tariffs, the letter said. Higher land rents Land rents tend to follow corn and soybean prices up and down, but on a more gradual curve, Bau said. He suspects that 2022 land rents could look like 2011 land rental rates, with both years following a year with excellent commodity prices. Rents were down 3.6 percent in the McLeod County area from 2016-20, as commodity prices were lower. But from 2019 to 2020, rents went up 2 percent. He often encourages farmers and landowners to consider flexible rental agreements. This allows the farmer and landowner to share in the risks and rewards of farming. When he started giving Fair Rental Agreement talks about 20 years ago, about 10 percent of farms were using flexible rental agreements. Today, the number is closer to 25 percent, which should be a great help to the farmer. Higher fuel costs and likely higher chemical costs The $2 per gallon price for diesel that many farmers budgeted a year ago has gone up about 50 percent to $3 per gallon, Bau said. Chemicals are also going up, with higher costs for commercial chemical operators too. Higher insurance costs Bau predicts higher crop insurance rates in 2022, because of the variability in yields and prices in 2021. Greater volatility and variability increase the risk and the cost of crop insurance. Looking at 2,512 farms that participated in the Adult Farm Business Management program, the bottom 10 percent of acres averaged 129 bushels per acre, the middle averaged 164, and the top yields were 241 bushels per acre. That difference in yields is more than 100 bushels per acre in 2020. Looking at prices, the bottom 10 percent of prices averaged $3.43, the middle averaged $3.54, and the top averaged $4.58 per bushel more than $1 per bushel higher from bottom to top. The lowest 10 percent had an average revenue of $496, while the top was over $1,000, he said. Your goal is to be in the top 50 percent or higher of these groups. Little change to seed costs Bau said that when farmers lost money for five years in a row (from 2014-18), they looked for ways to control costs. One way that was done was to lower seed costs with fewer hybrid traits. The cost of seed is up a little bit, but not dramatically, he said. My forecast is $115 for seed, and thats probably a pretty good number for covering that 10-year-average. Bottom line With an average direct cost of $751 per acre of corn and $900 in sales, the farmer has about $149 left. If another $101 is used for indirect costs, that leaves the farmer with $48 profit per acre. For soybeans, with $621 in income, total direct costs are $485. Overhead costs are another $66 per acre for total costs of $561 per acre, for $70 in profit. Again, the good news for corn and soybeans is that this is the second year now the prices we have in 2022 are above our cost of production, he said. Bau has several budgeting worksheets available free of charge at https://extension.umn.edu/business/farmland-rent-and-economics. Midwest Messenger Weekly Update Get the latest agriculture news delivered to your inbox from the Midwest Messenger. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. On the eve of her monarchy's 70th anniversary, Queen Elizabeth declared on Saturday that when Prince Charles takes the throne in the future, she wants his wife, Camilla Parker Bowles, to be known as "queen consort." In their wedding vows, Camilla and Prince Charles swore the Duchess of Cornwall would not adopt the title of Princess of Wales from the late Princess Diana. The monarch's statement makes it plain that she wants Camilla to be addressed as queen when Charles ascends the throne, despite the previous speculation that she would be regarded as "princess consort." Prince Charles thanks Queen Elizabeth When Prince Charles becomes king, Queen Elizabeth, 95, has the authority to appoint Camilla as queen consort. Similarly, her late husband, Prince Philip, did not inherit the throne through birth. Prince Philip died on April 9 after more than a decade as the longest-serving royal consort in British history. Camilla Parker Bowles, who was blamed by many in the 1990s for the split of Prince Charles and Diana's marriage, has now made a comeback. During a 1995 interview, Diana obliquely mentioned her husband's future bride, saying, "There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a lot of people," according to NBC News. On the 70th anniversary of her ascension to the British monarchy, Prince Charles praised his mother, Queen Elizabeth, for publicly announcing her intention that his wife Camilla become Queen Consort when he becomes King. It comes after Camilla was lambasted by the tabloid press for the breakup of Charles' first marriage to the late Princess Diana's marriage to the late Prince Charles, a blessing that will likely eliminate the need for any debate regarding future titles. When it comes to Camilla Parker Bowles, the 95-year-old queen stated it was her "sincere dream" that she would be acknowledged as Queen Consort when the day came. As the monarch passed a milestone never reached by any of her predecessors in nearly 1,000 years of a line that traces its origins back to Norman King William I and his conquest of England in 1066, Prince Charles made his response on Sunday when he led tributes from world and religious leaders to the monarch. Read Also: Facebook Lost Daily Users For The First Time in History as Stocks Plunge; What Went Wrong? What is a Queen Consort? Camilla, who now holds the title of Duchess of Cornwall, is a well-known member of the royal family who routinely attends important functions alongside the queen, Prince Charles, his son Prince William, and his wife Kate. In 1997, Diana, the mother of Prince William and Harry, was killed in a vehicle accident in Paris. The remark on the monarchy's future comes as the country commemorates the queen's 70-year reign. Britain will stage four days of national celebrations in June to commemorate her platinum jubilee, as per Reuters. After their romance soured and Camilla married, Prince Charles and Camilla maintained in touch throughout the 1970s. When the prince was still married to Diana, they became good friends again. Camilla and Prince Charles separated in the 1990s, Camilla in 1995, and Prince Charles in 1996, a year before Diana died in a vehicle accident in Paris. In 2005, they tied the knot in a relatively private civil ceremony. The location mirrored the Church of England's overall opposition to divorced persons remarrying. Despite giving her assent to the marriage, Queen Elizabeth is the supreme administrator of the church as queen. In recent years, Camilla's image has been entirely rehabilitated in Britain, where she is often depicted as real and down to earth in the media and on the royals' social media feeds. The first monarch in history to reach the momentous milestone of 70 years on the throne, Queen Elizabeth II, reflected on the occasion and thanked her followers from all around the world. A royal consort is a monarch's spouse, and they do not have a formal status or specified tasks and obligations. Queen Consort is traditionally a title given to ladies who are married to a monarch. Afterward, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, was King George VI's wife. Camilla will most likely be crowned with Charles at his coronation now that the Queen has declared she will be Queen Consort, Express reported. Related Article: Prince Andrew's Ex-Girlfriend Defends The Duke, Says Infamous Picture with Virginia Giuffre, Ghislaine Maxwell Is Fake @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Images Sorry, there are no recent results for popular images. The only bet more speculative than assessing personal motives might be a bet on conventional wisdom issues like national security policy. Just to game the system for a moment, let's look at possible personal political motives vis-a-vis the current Ukraine kerfuffle. The big dogs in this cage match are Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr. in one corner and Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin in the other. For Biden, Ukraine is a kind of desperate, or no-lose, gambit. If Moscow does little or nothing with those massed troops, then Biden can strut and claim that he bluffed the bear, and the beast caved. Like Afghanistan, if Russia backs off, White House courtiers will gloat and claim a win. If the Kremlin does strike Ukraine, even with a trespass short of an all-out invasion, Biden can say, "I told you so" and play the prophet. Either way, Biden doesn't risk much. The burdens of risk are borne by Ukraine and maybe Georgia. And surely anything done in the name of "defense" takes place in the shade thrown by a pending 2022 American congressional election with game-changing potential. Consider, too, that Uncle Sam has already savaged the national sovereignty myth in Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Libya, just to name a few recent foreign policy fiascos. In game Ukraine, the Kremlin is surely driven by different stimuli. Clearly, Putin sees Biden as an easy mark, maybe an unpopular Delaware dilettante whose sole achievements in forty years are attendance, tenure, and Amtrak subsidies. Putin reads, too, knows that Biden has a good chance of becoming a lame duck in a matter of months. Russia may not be trying to restore the empire, but surely Putin knows a buffering opportunity when he sees one. The Biden era is prime time to draw a line in the East European sand. Putin believes that the locus of that line is a function of E.U./NATO imperial restraint, not Russian "aggression." Putin is hoping for a buffer of non-aligned states certainly not an unrealistic or unprecedented goal in light of existing uncoerced Finnish, Swedish, and Swiss precedents. In Kiev, Zelensky probably sees the potential of compromise, too, which is why he would like team Biden and the American press to stop thumping the war drums. After all, the big dogs will be rolling the bones for Ukrainian turf. Beyond the personal political motives of leadership on both sides of the divide, the larger question of American Russophobia still remains unanswered. After a century of Cold War, why can't the West take yes for an answer? European communism is dead. The so-called "hostage" nations of Europe are free. The Warsaw Pact is on the ash heap. Why can't neo-con America, right and left, recognize the hazards of pushing Moscow too far? Notice also, in keeping with American national cultural memes, that the Russophobia hysteria now has a racist flavor. Cold War arguments are no longer caveated with red, communist, or totalitarian ideological adjectives; the ogre is now the "genetically" aggressive Russian, according to former DCI James Clapper. Assuming racism might be a minority view, the obvious Russophobic wellspring is economic. Clearly, the Cold War with Russia and the perennial war on "terror" are cash cows for the U.S. Intelligence Community and the Defense Department. Washington is now surrounded by a ring of sutlers and mercenary camp followers "Beltway whores," as one RAND Corp wag sagely put it a few years back. Indeed, America throws money at chimeras because it can. Prudent foreign policy may now be a victim of affluence. Call it affluenza. Ever since the Soviet turn-of-the-century implosion, and 9/11, virtue-signaling xenophobes have been buoyed by unlimited cash and deficits. Not so much for Europeans. Aside from a general reluctance to finance NATO, Germany stands to take the biggest economic gut punch if things go from bad to worse in the Ukraine morass. Awash in fiscal excess, Beltway armchair warriors don't just ignore the concerns of Russia, but also ignore hazards to keystone allies like Germany. Berlin is now as green as Greta Thunberg. Alas, if natural gas matters, even as a transition fuel, Rodina has her finger on Berlin's thermostat. We also demonize Russia at the expense of other more serious Ideological and kinetic threats, too. Communist China and global Islamism are examples. Just the other day, Russia, China, and Iran conducted unprecedented joint/combined military exercises an event lost in the miasma of Ukraine hysteria. Imagine a future political condominium, that included a revanchist Russia, a Communist China, and Shia Islamism, a nightmare troika. You would think that such a prospect would make twits at State and martinets on the E-Ring soil their knickers. But no, the national security crowd continues to play whack-a-mole with Islamic terror in the Levant, believing that special ops pinpricks will compensate for ignoring the state sponsors of global jihad and the totalitarian blight metastasizing in China. Another threat-related phenomenon flying below the radar these days is schism politics. Russia and China seem to be siding with Shia/Persian irredentists while America and Europe are endorsing Sunni/Arab tribal totalitarians. Taking sides in Muslim religious politics is a little like asking for a replay of the Reformation holy wars on a global scale. As toxic threat memes proliferate, alas, U.S. foreign policy still fights the last war. American intelligence has been pitching hay for the Russian strawman since the fall of the Romanovs over a century ago now. Maybe it's time to rethink the Cold War national security threat paradigm and get our heads out of our strategic azimuth. G. Murphy Donovan writes about the U.S. Intelligence Community and the politics of national security. Image: PublicDomainPictures via Pixabay, Pixabay License. Allan Bakke was U.S. Marine Corps officer and a NASA engineer. At age 35, he decided to go to medical school and applied to the University of California, Davis. He was rejected. Bakke had a GPA of 3.51 and a 3.45 in the sciences. On the quantitative part of the MCAT, he scored 94 and exceeded that score with a 97 in the sciences. Despite these outstanding qualifications and consideration that should have been given to him as a veteran, Bakke was rejected not once but twice. The medical school accepted 100 students each year and set aside 16 slots for minorities. Bakke learned that lesser qualified minorities had been admitted in preference to him and sued the Regents of the University of California. The court ordered Bakke admitted and said that the university had erred in creating an impermissible quota. But the court then, in a convoluted statement, said that while quotas were impermissible, race could be one of many factors that could be considered in admissions. Anyone who has spent five minutes on an academic admissions committee knows that when race is a consideration, it is the only consideration. With affirmative action being the glorified policy of liberal Democrats, whose white and economically privileged children never have to face its consequences, the student who replaced Bakke was hyped as a stellar example of the wonders of racial discrimination. In April of 1996, Sen. Edward Kennedy uttered these regrettable and false words, Affirmative action is not about promoting or hiring unqualified women and minorities Affirmative action has paid enormous dividends. Kennedy then went on to showcase Dr. Patrick Chavis, allegedly the man who replaced Bakke. While Bakke had become a board-certified anesthesiologist in Minnesota, Dr. Chavis, Kennedy noted, was a successful ob-gyn in central Los Angeles, serving a disadvantaged and community and making a difference in the lives of scores of poor families. It was not just Kennedy who was lionizing Dr. Chavis. He made the cover of the New York Times Magazine, was featured in the Atlantic, the Los Angeles Times, and was lauded in the documentary Eyes on the Prize. Affirmative Action had found its Young Lochinvar, a champion to slay the rabble of opposition to a policy that would prevent a hero from making a difference in the lives of the underserved. Chaviss scores might not have come too close to Bakkes, but Bakke was just another anesthesiologist while Chavez was serving the poor. Indeed, Chavis was making a difference, but not in the ways the mainstream media had communicated to an unsuspecting public. Having completed half a course in liposuction, Chavis went from being an ob-gyn specialist to practicing liposuction. While still basking in the warmth of media hype and just months after Edward Kennedys pean to Chavis as a defense of black racial privilege, he performed liposuction on 43-year-old Tammaria Cotton and killed her. Two other women came close to being killed at Chaviss incompetent hands. In 1997, the Medical Board of California suspended Chaviss license, citing his inability to perform some of the most basic duties required of a physician. The board further noted Chavezs insensitivity to patients pain. The board had access to a tape recording of patients screaming in agony while Chavez humiliated them. Chavis did not administer emergency medical treatment to any of the three women. Jeff Jacoby, of the Boston Globe, had revealed that Chavis training in liposuction had been a four-day course at an institute in Beverly Hills of which he attended only two days. But the story does not end there. Reporter William McGowan in his book, Coloring the News: How Crusading for Diversity Has Corrupted American Journalism, revealed that the very mainstream media that launched Chavis as the poster child for affirmative action did not bother to tell the rest of Chaviss story. No one who has followed the mainstream medias Russian collusion hoax, its reluctance to characterize the Antifa and Black Lives Matter riots as violent, or its total lack of interest in the content of Hunter Bidens laptop will be shocked by McGowans revelations. The media has a narrative to spin and Dr. Chavis served that narrative. When he didnt, when his consecration as an affirmative action saint fell apart, the mainstream media felt no obligation to report the rest of the story. This was in no way going to resemble Paul Harveys The Rest of the Story, for the epilogue did not serve the liberal policy interests of the mainstream media. Decades ago, President William Clinton called for a dialogue on race. That never happened. Instead, handpicked proponents of one point of view, on the racial issue, led what was, in essence, a racial monologue. When a colleague of mine was invited to a community forum on race and publicly stated that white people were too intimidated to speak openly about their feelings about race, he was asked never to show up again. Yet, everyone in the room knew what he said was true. The Supreme Court will hear cases alleging anti-Asian discrimination in admissions at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. It is time for the SCOTUS to strike down the ambiguous ruling in Bakke that permits racial preference to be a factor in college admissions. We can have a society based either on achievement or ascription. Despite the pretense, we cannot have both. You can produce an Allan Bakke, a competent, board-certified anesthesiologist, or you can produce a Patrick Chavis. Abraham H. Miller is an emeritus professor of political science, University of Cincinnati, and a distinguished fellow with the Haym Salomon Center. Biographical information is for identification purposes only. Image: Joseluis89 Let's talk withTina Aviles | Grassroots Engagement Director | The LIBRE Initiative Texas............we discussed efforts to present school choice to Hispanic families in Texas. Image: Pixabay. United States anti-vaccination groups are allegedly conducting efforts to fuel protests in Canada opposing vaccine mandates, says a former American diplomat. The situation also comes as GoFundMe took down a funding page that American groups set up to support Canadian truckers and other residents who participated in protests against the country's vaccine mandates. Weeks-Long Protests A former U.S. ambassador to Canada under President Barack Obama, Bruce Heyman, posted a message on Twitter saying that there was no situation where any American group should fund disruptive activities in Canada. He wondered why more Republicans were worried about the situation in Canada than they were with Russia's activities in Ukraine. Canadian residents have participated in various protests across several cities in the country opposing vaccine mandates. The demonstration came as a show of solidarity with a week-long trucker protest in Ottawa, Canada's capital. Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Police Services Board Chairwoman Diane Deans called it an occupation, saying it should end. Deans said that the group was a threat to the country's democracy and that protests in Ottawa were a problem much bigger than what meets the eye. They said that the incident was a nationwide problem and called it an insurrection, as per USA Today. Additionally, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis tweeted that it was a fraud for GoFundMe to continue to allow more than $9 million in donations to be used to support the protests conducting chaotic demonstrations. The official said he would be cooperating with Attorney General Ashley Moody to investigate the issue and give donors a refund. The Freedom Convoy that involved hundreds of truckers in Ottawa was a massive movement against Canada's vaccine mandates. However, it was transformed into a rallying point against the nation's public health protocols. Read Also: Thousands Join Trucker Protests Across Canada As Calls To Lift Government Covid-19 Restrictions Intensify Aljazeera reported that the city of Ottawa had been shut down for more than a week due to the protesters' actions, with some people waving Confederate or Nazi flags. Some have also expressed their desire to dissolve Canada's federal government. American Support Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson declared a state of emergency on Sunday in response to the ongoing protests against the country's vaccine mandates. The official said that his declaration highlights the need for support from other jurisdictions and levels of government. The process would allow the city to get more power around procurement and delivering services across the region. The situation could allow authorities to purchase equipment that frontline workers and first responders desperately need. The city's police chief called the protests in Ottawa a "siege" after thousands of demonstrators continued to blare horns, cause traffic disruptions, and harass locals. The situation also comes as former United States President Donald Trump called Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a "far-left lunatic." The Republican businessman also claimed that Trudeau had caused the destruction of Canada with his insane COVID mandates. Furthermore, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxon posted a message on Twitter saying that the protests were a worthy cause. During an interview, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said that a government did not have the right to force residents to comply with arbitrary mandates, The Washington Post reported. Related Article: Canadian Prime Minister Chased Away From Capital Amid Criticisms of Sweeping Vaccine Mandates @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The left is built upon a mountain of falsehoods. Two of the biggest are that humankind is trembling on the brink of destruction because of "climate change" and that onerous COVID restrictions are the only things keeping us alive. So what are we to make of an unmasked Obama standing around construction workers, very grumpy about work on his multimillion-dollar beachfront Hawaiian mansion? What I make of it is that both "climate change" and COVID restrictions are huge parts of that mountain of lies. Here's the picture that is a microcosm of all the lies: Scowling Barack Obama inspects the construction of his new multimillion-dollar Hawaii mansion https://t.co/X9rY737Sv7 pic.twitter.com/XTfJMhoVTH Daily Mail US (@DailyMail) February 6, 2022 The Cult of Climate Change tells us that, unless we abandon all fossil fuels, the oceans will rise and every coastal community will be destroyed. When Obama bought his coastal Martha's Vineyard house, it was pretty clear that he didn't believe a word of this narrative. This was peculiar, considering the vast amounts of taxpayer money he funneled to green energy initiatives as part of the 2009 "stimulus" spending following the recession. Heck, going back farther, that first beachfront purchase was even more peculiar when you consider the speech Obama gave when accepting the Democrat party nomination in 2008: This was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal. While the rise of the oceans may not have slowed for those of us suffering through the horrors of the green movement (vastly increased energy prices, inconvenient and expensive electric cars, low-flow showers, and more), they certainly seem to have slowed for Obama. Indeed, they've slowed so much that he's confident buying beachfront property on an island. I don't know about you, but I would think islands would be even more affected by "climate change" than a whole big continent. Then there's the COVID mask narrative. Across America, parents are waging heroic battles to get masks off their children's faces. One of the major weapons in that battle is pictures of celebrities flouting those same mask rules. (Local politicians, teachers, and school board members tend to do the same.) Image: Obama the maskless. Twitter screen grab. With the Obama picture, we have the perfect example of how the rich, famous, and political flout the rules. It's not just that they don't wear masks. It's that they expect the little people around them to wear masks. The reason for this double-standard is obvious: these self-styled "elite" arent afraid of the virus; they're disgusted by you. Just think back to the Met Gala, when all the famous people waltzed around unmasked while the help scurried by wearing masks. Or how about this picture of Stacey Abrams protected from all those nasty, ordinary, germy little children, who, unlike overweight adults, are at almost no risk from COVID? Yet another picture of an unmasked Democrat surrounded by masked children. This is at a Decatur, Georgia elementary school, where they have a district-wide mask mandate. #gapol #UnmaskOurKids https://t.co/36NRJkNmhV pic.twitter.com/GU7DgL2nIA Kelley K * covid-georgia.com (@KelleyKga) February 5, 2022 Not The Bee has a collection of a few other "masks are for the little people" moments. Obama knows that the oceans won't rise in any significant way over the next decades or even centuries, just as he knows he's not at serious risk of dying from COVID. (I imagine that, should he catch it, he'll have special flights sent his way filled with monoclonal antibodies or ivermectin.) Obama, though, knows something more important than the truth: he knows that he and his party will keep complete control over America if Americans remain terrified of the all-purpose "climate change" narrative and of COVID. In other words, America, you're being played. The U.S. Army is going to immediately start discharging the unvaccinated. And this after attempting to purge itself of patriots, devout Christians, and Trump supporters. At this rate, the force may literally soon mirror its recruiting slogan of 2001-2006, which touted an Army Of One. This seems particularly bizarre timing, given the fact that Uncle Sam believes Russia is going to invade Ukraine soon, and China is now openly threatening Taiwan. The Biden administration has also pressured hospitals and businesses to get rid of their unvaccinated employees, putting more burden on already over-stressed doctors and nurses and worsening the ubiquitous labor shortages and supply chain disruptions. Moreover, Biden has canceled pipelines at home and devastated the energy sectorwhile begging for oil from Russia and OPEC nations. He has gifted the Taliban with tens of billions of dollars in advanced military equipment, making these erstwhile goat herders one of the best equipped military forces on the planet. He refuses to build a wall to protect his own nations southern border but is fine with others building walls to protect their interests. His administration will not lift a finger to defend the sovereignty of Americas border with Mexico but apparently considers Ukraines border with Russia to be absolutely inviolate. But wait, theres moreas they say in late-night infomercials. Biden and his Cabinet of Fools have coddled criminals and criminalized victims, leading to vastly more of each. They will raise taxes on productive United States citizens while giving freebies to illegal aliens. They have locked down the healthy, mocked the productive, and turned ethnic groups and races against each other. They have weaponized the FBI, CIA, DOJand assorted other agencies formerly charged with protecting Americansand directed them to surveil and harass them. They have stunted the American economy-- and destroyed their nations prestige around the world. Biden and his minions have deliberately prostrated America in front of Russia, China, Iranand the rest of the world. Especially China. Elites and Deep State denizens alike seized on the opportunity COVID-19 afforded them to try to crush Americans free will. The Plandemic, partially created and funded by Dr. Faucis NIH, allowed them to terrorize the naive, ignorant, and weak and demand heretofore unprecedented mail-in voting opportunities. This directly led to Biden winning the 2020 electionand to a year-long collapse unlike any in American history. One with far more catastrophic long-term results than the coronavirus itself will cause. The real pandemic is the widespread disease of the soul and spirit now afflicting far too many Americans. Jimmy Carters malaise of 1979 has returned. Orwells 1984 has arrived simultaneously, albeit 38 years late. It is obvious that all this can't possibly be random-- or simply due to epic incompetence. It is a plan. Part of a larger plan. We may be nearer than we know to a one-world government. And that government will essentially be Chinas. The Biden administration has failed America and Americans in epicalmost unbelievable-- fashion. It seems the Biden administration is unilaterally conducting the Great Reset. Those in the Biden administration love to talk about justice. Real justice would be served if they were found guilty of treason, one definition of which is: the crime of betraying one's country, It would be far better for the nation if the military didnt discharge the unvaccinatedand the people did discharge the Biden administration. Photo credit: Twitter video screengrab For a while there, the far-left Canadian government contented itself with deplatforming and defunding the striking Canadian truckers who are in Ottawa protesting the country's vaccine mandate. That didn't work, so now they've gotten worse. According to Reuters: OTTAWA, Feb 6 (Reuters) Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson on Sunday declared a state of emergency to help deal with an unprecedented 10-day occupation by protesting truckers that has shut down much of the core of the Canadian capital. "(This) reflects the serious danger and threat to the safety and security of residents posed by the ongoing demonstrations and highlights the need for support from other jurisdictions and levels of government," he said in a statement. Watson, who complained earlier in the day that the demonstrators outnumbered police and controlled the situation, did not give details of what measures he might impose. The "Freedom Convoy" began as a movement against a Canadian vaccine requirement for cross-border truckers but has turned into a rallying point against public health measures and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government. Amid residents' fury at the lack of official response, Ottawa police relocated some protesters and put up fresh barricades on Sunday, saying they are "collecting financial, digital, vehicle registration ... and other evidence that will be used in criminal prosecutions." They also announced they would clamp down on people attempting to bring in canisters to refuel the hundreds of large trucks blocking most roads in the city center. According to Conservative Treehouse, which has a video, they are indeed confiscating fuel: Video from Ottawa shows heavily armed tactical police units move in to take fuel supplies from the Canadian Truckers during their Freedom Protest. Worse still, Trudeau himself is now trying to bring back naked internet censorship, recrudescing a failed bill in Canada's parliament for that purpose. Even the Toronto Sun is disgusted. Business Insider has a scornful report about President Trump supporting the protesters, misidentifying them as "anti-vaccine" when they mean "antivaccine mandate," which includes more details about the Canadian crackdown: So they're investigating all of them for criminal activity (never mind that provocateurs have been turning up a lot at these freedom-oriented protests), declaring them "unacceptable" and "unlawful," and openly announcing their master plan to shut them all down. Peaceful protests? Freedom of assembly? Canada must have some version of these, but not with this kind of talk. Someone taking sides here? It calls to mind that the bulk of the strike is centered in Ottawa, the Canadian capital, and Canada's prime minister has disappeared, supposedly after a diagnosis of COVID (a disease which didn't seem to pay much attention to his triple-vaxxing), but has put out hateful dispatches insulting the overwhelmingly peaceful protesters bringing their petitions to the capital as "fringe" and "extremist" and unrepresentative of Canada. Trudeau, by some counts, has been looking kind of bloated, strangely puffy, doughy, lately. Here's a side-by-side from a YouTube screen shot and a Facebook 2015 post by Justin himself: ...so it's hard to say if something is going on with the state of his health or not. But the harsh reaction is bizarre, dictator-style stuff. It reeks of the Third World. Is he something of a manic-depressive as his mother was? It's by no surprise, the memes and arguments are coming back from the woodwork about Trudeau being the son of Fidel Castro. Here are a couple of excellent accounts making that argument here and here. Here's the meme that is going around on the internet, as well as Twitter: I have no idea if this guy is Castro's son or not, though I think the matter should be transparent. People can't control who their parents are. But there is a clear argument that Trudeau is acting like Castro, quite possibly his Papa Fidel, a man he refused among Western leaders to condemn at his funeral, on several fronts. Like Castro, he ignores and dismisses huge national protests, knowing that all he has to do is do nothing, and they'll go away. That was the lesson Castro taught to another protege, Hugo Chavez, who let Venezuelans protest in "avalancha"-sized numbers until the cows came home and then picked them off one by one at the time of his choosing. He got away with it, as did Castro, whose oligarchy continues to rule Cuba more than 60 years after he shot his way into power and turned Cuba into a dump. Like Castro, he's all in for escalating the violence against protesters investigating them criminally, cracking down on their food and fuel supplies, yelling about American foreigners being involved (Canadian officials are actually doing that), and completely ignoring the petition of the truckers, farmers, ranchers, and hinterland Canadians who have suffered for months on the useless and probably dangerous vaccine mandates and lockdowns. That's what Castro and his successors do. Like Castro, he uses food and fuel as a weapon. Most of all, like Castro, he's out of date, an anachronism, behind the times, clinging to the old "wisdom" even as the rest of the world moves on. Nation after nation has come to recognize that vaccine mandates are cruel and unnecessary and don't work, so they're getting rid of them. The U.K., Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, plenty of places are in this league. Trudeau? He's clinging to the Fauci-ite line that lockdowns and forced vaccines are the way to end a pandemic in a free society. Resisters will be starved and beaten into submission. It's disgusting. And it's clearly a sign that Trudeau is likely losing power, losing support, and on the way out. Like his dad, he doesn't believe in loosening his grip on power and expects to rule a long time. That's the way Trudeau Senior did things. That's doubly the way Trudeau's real dad did, too. Image: Meme, Twitter screen shot. At a 30 percent approval, these days, few people have anything positive to say about Congress, or, for that matter, politicians in general. Today, most people associate politicians with words like devious, greedy, and corrupt. One word that's rarely associated with politicians is courageous. Some might even argue that the phrase, courageous politician, would be considered an oxymoron, like idiot savant or human infrastructure. Courage comes in many forms. We're talking about moral courage. In politics, it means putting aside personal ambition and party interests and doing what's right for the country. Courageous legislators listen to their constituents and follow the conscience that each one possesses at least in theory. They hold fast in their commitments. They're not swayed by threats or promises from political opponents or from their own party. Politicians generally align with the party that meshes with their core beliefs, and yes, party loyalty is important in politics. But too many elected officials these days seem to think party loyalty means surrendering their moral compass and their free will to party leaders. It's not hard to see where legitimate party loyalty ends and moral cowardice begins. For example, when lawmakers scramble to pass new legislation without taking the time to read the proposed bill, that's not moral courage. It's blind loyalty to the party. We see another clear example on our southern border. That catastrophe can no longer be blamed on gross incompetence. We've heard the reports and seen the images of countless numbers of illegal aliens being surreptitiously ferried to various destinations across the country. There's no more room for excuses. It's become clear that the situation on the border is a deliberate, malicious, and audacious defiance of our laws by the Biden administration. Congressional lawmakers know what national sovereignty means. They know that the unrestricted flow of deadly narcotics across our border is killing vast numbers of Americans. They know that the frenzied torrent of men, women, and children crossing our border illegally is hurting America. They know those unscreened aliens are bringing with them crime, poverty, disease, and potential terrorism all the problems they experienced in their home countries. They know they will cause a profound economic burden to our welfare programs. Democrat lawmakers know that Biden's open border policy spells potential disaster for our country. But they say nothing. By collectively ignoring the brazen lawlessness, Democrats are not just cowardly. They're complicit. Only one Democrat congressman, Henry Cuellar, has had the courage to speak out about Biden's border open borders. A few weeks ago, Cuellar's home was raided by the FBI under vague circumstances. This administration wasted no time using the FBI to intimidate parents protesting the growing radical curriculum in our classrooms. In this environment, there's just no way of knowing if the raid on Cuellar's home was somehow justified or mere political retribution. Two other Democrats, Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, are now fending off real and vicious attacks by their own party because they showed the moral courage to speak out against Joe Biden's agenda. Biden blames them for the failure of his BBB plan. In addressing the issue, he implied that the bill had universal support except for two just two people. He displayed two fingers representing the malcontents. He neglected to mention the 50 other senators who also rejected his plan. Build Back Better was actually rejected on a bipartisan basis. His agenda failed, not because of two obstructionist Democrats, but because of 50 rational Republicans and two courageous Democrats. Maybe what the Democrat party really needs is more sheep in the fold. Politicians on both sides of the aisle have been guilty of moral cowardice, but loyalty in the Democrat party is not to be trifled with. Democrats never let integrity stand in the way of party unity. They mindlessly stand united, together embracing any radical idea they believe benefits the party whether it's defunding the police, open borders, or Critical Race Theory. They have no problem unanimously demeaning America as a systemically racist country. They'll collectively label destructive riots peaceful protests, and they'll twist the term, voting integrity, to mean voter suppression, if they feel it will help them politically. And they'll do it all in mindless unison. Mark Twain also had some thoughts about blind allegiance to a political party. He voiced them succinctly: "Loyalty to the country always. Loyalty to government, when it deserves it." Graphic credit: Jernej Furman, CC BY 2.0 license. Dashiell Hammett's urbane sleuth, Nick Charles, was brilliantly portrayed by the suave Golden Age actor, William Powell, in the celebrated Thin Man movies of the 1930s and '40s. The sleek, radiant Myrna Loy played his perfect wife, Nora. The highlight of each film in the series, other than the lively banter between Nick and Nora, came in the last reel, when Nick would assemble the suspects and solve the case. Let's imagine that Nick Charles is called in to solve the COVID mystery. The following scene unfolds in an elegant suite at the Plaza Hotel in New York. All the suspects are present, with Detective Guild of the NYPD standing by. This is, of course, fiction, entirely a product of imagination. Nick takes the floor. "I don't have to tell our distinguished guests that we're dealing with a most unusual and highly complex case. Hundreds of thousands of our fellow citizens have lost their lives. The national economy has been slain. Small businesses in every city and town have gone kaput, never to open their doors again. Millions of lives have been disrupted, the population demoralized. All due to a pandemic that suddenly arose, in an obscure corner of the world, a hemisphere away. Or so we've been led to believe. But I can tell you that the guilty parties are in this room." Murmurs of dismay erupt from the startled guests. Nick continues. "Let's start with you, Mr. Gates. Bill Gates, one of the wealthiest men in the world. Entrepreneur and philanthropist. Five years ago, Mr. Gates, you organized the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness. You and a network of global partners would get out in front of nature. You would create your own lethal viruses. The idea was to stockpile new vaccines to head off epidemics before they had a chance to emerge." Gates interrupts. "What are you implying, Charles? That it was wrong to try to end suffering and disease?" "Of course not," Nick counters. "No, your crime was hubris. Have you ever heard of the legend of King Canute? He installed his throne at the seashore and ordered the tides to roll back and cease splashing on his divine feet. Canute wasn't a fool, Mr. Gates. He was actually trying to teach his courtiers an object lesson: that there are limits even to the sovereign power of a great monarch. But you must have been reading your own publicity. You thought you could command deadly microbes to crouch obediently in their Petri dishes, like lions in a cage, while you were acclaimed for your benevolence and generosity. A risky prospect at best. But you found a willing partner in our next guest, Dr. Fauci." All eyes turn to the immunologist, who manages an impassive stare. "Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. You at least were wise enough not to try to cultivate a killer virus in the United States. So you arranged for the process to be carried out in a Chinese backwater." "You can't prove it," Fauci insists, deflecting the allegation with a smirk. "That's for a jury to decide. Your friend, Peter Daszak, sitting beside you, needed money to finance the gain-of-function procedure in Wuhan. It had to come from somewhere, and it wasn't from the Tooth Fairy. It came from the National Institutes of Health. Either you authorized that transaction, Dr. Fauci, or you were asleep at the switch." The smirk fading, Fauci lapses into a stony silence. "When the Franken-virus went AWOL from the lab in which it was hatched," Nick resumes, "the People's Republic of China, the most unscrupulous regime on Earth, handed it off to the rest of the world like a hot potato. That's where you came in, Mr. Bourla. Mr. Albert Bourla, a captain of industry the pharmaceutical industry, to be exact. CEO of Pfizer. Your company conjured up a vaccine if you want to call it that in record time, by some genetic sleight-of-hand. I congratulate you on the rapidity of its production. "You reaped billions as the serum was distributed to a terrified world. But there were problems with the shot, as you well knew, and which your minions were made to conceal. When it became evident that the vaccine wasn't what it was cracked up to be, you saw an opportunity for a further windfall. You pushed one expensive booster shot after another, while more people got sick and died because the so-called vaccine degraded the immune system of everyone who received it." Bourla points an accusing finger at Fauci. "Don't blame me! Blame him! He was the regulator, the authority. He had all my data!" "I was just following the science," a defensive Fauci maintains. With a wink at Nora, Nick cuts him off. "No, like Mr. Gates here, you were following your ego. Science is, or should be, trial and error. Endless experimentation. Testing new approaches. Instead, to protect your reputations and investments you, Gates, and Bourla conspired to yank out of the hands of every doctor and nurse in the country cheap, safe, proven remedies successfully deployed against the virus elsewhere. "Instead of the government regulating Pfizer, Pfizer regulated the Food and Drug Administration. That's the only way any of this makes sense." Letting that sink in, Nick turns to the remaining suspects who have not so far been addressed. "And while we're on the subject of government, let's not forget our esteemed public servants. Mayor Bowser. Mayor Garcetti. Former mayor de Blasio. Governor Whitmer. Newsom. Hochul. "You took the job, but you couldn't stand the heat. You were afraid. Afraid of bad press, afraid of being accused of not doing enough. So you took the easy way out. You kowtowed to the line handed down by Fauci and Bourla, and the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security an entity, by the way, funded by Mr. Gates. Covering your fannies with lockdowns and mandates, you became accessories to criminal misconduct, if not involuntary manslaughter. Or worse. I believe that's charged as a felony in this jurisdiction. "Here's your motives, Guild. Vanity, greed, and fear. Run 'em in, the lot of 'em. What do I have to do, wrap them up in cellophane for you?" Last week, Mayor Eric Adams of New York City called himself the "Biden of Brooklyn" during President Biden's visit to the area. Let's hope that Mayor Adams was just being nice and will forget all of the gun control talk soon. My guess is that many in the Big Apple would rather have Adams be more like former mayor Rudolph Giuliani than President Biden. Like many U.S. cities, New York City has a criminal problem, and talking gun control, as the president did, will do zero to improve the situation. This is a summary of the situation by Bill Hutchinson: At least 12 major U.S. cities have broken annual homicide records in 2021 -- and there's still three weeks to go in the year. Of the dozen cities that have already surpassed the grim milestones for killings, five topped records that were set or tied just last year. "It's terrible to every morning get up and have to go look at the numbers and then look at the news and see the stories. It's just crazy. It's just crazy and this needs to stop," Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said after his city surpassed its annual homicide record of 500, which stood since 1990. Philadelphia, a city of roughly 1.5 million people, has had more homicides this year (521 as of Dec. 6) than the nation's two largest cities, New York (443 as of Dec. 5) and Los Angeles (352 as of Nov. 27). That's an increase of 13% from 2020, a year that nearly broke the 1990 record. We remind you that these are cities run by Democrat mayors and city councils. Don't they care? They say they do. In reality, they are not doing anything to stop it, as the article further points out: The FBI crime data shows that the number of arrests nationwide plummeted 24% in 2020, from the more than 10 million arrests made in 2019. The number of 2020 arrests 7.63 million is the lowest in 25 years, according to the data. So we are arresting fewer people, or releasing them too fast. It sounds to me as though we've created the best system on Earth to encourage lawlessness. PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk). Image: Jobs For Felons Hub. If a picture is worth a thousand words, the photo of Gavin Newsom and Magic Johnson sans masks is worth an entire lexicon. As criticism mounts and Newsom struggles to justify his "do as I say, not as I do" philosophy, kids are taking matters into their own hands. Students in the Oakdale Joint Unified School District used Newsom's disregard of his own mask policies to organize maskless protests. Three hundred seventy-five students went to school without masks on Wednesday, and 344 refused to mask up on Thursday. Nolan Harris, an Oakdale High School freshman, said, "If they don't follow by their own rules that they're trying to force upon me, why should I follow them?" Kids without masks also marched on the Oakdale Joint Unified School District headquarters, listening to cheers from people in the streets who supported their protest. In San Diego, students referenced Newsom's photo as their rationale for refusing to wear masks in schools. The kids are definitely on to something. Research has identified critical learning periods that shape the brains of children. Conversational interplay is partly related to words, partly to social interaction. It would seem that children are beginning to react instinctively to what scientists have documented namely, that cognitive development is linked to language that includes the quality as well as the quantity of words that are heard. At this point in time, we all know from bitter experience how poor the quality of conversation is when words are muffled and facial expressions are hidden by masks. Image: Oakdale students protest masks. YouTube screen grab. Was it ever possible that masks could work to prevent the spread of COVID? Randomized control trials, the gold standard for scientific research, suggest that the answer is no. California has forced children into masks, while Florida has allowed children to run free. The number of children contracting COVID in both states is approximately the same again suggesting that masks do not work in any meaningful way to prevent the spread of COVID. I feared that an entire generation was going to succumb to the notions that normal human interaction is too perilous to take part in, that showing one's face in public is tantamount to announcing one's intention to commit mass murder by microbe, and that the only socially responsible way to live was by cowering in fear behind a scrap of cloth. Now I am heartened by the protests breaking out across California, spearheaded by children who have decided to take back their childhood. Pandra Selivanov is the author of Future Slave, a story about a 21st-century black teenager who goes back in time and becomes a slave in the Old South. (Image source from: gulte.com) AP Government mortgages 480 Acre land in Amaravati:- The Andhra Pradesh has no clarity about the state's capital. After the previous government finalized Amaravati as the capital of the state, the YSRCP government introduced three capital rule for the development of the state. The government decided to withdraw the bill again after several courts and the opposition parties slammed their move. The farmers of Amaravati protested for more than a year against the government's decision. Some of the ministers said that the three capital rule will be implemented at a later date. The AP government is tight-lipped for now about the capital issue. A land of 480 acres has been mortgaged by the government of AP without any information. The entire process was completed when the officials have been busy protesting against the new PRC. The AP government kept the details of the transaction under wraps and there is no information available for now. The officials completed the transaction in two days. The lands belonged to the farmers who donated them for the construction of capital. Some of the land donated is on hold by CRDA and the government is said to have mortgaged the land but the details of the loan is not revealed. The CRDA officials are unavailable to comment on the same. The government also collected the information about the land values from the District Collector of Guntur and the Revenue officials. They also inquired about the registration charges and the market value of the land. There is a proposal that the government will start repaying the debts from the third year and will close the entire debt in 15 years. Hadco lent a loan of Rs 1250 crores for CRDA for the construction of the capital. Joe Biden has not been effective in countering Vladimir Putin, who has how states to craft of the highest level in steering Russia ahead of the US and NATO. The Kremlin has held the US president's struggle to keep pace with the Russian leader. It takes an order from Moscow to shut the natural gas and send the EU into a tailspin, and a cash-strapped bloc will struggle to get pricey liquefied natural gas from Qatar. Biden's decisions led to Moscow gas dependence It cannot be denied the White House is struggling to provide the right response to Russia. The president endorsing unfound claims that an operation will be staged to justify a Ukraine invasion has been called. Putin has accused Washington of provocation, and even a security council meeting proved ineffective as China vetoed US claims. An issue raised that by canceling the KeystoneXL pipeline early in January this year and giving the gas industry a hard time to push the Democrat, New Green Deal has led to the situation in Europe, reported the Express UK. The pipeline spanned 1,897-km from oil-rich Alberta, Canada, until Steele City in Nebraska if it was not cut short and allowed link up with another pipeline capable of delivering 830,000 oil barrels per day. According to Brandon Weichert, author of Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biden's choice to stop the KeystoneXL led to high EU gas prices and Moscow as the leading provider of natural gas. To date, the bloc needs its quota of 40-percent gas from Russia or faces dire straits. It seems that Vladimir Putin has channeled Joe Biden into where he is now. Read Also: Russia Rolls Out the S-500 Missile System for Defense of the Border Should NATO, the US Attempt Aggression Putin weaponizes Russian gas Weichert stressed that Biden's decision was the key factor, and the pipeline shutting down got advised against. It would have been a lifeline to prevent the energy crisis of the European Union, and now it's in the grip of the Kremlin, cited the News Lanes. Washington had not considered the consequences of its action, which led to Europe's energy crisis and dependence on natural gas from producers like Gazprom. The cost of US supplies is expensive and not enough. Repeatedly Brussels has charged President Putin with controlling the gas supplies of the union; the former USSR has invested in miles of pipelines like the Yamal. The Kremlin controls the gas tap, and the White House did not think cutting the XL pipeline would lead to this brink of war, noted Bloomberg. Kyiv is where the gas lines transit for Russian gas pumped to the EU, if war happens, Brussels will have a big problem. Washington is forced to source LNG for Europe from Asia and the Middle East, costing more. Sources say that the White House, with a soft stance towards the Nord Stream 2, allegedly helped create the Russia standoff. Weichert added that Putin's use of natural gas as leverage has made it difficult for the US president. Ukraine is now a minefield for the Biden administration. But he fears that Washington is over its head already. Access to cheap energy is important for the European Union, and the Kremlin is the one to deal with. Even asking the Nord Stream 2 to be scrapped, but Germany won't. Joe Biden has few options, and Vladimir Putin has control of the EU via the pipelines, not all EU members will jeopardize their supply even at the US says so. Related Article: Russia, Hungary Sign Gas Deal Lasting Up To 2036; Routing the EU Getting One Member to Its Side @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. PLEASE NOTE: ALL ONLINE PURCHASES ARE AUTOMATIC RENEWALS UNLESS YOU EMAIL JPAYNE@ANNISTONSTAR.COM OR CONTACT CUSTOMER SERVICE @ 256-235-9253.... Purchase an online subscription to our website for $7.99 a month with automatic renewal. Each online subscription gives you full access to all of our newspaper websites and mobile applications. To cancel you may contact Customer Service @ 256-235-9253 or email JPAYNE@ANNISTONSTAR.COM *NEW SUBSCRIBERS ONLY join with a NEW ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION is just $59.99 for the first year. Existing customers do not qualify for the specials! AMEX is not accepted through this site. After the first year, well automatically renew your subscription to continue your access at the regular price of $69.99 per year. Please note *Your Subscription will Automatically Renew unless you contact Customer Service To Cancel* (ANSA) - ROME, FEB 7 - Italy will lift its outdoor face mask mandate on Friday February 11, Health Undersecretary Andrea Costa told ANSA Monday. He said the relevant decree was in the pipeline and would apply to all Italian regions, irrespective of COVID risk colour. "A health ministry measure is coming to remove outdoor face masks in the whole national territory without a distinction due to colour, starting on February 11," he said. Italy is mostly moderate risk yellow apart from Basilicata, Molise and Umbria which are low risk white, and Abruzzo, Friuli, Piedmont and Val d'Aosta which are moderate to high orange. (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, FEB 7 - A suspected "radicalised" Moroccan Islamist suspected of terrorism who escaped from Avellino jail south of Naples on January 11 was caught at Metz in northeast France Sunday, sources said on Monday. Hassin Kalifi, 40, was serving a prison term for drug trafficking and had been converted to radical Islam in jail, sources said. He was arrested on a European warrant issued by Trento police alerted by Naples anti-mafia prosecutors for drug trafficking. Kalifi was apprehended by French police. (ANSA). MARSEILLE - "Those who arrive from the other side of the Mediterranean" are " a chance to make France greater", said French president Emmanuel Macron in a speech at the Forum des Mondes Mediterraneens in Marseille, in the southern part of the country. During his speech, Macron spoke out against those who "sow doubts" on French nationals "who have come from elsewhere" and praised the diversity of Frenchmen from the diasporas of the "Levant, North Africa, and southern Europe". He then indirectly criticised - without ever naming him - the far-right candidate for the April presidential elections Eric Zemmour. "For too many years, we have often seen doubts sowed in our speeches, as if those who come from elsewhere must hide part of this identity to actually be French," Macron said. He seemed to be referring to Zemmour's proposal to force children born in France to bear "French names". Islamist who escaped Italy jail caught in France Terror suspect arrested at Metz, 2nd man still on the run (ANSAmed) - ROME, FEB 7 - A suspected "radicalised" Moroccan Islamist suspected of terrorism who escaped from Avellino jail south of Naples on January 11 was caught at Metz in northeast France Sunday, but a second jail breaker, a 21-year-old Romanian is still on the run, sources said on Monday. Hassin Kalifi, 40, was serving a prison term for drug trafficking and had been converted to radical Islam in jail, sources said. He was arrested on a European warrant issued by Trento police alerted by Naples anti-mafia prosecutors for drug trafficking. Kalifi was apprehended by French police. The young Romanian, Florin Mocian, broke out of jail with Kalifi and another man who was injured in the jail break and soon captured. The trio carved a hole in their cell wall which police found when they inspected the room, where a fourth man had stayed behind. (ANSAmed). BEIRUT - The main armed group operating in northwestern Syria and in control of the area in which the now-defunct Islamic State (ISIS) leader, known as Abu Ibrahim Hashimi al Qurayshi, blew himself up say they were not aware of his presence there. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) is led by Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, who was part of al-Qaeda until he broke ties with them in 2016. It is a coalition of armed groups operating in the Idlib and northern Aleppo provinces along the border with Turkey. HTS has said in a statement that it was unaware of the presence of Qurayshi, who reportedly blew himself up during an operation by the US Special Forces on Feb. 3 in the Atmeh district, where he was staying with his family. HTS said in the statement that it "condemned" the US military operation - which killed several women and children - and reiterated its desire to continue to fight against ISIS. HTS, which works closely with Turkey, say that they are against ISIS. Qurayshi's predecessor Abu Bakr al Baghdadi had also reportedly blown himself up in a US raid in late 2019 in the same area. ISTANBUL - In 2021, Turkey rescued 23,676 undocumented migrants in the Aegean Sea. Of them, 15,794 had reportedly been pushed back by Greece, according to the newspaper Hurriyet. It stated that "In 2021, a total of 619 pushback incidents took place, according to data from the Turkish Coast Guard." The data shows a rise in 2021 of the number of irregular migrants rescued by the Turkish Coast Guard compared with the previous year, when about 20,000 had been rescued. Last year, at least 15 irregular migrants lost their lives in the attempt to reach Greek islands to enter the EU and 113 people were arrested by the Turkish authorities on charges of human trafficking. The Turkish authorities regularly accuse Greece of pushbacks not only in the Aegean Sea but also along land borders. This accusation was repeated last week, when 19 refugees froze to death near a border crossing. "Greece's push-back of irregular migrants in violation of international law and human rights continue to claim innocent lives, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Feb. 4 on Twitter. "This illegal and ruthless practice will be engraved in the memories as a shame for Europe. The EU keeps silent in the face of Greece's cruel practices against irregular migrants and turns a deaf ear to our calls." With at least 3.7 million Syrian refugees and 300,000 Afghan ones, Turkey hosts more refugees than any other country in the world. On the basis of an agreement with the EU signed in 2016, Ankara receives funds change for increased border control to prevent migrants and refugees from trying to enter the EU illegally. Tunisian judges council reject president's decision And vow to continue their activities (ANSAmed) - TUNISI, 07 FEB - The Tunisian Supreme Judicial Council has taken a hardline stance against President Kais Saied's decision to dissolve the self-governing judges body. Kais announced the decision over the night between Saturday and Sunday. In a statement, the council said that it rejected this decision, which it said had been made outside of any "constitutional or legal mechanism", warning against any violation of the independence of the judiciary. The statement underscored that it will continue its activities. The council also invited all judges to consider the body as the sole guarantor of their independence. The 45-member council was elected in 2016 by the judges themselves through elections held in all the electoral districts of the country, in line with the country's 2014 constitution. The decision to dissolve the body is the latest episode in a months-long contest of wills between it and the president, who has said that there is a "need to reform the judicial system for an effective fight against corruption". (ANSAmed). An oil price surge happened last Thursday, costing $90 a barrel from 2014 when the last increase occurred, that can be credited to the Ukraine standoff in eastern Europe. Concerns about the steadiness of the supply and a cold front across the US caused the price increase. The Global benchmark for Brent crude was at $91.11 a barrel, West Texas Intermediate crude settled at $90. 27 was the highest from October 6, 2014. Ukraine Border Tension Pushes Oil Prices Up One of the key factors in the development at the border between Kyiv and Moscow, the west accuses Russians of ill intentions but is defensive. The claim of the US that Russia will engineer a situation to invade the Ukraine border as a reason for rolling over the border was denied as nonsense and untrue, reported the Express UK. Washington, according to the Kremlin, is trying to provoke a conflict. Russia's President Vladimir Putin called out NATO and the US as instigating moves despite the request to move back western forces. Moscow wants the west to stop moving to eastern Europe. According to media, developments in the Middle East, including Turkey restarting discussions with Israel to supply the European Union with natural gas, noted the Times of Israel. The Daily Sabah remarked that Turk President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that Turkey and Israel might export natural gas that can be used by the country or work together to supply Europe with the energy. But the oil price surge shows the influence of the turmoil in the Ukraine standoff. Read Also: Putin Allegedly Stops All Gas Deliveries, Cuts Supplies Which the European Union Interpreted as Weaponization of Energy Ankara, Jerusalem Relationship Both middle eastern nations have not been on good terms, especially in 2018 when problems happened when the Turkish regime called out Israel due to its actions in the West Bank, especially how Palestinians were treated unjustly. But Jewish leaders demanded that any support for Hamas by Ankara in the Gaza Strip must end. Tension in 2018 between the two governments led to kicking out their ambassadors due to fighting in the Gaza Strip again. Israeli forces were accused of killing Palestinians. In 2020, Erdogan went across differences and asked his counterpart in Israel to fox differences. But his government officially was not agreeable to the policy regarding Palestinians. The two are now discussing how to fix relations and perhaps work together in supplying natural gas to Europe, as their supply could be shut off at any time. Early in the week, the Turkish leader, in a statement, said that President Isaac Herzog of Israel would make a state visit to Ankara next month. On top of their agenda will be energy cooperation, an important topic to discuss in the face-to-face meeting. US Interferes With Middle East Energy Programs Washington did not confirm its support for a proposed EastMed natural gas pipeline originating from Israel and ending in Europe. According to The Jerusalem Post, Turkey is not included but involves Israel, Cyprus, and Greece, not including Ankara in the EastMed project is not acceptable to Erdogan if Turkey is not involved in any energy development in the Eastern Mediterranean region. In a report last January, he said the US wants Turkey involved in the gas pipeline project his nation will be needed due to expensive costs. An oil price surge is triggered by the Ukraine standoff that threatens the gas supplies of the bloc. But Turkey and Israel are discussing a joint venture to supply natural gas, a game-changer. Related Article: Joe Biden's Agenda Not To Prioritize Fossil Fuel Development in the US Backfired With a Looming Fuel, Energy Crisis @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Photographer Evgeny Borisov's image of a hippo attacking a rival's calf. (SWNS) This is the shocking moment a hippopotamus sinks its teeth into a rivals calf. In the image, the male bull catches the baby hippo in its jaws, on the verge of hurling it into the water in a spray of blood. The male hippo was attacking a rivals calf in the picture, taken by Russian photographer at the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. The image was highly commended in the Society of International Nature and Wildlife Photographers Wonderful Wildlife Photography Competition. Mark Lynham's winning image of a stag in Richmond Park in London. (SWNS) The winner of the competition was a picture of a stag staring down the camera in Richmond Park in London. It was taken by Mark Lynham, 58, from Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, who captured the moment during his first ever trip to Richmond Park, with his wife Amanda last October. "Wed never visited before but had wanted to for a few years, but finally decided to pay it a visit. "We arrived as dawn was breaking and wandered along some pathways and it wasnt long before we saw our first stag as the light was starting to come up. "We went further into where all the ferns and trees were. It was very quiet and very still, and after a while I had that feeling that I was being watched. An Arctic fox cub in Norway by photographer Cecilie Stuedal. (SWNS) "I stopped and looked round slowly and I saw the stag, just standing looking at us from within the ferns. It was eerily quiet. "I raised my camera very slowly and managed to take some shots quickly. Read more: Townhouse goes on the market - complete with mysterious locked safe "It stayed still for around a minute before turning around and walking off in to the distance. "It was an incredible moment I have to say and looking at the back of the camera I knew I had a beautiful image of the stag and the autumnal tones really add to the image. A red-backed shrike with grasshopper by Alan Shearman. (SWNS) "The trip was well and truly worth it." Runner-up in the competition was Cecilie Stuedal, 24, from Innlandet, Norway, with her shot of an Arctic fox cub at sunset. Third place went to British photographer Alan Shearman, who captured a rare red-backed shrike bird eating a grasshopper. A kestrel flying with its prey, taken by Maggie Bullock. (SWNS) "I photographed this shrike at RSPB West Canvey Marsh in south Essex where it stayed for about two weeks one autumn, he said. "It fed mainly on grasshoppers and showed well as it used a fence beside a path as its lookout point." Another highly commended image, taken by Maggie Bullock from Northwich, Cheshire, was a picture of a kestrel looking down the lens as it flew off with its prey clutched tightly in its talons. A highly commended image of a stag in the rutting season at Bushy Park, London, taken by Ann Aveyard. (SWNS) A second stag picture, this one taken in Londons Bushy Park by Ann Aveyard, was also highly commended in the competition. Colin Jones, director of the society, said: This competition was very popular with images coming in from all over the globe. "Marks beautiful image was chosen as the winning image as the gentle tones and colour captures the theme of the competition very well. The worlds fastest woman on two wheels is attempting to break her own record, as racers across the UK get ready for a year of motorsport events. Becci Ellis, from Lincolnshire, hopes to beat her own Guinness World Record as racers prepare for 50 unusual motorsports events, hosted by Straightliners. She has described the feeling of reaching a record-breaking speed as phenomenal and said it is like a bullet being shot out of a gun. Ms Ellis currently holds the title of worlds fastest woman on a conventional motorcycle, after she went from a standstill to 264.1 miles per hour (mph) in 2014. She told the PA news agency: We sold the 265 mph bike because we wanted to develop another motorcycle that could increase on those speeds (because) the other bike had got to the limits that we thought it could get to. So we developed this bike and were looking at the 300 mile an hour now. If its possible to do, and the situation is right, and the weather permitting, the road conditions and everything else, then it can be done and were going to have a go. Joining Ms Ellis on the track is 58-year-old engineer Graham Sykes, who has designed a steam-powered motorcycle called the force of nature steam Rocket Bike. Mr Sykes came up with the idea for his bike nine years ago and said the process was a labour of love. Graham Sykes has designed a steam-powered motorcycle (Graham Sykes/PA) He told PA: Everything has been made and designed by myself in my shed. Its thoroughly British and and theres nothing quite like it. The motorbike, which needed a 70,000 investment, has no electrics and relies 100% on steam. It uses 100 litres of water heated up to 200C which is released through two special valves, producing just over 2,200lbs of thrust for four seconds. This accelerates the bike to more than 200 mph, which means it can go to about 230 mph in an eighth of a mile from a standing start. There is currently no world record held for a steam-powered motorcycle, but the outright steam record is for a car at a speed of 148 mph. Mr Sykes hopes to set a record and beat the current cars top speed as part of one of the 50 motorsports events being held in Yorkshire, Devon, East Sussex, Isle of Man, Northamptonshire, Somerset and Wales. He added: As long as we dont have any major mechanical issues that weve got to engineer our way around. Its looking like we should be able to have a serious attempt in September. Stable governance is needed in Northern Ireland, a Government minister has said while urging the DUP to return to the Stormont powersharing Executive. Northern Ireland minister Conor Burns made the remarks as legislation which will protect the Assembly from collapse passed its final stage at Westminster. Northern Ireland was plunged into a fresh political crisis last week when the DUP withdrew Paul Givan as first minister in protest at the post-Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol. The step also automatically removed Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill from her position as deputy first minister and leaves Northern Ireland without a functioning Executive. Conservative former Northern Ireland secretary Julian Smith told MPs that the latest powersharing crisis at Stormont was a deeply depressing state of affairs. The Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill will allow for the Northern Ireland Assembly to continue without a functioning Executive for at least six months. Its passing has lessened the likelihood of an early election as one of its provisions states the Secretary of State cannot call an election for six weeks after the resignation of the first or deputy first minister. On Monday evening, MPs passed amendments to the Bill from the House of Lords, one of which allows for the legislation to be applied retrospectively, which will cover Mr Givans resignation last week. The Bill is expected to receive royal assent later this week. Addressing DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson at Westminster, Mr Burns said: Our message very strongly to the party of the member opposite is we would rather he returned his party to the Executive, a stable Executive, stable governance, is in the interests of the people who matter most in all of this, the people of Northern Ireland. Mr Smith said: Having worked with so many others across this House and beyond to get Stormont back up and running two years ago, last Thursday was deeply depressing. DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson criticised the EU for its approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol (Peter Morrison/PA) Sir Jeffrey said amendments to the Bill will be irrelevant if the issues which have led to the impasse are not resolved. He added: I would love to see a resolution in the next six weeks because I can assure you if that happens, we will not be found wanting in terms of reinstating those institutions and restoring ministers to office. Sir Jeffrey went on to criticise the European Union for its approach to the protocol, telling MPs: If the European Union insisted that your constituents personal belongings are searched every time you move from one part of the United Kingdom to another, would you hear from your constituents about that? Might they have cause for complaint? And yet that is what my constituents will be subjected to if the European Union has its way and the full and vigorous implementation of the protocol is taken forward. Meanwhile, Stormont politicians have been urged to work to salvage what they can from the chaos caused by the DUP. Sinn Feins Stormont leader Ms ONeill was speaking in the Assembly after party whips met to discuss how to expedite outstanding legislative Bills through to completion before the end of the mandate. Ms ONeill was appearing in the chamber for the first time since she was removed from her post as deputy first minister. She made particular reference to uncertainty that now surrounds a scheduled state apology next month for victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse in Northern Ireland. The DUPs actions in unilaterally resigning from the Executive are reckless and have caused concern and uncertainty for businesses, for workers, for families and campaigners on a range of many important issues, she said. In terms of the survivors of historical institutional abuse they have caused real hurt and real trauma. While the DUP must bear responsibility for that, I am also very conscious that those of us who are serious about showing responsible leadership and delivering for people can and should seek to salvage what we can from the chaos the DUP have caused. Earlier, Assembly Speaker Alex Maskey told MLAs it was his intention the Assembly passes as much legislation as possible in the weeks ahead. Opening the start of business on Monday, Mr Maskey also said he had had no contact with the Northern Ireland Office about ending the Assemblys mandate at an early stage, which would see an earlier election than planned. Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill said there was a wide range of legislation that needed to be passed at Stormont (Brian Lawless/PA) Ms ONeill said there was a wide range of important draft legislation that needed to be progressed into law before the Northern Ireland Assembly mandate ended. She said that included Bills on climate change, organ donation, integrated education, autism, safe access zones for abortion services, a ban on fracking, welfare mitigation payments and stalking protections. These are all hugely important issues which all have real-life impacts and real-life consequences, Ms ONeill told MLAs. Sinn Fein wants to work with the other parties to make sure they are taken forward in the limited time we have left in this mandate. I stand ready to do this important work, and whilst time is of the essence, progress is still possible across a range of areas. That should be the singular focus of this Assembly in the weeks ahead. One of Denmarks biggest pension funds will sell its shares in London-listed Wizz Air over the companys alleged human and labour rights abuses. AkademikerPension said it would sell all of its 2.5 million of shares in the Hungarian airline, listing a series of anti-union behaviour. Patience ran out, the pension fund said in a statement on Monday. After engaging with the companys management, we are in no way reassured that they will initiate the changes we have requested with regard to human and labour rights issues. Therefore, we see no other way forward than to exclude the company, said AkademikerPension chief executive Jens Munch Holst. The pension fund said Wizz Air repeatedly refused to accept the right of staff to unionise. It mentioned alleged events in Romania, Ukraine, Norway and Italy. In 2014, AkademikerPension said Wizz Air dismissed 19 workers in Romania shortly after they told the company they had formed a union. The airline was fined by the Romanian supreme court. AkademikerPension also pointed to comments by Wizz Air boss Jozsef Varadi, who two years ago said unions are killing the business. He said Wizz Air would simply close the base and move on if unions try to catch us and to kill us. The pension funds decision to divest comes around four months after it, and 13 other investors, sent a letter to the airlines management, raising their concerns. Wizz Air only agreed to meet with investors after they went public with the allegations, but at that meeting bosses said they would not change their approach. Mr Munch Holst said: Exclusion is the last tool in our toolbox. If we are not ready to use it, we have no leverage when as an investor we try to influence companies to change course in these kinds of cases. So now Wizz Air is excluded from our investment universe. Shares in Wizz Air had dropped 0.7% on Monday afternoon. The airline said: Wizz Air takes the engagement with its employees very seriously and we are confident that our structures and processes that have been in place to support open and transparent engagement are working extremely well, including our People Council, which provides a forum for employees to discuss important issues, frequent employee engagement surveys and a regular Floor Talks programme which allows for a regular two-way dialogue with our CEO. A teenager has been arrested on suspicion of murder after an 18-year-old was stabbed to death in north London. Emergency services were called to the scene in Ayley Croft, Enfield, at 6.10pm on Monday to reports of a stabbing, the Metropolitan Police said. A man, who detectives believe was 18 years old, was found with stab wounds. Despite efforts from the emergency services, he died at the scene. #APPEAL | Detectives have this evening launched a murder investigation after they were called to reports of a stabbing on Ayley Croft. An arrest has been made. Anyone with information is asked to 101 ref: 5753/07Feb https://t.co/LLv5ic3ai7 Enfield MPS (@MPSEnfield) February 7, 2022 His next of kin have been notified and are being supported by specialist officers. A crime scene has been put in place. A teenage boy, whose age has currently not been confirmed by police, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder. He has been taken into custody. Anyone with information is asked to call police via 101 quoting reference CAD 5753/07Feb. Conservative MP Robert Jenrick has questioned the Foreign Secretarys planned trip to Moscow this week amid the Ukraine crisis. Liz Truss has scheduled a trip to Russian capital to meet with her counterpart, Sergei Lavrov. Speaking to BBC Radio 4s The Westminster Hour programme, the former housing secretary said: Im not sure it is actually wise to go to Moscow. I think that honours Vladimir Putin and plays into his hand I just question the good sense of going to Moscow and honouring Vladimir Putin at a time when he is so aggressive towards Ukraine. Im not sure thats wise. On Sunday, Ms Truss said the depths of Russias attempts to threaten to Ukraine were clear. Russias actions show their claims to have no plans to invade are false, she wrote in a Twitter post. We and our allies stand united in support for Ukraine and our resolve to raise the cost to Russia if they take further action. Ms Truss missed a trip to Ukraine with the Prime Minister last week after testing positive for Covid-19. The Foreign Secretarys visit to Russia would be the first to the country since 2017, when Boris Johnson met with Mr Lavrov. Had to postpone my Ukraine visit this week but will be visiting as soon as possible. I spoke on the phone to @DmytroKuleba on support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. The UK and our allies stand with Ukraine. https://t.co/8Py53E17y6 pic.twitter.com/O4pcyn6sjZ Liz Truss (@trussliz) February 2, 2022 It comes after a former oligarch said the UK providing weapons and training to Ukrainian forces shows to Putin that the war wont be such an easy ride. Exiled Russian businessman Mikhail Khodorkovsky said bolstering Ukraine defences was the most important way that London could show solidarity with Kyiv in the face of Russian aggression on the border. Speaking on Trevor Phillips On Sunday on Sky News, Mr Khodorkovsky was asked whether putting more pressure on the assets of allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin in the UK would deter Moscow from launching an invasion in Ukraine. The pressure on the assets and the properties of the Russians in Britain has two sides, he said. Putins clique illegally pressurise the British political system, its done in numerous ways. There are legal firms who work for them, sometimes its direct influence on British governing bodies. Its really important to fight this, its a dangerous thing for Britain. Thats one part of it the influence of Putins clique. The other thing is an ethical issue, its a question for British society whether its happy and whether the system is happy to have dirty money on the British territory. As far as Putin is concerned these assets are in enemy territory, he sees this as a betrayal unless these people are influencing the British system. Ukraine Russian tensions Prime Minister Boris Johnson with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, Ukraine (Peter Nicholls/PA) But Mr Khodorkovsky added: More important is supplying weapons and training Ukrainians that shows to Putin that the war wont be such an easy ride if hes planning one. On Saturday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson discussed the situation with French President Emmanuel Macron. They agreed that finding a diplomatic solution to the current tensions must remain the overriding priority, a No 10 spokesman said. The Prime Minister and President Macron stressed that Nato must be united in the face of Russian aggression. They agreed to continue to work together to develop a package of sanctions which would come into force immediately should Russia further invade Ukraine. European leaders are also due to travel to both Moscow and Kyiv in a bid to calm tensions on the Ukrainian border. Mr Macron is set to visit Moscow on Monday and Kyiv on Tuesday, while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will travel to Kyiv on February 14 and Moscow on February 15. A letter sent to Angelina Jolie detailed the rights that are being taken away from women in Afghanistan after the Taliban seized control of the country. Jolie shared the letter on Instagram, saying she received it from a young Afghan woman who hasnt been able to go back to school since the Taliban took over last year. I feel like women dont have any right to speak or put their word forward, the letter reads, according to Jolies post. The rights of the woman are taken away from them and they are not allowed to do anything in the country, the letter continued. Few weeks back when the Taliban arrested 2 of the women who raised their voices in order to ask for the rights of woman and freedom, I just thought, that this is the end and I might never be able to go outside again or even be able to speak as I am a Girl. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 18: Actress Angelina Jolie attends the Los Angeles premiere of MSNBC Films' LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 18: Actress Angelina Jolie attends the Los Angeles premiere of MSNBC Films' "Paper & Glue: A JR Project" at Museum Of Tolerance on November 18, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by JC Olivera/Getty Images) (Jc Olivera/) The Taliban took over power in Afghanistan last August. Jolie, who didnt share name of the letters author in order to protect her identity, urged her followers to help make sure women in Afghanistan are not forgotten. Please track what is happening in Afghanistan, where young women are being taken from their homes at night at gunpoint and disappeared, and new restrictions are being imposed on the freedom of women and girls day by day, the Oscar-winning actress wrote. A further 350 British troops will be sent to eastern Europe as tensions continue to rise around Russias military build-up on the border with Ukraine. The soldiers will be sent to Poland, with Defence Secretary Ben Wallace saying they will send a strong signal that the two countries stand side by side. Poland is also facing a crisis on its own border with Belarus, whose leader Alexander Lukashenko is an ally of Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukraine crisis will continue this week, with Mr Wallace and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss expected to head to Moscow for talks. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace held a joint press conference with Polish counterpart Mariusz Blaszczak in London (Peter Nicholls/PA) Mr Wallace said the extra troops will add to 100 Royal Engineers already in Poland. The bilateral deployment will show that we can work together and send a strong signal that Britain and Poland stand side by side, he said. Mr Wallace warned that if Russia makes the foolish mistake of invading Ukraine it will face severe sanctions, isolation and more Nato the very things that President Putin says he doesnt want. He pointed to the way the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 led to Natos enhanced forward presence in alliance members Poland and Latvia. Mr Wallace denied that Nato is trying to use divide and rule tactics against Moscow. Nato is a defensive alliance. It poses no threat to Russia. It is a self-defence mechanism amongst our allies. That is what it is there for. No one wants to divide and rule Russia, he said. At a joint press conference with Mr Wallace, Polish defence minister Mariusz Blaszczak welcomed the additional British deployment. Speaking through a translator, he said: Im very grateful to Ben (Wallace) for this quick response and I am very grateful also to the Government of the United Kingdom for supporting Poland during this attack by the Lukashenko regime on Poland, this hybrid attack, and those soldiers will indeed support our army as well. The Russian Government's aggression against Ukraine is part of a decades-long campaign to destabilise European security. The UK will defend freedom & democracy wherever it is threatened, and that is why we and our allies #StandWithUkraine. pic.twitter.com/O1WQSAmLaS Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) February 6, 2022 He added: Today, we are facing another challenge, the Russian aggressive policy towards Ukraine and as part of Nato, but also on a bilateral level, Poland and the United Kingdom are ready to do all the necessary decisions in order to deter the potential aggressor. Based on historical experience, we see that only a decisive deterrence policy can stop any potential Russian aggression and, based on the very same history, we do see that the policy of appeasement only encourages the potential enemy to do something. Ms Truss will travel to Moscow later this week for discussions with counterpart Sergei Lavrov. But former Cabinet minister Robert Jenrick questioned whether the trip would play into Mr Putins hands. Speaking to BBC Radio 4s The Westminster Hour programme, the former housing secretary said: Im not sure it is actually wise to go to Moscow. He added: I think that honours Vladimir Putin and plays into his hand I just question the good sense of going to Moscow and honouring Vladimir Putin at a time when he is so aggressive towards Ukraine. Im not sure thats wise. Liz Truss has defended the Falklands as part of the British family after China backed Argentinas claim over the South American islands. The Foreign Secretary tweeted that China must respect the Falklands sovereignty after Argentinian president, Alberto Fernandez, met with Chinas President Xi on the fringes of the Beijing winter Olympics. According to a statement on Londons Chinese Embassy website, the two leaders spoke of their deep friendship and Argentina signed up to Chinas Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, a state-backed campaign for global influence. But they also signed an agreement in which China reasserted its support for Argentinas claim to the Falklands, while Mr Fernandez backed Xis one-China policy, which claims Taiwan as its own. We completely reject any questions over sovereignty of the Falklands. The Falklands are part of the British family and we will defend their right to self determination. China must respect the Falklands' sovereignty Liz Truss (@trussliz) February 6, 2022 The statement said Argentina should be able to fully exercise its sovereignty over the Malvinas (Falklands) Islands issue. But Ms Truss said: We completely reject any questions over sovereignty of the Falklands. The Falklands are part of the British family and we will defend their right to self-determination. China must respect the Falklands sovereignty. Chen Weihua, a journalist for China Daily, an English-language newspaper owned by the Chinese Communist Party, replied to Ms Truss to say: But its okay for UK to challenge Chinas sovereignty in the South China Sea by sending navy vessels? At least China has not sent its navy near the Malvinas, or what you call the Falklands. But its okay for UK to challenge Chinas sovereignty in the South China Sea by sending navy vessels? At least China has not sent its navy near the Malvinas, or what you call the Falklands. Chen Weihua (@chenweihua) February 6, 2022 Xi has also met with Russias president, Vladimir Putin, in recent days, where the leaders pushed back against US pressure and declared their opposition to any expansion of Nato a key issue in the current tensions on the Ukrainian border. In a joint statement, they criticised interference in the internal affairs of other states and in a thinly veiled reference to the West, said: Some forces representing a minority on the world stage continue to advocate unilateral approaches to resolving international problems and resort to military policy. China has increasingly shown support for Moscow in its dispute with Ukraine that threatens to break out into armed conflict. Conservative MP and chairman of the Commons Defence Select Committee, Tobias Ellwood, has warned of the coming together of China and Russia. Tobias Ellwood has warned the situation in Ukraine could be this eras Cuban missile crisis (Yui Mok/PA) Following the leaders meeting, he tweeted: Putin is not in China to discuss the bobsleigh but to further align Russia away from the West to the East. This is the axis of power that will dominate our era. Any sanctions we impose will only assist Putin with his aim. This is the bigger picture we are missing. On Sunday, Mr Ellwood added: With China now on side the Russian invasion into Ukraine is now imminent. Our window for the West to prevent this is now closing fast. Last week in the Commons, he warned: Putin is using the Ukraine crisis to realign Russia militarily, economically and geopolitically with China, which has massive security implications for the West. He said: This is our Cuban missile crisis. I encourage Britain to lead the call to deploy an offensive alliance and stand up to Putins aggression. According to a recent study from the United Nations, North Korea's hackers have stolen more than $50 million worth of bitcoin to fund and enhance its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. The yearly assessment by independent sanctions monitors Pyongyang's testing and demonstration of new short-range and probably medium-range missiles using both ballistic and guidance technology and using both solid and liquid propellants accelerated significantly in January. North Korea's missile program funded through stolen crypto Between 2020 and mid-2021, investigators discovered that at least three cryptocurrency exchanges in North America, Europe, and Asia were targeted by cyber assaults, stealing more than $50 million in digital assets. Experts stated that cyber assaults continue to be a major source of cash for Kim Jong Un's government and Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Aside from cyberspace, they claimed North Korea continues to seek materials, technology, and know-how for these programs from other countries, through collaborative scientific research and cyberspace. On Friday, the report was forwarded to the North Korea sanctions committee of the United Nations Security Council. Research by Chainalysis, a blockchain analysis firm, revealed that North Korea attempted at least seven assaults against cryptocurrency platforms last year, stealing roughly $400 million in digital assets, according to Mail Online. Independent monitors known as the 1718 Committee, named after the UN resolution that has imposed harsh sanctions on North Korea since 2006, have released a new report, which was obtained in part by CBS News and submitted to the UN sanctions committee. The report is based on its investigations, which are frequently carried out on-site, as well as information and intelligence gathered from UN member states. As of the end of January 2022, the testing and demonstration of new short-range and medium-range missiles containing both ballistic and guidance technology and using both solid and liquid propellants has accelerated significantly, according to a report acquired by CBS News. Read Also: Russian President Putin To Meet Chinese President Xi During Beijing Olympics, Amid Ukraine Tensions Pyongyang continues developing nuclear, ballistic missile programs In addition, in contravention of UN Security Council resolutions, North Korea continued to maintain and develop its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. It comes at a time when tensions among members of the Security Council are high due to North Korea's nuclear development. In mid-January, the Biden administration slapped penalties on five North Korean officials in response to the flurry of missile testing this year. After even more launches, the U.S. asked for a private council meeting, which Russia unsuccessfully sought to stop in a procedural vote as administration also revealed at the time. But nine council members, including the US, issued a statement condemning the recent launch of an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) as a "unlawful action in the strongest terms. North Korea's weapons of mass destruction programs have earned an estimated $2 billion through widespread and more sophisticated cyberattacks, according to UN sanctions monitors in 2019. According to the most recent report, "illicit trade, including in luxury goods, has largely ceased" as a result of North Korea's strict blockade in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. North Korean exports of coal, iron, lead, textiles, and seafood have been banned by the UN Security Council over the years while imports of crude oil and refined petroleum products have been restricted. The study claims that North Korea's humanitarian situation "continues to deteriorate." The COVID-19 ban was undoubtedly to blame, but the monitors said it was impossible to tell how many people were being harmed accidentally as a result of UN sanctions owing to a lack of information from North Korea, Mint reported. Related Article: US F-35 Stealth Fighter Worth $143 Million Crashes Into South China Sea; China Denies Any Interest in Plane Retrieval @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. President Joe Biden welcomed German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to the White House Monday at a critical time for the leaders as tensions with Russia persist over Ukraine. During brief remarks in the Oval Office ahead of a joint press conference, Biden said the two countries are "working in lockstep to further deter Russian aggression in Europe and address the challenges opposed by China and promote stability in the Western Balkans," as military forces buildup along the Ukraine border. Monday marks Scholz's first visit to the White House, and Biden said it provided a good chance to "get to know you more personally." PHOTO: President Joe Biden gestures during a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the Oval Office of the White House, Feb. 7, 2022, in Washington. (Alex Brandon/AP) While the Biden administration has warned for weeks that Russia will face "severe" consequences if it invades Ukraine, Germany had often opted for a softer response, refusing to send military equipment to Ukraine or deploy more troops to the eastern flank. Germany had also shown reluctance to shut down Nord Stream 2, a Russian natural gas pipeline, not yet operational, that would carry gas directly to Germany, bypassing Ukraine. Meanwhile, Biden has been rallying European allies to respond to Russia's threats in lockstep with his more aggressive plan. But meeting with Scholz Monday, the two world leaders expressed unity with their posture towards Russia. MORE: WH national security adviser says there's a 'very distinct' possibility of Russian attack on Ukraine After both leaders appeared to avoid mentioning the pipeline, under repeated questions from reporters at an afternoon press conference, Biden, standing next to the German chancellor said Nord Stream 2 would not move forward if Russia invades Ukraine, in a warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin of potential economic consequences. "If Russia invades, that means tanks or troops crossing the -- the border of Ukraine again, then there will be -- there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2," Biden said during the press conference with Scholz, who did not go as far as Biden, but insisted the U.S. and Germany remain "absolutely united." PHOTO: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and US President Joe Biden arrive for a press conference at the White House, Feb. 7, 2022. (Kay Nietfeld/Picture Alliance via Getty Images) Pressed on how he can commit to that given that Nord Stream 2 is under German control, Biden doubled down, saying, "We will -- I promise you -- we will be able to do it." Scholz, in turn, expressed unity with the U.S. and said that Germany was preparing sanctions in case Putin decides to invade. "As I already said, we are acting together," Scholz said at the press conference. "We are absolutely united and we will not take different steps. We will do the same steps and they will be very, very hard to Russia, and they should understand." PHOTO: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz delivers remarks alongside U.S. President Joe Biden during a joint news conference in the East Room of the White House on Feb. 07, 2022. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Biden added that all diplomatic lanes should be taken to de-escalate the situation on the Ukraine border where at least 100,000 Russian troops have gathered and that Russia needs to understand NATO nations stand together. Asked by another reporter if Americans who are still in Ukraine should leave, Biden said would be "wise" for Americans to leave the country. Im not talking about our diplomatic core. I'm talking about Americans who are there. I hate to see them get caught in a crossfire if, in fact, they did invade. And there's no need for that," Biden said. ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Cecilia Vega asked Biden as he was exiting the press conference, "Is de-escalation possible?" "The answer is yes," Biden replied. PHOTO: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz delivers remarks alongside U.S. President Joe Biden during a joint news conference in the East Room of the White House on Feb. 07, 2022. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) While an administration official earlier acknowledged "the narrative that's been out there" that Germany's response to Russia has been lacking, they were not outright critical of Scholz's hesitation thus far. But they declined to say whether U.S. officials have already convinced the Germans to get on board with the plan to block Nord Stream 2 entirely if Putin decides to move. "We're confident that the Germans share our concerns with Russian aggression, that they're very involved in our ongoing efforts on both deterrence and diplomacy," the official said. "What I can say is that we will continue to work very closely with Germany to ensure the pipeline does not move forward." MORE: WH national security adviser says there's a 'very distinct' possibility of Russian attack on Ukraine When asked if the administration is working on ways to prevent the Nord Stream pipeline from becoming operational regardless of if Russia invades, the official underscored the U.S. opposition to the project overall, ahead of Biden's joint remarks. "There is not currently any gas flowing through the pipeline. And there won't be any gas for months, in part because of the diplomacy that the United States has been able to do on this issue with Germany," the official noted. PHOTO: President Joe Biden speaks before signing an executive order on project labor agreements at the Ironworkers Local 5 in Upper Marlboro, Md., Friday, Feb. 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) (Carolyn Kaster/AP) ABC News has learned Putin now has 70% of the troops necessary to possibly launch a full-scale attack on Ukraine in place along the Ukrainian border. With U.S. intelligence indicating Putin is preparing for a large-scale invasion, the senior administration official said key allies like Germany are being kept aware of the situation. "I absolutely think that our countries are unified in terms of awareness of the risk of further Russian aggression to Ukraine. We have been for a long time sharing intelligence with Germany with the rest of our allies," the official said. "And I think there is absolutely absolute agreement, that if there is further Russian aggression, that there's a number of things that need to be done in terms of deployment of additional troops to the eastern flank, and to the imposition of a large package of economic sanctions." MORE: Russia continues to amass troops on the Ukraine border Scholz's visit comes almost two months to the day since he took office, highlighting the importance of the U.S.-German relationship. PHOTO: (FILES) In this file photo taken on January 21, 2022 German Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks during a joint press conference after a closed meeting of the German government on the G7 presidency at the Chancellery in Berlin. (Michael Sohn/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Biden first met with Scholz in October at the G-20 summit, when former Chancellor Angela Merkel invited the then-finance minister to accompany her to her meeting with Biden, giving the leaders a chance to meet ahead of Scholz taking the helm. As Biden and Scholz participated in their first joint press conference from the East Room, in-person talks between French President Emmanuel Macron and Putin wrapped after five hours, according to Russian media. Biden told reporters Monday that he has been very straightforward and blunt in his discussions with Putin when warning of sanctions Russia could face but said he still he does not know what Putin will ultimately do. I know he's in a position now to be able to invade, almost assuming that the ground is frozen above Kiev. He has the capacity to do that," Biden said. "What he's going to do, I don't know." Biden, German chancellor present united front amid tensions with Russia over Ukraine originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Assembly Member Ash Kalra (D-San Jose), center, talks with fellow members Tasha Boerner Horvath (D-Encinitas) and Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda) in Sacramento on Jan. 31. With lawmakers under intense pressure from business groups and the insurance industry, Kalra realized his single-payer healthcare bill would not pass and decided not to bring it up to a vote. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Theres no bigger litmus test in the California Democratic Party than where a politician stands on single-payer healthcare. But the anemic performance and unspectacular demise last week of another bill to launch the model in the Golden State shows that may be all it is. Bogged down by political tension and unanswered questions about its enormous price tag, legislation to guarantee medical coverage to every resident by levying billions in new taxes died in the Assembly without a floor vote. AB 1400 was an exercise in abstract morality, William Hsiao, professor emeritus of economics at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said of the failed legislation. Its a dream plan. If you want to put out a plan that has a realistic chance at passage and serious consideration, you have to have serious cost estimates. Still, the debate over single-payer in California isn't going away even if bills go nowhere at all. For decades, Democrats at the state Capitol have tried and failed to transition single-payer from a widely shared ideology that every person deserves affordable care to a policy that would replace what many consider a broken healthcare system that puts profits over the well-being of the state's residents. Yet each year, lawmakers spend less time publicly vetting the merits of enacting such a complicated and revolutionary system than they do getting mired in the politics surrounding single-payer. Nurses and unions battle doctors and insurers. Party progressives threaten the political careers of anyone they consider a "corporate Democrat" who could stand in the way. Legislation is tossed around the state Senate and Assembly like a hot potato. The governor distances himself. And at some point, allies turn on one another. This year wasn't much different. Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San Jose), the head of the lower house's progressive caucus, carried Assembly Bill 1400 on behalf of the California Nurses Assn., a union that has become nearly as synonymous with the single-payer movement as U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Kalra said he expected to come up short Monday of the necessary votes to pass the bill off the Assembly floor to the upper house. Others say he may have only had the support of slightly more than half of the 55 Democrats in the Assembly. Days before the deadline to take up the bill, progressives threatened to withhold coveted California Democratic Party endorsements from any Assembly member who did not vote yes. The move was designed to force lawmakers to support the bill or risk the possibility that the party could give campaign money to more liberal challengers in the June primary. Kalra faced a tough choice: to call a vote he believed would fail and burn bridges with the Democrats in his house who would become vulnerable to political attacks from the left, or to go against the wishes of his progressive allies, spare his colleagues and sideline the legislation. He made a judgment call, he said, and sacrificed himself rather than hold a vote and watch the bill go "down in flames." If were going to lose by a 2-to-1 margin, thats a sign of weakness for the policy and the movement, he said. The easiest thing for me to do for my own personal benefit and my own personal politics was to have the bill heard. I recognized the heat I was going to take in not doing it." The backlash came quickly. National Nurses United tweeted that Kalra "failed to put patients over profits in the middle of the worst surge of Covid-19 yet." Scores of angry single-payer supporters criticized him on social media, posting memes that accused him of being a "political opportunist" and tweets calling him an enemy of the movement who should be voted out of office. We were disappointed and Im still out of words, said Zenei Triunfo-Cortez, president of the California Nurses Assn., which immediately and publicly condemned Kalra. If he says there wasnt enough votes, then let it be on public record and lets see which lawmakers are for or against it so we know who to work with in the future." With several Assembly Democrats choosing not to run for reelection this year and unconcerned about political retribution, it's unclear whether threats to withhold endorsements advanced the cause. "Democracy is healthier when voters have more information. And what we were looking for is a vote and transparency, and then engaging in a simple act of democracy in that the Assembly members vote for bills and then the party votes to decide which Assembly members are worthy of endorsement," said California Democratic Party Progressive Caucus Chair Amar Shergill. "It's not a particularly revolutionary idea that the California Democratic Party should be informed about how its Assembly members vote before they decide what the endorsement is." This year marked the second time in the last five years that a single-payer bill has died in the Assembly, leaving Democratic members under fire from party activists. In 2017, a Senate bill to create a single-payer system was shelved by Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood), who called that proposal woefully incomplete" without a plan to pay for it. Rendon's decision made him the target of intense criticism that year. RoseAnn DeMoro, then the nurses union's leader, tweeted an illustration of Californias flag with the slogan Healthy California and a knife with the name Rendon on a blade in the grizzly bear's back. "In general, I think people's bedside manners matter around here," Rendon said in response to a question of whether that kind of activism helps or hurts causes. "I think members react when pushed, not only when they're pushed themselves, but also when their colleagues are pushed." Rendon said a lot of legislators were turned off by the debate and aftermath of the 2017 legislation. "I'm kind of curious if maybe they would have had more success or more quickly could have found somebody to pick this up if they had acted differently," he said. This time, fingers were pointed in different directions. Rendon was largely spared criticism from progressives or the nurses union. In a statement released shortly after Kalra's announcement, he said the shortage of votes for AB 1400 showed how difficult it is to implement single-payer healthcare in the state, though time would bring that goal closer. Nevertheless, Im deeply disappointed that the author did not bring this bill up for a vote today, Rendon said in the statement. I support single-payer and fully intended to vote yes on this bill." Rendon said single-payer is more than an ideological litmus test in California. He noted that the legislation this year went further than the version five years ago because it was tied to a separate bill, Assembly Constitutional Amendment 11, which spelled out how single-payer could be funded. But he said a more detailed policy doesn't necessarily make passing single-payer any easier or quell concerns over costs among some lawmakers in his caucus. "You start having serious conversations and then all of a sudden you do realize how complicated this is," he said. "It was a much more robust discussion this time. People talked about the cost. People wondered, 'Does that mean we're cutting schools? Does that mean we're cutting other services? What does it mean?'" Advocates have pointed to studies that generally show Californians will save money under a single-payer system when eliminating the premiums, copays and deductibles they now pay. But unanswered questions about the policy and costly price tag opened a door for opponents to criticize the legislation. Although much of the blame has centered on Kalra this year, the Assembly member said Gov. Gavin Newsom's ambivalence didn't make his job any easier. Kalra said he reached out to the governors office last year about the bill, given Newsoms support for single-payer, but there wasnt an interest in engagement." Newsom campaigned in 2018 on a promise to deliver single-payer healthcare to California that endeared him to progressives. At the time, his Democratic opponent, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, criticized him for selling "snake oil." "Newsom was unequivocal, knowing full well it was not possible for a whole host of reasons that are just not theoretical," said Mike Madrid, a Republican consultant who worked for Villaraigosa's campaign. "I mean, Donald Trump was the president at the time and you had to have a million federal waivers. To think Donald Trump was going to give you a federal waiver so California could do single-payer is absurd. That was pure political theater." Newsom has since focused on a more attainable path to universal healthcare by offering coverage to the largest uninsured population in the state people living in the country illegally. Erin Mellon, a spokesperson for Newsom, said advancing healthcare "has been a top priority" for the governor and his work is laying the foundation for single-payer in California. But when asked about Kalra's bill last month, Newsom cast single-payer as a more aspirational goal. He said the state must thoughtfully answer the question of how to achieve single-payer a tacit admission that he never answered the "how" question before he promised to deliver on the campaign trail. It's a values statement," Madrid said. "Its not even a real policy discussion. It's a frame, it's a lens through which you view what kind of a Democrat you are." Newsom also said he had not read Kalra's bill. I dont think the governors statements helped, Kalra said. I think just him distancing himself from single-payer put even more seeds of doubt with my colleagues as to whether this was a viable strategy. Some have questioned why Kalra didn't do more. Kalra said the speakers office was instrumental in getting the bill on the floor but admits he did not ask for help corralling votes this year. Ultimately, the responsibility is mine and the sponsors' to get the votes, he said. The Assembly health committee overwhelmingly passed the bill, though several Democrats criticized Kalra for ignoring suggested changes. The Assembly Appropriations Committee passed AB 1400 without debate, an unusual move for the fiscal committee on a bill that could cost between $314 billion and $391 billion in state and federal funds, according to a legislative analysis. Assembly Member Jim Wood (D-Santa Rosa), chair of the Assembly Health Committee, said it was clear that Democratic lawmakers who support single-payer were giving courtesy votes so that AB 1400 could move forward. The concerns we raised had not been addressed, and my hope was that those would be addressed in the Senate and [the bill would then] return to the Assembly on concurrence, Wood said. Hsiao, who sits on a commission Newsom created to craft a report on how to achieve universal health coverage in California, said a lack of concrete funding was "exactly what sank Vermonts plan." Vermont commissioned Hsiao in 2010 to design a single-payer system for the state, which was signed into law by then-Gov. Peter Shumlin, a Democrat. However, the law was ultimately abandoned when an agreement over how to pay for it couldnt be reached. Hsiao said under AB 1400, California lawmakers were also considering a plan with "too many unknowns. "AB 1400 tried to take a huge quantum leap from where you are to an idealistic plan, he said. You have to build a bridge from where you are to cross the rivers and then you need to cross the mountains to get to your destination of a much better healthcare system. California has not dealt with that. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. FILE - This undated file photo provided by the Illinois Department of Corrections shows former Bolingbrook, Ill., police officer Drew Peterson. Peterson is getting another chance to ask a judge to vacate his 2012 conviction in the murder of his third wife. A hearing Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, will be before the same judge who sentenced Peterson to 38 years in prison for the 2004 slaying of Kathleen Savio. (Illinois Department of Corrections via AP, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) JOLIET, Ill. (AP) A judge on Monday delayed for three months a hearing on former suburban Chicago police officer Drew Petersons request to toss out his murder conviction in the killing of his third wife after his attorney said he needed more time. Will County Judge Edward Burmila set the next hearing date for May 18. During a brief hearing, Assistant Public Defender Jason Strzelcki told the judge he needed time to interview witnesses, several of whom live outside Illinois. He also said he planned to amend the petition that Peterson filed himself last year. We will be adding several claims, said Strzelcki, who did not detail what those might be. The judges decision keeps alive Petersons legal effort to vacate his 2012 conviction of first-degree murder in the 2004 slaying of Kathleen Savio. He was sentenced to 38 years in prison. Savios body was found in a dry bathtub in her home. Her death was originally ruled accidental, but after Petersons fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, disappeared in 2007, authorities reopened the investigation. Her body was exhumed and after a second autopsy, her death was classified as a homicide and Peterson was arrested. Peterson is also a suspect in the disappearance of Stacy Peterson, who is presumed dead. Drew Peterson has not been charged in her disappearance. Peterson, who was a police sergeant in Bolingbrook, has maintained his innocence. In his handwritten petition, he argued that he was provided ineffective counsel by his lead attorney, Joel Brodsky. He also alleged that Will County States Attorney James Glasgow intimidated witnesses, a contention Glasgow has denied. Peterson also argued that Burmila should not have allowed a pastor and a divorce attorney to provide hearsay evidence when they testified that Stacy Peterson talked to them about Savios death and her concerns about her safety. Peterson remains in prison and did not attend Monday's hearing. His attorney, whom Burmila appointed to represent him, said he didnt believe that Peterson would attend the May 18 hearing either. The judge could decide then that there is enough information to go forward, a decision that could lead to a hearing in which Brodsky, Glasgow and others could be called to testify. In 2016, he was sentenced to an additional 40 years in prison for trying to hire someone to kill Glasgow. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is scheduled to meet with President Biden at the White House on Monday. (Michael Kappeler / Associated Press) President Biden will host the new chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz, at the White House on Monday, where the two will discuss how to aid Ukraine and punish Russian President Vladimir Putin if Russia invades the neighboring former Soviet republic. The high-stakes meeting for two key leaders of NATO, the transatlantic alliance, comes as Putin is testing that long-standing partnership, and amid rising questions about Germany's reliability on international security matters now that former Chancellor Angela Merkel is no longer at the helm. Despite differences and Scholz's early tentativeness in confronting Russia, the two leaders are determined to present a united front even as Biden intends to raise issues that have been controversial for the new German government, such as economic sanctions that might be imposed on Russia and German reliance on Russia for its energy needs, a senior Biden administration official said Sunday evening. The official, who requested anonymity to brief reporters before the meeting, noted that Germany is the second-largest financial contributor to Ukraine, after the United States. The administration is "confident" that if Russia undertakes an invasion, Germany will stand united with other North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries in ordering tough sanctions and otherwise helping Ukraine, the official said. Scholz, however, speaking to German television earlier Sunday before departing Berlin, reiterated his refusal to send lethal arms to Ukraine, which faces the prospect of an imminent invasion with Putin having surrounded its borders with more than 100,000 troops. Germany's shipment of 5,000 helmets as its main contribution to Ukraine's defense sparked intense criticism from allies and the German public. Germany's ambassador to the U.S. sent a frantic memo back to Berlin last week advising Scholz that Washington questions its ally's reliability and that many Republicans believe, she wrote, that the new chancellor is "in bed with Putin." Last week, the U.S. Pentagon announced it was deploying 3,000 troops to Europe to join the NATO forces scrambling into position in the region either to deter Putin from invading or to mount a response if and when he does. Biden has opted not to criticize Scholz publicly before his first visit to the White House. The two have met previously on the sidelines of other summits when Scholz was a member of Merkels Cabinet. During what's likely to be a heavily scripted appearance with Biden in the East Room for a news conference following their meetings, Scholz is expected to use his biggest opportunity to date to reassure allies by making clear, when it comes to the situation in Ukraine, all options remain on the table. "The most important thing for Olaf Scholz to demonstrate in Washington is that he understands what is at stake strategically not just the sovereignty of Ukraine but the future of a peaceful, democratic and free Europe and of the transatlantic alliance," said Constanze Stelzenmuller, a senior fellow and Germany expert at the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank. Initially, Scholz had seemed to waver on sanctioning the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline, calling it a "private-sector project," but eventually shifted his stance in January and said, aiming to quell widespread criticism, that "all options" were on the table. The administration official who briefed reporters Sunday sought to downplay differences over the controversial pipeline that will transport Russian fuel to Germany. The U.S. has warned the project could make Germany overly reliant on Moscow for energy and strongly urged the pipeline not be built. It has been completed but is not yet operational. And if Russia invades, the U.S. believes gas will not flow in the foreseeable future, the official said. "One way or another, Nord Stream 2 will not move forward" if Russia invades, the official said. Scholz has also been slow to distance himself from pro-Russia voices in Germany, most notably Gerhard Schroder, the last former chancellor from Scholz's Social Democratic Party, who is close to Putin. Schroder has criticized Ukraine for "saber-rattling," despite Russia amassing more than 100,000 troops on its borders, and he has just joined the board of Gazprom, Russia's largest energy conglomerate. Only last week did Scholz separate himself from Schroder, saying during an interview that "there is only one chancellor, and that is me." The Biden administration, as it has worked to rally NATO allies to respond to Putin with one voice, has sought to find additional energy resources for Europe in the event that Putin, reacting to potential sanctions, halts Russian gas exports in an effort to inflict economic pain. "We are preparing not just for our initial response, but for counter-responses," Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security advisor, said Sunday on ABC's "This Week." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. SAN DIEGO (AP) A Navy SEAL candidate who who died just hours after completing the grueling Hell Week test was identified Sunday as a 24-year-old sailor who joined the military last year. Seaman Kyle Mullen died at a San Diego area hospital on Friday after he and another SEAL trainee reported experiencing symptoms of an unknown illness, the Navy said. The other sailor, whose name has not been released, was hospitalized in stable condition, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported Sunday. The cause of death is unknown and under investigation. Both men fell ill just hours after they successfully completed the test that ends the first phase of assessment and selection for the elite Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) class. The Navy said neither one had experienced an accident or unusual incident during the five-and-a-half-day Hell Week. Rear Adm. H.W. Howard III, the commander of Naval Special Warfare Command in Coronado, California, offered his sympathies to Mullens family in a statement. We are extending every form of support we can to the Mullen family and Kyles BUD/S classmates," Howard said. U.S. Navy SEAL candidates participate in "surf immersion" during Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training at the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Center in Coronado, Calif. (MC1 Anthony Walker/U.S. Navy via AP) Mullen joined the Navy in March 2021, according to his Navy biography. He reported to SEAL training in Coronado in July, the Union-Tribune said. The Hell Week test is part of the BUD/S class, which involves basic underwater demolition, survival and other combat tactics. It comes in the fourth week as SEAL candidates are being assessed and hoping to be selected for training within the Naval Special Warfare Basic Training Command. The SEAL program tests physical and psychological strength along with water competency and leadership skills. The program is so grueling that at least 50% to 60% dont make it through Hell Week, when candidates are pushed to the limit. The last SEAL candidate to die during the assessment phase was 21-year-old Seaman James Derek Lovelace in 2016. He was struggling to tread water in full gear in a giant pool when his instructor pushed him underwater at least twice. He lost consciousness and died. His death was initially ruled a homicide by the San Diego County Medical Examiner. A year later, after an investigation, the Navy said it would not pursue criminal charges in Lovelaces drowning. An autopsy revealed he had an enlarged heart that contributed to his death, and that he also had an abnormal coronary artery, which has been associated with sudden cardiac death, especially in athletes. It was unclear from the autopsy report how much Lovelaces heart abnormalities contributed to his death. The latest death also comes just two months after a Navy SEAL commander died from injuries he suffered during a training accident in Virginia. Cmdr. Brian Bourgeois, 43, fell while fast-roping down from a helicopter, and he died several days later. Boris Johnson is feared to be leading an English nationalist party which is betraying unionist people in Northern Ireland, MPs have heard. The DUPs Ian Paisley criticised the Prime Minister for failing to speak up about the powersharing crisis at Stormont, insisting he has a responsibility to resolve it. His remarks came as the Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill cleared Parliament and is now on the verge of becoming law. The Bill was drawn up in a bid to protect powersharing at Stormont by offering greater stability in the event of a political crisis. It relates to undertakings the UK Government made in the New Decade, New Approach Deal, such as extending the time period within which a snap election must be called if devolution collapses. It would also lengthen the time allowed to appoint Northern Ireland ministers after an election, and also allow ministers to stay in office for up to 24 weeks or for up to 48 weeks in the event of the first minister or deputy first minister resigning. Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill was removed from her post as deputy First Minister following last weeks resignation of DUP First Minister Paul Givan in protest at Brexits Northern Ireland Protocol. Mr Paisley (North Antrim) told the Commons: I think there is truth to the point tonight that four days into a crisis, almost five days, the Prime Minister of this nation has not spoken. I think thats wrong. I think the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom ought to have spoken on Thursday evening on this issue. I think he should not have shut up about it until the issue is resolved. I think they are his responsibilities. When you view a constitutional crisis through a prism of a divided community, which is what Northern Ireland is, you create suspicions and you raise concerns unless those matters are properly addressed. And I think its very obvious to some people that there is a fear that the Conservative and Unionist Party, which governs this nation, is actually a nationalist party, an English nationalist party, that is not concerned about a border in the Irish Sea, but is concerned about a red wall on the mainland island, and thats what eats them up every single day. If that is their only concern then that Government is betraying the union and the unionist people, and thats the reality of where we are this evening. Prime Minister Boris Johnson attends a service to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland (Liam McBurney/PA) SDLP leader Colum Eastwood also questioned the whereabouts of Mr Johnson in recent days. He earlier said: Nowhere to be seen is the Prime Minister of this precious United Kingdom, and I think if I was a unionist in Northern Ireland today, and I can assure you Im not, Id be looking very closely at what this Government and how this Government treats them. Mr Eastwood later said for months the DUP has held a gun to their own head over the protocol and Brexit matters, adding: Now theyve shot and what they have got? This will never precipitate the result that they want because its impossible to do what the DUP wants and this is the reality, this is not about the protocol, this is about an election that will come in the next few months and all this is about is shoring up the unionist support. For the Government, Northern Ireland minister Conor Burns said: I would just like to say that the Secretary of State (Brandon Lewis) is in close contact with the party leaders, with the Government of the Irish Republic and others. Addressing DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, Mr Burns added: Our message very strongly to the party of the member opposite is we would rather he returned his party to the executive, a stable executive, stable governance, is in the interests of the people who matter most in all of this, the people of Northern Ireland. He also told MPs the Government remains absolutely committed to resolving the issue of the protocol. Conservative former Northern Ireland secretary Julian Smith said the powersharing crisis was a deeply depressing state of affairs for people that want to make progress on education, health and budget matters. Feature Your News Online $25.00 / for 30 days Highlight your business' news for just $25! We'll feature your content on our News From Local Business section & our Marketplace front page to give it maximum exposure for the next 30 days. Online Access for Print Subscribers. Do you have a print subscription with the Argus-Press? If yes, then click here to enjoy complimentary access to our Online Content! YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. With the initiative of Orion and BAJ Accelerator the BAJ Unicorn Academy program has been launched in Armenia, highly qualified Machine Learning Engineers will be developed. The IT education program is implemented by the Armenian Code Academy (ACA) with funding from Embodied and cognaize companies, the ACA told Armenpress. The education program is free of charge for the 20 selected students. The first class took place on January 28th and the program lasts for 5 months. Working with our future unicorn companies, we noticed a lack of senior Machine Learning specialists in Armenia. In our estimation, in the coming years, IT companies will continue to grow rapidly, therefore, there will be a need for more specialists. We decided to solve the problem by creating opportunities to gain experience on the educational and international standards level. If the first class is successful, we will increase the number of students and programs moving forward, said Diana Arzumanyan, CEO & Co-Founder of Orion Armenia. We have invited lecturers from the worlds leading companies and universities to train and prepare highly qualified Machine Learning Engineers. We have lecturers from the University of Arizona, Google, and other international companies, said Narek Aslikyan, CEO & Co-Founder of Armenian Code Academy. The best students from the class will get job offers from Embodied and cognaize startups, both of which have achieved great successes in the global market, and currently are actively recruiting and expanding their Armenian teams. With the knowledge gained at BAJ Unicorn Academy, the graduates will also be competitive in the labor market and will be highly sought after by other companies. About Orion Orion Worldwide Innovations (Orion), is a startup growth and ecosystem acceleration hub and offers a full-service package to make companies investable and enter the US market, enhance their customer acquisition strategies, stay competitive, and protect their innovation.Orion is a U.S.-based company that was formed in 2017, with offices in New York City, U.S., and Yerevan, Armenia.Orion partners with companies and investor networks worldwide. About BAJ Accelerator BAJ Accelerator is a growth stage accelerator and is for startups at the Seed to Series A+ levels. BAJ Accelerator is the first one in the world accelerating the acceleration of technology by offering high-touch relationships for funding and growth, business and legal, investment and academia. Topics span an impressive range including technology, legal, finance, sales, marketing, leadership, storytelling and exponential thinking.BAJ Accelerator brings fast-paced drive with the unique vision of Less Talk, More Deals slogan. About ACA Armenian Code Academy is a leading tech education institution based in Yerevan, Armenia. For the past six years, we have been organizing training programs offering high-quality education to both enthusiasts who want to join computer programming and already practicing programmers who wish to expand their horizons. Xi congratulates Mattarella on re-election as Italian president Xinhua) 09:01, February 07, 2022 BEIJING, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent a message of congratulations to Sergio Mattarella on his re-election as Italian president. Noting that China-Italy relations enjoy deep historical roots, sound public support and a solid bond of interests, Xi said Friday that the two countries have set an example for the international community of mutual respect, seeking common ground while shelving differences, and win-win cooperation. The two countries have actively cooperated to fight COVID-19, jointly celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Italy diplomatic ties, and supported each other in hosting the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and 2026 Milan Winter Olympics, said Xi, adding that the China-Italy Year of Culture and Tourism is about to restart, which will bring many new opportunities for the development of bilateral relations. Xi said he attaches great importance to the development of China-Italy ties and stands ready to work with Mattarella to deepen mutual political trust, expand exchanges and cooperation in various fields and jointly push for new achievements in China-Italy relations to benefit the two countries and their people. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Liang Jun) Former United States President Mike Pence's ex-chief of staff, Marc Short, said on Sunday that the Republican rebuked former United States President Donald Trump during his remarks last week to avoid being seen as "fleeing" the Capitol during the insurrection. The official added that the former vice president made the statements because the Republican businessman's claims that his former second-in-command had the power to overturn the 2020 elections merited a response. During an event on Friday, Pence said that "Trump is wrong" when he claimed the former vice president could have prevented Joe Biden's certification. Fleeing the Capitol During an interview, Short said that he was in disagreement with other Republicans who have labeled the Jan. 6, 2021, siege as "legitimate political discourse." He criticized the Republican National Committee (RNC) for its labeling of the chaotic incident. On Sunday, Short said that as he saw Capitol Hill being stormed by loyal Trump supporters, he never saw legitimate political discourse. However, he noted that during conversations with some members of the RNC, he found that many believed that there were many innocent people who got caught up in the violence, CNN reported. Short added that Pence refused to leave his office after he was evacuated from the Senate floor during the Capitol Hill siege. At the time, he was in the middle of counting Electoral College votes. The Secret Service conducted multiple attempts to have him exit the premises amid the rising threat of violence. Read Also: RNC Calls Jan. 6 Riot 'Legitimate Political Discourse,' Censures Cheney, Kinzinger For Involvement in Select Committee The official said that Secret Service personnel tried to move Pence twice, but the former vice president stood his ground and said he was not going anywhere. Pence said he did not want to let the free world see him "fleeing the Capitol." Business Insider reported that eventually, Pence agreed to move from the suite when Secret Service officials once again persuaded him. They told him that they would not be able to protect him or keep him safe in his current location because the door was made of glass. Voter Fraud On the other hand, Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz said he was disappointed with Pence and his failure to overturn the 2020 elections. During a podcast on Saturday, Gaetz detailed his final meeting in the White House with the former vice president. The official argued that lawmakers supportive of overturning the election gathered substantive arguments that they believed would have been enough to persuade state legislatures to take more aggressive action amid the election. Gaetz said he expected Pence to be unable to show a great deal of boldness before the Congress. Despite claims from various lawmakers, including Gaetz, former president Trump, and other Republicans, there is no evidence showing widespread voter fraud during the 2020 election. It was found that Democrat Biden had won both the Electoral College and the popular vote, ousting Trump from his presidency. Gaetz said that he and other lawmakers put forward arguments, affidavits, and evidence to Pence. He added that they showed the former vice president videos but said that Pence did not budge, prompting disappointment from Gaetz and his colleagues, as per Yahoo News. Related Article: 'Trump Is Wrong,' Argues Former VP Mike Pence Over Authority To Overturn 2020 Election @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian authorities say the criminalization of grave insults was appropriate because there was an abuse of the right of freedom of speech in Armenia Because we all witnessed that there was an abuse of the right of freedom of speech in our country, thats why it was found appropriate to make the legislative changes, the Deputy Minister of Justice Grigor Minasyan told reporters when asked to comment on the latest statement from Freedom House. Regarding the concerns of our partners, we hear all of them, and in the future, if some changes were to be expected, we will all witness it, but we must take into account that there is a problem and that problem shouldve been solved. For now, this is the solution so that such manifestations dont happen in our country, Minasyan said. Shortly after a Yerevan court issued the first guilty verdict for grave insults, Freedom House issued a statement expressing concern. Freedom House notes with great concern the first criminal conviction of an Armenian citizen under the new provision of the Criminal Code criminalizing serious insults against government officials. The enforcement of this legislation, which has resulted in the initiation of over 260 criminal cases in 2022 alone, signifies a clear degradation of democratic norms in Armenia and creates a chilling effect for free expression. We call on the parliament to revoke this law that so brazenly violates the principles enshrined in the Armenian Constitution, the countrys OSCE commitments and the European Convention on Human rights to which it is party, Freedom House said in a statement published on social media. YEREVAN, 7 FEBUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 7 February, USD exchange rate down by 0.37 drams to 481.26 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 2.54 drams to 549.65 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.03 drams to 6.37 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 3.15 drams to 650.37 drams. The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals. Gold price up by 164.35 drams to 27923.88 drams. Silver price up by 1.98 drams to 348.22 drams. Platinum price down by 166.94 drams to 15720.43 drams. YEREVAN, 7 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. Special Representative of NATO Secretary General for the Caucasus and Central Asia Javier Colomnina highlighted the return of Armenian prisoners of war to Armenia, mentioning that NATO supports the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. This is good news. NATO values our partnership both with Armenia and Azerbaijan, supports the normalization of their relations, which will contribute to the stability and prosperity in the region, ARMENPRESS reports Colomnina wrote in his Twitter micro blog. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia reported that 8 Armenian prisoners of war returned to their homeland as a result of the remote meeting that took place on February 4 through mediation of the French President Emmanuel Macron and the President of the European Council Charles Michel. Defence is the one area where the Union government bears full responsibility for spending and delivering results on that spending Public discussion on the Union Budget quite understandably focuses on government spending in a range of areas that directly impact peoples lives like infrastructure, agriculture and rural development, education, health care, social welfare and so on. However, in most of these areas, the responsibility to spend and implement projects is essentially in the hands of the state governments. Defence is the one area where the Union government bears full responsibility for spending and delivering results on that spending. This years Budget papers show that total budgeted spending on defence as a percentage share of total Central government expenditure (CGE) remains unchanged at around 13.30 per cent, compared to 13.80 per cent in 2020-21 and the revised estimate of 13.35 per cent in 2021-22. Much is often made of the declining share of defence spending in gross domestic product (GDP), that is national income. However, the more relevant ratio to consider is the defence budgets share in the total Union government expenditure. I bear part of the responsibility for the continued misplaced focus in public discourse on the proportion of GDP devoted to defence spending. In 1999, the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) had tasked the late Jasjit Singh (then director of the Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses, IDSA) and me (both NSAB members) to write a note on defence spending. We studied the defence budgets of several countries as well the long-term trend in India since Independence and suggested, among other things, that defence spending ought to be roughly 3.0 per cent of GDP. This number was arrived at both on the basis of the requirements of the armed forces as well as our estimate of the Union governments capacity to spend. That number is now oft-quoted. Defence spending did exceed this three per cent level in the years after the 1962, 1965 and 1971 wars and through the 1980s when India undertook major defence modernsation and equipment acquisition. In the decade 2000-10 two things happened that not only kept defence spending below this three per cent mark but also brought it down to two per cent. First, the improved regional security environment, with Indias relations with both China and Pakistan improving during the period 2002-2008, and the doubling of Indias GDP from $1 trillion to $2 trillion within that decade. The latter meant that even with rising expenditure, the defence expenditure to GDP ratio went down. The defence economy has now entered a new era, with the opening up of defence manufacturing to domestic private enterprise. Renewed challenges to national security have made the armed forces leadership and defence analysts pitch for higher allocations than has been on offer. Going forward, two things matter the success of the Make in India programme in defence manufacturing and the modernisation of the Indian armed forces along with the strategic reconfiguration of the role of each of the three defence services the Army, Navy and Air Force. The Union Budget has now increased the share of defence capital expenditure earmarked for sourcing from domestic manufacturers, including the private sector, to 68 per cent of the total defence capital procurement budget. While improving the so-called teeth-to-tail and bang-for-the-buck ratios of the Army and better equipping it for efficient high altitude and counter-insurgency engagement, the focus of the enhanced defence spending in the medium term will have to be on the Air Force and the Navy. This years Budget has kept this in mind, with the Air Force and the Navy securing more funds than the Army. The Coast Guard has also seen a sharp rise in its budget. Delivering the K. Subrahmanyam Memorial Lecture under the auspices of the IDSA last week, the highly regarded strategic analyst Edward Luttwak once again emphasised the importance of the Air Force and the Navy for Indias defence preparedness, while dismissing the Navys demand for more aircraft-carriers. Rather, Luttwak suggests, India should use its own land and island territories and other islands in the Indo-Pacific region as its aircraft-carriers. He underscored the need for new thinking about what capabilities matter and how best to acquire those capabilities. However, a bulk of the defence procurement budget still goes into imported equipment. The progress of Atma Nirbharata in defence manufacture has been slow. For this agenda to move forward quickly, greater coordination is needed between the different wings of the armed forces, defence public sector enterprises, private original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) foreign and Indian and the ministries of defence, industries, finance, science and technology and the state governments. This is not an easy mix to put together. However, such all-in-one coordination is required for India to finally liberate itself from external dependence on defence equipment. India is the only major power of its size and scope with such a limited domestic defence equipment manufacturing capacity. Most countries that have such domestic capacity have been able to use wartime demand and wartime policy environments to create it. India has never lived through a long-duration war, with the last such engagement, though of limited duration, being in 1971. The Kargil war of 1999 created a security environment that helped initiate some policy change but it has taken a long time for many of the recommendations of the K. Subrahmanyam Kargil Review Committee to be implemented. The Make in India programme in defence manufacturing can have positive externalities that also benefit domestic small and medium enterprises which supply components to larger entities. Many such industries have come up around Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Coimbatore. Managing this transition from importing foreign equipment to domestic manufacture has to be handled carefully given that the consumer in this market is a single entity the ministry of defence and the armed forces. The allegations about kickbacks made in the context of imports can come up even with domestic manufacturers and there will always be the concern about crony capitalism. A major challenge that remains for both budgeting government expenditure across the services and funding investment is the absence of a clearly defined threat perception and the role to be assigned to each of the three services as well as to new capabilities in dealing with it. An analysis of budgetary allocations can be meaningful only within such a strategic framework. A report by the activist group denounces violence against those who have returned to the country. Blame laid at door of nations in the area and Europe because they encourage repatriation. Syria and Russia claim the areas under government control are safe. Violations include rape or other forms of sexual violence, arbitrary or illegal detention, torture and ill-treatment. Damascus (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Dozens of Syrian refugees, who decided to return to their country of origin in the last four years, have been victims of forced detention, torture and disappearances in mysterious circumstances in the hands of government security forces. This is what emerges in a report published today by the activists of Amnesty International, according to whom it would be proof that "a return to the homeland" for those who once fled "is still not safe". In a report entitled Youre going to your death," the group compiled what it calls "violations" committed by Damascus intelligence against 66 returning refugees, including 13 children, between mid-2017 and the spring of 2021. This list also includes five cases of detainees who died in police custody and 17 other people whose fate remains shrouded in mystery. The authors also challenge claims by some states that parts of Syria are now safe and allow for the repatriation of refugees. Denmark, Sweden and Turkey are named for having loosened assylum and refugee support, encouraging, in various ways, the return of those who have fled. Criticism is also directed at Lebanon and Jordan, among the nations hosting the largest number of Syrian refugees in relation to their population. In Lebanon and Turkey, refugees suffer discrimination by local governments and live in dramatic conditions. Ankara has deported numerous refugees in the last two years, with increasingly frequent expulsions confirming a hostile climate with respect to a past of welcoming in the name of the common Muslim root promoted by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Syrian government and its main ally, Russia, claim that the country is now safe - at least in the areas controlled by Damascus - and launch repeated calls for the return of refugees, accusing the West of disincentivizing repatriation with "fake news". Amnesty International calls on Europe to stop all practices, direct or indirect, that encourage a return to Syria and asks Beirut, Ankara and Amman to prevent deportations. The report documents serious violations against refugees who have returned from Lebanon, Rukban (an informal refugee camp on the Syrian-Jordanian border), France, Germany, Turkey, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. It is based on interviews collected among dozens of Syrians, including refugees and their families and friends, along with lawyers, humanitarian workers and human rights experts. In some cases, violations include rape or other forms of sexual violence, arbitrary or unlawful detention, torture and ill-treatment. by Dario Salvi Bishop Thomas Meram of Urmia and Patriarchal Administrator of Tehran, tells of a community coming to terms with emigration, economic crisis and Covid. The numbers confirm the difficulties: three weddings, four baptisms and 30 funerals. But even in Iran, the Church uses social media as a means of reaching out to the faithful. And in June, after three years, a group of children will be able to celebrate their first communions. Milan (AsiaNews) - Emigration, the search for work, the Covid-19 pandemic that has emptied churches which now seek to draw the faithful back, while continuing to exploit the means offered by new technologies to offer access to celebrations on social media. Nurturing vocations to ensure a generational turnover and support pastoral work among dioceses with vacant seats and prelates appointed, but who have not yet been able to set foot in the country. There are many elements of difficulty faced by the Catholic community in Iran, as Chaldean bishop of the archieparchy of Urmia and patriarchal administrator of Tehran Msgr. Thomas Meram tells AsiaNews in this interview. However, there are also elements of hope that help to continue the mission such as "the first communion in June for a group of children, after three years in which it was not possible to celebrate the sacrament of the Eucharist." 78-year-old Msgr. Meram says: Iranian Christians are a small number and the situation has not changed in recent years. Emigration is a big problem, many try to go abroad to join family members or acquaintances who have left the country in the past, especially their children". Official estimates report that in Iran there are about 22,000 Catholics (about 500,000 Christians) out of a total of almost 84 million inhabitants, the vast majority of whom are Shiite Muslims (90%, Sunnis are just over 5%). Among the various Churches there are Chaldeans, Armenians and communities of Latin rite, which are add to Europeans and Latin Americans. According to the Iranian Constitution (art. 13) Christians, Zoroastrians and Jews are free to worship "with respect" for the laws inspired by the Muslim faith; furthermore, Christians have the right to have representatives in Parliament (Majlis). The difficulties that pervade Iranian society are also reflected in the Christian community. "Young people do not want to get married - says the prelate - because the costs are too high. And even those few couples who do marry, do not have children. The numbers presented by Msgr. Meram for the archiepachia of Urmia are merciless: in one year there were "three marriages, four baptisms and 30 funerals and here the situation is better than in other parts, such as Tehran, where the cost of living is much higher. We can count on agriculture, here everyone has a house and a small plot of land to cultivate". In this already difficult situation, the Covid-19 pandemic, which broke out two years ago, "has worsened the situation: we have seen people die, the church emptied, the first year was terrible. Only 10 or 15 people attended services when there were so many. Now the situation has improved, the celebrations have resumed and on festive occasions more than 200 faithful arrive, even from nearby villages, to attend mass with some extra precautions. Not coming to church was becoming a habit, so we [the bishop and a priest] went to the houses, to visit the families, to meet them and bring them back to church". The same goes for children and young people for whom "we promote meetings" and with whom we have remained in contact "even online during the hardest phases of the pandemic". In the community "we have about sixty boys and girls, about fifteen young people and 30 university students with whom we organize weekly meetings". The difficulties faced by the Catholic Church are reflected in the numbers: in the country there are only two Assyrian-Chaldean archdioceses, an Armenian diocese and a Latin archdiocese. In most cases there is only one priest. The rise to the presidency in June of the ultra-conservative Ebrahim Raisi, who succeeded the moderate Hassan Rouhani, has fuelled fears of a further squeeze on Christians, especially evangelicals and Protestants seen as enemies of the State. However, in recent years, Catholics have also come under pressure: last June, the authorities did not renew the visa of a nun, 75-year-old Giuseppina Berti, who had spent the last 26 years in a leper colony. The nun was one of two nuns working in Isfahan, the only Catholic presence in the area that today can only count on 77-year-old Sister Fabiola Weiss. In recent years, both missionaries have worked in hospitals treating the sick "without making distinctions between Christians or Muslims," trying to bring comfort to all. The issue of conversions and proselytism remains a "sensitive" topic and conversions from Islam, like the crime of apostasy, are liable to the death penalty. Nevertheless, "relations with the authorities are good" and even with Muslims "there are no particular difficulties". Indeed, emphasizes the bishop of Urmia, they themselves "have followed with great attention the visit of Pope Francis to Iraq last year, which recorded positive judgments and a good following in the national press." The Church and the Catholic community, however, must address two major challenges remain: the flight of young people abroad and the lack of priests - and vocations - to ensure pastoral activity. Young people - explains Msgr. Meram - are worried about the lack of work and economic prospects, an issue that affects all of society but is particularly hard for Christians, a small reality even if looked at with respect. Even individual entrepreneurial initiatives are sporadic and difficult, for many the only prospect is that of emigration, of the adventure abroad in search of a better life, even if, in practice, they are often disappointed". As for the clergy, "we are few in number, but we try to do our best even though vocations are scarce. We have only one young man studying at the seminary in Erbil. We hope in the future - concludes the prelate - in the meantime we use the means at our disposal, including social media [the bishop has a very active Instagram profile, where he publishes masses and celebrations, ed] to be able to reach an increasing number of faithful in Iran and in the diaspora in Australia, Canada, Europe". "ECCLESIA IN ASIA" IS THE NEWSLETTER OF ASIANEWS DEDICATED TO THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES IN ASIA WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE IT EVERY SUNDAY IN YOUR EMAIL? CLICK ON THIS LINK. The former prime ministers son and some of his close advisers were targeted. The list of people spied upon without a court order include journalists, businessmen, and government officials. Israels president and government are outraged at the practice. Its an earthquake, says Israels Interior minister. Jerusalem (AsiaNews) Israeli police used the Pegasus spyware from the NSO Group to track and monitor the smartphones of prominent public figures, this according to Israeli business daily Calcalist. Those targeted include journalists, activists, senior government officials, and close advisers to former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as his son. In the second part of a report published today, the paper claims that the phones of scores of people were hacked a without a court order and this for several years. The people whose phones were hacked were not under investigation nor suspected of any crimes, people like directors general of the Finance, Justice, Communication and Transportation ministries. Other people targeted were businessman Rami Levy; former CEO of Walla Ilan Yeshua, a key witness in the trial against Netanyahu; and Avner, one of the sons of the former Prime Minister, as well two of his advisers, Yonatan Urich and Topaz Luk. The Pegasus spyware gives operators remote access to phones after it is covertly installed. Sold to intelligence agencies and law enforcement agencies around the world, it exploits security vulnerabilities in Android and iPhone operating systems to access device content, such a text messages and photos. Phone cameras and microphones can also be activated without the user knowing. Israels Public Security Minister Omer Bar-Lev has set up a commission of inquiry to look into the affair. Meanwhile, Israeli lawmakers have been outraged by the revelations. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett pledged to shed light on the matter, which risks further polarising an already divided society shaken by scandals, suspicions and deep rifts. Following the publication of the report, Israeli police admitted that certain aspects of the affair were not properly handled with respect to the spyware, especially under Israel Police commissioner Roni Alsheich, a former deputy head of Shin Bet (Israels domestic intelligence service). Police technology department chief Yosef Kahlon has also come under suspicion in connection with the case. The controversy sparked by the Calcalist report has elicited strong reactions among political leaders. At a press conference this morning, President Isaac Herzog called for a thorough investigation". We cannot lose our democracy, he said. We cannot lose our police, and we cannot lose public support in them. For his part, Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked said that if the report is true, it is an earthquake, with actions befitting oppressive regimes from a century ago. by Mathias Hariyadi Archbishop Ada presides over the ordination ceremony in the inland area of Makassar, home to this ethnic group with a Christian majority. The invitation to the new priests: "Draw your spiritual strength from Jesus who calls you to be his messengers". Jakarta (AsiaNews) - On February 2, the same day on which Pope Francis mentioned vocations in Indonesia in his homily for the Day for Consecrated Life, the archdiocese of Makassar celebrated the ordination of seven new priests. The ceremony took place in the province of South Sulawesi, in the land of the Toraja, the ethnic group that has donated the largest number of priests to the local Church. The current Archbishop, Msgr John Liku Ada, and Msgr Petrus Boddeng Timang, Bishop of Banjarmasin in the province of South Kalimantan, also come from this region with a Christian majority in Muslim territory, located in the interior, a ten-hour drive from Makassar. Five of the new priests are from the Toraja ethnic group, while two others come from ethnic Flores families who immigrated to Makassar. Fr Albert Arina Pr, diocesan head of the Commission for Interreligious Dialogue, told AsiaNews: "The ordination was held in the open air in Tanah Toraja. It was a great celebration in which the local population participated with the gestures and customs of their culture. Six of the new priests belong to the diocesan clergy, while another is a religious of the Scheut missionary congregation". Addressing the newly ordained priests, Bishop Ada invited them to "draw their spiritual strength from Jesus, who calls you to be his messengers". The archdiocese of Makassar has over 170,000 faithful in 49 parishes and 548 missionary stations spread over a vast territory in three provinces of the island of Sulawesi. These communities are cared for by 113 diocesan priests and 24 priests from various religious congregations. The land of the Toraja is also increasingly becoming a tourist destination in South Sulawesi, attracting many visitors from the country and abroad because of the local customs and traditions of this ethnic group. by Melani Manel Perera About 120 Buddhist, Hindu, Christian and Muslim leaders gather in Negombo, one of the cities hit during the 2019 Easter Sunday attack to show our unity to society. Colombo (AsiaNews) Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and Muslims came together in Negombo to walk for peace. About 120 religious leaders from different parts of the country took part in an inter-religious meeting held between 18 and 20 January under the auspices of the National Peace Council of Sri Lanka together with the Negombo Regional Inter-Religious Committee. The highlight of the gathering was the visit to the St Sebastian Church in Katuwapitiya, one of the places of worship hit in the Sunday Easter 2019 attacks. For three days, participants were able to exchange views on the interreligious programme in their areas, sharing experiences and new challenges, said M U M Uvise, one of the leaders of the National Peace Council of Sri Lanka (NPC), speaking to AsiaNews. This event is the result of many years of efforts by the National Peace Council to promote understanding and friendship, said Venerable Rathmalkatiye Siridhamma Thero, of Ganegoda Purana Rajamaha Viharaya in Matara. There is a great bond of friendship, understanding, and trust between Muslim clergy, Hindu Kurukkal, Christian clergy, and Buddhist monks associated with the National Peace Council, he explained. Now is the time to bring this spirit to ordinary people as well, he added. Everyone wants to live in brotherhood in a context where others are free to practise their religion. I and our kurukkal are engaged in several activities to promote religious coexistence, said Mahendran Chandrawadini, a Tamil Hindu from the Batticaloa inter-faith committee. Speaking to AsiaNews, she added: It was a great privilege to visit St Sebastian Church of Katuwapitiya where the Easter Sunday (tragedy) happened in 2019. It is very painful to see the places where bombs exploded. I wish the deceased rest in peace and give strength to their families. A lot of people come and take pictures, said Fr Ciswan Croos, the vicar of the Catholic community in Negombo. Such interfaith gatherings are welcomed with joy, he added. In fact, We are told that they would like to see this spirit everywhere in the country. There are a few extremists in every religion, but the majority want peace and coexistence, Fr Croos explained. Thus, As religious leaders we have a great challenge and responsibility. For Imam Maulovi Salmaan, a member of the Negombo interreligious team, We should show our unity to society. We really appreciate the great effort by Card (Malcolm) Ranjith to maintain peace between Christians and Muslims even after the 2019 Easter Sunday (attacks). Nurses and university lecturers abandoned everything to protest against the Burmese junta. As the violence escalated, they took refuge in other cities. Some share their stories with AsiaNews, which supports the communities of internally displaced people through the PIME Foundation's donation campaign. Taunggyi (AsiaNews) - Among the displaced people in Myanmar who have been taken in by Catholic structures, there are often teachers or doctors who, immediately after the Burmese military junta's coup d'etat of February 1, 2021, joined the civil disobedience movement (CDM) and for this reason were persecuted in the initial phase of what would later become an open war. These are people who gave up their jobs in protest and put their careers aside to defend the ideals and democratic progress made by Myanmar over the past 10 years. Now the Tatmadaw (the Burmese army) and ethnic militias are fighting all over the country, even in Mandalay and Sagaing, for example, regions with a Buddhist and Burmese majority where other ethnic groups were left on the sidelines. After the bombing of Loikaw at the end of December, the number of displaced people rose to over 400,000. Some fled to India and Thailand, but most moved within the country, seeking refuge in religious structures. In one of these, a 35- and 36-year-old couple, both nurses, arrived with a six-year-old child. She is of Shan ethnicity, he is a Burmese (Bamar). But the ethnic element in today's war is a fact that has lost its importance compared to the past, when all the minority ethnic groups shielded themselves against the Burmese majority. The new generations, on the contrary, are simply calling for the return of a civilian and democratic government. If the war had not broken out, the two nurses would have risen professionally: she was head of department and in charge of training new recruits; he was the first nurse in Myanmar to be trained in swabbing, when the Covid-19 pandemic had just broken out and the civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi was trying to devise a tracking system, which was never implemented because of the conflict. The decision to leave their jobs was a family choice: they both left the government hospital where they worked to return to her village, where they tried to pursue other careers. Now only people loyal to the generals work in Burmese hospitals, or are forced to return after suffering harassment and intimidation of various kinds. It is estimated that after the coup, 70% of health personnel refused to collaborate with the junta. The same thing happened in the universities, where most of the professors are women and they immediately joined the CoM. After the coup, however, most of them did not take to the streets with the students for fear of reprisals, but stayed at home. When the military found them, they broke down the door, raped them and their daughters and threatened them with torture if they did not return to the university. One woman, a 74-year-old Muslim professor, was forced to return to teach in Yangon. Fatigued and hampered by a limp after following cancer, she reluctantly resumed her job because she could no longer stand up to the generals on her own. Another teacher from Yangon, in her 50s, fled to Taunggyi with her daughter. After arriving in a predominantly male host community, the girl was initially unable to interact and integrate with the rest of the residents. Before she escaped, she had been raped by soldiers and was still stunned. Faced with this situation, the PIME Foundation has decided to open the S145 Emergency Myanmar Fund, to support the initiatives of local Churches, many of which were founded by PIME missionaries before the expulsion of foreign religious in 1966. The aim of the campaign is to provide immediate help to thousands of people by supporting the network of shelters being set up by the dioceses of Taungoo and Taunggyi. Many local religious groups have responded to this emergency and are doing so by showing the most beautiful face of Myanmar: that of a people who, despite the many sufferings that have marked its history, choose the path of solidarity. It is to them that we will send aid, starting with people's basic needs: a roof, food, a school for the youngest children, who have not been attending for two years now - between the pandemic and the war. You can donate to the "S145 - Myanmar Emergency": Online at this link by choosing among the options the project "S145 - Myanmar Emergency". Bank transfer to Fondazione Pime Onlus IBAN: IT 11 W 05216 01630 000000005733 (please send a copy of the bank transfer by email to uam@pimemilano.com indicating name, surname and address, place and date of birth, tax code) Postal account no. 39208202 made out to Fondazione Pime Onlus via Monte Rosa, 81 20149 Milano Cash or cheque to the Pime Centre in Milan, via Monte Rosa 81, from Monday to Friday (9.00-12.30 and 13.30-17.30). After being accused of shouting anti-Muslim remarks while striking a guy until he was unconscious, a New York City police officer is facing hate crime charges. In a statement released on Monday, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said Riggs Kwong, 50, who was off duty at the time of the incident, is charged with assault as a hate crime, threatening as a hate crime, and aggravated harassment. NY police officer punches a motorist Investigators claimed that on Jan. 16, Kwong prevented a 32-year-old man from driving along a road. According to the DA statement, the individual then pursued Kwong and drove in front of his car. The man stepped out of his vehicle to snap a photo of Kwong's license plate while he began videotaping himself yelling anti-Muslim remarks, according to the DA's office. He proceeded to utter racist obscenities, according to the police, and the guy smacked Kwong's vehicle's hood. Prosecutors claimed Kwong then got out of his car and spit in the man's face after that. Kwong hit him numerous times, forcing him to tumble to the ground, according to the statement after the guy spit back at him. Kwong is accused of uttering anti-Muslim insults when the guy stood up and continued to pound him until he went to the ground and lost consciousness. According to the statement, Kwong called 911 and told police he was an off-duty officer who threw the first punch. Surveillance footage shows Kwong punching the man first, according to the prosecution. According to his department record, Kwong has worked with the NYPD for 18 years and was assigned to the 70th precinct. According to Edward Riley, spokesperson for the NYPD, he has been suspended without pay, as per USA Today. Read Also: Louisiana Boy 4, Shoots Himself Dead Using Dad's Gun in the Car While Mom Smokes Weed With Friend New York off-duty police officer shot in the foot While an off-duty New York Police Department officer was shot in the foot in West Harlem Saturday, it was the second time in the last week that an off-duty NYPD officer had been wounded in the foot. During a press conference on Saturday, NYPD Chief of Housing Jeffrey Maddrey said the off-duty officer was shot as he departed a community center at the Manhattanville housing development about 4:30 pm after attending a vigil "for a very valued community member who died away." According to Maddrey, two persons were spotted opening fire and it does not appear that the off-duty police fired his firearm in return. There have been no arrests made. As he supplied descriptions of the individuals to arriving NYPD police, the off-duty cop began to feel pain in his left foot, and it was revealed he'd been shot. According to authorities, he was transferred to a hospital for treatment and is expected to make a full recovery. The incident appears to be linked to a quarrel that occurred about two hours before the shooting in the community center's lobby. According to the reports, the officer was uninvolved in the fight. As New York City suffers with a wave of gun violence, the incident comes just days after another off-duty NYPD officer was shot during an attempted robbery in Queens while driving to work, as per Edition. Crimes in New York continue to rise In many sections of the country, crime, including shootings and killings, is on the rise. Murders have increased in several cities in 2021, including Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and Minneapolis. President Joe Biden visited New York City earlier this week to meet with Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams to discuss how federal and local law enforcement can work together to combat gun crime and invest more in putting more police officers on the beat in the city, which has seen a rise in violent crime. In January, hundreds of uniformed police officers from throughout the country gathered in Manhattan to pay their respects to slain NYPD officers Jason Rivera and Wilbert Mora, who were shot and died while responding to a domestic violence call while responding to a domestic violence incident, Fox News reported. Related Article: NYPD Arrests Man After Setting Fire to US Flag During Joe Biden's Motorcade; Act Appears To Be a Protest Against the President @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. At least 24 million out of a population of 36 million are in critical conditions, while very little aid is arriving. The UN and international agencies are calling for the easing of sanctions. Outbreaks of dysentery, measles, dengue fever, malaria and COVID-19 have been reported. Most women medical staff have fled following the Talibans seizure of power. Kabul (AsiaNews) More than US$ 4 billion are needed to meet the needs of an increasingly poor and hungry Afghan population, hit by an unprecedented health crisis, this according to the humanitarian agencies still present in the country. At least 24 million people out of a total population of 36 million are in critical conditions and in urgent need of aid, which is arriving in a trickle. United Nations officials are ensuring that some humanitarian assistance continues, regardless of the countrys political situation. The Taliban are currently in power. The UN Secretary-General's Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan, Ramiz Alakbarov, has appealed for aid, but also stressed the need to respect human rights and freedoms. In response, the Taliban-controlled Afghan Ministry of Economy said that it has prepared a scheme for the transparent distribution of aid to people in need and that it welcomes the support of the United Nations and international agencies. However, the situation on the ground is becoming increasingly difficult, in particular in health. According to experts, the local health care system is close to collapse due to the lack of resources and greater needs, such as growing hunger and the COVID-19 pandemic. In a long piece, the New York Times reports that hospitals and clinics are barely hanging on amid chronic shortages of funding and a vast surge of malnutrition and disease. According to some estimates, up to 90 per cent of hospitals and clinics could close within the next few months, denying Afghans any hope for medical care. Like other hospitals in the country, Kabuls Indira Gandhi Childrens Hospital has to cope with famished children arriving day and night by car, taxi, ambulance or other means. Acute malnutrition is just the latest in a cascade of maladies crashing on the countrys fragile health system. Antonio Guterres, who last month said that Afghanistan was hanging by a thread, called for the suspension of sanctions that hinder the delivery of humanitarian aid. For 20 years, we kept Afghanistan on a transfusion, said Filipe Ribeiro, country representative for Medecins sans Frontieres in Kabul. Overnight, we removed the drip. Now we have to find a way to put it back. UN estimates state that three quarters of the Afghan population live in acute poverty with 4.7 million people at risk of severe malnutrition this year. More than US$ billion are required to meet immediate needs. For Save the Children, a UK-based child advocacy group, the number of critically malnourished children visiting its clinics in the country has doubled since the Taliban took over in August. In December alone, at least 40 children died on their way to hospital. The World Health Organisation reports major outbreaks of dysentery, measles, dengue fever, malaria and COVID-19, which threaten to overwhelm already crowded hospitals. When I try to talk to people about COVID-19, they say we have no food, no water, no electricity why should we care about this virus? said Dr Tariq Ahmad Akbari, medical director of the Indira Gandhi Childrens Hospital. Seven of the hospitals eight female doctors fled after the Taliban takeover in August, part of a hollowing out that reduced the staff from 350 to 190 the past five months. Four of the five microbiologists quit. And only five of the countrys 34 COVID-19 centres are still operating. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Mr. Phillip Nathaniel Ware aged 62, passed away on Wednesday April 6, 2022 in Dallas, Texas . He was born to Mr. Frederick Brink Ware and Ms. Irene Duffner on Sunday, November 15, 1959 in Kansas City, Kansas. Phillip N. Ware will leave his loved ones with unforgettable memories and loving st Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her platinum jubilee and kicks off her celebrations for 70 years on the throne with a new portrait and inviting local community groups to Sandringham residence. The British royal's platinum jubilee will be a first for a monarch of the country and is a commemoration of the 95-year-old's reign. She first became the queen of Britain and more than a dozen other regions, including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand after the death of her father King George VI on Feb. 6, 1952. Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee Buckingham Palace officials said that the queen's guests at her Sandringham residence in the east of England included Angela Wood, a cookery student in 1953 who helped to create Coronation Chicken. The dish is a curry and mayonnaise-based dish that was invented to celebrate the queen's reign and is still a popular meal in modern society. Additionally, the British royal cut a celebratory cake that a local resident baked and she also heard a rendition of "Congratulations" played by a concert band. Despite seeing few public appearances since her hospital stay in October, Elizabeth has continued to carry out her official duties well into her 90s, as per Inquirer. The archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said that Elizabeth took her duties seriously but was much more relaxed when it came to herself. On the other hand, Prime Minister Boris Johnson praised the queen for her "inspirational" sense of duty and her continued dedication to serving the nation. Read Also: Queen Elizabeth's Secret: How the Monarch Handles Challenges With Grace Despite Her 'Stoic' Nature Johnson's remarks, despite himself facing criticisms and scandals, are a testament to Queen Elizabeth's longevity and immutability. The royal has become an unmatched anchor of stability despite the region struggling from the effects of Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic. The New York Times reported that time has not been on Elizabeth's side, as she will be celebrating her platinum jubilee in the absence of her husband, Prince Philip, who died in April. In recent months, the royal's health has continued to deteriorate. The situation has forced her to cancel several public appearances, including an event that was made to be a remembrance service for the war dead in November. 70-Year Reign Buckingham Palace also released a new portrait of the 95-year-old monarch as part of the celebrations of the queen's seven-decade-long reign. Photographer Chris Jackson took the photograph of the royal in the Saloon at Sandringham House earlier this week. The image shows Elizabeth alongside one of her iconic red despatch boxes. The box contains documents from the government that the royal will work on reviewing as part of her official duties. Angela Kelly designed the lime green tweed shift that Elizabeth is seen wearing in the photograph. The queen was also wearing two diamond ivy leaf clips that the Queen Mother gifted for her birthday. Jackson posted on Instagram where he congratulated the monarch for reigning for 70 years, calling it an incredible achievement. He said that it was a huge honor for him to take the queen's photograph for the commemoration of her platinum jubilee, Yahoo Life reported. Related Article: British PM Boris Johnson Accused of Bullying, Blackmailing Government Officials Amid 'Partygate' Scandal @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The model year 1971 made no exception. The base unit was a 250 (4.0-liter) six-cylinder developing 145 horsepower, while the standard V8 came in the form of a 307 (5.0-liter) rated at 200 horsepower.The famous 350 (5.7-liter) was available in two different configurations: the L65 with 245 horsepower and the L48 with 270 horsepower. Customers, however, could also equip the Chevelle with more powerful LS engines, including the LS3 (402/6.5-liter with 300 horsepower) and the LS5 (454/7.4-liter with 365 horsepower).The Chevelle that we have here has obviously seen better days, but on the other hand, it comes with a matching-numbers 350 under the hood. Unfortunately, eBay seller michaedudas_0 said nothing about the current health of the engine, so we dont know if its running or not.The overall condition of this Chevelle is challenging, to say the least. The car has most likely been sleeping under the clear sky, and more often than not, this translates to an overwhelming amount of rust.The photos confirm the rust has obviously become a huge concern on this Chevelle, and its hard to tell by just looking at the pics just how much metalwork is currently required. On the other hand, the floors have already been removed to install new ones, the seller says.Without a doubt, fixing this Chevelle isnt the kind of job aimed at the Average Joe, and one big shortcoming is the car doesnt come cheap. The seller expects to get around $6,500 for it, despite the rough condition.You can see the vehicle in person and better determine its condition by just heading over to East Falmouth, Massachusetts, where its currently parked until it finds a new owner. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration AWD Last year, Toyota received a handful of reports from the Japanese market alleging dim or deactivated rear turn signals. The companys thorough investigation revealed conductive materials being deposited on the LED socket circuit boards in the rear turn signal lamps. Toyota subsequently discovered that a large temperature difference (e.g., 11 degrees Celsius) between the ambient temperature and heat sink may create condensation.After a handful of cycles, the condensation may redeposit conductive materials in the manner observed by Toyota in the JDM-spec Venza. The presence of these conditions may lead to a temporary dimming or deactivating of the rear turn signals. In other words, the hybrid-only crossover fails to comply with the NHTSA s Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 for lamps, reflective devices, and all associated equipment.Toyota also told thesomething a little worrying in regard to U.S. models. It was possible that vehicles may have experienced a dim/deactivated turn signal condition prior to sale, which is a huge faux pas for any customer in the market for a Venza . Alas, the Japanese automaker will have to replace the LED bulbs for the rear turn signals with improved bulbs. The offending parts were produced by Japanese electric lights colossus Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.Customers will be notified of the recall between March 19th and March 26th according to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Also worthy of note, dealers were told to replace the rear turn signal lamp assemblies if necessary to fit with the improved bulbs.Slotted right above the RAV4 and just below the Highlander, the Venza is currently available from $32,890 before taxes. All trim levels feature a 2.5-liter hybrid powertrain with 219 ponies on tap, an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission, plus electronic on-demand Alec Baldwin is back to filming a new movie after the tragic accident on the set of his western movie, Rust. The actor is now in the UK to film the thriller 97 Minutes. According to reports, the new movie is about a hijacked plane, and he is filming the plane sequence in the UK, although the location and details are kept under wraps.After Baldwin arrived in Hampshire, he hopped on social media on February 5, and, during a video of around two minutes, he revealed that the car his chauffeur was driving was stolen right after he passed security at Heathrow Airport, London."I'm going to go ahead and record this because I think it's funny," he started. "I get to the airport, and I get through immigration, and they get my bags and I'm heading to the car that's going to drive me to where I'm going.He meets up with the driver who says (in Baldwin's best British accent) that he is going to the car park to retrieve the car and then return for him.Baldwin sat waiting for around 20 minutes, when he finally called the car company and was stunned when the owner revealed the car had been stolen from the car park. The driver finally returned to him and told him he couldnt find the car, although he knew exactly where he parked it.Laughing at the end of the clip, Baldwin added, which he also wrote as a caption: "Anyway, I hope you found your car."Luckily, the car stolen did not belong to Baldwin and he didn't mention the model. The actor didnt explain how he managed to get to his hotel later, but he seems the glass-half-full type, finding humor in the whole situation. Instead, the explorers of Endurance22 will use SAAB Sabertooth underwater search vehicles to help find the wreck. The main goal of the expedition is to find the missing ship in the first place. The second goal is to serve what is left of Sir Shackleton's ship, as well as film it for posterity and research purposes.Those interested in watching the expedition up close can go to the Endurance22 website , where the course of the SA Agulhas II can be tracked. From the mentioned ship, the team of explorers will deploy the SAAB Sabertooth autonomous underwater vehicles. The devices can be operated from a ship or ice floes. All Sabertooths used in the expedition will have a fiber optic cable tethered to them to send signals to the surface in real-time.On February 5, 2022, the SA Agulhas II and its crew departed South Africa for a minimum of 35 days at sea. They might stay for up to 45 days, if required, it will all depend on what they find, as well as on the conditions encountered.The Antarctic expedition we are referring to is organized by The Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust. The organization wants to bring the story of Sir Shackleton, his ship, and the members of the team to new and younger audiences, before it is lost in time. Twenty-one years ago, in 2001, a documentary film of the expedition was released.Sir Ernest Shackleton and his crew of 28 began an incredible journey of survival back in 1915 after the Endurance, a three-masted schooner, sank. Several books were written about the legendary expedition to the Antarctic . The ship found its end in the Weddell Sea, which is near the South Pole. EV kWh GM has already positioned as anbrand years ago when it launched the Bolt. That didnt go exactly right, but the Detroit carmaker is ready to improve with great electric models like the Silverado EV and the Cadillac Lyriq . This is all possible thanks to the Ultium EV platform that GM is baking, which will eventually mean better and more affordable electric vehicles for everyone.Taken from GMs letter to shareholders , the Detroit carmaker plans to reopen the order book for the Cadillac Lyriq soon. This should happen immediately following the launch of the Lyriq Debut Edition in March.Customer interest in the Lyriq is now so strong that we will forgo a new round of reservations and begin taking customer orders soon after the Debut Edition launches in March, writes GMs CEO Mary Barra in the letter.The first order round in September 2021 took only 10 minutes to fill up . There is no official word on the number of vehicles offered, but sources claim that 1,500 units were up for grabs with only a $100 reservation fee. Despite that, customers will still be able to order the Debut Edition Cadillac Lyriq when the order book will reopen. This is a little strange but who are we to judge.Unlike other carmakers that jumped into the EV bandwagon, Cadillac did not want to start the Lyriq production with the most expensive configurations. In fact, the Debut Edition only sports rear-wheel-drive with 340 horsepower and 325 pound-feet (440 Nm) of torque for its only electric motor. The battery has 100.4-and promises more than 300 miles (483-plus kilometers) of driving range. SUV It has not been long since General Motors introduced us to GMCs Acadia crossover. Now in its second generation, it shares the mid-size CUV life with group siblings like Buicks Enclave, Cadillacs XT5 and XT6, or Chevys Blazer and Traverse models.Since it is overly crowded in GMs own mid-size SUV platform stable, it should be no wonder that pixel masters have not given it a lot of attention. Sure, there was an occasional morphing as a reborn Typhoon . By way of calmly dropping a pair of doors and gaining a 500-hp twin-turbo engine. But not much else has been going on with Acadias across the virtual realm.Until now, the virtual artist better known as c_zr1 on social media gives us new CGI food for thought . In the form of a high-performance second-generation GMC Acadia. The CGI expert based the digital project on a GMC Acadia AT4 to get a beefy starting point. Then, the line of thought became quite easy to follow, as well as enticing.The main idea was to create a high-performance Acadia. That way, GMCs creation would compete with Fords Explorer ST or Dodges Durango SRT. But of course, it would need something beefier than whats offered stock a 2.0-liter turbo, the retired 2.5-liter inline-four, or the 3.6-liter LGX V6 mill. Naturally, the author also had a cool idea for a potential powertrain.That is when things get to a Cadillac level of interest . This is because the digital Acadia GT project would swap the 3.6-liter twin-turbo V8 motor from under the hood of Caddys CT4-V Blackwing to properly 472-horsepower compete with its intended rivals. Sure, a CT5-V Blackwing supercharged V8 would have been even more CGI glorious... And the location sharing feature, for example, has been acting up recently, proving that some features could just break down for no clear reason without users doing anything.More specifically, users who attempted to share their location for more than 24 hours in Google Maps ended up unable to do so, most often because the Until you turn this off setting was no longer there.Oddly enough, this problem is only affecting certain users, and its not exactly clear whats causing the whole thing in the first place.Google, however, has recently acknowledged the problems, explaining that its aware of all the reports and is now investigating to see precisely whats causing this weird behavior.In the meantime, the company says, users can turn to a workaround that could help bring back the feature in Google Maps.First and foremost, they need to verify their age using this page, as for some reason, this information is no longer available for some Google accounts. In other words, even if youve verified your age before, you need to do it again, as the info has been reset.Google says the location sharing recipient must also use a Gmail account when trying to use the Until you turn this off setting.If the age verification trick didnt make any difference, theres something else you could try. Google tells users to go to the location sharing settings, select the Until you turn this off entry, scroll to the right on the people suggestions, tap the more option, and select a recipient that has a Gmail account.Once you do this, the location sharing should be working properly, with the data to continue to be available for your contact until you manually disable it. After saying goodbye to permanent activity as the Grand Tour hosts, the trio got to work on other individual ideas and hidden passions. Not being able to focus on what they had wanted for a long time prompted the guys to start some rather interesting activities. Clarkson became a surprisingly successful farmer, while Hammond put his expertise to work at the Smallest Cog. May, being the friendliest, visits them regularly and now we even have video proof of the encounter with Hammond`s workshop.Captain Slow starts his visit by admiring the company logo, which, admittedly, is a bit of a faff. May points out that Richard Hammond worked on that visual representation for hours and keeps a straight face while at it. He finds something covered up and tries to guess what it is but moves on to something else by pointing out his colleague`s stinginess. May finds a space heater that is turned off and just sits there taking valuable space.He's then met with a Morris Eight that brought up some memories about his father. The only worker at the shop helped him correctly identify the vehicle. May continues his friendly inspection by looking at some tools and says a lot of the things there are very expensive. Having an eye set on discovering interesting stuff, he finds out the paint booth that, of course, has had the heated ventilation turned off. He then analyses the paints available while being honestly impressed by the variety of colors.Confident in Hammonds ability to run a business, May says that at any point this entire place could end up being sold for up to 30% of what has been paid initially. This could happen, in his opinion, just because there are so many things his colleague doesn`t know how and when to use. James May says he isn`t trying to diss Hammonds efforts but ends up asking rhetorically if hes looking at a well-funded hobby or a business. That Kawasaki ZX-6R should have had no business going up against a more powerful opponent such as the CBR1000RR. The Honda, by the way, appears to be a mid-2010s model (definitely pre-2017 redesign), possibly 2015-2016, so we know it had to be putting down roughly 175 hp or so. Its hard to be very specific here when all we can do is ballpark it.Meanwhile, the Ninja , as a 636cc bike, isnt quite as powerful as its opponent here. It does appear to be a newer model year unit unfortunately, it also boasts visual modifications, making it harder for us to make a proper identification. Still, we know its otherwise stock, which means it could have been putting down nearly 130 hp.So then, all things being equal (pun intended, because obviously, they arent), the Kawasaki shouldnt stand a chance against the Honda, as far as this particular straight-line battle is concerned. But theres also another issue, and it has to do with the two riders.Even though we know one of these bikes is quicker than the other, they are still, both of them, genuine 10-second bikes over the quarter mile. Seeing that CBR1000RR cross the line in 11.26 seconds was quite disappointing. Same with the Ninja. Its best time was a lowly 11.84 seconds, roughly a full second of its factory standard pace.In fact, both bikes should have been quicker by about a full second, which points to their riders not doing as good a job as they should have with regards to nailing the launch. Heres a fun fact a single raindrop can create a load equal to the weight of an elephant, if its hit at Mach 8. Now, imagine multiple of these elephants weighing down a hypersonic vehicle. As Michael Kinzel, assistant professor at the University of Central Florida Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering explains, this is what happens when a vehicle flying at such high speeds goes through apparently harmless rain.Kinzel is a co-investigator in a new $1 million project thats funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research and led by Boston University. Kinzel and Subith Vasu, a professor at the same UFC department, will work together with the Boston University team. It might seem mind-blowing that this amount of money and three years will be dedicated to studying the impact of raindrops on hypersonic aircraft and rockets. But it turns out that these little guys could be as harmful as conventional enemies.Because of the hypersonic speeds (Mach 5 and higher), colliding with raindrops can actually cause serious damage to the aircraft. The project team will study how raindrops are affected when passing through what is called a hypersonic shock wave, and in turn, this data will be used to improve the design of hypersonic vehicles and to predict when they should fly.Basically, the researchers want to determine the safest ways that hypersonic travel can be conducted through rain, as well as the best way to design these vehicles, for structural integrity. This will improve the accuracy of hypersonic rockets launched through rain or heavy storms, according to Kinzel, but the applications will be much wider, including space exploration.This research is of utmost importance, since USAF is involved in several hypersonic projects. Recently, it started testing hypersonic flights for cargo delivery, using the massive Roc carrier aircraft that can deploy multiple hypersonic Talon-A vehicles at once. Gargano mafia clan is a fearsome gang that carried out ruthless acts to terrorize their enemies and locals to hold the area they controlled. These Idyllic villages of Foggia and Apulia hid a secret where Italian mobsters were busy shooting faces off their enemies with a sawn-off shotgun as the signature. Originating from the blood-thirsty Neapolitan La Nuova Camorra gang, these cruel mobsters would cause the worst violence seen in Italy. The Gargano Clan This gang is only one of four groups vying for dominance in Foggia and Apulia, a silent farming province, where what they call the Ritual of Dealt by blasting a shotgun at close range. In Foggia, which was the center of narcotics trade worth a billion years, the port of Gargano is the gateway where it reaches Western Europe, reported the Sun UK. According to an Italian Prosecutor, Giuseppe Gatti, who lead to putting them in bars. He remarked the extreme cruelty is to show hate; that makes their killings spread and command fear. Mr. Gatti said they are not satisfied with only eliminating the adversaries in the flesh. Going way beyond killing, they erase the face and make the loved ones forget and faceless. Mangling and practically removing a person's face removes a memory; no front left, and their loved ones grieve more, causing more pain to the living and savage act. Those left are anguished beyond imagination as no face can be seen in their victims, which is the specialty of the Gargano mafia clan. Read Also: LA Most Notorius Gang 'MS-13' With Over 10,000 Members Commit Horrific Crimes, Beheading Victims Including Women and Children Anti-Mafia Libera Libera, an anti-mafia organization and local chapter led by Federica Bianchi, said the mafia clan is one of the most terrible. Even terrifying the locals where they rule by forcibly accepting l'Omerta or keeping shut whatever happens. The organization is vilified and gets harassed by locals who fear the gangsters; prefer to see Libera gone from the town. None of the locals want to admit the mafia scares them; most wanted the organization to disappear, is quite clear. Many even angrily told them that Foggia is getting blemished by Libera scares the potential tourists and prospective businesses. The town told them to keep quiet, and it would be better. Apulian Mafias The Gargano mafia with groups in Foggia which is partly controlled by Rocco "The Pig" Moretti, Rocco "The Pig" Moretti, Vito Bruno "The Hare" Lanza, are notorious mobsters, cited Love by Life. They are the leaders of a deadly triumvirate of gangsters illegally taking money to protect countless businesses; they were organized by 'The Prince' Raffaele Cutolo. An anti-Mafia campaigner was killed, and the philanthropist Giovanni Panunzio got shot dead by the gangsters. Mr. Moretti made a pact with the Foggian Society by uniting the gangs. Lanza was in jail for bribing witnesses and got 14 years in prison. Per The Times, these criminals have slain 300 people in forty years, with numerous crimes from murders to robberies from 2017 to 2018. In the port alone with 80 percent of murders were cold cases, with a total of 360 slain by the mafia from the 1970s. The caves of Gargano were found with their 'Lupara Biance victims in 2011, said the prosecutor. The Gargano mafia clan is one of the most fearsome gangs with exceeding violence to sow fear in the locals, not to get a shotgun in the face. Related Article: Yakuza Crime Lords: Mafia Boss With Severed Pinkies Orders Series of Crime After Unsuccessful Penile Implant @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Folks, a recent story posted on Airstream's blog sheds light on a vintage travel trailer from back in 1948, an Airstream Wee Wind dubbed Ruby . Best of all, it's so dang well preserved that it's now sitting in Airstream's Heritage Center Museum in Jackson Center, Ohio.This story started back in 2002, actually, back in 1948, but you know what I mean. Historian Fred Coldwell found Ruby out in Las Vegas following an e-mail tip that he received in March that year.Upon replying to the e-mail and making an offer on this trailer, Ruby's caretakers weren't sure what to do with it. Coldwell's offer was accepted six months later, and he went out to Vegas to see what time had done to this habitat Well, upon arriving in Vegas, Coldwell realized that this beauty had been treated very well, finding that the fabrics, labels, wood, and aluminum were in excellent shape after over 54 years. It even had the original butane tank, stamped with Ruby's build date, January 8, 1948. If that's not enough, the trailer's serial number, "3003," meant that this was the third Wee Wind ever built.As you would expect of Airstream habitats, Ruby too was built using an aluminum exterior, swing-open door, and was considered "lightweight" and "practical," for its time, of course.According to the story published by Airstream, Wee Wind trailers were built with a pole that ran down the center from front to back. From here, "I" beams spread out to create support for the bodywork. Overall, with furnishings included, owners were buying a vehicle that weighed 1,200 lbs (544 kg). Apparently, that was weight considered "marginal" for those days.Since Ruby is in such pristine shape, we can use it to show the world precisely what the interior looked like and what your grandparents could have owned.Overall, folks were receiving a 3 ft (0.9 m) wide single bed on one side and a 4 ft (1.22 m) wide double bed on the other side, each with plywood as a frame and access to storage underneath.Features like a radio antenna, a three-burner stove operated on butane, and a riveted sink with cold running water with exterior water hookup, are just a few of the things owners could find. It seems like plenty of interior storage may have started with Wee Wind because this thing is full of options.For things like lighting, 120 V AC light mounts were added, but during off-grid excursions, the inside was lit with a "liquid fuel lantern" situated in overhead storage.As for Ruby's story, this beauty was originally purchased by Harry and Ruby Mann, two souls that lived in Los Angeles. As you may have noticed, this gem is named after Ruby Mann, one of the first owners.Later on, in 1955, the two moved to Las Vegas, where Ruby spent the last of its days not being used very much. Another benefit of Las Vegas is the weather. Due to its positioning in a desert, there is barely any moisture to eat away at the materials used to build a travel trailer.After Coldwell acquired Ruby, it was kept in a flatbed trailer in Denver, Colorado, before being handed over to Airstream's Museum. If you were curious to see just what 74 years can do, or rather, can't do, to an Airstream trailer, Ruby could be taken as a clear example Sure, it may not have been used much, but I'm sure you can figure out how to take care of your own habitat to ensure it stands the test of time. Then again, they just don't make 'em like they used to. Throughout the marques history, the hood ornament has seen several iterations and modifications, its true, but none as significant as this one, Rolls-Royce says in a statement. Marking the 111th year since the Spirit of Ecstasy was officially registered as intellectual property of Rolls-Royce, the company has given a figurine a redesign that will make her the most aerodynamic yet and, as such, a perfect fit for the most aerodynamic Rolls-Royce to come, the all-electric Spectre.To the untrained eye, the redesigned Flying Lady could look the same. To the Rolls-Royce connaisseur, her stance is different: its lower and more aerodynamic, with the robes flying behind her in a slipstream given a more realistic look. The figurine is now braced for speed, with one leg in front of the other and bent lower at the waist, which translates into a shorter silhouette, and her eyes focused eagerly ahead.Rolls-Royce say that the changes bring the Spirit of Ecstasy closer to how original creator, illustrator and sculptor Charles Sykes imagined her. They also turn her into a perfect match for the upcoming, all-electric, aerodynamic Spectre, with a drag coefficient of just 0.26 in early prototypes, according to wind tunnel tests.The Spirit of Ecstasy is the most famous and desirable automotive mascot in the world, Torsten Muller-Otvos, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, says in a statement. Like our brand, she has always moved with the times while staying true to her nature and character. In her new form she is more streamlined and graceful than ever before the perfect emblem for the most aerodynamic Rolls-Royce ever created, and for gracing the prow of our bold electric future.The redesign of the Spirit of Ecstasy represents the culmination of 830 combined hours of design and testing. The new figurine will appear on the 2023 Spectre and all future models, while the Phantom, Ghost, Wraith, Dawn, and Cullinan will continue to use the current model. And I'm not talking about the first-generation Bel Air that was offered before the incredibly popular Tri-Five series arrived in 1955. I'm thinking about nameplates like the Fleetmaster (including its Fleetline series), the Deluxe, and the Master.The latter is the oldest of the three, having been introduced in 1933 as a replacement for the Eagle. The Master soldiered on until 1942 with yearly changes. It was Chevy's most expensive model at the time.The Fleetmaster was a short-lived nameplate that Chevrolet offered from 1946 to 1948. It was also a top trim level in the range and revived the Feetline name as a sub-series after four-year hiatus. While the Fleetmaster was phased out in 1984, the Fleetline remained in production until 1952. It was quite popular too with more than 400,000 units delivered per year in 1949 and 1950.Then there's the Chevrolet Deluxe , not only the most beautiful but also the most popular of the three. It shared design cues with the Fleetmaster until 1948 but got a new exterior in 1949 when Chevrolet rolled out its first post-WW2 designs.Chevy's best-selling car until 1952 due to its appealing balance of style and luxury appointments, the late-model Deluxe was essentially a predecessor to the first-generation Bel Air.So why am I talking about these really old Chevrolets? Well, I recently stumbled across video footage of a massive hoard of Chevys from the 1930s to the 1950s, which reminded me of all these cool models that we rarely remember.Unlike most of us, who usually worship Impalas and Bel Airs, some guy in Nebraska was nuts about Fleetmasters and Deluxes and bought quite a few of them over the years. This video documents only a small part of his stash, so we could be talking about more than 100 vehicles.Unfortunately, most of them are in bad shape and won't get a second chance at life. But a few of them have survived the test of time rather well, especially considering they spent decades out in the open.Located in central Nebraska, or in "the middle of nowhere" as described by YouTube's "Mr. Goodpliers," this farm was being cleaned up when the video was released. In short, all of the cars you're about to see below were already sold and in the process of being hauled away.That's both good and bad news here. The good news is that some of these cars may get restored . On the other hand, most of them will probably end up dismantled for parts or crushed.We'll never know for sure, but what you're about to see is probably the biggest collection of 1930s to 1950s Chevrolets outside a museum. Hit the play button below to check it out. Visitors look at Hyundai Motor's Ioniq 5 Robotaxi electric car during a press preview of the Seoul Mobility Show at KINTEX exhibition hall in Goyang on November 25, 2021. (Photo : JUNG YEON-JE/AFP via Getty Images) In a somewhat surprising move, Hyundai plans to return to the Japanese car market in 2022. The South Korean manufacturer arrived at that decision 13 years after it left Japan due to poor sales in the country. Hyundai's chief executive officer Jaehoon Chang told Bloomberg in an interview that the company is now well prepared to not repeat its previous mistakes in Japan that resulted in the car brand having abysmal sales performances there. According to the Bloomberg report, Hyundai's strategy moving forward in Japan is to sell only all-electric cars, starting with the brand's popular Ioniq 5 model. Hyundai will take a more direct approach with their Japanese customers, selling its cars only online. More details will be unveiled regarding Hyundai's plan in Japan once it makes an official announcement later this month. Hyundai expects EV sales to surge in Japan So what made Hyundai decide to try its luck in Japan again? According to Chang, it is the surge in the popularity of electric vehicles. Chang said, "We've experienced huge growth on the EV side in Korea, and we're expecting the same thing will happen even faster in Japan." The Bloomberg report indicated that Hyundai's EV sales goal in Japan would be higher than the 15,000 gasoline-engine cars the South Korean firm sold during its prior foray in the country. However, Hyundai will have its work cut out to achieve that target as Japan has not become a major all-electric car market thus far. Around 4.5 million vehicles were sold in Japan last year, and BEVs only accounted for a share below 1 percent. There is room for growth, though, and Hyundai's arrival will expand the options for Japanese buyers, who are willing to go the electric route in their car choices. The new BEV models arriving this year in Japan are the Nissan Ariya and the all-new Toyota bZ4X, and Subaru Solterra. Tesla also remains a major force when it comes to its all-electric lineup. Related Article: Computer Chip Shortage Strikes Chevrolet Again as Automaker Drops Rear Park Assist in 2022 Corvette Hyundai looking for Ioniq 5 to be a hit in Japan Hyundai hopes the Ioniq 5 will be a hit among Japanese consumers. Hyundai first launched that model in South Korea and Europe (ramp-up) and most recently in Canada and the United States. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 has won several awards, including the German Car of the Year award, a UK company car award, and Popular Science award. The Ioniq 5 was also recently named the Best Car of the Year by Automotive Daily. Hyundai plans to release two more electric vehicles after the Ioniq 5 based on the E-GMP platform, namely the Hyundai Ioniq 6 sedan and Hyundai Ioniq 7 large SUV. The latest Genesis and Kia electric cars have also utilized the E-GMP platform. READ MORE ON AWN: Kia Starts Production of 2023 Sportage in Georgia: Find Out Its Price, Specs, Interior, and Release Date 'Phantom Braking' Complaints Increase Among Tesla Drivers; 107 Owner Reports Filed in Last 3 Months A VW logo is seen at the assembly line for the Volkswagen (VW) ID 3 electric car of German carmaker Volkswagen, at the 'Glassy Manufactory' (Glaeserne Manufaktur) production site in Dresden, eastern Germany on June 8, 2021. (Photo : JENS SCHLUETER/AFP via Getty Images) Supply chain issues will continue to affect the global auto industry, with computer chip shortages expected to linger this year, according to major automaker Volkswagen. Murat Aksel, Volkswagen's board member and head of procurement, told German car magazine Automobilwoche in an interview that the volatile situation in the semiconductor sector will affect them at least beyond the first half of this year, and they must continue to fight for every part. Aksel added that supply chain issues related to computer chips might slightly ease in the second half of 2022, but the increasing levels of demand and structural problems will make predictions inaccurate until next year. Aksel's comments come amid reports that Volkswagen was forced to slash its production forecasts for this year. That also happened last year when Volkswagen cut down its predictions for 2021 from 9.3 to just 9 million vehicles produced. A spokesperson of Volkswagen's subsidiary Audi saw this particular problem back in mid-December, telling Reuters in an interview that they expect to be occupied with this crisis for months on end in the coming year, and the scarcity of semiconductors could extend for even longer. Supply chain issues a major headache for automakers The ongoing supply chain issues have struck the global auto industry hard, particularly during the second half of last year. According to GlobalData, only 79.9 million light vehicles were produced globally in 2021, way below the global demand of 83.9 million units. Car production in the United Kingdom last year was at its lowest level since 1956, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Only 860,000 vehicles were produced in the UK last year, a massive 6.7 percent drop compared to its production numbers in 2020. With the semiconductor crisis still affecting its car production, Volkswagen has decided to cut nearly all-night shifts at its main plant in Germany. Three assembly lines in Wolfsburg will be affected by this policy which will start in the second quarter of 2022. Related Article: Supply Chain Woes Persist for Honda and Nissan as Automakers Cut Production for February 2022 Workers demand partial compensation after Volkswagen decision Volkswagen's decision has drawn the ire from its labor head Daniela Cavallo, who said that a compromise on compensation needs to be found between the company and the workers. She said, "Our colleagues aren't responsible for the fact that order books are overflowing while we can't make the vehicles because of the lack of semiconductors." Cavallo added that they would fight for partial compensation. Volkswagen made it clear that a fourth assembly line, which handles its Tiguan and its hybrid models, the Seat Tarraco and Touran, will continue to run early, late, and night shifts. Volkswagen said that the decision to cut the night shift was made in response to repeated short-notice cancelations and the need to furlough its workers. Gunnar Kilian, Volkswagen's board member in charge of personnel, said that this step would also involve workforce cuts and the loss of hardship allowances for those working the night shift. READ MORE ON AWN: Ram Recalls Over 170,000 Trucks Due To Defective Wipers; Loose Wiper Arm Nuts the Main Issue Ford to Spend Another $20 Billion for EV Program as Carmaker Plans Major Reorganization in Company The 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 performance vehicle on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show in Los Angeles, California on November 17, 2021. (Photo : FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) Barrett-Jackson's Scottsdale Auction made history this year, raking in a total sales of $203.2 million. Barrett-Jackson managed to reach that record-breaking amount thanks largely to its exclusive offerings, including the iconic Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing and the very first production unit of the Chevrolet Corvette Z06. A grand total of 1,857 vehicles were featured in this year's Scottsdale Auction, and they were in high demand. The cars that went up for auction recorded an accumulative sales total of $195.9 million. Historic and special automotive memorabilia and collectors' items brought in the remaining $7.3 million, making the 2022 Scottsdale auction the most successful event in Barrett-Jackson's five-decade history. Barrett-Jackson also confirmed that the Scottsdale event achieved a 100% sell-through rate, including over 140 record-breaking auctions. Barrett-Jackson Chairman and CEO Craig Jackson was delighted with his organization's masterful showing, saying, "Our Scottsdale Auction set an unprecedented pace with record-setting prices and produced the energy that reengaged our hobby." Scottsdale event nets several world auction records Jackson added that the immersive experience they create is truly the heart and soul of the collector car community. Jackson noted that they saw incredible growth at every turn, even beating their own world auction records by double-digit percentages over the past week. However, what made Jackson proud was that the organization's Scottsdale auction turned into the new "Autoshow 2.0." According to Jackson, the Scottsdale event has now become a place for "manufacturers to introduce, exhibit, and give high-performance thrill rides, as well as auction their vehicles, giving guests a 360-degree experience." Related Article: Bad Start for Ford as US Sales Go Flat in January 2022; Electrified Vehicles Buck Trend as Sales Grow 2004 Porsche Carrera GT and Mercedes-Benz SL300 Gullwing top sales The biggest non-charitable seller in this event was a 2004 Porsche Carrera GT with chassis number 0123. The new owner paid $1.98 million to acquire this 2004 Porsche Carrera GT, which only has 1,547 miles on the clock. Coming in a close second was the aforementioned Mercedes-Benz SL300 Gullwing, which sold for $1.87 million. This particular Gullwing was first ordered by Cuba's Ministry of Police in Havana after leaving Mercedes-Benz's production line on June 16, 1955. The Gullwing then found itself in the hands of professional race car driver Santiago "Chaquito" Gonzales before being sold in 1961 to the current owner in the United States. Other vehicles that brought over $1.2 million in the Scottsdale auction include modern collectibles such as the McLaren Senna, Three Ford GTs (including two Heritage Editions), the McLaren P1, the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6x6, and the Porsche 918 Spyder. The only other classic car in sales that landed in the top 10 is the 1967 Shelby Cobra 427 CSX. Barrett-Jackson made sure the event also gave back to charity, with this year's Scottsdale auction raising $8.8 million for charitable causes. The Corvette Z06 fetched $3.6 million, while a 2023 Ford Bronco Heritage Edition netted $500,000 for the Pope Francis Center. Barrett-Jackson has now been able to put together $144 million for various organizations worldwide since the fund was established. READ MORE ON AWN: Mercedes-Benz Opens Order Banks Again For 2022 V-8 Models in the US, Including G-Class SUV Mercedes-Benz G-class Breaks Sales Record in Australia Despite Closing Order Books in 2021 Copyright 2020 by Mountain Times Publications. Digital or printed dissemination of this content without prior written consent is a violation of federal law and may be subject to legal action. Palmdale, CA (93550) Today Sunny skies. Becoming windy late. High 82F. W winds at 10 to 15 mph, increasing to 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Tonight Generally clear. Low 54F. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Ukraine Separatists report the shelling of Donetsk by Ukrainian forces against the pro-Russian rebels who have endured Kyiv's assault. The shelling on the rebel has left one fighter dead, as alleged by sources. As fears of a Russian invasion come, government forces are busy suppressing the Resistance that wants to be part of Russia. Violence Against Pro-Putin Supporters Foreign media has been covering claims of the US that the Kremlin will give the order to roll out on the border. But no mention of the conflict in the Donbas and Donetsk region, who have been fighting since 2014 against Ukraine forces, reported the Express. A Telegram channel where the militia of Novorossiya reported the artillery assault in the northern part; that is close to the airport. One more claim is that forces against the rebels have attacked Spartak, which lies on the west end of Donetsk. Using 120-mm mortars aimed at the Kievsky district, cited the Diverse Bulletin. Civilians reported that the attacks by the military started fires. Kyiv's aggression On the channel, a claim said that Russian volunteers would be coming to assist them in countering the aggression of the Ukraine forces. Further mention of the death of a militia member of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), the only casualty in the attack, and the cause of death was a mortar assault in Gorlovka, noted the Eagle's Vine. Another pro-Russian channel, Donbas Decides, said that residents who are ex-militia and Ukraine separatists would be coming back. Read Also: Ukraine Fears Russian Reprisal After Drone Attack; Putin Deploys Armored Units To Protect Cities Close to Shared Border The interview was a businessman from Debaltseve, an ex-militia of DPR, called Oleksiy. He called out the Fascist Kiev should be stopped before reaching Russia. He added that forces against the DPR will be crushed, even with their teeth. Alexander Khodakovsky, commander of the Vostok brigade, stated that Moscow should militarily assist the embattled Donbas province. The separatist channel stated that both separatists say they are pro-Russian and want Russia involved. Khodakovsky stressed that the joining of Donbas and Donetsk forces could push back Pro-Kyiv forces. They ironically said that the weapons supplied by the US and UK were used against them. It opens up the fears of Ukraine due invasion is the same as those regions. Background of the Conflict There has been no stop of hostilities in that eastern region of Europe since annexing Crimea in 2014 by Moscow. From the start of hostilities, about 29 ceasefires were announced, all failed to get peace. In 2016 one was agreed upon with six weeks of relative inactivity. On July 27, 2020, one was called a respite to fight, and no casualties were recorded in thirty days. But after that, the resumption of hostilities made the violence worse. Vladimir Putin would not pull out the 100,000 troops on the Ukraine border, and NATO will not have an easy time like insurance. The Kremlin called the west provocation as a matter of fact and just shrugged it off. But the UK went too far by accusing an attempted regime change should an invasion happen. Focus on the tensions on the Ukraine border has ignored the plight of the Ukraine separatists. They are afraid of the same thing that Kyiv fears getting taken over. Related Article: Russian General Says Moscow Emplaced Mobile Nuclear Launcher, Hypersonic Missile Amid Threat of Potential Ukraine Invasion in 2022 @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Note: "Rest of world" includes Argentina, Indonesia, Latvia, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the United Nations. Data: Castellum.AI and Atlantic Council's Economic Statecraft Initiative; Chart: Jacque Schrag/Axios The vast majority of global sanctions against Russia stem from its invasion of Crimea in 2014 a violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity that Moscow is now threatening to repeat on a far larger scale in the remainder of the country. Why it matters: Top Biden officials openly admit costs imposed on Russia since 2014 have failed to deter President Vladimir Putin. That's why the U.S. and its allies are preparing sanctions that would "start at the top of the escalation ladder and stay there." The goal would be forcing Putin to carefully consider the scale of economic pain he's willing to swallow. Zoom in: Data aggregated by Castellum.AI and the Atlantic Council's Economic Statecraft Initiative reflect the many shades of malign Russian behavior that have triggered sanctions from 11 countries, the European Union and the United Nations. The Global Sanctions Dashboard shows the U.S. maintains 822 sanctions on Russian entities and individuals, including for the destabilization of Ukraine, use of chemical weapons and support for dictators in Syria, Venezuela and Belarus. Within the past year, the Biden administration has imposed sanctions on Russia for the poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, as well as interference in the 2020 election. Only a sliver of total global sanctions on Russia is related to corruption, but calls to target oligarchs who hide their wealth in the West have grown significantly because of the current crisis. What to watch: Unlike in 2014, the U.S. and its allies are preparing options to potentially devastate large swathes of the Russian economy if Putin moves forward with a further invasion of Ukraine. Options include sanctioning the largest Russian financial institutions, cutting Russia from the SWIFT international payments system, imposing export controls on key technologies and even sanctioning Putin himself. A bipartisan group in the Senate is closing in on a deal on what Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) has dubbed "the mother of all sanctions" bill, but disagreements remain about whether to impose some costs now, before Russia invades. Between the lines: Russia has taken steps over the past eight years to "sanction-proof" its economy, including by dramatically reducing its use of dollars to blunt the West's leverage. Former President Donald Trump announced guest speakers today for his Saturday rally in Arizona, and most of them share a common trait: they led efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Why this matters: Trump, who remains the most powerful figure in the Republican Party, is making his false claims about the 2020 election the centerpiece of the GOP platform. Between the lines: Trump has made clear to all who seek his endorsement that if they want his blessing, they need to make overturning the 2020 election as much of a priority as subverting future elections. The details: The guest list for Trump's Arizona rally is a who's who of election deniers. The headliner, Kari Lake, who Trump endorsed for Arizona's gubernatorial race, told OAN she wouldn't have certified Biden as the victor if she'd been governor. who Trump endorsed for Arizona's gubernatorial race, told OAN she wouldn't have certified Biden as the victor if she'd been governor. State Rep. Mark Finchem, Trump's endorsed candidate to oversee Arizona's elections as Secretary of State, not only denies the 2020 election result but attended "Stop the Steal" rallies in January. Trump's endorsed candidate to oversee Arizona's elections as Secretary of State, not only denies the 2020 election result but attended "Stop the Steal" rallies in January. Arizona Reps. Paul Gosar, Andy Biggs and Debbie Lesko all voted on Jan. 6 to object to the certification of Joe Biden's victory. all voted on Jan. 6 to object to the certification of Joe Biden's victory. Kelli Ward , chair of Arizona's Republican Party, pushed the false conspiracy theory that foreign powers manipulated Dominion voting machines to secure Biden's election victory. , chair of Arizona's Republican Party, pushed the false conspiracy theory that foreign powers manipulated Dominion voting machines to secure Biden's election victory. Boris Epshteyn, who co-hosts Steve Bannon's podcast, uses his platform to promote Trump's claims about a stolen election. who co-hosts Steve Bannon's podcast, uses his platform to promote Trump's claims about a stolen election. And Mike Lindell, the CEO of MyPillow, is arguably even more committed than Trump is to overturning the 2020 election. He says he has spent $25 million so far on his campaign to undermine and subvert the election. the CEO of MyPillow, is arguably even more committed than Trump is to overturning the 2020 election. He says he has spent $25 million so far on his campaign to undermine and subvert the election. The one outlier in the speaking line-up is Alveda King, who is Martin Luther King Jr.'s niece. She is an outspoken Trump supporter, but unlike the other speakers, has not made it her mission to overturn the 2020 election. The big picture: Trump is also working to install Republicans in election administration positions who could be well-positioned to overturn future elections. And he is methodically driving out and destroying all Republicans who say President Biden legitimately won the 2020 election. What we're seeing: To enforce party-wide obedience, Trump is jumping on anyone who contradicts his claims about election fraud. He punishes even the smallest of deviations. On Sunday, Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) told ABC's George Stephanopoulos that after investigating the 2020 election they found no evidence of fraud that "would have changed the vote outcome in a single state." On Monday, Trump sent out an email statement blasting Rounds as "woke" and a "RINO" (Republican In Name Only) and promising to never again endorse him. These attacks come at a high cost. Republicans who've contradicted Trump on the 2020 election from the highest-profile like Liz Cheney down to obscure state officials have been inundated with threats to themselves and their families from angry Trump supporters. The bottom line: Trump's goal, his advisers say, is to either make life so miserable for them that they quit or end their careers by backing a successful primary challenge. The soldiers were flown to from Baku to Yerevan by a French military plane. The Armenian Foreign Ministry said they were repatriated through the mediation of the French government and the EU. Both Michel and Macron hailed the release, implying that it resulted from their video conference on Friday with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. The four leaders also discussed efforts to reduce tensions along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and open transport links between the two South Caucasus states Thank you to our diplomats as well as to our soldiers involved in this operation, tweeted Macron. We are moving forward! Four of the freed Armenian soldiers were taken prisoner in Nagorno-Karabakh in December 2020 shortly after a Russian-brokered ceasefire stopped a six-week Armenian-Azerbaijani war for the territory. The others were apparently captured during heavy fighting on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border in November 2021. According to the Armenian authorities, nearly four dozen Armenian soldiers and civilians remain in Azerbaijani captivity. Many of them were given lengthy prison sentences last year after short trials condemned by Armenia. Yerevan regularly demands the unconditional release of the remaining captives, saying that they are held in breach of the 2020 truce accord. Baku claims that the agreement does not cover them. Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska crossed party lines after appearing in a joint TV interview on Sunday, where they showed support for each other. The two lawmakers made a public appearance on CNN's "State of the Union," where the West Virginia senator endorsed Murkowski, calling her a "dear friend." Manchin said that it was hypocritical for some people to work with someone else throughout the day and be against them just because they were labeled by either party. Manchin and Murkowski The senator said that, if the people he was working with were good people who have helped him and the country accomplish great things, he would want to continue working with them. On the other hand, Murkowski, who is currently going up against Trump-endorsed primary challenger Kelly Tshibaka, said she also supports Manchin if he chooses to run for re-election in 2024, Business Insider reported. Manchin added that a person's party, whether it be with Democrats or Republicans, did not matter when serving the country. He noted that the people he has worked with have become his friends and that it was better to be working together with them. The West Virginia Democrat, who is one of the few moderates in his party, made a similar move in 2020 when he endorsed and offered to campaign for Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. In April of last year, Manchin said he was in full support of Murkowski's re-election, which the female senator announced in November. Read Also: Sanders Supports Censure of Sinema Over Voting Rights Legislation Controversy, Calls it 'Absolutely' Appropriate Fox News reported that Murkowski is also among the seven Republicans who voted in favor of convicting former United States President Donald Trump during his impeachment trial after the Jan. 6 Capitol Hill riot. The Alaska senator is the only one who is facing re-election in the midterm elections this November. Party Criticism Furthermore, Murkowski, who has been a member of the Senate since 2002, lost the Republican primary for her seat in 2010. But she ultimately won after launching a successful write-in campaign. She has joined Democratic lawmakers several times on high-profile votes, including opposing Trump's effort to repeal former President Barack Obama's health law in 2017. On the other hand, Manchin has continued to face criticisms from the progressive wing of his party over his reluctance to back broad climate and social safety net legislation. The proposal is one that United States President Joe Biden envisioned would pass with support from all 50 Democratic senators. Manchin initially indicated that he would be supporting a version of that bill moving forward but announced in December that he would not vote for the legislation. He argued that the proposal, in its present form, was dead. The West Virginia senator also indicated on Sunday that he recently talked with President Biden but noted that the topic of the legislation did not come up. He argued that it was because of the need for separate action by Feb. 18 on a different funding bill. He emphasized that he wanted to pass smaller pieces of Biden's proposal with recommendations and support from Republicans, as per Newsy. Related Article: Coal Miners Blast Joe Manchin for Opposition of Build Back Better, Argue Act's Provisions are Beneficial @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Lois Henry is the CEO and editor of SJV Water, a nonprofit, independent online news publication dedicated to covering water issues in the San Joaquin Valley. She can be reached at lois.henry@sjvwater.org. The website is sjvwater.org. Finals just wrapped up in the Kern High School District this week, but it wont be a long break for many. Summer school kicks off on Monday, a You can reach Ishani Desai at 661-395-7417. You can also follow her at @idesai98 on Twitter. The House committee investigating the Jan.6 insurgency is eager to know what Ivanka Trump heard from her father, Donald Trump. Donald Trump was in the Oval Office with his daughter Ivanka and Vice President Mike Pence's national security adviser on the morning of January 6, 2021, when he made another attempt to persuade Pence to resign. Pence has no ability to reject Electoral College votes that would have confirmed Democrat Joe Biden's presidential election in 2020, Trump said during his ceremonial speech in Congress on that day. Jan. 6 Riot Committee Calls Ivanka Trump To Testify "Mike Pence is a nice man," Ivanka Trump told retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg at the end of the call. As they try to piece together the story of the riots and the former president's part in provoking them, the House committee investigating the riots wants to know what else Ivanka Trump heard and saw that day. Many of Trump's most loyal fans made a concerted effort to encourage him to intervene, with some even attempting to use his daughter as a conduit. They are hoping that she will soon commit to a time to meet, according to a committee aide. Ivanka Trump was renowned as a rare voice who could get through to her father and persuade him out of terrible decisions during her tenure in the White House, though her success was uneven, according to Independent. Not just for Donald Trump, who is hoping to make a political comeback in 2024, but also for others in the Republican Party who have minimized his participation in the uprising, the responses might have far-reaching consequences. According to a statement issued in late January, Ivanka Trump did not speak at the rally near the White House where the president urged his supporters to "fight like hell" as Congress convened to certify the 2020 election results, but she still believes that "any security breach or disrespect to our law enforcement is unacceptable. The committee members seek to get past such ambiguous statements. Ivanka Trump, her brother Donald Trump Jr., Rudy Giuliani, and Kimberly Guilfoyle gathered beneath a big tent at the gathering to listen to Trump's address hours after Trump called Pence. She decided to come purely because she wanted to help keep the event on an even keel and decided to go primarily because she hoped to calm the president, as per Mint. Read Also: Joe Biden Claims Inflation Overshadows Strong Economy as US Surprisingly Adds Half a Million Jobs in January Ivanka Trump Keeps a Low Profile Ivanka Trump was renowned as a rare voice who could get through to her father and persuade him out of terrible decisions during her tenure in the White House, though her success was uneven. Since her father left government, the former first daughter has kept a low profile and has distanced herself from him and politics since moving to Florida. The committee might have immediate access to what Trump was doing during those vital three hours when his supporters physically stormed the Capitol due to her proximity to him on Jan. 6. As a key adviser to her father's father, she had a perch near to power, which is rare for congressional investigators to pursue a family member of a president. Ivanka Trump, who is known for guarding her image and public profile, has not spoken to the panel since Kellogg revealed the interaction with the committee. Not just for Donald Trump, who is hoping to make a political comeback in 2024, but also for others in the Republican Party who have minimized his participation in the uprising, the responses might have far-reaching consequences, Cleveland reported. Related Article: Donald Trump Backs Out of Jan. 6 Capitol Riot Anniversary Speech, Says He'll Talk About the Siege on Jan. 15 @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. If Republicans win the majority in the House after the November elections, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy indicated the party would take a stronger line on China. The 57-year-old Republican from California stated that a bipartisan committee on China will be formed in the near future, with one of the main topics being the roots of the coronavirus outbreak. Kevin McCarthy Says He'll Probe COVID-19 Origins Republicans wrote to President Joe Biden in January, requesting more transparency and action in the investigation into the emergence of COVID-19 from a facility in Wuhan, China, in 2019. GOP lawmakers claim that federal government and military authorities have failed to respond to information about the outbreak. Members of Congress from Texas, Oklahoma, and Washington, including Reps. Michael McCaul and Frank Lucas, have signed the letter, which raises concerns about the absence of public information derived from military research and government intelligence. In August of last year, Republicans on the House Foreign Affairs Committee released their study, which looked into the suspected origins of COVID-19, with Michael McCaul, a member of Congress, accusing the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) of orchestrating the "biggest cover-up in human history." Michael McCaul, a member of Congress, accused the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) of producing the "biggest cover-up in human history" in the report of their probe into the suspected origins of COVID-19, which was issued in August of last year by the House Foreign Affairs Committee Republicans, Mail Online reported. McCarthy went on to say that, if the House of Representatives is dominated by Republicans, it would look into whether the Biden family profited millions through contacts with the Chinese government when he was vice president. The Bidens have profited from Chinese donations, according to Peter Schweizer, head of the Republican think-tank Government Accountability Institute. While Joe Biden was vice president, Schweizer alleged on the Fox News talk show "Life, Liberty & Levin" on January 23 that the Biden family got "some $31 million from Chinese individuals who are related to the highest echelons of Chinese intelligence." According to CNN, Biden has been accused of making enormous sums of money in transactions with China for a long time. "There is no proof Joe Biden has received substantial quantities of money from China or has otherwise earned a fortune as a consequence of his son's business transactions abroad," Business Insider reported. Read Also: Democrats Confronted With Rising Retirements as Kevin McCarthy Anticipates More Than 30 People To Retire Before 2022 Midterm Elections McCarthy Vows To Investigate US Troops Withdrawal in Afghanistan As early as September 2019, several of the report's primary findings were centered on activity in and around Wuhan that looked to imply the virus had been circulating in China as early as that month. This was far before the World Health Organization's Country Office in the People's Republic of China picked up a press announcement on instances of "viral pneumonia" in Wuhan on Dec. 31, 2019, by the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission from its website. The committee will also look into the military departure from Afghanistan, according to McCarthy. As the Taliban grabbed control of most of Afghanistan and drew in on the capital, the last month of America's longest war was fraught with controversy, resulting in a frenzied evacuation attempt from Kabul. After a bomb exploded near an airport checkpoint they were manning in Kabul, 13 American service members died during the evacuation operation. The shortcomings of the Biden administration during the last days of the U.S. departure from Afghanistan are detailed in a new study by Republicans on the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, as per Fox News. Related Article: Conservative GOP Lawmakers Oppose Vaccine Mandates That Are Considered Tyrannical, Say These Should Not be Funded @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Bangladesh has spent U.S. $2.3 billion to acquire COVID-19 vaccines since last February and has fully vaccinated more than half of its total targeted population of 120 million people so far, health officials said Monday. The health minister had been under pressure from politicians and journalists to reveal figures for the governments expenditure in vaccinating the population against the virus. Over 20,000 crore taka (200,000 million taka) has been spent to procure vaccines, Zahid Maleque, the health minister, told reporters after a cabinet meeting Monday. According to the health directorate, Bangladesh has administered COVID-19 vaccines produced by Oxford-AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Moderna, and Chinas SinoPharm and Sinovac. More than 65 million people have received two doses of the vaccine and 100 million people have received one dose, the directorate said. In both categories, more people have received Chinese-made vaccines. Around two million people in Bangladesh have also received booster doses. Still, one health expert said he was not pleased with the current rate of vaccination in the South Asian country. I do not want to focus on the money spent because procuring vaccines has been a challenge. But my point is whether the government can keep its promise of vaccinating all people by April, Professor Nazrul Islam, a former chief of virology of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, told BenarNews. We see that over one-third of the total population have been vaccinated so far. This is not satisfactory at all. The mismanagement of the vaccination caused the delays, he said. Using apps to schedule the jabs has caused problems, Mushtaq Hossain, a former chief scientific officer at the governments Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IECDR), told BenarNews. Making the provision of vaccination through apps caused the delay as a huge number of people do not have smart phones and many people do not know the use of smartphone, Hossain said. After nearly three years, the U.S. trial of a former Goldman Sachs banker implicated in the embezzlement of billions of dollars from Malaysias sovereign 1MDB fund opened in a New York federal court Monday. The trial at a courthouse in Brooklyn began with jury selection in the case against the banker, Malaysian national Ng Chong Hwa (also known as Roger Ng), who is charged with three counts of bribery and money laundering related to the securing of business for Goldman Sachs, the Wall Street powerhouse. Currently we are doing jury selection, a court reporter assigned to the case in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York told BenarNews via email. The U.S. indictments alleged that Roger Ng, his former Goldman colleague Tim Leissner, fugitive Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho (also known as Jho Low), and others conspired to misappropriate more than $2.7 billion (11.28 billion ringgit) from the fund known as 1Malaysia Development Berhad. The U.S. has also charged Ng with conspiring to violate the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) by paying bribes to multiple government officials in Malaysia and Abu Dhabi, and conspiring to circumvent the internal accounting controls of Goldman Sachs, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement in 2019. Malaysian and U.S. prosecutors allege that at least $4.5 billion (18.8 billion ringgit) was stolen from 1MDB, which then-Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak had established in 2009 to fund development programs in Malaysia. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) described 1MDB as the worst kleptocracy scandal in recent times. In July 2020, a Malaysian court found Najib guilty of money laundering, abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and other charges, and sentenced him to 12 years in prison. An appeals court upheld the sentence, which is now being appealed in Malaysias highest court. Ng, who faces 30 years in prison, was arrested in Malaysia in November 2018 and extradited to the U.S. six months later. Upon his arrival in the U.S., Ng pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in May 2019, but he had to furnish a U.S. $20 million bond, $1 million of which he secured by a cash deposit. Conditions of his bail included home detention with electronic monitoring, with travel restricted to the eastern and southern federal districts of New York. Opening statements in the trial are set to begin on Feb. 14, according to the Reuters news agency. Ngs erstwhile colleague Leissner, who had pleaded guilty to the charges and was ordered to forfeit U.S. $43.7 million, is scheduled to be sentenced next month, Reuters said. In October 2020, Goldman Sachs and its Malaysian subsidiary agreed to pay Malaysia more than U.S. $2.9 billion after pleading guilty to conspiring to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). U.S. Department of Justice officials said Goldman Sachs paid more than $1 billion in bribes to Malaysian and Abu Dhabi officials and, in return, had a role in underwriting about $6.5 billion in three bond deals for 1Malaysia Development Berhad. Pastor Apollo Quiboloy (right) and other supporters join Rodrigo Duterte (center) at a birthday celebration in Pangasinan province, northern Philippines, during the 2016 presidential campaign, March 27, 2016. The Philippine government is willing to work with the United States to possibly extradite a presidential spiritual adviser who is the target of an FBI investigation into alleged labor trafficking and sex crimes, Filipino justice officials say. Last week, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation released a wanted poster for Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, a jet-setting 71-year-old founder of the Philippine-based church known as the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name above Every Name (KJOC). George Ortha II, chief state counsel at the Department of Justice here, said the agency had not received an extradition request but the DOJ would take proper action regarding the pastor. Once we receive the request, we will do our job according to the law and our departments processes, regardless of the people involved, Ortha said in a radio interview on Sunday. Christianity plays a major role in Philippine society and Quiboloys megachurch, headquartered in President Rodrigo Dutertes hometown, Davao City, is considered a political force that can deliver votes. The pastor is considered a longtime friend of and serves as spiritual adviser to Duterte, who once said Quiboloy had lent him luxury vehicles and homes. Ortha said the extradition request would have to come from the U.S. Justice Department, then the U.S. State Department, before being transmitted to the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs and to the Justice Department. The process could take a decade, officials here said. Extradition is supposed to be a summary proceeding, were not supposed to be trying the U.S. criminal charges here, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra told reporters on Monday. According to Ortha, the U.S. could request a provisional arrest of the church leader ahead of the extradition request. The problem with provisional arrest, once we receive it and the warrant is issued, he will be arrested. The U.S. has to be ready to file the request within 60 days, because if they cannot file the extradition request, we will release the person, Ortha said. On Monday, Dutertes office did not immediately respond to reporters requests for comment. [FBI website] In a U.S. indictment filed in November in southern California, where Quiboloys church has a branch, he and two other church officials were accused of having forced children there as young as 12 to have sex with the church leader or risk eternal damnation. In its wanted notice, the FBI alluded to the child-sex allegations contained in the federal indictment. The notice said Quiboloy was wanted for alleged participation in a labor trafficking scheme that brought church members to the United States, via fraudulently obtained visas, and forced the members to solicit donations for a bogus charity, donations that actually were used to finance church operations and the lavish lifestyles of its leaders. Members who proved successful at soliciting for the church allegedly were forced to enter into sham marriages or obtain fraudulent student visas to continue soliciting in the United States year-round. According to the FBI notice, females were recruited to work as the pastors personal assistants a job that allegedly required them to clean his residences, cook his meals and have sex with him. Pastors attorney speaks out Quiboloy lawyer Ferdinand Topacio questioned the timing of the poster and accused the FBI of trying to interfere with the upcoming Philippine general election. The only logical reason here is that they are using the closeness of Pastor Quiboloy with President Duterte to target the president, he told reporters in an online briefing on Sunday. Quiboloy recently endorsed Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr., son of the late Philippine dictator, and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, Dutertes daughter, for president and vice president in the May 9 polls. Indirectly, it is undermining the candidacy of Sara Duterte. Indirectly, it might be undermining the candidacy of Bongbong Marcos, or whichever candidate the United States does not want to win in this country, Topacio said without elaborating. Quiboloy did not comment on Monday about the FBIs action, but posted a verse from Ephesians 4 on his Twitter account: Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice. Spokesmen for the U.S. Embassy in Manila and the State Department in Washington were not immediately available for comment. In the Philippines, some lawmakers and critics urged the DOJ to issue a hold departure order against Quiboloy to bar him from leaving the country an unlikely scenario as only courts can issue such orders, officials said. Quiboloy has no pending cases or charges against him in local courts. Guevarra, the justice secretary, said his agency could issue an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) on its own. The order would direct immigration officers to notify the government if Quiboloy attempted to leave the Philippines. Urgency is the key factor. Well play it by ear as we examine the evidence before us and as outside events unfold. Until the DOJ finds sufficient reason to reverse the finding of the city prosecutor, it has no basis to apply for a precautionary hold departure order, Guevarra said. Jojo Rinoza in Manila contributed to this report. French President Emmanuel Macron heads to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday in an attempt to help ease the ongoing tension in Ukraine's border, where more than 100,000 Russian troops are assembled. The United States and its Western allies warned that Russia would attack Ukraine at any time. However, Moscow denied any plans to attack Kyiv and demanded that NATO stop its weapons and pull out its forces from Eastern Europe. Before visiting Ukraine on Tuesday, Macron is set to have an in-person dialogue with Putin which focuses on de-escalation of the crisis in Kyiv. Macron, who is expected to meet in the Kremlin with Russian President Vladimir Putin before visiting Ukraine Tuesday, said last week that his priority is "dialogue with Russia and de-escalation." Before heading to Moscow, the White House said Macron had a call with U.S. President Joe Biden on Sunday. They discussed their support for Ukraine's "sovereignty and territorial integrity." Moreover, per AP News, the two leaders also talked about the "diplomatic and deterrence" efforts in response to Russia's ongoing military activities on Ukraine's borders. Read Also: US, Russia Still Open for Diplomacy on Ukraine Tension, But Britain Warns On Cyber Attacks From Moscow Russia Wants Clarification from NATO In an interview with the newspaper Journal du Dimanche, Macron remarked that Russia is not targeting Ukraine. Instead, it seeks "clarification of the rules... with NATO and EU". Macron believes that Putin would be open to a broad discussion. Per BBC, the French leader hopes that his talks with Putin would produce enough reasons to prevent military conflict. He added that Moscow had the right to raise its issues. He underscored that European countries must be protected by proposing "a new balance capable of preserving their sovereignty and peace," which must be done while "respecting Russia and understanding the contemporary traumas of these great people and great nation." Macron's diplomatic efforts in the international community came before the Presidential Elections in France set in April. Russian Invasion of Ukraine Can Happen Anytime Soon, US Warns Meanwhile, the US government has reiterated its warning that Russia could initiate military actions on Ukraine at any moment. According to US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, "Any day now" Russia would invade Ukraine or possibly "a couple of weeks from now" Earlier, two US officials claimed that Russia has already gathered around 70% of the essential military force needed to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, despite warnings of massive sanctions from the US and Western countries, as per NBC News. If Russia pursues an invasion, media reports estimate that it could result in large numbers of deaths and injuries among 50,000 civilians and soldiers within weeks. According to a source, an assessment report estimates Russia could be fully capable of invading by Feb. 15, when the ground at the border is expected to be optimally frozen for tracked vehicle mobility through the end of March. The source also mentioned that Moscow is expected to test missiles with different capabilities, such as intercontinental ballistic missiles without nuclear warheads. Though Russian President Putin has not made a final decision on an invasion. Moscow earlier announced that it is still open for diplomatic talks to develop possible solutions. Related Article: Biden Set To Visit Israel After Bennett's Invitation To Talk About Blocking Iran's Nuclear Program @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. Greg Sukiennik has worked at all three Vermont News & Media newspapers and was their managing editor from 2017-19. He previously worked for ESPN.com, for the AP in Boston, and at The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, Mass. You are the owner of this article. Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and carmaker Toyota signed a joint research agreement to create a 'Lunar Cruiser.' which has a robotic arms. JAXA And Toyota Partners For 'Lunar Cruiser' Last Aug. 2020, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) announced that they will be creating a manned pressurized rover named "Lunar Cruiser," per Toyota. In addition to this, the Japanese space agency and the carmaker also announced that they would cooperate with one another on a research on a manned, pressurized lunar rover using fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) technologies, which they have been doing. To further explain its name, the term "Lunar Cruiser" was chosen because it evokes a sense of familiarity in those participating in the development and production of the vehicle prototype as part of the collaborative research effort, as well as in the broader public. Moreover, the name also supports pressurized lunar rover's expected quality, durability, and reliability, as well as Toyota's long-held Land Cruiser concept of "coming back alive." Additionally, the said concept is especially true for the lunar rover because it will be travelling the harsh environment of the moon's surface. For background information, last June 2019, JAXA and Toyota signed together a joint research agreement to create a manned pressurized lunar rover which was expected to launch for the latter half of the 2020s. On the same year, both the Japanese companies worked together to manufacture test pieces for each technological component, as well as the prototype rover itself. Read Also: NASA Astronauts To Call Students From Space: Here's On How To Watch The Earth-To-Space Call Furthermore, the test will be used to confirm power and heat dissipation performance while driving, prototype tires will be manufactured and tested, and virtual reality and full-scale models will be used to examine the layout of equipment in the interior of the Japanese rover. JAXA and Toyota have also been discussing laterally with a number of companies. The carmaker noted that the said meetings will focus on how the manned pressurized rover can serve as the starting point for a vision of a future lunar surface-based society, as well as the issues that comes with it. 'Lunar Cruiser' Mission If SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is fascinated about bringing people to Mars, Royals Blue reported that officials from the company said they want to assist people live on the moon by 2040, which is a first step toward human settlement on Mars. Toyota Motor Corporations Lunar Cruiser project leader Takao Sato explained that the vehicle is built on the premise that people eat, work, sleep, and converse safely with others in cars, which can be done in space as well. To inspect and maintain the rover on space, Gitai Japan Inc. has created a robotic arm for the Lunar Cruiser. A "fastener" enables one end of the arm to be changed, allowing the arm to be used as a variety of tools. The concept behind Lunar Cruiser is that JAXA would launch the ship to the moon first, and it will be able to automatically journey there to meet the astronauts as they arrive. Shinichiro Noda, a Toyota engineer, expressed his enthusiasm for the lunar mission, stating that the moon could give significant resources for Earth life. Related Article: NASA and SpaceX Investigate The Dragon Capsule's Parachute System Spearfish, SD (57783) Today Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy this afternoon. High 56F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Mostly clear. Low 36F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. When God made the world He created humanity, and first created a man He named Adam. Then He made a woman that Adam named Eve. God intended for men and women to be different, and to play different roles in the world. After the fall, men and women both became capable of sin, and both had to strive to be more righteous, as God intended before sin entered the world. A man who pursues that righteousness, and strives to live for the Lord, is sometimes called a man of God. It can be difficult to define what that kind of man looks like, but the Bible provides insights into how a man can conform to the image of God, and help others identify them. Some of the traits of a man of God include faith, a consistent relationship with God, patience, and temperance, among other things. What Is a "Man of God"? A man of God is not one stereotype of a man. It is not a scholar who has memorized all the Scriptures. It is not a man who can lift very heavy objects and fight back any enemy at the gate. Instead, it is a display of character the Bible highlights, while attempting to avoid temptation and sin. A man of God values the things of Heaven over the things of the flesh. He may not be perfect until he is with the Lord, but he makes his relationship with the Savior the first priority in his life. He loves justice, wisdom, and discretion. He is also not a hypocrite like the Pharisees who, clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence (Matthew 23:27b). He does not just exhibit good behavior, but pursues a clean conscience, pursuing a real relationship with Jesus Christ. In many ways, a man of God is someone who strives to live by the following verses from Proverbs, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones (Proverbs 3:5-8). Bible Verses about Being a Man of God There are many verses that outline the character traits that God wants both men and women as well as just men to possess or strive to exhibit. These verses include: 1 Timothy 6:11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 1 Corinthians 16:13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. Micah 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Proverbs 5:1-2 My son, be attentive to my wisdom, incline your ear to my understanding, that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge. Psalm 2:2-4 I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, that the Lord may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel. Ephesians 5:25-28 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Who Were Some Men of God in the Bible? It becomes clear through a study of the Bible that an important part of what it means to be a man of God is pursuing righteousness, being familiar with Gods Word, being kind to others, knowing when and how to exert ones strength, and being willing to sacrifice the same way the Lord Jesus did. There are many examples of godly men in the Scriptures. Men identified as men of God include: King David: Literally called a man after Gods own heart. He trusted the Lord as a shepherd, as a man fleeing a kings wrath, and as a king himself. He was not perfect, and succumbed to lust with Bathsheba, but repented. He loved God, and wrote many Psalms about that relationship. Nathan: A prophet during the days of King Davids reign, God asked Nathan to confront the king about his sin. Taking the steps to publicly declare that David committed adultery and then ordered the death of the womans husband required courage, faith, and obedience to Gods commands. Abraham: The father of the Jewish nation, his faith in God was so great he was willing to obey Gods command to sacrifice his son, believing that God could bring Isaac back from the dead. He followed God from his homeland to another. There were points in his life where his faith lapsed and he acted out of fear, but he always tried to put his relationship with God above all else. He also advocated for his relatives with God, and asked God to spare Sodom and Gomorrah for the sake of a few righteous, willing to see mercy extended. Nehemiah: A Hebrew who had authority in Babylon, he trusted God to leave the comfort of his post and go back to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall. He defended the borders of his city while maintaining a godly character that served to testify to Gods glory to the people around him. He demonstrated wisdom, tactical skills, and wisdom. Boaz: Certain men played roles in Gods plan that foreshadowed the role Christ would play for all of humanity. Boaz served as a kinsman redeemer for Ruth, redeeming her and her deceased husbands family from poverty. Despite having a Gentile mother, he was known as a godly man who loved the Lord. He was kind to people who were of lesser status than him in society, loved one woman, and displayed great generosity. Jesus: Called the Last Adam, Jesus lived the life intended for Adam, but without sin. The Lord came in the body of a man, clothing His divine nature in flesh. He obeyed his earthly parents, worked hard as a carpenter, learned the Scriptures, and perfectly submitted to the will of the Father. In many ways, He is a model for manhood. He displayed perfect righteousness, something every man should strive for, even if they fail. How Can I Grow into More of a Man of God? Becoming more of a man of God involves becoming Christ-like in character. It is not something that can happen by force of will, but by the influence of the Holy Spirit. Prayer is the first step to growing into the person God intended. Studying the Gospels and modelling Christ is also important. Learning from the men of God in the Bible, from their successes and failures, is also a part of that journey. Another way men grow in their character and their faith is through being discipled and discipling one another. Studying verses about good character and asking God to help grow those is another way. The fruits of the Spirit are foundational to building a character like the Lord has; But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23). Ultimately, it will require a daily walk with the Lord and getting to know Him personally to experience the lifetime journey toward becoming a Man of God. A Prayer to Pursue God with Your Whole Life For men: Holy Father, Thank you for the life you have given me. As the Bible says, you formed me in my mothers womb, making me the man I am today. Thank you for loving me enough to die for me on the cross, and that I will share in Your resurrection. I pray that you will take my life and use it for Your glory, for the expansion of Your Kingdom, and as the man You created me to be. Lord, take my life and guide it. Help me to pursue You sincerely and fully. You gave me life and salvation, so help me use that life to make a difference for eternity. Whether that is as a husband or a single man, as a father or a mentor, however You want to use me, I pray that my life will glorify Your name. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. For women, for the men in their lives: Holy Father, Thank you for creating me and loving me. I know that You know the very hairs on my head, and that Your plan for me is perfect. Lord, thank you for the men in my life. You made each of them uniquely, and You have a plan for their lives. Lord, show me how I can support them spiritually. Show me how I can pray for them. Help me to have healthy relationships with the men in my life, and to pray for ones who have hurt me. Lord, guide my heart in all things, but help me to stay focused on You first. In Jesus name, I pray, Amen. While all have sin and fallen short of Gods glory, through Jesus Christ, all can be saved and have the Holy Spirit indwell them, and help them become the individual God intends. A man of God is a man who pursues the Lord with sincerity, and obeys as best he can in all things. Sources Blackaby, Henry and Tom Blackaby. The Man God Uses. Nashville: B&H Publishing, 1999. Kelly, Robert. The Strong Man of God Back to Basics. Portland: Open Door Communications Ministries, Inc., 2014. Moody, Dwight L. Daniel, Man of God. Chicago: F.H. Revell, 1884. Redpath, Alan. The Making of a Man of God Lessons from the Life of David. Grand Rapids: Baker Books House Company, 1962. Photo credit: Unsplash/Eyup Belen Bethany Verrett is a freelance writer and editor. She maintains a faith and lifestyle blog graceandgrowing.com, where she muses about the Lord, life, culture, and ministry. As part of Festival of the Arts and the Great Michigan Read, Novel Tea at Artworks will be reading and discussing the Women of the Copper Country, by Mary Doria Russell. The novel introduces the reader to the copper strike of 1913 in Calumet, and the politics surrounding it. Woodbridge Ferris makes a cameo appearance as governor of Michigan. Novel Teas discussion of the novel will occur at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 17 in the lower level of ArtWorks, located at 106 N. Michigan Ave. All are welcome. All the free copies at the Big Rapids Community Library and at ArtWorks have been claimed, but the library has two copies available for checkout. The library can also offer e-book and audiobook copies through Libby. All are available with a library card, and by downloading the Libby App https://libbyapp.com. The Women of the Copper Country is a fictionalized history of the 1913 copper miners strike in Michigans Upper Peninsula. Following the story of 25-year-old strike leader, Anna Big Annie Klobuchar Clemenc, Russell draws our attention to the women and immigrants who risked their lives to fight unregulated capitalist exploitation. Though copper mining in the early 20th-century may seem distant and removed from our experiences, Michigan Humanities hopes that the resources provided by the Great Michigan Read will help readers understand how the conflicts and tensions of the past have shaped our present and how, in many ways, the conflicts surrounding classism, xenophobia, sexism, and labor from 1913 are not so different from todays. In 1913, the Keweenaw copper miners union went on strike for wages, better hours, a system for airing grievances, and the rejection of the one-man drill. They protested the tool cutting the labor force in half and the loss of the safety of having a partner underground. Most importantly, workers went on strike to have their union recognized by management. Corporate paternalism was a popular form of management at the turn of the century. In this system, companies took on a fatherly role, claiming to provide for the physical and moral health of their workers with various amenities. These amenities, however, came at a cost: companies censored books, evicted tenants, and expected compliance and deference from workers. For example, at the C&H library, a librarian wanted to provide a book on woodworking, as many miners enjoyed the craft as a hobby. But, because the book discussed workplace safety, C&H managers had it pulled from the shelves, lest miners get any ideas about workplace safety. The event at Artworks will begin with short presentations by Stephen Ross, who will discuss the geology of the Copper Country (why was the copper there?) and Dr. Jana Pisani of Ferris State University, who will discuss the local history and how such past events can be researched. The 2021-22 Great Michigan Read is presented by Michigan Humanities and supported by national, statewide, and local partners, including the National Endowment for the Humanities, The Meijer Foundation, Laborers International Union of North America, MSU Federal Credit Union, and Library of Michigan. This project is funded in part by Michigan Humanities, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Mainly Jem's Birding & Ringing Exploits in the Eastern Province & Ringing Trips to Bahrain Hong Kong reports 342 new COVID-19 cases Xinhua) 09:08, February 07, 2022 HONG KONG, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong reported 342 new cases of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, according to data from the Center for Health Protection on Sunday. All the newly reported cases were local infections, of which 20 related to the Delta strain. There were another 300 cases preliminarily tested positive. Director of Health of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government Ronald Lam told a press briefing on Sunday that over the past two weeks, 1,921 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been recorded. Lam said there were multiple chains of transmission in Hong Kong and he expected the number of new infections to rise. Over the past month, more than 3.5 million tests for COVID-19 were conducted territory-wide, Secretary for Food and Health of the HKSAR government Sophia Chan said in her blog on Sunday. The HKSAR government will adopt a more aggressive testing strategy to identify new infections as soon as possible in order to cut the transmission chains in the community, Chan said, urging people to reduce social activities and stay at home. Since the start of a mass inoculation program in February last year, about 5.39 million people, or 80.1 percent of the eligible population in Hong Kong, have taken at least one shot of COVID-19 vaccines, while over 4.85 million, or 72.1 percent of the eligible population, have taken two doses. Meanwhile, over 1.03 million people in Hong Kong have taken their third booster shots. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Liang Jun) The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program that aims to remove Chinese equipment from American wireless networks will cost billions more than anticipated. Affected companies have requested $5.6 billion to remove, replace and dispose of this equipment. Back in 2019, the FCC voted unanimously to ban US carriers from using national funds to purchase networking equipment from sources that could be a "national security threat." Two firms included on the list were wireless carrier Huawei Technologies Company and internet service provider ZTE Corporation. Sometime in 2020, former President Donald Trump mandated to remove and replace the equipment. The program is being implemented, but officials recently encountered a budget shortage. FCC Rip and Replace Program: Huawei and ZTE FCC initially set up a $1.9 billion fund before the ban went into effect. This should have been used to help affected companies search for replacement hardware. FCC tweeted the official announcement on their social media page. They said the Supply Chain Reimbursement Program in the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act will reimburse affected parties "for reasonable expenses incurred in the removal, replacement, and disposal of covered communications equipment and services." Congress created the Supply Chain Reimbursement Program in the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act to reimburse providers for reasonable expenses incurred in the removal, replacement and disposal of covered communications equipment and services. https://t.co/LfPV8j3Dnv The FCC (@FCC) February 4, 2022 However, on February 4, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel told Congress that companies have "initially requested approximately $5.6 billion from the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program to cover the costs of removing, replacing, and disposing of insecure equipment and services in US networks," per PC Mag. It should be emphasized that the $5.6 billion is only an "initial" request, which implies more expenses can still be incurred in the long run. Read Also: Realme 9 Pro Series Will Launch on Feb. 16, Including A 5G Variant: Specs, Designs, Price [Full Details] Rosenworcel tweeted that they have "received over 181 applications from carriers who have developed plans to remove and replace equipment in their networks that pose a national security threat." While we have more work to do to review these applications, I look forward to working with Congress to ensure that there is enough funding available for this program to advance Congresss security goals and ensure that America will continue to lead the way on #5G security. Jessica Rosenworcel (@JRosenworcelFCC) February 4, 2022 Rosenworcel said FCC is reviewing the applications to ensure that enough funding will be available for the program. She also promised that Congress aims to improve America's national security and 5G connectivity. Unfortunately, Rosenworcel did not elaborate whether FCC will raise their budget or if it would be limited to a set amount. It can be assumed that FCC and Congress are still deliberating about the topic. FCC Programs: The Fight Against National Security Threats The New York Times noted that lawmakers and regulators have recently focused their attention on the potential threat of Chinese phone carriers. Note that these companies have already spread their influence across various states, which is the main reason for the shocking budget costs. Taking into consideration, the FCC might continue to face challenges as it further implements its rip and replace program. The FCC has yet to elaborate its plans to advance forward. They also failed to share details on whether the funds are ready for distribution to affected firms. For now, fans interested in the news are recommended to watch out for updates through news outlets. Related Article: John Roberts is Battling Heart Issues, Says He is Battery Powered with Pacemaker Posters for the upcoming musical, "Frida" / Courtesy of EMK Musical Company By Dong Sun-hwa Two much-anticipated women-centric musicals are set to hit the stage next month. "Frida," which zooms in on the life of Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) the first 20th-century Mexican painter to have her painting hung in the Louvre Museum in Paris will be staged at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul from March 1 to May 29. It is an original production by EMK Musical Company that produced a series of hit musicals like "Excalibur" and "Rebecca." "Screenwriter/director Choo Jung-hwa intends to dedicate this musical to Kahlo, who sublimated her challenging life into art," an EMK official said. "In our upcoming musical, Kahlo will reminisce about her days as a guest of a show titled, 'The Last Night Show.'" Frida Kahlo's "My Nurse and I" (1937) / Courtesy of Seoul Arts Center Kahlo, who is reputed for her self-portraits and artworks inspired by the nature and relics of Mexico, was subject to various hardships in her life. At the age of six, she was stricken with polio and at 18, she suffered severe injuries in a bus accident. Her husband Diego Rivera, an iconic Mexican muralist who was 21 years her senior, was known to have had numerous affairs including one with Kahlo's younger sister. Kahlo, however, did not succumb to these challenges and clawed her way through life with art, ending up crafting her own artistic universe that fuses fantasy and realism. The artist touched on diverse social issues ranging from gender and class to race with her paintings and brought several masterpieces to life, including "The Two Fridas" (1939) and "The Wounded Deer" (1946). "Frida" is the most-anticipated show among all musicals that will premiere in 2022, according to a survey of 1,884 people conducted by online shopping platform Interpark in January. The role of Kahlo will be alternated by musical stars Choi Jung-won and Sophie Kim, with Jun Su-mi and Lisa taking the role of her husband. Another female-centric show in the pipeline for March is "Lizzie," which features only women. It is scheduled to be presented at Doosan Art Center in Seoul from March 24 to June 12. Poster for musical "Lizzie" / Courtesy of SHOWNOTE China and Russia have outlined a vision of international relations anchored in their potential to reinforce each other in disputes with the United States and its allies while cooperating on an array of economic and diplomatic fronts. Chinese General Secretary Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a joint statement that forecast the transformation of the global governance architecture and world order. And that transformation would be marked by the progress of concepts and initiatives that Moscow and Beijing conceived separately, often in opposition to the U.S. and its Western allies, and now could develop into an integrated challenge to American power. What they propose or rather suggest is a new world order, isnt it? They have not left out a single policy issue, Stefanie Babst, former NATO chief strategic policy analyst, explained to the Washington Examiner. "The prime addressee sits in the White House, with the main message being, 'F*** you. We are the future, and you are the past.'" George H.W. Bush popularized the term new world order in a Sept. 11, 1990, appearance before a joint session of Congress, in the midst of the first Gulf War. Bush touted fading Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachevs denunciation of Iraqi dictator Saddam Husseins invasion of Kuwait, a point of unity between Washington and Moscow that Bush thought heralded a new moment in international affairs. Clearly, no longer can a dictator count on East-West confrontation to stymie concerted United Nations action against aggression, he said. "A new world order can emerge. ... A world where the rule of law supplants the rule of the jungle. A world in which nations recognize the shared responsibility for freedom and justice. A world where the strong respect the rights of the weak." Putin and Xi made an effort to occupy the rhetorical position held by Western leaders who have touted the value of the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, and other multilateral institutions collectively described as the post-war world order. But they pledged allegiance to that order in terms that called attention to their acrimonious relations with their respective neighbors. The sides intend to strongly uphold the outcomes of the Second World War and the existing post-war world order, defend the authority of the United Nations and justice in international relations, resist attempts to deny, distort, and falsify the history of the Second World War, the China-Russia joint statement says. In order to prevent the recurrence of the tragedy of the world war, the sides will strongly condemn actions aimed at denying the responsibility for atrocities of Nazi aggressors, militarist invaders, and their accomplices, besmirch and tarnish the honor of the victorious countries," they continued. That paragraph is filled with pointed statements. Russian officials refer to that cataclysmic conflict as a triumph that rescued Eastern Europe from Nazi German rule a noble and great mission of liberation, as Putin put it last year while contemporary Central and Eastern European critics of Soviet rule are portrayed as fascists. Chinese diplomats routinely recall that the Chinese people "defeated the Japanese militarist aggressors and fascism and accuse Tokyo of trying to revive the specter of militarism in the context of contemporary disputes. The linking of such disputes with their mutual affirmation of the outcomes of the Second World War might signal their joint determination to recover the clout in their own regions that they enjoyed after the defeat of the Axis powers. The outcome of World War II, depending on how you read it, was reasserting Soviet-Russian hegemony over their sphere of influence in Eastern Europe . ... [Also], think about the Chinese victories over Japan in East Asia, U.S. Army War College research professor Evan Ellis, a former member of the State Department's policy planning staff, told the Washington Examiner. You could read it [to mean that] reaffirming the outcome of World War II is implicitly rolling back the new world order that Bush described in 1990. The statement included alignment on two simmering hot spots. Russian forces annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and destabilized the Donbas region. That conflict has festered for years, with Putin recently mobilizing Russian forces around Ukrainian borders while demanding that NATO ban Ukraine and Georgia from joining and cut U.S. and Western European military ties to Eastern European allies. Xi endorsed Putins push for binding security guarantees in Europe, while Putin endorsed Chinas claim to sovereignty over Taiwan, a strategically significant island democracy that the Chinese Communist Party has never ruled. Russia and China stand against attempts by external forces to undermine security and stability in their common adjacent regions, intend to counter interference by outside forces in the internal affairs of sovereign countries under any pretext, oppose color revolutions, and will increase cooperation in the aforementioned areas, they said in the China-Russia statement. Those areas include a linking of the Xis vaunted Belt and Road Initiative, an overseas infrastructure investment program that Western officials deride as predatory lending, with the Eurasian Economic Union that Moscow hopes will lead to the economic integration of states that gained independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The sides reaffirm their focus on building the Greater Eurasian Partnership in parallel and in coordination with the Belt and Road construction to foster the development of regional associations as well as bilateral and multilateral integration processes for the benefit of the peoples on the Eurasian continent, Xi and Putin said. The statement suggests that Putin is more willing to align with Xi than Western analysts generally have thought, although he may remain uncomfortable with the imbalance of power between Moscow and Beijing. They traded quite a number of issues, which are important for either Russia or China, carefully crafted. But we expected all this, didnt we? What they cannot camouflage is they remain an uneven couple, said Babst, the former NATO strategist. But in contrast to China, Putin has put himself ... in a corner. Both cannot force other countries to love and follow them, neither with money nor guns. But neither Putin nor Xi understand the concept of soft power and persuasion. Credit Suisse faced charges in a Swiss court on Monday of allowing an alleged Bulgarian cocaine trafficking gang to launder millions of euros, some of it stuffed into suitcases. In the first criminal trial of a major bank in Switzerland, Swiss prosecutors are seeking around 42.4 million Swiss francs ($45.86 million) in compensation from Credit Suisse (CSGN.S). They say the country's second-biggest bank and one of its former relationship managers did not take all necessary steps to prevent the alleged drug traffickers from hiding and laundering cash between 2004 and 2008. "Credit Suisse unreservedly rejects as meritless all allegations in this legacy matter raised against it and is convinced that its former employee is innocent," the bank said in a statement to Reuters. It added it would "defend itself vigorously in court". The case has attracted intense interest in Switzerland, where it is seen as a test for prosecutors taking a potentially tougher stance against the country's banks. By Anna J. Park Lotte Insurance, a Korea-headquartered insurance firm with expertise in non-life insurance, appointed a new CEO, Lee Eun-ho, early this month. The appointment was confirmed at the firm's board meeting last week. Lee has a career of over 20 years in devising business strategies for the financial industry, including marketing, mergers and acquisitions, overseas expansion and pricing. Prior to assuming the chief role at Lotte Insurance, Lee served as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) as well as senior executive director since December 2019. "Under the clear direction of strengthening the core competitiveness of Lotte's insurance business, the company will continue to solidify its sustainable growth by increasing internal values," CEO Lee said during his inaugural address, adding that the firm will focus on developing an innovative insurance service in the age of digital transformation. The new CEO also said he will focus on creating a company structure where speedy communications and decision making are possible. The corporation's envisions its transition will be realized through firm emphasis on handling accurate data and competitive talent development. Born in 1974, Lee graduated from Korea University and started his career at Samsung Electronics in 2001. After receiving an MBA from INSEAD, he continued to work at various strategic consulting firms at Arthur D. Little, A.T. Kearney, Oliver Wyman and PwC until he joined Lotte Insurance in late 2019. Myanmarese author Ei Pencilo, right, and the country's ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi / Courtesy of Publication Morae-al LLC By Park Han-sol The cover of the Korean publication of "Burma Spring Revolution" (2022) by Pencilo / Courtesy of Publication Morae-al LLC The beginning of the year 2021 marked a deadly turning point for Myanmar. While it seemed that an inkling of hope arrived for the Southeast Asian nation gripped by the COVID-19 pandemic with the gradual rollout of the vaccine, the Feb. 1 military coup changed everything. Having deposed the democratically elected members of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD), including its leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the junta began its nationwide crackdowns on anti-coup street protests, eventually resorting to mass killings and the detention of civilians. Two weeks after its takeover, the regime issued arrest warrants for seven high-profile figures, many of whom were core supporters of the NLD and vocal critics of the military rule, for inciting unrest against the state using their influence on social media. Ei Pencilo, a 31-year-old who has become a Facebook personality and best-selling writer, was one of them. "Burma Spring Revolution," Pencilo's first book to be translated and published in Korea, captures her harrowing journey from hiding in the wake of the coup until her eventual escape to Thailand, and later, the United States. It does so while chronicling the development of the pro-democracy protests throughout Myanmar up-close an important record for the country that suffers from an ever escalating media crackdown. Pencilo first went into hiding in the capital city of Yangon and later moved to the countryside following the creeping threat from military forces. However, throughout her monthslong escape, the writer-activist, with more than 2 million Facebook followers, never stopped sharing the stories of the mobilized street demonstrations and raising her voice against the junta. It was during this time that publisher Publication Morae-al was able to reach the author, after a series of attempts made through the help of civilian groups in support of the Myanmar protests in Korea. "It was around April, while Pencilo was in the middle of her escape, when we got in contact with her" Kim Si-yeon, CEO of Publication Morae-al, told The Korea Times. The publisher had originally aimed to translate one of her previous bestsellers into Korean to introduce more Myanmar's books to the domestic literary circle. However, since those pieces were written and printed well before the coup, Pencilo suggested instead publishing a timelier piece based on the draft she was working on then. And so "Burma Spring Revolution," the draft of which was completed after she fled to the U.S. as a political refugee, came to be released in Korea marking one year since the military took control. Kim said the book is also scheduled for an English publication in the U.S. Protesters raise their hands in the three-finger salute during a demonstration against the military coup, held outside the U.N. office in Yangon, Myanmar, in this Feb. 17, 2021, photo. EPA-Yonhap In the book, the author writes that despite being able to seek refuge in a place far away from her troubled home country, she still finds herself trapped: "The public remains locked up in a prison-like nation I cannot say that I have found my freedom. My soul is still stuck in Myanmar's hot summer days under the scorching sun." Pencilo's testimony is meaningful in more ways than one. One of the noteworthy parts features her introspective reflection on Myanmar's long, troubled history about the conflict between the Buddhist Bamar majority and ethnic minorities. The status of the stateless Rohingya Muslims, for example, had been largely marked by decades of ignorance, persecution and even the traumatic genocide in 2017. The author confesses that previously, she herself used to name the Rohingya as illegal aliens like other members of the Bamar majority. But after becoming subject to the brutal military crackdown and being forced to illegally cross the border to Thailand to gain her freedom, she writes with heartfelt regret at her past actions for condemning the minorities so swiftly. According to Kim, the publication of "Burma Spring Revolution" can be significant for both Koreans and Myanmarese. "In the domestic literary circle, there hasn't been any book delving fully into the reality of Myanmar in the wake of the coup," he said, expressing hope that Pencilo's writing can build interest in the Southeast Asian nation's political reality and the spirit of solidarity among Koreans. "For the Myanmarese, the fact that the writings drafted by the high-profile figure in their country are being translated and reaching beyond their own borders all the way to Korea can send a powerful message that they are not cut off from the outside world." Unlimited website access 24/7 Unlimited e-Edition access 24/7 The best local, regional and national news in sports, politics, business and more! With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime. EDITORS NOTE: This story contains graphic elements that may be upsetting to some readers, including suicide. The Sun originally received a request from Clayton Heppner to help him advertise his online petition to open up access to online and telehealth mental health services outside of Manitoba. We put out a call for people to share their stories about their own struggles with finding help for their mental health challenges. Advertisement Advertise With Us EDITORS NOTE: This story contains graphic elements that may be upsetting to some readers, including suicide. The Sun originally received a request from Clayton Heppner to help him advertise his online petition to open up access to online and telehealth mental health services outside of Manitoba. We put out a call for people to share their stories about their own struggles with finding help for their mental health challenges. Access to mental health services in Manitoba has been challenging for people like Clayton Heppner, so he started an online petition to bring attention to the issue of accessibility. After 17 months of waiting to see a psychiatrist in Brandon for panic attacks, anxiety and depression, he said the province doesnt have the resources to provide proper, timely care to its residents. Manitoba has laws in place that prevent any providers from outside of the province to help, which is extremely concerning, he added. SUBMITTED Kaelyn Prince (right) with her late cousin Dillan Liam Prince. Kaelyn has been struggling with mental health issues since she was 13 and her cousin committed suicide. The change.org petition is calling to "amend the current laws preventing Manitoba patients in need of mental health care to get help outside of our province by virtual or telehealth options." It can be found at chng.it/sHjJTkjf9c. As of Sunday afternoon, it had reached 699 of the needed 1,000 signatures. "What Im hoping for is to raise awareness that there are very real barriers out there that are preventing people from getting help," he said. "That part bothers me a lot when there are other organizations within Canada." There are some great online Canadian resources for those who want psychiatric help and are willing to pay for it, he said, but due to current laws in Manitoba, they cannot help anyone in our province. He stressed he isnt denigrating the people working in the system; this is about calling for it to be revamped to make it more accessible. He also said he understands there are a lot of problems with recruiting people to Brandon. Demand for mental health professionals has grown exponentially during the pandemic, but the pool of professionals has stagnated, he said. Those who are working do not have enough time or resources to handle the volume of people needing help in a timely manner. His physician told him the current wait time to see a psychiatrist in Brandon is long because the local doctors either have no room for more patients or are retiring. The physician had referred some people to psychiatrists in Winnipeg, but they are now refusing to take any more, he said. "Even my doctor is frustrated with this. This sort of wait time is extremely dangerous. Lives are at stake," he said. He contacted the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba (CPSM) to find out why they cant access services outside the province. The college sent him a link to a document that stated "full [practising] class registration in Manitoba is required for those physicians registered in another province or a jurisdiction outside of Canada who are seeking to practice virtual medicine for any patient located in Manitoba. This applies whether treating Manitoba patients for insured or non-insured services. Currently, there is no separate virtual medicine registration in Manitoba for treating Manitoba patients." The wait time for mental health services is complex and affects all facets of health care, stated Wendy Elias-Gagnon, communications officer for CPSM, in an email. Virtual access to mental health professionals is allowed, provided "it does not alter the ethical, professional, and legal obligations of members to provide good medical care," according to the colleges Standard of Practice for Virtual Medicine. The document also states there is a need for virtual medicine in providing access to care, especially for patients in remote and underserviced areas, patients with disabilities, patients in institutional settings, limited psychosocial supports or economic means, and in a pandemic, or state of emergency. However, it is not an acceptable standard of care to solely practice virtual medicine. A blended care model balancing in-person and virtual medicine is required. "Many aspects of mental health care require in-person care to be competent care. A physical assessment might be required to assess the patients appearance, actions, mannerisms, countenance, etc. This may or may not be achieved by video, and video is highly encouraged by CPSM for all virtual encounters in mental health," the document read. It also points out a successful patient-physician relationship is better achieved in person than through virtual medicine, with some exceptions as listed above. As well, each members medical practice must include timely in-person care when clinically indicated or requested by the patient, according to Elias-Gangon. It has been a struggle for Marlene Blake, 64, to maintain her physical and mental health since her husband, Rick, died of a heart attack in front of her last February in their Brandon home. Last October, she landed in the hospital and a psychiatrist said her physical issues are coming from her grief. He diagnosed her with depression and PTSD. She was told medical staff were going to refer her to an adult services organization in the city, but she has yet to hear back. Even her family physician said she had to see a mental health professional to help her through the grieving process. Blake said the doctor also sent a referral but hasnt heard anything. Blake agreed her grief is wearing on her physically and mentally. It doesnt help she does not have a support circle or family in Brandon, and the pandemic has limited her movement. "It would be better if I could talk to someone who knows how to deal with something like this," she said. "Its nice when you have friends that will listen to you, but I need a professional that is equipped for this." Time hasnt dulled the trauma. She said she still sees Ricks face when she closes her eyes at night. When she is in the bathroom, she cant look in the corner where he died. She even instinctively steps over the spot where his body was. She understands the entire health-care system is backlogged because of the pandemic but said better access to mental health care would help her get the closure she needs. Mental health struggles cut across age, gender, ethnicity and financial backgrounds. Kaelyn Prince, 22, said she isnt just speaking for herself as a young woman, but also for her late cousin, Dillan Liam Prince, who died from an overdose three months ago. She has also had eight family members and family members of friends die by suicide, including her father. She said she has been on antidepressants since age 13 and in and out of counselling for six years. She has attempted suicide multiple times since she was 13, with four serious enough to be admitted to emergency. She was able to talk to a psychiatrist for a short time after being admitted, but nothing else. For years, she has had trouble with managing her medications, and she struggles day to day. "I am not an addict. I am a normal living, working, surviving, young adult, just like the rest, and no one ever sees what truly it is like functioning day to day constantly with this type of messed up mentality undiagnosed," she said. She would also have to pay out of pocket to see a private psychiatrist if she gets an appointment. She would also have to schedule around work, which isnt easy, she said. However, she understands health-care workers themselves are doing what they can to help people, but wishes there was more they could do besides tell her to hang on and try to cope until they can get to her. Ultimately, she wants to raise awareness not just about the state of mental health services, but to show that those who have issues are just normal people dealing with battles that may not be visible right away. The specific amount of time it takes to access health-care services in the province can vary. However, emergent and urgent needs are being prioritized, said a spokesperson from Shared Health. Some mental health services in the province are offered virtually in order to improve access and allow more people to benefit, they said. One service is the Cognitive Behaviour Therapy with Mindfulness classes found at www.cbtm.ca. These classes are geared toward helping people learn ways to deal with depression, worry and anxiety, and connect participants to additional resources. The classes can be accessed by anyone directly, and a referral is not required. However, before seeking out therapies or support, Shared Health asks people to contact their primary care provider their family doctor, nurse practitioner or other health professional to discuss services that would be best for them. If there is a wait, a provider can help them find resources for safely managing or coping in the meantime. kmckinley@brandonsun.com Twitter: @karenleighmck1 Another convoy of truckers drove through Brandon on Saturday, calling for an end to COVID-19 public health mandates while throwing support behind the protest in Ottawa. Advertisement Advertise With Us Another convoy of truckers drove through Brandon on Saturday, calling for an end to COVID-19 public health mandates while throwing support behind the protest in Ottawa. The convoy, which was joined by other members of the public, originally planned to depart Brandon and make its way to Portage la Prairie and back, but opted to stay in the city due to poor road conditions. The protest was in support of the truckers in Ottawa calling for the end of mandates, among other political demands, according to the Brandon Area Freedom Support Facebook page. The Sun requested an interview with the event organizer in person and through Facebook, but they declined to comment. CHELSEA KEMP/THE BRANDON SUN Convoy participants travel west along Victoria Avenue on Saturday. The truck convoys are a smaller presence in Westman compared to other areas, such as Ottawa or Winnipeg, said Brandon Mayor Rick Chrest. "We always uphold peoples right to peacefully protest or demonstrate or make their views known about things," Chrest said. "Weve had many, many issues that have been presented that way in and around our city over the years and this is yet another one." The majority of issues being raised by the protesters are not municipal in nature and instead target provincial and federal public health measures. "We talk about COVID fatigue. People are very frustrated and worn out by this. Theyre frustrated and upset, and some are lashing out. Some people deal with things differently than others," Chrest said. CHELSEA KEMP/THE BRANDON SUN Convoy participants meet up at the Victoria Inn parking lot on Saturday. The Sun posted on Facebook Friday asking for comments from community members about the trucker convoys touring Westman. The Sun received more than 1,300 remarks split between support and disagreement with the movements motives. Some comments and private messages to the Sun noted many people did not want to express an opinion out of fear of personal attacks when talking about the protests, while others questioned the intentions behind the rallies. "I do not support the convoy in any way. There is too much evidence that the organizers are an unsavoury lot. I think they have convinced a lot of honest people that they are fighting for freedom," one comment said. "The fact that the convoy travelled across the country and is parked in Ottawa protesting demonstrates that Canada is still the land of the free. There is no need to fight for freedom that hasnt been lost. I am also sure that Canada will be slowly loosening mandates as the rest of the world is doing. Im worried that the protesters will then claim that their protest has worked and gather up supports for their other much less noble ideas." It was noted by multiple people the majority of truckers continue to work during the pandemic, delivering essential goods and services. They added the convoy truckers have the right to protest because they have that freedom to do so in Canada, but the "no restrictions" message puts vulnerable Canadians at risk. An emphasis should be placed on supporting health-care workers who have been working during the global health crisis and are begging Canadians to adhere to public health restrictions. "I totally disagree with the convoy. The government cant give in to demands by every group that disagrees with their decisions. Those decisions are made by the majority of voters in elections. Another issue is that the majority of truckers want to keep working to ensure our supplies are delivered. Protesting at borders doesnt help this country keep food on the shelves," a comment said. Others expressed their full support for the protesters. "The Canadian freedom convoy isnt just about the truckers and their best interests. They are standing up to a corrupt government who really has no interest in the rights/freedom that Canadians are entitled to." Others support the rallys peaceful side of the protest because they would like to see kids have a normal childhood. Some argued they have the right to do what they want with their own body in terms of vaccines. "I fully support the truckers. Vaccines should not be mandated on anyone. We have a right to choose with informed consent." For some, the convoys have their "absolute support" because COVID-19 restrictions have "gone too far" in Canada, contributing to loss, depression and deaths by suicide. "They are only destroying the good thats left of our great country. Its time to end them now Go truckers go!!!" Another commenter said the unpredictability of the global health crisis and its associated mandates are pushing people to their limits. Others raised concern that the convoys spoke to a larger division between left and right political beliefs on an issue that did not need to be politicized. "It has been truly eye-opening to see how things got twisted as I watched the events live from the hill. This has been a traumatic event for the world [COVID] and I hope we can come out of this and love and forgive each other one day. So much the hate and division between us that was caused by differences in medical beliefs left or right vaxxed or unvaxxed Im so sick of it I truly wish we could all get along!! This fighting hurts my heart and makes me tired [sic]." One person replied they were neutral in regard to the convoys but cautioned the lines between freedom and privileges are becoming blurred. The protests are a sign people need to step back and re-evaluate the meaning of these words, they said. COVID-19 is a real, medical pandemic, they said, and this reality is being forgotten as people focus on political vendettas and people become upset because they do not want the government to tell them what to do. "In the fall, people were literally hanging from planes as they took off, desperate to leave their country to live anywhere else because of the Taliban, hospitals running out of oxygen, and countries that dont even have access to the vaccine at all. But yet we feel like having to wear a mask and take other measures if you choose not to get a vaccine in Canada is an infringement on our freedom. If we take a step back and look around at the world, its pretty evident to see the entitlement that has grown in our first-world country. There is a limitless number of refugees around the world who would gladly take your place as a Canadian if you find it too oppressing to live here." ckemp@brandonsun.com Twitter: @The_ChelseaKemp Music returns to Brandon University this week with the Brandon Chamber Players staging their first live show in nearly two years. Advertisement Advertise With Us Music returns to Brandon University this week with the Brandon Chamber Players staging their first live show in nearly two years. The players will perform their Sing & Strum concert on Saturday at Lorne Watson Recital Hall, with performances at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The featured performers will all be Brandon University School of Music faculty members or Eckhardt-Gramatte Conservatory of Music instructors. After cancelling the 2020-21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Brandon Chamber Players is thrilled to return to the stage with a full season of concerts. "The loss of live music during the pandemic has been devastating for musicians and audiences alike, in Brandon and around the world," president Nancy Hennen stated in a news release. "We are grateful to be able to welcome listeners to the Lorne Watson Recital Hall once again. BCP is committed to the Westman community and looks forward to contributing to the revitalization of our local music scene." Hennen is a sessional instructor in the School of Music and also teaches at the Conservatory. The debut concert for the 2021-22 season will feature both new and familiar works by Jessie Montgomery, Jennifer Higdon and Carl Maria von Weber. The performance features a full lineup of local musicians: Catherine Wood on clarinet; Nancy Hennen on flute; Kerry DuWors and Josias Sanchez on violin; Robert Richardson Jr. on the viola; and Leanne Zacharias on the cello. "The inspiration for this concert was the joyful return of live music, and we chose the pieces and people with this idea in mind," said Wood, who is the groups artistic director as well as a Brandon University professor of music and Conservatory instructor. "BCP is committed to presenting high quality chamber music concerts that present new and well-known music, and we are working towards greater inclusivity in our programming to represent a variety of musical styles." She added they are excited to share this seasons opening concert that celebrates music for winds and strings. General admission is $40, and $20 for students. Concertgoers with reservations can pay at the door. To accommodate social distancing guidelines, concerts will operate at a significantly reduced capacity, so it is recommended that people reserve tickets in advance. All attendees must provide proof of vaccination and ID at the door, and wear masks at all times. Tickets must be reserved in advance and are available by contacting the Brandon Chamber Players through their website or by calling the School of Music office at 204-727-9631. For more information visit BrandonChamberPlayers.ca. The Brandon Sun If you ever wanted to get more involved with the local art scene and help revitalize Brandons historic downtown, now is your chance. Advertisement Advertise With Us If you ever wanted to get more involved with the local art scene and help revitalize Brandons historic downtown, now is your chance. The Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba (AGSM) is giving away memberships as part of its Make Yourself Part of the Picture campaign, which started Feb. 1 and runs until March 5. A news release stated the Manitoba Arts Council is funding the campaign. This will see more than 350 family or group and individual memberships given to residents of the southwestern Manitoba region. This is to encourage Westman residents to take part in the revitalizing of Brandons downtown area and renew support for the arts, the release stated. A membership to the AGSM gives early access to class registrations, discounts at the gallerys gift shop and ticketed workshops or events, facility rental discounts as well as discounts at select business locations in the Westman region. Members who are artists themselves also have the unique opportunity to showcase their artwork at the end of year exhibition Annual Members Show, which has been going on for 17 years. "Choosing to be a member of this wonderful arts community organization means that you get the opportunity to explore a variety of visual arts, photography, ceramics and writing classes on offer at a discounted rate. Its a fantastic way for families to connect and enjoy a prairie-focus exhibition roster as well," stated gallery service co-ordinator Monica Joshi in the release. She added when the Manitoba Arts Council offered funding to rebuild after the devastating effects of the pandemic on the arts and culture scene in Brandon, they chose to use the funds to rebuild our arts family. "We hope that these subsidized memberships will help us to reach the creative members of the community who have been thinking about getting involved with the gallery, but just need a little push." The Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba is the oldest public art gallery in Manitoba, dating back to 1907, and is the largest outside of Winnipeg. In addition to its ongoing exhibition program, it features three full terms of art classes for youth and adults, an additional summer option for youth and children, as well as intensive specialized workshops, each year. To get your membership, contact the gallery at 204-727-1036 or email at info@agsm.ca. kmckinley@brandonsun.com Twitter: @karenleighmck1 A popular inter-provincial youth program has once again set up shop in Brandon after a nearly 20-year absence. Advertisement Advertise With Us A popular inter-provincial youth program has once again set up shop in Brandon after a nearly 20-year absence. Katimavik central cluster project supervisor Fiija Derro described the program as a youth volunteer service organization allowing participants to live in and volunteer in unique communities for around three months at a time. Since it was founded, the purpose of Katimavik has been to serve as a "school of life," giving participants from across the country a chance to experience new communities and try new ways of living in a safe and healthy environment. "Its to teach participants important life skills such as managing a household to professionalism skills, volunteering in the community," Derro said. "What Katimavik has brought on in the last few years has been a very large commitment to truth and reconciliation." Katimivik, which was founded in 1977 and briefly paused in 2012, places a focus on empowering youth and embracing a commitment between truth and reconciliation between Indigenous and non-indigenous people in Canada. The program is centred on an approach of fostering long-term, mutually beneficial relationships between participants and the local communities they volunteer in. Nationwide, the program will see 5,439 participants over five years, dedicating 4.6 million volunteer hours supporting social services, poverty reduction, reconciliation, social justice, gender equality and other areas of impact. To date, the youth volunteer service has had more than 37,000 participants. Katimavik volunteers arrived in Brandon on Jan. 12 and will be volunteering at different non-profits before relocating to Calgary. The young people volunteer eight hours a day from Monday to Thursday and spend Fridays learning about truth and reconciliation. CHELSEA KEMP/THE BRANDON SUN Katimavik participants Hannah Lyon (left) and Meaghan Foster stand in the living room of their program's house Friday. "Unfortunately, in our society people will need help no matter what. Thats just a fact of life. But in the pandemic, a lot of community service organizations have either retracted for their own safety or operational requirements, but a lot of organizations have been needing help," Derro said. "Theyve been needing more volunteers, theyve been needing more support. Thats where Katimavik has really stepped in to provide those volunteers." The selection process for Katimavik is rigorous, Derro said, because organizers need to ensure volunteers are a good fit for the program and Katimavik is a good fit for them. The program is open to volunteers between the ages of 16 and 26, they said, and it sees a rich and diverse group of participants coming from all backgrounds to participate. The Brandon house began to be prepped in mid-December for the arrival of participants this included talking with potential community partners. The goal was to ensure participants would be able to hit the ground running when they arrived. "Im so excited to see the types of projects that we are going to get up to," Derro said. "I think this is going to be a successful partnership with the community." The Brandon Katimavik project currently has five volunteers living in the Wheat City and working in partnership with Manitoba Harm Reduction Network, Sexuality Education Resource Centre MB, Helping Hands Centre of Brandon Inc., Brandon Friendship Centre, Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba, Samaritan House Ministries Inc. and Career Connections Inc. Westman. Participants Hannah Lyon, 18, from Kingston, Ont., and Meaghan Foster, 18, from Timmins, Ont., have enjoyed their time in Brandon since first arriving in January. They are excited to be participating in the project because it marks the first time a Katimavik house has been in Brandon since the early 2000s. There are five participants living in the Katimavik house, along with the project leader. The young people do not know each other until they move in together. Lyon and Foster were fortunate, they said, because they were able to find each other at the Toronto Pearson Airport on their journey out to the Prairies. They later connected with the other volunteers in Winnipeg before making their way out to Brandon. "On the shuttle here, most of us just talked the whole way getting to know each other. But before that, you have no knowledge," Foster said. "Its meant to be a big surprise you meet people and then you sleep in the same room as them that night." They have enjoyed their time in Brandon and volunteering at different community non-profits. The transition to the new community has also included fun and compelling moments of culture shock. "Its been really nice. Its really cold thats definitely a big thing and theres a lot more snow," Lyon said. "The people are really lovely. Theres a lot of little differences that are really interesting to notice." One of the most striking experiences has been how friendly people are in Brandon. Community members also seem excited to meet them and they have had so many friendly engage in a chat. Foster said Timmins is an industrial town and many are there to work. They have found Brandon has a lovely culture and it has been neat seeing the difference even when it comes to something as simple as the construction of buildings. "It feels more homey, more welcoming than just metal buildings and empty pavement streets," Foster said. "There are so many little things that just contribute to warm experiences." Witnessing the rich cultural diversity in Brandon has also been a striking experience. "Its way more diverse here in Brandon. At our job in the morning we just meet people from all over the world. Its so amazing. I wouldnt have had that experience without Katimavik and coming to Brandon in general," Foster said. Katimavik is a learning experience first and foremost, Lyon said, providing participants with skills they can add to their tool belt when out looking for jobs or applying to university. She added participants need to come into the project with an open mind and ready to learn. "Youre going to gain so much from the people around you and from your job experience," Lyon said. The project covers the gamut of important experiences ranging from work skills to leadership skills, social skills and everything in between. Katimavik is designed as a challenge centred on teaching participants about themselves, the town they live in, the people they encounter and the country as a whole. Foster said it is not always easy participants can feel homesick and the jobs can be challenging, but they have a strong support system in place to help ensure they find success. "You know the experience is probably going to change you at least a little bit fundamentally, and thats why were all here we knew that and we wanted that," Foster said. Canada now feels so small, Lyon added with a chuckle. It has been amazing to visit new communities and see how everyone is still Canadian, she said, even though they come from different backgrounds and experiences. Foster encourages others to participate in the program because of the rich experience the project has to offer. "Katimavik was really an opportunity to build experiences and build back my own confidence," Foster said. "You can learn so much, do so much and experience so much while being able to relax more and step back from the stressful parts of your life." ckemp@brandonsun.com Twitter: @The_ChelseaKemp Australias Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins says the likelihood of sexual harassment and assault taking place at Parliament House has really reduced as a result of her investigation into workplace culture. Speaking to radio station ABC Melbourne this afternoon, Ms Jenkins said higher standards had been introduced since the reports recommendations were first made public and remained confident Parliament House was better positioned to handle future instances of misconduct. Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins launches her report into Parliament House culture last year. Credit:Jessica Hromas If something happened today, there are now places that people can go to that would be trusted, and the new systems are being put in place as quickly as possible, she said. So I would absolutely have confidence even without it being fully in place, that immediately there are some systems in place that are much more effective than have been in the past. Ms Jenkins said at the heart of the issue was that Parliament had not kept pace with human resource systems introduced by large corporations and leading employers. Asked about todays public acknowledgment and apology to former federal staffer Brittany Higgins by both sides of the political divide, Ms Jenkins said she was pleased to see open acceptance across the board. Loading There were apologies, they were sincere, and I know that will mean a lot to the people that were harmed, but I also know thats an important precondition for them committing to change, she said. For the people that have experienced this their experience has been to be not listened to, not necessarily accepted. And in a personal sense, I think theres a lot of people that heard that, who have, for the first time, felt like theyre believed and theyre understood. Ms Jenkins said she was confident the acknowledgment wasnt only lip service and would lead to bigger changes nationwide. Im really confident that change will happen but also that it will have a bigger effect for this country and that leaves me very optimistic, she said. I dont think thats me being Pollyanna, because Ive been in these discussions before and Ive never seen a response like this before. Tooles had his own share of vigorous Twitter stoushes, including a recent pointed exchange with child health expert Professor Fiona Russell, of the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, on the vexed topic of children, schools and Omicron. On January 23, he took issue with Russell over her tweet in which she stated that thered been very little evidence for PHSMs [public health and social measures] in schools (or any setting) though she said she supported (and had worked on) the Victorian governments back-to-school measures which include mask-wearing and the distribution of HEPA filters. Others began piling in, while infectious diseases expert Professor Greg Dore of Sydneys Kirby Institute tweeted that recent social media abuse of leading academics and COVID commentators [Professor] Catherine Bennett and Fiona Russell demonstrates current intensity of discourse and ridiculous polarisation into zero COVID and let-it-rip camps. Not surprising that many public health ppl [sic] shy away from commentary. Toole subsequently told this masthead he agrees with Dore, and that there should not be abuse while adding that there has been some [interpreting of] disagreement as abuse. He also says he was not fiercely on either side in the schools debate but felt close attention needed to be paid to paediatric hospital admissions, in particular in the face of the Omicron wave in the United States. Greg Dore of Sydneys Kirby Institute. Credit:Kate Geraghty Childrens health is an emotive issue at the best of times, let alone in a pandemic, so its unsurprising its become a flashpoint in ongoing debates between public health experts over how best to respond to the virus. Broadly that debate remains a divide between eliminationists, suppressionists, and the Coatsworth-aligned live-with-it camp. The advent of vaccines has tilted the balance, with the living alongside the virus approach gaining the ascendancy among most of the nations political leaders (Western Australia excluded). But the view that elimination is desirable wherever possible still has prominent adherents. Late last month, Professor Guy Marks, together with the head of the Melbourne-based Burnet Institute Professor Brendan Crabb and the Kirby Institutes Professor Raina MacIntyre, co-published a paper headed Heres how we can eliminate COVID-19. The trio defined elimination not as eradication, but as prevention of sustained community transmission that is, the avoidance of overwhelming outbreaks, arguing the need for globally co-ordinated action in pursuit of that goal. All three are members of an Australian collective of some 70 experts across various health and allied disciplines, calling itself OzSAGE (modelled on the acronym, SAGE, used by the UKs Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies). Loading OzSAGE members sign up to a set of principles, including to aspire to elimination meaning, they say, the prevention wherever possible of sustained, ongoing outbreaks. Among members of OzSAGE who have a particular interest in the schools issue are Anna Davidson, who runs a GP clinic in NSWs Hunter region, and former AMA president Dr Kerryn Phelps, who have argued the case for delaying a return to face-to-face teaching until more children had been vaccinated and stronger measures were in place in schools. Davidson, who has also clashed with the Murdoch Institutes Russell over Twitter, is the mother of a child who is classed as clinically vulnerable. She says not enough has been done to reduce airborne transmission in classrooms and that measures adopted in NSW, in particular (where mask-wearing is only required of high school students, while in Victoria it is from year 3 and up) fall short of World Health Organisation best practice. She says her group is not about lockdown and restriction Its the opposite. We are about putting mitigation in place so its safe for everyone. What is wrong with better air quality? There is no downside to that. We dont know what the long effects are going to be ... in the absence of that knowledge I dont think its reasonable to take risks with childrens lives. Dr Kerryn Phelps Phelps says a lot of people [are still] frightened about whats going to happen over the next couple of weeks. She says under current government settings there has been a move from the first do no harm principle that we start with as doctors to this culture operating at the moment of how much harm can we get away with. With Omicron, its reasonably early days, we dont know what the long effects are going to be, and in the absence of that knowledge I dont think its reasonable to take risks with childrens lives, Phelps says. I have contacts in San Francisco and kids from age two are expected to wear masks in early childhood education ... Here it would not be a stretch to have appropriately fitted N95 masks for children from the start of school, even if you didnt want to put that into early childhood areas. Russell, a strong advocate of getting children back to schools as quickly and normally as possible, takes the view that for most students, the social mental and developmental benefits of doing so far outweigh the risks to them of the virus. She points to a statement last month from the Australia and New Zealand Paediatric Infectious Diseases Group urging government decision-makers to prioritise access to education for the benefit of our children and young people. This is the third year into the pandemic, and for any country to be restricting childrens activities in the third year is really unacceptable, Russell says. Loading Phelps says she does not think the public combative approach is the best way to resolve genuinely and passionately held views among different experts. When you are in a pandemic situation, all of the evidence is emerging in real-time and people dont have the luxury of time to be putting this through the normal professional filters I have to believe that all of my medical colleagues have a common goal, and that is to see this pandemic end and preserve as many lives as possible, she says. To the extent that we can, we need to find common ground, and to understand each others perspectives. Professor Nick Talley, editor of the Medical Journal of Australia, also suggests experts temper the way they interact on social media. Its with some dismay I note our curling team has lost their first three matches at the Winter Games, writes Terry Thelwell of North Ryde. They will no doubt point to the lack of training facilities in Australia as one of the reasons. Heres a thought, what about converting that rather expensive clay pigeon shooting range at Wagga Wagga? Ok, shooters stand back, it was just a thought. Hippie vans (C8) and radiators dont mix as resident freak Col Burns of Lugarno explains: Bummer about your daughters wheels man, but her van aint worthy to keep on truckin if it has a radiator. Dig this dude, the only righteous ride is a psychedelic Dak-Dak, which is air-cooled, anything else is a construction of the Man. If she needs to mellow out though, tell her to disconnect the lower radiator hose and imbibe some herbal tea that will blow her mind. Peter Miniutti of Ashbury adds: Dont despair Roger, as long as your daughters hippie van isnt manufactured in China, the teabag in the radiator wont brew oolong. I wouldnt worry about the tea bag in the radiator, reckons Sue Bradley of Eltham (Vic). Simply have a spigot installed at the bottom, et voila - a samovar! Hot tea permanently on tap. If she patents it, shell make a fortune! Moving on from tea to coffee, Les Tomlinson of Berowra Heights says: Youre correct, Granny. Alphonse also invented instant coffee (C8) will be contested. There is no such thing. There is instant and there is coffee. No relationship exists. Message ends I was checking the stock of Anteotech on the 2/2/22 (C8). The share price went down 2.22 per cent to 22 cents! Richie Benaud heaven! declares Anthony Malivanek of Bray Park. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attends a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea in Pyongyang, Dec. 1, in this photo provided by the North Korean government. AP-Yonhap North Korea stayed mum on a much-anticipated meeting of the country's rubber-stamp legislature Monday, a day after it was supposed to take place, spawning speculation the event might have been delayed. The 6th session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) was to be held Sunday to discuss issues that included the state budget and tasks for this year, according to Pyongyang's state media, but they had yet to report on the opening of the event as of Monday morning. The North's official media outlets, such as the Korean Central News Agency and the Rodong Sinmun newspaper, usually report on the outcome of such a major political event the next morning. The legislative session has been a focus of attention as a potential opportunity for the outside world to get a clue on the reclusive regime's policy directions after the North conducted a barrage of missile tests last month, including the launch of an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) Jan. 30. During the previous SPA session held in September, the North's leader Kim Jong-un announced a decision to restore communication lines with South Korea as part of efforts to improve inter-Korean relations and achieve "durable peace" on the peninsula. This is not the first time the North has stayed silent a day after its planned opening of such a meeting. In April 2020, Pyongyang announced an SPA meeting was convened two days later than it was supposed to be held, without giving any explanations on the change of schedule. "There were cases of the Supreme People's Assembly being delayed in the past, and the North also has a record of reporting on such political events after they wrap up if they were held for multiple days," Lee Jong-joo, spokesperson for Seoul's unification ministry, told a regular press briefing. "We will continue monitoring related moves considering various possibilities." The SPA is the highest organ of power under the North's constitution, though it rubber-stamps decisions by the ruling party. It usually holds a plenary session in March or April to deal mainly with budget and cabinet reshuffles. But the North held an SPA session in January and another in September last year. This month's meeting comes amid heightening tensions on the Korean Peninsula, with the North apparently threatening to suspend its years-long moratorium on nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests amid a deadlock in denuclearization negotiations with the United States. The North's latest missile launch, which involved an IRBM, marked the country's seventh show of force this year and its longest-range missile test since the test-firing of an ICBM in November 2017. (Yonhap) WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned that the following article contains an image and the name of a deceased person. Kumanjayi Walker, the Aboriginal man shot dead in the remote Northern Territory desert, was partly pinned to the ground underneath another police officer when Constable Zachary Rolfe fired the fatal shots from point-blank range, a court has heard. On the first day of his murder trial in the Darwin Supreme Court on Monday, previously delayed several times because of coronavirus restrictions and legal arguments all the way to the High Court, Constable Rolfe, 30, pleaded not guilty to murder and other lesser charges stemming from Mr Walkers death on November 9, 2019 in Yuendumu, about 300 kilometres north-west of Alice Springs. Constable Zachary Rolfe (front and centre) leaving court on the first day of his trial for the murder of 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker. Credit:Zach Hope The court heard Constable Rolfe and his colleague Constable Adam Eberl entered the Yuendumu home at about 7.20pm to arrest Mr Walker, who had travelled to the community days earlier for a funeral in a breach of a court order that he remain at an Alice Springs alcohol rehabilitation facility. One of Brisbanes main overpasses in the fast-growing northern suburbs will be widened to four lanes under a plan to remove a long-standing traffic bottleneck. The two-lane Linkfield Road overpass at Bald Hills, which helps distribute traffic in all directions around Gympie Arterial Road, will be widened to four lanes by 2025. The federal government is providing $100 million it is considered part of the national highway network and the state government will contribute $25 million. The Linkfield Road overpass on Brisbanes northside will be widened to four lanes in 2023. Credit:Department of Transport and Main Roads. On Friday, a truck carrying a forklift struck the overpass bridge causing significant damage and forcing its closure to traffic for several days. A serving Special Air Service soldier has denied rehearsing damaging evidence about Ben Roberts-Smith before appearing in the Federal Court witness box in the war veterans defamation case. The soldier, known as Person 14 because he cannot be identified for national security reasons, was present on tours of Afghanistan with Mr Roberts-Smith in 2009 and 2012. He told the court on Friday he witnessed Mr Roberts-Smith tell an interpreter in 2012 to direct a member of the Afghan Partner Force to shoot an Afghan man they had been questioning, or I will. Ben Roberts-Smith outside the Federal Court in Sydney on Monday. Credit:Flavio Brancaleone Person 14 said the interpreter stumbled verbally and didnt relay the order at first, before saying something in an Afghan dialect. A member of the partner force then shot the Afghan man dead, he said. Mr Roberts-Smith has previously given evidence that he gave no such direction. Casual contacts will no longer exist and quarantine requirements for those arriving from interstate have been reduced to seven days, including for those who have already arrived under the 14-day rule. Those isolating will be required to take a PCR test and rapid antigen test before leaving quarantine. It will also become mandatory for those who return a positive RAT test to report it to the Department of Health immediately and isolate. Chief Health Officer Andy Robertson said COVID-19 cases in WA were doubling each week, and expected that to increase to a doubling every three days at its peak. He declined to comment on when the states hard border would come down. How new rules will impact schools At least eight West Australian schools have been impacted by COVID-19 in the first week of term 1. From Tuesday, a close contact in schools will be classed as a person who has spent more than 15 minutes maskless and face-to-face with a case, or two hours in a classroom without masks with a case. Schools will also stagger their start times and breaks to minimise interactions between cohorts and camps will be cancelled. Speaking to ABC Perth Radio on Monday, Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said the changes would make it easier for schools to function. I think its important to keep in perspective with schools that theres eight out of around 1100 schools across the state [with COVID-19 cases], so for the vast majority of schools across Western Australia, it has been a relatively normal start to the school year, she said. However, Australian Medical Association WA president Mark Duncan-Smith said it was also the case that the vast majority of close contacts, if infected with the virus, tested positive within the first seven days from exposure. Loading There has not been a single case in WA where a patient has been isolated following being a close contact and theyve converted from negative to positive in a second week of isolation, he said. AMA WA can identify nothing in the literature to support either from a public health or infection control point of view that would justify a second week of isolation for children in our school system. Keeping kids away from school for a second week without justifiable reasons is doing harm from a social point of view, from an education point of view and keeping parents away from workforce. Corpus Christi College in Perths south announced at the weekend that all its high school students would move to remote learning for two weeks after several cases were reported among students. Ms Sanderson said the decision to close face-to-face learning at the independent school was not made by the state government. I support the advice from the Chief Health Officer, which is to close down particular classes where required and not to close schools if we can avoid it, she said. So that was a decision that was made at a school level, by that school leadership and not a directive from the government. We want children to be at school, that is our absolute priority. WA is the last Australian state to move to the seven days quarantine rule and reduce the definition of a close contact after the state government came under increasing pressure from education bodies and businesses to move to the new protocols. The Department of Health has been asked but is yet to provide information on the number of close contacts who have been placed in 14-days isolation this year, and how many have tested positive in their second week of quarantine. Loading Dr Duncan-Smith said data suggested 99 per cent of people infected with Delta tested positive to COVID within the first week of exposure, with that percentage expected to be higher for the Omicron strain, which is more transmissible. Rapid antigen tests are expected to play a crucial role in monitoring for COVID-19 as case numbers increase, however the self-testing kits are in short supply in WA, with PCR testing still preferred. From Monday, anyone who presents to a Perth hospital emergency department will be triaged with a RAT upon arrival in an external marquee. The chances of a long-promised federal integrity commission being established by May could well be a neat analogy with Scott Morrisons current predicament. The clock is ticking and there mightnt be much time left. An admission from federal Attorney-General Michaelia Cash on Monday that the body, first promised to Australians on December 13, 2018, was not a priority shouldnt have been a shock. In fact, in November last year Morrison was being asked if he could guarantee hed make good on an election pledge to legislate whats often called a federal ICAC. Trust with voters is something Scott Morrison and his government is desperate to regain. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen In a trademark response from the Prime Minister, he shifted the blame to the federal Opposition. We have said very plainly that we would like to take this through on a bipartisan basis, he said at the time. Our model is not supported by the Labor party, who have a two-page proposal. We have 349 pages of detailed legislation. Prime Minister Scott Morrison will be asked to deliver on his election pledge to create a federal agency to crack down on corruption after he corrected a senior cabinet minister who suggested the government had run out of time to act on the promise made three years ago. In a test in Parliament on a national integrity commission, the government will be challenged to put what Labor describes as a phantom law to a debate and end years of waiting for the Commonwealth Integrity Commission announced in December 2018. Scott Morrison insisted there is still time to act on the promise he made before the last election to set up an anti-corruption watchdog. Credit:Edwina Pickles Victorian independent Helen Haines, who secured a brief majority in the House of Representatives last year for her bill to create a tougher federal watchdog, said the government should agree to a debate if it was serious about its election pledge. If the government wanted to, it could introduce it tomorrow, she said. If it has the bill, bring it on. Whatever the Prime Minister appears to be talking about seems to be a phantom to me. Liberal MP Tim Smith, who drunkenly crashed his car into a Hawthorn house last year and has since been on extended leave, will return to the Victorian Parliament on Tuesday. Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said the former shadow attorney-general remained absolutely loyal to the Liberal Party and would serve out his parliamentary term, remaining as the Member for Kew until the November election. Tim Smith, who drunkenly crashed his six-week old Jaguar into a Hawthorn home, will return to Parliament on Tuesday. I had a good chat to him yesterday, Mr Guy said. He has a job to do, and he will be coming to Parliament [on Tuesday]. Mr Smith resigned from the opposition frontbench in late October after he crashed his six-week-old Jaguar outside a childs bedroom while driving at more than twice the legal blood-alcohol limit. Moscow: French President Emmanuel Macron the highest-profile Western leader to visit Moscow since Russia began massing troops on the border with Ukraine told Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Tuesday (AEDT) that there was a need to avoid war and build trust. In the US, President Joe Biden warned that if Russia invades Ukraine, there would be no Nord Stream 2 gas line into Europe from Russia but did not specify how he would go about ensuring the controversial pipeline would not be used. Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron meet at the Kremlin. Credit:Kremlin via AP In a joint news conference after his meeting with Macron, Putin said that a number of Macrons ideas concerning security were realistic and that the two would talk again once the French President had travelled to Kyiv to meet Ukraines leadership. A number of his ideas, proposals, which are probably still too early to talk about, I think it is quite possible to make the basis of our further joint steps, he said. London: Taliban officials are sending their daughters to school despite keeping classrooms closed to female students. High-ranking officials have enrolled their children in overseas state schools and universities while depriving schooling to millions of girls within Afghanistan since they seized power, according to a report by the Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN). Afghan women gathered for a talk. Credit:AP A member of the Talibans negotiating team in Doha said they had started to educate their children in school in Qatar: Since everybody in the neighbourhood was going to school, our children demanded they go to school too. The daughter of one current Taliban minister and former member of the groups leadership council is currently studying medicine at a Qatari university, according to AAN. Latest News Vaucluse trophy home splashes on to market Harbour-view property expected to fetch over $40 million Is mortgage lending competitive in Australia? New analysis looks into the current state of mortgage lending competition Harcourts Australia has posted unprecedented productivity indicators for the year 2021, defying the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the real estate industry. The real estate group saw an increase in auctions by 118%, with the number of settled sales up 31% while volume of settled sales grew to 56%. Meanwhile, the average income of a Harcourts sales consultant increased 42%. These numbers tell the story of how well our people have gone, in a very tough year, said Mike Green, executive director of operations at Harcourts International. We are seeing phenomenal numbers from a massive increase in auction numbers to an increase in the average income of our sales consultants that far outweighs our industry growth statistics. The figures were partly driven by the companys growth and onboarding more offices, tools, and resources, but more so by its people doing really well: getting more business, helping more people, and doing a better job to get repeat business, Green said. Our focus has always been on ensuring our offices are the most successful in their markets and our people are the highest paid, Green said. That is the only way can truly be the most successful group. This number clearly demonstrates we are achieving that goal. Harcourts Australia CEO Adrian Knowles was also pleased to see his people defy the challenges in a tough year. Growth in our business, expertise in our people, and auction numbers reflect how well the brand is doing, and, consequently, how well our people are doing, Knowles said. To have an increase in income like that across the team is probably the best and biggest statistic to come out of this report. Its massive! Knowles added that Harcourts will continue to build upon throughout the new year, with more plans underway, including tech rollouts to better equip and support teams and further growth within the network. People wait in line to be tested for COVID-19 at a makeshift testing center in Seoul, Feb. 7, as the country's new caseload hit a fresh high of 35,131 the same day. Yonhap New COVID-19 infections remained at more than 35,000 for the third day in a row Sunday, despite fewer tests over the weekend, as the highly infectious Omicron variant rages across the country following a major holiday. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 35,286 new cases, including 35,131 local ones, raising the total to 1,044,963. The accumulated virus caseload surpassed the grim milestone of 1 million the previous day, two years after Korea reported its first COVID-19 case. Daily infection tallies reported Monday for the weekend tend to slow due to fewer tests, but the fast spread of the Omicron variant appears to have broken the trend. The health authorities said the number of new patients could possibly reach between 130,000 and 170,000 by the end of the month due to the fast spread of the strain. The daily tally surged to over 30,000 for the first time Friday, just three days after breaking the 20,000 mark. The figure topped the 10,000 level for the first time Jan. 26. The death toll from COVID-19 came to 6,886, up 13 from Sunday for a fatality rate of 0.66 percent. The number of critically ill COVID-19 patients was 270, down two from a day earlier, the KDCA said. The number has stayed in the 200-range for 10 days in a row. The authorities said the Omicron variant is twice as transmissible as the previous Delta strain, but it has up to one-fifth of a chance of developing into a severe illness. The KDCA said intensive care unit beds for critically ill COVID-19 patients were 18.2 percent full nationwide, staying at a stable level. At-home care patients rose 17,729 from the previous day to a total of 146,445 due to the fast spread of milder cases of COVID-19 and those without symptoms, the KDCA added. The authorities said at-home care treatment will now be more focused on patients aged 60 or older, with up to 650 institutions across the country that could monitor up to 210,000 people. Of the locally transmitted cases, Gyeonggi Province that surrounds Seoul reported 9,780, followed by the capital with 6,873 and the western port city of Incheon with 2,366, the KDCA said. Daily new overseas cases dropped 34 from the previous day. (Yonhap) Ashok Leyland, the flagship of Hinduja Group, will supply 200 trucks to Bangladeshs government as a part of a project involving India providing a $ 2 billion line of credit to its eastern neighbour. won the tender floated by Bangladesh government for 135 fully built trucks. Now, the company has bagged an order for another 65 units of Truck Mounted Wrecker, a specialized vehicle to be deployed in Bangladesh for various highway applications. is one of the leading commercial vehicle brands in Bangladesh and has more than 50 touch points there. Apart from supplying many vehicles from India, the company also assembles their range of trucks, buses, and LCV vehicles locally at IFAD Auto Dhamrai plant in Bangladesh. Speaking on the occasion, Amandeep Singh, Head International Operation, Ashok Leyland, said, Bangladesh is one of our key export markets and this supply further strengthens our position in the country. We are enthused by the various Export facilitation measures taken by the Indian Government, and we plan to further increase our volumes and footprint in overseas markets especially SAARC, GCC and Africa. Exports have been a strong focus for us to de-risk from cyclicality in the Indian market, and this is a significant step in that direction. Commercial vehicle maker on Monday said it will supply 200 trucks to the government as part of a USD 2-billion line of credit announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As part of the order, 135 built trucks have already been delivered to Bangladesh, said in a statement. The company said it had won the tender floated by the government for 135 fully-built trucks, comprising 3T truck, hydraulic beam lifter and Sewerage sucker. These trucks have already been handed over to the Roads and Highways Department of in the current financial year, it added. has now been awarded an order for another lot of 65 units of Truck Mounted Wrecker, a specialised vehicle to be deployed by the Bangladesh government for various highway applications, it noted. Bangladesh is one of our key export markets, and this supply further strengthens our position in the country. We are enthused by the various export facilitation measures taken by the Indian Government. We plan to further increase our volumes and footprint in overseas markets, especially SAARC, GCC and Africa. Exports have been a strong focus for us to de-risk from cyclicality in the Indian market, said Amandeep Singh, head of the international operation, Ashok Leyland. Ashok Leyland is one of the leading commercial vehicle brands in Bangladesh, with more than 50 touchpoints across the country, according to the company. Apart from supplying many vehicles from India, the company also assembles its range of trucks, buses, and LCV vehicles locally at IFAD Auto Dhamrai plant in Bangladesh, it stated. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian customers of called for a boycott of its cars following a tweet from the account of the firms partner posted insensitive remarks over Kashmir. Dozens of Indians posted their intention to cancel orders for Hyundai cars to punish the company while urging support for homegrown brands like Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra. Responding to the furore, Hyundai's India unit said that it has a "zero tolerance policy towards insensitive communication and we strongly condemn any such view". Hyundai is India's second-largest car seller after Maruti Suzuki, and the largest car exporter in the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Monday directed the authorities to commence within two weeks the demolition of realty major Ltd's twin 40-storey towers of its Emerald Court project in . A bench comprising Justices D Y Chandrachud and Surya Kant also directed the CEO to convene a meeting within 72 hours in which all the agencies concerned shall be present to finalise the schedule for demolition. "The CEO shall take all necessary steps for observing directions of this court, work of demolition shall commence no later than two weeks from this order,'' the bench said. The apex court also noted the submission of the that an email was received from the Noida intimating that necessary NOC's have been received for facilitating work of demolition from the agencies concerned. The court was also apprised that a cheque of Rs 70 lakh minus TDS has been given to the agency entrusted with the task of demolition and was assured that there is no impediment in the realisation of the cheque. At the outset, the counsel for NOIDA told the bench that Edifice Engineering wrote a letter dated February 3, 2022, saying that entire funds have not been paid over. "Yesterday, NOIDA received an email from that the balance payment of Rs 70 lakh has been released subject to receipt of approvals. what approvals are wanting I fail to understand," the counsel for NOIDA said. The bench expressed displeasure over the demolition delay and said, "We don't want to get into permissions and all. It is not our concern. You tell us what is the status of the demolition. We are not going to go into which authority is going to give the permission that is your duty. It is an order of the . You have to comply with it." The counsel for Supertech submitted that one of the NOC's relates to GAIL (Gas Authority of India Ltd) as there is a high-pressure gas pipeline which is 16 metres away from the building to be demolished and it has a depth of three metres. "They say they cannot switch off the gas supply because it supplies gas to the whole Noida and adjoining areas. We wrote to them seeking NOC saying these are experts and they can handle this. But GAIL said they want to hold meetings with the Noida authority and also with Edifice. We have released all the amounts. We have arranged the meeting," the counsel said. Advocate Gaurav Agarwal, who is amicus curiae in the case, told the bench that the authorities will have to come together. "They are acting in different fields. The district administration needs to figure out when the demolition will take place, what traffic restrictions are to be put in place, and what is the safety concern of residents? All this needs to be done on the ground. It seems they are acting at cross purposes. The demolition activity is serious because there are residents nearby," he said. On January 12, the top court pulled up the builder for not complying with its orders to demolish the twin 40-story towers in sector 93 of Noida and warned that its directors will be sent to jail for "playing truant with the court". On August 31 last year, the top court had ordered the demolition of Supertech Ltd's twin 40-storey towers under construction within three months for violation of building norms in "collusion with NOIDA officials", holding that illegal construction has to be dealt with strictly to ensure compliance with the rule of law. It had directed that the entire amount of home buyers be refunded with 12 per cent interest from the time of the booking and the RWA of Emerald Court project be paid Rs 2 crore for the harassment caused due to the construction of the twin towers, which would have blocked sunlight and fresh air to the existing residents of the housing project. (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.) GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Ltd on Monday reported a 3.93 per cent decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 150.35 crore in the third quarter ended December 31, 2021. The company had posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 156.51 crore in the corresponding quarter last fiscal, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals said in a regulatory filing. Total income in October-December 2021 stood at Rs 826.24 crore as compared with Rs 805.89 crore in the year-ago period, it added. Its total expenses were higher at Rs 636.56 crore in the third quarter, compared with Rs 629.69 crore in the year-ago period. GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Managing Director Sridhar Venkatesh said, "GSK's established pharma portfolio recorded strong double-digit growth, driven by our core legacy brands such as Calpol, Augmentin and Ceftum." While the promoted brands grew, the vaccines business was impacted on account of the third wave of the pandemic, he added. "However, as this phase of the pandemic recedes and schools open up across the country, we are witnessing a steady uptake in vaccination. "We also continue to invest in our brands and raise awareness amongst parents about more innovative vaccines from our portfolio," Venkatesh said. During the quarter, the company concluded the sale of its Vemgal plant in Karnataka, he said. He added that "in the subsequent quarters, we will also aim to close the transfer of Iodex and Ostocalcium brands to GlaxoSmithKline Asia Pvt Ltd, as part of GSK plc's plans to create two world-class in pharmaceuticals and consumer healthcare". (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) on Monday said that has upgraded its long-term credit rating to IND AA (stable) from IND AA- (stable). "Long-term credit rating of Ltd has been upgraded to IND AA (stable) from IND AA- (stable) by Pvt Ltd, the wholly-owned Indian subsidiary of Fitch Ratings," the company said in a statement. An upgrade of a company within the AA family of ratings is a clear recognition of the robust business and risk management practices of the company and its strong financial profile. has one of the strongest balance sheets in the sector with a net debt-equity of 0.37x and net debt-Ebitda of 1.74x, it stated. Moreover, the company generates a steady Ebitda (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) and cash flow due to 84 per cent of its operational portfolio being tied under long-term power purchase agreements, it stated. The upgrade concurs with the commencement of a capex (capital expenditure) cycle entailing an annual outlay of Rs 8,000-Rs 10,000 crore to reach a 20-gigawatt (GW) operational portfolio comprising 85 per cent renewable energy capacity, it added. This is a testimony to the pedigree of project implementation capability of the company, the consistent demonstration of appropriate risk management practices, the application of stringent risk-return metrics to identify new growth opportunities and the strong viability of the projects under implementation. This outcome also demonstrates that a clear and transparent articulation of growth strategies backed by sound planning, and efficient project execution can have favourable outcomes with stakeholders, it stated. Prashant Jain, joint managing director and CEO of JSW Energy, said in the statement, "The upgrade of the long-term credit rating of the company reinforces our belief that growth can be pursued while maintaining the key financial metrics of the company as long as the growth opportunities are value accretive, sustainable and have sound management practices to mitigate the risks of pursuing such opportunities." JSW Energy Chief Financial Officer Pritesh Vinay said the upgrade of the company's long-term credit rating is a testimony to the strong business and financial profile of the company, its robust risk management practices and the capability of the business to diversify into green and new energy businesses. The company has set an ambitious target for a 50 per cent reduction in carbon footprint by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 by transitioning towards renewable energy. The firm has set a target to reach the 20-gigawatt (GW) capacity by 2030, with the share of renewable energy increasing to 85 per cent of the total. About 2.2 GW wind and solar projects, tied with SECI and JSW Group, are expected to be commissioned in the next 18 months, while the 240-megawatt (MW) Kutehr Hydro Electric Project is expected to be commissioned in the next 36 months. With the commissioning of these projects, the company's total generation capacity will increase to seven GW, with renewable energy contributing to about 55 per cent. The company is expeditiously securing resources of more than 20 GW in various resource-rich states such as Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. Further, the firm is evaluating opportunities for expansion into emerging energy businesses of hydro-pumped storage, battery energy storage, green hydrogen and energy products and services. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) on Monday reported 34 per cent jump in standalone profit after tax (PAT) at Rs 690 crore for December quarter 2021-22 helped by higher non-interest income. The state-owned lender had reported a PAT of Rs 514 crore for the year-ago period. During the quarter our operating profit grew 16 per cent. This was driven by growth in NII and other income. Our fee income rose by 11 per cent, forex income by 32 per cent and recovery in bad debts also increased by 111 per cent, Managing Director and CEO S L Jain told reporters. Net interest income (NII) marginally grew by 2 per cent to Rs 4,395 crore from Rs 4,314 crore in the year-ago period. Operating profit rose 16 per cent to Rs 3,288 crore. Non-interest income surged 36 per cent to Rs 1,556 crore. Fee income and forex income grew 11 per cent and 32 per cent, respectively. The bank's recovery of bad debts increased by 111 per cent to Rs 278 crore in the quarter. Domestic net interest margins (NIM) declined by 10 basis points to 3.03 per cent from 3.13 per cent in the year-ago quarter. Gross non-performing assets ratio increased to 9.13 per cent as against 9.04 per cent. Net NPAs stood at 2.72 per cent as against 2.35 per cent. Fresh slippages during the quarter were at Rs 2,732 crore. Cash recovery stood at Rs 1,096 crore and upgradation was at Rs 955 crore. Provision Coverage Ratio (PCR) stood at 85.49 per cent as at end-December 2021. Total provisions increased 11 per cent to Rs 2,598 crore from Rs 2,332 crore in the year-ago period. The bank has identified 34 accounts worth Rs 5,400 crore to be transferred to the National Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd (NARCL). In the first phase, it will transfer 5 stressed accounts worth Rs 1,200 crore, Jain said. Capital adequacy ratio at 15.47 per cent, increased by 141 basis points year-on-year. Advances grew 3 per cent to Rs 4,00,432 crore and total deposits were higher 8 per cent at Rs 562,575 crore as of December 31, 2021. Jain said the bank is looking at a credit growth of 8-10 per cent in the ongoing fiscal year. The bank's scrip ended at Rs 158.65, down 5.82 per cent on BSE. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Moon Jae-in speaks during a Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, Monday. Courtesy of Cheong Wa Dae Korea introduces new COVID-19 control scheme focused on self-monitoring By Nam Hyun-woo President Moon Jae-in urged Koreans to refrain from "excessive fear" over the rapid spread of the Omicron variant and unveiled a new control scheme focused on self-monitoring and self-treatment by infected individuals to free up medical workers to treat severely ill patients. "After the Omicron variant became the dominant strain in Korea, the number of daily confirmed cases has been setting new highs every day, and it is a grim reality as we are uncertain about how high the number will go and when it will peak," Moon said while presiding over a Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure meeting on Monday. "We need to be alert, but we don't need to have excessive fear," he said. "Even though the number of confirmed cases increases, if we control severely ill patients, the fatality rate and medical response capability, we can successfully overcome this critical moment." Moon's remarks came as the number of daily confirmed cases reached nearly 40,000 amid the rapid spread of the Omicron variant. Korea reported 35,286 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, pushing up the total caseload to 1.04 million. The COVID-19 situation has been spinning out of control, with the number of daily infected cases reaching a record high of 38,691 on Saturday, up from 18,341 on Monday and 27,443 on Thursday. The rate of positive COVID-19 test results increased from 9.4 percent on Monday to 26 percent on Sunday. Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Commissioner Jeong Eun-kyeong said Monday this trajectory is expected to continue for the time being and the daily tally may rise further to somewhere between 130,000 and 170,000 at the end of this month. A citizen takes a COVID-19 test at a testing site near Seoul Station, Monday. Yonhap Shares of InterGlobe Aviation, the parent of IndiGo, zoomed nearly 10 per cent after the firm posted a profit after tax of Rs 129.8 crore in the three months ended December 2021. The stock jumped 9.91 per cent to settle at Rs 2,170.05 on BSE. During the day, it gained 10.57 per cent to Rs 2,183.15. It zoomed 9.91 per cent to close at Rs 2,170.10 on NSE. On the volume front, 1.56 lakh shares were traded on BSE and 44.81 lakh on NSE. Fuelled by higher passenger revenues, the country's largest airline IndiGo on Friday posted a profit after tax of Rs 129.8 crore in the three months ended December 2021 amid the pandemic clouds. InterGlobe Aviation, the parent of IndiGo, had slipped into a loss of Rs 620.1 crore in the year-ago period. In a significant development, the company has appointed its co-founder Rahul Bhatia as Managing Director with immediate effect and he would oversee all aspects of the airline. Reflecting signs of slow recovery in the pandemic-hit airline industry, IndiGo's revenue from operations jumped to Rs 9,294.8 crore in the latest December quarter compared to Rs 4,910 crore in the same period a year ago. Total income surged 84.3 per cent on an annual basis to Rs 9,480.1 crore in the third quarter of the current fiscal year. "For the quarter, our passenger ticket revenues were Rs 80,731 million, an increase of 98.4 per cent and ancillary revenues were Rs 11,417 million, an increase of 41.3 per cent compared to the same period last year," it said in a statement. (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.) IT services firm has named Dave Cassie as its new country head for Canada where he will work with the leadership team to increase growth. Cassie is experienced in consulting, technology solutions, outsourcing, and transformation in multiple industries across North America. He has led major transformation programs for leading banks, insurance companies, investment managers and wealth managers in the US and Canada, said the company in a release. Beyond financial services, he has also worked in a range of industries including transportation, high tech, automotive and consumer products. The past few years has created a secular demand for technology transformation services. With his exceptional track record of helping customers with large-scale transformation programs, Dave will be an invaluable asset to and our Canadian clients, said Nitin Rakesh, chief executive officer at . I am excited to see the investments Mphasis is making in Canada, including a new Delivery Center in Calgary, Quantum City in partnership with the University of Calgary, and investments in key accounts across the country. We stand out from the crowd with a foundation of innovation, technical expertise and delivery excellence combined with domain specialization, said Cassie. Before joining Mphasis, Cassie was Managing Director, Financial Services Advisory at PwC where he led the PwC Canada Asset and Wealth Management practice. He has worked with TD Bank in Toronto, Canada and Cherry Hill, USA, where he led transformation programmes. He holds an MBA degree from Ivey Business School in London, Ontario, and a Computer Science degree from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and India on Monday announced signing of a pact to develop a regulated sector-focused cloud offering to empower customers with the best-of-breed cloud computing and infrastructure services. In line with emerging regulations, L&T and will co-engage with a defined set of large customers in regulated sectors to develop architectures and road maps to modernise their traditional data centres to potentially hybrid models and advance their digital transformation goals. Under the memorandum of understanding (MoU), the two industry leaders will set up a joint governance group to define future platform designs, investments, and commercial/business models to service the regulated sectors' emerging technology requirements, according to a statement. Senior leadership teams of both the organisations will be engaged collectively on this as the association evolves. "India is at the cusp of enormous cloud adoption, as innovation, scale and agility become critical determinants for enterprises grow and compete globally. Our partnership with aims to accelerate hybrid cloud transition for large customers in regulated sectors, while maintaining the highest benchmarks of compliance, security, and governance," Larsen & Toubro CEO and MD S N Subrahmanyan said. As per the present norms, the MoU will focus on engaging customers in the Indian jurisdiction, with the potential to extend this partnership to other jurisdictions in the future, as agreed between the two . At an appropriate time, L&T and Microsoft will consider possible partnership structures to continue to collaborate for the performance of this MoU. "Microsoft is excited to collaborate with L&T to support the public sector and the other regulated industries as they seek to accelerate digital services to benefit all parts of India. This partnership will enable development of a scalable cloud infrastructure model for these sectors to accelerate their digital innovation, in alignment with the data location and security needs of India," Microsoft India President Anant Maheshwari 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.) E-commerce company on Monday announced a boundaryless workplace model by giving its employees the choice to work from home, office or any location of their choice. Based on employee demand, the company will also set up satellite offices at locations with higher talent density. Earlier, also introduced employee friendly practices like the 30-week gender-neutral parental leave policy, gender reassignment leave and the 10-day reset and recharge policy. The latest initiative furthers the companys efforts to reimagine conventional workplace dynamics. To support working parents, will sponsor day care facilities for employees with children below 6 years of age. This can also be availed during official travels to Meeshos head office in Bangalore. With a focus on seamless employee experience, the company will enable its workforce with real-time and virtual collaboration tools. Providing ample opportunities for teams to even meet and collaborate in-person, the company is introducing initiatives like trips to attend quarterly summits and an annual workation in locations like Goa. Ashish Kumar Singh, Chief Human Resources Officer, Meesho said, Driven by our mantra to build a people-centric workplace, Meesho has always ensured employees are at the core of everything we do. We have been championing many industry-first initiatives that have redefined conventional workplace norms and this new policy is a step in that direction. We have studied multiple future-of-work models to arrive at this novel boundaryless approach. In the future, this will also give talent across the globe an opportunity to build for Bharat with Meesho, he added. State-owned (PSB) on Monday reported a net profit of Rs 301 crore for the quarter ended December 2021 as the lender saw good growth in overall business mix and better cash recoveries following its turnaround strategy started a year back. The lender had posted a net loss of Rs 2,376 crore in the same quarter a year ago. Sequentially, the net profit was up by 38.1 per cent from Rs 218 crore in the quarter ended September 2021. "The bank was undergoing a turbulent time a year before and then the bank turned around in the quarter ended March 2021 after a consecutive loss for about eight quarters. "Since then, the bank has been continuously making profits. Having said that, if we look into Q3FY22, it is one of the highest bottomline that we have. The net profit is at Rs 301 crore while a year before it was a huge loss," S Krishnan, MD and CEO, told a media conference after the earnings announcement. Total income rose to Rs 2,042.03 crore, as against Rs 1,973.78 crore in Q3 FY21, PSB said in a regulatory filing. Net interest income was up by 23.1 per cent to Rs 758 crore, from Rs 616 crore. The net interest margin improved to 3.17 per cent in the December 2021 quarter from 2.86 per cent in the year-ago period. Also, the cost of deposits for the bank fell to 4.24 per cent from 4.97 per cent, while the cost of funds came down to 3.64 per cent from 4.30 per cent. The bank's provisions for non-performing assets (NPAs) fell to Rs 325 crore during the quarter, as against Rs 1,482 crore reserved for the same period of the previous fiscal. However, the gross non-performing assets showed a slight deterioration at 14.44 per cent of the gross advances as of December 31, 2021, from 13.14 per cent a year ago. But it improved quarter-on-quarter from 14.54 per cent at the end of September 2021. Likewise, the net NPAs or bad loans rose to 3.01 per cent year-on from 2.84 per cent, but were down from 3.81 per cent in the preceding quarter. Krishnan said the rise is NPA when compared year-on-year is attributable to the Supreme Court order post the pandemic that had restrained banks from declaring assets as non-performing. "All that accounts were only recognised in March 2021 when the Supreme Court lifted the order. Hence, the December 2021 quarter was abnormally low," he noted. He further said the bank has transformed by changing its strategy completely, both on the business and IT front. "We are focussing more on the low cost funds and also on the retail advances. Considering the size of the bank, we feel it is a better opportunity, and also to avoid concentration risk...these initiatives have started to yield which are visible in our results," Krishnan said. On the business performance, the bank's total business grew by 7.70 per cent on an annual basis to Rs 167,061 crore as on December 31, 2021. Total deposits moved up by 10.87 per cent to Rs 100,351 crore. Gross advances grew by 3.26 per cent to Rs 66,710 crore in Q3 FY22. RAM (Retail, Agriculture and MSME) business grew by 6.37 per cent. Retail, agriculture and MSME loan portfolios grew by 12.15 per cent, 3.53 per cent and 4.06 per cent, respectively. The bank is ensuring that the balancesheet is strengthened, the focus is also on RAM and "we are bringing down the corporate (portofolio) to avoid concentration risk", Krishnan added. The lender continued its special focus on retail business, as a result of which RAM advances have grown from 48 per cent to 50 per cent, while corporate advance declined from 52 per cent to 50 per cent on quarter-on-quarter basis. It has also surpassed the regulatory targets of 40 per cent and 18 per cent in priority sector and agriculture credit, respectively. CASA (current account savings account) deposits grew 11.69 per cent, the bank said. During Q3 2021-22, the bank recovered Rs 430 crore, including recovery of Rs 25 crore in technically written off (TWO) accounts. Stock of the bank closed at Rs 17.15 apiece on BSE, down by 1.44 per cent from the previous close. (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.) Ltd is seeking a minimum of USD 14 for selling natural gas being produced from coal seams in a block in Madhya Pradesh as it looks to cash in on the recent spike in energy prices globally. Reliance sought bids from users for the sale of 0.65 million standard cubic meters per day of gas from its coal-bed methane (CBM) block SP-(West)-CBM-2001/1 for a one-year period beginning April 1, 2022, according to a Notice Inviting Offer (NIO) published by the firm. Bids have been sought at a premium over the base of 14 per cent of the Brent crude oil price. "A Bidder shall be required to quote the variable denoted as 'V' in USD per million British thermal unit terms as a positive number pursuant to the gas price formula" of "14% x Dated Brent + V," the NIO said. The starting ticker for 'V' has been kept at USD 1 per mmBtu, which means bidders will have to quote at least USD 1 plus 14 per cent of dated Brent crude oil to buy the gas. Brent crude oil is currently trading above US 92.5 per barrel and at this price, the floor rate for Reliance gas comes to USD 13 per mmBtu. Adding 'V' of USD 1, the minimum price comes to USD 14 per mmBtu. The sale price will be higher of the bid price or the government-approved rate for domestic gas, NIO said. The government dictated price for gas produced by state-owned firms such as ONGC presently is USD 2.90 per mmBtu. The rate Reliance is seeking is higher than the price at which the company had sold the same gas last year. Gas will be delivered at Shahdol in Madhya Pradesh, which is connected to the nationwide gas pipeline network through the HVJ pipeline, the NIO said. Last year, Reliance had sold three-fourths of the gas from the same block to an affiliate of the company. India Gas Solutions Private Limited, a 50: 50 joint venture of Reliance and UK's bp, bought 0.62 mmscmd out of 0.82 mmscmd gas bid out in that auction. State-owned gas utility GAIL India Ltd cornered 0.17 mmscmd while 0.03 mmscmd was picked by Reliance Gas Pipeline - the entity that transports gas from the blocks in Madhya Pradesh to consumers. The price bid was 9.2 per cent of the prevailing rate of Brent crude oil price, which translated into a rate of USD 8.5 per mmBtu at current oil prices. In the last year's auction, Reliance had sought bids for 0.82 mmscmd. Bids were initially sought at 9.5 per cent of Brent rate as the base or minimum price and asked bidders to "enter bids that are higher than or equal to it." It later lowered the base price to 8.7 per cent of Brent. At the current USD 92.5 per barrel Brent crude oil price, the price of gas produced from coal seams, called CBM, comes to USD 8.5 per mmBtu. Reliance started commercial gas production from the CBM blocks in March 2017 and reached a peak of 3 mmscmd before the end of 2018. CBM is natural gas stored or absorbed in coal seams and contains 90-95 per cent methane. The pricing formula used last year and this year is a variation over the 2017 formula when Reliance had sought bids in the form of a deductible from 12.67 per cent of prevailing Brent crude oil price plus USD 0.52 per mmBtu plus USD 0.26 per mmBtu. In that bidding for up to 3 mmscmd of gas, Reliance had outbid rivals including GAIL to buy the entire volume. Last year, Reliance and its partner BP plc of UK bid out 7.5 mmscmd of gas from its eastern offshore KG-D6 block by pricing the fuel at JKM (Japan Korea Marker). The JKM represents the price for spot LNG delivered in the Asian market and is now being widely used in the LNG industry as a marker for medium/long-term LNG contracts instead of traditional linkage to oil. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor The has received sanction from the government to proceed with the prosecution of former ambassador to Deepak Vohra and under secretary Ajoy Ganguly in a case of alleged financial bungling in Indian diplomatic missions there, officials said. The agency had to seek the sanction on the directions of a special court which has rejected two closure reports filed by the against Ganguly, who was accused of financial impropriety during his tenure as the consul general of India at Juba, South from October, 2007 to May 6, 2009. "There is sufficient material on record which discloses the commission of aforesaid offence by the above-named two officials (Vohra and Ganguly) in conspiracy with Ravindra Prakash," the court had said while rejecting the second closure report last year. The court had directed the to get government's sanction to prosecute Ganguly and Vohra. The CBI has now received the sanction from the government to prosecute the former officials, they said. The Special CBI Court on Monday took cognisance of charges against Ganguly, Vohra and Prakash and summoned them on March 9. "Accordingly, I take cognisance of the offence under Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) read with Sections 468 (forgery) and 471 (fraudulently using forged document as genuine) IPC read with Section 13(2) read with Section 13 (1) (d) (ii) of Prevention of Corruption Act, under Section 108 read with Section 13 (1) (d) (ii) of Prevention of Corruption Act and substantive offences under Section 471 IPC and 13 (1) (d) (ii) of Prevention of Corruption Act," CBI Special Judge Ajay Gulati said. When contacted for comments, Vohra said, "I'm not aware of anything." The central probe agency had started the probe against Ganguly and Indian Prakash based in Juba in 2011 on the complaint of External Affairs Ministry's Vigilance Department. Ganguly was accused of misappropriating USD 10,033.79 (over Rs 7 lakh as per present exchange rates) and Sudanese Pound (SDG) 235, submitting false TA bills, purchasing diesel at a higher rate than market, payment of agency charges for hiring office of the Indian Consulate to a fictitious person, hiring of the premises at a higher rate, hiring of a private car despite availability of official car among others. It was alleged that Prakash connived and conspired with Ganguly to embezzle Indian government's funds. In his statement recorded on September 25, 2013 before the CBI, Vohra had given a clean chit to Ganguly regarding his integrity. On the charges paid for hiring the consulate to a fictitious person, Vohra had told the investigation officer that the payment was made through cheque to agency owner Anna Kima after due approval from the External Affairs Ministry. Vohra is understood to have remained silent on other allegations against Ganguly like TA bills, inflated bills for upkeep of consulate building. The CBI gave its findings in a closure report before a special court here in 2013 which outrightly rejected it. The agency then filed a second closure report touching upon loopholes pointed out by the then special judge and said that in the view of insufficient evidence it is not possible to prove the allegations levelled in the complaint. This was again rejected by the Special Court in March last year. While rejecting the report, Special Judge Ajay Gulati had said material available with the CBI "prima-facie discloses commission of offence" by Ganguly under "section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) IPC read with section 13 (1) (d)(ii) (abuse of position as public servant for obtaining pecuniary gains for himself or someone else) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, under section 13 (1) (d) (ii) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and under section 471 (dishonestly using a forged document as genuine) IPC read with section 13 (1) (d) (ii) of the Prevention of Corruption Act". On Vohra, he had said the material on record prima facie discloses commission of offence under section 108 IPC (Abettor) read with section 13 (1) (d) (ii) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. "The statement of Vohra, when assessed in the backdrop of statements of other witnesses, comes out as a clear attempt on his part to save Ajoy Ganguly despite the evidence strappingly suggesting otherwise. The reason for the same becomes comprehensible if we peruse the statements of a couple of other witnesses who state that Vohra and Prakash were known to each other," the court had pointed out. Citing statements of witnesses, the court had said it is thus patent that Vohra's statement wherein "he has tried to exculpate" Ganguly was "purely motivated lest his own name should crop up in the matter of payment of illegal agency charges". "This witness further stated that Vohra would come every weekend to Juba from Khartoum where he was functioning as the Indian ambassador to . If what the witnesses state is the truth, Vohra rather comes out as an abettor but the investigation's conclusion is completely silent on this aspect," the special judge had 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.) Over Rs 21.11 lakh worth bank deposits held in the name of a Chennai-based dental clinic have been attached under the anti-money laundering law as part of a bribery 'scam' probe linked to grant of Dental Council of India (DCI) permission for starting dental colleges by some groups, the ED said on Monday. The bank deposits belong to Cranio Facial Clinic Pvt Ltd., promoted by leading dentist S Murukesan. Murukesan and others, the ED said, were first booked in 2013 by the CBI on charges of criminal conspiracy for "inducing, by corrupt or illegal means, the officials of DCI to recommend grant of permission to start Asan Memorial Dental College & Hospital and Adiparasakthi Dental College & Hospital." It was alleged that a bribe or "illegal gratification" of Rs 25 lakh cash was delivered to the doctor in his clinic on January 7, 2013 "towards influencing the officials of DCI in the grant of approval by corrupt or illegal means to Adhiparasakthi Dental College & Hospital." This cash has been earlier attached by the ED. The agency said in a statement that it took cognisance of the CBI FIR to file a criminal case against the accused under various sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). "Investigation into the money trail found that Dr S Murukesan had purchased immovable property out of the ill-gotten money and subsequently sold the property for profit and that funds were transferred from his personal account to the entity run by him-- Cranio Facial Clinic Pvt. Ltd." "The proceeds of crime in the case have been quantified at Rs 1 crore," the ED 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.) India cancelled auctions of to be held on Feb. 11, a government statement said on Monday, following a sharp rise in after the announcement of record borrowing program. The government said it had decided to cancel the auction post review of cash position. (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.) Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo / Yonhap Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo will visit London and Geneva this week to explore ways to enhance trade cooperation with Britain and various international organizations, his office said Monday. During his two-day visit to London beginning Monday, Yeo is scheduled to hold an initial meeting of the Korea-Britain free trade agreement (FTA) committee with his British counterpart to check the implementation of the bilateral trade pact and plans for negotiations for possible revisions, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The two nations initiated their FTA Jan. 1, 2021, to maintain the continuity of trade activities in line with London's departure from the European Union. During the meeting, the two sides will also discuss ways to deepen cooperation on new trade issues, such as supply chains, digital matters and carbon neutrality, the ministry said. Also on the table will be their joining of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Launched in December 2018, the agreement has been signed by 11 countries, including Japan, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Mexico. Britain applied to join the CPTPP, and South Korea is reviewing the option of taking part in the pact. In London, Yeo is also scheduled to meet with British parliament members and experts, as well as Lim Ki-taek, secretary-general of the International Maritime Organization. The trade chief will fly to Geneva, Wednesday, to meet World Trade Organization Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, for talks on COVID-19 responses, various reform measures and fisheries subsidies, according to the ministry. During the two-day stay, he will also hold talks with chiefs of several other international organizations, including the International Organization for Standardization and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, it said. "The visit aims to advance trade relations between Korea and Britain, and to help restore the multilateral trade order," the ministry said in a press release. (Yonhap) Months after a row over the leakage of a question paper of an examination held for recruitment of government head clerks, Asit Vora, chairman of the Subordinate Service Selection Board (GSSSB), which had conducted the test, resigned on Monday, the ruling BJP said. However, the BJP, which announced the resignation of Vora - a political personalty - was quick to add that there was no link between his decision to step down and the paper leak episode for which GSSSB had faced criticism from various quarters. Vora met Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel at Gandhinagar and tendered his resignation from the post of GSSSB chairman, said BJP spokesperson Yagnesh Dave. "Vora's resignation has to do nothing with the paper leak case. A total of six chairpersons of various boards and corporations, including Vora, have resigned today as part of the BJP's organisational restructuring ahead of the Assembly polls (likely in 2022-end). Some chairpersons had resigned from their posts a month back," claimed Dave. Ever since the leakage of the question paper in December last year and subsequent cancellation of the already conducted exam, opposition Congress and Aam Aadmi Party besides student leaders had been demanding Vora's resignation. Vora, a senior BJP leader and former mayor of Ahmedabad city, was re-appointed as the chairman of the key recruitment body for a second term in September last year. Notably, GSSSB recently announced to conduct a fresh written test for the recruitment of head clerks on March 20. The board chairman's resignation came amid the opposition accusation that the ruling BJP is "playing with the future of the unemployed youth by shielding the real culprits (of paper leak)". The written exam for the recruitment of 186 head clerks was conducted at centres across on December 12 by GSSSB with nearly 88,000 aspirants appearing for the test. However, the exam was cancelled after the paper leak episode came to light. The Sabarkantha police had in December said it had arrested 18 persons, including candidates who bought the leaked paper, in connection with the case. The issue of paper leak surfaced a day after the exam was conducted when Gujarat Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) unit's youth wing leader Yuvrajsinh Jadeja alleged that the question paper was leaked prior to the exam. As proof, he had shared a photograph of a notebook page having handwritten answers of some of the questions asked in the exam. His claims were found to be true during a police probe. Police investigations had revealed that some of the accused managed to acquire the question paper from the supervisor of a printing press, which had received the printing contract, and sold it to over 15 candidates and also helped them in solving the paper at various locations a day before the exam. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) is expected to report a record of around 610 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, broadcaster TVB reported, in the biggest test yet for the city's zero-COVID strategy as it grapples to contain a growing outbreak. Around 300 others were found positive in preliminary tests, TVB said, citing an unnamed source. The global financial hub, which is following mainland China's strategy of suppressing all outbreaks as soon as possible, has seen cases soar since January with over 2,000 infections compared with just two in December. The city recorded 342 cases on Sunday, slightly below the previous day's record of 351 cases. Dozens of bank branches including outlets of HSBC and Bank of China said they would suspend operations from Monday to help curb transmissions. Health Secretary Sophia Chan said over the weekend that she expects cases to rise "exponentially". The former British colony has become one of the most isolated cities in the world, with flights down around 90% due to strict regulations and schools, playgrounds, gyms as well as most other venues shut. Restaurants close at 6 pm (1000 GMT), while most people, including the majority of civil servants, are working from home. The economic and psychological tolls from the hardline approach are rapidly rising, with measures becoming more draconian than those first implemented in 2020. Government quarantine facilities are also nearing their maximum as authorities struggle to keep up with their rigid contact tracing scheme. Authorities hold daily briefings providing details on each infected person including where they went and ate. As cases surge however, methods including scouring credit card statements and transport records to identify close contacts are far tougher. There are likely hundreds of transmission chains in the community, they said. In total, has recorded 213 COVID deaths and around 15,000 cases since early 2020, far less than other similar major cities. REVERBERATIONS Health experts said the city's current strategy of shutting itself off as the rest of the world shifts to living with coronavirus, is not sustainable. Around 80% of the city's 7.5 million residents have had at least one COVID-19 jab but the majority of elderly remain unvaccinated, government figures show. Out of these around 40% have received the Chinese-made Sinovac vaccine, believed to be far less effective against the disease than the one produced by Germany's BioNTech , the other vacine available in the city. Infections have been recorded across government departments from hospitals and housing to the independent anti-corruption body. Two pet cats tested positive for coronavirus, the government said on Friday, as it urged pet owners to avoid kissing animals. In January, authorities ordered a cull of more than 2,000 hamsters in dozens of pet shops, after tracing an outbreak to a worker in a shop where 11 hamsters tested positive. The government has also tried to assuage worries over a shortage of food from the mainland after some cross-border truck drivers tested positive. Several drivers have been forced to isolate but overall fresh food supply aremained stablea , it said on Sunday. There have been shotages of imported foreign food and cost increases due to tight air restrictions. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The COVID-19 tally in reached 10,09,698 on Monday after the detection of 3,945 cases, while the toll increased to 10,664 with two more deaths reported in the last 24 hours, a health department official said. The positivity rate, or cases detected per 100 tests, dipped to 5.5 per cent on Monday from 6.7 per cent on the previous day, he said. The recovery count stood at 9,58,443 after 8,130 people were discharged during the day, leaving the state with an active tally of 40,591, the official said. Bhopal and Indore, the two worst coronavirus-hit cities of Madhya Pradesh, registered 836 and 391 cases, respectively, during the past 24 hours, he said. With 71,612 samples examined during the day, the number of tests in MP went up to 2,64,64,602, the official said. A government release said 11,11,78,474 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered so far in the state, including 3,82,780 on Monday. figures in MP are as follows: Total cases 10,09,698, new cases 3,945, death toll 10,664, recoveries 9,58,443, active cases 40,591, number of tests so far 2,64,64,602. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) has rubbished a Russian media report describing Kashmir as another Palestine in the making and reaffirmed its position that it is a bilateral matter between India and . The assertion came days after Redfish digital media outlet tweeted a trailer of a new documentary on Kashmir and carried a line mentioning the allegation. The Redfish media has been categorised on Twitter as a " state-affiliated media". "The Russian official position on the issue of Kashmir and Russia's principled stance on non-interference in bilateral disputes remain unchanged," the Russian embassy said in a statement. "The solution should be found between India and only, and it should be based on the achieved agreements, including the Simla Agreement of 1972 and the Lahore Declaration of 1999," it said. The embassy also said that the "misleading label of the channel" on Twitter as ' state-affiliated media' does not make it automatically related to any state support. "The channel functions independently with regard to its editorial policy. However, it is hoped that the complexity and historical background of this and other regional issues will be given due understanding and balanced approach, which is expected from any professional media," the embassy said. On its website, Redfish described itself as a multi-award-winning digital content creator. (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 Ministry of Education on Monday appointed Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit as the vice-chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, making her the first woman to hold the post. She is currently a political science professor at the Department of Politics and Public Administration at Savitribai Phule University in Maharashtra. The 59-year-old Pandit is also an alumna of where she pursued her MPhil as well as PhD in International Relations. Her thesis was on ' Parliament and Foreign Policy in India -- The Nehru years'. "President Ram Nath Kovind, who is Visitor to the University, has approved the appointment of Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit as Vice-Chancellor. Her appointment is for five years," a senior Ministry of Education official said. Pandit began her teaching career at Goa University in 1988 and moved to Pune University in 1993. She has held administrative positions in various academic bodies. She has also been a member of the University Grants Commission (UGC), the Indian Council of Social Science Research and Visitor's nominee to central universities. In her career, she has guided 29 PhDs. She said that her focus would be the implementation of the Education Policy and to provide a gender-sensitive environment for academic excellence. "As vice-chancellor, JNU, I thank both the prime minister and the Minister of Higher Education for giving me this opportunity as the first woman and alumnus of this esteemed university from the state of Tamil Nadu," she said in a statement. Pandit said she is looking forward to working with students and faculty members. "The immediate focus of this administration would be to provide clean administration, students-friendly and gender-sensitive environment for academic excellence." M Jagadesh Kumar, who was holding the charge of acting vice-chancellor at after his five-year term ended last year, was appointed as the chairman of the UGC last week. "It gives me pleasure to inform you that Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit from Savitribai Phule Pune University has been appointed as the next Vice-Chancellor of JNU. She is the first female Vice-Chancellor of JNU. "My hearty congratulations to her. I am handing over the charge to her today and wish her success in her new role," Kumar said in a statement. Meanwhile, old tweets criticising JNU students and farmers, purportedly posted by a Twitter account carrying Pandit's name, were shared widely on social media. The tweets from an unverified account, which carried Pandit's name, made references to Sharjeel Imam and Nathuram Godse, among others. While there was no confirmation whether or not it was Pandit's account, the social media handle was taken down hours later. (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.) Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI) founder Milind Kamble on Monday said amid the coronavirus pandemic, it was necessary to encourage employment in the country and the Centre has tried to do the same in the for 2022-23 which has outlined various steps for the sector. To encourage entrepreneurship among Scheduled Castes (SCs), the Centre has launched the Dr Ambedkar Young Entrepreneur League 2022, he said while talking to reporters here. "The central government has launched the Ambedkar Young Entrepreneur League, a competition under Ambedkar Social Innovation and Incubation Mission (ASIIM) of the social justice department, under which it will fund 1,000 business ideas in the country," he said. The national-level competition will take place in three phases in partnership with premier institutes, Kamble said. Under the AYE League, business ideas have been invited online till February 15 and they will be scrutinised by experts from eight IITs and two IIMs, he said. The final round under the competition will take place in Delhi where funds under the first phase will be provided to selected ideas to make prototypes, the DICCI founder said. Talking about the Union Budget, Kamble said it has various positive steps for the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). "Amid the pandemic, it was necessary to encourage employment in the country. The government has tried to do it (in the budget). Along with that, the government has also increased spending and initiated steps for the sector," he added. The Pune-based DICCI was established in 2005 to instill the spirit of entrepreneurship among Dalit youth to develop business leadership. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman listed a slew of steps for the sector while presenting the budget in Parliament last week. The Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) that provided much needed additional credit to over 1.3 crore MSMEs will be extended till March 2023 with its guarantee cover expanded by Rs 50,000 crore to Rs 5 lakh crore, Sitharaman said. She said the Credit Guarantee Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) scheme will be revamped with required infusion of funds. To help the MSME sector become more resilient, competitive and efficient, Sitharaman said a Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) programme will be rolled out with a Rs 6,000 crore outlay spread over 5 years. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) ICSE, ISC result 2022: The Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) has declared ICSE and ISC 1st semester result. ISC and ICSE result are available through CISEC's official website - .org, CAREERS portal and through SMS. Since its an online-only result and mark sheet will not be available from schools, students can expect a delay in the website. Alternatively, they can check results at results. .org, and Digi locker. is also sending results via SMS. To check, students need to type ICSE/ISC seven-digit unique ID and send it to 09248082883. How to download ICSE 10th result 2022 Students need to follow the following steps in order to check the ICSE result 2022 Step 1: Click on the Council for Indian School Certificate Examination CISCE official website cisce.org Step 2: Click on either ICSE 10th Result 2022 Step 3: Enter the roll number and registration number Step 4: Enter 'Submit' Step 5: Download ICSE 10th Result 2022 How to get ICSE result via SMS: For receiving the ICSE Result 2022 via SMS, create a new message text by typing out your Unique ID in the following manner ICSE 1234567 (seven digit unique id) Send the message to 09248082883. The SMS result would be displayed along with subject-wise score as follows: Shalini Sharma (Name of student) ENG-96, HIN-88,MAT-89... and so on How to download ISC result 2022 Students need to follow the following steps in order to check the ISC 12th Result 2022: Step 1: Click on the Council for Indian School Certificate Examination CISCE official website cisce.org Step 2: Click on either ISC 12th Result 2022 Step 3: Enter the roll number and registration number Step 4: Enter 'Submit' Step 5: Download ISC Result 2022 How to get ISC result 2022 via SMS: For receiving the ISC Result 2022 via SMS, create a new message text by typing out your Unique ID in the following manner ISC 1234567 (seven digit unique id) Send the message to 09248082883. The SMS result would be displayed along with subject-wise score as follows: Chirag Waghmare (Name of student) ENG-79, HIN-73,MAT-90... and so on ICSE and ISC students can now also have digitally signed statement of marks and pass certificate, which will allow them access to the results anytime, anywhere. CISCE Term 2 Dates The second-semester exams are expected to be held in March or April. The CISCE term 2 exam dates will be announced today. The first semester had multiple choice question papers while the second semester will be held on either offline or online mode depending upon the pandemic situation. The CISCE had earlier informed that the question paper for each semester exam will be 80 marks for ICSE and 70 marks for ISC. The total syllabus has been reduced due to the pandemic which has been further be divided into two halves-one for each semester, as per the guidelines issued by the CISCE. How will final result be prepared? The semester I exams were completed in December. The second-semester exams will be held in March-April. Each semester will be covering 50 per cent of the syllabus. CISCE had said that practicals will be held in the offline mode in schools only if the pandemic situation is conducive, else it will be conducted in virtual mode by the schools. In the scenario of the semester II exams being cancelled, the final result will be prepared by using the semester I and internal assessments, the board had said. Have an issue with ICSE, ISC result 2022? In case students have an issue with the calculation of marks, they can send in a written application to the council explaining in detail the objection. ICSE students have to send the application to asicse@cisce.org and ISC students can send their query applications to asisc@cisce.org. It is important to note that such applications will not be accepted if sent after August 1, 2022. The dispute applications must be sent from the official email id of the schools head, which is assigned by the CISCE. After reviewing the application, the council will notify the respective school head in case of any result alteration. Delhi Chief Minister on Monday spelt out his party's 10-point agenda for Uttarakhand if voted to power, promising to end corruption and giving free quality education and medical treatment to all. "First of all, we will wipe out corruption, not just reduce it. We alone can do it because we know how it is done. Other parties cannot because they do not have the intentions to do it," he said releasing the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) agenda at a press conference in Haridwar. Accusing successive Congress and governments in Uttarakhand of only "looting" the state, he said AAP alone can provide an "honest alternative" to people. "Nothing is going to change if you give another five years to either or Congress. All they would do is fill their coffers," he said. "You have a chance in these elections to elect a party with clean intentions. AAP is the only honest alternative to the corrupt governments given by Congress and alternately over the past 21 years," he said. Talking to reporters in Haridwar, Kejriwal said the promises being made by AAP to people in Uttarakhand like good roads and schools, better health facilities and employment are things which have already been done in Delhi. "I am not talking in the void. We have already done in Delhi what we are promising to do here. We have given good government schools and hospitals in Delhi and we will do it here too," the Delhi chief minister said. He further said people can ask their relatives in Delhi to verify and if they say they are are not happy with the AAP government there, they may not vote for the party. "There is no other political party which can speak so confidently about what it has done," Kejriwal said. The 10-point agenda, he said, was a summary of the party's manifesto for Uttarakhand included employment, an unemployment allowance for the jobless, free and uninterrupted electricity, good roads, free pilgrimage to Ayodhya, Ajmer Shareef and Kartarpur Sahib, making Uttarakhand the spiritual capital of Hindus all over the world, government jobs to retired servicemen and raising compensation to the families of martyrs of the army, police and paramilitary forces to Rs one crore. It also includes monthly payment of Rs 1,000 to all women aged above 18 years, and an unemployment allowance of Rs 5,000 to jobless youth until they are provided jobs. (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 Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) U.S. missile shield is seen deployed in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, in this July 2017 photo. Korea Times file South Korea and the United States are not considering the deployment of an additional Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system here, Seoul's defense ministry said Monday amid a heated debate on the issue rekindled ahead of the March 9 presidential election. Ministry spokesperson Boo Seung-chan made the remarks following a media report that government-commissioned research in 2015 noted the need for South Korea's military to acquire its own THAAD battery, separate from the one operated by the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK). "Regarding the issue about the introduction of an additional THAAD unit, South Korea and the U.S. have not been planning any additional deployment nor have they been considering it," Boo told a regular press briefing. Boo pointed out that South Korea's military has been developing its own interception system, called L-SAM (Long-range Surface-to-Air Missile), to establish a multilayered, low-tier missile defense system. The THAAD system has emerged as a hot-button issue in the election season as Yoon Suk-yeol, the presidential candidate of the conservative main opposition People Power Party, pledged last month to push for an "additional THAAD deployment" following a series of North Korean missile tests. Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, has cautioned against an additional THAAD deployment, warning it could trigger pushback from China, South Korea's largest trading partner. (Yonhap) Samajwadi Party National President addresses media during a press conference at party office in Lucknow SP chief on Monday launched a scathing attack against the ruling BJP, asking the party to change its name as he alleged that its leaders tell lies, cheat people and pit them against each other. The bigger the BJP leader, the bigger the lies he or she tells, the Samajwadi Party (SP) president alleged. The party should change its name from "Bhajpa" to "Bhajhpa", he said, adding that "jh" in its name meant "jhansa" (cheating), "jhagra" (bickering) and "jhooth" (lies). The party cheats people, make them fight against each other and its leaders tell lies, the former chief minister said. "They indulge in the politics of accusations. The BJP wants to take the elections to somewhere else," he told reporters referring to the upcoming state Assembly polls. He rejected the charges that the money recovered from a Kanpur perfume seller during a raid by the central agencies had any link with his party. "Nothing can be a bigger lie than this. People sitting at high posts are telling lies," he said, apparently referring to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who has repeatedly linked the seized amount with the Yadav's party. The SP chief also said woman are feeling insecure in UP under the BJP rule. The National Commission for Women has got most complaints from UP, he said. The maximum custodial deaths have taken place in the state, he added. "We have seen how the son of the Union minister of state for home drove a jeep over farmers. The government wants to shield him. The government wants to crush the Constitution as it has crushed the farmers," he said apparently referring to the Lakhimpur Kheri violence. Police have arrested Union minister Ajay Mishra's son Ashish for the death of four farmers, who were mowed down by cars, allegedly being driven by BJP workers. When asked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's virtual programme in Bijnor, which was changed owing to weather conditions, Yadav in a lighter vein said, "No, no, it was not due to the weather. There would have been some other reason." "The Punjab reason could have been behind it," Yadav said, hinting at the Punjab incident, from where PM Modi had to return without addressing a rally after a security breach. The BJP's rival parties had claimed that he had to return as people did not turn up for the BJP rally, which the PM was scheduled to address. To another question that UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya has termed as a "sympathiser of the mafia", the SP chief said, "He will be able to see a mafia if he sees himself in a mirror." Yadav also said if voted to power, the name of Maa Shakumbhari Devi Vishvavidyalaya will not be changed. Saharanpur will vote in the second phase of the Assembly elections on February 14. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister will address his first virtual rally for the Punjab Assembly polls on Tuesday. In his rally, Modi will address people from 18 Assembly segments of Ludhiana and Fatehgarh Sahib parliamentary constituencies, according to a statement issued by the BJP. The party has set up LED screens all over the 18 Assembly segments. About 50,000 people are expected to watch the PM's address, it said. The party has scheduled some more rallies of the PM for the coming days, the statement said. Modi had visited Punjab on January 5 but he returned without dedicating development projects and addressing a rally as his convoy was stuck on a flyover due to a blockade by some protesters in Ferozepur. The BJP is fighting the state Assembly polls in alliance with the Amarinder Singh-led Punjab Lok Congress and the Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa-led Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt). (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The on Sunday said the "Awaaz Di" virtual rally addressed by from Ludhiana was watched by more than 11 lakh (1.1 million) people through live viewing, the former party chief's Facebook page and other social media platforms. The social media department of the claimed that the rally was watched live by 90,000 people and viewed by 8.8 lakh people on Gandhi's Facebook page. The unique thing about the rally was that Gandhi's Facebook page had 42,000 comments with a total reach of 11 lakh and 6,000 shares, making it one of the most successful virtual rallies, leaders said. The rally was telecast live on virtual mediums and social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. LED screens were also installed across all districts of for its live telecast. The 90,000 views on Facebook live are unprecedented for any political leader in the country, showing the massive impact of and the curiosity about the rally, the Congress leaders claimed. The rally was also addressed by Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, state Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, former state party chief Sunil Jakhar and All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge for Punjab Harish Chaudhary. At the rally, Gandhi announced Channi's name as the party's chief ministerial candidate for the February 20 Punjab Assembly polls, which received whole-hearted support from every leader of the party's state unit. "The people of Punjab have chosen Charanjit Singh Channi as the Congress party's chief ministerial face. I agree with them. We will together build a better and prosperous Punjab," Gandhi later said in a tweet in Hindi, using the hashtag "#AawazPunjabDi". (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.) leader on Monday said it was "strange" that those who allegedly issued orders of firing on devotees of Lord Ram were today claiming that they will build the faster. He was speaking in Rajya Sabha during the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address. Targeting the Samajwadi Part, Javadekar said: "A fellow (member) said they will build the more quickly. "It is strange that those who issued orders of shooting on devotees of Lord Ram are talking about the today," he said in an apparent reference to the firing on kar sewaks in Ayodhya during the Mulayam Singh Yadav government. Referring to Ram Setu, Javadekar claimed that (those part of) the party whose government gave an affidavit in court that Lord Ram was a fictional character is now saying they will build the Ram Temple quickly. "Now everyone is saying 'I am a practicing Hindu'," the former union minister said. On Covaxin, Javadekar said some people called the COVID-19 vaccine the ''BJP's vaccine" and refused to take it but when Prime Minister Narendra Modi took Covaxin it silenced all the critics globally. Referring to Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge's address, Javadekar said Kharge referred to the erstwhile National Advisory Council chaired by Congress President Sonia Gandhi and said the Manmohan Singh led UPA government implemented all its suggestions. Javadekar said this statement by Kharge proves who was the de facto prime minister at the time and who was de jure. However, Kharge who was present in the Upper House countered this assertion and asked Javadekar not to misinterpret his remarks. Kharge said he was referring to the Food Security Act which was implemented by then prime minister Manmohan Singh after intense discussion and agreement by all parties in the UPA, after its then Chairperson (Sonia Gandhi) said the Act was needed. To this, Javadekar said the Food Security Act was implemented only in nine states by the Congress-led UPA government but at present it has been rolled out in all states of the country with Rs 1.8 lakh crore subsidy disbursed under the scheme. Referring to Congress leader Digvijaya Singh's speech, Javadekar said he claimed that subsidies have been reduced in the present regime when in fact the theft of subsidy has been plugged by the government. Participating in the debate, Minister for State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale said that the country has progressed under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. Rakesh Sinha ( Nominated) accused the Congress party of being soft towards China. It led to heated exchanges between Congress leaders and treasury benches. (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.) Due to weather issues, Prime Minister will not travel to Bijnor district in to address the BJP's "Jan Chaupal Rally". The Prime Minister will now address the people of virtually at 12:30 pm today. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had also made arrangements for people to listen to the Prime Minister's address at about 75 locations expecting close to a lakh of people at these locations given the easing of restrictions by the election commission. The polling in will be held on February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27 and March 3 and 7 in seven phases. 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.) Accusing the SP, the and the Congress of doing the politics of appeasement and spreading hatred among Hindus and Muslims, Defence Minister on Monday said the followed the message of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (the world is a family). He also advised the and the Bahujan Samaj Party to do politics of humanity instead of politics based on caste or creed. "SP, and Congress do politics of appeasement. They have always done the work of spreading hatred among Hindus & Muslims, whereas for the BJP, all Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Jews are brothers... as this country is of sages and mystics, from where the message of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' has gone all over the world," the Defence Minister said while campaigning in the Miranpur Katra assembly segment here. Praising Corona management in the country, he said in 100 years there has not been such an epidemic. Even today countries like Australia and France are battling it, but India not only controlled it but also made its vaccine and gave it to many countries. Seeking a response from the people gathered, Singh asked who among them were beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Yojana, or have got pucca houses and got people to raise their hands. Claiming rule of law in the state and praising the action taken against the mafia elements by the Yogi Adityanath government, Singh said in Uttar Pradesh, the land vacated by running bulldozers is not given to the influential or 'dabangs' but houses are being built on it for the poor. Singh was referring to the Yogi Adityanath government's drive against illegal encroachment of land by the mafia elements. The Defence Minister said that after the Pulwama attack, the country has given a message to the whole world "humme chedo nahi, agar chedogay to hum chodegy nahin" (don't provoke us and if you do we will not spare you). "Agar aankh dikhaogy to iss paar bhi maar sakte hain aur uss paar jakar bhi maar saktey hain (if you show eyes, we can kill this side as well as across the border), the defence minister said alluding to the Indian forces action against the terror camps in Pakistan after the Pulwama attack. On February 14, 2019, 40 CRPF personnel were martyred in a terror attack in the Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir. In a retaliatory action on February 26, the Indian Air Force's Fighter jets had destroyed the terrorist camps of JeM across the Line of Control in Pakistan. Criticising Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for blaming the present government for closeness between China and Pakistan, Singh said Rahul does not know the history. He also took a swipe, asking Jitin Prasada sitting with him on the dais, to have at least taught history to the Congress leaders while he was in the Congress. Prasada, considered closed to the Gandhis, had left the Congress and joined the in June 2021. He is presently a minister in the state government. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. Five Pakistani soldiers were killed when terrorists from inside across the border opened fire on the troops, a military statement said. The incident took place at the border area in Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations said in the statement on Sunday. The Pakistani troops retaliated the attack "in a befitting manner", and as per intelligence reports, the terrorists have suffered heavy losses, Xinhua news agency quoted the ISPR statement as saying. " strongly condemns the use of Afghan soil by terrorists for activities against Pakistan," it added. --IANS ksk/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A plane carrying US soldiers landed in southern on Sunday, on US President Joe Biden's order to deploy additional US troops to Poland, Romania and Germany this week, amid rising tensions between Russia and . The 1,700 US soldiers sent to will operate in the country's eastern-southern part, according to the Polish Defence Ministry. Logistics, equipment and a handful of soldiers arrived on other planes on Friday and Saturday. Tensions between Russia and are growing as the Western countries are stepping up military manoeuvres near the Russian borders. Kyiv and its Western allies have accused Russia of massing troops near the Ukrainian border, further pointing to the possibility of an "invasion". Moscow has denied such claims, adding that it had every right to mobilise troops within its borders and defend its national security. (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 senior UN official for has pledged that humanitarian assistance to the people will continue, regardless of the political situation, the media reported Addressing reported, the UN Secretary-General's Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan, Ramiz Alakbarov, stressed the need to ensure human rights in the country. TOLO News reported. "I am very proud to say that, the agencies present at this table were able to reach 18- more than 18 million people in with lifesaving assistance," he said. Meanwhile, the government's Ministry of Economy said it has finalised a scheme for the transparent distribution of aid to the people who are in need. "This conference was held to increase our coordination in distributing aid," Minister of Economy Din Mohmmad Hanif said on Sunday. According to humanitarian organisations, around $4.4 billion is needed to provide aid to the 24 million vulnerable people in the total 36 million population, TOLO News reported. The has also welcomed the support of the UN and other aid organisations to counter the ongoing crisis in the country. Based on the statistics, the suspension of aid, the high rate of unemployment following the takeover, as well as drought and the economic crisis has plunged into a humanitarian disaster. --IANS ksk/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Officials of the National Election Commission's Incheon branch set up a structure to encourage people's participation in the upcoming presidential election slated for March 9, at an intersection in Incheon's Namdong District, Feb. 3. Yonhap The reportedly captured 40 people in Mazar-e-Sharif, a medium-sized city in Afghanistan, at the end of January 2022. members then allegedly gang-raped eight of the women. The women who survived the gang rape were subsequently killed by their families. The fact that the women had been raped violated a societal honor code called Pashtunwalli, which prohibits women from engaging in sex outside of marriage. spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid tweeted that some of the women they arrested remain detained because their male relatives have not yet come to escort them. News of the attack is circulating among various Afghan communities and some local media, according to several Afghan womens rights activists who are part of my academic network. These colleagues cannot be named because of security concerns. Womens rights activists marched in Kabul on Jan. 16, 2022, asking where the women of the Mazar-e-Sharif attack have gone. But a careful online news search in English will not reveal details about these recent kidnappings and gang rapes a common form of aggression by the Taliban in the 1990s. No Western media has covered the attacks. Afghanistan made Western headlines in July and August 2021, as the U. S. withdrew the last troops from the country. Under the Talibans latest rule, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in are facing grave threats of violence and death, according to new findings by the research and advocacy nonprofit organization Human Rights Watch. Violence against women in also appears to again be worsening, according to local Afghan colleagues I know. But these reports are not eliciting political concern. During a major peace and conflict conference I attended with Alexia Cervello San Vicente, a masters student at Columbia University, in January 2022, participants shelved questions about Afghan womens gender-based violence in favor of discussing trade agreements and foreign aid. Alexia assisted in the research and writing of this story. As an expert on terrorism and violence against women, I find that the current situation for women and girls in is reminiscent of the Talibans last restrictive regime in the 1990s. Womens rights in Afghanistan then and today When the Taliban first rose to power in 1996, it famously banned Afghan women from holding jobs, or even leaving home without a male guardian or chaperone. Womens rights violations in Afghanistan were a major topic of public concern in the 1990s. The general tenor of the public rhetoric at the time amplified the idea that Afghan women needed to be helped by Western countries. Womens rights did improve significantly after the Talibans fall in 2001, as women and girls were again allowed to attend school, participate in the workforce and hold positions of authority in government. Violating a code of conduct My previous research on womens human rights and gender-based violence in places like Nigeria and Iraq shows that violence against women can follow a common trajectory. Women are doubly victimized, first by gender-based violence and then by their communities, which fault women for violating patriarchal codes of conduct. These codes blame women for being sexually harassed or assaulted. The fact that these codes target women discourages them from reporting gender-based violence and creates an atmosphere of impunity for men who brutalize women. This permissive environment has led to increased violence against women in Afghanistan over the last six months. A similar incident to the gang rapes happened in 2014, before the Taliban returned to power but the situation played out very differently: Former Afghan president Hamid Karzai signed death warrants for the men who gang-raped four women. Legal retribution for the recent alleged gang rapes is unlikely, given that the Taliban have eliminated the womens affairs office, which worked to secure womens legal rights. They replaced it with the previously disbanded ministry of vice and virtue. This notorious government office imposed stringent restrictions on women and girls. Afghanistan falling through the cracks media coverage of Afghanistan in August 2021, and shortly thereafter, focused on whether the country would lose two decades of human rights progress. Global interest in Afghanistan and womens rights appears to have since dissipated. One likely contributing factor is that most Western and Afghan journalists alike left Afghanistan as the Taliban gained control of the country. But the reality for women in Afghanistan today remains unchanged. Some experts have described Afghanistan being set back 20 years. The Talibans recent decree on womens rights omitted previous promises it made to allow girls to attend school, for example. Most secondary schools in Afghanistan remain shut, despite the Talibans early pledges to allow girls to attend. A new law forbids women from undertaking solo, long-distance road trips. Meanwhile, there are reports from the human rights nonprofit Amnesty that the Taliban has closed womens shelters and other social services for women experiencing abuse. These new restrictions are making women virtual prisoners in their own homes, according to Human Rights Watch. A new template for improving Afghan womens rights Some Afghan civil society groups have tried to encourage Muslim and traditional religious authorities to advocate on behalf of women and to give sermons about preventing gender-based violence. The likelihood of any moderation is slim under the Haqqani network, a Sunni Islamist militant organization that is part of the Taliban. But religious authorities in other Muslim countries could provide a template for improving womens situation in Afghanistan. [Get the best of The Conversations politics, science or religion articles each week.Sign up today.] As part of Western countries push to normalize relations with the Taliban, they could also establish connections between receiving foreign funding and protecting womens peace and security. Financial incentives could help prevent women from being stigmatized or killed. There is a historical precedent for this strategy in Muslim countries. Women were specifically targeted when Pakistan invaded Bangladesh in 1971. An estimated 200,000 to 400,000 women were raped by the Pakistani military and Razakar, a Pakistani military group, in a systematic fashion. The newly formed Bangladeshi government then offered financial incentives for men to marry the victimized women, reducing the stigma around their assaults. Mia Bloom, Professor and Fellow at Evidence Based Cyber Security Program, Georgia State University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. US President has discussed the situation with French President Emmanuel Macron over the phone, ahead of the latter's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the informs. "President spoke today with President Emmanuel Macron of France. The leaders discussed ongoing diplomatic and deterrence efforts in response to Russia's continued military build-up on Ukraine's borders, and affirmed their support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the said in a Sunday statement. According to the release, Biden and Macron agreed that the two sides will stay in close touch, including in consultation with EU partners and . Macron will meet with Putin in Moscow on Monday. According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, the two leaders are expected to discuss European security, bilateral relations and the situation. On Wednesday, Biden and Macron held a telephone call discussing Ukraine, following the Pentagon's announcement regarding the deployment of additional US forces to Poland, Germany, and Romania in the next few days. US officials said the deployment is designed to reinforce NATO's eastern flank amid the Ukraine crisis. 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 has denied these accusations, repeatedly stating that it is not threatening anyone and at the same time expressing strong concerns over NATO's military activity near the Russian borders, which it deems a threat to its national security. Moscow has also said Russia has the right to move troops within its national territory. Russia has also warned Western countries that military deliveries to Kiev may encourage the latter to use them against the breakaway Russian-speaking region of Donbas. The United States has been in the process of delivering USD 200 million worth of security assistance approved by President in December. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) will face charges in a Swiss court on Monday of allowing an alleged Bulgarian cocaine trafficking gang to launder millions of euros, some of it stuffed into suitcases. Swiss prosecutors say the country's second-biggest bank and one of its former relationship managers did not take all necessary steps to prevent the alleged drug traffickers from hiding and laundering cash between 2004 and 2008. " unreservedly rejects as meritless all allegations in this legacy matter raised against it and is convinced that its former employee is innocent," the bank said in a statement to Reuters. In the first criminal trial of a major bank in Switzerland, prosecutors are seeking around 42.4 million Swiss francs in compensation from Credit Suisse, which added that it would "defend itself vigorously in court". The case has attracted intense interest in Switzerland, where it is seen as a test for a potentially tougher stance by prosecutors against the country's banks. The indictment runs to more than 500 pages, and centres on relationships that and its ex-employee had with former Bulgarian wrestler Evelin Banev and multiple associates, two of whom are charged in the case. A second indictment in the case charges a former relationship manager at Julius Baer with facilitating . A legal representative for the ex-Credit Suisse employee, who cannot be named under Swiss privacy laws, said the case was unjustified and his client denied wrongdoing. A lawyer for the two alleged gang members, who face charges of multiple counts of misappropriation, fraud and forgery of documents in the Swiss federal court but cannot be named under Swiss privacy laws, declined to comment. A lawyer for the former relationship manager at Julius Baer did not respond to requests for comment. Banev, who does not face charges in Switzerland, was convicted of drug trafficking in Italy in 2017 and then in Bulgaria in 2018 for being part of a criminal organisation active in trafficking tonnes of cocaine from Latin America. He vanished, but was arrested in September in Ukraine, from where Bulgarian prosecutors are seeking his extradition to face charges of setting up an organised criminal group and drug trafficking, Interpol's red list of wanted persons shows. Banev and his legal representatives could not be reached for comment. A lawyer who represented Banev in his Bulgarian trial said she was no longer representing him. Julius Baer, which is not facing charges, declined to comment on the case. CASH IN CASES The former Credit Suisse employee brought at least one Bulgarian customer who was an associate of Banev with her when she joined Credit Suisse in 2004, prosecutors allege in the indictment. The customer, who was later shot dead as he left a restaurant with his wife in Sofia, Bulgaria in 2005, had begun placing suitcases full of cash in a safe deposit box at Credit Suisse, the indictment says. Prosecutors allege the gang used so-called smurfing, where a large sum of money is broken down into smaller amounts which are below the anti- alert threshold, to launder money, putting millions of euros in small-value bills into safety deposit boxes and later transferring them into accounts. Although Swiss private banks have since adopted much tougher anti- so-called know-your-client checks after pressure, the defendants said this was standard practice at the time the deposits were made. The prosecutors allege the former relationship manager, who left Credit Suisse in 2010 after being detained for two weeks by police in 2009, helped conceal the criminal origins of money for the clients by carrying out more than 146 million Swiss francs in transactions, including 43 million francs in cash. "Our client is being unfairly accused, because Swiss law requires that a person be implicated in order to condemn a bank," attorneys at law firm MANGEAT LLC, representing the ex-employee, told Reuters. "She is innocent, outraged by the accusations. We will plead for her full and complete acquittal." Credit Suisse disputes the illegal origin of the money, a source familiar with its thinking told Reuters, saying that Banev and his circle operated legitimate businesses in construction, leasing and hotels. The Swiss bank, which the indictment says considered Bulgaria as a high-risk country at the time, plans to draw attention to calls made by its compliance department to Swiss prosecutors after Banev was temporarily arrested in Bulgaria in April 2007, the source added. Credit Suisse is hoping that the court will view that its compliance department's move was a sign of the bank taking its anti-money laundering obligations seriously and of cooperating with prosecutors in the matter. In June 2007, the prosecutors asked Credit Suisse for information on accounts held by Banev and his associates in response to a request from Bulgaria, the source added. Noticing a series of withdrawals, the bank's compliance department asked prosecutors whether to freeze the accounts, but were told not to do so in order not to tip the clients off, according to the source. By the time prosecutors gave Credit Suisse the go-ahead, much of the money had been withdrawn. The prosecutors' office declined to comment on Friday, saying the matter was now in the hands of the court. The second indictment filed by federal prosecutors against the former relationship manager at Julius Baer, which is being tried in the same court case, alleges some of the funds were transferred to another Swiss bank. The former relationship manager, who left a few months after the transfers took place, is charged with facilitating money laundering. The bank had refused to accept a suitcase filled with cash from the defendants, the indictment says. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Oil falls after signs of progress in U.S.-Iran nuclear talksOil prices fell on Monday on expectations the U.S.-Iran talks may be nearing a conclusion on reviving a deal restricting the OPEC country's nuclear weapons development, which would raise crude supply, though global supply concerns capped losses. U.S. President Joe Biden's administration on Friday restored sanctions waivers to Iran to allow nuclear cooperation projects, as the talks on the 2015 nuclear deal enter the final stretch. If the United States lifts sanctions on Iran, the country could boost oil shipments, adding to global supply. Brent crude was down 53 cents, or 0.6%, to $92.74 a barrel by 0055 GMT, after rising $2.16 on Friday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude dropped 74 cents, or 0.8%, to $91.57 a barrel, having gained $2.04 the previous session. Both benchmarks reached seven-year highs on Friday, extending their rally into a seventh week on ongoing worries about supply disruptions fuelled by political turmoil among major world producers. "Investors took profits on the U.S.-Iran news, though they expect more twists and turns in the talks and no agreement to be reached anytime soon," said Kazuhiko Saito, chief analyst at Fujitomi Securities Co Ltd. "The market tone remained bullish, with investment bankers predicting Brent hitting $100 a barrel and global supply continuing to be tight with OPEC+ not reaching their output targets and the United States not raising output much," he said. Crude prices, which have already rallied about 20% this year, are likely to surpass $100 per barrel because of strong global demand, analysts have said. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies led by Russia, together known as OPEC+, are struggling to meet targets despite pressure from top consumers to raise production more quickly. Also in the United States, even though the rig count has climbed for a record 18 months in a row, oil production is still far from pre-pandemic record levels. Adding to pressure, tensions remain high in Eastern Europe, with White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan saying on Sunday that Russia could invade Ukraine within days or weeks but could still opt for a diplomatic path. (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.) French President flies to Moscow on Monday in a risky diplomatic move, seeking commitments from Russian President to dial down tensions with Ukraine, where Western leaders fear the Kremlin plans an invasion. Macron has made a frenetic series of phone calls with Western allies, Putin and the Ukrainian leader over the past week. He will follow up on Tuesday with a visit to Kyiv, staking a lot of political capital on a mission that could prove embarrassing if he returns empty-handed. "We're heading to Putin's lair, in many ways it's a throw of the dice," one source close to Macron told Reuters. Russia has massed some 100,000 troops near and demanded NATO and U.S. security guarantees, including that NATO never admit as a member. Two sources close to Macron said one aim of his visit was to buy time and freeze the situation for several months, at least until a "Super April" of elections in Europe - in Hungary, Slovenia and, crucially for Macron, in France. The French leader, who has earned a reputation for highly publicised diplomatic forays since he took power in 2017, has both tried to cajole and confront Putin over the past five years. His efforts have brought close dialogue with the Russian leader as well as painful setbacks. Soon after his election, Macron rolled out the red carpet for Putin at the Palace of Versailles, but also used the visit to publicly decry Russian meddling during the election. Two years later, the pair met at the French president's summer residence. But Macron's many overtures did not prevent Russian encroachment into traditional French spheres of influence in Africa, culminating late last year with the arrival of Russian mercenaries in Mali. French officials think they are supported by the Kremlin. Eastern European countries who suffered decades under Soviet rule have criticized Macron's cooperative stance on Russia, leery of Macron's talk of negotiating a "new European security order" with Russia. To counter critics ahead of the trip and take on the mantle of European leadership in this crisis, Macron has been at pains to consult with other Western leaders this time, including Britain's Boris Johnson and U.S. President Joe Biden. The French president's visit to Moscow and comes less than three months before a presidential election at home. His political advisers see a potential electoral dividend, although Macron has yet to announce whether he will run. "For the president, it's an opportunity to show his leadership in Europe. That he is above the fray," one French government source said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) There was nothing new about Moscow and Beijing moving closer together, said US President on Sunday after the Chinese and Russian heads of state met last week in Beijing, reaffirming friendship between their nations. "There is nothing new about that," Biden told reporters when pressed on whether he was worried that was getting too close to China, according to Sputnik. It came after Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Beijing on Friday. The two presidents had an in-depth and thorough exchange of views on China- relations and a series of major issues that concern strategic security and stability, according to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Xi described Putin's visit as fulfilled commitment to a get together for the Winter Olympics and shared his belief that Friday's Spring Festival Meeting will add fresh vitality to China- relations. Meanwhile, Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov said on Saturday that with this meeting fears are growing in Washington that Moscow is moving closer to Beijing. Asked whether he would consider sending more troops to eastern Europe if tensions around Ukraine escalated, Biden on Sunday said "I am not gonna speculate on that. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister will undertake a crucial visit to later this month - the first by a Pakistani premier in over two decades for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi confirmed that Prime Minister Khan would visit Moscow this month on the invitation of President Putin, state-run Radio Pakistan reported on Monday. Qureshi termed Khan's proposed visit to Moscow as an "evidence" of positive change in the bilateral relations between Pakistan and . Diplomatic sources said that Pakistan and are expected to strike major deals during the trip, including a movement forward on Russian investment to build a USD 2 billion worth gas pipeline. Pakistan's geo-economic vision and peace in Afghanistan and its humanitarian would also be discussed during the visit of the premier who will be accompanied by high-level delegation, they said. Khan will become the first Pakistani premier to visit Russia in 23 years after former premier Nawaz Sharif travelled to Moscow after the end of the Cold War. Khan is expected to visit Russia from February 23 to 26, The Express Tribune earlier reported, quoting diplomatic sources. His planned visit to Russia is expected to take place after his visit to China where he attended the Beijing Olympics and held talks with top Chinese leadership including President Xi Jinping. President Putin also attended the opening ceremony which was diplomatically boycotted by the US, European Union and several western countries over China's alleged human rights policies in its restive Xinjiang province. Khan's visit to Moscow is believed to be a clear signal to the West, especially after he clearly said no to the US on giving military bases to it in Pakistan following America's withdrawal from Afghanistan and not receiving a phone call from US President Joe Biden since he assumed office in January 2021. "The Prime Minister's visit under the current circumstances is crucial, the paper quoted a diplomat as saying on condition of anonymity, while referring to the rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine and ultimately between Moscow and the West. The diplomat further said Prime Minister Khan and Russian President Putin would exchange views on bilateral cooperation as well as regional and issues of mutual interest. On January 17, Khan spoke to Putin and exchanged views on bilateral cooperation as well as regional and issues and also appreciated his "emphatic statement" that freedom of speech could not be a pretext to abuse the Prophet. Khan said he also discussed with President Putin ways to move forward on trade and other mutually beneficial cooperation between Pakistan and Russia and invited each other to visit their respective countries. He underscored that Pakistan's bilateral relationship with Russia was on an upward trajectory, with an increased focus on trade and economic ties and energy cooperation. Khan and Putin agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in different areas, increase high-level exchanges, and remain in close contact on matters relating to Afghanistan. A Foreign Office statement had attributed to the prime minister that he looked forward to President Putin's visit to Pakistan as well as his own visit to Russia at an appropriate time. Last month, it was reported that Islamabad and Moscow were in talks to finalise a plan for what would be a landmark visit of the Russian president to Pakistan this year. The visit was being discussed by the two sides for the last two years but could not be materialised because of a variety of reasons, including the Covid-19 pandemic. For the visit, Moscow wanted to have something significant ready before Putin finally undertook his trip to Pakistan, according to the paper. Pakistan's defence ties with Russia have moved past the bitter Cold War hostilities in recent years and the chill in the relations between Pakistan and the US has further pushed the country towards Russia and China. In April last year, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Islamabad after a gap of almost nine years. During the visit, he conveyed a message to Pakistani leadership on behalf of President Putin that Moscow was willing to extend all possible help to Islamabad. The two countries are not just exploring options to deepen economic ties, but Russia is also keen to sell arms to Pakistan, something it avoided in the past because of India's opposition. The two countries have already been holding regular joint military exercises since 2016 in another sign of deepening ties between Moscow and Islamabad. Besides, the two countries also share the same view on key regional and issues including Afghanistan. (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.) Pakistans leverage appears to have declined after the takeover in mid-August 2021, while new irritants have already emerged, as per a report by Crisis Group (ICG). Pakistan's efforts to secure its border with Afghanistan, to prevent both an influx of refugees and infiltration by Pakistani militants based in Afghanistan, are already a point of contention, the report said. The Taliban's apparent refusal to break off relations with their Pakistani counterparts, the Tehreek-e- (TTP), is of even greater concern to Islamabad. The Taliban, in fact, at least initially appeared in some ways to be dictating Pakistan's policy choices, forcing Islamabad to concede to at least some demands on cross-border movement and pressuring it to reach a negotiated settlement with the Pakistani . "Islamabad has difficult choices to make. It is unwilling to distance itself from a friendly government that it sees as a vehicle for asserting influence over its western neighbour. Yet in the Taliban it could find itself saddled with an ally that refuses to do what is needed to ease Western sanctions and end the attendant diplomatic isolation," the report said. That Pakistan's clout with the Taliban has declined after the group seized power complicates things further. faces difficult challenges in shaping policy toward Taliban-controlled . Though continues to back its Afghan ally, the Taliban's military takeover and subsequent diplomatic and economic isolation could make Afghanistan's new government more of a burden than an asset for Islamabad, it added. Growing instability and economic hardship could lead impoverished Afghans to seek shelter in Pakistan. Islamabad's alliance with the Taliban could also strain relations with the U.S. and other Western countries. Most importantly, the Taliban's failure to take action against Pakistani militants operating from Afghan territory could endanger Pakistan's internal security, the report said. Islamabad's hesitancy to take the plunge this time around is primarily driven by concern that no other government worldwide, including among Afghanistan's other neighbours, has yet taken the step of recognition. Unilateral action by Pakistan would likely strain relations with powerful Western countries, particularly the US, Islamabad also realises that recognition in itself would do little to ease the Taliban's diplomatic and economic isolation. Islamabad is well aware, however, that the Taliban must also assuage concerns with regard to both governance and security if Western pressure is to let up. While Pakistan is encouraging the Taliban to opt at the very least for a facade of inclusive government and demonstrate at least token respect for basic rights, the Taliban have yet to heed its advice. Nor has Islamabad succeeded in convincing the militant group-turned-government to break links with Afghanistan-based jihadi outfits such as Al Qaeda, the report said. Concerned about such inaction on the Taliban's part, even countries such as Iran, China and Russia that have opted for closer engagement with the Taliban government are unlikely to officially recognise it any time soon. The odds are even lower that the US and its Western allies will recognise the Taliban government and lift all sanctions so long as the Taliban show no willingness to compromise. Given its closeness to the Taliban, Islamabad could itself face Western pressure, aimed at compelling it to work harder at convincing its Afghan allies to respond more positively to demands. Cooler relations with the U.S. could become particularly onerous given Washington's weight in international financial institutions, such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, on which Pakistan is dependent to prop up its floundering economy, the ICG said. Islamabad is also concerned about the cross-border implications of Afghanistan's economic and diplomatic crises. Afghanistan's economic collapse is depriving Pakistan of opportunities to revive trade ties that had been badly eroded by frictions with erstwhile Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's government. Growing insecurity and economic hardship could translate into thousands, possibly hundreds of thousands, of impoverished Afghans seeking shelter and livelihoods in Pakistan, the report 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.) Russian President could order an attack on within days or weeks, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan warned on Sunday, as Washington and its European allies continued efforts to offer Putin a diplomatic way out of the crisis. "We are in the window. Any day now, could take military action against Ukraine, or it could be a couple of weeks from now, or could choose to take the diplomatic path instead," Sullivan told the "Fox News Sunday" program. Sullivan made the comments in television interviews after two U.S. officials on Saturday said Russia, which seized Crimea from in 2014, has in place about 70% of the combat power it believes it would need for a full-scale invasion of . As masses more than 100,000 troops near the border, Moscow has said it is not planning an invasion but could take unspecified military action if its security demands are not met. Those include a promise that NATO will never admit Ukraine, a demand the United States and the 30-nation Western security alliance have called unacceptable. U.S. President Joe Biden spoke to French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday, the White House said. That call came ahead of a visit by Macron to Moscow on Monday, the culmination of days of French contacts with Russia and Ukraine to try to de-escalate tensions. The 40 minute-long call between Biden and Macron allowed the two leaders to coordinate ahead of the trip, a French Presidency source said. If Putin is not deterred by the diplomatic push, possible Russian action could include annexing Ukraine's Donbass region, where Russian-backed separatists broke away from Ukrainian government control in 2014, cyberattacks or a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Sullivan said. "We believe that there is a very distinct possibility that will order an attack on Ukraine," Sullivan told ABC's "This Week" program. "It could happen as soon as tomorrow, or it could take some weeks yet. He has put himself in a position with military deployments to be able to act aggressively against Ukraine at any time now," Sullivan added. U.S. TROOPS LAND IN POLAND Ukraine, while seeking more military aid, has also sought to calm fears of an invasion. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Sunday urged people to ignore "apocalyptic predictions," saying his country was strong and had unprecedented support. Washington has made clear it would not send U.S. soldiers to defend Ukraine, which is not a member of NATO. However, Washington has given Kyiv arms and last week said it would send nearly 3,000 extra troops nL1N2UD16S to Poland and Romania to shield Eastern Europe from potential spillover from the crisis. A plane carrying U.S. troops landed in Poland nL8N2UH069 on Sunday, a Reuters witness said. On Wednesday, the Pentagon said around 1,700 service members, mainly from the 82nd Airborne Division, would deploy from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to Poland. Biden sent a message to the troops as he arrived at the White House after a weekend at his Delaware home. "We're thinking of you," he said, clenching his fist as he spoke to reporters. Biden said he would not speculate on whether he might need to send more troops to Europe. Asked what Putin is weighing as he decides whether to pursue an invasion, Biden said the Russian president was looking for "things he cannot get." German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who will meet Biden at the White House on Monday, signaled on Sunday he was open to deploying more troops to Lithuania to bolster NATO's eastern flank. 'DIRECT IMPACT' OF SANCTIONS The United States, with its allies, has threatened extensive economic sanctions against Russia should it invade. These could include financial sanctions as well as export-control measures nL1N2U01MK]. U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo on Sunday said any sanctions would hit Putin and Russian elites hard given their reliance on Europe, which is Russia's largest trading partner, and the U.S. dollar. "By the United States and Europe acting together, we put ourselves in a position where we not only would have an impact on the overall Russian economy but we'd have a direct impact on President Putin, who is tied to the Russian economy," he told CBS News' "Face the Nation." On a daily basis, Russian financial institutions do about $46 billion worth of financial transactions globally with 80% of those in dollars, Adeyemo said. Russia's biggest trading partner is Europe, accounting for about 40% of Russian commerce. Asked if Russia could instead just turn to China, Adeyemo said the severity of planned U.S. sanctions and Russia's ties with the West would make that difficult. China "does not have access" to critical technologies Russia relies on from the United States and its allies, he told CBS. "Russian elites, who would be cut off from the global financial system, are not putting their money in China. They're putting their money in Europe and in the United States," Adeyemo 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.) sang Gloria Gaynors classic disco anthem I will survive, in a bid to reassure his new director of communications that he wasnt going to be forced out of office. Guto Harri, who started work Monday after a string of resignations from Johnsons office last week, also described his new boss as not a complete clown, in an interview with Welsh language website golwg360, according to a BBC translation. Harri told the Welsh website hed asked Johnson Are you going to survive, Boris? and said the premier had started to sing as he used the line from the Gaynor song in his reply. Johnson will recruit more new staff to his Downing Street team, his spokesman said, following a series of scandals that have left him fighting to shore up his authority. He has faced growing anger over a series of reported parties in Downing Street during Covid-19 lockdowns and questions about often chaotic style of leadership. "In the coming days, I don't have specific dates, I think certainly you'll see further changes," his spokesman said, referring to new appointments that had been made over the weekend. "There will be additional recruitment into Number 10. Chinese FM meets WHO chief Xinhua) 10:18, February 07, 2022 Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with visiting Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who made a trip to China to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Gao Jie) BEIJING, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday met with visiting Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who came to China for the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games. Tedros said he was delighted to come to China and participate in the Olympic torch relay on this special occasion, adding that the Beijing Olympic Winter Games has brought solidarity, peace and hope to the world under the impact of the pandemic and will help people tide over the current difficult moment. He expressed appreciation for China's strong support to the world in fighting the pandemic and pledged to continue strengthening cooperation with China in public health. He expects and believes that China would play an important role in achieving the goal of vaccinating 70 percent of people in all countries, he said. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the restoration of New China's lawful seat in the WHO. China has carried out all-dimensional, multi-tiered and wide-ranging pragmatic and effective cooperation with the WHO in the past 50 years, supporting and participating in the WHO's efforts to address various challenges, Wang said. China has provided over 2.1 billion doses of vaccines to more than 120 countries and international organizations. Many developing countries, particularly in Africa, received their first batch of vaccines from China, and most of their vaccines also came from China, according to Wang. He added that China supports the global COVID-19 vaccination strategy proposed by the WHO and stands ready to strengthen cooperation with the WHO on bridging the immunization gap and making vaccines accessible and affordable for developing countries. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Liang Jun) Prosecution should do more to scrutinize development scandal Kwak Sang-do, a former opposition lawmaker suspected of accepting bribes in a high-profile land development project, has been arrested. On Friday, the Seoul Central District Court issued an arrest warrant for the former two-term lawmaker, citing clear charges brought against him and the possible destruction of evidence. The warrant issuance came two months after a first warrant request was rejected in December. In their second attempt, prosecutors added another charge, arguing that Kwak received 50 million won ($42,000) in illegal political funds in 2016 from a lawyer arrested for his involvement in the Daejang-dong land development scandal. Kwak's arrest came too late, given that the public was irked by the revelation that he had received 5 billion won in the form of severance pay for his son from Hwacheon Daeyu, an asset management firm at the center of the scandal. The amount of money his son received was too high, considering his monthly salary of 2.5 million won since June 2015 when he began working for the company. But Kwak brazenly denied all allegations against him and the first warrant request was rejected, raising public fury over injustices in law enforcement. It's fortunate that this distorted reality has been corrected albeit belatedly. However, Kwak's arrest is just the beginning of an investigation into lobbying allegations raised against a group of people dubbed the "5 billion won club" in the land development scandal. Former special prosecutor Park Young-soo, former Supreme Court Justice Kwon Soon-il and several others are known to have been promised 50 billion won each in exchange for aiding Hwacheon Daeyu. Yet prosecutors have sat on their hands instead of investigating them. Park, in particular, is reported to have served as an executive adviser to Hwacheon Daeyu, and his daughter had been employed by the company. Considering that most of those involved are from the prosecution, the tepid investigation is nothing but an attempt to protect its own. The prosecution should conduct an impartial investigation so that the whole picture of the scandal can be laid bare. Corp said on Monday it will sell almost all of its 60% stake in its air conditioning unit to its U.S. joint venture partner for $870 million, ahead of an expected rejig of a turnaround plan that has rankled investors. It will sell 55% of Carrier to Carrier Global Corp for around 100 billion yen ($870 million), retaining a 5% stake. The deal is expected to be prelude to a more far-reaching restructuring of the conglomerate to be announced on Monday, when starts a two-day "investor day". Toshiba is set to announce a plan to split into two companies, not three, at the event and will likely see angry pushback from foreign shareholders. Toshiba management will brief investors on the break-up plan, take questions and give details on individual businesses. The company said on Friday it was considering splitting in half. Under the new plan, Toshiba would split off its device business, including the power chip unit. Previously it had aimed to split into three companies: one for energy and infrastructure, one for devices and one for flash memory chips. The two-way split would save costs compared to a more complicated three-way break-up, although some investors suspect the new plan is designed to allow Toshiba to avoid a shareholder vote that would have required two-thirds approval. (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.) Taiwan has not been approached by the United States on the issue of diverting some supplies of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to Europe if the crisis leads to a disruption, the economy ministry said on Monday. Last month, the United States, the world's top producer of natural gas, asked Qatar and other major energy producers to examine whether they could supply Europe if Russia were to cut supplies as a result of tension over . The United States has also asked Japan if it could divert some to Europe in case of such a disruption, Japanese government sources told Reuters last week, and Japan has said it would consider how it could help. Responding to questions on whether Taiwan, another major Asian customer, had also been asked to do so by the United States, the economy ministry said it had "not received any relevant information or inquiries". In a statement, it added, "Our country's natural gas imports come from a variety of sources, and (it) continues to adapt the procurement strategy to diversify import risks." Taiwan gets its from more than 10 nations such as Australia, Indonesia, Qatar and Russia, from both long- and medium-term contracts and on the spot market as needed, the ministry said. The island "continues to maintain diversified and stable natural gas sources". Taiwan aims to generate more electricity from LNG in the shift away from both coal-powered and nuclear plants, and is building a massive new LNG terminal off its northwestern coast. Last July, state-owned refiner CPC Corp signed a 15-year LNG supply agreement with Qatar Petroleum. CPC said that from this year it would buy 1.25 million tonnes of LNG annually from Qatar, for domestic consumption. Taiwan began importing LNG from Qatar in 1997. (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.) U.S. officials called on Monday for "concrete action" from China to make good on its commitment to purchase $200 billion in additional U.S. goods and services in 2020 and 2021 under the "Phase 1" trade deal signed by former President Donald Trump. The officials said Washington was losing patience with Beijing, which had "not shown real signs" in recent months that it would close the gap in the two-year purchase commitments that expired at the end of 2021. The comments come a day before the U.S. government is due to release full-year trade data that analysts expect to show a significant shortfall in China's pledge to increase purchases of U.S. farm and manufactured goods, energy and services. Through November, China had met only about 60% of the goal, according to trade data https://www.piie.com/research/piie-charts/us-china-phase-one-tracker-chinas-purchases-us-goods compiled by Peterson Institute for Economics senior fellow Chad Bown. U.S. President Joe Biden has said the trade deal did not address the core problems with China's state-led economy, but U.S. officials have pressed Beijing to make good on the deal as signed. "Because we inherited this deal, we engaged the (People's Republic of China) on its purchase commitment shortfalls, both to fight for U.S. farmers, ranchers and manufacturers and give China the opportunity to follow through on its commitments. But our patience is wearing thin," said one of the officials. China continued to engage with U.S. officials on the issue, but Washington was seeking "concrete action", not "talks for the sake of talking," the official added. U.S. officials said they would continue to press China to show "serious intent" to reach an agreement on their purchase commitments, but conceded the framework of the deal offered them little leverage to enforce the purchase commitments. Regardless of how the negotiations wind up, U.S. officials said they would continue to target the core problems of China's state-led economy, while working to boost U.S. competitiveness by diversifying markets and working with allies and partners. Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Sarah Bianchi told a trade conference on Tuesday that China had failed to meet its purchase commitments https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-trade-china-idTRNIKBN2K63V8 under the deal and the conversations between Washington and Beijing had been "very difficult." The agreement, signed by Trump in January 2020, defused a nearly three-year trade war between the world's two largest economies, but left in place tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of imports on both sides of the Pacific. A spokesperson for China's Embassy in Washington last week said Beijing has worked to implement the Phase 1 agreement "despite the impact of COVID-19, global recession and supply chain disruptions." (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shares of surged 8 per cent to Rs 319 on the BSE in Mondays intra-day trade after the company said that its board will meet on February 9, 2022 to consider the proposal for buyback of equity shares of the company through tender offer route. At 09:26 am; the stock of pharmaceutical company traded 7 per cent higher at Rs 314.75, as compared to 0.5 per cent decline in the S&P BSE Sensex. In the past six months, the stock has declined 14 per cent, as against a 8 per cent rise in the benchmark index. It has shed 21 per cent from its 52-week high of Rs 404.90 touched on June 15, 2021.. Buyback is a corporate action in which a company buys back its shares from the existing shareholders usually at a price higher than market price. The primary objective of a share buyback programme is to arrest the fall in the value of a stock by reducing the supply of the stock, which essentially pushes up the share price through a better price to earnings (P/E) multiple. In tender offer, shareholders will have the option to submit (or tender) a portion or all of their shares Within a certain time frame and at a premium to the current market price, this premium compensates investors for tendering their shares rather than holding on to them. Meanwhile, in a separate regulatory filing, announced that the company's oral solid dosage facility located in Goa has received a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certificate and it continues with its approved status from PICs - NPRA (National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency), Malaysia. To develop a regulated sector focused cloud offering Larsen & Toubro and Microsoft India announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop a regulated sector focused cloud offering to empower customers with the best-of-breed cloud computing and infrastructure services. In line with emerging regulations, L&T and Microsoft will co-engage with a defined set of large customers in regulated sectors to develop architectures and roadmaps to modernize their traditional data centers to potentially hybrid models and advance their digital transformation goals. Under the MoU, the two industry leaders will setup a joint governance group to define future platform designs, investments, and commercial/business models to service the regulated sectors' emerging technology requirements. Senior leadership teams of both the organizations will be engaged collectively on this as the association evolves. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Reliance Industries (RIL): Jio Platforms announced an investment of US$15 million in Two Platforms Inc. (TWO), a Silicon Valley based deep tech startup founded by Pranav Mistry, for a 25% equity stake on a fully diluted basis. Jio Platforms is a majority-owned subsidiary of RIL. SBI: The banking major reported 62.27% rise in net profit to Rs 8,432 crore on 4.41% rise in interest income to Rs 69,678 crore in Q3 FY22 over Q3 F21. Tata Steel: The steel major reported consolidated net profit of Rs 9,598 crore in Q3 FY22 from net profit of Rs 4,011 crore in Q3 FY21. Turnover rose to Rs 60,783 crore from Rs 41,935 crore. Shree Cement: The cement major reported a 23.6% fall in consolidated net profit to Rs 482.70 crore in Q3 FY22 from Rs 631.58 crore posted in Q3 FY21. Consolidated net sales grew 2.2% to Rs 3,637.11 crore in Q3 FY22 over Q3 FY21. Godrej Properties: The realty firm said its board has decided not to proceed with a previously announced plan to invest in DB Realty. The decision was taken after the board took into consideration the feedback from the stakeholders and minority investors. Bank of Baroda: The bank reported 107.17% rise in net profit to Rs 2197 crore on 14.38% rise in net interest income to Rs 8552 crore in Q3 FY22 over Q3 F21. Siemens: Revenue from continuing operations in Q1 FY22 was Rs 3,197 crore, a 11.8 % increase over the same quarter in the preceding year. Profit after Tax from continuing operations was Rs. 245 crore, decreased by 6.5% over the same period last year. FDC: The company has scheduled a board meeting on February 9 to consider the proposal for buyback of shares. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China should stop 'stealing' Korean culture The hanbok has emerged as a hot-button issue between Korea and China, after a woman dressed in traditional Korean costume appeared representing an ethnic minority of China during the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics, Friday night. The woman, dressed in a white and pink hanbok, was among people representing 56 minorities of China carrying the Chinese national flag into the stadium. Such a scene has touched off strong reactions here, with netizens and even major presidential candidates decrying it as part of China's apparent appropriation of Korean culture. In a sense, it may be natural for the woman in hanbok to attend the ceremony representing ethnic Koreans as part of the 56 minorities in China. Yet it was inappropriate as it might give the impression to global audiences that the hanbok is part of China's unique culture despite Korea's own sovereignty. Also, such an act will likely fuel anti-China sentiment among Koreans. China has come under strong criticism for its attempts to claim Korea's ancient kingdoms of Goguryeo and Balhae as part of its own history under the so-called "Northeast Project" since the early 2000s. Furthermore, it has been laying claim to Korea's traditional culture such as kimchi and hanbok as its own. Recently, some ultranationalists of China infuriated Korean people by claiming the hanbok that appeared in the Netflix drama "Kingdom," as well as other dramas and shows, as its own attire, "hanfu" dating back to the Ming Dynasty. On Saturday, Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), criticized the Chinese authorities for "misusing the festive event for cultural appropriation." Yoon Suk-yeol, the presidential contender of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), stressed Goguryeo and Balhae are part of the glorious and proud history of Korea. "They do not belong to others." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement on the issue Sunday, saying, "We have been conveying our stance to the Chinese side that it is necessary to respect cultural uniqueness and diversity to promote mutual understanding. "We will continue our efforts toward that end." The ministry should squarely tackle the issue and any attempts to distort historical facts or "steal" our own culture while pushing to improve relations between Seoul and Beijing. What is worrisome is the growing antagonism among the peoples of the two countries, especially among youngsters. Chinese people should realize any attitude of "China's supremacy" beyond national pride cannot be condoned in international society. They should respect other people's cultures. Korean citizens, for their part, should respond to the matter calmly and reasonably. Any emotional reactions would be unhelpful for bilateral relations. Political parties should not attempt to exploit the issue for their political gains in the run-up to the presidential election. This year marks the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Both nations need to ponder about ways to improve their relations. The offer received bids for 52.37 lakh shares as against 2.54 crore shares on offer. The initial public offer (IPO) of Vedant Fashions (Manyavar) received bids for 52,37,564 shares as against 2,54,55,388 shares on offer, according to stock exchange data at 17:00 IST on Monday (7 February 2022). The issue was subscribed 0.21 times. The issue opened for bidding on Friday (4 February 2022) and it will close on Tuesday (8 February 2022). The price band of the IPO is fixed at Rs 824-866 per share. An investor can bid for a minimum of 17 equity shares and in multiples thereof. The offer comprises an offer for sale by selling shareholders Rhine Holdings of up to 1,74,59,392 equity shares aggregating Rs 1,512 crore at upper price band; Ravi Modi Family Trust of up to 1,81,82,432 equity shares aggregating Rs 1,575 crore at upper price band and Kedaara Capital Alternative Investment Fund - Kedaara Capital AIF I of up to 7,23,014 equity shares aggregating Rs 63 crore at upper price band. Ravi Modi Family Trust pre-issue shareholding stood at 74.67% stake, which shall decrease to 67.1%, Rhine Holdings pre-issue shareholding was at 7.2%, which shall become nil and Kedaara AIF pre-issue shareholding stood at 0.3% stake, which shall become nil. Ahead of the IPO, Vedant Fashions (Manyavar) on 3 February 2022, finalized allocation of 1,09,09,450 equity shares to anchor investors at an allocation price of Rs 866 per share, aggregating to Rs 9,44,75,83,700. Vedant Fashions is engaged in retailing of ethnic wear. Its Manyavar brand is a category leader in the branded Indian wedding and celebration wear market with a pan India presence. Its other brands include Twamev, Manthan, Mohey and Mebaz. The Manyavar brand accounts for about 80% of the company's revenues. The company's portfolio of products includes a diverse range of attires and accessories, each conceptualized by its designers who have experience in serving the distinct regional preferences of the Indian customer. Its products are manufactured by artisans having an abundance of expertise in the Indian wedding and celebration wear market, supplemented by its own ingrained knowledge of the demands of Indian festivals and weddings. Its wedding portfolio also includes different ranges of creations for different members of the wedding entourage, besides unique personalization for the bride and the groom. Over the years, the company has built longstanding relationships with vendors and artisans, which have been critical towards it being able to command a dominant position in a market that was conventionally an unorganized market. As of 30 September 2021, the company had a retail footprint of 1.2 million square feet covering 535 exclusive brand outlets (EBOs), including 58 shop-in shop, spanning across 212 cities and towns in India and 11 EBOs overseas across United States, Canada and the UAE. The company reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 98.40 crore and sales of Rs 359.80 crore for the twelve months ended September 2021. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vedanta Ltd is quoting at Rs 369.7, up 3.75% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The stock is up 107.7% in last one year as compared to a 14.57% jump in NIFTY and a 65.92% jump in the Nifty Metal. Vedanta Ltd is up for a fifth straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 369.7, up 3.75% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is down around 1.13% on the day, quoting at 17318.9. The Sensex is at 57958.25, down 1.17%. Vedanta Ltd has gained around 8.99% in last one month. Meanwhile, Nifty Metal index of which Vedanta Ltd is a constituent, has gained around 3.07% in last one month and is currently quoting at 5829.5, up 1.11% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 105.77 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 123.38 lakh shares in last one month. The benchmark February futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 367, up 2.57% on the day. Vedanta Ltd is up 107.7% in last one year as compared to a 14.57% jump in NIFTY and a 65.92% jump in the Nifty Metal index. The PE of the stock is 9.01 based on TTM earnings ending December 21. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday is scheduled to hold a meeting with state MPs on various projects as well as call on central ministers, including Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, during his two-day visit to the capital. Bommai, who is scheduled to hold a meeting with state MPs in the afternoon at a hotel here, is expected to discuss issues related to central projects and the state budget to be presented next month, sources said. The CM is also planning to meet the Union Finance Minister to discuss the state budget, financial condition and GST and other issues. He is also scheduled to meet the legal team representing the state in inter-water dispute cases, they added. "I will also meet the legal counsels who are representing the state in inter-state water disputes. A few important decisions would be taken on the future course of action. I have sought appointment of Union Finance Minister. I intend to discuss the State budget, financial condition, GST and other issues," Bommai had told the media on Sunday in Bengaluru. Bommai had also said that he had sought an appointment with the top brass of the party. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday called on Union Home Minister and discussed state developments, amid pressure to carry out a cabinet reshuffle soon. Bommai, who is on a two-day visit to the capital, gave a summary of the achievements of his government over the past six months. "At the same time, the CM discussed the state of affairs (in Karnataka) with ji," an official statement said. Bommai also submitted a study conducted by ISAAC on benefits of the pro-people schemes on the poor, it said. Shah appreciated the achievements of the state government in the meeting, it added. Earlier during the day, the chief minister said that he would discuss cabinet reshuffle with the top party leaders provided he gets an appointment. "These issues can be discussed if the central leadership gives time. I cannot share immediately. I can share only after the meeting and before leaving (to Bengaluru)," he told reporters adding, "I will meet them if they confirm." Bommai is under pressure to expand or rejig his cabinet soon. However, as per sources, it will be done after the upcoming assembly elections in Uttarakhand, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Goa and Manipur. There are currently 30 ministers in the Cabinet, including the chief minister, against the sanctioned strength of 34. The chief minister plans to meet BJP President J P Nadda on Tuesday to discuss political developments in the state. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister is expected to hit back to the allegations and issues raised by the leaders including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, in the second week of the Parliament's Budget Session, in Rajya Sabha as well as in Lok Sabha. A discussion was underway in both the houses on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address and during this, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and many MPs of parties have criticized the Narendra Modi-led Central government fiercely on the floor of the House. Starting the discussion on behalf of the in the Lok Sabha on February 2, Rahul Gandhi had fiercely targeted the Central government and Prime Minister . The Congress leader has accused the Modi government of ending employment opportunities in the country, eliminating small and medium industries, increasing the inequality gap between the poor and the rich, posing serious threat to security due to "wrong policies" on China and Pakistan border. Besides making allegations, questions were also raised on the economic, industrial, strategic, foreign, internal and external security policies of the government. Rahul Gandhi had also made a scathing attack on the Prime Minister over the issues related to federalism and constitutional institutions. Slamming the government, he also said that the UPA government had brought 27 crore people out of poverty during its 10 year tenure while the NDA government pushed 23 crore people back into poverty. In the Rajya Sabha too, MPs of all opposition parties including Congress, Trinamool Congress, NCP, RJD had targeted the policies of the Modi government in the first week of the . In the second week of the budget session, Prime Minister is likely to respond to the leaders of all Opposition parties including Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. According to sources, Prime Minister Narendra Modi might reply to the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address in the Lok Sabha on Monday. During his speech, PM Modi, referring to the history of the tenure of the Congress-led government, will make a sharp counterattack on the allegations of Rahul Gandhi, as well as respond to the allegations of MPs of other opposition parties. Referring to the achievements of his government on all fronts including economic, strategic, foreign, security and industrial policy, PM Modi might answer each and every charge of the opposition parties. On Tuesday, the very next day after his speech in the Lok Sabha on Monday, Modi may also reply to the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address in the Rajya Sabha He will also be seen trying to deliver a political message to the voters of the five poll-bound states -- Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa. President Ram Nath Kovind addressed the joint session of both the Houses of Parliament on January 31, the first day of the . --IANS stp/pgh (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Home Minister on Monday requested AIMIM president to accept Z category protection, offered by the government after a recent attack on his car, saying he still faces security threat. Making a statement in Rajya Sabha, Shah said the Hyderabad MP has refused to take the CRPF protection. The minister said that Owaisi had been offered security in the past too and a government assessment has found that he still faces security threat. "We have reassessed the security of Owaisi. We have provided him in Delhi a bullet-proof car under all India level Z category security of Central Reserve Police Force on the basis of assessment,'' he said. "As per the verbal information sent by Owaisi to us, he has refused to take security. I request Shri Owaisi through this House to take the security immediately and address our concern (about his safety)," Shah said in the Upper House. He also told the House that the Ministry of Home Affairs has received a report from the state government on the attack. "The central government has issued directions to provide security to Owaisi many times earlier also. Telangana Police and Delhi Police remained unsuccessful in providing security to Owaisi due to his unwillingness for that," the minister said. Shots were fired at the car of the president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), on February 3, 2022 in Uttar Pradesh following which two persons were arrested and arms were also recovered. Owaisi had reached Delhi safely after the incident. Shah informed the House that the AIMIM leader did not have a scheduled programme in Hapur and no prior information was sent regarding his visit to the district control room. "Local police inspected the site of the incident and arrested two accused and also recovered two pistols and an Alto car "A forensic team is investigating the site of the incident and the (recovered) vehicles. Evidence is being collected. "Uttar Pradesh Police is also interrogating the two accused. The law and order situation is normal in the district. They are on high alert," Shah also stated. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The state president and former education minister Govind Singh Dotasra on Monday said that he will quit if allegations against him of having a connection in the REET paper leak are proved. He said that 13 of his relatives had taken the Rajasthan Eligibility Examination for Teachers-2021 (REET) exam but none was selected. Also condemning remarks of BJP state president Satish Poonia about the Congress, Dotasara said that protests would be held at district headquarters on Tuesday against Poonia's objectionable statement. During his Kota visit yesterday, Poonia had said that was not equal to the footwear of the BJP. Hours later, some members had stopped his vehicle while Poonia was returning to Jaipur and showed him black flags. Refuting the allegations of the opposition BJP, Dotasra said, If I or my family are found involved in the REET matter, then I will take 'Sanyas' from . The Opposition BJP has no issue to raise against the state government and therefore such issues are being createdyou (BJP) are black as coal and have no courage, he said at a press conference of chief minister Ashok Gehlot. In the conference, Gehlot announced the decision of the Cabinet to cancel the REET exam. Dotasra said that the state government has referred the case of a girl who was found injured in Alwar a few days back, to CBI and the BJP leaders should get the CBI inquiry expedited. He was the education minister when REET-2021 was conducted across the state in September last year. After the allegations of paper leak, the investigation was handed over to the Special Operation Group of Rajasthan Police which so far has arrested 38 persons in connection with the paper leak. The state government a few days back also terminated the chairman of Board of Secondary Education DP Jaroli and suspended the board secretary Arvind Kumar for irregularities in conducting the exam. When the irregularities in the conduct of exams had emerged in September last year, the state government had suspended one RAS and two RPS officers, 13 personnel of the education department, and three other policemen. (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 contended that her government would never acquire land by force as she hit out at Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who said that the plan to build a second airport here was hanging fire for want of a plot. Scindia, during a press meet here on Sunday, said the Centre has plans to build a second airport in Kolkata, but the government was yet to provide land for it Banerjee, in reply, said, "They need 1,000 acres for another airport in Kolkata. Should I bulldoze existing houses? Shall I evict people residing in those houses? Is it possible? We can't just forcibly evict people. The minister should not politicise such matters. I will not allow another Singur and Nandigram (evictions) to take place," she told reporters. Banerjee said her government has already allotted land for the third runway at the existing airport. "There are airports in Cooch Behar, Malda, but they are devoid of regional connectivity. There is also an airport in Andal. We can work only when we have land. Please ask the minister to provide us with 1,000 acres. We won't go for forcible land acquisition. It is not our policy," she said. Scindia had claimed that he has been seeking a dialogue with the chief minister for six months for setting up a second airport in the city since the existing one has reached its capacity, but there has been no response from the her side so far. (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.) Kolon Global Vice President Lee Kyu-ho By Park Jae-hyuk Kolon Global Vice President Lee Kyu-ho is still facing a tall task to prove his management ability, despite Kolon Group's accelerated efforts to hand over control of the group to him the oldest son of Honorary Chairman Lee Woong-yeul and the great-grandson of founder Lee Won-man. According to industry officials, the vice president sent an email to Kolon Global employees late last month urging them to look for new business opportunities and ways to distinguish the company from its competitors. This was his first time sending an official letter to the company's entire staff. It was also reported that he has been the chief strategy officer of the group's holding company since January 2020, to direct its future business directions. Until recently, he had been only known as Kolon Global's vice president and head of its automotive division. He came to the fore last September, when he attended the Korea H2 Business Summit along with heirs of other chaebol groups. In the event where he officially represented Kolon Group for the first time, he announced the group's ambitious plan to establish a hydrogen value chain. These steps are widely viewed as his efforts to inherit the group's shares from his father. At the time the honorary chairman resigned in 2018, he said that he would only hand over his shares to his son if his son proves his ability in management. Since then, the group has been led by the One & Only committee comprised of CEOs of the group's affiliates. The honorary chairman is still serving as the largest shareholder of the group's holding firm, and his son does not have stakes in any Kolon affiliates. The son had failed to impress in 2019, when he was chief operating officer of Kolon Industries' fashion and culture division. Back then, the company's revenue dropped to 800 billion won ($667 million) from 1 trillion won a year earlier. Although he enabled Kolon Global's earnings to grow after he moved to the company in late 2020, skepticism remains that its profitability just resulted from the overall growth of the imported car market. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has fined Meta (formerly Facebook) $2 million for failing to disclose key changes regarding its $315 million acquisition of online database and search engine Giphy. According to the CMA, Meta failed to notify the regulator about the resignation of three key employees and the reallocation of their roles. In November, the anti-trust watchdog had ordered Meta to sell Giphy, as the acquisition could harm social media users and advertisers. had moved to buy the online GIF platform in May 2020. The UK anti-competition watchdog had ruled that Facebook's acquisition of Giphy would reduce competition between social media platforms and that the deal has already removed Giphy as a potential challenger in the display advertising market. "The tie-up between and Giphy has already removed a potential challenger in the display advertising market. Without action, it will also allow to increase its significant market power in social media even further, through controlling competitors' access to Giphy GIFs," said Stuart McIntosh, Chair of the independent inquiry group. "By requiring Facebook to sell Giphy, we are protecting millions of social media users and promoting competition and innovation in digital advertising," he had said in a statement. Before the merger, Giphy had launched innovative advertising services which it was considering expanding to countries outside the US, including the UK. Giphy's services allowed companies, such as Dunkin' Donuts and Pepsi, to promote their brands through visual images and GIFs. The CMA found that Giphy's advertising services had the potential to compete with Facebook's own display advertising services. --IANS na/ksk/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 7 (ANI/NewsVoir): Be it the last day of a month or the first day of a month, employees look forward to getting the much-awaited "salary credited" text on their phones. A delay in getting the salary can not only affect their monthly budget but also leaves them stressed. But stress no more as CHP Finance is aiming to make timely salary payouts possible with their new product called 1 Click Sal. Leena Malik, the visionary behind this innovative idea, said, "We are looking at this product not only from a commercial perspective but also because this is the need of the hour in the post-COVID era. We all have to do our bit to bring India Inc back into a stable zone after these repeated disruptions. 1 Click Sal will boost the confidence of enterprises who realize the immense worth of timely salary payouts in their employee retention, company stability and growth plans." She further explained that by using this facility not just the employees but even the employers will be at peace as far as the salaries are concerned. "Ease of sanction and disbursements are the USP on which 1 Click Sal is riding. Companies seeking unsecured loans can now visit (https://1clickcapital.com) to upload their basic documentation and get their financial limits set up. This loan is explicitly for the purpose of bridging any cash-flow shortfalls on salary day," she said. And even if a company has a weak credit score, CHP Finance has a solution for that. Adds Leena Malik, "We are trusting the business acumen of our target segments more than just relying on what their financials or credit scores are displaying. There is more to businesses than these and we want to try to create a broader perspective in our lending DNA." With the launch of 1 Click Sal, CHP Finance is adding another product called 1 Click Adv. As the name suggests, it will help employees with advance payouts in case of an emergency or sudden expenses. Looking at the current state of the Indian economy, which is in a recovery mode, 1 Click Sal can play an important role in providing that financial cushion. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi [India], February 7 (ANI/SRV): A learning platform for non-academic skills, Hobit announces that it has raised $200K in seed round funding. Founded during the first lockdown in 2020, by Gaurav Dua, Arpit Tyagi, and Lakshay Rohilla, Hobit is addressing the market for extracurricular activities/hobbies where people learn from the industry's top-notch artists. Based in Faridabad, it is an experiential virtual learning platform that connects passionate mentors and learners through live mentorship, engaging learning experiences, and community building. The funding round saw participation from strategic investors including Vaibhav Mittal (CEO, AKC Group; Investor; Entrepreneur), Varun Hangloo, Rachit Poddar (Angel Investor; London Business School), Rajesh Gupta, Sharad Todi, IVY Growth associates, and Marwari Catalysts Ventures (VC-cum-Accelerator). IVY Growth Associates played a huge role in raising the round and added a few other strategic investors from Nagpur, Kolkata, and Mumbai who will add value to the market penetration, growth, and sustainability of the company. With Accelerator Partner, Marwari Catalysts Ventures, India's fastest growing startup accelerator, the non-academic EdTech startup will use the funds to strategically allocate for strengthening the technology & product, developing new courses, user base expansion, strengthening the team, and accelerating its growth in order to expand its footprint in India and international markets. On his investment into Hobit, Varun Hangloo says, "Hobit is perfectly positioned to capture the fast-growing online hobby learning market in India, and abroad since it's solving critical problems of affordability, community engagement, and delivering quality learning outcomes in this sector, with its 'Bharat' focused Hobby-tech platform." As of today's date, Hobit has more than 50K+ users with 50+ tutors from three countries i.e India, UAE, Bahrain. Talking about their vision, Gaurav Dua, Co-founder, Hobit, said, they'll be investing heavily on team and product. "Our goal is to help you learn in the best way possible, across categories and mediums. The next decade will see new paradigms of learning and for this, we're building a new model of community and learning that is a fundamental evolution of ed-tech." Hobit being the pioneer of the passion economy in India, claims to provide 360-degree solutions, powering skills, knowledge and giving life to the aspirations of potentially hundreds of millions of students across the country from all walks of life. The startup said in a press statement that it has developed a leveled curriculum with leading artists as well as pedagogy experts. These courses are delivered online in live classes by experienced educators and award-winning artists, in the convenience of home. Commenting on the announcement, Lakshay Rohilla, Co-Founder, Hobit said, "The platform is seeing high engagement especially from Tier II & Tier III cities of India and we are constantly working to diversify our courses and community offerings, expand into more Tier-II and Tier-III cities, promote burgeoning talent, and implement global alliances." Arpit Tyagi, Co-Founder, Hobit, further commented, "In a world full of content and consumption, what is scarce is engagement and interaction through live mentorship and community. We have seen increasing validation for our business model and overwhelming adoption from our learners to immerse themselves in our live-learning experience and communities, especially college students, working professionals, and homemakers." So concluding, Hobit has seen aggressive growth in terms of users, content, and engagement since its launch in 2020, a press statement noted. And the startup also further has a roadmap ready to increase their bandwidth and develop dedicated solutions. This story is provided by SRV. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/SRV) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi [India], February 7 (ANI/ATK): In an attempt to serve mankind and bring people out of poverty, Intraaction Electronics along with Aryan Patel have come together to support those in need. Working towards the same 16-year-old Aryan Patel, son of the company's founder has also extended his support to uplift the tribal Humanity. Through the company, they have done philanthropic and encouraging work by supporting the underprivileged girls with sweaters and sanitary napkins across Ahmedabad and are also providing donations for religious and educational causes. Intraaction Electronics, an Electronic manufacturing company started creating face shields and safety signs during COVID making it more accessible to the local community. Company donated around 50,000 face shields and masks in the community. Ecogreen products pvt ltd manufactures eco-friendly blocks that are harmless to the environment. Inspired by the environmental and social help done by both the companies, Aryan started the campaign to help the unprivileged people of 15 states and 2 UT with United First. Not only Rameshbhai but also his father Karshands Patel was a social helper, he helped the people of the village by providing education and knowledge. Helping financially by providing donations every year to the villagers of Islampur so that they can survive through tough times. Aryan's social power of helping people has passed on to him by his father and his grandfather. His brother Nisarg also contributed socially by teaching underprivileged children in his free time. The helping nature of Aryan runs through his blood veins. Intraaction Electronics and United First started camping related quality digital education during Covid-19. Aryan and United first with the support of Teamex Edu has a set a vision of adopting 50,000 students and providing them with the best quality digital education. More than 25000 minutes of high-quality courses time available for young students to become equipped with practical skills, which include - Microsoft office, C programming, java programming, AutoCAD, English learning modules, animation, mobile programming, security, working online, operating system guides, database, useful computer skills, online services, business skills. Aryan is also leading a campaign of giving writers jackets and sweaters. November & December is that time of the year where winter is a curse for few people. Survival is difficult for the poor, but winter creates an additional burden on them. It is a desperate struggle for the homeless and poor to survive the winter season. This winter, we are going to distribute brand new sweaters and Blankets to 10,000 girls in 30 rural schools. With a skillful mind and skill and a vision to leave a mark in society, he is constantly working towards the same. And, is joining hands with more people to create a buzz with his work all around the world. Young brigade like Aryan Patel is an example for next generation and his contribution towards humanity in such scale with their company is highly commendable. This story is provided by ATK. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/ATK) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], February 7 (ANI/NewsVoir): Jagdish Sheth School of Management (JAGSoM) has been re-accredited by the prestigious AACSB International, the American accreditation for top business schools across the world. The programs that are accredited are across Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Executive Programs. JAGSoM offers BBA, PGDM, Executive PGDM & MBA programs across two campuses to be accredited by AACSB. This accreditation is a unique one because its two campuses are regulated by two different regulators (AICTE and UGC). The first graduate class of BBA & MBA from JAGSoM and Vijaybhoomi University campus will graduate with an AACSB Accredited degree. Synonymous with the highest standards of quality, AACSB accreditation has inspired business schools around the world to foster engagement, accelerate innovation, amplify impact, and transform business education for positive societal impact. Based on Peer Review Team's (PRT) recommendation to AACSB's Continuous Improvement Review committee (CIR) and Board of Directors, the AASCB has conferred the reaccreditation on JAGSoM for a period of 5 years. The Peer Review Team (PRT) consisted of three senior Deans from top schools belonging to the Middle East, Europe, and the USA. The PRT's recommendation was based on its extensive meetings with all of JAGSoM's stakeholders - current students, faculty, alumni, staff, recruiters, and senior leadership team, held in November 2021 with extensive documentary, physical and anecdotal evidences. Padma Bhushan Prof. Jagdish Sheth, Chairman, JAGSoM and a globally renowned academic stated, "I am very pleased with the speed at which JAGSoM is setting new benchmarks in management education with an emphasis on social responsibility of business and in the holistic development of students. I am also very pleased about the passion and commitment of JAGSoM academic leaders, faculty and professional staff for their hard work and a sense of purpose especially during the COVID-19 pandemic." Congratulating JAGSoM for the AACSB Re-accreditation, Prof. Bhimaraya Metri, Director, IIM Nagpur and member Board of Studies, JAGSoM, said, "The reaccreditation of JAGSoM is a game changer for Indian Institutions. JAGSoM's curriculum is aligned to the National Education Policy (NEP) where students take courses across multiple disciplines in the sophomore years. JAGSoM is now a benchmark for institutions who wish to operate as one institution with multiple campuses. This is also an indicator of how the regulatory framework of India acts as an enabler to facilitate innovation by the institutions." Prof. A. Parasuraman, Pro-Chancellor, Vijaybhoomi University and Guru of Service Marketing congratulated JAGSoM saying, "AACSB reaccreditation of JAGSoM's postgraduate and bachelor's degree programs across its campuses in Bengaluru and Karjat (Greater Mumbai) is a truly distinctive and praiseworthy accomplishment that reinforces JAGSoM's position as one of the leading business schools in India. It is also a compelling corroboration of JAGSoM's unique curriculum, developed diligently to be Industry 4.0-ready, student- and society-centric, and consistent with the school's mission to "nurture holistic, socially responsible and continuously employable professionals" Congratulations and continued best wishes to team JAGSoM!" Dr. Geoff Perry, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, Asia Pacific for AACSB while congratulating JAGSoM termed this as an outstanding achievement and said, "The extension by AACSB of accreditation for a further five years recognizes that JAGSoM meets the global benchmark for a quality business school in all of its activities, including at both of its campuses. Since fewer than 5% of the world's business schools achieve and maintain AACSB accreditation this is a significant achievement. It reflects the commitment that JAGSoM has to quality and continuous improvement in all of its endeavors, to having a positive impact on all of its stakeholders, and to aligning with global benchmarks of excellence. Congratulations on an outstanding achievement." Speaking about the re-accreditation, Prof. Atish Chattopadhyay, Director, JAGSoM, says, "JAGSoM becomes the first AACSB accredited business school in India, offering both UGC and AICTE regulated programs across the two campuses. This reaccreditation is a testimony to our commitment towards continuous improvement through pedagogical innovations, thought leadership, learner success and engagement with our industry partners. This accreditation will enhance access to global career opportunities for our graduates through career tracks and pathway programs with our international partners. This will also result in increased access for our faculty towards collaborating with international faculty." Jagdish Sheth School of Management is among the first six business schools in India to be awarded the AACSB accreditation. JAGSoM was ranked by QS World University Rankings in 2021, 101+ in Masters in Marketing for its PGDM (Marketing) program, 101+ in Business Analytics for its PGDM (Business Analytics) program, and 151+ in Masters in Finance for its PGDM (Finance) program globally. Programs at JAGSoM includes 1. PGDM: 2 Year residential Post-Graduate Diploma in Management with the option to major in Marketing, Finance, HRM, Analytics & Digital Business. PGDM (Marketing Major) - For those who wish to pursue a career in Marketing (with option of career tracks in MarTech or Sales & Service). PGDM (Finance Major) - For those who wish to pursue a career in Finance (with option of career tracks in FinTech, Capital Markets or Banking). PGDM (Analytics & Digital Business Major) - For those who wish to pursue a career in Business Analytics. PGDM (with option of International Immersion) - For those who wish to pursue studies abroad at our International Partner institutions 2. PGDM Executive: For professionals with work experience with option to attend on-campus sessions during weekends or learn from home (LFH) online 3. MBA: 'The Right Brain MBA' for new age professional roles that require creativity, innovation, design thinking and imagination at our picturesque campus at Karjat, near Mumbai 4. BBA: A unique residential program with a curriculum that facilitates the process of self-discovery in the initial years and then preparing for a career in business with the benefit of co-learning with MBA participants and mentoring by faculty and industry practitioners. Actively engaged in research and consulting, JAGSoM hosts several Centres of Excellence such as AIM-Parasuraman Centre of Service Excellence and Vithala Rao Centre for Business Analytics. JAGSoM is led by an eminent board with globally acclaimed scholar Padma Bhushan Prof. Jagdish Sheth as the Chairman of the Institute. JAGSoM has four distinct anchors that support its overall educational philosophy: Grooming T shaped professionals with a unique curriculum aligned to the needs of industry 4.0 The program is delivered by domain specialist faculty, with professional experience in the industry. Global connects through partnerships with globally acclaimed business schools preparing for career tracks in new-age areas. Industry-connect programs to groom "Beyond Tomorrow" professionals. For more information, please visit (https://www.jagsom.com). This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi [India], February 7 (ANI/Oswaal Books): Students are very anxious regarding the upcoming board exams. By considering the present scenario in mind, Karnataka Board has already declared the date sheet for the exams. The exams for SSLC class 10 will commence from 28 March 2022 and will continue till 11 April 2022 and 2ndPUC class 12 will commence from 16 April 2022 and will continue till 4 May 2022. But, students are very worried about the pattern to be followed during the exams. There are only a couple of months left and students need to be aware of the exam pattern to have top-notch preparation. To give an idea about the exam pattern, the Karnataka board has even released the model test papers on 27 January 2022. These model test papers will help the students prepare in the right direction for the board exams. Moreover, they will also help them get acquainted with the marking scheme. Some students find difficulty in getting the model test papers. Below is a step-wise approach that students can follow to download the model test papers. Steps to download sample papers Students can follow these steps to download the model test papers in a hassle-free manner. 1. Firstly, visit the official website of the Karnataka board to find the model test papers. You can use the URL(https://sslc.karnataka.gov.in/) and (https://pue.kar.nic.in/) 2. Once opened, the first page to encounter will be the Homepage. Students should move to the "Documents" section from the Homepage and then select SSLC or PUC 3. In the drop-down section under SSLC or PUC, click on the "Question Papers" tab 4. This will prompt the user with the new page where the user can see the title "Model Question Papers". As soon as the user clicks that link, he/she will encounter another link titled "Model Question Papers of 2021-22 SSLC PUC Examination" 5. Students should click that link to download the model question paper for the board exams 6. Students can even download the question papers in the pdf format and later have them in printed format for practice. (Wish to know the importance of sample papers in the board exams? Read the Article to learn! More information about sample papers The sample papers for the SSLC PUC class 10 12 are available for the first language, second language, third language, and other core subjects like Mathematics, Science, and Social Science. Students have the opportunity to download the sample papers of the core subjects in both English and Kannada medium. These sample papers will help the students to build a strategized timetable to score well in the board exams. Students can also complete their preparations with Oswaal Karnataka SSLC 2nd PUC Sample Question Paper Class 10 12 for Exam 2022 where they will get best preparation material for upcoming exams and will also get some benefits like: * Latest Board Examination Paper with Scheme of Valuation * Strictly as per the latest syllabus, blueprint & design of the question paper. * Board-specified typologies of questions for exam success * Perfect answers with Board Scheme of Valuation * NCERT Textbook Questions fully solved * Previous Years' Board Examination Questions Here is the recommended link for Karnataka SSLC Sample Question Paper Class 10 for Exam 2022, click here (https://bit.ly/3us2X2l) Here is the recommended link for Karnataka 2nd PUC Sample Question Paper Class 12 for Exam 2022, click (here https://bit.ly/3HBAivw) Students should start preparing for the board exams without wasting any further days because the time has already started elapsing. Final Thoughts Grabbing the sample papers is one of the most important steps for the students to move forward towards the path of scoring high in board exams. These sample papers will also help the students to pinpoint the areas where they are lacking. This will allow them to work on those areas in the due course of time. These sample papers are readily available on the official website. Moreover, all the latest updates and circulars are also uploaded on the official website. Students should regularly visit the website to stay updated with the latest updates regarding the SSLC PUC class 10 12 exams 2022. For any further updates, stay tuned! This story is provided by Oswaal Books. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/Oswaal Books) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi [India], February 7 (ANI/TPT): Baithack, an Indian retailer brand that takes pride in its list of authentic flavored teas, has recently opened numerous outlets all across Mumbai and is expanding on a PAN India basis. The new outlets of the brand established in the months of December and January are spread in the vicinity of Paonta Sahib- Himachal Pradesh, Thakur Village- Mumbai, Virar- Mumbai, Banda- Goa, Palghar- Maharashtra, Goregaon- Mumbai, and Bhayandar- Mumbai. Apart from the many already existing and successfully running outlets, Baithack is also extending its arms to many other places to bring individuals the taste of Kullhads. The places include Valsad- Gujarat, Bhuvaneshwar- Orissa, Varanasi- Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh- Punjab, Jammu- Jammu and Kashmir, and Gaya- Bihar. Baithack already has over 30 outlets spread all across the country. The Baithack franchise is widely known to offer its customers a freshly made cup of chai served in a Desi Kulhad along with a wide range of side dishes prepared in the Baithack Kitchen following all standards of quality. Talking about their vision of establishing the brand, founder Dinesh Upadhyaya said, "The fact is undeniable that the best conversations happen over tea. From brainstorming sessions to the inception of new ideas, tea lets you dive deep into creativity and bring the best out. Therefore, we at Baithack believe in offering young individuals an environment where they can learn and grow simultaneously. Since the youth is the biggest contributor in India's future, we hope our efforts to be a small part of boosting the way to the development of India as a whole." Adding on to these thoughts, founder Shivlesh Mishra said, "We believe in providing opportunities of growth to anyone worthy of seeking them. At Baithack, we are committed to making the entrepreneurs of the future and we thereby are assisting them in all the ways that we can." Baithack is on a mission to reinvent the good old tradition of the 'kulhad chai' for all. Considering the demand for 'chai' in the Indian market, Baithack is stringent on growing its business across as many cities and states as it can. With an eccentric business model, they are bound to give budding minds the perfect opportunity of learning all the while providing their customers a happy and homely experience of dining. To know more about Baithack, click here: (https://baithack.com) This story is provided by TPT. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/TPT) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi [India], February 7 (ANI/PNN): Richa Info Systems Limited has announced a public issue of 8,00,000 equity shares of face value of Rs 10 each for cash at a price of Rs 125 per equity share, including a share premium of Rs 115 per equity share. The IPO opens on 9th February 2022 and closes on the 11th February 2022 and will subsequently be listed on NSE Emerge platform. The lead manager for the issue is Swastika Investmart Ltd and the issue advisor is Beeline Merchant Banking Private Ltd. The object of the issue is to meet incremental working capital requirements and for general corporate purposes. The company started its business from the office automation products and at present is engaged in assembling of innovative products and systems Integrator of multifaceted solutions of leading quality products like Interactive Flat Panel, Interactive Board, Digital Podium, Digital Kiosk, CCTV Cameras to esteemed customers in sectors like government, PSUs, Education, Defence. The company provides a wide choice of "Innovative Solutions", providing service to Government organizations across India through Government e Marketplace (GeM). Techno is a brand name of Richa Infosystems Limited working under the government's initiative to support "Vocal for Local'' with a commitment to provide a competitive advantage by making current operations efficient & cost effective for Government PSU, Educational Institutes & all Organizations across the country. The company has added e-learning school content in its product portfolio from FY2021-22 and has developed content for classes from Standard 1 to Standard 12 (for science stream) for CBSE Board. The aim is to make video interactions, education systems, and surveillance more engaging and easily accessible to the mass. Richa Info Systems is a well-diversified enterprise and has the advantage of vast experience and in-depth understanding of the industry. The company today has an excellent team who are professionally managed with positive growth plans. The total revenue of the company was Rs 1,396.87 lakhs and the profit stood at Rs 48.57 lakhs as of November 2021. The company is based in Gandhinagar and Tushar Dineshchandra Shah and Mrs. Hemaben Tushar Shah are the promoters of the company. This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The naval variant of the jet demonstrated its operational capabilities at the shore-based test facility at INS Hansa, the naval air station in Goa recently. This comes against the backdrop of the Navys plan to procure fighter jets that it will operate from Vikrant, which is likely to be commissioned in August. In September 2016, India had signed an inter-governmental agreement with France for the procurement of 36 fighter aircraft for the at a cost of around 59,000 crore rupees. By early January this year, 33 aircraft had already been delivered to the IAF by Dassault Aviation, the planes maker. In 2019, the then IAF Vice Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal RKS Bhadauria, had said that the Rafale would be a game changer for the air force. Various defence experts have also gone on the record to say that the induction of the Rafale gives the IAF capabilities that its two primary adversaries, the air forces of Pakistan and China, cannot match at this date. So, what is so special about the Rafales capabilities? The Rafale is a twin-jet fighter aircraft, and it has variants that can operate from both an air base on land and an aircraft carrier. According to Dassault Aviation, the aircraft has proven its operational worth during combat in Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, Iraq and Syria. Fitted with avionics, radars and weapon systems, the Rafale is ahead of the F-16s that Pakistan uses or even the Chinas JF-20 -- a 5th generation stealth aircraft. The Rafale is also equipped with a wide range of sensors, which Dassault describes as being smart and discrete. First and foremost, the aircraft has the one thing that is an absolute must for any 4.5 generation combat jet, an Active Electronically Scanned Array, or AESA, radar. With enhanced situational awareness due to earlier detection and tracking of multiple targets, an AESA radar is a massive step up from the previous generation of mechanical scanning radars. Net-centric capability, data fusion software and a secure data link are the other important assets that the jet has. In fact, Rafales multi-sensor data fusion process is a key capability highlighted by Dassault. With a range of 3,700 km, Rafale also comes with a host of advanced weapons. European missile maker MBDAs Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile, Scalp cruise missile and MICA weapons system will be the mainstay of the weapons package of the Rafale jets. Union members of Samsung Electronics visit the National Labor Relations Commission office in Sejong to apply for mediation between the union and the company, Feb. 4. Yonhap By Baek Byung-yeul Shareholders of Samsung Electronics are responding coldly to the company's union that revealed recently it may go on strike demanding higher wages, according to securities analysts Monday. Online bulletin boards for Samsung's shareholders have been flooded with postings criticizing the union's demands. They are accusing the employees of hindering the growth potential of Samsung, which is competing fiercely with tech behemoths in the global market now, by making excessive demands such as asking for 25 percent of the company's operating profit be put toward incentives. In reaction to the union's demands, experts said that making unrealistic demands while hurting the company's growth potential is a move that considers individual workers' interests before co-prosperity with their employer. On Feb. 4, Samsung's union applied for mediation with the National Labor Relations Commission after failing to reach an agreement with management over the wages for 2021. If the 10-day arbitration does not lead to an agreement, the union will consequently have the legal right to walk out. The most controversial part of the union's demands to management is putting 25 percent of its operating profit into incentives for workers. Samsung Electronics logged posted an operating profit of 51.63 trillion won ($43 billion) in 2021. If the 25 percent is distributed to around 110,000 employees, the bonus alone will be 117 million won per person. Given Samsung is a company that spends as much as it earns into facility investments, experts said the union is demanding too much. In 2021, Samsung spent 48 trillion won on facility investments. "It is natural for a union to prioritize individual interests. However, it is the wrong way of thinking to claim an additional amount to gnaw on the company's growth. Samsung is a company that has to invest a lot of what it earns to take the lead in the competition with other big tech companies in sectors such as semiconductors," said Kim Dae-jong, a professor of the School of Business at Sejong University. "The company can only survive by investing astronomical amounts of money into research and development. But making absurd claims based on immediate profits is a faulty argument not taking into account the company's future and co-prosperity." Criticism is also raised over whether the union's demands are representative of all employees, as the number of union members announced by the union is 4,500, which is less than 5 percent of Samsung's employees. "The efficiency wage theory is a way to pay a lot to employees and increase productivity, and Samsung Electronics has paid a lot more than other companies and achieved results accordingly. The union is interpreted as having made excessive demands in order to stand out," the professor said. In regard to the issue, a Samsung spokesman said, "The company has nothing to say about the negotiations between union and management. The union's actions are up to the union. It is not appropriate for the company to argue about it." The return of Chinese and Malaysian tourists, the largest groups of visitors to the Southeast Asian nation before the pandemic, is seen by the industry as key to a sustainable rebound. (Bloomberg) Thailand plans to hold travel bubble talks with China and Malaysia this month, days after resuming a quarantine-free visa program to boost tourist arrivals seen as key to sustaining a nascent economic recovery. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ochas government will soon discuss with the Chinese Minister for Culture and Tourism details of a possible bilateral travel deal, Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, a government spokesman, said Monday in a statement. Thai officials are also preparing to hold talks with neighboring Malaysia later this month for a similar agreement, he said. French President Emmanuel Macron / AP-Yonhap French President Emmanuel Macron flew to Moscow, Monday, in a risky diplomatic move, seeking commitments from Russian President Vladimir Putin to dial down tensions with Ukraine, where Western leaders fear the Kremlin plans an invasion. Macron has made a frenetic series of phone calls with Western allies, Putin and the Ukrainian leader over the past week. He will follow up with a visit to Kyiv, Tuesday, staking a lot of political capital on a mission that could prove embarrassing if he returns empty-handed. "We're heading to Putin's lair, in many ways it's a throw of the dice," one source close to Macron told Reuters. Russia has massed some 100,000 troops near Ukraine and demanded NATO and U.S. security guarantees, including that NATO never admit Ukraine as a member. Two sources close to Macron said one aim of his visit was to buy time and freeze the situation for several months, at least until a "Super April" of elections in Europe in Hungary, Slovenia and, crucially for Macron, in France. The French leader, who has earned a reputation for highly publicized diplomatic forays since he took power in 2017, has both tried to cajole and confront Putin over the past five years. His efforts have brought close dialogue with the Russian leader as well as painful setbacks. French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Fort of Bregancon in Bormes-les-Mimosas, southern France, Aug. 19, 2019. AP-Yonhap Soon after his election, Macron rolled out the red carpet for Putin at the Palace of Versailles, but also used the visit to publicly decry Russian meddling during the election. Two years later, the pair met at the French president's summer residence. But Macron's many overtures did not prevent Russian encroachment into traditional French spheres of influence in Africa, culminating late last year with the arrival of Russian mercenaries in Mali. French officials think they are supported by the Kremlin. Eastern European countries who suffered decades under Soviet rule have criticized Macron's cooperative stance on Russia, leery of Macron's talk of negotiating a "new European security order" with Russia. To counter critics ahead of the trip and take on the mantle of European leadership in this crisis, Macron has been at pains to consult with other Western leaders this time, including Britain's Boris Johnson and U.S. President Joe Biden. The French president's visit to Moscow and Ukraine comes less than three months before a presidential election at home. His political advisers see a potential electoral dividend, although Macron has yet to announce whether he will run. "For the president, it's an opportunity to show his leadership in Europe. That he is above the fray," one French government source said. (Reuters) gettyimagesbank In recent decades, Hong Kong's competitive advantage has been built upon diverse foundations. Some are obvious and repeated ad nauseam low and simple tax rates, a trusted legal system, unique access to the mainland and so on. But some are noticed less often and taken for granted until COVID-19 struck, such as our army of foreign domestic workers. They make up more than 9 percent of our workforce and provide support in at least 275,000 Hong Kong homes. Paid a pittance and often working long hours in claustrophobic circumstances, they make it possible for tens of thousands of Hong Kong mothers to pursue meaningful, well-paid careers, strengthening our local skills pool for the thousands of international companies based here. It has enabled Hong Kong to achieve a 54 percent female workforce participation rate. That is behind Singapore, but on a par with Japan and well ahead of the global average of around 47 per cent. In recent years, an increasing number of domestic workers have also come to care for Hong Kong's elderly and infirm, enabling them to age at home and stay out of expensive elderly care homes. But Hong Kong's strict "zero COVID" strategy has turned this formerly well-oiled system topsy-turvy. The ban on flights from the Philippines the source of many of Hong Kong's helpers has left thousands of helpers stuck in the Philippines. Whether they were back home on leave or waiting for flights to start new contracts, they are now stranded and will remain that way until flights are resumed. Even when flights start afresh, they face two weeks of quarantine. A shortage of quarantine hotel rooms makes even this process uncertain. People queue at a mobile collection station for Covid-19 testing in the Mongkok area of Hong Kong, Feb. 5, as the authorities announced a record number of new infections, sending officials scrambling to ramp up testing capacity. AFP-Yonhap The disruption has left thousands of Hong Kong families without home help and has sparked a price war over helpers that are already here in Hong Kong. With a shortfall of an estimated 50,000 helpers, accusations of "job-hopping" have flared. Anecdotal accounts report families offering monthly salaries of HK$6,000 ($770) and more to poach helpers who are in normal times earning just HK$4,630 a month. While the disruption in Hong Kong is severe and still unresolved, the disruption in the Philippines itself could be greater. That is because of the country's reliance on its "bagong bayani," or heroes, as the country's army of overseas workers are called. According to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, around 2.2 million Filipinos work overseas. Around 12 percent of Filipino families rely on remittances from at least one bagong bayani. Remittances in 2019 the last "normal" year before Covid-19 struck amounted to about $33.5 billion, equivalent to about 10 percent of the country's GDP. At a time when unemployment inside the Philippines is 6.5 per cent, reliance on remittances in many areas is critical. This puts the Philippines among the leading countries that receive overseas worker remittances, behind India, China and Mexico. Because its economy is so much smaller than the leading three, its economic reliance on remittances is without parallel. The economic turbulence arising from the global pandemic has sent alarms ringing through the corridors of power in Manila and through millions of families. Hong Kong thankfully appears to be an outlier, though, and remittances overall have remained more resilient than expected. Against predictions during the direst months in the middle of 2020 that remittances might fall by 13 percent or more, figures from the Philippines central bank at the end of 2021 suggest a life-saving recovery since the nadir in 2020. They now predict a fall of just 0.8 percent. A general view of Wan Chai, Hong Kong, July 5, 2019 / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk Filipino families love SUVs. Given the choice between owning an MPV or an SUV, they would immediately gravitate towards the latter. Thats a... Jennifer Strahan, who is running for Congress in Georgia's 14th district, speaks to people at a Paulding County Chamber of Commerce luncheon in Hiram, Ga., on Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022. Strahan is among the candidates challenging Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene in Georgia's May 24 primary. (AP Photo/Ben Gray) FILE - In this March 1, 2017, file photo, Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden speaks during an interview in Boise, Idaho. The false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from former President Donald Trump and protecting future election results loom large over this years races for state attorneys general. Candidates who support Trumps position are angling to unseat Democratic incumbents in political swing states and in some cases, knock out moderate attorneys general in GOP primaries. (Darin Oswald/Idaho Statesman via AP, File) For information about our privacy practices, please visit our website at ladowntownnews.com/site/privacy.html By clicking to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here. Carroll, IA (51401) Today Showers this morning, becoming a steady rain during the afternoon hours. High 47F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a half an inch.. Tonight Rain. Low 38F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch. Photo: The Canadian Press An Ontario court is scheduled to hear arguments in a proposed multimillion-dollar class-action lawsuit by Ottawa residents who want protesters encamped in their downtown to stop honking their horns. Superior Court Justice Hugh McLean had set a 1 p.m. deadline to get all documents and cross-examinations done before he would rule on one part of the proposed class-action. A group of downtown residents is asking for an injunction to prevent truckers parked on city streets from honking their horns repeatedly throughout the day. Their lawyer, Paul Champ, says the honking is causing irreparable harm because of how loud and prolonged it has been. Keith Wilson, who is representing three of the respondents in the case, told McLean the ruling on the injunction carried national importance. The hearing comes as Ottawa police get ready to provide more details on a series of arrests and seizures related to what local officials have called an illegal occupation of the capital's core. The so-called Freedom Convoy rolled into the national capital over a week ago and those in the hundreds of vehicles in the core have vowed to stay until all COVID-19 restrictions, mask and vaccination mandates are lifted. City police say the situation has taxed their resources, and Ottawa's mayor has declared a state of emergency partially aimed at underlining the need for extra help from upper levels of government. Some local politicians have called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to take a more active role in the situation. Trudeau's itinerary says he is having private meetings today somewhere in the National Capital Region. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Sunday the province has given Ottawa everything the municipality has requested, and will continue to do so. Ottawa police are expected today to provide updates on arrests and raids Sunday night where officers walked away with litres of fuel and propane from protesters. Police have warned that anyone bringing items like gasoline to demonstrators could be arrested. There must be some kind of way outta here Said the joker to the thief There's too much confusion I can't get no relief Jimi Hendrix (All Along The Watchtower) (Provincial health officer) Dr. Bonnie Henry's Jan. 28 press briefing was held on the same date as B.C.'s first confirmed case of COVID-19 two years ago. According to recent statistics, at least 2,675 British Columbians have died from COVID-19 since March 20, 2020. When Henry was asked if everything is being done to prevent the deaths of people in long-term care, she replied: "About 40 per cent of the people who've died in this month have been related to outbreaks in long-term care. Most of the people who are dying outside of those outbreaks are older people with underlying illnesses." Henry continued: "It's not possible to test everyone, so we need to focus our testing on those people where we need it most." Then Health Minister Adrian Dix added: "This week we'll be delivering... 250,000 (rapid test kits) to replace supply at acute care centres, 260,000 to support the testing of visitors and symptomatic staff in long-term care, and symptomatic staff in assisted living." Dix didn't mention B.C. received 3.2 million rapid tests (4 brands) in November 2020 from the federal government. The majority of them have never been used. I would assume these tests are either still sitting on shelves or have been thrown out if passed their expiry date. As people in long-term care are among B.C.'s most vulnerable residents, why didn't Henry and Dix require care home nurses and other staff to give ongoing rapid tests to all residents, workers and visitors from the get-go? Only one of the four brands of rapid tests (Abbott Panbio) contained the long NP swab and could have been replaced with the short nasal swab because the manufacturer allows for it. About 700,000 of another brand arrived in packs of 25 or 35. Why weren't people hired or tasked as soon as the rapid tests arrived, to begin separating the test kits into smaller units of five, and adding more diluent (testing solution)? If a long-term care resident displays any COVID-like symptoms, he or she is given a PCR test. PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing looks for genetic material (ribonucleic acid/RNA) of the COVID-19 virus. If the test is positive, the resident is put in isolation for ten days. I had assumed after ten days that the resident would be given another PCR test, or perhaps a rapid test, but that is not what happens at least not in the Interior Health region. Even if the resident still shows symptoms, the resident is not retested. The thinking being that if another PCR test is given, it could show positive because it can still detect fragments of RNA after the infectious stage is over. It is for this reason that the Ministry of Health doesn't recommend repeating a PCR test for residents within 90 days. What about staff at acute care centres, long-term care, and assisted living? As far as I know, if a staff member at a care home in Kelowna displays COVID-like symptoms, he or she is to go to a clinic for PCR testing. And visitors? Henry announced every long-term care resident is entitled to a designated visitor in addition to an essential visitoreven if an outbreak is declared in the facility. B.C.'s senior advocate Isobel Mackenzie and families have been calling for this change for close to a year. Finally, after more than 14 months, all visitors are required to have a negative rapid test before being allowed to see the resident. Yet, every case of COVID-19 found in a B.C. care home strongly suggests an outbreak began with an infected staff member, never a visitor. Henry said as much at a December 2020 press briefingvisitors are not causing outbreaks, which are more often caused by staff unknowingly spreading the virus. On Jan. 20, B.C. Care Providers Association president Terry Lake said in a Global News interview: "... we know it's not visitors bringing the virus in. In other waves (of COVID-19) it's always been staff, so you know I think we need to recognize where the risks are, and also recognize the value of keeping families connected." Mackenzie opposes another recent change, local medical health officers (MHOs) getting to decide when , or if, to declare an outbreak. In the past, outbreaks were automatically declared if two residents tested positive for COVID-19. Now, if no outbreak is declared, there's no requirement for a care home to inform the public whether COVID-19, or any other infectious disease, is circulating. Henry said the MHO has the discretion "based on the unique situation in every home" and the fact that most residents are now vaccinated. The NIA Long-Term Care COVID-19 Tracker currently lists 986 resident deaths in B.C.'s care facilities. But the BC CDC COVID-19 situation report for Jan. 16 to 22 states: "Due to changes in testing strategies in B.C, case counts in this report likely underestimate the true number of COVID-19 cases in B.C. This underestimation has increased compared to the period prior to the emergence of the Omicron variant in BC." Of 67 deaths reported, 29 of them (43%) were associated with care facility outbreaks. What is needed is ongoing independent analysis of the data published by the B.C. CDC and Ministry of Health in order to give the public confidence that the COVID-19 case and death statistics are accurate. When Henry was asked: "So, two years into the pandemic, what is there that you and Minister Dix wish that British Columbia had done differently? What are your regrets?" Henry replied: "I'm not sure I'm at the point where regrets are what we need. It's more about looking at how we adapted as we did....I was trying to remind us all that there are many things that were unknowns that we now take for granted in some ways." Her answer reminded me a little of what U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said at his Feb. 12, 2002 briefing: "...as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknownsthe ones we don't know we don't know." Then, after a rethink, Henry added: "I think if I regret anything, it's really that my challenges in being able to communicate when we've had major changes, and to communicate why we needed to change things in a way that was accessible to everybody, and that continues to be the challenge." Margaret Morganroth Gullette is an American scholar in age studies. She calls the high number of deaths from COVID-19 in long-term care "eldercide". "The problem is we don't value old age. COVID made ageism far worse as we saw people in nursing homes dying because their lives did not matter enough," she said on CBC radio program Ideas. Many people think that was incompetence, true but ageism explains it better." She later observed, "I think people who have read the statistic, 8 out of 10 who died were over 65, I think that they may not realize that people could have been saved. They may think it was biological and Im arguing about the social determinants of those deaths. Im saying, it wasnt biology. Those people had many years of life to live. Those were premature deaths, and unnatural deaths, and could have been prevented." As of Feb. 2, the NIA Long-Term Care COVID-19 Tracker listed 16,217 COVID-19 deaths, plus 32 staff deaths across Canada. In the war on COVID-19, do provincial and territorial premiers, health ministers and health officers consider those who have died of COVID-19 while in care homes to be acceptable collateral damage? David Buckna, Kelowna Photo: @KevinFalcon on Twitter Five Thompson-Okanagan-Shuswap MLAs have secured critic roles under new BC Liberal leader Kevin Falcon, who will aim to win back a seat in the B.C. Legislature in a byelection likely later this year. Former party leader Andrew Wilkinson announced Monday that he is stepping down as MLA for Vancouver-Quilchena to make way for Falcon, in what is one of the safest BC Liberal seats in the province. It is not yet know when he will formally resign, after which point the government will have up to six months to call a byelection. With Falcon still without standing in the legislature, former interim party leader Shirley Bond is staying in the role of Leader of the Official Opposition for the time being. In consultation with Mr. Falcon, I am pleased to announce the following appointments in the BC Liberal Caucus, Bond said in a statement Monday. The BC Liberal shadow cabinet includes prominent roles for leadership contenders Renee Merrifield, Ellis Ross and Michael Lee. Merrifield, MLA for Kelowna-Mission, has been handed the critic portfolio for environment and climate change. She was previously health critic prior to the leadership race. Kamloops-South Thompson MLA Todd Stone returns as the critic for jobs, economic recovery, trade and innovation. Kelowna West MLA Ben Stewart is the new transportation and infrastructure critic, moving over from housing critic. Kamloops North Thompson MLA Peter Milobar is now finance critic. He previously held the titles of House Leader and critic roles for environment and Indigenous relations. Shuswap MLA Greg Kyllo returns as labour and skills critic. The full BC Liberal shadow cabinet is below: Leader of the Official Opposition: MLA Shirley Bond House Leader & Official Opposition Critic for Jobs, Economic Recovery, Trade and Innovation: MLA Todd Stone Official Opposition Whip: MLA Doug Clovechok Official Opposition Deputy Whip: MLA Lorne Doerkson Official Opposition Critic for Finance: MLA Peter Milobar Official Opposition Critic for Housing: MLA Mike Bernier Official Opposition Critic for Gender Equity, Accessibility, Inclusion & Sport: MLA Stephanie Cadieux Official Opposition Critic for Mental Health and Addictions and Translink: MLA Trevor Halford Official Opposition Critic for Education, Children and Family Development and Childcare: MLA Karin Kirkpatrick Official Opposition Critic for Labour and Skills Training: MLA Greg Kyllo Official Opposition Critic for Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation: MLA Michael Lee Official Opposition Critic for Environment and Climate Change: MLA Renee Merrifield Official Opposition Critic for Energy and LNG: MLA Ellis Ross Official Opposition Critic for Transportation and Infrastructure: MLA Ben Stewart Official Opposition Critic for Tourism, Arts and Culture, and Multiculturalism: MLA Teresa Wat Following a vote within our Caucus, MLA Coralee Oakes has been elected to the position of Caucus Chair. MLA Jackie Tegart is being put forward as our nominee for Assistant Deputy Speaker," continued Bond. See the original article here. The 20th-century French philosopher whose profound writings would influence the likes of T. S. Eliot, Albert Camus, Pope Paul VI, Flannery O'Connor, Iris Murdoch, and more, was lost to the world at the age of 34. The immediate cause of her death was cardiac failure due to tuberculous. But Weil refused special treatment for her malady, or even adequate food or water, because she wished to live in solidarity with the residents of German-occupied France who, she reasoned, were free to eat far less. It was a death that tragically imaged the life she had led: shorn of comfort, Weil desired not only to understand the sufferings of the dispossessed with her majestic intellect, or to fight for them through her social and political activism. She wished to suffer alongside them, quite literally. A good number of biographies have been penned about Weil since her death in 1943, a few quite recently. Now, wishing to cull from her work ideas most relevant to our times, intellectual historian Robert Zaretsky has written yet another: The Subversive Simone Weil: A Life in Five Ideas. The five ideas Zaretsky draws out in as many chapters are: the force of affliction; paying attention; the varieties of resistance; finding roots; and the good, the bad, and the Godly. The first three chapters are strong, as Zaretsky's deftly situates Weil in historical, literary, and philosophical context. In the third chapter on resistance, the best of the book, we find, for instance, a riveting account of how Weil's engagement in both the Spanish Civil War and World War II dramatically transformed her from a committed pacifist to one who would in time declare that the inaction of pacifists up and against Hitler's violent advance betrayed "a propensity to treason." She writes in her Spiritual Autobiography that the grueling experience in the factory marked her as akin to a slave. Weil began her activist life as a philosophy student inspired by a Marxist analysis of capitalism. But for her, Zaretsky explains, capitalists themselves were not free of the slave-like affliction they imposed on their laborers: both were turned into unthinking things subject to the remorseless nature of mechanizing, industrializing, and bureaucratizing force inherent in the modern economic system. She regarded the pursuit of power as a defining feature of human life, a pursuit that subjected both powerful and powerless to an inhumane fate. Zaretsky explains what he takes to be Weil's Hobbesian outlook thus: "Those who hold power are never secure; faced by rivals seeking to take it and the oppressed seeking to resist it, the powerful live in a constant state of insecurity." But Weil was also an early and prescient exponent of the way in which Marxism and communism would ineluctably fail as well: they too were imprisoned in the selfsame pursuit of power. Like Orwell (though, Zaretsky points out, before him), Weil's analysis of the slavish working conditions of the poor grew out of her own experience voluntarily working alongside them, and later serving them. But, as compared to Orwell, Zaretsky tells us, Weil's account is the far more spiritual. It was her experience in the factory, after all, that first opened Weil up to the person and passion of Christ (from out from the decisive agnosticism of her youth). She writes in her Spiritual Autobiography that the grueling experience in the factory marked her as akin to a slave. Still suffering from this degradation in which she is finally able to grasp the true affliction of lifelong laborers, she comes upon some fishermen's wives singing ancient Christian hymns. She writes that she was compelled then and there to believe that "Christianity is pre-eminently the religion of slaves, that slaves cannot help belonging to it, and I among others." Ironically, it is a kind of Nietzschean insight into Christianity as the religion of the slaves that draws Weil into it. It was her experience in the factory, after all, that first opened Weil up to the person and passion of Christ (from out from the decisive agnosticism of her youth). If few could understand the depth of affliction laborers suffered because they had not personally experienced it, Weil believed a few literary works captured such strife, perhaps because they were themselves inspired: The Book of Job, King Lear, and perhaps her favorite, the Iliad (which she later wrote, albeit anachronistically, was "bathed in Christian light"). Zaretsky not only works to recount Weil's profound meditations on these works but, by knowing them well himself, illuminates places in which Weil took interpretative liberties in order to make use of them for her own social and political commentary. Weil's meditation on the Iliad, for instance, though not explicitly social commentary, subtly shows how the epic clearly mirrors the violent German occupation that, as she wrote, haunted her own city of Paris and many others. "For those dreamers who considered that force, thanks to progress, would soon be a thing of the past, the Iliad could appear as an historical document. For others, whose powers of recognition are more acute and who perceive force, today as yesterday, at the very center of human history, the Iliad is the purest and loveliest of mirrors." The worthwhile task Zaretsky has given himself is to reveal the relevance of Weil's thought today. Such an analysis would have been far richer had he followed Weil more closely and not limited his own political examples to those displayed by the right. (Ethno-nationalism and Trumpism are repeatedly mentioned as authoritarian impulses today, but for instance, dogmatic policing of speech on the left is not.) The chapter on attention follows nicely from the one on affliction, as readers are introduced to the profound way in which Weil sought to "attend" to other human beings. Hers was not a social or political program, but a spiritual one with social and political consequences. After all, it is ultimately "only God who can pay attention to afflicted man." Attention the "rarest and purest form of generosity" is at her program's very center, as it accords other human beings the kind of respect, even reverence, each is due. It is not to cast another as an equal to oneself, but to "mak[e] a place for others by placing one's own self in a subordinate position," Zaretsky explains. For Weil, to pay attention was not to use one's effort to understand the other with more intensity but rather to lose oneself so that one might receive with docility the good of the other that was already there. "Complete attention is like unconsciousness," she declared, a falling away from concern with the self as the center of one's universe. As with people, so with insights. Zaretsky summarizes: "To attend means not to seek, but to wait; not to concentrate, but instead to dilate our minds." The goal was to see the world not as I would like it to be (with myself and my desires at the center), but to see the world as it really is. Though Weil, with the post-moderns, understands that each person "reads" the world according to his or her position in it, Weil would never suggest that by doing so one is "creating" a different reality. Rather, following Plato most closely, she argues that each must pursue and "consent" to the objective good that is already always there. Plato, for her, "the father of Western mysticism," was with the other ancient Greeks, as Zaretsky puts it in his fifth chapter on her spiritual life, "the true bridge between Weil's preconversion and postconversion lives." She returned again and again to his illuminating myth of the cave to describe what she believed was the truth about the universe: the transcendent realities of the good (which were one and the same as the true, the just, and the beautiful), were more real than our own reality. And so every effort ought to be made to know and pursue the good as an eternal standard, one that ought to inform our civil law, to determine our obligations, and to limit our freedom. It's no wonder that in letters to her parents Weil referred to herself as Antigone, the figure created by Sophocles who died so she would not have to surrender to legal positivism. As Zaretsky observes, Weil was not only among the harshest of critics of Nazi Germany and Communist Russia. She was a critic of liberalism and its imperialism too. It is undoubtedly this full-throated critique of the modern political landscape, in addition to her deep and searching spiritual writings, that made Pope Paul VI (and other Catholics) devoted readers of her thought, even if, due to her own despair at leaving unbelievers (and heretics) outside, she herself would never fully cross the Church's threshold. As a French philosopher, she occupied a unique position from which to critique the trifecta of Nazism, communism, and liberalism as the abstract universalism of the French Revolution may be ground zero for them all. Though she had written her graduate thesis on Descartes and studied Kant and Rousseau closely (and profited deeply in doing so), modern philosophies and their adherents whether left or right inspired, to her mind, the greatest threat to Europe: "uprootedness." This atomizing scourge on the local traditions and anchoring place of peoples was the subject of her final and deeply profound book, The Need for Roots. "To be rooted is perhaps the most important and least recognized need of the human soul," she writes. "The destruction of the past is perhaps the greatest of all crimes." This destruction is what modernity had wrought. Zaretsky observes in his fourth chapter the distance Weil had travelled in her short life: "moving beyond a critique of society that is materialist and, in her peculiar way, Marxist Weil is now offering a moral, political, and yes, spiritual perspective, one that manages to be both more radical and more conservative than her previous position." Citing the late and great conservative Roger Scruton's final book for this insight, Zaretsky compares Weil with quintessential conservative thinker, Edmund Burke. Both wished for persons to attend to natural limits, cautioned against hasty revolution built upon autonomous Reason, and thought human beings' happiness and freedom would be most secured not by abstract rights but by heeding the obligations of ordinary life. Likewise, Zaretsky is right to draw a quick comparison between Weil and communitarians for whom "the true self is an 'embedded self.'" Zaretsky wonders aloud at Weil's manifest scorn for Aristotle, especially as he, and not Weil's beloved Plato, resisted abstraction for rootedness. (Though Zaretsky does not say so, Weil was disgusted by Aristotle's and Aquinas's defense of slavery. This perhaps influenced her lack of attention to his thought which, Zaretsky notes, shares an obvious affinity with hers.) But Zaretsky then moves too quickly to compare the "vital needs" upon which Weil's develops her theory of obligations to the ten "central capabilities" of philosopher Martha Nussbaum, who claims Aristotle as her inspiration. Weil, who five years before the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, had penned her own "Draft for a Statement of Obligations" and in her final book explicitly laments the rights-centric views of the UDHR's chief author, the French philosopher Jacques Maritain argues more fully at the start of that book that obligations, based on human needs, take priority to rights. But while some of these needs match onto Nussbaum's "capabilities," Weil's focus on the needs of the soul (which include "order," "obedience," "hierarchism," and even "punishment") push well beyond Nussbaum's liberalism. Weil's theory of obligations as properly underlying rights is rich indeed, and especially pertinent to the abortion debate that is now raging as ever in our country. Though Zaretsky does not make this argument in his book, he insightfully does so in a New York Times article that predates the book's publication. In addition to taking care to lambast Trump in the article, Zaretsky specifically calls attention to how Weil's approach might be a "third way" between "right to life" and "right to choose" claims. Zaretsky suggests: "Such an approach might invite a woman seeking an abortion to fully attend to a situation which does not implicate her alone." One wonders why this astute example which better reveals how Weil's thought rides above the usual divides than any other in the book did not make the cut. At one point, he writes, "[Weil's] ability to plumb the human condition runs so deep that it risks losing those of us who remain near the surface of things." At 160 pages, Zaretsky's is a slim biography, and so one gets what one might expect from a talented and learned writer who wishes to dip his pen ever so slightly into a subject of such profound depth. Zaretsky's crystalline and animating prose brings to life his subject's many eccentricities and allows him to showcase the breadth of her thought. But in seeking to illuminate Weil through similitudes to other thinkers, past and present, Zaretsky sometimes moves on from Weil too soon, and so only begins to mine the riches of Weil's transformative thought for our times. Admirably, in several places, Zaretsky reflects upon his own personal inadequacy in treating satisfactorily or, more difficult still, living according to the wisdom of his sagacious subject. At one point, he writes, "[Weil's] ability to plumb the human condition runs so deep that it risks losing those of us who remain near the surface of things." At other times, especially in discussing her Christian faith, Zaretsky retreats too easily from what the complexity of Weil's thought demands to situate himself comfortably in his liberal milieu. In the book's Epilogue, for instance, after he has spilt much ink throughout the book on her Christian faith, he suggests Weil might be considered a "secular saint." Certainly, her life testifies to sanctity, but secular is not a word to describe Weil, unless by it he meant that she situated herself deeply in the world. Still, Zaretsky successfully makes his case that Weil is a thinker we need more of in our trying times. Cypriot MPs told few imported waste tyres are legally scrapped 07 February 2022 Cypriot MPs were told by the Audit Office last week that about 35 per cent of scrap tyres imported into Cyprus every year pass through the port in Limassol without being subject to an environmental fee. Moreover, not all these waste tyres are properly disposed of. Approximately 12,000t of imported tyres end up at the cement factory in Vassiliko where they are burned and used as fuel. However, thousands of them end up in illegal landfills. MPs also heard that significant gaps in the country's tyre waste management system were shown, particularly in terms of collection, transport, temporary storage and re-use and recovery of waste. Published under Caribbean Cement to launch Vertua-certified cement ICR Newsroom By 07 February 2022 Cemex-owned Caribbean Cement Co will be launching its newly co-branded Vertua-certified cement to support the reduction in carbon emissions by 40 per cent by 2030. Vertua is a brand that CEMEX worldwide has selected to put on all the low-carbon cement it's an umbrella, it's a branding. We have a product that has already qualified as Vertua. Every bag you see out there that carries Carib Cement or Carib Cement plus is a low-carbon product, said the companys Managing Director, Yago Castro. The production of Vertua-certified cement at Caribbean Cement Co began last year and will enable the cement manufacturer to increase its production by five per cent. The cement producer presently supplies the Jamaican market with over 1Mt of cement and is aiming to increase its production capacity by 30 per cent by 2023. To date 348,000t of Vertua-certified cement has been produced, reducing the companys CO2 emissions by 43,000t. Published under Christopher Parker, 41, was arrested in Catoosa County, after stealing a Chattanooga Police officer's patrol car on Sunday morning. At approximately 10:20 a.m., Chattanooga Police responded to 2727 Rossville Boulevard on a report of a disorder. Upon arrival, officers learned that the store clerk at this location had been involved in a dispute with a shoplifting suspect. During the incident the suspect threw a drink at her and then left the store. Parker became combative and engaged in a physical altercation with the officer, attempting to shove him down the embankment. Officers located Parker, the suspect, walking East on I-24 on the shoulder and attempted to detain him.Parker became combative and engaged in a physical altercation with the officer, attempting to shove him down the embankment. At some point Parker was able to knock the officer to the ground and make his way to the driver's side of the patrol vehicle. As the officer was attempting to once again gain control of the Parker, Parker was able to enter the patrol vehicle and place the car in drive. At which time the officer fired his weapon at the suspect. Parker then fled the scene in the marked police cruiser. CPD officers immediately broadcast the direction of travel of the vehicle and dispatch notified surrounding agencies of the incident. Georgia State Patrol located the vehicle a short time later and attempted to stop the vehicle. The suspect refused to stop and led them on a vehicle pursuit into Catoosa County, where he was ultimately apprehended. Parker faces a litany of charges in Chattanooga and Georgia. He is currently in custody at the Catoosa County Jail. All questions pertaining to the pursuit and apprehension should be directed to GSP. The officer will be placed on administrative leave in accordance with Department policy. The case remains active and an investigation is ongoing. The suspect's charges will be added at a later time. The suspect was not hit by gunfire nor was the officer injured. A shoplifting was reported at the Speedway, 6121 Lee Hwy. The manager told police that a white female with red hair and purple jacket entered the store and left with two cases of alcohol (Corona). She said the woman did not attempt to pay and passed all points of sale on the way out. She said the woman left possibly in a white four-door sedan, possibly a Toyota Camry (white/gold on rear) towards Airport Road. She said she will call back with video footage at their convenience. She said the total theft would be approximately $50, with possibly other items. She further described the woman as a heavy set "chunky" white female wearing black pants and purple jacket with red hair. * * * A man was located sleeping in the men's restroom at the Chattanooga Choo Choo, 1400 Market St., by the cleaning staff. Police asked the man to leave and told him that he was trespassed from that location per the business manager. The man left the area without incident. * * * Police responded to the Cummings Place Apartments on Starview Lane on report of an abandoned vehicle in front of building 400. The vehicle tag was run and was confirmed stolen in Chattanooga. The vehicle was recovered and the owner responded to the scene where the vehicle was released back to her. Police were able to lift some finger prints for processing. * * * A man told police he received a camera speeding ticket in the mail. He says the ticket gave the camera location as 2626 Hixson Pike. He said he has never been to Chattanooga. He said the ticket picture of the vehicle shows a TN tag and a different vehicle than what he drives. He gave his license plate number. * * * An employee of AT&T said someone stole 275 feet of copper phone wire at 3925 Bonny Oaks. He said it will cost AT&T about $5,000 to replace the wire and to restore phone service in that area. * * * A disorder was reported at a residence on Highland Avenue. Police knocked on the door and no one answered. Police then heard what they thought was a door slam/ loud commotion and made entry into the unlocked door. Police went into the room where they heard the noise come from and found a man and a woman in the room. The woman was in the restroom and the man was sitting in a chair. Police asked them what was going on. The man said they were just arguing about his father's passing and they just got loud with each other. The woman also said the same thing and that there was nothing physical. Police did not see any signs of physical abuse and there were not any other witnesses. * * * An employee of Mountain View Chevrolet, 310 East 20th St., told police that Cherokee Truck Equipment has a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 cab and chassis on the lot. He said sometime overnight someone stole one catalytic converter off of the vehicle. He said this vehicle is new and has not been registered. He said they checked the security camera's footage and it was no help. He said the vehicle was parked out of range of the cameras. * * * A woman on Meade Circle told police that someone stole her Smith & Wesson firearm from her residence. She said she has relatives in and out, but no one would say that they took it. * * * A woman told police that someone got into her vehicle while parked at The Chattanoogan Hotel, 1201 Broad St, sometime around 10 a.m. She said there were no signs of forced entry and she was not sure how they got in. She said several items were taken and she was parked nowhere near a video surveillance camera. * * * A person was reported sleeping outside the Walmart, 501 Signal Mountain Road. Police did discover a white female sleeping on the sidewalk in front of the store. Police identified the woman and she said she was homeless and had walked the wrong direction from town and was so tired she could not find her way back. The woman had no outstanding warrants. She requested that police transport her back into town where she was more familiar with her surroundings. Police took her to the Krystal at 307 Cherokee Blvd. * * * A shoplifting was reported at Ollies, 5804 Brainerd Road. The manager told police that two black males entered the store, walked out with $1,100 of merchandise and fled the scene in a red truck. Police observed video footage of the men leaving the store with the merchandise. Police are unable to identify the men because they were wearing masks. * * * A man told police that someone stole his iPhone while hanging out at the Moxy on West Martin Luther King Boulevard. He said someone possibly walked by and picked up the phone. He said he would call back at a later time to add the serial number. * * * A man told police he last saw his cell phone when he went to Rias Market, 804 Broad St. He said he believes a homeless person has his phone because he last received a GPS ping from the Public Library on Broad St. He said there was an old black man standing in the door way of Rias Market when he left. * * * An employee of the Exxon, 2304 Shallowford Village Dr., told police that a black female came into the store and caused a disorder after a dispute about money owed. The employee said the woman was yelling at her while she was taking a video with her phone and threw an unknown amount of money, which hit the plexiglass over the counter and landed on the floor behind the counter. The employee said she wanted the incident documented because of the potential of the video to be posted on social media and she wanted to protect her future. Several years ago, a friend recommended reading The Founders Bible: The Origin of the Dream of Freedom, compiled by historian David Barton and general editors Brad Cummings and Lance Wubbels. Along with the complete Bible in the New American Standard version, it contains hundreds of articles and extensive commentary about what our Founding Fathers thought about Christianity, the Bible, and their role in the shaping of our nation. My family bought me a copy of The Founders Bible as a birthday present a couple years back, and Im finally starting the enjoyable and enlightening process of reading through it. One commentary I came across recently concerned the Golden Rule, which Jesus Christ presented in Matthew 7:12, In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. This Bibles contributors cited statements from several leaders that figured prominently in our nations history who affirmed that principle. One was John Adams, our second President and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, who said, One great advantage of the Christian religion is that it brings the great principle [of the Golden Rule]to the knowledge, belief, and veneration of the whole people. Another was Frederick Douglas, a minister, statesman and abolitionist, who declared, I love the religion of our blessed Savior!... I love that religion that is based upon the glorious principle of love to God and love to man (Luke 10:27) which makes its followers do unto others as they themselves would be done by (Matthew 7:12). The commentary closed with the statement, Today, two thousand years after Jesus initially delivered it to His followers, the Golden Rule remains the best standard for how we should treat one another. Indeed, where whether in vast realms of religion, philosophy, sociology or psychology can we find a better standard for treating one another? At the same time, this concept was not some brainstorm Jesus had 2,000 years ago during His earthly ministry. When asked actually challenged by a religious leader to specify which was the greatest of all commandments, He responded by referring to Old Testament teachings. He said, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:36, Luke 10:27). These were taken from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18, passages the Pharisees and others in the religious hierarchy of that day would have known very well. While similar perspectives might appear in other belief systems, Christianity is unique in making these statements foundational for faithful belief and practice. Exodus 20:1-17 gives us the Ten Commandments, but in a wonderful economy of words, Jesus gave a clear and concise summation of them, the first four commandments addressing our relationship with God, and the subsequent six describing how we should interact with one another. It's been said that in the seats of power, such as politics or business, theres a very different golden rule espoused: He who has the gold, rules. But thats not at all what the Lord had in mind when He gave this teaching to both His disciples and His detractors. We find this truth permeating the Scriptures. Were taught to fear God holding Him in reverent, worshipful awe, acknowledging His greatness and power and to love our neighbors, anyone we encounter over the course of our lives from day to day, even to the point of sacrificing our best interests so we can put others needs and concerns ahead of ourselves. Thats what Jesus parable of the Good Samaritan is all about, even though as our society has drifted further and further from having the Word of God as its anchor, many people would be hard-pressed to identify where the term good Samaritan originated. Imagine if by some miracle, people actually began treating other people the way that they themselves would want to be treated; that they actually started loving their fellow man and woman just as theyd like to be loved themselves, unconditionally and without reservation. Indeed, if that were to be the case, we could probably strike half of the laws off the books maybe more than that and no one would ever know the difference. * * * Robert J. Tamasy is a veteran journalist, former newspaper editor and magazine editor. Bob has written, co-authored and edited more than 15 books. These include the newly published, Marketplace Ambassadors; Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Todays Workplace; Tufting Legacies, The Heart of Mentoring, and Pursuing Life With a Shepherds Heart. A weekly business meditation he edits, Monday Manna, is translated into more than 20 languages and sent via email around the world by CBMC International. The address for his blog is www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com. His email address is btamasy@comcast.net. About a week ago there appeared a wonderful story in the Nashville Tennessean and if I dont share it, you aint gonna know whatever became of Darrell S. Freeman, a black kid who once attended the now defunct Kirkman Technical High School where he learned how to repair TVs and radios. He later flunked out of Chattanooga State with a 1.234 grade point average and the weather forecast in his world was dark and cloudy. Yet in the years that rolled by faster and faster, he got a Bachelors degree and a masters degree, started a company using the Yellow Pages as his only guide for cold calls, and several years ago sold his 300-employee business for over $23 million. Whats more, he is now investing his worth in young black men just like Darrell S. Freeman, guys whove got the spark but need someone to fan the flame. Brad Schmitt is a well-known writer at the Tennessean and has captured quite a tale: * * * I WANT TO GIVE IT BACK Written by Brad Schmitt in the Nashville Tennessean on February 1st, 2022 He was the first one from his working-class family to go to college, and Darrell S. Freeman Sr. had to battle to get his degrees. After learning to fix TVs and radios at his technical high school in Chattanooga, Freeman studied electronics at DeVry University in Atlanta. But he ran out of money after eight months. Then he went to Chattanooga State Community College, but the general education classes tripped him up. After one quarter 10 weeks he flunked out with a 1.234-grade point average, a number that still tickles Freeman. A few weeks later, a neighborhood buddy asked Freeman to help him move out of his dorm room at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro. At soon as he got on campus, Freeman fell in love. "You see kids happy, some kids had nice cars. It was something Id never seen before, and I had never been on a college campus like that," Freeman said. "I get to his dorm room, and I say, 'You mean to tell me this is your own room with your own phone, and theres a place you can go eat every day? Wow, I've gotta go to school here!'" Freeman found a way and enough grants and loans to make that happen. He continued to struggle academically, at first. But seven years later, Freeman had a bachelor's degree, a master's degree and a strong mentor and friend in a professor he once called a racist. About a year later, Freeman created an IT company that he sold 25 years later for more than $20 million. Now he invests hundreds of hours and millions of dollars to help young, disadvantaged people go to college and budding Black entrepreneurs succeed. "I spent the majority of my life getting money," Freeman, 57, said. "I want to spend the majority of the rest of my life giving. "I want to use my voice, my reputation, my resources to find people and help them become better." Freeman said he concentrates on helping African Americans in part because he grew up without professional Black role models. 'Mr. WREN IS OUR FRIEND' Freeman's dad was a foundry worker who poured iron for 38 years, and his mom worked as a maid. They rented half a duplex in a Black working-class neighborhood in Chattanooga. Freeman remembers the light pole near his house that served as home base during games of hide-and-go-seek for him and the other kids who lived nearby. The children also saw drug dealing in the neighborhood. They rarely saw professionals doctors, lawyers, and professors and no one in Freeman's family had gone to college. At 15, Freeman followed a cousin, Kenny Timmons, to Kirkman Technical High School, where Freeman learned to fix TVs and radios. That school had a relationship with DeVry University in Atlanta, so Freeman moved into an apartment with three other students and enrolled in a 20-month technician program. Even though Freeman had a part-time job at Service Merchandise, he ran out of money in eight months and moved back to Chattanooga. "I couldn't pay the bills," Freeman said. "I'd call home on a Monday to get some money, andmy dad said he didn't get paid 'til Thursday afternoon. "What do you do from that Monday to Friday?" With a taste of college life, Freeman wanted more, so he enrolled at less expensive Chattanooga State Community College. But he struggled with the general education courses in English and algebra. He left after one 10-week quarter, not even bothering to get his grades. Freeman didn't mention DeVry or Chattanooga State in his MTSU application. He got grants, loans and a 20-hour-a-week job loading trucks at UPS. When money got tight, Freeman and many other students went to see a "Mr. Wren" in financial aid for gap loans of $500 or more. "Mr. Wren is our friend," Freeman said, laughing. Freeman did well in tech classes and struggled with general education, maintaining a 2.0-grade point average through his undergrad years. And then, senior year, he crossed paths with Professor Richard S. Redditt. 'DARRELL, I AM BIASED' Redditt, an old-school, no-nonsense computer expert with a PhD., filled in halfway through the semester of the microcomputer interfacing class Freeman was taking. The original professor, a much more lenient and easy teacher, had left unexpectedly. Redditt started teaching from the point in the materials that he thought students should be by then. But that didn't work. "Darrell was in the group of everyone who was completely lost when I got there," Redditt said. So the students asked him to go way back in the material. And Redditt started teaching at breakneck speed to catch the students up. That proved to be overwhelming for Freeman, who insisted on a meeting with Redditt, his department chair and other faculty members to complain. At that meeting, around a conference table, Freeman accused Redditt of being a racist, a statement he since has retracted. At the meeting, Redditt said Freeman wasn't doing the work. "Finally, I said, 'Darrell, I am biased,'" Redditt said. "Im biased against any student who takes up my time and lab space, and I tell them what do, and they come back and ask the same questions over and over again and dont study in between." Freeman continued to struggle for a while, and Redditt continued to make himself available. Then Freeman started studying more, applying more of what he learned and getting better grades in Redditt's class. After working in the computer lab until 2 a.m. one night, Freeman said to the lab technician: "I dont know what happened to Redditt. He seems pretty nice to me and is answering my questions." The lab tech laughed, saying, "Redditt hasnt changed; you have." The professor eventually successfully advocated for Freeman to get into MTSU grad school. Redditt also hired Freeman as a graduate assistant and eventually advised Freeman on launching his business. He generated $10,000 of business that first year When Freeman finished graduate school in 1990, with a 4.0-grade point average, he started working for a small Smyrna computer repair company. Freeman made between $12 and $15 an hour, but the company billed customers between $1,500 and $2,000 a day for Freeman's labor. "Thats when I realized I had a skillset valuable to the marketplace," he said. With credit cards, about $2,000 in savings and the support of his nurse wife, Freeman launched Advanced Computer Services. In an office the size of a closet. On Murfreesboro Road. Freeman picked up a Yellow Pages phone book and started cold calling companies, and getting turned down 99 percent of the time. Still, he generated some business, about $10,000 worth in the first year. Freeman switched the name to Zycron, a name he came up with after a few beers at a local Bar. "I wanted it to have a tech sound, so I put in a Z," he said, laughing. In 25 years, Freeman built Zycron into a company with 300-plus employees that generated about $40 million a year or more in receipts. Since Freeman sold it for more than $23 million in 2017, he has been working hard to give back to the community. While running his company, he also served as two-term chairman of the Nashville Chamber of Commerce and civic group 100 Black Men. In the last 10 years, Freeman also has: * -- Donated more than $100,000 to his alma mater MTSU for programs helping first-generation college students; * -- Hosted free ladies lunches to advise and guide women entrepreneurs from around the country; * -- Invested in and mentored about a dozen young Black entrepreneurs, including the three Tennessee State University roommates who launched Slim & Husky's Pizza Beeria chain A GAME-CHANGER Freeman steered the Slim & Husky's team into acquiring real estate, and he partnered with them to buy the Rollout building on Jefferson Street in North Nashville, just a block or so from the original location. "Man, as cliche as it sounds, D's support was really everything," said co-owner E.J. Reed, the "Slim" in Slim & Husky's. "We had some loose mentors and got some advice, but we never had any investors. It felt good to have someone with financial resources step up to the plate and really take a chance for us," Reed said. "He was a catalyst for Slim and Huskys blowing up like it did." Co-owner Derrick "Moe" Moore called Freeman's support "game-changing" for first-generation black college students. "To have a mentor whos been in their shoes, who doesnt come from money, and then to be where Darrell is?" Moore said. "That delivers the message, they can be something and they can go further than they ever imagined." Reach Brad Schmitt at brad@tennessean.com or 615-259-8384 or on Twitter * * * Trust me, some amazing children and prominent citizens came out of Kirkman. Arent we blessed that Darrell S. Freeman, formerly of Chattanooga, was one of them. (Kirkman Technical High School sat on 16 acres on Chestnut Street downtown. It was started in 1928 and closed in 1991. The land was acquired by the city in 1993.) royexum@aol.com Thanks to the efforts of Whitfield County government officials, the Chattanooga Area Food Bank will soon be able to expand its operations in Northwest Georgia. Whitfield staff members Debbie Godfrey and Carol Roberts have partnered with the food bank in applying for and ultimately receiving a $2.35 million Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. For years, the food bank has distributed food to its Northwest Georgia partners through a warehouse leased in Dalton on South Hamilton Street. The grant will allow the organization to purchase the building, make renovations, and expand operations in Northwest Georgia, with construction required to be completed by Dec. 31, 2023. We are very, very excited to receive this grant, said Melanie Hammontree, director of development for the food bank, and appreciate the support of county officials during the application process. Earlier this year, the Board of Commissioners voted 4-0 to accept the grant, and the county will now be responsible for dispersing the funds. The Joint Development Authority is also helping with the project. We are very happy to partner with the food bank on this project, which will allow them to better serve the residents of Whitfield County and all of Northwest Georgia, County Commission Chairman Jevin Jensen said. Ms. Hammontree says 64,970 individuals are termed food insecure in the nine Northwest Georgia counties served by the food bank, according to statistics from Feeding America. Serving residents in Whitfield, Murray, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Fannin, Gilmer, Gordon, and Walker counties, the food bank - with the help of its 83 partner agencies and churches, including 38 in Whitfield County - distributed 6.4 million pounds of groceries through 118 programs that serve families struggling with hunger last year, according to Ms. Hammontree. She said the food bank has already made good headway in raising the required $785,000 in matching funds for the grant, and Ms. Hammontree encourages anyone who would like to make a donation or receive more information about the Chattanooga food bank to contact her at mhammontree@chattfoodbank.org. According to Ms. Hammontree, the improvements will allow the food bank to increase capacity for refrigerated and freezer storage for perishables and frozen products, negating the need for a storage trailer outside the building now. Because of space limitations in the trailer, some food donations have had to be turned away in the past. The grant will also provide an increase in dry storage space to 9,600 square feet from 7,600, three new dock doors for improved shipping and receiving, and space for volunteers and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program outreach. The improvements will allow the food bank to provide better access to fresh and healthy food options like produce and dairy, provide better food stability with a more customized distribution experience, and expand operations to increase community engagement in the fight against hunger, Ms. Hammontree said. The CBDG-CV program originated from the CARES Act of 2020, enacted to provide relief in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and allow states to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and similar emergencies in the future through funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. In total, Georgia received $82.8 million from HUD for the CBDG-CV program, including the $2,353,872 allocated for the Chattanooga Area Food Bank as well as funding for nine other food bank projects around the state. In fiscal year 2021, FEMA awarded to the Emergency Food and Shelter Program National Board $130 million in annual funding for Phase 39 of the program and the $400 million under Section 4007 of the American Rescue Plan Act. For EFSP Phase 39, Hamilton County has been awarded $119,492. Additionally through the American Rescue Plan Act, EFSP has allocated $369,323 to Hamilton County. Funding can only allocated to eligible nonprofit organizations, who in turn provide services to individuals. Expenditures for this program must take place between Nov. 1, 2021 to April 23, 2023. Funding is for existing programs only and cannot be used for start-ups. To apply for these funds agencies must be nonprofit, faith-based or a local government agency that currently provides food and shelter services opportunities as prioritized by the Local Board. Organizations must have a Data Universal Numbering System number, Federal Employer Identification Number, an organizational checking account with the ability to accept EFT, computer and internet access, and be able to verify fiscal responsibility. Funded organizations must provide the required reporting according to the defined timeline. Separate applications must be completed for each funding program. Incomplete and late applications will not be reviewed. For more information and to receive application materials contact Ann Treadwell, program director, Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga, 493-0270 or atreadwell@jewishchattanooga.com. The deadline for application is Tuesday, March 1, by 3 p.m. electronically and 4 p.m. in person at the Jewish Cultural Center, 5461 North Terrace Road. Late and incomplete applications will not be reviewed. The Local Board reviews applications and decisions will be made available following the approval of a Board Plan by the national EFSP. EFSP funds must be used to supplement food and shelter services and may not be used as seed money for new programs. Agencies may receive funds to provide food, shelter and supportive services, including, but not limited to: Food services, such as delivered meals, congregate meals or groceries; Lodging in a mass shelter, or in a hotel/motel or other off-site shelter facility limited to 90-days assistance per individual or household to prevent homelessness; Up to three months rent or mortgage assistance to prevent eviction or foreclosure; Utility assistance for up to three months of service for gas, electric and water service; Supplies, including but not limited to cleaning supplies and small equipment essential to feed or shelter people, not exceeding $300 per item The Local Board prioritizes these areas and funding is distributed accordingly. Funded agencies are required to abide by required recordkeeping. Agencies denied funding in previous years by national EFSP will not be eligible to receive funds until the issue has been remedied. All decisions of the Local Board are final. There is a limited appeals process, which would allow the agency to make application in the next funding Phase. The local board consists of representatives from the national organizations FEMA convenes including United Way, Jewish Federations of North America, Catholic Charities USA, The Salvation Army, American Red Cross and the National Council of the Churches of Christ USA. Former Putnam County Tourism Executive Director Molly Brown is the new owner of Tour the Upper Cumberland. She plans to elevate and expand the tour agency highlighting attractions, history, experiences and other points-of-interest of the 14-county region. During the last 10 years, Ms. Brown has marketed the Upper Cumberland to visitors and travel media, both in her roles with the local visitors bureau, and as the public relations media manager for the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. She specialized in planning regional tours while also building relationships with Upper Cumberland hospitality partners. Upon departing from the visitors bureau in mid-October, I was ready for a new chapter, said Ms. Brown. I knew I wanted to stay in the travel industry but focus on something more entrepreneurial. This opportunity allows me to utilize my industry experience and relationships to serve a sector I am passionate about, while featuring the small businesses, unique attractions, and various points-of-interest of my community and region." A native of Fentress County, Ms. Browns tourism background is marked primarily in public relations, which requires planning of press tours for travel journalists and social influencers. Her familiarity with hosting such tours, as well as already having established relationships with key tourism partners in all 14 counties, should fair well for the newly acquired business, said officials. There is so much opportunity for continued tourism growth in the Upper Cumberland, said Ms. Brown. From some of Tennessees most renowned state parks to historic landmarks to brewery, winery and distillery tours, theres something for everyone. Initially, Ms. Brown will be auditing and reviewing the current website, social media platforms, and tours established by the previous owners. Additionally, she plans to determine target markets and grow the business to offer multiple tours per week with booking options for local residents and visitors. Examples of expanded options include tours such as a Native American Heritage Tour, connecting with Montereys Standing Stone Day Festival, as well as a History & Heroes Tour, highlighting local military history, veterans halls, and Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park. Ms. Brown also plans to partner with Tennessee State Parks and Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area to feature the countless outdoor experiences of the region, from waterfall tours to guided hikes to ranger meet and greets. Private tours, family reunions, corporate retreats, and familiarization tours for relocating or prospect industry teams/leadership will also be a focus for Tour the Upper Cumberland. Pricing and booking information will be announced at a later date. Expanding the tour options will create a need for expanding the Tour the Upper Cumberland team. Ms. Brown is currently accepting resumes and plans to hire tour guides and CDL-licensed drivers. Businesses, attractions, and other hospitality partners from the region are encouraged to reach out with interest in being featured as a tour stop or as a sponsor. All inquiries may be directed to tourtheuc@gmail.com. Follow @tourtheuc or go to tourtheuc.com for the most up-to-date information and news from Tour the Upper Cumberland. About: Tour the Upper Cumberland serves a 14-county region on the Cumberland Plateau of Tennessee, located between Nashville and Knoxville, just north of Chattanooga. The Upper Cumberland region is rich with scenic beauty, unique points-of-interest, incredible history and heritage, and countless festivals, events, and experiences. Tour the Upper Cumberland highlights these amenities with guided shuttle bus tours, creating a relaxing and worry-free opportunity for guests and locals to explore the region. Shuttles offer 12-passenger and 22-passenger options as well as ADA accessibility. The Polar plunge has become the signature fundraising event of Special Olympics. Plunges take place all over the US with ten plunges taking place in Tennessee during February. This year, the Chattanooga Polar Plunge, presented by Summers, Rufolo and Rodgers, will take place this Saturday at Finley Stadium, where folks that have been raising money on behalf of our Tennessee Special Olympic athletes will take a cold jump into our plunge pool. Costume contest is at 11 a.m. and participants will start jumping in the pool at 11:30 a.m. New this year is "Too Chicken to Plunge!" for those who want to support Special Olympics Tennessee athletes but really dont want to plunge into the frigid water. Register online as a Too Chicken plunger and you can still raise money, earn incentives and be part of the fun. And on event day you can even dip your toes in the kiddie pool to show your support. "Join hundreds of brave souls across the state for the coolest thing youll do in 2022. Whether you jump, run or tiptoe in you will be helping us build a bigger, better and "cooler" community for our 18,000+ Special Olympics athletes," organizers said. Visit www.polarplungetn.com to register or donate. Some of the best years of my life I miss those people. Good times and memories, but I have moved on. Not my best days, but I have made peace with them. Glad to be away from those people I dont miss the high school experience. Vote View Results Jordan Howard, Vanessa Todd, Teresa Shirley, Kelly Gildernew, Ed Tempel, Kristi Edington and Grace Greene, all nurses at CHI Memorial, received the Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses. In the small excerpts below from each nomination letter, patients families and coworkers share how these nurses are living out our mission by giving compassionate care to patients and being excellent examples of humankindness. Jordan Howard, MICU, Hospital Chattanooga - "Each time we visited, Jordan would take the time to explain what was going on and always gave my family the latest update. Even if things hadn't changed much between visiting hours, she would still explain things to whichever family member brought Grandpa up at that time... I personally would like to thank Jordan for her communication. Always telling us who [Grandma's] night shift [nurse] would be, asking if we wanted [my grandma] turned, and always making sure we knew what was going on. I would also like to thank her for her respect, integrity, compassion and skill. This young lady truly has the heart to be a nurse. She shows she is a nurse because she wants to be and because she cares, not because it's a job."Vanessa Todd, 400 South, Hospital Chattanooga - "I know Vanessa fought for my mom to live. And though my mother doesn't remember her time spent in this unit (nor any of the six weeks she was hospitalized), my family and I sure do - and I can't tell you how comforting it was to know that Vanessa was taking care of my mom. She communicated exceptionally well with my family on my mom's condition, and she made us feel as close to my mother as the necessary precautions and technology would allow."Teresa Shirley, 100 South, Hospital Chattanooga - "My husband, daughter and myself came to Chattanooga to spend a fun overnight trip. On Sunday morning, I woke up very sick, very dizzy, very scared. We got to CHI Memorial and from that point everything got better... [Teresa] always included my husband in 'our' care, made sure he wasn't missing meals and had a pillow and blankets, and had snacks for me when I missed a meal while having a test. She is amazing! We've been married for 53 years, and I can't explain the comfort it gave me knowing when I left the floor for a test she would be there in case he needed anything. So very nice."Kelly Gildernew, ER, Hospital Chattanooga - "As I was walking by the seclusion room of a combative psychiatric patient, I see Kelly seated on the ground with the patient calmly speaking to him. She is listening to the patient and assuring him. This patient had been previously escorted in by the police. Kelly was able to calm this patient and listen to his concerns. This was not even her patient. This is the behavior and compassion she shows every day at work. Kelly speaks to each patient with compassion and concern for their illness. Kelly comes each day to work positive, which radiates in the department daily. She seeks out opportunities to help others and be a light to our patients. She develops a trusting rapport with her patients by empathetically caring for them. Kelly is a mentor to our new staff. She truly embodies the core values of this organization and the mission which we stand by. "Ed Tempel, Unit 3, Hospital Hixson - "Memorial has a top-notch nurse named Ed! He is the best nurse I have ever experienced. Ed took exceptional care of me while I was recovering from emergency surgery. He is a very compassionate, caring, and knowledgeable nurse. He helped me understand everything surrounding my diagnosis while in the hospital and explained to me what to expect after I got home. Ed even brought me homemade coffee on his day off, which goes way beyond my expectations of care in a hospital... I cannot thank him enough for what he has done for me. Ed is a true asset to the nursing profession and to Memorial hospital.Kristi Edington, 6 North, Hospital Chattanooga - "As soon as I arrived, Kristi took plenty of time to make sure I was settled in and comfortable. When she came in to check on me, she engaged with me and gave me individual care... We shared jokes and stories, and she really put me at ease. She talked to me about my dogs and treated me like a person and not just another patient. When she was talking about me to other members of my care team, she used my first name and not just my room number. That means a lot... There are so many little things she did to make sure I was safe and had what I needed... Kristi broke the mold when it came to how [ my husband and I] both were treated while in her care. I am so blessed to have had her watching over us during my stay."Grace Greene, Short Stay, Hospital Chattanooga - "A patient who had been hospitalized for weeks and weeks and weeks came through our unit. His hair was long and unkempt, covering his eyes, ears, and in his way. His eyebrows were so long they were starting to bother him, too. As his nurse, I didn't think there was anything I could do, but when he asked me if there was anyone who could cut hair and asked if I could find someone, I couldn't say no. I asked our nurses, and Grace Greene volunteered and creatively, using the scissors from a suture removal kit and a shaver, cut his hair. What a huge difference! He was thrilled! He looked like a new man, and he could see. It wasn't perfect due to activity restrictions, but she made do. He was grateful.""CHI Memorial is pleased to partner with the DAISY Foundation to recognize the extraordinary difference nurses make in the lives of patients and co-workers," officials said. "Nurses are chosen each month to receive this wonderful award that honors compassionate care. "Each honoree received a bouquet of daisies, a certificate, a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called A Healers Touch - hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa - and a copy of her/his nomination letter. The honoree's nursing unit also received a cinnamon doughnut party, because it takes a team for a nurse to achieve his/her best. Tasty Doughnuts generously donates the treats for this worthy cause." 90 Day Fiance has been accused of scripting many scenes in the past. Fans also believe that some couples are outright fake. Now, after much speculation, many former couples and cast members are coming clean about what was real and what was scripted. Larissa Dos Santos Lima from 90 Day Fiance | Bryan Steffy/Getty Images for Crazy Horse 3 Larissa Dos Santos Lima said her boyfriend, Eric, never paid for plastic surgery One of the major components of Larissa Dos Santos Limas storyline was her boyfriend, Eric, paying $70,000 for plastic surgery. Lima, who became famous after she starred on 90 Day Fiance with her ex-husband Colt Johnson, said that the whole storyline was faked. According to CinemaBlend, she also claimed that though she did get the plastic surgery, the Eric paid for it part was manufactured by TLC for publicity purposes. Stephanie Davison says her entire 90 Day Fiance storyline was scripted Fans of 90 Day Fiance will recall Stephanie Davisons storyline from the shows eighth season. Davison flew to Belize to be with her presumptive boyfriend, Ryan, but they broke up when she got down there. She then was shown hooking up with Ryans cousin, Harris. Ultimately, though, Harris returned to his wife and children. Davison was so infuriated by the way the show edited her story that she skipped the tell-all. She then took to her Instagram page to tell her side of the story. In the Instagram story, Davison revealed that she and Ryan were a couple in May 2020, when they were first cast. However, they broke up just two months later. Davison then claimed that the TLC producers forced her to fly down to Belize for the show to film the breakup. Finally, she claimed that the entire storyline with Harris was faked, and created so production could get more footage of her in Belize. She also challenged the 90 Day Fiance storyline that insinuated she was an alcoholic and a drug addict. Her personal trainer and friend, Frank, also appeared in the video to testify that Davison wasnt an alcoholic or a drug addict. Parts of Robert and Annys storyline were also scripted Things get real heated between Michael and Georgi at the beach barbecue See how it all goes down on a new #DarceyAndStacey! pic.twitter.com/a8EGWK7Pu6 TLC Network (@TLC) February 5, 2022 These days, 90 Day Fiance fans know and love Robert and Anny from Pillow Talk. But prior to that, they were on the show, detailing their quest to bring Anny to America. At one point, Anny had a run-in with Roberts ex-mother-in-law, Stephanie Woodcock, who is the grandmother of his son Bryson. Woodcock offered to pay Anny up to $15,000 to return to the Dominican Republic. When Anny refused, Woodcock accused Anny of only being with Robert for a green card. In an interview with InTouch, Woodcock said that the 90 Day Fiance producers scripted a lot of that storyline. I had to borrow a checkbook because the producers asked me to do this, [and] have screenshots to prove this, she said. I know the truth, [and] who I am as a person, parent, and grandparent. And really, thats all that matters. RELATED: Darcey & Stacey Season 3 Spoilers: Fans Speculate That Darcey and Jesse Will Get Back Together Former 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days star Geoffrey Paschel was sentenced to 18 years in prison without the possibility of parole. His partner, Varya Malina, gives fans an update on Instagram after the big news. She writes, I feel emotionally exhausted. Varya Malina and Geoffrey Paschel on 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days | TLC Geoffrey Paschel sentenced to 18 years in prison without parole On Feb. 4, Geoffrey Paschel was sentenced by Knox County Judge Kyle Hixson to serve 18 years in prison without the possibility of parole. The charges included aggravated kidnapping, domestic assault, and interference with emergency calls. In Oct. 2021, Geoffrey was found guilty on three counts related to an incident with his ex-girlfriend on June 9, 2019. The statement reads: Paschel grabbed the victim by the neck and slammed her head against the wall several times. She was also thrown to the ground and dragged. Paschel took the victims cell phone and did not allow her to leave the residence. The victim fled to a neighbors house after Paschel fell asleep. Officers noted a large, raised bruise on the victims forehead along with bruises and abrasions on her back, arms, and the inside of her lip. She was also diagnosed with a concussion. At trial, Paschel testified that the victims bruises were self-inflicted, but the jury discredited his testimony and found him guilty-as-charged. According to the statement, many factors played into Geoffreys sentencing, including prior charges and convictions. On Feb. 4, after Geoffreys sentencing hearing, Varya went to Instagram to give her fans an update. She wrote a lengthy caption on a video of her doing a cartwheel on the beach. Varya writes, Thank you for checking on me. I really appreciate your support, my Instagram fam. Varya reveals, Right now, Im very short in my messages, and I dont answer any calls only from the family members. Please dont misunderstand my current actions. I dont ignore or underestimate you for goodness sake. It just takes so much energy and time to respond to the same questions over and over again. I feel emotionally exhausted. She explains, I want to focus on my own mental health and on numerous people who are affected by the same situation. My counselor takes a very good care of me. No worries. The former 90 Day Fiance star concluded the post, Looking forward to Apr. 14. Btw its my dads birthday, and he is my guardian angel. I know eventually, everything will be alright. Varya is living in Knoxville supporting Geoffrey Since Geoffreys trial, Varya moved from Florida to Knoxville, Tennesee, to be closer to Geoffrey. As of now, Varya has been documenting her new life on her Instagram. She has taken over Geoffreys responsibilities as a landlord. Shes also been maintaining Geoffreys property and caring for his family and his dogs. Varya Malina and Geoffrey Paschel on 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days | TLC Months ago, Varya told her Instagram followers she considered joining the National Guard to speed up her U.S. citizenship process. Although, it appears that she currently has her hands full taking care of Geoffreys many responsibilities. While Geoffrey is in jail, it appears Varya is still in a relationship with him. Varya will likely be posting more information about Geoffreys case and updates regarding her life in Knoxville to her Instagram. How to get help: In the U.S., call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788. RELATED: 90 Day Fiance: Varya Malina Celebrates Christmas Alone, Gives Update on Geoffrey Paschel in Prison The name Jeff Daniels summons images of his iconic roles in comedy classics like Dumb and Dumber. But Daniels has been in showbiz for a long time, producing a deep resume of film credits. One of Daniels more notable roles in the 90s includes the horror-comedy Arachnophobia. As the name suggests, the movie features dozens of scary spiders. There hasnt been another horror-comedy combination since, and Arachnophobias uniqueness has made it a cult classic to some. Recently, the spider flick returned to prominence again as Daniels received a rare honor from the science community. Arachnophobia is a Jeff Daniels classic Arachnophobia star Jeff Daniels | JoBlo Originals via Youtube The Arachnophobia movie that exists today wasnt the directors original vision. When Daniels signed on to the project, it was a run-of-the-mill horror film, according to Mental Floss. But funny-guy Daniels wanted to make a funny movie. The team modified the script and essentially reinvented the horror-comedy. Daniels and his crew added the detail that his character, Dr. Ross Jennings, would have a fear of spiders. The upped both the comedy and tension in the movie, as Dr. Jennings attempts to investigate a spider-driven wave of death. Daniels changes made Arachnophobia timeless. Fans still love watching Dr. Jennings and exterminator Delbert McClintock, played by the beloved John Goodman, search for answers when the townspeople begin dropping dead. The culprit ends up being the offspring of a venomous Venezuelan spider. In real life, no such spider exists. But there were many real spiders involved in the production of Arachnophobia. More than 300 spiders acted alongside Daniels in Arachnophobia Spiders make most peoples skin crawl. The bigger the spider, the bigger the scare. So the creators of Arachnophobia decided to utilize a big spider to put audiences on edge. In the movie, a spider enters the U.S. on the coffin of a photographer who died in Venezuela. Production needed the right spider for the part. Enter Big Bob. Named after Arachnophobia director Robert Zemeckis, the bird-eating tarantula was the only one of its kind in the U.S. The production team made Big Bob even scarier in his wardrobe. They gave him purple stripes and added some prosthetic bulk to his furry frame. But Big Bob was just one little spider. As the name suggests, Arachnophobia needed a LOT of spiders. Some had bigger roles than others, like the spider who mated with Big Bob to create the poisonous offspring. The spiders actually had to audition, by going through a series of 10 tests to determine how creepy they were. Then, spiders had to be imported. The U.S. just didnt have scary enough spiders for the production company. They imported spiders from abroad every few weeks. The 300 or so spiders needed special passports, or paperwork every time. Today, animators would likely use CGI to create the spiders. But Arachnophobia used real spiders, which made the movie infinitely better and much harder to film. Spider-wrangler Steven Kutcher explained that spiders are hard to film with because you cant actually teach them to do anything, according to Mental Floss. Instead, the wranglers used Lemon Pledge, a cleaning supply the spiders detest, to drive them into certain areas. Jeff Daniels now has a spider-killing worm named after him thanks to Arachnophobia Famous for playing a character afraid of spiders, Daniels now has a spider-killing worm named after him, according to CNN. Dr. Jennings would be proud. The worm, known as a tarantula-killing worm, has been dubbed tarantobelus jeffdanielsi. The species was discovered in California, where Arachnophobia took place. When Daniels found out about the worms unique name, he said in a press release, When I first heard a new species of nematode had been named after me, I thought, Why? Is there a resemblance?' Daniels isnt the only actor with a piece of nature named after him. Leonardo DiCaprio has a plant named after him, according to Smithsonian Magazine. The newly discovered Cameroonian evergreen was dubbed Uvariopsis dicaprio. RELATED: Halloween Horror Movies to Stream on HBO Many people have their own preferred ways to induce a good cry session. Some prefer listening to a breakup music playlist, while others opt to watch a feel-good (or feel-sad) movie. For Spider-Man and Uncharted star Tom Holland, whos had to make himself cry in a few different movies, his go-to tear-jerker is a particular movie soundtrack. Heres what he listens to, plus another method Holland uses to cry on command. Tom Holland | Xavi Torrent/Getty Images Tom Hollands 2021 films Cherry and Spider-Man: No Way Home called for serious emotion Hollands two biggest films of 2021, Cherry and Spider-Man: No Way Home, could not have been more different. In Cherry, the actor plays an army medic who returns from Iraq with severe PTSD. Meanwhile, in Spider-Man: No Way Home, Holland closes out his Spider-Man trilogy with a break in the multiverse as Peter Parker learns what it means to be the web-slinging hero. However, Cherry and Spider-Man: No Way Home do share two things in common: 1) theyre both tear-jerkers in their own rights, and 2) Holland offers heartbreaking, tearful displays in both movies. Looking back at Cherry in GQs Action Replay in February 2021, Holland explained that he didnt always find it easy to cry on command. However, turning on the waterworks in Spider-Man: No Way Home was like flipping a switch. The other day, we were doing a scene in Spider-Man 3, and I could just turn it on, Holland said. I was like, This is amazing, if I could do this every time, this would be glorious. And then other times, you try and cry, and you just cant. Now, after having so much crying practice with those two films, Holland said he finds himself getting emotional more often in his day-to-day life. I cry at watching films now all the time. Its really embarrassing as well. I reckon I cry four times a week. I dont cry four times a week, but I cry a lot, he added. Tom Holland uses the Lone Survivor movie soundtrack to bring on the tears When Holland needs that extra push to bring him to tears, he sometimes turns to music. In a recent interview with Collider, the Uncharted star mentioned his movie soundtrack of choice: Lone Survivor. He revealed that its one of his favorite movies. I actually use the soundtrack from that movie if I need to get emotional in a scene, Holland explained. In particular, Holland said he listens to The Mighty Rio Grande by the rock band This Will Destroy You, which plays at the beginning and the end of the movie. I use that if I need to cry. I love that film, mate, its brilliant, the actor told his Uncharted co-star Mark Wahlberg, who stars in Lone Survivor. Tom Holland used another method to make himself cry in Avengers: Infinity War Peters world will never be the same. #SpiderManNoWayHome is now playing exclusively in movie theaters. pic.twitter.com/5qGEFUkKYB Spider-Man: No Way Home (@SpiderManMovie) January 21, 2022 Holland may not always have the Lone Survivor soundtrack on hand, but he has other ways of making himself cry. For example, the actor told GQ in 2019 that he improvised his emotional goodbye scene in Avengers: Infinity War, which meant he had to quickly turn on the waterworks. As fans may recall, Hollands Spider-Man/Peter Parker told Robert Downey, Jr.s Tony Stark that he wasnt feeling so good after Thanos snap. He begged Tony to help him, saying through tears that he wasnt ready to go. Holland explained how he channeled emotion for the scene: A technique I do if Im trying to cry is Ill say the phrase over and over again. So for example, if I was like in a scene and I was talking to someone and the undertone of the scene was that I loved them, I would say in my head, I love you so much. I love you so much. And then it like, it just kind of brings up emotion. In that scene, it was I dont want to go, and I just thought I would say it out loud and it works, its really good in the film. RELATED: Spider-Man: No Way Home: Tom Holland Has Already Received Something Far Greater Than an Oscar Nomination People look at art during an opening reception for the 44th annual Trail of Tears Art Show and Sale in 2015. Artists compete in nine categories including paintings, sculpture, pottery, basketry, graphics, jewelry, miniatures, diverse art forms and photography/digital art. The show runs through April 30. After two years of study, the Cherokee Language Master Apprentice Program graduated seven students Jan. 21 during a virtual commencement ceremony. CLMAP staff and graduates pictured are: Classroom Assistant/Curriculum Specialist Tony Owens, top left, Kenny Glass, Jerry Thompson, David Bender, Supervisor Master Apprentice Program Kristen Thomas, Cherokee Nation Language Department Executive Director Howard Paden, botton left, Sara Hays, Sarah Oosahwee-Voss, Sedi Eastwood, Talisa Pettit and Cherokee Language Master Apprentice Programs Manager /Wahde Galisgewi (Ryan Mackey). They needed a John Deere Gator to reach the perimeter. Then, in the forested area behind a power plant in Williamsburg, Virginia, Colette Roots and her small expedition had to jump over ditches full of rainwater, where they could see tadpoles and mosquito eggs. They went in. The plot of land belonged to a Black congregation in the 1940s. The historic church, Oak Grove Baptist, is still active. Roots grew up in the congregation, and as a child, she helped her mother maintain the graves at the churchs main cemeterya much larger plot roughly a mile from this one, with about 150 graves. The church lost access to this smaller graveyard decades ago, thanks in part to a massive land seizure by the federal government. By the summer of 2021, most everyone who knew the exact whereabouts of the Christians buried back here had died themselves. Hidden away like this, in the trees and brush, the graves remind Roots of the Sunday school song about hiding your light under a bushel. When she saw them that day, she had the same reaction: No. There were a dozen markers, some lying flat and others standing upright. The inscriptions showed that most of the deceased were children, and at least three were related to Roots by marriage. For a moment she was overcome with grief. The dead needed to be taken care of. They belonged with the other deceased saints at the main burial grounds. Everyone at Oak Grove agreed with her. But this left them with a conundrum. With an aging congregation, just a fraction of its former size, Oak Grove Baptist has struggled just to pay its utility bills. Relocating a cemetery is not in its budget. The congregations dilemma is not unusual for Black churches. Recently, 26 potential graves were identified beneath a paved road near a Baptist church cemetery in Georgia. In the Tampa area, multiple Black cemeteries have been discovered since 2019, including one beneath a high school and another below an Air Force base. Across the country, hundreds or thousands of Black cemeteries are in severe enough disrepair that they could be erased altogether. History is being lost. A record of the spiritual heritage of the men and women who persevered by faith through incredible hardship is disappearing. Its not clear that anything can be done in time to save them. The dispossession of Oak Grove Dispossession has been a theme in the history of Oak Grove Baptist. The church has its origins in Magruder, a cluster of smaller neighborhoods that no longer exists. Brian Palmer, a veteran journalist who has family ties to the area, and his wife, journalist Erin Hollaway Palmer, have done extensive research on the neighborhoods history. Brian Palmer says that before the Civil War, the area consisted mostly of large plantations but also included small tracts of land owned by free Black families. During and after Reconstruction, freed people who had lived on the plantations stayed in the region, and more Black families settled there and bought land. In the Jim Crow era, Magruder was a place where African Americans could retain some degree of economic independence. Many made their living by farming and oystering. Oak Grove Baptist was founded by former parishioners of First Baptist Church, Williamsburgs original Black house of worship, which had been established before the American revolution. The Magruder residents couldnt walk the three miles downtown every week for services. They began holding services independently around 1887. A half century later, Magruder was destroyed by the federal government. When the US entered World War II, in 1941, the military rapidly built training camps for its new recruits. One of the locations it zeroed in on was the Virginia Peninsula, where it planned to build the Navy post that became Camp Peary (which is now a CIA training facility known as The Farm). Magruder was appealing, the Associated Press reported at the time, because of the wild nature of the country. Officials thought the rough terrain of hills, fields, woods, dense brush, swamp and beach would be ideal for training activities. Government officials also cited Magruders railroad access, its water supply, and its flat ground among its assets. Property owners, both Black and white, fought the land seizures but couldnt stop them. In the end, several hundred families were displaced by Camp Peary. The residents scattered in all directions, with some exiles settling locally and others leaving the state. Oak Grove Baptist was forced to vacate its building on East Rochambeau Drive, leaving behind a large cemetery. The church trustees took the matter to court, demanding a higher payment for the church property. According to documents Palmer obtained, they ultimately received $1,150 (the equivalent of $10,700 now). While this lawsuit was going on, Roots says, they bought a new plot of land for burials. This was when the little cemetery with the childrens graves was established. The church leaders erected a new building on Waller Mill Road, in the neighborhood known as Cooketown. Then that land was seized for a highway and a new water plant and the congregation was forced to relocate again. Roots was born in 1959. Despite the disruptions, the church thrived while she was growing up. At its peak, Roots estimates, the church had 300400 people attending regularly. The children of the generation that had been displaced from Magruder were becoming teachers and doctors and lawyers. Many of them lived in other parts of the county, but they still came back to Oak Grove, and many weekends they had cookouts in the area. Four times each year, Roots and her mother went to the main cemetery to pay respects and help with maintenance. In 1981, Roots married her high school sweetheart, whose grandparents had also lived in Magruder. Her husband enlisted in the Army, and the young couple left for Fort Bragg, in North Carolina, where they lived for a dozen years. As the 80s gave way to the 90s, she watched Oak Groves congregation start to dwindle. Elderly parishioners were dying, and younger families were moving farther away. The church cycled through a number of pastors who were only in Williamsburg temporarily and didnt have strong ties. As Sunday attendance went down, so did the condition of the main cemetery. Trees toppled, headstones started cracking, and some of the graves sank due to erosion. Roots and her husband moved back to Williamsburg in 1994, after spending time in Alaska and Tennessee. At first Roots was reluctant to take on much responsibility at Oak Grove Baptist. She worked as a shop steward at the College of William & Mary, leading the union of housekeepers and other wage workers. But after her mothers death, she felt compelled to get Oak Groves main cemetery fixed up. Colonial Williamsburg, the foundation that runs a living history museum downtown, offered to help. It paid for a new fence and parking lot and used radar technology to check for unmarked graves. Roots described it to the Virginia Gazette as a miracle. Small cemetery rediscovered Amid this restoration project, one of Rootss cousins reminded her that Oak Grove had another cemetery as well. She said, Dont know where its at, but theres one out there, Roots recalls. Over the years, as property around the second cemetery had been sold and developed, the congregation had lost its access route. Then in 2021, Roots received a call from a municipal worker who knew about the restoration work shed been doing. He said a logger had felled some trees in the old Magruder area, and a set of gravestones was now visible in the woods. Since the day of the expedition, the congregation has made big strides in repairing and restoring the church building in the last year. But the cemetery project has been more difficult. Much of the surrounding land, where the grandparents and great-grandparents of church members once lived, is now being developed into an upscale subdivision. Moving the graves is a priority. But a local funeral home estimates it will cost around $3,300 per grave (or nearly $40,000 altogether), and the community is still searching for a source of funding. Let Freedom Ring, a foundation associated with First Baptist (Oak Groves old parent church), has also been looking for a solution, and Monty Mason, a state senator representing Williamsburg, has offered to help. From Rootss perspective, the most just outcome would be for the federal government to pay a substantial portion of the cost. After all, the US military created the problem in the first place, when it broke up Magruder and seized the churchs main cemetery. There is a bill pending in the legislature, the African American Burial Grounds Network Study Act, that would take up this call. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) introduced the bill in 2019, and in December 2020, it was passed unanimously by the US Senate. (A companion bill was introduced in the House by Representatives Donald McEachin, D-Va., and Alma Adams, D-N.C., also in 2019.) If the legislation passes, the National Park Service will be tasked with putting together a database of every historic Black cemetery in the country, or at least as many as can be identified. The Park Service would then establish grants for local organizationslikely including churches, preservation groups, and other nonprofitsto help them research and restore these sites. Browns office says about $3 million would be allocated to create the network, but other funding sources would be needed for restoration work, which is expensiveoften running to tens of thousands of dollars at even a small cemetery. In the case of Oak Grove, its easy to picture how a program like this could help. If it were already in place, perhaps the little cemetery near the power plant would have been identified earlier. And the community wouldnt have to scrounge for funds to move the graves. Another and another and another and another On a national scale, the projects potential impact would be enormous. Since theres no comprehensive database of these cemeteries right now, theres no way to estimate how many are in danger. Hannah Rosen, a historian at the College of William & Mary, who has done extensive research on Black burial grounds, thinks the figure has to be over 1,000 and is likely much higher. I dont think theres a Southern community that doesnt have multiple struggling Black burial groundsand the North is probably full of them too, Rosen said. Everywhere you turn, theres another and another and another and another. On one level, the significance of these sites is obvious: Like all cemeteries, they hold the remains of the deceased, so its natural to think of them as a kind of sacred ground. Connie Harshaw, the director of the Let Freedom Ring Foundation, who has been working closely with Roots, argues that cemeteries have a particular importance in Black church culture, where respect for ancestors is paramount. We stand on their shoulders, and we pay homage as often as we can, Harshaw said. We know that if not for them, we could not be where we are now. There is another way to think about their significance, too. Monuments from African American history are relatively scarce. In the Jim Crow era, Southern cities rarely put up statues of Black leaders. At the same time, rural Black communities were often forced to use cheap materials to build houses, schools, and churches, because these were all they could affordand as a result, many of those buildings have not withstood the elements. To some extent, cemeteries have been an exception to this trend. By their nature, theyre more durable than wood-frame buildings. In some cases, they are the only sites left of abandoned Black towns. In this way, theyre testaments to the history of American racism, as Rosen points out. But they can also be taken as symbols of the resiliency of communities like Oak Grove Baptist. This is the part that resonates most for Roots. The hymn This Little Light of Mine has become her anthem as she works to preserve the churchs landmarks. No matter where this church has beendisplaced, relocated, relocated, displaced againand still strugglingthe light is gonna shine, she said. It represents what Oak Grove stands for; it represents the gospel. That song represents everything. And its telling us history will be told. 10 Christian converts forced to take Islamic re-education classes in Iran: report Intelligence agents in Irans Khuzestan Province have instructed 10 Christian converts who had been cleared of all charges to participate in re-education classes led by Islamic clerics, according to a watchdog report. Agents of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps told the 10 Christians, including eight who were cleared last November of any crime in a court in Dezful, on Jan. 29 that they will have to attend 10 sessions with Islamic clerics to guide them back onto the right path, Article 18, a nonprofit that promotes religious freedom and tolerance for Christians in Iran, reported. The IRGC had summoned more converts, but they didnt appear. However, those who didnt appear were called and asked why they hadnt appeared. The IRGC arrested four converts in the southwestern city of Dezful last April and charged them with propaganda against the Islamic Republic because they participated in a house church, according to an earlier report from Article 18. The IRGC also summoned other Christian converts for interrogation at the time. The four arrested had personal property confiscated for nearly six months, including necessary items for their childrens schoolwork, laptops and mobile phones. The U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern states that the mandatory Islamic re-education classes directly conflict with the rulings of the Civil and Revolutionary Court of Dezful that said the group merely converted to a different religion. The court noted that this apostasy could be punished under Islamic Sharia law but was not criminalized in the laws of Iran, ICC noted in a statement. In reference to other charges that Iranian Christians often face, the courts also ruled they didnt carry out any propaganda against other groups, ICC added. In 2021, Revolutionary Guards were responsible for 12 of the 38 documented incidents of Christians being arrested or their homes and churches being raided, Article 18 noted. So-called re-education sessions have become much more common in recent years, even appearing in the list of corrective punishments on official court papers, Article 18 detailed. Converts from Islam to Christianity are most at risk of persecution in Iran, especially by the government and to a lesser extent by society and their families, Open Doors USA states in a fact sheet on Iran. The government sees the growth of the church in Iran as an attempt by Western countries to undermine Islam and the Islamic regime of Iran, the fact sheet states. "House groups made up of converts from Muslim backgrounds are often raided, and both their leaders and members have been arrested, prosecuted and given long prison sentences for crimes against national security. Iran is an Islamic republic, and Shia Islam is the official religion of the country. It is illegal for Muslim citizens to convert or renounce their religious beliefs. Conversion from Islam is considered a crime punishable by death. It is also unlawful for Christians to share the Gospel with Muslims. Proselytizing is also a criminal offense. Those who convert to Christianity usually practice their faith in secret. However, in 2020, a survey of about 50,000 Iranians over the age of 20 found that 1.5% of respondents identify as Christian. Applied across Irans population of more than 80 million, the number of Christians in Iran is without doubt in the order of magnitude of several hundreds of thousands and growing beyond a million, the Netherlands-based secular research group GAMAAN, stated after the study. Iran ranks as the 9th worst country globally when it comes to Christian persecution, according to Open Doors USAs 2021 World Watch List. Iran is listed by the U.S. State Department as a "country of particular concern" for engaging in severe violations of religious freedom. Former pastor pleads guilty to sexual misconduct with teen during Uganda missionary trip A former Orthodox Presbyterian Church pastor from Georgia pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl when he was in Uganda for missionary work. Eric Tuininga, 44, pleaded guilty to engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places before Chief U.S. District Judge Marc T. Treadwell and was taken into custody pending his sentencing, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Georgia announced. Tuininga, of Milledgeville, Georgia, faces a maximum 30 years in prison, to be followed by supervised release for up to life and a fine up to $250,000. He will have to register as a sex offender upon his release from federal prison. Tuininga, who went to Uganda in 2012, has admitted that he came to know the victim in his capacity as a religious leader and that the victim would often visit the church he was working with, including a religious compound overseen by him, and he engaged in illicit sexual conduct with her. He used his trusted position as a pastor to sexually assault a young Ugandan girl in his care, said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary, adding that it was a challenging case but law enforcement worked diligently to ensure that Tuininga did not escape justice for his crime overseas. The U.S. Attorneys Office, along with our national and international law enforcement partners, will do everything in our power to catch child predators and hold them accountable for their crimes, Leary said. Tuininga, who was working as one of the ministers from the U.S.-based OPC in Mbale, Uganda, was having sex with Ugandan female minors as young as 14 years old who were under the care of the organization, according to a 2019 complaint by a U.S. citizen affiliated with the same denomination to U.S. Embassy Kampala American Citizen Services. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, the statement read. Soon after Tuininga returned to the U.S., he was removed from the OPC Presbytery of the Northwest, then deposed from ministry in July 2019 and finally excommunicated in September that year. By the time we became aware that Mr. Tuiningas sexual immorality included the sexual abuse of a child, he was already under criminal investigation, and he had been excommunicated and was no longer under our jurisdiction, Presbytery Clerk Jeff Scott told The Roys Report. We are profoundly grieved by Mr. Tuiningas actions and the devastating impact they have had on many people and the stumbling block they place before those we call to put their trust in our Lord Jesus Christ, Scott was quoted as saying. ... We pray for justice to be served on behalf of his victims. And we continue to pray for Mr. Tuiningas family, those who have been harmed, and for Mr. Tuiningas repentance. In Defence of Marxism is committed to safeguarding your privacy. 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Please let us know if you have any queries or concerns whatsoever about the way in which your data is being processed by emailing the Data Protection Manager at webmaster@marxist.com Healthcare provider pays $75K to Pentecostal nurse denied religious exemption not to wear scrub pants A Tennessee-based healthcare provider will pay $75,000 to a Pentecostal nurse to settle a religious discrimination lawsuit that says the company rescinded her job offer over her refusal to wear scrub pants while at work as her religious beliefs require her to dress modestly. Wellpath, LLC, a provider of health services in correctional facilities, will pay $75,000 and provide significant equitable relief to Malinda Babineaux, who is a practicing Apostolic Pentecostal Christian, to settle a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the federal agency said in a statement. According to the lawsuit, Wellpath hired the nurse to work in the GEO Central Texas Correctional Facility in downtown San Antonio, but she told a human resources employee of Wellpath that she would wear a scrub skirt instead of scrub pants at work due to her religious beliefs. Wellpath denied the request and revoked her job offer. The EEOC said the nurse had worn a scrub skirt for several years as she worked at other correctional facilities. Under federal law, when a workplace rule conflicts with an employees sincerely held religious practice, an employer must attempt to find a workable solution, Philip Moss, a trial attorney at the agencys San Antonio Field Office, said. This settlement should underscore the importance of employers taking affirmative steps to comply with their obligations under anti-discrimination laws. Title VII prohibits discrimination based on religion and requires employers to reasonably accommodate an applicants or employees sincerely held religious beliefs unless it would pose an undue hardship. The EEOC first sought to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process, but the efforts failed. The agency then filed a suit under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division, in September 2020. The settlement requires that the company pay back pay and compensatory damages of $75,000 to the former employee and provide for injunctive relief, including anti-discrimination training and distribution of a notice informing employees of their rights. The EEOC is pleased that in addition to a monetary settlement, Wellpath has agreed to training human resources employee at its headquarters and certain managers throughout Texas on anti-discrimination laws and providing accommodations, including matters related to dress and grooming based on religion, Regional Attorney Robert Canino said. The judgments of God are everywhere Pick your tragedy a terrorist attack, an awful weather incident, a major health crisis like COVID, an economic collapse and its a good bet that right after it occurs, youll get the cliched stream of the, where was God? question. Behind it, if were to be honest, is an angry attitude directed at the Creator of, we dont deserve this! Not so fast. Believe me, I get the irate confusion that comes from looking into the eyes of a small child at St. Jude whos just been diagnosed with leukemia or the exasperated feelings of powerlessness that arise when a loved one whos a joy to everyone is killed by a drunk driver. My goal here today is not to address the issue of theodicy which Ive already done several times (see here, here, and here). Im certainly not saying every bad thing that happens is a particularly directed divine judgment handed down to us. However, I would like to reverse the question of, why do bad things happen to good people?, to have you think instead about, why do good things happen to anyone? Given our historical track record, we deserve judgment far more than we deserve blessings. And when it comes to judgment, God doesnt seem to be nearly as concerned as some Christians in trying to extricate Himself from terrible events. Instead, He tells us clearly in His word: I am the LORD, and there is no other, the One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the LORD who does all these (Is. 45:6-7). Throughout Scripture, there are both clear and subtle examples of Gods judgment, some of which you may have missed. For instance, the parables of Jesus they arent the supposed sermon illustration many people think, but rather a form of a judgment given immediately after Israel formally rejected Christ as their Messiah (see Matt. 13:10-15). Or take the miracle gift of tongues. They arent at all what many portray them to be today, but rather are a judgment given by God to unbelievers and God-rejectors as Is. 28:10-13 and 1 Cor. 14:20-22 spell out. Today, I think its easy to make the case that both large and small judgments of God are everywhere, but were too dull to notice or afraid to admit it. Let me provide just a couple of examples.f So you want a king? The book of 1 Samuel tells the story of how Israel rejected God as their King and instead demanded that a human monarch rule over them. Youd imagine that God would reject their request, right? Wrong. The Lord said to Samuel, 'Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over themlisten to their voice; however, you shall solemnly warn them and tell them of theking who will reign over them.' (1 Sam. 8:7-9) Youd think that once Samuel told them the realities of having a flawed human, narcissistic, autocratic dictator reign over them vs. the always-righteous Lord of the universe, theyd reconsider their plan, right? Wrong. Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, 'No, but there shall be a king over us.' (2 Sam. 8:19) So, God gave them a king. And what kind of king did they get? They got a guy who looked great on the outside, but inside he was a cowardly, inept, unrighteous person equipped with only enough intelligence to work as a lost donkey finder. When his rule was all said and done, he would be found visiting a witchs house at En-dor to get advice (1 Sam. 28:7). In other words, Saul ended up being a judgment of God on Israel, just as Scripture says: I gave you a king in My anger (Hos. 13:11). This same judgment, I believe, is covering our land today with respect to our choice of politicians. You can almost hear God saying, So, you want to reject and cancel leaders who honor me? Fine." Ill have you elect officials who call evil good and good evil. Who, like a lost donkey finder, do and say things so stupid you wonder how they get up in the morning and tie their own shoes. Who enshrine criminals as victims and paint their victims as evil-doers. Who take away your protection from felons while using your money to pay for their own private security teams. Who prioritize gender-neutral toy aisles over keeping criminals in jail and businesses safe from theft. Who robs your wallets by pursuing the failed scorched-earth policies of godless, communist governments. And who trample on the one true faith while lifting up false religions that belittle women and force submission. Lets see how you do with leaders who, are like wolves tearing the prey, by shedding blood and destroying lives in order to get dishonest gain (Ez. 22:27). So you want to abandon Me? Romans 1:18-32 teaches that everyone knows there is a God from nature itself and therefore it is natural to worship the Creator who brought everything into existence. When people choose not to do that which is natural and abandon God, He gives them over to a life that is unnatural and abandons them. When we look at the current state of our culture, which has shut God out of nearly every sphere, you can see His judgments springing up far and wide: Are you actually confused over whether I exist and who or what you should worship even though you know the truth down deep in your soul? Well, Ill send a state of confusion upon you, to the point where youre puzzled over even the basics of your humanity including what gender you are and your own sexual attraction. Ill have your most beautiful cities mocked with names like San Fransicko because of the depraved mind youll develop. Since you pollute these lands with murdered unborn children and moral filth, you wont be able to walk down your streets without stepping over literal human feces. Ill put out on open display people destroying their lives with drugs and pay for their habits with money out of your own pocket, stolen by insane-reasoning politicians. These will be the same ones who wont lift a finger to stop violence, even as your own children continue to be killed by stray bullets from repeat offenders who are constantly released and laugh at your court houses revolving door. What about you? The only thing worse than being blind to the judgments of God occurring around you is being oblivious to the ones occurring to you. Contrary to what some believe, they dont typically come as a lightning bolt from the sky but rather as the natural consequences hardwired into sin itself. Like the prodigal son, you can get so dull to the awful end results in your life that you wake up one day in the pig pen and wonder how you got there. But its no mystery really; we often ignore His repeated jabs in the side to get our attention. The wake-up calls from God are something articulated succinctly by C. S. Lewis who wrote, God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world. I wish I could tell you that I have hope our culture will collectively listen to Gods bullhorn and return to Him, but my confidence in that is waning. However, individually, you and I can open our eyes and ears to His delivered course corrections and experience deliverance from the consequences of our personal sins. Its my prayer that we avoid Gods wrath in the first place, learn from it if thats not possible, and realize that His judgments are many times self-inflicted wounds from our own sins: They would not accept my counsel, they spurned all my reproof. So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way, and be satiated with their own devices. For the waywardness of the naive will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them. But he who listens to me shall live securely, and will be at ease from the dread of evil (Prov 1:30-33). 55 federal agencies tracking religious objection requests amid concern from conservatives As many as 55 federal departments and agencies have created 57 rule changes to keep track of employees or applicants who have sought exemptions of various kinds, including exemptions to COVID-19 vaccine mandates, a Christian conservative lobbying group reports. While some rules are limited to vaccine exemptions, others track all exemptions, such as an employee or applicant seeking accommodation from working on the Sabbath or Sunday, reports Liberty Counsel Action, the lobbying arm of the nonprofit legal organization that specializes in religious freedom cases. Some rules even track visitors to their buildings or events. For example, the Treasury Departments Office of Civil Rights and Diversity has stated its database will document all religious exemption requests and denials. The office will track and maintain information about a requestors religious beliefs as well as the informal dispute resolution of each person, the Liberty Counsel Action statement reads. It will also record correspondence, supporting notes and documentation and even records of oral conversations, on every person who requests an exemption. This database will track and record this level of information for everyone from pre-employment, during current or former employment or for [attendees at] a particular event. While there are variations in the rules across the government agencies, the group warns that all of them are causing serious concern about invasive privacy violations by the federal government recording and permanently storing religious and medical data on those seeking exemptions. The U.S. Army, for example, is going beyond recording the religious preference of their employees. The Army is pairing this religious information with biometric data, like fingerprints and digital photographs, the watchdog reveals. In a subsequent statement, the advocacy organization points out that a new Department of Homeland Security rule allows it to track employees, contractors, subcontractors, and certain private employees based on religious accommodations. The database can include personal information, audio conversations and photos and that information can be shared with any branch of our government and even foreign nations, the group contends. Rep. Ben Cline, R-Va., sent a letter signed by 10 Republican members of Congress to President Joe Biden, condemning his administration for keeping a list of federal employees who applied for a religious exemption for the COVID-19 vaccine. The Jan. 24 letter reads: From day one, your administration has displayed a consistent attitude of contempt towards Americans who prioritize faith in their lives. A majority of the notices do not explain how long the agency plans to store the data, why the agency needs to share the data between federal agencies or why the agency needs to keep the data beyond a decision to grant or deny an employees religious accommodation request. Your administration has offered no valid justification for these intrusive databases that will only be used to target Americans who have refused a COVID-19 vaccine because of their religious convictions. Last month, conservative think-tank the Heritage Foundation released a report saying that it found at the time at least 19 federal agencies including five cabinet-level agencies that had created or proposed a list tracking religious objectors to the COVID-19 vaccine. Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., introduced HR 6502, known as the Religious Freedom Over Mandates Act, which would prohibit the use of federal funds for any system of records on religious accommodations with respect to any COVID19 vaccination requirement. The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, but the list of departments and agencies tracking exemptions has grown significantly since the bill was introduced, according to Liberty Counsel Action. IBM created a database of the Jewish people in Europe, Liberty Counsel Action Chairman Mat Staver said in a statement. Using this database, Nazis were able to identify the Jews and prohibit them from public and then private employment. This database is what enabled Nazis to round up those targeted for ghettos and concentration camps. Staver contends that the federal government has started its own database. We cannot allow this to happen, he said. We cannot allow a federal database categorizing people by their religion or medical status. What possible good can be accomplished by these government lists? I cannot think of one. The Heritage Foundation commentary quoted a public comment by Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, who said he believes there is a chilling effect on a citizens exercise of religion due to the creation of this Database. The First Liberty Institute, a conservative law firm based in Plano, Texas, released a statement in response to The Heritage Foundations report, calling the objector lists alarming. These policies could negatively impact religious freedom for people of all faiths across the country. Its incredibly dangerous (indeed, dystopian) for the government to have a list of religious citizens at its disposal, wrote First Liberty's Jorge Gomez. Tyranny and repression arent too far away when the state begins to actively track the faithful. Religious liberty is greatly endangered once the state monitors religious citizens in order to get them to conform to the governments sanctioned viewpoint. Trauma treatment can alter sexual attractions. Big tech won't let us talk about it A landmark new study details how treating traumatic childhood memories can lead some adults with LGBT attractions toward heterosexuality. Too bad most people wont learn about it. Recently published in the Journal of Human Sexuality, the study examined 75 adult males who reported same-sex attractions and wished to explore their sexual attraction fluidity. Participants worked with professional therapists using Reintegrative Therapy, a treatment method that seeks to identify and resolve past traumatic memories. Despite a dishonest campaign to associate this approach with the widely misrepresented conversion therapy, evidence is accumulating that trauma resolution therapy provides another option to many for whom change seemed impossible. So, why are so many people unaware of these compelling findings? Because Big Tech, in alliance with leftwing activists, is actively suppressing scientific data and client testimonials. On January 15, Google-owned YouTube blocked all videos on my YouTube channel that referenced the research, along with testimonials from participants. They did so after a Forbes columnist, using cut-and-paste material from the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism (GPAHE), declared the Reintegrative Therapy work performed by me and others to be hateful and harmful. GPAHE is pressuring social media companies to remove all content about unwanted same-sex attraction. The Montgomery, Alabama-based group is run, not surprisingly, by people who used to work for the far-left Southern Poverty Law Center, which was riven by race and sex scandals and which to this day falsely characterizes mainstream Christian groups like Alliance Defending Freedom as hate groups. In response to my inquiry about being blocked, YouTube permanently banned my account. In doing so, YouTube cut off many sexual-abuse victims from scientific information they need to make healthy decisions about themselves and their sexuality. As a clinical psychologist who conducts this therapy daily, I often work with victims of past sexual trauma. Many of these clients report emotional distress, depression, and suicidal thoughts that are, on occasion, tied to unwanted same-sex attractions. Through evidence-based, patient-led therapy, some (though not all) of these individuals can make shifts along the sexual-fluidity spectrum, as their traumatic memories are resolved. Unlike so-called conversion therapy, a catch-all term that can include discredited approaches that attempt to change sexuality, Reintegrative Therapy resolves memories that clients identify as being traumatic. Changes in sexuality that may occur are a byproduct. In fact, actively attempting to change ones sexuality without resolving the trauma might interfere with this process. Independent researchers assessed the participants sexual thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and identity all of which demonstrated changes away from same-sex attractions and toward heterosexual attractions. On average, participants demonstrated significant decreases in psychological distress, such as anxiety, depression, and suicidality. They also showed significant overall increases in measures of well-being. Suppression of this kind of research and therapy is part of a larger problem: Big Tech is becoming even more aggressive in censoring any content that doesnt fit its narratives. In July 2020, for example, Facebook and Instagram announced that they would ban all content that promotes conversion therapy. By misrepresenting any and all sexuality counseling as conversion therapy, this casts an absurdly wide net. Politicians who are rushing to criminalize what they mistakenly believe to be conversion therapy are being misled. YouTube is a private company, and they have the right to ban whatever they want. But when a mega-corporation systematically suppresses one side of a scientific debate, it effectively shapes public opinion to its will and thereby contributes to spreading health misinformation a practice YouTube preaches loudly against. In the meantime, Ive moved my videos over to Odysee a decentralized video platform running on block-chain technology (like Bitcoin). That means its outside the meddling grasp of ideologically driven Big Tech corporations. I suspect platforms like it are where well find the most compelling video content in the future. Its not just Big Tech taking orders from woke activists. Some medical journals are also being corrupted by ideologues. Scientists have a responsibility to protect the integrity of the record from political activists. Pushback is long overdue. Last July, I filed a defamation lawsuit in federal court against the authors of a journal article who falsely conflated Reintegrative Therapy with their own definition of conversion therapy. In order to counter political activists who are attempting to corrupt the record, we must now fight to preserve truth or risk further damage to scientific research and its credibility with the public. Because our access to objective research is being stymied by both Big Tech and political activists, most psychotherapists will not offer clients sexual-attraction fluidity exploration because theyve been told theres not enough research into its safety and efficacy, or worse that it is harmful to engage in it. Because of this, it is the clients who are the greatest victims they are effectively denied access to information about alternatives for their sexuality and their lives. And that is why I fight. Originally published at Real Clear Policy. Angels are working 'undercover' as God's 'secret agents' in people's lives: Greg Laurie Megachurch Pastor Greg Laurie said Sunday that angels are actively involved in each Christians life as he preached a special message on angels and demons. But he couldnt say for sure if each believer has a guardian angel but believes they might. Laurie, the senior pastor of the multi-site Harvest Christian Fellowship based in Riverside, California, who for decades has hosted stadium crusade events attended by thousands, assured during his Jan. 30 sermon that while humans live in the natural world, angels coexist in the supernatural world or the invisible world" which is just as real as the natural world. Here is a question that pops up every now and again: do we have guardian angels? Here is my definitive answer: maybe, the evangelist said in the middle of his sermon. I would even add that I think theres a good chance that we do. Laurie declared that Jesus made an interesting statement in Matthew 18:10 while speaking of children. He said, Make sure you dont look down on these little ones for I tell you, their angels in Heaven always see the face of my Father in Heaven, he recited. Interesting he said, their angles in Heaven. So maybe we dont all have guardian angels, he continued. Maybe only children have guardian angels [or] a special angel assigned to [them]. But maybe adults have them as well. He referred to a passage in Acts 12 after Peter was released from prison and went to a home where believers were gathered for prayer. But the believers did not believe initially that Peter was at the door, and they said, maybe its his angel. Does that mean that Peter had a personal guardian angel? I dont know the answer to that, he said. But even if we dont have personal angels, you can be sure that we do have angels assigned to us that are involved in our lives. Earlier in the sermon, Laurie said that he wanted the congregation to know that angels are actively involved in your life and they have special work that they do in the life of the Christian. Thousands and thousands and thousands of angels are in Heaven, working on earth, serving the Lord, Laurie said. Most of these angels are holy; some of them are fallen. You find them in the Old and the New Testament. The Bible, Laurie said, has about 300 references to angels but warned that there are so many misconceptions that people tend to have. The angels primarily work undercover. It is not the job or the nature of an angel to draw attention to themselves, he said. They are just doing Gods work. You might describe them as Gods secret agents. Another way to put it, they are sort of like Navy SEALs. ... Their job is to get the job done. There are times when Angels have stopped Christians from doing the wrong things and times when angels have protected Christians from harmful situations, Laurie said. There are times when an angel has prompted you [and] spoken directly to you, the 69-year-old said. I wonder how many times weve been headed for destruction, and God changed our course by directing an angel to stop us from where we were going. Later in the sermon, Laurie said believers often hold preconceived notions about angels that don't align with what the Bible says. I know we often think of an angel as feminine, like shes as pretty as an angel.... In reality, when angels do appear visibly, they appear as men, Laurie said, referring to how angels appear in the Bible. The pastor said some often say that when someone dies, they become an angel. He referred to the saying: Well, God just needed another angel in Heaven. We dont become angels. Thats wrong. Angels are angels. Theyre created beings. They are spoken of in Scripture, Laurie detailed. We find them worshiping the Lord, and we also see God using angels to dispatch judgment and justice on the earth, he said, pointing the audience to Hebrews 1:14. Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? Although angels exist to do the work of God, Laurie said the devil and his demons (fallen angels) also exist to oppose the work of God. Laurie defined demons as angels that rebelled against God, following Satan. When there was this angelic rebellion, two-thirds of the angels stayed on Gods side, but one-third of the angels went on the devils side, Lucifers side, he said. Dont underestimate the power of demons. Laurie said the Bible speaks about people being demon-possessed and having supernatural strength. When police officers are answering a call for some kind of danger, the first thing they usually do is call for backup, he said. Youre in a spiritual battle. And you need to call for backup. You need the Lords strength in your life. Laurie said people will often ask the question: Why did God create the devil? God did not create the devil as we know him, Laurie answered. Satan, also known as Lucifer, was once a very high-ranking angel. Lucifer was obsessed with himself, he added. He did not want to worship God. He wanted to be worshiped himself. And so, he was brought down because of his pride. Laurie stated that although Satan lost his once exalted position, he still has access to the presence of God. However, the angels and God outnumber Satan and his demons. The bad news is: thousands of angels are now serving the devil with demon powers. But the good news is: thousands of more angels are serving God, protecting us, guiding us and doing all the things that they do for us, Laurie preached. Dont make deals with the devil. [The devil] has a well-organized network of demon powers doing his bidding," Laurie said. "It appears that the purpose of demons are twofold: to hinder the purposes of God and to extend the power of Satan [and] to stop God and His people from doing what the Lord wants us to do and then to extend the reign and power influence of Satan." The preacher explained that Jesus summed up Satans agenda in John 10:10, which says, "The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. Laurie stressed that Satan is not more powerful than God because Satan does not have the same abilities. God is omnipotent, meaning Hes all-powerful. Satan is powerful, but he has limitations to his power. God is omniscient, which means He knows everything. Satan knows a lot, but not nearly enough as God, Laurie said. God is omnipresent, which means He can be everywhere at the same time. Satan can only be in one place at one time. The devil opposes God and accuses and condemns believers by sending them thoughts, he stated. You see: [the devil] sends the thought and then condemns us for having that thought, Laurie said. Listen, its not a sin to be tempted. Its only a sin when I invite temptation in for tea. Its been said: You cant stop a bird from flying over your head, but you can stop it from building a nest in your hair. The problem is not in the bait; its in the bite, he relayed. Its not a sin if the bait is dangled in front of you; its only a sin if you bite it. Christians should confess their sins and rid their lives of grudges, anger, and resentment to overcome Satan, the pastor advised. He said that when Christians don't confess their sins, the devil will obtain a foothold in their lives. You will never overcome the devil if theres unconfessed sin in your heart. When sin remains unconfessed, there is a wall between us and God. Again, if well confess our sin, [1 John 1:9]: Hes faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness, Laurie maintained. Confessing to sin doesnt mean Christians need to confess to every sin they have committed, he stated, adding that it is an acknowledgment that Ive sinned, Lord. And in this case, you are agreeing with God, he continued. Two other ways that believers can overcome the enemy, Laurie said, is through the blood of the Lamb and by the Word of their testimony, which means they must read and preach the Gospel. Listen, in the spiritual battle, the way we move forward, the way we gain ground, the way we take enemy territory is by preaching the Gospel, he said, quoting Ephesians 6. When were in spiritual battle gaining ground by preaching the Gospel, the devil will not be able to stop us, he added. Because greater is He that is in us, Jesus says, then he who is in the world. John Piper answers why Eve was created from Adams rib John Piper, the founder of the popular theology website DesiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary in Minnesota, provided his thoughts on why God created Eve from Adams rib. In an episode of the Ask Pastor John podcast posted Monday, an unnamed female listener asked the 76-year-old theologian about the Genesis account on the creation of Eve. I was just wondering why God chose to do surgery on Adam to remove one of his ribs to craft Eve when, as God, he could have just made Eve entirely from dust in the same way he made Adam, inquired the listener. I am very intrigued by this fact in Genesis and wonder if you have any thoughts to explain why it was done this way, and if it carries a particular meaning that He did it this way. Piper responded by saying the fact Eve was made from Adams rib and not from the ground is not an incidental part of the text. Instead, Piper contends, that fact contrasts Eve from the animals God created earlier. Why did God parade the animals before Adam in search of a helper fit for him since God knew he wouldnt find one? And my answer is that He did it precisely because He knew [Adam] wouldnt find one, Piper explained. She is the suitable helper. She fits, she corresponds. She is not an animal. Shes my unique kind. Shes human like me. Shes one flesh with me. Therefore, this concept of helper is not impersonal like an animal, like oxen can be helpers to farmers. Shes different. Piper, who served as pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church for over 33 years until 2013, added that Adam and Eve were each others perfect, God-designed complement. Together they are good, he said. Now its good creation is good that man and woman are now both created in the image of God, of the same human nature, bone of my bones, flesh of my flesh, and he could have said a lot more, I think. Piper said that Adam was said to be alone and thats not good. So, the text is designed to tell us how God makes His creation finally good namely, with Adam not being alone, he said. Piper spoke about how this teaching applies to the complementarian model of marriage. Piper quoted Genesis 2:24: Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. The marriage union takes the unity of male and female to its deepest physical, psychological, personal level, and that becomes a picture a drama, the New Testament says of Christ and the Church, he continued. I would say Gods aim in not making the woman from the ground, like the animals, but from Adams rib, his side, was to make clear to him and to us that she is radically, gloriously, profoundly human, like Adam, over against all the animals, who were utterly unsuited for man. The apologetics website GotQuestions.org also tackled the question. God used Adams rib to form Eve, the website states, to show that Adam and Eve were of the same substance; she was made from the same stuff and was a bearer of Gods image and likeness, just as Adam was. Interestingly, ribs have amazing regenerative powers. Portions of rib bone and cartilage removed in bone graft surgery will regrow in a few months time, as long as the rib perichondrium is left intact, GotQuestions.org concluded. This means that Adams loss of a rib was only temporary; he did not have to go through the rest of his life with an incomplete skeletal system. Pastor says he lost faith after his father's tragic death, says pain 'blinds' believers Pastor Michael Phillips of the T.D. Jakes Foundation preached at Jakes Potter's House megachurch in Dallas to share his faith journey and why he turned away from God following the sudden loss of his father. Phillips told the audience that pain can often blind Gods creations. As a boy growing up in Baltimore, Maryland, Phillips said during the Jan. 23 sermon that his father worked as a full-time pastor and a part-time truck driver. His father would often take him up to the top of his 18-wheeler for picnics and taught him to admire Gods creation, the vast universe and the countless stars in the sky. Phillips father told him that if there ever came a time in his life where he felt stuck or as if he couldnt make it through some ordeal, he should look up. He would tell me this because he would then say, Because you dont know that you have already been brought a mighty-long way, Phillips said. When I was a little kid, I didnt really understand that. I would just shake my head and nod. But by the time he was around 11 years old, he was on a trip to New York with his father. During this trip, he questioned what his father meant by you have already been brought a mighty-long way. And thats when [my father] began to grin, and he said to me: You have to understand that youre moving right now, and you dont even know it, Phillips said. With a grin, Phillips recalled his father telling him that he was already moving because the Earth is spinning around its axis at a speed of 1,000 miles per hour. Every 24 hours, his father said, the Earth makes a rotation around the sun. This means that when he lays his head down at night and wakes up the following day, the sun is up because the Earths spinning axis has already made a turn. I need somebody to understand in this room that God has already set things in motion to the point where it cannot be altered, it cannot be changed, it cannot be undone, said Phillips, who works as the chief engagement and fulfillment officer at T.D. Jakes Foundation. Not only are you moving at a fast velocity. The suns going to be up in the morning. In a similar way to what his father once explained to him, Phillips shared that whatever might be making Christians feel stuck doesnt have the power or gravitational pull to keep them where they are because God has already set things in motion. While you were up last night worrying about your bills and worrying about your baby girl and worrying about your husband and worrying about your house, you were moving, and [you] didnt even realize it, Phillips said earlier in the sermon. While you were on your bended knees praying to God, talking to Him about a predicament, a problem or a situation, you were already moving, and you didnt even realize it was taking place. Incarcerated, yet youre moving; in-debt, yet youre moving; suffering anxiety, yet youre moving; in pain, yet youre moving, and you dont even realize it, he added. Phillips remembers one time his father brought him into the bathroom and asked him to look into the mirror. His father said to him: As marvelous and as [splendid] as the heavens and the earth are, its nothing compared to what youre looking at. Let me say it for you in scriptural terms: I am fearfully and I am wonderfully made. The Lord knit you together in your mothers womb, Phillips said. So when I see me, Ive got to see Him. ... Every time I look in the mirror, yes, Im looking at a miracle. But, Im looking at the marvelous work of God. We are His handiwork, His workmanship that was created to do good works. Youre looking at something incredible, but why dont we see that? Phillips added. Phillips said that people tend to allow their pain to go undealt with, and the pain blocks the precision of what God created. The pastor warned that those people become blind to the notion that tomorrow can bring less pain. Phillips understands the plight that people face with the pain of loss because his father died when he was 12 years old. In 1986, Phillip's father suffered a stroke and heart attack, causing him to slip into a coma. He died weeks later. My father suddenly, tragically, died. And my entire orientation of the Word of God was completely disrupted. Everything I thought about God changed, he recalled. Every time I heard: God was good, I was suspicious of His goodness. Every time someone say, God is just, I was suspicious of His justice. Every time someone told me about a characteristic or attribute of God that Hes omnipotent, omniscient, that Hes all-powerful, all-knowing and all-seeing, I was suspicious about it because [my] father was gone, Phillips recounted. After his fathers death and funeral, Phillips remembers questioning God: How could you do this to me? Pain entered into my life at this moment, and I could no longer see the stars. I could no longer see the skies. I could no longer see the reflection of His creation in the mirror. All I could see was pain, he said. Obscured by the loss, obscured by the devastation, obscured by the tragedy, and I had no way to acknowledge that to anybody because I was too young. And so consequently, when tragedy goes unacknowledged, it also goes uninterrupted, he added. At his fathers funeral, the preacher quoted Job 1:21: the Lord gives and the Lord takes away. When you experience a traumatic event, no one can acknowledge it and you dont have a language for it. The traumatic things of life that come, the tragedies of life seemingly cant be interrupted. And thats what I was facing and that funeral. It was the biggest blow to my psyche more than the death of my father, Phillips recounted. And I said to myself: If thats the type of God He is, I dont want nothing to do with that type of God. And I shut God out of my heart completely, Phillips continued. I didnt want to know Him. I didnt want to feel Him. I didnt want His presence in my life. Because of the loss that I suffered. Phillips said many people face losses in life that give them the wrong perception of who God really is. When a loss happens, other losses often follow and leave people with unanswered questions, according to Phillips. You sit here living a quiet life of desperation knowing in your heart; God, what about that? And God, why did that happen over there? And ultimately, what we are asking is: What kind of God are you? What we are asking God is simple: God, what type of God are you? Phillips explained. Phillips said many believers have experienced they describe as the goodness of God. You know that Hell never leave you or forsake you. He will be with you to the very end of the age, Phillips said. You know some things about God in hindsight, but I didnt have that luxury. I had yet to have the experiences that I have at this very moment. Everyone suffers losses, Phillips said, but Christians should reflect on the positive attributes of God to garner a complete perception of who God is. I think we do ourselves a disservice, oftentimes, when we come to God with hindsight alone, without the complete and total perception and angle of what Hes trying to do, he said. Sometimes, Christians treat their pain with relationships or things outside of God because they might think God doesnt have the answer. And Phillips said, if the pain goes undealt with, it cannot be transformed. It is human to block suffering and pain, Phillips said. [Nobody] wants that. But hurt cannot be healed until it is heard. Anger is easy to deal with more than sadness because anger allows me to omit my pain to somebody else and to project it somewhere else so that I dont have to deal with it. If you dont transform you will always transmit, and the problem with that kind of transmission is it spreads quickly, faster than omicron, he added. Pain can be transferred generationally, according to Phillips. It doesnt just stay with you. It goes through your DNA and confines your kin all the way down to the fourth generation, where they have a design team without an experience; where they have a fear for an experience they never even had, he said. Because your children were parented based upon your past situation. The pastor said that the enemy wants Christians to feel stuck. But God set each person in a day that never stops moving. As sure as you open your eyes up tomorrow, youve stepped into another term. When you woke up this morning, you didnt realize that you woke up to another term. That means you got another shot. That means you got another 24 hours, he preached. That means whatever happened yesterday is stuck in yesterday. God designed this thing so that pain had a barrier to not reach you in your tomorrow. But, its really up to you. There are some things that Christians cannot stop from happening, such as pain and the inevitable response: weeping. God set you in motion already. To deal with the pain you got to go into weeping mode, Phillips said. Baby, you got to cry that out. Get all of that out of your system. If you dont go through weeping mode, youll try to fix the situation and control the circumstance and rebuke the suffering. You got to learn how to use what youre going through as momentum to go to the next dimension, he said as the crowd burst into applause. Biden defends Afghanistan pullout, hails evacuation of '90% of Americans;' 100 to 200 US citizens left behind Taliban parade caskets draped in US, UK flags President Joe Biden defended his administration's handling of the pullout of U.S. forces from Afghanistan in a speech at the White House Tuesday, where he thanked the troops for helping to evacuate American civilians from the country. Biden began the speech by announcing that Last night in Kabul, the United States ended 20 years of war in Afghanistan, the longest war in American history. He also said his administration would continue to evacuate U.S. citizens who are seeking to leave Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover. Our Operation Allied Rescue ended up getting more than 5,500 Americans out, he said. We believe theres about 100 to 200 Americans remaining in Afghanistan with some intention to leave. Most of those who remain are dual citizens, longtime residents who had earlier decided to stay because of their family roots in Afghanistan. The bottom line: 90% of Americans in Afghanistan who wanted to leave were able to leave. Our State Department was working 24/7, contacting and talking and in some cases walking Americans into the airport, Biden added. For those who remain, we will make arrangements to get them out if they so choose. The president addressed the Americans remaining in Afghanistan, stressing that there is no deadline for working to evacuate them. We remain committed to get them out if they want to come out. Biden noted that Secretary of State Antony Blinken was leading diplomatic efforts to ensure safe passage for any American, Afghan partner, foreign national who wants to leave Afghanistan. Blinken discussed these efforts at a press conference Monday. Biden also defended abiding by the Aug. 31 deadline, which many Christian groups urged him to push back as concerns grew that the U.S. military would not be able to evacuate all Americans who wanted to leave by then. Leaving Aug. 31 is not due to an arbitrary deadline. It was designed to save American lives, the president asserted. The decision to end the military lift operations at Kabul Airport was based on the unanimous recommendation of my civilian and military advisors, the secretary of state, the secretary of defense, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff and all the service chiefs and the commanders in the field, he maintained. Biden also urged all Americans to join me in grateful prayer for our troops and diplomats and intelligence officers who carried out this mission of mercy in Kabul and at tremendous risk with such unparalleled results. After declaring that I take responsibility for the decision to leave Afghanistan, Biden pushed back on those who criticized his handling of the pullout: There is no evacuation from the end of a war that you can run without the kinds of complexities, challenges and threats we faced. Biden spent the remainder of his speech elaborating on his foreign policy philosophy, raising questions about the justification for the continued military presence in Afghanistan. What is the vital national interest? he asked. In my view, we only have one: to make sure Afghanistan can never be used again to launch an attack on our homeland. Recalling how the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks led to the U.S. involvement in Afghanistan, he suggested that We had no vital interest in Afghanistan other than to prevent an attack on Americas homeland. According to Biden, We succeeded in what we set out to do in Afghanistan over a decade ago. Then, we stayed for another decade. It was time to end this war. After telling the American people that I simply do not believe that the safety and security of America is enhanced by continuing to deploy thousands of American troops and spending billions of dollars a year in Afghanistan, Biden added, We will maintain the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan and in other countries, we just dont need to fight a ground war to do it. Following the U.S. military's withdrawal, supporters of the Taliban paraded caskets draped in the U.S. and U.K. flags and fired weapons into the air in cities throughout Afghanistan, The Telegraph reported. An ABC News/Ipsos poll conducted slightly before the withdrawal found that 59% of Americans disapproved of Bidens handling of Afghanistan, while 84% of Americans believed that the U.S. military should have stayed in Afghanistan until all Americans were evacuated, even if that meant staying beyond the Aug. 31 deadline. in his speech, Biden also delivered a message to the terrorist group ISIS-K, which was purportedly responsible for the suicide bombing at Abbey Gate outside the Kabul airport last week that killed 13 U.S. service members and over 170 civilians: We are not done with you yet. According to a United Nations report, however, it's likely that ISIS-K, which works with the Haqqani Network, merely claimed responsibility for the attack that was carried out by Haqqani. "On the day the 13 Americans were killed, the Haqqani Network was in charge of Kabul security. The victorious Taliban days earlier had appointed a network leader, wanted terrorist Khalil Haqqani, as Kabuls top security officer. And the Biden administration relied on the Taliban to operate checkpoints around the airport," The Washington Times reported. Biden said the U.S. was now going to turn the page on its foreign policy of the past two decades: We must stay clearly focused on the fundamental national security interests of the United States of America. This decision about Afghanistan is not just about Afghanistan. Its about ending an era of major military operations to remake other countries. We saw a mission of counterterrorism in Afghanistan morph into a counterinsurgency, nation-building, trying to create a democratic, cohesive and united Afghanistan, he added. Moving on from that mindset will make us stronger and more effective and safer at home. He did not take questions after his remarks. Police search for gunman who killed woman, shot 2 pastors at Colorado church Authorities in Colorado have issued an arrest warrant for a man they believe entered a church and performed a mass shooting that left one woman dead and two pastors injured. The Aurora Police Major Crimes Homicide Unit released a statement Sunday announcing an arrest warrant for 31-year-old Jose De Jesus Montoya Villa. Villa was identified as the suspect who entered Iglesia Faro De Luz on Friday evening and opened fire on the congregation, killing one and injuring two others. At the time, there were about 15 to 20 people inside the church, according to police. The church, pastored by Remigio Montes, is listed as being affiliated with the Assemblies of God, a Pentecostal denomination. The arrest warrant is for first-degree murder, with Aurora authorities promising a reward of as much as $2,000 for information that leads to Villas arrest. We are asking anyone who has information on the whereabouts of Jose to either contact your local law enforcement agency or Metro Denver Crime Stoppers. By using Crime Stoppers, tipsters can remain anonymous, stated the police. On Friday night, police responded to reports of a shooting at Faro De Luz, with witnesses eventually identifying Villa as the man they believe committed the shooting. Agent Matthew Longshore, public information officer with the Aurora Police Department, said at a press conference Saturday that the two injured men were expected to survive. Authorities said that two men both pastors were shot during the attack, according to the Denver-based KDVR. Their identities have not been released. We do know right now that there is some sort of relationship between the suspect and one of the victims. That exact relationship is not going to be released at this point, said Longshore. Investigators are working hard to identify this suspect, track him down, and hopefully arrest him we have investigators from a major crimes homicide unit on scene. Longshore said that investigators believe that it was not just a random shooting and they are canvassing the neighboring businesses looking for any surveillance video. KDVR reports the victim was Villas ex-girlfriend, 36-year-old Adela Madrid. Madrid is remembered as a mother of two who was active in her church. Madrid was a frontline healthcare worker as well as a graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder. Madrids teenage daughter, Adeya Vidales-Madrid, pleaded with Villa to surrender to authorities. I want them to know that I want him to turn himself in or for somebody to give information about him because he took my mom in very cruel way that she did not deserve to go through, stated the daughter, as quoted by KDVR. Hillsong London campus pastors resign after 12 years; new leaders announced The lead pastors of Hillsongs London campus, Robby and Jenny Lewis, have resigned after more than 12 years at the location. They have not stated the reason for their departure or their future plans. I just want to say thank you to every single one of you for the last 12.5 years for everything that you have poured into me, all the encouragement, the love, allowing me to be part of your life, Robby Lewis said at the end of the Jan. 30 service. A number of years ago, I said, I am who I am today because of all of you, and I absolutely mean that. The resignation was announced on the same Sunday in which Hillsong Global Senior Pastor Brian Houston stepped down for the time being as the head of the Australia-based global Evangelical church network as he fights criminal charges of allegedly covering up abuse allegations against his father. During the Jan. 30 service in Central London, Daniel and Jo Watson, who formerly served as youth pastors of the campus, were announced as the campuss next pastors. We are extremely excited, Daniel Watson told the church. We are extremely humbled to be given this honor, and following [the Lewises], we are thankful for everything [theyve] done and the foundations that [they] have laid. We are excited to carry on. The Watsons have been part of Hillsong Church for 10 years, according to the churchs website. Throughout the years as Youth and Young Adults Pastors, they have been able to establish a strong partnership with the Metropolitan Police, gaining their endorsement for all our youth and schools work, and advising the Mayor of London on various youth issues and the church, the online bio reads. Archived snapshots of the campus website dating to Jan. 20 showed Ben Bluemel listed as assistant location pastor. He is no longer listed on the website. Its unclear what his status at Hillsong Central London is at this time. The Christian Post reached out to Hillsong for comment on Lewis resignation and Bluemels status. A response is pending. Hillsong has over a dozen campuses in the United Kingdom. In recent years, some serious leadership problems have surfaced at Hillsongs United States-based campuses. Hillsong East Coast was hit with financial and sexual scandals surrounding former pastor Carl Lentz and other leaders connected with Hillsong NYC. Last April, Hillsong paused its Dallas campus after Pastors Reed and Jess Bogard resigned in January as they were being investigated for leadership failures and accused of overusing church expense cards. Houston, who helped found Hillsong in the suburbs of Sydney in 1983, stepped down on Jan. 30, saying he would remain absent for the rest of this year as he faces trial for allegedly concealing sex abuse committed by his father, Frank Houston, decades earlier. Last year, I received unexpected news of charges against me that allege the concealing of information that may have been material to prosecute Frank Houston, Houston told the church in a statement. These allegations came as a shock to me, and it is my intention to vigorously defend them. So I have agreed to step aside from all ministry responsibilities until the end of the year. Last August, prosecutors charged Houston with one count of concealing a serious indictable offense by his father. Brian Houston is accused of failing to report allegations that his father sexually abused a young male in the 1970s to authorities after having been informed in 1999. At the time, Brian Houston was the head of the Australian branch of the Assemblies of God. Frank Houston formerly served as the head of the Assemblies of God in New Zealand until 1971. Houston founded the global church network in the suburbs of Sydney in 1983. Phil and Lucinda Dooley are new interim global pastors. Another Hillsong resignation is that of Darnell Barrett, the former creative director of Hillsong Church Montclair in New Jersey. He was accused of sending explicit photos to a Hillsong volunteer. Ongoing AU summit proves game changer in Africa's fight against pandemic: Africa CDC chief Xinhua) 11:17, February 07, 2022 Photo taken on Feb. 5, 2022 shows the 35th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde) The ongoing AU summit has become a game changer for the way that such conferences and meetings are organized in African continent, where people actually follow public health measures very strictly, said Africa CDC Director. ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- Strict COVID-19 prevention methods enrolled at the ongoing African Union (AU) Summit, underway for the first time physically since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, proved a game changer in Africa's fight against the pandemic, Director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) John Nkengasong said Sunday. The director said critics were labeling the summit, which was convened physically following a hiatus in 2021 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as "a transmission event or a super spreader event." "We stood firm and we said, we want to be sure to understand the kinetics of infection during the Summit. So when we pronounced ourselves and we said that the summit was COVID-19 free, we backed that with science," Nkengasong addressing the media on the sidelines of the summit. Photo taken on Feb. 5, 2022 shows the 35th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.(Xinhua/Michael Tewelde) As part of the strict COVID-19 preventive methods enrolled at the summit, an antigen test is mandatory for participants before accessing the AU headquarters compound in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. During the first three days of the event, comprising the meetings of AU Executive Council and AU Assembly, the Africa CDC managed to conduct over 5,400 COVID-19 tests using temporary testing centers installed inside the AU premises. According to the Africa CDC director, some 25 positive COVID-19 cases were detected during the first three days of the summit, which began on Wednesday, with an overall positivity rate of around 0.6 percent. "This Summit has become a game-changer for the way that such conferences and meetings are organized in this continent, where people actually follow public health measures very strictly," the director said. As of Saturday evening, a total of 10,896,302 COVID-19 cases were reported in Africa. The death toll from the pandemic across the continent stands at 241,112, while 9,917,757 patients have recovered from the disease. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Liang Jun) Reach Records co-founder Lecrae, artist Trip Lee break silence after label cuts ties with Gawvi Lecrae and Trip Lee opened up about their decision to part professionally with Gawvi after their fellow Christian artist was accused of sending unsolicited explicit photos to women while he was still married. When women come to our concerts or interact with us we want them to be encouraged and blessed, not taken advantage of, Lee told Relevant Magazine. Theres absolutely no excuse for that, and it grieves me to think anyone has had a different experience. We want to raise the bar on how women are treated and valued in hip hop, not lower it, he continued. I think thats one of the things weve been called to. And theres no room for anything else. Lecrae told the outlet that it had been a challenging couple days, adding: Its been a rollercoaster of emotions. Its a lot to process, he said. Youve got to process everything, youve got to make decisions in the midst of it all. So its been rough. Last week, Reach Records, co-founded by Lecrae, announced that it ended its professional relationship with Gawvi due to his behavior. Gawvi was gearing up to head out on the We Are Unashamed Tour with his label mates Lecrae, Andy Mineo, Trip Lee, Tedashii, 1K Phew, Wande, WHATUPRG and Hulvey, but the statement revealed that he is no longer participating. Due to behavior that is inconsistent with our core values, we have ended our professional relationship with GAWVI, Reach Records said in a statement to The Christian Post. In January, Gawvi revealed that his marriage to his wife, Brianna Azucena, ended in 2020 after nearly six years. The couple has two small children together. We did everything we could to make it work for years, but after seeking the support of friends, family and counseling, I came to an extremely hard decision to move forward in a direction that I felt would be healthiest, a screenshot of his now-deleted post reads. There is no scandal to gossip about, just 2 adults that made decisions that lead to this point. And if you know me, you know I hate divorce and Im not here to promote it, he wrote. Visual artist and designer Cataphant rook Twitter to defend Azucena, claiming that Gawvi sent explicit photos to several women throughout the couple's marriage. In its announcement, Reach Records said parting ways with the Latin artist was a tough decision for them. They cited both the complexity of the issue and how deeply they invest in the lives of their artists. The label had been processing the decision for over a year and have wrestled with what would be the right way forward. After Gawvi went public with his divorce, the label said new details came to light that made them realize the decision was necessary. Ive known Gawvi since he was a teenager, so when he brings us information about him getting a divorce, thats something that we needed to process, that we needed to just figure out, Well, wait, whats going on and how can we walk with you through this? Lecrae told Relevant Magazine. Then just him struggling in his marriage and him just not in a healthy space. Thats what we knew about was his own personal, spiritual, emotional health and his own marriage being struggling. And that was all we knew. The emcees at the label represent Romans 1:16, which says: For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes. The group, who call themselves the 116 clique, said the accusations surrounding Gawvi do not align with their beliefs. Despite his troubles, Reach Records released Gawvis latest album, Noche Juvenil, in 2021. The label head said they had been trying to get Gawvi to be transparent with us as far as what was going on. They were hoping to walk through issues with him. Basically, it was a lot of character deficiencies that we had seen over the last year, Lecrae was quoted as saying. So for us, it was, Man, whats going on, and how do we process this? But of course, when everything else popped up, it was kind of like I mean, we had already stopped putting out his music and stopped doing stuff because we were just trying to process the character deficiencies, but this was the hammer that drove the nail in. Although the label has parted ways with Gawvi, Lecrae and Lee still desire to maintain a friendship with the artist and help him navigate this season of life. Restoration is only as powerful as youre transparent and humble to allow it to have its effect on you, to allow the Lord to work on you and transform you in repentance and in humility. And so, obviously, my prayer is always for people to seek the Lord in humility and allow him to do the work in us. Were all equally far from God. Its not anything that we can do to make us right with God, its what He does, Lecrae added. So I think in a situation like this, man, all I can ask for is a humble heart and a desire to submit to what God would do in him. Ive worked in prison systems where people have taken the lives of their own family members, you know what I mean? But God saw fit to work in their hearts and transform them, and now they are doing amazing things in the lives of other people. To me, thats a picture of restoration, where God can use [broken people]. I mean, thats all He does. He uses broken people to paint a picture of His goodness and His grace, so thats all I can hope for. As a friend and brother, and as a pastor, Lee says he still wonders if he could have done more to help Gawvi. [One] of the takeaways for me is to keep checking in on my brothers as much as I can, to keep asking hard questions of my brothers and sisters as much as I can because, really, we need each other. We need each other, Lee said. We can only do as much as we can do, but I definitely want to do as much as I can because I need people checking in on me as much as possible and then I want to do the same. US vows to evacuate Americans after Afghanistan withdrawal; 122K people evacuated so far With one day remaining until the deadline to withdraw all remaining U.S. troops from Afghanistan, the Biden administration asserted that the United States would continue to evacuate Americans and fight terrorism as necessary. Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby and Gen. William Hank Taylor, the deputy director for regional operations and force management of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, addressed media about the situation in Afghanistan Monday. They provided an update about the progress in evacuating Americans and Afghan allies who want to leave the country ahead of the Aug. 31 withdrawal deadline that the U.S. government negotiated with the Taliban and also elaborated on the thwarting of two attempted terrorist attacks. Taylor said that as of Monday, "more than 122,000, including 5,400 Americans, have been evacuated from Afghanistan. Neither Taylor nor Kirby indicated how many Americans seeking to leave Afghanistan remained in the country. The U.S. State Department estimated last week that no more than 1,500 Americans wished to be evacuated and that 4,500 Americans had been evacuated. The State Departments previous estimates, combined with the latest information provided by Taylor, suggest that less than 1,000 Americans remain in Afghanistan. "We continue to have the capability to evacuate and fly out those until the very end, Kirby emphasized, adding that the evacuation efforts will continue even after the military withdraws from Afghanistan. For Americans and other individuals that want to be able to leave Afghanistan after our withdrawal is complete, the State Department is going to continue to work across many different levels to facilitate that transportation. Right now, we do not anticipate a military role in that effort. Kirby stressed that while the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan will end Tuesday, whats not going to end is our commitment, especially here at the Defense Department, to protect the American people from ... threats and particularly from any terrorist threat that could emanate from Afghanistan again. On Sunday, the U.S. and 97 other countries announced a joint agreement with the Taliban to continue evacuating Afghan allies even after Tuesday's deadline. "We are all committed to ensuring that our citizens, nationals and residents, employees, Afghans who have worked with us and those who are at risk can continue to travel freely to destinations outside Afghanistan," the statement reads. "We have received assurances from the Taliban that all foreign nationals and any Afghan citizen with travel authorization from our countries will be allowed to proceed in a safe and orderly manner to points of departure and travel outside the country." In the press conference Monday, Kirby defended the U.S. governments decision not to begin evacuations sooner. He attributed the unrest that has engulfed Afghanistan in recent weeks to the collapse of the Afghanistan government and the advance of the Taliban. Nobody could have imagined how quickly that government would have literally just dissipated almost overnight," he said. "There was simply no way to predict that. On Sunday, U.S. military forces conducted an unmanned airstrike on a vehicle known to be "an imminent ISIS-K threat," Taylor told the press. This self-defense strike successfully hit the target near Kabul Airport," Taylor said. "Significant secondary explosions from the targeted vehicle indicated the presence of a substantial amount of explosive material. Taylor reported that the attack did not come without civilian casualties. Additionally, he noted that as many as five rockets were fired at the Kabul Airport overnight. U.S. military forces successfully employed our force protection measures to thwart that attack, he detailed. Taylor stressed that even as the U.S. militarys presence in Afghanistan is scheduled to conclude Tuesday, U.S. forces retain the inherent right of self-defense and are authorized to meet threats with a swift and forceful response. The interception of the vehicle headed for the Kabul Airport and the rockets fired at the airport came after President Joe Biden issued a warning Saturday that the threat of terrorist attacks on the airport remains high, with an attack highly likely in the next 24-36 hours. Bidens warning followed two explosions in and around the Kabul Airport Thursday that left more than a dozen U.S. soldiers dead. The terrorist group ISIS Khorasan Province, an affiliate of the Islamic State terror network, was determined to be responsible for the attacks. Kirby told the press that following the successful thwarting of two attempted terror attacks, The threat stream is still real. Its still active and in many cases, its still specific. Toward the end of the press conference, Fox News reporter Jennifer Griffin asked about an American held hostage by the Taliban, Mark Frerichs. Has the Taliban agreed to release Mark Frerichs before the U.S. leaves? Does the U.S. have any plans to leave without this American hostage? she asked. Kirby vowed that regardless of what we do over the next day or so all of us will remain focused on returning him safely to his family. There has been a concerted effort over many, many months to get him released, Kirby said. Frerichs, a civil engineer and government contractor who spent a considerable amount of time in the war-torn Middle East, went missing in January 2020. Shortly after Frerichs disappearance, Newsweek reported that U.S. officials believed the Taliban-affiliated Haqqani Network kidnapped him. The Daily Mail reported that the U.S. government is probing whether the Haqqani Network, which is affiliated with the Taliban, played any role in the attacks. An ABC News/Ipsos poll conducted from Aug. 27 to Aug. 28 found that 59% of Americans disapprove of President Bidens handling of Afghanistan compared to 38% who approve. An overwhelming majority (84%) of Americans believe that the U.S. military should remain in Afghanistan until all Americans have been evacuated, even if that means staying past the Aug. 31 deadline. Two-thirds of Americans indicated that they were worried about a major terrorist attack following the Afghanistan withdrawal. Americans will die: Lawmaker who attempted Afghanistan rescue blames Biden for US citizens being left behind Evacuees forced to pay Taliban up to $4K to get past checkpoints Some Americans who remain trapped in Afghanistan are going to die because of the failure from President Biden, according to Republican Rep. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, who tried to rescue U.S. citizens from that country. In an exclusive interview with Fox News' Bret Baier on Friday, Mullin said the Taliban was charging between $500 to $4,000 as a "tax" to get past each checkpoint to reach the Kabul airport, which is one reason why the French and British special forces carried out rescue missions to extricate their citizens who were stranded or had been turned away at checkpoints. The Biden administration told Americans a boldface lie about evacuating all Americans who wanted to flee Afghanistan, Mullin asserted in the interview, adding that he knows of roughly 50 U.S. citizens who are stranded in the South Asian country. Other governments coordinated rescue missions to save their citizens because there were three Taliban checkpoints before you could get to [Hamid Karzai International Airport] HKIA. And all three of them would charge you a tax and the tax was anywhere between $500 to $4,000, Rep. Mullin said. He added that he spoke with the State Department on the phone for 12 hours, trying to get someone from the State Department to come out of the airport gate to get a young lady and her four children. I have it recorded, couldnt get anybody to come out. She had come through there; it cost her $2,000," he added. Five times she approached this guard with the Taliban. The last time they stuck a pistol to her head with her kids there, I have it recorded with her kids screaming and crying. She goes back and shes crying so hard that she begins to puke, the mother did, and the State Department sent her up there five times saying we got clearance for her. Biden is going to go to the mic and say that every American that wanted out got out? I have a list of 50 that want out, that they havent got out. I have a list of 50 that weve ran out of Kabul and put in safe houses around Afghanistan, that I promise you, they wanted out. Mullen said the U.S. might be able to extricate some Americans, but theres going to be some that are going to die because of the failure from President Biden. He continued, I promise you that. At some point, theyre going to lose patience and they arent going to keep letting us drive past these checkpoints and paying them off. Sorry, taxes. Thats what they call a tax. And when I say that blood is on his hands, that means President Bidens hands. I mean that with everything in my heart, its his fault. Mullin also shared details about his attempt to rescue Americans from Afghanistan. We got a humanitarian flight plan from FAA. And everything was good to go. We left the United States, we had a time of arrival at the airport there in Kabul. And we got there and were drawing an approach and they canceled our PPR. And so we circled the airport, probably for an hour, and we had five PPRs canceled. Every time theyd cancel, the agency that was trying to get us in would give us a new one. They actually went into the tower to say let them land. Watch the latest video at foxnews.com Following the drawing down of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, the Taliban quickly seized control of much of the country, eventually taking the capital Kabul last month and forcing the government to flee. In response to the unexpected speed at which the terrorist group retook the nation, tens of thousands of Americans, Afghan allies, and others desperately tried to leave the country. While the U.S. and its allies evacuated more than 123,000 people out of Afghanistan, it's believed that the majority of Afghan interpreters who are at risk of Taliban reprisal for helping the U.S. were left behind. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said that as many as 25,600 Afghans were being housed on U.S. military bases as of Friday. According to U.S. Air Force Gen. Glen VanHerck, about 1,000 Afghans have been resettled or relocated off military bases. When Afghans arrive in the U.S. at Dulles International Airport in Virginia or Philadelphia International Airport in Pennsylvania, they are transported to one of eight military bases across the country, including Fort McCoy in Wisconsin, Fort Bliss in Texas, Fort Lee in Virginia, and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey. Among the thousands who've already arrived in the U.S., some 10,000 were flagged for additional security screening, and of those 100 were flagged for "possible ties to the Taliban or terror groups," sources with knowledge of the evacuation process told NBC News. Two of those 100 were sent out of the country to Kosovo for an additional security review. Its also been reported that the State Department has sought urgent guidance from other government agencies after intake staff at Fort McCoy reported multiple cases of Afghan men being accompanied by multiple wives, many of whom are underage child brides, which is illegal in the U.S., The Associated Press reported. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Friday that the U.S. expects to admit at least 50,000 Afghans, and likely thousands more. Americans left behind in Afghanistan far exceed State Dept. claims: Senate report A new report from U.S. Senate Republicans estimates that the Biden administration left hundreds, if not thousands, of Americans behind in Afghanistan, casting doubt on the official statistics compiled by the U.S. State Department. The Republicans on the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, led by Ranking Member Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, released a report last week titled Left Behind: A Brief Assessment of the Biden Administrations Strategic Failures during the Afghanistan Evacuation. The report elaborated on the consequences of the Biden administrations withdrawal of the remaining U.S. troops from Afghanistan last summer, which followed nearly two decades of consistent military presence in the Central Asian country. On August 31, 2021, the United States concluded its military engagement in Afghanistan, a summary of the report states. The failure of senior Biden Administration leadership to plan for this fateful day resulted in a rushed evacuation of hundreds of thousands of Americans, third-country nationals, and Afghans. It left behind hundreds, possibly thousands, of American citizens, tens of thousands of Afghan partners, and a legacy of betrayal of American allies. The report states that from Aug. 15 until Aug. 31, the U.S. completed its largest air evacuation. But the Republicans contend that the evacuation was marred by a lack of planning, coordination, and communication. The United States failed to establish a clear system of how to contact evacuees and processes to allow them into the airport, the report reads. The result left Americans, U.S. legal permanent residents, and Afghan allies abandoned to the fate of the Taliban regime. Chapter 2 of the report focuses specifically on the impact of the Afghanistan withdrawal on the American citizens in Afghanistan. It noted that Secretary of State Antony Blinken had assured the House Foreign Relations Committee members last September that approximately 100-150 [American citizens] remained in Afghanistan who still wished to depart. The report suggests that the numbers presented to Congress by Blinken do not match the statistics previously shared by the State Department at the beginning and end of the evacuation effort. On August 17, 2021, and at the height of evacuation efforts, Senior State Department officials leading the evacuation task force indicated that there were 10,000 to 15,000 Americans in Afghanistan, according to the F-77 report. By August 31, when the president ordered an end to evacuation operations, State and DoD had evacuated approximately 6,000 American citizens, the report adds. Subtracting the 6,000 Americans who successfully evacuated from Afghanistan from either the 10,000 or 15,000 Americans in Afghanistan at the beginning of the evacuation effort means that between 4,000 and 9,000 American citizens remained in Afghanistan, far more than the estimate of 100-150 that Blinken provided to Congress. The State Department later increased the estimated number of Americans left behind in Afghanistan to approximately 200, a figure significantly smaller than the 4,000 to 9,000 Americans that the report suggests may remain. In August, President Joe Biden declared in a speech that 90% of Americans in Afghanistan who wanted to leave were able to leave. In a tweet announcing the report, Risch said that Americans share outrage over how the admin. withdrew, & what that failure has done to Americas reputation, even if they disagree with whether U.S. troops should have been pulled from Afghanistan. My report describes how the Biden Administrations failure of duty allowed for a quick Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and a botched withdrawal that left hundreds of Americans and tens of thousands of Afghan partners behind, Risch said in a statement. The United States will have to deal with the fallout of this failure for years to come, so it is imperative that we mitigate the strategic implications to ensure we do not repeat mistakes. The report claims that the National Security Council wasted 115 days and did not conduct its first senior meeting to discuss the withdrawal until August 14 at 3:30 pm, just hours before Kabul fell, when evacuations became life or death for Americans, Afghans, and U.S. military personnel. The Biden Administrations senior leaders have argued the disaster in Afghanistan was inevitable and there was nothing anyone could do about it, the report adds. These arguments are indeed true, but only because after squandering 115 days, events would control them, not the other way around. The report concludes that the Biden administration squandered precious time, ignored intelligence and recommendations from people on the ground, and refused bipartisan support to give them the resources to succeed. The White House pushed back on the report in a statement shared by The Hill. When we took office, we got to work rebuilding a refugee resettlement program that had been systematically dismantled, revitalizing an SIV program that had not even interviewed people in 300 days, and began contingency planning for any number of scenarios, a White House spokesperson was quoted as saying. It was due to that planning and other efforts that we were able to facilitate the evacuation of more than 120,000 Americans, legal permanent residents, vulnerable Afghans and other partners in a few short weeks. The spokesperson added that the administration had sped up Special Immigrant Visa processing and pre-positioned military assets ... ultimately allowed us to secure and operate Kabuls airport and facilitate over 120,000 departures by August 31, under extraordinarily challenging circumstances. The situation has deteriorated rapidly for those remaining in Afghanistan as the Taliban has taken control of the country. Christians residing in the country face adverse treatment from the Taliban. Open Doors USA, an advocacy group that monitors persecution of Christians in over 60 countries, has labeled Afghanistan the most dangerous place on the planet to be a Christian. Open Doors USA ranked Afghanistan at the top of its 2022 World Watch List, an annual report profiling countries where Christians face the most persecution. At a press conference announcing the 2022 World Watch List, Open Doors USA CEO David Curry detailed how the Taliban, which views Christians as infidels, subjects them to torture and even death. The insurgent group gained access to a list of Christians in Afghanistan, Open Doors stated. As a result, Christians who remain in the country are either on the run or in hiding. Another advocacy group dedicated to profiling and combating the persecution of Christians, International Christian Concern, listed the Taliban as one of its Persecutors of the Year in a report last year. ICC cited the Talibans resurgence following the Afghanistan withdrawal as s factor influencing its presence on the list. ICC President Jeff King spoke of the Taliban going door-to-door searching for Christians, whom they torture before giving a chance to turn back to Islam. Those who decline to convert are tortured further and then killed. The impact of the Afghanistan withdrawal also extends to domestic politics. In the days following the Afghanistan withdrawal, public opinion polling conducted by Rasmussen Reports revealed that most Americans (52%) wanted President Joe Biden to resign because of his handling of the situation. Six months after the withdrawal from Afghanistan, Biden continues to suffer from low approval ratings on the issue of foreign policy. According to the RealClearPolitics average of polls taken since the beginning of 2022, the president has a net disapproval rating of 16% on foreign policy, slightly lower than his overall net disapproval rating of 13%. The withdrawal from Afghanistan marked the time when Bidens approval ratings first began to go underwater after remaining consistently positive throughout the first seven months of his presidency. Oregon city sued by diocese over ordinance restricting church's homeless ministry An Episcopal diocese and a congregation have filed a lawsuit against an Oregon city over a new ordinance that limits their ministrys ability to feed the homeless amid complaints from neighbors. The Episcopal Diocese of Oregon and St. Timothys Episcopal Church filed the complaint against the city of Brookings last Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, Medford Division. At issue is the Brookings City Councils unanimous passing of Ordinance 21-O-795 last year requiring food providers to get a conditional use permit to operate in a residential zone. Even with the conditional use permit, which churches can apply for without a fee, St. Timothys would be limited to serving food to the needy for only two days per week. Plaintiffs now face the decision of whether to exercise their core religious beliefs or face enforcement action by the City. Plaintiffs intend to continue exercising their core religious beliefs and serving meals at St. Timothys four days per week, the lawsuit reads. Plaintiffs do not intend to restrict their religious exercise to two days or fewer per week because the community need is greater than serving meals only twice per week. The legal document alleges that the citys approach changed in April 2021 after the city council received a petition from local residents criticizing the congregation of vagrants or undesirables at St. Timothys. Rather than create or expand social services for Brookings residents in need, the City took steps to remove their last safety net, beginning a campaign to force St. Timothys to significantly reduce the services that it has offered on its premises for decades, the lawsuit maintains. The complaint accuses city officials of violating the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, which, among other things, protects religious groups from discriminatory zoning codes. The Rt. Rev. Diana Akiyama, bishop of the Oregon diocese, said in a statement that she believes the congregation is obeying the teachings of Jesus when they provide food and medical care to their community. As Christians, we are called by faith to feed the hungry and welcome the stranger. Providing hospitality to all who enter St. Timothys in search of help is integral to our beliefs, the bishop contends. Brookings City Manager Janelle Howard told Oregon Public Broadcasting that the new ordinance came in light of the April 2021 petition by residents who claimed to have been negatively impacted by the food ministry. They were looking for some relief because it was becoming an impact to their particular neighborhood, whether they mentioned trespassing, littering, noise, Howard said last October. They were asking for some kind of relief from the city. Howard argued that city officials had the authority to institute such restrictions on St. Timothys because it is located in a residential zone instead of a commercial zone. If they were in commercial zones, there would be no limitations to the frequency, or the hours, or the number of days a week, Howard said. In a statement, Rev. Bernie Lindley said that the church has been serving the community for decades, picking up the slack where the need exists and no one else is stepping in. He said the church has provided health clinics, food bank, vaccinations, showers, internet access and other services. He said the church grew its homeless feeding program when most other churches in the area suspended their free meal services during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the dioceses statement, St. Timothys has refused to apply for a permit with the city because it limits how often meals can be served. We have no intention of stopping now and were prepared to hold fast to our beliefs, Lindley said. We wont abandon the people of Brookings who need our help, even when were being threatened. The church and diocese are represented by Stoel Rives LLP and the Oregon Justice Resource Center. National Prayer Breakfast speaker warns Biden, lawmakers not to govern with 'fear and anger' The founder of a national criminal justice reform advocacy organization implored politicians gathered for the National Prayer Breakfast Thursday morning to embrace all of Gods children and not just the ones that they agree with as they seek to promote justice and mercy. As the keynote speaker, Bryan Stevenson, the founder and director of the Equal Justice Initiative, addressed President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and members of Congress attending the 70th annual National Prayer Breakfast at the National Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, D.C. This years National Prayer Breakfast is the first to take place as an in-person gathering since the coronavirus pandemic began nearly two years ago. Stevenson highlighted the need for people of faith to embrace one another, to affirm each others humanity, to affirm each others dignity. Stevenson emphasized that you dont just show Gods love by embracing those with whom you agree, adding we have to embrace all of Gods children. Whats missing when we try to do justice is our willingness to sometimes just be present with people who are struggling and suffering and to embrace them, to show Gods love in a meaningful way that affirms their humanity and dignity," he said. He warned that we wont be doing it effectively if we also dont talk about the narratives that create separation. Stevenson expressed concern about the narratives that are in our world right now. He cited fear and anger, maintaining that when people allow themselves to be governed by fear and anger, they start tolerating things they should never tolerate and start accepting things they should never accept. When introducing Stevenson, Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., noted that the advocate has dedicated his life to representing criminal defendants through the Equal Justice Initiative, which provides free legal services to the unjustly convicted. Thanks to his work, at least 125 Americans have been spared the death penalty, Coons said. Stevenson is the author of the book Just Mercy, which was later made into a movie. The activist also spearheaded the creation of the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, which opened in Montgomery, Alabama, in 2018. Coons said the memorial serves as a national monument to the terror of lynching as part of a broader effort at reconciling and repairing the harms of decades of domestic terrorism rooted in racism. Coons also mentioned that the Equal Justice Initiative opened the Legacy Museum in Montgomery last year, confronting the history of racial inequality from slavery to modern-day mass incarceration. Stevenson discussed the negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic and asked those in attendance: What does God require from us in this moment? He shared a quote from Micah, who declared that What God requires is that we do justice, that we love mercy and that we walk humbly. What I believe that doing justice requires is that we get proximate, get closer to those who are experiencing injustice, he declared. We cannot do justice if we are unwilling to go to the places where cruelty and oppression are manifest, where abuse of power is manifest, where suffering is manifest. Its in proximity to those who are excluded and neglected, those who are suffering, that we begin to hear things that we wont otherwise hear ... [and] see things that we wont otherwise see, he added. We have a shared humanity that compels us to stay close to one another. People of faith have a powerful role in modeling what it means to be proximate, to draw near. As people of faith, we cannot be separated. We cannot disconnect from those who suffer, he continued. He attributed the fact that the U.S. has the highest rate of incarceration in the world to narratives of fear and anger surrounding those who are addicted to drugs. Stevenson suggested that rather than view drug addicts as criminals, people should see them as people who have illnesses that we need to treat. He condemned all forms of violence for preventing people from doing justice and loving mercy. After detailing the examples of racial injustice experienced by his ancestors and African Americans as a whole in the U.S., Stevenson stressed that people of faith have a critical role to play in leading our nation, leading the world in truth-telling about the role of race and racism in American history. People of faith know that we can talk about these problems and challenges not because we seek punishment but because we seek liberation, he said. The world needs to see modeled that we have the courage of our convictions, the ability to actually talk honestly about our mistakes, he continued. Stevenson said that at his church, You cant come to church and say, I want salvation and redemption in Heaven but Im not going to admit to anything, Im not going to talk about the bad things. He believes that the pastors at his church would tell a person seeking salvation and redemption without repentance that they shouldnt fear that because it opens up the hearts and minds that lead to liberation. Stevenson implied that the same line of thinking applies to the need for the U.S. to acknowledge its past wrongs on race. He concluded his speech by stating that doing justice, loving mercy, walking humbly with God means that we have to do things that are uncomfortable; we have to do things that are challenging. Harvards method of discrimination is affront to individual dignity In a move that may finally put an end to race-conscious admissions, the Supreme Court accepted a petition to hear Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard on Jan 24. The case was filed by a group of Asian Americans who allege, with strong evidence, discrimination by the nations most prestigious school, for reasons related to ensuring a diverse racial mix in the composition of its student body. The Supreme Court will now begin debate on whether the value of racial diversity can truly trump the constitutional prerogative to not discriminate on the basis of race. In the case of Harvard, race is not simply used as a tiebreaker in admissions. A 2013 internal Harvard study revealed by the lawsuit showed that had Harvard only considered academics, Asians would make up 43% of Harvards student body. Adding legacy, athlete recruitment, extracurriculars, and a personal score lowered Asians to 26%. Finally, in the years the internal Harvard study looked at, Asians actually made up only 19% of the student body. Central to the case is Harvards especially distasteful method of discrimination: the creation of a personal score that, evidence shows, the school manipulates to give Asian applicants the lowest scores. Although this sort of discrimination avoids the blunt edges of explicit racial quotas, such as President Joe Bidens explicit insistence that he will nominate a black woman to the Supreme Court following Justice Stephen Breyers retirement, it is arguably crueler to those who fall under its exclusion. Harvards discrimination is discrimination via character assassination. For Harvard to suppress the vast quantity of qualified Asians (who make up 50% of the top SAT scores in the nation) from its admissions books, it questions their character and minimizes their accomplishments. Harvards admissions officers conveniently rate Asian Americans lowest in the personal score, having never met them, while similarly academically qualified black, Hispanic, and white students respectively score first, second, and third. What is the evidence Asians deserve this sort of treatment in the personality measurement? The objective evidence points to none. Asian Americans get the highest alumni interview scores, the highest teacher recommendation scores, and the second-highest counselor scores out of all the racial groups. There is simply no objective basis for Harvards attack on Asian American personalities. Instead, the admissions officers who make the final judgements on applicants disproportionately label Asians standard strong, which is another way of saying good but not good enough. When you get standard strong on your Harvard application, Its automatic you dont get in, says Duke professor Peter Arcidiacono, the expert witness for the plaintiffs who read and analyzed every Harvard application in the case. And Asian Americans get standard strong more often than any other race. The use of the personality score for nefarious purposes borrows from Harvards history. In 1922, Harvards President Abbott Lowell proposed capping Jewish enrollment at 15% of the student body. His proposal was widely criticized and eventually rejected by Harvards admissions committee, which opposed an explicit quota. Lowell responded by adding a non-academic character evaluation to the admissions process: To prevent a dangerous increase in the proportion of Jews, I know at present only one way which is at the same time straightforward and effective, and that is a selection by a personal estimate of character on the part of the Admission authorities, based upon the probable value to the candidate, to the college and to the community of his admission. He targeted Jews with low personal character scores, forcing Jewish Americans to the threshold he desired. Lowell explicitly invented the character evaluation for the sake of racial gatekeeping, and it remains in full force today. Although Harvard moved away from anti-Jewish discrimination, it retains the system and applies it to a new overrepresented racial group Asian Americans. Harvards blueprint of discrimination, if not checked by the U.S. Supreme Court, allows any actor with racially malicious intent to bury their discrimination underneath a fake character trait, while gaining full legal immunity in the process. Any lawyer will be able to point to Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard ruling to show that their discrimination is legal. The primary consequence of Harvards discrimination wont just be Asian American deprivation. It will be the penalization of hard work felt by Americas high-achieving students. Asian American success in education is no secret: They study twice as many hours as the average American and take more challenging courses than other racial groups. Harvards discrimination will teach children not to aspire to be like the highest-achieving kids in their class. Rather, students will get rewarded for playacting a certain victimhood category than they will by working hard and becoming academically competent. When the Supreme Court hears Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard this year, more will be on the line than just a few admissions spots. The strength of our commitment to the ideals of a colorblind meritocracy, where hard work and drive is rewarded irrespective of ones background, will be tested. Originally published at The Daily Signal. With all eyes on the Olympics, China threatens house churches The Olympics in Beijing are putting a spotlight on China's human rights abuses, and rightfully so. Religious freedom conditions are continuing to deteriorate in China. Things were so bad for one house church, that they fled together to South Korea. Now, that same group of Chinese Christians could be repatriated. This is the dangerous reality for the 60 members of the Shenzhen Holy Reformed Church, nicknamed the "Mayflower church." South Korea has chosen to deny these asylum-seekers, but they deserve a place in the land of the free and the home of the brave. In China, Pastor Pan Yongguang and his congregation faced increasing pressure. By 2014, authorities were often interrogating him multiple times a week, urging him to join the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-approved Three-Self Patriotic Movement. Yet, refusing to teach Party-approved doctrine, Pastor Pan resisted. Chinese authorities targeted the church for extra surveillance. Soon, the church-run elementary school was evicted. It was devastating for parents in the church who simply wanted to educate their children with a Christian worldview. Pastor Pan explained the situation to Radio Free Asia, saying, "Our church would educate our children about our religious beliefs, and the police would come along and force them to enroll in school so they could be brainwashed. They didn't want us to teach our children the Bible, and children are banned from attending church. This went against our faith and our consciences." The church held a vote in 2019, the majority choosing to leave the country together to start over in a place that would afford them religious freedom. They fled together to Jeju Island in South Korea and applied for asylum. Sadly, South Korea a country that accepts almost no refugees has denied their asylum applications multiple times. Members of the group have appealed the decision to the highest court and were again rejected. Now, they have less than 14 days to leave the country. Pastor Pan said, "I have been charged with subversion of state power, colluding with anti-China foreign forces and human trafficking. [That's because] I took these believers out of China, so now I'm suspected of trafficking or smuggling them. Just one of those charges would be enough to send me to jail for a very long time." Pastor Pan's friend, Pastor Wang Yi is currently serving a 9-year prison sentence for "subversion of state power" for his uncompromising and outspoken allegiance to God's Word. If he's forced to return to China, Pastor Pan could face something similar. The hopes of the Mayflower church members were modest. They wanted to educate their children as they thought best by incorporating biblical teachings and living peacefully with their families and attending their church. Yet, under the CCP, this is not guaranteed in China. The Mayflower church no longer feels safe in South Korea, and that is not an unreasonable fear. Church members have received repeated calls from someone claiming to be from the local Chinese consulate, trying to entice them to come to the consulate. Multiple church members who remained in China were arrested and threatened by Chinese State Security agents accusing the church members who fled to South Korea of committing "treason." Now, without legal status in South Korea, the congregants will be largely vulnerable without state protection. Chinese authorities can make the lives of people whose religious beliefs the government disapproves of very uncomfortable. I know from experience. Before the United States accepted me, I was a leader in a house church in China. I was forced to flee to Hong Kong before finally making it to America. This country has afforded me and my family the freedom and opportunity to flourish. Now, the Mayflower church needs the same refuge and generosity America has so often extended. Pastor Pan and the church members have expressed a desire to come to the United States. The United States is well-positioned to help them. Will the State Department step up? The Mayflower church has exhausted all options in South Korea. The State Department should admit Pastor Pan and his congregants as humanitarian parolees and offer them asylum in the United States. American churches and resettlement agencies are already prepared to help give this group a fresh start. The State Department's own annual religious freedom report details the CCP's brutal religious persecution. It's time for the U.S. government to act with that reality in mind and help this group of persecuted Christians while we have the chance. As the Olympics approach, Chinese Communist Party leaders are proving why it should not be treated just like any other country. What reasonable or just society places so much pressure on a church that the congregation flees together? Instead of puff pieces on impressive Chinese architecture or achievements, NBC and other media coverage should ask serious questions about the human rights situation in China and the ability of average Chinese citizens to practice their faith. The world needs to know. I know there is a group of Chinese believers in South Korea that would love to tell their story. Originally published at Family Research Council. Texas angler catches 9.5-foot tiger shark at Port Aransas Fisherman Michael Ploch caught the tiger shark on Thursday after an 'exhausting but exciting'... The highest-rated elderberry supplements you need to buy now Use this natural remedy to boost your immune response as COVID cases rise. In November 1918, Germany exploded into revolution. In the spring of 1919, the working class succeeded in seizing power and declaring a Bavarian Soviet Republic. In its short, heroic lifetime, the republic had to fight not only against open counter-revolution, but also against the results of its own inexperience. This article was first published in the theoretical magazine In Defence of Marxism. Get your copy of the latest issue here. In November of 1918, after years of bloodshed and misery during the so-called Great War, the German workers and soldiers had reached the limits of what they could take. An uprising by sailors in the northern port town of Kiel led to a generalised uprising that swept Germany. By 9 November, the masses had brought down the hated Kaiser, and German capitalism was shaken to its very core. The November Revolution was a fact. These events set the stage for the seizure of power by the workers of the southern state of Bavaria five months later. The revolution in Bavaria Days before the revolution seized Berlin, it rolled across Bavaria. The ruling class was already nervous. It was counting on the leaders of the SPD (Social Democratic Party of Germany) to restrain the working class. On 6 November, at a meeting of the last ministry appointed by the king of Bavaria, speaking on a planned demonstration that would spark the revolution, the Social Democratic deputy, Erhard Auer, had a confident message for the bourgeois ministers: Dont pay so much heed to [Kurt] Eisner: Eisner is done. You can count on it. We have a hold over our people. Im going to join the demonstration myself. Nothing at all will happen.[1] Events, however, would give Auer, the SPD and the ruling class a shock. The next day, the Bavarian monarchy was toppled, and Kurt Eisner the leader of the centrist USPD (Independent Social Democratic Party) became the first republican head of government in Bavaria. On 7 November, hundreds of thousands of people most of them workers responded to the calls of the SPD and the USPD to march on Munichs Theresienwiese for peace and freedom. A section of the assembled workers were led into the city behind a brass band, led by Auer himself. This march was largely symbolic, designed by the SPD leaders to diffuse the rising revolutionary mood, and accordingly, was dissolved shortly thereafter. Introducing the latest In Defence of Marxism magazine! With articles on: - The Austrian School of Economics: Capitalism's Free-Market Fanatics - The Young Lenin - Rosa Luxemburg and the Bolsheviks: Dispelling the Myths Click the Linktree in bio to subscribe! pic.twitter.com/WewAXjAezu Wellred Books (@WellredBooks) January 16, 2022 Another section of workers, however, were addressed by Eisner. Speaking to tens of thousands of workers, he demanded an immediate peace, an eight-hour workday, relief for unemployed workers, and the abdication of the Bavarian king, Ludwig III, and the German emperor, Kaiser Wilhelm II. He also called for the formation of workers and soldiers councils, before marching with a section of the crowd to the army barracks. The war-weary soldiers eagerly joined the movement en masse, and the workers armed themselves. Political prisoners were freed by the revolutionaries, and strategic points across the city were occupied. A workers and soldiers council was founded, and Eisner was elected chairman. Around this time, King Ludwig fled by night to his estate near Chiemsee. He abdicated a few days later. Within just a few hours, the revolution had put an end to the 738-year rule of the Wittelsbach dynasty over Bavaria. Across the whole of Germany, the old monarchy had been brought crashing down by the revolutionary movement of the masses. The question was: what would replace it? The answer was not entirely clear. The Russian Revolution in which the workers had taken power through the soviets (soviet being Russian word for council or committee) was an impressive example for the masses of Bavaria and all of Germany. The German workers also organised workers and soldiers councils (Arbeiter- und Soldatenrate), which were equivalent to their Russian counterparts. Indeed, whilst the regime of workers power later established in Bavaria is referred to in German as the Bayerische Raterepublik, in English it is translated as the Bavarian Soviet Republic. And that is indeed what the Arbeiterrate were: soviets. In Bavaria, to a greater extent than anywhere else in Germany, peasants councils were also formed. This was testament to the depth with which the revolution reached into Bavarian society, although it also owed much to the leadership of the two Gandorfer brothers, leaders of the left wing of the Bavarian Peasants Union (Bayerischer Bauernbund, BBB). By December 1918, there were already around 7,000 councils active in Bavaria, many of which were responsible for organising public life. At that time, momentum was clearly on the side of the masses. In Nuremberg, Augsburg, Rosenheim, Passau and Bayreuth, as in Munich, official buildings were occupied by revolutionary workers and soldiers. Political prisoners were freed. Only in Regensburg out of fear of the revolutionary masses did the mayor himself take the initiative of summoning to the town hall the representatives of the bourgeois parties, the social democracy and the trade unions in order to form a joint committee of order. Nevertheless, alongside these councils, the old state structures, which represented the interests of the bourgeoisie, remained intact. This was essentially a dual power situation, similar to the period following the February revolution in Russia 1917, where the organised power of the working class temporarily coexisted alongside that of the bourgeoisie. Such a situation could not last indefinitely. Sooner or later, one class would have to emerge victorious. The role of the SPD and USPD After the initial shock, the old elites the capitalists, aristocrats and generals in Bavaria, as in the rest of Germany, looked around and realised they had lost control of the situation. They could not clash head-on with the working masses at this point in time. They therefore had to rely first and foremost on the leaders of the SPD to ensure peace and order. The SPD was one of the two main working-class parties in Germany at this point with the other being the USPD (Independent Social Democratic Party), which had split from the former during the war. Before the war, the SPD had repeatedly promised to oppose any imperialist conflict. At the outbreak of war, however, it did an about turn and gave full support to the war aims of German imperialism. With the outbreak of the November Revolution, the SPD sought to consciously dampen down the revolution / Image: public domain As the war developed, the left-wing opposition to the official line grew. A section of the SPDs parliamentarians were forced by pressure from below into opposing the war from a pacifist stance. Expelled from the party, they formed the USPD in 1917. Although the workers that formed the ranks of the USPD were moving in a revolutionary direction, the leadership of the party vacillated constantly between reformism and revolution. With the outbreak of the November Revolution, the SPD sought to consciously dampen down the revolution. When the revolution arrived in Berlin, the SPD leader, Philipp Scheidemann, felt compelled to declare a republic, but he only did so in order to seize control over the leadership of the movement. In Bavaria, led by Erhard Auer and others, the SPD played the same role. The masses had entered the scene and neither the state apparatus nor the leaders of the social democracy could withstand them. The SPD leaders had lost much of their authority amongst the workers. On 8 November, the day after the revolution, Auer himself described in the Munchner Post how the leadership of the Social Democrats had not wanted a revolution, not even one directed against the monarchy: Under the pressure of the terrible distress of the German Fatherland, without our involvement, yesterdays rally turned into an act of political will that all parts of the population must now reckon with.[2] But the revolution was now an established fact. Workers and soldiers councils were being set up across the region and the bourgeoisie was on the back foot. The leadership of the SPD quickly changed its course and took on a pro-revolutionary guise. To do otherwise would have meant completely losing its influence over the working class. Instead, the SPD leaders attempted to wrest control of the newly formed councils into their own hands. On the whole, they initially met with success, particularly outside of Munich. In Munich itself, however, the workers and soldiers council known as the Revolutionary Workers Council (Revolutionarer Arbeiterrat, RAR), which formed the nucleus of the Munich workers council proved a hotbed of the left. Representing the Munich working class, the RAR became the most important council in Bavaria, and on this basis it issued a call for the formation of a central council of delegates from across the region. Eisner was formally elected as the leader of the RAR, and was pronounced the minister-president of the new republic. But he had no clear perspectives for revolution and constantly wavered under the contradictory pressures of the masses on the one side, and of the bourgeoisie on the other. The bourgeoisie was on its knees, but instead of striking it down, Eisner used his authority and that of the councils to protect it. As early as at the first session of the provisional National Council (consisting of a mixture of representatives of the workers and soldiers councils, members of the state parliament predominantly Social Democrats and trade union representatives), Eisner pushed through the election of certain Social Democrats as ministers in the transitional government. Auer, for instance, was made interior minister. Two bourgeois ministers were also brought into the government. These men were hated by the most-active layer of the working class owing to their role in the war. But ultimately, rather than leading the working class to power, Eisner was pinning his hopes on winning the old monarchist state bureaucracy over to supporting a bourgeois democratic republic. While giving certain concessions to alleviate the enormous pressures from below, the new government did everything it could to channel the revolution down a harmless path of bourgeois democracy. Five days after the uprising, the government tried to bring the formation of soldiers councils, which were springing up everywhere, under its control. New legislation granted the soldiers councils rights that went further than in other parts of Germany. The power of the officers was severely curtailed. Soldiers councils were given the right to remove certain non-commissioned officers, to request the removal of others, and to make their own recommendations for replacements. On the surface it seemed as though the revolution had thoroughly broken the officers power over their soldiers in Bavaria. But in the final analysis, by these measures, Eisners government reduced the soldiers councils, which held de facto power in their units, to advisory bodies. In the meantime, the power of the army top brass ultimately remained intact. In the end, Eisners programme was a dead-end for the revolution in Bavaria. He planned to create a living democracy of the masses, before establishing a formal democracy (i.e. convening a state parliament). This was a utopian attempt to reconcile the workers, soldiers and peasants councils with bourgeois parliamentarism. His position reflected the pressures he was under by the bourgeoisie on the one hand and the Munich workers organised in the councils on the other. In a meeting of the Council of Ministers, Eisner explained how, [...] even if the National Assembly does not turn out as we expect, parliament can no longer play the role it used to, as it is no longer possible to govern against the workers council in Munich, or else there will be a second revolution.[3] The Spartacist Uprising in Berlin in January 1919, which represented a desperate attempt from below to stop this betrayal, was brutally repressed and its leaders, Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht were murdered. This marked the end of the first wave of the German Revolution / Image: public domain Eisner stopped short of supporting real workers democracy that is to say, the establishment of a soviet state along the lines of the one in Russia. Ultimately, he was attempting to reconcile the interests of the working class and the bourgeoisie in a sort of power-sharing agreement a formalisation of the dual power situation that existed in Bavaria. But these two classes have irreconcilable interests, the rule of one precludes the rule of the other. Eisners idea of mediating between these two classes could only lead to demoralisation and disorientation amongst the workers, allowing the counter-revolution to regroup and strike back. Eisner was by no means a Marxist. The idea of an actual socialist revolution of the expropriation of large estates and large-scale industry was alien to him. Thus, during this period, economic and political power remained with the bourgeoisie, while the establishment of a living democracy remained a utopia. Nonetheless, Eisner stood to the left of the social democracy, which with the support of the bourgeoisie set out to promote parliamentary elections across Germany as a means of undermining and ultimately destroying the workers councils. However, social tensions were rising. After the armistice, tens of thousands of veterans were made homeless and mass unemployment was rife. Only a socialist revolution based on the councils could have solved the problems of the workers. But Eisner failed to break with the bourgeoisie, leading to widespread disappointment with his government among the workers. Across Germany, the first wave of the revolution ended in betrayal. The workers, having successfully defeated the ruling class, gave the power that they had won to their traditional party: the Social Democrats. The leaders of the latter, however, immediately returned that power to the bourgeoisie and, in collaboration with them, organised a bloody counter-revolution. The Spartacist Uprising in Berlin in January 1919, which represented a desperate attempt from below to stop this betrayal, was brutally repressed and its leaders, Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht were murdered. This marked the end of the first wave of the German Revolution. In Bavaria too, the mood was rapidly changing. Eisner finally buckled under the pressure of the bourgeoisie and the Social Democrats. He called an election to the state parliament for 12 January, under the direct impact of the suppression of the Spartacist Uprising that was finally put down on that same day. With Eisner and the USPD failing to take the lead, and no alternative party around, demoralisation set in. The elections resulted in a victory for the conservative BVP (Bayerische Volkspartei, Bavarian Peoples Party). As in 1912, it had emerged as the strongest party, but on a much-reduced vote. The SPD meanwhile won 33 percent, almost twice as many votes as it received in the 1912 state election. The USPD, on the other hand, received only 2.5 percent of the vote. This result also showed that the rural areas had hardly begun to feel the effects of the revolution up until that point, and that the consciousness of the masses lagged behind events, despite their tremendous victory over the old regime. In the countryside there was a particularly sharp class contradiction between farm labourers, poor farmers and large landowners. 230,000 of the poorest farmers cultivated a mere 170,000 hectares between them. The 584 largest estates, on the other hand, covered 100,000 hectares! The Eisner government didnt so much as pose the question of land reform, and it therefore failed to win the support of the rural poor. But the result also reflected the fact that a large layer of workers who had been awakened to political life for the first time by the revolution saw supporting the traditional workers party, the SPD, with its newfound left-wing rhetoric, as the easiest way to pursue their aims. The leaders of the much-smaller USPD, meanwhile, did not manage to pose as an alternative to the SPD, and the party therefore received a small fraction of the vote. Ultimately, the programme of the USPD was not decisively different from that of the SPD, and Eisner was unable to solve Bavarias social problems. As such, the class struggle continued to express itself within the SPD. Its members were inclined to draw revolutionary conclusions under the influence of the events. Its leaders, however, played a consciously counter-revolutionary role. The revolution flares up again Despite the fact that parliamentary elections had taken place, the pressure of the masses was still such that the state parliament couldnt actually convene for over a month. Events in Bavaria developed at a breakneck pace in those days and weeks. On 12 February, SPD Interior Minister Auer without warning the government issued a statement on the convening of the state parliament. This provoked a mass demonstration on 16 February, which assembled at the Theresienwiese in Munich. At the march the demand for a Soviet Republic was raised. The Anarchist, Erich Muhsam, described the protest: In front of the public buildings in Munich the red flags were raised, the same was the case for many private houses, where the march passed by. There may have been 15,000 participants. The KPD bloc alone formed a whole march. Several regiments of the Munich garrison formed closed formations. The heavily wounded were carried with it in carts. Many members of the council congress attended and various factories were represented by delegations. The Revolutionary Workers Council, as the main organiser, carried a huge revolutionary emblem in front and was greeted rapturously. But although Eisner drove at the head of this march, he did so against his own political convictions. He felt so out of place that he turned his car around halfway through, and waited with the ministers Unterleitner and Jaffe in the German Theatre for the delegation of the masses, the spokesperson of which, Landauer, submitted demands on behalf of the proletariat.[4] In the face of these events, Auer backed down and postponed the convening of parliament, while still working behind the scenes to undermine the councils. On 19 February, during the congress of the Bavarian councils, the SPD finally managed to push the congress of the councils to move its meeting place away from the parliament building, clearing the way for the inaugural meeting of the state parliament. Meanwhile, reactionary forces were getting impatient with Eisner and decided to take matters into their own hands. On 21 February 1919, Eisner was making his way to the inaugural session of the state parliament where he planned to announce his resignation. He never made it that far. Before reaching the state parliament building, a certain Lieutenant Count Arco-Valley shot him twice in the head from behind, killing him. Before the murder, his assassin wrote a note: Eisner is a Bolshevik, he is a Jew, he is not a German, he does not feel German, [he] undermines all patriotic thinking and feelings, [he] is a traitor.[5] Under the impact of Eisners murder, a new revolutionary mood swept through the Bavarian working class / Image: public domain The murder had been prepared in the bourgeois press by a disgusting campaign of smears that openly paraded the reactionary sentiments of the old nobility, officers and capitalists. For them, Eisner although he was by no means a Bolshevik represented a thorn in their side with his unclear stance on law and order, and his responsiveness to the pressure of the workers. As the bourgeoisie secretly rejoiced in his death, dismay and anger rippled through the Munich working class. A member of the left-wing RAR, a cook named Alois Lindner, stormed into the state parliament and shot at Auer, after the latter chose to convene a session of the state parliament session irrespective of the murder. In the turmoil that followed, an unidentified person shot and killed the Conservative MP, Osel. Members of the state parliament dispersed without having elected a government. Under the impact of Eisners murder, a new revolutionary mood swept through the Bavarian working class. A general strike immediately broke out, and the reactionaries, who had been much emboldened by the vacillations of the workers leaders found themselves completely paralysed. A regional congress of the workers and soldiers councils met on 25 February, and responded to these events by transferring legislative power to the central executive of the Bavarian councils (the Central Council of the Bavarian Republic), and decided to arm the working class. On 26 February, hundreds of thousands of workers accompanied Kurt Eisners funeral procession. On 1 March, the congress of councils proclaimed its own government. Events had reached boiling point, but the working class still fundamentally lacked a clear revolutionary leadership. The reformist and centrist leadership of the SPD and the USPD remained at the head of the workers. The Communist Party of Germany (KPD) had only just been founded. Its members were few and it had a weak base in the working class. Despite its inexperience and its shallow roots in the working class, the programme of the KPD of a Socialist Soviet Republic enjoyed tremendous, widespread support in Bavaria / Image: public domain Unlike the Russian Bolshevik Party, which had been formed as a Marxist cadre organisation over the course of a decade and a half prior to the Russian Revolution, the KPD was formed in the heat of the German Revolution. Although Rosa Luxemburg had developed an incisive critique of the SPD leadership before the First World War, the Spartacist League was only founded, by herself and others, after war had broken out. It remained a loose network of revolutionaries until the foundation of the Communist Party at the congress of 30 December 1918 to 1 January 1919. No sooner had the party emerged blinking into the daylight than its most outstanding leaders, Luxemburg and Liebknecht, were murdered in Berlin. Despite its inexperience and its shallow roots in the working class, the programme of the KPD of a Socialist Soviet Republic enjoyed tremendous, widespread support in Bavaria, as the mass demonstration against the opening of the state parliament on 16 February had shown. The Bavarian party chairman, Max Levien, was a popular, well recognised figure in the workers movement who chaired the Munich Soldiers Council. But this did not translate into a large membership or a strong organisation for the KPD. Karl Retzlaw, a 23-year old worker and KPD organiser from Berlin, describes a meeting with Levien, which vividly contrasts the mass audience that the partys ideas enjoyed against the diminutive size of the party itself: The meeting took place in one of the big beer halls in Munich. The room was tightly packed, with many sitting on chairs and tables, and standing in the hallways. I guess around 3,000 people must have been in the hall. Although there was one hour until the scheduled start time of the meeting, the room was frightfully crowded. The speakers table was raised on the podium, from which brass music blared into the hall. The podium was kept free by stewards. Max Levien appeared with a sizable entourage. As I would come to learn later, this entourage represented almost the entire Communist Party of Munich.[6] Even measured against the rest of the German party, the members and cadres of the Communist Party in Bavaria were very inexperienced. As such, the party made many mistakes. It boycotted the elections for the state parliament and the National Assembly. It also refused to conduct patient work in the trade unions, making it very difficult to establish a stable base in the working class, and to extend the partys reach. Neither was there any attempt to conduct a systematic struggle to gain a majority in the labour movement and the councils. Thus, while the party enjoyed widespread influence, it did not have the organisational strength to lead the working class when the crucial time came. This would later prove to have disastrous consequences. Instead of adopting patient methods, many members harboured illusions in the USPD and the anarchists. The systematic building of an independent party was simply neglected for a long time. The situation became so bad that the national KPD leadership decided to send a number of experienced cadres to Munich to help build the party. First and foremost among these was Eugen Levine, Retzlaw, who we have previously mentioned, and later Paul Frolich. A systematic build-up of party cells in the factories and barracks only began after they had arrived, in the middle of March 1919. Soviet Republic on order of the day The sharp shift to the left led to a crisis within the SPD. Following the assassination of Eisner, many party members resigned in disgust and were instead joining the USPD or the KPD. However, neither of these parties managed to decisively take on the leading role in the movement. Pressure from below was building on the SPD leadership, which responded by promoting leaders who at least in words had argued for soviet power. This was not a genuine swing to the left, but a manoeuvre to maintain the authority of the party so as to use it to hold back the revolution. The SPD leaders were bracing themselves with all their might to resist a second revolution. This was clearly illustrated by the fact that, although the congress of the councils had declared a new government, the SPD leaders made sure that that government never met. The SPD did not support it, even though an SPD member (Martin Segitz) had been proposed as its prime minister! It thus remained a government on paper only. Pressure from below was building on the SPD leadership, which responded by promoting leaders who at least in words had argued for soviet power / Image: public domain The bourgeoisie could not stabilise the situation either, despite all their attempts and the explicit support of the SPD. It wasnt until 17 March that the state parliament dared to convene once more, and Johannes Hoffmann (of the SPD) was elected prime minister. But his government had no real base of support in society, especially in Munich: the hotbed of the revolution. It did not even have at its disposal an armed force that it could rely on. But the bourgeoisie couldnt wait any longer. To get profits flowing again they needed peace and order. Under Phillip Scheidemann (of the SPD), the Federal Government had temporarily silenced the working class across Germany through the use of the right-wing Freikorps to massacre the workers. The bourgeoisie was therefore piling pressure on the Bavarian government to follow the rest of the country and bring about order in this unruly state. Under this pressure, the council of elders of the state parliament called a session on 8 April to finally enable the government to function. But for the organised working class, this was like a red rag to a bull. This move clearly communicated the direction that events were heading: towards the total liquidation of the revolution and its gains. As these events were unfolding in Bavaria, a Socialist Soviet Republic had been declared in Hungary on 2 March 1919. The idea of a new revolution to establish a Soviet Republic, based on the councils of the soldiers and workers, enjoyed growing support in Bavaria. The Social Democratic leaders could see quite clearly that another direct collision with the workers aspirations would likely sweep them away entirely, and control over the movement would slip out of their hands. A section of the party leadership decided therefore to ride the tiger in order to tame it. Resolutions in favour of the proclamation of a Soviet Republic were passed at a number of SPD events. In a meeting on the night of 4-5 April, in which the Central Council of the Bavarian Republic, the leaders of the USPD, the SPD, the BBB and some anarchists participated, it was decided to proclaim a Soviet Republic. Yet, to everyones surprise, the KPD representative, Eugen Levine, cast the only vote against its proclamation. His explanation is worth quoting at length: We Communists harbour the greatest mistrust against a Soviet Republic whose sponsors are the Social Democratic Ministers Schneppenhorst and Durr, who at all times fought the idea of councils with every possible means. We can only explain this as an attempt by the bankrupt leaders to join the masses through apparently revolutionary action, or as a deliberate provocation. We know from examples in northern Germany that the majority socialists [then common name for the SPD] often endeavoured to bring about premature action in order to stifle them all the more successfully. The whole of your approach calls for the greatest vigilance. A Soviet Republic is not being proclaimed by an armchair decision, it is the result of serious struggles by the proletariat and its victory. The Munich proletariat is still facing such struggles. We are preparing for [the Soviet Republic] and we have time. At the present time, the proclamation of a Soviet Republic is extremely unfavourable. The masses in northern and central Germany are defeated and are only now regathering their strength for new battles, and Bavaria is not an economically independent area that could hold on independently for a long time. After the first rush, the following would happen: the majority socialists would withdraw under the first good pretext and consciously betray the proletariat. The USPD would join in, then give way, begin to vacillate, negotiate, and thereby become unconscious traitors. And we Communists would pay for your deeds with the blood of our best.[7] This prediction was tragically confirmed in every detail, as we will see. The real motive of the SPD leaders in calling for the establishment of a Soviet Republic was to push the Munich workers to a premature uprising, in order to separate the most-advanced layers of the working class from the broader mass of workers and peasants. In this way, they were preparing the ground politically for the mobilisation of the counter-revolution. This is exactly what had happened in Berlin: the advanced layers of the working class were pushed into an uprising, without the masses nationally being convinced of its necessity, and they were dealt a bloody defeat. The SPD leaders were now looking to Berlin as their model in order to defeat the Bavarian working class. According to various witnesses, for example, the Bavarian Minister of War, Schneppenhorst from the SPD, argued extremely vigorously for the proclamation of the Soviet Republic. Before it was proclaimed, and the old government declared deposed, he even argued for a delay of a couple of days in order to win over other cities to the idea! He then left Munich for northern Bavaria in order, according to his own statement, to promote the idea of a council republic. In reality, he immediately joined the Hoffmann government, which had fled Munich to Bamberg and had begun to rally counter-revolutionary troops (the whites), and quasi-fascist Freikorps. The pseudo-Soviet Republic The so-called soviet government was finally proclaimed on 6 April and was greeted enthusiastically by workers all over Bavaria. By 8 April, in a wave of initial enthusiasm, almost all of the larger councils of southern Bavaria and the large cities with the exception of Nuremberg had joined it. But as early as 9 April, this process began to unravel. In some cities, such as Ingolstadt and Wurzburg, counter-revolutionary soldiers and students overthrew the rule of the councils with the support of the bourgeoisie. Meanwhile, the SPD leaders who had so forcefully been pushing the left organisations in Munich to declare a Soviet Republic, now made an about-turn and called for a defence of parliament and the official government. In many councils this new, openly counter-revolutionary position of the SPD leadership meant that the majority in favour of a Soviet Republic was overturned. This sharpened the contradiction between the SPD leadership and the partys rank and file. In the confusion, the SPD government and the reactionaries managed to hold on to power in important cities, especially in the north of Bavaria. USPD leader, Ernst Toller, played a lamentable role in the last days of the Bavarian Soviet Republic / Image: public domain After the SPD leaders in Munich fled or simply folded their arms, an array of accidental characters remained in the leadership of the soviet government. These included anarchists like Erich Muhsam and Gustav Landauer. These were coffeehouse literary figures and adventurers, and nothing more. They had no base of support in the working class. They did however harbour a never-ending reservoir of completely utopian and romantic notions. Paul Frolich (KPD), who would later write a book on the events of the Soviet Republic, described these characters thus: The gentlemen who participated in the conspiracy voted for each other. Political experience was not considered. So, a selection of fragile characters and unclear minds came about.[8] The Peoples Deputy for External Affairs, Lipp, who was even elected as chairman of the Executive Council (and therefore the government) at Muhsams suggestion, but whom nobody knew, turned out to be mentally ill. After trying, among other things, to declare war on Wurttemberg and Switzerland for their refusal to lend trains to Bavaria, he was deposed and admitted to a mental hospital. The USPD, as Levine had foreseen, was gripped by paralysis. After Eisners assassination, the pacifist Ernst Toller had become its chairman. He had only a few months of political experience and yet he took up the leadership of the central council and of the government. Under his leadership, precisely nothing happened. Instead of constructing the new social order, 7 April was declared a national holiday. Instead of mobilising and arming the working class to occupy the central points of traffic and communication, to organise the defence of the republic, to ensure the supply of all the necessities of life and socialise the large scale industries on 7 April, these gentlemen socialised the university! Frolich writes: A purple-red poster was emblazoned on the street corners: Dictatorship of the proletariat! The bourgeoisie was brought down through a poster. The working class had been lifted into the saddle without having done the slightest thing, through a romance of political adventurers. The dictatorship of the proletariat consisted of only one thing: it was given a holiday.[9] The working class looked warmly towards this new Soviet Republic. But in practice it had not taken the reins of society into its own hands following the armchair proclamation of the new regime. Meanwhile, bourgeois propaganda disseminated horror stories about the situation in Munich, especially among the peasants, who at that time made up almost 40 percent of Bavarias population. A whole series of peasants councils, which were increasingly dominated by rich farmers, and thus came under the influence of the right wing of the BBB, announced a food ban on Munich, exacerbating the dire food situation. The Soviet Republic was in serious danger. Not until 10 April did the soviet government begin arming the workers, and even then, it was only able to find 600 rifles in total. It issued a decree that asked the counter-revolutionary bourgeoisie to hand over its weapons. But without the instruments of power to enforce such a decree, the results were pathetic. The Palm Sunday coup The counter-revolution was now gaining in confidence. The paralysis, lasting days on end, led the counter-revolution to conclude that a single, firm blow would be all that was needed to bring down the new Soviet Republic. After consulting the SPD leaders in Munich, Alfred Seyffertitz, commander of the counter-revolutionary Republican Protection Force, which still operated unchecked in the city, travelled to Bamberg. There, he received the permission of prime minister-in-exile, Hoffmann to overthrow the soviet government. The coup was launched on the morning of Palm Sunday, 13 April 1919. Posters appeared in the name of the whole garrison of Munich, declaring that the central council was deposed. The Republican Protection Force occupied the premises of the central council and arrested a number of the leaders of the Soviet Republic, among them Erich Muhsam, who were transported out of Munich. With the spectre of counter-revolutionary terror looming large, the masses began to mobilise, and they were prepared to fight / Image: public domain The KPD had initially rejected the drawing board proclamation of a Soviet Republic. In this, it was correct. Taking power was an adventure that had strengthened the counter-revolution. The real, necessary course of action was to firstly win over the broader masses, in particular the peasants. Now, however, the Soviet Republic was a fact, and it was supported by vast layers of the working class. A defeat of the Soviet Republic would mean a defeat of the revolution, and the working class realised this. Nevertheless, the KPD was vacillating in the face of counter-revolution. With the bloody experience of the failed Spartacus Uprising and the murders of Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg still fresh in the minds of party members, the leadership was contemplating conceding defeat. Paul Frolich reports that the party leadership at first discussed whether or not to [recognise] the shift [ie. the coup - ed] as a consummated fact, which the actions of the party had to adapt to.[10] But on the ground, the mood was completely different. Even before the coup attempt, enormous pressure had mounted in the factories and the barracks for the young KPD to join the soviet government and even to take it over completely. Now, with the spectre of counter-revolutionary terror looming large, the masses began to mobilise, and they were prepared to fight. The KPD leaders were completely taken by surprise by this resurgence of the revolution. Retzlaw reported that a revolutionary elan that surprised us has now shown itself. Not only our party members, but thousands of workers have made themselves available for the struggle. Meanwhile, in the city there were armed confrontations with white troops everywhere.[11] The KPD knew that the original proclamation of the Soviet Republic had been half adventure, half provocation. But now that it was an established fact and the workers faced with open counter-revolution were mobilising to defend it, the party could not stand aside. The party therefore called for the establishment of armed workers units. Many soldiers also joined them, increasing the pressure on the counter-revolutionary troops, who withdrew to the main station of Munich. Eventually, the station was stormed and Seyffertitz, along with other counter-revolutionaries, escaped being killed or captured after fleeing by train. Despite the many mistakes and miscalculations of its leadership, and the resources at the hands of the counter-revolution, the Munich workers easily defeated the bourgeois counter-revolution and placed power in the hands of the Communist Party. The KPD in power On 13 April, a congress of workers and soldiers councils declared the old central council dissolved. A new, 15-person action committee was formed as a new government. The new government was composed of members of the SPD, USPD and the KPD, but it was firmly under the control of the Communists, with Levine at its head. The programme of the new soviet government was indeed a programme of complete social revolution. The Red Army of Bavaria was established around the core of revolutionary troops that defeated the coup. It was led by the 24-year-old sailor, Rudolf Egelhofer. The banks were to be placed under state control. Cash withdrawals were only allowed with a permit from the workers councils. In the case of sums over 1200 Mk, the permission of the Peoples Commissar of Finance was even required. Public administration was placed under the control of the workers councils, which could dismiss officials who worked against soviet power. To secure supplies, large quantities of foodstuffs were confiscated from speculators. Plans were put in place for the factory councils to control production. For the first time in history, the workers of Munich and its environs were masters of their own destiny. The Red Army of Bavaria was established around the core of revolutionary troops that defeated the coup / Image: Bundesarchiv, Wikimedia Commons The victory against the counter-revolution had given the most-active layers of the working class an enormous boost of confidence, and had clarified the situation. The illusions many workers had harboured in the role of the SPD leaders evaporated and the Munich workers were moving sharply to the left. However, elsewhere, the objective conditions were not so good. The Soviet Republic was isolated in the south of Bavaria around Munich, and counter-revolutionary troops were marching against it. The soviet government immediately began building up a determined defence, despite the unfavourable conditions. 20,000 rifles were delivered to the factories, where red guards were formed. A Red Army was established, consisting of revolutionary soldiers and volunteers. It was imbued with an internationalist spirit. Russian and Italian prisoners of war joined, as did many Austrians. The bourgeoisie and counter-revolutionaries were disarmed. But new threats kept arising. Retzlaw reports: The barracks were still full of soldiers, who were demobilised, but who did not want to return home. We learned that they were talked into staying by their officers. They were paid from Berlin and uncontrollable sources. [...] Daily we had to count on a coup by some parts of the troops. For this reason, we appealed to the workers to meet daily in the big halls of Munich and also in the open. As such, the workers were always ready to intervene and the counterrevolutionary officers didnt dare attempt a coup.[12] To mobilise the workers and to organise defences, a 10-day general strike was declared. But this decision completely stalled the economy of the Soviet Republic, exposing the shaky basis upon which it rested. Greetings from Lenin News of the workers conquest of power generated enthusiasm around the world. Far beyond the borders of Bavaria, the declaration of another Soviet Republic alongside the Russian and Hungarian republics was greeted as a further step along the path of international socialist revolution, which at this time seemed unstoppable. The declaration of the Bavarian Soviet Republic was greeted as a further step along the path of international socialist revolution, which at this time seemed unstoppable / Image: public domain The KPD hoped that word of the establishment of a Soviet Republic in Bavaria would revive the workers will to fight in the rest of Germany. The news also reached Soviet Russia, to whom Levine had sent revolutionary greetings. At that time, the Russian civil war was in a critical phase and the young soviet power was threatened with destruction. Nonetheless, Lenin, who had himself lived in Munich for two years at the beginning of the 20th Century, found time to reply. His message to Levine is worth quoting in full: Message Of Greetings To The Bavarian Soviet Republic, We thank you for your message of greetings, and on our part wholeheartedly greet the Soviet Republic of Bavaria. We ask you insistently to give us more frequent, definite information on the following. What measures have you taken to fight the bourgeois executioners, the Scheidemanns and Co.; have councils of workers and servants been formed in the different sections of the city; have the workers been armed; have the bourgeoisie been disarmed; has use been made of the stocks of clothing and other items for immediate and extensive aid to the workers, and especially to the farm labourers and small peasants; have the capitalist factories and wealth in Munich and the capitalist farms in its environs been confiscated; have mortgage and rent payments by small peasants been cancelled; have the wages of farm labourers and unskilled workers been doubled or trebled; have all paper stocks and all printing-presses been confiscated so as to enable popular leaflets and newspapers to be printed for the masses; has the six-hour working day with two or three-hour instruction in state administration been introduced; have the bourgeoisie in Munich been made to give up surplus housing so that workers may be immediately moved into comfortable flats; have you taken over all the banks; have you taken hostages from the ranks of the bourgeoisie; have you introduced higher rations for the workers than for the bourgeoisie; have all the workers been mobilised for defence and for ideological propaganda in the neighbouring villages? The most urgent and most extensive implementation of these and similar measures, coupled with the initiative of workers, farm labourers and acting apart from them small peasants councils, should strengthen your position. An emergency tax must be levied on the bourgeoisie, and an actual improvement affected in the condition of the workers, farm labourers and small peasants at once and at all costs. With sincere greetings and wishes of success. Lenin[13] Despite the lightning speed of events and the partial information that Lenin had access to, these lines are a testament to his sharp understanding of the tasks of the Soviet Republic and the weaknesses of its measures. Indeed, the question of land was never resolved by the Soviet Republic. Lenin was fully aware that, in the wake of defeats in the rest of Germany, the situation of the Bavarian Soviet Republic was extremely dangerous. In his message, he therefore sought to outline, as best he could, how the revolution might nevertheless succeed. His message didnt reach Munich until 27 April, by which time defeat was sealed. What this short document represents is a blueprint for how a revolution might succeed despite the most difficult of circumstances. Lenins proposals are in sharp contrast to the behaviour of the Stalinists, who would later argue, in the midst of the Spanish Civil War, for the scrapping of the social demands of the peasants and workers so as to forge an alliance with the progressive bourgeoisie. On the contrary, the Soviet Republic could only succeed if it implemented radical measures to improve living standards, which could awaken the poorest and unorganised layers of the working class and peasantry in the whole region. Such measures were vital in order to give them something worth fighting for, spurring them into action. Without any illusions in the intentions of the capitalists, who planned to drown the Soviet Republic in blood, the revolution had to advance determinedly and ruthlessly against reaction. Counter-revolution After the triumph over the Palm Sunday coup, the Soviet Republic had secured a few important victories against the government of Hoffmann, which tried to break the power of the working class through military force. It quickly became apparent that it was impossible to effectively use the regular Bavarian army against the revolution. On 15 April, in the town of Freising for instance, 1,200 soldiers of the First Rifleman Battalion decided to hand over their weapons and move to Regensburg after discussions with the revolutionaries. The officers had no choice but to obey the will of the soldiers. Even in the first physical clashes, the Red Army was victorious. On 15 April, it drove the whites out of the Allach and Karlsfeld districts in the north of Munich. On 16 April, the Red Army forced the White Guard to completely retreat from Dachau, where one day earlier, workers from the gunpowder factory had taken hundreds of white soldiers by surprise and disarmed them. After their initial setbacks, and with the revolution failing to gain decisive support beyond Munich, the roles had changed and the counter-offensive began / Image: Bundesarchiv, Wikimedia Commons These initial victories however, quickly passed, and the revolutionaries failed to take advantage of them. The USPD chairman, Ernst Toller, who had recently been deposed from the government, played a lamentable role. Now in command of the Red Army troops at Dachau, he pushed for negotiations instead of pursuing the whites, who were on the back foot. This wasnt the last time that he would play such a miserable role. His actions allowed Hoffmanns government to catch its breath and prepare a counter-strike. After their initial setbacks, and with the revolution failing to gain decisive support beyond Munich, the roles had changed and the counter-offensive began. Unlike the Red Army, Hoffmanns forces were battle-hardened counter-revolutionary troops without any illusions in negotiations. First among them were the Freikorps drawn from all over Germany. The latter were veterans of counter-revolution, having already drowned various workers revolts in blood across northern and central Germany. The most infamous of these murderous bands was the Marine-Brigade Erhardt, which later gained notoriety as the principal pillar of Wolfgang Kapps coup attempt in 1920, the so-called Kapp Putsch. The Bavarian capitalists invested heavily in this blood-drenched defence of their wealth. The High Command of the Armed Forces in Bavaria, Arnold Ritter von Mohl, wrote to Hoffmann: Circles of bankers transferred 690,000 Mk to the army high command provisioned for the troops.[14] With these resources, the Hoffman government was able to mobilise approximately 60,000 armed men, who were now advancing fast. On 20 April, Augsburg was conquered by the whites. However, in the suburbs, bitter resistance continued for three more days. Augsburg had not initially joined the Soviet Republic, nevertheless the workers there were not prepared to accept the unconditional surrender and disarmament negotiated by the USPD City Commander with the Freikorps. The end of the Soviet Republic The situation worsened by the hour. Defeat was now just a matter of time. The KPD consisted of the most determined revolutionaries, but it was still only a few months old. In reality, it had not led the working class to power, rather it was pushed to take power by the advanced layers of the working class. It did not have the necessary cadres to lead the struggle on the ground and had to lean on inexperienced communists or completely opportunist elements such as Ernst Toller. Furthermore, it was not a tried-and-tested party with deep roots amongst the workers. This gave the final days of the soviet government a very chaotic character. The reactionaries calculated that the time had come for the counter-revolution to exact its brutal revenge against the workers / Image: Bundesarchiv, Wikimedia Commons Although many workers wanted to fight until the bitter end, more vacillating elements hoped that they might be able to reach a compromise with the whites. It was under these circumstances that Toller once more got the upper hand. He had already been working away behind the scenes to sabotage the KPD government, in an attempt to reverse his deposition from the head of the soviet. On the basis of raising hopes for a negotiated solution, he successfully rallied most of the workers councils behind him on 27 April and expelled the communists from power. The hopes of the workers quickly evaporated. The cry for negotiations had completely disarmed the working class in the face of the advancing whites. Hoffmann had no interest, therefore, in actually engaging in negotiations. The reactionaries calculated that the time had come for the counter-revolution to exact its brutal revenge against the workers. They wanted, once and for all, to banish the last thought of revolution from the minds of the workers. With the Communists driven out of the government, the Soviet Republics most-determined defenders were gone, and the new government planned to cease all resistance. On 1 May, Munich was completely surrounded, and on 2 May, completely conquered. The last town to fall was Kolbermoor in the district of Rosenheim (Upper Bavaria) on 3 May. The horrors of the counter-revolution now raged with full force. Revolutionaries were hunted down and mercilessly killed. According to official statements, 38 government soldiers and 93 members of the Red Army died in the clashes. But various other sources reported that the reactionary troops murdered up to 2,000 workers and Red Army soldiers. In the statistics, these deaths appear either as summary executions, fatal accidents, or not at all. For instance, 21 members of a Catholic Journeymans Association were captured while planning a theatre performance. They were tortured and some were beaten to death. The lucky ones were shot. Amongst many other victims, the sailor Rudolf Egelhofer, commander of the Red Army, and Kurt Landauer, were also murdered. Eugene Levine was also captured and put on trial. Levine knew his time was up and defiant speech from the stand: We Communists are all but dead men on leave. Of this I am fully aware. I do not know whether you will extend my leave or whether I shall have to join Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg. In any case I await your verdict with composure and inner serenity. For I know that, whatever your verdict, events cannot be stopped And yet I know, sooner or later, other judges will sit in this hall and then those will be punished for high treason, [those] who have transgressed against the dictatorship of the proletariat. Pronounce your verdict if you deem it proper. I have only striven to foil your attempt to stain my political activity, the name of the Soviet Republic with which I feel myself so closely bound up, and the good name of the workers of Munich. They and I together with them we have all of us tried to the best of our knowledge and conscience to do our duty towards the International, the Communist World Revolution.[15] A few days later, he was sentenced to death and executed, a decision sanctioned by the SPD government of Bavaria. Max Levien was able to flee to Austria, where the government, headed by the social democrat Renner, decided to lock him up for over a year, contemplating the question of sending him back to Bavaria, where he would most likely have shared the fate of Levine. In the end he was released and emigrated to the Soviet Union. There, in 1937, he fell victim to Stalins bloody purges. One of the leaders of the Bavarian Soviet Republic was shot for Membership of an anti-Soviet terrorist organisation. The tragic irony of this would certainly have been lost on Stalins butchers. After the defeat, it didnt take long for open reaction to take power in Bavaria. In 1920, Gustav Ritter von Kahr became prime minister, ruling Bavaria as a quasi-military dictatorship. Fascist gangs were allowed to develop and roam freely as demonstrated by Hitlers failed coup attempt in 1923. But although the working class was defeated, the revolutionary traditions and memories of these mighty events lived on. The Bavarian workers had fought and lost, but during these battles, they had learned valuable lessons and continued to participate in the revolutionary events developing in Germany in the years to come. In 1871, Karl Marx described how the workers of Paris had stormed heaven when they established the Commune and held power for several weeks. It might at first seem fitting to compare the experience of the Bavarian Soviet Republic to the events of the Paris Commune. Both were heroic, but ultimately unsuccessful attempts to carry out a proletarian revolution. Up to 2.000 revolutionaries were hunted down and mercilessly killed / Image: Bundesarchiv, Wikimedia Commons But between 1871 and 1919, much had changed. The working class of Europe was not the same as it once was. Paris in 1871 was regarded as the most revolutionary city on earth. Bavaria in 1919 was regarded as one of the most conservative regions of Germany, as it continues to be regarded to this day. Far from being isolated to one town, the Bavarian Soviet Republic was one inspiring episode in the epic struggle of the enormously strengthened German, European and world proletariat. In short, the working class was far stronger than it had been 50 years prior. Under these circumstances, even a small and very young Marxist organisation like the KPD was able to play a mighty role. That being said, in the end, the tasks posed by history were beyond its small forces. The most important lesson of the Bavarian Soviet Republic and of the whole German Revolution is that a vanguard party capable of leading the working class to the seizure of power cannot be formed in the heat of battle. It must be patiently built before the revolution begins. When the German Communist Party was formed in December 1918, it had before it the fresh experience of the most momentous event in human history: the Russian Revolution. Tragically, its young and inexperienced cadres lacked the time to absorb the profound lessons of those mighty events before they themselves were thrust into the whirlwind of the German Revolution. It is our duty to that generation of revolutionaries that we study and learn, from their victories as well as from their mistakes, and that we build in time the revolutionary party capable of leading the working class to the seizure of power and the socialist reconstruction of society / Image: public domain A century on, a new epoch of world revolution is being prepared. A new generation, unburdened by the defeats of the past, is coming to the fore and is taking the road of struggle. The unparalleled strength of the working class means that, unlike in the 1920s, the ruling class will not be able to quickly deal a swift and deadly blow against the workers movement. We therefore have a certain amount of time to prepare. We must use it wisely. In the time that we have before us, it is imperative that we build a steeled, Marxist organisation, with roots in the working class. In building such an organisation we have before us a wealth of lessons, bestowed upon us by the sacrifices of class fighters of past generations: of the Russian Revolution, of the German Revolution, and of the Bavarian Soviet Republic. Today, the heroic memory of the Bavarian Soviet Republic is conserved as part of the precious heritage of the working class by the Marxist tendency. It is our duty to that generation of revolutionaries that we study and learn, from their victories as well as from their mistakes, and that we build in time the revolutionary party capable of leading the working class to the seizure of power and the socialist reconstruction of society. Notes [1] Hans Beyer, Die Revolution in Bayern 1918/1919, (Berlin: Deutscher Verlag der Wissenschaften, 1988), pg 14. [2] Ibid., pg 17. [3] Ibid., pg 34. [4] Erich Muhsam, Von Eisner bis Levine. Die Enstehung der bayerischen Raterepublik, (Berlin: Hofenburg, 2013). [5] Ralf Holler, Der Jude Eisner, Zeit, February 6, 2019. [6] Karl Retzlaw, Spartakus: Aufstieg und Niedergang, Erinnerung eines Parteiarbeiters, (Frankfurt: Verlag Neue Kritik, 1976), pg 130. [7] Beyer, Die Revolution in Bayern, pg 75. [8] Paul Frolich, Die Bayerische Raterepublik: Tatsachen und Kritik, (Leipzig: Franke, 1919), pg 19. [9] Ibid., pg 22. [10] Ibid., pg 31. [11] Retzlaw, Spartakus, pg 141. [12] Ibid., pg 147. [13] Vladimir Lenin, Message Of Greetings To The Bavarian Soviet Republic, April 27, 1919, Marxist Internet Archive, Accessed June 3, 2021. [14] Beyer, Die Revolution in Bayern, pg 131. [15] Rosa Levine-Meyer, The Life of a Revolutionary, (London: Saxon House, 1973), pg 217-8. 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I am proud that Merck Foundation has successfully able to increase the limited number of Oncologist in Africa by providing Oncology specialty training to more than young 90 doctors from 25 African Countries, Dr. Rasha Kelej added Launched in 2016, the Merck Foundation Cancer Access Program provides One, two- and three-years fellowship, diploma and master degree for African doctors from 25 African countries. The clinical training is conducted in India, Egypt and Kenya. Moreover, Merck Foundation also recently started to provide scholarships for 2 years online PG Diploma in Cancer and Clinical Oncology from one of the reputed Universities of the UK. We are striving to form Multidisciplinary Oncology Care teams in many countries by providing training in Medical Oncology, Surgery Oncology, Pediatrics Oncology, Gynecology Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Oncology Nursing, Oncopathology, and Radiology Technician training. We are proud that we are making history in Africa through training the first oncologists and first cancer care teams in many countries such as; The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Burundi, Liberia, Guinea Conakry, Central African Republic, Chad, and Niger. Merck Foundation is committed to leading Africa to a better future through transforming the landscape of Cancer care in the continent, explained Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej. The First Lady of The Gambia, H.E. Mrs. FATOUMATTA BAH-BARROW emphasized, Merck Foundation is training the first-ever oncologists from our country. Having our own cancer specialists is very big for us and this has changed the cancer care sector in the country. I appreciate the efforts of Merck Foundation and deeply value our partnership with them. Merck Foundation through its Merck Foundation Cancer Access Program has till date provided training for 90 Oncologists from 25 countries which are: Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, CAR, Chad, DRC, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinee, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. Merck Foundation through its Merck Foundation Cancer Access Program has till date provided training for 90 Oncologists from 25 countries which are: Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, CAR, Chad, DRC, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinee, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires On Monday, the mayor will be officially be welcoming and introducing the new Interim City Manager Samuel Keith Selman and new City Transit Director Robert J. Garza during a city council meeting. Monday will mark the first official city council meeting of the new year for Selman, as Tuesdays special called meeting was canceled due to a lack of legal counsel. However, Selman is slated to appoint an interim city attorney during the meeting. Former Laredo City Attorney Dean Roggio resigned his position Jan. 20 following just three months on the job. As the former interim city manager for Corpus Christi, Selman is contracted for the next 10 months as a consultant, and Laredos interim city manager and has said he looks forward to providing consistency for the city directors throughout his tenure. During the meeting following former city manager Robert Eads resignation, Selman was contacted by city staff to ask if he would be interested in the consulting position. While he accepted, the position of city attorney remained vacant. The very reasoning for my request to the mayor to not have this meeting and look at having these on our next agenda was because I do need to seek legal counsel on some of the items that are on this agenda, and I wanted to provide that legal counsel to this city council, Selman said during the Jan. 31 meeting. He will also be appointed to the Laredo Economic Development Corporation Board. As for transit, Garza will overlook the Laredo transit system, El Metro. Some responsibilities he would overlook would be employee policies, practices and procedures for both drivers and riders. El Metros Mission is to promote and provide high-quality, cost-effective public transportation services that address the needs and demands of the citizens of Laredo, Texas, their website states. Furthermore, starting this Tuesday, the city is in a contract with the Hendrickson Transportation Group to administer the operation duties of El Metro, Laredo Transit Management Inc. The fleet itself has over 47 fixed-route buses, one trolley and 15 demand-response El Lift vans. cocampo@lmtonline.com HARRISBURG, Pa. Pennsylvanias state Supreme Court will consider a new map of congressional districts recommended Monday by a lower court judge who picked a proposal favored by top Republican lawmakers but opposed by Democrats in a presidential battleground state. The map recommended by Commonwealth Court Judge Patricia McCullough, a Republican, came from a pool of more than a dozen submitted to the court and sides with Republicans on prominent areas of disagreement between partisans. Advertisement The map passed the Republican-controlled Legislature last month without support from a single Democratic lawmaker. Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, vetoed it. Democrats view it as a partisan map, producing 10 Republican seats, and maybe up to 12, in a state where Pennsylvanias delegation is currently split evenly, nine Democrats and nine Republicans, and registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by 4 million to 3.4 million. Advertisement [ Pennsylvanias new House and Senate maps get final approval. See which districts you are in ] A political scientist who testified on the plan for Republicans projected that it had nine Democratic-leaning districts and eight GOP-leaning districts based on all statewide election results from 2012-20. The question of redrawing the states congressional districts has gone to the courts after Wolf and the Republican-controlled Legislature deadlocked. McCullough held three days of hearings on proposals and had a choice of maps submitted by Republican lawmakers, Wolf, Democratic lawmakers, partisans on both sides and good-government groups. It is strictly a recommendation on which the state Supreme Court with a 5-2 Democratic majority will make the ultimate decision. In 1992, when a similar process played out over six weeks, the high court went along with the lower court judges recommendation. The high court will hold hearings Feb. 18. McCullough, in her 222-page report, wrote that she chose the proposal from Republican lawmakers because it lacked any cognizable legal or constitutional objection by Wolf and suggested that she felt she should give extra weight to a map because it passed the Legislature. It is a profound depiction of what voters want, through the representative model of our republic and democratic form of government, compared to Wolf or any other parties who submitted maps, McCullough wrote. In his veto message last month, Wolf argued the proposed map fails the test of fundamental fairness. Advertisement Pennsylvania, like most other states, must redraw its congressional district boundaries to account for a decade of demographic shifts. The new districts must take effect in this years election, to last until 2032s election. Complicating the process is Pennsylvanias loss of a seat, from 18 to 17, as the Census showed the nation growing more quickly in population over the past decade than Pennsylvania. The primary election is May 17. The process of redrawing congressional districts is running up against the three-week period beginning Feb. 15 when candidates can circulate petitions to get on primary election ballots. To deal with that, McCullough suggested keeping the primary date intact, but delaying the petition period by two weeks so that it starts March 1 and lasts two weeks until March 15. The map picked by McCullough creates seven districts with solid Republican registration advantages, and five seats would have a strong Democratic registration advantage. The registration is closer in five seats, but the Republican map generally gives those swing districts more registered Republican voters than does the current boundaries. Advertisement Breaking News Alerts As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > Three of those solidly Republican districts split up the growing Harrisburg region, spreading out its Democratic voters. It keeps Pittsburgh in one single district, packing all of its Democratic voters into one heavily Democratic district. It also strengthens Republican registration in a suburban Pittsburgh district now represented by three-term Democrat Conor Lamb, who is running for U.S. Senate. It ensures that no Republican incumbent is in the same district as another GOP incumbent. [ Lehigh Valley a flashpoint as commission approves final Pennsylvania legislative maps ] But it gives Republicans a matchup they wanted in northeastern Pennsylvania, pitting second-term Republican Dan Meuser against fifth-term Democrat Matt Cartwright in a Republican-leaning district. Meanwhile, Cartwrights district, as well as Democratic-held swing seats based in Chester County and Allentown, would get more Republican voters. A Republican-held swing seat based in Bucks County is viewed as a tossup, although its registration would continue to lean Democratic. In some maps, Democrats had proposed splitting Pittsburgh to create two Democratic-leaning seats and keeping bluer areas around Harrisburg in one district with York or Lancaster, making it somewhat competitive. Advertisement In addition, Democrats maps preferred to pair two Republican incumbents together into one district, arguing that whiter, less populated counties represented by Republicans were predominantly the places where population growth was stagnant. NORWALK A newly approved city program will allow residents to recycle unwearable clothes without leaving home. Under the program, approved Tuesday by the Common Councils Public Works Committee, residents can schedule a pickup time for their unwanted textiles and drop them, in a bag or box, by the curb to be taken away and recycled. Pertains to old clothing, shoes, belts, handbags and those types of products that would normally end up in the waste stream of garbage, or maybe you might be fortunate enough to give it away to the Salvation Army or those in need, Chief of Operations and Public Works Anthony Carr said. Currently, Norwalk has drop-off bins across the city where residents can deposit bags of clothes to be recycled. The bins, operated by the company USAgain, are emptied weekly, Carr said. The new program, called Helpsy, is currently in use in Stamford, Helpsy representative Lisa Sciannella said. Norwalk will be the second Connecticut municipality to work with the company, but 10 municipalities in Massachusetts, including Cambridge and Boston, have Helpsy services. Helpsy comes at no cost to the city; rather, the company will pay Norwalk based on how many pounds of textiles are picked up each month. The city receives 2 cents for each pound of textiles picked up, for a total of $40 for each ton, Sciannella said. As the city doesnt pay for the textile companys services, Helpsy makes money through selling online the clothes sent in that are salvageable, Sciannella said. We resell what we can. We get some nice things that still have tags, Sciannella said. We have a sorting facility. They (clothes) are photographed and sold online to thrift stores. Thats mostly how we make money. To start, the program will select one day each week to make home pickups around Norwalk, with a goal of 35 to 40 pickups each time. We would start with one day a week and monitor if slots are filling quickly, then add a second day or second driver on the same day, Sciannella said. We want programs to be as convenient as possible for residents but its not convenient if all the slots are full and they have to wait two weeks. While plastic bags are recommended for curbside textile pickup, it isnt required, Sciannella said. Helpsy encourages customers to reuse bags, boxes or containers they already have instead of purchasing more plastic. Plastic is what will keep it dry, thats our goal, but we have people who put things in Amazon boxes or paper bags, Sciannella said. Once the contract with Helpsy is formalized, the program will take four to six weeks to set up, to account for mapping out a pickup route and getting the word out about the program, Sciannella said. When the program begins, residents fill out an online form selecting a date and time for pickup, label the bag or container for Helpsy workers and place the items by the curb on the selected date. abigail.brone@hearstmediact.com Ukraine had been holding democratic elections for more than 20 years when Easton attorney Joseph Welsh arrived there in summer 2019 ahead of a vote with the potential to change the course of the country. As his first act upon taking office that spring, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had called for the dissolution of parliament and elections scheduled for that fall to be moved up to July. Amid tension between Zelenskyy and parliament and widespread disillusionment among voters with the political establishment, the government invited the intergovernmental Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to send election observers. Advertisement Welsh, a civil rights lawyer who now heads the Lehigh Valley Institute for Justice, was selected as one of the OSCE observers among nearly 2,000 from that and other organizations who traveled to polling sites in cities and remote villages around the country to ensure the election was free and fair. Interpreter Nataliya Hertsovska stands with Easton attorney Joseph Welsh, center, and other members of an Organization for Cooperation and Security in Europe election observation team during the pivotal July 2019 parliamentary election in Ukraine. (Contributed photo) My overall perception from this was the sense of pride that these people had in the election process, in determining their future, in breaking away, he said. Advertisement Particularly in southwest Ukraine, where changing borders and the rise and fall of the Soviet Union mean some have lived under two or three flags, Welsh said he got the sense people were proud and invested in the process of creating a stronger, independent national identity. Now, with Russias authoritarian President Vladimir Putin ratcheting up threats to Ukrainian independence, Welsh said hes disheartened. Its really sad to see Putin trying to snuff that out, he said. Many fear the massing of Russian troops on Ukraines borders and reports that Putin plans to install a pro-Russian government are an escalation of a war that has smoldered in the eastern part of the country since 2014, when Russian-backed separatists clashed with Ukrainian troops following Putins takeover of the Crimean peninsula. Although Ukrainians have lived with the unrest for more than seven years, there is a new level of tension in the country, said Nataliya Hertsovska, who worked as an interpreter with Welshs team of observers. If you were here you would see this is normal life but at the same time you can feel the tension, its almost like its in the air, said Hertsovska, who teaches English at a state college in western Ukraine. Ukrainian poll workers count ballots by flashlight after a thunderstorm knocked out power to the polling place during the pivotal July 2019 parliamentary election when Easton attorney Joseph Welsh was a member of the Organization for Cooperation and Security in Europe election observation team. (Contributed photo) A friend recently asked her what she would do in the event of an invasion. While some plan to flee, grabbing belongings and driving west, Hertsovska said she will not abandon her home. I said Im not going to move anywhere. I have my parents living here near the town where I live, she said. Advertisement Ukraine is a multicultural and multilingual country and people take pride in their Ukrainian heritage, Hersovska said, but there is a belief among some, especially older people, that life was better when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. That is a source of tension in national politics. Zelenskyy who rose to prominence as a TV star ran as an outsider whose move to dismantle the political establishment gave his Servant of the People Party an absolute majority in parliament, but Hertsovska said she backed a more pro-western candidate. Nonetheless, Hertsovska said she believes the 2019 election was fair and democratic and she respects the results. Last Call Daily Get top headlines from The Morning Call delivered weekday afternoons. > That was the result of the will of the people, but were they conscious of what they were doing? she asked. The OSCE concluded that while the campaign in the parliamentary election was marked by abuses including vote-buying and entwined business and political interests dictating media coverage and improper campaign finance, the election itself was administered well and upheld the rights and freedoms of voters. Welsh said he was impressed with the commitment of the election judges to the three-day process, beginning the night before polls opened on a Sunday and in many cases continuing into Monday. Although the election was competitive, with candidates from several parties running in each district, poll workers shared potluck meals to keep stomachs full and tempers level through the long day. The one thing the parties could all agree on is to make good food to bring to the polling place. We had several good lunches during the election day, Welsh said. Advertisement Regardless of the path Zelenskyys government takes, it should continue until the next election without outside influence, Welsh said. The point was that they were deciding their future and thats what democracy is all about, he said. Morning Call reporter Peter Hall can be reached at 610-820-6581 or peter.hall@mcall.com. To the Editor, I spotted your Jan. 25 article, "From beads to 'bots, STEM Resource Center Can Help," on the facility at SIU-Edwardsville, and was particularly happy to see that they have not overlooked the needs and potential of preschool-aged children. A growing body of research demonstrates that developing STEM proficiency starts much earlier than high school, middle school or even elementary school. High-quality early childhood education that incorporates math and science lays the foundation for future academic and career success. Career opportunities in STEM fields are growing rapidly. However, we might not have the skilled workforce necessary to meet the increasing demand for workers. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, only 34 percent of Illinois 8th graders are proficient in math and only 28 percent in science. We must redouble our efforts to build the STEM pipeline for the future by strengthening the quality of early childhood education. To meet this challenge, business leaders, who will rely on this workforce, increasingly call for protecting and strengthening key investments in young children's learning and development. FY23 state budget negotiations are beginning, and Illinois policymakers should take this opportunity to increase resources for preschool and child care in ways that improve quality as well as access and equity. In the longer-term: A bipartisan, statewide commission spent a year studying ways to improve Illinois' funding and governance of early childhood programs, to boost their availability, quality and equity. Members of the ReadyNation network of business leaders, such as me, believe policymakers should take its recommendations very seriously. John Keller President, RiverBend Growth Association Connecticuts housing crisis is a serious issue worth serious debate. At the center of this discussion is DesegregateCT, a coalition-based organization of 80-plus nonprofits and neighborhood groups. This session, the coalition is promoting proposals to increase housing opportunities in places where weve already built the infrastructure to support them. Unfortunately, fear-mongering and misinformation from a small minority are muddying what should be an informed, fact-based debate. Given the stakes, it is more important than ever to analyze what is actually on the table, to evaluate the evidence, and to separate fiction from fact. Fiction: Zoning reform is supported only by radical Democrats. Fact: Both nationally and in our region, zoning reform garners widespread, bipartisan support. DesegregateCTs proposal for transit-oriented communities mirrors Massachusetts transit-oriented housing provision, which was passed on a near-unanimous, bipartisan basis and championed by their Republican governor. DesegregateCTs other key proposal for minimum lot size reform draws on a Vermont law, once again supported by a bipartisan supermajority and signed into law by a Republican governor. As in Massachusetts and Vermont, DesegregateCTs proposals would direct certain towns to permit somewhat more housing in areas with existing infrastructure while giving towns extensive discretion to determine how and where to direct new housing development. Fiction: Zoning reform hurts the environment. Fact: Connecticuts current one-size-fits-all zoning regime causes sprawl by requiring homes to be built far from transit and commercial centers. Restrictive zoning in Connecticut is linked to dramatically higher climate emissions because it requires people to drive further and use more energy to heat their homes. That is why environmental groups are helping to lead the DesegregateCT coalition. Simply put, zoning reform is needed to protect our climate. Fiction: Zoning reform is unnecessary because Connecticut already does enough to build new housing. Fact: Connecticut ranked 48th in housing production in 2020, and in 2021 housing permits fell even further to their lowest level in a decade. Consequently, the number of actively listed housing units in Connecticut is at its lowest level in recorded history. Connecticut particularly lags in multi-family housing production. Per U.S. Census data, just 30 percent of newly permitted homes are in multifamily projects, compared to 51 percent for the Northeast region (and 36 percent for New England as a whole). Our limited supply of housing drives up prices, making modest homes unaffordable even to moderate-income households. In Greenwich, for example, there is not a single listed two-bedroom apartment affordable to a household making less than $80,000 per year. Fiction: Zoning reform infringes on property rights. Fact: Zoning reform enhances property rights by giving people more freedom to use their property as they wish. Restrictive zoning is among the foremost threats to property rights. While we can all agree that some limitations on property rights are warranted, the claim that restrictive zoning protects property rights is entirely backwards it should not be taken seriously. Fiction: Connecticuts zoning policies reflect the housing people want. Fact: Connecticuts one-size-fits-all zoning rules produce housing that only serves a small segment of demand: those looking for a single-family home on a large lot. Prohibiting by-right multifamily housing on 98 percent of Connecticuts land and requiring one-acre minimum lot sizes on 81 percent of residential land locks out everyone else from young professionals to downsizing seniors from the majority of our state. Demand for other housing types is robust. Rents and sales prices for multifamily homes are through the roof, with surging demand outstripping the limited supply of this housing type. Moreover, 48 percent of Connecticut adults want to live in walkable neighborhoods with housing closer together, but only 30 percent do in large part because our zoning rules ban the development of these types of neighborhoods. There will be passionate debate about legislation addressing Connecticuts housing crisis over the weeks and months to come. This debate is necessary to inform citizens and drive better policy outcomes. What has no place in this discussion are baseless lies untethered to any actual proposals. By looking at the facts and tuning out the fear-mongers, our legislators can develop sensible policies to make Connecticut greener and more affordable for everyone. Nick Abbott, of Greenwich, is deputy coordinator of DesegregateCT. Texas Democrats want Harris County GOP precinct chair Carla Richburg to be removed after she allegedly submitted resolutions to the county Republican party calling for bigoted actions like considering all Chinese nationals as "spies." A Sunday, February 6, tweet from the Texas Democrats showed a document with Richburg's name at the bottom outlining multiple transphobic, anti-immigrant, and homophobic Republican party priorities submitted to the Harris County Republican Party (HCRP). Richburg is Precinct 602 Chair for the HCRP and identifies herself as such in the document. In the document, Richburg allegedly calls for the removal of "sex education of any kind" and for the "manditory [sic]" death penalty for people found guilty of murder of police officers or "victoms [sic] of gang warfare." Richburg allegedly wants all "Chinese nationals" to be considered spies and be forcibly removed from businesses, schools, universities, and the U.S. She also calls for their travel and work visas to be canceled. Her last resolution says the state will "wage war against all invaders into the Texas borders by deadly force" with minimal warning. Other actions Richburg calls for includes: Prohibition of all medical mandates to fight pandemics. A ban on all abortions. Denial of transgender and other gender identities. To remove "marriage" from same-sex marriages and only consider them as civil unions. The Harris County Democratic Party Chair Odus Evbagharu also called for Richburg's removal as precinct chair in "America's most diverse city." "The hate-filled priorities list she submitted is indefensible and not legitimate political discourse," Evbagharu says in a statement. The HCRP or the Texas GOP have yet to respond to Democrats' calls, but the document includes a statement from the HCRP Advisory Board saying they "unanimously condemn the tone and content of this resolution as being offensive." "Even the consideration of a resolution with this salacious rhetoric would embarrass an impugn the integrity of this body," the statement reads. MySA reached out to the HCRP for further comment. A spotty mix of sleet, freezing drizzle and light freezing rain targeted New Jersey early Monday, but was expected to steer clear of the Lehigh Valley. The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for portions of central and southern NJ, southeast Pennsylvania and northern Delaware as a coastal storm started to brush the region. Advertisement While those areas were expecting a slippery morning commute, the precipitation was not expected to reach the Lehigh Valley, southern Poconos or Berks County. A Winter Weather Advisory is now in effect for portions of NJ, SE PA, and northern DE. For more information, please check: https://t.co/9VLwLqHhNY#NJwx #PAwx #DEwx pic.twitter.com/QhtuS1IAoN NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) February 7, 2022 In fact, after a cold and overcast Monday with some light rain or snow showers possible, things are looking up. Advertisement The rest of the week looks very quiet and gradually warmer, Empire Weather, which provides localized forecasts for The Morning Call, said in its latest forecast briefing. Highs are expected to reach the mid to upper 40s by the time we get to mid-week, and will stay there through Saturday. Theres also no major precipitation events or any hazardous weather on the horizon. With the cold easing, whats next? Its tempting to see a week of temperatures in the 40s and suspect we may be easing toward an early spring. But its only early February, and theres a lot of winter left. In fact, meteorologists say cold air will sweep into the region by Sunday, with temperatures dropping below normal and highs in the 30s once again. This graphic from the Climate Prediction Center shows the 8-14 day temperature outlook. (NWS/Climate Prediction Center) Beyond that, the governments Climate Prediction Center suggests below-normal temperatures and near-normal chances for precipitation will be the trend into the back half of the month. That means chances of meaningful, measurable snow are still there. Remember last February when Mother Nature single-handedly left a seasons worth of snow in the area in one storm? Or the memorable events weve had in past years right around Valentines Day? There are roughly six more weeks of winter left, so dont let your guard down. Empire Weathers exclusive 7-day forecast: Monday: Cloudy, with highs in the lower 30s. Advertisement Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a chance of an isolated snow shower. Lows in the upper 20s. Last Call Daily Get top headlines from The Morning Call delivered weekday afternoons. > Tuesday: Partly cloudy, with highs in the lower 40s. Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with lows in the upper 20s. Wednesday: Partly cloudy, with highs in the mid 40s. Thursday: Partly cloudy, with highs in the upper 40s. Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with lows in the upper 20s. Advertisement Friday: Partly cloudy, with highs in the mid 40s. Saturday: Partly cloudy, with highs in the upper 40s. Local Commission to discuss Oliver's replacement County commissioners are wasting no time to find a replacement for administrator Randy Oliver. Oliver Commission Chairman Ron Kitchen Jr. has carved out time on Tuesdays agenda to discuss what he calls one of the most important tasks the (BOCC) undertakes. Kitchen said he will recommend hiring a headhunting firm to search nationally and has identified nine companies. He expects the cost to be less than $25,000. Kitchen told the Chronicle editorial board he wants someone to build on what Randy has done. Commissioners, he said, will have to determine what is most important in an administrator: educational background, Florida experience, someone at the beginning or end of their career. Oliver last month submitted his resignation, giving the board no later than Nov. 29 to find a replacement. He didnt elaborate as to reasons. This will give you the opportunity to select the most qualified person for the position that reflects the personality, temperament and skills you desire to lead the county forward, Oliver wrote in his resignation letter. Oliver told the Chronicle editorial board his job is to provide options to commissioners to help them create policy. I dont advocate for any position, Oliver said. The BOCC meeting is at 1 p.m. Tuesday, at the Citrus County Courthouse, 110 N. Apopka Ave., Inverness. Also on the agenda, commissioners will: Discuss LifeStream Behavioral Centers request to lease space at the county-owned Meadowcrest building at 1500 N. Meadowcrest Blvd. in Crystal River. The proposed monthly rent would be $4,951. Determine the feasibility of installing two (ADA) Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant beach access mats so people in wheelchairs can access the Fort Island Gulf Beach. Two mats would cost $4,858. Add in the cost of pouring concrete, labor and other costs, the total balloons to $13,653. To view the entire agenda, visit https://bit.ly/3L94BLY Africas tech start-ups are thriving. In 2021, more African tech start-ups raised more money from more investors than ever before, with fintech companies including several based in Nigeria heavily represented among the big winners. According to the seventh edition of Disrupt Africas African Tech Startups Funding Report, 564 African tech start-ups raised just over US$2 billion in funding in 2021, which is a 206% increase from 2020. Disrupt Africas report shows that the average deal size more than doubled, increasing from over $1,7 million in 2020 to $3,8 million in 2021. For Zachariah George, a managing partner at Launch Africa Ventures, a pan-African fund looking to address investment gaps in the investment landscape, there are several reasons behind this boom in investment. For starters, I believe that there is a better understanding of the African opportunity, the cost of data has dropped dramatically in many African economies which was a barrier for customers and Internet and mobile phone penetration has improved, which means that a more people are now online, George said. George also highlights that the pandemic causes a forced digitisation across the continent as more and more people turned online to do many of their daily tasks. This trend will continue even after the pandemic because people are now aware of the convenience and the cost savings that come with digitising different aspect of their lives. So, who got the most funding? If you look at the 10 start-ups that attracted the most individual funding, most are Nigerian ventures, including fintech startup Flutterwave ($170 million); retail-tech start-up TradeDepot ($110 million); digital bank Kuda ($80 million); mobility fintech Moove ($63.2 million) and energy company Daystar Power (US$62 million). The biggest funding winners from other countries include two Egyptian start-ups fintech company MNT-Halan ($120 million) and e-commerce start-up MaxAB ($55 million) as well as Kenyas AI company Gro Intelligence ($85 million) and agritech venture Twiga Foods ($50 million); and South Africas fintech start-up Yoco ($83 million). In fact, it was these four more digitally established nations Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya and South Africa, dubbed the big four that accounted for around 92% of the overall funding total. But this doesnt mean that the rest of the continent isnt making strides. Disrupt Africas research highlights that around 40% of the remaining funding went to start-ups in Ghana, Morocco and Tunisia. New tech ventures in Zimbabwe, Uganda, Rwanda and Ivory Coast also gained momentum in 2021, the report shows. Below we highlight some of the interesting insights pulled from the report about the state of Africas start-up community. Fintech, e-commerce industries are shining stars Fintech businesses attracted just under half of the total amount of funds invested in African tech start-ups in 2021. But it is important to note that fintech companies made up just over a third (184) of the ventures funded, which was more than double the amount of e-commerce businesses (70 in total) the industry with the second largest number of start-ups on the list. This is not surprising given that the financial and retail sectors in Africa, with a big unbanked population and a young demographic of avid mobile phone and mobile money users, are ripe for disruption, and have attracted entrepreneurs whose fintech start-ups are reshaping financial services on the continent. Other industries that attracted the big bucks include e-health, logistics and educational technology sectors. More investors, more jobs Not only was there more funding in 2021, there were also more investors and more jobs created. Disrupt Africas study details that there were at least 771 different disclosed investors who put money into African tech start-ups in 2021. This represents an increase of just over 108% over the 370 tracked in 2020. What is quite encouraging is the fact that many successful African founders are now paying their success forward by using the money theyve earned to back start-ups themselves. According to the report, a major benefit of the success of these start-ups is that they are making some major contributions to community employment. The start-ups featured in the report employed almost 18,000 overall at the time of investment, which averages out to around 30 people per company. Theyre young, theyre male More than half of the African tech start-ups that secured funding in 2021 started less than three years ago, meaning that the investment appetite is ripe for fresh faces with fresh ideas. While most of the top-earning start-ups are over five years old, one (the geolocation-based, team-building game app Moove) is just on three years old. Unfortunately, Disrupt Africas study found that the industry remains rather male dominated. Only 21% of the funded start-ups have a female co-founder and just one of the top 10 biggest earners have a female co-founder. While these numbers are promising, George believes that the industry is only just getting started. Africa represents less than 1% of global venture capital and less than 3% of global GDP. So, the way I see it, the only way from here is up. And if the numbers from 2022 are anything to go by with around $400 million raised in January alone we can expect similar record-breaking numbers for African founders in the months ahead. Gov. Tom Wolfs address to Pennsylvanias General Assembly on Tuesday will mark the official opening of negotiations on the commonwealths 2022-23 fiscal year budget. Regrettably, this annual budget shortchanged the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for many years. With a rosy revenue picture for the upcoming fiscal year, the governor and the General Assembly should adopt a budget that fully funds the DEP. Advertisement The best measure of the DEPs strength over time is its number of filled positions, i.e., the number of people paid to come to work each day. In 2003, the DEP had 3,311 filled positions. This past December it was down to 2,323 filled positions. Thats about a 30% reduction in staff over the last 18 years. This percent staff reduction is about double that of all commonwealth agencies over the same period. Advertisement Reduced staffing compromised the departments ability to regulate oil and gas development, monitor and reduce air and water pollution and protect the Chesapeake Bay. Pennsylvania has the money to fully fund DEP. According to the commonwealths Independent Fiscal Office, Pennsylvanias General fund revenue surplus for fiscal year 2021-22 is projected to be over $1.6 billion the second largest in a decade. Greg Vitali (GREG VITALI/CONTRIBUTED PHOTO ) Rob Greathouse, right, and Allen Shrout work Nov 13, 2019 on a well plugging job in Farmington Township, Clarion County. By some accounts, Pennsylvania has the worst accumulation of old, unplugged, ownerless oil and gas wells in the nation. (Andrew Rush/AP) The DEPs Oil and Gas Program has oversight over the almost 80,000 Pennsylvania oil and gas wells now in production. In 2015, this program had 226 filled positions. In December it was down to about 181. Last year the DEPs Oil and Gas Program conducted the fewest number of inspections of oil and gas operations since 2015. The Oil and Gas Program is responsible for plugging the estimated 200,000 orphaned or abandoned oil and gas wells in Pennsylvania. These wells can leak methane (a powerful greenhouse gas) and contaminate ground and surface water. Due to limited resources, DEP plugged only about 10 wells last year. DEP is expecting $25 million this year from the federal government, which could fund the plugging of an additional 500 orphaned or abandoned oil and gas wells. DEP needs more personnel to put out contracts for the plugging of these wells and to oversee the work performed. In 2005, the DEPs Air Quality Program had 349 filled positions. In December, it was down to 236 a reduction of over 32%. A 2018 DEP Air Program report requesting additional staffing indicated fewer Department staff to conduct inspections, respond to complaints, and pursue enforcement actions will result in less oversight of regulated industry [and] reduced protection of the environment and public health Advertisement In November of 2020 and again in December of 2021 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a finding of failure to DEPs Air Quality Program for not submitting a required plan to reduce volatile organic compound emissions such as carbon monoxide from oil and gas operations. The commonwealth now faces federal sanctions. In 2007 the DEPs Clean Water Program had 778 filed positions. In December it was down to 647, about a 17% reduction in staff. This January DEP released a draft report showing one-third of Pennsylvanias streams 27,886 miles have impaired water quality, making them unsafe for aquatic life, recreation, fish consumption or water supply. Thats a 2,418 mile increase in impaired stream miles since the agencys 2020 report. About half of the land area of Pennsylvania drains into the Chesapeake Bay. Pennsylvanias poor progress in reducing its agricultural runoff threatens the health and recovery of the bay. In 2019 Pennsylvanias Phase 3 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan identified a $324 million annual funding gap between what is needed to implement its pollution reduction plan versus what is available. According to a 2021 report by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation Pennsylvania remains far off track in meeting its pollution reduction obligations. The commonwealths annual budget shortchanged the DEP for years. Concerned citizens should tell Gov. Wolf and their state representatives and senators that the DEP needs more funding. Advertisement State Rep. Greg Vitali (D., Delaware, Montgomery) is the Democratic chairman of the House Environmental Resource and Energy Committee. Sorry, no valid subscriptions were found for this Publication. Please select from an option below to start a subscription. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! 24 Hour Access Oklahoma City, OK (73106) Today Scattered thunderstorms this morning, then windy during the afternoon hours with strong thunderstorms becoming likely. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. High 84F. Winds SSW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Thunderstorms, some strong early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low 44F. Winds NNW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Neuroblastoma UK announces new patron Neuroblastoma UK, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, has announced TV presenter Angellica Bell as its new patron for 2022. On her appointment, Bell said: Ive had the privilege to meet some families affected by neuroblastoma and their strength is humbling. Theyve inspired me to help give families real hope by raising awareness of this cruel disease and most importantly, raise money for future research. Bell has supported the charity for some time. In 2020, she attended a quiz night for the charity with her friend Alan Carr. Speakers for Schools appoints new chief marketing officer Social mobility charity Speakers for Schools has announced Dan Walsh as its new chief marketing officer. Walsh joins from OVO Energy where he was head of brand marketing. He has previous experience in senior roles at YouTube, BBC, Red Bull and Big Fish. He has worked in marketing for 20 years. His role will involve developing the Youth Card, an app offering discounts to young people. Walsh said: Having grown up in Liverpool and attended a state school, I can deeply relate to the barriers many young people face as they struggle to kick start a life for themselves against a backdrop of few opportunities, which is exactly what Speakers for Schools has set out to alleviate. Its work to provide all young people with incredible work experience and career inspiration irrespective of background or where they live is vital and I look forward to helping the charity grow. Hospice UK appoints new director IT and digital services Hospice UK has appointed a new director of IT and digital services, Stephen Thorlby-Coy. Thorlby-Coy has had 20 years of experience in management and leadership. He joins from housing charity Yorkshire Housing where he worked as head of ICT. He has previous experience in the non-profit sector through working with Relate and The Family Fund. I'm motivated by social outcomes, things that really make a difference, and love using my skills and experience to help peoples lives, and I believe this role has considerable scope to influence and shape the future of end-of-life support, Thorlby-Coy said. Terrence Higgins Trust welcomes new trustees The HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust has appointing three new trustees to its board. Abayomi Olusunle has a background in digital communications and is the founder of The Yommie, an online community that aims to empower its users. Carla Barrett is head of research and impact at Royal Mencap Society. Asher Craig is deputy mayor of Bristol City Council and a Labour councillor. She is also a trustee of ASDAN, an education charity, and has previously sat on the LGBT Switchboard for Brighton and Hove. Asher Craig said: We need progress for all communities impacted by HIV, thats why I am committed to using my experience in public health to root out HIV inequalities faced by racially minoritised communities. I hope to significantly help Terrence Higgins Trusts mission to eradicate stigma and discrimination in these communities to ensure that no one is left behind in work to end HIV transmissions in the UK by 2030. Healthcare Workers Foundation appoints new CEO Healthcare Workers Foundation (HWF) has appointed Julie Child as its new chief executive. She joins from Race Against Blood Cancer where she worked as general manager. She has worked in the charity sector for 20 years. She has experience as a fundraising manager at the National Trust, head of communications at Lymphoma Association and as a fundraiser at RP Fighting Blindness. Dominic Pimenta, founder and chairman of HWF, said: Julies diverse experience across the charity sector will be immensely valuable to what were aiming to achieve moving forward, and were delighted to welcome her to the team at such a pivotal point for the charity and the NHS more broadly. Healthcare workers across the UK will benefit hugely from the expertise Julie can offer HWF, and were excited to roll out a variety of new services that can provide even further support to frontline staff after everything theyve done for us over the last two years. New chair for Book Aid International Book donation and library development charity Book Aid International has appointed a new chair of the board, Dr Alice Prochaska. The charitys former chair, Lord Paul Boateng, stepped down from the role to become vice patron of the charity. Prochaska is a former archivist and librarian who has worked at the University of Oxford. She has experience at the British Library and Yale University. Prochaskas predecessor, Lord Paul Boateng, said It is wonderful to have Alice as Book Aid Internationals new chair. She has a love of books and brings to the Board a lifetimes achievement in the management of libraries and archives, and she is well equipped to help take this wonderful charity into its next exciting stage. I am also very glad to stay on as vice patron. Book Aid International helped me as child and I am looking forward to assisting it in reaching out to yet more people in need the world over. Brain Tumour Research appoints new director of research Karen Noble has been announced as Brain Tumour Researchs new director of research, policy and innovation. Noble joins from the NHS where she was senior programme manager for just over a year. She has a background in charities, as she worked at the Wellcome Trust for almost 12 years, and was head of research careers at Cancer Research UK until 2020. In 2011 Noble lost her sister-in-law to a brain tumour. She said: I have witnessed at first hand the devastation caused by a brain tumour diagnosis and know the despair felt by families when faced with such a dismal prognosis and the fact that patient survival rates havent improved in years. Investment is key and I am delighted to be joining an influential charity which is making a difference and giving much needed hope to so many people. New deputy CEO for Learning and Work Institute The Learning and Work Institute has appointed Naomi Phillips as its new deputy chief executive. She replaces Fiona Aldridge, who left to become head of skills insight at West Midlands Combined Authority. Phillips joins from British Red Cross, where she worked as director of policy and advocacy. She has worked in senior roles for Mind, Breast Cancer Now and Humanists UK. She has worked in the charity sector for over 14 years, and previously held positions in the House of Lords and Manchester City Council. Naomi Phillips said: Im thrilled to join Learning and Work Institute, which has such a strong reputation for excellence in research, development and policy. Having been part of the national response to Covid-19 at the British Red Cross, Im now looking forward to working on issues central to renewal and recovery - including employment, skills and social inclusion as part of L&Ws senior leadership team. New chair for Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) Fiona MacLeod becomes the new chair for the SSPCA in May after Ronnie Soutars term ended. Soutar has occupied the role since 2018, who was the first in-house vet to take up the role. Currently, MacLeod is non-executive director with Denholm Energy Services. Previously, she has worked at Pancreatic Cancer UK and Womens Fund for Scotland. Chief executive Kirsteen Campbell said: Im thrilled to have Fiona joining us as chair. Fionas enthusiasm for the Scottish SPCA and animal welfare is evident, and her considerable business acumen will be a real asset to us as we continue to play a critical role in improving the lives of people, pets, wildlife and farm animals. Mencap welcomes four new trustees The disability charity Mencap has appointed four new trustees to its board. The charity now has 12 trustees, not including the chair. Sohail Qadri has a background in telecommunications, having worked in senior executive roles in BT, O2 and Telefonica Group. Phil Hughes is an accountant who has worked as global chief financial officer for Castrol. Since leaving that role, he has held various executive and non-executive roles in the not-for-profit sector, including as finance director at British Red Cross and he is also a trustee for the charity Young Epilepsy. Kathryn Rees has worked for Stockport Council since 2020 as director for strategy and commissioning and previously worked for Wigan Council for eight years. Catherine McDermott is currently chief executive officer of Reframe, a cancer support charity. Previously, she ran UK operations for Amazon. Carers Worldwide announces its first ambassador Chris Underhill has been announced as the care charitys first ambassador. Underhill was the founding chair of trustees for Carers Worldwide. Underhill is the founder of BasicNeeds, a mental health innovation network, as well as Thrive, a horticultural therapy charity. Carers Worldwide founder Anil Patil said of the appointment: We are delighted that Chris Underhill has accepted our invitation to become an ambassador for Carers Worldwide. As our founding chair of trustees, Chris has played a pivotal role in the development of the organisation and of our vision for the future of family carers globally. Our trustees, staff and partners are greatly looking forward to working with him as we continue on our journey towards securing positive change for unpaid family carers in low- and middle-income countries. sign up to receive the Civil Society News daily bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Thanks to Monica McAghon (The Morning Call, Jan. 24) for reminding us that Martin Luther King wanted to rid the world of nuclear weapons at the risk of his stature on the world stage. Along with Dr. King were famed Trappist monk Thomas Merton, Vietnam War resister Father Daniel Berrigan, Catholic Worker founder Dorothy Day, imprisoned nuclear resister Sister Megan Rice and Liz McAllister, one of the many courageous voices of the Plowshares Movement. Advertisement We have the powerful witness of South African Bishop Desmond Tutu and Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh, asking all of us to decry the terrible threat posed by nuclear weapons. As former Secretary of Defense William Perry noted, intercontinental ballistic missiles are some of the most dangerous weapons in the world because the president would have only minutes to decide whether to launch in a crisis, greatly increasing the risk of an accidental nuclear war. Advertisement Nearly 700 scientists, including 21 Nobel prize winners, are dedicated to the abolition of nuclear weapons. They are calling to end first strike capability and to eliminate ICBMs. Thich Nhat Hanh said, Peace is every step we take. Choose to make your step for peace. Mimi Lang Bethlehem As last summers efforts to aid evacuations from Afghanistan grew desperate, media debated who was to blame for the crisis. In his landmark piece The Betrayal for The Atlantic, George Packer reframes how to think about the fall of Kabul. On this weeks Kicker, Packer joins Kyle Pope, editor and publisher of CJR, to discuss the impact of Bidens experience with Vietnam, and how the media should approach moral questions in a divided, partisan era. SHOW NOTES The Betrayal, George Packer, the Atlantic MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) The winter storm that caused hundreds of thousands of power outages and contributed to hundreds of traffic accidents from Texas to Maine had moved out to sea Saturday, and while most locations were returning to normal, many people in the Memphis, Tennessee, area were without electricity and could be in the dark for a full week. On Saturday morning the local utility, Memphis Light, Gas and Water reported more than 90,000 customers, more than 20% of the utilitys total, remained without power. During a late morning news conference from the hard-hit Frayser neighborhood of Memphis, utility President J.T. Young said he hoped that between 25,000 and 30,000 customers could have their power back before the end of the day Saturday. More than 80 line crews were working to restore power, officials said. Young said the storm that hit Thursday was probably the third largest outage event in the last 30 years, coming close to, but not eclipsing, a 1994 event. Young said it could be Thursday before all customers have their power back. We want everyone to be safe. We want you to be safe and we certainly want our crews to be safe as they do what they do, he said. During the news conference, officials said hundreds of trees were down on power lines. In a broadcast on the utilitys Facebook page, Young showed an area where a string of 13 power poles were on the ground due to the ice buildup. The National Weather Service forecasted temperatures to be in the low 30s in Memphis on Saturday. Meanwhile, in central New Yorks Ulster County along the Hudson River, more than 42,000 customers were without power Saturday. Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. said crews were working to restore electric service after snow and ice caused damage and outages. The county opened several warming centers and was distributing bottled water and dry ice to residents. In New England on Saturday, Massachusetts officials were still warning motorists on Saturday to watch for slippery spots on highways where hundreds of accidents, including two fatal crashes that were reported on Friday. Airlines that had scrubbed about 3,400 flights by midday Friday, were working Saturday to catch up with the backlog. At least five fatalities are being blamed on the storm. In addition to the two fatal crashes in Massachusetts, police in the Tulsa, Oklahoma, suburb of Broken Arrow said they were investigating a hit-and-run crash that killed a 12-year-old boy who was struck while sledding. In western Alabama, a tornado on Thursday killed one and critically injured three others. In Tennessee, a man was killed Thursday when his truck crashed into a tree that had fallen on to a highway. More than a foot (30 centimeters) of snow fell in parts of Pennsylvania, New York and New England. While the bulk of the storm has moved out, the National Weather Service in Buffalo tweeted Saturday that several inches of lake effect snow was possible in areas southeast of the lakes. On Friday, Stowe Mountain Rescue, an organization that covers Vermonts tallest mountain, Mount Mansfield, warned that the storm that had dumped more than a foot of snow in Vermont and the area was likely to create dangerous avalanche conditions in the backcountry summit areas of Mount Mansfield, the nearby gullies of Smugglers Notch and other alpine zones. Hunter Tubbs, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service in Maine, said the storm represented a highly energized system with waves of low pressure riding along like a train from Texas, where there was snowfall and subfreezing temperatures, to Maine and the Canadian Maritimes. AP reporter Jonathan Matisse in Nashville, Tennessee, contributed to this report. About the photo: Crews work to restore power to the Central Garden neighborhood of Memphis, Tenn., on Friday, Feb. 4, 2022. More than 120,000 customers were without power Friday afternoon in Shelby County, according to poweroutage.us, which tracks utility reports. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian via AP) Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. SALEM, Ore. (AP) Arson investigators on Friday tried to determine the cause of a fire and explosion at a barn in rural Oregon that killed a volunteer firefighter, while the governor ordered flags at state buildings flown at half-staff in his honor. The scene of the fire that broke out before dawn Thursday and subsequent explosion was considered too unsafe for the investigators to approach until late in the day, said Sgt. Jeremy Landers of the Marion County Sheriffs Office. When you look at a scene like that, youre worried about unstable structure, youre worried about fire hotspots, and also just the unknown of the scene, Landers said. The barn was at Champoeg Farm, Landers said. The farm near St. Paul was established in 1856 and specializes in raising turkeys and other poultry. No one at the farm returned phone calls or text messages seeking comment. The explosion critically injured firefighter Austin Smith, who also was a hop farmer. The 30-year-old was flown by a medical evacuation helicopter to Oregon Health & Science University Hospital in Portland, but he did not survive his injuries. On Friday, his fellow firefighters set off in their fire engines and other apparatus to collect Smiths body from the medical examiners office in a Portland suburb and bring him in a procession to a funeral home in nearby Newberg, authorities said. Members of the public and other agencies can line the route, if thats what they choose to do, to honor Austin and his family, said Mark Daniel, a spokesperson for the St. Paul Fire District, where Smith had been a volunteer firefighter since 2015. Gov. Kate Brown said in a statement that she extends her deepest condolences to Smiths family. Firefighting is often difficult and dangerous work, and we honor those who make the ultimate sacrifice to protect our land, our communities, and fellow Oregonians, Brown said. St. Paul is located about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southwest of Portland and has just over 400 residents. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. When it comes to leaving their parents for extended periods of time, being homesick is inevitable for some kids. Summer camp staff members may encounter this from time to time and it is good for them to be prepared to comfort children when those types of situations present themselves. Daniel Martinez hops out of his black Cadillac SRX and nods towards me, chatting enthusiastically on his cellphone. Around San Jose, hes known to many as the gregarious, insult-slinging battle-rapper and shit-talking podcast host Dirtbag Dan, but theres no trace of that character now. Instead, he is passionately proselytizing to whomever is on the line about his new dog rescue program, Adopt My Block. It seems to be going well. I wait for him, standing by my Ford Focus with my three-legged German shepherd, Nisa, who my wife and I adopted seven years ago from the German Shepherd Rescue of Northern California. Nisa sniffs the nearby dirt and weeds. Were in Gilroy, just a hop and a jump away from the outlet malls off highway 101, yet you would think youre far away from any sign of civilization were it not for the occasional noise of traffic zipping by. Currently, the property operates as a walnut farm. Soon, it will be the site of Adopt My Block. Martinez hangs up, immediately ready to talk about his plans. Were ready to park a trailer here, set up a fenced-off area, and start bringing some dogs around, he says. That plan, he explains, likely wont unfold until sometime this summer. Hes working out the details with the property owner, Dr. Puneet Sandhu, a dentist who runs Milpitas Smile Design. A believer in Martinezs mission to save dogs, she offered it to him. She knows what its like to want to help. In her spare time, she donates dental services to homeless veterans out of a van thats parked on the property. I want to put some turf down, Martinez continues. Fence it off on all sides, and have a dog run here. But thats just an idea at this point. Theres a lot of work that needs to happen first. Adopt My Block has been an official nonprofit for two years, with Martinez and his wife, Rachel LaRoux, running operations out of their house. His plans might seem ambitious, but he has already shown that he can move mountains when he wants to. Just over a decade ago, Martinez was one of the most traveled battle-rappers in the world. Hed competed in the UK, Sweden, Denmark, Canada, Australia, the Philippines and all over the US, shouting, The Zae, baby! wherever he went, in honor of his hometown. He still ranks in the top 50 most viewed battle-rappersand his last battle was seven years ago. Later, he created the successful Dirtbag Dan Show, one of the first battle rap podcasts, which ran for eight years. They did their final episode in November of 2019. After that, he stepped away from all things Dirtbag Dan related to save dogs. Theres an unlimited amount of dogs that need to be rehomed. Every shelter is packed full of them, he says. What we do is super important. Theres so many little dogs around the north side. How are there not ten other rescues? We peek inside a semi-circle-shaped building that looks plucked from The Grapes of Wrath. Behind us, Nisa on her three legs. Martinez drops down to pet her. They become instant best friends. Martinez points out the van and speaks proudly of Sandhus mission to help veterans. Not all veterans who receive medical care from the VA qualify for dental benefits. So, Sandhu brings the dentist to them. Were all on this help people shit, he says. We want to make this like a nonprofit hub. Thats what were doing. Setting up shop on the property promises to make a huge difference for Adopt My Block. We can only work with the amount of dogs we have time and space for, he says. Having a fenced-off area, and a trailer, on the property means we can bring in more volunteers and help more dogs. PAW PATROL In the fall of 2019, Martinez and LaRoux, were walking their dog, Lily, around their neighborhood in San Jose. It was a cold evening, and they saw one of their neighbors dogs alone, shivering inside their fenced-off front yard. It wasnt the first time theyd seen this dog shivering outside or standing in the rain. But suddenly it struck them that they should do something about it. They drove to Lowes and bought a doghouse with materials to insulate it and weather guards to keep the rain out. They gave it to their neighbor, no strings attached. After that, they noticed many other dogs trapped outside in their freezing cold yards. They set up a fundraiser to pay for more insulated doghouses and sweaters. People were happy to donate, and when they delivered these goods to the dog owners, they did so in the least judgmental way possible. We would say, We had extra supply. We saw you had an outside dog, so we just wanted to drop off some extra stuff, LaRoux says. That way, the owner wasnt, like, offended. In November, they got a call from a friend in Fresno, who said that her neighbors dog, a shepherd pit mix, was stuck outside, trapped in a small three-foot fenced side yard, hopping around like a kangaroo. The owners never brought her inside. It was raining when Martinez showed up. He shouted at the neighbor that he was coming over to give their dog shelter, but no one came out. He carefully climbed over and set up the doghouse for her. The dogs sweet. I fell in love with her, Martinez says. A month later, a huge storm hit Fresno. Their friends neighbors skipped town and abandoned their dog in the yard, which was now flooded. When the friend noticed her, she was standing on top of her doghouse. She grabbed the dog, brought her into her garage, fed her, and called Martinez. He and LaRoux took her home. She was really underweight and was limping when we got her. We nursed her back to health, La Roux says. Initially, the plan was for a friends mom to adopt her, but because of the negligence she lived in, she proved a challenging dog. They kept her and renamed her Penny. They posted about the whole experience online, and soon other people were contacting them about other dogs that needed to be rehomed. As Martinez and LaRoux saw the scope of their project grow, they changed its name to Adopt My Block. Along the way, one of LaRouxs best friends, a lawyer, suggested they become a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit and make what theyre doing an official endeavor. In January 2020, Adopt My Block became official. BARK VS. BITE Martinez first hopped on stage at the age of 14, after watching local crew LSP perform at Java Stop in San Jose. After the show, they invited audience members on stage to freestyle. Martinez took them up on the offer. He loved it. In 2003, he joined San Jose/Santa Cruz collective Thunderhut. Two years after that, he released his debut solo album, Dirt 4 $ale, and formed the crew Counter Productive with his high school friends Able Abilities, Skylar and, later, DJ Ichy The Killer. Dirtbag Dan performed his first battle on Grind Time in August 2008 in Oakland against Coroner. Within a couple of years, he was one of the top names in the growing global YouTube rap battle movement. He was a natural fit. Dirtbag Dan always had a comedic style, but would balance it well, by being very technically sound, says musician and King of the Dot lead broadcaster Nick Lush One Hyams. He could do a double-time, then bring it back to comedy. Hilarious punchlines that make fun of people but not in a mean-spirited way. He might hurt your feelings, though. In 2011, Martinez created the Counter Productive YouTube channel to promote his music and battle career. A year later, it became host for The Dirtbag Dan Show, initially with Skylar and Able Abilities, though his co-hosts would periodically change. The show brought on some big guests, including Del the Funky Homosapien of Hieroglyphics, Cadalack Ron and Mac Mall. But his battle career wasnt always good for other aspects of his life. Even with songs like Concentrate, hitting a million views on YouTube, people most often associated him with clever insults. A song like Suburbanites might discuss his troubled childhood and rocky relationship with his dad, but anything called Dirtbag Dan always led back to his battle persona. Fools knew me for battle rap 100% more than anything, Martinez says. People would see 9-15 minute increments of me being super aggressively mean to people. It wasnt necessarily the best judge of my character. 3RTYS, the last Dirtbag Dan album, was released in 2018. After that, he shifted gears and worked on Death Dealers Anonymous, a lo-fi trap project with Reverse Live. As if to further distance himself from the Dirtbag Dan character, in all their videos, the bands faces are blocked out. By the time he shot his final episode of the Dirtbag Dan show in November 2019, hed already been giving out doghouses for months. Though he continued to host Battle of the Zae events and oversee operations on his YouTube channel, he was anxious to stop. His work with Adopt My Block felt more meaningful to him, and he was spread thin. And then there was the global pandemic. With live events no longer an option, he stopped trying to juggle both worlds. LaRoux, a hairstylist, was no longer able to work either, so the both of them devoted their entire lives to rescuing dogs. He passed his YouTube duties on to battle-rapper Ryne Watkins. When battles were able to happen again, they would go to Patreon first. All proceeds to Adopt My Block. SOCIAL ANIMALS As a kid, Martinez desperately wanted a dog, but his parents said no. There was no room at home. LaRoux, on the other hand, grew up around horses and dogs. Her mom fostered golden retrievers. Martinez and LaRoux adopted their first dog together in 2016, a dachshund pit bill from Pet Harbor who they named Lily. They saw her picture online and fell in love. One trip to Lodi later and she was a part of the family. Up until late 2019, it had just been Lily at the home. Now, she shares the space with a whole pack. Martinez says working with dogs has been extremely rewarding. [Professionally], Ive been a dick for X amount of years, he says. Being on tour and you talk to someone, Oh man, that podcast helped me get through a tough time, or whatever. Thats super cool. It does not compare to placing a dog in a home and knowing that Ive made that dogs life infinitely better. Fortunately, starting a dog rescue on the back of a decade-long battle-rap/hip-hop career gave Adopt My Block some energy. It helped that LaRoux also had a big presence online via her salonmore followers than Dirtbag Dan. A hairstylist for 15 years, LaRoux specializes in balayage and vivid color. And she is in high demand. After taking to Instagram, the two reached a lot of people very quickly. 90% of the adoptions we do [are] through Instagram, Martinez says, noting that people become connected when they see an animals transformation from troubled to healthy, confident dog. Its cool for people to be able to follow the story and then get to be the end of it. Adopt My Block got a lot of engagement in 2019 and early 2020. At first, they were reaching out to people to help with fundraisers and find homes, but that no longer became necessary as their social media presence grew. I was blown away by how quickly we were able to develop a support base, Martinez says. One thing that made it similar to music is you got to show the work. As a rapper, I had to constantly find ways for me to be out there. And the more work you do, the more people see it, the more work you can do. And then of course, once the pandemic started, more people were at home on their phones, which brought more eyeballs to Adopt My Blocks Instagram feed. When they realized people were responding to their posts and that they could make a difference, Martinez and LaRoux looked for more dogs in need. They approached homeless encampments, looked for strays and went on Craigslist to find people dumping their dogs. Cookie, a chihuahua mix, was one they pulled out of a homeless encampment. Martinez had been going over there and working with the owners to let them rehome the dogs. Eventually, they agreed I approached and offered food, sweaters, Martinez says. It took me a while, but after she had seen that we were able to place all of her puppies in good homes she decided the best thing for Cookie was to give her to us. They found a new owner with Kayla Resue Anderson, one of LaRouxs clients and friends. Anderson is a pet groomer who donates her services to Adopt My Block. [Cookie] was in a really shitty situation and there was a lot of aggression going on between some of the people in her encampment, LaRoux says. That dog was going to die. We got her out. Now shes the most pampered, amazingly treated dog, laying in a bed with a bunch of cats. Later, Martinez ran into Cookies original owner and showed her Andersons Instagram feed. She was super happy to see how well she was doing. [And it] made my day to see that she was also off the street, Martinez says. Anderson says that after dogs have been rescued, a simple act of grooming can be therapeutic. Theyre scared with all of this weight because the matting is so heavy when its attached to their skin, Anderson says. This weight is lifted off of them and you can tell like theyre so thankful. MAKING FETCH HAPPEN Though Adopt My Block has grown a lot in its first two years, its still currently being run out of Martinez and LaRouxs house. He does the heavy lifting. I do the appointments, driving and adoption interviews, LaRoux says. He does the hardcore stuff where he actually goes in and rescues dogs from shitty situations, but I am there to support. At times, things get overwhelming. There are several dogs in the home. Some will be adopted. Others, like Lily and Penny, are there to stay. Another dog there to stay is Joey, a 9-year-old English bulldog, American Staffordshire terrier mix that lives in the garage. Hes sweet but anxious, and has extreme joint issues and advanced periodontal disease. At this point, Martinez and LaRoux are managing his pain for the remainder of his life. So, they take turns sleeping in the garage next to him. Feels like some days I need to schedule trips to the bathroom. There is always something that needs to be done for these dogs, Martinez says. Adopt My Block has become more than a rescue. Martinez still has a fanbase and is comfortable in front of the camera. He wants to share the view that the practice of dog breeding creates many problems. Though California has banned pet stores from buying dogs from breeders, Martinez says the breeding process itself remains under-regulated, increases genetic defects and creates the idea that dogs have a financial value, which has even led to an uptick in thefts. You dont buy a dog, you adopt a dog because its going to be part of your family forever, Martinez says. Anytime people are making money off of living creatures, the living creatures are pretty much in a bad shape. As it turns out, there are breed-specific rescues out there for just about every breed of dog, something my wife and I discovered when we adopted Nisa. We wanted a German shepherd and assumed we would have to comb through the Humane Society kennels to find one. Then we found the German Shepherd Rescue of Northern California. The dogs were well taken care of by the fosters, the organization did home inspections and the dogs were fixed. It gave us a good feeling to adopt from them. If you do rescue a dog like that, youre a special person, but that doesnt encompass the whole of rescue, Martinez says. You never imagine what someone will leave in a backyard or tied to a fence at a park. Recently, Martinez has brought his two worlds together, placing ads and even an infomercial with battle-rap network King of the Dot. He not only promotes the program, but educates the viewers. We would stream Dan talking about Adopt My Block for a good four to five minutes when theres 20-30,000 people watching. Its been pretty awesome for him, says Dot host Nick Hyams. As he continues to grow Adopt My Block and help more dogs, Martinez is hoping that more people will take the problem seriously. The most important thing I can get across to anybody interested in adding a dog to their family is adopt dont shop. The homeless pet population is out of control, Martinez says. I dont know how many dogs I walked by for 30-35 years and didnt chase down or follow home. It seems fucking crazy. No one would do that with a child, right? I kick myself in the ass that I didnt start this shit sooner. BEDFORDSHIRE [mdash]Michael A. Litchfield, Age 73, passed away April 23 in Bedfordshire, England. He is survived by his wife Vivian, 2 daughters Donna and Michelle , 4 grandchildren, 2 brothers Alan and Philip, 3 sisters Janet and Karen of Bedfordshire and Patricia Cramer of Clinton. He was If you have not already registered (created a username and password) then click on the link below to register. If you have already registered (you already have a username and password), please click on the Get Started below. Your account number is located in the upper left hand corner on your address label on the Enterprise you receive in the mail or on the renewal form you received. The last name must read exactly as it is printed on your label. Enter the account number WITHOUT the leading zeros on the label. China expands COVID-19 test kits production to meet surging global needs Xinhua) 11:22, February 07, 2022 -- As one of the largest manufacturers of the kits, China is speeding up production to meet the skyrocketing demand and contribute to global anti-pandemic efforts, even during the Chinese New Year holidays. -- Chinese manufacturers have seen a spike in orders for test kits against the backdrop of the pandemic. -- The export value of China-made COVID-19 test kits of antibody detection reached 10.2 billion yuan (about 1.6 billion U.S. dollars) last December, an increase of about 144 percent from the previous month. GUANGZHOU, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- As the world is ravaged by highly contagious Omicron variant, the demand for COVID-19 test kits is surging. As one of the largest manufacturers of the kits, China is speeding up production to meet the skyrocketing demand and contribute to global anti-pandemic efforts, even during the Chinese New Year holidays. A staff member of Guangdong Hybribio Biotech Co., Ltd. conducts experiments on COVID-19 testing at a laboratory in south China's Guangdong Province, in February, 2020. (Xinhua) SURGE IN DEMAND Song Xiaoyu chose not to travel about 1,000 km back to her hometown Jingzhou in central China's Hubei Province for family gathering, a Spring Festival tradition observed by the Chinese people. Instead, she is busy producing COVID-19 test kits at a Guangzhou-based factory. Song works for Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech Co., Ltd., a company that mainly produces COVID-19 antigen test kits, most of which are exported to countries of Europe and Asia. "I don't see this as just a job. It is more like a responsibility," she said. "Ensuring the capacity of the kits means a lot to the fight against the pandemic. Most of our colleagues in other departments have also temporarily joined us to help with production." Song added that in return, the company has given out subsidies as well as holiday gifts, and promised compensatory leaves after the peak season. Chinese manufacturers have seen a spike in orders for test kits against the backdrop of the pandemic. Staff members of Guangdong Hybribio Biotech Co., Ltd. conduct experiments on COVID-19 testing at a laboratory in south China's Guangdong Province, in February, 2020. (Xinhua) The export value of China-made COVID-19 test kits of antibody detection reached 10.2 billion yuan (about 1.6 billion U.S. dollars) last December, an increase of about 144 percent from the previous month, according to the data from the General Administration of Customs of China. Starting in January, many overseas customers chose to order in advance to stock up on the test kits considering the pressure of logistics during the Spring Festival, said Xie Longxu, deputy general manager of Guangdong Hybribio Biotech Co., Ltd. BGI Genomics, another major producer of test kits in China, has also seen its overseas orders increase significantly in recent weeks. The company has already been in full production with overseas orders flooding in, said Li Ning, vice president of the company, adding that new orders will take about three weeks to be filled. A staff member (R) of BGI Genomics provides training for an Ethiopian employee at a COVID-19 test kits production plant in Ethiopia, in November, 2020. (Xinhua) ENSURING SUPPLY Thanks to an integrated supply chain for COVID-19 antigen test kits production in China, the companies across the country have the advantage and ability to increase production capacity to ensure global supply. "We need to deal with many orders in a very short time," said Isabella Lau, director of supply chain logistics with Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech Co., Ltd., adding the company has made arrangements in response to skyrocketing demands. The company has more than 400 suppliers of raw materials and has been preparing backup core suppliers to ensure the production and delivery of orders, according to the director. Guangdong Hybribio Biotech has also geared up. "We improve the automation level, upgrade the equipment and add a number of production lines to increase production capacity," Xie said. A staff member of Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech Co., Ltd. produces COVID-19 testing kits in south China's Guangdong Province, in June, 2020. (Xinhua) "We handle foreign orders around the clock," Xie said. "The company will respond immediately to ensure timely delivery whenever an order comes regardless of the time difference." BGI Genomics has made a direct investment in the construction of a test kit production plant in Ethiopia. The plant capable of producing 10 million units a year will not only help Ethiopia produce affordable test kits on its own but contribute to Africa's fight against the pandemic, said Li Ning. Most of the work in the factory is undertaken by local employees, some of whom are in the management team, Li said. (Web editor: Peng yukai, Liang Jun) The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form What's Included With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call our customer service team at 319-283-2144 or email circ@oelweindailyregister.com. In November, I wrote about several people who reported theyd been pushed Windows 11. (At the time, I wasnt sure why they found themselves with Windows 11 installed and they werent sure why either. ) Since then, Ive had other people reach out and credibly relate how they came back to find their computer either wanting a reboot or already running Windows 11. They said they had not accepted or requested the upgrade. At the same time, I cant independently verify this behavior. In my testing, I use a Windows 10 machine with the built-in Microsoft Defender. I cant prove that Microsoft is pushing Windows 11 to users, and I cant prove its not. My suspicion now is that something third-party is triggering the install request. Ive seen several reports in online forums, in posts, and on social media, but I have yet to replicate it on a computer under my control. Im reminded of when most users were running Windows 7 and Office was primarily sold and deployed with individual patches (rather than click-to-run background patching). You would reach the end of the Office install routine and get two questions: Do you want to patch it (switch Windows Update to Microsoft Update in the background effectively agreeing to install patches for more than just Windows)? And do you want Microsoft to keep Office up to date? If you said yes, not only would the computer install Office updates automatically, it would install all updates automatically. The next Patch Tuesday would arrive and Windows Updates would be installed (to the dismay of users who specifically didnt want that to happen). Users were convinced Microsoft had changed their settings without their consent, even though they had done so by saying yes to those two questions. Ive also seen antivirus vendors ask the question after their software is installed: Do you want to keep your operating system up to date? If you say yes, Windows updates install automatically. Because theres no log file Im aware of showing who or what is saying, Yes, to the Windows 11 approval process, I cant definitely say who or what is approving it. But history leads me to believe something is. For those with Windows 11-eligible devices managed by Intune or registered with Windows Software Update Services any of the ways Microsoft deems are managed devices you will not be offered the new OS. You need to take affirmative action to install Windows 11. But if you get your updates from Microsoft Update, youre subject to Windows 11 being offered. Remember, if you want to block the install, you can do so with a registry key for Windows 10 Home or with local group policy for Windows 10 Professional. Even if you defer Windows 11 in the graphical interface, youll be offered it again. The deferral is not permanent unless you use a group policy or registry key. Bottom line: My recommendation is to decide if you do or do not want Windows 11 on your hardware. Microsoft is now in broad release of the operating system, which means it should be offered up to any machine that can run it. So, if you dont want Windows 11, use the registry keys or local group policy methods to ensure you stay on Windows 10. Note this will only block Windows 11; it does not stop Windows 10 from receiving updates or future feature releases. Since I cant guarantee you wont get Windows 11 otherwise, it truly is the safest way to avoid the update. And it will ensure that you are in control of the decision. And finally, remember, there are ways to roll back from Windows 11 to 10 if you act in a timely way. The University of Montanas removal of the mask mandate in February was seen by many as a symbolic end to the COVID-19 pandemic thats ravaged campus for the last two years. But the struggle and the resilience weve seen at UM over these years wasnt for nothing. Weve learned what it me Congratulations, cercurtiss.com got a very good Social Media Impact Score! Show it by adding this HTML code on your site: Cercurtiss.com scored 80 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 4/5.0 Stars by Social Team This CoolSocial report was updated on 4 Oct 2015, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. cercurtiss.com is very popular in Facebook. It has 3 twitter shares and it has 22 twitter followers. Furthermore its facebook page has 12169 likes. Add a widget like this on your site: click here The total number of people who shared the cercurtiss homepage on Delicious. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the cercurtiss homepage on Twitter + the total number of cercurtiss followers (if cercurtiss has a Twitter account). The total number of people who shared the cercurtiss homepage on StumbleUpon. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the cercurtiss homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if cercurtiss has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the cercurtiss homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. Basic Information PAGE TITLE Curtiss Engineering and Research - custom computers built to order, web site design DESCRIPTION Curtiss Engineering and Research, see us for computer systems, computer training, website design, website maintenance, website hosting, domain name registration and computer repair parts new and used. KEYWORDS computer systems, computers made to order, computer training, software training, computer hardware training, computer software training, website design, website maintenance, website hosting, domain name registration, computers, industrial control OTHER KEYWORDS software, training, special, computer, customers, of the month, the month The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The title found in the head section of the homepage. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. Domain and Server DOCTYPE CHARSET AND LANGUAGE WINDOWS-1251 DETECTED LANGUAGE English English SERVER Microsoft-IIS/6.0 (ASP.NET) OPERATIVE SYSTEM Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2003 Type of server and offered services. Operative System running on the server. Character set and language of the site. Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) The language of cercurtiss.com as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world. Referring domains for cercurtiss.com by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines. Facebook link FACEBOOK PAGE LINK FOUND FACEBOOK PAGE www.facebook.com/CERCurtiss DESCRIPTION A company whose goal is to provide quality service to its customers and visitors. LIKES 12169 PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT 11 PAGE TYPE Company TIMELINE PAGE TIMELINE The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. The total number of people who like website Facebook page. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. The URL of the found Facebook page. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. The type of Facebook page. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK FOUND TWITTER PAGE twitter.com/#!/CERCurtiss DESCRIPTION Our goal is to provide quality service to all our customers and visitors. ACCOUNT CREATED ON 16 Feb 2014 LOCATION Union Lake TWEETS 3 FOLLOWERS 22 LISTED 0 Congratulations, ellistabletalk.com got a very good Social Media Impact Score! Show it by adding this HTML code on your site: Ellistabletalk.com scored 81 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 4/5.0 Stars by Social Team This CoolSocial report was updated on 14 Dec 2017, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. The total number of people who shared the ellistabletalk homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the ellistabletalk homepage on Twitter + the total number of ellistabletalk followers (if ellistabletalk has a Twitter account). The total number of people who shared the ellistabletalk homepage on Delicious. The total number of people who shared the ellistabletalk homepage on StumbleUpon. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the ellistabletalk homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if ellistabletalk has a Facebook fan page). Basic Information PAGE TITLE Ellis Table Talk DESCRIPTION KEYWORDS OTHER KEYWORDS read me, read, read me, please, read me as i, read me as, read me as CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The title found in the head section of the homepage. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. Domain and Server DOCTYPE HTML 5.0 CHARSET AND LANGUAGE English (United States) UTF-8English (United States) DETECTED LANGUAGE English English SERVER Apache/2.2.15 (CentOS) (PHP/5.3.3) OPERATIVE SYSTEM Linux Linux The language of ellistabletalk.com as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Operative System running on the server. Type of server and offered services. Character set and language of the site. Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world. Referring domains for ellistabletalk.com by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines. Facebook link FACEBOOK PAGE LINK NOT FOUND Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. The type of Facebook page. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. The URL of the found Facebook page. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. The total number of people who like website Facebook page. Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND Corsicana, TX (75110) Today Cloudy and becoming windy. A stray thunderstorm is possible. High 86F. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph.. Tonight Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Low 71F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 60%. It's candy week at Cracked. Prepare for a sugar high. If you don't have any special information, you probably assume the Baby Ruth chocolate bar is named after Babe Ruth. The names sound alike. Baby Ruth has advertised widely at baseball games. They even had one campaign some years back featuring the face of Babe Ruth. And yet the makers of Baby Ruth, the Curtiss Candy Company, said that it wasn't named for the baseball player at all. It was named after President Grover Cleveland's daughter, Ruth. Wow, that's a weird bit of trivia. Unless, you know, the company was just lying. Ruth Cleveland was indeed known as "Baby Ruth" when she was born, and it was a big deal for a sitting president to become a new father. That happened in 1891. Baby Ruth chocolate came out in 1921. Not only had it been a generation since the country went nuts over the First Baby, it had been 17 years since she'd died. That's right: Ruth Cleveland died at 12, of diphtheria, so if Curtiss wanted people thinking of the girl when they thought of the candy, it meant they wanted people thinking of child death. Continue Reading Below Advertisement Babe Ruth, meanwhile, was a pretty big deal in 1921, and the Curtiss Candy Company had its headquarters on the same street as Wrigley Field. It sounds an awful lot like they did name the candy for Babe but just didn't want to say so, to avoid having to pay for his official endorsement. The irony is that in 1926 Babe Ruth then did officially lend his name to a chocolate bar, Ruths Home Run Bar. Curtiss sued, saying that the name infringed on the Baby Ruth nameand a court agreed, shutting the Home Run Bar down. Sue B. Donnelly, 87, of Crossville, passed away at her home on April 26, 2022. She was born on May 18, 1934, in Crossville, Tennessee, daughter of the late James T. Brandon and Clara (Hamby) Brandon. Sue was the owner of Boats and Harbors and of the Baptist Faith. She is survived by her chil What is social engineering? Social engineering is the art of exploiting human psychology, rather than technical hacking techniques, to gain access to buildings, systems, or data. For example, instead of trying to find a software vulnerability, a social engineer might call an employee and pose as an IT support person, trying to trick the employee into divulging his password. Famous hacker Kevin Mitnick helped popularize the term 'social engineering' in the '90s, although the idea and many of the techniques have been around as long as there have been scam artists. Even if you've got all the bells and whistles when it comes to securing your data center, your cloud deployments, your building's physical security, and you've invested in defensive technologies, have the right security policies and processes in place and measure their effectiveness and continuously improve, still a crafty social engineer can weasel his way right through (or around). How does social engineering work? The phrase "social engineering" encompasses a wide range of behaviors, and what they all have in common is that they exploit certain universal human qualities: greed, curiosity, politeness, deference to authority, and so on. While some classic examples of social engineering take place in the "real world"a man in a FedEx uniform bluffing his way into an office building, for examplemuch of our daily social interaction takes place online, and that's where most social engineering attacks happen as well. For instance, you might not think of phishing or smishing as types of social engineering attacks, but both rely on tricking youby pretending to be someone you trust or tempting you with something you wantinto downloading malware onto your device. This brings up another important point, which is that social engineering can represent a single step in a larger attack chain. A smishing text uses social dynamics to entice you with a free gift card, but once you tap the link and download malicious code, your attackers will be using their technical skills to gain control of your device and exploit it. Social engineering examples A good way to get a sense of what social engineering tactics you should look out for is to know about what's been used in the past. We've got all the details in an extensive article on the subject, but for the moment let's focus on three social engineering techniques independent of technological platforms that have been successful for scammers in a big way. Offer something sweet. As any con artist will tell you, the easiest way to scam a mark is to exploit their own greed. This is the foundation of the classic Nigerian 419 scam, in which the scammer tries to convince the victim to help get supposedly ill-gotten cash out of their own country into a safe bank, offering a portion of the funds in exchange. These "Nigerian prince" emails have been a running joke for decades, but they're still an effective social engineering technique that people fall for: in 2007 the treasurer of a sparsely populated Michigan county gave $1.2 million in public funds to such a scammer in the hopes of personally cashing in. Another common lure is the prospect of a new, better job, which apparently is something far too many of us want: in a hugely embarrassing 2011 breach, the security company RSA was compromised when at least two low-level employees opened a malware file attached to a phishing email with the file name "2011 recruitment plan.xls." Fake it till you make it. One of the simplest and surprisingly most successful social engineering techniques is to simply pretend to be your victim. In one of Kevin Mitnick's legendary early scams, he got access to Digital Equipment Corporation's OS development servers simply by calling the company, claiming to be one of their lead developers, and saying he was having trouble logging in; he was immediately rewarded with a new login and password. This all happened in 1979, and you'd think things would've improved since then, but you'd be wrong: in 2016, a hacker got control of a U.S. Department of Justice email address and used it to impersonate an employee, coaxing a help desk into handing over an access token for the DoJ intranet by saying it was his first week on the job and he didn't know how anything worked. Many organizations do have barriers meant to prevent these kinds of brazen impersonations, but they can often be circumvented fairly easily. When Hewlett-Packard hired private investigators to find out which HP board members were leaking info to the press in 2005, they were able to supply the PIs with the last four digits of their targets' social security number which AT&T's tech support accepted as proof of ID before handing over detailed call logs. Act like you're in charge. Most of us are primed to respect authority or, as it turns out, to respect people who act like they have the authority to do what they're doing. You can exploit varying degrees of knowledge of a company's internal processes to convince people that you have the right to be places or see things that you shouldn't, or that a communication coming from you is really coming from someone they respect. For instance, in 2015 finance employees at Ubiquiti Networks wired millions of dollars in company money to scam artists who were impersonating company executives, probably using a lookalike URL in their email address. On the lower tech side, investigators working for British tabloids in the late '00s and early '10s often found ways to get access to victims' voicemail accounts by pretending to be other employees of the phone company via sheer bluffing; for instance, one PI convinced Vodafone to reset actress Sienna Miller's voicemail PIN by calling and claiming to be "John from credit control." Sometimes it's external authorities whose demands we comply with without giving it much thought. Hillary Clinton campaign honcho John Podesta had his email hacked by Russian spies in 2016 when they sent him a phishing email disguised as a note from Google asking him to reset his password. By taking action that he thought would secure his account, he actually gave his login credentials away. 5 types of social engineering Phishing, as we noted above, which also includes text-based smishing and voice-based vishing These attacks are often low-effort but widely spread; for instance, a phisher might send out thousands of identical emails, hoping someone will be gullible enough to click on the attachment. Spear phishing, or whaling, is a "high-touch" variation of phishing for high-value targets. Attackers spend time researching their victim, who's usually a high-status person with a lot of money they can be separated from, in order to craft unique and personalized scam communications. Baiting is a key part of all forms of phishing and other scams as wellthere's always something to tempt the victim, whether a text with a promise of a free gift card or something much more lucrative or salacious. Pretexting involves creating a story, or pretext, to convince someone to give up valuable information or access to some system or account. A pretexter might manage to find some of your personally identifying information and use it to trick youfor instance, if they know what bank you use, they might call you up and claim to be a customer service rep who needs to know your account number to help with a late payment. Or they could use the information to imitate youthis was the technique used by those HP PIs we discussed above. Business email frauds combine several of the above techniques. An attacker either gains control of a victim's email address or manages to send emails that look like they're from that address, then start sending emails to subordinates at work requesting the transfer of funds to accounts they control. How to spot social engineering attacks The security company Norton has done a pretty good job of outlining some red flags that could be a sign of a social engineering attack. These apply across social and technological techniques, and are good to keep in the back of your mind as you try to stay on guard: Someone you know sends an unusual message: Stealing or mimicking someone's online identity and then mining their social circles is relatively easy for a determined attacker, so if you get a message from a friend, relative, or coworker that seems off, be very sure you're really talking to them before you act on it. It's possible that your granddaughter really is on a vacation she didn't tell you about and needs money, or that your boss really does wants you to wire a six-figure sum to a new supplier in Belarus, but that's something for you to triple-check before you hit send. Stealing or mimicking someone's online identity and then mining their social circles is relatively easy for a determined attacker, so if you get a message from a friend, relative, or coworker that seems off, be very sure you're really talking to them before you act on it. It's possible that your granddaughter really is on a vacation she didn't tell you about and needs money, or that your boss really does wants you to wire a six-figure sum to a new supplier in Belarus, but that's something for you to triple-check before you hit send. A stranger is making an offer that's too good to be true: Again, we all laugh at the Nigerian prince emails, but many of us still fall for scams that trick us by telling us we're about to get something we never expected and never asked for. Whether it's an email telling you won a lottery you didn't enter or a text from a weird number offering you a free gift card just for paying your phone bill on time, if it feels too good to be true, it probably is. Again, we all laugh at the Nigerian prince emails, but many of us still fall for scams that trick us by telling us we're about to get something we never expected and never asked for. Whether it's an email telling you won a lottery you didn't enter or a text from a weird number offering you a free gift card just for paying your phone bill on time, if it feels too good to be true, it probably is. Your emotions are heightened and you have to act now: Social engineering scammers play on strong emotionsfear, greed, empathyto inculcate a sense of urgency specifically so you don't stop to think twice about scenarios like the ones we just outlined. A particularly pernicious technique in this realm is a tech support scam, which preys on people who are already nervous about hacks but not very tech savvy: you hear from an aggressive person who claims to be from Google or Microsoft, tells you that your system has been compromised, and demands that you change your passwords right awaytricking you into revealing your credentials to them in the process. How to avoid being a victim of social engineering Fighting against all of these techniques requires vigilance and a zero-trust mindset. That can be difficult to inculcate in ordinary people; in the corporate world, security awareness training is the number one way to prevent employees from falling prey to high-stakes attacks. Employees should be aware that social engineering exists and be familiar with the most commonly used tactics. Fortunately, social engineering awareness lends itself to storytelling. And stories are much easier to understand and much more interesting than explanations of technical flaws. Quizzes and attention-grabbing or humorous posters are also effective reminders about not assuming everyone is who they say they are. But it isn't just the average employee who needs to be aware of social engineering. As we saw, social engineers focus on high-value targets like CEOs and CFOs. Senior leadership often resists going to the trainings mandated for their employees, but they need to be aware of these attacks more than anyone. 5 tips for defending against social engineering CSO contributor Dan Lohrmann offers the following advice: Train and train again when it comes to security awareness. Ensure that you have a comprehensive security awareness training program in place that is regularly updated to address both the general phishing threats and the new targeted cyberthreats. Remember, this is not just about clicking on links. Provide a detailed briefing roadshow on the latest online fraud techniques to key staff. Yes, include senior executives, but dont forget anyone who has authority to make wire transfers or other financial transactions. Remember that many of the true stories involving fraud occur with lower-level staff who get fooled into believing an executive is asking them to conduct an urgent action usually bypassing normal procedures and/or controls. Review existing processes, procedures, and separation of duties for financial transfers and other important transactions. Add extra controls, if needed. Remember that separation of duties and other protections may be compromised at some point by insider threats, so risk reviews may need to be reanalyzed given the increased threats. Consider new policies related to out of band transactions or urgent executive requests. An email from the CEOs Gmail account should automatically raise a red flag to staff, but they need to understand the latest techniques being deployed by the dark side. You need authorized emergency procedures that are well-understood by all. Review, refine and test your incident management and phishing reporting systems. Run a tabletop exercise with management and with key personnel on a regular basis. Test controls and reverse-engineer potential areas of vulnerability. Social engineering trends ISACAs latest report State of Security 2021, Part 2 (a survey of almost 3,700 global cybersecurity professionals) discovered that social engineering is the leading cause of compromises experienced by organizations, while PhishLabs Quarterly Threat Trends and Intelligence Report revealed a 22% increase in the volume of phishing attacks in the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2020. Recent research by Gemini has also illustrated how cyber-criminals use social engineering techniques to bypass specific security protocols such as 3D Secure to commit payment fraud. After a Waterbury man was charged last week with tracking a victim using an Apple AirTag, advocates are raising concerns about how technology intended for convenience can be abused to track peoples movements. Naugatuck police said officers responded to a reported domestic dispute, and the investigation discovered the man placed a tracking device (Apple AirTag) in the victim's vehicle. Police said 27-year-old Wilfred Gonzalez was charged with first-degree stalking and violation of a protective order. Both offenses are felonies. He is also facing a charge of misdemeanor breach of peace. The case is next scheduled to appear in Waterbury Superior Court on March 30. Gonzalez has not yet entered a plea in the case and does not have an attorney on file, according to the clerks office. Gonzalez did not respond to a message seeking comment. Other details in the case, including how the victim or authorities became aware of the device placed in the vehicle, were not immediately available. Apple AirTags have been reported in stalking cases nationwide where victims say their movements were tracked by the tiny disk-shaped devices placed in their belongings without their knowledge. Police have also warned of the devices being used to track vehicles, potentially by thieves looking to steal the car at a later time. Unlike a GPS device that uses satellites to pinpoint its location, AirTags use a Bluetooth signal thats picked up by Apple devices around it to find the trackers location. Meghan Scanlon, CEO of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, said tracking devices used by abusers have been an issue for many, many years, but the AirTags low cost the devices retail for $29 make them much more accessible. It presents a concerning problem for advocates, she said. Lisa Dadio, a retired New Haven police lieutenant who headed the departments Major Crimes division, said the technology is a more sophisticated form of tracking someone. Its a lot easier with these types of devices now that you could slip a little disk into anything that somebody has, and that person not realize it, and then you can track their movements, she said. Several years ago, you would just follow them you would follow their car, you would walk behind them nowhere near as covert as whats happening now. Dadio, who now teaches forensics and investigative techniques at the University of New Haven, said the devices dont just pose a threat to domestic violence victims, but could also be used by a person looking to rob, stalk or sexually assault someone. Its definitely something for everybody to be concerned about, she said. Law enforcement agencies has technology to locate tracking devices, she said, but not every department while have access to it, so they may need to reach out to state and federal agencies. Tracking devices fall under an umbrella of digital coercion and control that may be hard for victims to recognize, advocates said. Forms of domestic violence that are more well known to people you know, somebody screaming at you from your front yard, or physically harming you, or putting you in harms way or threatening your loved ones those are fairly obvious, said Dr. James ODea, vice president of Hartford HealthCares Behavorial Health Network, and a clinical psychologist. This kind of thing is another level that because it can be done in such a quiet and secret way ... people may not even know or feel comfortable reporting that they feel uneasy about whats happening. AirTags, and similar devices like the Tile brand of trackers, are marketed for personal convenience something users are supposed to slip in their purse or attach to a key ring to track down missing objects. But Scanlon said there will be abusers who take advantage of new technologies to help keep someone under their control, which is their ultimate goal. Asked about the Naugatuck arrest and others like it, an Apple spokesperson provided a statement that said the company takes customer safety very seriously and are committed to AirTags privacy and security. AirTag is designed with a set of proactive features to discourage unwanted tracking a first in the industry that both inform users if an unknown AirTag might be with them, and deter bad actors from using an AirTag for nefarious purposes, the statement reads. If users ever feel their safety is at risk, they are encouraged to contact local law enforcement who can work with Apple to provide any available information about the unknown AirTag. Its not clear how often the devices are used in crimes in Connecticut. State police said a query of their system showed one case involving AirTags, which was associated with a domestic violence investigation in Windham County. Last year, Connecticut lawmakers amended a state law involving electronic stalking. The measure increased the severity of penalties under the states electronic stalking law, moving it from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class D felony, said state Sen. Christine Cohen, a Guilford Democrat. Technology is sort of advancing at such a rapid pace, we really need to be able to keep up where the protection of our residents [is] concerned, Cohen said. She called the Naugatuck incident a terrible situation. I hope because of our updated laws here in Connecticut that appropriate justice in these cases is served, she added. Scanlon said the state has strong laws against domestic violence, but technology evolves at such a fast rate, and not always during the legislatures session. She suggested lawmakers may want to consider whether AirTags fall outside the legislation during this session. Scanlon and ODea said people who think theyre being tracked or monitored electronically should trust their instinct. Trust your gut, Scanlon said. If you or someone you know is the victim of stalking or intimate partner violence, call or text CTSafeConnect at 888-774-2900, or visit https://ctsafeconnect.com/ Gov. Ned Lamont announced Monday that the state would lift its requirement that students, teachers and staff wear masks in schools one of his most fiercely contested COVID-19 mandates and is instead shifting the power to local leaders to make decisions for their districts. Lamont said he is recommending the statewide mandate be lifted Feb. 28. We are two years into this thing. Youre not going to get an all-clear sign, theres not going to be a day they say we have zero infections. ... We know from previous experience that there will be additional ripples as time goes. I think this is the right decision at the right time to give this discretion ... up to our superintendents, Lamont said. More to the point, I think its going to be milder and less impactful and that means your vaccine, and your booster and your mask on special occasions are going to be more impactful and keep you safe. Giving the power to school districts follows a similar tactic Lamont took amid recent spikes in COVID-19 infections in which he empowered municipal leaders to institute their own indoor mask mandates instead of enacting a statewide order. You can certainly continue to mask if you decide in your community thats what works best for you. However, if you chose not to, that is what we are allowing you to do by removing the statewide mandate, said Dr. Manisha Juthani, commissioner of the state Department of Public Health. Lamonts move to lift the school mask mandate came the same day that New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a close ally of Lamonts during the pandemic, announced he will lift his states requirement for students and teachers to wear masks, the Associated Press reported. Lamont indicated last week that a decision on the school mask mandate would likely be coming this week and hinted that giving local leaders the authority to establish their own requirements was a real possibility. Before Lamonts announcement, his likely Republican challenger for governor urged for the mandate to be lifted. The governor has maintained full executive authority over the state for nearly two years and its time to end the one-size-fits-all approach for masks in our schools, Bob Stefanowski said in a statement Monday morning. I am calling on the governor to immediately remove the mandate on masks for Connecticuts schools. An executive order, issued by Lamont under emergency powers during the pandemic, allows the states education department, in consultation with DPH, to have discretion over requiring masks in schools. This order is among 11 Lamont has asked the legislature to keep in place when his emergency powers expire Feb. 15. If the legislature approves this order, the mandate will remain in place until Feb. 28 when the discretion is given to local leaders, Lamonts administration said. We would reserve the right to make a change to keep you safe, Lamont said, should another COVID-19 variant arrive and drive up infections. However, he said it was unlikely he would reinstate a broad school mask requirement. While municipal leaders have the ability to set indoor mask mandates, Lamont said it will be up to them going forward if those orders include schools. That's at their discretion, the governor said. While COVID-19 metrics have been declining, the numbers still remain much higher than earlier segments of the pandemic when Lamont extended the measure requiring masks in schools. The most recent numbers, released on Monday, show that the positivity rate had fallen to 4.77 percent from a high of 24.55 percent on Jan. 7. Hospitalizations, another key metric, have fallen from a recent high of 1,939 patients to a total of 631 on Monday. However, the positivity rate remains about three to four percentage points higher than when students returned to the classroom in the fall, and hospitalizations are nearly double what was seen at the start of the academic year. Another metric that has seen a sharp decline since peaking during this wave is the number of infections among students and teachers. In last Thursdays weekly report, there were 3,904 reported COVID cases among students and 695 infections among teachers and staff, each about a quarter what was seen in early January. But these numbers dwarf the reports in the early weeks of the school year when student cases peaked at 916 on Sept. 15. We expect that our numbers will continue to go down. We still know that masking is an effective way to keep kids in schools. Now schools will have the ability to make the decision themselves for what works for their community, Juthani said. Juthani said DPH plans to issue guidance for local leaders and for school districts on how to address masking and what to do if cases are reported in schools where masks are optional. Education leaders and unions criticized Lamont and his administration last month for not doing enough to protect them amid the height of the omicron surge. However, the governor received their support Monday in announcing the end to the mask mandate. I am an educator and we will move with our Department of Public Health, said Fran Rabinowitz, director of the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents. Health experts, who have long stressed the importance of face coverings to limit the spread of COVID-19 infections, acknowledged Monday that a decision on masks in schools needed to be made eventually. At some point, we have to come to these decisions and begin to relax some of these mitigation strategies. There are some things that need to be watched closely as we peel these back, said Dr. Thomas Murray, associate director for infection prevention at Yale New Haven Childrens Hospital. Murray mentioned that increasing vaccination rates among children, along with continuing declines in community transmission will be important with the approaching end of the statewide mandate. There will need to be a clear plan for quarantine rules when unmasked children are exposed in the classroom. What you dont want to happen is kids missing school, you need kids in school, you need them socializing (and) you need them together, Murray said. Dr. Ulysses Wu, chief epidemiologist for Hartford HealthCare, said a decision on mask requirements cannot rely entirely on science. We do know that masking works, that's from a science standpoint. But, when it comes to a decision such as making masks mandatory or not, we do know that science does not exist in a vacuum, and there are much smarter people than I that need to make that decision. But we try not to look at masking as a binary thing, a zero or one, where one day all of a sudden we can say, 'all right no more masks.' It's always a decision that's going to be made in totality, not with respect to just science, but also with respect to society as well, Wu said. The plans to lift the mask mandate come amid flagging efforts to get more school-aged children vaccinated. As of last week, 44 percent of children ages 5 to 11 were fully vaccinated, 79 percent of children age 12 to 15 were fully vaccinated and 86 percent of those age 16 and 17 were fully vaccinated, state figures show. It was unclear from state figures how many of those children had received a booster. With the mask mandate being lifted, Lamont encouraged parents to get their children vaccinated. Youve got another three weeks, so heres your chance to step up, he said. If you have any concerns at all, heres your chance to step up and make sure your child is vaccinated and safe. Lamonts mask requirement, a keystone in the broad efforts to return students to the classroom in the first full academic year following the arrival of COVID-19 in Connecticut, has faced consistent backlash from some parents. Along with public efforts, including protests and lawn-sign campaigns, a group of parents filed a lawsuit in August 2020 against Lamont that sought to end to the mandate. They argued that masks were ineffective and potentially harmful to children. However, a Hartford Superior Court judge ruled in favor of Lamont in May 2021. In an early decision denying an injunction, Judge Thomas J. Moukawsher acknowledged that the mask mandate was not without drawbacks, including muffled voices and hidden faces. But the other branches of government the ones whose job it is to do so have judged that these mostly minimal burdens on children are outweighed by the certainty that over 213,000 American grandparents, parents and children are dead from COVID-19 and that it is a good thing to try to reduce the death rate, Moukawsher wrote in November 2020. Since Moukawsher wrote this decision denying the emergency injunction, nearly 700,000 more people have died in the United States of COVID-19. Staff Writer Peter Yankowski contributed to this story. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Jo-Anne Passalacqua was worried about strep throats. Passalacqua, an infectious disease specialist with Hartford HealthCare and St. Vincents Medical Center in Bridgeport, said she was concerned during the early days of the pandemic how the rise in telehealth visits would impact their ability to diagnose illnesses that typically require looking inside the patients nose or mouth. My concern was, Gosh what are we going to do if someone has strep throat? Passalacqua said. She had similar concerns about ear infections, another condition that requires examining a patient up close. In those early months of the pandemic, Passalacqua wondered how she would care for strep and ear infection patients. Then, something unexpected happened. Lo and behold, there werent any, she said. Even as COVID-19 restrictions have loosened and businesses, including doctors offices, have reopened, Passalacqua said she has continued to see lower-than-normal strep numbers. I cant think of the last time I had a diagnosis of strep in my private practice, she said. I think it was six to eight weeks ago. Usually, during peak respiratory illness season, we see one or two cases a week. Passalacqua thinks the continued wearing of masks might have contributed to the lower numbers. What it says to me is that masks and hand-washing are really good, she said. It really speaks to the concept that masks can do some amazing things on rates of infections. Shes not alone in her thinking. Every time we have a (COVID) surge and people do better with their masks, we see other illnesses go down, said Dr. Zane Saul, chief of infectious disease at Bridgeport Hospital. At Nuvance Health which includes Norwalk, Danbury, New Milford and Sharon Hospitals a spokesperson said in a statement that while they didnt have numbers readily available, anecdotal evidence from Nuvance Health family medicine and pediatricians suggest that strep throat and ear infection illnesses may have been more mild this winter season and that is mostly likely due to masking. Dr. Sanford Swidler, a pediatrician at Stamford Hospital, said hes seen a decline in ear infections and strep as well. The obvious answer (for why that is happening) is that people are being more socially distant and wearing masks, he said. Saul and Passalacqua said they also noticed a dip in ear infections and, though flu is up from last season when there was unusually low activity its not at its pre-COVID levels. The state Department of Public Health reported that 1,638 people tested positive for the flu in Connecticut as of Jan. 15. Last season, as of July 17, 181 people had tested positive for flu. But, in the 2018-19 season before the start of the pandemic 10,619 people in the state tested positive for flu. Passalacqua said the lower rates of strep, ear infections and other lessons show that behavioral changes can make a big difference We should consider that, when we put on a mask, wash our hands or make the decision not to go out when not feeling well, were doing something much greater than preventing the spread of COVID, she said. At least one expert had a slightly different theory about why strep and ear infections, in particular, are seeing modest numbers. Dr. Howard Selinger, chair of family medicine at the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University, said said social distancing and other COVID-related measures might make a difference, but he pointed out that strep and ear infections are bacterial infections as opposed to COVID and the flu, which are caused by viruses. Strep throat is caused by bacteria called group A streptococcus. The two most common bacterial causes of ear infections are treptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae. Bacteria do not spread quite as easily as viruses, Selinger said. Add that factor to preventative measures such as mask-wearing and hand-washing, and a drop in infections is a likely result, he said. Saul said he doesnt expect the possible positive impact of mask-wearing on non-COVID illness to lead to an extension of mask mandates, but it will certainly encourage him to wear a mask for the foreseeable future. I think in the winter months, even if were not required to wear masks, I will continue to wear one, he said. I think a lot of health care people will. MANCHESTER The teenager who was hit by a car Feb. 2 in Manchester and died Friday as a result of her injuries has been identified, according to police. In a statement Sunday by the Manchester Police Department, the teen has been identified as 15-year-old Jennifer Nicolas of Hartford. Jennifer was pronounced dead Friday at the Connecticut Childrens Medical Center in Hartford. On Wednesday at around 5:30 p.m., Manchester police officers, along with fire and EMS personnel, were dispatched to New State Road in the area of Hilliard Street for a report of a motor vehicle accident with injuries, police said. Responding personnel arrived and found the teen in the roadway suffering significant life-threatening injuries, police said. Emergency medical care was given to her at the scene before she was transported to Connecticut Childrens Medical Center by ambulance, according to police. The vehicle that struck Jennifer had been traveling northbound on New State Road and was located a short distance from the initial scene, according to police. The operator was uninjured and is cooperating with the investigation, police said. According to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the cause of death, which was ruled an accident, was a blunt impact injury of head. In a Twitter post Saturday, the Hartford Deportation Defense, an immigrant-led community group, expressed their condolences to the Nicolas family. The post said the family is part of the groups mutual aid network. Further investigation into the incident is ongoing and is expected to take a lengthy amount of time to complete, according to police. The Manchester Police Department Traffic Unit and the Metro Traffic Services Crash Reconstruction Team is investigating the collision. They are asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash or has additional information to contact Officer Kevin Jackson at 860-533-8651. With Congress failing to pass new voting rights legislation, its worth remembering that throughout U.S. history, new civil rights laws designed to end racial inequities across American life have been met by stubborn resistance. Senate Democrats Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona joined Senate Republicans in blocking both the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. These bills would have combated voter suppression by creating a national automatic voter registration system, and they also would have banned partisan gerrymandering. In the wake of the vote, President Joe Biden said he was profoundly disappointed that the United States Senate has failed to stand up for democracy. These setbacks in Congress come on the heels of millions of Americans calling for change. The demonstrations that followed George Floyds death in 2020 belonged to a broader effort to reckon with white violence and discrimination in U.S. life. The historical roots of the nations contemporary racial injustice were documented in the 1619 Project, a New York Times undertaking in 2019 that reexamined the legacy of slavery in the U.S. In 2021, widespread commemoration of the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 also contributed to this moment of racial reckoning. As a total of 28 states are now considering or have enacted legislation to limit the teaching of this painful history, Id argue that this is a moment to dig more deeply into our nations past. As a scholar of African American history, I believe that revisiting American history can uncover the roots of the current national challenges from what children learn in school to how Americans are treated as they drive a car and help us chart a better path forward. Legacy of violence and discrimination The belief in white supremacy that has endured for centuries in America was made plain in the 1852 Supreme Court ruling Dred Scott v. Sandford, which determined that Black Americans were not American citizens and could not sue in federal court. Following the Civil War, a Republican Congress seemed to make progress for American civil rights with the passage of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery. Congress attempted to guarantee equal protection under the law for all Americans with the 14th Amendment. And Congress passed the 15th Amendment, which gave all men the right to vote, regardless of race. Additionally, Congress passed two Civil Rights Acts in 1866 and 1875. These laws and amendments, passed during the period of Reconstruction, were intended to provide the full benefits of citizenship for African Americans, including voting and equal legal protection. But the legacy of Dred Scott endured. In 1883, the Supreme Court struck down the Civil Rights Acts in a series of decisions and opened the way for public and private entities to refuse service and accommodation to Black Americans. These decisions were the precursor to the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson decision that made separate but equal the law of the land, legalizing segregation. The Plessy decision was not simply about relegating Black Americans to separate water fountains and toilets. It invalidated Black Americans equal protection under the law, a move that subjected African American communities to horrific consequences. The ruling resulted in a major setback for racial equality. Between 1877 and 1945, more than 4,400 Black Americans were lynched without a trial. In the summer of 1919, whats known as the Red Summer, the blood of Black Americans flowed in the streets of American cities as Black people and their property endured violent assault, with no protection from the law. This white mob violence was a response to African Americans seeking wartime jobs in Northern and Midwestern cities during the Great Migration. Thats when millions of African Americans moved from the Southern countryside to urban areas nationwide, escaping horrific discrimination, lynchings and the terror of the Ku Klux Klan. During World War II, white and Black Americans battled Nazi racism in segregated units. But a budding freedom movement at home finally began to secure legal victories before the Supreme Court. In 1944, the courts Smith v. Allwright decision ended the exclusionary white primary that had prevented Black Americans from voting across the South. And the high court made segregation in schools illegal in 1954s Brown v. Topeka Board of Education. Retrenchment and resistance Yet the Allwright ruling was not enforced, and Black Americans still could not vote across the South. And the Supreme Courts ruling in Brown was met with massive resistance by lawmakers, ultimately requiring a second Supreme Court decision Brown II and an act of Congress the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to end lawful segregation in the United States. In 2013, the Supreme Court removed the heart of the Voting Rights Act, allowing nine states with a history of race-based voting restrictions to change their election laws without prior federal approval. In 2020, 60 years after the Brown decision, the Economic Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank, reported that Black youth are twice as likely to attend segregated, high-poverty schools as their white counterparts. And in July 2021, the court upheld an Arizona law that disqualifies ballots of those who vote in the wrong precinct a decision that challengers say will make it harder for minority populations to vote. Home ownership remained a problem. Despite the Fair Housing Act of 1968, Black Americans were victims of systemic predatory mortgage lending in the years leading up to the 2008 financial crisis. Minority homeowners were overcharged for mortgage fees and subjected to long-term financial risks, such as monthly payments that get more expensive over time. These practices created significantly lower levels of home ownership and home equity in Black communities. As yet, no law has created the equality enshrined in the nations founding documents. Indeed, the challenging lesson from our nations history is that a deep well of strength and resilience is required for the long struggle to make equity and equality under the law a reality in the United States. Anthony Siracusa is senior director of inclusive culture and initiatives at the University of Colorado Boulder. This essay first appeared on the website The Conversation. STORY LINK Pound Australian Dollar Exchange Rate News: GBP/AUD Falls as Chinese PMI Services Prints Higher Than Forecast GBP/AUD Stumbles as Chinese PMI Services Print Higher-Than-Expected Australian Dollar (AUD) Rises as Chinese PMI Data Overshoots Forecast Pound (GBP) Falls as UK Political Landscape Remains Unsettled GBP/AUD Exchange Rate Forecast: Will Business Confidence Weigh on AUD? Like this piece? Please share with your friends and colleagues: The Pound Australian Dollar (GBP/AUD) exchange rate is slipping today after China saw services PMI print marginally higher than forecast.At the time of writing, the GBP/AUD exchange rate is trading at approximately AU$1.9066, approximately down by 0.3% from todays opening levels.The Australian Dollar (AUD) is climbing against the Pound (GBP) this morning as Chinas PMI services for January printed slightly above forecast.Due to the close trading links between Australia and China, the better-than-expected data is bolstering AUDs potential.However, the figures also showed growth in in the Chinese service sector still slowed to a six-month low as a result of coronavirus-related restrictions.Wang Zhe, senior economist at Caixin Insight Group, said:In December and January, the resurgence of COVID-19 in several regions such as Xian and Beijing forced local governments to tighten epidemic control measures, which restricted production, transportation and sales of goods.This year, policymakers should make stability their focus. They should priorit[s]e improvements to employment and optimi[s]e the structure of the economy.Further bolstering AUDs potential is the reopening of the Chinese economy following the Lunar New Year, as well as a risk-on market mood which is helping the Loonie to recover some of Fridays losses.In addition, the Australian Prime Minister has stated that if youre double-vaccinated, we look forward to welcoming you back, as the Australian borders reopen to tourists for the first time since March 2020.This is boosting AUD on hopes a rejuvenated tourism sector could provide a major boost to the Australian economy.On the other hand, the final publication of Australias retail sales for December reported a 4.4% contraction of sales growth over the festive period, and is capping the Australian Dollars gains this morning.The Pound (GBP) is dropping against the Australian Dollar (USD) this morning amidst ongoing UK political jitters.Sir Charles Walker, former 1992 Committee vice chair, believes it to be inevitable Boris Johnson, will be removed as Prime Minister following the partygate scandal and Sue Grays damning report update.Sir John Curtice, British political scientist, said:A high proportion of Tory voters believe he broke the rules and they dont believe what he is saying this is a real problem for him. The question becomes, what will they believe him on in future?Political parties can recover from electoral trouble. But leaders rarely recover, once a leader becomes very unpopular. Its very difficult to reverse.So far, Boris Johnson is fighting a losing battle in persuading people that he did not break the rules The art of rhetoric, at which he is brilliant, may not be sufficient to enable him to restore his reputation.The ongoing political uncertainty looks to remain a key source of weakness for the Pound in the coming days.Later this week, we may see Australians latest Business Confidence release buoy the Pound Australian Dollar (GBP/AUD) exchange rate.Januarys index is forecast to slip from -12 to -14, showing a further decline in business confidence and weighing on AUDs appeal.However, the consumer confidence index for February is predicted to marginally increase which may boost the Aussie.Additionally, the reopening of the Australian border and a speech by the Reserve Bank of Australias Governor, Philip Lowe may also support the Australian Dollar.On the other hand, Sterling is likely to be influenced by both a speech from Bank of Englands Governor, Andrew Bailey, as well as the ongoing UK political turbulence. International Money Transfer? Ask our resident FX expert a money transfer question or try John's new, free, no-obligation personal service! ,where he helps every step of the way, ensuring you get the best exchange rates on your currency requirements. TAGS: Pound Australian Dollar Forecasts Instant unlimited access to all of our content on currypilot.com. The Curry Coastal Pilot's E-Edition Newsletter emailed to you each week, the night before the paper hits the street! This subscription is for NEW or RENEWING online subscribers. (The charge will appear as "Country Media Inc." on your credit card statement) Stay up to date on COVID-19 Get Breaking News Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. Since the start of the semester, the Student Advocacy Resource Center has received five times as many reports of roofies, or drug-facilitated assaults, than usual. The druggings happened at four different bars, and beg an important question: what should I do if a friend or I get roofied wh Student workers do the labor that allows our university to operate, working on the frontlines of the pandemic and the student body. They staff the dining and residence halls, the information desks, they clean campus and give tours to prospective students. From janitors to ambassadors, student workers operate at all levels of the University of Oregon. To call them essential is almost a misnomer; student workers are integral to the continued existence of the UO as a functioning institution. Yet how is it that the workers that occupy all sorts of occupations on campus are systematically abused through low wages, understaffing and hostile management? It is unclear if UO is apathetic or malevolent, but it is a distinction without a difference, for the university has the ability and resources to provide livable working conditions. As such, the only explanation is that UO wants its workers to fail. Despite all these students being employed by the same institution, their labor and experiences often remain separate. Before this term we only heard rumors, but a new campaign by the group UO Student Workers has begun to coalesce workers grievances. Beginning as an offshoot from campus Young Democratic Socialists of America late last November, UO Student Workers polls students on their experiences working for the university with an online survey. I spoke to David Purucker, a graduate student and organizer of UO Student Workers, about the role of the group. It is a working class organization, interested in advocating for the interests of student workers, Purucker said. Were interested in winning reforms to ameliorate the conditions facing student workers. By hearing from the community first hand, the group aims to leverage changes through UO by showing its working body the shared issues that linger in the workplace. Moreover, they hope to propose a bill of rights for student workers through ASUO, including a living wage, fair scheduling and basic labor protections. UO does not offer a living wage to those who are crucial to the functioning of this university, Purucker said. Student workers are left hungry, even when theyre surrounded by food. As of Jan. 6, UO Student Workers has received 100 survey responses from all kinds of student workers answering questions about their satisfaction with wages, hours and pandemic protection. The group has begun posting testimonials on their Instagram, and I was allowed access to the responses for the purposes of this story. Folks, it's much worse than we thought. Respondents describe horrible treatment by management, unsafe working conditions and lack of training. The most common grievance was pay, with 61.2% of responses giving either a one or a two on a scale of five for satisfaction with compensation. Frustration was commonly expressed given that workers toil long shifts on top of a class schedule to make rent and put up with uncompassionate customers. I sat down with Sibley, a former student dining worker in Carson and Global Scholars Hall who requested to only use her first name. Her experiences were a microcosm of the issues faced by the entire student working body. We are definitely abused by this university, Sibley said. They have all this money to take care of us, but they just decide we dont matter. In her survey response she recalled feeling like an expendable pawn, regularly working five hour and 50 minute shifts as to not be given the break at six hours. It is honestly surprising UO still has a workforce despite bleeding laborers dry and the prevalence of jobs with better pay and conditions off campus. There are so many jobs, just leave, Sibley said. I wasted two years. These are not problems that can be fixed by quick changes in university policy or campus-wide emails, but only through bottom-up restructuring of UOs working classes. We as a student body should feel radicalized upon hearing these experiences not powerless as another result from the survey found overwhelming support for potential worker organizing on campus, with 49.5% saying yes and 36.1% saying maybe. The economic woes faced by student workers are a common struggle, and by lifting up the most exploited workers, we could leverage the conditions for all workers on campus. If you want proof that a united student coalition could bring change, it only took the UOs graduate employee union one day of rallying outside Johnson Hall to make UO provide masks to all. To UO students: Learn the names of those next to you, encourage those working to share their experiences and exercise solidarity with workers. As individuals, students can only beg on the whims of UOs institutional power, but as a collective, we can demand. Today Partly cloudy early followed by scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. High 84F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 69F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Tomorrow Cloudy skies during the morning hours followed by thunderstorms in the afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 76F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Carolyn Caudill Tipton, age 83, of Corbin, KY, passed away on Saturday April 30, 2022, in Corbin She was born in Ashland, KY, a daughter of the late Rexford & Mollie DeBord Caudill. Carolyn was a retired nursing home LPN. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her child When Britishvolt, the car battery startup, set out plans for the UK's first gigafactory behind the Red Wall, ministers hailed it as proof their 'levelling up' agenda was working. Only last week, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng visited the site of the 2.6 billion electric car battery plant at the old Blyth power station, Northumberland. Boris Johnson has also been to Blyth Valley constituency, which the Tories won at the last general election for the first time with a slim 712-vote majority. Its MP Ian Levy has hailed the factory as a 'once in a generation opportunity' for his patch. Only last week, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng visited the site of the 2.6 billion electric car battery plant at the old Blyth power station, Northumberland Except it isn't. The factory is in the Cambois ward in the neighbouring Wansbeck constituency of Ian Lavery, a former chairman of the Labour Party. Lavery, a hard-Left Corbynite, greeted the Tory Business Secretary like a long-lost friend when he bumped into him last week on the train on his way to visit the factory. 'Thanks for everything, Minister,' he said with a broad grin on his face, adding triumphantly: 'The new battery factory is in my constituency, not one of yours.' The factory is in the Cambois ward in the neighbouring Wansbeck constituency of Ian Lavery, a former chairman of the Labour Party. An artist's impression is pictured above At least someone is helping dig Boris out of a hole. Lady (Judith) McAlpine, whose late husband Sir William was director of the McAlpine family construction company, says: 'We employ human beings to run this country, not saints, not giants, just normal humans. We don't pay our MPs enough and we expect perfection. Humans are NOT perfect.' Writing in her local paper, Lady McAlpine who lives near Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, (where Boris was MP until he became London Mayor) adds waspishly: 'Perhaps they would prefer someone as 'trustworthy' as Tony Blair to lead them into the next election.' Overheard in the Commons: 'Paint firm Farrow & Ball has released a new shade Sue Gray. It's a light colour and if it's spread too thinly can be seen as a whitewash.' Cheers! Sir Bernard backs Boris The PM's support among the Tory faithful may be draining away alarmingly, but Boris can console himself with the thought that Margaret Thatcher's forthright spin doctor Sir Bernard Ingham (pictured) is still backing him. 'This is no time to precipitate a Tory leadership election and possibly a national poll with so many pressing issues,' he says. 'We need to find a way of giving Boris and his staff a kick up the backside for their foolishness. If the situation has not improved after the two or three years left to him, then he will deserve all he gets.' The blunt Yorkshireman is even sympathetic to civil servants who breached lockdown party rules: 'What's more natural to ease the pressure than a pint and a pie?' Joke of the week: Boris Johnson could ease tensions in Ukraine by inviting Russia's President Putin to a party for a work event codenamed: 'BORIS. 'Bring Own Red In a Suitcase'. A charming tribute to late Labour MP Jack Dromey from the Prime Minister: 'Jack was driving in Greece when he saw a family of British tourists: footsore, bedraggled... the children on the verge of mutiny against their father.' He stopped and gave them a lift. Said Boris: I'll always be grateful... that father was me.' When Boris Johnson addressed Tory MPs at a meeting of the backbench 1922 committee, he compared himself to Othello and said his nemesis Dominic Cummings, his former chief adviser, was the scheming Iago. Boris, writing a book on the Bard, ought to know that Othello was tricked into killing his wife Desdemona and then took his own life when Iago's wife revealed her husband's treachery. Not the best Shakespearean analogy for our embattled Prime Minister. The Bishop of Peterborough, Donald Allister, who sits in the House of Lords, believes we could communicate with aliens. 'Any race that has an understanding of its own world, will have some theory of physics, chemistry, biology and maths,' the bishop told House magazine. 'You're more likely to be able to communicate with them mathematically than... through language.' He laughed: 'It'd be a lovely thing to try... if they don't blast you out of existence first.' There are times, when you read something in a newspaper, that you need to check it's not April 1 because it seems more like satire than reality. That was my feeling when I read in the Mail last Friday that Lord Hogan-Howe is one of four candidates to become head of the National Crime Agency (known as 'Britain's FBI'). For Hogan-Howe was the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police during its grotesque pursuit of war heroes and other blameless public servants who had been accused of not just child abuse but torture, 'satanic rituals' and murder by a now-jailed sex-offender and malicious fantasist called Carl Beech. Hogan-Howe consistently praised what he called the 'quality' of this multi-year hounding of, among others, Britain's greatest soldier, Field Marshal Edwin Bramall, and the former Home Secretary Lord (Leon) Brittan. There are times, when you read something in a newspaper, that you need to check it's not April 1 because it seems more like satire than reality. That was my feeling when I read in the Mail last Friday that Lord Hogan-Howe (pictured) is one of four candidates to become head of the National Crime Agency - known as 'Britain's FBI' Detective Superintendent Kenny McDonald, the public face of the investigation (Operation Midland) at the outset, had broadcast to the nation, via the BBC Six O'Clock news in December 2014, that Beech's fantastical claims all of them, presumably including those of 'satanic orgies' among the top brass on Salisbury Plain on Remembrance Sunday were 'credible and true'. Murderous Yet the Met Police had not a shred of evidence for any of the accusations; and they knew it. When challenged on this in February 2016 by the BBC's John Humphrys, Hogan-Howe, while Operation Midland was still running, insisted merely that the officer concerned had 'misspoken' and 'We acknowledged that fairly quickly in a matter of days, not months'. This, also, was a falsehood. It had taken fully nine months for the Met to correct what it had declared on the BBC's main evening news bulletin. By the way, Hogan-Howe's successor as Met commissioner, the beleaguered Dame Cressida Dick, has not got clean hands in this matter. She had overseen Operation Midland in its earlier stages, when she was the boss of Deputy Assistant Commissioner Steve Rodhouse. He was the 'gold commander' entrusted with investigating a murderous, sexually-motivated conspiracy, allegedly involving a cabal of former heads of the armed forces, the intelligence services, a prime minister, and sundry MPs from both main parties, including Lord Brittan. Hogan-Howe was the Commissioner of the Met during its grotesque pursuit of war heroes and other blameless public servants who had been accused of child abuse, torture, 'satanic rituals' and murder by a now-jailed sex-offender and malicious fantasist called Carl Beech (pictured) She admitted that when she heard Kenny McDonald describe the allegations as 'true', 'I just felt for him. I remember thinking, 'Oh no'. I know he didn't mean to say that; that, of course, was a mistake. It was unfortunate.' Unfortunate! As I wrote at the time: 'So why didn't she immediately correct what she called 'of course, a mistake'? Or tell Rodhouse to do so? Or ask the then Met commissioner, Bernard Hogan-Howe, to intervene? Perhaps it was because they all 'felt for' Detective Superintendent McDonald, without for a second stopping to wonder how Beech's blameless targets (such as the then dying Leon Brittan) must have felt on learning that the Met police had already decided that they were child torturers and killers.' You may be wondering: what happened to then Deputy Assistant Commissioner Steve Rodhouse? He was the man held principally responsible by Edwin Bramall as the Normandy landings veteran told me when I went to see him at the home that was turned over by 20 detectives while his dementia-afflicted wife cried out in anguish: 'What have we done?' Answer: the former 'gold commander' of Operation Midland moved seamlessly into the role with a salary of almost a quarter of a million pounds a year of Director of Operations at the National Crime Agency. How cosy. And even cosier if he is joined by his old boss, Hogan-Howe. In fact, the ex-Met chief has been doing very nicely, thank you, in recent years. I don't just mean because he has a pension pot of around 5 million from his former role, or sits in the House of Lords. Hogan-Howe has also been handed a slew of advisory roles by Boris Johnson's administration, and last year was appointed a director of the Cabinet Office. Payback How can that be? In a word, payback. Hogan-Howe had taken the unusual decision to participate in the 2019 campaign for the leadership of the Conservative Party on behalf of Boris Johnson (who had appointed him as Commissioner in the first place, when, as London Mayor, he sacked the incumbent Met boss, Sir Ian Blair). Thus in June 2019, Hogan-Howe appeared in a 'team Johnson' ad, put out on social media, in which he acclaimed the then aspirant party leader: 'I worked with him for five years. He was really great. I found him to be loyal, honourable, and he did what he promised to do.' Johnson said that he was 'honoured' to have Hogan-Howe's support. Hogan-Howe consistently praised what he called the 'quality' of this multi-year hounding of, among others, Britain's greatest soldier, Field Marshal Edwin Bramall, and the former Home Secretary Lord Leon Brittan (pictured) Technically, the role of head of the National Crime Agency is in the gift of the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, not the Prime Minister. And I would hope she chooses anyone but Hogan-Howe. However, the Home Secretary owes her own job indeed her survival in it after the PM rejected a report highly critical of her treatment of officials to Johnson. So if he wants his mate to get the job, I can't see her challenging him (though I'd be delighted to be proved wrong). It's not just Hogan-Howe and Rodhouse who seem able to move effortlessly on from their appalling misjudgments in cases involving the obvious fantasist and crook Carl Beech (whom almost every journalist to take an interest in the matter could see for what he was, apart from LBC's James O'Brien). Beech was also the man who inspired Operation Conifer the Wiltshire Police Force's investigation into his claims of torture, satanic abuse etc etc against the late PM Sir Edward Heath (who had been a Salisbury resident). In fact Beech had simply adopted the decades-old claims of the dotty conspiracy theorist David Icke, for his own purposes. Detective Superintendent Kenny McDonald (pictured), the public face of the investigation (Operation Midland) at the outset, had broadcast to the nation, via the BBC Six O'Clock news in December 2014, that Beech's fantastical claims were 'credible and true' The then Chief Constable of Wiltshire, Mike Veale, burnt through more than 1.5 million on this delusional criminal investigation into someone who was, of course, long dead and buried. Veale was quoted in a national newspaper as saying that he was '120 per cent sure' that Heath was guilty: his own version of 'credible and true'. Veale escaped all censure for this farce, even going on to become Chief Constable of Cleveland, which he was required to leave only after the Inspectorate of Constabulary rated the force 'inadequate' in several aspects of its performance. Veale is also, quite separately, now facing 'gross misconduct proceedings' from the Independent Office for Police Conduct. This is the second IOPC investigation into Veale: in 2018 it found him to have lied about the way in which his Wiltshire Police mobile phone had been destroyed. Favouritism Yet, almost unbelievably, the Conservative police and crime commissioner for Leicestershire, Rupert Matthews, last year appointed Veale to be his adviser. Here, too, it appears to be political favouritism, rather than justice, let alone common sense, at work. Hogan-Howe took the unusual decision to participate in the 2019 campaign for the leadership of the Conservative Party on behalf of Boris Johnson. They are pictured together in 2014 The Tory MP for North West Leicestershire, the publicity-addicted Andrew Bridgen, had been a vocal supporter of Veale's ludicrous escapade to pursue a David Icke-inspired agenda, and recommended to Matthews that he appoint the man who is in fact the country's most discredited ex-Chief Constable. Bridgen defended this recommendation on the grounds that Veale was 'the most honest policeman I have ever met' and that 'He's been a Chief Constable twice, he knows everything, doesn't he?' Bridgen's encomium is only exceeded in its delusional hyperbole by Veale's self-assessment on the LinkedIn website. Here he describes himself as 'an experienced, influential and inspirational strategic leader . . . I am able to operate within my ethical and moral boundaries without compromising my values and integrity'. It would certainly demonstrate that there are no 'ethical and moral boundaries' within this Government if Lord Hogan-Howe the man who presided so complacently over the most shameful investigation in the history of the Metropolitan Police is appointed head of the National Crime Agency. These hilarious photos show off what can happen when people take their eye off the ball and end up making a mistake. The snaps, shared by social media users around the world, and collated into a gallery by Bored Panda feature a range of blunders. Among them is a photo of an emergency phone, which has a sign on it asking people not to have an emergency in this location because the handset has not yet been installed. Another shows a sign on a fence, asking people not to secure their bikes to 'the feces'. Here FEMAIL rounds up some of the funniest photos of mishaps. This US funeral sign is certainly trying to put the 'fun' into funerals - who said a Wacky Waving Man can't be appropriate for all situations? This card, which we can only assume is supposed to celebrate the astrology sign of Cancer, is a classic example of what can happen when people don't check their work This north American supermarket made these toaster pasties sounds less than appetising, labelling them as 'poop tarts' Perhaps this aisle spotted in a UK supermarket isn't a major labelling fail, but is actually selling 'back to school' goods for the teachers and not the pupils? Whoever painted this 'school', or should that be 'scohol' sign in Florida should be sent to the bottom of the class The organisers behind this Canadian fundraising event learnt the hard way what happens when you don't proof read - you risk looking like you want to fight children I guess people will just have to find a location with a fully operational phone before they choose to have an emergency... The person who designs mazes must have been having an off-day when they let this extremely easy puzzle slip through You have to wonder whether anyone at any stage of this sign's production noticed that it says 'feces' instead of fences. Anyone? You can't fault this Filipino groom-to-be's enthusiasm, but his sign could have used an extra pair of eyes, because it could come across as more of a threat than a question! At least someone has put a sign on the red button that says it's a green button, which makes this whole set up much less confusing... Have you ever wiped your eyes in the morning to remove that gunk sitting in the tear ducts? An expert has warned that it could be putting your eye health at risk if it turns into a habit you just can't ditch. In early 2021, the hashtags #mucusremoval and #mucusfishing garnered more than 190.7 million views worldwide, as people shared videos of themselves removing strings of mucus from their eyes. But an NHS surgical doctor, Dr Karan Rajan, who has 4.6millon followers on his TikTok account where he provides insight into day-to-day health questions, has told audiences that taking out this mucus can lead to health issues. In the video, he stitched someone filming themselves taking out a string of mucus to say: 'If you're constantly "fishing" out mucus from your eyes using a finger, tissue or cotton bud, you might have a problem. 'Dry eyes, conjunctivitis, anything which causes inflammation of the eyes produces excess mucus. In the video by Dr Karan Rajan, he stitched someone filming themselves taking out a string of mucus to say: 'If you're constantly "fishing" out mucus from your eyes using a finger, tissue or cotton bud, you might have a problem' 'Every time you go to clean it, you touch your eyes, causing more inflammation and more mucus!' Another surgeon, Dr Anthony Youn, a plastic surgeon from Detroit with over 7.5million followers, gives medical advice on his TikTok page. Similarly to Dr Rajan, he explained that the more you pull out the mucus from your eyes, the more it reappears. According to Clinical Director at Vyas Lee Practice, Jordan Vyas-Lee told Indy100 that this problem can have a knock-on effect to your mental health as well. NHS surgical doctor, Dr Karan Rajan, who has 4.6millon followers on his TikTok account where he provides insight into day-to-day health questions, has told audiences that taking out this mucus can lead to health issues He explained that those who suffer with mucus fishing syndrome 'may experience anxiety about being unable to control the issue'. Another thing he noted was that people's self-worth could also be knocked due to 'image concerns' that 'result from repeated body-picking trauma'. But many users on TikTok said similar tales on both videos from Dr Rajan and Dr Youn in that they don't know how to stop pulling the mucus out. But many users on TikTok said similar tales on both videos from Dr Rajan and Dr Youn in that they don't know how to stop pulling the mucus out as it is 'addictive' TikTok user Maeve said that the 'feeling of pulling it in one go is just addictive', and another person said if they don't remove it, it seems to get worse. Aliceteejay said: 'Me doing this every five seconds as I hate the thought of having stuff in my eye.' Frankie said: 'How do you stop it from happening then? I get them all the time.' In order to stop mucus fishing, there are a few things that you can do - the main one being to let your eyes deal with the mucus by itself, and resist the temptation to keep taking it out whenever you see or feel it. The underlying condition should begin to subside when the fishing stops, as the mucus production will slow down, eventually stopping the need to fish. Another doctor Anthony Youn, a plastic surgeon from Detroit with over 7.5million followers, gives medical advice on his TikTok page. Similarly to Dr Rajan, he explained that the more you pull out the mucus from your eyes, the more it reappears A tricky brainteaser is challenging players to find the only love-heart shaped balloon in a busy Valentine's Day scene. The baffling seek-and-find puzzle was created by British retailers 247 Blinds to celebrate the romantic holiday ahead of February 14. So, do you think you'll be able to find the hidden balloon ? Give it a try and put your observational skills to the test. Scroll down for the answer A tricky brainteaser is challenging players to find the only love-heart shaped balloon in a busy Valentine's Day scene (pictured) There are many hearts, Cupid's arrows and roses throughout the print, but hidden within the drawings is a love-heart-shaped balloon. If you're struggling to find the balloon, turn your attention to the middle section of the right hand side of the Valentine's Day scene. If you still haven't spotted the pesky object, scroll down to find the answer. There are many hearts, Cupid's arrows and roses throughout the print, but hidden within the drawings is a love-heart-shaped balloon (circled above) If you want some more, try your hand at these tricky brainteasers below. Designers have hidden a single open umbrella in this crowded street scene which is sure to leave you baffled. The extremely tough seek-and-find puzzle was created by hotel chain Premier Inn following a recent poll revealed that brollies are one of the nation's most lost items. There are many people featured in the crowded design, but only one of them is keeping dry under an umbrella. So, do you think you'll be able to find it or will you be left scratching your head? Give it a try and put your observational skills to the test. Hidden in the crowded street scene is a person holding an umbrella - but it's incredibly difficult to spot The hotel chain commissioned the brain teaser after research found umbrellas are one of the nation's most lost items: 10 per cent of Brits will lose or break 10 or more umbrellas in their lifetime. Almost a fifth of those polled (18 per cent) said they had broken or lost an umbrella after just one outing. The survey of 2,000 UK adults also showed 28 per cent have turned up to an important work meeting soaking wet as they didn't have a brolly. And despite almost a fifth of Brits owning three umbrellas, one in 10 have spent up to 50 on replacements. So, have you been able to spot the hidden brolly? If you're still struggling scroll down for the answer. So, have you been able to spot the hidden brolly? If you're still struggling take a look at the top left-hand corner of the scene Premier Inn commissioned the brain teaser to mark its new rental umbrellas trial in 30 of its hotels launched in partnership with DripDrop with a minimum of 15 percent of each borrowing fee going to the hotel chain's charity partner Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity (GOSH Charity). Elsewhere, an infuriating brainteaser challenges players to find a snowflake in an unlikely tropical scene. The seek-and-find puzzle, created by The French Bedroom Company in collaboration with wallpaper designer Elizabeth Ockford, features beautiful tropical birds and flittering butterflies, as well as palm fronds and ornate bird cages. But hidden among the tropical picture is a single snowflake, which is almost impossible to spot. The seek-and-find puzzle features beautiful tropical birds and flittering butterflies. Hidden among the tropical picture is a single snowflake, which is almost impossible to spot The creators claim it's so difficult that it takes players an average of 7 minutes and 23 seconds to find. The picture shows colourful budgies, butterflies, parrots and golden cages - but where is the snowflake? Nestled within elegant illustrations of botanical birds, leaves and butterflies, the snowflake has proved tricky for Brits to find. Focus your eye on the top corners of the painting - can you see it yet? The answer is below. Answer: The delicate snowflake can be seen in the top left hand coner of the picture beneath one of the palm leaves Can your brain handle more strain? Next up, this autumnal seek-and-find quiz challenges you to find the hidden hedgehog, but will you be up to the challenge? British blinds retailer 247 Blinds have created this challenging brainteaser with a seasonal theme to test your attention to detail. If you're looking for a clue, try focusing your attention on the bottom of the image and you might have more luck. Still struggling? Simply scroll down for the answer. Scroll down for reveal Can you find the tiny hedgehog hiding in this leafy scene for a brainteaser created by British blinds retailer 247 Blinds? To make it harder, the hedgehog is shaped to look like the items that surround him, so that you'll need to have a proper look at the picture to locate him. Struggling to find the little critter? Focus your attention on the bottom part of the picture. Giving up or want to check you got it right? You can scroll down to see the answer. The small hedgehog was hiding at the very bottom of the picture. It was hard to locate, because it was shaped like a pine cone Want to try your hand at other fiendishly difficult seek-and-finds? Look below for Femail's selection of some of the trickiest. To make things even trickier, Dudolf has made only the slightest changes between the mushrooms' markings so you'll really have to be eagle-eyed to spot the difference. The slight changes in colours patterns and shapes distracts the eye from the task. Struggling to find the one mushroom without a match? Try looking towards the lower half of the image. Still having difficulty? Then scroll down for the reveal. The odd mushroom out has a blue cap with red spots and is situated in the lower half of the image It comes after another puzzle challenged players to pick out the two safety pins hidden among vibrant sewing equipment. The brainteaser has been created by Dutch lingerie brand Hunkemoller, with puzzlers asked to spot the two tiny items in the sea of tools. But thanks to the brightly coloured products cluttering the graphic, it is almost impossible to notice the missing safety pins. According to the creators the puzzle takes an average of one minute and 23 seconds to solve, but with the mesmerizing colours, how quick can you spot the hidden items? This new seek-and-find puzzle challenges you to pick out the two safety pins hidden among vibrant sewing equipment (pictured) There's plenty of little details designed to distract the eye, so it's no wonder that some puzzlers struggle to stay on task and find the pins. If you're looking for a clue, try focusing your attention towards the centre of the image and you might have more luck. Still struggling? Don't worry, the answer is coming next so just scroll down to put yourself out of your misery. The wedding, in Salzburg, was always going to be the stuff of fairytales, given the brides aristocratic pedigree and the grooms deep pockets. Princess Marie-Therese von Hohenberg was great-granddaughter of Austrias Archduke Franz Ferdinand, whose assassination in 1914 plunged Europe into World War I, and her groom was a self-made millionaire from Ruislip, Anthony Bailey. No fewer than 600 guests were invited, and the proceedings, in 2007, ran over four days. It was a protracted affair, although not as protracted as the subsequent divorce. The wedding, in Salzburg, was always going to be the stuff of fairytales, given the brides aristocratic pedigree and the grooms deep pockets More than five years since a man sprang out from behind a bush outside his 6.25 million mansion in Twickenham, West London, and served Bailey with divorce papers, von Hohenberg v Bailey is still meandering through the court system and the latest hearing last week resulted in Bailey being handed a 12-month prison sentence in his absence. He is living beyond the jurisdiction of the court in Portugal, of which more later. While there was no blue blood on his side, there was a glittering array of connections, including princes, presidents, politicians and even Popes. Bailey, a Catholic who became known as Mr Fixit, counted everyone from Prince Charles to Pope John Paul II as friends. But the high-flying PR and public affairs consultant was perhaps most proud of his association with Tony Blair. Indeed, their relationship proved an extremely fruitful one from the then Prime Ministers point of view, with Bailey credited with raising 8 million for Blairs flagship City Academies project, as well as making a personal donation of 50,000 to New Labour in 2006. And when Bailey and Marie-Therese got engaged a year later, the PM sent an effusive handwritten letter of congratulation on No 10-headed notepaper. Dear Anthony and Marie-Therese, he wrote. Many congratulations it is wonderful news and I hope you will be marvellously happy together. Best wishes, yours ever, Tony. Not surprisingly, Bailey was once described as the most influential man you have never heard of, and for years spent his time jetting across the globe, dabbling in all things diplomatic and grand. More than five years since a man sprang out from behind a bush outside his 6.25 million mansion in Twickenham, West London, and served Bailey with divorce papers, von Hohenberg v Bailey is still meandering through the court system and the latest hearing last week resulted in Bailey being handed a 12-month prison sentence in his absence Friends in very high places: Anthony Bailey with Prince Charles in Saudi Arabia in 2001 In fact, it sounds as if he had been in more palaces in his life than his new wife had. Im sure I had, because my job was all about hopping on a plane to Peru or Bulgaria to see King This, or Prince That, he points out. But because my ex came from a background where people have castles and palaces and trust funds, there is this perception the wealth somehow came from her. But although her family were richer than I ever was and paid for the wedding, I provided every penny in the marriage. She didnt buy one house, one car, even one umbrella, nor did I expect her to. When she moved in with me, she didnt bring so much as a pillow. Alas, things went badly wrong. Mr Bailey claims, rather sensationally, that when his wife left him as she did, with no warning, in 2016 she ended up, metaphorically, taking all the pillows. He went from being the owner of that Twickenham mansion to sleeping on a mattress on the floor of his office. He is, he argues, the loser in a right royal divorce battle that could yet land him in jail. I have lost everything, he says. My wife, home, my business, my health. I was a millionaire, yes. I had that life. But it is gone. It takes a while for him to get to the bottom of the list of things he has lost, and I am reminded of Bruce Forsyths Generation Game and the famous conveyor belt. I am expecting the cuddly toy at any moment. The carpets, gone. Paintings, icons, books. I lost the very chairs I was sitting on. They let me keep a few things a fridge, I remember but I came out of the marriage with little more than the clothes on my back. Yet the picture painted by Mr Justice Peel in the High Court last Tuesday was very different. He sided with the Princess who claimed she was the penniless one, who had been wronged, shortchanged and duped. Mrs Bailey had previously been awarded 2 million in their divorce settlement but had received only half of this. The judge not only admonished Mr Bailey for failing to take steps to release assets (specifically to allow the sale of a 3.3 million villa in Portugal), but concluded he had obstructed the court at almost every possible opportunity and deployed numerous tactical and forensic ploys to attempt to delay the process. In an unusually severe ruling, Mr Justice Peel added: His behaviour displays wilful obstruction and barefaced contempt for the court process. It is a shameful spectacle deserving considerable opprobrium. Mr Baileys failure to appear in court to take this verbal punishment beating meant he was promptly found to be in contempt of court and sentenced. So technically, he should be behind bars, yet here we are on Zoom, with him in Portugal, discussing the price of Ubers while hes reportedly on the run. On the run? Bulls**t! he says, then apologises for swearing (he does like to portray himself as very much the gentleman). I am being treated for aggressive prostate cancer and the courts knew that. This is where my doctors are and my priority is to get well, because how can I rebuild my life unless I am well? He was diagnosed with cancer in 2019 and it seemed to have been successfully treated, but it returned last year, in a more aggressive form. I blame the stress of all this, he says. It has had a devastating effect on my physical and mental health. I had suicidal thoughts and was treated in the Priory. What I have been put through is torture. No he is not living the life of Riley at his luxury villa, as was claimed in court and he maintains the villa is not his to sell. It is held in trust for our child, and I even have to get permission from the trustee to stay there unless I am with my child, who is the real victim in this. Contested: The fabulous Portuguese property So where is he staying? With friends. Very kind friends. I have a lot of friends and 90 per cent of them have supported me. They have opened their homes to me when I had nowhere else to go. He claims his friends have also lent him their cars, because he no longer owns one. In the winter months I do rent or borrow one, but in the summer I walk. Or I get an Uber. Ubers are surprisingly cheap in Portugal. But his exs side claim he drives a Tesla and there is one sitting in the driveway of the Portuguese villa. Who owns it? The trust, he says. Where to start unravelling this one? They say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Well ditto when it comes to a man-of-some-standing who feels he has been taken to the cleaners in the divorce courts. Today there is much talk of him being the victim. I believe there is no place in the civil courts for disputes like this, he says. She has gone down this path because she is convinced there is a pot of gold at the end of the imaginary rainbow, that I am hiding millions somewhere. She is wrong. Ah, but there is. The Portuguese villa is the pot of gold and, quite aside from the fact it is beneficially owned by a trust registered in Cyprus, he says there are two mortgages secured on the property, held by friends of his. The British court found these were sham mortgages, a finding he disputes. He appears to be funding his legal costs by taking out loans from all and sundry. I have taken about 20 different loans from family and friends, to help finance my legal costs, he says. And those costs are mounting. His wife whose lawyers said she would not be commenting on her ex-husbands version of events has commenced legal proceedings in Portugal, where she is being counter-sued by the holders of the mortgages on the villa, and there is further legal wrangling in Cyprus where the alleged trust that owns the villa is based. What an absolute mess, before we even get to the emotional fallout. How can a couple who once looked so happy and who have a child come to this? Mr Baileys account of their meeting and courtship suggests they always were on different pages. They met in the early 1990s at a society ball, but ran into each other again in 2006 at a wedding in Rome and things soon got serious. Mrs Bailey had trained as an architect, and he thought, before they started talking about children, she might like to work. I didnt expect her to. I was happy to provide, but I thought it might help her settle into life in the UK. I introduced her to my friend Richard Rogers (the late, famous architect), but she wasnt interested. She never worked. They had a child (he is forbidden by the courts to divulge the name or sex) and he thought they were happy. Then on July 20, 2016, his wife kissed him goodbye and walked out of the house, for good. He describes what happened next as an ambush. We had been due to move to Portugal the next day. Everything was ready, the tickets were booked. But it would have been more difficult for her in Portugal with regard to divorce proceedings. We had been married there. Although the religious ceremony was in Austria, the legal one was in Portugal. Now we come to the money side, where it gets really tricky. Although outwardly the Baileys were silly rich, he argues that it was more complicated. Yes their house which the courts ruled had to be sold to facilitate a fair distribution of assets had been valued at 6.25 million, but there was a massive 3 million mortgage on it. Huge! Well, not if the house is worth 6.25 million, he argues. The trouble was a hoped-for sale to a Russian buyer fell through. Then the financial downturn came. Then Brexit and Covid. The house sold for 4.5 million. He claims his wife who was promised up to 1.9 million walked away with 1 million. And I got nothing from the house, the house that I bought and that had been in my name. It must rankle, but we must rem-ember that the courts have always treated the contested Portugal villa as another asset. When Bailey says he was left homeless, he is careful to add in Britain. It does appear, though, that, whatever the court papers say, he has spent much of the past four years sleeping in less grand surroundings than he was used to while he was married. And we have spoken to a number of friends of Mr Baileys, some who are public figures, who corroborate his story, or parts thereof. Clare Head, a former Tory mayor of Richmond-upon-Thames, who was close to the couple, was with him on the day he received the divorce papers (His face went white, she says), and has watched the unfolding drama with horror. When his business failed, he talked about going to stay with his brother, or sofa-surfing, as they call it. I insisted he move into my house and he stayed for two years. He insisted on paying rent. The idea that he had millions stashed in the Cayman Islands or something is just ridiculous. All his friends and Anthony has many many friends are appalled. It is certainly a rum state of affairs, with everyone (save for the lawyers) claiming they are penniless. Mr Bailey has been advised he cannot be extradited from Portugal because his jail sentence relates to a civil matter. So will he return to the UK to face the music? He says no, he has more pressing matters. Im not going to go jumping between hospitals and consultants on the basis of whats going on in London? No, Im concentrating on my health. I want to sort this out, but I have to be alive to do it. Crown Princess Mary stepped out in a stylish yet down-to-earth ensemble with her lookalike children to greet fans on her 50th birthday. Mary along with her children Prince Christian, 16, Princess Isabella, 14, and Prince Vincent, 11, were all smiles as they laughed, hugged and waved to passersby in Amalienborg Castle Square, Copenhagen. The 50-year-old mum-of-four paired chic wide leg, high-waisted jeans by Danish designer Britt Sisseck with a navy turtleneck jumper with brown leather elbow patches. Crown Princess Mary of Denmark (pictured) nails casual-chic style as she steps out of Amalienborg Palace, Copenhagen with three of her kids on Saturday to wave to fans on her 50th birthday The 50-year-old mum-of-four paired chic wide leg, high-waisted jeans by Danish designer, Britt Sisseck, with a navy turtleneck jumper with brown leather elbow patches She accessorised the casual yet classy look with a pair of Gucci rectangle frame glasses and a gold Cartier love bracelet. Mary and three of her kids were out the front of Amalienborg Palace to watch the changing of a guard as they honoured the Aussie-born royal with a birthday rendition of 'Crown Princess Mary's salute march'. To mark the princess' milestone birthday, the Danish Royal Family released new portraits of her with her family. The glamourous royal could be seen posing with Christian, Isabella and Vincent as well as her husband of 17 years Crown Prince Frederik, 53, and youngest daughter, Princess Josephine, 11. The beautiful pictures - which saw the family all opt for white shirts - were shared with the public on Instagram which she celebrated privately with her family at Amalienborg Palace on Saturday. The Danish royal family shared a new picture of Crown Princess Mary, Crown Prince Fredrik and their four children, Prince Christian, 16, Princess Isabella, 14, and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, 11, to mark Mary's 50th birthday In another snap, Frederik, 53, looked dapper as he posed with his wife of 17 years in their Palace of Amalienborg One last picture showed Mary posing by herself, in a stylish white and tan ensemble she styled with tan swede heels and well-chosen pieces of jewellery The Swedish and Norwegian royal families also sent their good wishes on social media as they celebrated their long-standing relationship with the Australian-born princess. The snap was casual, with Frederik standing next to Mary while she perched on the edge of a comfortable sofa where Christian and Isabella sat, their younger brother straddling the sofa's arm and his twin sister sitting on the floor. Another couple's portrait showed a dapper Frederik, who paired his white shirt with black trousers, holding hands with Mary on the sofa. A British doctor has revealed how she dated the business partner of the fake millionaire dating fraudster who is exposed in the new Netflix documentary The Tinder Swindler, and only realised after watching the show. The 36-year-old had a whirlwind relationship with a friend of Israeli conman Simon Leviev, 31, who is suspected of conning women out of 7.4million. The documentary revealed how Lamborghini-driving Simon, whose real name is Shimon Hayut, had been conning women by operating a kind of Ponzi scheme. She met Leviev's friend Avi on dating app Tinder in December 2017 and was wined, dined and treated to overnight stays in London and Berlin. The medical professional, who asked not to be named, said her relationship with Avi fizzled out because she couldn't see herself being part of the 'crazy jetset lifestyle' which he led with business partner Simon. It was only when she watched the Netflix show on Thursday night that she recognised the two men, and realised she'd come into close conact with Simon Leviev, who posed as an international diamond dealers to defraud women he met on dating apps of more than 7 million. A 36-year-old medical professional met Avi, pictured, on Tinder in December 2017, who was featured as a friend of Simon Leviev, 31, on Netflix documentary The Tinder Swindler Israeli conman Simon Leviev, 31, whose real name is Shimon Hayut, is suspected of conning women out of 7.4million by operating a kind of Ponzi scheme The doctor, who is being named as Sarah by MailOnline, lives in the north of England and first saw Avi's Tinder profile after splitting up from her partner of four years. She said: I was going to London a lot to stay with friends at weekends at the time and I was going on Tinder. If someone is paying you attention, its a great way to forget about your ex. I did meet a few people in London, and then Avis profile suddenly popped up. It was full of pictures of him on private Jets and in luxury cars. A British doctor who is being named Sarah by MailOnline, believes she nearly fell victim to the fake millionaire dating fraudster who is exposed in the new Netflix documentary The Tinder Swindler He seemed to have a fun life, and dressed well. He seemed nice and I liked the idea of meeting someone successful. We matched immediately after I swiped right, and he started sending me messages straight away over Tinder. I was worried that he was probably a Catfish, but I didnt think that I had anything to lose as long as I was careful. He took my phone number and we started WhatsApp messaging. We also spoke on video calls, so I realised his profile pictures were definitely him and he was not Catfishing me. He immediately told me that he was always in different countries and was flying more than one million miles a year. Avi, pictured sitting in first class, had a dating profile with photos in luxury cars and private jets, and Sarah said 'he seemed nice' and 'liked the idea of meeting someone successful' Sarah said she spoke to Avi over the course of a couple of weeks and he was always sending her pictures from different locations, including Italy, Austria, Spain, Bulgaria and Amsterdam We spoke over a couple of weeks and he was always in a different location, sending me geotags from five star hotels all over Europe in places like Italy, Austria, Spain, Bulgaria, and Amsterdam. He seemed to be in a different place every day, and he kept sending me pictures of more private jets. It just didnt seem real. I did check his Tinder account which shows the distance that a person is from you and it all seemed to match with the places he claimed to be in. He said he had lots of business interested including diamonds, real estate, a transport company, credit consulting and business management. He also told me that he had been in the Israeli army and his family lived in America. He said his full name was Avishay which meant gift from God. Sarah said she was going to London a lot to stay with friends at weekends at the time, after breaking up with her boyfriend, and says she was intrigued by Avi after matching on Tinder The couple swapped plenty of messages, with Avi describing himself as 'Mr Worldwide' and Sarah aptly calling him an 'international man of mystery'. She added: Things were going well and we decided to meet when he was next in London. I was definitely intrigued by him and felt the feeling was mutual. We arranged to meet up one morning for a coffee, but then he suddenly had to fly back to Amsterdam so it didnt happen. He was flying in to London a week later and we arranged to meet at the Four Seasons Hotel in Park Lane where he was staying. I waited in the foyer and he came down the elevator. He was slightly shorter than me but he had dark eyes and was good looking. We had a drink and he told me, You are so much more beautiful in real life. Sarah first met Avi, left, when they arranged to meet at the Four Seasons Hotel in Park Lane, where Avi's business partner Simon Leviev, right, was dressed 'head to toe in designer clothes wearing pink lens glasses and a couple of girls Along with Simon, Sarah says another tall man who 'was their bodyguard' because 'of all the diamonds they had' was in the entourage, before heading out in two Rolls Royce's He then asked me if I would I like to go out with his friends, for some food and onto a club. Suddenly this entourage appeared. There was Simon who was dressed head to toe in designer clothes wearing pink lens glasses and a couple of girls one was Israeli and the other a blonde Scandinavian girl living in London. 'She told me that she had only met Simon two weeks earlier on Tinder. There was also a big tall guy, and they told me that he was their bodyguard because of all the diamonds that they had. We went outside and there were two Rolls Royce's waiting with chauffeurs in uniforms. One was a big Phantom and the other was pale blue with a soft top. It was January and cold but the roof was down! I went with Avi in the Phantom and Simon was with the other girls. They all seemed very happy and friendly. We went for a meal, I think in a Turkish restaurant because it was very late, and then headed to this club. Avi and Simon seemed familiar with the door staff, and we were immediately shown to a table. There were bottles and bottles of Dom Perignon and they were all smoking inside, with nobody seeming to care. The evening was great fun, with everyone drinking champagne, and dancing. On the way back to the cars there was another guy I hadnt noticed before. He had an English accent and I noticed a gun on his belt. Simon Leviev, whose real name is Shimon Hayut, claimed to be a worldwide diamond dealer, and in The Tinder Swindler, three women spoke about their experiences with him One of the women in the Netflix documentary learned from a newspaper article that Leviev, pictured, had been scamming other women all over Europe, and so helped police track him down to Greece, where he was arrested while trying to board a flight using a fake passport It was becoming more like a movie now. I asked why he had the gun and he said it was for protection, because of the business Avi and Simon were in. I am guessing now that it was a fake. By the time we got back to the hotel, it was early hours of the morning, so I didnt want to walk in London on my own. I slept in Avis bed, but nothing happened and to be fair he was actually very respectful. In the morning, I headed back to where I had been staying with my friends and told them about my ridiculously insane night. I was saying that my new friends were great. Avi and I carried on speaking and doing video calls every day. I found his jet set life fascinating if slightly over the top, but it was a massive distraction from splitting up with my ex. We decided to meet again, this time in Berlin a couple of weeks later as they had no business in London for a while. Avi sent me a plane ticket with a seat at the front of the plane and picked me up from the airport in a chauffeur-driven luxury car. We had a nice evening having dinner and a few drinks, and were going to spend the next day sightseeing in Berlin. We shared the same bed again, but we did not have sex as I was not ready for it. The next morning Simon kept ringing Avi, He didnt pick up for a while, but when he did, they had this tense conversation in Hebrew, I had no idea what they were talking about. Then Simon burst into the room, whiIe I was still in bed. He was saying they had to leave immediately and a car was waiting downstairs for us. He was saying that a deal in Amsterdam had gone wrong and we had to go there straight away. They asked me to go with them, but by then I just wanted to go home. Yes, it was fun and exciting, but they were cross, and there was an element that they were trying to put across that there was some form of danger. I decided to pay for my own flight back to Manchester, and went in the car with them to the airport. They were telling me that they were going to New York after Amsterdam and asking me along. The documentary disclosed that Avi, who Sarah (pictured) dated briefly in 2017, never faced any charges Sarah (pictured) said that she didn't feel able to keep up with Avi's jetset lifestyle and the relationship fizzled out Perhaps it was just instinct, but I didnt want to go, and I insisted on flying home. Something did not seem quite right. But while we were in the airport business lounge, I saw Simon video calling numerous girls telling each of them that he loved them and missed them. As soon as the calls ended, he was straight onto Tinder, swiping and matching with every single girl, and then messaging the ones he matched with.' Sarah said she and Avi messaged each other over the next few weeks, but their relationship fizzled out and they did not meet again. She added: He continued to send messages, and geotags giving his location. He was in Tel Aviv one day then going to USA. But I wasnt interested in developing a relationship with somebody who wasnt in one place. The 36-year-old medical professional explained that Avi seemed shorter in person but was very attractive Leviev was eventually extradited to Israel where he was given a 15 month sentence for crimes committed a decade ago. It emerged he had also served two years in jail in Finland for similar dating frauds. The documentary disclosed that Avi never faced any charges. (pictured is a photo from the inside of a private jet, sent from Avi to Sarah when they dated in 2017) Sarah said that one of her friends had watched The Tinder Swindler earlier this week and told her to watch it, saying that the person involved might be the man she dated. She added: My friend sent me a screenshot of Simon who was on the programme, but it wasnt a great picture and I didnt recognise him. Then when I sat down to watch the show, I realised within seconds that it was the Simon I met, and Avi popped up a couple of times. I recognised the bodyguard as well. It was just like a movie, but this was real life. I was horrified to see how Simon had been ripping off all these women. Simon, 31, would sometimes spend thousands on wooing women to help make them think that he was a diamond dealer. Avi, pictured, has never faced any charges. Sarah recognised him when she watched the hit Netflix documentary about his friend Simon, the so-called Tinder Swindler Victims believed his bogus claim that he was the hugely wealthy son of Russian-Israeli gem tycoon Lev Leviev, dubbed The King of Diamonds, who has an estimated net worth of $1billion (738million). But the money he lavished on his dates - including chauffeur-driven cars, fine dining and trips on private jets - was all conned from other women. The documentary revealed how once he had victims under his spell, he would pretend to be in danger, or that enemies had frozen his bank accounts. Other times he would claim that his bodyguard had been attacked due to a business deal going wrong and would send pictures showing him covered in blood. His victims sent him their savings or took out huge credit card loans to get him out of trouble. Three of his victims, bravely told Netflix how they had been conned. One of the women learned from a newspaper article that he had been scamming other women all over Europe. She helped police track him down to Greece, where he was arrested while trying to board a flight using a fake passport. Leviev was eventually extradited to Israel where he was given a 15 month sentence for crimes committed a decade ago. It emerged he had also served two years in jail in Finland for similar dating frauds. The documentary disclosed that Avi never faced any charges. After their first meet in London, Avi (pictured) and Sarah carried on speaking and doing video calls every day, then deciding to meet in Berlin. Avi sent Sarah a plane ticket with a seat at the front of the plane, and picked her up from the airport in a chauffeur-driven luxury car She explained that she found Avi (pictured) and his jet set life fascinating, 'if slightly over the top, but it was a massive distraction from splitting up with my ex' He is now free and until recent days still had an Instagram account under his real name, full of pictures of his supposed jetset lifestyle. The account with more than 200,000 followers was deleted after release of the Netflix documentary. Sarah said: I am quite a trusting person, and it would have been easy for me to be sucked in. There was never any sense that they wanted money from me. I dont think I would ever have taken out a loan, but I could have given money. I remember them clocking my Louis Vuitton case it seemed strange but Simon started to give me more attention from then on and was joking to Avi that he liked me. I told him about all aspects of my life. He knew where I lived, and my work. I had no reason to doubt them at the time as they were very professional. To begin with, I could laugh about the craziness, but quickly I became scared thinking how close I came to being hurt.' Advertisement A former army captain who admitted to having 'prejudices' against the Traveller community was stunned to discover he had gypsy heritage while filming a new documentary. Adventurer Ed Stafford spent 60 days with Romani gypsies and Irish travellers across the UK for a new Channel 4 documentary, admitting he initially considered the community 'unlawful' and intimidating. While filming Ed encountered verbal threats, witnessed aggression towards the police, had a stranger defaecate on his windscreen and, saw children using catapults to kill squirrels for dinner. However after being embraced by the community, he ultimately felt he had misjudged the group and says he felt a 'great sense of pride' after discovering his Romani gypsy heritage. Ed, 46, who lives in Leicestershire, said during the documentary: 'I was naive. All I knew about gypsies was negative or hearsay. 'Like a lot of people, I had prejudices, but it is so difficult to live as a nomadic person in the UK.' Adventurer Ed Stafford (pictured during the documentary) spent 60 days with Romani gypsies and Irish travellers across the UK for a new Channel 4 documentary, admitting he initially considered the community 'unlawful' and intimidating In the documentary, explorer Ed, who holds the Guiness World Record for being the first man to ever to walk the length of the Amazon River, spends time with Romani gypsies and Irish travellers across the UK The first man to walk the Amazon: Who is Ed Stafford? Perhaps best known to fans of the Discovery Channel, Ed Stafford is a British explorer and the first human to ever walk the length of the Amazon river. Stafford completed the achievement in 2010, earning him a spot in the Guinness Book of Records. His journey was documented in the 2011 Channel 5 series Walking the Amazon. Since then, Stafford, who was previously a Sandhurst trained Army officer, has continued his adventuring, including a 60-day survival show documenting his life marooned on an uninhabited tropical island without food or equipment. Outside of adventuring, Ed, who is originally from Peterborough, is a father-of-three and is married to fellow explorer Laura Bingham. Advertisement The discovery was made after he visited the Appleby Horse Fair in Cumbria - one of the biggest events in the traveller calendar. During the annual fair, which attracts around 10,000 gypsies and travellers and 30,000 visitors, Ed meets a woman Sherrie, who decides to Google him and finds out his name is Lovell - a common gypsy name. 'Welcome to the family,' she declares, leaving Ed stunned. The father-of-three, who is adopted and went to boarding school, then decided to look into his past. In the upcoming show he says: 'The production team found an ancestry gypsy lady to dig into my history and find out where there was any truth in this. 'She came in and quite theatrically gave me my family tree, revealing that my four-times great grandfather Anthony Lovell and his wife Jane Light, who married in 1833, were both from Romani gypsy families. 'The moment I found out it made me smile, it gave me almost a sense of pride. I am adopted and that was a little door that was unlocked in terms of unlocking my past. 'It also answered questions. I didn't necessarily fit in with my upbringing in Leicestershire and going to boarding school - I got into all sorts of trouble and I ended up channeling that energy into something inherently quite nomadic, walking along the Amazon and doing expeditions.' In the documentary, explorer Ed, who holds the Guiness World Record for being the first man to ever to walk the length of the Amazon River, spends time with Romani gypsies and Irish travellers across the UK. He tackles issues, including negative stereotypes around the traveller community, along with toughening laws which mean they could face instant evictions or even prison if they stop in places illegally He tackles issues, including negative stereotypes around the traveller community, along with toughening laws which mean they could face instant evictions or even prison if they stop in places illegally. However he said he also encountered some of the stereotypes associated with the traveller community, witnessing some leaving litter, and others in which children are seen tearing around on noisy motorbikes. He said: 'They bring a lot on themselves, they don't always play by the rules. But society doesn't make it easy to do that.' One group he meets during the documentary, who are staying in a Newquay town centre car park at the time, are told by police that bouncers are on the way. While speaking about the incident, one 11-year-old traveller, who is training to be a boxer, shows off his knuckle dusters while saying 'F**k 'em'. However Ed responds: 'Sometimes what you see is anti-social behaviour, but if you corner a dog eventually it's going to bite you. Ed (pictured here during the documentary) said he also encountered some of the stereotypes associated with the traveller community, witnessing some leaving litter, and others in which children are seen tearing around on noisy motorbikes While filming Ed (pictured here during the documentary) encountered verbal threats, witnessed aggression towards the police, had a stranger defaecate on his windscreen and, saw children using catapults to kill squirrels for dinner One group Ed meets during the documentary (pictured), who are staying in a Newquay town centre car park at the time, are told by police that bouncers are on the way 'They travel in large numbers, not to be intimidating but for safety in numbers so they don't get targeted. They fear being persecuted.' In Manchester, he meets a group of gypsy lads who were using catapults to kill squirrels and pigeons for dinner. Ed says: 'We may think it's slightly naughty behaviour, but they were absolutely crack shots. It appears a bit rough and ready, but it's quite wholesome as well. 'To have multi generational families living essentially outdoors, there's a huge amount to be said for it. 'It is weird that if you've got four walls and a bed, you're a human being, and if you haven't you're treated quite differently. People are people and should live how they want to live. 'People don't often realise that gypsies and travellers are an ethnicity, it's a bloodline not a lifestyle. We should be more accepting.' A remake of Cold War spy thriller The Ipcress File will explore themes of class, sexual politics and race through a reinvented cast of characters, says the show's director. The upcoming series is adapted from the 1962 Len Deighton novel, later made into a 1965 film, with Joe Cole portraying Harry Palmer - a role which catapulted Sir Michael Caine's career to new heights. The adaptation will include a brand new African-American character Paul Maddox as a CIA agent, played by Ashley Thomas, despite their being very little diversity in the organisation during the cold war. It also reinvents the minor role of Jean Courtney, played by Lucy Boynton, as a top secret agent so that there's a female lead. Series director James Watkins told The Telegraph that he was keen to recreate Deighton's 'timeless' story while exploring telling a story of 'social mobility' through modern characters. A remake of Cold War spy thriller The Ipcress File stars Joe Cole as Harry Palmer, a working-class British sergeant, who becomes a spy to avoid military jail after a series of dodgy dealings The adaptation will include a new African-American character Paul Maddox, (Ashley Thomas) and reinvent the minor role of Jean Courtney (Lucy Boynton) as a top secret agent 'It's a great spy story that also has a real sense of social mobility - whether it's Harry Palmer in the class war he's fighting, or Ashley's character fighting the racism of the time, or the glass ceiling for women that Jean is facing', he said. Set in the 1960s, the original novel follows Palmer, a working-class British sergeant, who becomes a spy to avoid military jail after a series of dodgy dealings. The story was adapted into a hugely successful 1965 film, starring Sir Michael, and spawning two immediate sequels, Funeral in Berlin and Billion Dollar Brain. While Jean Courtney, initially portrayed by Sue Lloyd, was a minor role in both the original film and the novel - Watkins' new adaptation will bring the character to the forefront. The upcoming series is adapted from the 1962 Len Deighton novel, later made into a 1965 film, which catapulted Sir Michael Caine's career While Jean Courtney, initially portrayed by Sue Lloyd, was a minor role in both the original film and the novel, Watkins' new adaptation will bring the character to the forefront Originally an assistant, the character will now be a fully fledged secret agent, with Boynton revealing Jean will be seen struggling to balance her double life with 'societal expectations' of a woman in the sixties. 'She's such an interesting commentary on what it's like to be a woman in a male-dominated industry, especially within the context of this era of so-called liberation for women and young people', she told the publication. The series also features CIA agent Maddox, a character not mentioned in the books or original film, Thomas said he felt a big responsibility while portraying powerful African-American figure in the sixties. Ashley researched the role by reading Leutrell Osborne's memoir, Black Man In The CIA, which details how the author became one of the first African American Case Officers in 1957. The book documents how the former agent rose through the ranks of the CIA, eventually becoming a spy manager that supervised CIA agents and assets in over 30 countries. While Osborne is widely recognised as one of the first black officers in the Central Intelligence Service, there are few reports of ethnic diversity in US intelligence during the Cold War. Even in recent years former CIA officers have claimed the US intelligence service - made up of 17 federal agencies, including the CIA - faced a 'shocking' lack of diversity. According to a report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, obtained by ABC News in 2019, just over a quarter of the members of all US intelligence agencies were racial and ethnic minorities. Originally an assistant, the character will now be a fully fledged secret agent, with Boynton revealing Jean will be seen struggling to balance her double life with life as a woman in the sixties The series also features CIA agent Maddox, a character not mentioned in the books or original film, Thomas said he felt a big responsibility while portraying powerful African-American figure in the sixties Joe's character is slated as being 'sharp and savvy' with a series of side-hustles that could potentially land him in hot water with the law For the six-part ITV series, also starring The Night Manager's Tom Hollander as spymaster Major Dalby, Liverpool has been transformed into 1960s London as Palmer investigates the kidnapping of British nuclear scientists. Joe's character is slated as being 'sharp and savvy' with a series of side-hustles that could potentially land him in hot water with the law. The British actor, 32, who shot to fame as John Selby in Peaky Blinders, is a Londoner like Caine. However, he was born in affluent Kingston-upon-Thames as opposed to industrial Rotherhithe, where Sir Michael entered the world as Maurice Micklewhite 88 years ago. The original espionage film and its following sequels were a deliberately downbeat alternative to the hugely successful James Bond films. Palmer is a contrast to Bond's privileged private school upbringing and lives and works in a 'gloomy' London, where he resides in a Notting Hill bedsit. Deighton went on to write several Harry Palmer thrillers although the spy was never named in the books giving producers scope for further series. Crown Princess Mary of Denmark cut an elegant figure in bright red as she attended the release of a documentary celebrating her life. Mary along with her husband, Crown Prince Frederik, 53, and children Prince Christian, 16, Princess Isabella, 14, Princess Josephine, 11, and Prince Vincent, 11, visited the Vilhelm Lauritzen Terminal in Kastrup. The mother-of-four beamed on the red carpet before going in to watch her honorary show, by TV2, a Danish TV station, named 'Mary 50 we celebrate Denmark's crown princess'. The glamourous brunette Princess chose a bright red dress for the occasion which featured a frilled, high neckline and a cut-out v-neck. Crown Princess Mary of Denmark attended TV 2 s birthday show 'Mary 50 we celebrate Denmark's crown princess' in Vilhelm Lauritzen Terminal in Kastrup Copenhagen The stunning royal paid close attention to detail by opting for red accessories that perfectly matched her bright red dress Crown Princess Mary of Denmark with Crown Prince Frederik, Prince Christian, Princess Isabella, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine on the red carpet The family looked picture perfect as they donned varying shades of navy that complimented each other The documentary included clips from her children who were each interviewed to share what they admire about their mother. The stylish royal paired her ensemble with dark red court heels, a patent clutch and a small sparkling hoop earrings to match the shining sequin details on the lower half of her dress. For her makeup, she chose a pink glossy lip which complimented her dress and a brown smokey eye looks that made her hazel eyes dazzle. Her daughter, Isabella opted for a suave black suit and a sleek high ponytail and completed the ensemble with simple gold jewellery and open toe beige heels. All smiles! Crown Prince Frederik and his youngest son, Prince Vincent exited their car in unison as they excitedly arrived to celebrate Crown princess Mary The 50-year-old mum-of-four chose bright yet simple makeup for her birthday event and wore her hair in loose, bouncy curls Crown Prince Frederik look the picture of style as he stepped out in a perfectly fitted Navy suit and a crisp, white shirt The royal family smiled at photographers as they posed on the red carpet before going in to enjoy the birthday documentary The rest of the family seemed to coordinate in matching navy shades that saw Frederik, Christian and Vincent in flattering suits and Josephine in a similarly pretty navy jacket over a cream dress. On her birthday on Sunday, Crown Princess Mary stepped out in a stylish yet down-to-earth ensemble with her lookalike children to greet fans. Mary along with her children Prince Christian, Princess Isabella, and Prince Vincent, were all smiles as they laughed, hugged and waved to passersby in Amalienborg Castle Square, Copenhagen. The 50-year-old mum-of-four paired chic wide leg, high-waisted jeans by Danish designer Britt Sisseck with a navy turtleneck jumper with brown leather elbow patches. Crown Princess Mary of Denmark (pictured) nails casual-chic style as she steps out of Amalienborg Palace, Copenhagen with three of her kids on Saturday to wave to fans on her 50th birthday The 50-year-old mum-of-four paired chic wide leg, high-waisted jeans by Danish designer, Britt Sisseck, with a navy turtleneck jumper with brown leather elbow patches She accessorised the casual yet classy look with a pair of Gucci rectangle frame glasses and a gold Cartier love bracelet. Mary and three of her kids were out the front of Amalienborg Palace to watch the changing of a guard as they honoured the Aussie-born royal with a birthday rendition of 'Crown Princess Mary's salute march'. To mark the princess' milestone birthday, the Danish Royal Family released new portraits of her with her family. The glamourous royal could be seen posing with Christian, Isabella and Vincent as well as her husband of 17 years Crown Prince Frederik, 53, and youngest daughter, Princess Josephine, 11. The beautiful pictures - which saw the family all opt for white shirts - were shared with the public on Instagram which she celebrated privately with her family at Amalienborg Palace on Saturday. The Danish royal family shared a new picture of Crown Princess Mary, Crown Prince Fredrik and their four children, Prince Christian, 16, Princess Isabella, 14, and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, 11, to mark Mary's 50th birthday In another snap, Frederik, 53, looked dapper as he posed with his wife of 17 years in their Palace of Amalienborg One last picture showed Mary posing by herself, in a stylish white and tan ensemble she styled with tan swede heels and well-chosen pieces of jewellery The Swedish and Norwegian royal families also sent their good wishes on social media as they celebrated their long-standing relationship with the Australian-born princess. The snap was casual, with Frederik standing next to Mary while she perched on the edge of a comfortable sofa where Christian and Isabella sat, their younger brother straddling the sofa's arm and his twin sister sitting on the floor. Another couple's portrait showed a dapper Frederik, who paired his white shirt with black trousers, holding hands with Mary on the sofa. BEIJING, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Sri Lankan Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris on Monday exchanged congratulatory messages on the 65th anniversary of the establishment of the two countries' diplomatic relations. Wang said in his message that China and Sri Lanka have always shown each other mutual understanding and support, setting a good example of friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation between countries of different sizes. The two countries have worked together to fight the COVID-19 pandemic in the spirit of mutual assistance since its outbreak, enhancing their traditional friendship. The two countries are now seeking further alignment of their development strategies and high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, so as to inject impetus to the post-pandemic economic recovery. Wang said he paid a successful visit to Sri Lanka recently and jointly launched celebrations marking the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries and the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Rubber-Rice Pact. Both sides agreed to carry forward the tradition of solidarity and mutual assistance, deepen China-Sri Lanka practical cooperation and expand shared interests of the two countries. Wang said he is ready to work with Peiris to maintain close communication and coordination, and move forward the strategic cooperative partnership featuring sincere mutual assistance and enduring friendship. In his message, Peiris mentioned that the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Sri Lanka and China coincides with the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Rubber-Rice Pact. Over the years, he said, the enduring friendship and cooperation between Sri Lanka and China have flourished, bringing common benefits to their partnership in various fields, and the close exchanges between the leaders of the two countries have witnessed the enduring development of bilateral relations. Despite difficulties brought by the pandemic, Wang visited Sri Lanka during his first overseas trip in 2022, which fully demonstrates the priority both sides give to Sri Lanka-China relations, Peiris said. Peiris said he believes that Sri Lanka and China will continue to strengthen cooperation in economy, poverty reduction, international and regional issues, people-to-people exchanges and vaccine cooperation, among others. He also looks forward to working closely with Wang to further deepen and expand the traditional friendship and the strategic cooperative partnership between Sri Lanka and China, delivering benefits to the two peoples together. A teenager who liked some 'sad quotes' on Instagram while feeling down over being bullied has revealed how easy it was to become sucked into suicide and self-harm groups. Former Instagram staffers and some of the app's early creators have lifted the lid on how the platform uses algorithms to lure in users in revealing new BBC documentary, The Instagram Effect. The documentary emphasises Instagram's shift from a chronological feed to one controlled by algorithms, which took place in 2016 - meaning users' experience and behaviour on the platform was altered. It tells the story of 17-year-old Abby, a British teenager who fell into the dark world of extreme online self-harm groups when she left school because she was being bullied. After joining the group, Abby was taught methods of suicide, was encouraged to self-harm during video calls with other young Instagram users, and was hospitalised after attempts on her life. Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen claims in the show that teenagers are 'killing themselves' because of Instagram. Abby, 17, from Newcastle, fell into the dark world of extreme online self-harm groups when she left school because she was being bullied Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen who last year disclosed thousands of internal Facebook documents to US lawmakers, warned that teenagers are 'killing themselves' because of Instagram 'This is just the beginning,' Haugen said. 'And the thing that I think young people see, that maybe people a little bit older than them don't, is how intense the problems are - because teenagers are killing themselves because of Instagram.' Abby, from Newcastle, left school at 14 after her mental health deteriorated due to severe bullying, meaning she was spending huge chunks of the day on social media. 'Sitting in front of your phone for hours and hours again you make friends on Instagram,' she said. After liking content with sad quotes, she was exposed to extreme self-harm content and added into anti-recovery groups of accounts who would encourage each other to self-harm. Abby left school at 14 after her mental health deteriorated due to severe bullying, meaning she was spending huge chunks of the day on social media The teenager is currently still experiencing poor mental health, but is in recovery and splits her time between her home and her recovery unit 'I probably wouldn't have known what self-harm was if I didn't look at those accounts,' she said. 'I knew how long I would have to stay underwater to drown myself, I knew how many paracetamol I would have to take to kill myself. I knew "How many minutes you would have to have something around your neck to ligature". 'You get added into group, people would tell me to go kill myself and they'd want to do it together. They would want to come and video call to self-harm together which is just corrupt.' Abby was hospitalised after attempting to take her own life, and had her phone taken away from her for three months by her recovery team. '[At the] end of year 10, year 11, I started really wanting to hurt myself, and I would,' she said. 'But I think apart from that, before then I didn't really want to, and I was just doing it because on Instagram it's glamourised, and it's meant to be like people make it look good. 'Like everything on Instagram's glamorised whether it's the positive life and going shopping, having loads of money, or self-harm.' Haugen says users can be led down 'rabbit holes' after liking innocuous content, with the algorithm showing increasingly extreme versions of content users engage with The teenager is currently still experiencing poor mental health, but is in recovery and splits her time between her home and her recovery unit. The documentary examines how users can be led down 'rabbit holes' after liking innocuous content, with the algorithm showing increasingly extreme versions of content users engage with. Former Facebook employee Haugen, who last year disclosed thousands of internal Facebook documents to US lawmakers, claimed Instagram is designed so users compare themselves to other users. 'I think the thing for people to really understand is how Instagram differs from other social media platforms', she said. 'TikTok is about performance, doing things with your friends, Snapchat is about augmented reality, it's not actually you, it's you with a mask on. 'Facebook's internal research says Instagram is about bodies and social comparisons seeing these other windows in other people's lives and seeing what your life is like compared to theirs. Influencer Lauren Black, from London, also appeared on the documentary, where she explained how the app allowed her to fall into a 'trigger hole' where she would continuously look at content that worsened her eating disorder 'The algorithms are looking for the content that lures you in, looking for the rabbit hole that you are most vulnerable to. You can start with innocuous interests, you can search healthy eating and these rabbit holes normalise the idea you should be extremely thin and it's your fault if you're not.' Influencer Lauren Black, from London, also appeared on the documentary, where she explained how the app allowed her to fall into a 'trigger hole' where she would continuously look at content that worsened her eating disorder. The fashion blogger, who currently has over 123,000 followers, began posting 'outfit of the day' pictures when she was at university, and after six months quit her degree to pursue influencing full time. 'I started posting IGTV videos and that took me from about 30,000 followers to about 100,000 followers, it was quite a jump. It was something I wasn't really mentally prepared for', she said. 'I was quite anxious, everyday I had to please more people than usual, I was on Instagram all the time my screen time was like 13 hours a day, it was the moment I woke up until I went to sleep, just scrolling'. As a teenager, Lauren had 'problems with food', and says she aspired to look like models on the covers of the fashion magazines she collected. Manish Raghavan, a former Facebook Responsible AI researcher, said responsibility for algorithms lies with those who designed them The documentary explores how Instagram algorithms work and how they can lead users down a dangerous pathway, with former Instagram engineer Greg Hochmuth claiming the impact they have had may be 'impossible to reverse' 'When I started this job I didn't realise the impact of looking and comparing myself to other people had on my mental health and my eating disorder got worse over the years', she said. 'I basically just ignored when I eas hungry. When I did eat it would be the tiniest amount, I was so busy with work I would put it off for as long as possible. 'I feel like that's the sense of self-harm of having an eating disorder just starving yourself. When I look back you can clearly see i'm ill but when I was in the middle of it all I just didn't really know. 'I thought if I changed myself I would gain more followers, I just created this vision in my mind, it was a lie.' During the pandemic, Lauren befriended one of her neighbours, who had already recovered from an eating disorder and suggested that she may need help for the mental health condition. Who is Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen? Former Facebook employee Frances Haugen, a Harvard-educated data scientist, had worked as a product manager on its civic misinformation team after joining the team in 2019. Before leaving, she secretly copied tens of thousands of pages of internal research documents and leaked them to the Wall Street Journal. One internal study cited 13.5 per cent of teen girls saying Instagram makes thoughts of suicide worse and 17 per cent of teen girls saying it makes eating disorders worse. The 37-year-old told the US Congress that she had leaked the documents to prove to the world that Facebook 'intentionally hides vital information from the public'. Miss Haugen said it had 'repeatedly misled' about what its own research revealed about 'the safety of children, the efficacy of its artificial intelligence systems and its role in spreading divisive and extreme messages'. She argued that people deserved to know the truth - adding that 'almost no one outside of Facebook knows what is happening inside'. But Facebook executives have fought back, arguing that she had not worked directly on some of the issues she has been questioned on. Advertisement Lauren started treatment for her eating disorder in June 2020, and now posts more 'positive and uplifting content'. The documentary explores how Instagram algorithms work and how they can lead users down a dangerous pathway, with former Instagram engineer Greg Hochmuth claiming the impact they have had may be 'impossible to reverse'. 'It looks like a logical decision now, looking back, as to why Instagram did it as a business', he said. 'But it just completely changed how it's being used, what people get out of it, and I think that's impossible to reverse. 'This challenge of making Instagram feel less pressurised is very difficult, if not impossible. 'Previously, success for us meant that we built a good product that people using [it] felt good about. Shifting from that mindset to something where success is just measured by numbers in a very plain way.' Manish Raghavan, a former Facebook Responsible AI researcher, said responsibility for algorithms lies with those who designed them. 'If you want to understand why Instagram is the way it is, you have to understand how the algorithms have shaped it to be that way,' he said. 'The algorithms didn't have to turn out the way they did, they are the results of people's choices.' Josh Simons, former Facebook Responsible AI researcher and Harvard Fellow of trying to break out of harmful patterns on the app, added: 'Fundamentally we're habitual beings, so it takes real will and resolve to break with the self-reinforcing dynamic of using prediction to rank things. It's not impossible, but it asks a real test of human psychology.' Research by the Center for Countering Digital Hate shared with the BBC, found that the Instagram algorithm promoted content or accounts referencing self-harm, suicide or eating disorders to one in six accounts who had engaged with similar content. For eating disorders, users were likely to be recommended accounts promoting eating disorders in 46% of cases. Raghavan added: 'Even if you know your A.I. for detecting harmful content is 99 per cent accurate, if people are posting a million bad things a day, which is probably a vast underestimate, getting one per cent of that wrong means 10,000 pieces of harmful content are coming through the platform every day, and people are going to be exposed to that.' A Meta spokesperson told the BBC: 'People come to Instagram to express themselves, explore and connect. We know they'll only keep doing that if they feel safe, which is why we spent approximately $5 billion on safety and security on our apps last year alone, and it continues to be our top priority. We work with experts around the world to develop our rules, and to build features that help protect people and give them more control over their experience. 'Suicide, self-harm and eating disorders are complex mental health issues and our thoughts are with anyone affected by them. While we do, on the advice of experts, allow people to talk about their own experiences with these issues, we try not to recommend this content. We've never allowed people to promote or glorify suicide, self-harm or eating disorders. We've built sophisticated technology to help us find and remove this content more quickly, and we're in discussions with regulators about bringing this technology to the UK. We also want to make sure we're offering our community support, which is why we direct people searching for these topics to organisations like Samaritans and Beat. We hope the CCDH will share their report with us so we can understand what they found and continue to improve.' Watch 'The Instagram Effect' on BBC Three, Monday 7th February at 9pm. She is best known as The Crown's Princess Anne and has spoken of her desire not to be typecast as a toff. But Erin Doherty's latest role couldn't be further away from the prim and proper Princess Royal. In six-part BBC1 psychological thriller Chloe, which premiered last night, Doherty plays a Becky, a seemingly plain twentysomething from Bristol who is obsessed with the glamorous and ostensibly perfect world of a woman named Chloe (Poppy Gilbert), who she spends hours stalking on social media. Becky is also an accomplished con artist. A temp worker by day, by night she adopts fictional identities and uses them to breeze into parties she isn't invited to and mingle with eligible men. Within the opening minutes of the episode, Becky has sex with Josh (Brandon Micheal Hall), a man she meets at a charity gala while posing as a woman named Helena wearing a coat she stole from her office. She also pours her own urine into her boss' whiskey as a secret act of rebellion. In BBC1 murder mystery Chloe, which premiered last night, Doherty plays a Becky, a seemingly plain twentysomething from Bristol who is obsessed with the glamorous and ostensibly perfect world of a woman named Chloe (Poppy Gilbert), who she spends hours stalking on social media. She works as a temp and pours urine into her boss' whiskey (above) Within the opening minutes of the episode, Becky has sex with Josh (Brandon Micheal Hall) on the night she meets him (pictured). The role is a far cry from Doherty's turn as Princess Anne Doherty is best known as The Crown's Princess Anne (pictured) and has spoken of her desire not to be typecast as a toff. Her new role as Becky couldn't be more different The first episode - and Doherty's performance - had viewers hooked. One tweeted: 'Gripping first episode of #chloe on BBC. Sharp and witty writing, brilliantly directed. A great example of allowing the audience to fill in the gaps as opposed to spoon feeding them exposition. Cant wait to watch the rest.' Erin Doherty: I don't want to be typecast as a toff Erin Doherty recently revealed she has turned down other upper-class roles to avoid being typecast after playing Princess Anne in the Netflix series. The 29-year-old actress said she 'loved' playing Princess Royal in the third and fourth season of the royal drama but is now deliberately distancing herself from similar characters. Erin, who was raised in Crawley, West Sussex added that while it was 'nerve-wracking' to turn down work, she took a 'gamble' and declined offers to play various upper-crust characters. In an interview with the Sunday Times, she said: 'A lot of upper-class characters came my way after playing Anne, and I said no because I didn't want to be stuck doing that. ' Advertisement Another posted: 'If you're in the mood for a compelling drama, give BBC1s #Chloe a watch. It stars #TheCrown's Erin Doherty (Princess Anne) as a woman who, thanks to social media, becomes obsessed with the life estranged friend Chloe (Poppy Gilbert) is leading...' A third wrote: 'Proper Hooked from that opening ep of #CHLOE. And Erin Doherty really is bloody magnificent.' Becky lives at home with her dementia-stricken mother. As she lies in bed at night, she spends hours scrolling through Chloe's social media feed, yearning after the seemingly perfect life she shares with her friends and husband, Elliott. She also spices things up by confidently assuming false identities, including Helena, a doula-in-training with links to a charity and Sasha, an art world events worker who has recently returned to the UK from Tokyo. When Chloe unexpectedly dies of suicide, Becky uses her skills as a con artist to infiltrate her world and spy on her clique of artsy, privileged friends, beginning with yoga bunny Livia (Pippa Bennett-Warner). Becky tracks her down first to an art exhibition - introducing herself to Livia's friend as if it wasn't all planned - and then to a private members' club in the countryside, posing as Sasha. On both occasions, she introduces herself as her alter-ego, Sasha. She even hints at her own duplicity, saying: 'You should have seen me trembling at reception, I can't lie to save my life.' By creating the appearance of a perfect friend, Becky manipulates Livia into bringing her into her world, closer to Chloe's friends. A temp worker by day (pictured in the office), by night Becky adopts fictional identities and uses them to breeze into parties she isn't invited to and mingle with eligible men Becky is obsessed with Chloe (Poppy Gilbert), who she spends hours stalking on social media When Chloe unexpectedly dies of suicide, Becky uses her skills as a con artist to infiltrate her world and spy on her clique of artsy, privileged friends, beginning with yoga bunny Livia (Pippa Bennett-Warner). Pictured, Chloe with her husband Elliot At one point Becky's sinister side shows when she and Livia bump into Josh at a health club and Livia introduces her new friend as Sasha, not Helena, as he knows her. He also spots her bank card uses her real name: Becky. But she is able to talk herself out of it, winning Livia's confidence. By the end of the episode she finds herself at a dinner party with Livia, Elliot and some of Chloe's closest friends. It emerges there is a deeper connection between Chloe and Becky than it first appeared. The two were childhood friends and, on the night Chloe died, she phoned Becky twice. Chloe's suicide note also appears to reference Becky. There are also unexplained flashbacks to the night Chloe died. Becky tracks Chloe's friend Livia down first to an art exhibition - introducing herself as Sasha. Above, Becky (Erin Doherty) as Sasha on the night she meets Livia Becky then follows Livia to a private members' club in the countryside, again posing as Sasha. Livia (pictured) and 'Sasha' become firm friends, and Becky gets closer to Chloe's inner circle At one point Becky's sinister side shows when she and Livia bump into Josh at a health club and Livia introduces her new friend as Sasha, not Helena, as he knows her (above) While some viewers thought the first episode had too many twists and turns to keep up with, others said they're already looking forward to the next episode, which is also available to watch on iPlayer. One posted: 'Gripping first episode of #chloe on BBC. Sharp and witty writing, brilliantly directed. A great example of allowing the audience to fill in the gaps as opposed to spoon feeding them exposition. Cant wait to watch the rest.' Another wrote: 'I really enjoyed #Chloe on BBC1 this evening. I don't get why some say they don't understand what is going on. I think, given it is a mystery, that is probably the general idea. I find the story intriguing. Can't wait for the next episode.' The first episode - and Doherty's performance - had viewers hooked Chloe continues on Monday at 9pm on BBC1. The entire series is available to watch on iPlayer Richard Madeley has been criticised online after saying 'Princess Diana's hands weren't clean in terms of having extramarital affairs' during a Good Morning Britain discussion about Camilla becoming Queen Consort. On Saturday, the Queen ended years of uncertainty in an historic Platinum Jubilee statement by declaring it was her 'sincere wish' for the Duchess of Cornwall to be fully acknowledged as Queen consort when Prince Charles takes the throne. Richard joined co-presenter Susanna Reid and royal correspondent Jack Royston and biographer Angela Levin as they discussed whether the public would accept Camilla's title of Queen consort. The presenter, 65, asked: 'Why is it do you think that people have a sort of one-sided memory of what happened all those years ago? 'Because let's be honest, Diana's hands weren't clean in terms of having extramarital affairs, she had a number.' Scroll down for video Richard Madeley (pictured left) has been criticised online after saying 'Princess Diana's hands weren't clean in terms of having extramarital affairs' during a Good Morning Britain discussion about Camilla becoming Queen Consort On Saturday, the Queen ended years of uncertainty in an historic Platinum Jubilee statement by declaring it was her 'sincere wish' for the Duchess of Cornwall to be fully acknowledged as Queen consort when Prince Charles takes the throne. Pictured, Princess Diana Richard joined co-presenter Susanna Reid and royal correspondent Jack Royston and biographer Angela Levin as they discussed whether the public would accept Camilla's (pictured with Prince Charles) title of Queen consort 'Yes of course, we're talking about something that happened over a quarter of a century ago and what could've been right then may not be right now,' replied Angela. However, some viewers were left shocked by Richard's remarks about the late Princess Diana. One Twitter user wrote: 'He was cheating on her with Camilla so what was Diana supposed to do? Sit at home and cry. Shut up Richard. Another said: 'Richard Madeley saying that Diana had affairs to ease our views on Camilla becoming Queen Consort was too low below the belt! While a third simply added: 'My god, Richard Madeley you are an absolute car crash.' Prince Charles and Princess Diana both eventually admitted to having affairs, however it still remains unclear who cheated first. Reaction: However, some viewers were left shocked by Richard's remarks about the late Princess Diana Meanwhile, the presenter caused further upset to some viewers when mentioning Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at the end of the segment - before being 'shut down' by Susanna (pictured together, top) Meanwhile, the presenter caused further upset to some viewers when mentioning Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at the end of the segment - before being 'shut down' by Susanna. Royal expert Jack said the 'royal family need to show the world that they care and they're not indifferent to Diana's experiences.' He said: 'Another aspect of this is that they face similar allegations in relation to Harry and Meghan - the allegation there again is emotional indifference to a person's suffering. 'So what Charles needs to do now... it's inevitable that Charles is going to do this, there's no way they're going to go back on it, is-' However, the royal expert was interrupted by Richard, who said: 'Hang on - we've got to finish it there, but come on. 'There's very little public sympathy, in this country at least, for Harry and Meghan. They are not seen in this country as victims at all - they're seen as moaners, basically, by the vast majority of people-' Viewers were quick to react to the end of the segment, with one writing: 'Here we go again. Richard can't resist a dig at Meghan and Harry. Time to let him go.' Susanna soon interrupted: 'Let's not get into that particular argument,' and as Angela attempted to say something, the presenter added: 'No, Angela, l'm really sorry, we have to leave it there. 'And that's not because we were starting to talk about Harry and Meghan! It's simply because it's 8.32.' 'Out of time,' Richard announced. 'And it's competition time!' Viewers were quick to react to the end of the segment, with one writing: 'Here we go again. Richard can't resist a dig at Meghan and Harry. Time to let him go.' A bride's parents are suing a Brooklyn hotel and a wedding planner for $5 million because they claim their daughter's big day was ruined because the venue wouldn't let them turn up the music. Marjorie and Russell Newman, who spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on their daughter Jessica Alovis' wedding, have taken legal action against Brooklyn Pier 1 Hotel after they allegedly failed to disclose a 'severe' noise restriction at the venue. The Newmans said in a lawsuit filed last Monday in Brooklyn Supreme Court that the couple's first dance was ruined. They said the DJ refused to turn up the music, keeping it so low during the celebration that guests could hardly hear it. In order to continue dancing, the newlyweds and their 200 wedding guests were allegedly forced to squeeze into a 'dingy' room off-site meant for 60 people. 'It was very, very devastating,' Marjorie, who is also suing their wedding planner, Real Housewives of Miami star Guerdy Abraira, told the New York Post. 'This was supposed to be her night to shine and it was all taken away from her.' Jessica and Matt Alovis' got married at the Brooklyn Pier 1 Hotel on September 18, 2021, but said their wedding was 'destroyed' after the venue wouldn't let them turn up the music Jessica's parents are suing the Brooklyn hotel and their wedding planner for $5 million, claiming they failed to disclose a 'severe' noise restriction at the venue. The bride and groom are pictured during the wedding They say they spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on the lavish event, but weren't told until it was already underway that the music would have to be kept at a 'woefully low' level. Pictured is a table setting at the wedding Her daughter Jessica, 29, married Matt Alovis, 30, at the hotel on September 18, 2021. But what should have been a glorious day for couple became a 'nightmare' when the venue allegedly told them after the reception had already begun that there was a new rule restricting any loud noise - which meant they could only play music at a 'woefully low' level. The lawsuit claimed that the 'horrific' rule ruined the couple's first dance, after the DJ refused to turn up the music, which left the new bride 'hysterically crying.' Brooklyn Pier 1 Hotel reportedly implemented the noise restriction due to residential condos within the building, and introduced it at least three weeks before the wedding - but the bride's father, Russell, said the hotel 'never made them aware.' 'They never brought us in to say, "This is what it is going to sound like or not sound like," they never gave us the opportunity to move the venue,' he explained. The celebration began in a spacious and well-decorated reception room. But when it came time to dance and play music, the newlyweds claimed they were told they'd have to move to a much smaller, 'dingy' room in a building next door, which only fit 60 people and had seating for less than a dozen. Marjorie and Russell, who spent $150,000 on flowers alone for their daughter's big day, described it as a bare 'afterparty' room. The couple, who own and run the real estate firm Newman Properties in Manhattan and Long Island, alleged that the hotel did not help them relocate the guests, which 'interrupted the flow of festivities, confused guests, and prevented less-mobile seniors from attending.' 'There was nowhere to sit,' said Marjorie. 'There was not one flower in that room. 'Most of the adults, besides our very good friends and family, left at this point because really no one had a clue of what was going on.' Brooklyn Pier 1 Hotel (pictured) reportedly implemented the noise restriction due to residential condos within the building, and introduced it at least three weeks before the wedding - but the bride's father, Russell, said the hotel 'never made them aware' They are also suing their wedding planner, Real Housewives of Miami star Guerdy Abraira. Harpers Bazaar named Guerdy, who was originally born in Haiti, as one of the top planners in the world Marjorie said her daughter, who works a social worker, was not even able to 'throw the bouquet,' and was left devastated by how her wedding day turned out after months of planning. 'After about a half hour into this, she was hysterical and crying,' her father, Russell, told the Post. 'This is not how she envisioned her dream wedding.' 'They pulled out the rug from under us,' he added. 'Jessica has a problem looking at her wedding album and she gets upset every time she sees the pictures. It was a horrific situation that was avoidable.' The Newmans, who paid for the entire wedding, are now demanding $5 million from the hotel and Abraira for the 'destroyed' event caused by a 'breach of contract' and the 'deceptive concealment of sound restrictions' which resulted in 'humiliation, indignity, distress of mind, mental suffering, inconvenience, and physical discomfort,' according to the lawsuit. 'There were countless hours spent over at least a one year planning period for what should have been a once in a lifetime special event which was single handily destroyed by the egregious actions of the defendants,' the lawsuit says. Lawyer Sanford Rubenstein, who filed the suit for the family with co-counsel Mark Shirian, told DailyMail.com: 'To turn a beautiful dream into a nightmare and spoil one of the most important days in a girl's life - her wedding day - in my opinion is an example of corporate greed at its worst.' Rubenstein also told the Sun: 'This family is entitled to monetary damages for what happened, and we look forward to a jury deciding what those damages should be. Representatives for Brooklyn Pier 1 Hotel and Abraira did not return requests for comment. Dragons' Den's newest investor Steven Bartlett has said his success of building a 300 million pound business is partly thanks to 'parental failures', like his mother and father always being at work. Social media marketing CEO Steven, who at just 29 is the youngest Dragon the BBC programme has ever seen, appeared on ITV's Loose Women today. The young entrepreneur discussed how his independence at a young age helped him succeed in life - with Steven explaining how his 'hardest-working' mother would sleep at her store, while he was left to fend largely for himself while growing up in Plymouth. He previously described how he feared he'd never make a success of his life after quitting his course at Manchester Metropolitan University. Steven, who's currently single, wrote in his book Happy Sexy Millionaire, which was published earlier this year, that at the time he was a 'broke, lonely, insecure university drop-out from a bankrupt family' before founding his multi-million pound business. Scroll down for video Social media marketing CEO Steven (pictured), who at just 29 is the youngest Dragon the BBC programme has ever seen, appeared on ITV's Loose Women today The young entrepreneur (pictured with his family) discussed how his independence at a young age helped him succeed in life - with Steven explaining how his 'hardest-working' mother would sleep at her store, while he was left to fend largely for himself while growing up in Plymouth He previously described how he feared he'd never make a success of his life after quitting his course at Manchester Metropolitan University. Pictured, Steven as a child Speaking on the show today, he said: 'Actually the reason why I'm sat here today, I am 100 per cent sure, is because of things you would consider parental failures. 'It's because my parents weren't around, it's because I didn't have all the nice gifts and presents, there wasn't Christmas presents you know as I got older, there wasn't birthday presents. 'So what that meant was, on one hand, because my parents were so busy working, and my mum is the most hardest working person I've ever met. 'She would sleep in her office on the floor, in her shop on the floor, wake up and run the shop and then go back to sleep on the floor in the back room on a bag of rice in Plymouth. 'Because they weren't around, I learned this very important lesson that if I am to have anything it doesn't appear on the kitchen counter or under the tree. It's of my own doing.' Steven (pictured right), who's currently single, wrote in his book Happy Sexy Millionaire, which was published earlier this year, that at the time he was a 'broke, lonely, insecure university drop-out from a bankrupt family' before founding his multi-million pound business Steven (pictured) replaced Tej Lalvani on the latest series of Dragon's Den, which arrived back on screens on January 6 This series of Dragon's Den, Steven joined Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman and Sara Davies on the panel of the business reality show, which sees entrepreneurs decide whether to invest or not in ideas pitched to them. His place in the lair is a far cry from his first brush with the programme, shortly after he dropped out of university ten years ago, when he applied to pitch to the dragons but was turned down. The young entrepreneur, born in Botswana and brought up in Plymouth, has replaced Tej Lalvani, 46, on the show. After quitting university, Bartlett, now CEO of social media marketing agency The Social Chain - currently valued at 300million - started Wallpark, a platform for students before setting up Social Chain and Media Chain - brands that have worked with names including Apple, Amazon and Coca-Cola. Ahead of filming, he told BBC Radio 1Xtras If You Dont Know podcast, that he was determined to join the panel as there 'has not been a young, black man on the show' and he wanted to be a role model for others. Steven (pictured) is driven by a desire to appeal to the 'underrepresented' and encourage and enable people to thrive in the business world The businessman, who admits he felt like a 'broke, lonely drop-out' after quitting university aged 18 joins, from left, Touker Suleyman, Sara Davies, Deborah Meaden and Peter Jones on the latest series He said: 'Much of the reason for me wanting to be a Dragon and wanting to do the show is because I know the show is a big platform and I am not represented on that show as an entrepreneur. There's not been a young, black man on that show. 'I feel like I have a responsibility to do this because it will show 12-year-old Steve, or other 12 year old Steve's, that they too can be business people. 'To see someone like me on the show as well that's not going to wear a suit, and that is into all the same things you're into - like hip-hop music, jollof rice, Manchester United and whatever else it is - I think is an enabler. 'Because role models are most powerful when you can relate to the path they've walked.' Steven is also driven by a desire to appeal to the 'underrepresented' and encourage and enable people to thrive in the business world. He said: 'If you type in "CEO" on Google, what you see is white men in suits. I'm not against white men in suits, but I am against leaving talent off the field because they don't feel included. Bartlett, pictured on This Morning earlier this year, says his success is down to a positive confidence cycle - where trying something new propels you to keep going 'And so by being a black man in a snapback, I will appeal to other black men, and women, in snapbacks. Or anybody that comes from an underrepresented background, and I will let them know that they can sit at the table. 'That's why I felt a sense of responsibility. It felt like this wasn't really about me, it was about enabling a lot of people like me. You don't have to wear a suit, you don't have to pretend to be someone else, you can just be yourself and sit there. 'I've never worn a suit in business. There's not been a day at Social Chain where I wore a suit, not one day in almost a decade, where I went to a meeting, a pitch, to meet an investor, where I wore a suit. 'So why would I then change for TV? I'm trying to represent the real modern world of business and the real world of entrepreneurs and that's not suited and booted for the majority. 'It's the internet, social media, it's wearing whatever you want. Right now it's like working at home. Imagining going on Dragon's Den wearing a suit when 80% of the world are remote working in their boxer shorts.' Romantic gestures can happen in the most unexpected ways, as proven by a marriage proposal that has gone viral on social media. Jim Lardner, who lives in Scotland, planned a laid-back marriage proposal for his unnamed girlfriend with the help of a local takeaway. Ordering on Just Eat, he left a note asking Kilbowie Cafe to write 'marry me' on the container of his girlfriend's cheese and onion toastie. Jim shared a photograph of his request and the completed order on Twitter, while sharing the devastation of being rejected by his girlfriend. Jim Lardner, who lives in Scotland, has gone viral on Twitter after claiming his girlfriend rejected his marriage proposal (pictured) Jim used Just Eat to order an onion toastie from Kilbowie Cafe and left a note requesting for the container of his girlfriend's meal to read 'will you marry me' (pictured) Jim, who has just over 400 followers, seemed in good spirits despite not receiving the answer he expected. Thanking the cafe for their help, he shared a screengrab of the note he originally wrote to accompany his order. 'Contact-free delivery. Can I get red onions on the toastie with onions please. Can you write "Will you marry me?" on the box with the onion toastie. She will be ecstatic. Thanks,' Jim said. Photos show that Kilbowie Cafe gladly obliged his request neatly writing 'will you marry me?' in red pen. The staff decorated the box with colourful hearts. A snap shows the toastie was perfectly cooked with red onions to complete his order. Jim (pictured) told his 400 followers that his girlfriend rejected the marriage proposal in a post that racked up over 16,000 likes Jim revealed that his girlfriend said no to the proposal, but gave no further information on the status of their relationship. He joked with a friend who commented on his tweet that he's 'stuck' with them. Over 536 people re-tweeted the post, with many making jokes about his unconventional proposal. One person wrote: 'I was gonna raise a toast... missed opportunity' Another joked: 'Did you use an onion ring for an engagement ring?' Showing support a third added: 'Maybe your idea of romance never done the trick but if you asked her yourself....' A fourth gushed about the cafe, saying: 'I looked again at the picture. Not only did they write your message, they added as many handwritten hearts as they could to get you across the line. This is great service.' A royal biographer has said that Meghan Markle could learn from how the Duchess of Cornwall has navigated life in the public eye, despite the abuse she received at the start of her relationship with Prince Charles. Angela Levin, a royal commentator and author of several biographies of senior members of the family, spoke to GB News today after the Her Majesty gave her blessing for Camilla to become Queen Consort when Prince Charles ascends the throne. Comparaing the two women, she described Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex as a 'difficult woman' who is 'not somebody who wants to work as a team'. In an interview with Eamonn Holmes and Isabel Webster, she compared the Duchess of Cornwall to Prince Philip in his commitment to the Queen and her duties. 'When she's with Prince Charles, she takes a backwards step and she's there to support him rather like Prince Philip was,' Angela said. 'She doesn't try to interfere, she doesn't try to outsmart him, or rush ahead and shake hands with whoever is there. Queen Elizabeth pictured with her daughter-in-law, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, who Angela Levin has said the public has 'warmed to' in recent years 'But she has opened up during the pandemic with loads and loads of Zoom calls, talked to people, and she's got this great sense of humour and they have warmed to her. 'The public has seen her in a way that they never have before. She works incredibly hard and I think the Queen feels quite rightly that she justifies it. 'She's also never complained about anything, from the time she was most disliked, before she married Prince Charles, people were attacking her in every possible way. 'She never complained and just got on with her life quietly, she stayed in her home for months on end because she couldn't face the nastiness. But she never blamed anybody and never tried to win people round, she just waited. 'I believe she felt that if you give people time, "They will see what I'm like and then they can make up their minds".' Royal biographer Levin told GB News that she thinks Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex (pictured during the 2021 Global Citizen Live festival in New York) is a 'very different personality' who 'takes on everything she possibly can because she needs to be out there in the front' Presenter Eamonn responded to say that it was a gradual build-up of her reputation, and after experiencing the abuse for circumstances around the start of Camilla's relationship with Prince Charles, she has 'come out of the other side'. Asking Angela if she thinks there is a lesson in Camilla's story for the Duchess of Sussex, the royal biographer describes Meghan as a 'very different personality.' She continued: 'Camilla comes from a solid background, she had parents who loved each other and brought her up in a very easy way. Angela Levin, pictured, is a royal commentator and biographer who spoke to GB News earlier to discuss Camilla's future role as Queen Consort 'I think that the Duchess of Sussex needs to prove herself non-stop. 'She takes on everything she possibly can because she needs to be out there in the front. 'She's not somebody who wants to work as a team, where Camilla doesn't want to put herself out in the front. 'She [Meghan] has to win, and we've seen that with all these legal charges, very very difficult woman I think.' Her comments come as the Queen celebrates her Platinum Jubilee, after 70 years as the monarch. Ahead of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee announcement, she said it was her 'sincere wish' that Camilla be known as Queen Consort when Prince Charles takes the throne. In a message, the Queen said: 'It is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort.' The 'Queen Consort' refers to the spouse of a ruling king. A spokesman for Clarence House said both the Charles and Camilla were 'touched and honoured'. The Yorkshire Ripper speaks candidly about his crimes, his victims and his fans from beyond the grave in never-before-heard conversations recorded by a female 'pen friend' before his death. Sutcliffe, who was convicted of murdering 13 women and attempting to murder seven others, was recorded by a woman identified only as 'Brenda' during phone conversations from HMP Frankland in the months leading up to his death from Covid-19 in November 2020, aged 74. Brenda was asked to record the conversations by former detective Mark Williams-Thomas, who brings the recordings to the public for the first time in Channel 5 documentary, The Ripper Speaks: The Lost Tapes, which airs tomorrow at 10pm. Brenda, who remained anonymous in the documentary, explained she had first become interested in Sutcliffe as a little girl because she had grown up close to where he lived. Over time, the pair exchanged letters and had phone conversations and Brenda even went to prison to see Sutcliffe face-to-face. She says in the documentary he comes across as a normal man who is softly spoken - despite his heinous crimes. The bond between the pair is clear in the recordings. In the tapes Sutcliffe speaks to her about the weather, calls her his 'number one angel' and jokes about how he is known as 'Uncle Peter' to some of his fans' children. He also admits he had planned to kill another victim, Olivia Reivers, then 24, before he was caught. In the documentary, the informant, called 'Brenda,' right, tells ex-detective Mark Williams-Thomas, left, that Sutcliffe sounds 'normal' and that his personality does not fit his crime Sutcliffe has several pen pals from all over the world, including one woman in America who wanted to marry him (pictured in 2015) Speaking on the documentary, Brenda admitted she felt nervous before she first went to prison to visit Sutcliffe. 'The more I got to know him, the more he opened up,' she says, adding the serial killer was very 'gentle spoken.' 'People say, you know, "he's got these dark eyes, he's like the devil" and then when you meet him, of course it's nothing like that,' she said. 'He put me at ease very quickly, I couldn't imagine him doing any of it in his right mind. His character and his personality didn't it the crimes at all. I got to know the man behind the Yorkshire Ripper.' Could the Ripper have more victims? The Yorkshire Ripper was responsible for murdering 13 women and attempting to kill seven more, but there has always been speculation that he could have committed more crimes. Peter Sutcliffe's death in 2020 will have left many feeling they will never know if he was responsible for attacking them, over 40 years ago. A report completed shortly after he was given 20 life sentences found that Peter Sutcliffe could have been responsible for a further 13 offences. And he said he was questioned in prison about 16 unsolved cases - although no further charges were ever brought. West Yorkshire Police reviewed historical cases linked to Sutcliffe in the 1982 Byford Report and confirmed in 2016 that officers had visited a small number of people named in the report, but later announced they had no plans to charge him with further matters. The report, written by Sir Lawrence Byford about the flawed Ripper investigation, was completed in 1982 but only made public in 2006. It said there was an 'unexplained lull' in Sutcliffe's criminal activities between 1969, when he first came to the police's attention, and the first officially recognised Ripper assault in 1975. Sutcliffe was jailed for murdering and attacking women between 1976 and 1981. The report said: 'We feel it is highly improbable that the crimes in respect of which Sutcliffe has been charged and convicted are the only ones attributable to him. 'This feeling is reinforced by examining the details of a number of assaults on women since 1969 which, in some ways, clearly fall into the established pattern of Sutcliffe's overall modus operandi.' In 2017, Sutcliffe wrote a letter to ITV News Calendar presenter Christine Talbot, in which he said he had never attacked or murdered any men. Advertisement During their recorded phone conversations, Brenda and Sutcliffe chit-chat about the weather and other aspects of his daily life. In one recording, Sutcliffe, says: 'I really miss you, I do. I think the world of you I can't wait to see you,' he said, before calling her 'my number one angel.' He went on: 'I'm right with you in sprit, I wish I was on my doorsteps. Take care, gob bless you.' At another point, when Brenda complains about the terrible, windy weather, the killer jokes: 'You know what they say, March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.' He also speaks to Brenda about his other pen friends, including ones with children. He says: 'There is not anymore of Harry Potter stickers. 'I put them on people's letters who've got kids, because they love them Harry Potter stickers, but they only had then for a certain amount of time, didn't they.' Brenda was only one of Sutcliffe's many pen pals and super fans. The killer boasted at receiving 30 letters a week. Among them was a 27-year-old woman in the US who wrote to Sutcliffe asking to marry him. As he recalls to Brenda in one recording: 'I said "Let's face up to it, it's flattering, for a 27-year-old to want to marry a 73-year-old man, but where is the sense in that, you got all your life ahead of you." 'She was signing herself Crystal Marie Sutcliffe,' the serial killer went on. 'She had a really, just a kind of fascination. 'She got carried away and in the end, she said "I love you like crazy" and "mwaaa," she was putting on the letters, M-W-A-A-A,' he spelled out. One of Sutcliffe's super fans, a father-of-three named Daniel Brown, appeared on the documentary. The man, who is based in the North of England, admitted he has been collecting Sutcliffe memorabilia for years, including shirts that were worn by the killer during his years behind bars. Daniel, who exchanged letters with Sutcliffe for years until his 2020 death, says he does not find his fascination for the serial killer 'morbid.' He adds he did not get to know the 'base nature' of Sutcliffe. The murderer spoke of Daniel Brown in the recordings shared by Brenda. 'Daniel Brown, I write to him every week he's just a hard-working family man,' the killer is heard saying. A composite of 12 of the 13 victims murdered by Sutcliffe. Victims are: (top row, left to right) Wilma McCann, Emily Jackson, Irene Richardson and Patricia Atkinson; (middle row, left to right) Jayne McDonald, Jean Jordan, Yvonne Pearson and Helen Rytka; (bottom row, left to right) Vera Millward, Josephine Whitaker, Barbara Leach and Jacqueline Hill A furious crowd outside Dewsbury Magistrates Court is held back by police when Sutcliffe appeared there in 1981 'Just the way he talks you can see how sincere he is and everything. He's got three kids, and they all call me Uncle Peter and everything. He's a really good friend, very reliable, very discreet, you know.' While Sutcliffe did not discuss his crimes with Brown, he did talk about them at length with Brenda. He admitted to her he planned to kill 24-year-old street worker Olivia Reivers - a passenger in his car when police caught him in 1981 after discovering the number plates were stolen. When Brenda asked him if he was going to kill Olivia, Sutcliffe replies: 'Of course I was. That was the whole point.' Sutcliffe in prison van on way to the Old Bailey in London, May 1981 (left). He is pictured on the right in a video grab taken during his time in prison, where he was serving a full life term In another tape, Sutcliffe speaks about attacking Tracy Browne. The killer reveals he would have killed Browne, who was 14 at the time, when he attacked her with a hammer in July 1975, in Silsden, near Keighley but that he heard a voice that told him not to, and left her for dead by the side of the road instead. He also admits to attacking Marcella Claxton in Leeds in 1976. Police did not believe Claxton was attacked by the Ripper at the time because she was not a prostitute. Speaking to Brenda, the murderer blamed his killing spree on an motorcycle accident he had in 1969, which he claimed left him unconscious for two days and led him to attacking the women. However this was disproved by a psychologist. A selection of newspaper front pages from January 5, 1981, the day Sutcliffe made his first appearance in court, where he was charged with 13 counts of murder In the Channel 5 programme, Sutcliffe's brother Carl, who's never spoken about his relation with his brother in detail before, labelled the killer's claims that 'voices from God' provoked his attacks as 'utter rubbish'. Sutcliffe was jailed for life at the Old Bailey in May 1981, before being moved to Broadmoor Hospital three years later after he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. He was transferred to HMP Frankland in 2016 after psychiatrists said he was stable enough for jail. He died in November 2020. One tape reveals Peter Sutcliffe (pictured above), who murdered at least 13 women in the 1970s and 1980s, planned to kill 24-year-old street worker Olivia Reivers - a passenger in his car when police caught him in 1981 after discovering the number plates were stolen The Ripper Speaks: The Lost Tapes will air on Channel 5 at 10pm tomorrow. They were once close friends and rumoured to be dating, but it appears there is no loved lost between celebrity offspring Anais Gallagher and Brooklyn Beckham. Anais, the 22-year-old model daughter of Noel Gallagher and Meg Matthews, took a swipe at Brooklyn, 22, on TikTok, describing his photography book as 'offensive'. The model was commenting on a video of an American TikTok user posting under the handle @cheddarnewsofficial, mocking Brooklyn's book What I See, which features his snapshots accompanied by captions. Anais, the 22-year-old model daughter of Noel Gallagher and Meg Matthews, took a swipe at Brooklyn, 22, on TikTok, describing his photography book as 'offensive'. Pictured, Anais and Brooklyn in 2017 The model was commenting on a video of an American TikTok user posting under the handle @cheddarnewsofficial, mocking Brooklyn's book What I See, which features his snapshots accompanied by captions Anais Gallagher's comment dubbing the book 'offensive' (pictured) has racked up almost 2,000 likes The light-hearted TikTok video shows the user adopting a faux sombre tone as he performs a 'reading' of one of the pages from the book, which was published in 2017. The chosen page features a large mirror selfie of Brooklyn wearing Victoria Beckham sunglasses. The caption reads: 'Rocking my VB sunglasses. I'm so proud of my mum.' Anais joined commenters ridiculing Brooklyn. She wrote: 'I genuinely find this book offensive.' Others showed a dislike for the concept of the book, with some arguing Brooklyn's the tome was only published because of his famous connections. One person commented: 'Was expecting you to read more but that probably covers it all.' Another joked: 'Bro could of just posted them on Instagram and called it a day lol.' 'This was published by a reputable publishing company and I have been denied consistently - I'm sick of nepotism,' a third added. A fourth wrote: 'He has the most pretentious vibe ever.' A stream of social media users have argued Brooklyn's booked was only published because of his famous connections Having previously been a close friend of Brooklyn Beckham, Anais's comment dubbing the book 'offensive' stood out and racked up almost 2,000 likes. The daughter of Meg Matthews and Oasis star Noel Gallagher, Anais, was among the celebrities who attended Brooklyn's star-studded book launch in 2017. Despite sales being initially slow in the UK, Brooklyn's book sold out in the US and ranked in the top 10 photography books of the year, according to The Evening Standard. Anais revealed in the months prior to the launch that her relationship with Brooklyn was like that of siblings as she attempted to hit back at dating rumours. Anais previously described her relationship with Brooklyn (pictured together) as similar to that of siblings 'Me and Brooklyn, people like to pick up on because we're seen out together quite a lot. And because we're such good friends, they like to capture photos where we're hugging. 'No - we're like brother and sister. We have a really good relationship. I like to help him out with girls,' Anais told London Evening Standard's ES Magazine. A year later in 2018, the pair seemed to still have a playful bond as Anais left a comment mocking a photo Brooklyn uploaded to Instagram. The photo which had been edited with a harsh monochrome filter, showed Brooklyn on a roof casually clad in a black hooded ensemble. Taking to the comments section, model Anais poked fun at the star's flaunting his prowess on his feed, as she stated: 'Im confused why you have so many pictures of you taking pictures?' However, it seems the pair have grown apart in recent years. They have rarely been spotted together and do not appear to be following each other on Instagram. The world's loneliest dog is hoping to find a forever home after spending 11 years in a rescue centre. Pluto, 11, is a sweet-tempered cross-breed dog who was saved from a Romanian kill shelter by the Bucharest-based non-profit Nobody Dogs Rescue Centre in December 2010, when he was just four days old. His mother and siblings were adopted, but 11 years on, Pluto still lives in the rescue's centre near Bucharest, and has never left the ranch, The Daily Mirror reported. Pluto, 11, is a sweet-tempered cross-breed dog who was saved from a Romanian kill shelter in December 2010 but is still waiting to find his forever home The non profit Nobody Dog Rescue Centre when he was just four days old and put him and his siblings up for adoption in early 2011. Pictured, Pluto in 2011 In spite of sharing several appeals on Facebook to find Pluto and his brother Dino a loving family, Nobody Rescue has not been successful. Dino died at the shelter without having ever experienced a forever home. Alena Stan, who runs Nobody Rescue and works with the UK organisation, Bridging The Gap Rescue, is worried the pup will know the same fate as his brother. Pluto, his mother and his siblings were all rescued from the kill shelter in December 2010 when the puppies were four days old, and Alena put them up for adoption a few weeks later. While four of the puppies found homes, Pluto and Dino were left behind. Alena said the 'sweet' pup has never ventured outside of the rescue's ranch, and is still very active for his age. The sweet-tempered pup has been hoping to find a forever home for 11 years and has never ventured outside of the shelter Alena Stan, who runs Nobody Rescue and works with the UK organisation, Bridging The Gap Rescue, explained it is hard to put dogs up for adoption in Romania In spite of his happy demeanour, gorgeous Pluto has had no luck in finding a loving forever home 'The kennels and shelter is all hes ever known,' she explained, adding, 'you wouldnt know he is a senior dog.' The rescue centre owner said Pluto has never ben aggressive towards anyone and gets on well with other animals, as well as children. She added the pup is used to walking on a lead and would love to settle down with a family in a rural area with plenty of space. The pooch has never been in a city surrounding and will need a patient owner that will help him adapt to these new sounds, Alena added. Alena, who has shared repeated adoption pleas for Pluto over the years, said it is difficult to rescue pets in Romania because people do not check private shelters before they buy a dog. Alena said the pooch would do best living with a family in a rural area, away from the city where there is plenty of space Pluto is used to walking on a lead, is happy and active, and has never been aggressive towards others Pluto gets on well with children and other animals, but he is not used to city sounds and will need a patient owner to help him adapt Stray dogs are not rescued by public shelters in Romania. Instead dog catchers are paid by the government to round strays up and send them to 'kill shelters' were they are kept in cages and underfed, waiting 14 days before being killed. Bridge the Gap Rescue is a non-profit which works to find Romanian strays forever homes across Europe. The dogs are looked after the organisation's vets before they are safely and humanely transported in DEFRA-approved carriers to their forever home cross borders. The organisation looks after all the paperwork, including entry requirements for the pups to make sure they make it to their final destination in one piece. LAGOS, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian police repelled an attack by gunmen on a police station in central Nigeria's Kogi state on Sunday and killed one of the attackers, a police spokesperson said on Monday. Williams Oyve-Aya, the spokesperson for the police in Kogi, told reporters in the state capital Lokoja on Monday that the gunmen struck late on Sunday at the area police station in the Okene town of the state, but were repelled by police officers on duty. Oyve-Aya said the gunmen attacked the police facility with sporadic gunshots and explosives. "The officers on duty repelled the attack and shot dead one attacker, a situation that forced the hoodlums to flee even before the police sent back-up teams from the neighboring divisions," he said. The police spokesperson said normalcy had returned to the community, and no arrests have been made so far, but a thorough search for the gunmen has begun. Armed attacks have been a primary security threat in Nigeria's northern and central regions, leading to deaths and kidnappings in recent months. An effort led by the World Health Organization (WHO) to increase vaccine availability to middle and low income nations had its first breakthrough Thursday, when a South African biotechnology company revealed it created a near-copy of the Moderna Covid vaccine. Afrigen Biologics and Vaccines, based in Cape Town, South Africa, announced Thursday that it has made microliters of a Moderna vaccine-clone. The company is working on cloning the vaccine as a part of the WHO's effort to make technology and treatments related to Covid more widely available around the world. Around 70 percent of the world's mRNA vaccines - the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech shots - have been given to high incomes nations, leaving lower and middle income countries vulnerable to the virus. Only around 11 percent of Africans are vaccinated, according to Our World in Data, with some countries having vaccinated less than one-in-ten residents. Afrigen, a South African biotechnology company, believes that it has successfully recreated the Moderna Covid vaccine in a lab. It is the first step in a major effort to make the shots more available in low and middle income countries. Pictured: Afrigen scientists work in a company lab Moderna has said that it will not enforce its patents on its vaccine during the pandemic, making the shot the prime candidate for this kind of replication (file photo) 'Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccines are mainly still going to just the richest countries... Our objective is to empower other countries to make their own,' Martin Friede, the WHO official coordinating the effort, told Nature. This is just the first on many steps in the process of recreating and launching a new version of the Moderna shot that will be cheaper and more accessible for these countries. It will likely not be available for use in people until next year, but the researchers have now gotten over one of the first major humps. The vaccine was produced without help from Moderna, Pfizer or BioNTech. The WHO said it reached out the firms, but did not receive help. Africa has struggled to access the Covid vaccines, with only around 11% of the continent's population fully vaccinated. The researchers hope the breakthrough discovery will be the first step to eventually making the shots widely available on the continent. Pictured: A child in Johannesburg, South Africa, receives a shot of a COVID-19 vaccine on October 21 'We didn't have help from the major COVID vaccine producers,' Gerhardt Boukes, chief scientist at Afrigen, said. 'So we did it ourselves to show the world that it can be done, and be done here, on the African continent.' Moderna's shot was chosen since the company said it would not enforce its patents during the pandemic and more information on it was available publicly. The effort began at the University of Witwaterstrand, in Johannesburg, South Africa. Using data published online by researchers at Stanford University, they developed a DNA molecule that could serve as a template to synthesize the mRNA needed to create the base of the vaccine. Afrigen then became the center of the WHO's initiative, and upon starting the endeavor to recreate the shot. Upon taking on the project, the company reports receiving offers of assistance from scientists around the world, including some at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the U.S. Now that Afrigen has cleared the first hurdle, the company hopes Moderna will assist them - or at least not get in their way - going forward. Moderna has not been as vocal as Pfizer on the issue of potential waiving or circumventing patents for the vaccines, but the company has staked a claim over the shots it develops and distributes. The company has got into a spat with the NIH over who invented the mRNA vaccines, with the agency claiming three of its scientists deserved to be names as co-inventors on the patent - though the firm disagreed. Stephane Bancel, CEO of Moderna, also said last year that an effort to have the federal government waive patent rights over the vaccines would do little to actually make the vaccines more widely available. The WHO and other experts who worked on the effort to clone the Moderna shot are now hoping the Moderna will license its vaccine to companies in many low and middle income nations so it can be cheaply produced generically without fear of the company taking legal action. Nature reports that Moderna did not comment on the matter. Popping a paracetamol every day could raise your risk of a deadly heart attack or stroke by about a fifth, researchers have warned. For years, doctors have considered paracetamol to be a safer alternative to other painkillers like ibuprofen which can raise blood pressure. But now University of Edinburgh scientists have turned this belief on its head after finding that paracetamol has a similar negative effect. A first-of-its-kind trial found just four days of taking paracetamol causes a clinically significant hike in blood pressure. From this they calculated that regular paracetamol use about 4g a day, or eight standard tablets could increase the risk of heart disease or stroke by around 20 per cent. However, the researches have insisted taking the occasional paracetamol known as acetaminophen in the US to deal with a headache or fever is safe. Their study, based on just 110 participants, only looked at those who were already suffering from high blood pressure. Doctors should review prescription doses of patients prescribed paracetamol over long periods of time, according to the team. And this is especially important for those at high risk of heart disease. Paracetamol is one of the most common drugs taken across the world and is a key ingredient in over the counter medications. High blood pressure, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes, kills about 75,000 Britons and 500,000 people in the US every year. This chart shows the average blood pressure increase observed at various points among participants when they took a daily paracetamol dose of 4g of paracetamol. Over the entire study people saw an average blood pressure increase of 4.7mmHg though some indivudals had much higher increases Lead investigator of the study, Dr Iain MacIntyre, said the study's findings did not mean there was any risk of taking paracetamol in the short-term, for example the occasional headache or fever, but it did mean long-term use should be reviewed, particularly for patients at risk of heart disease What's normal when it comes to blood pressure? Blood pressure is the term used to describe the strength with which your blood pushes on the sides of your arteries as it's pumped around your body. Low blood pressure (hypotension) is not usually a problem, although it can cause dizziness and fainting in some people. High blood pressure (hypertension) can increase your risk of developing serious problems, such as heart attacks and strokes, if it's not treated. Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg) and is given as two numbers in an X/Y format The first is systolic pressure the pressure when your heart pushes blood out. The second diastolic pressure the pressure when your heart rests between beats. Generally normal blood pressure is considered to be between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg. Advertisement Lead author Dr Iain MacIntyre, a pharmacologist from NHS Lothian, said: 'This is not about short-term use of paracetamol for headaches or fever, which is, of course, fine. 'But it does indicate a newly discovered risk for people who take it regularly over the longer term, usually for chronic pain.' Professor James Dear, another pharmacologist involved in the study, said: 'This study clearly shows paracetamol the world's most used drug increases blood pressure, one of the most important risk factors for heart attacks and strokes. 'Doctors and patients together should consider the risks versus the benefits of long-term prescription, especially in patients at risk of cardiovascular disease.' They said that doctors should recommend that patients take the lowest possible doses for the shortest periods of time. The researchers also claim doctors keep a closer eye on patients with high blood pressure who start taking paracetamol. The two-week trial, publishes in the journal Circulation, involved 110 patients with high blood pressure. They were either given a placebo or 1g of paracetamol to take four times a day a routine amount for people dealing with chronic pain. After a two-to-three week break to 'washout' their systems, patients then swapped to either the placebo or paracetamol for another two weeks. The researchers then compared the blood pressure changes for each patient. On average, the participants' systolic pressure, the pressure when your heart pushes blood out, increased by 4.7mmHg by the end of the two weeks when the participants were taking paracetamol. Paracetamol, known as acetaminophen in the US, is one of the most common drugs taken across the world and is a key ingredient in medications like Panadol or Tylenol How much paracetamol is safe to take? The NHS recommends that that for the treatment of general aches and pains, as well as to reduce temperature that adults take a dose of 500mg of paracetamol, usually two tablets. This does can be repeated up to four times a day, but people should wait four hours between each repetition. Paracetamol medications for children can come in the form of both tablets or syrups. Doses for children can vary from 2.5ml of syrup for babies between the age of three to six months, to 10ml for children between 10 to 12 years. For tablets it can vary between 250mg per dose, to an adult dose depending on the age of the child. Similar to adults, doses can be repeated up to four times a day but there should a four hour wait between doses. Advertisement Some volunteers saw increases of up to 40mmHg, however. The blood pressure increase occurred after just four days and was then stable until the end of the two-week period. Dr Dipender Gill, an expert in pharmacology St George's, University of London, said the study provided 'robust evidence' of a 'small but meaningful' increase in blood pressure among patients with already existing hypertension. However, she added there were a number of unknowns that needed to be explored further. Dr Gill said it wasn't clear if there if the increase in blood pressure would be sustained for longer periods or if this would translate to an increased risk of heart disease. She added that the findings may not apply to a population taking paracetamol for pain symptoms because 'pain itself often increases blood pressure'. The study's researchers said there was 'no reason' to think the results would be any different. Paracetamol, known as acetaminophen in the US, is the most commonly used drug worldwide. Experts estimate the UK uses an estimated 6,300 tonnes of the drug a year, roughly equivalent to every Briton taking 70 tablets each. In the US the Consumer Healthcare Products Association estimates that 23 per cent of American adults take a medication containing acetaminophen each week. Chronic pain is defined as a pain that carries on for 12 weeks, despite medication or treatment. It can result from a variety of conditions or injuries, for example arthritis or irritable bowel syndrome. Estimates on how many people live with chronic pain vary from one in five to nearly half the population, with similar estimates for the US. Investment in UK financial tech soared seven-fold last year as deals hit record levels. The number involving UK fintech firms rose 27 per cent to 601. The amount of money involved rocketing to 27.6billion in 2021 from just 3.8billion in 2020, according to data from KPMG. Record: The number of deals involving UK fintech firms rose 27 per cent to 601 Karim Haji, of KPMG, said Britain remained 'at the centre of European fintech investment', attracting more funding than the rest of the region combined. The report also flagged that five of the ten largest fintech deals in the EMEA region last year were completed in the UK. Royal London and LV remain in discussions over a potential deal, which could lead to a takeover or a merger of the two financial services firms. Little other information on current discussions was provided by either firm and Britain's largest mutual insurer Royal London said there was 'no certainty' that a transaction would occur. Royal London offered to begin discussions regarding a possible tie-up, which would preserve LV's status as a mutual insurer, following the failed takeover of LV by Bain Capital two months ago. Uncertain: Royal London said there was 'no certainty' a transaction involving LV would occur It had previously bid for LV - formerly Liverpool Victoria - when the insurer went up for sale in 2020, with an offer that was 10million higher than Bain Capital's, though the board of LV went with the latter proposal. The 530million Bain offer was highly controversial among campaigners and MPs, given the private equity firm's history of leveraged buyouts and asset stripping of companies, many of which have subsequently gone bankrupt. In addition, the takeover would have meant LV was no longer owned by its 1.2 million policyholders, who would have also received payouts of just 100. Further concerns were raised that it would lead to poorer customer service and job losses. To the delight of many policyholders and critics, the bid did not succeed after receiving approval from 69 per cent of voters, six percentage points short of the threshold needed to pass. Following the vote, bosses at LV said it would review whether to keep the company as a standalone mutual or pursue a merger with another mutual organisation. Chairman Alan Cook pledged to lead the company through that review but announced that he would leave the business 'as soon as a way forward is agreed.' Change: Following the failed Bain takeover, LV chairman Alan Cook announced that he would leave the company. He is to be replace from April on an interim basis by Seamus Creedon Today, it was revealed that LV non-executive director and former Reliance Mutual chairman Seamus Creedon would become his successor on an interim basis from the start of April. Other board members are also leaving over the next two months. On the thwarted Bain takeover, Creedon said: 'We felt it right to take time to understand the message members gave the board. 'Put simply, our members told us that what they viewed as the modest financial advantages of the transaction, were not worth the loss of ownership and voting rights for our million-plus members.' He added: 'We share a common interest with Royal London in a healthy and vibrant mutual sector so that we can both compete fairly with shareholder-owned firms. 'We have had, and continue to have, discussions with Royal London about if and how we can co-operate to the benefit of both sets of members and the mutual sector. 'In the meantime, we will continue to strengthen our independent business for the benefit of our existing and future policyholders.' Founded in a London coffee house 161 years ago this month, Royal London became a mutual insurer in 1908 and grew to manage funds worth 130billion as of June 2019, according to its website. A Danish pension fund has started selling its stake in budget airline Wizz Air over alleged 'human and labour rights abuses' towards its workers. AkademikerPension said its decision to sell its holding worth more than $3million was made after Wizz Air failed to reassure investors it was changing its practices. The $23billion fund was one of 14 investors that in December called on Wizz Air to allow its staff to form and join trade unions, amid concerns the company was 'actively' discouraging the practice and breaching their human rights. Wizz Air has been accused of dismissing staff because of their union affiliation The group of investors, which also included Britains Ardevora Asset Management, said at the time that their research suggested that Wizz Air had dismissed staff because of their union affiliation. Today, AkademikerPension said that, after meeting management, it saw no sign the airline's practices would change and so it had begun to divest its holding. Shares in Wizz Air, which is valued at around $6billion, fell by around 2 per cent this morning, before rebounding to trade up 0.4 per cent at 41.44 towards market close. In 2020, Wizz Air chief executive, Jozsef Varadi, said the airline was 'keeping out unions everywhere' as they were 'killing the business'. In April 2021, meanwhile, Wizz Air rejected calls from unions in Italy to agree a labour contract with them and told the countrys labour ministry it planned to operate without engaging with unions. Overall, the group of investors highlighted six similar examples dating back to 2014, when a Romanian court fined the company after 19 employees were dismissed shortly after starting a union. Jens Munch Holst, chief executive of AkademikerPension, said at the time: 'Respect for workers rights is ultimately about caring about the safety of passengers. 'There is a growing body of evidence of workers being blocked to join unions or sacked when they do so. This is completely unacceptable.' Announcing the divestment today, he said: 'The managements behaviour conflicts with human and labour rights as outlined by, among others, the UN guiding principles on business and human rights. 'The risk of being linked to a clear and persistent breach of our responsible investment policy is simply too high if we remain invested. 'Exclusion is the last tool in our toolbox. If we are not ready to use it, we have no leverage when as an investor we try to influence companies to change course in these kinds of cases.' The budget airline said in a statement: 'Wizz Air takes the engagement with its employees very seriously and we are confident that our structures and processes that have been in place to support open and transparent engagement are working extremely well, including our People Council, which provides a forum for employees to discuss important issues.' It also pointed to plans to hire more than 1,000 staff in the coming months and said it had restored the pay of cabin crew and staff to pre-pandemic levels as the industry recovers from the pandemic. Politicians and scientists who cast doubt over the AstraZeneca Covid jab 'probably killed hundreds of thousands of people', an ex-UK Government adviser has claimed. Oxford University professor Sir John Bell said critical comments from leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron had eroded public trust in the vaccine globally. Mr Macron initially trashed the AstraZeneca jab as 'quasi-ineffective' for old people and claimed the UK rushed its approval, in what some described as Brexit bitterness. Meanwhile, German chancellor Angela Merkel who was 66 at the time said last February she would not take the vaccine because of doubts about its effectiveness in over-65s. Her comments came after German medical regulators raised concerns about a lack of data in elderly people in Oxford and AstraZeneca's global trials. Sir John, a regius professor of medicine at Oxford who helped developed the British vaccine, said politicians and scientists had blood on their hands. The reputational damage led to people across Europe and even Africa turning down AstraZeneca doses. Sir John told the BBC: 'I think bad behaviour from scientists and politicians has probably killed hundreds of thousands of people and that they cannot be proud of.' AstraZeneca has made up a fraction of the EU's two-dose vaccine rollout after suffering serious reputational damage early in the pandemic Oxford professor Sir John Bell (left) said critical comments from leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron (right) had eroded public trust in the vaccine worldwide. From world's only non for profit Covid jab to outcast of the EU: AstraZeneca's turbulent roll out 30 December 2020: The AstraZeneca jab approved for emergency use in the UK 29 January: French President Emmanuel Macron claims the UK-made AstraZeneca vaccine is only 'quasi-effective' in the over-65s just hours before the EU medicines regulator approves the jab 26 February: The 66-year-old German chancellor Angela Merkel comments she will not have the AstraZeneca jab as she is not in the recommended age group of under 65s 1 March: French Government U-turns, approving use of AstraZeneca for the over 65s 11 March: Denmark, Norway and Iceland suspend the use of AstraZeneca vaccines following concerns over blood clots 15 March: France suspends use of AstraZeneca over blood clot fears 19 March: France reapproves AstraZeneca but restricts it to over 55s 7 April: The EU medicines regulator says it has found a rare blood clot side affect of the AstraZeneca jab but added that the overall risk/benefit remains positive in favour of the vaccine 7 May: The UK restricts the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine to the over 40s over a small but statistically significant risk of blood clots in younger people. 12 May: UK medicines regulator says it has spotted 294 cases of the clots in Britons given an first dose of AstraZeneca, affecting about one in 80,000 9 September: AstraZeneca and Pfizer jabs are approved in the UK to be used for third doses as part of a Covid booster programme 4 November: The EU medicines regulator is reported to be in talks about approving the AstraZeneca vaccine for use as part of a booster programme Advertisement Sir John was speaking to the BBC Two programme AstraZeneca: A Vaccine For the World?, which will air tonight at 9pm. He has held high profile roles in the UK government's Covid response, advising ministers on Covid tests and vaccines. A slew of EU countries including France, Germany, Spain and Italy restricted the vaccine to certain age groups or temporarily suspended it. The spate of bans led to the life-saving vaccine also being held back in developing countries like the Congo and Thailand. Although the jab was eventually reapproved in most nations, the reputational hit drove up vaccine hesitancy and led to many Europeans refusing the vaccine. Some countries, such as Denmark, Norway and Sweden, stopped using AstraZeneca. Initial EU scepticism about the AZ jab centred around the fact only two people over the age of 65 caught Covid in trials, out of 660 participants in that age group. Mr Macron said there was 'very little information' available for the vaccine, describing it as 'quasi-ineffective for people over 65'. The French president also criticised the UK's decision to administer doses 12 weeks apart, instead of the recommended four weeks. He falsely claimed this could 'accelerate the mutations' of the virus. His comments came following a decision by Germany's vaccine commission to restrict the use of the AstraZeneca jab in older people, stating it was only 6.5 per cent effective for the age group. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen also waded into the issue, suggesting that the UK had cut corners on safety. The move and comments prompted concern from both British and European medics that some older people, who were particularly at risk from Covid infection, would be put off getting a potentially life-saving jab. And it was later revealed that this had come to pass, with thousands of people in France turning down the chance to get an AstraZeneca Covid jab following Macron's comments. A small but growing number of reports of deadly blood clots after the vaccine fuelled even more hesitancy about the British jab. The US has still not approved the vaccine, although the country's top Covid doctor Dr Antony Fauci has described it as a 'good vaccine'. Despite the reputational damage done in the early stages of the rollout, AstraZeneca has earned praise for selling the vaccine 'at cost' - meaning not for profit - in the developing world. And some scientists theorised that the UK fared better in the Delta wave than most of its European neighbours because AstraZeneca's jab offered better long-term immunity. Trials have since shown that Pfizer and Moderna's vaccines are better suited as boosters than AstraZeneca, which has largely pushed the British vaccine out of the picture. A gunman in Texas killed four people - including the four-year-old son of his ex-girlfriend - before turning the gun on himself as police approached Saturday. His ex-girlfriend was also injured in the mass shooting that began in Corsicana, 50 miles south of Dallas. Cops became aware of the massacre when gunman Kevin Milazzo, 41, called shortly after midnight to report that he'd 'killed his family members.' Police arrived to find his stepfather William Mimms, 68, and mother Connie Mimms, 61, dead. Two others were suffered gunshot injuries, investigators said in a release. Meantime, the Navarro County Sheriff's Department responded to another home in Frost - about 20 miles west of Corsicana - to find Milazzo's son Joshua, 21, fatally shot. The body of Hunter Freeman, four, was also discovered. A woman with multiple gunshot wounds was rushed to a Dallas-area trauma center; a family friend identified the survivor as the boy's mom Pattie Freeman and said she was in 'stable' condition. Following the shootings, police tracked down the gunman's car using his GPS and arranged for the monitoring service to have its engine shut off. But as officers approached the vehicle, they discovered the killer inside with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He died at a local hospital. Connie Mimms, 61, (left) was killed by her 41-year-old son Kevin Milazzo, who also shot his stepdad William Mimms, 68, (right) dead The gunman's son, Joshua Milazzo, was also fatally shot although a motive for the killings remains unclear Five people died and three others were injured following a shooting outside Dallas, Texas on Saturday. The shootings happened at homes in Corsicana and nearby Frost The motive for the shooting remained unclear Sunday. A family friend described Hunter as a miracle child; his mom Pattie was told she could never have children but nevertheless became pregnant at age 38 after improving her health. Her boy was born premature the following year weighing just three pounds, eight ounces. 'Although he had a fight ahead of him to survive, this little boy surprised everyone and grew to be a healthy, beautiful, child,' Jerri Whitener wrote on Facebook. 'Hunter was also born with a cleft lip and would need surgery in the future. Pattie knew that she wanted to give Hunter a good life and him not suffer the hardships she had to endure throughout her life, so she decided to do everything she could to give him that chance.' Hunter is pictured with his mom, Pattie Freeman, who was told she could never have children. He was born early weighing just three pounds and eight ounces and had to 'fight to survive' from birth, a family friend said Hunter was killed and his mother sustained numerous gunshots in the massacre Police found two dead victims in Corsicana, Texas and two others in nearby Frost The single mom became a certified medical assistant and landed a job in the field before the shooting. 'Unfortunately, Hunter was only on this earth for 1,511 days,' Whitener said. 'On February 5, around midnight his light went out. 'Pattie struggled to make ends meet, but she did it, especially after becoming a mother. Now, she is fighting for her life. Due to her injuries, she will need years of medical care.' Please share this post and if you cant donate, please continue to pray for comfort, peace, and healing for Pattie, her family, and all those affected by this senseless, horrific tragedy. Marissa Milazzo called upon friends to share memories of the other victims she came to grips with the slayings. 'I'm asking that anyone who knew my grandparents or brothers and they impacted your life in any way you feel, please send me your stories,' she wrote on Facebook. 'Send me your pictures. They were some of the sweetest and most caring people and I know they impacted many many lives and I would like to hear everyones story and see all of the pictures.' Rita Canales categorized her friends Connie and Bill as 'wonderful people'. Others recalled the couple's faith and devotion to each other. According to Connie's profile, she worked as a registered nurse. Advertisement Police in Ottawa arrested seven people and opened 60 criminal investigations into 'Freedom Convoy' for hate crimes and mischief as they seized fuel and supplies for 1,000 vehicles Sunday just hours after the mayor declared a state of emergency over 'totally out of control' protests in Canada's capital city. On Monday, a Canadian court granted a 10-day injunction against the truckers ordering them to stop honking their horns. The class action brought on behalf of Ottawa's inner city residents claims that blasting air horns and train horns 'incessently' was a key tactic of the protesters, 'to cause serious discomfort and inconvenience'. Ottawa's mayor Jim Watson declared the state of emergency on Sunday as the cross-border truckers continued to converge in the capital city where they blocked streets, shot off fireworks and blared horns, in protest to rules requiring them be fully vaccinated to enter either Canada or the United States. 'The situation at this point is completely out of control,' Mayor Watson said on Sunday. 'The individuals with the protest are calling the shots. They have far more people than we have police officers.' Ottawa Police Service said in a statement Sunday it had launched over 60 criminal investigations in relation to the ongoing protests, including thefts, hate crimes and property damage. Seven people had been arrested by 9 p.m. Sunday, police said. Police said they are investigating a number of hate crimes reported at the protests. Some urinated and parked on the National War Memorial. One danced on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. A number carried signs and flags with swastikas. The anti-Semitic, racist and homophobic acts reported last week prompted police to establish hotline, which has gotten more than 200 calls, according to police. Police said protesters have 'exhibited extremely disruptive and unlawful behavior,' which has created 'risks to public safety and unacceptable distress' for residents. 'Multiple vehicles and fuel have been seized,' police said in the statement, adding they had issued a warning to the public that they could be subject to charges if they were found to be supplying demonstration trucks in the red zone with fuel. Police also relocated some protesters and put up fresh barricades, stating they are 'collecting financial, digital, vehicle registration and other evidence that will be used in criminal prosecutions.' Police in Ottawa arrested seven people and opened 60 criminal investigations into 'Freedom Convoy' for hate crimes and mischief as they seized fuel and supplies for 1,000 vehicles Sunday just hours after the mayor declared a state of emergency over 'totally out of control' protests in Canada's capital city. Pictured: Truckers on Monday continued their sit-in near the Canadian Parliament after the mayor declared a state of emergency Police have threatened to arrest anyone who helps provide supplies to the truckers. However, people continue to flock to the site of the sit-in in Ottawa to deliver fuel The 'Freedom Convoy' truckers are protesting over vaccine mandates and passports which could limit the entry of truckers across the Canada border People carry fuel cans to the 'Freedom Convoy' despite police threatening to to arrest anyone who helps the truckers Police in Ottawa arrested seven people and opened 60 criminal investigations into 'Freedom Convoy' for hate crimes and mischief as they seized fuel and supplies for 1,000 vehicles on Sunday 'Multiple vehicles and fuel have been seized,' police said in the statement, adding they had issued a warning to the public that they could be subject to charges if they were found to be supplying demonstration trucks in the red zone with fuel ICYMI: 7 people arrested, 100 tickets issued in Demonstration-Related Enforcement@OttawaPolice has made multiple arrests in relation to several enforcement actions related to the ongoing demonstration. There are over 60 criminal investigations so far. https://t.co/LJK3FPHGjQ pic.twitter.com/zJI8MAFVXX Ottawa Police (@OttawaPolice) February 7, 2022 For the second weekend in a row, protesters shot off fireworks, drivers blared their horns and streets remained blocked, as Mayor Watson admitted Sunday that authorities were 'outnumbered' and 'losing this battle' against groups who were 'calling the shots.' A hearing into a proposed class-action lawsuit seeking an injunction to silence the constant honking by truckers will take place on Monday. Police said a well-organized supply chain - including portable saunas, a community kitchen and bouncy castles for children - has sustained the protesters. It has relied partly on funding from sympathizers in the United States. Protests in Ottawa continued into a second week as hundreds of trucks from across the country packed the streets at Parliament Hill in downtown in ongoing demonstrations against Covid mandates A well-organized supply chain - including a massive amount of supplies (pictured), portable saunas, a community kitchen - has sustained the protesters. It has relied partly on funding from sympathizers in the United States, police said Supplies brought in for the protesters also include bouncy castles for children as protests continue into the second week Children are pictured playing hockey in front of the trucks that are blocking streets in downtown Ottawa during the ongoing protests over Covid mandates Ottawa Police have issued a warning to the public that they could be subject to charges if they were found to be supplying demonstration trucks in the red zone with fuel The Freedom Convoy was supposed to end on January 29 but as of February 7 truckers are still dominating the downtown area of Ottawa and Toronto Crowdfunding site GoFundMe has been accused of bowing to left-wing political pressure by freezing a fundraising account holding $8million in donations for the Freedom Convoy. After the site said it would refund or redirect to charities the vast majority of the millions raised by demonstrators protesting in the Canadian capital, prominent U.S. Republicans like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis complained. But GoFundMe had already changed its mind and said it would be issuing refunds to all. The site said it cut off funding for the organizers because it had determined the effort violated the site's terms of service due to unlawful activity. Last week, Facebook removed a page used to organize a convoy to Washington DC 'for repeatedly violating our policies around QAnon,' Meta, the social media platform's parent company, told Fox News. Organizers of the Freedom Convoy protests have since turned to a Christian crowdfunding site GiveSendGo where more than $4.4 million has been raised in just two days. The movement started as a protest against Canadian vaccine requirement for cross-border truckers but has turned into a rallying point against public health measures and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government. Downtown Ottawa, home to Canada's parliament, central bank, and buildings including Trudeau's office, has been largely in lockdown after truckers occupied the streets. A protester carries the Canadian flag in front of the entrance for the Office of the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa, Canada on Sunday. The protest against Canadian vaccine requirement for cross-border truckers has turned into a rallying point against public health measures and the Prime Minister's government For the second weekend in a row, protesters shot off fireworks, drivers blared their horns and streets remained blocked, as Mayor Watson admitted Sunday that authorities were 'outnumbered' and 'losing this battle' against groups who were 'calling the shots' Truckers swarm Parliament Hill in Downtown Ottawa on Sunday, where they continue to protest against the Covid mandates On Sunday, Mayor Watson said declaring a state of emergency highlighted the need for support from other jurisdictions and levels of government. It gives the city some additional powers around procurement and how it delivers services, which could help purchase equipment required by frontline workers and first responders. 'Declaring a state of emergency reflects the serious danger and threat to the safety and security of residents posed by the ongoing demonstrations and highlights the need for support from other jurisdictions and levels of government,' the mayor said in a statement. Despite the urgency of the declaration, it actually gives little to no extra powers to the mayor - he is unable to move the truckers or get the army in to control the situation. However, a state of emergency declaration should alert those with more power in government, such as Justin Trudeau to the serious danger of the situation. Trudeau, who has been in isolation since January 24 when his daughter tested positive for Covid but has since tested positive himself, has been in hiding at an unknown location for several days. He hasn't publicly spoken out about the truckers since February 2, when he thanked the 'nearly 90 per cent' of truckers who have received their Covid vaccine. It is unclear whether he will do anything to help Ottawa regain control of the Freedom Convoy that is blocking their downtown. Last week, Federal Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said the RCMP had approved Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson's request for Mounties to support city police. But negotiations with Mounties already in place at the international Alberta blockade have broken down into assaults on officers. Sympathetic protesters crossed police barricades to join truckers, assaulted officers and even caused a car crash while trying to ram into the Mounties, according to Global News. The state of emergency announcement came as the city's Police Services Board Chairwoman Diane Deans said the situation had spiraled into 'a nationwide insurrection' with protests spreading from Ottawa to Toronto and Quebec city this weekend. In footage shot by The4KGuy, Wellington Street outside the Canadian parliament is seen to be completely blocked with trucks lining the length of the street. People stand in a staging area east of downtown after police raided the truckers' stockpile of fuel, as truckers and their supporters continue to protest against coronavirus vaccine mandates, in Ottawa, Ontario, on Sunday night Some truckers are seen sitting in a stage area outsider of downtown Ottawa on Sunday night Video footage shot by The 4K Guy at Parliament Hill in Ottawa shows the trucker convoy completely blocking the road In audio on the footage shot on Sunday night, horns can be heard blaring constantly as the truckers make their mark Just blocks away, the area looks relatively peaceful with colored trees lighting up the snow Wellington Street outside the Canadian parliament is seen blocked by trucks as far as the eye can see in Sunday night video Police officers walk past parked tractors, as truckers and supporters continue to protest coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine mandates, in Ottawa, Ontario, on Sunday People wave flags on top of a truck in front of Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Sunday A man halls canisters of fuel in front of Parliament Hill as truckers and their supporters continue to protest against the COVID-19 vaccine mandates in Ottawa on Sunday People sign a shack that was being used as a soup kitchen after agreeing to its removal in Ottawa on Sunday A man sits on top of a camper in front of Parliament Hill as truckers and their supporters continue to protest against the COVID-19 vaccine mandates in Ottawa, Ontario on Sunday Trucks attempting to drive down University Avenue between Bloor Street and Queen's Park are blocked by a police cruiser during the trucker convoy demonstration in Ottawa on Saturday A person stands beside jerry gas cans, as truckers and supporters continue to protest COVID vaccine mandates, in Ottawa on Sunday People carry Canadian flags as they walk past a painting depicting a healthcare professional wearing a mask in Ottawa on Saturday Ottawa Police have announced that anyone supporting the truckers by bringing gasoline could be arrested During an emergency meeting of the Ottawa Police Services board on Saturday, Chief Peter Sloly said 'we need an additional surge of resources', after the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ruled out deploying troops to the streets. Meanwhile, an Ottawa resident unable to sleep from the constant honking of horns by Freedom Convoy truckers is suing the protest's organizers. Zexi Li filed a $9.8million lawsuit in Ontario Superior Court on Friday, seeking damages for 'emotional and mental distress', citing ongoing headaches, sleeping difficulties, difficulty concentrating and interference with quiet enjoyment of her home. 'The Class Members are living in daily torment caused by the incessant blasting of truck horns,' reads the statement of claim. On Saturday, thousands turned out to support the Freedom Convoy with around 7,000 protesters and 1,000 vehicles coming out onto on the streets of the nation's capital. Ottawa police said there were about 500 vehicles in the city's 'red zone' on Sunday. Ottawa's Mayor Jim Watson has declared a state of emergency to help deal with an unprecedented 10-day occupation by protesting truckers (file photo) Police said they had charged four people with hate crimes and were investigating threats against public figures jointly with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prime minister has said the convoy represented a 'small fringe minority' and the government would not be intimidated. About 90 percent of Canada's cross-border truckers and almost 79 percent of the population has had two COVID-19 vaccine shots. A senior member of the Liberal government said the ease with which the convoy shut down the area around the parliament and the seeming impotence of police was a 'national humiliation'. The 'freedom truck convoy' has attracted support from many U.S. Republicans including former President Donald Trump, who called Prime Minister Trudeau a 'far left lunatic' who has 'destroyed Canada with insane Covid mandates.' 'Canada US relations used to be mainly about solving technical issues. Today Canada is unfortunately experiencing radical US politicians involving themselves in Canadian domestic issues. Trump and his followers are a threat not just to the US but to all democracies,' Bruce Heyman, a former U.S. ambassador under President Barack Obama, tweeted. Heyman said 'under no circumstances should any group in the USA fund disruptive activities in Canada. Period. Full stop.' Some angry Canadians have taken to Twitter to denounce Justin Trudeau for 'staying in hiding' as Ottawa declares a state of emergency Protesters walk around trucks parked in the downtown area in protest of COVID-19 restrictions, in Ottawa, Ontario on Saturday People gather in the street as a truck leaves during a protest by truckers and supporters against coronavirus disease in Toronto on Saturday A person gives a thumbs-up as a truck leaves during a protest by truckers and supporters against vaccine mandates, in Toronto Toronto Police form a perimeter as they escort trucks from Bloor St. and University Ave. Toronto, on Saturday Supporters clapping towards the truckers during the protest at Queens Park to support the truckers and denounce the government policy of mandatory vaccination in Toronto, Canada on Saturday A trucker fist bumping a supporter during the protest at Queens Park to support the truckers and denounce the government policy of mandatory vaccination in Toronto, Canada on Saturday Demonstrators gather for a protest against Covid-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions in downtown Toronto, early on Saturday Demonstrators gather for a protest against Covid-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions in downtown Toronto on Saturday Supporters wave flags as a convoy of trucks leave drive by in Toronto, Canada Demonstrators gather for a protest against Covid-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions in downtown Toronto on Saturday Some colorful signs were on display as people stood around in the snow on Saturday Trucks displaying Canadian flags line Bloor near Yorkville on Saturday in Toronto A supporter waves the maple leaf flag in support of the truckers who were out on the streets of Toronto on Saturday A demonstrator holds a sign during a protest against mandates related to Covid-19 vaccines and restrictions in Toronto, on Saturday The CN Tower hovers in the background of people gathered for a protested in downtown Toronto on Saturday A counter protester holds a sign as truckers and supporters protest against mandates and restrictions related to Covid-19 vaccines in Ottawa, Ontario on Saturday A truck is allowed to drive away as police clear the road during the protest Demonstrators are pushed back as Police clear the road during a protest against Covid-19 vaccine mandates in Toronto Protesters again poured into Toronto early on Saturday to join a convoy of truckers whose occupation of Ottawa to denounce Covid vaccine mandates is now in its second week A truck is allowed to drive away as police clear the road during at the end of a protest against Covid-19 vaccine mandates on Saturday in Toronto A truck can be seen driving away as people outnumber the police in Toronto on Saturday evening A truck can be seen driving away at the culmination of a day of protests in Toronto on Saturday A person stands while holding Canada's flag in front of parked trucks during a protest by truckers and supporters on Saturday in Toronto A person walks while holding Canada's flag in front of parked trucks during a protest by truckers and supporters in Toronto, on Saturday A child looks on from the window of a truck as truckers and supporters protest against coronavirus disease in Toronto, Ontario, Canada 'Freedom Convoy' truckers and protesters continued to block a border crossing into the US at a village in southern Alberta - one of the country's busiest border crossings - in solidarity with their brethren in Ottawa who have shut down the nation's capital Smaller demonstrations with truckers also took place in other major Canadian cities on Saturday including Toronto, Emondton, Vancouver, Victoria and Quebec City. In Vancouver, five people were arrested Saturday for allegedly adding to the general havoc as police received reports of 'rocks and eggs being thrown, cars being kicked, and nails being strewn on roadways,' police said. Five people were arrested and later released from custody. 'Everyone has the right to peacefully assemble and express their views, and the Vancouver Police Department is committed to providing a safe environment for lawful protest,' said police Sgt. Steve Addison. 'Today's protests attracted thousands of people who feel passionately about their causes. While most protesters were peaceful, some had to be arrested for violent behavior and unlawful conduct.' In Canada's largest city, Toronto, thousands were on the streets on Saturday. Several trucks were seen blocking a major intersection for hours despite the presence of police. In Quebec City, on Saturday, thousands of protesters together with hundreds of trucks jammed up the streets. Police officers keep demonstrators on the sidewalk as they walk to the Quebec legislature in protest against COVID-19 restrictions, in Quebec City, Saturday Demonstrators walk to the Quebec legislature in protest against COVID-19 restrictions, in Quebec City on Saturday Police officers guard the street as a convoy heads to the legislature in protest against COVID-19 restrictions, in Quebec City, Saturday People carry flags near the National Assembly of Quebec, as truckers and their supporters protest against vaccine mandates, in Quebec City, on Saturday A person carries a banner as truckers and their supporters protest against the coronavirus disease near the National Assembly of Quebec in Quebec City, on Saturday In Quebec City, on Saturday, thousands of protesters together with hundreds of trucks jammed up the streets People demonstrate near the National Assembly of Quebec, as truckers and their supporters protest against the mandates, in Quebec City on Saturday People wave flags near the National Assembly of Quebec in Quebec City on Saturday People braved the freezing cold temperatures in order to make their voices heard on Saturday in Quebec City People demonstrate near the National Assembly of Quebec, as truckers and their supporters protest on Saturday People carry banners near the National Assembly of Quebec, as truckers and their supporters protest on Saturday People carry signs, as truckers and supporters continue to protest COVID vaccine mandates, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, on Sunday, February 6 A protester walks past a truck parked in the street in the downtown core during a demonstration against COVID-19 restrictions in Ottawa, Ontario on Saturday A protester in support of masks and vaccines makes their way through a demonstration in support of a trucker convoy in Ottawa protesting COVID-19 restrictions, at Queen's Park in Toronto on Saturday After crowdfunding site GoFundMe said it would refund or redirect to charities the vast majority of the millions raised by demonstrators protesting in the Canadian capital, prominent U.S. Republicans like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis complained. But GoFundMe had already changed its mind and said it would be issuing refunds to all. The site said it cut off funding for the organizers because it had determined the effort violated the sites terms of service due to unlawful activity. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has called it 'an occupation' with protesters appearing to settle in for the long haul. Barbecues, fire pits and stockpiles of food together with toilet paper and fuel have all be amassed. Banners hang in the street with messages including 'Freedom over Fear,' 'Media is the virus' and 'F*** Trudeau.' 'For some senior American politicians, patriotism means renting a mob to put a G-7 capital under siege,' tweeted Gerald Butts, a former senior adviser to Trudeau. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxon tweeted: 'Patriotic Texans donated to Canadian truckers' worthy cause.' and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said on Fox News 'government doesn't have the right to force you to comply to their arbitrary mandates.' A man relaxes in his pickup truck as truckers and supporters continue to protest in Ottawa on Sunday Protesters stand on the top of a truck parked in front of the Parliament buildings during a demonstration against COVID-19 restrictions, in Ottawa on Saturday A person wears a surgical mask that has been cut out, as truckers and supporters continue to protest coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine mandates, in Ottawa on Sunday Cruz got into a twitter spat with Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart at the start of the weekend Vancouver's Mayor Kennedy Stewart has a message to the convoy: 'Vancouver doesn't want you here. Make your point and then go home.' Cruz got into a twitter spat with Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart at the start of the weekend. 'As the Mayor of a city with an over 95 per cent vaccination rate, my message to the convoy is this: Vancouver doesn't want you here. Make your point and then go home.' Cruz immediately jumped into the fray. 'Mayor says 'Vancouver doesn't want' truck drivers there. Folks might feel differently with empty shelves.' Cruz wrote on Friday. The mayor fired back on Sunday: 'Can someone tell Ted Cruz our store shelves are fine thanks to the 90% of Canadian truckers who are fully vaccinated,' Kennedy wrote. 'Too busy high-fiving all the awesome folks in Vancouver that are helping push back against the #hateconvoy.' Texas Senator Ted Cruz praised the Canada truckers as 'heroes' and accused GoFundMe of taking the crowdfunding page down for political reasons People gather in protest against COVID-19 mandates and in support of a protest against COVID-19 restrictions taking place in Ottawa, in Edmonton, Alberta on Saturday People gather in protest against COVID-19 mandates and in support of a protest against COVID-19 restrictions taking place in Ottawa, in Edmonton, Alberta on Saturday People gathered out on the streets in order to show support in Edmonton, Alberta on Saturday People gather in protest against COVID-19 mandates and in support of a protest against COVID-19 restrictions taking place in Ottawa, in Edmonton, Alberta on Saturday People stand guard in front a shack that was being used as a soup kitchen after police told them it has to be removed as truckers and their supporters continue to protest against the COVID-19 vaccine mandates in Ottawa on Sunday Earlier on Sunday, Cruz demanded that the Federal Trade Commission open an investigation into GoFundMe. Appearing on Fox News on Sunday he revealed he sent a letter to the FTC urging the agency to probe the fundraising website for potential 'deceptive trade practices' and accused the website of 'theft.' He also accused the site of removing the page because it didn't line up with Silicon Valley 'politics.' GoFundMe removed the fundraising page for the Freedom Convoy on Friday and gave donors two weeks to ask for a refund. A statement released that evening explained: 'GoFundMe supports peaceful protests and we believe that was the intention of the Freedom Convoy 2022 fundraiser when it was first created. We now have evidence from law enforcement that the previously peaceful demonstration has become an occupation, with police reports of violence and other unlawful activity.' A protester stands on a barricade as trucks continue to block the downtown core in protest of COVID-19 restrictions, in Ottawa, Ontario on Saturday Protestors of the vaccine mandates implemented by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, take in the atmosphere as they dance on the corner of Sussex and Rideau streets in Ottawa, Canada on Saturday Trucks line Bloor near Yorkville on February 5, 2022 in Toronto, Canada. A convoy of truckers and supporters have occupied downtown Ottawa since last Saturday Supporters wave flags as a convoy of trucks leave from Bloor Street and University Avenue in Toronto, Canada on Saturday Supporters wave flags as a convoy of trucks leave in Toronto, Canada on Saturday. A convoy of truckers and supporters have occupied downtown Ottawa since last Saturday in protest of Canada's COVID-19 vaccine mandate, with convoys branching out to other major cities such as Toronto this weekend Demonstrators gather for a protest against mandates related to Covid-19 vaccines and restrictions in downtown Toronto, on Saturday Supporters rally and wave flags near Queens Park in Toronto, Canada on Saturday. A convoy of truckers and supporters have occupied downtown Ottawa since last Saturday Supporters honk from their trucks near Queens Park in Toronto, Canada, on Saturday Protestors gather for a demonstration against mandates related to Covid-19 vaccines and restrictions in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, on Saturday Counter protestors gather at Terminal Avenue to block the 'Freedom Convoy' in Vancouver, on Saturday Counter protestors gather at Terminal Avenue to block the 'Freedom Convoy' in Vancouver, on Saturday Participants of the 'Freedom Convoy' wait at Terminal Avenue as counter protestors block the road in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Saturday A counter protester blocks a convoy as truckers and supporters continue to protest COVID-19 vaccine mandates, in Vancouver, on Saturday Supporters gather near the legislature to protest during a demonstration against COVID-19 restrictions in Victoria, British Columbia, on Saturday After swift backlash for trying to redistribute the funds, the charity site updated users on Twitter that all donors to the convoy would automatically receive refunds. 'Listen, it is theft on the part of GoFundMe. Let me say -- the Canadian truckers are heroes. They are patriots marching for your freedom and for my freedom,' Cruz told Fox host Maria Bartiromo. 'Those truck drivers that -- God blessed them -- they're defending Canada, but they are defending America as well.' Cruz praised the truckers for 'standing up' to the dismay of 'big government.' 'That is courage on display, that the government doesn't have the right to force you to comply to their arbitrary mandates. And they're standing up for freedom, and of course, big government hates it and is trying to crush them,' he said. 'The corporate media hates it and is trying to silence them, and big tech -- look at what GoFundMe did, people gave $10 million to support the Freedom Convoy because they were so proud of the courage of these truck drivers, and the thieves in Silicon Valley decided 'We don't like your politics, so A, We will take your money and then B, we're going to give it to people we like',' Cruz alleged. A truck remains parked on Metcalfe Street with a message condemning the mandates imposed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the Freedom Convoy truck protest on February 5 Demonstrators stage a counter-protest at city hall as truckers and supporters continue to protest against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine mandates, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, February 5 'Listen, if anyone else did that, that is called theft. And so today I sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission asking that the FTC open an investigation into GoFundMe, into whether they have committed deceptive trade practices because when people gave money, they gave money under the promise it would go to the Freedom Convoy, not to whatever left-wing political ideology GoFundMe and other Silicon Valley companies support.' He added: 'They are deceiving consumers and it is wrong.' In Canada's largest city, Toronto, police controlled and later ended a much smaller protest by setting up road blocks and preventing any trucks or cars from getting near the provincial legislature. Police also moved in to clear a key intersection in the city. Many Canadians have been outraged over the crude behavior of the demonstrators. Some protesters set fireworks off on the grounds of the National War Memorial late Friday. A number have carried signs and flags with swastikas last weekend and compared vaccine mandates to fascism. Protesters have said they won't leave until all mandates and COVID-19 restrictions are gone. They are also calling for the removal of Trudeau's government, though it is responsible for few of the measures, most of which were put in place by provincial governments. Trucks and supporters travel down Bloor Street during a demonstration in support of a trucker convoy in Ottawa protesting COVID-19 restrictions, in Toronto on Saturday Lindsay Boylan, 36 Former aide Lindsay Boylan, 36, was the first woman to accuse Cuomo of sexual harassment in a Medium post on February 24. She claimed that the governor asked her to play strip poker and kissed her on the lips without her permission when she worked for him in 2017. Lindsay Boylan, 36 Charlotte Bennett, 25 Charlotte Bennett, 25, came forward a few days after Boylan and claimed that Cuomo sexually harassed her last June while she was working as a health policy adviser in his administration at the height of the COVID-19 crisis. Bennett accused Cuomo of 'grooming' her and asking inappropriate questions about her sex life. She also claimed that he told her he was open to dating women in their 20s. BENNETT said the governor asked her about her love life - including whether she ever had sex with older men - and talked about his own, saying that age differences didn't matter in relationships and he was open to dating women over 22. During a meeting alone in his office, the governor said he was lonely and talked about wanting to hug someone, Bennett said. She said she swiftly complained to Cuomo's chief of staff and was transferred to another job. She said she spoke to a lawyer for the governor, but didnt insist on further action because she liked her new post and wanted to move on. Charlotte Bennett, 25 Anna Ruch, 33 Anna Ruch was the third woman to accuse Cuomo of sexual harassment and the only one thus far who did not work with him in a professional capacity. She claimed that Cuomo put his hands on her face and asked if he could kiss her just moments after they met at a September 2019 wedding in Manhattan. Anna Ruch, 33 Ana Liss, 35 Ana Liss, 35, a former aide, said Cuomo asked her whether she had a boyfriend, once kissed her hand at her desk and called her by patronizing names, including 'blondie,' 'sweetheart' and 'honey.' At a reception, the governor hugged her then put his arm around her lower back and waist as they posed for photo, Liss said. She said she eventually asked for a job transfer. In an interview, Liss said she was 'not claiming sexual harassment per se,' but felt the administration 'wasn't a safe space for young women to work.' Liss, who previously served as Cuomo's policy and operations aide between 2013 and 2015, told the Wall Street Journal that during her time in his administration, the governor had subjected her to unsolicited advances, including touching her lower back, kissing her hand and quizzing her about her love life. Ana Liss, 35 Karen Hinton, 62 The oldest allegations against Cuomo came from Karen Hinton, who served as a press aide for him when he led the US Department of Housing and Urban Development two decades ago and she was a consultant for the agency. Hinton told the Washington Post about a 2000 incident when she said Cuomo summoned her to his 'dimly lit' hotel room and embraced her after a work event. She said she tried to pull away from Cuomo when he pulled her back and held her before she managed to escape the room. Karen Hinton, 62 Unnamed sixth accuser The most damning allegations leveled against Cuomo to date came from a sixth accuser, whose name has not been released. The accuser, who is a member of Cuomo's staff, alleged that he closed a door, reached under her blouse and fondled her after summoning her to the governor's mansion in Albany for help with his cellphone, according to the Times Union of Albany. It first reported on her accusation last month; she then gave more detail in her first interview on the matter. The woman spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect her privacy, although her identity is known within the governors circle, the Times Union reported. The woman, an executive assistant, told the Times Union the governor gave her kisses on the cheek and inappropriately tight hugs for years and made remarks including, 'If you were single, the things that I would do to you' and 'I'm single and ready to mingle.' Then, one day in November, she was summoned to his Executive Mansion office to help him with a cellphone problem, she said. He got up from his desk, started groping her and told her 'I don't care' after she tried to deflect him by saying he was going to get them into trouble, and then he slammed the door, she said. Then he reached under her blouse and clutched one of her breasts over her bra, she told the newspaper. The woman told a colleague this winter about the alleged encounter, and the co-worker told a supervisor in early March, according to the newspaper. Cuomo called the report 'gut-wrenching' in a March statement and said: 'I have never done anything like this.' Another female aide, who has remained anonymous, claimed he called her to his Executive Mansion last year, reached under her blouse and fondled her Jessica Bakeman Jessica Bakeman claimed in a first-person article for New York Magazine that she was sexually harassed by Cuomo on several occasions since the start of her journalism career in 2012. Bakeman added her voice as the seventh accuser as she detailed inappropriate touching by the governor as he continued to deny all of the claims. 'He took my hand, as if to shake it, then refused to let go,' Bakeman wrote of an interaction with Cuomo as she said goodnight at a holiday party in 2014 when she was only 25 years old. 'He put his other arm around my back, his hand on my waist, and held me firmly in place while indicating to a photographer he wanted us to pose for a picture.' At the time Bakeman had been working for what is now Politico New York and claimed that red flags went up as her 'job was to analyze and scrutinize him'. 'I didn't want a photo of him with his hands on my body and a smile on my face,' she wrote. Jessica Bakeman, a reporter who once covered the Cuomo administration, was the seventh woman to come forward with claims of harassment 'But I made the reflexive assessment that most women and marginalized people know instinctively, the calculation about risk and power and self-preservation. I knew it would be far easier to smile for the brief moment it takes to snap a picture than to challenge one of the most powerful men in the country.' In an earlier 2012 incident while she was working for USA Today, Bakeman also claims that Cuomo kept her pinned to his side as he told a story to her male colleagues. 'He left it there, and kept me pinned next to him, for several minutes as he finished telling his story,' she said. 'I stood there, my cheeks hot, giggling nervously as my male colleagues did the same. We all knew it was wrong, but we did nothing.' The reporter, who now works in Florida, claimed that Cuomo 'never let me forget I was a woman' as she also alleged that he made frequent attempts to humiliate her, including calling out her purple phone instead of answering her question during a press gaggle. Alyssa McGrath, 33 McGrath, a current administrative assistant in Cuomo's office, told The New York Times that he looked down her shirt, quizzed her about her marital status, and told her she was beautiful, using an Italian phrase she had to ask her parents to interpret. McGrath didn't say the governor made sexual contact with her but thought his behavior was sexual harassment. She recalled Cuomo kissing her on the forehead and gripping her firmly around the sides while posing for a photo at a 2019 office Christmas party. Alyssa McGrath (pictured) is one of two aides who have come forward to accuse the governor of harassment Sherry Vill, 55 Sherry Vill, 55, accused Cuomo of sexual misconduct during a press conference with her attorney Gloria Allred on Monday. She alleges Cuomo grabbed her face and kissed her 'aggressively and in a sexual manner' on both cheeks in May 2017 while he was touring her home in Greece, near Rochester, as he inspected local flood damage. Vill, who said she felt uncomfortable at the time, shared an image her daughter took on the day that showed Cuomo holding her face as he kissed her cheek and her attorney held up multiple photos showing the Governor inside her home. The same photos appear on Cuomo's Flickr account, as well as multiple others that show him kissing and greeting residents as he toured the town. None of the women in the other photos have accused the governor of inappropriate behavior or wrongdoing. Israel's prime minister on Sunday congratulated Joe Biden on the US' deadly raid in Syria that killed the leader of ISIS during a phone call where he invited the president to the Middle East. The White House said Biden told Israel's Naftali Bennett that he planned to visit Israel later this year. During their call, Bennett told Biden that 'the world is now a safer place thanks to the courageous operation of the US forces,' The leader of ISIS, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, was killed during a US raid on his home in Atmeh on February 3. During the call, the world leaders also discussed the 'challenges facing the Middle East, including the threat posed by Iran,' and efforts to block Iran's nuclear program. 'I conveyed ironclad support for Israels security and underscored my commitment to security, stability, and prosperity in the region.' Israel and Iran are arch-enemies, and Israel has raised vocal concerns about US-led efforts to revive the 2015 international nuclear deal between Iran and world powers. US President Joe Biden meets with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in the Oval Office at the White House on August 27, 2021 in Washington Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett speaks on the COVID-19 pandemic in the country on August 2021 in Jerusalem, left, and Biden at Ironworkers Local 5 in US on Friday, right The deal unraveled after President Donald Trump withdrew from it in 2018. Israel objected to the initial deal and believes any attempts to restore it will not include sufficient safeguards to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapons capability. Israel also says any deal should address Iranian military activity across the region as well as its development of long-range missiles capable of striking Israel. Biden, according to the White House, also reiterated his 'full support for replenishing Israel's Iron Dome' defense system. The system designed to intercept and destroy short-range rockets is in need of restocking after last year's 11-day war with Hamas in Gaza. The two leaders also discussed concerns at the Ukraine-Russia border, where Biden administration officials on Sunday warned anew that further Russian invasion could come soon, though they remain hopeful the Russians will still de-escalate through diplomatic means. A general view shows on February 3, 2022 the scene following an overnight raid by US special operations forces against a suspected high-ranking jihadist in Atmeh, in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib, which left at least 13 people dead An aerial view of wreckages around the site after an operation carried out by US forces targeting a high ranking jihadist in northern Syria last week Earlier Sunday, Bennett said Israel is closely watching world powers' negotiations with Iran in Vienna, but reiterated his position that Israel is not bound by any agreement reached by them. Israel has repeatedly threatened to strike Iran if it believes it is necessary to halt the country's nuclear program. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only. 'Anyone who thinks such an agreement will increase stability is wrong,' Bennett told his Cabinet early Sunday. 'Israel reserves its right to act in any case, with or without an agreement.' ABUJA, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Three bodies have so far been recovered after an oil vessel was recently engulfed by fire at an oil field in the southern part of Nigeria last week, local authorities and the oil production firm said on Monday. The Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) Trinity Spirit, the vessel, operated by the Shebah Exploration and Production Company Ltd (SEPCOL), suddenly went up in flames at a port in the southwestern state of Ondo on Wednesday, the firm said in a statement sent to Xinhua. The fire was eventually contained on the evening of the following day, the Nigerian government said in a separate statement. Two dead bodies were recovered on the deck of the vessel on Sunday while another was earlier recovered in the vicinity of FPSO, according to the statement by SEPCOL. The vessel had a potential total number of six crew members at the time of the incident, the statement said, noting three were found alive after the incident last week. The firm said it worked with the relevant authorities, stakeholders, and expert organizations to conduct a joint investigation visit over the weekend, including making incident reports to the police to assist the ongoing investigation, and due process to establish the identities of the dead bodies. "Furthermore, our efforts are geared towards cleaning up the area to minimize any damage to the environment and seeking to ascertain the exact cause of the explosion," it added. Minister of State for the Environment Sharon Ikeazor said in a statement on Monday that the National Oil Spill Detection Response Agency had launched an overflight to monitor the situation of a crude oil spill in the affected area. "While the cause of the fire incident is yet to be fully determined, the environment around the FPSO is only slightly covered by the sheen and emulsified oil," Ikeazor said. Ex-deputy chief medical officer Dr Nick Coatsworth has played down speculation he is about to run for NSW state parliament The face of Australia's Covid vaccine rollout has played down speculation he is about to run for parliament - just days after he blasted calls for stricter mask mandates. Ex-deputy chief medical officer Dr Nick Coatsworth was rumoured to be weighing up a run for the Liberals in the key NSW electorate of Eden-Monaro. But the top doctor, who has repeatedly criticised the need for strict mask rules and border closures since resigning from the federal government, said he had no plans to run for office. 'I am definitely not the candidate [for Eden Monaro],' he told The West Australian. 'Given how disappointed I am with the Western Australia border position Id be more likely to come home to WA and run against [WA Premier] Mark McGowan in Rockingham at the next state election.' Dr Coatsworth is a fierce critic of Mr McGowan's decision to abandon plans to open his state's border on February 5. Dr Coatsworth last week blasted calls for stricter mask mandates and used evidence from the US that showed mask mandates only have a very small impact on Covid case numbers. Pictured is a pedestrian wearing a face mask in Perth in December Last month, he said the decision may worsen the state's winter flu season because its residents did not have immunity from a recent infection. 'Delay WA border opening until 80 per cent boosted, which will occur sometime around May, to coincide with the start of the winter flu season, which may well be worse this year due to lack of, you guessed it, immunity from recent infection,' he tweeted on January 21. 'Courageous indeed.' Dr Coatsworth has also openly questioned indoor mask mandates since leaving the top role. On Friday, he shared US data which showed states that introduced mask mandates only had slightly more cases than those which did not. He also branded demands to install stringent air ventilation systems in all buildings a 'colossal cost and minimal benefit'. The graph shared by Dr Coatsworth shows little difference in Covid case numbers in the US from November 1 to January 31, despite face mask mandates. Dr Coatsworth is a fierce critic of WA Premier Mark McGowan's (pictured) decision to abandon plans to open his state's border on February 5 The data does not show that masks are ineffective against transmitting the virus, as those living in states without mandates may still be wearing face coverings at comparable levels. It could also be possible that infection rates in states with mandates may have been far higher if the restrictions were not introduced. But Dr Coatsworth suggests enforcing face mask mask requirements has a muted effect in society. 'When plausibility meets reality. The null hypothesis lands a knockout punch on the precautionary principle,' he tweeted alongside the graph. Australia's former deputy chief medical officer Dr Nick Coatsworth (pictured) shared statistical data from the US which shows states that introduced mask mandates actually had slightly more cases than those which did not The graph shows little difference in Covid case numbers in the US from November 1 to January 31, despite face mask mandates Dr Coatsworth (pictured) suggests enforcing face mask mask requirements have a muted effect in society Dr Coatsworth also railed against calls to mandate the widespread use of N95 masks and install stringent air ventilation systems in all buildings - calling the idea a 'colossal cost and minimal benefit' But the revealing post was met with immediate backlash from the medical community, with an ICU and infectious diseases specialist slamming his take on the America data. 'Enough - if you don't breath it - you don't catch it. Simple. N95 masks widespread. HEPA filtration indoors. Clean air- no transmission. Done,' the Australian doctor said. But Dr Coatsworth disagreed, saying implementing top-grade medical masks and high efficiency particulate air filter systems would come at a high price and likely have little impact. Pictured: A Sydney shopper dons a face mask after returning from the supermarket 'Perfect strategy for hospitals where it works,' Dr Coatsworth said. 'Extrapolation to other populations without evidence is scientifically flawed. Might apply in a no vax, no treatment, high mortality scenario, otherwise - colossal cost, minimal benefit.' Indoor face mask mandates remain in place in every state and territory in Australia. Australia's defence minister has warned Australia and its allies must stand up to China and it's expansion in the South China Sea before it's too late. Peter Dutton said western countries tolerated Beijing's increasing presence in the region as it constructed artificial islands and established military bases in the disputed sea. But he said Australia, the US, and Britain would 'lose the next decade' if they continued to abide the communist superpower's militarisation of the waterway. Mr Dutton said for years Beijing gave assurances about its position in the strategic area - bordered by China, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Borneo - and was taken at its word. Australia's Defence Minister said Australia needs to stand up to China's increased presence in the South China Sea (pictured: Chinese soldiers in the Paracel Archipelago in 2016) Mr Dutton's (pictured) comments are ahead of a meeting between foreign ministers from the United States, Australia, India and Japan in Melbourne 'The US and others acquiesced and allowed the militarisation now to the point where China has 20 points of presence in the South China Sea, which does not help stability in the region,' Mr Dutton told The Sydney Morning Herald. 'If we continue on that trajectory, then I think we'll lose the next decade. And my sense is that we're better off being honest about that.' The South China Sea is an important shipping passage carrying more than $3 trillion worth of trade goods each year, contains valuable gas reserves and provides food security for the region. Mr Dutton will meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken this week in Melbourne as part of the two-day meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue. Foreign ministers from the Quad nations of US, Australia, India, and Japan are expected to discuss China's increasing presence in the region as tensions in Europe mount over Russia's increasing presence near Ukraine. China has previously denounced the Quad as a clique 'targeting other countries'. Australia's foreign minister Marise Payne said the Quad was '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'. Chinese president Xi Jinping (pictured) held a diplomacy push as the Winter Olympics began meeting the leaders of a number of countries including Argentina which has joined the Belt and Road Initiative Mr Dutton said he was very confident that Australia would have the country's first nuclear-powered submarine under the AUKUS agreement by 2038. When the agreement was announced in mid-2021 an 18-month process was put in place to work out out the best way to deliver Australia the submarines with some defence experts saying it could be decades before they arrived. But Mr Dutton said he has 'no doubt Australia would have a nuclear-propelled submarine' within 16 years. Labor's defence spokesperson Brendan O'Connor was doubtful the submarines could be delivered so quickly. 'The minister is kidding himself if he expects people to believe that this government, given its track record of the last nine years, will deliver the first AUKUS nuclear-propelled submarine before 2040, when many experts are suggesting that is not likely,' he said. China has been building bases on islands in the disputed South China Sea (pictured: construction at Mabini Reef by China, in the disputed Spratly Islands) On Sunday, China welcomed Argentina into its global Belt and Road Initiative as President Xi Jinping capped a weekend of frenetic diplomatic activity on the sidelines of the Winter Olympics. Xi has not left his country since the coronavirus first emerged in the city of Wuhan, with China now the only major economy still pursuing a strict zero-Covid strategy. But the Beijing Games have allowed Xi to hold a his first face-to-face meetings with fellow world leaders in nearly two years. The state broadcaster said China and Argentina inked an agreement on 'jointly promoting the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road', marking Argentina's entry into the initiative. Australian Navy and Chinese ships near the Spratly Islands (pictured) China's BRI is a trillion-dollar push to improve trade links across the globe by building landmark infrastructure, and the inclusion of Argentina is a major win for Beijing in Latin America. Chinese companies invested more than $20 billion in non-financial direct investment on projects in BRI countries in 2021, according to China's commerce ministry. But the plans is criticised as an attempt to increase China's influence around the world, and allow it to control smaller countries through debt. The deal came as Argentine President Alberto Fernandez made a three-day visit to China during which both sides also said they would continue to support each other on issues concerning sovereign interests. The statement backed each other's territorial claims - the Falkland Islands for Argentina and China's dispute over Taiwan. An Australian actor has slammed Channel Nine for linking Cleo Smith's abductor's doll obsession to the kidnapping of the little girl. Cleo's parents Ellie Smith and Jake Gliddon featured in a blockbuster interview with 60 Minutes on Sunday night where they spoke publicly about their 18 day ordeal for the first time. The network reportedly paid the couple more than $2million for the interview, which broadcast footage of the inside of Kelly's house packed with Bratz dolls. Starkid star Robert Manion, based in Los Angeles, quickly fired up his Twitter account to blast the 'incredibly disappointing' coverage of the toddler's disappearance, which described Kelly as a 'doll obsessed loner'. Australian actor Robert Manion (pictured), who is based in LA, has slammed Channel Nine's exclusive interview with Cleo Smith's parents over its 'heteronormative focus' on Terence Kelly's doll collecting hobby He argued the segment maintained a 'heteronormative focus' of the child abductor's hobby and attempted to frame it in a negative light. 'There is nothing sinister in a male, even an adult collecting dolls as a hobby and passion,' Manion wrote. 'It has been proven that males who play with dolls from a young age are likely to develop the capacity to care for others and develop their instinct to nurture and form deeper relationships. 'Your attempt to link his hobby and his abduction of a child is informative of your attitude that there is something not normal or unnatural about doll collection and reinforces fear aimed at those who do not conform to gender stereotypes.' Manion added that there was 'enough to report and focus on' without 'obsessing' over Kelly's doll fixation, urging parents to not be concerned if their son displayed preferences for stereotypically female toys. 'For any parents out there who's [sic] son may have a passion for dolls - there is nothing wrong with it, and it does not serve as an indicator of any problem,' he said. 'Shaming nurturing instincts is linked to trauma in young men.' Terence Darrell Kelly, 36, (pictured) has pleaded guilty to abducting Cleo from a remote Blowholes campsite in Western Australia Manion said: 'The tweet is not intended to look at Kelly's actions less critically or with more sympathy' Kelly, 36, has pleaded guilty to abducting Cleo from a remote Blowholes campsite in Western Australia while the four-year-old was sleeping next to her six-month old sister Isla and parents last year. Contacted for comment, Manion said: 'All I'd clarify is the tweet is not intended to look at Kelly's actions less critically or with more sympathy.' Manion said the focus should be upon Kelly and his actions. The rescue of Cleo Smith made global headlines. She was rescued from a property in Carnavon - just seven kilometres from her home - on November 3, some 18 days after her disappearance. Photos quickly emerged of images Kelly had posted online of a doll-filled home inside his room, with Bratz figurines still in boxes lined up on shelves surrounding the walls from the roof to the floor. In Sunday evening's tell-all, Ms Smith revealed on Sunday that Cleo's hair had been cut and dyed pink when she was discovered by police. Ms Smith said although Kelly's future intentions for Cleo are unclear it was obvious he was obsessed with dolls. 'That's what he wanted, he wanted a little doll,' she claimed. 'It's just so sickening and disgusting.' In an exclusive interview with Channel Nine, Ellie Smith (pictured with partner Jake Gliddon) spoke about their ordeal for the first time Ms Smith said when she arrived at the hospital to be reunited with her daughter (pictured), she noticed immediately the four-year-old's blonde hair had been cut and dyed After spending more than two weeks clinging to hope their daughter was still alive, Ms Smith and Mr Gliddon received a call from police at 1am to learn the four-year-old had been rescued in a covert operation. 'I was asleep when the phone call came through and I was like, "this is either good or bad",' the 24-year-old revealed. 'I've answered it and straight away [the police officer said], "I've got someone who wants to say hello to you", and I was swearing, I was like, oh my God, no way. The couple rushed to the hospital and found Cleo sitting on a bed, where Ms Smith immediately noticed her daughter's blonde hair had been changed. 'I was just angry that someone tried changing her to kind of fit what they wanted,' she said. 'She said she got the pink put in her hair and then it washed out, she said it didn't work, and we had to then get her hair cut again because it was basically all cut into chunks.' The traumatised parents also revealed police believe the crime was opportunistic and Kelly selected Cleo at random after noticing her small pink bike parked outside the family's tent. Ms Smith said they had woken at 6am to discover not only their daughters' side of the tent unzipped and Cleo missing - but the door closest to them was open too. Cleo's disappearance sparked a desperate 18-day manhunt before the little girl was found inside the house of local man, Terence Darrell Kelly, 36, on November 3 Details about Cleo's time in captivity remain sketchy, with her parents refraining from pushing her to speak about it to prevent the toddler from 'reliving' her experience. The $2million deal was a television record, after Channel Nine won a bidding war against Channel Seven for the exclusive interview. The contract eclipsed the last highest payment of $1million, which Channel Nine gave to each of the Beaconsfield mine disaster survivors Brant Webb and Todd Russell in 2006 to recall their two weeks trapped in the underground. Ms Smith and Mr Gliddon's decision to speak sparked controversy, with WA Police - who are still in the process of prosecuting Kelly - describing the TV special as 'highly inappropriate' and refusing to take part. Kelly is yet to answer other charges and is expected to face Perth District Court on March 25. Manion, the first Aussie to be cast in a show by Chicago-based production company Team Starkid, is known for his for his roles in Twisted: The Untold Story of a Royal Vizier, The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals, and Firebringer. Several studies have found playing with dolls in childhood can fosters empathy and social processing skills for both boys and girls. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Nine for further comment. A woman is in hospital after being mauled by a shark on Sunday at a popular West Australian beach. The incident occurred on Sunday morning while the woman in her 20s was on a pool ring about 50m from the shoreline of Kelp Beds beach at Wylie Bay, east of Esperance on the state's south coast. People on the beach said the 3.3m-long shark bit the woman on the torso before a couple ran into the ocean and dragged her to the shore as she lost consciousness. The girl was taken by a private car to Esperance Health Campus where doctors stabilised her condition before she was transported to the Royal Perth Hospital late on Sunday. A Nine News Perth shot of the shark believed to be responsible for the attack in the waters of Wylie Bay near Esperance, Western Australia People on the beach said the 3.3m-long shark biting the woman on the torso before a couple ran into the ocean and dragged her to the shore as she lost consciousness Kelps Bed beach at Wylie Bay east of Esperance, WA< has been the scene of two tragedies involving shark attacks in recent years Surf Life Saving WA confirmed a 3.3m white shark had been sighted at the beach around 12.26pm and also received another report of a 3m shark 100m offshore at the same beach. The beach is currently closed as a result of the attack. Kelps Bed has been the scene of two tragedies involving shark attacks in recent years. In 2017, 17-year-old Laeticia Brouwer died being mauled by a great white shark while surfing with her father, Leon Father-of-two Andrew Sharpe went missing at Kelp Beds after witnesses saw him 'flung' from his surfboard by a huge four-metre-long shark In 2017, 17-year-old Laeticia Brouwer died after being mauled by a great white shark while surfing with her father, Leon. In October 2020, father-of-two Andrew Sharpe went missing at Kelp Beds after witnesses saw him 'flung' from his surfboard by a huge four-metre-long shark. Mr Sharp had been surfing with friends at the Kelp Beds break on October 9 when he was knocked from his board and flung into the air by a shark. Police called off the search for Mr Sharpe after two days. Friends of Andrew Sharpe paddled out and formed a massive circle in his honour after he was taken by a shark at Kelps Bed in October 2020 In the latest incident, an investigation by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Shark Response Unit had recovered a pool ring that had been sent to Perth for scientific analysis. Land-based patrols by DPIRD Fisheries Marine officers and Esperance Shire rangers will continue from first light tomorrow to alert the public of the beach closure. There have been no further shark sightings in the Kelp Beds area. There were six shark attacks recorded in Western Australia in 2021, including one fatality. The previous year there were seven attacks, with three people losing their lives. Barnaby Joyce has claimed he called Scott Morrison a 'hypocrite and a liar' because he was mentally affected by Brittany Higgins' rape claim. He insisted he now believes the Prime Minister is 'trustworthy' after working 'one-on-one' with him since becoming leader of the Nationals in June. Former Liberal staffer Ms Higgins rocked Canberra in March when she alleged she was raped by a colleague in a minister's office in 2019. Barnaby Joyce (pictured) has claimed he called Scott Morrison a 'hypocrite and a liar' because he was mentally affected by Brittany Higgins' rape claim The Deputy Prime Minster sent a text to Miss Higgins, via another person, saying: 'Tell BH [Brittany Higgins] I and Scott, he is Scott to me until I have to recognise his office, don't get along. 'He is a hypocrite and a liar from my observations and that is over a long time. 'I have never trusted him and I dislike how he earnestly rearranges the truth to a lie.' Ms Higgins leaked the messages last week after Mr Joyce called for the resignation of a mystery minister who allegedly called Mr Morrison a 'complete psycho' in texts to Gladys Berejiklian. Mr Joyce apologised for the texts and offered his resignation but the PM refused and said he forgave him. On Monday the Nationals leader claimed his view of Mr Morrison was affected by Ms Higgins' allegations. Scott Morrison poses for a photo on Sunday with Leila and Danny Abdallah, the parents of three children killed by an out-of-control car in February 2020 'Obviously, you are in a different mind space of course, because you are dealing with an incredibly dramatic and serious issue of being approached by a number of people through a third party,' he told the Seven Network. 'If that did not put you in a different mind space, what on earth would? More than anything else, you are a human being and you are trying to help people.' 'I wanted to make sure that Ms Higgins got a proper process where she had proper access to information. That clouds your judgement. It has to.' Mr Joyce said he didn't blame Ms Higgins for leaking the texts, admitting: 'It was my fault for writing. If I hadn't, it never would have happened. I take absolute responsibility for what happened.' The Deputy Prime Minister, who was a backbencher when he sent the text, said his view of Mr Morrison has changed since they worked together more closely. 'I know him vastly better now. As I have said before, he has honoured every agreement I have heard him say to others and every agreement he has had with me. 'They are the actions of a person who is trustworthy. I've never heard him come to me with tactics of how to slip out of a deal or changing things around,' Mr Joyce said. It comes as the man Mr Joyce replaced as Nationals leader, Michael McCormack, indicated he would consider putting his hand up for the leadership if it came up again. 'If enough members of the party came to me and asked me to lead the party, I would seriously consider that,' he told the ABC. 'It's very unfortunate the fact we're talking about ourselves when we should be talking about Australians.' The suicide bombing in Kabul that killed 13 US service members and over 170 Afghans in August was 'not preventable,' The Pentagon announced on Friday following a probe into the attack. The terror attack, which ISIS claimed responsibility for, occurred in the early morning hours of August 26, during the frenzied evacuation near the US embassy. 'Based on our investigation at the tactical level, this was not preventable,' General Lance Curtis said during a briefing Friday. 'And the leaders on the ground followed the proper measures. And any time there was an imminent threat warning they followed the proper procedures: they lowered their profile, they sought cover and, at times, they even ceased operations at the gate.' The probe revealed that the terrorist responsible for the attack was carrying 20 pounds of explosives and ball bearings. A Taliban fighter stands guard on August 27, 2021 at the site of the August 26 twin suicide bombs, which killed scores of people including 13 US troops, at Kabul airport People stand among bodies of the victims of an attack outside Kabul's airport, Afghanistan August 26, 2021 in this still grab obtained from a handout video An emergency vehicle as people arrive at a hospital after an attack at Kabul airport, Afghanistan August 26, 2021 A US Marine Corps carry team transfers the remains of Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo of Lawrence, Massachusetts, on August 29, 2021, at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware The devastation of the suicide bombing was so severe that officials initially believed that the attack was carried out by multiple people. The blast managed to pierce though body armor and helmets, with the ball bearings leaving injuries that mimicked gunshot wounds. 'The disturbing lethality of this device was confirmed by the 58 US service members who were killed and wounded despite the universal wear of body armor and helmets that did stop ball bearings that impacted them but could not prevent catastrophic injuries to areas not covered,' said General Frank McKenzie, head of US Central Command. Meanwhile, gunfire exchanged during the attack was later found to be warning shots fired by American or British troops. Among the 11 Marines killed were Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23, Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, 31, Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, Cpl. Daegan W. Page, 23, Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, 22, Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, 20, Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, 20, Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, 20, Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, 20. The Army sustained one casualty, Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, 23, while the Navy lost Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak, 22 in the terrorist attack, according to Military Times. A suitcase and backpacks of Afghan people who were waiting to be evacuated are seen at the site of the August 26 suicide bombing, which killed scores of people including 13 US troops A Taliban fighter stands guard at the site of the August 26 suicide bombs, a day after the attack on August 27 The attack took place amidst the evacuation of thousands of Afghans at the Kabul Airport, as service members assisted the growing crowds, with the Taliban in hot pursuit as the US ramped up its efforts to withdraw troops from the region after nearly 20 years in Afghanistan. The probe also found that the terrorist responsible for the attack had somehow bypassed security checkpoints, and had done so without the Taliban's direction. Video of the aftermath showed as Afghan civilians fled the area as Marines and service members moved towards the attack zone to help evacuate those who had been injured in the bombing. Troops had the dangerous task of evacuating roughly 126,000 people from the country as the Taliban reclaimed its former territory, which it had lost following the 2003 US invasion of Afghanistan. US Marine Corps General Frank McKenzie, pictured center on stairs, arrives at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Afghanistan August 17, 2021 Marine Corps Gen. Frank McKenzie smiles during the promotion ceremony as the new commander of US Central Command at Macdill Air Force Base in 2019 in Tampa President Joe Biden gestures as he walks on the South Lawn from Marine One to the White House following a trip to Delaware, in Washington DC on Sunday Meanwhile, the results of the Pentagon's probe into the attack come days after widespread criticism of President Joe Biden by Republicans on the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, who collectively slammed his administration for the hasty troop withdrawal. The Committee's new report specifically cited the abandonment of the Bagram Air Base among criticisms regarding the frantic evacuation. 'It is clear the senior leadership of the Biden Administration failed to effectively plan, coordinate and execute an orderly withdrawal and evacuation' from Afghanistan, the report states. 'The Biden Administration squandered precious time, ignored intelligence and recommendations from people on the ground, and refused bipartisan support to give them the resources to succeed. In the process, the botched withdrawal has tarnished Americas reputation and credibility.' Cleo Smith is still adjusting to her newfound fame as her mother shared the heartbreaking question the little girl asks when strangers approach her to say hello. Ellie Smith said her daughter was constantly greeted by locals who were excited to meet the four-year-old girl whenever the family was out in public in Carnarvon, Western Australia. She said Cleo was excited and confused by all the attention and always asked her mother the same question after every encounter. 'We have people come up and it happens quite often,' Ms Smith told Channel Nine's Today on Monday. 'They're like 'Hi', she's like 'Hi', all happy.' 'Then we just kind of step away from them. She's just like 'Mum, why do they know my name?' I'm like, 'You're a special girl.' She's like, 'OK.' It's hilarious. She loves it.' Ms Smith appeared on the morning show alongside her partner Jake Gliddon after the pair snagged a reported $2million deal to share their story exclusively with Channel Nine - which included a tell-all interview with 60 Minutes on Sunday. Cleo was abducted from her family tent at the remote Blowholes campsite, 75km from Carnarvon, on October 16 before she was rescued 18 days later. Ms Smith opened up on Cleo's recovery, revealed the family's plans and took aim at online trolls who had falsely pointed the finger at her partner Mr Gliddon and accused him of staging the kidnapping. Cleo Smith has been enjoying her newfound fame as her mother revealed the adorable question she asks when strangers approach the family to say hello Ellie Smith said her daughter was constantly being greeted by locals who were excited to meet the four-year-old girl whenever the family were out in public in Carnarvon, Western Australia The interview took an embarrassing turn when Today host Karl Stefanovic put Mr Gliddon on the spot and asked him an awkward question about his appearance at the end of the segment. 'Jake, just before we go,' Stefanovic continued, 'did you have a haircut? It's very handsome.' A visibly uneasy Mr Gliddon nodded his head politely before he responded: 'Nice fresh cut.' 'Clean cut, beautiful mate, thank you,' Stefanovic said. During the interview, Ms Smith revealed the family still had their bad days as the trio tried to recover from the ordeal, but Cleo had shown plenty signs of progress and no longer had nightmares about the 18-day-long abduction. 'A good day for us is getting through the day without any massive hiccups,' she said. 'By 'massive', just a complete melt down. But our worst days are days where it's just we're going to end up staying home. 'Staying home, just kind of doing our own thing. Just, you know, seeing how she goes step by step. Yeah, having left the nightmares at night and things like that. We're getting there.' Ms Smith opened up on Cleo's recovery, revealed the family's future plans and took aim at online trolls who had falsely pointed the finger at her partner Mr Gliddon and accused him of staging the kidnapping Ms Smith appeared on the morning show alongside her partner Jake Gliddon after the pair snagged a reported $2million deal to share their story exclusively with Channel Nine - which included a tell-all interview with 60 Minutes on Sunday Ms Smith admitted the ordeal was made more difficult by online trolls who falsely accused the mother and her partner Mr Gliddon of playing a hand in the abduction of Cleo. The rumours prompted detectives to address the public and say they had ruled out the couple as suspects before premier Mark McGowan stepped in to defend them. Ms Smith said the pair tried to stay off social media as it was too difficult to read the nasty comments against her partner. 'Kind of like we knew the truth,' she said. 'I know how much Jake has stepped up to be Cleo's dad and how much he is Cleo's dad. 'For people to then accuse him because he is a stepdad, that was hard for me, because he's done so much for her and our family that I just couldn't imagine how someone could say such bad words about him.' Ms Smith revealed the family planned to take a break from the public eye and would soon be embarking on a roadtrip together across the state. Speaking on 60 Minutes on Sunday, Ms Smith recalled the moment she received the phone call and heard her daughter had been found. Ms Smith admitted the ordeal was made more difficult by online trolls who falsely accused the mother and her partner Mr Gliddon of playing a hand in the abduction of Cleo She had gone to bed feeling hopeless the night in early November when police called at 1am to say they'd found four-year-old Cleo alive and locked in a room of a house 7km away. The distraught mother rushed to the hospital to see her 'baby'. 'She was sitting on the bed and we ran up to her and she was like 'Hi mum', like nothing had happened,' Ms Smith told Nine's 60 Minutes in an interview broadcast on Sunday. The reuniting scene at Carnarvon, about 900km north of Perth, was one of joy but at the same time Ms Smith noticed Cleo's hair had been cut and dyed. 'I still don't think she really understood what happened in general, you know, being so young.' Since getting home Cleo doesn't like closed doors and sleeps with the lights on, and woke screaming with 'nightmare after nightmare', Ms Smith said in her first media interview. Ms Smith revealed the family planned to take a break from the public eye and would soon be embarking on a roadtrip together across the state 'Still to this day we don't know the full story,' she said. 'She has blocked out a lot as to what's happened. She went into survivor mode and pushed it very far away.' Terence Darrell Kelly, 36, has pleaded guilty to abducting Cleo from a remote Blowholes campsite in Western Australia where Ms Smith, her partner Jake Gliddon, Cleo and her six-month-old sister Isla were sleeping in a tent. More police officers were killed in the line of duty under President Biden's tenure than in the years prior since 1995, a spike police officers are crediting to rising tensions between the public and law enforcement since the police killing of George Floyd and Biden's lack of public support for officers. A total of 73 officers were intentionally killed in the line of duty in 2021, nearly 59 percent more than in 2020 when 46 cops were murdered, according the the FBI's database on officers killed in action, FOX News reported. The last time the number was higher was in 1995 when 74 officers were intentionally killed on the job, an analysis of the LEOKA data by the Heartland Institute said. Thousands turned out to morn NYPD officer Wilbert Mora, 27, who was slain responding to a call in Harlem last month. His partner, Detective Jason Rivera, 22, was also killed in the shooting, 14 months after he joined the department Johnson added he believes the Biden administration's 'actions have shown that they are not supportive of the police' The second highest number of officers intentionally killed on duty was 72 in 2011. Since then, there were 55 officers murdered in 2012, 27 in 2013, 51 in 2014, 41 in 2015, 66 in 2016, 46 in 2017, 56 in 2018 and 48 in 2019. Jason Johnson, president of the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund (LELDF) and a 20-year police veteran, blamed the spike in murders to rising tensions between the public and law enforcement officers since the May 2020 police killing of George Floyd. 'We believe it's a combination of the George Floyd protests riots, if you will; a general feeling of a preference for less law enforcement; and less prosecution and less policing, Johnson told Fox News. 'Law enforcement officers have essentially been marginalized and demoralized and cast aside and encouraged now to enforce the law. And so we've seen massive jumps in the homicide rate in cities across America,' he added. Johnson added he believes the Biden administration's 'actions have shown that they are not supportive of the police.' 55 officers were intentionally killed in 2012, 27 in 2013, 51 in 2014, 41 in 2015, 66 in 2016, 46 in 2017, 56 in 2018 and 48 in 2019 Police veteran Jason Johnson blamed the spike to rising tensions between the public and law enforcement officers since the police killing of George Floyd in May 2020 'Until and unless we see some leadership both in the White House and in individual cities, district attorneys that are willing to hold police accountable when they're wrong but are willing to support them when they're right we're going to continue to speak up not only with increasing levels of violent crime but increasing numbers of assaults and the killing of law enforcement officers,' Johnson said. Biden visited New York City on Thursday after thousands turned out to mourn NYPD officer Wilbert Mora, 27, who was slain responding to a call in Harlem last month. His partner, Detective Jason Rivera, 22, was also killed in the shooting, 14 months after he joined the department. 'The answer is not to abandon our streets,' Biden said, amid an increase in shootings nationwide, and days after two emotional funerals for slain New York City police officers. 'That's not the answer. The answer is to come together, police and communities building trust and make us all safer. The answer is not to defund the police. It's to give you the tools the training the funding to be partners, to be protectors,' he said Biden spoke with family members of slain NYPD Officers Wilbert Mora and Jason Rivera in advance of his trip 'to express his heartfelt condolences for their loss,' according to the White House. He also met Thursday with NYPD Officer Sumit Sulan, the third officer who responded to the domestic violence call. Also attending was Attorney Gen. Merrick Garland. 'As I close I want to note, as in times of crises, both large and small the American people look to law enforcement every day like the heroes who are with us today,' Garland said in his own remarks. Former NSW premier Bob Carr has doubled down on his claim that Peter Dutton called the Prime Minister an 'absolute psycho'. Mr Carr alleged in a tweet on Sunday night that it was the defence minister who shared the text exchange with then NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian during the 2019-20 bushfire crisis. Mr Dutton angrily denied the claim, saying it was 'baseless, untrue and should be deleted.' Former NSW premier Bob Carr (pictured with wife Helena last year) has doubled down on his claim that Peter Dutton called the Prime Minister an 'absolute psycho' Peter Dutton has denied he's was the minister who leaked text messages attacking the PM On Monday morning Mr Carr refused to remove the tweet and wrote: 'Only one way Peter Dutton can win his case: get another colleague to admit that they were the source for comments about the Prime Minister. 'If not you, Mr Dutton, which of your colleagues? Until then who has most to gain from undermining further a flailing PM?' Mr Dutton has long held ambitions to become prime minister and lost to Mr Morrison in the Liberal leadership spill in August 2018. There has been speculation that some MPs are unhappy with the Prime Minister's leadership after the Government last week recorded its worst opinion poll since 2018, putting Labor on track for a comfortable election victory in May. 'The minister who shared the text with (Network Ten's Peter) van Onselen and gave permission to use it was Peter Dutton,' Mr Carr posted on Twitter on Sunday night. 'If PM Morrison has one more week in free fall the prospect of a leadership change pre-election is real. Party rules don't count if most MPs think you will lead them to defeat.' Mr Dutton responded soon after with his own tweet to strongly reject Mr Carr's claim. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg came to Mr Dutton's defence, telling Sky News: 'Well Bob Carr was a waste of space as a Foreign Minister and now he suffers from a bad bout of relevance deprivation syndrome. 'When he was in parliament, he was described by his own colleagues as a narcissist, as self-indulgent, we've seen that again today.' It comes as federal MPs converge on Canberra for one of the last sitting weeks before an expected federal election in May. According to Ten, Ms Berejiklian labelled the prime minister a 'horrible, horrible person' who was 'actively spreading lies' during the text exchange with an unnamed cabinet minister. 'Lives are at stake today and he's just obsessed with petty political point scoring,' she reportedly said in the texts exchanged during the Black Summer bushfires. The unnamed minister called Mr Morrison a 'complete psycho' and also described him as 'desperate and jealous'. 'The mob have worked him out and think he's a fraud.' Former Nationals leader Michael McCormack said Mr Carr was just second-guessing. 'I appreciate Peter Dutton's denied doing it. Let's leave it at that,' he told the Nine Network. Mr Morrison on Sunday shrugged off the text messages. 'What people send around in texts, I, frankly, could not care less about,' Mr Morrison told reporters in Sydney after attending an 'I4Give' service at the King's School Chapel. 'And frankly, Australians are far more interested in their jobs and their lives than what people are sending in text messages to each other.' With AAP Do you remember Britains dash for diesel? It began more than 20 years ago when the then Chancellor, Gordon Brown, announced a new car tax system favouring vehicles with lower emissions of carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. Diesel cars tend to be more fuel-efficient with lower emissions, and Mr Brown hailed them as the greener and cheaper option. Over a decade and a half, the number of such vehicles on British roads quadrupled. What didnt emerge until much later although it was no secret in the motor industry or among government officials was that diesel cars also emitted greater quantities of other pollutants, nitrogen oxides and particulates that damage air quality and human health. Today, diesel is a dirty word and many countries penalise drivers with extra congestion charges and vehicle duty. It began more than 20 years ago when the then Chancellor, Gordon Brown, announced a new car tax system favouring vehicles with lower emissions of carbon dioxide Such particulates, which have been linked to respiratory problems, heart disease and lung cancer, have been responsible for thousands of premature deaths. Britain wasnt alone, of course. In their desire to be seen as ever greener, governments of richer countries were all pursuing the same policies on car tax, or cutting duty on diesel fuel. Today, diesel is a dirty word and many countries penalise drivers with extra congestion charges and vehicle duty. I was reminded of this by the recent warning from the Environment Secretary, George Eustice, on the polluting particles produced by battery-powered vehicles. Not from exhaust emissions, but from brake linings, tyres and road surfaces, because such vehicles are much heavier owing to the presence of the battery. No doubt others experienced a similar sense of deja vu. For in an effort to signal climate leadership, No 10 is racing to end the dominance of petrol and diesel-powered cars. Indeed, it is banning the sale of new fossil-fuel vehicles from 2030. Just as it once extolled the benefits of diesel, we are told now that electric cars are the future and a crucial fix for climate change. What it fails to tell us, however, is that electric cars are not the answer for many people, for a host of practical reasons. These include their upfront cost, limited range, the time it takes to charge batteries, the new infrastructure needed for charging points and the extra power required to supply them. Even more alarmingly, a report in the journal Nature suggests that because electric cars are heavier than other vehicles, they will likely kill more occupants of other vehicles in traffic accidents. Just last week, a report by the Commons Transport Committee found that taxpayers face an eye-watering 35 billion bill to plug the gap created by the switch to electric cars. Pictured George Eustice As for climate change, electric cars will do little to arrest it. So for now, at least, they are one of the least effective and most expensive ways to cut carbon and economically they are a bad bet. Just last week, a report by the Commons Transport Committee found that taxpayers face an eye-watering 35 billion bill to plug the gap created by the switch to electric cars. At present, owners of such cars pay neither fuel duty, which nets 28 billion every year, nor vehicle exercise duty, which brings in 7 billion. The revenue is spent on schools, hospitals and other priorities such as the police, as well as fixing roads. And not only do they reduce government revenue, they also demand costly subsidies. In Germany, the subsidy is above 10,000 (8,460) for a fully electric car, but that still drives only one sale in eight. Norway leads the global race, with electric cars accounting for 65 per cent of new sales, but it takes a ludicrous amount of government cash to achieve this. It includes savings of $29,000 (21,400) on average per car in sales and registration tax, and $11,000 (8,100) on road tolls. Who is buying the cars is another concern. A study by the U.S. National Bureau of Economic Research suggests that almost all electric car subsidies go to the wealthiest 20 per cent, for whom the purchase of an extra car is no great sacrifice. In addition, 90 per cent of electric car owners also have a fossil-fuel vehicle they use for longer journeys. As for charging, for many owners this is simply a question of fitting a point in their driveway. But 40 per cent of UK households dont have access to off-street parking. According to some estimates, the global cost of building the infrastructure needed is $6 trillion (4.4 trillion). According to one authoritative study, even by 2050 electric cars will make up just 20 per cent of global car travel. And what of the huge increase in power production needed to charge millions of electric cars? Climate policy is already adding more than 10 billion annually to Britains electricity costs, as inefficient renewables continue to need support. If the extra power required for charging the cars is generated from fossil fuels to keep electricity costs down, much of the environmental gain would be lost. In time, better technology will make batteries cheaper and electric cars will become more economical. But concerns over range and recharging will be much more difficult to rectify. The truth is that most people invest in cars because they give them mobility. They dont want to be stuck with a flat battery or endure forced stops to top it up. All of the above is why many people are reluctant to embrace electric vehicles, even with huge bribes. According to one authoritative study, even by 2050 electric cars will make up just 20 per cent of global car travel. But perhaps none of that matters if electric cars will save the planet? And they will, wont they? Er, no. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that if every nation achieves their ambitious targets on increasing electric car ownership, it will reduce CO2 emissions in this decade by 235 million tons. That, according to the UN Climate Panels standard model, will reduce global temperatures by about one ten-thousandth of a degree Celsius (0.0001c) by the end of the century. As for charging, for many owners this is simply a question of fitting a point in their driveway. But 40 per cent of UK households dont have access to off-street parking Such modest climate benefits dont make up for the additional downsides of electric vehicles, which include the harsh environmental and social costs that come with mining rare metals needed for batteries. So what should politicians be doing? For a start, they could stop showering subsidies on electric cars and focus on smarter solutions. The IEA found that hybrid cars save about the same amount of CO2 as electric cars over their lifetime. Moreover, they are already competitive with petrol cars price-wise even without subsidies and, crucially, they dont have most of the electric car downsides outlined above. It is also possible there will be a place for hydrogen-powered vehicles in a greener future, too. Finally, we need to realise that climate change doesnt care about where the emissions come from. Personal cars account for just 7 per cent of global emissions. We should be targeting bigger emitters of CO2 such as industry, agriculture and electricity production, and specifically we should fund much greater investment into green energy innovation. If science could make green energy cheaper than fossil fuels in these areas, that would be a game-changer. Then everyone, not only virtue-signalling elites, would be able to reduce their carbon footprint substantially. n Bjorn Lomborg is president of the Copenhagen Consensus Center and visiting fellow at Stanford Universitys Hoover Institution. His latest book is False Alarm: How Climate Change Panic Costs Us Trillions, Hurts The Poor, And Fails To Fix The Planet. CHONGQING, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- With hands maneuvering two joysticks and keen eyes looking for perfect spot, 32-year-old Zheng Yushuang felt much release when he pressed the button and deployed a giant claw right on his target. Although the near-daily scene was nothing different from a game-binging child controlling a claw machine, what Zheng needs to grab was not a toy, but a 30-tonne container for China-Europe freight trains. Zheng's "game room" only covers 2 square meters and lies about 16 meters above the ground. He needs to climb six spiral staircases to get into the place, and sometimes he has to do this amid the blowing wind and fierce rain in mid-air. As tough as it may sound, Zheng has been the "MVP" in this "game" since he came to Tuanjiecun Station, the starting point of China-Europe freight train routes in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality in 2010. Sitting there for about eight hours a day, Zheng can load over 2,000 containers every month and always ranks top among all the station's crane drivers. For one container, he only needs 1.8 minutes to complete loading, while others need two to three minutes. "Practice makes perfect," said Zheng. "I participated in a six-month-long training course in Dalian (a northeastern Chinese city), before I can operate the crane on my own," he added. "As the number of containers for China-Europe freight trains spiked over the years, I have become more and more skilled in operating the equipment." Zheng used to feel bored sitting in the small room because there were not many goods for China-Europe freight trains to load back then. The turning point came around 2017. In 2017, the workload had a four-fold increase from 60 containers a day to more than 250 containers. Once, he loaded 350 containers in just one night. Zheng also bore witness to great changes in the varieties of the loaded cargo. In the beginning, exports were mainly printers, laptops and other electronics, but now more toys, clothes, milk powder, and other varieties are stacked in the heavy containers. After the COVID-19 outbreak, many containers carrying life-saving medical supplies, such as facial masks and surgical gloves, were sent to far-flung cities like Poland's Malaszewicze, Germany's Duisburg, Spain's Madrid, and France's Paris. China-Europe freight trains have reinforced the once fragile supply chains in some Eurasian countries and bailed out businesses in both China and Europe, serving as an indispensable lifeline. In 2021, Chongqing and the neighboring Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, saw more than 4,800 trips of China-Europe freight trains, accounting for about one-third of China's total. Over 400,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of cargo were transported via the cross-border service from Chongqing and Chengdu to more than 100 European cities. Zheng feels proud to make his own contribution. "Knowing that the goods will be sent to Europe, I find my job meaningful and feel content," he said. At least 13 people have died and 34 others were injured when a bus rammed into a cliff in Indonesia's Yogyakarta province. Bantul regency police chief Ihsan told reporters the bus had been going down a steep ramp about 2pm on Sunday when the driver lost control of the vehicle. Citing survivors' witness accounts, Ihsan said the driver seemed to panic and was continuously shifting gear to reduce speed. At least 13 people have died and 34 others were injured when a bus rammed into a cliff in Indonesia's Yogyakarta province 'So there is an indication that the brake was not functioning,' he added. According to police, the driver was among those killed. The bus had been carrying a group of people on a company outing from Sukoharjo, Central Java, and appeared to be heading down to Parangtritis Beach, police said. Australia's international border could soon reopen to tourists, with federal cabinet set to consider a date for foreign travellers to return to the country. Federal cabinet's national security committee will meet later on Monday when the reopening time frame for international tourists will be discussed. Prime Minister Scott Morrison indicated on Sunday he hoped the reopening date would be soon, given the success of partial openings of the international border to students, skilled workers and backpackers. Since the international border reopened late last year, only Australian citizens, permanent residents and their families, along with skilled migrants and students have been able to enter, provided they were fully vaccinated. Prime Minister Scott Morrison indicated on Sunday he hoped the reopening date would be soon. Pictured: Brisbane life during the Omicron COVID-19 variant wave Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said tourists would be the next step in the reopening timeline. 'We will consider that today. Health professionals have been looking at the border restrictions, with respect to tourists in the context of a rising vaccination rate and the rolling out of our booster program,' he told the Nine Network on Monday. 'Now our vaccination rate is higher, we have been changing our border policies.' Calls to reopen the borders to tourists comes as Omicron cases across the country appear to have plateaued, despite still high numbers of deaths. Former deputy chief medical officer Dr Nick Coatsworth said the timing was right for the border reopening to expand to tourists. Former deputy chief medical officer Dr Nick Coatsworth (pictured) said the timing was right for the border reopening to expand to tourists 'It's a really important sign for Australians that things are back on the path to normality,' he told the Nine Network. 'The fact that we're going to have people coming into the country, students and tourists who have been vaccinated, that's a safe policy and the right time to do it.' Dr Coatsworth said the high vaccination rates across the country meant it was safe to let tourists back into Australia. 'We can safely open borders to people who have had the primary course,' he said. The news of a potential imminent reopening for travellers has been welcomed by the tourism sector, which has been hit hard by the pandemic and border closures. Chief executive of the Tourism and Transport Forum Margy Osmond said she would like to see the reopening date as soon as possible. An international student wears a hazmat suit as she arrives at Sydney Airport 'This will be driven by what government is comfortable with, but we do need a date so we've got a little bit of notice to start gearing things up,' she told ABC TV. 'We'd like a couple of weeks at least, and the most important thing here is to understand that this is a staged process.' Meanwhile, Mr Frydenberg has announced the government will provide tax breaks for businesses and individuals who need to use rapid antigen tests for work purposes. He told an Australian Industry Group function COVID-19 testing expenses would be tax deductible for testing taken to attend a place of work. 'We will also ensure that fringe benefits tax will not be incurred by employers where COVID-19 tests are provided to employees for this purpose,' he added. On Monday, 14 COVID-19 deaths were reported in NSW and seven fatalities in Victoria. The latest case numbers showed there were 7347 new infections in NSW and 8275 in Victoria. Parking fines will be slashed from 100 to 50 as part of a long-awaited crackdown on cowboy private firms. Under a Parking Code of Practice being unveiled by ministers today, ruthless wardens will also be forced to give drivers a ten-minute grace period for overstaying their ticket. A simpler and fairer independent appeals process will be created to give more motorists the benefit of the doubt in cases involving honest mistakes or situations outside of their control. These will include where drivers accidentally key in a wrong digit when typing their number plate into ticket machines, not displaying their valid ticket correctly or overstaying due to breaking down. A simpler and fairer independent appeals process will be created to give more motorists the benefit of the doubt in cases involving honest mistakes or situations outside of their control What's in the charter? Simpler and fairer independent appeals process. Appeals charter to better spell out motorists rights. Parking debt collectors banned from adding additional excess fees. Compulsory ten-minute grace period before firms can issue a late fine. Slashing fines in half to 50 for most contraventions. Current 100 cap on fines retained only for severe violations, such as abusing Blue Badge bays or if a motorist trespasses on private land. Compulsory five-minute cooling-off period for motorists to consider the terms and conditions and change their mind about parking. Crackdown on parking firms using aggressive or pseudo-legal language to intimidate motorists into paying fines. Requirement for parking firms to clearly display pricing and terms and conditions of parking, contact details and how to appeal a charge. Charges brought into line with fines levied by councils for publicly accessible car parks. Advertisement An appeals charter will also be established to spell out motorists rights more clearly. There is currently no single set of codified rules, meaning drivers can easily fall prey to bad practices such as deliberately poor signage. As it stands, two trade bodies, the British Parking Association and the International Parking Community, each have their own codes which member operators are supposed to follow. Pricing, terms and conditions will have to be displayed more clearly in car parks. Under the new national Code, additional rip-off fees, as much as 70, charged by debt collectors who hound motorists for unpaid disputed fines will also be outlawed. Rogue parking firms which flout the new Code will face being banned from operating. The wide-sweeping reforms will shift the balance of power more towards motorists, who have long complained of ruthless and underhand tactics by some cowboy firms. The changes apply only to car parks run by private firms, bringing them more into line with fines levied by councils. The overhaul is a victory for the Daily Mail, which has long highlighted the bumper profits made by many private parking firms. Demands from fines have surged over the last decade, from a total of 1million in 2009-10 to 8.4million in 2019-20. The number of firms cashing in has also grown by two-thirds over the last five years, from 97 to 163. However, motorists still have to wait until the end of next year for the new measures to be implemented. But motoring groups have hailed the announcement. Ministers also thanked the Mail for repeatedly highlighting the issue. Minister for Levelling Up Neil OBrien, who will unveil the reforms later today, said: For too long, a simple trip to the local high street to meet family or visit a favourite cafe has resulted in painful fines for millions of motorists, often from cowboy parking firms. Were putting an end to this. Mail readers can be rest assured they will have a clearer, fairer system to challenge unjust fines and firms that are pursuing them aggressively. I want to thank the Daily Mail for advocating tirelessly on behalf of our nations motorists we have heeded the call. The RACs roads policy chief Nicholas Lyes said the changes would usher in higher standards. And Edmund King, president of the AA, added it meant the days of drivers falling prey to rogue practices are numbered. The changes will apply to Wales, Scotland and England. A 50 per cent discount if the ticket is paid within 14 days will still apply, meaning motorists will only have to pay 25 for most contraventions. But the British Parking Association has been campaigning against the reforms, arguing the current 100 cap should be raised to 120. It sparked fury last month by claiming that fines of 50, discounted to 25 if paid promptly, would be seen as a bargain compared to the price of parking and that drivers may opt for a fine instead. A campaign urging victims of sexual and domestic abuse to come forward for NHS care has been backed by the Duchess of Cornwall. Camilla, who has long championed the work of rape support organisations, will visit a centre this week to meet survivors. NHS England has announced a three-year, 20million funding boost for sexual assault referral centres (Sarcs), which offer support to all victims of rape, sexual assault and abuse regardless of when the incident happened or whether they want to involve the police. The services available can include medical examinations, emergency contraception and testing for sexually transmitted infections, as well as referrals for mental health support. A survey of more than 4,100 people found two in five are not sure or do not know where they would get help after a sexual assault, with 72 per cent unaware of specialist NHS services providing confidential support. Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, (pictured) - who has long championed the work of rape support organisations - will visit a centre this week to meet survivors Camilla (pictured) has made the issue of sexual and domestic abuse against women a cornerstone of her public work since her early days as a member of the Royal Family Nearly one in five said they had experienced sexual assault, but more than half did not seek support afterwards, with 46 per cent fearing they would not be believed. Kate Davies, NHS director of sexual assault services commissioning, said: Sexual assault or domestic abuse can happen to anyone. Sadly, thousands of people arent sure where to turn to get the help they need. Today the NHS is making it clear you can turn to us. We provide confidential emotional, medical or practical support at our sexual assault referral centres, a dedicated safe space for anyone who needs it. We know it can take a lot to pick up the phone and take that first step we are here at any time of day or night, and we will support you through the whole process. On the first day of Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week today, the NHS will announce it is creating two officials to oversee sexual and domestic abuse. Despite official figures showing that domestic abuse and sexual assault increased during the pandemic, NHS England said the number of people receiving help from Sarcs halved after the first lockdown compared with 2019. The centres have forensic medical examination facilities, should someone wish to report an assault to the police. They can also arrange an informal conversation with a specially trained police officer. Laura Currer, chairman of the national NHS England sexual abuse and assault services lived experience group, was 28 when she was spiked [injected with drugs] on a night out with friends in Newcastle in 2015 and sexually assaulted. She said: I know from experience how hard it can be to seek help, but I will never forget the kind, caring and compassionate staff at Sarcs who were there to hold my hand during one of the worst moments of my life. NHS England has announced a three-year, 20million funding boost for sexual assault referral centres (Sarcs), which offer support to all victims of rape, sexual assault and abuse regardless of when the incident happened or whether they want to involve the police. Pictured: File image They explained the whole process, and gave me the space and autonomy over my body that my attackers had taken away. Ill be forever grateful. Camilla has made the issue of sexual and domestic abuse against women a cornerstone of her public work since her early days as a member of the Royal Family. She even devised an initiative to provide rape victims with free wash bags to use after invasive forensic examinations. Writing in the Womens Institute magazine in November, Camilla made an impassioned call for the retreat of domestic abuse forever, and highlighted that two women are killed every week by a current or former partner in England and Wales. The campaign has also been backed by former prime minister Theresa May, who said: It is important for victims of sexual assault and abuse to know the NHS is there for them. Cleo Smith's parents have revealed they plan to travel around Australia with their daughters after reportedly being paid more than $2million to share their family's story. Ellie Smith and Jake Gliddon opened up for the first time about their four-year-old's horrific 18-day abduction from a Western Australian camping ground in an exclusive interview with 60 Minutes on Sunday night. The network secured the rights to the blockbuster tell-all for the record-breaking six-figure sum after a bidding war with Channel Seven. Cleo made global headlines when she was miraculously found alive inside a house in Carnavon on November 3, just seven kilometres away from her family home. Ellie Smith and Jake Gliddon shared their family's story for the first time in a $2million interview with 60 Minutes that aired on Sunday night (pictured) After revealing a series of fresh details about the crime that shocked the world, Ms Smith and Mr Gliddon announced they intend to move away from their small country town, around 900km north of Perth, to give their family a fresh start. The couple said they are going to buy a caravan travel around their state, gradually making their way to other parts of the country once Western Australia reopens to the rest of the nation. 'We are going to tour WA as much as we can, because we can't cross the border,' Ms Smith said,'[But] we want to do all of Australia.' Mr Gliddon added: 'Find somewhere to have a new start.' Although their love of camping has not deflated, the pair said they will never be able to return to the Blowholes campsite, where they holidayed as kids, as it will always serve as a reminder of their daughter's abduction from their family tent. Their cross-road adventure, which is about 'making new memories', will also be subject to ramped up security measures. '[The caravan] is going to have locks and, my gosh, everything!' Ms Smith said reminiscing on the family's nightmare. The couple said they plan to travel Australia with their daughters (pictured together) and find a new place to make a 'fresh start' after their harrowing 18-day abduction nightmare The parents said they intend to make a fresh start somewhere new after embarking on a cross-country adventure with their two kids to make new memories Terence Darrell Kelly, 36, has pleaded guilty to abducting Cleo from the remote campsite, 73km north of Carnavon, while the toddler slept next to her six-month-old sister Isla and parents. On Sunday, Ms Smith and Mr Gliddon revealed they noticed an immediate change in their daughter after she returned home from her traumatic ordeal. Watching her sing and dance around the living room, the couple said she still had her typical spark but they could tell their daughter's life would never be the same again. 'That was such a beautiful moment just to see her as the old Cleo, but you could still see, for us ... she's still different and she always will be and that's just our life now,' Ms Smith said. 'As a parent, you want to ... make sure that they stay as a child for as long as they can because you don't want them to be in this big, bad world, and she lost that, that was taken from her.' The record-breaking deal sparked controversy, with WA Police - who are still in the process of prosecuting Kelly - describing the TV special as 'highly inappropriate' and refusing to take part. However, at the end of the segment, veteran reporter Tara Brown hinted it would not be the last time the family will speak out about story, saying: 'We'll be able to share more in the future'. The bombshell interview was followed up with subsequent interviews with Nine-owned media outlets - 6PR, 2GB, and the Today show - on Monday morning. Cleo's disappearance sparked a desperate 18-day manhunt before the little girl was found inside the house of local man, Terence Darrell Kelly, 36, on November 3 Ms Smith said when she arrived at the hospital to be reunited with her daughter (pictured), she noticed immediately the four-year-old's blonde hair had been cut and dyed Other shocking revelations included the parents disclosing police believe the crime was opportunistic and Kelly selected Cleo at random after noticing her small pink bike parked outside the family's tent. Ms Smith also revealed they had woken at 6am to discover not only their daughters' side of the tent unzipped and Cleo missing - but the door closest to them was open too. After an agonising 18-day search for their daughter, the parents received a call from police at 1am on the morning of November 3 to announce they had rescued their toddler - safe and well- from a local home. The parents, who were kept in the dark about the covert police operation, rushed to hospital where they were reunited with their eldest child - and discovered her blonde hair had been cut short and dyed pink. While they have notice a change in their child, the resilient little girl remains upbeat and seems to be coping 'ok' despite the traumatic incident, although she suffered several newfound fears in the weeks after being recovered. However, details about Cleo's time in captivity remain sketchy, with her parents refraining from pushing her to speak about it to prevent the toddler from 'reliving' her experience. Kelly is yet to answer other charges and is expected to face Perth District Court on March 25. Senator Marco Rubio trashed Congress' committee to investigate the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021 in an interview on Sunday, decrying its turn toward rank partisanship. Rubio, speaking on CBS' Face the Nation, said that the panel has gone beyond representing people like him, Republicans who want anyone involved with the events of that day imprisoned. 'That commission is a scam,' Rubio said. 'I think it's a complete partisan scam. And I think anyone who committed a crime on January 6 should be prosecuted and if convicted, put in jail,' 'I do not believe that we need a congressional committee to harass Americans that weren't even in Washington on January 6, that were not in favor of what happened on that day, have condemned what happened on that day, but they want to smear them anyway,' he added. Rubio believes that the panel's goal - despite the inclusion of Never Trump Republican Representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger - is to bother anyone connected to the GOP. 'The purpose of that commission is to try to embarrass and smear and harass as many Republicans as they can get their hands on,' he said. Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida lambasted the House committee examining the January 6 riots in an interview on Face the Nation Sunday The committee has interviewed nearly 500 witnesses and been given access to over 60,000 pages of records. Cheney and Kinzinger were some of the only Republicans in favor of the commission and the RNC censured the two of them Friday. The censure rebuked the representatives of Wyoming and Illinois for 'participating in a Democrat-led persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse.' Over 700 people have been charged by the Department of Justice for alleged criminal actions in the riot. Rubio still maintains, however, that those who committed crimes on January 6 should be charged. U.S. House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol members Vice-chairperson U.S. Representative U.S. Representative Liz Cheney (R-WY) and U.S. Representative Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), the lone Republicans in favor of the committee Cheney and Kinzinger, who were censured for their participation in the committee, sit next to Chairman Bennie Thompson Trump supporters near the US Capitol following a 'Stop the Steal' rally on January 06, 2021 'If you entered the Capitol and you committed acts of violence and you were there to hurt people, you should be prosecuted and they are being prosecuted,' he said. 'But the January 6 commission is not the place to do this.' The Florida Senator told CBS that he did agree with Mike Pence's remarks Friday, in which he rebuked Trump for saying the ex-vice president had the authority to overturn the election results in 2020. 'If President Trump runs for reelection, I believe he would defeat Joe Biden, and I don't want Kamala Harris to have the power as vice president to overturn that election, and that's the same thing that I concluded back in January of 2021,' Rubio said. 'You know, when that issue was raised, I looked at it, had analyzed it and came to the same conclusion that vice presidents can't simply decide not to certify an election.' Former President Trump lashed out at his vice president for saying he had 'no right' to overturn Biden's 2020 win, claiming he is 'right and everyone knows it.' Trump, 75, bashed Mike Pence, 62, in another political row over the 2020 election results, calling the former VP an 'automatic conveyor belt for the Old Crow Mitch McConnell.' 'Just saw Mike Pence's statement on the fact that he had no right to do anything with respect to the Electoral Vote Count, other than being an automatic conveyor belt for the Old Crow Mitch McConnell to get Biden elected President as quickly as possible,' Trump wrote in a statement. McConnell has recently denounced Trump's plan to pardon or shorten the sentences of the January 6 rioters. The President continued: 'Well, the Vice President's position is not an automatic conveyor if obvious signs of voter fraud or irregularities exist. I was right and everyone knows it. If there is fraud or large-scale irregularities, it would have been appropriate to send those votes back to the legislatures to figure it out. 'A great opportunity lost, but not forever, in the meantime our Country is going to hell!' Former President Donald Trump, 75, attacked his former VP Mike Pence, 62, for saying he had 'no right' to overturn Biden's 2020 presidential win He claimed he was 'right and everyone knows it' in a statement on Friday and claimed Pence was a 'conveyor belt for the Old Crow Mitch McConnell' when he didn't intercept the electoral college vote Trump continues to insist that Pence could have overturned the election, despite the vice president's presiding over the certification of the vote is largely ceremonial. The Constitution does give the VP the power to overturn the results. Lawmakers are trying to change the Electoral Count Act to clarify the language, but Trump claimed in his statement 'that's why the Democrats and RINOs [Republicans in Name Only] are working feverishly together to change the very law that Mike Pence and his unwitting advisors used on January 6 to say he had no choice.' 'The reason they want it changed is because they now say they don't want the Vice President to have the right to ensure an honest vote,' he said. 'I had no right to overturn the election,' former Vice President Mike Pence said in a speech Friday, where he said former President Donald Trump was 'wrong' in his assessment Earlier, Pence delivered his most direct and public rebuke of Trump on Friday saying he had 'no right' to overturn the 2020 election as Trump demanded. Pence made the statement in a defiant speech to the Federalist Society in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. He directly took on Trump's claim which the president voiced in an extraordinary statement Sunday that Pence had the authority to 'overturn' the election. 'But there are those in our party who believe that as the presiding officer of the Joint Session of Congress, that I possessed unilateral authority to reject Electoral College votes,' Pence said, speaking to his own constitutional role overseeing the vote count on Jan. 6th, 2020. 'And I heard this week that President Trump said I had the right to overturn the election. President Trump is wrong,' Pence said. 'I had no right to overturn the election. The presidency belongs to the American people and the American people alone.' Pence was speaking in lay terms to make the same point he made on January 6th, 2020, when he put out a detailed letter to lawmakers explaining why he did not have the authority Trump claimed, and that any such 'unilateral' authority would be 'antithetical' to the balance of powers envisioned by the Founders. The parents of a schoolboy who died in Tasmania's jumping castle tragedy were told their son was 'fine' in the aftermath of the accident, only to discover he had been rushed to hospital with strangers while his family were just down the road. Peter Dodt and seven of his classmates were celebrating their last day at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport, in the state's north, at about 10am on December 17 when a freak gust of wind hit the bouncing house they were playing in. The 12-year-old was blown 10 metres in the air, along with Zane Mellor, 12, Jye Sheehan, 12, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, 12, Addison Stewart, 11, and Chace Hamilton, 11 - who all sadly died in the disaster. Beau Medcraft and Declean Brown, both 12, miraculously survived. Weeks after the accident, Peter's devastated mother Miranda McLaughlin discovered her hero son spent his final moments trying to save the lives of his schoolmates. She told Daily Mail Australia how, in the confusion, the school had told her Peter was fine - and even urged her to collect him from campus - leaving him to go to hospital alone. Peter Dodt (pictured) was 12 when he fell 10 metres from a jumping castle with seven of his classmates Peter's sister Chloe (pictured back, second right) went to school to collect him before the family knew he was injured His parents, who had no idea of the tragedy that had unfolded, were just down the road at the time. 'Both Andrew and I were only five minutes away from the school when it all happened - if I'd been told anything, we would have been there,' his mother told Daily Mail Australia. 'I could have had that time with my boy, but instead we were kept away while a stranger held his hand.' The schoolboy was airlifted to hospital with a shattered pelvis, severe head trauma, and bleeding lungs - but his situation was so severe that doctors couldn't stabilise him for long enough to give him an MRI. Despite his catastrophic injuries, Ms McLaughlin said she only found out about the disaster on social media. 'I saw some posts on Facebook saying there was an accident, and there was a message from the school telling parents to pick their kids up as soon as possible,' she said. The 41-year-old then phoned the school at 11.15am - more than an hour after the accident - and told them who her son was. 'They told me to come and collect him as soon as possible,' she recalled. Peter Dodt is pictured with his mother, Miranda McLaughlin. Closed borders had kept the pair apart until just days before the tragedy Victims pictured, left to right: Zane Mellor, Peter Dodt, Addison Stewart, Jye Sheehan, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones and Chace Harrison Peter is pictured centre with his mum Miranda, and siblings Cassie (right), Chloe (left) and Dylan 'I asked the school if he was okay and they said: "Yes you need to come and get him as soon as possible because there's been an accident".' Ms McLaughlin had no idea how serious the incident was, so she and Peter's father Andrew Dodt decided to send their 16-year-old daughter Chloe with the children's grandmother to pick him up. When the teenager arrived, she realised the situation was dire but had no idea her little brother was one of the victims. He had even been the young hero who tried to save his classmates. 'When the castle lifted, Peter started screaming at people to get off,' his mother explained. 'He was mister responsible.' Peter's parents were furious because they weren't told he had been taken to hospital. Peter is pictured in the middle in the front row with his siblings and Miranda Peter Dodt (pictured), 12, lived in Devonport, Tasmania, with his dad Andrew and his sisters before his life was tragically cut short Police wouldn't give his sister Chloe any information when she got to the school, so her father arrived and pushed past the police barrier at the school and found out his 12-year-old had been taken to hospital. 'When I found out I thought, "he's tough - he'll be right and he'll wake up. I've seen him fall over and get back up again like it was nothing",' his mother said. Ms McLaughlin said she was initially told Peter was unconscious from the moment he hit the ground, but she later found out he was awake while he was transported to hospital - surrounded by strangers. He was so scared that he bit a health worker on the arm to stop them from touching his broken body. 'He wasn't a violent boy at all - he was just so distraught at having people around him that he didn't know,' his mother explained. Peter is pictured with his father Andrew and his sisters, Chloe (pictured right) and Cassie (pictured left) Peter's father Andrew attended the 12-year-old's funeral alongside a row of guests riding motorcycles Doctors tried to transport Peter from a hospital in Launceston to Royal Hobart via helicopter, but he started crashing on the flight so they turned around and brought him back. The surgical team immediately opened him up to find the source of the bleed, but the blood in his lungs was blocking oxygen. About 40 minutes later, his parents and Peter's grandmother were called into a room and given the tragic news. Ms McLaughlin said the Tasmanian Department of Education apologised to victims' parents who were not told that their children were injured. Peter Dodt tried to save the lives of his classmates before he fell 10 metre in a jumping castle tragedy Peter is pictured (right) with his dad Andrew and his sisters Chloe and Cassie a few years ago In an email seen by Daily Mail Australia, a member of the department said he 'could not imagine' how distressing it must have been not to know their son was critically injured. Daily Mail Australia has contacted the department for comment. Ms McLaughlin previously explained that she hadn't seen Peter or her daughters Cassie and Chloe since last Christmas because they live with their father Andrew in Tasmania and state borders kept closing. Peter's father and a handful of other guests left the funeral on their bikes after the funeral service Peter's mother Miranda (pictured) is embraced by another guest as she mourns the loss of her son Grieving loved ones comforted each other as they slowly trickled out of the chapel after releasing dozens of balloons When restrictions finally eased in December, the mother-of-nine said she and her toddler Dylan jumped on a plane to Devonport the week before the tragedy. 'Peter was full of life, always making people smile with his antics. His heart was bigger than the world,' she said. 'Words cannot explain what a beautiful soul he was or the loss we feel without him, forever in our hearts.' Canberrans will no longer have to check in using a QR code to every venue they visit, after the territory government scaled back requirements for its contact tracing app. Following a rise in COVID-19 cases in the national capital, and less reliance on contact tracing, the Check In CBR app will now only be required to be used at high-risk venues in Canberra. From Saturday, checking in using the app will only be required at bars and pubs, clubs, nightclubs, strip clubs and brothels, organised events that aren't ticketed as well as schools. Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said the changes were made due to an evolving COVID-19 response in the ACT. Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith (pictured) said the changes were made due to an evolving COVID-19 response in the ACT 'We're in a new phase of our pandemic response and using the Check In CBR app differently will support those most at risk of exposure, while reducing the requirements placed on other businesses, venues and customers,' she said. 'These changes mean we're still able to monitor places where our public health team considers there is a high risk of COVID-19 transmission.' Businesses that aren't on the list of high-risk locations will now no longer be required to display a QR code for check in at their entrance. However, businesses will still be encouraged to display the codes for Canberrans who want to record where they check in during the pandemic. 'The app is currently being updated to enable automatic notification of users if they have been at a higher risk setting during a COVID-19 exposure,' Ms Stephen-Smith said. 'With the automated exposure notification function, Check In CBR will continue to be a critical tool in our efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19.' More than 1.3 million people have downloaded the app since it was first released in September 2020. A bootlace could be used to nail Levi Bellfield after the serial killer said he used it to tie Lin Russell's hands before bludgeoning her and daughter Megan to death - as police say a DNA test could confirm his claims. Michael Stone is currently serving three life sentences for the murders of Lin, 45, and Megan, six, in the picturesque village of Chillenden, Kent, 26 years ago. However, in a harrowing four-page statement, Bellfield formally confessed to the murders, providing chilling details of the attack. Solicitors for Stone, who was also convicted of the attempted murder of nine-year-old Josie Russell, say the 'astonishing breakthrough' could free their client. 'Fragments' of DNA were found on a bootlace which had been missing for 14 years until it was found in police storage, The Sun reports. The lace could match Bellfield and several other men, but scientists have not yet been able to establish a link, it is understood. In a harrowing four-page statement, convicted serial killer Levi Bellfield has formally confessed to the murders of Lin and Megan Russell, providing chilling details of the attack Lin Russell, 45, her two daughters, six-year-old Megan (above with her mother) and nine-year-old Josie, were tied up and savagely beaten with a hammer in the brutal attack in 1996 Levi Bellfield is currently serving life in prison for the murder of schoolgirl Millie Dowler The fight to find how killed the Russells: Bellfield and Stone's criminal careers - and how a bootlace could be the key to cracking the case Levi Bellfield: 1981: First conviction for burglary. 1990: Convicted of assaulting a police officer. October 14, 2001: Anna-Marie Rennie, 17, is attacked in Hospital Bridge Road, Witton, southwest London. She manages to escape but four years later identifies Bellfield as the man who tried to kidnap her. The jury fails to reach a verdict on a charge of false imprisonment and kidnapping. March 21 2002: Milly, 13, disappears while walking home from school in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. Her remains are found six months later 25 miles away. February 2003: Marsha McDonnell, 19, gets off a bus near her home in Hampton after a night out with friends, and is struck three times on the back of the head by Bellfield with a blunt object. May 2004: Kate Sheedy, 18, is left for dead after Bellfield runs her down in his car after she gets off a bus in Isleworth after spending the evening with friends. August 2004: Amelie Delagrange, 22, is battered to death by Bellfield after she gets off at the wrong bus stop and is attacked walking across Twickenham Green. She dies of head injuries. February 2008: Bellfield is convicted of the murders of Marsha and Amelie, and the attempted murder of Kate. March 2010: Bellfield is charged with killing Milly. May 2011: Bellfield goes on trial at the Old Bailey after he denies abducting and murdering Milly. June 2011: Bellfield yawns as he is found guilty of Milly's murder. The following day he refuses to attend court where he is jailed for life. Bellfield becomes the first person to receive two whole-life terms. February 2012: Bellfield loses a Court of Appeal bid to challenge his conviction for Milly's kidnap and murder. January 2016: Bellfield admits abducting, raping and killing schoolgirl Milly Dowler for the first time, Surrey Police say. 2017: Bellfield allegedly claimed he was behind the murders of Lin and Megan. He later retracted his confession and has never been charged. 2021: Bellfield issues a statement putting himself near the scene of the crimes - but denies murder. February 2022: Bellfield makes a formal confession to the murders of Lin and Megan Russell. Michael Stone's lawyer, Paul Bacon, says killer had confessed in a four-page statement, with details he claimed only the killer would know. This includes the claim he used a bootlace to tie Lin Russell's hands. 'Fragments' of DNA have been found on the bootlace, which had been missing for 14 years before being found in police storage. Michael Stone: 1981: Sentenced to two years' imprisonment for attacking a man with a hammer in a robbery. 1983: Stone received a four-and-a-half year sentence for stabbing a friend while he slept and later tried to wound a police officer in the eye after being arrested 1986: He is sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for two armed robberies in Maidstone, Kent and Brighton during the same week. 1993: Stone was released from prison. 1996: Mother and daughter Lin and Megan Russell are murdered along with the family dog as they walk home after a swimming gala around 4pm on Tuesday, July 9, 1996. 1997: Police arrest and charge 37 year-old Stone with murder. 1998: Michael Stone is found guilty of the murders and an attempted murder. 2001: Stone has a retrial after one of the prisoners withdrew the claim against him. But he is found guilty once more and sentenced to three life-sentences. 21 December 2006: A judge decided that Stone should spend at least 25 years in prison before being considered for parole. Advertisement Tests are currently being carried out on the bootlace, 99cm in length, which contains traces of blood from both murder victims. The evidence was found close to the bodies and it was originally claimed by prosecutors to have been consistent with being used as a tourniquet by a junkie. However, no forensic link was found between the lace and Stone, an ex-heroin addict, who would have used his teeth to fix the tourniquet. Stone's solicitor said he has received a 'genuine' four-page statement from Bellfield in which he details his involvement in the killings, which would mean his client had suffered a miscarriage of justice. Bellfield, 53, is currently serving a life sentence for the murder of schoolgirl Millie Dowler. He has also been convicted of murdering Marsha McDonnell and Amelie Delagrange and the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy, and will never be considered for parole. Bellfield is thought to be the only criminal in UK legal history to be serving two whole-life orders. He is being held in the vulnerable prisoners' unit within HMP Frankland in Durham - where Stone is on the main wing. Lin and her two daughters, Josie and Megan, as well as their dog Lucy, were tied up and savagely beaten with a hammer in the brutal attack. Only Josie survived, sustaining horrific injuries. Solicitor Paul Bacon said: 'I can say I have received a four-page statement from Bellfield, which is a genuine confession, it's an absolutely astonishing breakthrough. 'I will now meet with colleagues following this remarkable development to finally, after many years, get freedom for Michael Stone. This is the evidence that will prove he is innocent.' Michael Stone has consistently insisted his innocence, and Bellfield's statement could mean he has suffered a miscarriage of justice. Stone was jailed in 1998 after being convicted of the murders. However, his police record dates back to 1971 when he was 12 years old and continued into his adult life, serving three prison sentences in the 1980s and 1990s. Stone has previous convictions for crimes including ABH, robbery, burglary and GBH and was known to carry weapons. He was sentenced to two years' in prison in 1981 for attacking a man with a hammer during a robbery. He then received a four-and-a-half year sentence for stabbing a friend while he slept in 1983, an attack that penetrated the friend's lung and nearly killed him, and he tried to wound a police officer in the eye after this arrest. Stone was jailed for a third time and sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment for two armed robberies in Maidstone and Brighton respectively during the same week in 1986. He was released from prison in 1993. The confession document, seen by The Sun, goes into appalling detailing about how Bellfield brutally attacked the family and even killed the family dog after it bit him. Barrister Mark McDonald said on Twitter yesterday: 'For over 21 years I have represented Michael Stone who was wrongly convicted of the Chillenden murders. 'Levi Belfield has made a full written confession to the crimes. Michael Stone is innocent and must be immediately released from prison. 'Stone has been in prison for 26 years despite plenty of evidence that this is a miscarriage of justice.' Bellfield's statement says that he was wearing a 'pair of marigold washing up gloves' and had the hammer in his right hand as he stopped the Russell family walking along a lane. He claims that his intention was 'to just attack Lin', but quickly changed his mind on hearing the screams, presumably of Megan and Josie Russell. The 14-paragraph statement then goes into detail about how he led the Russell off of a track before killing them, and then driving back to his Twickenham home before heading off to work. He claims that the following day he threw the hammer he used to carry out the attacks into the Thames near Walton, Surrey. The publication reports that Bellfield made the statement to solicitor Paul Bacon, who represents Michael Stone. He ends the statement by saying it was the first time he had 'committed a crime and another person has been arrested for it', before apologising to Stone and the Russell family 'for my heinous acts'. It is believed the document has been sent to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) which has the power to investigate alleged miscarriages of justice. Last year, Mr McDonald said a bootlace found at the scene could be an 'absolutely huge' and crucial piece of evidence. Lawyers for Michael Stone (pictured), who is serving three life sentences for the murders of Mrs Russell and her six-year-old daughter Megan, claim he could be a victim of a miscarriage of justice Amelie Delagrange, 22, whose body was found Thursday August 19 2004, with a serious head injury lying on Twickenham Green, south west London Levi Bellfield's ex believes he did murder mother and daughter after 'confession' Levi Bellfield's ex-partner believes he did murder a mother and daughter following his alleged confession. Rebecca Wilkinson said she thinks the claims, which were made in a harrowing four-page statement, are true. The mother to Bellfield's four daughters told the Mirror: 'Yes, I believe it. 'I knew he would say it after his mum died.' She added: 'Its just unbelievable really. I think Im lucky to be alive.' The pair separated before the murders of Lin Russell, 45, and Megan, six, after going out for six years in the 1990s. Advertisement He said there is 'no forensic, no identification evidence at all' against Stone, and said the bootlace could yield DNA that would 'undoubtedly point away' from his client. Kent Police said its position on Stone's conviction remains unchanged. Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Fotheringham of Kent Police said: 'Following two trials at which Stone was found guilty by a jury on both occasions, and an appeal to the High Court, Michael Stone remains convicted of the murders of Lin and Megan Russell, and the attempted murder of Josie Russell in 1996. 'Michael Stone made an application to apply for a Judicial Review in respect of his conviction in September 2012. The Honourable Mr Justice Blake ordered that permission for the application should be refused. 'The Criminal Case Review Commission commenced an extensive re-examination of the murder investigation in 2017 and has had access to all forensic evidence, documentation and exhibits from the original investigation, the review by Hampshire Police, details of the two Crown Court trials and appeals to the High Court. 'The shoelace which was seized as part of the original investigation was made available to the CCRC. 'All evidence from the examinations on the shoelace were recorded and disclosed to the CCRC.' Conservative columnist Andrew Bolt has declared Scott Morrison 'looks finished' after he washed a woman's hair in a bizarre photo opportunity following a hellish week. The Sky News host, who has been critical of Mr Morrison in the past, described the PM's visit to a salon in south-east Melbourne where he massaged an apprentice's head as a 'sad stunt'. He urged Defence Minister Peter Dutton, who is favoured by conservatives, to 'get ready to lead,' writing in his Herald Sun column: 'Prime Minister Scott Morrison looks finished, and is now making a fool of himself to get some love.' Scott Morrison washed a woman's head on a visit to Coco's salon in Melbourne last week 'This bizarre photo-op showed not just that Morrison is desperate but out of ideas. It showed he has a dangerously thin skin, and is bleeding.' Mr Morrison's visit to the salon came after a horror week which started with a Newspoll which showed the Government trailing the Labor Opposition by a massive 12 points, which if replicated on election day would wipe out 25 seats. He was then roasted by journalists at the National Press Club where he admitted making several errors during the pandemic but refused to apologise and failed to name the price of bread, petrol and rapid tests. The PM was later told about unearthed texts from 2019 in which Gladys Berejiklian allegedly called him a 'horrible, horrible person' and a mystery minister branded him a 'complete psycho'. And on Thursday he was slammed for backflipping to support Western Australia's hard border, with critics saying it proved he has no principles and can't be trusted. Bolt (left) described the PM's visit to a salon in south-east Melbourne where he massaged an apprentice's head as a 'sad stunt'. Former Liberal advisor turned Sky News commentator Chris Kenny (right) blasted the Prime Minister for backing Mark McGowan's hard border In a speech to the National Press Club on February 1, Mr Morrison explained his dip in popularity by admitting he had let Australians down by 'raising their hopes' ahead of summer The about-face brought friendly fire from Sky News host and former Liberal advisor Chris Kenny who blasted the Prime Minister for not standing up to Mr McGowan. 'Mark McGowan's wrong and the Prime Minister didn't call him out on it,' Kenny said. '(The PM) needs to call out Mark McGowan on this. He's the Prime Minister of Australia! He should support no internal hard borders. 'We need politicians who'll make the right call for the country, not try and second-guess the politics.' Bolt joined Kenny in savaging the PM, arguing he has failed to land a blow on Labor for months and is haemorrhaging support. 'Morrison is not just despised by the Left, but disrespected by the Right,' he wrote. 'Time's running out for Morrison. Getting into voters' hair won't save him. Only fighting may yet do that, but right now he seems a man with the fight beaten out of him.' Beijing reports 3 new local COVID-19 cases Xinhua) 13:17, February 07, 2022 BEIJING, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Beijing reported three new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases on Sunday, according to local health authorities. Of the three cases, one had been reported as an asymptomatic carrier before and the other two were detected among people under quarantine, said the Beijing Municipal Health Commission. As more people return to Beijing after the Spring Festival, the city has urged its residents to adhere to strict protection measures such as necessary nucleic acid testing and home quarantine requirements. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Liang Jun) ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) on Sunday called on all actors to the conflict in Northern Ethiopia to find a lasting political solution as it reiterated its call for an "immediate and unconditional ceasefire." AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (AU-PAPS), Bankole Adeoye, told reporters on Sunday that immediate and unconditional ceasefire, guaranteeing humanitarian access and finding political solution to the conflict have been its major priorities since the conflict erupted in Northern Ethiopia back in November 2020. "The African Union has continuously called for a comprehensive, inclusive, all-embracing, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire ... That is our number one priority from day one and still remains a top priority for the peaceful resolution and makeable of the conflict in Northern Ethiopia," Adeoye said on the sidelines of the ongoing AU Summit. The other priority area of the bloc concerning the year-long conflict in Ethiopia, he said, has been guaranteeing humanitarian access to the areas in need based on international obligations -- international humanitarian law and international human rights law. "We have re-emphasized the need for a political solution that is premised on national reconciliation and dialogue," he said. On Saturday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed for a cessation of hostilities, humanitarian access, and an inclusive national dialogue in Ethiopia in his video address to the summit. Guterres said peaceful Ethiopia "is critical to continental stability." Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, also addressing the summit on Saturday, said his government has implemented unilateral withdrawal from conflict areas and used force that is necessary to ensure law and order. "We shall leave no stone unturned in our search for peace in our country," Ahmed said. The first tell-all interview with Cleo Smith's parents left several key questions unanswered - likely because of ongoing court proceedings against the man who snatched the four-year-old and held her hostage for 18 days. Ellie Smith and Jake Gliddon were paid $2million to share Cleo's incredible story of survival. Four-year-old Cleo was snatched from a tent as her family slept just a metre away at the Blowholes campsite near Carnarvon, in Western Australia on October 16. Her parents spoke with Channel Nine reporter Tara Brown about Cleo's first words when she returned home, shared heartwarming video of her dancing around the living room and revealed she was forever changed by the ordeal. But viewers were left with a long list of unanswered questions by the end of the first interview. Cleo was snatched from a tent as her family slept just a metre away at the Blowholes campsite near Carnarvon, in Western Australia on October 16 Ms Smith said although Kelly's intentions for Cleo were unclear it was obvious he was obsessed with dolls and had collected dozens of the Bratz variety (pictured) Ms Smith was unable to confirm whether Cleo spent her entire 18 days missing inside the rundown house, which was just minutes from her own family home. 'We don't know exactly what room, we don't know if she was moved at all... the only thing we know if she washed pink dye out of her hair,' Ms Smith said. 'I don't think we really know what his intentions were... from what we know, I don't know if he even knew what his intentions were going to be.' Cleo was found alone inside a room of the house at about 1am on November 3 playing with toy cars. It's not clear if Cleo was free to roam the house or confined to the single room for the duration of her ordeal. Of her time in captivity, Cleo (pictured with her baby sister Isla) told her family she was scared and locked in a room, however speaks little of her captor with her parents careful not to push too hard Another glaring omission in the one-hour special was whether Cleo's sleeping bag - which vanished at the time of her disappearance - was ever found Unanswered questions from blockbuster interview - What happened to Cleo's sleeping bag - Whether Cleo spent all of her captivity in the doll-inspired room - What Terence Kelly's intentions were with Cleo - Investigative details and the behind-the-scenes police operation - What happened during Cleo's 18 days away from her family Advertisement After her rescue, police confirmed to Cleo's parents that her abductor, Terence Kelly, was obsessed with Bratz dolls. His fascination, exclusively revealed by Daily Mail Australia, extended to collecting dolls and Bratz memorabilia. At least one room inside the house was dedicated to Kelly's dolls, but Ms Smith does not know if this was the room where Cleo was found. Ms Smith was unable to discuss details of Cleo's time in the horror house but indicated the four-year-old knew and understood the gist of what had happened to her. Another glaring omission in the one-hour special was whether Cleo's sleeping bag - which vanished at the time of her disappearance - was ever found. After Cleo's daring rescue, police said they were still looking for the 'missing piece of the puzzle'. Nor was there any mention of the blue and white Frozen dress Cleo was found in. It's unclear where the clothes came from. Cleo's parents said they still don't know all the details about what happened during, partially because the four-year-old has 'blocked out' the trauma and because they're hesitant to push her to speak about it before she's ready. 'Her emotions are very up and down .. she's blocked out a lot as to what's happened, she kind of went into survivor mode and pushed it very far away,' Ms Smith said. WA Police refused to cooperate with the tell-all interview due to ongoing court proceedings, meaning the interview did not include key details of the behind-the-scenes operation to rescue Cleo. His fascination, exclusively revealed by Daily Mail Australia, extended to collecting dolls and Bratz memorabilia. At least one room inside the house was dedicated to Kelly's dolls, but Ms Smith does not know if this was the room where Cleo was found On January 24, Terrence Kelly (pictured) pleaded guilty to a single charge of taking Cleo from her family's tent at the remote Blowholes campsite Cleo's parents said they still don't know all the details about what happened during, partially because the four-year-old has 'blocked out' the trauma and because they're hesitant to push her to speak about it before she's ready But Ms Smith confirmed police do not believe Cleo's kidnapping was a premeditated crime. While the details are still hazy, Ms Smith's theory, like many others, is that Kelly may have simply wanted a little doll of his own to compliment his toy collection. 'That's what he wanted, he wanted a little doll. It's just so sickening and disgusting,' she said. A small pink bike left out the front of the tent at the Blowholes campsite where Cleo vanished likely alerted Kelly to her whereabouts, and the crime itself was one of opportunity, Ms Smith said. Kelly died Cleo's hair pink during her time in captivity and tried to give her a haircut - acts which horrified her parents. 'I was just angry that someone tried changing her to kind of fit what they wanted,' Ms Smith said. The couple said Kelly had convinced Cleo he took her from the tent so her parents could tend to her baby sister who he said was sick (pictured, forensics at the crime scene) In a bombshell new detail it was revealed Cleo's bright pink bike (pictured) parked outside the family tent had first indicated to Kelly a small child was inside Cleo's disappearance sparked a desperate 18-day manhunt before the little girl was found inside the house of local man, Terence Darrell Kelly, 36, on November 3 'She said she got the pink put in her hair and then it washed out, she said it didn't work, and we had to then get her hair cut again because it was basically all cut into chunks.' Kelly has since pleaded guilty to one count of child stealing and is awaiting sentencing. He is due to return to court in March. It's likely further details of his crime and Cleo's ordeal will be revealed after all court proceedings have drawn to a close. As the segment ended, Brown told viewers: 'Of course there will be more of this story to tell, and when it's appropriate, we will certainly do that.' 'Talking to Ellie and Jake and watching their home videos of little Cleo is reassurance they're all doing well but make no mistake, recovering from this ordeal will take effort and time.' Woolworths will phase out its 10-cent dairy levy to support drought-stricken dairy farmers, claiming it's no longer needed due to recent rainfall - but will not bring the price of milk back down. The supermarket giant introduced the levy across its private-label milk range in 2018 and has since raised $100million for struggling dairy farmers. It applied to its two and three-litre private label bottles processed by Fonterra, Lactalis and Bega and accounted for five per cent of Australia's milk pool. The chain's retail price of milk at $1.30per litre remains for now but will be reviewed when the levy is scrapped at the end of the June. Woolworths will scrap its 10 cent levy across its private-label milk range which was introduced in 2018 to support drought-stricken farmers Woolworths wrote to farmers on Friday to advise of the changes after the Bureau of Meteorology reported no regions across Australia were in drought at the end of 2021. 'As drought conditions have eased and farmgate milk prices have increased by around 15 per cent since 2018, we will be phasing out the special drought levy ahead of the new milk year in July,' the supermarket's dairy director Jason McQuaid wrote. 'From the beginning of the new milk year in July 2022, the farmgate price will continue to be reviewed by processors in line with their usual practices.' Farmers will continue to receive the 10-cent per litre levy through milk processors until the arrangement ends in June. The move has sparked anger from thousands of Aussie customers, who have seen the price of milk soar to more than $2.60 for a two-litre bottle, when it was previously just $2. 'Hope that means a price drop for consumers we have seen milk 2 litre go from $1.60 to$2.60 over an 18 month period,' one wrote. Another added: 'They have upped it by a $1since they started the 10c levy. It's like the bags idea is sellable but profit takes over. A third wrote: 'It's .10c! Let the farmers have it! They work bloody hard!. Woolworths, You aren't short of cash for Christ sake.' Another said: 'Seriously what's 10c, why can't they still continue paying it to the farmers'. Woolworths says it will review the price of affected milk labels in the coming months. The ten cent milk levy was introduced in 2018 to support dairy farmers affected by drought (pictured cows waiting to be milked at a NSW dairy farm) It was the first retailer to introduce the levy to support dairy farmers. 'As La Nina has delivered record rainfall and farmgate milk prices continue to climb, we've reached an important turning point and will be phasing out the drought levy ahead of the new milk year,' Mr McQuaid said in a statement. 'We will continue to pay the same amount to our milk suppliers over the coming months, with farmers receiving an additional 10 cents for every litre of selected Woolworths milk sold until the end of June. 'We're pleased to have aided the recovery of Australian dairy farms over the last three years and to see the industry bolstered in recent seasons by a return to favourable conditions. In recent years, Woolworths says its has accepted tens of millions in wholesale cost increases from dairy suppliers in response to rising farmgate prices, which has increased by almost 15 per cent since 2018, according to Dairy Australia. The retail price of Woolworths milk (pictured) at $1.30per litre remains unchanged but will be reviewed when the levy is scrapped on June 30 Rabobank's September 2021 Global Dairy Quarterly said the Australian farmgate sector is poised for another season of 'sustained profitability' as near-record milk prices are expected in the coming season. The supermarket giant said it had developed a mechanism to be built into processing contracts to allow the supermarket to provide more timely support for farmers through existing milk purchase arrangements. NSW Farmers dairy committee chair Colin Thompson said farmers were disappointed the drought levy was not being rolled into the base price for milk. He thanked Woolworths for being transparent about the levy ending but called for more to be done on delivering fair milk prices. Australians have seen the price of milk soar to more than $2.60 for a two-litre bottle, when it was previously just $2 (pictured cows at a dairy farm in Queensland's Darling Downs) 'The irrational dollar-a-litre pricing model nearly killed the dairy industry, we cannot let that happen ever again,' Mr Thompson said. 'It's starting to look like the big supermarkets and their customers understand the value of supporting our local dairy industry, but there is a degree of disappointment among dairy farmers that the drought levy was not rolled into the base price. 'Fair, market-based pricing that recognises the true cost of production is what dairy farmers need for a sustainable future.' Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin's campaign is facing an angry backlash after it went after a teenager on Twitter. On Saturday, the official Twitter account for Youngkin's campaign lashed out against 17-year-old Ethan Lynne and Democrat Ralph Northam, tweeting the high schooler's name and photo after he shared a news story about the Republican Governor's residence. Lynne tweeted a report from the Richmond public radio station VPM suggesting that the Republican Governor was considering halting efforts pursued by previous governors Ralph Northam and Democrat Terry McAuliffe to highlight the history of enslaved people at the Executive Mansion, the Washington Post reported. Youngkin's campaign tweeted Lynne's name with a photo of him with former governor Northam, alongside a picture reportedly featuring a photo of Northam in blackface, although the governor has denied that is him in the image. 'Here's a picture of Ethan with a man that had a Blackface/KKK photo in his yearbook' the now-deleted post was captioned. 'Last night, the Governor's official campaign account attacked me, a high-school senior and 17-year-old on Twitter,' Lynne's statement read. 'I want to thank everyone for all the calls/text of support. They've deleted it, but I have received no communication from the Governor's office. On Saturday, the official Twitter account for Youngkin's campaign lashed out against 17-year-old Ethan Lynne and Democrat Ralph Northam The tweet featured a photo of him with former governor Northam next to a grab of a yearbook page featuring an alleged photo Northam in blackface 'In school, we are taught how to spot bullying, and their tweet last night perfectly fit that description.,' the statement continued. 'It is disgusting, disturbing, and unbecoming of the Commonwealth to see the Governor and his office stoop this low, especially on a public platform. We all know that Youngkin has an agenda to attack and endanger students, and last night proved that. I will not be intimidated by these attacks and will continue to be a voice for students across the commonwealth.' The tweet also prompted outrage online, with some people calling the Governor 'despicable.' 'You're a despicable scumbag for attacking a 17 year old kid,' one person tweeted. 'Governor Youngkin, it is beneath your office attacking a high school student,' someone else tweeted. Another outraged person tweeted: 'Excuse me, did this come from an official account of the Governor of Virginia?!?! Every reporter in the state needs to get on this immediately. The Governor is attacking a high school student.' VPM reported that historian and archaeologist Kelley Fanto Deetz found her office emptied last month and was unsure if she had a job under Youngkin and that the Youngkins converted a classroom area into a family room. Deetz told VPM aTV had been placed inside a planned educational space for mansion visitors, leading her to believe the space was being reconverted into a family room. Younkins spokeswoman Macaulay initially said on Wednesday that First Lady Suzanne Youngkin and her staff 'are in the decision-making process regarding the Executive Mansion' but did not note the report about the converted classroom was incorrect until Saturday and Lynne noted the error in the story hours later on Twitter when VPM issued a correction. Lynne responded to the 'disturbing' attack in a statement posted to Twitter on Sunday. Lynne tweeted a report from the Richmond public radio station VPM that said Youngkin was considering halting efforts to highlight the history of enslaved people at the Executive Mansion 'It is disgusting, disturbing, and unbecoming of the Commonwealth to see the Governor and his office stoop this low,' Lynne tweeted on Sunday While the Team Youngkin account removed the tweet after it was up for 12 hours, Lynne says they have yet to offer an apology. Although Youngkin spokeswoman Macaulay Porter has not commented on the tweet, Matt Wolking said Team Youngkin decided to remove the message after they learned that Lynne, who identified on Twitter as 'Virginian. HS Senior. Democrat', was a minor. According to Wolking, Lynne a 'Democrat Party official' making him a fair target. 'It was brought to (our) attention that this Democrat Party official repeatedly elevated by Senator Louise Lucas as a source of official Democrat Party communications is actually a minor, so the tweet was removed,' Wolking told the Post in a text message. New York - which was once the epicenter of the Omicron surge - recorded its lowest positivity rate since the COVID variant was first detected in December as hospitalizations continue to fall. On Sunday, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that the state's positivity rate is just 3.52 percent, and new cases are down 75 percent compared to two weeks ago - with just 5,680 new positive COVID cases reported the day before. The number of patients admitted to one of New York's many hospitals has also plummeted, with 558 new patients admitted on Saturday and just 68 new deaths. 'Im so proud of the work New Yorkers have put in to fight this winter surge,' Hochul said in a statement Sunday. 'The trends continue to be promising, but it is important we continue to be vigilant so we can keep positivity rates low.' As of Saturday, 80.4 percent of New York residents have had at least one vaccine, and 72.2 percent are fully vaccinated. But many New Yorkers have grown weary with pandemic-related restrictions, with a new study showing that fewer Big Apple residents report wearing masks at all times - even as New York City remains the epicenter of the state's COVID pandemic. The city recorded 2,174 of the 5,680 new cases on Saturday, according to New York State health data, or about 38 percent. New York on Sunday recorded its lowest positivity rate since the Omicron surge first began at the end of December - at just 3.52 percent, with 5,680 new positive COVID cases reported Hospitalizations and deaths have also declined in recent days, with 558 new patients admitted on Saturday and 68 new deaths Gov. Kathy Hochul (pictured speaking in January) hailed Sunday's numbers saying she was proud of the work New Yorkers have done New York City officials are now beginning to prepare for another possible COVID surge or pandemic with a COVID Recovery Task Force. On Sunday, Huge Ma, who became known as 'Vax Daddy' for creating a website that helped New Yorkers find vaccination appointments, and Dr. Jay Varma, who served as a senior adviser to former Mayor Bill de Blasio announced they were joining the task force, set up by Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. 'We need to prepare and assume that the virus will continue to potentially throw curveballs at us,' Varma told the New York Daily News. 'Or if it isn't this virus, there may be another one in the future.' 'Whatever investments we make in preparedness will yield dividends in the future,' he said, adding: 'We should be thinking about what the measures might be. Those could be anywhere from technical guidance about how to improve ventilation in indoor facilities or ... debating what the value is of certain regulations. 'We want to start thinking about how the systems can be ready, so we can just flip the switch when we're in the midst of a future wave of COVID or another pandemic.' Meanwhile, fewer New York City residents report wearing masks this year than last year, according to a new survey of 2,500 respondents from the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health. It found that in January 2021, 80 percent of respondents reported that they always wore a mask in public, but in the most recent survey, conducted from January 28 to January 30 by Consensus Strategies, only 72 percent said the same. Huge Ma, left, and Dr. Jay Varma, right, announced on Sunday they were joining Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine's COVID Recovery Task Force to prepare the city for another COVID variant or pandemic More than half of Big Apple residents have applied for the federal government's at-home testing kits after weeks of long lines outside of testing centers. A man is seen here getting tested ahead of the holiday season on December 19 At the same time, the poll found that more than half of Big Apple residents have already applied for the federal government's at-home testing kits. About 30 percent of those who said they applied for the set of four at-home testing kits the Biden administration announced last month it would deliver to every household said they wanted to use it in case they start developing COVID symptoms, and 25 percent said they wanted to have the tests available in case they need it. Another 18 percent of respondents said they wanted to self-test before they get together with friends and family after the city saw long lines outside of COVID testing centers for weeks amid the omicron surge and holiday season. Of those who ordered the test, the poll found, two-thirds had received a COVID vaccine booster and only about one-third of unvaccinated respondents said they ordered the at-home tests. 'This is an indication of the vigilance of vaccinated individuals in containing the spread,' Dr. Ayman El-Mohandes, dean of CUNY Graduate School of Public Health told the New York Post, adding that it is 'disappointing' that so many unvaccinated people had not applied for the free tests. 'It's a shame that so many among us who are not vaccinated would be resistant to getting the COVID test,' he said. 'They should be more willing to get tested to contain the virus, not less.' Still, COVID seems to be waning nationwide - even as deaths throughout the country increase. On Sunday, federal officials reported that the average daily confirmed COVID cases is half of what was reported less than two weeks ago and down from the peak of nearly 806,000 infections a day on January 15. But at the same time, the US reported 902,266 coronavirus deaths, an increase of 875, and a seven-day average of 2,455, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins. The US tally marks an increase of more than 100,000 fatalities nationwide since Dec. 12, coinciding with a surge of infections and hospitalizations driven by the Omicron variant. Analysts with Reuters allege the US death tally is the highest number of COVID fatalities reported by any nation, followed by Russia, Brazil and India with more than 1.8 million deaths combined. In terms of coronavirus fatalities per capita, the United States ranks 20th, well below the top two - Peru and Russia. Now, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will no longer requiring hospital systems to report daily COVID-19 deaths to the federal government. The policy change, which was announced in January, went into effect last Wednesday, just days ahead of the US death toll surpassing 900,000. Some health officials are calling the move 'incomprehensible,' alleging the hospital data has, over the last two years, 'changed the response to the pandemic for the better'. 'The hospitals have been doing this for going on two years,' a federal health official told WSWS, speaking on the condition of anonymity. 'It is the only consistent, reliable and actionable dataset at the federal level. Ninety-nine percent of hospitals report one hundred percent of the data every day.' Although hospitals will no longer need to report the previous day's COVID-19 deaths to the federal government each day, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will continue to collect and report COVID data from official death certificates. The CDC also notes the death data reported by hospitals to the HHS 'is not a CDC-owned data source and does not impact our reporting'. The organization instead compiles its numbers from death certificate reports sent to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), with officials reiterating 'there have been no changes to CDC data sources.' The Prime Ministers job-juggling chief of staff will help No 10 work more closely with the rest of Government, a Cabinet minister said yesterday. Boris Johnson is attempting to reset his premiership by appointing two allies to senior roles in Downing Street. He has brought in Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Steve Barclay as his chief of staff and journalist Guto Harri as his director of communications. Questions have been asked about how much time Mr Barclay will be able to commit to the role while also serving as a Cabinet minister and an MP. He has brought in Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Steve Barclay (pictured) as his chief of staff But Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said that the combined role would allow him to align the Cabinet Office with No 10 so they work more cohesively. He told Sky News it was a great appointment and showed the PM was recognising Sue Grays criticisms of leadership structures in her Partygate report. Mr Kwarteng said in her interim report into lockdown-busting parties in Whitehall, senior civil servant Sue Gray had said that there were leadership structures that were opaque. Nick Timothy, who acted as joint chief of staff to Theresa May during her first year in Downing Street, said it was surely not possible to be chief of staff while serving elsewhere as a minister He continued: It was very difficult to see where the accountability was and by appointing Steve, I think the Prime Minister is recognising that and is trying to combine the Number 10 operation with that of the Cabinet Office. As you know, Steve is head of the Cabinet Office in his role as CDL, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. But a previous holder of the job last night warned that the decision to appoint a Cabinet minister as No 10 chief was a recipe for chaos. Nick Timothy, who acted as joint chief of staff to Theresa May during her first year in Downing Street, said it was surely not possible to be chief of staff while serving elsewhere as a minister. He said the sheer workload would be a problem, adding: Its a recipe for chaos, when these changes were supposed to bring order. Lord Barwell, who took over as Mrs Mays chief of staff following the 2017 general election, said Mr Barclay would have to find a different way to do the job than he did because hes combining it with being a Government minister and an MP at the same time. He told Skys Trevor Phillips On Sunday: And then the second challenge, and I think probably the key one, is whether the Prime Minister is going to listen to the good advice that he will give. He added: Theres only so much different advisers can make if the person at the top is not actually listening to the advice that were giving. A stretch of a river popular with anglers has been stripped of its trees leading the Environment Agency to be accused of scorched-earth tactics. The 250-yard section of the River Tone running through Taunton in Somerset was famous for its wildlife, particularly kingfishers. But after flood-management work that felled the majority of its trees last week, the banks of the river are now bare. Dominic Garnett, 42, an angling guide who has fished the stretch of the river for 20 years, said: You go there to be with nature and to get away and its all just been ripped away. After flood-management work that felled the majority of its trees last week, the banks of the river are now bare Mark Barrow, a film-maker who specialises in river wildlife, tweeted: Complete devastation, courtesy of the Environment Agency. Scorched earth work the Russian army would be proud of! The Environment Agency said it plans to compensate for the loss. The area is due to be sown with a wild flower seed mix and replanted with native trees. The length of the river ran through marshland until the 1990s, when the surrounding land was tarmacked to make way for a leisure and shopping complex and for housing. Mr Garnett said the area is prone to flooding. Woodland planting is often touted as a key flood mitigation strategy, but Mr Garnett said representatives of the Environment Agency had told him the trees had been felled because they make the water back up. The length of the river ran through marshland until the 1990s, when the surrounding land was tarmacked to make way for a leisure and shopping complex and for housing Woodland planting is often touted as a key flood mitigation strategy He added: It is like they have taken an old hippie and given him a buzz cut it is scorched earth tactics. When are we going to start putting nature first? We always mess around with it. It is always very short-term and later on it is always nature that pays the price. He pointed out that huge swathes of trees had been cleared only weeks away from nesting season, with river plants dredged out when some species of fish are starting to spawn. It makes them vulnerable to predators fish need places to hide, he said. When the complex was originally built a large lake was created, in part, according to Mr Garnett, to appease locals angered by the loss of the marshland. But he says that due to a lack of maintenance, the lake, which could have helped flood control efforts, is now silted up and only two or three inches deep in places. Its just depressing, Mr Garnett said. Carrie Johnson does not have 'undue influence' over the Prime Minister, a Cabinet minister has insisted. Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng leapt to the defence of the PM's wife yesterday after a new bombshell biography accused her of wielding too much power. The book First Lady by Lord Ashcroft a former Tory Party deputy chairman was serialised in yesterday's Mail on Sunday. Mr Kwarteng disputed the claims made about Mrs Johnson but said he did not believe the criticism was sexist. Carrie Johnson does not have 'undue influence' over the Prime Minister, a Cabinet minister has insisted (Pictured in 2019) Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng (pictured) leapt to the defence of the PM's wife yesterday after a new bombshell biography accused her of wielding too much power He told Times Radio: 'I think Carrie is a really strong supporter of the Prime Minister. She has political views like many people and she's allowed to have those views. 'I don't think, contrary to what I've read about the Ashcroft book, that somehow she's got an undue influence. I don't think that's true. I think the PM has been in politics for 25 years and has a pretty strong set of ideas.' Asked if the criticism of Mrs Johnson was sexist, Mr Kwarteng replied: 'Well, I wouldn't say that. Mr Kwarteng told Times Radio: 'I think Carrie is a really strong supporter of the Prime Minister. She has political views like many people and she's allowed to have those views' 'But I do think that it's interesting when it's a spouse in their 30s that has got open positions that are well known, people feel free to criticise them. 'I don't think it's sexist... but I'm saying that her views are under scrutiny in a way that perhaps other prime ministers' spouses weren't.' In the book, Lord Ashcroft claims Mr Johnson voiced his anguish and frustration at the way his wife tried to exert her influence over the running of Downing Street. No 10 has strongly rejected all the claims. In a statement, Mrs Johnson's spokesman also hit back, saying: 'Yet again Mrs Johnson has been targeted by a brutal briefing campaign.' Olympian Scott Miller (pictured) has been charged with supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug Swimming great Scott Miller was allegedly using the encrypted ANOM communication app favoured by drug dealers when he was charged over a $2.2million meth syndicate. Miller's arrest a year ago came months before international law enforcement agencies revealed they had been secretly running ANOM and monitoring criminals using the service. The 46-year-old allegedly called himself 'EyeQ' on the app to communicate with an associate about the supply of prohibited drugs, according to court documents. In one message, the Olympic silver medallist allegedly wrote: 'This both of our best opportunity yet to make proper money.' Another message from EyeQ stated, 'this is a line from OS we can earn good', followed by, 'H is the best market bro everyone has cash'. Police claim 'H' refers to heroin and that Miller was seeking to secure a buyer for a quantity of that drug through an associate, according to court documents. While Miller was allegedly found in possession of almost a kilogram of heroin after his arrest last February there is no evidence he ever supplied it to anyone. Accused drug runner Scott Miller won a silver medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics in the 100m butterfly. He was married to TV personality Charlotte Dawson from 1999 to 2000. Dawson took her own life In 2014. The couple is pictured in August 1999 Miller was allegedly using the encrypted ANOM communication app favoured by drug dealers when he was charged over a $2.2million meth syndicate. The 46-year-old allegedly called himself 'EyeQ' on the app to communicate with an associate about the supply of drugs Court documents state GPS data puts a person using the ANOM handle EyeQ at or near Miller's address when the user describes himself as being 'home'. Four days before Miller was arrested over the meth syndicate, EyeQ sent messages saying, 'I got just under 900 grams returned' and 'passed loot back'. ANOM was secretly set up and controlled by the FBI which encouraged distribution of the app to transnational serious organised crime groups. Communications were monitored by the Australian Federal Police in a covert three-year operation dubbed Ironside which culminated in the execution of hundreds of search warrants across the country last June. As of December, the AFP had charged 311 offenders with 820 offences and seized more than 7.3 tonnes of drugs, as well as $52million in suspected proceeds of crime. Police will allege Scott Miller drove this Toyota Camry from Sydney about 280km to Yass with 4kg of meth hidden in a secret compartment. The car and drugs were allegedly then handed to Justin Szabolics and Luke Peake who headed down the Hume Highway towards Albury Four days before Miller was arrested over the meth syndicate, EyeQ sent messages saying, 'I got just under 900 grams returned' and 'passed loot back' While Miller and some of his associates were allegedly using ANOM to discuss drug dealing his arrest was not part of Operation Ironside. Miller is one of four men charged over the alleged transportation of 4kg of meth worth about $2.2million from Sydney to southern New South Wales. He and two others, Wayne Allan Johnson, 48, and Justin Szabolics, 45, are yet to enter pleas but Luke Mathew Peake, 41, has admitted his role in the alleged syndicate. Peake has pleaded guilty to taking part in the supply of a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and possessing a prohibited drug. Miller alleged drove 4kg of meth about 280km from Sydney to Yass where the consignment was collected by Peake and Szabolics. A highway patrol unit unsuccessfully tried to pull over the Camry and allegedly gave chase as it reached high speeds. The chase was allegedly terminated shortly before midnight when it became too dangerous. Miller is pictured inset top and bottom Miller has admitted having troubles in his personal life in recent years. During an interview with 60 Minutes in 2014 he admitted he was battling a drug addiction. He is pictured racing in the Qantas Skins competition at the Sydney Aquatic Centre in June 2002 The drugs were allegedly ditched more than 200km further south after Peake and Szabolics were involved in a high-speed pursuit with police. Peake has pleaded guilty to driving recklessly and at dangerous speeds during a police pursuit and driving a motor vehicle while disqualified. Miller had allegedly collected a white Toyota Camry from the Balmain area on January 11 last year after a man wearing high-vis clothing left a red, white and blue striped bag in the car's footwell. The retired athlete allegedly hid the bag, which held eight candles containing meth worth $2.2million, in a secret compartment and left the vehicle in the area overnight. The next day Miller picked up Johnson and the pair drove the Camry, which had Western Australian plates, to Yass, according to police. The Camry was then allegedly handed over to Szabolics and Peake who drove down the Hume Highway towards the Victorian border. Miller sat slumped and shirtless in a chair as police searched his apartment at Rozelle, in Sydney's inner west, just after dawn on February 16 last year The meth, worth $2.2million, was allegedly concealed in eight candles which were put in a red, white and blue striped bag that was stashed in this hidden compartment Both Szabolics and Peake are from Albury-Wodonga, which police say was the intended destination for the drugs. During the journey, a highway patrol unit unsuccessfully tried to pull over the Camry near Holbrook, about 215km south-west of Yass, and allegedly gave chase. The pursuit was allegedly terminated after about 15 minutes shortly after midnight when it became too dangerous. The next day police found the bag allegedly containing the drugs in long grass near an intersection at Cookardinia, about 25km north of Holbrook. It was more than a month before Miller was arrested just after 6am on February 16 at his home at Rozelle, in Sydney's inner-west, and charged with drug supply. This image shows one of the candles allegedly used to smuggle the $2.2million worth of meth. Police claim the drug was moulded into the candle's glass shell Dramatic footage showed police busting down the door of Miller's unit where they allegedly seized 910g of heroin and $72,595 in cash, as well as the white Camry. Miller was photographed shirtless and slumped on a chair while investigators scoured the unit for evidence. Justin Szabolics (pictured) is accused of being part of Olympic swimmer Scott Miller's alleged $2.2million drug syndicate More than a dozen police were seen at Miller's apartment block, meticulously sorting through his possessions. One policeman was pictured carrying a set of scales out of the property. Officers were seen lifting Miller's mattress and inspecting a packet of anti-inflammatory medication as his pet pug waddled excitedly around the unit. Mobile phones, documents, encrypted electronic devices and smaller amounts of allegedly prohibited drugs were taken away for forensic testing. Miller was charged with supplying a large commercial quantity of drugs, supplying a commercial quantity of drugs, knowingly directing a criminal group, and dealing with the proceeds of crime. Police allege the 100m butterfly silver medallist at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics was the head a syndicate which sought to traffic meth into Albury-Wodonga. Miller, who is being represented by high-profile solicitor Greg Goold, is on remand at the Mid North Coast Correctional Centre near Kempsey. On the march: Miller was allowed to put on a striped polo shirt before he was handcuffed and taken to Newtown police station to be charged Johnson, who was arrested at Balmain, was charged with supplying a large commercial quantity of drugs, and participating in a criminal group. Szabolics has been charged with supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, two counts of possessing a prohibited drug and participating in a criminal group. The investigation into Miller began early last year after police discovered a shipment of candles which each allegedly contained half a kilogram of high-quality methylamphetamine. The substance was moulded into glass containers. The NSW State Crime Command's Drug and Firearms Squad and NSW Crime Commission have been involved in the investigation under Strike Force Tarrawilla. About a dozen officers participated in the raid on Miller's home. Above, two officers carry cardboard evidence bags out to waiting police cars Police allege about a kilogram of heroin and $75,000 in cash were found at Miller's property. Bundles of $50 and $100 notes were visible through police evidence bags Miller has admitted having troubles in his personal life in recent years. During an interview with 60 Minutes in 2014 he admitted he was battling a drug addiction. He worked as a drug awareness and prevention speaker with the Church of Scientology's Narconon program, according to his LinkedIn profile. Miller is also known for his brief marriage to Sydney socialite and TV presenter Charlotte Dawson between 1999 and 2000. Dawson took her own life in 2014. Before his arrest Miller had been working for a trucking company. Miller and Szabolics are due back in Central Local Court later this month, Johnson will face the same court in March and Peake will appear for sentencing in the Downing Centre District Court later that month. Paying tribute as the Queen celebrated her historic 70th anniversary on the throne, Prince Charles said: 'Her devotion to her people inspires greater admiration with each passing year.' How unerringly right he is! She is not just the longest-reigning and longest-living monarch in our island story, but assuredly the most loved. Since the 25-year-old Princess Elizabeth became sovereign on February 6, 1952, many aspects of Britain and the Commonwealth have changed beyond recognition. But through national tragedy, tumult and triumph, the Queen has remained an impeccable symbol of reassurance and unity. Anointing Camilla as Queen Consort when Charles becomes King is not only a wonderful and kind gesture, but customarily wise Indeed, one sometimes wonders how Britain would function without her. The moving image of her observing Covid rules by mourning alone at Prince Philip's funeral epitomised her lifetime of selflessly leading by example. Anointing Camilla as Queen Consort when Charles becomes King is not only a wonderful and kind gesture, but customarily wise and sensible. No one pretends it was easy for the Duchess of Cornwall to follow Diana. But with quiet dignity, easy humour and visible compassion, she has risen to the challenge. She is, quite simply, Charles's rock. The announcement guarantees stability and continuity for the magnificent institution of the monarchy into the future. Yet at 95, Her Majesty remains in remarkable health. Long may she reign. Now give Boris time The nation's affection for the Queen, and excitement for her Platinum Jubilee, should not blind us to the fact that the economic and political weather is gloomy. The cost of living crisis is pinching. With food prices set to soar further, this will worsen. The foolish national insurance hike will inflict more pain. And if war erupts in Ukraine, Britain will feel the shockwaves. With problems mounting, what are out-of-touch Tory MPs doing? Self-indulgently plotting to topple the Prime Minister. Yes, No10's lockdown parties were wrong. But Boris Johnson has apologised. He is as asked chopping out dead wood from Downing Street and bringing in experienced, reliable figures. He has apparently vowed to stop the troubling drift from Tory values (although he ought to trumpet this explicitly). So ministers covetously (and indiscreetly) eyeing his crown should, as Sir Iain Duncan Smith says, 'temper' their ambitions. Mr Johnson must be afforded time and space to tackle the grave challenges looming. Voters simply won't forgive the party for self-obsessed navel-gazing. Parking pirates sunk Any unsuspecting driver who has been clobbered with an eye-watering fine by car-park cowboys will know just how ruthless these firms can be. Often, motorists are hit with rip-off charges for honest mistakes, overstaying their allotted time by seconds or breaking rules they didn't know even existed. In the worst cases, rogue wardens employ dubious practices, then bully their victims into paying extortionate fees generating millions for the private parking industry. But today in a thumping victory for the Daily Mail, ministers sink the pirates. Under a new code, fines will be halved to 50, motorists get a ten-minute grace period and unscrupulous firms face being banned. Of course, we defend private car park owners' right to impose reasonable charges for use of their land. But many have turned parking enforcement into a form of licensed mugging. One concern remains. These measures won't be implemented until next year by which time many more drivers will have been fleeced. Introduce them now! A small town is offering a pharmacy manager job with a $120,000 salary package including a rent-free apartment, but no-one wants to take up the offer. The pharmacy is in Crows Nest in Queensland's Darling Downs region, two hours drive from Brisbane and half an hour from Toowoomba. Pharmacy workers are in short supply, especially in regional areas, with six chemist job ads being posted in the Darling Downs area last week alone. The pharmacy's manager Bernice Burgess, who runs the business on her own, is finishing up in a matter of days. Pharmacists are in short-supply in regional Queensland areas with one pharmacy just a half-an-hour drive from Toowoomba offering a $120k salary package (file image) Pharmacy owner Satnam Singh advertised the job almost two weeks ago and said the business - which is the only chemist servicing the town - might have to temporarily close if the job isn't filled. He said despite the generous pay and free accommodation in a modern four-bedroom apartment with an ensuite above the pharmacy he has had little interest from qualified candidates. The town has three doctors and the pharmacy does a busy trade but with no operator residents would have to do without the essential business. 'I hope we find someone. I'm not anticipating being in the position where we can't find a replacement, but the pharmacy would have to temporarily close if that were the case,' he told The Courier Mail. Local Elvina Brown said Crows Nest had a lot of older townsfolk who relied on the business for medications. 'There are pharmacists in Toowoomba and Highfields, but a lot of these people don't drive anymore, so to not have a local pharmacy within walking distance is still very inconvenient for them,' she said. The job ad (pictured) was posted nearly two weeks ago with Mr Singh saying he has had little interest from qualified candidates Pharmacy Guild Queensland branch president Chris Owen said a long-term downturn in pharmacy students, the closed border, and a reluctance to move away from major cities created a shortage of workers. He said the guild provided a Certificate II in Community Pharmacy through a seven-week course that was fully subsidised by the Queensland Government. 'We've had over 100 Queenslanders complete the course in the last 12 months,' Mr. Owen said. Toowoomba mayor Paul Antonio said towns like Crows Nest had a wonderful lifestyle. 'People with these skills can come in short supply, they have a choice of where they want to live... We've got to encourage people to start heading to these incredible communities,' he said. CHAOS characterised the opening day of the first term yesterday as schoolchildren at different learning institutions in the country were sent back home after teachers and school heads failed to report for duty citing incapacitation. School heads yesterday joined teachers in declaring incapacitation in a bid to press for United States dollar salaries to cushion them from the rising cost of living. A survey carried out by NewsDay in several parts of the country showed that most teachers did not report for duty. Primary and Secondary Education secretary Tumisang Thabela, however, claimed that the majority of teachers and pupils had turned out. Government is pleased to note that schools have opened, that the majority of teachers reported for duty and that the majority of schoolchildren were able to attend classes, she said in a statement. In instances where students and pupils were unable to attend, government awaits definitive information on the reasons, so as to respond appropriately. She claimed that learners were barred from entering school premises in a few instances, and threatened to take appropriate measures against the malcontents. Deliberate interference with that right is a grave affront to the child, as well as to parents and guardians, apart from being an act of misconduct that cannot be tolerated. Consequently, appropriate measures will be taken in line with relevant procedures, she said. The ministry spokesperson Taungana Ndoro told NewsDay: We had a 60% turnout of teachers nationwide. Those that did not report for duty are from metropolitan areas, while teachers from peri urban and rural areas reported for duty. Other teachers are still en route to their stations. In Harare, most teachers at various schools did not turn up. Schoolchildren told NewsDay that their teachers did not turn up for work. We did not see the teachers and we simply presumed that they are still marking examinations, a Form 4 pupil at Glen Norah 2 High School told NewsDay. A parent from Highfields said she sent her children to Tsungayi Primary School, but they returned home as there were no teachers. There were no teachers at the school. We saw officials from the Primary and Secondary Education ministry entering the school. They must know that teachers are very important and must be paid well so that they report for duty, she said. At some schools, where teachers were on duty, parents told NewsDay that they had paid incentives for them to do so. In Gokwe, teachers reported for duty at most schools, but they refrained from conducting lessons. At some schools, teachers were seen chatting, while children played outside. In Bulawayo and Matabeleland North province, several schoolchildren returned home as early as 10am as there were no teachers at their schools. Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe Bulawayo provincial chairperson Vusumuzi Mahlangu said they also conducted a survey and found out that most teachers did not turn up for duty. In Chinhoyi, school heads sent children back home since there were no teachers to monitor classes. Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Obert Masaraure said: It is apparent that no teaching is taking place in over 96% of our schools. Some of the teachers who reported for duty were saying that they will not be reporting for work tomorrow. Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Obert Masaraure said: It is apparent that no teaching is taking place in over 96% of our schools. Some of the teachers who reported for duty were saying that they will not be reporting for work tomorrow. Educators Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Tapedza Zhou said: We are aggrieved that our kids are unnecessarily losing out on their right to education. Our innocent teachers deserve to be paid enough to be able to attend to our innocent learners. In a statement, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions said: Schools opened today with no word from the employer on the US dollar salaries for the dedicated suffering teacher. The market is refusing Zimdollars and we demand that all workers be paid in US dollar as dictated by the market. The ruling Zanu PF party pleaded with teachers to return to schools while negotiations take place with their employer. Zanu PF Harare province secretary for education Takudzwa Mashumba said: The incapacitation declaration by the teachers unions is not fair for parents who sacrificed and paid school fees, and for kids who have been greatly disadvantaged due to the COVID-19 lockdown. We strongly appeal to the teachers unions give heed government directive and call for teachers to report for duty while their grievances are being addressed. Newsday A man on $1million bail for his alleged involvement in a kidnapping had his house targeted in a drive-by shooting overnight. Haysam Ayoubi, 24, was uninjured in the attack on the home at Karuah St, Greenacre in Sydneys south-west after it was hit with multiple bullets in a drive-by shooting shortly after 1am on Monday morning. CCTV footage released by police shows a hooded gunman approach the house via a side driveaway and almost aimlessly fire a number of shots at a garage roller door before he scurries back down the drive. CCTV footage released by police shows a hooded gunman scurrying away after firing four shots at a garage roller door at the Greenacre property Some of the bullet holes are visible in the garage door of the Greenacre property in which alleged kidnapper Haysam Ayoubi lives Haysam Ayoubi, 24, is on bail for his alleged involvement with three other men in the kidnapping of Sam Amine at Sans Souci in June 2021 Ayoubi is on bail for his alleged involvement with three other men in the kidnapping of Sam Amine at Sans Souci in June 2021. A court heard last year that Mr Amine had allegedly been forced from his home and taken in a stolen BMW to an address in Padstow, where he was kept for a number of hours before he was able to escape. The attack on the home of Haysam Ayoubi at Karuah St, Greenacre (pictured) in Sydneys south-west too place shortly after 1am on Monday morning It's believed officers from Bankstown Police Area Command found up to four bullet holes in the Greenacre home. Three adults were present in the house at the time. Ayoubi is understood to have been sitting the garage of the property at the time of the shooting. A crime scene has been established and is being examined by police forensic specialists. Andrew O'Keefe's television career came to a screeching halt just weeks after his chauffeur reported him for allegedly lighting up an ice pipe on the way home from work. The former Channel Seven stalwart had been supported by bosses for years but the alleged drug use forced their hand and O'Keefe's contract was not renewed for 2021. Network executives hired O'Keefe a personal chauffeur to get him to and from work without any trouble, and were allegedly horrified when the driver made a complaint about the star's alleged drug use. It's alleged the driver looked in his rearview mirror while driving O'Keefe home some time between October and November 2020 and saw the 50-year-old lighting an ice pipe, The Australian reports. The fumes were so strong the driver was reportedly worried he'd be affected by the drug while driving. O'Keefe pictured in June 2021. The former Channel Seven stalwart had been supported bosses for years but the alleged drug use forced their hand and O'Keefe's contract was not renewed for 2021 O'Keefe denied the driver's allegations when they were put to him by management, but within weeks he found himself out of a job. 'There's a common pattern here. He points the finger at everyone around him, and everyone around him bends over backwards to support him, and yet he attacks those people that are doing the best by him,' one insider told the publication. Insiders say they were particularly hurt by the treatment they received from O'Keefe because they'd spent years trying to keep his reputation in tact and help him. 'He's someone who's been privileged, spoiled, indulged, treated like a celebrity and the power goes to his head. He has a very quick mind but he lacks discipline; he's stuck in that cycle of indulgence.' Another source who tried to help the Deal or No Deal host said: 'He's lost his children, he's lost his reputation, he's lost his money, he's lost his career, he's lost his ability to see reason.' O'Keefe was famously filmed kissing a mystery brunette woman during a night out in Hobart, Tasmania in 2018. A friend captioned these image as 'deal or no deal' Andrew O'Keefe is pictured outside his unit in Paddington in Sydney's inner-city in February 2021. Network executives hired O'Keefe a personal chauffer to get him to and from work without any trouble, and were allegedly horrified when the driver made a complaint about the star's alleged drug use O'Keefe was thrust back into the spotlight on January 27 when he was charged over allegations he choked, punched and kicked a woman at his city centre bachelor pad. NSW Police allege the 50-year-old assaulted a 38-year-old woman after meeting her to discuss starting a business together at his unit on Kent Street in the Sydney CBD. The woman allegedly had to bite him to break free during the violent struggle. He claims he acted in self-defence. He was refused bail and taken to a police cell, with Daily Mail Australia capturing confronting footage of a handcuffed O'Keefe shouting obscenities and kicking the walls of a police van, telling officers to 'get rid of the journalists'. 'F*** you, I'm a victim of crime. I'm a victim of crime you f***wits. F*** off,' he screamed as he repeatedly kicked the windows of the vehicle's cell. 'Get rid of these journalists you stupid c***s. F*** you.' The 50-year-old is a former intellectual property lawyer. He appeared to swat a photographer with a folder shortly after this picture was taken in March 2019. O'Keefe was due to appear again at Central Local Court on February 4 but the matter was adjourned for a week after police charged him with possessing a prohibited drug O'Keefe was due to appear at Central Local Court on February 4 but the matter was adjourned for a week after police charged him with possessing a prohibited drug. Police allege he was in possession of 1.5g of cannabis at the time of his arrest. Police prosecutor Sergeant Liam Edwards said O'Keefe was also being charged with breaching an apprehended violence order unrelated to the alleged attack. As he was remanded in custody, he threw his eyes to the sky and yelled: 'No justice - oh god, this is ridiculous. Unbelievable.' O'Keefe was warned he could face a lengthy custodial sentence if found guilty of the charges against him. The court heard he was already facing assault charges dating back to June last year and was out on bail at the time of the latest alleged offences. O'Keefe divorced his wife Eleanor in 2019. Above, at a red carpet event together several years ago O'Keefe was said to be suffering a catalogue of mental health issues, including methamphetamine use disorder, severe historical addiction issues which were said to be in remission, mood disturbance, substance abuse disorders and post traumatic stress disorder. His bid to be released on bail into residential psychiatric care was undermined by a lack of available places for him at a Sydney clinic, the court was told. O'Keefe's lawyer claimed the alleged victim had turned up 'uninvited' at his Kent Street apartment and caused 'substantial injuries' to him during the fight. The former host of The Chase Australia and Deal or No Deal will be back in court on February 11. The former host of The Chase Australia and Deal or No Deal will be back in court on February 11 It's understood colleagues were alerted that O'Keefe was out of sorts after the breakdown of his marriage in 2017. By 2019, Network Seven had paid for a rehab stint for their star after he'd confided in them that he was struggling. Network executives reportedly drafted a set of conditions O'Keefe was required to meet as per his contract in early 2020 which included mandatory drug tests, though it is alleged he missed some of the tests throughout the year. His filming schedule was halted for eight weeks but it's alleged his behaviour began to spiral, including frequently turning up late to work and lashing out at staff. Thousands of tourists will soon flood into Australia in a huge boost for small businesses and the economy - except in Western Australia. Premier Mark McGowan stubbornly refuses to open his state to the rest of the country, let alone the world, as he tries in vain to keep Covid out. The border was supposed to open on February 5, but Mr McGowan backflipped on this promise and visitors must instead get an exemption and do 14 days quarantine. International tourists will be welcomed back to Australia from February 21 after almost two years of closure to keep out Covid-19. West Australian Premier Mark McGowan is further isolated by the decision to reopen Australia's international borders as the state maintains strict border and quarantine arrangements, including requiring tourists to undertake 14 days of isolation 'The condition is you must be double vaccinated to come to Australia. That's the rule. Everyone is expected to abide by it,' Prime Minister Scott Morrison said. The decision further isolates Western Australia, even though Mr Morrison gave lukewarm backing to the border staying closed ahead of the federal election. 'The two issues are unrelated,' Mr Morrison claimed during a press conference in Canberra on Monday when asked about WA's existing restrictions. 'We'll make the decision about the international border. The decisions the states take, they'll be consistent with the assessments they're making. 'That deals with their caps at their airports, as well as their quarantine arrangements as they are in place.' Australia's borders will finally open to international tourists on February 21 after almost two years of closure to keep out Covid-19. Pictured: A traveller at Sydney Airport Western Australia - still pursuing a Covid-zero strategy - asks international visitors to undertake 14 days of mandatory quarantine including seven days in hotel quarantine and, if eligible, seven days of self-quarantine at suitable premises. They must also undertake PCR testing on days one, six, nine, and 12 during their stay. The international arrivals cap to enter the state is at just 265 people a week. WA's Covid website states the cap is not planned to increase, though it is reviewed based 'on the latest health advice'. The state announced 26 new local cases and an additional 10 travel-related cases to 8pm on Sunday night. WA's health department on recorded 46 new cases the day before - the state's biggest-ever daily total - of which 31 were local and the source of six was unknown. International passengers are pictured arriving at Perth International Airport in February 2020, the month before Australia's international borders closed Mr McGowan is expected to respond to the federal government's announcement later on Monday. Mr Morrison said the borders would open because Australia has thousands of Omicron cases, so international travellers don't pose a risk. 'The variant is here in Australia. And for those who are coming in who are double vaccinated, they don't present any greater risk than those who are already here in Australia,' he said. Visa holders who are not vaccinated will need a travel exemption to enter the country and will be subject to state and territory quarantine requirements on arrival. Australia opened its border in stages after only allowing Australian citizens and permanent residents from March 2020. From November 1, skilled migrants and students were also allowed to enter provided they were vaccinated. Calls to reopen the borders to tourists comes as Omicron cases across the country appear to have plateaued. Former deputy chief medical officer Dr Nick Coatsworth said the timing was right for the border reopening to expand to tourists. Former deputy chief medical officer Dr Nick Coatsworth (pictured) said the timing was right for the border reopening to expand to tourists 'It's a really important sign for Australians that things are back on the path to normality,' he told the Nine Network. 'The fact that we're going to have people coming into the country, students and tourists who have been vaccinated, that's a safe policy and the right time to do it.' Dr Coatsworth said the high vaccination rates across the country meant it was safe to let tourists back into Australia. 'We can safely open borders to people who have had the primary course,' he said. The news of a potential imminent reopening for travellers has been welcomed by the tourism sector, which has been hit hard by the pandemic and border closures. Tourism and Transport Forum chief executive Margy Osmond said she would like to see the reopening date as soon as possible. An international student wears a hazmat suit as she arrives at Sydney Airport 'This will be driven by what government is comfortable with, but we do need a date so we've got a little bit of notice to start gearing things up,' she told ABC TV. 'We'd like a couple of weeks at least, and the most important thing here is to understand that this is a staged process.' Mr Frydenberg also said the government would provide tax breaks for businesses and individuals who need to use rapid antigen tests for work. He told an Australian Industry Group function Covid-19 testing expenses would be tax deductible for testing taken to go to work. 'We will also ensure that fringe benefits tax will not be incurred by employers where Covid-19 tests are provided to employees for this purpose,' he added. On Monday, 14 Covid-19 deaths were reported in NSW and seven fatalities in Victoria. The latest case numbers showed there were 7,347 new infections in NSW and 8,275 in Victoria. Captain Othello Ghoshroy was found dead in his apartment in England's port city Southampton The cruise industry has suffered a devastating blow after one of its most popular captains took his own life. Captain Othello Ghoshroy, a favourite among Australian and New Zealand travellers, was found dead in his apartment in England's port city Southampton. The 47-year-old took his own life on his 10th wedding anniversary, with the coroner describing the situation as a 'perfect storm' after a marriage breakdown and the loss of his job due to the pandemic gave him acute anxiety and stress. Ghoshroy worked for popular operators including Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Cunard, P&O Cruises UK and Australia, with Seabourn the most recent. The captain spent two decades sailing the world, working aboard the famous Queen Elizabeth II vessel. The father-of-two regularly docked in ports in Queensland, particularly Gladstone, and made strong connections with locals and officials. Ghoshroy, known as Otty, was beloved by Australian and New Zealand travellers and regularly docked in Queensland The captain had close arrangements with Qantas Holidays, Carnival, and Harvey World, helping them plan tours. He was found by his ex wife Celia in his Southampton home on January 23, their 10th wedding anniversary, after a year where he was made redundant due to all cruises being cancelled by the pandemic. Winchester Court Coroner Chris Wilkinson confirmed his death was a suicide after suffering from mental health issues that arose from his life breaking down. 'It was a perfect storm of events that he didn't see a way out of,' Mr Wilkinson said at the inquest on Sunday. 'He considered his situation to be very difficult, he was facing emotional distress of his marriage breakdown and financial distress of meeting that settlement as well as losing his job.' The captain spent two decades sailing the world, working aboard the famous Queen Elizabeth II vessel He expressed fears he would 'go bankrupt and go to prison' because he wouldn't be able to financially support his children after losing his career. He also made threats to his life or to 'just disappear'. Ghoshroy, known as 'Otty', was remembered by friends as always smiling and being a beloved member of the cruise community. 'He was an outgoing fun-loving individual who was very dedicated to his career and to his work, he very much enjoyed his time on ships,' the coroner said. 'We also know he was very dedicated to his family, he was trying in his own way to do his best but how he presented at home was very different to how he was at work. 'He considered his situation to be very difficult, he was facing emotional distress of his marriage breakdown and financial distress of meeting that settlement as well as losing his job.' Police expect the number of anti-vaccine mandate protesters that have been causing disruption across Canberra to peak on Tuesday, with thousands likely to attend rallies. As demonstrations continue into a second week, anti-vaccination protesters, sovereign citizens and conspiracy theorists are set to gather on the lawns of Parliament House, coinciding with parliament resuming. ACT police officials have said more than 3000 demonstrators are currently in Canberra, with the number expected to grow on Tuesday. It comes as a crowd of more than 500 protesters gathered outside the governor-general's official residence on Monday. More than 3000 anti-vaccine mandate protesters have converged on the nation's capital Protesters pulled down the Australian flag on a flag pole outside Government House and replaced it with the Australian red ensign - the merchant ship flag commandeered by anti-government protesters as a 'people's flag'. Commander Linda Champion from ACT police said no arrests had been made in relation to Monday's protests. 'The crowd have been generally well-behaved and peaceful,' she told reporters in Canberra. 'We're putting every resource we can towards these protesters and their activities throughout the week.' Demonstrators carried out protests across Canberra throughout the weekend, targeting Parliament House and Canberra Airport, with people blocking many main roads across the city. One protester was arrested after hitting a traffic controller with their car as the controller tried to stop the vehicle. The traffic controller had to be taken to hospital for minor injuries. More than 500 protesters (pictured) gathered outside the governor-general's official residence in Canberra on Monday, calling on him to sack Prime Minister Scott Morrison The driver faced court in relation to the incident on Monday. Two others were arrested for stopping traffic during protests on the weekend, police said. Footage has also emerged on social media of the protesters walking through shopping centres and abusing shop staff. Commander Champion urged people to report the protesters if they're seen carrying out an offence. 'Those responsible will be held to account,' she said. Police have warned Canberrans to expect further delays throughout the week as protests continue. Scott Morrison has urged Australians still in Ukraine to leave now as the federal government warns Russia must respect its neighbour's sovereignty. The prime minister remains 'highly concerned' about the deteriorating situation as Russian troops continue to mass on the border with Ukraine. 'We hold out real concerns about where this will ultimately lead to,' Mr Morrison told reporters in Canberra on Monday. Australians is the Ukraine are urged to leave out as tensions with Russia escalate (pictured, military instructors and civilians take part in a training session in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv) He flagged a meeting of Quad foreign ministers - representing Australia, India, Japan and the United States - in Australia later this week. 'We would be urging Russia to remain engaged in the reciprocal dialogue,' Mr Morrison said. 'Any breach of Ukraine's territorial sovereignty is not a mark of peace; it is a mark of those who would seek to take sovereignty from others for whom it should reside with.' Military instructors and civilians took part in a training session in the Ukraine on Sunday amid fears of a potential invasion by Russian troops Australia has sought to contact all Australians in Ukraine over recent weeks, many of them dual citizens, and urged them to leave. 'We reinforce that message. The travel advisories are very clear,' Mr Morrison said. 'The vast majority of those Australians who live in Ukraine, their lives are in the Ukraine. Many of them have dual citizenships. Their families are there or in neighbouring countries, particularly in Poland. 'They'll be looking to their own arrangements, as we understand it.' The traditional school day may be in for a shake-up to help working mothers, NSW Premier has suggested. In a press conference in Monday Mr Perrottet hinted that the time-honoured school schedule may be reviewed to allow working families more flexibility. 'The school hours of nine till three, that was set up at a very different time in life the world in the 1950s is very different from the world we live in today,' Mr Perrottet said. 'We as a government will be looking always at better ways of doing things, of thinking outside the box and striking new directions moving forward.' The time-honoured hours of the school day may be changed to allow working families more flexibility. Pictured: Students return to school on the first day back for 2022 NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet hinted at the changes to school hours at a press conference on Monday Mr Perrottet said trials were underway in a number of NSW schools varying the hours students attend school but that a 'one size fits all' approach would not be taken. 'There will be learnings from the trials, and every school is different,' he said. 'Youve got so many elements, when you change the school hours you have to change the transport hours as well. 'When somethings been the same way for so long - decades upon decades - you cant just overturn that overnight.' Mr Perrottet's comments after a number of women's economic forums have raised the issue of inflexible school hours in recent years. The premier first raised the prospect of changing school hours in the Bradfield Oration last December. 'Education should be designed around our children, not simply around the schools themselves,' he said at the time. 'Why does the school day run from 9am to 3pm and does it still suit the lives of busy working families?' Mr Perrottet asked during the Bradfield Oration in December At one point during that speech, Mr Perrottet directly challenged Education Minister Sarah Mitchell, asking if the existing school day was fit for working parents. 'Why does the school day run from 9am to 3pm and does it still suit the lives of busy working families?' he asked. In June last year the NSW government staggered the start and finish times of public schools as part of a push to modernise the traditional school day and reduce traffic congestion. The bold plan allowed schools to participate in trials where principals could offer parents options that differed from the standard 9am to 3pm school day. Alternatives include a 7am to 1pm day, or extended after-school care. The scheme could also see an ease of pressure on Sydney's heavily-congested roads by staggering when students are picked up and dropped off from school. The cost of Sydney's traffic congestion to the state economy is estimated to reach $13.1billion by 2031, according to the NSW Productivity Commission. Several trucks have erupted in flames at a Covid checkpoint between South Australia and Western Australia in terrifying scenes at the remote border outpost. At least four vehicles caught alight near the Border Village Roadhouse on the Eyre Highway in South Australia's Nullarbor Plain on Monday afternoon. The truck fire erupted in the Covid testing line, with strict restrictions about who can come into WA and why, causing thick black smoke to drift across the major motorway and obscure driver visibility. Images from the scene show plumes of smoke emanating from the trucks parked just metres from the border checkpoint between the two states. Several trucks have burst into flames at a Covid checkpoint at the border crossing into Western Australia causing chaos for motorists (pictured) Images from the scene show plumes of thick smoke emanating from multiple trucks parked just metres from the Covid checkpoint between the two states (pictured) SA Police has urged motorists to drive with caution in the area as members of the Country Fire Service continue to battle the flames. The Nullabor Plain is a vast arid plain in south-western Australia, covering an area of 200,000sqm and spanning 1,100km at its widest point. The road's official name is the Eyre Highway which begins at the town of Norseman in the Goldfields-Esperance region of WA and finishes in Port Augusta in SA. Emergency services have attended the area and it is not yet clear if anyone was injured in the accident. It comes as multiple fires in the towns of Denmark and Bridgetown continue to ravage homes in southwest WA, with a third fire still blazing at Bruce Rock. In total, the fires have so far destroyed almost 4,700 hectares of land as more than 200 firefighters and specialists continue to front the vicious flames. SA Police has urged motorists to drive with caution in the area as members of the Country Fire Service continue to battle the flames (pictured) Firefighters have been drafted in from across WA and as well as interstate (pictured, the fire at Bridgetown on Sunday) Four homes in the Denmark region have perished with another in Hester, near Bridgetown, also destroyed in the inferno. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) have described the flames as 'hellish' with some residents told its no longer safe to try and escape. 'Scores of firefighters spent a hellish night under pressure from variable winds, showers of embers and oppressive heat as they fought against a firestorm bearing down on our communities,' DFES said on Sunday. An emergency warning is in place for Bilbarin, Babakin, Corrigin and Shackleton about 200 kilometres east of Perth, with residents warned it is too late to leave. Those in surrounding areas have been told to get out now if they can, or else make their final preparations to actively defend their property by monitoring for spot fires. Firefighters are seen at the blaze at Bridgetown, WA, on Sunday (pictured) as the fire threatened the small railway town of Hester in the state's southwest Residents have been told it's too late to leave their homes safely as the fire continues spreading out-of-control (pictured at Bridgetown on Sunday) An emergency warning has also been issued for the South West region, including Hester, Hester Brook, Bridgetown, Greenbushes, Catterick, and Kangaroo Gully in the Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes. WA Premier Mark McGowan on Saturday said multiple areas continued to face 'dangerous bushfire conditions with more hot weather forecast today and tomorrow'. The premier thanked firefighters for their efforts over the week and urged the public to follow advice from Emergency WA. At least 36 incident management specialists from NSW Fire and Rescue have arrived in WA to assist local authorities battling the out-of-control fires. They will work alongside members of the Rural Fire Service, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Forestry Corporation, following a request from WA's Fire and Emergency Services department. A female Liberal backbencher says it's 'disgusting' some MPs have been told not to attend the speeches of Grace Tame and Brittany Higgins this week. Ms Tame and Ms Higgins will front the National Press Club on Wednesday after making their opposition to the prime minister's lack of action on women's issues well known. Former Australian of the Year Ms Tame refused to smile when she met the Prime Minister Scott Morrison at his residence, The Lodge, in Canberra on Tuesday, January 25. In the tense meeting she gave Mr Morrison a less than friendly handshake with a scowl on her face - before throwing him an icy sideways glance while photographers took pictures. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, left, poses with 2021 Australian of the Year Grace Tame at the prime minister's residence, The Lodge, in Canberra, Tuesday, January 25, 2022 In a tweet the next morning, the 27-year-old suggested it would be 'hypocritical' of her to be friendly after repeatedly criticising the Mr Morrison over his response to women's safety issues. 'The survival of abuse culture is dependent on submissive smiles and self-defeating surrenders. It is dependent on hypocrisy,' she wrote. 'But it's not just women who are conditioned to smile and conform to the visibly rotting status-quo. It's all of us.' A Liberal backbencher said pressure was being applied for MPs not to attend the event, in order to avoid embarrassing the government. 'There's no trust in us (MPs), so it can't be reciprocated,' the backbencher said. 'The prime minister can't have it both ways. (Scott Morrison) can't say he doesn't trust us to act in the interest of the party and the government and listen to (concerns) about an important issue in parliament and the country.' Ms Tame is a survivor of child sexual abuse and has been vocal in her criticism of the coalition government's response to women's safety issues. When he was asked about the encounter and Ms Tame's eagerness to make a 'political statement' Mr Morrison responded to Melbourne radio 4BC host Neil Breen by saying 'I haven't raised any issues about this. 'All I'm saying is we were there that day to celebrate those who had done an incredible job for our country. And Jenny and I wanted to welcome them to our home and wish them all the best.' Brittany Higgins (pictured) is a former Liberal Party political staffer who came forward with an allegation of sexual assault in a ministerial office in 2019 Ms Higgins is a former Liberal staffer who came forward with an allegation of sexual assault in a ministerial office in 2019 and has been championing safety reform in parliamentary workplaces. It comes as the government is due to act on two key recommendations from a review into parliamentary culture by sex discrimination commissioner Kate Jenkins this week. Ms Jenkins outlined 28 recommendations in her Set the Standard report. It includes a statement of acknowledgement and the establishment of a committee on parliamentary standards to inquire and report on matters relating to the development of a code of conduct. Both have been flagged by finance minister Simon Birmingham for this parliamentary sitting week. It is understood that some Liberal cabinet ministers will be attending the speech. Ivanka Trump announced 'Mike Pence is a good man' after he denied her father's request to reject Electoral College votes that would formalize Joe Biden's 2020 victory. She made the comments after a meeting on January 6 last year when President Trump was in the Oval Office with her and Vice President Mike Pence's national security adviser Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg on a telephone call with Pence. The revelation of her comment during testimony by Kellogg before the House committee investigating Jan. 6 comes just 10 days after Pence revealed he hadn't spoken to Trump since last summer. The committee has been aggressively interviewing witnesses - nearly 500 so far - and has subpoenaed Meadows and Trump's personal lawyer. They are asking Ivanka Trump to cooperate voluntarily. Pence suggested that Jan. 6, 2021 marked a souring in their relationship. That day, ahead of the Capitol riot, Trump said that Pence 'didn't have the courage' to object to the election results during Congress' certification. Fox News' Jesse Waters asked Pence when the last time he spoke to Trump was on his show Thursday evening. Ivanka made the comments after a meeting on January 6 last year when President Trump was in the Oval Office with her and Vice President Mike Pence's national security adviser 'You know, we talked last summer,' Pence said. 'And, you know, I've said many times, it was difficult. Jan 6 was difficult. It was a tragic day in the life of the nation.' 'I know I did my duty under the Constitution of the United States,' Pence added. 'But the president and I sat down in the days that followed that. We spoke about it, talked through it. We parted amicably.' But then on Friday, Pence delivered his most direct and public rebuke of Trump on Friday saying he had 'no right' to overturn the 2020 election as Trump demanded. 'I heard this week that President Trump said I had the right to overturn the election. President Trump is wrong,' Pence said. 'I had no right to overturn the election. The presidency belongs to the American people and the American people alone.' Pence went even further, calling the idea 'un-American.' 'And frankly, there is no idea more un-American than the notion that any one person could choose the American president. Under the Constitution, I have no right to change the outcome of our election.' Trump, of course, shot back in a statement: 'Just saw Mike Pences statement on the fact that he had no right to do anything with respect to the Electoral Vote Count, other than being an automatic conveyor belt for the Old Crow Mitch McConnell to get Biden elected President as quickly as possible,' Trump wrote in a statement. McConnell has recently denounced Trump's plan to pardon or shorten the sentences of the January 6 rioters. The President continued: 'Well, the Vice Presidents position is not an automatic conveyor if obvious signs of voter fraud or irregularities exist. I was right and everyone knows it. If there is fraud or large-scale irregularities, it would have been appropriate to send those votes back to the legislatures to figure it out. 'A great opportunity lost, but not forever, in the meantime our Country is going to hell!' During a call on Jan. 6 Trump told Pence that he had a duty to reject Electoral College votes that would formalize Democrat Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election, something the vice president had no authority to do in his ceremonial role in Congress that day. 'You don't have the courage to make a hard decision,' Trump told Pence, according to congressional testimony. Even after Trump called him a 'wimp,' Pence rebuffed the demand, issuing a lengthy statement afterward laying out his conclusion that he had no power to influence the outcome. When the call ended, Ivanka Trump turned to retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg and said, 'Mike Pence is a good man.' 'Yes, he is,' Kellogg replied. The revelation of her comment comes just 10 days after Pence revealed he hadn't spoken to Trump since last summer And on January 31 Trump suggested 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!' Now the House committee investigating the riot wants to know what else Ivanka Trump heard and saw that day as they try to stitch together the narrative of the riots and the former president's role in instigating them. While Ivanka was asked to cooperate voluntarily rather than hit with a subpoena, a committee aide said they are hopeful that she will soon commit to a time to meet. There was a frantic effort by many of Trump's top supporters to persuade him to call off the violence, and some directly sought to use his daughter as their conduit. While Trump wanted Pence to object to the election certification for President Biden's win, the former vice president saw his role in the certification as largely ceremonial Throughout her time in the White House, Ivanka Trump was known as a rare voice who could get through to her father and talk him out of bad decisions, though her success was mixed. The former first daughter has kept an extraordinary low profile since her father left office and has distanced herself from him and politics since moving to Florida. But her proximity to him on Jan. 6 could provide the committee with direct access to what Trump was doing during those crucial three hours when his supporters violently stormed Capitol. 'Ivanka Trump has details about what occurred in the lead-up to and on Jan. 6 and about the former presidents state of mind as events unfolded,' Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla, a member of the panel, said. It is highly unusual for congressional investigators to target a family member of a president, but as a senior adviser to her father, she also had a perch close to power. 'You know, we talked last summer,' Pence said of his relationship with Trump. 'And, you know, I've said many times, it was difficult. Jan. 6 was difficult. It was a tragic day in the life of the nation' Kellogg disclosed the exchange with the committee, but so far Ivanka Trump, who famously guards her image and public profile, has not talked to the panel. The answers could have significant repercussions not only for Donald Trump, who is eyeing a political comeback in 2024, but for those in the Republican Party who have downplayed his role in the insurrection. A spokeswoman for Ivanka Trump did not respond to multiple requests for comment. But in a statement issued in late January, a representative for her noted that Ivanka Trump did not speak at the rally near the White House where the then-president urged his supporters to 'fight like hell' as Congress convened to certify the 2020 election results, and said she still believed that 'any security breach or disrespect to our law enforcement is unacceptable.' Members of the committee hope to get beyond such vague assertions. Hours after Trump's call to Pence, Ivanka Trump joined brother Donald Trump Jr., Rudy Giuliani and Kimberly Guilfoyle under a large tent at the rally to listen to Trumps speech. She reportedly told aides she 'decided to attend only because she had hoped to calm the president and help keep the event on an even keel.' After Trumps speech, as rioters began to smash through Capitol police barriers and break windows, the former president tweeted: 'Mike Pence didnt have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution ...' That tweet, according to court testimony, only added to the anger fueling the mob. Back in the White House, as staffers watched in shock at what was unfolding down Pennsylvania Avenue on television screens positioned throughout the West Wing, Trump's attention was so rapt that he hit rewind and watched certain moments again, according to Stephanie Grisham, a former White House press secretary. 'Look at all of the people fighting for me,' Trump said, according to Grisham, who also served as chief of staff to first lady Melania Trump. At one point, the president was confused why staffers weren't as excited as he was watching the unrest unfold. Kellogg testified that staff wanted the president to take immediate action to address the violence consuming the Capitol, but Trump refused. 'Is someone getting to potus? He has to tell protestors to dissipate. Someone is going to get killed,' Alyssa Farrah Griffin, a former White House communications official, texted Ben Williamson, an aide to White House chief of staff Mark Meadows. 'I've been trying for the last 30 minutes. Literally stormed in outer oval to get him to put out the first one. Its completely insane,' Williamson wrote back. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., then called Ivanka Trump, pleading that the president 'ask people to leave.' 'Were working on it,' she replied. 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 At that point, staffers acknowledged that despite efforts by Meadows, press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and Kellogg, the only person who could get through to him would be his daughter. Ivanka Trump, according to testimony, went on to make at least two 'tenacious' attempts to reason with her father as staffers were bombarded with messages from Trump allies begging him to quell the violence. 'Can he make a statement. I saw the tweet. Ask people to leave the (Capitol),' Fox News host Sean Hannity texted Meadows. But inside the West Wing, Kellogg strongly recommended that they not ask the president to appear in the press room, where a group of reporters would be waiting for him. 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 'Apparently, certain White House staff believed that a live unscripted press appearance by the President in the midst of the Capitol Hill violence could have made the situation worse,' lawmakers wrote in their letter to Ivanka Trump. The president ultimately agreed to a video statement. Multiple takes were filmed but not used. In each one of the initial takes, according to the committee, he failed to ask rioters to leave. The final video was released on Twitter at 4:17 p.m. - nearly two hours after Trumps initial tweet criticizing Pence. 'This was a fraudulent election, but we cant play into the hands of these people,' Trump said in the video. 'We have to have peace. So go home. We love you; youre very special.' Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., the vice chair of the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection, has said its hard to 'imagine a more significant and more serious dereliction of duty' than Trumps failure to quell the riots. Trumps last words that day came at 6:01 p.m. when he tweeted that the 2020 election was 'unceremoniously and viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly and unfairly treated for so long.' He ended with, 'Go home with love and in peace. Remember this day forever.' Meanwhile, the National Archives was forced to show up at Trump's residence in Mar-a-Lago to retrieve boxes of official letters that had been improperly removed from the White House. The boxes included correspondence with North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un and former President Barack Obama. The documents and gifts, which should have been turned over to The National Archives and Records Administration at the end of Trump's presidency, were retrieved by the agency last month, three people familiar with the visit told the Washington Post. Under the Presidential Records Act, memos, notes, letters, emails, faxes and other written correspondence related to the president's official duties must be handed to the National Archives for preservation. Recovery of the boxes of official White House records from Trump's Florida home raises questions about his adherence to the Act. Trump lost his bid in the Supreme Court last month to block the release of presidential documents from the National Archives to the House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot. SCHOOL heads yesterday declared incapacitation, joining teachers in pressing the government to pay them in United States dollars, a development that could plunge the first term into chaos. The first term starts today, but several teachers unions last week declared that their members would not be able to attend classes as they were incapacitated. Teachers are demanding that their earnings be restored to the pre-October 2018 level of US$520. Yesterday, headmasters joined the chorus, saying they had been engaging government since October last year to revert to US dollar salaries, but have been ignored. Our members are not on strike, but we are simply saying we have no capacity to report to work tomorrow (today), and are not capacitated to work. It is unfortunate that after declaring incapacitation we have received threats. Teachers cannot afford bus fare to work, and as school heads and teachers, we have no capacity to even send our children to school, Zimbabwe National Union of School Heads (Zinush) secretary-general Munyaradzi Majoni told NewsDay yesterday. He said Zinush last week wrote to Public Service minister Paul Mavima notifying him that school heads and teachers were incapacitated. School heads in the country reportedly earn around $30 000 per month, which was recently cushioned by the US$75 COVID-19 allowance extended to all civil servants. Our first letter was in October 2021, followed by another letter on January 27, 2022, where we asked the government to consider restoring the salaries of the education sector because we knew that schools would open and there would be perennial problems of teachers not going to work. Mavima decided to ignore our letters, and we have no option now except to declare incapacitation, he said. The government proceeded to announce the schools opening date without addressing these key fundamentals. Reports coming from our members in the 10 provinces clearly show that they are largely incapacitated to go to work, apart from the fact that the majority of them are failing to raise fees for their own children. In the current circumstances, our members may not be available in schools on February 7, 2022 as expected by our employer, and neither will they be able to comply with the usual demand for statistics and other details on the state of schools. Kast year, government invoked the no-work no-pay policy for striking teachers and tasked school heads to give names of teachers that were not attending classes. Majoni said headmasters were also warning government against victimisation. If government dares to victimise our members, we would not take it lightly. We will take all the recourse possible for workers rights to be upheld. Headmasters are not on strike. They are just incapacitated. Take this as an example, if you pluck out a locusts wings, will it be able to fly? Obviously it cant, he said. That is the same situation with the school heads, they want to be on duty tomorrow (today), but they are financially incapable. We are not forcing heads to stay away from work. Those who feel that the earnings that they are getting from government are enough to sustain them while at work can do so. We will use all means necessary to defend our members. Mavima refused to comment on the issue yesterday. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is better placed to respond to the questions on that matter, Mavima said. Primary and Secondary Education ministry secretary Tumisang Thabela referred all questions to the ministry spokesperson Taungana Ndoro, whose number was not reachable yesterday. In an interview with NewsDay last week, Ndoro said the government was not fazed by the teachers threats to boycott classes at it had become a trend whenever schools reopened. The move by headmasters was welcomed by teachers unions yesterday. Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Raymond Majongwe said: We expect school heads to be on the side of teachers. It is wrong for them to believe that they are a different set of employees from teachers. They share the same background of training. If they work together with a teacher, it means the struggle will be won faster. After all, school heads are senior teachers. The bottom line is that teachers and school heads are the same. Zimbabwe Teachers Association president Richard Gundane applauded the school heads for rallying behind the teachers. We work together with the school heads, and we must all be honest on the factual information on our welfare. It is wrong for employees to back bite each other, if we are to win the struggle. It is very important that we speak with one voice in our call for the government to improve our welfare. Meanwhile, scores of boarding school pupils who had not paid their fees in full were turned away yesterday. When NewsDay visited the Harare showgrounds open space where students were boarding buses, school authorities were demanding proof of payment from pupils before being allowing them onto the school bus. Government has approved fees increases of between $70 000 and $100 000 for boarding schools for the first term, despite it being shorter by a month. Parents yesterday told NewsDay that they were struggling to raise school fees as they were above their monthly earnings. One parent, Cecelia Masuka, said: Sending a child to school is now very hard. The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe has pegged the family basket at $73 000, which shows that the cost of living is very high. I need to pay $83 000 for my child who is doing Form Three at a boarding school (name supplied). I have another child who is doing Grade 6, where I have to pay $12 000, yet I only earn $45 000 per month. It is difficult to make things work given the measly earnings. I asked to pay half the fees, but the school authorities refused. Newsday A Missouri man who wanted to ban LGBTQ books from North Kansas City Schools school libraries over sexual images and situations was charged with molesting a child, court documents show. Ryan Utterback, a 29-year-old parent, allegedly fondled a child and was charged with that a felony for crime as well, alongside a misdemeanor charge of fourth-degree domestic assault, according to court documents. The Kansas City resident is also facing misdemeanor charges of furnishing or attempting to furnish pornographic material to a minor in separate case. Utterback is accused of two instances of child molestation in 2020, allegedly touching a 12-year-old girl under her clothes in one case, and rubbing another teens leg underneath her jeans in another case. He had been advocating for the removal of several LGBTQ books that featured sexual situations or imagery, while citing the issue of parental rights in choosing what his children are exposed to. 'I definitely understand their struggles, and it's not lost on me,' he told KMBC in November prior to his arrest this month. 'But again, those conversations are to be had at home, and only I have the intimate understanding of what is and isnt appropriate for my children.' Utterback, pictured, interviewed regarding his advocacy to ban books in North Kansas City school libraries that depicted sexual acts, was recently charged with child molestation Utterback pictured entering a North Kansas City school board meeting prior to his arrest on felony charges of child molestation Utterback, pictured with mask on, speaks at a school board meeting over book ban in his child's school district Last year, he reportedly began showing pornography to a young girl from when she was around the age of 4 years old. Before the arrest, Utterback had previously appeared at an October 26, 2021 school board meeting for the removal of books that depicted sexual acts in North Kansas City Schools libraries. At that meeting, Utterback presented large prints of pages from two books he particularly wanted banned. The books in question were graphic novel 'Fun Home' by cartoonist Alison Bechdel, and George M Johnson's 'All Boys Aren't Blue,' both of which explore gender and sexuality for teens and young people. Another member of a parent association similarly fighting for the ban then likened the material to solicitation of a minor. It remained unclear how many children Utterback has, and whether or not he is married, however he had identified and described himself as a parent at the school board meetings. Pictured: North Kansas City Schools, where Utterback had been advocating to ban LGBTQ books that featured sexual imagery or situations A North Kansas City school board committee meeting, where Utterback and others showed several times to protest such books in the school's libraries Utterback appeared again at a meeting for the same reason in November, as first reported by local news station KMBC-TV. WMBF News reports that LGBTQ-inclusive books have been frequent targets of banned-book lists at schools throughout the country. Half of the 20 most banned books of the decade had some form of LGBTQ verbiage in their titles spanning 2010-19, according to the American Library Association. Meanwhile in November, the director of the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom Deborah Caldwell-Stone described a 'chilling' uptick in the previous year in an interview with NBC News. Mary O'Hara, rapid response manager at the LGBTQ media advocacy group GLAAD, told WMBF that banned and challenged books are evaluated for their educational and literary worth, with some of these books occasionally returning to school library shelves. 'Book ban advocates have long tried to inaccurately claim that LGBTQ representation in books, films, TV and ads is "unsuitable" or "obscene," while other media with narratives and themes about opposite-sex relationships even those with graphic sex or violence are not targeted,' O'Hara told the network. Opponents of such material like Utterback have cited parental rights in having a say in what their children read in school, with O'Hara adding that the majority of recently targeted books revolve around LGBTQ and race-related storylines and issues. 'LGBTQ people and Black people are parents, too, and get a say in their children's education,' they said, adding that schools should 'ensure books are available to all children to learn about themselves and people different from themselves,' she said. Meanwhile, Utterback is next due to appear in court on March 10. Members of the Australian Defence Force will be deployed to assist the aged care sector as it deals with a spike in COVID-19 cases. Following a meeting of federal cabinet's national security committee on Monday, as many as 1700 ADF personnel will be used to help the sector. The decision will ensure teams can be deployed to deal with acute situations within a 24-hour notice period. It will start with four teams of 10 and that can increase to up to 10 different ADF teams. The teams will include a registered nurse, medical technicians and other personnel to support general duties. The deployment will start with about 50 ADF members being deployed to each state, with the ability to scale it up to 200. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the measures would not mean there would be a surrogate workforce for the aged care sector. 'They have provided quite targeted support into the aged care sector in extreme situations, some of the most difficult situations,' he told reporters in Canberra. "A majority of those are clinical support because that's the resource available ... it's a targeted bespoke effort." Defence Minister Peter Dutton said there would also be 15 military planners who would be deployed to the federal health department to help coordination efforts. It's estimated there are about 285,000 workers in the aged care sector. Aged care facilities have been under considerable strain during the Omicron wave, with more than 500 deaths from COVID-19 since the start of the year. Many centres have been dealing with shortages of protective equipment and rapid antigen tests, along with staff shortages due to many people testing positive to COVID. Mr Morrison said the past few weeks had been challenging for aged care. 'It's a tough challenge, and we'd be kidding ourselves as a country if we didn't think the pandemic has impacts,' he said. 'You seek to mitigate them as best you can.' The Yorkshire Ripper will speak from beyond the grave in a Channel 5 documentary featuring haunting recordings of him discussing unsolved crimes. One tape reveals Peter Sutcliffe, who murdered at least 13 women in the 1970s and 1980s, planned to kill 24-year-old street worker Olivia Reivers - a passenger in his car when police caught him in 1981 after discovering the number plates were stolen. In a trailer for the documentary, hosted by ex-detective Mark Williams-Thomas, a woman asks: 'Were you going to attack the girl you were with?' The serial killer replies: 'Of course I was. That was the whole point.' Sutcliffe died from Covid aged 74 in November 2020 after boasting he would not catch the infection in jail. He passed away at the University Hospital of North Durham after his lungs failed. No visitors were allowed by his bedside due to Covid rules. One tape reveals Peter Sutcliffe (pictured above), who murdered at least 13 women in the 1970s and 1980s, planned to kill 24-year-old street worker Olivia Reivers - a passenger in his car when police caught him in 1981 after discovering the number plates were stolen A composite of 12 of the 13 victims murdered by Sutcliffe. Victims are: (top row, left to right) Wilma McCann, Emily Jackson, Irene Richardson and Patricia Atkinson; (middle row, left to right) Jayne McDonald, Jean Jordan, Yvonne Pearson and Helen Rytka; (bottom row, left to right) Vera Millward, Josephine Whitaker, Barbara Leach and Jacqueline Hill In the Channel 5 programme, Sutcliffe's brother Carl labels the killer's claims that 'voices from God' provoked his attacks as 'utter rubbish', reports The Sun. Sutcliffe was jailed for life at the Old Bailey in May 1981, before being moved to Broadmoor Hospital three years later after he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. He was transferred to HMP Frankland in 2016 after psychiatrists said he was stable enough for jail. Born in Bingley, West Yorkshire, in 1946, Sutcliffe left school aged 15 and worked in menial jobs before becoming a grave digger. He began his killing spree in 1975, battering 28-year-old sex worker Wilma McCann to death on October 30, 1975, which followed three non-fatal attacks on women earlier in the year. Sutcliffe avoided detection for years due to a series of missed opportunities by police to snare him, and eventually confessed in 1981 when he was brought in due to a police check discovering stolen number plates on his car. Despite his 24-hour-long confession to the killings, Sutcliffe denied the murders when indicted at court. In May 1981, he was jailed for 20 life terms at the Old Bailey, with the judge recommending a minimum sentence of 30 years. Sutcliffe is taken to Frimley Park Hospital from Broadmoor Hospital for eye blindness treatment in September 2015. The serial killer died from Covid aged 74 in November 2020 after boasting he would not catch the infection in jail A selection of newspaper front pages from January 5, 1981, the day Sutcliffe made his first appearance in court, where he was charged with 13 counts of murder Sutcliffe in prison van on way to the Old Bailey in London, May 1981 (left). He is pictured on the right in a video grab taken during his time in prison, where he was serving a full life term Could the Ripper have more victims? The Yorkshire Ripper was responsible for murdering 13 women and attempting to kill seven more, but there has always been speculation that he could have committed more crimes. Peter Sutcliffe's death in 2020 will have left many feeling they will never know if he was responsible for attacking them, over 40 years ago. A report completed shortly after he was given 20 life sentences found that Peter Sutcliffe could have been responsible for a further 13 offences. And he said he was questioned in prison about 16 unsolved cases - although no further charges were ever brought. West Yorkshire Police reviewed historical cases linked to Sutcliffe in the 1982 Byford Report and confirmed in 2016 that officers had visited a small number of people named in the report, but later announced they had no plans to charge him with further matters. The report, written by Sir Lawrence Byford about the flawed Ripper investigation, was completed in 1982 but only made public in 2006. It said there was an 'unexplained lull' in Sutcliffe's criminal activities between 1969, when he first came to the police's attention, and the first officially recognised Ripper assault in 1975. Sutcliffe was jailed for murdering and attacking women between 1976 and 1981. The report said: 'We feel it is highly improbable that the crimes in respect of which Sutcliffe has been charged and convicted are the only ones attributable to him. 'This feeling is reinforced by examining the details of a number of assaults on women since 1969 which, in some ways, clearly fall into the established pattern of Sutcliffe's overall modus operandi.' In 2017, Sutcliffe wrote a letter to ITV News Calendar presenter Christine Talbot, in which he said he had never attacked or murdered any men. Advertisement He was transferred from Parkhurst prison on the Isle of Wight to Broadmoor secure hospital in Berkshire in 1984 after he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. More than two decades later, a secret report revealed that Sutcliffe probably committed more crimes than the 13 murders and seven attempted murders for which he was convicted. And he said he was questioned in prison about 16 unsolved cases - although no further charges were ever brought. West Yorkshire Police reviewed historical cases linked to Sutcliffe in the 1982 Byford Report and confirmed in 2016 that officers had visited a small number of people named in the report, but later announced they had no plans to charge him with further matters. The report, written by Sir Lawrence Byford about the flawed Ripper investigation, was completed in 1982 but only made public in 2006. It said there was an 'unexplained lull' in Sutcliffe's criminal activities between 1969, when he first came to the police's attention, and the first officially recognised Ripper assault in 1975. Sutcliffe was jailed for murdering and attacking women between 1976 and 1981. The report said: 'We feel it is highly improbable that the crimes in respect of which Sutcliffe has been charged and convicted are the only ones attributable to him. 'This feeling is reinforced by examining the details of a number of assaults on women since 1969 which, in some ways, clearly fall into the established pattern of Sutcliffe's overall modus operandi.' Shortly before his death, Sutcliffe wrote regular letters to a penpal during the pandemic and had boasted about feeling 'much safer' in prison than on the outside. Mentioning the 'horrible worldwide pandemic', he told the correspondent, who asked to remain anonymous: 'The world is stuck with this Covid. Makes me feel much safer being in here with all that's going on in the world.' He had regularly described his fears about contracting coronavirus in the months before he tested positive. He first mentioned it on March 16 writing: 'You be careful with this horrible virus about.' He also declined to have visitors due to his fears about the virus, writing on May 10: 'Visits are going again but I won't be bothering with them in the present circumstances. I'd rather wait until they've discovered an effective vaccine.' And in 2017, Sutcliffe wrote a letter to ITV News Calendar presenter Christine Talbot, in which he said he had never attacked or murdered any men. He denied involvement in attacks on Fred Craven, who was fatally wounded with a hammer in Bingley in 1966, and John Tomey, who survived a hammer attack by a passenger as they drove across moors near Bingley in 1967. Sutcliffe's letter on June 14, 2020, to his penpal - who asked to remain anonymous - in which he boasted about feeling 'safer' behind bars during the Covid pandemic Officers in 1981 digging for clues and further victims outside the Ripper's house at Heaton shortly after he had been identified A furious crowd outside Dewsbury Magistrates Court is held back by police when Sutcliffe appeared there in 1981 Sutcliffe said he had been questioned about 16 non-fatal attacks and police were satisfied he was not involved in any of the cases. In the letter, Sutcliffe wrote: 'Yes I did some bad things, but I just want people to know I did not attack or murder any males. 'And with a whole life sentence I'd have nothing to lose, and it would not be in my interest to say I didn't do it if I did, as I'm in jail till my dying day.' Sutcliffe's brother, Carl, told The Mirror in 2020: 'I've asked him if he killed more and he said no. He says there are no more, he says 'That's the lot'.' West Yorkshire Police confirmed in November 2020 there were no plans to send any further material about Sutcliffe to the Crown Prosecution Service for consideration. The Ripper Speaks: The Lost Tapes will air on Channel 5 at 10pm tomorrow. Police have arrested seven men including a suspect in his sixties linked to a 'bizarre' castration cult who have intimate body parts removed live on pay per view streams all orchestrated by a ringleader nicknamed 'The Eunuch Maker', it was revealed today. The group is likely inspired by asexual Japanese artist Mao Sugiyama who had his penis and testicles surgically removed nine years ago, aged 23, to serve as a meal to five guests at an exclusive banquet. He would later have his nipples cut off. The Met Police has revealed it raided a property in Finsbury Park, North London, and spent three days there removing desktop computers, laptops and other items in plastic evidence bags. It is alleged that removal of body parts were carried out in the basement flat and screened on a pay-per-view basis, via an adult channel boosted by a Twitter account. A 44-year-old Norwegian man living there has been held on suspicion of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm. Six other people, aged in their 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s, have also been arrested. The alleged ringleader, who lives at the property, is said to have given himself the moniker: 'The Eunuch Maker' and is understood to have undergone an amputation himself. The seven suspects have all been released on bail. A neighbour of the Finsbury Park apartment told The Sun: 'It was all very bizarre, there were police outside the flat for a few days. They were putting everything in plastic bags it looked like computers and laptops.' The Nullo movement has grown in popularity in recent years. There are extreme cases where people are castrated for cannibalistic or sexual desires - but the majority remove their genitals because they don't identify as male or female. Many opt for a 'smoothie' - a procedure that leaves them with a fully smooth groin. More than half of those people use amateur 'cutters' - often doctors or vets - or do it themselves. There are an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 voluntary 'Nullos' worldwide, though the true number is unknown. Two thirds never tell anyone they have no genitalia, including their families, a 2014 academic study found. Japanese artist Mao Sugiyama became a famous 'nullo' in 2012 after having his genitals removed, freezing them and then cooking and serving them at a banquet costing 800-a-head The group are likely to have been inspired by asexual Japanese illustrator Mao Sugiyama What is a 'nullo'? A 'nullo', also known as a 'smoothie', is someone who has undergone extreme body modification by having their genitals, and sometimes also their nipples, surgically removed. Though the procedure is mostly done by men, there are women who also voluntarily have their vagina stitched closed and clitoris removed. There are said to be amateur 'cutters' in the UK and all over the world, but many will go to the United States for surgery. A clinic in California charges around $10,000 plus hospital fees. There are clinics in Mexico a hospital who are willing to do a no-questions-asked castration. Experts believe that there are around 10,000 to 15,000 voluntary eunuchs, and that over more than half of them used DIY surgery or a cutters services. Advertisement The group are said to identify as 'Nullos' - shorthand for genital nullification a sub-culture who meet through online forums. Many of the 'cutters' - slang for those who carry out the procedure - are from a medical background. Those who have had their genitals removed also claim that vets are known to do it. One man, named William, told the Daily Beast that he decided to spend the money to do it in a hospital. He said: The risk of something going wrong is extremely high. 'I also dont wish to look like Frankenstein at the end of the procedure'. A castrated vicar, named Benedict, said: 'Its nowhere near as weird and difficult to try to become a eunuch now as it was 30 years ago. 'Now, we have doctors who dont even blink when you say you want to just remove your testicles, or just add a vagina. I never saw this coming'. The most famous modern 'Nullo' is Japanese artist Sugiyama, 23, who had his penis and testicles surgically removed by a physician in March 2012. He has also had his nipples removed. They had been certified free of infections and were frozen for two months before being served up at a banquet in Suginami, a residential area in western Tokyo. He charged guests around 160 per person to eat the meal which was garnished with mushrooms and parsley. But police charged him with indecent exposure. Mao, who goes by the nickname HC, said he had initially considered eating his own penis but decided to serve them up instead. He cooked the genitalia, which were removed in early April 2012 shortly after his 22nd birthday, himself while being supervised by a chef. Sugiyama put on a traditional chefs outfit, before carefully seasoning and braising the genitals on a portable gas cartridge burner. Diners at the exclusive Tokyo banquet either got Sugiyama's cooked genitals or beef or crocodile meat The Met raided a property in Finsbury Park, North London , and spent three days there Japanese artist was the first 'nullo' after tweet offer back in 2012 Artist Mao Sugiyama shocked Twitter ten years ago posting the words 'Please retweet. I am offering my male genitals (full penis, testes, scrotum) as a meal for 100,000 yen I will prepare and cook as the buyer requests, at his chosen location.' The price was slashed when it was decided to share the groin-grown grub between a number of people. Tokyo illustrator Sugiyama honoured the deal and had the genitals cooked up for five people at 160 a head. They were devoured at a 70-strong banquet in the Suginami ward, where the other lucky diners were treated to beef or crocodile. Laid on was other attractions which included musical entertainment and a panel to talk about the meal. The unusual dish was said to have been served up with a button mushroom garnish. Sugiyama went on a one-month sex binge before the operation to make full use of the body parts before they were eaten. A series of tests were carried out to make sure they had no venereal diseases before they were scoffed by diners. Advertisement Guests were made to sign a waiver so he could not be held responsible if they became ill. Announcing the event on Twitter he first offered to cook his penis for a guest for 800. However, he ultimately decided to split the 'meal' between five guests. He wrote on Twitter: 'I am offering my male genitals (full penis, testes, scrotum) as a meal for 100,000 yen (800). I'm Japanese. 'The organs were surgically removed at age 22. I was tested to be free of venereal diseases. The organs were of normal function. I was not receiving female hormone treatment. 'First interested buyer will get them, or I will also consider selling to a group. Will prepare and cook as the buyer requests, at his chosen location. 'If you have questions, please contact me by DM or e-mail.' In total around 70 people attended the event in the Suginami ward of Tokyo. While five people tucked into Mao Sugiyama's genitalia, the rest of them ate beef or crocodile. It was reported that the five people who ate the unusual showpiece dish were a married couple, a Manga artist, a woman, 32, and an event planner, aged 22. Talking about the Finsbury Park arrests, a spokesman for the Met said: 'Between Tuesday 7 and Friday 10 December 2021, officers from the Mets Central Specialist Crime command conducted a search warrant at a residential address in the Finsbury Park area in connection with an investigation into an allegation of grievous bodily harm. 'A man, aged 40s, was arrested in relation to this investigation and is currently on bail. 'Six other suspects were also arrested and released on bail in connection with this matter.' Prince Andrew may become a witness in a High Court case between a businessman and a private investigation firm. The potential court action is between billionaire Arvind Tiku and a company called S-RM Intelligence. Mr Tiku is suing S-RM for 50,000 damages to personal dignity, autonomy and integrity over a report the firm wrote about him. The Duke of York is not party to the litigation and only linked due to his former Sunninghill Park mansion home. Buckingham Palace have previously denied he wrongly benefitted from the sale. Andrew sold the sprawling Berkshire property in 2007 to Kazakh tycoon called Timur Kulibayev in a 15million deal. The PI report alleges there were suspicions the estate was bought to launder money which had come from the sale of Kazakh assets. Andrew's representatives say it was a straightforward commercial transaction, as does Mr Kulibayev. Lawyers for Mr Kulibayev stressed that he is not a party to the proceedings but disputes the allegations, which they claim are based on unreliable and unverified sources. Delightful Sunninghill Park was first gifted by the Queen to Andrew as a wedding gift Prince Andrew then sold the Berkshire property in 2007 to Kazakh tycoon Timur Kulibayev The Duchess of York lived on there with daughters Beatrice and Eugenie following the divorce Mr Tiku - who is named in the report as a trusted representative of Mr Kulibayev - has issued a High Court writ disputing the allegations and accusing authors S-RM Intelligence of breaching data-protection rights. Mr Kulibayev has consistently denied accusations he laundered money and rebutted claims he paid over the asking price for the Sunninghill Park. Mr Tiku's lawyers insist all of the allegations had been investigated and no wrongdoing had been found. His writ also accuses S-RM Intelligence of wrongfully processing his personal data. Mr Tiku's lawyers insist he did not embezzle funds and did not launder cash by helping buy Sunninghill Park. They also deny he was ever a 'trusted representative' of Mr Kulibayev or ever held assets for him. The writ is seeking 50,000 for damages to personal dignity, autonomy and integrity. The then married couple inspected the site at Sunninghill Park as building work went on Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson was very fond of the property and stayed there after divorce The sprawling property was built in a ranch style and prompted comparison to US-style homes Mr Tiku's lawyers insist he did not embezzle funds and did not launder cash by helping buy Sunninghill Park Sunninghill Park was gifted by the Queen to her second son as a wedding gift and is under the Heathrow flight path where planes pass over it every few minutes. At one time it was dubbed SouthYork because it resembles Southfork, the ranch-house in TV's Dallas. Designed by Sir James Dunbar-Nasmith, who also created a development on the Balmoral estate, 'SouthYork' was given to Andrew after his marriage in 1986. The Duchess of York lived on there with daughters Beatrice and Eugenie following the divorce in 1996, but moved out in 2006 and joined Andrew at his home Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park. Andrew has recently settled a 6.6 million debt with a French socialite, paving the way for him to sell his beloved ski chalet to fund his alleged sex abuse case. Isabelle de Rouvre, 74, sold her house, Chalet Helora, to her then-friends Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson in 2014 for 18million. Andrew and Fergie agreed with Ms de Rouvre that the house would be paid for in instalments. But Ms de Rouvre claimed the Yorks failed to make the final instalment of 5m for the property in the exclusive Swiss ski resort of Verbier. Initially Ms de Rouvre agreed that it could be deferred until December 2019, with interest accruing, but the pair still did not honour the agreement despite repeated demands. Glamorous Ms de Rouvre, saddened by the breakdown in trust, was forced to launch a legal battle in the Swiss courts two years ago in an attempt to recoup the sum owed to her by the Duke of York. The Duke finally paid late last year, and Ms de Rouvre has now said: 'The war is over. He has paid the money.' The settlement raises questions over how Andrew raised the 6.6million he owed Ms de Rouvre - but it now paves the way for him to sell Chalet Helora and free up desperately needed cash to pay his escalating legal bills due to claims he sexually assaulted Virginia Roberts. Andrew denies any wrongdoing. Men who send unsolicited 'd**k pics' will face up to two years in jail and be made to sign the sex offenders register under a law change in England and Wales. Cyber-flashing is when a person is sent an unsolicited sexual image on their mobile device by an unknown person nearby through social media, messages or other sharing functions such as Airdrop. There is currently no law which directly addresses cyber-flashing in England and Wales, despite the act being made illegal in Scotland around 12 years ago. But now, in a move which intends to reflect penalties for indecent exposure in public, cyber-flashing is set to be included in the Sexual Offences Act 2003. Explaining the offence of indecent exposure, Sean Caulfield, criminal solicitor at Hodge Jones & Allen, told MailOnline: 'The prosecution would need to prove someone intended to expose their genitals, and that they did so intending to cause alarm and distress. 'It can apply to anyone, whether the victim is a stranger or someone they know.' The new proposal comes after researchers warned that a lack of thorough accountability and identity-checking measures are helping to fuel the online sexual harassment of young people. In a move which intends to reflect penalties for indecent exposure in public, cyber-flashing is set to be included in the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (file photo) What is cyber-flashing? Cyber-flashing is the act of someone deliberately sending a stranger an unsolicited sexual image using the AirDrop feature on an iPhone. These images are typically of male genitalia. AirDrop, which is specific to iOS devices such as iPads and iPhones, as well as Apple Macs, uses Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to connect over a short range to other devices. People are often targeted by cyber-flashing through AirDrop on public transport due to the technology's short range. There is currently no law which directly addresses cyber-flashing in England and Wales, despite the act being made illegal in Scotland 12 years ago. Cyber-flashing was criminalised in Scotland under Section 6 of the Sexual Offence in 2009, while a similar measure was also passed in the Texas Senate unanimously in May 2019. Police investigated the first ever case of cyber-flashing in 2015 after an unwanted graphic picture popped up on a shocked London commuter's iPhone. There were three cases reported in 2016 and 15 in 2017. Advertisement Ministers had contemplated adding cyber-flashing to the Online Safety Bill - a draft legislation announced last week which will force web giants to protect users by cracking down on illegal activity taking place on their platforms. But the government will now use another, more minor, piece of legislation due to concerns over getting the Online Safety Bill written into law this year, reports The Times. It is understood that a cyber-flasher could still be found guilty if they send a picture of someone else's genitals. A study released last December by UCL Institute of Education found that non-consensual image-sharing practices were 'particularly pervasive, and consequently normalised and accepted' - contributing to 'shockingly low' rates of reporting online sexual abuse. Researchers quizzed 144 boys and girls aged from 12 to 18 in focus groups, and a further 336 in a survey about digital image-sharing. Thirty-seven per cent of the 122 girls surveyed had received an unwanted sexual picture or video online. Three in four of the girls in the focus groups had also been sent an explicit photo of male genitals, with the majority of these 'not asked for'. Snapchat was the most common platform used for image-based sexual harassment, according to the survey findings. But reporting on Snapchat was deemed 'useless' by young people because the images automatically delete. And research by YouGov last year found that four in ten millennial women have been sent a picture of a man's genitals without consent, while data by Bumble suggested that this figure could be even higher. Findings from the dating website revealed that 48 per cent of those aged 18 to 24 have received an unsolicited sexual photograph in the last year alone. Bumble found that women are disproportionally recipients of the explicit photographs, which are sent on social media, messaging apps, Bluetooth, AirDrop and WiFi. The dating app began cross-party Parliamentary consultations on November 2 alongside UN Women UK and the United Nations' gender equality arm. Cyber-flashing is when a person is sent an unsolicited sexual image on their mobile device by an unknown person nearby through social media, messages or other sharing functions such as Airdrop (file photo) Cyber-flashing victim tells how stranger sent her explicit images on Instagram A cyber-flashing victim has backed a campaign to make sending explicit images without consent illegal after a stranger sent her explicit images on Instagram. Karen Whybro, from Chelmsford, Essex, said she was sent an explicit photograph of a man's genitals from a stranger on Instagram in October last year. The mother-of-one said she was thankful that her daughter Nancy, five, had not been sitting next to her at the time and did not see the message. Karen Whybro (pictured), from Chelmsford, said she was sent an explicit photograph of a man's genitals from a stranger on Instagram in October last year She explained: 'I opened a message request on Instagram to find it was an explicit photograph. 'Thankfully my five-year-old daughter, Nancy, wasn't sitting next to me at the time. 'I use social media for my business and personal life and I opened the message instantly. 'I will be honest it knocked me off my feet. I deleted it but I'd be lying if I said it didn't affect me. 'The attitude some men have is that you would want to see it. There is a real arrogance to it but it is an issue of consent.' The feminist safety campaigner has called on the government to do more to stop stranger's sending unwanted explicit images which violates people's privacy. Advertisement It came after similar measures were passed in other countries, including Scotland and areas in the US, with Bumble calling for England to also criminalise cyber-flashing. Cyber-flashing was criminalised in Scotland under Section 6 of the Sexual Offence in 2009, while a similar measure was also passed in the Texas Senate unanimously in May 2019. The House Bill 2789 came into force on September 1, 2019, and ruled that sending a lewd photograph without consent was punishable by a fine of up to $500 (369). Last year, a Conservative MP called for cyber-flashing to be made a criminal offence to stop Britons sending X-rated snaps to strangers using the AirDrop function via Bluetooth on their iPhones. Fay Jones, MP for Brecon and Radnorshire, called for 'digital flashing' to be made a criminal offence. She told MPs in January 2021: 'The scourge of cyber-flashing - where unwanted and unsolicited indecent photographs are distributed to mobile devices - needs to be made a criminal offence.' Police investigated the first ever case of cyber-flashing in 2015 after an unwanted graphic picture popped up on a shocked London commuter's iPhone. There were three cases reported in 2016 and 15 in 2017. Figures published by the British Transport Police show there were another 35 offences recorded in the first half of 2019 compared to 34 for the whole of 2018. The number of reported cases is also thought to be much lower than the actual number of instances, partly due to the fact that cyber-flashing is not in itself a crime. Some cases can be investigated under current public decency laws, or the Malicious Communications Act, but there are currently no specific provisions for cyber-flashing. Professor McGlynn, an expert in the legal regulation of pornography, image-based sexual abuse and sexual violence, says that the Ministry of Justice 'so far just keep refusing to act' despite a number of reports and calls for change in legislation. She argued that, regardless of the 'tangible impact' of cyber-flashing, it remains a 'breach of civil liberties'. She said: 'The bottom line is we shouldn't have to deal with this sort of thing. We shouldn't have to change our AirDrop settings to private, or chastise ourselves for not doing so in the first place... 'Cyber-flashing infringes our right to everyday life, a life without looking over our shoulder, worrying what's around the corner.' AirDrop, which is specific to iOS devices such as iPads and iPhones, as well as Apple Macs, uses Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to connect over a short range to other devices. Its default setting is for 'contacts only', which means only people you know can see you. But to share information with other people, users can make a change to the settings and change it to 'everyone'. The setting allows anyone to send an image to that device where - unlike other messages apps such as WhatsApp or SMS - the photograph automatically appears on the screen. It is then up to the user to choose to 'accept' the image, although they will have already seen a preview. Children as young as six are being quizzed on their gender by Scout chiefs, in a move dubbed as 'woke nonsense' by critics. Youngsters in the 112-year-old youth organisation are now being asked to define their gender - instead of their biological sex - in an annual census of its members. Options on the yearly survey include 'male, female, I self-identify' or 'I prefer not to say'. However the move has prompted fury from parents, who say it is 'bonkers' that children as young as six are being 'forced' to define their gender. One MP meanwhile has rubbished the options on the survey as 'woke nonsense'. However bosses of the youth group, whose figurehead Chief Scout is TV survival expert Bear Grylls, say the census is 'vital' for supporting its members. They also say the survey has taken place every year for more than a century. Originally founded as boys-only group, girls have been able to join the Scouting network since 1976 - while also having the option of Girlguides. Scouts meanwhile say their group is 'open to all' and welcomes people 'regardless of their gender' - though note gender is 'different from assigned sex'. Speaking about the census, one parent told The Sun: 'It frustrated me that children can't be free from this. It's simply wrong.' Another said: 'It's bonkers, they're just kids. They're not interested in gender they just want to build campfires.' Youngsters in the 112-year-old group (pictured: Library image of a Scout) are now being asked to define their gender - instead of their biological sex - in an annual census of its members Options on the yearly survey include 'male, female, I self-identify' or 'I prefer not to say'. Pictured: The Scouts have a 'What is Gender Identity' section on their website Meanwhile Conservative MP Nigel Mills, who represents the Derbyshire seat of Amber Valley, branded it 'unacceptable'. He told the paper: 'This is Beaver Scouts, it's about children growing up and life experiences. That should not be interrupted with woke nonsense.' What are the ages for each of the Scout groups? Squirrel Scouts - Aged 46 Beaver Scouts - Aged 58 Cub Scouts - Aged 810+ Scouts - Aged 1014 Explorer Scouts - Aged 1418 Network - Aged 1825 Advertisement In a statement, sent to MailOnline, the Scouts said: 'Every year Scouts takes a census of membership. This information is vital for supporting members. 'The census asks for the same questions no matter what your age. 'Gender identity refers to an individual's internal knowledge of their own gender, knowing you're a man, woman, boy, girl or none of these.' Scout bosses say there is no question on biological sex on the yearly census. The move comes after Scout bosses were met with fury in 2017 after telling group leaders to stop calling kids 'boys' and girls'. Instead, leaders were told to use phrases such as 'hello everybody' instead. Conservative MP David Davis said at the time: 'It seems now that common sense has been thrown out of the window.' Last year the group was forced to apologise to a campaigner after investigating her for two years for misgendering someone on Twitter. Assistant cub scout leader Maya Forstater inadvertently called a bearded transgender scout leader he rather than they in 2019. This prompted an inquiry, which found Miss Forstater had brought the organisation into disrepute. However in December last year the Scouts issued an apology, saying she did not deliberately misgender the complainant in order to cause harm and that she did not spread lies about them. Assistant cub scout leader Maya Forstater inadvertently called a bearded transgender scout leader he rather than they in 2019 Miss Forstater, who runs the group Sex Matters and who has been praised by JK Rowling, said the complaint by Gregor Murray was vexatious. It came after she raised concerns about the Scouts transgender policy. She added: The whole process has been bullying from start to finish. They didnt interview me. They ignored my evidence. They made things up I hadnt done. A spokesman for the Scouts said: It is inappropriate for us to comment further on a case that has been closed. It comes as figures last year showed The Scouts suffered their biggest drop in membership since the Second World War in the pandemic, it was revealed yesterday. Numbers plunged by 24.5 per cent from 480,083 to 362,752 as activities stopped or moved online. More than 15,000 adult volunteers quit. As war hit the UK, youth membership fell from 394,615 in 1938 to 284,678 in 1941. Speaking in May last year Bear Grylls, who is hold the ceremonial role as Chief Scout, said: 'Scouts play a fundamental role in the lives of thousands of young people and our goal is to build back our membership by welcoming thousands of new volunteers. Speaking in May last year Bear Grylls (pictured), who is hold the ceremonial role as Chief Scout, said: 'Scouts play a fundamental role in the lives of thousands of young people and our goal is to build back our membership by welcoming thousands of new volunteers. The Scouts said during the pandemic volunteers provided millions of hours of Zoom sessions and supported at-home challenges. The group were first founded in 1910 by Robert Baden-Powell, a British Army officer, originally as the Boy Scouts Association. In 1922 the World Organization of the Scout Movement was launched and today as many as 50 million people are believed to be involved in Scouting. In 1976, girls were allowed to join the Scouts for the first time, initially in the older age groups, before this was expanded to all age groups in 1991. The UK Scouts are divided into age groups, including Squirrel Scouts (aged 46), Beaver Scouts (aged 58), Cub Scouts (aged 810+), Scouts (aged 1014), Explorer Scouts (aged 1418) and adult Network members (aged 1825). Advertisement A top retired Russian general has warned Vladimir Putin not to go to war with Ukraine, accusing the leader of whipping up an 'artificial' conflict to distract from his domestic problems. Colonel-General Leonid Ivashov, 78, penned an open letter titled 'The Eve of War' in which he blasted Putin's 'criminal policy of provoking a war' despite Russia not facing any 'critical threats'. The rare outburst of internal dissent comes as Emmanuel Macron jets to the Kremlin for crisis talks with Putin, a day after the White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said an invasion could come 'any day' at an 'enormous human cost'. Ivashov, who has retired from military services and is active in politics as the chairman of the All-Russian Officers' Assembly, previously served as Putin's chief of military cooperation in the Ministry of Defence. In an open letter on the assembly's website he said he fears Russia will become a 'pariah of the world community' if an invasion is launched, and called on Putin to resign. The decorated general, who was one of the most respected and hawkish generals in the Russian MoD and is known as a hardline nationalist who still champions the Soviet system and is close to the remains of the Communist party. Since being fired by Putin in 2001 he has become a fierce critic of the Russian president - and has frequently called for him to resign for being too soft and protecting a corrupt elite at the expense of the public, accusing him of 'crimes against Russia'. His latest intervention shows that there is at least some opposition to a war with Ukraine within Russia, and comes after a petition was signed by 5,000 citizens demanding Putin call off the conflict. Ivashov said: 'As for external threats, they are certainly present. But, according to our expert assessment, they are not currently critical, directly threatening the existence of Russian statehood and its vital interests.' Commenting on the letter, Stanford Russia expert Michael McFaul, who previously served as the US ambassador to Russia, said: 'This is a big deal. At one time, General Ivashov was one of the most respected (and hawkish) leaders in the Russian MOD. 'Russian generals don't usually get involved in public policy debates, especially ones like Ivashov.' A top retired Russian general has warned Vladimir Putin not to go to war with Ukraine, accusing the leader of whipping up an 'artificial' conflict to distract from his domestic problems. Pictured: Ukraine's live fire exercises Colonel-General Leonid Ivashov (pictured) penned an open letter in which he blasted Putin's 'criminal policy of provoking a war' despite Russia not facing any 'critical threats' Ivashov published the open letter on the website of the All-Russian Officers' Assembly, calling on Putin to stop the invasion The decorated general was one of the most respected and hawkish generals in the Russian MoD and was known as a hardline nationalist Ukrainian Special Forces posing with one of their Humvees after a shipment of US military cargo to prepare for a potential invasion Around 80 tonnes of US arms and ammunition sits on the runway of a Ukrainian airport after being delivered from the US U.S. soldiers disembark from a U.S. Air Force Boeing C-17A Globemaster III as they arrive at Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport in Poland Civilians participate in a Territorial Defence unit training session in Obukhiv, Ukraine, as the threat of Russian invasion grows Who is Colonel-General Leonid Ivashov? Ivashov, 78, married with a daughter, claims to be descended from a Decembrist - banished by Nicholas I to Siberia and later the Urals. His father was wounded in the Second World War, and his mother had been left parentless aged four when her mother and father were sent to Siberia by Stalin. In 1964 he graduated from the Tashkent Higher Combined Arms Command School, and a decade later from the elite Frunze military academy in Moscow. During service, he commanded a reconnaissance platoon of a motorised rifle regiment in the Carpathian military district in western Ukraine, and a motorised rifle company in the Group of Soviet Forces in East Germany. In August 1968, his company was part of the Soviet military contingent that invaded Czechoslovakia. He later worked in the Defence Ministry as a key apparatchik in the officers of Soviet defence ministers Dmitry Ustinov and Sergey Sokolov. After the Soviet collapse, he became close to Slobodan Milosevic - and later gave evidence at his war crimes trial. He was an early and outspoken of NATO expansion to the east, and a frequent Putin critic, both before and after he was fired from the Defence Ministry in 2001. In 2000 Putin floated the idea that Russia could join NATO - strange as this seems now. It was Ivashov - still in uniform - who hit back with comments echoing what the Kremlin now believes two decades later. 'Hypothetically it is certainly possible,' Ivashov said. 'But NATO would have to transform itself from a military bloc into one of the institutions of European security.' The same year he attacked the US over the labelling of Libya and North Korea as rogue states. 'In our view - this is the opinion not just of the Defence Ministry but of Russia - there are no threats to the United States from these countries which they dub rogue states,' he said. In 2003 he initiated the creation of the All-Russian Officers' Assembly, described as 'independent from government officials and the current leadership of the Russian Federation - a platform for discussing the real state of our Armed Forces'. In 2006, he was elected chairman of a monarchist organisation - Union of the Russian People. An attempt to challenge Putin for the Russian presidency in the 2012 election was thwarted on a technicality over his registration. It was claimed 'no one in the Kremlin was scared of Ivashov' yet his outspoken attacks let to his firing. Advertisement The All-Russian Officers' Assembly is an independent group established in 2003 discusses the role of the Russian military in the state, and is considered a retirement home for former officers with often nationalist views. In his letter, Ivashov argues that Ukraine has a right to self-defence as an independent nation, and the international backlash to the annexation of Crimea 'convincingly shows the failure of Russian foreign policy'. He continued: 'Attempts to 'love' the Russian Federation and its leadership through an ultimatum and threats of the use of force are senseless and extremely dangerous. 'The use of military force against Ukraine, firstly, will call into question the existence of Russia itself as a state; secondly, it will forever make Russians and Ukrainians mortal enemies. 'Thirdly, there will be tens of thousands of dead young, healthy men on one side and on the other, which will certainly affect the future demographic situation in our dying countries. 'On the battlefield, if this happens, Russian troops will face not only Ukrainian military personnel, among whom there will be many Russian guys, but also military personnel and equipment from many NATO countries, and the member states of the alliance will be obliged to declare war on Russia.' Ivashov added that such an invasion would 'threaten peace and international security' and would result in heavy sanctions for Russia. He said: 'The president and the government, the Ministry of Defense cannot fail to understand such consequences, they are not so stupid.' The hardline general then questions why would Putin risk such hostility and conflict, concluding that it is a distraction from the country's internal problems. He said: 'In our opinion, the country's leadership, realising that it is not capable of leading the country out of the systemic crisis which can lead to an uprising of the people and a change of power in the country, with the support of the oligarchy, corrupt bureaucrats, state media and security forces, decided to activate the political line for the final destruction Russian statehood and the extermination of the country's indigenous population. 'And war is the means that will solve this problem in order to retain its anti-national power for a while and preserve the wealth stolen from the people. We cannot suggest any other explanation.' The remarks come as Putin prepares for talks today with Macron who flew to Moscow in a bid to deescalate the tensions which are threatening an imminent war. Russia has denied any plans to attack its neighbor, but is urging the US and its allies to bar Ukraine and other ex-Soviet nations from joining NATO, halt weapons deployments there and roll back NATO forces from Eastern Europe. Washington and NATO have rejected the demands. Macron, who is set to meet in the Kremlin with Russian President Vladimir Putin before visiting Ukraine Tuesday, said last week that his priority is 'dialogue with Russia and de-escalation'. The general argues that Ukraine has a right to self-defence as an independent nation, pictured carrying out live-fire exercises US intelligence officials have warned of Russia being '70 per cent ready' to invade Ukraine and an intelligence report indicates Russia would be able to overrun Ukraine in just two days German Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks to reporters during an overnight flight to Washington to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden for talks on Russia A C-17 transport plane is prepared at Fort Bragg for deployment to Eastern Europe with members of the 82nd Airborne Division amid escalating tensions between Ukraine and Russia The US suggested in letters that Russian inspectors can gain access to NATO bases in Romania and Poland (pictured above) to guarantee that no Tomahawk missiles are being stationed there. Comes as Pentagon announces 2,000 troops in the U.S. will deploy to Poland and Germany and another 1,000 will head to Romania from their base in Germany US intelligence analysis concluded that the likelihood of a diplomatic resolution of the crisis appears to be increasingly slim Colonel-General Ivashov's letter in full Ivashov was a top Russian general who served under Putin Address of the All-Russian Officers' Assembly, to the President and citizens of the Russian Federation Today humanity lives in anticipation of war. And war is the inevitable loss of life, destruction, suffering of large masses of people, the destruction of the usual way of life, the violation of the vital systems of states and peoples. A big war is a huge tragedy, someone's serious crime. It so happened that Russia was at the center of this impending catastrophe. And, perhaps, this is the first time in its history. Previously, Russia (USSR) waged forced (just) wars, and, as a rule, when there was no other way out, when the vital interests of the state and society were threatened. And what threatens the existence of Russia itself today, and are there such threats? It can be argued that there is indeed a threat - the country is on the verge of completing its history. All vital areas, including demography, are steadily degrading, and the rate of population extinction is breaking world records. And degradation is systemic in nature, and in any complex system, the destruction of one of the elements can lead to the collapse of the entire system. And this, in our opinion, is the main threat to the Russian Federation. But this is a threat of an internal nature, emanating from the model of the state, the quality of power and the state of society. And the reasons for its formation are internal: the unviability of the state model, the complete incapacity and lack of professionalism of the system of power and administration, the passivity and disorganization of society. In this state, any country does not live long. As for external threats, they are certainly present. But, according to our expert assessment, they are not currently critical, directly threatening the existence of Russian statehood, its vital interests. On the whole, strategic stability is maintained, nuclear weapons are under reliable control, NATO forces are not building up, and they are not showing threatening activity. Therefore, the situation that is being whipped up around Ukraine is, first of all, artificial, mercenary in nature for some internal forces, including the Russian Federation. As a result of the collapse of the USSR, in which Russia (Yeltsin) took a decisive part, Ukraine became an independent state, a member of the UN, and in accordance with Art. 51 of the UN Charter has the right to individual and collective defence. The leadership of the Russian Federation has not yet recognized the results of the referendum on the independence of the DPR and LPR, while at the official level more than once, including during the Minsk negotiation process, emphasized the belonging of their territories and population to Ukraine. It has also been said more than once at a high level about the desire to maintain normal relations with Kiev, without singling out special relations with the DPR and LPR. The issue of the genocide perpetrated by Kiev in the south-eastern regions was not raised either in the UN or in the OSCE. Naturally, in order for Ukraine to remain a friendly neighbor for Russia, it was necessary for it to demonstrate the attractiveness of the Russian model of the state and the system of power. But the Russian Federation did not become one, its development model and foreign policy mechanism of international cooperation repel almost all neighbors, and not only. The acquisition of Crimea and Sevastopol by Russia and their non-recognition as Russian by the international community (and, therefore, the overwhelming number of states in the world still consider them to belong to Ukraine) convincingly shows the failure of Russian foreign policy, and the unattractiveness of domestic. Attempts to 'love' the Russian Federation and its leadership through an ultimatum and threats of the use of force are senseless and extremely dangerous. The use of military force against Ukraine, firstly, will call into question the existence of Russia itself as a state; secondly, it will forever make Russians and Ukrainians mortal enemies. Thirdly, there will be thousands (tens of thousands) of dead young, healthy guys on one side and on the other, which will certainly affect the future demographic situation in our dying countries. On the battlefield, if this happens, Russian troops will face not only Ukrainian military personnel, among whom there will be many Russian guys, but also military personnel and equipment from many NATO countries, and the member states of the alliance will be obliged to declare war on Russia. President of the Republic of Turkey R. Erdogan clearly stated which side Turkey would fight on. And it can be assumed that two Turkish field armies and a fleet will be ordered to 'liberate' the Crimea and Sevastopol and possibly invade the Caucasus. In addition, Russia will definitely be included in the category of countries that threaten peace and international security, will be subject to the heaviest sanctions, will turn into a pariah of the world community, and will probably be deprived of the status of an independent state. The president and the government, the Ministry of Defense cannot fail to understand such consequences, they are not so stupid. The question arises: what are the true goals of provoking tension on the brink of war, and the possible unleashing of large-scale hostilities? And that there will be, says the number and combat composition of the groupings of troops formed by the parties - no less than one hundred thousand servicemen from each side. Russia, exposing the eastern borders, is transferring formations to the borders of Ukraine. In our opinion, the country's leadership, realizing that it is not capable of leading the country out of the systemic crisis, and this can lead to an uprising of the people and a change of power in the country, with the support of the oligarchy, corrupt officials, lured media and security forces, decided to activate the political line for the final destruction Russian statehood and the extermination of the indigenous population of the country. And war is the means that will solve this problem in order to retain its anti-national power for a while and preserve the wealth stolen from the people. We cannot suggest any other explanation. From the President of the Russian Federation, we are officers of Russia, we demand to abandon the criminal policy of provoking a war in which the Russian Federation will find itself alone against the united forces of the West, to create conditions for the implementation of Art. 3 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation and resign. We appeal to all retired and retired military personnel, citizens of Russia with a recommendation to be vigilant, organized, support the demands of the Council of the All-Russian Officers' Assembly, actively oppose propaganda and unleashing a war, and prevent an internal civil conflict with the use of military force. Chairman of the All-Russian Officers' Assembly Colonel-General Ivashov L.G. Advertisement Before heading to Moscow, Macron had a call with US President Joe Biden in which they discussed 'ongoing diplomatic and deterrence efforts in response to Russia's continued military build-up on Ukraine's borders, and affirmed their support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity'. In an interview with French newspaper Journal du Dimanche published on Sunday, Macron said that 'we won't get unilateral gestures but it is indispensable to prevent a degradation of the situation before building confidence gestures and mechanisms'. 'The geopolitical objective of Russia today is clearly not Ukraine, but to clarify the rules of cohabitation with NATO and the EU,' Macron said. 'The security and sovereignty of Ukraine or any other European state cannot be a subject for compromise, while it is also legitimate for Russia to pose the question of its own security.' US officials have confirmed that Russia has already assembled at least 70 per cent of the military firepower it likely intends to have in place by mid-month to give Putin the option of launching a full-scale invasion. 'If war breaks out, it will come at an enormous human cost to Ukraine, but we believe that based on our preparations and our response, it will come at a strategic cost to Russia as well,' national security adviser Jake Sullivan said. Sullivan did not directly address reports that the White House has briefed lawmakers that a full Russian invasion could lead to the quick capture of Kyiv and potentially result in as many as 50,000 casualties as he made appearances on a trio of Sunday talk shows. US officials, who discussed internal assessments of the Russian buildup on the condition that they not be identified, sketched out a series of indicators suggesting that Putin intends to start an invasion in the coming weeks, although the size and scale are unclear. Russia would be able to overrun Ukraine in just two days in an invasion that could kill 50,000 civilians, according to US intelligence Civilians participate in a Territorial Defence unit session to receive basic combat and survival training They stressed that a diplomatic solution appears to remain possible. Officials pointed to the fact that Russia's strategic nuclear forces that usually is held each fall was rescheduled for mid-February to March. That coincides with what officials see as the most likely window for invasion. Last week, Biden administration officials said that intelligence findings showed that the Kremlin had worked up an elaborate plot to fabricate an attack by Ukrainian forces that Russia could use as a pretext to take military action against its neighbor. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Thursday that the scheme included production of a graphic propaganda video that would show staged explosions and use corpses and actors depicting grieving mourners. 'It could happen as soon as tomorrow or it could take some weeks yet,' Sullivan said. He added that Putin 'has put himself in a position with military deployments to be able to act aggressively against Ukraine at any time now.' Sullivan said that the administration held on to hope that the Russians would move to de-escalate the situation through diplomacy. Ukraine is holding military exercises in Chernobyl, with troops firing at abandoned buildings and launching grenades in the deserted exclusion zone as Russian troops continue to amass on the border Western intelligence assessments also believe Kyiv's government would fall within that timeframe, and lead to a humanitarian crisis involving around 5million refugees. (Pictured: Military helicopters take part in the Belarusian and Russian joint military drills at Brestsky firing range on Friday) 'The key thing is that the United States needs to be and is prepared for any of those contingencies and in lockstep with our allies and partners,' Sullivan said. 'We have reinforced and reassured our allies on the eastern flank.' It comes as Germany was accused of being 'missing in action' by allies as international tensions continue to mount over Russia's military build-up on the Ukrainian border. While other NATO members deploy battlegroups, send tactical supplies and offer more vocal support, the Germans have appeared to draw a line in the sand and refused to offer tangible support. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will travel to the White House next week to reassure Americans that his country stands alongside the United States and other NATO partners in opposing any Russian aggression against Ukraine. Scholz has said that Moscow would pay a 'high price' in the event of an attack, but has so far failed to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine, bolster its troop numbers in the region or elaborate on any planned sanctions he would take against Vladimir Putin. 'The Germans are right now missing in action. They are doing far less than they need to do,' Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat and member of the Armed Services Committee, recently told an audience of Ukrainian Americans in his state, Connecticut. Western intelligence assessments believe Kyiv's government could fall within two days of an invasion and lead to a humanitarian crisis involving around 5million refugees and more than 50,000 civilian casualties. Germany's Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht again ruled out supplying Kyiv with arms, after Ukraine's embassy in Germany sent a list with specific requests to the foreign and defence ministries in Berlin. The list included missile defence systems, tools for electronic warfare, night vision goggles, digital radios, radar stations and military ambulances - equipment which, in part, is already in short supply. Referring to an earlier build-up last year, one European official - speaking on condition of anonymity - told the Washington Post: 'Our worry would be that you don't park battle groups on the border of another country twice and do nothing. 'I think that's the real fear that I have. [Putin's] now put them all out there. If he does nothing again what does that say to the wider international community about the might of Russia?' German media reports said Mr Putin who objects to the idea of the Ukraine being admitted as a Nato member had a three-step plan to bring Ukraine under a new 'union state' including Russia and Belarus, with Moscow as the centre of control. The report, attributed by the Bild newspaper to a foreign secret service source, said Ukrainian activists will be rounded up and put into camps once a pro-Russian government had been installed. Putin has continued to deny plans to attack Ukraine but urged the US and its allies to provide a binding pledge that they do not accept the former Soviet state into NATO or deploy offensive weapons. (Above, ground attack aircraft at Luninets airfield in Belarus on Friday) It warned that an invasion was currently 'the most likely scenario' adding that it could happen as early as this month as temperatures plummet and allow heavy ordnance and machinery to more easily traverse Ukrainian territory. In recent months, Russia has conducted a series of joint drills with Belarus and repeatedly sent its nuclear-capable long-range bombers to patrol the skies over its neighbour, which borders Nato members Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. Belarus' authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko, who has increasingly relied on the Kremlin's political and financial support amid bruising Western sanctions triggered by his crackdown on domestic protests, has called for closer defence ties with Moscow and recently offered to host Russian nuclear weapons. As war fears mounted, Ukrainian authorities launched a series of drills for civilians to prepare for a possible Russian invasion. It comes as US military and intelligence officials believe Russia is set to run a major nuclear weapons exercise in the coming weeks as a warning to Nato not to intervene in the event of Putin invading Ukraine, the Financial Times reported. General Mark Milley, chair of the joint chiefs, and Avril Haines, director of national intelligence, said on Thursday that Putin was planning to begin the exercises in mid-February, according to a Congressional aide. Russia usually holds its annual nuclear exercises in the autumn but the US believes Putin has decided to hold them earlier this year as a show of strength. Meanwhile, NATO has warned that Russia is massing nuclear-capable missiles along with 30,000 troops in Belarus. Jens Stoltenberg, NATO general secretary, said earlier this week that Russia has already deployed thousands of troops including Spetsnaz special forces, along with Iskander missiles that can be tipped with nukes, fighter jets, and S-400 anti-aircraft systems. Advertisement A pub claiming to be the oldest in Britain has closed after the landlord was forced to enter administration due to 'extremely challenging trading traditions' caused by Covid. Christo Tofalli, who runs Ye Olde Fighting Cocks in St Albans, Hertfordshire, said he was 'heartbroken' and had 'tried everything' to keep it open. The pub is said to date back to AD793, which would make it the oldest in England, according to Guinness World Records. It reputedly has a tunnel leading to nearby St Albans Abbey that was used by monks, and Oliver Cromwell is said to have spent a night there. Mr Tofalli's administrators are now speaking to the building's owner, Mitchells and Butlers (M&B), but he said there were no plans to close it for good and it would reopen under new management. Christo Tofalli, who runs Ye Olde Fighting Cocks in St Albans, Hertfordshire, said he was 'heartbroken' and had 'tried everything' to keep it open The pub is said to date back to AD793, which would make it the oldest in England, according to Guinness World Records. At one point it was known as 'the Round House' due to its shape The pub reputedly has a tunnel leading to nearby St Albans Abbey that was used by monks, and Oliver Cromwell is said to have spent a night there Secret tunnels, Oliver Cromwell and a Saxon king: The colourful past of Ye Olde Fighting Cocks Ye Olde Fighting Cocks is one of several pubs claiming to be the oldest in England, with rivals including Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem (1189?) Ye Olde Man & Scythe in Bolton, which is mentioned in a charter from 1251. Historic England describes the building as 'of 16th-century appearance', although the owners say it dates back to the 11th. Its octagonal shape is due to its original use as a pigeon house - hence a document from 1756 giving its name as 'The Three Pigeons'. The pub has had its current name since 1872 due to its history of cock fighting, a sport which was banned outright in England and Wales in 1835. At other points it was known as 'the Round House' on account of its shape. Interesting features inside the building include an original bread oven, while there are reputedly tunnels stretching from the beer cellar to St Albans Abbey. Other claims made by the owners include that Oliver Cromwell slept there for a night during the Civil War, and that the foundations incorporate parts of the Palace of Offa, King of the Mercians. Advertisement Turmoil pub had survived before Covid Norman invasion (1066) The Great Famine (1315-17) English Civil War (1642 - 51) Great Plague (1665-66) Glorious Revolution (1688) Two World Wars (1914-18 and 1939-45) Spanish Flu (1918-19) Advertisement After surviving countless wars, plagues and economic crises over some 1,229 years of history, Mr Tofalli said the pub had been unable to generate enough profit to see it through Covid. 'It goes without saying I am heartbroken: this pub has been so much more than just a business to me, and I feel honoured to have played even a small part in its history,' he wrote on Facebook. 'Before the pandemic hit, the escalating business rates and taxations we were managing meant trading conditions were extremely tough, but we were able to survive and were following an exciting five-year plan and were hopeful for the future. 'However the Covid-19 pandemic was devastating and our already tight profit margins gave us no safety net.' M&B confirmed the pub would reopen, with Mr Tofalli telling the BBC he hoped the new landlord will 'keep a bit of the soul and spirit going'. Covid has ravaged the already struggling pub industry, with lockdowns and rapidly see-sawing restrictions keeping drinkers away. In December, Fullers announced it would close 20 central London pubs 'indefinitely' as its chief executive, Simon Emeny, slammed the 'pitiful' level of support provided by the government. Mr Tofalli said the pandemic had been the final straw after years of difficult trading. 'Along with my team, I have tried everything to keep the pub going,' he said. 'However, the past two years have been unprecedented for the hospitality industry, and have defeated all of us who have been trying our hardest to ensure this multi-award-winning pub could continue trading into the future.' Last month, the pub was hit by vandals who were caught on CCTV stealing beer kegs and throwing them into the River Ver. And in 2015, it was the target of a campaign by animal rights group PETA, who urged Mr Tofalli to change its name to 'celebrate chickens as the intelligent, sensitive animals they are'. Its special projects manager, Dawn Carr, suggested 'Ye Olde Clever Cocks' as an alternative. 'The name Ye Olde Fighting Cocks calls to mind the violence and gore of cockfighting, a hideous blood sport so cruel that it has been outlawed in the UK,' she said. 'A change of name to Ye Olde Clever Cocks would help highlight the fact that chickens are intelligent, sensitive and super-social animals. '[It] would encourage people to rethink the way that we treat chickens and grant these birds the respect and kindness that they deserve.' When cock fighting was banned as a sport, the pub changed its name to the 'Fisherman' in 1848. However it resorted to its original name and has been officially known as 'Ye Olde Fighting Cocks' since 1872. At the time, Mr Tofalli said he had a responsibility for preserving the history and heritage of 'the oldest pub in the country'. After surviving countless wars, plagues and economic crises over some 1,229 years of history, owner Cristo Tofalli said the pub had been unable to generate enough profit to see it through Covid. Pictured is a stuffed cockerel on the wall This sign tells the legend that Oliver Cromwell stayed at the pub for one night during the Civil War, stabling his horse in what is now the bar CAMRA's National Chairman Nik Antona said today: 'It's incredibly sad that Christo is leaving the Ye Olde Fighting Cocks and that the future of the pub is currently uncertain. 'We all know how hard he and his team have worked to keep the pub running through these challenging times, and it is clear that simply being able to reopen without restrictions post-pandemic isn't enough to ensure pubs survive. 'The Government must provide greater support for these businesses, particularly with regards to easing the sky-high business rates. 'Another rate revaluation is due next year which could see costs spiral again for many pubs, leading to even more closures over the coming months and years. We must act now to protect our pubs or risk losing them forever.' Owner Mitchells and Butlers the pub would reopen, with Mr Tofalli saying he hoped the new landlord will 'keep a bit of the soul and spirit going'. Pictured is an interior shot of the bar Commuters today faced rush hour chaos after a fire next to the tracks getting into central London. Passengers suffered severe delays and were stuck on trains for up to an hour as firefighters battled the blaze between Acton and Paddington. Great Western Railway, Heathrow Express, and Transport for London rail between Paddington, Reading, Hayes & Harlington, Maidenhead, and Heathrow were hit. Travellers fumed on social media the delays were making them late for work and their children were missing school - before the line reopened around 8.30am. It comes nearly a week after a huge blaze at nearby Acton Town tube station saw the Piccadilly line shut down. Commuters today faced rush hour chaos after a fire next to the tracks getting into central London (pictured) Passengers suffered severe delays and were stuck on trains for up to an hour as firefighters battled the blaze between Acton and Paddington. Pictured: A GWR train this morning Services running between Acton Main and London Paddington were halted after the fire was found at 6.41am. Firefighters rushed to the blaze near Canal Way, North Kensington, and found some trackside switch equipment and cabling were damaged. London Fire Brigade reported no injuries and said the flames were under control by 7.40am. But commuters were livid with the hour-long delays and said it had made them late for work and meant their children would miss lessons. Raakesh Savji Parmar tweeted: 'Guys @TfL @networkrail what is going on? Been stuck on a train for 40 mins due to power outage. Last week 2 incidents too. Need a time on the resolution pls.' Jonny Bailey put: 'You know it's a good start to the week when all the trains from Paddington are cancelled' Julia Carrick said: '@GWRHelp why has the cnm-pad train not left gcr yet? People have work and school on the route too.' Katrina posted: 'When you wake up at 6am to get to the gym before work, everything's packed and ready to go only to find out theirs a fire at Paddington station and theirs no trains running. 'Back home I go! (With my overnight oats in tow).' Another customer said: 'Any idea what caused the fire. Disruption has caused my son to miss school.' A man wrote: '@TfL hello, are you going to post a useful service update to do with this incident as it also affects TfL rail? Thanks.' Another said online: '@GWRHelp hi there been waiting since 0639am at Paddington. Any update on this fire or when the trains are moving?! No update from station staff at all.' National Rail said: 'A fire next to the track between Acton Main Line and London Paddington is causing major disruption to trains running between these stations. 'Trains to / from London Paddington may be cancelled, delayed by up to 50 minutes or revised.' Great Western Railway said: 'Due to a fire next to the track between Reading and London Paddington all lines are closed Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 09:00.' It later added: 'Following a fire next to the track between London Paddington and Heathrow Terminal 5, all lines will be reopened shortly. 'Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is still expected until 09:00.' A spokesman for London Fire Brigade said: 'We were called at 0641 to reports of a trackside fire at railway line near Canal Way, North Kensington. 'Some trackside switch equipment and trackside cabling were damaged by fire. There were no reports of any injuries. 'We sent one fire engine from North Kensington Station. The fire was under control by 0740.' Last week flames and smoke were seen billowing out of a building above Acton Town tube station. Around ten fire engines and 70 firefighters rushed to the blaze on Bollo Lane, next to the station. Transport for London was also forced to part suspend the District and Piccadilly lines that run through the route. Sometimes a drive to help others means physically driving from door-to-door, borough-to-borough. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it altered internships for thousands of students with disabilities who got the jobs through New Yorks Transition & College Access Centers. Checks were getting lost in the mail and kids werent getting paid. Advertisement So Jonathan Santiago stepped up. My team and I, we picked up the checks from the central business office. We hand-delivered checks, hundreds and hundreds of checks, to the students homes, said Santiago, executive director of the Transition & College Access Centers. Advertisement Jonathan Santiago of New Yorks Transition & College Access Centers. (Luiz C. Ribeiro/for New York Daily News) When I first started my job when I was a teenager [and] got that first check there was such a good feeling of accomplishment. Even though there was a pandemic, we wanted to make sure that these students knew their hard work was going to pay off, Santiago said. In some cases, the checks meant even more than that. Thousands of people lost their jobs and the student internships became a vital source of income for some New York families. I personally hand-delivered a check to a student, and the parent was there as well. And the parent and the student started crying and gave me a hug and said that [the parent] had just lost her job, and her child was grateful enough to help out with groceries, Santiago said. We had a lot of students who really were dependent on those checks. Jonathan Santiago of the Transition & College Access Centers. (Luiz C. Ribeiro/for New York Daily News) The Transition & College Access Centers are a small part of the city Education Department, but they can play a huge role in the lives of students with disabilities. In addition to offering workshops, training and mentorship opportunities, the centers directly connect high school students with internship programs. When Santiago took over as executive director in 2018, there were only two centers, one in the Bronx and one in Brooklyn, and 1,800 kids in internships. Now, theres a center in each borough, each location has a staff of seven people and 7,200 students had internships in November 2019, just before the pandemic hit. Although there has not been a normal day, I would not trade this job for anything else in the world, Santiago said. Were constantly out in the community and were constantly doing professional development for schools right at the school level. The Manhattan office opened in October 2019, and Santiago optimistically thought hed be able to get into a routine from that point forward: visiting each borough, speaking with students, connecting with businesses large and small. Months later, the coronavirus crisis led to national lockdowns. Advertisement We had to, overnight, change our delivery of services to a virtual platform, Santiago said. We had to start recording webinars. We were working around the clock. On top of all the normal work, Santiago drove around the city almost every day, from March 2020 until January 2021, hand-delivering checks to students and families. His relentless desire to make lives better for overlooked students has made an impression on the people who work with him every day and led them to nominate him for a Daily News Hometown Heroes award. Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > Whats really nice about Jonathan is he has a real drive to support students with disabilities, Audrey Mangan, instructional specialist at the Manhattan Transition & College Access Center, told The News. If we didnt have the support from up above telling us to make connections and really pound the pavement, either online or in person, we wouldnt be able to have this array of opportunities for students. In addition to his work leading the Transition & College Access Centers, Santiago is on the board of directors for the New York State Association of Incarcerated Education Programs. Santiago explained that his jobs often overlap, with many students with disabilities ending up behind bars because the system fails them. He advocates for those students, believing that any individual can be successful with the proper tools and support behind them. Advertisement I honestly feel fulfilled, Santiago said. When a student really has a transition plan in place and when theyre actually gaining meaningful work experience, its setting them up for success for the rest of their lives. Thats really what its all about. I just love the fact that Im a small part of this great work. ***** 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 nydailynews.com/new-york/hometown-heroes. Advice that state's residents work from home if possible also set to be removed Masks to no longer needed indoors, including workplaces, in NSW from March 1 A series of ground-breaking announcements on the future of Covid in Australia have been announced - with citizens to be hit with new rules on travel, work and masks. The Prime Minister on Monday confirmed Australia's international border will be flung open to tourists for the first time since the pandemic began. On February 21, visitors will be welcomed Down Under for the first time in two years, reuniting thousands of families separated by tough border closures as well as kickstarting the multi-billion dollar international tourism industry. And just over a week after Australia's grand reopening, residents in NSW may no longer be required to wear a mask in all indoor settings including when at work. Workplaces have also been dealt a major update to the current guidelines on working from home, with employees to be encouraged to return to offices from March. Here is everything you need to know after a day of game-changing Covid announcements. On February 21, visitors will be welcomed Down Under for the first time in two years, reuniting thousands of families separated by border closures (pictured, people embrace in Sydney) 'The condition is you must be double vaccinated to come to Australia. That's the rule. Everyone is expected to abide by it,' the prime minister (pictured) said on Monday Australia's international border to reopen for foreign tourists After two long years of strict border closures the country will start to prepare for an influx of sorely-missed international family, friends and tourists. Scott Morrison broke the happy news on Monday, but was quick to remind eager travellers they would only be welcome Down Under if they were fully vaccinated. 'The condition is you must be double vaccinated to come to Australia. That's the rule. Everyone is expected to abide by it,' the prime minister said. 'But if you're double vaccinated, we look forward to welcoming you back to Australia and I know the tourism industry will be looking forward to that.' While backpackers, international students and some visa holders have entered Australia in the last six months, from Monday February 21, any person with a valid visa and two doses of a Covid vaccine will be welcomed. It will up to individual states and territories to determine whether additional quarantine arrangements and arrival caps will apply to their visitors. It will up to individual states and territories to determine whether additional quarantine arrangements and arrival caps will apply to visitors (pictured, a couple in Perth Airport) Travellers who are not vaccinated against Covid will subject to state-based restrictions and will have to apply proof of a medical exemption (pictured, people are reunited in Perth) Travellers who are not vaccinated against Covid will subject to state-based restrictions and will have to apply proof of a medical exemption. Mr Morrison has confirmed entry conditions will be just two doses of a vaccine - not a third booster - because there are 'various agreements around the world'. Depending on which state visitors touch down in they may be required to do a PCR or rapid antigen test soon after they arrive. Announcements on state-based restrictions are expected to be made in the coming weeks with pre-departure testing for international visitors still required at this stage. International arrivals in Victoria and NSW have not been required to quarantine since last year, with Queensland following suit in January. Individual states and territories, excluding Western Australia which is yet to announce a rescheduled reopening date, are expected to endorse the move. Mr Morrison said the decision was made because Australia is now ravaged with the Omicron variant of Covid, meaning international travellers don't pose an extra risk. WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO ENTER AUSTRALIA FROM FEBRUARY 21? From February 21, international tourists, business travellers, all visa holders, loved ones and friends will be allowed to touch down in Australia. The international border will reopen with states and territories to decide if and what quarantine restrictions and arrival caps will apply. Visitors are required to be fully vaccinated against Covid and will be asked to provide a medical exemption if they are not. Depending on which state or territory travellers touch down in, they may be required to undergo a PCR or rapid antigen test soon after arriving. Western Australia is at this stage exempt from the border announcement as the state has not provided a rescheduled reopening date. State and territory leaders are expected to make further announcements endorsing the decision in the coming weeks. NSW and Victoria have not required international visitors to quarantine since last year, with Queensland following suit in January. Advertisement Mr Morrison said the decision was made because Australia is now ravaged with the Omicron variant of Covid, meaning international travellers don't pose an extra risk (stock image) Individual states and territories, excluding Western Australia, are expected to endorse the decision to reopen the international border (pictured, people walk in Sydney) Masks to be scrapped in NSW In a major update to rules on face-coverings, masks are set to be scrapped in NSW from March 1 as part of a plan to boost the state's Covid-struck economy. NEW RULES ON MASKS IN NEW SOUTH WALES: Masks will not be required in all indoor settings, including workplaces from March 1, the Daily Telegraph reports. Masks are currently required in all indoor public venues including supermarkets, pubs and cafes until February 28. Advertisement All indoor mask mandates - including in workplaces - will be lifted from the beginning of the month, The Daily Telegraph reported. Premier Dominic Perrottet is said to be hope the rule change will breathe life back into the Sydney CBD as the Omicron wave of new cases continues to decline. However, a senior government source told Daily Mail Australia the decision on masks has yet to be signed off by the state cabinet. Currently, masks must be worn in all indoor public venues including supermarkets, pubs and cafes until February 28, Mr Perrottet announced last month. In Victoria, Premier Dan Andrews said rules on masks would not change 'any time soon' as Omicron was a 'wildly infectious variant and we are being guided by safety, which has never been more important than it is right now'. With the restriction to wear masks indoors unlikely to be eased for some time, it means anyone breaking the rule will continue to face a crippling $21,909 fine for breaching the pandemic order. All indoor mask mandates - including in workplaces - could be lifted from March 1 in NSW (pictured, a woman walks in Sydney's CBD) Employees called back into workplaces in NSW In addition to the easing of rules on face-coverings, employees will be encouraged to return to the city and work face-to-face in offices again. The premier said it was a 'civic duty' to bring workers back to the CBD in a move that is predicted to bring social and economic benefits. More live music, events, discounted public transport fares and vouchers are ideas being floated as potential incentives for returning employees. 'All over the world, people dream of coming to our Harbour City for work, pleasure and to live,' Mr Perrottet said of the new recovery plan. 'We want to ensure that our CBD has the vibrant energy and strong economy to maintain our role as a global city.' 'All over the world, people dream of coming to our Harbour City for work, pleasure and to live,' Mr Perrottet (pictured) said of the new plan to bring employees back to the CBD NSW Premier hints at changes to the traditional school day During a press conference on Monday, Mr Perrottet suggested the time-honoured school schedule may be reviewed to allow working families more flexibility. 'The school hours of nine till three, that was set up at a very different time in life. The world in the 1950s is very different from the world we live in today,' he said. 'We as a government will be looking always at better ways of doing things, of thinking outside the box and striking new directions moving forward.' Mr Perrottet said trials were underway in a number of NSW schools varying the hours students attend school but that a 'one size fits all' approach would not be taken. An Arizona tourist has been given a $229,999 jackpot that he unknowingly won on a slot machine in Las Vegas after it malfunctioned and didn't tell him his winnings. Robert Taylor hit a jackpot at Treasure Island Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, on January 8 but a software error meant the machine didn't tell Mr Taylor or casino staff that he had won. By the time casino staff were made aware of Mr Taylor's jackpot win he had already returned home to Arizona. Robert Taylor hit a jackpot at Treasure Island Hotel & Casino (pictured) in Las Vegas, Nevada, on January 8 but a software error meant the machine didn't tell Mr Taylor or casino staff that he had won The Nevada Gaming Control Board then went into overdrive in a desperate attempt to track Mr Taylor down. The Board initiated an extensive investigation including reviewing multiple hours of surveillance footage across multiple gaming properties and numerous witness interviews. They also studied his electronic purchase records and even used analysis of rideshare data obtained by the Nevada Transportation Authority. Chief of the board's enforcement division, James Taylor, said: 'The Nevada Gaming Control Board is charged with the strict regulation of the gaming industry, the protection of the gaming public, and ensuring that the industry benefits the State of Nevada. By the time casino staff were made aware of Mr Taylor's jackpot win he had already returned home to Arizona 'I commend the agents of the Enforcement Division, particularly Agent Dan Nuqui, for ensuring that the public trust in the gaming industry remains strong by spending countless hours over two weeks to ensure that a patron is awarded winnings owed to him. 'Id also like to thank the Nevada Transportation Authority for their assistance in confirming the identity of the patron. This has been a great example of government working together for the benefit of the public.' Mr Taylor was told about his $299,368.52 jackpot on January 28 and collected his winnings over the weekend. A leading law firm which represents some of the UK's richest men and women is set to ditch 'Dear Sir/Madam' from its letters. Withers LLP, which has offices around the world, including London, has urged its lawyers to stop using the traditional introduction in a bid to be more 'gender neutral'. It comes after one partner at the renowned law firm took to social media to campaign for an end to the use of the phrase 'Dear Sirs' on letters. She said the phrase was 'unnecessarily gendered' and 'dehumansing' and claimed it 'perpetuates discrimination and bias'. Now lawyers at the firm, which promotes itself as acting for 70 per cent of people on the Sunday Times Rich List, have reportedly been advised to drop Dear Sir and Madam completely. In an internal memo, seen by The Times, senior partners at the firm advise the traditional wording should be avoided. Lawyers are reportedly being urged to use the name of the firm, company or partnership' instead. Withers LLP (pictured: Withers' building in London), which has offices around the world, including London, have reportedly told its lawyers to stop using the traditional introduction in a bid to be more 'gender neutral'. According to the Times, the memo reads, 'It is usually preferable to use the name of the firm, company or partnership . . . [as] this is increasingly seen as an acceptable form of address'. It adds that 'when writing to an individual, instead of Dear Sir/Madam, consider whether you could write to them by name'. MailOnline contacted Withers for a comment. A spokesperson said: 'We have guidance available to help people address their correspondence in the most appropriate way for the recipient, and they are free to adopt this if they wish.' Meanwhile, The Lawyer, a business-to-business publication for law firm leaders, commercial lawyers, barristers and in-house counsel, said that Withers 'did not want to be left behind as the profession moves towards the standard use of gender-neutral language'. The move comes after Katharine Landells (pictured), a family law partner at the firm, said she wanted the profession to 'move on' from the tradition of using 'Dear Sirs' in letters The move comes after Katharine Landells, a family law partner at the firm, said she wanted the profession to 'move on' from the tradition of using 'Dear Sirs' in letters. In a post on Linkedin, Ms Landells wrote: 'I spend a lot of my professional time writing letters - and its time to move on from "Dear Sirs". 'Its unnecessarily gendered, perpetuates discrimination and bias, and its dehumanising. 'My job is all about navigating people through what is usually one of the most challenging phases of their lives. 'Writing and receiving letters in a style from the 1900s doesnt help my clients make positive progress. 'Having eliminated Dear Sirs from the correspondence I write, Im now on a mission to eliminate it from the correspondence I receive.' In her post, Ms Landells also included an email in which she urged people to stop using 'gendered' language. She said it seemed 'particularly pertinent' in the particular case she was working on because 'the people working on this matter all identify as female'. Some agreed with the post, with one lawyer, David de Mestre, writing: 'A great example of respectfully communicating a boundary/need/preference. Thanks for sharing.' In her post, Ms Landells (pictured) also included an email in which she urged people to stop using 'gendered' language However others disagreed, with one legal consultant, Jane Canham, writing: 'A standard practice in litigation that I do not see as offensive in any way having practised for nearly 20 years I shall be sticking with "Dear Sirs" I am afraid.; Others remained neutral on the point, but said the post had given them 'food for thought'. Conveyancer Eve Corbett wrote: 'I use "Dear Sirs" and find your post really interesting. 'I have used "Dear Madam" when dealing with a female sole practitioner and did this without really thinking. 'In a way when writing to another firm you are writing to that company but then I would not necessarily check the details of the directors. 'Anyhow I am pleased to see this post and it has given me food for thought.' It comes after Clifford Chance, one of the five so-called 'Magic Circle' firms, removed the greeting 'Dear Sirs' from its English language letter template last year. And in December the firm announced it wanted to 'eliminate' so-called 'gendered' language across all legal templates. As part of the firms change, pronouns such as 'he' or 'she' have been replaced with 'they' or 'them', and the use of the word 'chairman' has been banished. Clifford Chance, one of the five so-called 'Magic Circle' firms, has already removed the gendered greeting 'Dear Sirs' from its English language letter template, but now want to 'eliminate' gendered terms across all legal templates. Centre: Clifford Chance's Canary Wharf offices The law company said it had instructed LexPredict, a knowledge management business, to use artificial intelligence to identify and eradicate gender-specific terms in templates. Tiernan Brady, the firm's global director of inclusion, said: 'The words and language we use matter greatly. They send a signal of our values and can have both a positive and negative impact on others and on our culture. 'Removing gendered language from our communications is a subtle but impactful way of demonstrating what we stand for, and we're delighted to see these steps taken in our firm.' Advertisement Joe Biden has accused Vladimir Putin of wanting what 'he cannot get' because he is requesting compromises that the U.S. and NATO are not willing to make, as the Russian leader weighs up whether to invade Ukraine. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan warned that Moscow could invade Kyiv 'any day', launching a conflict that would come at an 'enormous human cost'. The warnings come after the first of 3,000 American troops to deploy to Eastern Europe arrived in Poland and another 86 tons of U.S. weapons arrived in Ukraine in response to more than 100,000 Russian troops amassed along the country's border. Last week, U.S. officials confirmed that Russia has assembled at least 70 per cent of the military firepower it likely intends to have in place by mid-month to give Putin the option of launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. On Sunday, Biden seemed to suggest that Russia will not choose diplomacy when it comes to Ukraine because they continue to request compromises that U.S. and NATO will not make. When asked what factors Putin is considering when making his decision whether to invade Ukraine or deescalate tensions in the region, Biden responded: 'I think things he cannot get.' This likely references the demands the Kremlin has put forth, including that the NATO ban Ukraine and other former Soviet bloc countries from entering the military alliance. In response to rising tensions, Biden has approved the deployment and movement of nearly 3,000 troops in Eastern Europe and has put another 8,500 on heightened alert to stand by for deployment should NATO initiative its Response Force. U.S. paratroopers landed near Poland's border with Ukraine on Sunday after Biden ordered last week the deployment of 1,700 soldiers to the country's southeastern region amid rising tensions with Russia. An elite group of U.S. paratrooper disembark from a C-17 at Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport in Poland on Sunday, February 6, 2022 U.S. military vehicles are seen near the G2A Arena after arriving at Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport in Jasionka, Poland, on Sunday U.S. soldiers are seen next to their vehicles outside the G2A Arena after arriving at Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport in Jasionka, Poland, on Sunday Another 86 tons of U.S. weapons arrived in Ukraine in response to more than 100,000 Russian troops amassed along the country's border The 8th planeload of security assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the US. This is more than 80 tons of arms and ammunition The troop arrival comes after another shipment of U.S. military aid arrived at Kyiv's Boryspil airport on Saturday, February 5, 2022 President Joe Biden said Sunday that Russia wants what it 'cannot get' in diplomatic talks, suggesting Russian President Vladimir Putin will not deescalate tensions with Ukraine The US suggested in letters that Russian inspectors can gain access to NATO bases in Romania and Poland (pictured above) to guarantee that no Tomahawk missiles are being stationed there. Comes as Pentagon announces 2,000 troops in the U.S. will deploy to Poland and Germany and another 1,000 will head to Romania from their base in Germany Another 1,000 troops already in Germany will be repositioned to Romania, which borders the Black Sea where one of Russia's biggest fleets is positioned. 'I'm not going to speculate,' Biden said Sunday when he was asked if he would consider sending more U.S. troops to NATO countries if Putin doesn't deescalate. He also claimed it's 'nothing new' that Russia and China are becoming more friendly. Biden made the comment while returning from a weekend at his home in Wilmington, Delaware and the world waits to see if Russia attacks Ukraine. Meanwhile, the latest shipment of weapons from the U.S. arrived in Ukraine at the weekend, with the 86 tons worth of ammunition delivered. It is the eighth part of a $200 million shipment of American military aid that is being sent to help its ally. Ukraine's defense minister Oleksii Reznikov tweeted: 'The 8th bird has arrived in Kyiv. The weight of today's cargo with ammunition for our Ukrainian armed forces is 86 tons. Since January 22, our partners from the US have sent more than 650 tons of defense ammunition to Ukraine. To be continued.' The US embassy in Ukraine confirmed the news of the shipment and that more military aid will be arriving in Ukraine in the coming days. 'Make no mistake: We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine as it defends its sovereignty and territorial integrity,' the US embassy in Kyiv tweeted. On Sunday, the president spoke with French leader Emmanuel Macron, who committed to deploying troops to Romania to bulk up security at the NATO flank closest to Russia. 'The leaders discussed ongoing diplomatic and deterrence efforts in response to Russia's continued military build-up on Ukraine's borders, and affirmed their support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity,' according to a White House readout of their phone call. 'They agreed their teams will remain in touch and continue consulting with our Allies and partners, including Ukraine,' the statement added. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan issued a warning on Sunday that 'we are in the window' where Russia could invade 'any day now'. Meanwhile, U.S. paratroopers landed near Poland's border with Ukraine on Sunday after Biden ordered last week the deployment of 1,700 soldiers to the country's southeastern region amid rising tensions with Russia. U.S. military vehicles are seen near the G2A Arena after arriving at Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport in Jasionka, Poland, on Sunday US Army General Christopher Donahue (L) and Polish Army General Wojciech Marchwica walk together in front of a U.S. Air Force Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft at Jasionka Rzeszow Airport on February 06, 2022 in Rzeszow, Poland The XVIII Airborne Corps, which serves as America's Contingency Corps, will provide a Joint Task Force-capable headquarters in Germany. The U.S. personnel arrive in Wiesbaden in Germany on Sunday U.S. military vehicles are seen near the G2A Arena after arriving at Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport in Jasionka, Poland US Army Soldiers exit a U.S. Air Force Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft at Jasionka Rzeszow Airport on February 06, 2022 in Rzeszow, Poland Biden stopped Sunday afternoon to briefly speak with reporters on the South Lawn when returning to the White House from from a weekend at his home in Wilmington, Delaware on February 6, 2022 Arrival comes after Biden approved this month the deployment of 2,000 troops from Fort Bragg to Poland and Germany to bolster forces as Russia moves closer to invading Ukraine. The forces arrived on an Air Force Boeing C-17 Globemaster III on Sunday 'We're in the window where something could happen that is a military escalation and invasion of Ukraine can happen at any time,' Sullivan told NBC's Meet the Press host Chuck Todd on Sunday morning. 'We believe that the Russians have put in place the capabilities to mount a significant military operation into Ukraine and we have been working hard to prepare a response,' he continued. 'President Biden has rallied our allies, he's reinforced and reassured our partners on the eastern flank, he's provided material support to the Ukrainians and he's offered the Russians a diplomatic path if that's what they choose instead.' Sullivan concluded: 'Either way, we are ready, our allies are ready and we're trying to help the Ukrainian people get ready as well.' Elite troops part of the 82nd Airborne Division departed from Fort Bragg, North Carolina and arrived this weekend in a U.S. Army Boeing C-17 Globemaster plane at the Rzeszow-Jasionka airport in southeast Poland. Their commander is Major General Christopher Donahue, who on August 30, 2021 was the last American soldier to leave Afghanistan. He arrived in Poland on Saturday. Along with Donahue's arrival were a few planes full of U.S. military equipment and an 'advance group' arriving at the airport 56 miles from Poland's border with Ukraine. It was not immediately clear how many troops arrived Sunday, but a C-17 aircraft is 'designed to airdrop 102 paratroopers and their equipment', according to the U.S. Air Force website. Biden disembarked Marine One with first lady Jill Biden on Sunday as Russia continues to up tensions with Ukraine and U.S. troops arrived for deployment in Poland Biden's National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Russia could invade any day now. 'We're in the window where something could happen that is a military escalation and invasion of Ukraine can happen at any time,' Sullivan told NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday WATCH: U.S. believes Russia is ready to launch a "significant military operation" into Ukraine, @JakeSullivan46 says. "We are ready, our allies are ready and we're trying to help the Ukrainian people get ready as well." pic.twitter.com/xnYGtUxvNj Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) February 6, 2022 U.S. Army soldiers speak to each other in front of the Jasionka Rzeszow Airport on February 06, 2022 in southeastern Poland as the U.S. and NATO prepare for potential Russia invasion of Ukraine. The airport is just 56 miles from Poland's border with Ukraine The troops arriving in Poland are part of the 82nd Airborne Division stationed in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. It was not immediately clear how many troops arrived Sunday, but a C-17 is 'designed to airdrop 102 paratroopers and their equipment', according to the Air Force website Major General Christopher Donahue, who on August 30, 2021 was the last American soldier to leave Afghanistan, arrived in Poland on Saturday 'Our national contribution here in Poland shows our solidarity with all of our allies here in Europe and obviously during this period of uncertainty we know that we are stronger together,' Donahue said Sunday, according to Reuters. Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak confirmed minutes after the plane landed that this was the first group of American soldiers 'from an elite unit'. 'More planes will be landing in the coming hours,' he added. 'The soldiers will operate in the southeastern part of our country. The Pentagon announced last week that Biden approved the deployment and movement for 3,000 troops in Europe to help bolster forces amid fears of Russian invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine insisted on Sunday that the chance of resolving tensions with Russia through diplomacy is still a greater chance than attack. But this comes as U.S. intelligence warns Russia is at 70 per cent capability to successfully invade and take Kyiv's government within two days. Two thousand of U.S. troops deployed were stationed at Fort Bragg and included the 1,700 forces in the 82nd sent to Poland and another 300 from the 18th Airborne Corps sent to Germany to create a joint task force capable headquarters to provide mission command. The 1,000 remaining forces part of an infantry Stryker squadron were already stationed in Germany, but are being repositioned to Romania at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) closest flank to Russia. They will add to the 900 U.S. forces already in Romania. General Donahue (left) and Polish Army General Wojciech Marchwica (right) walk and talk after a press briefing on the arrival of 82nd paratroopers and equipment following unloading of vehicles from the transport plane Pictured: U.S. Army officers arrived at the Rzeszow-Jasionka airport in southeastern Poland on Saturday from Wiesbaden, Germany where a U.S. Army administration garrison is based 2,000 troops from Fort Bragg, 1,000 in the Stryker squadron moving from Germany to Romania and thousands more ready: The U.S. troop plan for Eastern Europe Department of Defense Spokesperson John Kirby detailed on Wednesday the latest U.S. troop movements approved by President Joe Biden. He said that plan was laid out to the president in three parts: 1 1,000 U.S. troops part of the Germany-based infantry Stryker squadron will reposition to Romania 'in the coming days.' This mounted cavalry unit is designed to deploy in short order and move quickly once in place. The movement to Romania will add to the 900 U.S. forces already in that country to help deter aggression from Russia and enhance defensive capabilities in frontline NATO allied states. Kirby said Pentagon Secretary Lloyd Austin discussed reposition with Romania last week and the movement there is coming at the invitations of the Romanian government. France also intends to deploy to Romania under NATO command. 2 Approximately 2,000 troops stationed in Fort Bragg, North Carolina will deploy to Europe this week. The majority of those deployments, approximately 1,700, will comes from the 82nd Airborne Division's infantry brigade combat team, which will go to Poland. The 82nd specializes in parachute assault operations and is a rapid ready team prepared to response anywhere in the world within 18 hours. Another 300 or so are coming from the 18th Airborne Corps, which will create a joint task force capable headquarters in Germany. The corps provides mission command and is designed for rapid deployment anywhere in the world. Kirby said the Pentagon worked with Poland and Germany and have support for deployment. He assured: 'Again, these are not permanent moves. They respond to current conditions. We will adjust our posture as those conditions evolve.' 3 All of these troop movements and deployments are 'separate and in addition' to the 8,500 U.S. military personnel put on heightened alert posture last week. Kirby said: 'Those 8,500 are not currently being deployed but remain ready to move, if called, for the NATO Response Force (NRF) or as needed for other contingencies as directed by the Secretary of by President Biden.' Advertisement The 82nd can rapidly deploy within 18 hours to anywhere in the world and conducts parachute assaults. U.S. intelligence officials warned Russia is '70 per cent ready' to invade Ukraine as German politicians are set for crunch talks with Washington over troop deployment in the region. New reports say Moscow has assembled almost three quarters of the necessary military firepower it would need for a full-scale February invasion of Ukraine. An estimated 100,000 troops have amassed near Ukraine in recent months, but despite repeated calls to pull back, the Kremlin has responded by saying it will station troops wherever it needs to on the Russian territory. in recent months. It comes as Germany was accused of being 'missing in action' by allies as international tensions continue to mount over Russia's military build-up on the Ukrainian border. While other NATO members deploy battlegroups, send tactical supplies and offer more vocal support, the Germans have appeared to draw a line in the sand and refused to offer tangible support. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will travel to the White House next week to reassure Americans that his country stands alongside the United States and other NATO partners in opposing any Russian aggression against Ukraine. Scholz has said that Moscow would pay a 'high price' in the event of an attack, but has so far failed to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine, bolster its troop numbers in the region or elaborate on any planned sanctions he would take against Vladimir Putin. 'The Germans are right now missing in action. They are doing far less than they need to do,' Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat and member of the Armed Services Committee, recently told an audience of Ukrainian Americans in his state, Connecticut. Western intelligence assessments believe Kyiv's government could fall within two days of an invasion and lead to a humanitarian crisis involving around 5million refugees and more than 50,000 civilian casualties. 'If war breaks out, it will come at an enormous human cost to Ukraine,' Sullivan said in an interview with Fox News Sunday. He assured: 'But we believe that based on our preparations and our response, it will come at a strategic cost to Russia as well.' Germany's Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht again ruled out supplying Kyiv with arms, after Ukraine's embassy in Germany sent a list with specific requests to the foreign and defense ministries in Berlin. The list included missile defense systems, tools for electronic warfare, night vision goggles, digital radios, radar stations and military ambulances - equipment which, in part, is already in short supply. Referring to an earlier build-up last year, one European official - speaking on condition of anonymity - told the Washington Post: 'Our worry would be that you don't park battle groups on the border of another country twice and do nothing. 'I think that's the real fear that I have. [Putin's] now put them all out there. If he does nothing again what does that say to the wider international community about the might of Russia?' Putin has continued to deny plans to attack Ukraine but urged the US and its allies to provide a binding pledge that they do not accept the former Soviet state into NATO or deploy offensive weapons. US intelligence officials have warned of Russia being '70 per cent ready' to invade Ukraine and an intelligence report indicates Russia would be able to overrun Ukraine in just two days in an invasion that could kill 50,000 civilians. Above: Satellite images show a large build up of Russian troops and logistics support units just north-west of Yelsk, Belarus on January 19 The intelligence analysis concluded that the likelihood of a diplomatic resolution of the crisis appears to be increasingly slim, Despite this, Ukraine believes diplomacy is still more likely than invasion. A photo released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Saturday shows a tank engaging in a military exercise German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (pictured) will travel to the White House next week to reassure Americans that his country stands alongside the United States and other NATO partners in opposing any Russian aggression against Ukraine Ukraine is holding military exercises in Chernobyl, with troops firing at abandoned buildings and launching grenades in the deserted exclusion zone as Russian troops continue to amass on the border He also wants them to roll back the alliance deployments to Eastern Europe - all demands which have been flatly rejected by the international community. It came as German media reports said Mr Putin who objects to the idea of the Ukraine being admitted as a Nato member had a three-step plan to bring Ukraine under a new 'union state' including Russia and Belarus, with Moscow as the center of control. The report, attributed by the Bild newspaper to a foreign secret service source, said Ukrainian activists will be rounded up and put into camps once a pro-Russian government had been installed. It warned that an invasion was currently 'the most likely scenario' adding that it could happen as early as this month as temperatures plummet and allow heavy ordnance and machinery to more easily traverse Ukrainian territory. Putin has continued to deny plans to attack Ukraine but urged the US and its allies to provide a binding pledge that they do not accept the former Soviet state into NATO or deploy offensive weapons. (Above, ground attack aircraft at Luninets airfield in Belarus on Friday) In recent months, Russia has conducted a series of joint drills with Belarus and repeatedly sent its nuclear-capable long-range bombers to patrol the skies over its neighbour, which borders Nato members Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. Belarus' authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko, who has increasingly relied on the Kremlin's political and financial support amid bruising Western sanctions triggered by his crackdown on domestic protests, has called for closer defense ties with Moscow and recently offered to host Russian nuclear weapons. As war fears mounted, Ukrainian authorities launched a series of drills for civilians to prepare for a possible Russian invasion. It comes as US military and intelligence officials believe Russia is set to run a major nuclear weapons exercise in the coming weeks as a warning to Nato not to intervene in the event of Putin invading Ukraine, the Financial Times reported. General Mark Milley, chair of the joint chiefs, and Avril Haines, director of national intelligence, said on Thursday that Putin was planning to begin the exercises in mid-February, according to a Congressional aide. Russia usually holds its annual nuclear exercises in the autumn but the US believes Putin has decided to hold them earlier this year as a show of strength. Meanwhile, NATO has warned that Russia is massing nuclear-capable missiles along with 30,000 troops in Belarus. Jens Stoltenberg, NATO general secretary, said earlier this week that Russia has already deployed thousands of troops including Spetsnaz special forces, along with Iskander missiles that can be tipped with nukes, fighter jets, and S-400 anti-aircraft systems. As war fears mounted, Ukrainian authorities launched a series of drills for civilians to prepare for a possible Russian invasion Advertisement Waiting times for cancer referrals and treatment are at record highs in England as the country emerges from the pandemic, a damning analysis has revealed amid a row over the Government's NHS catch-up plan. An estimated half a million people with suspected cancer will not be seen by a specialist within the two-week maximum target set by the health service this year. And for the first time ever, the number of patients diagnosed with the disease who do not start treatment within the crucial one-to-two-month window is expected to exceed 75,000. Reacting to the figures, which were laid bare in an analysis by the House of Commons library, experts warned the delays could reverse survival rates. Cancer charities said patients directly affected by the waits were languishing in 'unimaginable distress and anxiety'. It comes as Boris Johnson's blueprint for tackling the NHS backlog for cancer and routine surgeries was pushed back as ministers failed to sign off the draft document. It was due to be published today. Health service insiders suggested the Chancellor Rishi Sunak is demanding tougher targets in return for funding although Sajid Javid, the Health Secretary, blamed the recent Omicron wave for the delay. The wrangling has fuelled concerns about the heightened tension between the embattled Prime Minister and Mr Sunak, after several of the Chancellor's allies quit No10 over the Partygate scandal. NHS England aims to treat 85 per cent of cancer patients who receive an urgent referral from their GP within two months, but in November 2021, the latest available, only 67.5 per cent of patients received treatment in this time frame. While the problem predates the Covid pandemic, the disruption to services caused by the virus has exacerbated the problem FEUD: Boris Johnson's blueprint for tackling the NHS backlog for cancer and routine surgeries was scheduled to be unveiled today, but it has been pushed back as ministers failed to sign off the draft document. Health service insiders suggested the Chancellor Rishi Sunak is demanding tough targets in return for funding. Boris and Rishi are pictured separately this morning The Commons library analysis was commissioned by shadow health secretary Wes Streeting, who himself was treated for kidney cancer last year. It found that, between April and November last year, 290,428 with suspected cancer did not see an oncologist within 14 days of an urgent referral from their GP a target introduced in 2009. Despite covering just seven months, it was the most of any full year and significantly more than the 235,549 in 2020. It is the equivalent of around 41,000 late referrals each month. The analysis warns that if the trend continues, up to 498,000 people with symptoms synonymous with cancer will not have had their first specialist appointment by the end of the 2021-2022 period in April. If the projections come true, it will represent a more than 10-fold rise on the 45,000 a decade ago. Placing a GP and a nurse outside A&E to redirect patients could save NHS millions and alleviate pressure on hospitals, study shows Placing a GP and a nurse outside A&E to redirect patients could save the NHS millions and alleviate pressure on hospitals, a trial has found. Since the start of December a group of GPs have been testing a scheme which places two practitioners at the front door of a hospitals A&E department. The duo help assess patients when they arrive and then redirect those who do not need urgent care elsewhere. As many as 75 patients have been redirected in a single day at Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow, North West London, for ailments that could easily be treated by a GP or even a pharmacist. While some turned up for recurrent problems, such as a bad back, one patient even went to A&E because they had run out of Calpol. Instead of spending hours in the emergency waiting room, creating a backlog in an already-stretched system, they were given the option of booking a local GP appointment that very same day or the next morning. Those behind the trial predict the scheme which has redirected 700 patients in total so far could save the NHS up to 30 per cent in costs and help ease the current pressure on hospitals caused by Covid. The pilot, which is in place until the end of March, has been commissioned by local NHS leaders and organised by Northwick Park Hospital and Harrow Health a not-for-profit organisation run by a group of GPs based in Harrow. Dr Kanesh Rajani, chairman of Harrow Health and a GP himself, said: People go to A&E because they know its there. They know that they can access it easily, and they can be seen by a healthcare professional for the problem, but it may not be the most appropriate place for them. The sorts of things people come in for whether it be a shoulder problem or muscular injuries theyve had for days or weeks, or a cough theyve had for a long time, or vomiting and diarrhoea they want help and advice but they may not know a pharmacist can help them or their local GP. The doctor and nurse will be able to help them and make an assessment and appropriately signpost the patient to the right care. Advertisement Commons researchers also found a record 12,498 people diagnosed with cancer between April and November last year did not get their 'first definitive treatment' within 31 days of their diagnosis. They warned it could mean that, by April 2022, more than 21,000 confirmed cancer patients will have waited longer than a month in the past year for care. That would be five times more than the number in 2011. But there are an even larger number of patients not getting their first treatment within 62 days of an urgent GP referral another crucial NHS cancer target, Among people diagnosed in the seven months of 2021, 32,647 were not given surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy within that timescale. Mr Streeting told the Guardian: 'Cancer care is in crisis. As this new analysis shows, terrifyingly large numbers of people are waiting longer than they should to receive vital cancer care and treatment with the insecurity of not knowing.' Macmillan Cancer Support said the figures highlighted the 'huge challenge' the NHS faces in clearing the cancer backlog and warned of the 'worry and anxiety' of people who are directly affected by the delays. As well as cancer, the pandemic has seen waiting lists for other illnesses skyrocket, with a record 6million waiting for routine operations. The Prime Minister had hoped to unveil the multi-billion pound NHS catch-up plan today as he scrambles to get his premiership back on track. But the publication of the NHS elective recovery plan has been bumped as ministers failed to sign off the draft document. The 12billion a year national insurance hike coming in from April is being allocated to the NHS and social care reforms, with 5.9billion earmarked for investing in elective surgery, diagnostics, and technology over the next three years The hold-up will fuel anxiety about Mr Johnson's authority after the Partygate crisis sparked a welter of calls from Tories for him to quit. Mr Sunak, seen as a potential successor, last week pointedly disowned a jibe Mr Johnson made at Keir Starmer for failing to prosecute Jimmy Savile. The PM moved to 'reset' his top team over the weekend by bringing in former journalist Guto Harri as his communications director, and making Cabinet minister Steve Barclay his chief of staff. He is expected to make more appointments in the coming days, as well as carrying out a mini-reshuffle of the government's much-criticised whipping operation. Mr Javid insisted the plans would be published 'shortly' and claimed he did not recognise reports of a feud with the Treasury, arguing that Omicron had already forced the government to hold off in December. He told Sky News: 'We will publish the plan shortly. What I would say about the Treasury is that I couldn't wish for a better partner when it comes to the challenges I have. I don't recognise that (the suggestion) at all. 'Having been chancellor, having a close relationship with the Treasury, having a strong partnership for any department is crucial and right now for health and care I am just really pleased we have got that really good working relationship.' A Treasury source denied that Mr Sunak had blocked the publication of the plan. 'We didn't block, the NHS agreed with us it's not ready yet,' the source said. But Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said: 'Increasingly getting the sense that Johnson now faces the same (but more intense and short-term) challenges Tony Blair had in his third term, namely that HMT (HM Treasury) is loath to agree to any No 10 plans involving money, as the Chancellor sees these as opportunistic and wasted on a dying administration.' Mr Taylor worked as head of policy in No 10 under Mr Blair. Sajid Javid today pleaded for Tories to 'move on' from plotting against Boris Johnson as the PM desperately tries to 'reset' his government. The Health Secretary said he was '100 per cent' backing Mr Johnson and predicted there will not be a leadership contest, despite months of rising unrest in the Conservative ranks. The comments came as one would-be successor, backbencher Tom Tugendhat made clear there will be a move against the premier unless his overhaul of No10 staff works. Mr Tugendhat also renewed his call for the 12billion national insurance hike to be abandoned - a popular rallying cry among Tories. Meanwhile, Dominic Cummings is expected to publish more allegations about Mr Johnson's controversial refurbishment of the Downing Street flat, as he continues his campaign to evict him from power. The PM launched a bid to stabilise his No10 operation over the weekend following a series of dramatic departures. Cabinet minister Steve Barclay has become Mr Johnson's new chief of staff, while former journalist and long-time ally Guto Harri is the new No10 director of communications. Boris Johnson (pictured in Downing Street today) has launched a bid to stabilise his No10 operation over the weekend following a series of dramatic departures Backbencher Tom Tugendhat (left) has made clear there will be a move against the premier unless his overhaul of No10 staff works. Sajid Javid (right) said he has 100 per cent confidence in Mr Johnson Long-time Johnson ally Guto Harri is the new No10 director of communications (pictured arriving at work today) New No10 spin chief turns up with mineral water on first day in swipe at booze culture New No10 spin chief Guto Harri appeared to take a swipe at the Partygate boozing culture today. Mr Harri arrived for his first day in Downing Street carrying a Tesco bag. Asked what he was going to do first, the former journalist said: 'Give healthy snacks and mineral waters to staff.' Advertisement No10 is believed to be lining up Dame Emily Lawson as the permanent secretary in a new PM department this week. Dame Emily, who currently runs NHS England's vaccination programme, was seconded to Downing Street's delivery unit a team in charge of ensuring the Government delivers on its policies in April last year before returning to the health service in October. The beleaguered leader has been left badly wounded by the Partygate saga, with a police investigation still hanging over his head. His refusal to apologise for a 'slur' about Keir Starmer's failure to prosecute Jimmy Savile also enraged many Tories - and sparked the resignation of his long-standing aide Munira Mirza. Tory MP Andrew Griffith has now taken over from Ms Mirza as head of the Downing Street policy unit. The government is also battling to quell panic over the rising cost of living and looming hike in national insurance. Asked in a round of interviews this morning if the PM has his full confidence, Mr Javid told BBC Breakfast: 'Absolutely, 100 per cent, and I'll tell you why. 'Because despite the challenges, and of course there are many, we are delivering, this Prime Minister is delivering. When he was elected with a record majority, so many commitments rightly were made to the British people. 'He's saved this country from Corbynism, he's delivered on Brexit, we're getting on with the job of levelling up, he's delivered the most successful vaccination programme in Europe, the biggest booster programme in Europe, making us the freest country in Europe and we have the fastest growing economy in the G7.' Mr Javid told Sky News: 'I don't think there is going to be a leadership election. We have got a leader in place who is doing an excellent job, is getting on with the job, is delivering on the commitments that we made, and I am there to support him, along with the rest of us.' Mr Javid said it was time to 'move on' from the controversy over the Prime Minister's attack on Sir Keir Starmer over the CPS's failure to prosecute Jimmy Savile when he was director of public prosecutions a claim which had widely been discredited. Mr Tugendhat - the only Tory who has formally declared they want to take over from Mr Johnson - took to the airwaves again this morning. He laid down a marker by insisting that Mr Johnson's fate will hang on the success of his shake-up. BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I think the Prime Minister has just done his reset, let's see what Number 10 brings out because there's an awful lot of talent going in, as you know, there's an awful lot of talent coming out, and let's see what changes are. 'I mean this is a decision clearly for 360 or so members of Parliament and let's see where it goes to, but I think the point remains that we've got to be looking at the future, we've got to be looking at what's best for the British people and focus absolutely on how we achieve the results that we really need for this country'. He went on to say: 'This is a time when we need to be really focused on what politics is actually here for, and that's helping others and not getting into some sort of personal psychodrama'. Asked if the 'personal psychodrama' could finish with an end to the Prime Minister's leadership, Mr Tugendhat, who intends to stand for Tory leader if Mr Johnson is voted out, said: 'Well it depends how the reset goes. Going into a leadership election is hardly ending a psychodrama.' Mr Johnson has promised fundamental change to reassure his restive troops. Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said yesterday: 'I think the Prime Minister has been very clear that he wants a reset in No 10. 'He was very clear speaking to Conservative MPs on Monday and what we saw last week was him following through with that commitment.' According to The Times, Mr Barclay and Mr Harri joined the PM at Chequers over the weekend to start work on building a more 'grown-up' Government. Mr Kwarteng urged those still unsure about Mr Johnson's future to give him the 'time and space' to lead. Former Cabinet minister Robert Jenrick warned last night that 'it is undoubtedly true that public concern is very deep, the damage to the party's reputation is serious, and will take a considerable effort to change that' and that he had 'a great deal of sympathy for many of those colleagues who have come out and said that they feel that change is necessary'. But he told BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour: 'There's also very little public appetite for the Conservative Party at this moment in time, when we're facing a cost of living crisis and insecurity abroad to descend into a leadership contest and all the damage that does.' Nick Timothy, who acted as joint chief of staff to Theresa May during her first year in Downing Street, said it was 'surely not possible to be chief of staff while serving elsewhere as a minister'. Andrew Griffith (left) has become the head of the Downing Street policy unit. Dominic Cummings (right) is expected to publish more allegations about Mr Johnson's controversial refurbishment of the Downing Street flat He said the 'sheer workload' would be a 'problem', adding: 'It's a recipe for chaos, when these changes were supposed to bring order.' Earlier Gavin Barwell, who served as chief of staff to Theresa May and now sits in the House of Lords, said there was not 'a chance in hell' that Mr Johnson will stand down voluntarily. The Tory peer told Sky's Trevor Phillips On Sunday: 'My inclination is that the Conservative Party would be better making a change and I also think, for the good of the country in terms of trust and faith in our politics, there's a strong case for change. 'But it's not up to me to make a decision. Ultimately, this is a decision that, up until the next election at least, is one for Conservative MPs.' Some 15 Tory MPs have now publicly called for Mr Johnson to resign but not all have sent letters of no confidence to 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady. If 54 letters are reached, a no confidence vote would be triggered. Some people keep dogs as pets, some keep cats, but not many keep a 15cm spider. But Sydney man Chris Taylor is not most people. He not only keeps the massive arachnid, he's given it a name - Steve. The 42-year-old first found the spider on his dashboard a year ago, but rather than removing it - as most would do - it still lives in his car. He became so fond of it he decided to call it Steve. The name has stuck even though someone with a greater knowledge of the harmless huntsman spider than him told him it was a female. Chris Taylor, 42, first found the gigantic arachnid (pictured) on his dashboard in February 2021 and it has been there ever since Sydney man Chris Taylor (pictured) likes having the spider, called Steve, in his car 'She just appeared one day about a year ago on the dashboard when I stopped at the lights,' Mr Taylor said. 'She was only about half the size she is now though, I've watched her grow.' Huntsman species are found across Australia in every state and territory and they are well known as being the hairy so-called 'tarantula' on house walls that terrify people by scuttling out from behind curtains. They are also notorious for entering cars - as Mr Taylor found out - and being found hiding behind sun visors or running across the dashboard. Though he took her out one time, Steve somehow managed to find her way back in. HUNTSMAN SPIDER The Australian Huntsman is famed as being the hairy so-called 'tarantula' on house walls that terrify people by scuttling out from behind curtains. They are also notorious for entering cars, and being found hiding behind sun visors or running across the dashboard. Source: Australian Museum Advertisement 'I did get her out of the car a few months ago but the next day she was back under the sun visor, so she likes it in my car for some reason. 'I'm not scared of spiders in general, so I let her stay in there even though I don't appreciate it when she falls into my lap. 'I had her fall on my lap one time and almost hit the Sydney Harbour tunnel wall.' Those who don't know about his unusual pet tend to get a fright when she suddenly appears. 'When I have passengers in my car they are often startled or scream. Steve is great at keeping me more alert when I drive,' he said. 'I'll let her stay, I'm saving money as no one wants a lift anymore. 'I would be a bit sad if she decided to leave. Driving is far more exciting with her in there.' Earlier this month, dashcam footage revealed a motorbike rider hailed for having 'ice in his veins' after calmly dealing with a giant huntsman spider crawling all over him. Steve the spider (pictured) has doubled in size since she first appeared in Chris Taylor's car The huge spider can be seen suddenly appearing from under the motorcyclist's seat before climbing up the man's bag onto his back, then his shoulder and arm. But as the fearless rider sits in traffic and the spider makes a beeline for his helmet, he nonchalantly flicks it onto the road with just a casual glance. A frantic search is underway for a 13-year-old girl who vanished while walking home from school in Sydney's western suburbs. Alyssa Lawrence was last seen travelling along Bulls Road in Wakeley, a suburb 34km west of Sydney's CBD, at about 3:15pm on Monday. The teenager had been making the trip from her school to a local shopping centre, with her disappearance reported to Fairfield Police just hours later. A frantic search is underway for a 13-year-old Alyssa Lawrence, who vanished while walking home from school in Sydney's western suburbs on Monday afternoon Authorities and the 13-year-old's family members hold concerns for her safety due to her young age with police issuing a public appeal for assistance. Alyssa is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 160cm tall, of slim build, with a fair complexion, and long light-brown hair. She was last seen wearing a pink button-up top, a grey and pink chequered skirt, black shoes and holding a maroon-coloured bag. Anyone who may have seen the 13-year-old or has information on her whereabouts is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Advertisement Nearly 450 deer and wild boar have been slaughtered in a single day's hunt in Spain as environmentalists slam the 'orgy of blood and death'. The mass killing took place on a commercial hunt on the Los Posteruelos private estate in Villaviciosa de Cordoba, near the Andalusian hills. The 447 animals were penned in by fences so they could not escape the gunfire from the 70 hunters taking part. Nearly 450 deer and wild boar have been slaughtered in a single day's hunt in Spain as environmentalists slam the 'orgy of blood and death' The 447 animals were penned in by fences so they could not escape the gunfire from the 70 hunters taking part Participants were each charged 1,000 for the shoot, which is legal under Spanish law Participants were each charged 1,000 for the shoot, which is legal under Spanish law. But animal rights groups say the use of fencing is unethical and have condemned the hunt after images of the animals' carcasses were shared online. Each hunter killed around six or seven animals, a figure much higher than on an average day's hunt, they say. Manuel Gallardo, president of the Royal Spanish Hunting Federation, told El Mundo that large-scale hunting is 'necessary due to the overabundance of species'. But Joaquin Reina from Ecologists in Action blasted the shoot as an 'orgy of blood and death'. Animal rights groups say the use of fencing is unethical and have condemned the hunt after images of the animals' carcasses were shared online Animal rights groups say the use of fencing is unethical and have condemned the hunt after images of the animals' carcasses were shared online The mass killing took place on a commercial hunt on the Los Posteruelos private estate (pictured) He said: 'This is the daily life of most of the fenced estates in Sierra Morena, but also throughout Andalusia, with some 500,000 hectares fenced, Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha and the Levante region.' He said the massacre would be impossible on an open estate, saying: 'The only defence is escape and this is absolutely diminished by a wire barrier.' But Gallardo argued that the animals needed to be killed to 'maintain the balance in the environment'. He added that the ritualistic display of the animals' bodies on the floor was also necessary for health regulations. He said hunting is essential not only for conservation but also for the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of the region, saying it generates 6.5billion a year. The Association of Law Professionals United for Animal Defense and the Environment of Cordoba has now demanded more information on the hunt to prove its legality. Advocates say hunting is essential not only for conservation but also for the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of the region, saying it generates 6.5billion a year The Association of Law Professionals United for Animal Defense and the Environment of Cordoba has now demanded more information on the hunt to prove its legality In January 2019, a similar hunt on the same estate resulted in the deaths of 413 animals by 76 hunters. The campaigners said they 'will be raising its voice for the innocent being massacred'. Princes William and Harry have previously taken part in boar hunts in Cordoba as a guest of the late Duke of Westminster. The brothers flew out in 2014 to Finca La Garganta, one of the largest and most exclusive hunting estates in western Europe. It is believed the animals on the shoot were not fenced in on the 37,000-hectare property which is teeming with wildlife including wild boar and stag. Wild boar hunting in popular in Spain and can be hunted year-round without restrictions. The animal is also considered a pest in many Spanish cities, with regular reports of them attacking and biting locals. One unfortunate recent victim was the popstar Shakira after two wild boar snatched her handbag in a Barcelona park. Boar numbers have reportedly doubled in recent years, as pro-hunting groups say the practice keeps population levels stable. Hunting has a long tradition in Spain, with 'la monteria' dating back to the Middle Ages in the Iberian Peninsula. Early records show King Alfonso XI took part in hunts in the early 14th century with hounds and beaters. Spain has previously been criticised for mass greyhound deaths at the end of the hunting season, in which the dogs were thrown down wells, tied to rail tracks or dumped by busy roads. Selfish pet owners discard the working dogs, known as galgos, so they do not have to pay for food to keep them alive after the season ends. Animal welfare campaigners estimate that Spain has 200,000 registered galgueros, who own up to ten dogs each, and that up to 50,000 greyhounds are abandoned at the end of each season. Charities struggle to cope with the influx of abandoned dogs, many of whom are either left to fend for themselves or taken to kill shelters. Others are left to die down wells, with cruel owners blocking up the entrance with wood so there is no chance of escape. Last month, a hunter became the hunted when a wild boar fatally bit an Italian man who had shot at it for sport. Giulio Burattini, 36, bled to death in front of his father while the pair were out hunting in woodland in Castell'Azzara in Italy's Tuscany region last Wednesday Giulio Burattini, 36, bled to death in front of his father while the pair were out hunting near the Pigelleto di Piancastagnaio nature reserve in Italy's Tuscany region. Giulio had landed a shot on the wild beast, which collapsed to the ground as the hunter went over the check on his prey, according to local media. But to the Italian's surprise, the boar shot to its feet and bit the top of his right leg as he approached, severing his femoral artery and killing him. His last desperate message was reportedly a warning cry to his friends through his walkie-talkie: 'Help, help I'm dying'. Forest rescue teams and the emergency services rushed to try and revive the 36-year-old, but he had lost too much blood and died in front of his veterinarian father who would require treatment for shock. The Grosseto public prosecutor office declined to investigate the case, citing the accident as being caused by a wild animal and there being no criminal implications involved in Mr Burattini's death. Burattini, who came from Castell'Azzara, leaves behind a wife and a seven-year-old daughter. In another boar-related hunting accident, a hiker was shot to death after he was mistaken for the animal in the south of France. Jean-Louis Blanc, 59, was out walking close to the village of Taulignan, in the Drome department, when he was hit in the groin by a bullet in 2017. The hunter, known only as Luc C, 62, was given a two-year suspended sentence last year for the accidental shooting. Senior members of the Church of England could be appointed titles like 'Brexit Bishop' or 'Covid Bishop' as part of a major shake-up which would see government-style roles for church leaders. The plans, which form part of a radical consultation currently being considered, has led to claims the Church wants to form a 'shadow government' to comment on political matters with 'the Archbishop of Canterbury as a prime minister'. Tory MP Michael Fabricant told MailOnline the reorganisation looked similar to an opposition party, and could have unintended consequences. 'This seems an interesting innovation - it is like an opposition political party appointing shadow ministers,' he said. 'The consequences could be not what the Church of England had hoped for.' According to the Times, the consultation was commissioned by the archbishops of Canterbury and York and the Bishop of London. The papers, seen by the newspaper, set out ideas for 'significant changes to the shape, structure and number of dioceses and bishops' as part of a historic shake-up of how the church operates. The Church said it is considering creating non-geographical roles for certain bishops who could serve as spokesmen on 'special topics' and gave the examples of 'Brexit Bishop' or 'Covid Bishop' in the consultation document. The proposals also include a redrawn ecclesiastical map which could see certain dioceses merge and new senior 'regional' bishops to oversee larger areas. Senior members of the Church of England could be appointed 'Brexit Bishop' or 'Covid Bishop' as part of a major shake-up which would see government-style roles for church leaders. Pictured: Justin Welby, Archibishop of Canterbury, arrives for Lord Mayor's Banquet in 2021 Linda Woodhead, a theology professor at King's College London, told The Times the proposals were 'dramatic'. She said: 'The Archbishop of Canterbury would become a prime minister with a Cabinet of people. That's making the church into a shadow government.' How the Church of England currently operates The Church of England was formed by Henry VIII after he broke ties with the Pope in the 1530s when the Catholic church wouldn't allow him to annul his marriage to his first wife Catherine of Aragon. The Act of Supremacy, established in 1534, was an important English act of Parliament that recognised Henry VIII as the 'Supreme Head of the Church of England.' Today, the Queen serves as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England and is responsible for appointing archbishops, bishops and deans. The Church of England is currently led by the Archbishops of York and Canterbury who serve as the most senior of 106 bishops. They provide guidance and direction to the churches across the country in the 42 dioceses and make decisions on the Church in society. Each diocese is made up parishes and clergies which the Church says are at the heart of their communities. The Church of England also has a legislative role in Britain. The two Archbishops and 24 other bishops sit in the House of Lords and are known as the Lords Spiritual. It is considered that they bring a religious ethos to the secular process of law. Advertisement The Rev Marcus Walker, a rector in London, told the Times that proposals to save money in struggling dioceses were 'eminently sensible', but added: 'The church doesn't need bishops acting as shadow government ministers, it needs bishops who are being pastors to their flocks.' The Church of England, which is purportedly non-partisan but has been accused of being left-wing in the past, is made up of the two provinces of Canterbury and York under which there are 42 dioceses. Each diocese consists of a structure of boards and councils responsible for different aspects of the Church's work including staffing and education in schools. The Church is led by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and 106 other bishops who provide guidance and direction to the churches across the country. They also make decisions on the Church in society while the General Synod acts as the Church's legislative body, and determines and creates the laws of the Church. The Times reports that the changes are being considered to address financial difficulties being faced by some dioceses - with 27 of the 42 operating with a deficit - and to reflect the 'current population patterns'. It also suggested that bishops needed to be freed from 'managerial time demands' so they have more time to concentrate on the 'mission' of the church. According to the Times, the document adds: 'The changes this document contemplates are considerable. 'If implemented, they will have a significant impact on culture, roles and responsibilities and the structures within which the Episcopate [body of bishops] of the Church of England operates.' It is understood that, if taken forward, any changes are likely to be introduced over 10 years. The Church of England said the changes were put forward as part of a discussion with bishops across the country about how they saw their ministries developing in the future. William Nye, the Secretary General of the House of Bishops, told MailOnline: 'For some time the bishops of the Church of England have been thinking prayerfully about their ministries and responsibilities and whether some aspects might be reshaped to make them more effective in supporting local churches. 'Last year the Bishop of Ely and others had conversations with most of the bishops and summarised a wide range of ideas and suggestions some more developed than others which came from those discussions in a paper for the bishops themselves. The consultation was commissioned by the Archbishops of York Stephen Cottrell (left) and Canterbury and the Bishop of London the Right Reverend Sarah Elisabeth Mullally (right) 'They spent time talking and praying about those ideas at the College of Bishops in September last year and have gone on doing so since. 'It is an ongoing process and some of those suggestions, especially some of the simpler ideas, such as ways for different dioceses to work more closely together with neighbouring dioceses, are already being taken forward. But not all of them will necessarily be taken forward.' The Church is non-partisan but has increasingly been accused of becoming left-leaning. Ahead of the 2015 General Election, the church angered some Tory ministers after it issued an open letter calling for a 'new direction' in politics to replace a society they said is self-interested, fragmented, and badly led by politicians. The Church insisted that the letter was meant to counter the message then promoted by comedian Russell Brand that taking part in politics is useless. The bishops claimed their intention was not to tell people how to vote. Pictured: work being carried out to remove a number of prominent references to Edward Colston in the windows of Bristol Cathedral in 2020 in the wake of his statue being toppled But the 'letter to the people and parishes of the Church of England' suggested inequality and social injustice had increased under the Coalition. They said the burden of austerity has fallen on the poor and that worklessness is 'corrosive of human dignity and sense of identity'. Among the letter's demands, they called for continued membership of the EU, a re-think of the nuclear deterrent, and the end of the first-past-the-post voting system. More recently, the Church has appeared to wade into the debate about historical statues and the country's colonial past. Last year, the Church instructed cathedrals and churches across the country to review their monuments for links to slavery and colonialism and take action if any are found. Actions that could be taken include removal, relocation or alteration of plaques to include contextual information. The Church of England established an anti-racism task force which carried out a review of the action it had taken to address its own role in the slave trade. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards at the Carleton Manor houses to demand that NYCHA fix long standing heat problems in the building at 74-15 Beach Channel Drive in Far Rockaway Queens on Monday February 7, 2022. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News) Mayor Adams and other politicians slammed the New York City Housing Authority Monday following a Daily News scoop revealing a months-long hot water outage affecting hundreds of tenants in a Queens building. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards called for four months of free rent for tenants at the 174-unit building in Rockaway, some of whom went without hot water at the complex since November. Adams called the ordeal at Carleton Manor despicable. Advertisement Queens Borough President Donovan Richards slammed NYCHA for failing to fix hot water problems at the Carleton Manor houses. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News) Theres a culture of incompetence that has permeated NYCHA. And I think it has a lot to do that people are not respecting the rights of those residents, Adams said at a press conference. When I saw that story that was in the paper, that is unacceptable. Im going to do my darndest to make sure it doesnt happen, he added. Advertisement Mayor Adams (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News) The mayors response came one day after The News highlighted the frigid conditions at Carleton Manor, where as many as 300 tenants have lacked hot water since November. The months-long outage incensed a Queens housing court judge who dressed down a NYCHA lawyer on Jan. 20. If this was a private small landlord he [the landlord] would be in jail by now, Judge Kimon Thermos said during the hearing. He would have been in jail by now and the fines would have been $500 per day, per apartment. So he would have been in jail and he would have been losing his building too. Why is your crime shielded this way? Thermos asked a NYCHA lawyer. NYCHA is dropping the ball big time here. As a city agency, NYCHA is not subject to the same types of penalties as private landlords. Adams said he has a policy proposal, called NYCHAstat, that would track issues for residents such as inadequate hot water, facilitating faster fixes as problems arise. Tenants at the building on Beach Channel Dr. and Beach 74th St. in Arverne provided documentation to The News showing theyd complained about the water in petitions and lawsuits since at least December. Residents said the shoddy plumbing forces them to heat water on a stove, haul it to the tub and then use it to bathe. Advertisement The Carleton Manor houses at 74-15 Beach Channel Drive in Rockaway. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News) Richards took Adams comments a step further, calling for NYCHA to waive rent for any months without hot water. Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > Its the citys fault for acting like a slumlord who thinks they can get away with dehumanizing our residents here in Carleton Manor Houses, said Richards, who was joined by other elected officials. But NYCHA countered that rent relief would only exacerbate the problem. Water damage inside the Carleton Manor houses. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News) This problem stems from decades of neglect due to disinvestment, therefore any diminution in funds will only lead to further deterioration of buildings and services, said Rochel Goldblatt, a NYCHA spokeswoman. The housing authority said all apartments in the building had hot water as of Monday. Work will continue on the plumbing system this week. But tenants worried the warm water wont be around for long. Advertisement Resident Council member Alisha Robinson worried fixes to the Carleton Manor water system won't last for long. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News) Since Thursday, Ive had hot water. When I got in the water, I got excited. And when it stayed that way, I was even more excited, said tenant Alisha Robinson, 42. Im scared when I turn on the water, like is it gonna be hot or is it gonna be cold? With Tim Balk and Chris Sommerfeldt Insulate Britain have vowed to inflict more road chaos on the public and revealed that activists are planning a 'rave on the M25' next Saturday. The protest, which has been shared as an event on Facebook with the slogan 'staying alive on the M25', is set to last from midday until 4am on February 20. A total of 62 people have responded as 'going', while another 172 have clicked 'interested'. The event's description mentions '12 hours of mental partying', referencing one hour for each alleged party held at Downing Street during the pandemic. In a statement this morning, the activists acknowledged they had 'failed' and 'lost another year', but vowed to 'continue their campaign of civil resistance' regardless. The group said they 'haven't gone away', adding: 'We're just getting started.' The announcement comes after five Insulate Britain eco-zealots were jailed for up to 42 days on Wednesday after causing mayhem on the M25 last year. The protest, which has been shared as an event on Facebook with the slogan 'staying alive on the M25', is set to last from midday until 4am on February 20. Pictured: Insulate Britain activists blocking a carriageway of the M25 in September last year An Insulate Britain protestor is carried by police after being unglued from the road in front of Parliament in Westminster in London on November 4 last year In a statement this morning, the activists acknowledged they had 'failed' and 'lost another year', but vowed to 'continue their campaign of civil resistance' regardless The group said they 'haven't gone away', adding: 'We're just getting started.' The announcement comes after five Insulate Britain eco-zealots were jailed for up to 42 days on Wednesday after causing mayhem on the M25 last year Insulate Britain stated: 'We failed to move our irresponsible government to take meaningful action to prevent thousands of us from dying in our cold homes during the energy price crisis. 'We have failed to make this heartless government put its people over profit and insulate our homes to do our part in lowering the UK's emissions. 'We have failed to encourage our government to get up from their drinks parties, go to their desk and get on with the job.' The group went on: 'So our next campaign of civil resistance against the betrayal of this country must be even more ambitious.' Wednesday's ruling is the third time the High Court has handed out sentences to protesters over breaches of the court order, following hearings in November and December. Nine of those in court had previously been committed for contempt in relation to the M25 order. Theresa Norton, 63, Dr Diana Warner, 62, El Litten, 35, and Steve Pritchard, 62, who glued themselves to the steps of the Royal Courts of Justice in defiance of the proceedings on Tuesday, were jailed for between 24 and 42 days, while Ben Taylor, 27, was jailed for 32 days. The remaining protesters were given suspended sentences, but will be jailed if they breach the injunction within the next two years. A total of 62 people have responded as 'going', while another 172 have clicked 'interested' to the event which is set to be held on February 19 Theresa Norton, 63, Diana Warner, 62, El Litten, 35, and Steve Pritchard, 62, who glued themselves to the High Court's steps (pictured) in defiance of the proceedings last Tuesday, were given between 24 and 42 days Pictured: Insulate Britain protesters at the High Court last Wednesday, with Jessica Causby and others reading a speech after court proceedings Who were the Insulate Britain activists in court last week and what did they get sentenced to? JAILED: Diana Warner, 62: 30 days Ellie Litten, 35: 42 days Stephen Pritchard, 62: 24 days Theresa Norton, 63: 24 days Ben Taylor, 27: 32 days SENTENCES SUSPENDED FOR TWO YEARS: Christian Rowe, 24: 60 days Gabriella Ditton, 28: 42 days David Nixon, 35: 42 days Indigo Rumbelow, 27: 42 days Stephanie Aylett, 27: 42 days Ben Buse, 36: 40 days Reverend Sue Parfitt, 79: 30 days Ruth Jarman, 58: 30 days Paul Sheeky, 46: 24 days Biff Whipster, 54: 24 days Stephen Gower, 55: 24 days LET OFF: Arne Springorum, 49 Liam Norton, 37 Jessica Causby, 25 Advertisement Labour councillor Norton, 63, retired GP Warner, 62, Litten, 35, and parish councillor Pritchard, 62, had glued themselves to the steps at the entrance to the High Court in defiance of the proceedings on Tuesday. They sent a note to the judges saying: 'The four of us feel we have to continue our resistance today because we don't want to cooperate with a system which is causing so much death and hardship.' The four were later arrested by officers and were cheered by fellow protesters as they were led away, with the last of the four being removed by about 5.15pm. Earlier, High Court judges told three members of the eco-mob they were 'free to go' after concluding they had not breached the injunction during a protest at South Mimms roundabout by the M25 on November 2, 2021. National Highways sought to bring contempt of court proceedings against Springorum, 49, Norton, 37, and Jessica Causby, 25, after they took part in a protest near the motorway on November 2 last year. According to National Highways' written submissions, Springorum and Causby glued themselves to the pavement during their protest action, while Norton allegedly 'endangered the free flow of traffic'. The demonstration was intended to block the M25 near Junction 23 at Bignells Corner, Potters Bar, but Lord Justice William Davis decided that area was not covered by the M25 injunction. He said: 'The application in their cases has been dismissed so there's no further reference to them in these proceedings.' The judge told the protesters that they were 'free to go'. Insulate Britain began a wave of demonstrations last September which included blocking the M25 and other roads in London, including around Parliament, as well as roads in Birmingham, Manchester and Dover in Kent. A series of High Court injunctions against its road blockades were granted to National Highways and Transport for London to prevent their disruptive protests. The 19 who faced court last week were: Ruth Jarman 58, Dr Diana Warner 62, Jessica Causby 25, Stephen Gower 55, Liam Norton 37, Ben Taylor 27, Dr Ben Buse 36, Gabriella Ditton 28, Arne Springorum 49, Paul Sheeky 46, Theresa Norton 63, Stephanie Aylett 27, Indigo Rumbelow 27, Ellie Litten 35, David Nixon 35, Christian Rowe 24. , Biff Whipster 54, Rev Sue Parfitt 79, Steve Pritchard 62 Supporters of nine Insulate Britain climate activists who were jailed take part in a protest on Lambeth Bridge in central London on November 20 last year Those who breach them could be found in contempt of court and face a maximum penalty of two years in prison or an unlimited fine as well as seizure of assets. The offshoot from the Extinction Rebellion is calling on the UK Government to implement policy and funding for a national home insulation programme starting with all social housing. The group wants the UK government to promise to fully fund and take responsibility for the insulation of all social housing in Britain by 2025. It wants it to produce 'within four months a legally binding national plan to fully fund and take responsibility for the full low energy and low carbon whole-house retrofit, with no externalised costs, of all homes in Britain by 2030 as part of a just transition to full decarbonisation of all parts of society and the economy'. A Jewish nursery in a north London synagogue has permanently closed amid 'safeguarding concerns' over the treatment of children by staff. Little Goldies nursery, at the contemporary orthodox Golders Green Synagogue in north west London, was shut down on January 13 this year - three days after Ofsted inspected the establishment following a 'risk assessment'. The Met Police was then contacted by the local authority on January 17 after concerns were raised to them over the 'conduct of staff towards children', officers have now revealed. A police spokesman told MailOnline the nursery has been closed and detectives are now investigating. No arrests have been made. Jewish News had reported that the concerns were not believed to be of a 'physical or sexual nature'. Ofsted had ranked Little Goldies, which opened its doors in September 2017, as 'Good' in terms of quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and management following an inspection in January 2020. Inspectors had written that the setting has 'a community feel, and... families have a strong sense of belonging', while children were 'happy and secure'. But in an email sent to parents are carers, a spokesman for the nursery had said last month: 'The United Synagogue has resigned its registration at Little Goldies, which means the nursery is now permanently closed. Little Goldies nursery, at the contemporary orthodox Golders Green Synagogue in north west London, was shut down on January 13 this year - three days after Ofsted inspected the establishment following a 'risk assessment' 'We have taken this very regrettable decision with a heavy heart but in recognition that while the investigation is ongoing, Little Goldies is no longer viable and will not be able to reopen in its current form.' It adds: 'Safeguarding remains the first priority and we are absolutely committed to working with all relevant agencies to conclude the investigation, but we recognise that the sudden suspension has left parents with no alternative but to make other childcare arrangements.' The nursery offered full day care with up to 28 places for children aged two to four, open Monday to Thursday from 8am to 3pm, and 8am to 12.30pm on Fridays. It had employed five members of staff, all of whom had relevant early years qualifications, according to the Ofsted report two years ago - which had found that safeguarding arrangements were 'effective'. Chief executive of the United Synagogue, Steven Wilson, had said that 'safeguarding is of the utmost importance', adding that the situation had 'left parents with no alternative but to make other childcare arrangements'. Alison Mazin, the Nursery Manager, wrote that she had been an early years educator for more than 30 years, having run her own playgroup for half that time A Barnet Council spokesman said: 'We followed our procedures and contacted the police after a series of concerns about the nursery. They are being investigated, which is likely to be for a period of not less than six weeks.' An Ofsted spokesman had said: 'We inspected the nursery on 10 January following a risk assessment. We have since suspended the nursery's registration and are working with other agencies.' The nursery's website had claimed that it encouraged 'strong British values' and children would learn Judaism through prayer, shabbat parties and festivals through 'song and drama'. Alison Mazin, the Nursery Manager, wrote on the web page that she had been an early years educator for more than 30 years, having run her own playgroup for half that time. She said: 'I helped set up Little Goldies at Golders Green Synagogue in 2017. 'With all my experience over the years, Little Goldies is now well established and even with all the trouble of Covid Little Goldies is flourishing with the help of the dedicated staff.' MailOnline has contacted Ms Mazin for comment. A Met Police spokesman said: 'Officers from the North West Public Protection Unit were contacted by the local authority on Monday, 17 January after concerns were raised to them around the conduct of staff towards children at a nursery in Golders Green. 'Detectives are investigating. No arrests have been made. The nursery has been closed.' Placing a GP and a nurse outside A&E to redirect patients could save the NHS millions and alleviate pressure on hospitals, a trial has found. Since the start of December a group of GPs have been testing a scheme which places two practitioners at the front door of a hospitals A&E department. The duo help assess patients when they arrive and then redirect those who do not need urgent care elsewhere. As many as 75 patients have been redirected in a single day at Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow, North West London, for ailments that could easily be treated by a GP or even a pharmacist. While some turned up for recurrent problems, such as a bad back, one patient even went to A&E because they had run out of Calpol. The doctors working at Northwick Park Hospital, London, said that the scheme could save the NHS up to 30 per cent in costs. (Pictured: Ambulance outside the hospital) For the tests two practitioners were placed outside the entrance to Accident and Emergency at Northwick Park Hospital, London (pictured) Instead of spending hours in the emergency waiting room, creating a backlog in an already-stretched system, they were given the option of booking a local GP appointment that very same day or the next morning. Those behind the trial predict the scheme which has redirected 700 patients in total so far could save the NHS up to 30 per cent in costs and help ease the current pressure on hospitals caused by Covid. The pilot, which is in place until the end of March, has been commissioned by local NHS leaders and organised by Northwick Park Hospital and Harrow Health a not-for-profit organisation run by a group of GPs based in Harrow. NHS waiting list could DOUBLE to 12 million in just four years NHS waiting lists have spiralled to a record 6million people in the wake of the pandemic. But a damning report from the National Audit Office (NAO) has predicted it could double to 12million by 2025 despite billions more being pumped into the health service. Even in the best case scenario where the NHS ramps up appointments by 10 per cent, the NAO said the waiting list could still grow to 7million by 2025. Its report, published in December, also warned the health service was falling dramatically short on all key targets including cancer care with the catastrophic consequences costing lives. And it suggested Boris Johnsons controversial health and social care levy, which will raise national insurance payments by 1.25 per cent, would be inadequate to prevent hospital waiting lists surging further. Advertisement Dr Kanesh Rajani, chairman of Harrow Health and a GP himself, said: People go to A&E because they know its there. They know that they can access it easily, and they can be seen by a healthcare professional for the problem, but it may not be the most appropriate place for them. The sorts of things people come in for whether it be a shoulder problem or muscular injuries theyve had for days or weeks, or a cough theyve had for a long time, or vomiting and diarrhoea they want help and advice but they may not know a pharmacist can help them or their local GP. The doctor and nurse will be able to help them and make an assessment and appropriately signpost the patient to the right care. The GP and nurse stationed at the A&E front door are accompanied by administrative staff, who can assist with booking appointments for patients. Harrow Health CEO Adam Mackintosh said: Additional GP appointments have been created within the system, and we have increased the amount of ones that are available to support the pilot. GPs across the area have also been very receptive and when weve called them to say their patient is in the emergency department and they dont need to be here, theyre extremely accommodating as well. We have had excellent feedback from the hospital. They say if we can even redirect 10 patients a day that makes a huge dent in what they have to deal with. Redirection seems to work extremely well in directing the minor illnesses away from hospital where they dont need to be. Despite the scheme being especially important during the current Covid wave, Mr Mackintosh said he also believes it could be extremely valuable during the regular winter period. What this could do, if continuing to work well and once qualified as a successful pilot, could become an amended model of urgent treatment care at the front door, he added. Although the trial is still ongoing, it has already been so successful that there are already discussions about replicating the model in other systems and hospitals in North West London. A total of two million A&E attendances in England were recorded in November last year up from 1.5 million in November 2020. A report on A&E waiting times in England, carried out by NHS Digital in 2019, found that around nine per cent of people who attend A&E are discharged without requiring treatment, and a further 32 per cent receive guidance or advice only. Each trip to A&E even before any specialist treatment can cost the NHS up to 419, according to analysis by specialist injury lawyer firm Hudgell Solicitors. Pantyhose and tape to secure mask to face most effective but uncomfortable They are a versatile fashion accessory and a staple in every woman's wardrobe. But now researchers say wearing ladies tights on your face could slash your risk of getting Covid. One of the criticisms aimed at commonly worn face coverings is that they do not fit tightly enough to significantly block viral particles from being inhaled or exhaled. As part of a new study, Cambridge University experts reviewed a variety of DIY hacks people have used to make masks fit better, including using rubber bands or tape. Curiously, they found the most effective tactic was to wrap pantyhose around the bottom half of the face on top of a mask. This, the scientists said, could reduce the amount of viral particles by up to seven times more than a loose mask on its own, by sealing the gaps around the nose and mouth. But recognising the social and physical implications of wearing tights on your face in public, they noted it was 'unlikely to be tolerated for extended periods of time'. The jury is still out on how effective mask-wearing is at reducing Covid infections at a population level, with conflicting results from both sides. Most scientists agree that they at least make a small contribution. Tight-fitting medical grade masks, such as KN95s, are exceptional at blocking out the virus but they are often described as uncomfortable and are harder to acquire. The most common surgical or cloth masks are far less resistant. To test how effective mask alterations are, Cambridge researchers recruited four volunteers to try seven different mask hacks on the KN95 mask (left) and surgical mask (right). These included wrapping different brands of panyhose around the head on top of the mask and knotting the ear loops on the masks. They also use three rubber bands to create a 'brace' around the nose and mouth and fabric tape to stick the mask to the face. Volunteers also had first aid gauze wrapped around their head to tighten the fit of the mask, as well as gauze stuffed into gaps inside the mask The graph shows how much each mask alteration improved the fit of KN96 masks. The Cambridge researchers found pantyhose were the most effective hack, followed by cloth tape, gauze and knotted ear loops The graph shows how much each mask alteration improved the fit of surgical masks. The Cambridge researchers found pantyhose were the most effective hack, followed by cloth tape, knotted ear loops and gauze For the latest study, published in the journal PLOS One, Cambridge researchers recruited four volunteers to try seven different mask hacks. Other methods included tying the ear bands to make the masks fit more tightly, or stuffing the gaps with bandages. The study looked at both surgical and KN95 masks. While wearing each mask and hack combination, participants did seven minutes of various exercises designed to mimic real world interactions. WHAT ARE THE RULES ON FACE MASKS IN ENGLAND? The legal requirement to wear a face covering in England no longer applies. But the Government advises people to wear them in crowded and enclosed spaces, such as on public transport. And masks are still required in health and care settings, such as hospitals, GP surgeries and care homes. Transport providers, such as Transport for London, require passengers to wear face coverings or be refused entry. And many major shops and supermarkets, such as Sainsbury's, Tesco and John Lewis, have asked customers and staff to keep wearing masks. Advertisement These included talking, turning their head side to side, bending over, smiling, nodding, and breathing normally and heavily. The researchers measured how well the masks fit by monitoring the filtration efficiency and calculating a 'fit factor' score. The results show better fitting masks have fewer gaps between a person's face and the edge of the mask, ensuring the air inhaled is filtered through the mask. Pantyhose and cloth tape were most effective at improving how well the KN95 mask fit, increasing the fit factor by 27.7 and 14.7, respectively. Meanwhile, using gauze to stuff the gaps between the face and KN95 masks only offered a 'minor improvement' of 2.7. And using gauze on top of the KN95 covering barely improved the fit (1.6). Tying the earbands of the KN95 mask only improved the fit by 0.8 because they already fit so tightly. Surgical masks performed better if worn in combination with pantyhose (7.2) or if the gaps were sealed using cloth tape (4.8). Rubber bands and tying ear bands (2.5) were the least effective way of getting a surgical mask to fit better, but still offered more protection than wearing the mask alone. However, the researchers noted many of the hacks, including the most effective ones, were uncomfortable. Rubber banks put pressure on the ears and face and reduced blood circulation to the ears for some people. Meanwhile, pantyhose gave volunteers 'high levels of discomfort', caused problems speaking and sometimes covered the participants' eyes during the exercises. And while fabric tape was comfortable to wear, it was uncomfortable to remove and the researchers noted sweat or movement over time could dislodge the tape. But they noted that the hacks are 'accessible to the general public' and could help health workers, who commonly wear both surgical and KN95 masks, modify their mask to gain more protection. The findings could also help designers to improve masks and mask fitting devices, the team said. Face masks are no longer legally required in England after the restriction was lifted last month. However, some transport providers, such as Transport for London, and shops, including Sainsbury's and Tesco, still require customers to wear coverings. And masks are needed in certain venues, such as shops, pubs, restaurants and gyms in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. A teenager from South East London has been jailed for sharing a bomb-making manual online which he disguised as a guide for the popular video game Minecraft. Connor Burke, 19, a London university student shared the manual, which contained information on how to create improvised explosive devices (IEDs), on Telegram to a group containing around 12,000 users. After tracking him through his social media account, police arrested Burke at his family home in Bexleyheath, and found further terrorist-related documents on his electronic devices, Woolwich Crown Court heard. A search of his room also discovered a copy of Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf and The Anarchist Cookbook, which gave advice for building explosives, the court was told. He pleaded guilty to disseminating a terrorist publication and to four counts of possession of a document likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, in a hearing in July 2021. He was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court to a total of 42 months imprisonment and an additional 12 months on licence. University student Connor Burke, 19, has been jailed for sharing a bomb-making manual online, after a copy of Adolf Hitlers Mein Kampf was found in his room The law around buying and selling Nazi memorabilia in the UK Buying and selling Nazi memorabilia, including copies of Mein Kampf, is not illegal in the UK. Other countries, including Germany and Austria, have banned the sale of such items and there have been repeated calls for the same to be done in the UK. But others have argued banning it would do a disservice to victims of the Nazi regime, while auctioneer Ian Whyte told the BBC preventing people from collecting what they liked, as long as it was legal, would be a 'form of censorship'. However, it is illegal in the UK to knowingly possess material that could assist in terrorist-related activities under Section 58 of the Terrorism Act. Advertisement In November 2020, Counter Terrorism officers became aware of a Telegram account where a user posted a file containing detailed information on how to created IEDs. The file was named 'Minecraft_Bow_Ammo_Types.pdf' in an attempt to hide its true nature and was posted in to a group containing around 12,000 users. Detectives established the person behind the account was a student at a London University. After officers contacted the university, they were able to identify Burke as the potential suspect. Police attended his address in February 2021 where they arrested Burke. When they searched his room, officers found various Nazi Germany memorabilia items - including daggers, rings and uniform items - as well as a copy of Mein Kampf and The Anarchist Cookbook. Officers seized his electronic devices and found evidence linking the Telegram account to Burke. Detectives also identified a further three terrorist-related documents on the devices as well as the manual he had shared to the Telegram Minecraft group. Burke was charged with the five offences on March 1, 2021. He pleaded guilty to all the counts at a hearing in July 2021 but claimed that the dissemination of the bomb-making manual was done so on a reckless basis. When officers searched Burke's room at his family home in Bexleyheath, they found Nazi memorabilia including a copy of Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf (file picture) They also found a copy of The Anarchist Cookbook, which gave advice for building explosives (file picture) However, this was disputed by the prosecution and a Newton hearing took place in December 2021. Following this, the judge rejected Burkes plea of recklessness. The judge determined that Burke posted the manual 'in the knowledge it could directly or indirectly be used by other members of the group in which it was posted and assist in the preparation or commission of terrorist acts'. After Burke was sentenced, commander Richard Smith, head of the Metropolitan Polices Counter Terrorism Command, said: 'Burke had an unhealthy interest in extreme right wing terrorist ideology, and this led to him sharing extremely dangerous material with others online. 'Increasingly, were seeing young people being drawn into extremist ideologies, some of whom - like Burke - then go on to commit serious terrorism offences. 'I would urge anyone who comes across any terrorist-related material online to report this to us. 'I would also ask friends and family to get in touch if they have concerns about a loved-one being drawn into any form of extreme ideology - act early before its too late.' A teenager today admitted to killing his 15-year-old sister after she was found strangled at a caravan park in Wales. Matthew Selby, 19, pleaded guilty at Mold Crown Court to his sibling Amanda's manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. She died after police were called to reports of a 'domestic disturbance' at the Ty Mawr Holiday Park in Towyn, near Abergele, North Wales, on Saturday July 31 last year. Selby, of Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, had been due to stand trial for her murder later this month. Matthew Selby, 19, pleaded guilty at Mold Crown Court to his sibling Amanda's manslaughter (they are pictured together at an event) He appeared via videolink from HMP Berwyn for the hearing, which lasted less than 10 minutes. Ian Unsworth QC, prosecuting, said the Crown accepted the plea to manslaughter, based on close analysis of psychiatric reports. He said : 'After widespread consultation with those instructing me and also the police, that's an acceptable plea. 'It's based on close analysis of the psychiatric reports and it is based upon diminished responsibility.' Judge Rhys Rowlands said: 'I too have read the reports from both psychiatrists and plainly I understand the decision taken by the Crown.' Gordon Cole QC, defending, said Selby would be seen again by a psychiatrist before his sentencing. Judge Rowlands adjourned the case for sentencing on March 18. Amanda suffered asphyxia due to 'neck compression,' it was stated at the opening of an inquest. Selby, of Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, (seen arriving at Llandudno Magistrates' Court) had been due to stand trial for her murder later this month Following her death, her family released a statement through North Wales Police which said: 'Amanda was a loving daughter and granddaughter - she was caring, thoughtful, liked to help others and very much loved. 'She will be very sadly missed.' Her school, Droylsden Academy in Greater Manchester, also paid tribute to her. A message on its website said: 'Our school family is devastated by this awful news. Amanda was a lovely student and she will be sorely missed by students and staff.' Selby appeared via videolink from HMP Berwyn for the hearing, which lasted less than 10 minutes. Pictured right: Amanda in her school uniform Neighbours spoke of Matthew and Amanda after today's hearing. One neighbour said: 'Matthew has learning disabilities and I think his parents found it tough looking after him. 'He wasn't a bad kid growing up but demanded a lot of attention. 'He was very loud and you always knew when he was playing out. 'He did have fall-outs with the other children but it was nothing serious. It was just typical children's arguments. 'He always seemed happy.' Another said: 'We didn't see as much of Amanda but when we did she was polite and would always say hello. 'She was much quieter than her brother. She didn't mix as much with the other children living in the street.' Mark Bromilow, 41, led the security detail for Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum and his family at their base in Newmarket, Suffolk A British security chief for the Ruler of Dubai who claimed he was sacked because of his knowledge of 'intimate personal matters' involving his wife has lost his claim for unfair dismissal. Ex-Royal Marine Mark Bromilow, 41, led the security detail for Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum and his family at their base in Newmarket, Suffolk but was made redundant in 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic hit. The bodyguard, a former powerlifting world champion from Norfolk, claimed he was unfairly targeted because of what he knew about the private life of the royals following a 'close working relationship' with Princess Haya. Recently it emerged that the Princess had an affair with bodyguard Russell Flowers - Mr Bromilow's colleague - for two years. After the affair Sheikh Mohammed, 72, divorced 47 year old Princess Haya - who is the daughter of Jordan's former King Hussein. The landmark divorce was described as the biggest in British history, with a settlement of 550 million. The Princess, Sheikh Mohammed's sixth and youngest wife, was said to have showered former soldier Mr Flowers with gifts and reportedly paid him 1.2 million to keep quiet about the affair. In March 2019, after Mr Flowers quit, Mr Bromilow replaced him as being in charge of the close protection unit at the base in sheikh's base Newmarket, Suffolk. In 2020, security firm UK Mission Enterprise made 63 employees including Mr Bromilow redundant because there was a significant reduction in foreign travel due to the pandemic and the 'uncertainty deepened' at the business. But Mr Bromilow alleged the entire redundancy process was a 'sham' designed to get rid of him because of his knowledge of 'intimate personal matters'. He has now lost his unfair dismissal case at Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, with Employment Judge Richard Conley ruling the redundancy was fair and he was not 'targeted'. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum And Princess Haya At Royal Ascot in 2009 Princess Haya (middle) and her then bodyguard Russell Flowers (left) had an affair, it was previously reported. Also pictured is Sheikh Mohammed in a photo taken at Ascot Mr Bromilow had claimed there was favouritism towards a bodyguard who didn't lose his job and that his own seniority and seven years of service were not properly considered or scored fairly during redundancy assessment. Mr Bromilow claimed he should have been awarded maximum points in each assessment but an employment tribunal has now ruled he 'overestimated his own abilities'. The tribunal heard Mr Bromilow, once crowned London's Strongest Man, began working for UK Mission Enterprise as a bodyguard in October 2013. The Knightsbridge-based company boasts of a '6 star quality private concierge service to exclusive VIP Clients' on its website and the Dubai Royal Family are 'major clients'. He was promoted to team leader of the Dubai Global Close Protection Team in December 2016 and put in charge of the team of 12 bodyguards in March 2019 following Mr Flowers' departure. None of the other 62 redundancies were challenged apart from Mr Bromilow's, the tribunal heard. He complained colleague Gary Hurstwaite - who was deemed 'irreplaceable' - was not considered for redundancy. He felt he was 'not scored fairly against the criteria' and 'that he should have been scored significantly higher than his colleagues in the selection pool, by reason of his seniority as a team leader'. A tribunal report added: 'Mr Bromilow believes that the motivation for his unfair treatment in this process is that he was, through his close working relationship with the Princess, privy to knowledge of intimate personal matters relating to her and to the wider Royal family; and that as a consequence, he was targeted for redundancy.' Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum's former security manager Mark Bromilow (pictured centre), 41, served in the Royal Marines and is a former world powerlifting champion He argued Dubai was a 'controlling force in the business and were dictating their will to the company', but Judge Conley dismissed it and said there was nothing 'sinister' at play. Assessment scores from an exercise in 2017 were considered during the process and Mr Bromilow was ranked seven out of 12 for firearms, eighth in close quarter combat, and eighth in driving. But Mr Bromilow believed not only that he should have scored higher than junior colleagues, but maximum points in each criteria. Ruling he was fairly dismissed, Judge Conley said it was 'abundantly clear that the company justifiably sought to reduce its costs by making redundancies'. The judge added: 'I am afraid that such evidence as I do have before me in relation to Mr Bromilow tends to support the evidence... that he adequately met the standard required of him, but that he was not in any way exceptional and that others in the team outscored him. 'It appears to me that he has, unfortunately, over-estimated his own abilities. 'He has fallen into error by assuming that his position as the team leader automatically meant that he was more capable than his colleagues. Mr Bromilow, who runs a personal training business called Commando Strength states on his website that he was crowned London's strongest man, represented England in world powerlifting events and was a World Champion in Deadlift Powerlifting in 2019 'This is evident from the correspondence from his solicitors which suggests that, not only should he have scored more highly than he did, but that in fact he should have scored maximum points on each of the criteria. 'This is, on any view, unrealistic and has the effect of undermining his credibility in respect of his complaints of unfairness generally. 'Underpinning this claim is the belief on the part of Mr Bromilow that the entire redundancy process, as far as he was concerned, was a sham, and that his redundancy was predetermined. 'The alleged motive was that due to his knowledge of private matters relating to the Princess and her family, he was targeted for dismissal by the company at the behest of their client in Dubai. 'I did not find any evidence of 'targeting' of this sort. This was quite obviously a genuine redundancy situation in which 63 employees lost their jobs for reasons directly connected to the pandemic. '62 of them accepted generous settlements. 'Had the company wanted rid of him as urgently as he appears to believe, I do not believe they would have retained him as long as they did, paying him his full salary for some considerable time after the controversial matters of which he claimed to have knowledge came to light, and sought to make him redundant as part of a large scale redundancy exercise.' Mr Bromilow had been put on furlough before he was made redundant in September 2020. The former Marine, of Methwold, Norfolk, now runs a personal training company. Sheikh Mohammed and Princess Haya were involved in a messy High Court battle, with the sheikh trying to have their children returned to Dubai after she had fled to the UK with them when he confronted her about the affair. Sheikh Mohammed, who oversaw the growth of Dubai as a global city and masterminded the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, is an influential horse-racing owner as well ruler of Dubai and PM of the UAE. Princess Haya now lives in a 85m home in Kensington, London. A Muslim boy who was praying in the playground because the school's prayer room was closed claims he was grabbed and forced to stop by a teacher who told him it was an act of defiance. The boy's parents say the 12-year-old was left terrified by the exchange and that they are considering removing him from the school after making a formal complaint. Thaher Tarawneh, 12, said he and his friends began to pray outside at the newly opened Ark Soane Academy in Ealing. The boy claimed a member of staff interrupted them and aggressively told them all 'to stop at once'. As the other students fled the playground, Thaher continued to pray, in line with his religion. At this point the member of staff allegedly grabbed him by the waist and removed his blazer, which he was using as a prayer mat. Thaher was sent home for the afternoon and says he was forced to sign a statement that he argues did not reflect what took place. Parents of a Muslim student at Ark Soane Academy (pictured) have accused a staff member of discrimination after their son claimed he was 'grabbed' while praying and told to stop His father, Muhammed told MyLondon he does not believe staff at the secondary school, which opened in September 2021, should 'challenge' his son when he is praying. Thaher says he went to pray in the playground because the school prayer room had been closed due to a school trip and he and his friends were refused access to the library. Mr Tarawneh said: 'We were called by the teacher in question later that day and she explained that she was a Muslim and that Thaher shouldn't be praying there. 'We try to educate our children to have certain beliefs and it should not be up to any member of staff to try to challenge them. 'It is my understanding that the other children ran away because they were terrified of this staff member shouting. 'Thaher knows to not stop his prayer unless there is something urgent. So for this member of staff to interrupt that and then proceed to manhandle my son, it's not acceptable.' Thaher says he went to pray in the playground because the school prayer room was closed due to a school trip and he and his friends had been refused access to the library (file picture) Both of Thaher's parents were invited into the school as they had requested to see the CCTV footage of the incident but when they arrived they say this request was then denied. Elizabeth Znider, a family friend who also attended the meeting said that she was in disbelief at the outcome of the meeting. She said: 'The first thing that the headteacher said was that Thaher's prayer was an act of defiance, that they were considering excluding him and that they do not permit any time of prayer. 'It just makes no sense because they have a prayer room, three quarters of the school's pupils are Muslim and it is a legal requirement to be able to practice your religion freely. 'Thaher's mum has had several calls about how bright and brilliant this child is and now suddenly the tables have turned and this act of prayer is being made out to be an act of defiance. 'He's terrified now. He was really really upset and he said that he felt he had no choice but to agree to the statement because he was told it would create a huge problem for him if he didn't.' The Academy Principle Matthew Neuberger (pictured) confirmed they had received a formal complaint and said the school prides itself on providing an inclusive environment for all pupils Mr Tarawneh added the family is now considering removing their son from the school because they cannot believe he is 'being discriminated against because of his religion'. 'It was during his break time and Thaher went to the facilities and was denied,' he continued. 'After he was denied he asked for an alternative and was rejected so he went to a quiet corner and was told that it's not a religious school so he can't practice there. It's 2022 and our son is being discriminated against because of his religion. 'Initially I was demanding that the headteacher stand on the side of truth and communicate professionally even if that means going against his own staff but we are considering withdrawing him from the school because he came out weeping and terrified.' Thaher's parents have filed a formal complaint with the school and with Ealing Council and the school has confirmed a formal investigation is now underway. Matthew Neuberger, principal of Ark Soane Academy, said: 'We investigated the incident when it was brought to our attention including reviewing all available evidence and interviewing all involved. 'A formal complaint has now been made and normal procedures will be followed to ensure this is dealt with fairly and appropriately. 'Our school prides itself on the support we provide to students of all faiths and none and we are committed to providing an inclusive environment for everyone.' An updated statement was issued by the school on February 10 stated: 'I was deeply saddened to see allegations of mistreatment of a student at Ark Soane which appeared in the press over the weekend. 'I have concluded my investigations into the complaint, including reviewing CCTV footage, and found no evidence that a student was grabbed by a member of staff and have found no evidence of threats, victimisation or persecution. 'I am incredibly proud of our community and the support we provide to students of all faiths and none. 'I am sorry that we were unable to provide our normal prayer facilities due to a school trip on the day in question and will ensure that prayer facilities are, in future, always available for students to use during their recreation time.' Today said he signed agreement with authorities to self-isolate with his father Went without food or drink for more than 60 hours in protest o f strict policy He flew to New Zealand to be He flew to New Zealand to be A man who went on a hunger strike as he waited in New Zealand's managed isolation and quarantine hotel will finally be released to see his terminally ill father. Kurt Lehndorf flew into Sudima Auckland Airport from Australia on February 2 to be with his dying father Des Lehndorf who has cancer. However after facing delays to his request to self-isolate at home with his father, Mr Lehndorf, who last saw his father in July, went without food or drink for more than 60 hours in protest of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's strict closed border policy. Earlier today Mr Lehndorf said 'we won' after signing an agreement with the authorities to be provided with an exemption and self-isolate with his father at his home. Travellers are usually required to stay in an isolation hotel for a minimum of 10 days and cannot leave unless they provide a negative Covid test on day 8 or 9 and confirmation from a medic that they are at low risk of having or transmitting Covid. However applications for exceptional circumstances exemptions can be made under clause 14 of the Covid-19 Public Health Response (Isolation and Quarantine) Order 2020. If the circumstances are deemed 'exceptional', the authorities can release travellers from isolation earlier but very few applications are approved. Kurt Lehndorf (left with his father) flew into Sudima Auckland Airport from Australia on February 2 to be with his dying father Des Lehndorf The Kiwi, who now lives in Australia, waited in New Zealand's managed isolation and quarantine facility in Auckland While in isolation Mr Lehndorf, who last saw his father in July, shared images from inside the facility Last night the Ministry of Business, Immigration and Employment said that arrangements would be made for Mr Lehndorf to see his father. A spokesperson for the MBIE told 1News: 'This morning Mr Lehndorf's exemption from managed isolation application was approved, and he is now able to self-isolate in the community we are pleased this means he will be able to spend time with his father at this difficult time. 'A returnee is not eligible to be considered for exemption from managed isolation until they receive a negative day three Covid-19 test. 'Mr Lehndorf's negative day three test result was received yesterday evening, Sunday 6 February. 'Supporting information is also required in relation to who else will be at the location of self-isolation and confirmation that they too will self-isolate. 'Information confirming that others at the location will self-isolate was provided to MIQ by Mr Lehndorf early yesterday evening, Sunday 6 February. 'Mr Lehndorf has been advised that his exemption application was approved this morning, subject to him receiving a negative Rapid Antigen Test prior to his departure from MIQ, and transport to his place of self-isolation is now being organised.' Mr Lehndorf said 'we won' after signing an agreement with the authorities to self-isolate with his father at his home While waiting for the authorities to approve his exemption, Mr Lehndorf said: 'I have tested negative twice in three days' A timeline of Mr Lehndorf's managed isolation and quarantine saga February 2 - Kurt Lehndorf is placed into managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) after flying into Sudima Auckland Airport. February 4 - Mr Lehndorf says he has tested negative twice in 3 days but is still unable to gain exemption to leave quarantine. February 4 - The Kiwi enters a hunger strike in protest. February 6 - By 8am on Sunday, Mr Lehndorf has gone past 61 hours of no eating or drinking and describes feeling dizzy with a headache On the same day MIQ officials claim they are awaiting information from him but Mr Lehndorf says he has already provided them with all the paperwork. February 7 - At 11.20am Mr Lehndorf says he has signed an agreement with the authorities and will be able to self-isolate with his father. The Ministry of Business, Immigration and Employment confirms that the Kiwi will be able to go home to see his father. Advertisement Mr Lehndorf received news of his father's diagnosis shortly after the Delta outbreak hit and borders were slammed shut. Last week he was able to fly into Sudima Auckland Airport from Australia where he was immediately placed into New Zealand's managed isolation and quarantine hotel. While in isolation he wrote on Facebook: 'This is isolation in NZ. This is how @jacindaardern treats NZ citizens. I'm allowed to walk, not run, in a clockwise direction for 45 minutes per day. 'I have returned to NZ to see my terminally Ill father. This is now how we treat each other in NZ. Despite my fathers worsening condition I am not allowed to see him. 'I have tested negative twice in 3 days, am double vaxxed and recently recovered from Covid. 'After being prevented from visiting my father for Christmas and other potentially last events, my own country now prevents me from being by his side. 'My father's own country is preventing his son being beside him. For the first time in my life I'm embarrassed to be a kiwi. Now back to walking, not running in a clockwise direction.' In a letter to the Isolation Exemptions Team, Mr Lehndorf said he provided all the information required, including proof of his double vaccination status, medically approved information about his father's diagnosis and information about turning his father's household into an isolation bubble for himself. However he said he was told by the MIQ Isolation Exemptions Team that they needed more information in order to grant a temporary visit. Last night Mr Lehndorf slammed officials after they claimed they were still waiting for him to supply them with all the required information. It comes after New Zealand journalist Charlotte Bellis, who was forced to turn to the Taliban for help after she was stranded in Afghanistan by Jacinda Ardern's draconian Covid border rules, was finally told she could return home. Ms Bellis, 35, a journalist who worked in Qatar, had been stuck in Afghanistan since last year with Belgian partner Jim Huylebroek because it was the only place they had visas to live after she was turned away by the country of her birth. She previously told how the Taliban offered to help after hearing of her plight, but added that she was still desperate to return to New Zealand because of the lack of medical care in Afghanistan. After global outcry at her treatment, New Zealand's deputy prime minister Grant Robertson said last week that she had now been granted a place in the country's border quarantine system. 'I urge her to take it up,' he added. Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce insists his view of Scott Morrison is 'completely different' since describing the prime minister in text messages as a 'hypocrite and a liar'. The deputy prime minister apologised to Nationals colleagues at a meeting on Monday, ahead of parliament resuming for the year on Tuesday, but nothing further came of the issue. Mr Morrison has forgiven Mr Joyce - whose offer of resignation was knocked back - for the text messages sent to former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins in March 2021. 'Working one-on-one with him is a completely different scenario,' Mr Joyce told the Seven Network ahead of the partyroom meeting. 'I know the prime minister vastly better now. He's honoured every agreement ... and they're the actions of a person who's trustworthy.' The deputy prime minister (pictured) apologised to Nationals colleagues at a meeting on Monday after the texting scandal Nationals deputy leader David Littleproud said party colleagues recognised Mr Joyce had been in a 'darker space' when the text messages were sent. 'What I would say is that Barnaby is now part of a cohesive team that is delivering for our country.' Former Nationals leader Michael McCormack earlier said Mr Joyce had some explaining to do over the leaked texts and indicated he would consider a tilt for the leadership if it came up again. 'If enough members of the party came to me and asked me to lead the party, I would seriously consider that,' he told the ABC. He said many members were disgruntled about politicians focusing on themselves and not the people they served. The imbroglio over Mr Joyce's leaked texts comes amid another twist in the scandal over messages sent between former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian and an unnamed cabinet minister calling the prime minister a 'complete psycho'. Mr Morrison (pictured with his wife Jenny) has forgiven Mr Joyce - whose offer of resignation was knocked back - for the text messages sent to former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins in March 2021 Another former NSW premier, Labor's Bob Carr, sensationally accused Defence Minister Peter Dutton in a tweet on Sunday night as being the cabinet member behind the leak. Mr Dutton responded soon after with his own tweet, calling the assertion 'baseless and untrue'. Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese urged whoever sent the text messages about the prime minister to come forward, but said the issue was overshadowing other important issues. 'This is such a distraction, the dysfunction and the dishonesty and disunity is meaning this government is paralysed in taking the action that really does concern Australia,' he told the Seven Network. 'These are all distractions from what the prime minister's job is and what the government's job is.' The parliamentary year will kick off with a church service, before Mr Morrison uses a speech to parliament to pay tribute to the Queen on her platinum jubilee. The lower house will focus on religious discrimination laws, while in the upper house new Victorian senator Greg Mirabella will be sworn in. Dozens of New York City firefighters, FDNY employees and other municipal workers rallied Monday at the Brooklyn Bridge and City Hall to protest a vaccine mandate that could leave them without jobs by the end of the week. With a Friday deadline looming and their employment status in the balance, the sign-waving, slogan-chanting anti-vaxxers said Mayor Adams and other city leaders have no right to decide whats best for their bodies. Advertisement I dont think that I need it, you know? said Anita Ferrandino, 56, a Brooklyn EMT stationed in Sunset Park. If you want to do that, it should be your decision. I dont care if you got it. I dont care if you got the first, second or third shot. But in my body I dont want it. Everybody should have decisional capacity. Its not for the good of the department. They keep telling me that. If you think about it, you can still get, give and die from it. Many of the anti-vax workers wore shirts reading "Bravest for Choice," which is an organization that supports workers opposed to the vaccine mandate. (Luiz C. Ribeiro/for New York Daily News) Ferrandino joined members of the organization Bravest for Choice for a rally outside FDNY headquarters at MetroTech Center in Brooklyn. There, speakers denounced the mandate and unfurled a giant American flag. Advertisement As of last week, some 4,000 city workers faced firing over their refusal to get the lifesaving jab. Adams has said city employees have had more than enough time to comply with the mandate, which took effect Nov. 1. Safety is not only to stop the bullet, a knife or some other item. Safety is COVID. COVID is taking lives, Adams said last week. There must be rules, and we must follow them. The rule is to get vaccinated if you are a city employee. Despite Fridays looming deadline, vaccination rates among city agencies have stayed stagnant for weeks, according to City Hall data. The vaccination rate for the entire municipal workforce, which comprises roughly 375,000 employees, stood at 95% last Wednesday, the same as when former Mayor Bill de Blasio left office on Jan. 1, the data shows. The NYPD and the Department of Correction, which have the lowest rates out of all the agencies, reported 88% of its workforces vaccinated last Wednesday. All unvaccinated city workers arent facing termination this Friday, however. The impacted workers are those who have been on unpaid leave since the citys vaccine mandate took effect on Nov. 1 without electing to receive city-provided health benefits, as well as those who were hired after Aug. 2 but have yet to present proof of receiving a second vaccine dose. As of last week, there were about 4,000 city workers who fell into the targeted categories. It was not clear late Monday if that number has changed, and City Hall reps declined to comment. Advertisement Vaccines have been proven to be overwhelmingly effective in reducing hospitalization and death from COVID-19. More than 540 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in the U.S., and serious side effects are extremely rare. The protesters crossed the Brooklyn Bridge, snarling midday traffic en route to City Hall. One protester held a sign that read Unvaccinated lives matter. Others insisted they were part of a pro-choice movement. Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > DAnna Morgan, an administrator at Northwell Health, has been on unpaid leave since Sept. 29. She said she relies on odd jobs and baby-sitting gigs to get by. Its my right to choose what I want to put in my body, you know? Morgan, 26, said. I think everybody should have a choice. Say someone wants to get the vaccine, fine, go ahead get the vaccine. But if I dont want to get it, dont vilify me. I feel like it came out too fast. Im not saying Ill never get it, Im just saying not right now. Advertisement A group of New York City workers marched from MetroTech in Downtown Brooklyn to City Hall to protest their imminent firing due to their vaccine opposition. (Luiz C. Ribeiro/for New York Daily News) She said she would rather have the option to take a test every week. If not, she said she would start looking for a new job on Long Island. Paul Schweit, 31, an FDNY member on unpaid leave, co-founded the Bravest For Choice organization, which helps workers cope with the financial challenges that come with opposition to the mandate. This is about supporting each other when times are hard, he told the MetroTech crowd. So what were going do right now is reach all those offices in the top of this building to let them know that we think this is unjust. That were not going to lay down and watch this happen. A City banker has lost a sex harassment case after he accused a female executive of groping him at a Christmas party. The male analyst claimed the woman 'touched his inner thigh' as they chatted at a bar on Liverpool Street in London then 'firmly' grabbed his bottom and invited him back to her hotel room. She allegedly said there was an old saying in France which allows wives to do 'pretty much what they want with other men' while their husbands look after their children. The London-based man, whose identity cannot be revealed due to legal reasons, tried to sue French international bank Credit Agricole for sexual harassment. But he lost his case at an employment tribunal because his claim was three and a half years out of date. The London-based man, whose identity cannot be revealed due to legal reasons, tried to sue French international bank Credit Agricole (pictured, its office) for sexual harassment The alleged harassment happened in December 2016, but the analyst only launched his case in September 2020 after he was sacked for performance-related reasons. The banker, named as 'MJS' in legal papers, had until March 2017 before the time limit expired, the tribunal said. He also lost claims of race discrimination against Credit Agricole - the world's biggest cooperative financial institution - because they were three years out of date. The London Central tribunal heard the father of two attended the firm's Christmas party at a London bar in December 2016 and alleged he was harassed by 'Ms L'. A tribunal report said: 'He said he was standing making light conversation with two male colleagues when they were approached by a senior colleague, referred to as Ms L. Upon seeing Ms L approaching, he says his male colleagues left. 'His case is that Ms L initially made general conversation with him and then asked him whether he had children and whether he was married. He replied that he had children but was not married. 'His case is that Ms L proceeded to touch his inner thighs whilst engaging in conversation and that he 'shuffled back just enough so she couldn't touch me'. 'He said that she then said that she was staying at a hotel in London and that in France there was an old saying that whilst the husbands are indoors looking after the children, the wives could pretty much do what they wanted with other men. 'He alleged that she proceeded to touch him again on the side of his buttocks and firmly grabbed him and he made excuses to get another drink and went downstairs.' It was heard Ms L did not further proposition him, touch him, or retaliate to his rejection. MJS complained to his line manager in December 2016 then to HR the next month, and later raised concerns to another boss. But he never formalised the complaints by putting them in writing to be investigated. At the end of 2018 and throughout the start of 2019, MJS was repeatedly given warnings over his absences and by September in 2019, he had taken 26 days off, eight of which were unauthorised. It was also heard he was considered an 'under-performer' and caused a loss of 500,000 by incorrectly processing funding deals. He acted 'aggressively' and made 'threats' during a meeting in September 2019 then was sacked in June 2020 for aggressive conduct, unauthorised absences and insubordination for failure to carry out instructions. The report added: 'He reacted very badly to his dismissal. 'Instead of submitting in an appeal he telephoned (HR manager) William Le Prado in a manner which we find was aggressive, unpleasant and threatening. 'This included saying he knew where Mr Le Prado worked and where he lived and that he was 'coming for him', that he would 'get him sacked' and would 'f****** destroy him' and he would post things online. 'Mr Le Prado was sufficiently intimidated and concerned that he reported the matter to the police.' At the tribunal, MJS argued despite his sex harassment case being out of time it was still valid. 'Just because it was out of time, did not mean it did not happen', he said. But Employment Judge Elliott ruled MJS's sex harassment claim could not succeed. Judge Elliott said: 'His claim was presented on September 15 2020. The primary time limit expired on or about March 10 2017. The claim is 3.5 years out of time.' He did not make a finding on whether it actually happened and rejected MJS's suggestion the single incident was linked to his continued treatment. Judge Elliott found MJS, who is black, was subjected to 'offensive' language with the use of the term 'monkey', but it was heard he freely used the word himself positively. MJS was also offended when he found a list of 'cockney racist words' written by his line manager. But his race claim was again ruled as out of time. Australian economist Sean Turnell remains in detention, Myanmar authorities have told Australia's foreign affairs officials following reported Cambodian government statements he had been freed. Prof Turnell, a former advisor to ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, has been detained for a year after his arrest following last year's February 1 coup. He has been charged with violating Myanmar's immigration and official secrets acts by trying to leave the country with sensitive financial information and is facing a 14 year jail term. According to the official Agence Kampuchea Presse on Monday, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said he welcomed Prof Turnell's release by junta leader Aung Min Hlaing, which followed his request on behalf of Australia. Prof Turnell, a former advisor to ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi (pictured together), has been detained since February last year 'The Australian government repeats its call for Professor Turnell's immediate release, and for his rights and welfare to be upheld,' a statement from DFAT said (pictured, Myanmar police crack down on demonstrators against the military coup in February 2021) 'I want political prisoners to be released, ceasefire, assistance, and dialogue there,' AKP quoted Hun Sen as saying. In a separate report by the government-friendly Fresh News service, Hun Sen was quoted as saying: 'The release is indeed to the senior general's credit, but at least I also contributed as the rotating chair of ASEAN.' But a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson told AAP in a statement on Monday night that Myanmar authorities had advised DFAT that 'Professor Sean Turnell remains detained'. 'The Australian government repeats its call for Professor Turnell's immediate release, and for his rights and welfare to be upheld,' the statement said. Prof Turnell (pictured) has been charged with violating Myanmar's immigration and official secrets acts by trying to leave the country with sensitive financial information and is facing a 14 year jail term Pressure has been mounting on the junta to release Prof Turnell since Hun Sen became the first leader to visit Myanmar since the coup in an attempt to move an ASEAN-backed Five-Point Consensus forward. 'Professor Turnell's detention is unjust, and we reject the allegations against him,' Foreign Minister Marise Payne said in a statement on Sunday. Cambodian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Chum Sounry said earlier that the ASEAN Chair's special envoy, Cambodian foreign minister Prak Sokhonn, hopes Myanmar's senior general honours his assurances to Hun Sen. ITV producer Teresa McMahon suffered physical abuse in the days leading up to her death, her grieving aunt told a pre-inquest hearing. The 43-year-old, who was an experienced producer and news editor, was found dead at her flat in Little Hulton, Salford, on August 3 last year. Ms McMahon's body was found hanging inside her home by her father Bernard and another man. Her aunt and uncle, Lorna and Stephen McMahon, attended a review hearing into her death at Bolton Coroner's Court on Friday, February 4. Mrs McMahon told Timothy Brennand, senior coroner for Manchester West, that her niece had never shown signs of 'self-harm or suicidal intent' and she was not under the treatment of mental health services. But she claimed Ms McMahon had been assaulted 'on a number of occasions' and had even talked of fleeing to London for three months to get away from her situation. ITV producer Teresa McMahon, 43, was the victim of abuse in the days leading up to her death, her aunt Lorna told a pre-inquest hearing Teresa McMahon was 'assaulted on a number of occasions' but those involved had not been interviewed at the time of her death, her aunt said Mrs McMahon said she had raised 'safeguarding concerns' around her niece. During the hearing, it was established that allegations of abuse had been reported to police before her death by friends, colleagues, and relatives. Mrs McMahon complained that the police were yet to interview those involved, even though 'there was evidence she was assaulted on a number of occasions'. She said: 'Teresa said she was going to work in London with ITV for three months to get away from this [abuse]. 'I am hoping the police will look into this further. Friends, colleagues, and neighbours had all reported that Teresa was attacked. 'Just because Teresa isn't here today, it doesn't mean it shouldn't be looked into.' Teresa McMahon was an experienced producer and news editor working for ITV News in Salford A full inquest will take place at Bolton Coroner's Court later this year As a result of Mrs McMahon's appeals, Granada Reports presenter Lucy Meacock, who she said was 'fully aware of Teresa's problems', will be called as a witness at a full inquest later this year. Mr Brennand said: 'If there are criminal proceedings, the coronial investigation will be suspended.' He said that his jurisdiction extended only to how Ms McMahon died, but added: 'I also have to look into if the death was preventable.' For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details. Home Affairs officials have assured Labor there's no evidence to support claims Scott Morrison's WeChat account was hacked or the target of foreign interference. Opposition home affairs spokeswoman Kristina Keneally sought a departmental briefing over the prime minister's account since he lost access to it. The senator told colleagues during Monday's Labor caucus the department assured her there was no evidence of foreign interference or hacking of the account rebranded as 'Australian Chinese new life'. Senator Keneally asked the department if it planned to provide further advice to politicians about being cautious on the Chinese social media platform. Scott Morrison's page on WeChat was recently taken over by someone posting in Chinese The department said it did not intend to provide further advice to MPs. The operator of WeChat, Tencent, last month said an ownership dispute, and not hacking or third-party intrusion, was behind Mr Morrison's loss of access. Liberal senator James Paterson, who chairs parliament's intelligence and security committee, at the time said the action had been sanctioned by the Chinese government and amounted to foreign interference. Tesla revealed on Monday that it received a subpoena from the federal securities regulator last fall related to CEO Elon Musk's 2018 tweet saying he was considering taking the automaker private. That tweet resulted in a $40million settlement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission that required some of Musk's tweets related to the company to be vetted by lawyers. The disclosure of the subpoena in an annual filing with the SEC comes after Musk triggered a stock sell-off after asking his Twitter followers in November if he should sell 10 per cent of his stake in Tesla. As of last close, the electric-car maker's shares fell by nearly a quarter since the tweet. They were little changed in early trading on Monday. Tesla revealed in an annual filing with the SEC on Monday that it received a subpoena in November related to CEO Elon Musk's infamous '$420' tweet from August 2018 On August 7, 2018, Musk sent out this tweet, saying he was considering taking Tesla private Musk insisted that 'investor support is confirmed,' but SEC later said the 'potential transaction was uncertain and subject to numerous contingencies' Musk's tweet initially caused Tesla's shares to go up 6 per cent, before falling 13 per cent in September, after SEC filed a complaint The SEC's latest action, which the company did not elaborate on, adds to Tesla's pressure from federal auto safety regulators regarding vehicle recalls and investigations related to its driver assisting software. The SEC did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Tesla in December was hit by a lawsuit over Musk's social media posts including his Twitter poll on stock sales that tanked its stock prices. This was not the first lawsuit accusing the billionaire of violating his 2018 settlement. In September of that year, Musk settled a lawsuit by the SEC over his August tweet on taking the company private at $420 per share. Tesla and Musk reached a $40million settlement with the SEC, as part of which the billionaire agreed to have his tweets about the company vetted by lawyers Tesla's shares were up 0.21 per cent in early trading on Monday, when news of the SEC subpoena emerged The SEC wrote in its complaint that 'Musk knew that the potential transaction was uncertain and subject to numerous contingencies. Musk had not discussed specific deal terms, including price, with any potential financing partners, and his statements about the possible transaction lacked an adequate basis in fact.' Musk's 'misleading' tweets, the regulator claimed, caused Teslas stock price to jump by over 6 per cent, before crashing 13 per cent when news of SEC's complaint against Tesla emerged. Under the conditions of the settlement, Musk agreed to have the company's lawyers pre-approve his tweets containing material information about the company. As part of the same settlement, Musk also stepped down as chairman of the board, Tesla appointed two new independent directors, and both Musk and Tesla paid $20million penalty each. SEC's subpoena came in November, after Musk created this Twitter poll, asking the public whether she should sell 10 per cent of his Tesla stock The SEC is now looking into Tesla's compliance with the terms of the 2018 settlement Last week, Musk said in a court filing that a tweet he had posted in 2018 saying funding was secured to take Tesla private in a $72billion transaction was 'entirely truthful.' Tesla and the White House have been at odds over the past few months, with the Biden administration focusing on legacy automakers including Ford Motor Co and General Motors in the electric vehicle race. Last month, GM and Ford's CEOs attended a meeting of tech and auto companies hosted by President Joe Biden, however Musk was not part of the list of attendees. Musk has been using his Twitter account to attack the Biden administration for ignoring Tesla, and holding up Detroit automakers as leaders in the shift to electric vehicles. Musk called Biden a 'damp sock puppet' in a tweet last month. Musk is also feuding with the United Auto Workers (UAW) union, a key ally of Biden. The National Labor Relations board in March ordered Musk delete a tweet that said Tesla workers could lose stock options if they voted to join the UAW. Tesla is appealing that order. Netflix is facing a boycott from its subscribers over Jimmy Carr's joke about Gypsies and the Holocaust, as Downing Street today heaped pressure on the firm to take action. Furious viewers have taken to social media to call for people to cancel their subscriptions with the US streaming giant over comedian's 'racist' joke, which has sparked outrage among traveller groups. The calls come as the under-pressure entertainment firm faces a 13,000-strong petition set up by traveller campaign groups calling for it to take action over the much-criticised gag. Meanwhile, Number 10 turned up the heat by describing the comedian's joke as 'deeply disturbing'. But the 49-year-old funny-man remained upbeat last night as he took to the stage for his stand-up tour, telling gig-goers 'I'm going down swinging'. The comedian and TV host previously sparked outrage with a joke about the Holocaust in his recent one-hour Netflix special, His Dark Material. In a widely-shared clip from the show, Carr joked about the horror of the Holocaust and 'six million Jewish lives being lost'. As a punchline, the stand-up comedian, also known for his roles on shows like 8 Out Of 10 Cats, then made a disparaging remark about the deaths of thousands of Gypsies at the hands of the Nazis. 'But they never mention the thousands of Gypsies that were killed by the Nazis. No one ever wants to talk about that, because no one ever wants to talk about the positives,' Carr quipped to a laughing audience. Boris Johnson's spokesperson today said it was 'unacceptable to make light of genocide' and suggested the Government could push for a crack down on platforms who 'fail to tackle harmful content'. Meanwhile, Sajid Javid became the latest high profile name to wade into the row - describing the comedian's joke as 'horrid'. In a rare intervention, the Health Secretary also urged people to send streaming service Netflix a 'very strong message' by 'not watching or listening' to the stand-up star. His comments come following criticism from comedians including David Baddiel, who previously slammed the joke as 'racist' and 'inhumane'. The Traveller Movement, a charity supporting the traveller community in the UK, said the joke in question was 'truly disturbing and goes way beyond humour'. And the charity has launched a petition calling for Netflix to remove the segment of the programme 'which celebrates the Romani genocide'. Today the petition, labelled 'The Genocide of Roma is Not a Laughing Matter', had been signed by more than 13,500 people. Boris Johnson's (pictured today in a visit to Kent Oncology Centre in Maidstone) official spokesperson today said it was 'unacceptable to make light of genocide' Sajid Javid has today become the latest high profile name to wade into the Jimmy Carr traveller joke row - describing the comedian's gag as 'horrid' The Health Secretary also urged people to send streaming service Netflix a 'very strong message' by 'not watching or listening' to the stand-up star (pictured) Today the petition, labelled 'The Genocide of Roma is Not a Laughing Matter' , had been signed by more than 13,500 people (pictured: The petition) The petition states: 'In Netflix comedy special 'His Dark Material', Jimmy Carr 'jokes' that the Romani and Sinti genocide is ignored when people discuss the Holocaust because people don't want to 'focus on the positives'. This is nothing short of a celebration of genocide. 'We appreciate that comedy is subjective but in our view when punchlines are indistinguishable from the genuinely-held views of fascists and Neo-Nazis, a line has very clearly been crossed. 'We acknowledge that Jimmy Carr highlighted the widespread ignorance that exists with regard to non-Jewish victims of the holocaust, but it was nevertheless incredibly crass for him to claim his 'joke' therefore had an 'educational quality'. 'If this was the case he would have used his considerable platform to raise awareness of Roma Holocaust Memorial Day to his 6.7m followers. To our knowledge, that has never happened. That speaks volumes. 'There is no legitimate basis for this 'joke', and no positive to its inclusion which outweighs the profoundly negative impact it produces.' Meanwhile social media users today joined the condemnation, with some calling for people to boycott Netflix over the row. One wrote: 'Jimmy Carr's 'joke' was premeditated. He began by saying that he was going to tell a joke to end his career. Looks like he succeeded. 'BTW I gave it the thumbs down on Netflix, when I checked for myself, hope others have done the same.' Another wrote: 'Hit Netflix where it hurts, boycott Netflix. Hit Jimmy Carr where it hurts. Force venues to cancel his shows. Sheffield acted to cancel the show of a vile comedian who operates in the same gutter.' Others called for people to boycott the comedian himself, with one writing: 'Jimmy Carr his outrageous comments pertaining to the genocide of the Roma and Sinti communities are beyond disgusting and reprehensible. 'Carr clearly lacks of any form of humanity and respect for the Roma and Siniti people. Boycott his shows, remove him from Netflix and TV.' It comes as the PM's spokesman today weighed into the row, saying in a statement: 'These comments are deeply disturbing and it is unacceptable to make light of genocide. 'Broadly we are looking at toughening measures for social media and streaming platforms who don't tackle harmful content on their platforms and that is what we are moving forward for. 'Obviously we are looking at regulatory changes for those streaming companies.' Asked if Netflix should take down the Carr show, he added: 'That will be a matter for them, we are clear that mocking the atrocities of the holocaust is unacceptable. What we are focused on is making sure that the streaming services are more accountable and moving forward with our legislation.' Meanwhile, Mr Javid had his say on the matter, telling Times Radio the joke was 'horrid'. He said: 'I think we all have a right to react to that, and one of the best ways anyone can react to that is show these platforms what they think about Jimmy Carr by not watching or listening to him, and that will send him a very strong message.' Mr Javid is the second cabinet minister to comment on the row. His comments come after Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries suggested new laws could hold to account streaming sites including Netflix for airing jokes such as those made by Carr. Speaking on BBC Breakfast last week, she said: 'We are looking at legislation via the Media Bill which would bring into scope those comments from other video on-demand streaming outlets like Netflix. 'So it's interesting that we're already looking at future legislation to bring into scope those sort of comments.' Meanwhile, fellow comedian Baddiel, a close friend of Carr who has written widely about anti-Semitism, has also criticised him over the joke, describing it as 'mean-spirited' and 'cruel'. He said: 'You can obviously tell a Holocaust joke that is cruel and inhumane and mean-spirited and racist. 'Or you can tell one that targets the oppressors, or draws attention to the fundamental evil of it, or shines and light on the humanity of the victims. Jewish comedian David Baddiel (pictured left) slammed Carr for joking about the Holocaust on stage. My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding star Paddy Doherty (pictured right) has called for police to probe Carr's joke about gypsies killed in the Holocaust 'It's not the subject matter of the joke that counts, it's the specifics of the individual joke. Clearly, Jimmy Carr's was the former.' Elsewhere, Irish traveller and bare-knuckle boxer Paddy Doherty said the 'disgusting' joke was an insult to the 1.5million gypsies exterminated in death camps. He told the Sunday Mirror: 'He should be investigated by the police. 'That wasn't a joke. He's talking about mass murder being a positive would he be allowed to say this about black people killed by the Ku Klux Klan? 'There's a level you don't go to. More than a million of my people were killed.' The joke was condemned Labour MPs including Labour's Nadia Whittome and David Lammy who described it as 'despicable'. It is estimated that between 200,000 and 500,000 Roma and Sinti people were murdered by the Nazis during the Holocaust. Carr's joke sparked outrage from various traveller charities and anti-hate groups after a clip was shared on social media. In a tweet referencing the joke, The Traveller Movement - a charity supporting the traveller community in the UK, said: 'This is truly disturbing and goes way beyond humour. We need all your support in calling this out #StopTravellerHate @StopFundingHate.' The charity have now launched a petition to Netflix calling for the 'removal of the segments of His Dark Material which celebrates the Romani genocide'. Olivia Marks-Woldman OBE, Chief Executive of Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, added: 'We are absolutely appalled at Jimmy Carr's comment about persecution suffered by Roma and Sinti people under Nazi oppression, and horrified that gales of laughter followed his remarks. 'Hundreds of thousands of Roma and Sinti people suffered prejudice, slave labour, sterilisation and mass murder simply because of their identity these are not experiences for mockery. 'The widespread ignorance of this recent history needs to be addressed and we urge everyone to learn more about the past and the experiences of Roma people today. 'Roma and Sinti people still face dreadful prejudice as this incident shows. Please show your support by learning more, challenging hateful comments like these, and following accounts such as Roma Support Group, The Traveller Movement, and Friends, Families and Travellers.' Mr Javid's comments come as Carr claimed he will be cancelled over his joke. Carr issued a 'trigger warning' to the audience at the beginning of the show, admitting his performance contained 'terrible things'. Speaking during a recent gig in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, he told his audience 'The joke that ends my career is already out there'. A woman in the audience heckled Carr by saying, 'Are we going to talk about the Holocaust?' the Mirror reported. Carr replied: 'We are going to talk about cancel culture, the whole thing. 'We are going to talk about f***ing everything people. Relax.' He later said: 'We are speaking my friends in the last chance saloon. What I am saying on stage this evening is barely acceptable now. 'In ten years f***ing forget about it. You are going to be able to tell your grandchildren about seeing this show tonight.' Carr and Netflix have been contacted for comment. A Las Vegas high school student has been arrested and charged with battery for punching another girl more than 30 times while their classmates stood by and laughed - in a violent attack captured on video and circulated on social media. The attack took place last Wednesday when the unnamed Las Vegas High School student stormed over to another girl sitting in her seat and repeatedly punched her in the head from behind as someone - possibly the teacher - extended their arms to the attacker and yelled: 'Stop, stop, stop. Get off of her.' The girl being attacked at her desk lifts her hands up in an effort to protect herself but the other girl continues to pummel her in the back of the head and face. Laughter is heard from students in the room as the attacker continues to strike, before she walks away. The video ends with the victim face-down on her desk. She does not lift up her head. It remains unclear to what extent she was injured or what condition she is in. The Clark County School District Police Department told KTNV a Las Vegas High School student was cited for battery last Wednesday. Las Vegas High School administrators said they are aware of the attack and are 'taking this incident very seriously'. 'Violent acts, assaults, and bullying will not be tolerated in the Clark County School District, and those who choose to engage in these activities will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,' said Superintendent Jesus F. Jara. A Las Vegas High School student punched another classmate more than 30 times while other students watched and laughed The district, issuing a statement to the told KTNV, added: 'CCSD investigates every reported case of bullying and takes appropriate action if needed. We are unable to discuss individual student disciplinary matters due to privacy laws.' 'However, in general, students can face administrative disciplinary action at school or be referred to law enforcement for possible criminal prosecution depending on the severity of the matter.' The horrifying footage, totaling about 20 seconds in length, has prompted a call for action by members of the school community, with some arguing the district is unable to keep their kids safe. A parent, sharing the video online, wrote: 'I am only sharing this simply to bring awareness to other parents or people for that matter, on how this sad joke of a school system ACTUALLY is.' 'Save your kids! Pull them out of public school!' another social media user wrote. 'Don't let your kid become the next Clark County School victim! Pull them the hell out and HOMESCHOOL!!!' The girl continuously punches the girl in the head as someone - possibly the teacher - extends their arms to the attacker and yells: 'Stop, stop, stop. Get off of her' Laughter is heard from students in the room as the attacker continues to strike, before she walks away. The video ends with the victim face first on her desk. She does not lift up her head Las Vegas High School Principal Ronnie Guerzon said: 'Administration is aware and responding to this matter and it is being addressed through the appropriate channels.' The principal also noted that all students are expected to follow the Clark County School District (CCSD) code of conduct and encouraged parents to talk to their children about 'appropriate behavior in class'. School leaders also encouraged students to stop sharing footage of the attack, alleging that circulating the video 'serves no purpose other than to further ridicule and embarrass the victim and embolden bullies.' 'Any student who captures photos or video of an assault on-campus, off-campus, on a bus or during a school activity should immediately turn the footage over to a teacher, school administrator or police. We investigate and address all concerns of bullying.' District police also responded to another violent attack that same week, the Las Vegas Sun reported. A 17-year-old girl at Legacy High School allegedly attacked a secretary after she was ordered to the principal's office. While the school district said it cannot comment on what disciplinary actions were taken against the attacker, the Clark County School District Police Department has confirmed a Las Vegas High School student was cited for battery last Wednesday The student and employee exchanged words before the teen picked up a radio and proceeded to hit the secretary. The attacker was taken into custody for battery. The school board, responding to concerns over safety in the schools, reiterated that its members 'take every incident of violence seriously, regardless of who commits the violence'. Board president Irene Ceped argued the board and district leaders are committed to school safety and 'ensuring schools are places where students and staff feel safe, and education can occur.' A woman subjected to an horrific four-month domestic abuse ordeal - which included her partner videoing himself raping her - bravely gave evidence to get him jailed for 19 years. Mohammed Ashfak, 31, was found guilty of 11 offences against his ex-partner between January and May 2020. At one point on May 5 she was found in the road covered in blood after escaping from her former Newham home where he had refused to let her leave. But it was after this she revealed the catalogue of abuse he had carried out against her. And on Friday Ashfak was sentenced to nearly two decades behind bars for his crimes at Snaresbrook Crown Court. In a statement read out his former partner - who cannot be named - said: 'I remember everything he's done and said to me. His actions, his voice. I get days where I wake up terrified. I have never felt like I do now. Mohammed Ashfak, 31, was found guilty of 11 offences against his ex-partner in abuse attacks 'I'm not fit enough to go back to work, it's just not something I'm ready to do. It will take time for me to build it back up. I just don't feel safe. I don't know how to go out there, be around males, have colleagues and stuff like that. 'I feel angry and disappointed, sometimes I blame myself. 'When it's been really difficult for me and I've felt like I can't carry on, come to court, give evidence, I've carried on because I don't want him to hurt someone else's daughter. 'Let me be the last person he ever touches. Nobody should experience what he has done to me.' Between January and May 2020, Ashfak repeatedly assaulted his partner and threatened to kill both her and himself. He also raped her on two occasions and filmed himself doing so. His victim's evidence saw him jailed for total of 19 years on Friday at Snaresbrook Crown Court When the victim reported one of the assaults to police, Ashfak further assaulted and threatened her which forced her to withdraw the allegations. She initially reported an incident on April 3, 2020, where he assaulted her, held a rusty knife to her and attempted to rape her. He was charged with two offences and bailed by the court. Ashfak was further charged and remanded at this point the victim disclosed all of the earlier offences, including the rapes, to police. Police say she was provided with specialist support including a Sexual Offences Investigation Team officer, PC Rebecca Cecil, who has received additional training to support victims of serious sexual offences. Officers worked closely with her in the lead-up to and during the trial to ensure that she was supported. This included her being kept up to date with progress of the criminal investigation, a familiarisation visit to the crown court ahead of the trial and re-watching the video recorded interview she had given several months earlier. Detective Constable Jennifer Newman, who led the investigation, said: 'Ashfak is a dangerous and manipulative man and I have no doubt that were he not serving a custodial sentence, he would go on to commit similar offences against other women. 'Ashfak subjected his partner to a number of violent physical attacks but as she says, it is the emotional impact of this behaviour that she will continue to live with for a long time. 'The offending took place over a four-month period but her life has been turned upside down by what happened. She deserves a huge amount of credit, not only for reporting Ashfak to police, despite his threats about what would happen if she did so, but also for supporting the trial and providing key evidence which led to his conviction. This is despite a number of delays to the proceedings. 'It is because of her bravery that he is behind bars and we hope her actions encourage anyone else in an abusive relationship to come forward and speak to us. We will support you every step of the way.' Specialist Predatory Offender Units have already been set up across London to arrest and charge those who carry out violence, much of it domestic or sexual violence. Police say since November 2021 they have arrested over 3,000 suspects, of which 1,790 arrests related to domestic abuse Sajid Javid has suggested that claims Carrie Johnson interferes in government business are motivated by 'sexism'. The Health Secretary is a friend of Mrs Johnson, and attended her Abba-themed 30th birthday party. He was also her boss while she worked as an aide at the Department of Communities and Local Government. His comments came after Tory peer Lord Ashcroft's biography of the mother of two prompted allegations that Mrs Johnson wields undue influence at No10. But Mr Javid rejected this argument, telling Sky News: 'First of all, the partners of politicians should be off limits. I do think there is sexism involved in this. 'I really do. I think going after Carrie Johnson is very unfair, it's undignified and it's just wrong.' Lord Ashcroft's biography says Mr Johnson cuts a 'lonely' figure and is surrounded by Carrie's close friends, who are now among his most influential aides. The book advances the theory that faultlines in her relationship with the Prime Minister have had an impact on No 10, with one source describing it as 'a Greek tragedy'. It follows allegations over her involvement in 'Wallpapergate', the redecoration of their No11 flat, and her role in the evacuation of animals from the Nowzad charity in Afghanistan. Sajid Javid (left) today said Carrie Johnson (right) - as the wife of the Prime Minister - should be 'off limits' Lord Ashcroft's book, First Lady: Intrigue at the Court of Carrie and Boris Johnson , says the Prime Minister enrages advisers by allowing his wife to influence policies and appointments Lord Ashcroft, whose book is being serialised in the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday, said his research had suggested her 'behaviour is preventing him (Boris Johnson) from leading Britain as effectively as the voters deserve'. It comes after Mrs Johnson issued a rare public statement attacking 'bitter ex-officials' she has claimed are behind a 'brutal briefing campaign' that informed the new biography. Downing Street insiders quoted in the book have suggested Mrs Johnson wields huge power within Whitehall and have warned that 'if she doesn't like you, there can be big consequences'. The book, First Lady: Intrigue at the Court of Carrie and Boris Johnson, says the Prime Minister enrages advisers by allowing his wife to influence policies and appointments. However, a spokesperson for Ms Johnson hit out yesterday, saying the 'cruel' allegations were 'just the latest attempt by bitter ex-officials' to discredit her. They added: 'She is a private individual who plays no role in government.' The Prime Minister is understood to believe that Lord Ashcroft (pictured at Tory Party Conference) has been spun a tissue of lies by disgruntled former No 10 advisers The Prime Minister, who is said in the book to be 'completely mesmerised' by his wife, is understood to also be furious. The biography also comes as Mr Johnson fights to stay in No 10 following the resignation of five aides in 24 hours and the growing drumbeat of speculation that he could face a vote of no confidence in his leadership. The front cover of Lord Ashcroft's biography, which is being serialised in The Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday The Prime Minister, though, is understood to believe that Lord Ashcroft has been spun a tissue of lies by disgruntled former No 10 advisers. And in a series of strongly worded rebuttals earlier this week, a spokesperson for Mrs Johnson claimed the book contained 'vile fabrications' which were 'designed to humiliate and discredit Mrs Johnson', while other stories amounted to 'baseless tittle tattle' and 'offensive nonsense'. Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said today that Mrs Johnson was 'under scrutiny in a way He told Times Radio: 'The reportage that somehow she's got undue influence, I don't think that's true. 'The Prime Minister has been in politics for 25 years and has a pretty strong set of ideas.' Lord Ashcroft's book gives a vivid insider story of in-fighting over Mrs Johnson's influence, and the rows over the appointment of Allegra Stratton to lead No 10 press conferences. The conflict culminated in the dramatic resignation of chief aide Dominic Cummings in 2020. According to Lord Ashcroft's account, the frustrations at Mr Johnson's then girlfriend's apparent influence first emerged during his six-week campaign for the Tory leadership in 2019. It includes claims that Mrs Johnson would use her husband's mobile phone 'to try to direct and control events'. But reacting to the claims in Lord Ashcroft's book today, friends of Mrs Johnson have described the claims as 'misogynistic and cruel', while Mr Johnson is said to be angry at the perceived 'hit job.' Despite the allegations, Lord Ashcroft does refer admiringly to Carrie's 'courage and determination,' as evidenced in her instrumental role ensuring sex-offender Warboys stayed behind bars, in speaking openly of her own experience of a 2021 miscarriage and her work for animal protection, saying the complaints against her are about use of power without electoral accountability. Carrie uncovered: The explosive book by LORD ASHCROFT that's set Westminster alight - including a close friend's claim that 'Carrie is the reason Boris has squandered the chance to become a great Prime Minister' by Lord Ashcroft As a child of the Instagram generation, Carrie Johnson is a longtime devotee of social media. 'This job means I get to do some incredible things,' she posted proudly in December 2015 after attending a concert by renowned pianist Daniel Barenboim. At the time she was Carrie Symonds, an adviser in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport a post that gave her one of the most fulfilling periods of her professional life: free access to sporting events, exhibitions, music festivals and all manner of cultural activities offered plentiful Instagram opportunities. For example, at the annual Pride of Britain charity awards, she photographed the actress Barbara Windsor and the TV personality Kelly Osbourne. Alongside them was the then Mayor of London, Boris Johnson. After Carrie posted the picture online, a friend wrote: 'My God, your life! Soooo jealous!' This was the first occasion when Johnson's and Carrie's paths are known to have crossed. As a child of the Instagram generation, Carrie Johnson is a longtime devotee of social media. 'This job means I get to do some incredible things,' she posted proudly in December 2015 after attending a concert by renowned pianist Daniel Barenboim. At the time she was Carrie Symonds, an adviser in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. (She is seen above in 2019) In June 2016, Carrie posted another photo on her Instagram page. It showed Johnson and two other senior politicians boarding the infamous Vote Leave red bus. John Whittingdale, her former Brexiteer boss at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport says: 'I cannot say that I introduced her to Boris, but I don't think she knew him particularly well [before the Brexit campaign] and she will have come across him when she accompanied me to Vote Leave meetings.' Some years later, Johnson confirmed that story in a speech, while thanking the Tory MP for helping change British history by supporting Leave. Whittingdale recalls: 'He also said I'd changed his life in all sorts of ways, including the fact that I'd 'helped bring him together with Carrie.' ' Before many months had elapsed, the pair's relationship would develop swiftly and dramatically. By the autumn of 2017, Carrie was casting around for a new job, having completed a temporary placement with Sajid Javid, who was at the time Housing Secretary. She set her sights on a whole new challenge. Her private life, too, was in a state of flux. Things between her and her long-term journalist boyfriend had cooled and she had become close to other men, one of whom was a married Conservative MP with a high public profile. 'Completely mesmerised': Carrie embraces Boris after his speech to the Conservative Party conference in 2019 Although I have decided not to name him, I can say that he was somebody other than Boris Johnson. They were even seen together in a quiet area of the House of Commons 'not quite kissing but certainly much closer than a woman would normally stand next to a male colleague, put it like that,' says a source. 'The body language made it obvious something was happening.' Even so, Johnson was at the forefront of her mind. One source recalls how, at this time, she began to quiz people about his personal life. 'There was a period where she repeatedly asked about Boris, the state of his marriage and whether he was 'available',' says the source. 'It got to the point where it was impossible not to ask her if she and Boris had become involved. At this suggestion, Carrie once made a vomiting sign by pretending to stick her fingers down her throat. I can only think she did this either to show that she genuinely found Boris physically unattractive, or just to put others off the scent.' Hearing that then Foreign Secretary Johnson was looking for a new special adviser, Carrie approached him about the role. John Whittingdale (pictured), her former Brexiteer boss at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport says: 'I cannot say that I introduced her to Boris, but I don't think she knew him particularly well [before the Brexit campaign] and she will have come across him when she accompanied me to Vote Leave meetings' To her chagrin, Johnson hired Lee Cain, Vote Leave's broadcast communications strategist. But the matter would not end there. In late 2017, civil servants at the Foreign Office advised Johnson to appoint a chief of staff. Installing somebody of the highest competence would, they believed, ease their collective post-Brexit burden. This suggestion seemed at first to fall on deaf ears. But by the beginning of the following year, Johnson seemed keener on the plan. The person he had in mind for the plum, six-figure role? Carrie Symonds. His allies were 'aghast', according to one source. She would have been out of her depth in such a senior post, they felt, with potentially disastrous consequences. 'Everyone advised him not to do it,' says a source. 'They told him she had been over-promoted and that making her his chief of staff was ridiculous.' By the spring of 2018, a small number of Johnson's staff had become aware the couple were having an affair. Some were dismayed that he had betrayed his wife, Marina, whom they knew and liked. Others took the view that it was none of their business. All now understood why Johnson had been so keen to hire Carrie as his chief of staff. How she 'demanded a taxpayer-funded 538 gold-coloured iPad' This MoS mock-up shows how Carrie may have used a gold-coloured iPad Carrie's six months working as maternity cover as Sajid Javid's adviser in the Department for Communities and Local Government is little remembered. However, one source says she 'spent the whole time trying to get the department to buy her a gold-coloured iPad'. This purchase, at public expense, was 'eventually approved by email from the Secretary of State's private office,' according to the source, even though Apple products are understood to have been incompatible with the department's computer network. A Freedom of Information request about the purchase was not answered for three months, even though such requests should normally be dealt with in 20 working days. The delay was attributed to 'public interest' reasons. The response confirmed that 'one iPad with case was purchased for a Special Adviser at a price of 538'. The recipient was not named. Our mock-up, above, shows how Carrie may have used a gold-coloured iPad. Further inquiries failed on the grounds that this is 'personal, about another individual' and releasing details would breach UK data protection legislation. Advertisement The relationship was to spell the end of his long marriage. For Marina, Carrie is said to have represented the final humiliation. Johnson's infidelities had caused her and their four children much heartache over the years. In 2009 he had even fathered a daughter with another woman, Helen Macintyre. Marina told friends that she could take no more and she wanted to divorce. Johnson is said to have been stunned. 'For Boris, Carrie was a fling,' says a source close to these events. 'He never expected to be with her long-term. He was shocked when Marina said she was divorcing him. 'He never expected it. So he settled for Carrie.' It would be only a question of time before reporters knew enough of the situation to write about it, and there was a growing list of clues for them to go on. Earlier in the summer, for example, it did not go unnoticed that Carrie and Johnson had arrived within a minute of each other at a Spectator magazine party. One who was present says: 'I remember thinking it was intriguing. I thought to myself, 'Why is she here?' ' Perhaps it was a sense of certainty that others would eventually cotton on to the relationship that emboldened Carrie to focus her interest on her boyfriend's political career. A source who was close to Johnson at the time recalls: 'That summer, she tried to muscle in. She bad-mouthed some of his staff and tried to persuade him that he needed to hire new people on his team.' It was a foretaste of things to come. By the autumn of 2017, Carrie was casting around for a new job, having completed a temporary placement with Sajid Javid, who was at the time Housing Secretary. She set her sights on a whole new challenge. (She is pictured in 2019) In September 2018, The Sun broke the news of Johnson's marital problems quoting his daughter Lara, and saying she was 'understood to have been overheard exploding with rage at her philandering dad'. The paper added: 'She is said to have told pals at a party he 'is a selfish bastard.' ' Other media coverage in the following days named Carrie as the new woman in his life and revealed that Marina was understood to have found a string of text messages between the pair. Although Carrie had become involved with Johnson willingly, none of this can have been easy for her. Some people point out that she perhaps failed to comprehend fully how blinding the glare of publicity would be once the truth of the affair was exposed. Indeed, not every portrait that appeared in the Press was entirely flattering. The Times quoted an unnamed source as saying: 'She was one of these girls who would be at all the parties. I can't remember her doing any work that was really good, but she was always at every party going.' However, Conservative MP Laura Trott told the BBC that briefings against Carrie were, in her opinion, 'distasteful'. She said: 'I used to work with Carrie. She's an incredibly talented and able person and I think there should be some consideration given about whether some of these things would be said about a man.' By December, Johnson, who had no permanent London base following his separation from Marina, had begun staying at Carrie's flat in Camberwell, South London. After Christmas, the couple flew to Greece together for a few days. When he returned to Westminster, fellow MPs and journalists noticed that Johnson had a sharper look about him. He had lost some weight and had his hair cut. With then Prime Minister Theresa May's political fortunes flagging, these were taken as outward signs that he had decided to make a move for the party leadership. It was equally clear to his political allies that Carrie intended to be actively involved in the process which he hoped would ultimately take him to 10 Downing Street. As the screw tightened on Mrs May, her potential successors, Johnson among them, began mustering their troops. In early April 2019, Johnson asked the former Tory Minister James (now Lord) Wharton to run his bid for the party leadership as his chief of staff. Wharton told Johnson he was happy to take the job only to be informed by a sheepish Johnson that the offer had been withdrawn. 'Boris told him that Carrie didn't trust him, and she wanted someone different in that post,' says a source who worked on the campaign. Wharton was astounded, having apparently barely met Carrie by this point. Meanwhile, it is also claimed that Carrie made use of Johnson's telephone to try to direct and control events. A campaign insider of the time remembers: 'We'd spot the different ways things were written, because the style would change. We'd learn to spot when it was her writing the message. 'So a text message would appear saying, for example, that there was a particular MP whose support we didn't need or want. We realised Boris couldn't have written the message because, the next day, Boris would contradict this.' 'For Boris, Carrie was a fling,' says a source close to these events. 'He never expected to be with her long-term. He was shocked when Marina (above together) said she was divorcing him 'It was a nightmare,' reports a separate source of Carrie's involvement. 'She had no ideas. She wasn't prepared to roll her sleeves up and work hard, and yet she interfered all the time. This caused many problems and wasted a lot of very valuable time.' A second source adds: 'The problem was she would want to control everything, but she wouldn't work with anyone. There would be a team meeting, something would be decided and Boris would agree it. 'He would go home and tell Carrie everything that'd been decided, and then the phone would ring and it would be him saying, 'We've got to change this, we've got to do that, we're not going to do it like this any more.' ' It has even been alleged that, on occasion, Carrie could be heard whispering prompts to Johnson while these phone calls were in progress. 'It was a very difficult environment to work in,' adds the second source. 'You'd think you'd got things agreed and they'd be second-guessed all the time when they were together alone in an environment to which none of us had access.' What is more, Carrie also began to insist on a prominent role in the campaign for a friend of hers, Ben Mallett even, one source claims, to be the campaign chief of staff. Another source adds: 'One day, Ben Mallett walked in and announced he was now the campaign's chief of staff. We told him politely that this was rubbish. Hearing that then Foreign Secretary Johnson was looking for a new special adviser, Carrie approached him about the role. To her chagrin, Johnson hired Lee Cain (above), Vote Leave's broadcast communications strategist. But the matter would not end there 'Boris said it was fine because he was too cowardly to confront Carrie about it. When some people threatened to quit if Ben Mallett really did become the chief of staff, Boris said, 'Can't you just call him the chief of staff?' 'He was told in no uncertain terms that this would not happen.' Attempts were also made by some on the team to sideline Carrie. These were not without comedy value. 'It got to the point where members of the team booked taxis for her if there was a meeting that she was supposed to attend,' recalls another source. 'The driver would be instructed to take the longest route possible to wherever the meeting was being held so that she would miss it. It sometimes worked.' But others believe such allegations and accusations to be unfair, among them Carrie's ex-boss John Whittingdale. 'The influence [Carrie is] claimed to have [is inaccurate],' he says. 'Yes, I'm sure Boris and Carrie discuss things in a way that previous spouses would not, because they were much less political. Samantha Cameron had little interest in politics. Philip May didn't have a great knowledge of politics. 'This is the first time the PM's wife has been a committed political activist and had knowledge and experience of working in politics, so of course it's going to be talked about. But she's very good. She advised me for 15 months, so I know she's good.' FRIENDS APPOINTED TO TOP GOVERNMENT JOBS: From far left: Best friend Henry Newman, appointed an aide to Boris: Allegra Stratton who became Boris's No 10 press spokesman; and Josh Grimstone who now works for Michael Gove ... AND OTHERS WHO WERE FROZEN OUT. Discarded: From far left: Ellie Lyons, labelled as 'bad news'; James Wharton, liked by Boris but rejected as 'untrustworthy' by Carrie; and Mimi Macejkova, replaced by a friend of Carrie Tory MP Tracey Crouch told one newspaper she disliked the way that Carrie had been portrayed as a Lady Macbeth figure. 'I think it's a bit sexist,' said Crouch. 'I also think it's really rude to Boris.' Johnson launched his leadership campaign on June 12, 2019. He and Carrie had never been seen in public at an official event before then, despite the news of their relationship having broken nine months earlier. 'On the day of his launch, we arranged he would arrive by car,' says a campaign team member. 'What does Carrie do? She arrives separately, gets out of her vehicle and walks quite a long way to the venue with a friend by her side, so all the press became about her. 'She didn't tell the organisers she was coming, or if she did tell them, it was at the last minute. She could have gone in by a side door or something, but it had to be her big entrance. It was constant irritations like this that disrupted rather than derailed but seriously diverted attention from Boris, taking up a lot of people's time in a high-pressure situation.' Another source remembers a diary clash a few days later when Johnson was due to attend a breakfast event for Tory donors. It had been arranged by Ben Elliot, the nephew of the Duchess of Cornwall, who had a reputation as a first-rate fixer with an impeccable contacts book. Yet according to this source, Carrie insisted that Johnson should appear instead at a different event, at the lobbying firm Brunswick. 'She organised it without telling anyone,' says the source. 'In the end, he did both breakfasts because he couldn't say no to her. He shouldn't have done this. It wasn't discussed as part of the process of the campaign. This was the sort of thing that made everyone's life more difficult than it needed to be.' It has also been claimed that Carrie's apparent personal dislike of some members of the campaign team got the better of her. These included Ellie Lyons, a well-regarded Cambridge graduate who had worked as a researcher before becoming a special adviser to Gavin Williamson when he was Chief Whip and then Defence Secretary. Lyons did not know Carrie, but what happened next shocked some on the team. 'Boris started saying, 'Let's get rid of Ellie,' ' recalls one source. 'He said, 'Ellie is bad news.' He had to be told that, in fact, Ellie had made a brilliant contribution to the campaign and he was lucky to have her. He was just being used by Carrie to do her dirty work.' A job was found for Ellie at No 10 but she was dismissed soon after Johnson became PM. 'She sent photo of herself to lad mag's High St Honeys' While at university, Carrie Symonds submitted a photo of herself to FHM, the monthly magazine for young men. It was running a competition called High Street Honeys described as a 'quest to unearth the sexiest girl next door'. In the year that Carrie entered, almost 14,000 young women from across Britain sent photos of themselves in a variety of provocative poses wearing skimpy underwear or a bikini. Their pictures were posted online and members of the public were invited to vote for their favourite, who would win 10,000 and a contract to become a TV presenter. Oliver Haiste, who dated Carrie between 2007 and 2012, said: 'It was her idea to put herself forward. She's always been an attention-seeker.' Carrie was not named Britain's High Street Honey. Many years later it was reported that she had used a European data protection law known as the 'right to be forgotten' to ask internet search engines to de-list certain results for queries relating to her name, suggesting she has given some thought to her past digital activities. Describing the photo, Haiste says: 'She wore something unacceptable. It certainly wasn't a cardigan and pearls. They were relatively explicit e.g. bikini and also topless ones.' Advertisement Another source adds: 'We learned pretty quickly there was a culture of fear around touching anything that Carrie didn't like. There was a nervousness. 'I think the people who are close to her and align with her get great benefits. Those who idolise her might get a fantastic job out of it. 'If she doesn't like you, there can be big consequences.' A third source says: 'She doesn't like people who are more intelligent or attractive than her around her. Ellie's problem was that she is both attractive and intelligent.' There was a previous episode when Carrie worked at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. A colleague was another young woman, Mimi Macejkova, but she left her post within a few months of John Whittingdale becoming Secretary of State. He said Macejkova 'didn't gel with the others' in his team. She was replaced by a friend of Carrie. Later, Carrie's closest friends settled into jobs as top aides to Johnson. One was Henry Newman, who was once described by her as one of her 'favourite people'. Another was Josh Grimstone, who now works for Michael Gove. A third was Allegra Stratton, appointed Johnson's No 10 press spokesman after it was reported that he'd said: 'Carrie will kill me if Allegra doesn't get the job.' For some who knew and worked with Carrie, she was an energetic and effective colleague. 'She was invaluable as a media spad [special adviser],' says Whittingdale. 'She was one of the best in her field. She was also easy-going and fun. She was having to work very long hours. We became good friends. We'd go to the pub after a hard day.' Whatever the tensions behind his campaign, Johnson became Prime Minister and won a landslide General Election five months later. Looking back, one figure who has given careful thought to Carrie's behaviour during this intense period reflects ruefully on their impression of the role she played Another former colleague is at pains to project a positive memory of her. 'We'd go for drinks after work because we were a group of people in their twenties with time on their hands after working long days. It was quite social. 'She was always very good company and good fun, which matters in politics. I've always liked her.' Another former press office colleague adds: 'She was very bright, pretty and a lot of fun to work with. I don't think she particularly enjoyed the duller side of the job, like getting press releases out, but she was by far the best person to get you good gossip on what was going on and liked to spend time with journalists.' Whatever the tensions behind his campaign, Johnson became Prime Minister and won a landslide General Election five months later. Looking back, one figure who has given careful thought to Carrie's behaviour during this intense period reflects ruefully on their impression of the role she played. 'She could be utterly charming, but she was always working behind the scenes,' says this person. 'I would say Boris is trapped in an emotionally disruptive relationship. I think he's definitely scared of her and I think she dominates him. There were moments where he knew he was insisting on things that were not good for his campaign. 'In private moments he would say words to the effect of, 'Don't do anything that's going to make her torture me when I get home. You've just got to help me. My life at home's miserable. You've got to find a way to make this bearable for me.' He'd speak with exasperation in his eyes.' One person who knows Johnson well, having worked with him when he was the Mayor of London, explains that the extent of the role in his domestic life played by his former wife Marina is perhaps under-acknowledged. 'Marina was a very important influence on Boris,' says the former colleague. 'She was always punctual, she'd remember people's birthdays and there was a basic human decency to her. 'She cared. She instilled order. And she is very intelligent. 'When the marriage ended, he lost his domestic support, the steadying influence, and he traded that in for a demanding girlfriend and strong disapproval from his children. 'Do not underestimate how destabilising all of that can be. 'Boris has always needed someone to make sure he has money in his pocket and a clean suit and shirt. There is a big management role in keeping him on a straight line. He went from having a base run by someone who knows him well Marina to an arrangement where home wasn't properly organised and the person in that home, Carrie, is demanding rather than supplying. 'I think it's the biggest explanation of the dysfunctionality inside No 10. Marina was his wife, but she was also, in some respects, a mother figure to him.' According to a newspaper report, another ally of Johnson observed: 'Carrie f****d with his mind. She has him completely mesmerised.' Someone else who knows Johnson, both politically and personally, has given much thought to the development of his character over the past four or five years. This person is in no doubt about what has happened. 'Boris changed after he met Carrie,' they say. 'He always was a bit of a lonely figure because he has few friends, but now it's worse than ever. He's fallen out with his children, he's lost Marina and, since he became Prime Minister, so many of the problems he's had to deal with have been because of Carrie. 'Deep down, I think he knows this. Sometimes I've seen him make excuses to avoid going upstairs to his flat in Downing Street. The whole thing is like a Greek tragedy. 'He could have been a great Prime Minister but his lack of discipline, which led him to get involved with Carrie, has cost him. His potential to transform the country has been squandered and, as far as I'm concerned, it's because of her. It's like a toxic relationship. He's isolated. It's very sad. Politically, there is no agenda he's just drifting.' Another source who knows both Johnson and Carrie well, having worked with them during his own political career, says that the reality of their marriage may be more difficult than some people realise. 'I don't think Carrie has many friends,' says this person. 'Nor does Boris. He has fewer, in some ways. She's had a lot to put up with. I don't think Boris is close to his family at the moment, so they both have few really close, loyal, personal friends. Maybe that was something they found in common.' John Whittingdale says: 'Carrie gets a tough time. It upsets her and I feel sorry for her. It's a pretty lonely existence. I think they've struggled. She doesn't see as much of Boris as she'd like because he's trying to run the country.' If it is true that their relationship can be described as a meeting of two people who may be more emotionally vulnerable than the majority of the British electorate appreciates, only the hardest of hearts would fail to recognise the sadness of this fact. Yet the troubling question that, perhaps, too few people in Westminster and in Fleet Street have dared to ask publicly is what effect their perceived weaknesses have had on the way Britain has been governed since 2019. One of Johnson's closest allies in the Cabinet has said privately to sources quoted in this book that they believe Carrie is 'the number one problem' in Johnson's administration. Given that Carrie is unelected and unaccountable, many voters will wonder whether it would be better for the country if the Cabinet Minister in question had the courage to tell the Prime Minister this to his face. Michael Ashcroft, 2022 Abridged extract from First Lady: Intrigue At The Court Of Carrie And Boris Johnson, by Michael Ashcroft, published by Biteback on March 29 at 20. To pre-order a copy go to biteback publishing.com. An Arizona Home Depot cashier has been arrested for allegedly swapping out nearly $400,000 of the store's real money for the last four years with counterfeit cash he bought off Amazon. Adrian Jean Pineda secretly siphoned $387,500 handed to him from the store's registers in Tempe and replaced it with the phony currency commonly used in movies and clearly marked as fake, Secret Service agents said after his arrest last Monday. Pineda was able to pull off the brazen heist thanks to his job as a 'vault associate' at the home appliance store, a position that called for the staffer to collect the store's daily earnings and deposit them at a nearby Wells Fargo bank, according to the feds. Bank staffers would then collect the bundles of real and counterfeit notes - which have 'PLAYMONEY' written as a serial number and disclaimers that read 'movie prop use only' - and deposit it into an account holding several stores' earnings. According to Bourdreaux, Pineda brought to work about $800 to $1,200 of the fake dollar bills at a time, taking money from the deposits and replacing it with counterfeit cash during his shifts. Pictured here are hundred dollar bills seized from Pineda during his arrest Monday At a glance, the bills appear real - accurately scaled to size and featuring text found on real currency. The bills cost $8.96 for a pack of 10 from the online retailer. Pictured here are fifty dollar bills seized from Pineda during his arrest Monday Home Depot became aware of the larceny, feds say, after execs detected a large number of fake bills coming from one particular store, and enlisted the US Secret Service to find the culprit. 'He was just in a really good position to do the crime,' Frank Boudreaux Jr., the agent in charge of the Phoenix Secret Service's office that investigated the incident said Sunday of Pineda's alleged thievery. Pineda faces federal counterfeiting charges that can land him in prison for 20 years. He is set to appear in federal court on Monday for a status hearing. According to Bourdreaux's office, the crime took place over the span of four years. The store started reporting losses in January 2018 due to the counterfeit notes coming up in their cash deposits, agents said, which continued through last month. However, in December, after the losses ballooned to near into the hundreds of thousands, puzzled and peeved Home Depot execs grew tired of the inexplicable filching, and contacted the U.S. Secret Service to investigate. Agents arrested Tempe Home Depot employee Adrian Jean Pineda last Monday for secretly siphoning $387,500 of funds from the store's registers over the course of several years, replacing it with the phony currency commonly used in Hollywood movies Eventually, after less than two months of investigating, agents from Bourdreaux's office arrested Pineda inside the Home Depot store on January 31. During the arrest, agents seized $5,000 in the counterfeit cash and recovered $5,300 in real money, according to the news release Friday, with agents recovering an additional $22,000 in genuine currency while conducting a search warrant on Pineda's home. Pineda bought the prop bills from Amazon, Bourdreaux's office said after the arrest, which are commonly used for television and movie productions. At a glance, the bills appear real - accurately scaled to size and featuring text found on real currency but with the disclaimer 'MOVIDE PROP USE ONLY.' The bogus bills cost $8.96 for a pack of 10 from the online retailer. According to Bourdreaux, Pineda brought to work about $800 to $1,200 of the fake hundred dollar bills at a time, taking money from the deposits and replacing it with counterfeit cash during his shifts. After cashiers brought Pineda the days receipts from the registers, he would swap real bills with fake ones, feds say, hiding fistfuls of real money on, the complaint said. During the arrest, agents seized $5,000 in the counterfeit cash and recovered $5,300 in real money, according to the news release Friday, with a gents recovering an additional $22,000 in genuine currency while conducting a search warrant on Pineda's home Surveillance cameras caught him doing this at least 16 times, agents added. According to Boudreaux, the bills are 'highly realistic,' with a perfectly printed Benjamin Franklin and an adjacent vertical blue line almost identical to the 3-D security ribbon found on actual bills, and easily attainable, creating a problem for law enforcement. 'I wish they didnt sell it.' Despite looking legitimate, however, the counterfeit bills possess a much different feel than real bills, which are made of cotton and linen and have a thicker feel, instead of the fake bills' more papery texture, Boudreaux said. The agent added that investigators grew suspicious of Pineda during their probe, when they saw him leading a lavish lifestyle that exceeded the typical budget for someone in his position, splurging on a personal trainer and a new car. 'It was evident that he was spending much more than he was making,' said Boudreaux after the arrest. The agent added that he did not know how much Pineda was earning. What's more, when Boudreaux and his team began the investigation in December, they subpoenaed Pinedas Amazon records and found he had purchased an exorbitant amount of the fake bills, which tellingly amounted to roughly the same as the total loss attributed to the phony money coming from the Home Depot store. 'So that kind of tied it all together,' Mr. Boudreaux said. 'This case illustrates the continued commitment of the Secret Service and the US Attorneys Office to investigating and prosecuting counterfeit violations,' Boudreaux said in the statement, adding that Pineda's arrest 'marked the culmination of a strategic investigation enacted by Phoenix special agents, Home Depot security personnel and Wells Fargo Bank.' A stray bullet from a shootout on an East Harlem street struck a bus carrying 30 passengers, MTA officials said Monday. Multiple people opened fire during the gun battle at 125th St. and Lexington Ave. about 2:25 p.m. Sunday but nobody was struck, cops said. Advertisement Police investigate after an MTA bus was struck by a bullet on Lexington Ave. near E 125th St. in Manhattan Sunday. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News) But police did recover a bullet from the side of an M101 bus. There were roughly 30 people on the bus when it was struck, said MTA spokesman Tim Minton. The bullet was lodged on the just beneath a right side window not far from the drivers seat. Advertisement No arrests have been made. The close call is nothing new for bus drivers, said Ritchie Davis, a vice president at Transport Workers Union Local 100. This is at least the fourth time in six months that a bus was struck by gunfire, said David. Its dangerous out there, too dangerous, and our bus operators are defenseless. Some of them are even asking for bulletproof vests. MTA officials said the agency has no plans to issue bulletproof vests to bus drivers or riders. A bullet lodged in the window of a MTA bus on Lexington Ave. near E. 125th St. in East Harlem Sunday. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News) Metropolitan Transportation Authority chairman Janno Lieber said he hopes police do more to crack down on gun violence across the city. There is a violence problem in our city and especially a gun violence problem in our city, Lieber said during a news conference Monday. Fortunately the new mayor and his administration has made this a priority. A woman was rescued from a freezing lake in Southern Oklahoma last week after spending two days stranded floating on an air mattress. The woman, who identified herself only as Connie, was saved by a train crew who spotted her waving her arms and screaming for help near Lake Texoma on the Oklahoma-Texas border on Thursday. Two days earlier, Connie and her boyfriend tried to use the air mattress as a raft to reach a boat from the frozen shore of the 139-square-mile lake, according to reports. He was able to swim to shore but she did not jump into the frigid water and drifted for two miles. The man then apparently left to seek shelter from the bitter cold. It is unknown why the man did not return or summon help. A woman named Connie was rescued from Lake Texoma, Oklahoma, on Thursday, after floating on an air mattress for two days in 18-degree weather The 139-square-foot lake lies on the border between Oklahoma and Texas BNSF train engineer Justin Luster (left) and train conductor Cristhian Sosa (right) spotted Connie waving her arms and screaming for help, stopped the train and came to her aid When Connie's harrowing ordeal began last week, temperatures in the area were between 40 and 68 degrees, but on the day of the rescue, snow came and the mercury plummeted to a bone-chilling 18 degrees overnight. Her rescuers found her cowering under the air mattress after she floated nearly two miles before finding a patch of land and making her way to the railroad tracks, according to Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Coast Guard and a Good Samaritan with an airboat rescue 18 snowmobilers from ice sheet that broke off Lake Erie in Ohio The US Coast Guard rescue stranded snowmobilers (circled) on Lake Erie on February 2 The US Coast Guard and a Good Samaritan with an air boat rescued 18 snowmobilers from an ice floe that broke away in Lake Erie over the weekend. Officials said a helicopter from Air Station Detroit noticed a group of people on the floe near Ohios Catawba Island on Sunday with several all-terrain vehicles seeking a route back to land. The helicopter lowered a rescue swimmer and began hoisting operations while an airboat got underway from the nearby Marblehead station, the Coast Guard said. The helicopter lifted seven people from the floe, and the airboat rescued four others. The other seven people were picked up and taken to shore by a Good Samaritan who also had an airboat at the scene. No injuries were reported. Advertisement 'She had no recollection of time, she had said she had been there for almost two days hiding under an air mattress,' BNSF train conductor Cristhian Sosa said of the woman he helped save. Sosa and his co-worker, train engineer Justin Luster, called 911, and Connie was transported to a hospital to be treated for hypothermia from being exposed to the elements, reported KRMG. Sosa, the Good Samaritan, said that the bizarre incident began unfolding sometimes around Tuesday. 'I guess she has a boat, and some of her stuff started drifting away, and she tried to catch it, and before she knew it she was on top of her air mattress and she was a drift, and there was nothing she could, do and she ended up by the rocks,' he said. Sosa and Luster were on their usual route from Madill, Oklahoma, to Irving, Texas, when from their train they spotted the woman waving her arms on the 139-square-mile lake and stopped to help. 'She was literally laying on the ground waving one arm, basically her left arm, the one that her arm wasnt stuck with her jacket and she was asking for help so we instantly knew she was hurt and she needed help,' Sosa said Connie was freezing when she was found, her hands were covered in cuts and she had trouble walking. reported NBC News. Luster said when he and his co-worker first heard Connie's incredible tale, they thought she was 'delirious' from the cold. 'We really didnt know what really happened, and it wasnt until we got to the crossing where highway patrolman had come out to find out her story was accurate,' he added. 'She had been floating on that air mattress for a solid day or two.' The train with Connie onboard continued south, where it was met by Oklahoma Highway Patrol at the next crossing. OHP troopers spoke with the woman and confirmed that she floated nearly 2 miles alone on an air mattress before reaching dry land. The agency also said that the woman's male companion got to shore first and went to a house to stay warm. When Connie's harrowing ordeal began last week, temperatures in the area were between 40 and 68 degrees, but on the day of the rescue, snow came A generous pensioner has funded a local bus service with his own money after officials axed Sunday routes in the winter. Alan Williams, 78, expects to pay a 'couple thousand pounds' for the X53 service to run twice a day between the Dorset towns of Bridport, Weymouth and Lyme Regis on Sundays until March. Operator First Group had been running four services on Sundays but stopped these on January 16 and said they would not return until March when the summer timetable launches and there are holidaymakers to make the service sustainable. Mr Williams, who worked in IT for an insurance company before retiring, stepped in to fill the gap with his own money, funding two services a day on Sundays. He previously financed the service between Bridport and Weymouth in 2019 and this year has arranged for the service to also be extended to Lyme Regis because he believes the route is important to the people who use it. Mr Williams has also financially supported the Bridport Chamber Orchestra, as well as contributing a grant to musical theatre in the town and an annual musical festival. Mr Williams, from Bridport, said he has not yet received a bill for running the service but expects it to cost 'a couple thousand' pounds by the end of the three months, but the more people use it, the lower the bill will be. Alan Williams, 78, expects to pay a 'couple thousand pounds' for the X53 service to run twice a day between the Dorset towns of Bridport, Weymouth and Lyme Regis on Sundays until March According to figures, the company's pre-tax profit for 2020 to 2021 was 115m. Mr Williams said: 'The revenue from the service is taken off what I end up paying but I expect it to be a couple of thousand. 'I wouldn't have agreed to it if I wasn't prepared to pay. I have been told that the accounts department will contact me but I haven't heard anything yet. 'It has been operating for three Sundays now and it is very popular with the people who are using it. My plea is for more people to use it. 'First Group are a commercial enterprise and you can't expect them to run something that they would make a loss on. 'But buses in rural areas need to have their revenues supplemented by the government or local authority because there aren't the people using them, especially in the winter. It is OK in the summer when all the holidaymakers are here and you have a hard job to get on the bus.' The X53 service runs between the Dorset towns of Bridport, Weymouth and Lyme Regis but is not funded through the winter months as it is not viable Mr Williams said he decided to pay for the bus service as a way of giving to the community and encouraging people to use it more frequently. 'I hope it also encourages bus companies to keep such services', he added. 'I have always believed buses need to run seven days a week. 'People still need to travel on Sundays. Some people have got places to be, or they have to work, and dont have cars so this service is a lifeline. 'I have seen the regulars still using the service now, as well as new people. 'Public transport in general needs to be improved. I worked for the railway for almost ten years and have always had an interest in transport, Im part of the Chartered Institute for Logistics and Transport.' Mr Williams said the bus company ran the service throughout the early months of 2021 because the Department of Transport temporarily funded it during the pandemic, but this year the service was scrapped until his intervention. Transport lobby group West Dorset Western Area Transport Action Group (WATAG) welcomed his funding. Chairman Bob Driscoll said: 'The Sunday service X53 will continue, but reduced from four to two round trip journeys between Weymouth and Lyme Regis, as a result of Alan Williams agreeing to support this service financially. 'First Wessex intended to withdraw the Sunday service last September with the introduction of the winter timetable. 'Mr Williams suggested that if they did he would support a service between Bridport and Weymouth as he did in 2019. 'Subsequently, First Wessex decided to run the four services until 16 January, when the service would cease. 'I hope as many people as possible will use the service for a day out, thereby helping us prove the need for a bus service seven days a week all year round.' Mr Williams, from Bridport, said he has not yet received a bill for running the service but expects it to cost 'a couple of thousand of pounds' by the end of the three months, but the more people use it, the lower the bill will be Local residents have taken to social media to thank Mr Williams. Kathryn Robinson said: 'This guy should be nominated for an OBE.' Steve Duke popsted: 'A very kind gesture indeed by Alan. But it should not be left to a pensioner to fund this service.' Robert Lindsay said: 'Fair play to him but he shouldnt need to be doing it.' A spokesperson for First Bus said: 'We conduct a review of our network on a regular basis to ensure that our coverage remains in line with demand for our services in a given area. As a responsible operator, we also need to be mindful of the effects that operating services that carry very few, if any passengers at all, can have on the environment. 'X53 is a route that experiences a high degree of seasonal variance in terms of numbers of passengers and, as a result, we plan our winter and summer timetables with this variance in mind. 'This is due to the high number of tourists and holiday makers who enjoy making use of the X53 service while spending their summer holiday on the Jurassic coast. 'Typical Sunday passenger levels during the winter fall to a level that makes it unsustainable to operate on Sundays on a commercial basis. 'We fund the service for the rest of the week and year and are always happy to work with Local Authorities and members of local communities to find solutions to meet a communitys needs.' Britain is to send an additional 350 troops to Poland in a show of support in the face of the Russian military build-up on the Ukrainian border, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said today. The Royal Marines from 45 Commando will join 100 Royal Engineers already in the country helping Warsaw deal with the migrant crisis on its border with Belarus. The Defence Secretary made the announcement at a joint press conference in London with his Polish counterpart Mariusz Blaszczak, amid a stand-off with Moscow. Nato nations led by the United States have been bolstering military resources and manpower in members states facing Russia, which has more than 100,000 troops near the Ukraine border. The bilateral deployment will 'show that we can work together and send a strong signal that Britain and Poland stand side by side', Mr Wallace said. He warned that if Russia makes the 'foolish mistake' of invading Ukraine it will face severe sanctions, isolation and 'more Nato - the very things that President Putin says he doesn't want'. He pointed to the way the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 led to Nato's 'enhanced forward presence' in alliance members Poland and Latvia. Mr Wallace denied that Nato is trying to use 'divide and rule' tactics against Moscow. 'Nato is a defensive alliance. It poses no threat to Russia. It is a self-defence mechanism amongst our allies. That is what it is there for. No one wants to divide and rule Russia,' he said. It came as Liz Truss was been warned she could hand a propaganda victory to Vladimir Putin if she goes to Moscow for talks over the Ukraine crisis. The Defence Secretary made the announcement at a joint press conference in London with his Polish counterpart Mariusz Blaszczak, amid a stand-off with Moscow. The Foreign Secretary is expected to meet her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov later this week to discuss the stand-off in Eastern Europe Tory former minister Robert Jenrick criticised the meeting, saying it 'honours Vladimir Putin and plays into his hand' HMS Defenceless: None of Royal Navy's Type 45 destroyers currently at sea All six of the Royal Navy's state-of-the-art Type 45 destroyers are currently docked in port, at a time of heightened tensions with Russia. The guided-missile destroyers have been plagued by engine issues since they were launched, with ships in the class now undergoing a Power Improvement Project (PIP). Announced in 2018, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said it is intended to 'provide a robust solution to the power and propulsion issues observed in Type 45.' The Defence Select Committee warned in December 2021 that the 'low availability of the UK's Type 45 destroyers and recognised issues in their propulsion systems are a major cause for concern.' HMS Dragon was pictured entering Portsmouth on Monday morning, joining HMS Defender, Diamond, and Duncan alongside. HMS Dauntless and Daring are docked in Birkenhead, receiving modification as part of the PIP. It is understood that HMS Defender and Diamond are 'at notice to sail', but remain alongside. Advertisement Speaking to BBC Radio 4's The Westminster Hour programme, former housing secretary Robert Jenrick said: 'I'm not sure it is actually wise to go to Moscow. 'I think that honours Vladimir Putin and plays into his hand... I just question the good sense of going to Moscow and honouring Vladimir Putin at a time when he is so aggressive towards Ukraine. I'm not sure that's wise.' Mr Blaszczak welcomed the additional British deployment as the country faces threats from Alexander Lukashenko's Belarus and the Russian build-up on the border with Ukraine. Speaking through a translator he said: 'I'm very grateful to Ben (Wallace) for this quick response and I am very grateful also to the Government of the United Kingdom for supporting Poland during this attack by the Lukashenko regime on Poland, this hybrid attack, and those soldiers will indeed support our army as well.' He added: 'Today we are facing another challenge, the Russian aggressive policy towards Ukraine and as part of Nato, but also on a bilateral level, Poland and the United Kingdom are really to do all the necessary decisions in order to deter the potential aggressor. 'Based on historical experience we see that only a decisive deterrence policy can stop any potential Russian aggression and, based on the very same history, we do see that the policy of appeasement only encourages the potential enemy to do something.' Shadow defence secretary John Healey said: 'Our armed forces will do this job in Poland with total professionalism, and we support the Government's steps to strengthen our allies in coordination with NATO. 'Deterrence and diplomacy must be used to help avoid conflict or miscalculation but UK leadership has been missing from the top-level diplomacy required. The Prime Minister has been preoccupied by protecting himself rather than protecting our national security. 'With threats increasing and growing Russian aggression, ministers must halt their plans to cut the Army by another 10,000 troops in the next three years.' On Sunday, Ms Truss said 'the depths' of Russia's attempts to threaten to Ukraine were 'clear'. 'Russia's actions show their claims to have no plans to invade are false,' she wrote in a Twitter post. 'We and our allies stand united in support for Ukraine and our resolve to raise the cost to Russia if they take further action.' Ms Truss missed a trip to Ukraine with the Prime Minister last week after testing positive for Covid-19. The Foreign Secretary's visit to Russia would be the first to the country since 2017, when Boris Johnson met with Mr Lavrov. It comes after a former oligarch said the UK providing weapons and training to Ukrainian forces 'shows to Putin that the war won't be such an easy ride'. Exiled Russian businessman Mikhail Khodorkovsky said bolstering Ukraine defences was the most important way that London could show solidarity with Kyiv in the face of Russian aggression on the border. Speaking on Trevor Phillips On Sunday on Sky News, Mr Khodorkovsky was asked whether putting more pressure on the assets of allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin in the UK would deter Moscow from launching an invasion in Ukraine. 'The pressure on the assets and the properties of the Russians in Britain has two sides,' he said. 'Putin's clique illegally pressurise the British political system, it's done in numerous ways. 'There are legal firms who work for them, sometimes it's direct influence on British governing bodies. It's really important to fight this, it's a dangerous thing for Britain. 'That's one part of it - the influence of Putin's clique. 'The other thing is an ethical issue, it's a question for British society whether it's happy and whether the system is happy to have dirty money on the British territory. 'As far as Putin is concerned these assets are in enemy territory, he sees this as a betrayal unless these people are influencing the British system.' Prime Minister Boris Johnson with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, Ukraine (Peter Nicholls/PA) But Mr Khodorkovsky added: 'More important is supplying weapons and training Ukrainians - that shows to Putin that the war won't be such an easy ride if he's planning one.' On Saturday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson discussed the situation with French President Emmanuel Macron. 'They agreed that finding a diplomatic solution to the current tensions must remain the overriding priority,' a No 10 spokesman said. 'The Prime Minister and President Macron stressed that Nato must be united in the face of Russian aggression. They agreed to continue to work together to develop a package of sanctions which would come into force immediately should Russia further invade Ukraine.' European leaders are also due to travel to both Moscow and Kyiv in a bid to calm tensions on the Ukrainian border. Mr Macron is set to visit Moscow on Monday and Kyiv on Tuesday, while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will travel to Kyiv on February 14 and Moscow on February 15. Ahmaud Arbery was shot and killed in Brunswick, Georgia, U.S. on February 23, 2020,one year on The three men convicted in the shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery will go back on trial on Monday, this time in federal court for hate crimes. Jury selection in the case against Gregory McMichael, 66, his son Travis McMichael, 36, and their neighbor William 'Roddie' Bryan, 52, is scheduled to begin Monday. The men are currently serving life sentences after they were convicted of murder in a Georgia state court. Only Bryan will be eligible for parole in 30 years. This time jurors, chosen from 43 Georgia counties, will weigh the evidence over whether racial hatred motivated the three men to hunt down Arbery in the mostly white Satilla Shores neighborhood on the coast of Georgia. Given extensive pretrial publicity, U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood ordered roughly 1,000 jury duty notices to be mailed to residents across 43 Georgia counties - some of them a roughly four-hour drive from the courthouse in coastal Brunswick. The first 50 jury pool members were to report for questioning Monday to determine if they're able to serve as fair and impartial jurors. The judge plans to seat a jury of 12 plus four alternate jurors. On February 23, 2020, the McMichaels grabbed their guns and chased down Arbery, 25, an avid jogger, after they saw him running near their house. Bryan joined the chase in his own pickup truck after seeing the father and son in pursuit. He filmed the killing with his cell phone. Once the McMichaels cornered Arbery, Travis McMichael shot him point-blank in the hand and chest with a shotgun. Last week, both McMichaels reversed their plan to plead guilty in the federal case after a US District judge rejected terms of a plea deal that would limit their sentence in this case to 30 years, and include a request to transfer the father and son from Georgia's state prison system to federal custody. In the text of the rejected plea agreement, Travis McMichael admitted for the first time that racism played a part in his decision to grab his shotgun, jump in his pick-up truck with his father and chase Arbery. Travis McMichael, 36, William 'Roddie' Bryan, 52, and Gregory McMichael, 66, and will go on trial Monday for federal hate crimes connected to the killing of black jogger Ahmaud Arbery, who was running through their mostly-white neighborhood. They were convicted of his murder last year in Georgia state court. The McMichaels last week withdrew their planned guilty pleas after a plea deal was rejected by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood This is the moment that Travis McMichael fatally shot Ahmaud Arbery. McMicheal and his father grabbed their guns and pursued Arbery after they saw him running in their neighborhood. Their neighbor William 'Roddie' Bryan recorded the shooting on his cell phone. Last week, Federal Judge Lisa Wood rejected the plea deal agreement after Arbery's parents slammed the proposed plea agreement as 'an unauthorized backroom deal', and argued that conditions in federal prison wouldn't be as harsh. '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, who represents Arbery's mother, tweeted on Monday Wood said she ultimately denied the deal because it would have locked her into a specific sentence. She said she needed more information to know whether a 30-year sentence was just, and cited emotional testimony from Arbery's family. Travis McMichael changed his plea to not guilty on Friday. The hearing was so brief that Arbery's father missed it. He was standing by the elevators downstairs as reporters were leaving the courthouse. 'All we want is 100 per cent justice for the Arbery family,' Marcus Arbery Sr. said. 'That's all we're looking for.' Georgia lacked a hate crimes law at the time of the killing. The US Department of Justice had the three white men indicted on charges of violating Arbery's civil rights and targeting him because he was black. Arbery's father, Marcus Arbery, said he wants the trial to go forward so that the world can see 'why these men did what they did.' 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 Gregory McMichael was also said to be considering admitting to being driven by racial animus, but withdrew after the judge's decision. Arbery's father, Marcus Arbery, said he wants the trial to go forward. 'We want the world to see a trial, see why these men did what they did,' Marcus Arbery said in an interview. Jury selection is scheduled for the next two weeks, but the publicity that surrounded the state case may cause that to take much longer, according to Philadelphia-based jury consultant Julie Campanini. 'Potential jurors might have firm opinions,' she said. 'That doesn't disqualify them though. The test is whether they can set that aside and decide the case only on the evidence presented.' The judge has promised to call 50 potential jurors a day selected from a pool of eligible Georgians in 43 counties in the southern part of the state. That process may be hobbled by the fact that there are three sets of defense lawyers and prosecutors who could potentially interview each possible juror. 'They'll seat a jury, but don't count on it being quick,' Campanini said. 'It will take a significant about of time.' Three million doses of the Novavax vaccine have arrived in Australia on a flight from Singapore, with Aussies able to get the jab from February 21. It touched down at Sydney Airport on Monday night, with vials to be distributed to 3,000 GPs, pharmacies and state hubs across the country. Australia has ordered more than 50 million doses of the vaccine after it was granted provisional approval by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. The vaccine is expected to be popular among those who are not yet double jabbed because it's the first traditional protein-based vaccine to be made available in Australia. Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said he hoped the new dose would bring the country's vaccination rate closer to 100 per cent. 'Obviously we have a first dose national vaccination rate of 95.2 per cent, and we know some people have waited for Novavax,' Mr Hunt said. 'Hopefully this will encourage those people in that less than five per cent to come forward and be vaccinated.' Australia has secured 51 million doses of the Novavax vaccine, with the first shipment of the long-awaited vaccine arriving Down Under on Monday evening How much Novavax is Australia getting and when? The Australian government has secured 51 million doses of the Novavax vaccine, with the first shipment having arrived on Monday night. As the doses have been provisionally approved by the TGA, Novavax now needs to be given the green light by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation. Once this is given, the vaccines will be available in coming weeks. How will it be administered? Australians aged 18 and above will be given two doses of Novavax three weeks apart. The vaccine is not yet available as a booster shot or for those under the age of 18. On December 21 the World Health Organisation said data on the safety and efficacy on the use of Novavax in pregnant women was not yet available. The precious cargo arrived on a flight from Singapore on Monday night (pictured) and was unloaded at Sydney Airport Australians aged 18 and above, similarly to Pfizer, will be given two doses of Novavax three weeks apart (pictured, a woman is vaccinated in Sydney) 'WHO recommends the use of the COVID-19 vaccine in pregnant women when the benefits of vaccination to the pregnant woman outweigh the potential risks,' WHO said. Anyone with a history of anaphylaxis to any component of the vaccine are recommended to choose another vaccine. Why is it popular with the unvaccinated? Australian authorities expect those who haven't already got the jab to roll up their sleeves for Novavax due to its protein base. TGA head professor John Skerritt said those skeptical about the mRNA vaccines like Pfizer and Moderna would likely be more comfortable being jabbed with the newly approved dose. 'The technology on which Novavax is made is an older technology. And I would have had several hundreds of emails from individuals and groups who have said, for whatever reason, we would like to have a protein vaccine,' Professor Skerritt said. Epidemiologist Catherine Bennett told Daily Mail Australia Novavax was more of a 'conventional' approach to vaccines as the receiver was being injected with a protein. The three million doses which arrived on Monday (pictured) are part of a bumper 51 million dose deal The vaccine is not yet approved to be used as a booster shot but has a 90 per cent efficacy rate against mild, moderate and severe disease, according to WHO (women attend a vaccination clinic in Brisbane, pictured) 'The viral protein segment that they're using as a trigger for the immune system is produced in a laboratory,' she said. 'Whereas with the other vaccines, it's actually getting our cells to produce the protein and then your immune system sees it and reacts to it. '(Novavax) is doing that bit of work up front, before it's injected.' Ms Bennett said because the protein was produced in a lab, researchers had to work hard to ensure there was no contamination. 'So what goes into you is a bit more complex because it includes a protein,' she added. 'You still have then the production of antibodies (with Novavax).' Novavax can have mild side effects such as muscle aches and a headache after administration (pictured, a woman is vaccinated in Sydney) Are there any side effects? Novavax differs from mRNA vaccines like Pfizer and Moderna but all have similar side effects after a person is jabbed. These include soreness around the site of injection, fatigue, headaches and muscle aches. The vaccine, which is the fifth to be approved in Australia, is able to be stored in a normal fridge for up to three months, unlike other doses which must be kept at very low temperatures. The vaccine has been proven to have 90 per cent efficacy rate against mild, moderate and severe disease, WHO said. President Joe Biden's top science adviser Eric Lander resigned Monday night after apologizing for mistreating his staff. An internal review by the White House found 'credible evidence' that Lander, the Office of Science and Technology Policy chief, bullied subordinates and treated his staff in a way that contradicts the administration's workplace policy. 'The President accepted Dr. Eric Lander's resignation letter this evening with gratitude for his work at OSTP on the pandemic, the Cancer Moonshot, climate change, and other key priorities,' White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday night in a statement. 'He knows that Dr. Lander will continue to make important contributions to the scientific community in the years ahead.' Biden promised on his first day in office that he would run the executive office with a zero tolerance policy for workplace bullying. In a letter to Biden on Monday night, Lander said he would leave the White House by February 18. 'I am devastated that I caused hurt to past and present colleagues by the way in which I have spoken to them,' he wrote. 'It is clear that things I said, and the way I said them, crossed the line at times into being disrespectful and demeaning, to both men and women. That was never my intention. Nonetheless, it is my fault and my responsibility. I will take this lesson forward. I believe it is not possible to continue effectively in my role, and the work of this office is far too important to be hindered.' Dr. Eric Lander, who heads the Office of Science and Technology Policy, was the subject of a White House internal probe late last year over allegations of abusive and humiliating behavior. He resigned Monday night, the White House confirmed Earlier in the evening, the news broke that the American Association for the Advancement of Science had disinvited Lander from attending the group's annual meeting next week. The group warned that 'toxic behavioral issues still make their way into the STEM community where they stifle participation and innovation' and said Lander would not longer be giving a speech, according to Politico. On Monday afternoon, Psaki was forced to defend the Biden administration for keeping the president's top science adviser after the review. 'The president has crystal clear expectations with all of us about how we are to treat our colleagues, treat people who work for us, and that is what he expects for people across the building,' the press secretary said when asked how workers should square Lander's job security with Biden's day-one pledge. But instead of answering why the president didn't follow through on that promise in Lander's case, Psaki instead credited it for the White House's workplace policy that's seen the surly scientist meet face-to-face with senior officials and forced him to conduct 'brown bag sessions' speaking through issues with his staff. 'It is because of those comments that he made early on, in part, that we put in place a safe and respectful workplace policy that was the mechanism for which this thorough investigation went forward,' Psaki explained. Psaki was asked about what message not firing Lander sends to White House staff on three separate occasions during a the press briefing Monday afternoon, several hours before Lander resigned Biden's top science Eric Lander adviser apologizes to his staff for being 'disrespectful or demeaning' in email obtained by DailyMail.com Dear colleagues, I'm writing with an apology. It's my responsibility to set a respectful tone for our community. It's clear that I have not lived up to this responsibility. I have spoken to colleagues within OSTP in a disrespectful or demeaning way. This is not only wrong, but also inconsistent with our Safe and Respectful Workplace Policy. It is never acceptable for me to speak that way. I am deeply sorry for my conduct. I especially want to apologize to those of you who I treated poorly, or were present at the time. I also realize that my conduct reflects poorly on this Administration, and interferes with our work. I deeply regret that. I understand that some of you have been asked about this, and I thought it was important to write directly to you. OSTP is an amazing organization with amazing people taking on big, ambitious things. You deserve better, and I will do better. You have my absolute commitment. We will take concrete steps to promote a better workplace. We will schedule regular forums to check in with staff on how we are doing in creating and upholding a safe and respectful workplace. We will also ensure that every employee knows how to report conduct that concerns them. Thank you all for all you do. Eric Advertisement 'And it also, it is based on that thorough investigation, from that, came the meeting that Dr. Lander had with senior White House officials where it was made clear what steps he was required to take that we will be complying and watching for compliance with those steps.' Lander was accused of creating an abusive work environment, demeaning women and berating staff by more than two dozen employees just last year, according to Politico. The report included details about Lander yelling at colleagues and deliberately demeaning them by asking questions outside of their expertise until they are forced to admit they don't know the answer, with one OSTP employee claiming he had a 'Jekyll and Hyde personality.' Psaki was asked about Lander three separate times during Monday's press conference. At the outset she said it was Biden's zero-tolerance policy that led to 'this safe and respectful workplace policy to ensure there was a mechanism, right, to conduct investigations, as was conducted in this case, that can be thorough, that result in some actions and some steps.' The Biden official stressed multiple times that Lander's was 'not acceptable behavior' nor was it condoned by the president, the first lady, or anyone in the executive office. When asked if Biden spoke with Lander personally on the matter, Psaki said she had no conversations to report. 'The president's hope, all of our hope certainly, is that Dr. Lander will abide by making changes that he will be held to account, to comply fully with the steps that needed to be taken,' she said. A White House spokesperson told DailyMail.com earlier on Monday a 'full and thorough investigation was conducted' and that it was 'taking swift action to ensure that it doesn't happen again' but did not say that Lander would be leaving his role -- despite Biden's day-one promise to not tolerate bullies. Biden had elevated Princeton graduate Lander's role to Cabinet level to demonstrate his administration's focus on science and innovation. But the pledge the president made on January 20 of last year to fire workplace bullies 'on the spot' has been called into question by unnamed OSTP employees who believed the White House's reported disciplinary measures against Lander did not go far enough. The employees, more than half of whom accused Lander of causing deliberate public humiliation, asked to remain anonymous in fear of him retaliation against them. Lander, who once set a goal of having a vaccine ready within 100 days of the next pandemic's outbreak, is spearheading the White House's initiative to drastically cut cancer mortality rates. A probe was opened late last year into accusations that Lander violated the Executive Office of the President's workplace policy, an OSTP spokesperson told DailyMail.com. Vice President Kamala Harris (right) swears in Dr. Eric Lander (left) in June 2021. He was the last of President Joe Biden's nominees to be confirmed by the Senate, in part because he had met with the late sex abuser Jeffrey Epstein Politico notes that a complaint filed by former OSTP general counsel Rachel Wallace to Christian Peele, the White House's deputy director of management and administration for personnel, was at the center of the investigation. Wallace is a career government official who worked within the OSTP under both Barack Obama and Donald Trump. Lander 'retaliated against staff for speaking out and asking questions by calling them names, disparaging them, embarrassing them in front of their peers, laughing at them, shunning them, taking away their duties, and replacing them or driving them out of the agency. Numerous women have been left in tears, traumatized, and feeling vulnerable and isolated,' Wallace told the outlet. She also reportedly claimed that Lander deliberately demoted her. An OSTP spokesperson told DailyMail.com that the probe found no credible evidence of gender-based discrimination and said 'the complainant's reassignment was deemed appropriate.' They also said Lander has since met with senior White House officials on the matter and was reminded of Biden and Chief of Staff Ron Klain's expectations about proper treatment of staff. Lander admitted to behaving 'in a disrespectful or demeaning way' toward his staff, which numbers around 140, in an internal email sent late on Friday and obtained by DailyMail.com. 'It's my responsibility to set a respectful tone for our community. It's clear that I have not lived up to this responsibility,' Lander wrote. 'I have spoken to colleagues within OSTP in a disrespectful or demeaning way. This is not only wrong, but also inconsistent with our Safe and Respectful Workplace Policy. It is never acceptable for me to speak that way.' He added: 'I am deeply sorry for my conduct. I especially want to apologize to those of you who I treated poorly, or were present at the time. I also realize that my conduct reflects poorly on this Administration, and interferes with our work. I deeply regret that.' Lander promised to hold 'regular forums' with his staff to practice a more open and respectful workspace. But Wallace told Politico Lander's mea culpa 'did not come close to addressing the full extent of his egregious behavior.' 'Lander's apology was not only disingenuous. It compounded the deep hurt and damage he has caused by ignoring these other acts of aggression, harassment and retaliation,' Wallace told the outlet. Without going into further detail an OSTP spokesperson told DailyMail.com Lander would now have to 'undertake a number of actions to the correct the behavior' while maintaining that OSTP staff will continue to be supported. The OSTP spokesperson added that the White House would be monitoring Lander's progress. Lander (right, watching Biden sign an executive order on January 27, 2021) was previously accused of clashing with White House officials in an earlier report published in November When asked for comment on the probe, a White House spokesperson told DailyMail.com: 'The White House is committed to maintaining a safe and respectful work environment in which employees can focus their time and energy on working for the American people. The President put in place a first-of-its-kind Safe and Respectful Workplace Policy to maintain a healthy work environment, and has been clear that conduct that is inconsistent with that policy will not be tolerated, and will be addressed appropriately.' 'A full and thorough investigation was conducted pursuant to the Safe and Respectful Workplace Policy. White House leadership met with Dr. Lander to discuss the seriousness of the matter and the President's expectation that all staff interactions be conducted with respect. We take this incredibly seriously and we are taking swift action to ensure that it doesn't happen again.' But a number of OSTP employees who also allegedly experienced abusive behavior firsthand expressed disappointment that Biden and the White House are not going further. The Associated Press reported that Lander will keep his job but will attend counseling On his first full day in office, the president said: 'I'm not joking when I say this -- if you ever work with me and I hear you treat another colleague with disrespect, talk down to someone, I promise you I will fire you on the spot.' One OSTP worker described Lander as having 'a bit of Jekyll and Hyde personality. If he's in a meeting with external people, he's positive and ebullient, even. It's behind closed doors that he changes' A number of OSTP employees are reportedly disappointed in Biden for not living up to his promise of firing workplace bullies 'on day one' The added of his apparently remaining in his role, 'There are a lot of brilliant people in this country. I completely reject the notion that his brilliance is so singular and critical to the nation that his behavior is excusable.' Another person made a more direct appeal to the president himself. 'Mr. President, please protect the dignity and well-being of our staff by standing by your zero-tolerance policy,' they said. The same staffer disputed the White House probe's findings by accusing Lander of 'openly targeting' female employees. 'The Joe Biden I voted for would never knowingly empower an aggressor like Lander who openly targets women by publicly humiliating, infantilizing and intimidating them into submission,' the third worker said. 'But Lander seems to know he's protected. The most terrifying part about him is the open and brazen way he conducts his abuse.' They claimed that after 'repeatedly insulting and humiliating' them, Lander told the staffer in reference to his outburst, 'I hate that I do it.' After repeatedly insulting and humiliating me in front of colleagues, Lander acknowledged his inability to control himself, telling me 'I hate that I do it.' A third OSTP employee said 'everyone is afraid' of Lander. 'Lander yells - screams. He'll ask the same thing over and over but getting louder and louder each time,' the third person said. Lander, an accomplished genetic scientist, reportedly caused a stir at the White House late last year by clashing with fellow officials. Politico reported in November that colleagues were irked by Lander allegedly trying to insert himself in every science-related matter across the federal government, and rubbed them the wrong way by frequently beginning sentences with 'as the president's science adviser.' One person criticized Lander as a 'disaster.' But others in that report stood up for Lander as a brilliant scientist. A Rhodes Scholar, Lander received a MacArthur Genius Grant at age 30 and was one of the pioneers behind the 1990s-era Human Genome Project. He was also the last of Biden's 22 Cabinet nominees to be sworn in - and had a bumpy confirmation process along the way, thanks in part to his past contact with late pedophile and serial sex abuser Jeffrey Epstein. It was revealed in May that Lander had 90-minute meetings with Epstein across two MIT events in 2012. Lander had been a professor at the renowned research university, meeting with multiple prospective donors. The reports earned him heightened bipartisan scrutiny, despite the meetings being described as only 'brief interactions.' They emerged after allegations that Lander downplayed the contributions of female scientists in his past work. Three-quarters of suspected cancer patients will be diagnosed or have the disease ruled out within 28 days under plans to address dismal waiting times in England. Boris Johnson announced the 'new' target today as the Government faced huge criticism for pushing back the publication of its Covid recovery plan amid reports of a feud between the Treasury and No10. During a visit to the Kent Oncology Centre at Maidstone Hospital, the PM said: 'We want the vast majority of people who think they may have cancer to have a diagnosis either confirming they do or they don't have cancer within 28 days we want three in four to have that.' He also said that 'nobody' would wait longer than two months for a definitive answer either way. But the promises originally set out in the NHS long term plan in January 2019 and revised in 2021 will not come into effect for another year, with Mr Johnson saying he hopes to fulfil the pledge by March 2023. The Government last week teased tough new cancer policy announcements, claiming that it was declaring a 'new war on cancer'. But figures show 71 per cent of suspected cancer patients in England are already given a definitive answer within 28 days. It comes after a damning analysis revealed that waiting times for cancer referrals and treatment are at record highs in England. The report by the House of Commons library estimated half a million people in England with suspected cancer will not be seen by a specialist within two weeks of an urgent referral this year 10 times more than a decade ago. Speaking during a visit to the Kent Oncology Centre at Maidstone Hospital, Boris Johnson (pictured) said: 'We want the vast majority of people who think they may have cancer to have a diagnosis either confirming they do or they don't have cancer within 28 days we want three in four to have that' NHS England aims to treat 85 per cent of cancer patients who receive an urgent referral from their GP within two months, but in November 2021, the latest available, only 67.5 per cent of patients received treatment in this time frame. While the problem predates the Covid pandemic, the disruption to services caused by the virus has exacerbated the problem The Government originally set out its plan to give a definitive answer to most suspected cancer patients in 28 days in its 2019 NHS long-term plan. In March 2021, ministers then announced plans to give a diagnosis to 75 per cent of patients within that timeframe. Cancer care was effectively ground to a halt for some patients during the pandemic, with nearly 50,000 fewer people diagnosed during the Covid crisis and cancer treatment dropping by six per cent. Around 166,000 Britons die from cancer every year and someone is diagnosed with the disease every 90 seconds. NHS England waiting times for cancer treatment and appointments hit record high Waiting times for cancer referrals and treatment are at record highs in England as the country emerges from the pandemic, a damning analysis has revealed amid a row over the Government's NHS catch-up plan. An estimated half a million people with suspected cancer will not be seen by a specialist within the two-week maximum target set by the health service this year. And for the first time ever, the number of patients diagnosed with the disease who do not start treatment within the crucial one-to-two-month window is expected to exceed 75,000. Reacting to the figures, which were laid bare in an analysis by the House of Commons library, experts warned the delays could reverse survival rates. Cancer charities said patients directly affected by the waits were languishing in 'unimaginable distress and anxiety'. It comes as Boris Johnson's blueprint for tackling the NHS backlog for cancer and routine surgeries was pushed back as ministers failed to sign off the draft document. It was due to be published today. Health service insiders suggested the Chancellor Rishi Sunak is demanding tougher targets in return for funding although Sajid Javid, the Health Secretary, blamed the recent Omicron wave for the delay. The wrangling has fuelled concerns about the heightened tension between the embattled Prime Minister and Mr Sunak, after several of the Chancellor's allies quit No10 over the Partygate scandal. Advertisement Meanwhile, a Commons report commissioned by Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting - found that between April and November last year, nearly 300,000 Britons with suspected cancer were not seen by an oncologist within two weeks of an urgent referral a target introduced in 2009. Despite covering just seven months, it was higher than the 235,549 figure covering the whole of 2020. Mr Streeting told the Guardian: 'Cancer care is in crisis. As this new analysis shows, terrifyingly large numbers of people are waiting longer than they should to receive vital cancer care and treatment with the insecurity of not knowing.' Speaking in the Commons today, Mr Streeting said the Prime Minister's 'new' cancer targets were embarrassing as the announcement was 'literally that there is no announcement'. He said: 'Today the Prime Minister announced a new target that no-one should wait more than two months for cancer diagnosis. 'But there was already a target for the vast majority of cancer patients to be treated within two months of referral and it hasnt been hit since 2015. 'Isnt this just another example of the Conservatives lowering standards for patients because they consistently fail to meet them?' But health minister Edward Argar said Mr Johnson is 'unapologetically ambitious' in tackling waiting lists and improving cancer care. He said: 'I am under no illusions that our health system is facing an enormous and unprecedented challenge. 'We are setting out some tough targets for the NHS on cancer. We want to ensure that 75 per cent of patients are diagnosed or have cancer ruled out within 28 days of a GP referral. 'We are working with the NHS and across Government to deliver a targeted and far reaching plan for elective recovery and we will be updating the House at the earliest possible opportunity.' It comes as ministers face criticism for delays to the publication of the NHS recovery plan which was due to come out today and detail plans on how the NHS will address the nearly 6million-strong backlog for routine hospital care. Mr Johnson said the Government is putting 'huge sums' into the NHS and it is essential to ensure they deliver for patients and for the taxpayer. He said: 'We are now working with the NHS to set some tough targets so that we are able to deliver for the patient and also for the taxpayer. 'Those are very tough targets. We've got to make sure that the NHS delivers them.' The NHS recovery plan was reportedly approved by the Department of Health but failed to be signed off by the Treasury after NHS deadlines for meeting targets were pushed back due to the Omicron wave. However, Sajid Javid denied the claims this morning and said the Omicron wave delayed the publication. The health secretary told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'We have got a plan, it is being finalised right now, it will be published very soon. 'We will have some kinds of targets in the new elective recovery plan. Those targets have to be based on clinical need and something that we believe across Government can be delivered.' But Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the Government has failed to come up with a recovery plan just as the country needs one. He said: 'It's yet more evidence of the chaos, incompetence particularly of the last three or four months where everybody's been embroiled in allegations about partygate. 'There is a price for that, and the price is the Government not getting on with the job. 'The Government saying 'We need more time' is not going to cut very much ice with those people on the waiting lists.' Speaking in the Commons today, Wes Streeting, shadow health secretary (pictured), said the Prime Minister's 'new' cancer targets were embarrassing as the announcement was 'literally that there is no announcement' But health minister Edward Argar (pictured) said Mr Johnson is 'unapologetically ambitious' in tackling waiting lists and improving cancer care Labour today urged the government not to allow the recovery plan to become 'another cancelled operation'. In a letter to the the Chancellor and Health Secretary, their Labour counterparts said: 'Whatever the internal arguments within the Conservative Party, you cannot play political games with the NHS while millions of people wait for care. 'If you allow your party's chaos and incompetence to paralyse the Government, it will be NHS patients who pay the price.' Placing a GP and a nurse outside A&E to vet and 'redirect' patients could save NHS millions, study shows Placing a GP and a nurse outside A&E to redirect patients could save the NHS millions and alleviate pressure on hospitals, a trial has found. Since the start of December a group of GPs have been testing a scheme which places two practitioners at the front door of a hospitals A&E department. The duo help assess patients when they arrive and then redirect those who do not need urgent care elsewhere. As many as 75 patients have been redirected in a single day at Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow, North West London , for ailments that could easily be treated by a GP or even a pharmacist. While some turned up for recurrent problems, such as a bad back, one patient even went to A&E because they had run out of Calpol. Instead of spending hours in the emergency waiting room, creating a backlog in an already-stretched system, they were given the option of booking a local GP appointment that very same day or the next morning. Those behind the trial predict the scheme which has redirected 700 patients in total so far could save the NHS up to 30 per cent in costs and help ease the current pressure on hospitals caused by Covid. Advertisement Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt, who now chairs the Commons Health and Social Care Committee, said the delay to the plan was 'extremely disappointing'. He said: 'There appears to be an argument about targets which are the last thing the NHS needs: instead they should be discussing where we are going to find the 4,000 additional doctors needed to address the backlog.' Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said it was 'frustrating' that the recovery plan was not yet out and warned against any attempt to impose 'unrealistic' targets on the health service. 'It is really important that we are accountable for public money that is spent, but the danger is that, if you take on targets that are unrealistic, you end up skewing clinical priorities in pursuit of those targets,' he told the Today programme. But Mr Argar said said it is important that the plan 'is the right one and does the job it is intended for'. He said the Government is 'determined to tackle the waiting list' and the plan will be published 'imminently'. The health minister said it could not be released in December for the Omicron wave. Mr Argar added: 'This is a once-in-a-generation challenge and it is absolutely right that we get this plan right. 'We need to make sure we have the right plan, delivering the right outcomes.' He denied that the report was held up by the Treasury and said the Department of Health 'couldnt wish for a better partner than Her Majestys Treasury or this Chancellor, who have shown strong support to our health and care system'. But Mr Streeting said the record NHS waiting list was a 'Tory backlog', as the queue of patients was already at a record level before the pandemic. He said: 'More than a million are waiting for scans and tests used to diagnose cancer and the NHS itself is waiting, waiting for the Governments plan to deal with the backlog. So where is it? 'It was due to be published today but was pulled last night. Its like something from The Thick Of It but the reality is worse than fiction. A photo op without a plan, their own NHS recovery plan just another cancelled operation. 'But dont worry because theres a website coming that will tell people theyre waiting a long time even if theres no plan to make sure that they dont and then theres the reason for the delay.' Tory health minister Mr Argar said there was 'undeniably a huge Covid backlog' and the figure will continue to 'get worse before it gets better'. He added: 'Not only that, our best current estimate is that around eight and a half million people havent come forward for treatment during the pandemic who normally would do. 'But we are pulling out all stops to help the NHS recover and make sure patients are receiving the right care at the right time.' President Joe Biden will welcome German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to the White House on Monday to discuss Russian aggression against the Ukraine and the Nord Stream 2 pipeline as tensions mount in Eastern Europe. Scholz's visit comes as both Democrats and Republicans - along with American allies in Western Europe - have accused Germany of being 'missing in action' on Ukraine and expressed frustration Berlin hasn't done more to help its fellow NATO members in Eastern Europe as Russia builds up its military force on the Ukraine border. Scholz has said that Moscow would pay a 'high price' if it attacks. But concerns have been raised about his government's refusal to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine, to increase Germany's troop presence in Eastern Europe or to clarify which sanctions it would support should Russia act. His decision to send 5,000 helmets for Ukrainian troops to Kiev drew much mockery. The situation in the Ukraine - and fallout from any move by Moscow - is expected to make up most of Biden and Scholz's agenda. Among the topics of conversation will be a 'robust sanctions package' - U.S. officials said - that is being prepared to punish Russia should an invasion go ahead. President Joe Biden will welcome German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to the White House to discuss Russian aggression against Ukraine and Nord Stream 2 pipeline German Chancellor Olaf Scholz walks to the Air Force Airbus A340 on the military section of BER Airport, in Schoenefeld, Germany, on Sunday to head to Washington D.C. The first of 2,000 U.S. troops to arrive in Poland following the Pentagon's announcement of additional forces moving from the United States to Europe in support of NATO allies Service members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces drive a military vehicle during tactical drills at a training ground in the Kherson region, Ukraine Scholz arrives in Washington as Russian President Vladimir Putin has assembled 70% of the military personnel and weapons on Ukraine's borders he would need for a full-scale invasion of the country, based on U.S. intelligence estimates. Moscow has repeatedly denied it will invade but Putin's true intentions remain a mystery. Meanwhile, the first of 3,000 American troops to deploy to Eastern Europe arrived in Poland and another 86 tons of U.S. weapons arrived in Ukraine. Germany heavily relies on Russian gas supplies and is a strong backer of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that the United States opposes. The pipeline is not operating yet but Germany has been reluctant to put it on the negotiating table - even as the United States has made clear the project is dead should Moscow launch an attack. 'One way or the other, if Russia invades Ukraine, Nord Stream 2 will not move forward,' Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan told 'Fox News Sunday.' The $11 billion pipeline is being built to serve as a conduit between Russia and German. Germany depends on 50% of its gas supply from Russia. 'We have made our position very clear, which is that: If Russia invades Ukraine, one way or another Nord Stream 2 will not move forward,' a senior administration official told reporters on a briefing call on Sunday night. This satellite images provided by Maxar Technologies shows troops and logistics material support units, near Yelsk, Belarus, as Russia has moved troops from Siberia and the Far East to Belarus for sweeping joint drills Ukrainian tanks drive during tactical drills as tensions rise 2,000 troops from Fort Bragg, 1,000 in the Stryker squadron moving from Germany to Romania and thousands more ready: The U.S. troop plan for Eastern Europe Department of Defense Spokesperson John Kirby detailed on Wednesday the latest U.S. troop movements approved by President Joe Biden. He said that plan was laid out to the president in three parts: 1 1,000 U.S. troops part of the Germany-based infantry Stryker squadron will reposition to Romania 'in the coming days.' This mounted cavalry unit is designed to deploy in short order and move quickly once in place. The movement to Romania will add to the 900 U.S. forces already in that country to help deter aggression from Russia and enhance defensive capabilities in frontline NATO allied states. Kirby said Pentagon Secretary Lloyd Austin discussed reposition with Romania last week and the movement there is coming at the invitations of the Romanian government. France also intends to deploy to Romania under NATO command. 2 Approximately 2,000 troops stationed in Fort Bragg, North Carolina will deploy to Europe this week. The majority of those deployments, approximately 1,700, will comes from the 82nd Airborne Division's infantry brigade combat team, which will go to Poland. The 82nd specializes in parachute assault operations and is a rapid ready team prepared to response anywhere in the world within 18 hours. Another 300 or so are coming from the 18th Airborne Corps, which will create a joint task force capable headquarters in Germany. The corps provides mission command and is designed for rapid deployment anywhere in the world. Kirby said the Pentagon worked with Poland and Germany and have support for deployment. He assured: 'Again, these are not permanent moves. They respond to current conditions. We will adjust our posture as those conditions evolve.' 3 All of these troop movements and deployments are 'separate and in addition' to the 8,500 U.S. military personnel put on heightened alert posture last week. Kirby said: 'Those 8,500 are not currently being deployed but remain ready to move, if called, for the NATO Response Force (NRF) or as needed for other contingencies as directed by the Secretary of by President Biden.' Advertisement Scholz, in a nod to the criticism he's received at home and abroad for a lack of leadership on the Ukraine issue, told a German television station that he was open to deploying more troops to Lithuania to bolster NATO's eastern flank. 'We are intensively engaged with all our allied partners in the European Union, with the question of Ukraine, hardly any question occupies us more,' Scholz told ARD television station. 'It's about preventing a war in Europe,' he said, adding that his first meeting as chancellor with Biden would involve 'hard, real political work.' The two men have met before - in Rome in October during the G20 summit while Scholz was still serving as finance minister. Scholz also will meet French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish President Andrzej Duda in Berlin on Tuesday and then visit Russia and Ukraine next week. Macron will be in Russia on Monday as Biden and Scholz meet at the White House. Biden on Sunday seemed to suggest Putin will not go with the diplomatic route as Moscow continues to demand concessions that U.S. and NATO will not make. When asked what factors Putin is considering when making his decision whether to invade Ukraine or deescalate tensions in the region, Biden responded: 'I think things he cannot get.' This likely references the demands the Kremlin has put forth, including that the NATO ban Ukraine and other former Soviet bloc countries from entering the military alliance. As tensions rise in Easter Europe, the German-American relationship could become the pivotal U.S. partnership in the West as Macron is in a tough re-election campaign and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is struggling to hold onto his goverment amid a scandal over parties held during COVID lockdown. In 2015, France and Germany helped broker a peace deal for eastern Ukraine in a bid to end the conflict between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed separatists that erupted the previous year following the Russian annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. The agreement signed in the Belarusian capital of Minsk helped stop large-scale fighting, but efforts at a political settlement have stalled and frequent skirmishes have continued along the tense line of contact in Ukraine's industrial heartland known as the Donbas. A summit of French, German, Russian and Ukrainian leaders has been suggested. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed interest but Putin has not. Scholz took over two months ago from Angela Merkel, the longtime German leader who had worked with four U.S. presidents. Biden and Merkel enjoyed a strong relationship. Additionallly, Scholz and Biden will discuss Germany's agenda for its leadership of the G7 this year, their support for Western Balkan countries, and working to coordinate bilateral and multilateral responses to China's non-market economic practices and human rights abuses, U.S. officials said ahead of the meeting. U.S. paratroopers landed near Poland's border with Ukraine on Sunday after Biden ordered last week the deployment of 1,700 soldiers to the country's southeastern region amid rising tensions with Russia. Civilians participate in a Territorial Defence unit training session in Obukhiv, Ukraine French soldiers take part in a major drill as part of the EFP NATO operation at the Tapa Estonian army camp near Rakvere; the "Winter Camp" exercise in northeast Estonia, just 100 kilometres (62 miles) from the Russian border, included some 1,300 British, Estonian and French troops operating in extreme conditions An elite group of U.S. paratrooper disembark from a C-17 at Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport in Poland on Sunday, February 6, 2022 U.S. soldiers are seen next to their vehicles outside the G2A Arena after arriving at Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport in Jasionka, Poland, on Sunday Another 86 tons of U.S. weapons arrived in Ukraine in response to more than 100,000 Russian troops amassed along the country's border The US suggested in letters that Russian inspectors can gain access to NATO bases in Romania and Poland (pictured above) to guarantee that no Tomahawk missiles are being stationed there. Comes as Pentagon announces 2,000 troops in the U.S. will deploy to Poland and Germany and another 1,000 will head to Romania from their base in Germany Another 1,000 troops already in Germany will be repositioned to Romania, which borders the Black Sea where one of Russia's biggest fleets is positioned. 'I'm not going to speculate,' Biden said Sunday when he was asked if he would consider sending more U.S. troops to NATO countries if Putin doesn't deescalate. And the latest shipment of weapons from the U.S. arrived in Ukraine at the weekend, with the 86 tons worth of ammunition delivered. It is the eighth part of a $200 million shipment of American military aid that is being sent to help its ally. Ukraine's defense minister Oleksii Reznikov tweeted: 'The 8th bird has arrived in Kyiv. The weight of today's cargo with ammunition for our Ukrainian armed forces is 86 tons. Since January 22, our partners from the US have sent more than 650 tons of defense ammunition to Ukraine. To be continued.' And National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan warned Sunday that 'we are in the window' where Russia could invade 'any day now'. 'We're in the window where something could happen that is a military escalation and invasion of Ukraine can happen at any time,' Sullivan said on NBC's Meet the Press. 'We believe that the Russians have put in place the capabilities to mount a significant military operation into Ukraine and we have been working hard to prepare a response,' he continued. 'President Biden has rallied our allies, he's reinforced and reassured our partners on the eastern flank, he's provided material support to the Ukrainians and he's offered the Russians a diplomatic path if that's what they choose instead.' Sullivan concluded: 'Either way, we are ready, our allies are ready and we're trying to help the Ukrainian people get ready as well.' Parents and medical experts are demanding that US schools stop forcing children to wear 'ineffective' face masks as COVID-19 positivity rates continue to plummet and studies have shown mask mandates are detrimental to psychosocial health and academic success. York University in the UK published a new study showing masks make it difficult for children to recognize faces and, in turn, could affect their ability to socialize and make friends, a fear that is echoed by parents worldwide. The study comes as both New Jersey and Delaware announced the scrapping of state-wide mask mandates in schools. However, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Monday - when data showed COVID case numbers had again dropped 33% nationwide week-on-week - reiterated the CDC is still recommending universal masking in school and that still remains our recommendation. It's always been up to school districts. That's always been our point of view and always been our policy from here, she said. Parents, including those who have previously toed the line on masking their children at school, are increasingly voicing their concerns about the detrimental impact masks have on their children and experts are joining the chorus. The US has been accused of clinging to restrictions put in place at the height of the pandemic while other countries scale back mandates on masks and vaccine passports to reflect the dropping infection rate. Now, many parents are rallying their districts and demanding school leaders to follow the science, pointing to data that show there is 'a minimal reduction in COVID transmission with masks in schools' and very few deaths. They also fear the longer term consequences of the prolonged mask mandates on their children, who they say are taking longer to learn and are struggling to develop empathy because they can't see their peers' facial expressions. Tom Hadziyianis, the father of a teenage boy in Long Island, New York, told DailyMail.com on Monday that he feels that the mandates are less about the safety of the schoolchildren but instead seem to be administrators 'exercising power just to exercise it.' Parents and medical experts are demanding that US schools stop forcing children to wear 'ineffective' face masks as COVID-19 positivity rates continue to decline and studies have shown mask mandates are detrimental to psychosocial health and academic success The results showed that children had about a 20 percent impairment rate for recognizing masked faces. For comparison, previous research has shown that adults have about a 15 percent impairment rate How school mask mandates vary state-by-state School mask mandates, like other pandemic restrictions, vary by state. School mask mandates are in effect in California, DC, Hawaii, Illinois, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington. Last month, Massachusetts extended its mandate through February. It remains unclear if the mandate will be extended again. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday that his state's mandate will be lifted on March 7. Delaware Gov. John Carney made a similar announcement Monday, saying the states school mask mandate will lift March 31. He also said the general statewide indoor masks order will end on February 11. Governors in Connecticut and New York are also considering lifting their mandates. Maryland, which still has a school mask mandate in effect, now allows local districts to remove masks if 80 percent of students and staff at a single school are fully vaccinated or 80 percent of the districts community population is fully vaccinated. If neither of the vaccination thresholds are met, a local district can also choose to lift universal masking when the county or jurisdiction has reached 14 days of moderate or low transmission of COVID-19. Louisiana and Pennsylvania have lifted their statewide school mandates. Seven states - Arizona, Florida, Montana, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and Utah - currently has legislation in effect banning school mask mandates. Source: Center for Dignity in Healthcare for People with Disabilities, updated Feb. 7, 2022 Advertisement York University researchers studied the psychological impact on students, revealing that face masks make it 20 percent more difficult for children to recognize faces, compared to just 15 percent in adults. '[This] could impair children's ability to navigate through social interactions with their peers and teachers, and this could lead to issues forming important relationships,' said Dr. Erez Freud, who led the study. 'Given the importance of faces to social interactions, this is something we need to pay attention to.' While previous research has found that mask-wearing can hinder facial recognition in adults, this is the first time it has been studied in children. Freud said: 'Faces are among the most important visual stimuli.' 'We use facial information to determine different attributes about a person, including their gender, age, mood and intentions. We use this information to navigate through social interactions.' The team recruited 72 children aged six to 14, who were presented with images of faces with or without masks, both upright and inverted. The results showed that children had about a 20 percent impairment rate for recognizing masked faces. For comparison, previous research has shown that adults have about a 15 percent impairment rate. Meanwhile, the results also showed that children process faces differently when looking at a masked, and unmasked face. Usually, humans process faces as a whole, rather than by their individual features known as holistic processing. However, the researchers found that when children looked at masked faces, they became more analytical, focusing on individual features. 'Not only do masks hinder the ability of children to recognize faces, but they also disrupt the typical, holistic way that faces are processed,' Freud said. The researchers hope their findings will encourage future research into the effects face masks have on children's ability to recognize faces and make friends. Freud concluded: 'With children back to school with mask mandates once again, future research should explore the social and psychological ramifications of wearing masks on children's educational performance.' A group of American doctors pushing to de-mask school children released a report in January titled Children, COVID and the Urgency of Normal that outlined why schools returning to normal operations is critical for children's psychosocial health. 'The pandemic and the loss of normalcy are taking a tremendous toll on students, with the data on mental health being particularly,' the report's authors claim in a USA Today op-ed, alleging the American Academy of Pediatrics has declared a mental health emergency in children. 'As the surgeon general recently highlighted, combined analyses of 80,000 children found that symptoms of depression and anxiety have doubled among young people during the pandemic, with 1 in 4 showing depressive symptoms and 1 in 5 showing anxiety.' The York University team recruited 72 children aged six to 14, who were presented with images of faces with or without masks, both upright and inverted Stephanie Avanessian, a concerned Los Angeles mother, told NPR: 'They can never see their friends smile. They can never see their friends frown! They're not developing empathy. It's taken six months for my fifth-grader to make friends because it's so hard to tell what people are doing.' Hadziyianis, a lawyer whose son attends high school in Nassau County, told DailyMail.com his child complains that masks negatively impact the learning environment. He said: My son explained how, youre in the classroom and the desire to participate in discussion is stifled. Its uncomfortable to speak with a mask on. You have to constantly repeat what you're saying. Other students can't hear you and you cant hear them.' But Mr. Hadziyianis raised a worrying concern - he said his son claims the desire to socialize throughout the school day has diminished and that his classmates are self-segregating based on their opinions about the mask mandates. Theres a masker, non-masker mentality at school, the father shared. Theres almost a scarlet letter you wear over masking whose family thinks similar to me and whose doesnt. The push to end mandates comes as the US is recording a declining number of positive COVID-19 cases following the Omicron surge He added: My son will tell you virtually every single one of his friends does not wear masks unless required - friends groups are separated over who does and doesnt. And even when the mandates get lifted, memories will remain. Theyll remember who masked and who didnt. Hadziyianis notes that he is not opposed to any parent wishing to have their child masked in school, as that is their choice, but doesnt think his son should be obliged to wear a mask, especially when cloth masks do virtually nothing. Several studies have also found 'no significant evidence that the kind of masking that is common in schools is worth it'. 'More and more experts have concluded that the evidence for masks in schools doesn't hold up to scrutiny,' Dr. Jennifer Knips, Internal Medicine Specialist and mother of four, echoed in a Time Magazine op-ed last week. 'Many students wear cloth masks that provide little to no protection.' 'There are several studies that show a minimal reduction in COVID-19 transmission with masks in schools, but the results were not statistically significant.' Researcher Kristen Walsh, a North Jersey pediatrician who co-wrote the Urgency of Normal report, also argues that mask mandates continue to force children to 'bear the burden' of virus-related restrictions, such as masking and social distancing, despite being the least at-risk for severe illness from COVID. The report claimed Omicron, which health authorities allege was responsible for an unprecedented nationwide surge in infections, is flu-like for unvaccinated children and that vaccinated, healthy children have 'almost no risk' for severe illness from it. 'It's a paradox that our most highly vaccinated states currently have the most stringent rules in place for [school] children,' said Walsh. 'Everywhere where Omicron is receding, we don't think it makes sense to be putting additional restrictions on kids when the variants are getting milder.' She added: 'Really, also, masking is what people are focusing on. But that's only one facet of it. We just think that at this point, school should go back to normal for everybody. Like 2019 normal. Stop the quarantine, stop the silent lunches, stop making kids eat out in the cold. It's not necessary and it's doing a lot of harm.' She and her colleagues believe districts should make wearing masks optional. However, mask mandates are currently in effect in more than a dozen states and Washington DC, despite experts arguing the precautionary measure is ineffective without medical grade masks. 'Cloth masks are little more than facial decorations,' public health expert Dr. Leana Wen argued last December. 'My point isn't that we don't need masks, but rather that we should require masks that are most effective to prevent disease transmission. 'Everyone, including children, should be wearing at least a three-ply surgical mask when indoors and around others of unknown vaccination status.' On Sunday, the US reported 902,266 coronavirus deaths, an increase of 875, and a seven-day average of 2,455, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins With the exception of Maine and Montana, all US states have reported a decline in COVID positivity rates over the last two weeks However, most school children are not wearing medical-grade face coverings as they likely don't have access to them. 'As the days go by there is less and less science supporting masks,' Hadziyianis told DailyMail.com, arguing the ordinances are not about the safety of school children, but instead seem to be administrators 'exercising power just to exercise it.' 'If it was truly about the health of the children the requirement would be medical grade masks, but because they know they cannot enforce that - it's impossible at this late junction - they keep going with this known ineffective policy.' Similarly, the US masking policy is the outlier in regard to COVID restrictions, Knips alleges. She said many European schools remained open without masks and that the US schools that have remained maskless have 'not seen major outbreaks over the past two years'. She also noted the World Health Organization advises against masks for children under age five and claims they are only selective for kids younger than 11. Former Food and Drug Administration commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb said in an MSNBC interview Friday the US should be 'as aggressive' in lifting COVID restrictions as 'we were about putting them in place.' '[We should be] willing to relax some of these provisions that have created a lot of acrimony,' Gottlieb said. 'We want our kids to try to get back to some kind of semblance of normalcy.' Health experts are also arguing the current coronavirus trajectory suggests Americans should be able to return to normality this spring, as infection rates continue to go down. In response, some states have even moved to remove restrictions, such as masking in the classroom. Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf rescinding his state's mask mandate last month and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, a Democrat who imposed arguably some of the strictest pandemic mandates in the US, announced Monday he will be lifting his statewide school mask requirement on March 7 in response to the declining case and hospitalization rates. Similarly, Delaware Governor John Carney on Monday signed a revision to the state's emergency order, lifting Delawares universal indoor mask mandate on Friday. The modification also temporarily extended the mask requirement in schools and child care facilities. It will expire on March 31. Governors in New York and Connecticut are also considering changes to their school mask policies. Murphy's announcement comes as New Jersey's seven-day average for positive tests now stands at 2,634, a 51 percent decline from last week. That is the state's lowest seven-day average since December 3. Hospitalizations from confirmed or suspected COVID cases also continued a steady decline, down about 66 percent from January 11. Deaths from COVID among children is even more rare. CDC data show that around 8.3 million children have contracted Covid and 841 have died since the pandemic began in March 2020. This means that children make up around 12 percent of cases and less than 0.1 percent of deaths in the U.S. The Census estimates that 22 percent of Americans are under the age of 18. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy will be lifting the state's school mask mandate on March 7 in response to New Jersey's declining case and hospitalization rates The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) first issued its recommendation for 'universal masking' in schools in February 2021. The health authority also pushed for students to maintain a social distance of six feet. Since it's initial recommendation, the health authority has conducted several studies to determine the efficacy of masking in schools. A study conducted last May, comparing Georgia schools with and without mask mandates, reportedly found that masking of teachers was associated with a statistically significant reduction of COVID transmission, however masking of students was not. An ecological study, conducted in September, found that 'counties without school mask requirements experienced larger increases in pediatric COVID-19 case rates after the start of school compared with counties that had school mask requirements.' However, the study did not take into account vaccination rates or other COVID safeguards, which researchers argue are important variables. As a result, the researchers noted 'causation cannot be inferred'. An Arizona-based study, published the same day, also found COVID outbreaks were more common with schools that did not mandate masks. Similarly, the study did not control for vaccination rates or other safeguards and has been highly criticized by public health experts. A woman who weighs just 3st (42lbs/20kg) is starving to death because of a rare stomach condition. Nicolette Baker, from Cornwall, started complaining about stomach pain after eating when she was just four and began to skip meals. Doctors diagnosed the now 36-year-old as anorexic, leading to her to undergo more than two decades of 'traumatic' treatments. It included force-feeding and being sent away to specialist clinics for months at a time. But in 2015, Ms Baker was then told she had superior mesenteric arterial syndrome (SMAS). The condition is rare affecting as few as one in 10,000 people and leads to pain and nausea shortly after eating. It is caused by part of the small intestine being compressed by two arteries, blocking digestion. The NHS is thought to have ruled out surgery for Ms Baker, from Truro, because she is already so under-weight. She says she is currently receiving palliative care. But Ms Baker says a clinic in Germany has agreed to carry out a procedure that may potentially save her life, if she can raise 50,000 to cover the costs. Since setting up a GoFundMe page at the start of the year, she has received 95,000 in donations. However, in an update today, Ms Baker claimed she was too sick to tell donors whether she had managed to secure the treatment. Ms Baker said: 'I am so deeply sorry for days of absence... feeling ever so weak and the fight is hard. I'd like to share with you where I am when I have not the energy to articulate it.' Nicolette Baker, 36, now weighs just three stone due to a condition that gives her pain shortly after she consumes food From Truro, Cornwall, Ms Baker (pictured with her whippet Eden) has been misdiagnosed since an early age with anorexia But doctors have now diagnosed her with Superior Mesenteric Arterial syndromes (SMAS), a very rare condition. The NHS recently placed her on palliative care Ms Baker had set a target of raising 80,000 so that she could get surgery for her condition in Germany. She has now raised 95,000, but says she is too ill to update donors on her treatment What is Wilkie's Syndrome? Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome, also known as Wilkie's syndrome, is an uncommon but well recognized health problem. It is characterized by compression of the small intestine between the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery. This results in chronic, intermittent, or sudden obstruction of the small intestine. Despite the fact that about 400 cases are described in the English language literature, many have doubted the existence of superior mesenteric artery syndrome as a real entity. Some investigators have suggested that superior mesenteric artery syndrome is overdiagnosed because it is confused with other causes of elongation of the small intestine. Nonetheless, it is a well-known complication of scoliosis surgery, anorexia, and trauma. It often poses a diagnostic dilemma. Source: Medscape Advertisement SMAS occurs when the duodenum or the first part of the small intestine gets compressed by its two nearest arteries. US health authorities say it can be triggered when the mesenteric fat pad which normally separates the two blood chambers is lost. This can occur due to significant weight loss or after corrective spinal surgery for scoliosis, when the spine is curved instead of being straight. Doctors believe it may also partly be genetic. Treatments include switching someone's diet to help them gain weight or surgery although doctors warn symptoms may not completely disappear afterwards. Ms Baker, one of three children, said she was initially treated as a mental health patient. Describing her experience, she told CornwallLive: '[I was] forced to gain weight with punitive feeding regimes which my digestive system simply couldn't cope with. 'I felt completely humiliated and my identity stripped away during these decades of treatment not least because I simply couldn't get it through to professionals that I could not stomach the food in me. 'I didn't have anorexia because I wanted to be thin. I simply didn't want to eat because of the pain it caused me.' In 2015, Ms Baker switched consultants and was sent for a CT scan. When the results came back, it showed she had SMAS. It is not clear why the NHS won't operate on her but she said there are 'few experts that can offer some improvement to what is a grave prognosis'. She has, however, found a clinic in Germany that has offered to carry out the surgery for 50,000. But more than 80,000 was needed for the trip, she claimed, because of the cost of flights, accommodation and the need to have someone to accompany her. Appealing for donations, Ms Baker said on her fundraiser page: 'I am trying to keep the dream alive. 'The result of the surgery is not guaranteed but this is my last chance to reclaim my quality of life. 'I will need to spend six weeks in Germany and due to my severely emaciated state of health I will need to take taxis and rely on extra support for luggage and transportation. 'But from the bottom of my heart I want to thank you for reading this. Anything you can donate to this cause would be so gratefully received.' She added: 'I don't know if I'll make it until the surgery date but I'm living for each day and the hope that I can get better is giving me something to look forward to. 'I am absolutely indebted to you, every one of you. Everyone who has donated in any way monetarily, by sharing, by trusting or by connecting. I thank you all.' The German clinic specialises in severe vascular compressions and agreed to perform the surgery this month if she could find the cost, Ms Baker said Ms Baker said she had been treated as an anorexic patient for 25 years, before finally being diagnosed with the condition in 2015 Ms Baker says she has no ill thoughts towards NHS staff who initially diagnosed her as suffering from anorexia. She said: 'I am still deeply grateful for all the NHS treatment I received throughout the decades of my dismissed symptoms and it is merely due to its rarity that the medics gave me the diagnosis they thought fitted with my presenting symptoms. 'I truly believe that they did what they believed was right and I have only respect and gratitude for that despite it leading me to where I am now. 'I do believe they were motivated wholeheartedly to do the best for me and I have no regrets for my past medical experiences and traumas. 'I didn't have anorexia because I wanted to be thin. I simply didn't want to eat because of the pain it caused me.' A friend and advocate of Ms Baker, who helped set up the fundraiser, said: 'When we go to the doctors, we assume that they will know what to do. It's uncharted territory when they don't. 'I think if medics can't find something wrong, they can sometimes be quick to label someone or say it's psychosomatic but that can be very damaging to the patient. It can really knock their confidence. 'Nicolette is very exhausted but she is tenacious, determined and strong. It's outstanding considering her circumstances. 'This really is her last chance.' An 89-year-old Brooklyn grandmother was viciously kicked to the ground after she innocently told a man she spotted eating outside her apartment building to enjoy your meal, police said Monday. The victim, wearing two hats to protect her from the cold at 7:15 a.m. on Friday, smacked her head on the sidewalk in a frightening fall after the kick raising a welt the size of a fist but suffered no serious head trauma and broke no bones in the unhinged attack at Avenue P and E. 17th St., her granddaughter said. Advertisement But Im worried about her mental state, said the 40-year-old granddaughter, who asked that their names not be made public. She says shes kind of scared now to go outside. Shes scared of being attacked again by somebody. Police released video of the attacker, who for no apparent reason took offense at the senior citizens remark. Advertisement Surveillance video shows stranger kick 89-year-old woman to the ground, police said. (NYPD) The elderly woman a widowed accountant who came to America seven years ago was waiting outside her building for her ride to a senior center where she spends two or three days each week, the granddaughter said. The driver had already called ahead and said hed be there to pick her up in two minutes, the granddaughter said. As she waited, the senior citizen greeted the suspect, who was eating outside the entrance to her building. She then kept walking, unaware that the gesture somehow triggered the strangers fury. The sickening video shows the twentysomething attacker, coffee cup in his left hand, confront the victim and kick her in the back, though it appears the victim might have used her right arm to blunt the blow. The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. > Still, she fell to the sidewalk, and remained there as the suspect retreated, grabbed his belongings and fled. When I looked at the video I really didnt feel well, the granddaughter said. Not just because its my grandmother. Even if it was somebody elses grandmother, it was hard to look at. Its just so wrong, she said. The victim at first tried to carry on with her day, but after telling her driver and senior center officials what happened, she was taken to Maimonides Medical Center to be treated for the head injury and an arm injury. She told police she didnt get a good look at her attacker. Her granddaughter suspects he is mentally ill. Advertisement How can you attack an elderly woman? she asked. She cant even protect herself. Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. The married son of an evangelical pastor was arrested in Brazil after he confessed to killing his mistress when she had told him she was pregnant. Gabriel Souza, 28, turned himself in to authorities on Friday after he choked and stabbed Antonieli Nunes, 32, at a home he had rented for their romps in Pimenta Bueno, Rondonia, according to Brazilian news outlet G1. Souza told investigators that Nunes with whom he carried an extramarital affair for 10 months - had informed him last Tuesday that she urgently needed to talk to him. Nunes drove to the office where she and Souza worked together and the pair went to the house, where she showed him a box with baby clothes and a positive pregnancy test, and asked if he would be help parent the child. 'She took a box from her wardrobe and inside was a baby outfit and a positive pregnancy test,' Souza told the police. Antonieli Nunes was murdered in Rondonia, Brazil, last Wednesday by Gabriel Souza, the son of an evangelical pastor. Souza told authorities there were lying in bed when he placed her in a chokehold and then stabbed her in the neck Gabriel Souza was involved in a 10-month extramarital affair with Antonieli Nunes and told police he had asked her to give him a few days so that he could tell his wife that Nunes was expecting a baby from him Souza contacted Nunes to see her the following day after they were done working and headed back to the rental home. At one point, he asked her to she give him until Friday so he can let his wife and family know about the pregnancy, police said. Souza was lying behind Nunes in bed when he said he experience an 'anxiety crisis' and placed her in a chokehold. She was lying on my left arm, with her back to me, when out of nowhere I gave her a rear naked choke, immobilizing her with my legs as well, he said. She struggled and fought her own death. Souza said he squeezed Antonielis neck until he could not feel his arms, and then cried while he sat on the floor as Nunes was motionless in the bed. He noticed that Nunes was regaining consciousnesses and then grabbed a knife from the kitchen and plunged it into her neck, he told cops. Antonieli Nunes (left) was killed by Gabriel Souza (right), the married son of a pastor who was also her co-worker. The pair were involved in a 10-month relationship that ended last week when Souza killed her after learning she was pregnant with his child Souza fled the home with the pregnancy test and her cellphone and dumped them in a nearby river. Nunes body was found inside the home by family members on Thursday after they had grown worried that she had failed to show up at work and was not answering any of their phone calls. Souza is being held without bail per a request that was filed by the Pimento Bueno's district attorney's office. Advertisement Unearthed pictures that have lain untouched for 70 years in archive show King George VI's state funeral on the 70th anniversary of his death as the country both mourned his loss and welcomed his daughter as the Queen. One newly-colourised image shows Queen Elizabeth II standing solemnly at the grave of her father King George VI after his coffin had been lowered through the floor of St Georges Chapel, Windsor. The new monarch stood centre stage and sprinkled soil into her father's grave after the coffin disappeared from view. Another image shows a queue waiting to enter St. Martin-in-the Fields church which tele to pay homage to the King. Other colourised images show King George VI's funeral procession marching through various parts of London. Following the sudden abdication of his elder brother, King George VI ruled for 16 years, from December 11, 1936, until his death in 1952. He was remembered as the king who saw the country through the Second World War, giving rousing speeches through radio, overcoming his well-known stammer. Slide me Queen Elizabeth II stands at the grave of her Father King George VI, after his coffin was lowered through the floor of St Georges Chapel, Windsor. The Queen sprinkled earth on her father's coffin before it passed from view Slide me In many parts of the British Isles, a salute of 56 guns was fired - the number of guns to the number of years King George VI lived. Firing guns was among many salutes to the King, who died at Sandringham House in Norfolk on February 6, 1952 Slide me Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and her Consort the Duke of Edinburgh visited Westminster Hall as King George VI lay in state Slide me Throughout Britain and the Empire, the people attended special services to pay homage to the late King George VI and to pray for the royal family in their time of grief. A queue waited to pay homage to their King outside the famous broadcasting church of St. Martin-in-the Fields in Trafalgar Square, which held a televised service Slide me Members of the public gather in Central London to read news of King George VI's death. News vendors sold papers in the streets to passers-by learning about the king's death for the first time Slide me Determined not to miss the procession the next day, a woman sits huddled against a lamp post in Whitehall in the early hours of the morning. She has newspapers wrapped around her to give protection against the cold Slide me This photograph taken just after midnight shows a group of people huddled in the doorway of the Ministry of Health building. They were waiting for the funeral cortege to pass in the early morning Slide me While on tour in Kenya with her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, Princess Elizabeth, as she was then, heard of the death of her father King George VI at Sandringham, she immediately flew home. She automatically assumed the title of monarch and thus became Queen Elizabeth II He was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth, he was also the last Emperor of India until August 1947, when the British Raj was dissolved. These original acetate film negatives, shot by a Speed Graphic camera were boxed 70 years ago and have come to light for the first time since being found in the archive of the Topfoto archive, which received them from the famous International News Agency (INP) collection. 'They are five-by-four inch acetate film negatives, typically shot by a Speed Graphic camera,' said John Balean, 47, operations manager at TopFoto. 'It was fantastic to discover that over one hundred negatives have survived which cover the period from the death of King George VI on 6 February 1952 to the funeral on 15 February. Slide me Scene on the platform at Paddington Station as the Pipers stand to attention while the train steams out carrying the body of King George VI from London for his last journey Slide me The queue to file past the catafalque of King George VI in London's Great Hall of Westminster stretched for miles along the river, over the Lambeth Bridge and back along the other side to Westminster Bridge, before looping around again. It formed a double queue and each queue was about six or eight people deep Slide me The crowd outside the Palace were reading the headlines in the latest evening paper editions announcing the King's Death Slide me The cortege passes St. George's Chapel, Windsor, drawn by naval ratings before entering for the service Slide me The Queen's Carriage, in which were The Queen, Queen Mother, Princess Margaret and Princess Royal, nearing the top of Edgware Road, followed by the four Dukes, Edinburgh, Gloucester, Windsor and Kent Slide me King Frederik and Queen Ingrid of Denmark seen as they arrived at Westminster Hall to pay their respects at the catafalque of King George VI Slide me Queuers were given a hot drink as welcome respite from a mobile canteen by members of the Women's Voluntary Service. Members of the public lined up for hours to pay their last respects to King George VI as he lay in state at Westminster Hall Slide me The new Queen's husband the Duke of Edinburgh (left) walked alongside King George VI's brothers - the Duke of Gloucester, Duke of Windsor, and the Duke of Kent - in the procession as it moved from the Palace Yard, Westminster. Behind them, wearing naval uniform was Earl Mountbatten 'These moving and historically important images will not have been seen since they were indexed seventy years ago. 'They form part of the International News Photos collection, originally owned by the media tycoon William Hearst, that are now part of TopFoto's photography archive which contains some five million image objects.' The images were colourised by www.mediadrumworld.com. The Crown star Claire Foy called police after an alleged stalker, who sent emails about her being raped, repeatedly rang the doorbell at her home, a court has heard. Foy, 37, who played the young queen in the first two series of the hit Netflix show, was allegedly targeted by Jason Penrose, 38, in November and December last year. He is said to have sent the British actor's publicist, Emma Jackson, explicit emails, writing about 'Foy being raped, whoring herself out and wanting her to be his girlfriend', according to court papers. In one, on November 2, he allegedly said: 'I'm sorry I think Claire['s] policy should be not talking about any personal stuff in media and only creative business.' Another, said to have been sent the following day, made further references to the actress being sexually attacked. Ms Jackson forwarded the emails to Foy's agent, who had also received messages but had blocked the account. The Crown star Claire Foy (pictured) called police after alleged stalker Jason Penrose, 38, who sent emails about her being raped, repeatedly rang the doorbell at her home, a court has heard Foy, who starred in the Crown (pictured), was referenced in emails allegedly sent by Penrose to her agent and publicist which said she 'should be not talking about any personal stuff in media' On December 17 last year, Foy 'called the police to report that Jason Penrose was outside her residence ringing on her doorbell constantly', the papers say. Foy, who has won a Golden Globe, two Primetime Emmy Awards and two Screen Actors Guild Awards, starred in Steven Soderbergh's psychological thriller Unsane, and played Neil Armstrong's wife Janet Shearon in the biopic of the astronaut, First Man. Kiera Oluwunmi was at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court in London on Monday on behalf of the Metropolitan Police, to apply for an interim stalking protection order (SPO) against Penrose. Police can apply at the magistrates' court for a civil SPO to block alleged stalkers from contacting or approaching their alleged victims while a criminal investigation into their behaviour continues. Magistrates at Highbury Corner (pictured) granted the Metropolitan Police with a temporary restraining order prohibiting Penrose from making contact until a full hearing can be heard Chairman of the bench Amanda Gibbon granted a temporary SPO, with conditions preventing Penrose from contacting Foy or Ms Jackson, as well as him attending their homes, workplaces or anywhere they reasonably expect they would be. Any breach of the order, which will remain in place until a hearing for a full order on June 30, can be prosecuted as a criminal offence. Ms Gibbon said: 'Bearing in mind the effects on the victims in this case and the extent to which the activity escalated, from a series of emails with particularly explicit content to a personal visit and staying in the area where one of the victims lives, and the effect this has had on the victims and their lifestyle, we consider it is appropriate to make the order.' The court heard Penrose, whose address on court files is a hotel in Paddington, west London, had been sectioned and was not expected to attend. He later arrived and the terms of the order were explained to him outside court. Meta has threatened to shut down Facebook and Instagram in Europe if it is not able to transfer, store and process EU data on its US-based servers - despite the social media giant making $6.8billion a year on the continent in advertising revenue. The social media company warned it could walk away from countries in the European Union - which does not include Britain after Brexit - if a new EU law is introduced restricting their use of Europeans' data . Data is central to the ad business that generates nearly all of the company's billions of dollars in revenue, and frameworks that have overseen the transfer of information from the continent are now in limbo. The crucial 'Privacy Shield' online data arrangement between Europe and the United States was invalidated in July 2020 in a top EU court decision that threw transatlantic big tech into legal uncertainty. In its annual report to the US Securities and Exchange Commission, Meta said current EU regulations are preventing data transfer which it says is essential for its operations. European regulators are currently drafting new laws which will decide how users' data is transferred to the US. - but they and the US government are still talking through ways to resolve the issue. The social media giant recently saw its worst-ever plunge in market value, after disappointing quarterly results that raised questions about its future. Up to $200bn was wiped off the value of the company after unexpectedly heavy spending on its Metaverse virtual reality project led to a rare decline in its fourth quarter profit. The company heavily invested in its Reality Labs segment - which includes its virtual reality headsets and augmented reality technology - during the final quarter of 2021, accounting for much of the profit decline. The Reality Labs segment is Meta's division tasked with building CEO Mark Zuckerbergs Metaverse vision. The CEO has described it as a 'virtual environment' you can enter instead of just viewing it on a screen. Theoretically, it would be a place where people can meet, work and play using virtual reality headsets, augmented reality glasses, smartphone apps or other devices. And it is not the first time that Facebook has tangled with regulators and governments over the way it is regulated. In 2021, the social media network banned users in Australia from sharing news articles for several days because it objected to a law designed to force them to pay publishers for content. It reactivated news stories after negotiations with the Australian government resulted in tweaks to the law. Meta's share price plunged last week after the company announced a dip in profits Meta has threatened to shut down Facebook and Instagram in Europe if it is not able to transfer, store and process data on its US-based servers Meta said today: 'We have absolutely no desire and no plans to withdraw from Europe, but the simple reality is that Meta, and many other businesses, organisations and services, rely on data transfers between the EU and the US in order to operate global services." 'If a new transatlantic data transfer framework is not adopted and we are unable to continue to rely on SCCs (standard contractual clauses) or rely upon other alternative means of data transfers from Europe to the United States, we will likely be unable to offer a number of our most significant products and services, including Facebook and Instagram, in Europe 'If we are unable to transfer data between and among countries and regions in which we operate, or if we are restricted from sharing data among our products and services, it could affect our ability to provide our services, the manner in which we provide our services or our ability to target ads.' They added any changes would 'would materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations'. Meta's data had been regulated via a data transfer framework known as the Privacy Shield and other model agreements. But this treaty was annulled by the European Court of Justice in July 2020 because of violations of data protection. Current agreements allow data to be transferred but the arrangement is under heavy scrutiny, which could threaten Mark Zuckerberg's current business model Since then, the EU and the US have tried to work on a new version but it is yet to be implemented. Meta has been relying on standard contractual clauses to transfer the data. Meta said in its report it hopes to reach an agreement with the EU this year. Nick Clegg, Meta's VP of Global Affairs and Communications, said in a statement: 'A lack of safe, secure and legal international data transfers would damage the economy and hamper the growth of data-driven businesses in the EU, just as we seek a recovery from Covid-19.' 'The impact would be felt by businesses large and small, across multiple sectors. 'While policymakers are working towards a sustainable, long-term solution, we urge regulators to adopt a proportionate and pragmatic approach to minimise disruption to the many thousands of businesses who, like Facebook, have been relying on these mechanisms in good faith to transfer data in a safe and secure way.' In August 2020, Ireland's Protection Commission ordered Facebook to stop transferring data to the US. A final decision is expected in the first half of this year. If standard contractual clauses cannot be used, Facebook would have to get rid of the majority of the data it holds on its European users. The company could even faces fines of up to $2.8billion if it fails to comply. A former student who claims he had sex with his PE teacher at the age of 18 after drinking pints, wine, rum and shots at his school leaving prom now says he's 'sorry' she faces being struck off the register for the encounter. Melissa Tweedie is alleged to have partied with pupils at SWG3 nightclub in Glasgow, drinking shots before going back with them to a Premier Hotel in June 2017, when she was 22. Heather Prentice, Deputy Head of Gleniffer High School, said that she had 'concerns' about Miss Tweedie's outfit 'from the start of the dance'. The former PE teacher at Gleniffer High School in Paisley, Renfrewshire, is said to have danced inappropriately with pupils before sleeping with one of them, who was 18 at the time. The ex-student, known only as Pupil A, gave evidence relating to a list of allegations made against teacher Miss Tweedie today, telling the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) that he 'felt sorry' that she is now being investigated. He said in a statement: 'I had already handed in my leaver's form. In my eyes it wasn't a student event. This could have happened on a night out.' Pupil A said he had drunk around three or four pints, a bottle of wine, some spirits, rum and shots before having sex with Miss Tweedie in his hotel room. He claims Miss Tweedie, who now lives in Dubai and works as a yoga teacher, stayed the night in the room before leaving around 8am the following day. The Deputy Head told the hearing Ms Tweedie, 'was very reluctant to take advice and come with us' after the prom, adding, 'We couldn't make her come with us, so we had to let her go.' Melissa Tweedie (pictured) faces being struck off the register for the encounter with a former student Tweedie is alleged to have partied with pupils at SWG3 nightclub in Glasgow, drinking shots before going back with them to a Premier Hotel in June 2017, when she was 22 Miss Tweedie allegedly danced inappropriately with pupils before sleeping with one of them, who was 18 Speaking at the GTCS hearing today, Pupil A said: 'We had no dealings prior to the prom. There were no relations before. Miss Tweedie, who was not present at the hearing, is alleged to have had drunk shots before telling pupils: 'Can we for a minute act like I'm not a teacher' 'Miss Tweedie was sat at our table. Miss Tweedie was not drinking at the table, I was.' After the prom students had booked rooms in a Premier Inn that was walking distance from SWG3. Pupil A said: 'I did not invite Miss Tweedie to the hotel. I don't know how she got there.' Pupil A said he entered a hotel room in the Premier Inn where he found nine pupils and Miss Tweedie. He said there was a noise complaint to the room, adding: 'Me and Miss Tweedie were the only two left in the room. We kissed, no one initiated it. 'We went downstairs and had sex in my room. She stayed the night and we both left at eight. 'I feel really sorry for Miss Tweedie, I had already handed in my leaver's form. In my eyes it wasn't a student event. This could have happened on a night out.' Heather Prentice, Deputy Head of Gleniffer High School, said that she had 'concerns' about Miss Tweedie's outfit 'from the start of the dance'. When replying to the presenting officer's cross examination from Gary Burton she said in relation to her outfit: 'I do remember it was quite loose, short, low cut. 'I do remember that she looked like she was going on a night out.' When asked about the nature of the dancing she said: 'It was all male pupils she was dancing with. 'I didn't see any contact between her and any pupil.' Ms Prentice claims that when it was time to leave the prom, she asked Miss Tweedie how she was getting home. The Deputy Head recounted: 'She said she was getting a black hack [home]. I told her I would arrange something for her. 'I told Melissa that there was a lift organised (another teacher agreed to take her home).' But she claims when it was time for Miss Tweedie to leave she was unable to find her, adding: 'I was told that she had left with sixth year pupils. 'I caught up to her on Kelvinhaugh Street. She was very reluctant to take advice and come with us. We couldn't make her come with us, so we had to let her go.' The former PE teacher at Gleniffer High School in Paisley, Renfrewshire, allegedly danced inappropriately with pupils before sleeping with one of them, who was 18 Pupil A claims Miss Tweedie, who now lives in Dubai and works as a yoga teacher, stayed the night in the room before leaving around 8am the following day Pupil A said: 'I feel really sorry for Miss Tweedie, I had already handed in my leaver's form' During cross examination from the panel, Pupil A said how much he had to drink: 'I had a lot, It was my prom. 'I might have had three or four pints, then a bottle of wine, then onto spirits, maybe a couple of rums and there were shots in between.' Pupil A asked the panel if he could ask them some questions, before saying: 'In my eyes this was an issue involving only two parties. 'This wasn't an issue raised by any party. When do I get to raise my feelings about what happened? In my eyes it was not an issue I wanted to raise. 'It was an issue that people wanted to raise for me. I have never been asked how I feel about it.' Miss Tweedie, who was not present at the hearing, is alleged to have had drunk shots before telling pupils: 'Can we for a minute act like I'm not a teacher'. She faces being struck off the register by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) following the allegations. The allegations read: 'Between 7 June 2017 and 8 June 2017, whilst employed by Renfrewshire Council as a PE Teacher at Gleniffer High School, at the senior prom and immediately thereafter, you danced inappropriately with pupils during the prom, including making inappropriate physical contact whilst dancing with them at SWG3, Glasgow. Police Scotland were alerted to the incident and investigated it at the time. They found that no criminality had taken place The Scottish woman is alleged to have partied with pupils at SWG3 nightclub in Glasgow in June 2017 Miss Tweedie is also alleged to have told the headteacher at the school that she was at home when she was at the Premier Inn '[You] kissed Pupil A at the hotel in which pupils were staying for the night, the Premier Inn Hotel and engaged in sexual intercourse with Pupil A after the prom, at the Premier Inn. '[You] drank a shot (or shots) at the bar of SWG3, behaved in an inappropriate manner in a hotel room at the Premier Inn by drinking alcohol in the presence of pupils and stating words to the effect of ''Can we for a minute act like I'm not a teacher'' to a pupil(s).' Further allegations state the teacher 'was alone on a bed with Pupil A and, when Pupil E entered the room, stated to Pupil E words to the effect of: 'Technically I haven't touched him yet'. '[You] were under the influence of alcohol to the point of being inebriated in the presence of pupils in the Premier Inn [and] had awareness that an ex pupil was in possession of drugs and did not report this to the appropriate authorities.' Miss Tweedie is also alleged to have told the headteacher at the school that she was at home when she was at the Premier Inn. Police Scotland were alerted to the incident and investigated it at the time. They found that no criminality had taken place. The hearing continues. Phillip Carey, 48, admitted attacking his victim at the care home where he worked in Blackpool, Lancashire A care worker has been jailed for life after he was caught raping a 99-year-old dementia patient as her family watched on helplessly via a hidden camera. Phillip Carey, 48, admitted attacking his victim at the care home where he worked in Blackpool, Lancashire. He was caught sexually assaulting his vulnerable victim on a secret camera her family had installed in her room after they became concerned for her welfare. Carey pleaded guilty at Preston Crown Court, where he was jailed for life with a minimum of 10 years. Prosecutors said the victim's family became concerned when her behaviour suddenly changed. She would not allow physical contact and begged her relatives when they visited: 'Don't leave me, they will hurt me'. The family installed a covert camera in her room to try to discover what was causing her so much distress. But to their horror they saw Carey enter the woman's room where he raped and sexually assaulted her on the live feed. Carey pleaded guilty at Preston Crown Court (pictured), where he was jailed for life with a minimum of 10 years They immediately called police, who arrested Carey. He admitted his guilt in court after prosecutors presented forensic evidence and the camera footage. Senior prosecutor Sophie Rozdolskyj said after he was sentenced: 'Carey abused his position of trust and targeted a vulnerable woman whom he should have been caring for. 'I am grateful to the victim's family who have shown great strength throughout the Court proceedings. 'I hope today's sentence provides them with some comfort, knowing Carey has been brought to justice for his actions.' Keith Kellogg testified before the Jan. 6 committee that staff wanted Trump to take immediate action to address the riot, but Trump refused 'Look at all of the people fighting for me,' Trump said, confused why his aides did not share his excitement, according to Stephanie Grisham He watched footage of rioters breaching the Capitol on live TV, his attention so rapt he would pause and rewind footage After a speech where Trump urged his supporters to 'fight like hell' as Congress convened to certify the 2020 election results, he returned to the White House As supporters of Donald Trump breached the Capitol to prevent lawmakers from certifying the election in favor of Joe Biden, the former president relished in the moment - confused why his aides did not share his excitement as he reportedly rewound footage of the event. After a fiery speech where the then-president urged his supporters to 'fight like hell' as Congress convened to certify the 2020 election results, Trump returned to the White House, where he watched the chaos unfold on live TV. As rioters began to smash through Capitol police barriers and break windows, the former president tweeted: 'Mike Pence didnt have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution ...' Trump's attention to the footage was so rapt that he hit rewind and watched certain moments again, according to Stephanie Grisham, a former White House press secretary, as reported by the Associated Press. 'Look at all of the people fighting for me,' Trump said, according to Grisham, who also served as chief of staff to first lady Melania Trump. At one point, the president was confused why staffers weren't as excited as he was watching the unrest unfold. Donald Trump Jr. captured video of Trump and his allies watching footage of his supporters gathered in D.C. ahead of the former president's speech at his Save America rally on Jan. 6, 2021 Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg testified before the House committee investigating Jan. 6 that staff wanted the president to take immediate action to address the violence consuming the Capitol, but Trump refused. 'Is someone getting to potus? He has to tell protestors to dissipate. Someone is going to get killed,' Alyssa Farrah Griffin, a former White House communications official, texted Ben Williamson, an aide to White House chief of staff Mark Meadows. 'I've been trying for the last 30 minutes. Literally stormed in outer oval to get him to put out the first one. Its completely insane,' Williamson wrote back. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., then called Ivanka Trump, pleading that the president 'ask people to leave.' 'Were working on it,' she replied. 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 At that point, staffers acknowledged that despite efforts by Meadows, press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and Kellogg, the only person who could get through to him would be his daughter. Ivanka Trump, according to testimony, went on to make at least two 'tenacious' attempts to reason with her father as staffers were bombarded with messages from Trump allies begging him to quell the violence. 'Can he make a statement. I saw the tweet. Ask people to leave the (Capitol),' Fox News host Sean Hannity texted Meadows. But inside the West Wing, Kellogg strongly recommended that they not ask the president to appear in the press room, where a group of reporters would be waiting for him. 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 'Apparently, certain White House staff believed that a live unscripted press appearance by the President in the midst of the Capitol Hill violence could have made the situation worse,' lawmakers wrote in their letter to Ivanka Trump. The president ultimately agreed to a video statement. Multiple takes were filmed but not used. In each one of the initial takes, according to the committee, he failed to ask rioters to leave. The final video was released on Twitter at 4:17 p.m. - nearly two hours after Trumps initial tweet criticizing Pence. 'This was a fraudulent election, but we cant play into the hands of these people,' Trump said in the video. 'We have to have peace. So go home. We love you; youre very special.' Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., the vice chair of the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection, has said its hard to 'imagine a more significant and more serious dereliction of duty' than Trumps failure to quell the riots. Trumps last words that day came at 6:01 p.m. when he tweeted that the 2020 election was 'unceremoniously and viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly and unfairly treated for so long.' He ended with, 'Go home with love and in peace. Remember this day forever.' Meanwhile, new testimony revealed that Ivanka Trump declared 'Mike Pence is a good man' after he denied her father's request to reject Electoral College votes that would formalize Joe Biden's 2020 victory, according to Kellogg. She made the comments after a meeting on January 6 last year when President Trump was in the Oval Office with her and Vice President Mike Pence's national security adviser Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg on a telephone call with Pence. The revelation of her comment during testimony by Kellogg before the House committee investigating Jan. 6 comes just 10 days after Pence revealed he hadn't spoken to Trump since last summer. The committee has been aggressively interviewing witnesses - nearly 500 so far - and has subpoenaed Meadows and Trump's personal lawyer. They are asking Ivanka Trump to cooperate voluntarily. Pence suggested that Jan. 6, 2021 marked a souring in their relationship. That day, ahead of the Capitol riot, Trump said that Pence 'didn't have the courage' to object to the election results during Congress' certification. Fox News' Jesse Waters asked Pence when the last time he spoke to Trump was on his show Thursday evening. Ivanka made the comments after a meeting on January 6 last year when President Trump was in the Oval Office with her and Vice President Mike Pence's national security adviser 'You know, we talked last summer,' Pence said. 'And, you know, I've said many times, it was difficult. Jan 6 was difficult. It was a tragic day in the life of the nation.' 'I know I did my duty under the Constitution of the United States,' Pence added. 'But the president and I sat down in the days that followed that. We spoke about it, talked through it. We parted amicably.' But then on Friday, Pence delivered his most direct and public rebuke of Trump on Friday saying he had 'no right' to overturn the 2020 election as Trump demanded. 'I heard this week that President Trump said I had the right to overturn the election. President Trump is wrong,' Pence said. 'I had no right to overturn the election. The presidency belongs to the American people and the American people alone.' Pence went even further, calling the idea 'un-American.' 'And frankly, there is no idea more un-American than the notion that any one person could choose the American president. Under the Constitution, I have no right to change the outcome of our election.' Trump, of course, shot back in a statement: 'Just saw Mike Pences statement on the fact that he had no right to do anything with respect to the Electoral Vote Count, other than being an automatic conveyor belt for the Old Crow Mitch McConnell to get Biden elected President as quickly as possible,' Trump wrote in a statement. McConnell has recently denounced Trump's plan to pardon or shorten the sentences of the January 6 rioters. The President continued: 'Well, the Vice Presidents position is not an automatic conveyor if obvious signs of voter fraud or irregularities exist. I was right and everyone knows it. If there is fraud or large-scale irregularities, it would have been appropriate to send those votes back to the legislatures to figure it out. 'A great opportunity lost, but not forever, in the meantime our Country is going to hell!' During a call on Jan. 6 Trump told Pence that he had a duty to reject Electoral College votes that would formalize Democrat Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election, something the vice president had no authority to do in his ceremonial role in Congress that day. 'You don't have the courage to make a hard decision,' Trump told Pence, according to congressional testimony. Even after Trump called him a 'wimp,' Pence rebuffed the demand, issuing a lengthy statement afterward laying out his conclusion that he had no power to influence the outcome. When the call ended, Ivanka Trump turned to retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg and said, 'Mike Pence is a good man.' 'Yes, he is,' Kellogg replied. The revelation of her comment comes just 10 days after Pence revealed he hadn't spoken to Trump since last summer And on January 31 this year Trump suggested 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!' Now the House committee investigating the riot wants to know what else Ivanka Trump heard and saw that day as they try to stitch together the narrative of the riots and the former president's role in instigating them. While Ivanka was asked to cooperate voluntarily rather than hit with a subpoena, a committee aide said they are hopeful that she will soon commit to a time to meet. There was a frantic effort by many of Trump's top supporters to persuade him to call off the violence, and some directly sought to use his daughter as their conduit. While Trump wanted Pence to object to the election certification for President Biden's win, the former vice president saw his role in the certification as largely ceremonial Throughout her time in the White House, Ivanka Trump was known as a rare voice who could get through to her father and talk him out of bad decisions, though her success was mixed. The former first daughter has kept an extraordinary low profile since her father left office and has distanced herself from him and politics since moving to Florida. But her proximity to him on Jan. 6 could provide the committee with direct access to what Trump was doing during those crucial three hours when his supporters violently stormed Capitol. 'Ivanka Trump has details about what occurred in the lead-up to and on Jan. 6 and about the former presidents state of mind as events unfolded,' Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla, a member of the panel, said. It is highly unusual for congressional investigators to target a family member of a president, but as a senior adviser to her father, she also had a perch close to power. Kellogg disclosed the exchange with the committee, but so far Ivanka Trump, who famously guards her image and public profile, has not talked to the panel. The answers could have significant repercussions not only for Donald Trump, who is eyeing a political comeback in 2024, but for those in the Republican Party who have downplayed his role in the insurrection. A spokeswoman for Ivanka Trump did not respond to multiple requests for comment. But in a statement issued in late January, a representative for her noted that Ivanka Trump did not speak at the rally near the White House where the then-president urged his supporters to 'fight like hell' as Congress convened to certify the 2020 election results, and said she still believed that 'any security breach or disrespect to our law enforcement is unacceptable.' Members of the committee hope to get beyond such vague assertions. Hours after Trump's call to Pence, Ivanka Trump joined brother Donald Trump Jr., Rudy Giuliani and Kimberly Guilfoyle under a large tent at the rally to listen to Trumps speech. She reportedly told aides she 'decided to attend only because she had hoped to calm the president and help keep the event on an even keel.' Meanwhile, the National Archives was forced to show up at Trump's residence in Mar-a-Lago to retrieve boxes of official letters that had been improperly removed from the White House. The boxes included correspondence with North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un and former President Barack Obama. The documents and gifts, which should have been turned over to The National Archives and Records Administration at the end of Trump's presidency, were retrieved by the agency last month, three people familiar with the visit told the Washington Post. Under the Presidential Records Act, memos, notes, letters, emails, faxes and other written correspondence related to the president's official duties must be handed to the National Archives for preservation. Recovery of the boxes of official White House records from Trump's Florida home raises questions about his adherence to the Act. Trump lost his bid in the Supreme Court last month to block the release of presidential documents from the National Archives to the House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot. Israeli police have illegally used Pegasus malware to hack the phones of dozens of prominent figures including Benjamin Netanyahu's son, according to new reports. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett vowed government action would be taken as the country's privacy scandals thickens. The latest bombshell from business daily Calcalist alleged that Pegasus was used against a son of former premier Benjamin Netanyahu, Avner, and his advisors, as well as activists, senior government officials, businessmen and others. Calcalist had previously reported that the controversial malware, which can turn a phone into a pocket spying device, was used by police against leaders of an anti-Netanyahu protest movement. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett vowed government action would be taken as the country's privacy scandals thickens. Pictured: Benjamin Netanyahu with his sons Avner (right) and Yair (left) Hours after Monday's report emerged, Bennett vowed that his government 'won't leave this without a response'. 'The reports apparently describe a very grave situation that is unacceptable in a democracy,' Bennett said. He added: 'These cyber tools were designed to fight terrorism and serious crime, not be used against citizens. We will see to a transparent, in-depth and quick inquiry because all of us - citizens of the State of Israel, government ministers and all establishments - deserve answers.' As Bennett pledged action, Minister for Public Security Omer Barlev, who oversees the police, said he would seek authorisation for a government commission of inquiry. Barlev said that, if approved, the probe would be led by a retired judge who would question anyone necessary in the political, legal and security system to uncover 'violations of civil rights and privacy'. Pegasus is a malware product made by the Israeli firm NSO at the centre of a months-long international scandal following revelations that it was used by governments worldwide to spy on activists, politicians, journalists and even heads of state. Bennett (pictured) said: 'These cyber tools were designed to fight terrorism and serious crime, not be used against citizens. We will see to a transparent, in-depth and quick inquiry because all of us - citizens of the State of Israel, government ministers and all establishments - deserve answers' Israel had come under fire for allowing the export of the invasive technology to states with poor human rights records, but the Calcalist reports have unleashed domestic outrage. President Isaac Herzog suggested the credibility of key Israeli institutions was at stake. 'We must not lose our democracy. We must not lose our police. And we must certainly not lose public trust in them. This requires an in-depth and thorough investigation,' Herzog said. Calcalist said dozens of people were targeted who were not suspected of criminal conduct, and without police receiving the necessary court approval. They include senior leaders of the finance, justice and communication ministries, supermarket magnate Rami Levy, mayors, Ethiopian-Israelis who led protests against alleged police misconduct and former Netanyahu advisors Topaz Luk and Jonatan Urich. Avner Netanyahu, one of the premier's sons, was also on the list. 'I truly am shocked,' he wrote on Facebook. In another revelation set to rock Netanyahu's ongoing corruption trial, Calcalist reported that key witness Ilan Yeshua, former chief executive of the Walla news site, was a target. Netanyahu is accused of seeking to trade regulatory favours with media moguls in exchange for favourable coverage, including on Walla. He denies the charges. His lawyers on Monday demanded the trial be halted until the latest revelations were probed. The trial also suffered a blow last week when multiple Israeli broadcasters reported that police may have used spyware on Shlomo Filber, a former Netanyahu ally turned state witness. Those reports, which Netanyahu described as an 'earthquake', did not mention Pegasus. Pegasus is a surveillance programme that can switch on a phone's camera or microphone and harvest its data. NSO has consistently denied wrongdoing throughout the multi-stranded Pegasus scandal, stressing that it does not operate the system once sold to clients and has no access to any of the data collected. Lawyers representing Steve Bannon believe they may have found a way to blow up the government's case against the former Trump advisor and now say the government breached attorney-client privilege by subpoenaing phone and email records for Bannon's lawyer, Robert Costello, amid their probe. The lawyers say in an explosive new filing they learned of the efforts to get Costello's phone and email records when the government produced 790 documents as part of the case against Bannon, part of the normal document production in a criminal case. The snooping, in the form of a grand jury subpoena, happened at a time when Costello was meeting with prosecutors 'as Mr. Bannon's attorney, in what he thought were good-faith pre-indictment discussions' and without indication of any 'taint team' to vet sensitive information. Their filing includes notes from an FBI agent following two separate meetings the lawyer had with prosecutors while the House Jan. 6th Committee was seeking to obtain Bannon's testimony. While serving as key evidence of Bannon's case on the privilege issue, the FBI documents also map out Costello's back-and-forth with the House Jan. 6th committee amid its demands for testimony and documents from Bannon. The FBI agent's notes memorialize detailed conversations with Costello about his contacts with the panel as it pursued Bannon's testimony including over some materials where Costello purportedly did not want to assert a privilege. Former President Trump would ultimately weigh in with his own claim of executive privilege. Those notes also reference work Costello has done for another famous client from Trump world, former lawyer and longtime advisor Rudy Giuliani. One brief FBI comment briefly references information Costello provided to the U.S. Attorney's Office 'related to activities on January 6, 2021.' Giuliani himself was subjected to an FBI raid in April 2021 in connection to an investigation of his dealings in Ukraine. No charges have been brought against the former New York mayor. Lawyers for Steve Bannon blasted prosecutors in a court filing for gaining access to phone and email records belonging to Bannon's lawyer, Bob Costello. Bannon is charged with criminal contempt for failing to comply with a congressional subpoena Bannon's lawyers say that at a time when the government appeared to be having 'good-faith pre-indictment discussions' about Bannon, 'the Government was busy seeking detailed information concerning defense counsel's personal and professional email and telephone records.' Bannon's lawyers blast the information-gathering effort as 'outrageous and inappropriate Government conduct,' and are demanding the feds provide further information including sharing the subpoena used to obtain the information, and revealing who at the main Justice Department signed off on the effort. Sources familiar with the case said it was a potential trap for defense counsel to be negotiating with government lawyers with a possible indictment looming, while lawyers are surreptitiously using the process for evidence-gathering in the case, while at the same time using subpoenas to glean information about a lawyer's communications with a client. The effort appears to have targeted four email accounts and four phone numbers, including the personal cell phone of Costello, who also represents former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani. Bannon's lawyers are now seeking to compel the government to provide further information about grand jury proceedings that resulted in criminal contempt charges against Bannon for failing to appear before the House Jan. 6th committee. The government gained access to lawyer Robert Costello's phone and email records, according to information in a new court filing The Jan. 6th Committee subpoenaed Bannon as part of its investigation They want all documents in support of any subpoena or investigative request relating to Bannon 'and/or any person acting on his behalf or associated with him.' Bannon's filing is signed by lawyers Evan Corcoran, David Schoen and Costello, a lawyer with Davidoff Hutcher & Citron. Schoen represented Trump during his second impeachment trial. The DailyBeast reported on the filing Friday night. New details of the FBI notes referenced by Bannon's lawyers are only now emerging. The U.S. attorney's office declined to comment, saying it 'does not comment on pending cases beyond its filings and statements to the Court, and has no comment on this particular matter.' A January letter by the U.S. attorney's office referred to Costello as a 'witness.' Bannon's team claims there 'may' be grounds to dismiss the indictment because of the matter, and says it 'may constitute an impermissible interference with the attorney-client privilege.' Costello is a former federal prosecutor who represented Bannon in the 'We Build the Wall' case, for which Trump later pardoned him. The timeline for the episode is not entirely clear. Costello told the Jan. 6th Committee on Oct. 7, 2021 that Bannon was 'unable' to comply with its subpoena. Trump filed his own lawsuit against the committee claiming executive privilege, and sought a one-week adjournment. On Oct. 19th, the panel sent a resolution to the full House to hold Bannon in contempt. But a longer filing by Bannon's team also provides a first glance at information provided by Costello in his efforts to keep his client from being criminally charged, as memorialized in FBI 302 reports. Those reports cover two separate interviews, Nov. 3rd and Nov. 8th, 2021 days after the panel acted and before Bannon was indicted on Nov. 12th. A subpoena for Costello's phone records came in late October, amid the fast-moving developments. FBI 302 documents summarizing a meeting with federal prosecutors and Costello. Costello initiated the conversation, according to the FBI The 302s state that Costello 'had not had communication' with lawyers for Trump at the time, and detail some of his reasoning while arguing about information to hold back, including a Bannon meeting that took place in the presence of two of Trump's attorneys, Rudy Giuliani and Jenna Ellis. The Jan. 6th committee's Sept. 23 subpoena of Bannon sought information on his contacts with Giuliani, Ellis, Trump lawyer John Eastman, lawyer Sidney Powell, and former National Security Advisor Mike Flynn about a range of activities before the Capitol riot. One passage states that Costello believed 10 items being sought by the panel were protected and 7 were not, and that he advised Bannon 'not to respond to the Select Committee subpoena.' It stated that Bannon was 'fully engaged' with Costello during the subpoena process. The notes also state that Costello believed privilege 'belonged to former President Trump.' Costello initiated the interview, according to the FBI document. The notes on the Nov. 3 interview of Costello also say: COSTELLO stated he also represented RUDOLPH GIULIANI and on January 7, 2021, COSTELLO sent documents to the USAO [US Attorneys Office] related to activities on January 6, 2021. However, COSTELLO did not know who at the USAO had received those documents.' It provides no further information on any material Costello provided. An agents note says it was a scheduled, voluntary interview. The interview also provides information that could provide clues about Bannons legal strategy to prosecutors. Costello stated their defense was not solely advice of counsel but that it was based on legal opinions of the Office of Legal Counsel, it states. Costello 'admitted he would not have handled the situation the way he had if he had known in advance of the lawsuit filed on behalf of former President TRUMP,' according to the document. The government in its own Friday filing said Bannons disregard of the subpoena was purportedly justified by legal privileges and his attorneys advice regarding them. The prosecutors argue that the deliberate failure to comply regardless of motivation constitutes the crime of contempt, and that a lawyer's advice is not relevant. Last year, Costello blasted federal prosecutors probing Giuliani as choosing to treat 'a distinguished lawyer as if he was the head of a drug cartel or a terrorist, in order to create maximum prejudicial coverage of both Giuliani, and his most well-known client the former President of the United States.' The 2nd 302 of FBI notes says: Costello stated he advised Bannon not to appear before the Select Committee. The fault lies with him, not Bannon; however, he did not believe there was fault He did write, at the conclusion of an email to Bannon, beware in capital letters to warn Bannon his failure to comply could result in referral to DOJ. Costello stated Bannon was innocent, as Bannon was following directions from him, it says. The agent's summary indicates the government spoke with Costello about his contacts with representatives for Trump. He stated [Trump lawyer] Justin Clark (Clark) was trying to be intentionally vague [in his statement about privilege]; however, Costello was clear former President Donald Trump (President Trump) asserted executive privilege with regard to Bannon, it says. Pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine have tried to draw Britain into their latest black propaganda claims. Hoping to raise tensions in the area even further and sow disinformation, the separatists claimed that a group of Polish 'mercenary terrorists' trained by the UK had been spotted fighting alongside Ukrainian government forces. Lt Col Eduard Basurin, a senior commander in the pro-Moscow breakaway group the Donbass People's Republic Militia claimed around 40 Polish-speaking mercenaries were spotted on the front line near Popansa, Luhansk. 'The presence of two armed assault groups of up to 20 fighters in mixed camouflage uniforms has been noted in the zone of the Ukrainian 24th Mechanized Brigade. During closer reconnaissance, it was established that they are speaking Polish,' a spokesman for Basurin said. It is just the latest example of black propaganda in recent days, including several 'false flag' reports, any one of which could be used as a pretext for a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. Lt Col Eduard Basurin claimed around 40 Polish-speaking mercenaries were spotted on the front line near Popansa, Luhansk Basurin added: 'The Polish mercenaries arrived in the area under the guise of instructors as part of the so-called Joint Forces formation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Before being sent to the Donbass, the members of these groups underwent military training under the guidance of British instructors.' According to the DPR command, the mission of the Polish mercenaries and Ukrainian extremists is to carry out 'terrorist and sabotage attacks aimed at disrupting daily life and intimidating the local population.' They were said to be operating alongside members of the 'Right Sector' an extremist Ukrainian nationalist grouping banned in Russia . Two units consisting of Right Sector militants, 70-80 people each, also arrived at the locations of the 54th and 56th brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, further along the front, Basurin announced. Sabotage operations have been banned by mutual agreement by both sides in the conflict - so anyone captured is likely to be accused of being a saboteur. The news came as it emerged that British defence chiefs are considering staging a massive joint US-UK parachute drop into eastern Europe. The exercise would be a show of force to Vladimir Putin, as it is feared he will give orders to invade Ukraine, with 126,000 troops on the country's eastern flank and 80,000 Moscow and Belarus soldiers to the north. One plan under discussion is to parachute members of 2 Para and the US 82nd Airborne into Poland as a sign of defiance towards Putin. Pictured: Civilians participate in a Territorial Defence unit training session in Obukhiv, Ukraine Officers in the Ukrainian military forces (pictured) walk in front of damaged buildings in Mariinka, Donetsk Lt Col Eduard Basurin claimed the Polish mercenaries arrived in the area under the guise of instructors as part of the so-called Joint Forces formation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine More than 120 members of 2 Para's B Company are already in Estonia on winter warfare exercises with NATO units. As many as 400 members of 2 Para could be asked to join American colleagues in demonstrating what the Army calls a 'Joint Forcible Entry'. The Parachute Regiment are part of 16 Air Assault Brigade - the UK's high readiness troops based in Colchester, Essex. After the air drop, they would then launch a 14-day wargaming exercise as Russian troops are currently exercising across the border in Belarus. Sources say the Parachute Regiment is 'extremely keen' to perform the drop with the Americans but the MoD and Number Ten are concerned it may appear 'over-aggressive'. More than 200 British Paras dropped into Ukraine in September 2020, in a joint exercise with local forces. A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: 'There are currently no plans for 16 Air Assault Brigade to conduct a jump into Eastern Europe.' Talk about a wild ride. A 38-year-old Florida man is accused of stealing a car after leaving a West Palm Beach-area bar over the weekend, then getting it stuck on railroad tracks where it was hit by a train and sent crashing into a nearby home. Advertisement NO TITLE COULD EXPLAIN THIS CASE, BUT THE DETAILS WILLWELL, ITS BEST TO JUST READ ON, the Martin County Sheriffs Department began its Facebook posting explaining the situation. According to cops, Bradford Weitzel claimed he commandeered the ill-fated car in a good faith effort so that he could use it to find his own automobile. The Port St. Lucie man reportedly told police that he abandoned the stolen car seconds before the stalled auto was struck by a train. Weitzel then tried to steal a forklift from a nearby fruit stand, which he allegedly damaged in the process. Advertisement Bradford Weitzel, of Port St. Lucie. (Martin County Sheriff's Office via Facebook) In the end, Weitzel said he thought it was best to flag down the responding deputies to let them know he was still looking for his car, authorities said. Police say no one was injured in the Saturday morning chaos, but that the explosive sound of a driverless car smashing into the side of their home was clearly jolting for the people inside the house. [ New Jersey woman burns down house of man who called her for sex at 4 a.m., then fell asleep ] NO TITLE COULD EXPLAIN THIS CASE, BUT THE DETAILS WILLWELL, ITS BEST TO JUST READ ON TRAIN vs VEHICLE vs... Posted by Martin County Sheriff's Office on Saturday, February 5, 2022 Weitzel was arrested and charged with Grand Theft and Criminal Mischief. Additional charges are expected, Martin County sheriffs said. Advertisement Britain's daily Covid cases and deaths fell again today as official statistics show how the Omicron wave is still receding. Government dashboard data revealed another 57,623 infections were recorded over the last 24 hours, down 38 per cent on last Monday. It marked the sixth day in a row cases have fallen week-on-week. Another 45 deaths were also registered, a drop of 10 per cent in a week and the lowest daily tally in a month. But fatalities tend to be artificially lower on Mondays because of weekend reporting lags. Latest hospitalisation statistics for England show admissions are down almost 20 per cent in a week, with 1,077 Covid patients entering hospitals across the country on February 5. An updated UK-wide figure will be released later in the week. It came as Boris Johnson today sought to address dismal waiting times in England by setting a 'new' target for three-quarters of suspected cancer patients to be diagnosed or have the disease ruled out within 28 days. During a visit to the Kent Oncology Centre at Maidstone Hospital, Mr Johnson said: 'We want the vast majority of people who think they may have cancer to have a diagnosis either confirming they do or they don't have cancer within 28 days we want three in four to have that.' He revealed the target in the wake of an analysis showing waiting times for cancer referrals and treatments were already at record highs in England, with half a million set to miss the crucial two-week referral target. NHS England aims to treat 85 per cent of cancer patients who receive an urgent referral from their GP within two months, but in November 2021, the latest available, only 67.5 per cent of patients received treatment in this time frame. While the problem predates the Covid pandemic, the disruption to services caused by the virus has exacerbated the problem FEUD: Boris Johnson's blueprint for tackling the NHS backlog for cancer and routine surgeries was scheduled to be unveiled today, but it has been pushed back as ministers failed to sign off the draft document. Health service insiders suggested the Chancellor Rishi Sunak is demanding tough targets in return for funding. Boris and Rishi are pictured separately this morning UK Health Security Agency figures showed cases dropped in three of four nations in a week, which were England (down 40 per cent), Northern Ireland (down 25 per cent) and Wales (also down 25 per cent). Scotland was the only UK nation to see its cases rise compared to the same time the previous week, with infections up 30 per cent from 1,961 to 2,535. Top Oxford professor claims EU trashing of AstraZeneca jab 'probably killed hundreds of thousands of people' Politicians and scientists who cast doubt over the AstraZeneca Covid jab 'probably killed hundreds of thousands of people', an ex-UK Government adviser has claimed. Oxford University professor Sir John Bell said critical comments from leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron had eroded public trust in the vaccine globally. Mr Macron initially trashed the AstraZeneca jab as 'quasi-ineffective' for old people and claimed the UK rushed its approval, in what some described as Brexit bitterness. Meanwhile, German chancellor Angela Merkel who was 66 at the time said last February she would not take the vaccine because of doubts about its effectiveness in over-65s. Her comments came after German medical regulators raised concerns about a lack of data in elderly people in Oxford and AstraZeneca's global trials. Sir John, a regius professor of medicine at Oxford who helped developed the British vaccine, said politicians and scientists had blood on their hands. The reputational damage led to people across Europe and even Africa turning down AstraZeneca doses. Sir John told the BBC: 'I think bad behaviour from scientists and politicians has probably killed hundreds of thousands of people and that they cannot be proud of.' Sir John was speaking to the BBC Two programme AstraZeneca: A Vaccine For the World?, which will air tonight at 9pm. He has held high profile roles in the UK government's Covid response, advising ministers on Covid tests and vaccines. A slew of EU countries including France, Germany, Spain and Italy restricted the vaccine to certain age groups or temporarily suspended it. Advertisement In other Covid news: A top Oxford professor claimed the EU's trashing of the AstraZeneca jab 'probably killed hundreds of thousands of people'; NHS England waiting times for cancer treatment and appointments hit a record high with half a million expected to miss crucial two-week referral target; Study found putting ladies tights over a face mask makes it better at stopping the spread of Covid; School attendance is down because pupils 'no longer feel they need to go to class', report finds. The Prime Minister unveiled the plan as the Government faced criticism for pushing back its publication of the Covid recovery plan amid reports of a feud between the Treasury and No10. But the promises originally set out in the NHS long term plan in January 2019 and revised in 2021 will not come into effect for another year, with Mr Johnson saying he hopes to fulfil the pledge by March 2023. The Government last week teased tough new cancer policy announcements, claiming that it was declaring a 'new war on cancer'. Ministers originally set out the plan to give a definitive answer to most suspected cancer patients in 28 days in its 2019 NHS long-term plan. In March 2021, ministers then announced plans to give a diagnosis to 75 per cent of patients within that timeframe. Meanwhile, a Commons report commissioned by Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting found that between April and November last year, nearly 300,000 Britons with suspected cancer were not seen by an oncologist within two weeks of an urgent referral a target introduced in 2009. Despite covering just seven months, it was higher than the 235,549 figure covering the whole of 2020. Mr Streeting told the Guardian: 'Cancer care is in crisis. As this new analysis shows, terrifyingly large numbers of people are waiting longer than they should to receive vital cancer care and treatment with the insecurity of not knowing.' It comes as ministers face criticism for delays to the publication of the NHS recovery plan which was due to come out today and detail plans on how the NHS will address the nearly 6million-strong backlog for routine hospital care. Mr Johnson said the Government is putting 'huge sums' into the NHS and it is essential to ensure they deliver for patients and for the taxpayer. He said: 'We are now working with the NHS to set some tough targets so that we are able to deliver for the patient and also for the taxpayer. Those are very tough targets. We've got to make sure that the NHS delivers them.' But Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the Government has failed to come up with a recovery plan just as the country needs one. He said: 'It's yet more evidence of the chaos, incompetence particularly of the last three or four months where everybody's been embroiled in allegations about partygate. 'There is a price for that, and the price is the Government not getting on with the job. The Government saying "We need more time" is not going to cut very much ice with those people on the waiting lists.' AstraZeneca has made up a fraction of the EU's two-dose vaccine rollout after suffering serious reputational damage early in the pandemic Oxford professor Sir John Bell (left) said critical comments from leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron (right) had eroded public trust in the vaccine worldwide. From world's only non for profit Covid jab to outcast of the EU: AstraZeneca's turbulent roll out 30 December 2020: The AstraZeneca jab approved for emergency use in the UK 29 January: French President Emmanuel Macron claims the UK-made AstraZeneca vaccine is only 'quasi-effective' in the over-65s just hours before the EU medicines regulator approves the jab 26 February: The 66-year-old German chancellor Angela Merkel comments she will not have the AstraZeneca jab as she is not in the recommended age group of under 65s 1 March: French Government U-turns, approving use of AstraZeneca for the over 65s 11 March: Denmark, Norway and Iceland suspend the use of AstraZeneca vaccines following concerns over blood clots 15 March: France suspends use of AstraZeneca over blood clot fears 19 March: France reapproves AstraZeneca but restricts it to over 55s 7 April: The EU medicines regulator says it has found a rare blood clot side affect of the AstraZeneca jab but added that the overall risk/benefit remains positive in favour of the vaccine 7 May: The UK restricts the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine to the over 40s over a small but statistically significant risk of blood clots in younger people. 12 May: UK medicines regulator says it has spotted 294 cases of the clots in Britons given an first dose of AstraZeneca, affecting about one in 80,000 9 September: AstraZeneca and Pfizer jabs are approved in the UK to be used for third doses as part of a Covid booster programme 4 November: The EU medicines regulator is reported to be in talks about approving the AstraZeneca vaccine for use as part of a booster programme Advertisement Earlier today an ex-UK Government adviser claimed politicians and scientists who cast doubt over the AstraZeneca Covid jab 'probably killed hundreds of thousands of people'. Oxford University professor Sir John Bell said critical comments from leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron had eroded public trust in the vaccine globally. Mr Macron initially trashed the AstraZeneca jab as 'quasi-ineffective' for old people and claimed the UK rushed its approval, in what some described as Brexit bitterness. Meanwhile, German chancellor Angela Merkel who was 66 at the time said last February she would not take the vaccine because of doubts about its effectiveness in over-65s. Her comments came after German medical regulators raised concerns about a lack of data in elderly people in Oxford and AstraZeneca's global trials. Sir John, a regius professor of medicine at Oxford who helped developed the British vaccine, said politicians and scientists had blood on their hands. The reputational damage led to people across Europe and even Africa turning down AstraZeneca doses. Sir John told the BBC: 'I think bad behaviour from scientists and politicians has probably killed hundreds of thousands of people and that they cannot be proud of.' Sir John was speaking to the BBC Two programme AstraZeneca: A Vaccine For the World?, which will air tonight at 9pm. He has held high profile roles in the UK government's Covid response, advising ministers on Covid tests and vaccines. A slew of EU countries including France, Germany, Spain and Italy restricted the vaccine to certain age groups or temporarily suspended it. The spate of bans led to the life-saving vaccine also being held back in developing countries like the Congo and Thailand. Although the jab was eventually reapproved in most nations, the reputational hit drove up vaccine hesitancy and led to many Europeans refusing the vaccine. Some countries, such as Denmark, Norway and Sweden, stopped using AstraZeneca. Initial EU scepticism about the AZ jab centred around the fact only two people over the age of 65 caught Covid in trials, out of 660 participants in that age group. Mr Macron said there was 'very little information' available for the vaccine, describing it as 'quasi-ineffective for people over 65'. The French president also criticised the UK's decision to administer doses 12 weeks apart, instead of the recommended four weeks. He falsely claimed this could 'accelerate the mutations' of the virus. His comments came following a decision by Germany's vaccine commission to restrict the use of the AstraZeneca jab in older people, stating it was only 6.5 per cent effective for the age group. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen also waded into the issue, suggesting that the UK had cut corners on safety. The move and comments prompted concern from both British and European medics that some older people, who were particularly at risk from Covid infection, would be put off getting a potentially life-saving jab. And it was later revealed that this had come to pass, with thousands of people in France turning down the chance to get an AstraZeneca Covid jab following Macron's comments. A small but growing number of reports of deadly blood clots after the vaccine fuelled even more hesitancy about the British jab. The US has still not approved the vaccine, although the country's top Covid doctor Dr Antony Fauci has described it as a 'good vaccine'. Despite the reputational damage done in the early stages of the rollout, AstraZeneca has earned praise for selling the vaccine 'at cost' - meaning not for profit - in the developing world. And some scientists theorised that the UK fared better in the Delta wave than most of its European neighbours because AstraZeneca's jab offered better long-term immunity. Trials have since shown that Pfizer and Moderna's vaccines are better suited as boosters than AstraZeneca, which has largely pushed the British vaccine out of the picture. Ten Cuban migrants who had no lifejackets or safety equipment have been rescued from a small sinking vessel off the coast of Florida. A Coast Guard boat spotted the vessel on Thursday about 40 miles off Key Largo, the U.S. Coast Guard said. 'They didn't have lifejackets or safety equipment,' said Captain Shawn Koch, commanding officer of Air Station Miami. 'If the air crew hadn't found them on the patrol, these people would not have survived the night.' Six migrants were repatriated to Cuba, and four others were evacuated to Florida for medical treatment, the Coast Guard said. This image made available by the the U.S. Coast Guard shows Cuban migrants on a sinking vessel spotted on Thursday, about 40 miles off Key Largo A Coast Guard boat spotted the vessel on Thursday about 40 miles off Key Largo, the U.S. Coast Guard said Many people are so desperate to reach the U.S that they are willing to make the perilous journey from the islands with the help of people smugglers. The US deported 838 Cubans who were stopped at sea in the last fiscal year, which ran from October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021 - the highest total since nearly 1,500 were sent back in 2017. The spike in Cubans fleeing the communist-run island over the last two years has been primarily driven by the scarcity of basic goods, restrictions on civil liberties and the mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic as residents have taken to the streets in mass demonstration that have not been seen since before former leader Fidel Castro came into power. The rescue came two weeks after a boat believed to be used for human smuggling capsized off Florida's coast en route from the Bahamas. Only one of the 40 passengers survived. The sole survivor of that capsized boat spent two days clinging to the vessel and lost his younger sister in the process. Juan Esteban Montoya Caicedo, 22, of Colombia, was rescued by members of the Coast Guard on January 25 about 45 miles east of Fort Pierce Inlet State Park. The vessel had left the island of Bimini just days earlier on January 22 which included immigrants from countries such as the Dominican Republic, Haiti, the Bahamas and Jamaica. The survivor's younger sister Maria Camila Montoya, 18, was also on board with him as the pair planned to travel to Texas to reunite with their mother. The boat's motor had broke down early only hours after departing on January 23 which left the vessel adrift in the sea for about four hours. A wave then caused the vessel to overturn and separated Montoya from his sister as well as from the other members of the traveling group. Authorities have suspected that the vessel had been a part of a human smuggling incident that is currently being investigated. The sole survivor of a capsized boat off the Florida coast has spoken about after he spent two days clinging to the vessel and losing his younger sister in the process Colombian national Juan Esteban Montoya Caicedo, 22, spoke out a recent press conference on Monday after he was the sole survivor of a vessel that capsized off the Florida coast in January Cubans fleeing the socialist regime had been allowed to remain in the United States under President Bill Clinton's 'wet foot, dry foot' 1995 policy which revised the 1966 Cuban Adjustment Act. The law granted them eligibility to become residents within a year. President Obama did away with the immigration policy on January 12, 2017, signing an executive decision that put an end the longstanding law that granted permanent residency to Cubans reaching the country. Cubans caught in the sea by U.S. authorities are returned to Cuba or the country from where they originally departed under United States policy. President Joe Biden's head of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, who was born in Havana, warned Cubans in the past about the dangers behind reaching U.S. shores on vessels. 'Let me be clear: If you take to the sea, you will not come to the United States,' Mayorkas said. 'Any migrant intercepted at sea, regardless of their nationality, will not be permitted to enter the United States. This risk is not worth taking.' Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene argued it was a good thing for the Republicans to have a 'civil war' within the party after GOP Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger were censured by the Republican National Committee for being on the January 6 select committee. 'No one likes to watch people fighting, and we're supposed to support one another - respect and obey Reagan's "11th commandment." But If we are truly going to stop the assault on our freedoms and stop what's happening to our country, where America is just being able to be sold out to the rest of the world, we have to lean into this civil war in the GOP,' she said in an interview with The Washington Times that was published Sunday. The late Republican Ronald Reagan said the 11th Commandment was, 'Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.' Greene, however, has thrown flames at a number of her GOP colleagues, including Cheney, Kinzinger and Reps. Nancy Mace and Dan Crenshaw. She also got into it with former President George W. Bush's top strategist, Karl Rove. 'I love Ronald Reagan. I think he was a great president, but I don't believe in the "11th commandment." I only believe in 10. Those are the commandments I believe in, and saying we cant criticize each other is just being soft and going for failure because the truth is iron sharpens iron,' Greene said. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (right) argued it was a good thing for the Republicans to have a 'civil war' within the party after GOP Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger were censured The Republican National Committee passed a resolution Friday to censure GOP Reps. Liz Cheney (left) and Adam Kinzinger (right) for their involvement in the January 6 select committe. In the interview, Greene took particular offense to those Republicans who are trying to turn their backs on former President Donald Trump. 'They're so naive,' she said. 'They're so out of touch that they are saying, "Oh, he was a speed bump. It's not who the Republican Party is. We're gonna go back to being the uniparty with the Democrats where we all work together ... and sell America out to the rest of the world.' She argued that Republicans needed to 'go to battle on the ides and the policies that will actually support our country and the base and the people that vote us into office.' 'Then we can become the conference and we can become the party that's actually going to solve the problems and serve the very people that send us to do that,' Greene added. Her comments come after the RNC passed a resolution Friday to censure Cheney and Kinzinger for their involvement in the January 6 select committee. The measure was adopted by voice vote by the committee's membership at the RNC's winter meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah. Several RNC members voted nay, but they were in the minority. 'Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger crossed a line. They chose to join Nancy Pelosi in a Democrat-led persecution of ordinary citizens who engaged in legitimate political discourse that had nothing to do with violence at the Capitol. That's why Republican National Committee members and myself overwhelmingly support this resolution,' RNC Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel said in a statement Friday. Cheney tweeted shortly after the vote: 'This was January 6th. This is not "legitimate political discourse,"' she said, sharing video of members of the MAGA mob attacking the U.S. Capitol. The resolution claims that Cheney and Kinzinger are helping the Democrats maintain their Congressional majority. 'The Conference must not be sabotaged by Representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger who have demonstrated, with actions and words, that they support Democrat efforts to destroy President Trump more than they support winning back a Republican majority in 2022,' the resolution said. It said the RNC will 'immediately cease any and all support' of Cheney and Kinzinger, adding that the party denounces 'those who deliberately jeopardize victory in November.' Kinzinger isn't running for re-election, but Cheney has attracted a pro-Trump challenger. A copy of the resolution passed Friday by the Republican National Committee to censure Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger and pull their party support RNC Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel sent out a statement saying she supported the membership's decision. She's pictured addressing the winter meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah, where the vote took place The initial draft, obtained by the AP, accused Cheney and Kinzinger of serving as 'pawns to parrot Democrat talking points' on the House select committee. It also chided them for 'pursuing what amounts to a third political impeachment of President Trump.' The RNC, the political arm of the Republican Party, can't compel the House GOP, under the leadership of Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, to punish Cheney and Kinzinger. On Thursday, the defiant duo vowed to fight former President Donald Trump's lies after the resolution passed out of committee. 'The leaders of the Republican Party have made themselves willing hostages to a man who admits he tried to overturn a presidential election and suggests he would pardon Jan. 6 defendants, some of whome have been charged with seditious conspiracy,' Cheney said. In a series of tweets, Rep. Liz Cheney said the leaders of the Republican Party 'have made themselves willing hostages' to former President Donald Trump Rep. Adam Kinzinger sang a similar tune saying members of the GOP 'allowed conspiracies and toxic tribalism hinder their ability to see clear-eyed' 'I'm a constitutional conservative and I do not recognize those in my party who have abandoned the Constitution to embrace Donald Trump,' the Wyoming lawmaker added. 'History will be their judge. I will never stop fighting for our constitutional republic. No matter what.' Kinzinger, an Illinois Republican who will retire at the end of this term in lieu of facing a MAGA-backed primary opponent, echoed the sentiment. 'I've been a member of the Repubilcan Party long before Donald Trump entered the field,' he said, adding that his 'core beliefs' have not changed. 'Rather than focus their efforts on how to help the American people, my fellow Republicans have chosen to censure to lifelong Members of their party for simply upholding their oaths of office,' Kinzinger continued. 'They've allowed conspiracies and toxic tribalism hinder their ability to see clear-eyed.' 'My efforts will continue to be focused on standing up for truth and working to fight the political matrix that's led us to this point,' Kinzinger added. The resolution that passed Thursday through an RNC subcommittee is a watered-down version, according to the Associated Press. The original version would have called on the House Republican Conference to oust Cheney and Kinzinger, the only two Republicans serving on the January 6 House select committee, which was formed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the top House Democrat, after the Senate Republican Leader MitchMcConnell tanked a bill that formed a 9/11-style bipartisan commission to investigate the Capitol attack. The subcommittee debated the censure motion for hours. 'We want to send a message that we're disapproving of their conduct. Its a middle ground,' RNC member Harmeet Dhillon told the Associated Press, noting that the vote was unanimous. 'This is not about being anti-Trump. There are many anti-Trump Republicans that are not included in this resolution. These two took a specific action to defy party leadership,' she added. Sen. Mitt Romney, one of seven GOP senators who voted to convict Trump during his second impeachment trial, suggested the RNC's actions were shameful in a Friday tweet Sen. Bill Cassidy, who also voted to convict Trump, was dismayed at the RNC's decision to censure the two Republican lawmakers Two Republicans who voted to convict Trump during his second impeachment, over inciting the January 6 insurrection, lambasted the party for making the move. Sen. Mitt Romney tweeted, 'Shame falls on a party that would censure persons of conscience, who seek truth in the face of vitriol.' 'Honor attaches to Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger for seeking truth even when doing so comes at great personal cost,' the Utah Republican said. Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy indicated he was perplexed by the committee's decision. 'The RNC is censuring Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger because they are trying to find out what happened on January 6th - HUH?' Cassidy tweeted. Additionally, Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw told The New York Times he thought the censure was 'dumb stuff.' The phrase 'legitimate political discourse' rattled Republican Sen. Ben Sasse. 'January 6th was not "legitimate political discourse" and I'll say it again: It was shameful mob violence to disrupt a constitutionally-mandated meeting of Congress to affirm the peaceful transfer of power,' he said, according to the National Review. McCarthy, the House's GOP leader, was asked about the decision Friday afternoon on Fox. 'Look, there is a reason why Adam is quitting. There's a reason why Liz Cheney is no longer in leadership and has very low poll rating in Wyoming,' McCarthy replied. He said the January 6 panel was a 'pure political committee,' bringing up how several Congressional Democrats who served on the committee were upset Jeff Zucker resigned from CNN. 'I think those two individuals would have a hard time ever coming back to Congress,' McCarthy again said of Kinzinger and Cheney. Advertisement Vladimir Putin claimed in his meeting with French president Emmanuel Macron yesterday that Russia would 'do everything to find compromises' over Ukraine - but again blamed the West for ongoing tensions. Emerging from nearly five hours of talks in the Kremlin, the two leaders - who had sat at least ten feet apart with the help of an enormous table - voiced hope that a solution could be found to the worst crisis between Russia and the West since the end of the Cold War. Repeatedly thanking Macron for coming to Moscow, Putin said at a joint press conference that the French leader had presented several ideas worth studying. 'A number of his ideas, proposals... are possible as a basis for further steps,' Putin said, adding: 'We will do everything to find compromises that suit everyone.' He did not provide any details but said the two leaders would speak by phone after Macron meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday. Macron said he made proposals of 'concrete security guarantees' and that Putin had 'assured me of his readiness to engage'. The French presidency said the proposals include an undertaking from both sides not to take any new military action, the launching of a new strategic dialogue and efforts to revive the Ukrainian peace process. Putin, who was back at the Kremlin following his diplomatic foray to get support from China over the weekend during the Winter Olympics, again denied that Russia was acting aggressively, despite Western fears of a possible invasion of Ukraine after Russia amassed tens of thousands of its troops on its borders. 'It is not us who are moving towards NATO's borders,' he said, in reference to alliance deployments in eastern Europe. The meeting in Moscow came at the start of a week of intense diplomacy over the Ukraine crisis, with US President Joe Biden also hosting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Washington on Monday. Biden made a categorical vow at the talks to shut down the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Europe if Moscow launches an invasion. 'If Russia invades - that means tanks or troops crossing the border of Ukraine, again - then there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2,' Biden told a joint White House news conference with Scholz, following bilateral talks in the Oval Office. 'I promise you,' Biden said, 'we will bring an end to it.' Commentators suggested that Mr Putin was trying to highlight the wide gulf between the two men as they discussed the growing crisis in the Ukraine on Monday afternoon. 'President Macron was kept a long away from Mr Putin, to the extent that they could only really hear each other through their headphones designed for translating,' a French diplomatic source said. Prior to the meeting, Moscow had already also played down expectations. President Putin's spokesman, Dmitri Peskov, said the situation in Ukraine was 'too complex to expect a decisive breakthrough after just one meeting'. Macron's challenge was to make sure first that things don't get worse on the ground. Before the meeting, Macron said: 'I don't believe in spontaneous miracles.' 'The security and sovereignty of Ukraine or any other European state cannot be a subject for compromise, while it is also legitimate for Russia to pose the question of its own security,' Macron said in an interview with French newspaper Journal du Dimanche, adding he believes 'the geopolitical objective of Russia today is clearly not Ukraine, but to clarify the rules of cohabitation with NATO and the EU.' Over the weekend, he alluded to Putin's potential strategy of mainly using the Ukraine crisis to improve Russia's rules of cohabitation with NATO and the EU on a continent where the aftermath of World War II once set clear spheres of geopolitical influence. Macron has said that Moscow's arguments should be listened to. He told Putin at the beginning of their meeting that 'dialogue is necessary because that's the only thing that will help, in my views, to build a context of a security and stability on the European continent.' 'Today's discussion may be a first step,' Macron said. Russian military officials are worried that an invasion of Ukraine would be more costly than Putin and his inner circle realise, according to communications intercepted by the US. The Russians - who were described as 'intelligence and military operatives', some of them involved in the build-up near Ukraine's border - also worry an attack would be more difficult than anticipated amid uncertainty over exactly what the 'game plan' is and how it would be executed. American officials revealed the intel just hours after a Colonel-General Leonid Ivashov, 78 - a retired member of the Russian armed forces turned politician - issued a rare letter warning Putin against an attack on Ukraine, accusing him of whipping up an 'artificial' conflict to distract from his domestic problems. Putin has spent months massing some 135,000 troops backed by tanks and artillery on Ukraine's borders, sparking repeated warnings from Washington that he is about to invade. The Kremlin has issued a list of security demands that the US and NATO have largely rejected, but talks remain ongoing. Mr Macron, who is in the midst of an election campaign, was expected to propose a renegotiation of Minsk agreements that were supposed to end a war between Russian separatists and Ukraine in the country's east as a way out of the crisis. The new treaties would be jointly negotiated by France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine. It comes amid Macron's broader calls for Europe to take more responsibility for its own security, rather than relying on American forces and diplomacy to guarantee safety on the continent. Vladimir Putin claimed in his meeting with French president Emmanuel Macron yesterday that Russia would 'do everything to find compromises' over Ukraine - but again blamed the West for ongoing tensions. Emerging from nearly five hours of talks in the Kremlin, the two leaders - who had sat at least ten feet apart with the help of an enormous table - voiced hope that a solution could be found to the worst crisis between Russia and the West since the end of the Cold War Repeatedly thanking Macron for coming to Moscow, Putin said at a joint press conference that the French leader had presented several ideas worth studying 'A number of his ideas, proposals... are possible as a basis for further steps,' Putin said, adding: 'We will do everything to find compromises that suit everyone' Emmanuel Macron is hoping to defuse tensions over Ukraine amid fears that Russia is poised to invade the country Leonid Ivashov, a retired Russian general-turned-politician, penned an open letter ahead of Putin's talks with Macron - warning him not to invade and accusing him of manufacturing a crisis to distract from his domestic issues A top retired Russian general has warned Vladimir Putin not to go to war with Ukraine, accusing the leader of whipping up an 'artificial' conflict to distract from his domestic problems. Pictured: Ukraine's live fire exercises The decorated general was one of the most respected and hawkish generals in the Russian MoD and was known as a hardline nationalist Putin noted in yesterday's talks that the U.S. and NATO have ignored Moscow's demands for NATO to keep Ukraine and other ex-Soviet nations out, refrain from placing weapons there and roll back alliance forces from Eastern Europe. He nevertheless signaled his readiness to continue the negotiations. The Russian leader also scoffed at Western descriptions of NATO as a defensive alliance, saying sarcastically that 'people of Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan have had learned it from their own experience.' He warned that Ukraine's accession to NATO could trigger a war between Russia and the alliance. 'If Ukraine becomes a NATO member and moves to reclaim Crimea, European countries will automatically be drawn into a military conflict with Russia,' Putin said. 'You will be drawn into that conflict beyond your will. There will be no winners.' Macron said he had a 'substantial, deep' discussion with Putin, with a focus on conditions that could help de-escalation. 'We tried to build converging elements,' he said. 'The upcoming days will be crucial and deep discussions together will be needed.' He added that it's Europe's duty to find a solution to try to rebuild good-neighborly ties with Russia. 'This discussion can make a start in the direction in which we need to go, which is towards a de-escalation,' Macron said at the start of the meeting in Moscow. He added that he hoped to 'avoid a war' and 'build elements of confidence, stability and visibility for everyone'. 'Dialogue is necessary because that's the only thing that will help, in my views, to build a context of a security and stability on the European continent,' Macron said, calling the discussion a possible first step toward de-escalation. 'I'm happy to have this opportunity to have a deep discussion on all these issues ... and to start building an effective response,' he added. Macron said he made proposals of 'concrete security guarantees' and that Putin had 'assured me of his readiness to engage' The French presidency said the proposals include an undertaking from both sides not to take any new military action, the launching of a new strategic dialogue and efforts to revive the Ukrainian peace process. Above: President Putin Macron said he had a 'substantial, deep' discussion with Putin, with a focus on conditions that could help de-escalation Putin, in turn, hailed France's role in shaping European security and noted that their talks came on a day when the countries signed a friendship treaty 30 years ago Putin, in turn, hailed France's role in shaping European security and noted that their talks came on a day when the countries signed a friendship treaty 30 years ago. 'I realize that we share concern about what's going on in Europe in the security sphere,' Putin told Macron, adding that he appreciates his efforts to help ensure 'an equal security in Europe' and broker a settlement. Macron, who heads to Ukraine on Tuesday, spoke by phone Sunday with U.S. President Joe Biden on 'ongoing diplomatic and deterrence efforts,' according to the White House. Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, described the visit as 'very important,' but sought to temper expectations, saying 'the situation is too complex to expect a decisive breakthrough after just one meeting.' He noted that 'the atmosphere has remained tense,' adding that the U.S. and its allies have continued to ignore Moscow's security demands. Meanwhile German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who has thus far largely avoided getting involved in the crisis, is to meet with Biden later Monday in Washington before traveling to Kyiv and Moscow on Feb. 14-15. Biden and Scholz are expected to address the Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia to Germany during their their first face-to-face meeting since Scholz became the head of the German government nearly two months ago. Ahead of the visit, the White House sought to play down Germany's refusal to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine, bolster its troops in Eastern Europe or spell out which sanctions it would support against Russia - a cautious stand that has drawn criticism abroad and inside Germany. White House officials, who briefed reporters ahead of the meeting on the condition of anonymity, noted that Germany has been a top contributor of nonmilitary aid to Ukraine and has been supportive of the U.S. decision to bolster its troop presence in Poland and Romania to demonstrate its commitment to NATO. German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said Monday it will add up to 350 troops within a few days to about 500 already a part of a NATO battlegroup in Lithuania. 'With this, we are strengthening our contribution to forces on NATO's eastern flank and sending a very clear signal of unity to our allies,' she said. Britain said it was sending 350 troops to Poland to bolster NATO forces, joining 100 Royal Engineers already there. Biden already has deployed additional U.S. troops to Poland, Romania and Germany, and a few dozen elite U.S troops and equipment landed Sunday in southeastern Poland near the border with Ukraine, with hundreds more infantry troops of the 82nd Airborne Division set to arrive. Ivashov, who is active in politics as the chairman of the All-Russian Officers' Assembly, previously served as Putin's chief of military cooperation in the Ministry of Defence. In an open letter on the assembly's website he said he fears Russia will become a 'pariah of the world community' if an invasion is launched, and called on Putin to resign. Ukrainian Special Forces posing with one of their Humvees after a shipment of US military cargo to prepare for a potential invasion Around 80 tonnes of US arms and ammunition sits on the runway of a Ukrainian airport after being delivered from the US U.S. soldiers disembark from a U.S. Air Force Boeing C-17A Globemaster III as they arrive at Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport in Poland Civilians participate in a Territorial Defence unit training session in Obukhiv, Ukraine, as the threat of Russian invasion grows Who is Colonel-General Leonid Ivashov? Ivashov, 78, married with a daughter, claims to be descended from a Decembrist - banished by Nicholas I to Siberia and later the Urals. His father was wounded in the Second World War, and his mother had been left parentless aged four when her mother and father were sent to Siberia by Stalin. In 1964 he graduated from the Tashkent Higher Combined Arms Command School, and a decade later from the elite Frunze military academy in Moscow. During service, he commanded a reconnaissance platoon of a motorised rifle regiment in the Carpathian military district in western Ukraine, and a motorised rifle company in the Group of Soviet Forces in East Germany. In August 1968, his company was part of the Soviet military contingent that invaded Czechoslovakia. He later worked in the Defence Ministry as a key apparatchik in the officers of Soviet defence ministers Dmitry Ustinov and Sergey Sokolov. After the Soviet collapse, he became close to Slobodan Milosevic - and later gave evidence at his war crimes trial. He was an early and outspoken of NATO expansion to the east, and a frequent Putin critic, both before and after he was fired from the Defence Ministry in 2001. In 2000 Putin floated the idea that Russia could join NATO - strange as this seems now. It was Ivashov - still in uniform - who hit back with comments echoing what the Kremlin now believes two decades later. 'Hypothetically it is certainly possible,' Ivashov said. 'But NATO would have to transform itself from a military bloc into one of the institutions of European security.' The same year he attacked the US over the labelling of Libya and North Korea as rogue states. 'In our view - this is the opinion not just of the Defence Ministry but of Russia - there are no threats to the United States from these countries which they dub rogue states,' he said. In 2003 he initiated the creation of the All-Russian Officers' Assembly, described as 'independent from government officials and the current leadership of the Russian Federation - a platform for discussing the real state of our Armed Forces'. In 2006, he was elected chairman of a monarchist organisation - Union of the Russian People. An attempt to challenge Putin for the Russian presidency in the 2012 election was thwarted on a technicality over his registration. It was claimed 'no one in the Kremlin was scared of Ivashov' yet his outspoken attacks let to his firing. Advertisement The decorated general, who was one of the most respected and hawkish generals in the Russian MoD and is known as a hardline nationalist who still champions the Soviet system and is close to the remains of the Communist party. Since being fired by Putin in 2001 he has become a fierce critic of the Russian president - and has frequently called for him to resign for being too soft and protecting a corrupt elite at the expense of the public, accusing him of 'crimes against Russia'. His latest intervention shows that there is at least some opposition to a war with Ukraine within Russia, and comes after a petition was signed by 5,000 citizens demanding Putin call off the conflict. Ivashov said: 'As for external threats, they are certainly present. But, according to our expert assessment, they are not currently critical, directly threatening the existence of Russian statehood and its vital interests.' Commenting on the letter, Stanford Russia expert Michael McFaul, who previously served as the US ambassador to Russia, said: 'This is a big deal. At one time, General Ivashov was one of the most respected (and hawkish) leaders in the Russian MOD. 'Russian generals don't usually get involved in public policy debates, especially ones like Ivashov.' The All-Russian Officers' Assembly is an independent group established in 2003 discusses the role of the Russian military in the state, and is considered a retirement home for former officers with often nationalist views. In his letter, Ivashov argues that Ukraine has a right to self-defence as an independent nation, and the international backlash to the annexation of Crimea 'convincingly shows the failure of Russian foreign policy'. He continued: 'Attempts to 'love' the Russian Federation and its leadership through an ultimatum and threats of the use of force are senseless and extremely dangerous. 'The use of military force against Ukraine, firstly, will call into question the existence of Russia itself as a state; secondly, it will forever make Russians and Ukrainians mortal enemies. 'Thirdly, there will be tens of thousands of dead young, healthy men on one side and on the other, which will certainly affect the future demographic situation in our dying countries. 'On the battlefield, if this happens, Russian troops will face not only Ukrainian military personnel, among whom there will be many Russian guys, but also military personnel and equipment from many NATO countries, and the member states of the alliance will be obliged to declare war on Russia.' Ivashov added that such an invasion would 'threaten peace and international security' and would result in heavy sanctions for Russia. He said: 'The president and the government, the Ministry of Defense cannot fail to understand such consequences, they are not so stupid.' The hardline general then questions why would Putin risk such hostility and conflict, concluding that it is a distraction from the country's internal problems. He said: 'In our opinion, the country's leadership, realising that it is not capable of leading the country out of the systemic crisis which can lead to an uprising of the people and a change of power in the country, with the support of the oligarchy, corrupt bureaucrats, state media and security forces, decided to activate the political line for the final destruction Russian statehood and the extermination of the country's indigenous population. 'And war is the means that will solve this problem in order to retain its anti-national power for a while and preserve the wealth stolen from the people. We cannot suggest any other explanation.' The remarks come as Putin prepares for talks today with Macron who flew to Moscow in a bid to deescalate the tensions which are threatening an imminent war. Russia has denied any plans to attack its neighbor, but is urging the US and its allies to bar Ukraine and other ex-Soviet nations from joining NATO, halt weapons deployments there and roll back NATO forces from Eastern Europe. Washington and NATO have rejected the demands. Macron, who is set to meet in the Kremlin with Russian President Vladimir Putin before visiting Ukraine Tuesday, said last week that his priority is 'dialogue with Russia and de-escalation'. The general argues that Ukraine has a right to self-defence as an independent nation, pictured carrying out live-fire exercises US intelligence officials have warned of Russia being '70 per cent ready' to invade Ukraine and an intelligence report indicates Russia would be able to overrun Ukraine in just two days German Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks to reporters during an overnight flight to Washington to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden for talks on Russia A C-17 transport plane is prepared at Fort Bragg for deployment to Eastern Europe with members of the 82nd Airborne Division amid escalating tensions between Ukraine and Russia The US suggested in letters that Russian inspectors can gain access to NATO bases in Romania and Poland (pictured above) to guarantee that no Tomahawk missiles are being stationed there. Comes as Pentagon announces 2,000 troops in the U.S. will deploy to Poland and Germany and another 1,000 will head to Romania from their base in Germany US intelligence analysis concluded that the likelihood of a diplomatic resolution of the crisis appears to be increasingly slim Colonel-General Ivashov's letter in full Ivashov was a top Russian general who served under Putin Address of the All-Russian Officers' Assembly, to the President and citizens of the Russian Federation Today humanity lives in anticipation of war. And war is the inevitable loss of life, destruction, suffering of large masses of people, the destruction of the usual way of life, the violation of the vital systems of states and peoples. A big war is a huge tragedy, someone's serious crime. It so happened that Russia was at the center of this impending catastrophe. And, perhaps, this is the first time in its history. Previously, Russia (USSR) waged forced (just) wars, and, as a rule, when there was no other way out, when the vital interests of the state and society were threatened. And what threatens the existence of Russia itself today, and are there such threats? It can be argued that there is indeed a threat - the country is on the verge of completing its history. All vital areas, including demography, are steadily degrading, and the rate of population extinction is breaking world records. And degradation is systemic in nature, and in any complex system, the destruction of one of the elements can lead to the collapse of the entire system. And this, in our opinion, is the main threat to the Russian Federation. But this is a threat of an internal nature, emanating from the model of the state, the quality of power and the state of society. And the reasons for its formation are internal: the unviability of the state model, the complete incapacity and lack of professionalism of the system of power and administration, the passivity and disorganization of society. In this state, any country does not live long. As for external threats, they are certainly present. But, according to our expert assessment, they are not currently critical, directly threatening the existence of Russian statehood, its vital interests. On the whole, strategic stability is maintained, nuclear weapons are under reliable control, NATO forces are not building up, and they are not showing threatening activity. Therefore, the situation that is being whipped up around Ukraine is, first of all, artificial, mercenary in nature for some internal forces, including the Russian Federation. As a result of the collapse of the USSR, in which Russia (Yeltsin) took a decisive part, Ukraine became an independent state, a member of the UN, and in accordance with Art. 51 of the UN Charter has the right to individual and collective defence. The leadership of the Russian Federation has not yet recognized the results of the referendum on the independence of the DPR and LPR, while at the official level more than once, including during the Minsk negotiation process, emphasized the belonging of their territories and population to Ukraine. It has also been said more than once at a high level about the desire to maintain normal relations with Kiev, without singling out special relations with the DPR and LPR. The issue of the genocide perpetrated by Kiev in the south-eastern regions was not raised either in the UN or in the OSCE. Naturally, in order for Ukraine to remain a friendly neighbor for Russia, it was necessary for it to demonstrate the attractiveness of the Russian model of the state and the system of power. But the Russian Federation did not become one, its development model and foreign policy mechanism of international cooperation repel almost all neighbors, and not only. The acquisition of Crimea and Sevastopol by Russia and their non-recognition as Russian by the international community (and, therefore, the overwhelming number of states in the world still consider them to belong to Ukraine) convincingly shows the failure of Russian foreign policy, and the unattractiveness of domestic. Attempts to 'love' the Russian Federation and its leadership through an ultimatum and threats of the use of force are senseless and extremely dangerous. The use of military force against Ukraine, firstly, will call into question the existence of Russia itself as a state; secondly, it will forever make Russians and Ukrainians mortal enemies. Thirdly, there will be thousands (tens of thousands) of dead young, healthy guys on one side and on the other, which will certainly affect the future demographic situation in our dying countries. On the battlefield, if this happens, Russian troops will face not only Ukrainian military personnel, among whom there will be many Russian guys, but also military personnel and equipment from many NATO countries, and the member states of the alliance will be obliged to declare war on Russia. President of the Republic of Turkey R. Erdogan clearly stated which side Turkey would fight on. And it can be assumed that two Turkish field armies and a fleet will be ordered to 'liberate' the Crimea and Sevastopol and possibly invade the Caucasus. In addition, Russia will definitely be included in the category of countries that threaten peace and international security, will be subject to the heaviest sanctions, will turn into a pariah of the world community, and will probably be deprived of the status of an independent state. The president and the government, the Ministry of Defense cannot fail to understand such consequences, they are not so stupid. The question arises: what are the true goals of provoking tension on the brink of war, and the possible unleashing of large-scale hostilities? And that there will be, says the number and combat composition of the groupings of troops formed by the parties - no less than one hundred thousand servicemen from each side. Russia, exposing the eastern borders, is transferring formations to the borders of Ukraine. In our opinion, the country's leadership, realizing that it is not capable of leading the country out of the systemic crisis, and this can lead to an uprising of the people and a change of power in the country, with the support of the oligarchy, corrupt officials, lured media and security forces, decided to activate the political line for the final destruction Russian statehood and the extermination of the indigenous population of the country. And war is the means that will solve this problem in order to retain its anti-national power for a while and preserve the wealth stolen from the people. We cannot suggest any other explanation. From the President of the Russian Federation, we are officers of Russia, we demand to abandon the criminal policy of provoking a war in which the Russian Federation will find itself alone against the united forces of the West, to create conditions for the implementation of Art. 3 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation and resign. We appeal to all retired and retired military personnel, citizens of Russia with a recommendation to be vigilant, organized, support the demands of the Council of the All-Russian Officers' Assembly, actively oppose propaganda and unleashing a war, and prevent an internal civil conflict with the use of military force. Chairman of the All-Russian Officers' Assembly Colonel-General Ivashov L.G. Advertisement Before heading to Moscow, Macron had a call with US President Joe Biden in which they discussed 'ongoing diplomatic and deterrence efforts in response to Russia's continued military build-up on Ukraine's borders, and affirmed their support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity'. In an interview with French newspaper Journal du Dimanche published on Sunday, Macron said that 'we won't get unilateral gestures but it is indispensable to prevent a degradation of the situation before building confidence gestures and mechanisms'. 'The geopolitical objective of Russia today is clearly not Ukraine, but to clarify the rules of cohabitation with NATO and the EU,' Macron said. 'The security and sovereignty of Ukraine or any other European state cannot be a subject for compromise, while it is also legitimate for Russia to pose the question of its own security.' US officials have confirmed that Russia has already assembled at least 70 per cent of the military firepower it likely intends to have in place by mid-month to give Putin the option of launching a full-scale invasion. 'If war breaks out, it will come at an enormous human cost to Ukraine, but we believe that based on our preparations and our response, it will come at a strategic cost to Russia as well,' national security adviser Jake Sullivan said. Sullivan did not directly address reports that the White House has briefed lawmakers that a full Russian invasion could lead to the quick capture of Kyiv and potentially result in as many as 50,000 casualties as he made appearances on a trio of Sunday talk shows. US officials, who discussed internal assessments of the Russian buildup on the condition that they not be identified, sketched out a series of indicators suggesting that Putin intends to start an invasion in the coming weeks, although the size and scale are unclear. Russia would be able to overrun Ukraine in just two days in an invasion that could kill 50,000 civilians, according to US intelligence Civilians participate in a Territorial Defence unit session to receive basic combat and survival training They stressed that a diplomatic solution appears to remain possible. Officials pointed to the fact that Russia's strategic nuclear forces that usually is held each fall was rescheduled for mid-February to March. That coincides with what officials see as the most likely window for invasion. Last week, Biden administration officials said that intelligence findings showed that the Kremlin had worked up an elaborate plot to fabricate an attack by Ukrainian forces that Russia could use as a pretext to take military action against its neighbor. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Thursday that the scheme included production of a graphic propaganda video that would show staged explosions and use corpses and actors depicting grieving mourners. 'It could happen as soon as tomorrow or it could take some weeks yet,' Sullivan said. He added that Putin 'has put himself in a position with military deployments to be able to act aggressively against Ukraine at any time now.' Sullivan said that the administration held on to hope that the Russians would move to de-escalate the situation through diplomacy. Ukraine is holding military exercises in Chernobyl, with troops firing at abandoned buildings and launching grenades in the deserted exclusion zone as Russian troops continue to amass on the border Western intelligence assessments also believe Kyiv's government would fall within that timeframe, and lead to a humanitarian crisis involving around 5million refugees. (Pictured: Military helicopters take part in the Belarusian and Russian joint military drills at Brestsky firing range on Friday) 'The key thing is that the United States needs to be and is prepared for any of those contingencies and in lockstep with our allies and partners,' Sullivan said. 'We have reinforced and reassured our allies on the eastern flank.' It comes as Germany was accused of being 'missing in action' by allies as international tensions continue to mount over Russia's military build-up on the Ukrainian border. While other NATO members deploy battlegroups, send tactical supplies and offer more vocal support, the Germans have appeared to draw a line in the sand and refused to offer tangible support. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will travel to the White House next week to reassure Americans that his country stands alongside the United States and other NATO partners in opposing any Russian aggression against Ukraine. Scholz has said that Moscow would pay a 'high price' in the event of an attack, but has so far failed to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine, bolster its troop numbers in the region or elaborate on any planned sanctions he would take against Vladimir Putin. 'The Germans are right now missing in action. They are doing far less than they need to do,' Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat and member of the Armed Services Committee, recently told an audience of Ukrainian Americans in his state, Connecticut. Western intelligence assessments believe Kyiv's government could fall within two days of an invasion and lead to a humanitarian crisis involving around 5million refugees and more than 50,000 civilian casualties. Germany's Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht again ruled out supplying Kyiv with arms, after Ukraine's embassy in Germany sent a list with specific requests to the foreign and defence ministries in Berlin. The list included missile defence systems, tools for electronic warfare, night vision goggles, digital radios, radar stations and military ambulances - equipment which, in part, is already in short supply. Referring to an earlier build-up last year, one European official - speaking on condition of anonymity - told the Washington Post: 'Our worry would be that you don't park battle groups on the border of another country twice and do nothing. 'I think that's the real fear that I have. [Putin's] now put them all out there. If he does nothing again what does that say to the wider international community about the might of Russia?' German media reports said Mr Putin who objects to the idea of the Ukraine being admitted as a Nato member had a three-step plan to bring Ukraine under a new 'union state' including Russia and Belarus, with Moscow as the centre of control. The report, attributed by the Bild newspaper to a foreign secret service source, said Ukrainian activists will be rounded up and put into camps once a pro-Russian government had been installed. Putin has continued to deny plans to attack Ukraine but urged the US and its allies to provide a binding pledge that they do not accept the former Soviet state into NATO or deploy offensive weapons. (Above, ground attack aircraft at Luninets airfield in Belarus on Friday) HOW IS EUROPE GOING TO FIND MORE GAS? When it comes to feeling the heat during winter, Europe is particularly dependent on Russia's energy supplies. The EU is also complaining that Moscow has not been forthcoming with additional gas shipments to Europe when market logic, with its current sky-high prices, would make it a no-brainer. Over 40 per cent of Europe's gas supplies come from Russia. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on the eve of Monday's EU-US energy meeting in Washington that 'Russia has already in the past used energy supplies for political purposes.' Now the 27-nation bloc desperately needs to diversify its gas sources, and is finding a helping hand in Washington. 'The United States will do everything we can to help ease any disruptions to Europe's energy supply, and indeed, we already are,' said U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, adding that Washington is in talks with major producers and nations around the world. 'These efforts are aimed at shoring up energy supply throughout Europe, including Ukraine, whose energy security is particularly threatened by Russian aggression,' Blinken said. Advertisement It warned that an invasion was currently 'the most likely scenario' adding that it could happen as early as this month as temperatures plummet and allow heavy ordnance and machinery to more easily traverse Ukrainian territory. In recent months, Russia has conducted a series of joint drills with Belarus and repeatedly sent its nuclear-capable long-range bombers to patrol the skies over its neighbour, which borders Nato members Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. Belarus' authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko, who has increasingly relied on the Kremlin's political and financial support amid bruising Western sanctions triggered by his crackdown on domestic protests, has called for closer defence ties with Moscow and recently offered to host Russian nuclear weapons. As war fears mounted, Ukrainian authorities launched a series of drills for civilians to prepare for a possible Russian invasion. It comes as US military and intelligence officials believe Russia is set to run a major nuclear weapons exercise in the coming weeks as a warning to Nato not to intervene in the event of Putin invading Ukraine, the Financial Times reported. General Mark Milley, chair of the joint chiefs, and Avril Haines, director of national intelligence, said on Thursday that Putin was planning to begin the exercises in mid-February, according to a Congressional aide. Russia usually holds its annual nuclear exercises in the autumn but the US believes Putin has decided to hold them earlier this year as a show of strength. Meanwhile, NATO has warned that Russia is massing nuclear-capable missiles along with 30,000 troops in Belarus. Jens Stoltenberg, NATO general secretary, said earlier this week that Russia has already deployed thousands of troops including Spetsnaz special forces, along with Iskander missiles that can be tipped with nukes, fighter jets, and S-400 anti-aircraft systems. A male nurse hired by a short-staffed New Jersey hospital torched a female staff worker and then hit her in the head with a wrench after the two were reportedly heard having an argument in the break room early Monday morning, police said. The unidentified male contract nurse hired in November by Hackensack University Medical Center doused the woman with an unknown accelerant before lighting her on fire and then smashed her in the head with a plumber's wrench, cops said. He then fled in his car and remains at large. There were no witnesses when the incident took place shortly before 5.30 a.m. in one of the hospital's break rooms after the pair were heard arguing. His unidentified victim - a patient care technician (PCT) - suffered third-degree burns to her upper body and lower face, as well as lacerations to her head that required stitches, hospital officials said. She is in critical but stable condition after being brought to St Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston to treat her severe burns. Police do not know what the motive was for the attack. A patient care technician is in critical but stable condition after being attacked at 5.30 a.m. by a travel nurse at Hackensack University Medical Center (pictured) Dailymail.com has contacted the Hackensack Police Department and the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office. Both offices are investigating the incident, but did not want to answer or immediately respond to requests for comment. 'Violence will not be tolerated in our network,' a hospital spokesperson said in a statement. 'Our doctors, nurses and teams are true heroes and deserve our respect. The safety of our patients and our team members is Hackensack Meridian Health's highest priority.' Travel nurses typically work shifts at different hospital locations, and are not considered full-time employees. They go through an extensive background and reference check. A PCT usually works alongside a registered nurse. The suspect was hired as the state's hospital workers were wracked by COVID infections caused by the Delta and Omicron variants. Statewide, a record 586 health care workers reported COVID infections between Thanksgiving and Christmas, according to NorthJersey.com. Additional security has been asked to monitor around the HUMC campus. Hospital employees were informed of the attack Monday. A Florida man allegedly stole a car and drove it onto train tracks where it got hit by a train and sent flying into a house. Bradford Weitzel, 38, of Port St. Lucie, told police he stole the car in the early hours of Sunday morning in a 'good faith effort' to search for his own vehicle after leaving a bar in Martin County, around 50 miles north of West Palm Beach. Instead, he got the car stuck on nearby railroad tracks in the path of an oncoming train, causing the stolen vehicle to be catapulted into the air and into a nearby home. Weitzel told authorities that he was able to free himself from the vehicle as it was flung into the house, and amazingly escaped the incident unscathed. No one in the home was harmed. 'TRAIN vs VEHICLE vs HOUSE,' Martin County Sheriff's Office wrote in their post about the crash. After the crash, Weitzel tried to steal a forklift from a nearby fruit stand, which he also vandalized, the Martin County Sheriffs Office said in a statement. He was arrested after flagging down responding deputies 'to let them know he was still looking for his car,' the statement said. Pictured: the stolen car after the collision with a train in Florida, via the Martin County Sheriff's Office The car got stuck on nearby railroad tracks in the path of an oncoming train, causing the stolen vehicle to be flung into the air and into a nearby home Pictured: the mugshot of 38-year-old Bradford Weitzel, of Port St. Lucie, who was arrested and charged with grand theft and criminal mischief The homeowners were fine, but 'the explosive sound of a driverless car smashing into the side of their home was clearly jolting,' the sheriffs office said. In describing the episode, the sheriff's office said: 'No title could explain this case, but the details will well, its best to just read on.' Photos of the crash show the stolen car nearly tipped over and totaled. Weitzel faces charges of grand theft and criminal mischief, and additional charges are expected, according to authorities. The news comes just weeks after another Florida man made headlines after getting arrested with baggies of cocaine and meth strapped to his penis during a traffic stop. Pictured: the vehicle's owner stands by the train tracks where his car was left and then struck by a train after Bradford Weitzel stole and wrecked it on Saturday morning Bradford Weitzel is seen in some of his Facebook photos The man leading a group advocating for victims of illegal immigrant criminals says it's time to put Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas behind bars after he issued a rule in the fall deprioritizing deportation of certain illegal aliens who committed crimes in the U.S. Increased attention on illegal alien crime comes after Mayorkas released new rules in the fall deprioritizing deportation for nonresident criminals he feels are not a threat to public safety. Don Rosenberg, President of Advocates for Victims of Illegal Alien Crime (AVIAC), claims that Mayorkas' latest rules are further proof that the man running the immigration system in the U.S. is a 'sociopath' who doesn't want any people deported who are illegally in the country. 'He [Mayorkas] doesn't want to deport anyone,' Rosenberg told DailyMail.com in an interview. 'That's his focus,' he added. 'But he knows he can't just flat out come and say that. However, he did, twice now. But the most recent, I guess, last week saying that being in the country illegally, in and of itself, is not a reason for deportation.' 'Well, no, it's the only reason for deportation,' Rosenberg said. In the Guidelines for the Enforcement of Civil Immigration Law, Mayorkas said 'the fact an individual is a removable noncitizen therefore should not alone be the basis of an enforcement action against them.' '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 in the memo sent to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on September 30, 2021. The bigger issue at hand, Rosenberg notes, is that not only are these individuals living in the U.S. without consequence, but also many of them will go on to commit crimes and will not face deportation as punishment for those incursions. ICE has now rescinded or deprioritized detainers or request for deportation of many criminals who the Biden administration doesn't see as a real threat, according to Mayorkas' memo. The DHS head notes that there are three criteria for prioritized deportation: the individual is a terrorist or threat to national security, they have recently crossed the border or they are a threat to public safety. 'The long and short of it is, Mayorkas, who we've called to resign, we've called for Biden to fire him, we've called for him to be impeached, he now needs to be charged with a felony,' Rosenberg insisted. President of the Advocates for Victims of Illegal Alien Crime Don Rosenberg (right) told DailyMail.com that Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas (left) is a 'pathological lair' after DHS claimed rather than using the required 'notice and comment' period for a new rule, it engaged in 'listening sessions' with the AVIAC Rosenberg (center) started AVIAC after his son Drew (left) was killed in a car collision with a nonresident 11 years ago. The above photo was taken a few months before Drew's death He claims Mayorkas violated Title 8 Section 1324 of U.S. code and 'belongs behind bars.' The AVIAC president pointed to Mayorkas being in 'knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that an alien has come to, entered, or remains in the United States in violation of law.' Rosenberg, whose son was killed in a car crash 11 years ago with an illegal immigrant who was driving without a license, questions how Mayorkas doesn't view murder as a 'threat to public safety'. 'How can somebody who shouldn't be here, drives drunk, kills somebody, tries to flee, not be a threat to public safety,' he questioned in reference to a recent case where the noncitizen who killed a 19-year-old woman in a drunk driving incident in 2020 is no longer prioritized for deportation following punishment. 'Mayorkas has now set a precedent and I can tell you almost every single day an illegal alien driving drunk kills somebody probably more... That means, all these people are going to be allowed to stay here? I guess it does. He now set the precedent,' Rosenberg said. 'Where is that line? What does he consider a threat to public safety?' he wondered. In the guidelines for ICE enforcement from Mayorkas, 'threat to public safety' section claims: 'A noncitizen who poses a current threat to public safety, typically because of serious criminal conduct, is a priority for apprehension and removal.' What constitutes a public safety threat is, as defined by Mayorkas, depended on 'an assessment of the individual and the totality of the facts and circumstances.' Rosenberg says Mayorkas 'doesn't want to deport anybody' after his agency changed the rules for deportation prioritization for illegal aliens who committed crimes while in the U.S. Pictured: Asylum-seeking migrants from Venezuela walk across the Rio Grande river into the U.S. from Mexico on May 6, 2021 Some factors taken into consideration in individual assessments include 'the gravity of the offense of conviction and the sentence imposed' and 'the nature and degree of harm caused by the criminal offense', as well as 'sophistication' and whether a 'firearm or dangerous weapon' was involved. During the 2020 presidential campaign, Joe Biden said that he did not consider drunk driving a felony. 'You only arrest for the purpose of dealing with a felony that's committed, and I don't count drunk driving as a felony,' Biden said when discussing changing policy so children of undocumented people won't have to fear their parents will be deported. 'They go off to school wondering whether their mom comes and picks them up, is she not going to be there because an ICE agent was there to arrest her? Or she takes them to the doctor, that she's going to not be there because she is 'undocumented' and an ICE agent is going to pick him up,' Biden said during the Brown & Black Democratic Presidential Forum hosted by Vice News in Des Moines, Iowa on January 23, 2020. In a lawsuit brought by the states of Arizona, Montana and Ohio challenging the new ICE regulations on deportation, they note that DHS claims that rather than using the required 'notice and comment' period for a new rule, it engaged in 'listening sessions' with the AVIAC, among other groups. While the lawsuit notes that this action doesn't rid them of their obligation to hold a notice and comment period, they also accuse that it is inaccurate. 'The president of Advocates for Victims of Illegal Alien Crime, for example, disputes that DHS ever discussed the priorities with him or his organization,' the lawsuit notes in reference to Rosenberg, who confirmed to DailyMail.com that he did not speak with Mayorkas or DHS about the rule change. Rosenberg says after his son's death he was told by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services that his killer wouldn't be deported because he 'only committed one crime of moral turpitude' 'The guy is a pathological liar,' he said. 'I have met with him in the past. And I think he's psychotic. I know I'm not a doctor and I shouldn't be probably throwing terms out like that but there's something wrong with this guy.' DHS did not immediately respond to a DailyMail.com request for comment on the case and whether any representatives, including Mayorkas, had met with Rosenberg before issuing the rule. Rosenberg said when pursuing his son's case years ago, he went to his liberal congressman at the time Henry Waxman and was referred to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). When he asked USCIS if his son's killer would be deported following sentencing, he was told they would not do so because he had 'Only committed one crime of moral turpitude', which, he explained is government speak for, 'Well, he's only killed one person, what's the big deal?' Unbeknownst to Rosenberg at the time, Mayorkas was at the helm of USCIS when he received this response. 'I didn't know the head of USCIS at the time was Mayorkas,' he told DailyMail.com. 'You can even see it. Look him in the eye when he's testifying or something. There's something missing behind that,' Rosenberg said. 'And again, I know that's garbage talk but, you know, you can judge for yourself just looking at him and listening.' The impending lawsuit will be heard in Dayton, Ohio on February 15. The mother of Adrienne Sophia Exum, a 19-year-old who was killed by an illegal immigrant in a hit-and-run said, she last week that she is 'disappointed' with the Biden administration's new policies that will see her daughter's alleged killer stay in the country. 'My message is, look out for the American people first,' Rhonda Exum told Fox News during a panel of victims of illegal immigrant crime when asked what she would tell Biden when it comes to border policies. 'Truth be told, this was literally my first time voting and I voted for you, and I feel disappointed right now,' Exum added. Rosenberg said he doesn't want to e 'cruel,' but claims Exum wouldn't even have migration and immigration issues on her mind if her own daughter wasn't the victim of an illegal immigrants crime. He said Mayorkas' new rules are exactly what Biden promised would come during his 2020 presidential campaign when vowing open borders to those seeking asylum. 'Look, a lot of these people are very nice and work very hard, but that doesn't give you permission to break into the country. And it doesn't excuse the bad people who came in,' Rosenberg said. 'Now you've got, you now, there's at least 1 million people that are in the country now who came in illegally, and I think if the public realized that some significant percentage of them will kill people, will rape women, will commit other crimes, they wouldn't be so: 'Oh I like this guy [Biden].' 'Now all of the sudden you're a victim, and I'm not saying this to be cruel but, now you woke up,' he said. Mayorkas issued new rules in September deprioritizing deportation of illegal immigrants who are convicted of crimes not deemed a threat to national security or public safety. The DHS head arrived for a closed-door briefing with senators at the Capitol on February 3, 2022 This includes the case of Adrienne Sophia Exum, a 19-year-old killed by a drunk driver noncitizen in 2020. Her mother, Rhonda Exum, said last week she is 'disappointed' with the Biden's new policies that will see her daughter's alleged killer stay in the country Heriberto Fuerte-Padilla, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, was driving drunk in November 2020 when he caused a car crash in Texas, killing 19-year-old Adrienne. The accused tried to flee the scene but was caught by police. While DHS initially wanted authorities to deport Fuerte-Padilla after Texas issued its punishment, the federal agency reversed the decision because the individual does not qualify for priority deportation under Mayorkas' new rules issued in September 2021 to try and lower the number of removals. Rosenberg said a lot of people don't want to speak out against immigration issues, even when they are a victim of illegal alien crime, because they don't want to be labeled by the progressive left as a bigot. 'Quite frankly, many won't do anything because like myself who had been a lifelong Democrat and a fairly liberal one all of the sudden I'm now a racist, a bigot and a white supremacist,' Rosenberg said. 'And a lot of people, you know, didn't like to be called that, obviously, when they weren't and they said, 'I can't get involved in this, it's too difficult.' Another case of adverting deportation emerged with the man who allegedly defaced Union Station in Washington, D.C. with swastikas on Holocaust Remembrance Day last month. Twice-deported Mexican citizen Geraldo Pando has a 15-year criminal history and was arrested for the defacement to Union Station with hate symbols and is being investigated as a hate crime. Pando, 34, reportedly does not face deportation under the Biden administration's new standards for removal. Previously, Pando has been charged with possession of drugs and misdemeanor theft, among other crimes. Rosenberg says Mayorkas and Biden are trying to pass off their open border policies as a way to allow for asylum seekers to get a chance to plead their case. But the AVIAC leader says they are allowing those denied asylum to remain in the U.S. without legal status. 'You've got a guy Mayorkas who comes in, doesn't want to deport anybody, wants to let everybody in the country and then continually, even if it's before Congress, lies about what's going on. 'The border's closed. We're returning all the Haitians back to Haiti. The ones that we let in the country, if they don't get asylum, will be returned.' But he knows that 98 per cent of the people who request asylum never leave the country even though only 15 per cent are granted asylum. And that's statistics,' Rosenberg said. John McCain knew he was taking a gamble when he picked a relatively unknown governor from Alaska to be his 2008 running mate, according to a new book that claims he said, 'F*** it. Let's do it,' when he plumped for Sarah Palin. To emphasize the point he mimed making a dice roll in a conversation with a top campaign strategist. At the time, the decision was dressed up as a bold choice that would excite the Religious Right. In hindsight, the choice of a gun-toting controversialist from Alaska with little experience on the national scene was an act of political desperation that turned a four-point lead for the Arizona senator into a seven-point defeat. McCain knew it was a risk but went for it anyway, according to a new account told by New York Times political reporter Jeremy Peters in his forthcoming book, 'Insurgency: How Republicans Lost Their Party and Got Everything They Ever Wanted.' The conversation took place in August 2008 on McCain's ranch, according to Axios, which published extracts and confirmed the account. Sen. John McCain picked Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate in 2008. His supporters say it was one of the reasons he lost heavily to Barack Obama, and before he died the Arizona senator said he wished he has selected Sen. Joe Lieberman A new account reveals that McCain made an impetuous gamble, saying 'F*** it. Let's do it,' as he plumped for Palin, balling up his hands and miming a dice roll 'Insurgency: How Republicans Lost Their Party and Got Everything They Ever Wanted' is published by Crown on Tuesday 'Mark Salter, a longtime aide to McCain, cautioned him that voters could see a Palin pick as discordant with the message of readiness and experience that the campaign had been focusing on as a contrast with Obama, a forty-seven-year-old first-term senator,' reads the extract. '"There's worse things, John, than losing an election. You could lose your reputation," Salter told him.' Steve Schmidt, a senior campaign strategist often blamed for pushing Palin, 'also thought Palin was a risk but said maybe it was one worth taking,' Peters writes. '[Schmidt] told McCain he should consider whether it would be worth it if he chose Palin and lost, but also knew in the end that he'd lost because he did something bold. '"What you've got to decide," Schmidt told the senator, 'is would you rather lose by seven going for it?" 'McCain turned to his wife, Cindy. "John, it's a gamble," she said. 'This made McCain's face light up. "Well, I wish you hadn't said that," he said. ' McCain, an avid craps player, balled up his fist and blew on it, then shook it like he was about to roll a pair of dice. "F--- it," he said. "Let's do it." The new book, published by Crown on Tuesday, uses the moment as part of its story charting how the Grand Old Party became the party of Trump. McCain later said he regretted his choice. As he was dying from brain cancer he told the HBO documentary 'John McCain: For Whom the Bell Tolls' that he made a mistake by not picking Sen. Joe Lieberman, a Democrat turned independent. 'I should have said: "Look, Joe Lieberman is my best friend, we should take him,"' he said. 'But I was persuaded by my political advisers it would be harmful, and that was another mistake that I made.' Palin's contribution to the 2008 campaign is today remembered as a string of gaffes, many of them from skeptical questions about what qualified her for the role of vice president. She was unable to name single newspaper or magazine when she was asked where she got her news from during a CBS News interview. 'Um, all of them, any of them that have been in front of me all these years.' And she explained her foreign policy experience in terms of Alaska's proximity to Russia. 'They're our next-door neighbours and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska,' she told ABC News. The Post Office chairman who was known as the 'Prince of Darkness' due to his alleged zeal for embarking on job cuts has stepped down just days before the inquiry into the Horizon IT scandal is due to begin. Tim Parker, 66, who was said to be worth 247million in the 2018 rich list, will leave his role in the autumn, Sky News reported. News of Mr Parker's departure comes just a week before retired high court judge Sir Wyn Williams will hear testimony from some of the 3,000 postmasters who were wrongly convicted of stealing from their own tills. It instead turned out that computer glitches were to blame for the financial shortfalls. Along with the then chief executive Paula Vennells, who was in charge of the Post Office from 2012 to 2019, Mr Parker agreed to the strategy of aggressively pursuing postmasters through the courts. The Post Office, which is owned by the Government, eventually conceded and agreed to compensate victims. Tim Parker, 66, who was said to be worth 247million in the 2018 rich list, will leave his role as chairman of the Post Office in the autumn. Above: Mr Parker with the then Post Office Chief Executive Paula Vennells in 2016 It warned last month that it would need Government help to give financial remedies to all 2,500 postmasters who have applied for compensation. The Government has since set aside 1billion to cover the cost. Mr Parker, who stepped down as the chairman of the National Trust last year amid a revolt over his 'woke' policies, later apologised for what he called 'historical failings' and said he was 'sincerely sorry on behalf of the Post Office'. Mr Parker began his role at the Post Office in 2015. He is known in the City as the Prince of Darkness' for the gusto with which he embarked on job cuts in previous roles. Whilst chief executive of Clarks Shoes in the 1990s, he presided over a restructuring which led to the closure of 20 factories. He later became the boss of the AA, where he reportedly arrived in a Porsche to sack factory workers. For his role at the Post Office, Mr Parker was paid 75,000 but has donated his salary to charity in recent years. This figure was reduced to 19,200 in 2018 when he cut his hours further. Mr Parker is still chairman of Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service. A Post Office spokesperson said: 'Tim Parker's second term as chairman will conclude in the autumn with the Department of Business, as the shareholder of Post Office, conducting the search for his successor. News of Mr Parker's departure comes just a week before retired high court judge Sir Wyn Williams will hear testimony from some of the 3,000 postmasters who were wrongly convicted of stealing from their own tills 'The chairman is focused on helping the executive team reset the Post Office as a commercial retailer fulfilling a UK-wide social purpose as well as ensuring that full and fair compensation is paid to people affected by the historical Horizon IT scandal. The Post Office's current chief executive, Nick Read, told MPs last month that the Government would have to step in to help his organisation provide compensation for claimants. Remuneration has so far been offered to less than a third (777) of the 2,500 postmasters who applied for it, but Mr Read has warned that the Post Office will need Government help to ensure everyone eligible is properly compensated. 'The Post Office itself doesn't have the financial resources to compensate a miscarriage of justice of this scale,' he told the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee. The postal service had set aside 153million so postmasters could sue the organisation, it was reported in March last year - as the state-owned business' annual report revealed it had been plunged 307million into the red. The Government - the Post Office's only shareholder - has pledged that it will foot the bill for the final compensation payments to the wrongly convicted workers. The Post Office's current chief executive, Nick Read, told MPs last month that the Government would have to step in to help his organisation provide compensation for claimants The 555 postmasters who exposed the scandal with a successful group action in the High Court had won a legal settlement of 58million - but after legal fees they were left with less than 20,000 each for their years of hurt. In total, 950 postmasters were prosecuted for a variety of charges from 1999, but many of these cases were later linked to problems in the Horizon computer system. Some of the postmasters were sent to prison for false accounting and theft. So far, 72 convictions have been overturned. Mr Read said that 66 of those people who have seen their convictions overturned have applied for an interim 100,000 payment designed to 'bridge the gap' until a full settlement can be reached, Mr Read said. The Post Office has paid out interim payments to 57 of these. 'As soon as (convictions) have been overturned ... the Post Office will be paying those interim payments within 28 days,' said business minister Paul Scully. But the Post Office is yet to be able to contact 127 of the 736 former postmasters whose convictions were linked to Horizon. 'It is my intention that we do give full and final compensation of all the victims of the past and their families,' Mr Read said. He added: 'There is an enormous amount of complexity associated with making sure we get absolutely right how we compensate those postmasters. 'And most importantly that it's full, it's fair and it's final.' Hundreds of subpostmasters were sacked or prosecuted between 1999 and 2015 after reported shortfalls which were eventually attributed to a glitch in IT system rolled out by the Post Office in 1999 (file photo) Hundreds of subpostmasters had been sacked or prosecuted between 1999 and 2015 after reported shortfalls which were eventually attributed to a glitch in an IT system rolled out by the Post Office in 1999. The Post Office spent 32million denying any fault with their IT system and even bullied postmasters into pleading guilty to crimes they knew they had not committed. The Post Office has since apologised to postmasters and the Government has launched a judge-led public inquiry, which held its first live session last year. A Post Office spokesman said: 'We are fully and transparently engaging with the Government's statutory inquiry.' Shortly before the committee hearing started, the Government pledged that it will foot the bill for the final compensation payments to the wrongly convicted workers. The Post Office has said it is unable to cover the payments for the exonerated individuals but the Government - as its only shareholder - confirmed it will pay. Labour has blasted the Government for pushing back its NHS Covid recovery plan, describing the delay as 'just another cancelled operation'. Boris Johnson had hoped to unveil the multi-billion pound catch-up plan today as he scrambles to get his premiership back on track following a spate of scandals. But the publication of the elective recovery plan was bumped as ministers failed to sign off the draft document amid reports of a feud between the Treasury and No10. Health service insiders suggested the Chancellor Rishi Sunak is dragging his feet and demanding firmer NHS targets in return for funding. But Health Secretary Sajid Javid blamed the recent Omicron wave during a series of interviews earlier in which he defended the delay and denied it was because of the Treasury. In a letter to Mr Sunak and Mr Javid this afternoon, Labour's shadow chancellor and health secretary urged the government not to allow the recovery plan to become 'another cancelled operation'. They wrote: 'Whatever the internal arguments within the Conservative Party, you cannot play political games with the NHS while millions of people wait for care. 'If you allow your party's chaos and incompetence to paralyse the Government, it will be NHS patients who pay the price.' Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the wrangling between No10 and the Treasury was 'more evidence of the chaos' and 'incompetence' in the Government. There is anger among the Tories' own ranks over the delay, with former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt describing it as 'extremely disappointing'. Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said it was 'frustrating' that the recovery plan was not yet out and warned against any attempt to impose 'unrealistic' targets on the health service. Boris Johnson (right) and Rishi Sunak (left) put on a show of unity during a visit to an oncology centre in Maidstone today The PM and Mr Sunak - seen as his potential successor - put on an awkward show of unity today during a trip to a cancer treatment centre in Kent. Mr Johnson did unveil a target that no-one will have to wait more than two months for a cancer diagnosis. But that promise was originally set out in the NHS long term plan in January 2019 and will not come into effect for another year. Speaking to reporters without Mr Sunak this afternoon, Mr Johnson said: 'Everybody in No 10 and the Treasury are working together in harmony to deal with the big problems that the country faces and clearing the Covid backlogs.' The 12billion a year national insurance hike coming in from April is being allocated to the NHS and social care reforms, with 5.9billion earmarked for investing in elective surgery, diagnostics, and technology over the next three years Mr Johnson did, however, officially pledge for NHS England to diagnose three-quarters of suspected cancer patients within 28 days. NHS England waiting times for cancer treatment and appointments hit record high Waiting times for cancer referrals and treatment are at record highs in England as the country emerges from the pandemic, a damning analysis has revealed amid a row over the Government's NHS catch-up plan. An estimated half a million people with suspected cancer will not be seen by a specialist within the two-week maximum target set by the health service this year. And for the first time ever, the number of patients diagnosed with the disease who do not start treatment within the crucial one-to-two-month window is expected to exceed 75,000. Reacting to the figures, which were laid bare in an analysis by the House of Commons library, experts warned the delays could reverse survival rates. Cancer charities said patients directly affected by the waits were languishing in 'unimaginable distress and anxiety'. The Commons library analysis was commissioned by shadow health secretary Wes Streeting, who himself was treated for kidney cancer last year. It found that, between April and November last year, 290,428 with suspected cancer did not see an oncologist within 14 days of an urgent referral from their GP a target introduced in 2009. Despite covering just seven months, it was the most of any full year and significantly more than the 235,549 in 2020. It is the equivalent of around 41,000 late referrals each month. The analysis warns that if the trend continues, up to 498,000 people with symptoms synonymous with cancer will not have had their first specialist appointment by the end of the 2021-2022 period in April. If the projections come true, it will represent a more than 10-fold rise on the 45,000 a decade ago. Commons researchers also found a record 12,498 people diagnosed with cancer between April and November last year did not get their 'first definitive treatment' within 31 days of their diagnosis. They warned it could mean that, by April 2022, more than 21,000 confirmed cancer patients will have waited longer than a month in the past year for care. That would be five times more than the number in 2011. But there are an even larger number of patients not getting their first treatment within 62 days of an urgent GP referral another crucial NHS cancer target, Among people diagnosed in the seven months of 2021, 32,647 were not given surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy within that timescale. Advertisement During a visit to the Kent Oncology Centre at Maidstone Hospital, the PM said: 'We want the vast majority of people who think they may have cancer to have a diagnosis either confirming they do or they don't have cancer within 28 days we want three in four to have that.' He also said that 'nobody' would wait longer than two months for a definitive answer either way. But the promises originally set out in the NHS long term plan in January 2019 and revised in 2021 will not come into effect for another year, with Mr Johnson saying he hopes to fulfil the pledge by March 2023. The Government last week teased tough new cancer policy announcements, claiming that it was declaring a 'new war on cancer'. But figures show 71 per cent of suspected cancer patients in England are already given a definitive answer within 28 days. It comes after a damning analysis revealed that waiting times for cancer referrals and treatment are at record highs in England. The report by the House of Commons library estimated half a million people in England with suspected cancer will not be seen by a specialist within two weeks of an urgent referral this year 10 times more than a decade ago. The Government originally set out its plan to give a definitive answer to most suspected cancer patients in 28 days in its 2019 NHS long-term plan. In March 2021, ministers then announced plans to give a diagnosis to 75 per cent of patients within that timeframe. Cancer care was effectively ground to a halt for some patients during the pandemic, with nearly 50,000 fewer people diagnosed during the Covid crisis and cancer treatment dropping by six per cent. Around 166,000 Britons die from cancer every year and someone is diagnosed with the disease every 90 seconds. Meanwhile, a Commons report commissioned by Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting - found that between April and November last year, nearly 300,000 Britons with suspected cancer were not seen by an oncologist within two weeks of an urgent referral a target introduced in 2009. Despite covering just seven months, it was higher than the 235,549 figure covering the whole of 2020. Mr Streeting told the Guardian: 'Cancer care is in crisis. As this new analysis shows, terrifyingly large numbers of people are waiting longer than they should to receive vital cancer care and treatment with the insecurity of not knowing.' Speaking in the Commons today, Mr Streeting said the Prime Minister's 'new' cancer targets were embarrassing as the announcement was 'literally that there is no announcement'. He said: 'Today the Prime Minister announced a new target that no-one should wait more than two months for cancer diagnosis. 'But there was already a target for the vast majority of cancer patients to be treated within two months of referral and it hasnt been hit since 2015. 'Isnt this just another example of the Conservatives lowering standards for patients because they consistently fail to meet them?' But health minister Edward Argar said Mr Johnson is 'unapologetically ambitious' in tackling waiting lists and improving cancer care. He said: 'I am under no illusions that our health system is facing an enormous and unprecedented challenge. 'We are setting out some tough targets for the NHS on cancer. We want to ensure that 75 per cent of patients are diagnosed or have cancer ruled out within 28 days of a GP referral. Placing a GP and a nurse outside A&E to redirect patients could save NHS millions and alleviate pressure on hospitals, study shows Placing a GP and a nurse outside A&E to redirect patients could save the NHS millions and alleviate pressure on hospitals, a trial has found. Since the start of December a group of GPs have been testing a scheme which places two practitioners at the front door of a hospitals A&E department. The duo help assess patients when they arrive and then redirect those who do not need urgent care elsewhere. As many as 75 patients have been redirected in a single day at Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow, North West London, for ailments that could easily be treated by a GP or even a pharmacist. While some turned up for recurrent problems, such as a bad back, one patient even went to A&E because they had run out of Calpol. Instead of spending hours in the emergency waiting room, creating a backlog in an already-stretched system, they were given the option of booking a local GP appointment that very same day or the next morning. Those behind the trial predict the scheme which has redirected 700 patients in total so far could save the NHS up to 30 per cent in costs and help ease the current pressure on hospitals caused by Covid. The pilot, which is in place until the end of March, has been commissioned by local NHS leaders and organised by Northwick Park Hospital and Harrow Health a not-for-profit organisation run by a group of GPs based in Harrow. Dr Kanesh Rajani, chairman of Harrow Health and a GP himself, said: People go to A&E because they know its there. They know that they can access it easily, and they can be seen by a healthcare professional for the problem, but it may not be the most appropriate place for them. The sorts of things people come in for whether it be a shoulder problem or muscular injuries theyve had for days or weeks, or a cough theyve had for a long time, or vomiting and diarrhoea they want help and advice but they may not know a pharmacist can help them or their local GP. The doctor and nurse will be able to help them and make an assessment and appropriately signpost the patient to the right care. Advertisement 'We are working with the NHS and across Government to deliver a targeted and far reaching plan for elective recovery and we will be updating the House at the earliest possible opportunity.' It comes as ministers face criticism for delays to the publication of the NHS recovery plan which was due to come out today and detail plans on how the NHS will address the nearly 6million-strong backlog for routine hospital care. Mr Johnson said the Government is putting 'huge sums' into the NHS and it is essential to ensure they deliver for patients and for the taxpayer. He said: 'We are now working with the NHS to set some tough targets so that we are able to deliver for the patient and also for the taxpayer. 'Those are very tough targets. We've got to make sure that the NHS delivers them.' The NHS recovery plan was reportedly approved by the Department of Health but failed to be signed off by the Treasury after NHS deadlines for meeting targets were pushed back due to the Omicron wave. However, Sajid Javid denied the claims this morning and said the Omicron wave delayed the publication. The health secretary told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'We have got a plan, it is being finalised right now, it will be published very soon. 'We will have some kinds of targets in the new elective recovery plan. Those targets have to be based on clinical need and something that we believe across Government can be delivered.' But Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the Government has failed to come up with a recovery plan just as the country needs one. He said: 'It's yet more evidence of the chaos, incompetence particularly of the last three or four months where everybody's been embroiled in allegations about partygate. 'There is a price for that, and the price is the Government not getting on with the job. 'The Government saying 'We need more time' is not going to cut very much ice with those people on the waiting lists.' Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt, who now chairs the Commons Health and Social Care Committee, said the delay to the plan was 'extremely disappointing'. He said: 'There appears to be an argument about targets which are the last thing the NHS needs: instead they should be discussing where we are going to find the 4,000 additional doctors needed to address the backlog.' Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said it was 'frustrating' that the recovery plan was not yet out and warned against any attempt to impose 'unrealistic' targets on the health service. 'It is really important that we are accountable for public money that is spent, but the danger is that, if you take on targets that are unrealistic, you end up skewing clinical priorities in pursuit of those targets,' he told the Today programme. But Mr Argar said said it is important that the plan 'is the right one and does the job it is intended for'. He said the Government is 'determined to tackle the waiting list' and the plan will be published 'imminently'. The health minister said it could not be released in December for the Omicron wave. Mr Argar added: 'This is a once-in-a-generation challenge and it is absolutely right that we get this plan right. 'We need to make sure we have the right plan, delivering the right outcomes.' He denied that the report was held up by the Treasury and said the Department of Health 'couldnt wish for a better partner than Her Majestys Treasury or this Chancellor, who have shown strong support to our health and care system'. But Mr Streeting said the record NHS waiting list was a 'Tory backlog', as the queue of patients was already at a record level before the pandemic. He said: 'More than a million are waiting for scans and tests used to diagnose cancer and the NHS itself is waiting, waiting for the Governments plan to deal with the backlog. So where is it? 'It was due to be published today but was pulled last night. Its like something from The Thick Of It but the reality is worse than fiction. A photo op without a plan, their own NHS recovery plan just another cancelled operation. 'But dont worry because theres a website coming that will tell people theyre waiting a long time even if theres no plan to make sure that they dont and then theres the reason for the delay.' Tory health minister Mr Argar said there was 'undeniably a huge Covid backlog' and the figure will continue to 'get worse before it gets better'. He added: 'Not only that, our best current estimate is that around eight and a half million people havent come forward for treatment during the pandemic who normally would do. 'But we are pulling out all stops to help the NHS recover and make sure patients are receiving the right care at the right time.' A panel of 12 main jurors and four alternates will be seated at the beginning of next week, the judge presiding over the federal trial of three men convicted in the 2020 murder of Ahmaud Arbery said Monday, as jury selection got off to a quick start. U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood deemed 30 of 52 jury pool members questioned to be capable of serving fairly by the end of the day. Advertisement She questioned the first round of potential jurors mostly behind closed doors in a Brunswick courtroom to determine whether they had formed solid opinions about the case. Greg and Travis McMichael and William Roddie Bryan face federal hate-crime charges for allegedly violating the civil rights of Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man, on the day he was fatally shot. Advertisement The three men, who are white, were each sentenced to life imprisonment in January after being convicted in a state trial last year. Travis McMichael shot and killed Arbery with a shotgun on Feb. 23, 2020, after he, his father and Bryan pursued Arbery while he was jogging in Glynn County, Ga. Wood asked for jury notices to be sent to about 1,000 people throughout Georgia in an effort to find an impartial jury after the state trial garnered widespread attention. The selection process for the federal trial kicked off early Monday with the questioning of 50 potential jurors. Nobody in an initial group of 25 possible jurors raised their hands when Wood asked if there was anyone there who had never heard anything about the case. Ill let the record reflect that no hands were raised, Wood said. Ahmaud Arbery (HANDOUT) One woman, who was not identified, claimed to know Bryan, saying he had worked on mowers and farm equipment for me for about the last six years. I feel sorry for him, the woman told the judge, and said she would try to be impartial if selected. The jury is expected to feature 12 jurors and four alternates. Advertisement Greg and Travis McMichael sought plea deals for their federal charges last week, which would have avoided a trial. The agreements were rejected by the judge following criticism from Arberys family. Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > The plea deals would have allowed Greg and Travis McMichael to spend the first 30 years of their sentences in a federal penitentiary rather than at a state facility. Arberys mother said she felt betrayed after the Department of Justice offered the deals to the father and son. I fought so hard to get these guys in the state prison, Wanda Cooper-Jones said last week. 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. Travis McMichael, Greg McMichael and William "Roddie" Bryan (left to right). (AP) Arberys father also said he was mad as hell about the plea deal. Ahmaud is a kid you cannot replace, Marcus Arbery told reporters last week. He was killed racially and we want 100% justice, not no half justice. Advertisement Following the rejections, Los Angeles attorney Matthew Barhoma told the Daily News that one of the main reasons why the McMichaels would try to reach a federal plea deal is because federal penitentiaries are much nicer. With News Wire Services The Internal Revenue Service is backing off of a controversial partnership with facial recognition software company ID.me on Monday, just as the company began transitioning to using the new technology for new user verification. The agency's use of the controversial tech invoked bipartisan alarm in Congress, with lawmakers criticizing both the IRS and ID.me for a lack of transparency and fueling concerns it could leave millions of Americans vulnerable to cyberattacks and other security issues. 'The IRS announced it will transition away from using a third-party service for facial recognition to help authenticate people creating new online accounts. The transition will occur over the coming weeks in order to prevent larger disruptions to taxpayers during filing season,' the federal agency said. It added that in the interim, IRS users would go through 'an additional authentication process that does not involve facial recognition.' IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig said in a statement, 'The IRS takes taxpayer privacy and security seriously, and we understand the concerns that have been raised.' 'Everyone should feel comfortable with how their personal information is secured, and we are quickly pursuing short-term options that do not involve facial recognition,' Rettig concluded. DailyMail.com has reached out to the IRS for more details. A group of four Democrats including Rep. Ted Lieu (left) and Rep. Pramila Jayapal (right) sent a letter to the IRS commissioner demanding he address their concerns about the controversial tech It comes hours after a group of House Democrats urged the agency to drop its partnership with facial recognition technology company ID.me amid security risks and questions over the company's integrity. And earlier this month Democrat Senator Jeff Merkley and Republican Senator Roy Blunt sent a similar letter to the IRS after reports it was rolling out the new tech. Republican Senator Roy Blunt was part of a bipartisan push to get the IRS to stop using biometrics earlier this month In response to those reports, Merkley and Blunt called on the IRS to cease any and all programs that involve collecting private citizens' biometric data. Currently, facial verification via ID.me is a required step for anyone who signs up for a new IRS.gov account. Users grandfathered into the system can use their old login information until summer 2022 but would then be forced onto the new tech. But four Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives said they were 'deeply concerned' about potential security issues that could arise from giving a third party access to such sensitive private information. A letter was sent to IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig by Reps. Ted Lieu of California, Pramila Jayapal of Washington, Yvette Clark of New York and Anna Eshoo of Connecticut demanding he address the risk by finding an alternative to the public-private partnership. They also blasted both ID.me and the IRS for a 'lack of transparency' in the deal. 'Millions of Americans use the IRS website annually for a variety of vital functions, and, as a result, each of them will be forced to trust a private contractor with some of their most sensitive data,' they wrote. 'We urge the IRS to halt this plan and consult with a wide variety of stakeholders before deciding on an alternative.' Lieu and the rest claim that trusting a private contractor with government data would make it a 'prime target for cyberattacks,' citing a 2019 incident in which a cyberattack on a Customs and Border Patrol subcontractor exposed the faces and sensitive information of numerous American travelers. The lawmakers also point out that facial recognition technologies exhibit 'significant racial bias' with problems disproportionately affecting minorities. Rep. Ted Lieu posted the letter sent to IRS Commissioner Rettig by him and three fellow Democrats onto Twitter Monday afternoon Face matching algorithms have been known to have significantly more false positives for African Americans and Asians than for white people. ID.me was also found to have misrepresented the type of facial recognition algorithms it relies on, according to Cyberscoop. The company claimed previously to solely rely on one-to-one recognition, such as when a user uploads a license or passport photo to match a selfie. They've dismissed the notion of using one-to-many algorithms that match a user's image against an entire database, a more controversial practice. Despite previously calling one-to-many 'complex and problematic,' ID.me CEO Blake Hall admitted last month that his company does use the algorithm in situations to guard new accounts against fraudulent practices like registering under multiple identities The lawmakers called Hall out for his backpedaling and claimed the one-to-many algorithm is 'more privacy invasive and prone to error.' New IRS.gov users will be required to register with ID.me to access their tax information online ID.me, which is already used by multiple government agencies and more than half the country's state unemployment assistance programs, has been plagued by issues in the past. The Treasury Department said that it would look for alternatives to using ID.me's facial recognition software, after Bloomberg reported in late January that users were having trouble accessing unemployment and other government benefits during the pandemic. In their Monday letter, the four Democrats note that underprivileged Americans who need to log into IRS systems but may not have access to proper broadband and 'the required video capabilities' could be largely left out of crucial benefits. They also point out that the IRS's Privacy Impact statement does not mention the use of ID.me's technology on American citizens. 'Given these issues, it is simply wrong to compel millions of Americans to place trust in this new protocol,' they wrote. The United States on Monday offered a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the capture of ISIS-K leader Sanaullah Ghafari and for help finding those behind the August 2021 attack at Kabul airport that killed 13 American service personnel. Ghafari was appointed by the Islamic State's core leadership in the Middle East as head of its Khorasan affiliate - using a historical term for the Afghanistan and Pakistan region - in June 2020, according to the State Department. 'An ISIS communique announcing his appointment described al-Muhajir as an experienced military leader and one of ISIS-Ks "urban lions" in Kabul who has been involved in guerrilla operations and the planning of suicide and complex attacks,' it said, using one of his known aliases. It comes after the United Nations reported that terror groups now enjoy greater freedom in Afghanistan than at any time in history. ISIS-K previously previously fought the Western-backed government that fell in August as well as the Taliban. The State Department said Ghafari was responsible for approving all ISIS-K operations throughout Afghanistan and arranging funding to conduct operations. The State Department's Rewards for Justice on Monday announced it was offering a $10 million reward for information leading to ISIS-K chief Sanaullah Ghafari Ghafari is believed to sign off on all ISIS-K attacks in Afghanistan, including the one that killed 13 US service personnel at Kabul airport last year - moments after this picture was taken ISIS-K has been responsible for a string of bloody attacks across Afghanistan. In October 2021, it claimed a mosque attack that killed and wounded dozens of people in Kunduz It declared him a 'Specially Designated Global Terrorist' in November. Some reports suggest the 27-year-old was born in Iraq - based on his nickname of al-Muhajir or 'the migrant - but U.S. government documents list his birthplace as Afghanistan. He was believed to have been a mid-level commander in the Taliban-allied Haqqani Network, before joining the Islamic State affiliate. For years ISIS-K was overshadowed by the Taliban. But it has prospered in recent months after the collapse of the Western-backed government, according to a United Nations monitoring report published last week. It said that estimates of ISIS-K strength had risen from 2200 to closer to 4000, following the release of several thousand prisoners. 'There are no recent signs that the Taliban has taken steps to limit the activities of foreign terrorist fighters in the country,' said the report. 'On the contrary, terrorist groups enjoy greater freedom there than at any time in recent history.' ISIS-K it was catapulted into the limelight with a suicide attack on Kabul airport during the final days of the chaotic American withdrawal. The Pentagon on Friday released the findings of its investigation, concluding that a lone ISIS-K bomber 13 U.S. troops and at least 170 Afghans . The bombing occurred on Aug. 26 as U.S. troops were trying to help Americans and Afghans flee during the aftermath of the Taliban's takeover, and compounded America's sense of defeat after 20 years of war. Rewards for Justice also appealed for help in tracking down the people behind the attack on Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport on August 26 last year, killing more than 180 Slides shown during Pentagon briefing show how the US dead and wounded were close to the canal where the bomber detonated his explosives, and had clustered together to search potential evacuees. The worst hit were standing on a wall overlooking the canal It was the darkest chapter in the operation, and prompted questions about why the Biden administration had not been better prepared. Investigators laid out a detailed account of the how the bombing was carried out. A lone bomber, dressed in black, carrying about 20 pounds of explosives was responsible, they said. He was able to approach the airport's Abbey Gate without being stopped because Afghans had begun using a variety of different routes to avoid Taliban checkpoints. Investigators displayed photographs taken of the crush in the area just before the blast and explained that Marines were forming human barriers to prevent people getting through unchecked. They said the bomber detonated his explosives by a canal that formed part of the physical defenses of the airport - and likely raised the bomb in the air as he did so. The found the remains of a tattered backpack among the debris. The dead and wounded Americans were hit as shrapnel and ball bearings flew across the canal ditch, and the worst hit had been standing up on a wall to search potential refugees. Although the greatest threat remains within Afghanistan, officials in October said they feared ISIS-K could develop the ability to strike outside the country within six to 12 months. An Oregon man posed as a federal agent and convinced a woman that she was training to become a DEA officer for an entire year before the real feds were tipped off about the pair by local police, court documents revealed. Robert Edward Golden, 41, is facing federal charges of impersonating a federal agent for the ruse, which saw him take his wide-eyed protege on bogus ride-alongs throughout the city of Portland and gift her with a phony badge she thought was real, according to a criminal complaint filed Thursday. What's more, the man even duped his malleable mentee to develop 'confidential informants' by speaking with homeless people. The name of the 'trainee,' as the complaint refers to her, was not specified in the filing. Portland police detained the pair last Tuesday after an officer noticed a bulletproof vest bearing the drug agency's insignia in the open trunk of a parked car in the city's downtown area, with the two standing by the vehicle, the filing reveals. Feds in Oregon arrested Robert Golden (not pictured) Tuesday after he convinced a woman she was being trained to become a DEA agent - for an entire year - before being busted by actual agents last week The pair were both arrested Tuesday under suspicions of impersonating a federal agent. When apprehended by police, the unwitting woman, who was not named and not charged with a crime, produced a fake badge (not pictured) given to her by Golden to show her credentials The officer further noticed that the car, a silver Dodge Charger, had red-and-blue siren lights on the front interior and around the vehicle's rear license plate. At that point, the officer, Sgt. Matt Jacobsen, approached Golden and the unnamed woman and asked if they were narcotics agents. Golden responded by insisting to the officer that they were 'feds,' the arrest report reveals, urging his naive companion to show the officer her credentials, Jacobsen said following the arrest. The woman then pulled out a badge bearing the bogus Drug Enforcement Administration credentials, the complaint reveals, spurring the officer to cuff and detain the pair. While speaking with Golden, Jacobsen said that he also noticed the bottom of a holster peeking out from under Golden's jacket, according to the complaint, leading the officer the confiscate the weapon, which was later determined to be a replica. The gun did, however, contain live ammunition, according to police. According to the criminal complaint, Golden is now facing federal charges of impersonating a federal agent for the ruse, which saw him take his wide-eyed protege on bogus ride-alongs throughout the city of Portland and gift her a phony badge she thought was real. At that point, Golden told the officer that he 'had more police equipment in his vehicle and additional police equipment/and identification in his apartment,' spurring him to search the vehicle. The sergeant subsequently came across several holsters in Golden's trunk, along with a second tactical vest as well as badges, handcuffs, and more bogus credentials - as well as 'an AR-15 style rifle (later identified as a bb gun),' the complaint reveals. After restraining the pair, Jacobsen reached out to the federal agency's district office in Portland, notifying agents of the situation and that he had come across two people claiming to be with the DEA. When agents arrived on the scene, Jacobsen briefed them on his suspicions, which were spurred by the bogus bulletproof vests - which bore the words 'DEA POLICE' in big, white lettering, in lieu of just 'DEA' in the usual yellow - and Golden's unprofessional phraseology in insisting that they were 'feds.' Portland police then transferred custody of the couple to the DEA that day, with the two being brought to the agency's Portland office. After agents read him his rights, Golden, realizing the gravity of his situation, offered investigators another explanation, claiming he and his sidekick were 'into cosplay,' or costume play - a popular practice where fans of a certain work dress up as their favorite fictional characters. During the interrogation, Golden changed his story again, saying he had the gear because he didnt want anyone to bother him or his mentee around his apartment complex and used it for 'protection,' the filing further reveals. '[He] didn't want anyone to bother him or [the woman] in or around their apartment complex and felt the fake DEA items provided them protection and that he used the red and blue interior lights in his vehicle to get through traffic faster,' the complaint further states. The filings adds that Golden told investigators that he sometimes used the red-and-blue police lights on the Charger to 'get through traffic faster,' and that he once produced his phony badge while impersonating an agent, to try to break up a fight, investigators say. As Golden was questioned, his unwitting patsy was also subjected to interrogation. She told agents she 'was a DEA agent in training and was also attending school for Criminal Justice,' according to the complaint, and that she had been under Golden's wing for more than one year. The woman added that she had taken nightly 'ride-alongs' with Golden to conduct surveillance, with her mentor also having her practice shooting, police say. According to the filing, Golden had promised her that she'd eventually be training with other agents, giving them names such as 'Agent Anderson,' 'Agent Luis,' and 'Agent Garcia' - names agents later determined were fabricated by Golden. 'The DEA Portland District Office does not have any Special Agents in employment' under those names, and the DEA does not provide 'ride-a-longs [sic],' the complaint reads. The woman was not charged with any crime. When investigators again spoke with Golden, however, they asked him about the supposed training he had imparted on his impressionable trainee, to which he detailed how he forced her to network with homeless people in the area to develop 'CIs' - or confidential informants - in case something happened to him. 'Golden said he took her to speak with homeless individuals to develop "CIs" (confidential informants) for future use in case "something happened" to Golden and he was no longer around to take care of her,' the complaint discloses. 'Golden said when he and [the woman] approached the homeless individuals they had the DEA credentials displayed.' Agents then discerned Golden had 'tricked' the woman into believing that he was 'in fact a DEA agent and she is in fact in training to be a DEA agent.' The filing did not reveal Golden's motivations for running the scam for so long, with the exact nature of the relationship between the two at this point remaining unclear He was held Thursday night in Portland's downtown jail and returned to court again Friday afternoon. After a short hearing, a judge released Golden from custody on a number of conditions. First, he must find and keep a full-time job or attend school or both. He must also limit all his travel to within Oregon, unless he gains permission to leave the state. What's more, the wannabe fed must also submit to drug testing, participate in a mental health evaluation, and address a pending warrant out of Texas within 30 days of his release. It is unclear what the Texas warrant stems from. If Golden fails to adhere to these stipulations, the charges will resume. If convicted, Golden faces a maximum sentence of three years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The newly-announced $6.6billion merger between Frontier and Spirit airlines is being hilariously mocked on social media, where users say the partnership will yield 'the absolutely worst airline of all time.' The companies announced the deal Monday, shortly before Frontier was forced to ground all of its US flights due to 'automation issues,' resulting in hundreds of disgruntled passengers as the airline nixed and delayed 22 per cent of its flights. Both airlines ranked among the worst in the nation in two recent studies, where their scores were dragged down by persistent delays, cramped cabins, and passenger complaints. Social media users indicated little hope for improvement while blasting the partnership - which will create the nation's fifth largest airline - on Twitter. 'Frontier and Spirit Airlines are merging, creating the fifth largest, but absolutely worst airline of all time,' tweeted @DAnthonyHiggins. Added @amalia_CLE: 'BYOP - Bring your own pilot. This can't be good.' Others took a slightly more optimistic approach, with actor @DAnthonyHiggins tweeting: 'Their new motto, "Faster than taking a bus".' Frontier airlines announced a $6.6billion merger with Spirit on Monday, and Twitter users had a field day poking fun of a partnership between the nation's worst-ranked airlines One Twitter user joked that passengers would need to bring their own pilot, while another quipped the partnership would create the 'absolutely worst airline of all time.' Others linked Frontier to the 'Greyhound of the sky' Nation's best - and worst - airlines 1. Delta Air Lines 2. Southwest Airlines 3. United Airlines 4. Alaska Airlines 5. American Airlines 6. JetBlue Airways 7. Hawaiian Airlines 8. Spirit Airlines 9. Frontier Airlines 10. Allegiant Air Source: The Points Guy Advertisement Several people likened Frontier as 'the Greyhound of the sky,' as a nod to the slow-moving and stuffy line of buses that transport ground passengers throughout continental North America. Tweeted one user: 'Frontier's new tag line: "If Greyhound had wings".' Another joked that the result of the merger was likely to be 'catastrophic.' The delay-plagued Frontier is considered among the nation's third-worst airlines - behind Allegiant Air, according to a recently-released Wall Street Journal study. Frontier placed seventh in a list of nine carriers in the 'extreme delays' category, and sixth in overall rank, on-time arrivals, and tarmac delays of two hours or more. It was considered the nation's worst airline for involuntary bumping. Spirit Airlines placed eighth, beating only Allegiant Air. Neither company responded to a DailyMail.com request for comment. Both Frontier and Spirit landed near the bottom of an airline ranking last year by the Points Guy, who compared 10 air carriers. Frontier's involuntary bumping, affordability, cancellations and fees landed it in the ninth spot, ahead of only Allegiant Airlines. During the studied 12-month period, Frontier was the proven the worst airline for involuntarily bumping with 3.6 of every 100,000 passengers denied boarding. Spirit, which placed eighth on the list, had the least cancellations among major air carriers but ranked worst for mishandling wheelchairs and scooters. Both companies were docked points for ultra-basic nd cramped cabin features, known to lack televisions, WiFi, or outlets. 'Frontier and Spirit merging is like the airline version of when Injury hooked up with Insult,' joked a Twitter user. Another mused that the partnership sounded 'like a toxic couple getting back together.' Others joked that they expected to witness extra brawls aboard planes operated by the merged companies, tweeting: 'Spirit/Frontier about to be the first airline with standing room tickets.' Someone else quipped that the deal would likely come with caveats, such as extra fees for bags, fuel, and 'earplug dispersal.' Some Twitter users say the merger is doomed to fail, and likened it to a 'toxic couple getting back together' and said the match is similar to insult meeting injury On the review website Airlinequality.com, Frontier has a 2/10 star rating among 2,166 passengers. 'We are all questioning why we fly Frontier,' wrote one reviewer. 'Total fraud of an airline,' wrote another, detailing how their flight time was changed several times and that it was a challenge to cancel tickets. Another passenger detailed how their flight was cancelled without refund. 'Apparently I'm just stranded and they get to keep my money,' C. Morton wrote on February 4. 'I have to call my credit card company to report a fraudulent transaction just to get my money back. Whatever happened to good customer service?' Many Frontier customers left one-star reviews for Frontier airline, complaining of poor customer service and abrupt time changes One passenger questioned why they chose Frontier after having a poor on board experience, while another called the company a 'fraud' Spirit Airlines fared equally bad on the rating's site, with one person calling it 'absolutely terrible' after being unable to cancel despite paying extra for cancellation insurance. Richard Payson called his recent trips with Spirit the 'worst I've ever experienced.' I've never been treated more poorly by airport staff in my life,' he wrote in his review. 'Ive flown hundreds of times. Spirit has consistently been horrible. ...Some of the workers seem to lack a heart entirely which reflects upon the companys reputation as a whole.' Spirit Airlines fared equally poorly on the review site, with one former passenger calling its flights the worst he's experienced in his life News of the merger ratcheted Spirit's stock up nearly 16 percent in afternoon trading Monday, while Frontier's stock rose more modestly by 3.55 percent as it faced mechanical troubles and briefly grounded all US flights. Although the FAA-issued ground stop has since been resolved, the technical snafu snowballed into dozens of cancellations and delays. The Denver-based airline nixed 22 percent of its flights Monday and an equal amount of trips were delayed, according to FlightAware.com. Under the terms of the merger, Frontier will buy Spirit Airlines in a $2.9 billion cash-and-stock deal which will reach up to $6.6 billion when accounting for the assumption of debt and other liabilities. The deal will create the nation's fifth-largest carrier behind American Airlines, Delta, Southwest and United. On the day of the merger announcement, mechanic issues resulted in the grounding of all Frontier's US flights, which led to dozens of cancellations and delays The companies said in a joint statement that the transaction will provide more low-cost fares for more travelers to destinations in the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean. The merged business will add 10,000 direct jobs by 2026, the companies said, adding that it expects to deliver $1billion in annual consumer savings and offer more than 1,000 daily flights to over 145 destinations. Frontier Group Holdings Inc. and Spirit Airlines Inc. also anticipate $1billion in annual consumer savings and are looking to expand their services with more than 350 aircraft on order. Ahead of the announcement, Frontier's stock trajectory for the past few days was volatile, plunging from $13.30 on February 1 to $12.18 on February 4. It dipped again Monday before beginning an uphill climb. Spirit Airlines' stock grew from $21.94 on February 1 to $25.41 by midday Monday. It dipped as low as $21.13 on February 4. Although Spirit airlines showed some delays on Monday's departure board, it was named in a study as the air carrier with the fewest time setbacks Frontier's stock history has been heading downward for the past five days, but began rebounding after the merger announcement News of the merger ratcheted Spirit's stock up nearly 16 per cent as of 2pm EST Monday The carriers may be in for a very close look by antimonopoly regulators. The Biden administration has signaled a tougher line against big corporate mergers. Yet airlines have suffered a devastating stretch during the pandemic despite assistance from the U.S., and are in a weakened position heading into 2022. Spirit, which is based in Florida, has also been expanding over the last 10 years. Its CEO Ted Christie said: 'This transaction is centered around creating an aggressive ultra-low fare competitor to serve our guests even better.' Both carriers only fly airbus planes and neither dominates the market so it is believed a merger was created on that basis. The companies said Monday that the transaction will provide more low-cost fares for more travelers to destinations in the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean The new merger hasn't decided on the name of the combined carrier or who the new CEO will be. The chair of the new airline will be Bill Franke - the current chair of Frontier and managing partner of its parent company, Indigo Parters, according to CNBC. Franke said the new combined carrier 'will create America's most competitive ultra-low fare airline for the benefit of consumers'. ' Frontier has been steadily expanding its route network with new destinations and additional flights. Spirit, which is based in Florida, has also been expanding over the last 10 years. Its CEO Ted Christie said: 'This transaction is centered around creating an aggressive ultra-low fare competitor to serve our guests even better.' Both carriers only fly airbus planes and neither dominates the market so it is believed a merger was created on that basis. Michael Stone's sister has called for an independent police force to probe the murders of Lin and Megan Russell following Levi Bellfield's 'astonishing' confession. Barbara Stone is convinced Bellfield's admission is 'absolutely true' and will finally prove her brother, now 61, is innocent. In a harrowing four-page statement, the serial killer formally confessed to the murders, providing chilling details of the attack. Lin, 45, her two daughters, nine-year-old Josie and Megan, six, as well as their dog Lucy, were tied up and savagely beaten with a hammer in the brutal attack. Only Josie survived, sustaining horrific injuries. Michael Stone is currently serving three life sentences for the murders of Mrs Russell and her daughter Megan, who were found bludgeoned to death in the picturesque village of Chillenden, Kent, 26 years ago. Ms Stone is now calling for an independent police force to take over any future investigation as she believes there is a 'conflict of interest with Kent Police'. Michael Stone's sister Barbara said her brother also shares her request to have another force handle the case. Pictured: Michael Stone Ms Stone (pictured) has called for an independent police force to probe the murders of Lin and Megan Russell following Levi Bellfield's 'astonishing' confession Lin Russell, 45, her two daughters, six-year-old Megan (above with her mother) and nine-year-old Josie, were tied up and savagely beaten with a hammer in the brutal attack in 1996 In a harrowing four-page statement, convicted serial killer Levi Bellfield (pictured) has formally confessed to the murders of Lin and Megan Russell, providing chilling details of the attack She said: 'I believe there is a conflict of interest with Kent Police. It has to be done the correct way through the correct legal process.' Ms Stone said her brother also shares her request to have another force handle the case. She added : 'Bellfield has come out with a lot of facts that can be checked including information about the murder weapons.' Ms Stone, who has campaigned tirelessly for his freedom, said: 'I don't believe he would have made this confession if his mother was still alive. This is not just Bellfield chin-wagging. 'Nobody is going to come out with a statement like that over such a terrible crime. 'I have believed Bellfield for a long time but never thought he would have the guts to formalise a statement that can be used as evidence. 'It was a difficult decision on his part I'm sure as he may experience a lot of consequences particularly among his fellow prisoners. 'He has described his movements that day in great detail how he committed the murder and even what he did with implements used. Lawyers for Michael Stone (pictured), who is serving three life sentences for the murders of Mrs Russell and her six-year-old daughter Megan, claim he could be a victim of a miscarriage of justice Levi Bellfield's ex believes he did murder mother and daughter after 'confession' Levi Bellfield's ex-partner believes he did murder a mother and daughter following his alleged confession. Rebecca Wilkinson said she thinks the claims, which were made in a harrowing four-page statement, are true. The mother to Bellfield's four daughters told the Mirror: 'Yes, I believe it. 'I knew he would say it after his mum died.' She added: 'Its just unbelievable really. I think Im lucky to be alive.' The pair separated before the murders of Lin Russell, 45, and Megan, six, after going out for six years in the 1990s. Advertisement 'My heart goes out to the Russell family who have endured endless pain as we seek to prove Mick is innocent. 'I think it is in all our interests to have this matter investigated when there is a realistic possibility it could bring closure. Bellfield has done this the right way and voluntarily.' His beloved mother Jean, who always insisted her son was innocent, died of a lung condition in 2017. Killer Bellfield has passed a four-page statement of admission to Stone's lawyers. It is a development which will fuel claims of a miscarriage of justice In it he confesses to being responsible for killing Lin, 45, and Megan, six, with a hammer, and leaving her sister Josie, nine, for dead. His solicitor says it means Stone will 'finally' get his freedom. The statement goes on to detail how Bellfield killed Lin and Megan, and left Josie for dead with appalling injuries. He also says he killed the family dog after it bit his wrist. Bellfield, 53, is already serving life for the murders of Millie Dowler, 13, Amelie Delagrange, 22, and 19-year-old Marsha McDonnell. He was also convicted of the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy, 18. As well as admitting to murdering and Lin and Megan in the 14-paragraph statement, Bellfield, also reportedly admits to the murder of a woman called Judith Gold in North London in 1990. He has previously admitted being in the Chillenden area at the time of the killings. But his new statement provides new details, and reveals how after the murders he stopped at services on the M25 in Surrey to wash off blood. Bellfield then tells how he went home to Twickenham got changed and went to work as a nightclub bouncer. He says the following day he threw the hammer into the Thames near Walton, Surrey. He then went on holiday to Turkey, but claims he returned to have the beige Ford Sierra he was driving on the day of the murders cleaned, fearing it was full of DNA. Levi Bellfield is currently serving life in prison for the murder of schoolgirl Millie Dowler (pictured) The confession document will now be sent to the Criminal Cases Review Commission, which has the power to order re-trials and is considering an appeal by Stone. The former drug addict has always denied responsibility for the killings. He was convicted in 1998 and then again in 2001 after the original convictions quashed. An appeal against the convictions in 2005 was unsuccessful. Bellfield ends his statement, saying: 'Something like this has never happened to me, in the sense I've committed a crime and another person has been arrested for it. 'I apologise to Stone and the Russell family for my heinous acts.' This comes as earlier today it was revealed a bootlace could be used to nail Bellfield after the serial killer said he used it to tie Lin Russell's hands before bludgeoning her and daughter Megan to death - as police say a DNA test could confirm his claims. Amelie Delagrange, 22, (pictured) whose body was found Thursday August 19 2004, with a serious head injury lying on Twickenham Green, south west London 'Fragments' of DNA were found on a bootlace which had been missing for 14 years until it was found in police storage, The Sun reports. The lace could match Bellfield and several other men, but scientists have not yet been able to establish a link, it is understood. Tests are currently being carried out on the bootlace, 99cm in length, which contains traces of blood from both murder victims. The evidence was found close to the bodies and it was originally claimed by prosecutors to have been consistent with being used as a tourniquet by a junkie. However, no forensic link was found between the lace and Stone, an ex-heroin addict, who would have used his teeth to fix the tourniquet. Many Australians will soon have to leave the luxury of working from home behind as staff are sent back into the office as early as next month. NSW residents can expect to be asked to return to their desks from March 1, with rules around masks also set to be scrapped from this date. The state's Premier Dominic Perrottet said it was a 'civic duty' to bring workers back to the CBD in a move that is predicted to bring social and economic benefits. 'My view is I need to lead by example and have the public service return, and I'll encourage the private sector return because it's a civic duty we all work together,' he said. NSW residents can expect to be asked to return to their desks from March 1 with rules around masks also set to be scrapped from this date The state's Premier Dominic Perrottet said it was a 'civic duty' to bring workers back to the CBD in a move that is predicted to bring social and economic benefits When asked if restrictions on masks and working from home would be extended past the current February 28 date, the premier said the state was 'on track' to see those measures be lifted. 'If I look across the state right now, we're in a very strong position... I'm confident with where we sit,' he said. He added he would 'like to see people come back to the office as quickly as possible'. More live music, events, discounted public transport fares and vouchers are ideas being floated as potential incentives for returning employees, The Daily Telegraph reported. The return of workers into the office will align with the state government's plans to scrap masks in all indoor settings. Mr Perrottet is said to be hoping the rule change will breathe life back into the Sydney CBD as the Omicron wave of new Covid cases continues to decline. Currently, masks must be worn in all indoor public venues including supermarkets, shopping centres, pubs and cafes. The return of workers into the office will align with the state government's plans to scrap masks in all indoor settings which will reportedly be on March 1 Meanwhile on Monday Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a flurry of huge changes to Covid restrictions, including lifting the border for all tourists. On February 21, visitors will be welcomed Down Under for the first time in two years, reuniting thousands of families separated by tough border closures as well as kickstarting the multi-billion dollar international tourism industry. 'The condition is you must be double vaccinated to come to Australia. That's the rule. Everyone is expected to abide by it,' the prime minister said. 'But if you're double vaccinated, we look forward to welcoming you back to Australia and I know the tourism industry will be looking forward to that.' It will up to individual states and territories to determine whether additional quarantine arrangements and arrival caps will apply to visitors (pictured, a couple in Perth Airport) While backpackers, international students and some visa holders have entered Australia in the last six months, from Monday February 21, any person with a valid visa and two doses of a Covid vaccine will be welcomed. It will up to individual states and territories to determine whether additional quarantine arrangements and arrival caps will apply to their visitors. Travellers who are not vaccinated against Covid will subject to state-based restrictions and will have to apply proof of a medical exemption. Mr Morrison has confirmed entry conditions will be just two doses of a vaccine - not a third booster - because there are 'various agreements around the world'. Depending on which state visitors touch down in they may be required to do a PCR or rapid antigen test soon after they arrive. Announcements on state-based restrictions are expected to be made in the coming weeks with pre-departure testing for international visitors still required at this stage. International arrivals in Victoria and NSW have not been required to quarantine since last year, with Queensland following suit in January. Individual states and territories, excluding Western Australia which is yet to announce a rescheduled reopening date, are expected to endorse the move. Mr Morrison said the decision was made because Australia is now ravaged with the Omicron variant of Covid, meaning international travellers don't pose an extra risk. A Metropolitan Police sergeant has been accused of kissing an officer as she sat in a police van after showing her photographs of women on his phone saying 'I'm dating them because you are not available', a misconduct hearing has heard. Sergeant George Panayi, part of the East Area Command Unit, is accused of kissing and pinching the cheek of the female officer - without her consent - while on duty. The female officer said it was 'offensive, demeaning, horrifying', during a police misconduct hearing on Monday. He is also accused of opening the door to a lavatory knowing the female officer was inside. It is alleged that Panayi breached the standards of professional behaviour in respect of authority, respect and courtesy. It is further alleged that his conduct, if proven, amounts to gross misconduct and is so serious it would justify his sacking. A Metropolitan Police sergeant has been accused of kissing an officer as she sat in a police van after showing her photographs of women on his phone saying 'I'm dating them because you are not available', a misconduct hearing has heard. Pictured: New Scotland Yard in London During a police misconduct hearing on Monday, the female officer said she was sitting in the driver's seat of a police van on 21 December, 2019 when Panayi approached and asked to see the log book. She said he showed her photographs of women on his phone and told her: 'I'm dating them because you are not available.' After that, she said he grabbed her face 'in a headlock' with both hands and kissed her on the cheek. She said he grabbed her in such a way that she 'couldn't move'. The officer was asked by Julian Walters, counsel for the Met: 'Had you consented to this?' She replied: 'Absolutely not.' The woman said she and another officer in the van 'looked at each other in shock'. She said it was 'offensive, demeaning, horrifying', adding: 'I was shocked. I did not know how to react.' The female officer said she was 'like a fish out of water' and was not sure what to do. 'It was unwanted. It was offensive,' she said. The woman told the hearing that on 3 February, 2020, Panayi also pinched her cheek when she was in the middle of restraining a mental health patient trying to self-harm. She said it was 'completely unprofessional' and added: 'He didn't do it to my other colleague. He did it to me.' The woman told the hearing about the third allegation, said to have taken place on 9 February, 2020, in which she says Panayi opened the female lavatory door after she had gone in and before she had the chance to lock it. 'He just laughed at me and walked off,' she said. The officer said she reported the incidents as they had not been one-offs. 'This was becoming a pattern. My fear was that other things were going to happen,' she said. Sergeant George Panayi, part of the East Area Command Unit, is accused of kissing and pinching the cheek of the female officer - without her consent - while on duty. Pictured: New Scotland Yard in London Asked if she thought there was a sexual motivation behind the alleged incidents, she said: 'I do believe that, yes.' The officer said there had been 'stigma' after she made the allegations, adding that some officers were supportive while others were not. The officer who witnessed the kiss in the police van gave evidence at the hearing. She described it as a 'peck on the cheek', adding: 'I didn't really think anything of it.' Pressed for her views on whether it is appropriate for colleagues to kiss, she said: 'I mean, it's probably not something that should happen in a professional capacity.' She said she had not seen a sergeant kiss a constable before. Mr Walters said it is 'expressly stated' that police should show courtesy and respect towards both the public and their colleagues. He said the allegations against Panayi involve acts, not words, adding that they are 'deliberate' acts meant to 'interfere with the physical integrity' of the female officer. 'We say that those acts are, objectively measured by contemporary prevailing standards, disrespectful and discourteous,' Mr Walters said. He said it is 'manifestly obvious' that, when an 'unsolicited, uninvited kiss' is placed on the cheek of a colleague, it is by its very nature disrespectful and discourteous. He said the difference in rank magnifies the lack of courtesy, saying the constable 'cannot answer back in kind' and was the victim of an 'abuse of power'. An Instacart shopper who always wore a smile as he bought groceries for his clients at the Richland, Washington Fred Meyer grocery store was identified Monday as the victim killed in a deadly shooting at the supermarket. Justin Krumbah, 38, died on the scene of the shooting inside the Richland Fred Meyer after reportedly having a heated exchange with the suspected gunman - who also critically wounded a store employee who was transported to a local hospital where he underwent surgery Monday afternoon. The suspect, who has not yet been named but has been identified by the Richland Police Department, promptly fled the scene following the shooting at around 11am and remained on the loose Monday evening. It remains unclear whether the suspect knew the Kumbah prior to the shooting, and whether he fled on foot or by car. Justin Krumbah, 38, was identified by friends and co-workers as the victim killed in a shooting at a Richland, Washington Fred Meyer grocery store Monday morning Friends and co-workers took to social media within hours of the shooting Monday morning to post tributes to Kumbah, who they described as 'outgoing,' and 'always had a smile on his face.' A GoFundMe was also set up to raise money for his funeral expenses, and by 9pm local time, it had already raised $9,260, with many people sharing their condolences and remembering Krumbah for his outgoing personality. 'He always had a smile on his face an was an absolute joy to be around,' wrote Alexander Weeks, a store employee at the Richland Fred Meyer. 'He was far and away one of my favorite parts of coming in and made those extra hard days seem not so bad.' Destiny Underwood, whose Facebook page identifies her as the deli manager at the Fred Meyer posted that she planned to start a credit union donation for Krumbah so donations could go directly to his family. 'He was an amazing guy,' she wrote. 'I always ha a bit of a better day when h was in. 'It's truly heartbreaking that he had to go to heaven today.' Tributes had also poured into his Facebook page, where Krumbah often posted pictures of himself in different outfits as he began his Instacart shift every day. His most recent post, on January 26, showed him donning an apron emblazoned with the Seattle Seahawks logo with the caption: 'Hi ho, hi ho, off to work I go.' A friend at the time asked: 'You wear an apron now?' to which Krumbah responded: 'I take pride in my work no matter what I do! Always gotta be professional.' Many more people commented on the photo following the news of the shooting, with one Richland woman saying she met him in the checkout line of the Fred Meyer last Saturday and spoke 'about how you enjoyed Instacart and how you approached it with an outstanding work ethic. 'My day was made by your positive, can-do attitude.' A man immediately replied to the comment writing that he had the same experience working with Krumbah, calling him a 'very positive and outgoing man.' And another woman wrote that Krumbah was her family's Instacart driver 'every time we shopped at Fred Meyer. 'You always sent a message when you accepted our order and said it was a pleasure to shop for us again,' she wrote. 'I never got to meet you, but your friendly messages made my day every time we used Instacart. 'The world lost a light today,' she added. Police in Richland, Washington, are looking for this man, who is accused of opening fire inside a local Fred Meyer supermarket on Monday, leaving at least one person dead and another wounded The accused gunman, dressed in a plaid shirt and a dark-colored vest, is seen pushing a shopping cart out the door of the grocery store The shooting occurred at around 11am Pacific Time at the supermarket on Wellsian Way in Richland, located about 200 miles southeast of Seattle. Police and sheriff's deputies from around the area started receiving calls about possible shots being fired at the store at 11.03am and converged on the scene within a minute. Dispatch officers reported at the time that the shooter was still in the building and at least one person was down. The Tri-City Herald reported that a chaplain was also summoned. Officers and members of the Richland Fire Department quickly began life-saving operations, but Krumbah was pronounced dead on the scene, and a store employee was wounded and transported to a local hospital for treatment. He remained in critical condition Monday afternoon as he underwent surgery. Agents from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were called in to assist. The ATF later announced it was sending agents from its Yakima field office to help with the investigation. SWAT teams were also on the scene Monday morning, and confirmed that the suspect was no longer in the building. The manhunt continued into Monday night for the suspect, who Richland Police Department Cmdr. Chris Lee said has had previous 'contact with law enforcement,' Cmdr. Chris Lee told reporters Monday afternoon Authorities say the suspect, described only as a white man, was last seen in surveillance video screenshots pushing a shopping cart inside the grocery store, and is said to be 'armed and dangerous.' They are warning anyone who might find the suspect not to engage him and to immediately call the authorities. Grocery store employees and customers were seen fleeing the Fred Meyer on Monday SWAT Teams were called in to assist local law enforcement in the shooting Ambulances and police vehicles are seen outside the supermarket on Wellsian Way Store employees and customers were hiding in stock rooms, restrooms and back offices until police could come and lead them to safety A witness said they heard at least 10 shots fired inside the store, the Herald reported. Grocery store workers and customers reportedly huddled in stock rooms, restrooms and back offices, awaiting police to lead them to safety. 'The terror in the eyes of these people that came and took cover in my shop,' a nearby business owner, Robert Cronkite told KIRO Newsradio. 'I just, I mean, I had never seen terror in anyones eyes quite like what I saw there.' 'The guy that did it He literally walked out of there, casually pushing a shopping cart. And you can see the satchels, you know, the gurney bag, wherever hes got these guns when he walked out. He gets in his white Dodge pickup, and the guy drives off.' In a statement, a spokesperson for the supermarket chain said: 'We are deeply saddened by the incident that occurred at our Fred Meyer store located on 101 Wellsian Way in Richland, Washington. 'The entire Fred Meyer family offers our thoughts, prayers and support to all affected individuals and families during this difficult time.' The spokesperson added: 'We are cooperating with local law enforcement who have secured the store and parking lot. The store will remain closed while the police investigation continues, and we have initiated counseling services for our associates.' Cmdr. Chris Lee told reporters on the scene that the suspect has been identified and 'has had contact with law enforcement in the past' At least a half-dozen schools in the vicinity of the store were placed on lockdown as a precaution. People were being asked to avoid the area as the local school district provided buses to reunite those who were stuck inside with their families. Police said the suspect is a white, bearded male who was last seen wearing a plaid shirt, a black down vest, jeans and sneakers. He was caught on surveillance video pushing a grocery store cart. Lee said it is not known if the man got away by foot or in a vehicle. A helicopter from the Spokane County Sheriff's Office was on the scene Monday afternoon to assist in the search for the suspect. Anyone with information on the suspect is asked to call 509-628-0333. Two soldiers from an Army garrison in North Yorkshire died over the weekend in separate incidents. The soldiers' identities, genders, rank or regiment have not been released. North Yorkshire Police said officers were called to the army base at Catterick Garrison at 5am on Saturday after receiving reports of the 'sudden death' of a 33-year-old man. The British Army confirmed two soldiers died at Catterick Garrison (pictured) over the weekend The force said his death is not being treated as suspicious and officers are assisting in preparing a report for the coroner. On Sunday, a second soldier died in Manchester, the Army said. No further details have been given regarding the incident and British Transport Police are investigating. Catterick Garrison is home to several Army units, including the 1st Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment and the Royal Lancers An Army spokesperson said: 'It is with great sadness that we can confirm the death of two soldiers. 'Our thoughts are with the families and friends of both soldiers and we ask that their privacy is respected at this sad and difficult time. 'The deaths, which took place at Catterick Garrison and Manchester, are not connected.' Catterick Garrison is home to several Army units, including the 1st Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment and the Royal Lancers. It is one of the largest British Army garrisons in the world covering more than 10 square kilometres and one of the largest Infantry Training Centres in the UK. A group of Cuban migrants stranded in a sinking boat off the Florida coast were rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard as desperate attempts by those trying to flee the Socialist-run country continue to spike. The 10 migrants were spotted by a Coast Guard vessel about 40 miles off Key Largo on Thursday, the Coast Guard said in a tweet. 'They didn't have lifejackets or safety equipment,' said Capt. Shawn Koch, commanding officer of Air Station Miami. 'If the air crew hadn't found them on the patrol, these people would not have survived the night.' Six of the individuals were deported to Cuba on Saturday. A Coast Guard spokesperson told DailyMail.com on Monday that the other four individuals are in a Florida being treated for dehydration. The spokesperson also told DailyMail.com that 698 migrants have been stopped from reaching the U.S. by sea since October 2021, the start of fiscal year 2022. In comparison, 838 Cubans were intercepted in all of fiscal year 2021. Ten migrants from Cuban were rescued 40 miles off the coast of Key Largo, Florida, when their boat started to sink last Thursday. The U.S. Coast Guard deported six of the individuals to Cuba on Saturday. The other four are still receiving medical treatment in Florida Still image from the U.S. Coast Guard shows 10 Cuban migrants aboard a department vessel after the group's makeshift boat almost started to take in water and almost sank off the Florida coast Thursday Their rescue comes two weeks after a boat believed to be used for human smuggling capsized off Florida's coast en route from the Bahamas. Only one of the 40 passengers a Colombian national - survived. The spike in Cubans fleeing the Communist-run island has been attributed to the scarcity of basic goods, restrictions on civil liberties and the mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic. U.S. Customs and Border Protection data shows encounters of Cuban migrants at the southwestern border are also on pace to eclipse the previous fiscal year's. At least 20,476 individuals have been stopped for illegally crossing the United States-Mexico border between October 2021 and December 2022 after U.S. Border Patrol interdicted 38,764 migrants from October 2020 to September 2021. In the past, Cubans escaping socialist-run Caribbean island were permitted to remain in the United States under President Bill Clinton's 'wet foot, dry foot' 1995 policy which revised the 1966 Cuban Adjustment Act. The legislation also afforded them the eligibility to become residents within a year. However, President Barack Obama ended the immigration policy in January 2017, signing an executive decision that put an end the longstanding law that granted permanent residency to Cubans reaching the country. Cubans caught in the sea by U.S. authorities are returned to Cuba or the country from where they originally departed under United States policy. U.S. should not go further down the wrong path: Chinese UN ambassador Xinhua) 16:04, February 07, 2022 UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) Zhang Jun on Sunday resolutely refuted the unfounded accusations against China made by Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. UN ambassador, in her interview with CNN. In a press statement, Zhang said that the United States has again made accusations against China and wrongful, irresponsible remarks on issues like the Beijing Winter Olympics, Xinjiang and Taiwan. Such groundless, politically biased words have seriously poisoned the China-U.S. relations. The opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics was attended by around 170 official representatives from nearly 70 countries and international organizations, including 31 heads of state or government, royal family members, and heads of international organizations, he said, noting that many more state leaders and heads of international organizations have called or sent messages to Chinese President Xi Jinping to wish the Beijing Winter Olympics a great success and the Chinese people a happy Lunar New Year. This fully shows the international community's firm support for China, for the Beijing Winter Olympics, and for the Olympic Movement. The U.S. attempt to make an issue of the Olympic Games has won no support and met with complete failure. Athletes from China, the United States and other countries are competing fairly at the Beijing Winter Olympics. They are the ones that should be in the spotlight, and the U.S. politicians should have left the stage for them long ago, said Zhang. The repeated lies by the United States about the "genocide" in Xinjiang have already been debunked by facts. People of all ethnic groups there are enjoying a peaceful, harmonious and happy life. In Team China, there are 20 athletes from nine ethnic minorities, including Uygur and Tibetan. One of them is Dinigeer Yilamujiang, a Uygur cross-country skier who lit the Olympic cauldron, he noted. Taiwan is an inseparable part of the Chinese territory. The settlement of the Taiwan question is China's internal affairs and allows no interference by the United States or any other external forces. The future of Taiwan lies in national reunification, not some security guarantee from the United States. The United States should stop emboldening and supporting the "Taiwan independence" forces, follow the true one-China policy, and match its actions with words, he said. The United States claims to care about human rights. Yet it has left a disgraceful human rights record, Zhang said. With a population less than a quarter of China's, the United States has a staggering number of more than 900,000 deaths from COVID-19, and that figure is still increasing, almost 200 times the COVID-19 deaths in China. The United States is awash in gun violence, leaving its people with no sense of security. The systematic ethnic cleansing and massacre of the Native Americans throughout U.S. history is the real genocide and crime against humanity. The indiscriminate killing of civilians, including women and children, by the U.S. military in Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq, has already constituted war crimes, said Zhang. The United States is facing serious political, economic, social, security and public health issues. Under such circumstances, U.S. politicians need to heed the voice of the people and solve its own problems, instead of being trapped in the mindset of American supremacy over everything, still less shifting responsibilities, creating confrontations or obstructing other countries' development, he said. "Here is my advice to the United States: Do not go further down the wrong path. It will not only make your own people suffer, but also create more trouble for other countries and the whole world," said the ambassador. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Liang Jun) The judge who most likely signed off on the no-knock warrant that resulted in the shooting death of Amir Locke during a pre-dawn raid on a Minneapolis apartment was none other than Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill, who presided over the trial of Derek Chauvin, George Floyds killer. Cahill was on duty as the signing judge last week, meaning he was the one to review and sign off on search-warrant applications, a Hennepin Cunty District Court spokesman told NBC News. Advertisement Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill presides over a hearing, Tuesday, April 13, 2021, in the trial of former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin at the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis, Minn. (AP) The warrant granting authority to search the apartment is not publicly available so the Court cannot comment whether Judge Cahill specifically signed that application, spokesman Matt Lehman said in a statement obtained by NBC News. Judge Cahill cannot comment on this particular application or any application for a search warrant because the Minnesota Code of Judicial Conduct (Rule 2.10) prohibits judges or Court staff from commenting on active or pending cases. Police used a key fob to burst into the apartment where Locke was sleeping on his cousins couch. Though they announced themselves, it was not even 7 a.m., and Locke was fast asleep. Advertisement Bodycam video shows a cop kicking the couch, then Locke peeks out from under his blanket and a weapon can be seen. Though the official account said the gun was pointed toward the officer, that was not clear on the footage. Officer Mark Hanneman shot three times, hitting the 22-year-old twice in the chest and once in the wrist. People stand by a cross planted in the boulevard outside homes at the intersection of and Dean Parkway and W. 28th St. in Minneapolis Sunday night, Feb. 6, 2022. (Jeff Wheeler/AP) The whole thing took nine seconds. Officers and paramedics immediately rendered aid, but Locke could not be saved. The gun turned out to be legal, as Locke was licensed to own it and had a permit, his family said. The aspiring musician had bought it to protect himself while working as a DoorDash delivery driver. Lockes parents have retained civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump and are decrying their sons killing as an execution. Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > Though the search was connected to a homicide investigation, St. Paul police had not requested a no-knock warrant, KARE-TV reported. It was Minneapolis police who demanded that after they were tapped for assistance in carrying it out. Now there are calls for interim Police Chief Amelia Huffman to resign. On Sunday, a caravan of about 50 vehicles organized by the Racial Justice Network and other watchdog groups drove through Minneapolis and gathered outside a home thought to be her residence, demanding an accounting. Were asking for her job because it seems like the only time they pay attention is when it affects their jobs or their money, activist Toussaint Morrison said over a microphone, according to The Associated Press. But we pull up when it affects our lives. Advertisement His death has renewed calls to end no-knock warrants, and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has imposed a moratorium on the practice. But that was too late to save Locke, described by his father, Andre Locke, as a bright light. The youth had recently filed paperwork to start a music business, his mother, Karen Wells, told AP. He was about to move to Dallas to be closer to her and to start a career in hip hop. You took a good kid who was trying to make the best out of his environment, and surpass it and succeed, and he was doing it, Reginald McClure, a close cousin of Andre Locke who works in law enforcement in Texas, told AP. He was figuring out life, but he was doing it safely. Chauvin, who is white, was convicted of murder last year and sentenced to 22 years in prison for Floyds murder. Chauvin kneeled on the Black mans neck for about nine minutes, ignoring his pleas for oxygen, after a store owner called cops over a suspected counterfeit $20 bill. Peter Dutton has launched a stinging attack on Bob Carr after he posted a series of tweets alleging the defence minister leaked a bombshell text exchange about Scott Morrison. Mr Carr claimed on Sunday it was Mr Dutton who shared the texts between then NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian and an unnamed minister during the 2019-20 bushfire crisis - in which the prime minister was labelled 'horrible' and a 'psycho'. Mr Dutton angrily denied the claim, saying it was 'baseless, untrue' and demanded Mr Carr deleted his tweet. The war of words reached boiling point on Tuesday morning, when Mr Dutton labelled Mr Carr a 'crazy uncle' and questioned whether he was 'the full quid'. Former foreign minister and NSW Premier Bob Carr (pictured with his wife) has been urged to take down his tweet accusing Peter Dutton of leaking the texts Mr Dutton was asked bluntly by Today show host Karl Stefanovic: 'Was it you?' 'It was not me,' Mr Dutton replied. 'Every family's got this crazy uncle that wakes up from the rocking chair and in a startled way shouts out something - and I just don't know what is going on with Bob Carr. 'He hasn't produced any evidence. He's now saying if it's not me, then the person needs to come forward to prove my innocence. I just find it bizarre. 'I mean, again, you're my vintage, right, so you remember The Comedy Company, old uncle Arthur, that is Bob Carr. 'Uncle Bob is ... making these suggestions. So I wouldn't give him any credit. That's my sense.' Mr Dutton said he wouldn't give Mr Carr any further publicity but hasn't ruled out legal action if the tweet isn't deleted. 'I have asked him to take it down. He hasn't yet taken the post down. That's a decision he's making and then I will make a decision after that,' he said. 'Obviously I reserve my right and see what he does but the onus is on him. 'He's made a statement. He's made a claim which is clearly defamatory and he now needs to produce the evidence which he can't of course because I never sent that text and it's a farce.' Meanwhile, Mr Dutton denied claims he was out to take the top job from Mr Morrison after conservative commentator Andrew Bolt roasted the prime minister in a column for the Herald Sun. Peter Dutton (pictured) shut down calls to challenge Scott Morrison for the leadership as he likened Bob Carr to Uncle Arthur, a character from 1980s hit show The Comedy Company. Bolt declared Mr Morrison 'looks finished' after he washed a woman's hair in a bizarre photo opportunity following a hellish week. The Sky News host described the PM's visit to a salon in south-east Melbourne where he massaged an apprentice's head as a 'sad stunt'. He urged Mr Dutton, who is favoured by conservatives, to 'get ready to lead,' writing in his column: 'Prime Minister Scott Morrison looks finished, and is now making a fool of himself to get some love.' Asked in a separate TV interview if he is positioning himself to challenge Mr Morrison for the leadership, Mr Dutton replied: 'One hundred per cent, no.' Peter Dutton will consider legal action if Bob Carr doesn't delete the tweet He admitted things in the Coalition are 'scrappy' after it was revealed deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce called Mr Morrison a hypocrite and liar in damning texts. But he's confident things will settle down and the focus will return to the upcoming election campaign, he believes the Coalition will win convincingly. 'But I think once we get into a campaign, people don't give a, you know, toss really about any of this,' Mr Dutton told the Today show. 'People are worried about getting their kids back to school. They're worried about whether their grandmother is going to be OK. If they've got a small business, they're worried about whether they are going to keep the doors open.' Scott Morrison washed a woman's head on a visit to Coco's salon in Melbourne last week Political earthquake as conservative columnist Andrew Bolt declares Scott Morrison 'FINISHED', ridicules his shampooing stunt - and urges another senior Liberal: 'Get ready to lead' By Charlie Moore, political reporter for Daily Mail Australia Conservative columnist Andrew Bolt has declared Scott Morrison 'looks finished' after he washed a woman's hair in a bizarre photo opportunity following a hellish week. The Sky News host, who has been critical of Mr Morrison in the past, described the PM's visit to a salon in south-east Melbourne where he massaged an apprentice's head as a 'sad stunt'. He urged Defence Minister Peter Dutton, who is favoured by conservatives, to 'get ready to lead,' writing in his Herald Sun column: 'Prime Minister Scott Morrison looks finished, and is now making a fool of himself to get some love.' 'This bizarre photo-op showed not just that Morrison is desperate but out of ideas. It showed he has a dangerously thin skin, and is bleeding.' Mr Morrison's visit to the salon came after a horror week which started with a Newspoll which showed the Government trailing the Labor Opposition by a massive 12 points, which if replicated on election day would wipe out 25 seats. He was then roasted by journalists at the National Press Club where he admitted making several errors during the pandemic but refused to apologise and failed to name the price of bread, petrol and rapid tests. The PM was later told about unearthed texts from 2019 in which Gladys Berejiklian allegedly called him a 'horrible, horrible person' and a mystery minister branded him a 'complete psycho'. And on Thursday he was slammed for backflipping to support Western Australia's hard border, with critics saying it proved he has no principles and can't be trusted. Bolt (left) described the PM's visit to a salon in south-east Melbourne where he massaged an apprentice's head as a 'sad stunt'. Former Liberal advisor turned Sky News commentator Chris Kenny (right) blasted the Prime Minister for backing Mark McGowan's hard border In a speech to the National Press Club on February 1, Mr Morrison explained his dip in popularity by admitting he had let Australians down by 'raising their hopes' ahead of summer The about-face brought friendly fire from Sky News host and former Liberal advisor Chris Kenny who blasted the Prime Minister for not standing up to Mr McGowan. 'Mark McGowan's wrong and the Prime Minister didn't call him out on it,' Kenny said. '(The PM) needs to call out Mark McGowan on this. He's the Prime Minister of Australia! He should support no internal hard borders. 'We need politicians who'll make the right call for the country, not try and second-guess the politics.' Bolt joined Kenny in savaging the PM, arguing he has failed to land a blow on Labor for months and is haemorrhaging support. 'Morrison is not just despised by the Left, but disrespected by the Right,' he wrote. 'Time's running out for Morrison. Getting into voters' hair won't save him. Only fighting may yet do that, but right now he seems a man with the fight beaten out of him.' Advertisement President Joe Biden confirmed on Monday that there will be no Nord Stream 2 pipeline if Russia invades the Ukraine although he did not detail how that would be accomplished. Biden made his remarks in a press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Germany would be one of the biggest benefiters of the pipeline. The country relies on 50 percent of its natural gas supply from Russia. 'If Russia invades - that means tanks and troops crossing the border of Ukraine again - then there will no longer be Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it,' Biden said. But when pressed as to how that would happen - the pipeline stretches 764 miles from Russia across the Baltic states and into Germany - Biden declined to give details. 'I promise you we'll be able to do it,' the president said. Scholz was more measured in his response, declining to say the pipeline's name and only noting the two countries would 'work together.' 'We're acting together,' the German chancellor said. 'We're absolutely united and we will not take different steps. We will do the same steps.' The Nord Stream 2 pipeline has been at the center of Putin's standoff with Ukraine and been a topic of furious political debate in both Europe and the United States. Republicans have called for sanctions on the pipeline, which bypasses Ukraine and Poland, because they believe it will give Moscow more energy power over Europe. Kiev is also concerned that turning on the pipeline will lead to them losing out $2billion in lucrative 'transit' fees that could help its ailing economy. President Joe Biden met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the White House President Joe Biden, during his press confernece with Chancellor Scholz, confirmed there will be no Nord Stream 2 pipeline if Russia invades the Ukraine although he did not detail how that would be accomplished The Nord Stream 2 pipeline stretches 764 miles from Russia across the Baltic states and into Germany View of the Pipeline Inspection Gauge (PIG) receiving station, the Nord Stream 2 part of the landfall area in Lubmin on Germany's Baltic Sea coast Scholz arrives in Washington as Russian President Vladimir Putin has assembled 70% of the military personnel and weapons on Ukraine's borders he would need for a full-scale invasion of the country, based on U.S. intelligence estimates. Moscow has repeatedly denied it will invade but Putin's true intentions remain a mystery. Meanwhile, the first of 3,000 American troops to deploy to Eastern Europe arrived in Poland and another 86 tons of U.S. weapons arrived in Ukraine. Biden advised any American civilians in the Ukraine to exit the country. 'I think it would be wise to leave the country. I'm not talk about our diplomatic core. I'm talking about Americans who are there. I hate to see them get caught in the cross fire. There's no need for that. If I were they and there I'd say leave,' the president said. The United States has said it doesn't have an exact number of Americans in the Ukraine - noting it doesn't require people to register with the Embassy in Kiev - but it has offered assistance in helping people get out. Why gas and the Nord Stream 2 pipeline are so significant in Putin's standoff with Ukraine Nord Stream 2, the 750-mile gas pipeline connecting Russia and Germany, has been a source of fierce political debate both in Europe and the United States. Republican Senator Ted Cruz has repeatedly called for sanctions on the operators because he feels it gives Moscow energy dominance in Europe, but Democrats have slapped down his attempts because they fear it would harm relations with Germany. President Biden has now said he will stop the pipeline, which has not yet been turned on, from going ahead if Vladimir Putin invades Ukraine, putting it's future in the balance. Here is why the $11billion Nord Stream 2 is at the center of the Ukraine standoff, that Republicans have described as the 'biggest threat to Europe since 1945'. Why has gas and Nord Stream 2 become an issue in the Ukraine standoff? Like in the United States, Europe is dealing with soaring gas prices. There are also splits over how to be more climate friendly and move off fossil fuel. Europe gets almost 40 percent of its natural gas from Russia and will become more reliant on that supply during the winter months. Nord Stream 2 would supply 26 million German homes when and if it is turned on. Building has been completed but it has not yet been certified by German's energy regulator. That has made it a hugely political topic in Germany. What is at stake if the pipeline doesn't come online, and how can it be used as leverage? Ukraine believes it is missing out on $2billion in lucrative 'transit' fees because the pipeline bypasses Kiev. The pipeline has been touted as one of the sanctions the West could threaten if Putin invades Ukraine and has been considered 'leverage' against Moscow. For Russia, Nord Stream 2 would cut the costs of pumping its gas supplies through Ukraine. Sanctions or leaving it shut off would reduce Russia's revenue. The EU needs unanimity among 27 member states to impose sanctions. Germany's voice would probably be decisive, but stopping Nord Stream 2 would need support from other member states, such as Austria and Bulgaria, who are highly dependent on Russian gas. Russia's natural gas exports to Germany via the Nord Stream pipeline crossing the Baltic Sea totalled 59.2 billion cubic metres (bcm) in 2021, its operator said on Monday, in line with record volumes a year earlier. Moscow hopes to double the route with the recently finished Nord Stream 2 pipeline which requires EU and German regulatory approval to begin operations. The current pipeline already accounts for around a third of Russia's gas exports to Europe. Volumes last year topped the pipeline's annual nameplate capacity of 55 bcm. Russian gas exporter Gazprom has said the pipeline is able to transport more thanks to some technological peculiarities. The West has accused Russia of withholding gas exports to Europe recently in order to drive up prices and pressure regulators to approve Nord Stream 2. Russia and Gazprom have denied this. Will Russia cut off gas supplies if it invades? No one knows for sure, but a complete shutoff is seen as unlikely, because it would be mutually destructive. Russian officials have not signaled they would consider cutting supplies in the case of new sanctions. Moscow relies on energy exports, and though it just signed a gas deal with China, Europe is a key source of revenue. Europe is likewise dependent on Russia, so any Western sanctions would likely avoid directly targeting Russian energy supplies. More likely, experts say, would be Russia withholding gas sent through pipelines crossing Ukraine. Russia pumped 175 billion cubic meters of gas into Europe last year, nearly a quarter of it through those pipelines, according to S&P Global Platts. That would leave pipelines under the Baltic Sea and through Poland still operating. 'I think in the event of even a less severe Russian attack against Ukraine, the Russians are almost certain to cut off gas transiting Ukraine on the way to Germany,' said former U.S. diplomat Dan Fried, who as State Department coordinator for sanctions policy helped craft 2014 measures against Russia when it invaded and annexed Ukraines Crimea peninsula. Russia could then offer to make up the lost gas if Germany approves the contentious new Nord Stream 2 pipeline, whose operators could face potential U.S. sanctions even though a recent vote to that effect failed. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday on NBC's 'Meet the Press' that the Biden administration has coordinated with its allies and that 'if Russia invades Ukraine, one way or another, Nord Stream 2 will not move forward.' Interrupting gas supplies beyond the Ukrainian pipelines is less likely: 'If they push it too far, they're going to make a breach with Europe irreparable, and they have to sell the oil and gas someplace,' Fried said. Advertisement Meanwhile, Scholz's visit comes as both Democrats and Republicans - along with American allies in Western Europe - have accused Germany of being 'missing in action' on Ukraine and expressed frustration Berlin hasn't done more to help its fellow NATO members in Eastern Europe as Russia builds up its military force on the Ukraine border. Concerns have been raised about his government's refusal to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine, to increase Germany's troop presence in Eastern Europe or to clarify which sanctions it would support should Russia act. His decision to send 5,000 helmets for Ukrainian troops to Kiev drew much mockery. But Biden defended Germany on Monday, saying there was 'no need to win back trust.' 'There's no need to win back trust. He has the complete trust of the United States. Germany is one of our most important allies in the world. There's no doubt about Germany's partnership with the United States. None,' the president said. 'With regard to helping Ukraine, one of the largest contributors financially to Ukraine has been Germany. Germany has been in the forefront of making sure of providing economic assistance,' he said. 'Germany is completely reliable. Totally reliable. Have no doubt about Germany at all.' Scholz repeated his message of unity. 'We are united. The trans atlantic partnership between Germany and the U.S. is one of the permanent pillars of German policy and will be relevant in the future as well, just as relevant. This will be one of our top priorities always,' he said. Additionally Biden used the press conference to issue a warning to Putin - saying it would be a 'gigantic mistake' to invade the Ukraine. 'I don't know that he knows what he's going to do. I think he has to realize it would be a gigantic mistake to make a move on Ukraine ,' Biden said,adding of Putin: 'He would pay a heavy price.' Biden also said the United States is 'ready to continue talks in good faith with Russia.' US Army soldiers and military vehicles exit a U.S. Air Force Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft at Jasionka Rzeszow Airport in Rzeszow, Poland US Army General Christopher Donahue (L) and Polish Army General Wojciech Marchwica at Jasionka Rzeszow Airport in Rzeszow, Poland The first of 2,000 U.S. troops to arrive in Poland following the Pentagon's announcement of additional forces moving from the United States to Europe in support of NATO allies Service members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces drive a military vehicle during tactical drills at a training ground in the Kherson region, Ukraine Nord Stream 2 was expected to be one of the main topics of conversation during Biden and Scholz's meeting. Germany heavily relies on Russian gas supplies and is a strong backer of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that the United States opposes. The pipeline is not operating yet but Germany has been reluctant to put it on the negotiating table - even as the United States has made clear before Monday's meeting the project is dead should Moscow launch an attack. 'One way or the other, if Russia invades Ukraine, Nord Stream 2 will not move forward,' Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan told 'Fox News Sunday.' The $11 billion pipeline is being built to serve as a conduit between Russia and German. Germany depends on 50% of its gas supply from Russia. 'We have made our position very clear, which is that: If Russia invades Ukraine, one way or another Nord Stream 2 will not move forward,' a senior administration official told reporters on a briefing call on Sunday night. This satellite images provided by Maxar Technologies shows troops and logistics material support units, near Yelsk, Belarus, as Russia has moved troops from Siberia and the Far East to Belarus for sweeping joint drills Ukrainian tanks drive during tactical drills as tensions rise 2,000 troops from Fort Bragg, 1,000 in the Stryker squadron moving from Germany to Romania and thousands more ready: The U.S. troop plan for Eastern Europe Department of Defense Spokesperson John Kirby detailed on Wednesday the latest U.S. troop movements approved by President Joe Biden. He said that plan was laid out to the president in three parts: 1 1,000 U.S. troops part of the Germany-based infantry Stryker squadron will reposition to Romania 'in the coming days.' This mounted cavalry unit is designed to deploy in short order and move quickly once in place. The movement to Romania will add to the 900 U.S. forces already in that country to help deter aggression from Russia and enhance defensive capabilities in frontline NATO allied states. Kirby said Pentagon Secretary Lloyd Austin discussed reposition with Romania last week and the movement there is coming at the invitations of the Romanian government. France also intends to deploy to Romania under NATO command. 2 Approximately 2,000 troops stationed in Fort Bragg, North Carolina will deploy to Europe this week. The majority of those deployments, approximately 1,700, will comes from the 82nd Airborne Division's infantry brigade combat team, which will go to Poland. The 82nd specializes in parachute assault operations and is a rapid ready team prepared to response anywhere in the world within 18 hours. Another 300 or so are coming from the 18th Airborne Corps, which will create a joint task force capable headquarters in Germany. The corps provides mission command and is designed for rapid deployment anywhere in the world. Kirby said the Pentagon worked with Poland and Germany and have support for deployment. He assured: 'Again, these are not permanent moves. They respond to current conditions. We will adjust our posture as those conditions evolve.' 3 All of these troop movements and deployments are 'separate and in addition' to the 8,500 U.S. military personnel put on heightened alert posture last week. Kirby said: 'Those 8,500 are not currently being deployed but remain ready to move, if called, for the NATO Response Force (NRF) or as needed for other contingencies as directed by the Secretary of by President Biden.' Advertisement Scholz, in a nod to the criticism he's received at home and abroad for a lack of leadership on the Ukraine issue, told a German television station that he was open to deploying more troops to Lithuania to bolster NATO's eastern flank. 'We are intensively engaged with all our allied partners in the European Union, with the question of Ukraine, hardly any question occupies us more,' Scholz told ARD television station. 'It's about preventing a war in Europe,' he said, adding that his first meeting as chancellor with Biden would involve 'hard, real political work.' The two men have met before - in Rome in October during the G20 summit while Scholz was still serving as finance minister. Scholz also will meet French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish President Andrzej Duda in Berlin on Tuesday and then visit Russia and Ukraine next week. Macron will be in Russia on Monday as Biden and Scholz meet at the White House. Biden on Sunday seemed to suggest Putin will not go with the diplomatic route as Moscow continues to demand concessions that U.S. and NATO will not make. When asked what factors Putin is considering when making his decision whether to invade Ukraine or deescalate tensions in the region, Biden responded: 'I think things he cannot get.' This likely references the demands the Kremlin has put forth, including that the NATO ban Ukraine and other former Soviet bloc countries from entering the military alliance. As tensions rise in Easter Europe, the German-American relationship could become the pivotal U.S. partnership in the West as Macron is in a tough re-election campaign and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is struggling to hold onto his goverment amid a scandal over parties held during COVID lockdown. In 2015, France and Germany helped broker a peace deal for eastern Ukraine in a bid to end the conflict between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed separatists that erupted the previous year following the Russian annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. The agreement signed in the Belarusian capital of Minsk helped stop large-scale fighting, but efforts at a political settlement have stalled and frequent skirmishes have continued along the tense line of contact in Ukraine's industrial heartland known as the Donbas. A summit of French, German, Russian and Ukrainian leaders has been suggested. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed interest but Putin has not. Scholz took over two months ago from Angela Merkel, the longtime German leader who had worked with four U.S. presidents. Biden and Merkel enjoyed a strong relationship. Additionallly, Scholz and Biden will discuss Germany's agenda for its leadership of the G7 this year, their support for Western Balkan countries, and working to coordinate bilateral and multilateral responses to China's non-market economic practices and human rights abuses, U.S. officials said ahead of the meeting. U.S. paratroopers landed near Poland's border with Ukraine on Sunday after Biden ordered last week the deployment of 1,700 soldiers to the country's southeastern region amid rising tensions with Russia. Civilians participate in a Territorial Defence unit training session in Obukhiv, Ukraine French soldiers take part in a major drill as part of the EFP NATO operation at the Tapa Estonian army camp near Rakvere; the 'Winter Camp' exercise in northeast Estonia, just 100 kilometres (62 miles) from the Russian border, included some 1,300 British, Estonian and French troops operating in extreme conditions An elite group of U.S. paratrooper disembark from a C-17 at Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport in Poland on Sunday, February 6, 2022 U.S. soldiers are seen next to their vehicles outside the G2A Arena after arriving at Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport in Jasionka, Poland, on Sunday Another 86 tons of U.S. weapons arrived in Ukraine in response to more than 100,000 Russian troops amassed along the country's border The US suggested in letters that Russian inspectors can gain access to NATO bases in Romania and Poland (pictured above) to guarantee that no Tomahawk missiles are being stationed there. Comes as Pentagon announces 2,000 troops in the U.S. will deploy to Poland and Germany and another 1,000 will head to Romania from their base in Germany Another 1,000 troops already in Germany will be repositioned to Romania, which borders the Black Sea where one of Russia's biggest fleets is positioned. 'I'm not going to speculate,' Biden said Sunday when he was asked if he would consider sending more U.S. troops to NATO countries if Putin doesn't deescalate. And the latest shipment of weapons from the U.S. arrived in Ukraine at the weekend, with the 86 tons worth of ammunition delivered. It is the eighth part of a $200 million shipment of American military aid that is being sent to help its ally. Ukraine's defense minister Oleksii Reznikov tweeted: 'The 8th bird has arrived in Kyiv. The weight of today's cargo with ammunition for our Ukrainian armed forces is 86 tons. Since January 22, our partners from the US have sent more than 650 tons of defense ammunition to Ukraine. To be continued.' And National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan warned Sunday that 'we are in the window' where Russia could invade 'any day now'. 'We're in the window where something could happen that is a military escalation and invasion of Ukraine can happen at any time,' Sullivan said on NBC's Meet the Press. 'We believe that the Russians have put in place the capabilities to mount a significant military operation into Ukraine and we have been working hard to prepare a response,' he continued. 'President Biden has rallied our allies, he's reinforced and reassured our partners on the eastern flank, he's provided material support to the Ukrainians and he's offered the Russians a diplomatic path if that's what they choose instead.' Sullivan concluded: 'Either way, we are ready, our allies are ready and we're trying to help the Ukrainian people get ready as well.' Advertisement Hundreds of supporters of Canada's 'Freedom Convoy' and New York City workers who are facing termination if not vaccinated by the end of the week marched across the Brooklyn Bridge Monday in protest of vaccine mandates. As protests in Canada entered the second week, their American neighbors showed their support by waving the Canada flag and carrying signs that echoed the sentiments of the 'Freedom Convoy' mission as they marched to protest their own mandates. Last week, nearly 4,000 unvaccinated municipal employees in New York City, including police officers and firefighters, were alerted that they will lose their jobs if they do not get their vaccines by Friday, January 11. They marched from Downtown Brooklyn, over the Brooklyn Bridge, to City Hall, chanting, 'No medical tyranny, no vaccine mandates' and 'My body, my choice. The vaccine you will not force.' Hundreds of supporters of Canada's 'Freedom Convoy' and New York City workers who are facing termination if not vaccinated by the end of the week marched across the Brooklyn Bridge Monday Last week, nearly 4,000 unvaccinated municipal employees in New York City, including police officers and firefighters, were alerted that they will lose their jobs if they do not get their vaccines by Friday, January 11 They marched from Downtown Brooklyn, over the Brooklyn Bridge, to City Hall, chanting, 'No medical tyranny, no vaccine mandates' and 'My body, my choice. The vaccine you will not force' As protests in Canada entered the second week, their American neighbors showed their support by waving the Canada flag and carrying signs that echoed the sentiments of the 'Freedom Convoy' mission as they marched to protest their own mandates New York City Mayor Eric Adams said the ultimatum is about safety and argued that city employees have had long enough to comply with the municipal workforce vaccine mandate, which took effect November 1. 'Safety is not only to stop the bullet, a knife or some other item,' he said last week at City Hall. 'Safety is COVID. COVID is taking lives,' the mayor said. 'There must be rules, and we must follow them. The rule is to get vaccinated if you are a city employee.' Protests in solidarity of Freedom Convoy have started taking shape in other Canadian cities and have even trickled down into the United States. Several 'Convoy for Freedom 2022' telegram groups by state are mentioned on Twitter, including North Carolina with 637 members, North Dakota with 120 members, Ohio with 710 members, Oklahoma with 315 members, Oregon with 451 members, Rhode Island with 151 members and Pennsylvania with the most at 1,068 members. Last week, Facebook removed a page used by American truckers to organize a convoy to Washington DC after GoFundMe began refunding the $8million in donations collected for a Freedom Convoy protesting Canada's COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Meta, the social media platform's parent company, told Fox News the Convoy to DC 2022 group was removed 'for repeatedly violating our policies around QAnon'. A protester marches Monday a week after New York City Mayor Eric Adams said the ultimatum is about safety and argued that city employees have had long enough to comply with the municipal workforce vaccine mandate, which took effect Nov. 1 Protests in solidarity of Freedom Convoy have started taking shape in other Canadian cities and have even trickled down into the United States People carrying a 'no medial mandate' sign march against vaccine mandates in New York City A day after the city declared a state of emergency, the mayor pleaded for almost 2,000 extra police officers to help quell the raucous nightly demonstrations staged by the so-called Freedom Truck Convoy, which has used hundreds of parked trucks to paralyze the Canadian capital's business district. Police in Ottawa arrested seven people and opened 60 criminal investigations into 'Freedom Convoy' for hate crimes and mischief as they seized fuel and supplies for 1,000 vehicles Sunday. The hate crimes include an individual who urinated on the National War Memorial. One danced on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Several others carried signs and flags with swastikas. Hours earlier, Ottawa's mayor Jim Watson declared the state of emergency on Sunday as the cross-border truckers continued to converge in the capital city where they blocked streets, shot off fireworks and blared horns, in protest to rules requiring them be fully vaccinated to enter either Canada or the United States. The protests have also infuriated people who live around downtown, including neighborhoods near Parliament Hill, the seat of the federal government. On Monday, a Canadian court granted a 10-day injunction against the truckers ordering them to stop honking their horns. The class action brought on behalf of Ottawa's inner city residents claims that blasting air horns and train horns 'incessantly' was a key tactic of the protesters, 'to cause serious discomfort and inconvenience'. Protesters have said they will not leave until all vaccine mandates and COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. They also called for the removal of Trudeaus government, though it is responsible for few of the restrictive measures, most of which were put in place by provincial governments. Prominent Republicans including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton complained after crowdfunding site GoFundMe said it would refund the vast majority of the millions of dollars raised by demonstrators. Protesters have said they will not leave until all vaccine mandates and COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. The Freedom Convoy was supposed to end on January 29 but as of February 7 truckers are still dominating the downtown area of Ottawa and Toronto Protests in Ottawa continued into a second week as hundreds of trucks from across the country packed the streets at Parliament Hill in downtown in ongoing demonstrations against Covid mandates A Northern Territory policeman accused of murdering an Aboriginal teenager fired the fatal shots from point-blank range while his alleged victim was restrained, a court has been told. Constable Zachary Rolfe, 30, has pleaded not guilty to the shooting murder of Kumanjayi Charles Arnold Walker in November 2019. The 19-year-old died after he was allegedly shot three times in the remote outback community of Yuendumu, 290km northwest of Alice Springs. Prosecutor Philip Strickland SC says Rolfe fired his first shot 60 seconds after finding Mr Walker at a home in the desert community of about 800. It hit Mr Walker in the back but did not kill him and he continued to wrestle with Rolfe's partner while holding a pair of scissors in his right hand. Kumanjayi Walker (pictured), 19, died after he was allegedly shot three times in the remote Northern Territory community of Yuendumu in November 2019 Mr Strickland said Mr Walker was held down and his right arm was beneath him when Rolfe fired two more shots from 'point-blank' range 2.6 seconds later. 'The accused stood over Kumanjayi Walker whilst he was pinned down ... and fired again, this time into his left torso,' he told the Supreme Court in Darwin on Monday. 'About 0.5 seconds after the second shot the accused fired a third time.' Mr Strickland said Rolfe 'deliberately fired the three shots' in a rapid discharge of shots called a 'double tap'. 'The double tap is designed to ensure maximum injury or death,' he said. 'When the accused fired the second and third shots he intended to kill Kumanjayi Walker, or cause him serious harm.' The second and third shots killed Mr Walker. Mr Strickland said the shooting was 'not reasonable' because Mr Walker was 'on the ground and effectively restrained'. About a week before he died, Mr Walker removed an electronic monitoring device and fled an Alice Springs alcohol rehabilitation centre so he could attend a relative's funeral. He also threatened police in Yuendumu with an axe as he ran from them after a warrant was issued for his arrest. Zachary Rolfe (centre) leaves the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory, in Darwin, Monday, February 7 The two officers involved said he was not attempting to 'chop them up' and 'just wanted to escape'. Other officers had also spoken to senior community members who told them Mr Walker would hand himself in after the funeral. Mr Strickland told the court Rolfe joined the NT Police in 2016 and was member of the Immediate Response Team tasked with high-risk operations using semi-automatic weapons. He was also an ex-soldier who had served in Afghanistan. 'He had extensive experience in handling firearms and weapons but he had limited experience in performing police work in a remote Indigenous community such as Yuendumu,' he said. Outside court, Yuendumu community member Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves said his people were 'still hurting' and 'very angry' over the death. 'There is so much we can say but let the court take over that,' he said. 'We want to see justice.' Rolfe, who has pleaded not guilty, speaks to reporters outside the Supreme Court in Darwin on Monday Yuendumu community member Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves (left) and Lindsay Japangardi Williams (right) are pictured outside the supreme court on Monday Earlier, Rolfe said he was 'feeling very confident' when he arrived at court. 'It's taken a while,' he said as he purposely strode towards the court with more than a dozen supporters and members of his legal team. 'Good it has finally started.' His trial has been postponed three times - twice due to the Covid pandemic and most recently following a High Court challenge over the proposed defence. It is likely to go for about a month with about 50 witnesses and experts. The jury will sit from 9.30am until 1.15pm each day - instead of the usual 10am to 4pm - to 'reduce the chance of people catching the virus', a court spokesperson said. Sitting for less than four hours a day will also prevent jury members from being deemed close contacts and having to isolate if one of them becomes infected. The jury has been divided with 10 jurors on one side of the court room and four in the witness box. Rolfe is sitting in the public gallery behind his defence team led by David Edwardson QC. The trial continues on Tuesday. Australian economist Sean Turnell remains in detention in Myanmar as Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen apologised for suggesting the former adviser to ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi had been freed. Prof Turnell has been detained for a year after his arrest following last year's February 1 coup. He has been charged with violating Myanmar's immigration and official secrets acts by trying to leave the country with sensitive financial information and is facing a 14 year jail term. Australian economist Sean Turnell, former adviser to ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi, remains in detention Hun Sen was on Monday quoted by the Cambodian official Agence Kampuchea Presse news agency as saying he welcomed Prof Turnell's release by Myanmar junta leader Aung Min Hlaing, which followed his request on behalf of Australia. The Fresh News service reported Hun Sen also said: 'The release is indeed to the senior general's credit, but at least I also contributed as the rotating chair of ASEAN'. But the Cambodian prime minister issued a statement later in the day saying he had been mistaken. 'In reality, the Australian national was not released,' Hun Sen said in a Facebook post late on Monday. 'The confusion is because of me getting information wrong, please forgive me for unintentional mistake'. A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson told AAP in a statement on Monday night that Myanmar authorities had advised DFAT that 'Professor Sean Turnell remains detained'. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen apologised for suggesting he has been freed on Monday The statement added: 'The Australian government repeats its call for Professor Turnell's immediate release, and for his rights and welfare to be upheld'. Pressure has been mounting on the junta to release Prof Turnell since Hun Sen became the first leader to visit Myanmar since the coup in an attempt to move an ASEAN-backed Five-Point Consensus forward. 'Professor Turnell's detention is unjust, and we reject the allegations against him,' Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said in a statement on Sunday. Myanmar military spokesman Zaw Min Tun earlier told BBC Burmese there were no plans to release Turnell and Myanmar Foreign Affairs Ministry officials told the EFE news agency that he remained detained. Turnell's trial has yet to start. He is among about 11,000 people detained since the coup, activists say. with reporting from AAP, Reuters and EFE A senior instructor at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst has been found dead inside the grounds of the officer training college. Colour Sergeant Alex Street had been missing since attending a dinner there on Friday evening. After extensive searches and liaison with Thames Valley Police and his family, his body was recovered from a lake on Sunday. His wife Juliana went to the training college in Berkshire on Saturday morning after he failed to return home. They had married last year. Colour Sergeant Alex Street had been missing since attending a dinner at Sandhurst on Friday evening. Pictured: With wife Juliana on their wedding day Initially it was assumed Colour Sergeant Street had fallen asleep in someone's room following the dinner. Police inquiries were continuing last night. According to defence sources, it is considered likely that he fell into the lake accidentally and was unable to get out. He had been posted to the academy from the Irish Guards and previously served in Afghanistan. Last night a defence source said: 'Sandhurst is in shock about Alex's death. This is a tragic loss. He was a very respected and popular instructor who was proud to have been selected to train the next generation of Army officers. 'Only the best non-commissioned officers are selected to join the staff at Sandhurst. Our thoughts are with his family.' The colour sergeant's death is understood to be the first at Sandhurst since officer cadet Olivia Perks, 21, was found hanged in her room in 2019. Pictured: Colour Sergeant Street and his wife Juliana An Army report found several senior officers failed to provide Miss Perks with the welfare support she required and military police recommended charges against seven officers, but after months of deliberations, the Service Prosecuting Authority dropped the case, as the Daily Mail revealed yesterday. A service inquiry into Miss Perks' death, due to be published later this year, is understood to include severe criticisms of Sandhurst, including of the drinking culture there. Sandhurst is where all officers in the Army are trained, as well as cadets from other nations. An Army spokesman said: 'It is with great sadness that we can confirm the death of a soldier at the Royal Military Academy. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.' Two soldiers were confirmed to have died at the Catterick garrison in North Yorkshire in separate incidents on February 5 and 6. Their names have not been released. A devastated mother who helplessly watched as her husband and son drowned on the last day of school holidays is calling for greater public awareness about the dangerous spot at the popular beach. Peter and Mahan, 10, were fishing on a rock face at Little Bay, in Sydney's southeast, on January 31 when they were dragged into the water by a freak wave. Sara, 36, said she looked away for a second and felt a wave splash over her, before turning to see her 'entire world' in the water fighting to stay above the swell. Witnesses could do little to help, with one dialling triple 0 while other bystanders and the 36-year-old mother watched on as her husband and little boy drowned. Peter and Mahan, 10, (pictured together) tragically drowned after being swept of rocks at Little Bay, in Sydney's southeast, on January 31 The family had arrived at the beach just moments before tragedy struck. Police are pictured speaking to witnesses at the scene 'My husband and my son were just a few steps in front of me and now they are gone forever,' she told the Daily Telegraph. 'I wish it was me instead of my little boy. 'I don't have the will to live.' The student nurse, who lives in the city's Hills district, immigrated to Australia with her husband 12 years ago in search of a better life. She described Peter as a 'passionate, hard-working man' and her 'perfect' son as a 'kind and respectful' boy, who was loving and cared about nature. She said the family had arrived at the beach just moments before the tragedy for one last fun day by the beach before Mahan returned to school. There were no signs warning people of the dangers of fishing on the rocks, she said, and the family were completely 'unaware' of the risks. The heartbroken widow said signage need to be installed to alert others of the dangers, and had it been done earlier, she would still have her husband and son. Sara described her husband as 'passionate and hard working' and her son as 'kind and respectful' Devastated mother and widow Sara is calling for signs to be installed at the beach to alert visitors of the dangers of fishing on the rocks She said other people have died at the beach before and the tragedy could have been prevented had action been taken. Sara will farewell her husband and son to rest in a private funeral service this week. A GoFundMe page has been launched by members of her community to help support the mother financially during this difficult time. 'She will now have to cease her studies training as a Registered Nurse to find a job as her husband was the sole breadwinner,' the fundraiser reads. 'Her whole world has changed, and it is unimaginable for us to comprehend. We are setting this fundraiser up to be able to provide the mother with assistance and assurance that she will have funds to support her, even for a little bit. 'All funds raised will go directly to the family.' Scott Morrison will seek to win over his party room on religious discrimination protections with a promise to ban church schools from excluding LGBTQI+ students. Coalition MPs and senators are expected to discuss changes to the Sex Discrimination Act when they meet on Tuesday as federal parliament returns for the year. Scrapping a clause that lets religious schools discriminate against same-sex attracted and gender diverse students is being proposed to secure support for Mr Morrison's bid to shield people expressing offensive religious beliefs from discrimination claims. Scott Morrison will seek to win over his party room on religious discrimination protections with a promise to ban church schools from excluding LGBTQI+ students 'I'm proposing to put forward an amendment to change that (Sex Discrimination Act) in good faith and because I think it's the right thing to do,' the prime minister told reporters on Monday. 'That, I think, goes well together with the religious discrimination bill which I hope and certainly intend to become an act in the near future.' The legislative package has drawn criticism from both moderate Liberals and conservatives as well as Christian lobby groups, the latter opposed to changing the Sex Discrimination Act. But Finance minister and Senate leader, Simon Birmingham confirmed the proposal relates to sexual orientation only, raising concerns trans students would not be protected and could still be expelled. 'The proposal that is put forward is to repeal the exemption as it relates to students being exempted from the Sex Discrimination Act on the basis of their sexual orientation. Now it doesn't go further than that,' he told ABC Radio on Tuesday. 'It would still be subject to a relatively quick, within 12 months, review by the Australian Law Reform Commission, to try and address the best way to be able to enact any other changes without undermining certain issues around same-sex schools.' Mr Morrison said the ability to expel trans students was an 'existing law' and the bill would 'not seek to endorse that arrangement'. Labor's manager of opposition business, Tony Burke, criticised the prime minister for the lack or clarity on students being protected from discrimination. 'The prime minister previously said he would end discrimination for all students and he should be true to his word on that,' he told Radio National. The government's religious discrimination bills are listed for debate in the lower house on Tuesday. But many Liberals are concerned they will be compelled to vote on changes without enough time to properly consider them. Backbencher Bridget Archer has threatened to vote against the religious discrimination laws on the grounds they override Tasmanian anti-discrimination legislation. Scrapping a clause that lets religious schools discriminate against same-sex attracted and gender diverse students is being proposed to secure support for Mr Morrison's bid to shield people expressing offensive religious beliefs from discrimination claims. Pictured, students protesting against Citipointe Christian College over its now-scrapped anti-gay contract Mr Morrison personally introduced the religious discrimination bills into parliament last year. They would shield people expressing beliefs, even if these are considered offensive or insulting, as long as they don't amount to harassment, vilification or threats. The bills are also designed to override state laws that limit when religious schools can preference hiring people of the same faith. Opposition leader Anthony Albanese told his party room on Tuesday Labor still didn't know the final form of the legislation. Shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus criticised the government for not working with Labor in a bipartisan way. Caucus agreed it was premature to finalise its position on the discrimination changes. Two cross-party committees last week recommended the laws be passed with some amendments. Labor MPs and senators offered their conditional support despite criticising the way the government had gone about it. Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson were last night locked in a stand-off with the NHS over plans to clear record waiting lists. Government sources confirmed the planned publication yesterday of the long-awaited National Recovery Plan for the NHS had been delayed because of a row over the tough targets demanded by the Prime Minister and Chancellor. The plan is meant to set out how the health service will use a total of 39billion over the next three years to cut waiting lists and restore treatments after the pandemic. Ministers are concerned that failure to bring the backlog under control by the next election will be politically toxic for the Conservatives. There are also fears that delays could further push back the PMs pledge to tackle the social care crisis. One Whitehall source accused the NHS of reneging on commitments made last year as part of the controversial deal to put up national insurance to raise 12billion a year for the health service. The plan is not ambitious enough, the source said. It is much more pessimistic about what can be achieved than the agreement struck last year. We have agreed the money... but they have reneged on what they agreed to deliver in return and we have a duty to taxpayers to make sure we secure value for money. The PM and Chancellor yesterday pressed ahead with a hospital visit in Kent, which had been designed to launch the recovery plan. But, with the Government still locked in negotiations with the NHS over the details, they were able to announce only a small section of it relating to waiting times for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Speaking at Maidstone Hospital, the PM said that three-quarters of cancer diagnoses should be made within 28 days by 2028 a target first set by Theresa May four years ago. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak speak to a member of staff during a visit to the Kent Oncology Centre at Maidstone Hospital on Monday And he said that, from March of next year, nobody should have to wait more than two months for a cancer treatment. Further announcements are expected this week. A health source later said the PM had got it wrong and that the latter target would only require the NHS to return to its pre-pandemic service levels. A Whitehall source said NHS officials were still pressing for the target to be pushed back by a further six months as the PM and Chancellor travelled to make the announcement. In the end, Mr Johnson ended the debate by simply announcing the target date. The PM hinted at the row, saying ministers were putting huge sums into the NHS and were determined to ensure it delivers in return. Those are very tough targets, he said. Weve got to make sure that the NHS delivers them. The aim for getting the record six-million waiting list back to pre-pandemic levels is said to have slipped by more than a year from its previous date of May 2024 taking it past the likely date of the next election. The Prime Minister and Chancellor are locked in a stand-off with the NHS over plans to clear record waiting lists And sources said the NHS was resisting putting any targets at all on reducing the number of people waiting more than a year for treatment. NHS insiders denied they were using the Omicron crisis to strip out challenging goals from the document. A health source said: Despite the NHS continuing to deal with Omicron, the plan is more ambitious than it was in November. Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt yesterday appeared to side with the NHS in the row. He told BBC Radio 4s World at One that frankly the last thing the NHS needs right now is more targets. And Rachel Power, of the Patients Association, told the BBC: Patients are the ones that are suffering, so we really need to get this plan out. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed he won't be attending or tuning in when Grace Tame and Brittany Higgins make a landmark address in Canberra this week. The pair are the keynote speakers at a National Press Club event on Wednesday, which is already sold out. Mr Morrison said he won't be present or listening in as politicians return to Canberra for the first sitting of parliament in 2022. 'It's going to be a busy week, I don't get the opportunity to listen to all these speeches, but I'll certainly ensure I am aware of what they've said,' he told reporters on Tuesday. Prime Minister Scott Morrison (left) won't be attending the National Press Club keynote speeches on Wednesday, just weeks after his frosty exchange with Grace Tame (right) 'I am certainly, like the rest of the country, very interested in the contribution they have made. 'I think the contribution they have made has brought forward some very important issues that we've had to deal with and we should deal with and were long overdue.' The comments come after Ms Tame's frosty exchange with the Prime Minister in front of the media at an Australia Day at the Lodge in Canberra last month. Ms Tame gave the prime minister a less than friendly handshake with a scowl on her face - before throwing him an icy sideways glance. Mr Morrison has been on the receiving end of much criticism over the past year from Ms Tame, who was awarded the Australian of the Year title in 2021 for her campaigning efforts on behalf of victims of sexual abuse. Several senior ministers will attend the National Press Club address. Former Liberal party staffer Brittany Higgins (pictured) will also speak at the National Press Club event on Wednesday But a female Liberal backbencher has revealed MPs have been urged to attend the event address to avoid embarrassing the government. 'There's no trust in us (MPs), so it can't be reciprocated,' she told AAP on Monday. 'The prime minister can't have it both ways. (Scott Morrison) can't say he doesn't trust us to act in the interest of the party and the government and listen to (concerns) about an important issue in parliament and the country.' The prime minister's office denied the claims, saying parliamentarians are able to attend the event providing they meet their duties in parliament. Ms Tame is a survivor of child sexual abuse and has been vocal in her criticism of the Coalition government's response to women's safety issues. Ms Higgins is a former Liberal staffer who came forward with an allegation of sexual assault in a ministerial office in 2019 and has been championing safety reform in parliamentary workplaces. The allegations rocked Canberra when she went public with her claims last February. Several weeks after going public with her claims, Ms Higgins returned to Parliament House to address thousands at a Women's March4Justice rally. 'This isn't a political problem. This is a human problem,' she told the crowd. 'We've all learnt over the past few weeks just how common gendered violence is in this country. 'It's time our leaders on both sides of politics stop avoiding the subject and side-stepping accountability. It's time we actually address the problem.' Scott Morrison (pictured left on Tuesday) won't be present or listening into the National Press Club address by Brittany Higgins or Grace Tame on Wednesday Ms Higgins has since become great friends with Ms Tame and signed a $250,000 deal to write a memoir with Penguin Random House Australia, where she vows to 'shine a light' on the 'toxic culture inside the corridors of power'. The federal government is due to act on two key recommendations from a review into parliamentary culture by sex discrimination commissioner Kate Jenkins this week. Ms Jenkins outlined 28 recommendations in her Set the Standard report. It includes a statement of acknowledgement and the establishment of a committee on parliamentary standards to inquire and report on matters relating to the development of a code of conduct. Both have been flagged by Finance Minister Simon Birmingham for this parliamentary sitting week. Peter Thiel, the conservative billionaire and prominent Republican donor, will leave the Facebook board of directors at some point this year. The venture capitalist was one of Facebooks earliest supporters after co-founding PayPal with Elon Musk and others. He joined the board of directors in 2005. Advertisement In a statement, Meta, Facebooks parent compay, said Thiel would not run for reelection to the board at the companys 2022 annual shareholders meeting. Last years meeting occurred toward the end of May. Peter Thiel speaks during his keynote speech at the StartOut LGBT Entrepreneurship Awards in San Francisco. (Ben Margot/AP) Thiel was a prominent supporter of Donald Trump and is currently backing J.D. Vances run for the Republican nomination in the Senate race in Ohio. Advertisement Former Facebook board member Reed Hastings told Thiel in 2016 that supporting Trump showed terrible judgement and said he should be removed from the board. Hastings eventually left the board in 2019. Thiel has also invested in a number of other startups, like Spotify, but has run into a number of potential conflicts of interest that led many to question his suitability for the board. Thiel also famously bankrolled Hulk Hogans lawsuit against Gawker Media which led to the company shuttering its flagship site and declaring bankruptcy. Peter has been a valuable member of our board and Im deeply grateful for everything he has done for our company from believing in us when few others would, to teaching me so many lessons about business, economics, and the world, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a statement obtained by NBC News. Peter is truly an original thinker you can bring your hardest problems and get unique suggestions. A young woman is in a serious condition with 'significant facial injuries' after she was left for dead when a stolen car ploughed into a Brisbane home. Police say the woman and four males were in a Lexus when it raced across an intersection and slammed into the house near the corner of Gowan Rd and Hellawell Rd, Sunnybank Hills, about 11.20pm on Monday. The crash left the home on the verge of collapse and the others who were in the car ran away, leaving the seriously injured woman at the scene. A young woman is in a serious condition with 'significant facial injuries' after she was left for dead when a stolen car ploughed into a Brisbane home The four males then got into a second car, which was also believed to be stolen, that had been travelling with the Lexus and it was driven away. No one was in the house at the time of the accident, police said. Queensland Ambulance Service raced to the scene to find the young woman with 'significant facial injuries' and she was rushed to Princess Alexandra Hospital in a serious condition. Police say the crashed car had been stolen from Kuraby, also in southern Brisbane, on Sunday afternoon. 'Investigators urge anyone with information about the crash, knowledge about the occupants of the car or dashcam footage from the area to contact police,' they said in a statement. Two men, two violent criminals, both imprisoned for life in the same jail. One of them probably is guilty of perhaps the most savage multiple murder in modern British criminal history. But which inmate? Michael Stone, now 61, who was convicted two decades ago of the appalling crime in question? Or Levi Bellfield, the serial killer who is now claiming these further killings as his own work? The latest twist in the story of the hammer murders of Lin Russell and her six-year-old daughter Megan and the attempted murder of her older daughter, Josie, aged nine, in a Kent country lane in 1996 presents a chilling scenario. It also raises as many questions as possible answers. In a harrowing four-page statement, convicted serial killer Levi Bellfield has formally confessed to the murders of Lin and Megan Russell, providing chilling details of the attack Bellfield, a bouncer who was convicted of the murders of three other females, including Surrey schoolgirl Milly Dowler, has produced a detailed four-page 'confession', it emerged this weekend. In this document he claims responsibility for the attack on the Russell family, for which Stone was first jailed for life in 1998, as well as the unsolved murder of a woman called Judith Gold, in 1990. Of the Russell killings, Bellfield, 53, concludes his statement by saying: 'Something like this has never happened to me, in the sense I've committed a crime and another person has been arrested for it. I apologise to Stone and the Russell family for my heinous acts.' But what has caused Bellfield to make such apparent admissions of guilt now? Is he really motivated by belated remorse, that an innocent man had been convicted of crimes he had committed himself? Michael Stone (pictured) is currently imprisoned after twice being convicted of the Russell murders. He has consistently insisted his innocence, and Bellfield's statement could mean he has suffered a miscarriage of justice Or is it simply a lie concocted by the 'narcissist' Bellfield in order to attract attention and increase his notoriety? By claiming the additional murders, he promotes himself 'up' the list of Britain's most prolific serial killers, while engaging in power games with the criminal justice system that has shut him away for ever. In the past he has made similar claims about the Russell case, then retracted them. By any measure Michael Stone is or was a dangerous man. It was his previous record of psychotic violence and cruelty that put him in the frame for the Russell murders and few people will be sorry that he has been kept off the streets for so many years. But there was no forensic evidence to support his conviction. He has protested his innocence ever since, supported by loyal sister Barbara and long-standing legal team. Indeed, if Bellfield had been stopped after committing his first murder more than 30 years ago, as he now claims he did, at least five other women would still be alive today. Pictured: Lin Russell with daughters Megan and Josie The two men are both imprisoned for life in the same jail, HM Frankland (pictured) And if he did not attack the Russell family that day, there has been a shocking miscarriage of justice. Worse, if Bellfield was their real killer, then failures by the police and justice system allowed him to remain at large and carry out at least three more murders. Indeed, if Bellfield had been stopped after committing his first murder more than 30 years ago, as he now claims he did, at least five other women would still be alive today. A number of others who survived his later attacks, would be living their lives unscarred. The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) has said that it will 'thoroughly analyse' Bellfield's statement of guilt and promised to make 'any appropriate inquiries' to verify the truth. Stone's legal team are demanding that a 99 cm bootlace found at the scene of the Russell killings, and which had been used to tie up at least one victim, be tested using the latest DNA techniques. Amelie Delagrange, 22 whose body was found Thursday August 19, 2004, with a serious head injury lying on Twickenham Green, south west London In his new confession Bellfield wrote: 'In my car I had a screwdriver, a lock knife, a hammer, yellow Marigold gloves and a very long black bootlace.' Prosecutors had speculated that the lace had previously been used by Stone as a tourniquet while injecting heroin, gripped between his teeth to pull it tight. If so, it should have had traces of his DNA on it. But that was not the case. Stone's lawyers want three knots in the lace to be untied to see if they yield any proof of the identity of the killer. The lace had reportedly gone missing from an evidence store, but it has now been located, police have confirmed. Bellfield carried out the attacks for which he was convicted in suburban South-West London. But did his bloody career actually begin a number of miles away in a cobbled cul-de-sac in Hampstead, North-West London? That is where the body of insurance and mortgage agent Judith Gold, a widowed mother of three, was found by a paperboy in the early hours of October 20, 1990. Levi Bellfield is currently serving life in prison for the murder of schoolgirl Milly Dowler Mrs Gold, 51, lived yards away, above the Midland Bank in the High Street. She had been beaten to death with an unidentified weapon. There was no sign either of robbery or sexual assault. The case remained unsolved and faded from memory. That could not be said of the Russell murders. On July 9, 1996, Dr Russell, a geologist, her two daughters and their dog Lucy were walking home from a swimming gala. Their route took them along a secluded country lane in Chillenden, Kent. They walked past a parked car from which a man emerged wielding a claw hammer and demanding money. The assailant tied them up and bludgeoned Dr Russell, 45, and Megan to death. The dog was also killed. Josie was blindfolded with strips of her own swimming towel, tied to a tree and battered so severely that first responders thought she too was dead. She was not found for eight hours. Who could have committed such an attack on a defenceless young family? The answer was an ultra-violent, mentally unstable robber and heroin addict from nearby Gillingham, called Michael Stone. He was the product of a terrible childhood in which he suffered physical and sexual abuse, some of it while in local authority care. According to relatives, his stepfather Peter Stone used to beat him with a hammer. As a child, Michael Stone tortured animals and forced a schoolgirl to strip at knifepoint in a playground. He stole and burgled to buy drugs, and his first criminal conviction came at the age of 11. Then came the serious violent offending. In 1981 he was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for attacking a man with a hammer during the course of a robbery. Two years later he was sentenced to four and a half years for another assault, in which he had stabbed a former school friend in the chest while the victim slept. He then gouged the eye of a policeman during his subsequent arrest. In 1987 he got ten years for two armed robberies. Lin, 45, her two daughters, six-year-old Megan and nine-year-old Josie, as well as their dog Lucy, were tied up and savagely beaten with a hammer in the brutal attack. Only Josie survived. The deaths in the picturesque village of Chillenden, Kent in 1996 shocked the nation The breakthrough in the Russell case came when the BBC's Crimewatch programme conducted a reconstruction of the attack to mark the first anniversary. A number of viewers named Stone. Among them were medical professionals who had dealt with Stone's mental problems in the days leading up to the Russell attack. They described his rages and aggression, his fantasising over torturing people and killing children. A psychiatrist said his behaviour was so alarming that he feared for his own life and that of other staff. Stone could not account for his whereabouts on the fatal day. It also emerged that he had tried to get himself readmitted to a hospital psychiatric wing the day after the attack. He had burned the clothes he had been wearing. But there was no other forensic evidence to link him to the scene of what was a frenzied and prolonged assault. Josie Russell had made a miraculous recovery but was of limited help. The police investigation and subsequent prosecution was left to rely largely on conversations Stone allegedly had with fellow inmates while being held on remand. In particular, a fellow prisoner named Damien Daley, who said that Stone had confessed to the murders. In October 1998 Stone was convicted of the attacks by a majority verdict. But days later one of the prisoners who had provided a witness statement not Daley, who would later also be jailed for life for a separate murder admitted he had lied. Stone was granted an appeal, his convictions were quashed, there was a retrial. But in 2001 he was convicted once again, on a majority verdict. A second appeal was rejected in 2005. And that was that, until the unexpected intervention of Levi Bellfield. Bellfield is a multiple killer, of that there is no doubt. In his case the question is not 'did he?' but 'how many?'. Lin Russell, 45, her two daughters, six-year-old Megan (above with her mother) and nine-year-old Josie, were tied up and savagely beaten with a hammer in the brutal attack in 1996 His spate of known or probable attacks on young women in South-West London began in 2001. Anna-Maria Rennie, then aged 17, would later identify Bellfield as the man who abducted and imprisoned her that October in Richmond. The following March, 13-year-old Milly Dowler disappeared on her way home from school in Walton-on-Thames. Her body was found in Hampshire that September. In February 2003, Marsha McDonnell, 19, was beaten about the head after getting off a bus in Hampton and died two days later. That December, Irma Dragoshi was also battered with a blunt instrument as she waited for a bus in West London. She survived. The following May, Kate Sheedy, 18, was deliberately run over after being approached by a man in a vehicle, also in West London. She too survived with multiple injuries. But Amelie Delagrange, a 22-year-old French student, died in hospital after being found with serious head injuries in Twickenham that August. In February 2008 Bellfield was found guilty of the murders of McDonnell and Delagrange, as well as the attempted murder of Sheedy, and sentenced to life with a whole-life tariff. The jury was unable to reach verdicts in the Rennie and Dragoshi cases. After the conviction, police said they were looking at Bellfield's links to other crimes against women, including the Judith Gold murder. At his second trial in 2011 he was found guilty of the abduction and murder of Milly Dowler. Interest grew in his possible role in dozens of other crimes. And one in particular the Russell killings. In 2017 the speculation came to a head when it was claimed by Stone's legal team that Bellfield had made a confession of guilt to a fellow inmate. Some of the details he gave could only have been known by the murderer, they said. In a BBC documentary broadcast that year Bellfield's former partner and mother of his two children, Jo Collings who had no doubt that he was a killer said he could not have been involved in the Chillenden deaths. He had a watertight alibi, whatever he may claim. 'That was the day of my birthday,' she told the documentary. 'He [Bellfield] never left my side, all day and all night, so there's absolutely no way he could have got . . . to Kent, done what they say he did, and got back without me not knowing he was there. I hate to say it, but I can say, hand on my heart, he didn't do it.' Contacted by journalists, Bellfield later denied murdering the Russells and denied having made the confession. He claimed he had received three letters from Stone and complained about the latter's 'persistent attempts' to get him to take responsibility. He also alleged Stone has offered to give him a share of any compensation money he might get for wrongful conviction. By then the two men were both inmates at HMP Frankland, in County Durham, where they remain today. They are kept in different wings and have never apparently met. Bellfield who now calls himself Yusuf Rahim has made a number of conflicting claims concerning the Russell murders. Now, he appears to have made a formal confession. Last night Stone's lawyer Paul Bacon told the Mail that Bellfield sent him the statement from jail. In September Bellfield had sent him another statement in which he rubbished his alibi but stopped short of confessing to the killing. Mr Bacon said he will now pass the confession to the CCRC and the Metropolitan Police. When asked why he has confessed now, Mr Bacon said: 'Levi Bellfield attempted suicide in November. It was a very serious attempt, he was hospitalised, they spent a long time resuscitating him. 'I think that there has been a period of reflection since then. This is not the Bellfield we all know. He is genuinely remorseful.' How, though, does one explain his apparent years of inactivity between the Gold killing and the Russell deaths, as well as the five-year hiatus before the spate of attacks which led to his final arrest? David Wilson is Emeritus Professor at Birmingham City University, where he founded the Centre for Applied Criminology. He is also a former prison governor who helped design and run the two units, at HMP Woodhill, Milton Keynes, housing Britain's 12 most violent prisoners. Last night he told the Mail that he had his own doubts about Bellfield's 'confession'. He said: 'If Levi Bellfield is providing information which only the killer would know and it can be independently verified, then he should indeed be re-interviewed by police about these historic crimes. But Levi Bellfield is an inveterate liar. He has been lying since he was a child. 'His modus operandi was to attack blonde, young girls or women in London and the killings of Lin and Megan Russell do not fit that pattern of behaviour. 'It is possible for a serial killer to take a break in his offending either when he is in prison for other offences or has met a partner who satisfies his psychological needs for the time being but it is very unusual. 'Levi Bellfield is a huge narcissist and people have not been talking about him, so what better way to put your name back in the public domain than to pull off a stunt like this. 'We must treat what he says with caution until we know for certain whether he is telling the truth, for once.' President Biden's Health and Human Services department (HHS) denied that it is finalizing a plan for funding to dole out crack pipes to drug addicts as part of its 'Harm Reduction Plan.' The $30 million grant program, which accepted applications until Monday and will begin doling out money in May, intends to provide funds to nonprofits and local governments to make drug use safer, to advance 'racial equity.' Included in the grant is money to purchase 'safe smoking kits/supplies.' A spokesperson for HHS originally told the Washington Free Beacon that included in these kits could be pipes for users to smoke substances like crack cocaine and crystal methamphetamine, or 'any illicit substance.' But on Wednesday, HHS flagged to DailyMail.com a statement denying that the kits would include crack pipes. 'No federal funding will be used directly or through subsequent reimbursement of grantees to put pipes in safe smoking kits. The goal of harm reduction is to save lives,' the statement read. A spokesperson for HHS did not reply to a followup question asking for an explanation on the discrepancy between the comments to the Free Beacon and the follow-up statement. However, White House press secretary Jen Psaki blamed 'inaccurate reporting.' The crackpipes 'were never a part of the kit. It was inaccurate reporting and we wanted to put out information to make that clear,' she said. HHS said that the kits will serve to limit the risk of infection - typically users smoke out of glass pipes which can lead to cuts and sores that become infected with diseases like Hepatitis-C. Handing out pipes is also intended to prompt users to smoke rather than inject themselves with some substances, like meth, as injection is far riskier. Applicants for the program get priority if they serve 'underserved communities,' such as African Americans or Native Americans, or LGBTQ people. The crack-cocaine epidemic starting in the 1980s disproportionately ravaged the black community. Included in the grant is money to purchase 'safe smoking kits/supplies.' A spokesperson for HHS told the Washington Free Beacon that included in these kits could be pipes for users to smoke substances like crack cocaine and crystal methamphetamine, or 'any illicit substance' A crack addict lights a pipe President Biden's Health and Human Services department (HHS) is finalizing funding to dole out crack pipes to drug addicts as part of its 'Harm Reduction Plan' Other harm reduction supplies that could be purchased with the grant money include testing equipment for sexually transmitted diseases, overdose reversal medication, medication lock boxes, syringes and substance test kits. The grant program lasts three years and includes 25 awards of up to $400,000. It is against the law to sell or distribute drug paraphernalia - including such pipes - unless authorized by state, local or federal law. There were an estimated 100,306 drug overdose deaths in the 12-month period ending in April 2021, according to the CDC, a 28.5% increase from just the year prior. Three-quarters of those deaths involved opioids, many of them being synthetic opioids, such as methamphetamine or fentanyl. Cities like San Francisco and Seattle have experimented with their own crack pipe kit distribution programs. Others have backed away from such plans. Louisville, Ky. allowed convenience stores to sell drug kits, before later banning them from doing so. Meanwhile, the Justice Department (DOJ) signaled Monday it may allow 'safe injection sites' to open up across the U.S. Such sites would be safe havens where drug users could use heroin and other narcotics freely without risking arrest in an environment monitored by health professionals. The DOJ told the Associated Press it was 'evaluating' such facilities and talking to regulators about the 'appropriate guardrails.' The DOJ under the Trump administration had prosecutors who fought aggressively against a plan to open safe consumption sites in Philadelphia. 'Although we cannot comment on pending litigation, the Department is evaluating supervised consumption sites, including discussions with state and local regulators about appropriate guardrails for such sites, as part of an overall approach to harm reduction and public safety,' the agency said in a statement Friday to the AP. A divided appeals court last year ruled that safe injection sites would violate a 1980s-era drug law aimed at 'crackhouses.' The Supreme Court in October declined to take up the case. About six weeks later, the first officially authorized safe injection sites opened in New York City. The two facilities which the city calls 'overdose prevention centers' provide a monitored place for drug users to partake, with staffers and supplies on hand to reverse overdoses. The New York City sites so far have intervened in more than 110 overdoses among more than 500 users, many of whom have made multiple visits, according to OnPoint NYC, the organization running them. However, critics say they are only encouraging drug use and burdening the surrounding communities. 'Is this a cruel joke? Drug overdose deaths are at their highest recorded levels. The Biden administration should focus on stopping traffickers instead of creating more demand for their product,' Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., wrote on Twitter of the Justice Department's consideration of the facilities. Boris Johnson's new policy chief yesterday took an apparent swipe at the BBC and pledged to rapidly return to tax-cutting so families can 'keep more of their money'. Andrew Griffith, MP for Arundel and South Downs, was appointed head of the No 10 policy unit last week after the resignation of long-time adviser Munira Mirza. Setting out his priorities, Mr Griffith said he wants to bring down the cost of living and make the economy more competitive. In an article for the ConservativeHome website, the former TV executive said: 'A competitively regulated, low tax and high skills economy trading globally has always been the right combination for economic success.' Andrew Griffith has become the head of the Downing Street policy unit In an apparent dig at the BBC, he said the Tory party should be the 'hive mind' of centre-Right policy development. He added: 'In the battle of ideas, we remain an insurgent force: Outgunned by the hegemony of Left-wing orthodoxy that often lurks without challenge within swathes of the cultural and education establishment and in the state supported media.' His comments came as Downing Street confirmed that special adviser Henry Newman, a close friend of Carrie Johnson, has left No 10. The PM's spokesman said Mr Newman is returning to work for former boss Michael Gove and left in a 'mutually agreed decision with the Prime Minister'. The Prime Minister made key changes over the weekend, appointing Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Steve Barclay as his new chief of staff and journalist and long-time ally Guto Harri as his head of communications. Downing Street also said there would be further personnel changes 'in the coming days', with roles including No 10 permanent secretary and principal private secretary yet to be filled. Mark Spencer is set to be moved from his post as chief whip later this week in a 'mini reshuffle' as Mr Johnson tries to rebuild bridges with his MPs. And some of new chief of staff Steve Barclay's role will be 'shared among Cabinet Office ministers'. Yesterday afternoon he addressed No 10 staff including cleaners and security staff with Mr Griffith and communications chief Guto Harri. Mirza worked with the PM for 14 years, including when he was mayor of London. Andrew Griffiths is a former Sky executive who loaned Johnson his 9.5m Westminster home to plot his leadership bid in 2019. Mr Barclay said he 'never envisaged' working in Downing Street, with his parents leaving school at 15 and 16, and thanked staff for their hard work during recent difficult weeks. Sources said he told staff that he wants to focus on making people's lives better and on creating an environment that is 'mutually supportive of each other'. Cabinet Office minister Michael Ellis told MPs yesterday that the Downing Street reforms will bring 'renewed discipline and focus'. Mr Ellis said Mr Barclay has been given 'additional responsibilities', remains a member of the Cabinet, and will 'promote levelling up whilst also playing a senior coordinating role in No 10' under the direction of the Prime Minister. A disgraced former television reporter who killed a mate after binging on champagne and driving has refused to pull down an insensitive social media post promoting morning binges. Former Channel 7 reporter Trent Evans, 44, faces up to 20 years behind bars after pleading guilty in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Monday to a single charge of culpable driving causing death. He will be sentenced later this year following a preliminary plea hearing at the County Court of Victoria. Trent Evans continues to share images of himself chugging on champagne despite killing a man while blind drunk on it Evans has failed to remove this insensitive image from his Instagram account. He had been binging on champagne on the very morning he killed his mate Former 7 reporter Trent Evans had been smashed on champagne when he drove his mate to his death Trent Evans reports alongside Rebecca Maddern on Sunrise Evans killed 44-year-old Rex Willox after ploughing his mate's Mercedes into a power pole. The court heard he had been drunk after binging on champagne on the morning of the crash. Police later determined Evans had a blood alcohol reading of 0.1 twice the legal limit when he crashed Mr Willoxs car on Barkly Ave in Burnley, a short distance from Evans' Richmond home. He had also been travelling at 113kmh in a 60kmh zone. Despite his atrocious behaviour, Evans' social media profiles continue to present like an audition for Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous - including an insensitive Instagram post of a bottle of champagne titled 'Morning Glory'. Another shows him guzzling champagne straight from the bottle. Scattered among photos of fancy watches and cars, Evans is seen staring down the lens in a variety of brooding portraits. 'Wow is that the same champagne that helped you kill your friend with??' one person has written under Evans' disgraceful champagne post. Evans faced multiple charges in relation to the crash, which were withdrawn as a part of his plea deal with Crown prosecutors. Evans called himself DJ Trent and had performed gigs at some of Melbourne's top night clubs Evans had been a reporter for Channel 7 before his life spiralled out of control Evans was on the path to nationwide stardom on the back of a Channel 7 reporting gig, but flushed it all away Evans' social media page depicts a man who was comfortable in his own skin. A psychiatrist will now report back to the court what was really going on inside his head At an earlier hearing, the court heard Evans had been seen driving erratically, almost sideswiping other vehicles before the crash. He and Mr Willox had downed three bottles of champagne together at Mr Willoxs Toorak apartment that morning before Evans agreed to drive because he said he was the less drunk of the pair. The court heard Evans had been unemployed at the the time and had spent the past 12 months living in a Parkville motor inn. His guilty plea ends a staggering fall from grace for the former scribe. Evans had the world at his feet after moving through the journalistic ranks from community news to Melbourne's Herald Sun to national television on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. Trent Evans is facing serious jail time for a drunken crash that claimed the life of his mate Evans was at the top of his game as a television reporter, but will now likely spend a period of time behind bars But in the months before the crash, Evans had been struggling as a nightclub disc jockey after squandering his journalism career. Evans, who claims to have had a top 40 song in the 1990s, had boasted that he was about to release a solo song under the name DJ Trente when he killed his mate. His social media pages also boast of gigs at top Melbourne nightclubs including Love Machine in Prahran. In 2019, Evans performed alongside 90s pop duo Bachelor Girl and in 2018 appeared as an extra in the Ride Like a Girl film He will now undergo a psychiatric assessment in the hope of minimising his sentence when it returns to court in July. Research on how well various types of masks and face coverings protect against coronavirus has varied but experts and politicians have generally leaned towards the idea that the chance of some protection is better than none. In the UK, face coverings were first made mandatory in for public transport in June and later for shops and other indoor spaces in July. Here's what studies have shown so far about whether masks work: FACE MASKS LOWER VIRUS R RATE (JANUARY 2021) Researchers at Boston University in the US found wearing face masks is an effective way to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The study, published in the journal Lancet Digital Health, found a 10 per cent rise in self-reported mask wearing is associated with a three-fold increase in the odds of keeping the R number the number of others each person with coronavirus infects below 1. Co-author of the study Ben Rader, of Boston Children's Hospital and Boston University, said: 'An important finding of this research is that mask wearing is not a replacement for physical distancing.' INFECTIOUS DROPLETS WILL STILL SLIP THROUGH (DECEMBER 2020) Scientists at New Mexico State University in the US found wearing a cloth mask may not shield the user totally from coronavirus because infected droplets can slip through, but it would significantly reduce how many. 'Wearing a mask will offer substantial, but not complete, protection to a susceptible person,' said Dr Krishna Kota, an associate professor at the university who led the research. The study found while all masks blocked at least 95 per cent of droplets from coughs and sneezes - there was still a risk of the disease being passed on. A MASK 'WILL ALWAYS BE BETTER THAN NOTHING' (DECEMBER 2020) Research by the University of Massachusetts Lowell and California Baptist University in the US found wearing a used three-layer surgical mask can reduce the number of small droplets that are released into the air by two thirds. Co-author Dr Jinxiang Xi said: 'It is natural to think that wearing a mask, no matter new or old, should always be better than nothing. 'Our results show that this belief is only true for particles larger than five micrometers, but not for fine particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers.' MASK-WEARERS EQUALLY LIKELY TO CATCH VIRUS (NOVEMBER 2020) A study by Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark suggested face masks may only offer the wearer limited protection against Covid infection. Researchers found there was no statistically significant difference in the number of people who contacted the virus in a group wearing masks in public compared to a group that did not do so. The study was carried out in April and May when Danish authorities did not recommend wearing face coverings. MASK LEADS TO THOUSANDS FEWER COUGH DROPLETS (AUGUST 2020) Research by Edinburgh University in Scotland suggested cloth face masks are effective at reducing the amount of droplets spread by coughing or sneezing. The findings suggest a person standing two metres from someone coughing without a mask is exposed to 10,000 times more droplets than from someone standing half a metre away wearing a basic single layer mask. Professor Paul Digard, of the University of Edinburgh's Roslin Institute, said: 'The simple message from our research is that face masks work. 'Wearing a face covering will reduce the probability that someone unknowingly infected with the virus will pass it on.' N95 MEDICAL MASKS COULD PREVENT 99% OF SPREAD (AUGUST 2020) A study by Duke University in North Carolina, US, found N95 masks are the most effective masks at reducing the spread of Covid-19. The research published in the journal Science Advances, studied 14 types of face coverings. Co-author Dr Eric Westman said: 'If everyone wore a mask, we could stop up to 99 percent of these droplets before they reach someone else. 'In the absence of a vaccine or antiviral medicine, it's the one proven way to protect others as well as yourself.' SURGICAL COVERINGS JUST AS GOOD AS N95 MASKS (MARCH 2020) A University of Oxford study published on March 30 last year concluded that surgical face masks are just as effective at preventing respiratory infections as N95 respirators for doctors, nurses and other health care workers. N95 respirators are made of thick, tightly woven and moulded material that fits tightly over the face and can stop 95 percent of all airborne particles, while surgical masks are thinner, fit more loosely, and more porous. The Oxford analysis of past studies - which has not yet been peer reviewed - found that surgical masks were worth wearing but any face mask is only as good as other health and hygiene practices. A pair of rocks orbiting the sun are the solar system's youngest asteroids, according to astronomers, who say they broke off from their parent body just 300 years ago. In cosmic terms, that is very recent, a team from the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona explained, with most rocks dating back to the dawn of the solar system. The asteroid pair, known as 2019 PR2 and 2019 QR6, were detected using the Pan-STARRS1 survey telescope in Hawaii, with confirmation by the Lowell Observatory. The two likely broke off from the same, much larger object about 300 years ago, making them the youngest known 'asteroid pair' by a factor of ten, the team said. The largest of the pair, PR2, is just over half a mile wide, and the smallest about half that size, sitting between Mars and Jupiter in the Main Asteroid Belt. Astronomers behind the discovery said it is most likely that the two objects, which are currently about half a million miles apart, were spun off by a large comet, and have been gradually drifting further from each other ever since. Artist impression of the asteroid pair shortly after they split from the parent object. They will gradually become further and further separated over thousands of years What makes them unusual is that so far no observations have revealed any evidence of comet-like behaviour, but models all point to them coming from a comet. Most asteroids are thought to have formed during the tremulous early years of the system, when planets were forming, breaking up, and colliding with one another. The majority reside in the area between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter known as the main asteroid belt, but these two were found a little closer to home. They are known as Near Earth Asteroids (NEAs) as their orbits bring them close to the Earth, even if they don't reside there the whole time. These two pass by the Earth, but also go out beyond Jupiter, the team explained, adding that they pose no threat to our planet. In 2019, scientists using the Pan-STARRS1 survey telescope in Hawaii and the Catalina Sky Survey in Arizona each discovered a new NEA. They were identified as 2019 PR2 and 2019 QR6. The largest of the two measures about half a mile in diameter and the other half that size. Astronomers discovered they had very similar orbits around the sun, and further study confirmed that they were both linked - an asteroid pair. The largest of the pair, PR2, is just over half a mile wide, and the smallest about half that size, sitting between Mars and Jupiter in the Main Asteroid Belt Petr Fatka of the Astronomical Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, confirmed they were two asteroids that separated from a single parent within the past several million years. While they have the same parent, and were discovered in a similar region of the sky as viewed from Earth, they are currently separated by half a million miles of space. KEY FINDINGS: ASTEROID PAIR SPUN OFF FROM A COMET 300 YEARS AGO They are D-type asteroids, which have a lower albedo than other types of space rock. Some astronomers suggest these class of asteroid contain organic-rich silicates, carbon and anhydrous silicates, possibly with water ice in their interiors. They appear to be something between asteroids in the main belt, and those forming in the Kuiper Belt. If the parent body of PR2 and QR6 originated in one of these outer Solar System reservoirs, then this pair provides insight on the color affects of increased heating and irradiation experienced in an NEO orbit, the team speculated. It is thought that the larger, PR2, is about half a mile in diameter and has a rotation of about 9.9 hours. The smaller, QR6, is a quarter of a mile in diameter and rotates every 4.1 hours, although the rotation figures are not confirmed. Despite speculation the parent body was a comet, they show no evidence of cometary activity. Models suggest they split from a larger object around 300 years ago. Their orbits have been changed and varied by the gravity of Jupiter since they first split from the unknown parent comet. Advertisement Several telescopes were used for the follow-up observations, including the 4.3-meter Lowell Discovery Telescope (LDT) in northern Arizona. These observations revealed very similar surface properties of both asteroids, further supporting the theory that they came from the same object. 'Thanks to the measurements performed with the LDT, it is clear that 2019 PR2 and 2019 QR6 come from the same parent object and their high orbital similarity is not coincidental,' explained Fatka. Most asteroid pairs of this time form from a process known as rotational fission, which is where a spinning asteroid reaches a critical speed. These rocks are effectively just piles of rubble held together by gravity, and so as they spin faster the debris flies off and forms one or more new asteroids. When they spin off they maintain a very similar orbit to the parent body, which is how the team determined these two objects had a shared heritage. Based on multiple modeling techniques and additional observations, which included previously unnoticed detections by the Catalina Sky Survey, they found that the pair only separated within the past 300 years. 'It's very exciting to find such a young asteroid pair that was formed only about 300 years ago, which was like this morningnot even yesterdayin astronomical timescales.' The previous record holders were at least ten times older,' said Fatka. However, finding they only split 300 years ago from a larger parent, left the astronomers with a problem. It wasn't possible for standard models of rotational fission to explain the properties found on these rocks. 'Something else had to be going on to explain their current separation,' they wrote. The team then developed new models that assume the original body was a comet, whose jets of gas could push their orbits into the configuration seen today. This provided a viable origin story for these objects. Nicholas Moskovitz of Lowell Observatory said this then raised further problems, as the bodies don't display any signs of cometary activity. 'So it remains a mystery how these objects could have gone from a single parent body, to individually active objects, to the inactive pair we see today in just 300 years,' he added. Petr Fatka of the Astronomical Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, confirmed they were two asteroids that separated from a single parent within the past several million years It isn't currently possible to explain this problem with current data, the team explained, saying that more observations will be needed. This will have to wait more than a decade though, as they are currently out of reach of available telescopes. 'To have a better idea about what process caused the disruption of the parent body, we have to wait until 2033 when both objects will be within the reach of our telescopes again,' said Fatka. The team wrote in the paper: 'Targeted observations in 2033, for example with the James Webb Space Telescope, during the next perigee passage of these objects could directly probe for differences in thermal inertia. 'Indirect tests may come from NASAs upcoming DART and JANUS missions, both of which will be visiting binary asteroids. 'These missions may constrain any grain size differences between the primaries and satellites, which will provide important clues into the detailed physics of binary and asteroid pair formation and evolution.' The findings have been published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Journal. The Orkney Islands experienced the same mass migration from Europe 4,500 years ago as did the rest of the UK with much of the local population being replaced. This is the conclusion of University of Huddersfield-led experts who analysed ancient DNA from human remains found at the Links of Noltland site on the island of Westray. This settlement which was occupied from the 4th millennium BC to the mid-1st millennium BC has been found to contain at least 35 buildings. The DNA results, the team said, challenge assumptions that the archipelago was a relatively insular community in the transition from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age. Furthermore, while early Bronze Age resettlements were usually led by men as livestock farming expanded, the opposite appears to have been the case for Orkney. Based on the survival for at least a thousand years of the male lineages from the island's original Neolithic population, it seems the newcomers were mainly women. According to the researchers, such a demographic makeup is 'unique' among the Bronze Age migrations across northern and central Europe. The experts also said that they believe that the new arrivals were likely the first visitors to the Orkney Island that spoke Indo-European languages. The immigrants appear to have a genetic ancestry derived, at least in part, from livestock farmers that lived on the steppe found to the north of the Black Sea. The Orkney Islands experienced the same mass migration from Europe 4,500 years ago as did the rest of the UK with much of the local population being replaced. This is the conclusion of University of Huddersfield-led experts who analysed ancient DNA from human remains found at the Links of Noltland site (pictured, showing one of the 35 unearthed buildings) on Westray The DNA results, the team said, challenge assumptions that the archipelago was a relatively insular community in the transition from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age. Pictured: one of the skeletons unearthed at the Links of Noltland site whose DNA was analysed by the researchers ORKNEY: 'BRITAIN'S ANCIENT CAPITAL' When farming first took hold in the Neolithic some 5,000 years ago the Orkney Islands were a culture centre of some influence. Dubbed by some as 'Britain's ancient capital', the island sported stone dwellings, megalithic monuments and temples that remain superbly preserved into the present day. Furthermore, Orkney was the birthplace of a ceramic style which spread out across the British Isles. It had long been assumed, however, that the following thousand years say the archipelago's influence waned and the islands became more insular. However, given the relative dearth of remains from this period, little is really known about Bronze Age Orkney. And the new findings show that the islands may have been more connected than was long thought. Advertisement The study was undertaken by archaeogenetist George Foody of the University of Huddersfield and his colleagues. 'This shows that the third-millennium BC expansion across Europe was not a monolithic process but was more complex and varied from place to place,' explained Dr Foody. Paper co-author and human geneticist Jim Wilson of the University of Edinburgh agreed, adding: 'It's absolutely fascinating to discover that the dominant Orcadian Neolithic male genetic lineage persisted at least 1,000 years into the Bronze Age.' This, he noted, was 'despite replacement of 95 per cent of the rest of the genome by immigrating women.' 'This lineage was then itself replaced and we have yet to find it in today's population,' he explained. As noted, most early Bronze Age migrations were led by men with most of the women that became incorporated into the expanding populations having originated in local farming groups. According to the researchers, the reason why Orkney's situation was so different is likely routed in the fact that the farmsteads on the archipelago were already well established, stable and self-sufficient at the start of the Bronze Age. Alongside this, the team's genetic data suggests that Orkney's farming population was already dominated by men by the peak of the Neolithic leaving the islands generally less susceptible to the arrival of outsiders. Together, these factors allowed the original farmers to better weather the harsher times that arrived at the end of the Neolithic and maintain their dominance in the face of newcomers arriving over the course of successive generations. According to the researchers, the reason why Orkney's situation was so different is likely routed in the fact that the farmsteads on the archipelago were already well established, stable and self-sufficient at the start of the Bronze Age. Alongside this, the team's genetic data suggests that Orkney's farming population was already dominated by men by the peak of the Neolithic leaving the islands generally less susceptible to the arrival of outsiders. Pictured: the Links of Noltland site, which is located on the eroding dunes on Westray's north coast All-in-all, the team explained, the findings of their study proved unexpected for two entirely different reasons. The archaeologists were surprised by the extent of the immigration to Orkney, while the geneticists were taken back by the survival of the Neolithic male lineages. 'This research shows how much we still have to learn about one of the most momentous events in European prehistory how the Neolithic came to an end,' said paper author and University of Huddersfield archaeogenetist Martin Richards. The full findings of the study were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The immigrants appear to have a genetic ancestry derived, at least in part, from livestock farmers that lived on the steppe found to the north of the Black Sea. Pictured: one of the archaeologists unearths a body from beneath the dunes at the Links of Noltland site University of Huddersfield-led experts analysed ancient DNA from human remains found at the Links of Noltland site, depicted above, on the island of Westray Thousands of 'notepads' written on broken jars and other pottery pieces, reveal details of daily life in ancient Egypt 2,000 years ago, according to archaeologists. The fragments, covered in writing from scribes, merchants and pupils, were found in the ancient Egyptian settlement of Athribis, 125 miles north of Luxor. A large number of the 'notebooks' were linked to schooling, including lists of months, numbers, arithmetic problems and grammar exercises. Known as ostraca, they document lists of names, purchases of food and everyday objects, and some include lines written by pupils as a punishment for some unknown transgression, a team from the University of Tubingen in Germany explained. Written on shards of broken jars and other vessels, they were much cheaper and more accessible than papyrus, and so were used in large quantities. The last time so many ostraca were found during a single excavation was during the discovery of the workers' settlement of Deir el-Medineh, near the Valley of the Kings. Fragment of a hieroglyphic inscription with information on local mythology, probably copied by a student from the neighboring temple in the Late Ptolemaic or early Roman period The fragments, covered in writing from scribes, merchants and pupils, were found in the ancient Egyptian settlement of Athribis, 125 miles north of Luxor They were found by the same team that have been working in Athribis since 2003, to uncover a large temple built by Ptolemy XIII, father of Cleopatra. The temple has since opened to the public, and so the researchers moved to excavate a sanctuary to the west, which is where the 'notebooks' were found. They were recovered during excavations led by Professor Christian Leitz of the Institute for Ancient Near Eastern Studies (IANES) at the University of Tubingen. The ostraca now recovered provide a variety of insights into the everyday life of the ancient settlement of Athribis, Professor Leitz explained. Known as ostraca, they document lists of names, purchases of food and everyday objects, and some include lines written by pupils as a punishment for some unknown transgression, a team from the University of Tubingen in Germany explained The fragments, covered in writing from scribes, merchants and pupils, were found in the ancient Egyptian settlement of Athribis, 125 miles north of Luxor About 80 per cent of the pot sherds are inscribed in Demotic, which was the common administrative script in the Ptolemaic and Roman periods. This script developed from Hieratic after about 600 BC, the experts explained. Among the second most common finds are ostraca with Greek script, but the team also came across inscriptions in Hieratic, hieroglyphic and - more rarely - Coptic and Arabic script. During the Ptolemaic period from 81 to 59 BCE and again later from 55 to 51 BCE, Athribis was the capital of an Egyptian state, found along the Nile River. Pictorial ostracon with a baboon and an ibis, the two sacred animals of Thoth, the god of wisdom are visible on this small fragment Accounting for offerings are shown on this fragment - money, wine, castor oil, wheat and barley - to the temple goddess Repit Later notes, written during the Roman period of Egypt, texts started to reference emperors including Nero, Vespasian, Titus, and even Hadrian who ruled between 117 to 138 CE, suggesting the sanctuary was running for some time. One of the most unusual finds was evidence of pictorial ostraca - a special category of ancient notebook, explained Professor Leitz. 'These show various figurative representations, including animals such as scorpions and swallows, humans, gods from the nearby temple, even geometric figures.' Overall, regardless of language, they vary from lists of various names, to accounts of food in daily use within the long-lost city, as well as pieces used by school children. The fragments were used for a range of purposes, from scribbles by children, through to lists of items for sale in a local market Texts were written in a range of languages, including Coptic (left) and Demotic (right) '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,' the researchers explained. More than 100 ostraca also contain writing exercises that the team classifies as punishment, showing inscriptions of the same one or two characters each time, both on the front and the back of the fragment. Since 2018 the German team have been excavating an area to the west of the temple built by Ptolemy XIII, at a sanctuary, and came across the ostraca. About 80 per cent of the pot sherds are inscribed in Demotic, which was the common administrative script in the Ptolemaic and Roman periods Among the items found were evidence of pupils being made to write lines (left and right) The sanctuary was built 2,000 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. Excavation director Marcus Muller faces increasingly challenging tasks on site as the depth increases, finding multi-story buildings with staircases and vaults. A flying vehicle that 'anyone can own and fly' has completed its maiden flight over water, with the company that built it now taking orders for delivery next year. The Jetson One is named after The Jetsons, an American sitcom created in the early 1960s which featured UFO-like flying cars and a fictional 'future family'. It can reach speeds of up to 63mph and has a range of around 20 miles. The all electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft was launched in October last year and proved so popular it sold out almost immediately for delivery in 2022. Now the Swedish-Polish company behind it, Jetson, is taking orders for next year, with the craft priced at 68,000 ($92,000). A flying vehicle that 'anyone can own and fly' has completed its maiden flight over water, with the company that built it now taking orders for delivery next year A startup from Sweden has developed a personal flying vehicle that it says 'anyone can fly' called the Jetson One, and it is available for 66,000 ($92,000) The car is named after The Jetsons, a fictional 'future family' created in the early 1960s by Hanna-Barbera Productions, and including UFO-like flying cars SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE 'JETSON ONE' FLYING VEHICLE Top speed: 63mph Range: Around 20 miles Weight: 190lbs (86kg) Maximum pilot weight: 210lbs (85kg) Dimensions: 97in /59in / 40in Width when folded: 35in Flight controls: 3 axis joystick, throttle lever Battery type: High discharge Lithium-Ion Chassis: All-aluminium space airframe Motor type: High power output electric brushless outrunner Advertisement In the latest clip of the vehicle, posted on YouTube, the firm said: 'We have flown over the desert, through a forest. This time we chose to fly the Jetson ONE over water the sensation is incredible and magical!' Peter Ternstrom, one half of the brains behind Jetson, said: 'The first time I flew it, it felt amazing it's completely vibration free so it's nothing like a helicopter or aeroplane. 'It's totally new and it's euphoric. We are opening another dimension for people.' He added: 'But we have a vision way beyond the Jetson One we want to make a two-seater flying car in four years. 'By the end of the decade, we want a four-seater flying car on the market, one that can replace a normal family car, and everyone will want it. 'We want to make cities a better place to live and mass transport is going to need to change to do that everything is going up in the air! 'People think it's crazy but we believe everyone can be a pilot by the end of the decade. Evolution happens fast.' Ternstrom and co-founder Tomasz Patan established Jetson in 2017 after first thinking of the concept several years earlier. The following year they began to implement safety features to ensure it was safe to fly, including sensors, backup motors and speed restrictors. It does not need a runway to take off or land, and has been built to ensure a smooth landing for the pilot. The first release of Jetson One models sold instantly after the vehicle's official launch in October 2021, so now the company is accepting orders for 2023 delivery. Ternstrom said: 'It's not like anything that's already out there that's what makes it so unique and exciting. 'But lots of people see our vision, I get a request to purchase one every 15 minutes, day and night. 'I get a request to purchase the entire company every couple of hours!' He added: 'People want to be part of the story imagine being one of the first few hundred people in the world to own one. 'Imagine turning up to a suburban McDonalds in one of these. 'People will be looking at you thinking is that James Bond? Are they even from planet Earth?' The Jetson One weighs 190lbs (86kg) and can fly for 20 minutes at a time with a battery charging time of up to two hours. It is controlled with a joystick and throttle lever and can reach speeds of up to 63mph. The first release of Jetson One models sold instantly after the vehicle's official launch in October 2021, so now the company is accepting orders for 2023 delivery It is primarily designed for play, rather than as a real personal transport vehicle, as it has a maximum operational distance of about 15 miles The vehicle is still subject to flying restrictions which vary from country to country, meaning it can't currently be flown in cities. At the moment it is only for open land. But the founders believe this will change as people open their minds to travel by flight, not road. Ternstrom said he and Patan hope to see 15 per cent of all wheeled transport to be moved to the air by 2035 and 50 per cent by 2050. He added: 'Going forward, we want to make big cities better places to live. 'For our children, the cities can be greener there won't be space needed for loads of parking and roads because it's all going up in the air. 'We are not going to be the only ones who solve this, but we can work with other companies we can all do it together.' The vehicle is still subject to flying restrictions which vary from country to country, meaning it can't currently be flown in cities. At the moment it is only for open land (pictured) The next step in Ternstrom and Patan's vision is to create a two-seater flying car with a bit of luggage space by 2026. Dubbing it 'a luxury car for the sky', the model is already in the works. But the inventors are not stopping there insisting by the end of the decade, people will be able to get their hands on four-seater flying cars. The pair believe these can replace a classic 'family car' and will revolutionise road travel completely. Ternstrom said: 'Our models will be the coolest things you can own everyone will want them. 'People think it's crazy, but believe me, evolution happens quickly. 'Our goal is to make everyone a pilot within a decade.' Spirit and Frontier agreed to a merger valued at $6.6 billion that they say will create Americas most competitive ultra-low fare airline, the companies announced Monday. Advertisement The airlines would combine under the new deal to offer more ultra-low fares to more travelers in more destinations across the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, the companies said. We are thrilled to join forces with Frontier to further democratize air travel, Spirit CEO Ted Christie said in a statement. This transaction is centered around creating an aggressive ultra-low fare competitor to serve our guests even better, expand career opportunities for our team members and increase competitive pressure, resulting in more consumer-friendly fares for the flying public. Advertisement Spirit Airlines (Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Spirit and Frontier said the merger will allow them to provide more than 1,000 flights every day to 19 different countries and will add a projected 10,000 jobs by 2026. Frontier Airlines (DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty Images) The deal, pending approval by U.S. regulators, will create the fifth-largest airline in the United States. There has not been a merger between U.S. airlines since 2016, when Virgin America was obtained by Alaska Airlines. Frontier would control 51.5% of the joint airline. We worked jointly with the board of directors and senior management team across both carriers to arrive at a combination of two complementary businesses that together will create Americas most competitive ultra-low fare airline for the benefit of consumers, said Frontier chairman William Franke. Monday was a whirlwind day for Frontier, which was forced to ground planes due to a technology issue that caused flight delays and cancellations, the airline said. The issue was identified and has been resolved, a Frontier representative said. We are working to restore our flight schedule for the balance of the day. The earlier ground stop, which was requested by us, has expired and we currently have planes back in the air. Mega-constellations of low Earth orbit satellites, including SpaceX Starlink and Amazon Kuiper, are a 'worse threat to astronomy than light pollution', experts warn. There are 2,000 SpaceX Starlink satellites currently in space, with as many as 42,000 planned over the coming years, and it is just one of a number of firms looking to fill low Earth orbit with spacecraft, to provide fast, space-based internet. These networks of tens to thousands of spacecraft have proven controversial, especially among astronomers, as they leave streaks in images of space. To combat the problem, and work with the satellite industry on a solution, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) has launched the Center for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite Constellation Interference. Piero Benvenuti, IAU General Secretary and director of the new centre, said these mega-constellations are the biggest threat facing modern astronomy. He plans to bring together astronomers, mega-constellation operators, and regulators to find solutions, that could include software changes at observatories, and adjustments to satellites to reduce the impact they have on observations. Mega-constellations of low Earth orbit satellites, including SpaceX Starlink and Amazon Kuiper, are a 'worse threat to astronomy than light pollution', experts warn An image of the NGC 5353/4 galaxy group made with a telescope at Lowell Observatory in Arizona, US. The diagonal lines running across the image are trails of reflected light left by Starlink satellites soon after launch in 2019 While SpaceX is the most high profile of the mega-constellation providers, it isn't alone in filling low Earth orbit with spacecraft - many of which reflect light to Earth. The first 60 Starlink satellites were launched in 2019, and there are now more than 2,000 in low Earth orbit, with dozens going into space every month. Other firms, such as Amazon Kuiper and OneWeb, will significantly increase the total number of satellites, and China plans a network of 13,000 spacecraft. The aim of these networks is to provide satellite internet to rural locations, where fiber isn't viable, with latency speeds in the tens of milliseconds, instead of hundreds of milliseconds found through traditional, geosynchronous satellite internet. SpaceX has made some effort to tackle the problem, through the DarkSat and the VisorSat, coatings and shielding to reduce a satellite's glow when viewed from Earth. Other firms, such as OneWeb, operate at a higher orbit - about 750 miles - than SpaceX, which places its satellites about 350 miles above the Earth. The new center will be run jointly by the UK-headquartered Square Kilometer Array Observatory organization (SKAO) and the US National Science Foundation's National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory (NOIRLab). Both of these organizations are developing next-generation telescopes that will have their observations compromised by satellite interference. The streak from a Starlink satellite appears in this image of the Andromeda galaxy, taken by the Zwicky Transient Facility, or ZTF, during twilight on May 19, 2021. The image shows only one-sixteenth of ZTF's full field of view HOW MANY ITEMS ARE THERE IN ORBIT? Rocket launches since 1957: 5450 5450 Number of satellites in orbit: 8950 8950 Number still in space: 5000 5000 Number still functioning: 1950 1950 Number of debris objects: 22300 22300 Break-ups, explosions etc: 500 500 Mass of objects in orbit: 8400 tonnes 8400 tonnes Prediction of the amount of debris in orbit using statistical models Over 10cm: 34 000 34 000 1cm to 10cm: 900 000 900 000 1mm to 1cm: 128 million Source: European Space Agency Advertisement SKAO is building the world's largest radio telescope array on two sites in Australia and South Africa ,and NOIRLab's Vera C. Rubin Observatory is launching in Chile. SKAO has been designed to measure the faintest radio signals coming from distant stars, galaxies and even exoplanets - but it will be partially blinded by constellations. Vera C Rubin Observatory, will carry out a 10-year Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), delivering a 500 petabyte set of images of the entire night sky. 'In the past, the main source of interference was the light pollution by urban illumination, the so-called artificial light at night,' Benvenuti said in a statement. 'But more recently, the impact of the large constellations of communication satellites became a more serious concern because of their ubiquitous invasiveness.' Astronomers could avoid the impact of urban illumination by putting their telescopes in ever more remote locations on Earth - such as deserts of Chile, Australia and South Africa, but they can't avoid trains of satellites. 'By the end of the decade, more than 5,000 satellites will be above the horizon at any given time,' Connie Walker, a scientist at NOIRLab said. 'At a typical dark sky observatory location, a few hundred to several thousand of these satellites will be illuminated by the sun.' They will be detectable even by the smallest optical and infrared telescopes, causing problems for astronomers using the largest and smallest observatories. The telescopes most hit will be those designed to look for the most distant and dimmest stars and galaxies, as the reflected light from satellites will brighten up the night sky enough to increase the light reaching the telescopes. SpaceX has been launching an increasing number of internet satellites since 2018, with over 2,000 now in low Earth orbit, about 340 miles above the planet Last year the IAU began discussions with the United Nations over the need to protect the 'pristine night sky' from the ever increasing number of satellites. 'These trains are nice and impressive, but do we really want to see them everywhere?' Thomas Schildknecht said on April 20, 2021. 'Do we want to see them in the Australian outback? In Antarctica? Or in the very dark regions of Chile? Probably not.' A recent study by the Zwicky Transient Facility in San Diego found that Starlink satellites disrupted a fifth of images. This facility is designed to watch for asteroids, and they predict that if 10,000 satellites are in low Earth orbit, every image will contain at least one streak. However, it isn't all bad, as each streak accounts for just one tenth of one percent of the pixels visible in a full ZTF image, having less of an impact than a cloudy sky. When it comes to your holiday, you want to make the most of every moment and ensure it is unforgettable. That might mean insider tips on the best restaurants and where to enjoy amazing sunset views. Or maybe you want to know how to snap the best sunny selfie, or how to get through airport check-in and security without any stresses. We spoke to the Jet2holidays experts for their top tips for every stage of your trip, so you can enjoy a memorable holiday for all the right reasons. Bet you've never looked forward to a holiday more! And these clever tips from experienced colleagues at Jet2holidays can make it even better! Pictured: Phaselis Cove in Turkey Take your pick from thousands of hotels across 55 sun-kissed destinations. And choose from 10 UK airports, meaning travel will always be easy and convenient. Add in these top tips and you can make sure it's the trip of a lifetime. How to plan the perfect family holiday Did you know that Jet2holidays offers more than a million holidays with free child places*? Aimee Smithers, Colleague Experience and Communications Lead, says: 'Book in advance and use the Free Child Place finder on the Jet2holidays website! My daughter, Bella is six, we go abroad at least once every year and I haven't paid for her once yet!' How to get ready for your trip Lesley Goldring, who helps Jet2holidays customers at London Stansted, has a clever way of making the most of the generous hold baggage allowance It's been a while since many of us took a trip, so the Jet2holidays experts have a few tips to get you started. Daniel Broadhurst, Customer Services Advisor, says: 'Click on the travel requirements section at the top of our website for an easy breakdown of what you need to do before travelling, in resort, and coming back home.' Lesley Goldring, Customer Helper, London Stansted, says: 'When packing for your next Jet2holidays trip, try rolling your clothes. 'You'll be surprised at how much more you can fit init also means less ironing! 'Remember that Jet2holidays has a 22kg hold baggage allowancewhich is much more than most!' How to make the airport a breeze Endless paperwork and negotiating the airport don't always make for a relaxed start to a holiday, but with these tips you can ensure everything goes smoothly. Courtney Nuckley, Special Assistance Advisor, says: 'My top tip is to download the Jet2holidays app. Having everything about my booking at my fingertips makes it so easy, no more shuffling through papers. I can add all my extras, check in, store documents and find all the latest travel requirements.' Chloe Marshall, Contact Centre Advisor, says: 'For a quick and easy check-in, I advise to do it online so when you get to the airport all you need to do is drop your cases off. If you're ever unsure about anything, we're always happy to help. You'll find us dressed in our famous red uniformyou can't miss us!' How to make your holiday extra special With a few little extras you can turn a great holiday into an unforgettable one, and these experienced Jet2holidays colleagues have a few clever tips up their sleeves. Making your holiday even better: Joanne Shaw recommends pre-booking seats and meals onboard the aircraft she also recommends the cheese and ham toastie! Joanne Shaw, Pre Travel Operations Advisor, says: 'I always pre-book seats and meals onboard the flight it means I can get seated near the front and receive my favourite cheese and ham toastie!' Hannah Jones, Resort Team Leader, Ibiza, says: 'See your Jet2holidays Resort Customer Helper at your hotel. Whether you want to know the way to the best beaches, best restaurants or top places to visit, our team in red will be there to answer all of your questions.' Marie Smith, Social Media Executive, says: 'When it comes to taking the perfect holiday selfie, time of day is key. For the perfect lighting, wait for the sun to begin setting so you get that golden hour glow! You'll also need a backdrop that stands out, Rhodes is my favourite Jet2holidays destination so far for this reason.' Here's what Jet2holidays guests think! We'll be back! Steve and Jeannette Butt, Stafford Hotel Villa Flamenca in Spain is in an excellent location and we enjoyed a daily stroll into the lovely town of Nerja with its many eateries, individual shops and wonderful tourist attractions nearby. The stunning Balcon De Europa was another favourite haunt. One day, Jeannette even had a surprise bottle of sparkling wine when they saw her birthday cards in our room. A lovely gesture. Excellent location: Hotel Villa Flamenca is near the beach in the historic town of Nerja Jeannette Butt was thrilled to find a bottle of sparkling wine in her room on her birthday The last day of our holiday coincided with the lockdown in Spain due to Covid. Our Jet2holidays Resort Customer Helpers kept us well informed on procedures, reassured us, sorted our homeward flights and answered all our concerns in an efficient way. We felt that our Jet2holidays trip offered excellent value for money and have booked a similar holiday following such a positive experience last time. Six years and counting! Amy and Danny Buck, Manchester The highlight of our year is our Indulgent Escapes at the Four Seasons in Limassol, Cyprus. We've been six times now and every trip is incredible from start to finish. We love the experience of travelling with Indulgent Escapes you get the friendly Jet2 service as standard, alongside luxury extras like 25kg baggage and complimentary drinks on the flight which help us relax into the holiday spirit straight away. We love the luxury private transfer included as part of the Indulgent Escapes package it's such a special way to start the holiday. And when we arrive at the hotel, the service is always so faultless and so friendly. The restaurant choice and quality are the best we've ever experienced, too. We already can't wait to return for our seventh visit we are truly made to feel at home thanks to Indulgent Escapes and the Four Seasons. 'We've been six times now and every trip is incredible from start to finish': The Bucks 'It's the highlight of our year': The Four Seasons Hotel in Limassol, Cyprus Our perfect family-moon! The Finan family, Essex We've used Jet2holidays previously and it's been easy, they always get good reviews, plus we can fly from London Stansted which great as it's local to us. I'm 5ft 2in so have never worried about leg room on a flight, but my husband but Dan is 6ft 4in, so legroom to him is very importantJet2holidays passes the legroom test easily! We loved the Jet2holidays package holiday at Radisson Blu Resort Arguineguin in Gran Canariaeverything was so smooth and easy and the reps were all lovely! We made lots of memories on this holiday. The things that stand out are of us spending time togetherhaving fun messing about in the pool, relaxing in the sunand enjoying cocktails (ice cream for the kids) after a day poolside! 'Everything was easy from start to finish and we had the best time': The Finan family As a couple, relaxing on the balcony once the boys were in bed, a glass of wine and listening to the wavesit was so quiet, just the sound of the sea! After a crazy few weeks of wedding build-up, it was perfect to just relax. We'd absolutely recommend Jet2holidayseverything from start to finish was easy. We had the best time on our family-moon and we'll be booking again soon. * 1 free child place per 2 paying adults, selected hotels only. Limited availability. Advertisement Beyonce, Kim Kardashian, Roman Abramovich and me. What do the four of us have in common? We all know what its like to be given the VIP treatment on a superyacht holiday - and thanks to the launch of a new yachting concept in Croatia you could find out, too. From April 2022, groups of family and friends from the UK will be able to book private breaks on the newly refurbished 48-metre (157ft) Freedom yacht through the charter company Goolets. The Freedom can accommodate up to 23 guests across 11 cabins, with the cost of chartering her for a week starting at 80,000 euros (67,000), or 2,910 per person. While this price is by no means low, you dont need to be a millionaire to be able to afford it. In this shot Freedom is pictured sailing past Zlatni Rat beach on the island of Brac. Sarah said: 'From a distance the waters that surround it look like theyve been tie-dyed blue. Step in for a swim, though, and youll discover a sea thats almost as transparent as the air around you' Freedom is available for private charters along the coast of Croatia, from Umag in the north of the country to Cavtat in the south 'With her pouty bow and Grace Kelly curves, Freedom makes an impression from the harbourside', says Sarah However, youll certainly be treated like said millionaire when you take a trip on Freedom, as I discovered during my time onboard. With her pouty bow and Grace Kelly curves, Freedom makes an impression from the harbourside, and the glamour-puss looks continue onboard. The yachts decks are all smooth teak and disco ball-bright chrome. Theres a smart restaurant and bar with designer lighting on Deck 3 and the top deck is home to a yawning sunbathing area with a dipping pool (out of action during my time on the ship) and a hot tub. Pictured is the hot tub that takes pride of place on the top deck. It's surrounded by sun loungers Following the refurbishment, the hot tub will be haloed by a range of Ibiza beach club-style seating, as this rendering shows Hull of a holiday: This rendering shows what the top deck of Freedom will look like by April This image shows what the relaxation area on the top deck of Freedom will look like following its refurbishment. Sarah found the space to be a 'hedonistic HQ' even before the work was carried out This space is already a hedonistic HQ one of my most indulgent hours onboard was spent in the hot tub, sipping a glass of Dalmatian Posip wine, and watching the waves of the Adriatic ripple around the hull. However, in April, following the refurbishment, it will look even plusher thanks to the addition of a range of Ibiza beach club-style day beds, sofas and banquette seating. The refurbishment will add a sleek cinema room, sauna and indoor gym to the yachts offering, too. The cabins, meanwhile, make most standard cruise ship rooms look like prison cells. Featuring super-king-size beds and bathrooms with twin sinks, theyre big enough to swing a lion let alone a cat. The refurbishment of Freedom will add a sleek cinema and gaming room with a PlayStation (pictured) to the yacht's offerings This image shows what the sauna on Freedom will look like following the refurbishment. An indoor gym space will also be added to the yacht Sarah says of the cabins on Freedom: 'Featuring super-king-size beds and bathrooms with twin sinks, theyre big enough to swing a lion let alone a cat' During my time onboard, the rooms were dressed in mustard and mocha colour schemes. In April, theyll be decorated in soothing pebble grey and seafoam white tones. Its the experiences that you can have when youre on Freedom that really make trips on the yacht memorable, though. Goolets concierge team prepares a bespoke itinerary for every party that books Freedom. The yacht can travel anywhere from Umag in the north of Croatia to Cavtat in the south. One of the trip highlights was a visit to the island of Stupe, off the coast of Korcula. This lily pad-sized island, pictured, is uninhabited apart from an exclusive cocktail bar called Moro Beach Pictured is the walkway to Moro Beach bar on Stupe. You can only access this exclusive bar by boat This is a shot of Freedom taken from the island of Stupe. The superyacht can drop anchor a few metres away from the shore of the island and guests can take the yacht's tender boat the rest of the way Pictured is a bottle of the unusual Ostreum sparkling wine served at Moro Beach thats aged underneath the sea, so the bottles come with barnacles on What's more, the yachts captain, Ivan Rakuljic, and many of its 11-person crew grew up on the coast of Croatia, so the company draws on the teams local knowledge to craft trip schedules that are full of one-of-a-kind experiences. During my time on Freedom, we squiggled our way along the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia, heading from the city of Split to the islands of Brac, Hvar, Korcula and Vis before returning to Split again. One of the highlights of my journey was a visit to Stupe, off the coast of Korcula. This lily pad-sized island is uninhabited apart from an exclusive cocktail bar called Moro Beach. The Freedom dropped anchor a few metres from Stupe, and I took the yachts tender to the shore. Zlatni Rat, also known as the Golden Horn, is often ranked as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world Sitting on Moro Beachs white bench seating, watching the light breeze corrugate the Adriatic Sea, I had my first taste of Mali Ston oysters. These pillowy shellfish are a Dalmatian delicacy and at Moro Beach, theyre best washed down with a glass of Ostreum a locally-made sparkling wine thats aged underneath the sea, so the bottles come with barnacles on. Another highlight of my Freedom trip was a visit to Stiniva on Vis. Rocks draw around this beach like half-drawn curtains, hiding it from view. Again, the Freedom put its anchor down mere metres from the concealed entrance, and I swam right into the cove. Then there was a trip to the Blue Cave on the island of Bisevo in the Vis archipelago. Freedom docked at Bisevo port, and I took a dinky motor boat over to the natural wonder itself. This shot shows Stiniva on Vis. Sarah said: 'Rocks draw around this beach like half-drawn curtains, hiding it from view.' Freedom can put its anchor down mere metres from the concealed entrance The Blue Cave on the island of Bisevo in the Vis archipelago. Sarah writes: '[Inside] it feels like Mother Nature is having a rave' The entrance to the cave is so small you have to duck down in your seat to get in. Once inside, theres darkness. Then you turn a corner and it feels like Mother Nature is having a rave the waters flash a vivid strobe-like blue. I cant talk about my time on Freedom without mentioning Zlatni Rat on the island of Bol, either. Also known as the Golden Horn, this zipper-shaped pebble beach is often ranked as one of the most beautiful in the world. From a distance, the waters that surround it look like theyve been tie-dyed blue. Step in for a swim, though, and youll discover a sea thats almost as transparent as the air around you. Pictured is the stern of the Freedom, where guests can use the ladders to lower themselves into the water at swim stops. A range of water toys are also available on the yacht, including sea bobs, jet skis, paddleboards and rubber rings The water that surrounds the islands of Croatia remain deep very close to the shore, which means Freedom can drop anchor a matter of metres from deserted beaches and coves, as shown in this image Of course, a lot of the appeal of a Freedom trip is the time you can spend with your friends and family onboard. Maritime law in Croatia means that yacht captains can drop anchor anywhere, so guests can simply fill their days with swim stops and make full use of Freedoms range of water toys sea bobs, jet skis, paddleboards and rubber rings. Guests onboard Freedom can also take advantage of its onboard dining options. The Goolets team can arrange everything from group buffet evenings to four-course gala dinners for guests for an extra cost. They can also make reservations at the restaurants on land. Pictured is the dining area on Freedom with its teak floors and designer lighting. A bar area with leather seating sidles up to this space onboard This shot shows some of the local Croatian food that Freedom's chefs prepared during Sarah's time onboard. In the foreground is a platter of local cheeses and meats - including truffle-infused cheese. In the background is a plate of soparnik (a savoury Croatian chard pie) Pictured is a white chocolate mousse with white truffles and macarons, rustled up for Sarah during her time on Freedom This shot shows a plate of burrata with blanched cherry tomatoes, emulsion of basil and dried olives. Sarah said: 'The chefs on Freedom work in a kitchen thats no bigger than a store cupboard, yet they still manage to cook up five-star-restaurant-standard food' The chefs on Freedom work in a kitchen thats no bigger than a store cupboard, yet they still manage to cook up five-star-restaurant-standard food. As with the itineraries, the guests on Freedom can call the shots when it comes to the dishes they want to try. The yachts talented chefs are as at home making up platters of Croatian truffle-infused cheese and satellite-dish-sized plates of soparnik (a savoury Croatian chard pie) as they are preparing fillet steaks, racks of lamb and dishes with emulsions, foams and edible soils on the side. In fact, Goolets say theres barely a request they cant accommodate, whether its to do with the itinerary, food or something else entirely. One former guest asked for the hot tub to be filled with Champagne. Another requested that their airport transfers take place in a fleet of Hummers. Of course, you really would need an oligarchs budget to ask for the above. For the rest of us, a little bit of earnest saving or a raid on an already well-tended piggy bank is all it needs to take to experience the movie-star lifestyle for real. Sarah was hosted on Freedom by yacht charter company Goolets. It costs from 80,000 euros (67,000) a week to charter Freedom. Advertisement If you want to impress someone with a 'feat of strength' but haven't been putting in the training, then head to the commune of Huelgoat in France and get someone to film you pushing the 137-tonne 'Trembling Rock' around. Yes, we said 137 tonnes. The Trembling Rock is so named because if you push it in the right place, it teeters back and forth or trembles, as various amazing video clips show (if you look closely). To bould-ly go: Pictured is the 137-tonne 'Trembling Rock' in the commune of Huelgoat in France, so named because if you push it in the right place, it teeters back and forth One video shows a man successfully moving the rock by simply pressing his back against one end The enormous granite boulder has been drawing tourists to Huelgoat Forest for years. One video shows a man successfully moving the rock, which measures seven metres (22ft) in length, by simply pressing his back against one end. Other videos demonstrate the strange phenomenon more clearly in a second clip, the boulder is seen bobbing up and down with ease, despite its tremendous weight. How is this possible? Dr Mark Whalley from the London-based Institute of Physics (IOP) told MailOnline Travel that its possible that the 'Trembling Rock' may be a beautiful example of the principle of moments. A statement from the IOP explains: Assuming that the rock rests on a relatively small area, you could think of it in two parts. Half is on the left-hand side of the pivot point, and half is on the right. Dr Mark Whalley from the Institute of Physics (IOP) told MailOnline Travel that its possible the 'Trembling Rock' may be a beautiful example of the principle of moments A statement from the IOP explains: 'It is possible that the Trembling Rock is a 137-ton granite see-saw.' Picture courtesy of Creative Commons The enormous granite boulder has been drawing tourists to Huelgoat Forest for years Each side is effectively pulling down, wanting to turn the rock in that direction. The mass on either side of this pivot is distributed in such a way though, that the clockwise turning effect balances the anti-clockwise turning effect. This is what we experience on a see-saw. Two people can sit [on] either end of a see-saw and it is perfectly balanced. It only takes a slight push to make the whole thing move one way or the other though. So, it is possible that the Trembling Rock is a 137-ton granite see-saw. However, according to the IOP, the rock would need to be examined in order to be conclusive about what makes it tremble. Without visiting the site and having the opportunity to test out various ideas, its not really possible to answer this question conclusively, the statement adds. Pictured is the commune of Huelgoat. For those hoping to explore the woodland for themselves, the nearest airport to Huelgoat is Brest, one hours drive away Huelgoat Forest, steeped in myth and legend, is linked to King Arthur, the hero of medieval tales who is thought to have led the British defence against the Saxons in the 5th and 6th centuries. Pictured is 'Arthurs Cave (image courtesy of Creative Commons) Above is the entrance to 'Arthur's Camp', a sequence of stones that was once a settlement. Picture courtesy of Creative Commons The Trembling Rock isnt the only unusual attraction among the beech, oak, and chestnut trees in the 2,500-acre Huelgoat Forest The Trembling Rock isnt the only unusual attraction among the beech, oak, and chestnut trees in the 2,500-acre Huelgoat Forest. The forest, steeped in myth and legend, is linked to King Arthur, the hero of medieval tales who is thought to have led the British defence against the Saxons in the 5th and 6th centuries. According to Brittany Tourism, locals claim that theres hidden treasure in the forest - spoils that were found by Arthur and Merlin the Wizard. Visitors can explore 'Arthurs Cave and 'Arthur's Camp', a sequence of stones that was once a settlement. Some say that the King was buried here. What's more, lore has it that Gargantua the giant, who was created by the French Renaissance writer Francois Rabelais, came to visit Huelgoat Forest one day. Locals gave him a meal of broth, but it failed to satisfy his appetite. Furious, he went on his way, hurling rocks at Huelgoat from afar. Le Champignon, or The Mushroom, pictured above, is one of the forest's main attractions Le Champignon is shaped like a giant mushroom, with one big rounded rock plonked atop a smaller one Pictured above is the Chaos of Rocks, a muddle of hundreds of boulders in the 2,500-acre Huelgoat Forest Pictured is the 'Devil's Grotto' in the forest. It's advised to bring a torch, as it can be quite dark inside At the Virgins House, visitors can identify rocks shaped like a pot, a ladle, a fork, a bed and an umbrella This tale adds to the mystery of the area's unusual rock formations, which date back around 340million years. Le Champignon, or The Mushroom, is one of the forest's main attractions. Its shaped like a giant mushroom, with one big rounded rock plonked atop a smaller one. Nearby, there's the Virgins House, where visitors can identify rocks shaped like a pot, a ladle, a fork, a bed and an umbrella, according to Brittany Tourism. Up next is the Chaos of Rocks, a muddle of hundreds of boulders. From here, visitors can wander to the Devils Grotto - though bring a torch, as it can be quite dark inside. Cutting through the forest is the River d'Argent (River of Silver), pictured above, named after the area's historic lead and silver mines Once you arrive in Huelgoat, follow the path near the Moulin du Chaos watermill (pictured), which dates back to the 1300s Finally, the forests water features are destinations in themselves. Theres the fairies pool and a 'wild boar' pool, and cutting through the forest is the River d'Argent (River of Silver), named after the area's historic lead and silver mines. For those hoping to explore the woodland for themselves, the nearest airport to Huelgoat is Brest, one hours drive away. Alternatively, catch the bus from nearby Morlaix, which is connected to Paris by train. Once you arrive in Huelgoat, follow the path near the Moulin du Chaos watermill, which dates back to the 1300s. It leads to the forest, with the yellow trail taking you past the Trembling Rock - various signs throughout will help you to find your way. Whitney Cummings faced criticism over her remarks in support of Joe Rogan - amid the podcaster's ongoing career crisis over his past use of racial slurs and platforming of COVID-19 misinformation - after she defended Rogan in a pair of tweets over the weekend. The 39-year-old actress/comic on Saturday took to Twitter, writing, 'Dont look to why so many people trust joe Rogan, look to why so few people trust the mainstream media.' On Sunday, the Washington, D.C. native urged followers to focus on politicians instead of entertainers when assessing morality. The latest: Whitney Cummings, 39, faced criticism over her remarks in support of Joe Rogan, 54 - amid the podcaster's ongoing career crisis over his past use of racial slurs and platforming of COVID-19 misinformation - after she defended Rogan in a pair of tweets over the weekend 'Comedians did not sign up to be your hero,' Cummings said. 'Its our job to be irreverent and dangerous, to question authority and take you through a spooky mental haunted house so you can arrive at your own conclusions. Stay focused on the people we pay taxes to to be moral leaders.' A number of people took exception of Cummings' remarks, including podcaster Marc Maron, who suggested, 'Maybe add "to be funny" to the list' of a comedian's duties. Writer Jeff Yang shared a link to a 2012 story criticizing Cummings' show 2 Broke Girls for its portrayal of Asian-Americans. 'I remember when you created a show that was irreverent and dangerous,' he said, 'that questioned authority and took me through a spooky mental haunted house.' Cummings defended Rogan in a pair of tweets over the weekend, garnering numerous responses Podcaster Marc Maron suggested, 'Maybe add "to be funny" to the list' of a comedian's duties Comedian Pallavi Gunalan commented on the situation, 'Comedians will be like "its our job to say things that make people uncomfortable" and then cant even tell their racist friend to shut the f*** up ... "hes a good guy, he helped my career" wow so surprising you wouldnt want to say anything bad about him then.' Writer-comedian Mike Drucker said of the politics of the industry, 'It feels like the primary rule of being an edgelord comedian is that no joke or subject is ever off limits unless you're making fun of another edgelord comedian, in which case it's the f**ing apocalypse.' He added: 'Comedians will tweet s*** like, "The role of the comedian is to bring light into the darkness of all the terrors, tragedies, and fears we all share" and then you see them on stage and theyre like, "Married a** smells different than single a**!"' Writer Jeff Yang shared a link to a 2012 story criticizing Cummings' show 2 Broke Girls for its portrayal of Asian-Americans Some people pointed out the politics of the industry playing into Cummings' remarks Writer Eric Boehlert quoted Cummings' tweet and pointed out that Rogan has stepped out of the comedy genre with his controversial discourse on COVID-19. 'He told his 11M listeners "its more dangerous to be vaccinated than it is to get Covid" ... but sure haha, hes just a comedian asking questions,' Boehlert said. 'Its funny to spread lies during public health crisis thats killed nearly 1M Americans, right??' Attorney Andrew Weinstein echoed a similar sentiment, saying of Rogan: 'Peddling racism and disinformation to 11 million listeners might not be the best way for people to arrive at their own conclusions.' Some pointed out that Rogan has stepped out of the comedy genre with his controversial discourse on COVID-19 Rogan - who was inked to a $100 million deal last year by Spotify - has been at the center of controversy in recent weeks after a number of artists, beginning with Neil Young, pulled their material from the streaming platform in protest of his material over the pandemic and vaccines. (The service has removed an estimated 113 episodes of Rogan's show and is now adding a disclaimer prior to podcasts that include talk about COVID-19.) Rogan faced more controversy after a montage of clips of him using the N-word surfaced online, leading him to respond in an Instagram post that the footage was 'taken out of context' and that it's not his 'word to use.' He added: 'I am well aware of that now, but for years I used it in that manner ... I never used it to be racist because Im not racist.' Vanessa Hudgens took to Instagram on Sunday to share an update with her 44.2 million followers. Along with a photo slide featuring her boyfriend Cole Tucker, the 33-year-old actress wrote, 'Grounded and oh so happy.' The images included shots of her on a hike as she smiled from ear to ear. Social media share: Vanessa Hudgens took to Instagram on Sunday to share an update with her 44.2 million followers The petite stunner beamed in the photos as she enjoyed quality time with her man, whom she's been dating since November 2020. She wore a cropped black pullover with a mock neck that zipped in the front. The Netflix star teamed it with a pair of body-clinging black leggings, long black and white socks, and a pair of white and black sneakers. Happy girl: Along with a photo slide featuring her boyfriend Cole Tucker, the 33-year-old actress wrote, 'Grounded and oh so happy' Keeping with her black and white fashion theme, the Princess Switch star also had a zebra-like patterned jacket with her. She carried it along with two white canisters of water when it wasn't cool enough to wear. Vanessa happily posed for photos taken by her beau, and his shadow was seen in one of them. The High School Musical alum posed with her arms aloft in one of the snapshots, which featured a clear blue sky above her. The couple took a scenic hike together, as it looked like they were on vacation in the Grand Canyon mountains. Enjoying quality time: The images included shots of her on a hike as she smiled from ear to ear Cole joined in for a flick as the happy couple snapped a selfie together. They were both clad in dark sunglasses, with Hudgens' Valentino shades featuring a deep tortoiseshell tone. The Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop wore a brick red Nike hooded sweatshirt with white drawstrings. Longtime love: The petite stunner beamed in the photos as she enjoyed quality time with her man, whom she's been dating since November 2020 He also sported a black beanie, and pulled his hood over it, hiding his long, curly locks. One outtake showed the duo taking a rest as they sat and admired the view of nature in front of them. Vanessa's legs were outstretched and her beau's were pulled in, showing a smidge of his black pants and a bit of his black and white Vans sneakers. Finally, the longtime entertainer ended the post with a sweet shot of a small white dog resting on a bed. A plate of chocolate covered strawberries was set inches in front of him. Cute! Finally, the longtime entertainer ended the post with a sweet shot of a small white dog resting on a bed The post comes after the former Disney star recently posed for a campaign shoot for her brand Caliwater. She proved to be the perfect model as she flashed her abs in a black bikini consisting of a crop top with bottoms in behind-the-scenes shots captured at Cuvee's Los Cabos' premier villa Seaside la Casita. In one shot with co-founder Oliver Trevena Vanessa's sun-kissed skin took centerstage as she relaxed poolside at the $10million villa wearing a bright blue bikini. Advertisement Kylie Jenner revealed Sunday afternoon that she had given birth to her second child with her partner Travis Scott. The 24-year-old Keeping Up With The Kardashians star initially suggested she has welcomed a baby boy by including a blue heart emoji with her announcement post on Instagram, though she declined to reveal her son's name. A representative speaking on behalf of the reality star later confirmed to People that she had indeed welcomed a boy. The mother-of-two posted a sweet black-and-white photo featuring her new son's tiny hand to mark the news, while noting that he was born on February 2 - just one day after Kylie celebrated her first daughter Stormi Webster's fourth birthday. Kylie captioned the post with his birthdate, '2/2/22,' preceded with the blue heart to denote her second child's gender. Baby boy! Kylie Jenner, 24, revealed on Sunday that she gave birth to a baby boy on February 2. It marks her second child with her partner Travis Scott Her photo appeared to show Stormi's hand gripping the little baby's wrist as he squeezed his tiny fingers into a fist. Later on Sunday, sources told TMZ that Kylie was doing well after giving birth, and they noted that Stormi was 'excited' to have a younger brother. Friends and family of the reality star jumped into the comments on her birth announcement to support her. Her sister Kim Kardashian commented with a baby angel emoji and a blue heart, while the singer Normani shared several white hearts. 'Mommy of two life,' gushed Kylie's oldest sister Kourtney Kardashian, who added a red heart and praying hand emojis. New love: Kylie appears to have given birth just a day after celebrating her first daughter Stormi Webster's fourth birthday Loved up: If there were any doubts left that it was a boy, Kylie's boyfriend Travis put them to rest when he commented on his love's post with a blue heart, followed by six brown hearts Growing family: The reality star already shares her daughter Stormi Webster who turned four the day before her baby brother was born with her partner, rapper Travis Scott, 30; seen in June 2021 in NYC Angel baby: Her sister Kim Kardashian commented with a baby angel emoji and a blue heart, while the singer Normani shared several white hearts Family: 'Mommy of two life,' gushed Kylie's oldest sister Kourtney Kardashian, who added a red heart and praying hand emojis. Her bff Stassie Karanikolaou wrote, 'Angel baby' Her famous father Caitlyn Jenner - who boasts 17.3M social media followers - reposted her birth announcement via Instastory with the caption: 'I love you @kyliejenner!' Her bff Stassie Karanikolaou wrote, 'Angel baby,' and added a heart, while her friend Heather Sanders post praying hands and a white heart and her pal Gregory Carter wrote, 'beautiful mama & beautiful baby #2.' Jen Atkin, who has styled hair for Kylie and her famous sisters, commented with several blue hearts. Kylie's sister Khloe Kardashian simply posted more blue hearts, while her longtime friend Hailey Bieber posted misty-eyed emojis. Her mother Kris Jenner commented, 'Angel Pie,' and Khloe's bff Malika Haqq enthused with 'AMEN.' Flower power: Shortly after breaking the news of her second child, Kylie shared a short clip to her Instagram Stories revealing some of the gorgeous flower bouquets she received from friends and family Pals: Her friend Heather Sanders post praying hands and a white heart and her pal Gregory Carter wrote, 'beautiful mama & beautiful baby #2' Supporting her: Kylie's sister Khloe Kardashian simply posted more blue hearts, while her longtime friend Hailey Bieber posted misty-eyed emojis Colorful: 'The rainbow,' she captioned one brief video, which showed multiple vases filled with voluminous white roses. The appeared to have either been partially painted with rainbow colors, or the color was projected onto the flowers Sisterly love: The purple roses were apparently from Kim Kardashian and her children and featured a short message placed on top. 'Congratulations Travis, Kylie and Stormi!' Kim wrote. 'We are so excited and love you so much,' she added, signing off with, 'Kim, North, Saint, Chicago and Psalm XOXO' Her famous father Caitlyn Jenner - who boasts 17.3M social media followers - reposted her birth announcement via Instastory with the caption: 'I love you @kyliejenner!' The newborn baby boy marks the transgender 72-year-old's 19th grandchild. Shortly after breaking the news of her second child, Kylie shared a short clip to her Instagram Stories revealing some of the gorgeous flower bouquets she received from friends and family. 'The rainbow,' she captioned one brief video, which showed multiple vases filled with voluminous white roses. The appeared to have either been partially painted with rainbow colors, or the color was projected onto the flowers. Another photo showed more vases with yellow, pink, pale purple and rust-colored flowers. The purple roses were apparently from Kim Kardashian and her children and featured a short message placed on top. 'Congratulations Travis, Kylie and Stormi!' Kim wrote. 'We are so excited and love you so much,' she added, signing off with, 'Kim, North, Saint, Chicago and Psalm XOXO.' Motherly love: Her mother Kris Jenner commented, 'Angel Pie,' and Khloe's bff Malika Haqq enthused with 'AMEN' Inside look: She's kept a low profile after the controversy surrounding baby daddy Travis Scott and the Astroworld Festival tragedy, which led to 10 people being killed Kylie previously celebrated her son's impending birth with a baby shower, which reportedly took place in December, though she waited until January to share photos from the event. The event was giraffe themed, and Kylie showed off her growing bump in an elegant white dress while posing with tall wood-carved giraffes. Kylie and Travis confirmed in September that they were having a sibling for three-year-old daughter Stormi. The businesswoman and reality star has been laying low since her baby daddy Travis Scott's Astroworld concert in Houston on November 5 led to 10 people being killed. She broke her social media silence on New Year's Day, sharing a baby bump snap to her Instagram as she reflected on the 'blessings' and 'heartache' of 2021. In the accompanying caption, she wrote: 'As 2022 is approaching I've been reflecting on this last year and the blessings that it brought but also the many heartaches it held. 'I will never forget this year and all the significant changes it made to my life. I pray this new year is filled with a lot of love for all of you and i hope everyone stays safe and healthy during this time.' Striking: She shared a baby bump snap on New Years Day to her Instagram as she reflected on the 'blessings' and 'heartache' of 2021, breaking her social media silence Back: On the same day as her reflective post, Travis returned to social media since the tragedy, marking his return to the spotlight On the same day as her reflective post, Travis returned to social media since the tragedy, marking his return to the spotlight. Alongside a black and white profile picture of himself on Instagram, he simply wrote: 'Always [heart emoji}.' The Astroworld headlining set had a crowd of 50,000 people with a surge toward the stage happening at 9:38 pm local time in Houston. Local firefighters and police called it a 'mass casualty' at that time, which took place 32 mins after Travis' set began. Travis continued to perform up to 30 minutes as people were killed and with the crowd chanting 'stop the show.' Baby joy: The Kylie Cosmetics founder confirmed baby number two was on the way on September 9, when she shared a video of herself in a black crop top as she caressed her exposed pregnant tummy Speculation that Kylie was expecting first exploded in August 2021, after her parent Caitlyn Jenner revealed that she was expecting a grandchild. The Olympian was apparently referring to her son Burt Jenner, who was expecting his third child with girlfriend Valerie Pitalo, but it was reported later in the month that Kylie was pregnant with her second child. The Kylie Cosmetics founder confirmed the news on September 9, when she shared a video of herself in a black crop top as she caressed her exposed pregnant tummy. Later that month, she set off speculation that she was expecting a boy when she shared a photo of her daughter Stormi in a powder blue robe, which matched her blue ruched dress. Hinting: Later that month, she set off speculation that she was expecting a boy when she shared a photo of her daughter Stormi in a powder blue robe, which matched her blue ruched dress In October, she posted a photo taken in her car of her blue-laced sneakers, captioning it, 'Baby blues,' which only increased speculation that she was having a boy. But the deadly tragedy at Astroworld led the cosmetics mogul to cut a lower profile in the latter months of her pregnancy. She and Stormi cut down on the public appearances and social media posts, and she kept her December 15 baby shower under wraps. The celebration was held at her sister Khloe Kardashian's house, and TMZ reported that only her family and some close friends joined her. Sweet: Stormi turns four! Mom Kylie took to her Instagram to wish her baby girl the happiest fourth birthday with a touching black and white photo On Tuesday, Kylie shared a sweet black-and-white photo of herself and Travis with Stormi to mark her fourth birthday. She captioned the image with, 'Our baby is 4. Happy birthday to the girl that changed my whole world.' The snap showed Travis holding Stormi in his arms as the tot hugged both her parents. Kylie wore a baggy white button up top in the image with her face away from the camera. In the comments section, Kylie's sisters Kendall Jenner and Khloe Kardashian commented as well. Khloe posted several crying emojis in response to the touching image, while Kendall wrote: '4! A full adult,' adding a shocked emoji. Memories: In the comments section, Kylie's sisters Kendall Jenner and Khloe Kardashian commented as well Stormi's grandmother Kris Jenner also wrote a comment before Kylie's post: 'Happy Birthday precious Stormi!!! I love you!!!' adding several hearts. Khloe also shared a sweet tribute to her niece Stormi on Tuesday morning. The 37-year-old mom of True posted an adorable throwback image of baby Stormi with baby True, who turns four in April. Khloe wrote: 'The happiest of birthdays to the sweetest, smartest, coolest little angel Storm-A-Loo. Goodness True and I love you so so much Storm. We are so blessed to have you,' adding a white heart emoji. The Good American co-founder posted a video as well, featuring Stormi, True, Chicago, four (Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's daughter), and Dream, five (Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna's daughter). The birthday wishes came two weeks after Stormi and her cousin Chicago enjoyed a joint birthday party. At the outdoor party, Stormi's mom Kylie, 24, showed off her baby bump, dispelling rumors she already gave birth to her and Travis' second child. Double the fun! The birthday wishes came two weeks after Stormi and her cousin Chicago (daughter of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West) enjoyed a joint birthday party Kylie famously kept her first pregnancy a secret and opted to step out of the public eye for the duration of her pregnancy, confirming the news only after she gave birth to Stormi. On February 5, 2018 Kylie took to her Instagram after months of speculation to announce her and boyfriend Travis had in fact welcomed a child, revealing that it was a girl and that she was born on February 1, 2018. She initially did not share her name. About to pop: At the outdoor party, Stormi's mom Kylie showed off her baby bump, dispelling rumors she already gave birth to her and Travis' second child Two-time Oscar-winning filmmaker Ben Affleck masked up to bond with his son Samuel and daughter Violet while shopping at the Brentwood Farmers' Market on Saturday. Violet is 16 years old, Samuel is turning 10 on February 27, and missing from the outing was their 13-year-old sister Seraphina. The Berkeley-born, Cambridge-raised 49-year-old wore a grey blazer, black jeans, and $163 Ray-Ban 'Aviator Classic' sunglasses. Family fun! Two-time Oscar-winning filmmaker Ben Affleck masked up to bond with his son Samuel and daughter Violet while shopping at the Brentwood Farmers' Market on Saturday Ben affectionately wrapped his arm around his eldest child, whom his ex-wife Jennifer Garner 'wished' was with her in Massachusetts that afternoon. 'It didn't even occur to me to bring my 16-year-old today because she had school and a debate tournament,' the 49-year-old Alias alum lamented while accepting Harvard University's Hasty Pudding Theatricals 72nd Woman of the Year Award. 'Now, I so badly wish she was here! I'm kind of a geek of a mom in that way.' Jennifer lead a parade through the streets of Harvard Square in a convertible followed by a celebratory roast at 8pm and the Pudding Pot trophy presentation at Farkas Hall. Shopping for oranges: Violet is 16 years old, Samuel is turning 10 on February 27, and missing from the outing was their 13-year-old sister Seraphina Co-parenting: The Berkeley-born, Cambridge-raised 49-year-old affectionately wrapped his arm around his eldest child, whom his ex-wife Jennifer Garner 'wished' was with her in Massachusetts that afternoon 'I am turning 50 in over two months,' marveled Garner, whose decade-long marriage to Ben ended in 2018. 'I'm so excited. Just this morning, I was starting to make some plans and get a little serious. I'm a last-minute planner.' Last Friday, Affleck's ex-fiancee Jennifer Lopez discussed why they decided to rekindle their 2002-2004 romance a year ago. The 49-year-old Alias alum accepted Harvard University's Hasty Pudding Theatricals 72nd Woman of the Year Award and lamented: 'It didn't even occur to me to bring my 16-year-old today because she had school and a debate tournament. Now, I so badly wish she was here! I'm kind of a geek of a mom in that way' Fanfare: Jennifer lead a parade through the streets of Harvard Square in a convertible followed by a celebratory roast at 8pm and the Pudding Pot trophy presentation at Farkas Hall Garner - whose decade-long marriage to Ben ended in 2018 - marveled: 'I am turning 50 in over two months. I'm so excited. Just this morning, I was starting to make some plans and get a little serious. I'm a last-minute planner' 'We're older now, we're smarter, we have more experience, we're at different places in our lives, we have kids now, and we have to be very conscious of those things,' the 52-year-old pop diva said in her People cover story. 'It's a beautiful outcome that this has happened in this way at this time in our lives where we can really appreciate and celebrate each other and respect each other. 'We always did, but we have even more of an appreciation because we know that life can take you in different directions.' 'We're older now, we're smarter': Last Friday, Affleck's ex-fiancee Jennifer Lopez (L, pictured Friday) discussed why they decided to rekindle their 2002-2004 romance a year ago The 52-year-old pop diva said in her People cover story: 'It's a beautiful outcome that this has happened in this way at this time in our lives where we can really appreciate and celebrate each other and respect each other. We always did, but we have even more of an appreciation because we know that life can take you in different directions' JLo added: 'Now, it's really up to the two of us what our life is going to be.' For his role as Charlie Maguire, The Tender Bar actor is nominated for the outstanding male actor in a supporting role trophy at the 28th Screen Actors Guild Awards, which air February 27 on TNT/TBS. Ben faces heavy competition against Licorice Pizza's Bradley Cooper, CODA's Troy Kotsur, House of Gucci's Jared Leto, and The Power of the Dog's Kodi Smit-McPhee. Airing February 27 on TNT/TBS! For his role as Charlie Maguire, The Tender Bar actor is nominated for the outstanding male actor in a supporting role trophy at the 28th Screen Actors Guild Awards Kendall Jenner was labelled 'tacky, disrespectful and rude' for ensuring all eyes were on her in a daring cut-out Monot dress at a friend's wedding in November. But it seems Rozalia Russian ignored the criticism Kendall received when she opted to wear a near-identical gown at her own friend's nuptials on Saturday. The Melbourne socialite, 31, rocked a similar flesh-flashing dress by Chrisopher Esber, which retails for $1,155, while posing at the ceremony with her husband Nick. Stealing her style: Despite Kendall Jenner (right) being branded 'tacky, disrespectful and rude' for wearing a cut-out Monot gown at a friend's wedding in November, Rozalia Russian (left, with husband Nick) wore a very similar dress to a pal's nuptials on Saturday Rozalia's risque number features symmetric cut-outs across the chest and torso, complete with two keyhole cut-outs across the lower back. She teamed her look with a pair of strappy black heels, a blue feathered handbag and a pair of oversized sunglasses. The mother of two wore her hair in a sleek-straight style, and opted for a bronzed makeup palette on her already striking features. Fans were quick to comment on the striking resemblance, with one writing: 'Kendall is that you?' Another added: 'Kendall who?!!!' Dare to bare: The Melbourne socialite, 31, posed alongside her entrepreneur husband Nick (left) while wearing a daring dress by designer Chrisopher Esber, which retails for $1,155 'Look at you two. Gorgeous,' Real Housewives of Melbourne star Kyla Kirkpatrick wrote, while a fan added: 'Love the dress, but at first glance I was like... why is she carrying a feather duster.' Rozalia is a former ballerina-turned-influencer who promotes major brands such as Dior, Louis Vuitton and L'Oreal Paris. Her entrepreneur husband Nick Russian is Melbourne's most prolific nightclub owner and famously appeared on dating show Temptation Island in 2002. It comes after Kendall insisted she got bride Lauren Perez's approval to wear the controversial skin-baring gown to her wedding in November 2021. While the infamous wardrobe choice sent the Internet up in arms, the 26-year-old supermodel revealed at the time she 'obviously' got her pal's 'approval in advance'. Similarity: Fans were quick to comment on the striking resemblance, with one writing: 'Kendall is that you?' Another added: 'Kendall who?!!!' Successful: Her entrepreneur husband Nick Russian (left) is Melbourne's most prolific nightclub owner and famously appeared on dating show Temptation Island in 2002 At the time, Jenner was blasted as 'rude,' 'tacky,' and 'disrespectful' on social media for wearing the incredibly revealing gown to her friend's seaside wedding in Florida. Pulled from Monot's Spring-Summer 2022 collection, the dress put the supermodel's famously slim figure on full display. Just a thin swath of black fabric, twisted thinner in the middle, covered her chest, covering up less than many bikinis would. Nearly her entire stomach was visible, down to her belly button and hip bones. The images shocked social media users, who dubbed the dress a 'F you' to Kendall's friend and insisted they would've kicked the star out if she wore it to their wedding. Criticism: Kendall Jenner was blasted as 'rude,' 'tacky,' and 'disrespectful' for wearing the incredibly revealing gown to her friend's wedding in Florida. Pictured with Hailey Bieber (right) While fans seemed to be in agreement that she looked great, many insisted it was in no way an appropriate outfit to wear to a wedding. 'Totally disgusting for a wedding,' wrote one Twitter user. 'Kendall Jenner really said F you to her best friend on her wedding day,' said another, while a third added: 'Wow she must hate the poor bride.' 'Its not even about "looking better than the bride" its just so tacky and awkward to wear at a wedding,' tweeted a fourth. She recently flew back to Australia after spending the last two months travelling across Europe and Africa. And Elsa Pataky looked happy to be home on Sunday while running errands in Byron Bay, NSW, the coastal town where she has lived with her family since 2014. The Spanish actress, 45, looked stylish in a green and black P.E Nation jacket, which she teamed with a chic white blouse. Back in Australia: Elsa Pataky looked happy to be home on Sunday while running errands in Byron Bay, NSW, the coastal town where she has lived with her family since 2014 The wife of actor Chris Hemsworth showcased her toned legs in a pair of skintight bike shorts and stepped out in grey sneakers. She styled her dirty-blonde hair loosely, and drew attention to her natural beauty by wearing minimal makeup. Elsa accessorised with several dainty necklaces and carried her iPhone, which had a purple case, in her left hand. Globetrotter: The mother of three, 45, recently returned Down Under after spending the last two months travelling across Europe and Africa Effortlessly chic: The Spanish actress, 45, looked stylish in a green and black P.E Nation jacket, which she teamed with a chic white blouse Leggy lady: The wife of actor Chris Hemsworth showcased her toned legs in a pair of skintight bike shorts and stepped out in grey sneakers Age-defying: She styled her dirty-blonde hair loosely, and drew attention to her natural beauty by wearing minimal makeup The mother of three, who originally hails from Madrid, flew back to Australia last week after spending December and January overseas. She had jetted to Europe at the end of 2021 to accompany her husband Chris, 38, while he filmed Netflix sequel Extraction 2 in the Czech Republic. With the Thor star busy shooting in Prague, Elsa hit the slopes in Austria, explored Venice with her sister-in-law, and even went on safari in Africa. She and Chris were also able to spend a few days in London together during a break from filming. On tour: Elsa had jetted to Europe at the end of 2021 to accompany her husband Chris Hemsworth while he filmed Netflix sequel Extraction 2 in the Czech Republic Holiday: With the Thor star busy shooting in Prague, Elsa hit the slopes in Austria (pictured), explored Venice with her sister-in-law, and even went on safari in Africa Production on Extraction 2 is expected to last until March. The film was originally supposed to be filmed in New South Wales, but moved to the Czech Republic due to fears of Covid shutdowns. The first Extraction once held the record for being Netflix's most-watched film ever. Attorney General Letitia James got a big boost to her reelection campaign on Monday with an endorsement from the powerful Hotel Trades Council. The backing by the HTC followed in the footsteps of groups including New York State AFL-CIO, New York State United Teachers and the Transport Workers Union that have endorsed James for reelection. Advertisement Shes proven herself to be determined, formidable and a solid ally for working families, the hotel workers union said in a statement. She is the champion that HTC members need fighting on their behalf. Since taking office in 2019, James launched high-profile probes of former President Donald Trump and ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who last year resigned over allegations of misconduct that James investigated. Advertisement New York Attorney General Letitia James speaks during a vigil following the shooting of two police officers in Harlem on January 22, 2022. (CHERY DIEU-NALIO/AFP via Getty Images) I am honored to earn the endorsement of the Hotel Trades Council, James said in a statement. The COVID era has revealed the depth of our states reliance on essential workers. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has weighed in on radio presenter Kyle Sandilands' explosive on-air walk-out last week. Sandilands, 50, lost his temper on Wednesday's Kyle and Jackie O Show, storming out of the studio during a discussion about Gladys Berejiklian's leaked text messages in which she allegedly described the PM as a 'horrible person' and 'untrustworthy'. Sandilands, who is friends with the former NSW premier, was angry at his co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson and newsreader Brooklyn Ross for giving airtime to the story, which he said was 'not real news'. Reaction: Prime Minister Scott Morrison (left) weighed in on radio presenter Kyle Sandilands' (right) infamous on-air walk-out during an interview on Monday's Kyle and Jackie O show Mr Morrison, who last week said he 'couldn't care less' about the leaked texts, showed his support for Sandilands on Monday, saying the shock jock was entitled to question what should and should not be considered newsworthy. 'I don't think there was anything [politically] partisan about [Sandilands' behaviour] to be honest at all. Kyle was calling out how he sees how news is reported,' he said. Sandilands agreed, responding: 'I don't like that, Prime Minister. Is there not a rule? 'There's a lot of rules in broadcasting - a lot. But surely the rule has got to be, "You can't just throw a story out there without any facts."' Walk-off: Sandilands, 50, lost his temper on Wednesday's Kyle and Jackie O Show, storming out of the studio during a discussion about Gladys Berejiklian's leaked text messages in which she allegedly described the PM as a 'horrible person' and 'untrustworthy' 'Kyle was calling out how news is reported': Mr Morrison, who last week said he 'couldn't care less' about the leaked texts, showed his support for Sandilands on Monday, saying the shock jock was entitled to question what should and should not be considered newsworthy 'That can lead to a lot of drama. I know your government is trying to stop misinformation and lies and bullying and stuff online,' Sandilands added, before questioning why media 'bullying' isn't considered as serious as online bullying. Mr Morrison replied: 'It's a fair question. Readers and viewers make up their own minds... about all that sort of nonsense.' The PM went on to criticise certain journalists for using their right not to disclose their sources as a way to hide who leaked last week's explosive texts. 'It's very convenient': The PM went on to criticise certain journalists for using their right not to disclose their sources as a way to hide who leaked last week's explosive texts '[These journalists are] protected by the convenience of not revealing sources. It's very convenient,' he said sarcastically. Sandilands stormed out of the studio shortly after 6am on Wednesday morning following an explosive 12-minute tantrum. Things escalated quickly with Sandilands hurling insults at his colleagues before telling his co-host Henderson, 47, to 'do the show by yourself' and walking off. Allegations: The bombshell texts allegedly claimed Gladys Berejiklian (pictured) did not trust the PM and that he was more concerned with politics than people 'This is the biggest news in Australia, and it's all over nothing,' he began his rant. 'So what if the ex-premier called the prime minister a 'horrible, horrible person'? I've called everyone here an effing c in text messages. I wouldn't be surprised if Gladys was just pacifying whatever loser minister she was talking to. 'This is not real news. Don't make up fictitious b******t drama over nothing.' Blindsided: Sandilands' colleagues were genuinely shocked by his behaviour last week, and co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson (pictured) later remarked it had been 'very dramatic' When Henderson insisted the story was newsworthy, Sandilands snapped: 'We don't have to run around every time some c********r from the ABC asks a question.' Sandilands was actually incorrect here: the journalist who exposed the leaked texts at a press conference on Tuesday was in fact Peter van Onselen of Channel 10. He continued: 'I'm angry. This is the way the world has been ruined by d**kheads on the news turning these things into b******t moments.' Heated: Sandilands called newsreader Brooklyn Ross (pictured) a 'f**king lazy loser journalist' to his face when he tried to defend including the story in his morning bulletin He then called Ross a 'f**king lazy loser journalist' to his face when he tried to defend including the story in his morning bulletin. A frustrated Henderson then asked: 'What's up with you this morning?' Ross tried to defend the newsworthiness of Berejiklian's texts again, prompting Sandilands to yell at him: 'Just turn your mic off! You're finished! Get out!' Insults: Things escalated quickly with Sandilands (left) hurling insults at his co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson (right) and newsreader Brooklyn Ross before walking off He then got up and walked out of the studio, saying bitterly: 'I'm going home. F**k you. Do the show by yourself, what a f**king show it'll be.' Henderson said afterwards: 'Okay, I think we'll take a short break, because I'm not even sure what happened. Did something happen before I got here? Was it all good?' Sandilands' colleagues were genuinely shocked by his behaviour, and Henderson later remarked it had been 'very dramatic'. Headline news: He lost his temper shortly after 6am while discussing former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian's leaked text messages blasting Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured) KIIS FM's resident psychic Georgina Walker also weighed in on the meltdown, telling Henderson and Ross they needed to 'let him chill out'. It comes after the Prime Minister was branded a 'complete psycho' and a 'horrible, horrible person' in bombshell text exchanges allegedly involving former NSW Premier Berejiklian. Network Ten political editor Peter van Onselen last Tuesday confronted the PM on live TV with the incendiary text messages savaging Mr Morrison that he said were between Ms Berejiklian and a current Liberal minister. News: Network Ten political editor Peter van Onselen confronted the PM on live TV with the series of incendiary text messages savaging Scott Morrison that he said were between Gladys Berejiklian (pictured here with the PM) and a current Liberal minister 'I've got them right here,' he told Mr Morrison as the PM faced questions from the media after his keynote speech to the National Press Club. 'In one, she described you as, quote, 'a horrible, horrible person', going on to say she did not trust you, and you're more concerned with politics than people. 'The minister is even more scathing, describing you as a fraud and, quote, 'a complete psycho'.' Question: Peter van Onselen's (pictured) blockbuster question last Tuesday left the PM almost speechless and was dismissed with a few curt sentences In a statement released hours later, Ms Berejiklian said she had 'no recollection' of the remarks, but didn't deny they were said. 'Does this exchange surprise you?' asked van Onselen. 'And what do you think it tells us?' The Prime Minister was left almost speechless, blinking in shock by the surprise attack, before replying curtly and moving on to the next question. 'Well, I don't know who you're referring to, or the basis of what you've put to me,' he said. 'But I obviously don't agree with it. And I don't think that's my record.' Kim Kardashian and her sisters were among the first stars to congratulate their youngest sister Kylie Jenner on Sunday after she announced the birth of her second child. Kim, 41, and sister Kourtney, 42, and Khloe, 37, all left adoring comments on Kylie's Instagram post, which featured a sweet black and white photo of her baby son's hand being gripped by his big sister Stormi Webster, four. The family members kept most of their comments brief and filled with emojis, while seemingly saving more substantial congratulations for when they got to see the new baby in person. Family: Kylie Jenner received a bevy of congratulations from her sisters Kim, Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian plus her famous friends after announcing the birth of her second child on Sunday; pictured with (LR) Kendall and Kris Jenner, Kim, Kourtney and Khloe Kim led her sisters by simply commenting with a baby angel emoji and a blue heart. 'Mommy of two life,' gushed Kylie's oldest sister Kourtney Kardashian, who added a red heart and praying hand emojis. Khloe marked her love for Kylie and her new nephew with several blue hearts. All three have children of their own. Kim has four young children whom she's lately been feuding with her estranged husband Kanye West over including North, eight; Saint, six; Chicago, four; and Psalm, two. Growing family: Kylie, 24, shared the news with a sweet photo of her daughter Stormi Webster holding the baby's hand. She revealed it was a boy with a blue heart and announced that he was born on February 2, a day after Stormi's fourth birthday Short and sweet: Kim led her sisters by simply commenting with a baby angel emoji and a blue heart Been there, done that: 'Mommy of two life,' gushed Kylie's oldest sister Kourtney Kardashian, who added a red heart and praying hand emojis Sweet: Khloe marked her love for Kylie and her new nephew with several blue hearts Earlier in January, Kylie celebrated Stormi's fourth birthday during a joint party that was also for Chicago, who had turned four on January 15. Kourtney's children are the oldest of the bunch. She shares Mason, 12; Penelope, nine; and Reign, seven, with her former partner Scott Disick. Khloe currently has a single daughter, three-year-old True Thompson, whom she shares with her ex Tristan Thompson. The couple's most recent split came in January of last year, but the onoff couple seemed to be off forever after a paternity test confirmed that he fathered a child with Maralee Nichols, who sued him for child support. He had previously denied that that baby which arrived on December 1 was his, though he admitted to having sex with Nichols during a period when he was back with Khloe. New love: Kylie shares her baby with her partner, rapper Travis Scott; seen at her baby shower in December The whole gang: Kylie's mother Kris Jenner also joined in the congratulations Happy father: Kylie's partner Travis Scott was among those commenting on her Instagram post. He added a blue heart to confirm that it was a boy, along with several brown hearts Cutie pie: Her mother Kris also added the sweet comment, 'Angel Pie' Kylie's partner Travis Scott was among those commenting on her Instagram post. He added a blue heart to confirm that it was a boy, along with several brown hearts. Her mother Kris Jenner also added the sweet comment, 'Angel Pie.' Several of Kylie's close friends and confidants joined in in the comments. Her bff Stassie Karanikolaou wrote, 'Angel baby,' and added a heart, while her friend Heather Sanders post praying hands and a white heart and her pal Gregory Carter wrote, 'beautiful mama & beautiful baby #2.' Jen Atkin, who has styled hair for Kylie and her famous sisters, commented with several blue hearts. Kylie's longtime friend Hailey Bieber (who's also Kendall Jenner's bff) posted misty-eyed emojis. Pals: Her bff Stassie Karanikolaou wrote, 'Angel baby,' and added a heart They go way back: Kylie's longtime friend Hailey Bieber (who's also Kendall Jenner's bff) posted misty-eyed emojis Buds: Her friend Heather Sanders post praying hands and a white heart and her pal Gregory Carter wrote, 'beautiful mama & beautiful baby #2.' Jen Atkin, who has styled hair for Kylie and her famous sisters, commented with several blue hearts Kim's friend Olivia Pierson commented with, 'Congratulations baby!!' followed by a lovestruck emoji and a heart. Khloe's bff Malika Haqq enthused with 'AMEN,' and the makeup artist Ariel Tejada commented twice. 'Congratssss,' he wrote, adding lovestruck emojis, before adding, 'Can't wait to meet the little angel.' Family friends: Kim's friend Olivia Pierson commented with, 'Congratulations baby!!' followed by a lovestruck emoji and a heart. Khloe's bff Malika Haqq enthused with 'AMEN,' and the makeup artist Ariel Tejada commented twice Kylie's superfan Johnny Cyrus gushed, 'Congratulations Kylie!!!! Beyond happy for you!!!' Khadijah Haqq McCray, Malika's twin sister, wrote, 'We love you baby!!' Kylie's friend Yris Palmer simple commented with several white hearts. Obsessed: Kylie's superfan Johnny Cyrus gushed, 'Congratulations Kylie!!!! Beyond happy for you!!!' Khadijah Haqq McCray, Malika's twin sister, wrote, 'We love you baby!!' Sticking together: Kylie's friend Yris Palmer simple commented with several white hearts Kim also shared her congratulations in the physical world. Kylie posted a photo of some of the flowers she received, including a vase of pale purple roses from Kim Kardashian and her children that featured a short message placed on top. 'Congratulations Travis, Kylie and Stormi!' Kim wrote. 'We are so excited and love you so much,' she added, signing off with, 'Kim, North, Saint, Chicago and Psalm XOXO.' Sisterly love: The purple roses were apparently from Kim Kardashian and her children and featured a short message placed on top. 'Congratulations Travis, Kylie and Stormi!' Kim wrote. 'We are so excited and love you so much,' she added, signing off with, 'Kim, North, Saint, Chicago and Psalm XOXO' Bella Hadid proved that she has a beautiful soul to match her stunning model exterior as she was spotted volunteering at The Bowery Shelter in New York City. The 25-year-old supermodel and her boyfriend Marc Kalman lent a helping hand at the shelter - which is the oldest Christian rescue mission in New York City - on Sunday. The star opted for a bold choice of outwear, sporting a graphic print puffer jacket with an image of Robert de Niros face from the movie Taxi Driver, from LA-based contemporary unisex brand BOND. Kind: Bella Hadid proved that she has a beautiful soul to match her stunning model exterior as she was spotted volunteering at The Bowery Shelter in New York City The runway sensation - born Isabella Khair Hadid - paired her look with oversized black work pants and sturdy black boots. To keep warm in the chilly NY weather, the beauty wore a pair of thick gloves on her hands. The Vogue covergirl also accessorized her look with a Burberry crossbody bag. With her beau: The 25-year-old supermodel sported a graphic print puffer jacket as she and her boyfriend Marc Kalman, 33, lent a helping hand at the shelter on Sunday Her long raven tresses were slicked in the front and plaited into a braid in the back. She also sported a pair of black-rimmed glasses and a black face mask to protect herself from COVID-19. Meanwhile her beau, 33, looked incognito as he walked a few paces behind her in a black Nike windbreaker on top of a black hoodie. Always chic: The runway sensation paired her look with oversized black work pants and sturdy black boots The art director also sported oversized black pants and boots, as well as a pair of sunglasses. Later in the day Bella took to Instagram to post about her experience and share photos. '143 years in service! New York legends,' she captioned the snaps of the shelter. Sharing: Later in the day Bella took to Instagram to post about her experience and share photos. '143 years in service! New York legends,' she captioned the snaps Inside: The model was shown around the inside of the rescue mission by a worker In the first photo she is seen outside of the rescue mission, pointing to the name plaque on the wall. Later photos show her inside, sporting a black hairnet and a red apron as she helps prepare food from paper brown bags. The model was sociable inside, and was seen meeting people, speaking to a group of women, and even hugging one worker. Working: Later photos show her sporting a black hairnet and a red apron as she helps prepare food from paper brown bags Helping hand: The Vogue cover girl diligently worked in the kitchen alongside other volunteers She also posted a snap of the kitchen, which had the slogan, 'Serve Like You Are Serving A King' prominently written on a banner. Hadid's 49.1M followers were thrilled with the kind-hearted way she chose to spend her afternoon off. Friend Lori Harvey commented writing, 'An angel' and added three white heart emojis. Another follower praised Bella's beautiful soul, writing, 'You're even more beautiful on the inside.' Making friends: The model was sociable inside, and was seen meeting different people Hug: Overcome by emotion, she even gave one worker a hug With the ladies: The star was also seen speaking to a group of women Hadid debuted her romance with Kalman in July, 2021 on her Instagram. The two were reportedly dating for a while before that, with one source telling Page Six that they started seeing each other in July 2020. The two have a lot in common as they're both immersed in the fashion world, with Kalman having designed for fashion company, Bathing Ape, and previously working with rapper Travis Scott on merchandise and visuals. Prior to Kalman, Hadid dated Canadian musician The Weeknd - real name Abel Tesfaye - on and off from 2015 to 2019. The cast of Neighbours looked utterly shell-shocked as they left a crisis meeting in Melbourne on Monday, following reports the long-running soap is set to be axed after 37 years on air. The show's future hangs in the balance after UK broadcaster Channel 5 confirmed its decision not to renew their contract to air the Aussie soap with producers Fremantle Australia. Although the show is filmed in Australia, Channel 5 bankrolls most of the production. Some of the stars, who could soon be facing unemployment, were seen crying as they emerged from Fremantle's Nunawading Studios. Devastated: The cast of Neighbours looked utterly shell-shocked as they left set of the soap on Monday after reports the show is set to be axed after 37 years on-air, following UK broadcaster Channel 5 decision to no longer bankroll the long-running soap. Pictured: April Rose Pengilly A devastated-looking April Rose Pengilly, who plays Chloe Brennan, was sobbing behind a pair of sunglasses. The blonde sported a blotchy complexion from crying as she clutched her Neighbours script and spoke to someone over the phone. April, who is the daughter of INXS member Kirk Pengilly and designer Karen Hutchinson, has played Chloe Brennan on Neighbours since 2018. Tears: A devastated-looking Pengilly, who plays Chloe Brennan, was seen crying behind a pair of sunglasses Red-faced: The blonde sported a blotchy complexion as she clutched her Neighbours script and spoke to someone over the phone Facing unemployment: April, who is the daughter of INXS member Kirk Pengilly and designer Karen Hutchinson, has played Chloe Brennan on Neighbours since 2018 Crisis talks: The slender blonde looked stressed as she spoke on the phone Won't be needing that: She carried a script under her arm and texted furiously Also attending the meeting was actor Jason Donovan's daughter Jemma, who also looked sullen as she walked through the facility's car park. Going braless in a cream top and yellow skirt, the actress - who plays Harlow Robinson - furrowed her brow and looked pensive as she stared into the distance. Jemma debuted on Neighbours in 2019, taking after her Neighbours alumnus father Jason, who rose to fame playing Scott Robinson on the soap in the 1980s. Not happy: Also attending the meeting was actor Jason Donovan's daughter Jemma (pictured), who also looked sullen as she walked through the facility's car park Pedigree: Jemma debuted on Neighbours in 2019, taking after her Neighbours alumnus father Jason, who rose to fame playing Scott Robinson on the soap in the 1980s Unhappy days: Actress Rebekah Elmaloglou (pictured) was likewise seen leaving the studios looking rather upset Downcast: Fellow cast member Jackie Woodburne (pictured) also looked downcast after possibly learning that her 27-year stint on Neighbours could be coming to an end The 66-year-old, who has played Susan Kennedy on Neighbours for almost three decades, covered her face with sunglasses and a mask as she made her way to a parked car Exit plan: Jackie has previously spoken about her career plans after Neighbours, telling New Idea magazine last year that she'd like to work in the UK one day Fellow cast member Jackie Woodburne also looked downcast after possibly learning that her 27-year stint on Neighbours could be coming to an end. The 66-year-old, who has played Susan Kennedy on Neighbours for almost three decades, covered her face with sunglasses and a mask as she made her way to a parked car. Jackie has previously spoken about her career plans after Neighbours, telling New Idea magazine last year that she'd like to work in the UK one day. Fast exit: Actress Freya Van Dyke (pictured) only recently joined the soap as Zara Selwyn Off the air: She looked strained as she exited through the car park Popular stars: Tim Kano (pictured) has played Leo Tanaka on the show since 2016. He managed to crack a smile despite the grim meeting Difficult news: Matt Wilson (pictured) has played Aaron Brennan since 2015. It's unwelcome news for the actor, who welcomed a new baby with his wife, Jessica, last year Not fun: Georgie Stone (pictured) looked pensive as she left the studio. The actress joined Neighbours as Mackenzie Hargreaves, the show's first transgender character, in 2019 'The British produce beautiful television and write really interesting roles for older women, so I think maybe one day I will go there for a little while.' 'But to be perfectly honest, I like being home far too much. I like being in Australia and I like going to work every day.' Actress Rebekah Elmaloglou was likewise seen leaving the studios looking rather upset. Loss: In a statement released on Sunday, UK broadcaster Channel 5 confirmed its decision not to renew their contract to air the Australian soap with producers Fremantle Australia Devastating: Fremantle later emailed staff saying filming would end on June 10 The star, who has been playing Terese Willis on Neighbours since 2013, kept her head down as she made her way to a parked car. In a statement released on Sunday, UK broadcaster Channel 5 confirmed its decision not to renew their contract to air the Australian soap with producers Fremantle Australia. Fremantle later emailed staff saying filming would end on June 10, and if no new broadcaster emerged to provide the funds to resume production, the show looked to be at an end. Channel 5's statement read: 'It's been a much-loved part of our schedule for more than a decade, and we'd like to thank the cast, Fremantle and all of the production team for their fantastic work on this iconic series' News: In an email to cast seen by The Herald Sun, the show's executive producer Jason Herbison confirmed the soap's run as an institution of Australian and British television was all but over Channel 5's statement read: 'It's been a much-loved part of our schedule for more than a decade, and we'd like to thank the cast, Fremantle and all of the production team for their fantastic work on this iconic series. 'We'd also of course like to thank the fans for their loyal support of Neighbours across the years. 'We recognise that there will be disappointment about this decision, however our current focus is on increasing our investment in original UK drama, which has strong appeal for our viewers.' Out: A staffer was seen carrying a Neighbours branded bag on their way out Desperate: Channel 10 released a statement to TV Tonight on Sunday, confirming it had every intention of finding a new broadcast partner According to industry site TV Blackbox, 'it's unlikely [Channel] 10 can keep producing [the show]' without financial backing from an international broadcaster. If the iconic soap doesn't find another backer soon, it could spell the end of the 37-year-old television institution. In an email to the cast seen by The Herald Sun, the show's executive producer Jason Herbison confirmed the soap's run as an institution of Australian and British television was all but over. 'As you know the future of the show has been uncertain for some time,' it read. The statement read: 'As outlined in the email to cast and crew, it is our intention to continue our association with Neighbours if another broadcast partner comes forward' 'Our audience remains steady and Channel 10 would love the show to continue if we could find another broadcast partner to replace C5. 'These discussions are ongoing however there is no new broadcaster at the moment and production must end, effectively resting the show. 'We are so proud of the show, you all and everything that you've achieved. But for now, this chapter is closing and we want to work together to give Neighbours the amazing send-off it deserves.' Forlorn: Other cast and crew members walked slowly to their cars following the meeting The publication reported that the show would not film on Monday, and cast and crew had been called to an all-staff meeting at 11am that morning. Channel 10 released a statement to TV Tonight on Sunday, confirming it had every intention of finding a new broadcast partner. The statement read: 'As outlined in the email to cast and crew, it is our intention to continue our association with Neighbours if another broadcast partner comes forward. Tuned in: The Australian soap, which still gets 1.2million UK viewers per day, has been on the air in Oz since 1985 but producers and Channel 5 were said to be looking at options to keep it on screen, three years before its 40th anniversary 'Network 10 has an ongoing commitment to the show, the cast and crew and is hopeful that Fremantle will find a new production partner. We will provide further updates as they become available.' The Australian soap, which still gets 1.2million UK viewers per day, has been on the air in Oz since 1985 but producers and Channel 5 were said to be looking at options to keep it on screen, three years before its 40th anniversary. Over the years, the series has had its fair share of unforgettable television moments. Memories: Over the years, the series has had it's fair share of unforgettable moments. Most outstanding was Scott and Charlene Robinson's wedding, with the beloved characters played by Jason Donovan (right) and Kylie Minogue (left) walking down the aisle in 1987 Most outstanding was Scott and Charlene Robinson's wedding, with the beloved characters played by Jason Donovan and Kylie Minogue walking down the aisle. Airing in 1987, the nuptials between the young lovers drew in 19.6 million viewers in the United Kingdom alone. Another scene-stealing moment came when Toadie Rebecchi, played by Ryan Moloney, drove his bride, Dee Bliss, played by Madeleine West, off a cliff on their wedding day. Short-lived bliss: Another scene-stealing moment came when Toadie Rebecchi, played by Ryan Moloney (right), drove his bride, Dee Bliss, played by Madeleine West (left), off a cliff on their wedding day in 2003 The episode devastated fans when it aired in 2003 - however Madeleine West returned in 2017 as Dee's evil twin sister Andrea. The drama kept coming when in 2004, resident villain, Paul Robinson, played by Stefan Dennis, burned down the Lassiters hotel during the season finale. There wasn't a dry eye in the house when Harold Bishop, played by Ian Smith, was swept out to sea in 1991. Sad plot: There wasn't a dry eye in the house when Harold Bishop, played by Ian Smith (pictured), was swept out to sea in 1991 He returned in 1996, but was suffering from amnesia and believed his name was Ted. Thanks to the love and care of his wife, Madge Bishop, played by Anne Charleston, Harold eventually recovered his memory. There was more memory loss on offer in 2002, when Susan Kennedy, played by Jackie Woodburne, slipped on a bowl of cereal and sustained a head injury. Forgetful: In 2002, Susan Kennedy, played by Jackie Woodburne (left), slipped on a bowl of cereal and sustained a head injury. She bizarrely reverted to her teenage years after forgetting her husband, Karl Kennedy, played by Alan Fletcher (right), and their life together Fiery finish: The drama kept coming when in 2004, resident villain, Paul Robinson, played by Stefan Dennis (right), burned down the Lassiters hotel during the season finale She bizarrely reverted to her teenage years after forgetting her husband, Karl Kennedy, played by Alan Fletcher, and their life together. Perhaps the most surreal feather in the soap's cap came in 1990, when the writers saw fit to cobble together a dream sequence experienced by Bouncer the dog, owned by the Mangel family. During that dream, the Labrador Retriever married Rosie, the Border Collie belonging to the family next door. Australian Survivor has banned the word 'guys' from the show in a bid to promote 'inclusivity' and move towards non-gendered language. But it seems host Jonathan LaPaglia hasn't got the hang of ditching the word out of his vocabulary just yet, as he was heard uttering it multiple times during Sunday night's episode. 'Alright, you guys ready to get to the immunity challenge?' he says in one clip, before adding: 'You guys are safe! Get your gear, head on home, I'll see you guys tonight.' Slip up: It appears Australian Survivor: Blood v Water host Jonathan LaPaglia hasn't got the hang of ditching the word 'guys' out of his vocabulary just yet, as he was heard uttering it multiple times on Sunday night's episode Later in the episode, Jonathan says at the tribal council: 'Last time you came here, it seems like you guys had...' The slip-ups came the same day it was reported that this year's Blood V Water season would include an introduction of 'de-gendered' language, as producers attempt to promote 'inclusivity' on-screen. The Daily Telegraph reported the word 'guys' had officially been banned from the cast's lexicon on Sunday, meaning that LaPaglia would have to change his iconic catch-phrase: 'Come on in, guys.' 'Alright, you guys ready to get to the immunity challenge?' Jonathan says in one clip, before adding: 'You guys are safe! Get your gear, head on home, I'll see you guys tonight' Another one: Later in the episode, Jonathan says at the tribal council: 'Last time you came here, it seems like you guys had...' The 'gendered' phrase, which is considered by some as sexist, has been used by LaPaglia to welcome contestants into challenges since the show's inception in 2016. 'With the ever growing conversation around inclusivity, it was a natural progression to adapt our language to reflect this,' LaPaglia told the publication. 'The US has also adopted a similar change,' he added. End of an era: The 'gendered' phrase, which is considered by some as sexist, has been used by LaPaglia to welcome contestants into challenges since the show's inception in 2016 Talks: The word 'guys' was discussed by the host of the US version, Jeff Probst (pictured), during last year's season. He announced that he will no longer refer to the contestants as 'guys' from now on Indeed, Survivor USA host Jeff Probst also officially stopped using the line, 'Come on in, guys', during last year's season. During an episode, Jeff asked the teams: 'In the context of "Survivor," is a word like guys okay? Or is it time to retire that word?' One contestant agreed the term was 'uncomfortable' and in the spirit of inclusivity, Jeff agreed to retire it. Blockbuster season: Meanwhile, the 2022 season of Australian Survivor is shaping up to be the biggest yet, with family members playing together for the first time in the show's history. Pictured: Australian Survivor 2022 contestant Sophie Cachia Jeff had previously used the phrase for a whopping 40 seasons. Meanwhile, the 2022 season of Australian Survivor is shaping up to be the biggest yet, with family members playing together for the first time in the show's history. The Blood V Water series features 24 former castaways playing with - and against - their loved ones. This concept has already been used twice before in the US franchise - in 2013 with the titular Survivor: Blood vs Water, and again in 2014 with Survivor: San Juan del Sur. Australian Survivor: Blood V Water continues Monday at 7:30pm on Channel 10 Azealia Banks called Kanye West an 'abusive psychopath' as she ripped the rapper amid his public feud with estranged wife Kim Kardashian. The 30-year-old artist on Sunday said she felt West, 44, has crossed the line in his statements about Kardashian, 41, culminating with his remarks that she had accused him of 'putting a hit out on her' in a series of social media posts he later deleted. Banks said in a detailed Instagram Stories post, 'Kanye West is an abusive psychopath, it's beyond mental illness.' The latest: Azealia Banks, 30, called Kanye West, 44, an 'abusive psychopath' as she ripped the rapper amid his public feud with estranged wife Kim Kardashian, 41 The New York City native was critical of West - who shares children North, eight, Saint, five, Chicago, three, and Psalm, two, with Kardashian - in his parenting of eldest child North, as he recently vented publicly about her use of TikTok without his permission. 'Y'all are making way too many excuses for Kanye,' she said. 'This is the second time he has publicly bullied North West. 'First with the abortion s***' - Banks said referring to his West's Juy 2020 remarks that he and Kardashian had thought about having an abortion with their first child - 'and now putting her on blast on his Instagram page as if she is some sort of criminal.' She continued: 'Kanye had no problem with that magazine cover where North had on a f***ing belly top and purple eyeliner with her little buds showing thru the shirt, he thought it was fashion. You all said nothing.' Banks said in a detailed Instagram Stories post, 'Kanye West is an abusive psychopath, it's beyond mental illness' West posed for a picture with LA-based media personality Armon Wiggins at an event in LA Sunday West said that Kim had accused him of 'putting a hit out on her' in a series of social media posts he later deleted Banks said West was 'making it his business to try and wreck the mental health of the only person to care for his children in' Kardashian. Banks implied West was engaging in promiscuous behavior with multiple women and abusing drugs, but people want to 'call it a mental health issue,' referencing West's past reveal that he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Banks added that she has 'never once seen Kanye have this much smoke for any of his male adversaries.' Banks referenced West's social media remark on Friday that Kardashian had tried to kidnap daughter Chicago 'by not providing the address' to her birthday party. 'Trying to accuse a mother of kidnapping her own child????' she said, later referencing West's current love interest, actress Julia Fox. 'Was Chicago supposed to be hanging out with him and Julia [Fox]'s horrible cool sculpting while they get drunk and high so Julia can blow vape pen smoke in Chicago's face?' Banks said West was 'making it his business to try and wreck the mental health of the only person to care for his children in' Kardashian, who was snapped in 2020 in NYC Banks and West were seen in Paris in March of 2012 Banks was critical of West publicly airing his parenting grievances with Kardashian via social media. 'Maybe North is looking for a fun escape because she has to look online and see her dumb ass dad always talking s*** about her mother and when Kim won't give him the attention he begs for he turns his anger on her by posting her picture to his Instagram, talking about "his will" as if she is a f***ing piece of property and not a young Black girl just trying to be happy,' she said. She added: 'For f***s sake. Stop trying to help him and start trying to help the poor child that he keeps on trying to embarrass and abuse publicly to garner sympathy for his ashy a**.' Neighbours star Rebekah Elmaloglou made a rare appearance as she left an urgent crisis meeting about the show's future on Monday. The 48-year-old looked upset as she left Fremantle Nunawading Studios in Victoria. The actress, who has been playing Terese Willis on Neighbours since 2013, kept her head down as she made her way to a parked car. Rare outing: Rebekah Elmaloglou (pictured) made a rare public outing as she left Neighbours crisis meeting amid reports the soap will be axed after 37 years Rebekah dressed casually for the crisis meeting, sporting a black skirt and a green T-shirt. The actress completed her look with sandals and held a tote bag as she looked disappointed and left the meeting. In a statement released on Sunday, UK broadcaster Channel 5 confirmed its decision not to renew their contract to air the Australian soap with producers Fremantle Australia. Fremantle later emailed staff saying filming would end on June 10, and absent any new broadcaster emerging to provide the funds to resume production, the show looked to be at an end. Disappointed: The actress, who has been playing Terese Willis on Neighbours since 2013, kept her head down as she made her way to a parked car Channel 5's statement read: 'It's been a much-loved part of our schedule for more than a decade, and we'd like to thank the cast, Fremantle and all of the production team for their fantastic work on this iconic series. 'We'd also of course like to thank the fans for their loyal support of Neighbours across the years. 'We recognise that there will be disappointment about this decision, however our current focus is on increasing our investment in original UK drama, which has strong appeal for our viewers.' According to industry site TV Blackbox, 'it's unlikely [Channel] 10 can keep producing [the show]' without financial backing from an international broadcaster. Casual: Rebekah dressed casually for the crisis meeting, sporting a black skirt and a green T-shirt If the show doesn't find another backer soon, it could spell the end of the 37-year-old television institution. In an email to cast seen by The Herald Sun, the shows executive producer Jason Herbison confirmed the soap's run as an institution of Australian and British television was all but over. 'As you know the future of the show has been uncertain for some time,' it read. 'Our audience remains steady and Channel 10 would love the show to continue if we could find another broadcast partner to replace C5. Gone: In a statement released on Sunday, UK broadcaster Channel 5 confirmed its decision not to renew their contract to air the Australian soap with producers Fremantle Australia 'These discussions are ongoing however there is no new broadcaster at the moment and production must end, effectively resting the show. 'We are so proud of the show, you all and everything that youve achieved. But for now, this chapter is closing and we want to work together to give Neighbours the amazing send-off it deserves.' The publication reported that the show would not film on Monday, and cast and crew had been called to an all-staff meeting at 11am that morning. Channel 10 released a statement to TV Tonight on Sunday, confirming it had every intention of finding a new broadcast partner. Kanye West put on a different kind of 'Sunday Service' this week, teaming up with Hollywood Unlocked's Jason Lee for what he called The Future Brunch. The 44-year-old rapper was joined by his sons, 6-year-old Saint and 2-year-old Psalm, and 4-year-old daughter Chicago though his 8-year-old daughter North was not present. West and Lee invited over 50 Black journalists to discuss topics such as improving equity and representation on the red carpet, 'humanizing Black voices in media and storytelling,' and, 'wiping out cancel culture. Ye: Kanye West put on a different kind of 'Sunday Service' this week, teaming up with Hollywood Unlocked's Jason Lee for what he called The Future Brunch Kids: The 44-year-old rapper was joined by his three sons, 6-year-old Saint, 4-year-old Chicago and 2-year-old Psalm, though his 8-year-old daughter North was not present West stepped out with a hooded black puffer coat along with black pants and his new footwear staple, large black snow boots. His children seemed to follow in their father's footsteps, each wearing their own pairs of oversized black boots. After the brunch, West brought his Sunday Service crew to perform, marking the first time the media was present for a Sunday Service performance. Kanye and sons: West stepped out with a hooded black puffer coat along with black pants and his new footwear staple, large black snow boots Service: After the brunch, West brought his Sunday Service crew to perform, marking the first time the media was present for a Sunday Service performance West opened up the brunch by saying a few words about his mission to create a movement during Black History Month in February. 'This is the future. There is no looking backwards - only forwards,' West said to the assembled audience. He was joined on the panel by Hollywood Unlocked's Jason Lee and Michelle Mitchell, Strategic Communities Program Manager, Media Partnerships at Meta. Mission: West opened up the brunch by saying a few words about his mission to create a movement during Black History Month in February Panel: He was joined on the panel by Hollywood Unlocked's Jason Lee and Michelle Mitchell, Strategic Communities Program Manager, Media Partnerships at Meta Together they discussed, 'black future and elevating the culture, desegregation in media, the importance of equity and having a seat at the table, redefining black stories and humanizing how were portrayed in media, as well as the metaverse, among others,' according to a news release. Towards the end of the discussion, West gave Lee some flowers for creating a path for Black journalists and spearheading this all Black media brunch. 'I appreciate you giving me my flowers, but the purpose of this brunch is to give you all your flowers, says Jason Lee, owner of Hollywood Unlocked. Culture: Together they discussed, 'black future and elevating the culture, desegregation in media, the importance of equity and having a seat at the table, redefining black stories and humanizing how were portrayed in media, as well as the metaverse, among others,' according to a news release Discussion: Towards the end of the discussion, West gave Lee some flowers for creating a path for Black journalists and spearheading this all Black media brunch Black journalists from publications such as Essence, Ebony, Billboard, New York Times, Vibe Magazine, Instyle and Forbes were present at the event. They were joined by black executives at Amazon Studios, FOX SOUL, BET and Spotify, 'to see how Black media can build a brighter future for the next generation and unionize together to help amplify more Black voices.' 'Me and Virgil believed in black design. Now we need to invest in black media. God uses me as a vessel - we declare Black Future Month. The future - not the past,' West said. Journalists: Black journalists from publications such as Essence, Ebony, Billboard, New York Times, Vibe Magazine, Instyle and Forbes were present at the event She splashed out 32,000 on Range Rover Evoque last year before she had even passed her driving test. And now Molly-Mae Hague has revealed she's planning on giving the pricey vehicle to her sister Zoe as a present. The Love Island star, 22, has only had the car for nine months, but now has her eye on another car - which will take a year to get made. Present: Molly-Mae Hague, 22, is planning to give her black Land Rover, worth 32,000 new, to her sister Zoe as a present Molly-Mae took to her YouTube channel on Sunday to explain she had ordered her 'dream car' that would take a year to make. While buying a coffee at a drive-though, Molly-Mae said: 'I'm ordering a new car. Now I know I've only just got this car, but the car I'm ordering today which is my dream car by the way, I can't believe it's happening. 'Basically it's going to take heading on a year to be done. I have to order it well in advance. The plan was that I was always going to give this car to my sister. 'I sort of want to keep this car but I'll give it to be as a present.' Hot wheels: The Love Island star bought the four-wheel drive nine months ago before she had passed her driving test Glamorous: Despite being close to twins, the two sisters have opted for vastly different careers, with Zoe serving in the British Army (pictured in August) She added: 'I know it might sound a bit extreme ordering a new car when I've just got this one but the car that I'm ordering was the car that I originally wanted but everyone thought it was not a good idea for me to get that car first because I had just started driving.' 'I'd never driven before and I definitely need something middle sized to prepare me for getting the car that I want, which was this car, which I absolutely love by the way.' Despite being close to twins, the two sisters have opted for vastly different careers, with Zoe serving in the British Army. Sister love: Molly-Mae took to her YouTube channel on Sunday to explain she had ordered her 'dream car' that would take a year to make The Instagram influencer passed her driving test in May 2021 on her second attempt, after her first test left her 'traumatised' and in tears. Molly-Mae decided to switch from a manual test to automatic after a disastrous experience the first time round. And she proved that second time's a charm as she took to social media to declare she earned her driving license while also claiming it marked the 'happiest day' of her life. Throwback: Molly-Mae announced she passed her driving test in May during her second attempt, after her first test left her 'traumatised' and in tears It comes after Molly-Mae was hit with a 60 parking ticket on Monday when she left her car on a busy Manchester city centre street. Molly returned from a meeting three hours later to discover she'd been fined and had left more than 2300 worth of luxury items in clear view on the passenger seat. The media personality had tucked a MacBook Pro (which start at 899) into a 1550 Louis Vuitton bag and a pair of black gym trainers were also visible. Kimberly Stewart has confirmed that she is engaged. The model, 42, took to Instagram on Sunday night, where she unveiled a huge diamond solitaire ring and publicly announced that she is set to wed producer Jesse Shapira. Kimberly shared a sweet snap of herself kissing her new fiance and showing off her jaw-dropping engagement ring, captioned: 'Forever.' Congrats! Kimberly Stewart has confirmed that she is engaged to producer Jesse Shapira as she unveiled a huge diamond solitaire ring in a sweet Instagram post on Sunday night Kimberly's stunning oval diamond - which is impressive in size - sits on a simple gold band. Jesse is film producer, whose credits include Room starring Brie Larson and 2018's Kin, while Kimberly has worked as a model, fashion designer and actress during her career. The newly-engaged couple have been dating since March 2019. Kimberly shares a nine-year-old daughter named Delilah with Academy Award-winning actor Benicio del Toro. Reunion: Rod Stewart, 77, reunited with his ex-wife Alana, 76 (right) to celebrate their daughter Kimberly's engagement to Jesse on Saturday Los Angeles native Kimberly is the second of Sir Rod Stewart's eight children and second of Alana Stewart's three children. And the friendly exes reunited on Saturday to celebrate Kimberly's engagement news. The veteran star, 77, got together with his glamorous former wife, 76, to rejoice at the happy news at Craig's restaurant in West Hollywood. Family: The star got together with Alana to rejoice the happy news at Craig's restaurant in West Hollywood with Kimberly and her brother Sean, 41, (second right) Jesse, and Renee, 29, (end right) who is Rod's daughter from his second marriage to Rachel Hunter First love: Alana was Rod's first wife, and they married in 1979 when he was 34, but they divorced five years later (pictured left in 1978) Joining them were Kimberly, 42, and her brother Sean, 41, Jesse, and Renee, 29, who is Rod's daughter from his second marriage to Rachel Hunter. Alana shared a couple of snaps to commemorate the get together, with the caption: 'Family celebration at @craigsla.' She hinted at Kimberly's happy news by adding the hashtags #engagement and #engaged, before later deleting them, but not before fans had taken to the comments to say their congratulations. Second wife: In 1990, he married Rachel Hunter, before divorcing in 2006 (pictured in 1992) Children: During his marriage to Rachel, they welcomed daughter Renee and son Liam (pictured in 2021) Alana was Rod's first wife, and they married in 1979 when he was 34, but they divorced five years later. In 1990, he married Rachel Hunter, with who he had Renee and son Liam, before divorcing in 2006. He married Penny Lancaster the following year, and together they welcomed two sons Alastair and Aiden. Rod also has daughter Sarah Streeter, from his relationship with Susannah Boffey in 1963 when he was 17, but who was raised by her adoptive parents He also has a third daughter Ruby, with Kelly Emberg, who was born in 1987. COVID numbers continued to plunge in New York and the rest of the country through the weekend. The Empire State reached a COVID positivity rate of 3.5% the lowest level since the highly infectious omicron variant arrived at the end of last year according to Gov. Hochuls office. New cases are down by nearly 75% compared with two weeks ago. Advertisement Im so proud of the work New Yorkers have put in to fight this winter surge, she said in a statement Sunday. The trends continue to be promising, but it is important we continue to be vigilant so we can keep positivity rates low. Sixty-eight New Yorkers died, bringing the death toll to an estimated 66,730. Advertisement After an alarming surge of cases that ruined holiday plans and sent droves to hospitals throughout the U.S., case numbers have been dropping in nearly every state. Still, leaders in America and beyond continue to test positive for the virus. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum said Saturday that he had tested positive. Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan tweeted that he and his wife had gotten positive test results, too. People line up for a Covid-19 test near on Jay St. Friday in Brooklyn, New York. (Barry Williams) (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News) An overall decline in cases is prompting some countries to ease restrictions. Last week, Sweden announced the end of virus restrictions, removing requirements for vaccine proof and wearing face masks on public transportation, among other steps. It is time to open Sweden again, said Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson. The pandemic is not over but has entered a totally new phase. Spanish authorities announced they would end their mask mandate for outdoor settings this coming week. A mask mandate will remain in effect for indoor activity. More than eight in 10 Spaniards have gotten vaccinated, allowing the restriction to be dropped, leaders say. Meanwhile, Austria became the first country in Europe to require vaccination for all adults. Advertisement The vaccine mandate should help protect us from the next waves, and above all from the next variants, said Health Minister Wolfgang Mueckstein. With News Wire Services Jo Hall was at her dazzling best on Sunday night. The Nine News presenter attended the Red Ball in Melbourne and chose a colour-appropriate frock for the occasion. The 63-year-old looked youthful in an ornate, fire engine red gown that skirted her slender figure. Red-y for action! Jo Hall attended the Red Ball in Melbourne on Sunday night and chose a colour-appropriate frock for the occasion. Pictured with model Lilli Baxter It featured a long train that trailed behind her and a decorative, floral embellishment at the bust. The dress, designed by Aleem Yusuf Couture, was also dotted with shining sequins through the midriff. For makeup, Jo opted for a bronzed palette with a metallic plum toned lipstick and lots of glowing highlighter. Wow! The 63-year-old looked youthful in an ornate, fire engine red gown that skirted her slender figure Bright: It featured a long train that trailed behind her and a decorative, floral embellishment at the bust She wore her blonde hair off her face in a slicked up-do, carried a silver purse which hung off her shoulder, and added heels in the same metal finish. The television star kept the accessories minimal, adding only a pair of blinging hoop earrings. Jo posed alongside model Lilli Baxter who opted for a burnt orange toned slip dress and black cardigan. Pretty: The dress, designed by Aleem Yusuf Couture, was also dotted with shining sequins through the midriff She shared several images from the red carpet to her Instagram on Monday, captioning them: 'They said a touch of red' She also shared several images from the red carpet to her Instagram on Monday, captioning them: 'They said a touch of red'. The news anchor added: 'On the reddest of red carpets last night in THE most beautiful gown'. In 2019, Jo announced that she was becoming a grandmother when her oldest son, Rhyss, had a baby with his wife. She has long championed body positivity and uses her social media to to promote self-love and confidence. And Honey Kinny Ross, 24, showed off her figure as she posed up a storm in a plunging crop top on Sunday. The daughter of television personality Jonathan Ross, wowed her Instagram followers in multi-colored tie dye ensemble as she showcased her curves. Vibrant! Jonathan Ross' daughter Honey, 24, slipped into a plunging crop top and form-fitting leggings as she showcased her curves in an Instagram post on Sunday The colourful two piece featured knot detailing and cut out sections on the top with a matching pair of form-fitting leggings. The presenter of the Body Protest podcast wore her freshly dyed bright orange locks in a tousled bob and added two black bows in her hair. Honey oozed confidence in the snaps as she completed her vibrant look with an alternative flick of blue eyeliner and a lilac eyeshadow. Confident: The colourful two piece featured knot detailing and cut out sections on the top with a matching pair of form-fitting leggings It comes after Honey shared a gushing tribute to her boyfriend Zane Saz last month. She shared a slew of sweet snaps alongside a romantic caption dedicated to her 'immensely talented partner'. The writer and activist was bursting with pride as she announced that Zane, 24, has released a 'beautiful album.' Sweet: It comes after Honey shared a gushing tribute to her boyfriend Zane Saz on Instagram in January In the first snap Honey packed on the PDA and kissed her musician partner on the cheek. In another, the pair appeared to be in a jovial mood as they laughing together in a candid picture. The loved up captioned read: 'My immensely talented partner has released a beautiful album today. 'I'm so lucky to love and be loved by you, Zaney. Your mind astounds me, how you can pluck fully realised, magnetic songs seemingly from thin air, like magic. 'My kind, gentle, wise, beautiful man. Stream Dread Full II if you know what's good for you!!! Could not be prouder.' Emmerdale stars got together off-screen to celebrate soap legend Mark Charnock on Sunday. The actor, 53, has spent 25 years on the popular drama playing Marlon Dingle- his first appearance on the show was in 1996. Michelle Hardwick, 45, who plays Vanessa Woodfield, took to Instagram to share a snap of the reunion. Reunion: Emmerdale stars got together off-screen to celebrate soap legend Mark Charnock's 25 years on the soap on Sunday (L-R Karen Blick, Mark, James Hooton, Steve Halliwell, Olivia Bromley, Lisa Riley, Bradley Johnson, Dominic Brunt, Michelle and Rebecca Sarker) The picture showed ten Emmerdale legends crowded around a table and beaming at the camera. Michelle explained that they were celebrating Mark's quarter-century on the soap. She captioned the wholesome snap: 'Celebrating 25 years of Marlon Dingle with good food and even better company .' On set: The actor, 53, has spent 25 years on the popular drama playing Marlon Dingle- his first appearance on the show was in 1996 She captioned the wholesome snap: 'Celebrating 25 years of Marlon Dingle with good food and even better company ' Fans were quick to flock to the comments, with one writing: 'Congratulations Mark on your 25 years on Emmerdale my favourite show Mark was perched alongside the other stars including James Hooton, who plays Sam, and Lisa Riley, who plays Mandy Dingle. The other stars around the table included Karen Blick, who plays Lydia Dingle, Olivia Bromley, who plays Dawn, Steve Halliwell who's character is Zak, Bradley Johnson, who plays Vinny, Dominic Brunt as Paddy and Manpreet Sharma actress Rebecca Sarker. Fans were quick to flock to the comments, with one writing: 'Congratulations Mark on your 25 years on Emmerdale my favourite show. While another wrote: 'Lovely photograph of all my Emmerdale favourites. X' Fiona Wade who has been playing Priya Sharma on the soap since 2011 wrote: 'Aww love this pic you beautiful gang! So sorry to miss this! Happy 25th celebrations lovely Mark! xxx' Performance: The character has gone on to become a core member of the soap When Mark first joined Emmerdale he arrived in the village to stay with his uncle Zak. The character has gone on to become a core member of the soap, mixing comedy with serious performances. In 2004, he won the award for Best Male Dramatic Performance at The British Soap Awards. The actor also appeared for two episodes in Coronation Street before joining Emmerdale. Millionaire property developer Nabil Gazal Jnr married his fashion publicist fiancee Tahlija Wall in a lavish Sydney ceremony this weekend. On Monday, Real Housewives of Sydney star Nicole O'Neil shared intimate photos from the nuptials, depicting the pair posing for loved-up images with their baby daughter Navy Rita Gazal. Tahlija looked stunning in a satin ivory ballgown, featuring off-shoulder detailing and a racy thigh-split. Wedding: Millionaire property developer Nabil Gazal Jnr married his fashion publicist fiancee Tahlija Wall in a lavish Sydney ceremony this weekend. Pictured with their daughter Navy She tied her long brunette locks into a voluminous ponytail and completed her look with stud earrings and strappy white stilettos. Nabil also cut a sleek figure in a black suit and bow tie along with patent leather dress shoes. Other images showed Nabil beaming for the camera with his baby daughter in his arms. Sweet moment: The new couple shared a kiss in the church after saying 'I do' Chic: Nabil cut a sleek figure in a black suit and bow tie as he posed with his daughter Happy days! Nabil and Tahlija tied the knot at St Lazareth Serbian Orthodox Church on Sunday, before partying the night away at an extravagant reception at the Crown Ballroom Guests at the wedding, including Nicole O'Neil and her family, were seen in further photographs. Nabil and Tahlija tied the knot at St Lazareth Serbian Orthodox Church on Sunday, before partying the night away at an extravagant reception at the Crown Ballroom. The couple, who have been in a relationship since 2019, were surrounded by family and friends at the opulent soiree, which would likely have set them back over $200,000. Wedding day: Guests at the wedding, including Nicole O'Neil (right) and her family, were seen in further photographs Family affair: Nicole and her husband Adam are pictured Blushing bride: Tahlija looked stunning in a satin ivory ballgown, featuring off-shoulder detailing and a racy thigh-split Footage uploaded to Instagram by a guest shows the newlywed pair making a grand entrance into the ballroom, which was festooned with large chandeliers and flowers. Pyrotechnic sparklers and smoke machines exploded as the couple entered the room, while a group of traditional drummers serenaded them on the dance floor. Last year, it was revealed that Nabil and Tahlija had welcomed their first child - a baby girl named Navy Rita Gazal. Happily ever after! The couple arrived at their reception in style Expensive! Footage uploaded to Instagram by a guest shows the newlywed pair making a grand entrance into the ballroom, which was festooned with large chandeliers and flowers Razzle dazzle: Located at the front of the room was a huge tower of champagne glasses and a white wedding cake. A group of traditional drummers serenaded them on the dance floor Husband and wife: The pair are seen leaving St Lazareth Serbian Orthodox Church At the time, the Sydney Morning Herald's Emerald City claimed that the pair were 'delightfully surprised' when they discovered Tahlija was pregnant. In May 2019, the publication revealed the notoriously private founder of Gazcorp, one of the countrys major real estate investment companies, was in the early stages of dating Tahlija. The couple's happy nuptials comes five years after Nabil was embroiled in a highly publicised affair with Sydney PR professional and Sweaty Betty founder Roxy Jacenko. Roxy's husband Oliver Curtis had been convicted of insider trading and sentenced to two years in prison in 2016. Case of the ex: The couple's happy nuptials comes five years after Nabil was embroiled in a highly publicised affair with Sydney's Sweaty Betty founder Roxy (pictured) Past: Roxy's husband Oliver (right) had been convicted of insider trading and sentenced to two years in prison in 2016. He served the majority of his sentence at Cooma Correctional Centre before being released after 12 months on a good behaviour bond He served the majority of his sentence at Cooma Correctional Centre before being released after 12 months on a good behaviour bond. During Oliver's year behind bars, Roxy had a romantic relationship with Nabil, who she had previously dated until 2010. Their relationship was exposed after Daily Mail Australia published images of them passionately kissing at Nabil's Sydney apartment in late April 2017. Reigniting the flame: During Oliver's year behind bars, Roxy had a romantic relationship with Nabil (pictured in 2014), who she had previously dated until 2010 Kisses: Their relationship was exposed after Daily Mail Australia published images of them passionately kissing at Nabil's Sydney apartment in late April 2017 At the time, Oliver was due for release in just eight weeks. The disgraced former investment banker learned about his wife's infidelity while still in prison. Sources later claimed that he decided to forgive Roxy for her indiscretion if she forgave him for the past criminal behaviour that let to his conviction. The couple - who share two children, ten-year-old daughter Pixie and son Hunter, seven- reconciled shortly after Oliver's release. James McAvoy has been seen for the first time since revealing that he secretly married his American partner Lisa Liberati. The Scottish actor, 42, was rumoured to have wed the personal assistant, 42, in 2019 just a year after meeting - but refused to address the speculation at the time - confirming the news quietly in an interview last week. The X-Men star kept things casual in his first outing since the news broke, bundling up as he grabbed a coffee in north London on Sunday. Out and about: James McAvoy cut a low-key figure as he was seen in London on Sunday, the first time since revealing he secretly married American partner Lisa Liberati James layered up in the chilly weather by pairing a mustard plaid fleece with a grey jumper and jeans. He went incognito on the outing by pairing a grey flat cap with a black face mask. James was not joined by his wife Lisa on the trip, after quietly confirming the news that they are husband and wife last week after years of speculation. Cute couple: Last week James revealed he secretly married Lisa and proudly called himself an 'honorary Philadelphian' (pictured in November 2021) James was reflecting on his identity with the Guardian newspaper, and the publication noted of him and Lisa: 'They began a relationship a couple of years later and, he confirms, recently got married.' As Lisa hails from Philadelphia, James was asked if he is now an honorary Philadelphian and told the newspaper: 'Yeah, it's like a second home for me.' James offered no further details on their nuptials. The couple began dating in 2018 after they met on the set of Split in America. Incognito: The X-Men star kept things casual in his first outing since the news broke, bundling up as he grabbed a coffee in north London Low-key: James layered up in the chilly weather by pairing a mustard plaid fleece with a grey jumper and jeans. He went incognito by pairing a grey flat cap with a black face mask James had a leading role in the film while Lisa was a production assistant for the director M. Night Shyamalan. The leading man had been married at the time to actress Anne-Marie Duff but was in the process of separating from her after 11 years of marriage. The exes share 11-year-old son Brendan. Just two months after the divorce was finalised, the new couple posted a number of pictures of themselves on Instagram together at a fancy dress party to announce their relationship. How long has it been? James, 42, was rumoured to have wed the personal assistant, 42, in 2019 just a year after meeting - but refused to address the speculation until last week In 2019 they were rumoured to have wed when Director Jamie Lloyd, who is a close friend of the Glasgow-born actor, was overheard referring to Lisa as James's 'wife' and said they married 'recently'. In July 2020 the couple moved into a sprawling house in London after spending lockdown at his modest city apartment, which he took over after moving out of the 1.9 million four bed home he shared with Anne-Marie. During their time in isolation, James boasted of Lisas cake and donut making prowess on his Instagram account as well as some of her Jamie Oliver styled dishes. He later revealed that the couple had all their belongings packed up in their spare room and were eventually managed to move to a bigger house once lockdown was over. He said: 'We are in London and its all good. Weve just moved into a nice, slightly bigger house but we were in a tiny flat before. 'Round about April we built a makeshift studio in my spare bedroom. Our only spare bedroom which was full of moving stuff was rammed and just full of this James made recording studio.' He welcomed his first child in January. And on Monday morning's instalment of GMB, Sid Owen, 50, admitted that he cried for days after daughter Skye was born and 'couldn't stop looking at her,' while also insisting he doesn't regret not having children younger. The EastEnders star's fiancee Victoria Shores, 42, also revealed that she had two litres of blood transfused during the traumatic labour, when their baby came four weeks early. Emotional: On Monday morning's instalment of GMB, Sid Owen, 50, admitted that he cried for days after daughter Skye was born and 'couldn't stop looking at her' The couple joined hosts Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley with baby Skye, who Susanna noted was the 'best behaved baby we've ever had on the show'. Sid - who played Ricky Butcher for 24 years on the soap - held baby Skye as he gushed about being a first-time father at the age of 50. He enthused: 'Amazing. I couldn't stop looking at her for three, four days, crying my eyes out! It is a miracle. 'I don't regret not having them younger, I got the partying days out of the way and now I can really appreciate it.' Two litres! The EastEnders star's fiancee Victoria Shores, 42, also revealed that she had two litres of blood transfused during the traumatic labour, when their baby came four weeks early Perfect timing! Held baby Skye as he gushed about being a first-time father at the age of 50, insisting: 'I don't regret not having them younger, I got the partying days out of the way' Victoria explained how she was admitted to hospital for an emergency C-section four weeks before her due date. Susanna congratulated her on the birth of Skye, and said: 'You went through a really tough time?' to which Victoria admitted: 'Yes, it was all a bit of a shock.' Richard added: 'It was touch and go, you almost weren't with us. You nearly bled to death,' and explained how it was caused by a condition called placenta previa. Victoria explained: 'It's blocking the womb, basically. I woke up and I thought there was a little bit of blood, and then I went to make the bed and pull it back, and it was covered, so it was a bit of a shock.' Shock! The waitress then explained that she had a blood transfusion of two litres, and admitted: 'Once I realised, it was all a bit of a shock' Sid added: 'It was the worst thing after all we'd been through and then this. I was trying to look on the bright side, googling straight away, 'could be the first signs of labour', so it freaked me out a bit. 'When she spoke to the emergency services they said, "No, it's not a good sign" so I'm freaking out but she's very cool - jumping in the shower, blow drying her hair. 'And I'm like, "How can you be so calm?" But it was a real tough few days and thank god we got through it. 'What kept you so calm - instinct?' asked Susanna, to which Victoria admitted: 'Initially I just thought it was a little bit of bleeding. I hadn't seen the bed. Doting dad: 'She's on the button, she feeds every few hours and she doesn't cry, she's actually a really good baby as well. But she seems strong' said Sid of Skye 'I was getting my other children ready for school and thought it may have been a show so I thought I'll have a shower, knowing how long it can take - I went back to the bed and saw how much blood there was' The waitress then explained that she had a blood transfusion of two litres, and admitted: 'Once I realised, it was all a bit of a shock.' Susanna asked: 'How is Skye doing?' with Sid replying: 'She's on the button, she feeds every few hours and she doesn't cry, she's actually a really good baby as well. But she seems strong.' Moving forward: Sid first announced his baby news back in September, claiming: 'I never ever dreamt I would have kids' The pair then spoke about their upcoming wedding and Sid revealed who he's going to have as his best man - Adele's ex, Simon Konecki. 'My best man?' he told Susanna and Richard. 'It's a toughie. I might have to have two or three. I've been friends [with Simon] for years. Since we were teenagers.' Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV and ITV Hub If you have been affected by the subject of this story please call the Miscarriage Association Helpline on 01924 200799 He's gone from starring in a comic book movie Spider Man to a new role in Uncharted - based on a popular video game. And Tom Holland embraced the geek chic vibe as he attended a photocall for new movie Uncharted on Monday. Hitting the red carpet in Barcelona, where filming of the feature concluded, the 25-year-old actor cut a spruce figure in his glasses and a tie dye jumper. Looking good Tom Holland nailed geek chic as he dons glasses and a tie dye sweater as she attends photocall for video game film Uncharted in Barcelona The colourful garment was teamed with blue tailored trousers and dapper brown lace-up shoes from Italian fashion brand TODS. Eager fans gathered in the hope of catching a glimpse of the Spider-Man star, or better yet, taking a coveted photograph with him. Sharing a snippet from the red carpet antics with his Instagram followers, Tom wrote: 'My home away from home. Forca Barca #uncharted'. Feeling a vibe: He's gone from starring in a comic book movie Spider Man to a new role in Uncharted - based on a popular video game Looking good: Hitting the red carpet in Barcelona, where filming of the feature concluded, the 25-year-old actor looked stylish as he decided to don his glasses (pictured right in December) Red carpet appearance: The colourful garment was teamed with blue tailored trousers and dapper brown shoes Smiles: His commonly slicked-back coiffure was traded for a more tousled, curly style and he also sported circle-framed glasses Uncharted is based on the video game series of the same name. The feature will follow treasure hunter Nathan Drake (Tom) and his mentor, Victor Sullivan, (Mark Wahlberg) as they take on a group of mercenaries while looking for a fabled trove of goods. In addition to the stars, the feature's cast also includes the likes of performers such as Tati Gabrielle, Sophia Ali and Antonio Banderas. Starstruck: Eager fans gathered in the hope of catching a glimpse of the Spider-Man star, or better yet, taking a coveted photograph with him Plot: Uncharted is based on the video game series of the same name Schedule: The project endured a lengthy development stage, and much of its current cast and crew was brought together in 2020 Interview Filming took place that year and the crew endured various coronavirus-related concerns before shooting wrapped up that October The project endured a lengthy development stage, and much of its current cast and crew was brought together in 2020. Filming took place that year and the crew endured various coronavirus-related concerns before shooting wrapped up that October, although Tom returned for reshoots this past summer. Uncharted is currently set to make its wide debut in the United Kingdom on February 11th, and it will premiere in the United States on the 18th. Release: Uncharted is currently set to make its wide debut in the United Kingdom on February 11th, and it will premiere in the United States on the 18th (pictured with Mark Wahlberg) Charlotte Dawson insisted she's in the shape of her life on Monday as she showed off her slimmer physique in a new social media post after losing more than three stone in weight. The daughter of late comedy legend Les Dawson looked trim in a bold orange bikini while posing for a selfie ahead of her first overseas holiday since giving birth to son Noah in January. Captioning the post, Charlotte, 29, gave followers advance warning that even more bikini snaps will follow when she arrives in Dubai with Noah and fiance Matt Sarsfield. Looking good: Charlotte Dawson insisted she's in the shape of her life on Monday as she showed off her slimmer physique in a new social media post She wrote: 'Feeling in the best shape everrrr so watch out for more bikini chuffin spam cos were goin on our oliiiidays. [sic] 'Did a bit more belleh blastin this week to get ready for my first hols as a mama engaged.' [sic] She added: 'Canny wait for sunshine & to get on that beach with my boyos!! Ive never needed a break so much in my life... we havent been away since 2k20 so its much needed.. Hot mama! Charlotte recently shared images from before and after in weight loss to Instagram, as she encouraged people to show off their bodies no matter what size they are Empowering: Captioning the images, Charlotte insisted women should not feel self-conscious about their bodies 'And to take Noah on his first ever abroad holiday.. going to be so special. Ive never been to Dubai before either so Im excited!!' Charlotte recently shared images from before and after shots that appeared to document her weight loss journey as she encouraged her followers to show off their bodies no matter what size they are. In before image, the reality star who shared two different swimwear looks, looked fantastic as she showcased her curves in a bikini with a strappy top and matching bottoms. Valentine's ready: The daughter of late comedy legend Lew Dawson showed off her bronzed body in a strapless bra and briefs as she posed for a Valentine's Day shoot A subsequent photo taken after her dramatic weight loss showed Charlotte wearing a cut-out swimsuit while confidently posing with her hand on her hip. Captioning the images, she wrote: 'Who says you have to cover up when you're bigger? And hide your body away when you're on holiday? 'I'm gonna be packing for a holiday soon and I'll be taking swimsuits and bikinis - just like I did when I was 3st heavier. Happy family: Charlotte will soon be jetting off to Dubai with fiance Matt Sarsfield and their baby son Noah 'As you know I never had a problem shaky shakin my chunkeh but funkeh belleh- even when it was a lot more chunkeh than it is now. [sic] 'Life's too short to care what other people think - nobody cares anyway. I only decided to get into shape cos of my health and doin it for my little cherub. 'So the time has got to be right for you if you want to do that and in the meantime don't put your life on hold waiting to look right for someone else. 'If you so feel you want to make changes then go for it my darlins and I will definitely be here for you.' Sid Owen has revealed Adele's ex-husband Simon Konecki will be his best man when he and his fiancee Victoria Shores tie the knot at their upcoming wedding. Sid shared the news on Monday's GMB, where he and Victoria, 50 and 42 respectively, spoke about the birth of their daughter Skye last month. The EastEnders star explained that he and charity CEO Simon, 47, 'have been friends since they were teenagers'. Best man: Sid Owen has revealed Adele's ex-husband Simon Konecki will be his best man when he and his fiancee Victoria Shores tie the knot at their upcoming wedding Speaking to GMB hosts Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley, Sid said: 'My best man?' It's a toughie.' He added: 'I might have to have two or three. I've been friends [with Simon] for years.' Sid then confirmed: 'Since we were teenagers.' The actor - renowned for playing Ricky Butcher in EastEnders - was the best man at Simon and Adele's 2018 wedding and recently revealed the megastar will be invited to his ceremony, despite no longer being with pal Simon. Sid shared: 'My best man?' It's a toughie. I might have to have two or three. I've been friends [with Simon] for years' (Simon and Adele pictured in 2013) He told The Sun last month: 'Well she's not with my best friend Simon any more but, of course, out of respect she will be invited. 'They are actually still really good friends, they still get on well, so if she can make it then definitely.' The pair met around 2004, shortly after Simon married Clary Fisher, a fashion stylist from Swindon. The young couple first set up home in east London, before moving to Flask Walk, one of Hampstead's most coveted addresses. It was there Simon made friends with Sid. Close friends: The actor - renowned for playing Ricky Butcher in EastEnders - was the best man at Simon and Adele's 2018 wedding (pictured together in 2019) The actor appeared on Monday's GMB to introduce viewers to little Skye, who he cradled throughout the interview. Sid admitted that he cried for days after she was born and 'couldn't stop looking at her,' while also insisting he doesn't regret not having children younger. Victoria also revealed that she had two litres of blood transfused during the traumatic labour, when their baby came four weeks early. Sid enthused: 'Amazing. I couldn't stop looking at her for three, four days, crying my eyes out! It is a miracle. New dad: The actor appeared on Monday's GMB to introduce viewers to little Skye, who he cradled throughout the interview 'I don't regret not having them younger, I got the partying days out of the way and now I can really appreciate it.' Victoria explained how she was admitted to hospital for an emergency C-section four weeks before her due date. Susanna congratulated her on the birth of Skye, and said: 'You went through a really tough time?' to which Victoria admitted: 'Yes, it was all a bit of a shock.' Richard added: 'It was touch and go, you almost weren't with us. You nearly bled to death,' and explained how it was caused by a condition called placenta previa. Victoria explained: 'It's blocking the womb, basically. I woke up and I thought there was a little bit of blood, and then I went to make the bed and pull it back, and it was covered, so it was a bit of a shock.' Sid added: 'It was the worst thing after all we'd been through and then this. I was trying to look on the bright side, googling straight away, ''could be the first signs of labour'', so it freaked me out a bit. 'When she spoke to the emergency services they said, 'No, it's not a good sign' so I'm freaking out but she's very cool - jumping in the shower, blow drying her hair. 'And I'm like, ''How can you be so calm?'' But it was a real tough few days and thank god we got through it. 'What kept you so calm - instinct?' asked Susanna, to which Victoria admitted: 'Initially I just thought it was a little bit of bleeding. I hadn't seen the bed. Scary: Victoria also revealed that she had two litres of blood transfused during the traumatic labour, when their baby came four weeks early 'I was getting my other children ready for school and thought it may have been a show so I thought I'll have a shower, knowing how long it can take - I went back to the bed and saw how much blood there was' The waitress then explained that she had a blood transfusion of two litres, and admitted: 'Once I realised, it was all a bit of a shock.' Susanna asked: 'How is Skye doing?' with Sid replying: 'She's on the button, she feeds every few hours and she doesn't cry, she's actually a really good baby as well. But she seems strong.' If you have been affected by the subject of this story please call the Miscarriage Association Helpline on 01924 200799 She's reportedly panning a part-time move to Dubai to make her romance work with new boyfriend Lorri Haines. And Ferne McCann gushed over her new man as she shared a slew of sweet snaps featuring her man on Monday during his trip to Essex. Ferne, 31, and Lorri - who lives in Dubai working as an estate agent - went public with their hot new romance last week during her recent holiday to the UAE. 'Super blessed': Ferne McCann shared cosy snaps with new boyfriend Lorri Haines on Monday as it claimed she plans part-time move to Dubai to make their romance work Alongside a gallery of snaps - which also featured various friends and family - Ferne penned: 'Your Monday morning thoughts set the tone for your whole week. 'Last week was a busy one! But I truly believe that by surrounding yourself with positive people who push you to do and be better makes life fuller and richer! 'Super blessed to have some amazing humans in my life right now! 'Kiss goodbye to the energy vampires in your life who do nothing but drain you and stay close to those who make your light shine brighter !!!' Lorri also took to his Instagram to share a cute snap of the pair together that he captioned with a love heart. Reunited: Ferne gushed over her new man as she shared a slew of sweet snaps featuring her man during his trip to Essex Smitten: Lorri also took to his Instagram to share a cute snap of the pair together that he captioned with a love heart Ferne is reportedly 'head over heels' with the hunk and hopes they can both fly back and forth between the two countries to see each other. A source told The Sun: 'Lorri and Ferne have fallen head over heels and will do what it takes to make things work. 'It's a bit tricky for Ferne to travel all the time because of Sunday but she has already squeezed in one trip this year. 'Lorri is currently in the UK and they are have both agreed to go back and forth as much as possible.' Gorgeous: Alongside a gallery of snaps - which also featured various friends and family - Ferne penned, 'Your Monday morning thoughts set the tone for your whole week' Ferne penned: 'Kiss goodbye to the energy vampires in your life who do nothing but drain you and stay close to those who make your light shine brighter !!!' Ferne is no stranger to a long-distance romance, have previously dated Albie Gibbs while he resided in New York, with the pair calling time on their romance after the Covid lockdown made it impossible to see each. She later said: 'How can I see a future with someone when I can't physically be with them for the foreseeable future? I was naive to think the long distance thing would be OK. We have broken up and it is proper s**t. 'It sucks to say that I think he was the right guy, and I want to stress this, the right guy at the wrong time.' Terrific trio: Ferne's former TOWIE co-star James Argent also made it into the gallery as they completed a work out with pal Stephen Addison Adorable: Ferne also posted a snap of daughter Sunday, four, who she shares with jailed acid attacker ex Arthur Collins Ferne and Lorri went public with their romance on Instagram last Saturday. Posting a sweet picture together as a joint upload, Lorri posed for a selfie as Ferne planted a kiss on his cheek. In the caption, they cutely wrote: 'When you know, you know' Ferne has famously had a rocky love life, most recently splitting from DJ Jake Padgett last year after they spent the second lockdown together. Up she goes: Ferne's mother Gilly made the cut in a hilarious photograph being lifted up by men wearing costumes as Batman and Spider Man Delightful duo: Ferne also snapped a selfie alongside her lookalike mother After the split Ferne revealed she still wanted to find her happily ever after and is 'such a sucker for love'. Ferne told The Sun: 'I am such a sucker for love - I love love so much, and of course I want to find my happy ever after.' Ferne and Jack moved in together amid the winter lockdown shortly after they began dating, and admitted that taking the next step in their relationship was its downfall. 'But in the end, it also accelerated our breakup, because coming out of lockdown and the world opening back up meant suddenly our lives were very different and we were like passing ships,' she explained. Ab fab: Ferne showed off her incredible figure in a gym selfie alongside her friend and personal trainer Ellie Hopley Fantastic four: Ferne also wowed in a plunging white dress as she enjoyed a night out with her friends Sarrah Hamid, Ellis Ranson and Carl Cunard Before that she was in a relationship with jailed acid attacker Arthur Collins, whom she shares her daughter Sunday, four, with. She was pregnant with her daughter Sunday when then boyfriend Arthur threw corrosive acid over a crowd on the dance floor at Mangle E8 in Dalston in April 2017, within weeks of their pregnancy announcement. Before Arthur, Ferne was in an on-off relationship with fellow TOWIE star Charlie Sims and their tumultuous love story was captured for viewers of the reality show. Vax Daddy and a top disease doc are joining an effort to bring Manhattan back from the ravages of the coronavirus pandemic. Huge Ma, who earned the Daddy moniker for creating a website that helped New Yorkers find vaccination appointments, and Dr. Jay Varma, who served as a senior adviser to former Mayor Bill de Blasio, are volunteering for Manhattan Borough President Mark Levines new COVID recovery task force. Advertisement We need to prepare and assume that the virus will continue to potentially throw curveballs at us. Or if it isnt this virus, there may be another one in the future, Varma told the Daily News on Sunday. Whatever investments we make in preparedness will yield dividends in the future. After an alarming spike in COVID cases across the country, recent weeks have seen a steady decline. The task force, consisting of eight health and community leaders plus a COVID czar, will come up with plans and recommendations for protecting New Yorkers well-being and boosting the economy. Advertisement Bringing about the comeback for Manhattan after this horrible pandemic is our No. 1 focus in the office, Levine told The News. We want some of the smartest people to help identify the path forward for Manhattan and assess how city government is doing. Varma cited building ventilation as one area he expects to focus on. We should be thinking about what the measures might be, he said. Those could be anywhere from better technical guidance about how to improve ventilation in indoor facilities or debating what the value is of certain regulations. The task force will also address vaccination, Levine said, noting kids from 5 to 11 years old have gotten jabbed at a lower rate than any other age group. He said hed look to task force member Dr. Juan Tapia-Mendoza, a pediatrician and leader at SOMOS Community Care, to scrutinize the issue. Levine previously said the city should have a website for New Yorkers to self-report COVID test results. Huge Ma,(L) known as Vax Daddy for his role creating a website helping New Yorkers find COVID appointments, is joining Manhattan Borough President Mark Levines COVID Recovery Task Force. So is Dr. Jay Varma(R), who was a key health advisor to former Mayor Bill de Blasio. (New York Daily News) We want to start thinking now about how the systems can be ready so we can just flip the switch when were in the midst of a future wave of COVID or another pandemic, Levine said. Ma recently suspended a short-lived state Assembly campaign, blaming controversial redrawn district lines for his decision. We shouldnt have to rely on volunteer technologists to help people gain access to vaccines or testing, Ma said in a statement. Government can and should provide common-sense solutions for its residents. Advertisement Other members of the task force include Andrew Rigie, head of the New York City Hospitality Alliance, and Ebone Carrington, former CEO of Harlem Hospital. The group will meet once or twice a month and get support from the borough presidents staff, Levine said. Varma became known to New Yorkers during the roughly 18 months he advised de Blasio on key aspects of the pandemic, frequently joining him at news conferences. Varma designed the citys COVID testing and tracing programs and played a leading role in vaccination campaigns and mandates. He recently became director of Weill Cornell Medicines new Center for Pandemic Prevention and Response. Asked what he learned during the pandemic, Varma said, The single most important issue is really trying to elevate public health to the level of other public safety agencies. Infectious diseases ... really should be considered equivalent to policing or fire or counterterrorism any of the other areas that we elevate because we can see how disruptive they are to society, he added. The other members of the task force are health equity advocate Dr. Tsion Firew, Melva Miller, CEO of the Association for a Better New York, and education advocate Saskia Traill. Sid Owen and his fiancee Victoria Shores locked lips when they enjoyed their first stroll as a family in a London park on Monday with their daughter Skye. Hours earlier, the loved-up couple appeared with their two-week-old daughter on Good Morning Britain, where they spoke candidly to hosts Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley about everything from childbirth to their upcoming wedding. Stepping out in the capital post-filming, Sid, 50, beamed while enjoying some fresh air with his daughter and wife-to-be, 42. Skye was delivered by C-section four weeks early, so no doubt has been looked after at home until today. Loved-up: Sid Owen and his fiancee Victoria Shores locked lips when they enjoyed a stroll in a London park on Monday with their daughter Skye Enjoying a stroll: Stepping out in the capital post-filming, Sid, 50, beamed while enjoying some fresh air with his daughter and wife-to-be, 42 The EastEnders star bundled up beneath a hooded navy coat and kept the winter sunshine at bay behind black sunglasses. Former waitress Victoria cut a stylish figure in a black padded coat and slim-fit trousers. She also donned sunglasses and put on an affectionate display with her fiance as they strolled behind Skye's pram. On the show, Sid revealed Adele's ex-husband Simon Konecki will be his best man. Cosy: The EastEnders star bundled up beneath a hooded navy coat and kept the winter sunshine at bay behind black sunglasses Stylish: Victoria cut a stylish figure in a black padded coat and slim-fit trousers and beamed as she chatted away to her partner Winter attire: She also donned sunglasses and put on an affectionate display with her fiance as they loaded Skye into her pram The EastEnders star explained that he and charity CEO Simon, 47, 'have been friends since they were teenagers'. Speaking to hosts Susanna and Richard, Sid said: 'My best man?' It's a toughie.' He added: 'I might have to have two or three. I've been friends [with Simon] for years.' High spirits: The loved-up couple was in high spirits as both grinned as they strolled in the sunshine Doting parents: Ever the doting parents, Sid and Victoria could not stop smiling as they looked down at their little girl Easy does it: Sid carefully lifted his weeks' old daughter out of the car and towards the pram Sid then confirmed: 'Since we were teenagers.' The actor - renowned for playing Ricky Butcher in EastEnders - was the best man at Simon and Adele's 2018 wedding and recently revealed the megastar will be invited to his ceremony, despite no longer being with pal Simon. Sid and Simon met around 2004, shortly after Simon married Clary Fisher, a fashion stylist from Swindon. Trendy: The EastEnders star cut a trendy figure and teamed ripped blue jeans with box-fresh trainers Bundle up: Little Skye's parents made sure she was suitably bundled up and dressed her in a sweet pink coat Proud: Proud dad Sid was sporting an enormous smile as he tended to his first born The young couple first set up home in east London, before moving to Flask Walk, one of Hampstead's most coveted addresses. It was there Simon made friends with Sid. Elsewhere, Sid admitted that he cried for days after she was born and 'couldn't stop looking at her,' while also insisting he doesn't regret not having children younger. Best man: Sid revealed Adele's ex-husband Simon Konecki will be his best man Sid shared: 'My best man?' It's a toughie. I might have to have two or three. I've been friends [with Simon] for years' (Simon and Adele pictured in 2013) Victoria also revealed that she had two litres of blood transfused during the traumatic labour, when their baby came four weeks early. Sid enthused: 'Amazing. I couldn't stop looking at her for three, four days, crying my eyes out! It is a miracle. 'I don't regret not having them younger, I got the partying days out of the way and now I can really appreciate it.' Victoria explained how she was admitted to hospital for an emergency C-section four weeks before her due date. New dad: The actor appeared on Monday's GMB to introduce viewers to little Skye, who he cradled throughout the interview Susanna congratulated her on the birth of Skye, and said: 'You went through a really tough time?' to which Victoria admitted: 'Yes, it was all a bit of a shock.' Richard added: 'It was touch and go, you almost weren't with us. You nearly bled to death,' and explained how it was caused by a condition called placenta previa. Victoria explained: 'It's blocking the womb, basically. I woke up and I thought there was a little bit of blood, and then I went to make the bed and pull it back, and it was covered, so it was a bit of a shock.' Sid added: 'It was the worst thing after all we'd been through and then this. I was trying to look on the bright side, googling straight away, ''could be the first signs of labour'', so it freaked me out a bit. 'When she spoke to the emergency services they said, ''No, it's not a good sign'' so I'm freaking out but she's very cool - jumping in the shower, blow drying her hair. 'And I'm like, ''How can you be so calm?'' But it was a real tough few days and thank god we got through it. 'What kept you so calm - instinct?' asked Susanna, to which Victoria admitted: 'Initially I just thought it was a little bit of bleeding. I hadn't seen the bed. 'I was getting my other children ready for school and thought it may have been a show so I thought I'll have a shower, knowing how long it can take - I went back to the bed and saw how much blood there was' The waitress then explained that she had a blood transfusion of two litres, and admitted: 'Once I realised, it was all a bit of a shock.' Susanna asked: 'How is Skye doing?' with Sid replying: 'She's on the button, she feeds every few hours and she doesn't cry, she's actually a really good baby as well. But she seems strong.' Duncan Bannatyne's wild birthday celebration took an unexpectedly sour turn on Wednesday after fans accused the Dragon's Den star of cultural appropriation. The millionaire businessman has been living it up with wife Nigora, 41, at their new home in Florida since celebrating his 73rd birthday on February 2. But he faced the wrath of unimpressed followers after making the poorly judged decision to wear a native American headdress while posing for an Instagram snap alongside his glamorous younger wife. A step too far: Duncan Bannatyne's wild birthday celebration took an unexpectedly sour after the Dragon's Den star wore a native American headdress on social media, prompting accusations of cultural appropriation Taken during a visit to Miami's upmarket 1 Hotel South Beach, the photo finds Bannatyne grinning beneath a jauntily worn feathered War Bonnet, while Nigora - who sits alongside her husband - reveals a decorative design on her forehead. Commenting on the post, one concerned follower warned: 'Uh Ho. Therell be lots of negative comments with you wearing that headdress..' While a second snapped: 'Are you allowed to wear Native American headdresses unless youre a native American! You will offend someone!' Not happy: He faced the wrath of unimpressed followers after making the poorly judged decision to wear a native American headdress while posing alongside wife Nigora What is the native American War Bonnet ? Viewed as an item of great spiritual and political importance, the War Bonnet is traditionally worn by male leaders in the Native American and First Nations communities. Male leaders of the American Plains Indians Nations wear them after earning a place of great respect within their tribe. Originally they were worn into battle, but are now primarily seen during ceremonial occasions. Because of their cultural and historical relevance, they should only be worn by those who have earned the right to do so. Advertisement Happy birthday to you: Other followers congratulated Bannatyne as he celebrated his birthday Viewed as an item of great spiritual and political importance within the native American community, the War Bonnet is traditionally worn by male leaders of the Native American and First Nations communities. Male leaders of the American Plains Indians Nations wear them after earning a place of great respect within their tribe. Because of their historical relevance, they are only to be worn by those who have earned the right to do so through formal recognition by their peers. However the cultural tradition associated with the War Bonnet appeared to be lost on Bannatyne, who wore his version of the headdress at a jaunty angle while partying on America's east coast. What a surprise! The businessman received an unexpected surprise from his wife at their swanky Florida home, with loved ones singing Happy Birthday in their decorated kitchen Having fun? The Dragons Den star showed off his cheeky dance moves after enjoying dinner at the swanky Greek eatery Kiki On The River Veteran: Nigora is his third marriage after previously tying the knot with Gail Brodie and Joanne McCue, in 1987 and 2006 respectively The businessman, who married Nigora in 2017, also received an unexpected surprise from his wife at their swanky Florida home, with loved ones singing Happy Birthday in their decorated kitchen. Bannatyne later showed off his cheeky dance moves after enjoying dinner at Greek restaurant Kiki On The River, named after its picturesque Miami River-front setting. Nigora is his third marriage after previously tying the knot with Gail Brodie and Joanne McCue, in 1987 and 2006 respectively. Close: The pair looked smitten as they let their hair down in Florida after relocating to America's east coast during the coronavirus pandemic Bannatyne has four children with Gail and two with Joanna. Uzbekistan-born Nigora is also a parent to daughter Gabrielle from a former relationship. The divorce from his second wife, Joanne McCue, was reported to have cost him a staggering 345 million. The Scottish businessman relocated to Miami with Nigora during the coronavirus pandemic. A 'heartbroken' Padma Lakshmi has announced the loss of her grandmother Rajima. Lakshmi, 51, paid tribute to her grandmother on Sunday with a slideshow of images and a lengthy message reflecting on the woman who was 'much more than a grandma.' In her Instagram post, Padma recalled being taught times tables by Rajima, getting her ears pierced by her, and her many professional accomplishments. 'She was my rock and my example': A 'heartbroken' Padma Lakshmi has announced the loss of her grandmother Rajima 'I am heartbroken. My dear paati is gone,' Padma posted on Instagram. 'Rajima lived life serving others. She raised us all. She was my rock and example. She was much more than a grandma, the only one I knew. She helped raise me, my whole childhood whenever my mom needed a break. 'I wouldn't have the career I have without her guidance. But more importantly, I would never be who I am without her love & care. She didn't just teach me about food, but about life, often through food. She was practical, humble, disciplined. She taught me to work hard and never, ever feel sorry for myself. 'She oiled my tangled, lice ridden hair, pierced my ears by hand with a sharp reed, taught me times tables, how to temper spices, and that everything and everyone has their boiling point. She patted me to sleep, woke me in the morning, soothed me when I got thrashed by Tha-Tha. 'She coaxed my breast milk back with her kitchen remedies when I called in a panic from NY. She also knew when to shut down my navel gazing. "Aiyoo, poorum" she'd say now, rolling her eyes. 'I am heartbroken': Lakshmi paid tribute to her grandmother with a slew of images on Sunday Integral: The Top Chef host described Rajima as 'much more than a grandma' Family reunion: Lakshmi included images of her grandmother with her daughter Krishna 'Rajilakshmi Krishnamurti started the first Montessori school in Tanjavur and was a teacher for 20 years in DTEA and MEA, Delhi. She worked at Asian hospital in Madras, went to slums in a mobile vax unit treating thousands of kids. Finally she helped set up at an orphanage in Besant Nagar, all while raising 4 kids, 6 grandkids, nieces, and younger siblings, too. For decades she cooked daily meals and tiffin for 8-10 on a 2-burner stove in govt housing.' Padma also revealed she had traveled to India to be with her grandmother before her passing, where she thanked her 'for a lifetime of teaching.' 'You may recognize her from my cookbook cover, or in drawings from Tomatoes for Neela. These last 2 years so many have had such deep loss. I'm thankful for the privilege so many have not had. To say goodbye. Thanks to all those who helped me slip in and out of India against all odds before she passed. Throwback: Images Padma posted included several black-and-white shots of her grandmother as a young woman Accomplished: 'She worked at Asian hospital in Madras, went to slums in a mobile vax unit treating thousands of kids,' Lakshmi said of her grandmother Aww: The superstar and her daughter both kissed Rajima on the cheek 'She oiled my tangled, lice ridden hair, pierced my ears by hand with a sharp reed, taught me times tables, how to temper spices,' Lakshmi said 'I've had a crazy, exhausting, devastating week. I'm grateful she waited. Just like she always did on our veranda when I arrived back from the US. I met her knowing eyes, held her hands, rubbed her feet. I thanked her for a lifetime of teaching. Her gift. I was able to bear witness as she'd always done. She left us hours later. Elegant and patient with me to the last minute. I love you Jima, na poittu varren.' Images included black-and-white photos of her grandmother as a young woman, and more recent family snapshots with her daughter Krishna. In a 2018 interview with Glamour, Padma reflected on her grandmother's definition of happiness. 'I used to ask my grandmother, who is a huge mentor to me, about happiness. And she would always say that happiness to her was not a noun, but a verb. And that if she felt like she got everything done that she needed to do, then she went to bed happy. 'That she was content that she went to sleep more accomplished than she got up that day. I think my definition of happiness definitely aligns with that.' Memories: Lakshmi included a slew of family snap shots in her post Rajima supervised as Krishna learned how to make a dish Three generations: Padma enjoyed some quality time with her daughter and grandmother He's known to champion body positivity and mental well-being. And Dr Alex George, 30, once again opened up about how hes dealing with trolls on Monday's episode of Lorraine. Dr Alex, who is the governments first UK Youth Mental Health Ambassador, addressed his 'fat shaming' critics and said he would not stop talking about his mental health. Body positivity: Dr Alex George, 30, once again opened up about how hes dealing with trolls on Monday's episode of Lorraine 'Sadly, its not even just me, its people being shamed for how they look and a lot of people have said to me they feel uncomfortable going to the gym because people might judge them - movement is for everyone,' he told host Lorraine Kelly, 62. 'Its about how you feel - your health, your happiness, its not about having a six pack. 'I dont care that I don't have a six pack quite frankly and I dont think other young people should either.' Ambassador: Dr Alex, who is the governments first UK Youth Mental Health Ambassador, addressed his 'fat shaming' critics and said he would not stop talking about his mental health 'I am not ashamed anymore': Dr Alex defied 'fat shaming' critics and hit the gym with a celebratory shirtless snap Commenting on the suggestion that he shouldnt be practising medicine due to past mental health issues, Dr Alex said: 'Its not the first time Ive had it to be honest. "If youve got mental health issues, should you be looking after. Shouldnt the medical council stop you".' He continued: 'If you have an understanding of what it's like to suffer or need help, I think you can relate to that person. 'Most of the time its about what you cant see and that is why having an understanding and true empathy I think is so important. 'Ive got no shame, and if people want to say that about me then fine. But Im not going to stop and I dont think Im a worse doctor for it.' Back then: The former Love Island star declared that he was 'not ashamed anymore' after feeling embarrassed to exercise due to losing the six-pack he showcased on the show (in 2018) It comes after Dr Alex defied his 'fat shaming' critics as he hit the gym and shared a celebratory shirtless snap. The former Love Island star declared that he was 'not ashamed anymore' after feeling embarrassed to exercise due to losing the six-pack he displayed on the ITV2 show. Posing in the mirror for a shirtless selfie he draped his shirt over his shoulder and smiled in the gym changing rooms. The black turtleneck, the red lipstick, the baritone voice - Amanda Seyfried has Elizabeth Holmes' number in the first trailer for The Dropout, released Monday. Seyfried, 36, stars in the Hulu limited series alongside William H. Macy, Laurie Metcalf, Elizabeth Marvel, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Kate Burton, Stephen Fry, Michel Gill, Michael Ironside, Bill Irwin and Josh Pais, as the disgraced founder and CEO of Theranos. The Dropout follows the ripped-from-the-headlines true crime tale of Elizabeth Holmes, who was once billed as Silicon Valley's next Steve Jobs, her rise to self-made billionaire status and her dramatic fall from grace for defrauding investors. Spitting image: The black turtleneck, the red lipstick, the baritone voice - Amanda Seyfried has Elizabeth Holmes' number in the first trailer for The Dropout, released Monday 'The world works in certain ways until a new great idea comes along and changes everything,' Seyfried says in Holmes' much-discussed affected voice. The trailer introduces audiences to Elizabeth Holmes and the birth of the idea for a single-drop at-home blood testing device that would go on to be the basis of her medical tech company, Theranos. Blonde and brilliant Elizabeth appears as a wide-eyed Stanford undergrad who eschews higher education to try her luck in Silicon Valley at the age of 19. Her transformation from college dropout to billionaire entrepreneur is viewed in warp speed through out the clip. True story: The Dropout follows the ripped-from-the-headlines true crime tale of Elizabeth Holmes, who was once billed as Silicon Valley's next Steve Jobs, her rise to self-made billionaire status and her dramatic fall from grace for defrauding investors 'The world works in certain ways until a new great idea comes along and changes everything,' Seyfried says in Holmes' much-discussed affected voice Rise: The trailer introduces audiences to Elizabeth Holmes and the birth of the idea for a single-drop at-home blood testing device that would go on to be the basis of her medical tech company, Theranos 'This machine is going to change the world,' a confident sounding Holmes says at one point in the clip. Holmes sought to develop a proprietary blood testing device that would revolutionize healthcare by being able to perform a wide variety of tests with a single drop of blood. She raised hundreds of millions of dollars from investors for the company, Theranos, without ever actually delivering a working prototype of the testing unit. Questions about the efficacy of the device and Holmes' knowledge and expertise are raised (and quickly quashed) in the video. Before: Blonde and brilliant Elizabeth appears as a wide-eyed Stanford undergrad who eschews higher education to try her luck in Silicon Valley at the age of 19 'This machine is going to change the world,' a confident sounding Holmes says at one point in the clip Could have been big: Holmes sought to develop a proprietary blood testing device that would revolutionize healthcare by being able to perform a wide variety of tests with a single drop of blood Fraud: She raised hundreds of millions of dollars from investors for the company, Theranos, without ever actually delivering a working prototype of the testing unit 'I don't understand how you're doing this extremely complex chemical engineering with a high school degree,' one detractor questions. Seyfried's on screen metamorphosis serves to illustrate the rise to power for the real life Elizabeth. Viewers see Holmes trading in flowy blonde waves for a French twist, casual attire for a uniform of a black turtleneck and, of course, a red lip. The fraudster's bizarre voice, which has been the subject of much discussion, is featured prominently in the trailer when Seyfried is actually practicing lowering her tone speaking into a mirror. Like Liz: Seyfried embodied the real life version of her character in Elizabeth's signature 'uniform' of a black turtleneck and blazer with French twist Bad blood: Holmes was accused of duping investors out of more than $900 million to fund her medical tech company based around technology that didn't exist Consequences: Last month she was convicted on four counts of wire fraud after a jury in San Jose found that she deceived investors about her faulty blood testing machines 'This is an inspiring step forward,' Elizabeth, looking frazzled, repeats in the mirror making her voice deeper each time. Seyfried stars opposite Naveen Andrews, who plays her ex-boyfriend and former business partner Sunny Balwani, who appears to egg her forward despite not having the technology to back her claims. Holmes was accused of duping investors out of more than $900 million to fund her medical tech company based around technology that didn't exist. Last month she was convicted on four counts of wire fraud after a jury in San Jose found that she deceived investors about her faulty blood testing machines. Bizarre: The fraudster's voice, which has been the subject of much discussion, is featured prominently in the trailer when Seyfried is actually practicing lowering her tone while speaking into a mirror Cast: Also starring in The Dropout are William H. Macy, Laurie Metcalf, Elizabeth Marvel, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Kate Burton, Stephen Fry, Michel Gill, Michael Ironside, Bill Irwin and Josh Pais 'This is an inspiring step forward,' Elizabeth, looking frazzled, repeats in the mirror making her voice deeper each time The former Theranos CEO is facing up to 20 years in jail - with each count of her sentence likely to be served concurrently. She is expected to appeal. Theranos raised just shy of a billion dollars from venture capitalist titans including Tim Draper, Donald Lucas and Dixon Doll; wealthy heirs to the founders of Amway, Walmart and Cox Communications; and heavyweights of tech and media such as Larry Ellison and Rupert Murdoch. If sent to jail, Holmes would be the most notable female executive to serve time since Martha Stewart did in 2004 after lying to investigators about a stock sale. A sentencing date has not yet been set. What is next: The former Theranos CEO is facing up to 20 years in jail - with each count of her sentence likely to be served concurrently Big time: Theranos raised just shy of a billion dollars from venture capitalist titans including Tim Draper, Donald Lucas and Dixon Doll; wealthy heirs to the founders of Amway, Walmart and Cox Communications; and heavyweights of tech and media such as Larry Ellison and Rupert Murdoch Her story: Holmes is said to have modeled her personal style, as well as her business style, after the late Steve Jobs Watch! The Dropout will premiere on Hulu on March 3 After seven days deliberating, the jury returned with four guilty verdicts and four acquittals. Holmes was facing nine counts of wire fraud and 12 counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Her trial was postponed several times, because of the COVID-19 pandemic and Holmes's pregnancy. She gave birth to a boy in July in Redwood City, California - her first child, with San Diego hotel heir Billy Evans, who often accompanied her to trial alongside her mother, Noel Holmes. The Dropout will premiere on Hulu on March 3. Playboy cover girl and Guess pinup model Anna Nicole Smith will be the subject of a new movie. The film is called Hurricanna and will cover the end of her life when her therapist (played by Holly Hunter) tried to save her life but then by accident helped spell her doom, according to Deadline. The buxom blonde pinup fell from grace before her death from drugs at age 39 in 2007. Real to reel: Playboy cover girl and Guess pinup model Anna Nicole Smith will be the subject of a new movie. The film is called Hurricanna and Betty Gilpin will play the bombshell There was talk that the 35-year-old Betty Gilpin would play Anna, but The Hollywood Reporter claimed she was not involved. The director is Francesca Gregorini from Killing Eve. She is the step daughter of Ringo Starr and her mother is actress Barbara Bach. The script is from Rachel Sarnoff and Matt Sarnoff. Crazy times: This new film Hurricanna will shot Smith at the end of her life when she was out of the limelight and taking drugs. Seen in 2004, three years before she died A sad loss: The movie will zero in on the 36 hours before she died in Florida. She was found dead at age 39 in the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino as a result of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs. Seen in 2007 This new film Hurricanna is set at the end of Anna's life when she was out of the limelight and taking drugs. Her therapist, Khristine Eroshevich, was trying to help her by prescribing prescription drugs but then only made things worse. The movie will zero in on the 36 hours before she died in Florida. She was found dead at age 39 in the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino as a result of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs. The camera loved her: Seen on the cover of Playboy in 1993 when she was Playmate Of The Year for the publication edited by Hugh Hefner Dejau vu: Her Guess ads looked very much like her Playboy shoots; seen in the 1990s According to Deadline, producers describe the project as exploring the 'immense hurricane-like force that was Anna Nicole Smith, and the fateful string of events that led Anna to destroy everything in her path, including herself and those closest to her.' Smith became famous as a nude model for Playboy then became a model for Guess. She also starred in movies such as Naked Gun 33 and Skyscraper. In 1994, she wed 89-year-old billionaire J. Howard Marshall. Many saw that as a move to gain his fortune. Out: There was talk that the 35-year-old Betty Gilpin would play Anna, but The Hollywood Reporter claimed she was not involved. Seen in June When he died in 1995, she fought to get money out of his estate. Gilpin is best known for her work on the series GLOW. She has also starred in The Tomorrow War, The Hunt and A Dogs Journey. Hunter is well known for The Piano, The Firm, Broadcast News, The Big Sick and Batman Vs Superman. She also starred in season two of Succession. They left their highly-popular series Keeping Up With The Kardashians after 20 seasons. And the famous family are hoping to shatter all expectations with their next foray into reality television. A bizarre new teaser for highly-anticipated series The Kardashians was released on Monday morning which saw members of the family as living works of art encased in glass. Interesting: A bizarre new teaser for highly-anticipated series The Kardashians was released on Monday morning which saw members of the family as living works of art encased in glass Coming soon: The clip which concluded with the big reveal that the series will finally premiere on April 14 Khloe Kardashian kicked off the promotional video as family members Kim, Kylie, Kourtney, Kris, and Kendall followed as the clip which concluded with the big reveal that the series will finally premiere on April 14 on Hulu in the US and Disney+ in the UK. Kendall, 26, moves her index finger onto the glass leaving it to begin shattering. Words were flashed across the screen which read: 'All the walls will be shattered.' Leader of the pack: Khloe Kardashian kicked off the promotional video Simply stunning: Kim was the only one laying out in her pose as she was surrounded by purple flowers Bumping along: Kylie Jenner looked VERY pregnant as she sat on pink flowers Simply stunningL Kourtney donned a white bodycon mini dress as her engagement with Travis Barker will surely be a massive part of the series Queen bee: Kris Jenner appropriately sat on a throne of flowers 'All the walls will be shattered': Kendall, 26, moves her index finger onto the glass leaving it to begin shattering It ends with glass falling to the floor as the entire group walks over it as the name of the show 'The Kardashians' is superimposed over them. The video was posted on the official Instagram for the show with the caption: 'shatter all expectations. #TheKardashians premieres april 14 on @hulu, and coming soon to Disney+ internationally and Star+ in Latin America.' This came just days after Kardashians dropped another short teaser for their forthcoming eponymous Hulu series on Friday. Highly-anticipated: This came just days after Kardashians dropped another short teaser for their forthcoming eponymous Hulu series on Friday It was the second ad the group has released, and at the time they remained mum on an official premiere date. The snippet opened on a white Rolls Royce pulling out of a garage, before intriguing words flashed across the screen. 'Glamour, power, fame' and 'family' were used to describe the upcoming first season of the new show, which follows 20 seasons of their original claim-to-fame series, E!'s Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Dynamic group: Kim Kardashian kicked off the promotional video as family members Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian, Kendall and Kylie Jenner, and mom Kris Jenner followed After a short montage of b-roll which included a dressing room and a closeup of designer shoe-clad feet taking steps, Kim entered the screen. The SKIMS billionaire looked typically polished and beautiful in a beige pantsuit that pulled in close at the waist. Her long dark locks were style in a center part with textured body. Matriarch Kris followed, stunning in an expertly tailor white pantsuit and her signature short haircut. The fashionista donned extra large hoop earrings and layered necklaces. Getting fans hyped: 'You have no idea what's coming,' Kendall teased The model of the crew, Kendall, was the cast member with the most lines in the spot. 'You have no idea what's coming,' she said as she enticed fans with the still very much under-wraps show. The 818 Tequila founder looked fabulous in a black, sleeveless, body-hugging top. The Alo partner wore her chocolate hued hair in a center part and let one side fall over her shoulder. Mysterious: It's the second teaser the group has released, and they remain mum on an official premiere date Newly engaged Kourtney was dressed in white, showing off her enviable curves in a long-sleeve dress with a corset bodice. Seen with her hair precisely cut into her new bob hairstyle, she blew the camera a kiss. Then black screen with the message 'The world will be watching' flashed across the screen. 'Are you ready?' Khloe asked, dressed in a modest turtleneck dress that hugged her newly slimmed down frame. Kim wrapped up the clip as she announced, 'The Kardashians on Hulu,' before the screen read 'Only on Hulu. Coming soon.' Sharp: Matriarch Kris stunned in an expertly tailor white pantsuit and her signature short haircut Although the exact content of the show hasn't been spelled out, there's plenty going on in all of the stars' lives from which to draw storylines. 2021 proved to be an eventful year for the family with Kim filing for divorce from Kanye West, Kylie revealing a second pregnancy, and Khloe weathering drama with ex Tristan Thompson. Furthermore, Kourtney became engaged to Travis Barker after the two spent the year sharing public displays of affection, and Kim made her SNL hosting debut. The end of the year was marked by a somber period, as Kylie's partner Travis Scott's Astroworld Festival was struck by tragedy when multiple people perished at the event. Roxy Horner wowed onlookers as she made a stylish arrival at the screening of Death On The Nile in London's Leicester Square on Monday. The model, 30, sent temperatures soaring while flashing her toned legs in a thigh-skimming black miniskirt which she teamed up with a coordinating sleeved crop top. Putting on toned midriff on display, she added inches to her enviable frame with a pair of red lace-up heels while accessorising her look with small gold hoop earrings. Wow: Roxy Horner wowed onlookers as she made a stylish arrival at the screening of Death On The Nile in London's Leicester Square on Monday The Essex native wore her blonde locks in gorgeous curls and accentuated her natural beauty with a full face of flawlessly applied make-up. Following soon afterwards was Shanie Ryan who gave onlookers a glimpse of her abs through a beige crop top and coordinating cargo bottoms. The TV presenter soon cosied up to Tony Sinclair who cut a dapper figure in a green polo neck sweater featuring white stripes, which he combined with black jeans. Strictly's Graziano Di Prima looked suave in a brown casual shirt which he layered beneath a black shearling jacket while donning an edgy fedora hat. Leggy: The model, 30, sent temperatures soaring while flashing her toned legs in a thigh-skimming black miniskirt which she teamed up with a coordinating sleeved crop top Abs: Putting on toned midriff on display, she added inches to her enviable frame with a pair of red lace-up heels while accessorising her look with small gold hoop earrings Radiant: The beauty showcased her toned frame in the racy ensemble His fiance Giada Lini slipped her enviable frame into a tight charcoal midi dress featuring a cutout while wrapping up in a matching coat. Disney is pushing ahead with the release of the blockbuster despite the ongoing controversy surrounding lead star Armie Hammer in the wake of his rape allegations and cannibalism scandal. The latest trailer for Kenneth Branagh's long-delayed film - that cost an estimated $90million to make - was unveiled last month with a new release date of February 11. However, movie fans were quick to react with outrage and ruthlessly mock the trailer, that appears to have gone to great lengths in the editing suite to minimize Hammer's role in the film. Fun: Shanie Ryan posed up with a dapper Tony Sinclair at the bash One fan tweeted: 'This cursed movie should just be scrapped and reshot,' with another adding: 'Also, you have to laugh at this trailer cut making it seem like he's nothing more than mustachioed wallpaper.' Armie plays the male romantic lead alongside Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot. The 34-year-old actor began trending in January last year, when a series of graphic DMs allegedly between him and several women were posted online. In one message, Hammer allegedly described himself as '100% a cannibal' and told another woman, 'I want to eat you.' Hammer denied the claims as 'bull****.' Couple: Strictly's Graziano Di Prima and fiancee Giada Lini posed up Hammer then checked into rehab for 'drug, alcohol and sex issues' in June this year, following allegations of rape that prompted an LAPD investigation. This month, the LAPD wrapped up the investigation turning it over to the District Attorney, with charges 'unlikely' according to reports. His estranged wife Elizabeth Chambers had filed for divorce in July 2020, with rumors swirling that he had sent her a raunchy text message meant for someone else. 'This should have been scrapped': Death on the Nile trailer featuring disgraced Armie Hammer has sparked outrage among movie fans, after the actor's rape allegations Meanwhile, the trailer was also under fire for featuring the stars Letitia Wright and Russell Brand, for their controversial views on the COVID-19 vaccine. Russell has become popular among anti-vaxxers recently with his strong views on his YouTube channel, where he has cast doubt on the vaccine and questioned whether Americans should trust the FDA. Letitia also came under fire this year for sharing a video that questioned the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine. Casting: Russell Brand, who plays Dr. Linus Windlesham, has been raising questions about whether Americans should put their trust into the FDA amid the pandemic When she received backlash online for posting the video, she responded: 'my intention was not to hurt anyone, my ONLY intention of posting the video was it raised my concerns with what the vaccine contains and what we are putting in our bodies. Nothing else.' One Twitter user commented: 'All I can think of here is Russell Brand and Letitia Wright exchanging anti-vax conspiracies while Armie Hammer was fantasizing about killing and eating the cast.' The ensemble cast also features stars including Annette Bening, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, and Game of Thrones actress Rose Leslie. Under fire: British star Letitia Wright has also come under scrutiny for sharing a conspiracy theorist video about the COVID-19 vaccines Based on the 1937 novel by Agatha Christie, the movie was first in development back in 2017 - with filming beginning in September 2019. Following the COVID-19 pandemic and Hammer's rape allegations, the murder mystery endured several release delays. Director Branagh had previously discussed how he wanted to produce more films, and potentially create a 'cinematic universe' from Agatha Christie's novels. Weather presenter Magdalena Roze celebrated her milestone 40th birthday in style this week. She threw a small birthday party at a beachfront restaurant in her adopted home town of Byron Bay, surrounded by family and friends. The TV host stunned in a chic yellow dress as she cosied up to her partner, Darren Robertson, who owns the Three Blue Ducks restaurant. Birthday girl: Weather presenter Magdalena Roze celebrated her milestone 40th birthday in style this week. Pictured with her partner, restaurateur Darren Robertson Magdalena's dress featured a high neck, billowing sleeves and a fitted design over the waist. She pulled her blonde hair back into a ponytail and opted for natural-look makeup. In one photo, she smiled while posing with Darren, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. Time to celebrate! She threw a small birthday party at a beachfront restaurant in her adopted home town of Byron Bay, surrounded by family and friends She was presented with a peach melba cake with finger lime sprinkles. Reflecting on her milestone birthday, Magdalena wrote on Instagram: '40 feels good! Thank you Darren for the best birthday ever.' She added: 'There's no much more I could say but it's all a bit of a happy blur. Just very grateful.' New life: Magdalena, who is now a food writer and cookbook author, gave up her TV career in Sydney to move to Byron Bay in 2014 Magdalena, who is now a food writer and cookbook author, gave up her TV career in Sydney to move to Byron Bay in 2014. 'Darren was worried about me and my career at first, but I knew it was something we had to do,' she previously said. 'As someone who normally overanalyses everything, going with my gut was quite nice.' She and Darren are based in the Byron Bay hinterland with their sons, Archie, five, and Charlie, three. Having friends in low places isnt something Mayor Adams views as a big problem. Adams on Monday defended his friendship with a Manhattan restaurateur who pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges and cited his own arrest as a youth as his rationale for doing so. Advertisement I dont know if you know it, but I have a criminal history, he said at a City Hall news briefing, responding to a question from the Daily News about his ties to Zhan Johnny Petrosyants. I was arrested as a 15-year-old. And the public said, Eric, you turned your life around, and we want to vote for you as mayor, he continued. You all of you know how I am about giving people an opportunity. I mentor people every day. You would be surprised at the types of people that I mentor to put them back on track. Advertisement New York City Mayor Eric Adams (Shawn Inglima/for New York Daily News) Adams comments come on the heels of a Politico NY report last week detailing his longstanding friendship with Petrosyants. In 2014, Petrosyants and his brother pleaded guilty to conspiracy to cause the filing of false currency transactions reports in connection to a medical billing scheme involving no-fault insurance claims. Johnny Petrosyants was sentenced to probation. His brother, Robert, was sentenced to six months in federal prison. The siblings and co-defendant Lasha Goletiani were ordered to forfeit a total of $667,000. Adams had his own trouble with the law as well, but he was much younger than the Petrosyants at the time. When he was a teen, he was arrested for stealing a TV and a money order. Cops in the 103rd Precinct in Queens roughed up him and his brother after the arrest. Adams was later sent to a juvenile detention facility for a few days before trial and was sentenced to probation. In recent weeks, he has regularly been spotted out with Johnny Petrosyants, a move thats raised many eyebrows among the citys political class. A source close to the mayor confirmed to The News that the two hang out every week, mainly at the NoHo nightclub Zero Bond and at Osteria La Baia, where Adams was recently spotting having dinner with former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. A City Hall source also confirmed that Petrosyants is friends with Frank Carone, the mayors chief of staff. Adams pushed back against the idea that felons should be discarded forever and said that kind of thinking most adversely impacts people of color. In this day and time, when everyone is talking about bail reform, everyone is talking about prison reform, if you inherit the belief that because someone did something they should be discarded forever, that is going to impact predominantly Black and Brown young men not acceptable, he said. Im going to be there to sit down and mentor people. Advertisement In an earlier press conference Monday at Kings County Hospital, Adams also said he considers socializing with Petrosyants and other personal pals a form of therapy. I go out more to socialize. I have a small group of friends that are not, they are not in politics, said Adams. I try to go out and socialize with them because its my therapy. CORRECTION: On Feb. 7, the Daily News misstated the plea deal and forfeiture amount reached between federal prosecutors and Zhan Johnny Petrosyants and his brother, Robert. This story has been amended online. She formed a strong friendship with Dan Walker during their time on Strictly Come Dancing. But Nadiya Bychkova bonded with his co-star Sally Nugent last week, as she taught her some new steps for the Burrow Strictly Ball. The professional dancer, 32, took to Instagram to share a slew of snaps rehearsing with both the BBC Breakfast presenters, in a dance studio. Pals: Nadiya Bychkova bonded with Dan Walker's co-star Sally Nugent last week, as she taught her some new steps for the Burrow Strictly Ball She wore a leather jacket over a grey t-shirt, and black jeans, with her blonde locks styled poker straight. The trio beamed from ear to ear in the cosy snaps, as they jokingly reenacted dance positions. Captioning the photos, Nadiya explained that she was giving Sally, 50, some tips for her performance at the charity ball, while also revealing she would be performing with Dan, 44. New friends: The professional dancer, 32, took to Instagram to share a slew of snaps rehearsing with both the BBC Breakfast presenters, in a dance studio She teased: 'I had a real treat last week when I got to dance with my favourite @bbcbreakfast presenter @sallynugenttv. 'Sally is taking part in the @burrowstrictlyball on the 19th March and I was giving her a few tips before she starts training. 'I will also be judging the competition in Leeds with @mrdanwalker and well be performing one of our #Strictly dances. I hope he can remember it! Stunning: She wore a leather jacket over a grey t-shirt, and black jeans, with her blonde locks styled poker straight 'I cant wait to support such a wonderful charity. 'Now back to the Strictly tour. Glasgow, youve been amazing. Lets make the final night in Scotland an incredible one.' It comes after Dan shared his own throwback snaps from their time at a charity auction in October. Keep dancing! Captioning the photos, Nadiya explained that she was giving Sally, 50, some tips for her performance at the charity ball, while also revealing she would be performing with Dan, 44 Taking to Instagram on Thursday, he reflected on the 'great memories' he had with Nadiya and their fundraising efforts. Back in October, the pair bid a whopping 20,000 on a bear sculpture, forming part of a public arts exhibition that raises money for The Childrens Hospital Charity. Earlier this week, the duo were able to see the statue in all its glory, and posed for snaps alongside the bear. Having a blast: The trio beamed from ear to ear in the cosy snaps, as they jokingly reenacted dance positions Sharing the images, Dan penned: ''Some great memories from that night. It was brilliant to be able to tell @nadiyabychkova about the work of @sheffieldchildrens and I'm glad she got to see the 'glitter' bear up close and personal.' Dan shared the post alongside The Childrens Hospital Charity's caption that read: 'They might not have won the glitter ball, but they got the glitter bear! 'This week our final Bear from the @bearsofsheffieldtrail reached its forever home thanks to our wonderful patron, @mrdanwalker! Joker: She teased: 'I had a real treat last week when I got to dance with my favourite @bbcbreakfast presenter @sallynugenttv 'I hope he can remember it': 'I will also be judging the competition in Leeds with @mrdanwalker and well be performing one of our #Strictly dances. I hope he can remember it!' 'Some great memories': Strictly's Dan shared cosy throwback snaps with Nadiya on Thursday after supporting her in the audience during show tour 'Dan and his Strictly Come Dancing partner of him, @nadiyabychkova, bid on Nano Bear for a whopping 20,000 at the Bears of Sheffield auction back in October. 'The money raised from the auction helped to transform our Cancer Ward at Sheffield Children's which opened to patients at the end of last year. 'Dan said, Sheffield Children's holds a place very close to my heart, having been a patron for many years now, I am always in awe of the incredible work they do there. To be able to bid on a Bear, joined by my Strictly partner Nadiya, was an amazing thing. 'Nadiya continued, The Bears of Sheffield auction was one of my favorite nights in Sheffield, and my first ever auction. The atmosphere was so exciting and to be able to bid on one of the Bears was an amazing feeling. 'I've heard so much about Sheffield Children's Hospital and to be able to support in some way was brilliant. We might not have won the glitter ball on Strictly, but we certainly got the glitter bear! 'Thank you both for your support!' Sheridan Smith has been lauded by fans for her 'amazing' performance in ITV's latest drama No Return, which premiered on Monday night. The actress, 40, received rave reviews for her portrayal of Kathy, a mum who desperately defends her son Noah (Louis Ashbourne Serkis) when an incident at a beach party during their Turkey family holiday gets him into legal trouble. Viewers also noted that her on-screen husband Martin was played by Michael Jibson, who she starred alongside in BBC's recent miniseries, Four Lives. 'Such a versatile actor!' Sheridan Smith has been lauded by fans for her 'amazing' performance in ITV's latest drama No Return, which premiered on Monday night One began: 'If it's got Sheridan Smith in it you know it's gonna be a cracker #noreturn,' with another adding, 'Sheridan Smith is amazing in anything she is in #NoReturn.' A third penned: 'Sheridan Smith is amazing. Anything she's in is amazing. #noreturn #sheridanssmith.' Others chimed in: 'Sheridan Smith is an amazing actress and this is good so far #NoReturn,' and, 'It was really good, wasnt it? Sheridan Smith is such a versatile actor. #noreturn.' Following one scene which saw Kathy and Martin engage in a steamy romp, fans took to their keyboards to note that the actors had previously feuded in Four Lives. What a pair! Viewers also noted that her on-screen husband Martin was played by Michael Jibson, who she starred alongside in BBC's recent miniseries, Four Lives Spellbinding: The actress, 40, received rave reviews for her portrayal of Kathy, a mum who desperately defends her son Noah (Louis Ashbourne Serkis, pictured) when an incident at a beach party during their Turkey family holiday gets him into legal trouble One began: 'Just a few weeks ago Sheridan Smith was screaming down the phone to him in Four Lives and now they're s******g in a Turkish hotel. The beauty of versatility. #NoReturn.' A second wrote: 'Watching #NoReturn but i just finished watching four lives today so this casting is getting a bit confusing.' A third said: 'Her husband is the useless copper she hated on four lives Rolling on the floor laughing #noreturn.' Busy bee: Impressed audience members commented on the Gavin & Stacey star's strong work ethic, since she is also currently featuring in Channel 5's The Teacher Hilarious: Following one scene which saw Kathy and Martin engage in a steamy romp, fans took to their keyboards to note that the actors had previously feuded in Four Lives Impressed audience members commented on the Gavin & Stacey star's strong work ethic, since she is also currently featuring in Channel 5's The Teacher. One user began: 'Sheridan Smith is the most hard working woman in Britain. She don't [sic] stop for breath.' 'I've spent more time with Sheridan Smith than my own family this year, she's everywhere [laughing face emoji].' Impressed: One began: 'If it's got Sheridan Smith in it you know it's gonna be a cracker #noreturn,' with another adding, 'Sheridan Smith is amazing in anything she is in #NoReturn' Four Lives followed the notorious Grindr serial killer Stephen Port (played by Stephen Merchant), in a drama based on true events. Sheridan starred as Sarah Sak, the mother of Stephen's first victim Anthony Walgate, in the series which showed the families of his victims fight for justice in the face of a now widely-condemned police investigation. Port, 46, lured four unsuspecting victims to his east London flat then plied them with a fatal dose of date rape drug GHB before dumping their bodies nearby as part of a sick fetish for sex with unconscious men in 2014 and 2015. Comedian: One began: 'Just a few weeks ago Sheridan Smith was screaming down the phone to him in Four Lives and now they're s******g in a Turkish hotel. The beauty of versatility. #NoReturn' The show was set to be released in 2020, but had to be delayed because of an inquest into the Metropolitan Police's investigation into Port's crimes. Officers DC Slaymaker (a real officer played by Michael) and Det. Sqt. O'Donnell (Ben Cartwright) were shown latching onto the fact that Anthony had met a man named Joe Dean (an alias used by Port) for sex, after finding him on an escort service. In December, the ten week inquest culminated in a jury ruling that there had been police 'failures' in the investigation, and had they been avoided, some of his victims may still be alive. There she is! Sheridan recently starred as Sarah Sak, the mother of Stephen Port's first victim Anthony Walgate, in Four Lives which showed the families of his victims fight for justice Actor: Officer DC Slaymaker (a real officer played by Michael) was shown latching onto the fact that Anthony had met a man named Joe Dean (an alias used by Port) for sex Four Lives focused on the fight to uncover the truth about what had happened to the families' lost sons, brothers and loved ones. Meanwhile, in Channel 5's The Teacher, Sheridan 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. Sheridan will take to the judging panel alongside Beverley Knight, Jason Manford and Adam Lambert in ITV's latest reality show Starstruck, a Stars In Their Eyes reboot. In demand: Meanwhile, in Channel 5's The Teacher, Sheridan portrays Jenna Garvey, a popular teacher with a chaotic private life The TV staple invited members of the public to dress up as their favourite music star and perform their chosen artist's hits to an audience between 1990 and 2006. On the rebooted series, each episode will reportedly see four teams of three battle it out to win the judges' votes. Each of the teams will impersonate their musical icon, with members of the winning group then competing against each other for a place in the final. Contestants who make it all the way to the final show could reportedly be in with a chance of winning a 50,000 prize. Armie Hammer and his estranged wife Elizabeth Chambers are giving their marriage another go. The controversial actor, 35, and the 39-year-old television star are currently trying to 'figure things out as a couple' after separating in July 2020, a source told People on Monday. News of their second try at marriage comes after Hammer was accused of raping a former partner and just days before his long-delayed mystery thriller Death On The Nile is set to be released in theaters. Another try? Armie Hammer, 35, and his estranged wife Elizabeth Chambers, 39, are reportedly reunited and 'figuring things out as a couple' in the wake of his rape allegations, sources told People on Monday; seen in 2018 in Hollywood Hammer's attempt at a reconciliation also follows his stint in rehab to address various addictions to sex, drugs and alcohol. 'Elizabeth's priority has always been her children and their well-being. The past year hasn't been easy, but she and Armie have always had love for each other,' the source claimed. 'They're slowly figuring things out as a couple, but being parents to their two kids will always come first.' The couple share two children: their daughter Harper, seven, and their son Ford, five. A second source told the publication that 'Elizabeth has always loved him,' adding that the Call Me By Your Name star is 'really the love of her life.' 'They obviously had a lot of issues, but Armie's rehab stay showed that he was committed to big changes,' they continued. 'They get along and enjoy hanging out with the kids.' Still in love: 'The past year hasn't been easy, but [Elizabeth] and Armie have always had love for each other,' a source claimed; pictured with Harper, seven, and Ford, five, in 2019 in LA A representative for Chambers didn't immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment. The couple have been married since 2010, but they announced their separation in July 2020. Chambers filed for divorce later that month, but it's unclear if the two are proceeding with the divorce while trying to resurrect their marriage. Vanity Fair reported back in May that Hammer had checked into a treatment program to address sex and substance addictions, and he checked out of the Florida program following nine months of treatment. He was later seen spending time with his children in the Cayman Islands in December, but it's unknown if Chambers had joined them. He was reported at the time to have been dating Lisa Perejma, a dental hygienist living on the islands. Horrifying: Hammer checked out of rehab late last year after a woman named Effie accused him of rape. She also released DMs allegedly from him that described desires to eat a woman's ribs and cut off her toes; seen in 2019 in NYC Hammer's career came to a screeching halt early in 2021 when he was accused of rape, along with a bevy of disturbing behaviors. In March of last year, a woman named Effie accused the Social Network actor of a 'violent incident' that occurred in 2017. The Los Angeles Police Department later investigated the claims, and after nine months it sent the findings to the Los Angeles District Attorney's office, though sources told TMZ on December 8 that 'charges appear unlikely' in the matter. The woman previously shared several messages allegedly sent by Hamer on her Instagram account @houseofeffie. The messages included conversations about extreme sexual bondage and disturbing cannibalistic urges. 'I want to eat you...I am 100% a cannibal,' read one message, while others included troubling admissions of desires to eat a woman's ribs and cut off her toes. Although Hammer was accused of sending the messages, they have never been proven to originate with him. Stuck in the middle: Following the allegations, Chambers said in a statement that she was 'shocked, heartbroken, and devastated,' though she shared her support for her husband's alleged victims; seen in 2018 in Washington, DC The actor's ex-girlfriend Paige Lorenze also spoke out about his alleged 'dangerous, emotionally and psychologically damaging' behavior. In a conversation with DailyMailTV, she claimed that he had carved a letter 'A' into her private parts with a knife. Despite the seriousness of the claims against him, Hammer remained defiant and stated that he was 'not responding to these bulls*** claims,' while calling the publication of the messages allegedly sent by him a 'vicious and spurious attack.' 'All interactions between Mr. Hammer and his former partners were consensual,' stated Hammer's attorney Andrew Brettler. 'They were fully discussed, agreed upon in advance with his partners, and mutually participatory. 'The stories perpetuated on social media were designed to be salacious in an effort to harm Mr. Hammer, but that does not make them true.' Following the allegations, Chambers said in a statement that she was 'shocked, heartbroken, and devastated,' though she shared her support for her husband's alleged victims. 'I didn't realize how much I didn't know,' she added. He's out: The allegations proved to be catastrophic for Hammer's career. He was dropped by his talent agency and publicist and replaced in upcoming films and series; pictured with Gal Gadot in a still for Death On The Nile The allegations proved to be catastrophic for Hammer's career, and he was subsequently dropped by the talent agency WME, as well as by his personal publicist. He was replaced in Jennifer Lopez's upcoming rom-com Shotgun wedding by Josh Duhamel, and Miles Teller took over his role in the TV series The Offer, which dramatizes the making of Francis Ford Coppola's classic film The Godfather. Although he was removed form those productions, Hammer had already finished filming the Kenneth Branagh-directed mystery Death On The Nile, which features an ensemble cast including Branagh, Gal Gadot, Annette Benning, Russell Brand and Rose Leslie, among others. Viewers mocked a trailer for the film that was released in December after it appeared to go out of its way to minimize the actor's participation, though his brief appearances were still too much for many viewers. The film is set to be released in theaters on Friday, February 11. It is produced by Disney, though it is being released through 20th Century Studios. Ashton Kutcher was seen with his wife Mila Kunis on Monday. The actors held hands as they went out in Los Angeles to celebrate the actor's 44th birthday. While the 38-year-old beauty wore a chocolate brown coat, the birthday boy had on a red hoodie that said Papa Bear, Birthday outing: Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis were seen out together in Los Angeles on Monday, on the actor's birthday Mila's luscious brown locks were parted on the side and loose, with some of the locks falling over her shoulder. She stayed safe in a black and white patterned face mask which matched her black and white sneakers. The mother-of-two used her coat's matching belt to tie the outerwear securely around her waist. Underneath it she wore a pair of charcoal skinny jeans with fraying at the hem. PDA: The spouses, 44 and 38, interlocked their fingers as they headed to their car For his part the birthday boy donned a tan colored hat that said 'LA' on it in white lettering. The That 70s Show alum covered the lower half of his face with a blue and white tie-dyed mask. His bright hoodie said 'papa bear' on it in capital white letters, and the phrase was underlined with an arrow. A tiny bit of a white t-shirt poked out from beneath the top layer, and he teamed the look with black pants and sneakers. Pre-birthday outing: The day out without their two children - Wyatt and Dimitri - comes after Kutcher attended NASCAR's Busch Light Clash on Sunday The day out without their two children - Wyatt and Dimitri - comes after Kutcher attended NASCAR's Busch Light Clash on Sunday. While there he proudly promoted bioethanol as he waved the flag for the plant byproduct. He's an outspoken advocated for the renewable energy source, which is often used as an alternative motor fuel that offers '46% fewer emissions.' He wore a black t-shirt emblazoned with vehicle manufacturer Shelby American's cobra logo. Making a statement: Ashton proudly promoted bioethanol as he waved the flag for the plant byproduct Ashton and Mila began dating in 2012 after getting to know each other on the set of Fox sitcom That '70s Show, which aired from 1998 to 2006. Ashton will next portray Peter in Aline Brosh McKenna's home-swapping rom-com Your Place or Mine destined for Netflix. He'll star alongside Reese Witherspoon, Jesse Williams, Tig Notaro, and Steve Zahn. Comedian Jimmy Carr has always displayed a distinct taste for the tasteless in his stand-up routines and on his hit Channel 4 panel show, 8 Out Of 10 Cats. His deadpan humour is challenging to say the least, and not something that appeals to everyone. But it was during his recent outing on Netflix, in a comedy special entitled His Dark Material, that Carr deliberately pushed the boundaries of his brand too far for many with a joke about the Holocaust and a disparaging remark about the thousands of Gypsies killed by the Nazis. He even introduced the joke in an arrogant fashion by saying 'it could be a career ender'. Comedian Jimmy Carr has always displayed a distinct taste for the tasteless in his stand-up routines and on his hit Channel 4 panel show, 8 Out Of 10 Cats Fellow celebrities have queued up to criticise him, including his friend and fellow comedian David Baddiel and the author Sir Philip Pullman. The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust said his comments were 'hateful'. Boris Johnson's spokesman has weighed in, Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries described Carr's comment as 'abhorrent', and Health Secretary Sajid Javid is urging people to send Netflix a 'very strong message' by 'not watching or listening' to Carr. Others have gone further, demanding that viewers cancel their subscriptions. Fellow celebrities have queued up to criticise him, including his friend and fellow comedian David Baddiel (pictured) and the author Sir Philip Pullman The Traveller Movement, a charity supporting the traveller community in the UK, said the joke in question was 'truly disturbing and goes way beyond humour'. It has also launched a petition demanding that the streaming service edit the segment of the show to remove the offending item. Last night, it had attracted more than 13,000 signatures and counting. I do not want to defend Carr. He's a clever man, an experienced stand-up and TV professional. He knew exactly what he was doing, and why, in initiating outrage. On stage in Whitley Bay at the weekend, after he was heckled about the Holocaust issue, he left the audience in no doubt that he had wanted to take on 'cancel culture'. Carr said: 'When people talk about the Holocaust, they talk about the tragedy and horror of six million Jewish lives being lost to the Nazi war machine. But they never mention the thousands of Gypsies that were killed by the Nazis. No one ever talks about that because no one wants to talk about the positives.' Pictured: Survivors of Auschwitz According to reports, he told them: 'What I am saying on stage this evening is barely acceptable now. In ten years, forget about it. 'You are going to be able to tell your grandchildren about seeing this show tonight. You will say: 'I saw a man and he stood on a stage and he made light of serious issues. We used to call them jokes and people would laugh.' ' He has a point, but I would argue that what Carr has done is to actively promote cancel culture, to fan the flames feeding it. Taste aside, the joke that has caused the furore wasn't funny to with start with. It barely deserves repeating, but for the broader points I want to make it is necessary to do so. Carr said: 'When people talk about the Holocaust, they talk about the tragedy and horror of six million Jewish lives being lost to the Nazi war machine. But they never mention the thousands of Gypsies that were killed by the Nazis. No one ever talks about that because no one wants to talk about the positives.' Like I said, not funny. But does it matter if a joke is funny or not, or in such appallingly bad taste that it will offend many reasonable people? Doesn't a comedian have the freedom to tell whatever jokes he or she wants? And is it really, as one campaign group claimed, 'a celebration of genocide'? No it isn't. This is an absurd exaggeration. Many of those who identify broadly as 'conservative' feel deep in their bones that freedom of speech and expression are far more important than the right of any individual or group not to have their feelings hurt. But nowadays, the massed forces of Correctness and Woke the most censorious and intolerant forces of our time have some powerful arguments on their side, however much we may dislike that fact. They might argue in this instance, for example, that Carr was deliberately targeting an ethnic minority, the Roma, who have been persecuted, marginalised and finally murdered by the thousands, and within living memory, thanks to the vile ideology of 'racial purity' propounded by the Nazis. My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding star Paddy Doherty has called for police to probe Carr's joke about gypsies killed in the Holocaust And given that this is the case, no one should have the right to make jokes about something so terrible as genocide. In the sort of phraseology favoured by the Woke, Jimmy Carr's facile quip risks 'legitimising violence against ethnic minorities'. Loyalists to the principle of free speech might regard this as nonsense. A joke is just a joke, whether you find it funny or not, and it places no one in danger of physical harm. Simple. But the truth is rarely simple, and freedom of speech flourishes best when it comes with responsibility. Jimmy Carr's joke was irresponsible; a calculated way of provoking and annoying the forces of censorship. But it has backfired. Carr has actually given those who want to censor us even more ammunition. He's like a naughty boy who has deliberately stirred up a hornet's nest to the delight of the morally indignant and perpetually outraged and while he may well get stung himself, so too will many others in his wake. Television bosses will, as a result of his joke, become yet more jittery and anxious, forever checking their Twitter feeds and social media to see if their stars or programmes have caused any offence. The genuinely funny and imaginatively outrageous will have a harder time getting heard as a result, and our cultural experience will be the poorer for it. Free speech has never been entirely free and, indeed, a society where absolute free speech was practised would hardly be a society at all, but chaos. Nor is the instinct that drives the Censorious Woke, determined to silence anyone who disagrees with them or sees things differently, an entirely new development. Before Political Correctness, there was Mary Whitehouse and Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells. Meanwhile, the BBC has been banning comedians since before many of us were born. Back in the 1950s, it banned the music-hall comedian Max Miller and his song Let's Have A Ride On Your Bicycle, due to its 'outrageous' lyrics: After the ride I began to perspire It wasn't the ride, I'd been pumping her tyre Innocent days. Nowadays, in order to provoke a storm and the cynic might say attract attention to a new show saucy innuendo won't do. A comedian like Jimmy Carr has to make jokes about one of the most atrocious episodes in human history, the Holocaust, and the sufferings of the Roma. Arguably even worse was Carr's subsequent back-pedalling, when he tried to make out that his quip might be 'educational', raising awareness that many Roma were killed by the Nazis as well. But none of this can come as a surprise for Netflix (market value $175 billion). With Carr, they can't pretend they didn't know what they might get. In the past, he has freely admitted, 'I do a lot of jokes about rape', and previous gags about amputee soldiers have disgusted many. In his defence, Carr has protested that many servicemen loved his performances, and the black humour was typically 'squaddie'. From what I know of soldiers' sense of humour, I think he's probably right. After you've been through a tour of duty in Helmand, you're unlikely to get upset about a mere joke. But by exploiting the Holocaust for comedy material and then almost begging for attention by prefacing his show with the warning (or boast?) that this will surely get him cancelled for ever, Carr may well find that it will be the outcome which, in his vanity, he thought he could avoid. In wiser moments, the comedian has reflected on how the times we live in remind him of hysterical episodes of book-burning through history. Quite so. So why did he give such a gift to the true enemies of free speech? Shanna Moakler and her boyfriend Matthew Rondeau may be taking their relationship to the next level. Matthew appeared to be going engagement ring shopping at a Tiffany & Co. in Thousand Oaks, California on Sunday. The hunk appeared to be in no rush as he browsed through a display of jewelry with the assistance of a store employee. Bling bling! Matthew Rondeau appeared to be going engagement ring shopping at a Tiffany & Co. in Thousand Oaks, California on Sunday Matthew gazed down at an illuminated display full of jewelry while simultaneously holding out his phone. The hunk wore his brunette hair slicked back, a leather jacket, and cream slacks. Though he had his face mask on, Matthew appeared to be chatting with the employee as he sought her input on a prospective new ring. Matthew gestured his hands at the display at times, suggesting something in the selection had caught his eye. Decisions, decisions: Rondeau appeared to be taking some time selecting the right jewelry Checking it out: Matthew gazed down at an illuminated display full of jewelry while simultaneously holding out his phone And with Shanna currently in the Big Brother household, now's the perfect time for Matthew to check out some bling without tipping her off. Shanna, a former Playboy model and actress, has had an on-again, off-again relationship with Matthew since 2020. In July she said she was done with Matthew. The pair went their separate ways with him saying he couldn't be happier about the decision to end their romance. Matthew told Life & Style magazine this summer: 'I broke up with Shanna months ago, and I'm happier than I have ever been. Dashing: The hunk wore his brunette hair slicked back, a leather jacket, and cream slacks Second opinion: Though he had his face mask on, Matthew appeared to be chatting with the employee as he sought her input on a prospective new ring Surprise! And with Shanna currently in the Big Brother household, now's the perfect time for Matthew to check out some bling without tipping her off 'I'm focusing truly on finding myself again as a person emotionally and mentally. I hope she finds what she's looking for, but it's not going to be me.' However, an insider told People magazine that 'it's not true he broke up with her' but Shanna is looking ahead to the future. The source added: 'She's focused on her own life and happiness, not on Matthew. She's busy with work and is moving on.' Loved-up: Shanna, a former Playboy model and actress, has had an on-again, off-again relationship with Matthew since 2020 The couple ultimately reconciled, with a source telling Us Weekly in October 2021: 'Shanna and Matthew have always been off and on, but they're in a really great place now. 'He has been her confidant during this rough time in her life and they've been having a lot of fun together. They seem to be very happy together and Shanna's friends are thrilled [that] she has love in her life.' The jewelry store sighting comes less than four months after Shanna's ex-husband Travis proposed to Kourtney Kardashian. The Blink-182 drummer popped the question during a getaway to the Rosewood Miramar Beach in Montecito, California in October 2021. Indian Twitter is furious with South Korean automaker Hyundai and has called for its boycott. Indian Twitterati, condemning the brand, have pledged to switch their automobile preferences to its competitors Tata and Mahindra. Hyundai may support terrorism.But Tata will fight it.Choose the car legends choose?#BoycottHyundai pic.twitter.com/fFYqGNYkWo pic.twitter.com/oLRCSXS6wM Arunesh mishra (@A1ark) February 7, 2022 BUT WHY IS INDIAN TWITTER ENRAGED? Indias second-most popular automaker is facing the boycott heat over a few controversial social media posts it made through its official Pakistan handle, Pakistan Hyundai. Pakistan Hyundai branch posted on Twitter, "Let us remember the sacrifices of our Kashmiri brothers and stand in support as they continue to struggle for freedom." This post was made on Kashmir Solidarity Day; a day observed in Pakistan on February 5 each year to support Kashmirs secession from India. Screenshot of Hyundai Pakistan's controversial post on Twitter. @PakistanHyundai/Twitter Posts related to Kashmir Solidarity Day were also made on other social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram. This has not gone down well with Indian netizens who rapped the South Korean company for making undiplomatic political statements about an internationally disputed region; not at all when it has businesses in both India and Pakistan, with the former market being the larger of the two. Hyundai supports TERRORISMHyundai supports stone peltersHyundai supports terror state Pak Hyundai is against sovereignty of our nation.Hyundai is Anti-IndiaRetweet if you agree #BoycottHyundai @Hyundai_Global @HyundaiIndia pic.twitter.com/OGagzS3gbd Major Surendra Poonia (@MajorPoonia) February 7, 2022 Cars Sold by Hyundai Motors in 2021India - 505,000 Pakistan - 8000 Yet @Hyundai_Global chose to needle India via its Pakistani Handle. Either they are very stupid and lack business sense or they have hired a very incompetent PR team which led to #BoycottHyundai disaster pic.twitter.com/jProIRNqYi Rishi Bagree (@rishibagree) February 6, 2022 Netizens were triggered further when Hyundai India started blocking a few Indian Twitter users. Moreover, following the backlash, Hyundais Pakistan Twitter handle was made private. Hey @HyundaiIndia!You are a gone case now#BoycottHyundai pic.twitter.com/oo9WnjrKFx Prasad Reddy Saragada H V D (@SHVDPrasadReddy) February 7, 2022 Meanwhile, Hyundai India ended up worsening matters with its apology that many claimed was 'lame' and 'half-hearted'. Hyundai is by far not the only brand in India to have faced the rage of Indian social media over the years over their promotions and advertisements. Indian and foreign brands alike have come under fire for promotions that were regarded as offensive by the Indian masses or a section of people. While in some cases the outrage was not required, in other cases, it was genuine. Here are 5 times brands got cancelled in India for their promotions: 1. TANISHQ INTER-FAITH MARRIAGE AD In 2020, popular jewellery brand Tanishq was forced to withdraw an advertisement portraying an inter-faith Hindu-Muslim marriage. A section of Indian Twitter users expressed their ire against the advertisement that they claimed promoted love jihad. Whats interesting about the Tanishq boycott call then and the Hyundai boycott call now, is that the jewellery brand is part of Tata conglomerate. Back in 2020, Tata was facing the boycott; but now, the same company is being held in respect in the face of the 'Boycott Hyundai' call. 2. SABYASACHI MANGALSUTRA AD The luxury designer brand Sabyasachi had launched an ad campaign for its Royal Bengal Mangalsutra 1.2 collection. The advertisement featuring a voluptuous woman in lingerie, wearing a Sabyasachi mangalsutra while laying her head on a bare-chested man, proved too much to handle for some Indian netizens, including Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra, who called it an insult to Hindu tradition. After Fabindia and Dabur, now Sabyasachi faces backlash over its Mangalsutra ad campaign #ITVideo pic.twitter.com/Ssb5MZiZUI IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) October 29, 2021 Sabyasachi pulled the ad following the backlash. 3. DABUR FEM LESBIAN COUPLE AD Daburs advertisement for its product Fem Creme bleach showing a lesbian couple celebrating Karva Chauth hit on Indian netizens' nerves wrongly, who called for an apology for showing what they called objectionable content. This time too, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra gave the brand an ultimatum. And ultimately, the brand had to withdraw the advertisement. Its a disappointment that these ads were forced to withdraw following social pressure, even though their ads were very much promoting inclusivity and empowerment. But there are also some ads that faced criticism for genuine reasons. 4. KENT RO AD What a perfect example of brand humility and swiftness to correct a blunder ?KENT RO atta maker ad was an attack to the maids piggy backing on the sentiment of current crisis of COVID19.But the apology within 24 hours and withdrawal of the campaign was even more exemplary!! pic.twitter.com/0PDvLK5ITt Varija Bajaj (@varijabajaj) May 27, 2020 Kent ROs advertisement depicting house helps as infection carriers in the wake of Covid-19 outbreak in 2020 was criticised for being insensitive, discriminating and classist. Following social media backlash, the company was forced to pull the controversial advertisement. 5. ZOMATOS MC BC AD So the PR bandwagon of Zomato's new outdoor campaign is rolling. Expectedly, it ignores the outrage against its MC BC creative.And we wonder about why sexism is alive and kicking. So much for apparently being a category *leader*. pic.twitter.com/XlGsLBsVOT Ashok Lalla (@ashoklalla) November 30, 2017 Zomatos cheeky billboard advertisement playing with Hindi profanities MC and BC and replacing them with mac n cheese and butter chicken, did not go down well with many Indians. The profanities are largely understood to be misogynistic. After social media backlash, the online food delivery company was forced to withdraw the advertisements. State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, a progressive who represents the Bronx and Westchester, said Monday that she will run for the Long Island congressional seat occupied by Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) after it was redrawn to extend further west. Suozzi, a moderate Democrat, is currently staging a campaign for governor, running to Gov. Hochuls right. He has represented the Third Congressional District since 2017. Advertisement Biaggi, a 35-year-old granddaughter of Italian immigrants, has crusaded against sexual harassment and police abuse during three years in the Legislature. She said in a tweet that she is running to bring progressive and honest leadership to the frontlines of our countrys most important fights. Our country doesnt just need more Democrats in Washington we need bolder ones, wrote Biaggi, who has supported defunding the police. This race will not be easy, but it is worth the fight. My campaign for Congress will be people-powered no corporate PACs, no nonsense. Advertisement N.Y. State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, D-Bronx/Westchester (left) and Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y. (right) (AP) Biaggi appeared to get an instant nod from Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.), a progressive lawmaker who represents the Bronx. In response to her announcement, he tweeted: Lets go! Under the new congressional map, which was drawn by Democrats in Albany and approved by Hochul, the Third District curls into the Bronx and Westchester. The map, which has faced intense criticism from Republicans, made several districts friendlier to Democrats. In the map, the First Congressional District, a Long Island district represented by Rep. Lee Zeldin, a Republican, takes a path further west into blue New York City suburbs. The Third District, in turn, advances into the Bronx and Westchester. Our country doesnt just need more Democrats in Washington we need bolder ones. Im running for Congress in #NY03 to bring progressive and honest leadership to the frontlines of our countrys most important fights. Alessandra Biaggi (@Biaggi4NY) February 7, 2022 The Republican Party is leading a lawsuit filed in State Supreme Court in Steuben County in opposition to the new map. Courts have historically been deferential to lawmakers legislative maps, but a 2014 amendment to the state Constitution that girds against gerrymandering may complicate the case. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription and are still unable to access our content, please link your digital account to your print subscription If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Visakhapatnam: Use of intoxicant drugs by youths is rampant in the tourist spots in rural and agency areas of Visakhapatnam district. Police usually detain people consuming ganja in tourist spots, but the use of banned substances like MDMA or ecstasy was noticed for the first time outside the city, in a recent raid by cops in a private resort. Cops said there is strengthened vigilance in all isolated places and hotels with a view to checking illegal activities. In a recent case, four drug users including three from Vizag city got into a resort in a tourist spot at Kondakarlova in Visakhapatnam Rural. Within 20 minutes, the police went in and detained them. One of the accused, Tangeti Bharat, involved in theft and ganja cases, procured the substance said to be MDMA from Goa. He invited three of his friends to the resort in Yelamanchilli area, according to the police. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, circle inspector Venkata Ramana said cops found the drug was procured from Goa. The prime accused went to Goa to purchase the drug and came to the resort with his friends to have it. Police seized five grams of the banned substance valued at Rs 15,000. This is the first time we noticed an instance of drug abuse in rural areas. The users said they selected this place because it is peaceful. We have alerted all the resorts and tourism centres here to keep a watch. We will also hold a meeting with them on Tuesday, the police officer said. MDMA is a psychoactive drug primarily used for recreational purposes. This drug can take at least one hour for effect that would last for nearly five to six hours. Students wearing hijab sit outside their school as the school authorities denied entry for wearing a hijab or scarf, in Kundapura of Udupi district. (Photo: PTI) Udupi: After days of protest, students wearing Hijab have been allowed to enter the campus of Government PU College on Monday in Kundapura area of Udupi district in Karnataka. However, such students will be seated in separate classrooms, informed the school administration. "The situation is under control in Kundapura, and students are being allowed to come to the colleges and the campus even if they're wearing Hijab. There is no law and order situation in Kundapur," said ST Siddalingappa, Additional Superintendent of Police, Udupi. Students were protesting near the campus after they were allegedly denied entry for wearing Hijab into Government PU College on Friday. Meanwhile, classes were suspended at Shanteshwar Education Trust in Vijayapura today after some students arrived on the campus wearing saffron stoles amid the ongoing Hijab row in Karnataka educational institutions. Students of different colleges in Karnataka are coming to colleges wearing saffron stoles to protest against those who are insisting to wear Hijab in the classrooms. The pre-University education board on Saturday had released a circular stating that the students can only wear the uniform approved by the school administration and no other religious practices will be allowed in colleges. The education minister of Karnataka, BC Nagesh has said that wearing saffron stoles or Hijab is not allowed inside the classroom. The Karnataka High Court will on Tuesday hear the petitions filed by five girls studying in a Government Pre-University College in Udupi, questioning the restriction on wearing hijab in college. State Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai appealed to everyone to maintain peace and said his government will take steps after the court's order. He also asked educational institutions to follow mandatory uniform rules issued by the government until the court's order comes out. Speaking to reporters after landing in the national capital, Bommai said, "The matter is before the high court and it will be decided there. Therefore, I appeal to everyone to maintain peace and no one should take steps to disturb the peace." "All should follow the state's order (on uniform) and tomorrow the court's decision will come and, therefore, we will take steps," he added. The hijab row has also taken a political colour, as the ruling BJP has stood strongly in support of uniform-related rules being enforced by educational institutions, calling the headscarf, a religious symbol, while the opposition Congress has come out in support of protesting Muslim girls. The issue that initially began in January at a Government PU College in Udupi where six students who attended classes wearing headscarves in violation of the stipulated dress code were sent out, has spread to a few other colleges in the city and in nearby Kundapur and Byndoor. There have also been reports of similar instances of students turning up at educational institutions with either hijab or saffron shawl in Ramdurg PU College in Belagavi and a college in Hassan, Chikkamagaluru and Shivamogga, and also a group of girls staging demonstrations in Mysuru and Kalaburagi in favour of the hijab. HYDERABAD: Ending decades-old litigation, the Supreme Court on Monday ruled that 1,654 acres of Manikonda village belonged to the state government, rejecting the ownership claims of Wakf Board on the same land. The final verdict pronounced by a division bench comprising Justice Hemnath Gupta and Justice V. Ramasubramanian provided much-needed relief to several public and private institutes besides individual landowners. Some of the institutes established in the contentious Manikonda jagir include International School of Business, Maulana Azad Urdu University, Wipro and TNGOs Housing Society. The dispute began when the state government auctioned a portion of land to Lanco Group for establishing an integrated township. Another controversial project, Emaar, apart from several individual layouts, also came upon the same land. The apex court categorically declared that the land would vest with the state and Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation and was free from encumbrance. It declared a notification issued by the Wakf Board claiming the ownership of the land as invalid as it did not belong to Dargah Hazrat Hussain Shah Vali. However, taking a view that the jagir of Manikonda village was allotted for rendering services, the Supreme Court directed the government to make cash payment to the dargah, in terms of Section 10(2) (i) of the Commutation Regulation, 90 per cent of the gross basic sum referred to in Section 4 of the Commutation Regulation. The arrears shall be calculated and paid to the dargah within six months. The government will follow the order of the court in terms of the commutation, Ranga Reddy collector Amoy Kumar told Deccan Chronicle. The collector and team of revenue officials including revenue divisional officer Chandrakala pursued the case with the senior legal team hired by the government. Going by the facts and evidences before it, the Supreme Court made it clear that the said land did not fall under the charitable lands of the dargah. Bronx Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) wont face any punishment or further investigation by the House of Representatives Ethics Committee over his participation in a recent voting rights protest outside the Capitol. The progressive lawmaker was arrested along with about two dozen activists when they briefly refused to obey police demands to move during a civil disobedience demonstration on Jan. 20, 2022. Advertisement He is expected to pay a $200 fine to resolve a minor trespassing charge, the report said. Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News) The committee has determined to take no further action in this matter, and upon publication of this Report, considers the matter closed, the committees chair Rep. Deutsch (D-Fla.) and ranking member Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) wrote in a brief report. Advertisement Bowman joined the protest a day after President Bidens voting rights proposal collapsed in the Senate. Lawmakers from both parties say they are hopeful of passing a much-narrower bill that would clarify language in the century-old Electoral Count Act and possibly prevent another Jan. 6-style effort to overturn a presidential election. Union Home Minister Amit Shah speaks in the Rajya Sabha during ongoing Budget Session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Monday, Feb. 7, 2022. (RSTV/PTI Photo) Shah requests Owaisi to accept Z category security New Delhi: Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday requested Asaduddin Owaisi, president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, to accept Z category security offered by the government after a recent attack on his car. Making a statement in Rajya Sabha, Shah said that a government assessment has found that Owaisi still faces security threat, but he has been informed that the Hyderabad MP has refused to take the CRPF protection. Shots were fired at Owaisi's car on February 3, 2022 in Uttar Pradesh following which two persons were arrested and arms were also recovered. A detailed investigation is being carried out in the case and the Home Ministry had sought a report from the state government, Shah said. ''Through the House, I would like to request Owaisi ji to accept the security to address our concerns about his safety," the minister said. Of all the proposals that finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented in her speech as part of the Union Budget 2022-23, the announcement about the launch of digital rupee would have the potential to touch the lives of almost all Indians. While there was speculation about the digital rupee for very long, its contours were not known. The finance minister, in her speech, further clarified that the digital rupee or the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) will be based on blockchain technology, the digital framework behind Bitcoin and other popular cryptocurrencies. For those uninitiated into the world of cryptos, a CBDC is the legal tender issued by a central bank in a digital form. It is the same as a fiat currency and is exchangeable one-to-one with the fiat currency. Its legitimacy comes from the governments sovereign guarantee. On the other hand, crypto-currency is totally different from CBDC. The fundamental characteristic of crypto-currency created using highly encrypted cryptography is its independence from government influence. As these virtual tokens have no inherent value and would have a value only till a buyer wants to buy them. While the purpose of the digital rupee is to tap low-hanging fruits like reduced dependency on cash, higher seigniorage due to lower transaction costs, and reduced settlement risk, the crypto currency is an entirely different animal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in the forefront of global attempts to tame this wild beast, which abhors regulations. The Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2021, which is yet to be introduced in Parliament, declared that its intent was "to create a facilitative framework for creation of the official digital currency to be issued by the Reserve Bank of India and to prohibit all private cryptocurrencies in India." However, the finance ministers proposal to tax gains from crypto assets at 30 per cent sowed seeds of confusion among peoples minds about the governments intent. The investors wondered if taxation grants an implicit recognition to the existence of crypto currency. But many issues cropping up from the trade in crypto currency remain unaddressed. One, unlike stocks or commodities, which have underlying assets, cryptos derive their value from people's trust in the technology. So this gives rise to this question: What would happen to peoples money if, for some reason, demand for cryptos crashes and its effect on peoples savings and the economy. Two, the Indian government still did not make the rupee fully-convertible currency and it still has significant influence on the flow of foreign currency. Will the government have the same sway over the money flow through cryptos trading? While the intent behind the floating of cryptos could be to protect individual money from seemingly irrational decisions of a government, a seamless transfer of money could also prove to be conduit of terror financing and money laundering and threaten the very existence of the state. The government, therefore, should not allow an unregulated run for the crypto trading in India. BHP Group unveiled the world's first liquefied natural gas-fuelled bulk carrier vessel in Singapore on Monday, one of five vessels that the mining giant will take delivery of in 2022 as part of efforts to curb supply chain emissions. The 299-metre (981 ft) long Mt. Tourmaline Newcastlemax ore carrier was built by Eastern Pacific Shipping in China and stopped off in Singapore to take on LNG fuel. It will next head to Port Hedland in Western Australia to load iron ore that will then be shipped to customers in China. BHP, which is the world's largest miner and shipper of dry bulk commodities, is targeting net zero greenhouse gas emissions from its value chain by 2050. It views its fleet of LNG-powered bulkers as a key means to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other pollutants over the near term even as a majority of its fleet still runs on high-emitting fuel oil. BHP Chief Commercial Officer Vandita Pant said the LNG vessels would lower emissions by about 30 per cent per journey. "That reduces our emissions for our customers and for our suppliers," she said at the vessel launch at Jurong port in Singapore. While the vessel can also still burn traditional very low sulphur fuel oil, BHP intends to use LNG to power Mt. Tourmaline as much as possible, said Pant. BHP's head of maritime supply chain, Rashpal Bhatti, said the engine and tank set up on the new vessels will allow the company to adjust the type of gas used from "LNG as we know it right now" to more energy dense and bio-LNG fuels that are expected to be developed in the future. It can also be retrofitted with "a little bit of capital expenditure to also burn ammonia," he said. Check out latest DH videos here Hyundai Motor India on Sunday said it stands strong on its ethos of respecting nationalism following a backlash in social media after a dealer of Hyundai in Pakistan posted a message supporting separatists in Kashmir. A Twitter account of a Hyundai dealer in Pakistan with handle @hyundaiPakistanOfficial had posted a message supporting Kashmir Solidarity day, supporting what it called as"struggle for freedom". Following it,#BoycottHyundai trended on Twitter in India with many people asking to stopbuying the company's products in the country. Reacting to the developments, Hyundai Motors India put out a message on social media reiterating its commitment to the Indian market. "Hyundai MotorIndia has been committed to the Indian market for more than 25 years now and we stand firmly for our strong ethos of respecting nationalism," it said. The company further said, "The unsolicited social media post linking Hyundai Motor India is offending our unparalleled commitment and service to this great country." Reiterating that India is second home to the Hyundai brand, the company said, "We have a zero-tolerance policy towards insensitive communication and we strongly condemn any such view." Hyundai Motor India further said, "As part of our commitment to India, we will continue our efforts towards the betterment of the country as well as its citizens." Hyundai Motor India is the second-largest carmaker in the country after Maruti Suzuki India. It currently sells 12 models including Creta and Venue in the domestic market. In December last year, the automaker announced plans to invest around Rs 4,000 crore to drive in around six electric vehicles in India by 2028. The company is planning to roll out a mix of models based on its existing range as well as completely new vehicles based on its global platform 'E-GMP' over the next few years. Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Company is present in over 200 countries with more than 120,000 employees. Check out DH's latest videos: On January 12, an image of a computer-generated pixelated person was sold for about $50.6 million worth of cryptocurrency on a new online marketplace that caters for non-fungible tokens. It gets stranger. Five minutes later, the same "Meebit" NFT - a virtual character clad in purple shorts and green sneakers - was sold back from the buyer to the original seller for around $49.6 million. Confused? Welcome to the weird and wild world of NFTs, a new breed of crypto assets that represent digital items, from images and videos to clothing for avatars. They have exploded in popularity over the past year as part of a fledgling and largely unregulated economy for the much-hyped metaverse. The Meebit, which can be used as a profile picture, was exchanged between two cryptocurrency wallets - which are anonymous. Although the underlying blockchain technology creates a public record when an NFT is sold, it doesn't record the names of those involved. A person can own multiple wallets, acting as both buyer and seller in a trade. The digital character was among dozens of NFTs on the LooksRare marketplace that were sold back and forth between a small number of wallets in quick succession for unusually high prices last month, according to a Reuters review of publicly available blockchain records. Also read: After cryptocurrencies, money laundering via NFTs next big worry Since January 11, for example, another Meebit NFT - this one with a sporty outfit and ponytail - has been passed between three wallets in over 100 sales, mostly in the $3-15 million range. In the week of January 12-19, a "Loot" bag NFT, representing virtual equipment for online adventure games, was exchanged across 75 sales between two other wallets, for $30,000-$800,000 a time. The activity has helped LooksRare generate at least $10.8 billion in trading volume since it launched in early January, according to data provided by market tracker DappRadar. The top 27 most expensive recorded sales across the whole NFT industry in January, totalling $1.3 billion, came from just two wallets transacting on LooksRare, according to DappRadar data as of January 31, while the top 100 sales, worth $2.3 billion, came from 16 wallets trading on the platform. "There is a lot of activity happening between a couple of wallets let's say wallet one selling to wallet two, and then wallet two reselling it," said Modesta Masoit, DappRadar's finance and research director. "It's quite likely that this is not real demand, that these trades are not organic." DappRadar and CryptoSlam, another data provider that reported artificially inflated volumes on LooksRare, said such trades could be linked to the platform's reward structure - though Masoit added there was also "real" activity on the site. Also read: Pricey pixels: Why people spend fortunes on NFT art LooksRare describes itself as "the community-first NFT marketplace with rewards for participating", referring to its reward system which includes awarding tokens to the day's traders based on the proportion of overall sales volumes they were responsible for. These tokens, called LOOKS, can then be used in a process called "staking" to claim a slice of the platform's revenue from the 2% fee charged on all trades, according to a LooksRare spokesperson. Asked about the transactions reviewed by Reuters and whether the trades artificially boosted trading volumes, the spokesperson said that such practices were highly risky, as traders would have to pay transaction costs that they were not guaranteed to recoup. Traders don't know until the day's close whether they have transacted enough to win LOOKS tokens, or how many, because they don't know what others have traded. The spokesperson added that LooksRare had a structure that was designed to reduce the profitability of LOOKS "yield farming" in the long-term. "The LOOKS staking rewards system is the token's core reward structure, whereby 100% of trading fees are earned by LOOKS stakers. This fosters a community of users and token stakers who share the common goal of making the platform the best it can be," the spokesperson said. 'Bye bye wash traders' Nonetheless, the trading activity provides a window into the nebulous and speculative nature of the NFT industry, which attracted $25 billion worth of sales volume in 2021. The buzz around this new market has been buoyed by art collectibles like CryptoPunks and Bored Apes, algorithmically generated portraits that can sell for millions of dollars. They have gained celebrity traction, with socialite Paris Hilton and TV host Jimmy Fallon recently showing off their Bored Apes. Several big companies, from Coca-Cola to Gucci, are testing the temperature with their own NFTs. In the art world, meanwhile, just over $1 in every $20 of revenue at top auction houses last year came from NFTs. John Egan, CEO of L'Atelier, the technology research arm of BNP Paribas, characterised the transactions on LooksRare reviewed by Reuters as "wash trades" that would be banned in traditional markets like equities or debt because they give a false impression of demand for an asset. Yet such transactions are not illegal in this nascent industry because there are no equivalent rules governing NFTs, two crypto legal experts told Reuters. Egan added that LooksRare was "not in itself culpable" for the trades. "It is a marketing incentive," he said. "LooksRare are effectively paying large investors to use their site, drawing a lot of attention and new users in the process." For the platform's supporters, this may be a sound strategy to thrive in a virtual gold rush, as tech giants like Meta and Microsoft spend billions of dollars to further their owns visions of the metaverse and pave the way for future profits. Bumper activity in January meant LooksRare overtook four-year-old market leader OpenSea to become the biggest NFT marketplace by monthly volume, despite having fewer than 3,500 traders per day, compared with OpenSea's 57,000 to 90,000, according to DappRadar data. OpenSea did not respond to a Reuters request for comment for this article. A Twitter user called "dingaling", who LooksRare told Reuters was an investor and adviser to the platform, wrote a thread on January 12 saying wash trading on the platform looked bad but may be part of the "necessary steps" to gain market share and provide a more transparent, decentralised marketplace for the NFT community. "People have been real mad about wash trading, but I'm struggling to understand why. It's a free market," dingaling added. "Once real volume takes over, it's bye bye to wash traders." Met in meatspace? From a regulatory point of view, authorities worldwide are worried that the rise of crypto assets more broadly could undermine financial systems, promote crime and harm investors. Efforts so far have been mostly focused on cryptocurrencies rather than NFTs, which throw up new issues such as how they should be classified, since they are one-off - non-fungible - and highly diverse in nature. "Generally speaking, the majority of jurisdictions recognise that NFTs should not be regulated as financial products if each NFT represents a genuinely unique item for example, a unique collectible, piece of art or piece of media content," said Hagen Rooke, a partner at global law firm Reed Smith. Traditional authorities may also need to bridge a cultural gap. LooksRare's founders are identified only by the pseudonyms Guts and Zodd. The spokesperson described them as "NFT nerds" and said the platform's team was spread across different timezones and have mostly "never even met each other in meatspace". Meatspace is a term used by internet enthusiasts to refer to the physical world. One frequent NFT trader known as "Rizzle", who mainly uses OpenSea, is among the big players in the market drawn to LooksRare by its reward model. Rizzle first joined LooksRare after receiving some free LOOKS tokens, which he staked for profit, and since then he has used the marketplace for trading because he said he likes some of the features. "I would not be surprised to see other platforms pop up with even greater initial incentives to try and capture this same audience," he said. Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Sunday attacked the AAP, alleging that its leaders have come from Delhi to loot Punjab. He also hit out at Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal, saying how can he call himself an 'aam aadmi' (common man) while staying in expensive hotels whenever he visits Punjab for the February 20 state assembly elections. Addressing a virtual rally here, Channi, who was declared as the Congress chief ministerial face by party leader Rahul Gandhi, alleged that the AAP gave tickets to at least 40 people who were denied a ticket by other parties. Also Read | Eye on Dalit votes, Rahul picks Channi over Sidhu as Punjab CM face What kind of change do they want to bring here? They have come here to loot Punjab, alleged Channi. How can Kejriwal be an 'aam aadmi'? He stays in big hotels here, lives in big houses in Delhi. The Delhi chief minister draws the highest salary among all chef ministers in the country, he claimed. Channi accused the AAP of spending Rs 500 crore on advertisements in Punjab. From where did this money come? Did (AAP leader) Bhagwant Mann have so much money? They got the money after looting Delhi and tomorrow they will loot Punjab, he further alleged. Attacking Mann, who is the AAP's chief ministerial candidate, Channi said he was a proxy. There is a big difference between running a stage and the state, said Channi as he took a swipe at the comedian-turned-politician Mann. Channi said 700 farmers laid down their lives during farmers' agitation against the Centre's three farm laws and put the blame on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). "Who is responsible for this? It is the BJP government and SAD, which cleared the farm ordinances as well as the AAP government which notified (one) farm law. Now, they seek votes here," said Channi. Addressing the event, Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu said he was never after any post during his 17-year-long political career and stressed that he wanted to improve the lives of people. Hailing Gandhi's leadership, Sidhu said it was he who appointed a Dalit chief minister in Punjab. Today, Punjab needs new foundations. Keep Sidhu as the first brick of that foundation, he said pointing towards Gandhi. Sidhu said if he remained the Punjab Congress chief, then the posts of chairman of various boards and corporations will be given to party workers and not MLAs. I will resign the day such a post is given to somebody else (than a party worker). Workers are the backbone of the party, he said. Earlier, former PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar alleged that the SAD, BJP and AAP are hand-in-glove and their aim was to grab power. Even after 700 farmers sacrificing their lives people don't understand that all three parties are hand-in-glove, then I would feel the farmers' sacrifice went in vain, said Jakhar. On the Sanyukt Samaj Morcha, a political front of farmer unions, fighting the upcoming polls, Jakhar said if the organisations decision to contest benefits the AAP, SAD or BJP in a direct or indirect way, the families of the 700 farmers will never forgive them. Hailing Gandhi's leadership, he said a leader is known by his courage of conviction and there arent many leaders around who dare to do what they say. "Who made Channi CM? It is Rahul. It is a historic decision of your political career that you made an ordinary person from the Scheduled Castes community the chief minister," Jakhar said, pointing towards Gandhi. "I am a mere party worker and whatever I am is because of the party. Whatever decision you take, we are with you, Jakhar said in his speech before Gandhi announced Channi as the party's chief ministerial candidate. Check out DH's latest videos: The Amarinder Singh-led Punjab Lok Congress has taken a jibe at Congress's state unit chief Navjot Singh Sidhu after Charanjit Singh Channi was declared the chief ministerial candidate for the assembly polls. Using a hashtag '#CurtainsForSidhu' on its Twitter handle, it shared a picture in which Gandhi, Sidhu, Channi and Sunil Jakhar held each other's hands and raised them in the air. However, the face of Sidhu got covered accidentally for a few seconds because of his shawl. A picture is worth a thousand words, said the PLC in a tweet on Sunday. A picture is worth a thousand words. pic.twitter.com/zZp9DRL1wH Punjab Lok Congress (@plcpunjab) February 6, 2022 Further mocking Sidhu, the PLC said, Thoko Thoko, Ruko!! Zoor k Thoko!, a reference to Sidhu's penchant of saying "Thoko Tali". Before the announcement of the CM face, Sidhu had said in a tweet, Nothing great was ever achieved without an act of decision.Warm welcome to our leading light Rahul Ji, who comes to give clarity to Punjab All will abide by his decision !!!. To this, the PLC replied, You won't. Singh was removed from the post of the chief minister by the Congress last September and later he floated his own party. The PLC is fighting the February 20 Punjab assembly polls in alliance with the BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt). Watch the latest DH videos: Narinder Kaur Bharaj, a young law graduate and AAP candidate from Sangrur is all set to lock horns with political heavyweight and sitting Congress MLA Vijay Inder Singla in the upcoming Punjab Assembly polls. The other two candidates in the contest are the BJP's Arvind Khanna, a businessman and former MLA, and Shiromani Akali Dal spokesperson Winnerjit Singh Goldy. Bharaj, who has been busy campaigning, said the youth face lathis when they ask for jobs and the elections are a chance to change things. Addressing a gathering in Balian village here, Bharaj said while other political parties give tickets to the family members of their leaders, the Aam Aadmi Party is the only one that gives tickets to common people like her. Also Read | 'It's sunny in Bijnor but weather bad for BJP': RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary takes a dig at PM Modi "Today, all eyes are on the Sangrur constituency. On the one hand, there is a cabinet minister and on the other hand, is the daughter of a small farmer... My mission is to bring a change," says Bharaj, who recently travelled on a humble scooter to file her nomination papers from Sangrur seat. The scooter is the only vehicle she owns, she said. Notably, AAP's state unit president and chief ministerial candidate Bhagwant Mann is the sitting MP from Sangrur. Bharaj is considered his loyalist. Hitting out at the ruling Congress, Bharaj said, "When our youths seek jobs, they have to face lathis and they are humiliated." "We have a chance to bring a change," she said. Also Read | 'Fake samajwadi's' dynastic policies' stopped 'river of development' in UP before 2017, says PM Modi Bharaj said people have seen the development that the AAP government has carried out in Delhi, including that in sectors of education and health. "That is how a welfare state should be," she said. "This time the fight is to bring about a change and common people will win... your daughter needs your blessings and support," she told the gathering. On the other hand, Singla, whose family members are also campaigning for him, told a gathering in Mangwal village that earlier as an MP and now as an MLA, he has done everything to uplift Sangrur. The PWD minister said a cement factory is coming up in Sangrur that will generate jobs for the local youth and a medical college will be built at a cost of Rs 350 crore. For latest updates on Assembly Elections, click here Sewerage work has been carried out, clean drinking water made available and street lights have been installed in the district, Singla said. He also touched upon several pro-people initiatives of the Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi-led state government. The Congress leader asked what Mann has done for his parliamentary constituency in the last eight years. BJP's Arvind Khanna has been telling voters about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for Punjab. He said if he is elected, ample employment opportunities will be created for the youth here so that they do not have to move to other parts of the country or abroad to find a job. Elections to the 117-member Punjab Assembly will be held on February 20. The counting of votes will be taken up on March 10. Watch the latest DH Videos here: By Suzanne Wilkinson, Mohamed Elkharboutly, and Regan Potangaroa for The Conversation While news from Tonga is still disrupted following the massive undersea eruption and tsunami on January 15, its clear the island nation has suffered significant damage to housing stock and infrastructure. Once initial clean-up work is done, the focus then turns to rebuilding specifically, how to rebuild in a way that makes that housing and infrastructure stronger, safer and more resilient than before the disaster. This is where the United Nations Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction comes into the picture. It advocates for: The substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health and in the economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets of persons, businesses, communities and countries. Read more: Eruption-hit Tonga closes borders as Covid detected Beyond the framework, however, we have the lessons learned from previous disasters and recovery efforts in the same region notably what happened in Fiji after Cyclone Winston in 2016. These lessons can be applied to the Tonga rebuild. Lessons from Cyclone Winston Winston was a category 5 cyclone, one of the most powerful storms ever recorded in the South Pacfic. When it approached Fijis largest and most populated island, Viti Levu, winds reached 230 kilometres per hour, with gusts peaking at 325km/h. Over 60% of the Fijian population was affected, with around 131,000 people left homeless. The cyclone destroyed, significantly damaged or partially damaged around 30,000 homes, or 22% of households, representing the greatest loss to Fijis housing stock from a single event. Notably, some models of the traditional Fijian bure survived the cyclone with minor or no damage. Our research team from New Zealand followed and recorded the housing recovery. What we found could benefit Tonga as it faces reconstruction of so much housing stock. As in Tonga, power, infrastructure and communication systems in Fiji were extensively damaged. Given that building back better involves applying higher structural standards than existed previously, we looked for evidence that Fiji was rebuilding in a more resilient and sustainable way. Fiji carefully recorded and analysed data, employing systematic reconnaissance surveys and damage assessments to identify building performance, structural vulnerabilities and failure mechanisms, as well as community needs. These assessments were done well, to international standards. Understandably, Fijians were also aware of the need to reduce risks to housing from future cyclones. After the immediate post-cyclone humanitarian response, housing was their main concern. This became a key focus for government agencies as a way of demonstrating the recovery was under way and that communities were at the heart of the process. Problems with rebuilding We studied two main initiatives: a government-funded rebuilding program for houses (the Help For Homes Initiative) and the rebuilding programs led by various international and local NGOs. Help For Homes provided credit for construction materials to people who had lost homes, assuming recipients met certain criteria related to household income, damage and location. Communities were free to choose the basic type of dwelling, its interior design, external features and materials. Information and instructions about building best practices and standards were provided, but technical or practical support was limited. Overall, the initiative had mixed reviews. On the one hand, people had autonomy over their future homes; if things went to plan, they liked the outcome. On the other, lack of building skills led to some poor-quality construction, and limited resources (mainly materials) pushed costs up. A lack of suitable alternative building material also created problems. Material choice, material substitution, resource costs, low community technical expertise and low building standard knowledge are all issues Tonga might also face. Some homeowners were left without the material they needed, and in some cases with only a partially rebuilt home. The NGO rebuilding programs, by contrast, usually employed their skilled workers to build and supervise construction activities, often with the help of community labour. But again, reviews were mixed, especially when the communities didnt have sufficient input into the rebuilding process. While housing design was largely standardised for quick construction, the NGO houses tended to be technically strong and more resilient to future hazard events. The best of both worlds The main lesson was that high levels of community involvement and strong technical support were key to building resilient, future-proofed houses. For Tonga, the Fijian experience offers the opportunity to apply that lesson in four principal ways: Ensure the initial assessment process is thorough and up to international standards. Recognise that housing stock overall needs to improve, and commit to higher construction standards. Analyse local architecture and building practices for disaster-resistant features. Combine the best of government-led and NGO building systems to maximise community involvement while ensuring good technical support and building expertise. Overall, to have the best chance of rebuilding with the resilience to withstand future shocks, Tonga will benefit greatly from a three-way partnership between the government, NGOs and local communities. As advocated by the authors in their book Resilient Post-Disaster Recovery through Building Back Better, co-ordination of such partnerships should be government-led and include trusted local community leaders and a consortium of NGOs. The authors are associated with Massey University Watch the latest DH videos: Australia will fully reopen its borders to all vaccinated visa holders from February 21, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Monday, nearly two years after he shut the border to non-citizens to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. Australia closed the border in March 2020 but began allowing skilled migrants, international students and backpackers to enter the country in December. "If you're double-vaccinated, we look forward to welcoming you back to Australia," Morrison said during a media briefing in Canberra. The relaxation of border rules will be a boost for airlines, hotels and other tourism businesses - the sectors worst affected by lockdowns and other tough curbs. The news sent shares of travel and airline stocks surging, with Qantas up more than 5% and travel operator Flight Centre rising more than 7% in afternoon trade. CORONAVIRUS UPDATES ONLY ON DH Strict border controls and snap lockdowns had helped Australia to keep its coronavirus numbers far lower than many comparable countries, but cases have hit record highs in recent weeks fuelled by the fast-spreading Omicron variant. The past week has seen a slowdown in daily infections and hospital cases, with Australia reporting just over 23,000 new infections on Monday, the lowest tally for 2022 and far away from a peak of 150,000 hit around a month ago. Morrison adopted a 'push through' approach to dealing with Omicron that saw him rule out lockdowns and tough restrictions ahead of a federal election due before May. Around 2.4 million cases have been recorded since the first Omicron case was detected in Australia in November. Until then, Australia had counted around 200,000 cases. Total deaths stand at 4,248 since the pandemic began. Check out latest coronavirus-related videos from DH: Former President Donald Trump reportedly took boxes of official records when he left office, including written messages from North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un that he infamously described as love letters. The National Archives had to retrieve the documents last month from Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate, where aides stored them after the twice-impeached president decamped from the White House, The Washington Post reported. Advertisement Among the other items was a letter from former President Barack Obama to his successor and mementos and gifts from world leaders. The records and other items belong to the U.S. government, and officials say they should have been turned over to the National Archives. Advertisement Then-President Donald Trump (left) and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (right) inside the demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating the South and North Korea on June 30, 2019 in Panmunjom, South Korea. (pak7130/Getty Images) The Presidential Records Act requires presidents to turn over documents. Still, its unlikely anyone would face charges for waylaying the documents, especially since its unclear whether Trump or his aides intentionally flouted the law. The letters from Kim offer a historical record about one of the most bizarre chapters in the Trump presidency. Trump and the brutal dictator exchanged a series of admiring letters around the time of their meeting in June 2018 in Singapore. The summit resulted in a communique that parroted several North Korean talking points. A second summit between leaders of the bitter enemy nations collapsed in Vietnam after Trump balked at lifting all sanctions against North Korea. The Central African Republic's prime minister has been sacked, the presidency confirmed Monday, against the backdrop of tensions between pro-Russian and pro-French factions within the government of the poor, unstable country. Henri-Marie Dondra had been named prime minister in June 2021, shortly after Paris froze budgetary aid to its former colony, accusing it of "complicity" in what it called a Russian "disinformation" campaign against France. Presidency spokesman Albert Yaloke Mokpeme told AFP that Dondra was "fired" and replaced by his economy minister, Felix Moloua, confirming a weekend report by online news website Africa Intelligence. President Faustin-Archange Touadera was attending an African Union summit in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa at the time. Russia's influence in the Central African Republic (CAR) has increased steadily over the past four years, and in late 2020 Russian military contractors helped quell a rebellion against Touadera. At the time of Dondra's appointment as prime minister he was perceived as more "pro-French" than his predecessor Firmin Ngrebada, seen as more sympathetic to the Russians. "Touadera had named Dondra because he was close to international donors and he had good relations with France," said Roland Marchal, a researcher at Sciences Po university in Paris. But Dondra had "little control" over the defence and foreign ministers as well as the influential pro-Russian parliament speaker, Simplice Sarandji, Marchal told AFP. A civil war broke out in the CAR in 2013, pitting myriad militias against a state on the verge of collapse. The fighting had lessened considerably in recent years, but it resumed abruptly when rebels launched their failed offensive to overthrow Touadera. The UN accused both sides in the fighting of human rights abuses. The private military contractors are often described as belonging to the "Wagner group" -- an entity with no known legal status. Last week the European Union said it would resume a suspended military training mission in the CAR if the country's soldiers stopped working for Wagner. Watch the latest DH videos: A Chinese city of 3.5 million near the border with Vietnam was on lockdown Monday after more than 70 coronavirus cases were discovered there over the past three days. China, the only major world economy still sticking to a staunch zero-Covid policy, is on high alert for any outbreaks as it hosts the Beijing Winter Olympics. Local officials in the city of Baise in the southern Guangxi region announced Sunday that no one would be allowed to leave the city, while residents of some districts would be confined to their homes. "Citywide traffic controls will be implemented," vice-mayor Gu Junyan told a briefing. "In principle, vehicles and people cannot enter or leave the city... with personnel control strictly enforced and no unnecessary movement of people." Also read: Australia to fully reopen borders to vaccinated travellers from February 21 Residents of some neighbourhoods in smaller rural cities and counties under Baise's jurisdiction have been placed under strict home confinement, while others cannot leave their district, Gu added. Baise, located about 100 kilometres (62 miles) from the Vietnamese border, on Friday discovered its first local case -- a traveller who had returned home for the week-long Lunar New Year holiday, according to officials. Since the pandemic, China has built a heavily enforced wire mesh fence along its southern border to keep out illegal migrants from Vietnam and Myanmar -- as well as potential Covid-19 infections. Mass testing is already under way for residents, authorities said. Since the coronavirus pandemic first emerged two years ago in Hubei province's Wuhan, China has used strict local lockdowns, mass testing and contact-tracing apps to try and eliminate outbreaks as soon as cases are detected, sparing the country the mass deaths witnessed around the rest of the world. Millions were confined to their homes in multiple Chinese cities in the run-up to the Olympics after cases involving both the Delta and Omicron coronavirus variants flared. The outbreaks were mostly stamped out. In December, 13 million residents of the northern megacity of Xi'an were placed under strict home confinement for over a month after an outbreak of more than 2,000 cases. Residents complained of grocery shortages and overly harsh enforcement of lockdown measures by local officials, which saw patients blocked from receiving critical medical treatment, leading to deaths in some cases. CORONAVIRUS UPDATES ONLY ON DH China reported 79 new cases nationwide Monday, of which 37 were in Guangxi. Meanwhile, Hong Kong's zero-Covid policy is on the ropes after a record number of new infections was announced over the weekend, sending officials scrambling to ramp up testing capacity and warning that a tightening of virus-control measures could be needed. China's borders with the rest of the world, including Hong Kong, are largely sealed. Check out latest coronavirus-related videos from DH: Fifteen climate activists glued themselves to the asphalt of motorways in Germany, causing rush hour traffic jams on Monday, in the latest protests demanding a law against food waste and cuts in greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture. A total of 252 protesters have taken part in a series of road blockades over the past two weeks, 69 of them fusing themselves to the asphalt to make it harder to remove them, according to German climate activist group "Last Generation". A Reuters video showed frustrated motorists held up on the capital Berlin's main A100 motorway on Monday getting out of their cars and dragging some of the activists out of the way by their hoods and backpacks. A total of 42 activists took part in motorway blockades in Berlin and in the southwestern city of Freiburg on Monday, according to Last Generation. Freiburg police launched investigations against 11 people and Berlin police were verifying activists' identities and checking if they could be placed in custody. The activists, who also placed food on the A100 motorway that had been discarded earlier, last week blocked roads and motorways in Berlin, Hamburg and Stuttgart on several occasions. A Berlin police spokesperson said she could not immediately say how many people had been detained since the beginning of the protests. Last Generation's website said 50 people were in custody in various German cities by the end of day on Friday. "By planning to achieve climate neutrality by 2045, the German government is breaking its constitutional obligation to protect our lives," activist spokesperson Carla Hinrichs said in a statement. "By 2030, we will exceed 1.5 degrees (average rise in global temperatures). The government is not only breaking international law but committing a crime against humanity by deliberately heading for a world hotter by 2, 3, 4 degrees with billions dying of hunger," she said. Watch latest videos by DH here: French President Emmanuel Macron expressed guarded optimism on Monday ahead of talks in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed at defusing tensions over the Ukrainian crisis. "I'm reasonably optimistic but I don't believe in spontaneous miracles," Macron told reporters shortly after landing in the Russian capital. Watch latest videos by DH here: Cyclone Batsirai swept out of Madagascar on Monday after killing 20 people, displacing 55,000 and devastating the drought-hit island's agricultural heartland, leading the UN to warn of a worsening humanitarian crisis. Madagascar was already reeling from a tropical storm which killed 55 people late last month, and the latest extreme weather event came as South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the continent is "bearing both the brunt and the cost" of global warming. After drenching the fellow Indian Ocean island of La Reunion, Batsirai made landfall in Madagascar's east on Saturday evening bringing heavy rain and winds of 165 kilometres (102 miles) per hour. Jean Benoit Manhes, a representative of UN children's agency UNICEF in the country, told AFP on Monday that "Batsirai left Madagascar this morning at 7 am (0400 GMT) heading out into the Mozambique Channel." Madagascar's disaster management agency said that Batsirai had left 20 people dead and forced 55,000 from their homes. UNICEF warned that many of the victims were likely to be children, which make up more than 50 per cent of the country's population. The cyclone first hit a sparsely populated agricultural area in the country's east on Saturday, before later weakening. The eastern city of Mananjary was "completely destroyed," a resident named Faby said on Sunday. In the southern central city of Fianarantsoa, footage showed a building had collapsed into rubble. As the cyclone moved west inland it caused flooding that ravaged rice fields in the country's central "breadbasket," UNICEF said. "The impact of the cyclone does not end today, it will last for several months, particularly the impact on agriculture," Manhes said. "The roofs of several schools and health centres were blown off" in the affected areas, UNICEF said. Batsirai spared the capital Antanarivo and the island's main port Tamatave, which led to a lower death toll than had been initially feared by the authorities and aid organisations, who had warned that nearly 600,000 people could be affected and 140,000 displaced. Some 77 percent of Madagascar's 28 million people live below the poverty line and the latest blow comes during a severe drought in the south which has plunged more than a million people into acute malnutrition, some facing famine. The cyclone partly destroyed the main road linking the island's north and south, "which will make it difficult to provide access and reinforcements to villages, including in drought-hit areas," Manhes said. "Madagascar is in a constant humanitarian crisis," he added. Around 20 roads and 17 bridges have been cut, according to the country's disaster management agency. Some of the hardest-hit areas such as the city of Manakara had become unreachable, the UN humanitarian agency OCHA said. A portion of a main road in Ranomafana crumbled while large boulders rolled from adjacent hills onto the tarmac on other sections, an AFP correspondent saw. The UN on Monday carried out its first flight to try to assess the damage and how best to respond. President Andry Rajoelina went to Manakara to inspect the damage and distribute relief aid on Monday, according to a post on his Facebook page. Some 10,000 people on La Reunion were left without electricity on Sunday, three days after Batsirai passed through the French island, injuring 12 people on the way. Madagascar was still picking up the pieces after Tropical Storm Ana affected at least 131,000 people across the island in late January, with most of the 55 deaths coming in Antananarivo. Ana also hit Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, causing dozens of deaths. South Africa's President Ramaphosa told a summit of African leaders on Sunday that the continent was "experiencing the worst impacts of phenomena associated with global warming such as droughts, floods and cyclones". "Despite not being responsible for causing climate change, it is Africans who are bearing both the brunt and the cost," he said. Check out latest DH videos here Indonesia has temporarily banned foreign tourists entering the country through Jakarta's airport, the transport ministry said, in a bid to slow a spike in coronavirus infections driven by the Omicron variant. The Southeast Asian country has seen a jump in cases, with more than 36,000 infections recorded on Sunday and the bed occupancy rate at hospitals in the capital reaching 63%. The move to bar tourists flying to Jakarta comes just days after Bali welcomed the first international flight in nearly two years carrying foreign visitors. The new regulations apply to foreign tourists and Indonesians who have travelled abroad for holidays, the ministry said in a statement released late on Sunday. Also read: China locks down city of 3.5 million near Vietnam border The decision to "temporarily restrict tourist arrivals" was intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus, said Novie Riyanto, director general for civil aviation at the ministry. Tourists flying from abroad will still be able to arrive at Bali airport, as well as at Batam and Tanjung Pinang in the Riau Islands near Singapore. Police have also implemented a curfew in downtown Jakarta from midnight to 4 a.m. as infections have kept climbing. Indonesian officials have warned that the surge in cases driven by the Omicron variant may not peak until late February. Despite these concerns, the resort island of Bali welcomed a flight from Tokyo last Thursday carrying six foreigners, mostly travel agents who were on board to monitor the island's readiness to receive foreign tourists. Bali officially opened to foreign visitors from 19 countries last October, but with no non-cargo flights until last week foreign tourists have been limited. Check out latest coronavirus-related videos from DH: The deadly riots that rocked South Africa after ex-president Jacob Zuma was jailed last year exposed significant intelligence lapses by the police, according to an inquiry released Monday. Security forces were overwhelmed by the July 2021 violence, the report found, in what was the deadliest unrest of South Africa's democratic era. The report is the result of an inquiry by a government-appointed panel into the handling of the riots and was made public by President Cyril Ramaphosa Monday. "There was a failure by the intelligence structures to anticipate and respond adequately to the violence," it found. It said the intelligence services "failed to predict the nature, scale and modus operandi" of the violence while at the same time, the police had "insufficient capacity" to curb it. Rampaging mobs overran dozens of shopping malls and warehouses, carting away large flat screen television, refrigerators, leather couches and cartons of fresh meat. Some even hammered down automatic teller machines and emptied them of cash. "The police admitted that the large numbers were overwhelming," it said. The unrest broke out after Zuma was jailed for contempt over his refusal to testify before a commission probing state corruption during his reign. The rioting and looting started in his home region, KwaZulu-Natal, before spreading to Johannesburg. More than 350 people were killed and some 50 billion rands ($3.2 billion) was wiped off the economy. The riots were largely organised by protesters on social media, the panel found. The methods used by protesters, including widespread and simultaneous looting and the burning of buildings, took the police "by "surprise". Police failed to "adapt their tactics to the situation facing them", the report said, adding they were "inadequately equipped and they ran out of crowd control equipment". "There is no doubt that the police had insufficient capacity to stop the violence," it said. Days into the unrest, Ramaphosa deployed around 25,000 troops before the order was restored. Watch the latest DH Videos here: The intensifying scrutiny of NSO Group, the Israeli spyware firm, has largely come from overseas as evidence mounted that authoritarian governments had used NSO products to spy on political opponents. On Monday, the controversy came home as the Israeli government said it would investigate reports that the Israeli police had illegally used spyware against its citizens without a court order, including a key state witness in the corruption trial of former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Also Read: New report alleges widespread Pegasus spying by Israel police Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who succeeded Netanyahu in June, said the deputy attorney general was looking quickly into the claims, while the public security minister, Omer Barlev, who oversees the police, said he would open an official inquiry. The efforts constitute the Israeli governments most public expression of concern about NSO once promoted by Israeli officials as a centerpiece of the Israeli tech industry since the firm began attracting global scrutiny in 2016. The allegations caused a brief delay in Netanyahus trial, after judges postponed hearings on Monday to allow prosecutors time to address the claims, amid calls by Netanyahus allies for the trial to be scrapped entirely. The moves reflected rising concerns within Israel about the use of spyware made by NSO and other companies, which had been spared significant domestic scrutiny because it was not widely seen as a threat to Israeli citizens. But on Monday, NSOs flagship spyware product, Pegasus, was being portrayed in Israel in much the same way it has been by critics abroad, as a threat to democracy. Bennett said that the reports about Pegasus, if they are true, are very serious. Spyware products such as Pegasus, he added, are important tools in the fight against terrorism and severe crime, but they were not intended to be used in phishing campaigns targeting the Israeli public or officials which is why we need to understand exactly what happened. Created to help governments track criminal and terrorist activity, Pegasus allows its users to monitor every aspect of a targets phone including their calls, messages, photos and video. In Israel it cannot legally be used against Israeli citizens without a judicial warrant. Ayelet Shaked, one of several Cabinet ministers to speak about the furor, described the allegations as an earthquake. I am shocked, she added. I cannot believe this is my country. Watch the latest DH Videos here: NATO is looking to increase its military presence in the Baltic states and Poland in case Russia keeps its troops in Belarus after a planned military exercise, the head of the alliance's military committee said on Monday. Russia has 30,000 troops in Ukraine's northern neighbour for joint military exercises this month, NATO said, bringing the total Russian military deployment at Ukraine's borders to more than 100,000. Also Read: NATO practices for winter combat on Russia's doorstep The United States sent 3,000 troops to Romania and Poland last week to reassure the allies, while Germany said it was considering a boost to its existing military deployment in Lithuania. Further deployments from NATO allies were possible, said Rob Bauer, a Dutch admiral who heads NATO's top military strategy body. "Where do we have troops in the alliance continuously, in the different nations - the debate about that is the result of things that are ongoing now. Yes, we are looking at it. There might be changes in the future as a result of these developments", Bauer told a news conference in Vilnius. "It very much depends, of course, on whether the Russian troops in Belarus remain in Belarus," he added. Also Read: Biden, Scholz to stress unified front against any Russian aggression toward Ukraine Moscow has said it is not planning an invasion of Ukraine but could take unspecified military action if its security demands are not met, including a promise that NATO will never admit Kyiv, a demand the United States and the 30-nation Western security alliance have called unacceptable. "If you look at the buildup of the forces, Russia could be able to actually have sufficient forces for a serious invasion by the end of this month," said Bauer. "Whether they do that, whether they have the true intention or not, we don't know." The most recent deployments at the Belarus border included field hospitals and other auxiliary units needed to support a military assault, Bauer said. "If you're really considering an invasion, you actually need more than the fighting forces. And that is something we also see more and more gathered along both the borders with Ukraine and Belarus with Ukraine. That in itself is very concerning", he said. Watch the latest DH Videos here: The Kremlin said Monday that a meeting of the French and Russian leaders in Moscow was very important in resolving tensions over Ukraine, but significant breakthroughs could not be expected. "The situation is too complex to expect decisive breakthroughs in one meeting," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters ahead of talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and French counterpart Emmanuel Macron. Macron's visit to Russia was "very important", Peskov said, as France also holds the rotating presidency of the European Union. He said that a "substantive and lengthy" discussion was expected when the two leaders meet later on Monday. Also Read | Diplomatic flurry to avert Russia-NATO clash over Ukraine "Macron told Putin himself that he is coming with certain ideas to find possible options for defusing tensions in Europe," Peskov added. Macron's visit to Moscow on Monday and to Kyiv on Tuesday kicks off a week of diplomacy in efforts to de-escalate the crisis over Ukraine. Western leaders have raised the alarm over a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine after Moscow amassed more than 100,000 troops on the border with its ex-Soviet neighbour. Moscow denies that it is planning to invade, and Kyiv's presidency adviser said the chances of a diplomatic solution to the crisis remained "substantially higher than the threat of further escalation". Also on Monday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will meet with US President Joe Biden in Washington while his foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, will be in Kyiv along with her Czech, Slovak and Austrian counterparts for a two-day visit. Scholz will be in Moscow and Kyiv next week for talks with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Check out latest DH videos here Researchers discover origins of species biodiversity on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Xinhua) 16:07, February 07, 2022 Aerial photo taken on Sept. 15, 2021 shows a river near the Qinghai Lake in northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) LANZHOU, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese researchers have discovered geographical isolation, natural selection, and hybridization could have together promoted the species diversification of numerous plant genera on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is characterized by a high number of endemic plant species. The statistics showed that there are more than 20 percent of the 12,000 species of vascular plants on the Plateau, which are found nowhere else in the world. The Plateau is regarded as an evolutionary cradle that may arise from explosive species diversification because of geographic isolation, according to a research article published in the New Phytologist. Meanwhile, gene flow has been widely detected during the speciation processes of all examined groups, suggesting that natural selection may have also played an important role during species divergence in this region. In addition to geographic isolation, natural hybrids have been recovered in almost all species-rich genera. This suggests that numerous species in this region are still on the speciation pathway to complete reproductive isolation. Such hybrids could directly develop into new species through hybrid polyploidization, according to researchers from Lanzhou University. Liu Jianquan, a researcher from the university, suggested that natural selection and hybridization could have together promoted species diversification of numerous plant genera on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Hailed as the "roof of the world," the "third pole" and the "water tower of Asia," the Plateau is a natural habitat for rare animals and a gene pool of plateau life. It is a key eco-safety barrier in China and Asia, and a focus of the country's drive to promote ecological progress. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Liang Jun) Biased broadcasters will skew your worldview Ossining, N.Y.: I can only guess where someone like Voicer Joyce Pinto gets her facts. Based on her litany of inaccuracies, Id say Fox News. Ms. Pinto, the left-liberals have not opened the borders. Border agents are still apprehending those crossing illegally. The scene of thousands of Haitian immigrants massing under a Texas bridge was long ago cleared. FILE - In this Aug. 7, 2019, photo, Fox News host Sean Hannity speaks during a taping of his show, "Hannity," in New York. (Frank Franklin II/AP) Let us remember that in the 10 years prior to your cult leader taking office in 2016, illegal crossings decreased. Despite all the hand-wringing, there is no border crisis. As for your sky-is-falling bail reform fears, the reforms were for low-level crimes for which people of limited means would be incarcerated for want of a few hundred dollars that most others could post. And I guess you just threw in this complaint, but there is no evidence that illegal drugs from China or Mexico have spiked under this president. More illegal drugs like fentanyl were seized coming across the border under the former guy. Advertisement The current president is working to fix the problems he inherited. Lastly, while police and civilians being killed is tragic, these crimes happen no matter who is president. Still, even with recent spikes in violent crime, overall crime is still at historic lows. Especially in left-liberal New York. However, the blame for the rise in all these shootings can be placed squarely at the feet of Republicans who have done everything they can to flood our communities with guns. They have sued states like New York to overturn bans on concealed weapons, paving the way for more and more people to be walking around armed. So, thank you for that. Robert Rundbaken Guns or gunmen? Manhattan: New York had the same tough gun laws under Mayors Giuliani and Bloomberg as crime was deeply whittled down. Ghost guns alone do not account for the current violent crime spree by career criminals. Why the desperation by all local Democrats other than Mayor Adams and the president to avoid mention of no bail provisions and other cut-em-loose policies in the midst of this escalation of attacks on public safety? Jeffrey S. Wiesenfeld Advertisement Pences pivot Peters Township, Pa.: I must be dreaming. Former Vice President Mike Pence uttered the words, President Trump is wrong. Pence has joined the small band of Republicans who are willing to debunk one of the myriad Trump lies his idiotic assertion that Pence could have overturned the Biden victory in the 2020 election. For four years, Pence was the perfect straight man to Trump: ever-loyal, always looking at the master adoringly and accepting all of his uncivilized behavior and coarseness. The devout Christian Pence appeared unbothered by the fact that Trump stomped on the tenets of honorable faiths. What is Mike Pence up to? Could truth suddenly be busting out from the party of lies? Oren Spiegler Tell the whole story Manhattan: There has been much controversy about Whoopi Goldbergs statements on The View that the Nazi attempted genocide of Jews was not racially motivated. Goldberg said it was killing by white people of white people, so she called it mans inhumanity to man. She appeared to be commenting as a Black person that racism is about color. According to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museums Holocaust Encyclopedia, Hitler racially targeted four groups for persecution. They were Jews (6 million), Roma (250,000-500,000), Poles (1.8 to 1.9 million non-Jewish Polish civilians) and Soviet Slavs and other Soviet people (7 million, including 1.7 million Jewish civilians and 1.8 million Soviet Poles, many of whom were Catholics). Serbs were also killed 312,000. Many thousands of political prisoners and gays were also killed. The number of disabled children and adults killed was about 250,000. In any discussion of the Holocaust, it is important that the approximately 5 million gentiles murdered by Hitler and the Nazis are mentioned along with the 6 million Jews who perished. Manny Martin Mass of respect Wantagh, L.I.: Susan Sarandons vile commentary (calling police officers on Fifth Ave. as they gathered for the funerals of murdered NYPD detectives Rivera and Mora fascists) has struck a deep nerve. This privileged, clueless millionaire, who always made sure to live in tony neighborhoods, had the unmitigated gall to label police officers as fascists? I attended both funerals to show my respect to these working-class men and women who defend this city daily, most of whom have desired to become cops from the time they were little kids. The helicopters, the hundreds of motorcycles, the families in cars and vans the utter respect shown them as the officers stood at attention, block after block. Joanne Urban Anti-bully The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. > Albany: Gratifying to see that Frank Serpico has finally received the Medal of Honor recognition that the New York City Police Department denied him 50 years ago. He graciously calls the motivation behind that refusal pettiness and animosity. Thuggish vindictiveness is more like it. In my native New England, we say: One bad apple spoils the whole barrel. Thinking of Serpico, one wishes it were the other way around. Terry ONeill Chaos candidate Glendale: Voicer Barbara Jones indicates that former Mayor David Dinkins lost his second election because he lost the support of his core base. Barbara, I hate to break it to you but the reason Dinkins lost was that he lost control of the city. The Crown Heights riots were the tip of the iceberg. Crime was rampant, murders were sky high (yes, there were a few years when they dipped), however, New York needed a law-and-order mayor. Rudy Giuliani fit the bill, cleaned up Times Square, took on organized crime, etc. Thomas Murawski Executive execution Whitestone: Great to see President Biden call the shot to send in Special Forces commandos in Syria to take out the head of the Islamic State, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashemi al-Qurayshi, and his second-in-command. Biden and the military did it with troops on the ground instead of a drone strike to try to save lives. Ten lives were reportedly saved, some of them children. The cowardly ISIS leader blew up himself and his family rather than come out and face his enemy which would have saved his family. Michael J. Gorman Words of encouragement Schenectady, N.Y.: Voicer Eva Tortora wrote about The News and Eva, I agree with you 100%! Ive been reading the Daily News for more than 50 years. As Eva said: Keep up the great work and dont ever change. Diane Sanders Hombach Offensive grammar Stephens City, Va.: Re Ethan Crumbleys parents need to stop offensive flirting in courtroom, prosecutors say (Feb. 4): I would commit hara-kiri if I wrote a sentence like your lede, or if I, as an editor, allowed it to stand as it is: both of who are facing manslaughter charges I quit reading right there. Paul Culp Advertisement Vice Sayreville, N.J.: At 11 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 22, I tuned in to Channel 9 only to be exposed to a program entitled DraftKings Sportsbook. This was not just an advertisement but a dedicated half-hour encouraging all and sundry to become irresponsible gamblers. Just imagine one spouse at work and the other at home losing a salary not yet collected. It is easy to imagine the devastating situation and ultimate domestic turmoil that this unholy habit now being encouraged by our reckless leadership can cause. I am aware of the large numbers of gamblers amongst us who would like to silence my concerns, but what about the many young children who would suffer because of the destruction of their families? What is most noticeable about this advertisement is its warning: If you have a gambling problem, seek help apparently, with best wishes from the creators thereof. Desmond M. Chase Freedom of choice? Providence, R.I.: When successful people end their lives (op-ed, Feb. 3) discusses the need to prevent suicide among college students and other young and successful people but says nothing about the need to prevent suicide among the terminally ill, whose suicides several states aid and abet by legalizing lethal drugs for them. If you seek to end your life / Will you get support or strife? / Healthy people meet resistance / Sick old people get assistance. As disability-rights groups have pointed out, this double standard is blatantly discriminatory. Felicia Nimue Ackerman Sudanese security forces fired tear Monday at thousands of demonstrators calling for civilian rule and justice for protesters killed since last year's coup, witnesses and an AFP correspondent said. The tear gas was fired as demonstrators were heading toward the presidential palace in the capital Khartoum, in the latest rally against the October coup led by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the correspondent said. Mass protests have been regular in Sudan since the coup which derailed the country's rocky transition to civilian rule following the 2019 ouster of autocratic president Omar al-Bashir. At least 79 people have been killed and hundreds wounded in the crackdown on anti-coup demonstrations, according to an independent group of medics. Monday's protests took place despite heavy security presence in Khartoum and its neighbouring cities of Omdurman and Khartoum North. It came only two days after thousands of pro-military demonstrators rallied against recent UN talks that aimed to help Sudan resolve the political crisis since the coup. On Monday, anti-coup protesters in the city of Wad Madani, south of Khartoum, were seen waving the Sudanese flags and carrying posters of people killed in the crackdown. "No, no to military rule" and "blood for blood," they chanted, according to witnesses. Hundreds also gathered in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan, residents there said. In Khartoum, some protesters also called for the dissolution of the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces commanded by Burhan's deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, an AFP correspondent said. "The Janjaweed should be dissolved," the protesters chanted, in reference to the RSF which grew out of the Janjaweed militias accused by rights groups of atrocities in Darfur. Sudan, which was already in the grip of a dire economic crisis before the coup, has seen vital foreign aid cut as part of the international community's condemnation of the takeover. The United States, which suspended $700 million in assistance to Sudan after the coup, has warned that a continued crackdown by the authorities would have "consequences". Sudanese authorities have repeatedly denied using live ammunition against demonstrators, reporting scores of security officers have been wounded and a police general was stabbed to death. On Monday, the Sudanese Professionals Association, which called for anti-coup protests, said the latest demonstrations were "a message to the dictatorship that authority lies with the people". Watch the latest DH Videos here: As he once again declined security cover, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday made an appeal in Parliament to AIMIM president and Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi to allow security personnel to accompany him, days after bullets were fired at his vehicle in Uttar Pradesh. Making a statement in Rajya Sabha on the attack on Owaisi's convoy in Thana Pilkhuwa in Hapur, Shah said the Centre reviewed threat perception after the incident and decided to give the Hyderabad MP 'Z' category security, which includes bullet-proof vehicle in Delhi and CRPF personnel securing him. Shah said the Centre has on several occasions directed central agencies to provide security cover to Owaisi but he had declined. The repeated endeavours of Delhi Police and Telangana Police to provide security cover to Owaisi did not succeed on account of his unwillingness to accept it. The Home Minister said a review of threat perception has been undertaken again and based on threat inputs, he has been provided with Z category CRPF security cover on all india basis along with a bullet proof car in Delhi. However, Shah added after completing his statement, "Owaisi is continuing to decline security cover. Through this House, I once again appeal to Owaisi to take the security cover." Providing details about the incident near a toll plaza on February 3 at 5:20 pm, he said two persons had opened fire but Owaisi had escaped unhurt and returned to Delhi safely. He was returning after attending a public contact programme at Kithor in Meerut district. During examination, he said, it was found that three bullets had hit his vehicle and there were three witnesses to the incident. He said the Hapur district administration did not know he had any pre-scheduled programme in Hapur and neither did the district control room have any prior information about his movement. Shah said police arrested two accused in connection with the case and are being interrogated besides seizing two pistols and a car. The forensics team is investigating the place of incident and vehicle and evidence is being collected. The law and order situation in the district is under control and normal. Strict vigilance is being kept, he said. Shah said the Ministry of Home Affairs had sought a report from the Uttar Pradesh government, which it had submitted. An amendment bill to remove Bhogta caste from the list of Scheduled Castes (SC) and include certain communities in the list of Scheduled Tribes (ST) for Jharkhand was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on Monday. Meanwhile, in the Lok Sabha, PM Modi launched an attack against the Opposition, calling them an 'object of comedy'. Stay tuned for more updates! SC pulls up Tripura Police on sending notice to petitioners despite its order NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Monday pulled up the Tripura police for sending notices to people for posts on social media over the alleged October, 2021 communal violence, despite its interim order restraining the state authorities. A bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and Surya Kant warned the counsel representing the state government that if Tripura police continue to harass people, then the court will summon the home secretary and the superintendent of police (SP). Also read: PIL petitioners selectively outraged over violence in state, Tripura tells SC The bench said the court had already passed an order in the matter and it should be implemented. At least show deference to our order when we have handled an issue," the bench told the Tripura government counsel, adding that the SP should be informed about it. Why should somebody be required to run to the Supreme Court? What else is this if this is not harassment," the bench asked the counsel. Journalist Samiullah Shabbir Khan questioned before the top court a notice issued by police seeking his appearance under Section 41A (Notice of appearance before police officer) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Advocate Sharukh Alam, representing Khan, submitted that the court had on January 10 passed an interim order restraining the police from acting against the journalists tweets. "We will call SP to court and make him answerable, if we find hes trying to evade compliance by issuing notices to the people," the bench told the Tripura government counsel, when he asked the court to adjourn the matter for two weeks. "Once we have passed an order covering the issue you must show responsibility, it said. At the end of the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared and assured the bench that he will look into the matter and the sanctity of the courts orders would be ensured in letter and in spirit. On January 10, the apex court had restrained Tripura Police from acting on its notice to Twitter Inc in connection with a journalist's tweet about alleged communal violence in the state. Check out latest videos from DH: Lata Mangeshkars nephew Adinath on Monday collected the singing legends ashes from the Shivaji Park in Mumbai, where she was cremated with full state honours. We handed over the asthi kalash (urn) to Adinath, son of Latas brother and music composer Hridaynath Mangeshkar, assistant municipal commissioner Kiran Dighavkar told PTI. Lata Mangeshkar cremated in Mumbai with state honours See Pics There is no word from the family so far on where will the ashes be immersed. Lata Mangeshkar (92) who enthralled millions with her divine voice for almost eight decades was cremated with full state honours at Shivaji Park on Sunday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among those who paid their last respects to the music icon at Shivaji Park Sunday evening. Check out latest videos from DH: The bail application of a key accused in the Mundra drug haul case was rejected by a NIA court here on Monday. The special court rejected the bail application of Machavaram Sudhakar, husband of the woman in whose name Aashi Trading Company, the firm that transported 2988.2 kg of heroin via Adani port at Mundra in Gujarat's Kutch district, is registered. The couple were arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence from Chennai on September 17 last year. Sudhakar was arrested under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) along with others in a case that is being probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Special judge Shubhada Baxi rejected his bail plea after observing that his prima facie involvement was clearly established in "a grave and serious offence having far-reaching implications." and that his engagement on bail entails major impediment to the investigating agency. Opposing his bail plea, the NIA had submitted that the applicant accused was "found to be an active member of an international drug cartel." The NIA's special public prosecutor Amit Nair submitted that the investigation is at a crucial stage for collection of evidence against him and other accused for unearthing "a larger conspiracy involving an international drug cartel comprising players based in Afghanistan, Iran and India." The modus operandi of the cartel suggests a conspiracy to exploit India's trade friendly approach to destabilise the Indian economy and also pose a serious threat to national security, Nair submitted on behalf of the NIA. He said a similar consignment imported by the same firm in June last year and transported to Alipur in Delhi is part of the same larger conspiracy, as there is a strong link between the two crimes. The NIA is investigating the case amid a high possibility of narco-terrorism, and Sudhakar's enlargement on bail will impede investigation, which is at a preliminary and crucial stage, he further said. The accused had moved a bail application claiming he had no knowledge of the consignment seized by Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) from Mundra port in September, 2021, and that he had "fallen into the trap of the international mafia." He said he had no direct or indirect involvement in the case, and was under the impression the consignment was semi-processed talc stones. The drug consignment seized by DRI from the port in Mundra in Gujarat's Kutch district was allegedly sent from Afghanistan via Bandar-Abbas, in Iran, concealed with talc powder. The Union Home Ministry had transferred the case to NIA, which also invoked the UAPA. So far, ten people have been arrested in the case. Watch the latest DH videos: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday attacked the BJP government, saying the "eyes and ears of the government will open in the first phase itself", as farmers and youngsters have "made up their mind" to defeat the BJP. Shortly after the Congress announced Charanjit Singh Channi's name as its chief ministerial candidate for the February 20 Punjab Assembly election on Sunday, the BJP said it will make no difference to the grand old party's poll prospects. Track latest updates of the Assembly elections here! A BJP MP from poll-bound Uttar Pradesh on Monday accused the Congress of not fulfilling the three promises -- 'roti, kapda and makaan' (food, clothing and house) -- made to the poor many years back. Speaking during the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address in Rajya Sabha, Seema Dwivedi asserted that the Narendra Modi government, however, has fulfilled not only their three promises made to the poor but moving forward, is working with the spirit of 'Sabka Saat, Sabka Vikaas and Sabka Vishwas'. "I was very young at that time when the Congress regime was there. I was in class 9 and when Congress leaders used to come on their vehicles, their slogan was 'roti, kapda and makaan'. Congress has not been able to solve these three problems till now. It is our government which has succeeded in addressing these issues," she said. Also Read | 'Fake samajwadi's' dynastic policies' stopped 'river of development' in UP before 2017, says PM Modi Dwivedi said, "During the Congress period, there were many corruptions. Today the way our government is functioning, not a single person can level a charge of corruption against our ministers." There is no corruption in the current government. For example about Rs 6,000 per beneficiary given under the PM-KISAN goes directly into the bank accounts of the farmers unlike earlier as former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had said for every Rs 100 spent, only Rs 15 reaches the rural areas, she said. Dwivedi also mentioned that barring BJP's Atal Bihari Vajpayee's regime, the previous governments had "sucked' the blood of the poor and not worked for their welfare. On the contrary, the Modi government is progressing so well that not a single sector is left behind despite economic hardships faced due to the Covid-19 crisis, she said and accused the opposition of during politics during this crisis. For latest updates on Assembly Elections, click here "The Opposition wants to praise us but they are deliberately not doing it. ...I feel sad that the Opposition cannot see the development happening in the country and support us," she added. Participating in the debate, TDP leader Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar raised issues faced by people in Andhra Pradesh and attacked state chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for lack of development, poor governance and corruption. He said the Polavaram irrigation project has missed the deadline for completion and the YSRCP-government is targeting the business and industries based on social background. Recently, the government brought a proposal to regulate cinema tickets ahead of the release of a movie by a leading actor who heads a political party in the state. As a result, the release of other films were put on hold, he said. The TDP leader said no new investments are coming to the state due to alleged financial mismanagement. Sand and mining mafia as well as illegal betting games are flourishing in the state. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday that there is a well-established system for the selection of Republic Day tableaux. Singh said in Rajya Sabha that the proposals from various states and Union Territories for tableaux at the Republic Day parade are evaluated by an expert committee comprising eminent persons. He was replying to a question on whether a number of tableaux of various state governments were disallowed for the Republic Day parade last year. "There is a well-established system for selection of tableaux for participation in the Republic Day parade," the defence minister said. "The tableaux proposals received from various States / UTs are evaluated in a series of meetings of the expert committee comprising of eminent persons in the field of art, culture, painting, sculpture, music, architecture, choreography etc," he added. He said the expert committee examines the proposals on the basis of theme, concept, design and visual impact before making its recommendations. "Due to time allotted for tableaux in the overall duration of the parade, shortlisting of tableaux is done by the expert committee," Singh said. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin had expressed their disappointment over the exclusion of the respective tableau of the two states from this year's Republic Day parade. Singh said applications from 27 states and Union Territories for tableaux were received for the Republic Day parade in 2021 out of which 17 were selected. The list of selected tableaux for the Republic Day parade in 2021 included West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. To a separate question, he said the government has not cancelled any deal for the purchase of short-range surface-to-air missiles or the purchase of choppers for the Indian Coast Guard. Watch latest videos by DH here: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched a scathing attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party stating that the party had not lost its arrogance even when it had been out of power for so long. He also said that Congress seems to have decided to not come back to power for 100 years, and he too is prepared for it. "If you had feet on the ground, then you would have seen it. But most of you are stuck in 2014. You are facing the result. You give a lot of advice but forget that you too have had the opportunity to sit here (on the treasury benches) for 50 years," Modi said and went on to list the states that have not voted for Congress for the last 25 years onwards. Follow live Parliament updates here People of Nagaland have not voted for Congress since 1998, that is 24 years. People of Odisha have not voted for Congress since 1995, that is 27 years; people of Goa has not voted for Congress since 1994, that is 28 years; Tripura since 1988, 34 years; Uttar Pradesh since 1985, 37 years; West Bengal since 1972, almost 50 years; Tamil Nadu last voted for Congress in 1962, almost 60 years before. "You take the credit for the formation for Telangana, but after that people there have not voted for you. Same in case of Jharkhand," he said. "Question is not about the election result. But you don't seem to retrospect. Why is it that despite all the electoral losses, it seems you are not ready to give up your arrogance. Also, your ecosystem does not allow you to let it go," he said in a direct attack on Rahul Gandhi's criticism. Then Modi recited a couplet in Urdu. "Criticism is an ornament of live democracy, but blind opposition is disrespect to democracy," Modi said. Criticizing Congress government in Maharashtra and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi, Modi said, in the last two years, we have been facing the largest threat to humanity by way of the pandemic and Congress crossed all limits during the pandemic time, he said, immediately prompting slogans from the opposition benches. Amid the chaos in the house, Modi waited for a few seconds and again started. "Congress government in Maharashtra handed over free tickets to migrants to leave Mumbai. In Delhi, the government offered bus rides to people to leave Delhi and go back to their native places. As a result, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, all saw the spiraling of cases across these states. Even WHO had suggested to stay put wherever one was," he said. Modi also said some people were waiting that coronavirus will damage his image, which was all out of opposition to Modi. "It seems you have decided not to come back to power for 100 years. But now that you have decided it, I too am prepared for it." Check out latest DH videos here A letter sent to Angelina Jolie detailed the rights that are being taken away from women in Afghanistan after the Taliban seized control of the country. Jolie shared the letter on Instagram, saying she received it from a young Afghan woman who hasnt been able to go back to school since the Taliban took over last year. Advertisement I feel like women dont have any right to speak or put their word forward, the letter reads, according to Jolies post. The rights of the woman are taken away from them and they are not allowed to do anything in the country, the letter continued. Few weeks back when the Taliban arrested 2 of the women who raised their voices in order to ask for the rights of woman and freedom, I just thought, that this is the end and I might never be able to go outside again or even be able to speak as I am a Girl. Advertisement LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 18: Actress Angelina Jolie attends the Los Angeles premiere of MSNBC Films' "Paper & Glue: A JR Project" at Museum Of Tolerance on November 18, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by JC Olivera/Getty Images) (Jc Olivera/Getty Images) The Taliban took over power in Afghanistan last August. Jolie, who didnt share name of the letters author in order to protect her identity, urged her followers to help make sure women in Afghanistan are not forgotten. Please track what is happening in Afghanistan, where young women are being taken from their homes at night at gunpoint and disappeared, and new restrictions are being imposed on the freedom of women and girls day by day, the Oscar-winning actress wrote. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday filed a case against underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and others under various sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. Now the elite probe agency will look into the cases pertaining to the D-company. Sources have confirmed to IANS that the Union home ministry has given them approval to start a thorough probe. An NIA official told IANS that the names of Dawood Ibrahim and his aides have been mentioned in the FIR filed by the NIA. The official said for quite a long time Dawood had been spreading terror activities across India. He has also pumped money through Hawala channels to financially help those who are working at his behest to create unrest across India. The agencies have been keeping a close eye on the activities of the D-company and have found that in the recent past they have recruited people across India to create riot-like situations. They are promoting anti-national activities and are also trying to create rifts between different religious groups. "Earlier, a lot of information was shared with us regarding the involvement of Dawood in a lot of anti-national activities that took place across India. He is recruiting people in India and is financially and logistically helping them to create a riot-like situation. Different social media platforms are being used by them to communicate. We intercepted a few of them and came to know that a deep-rooted conspiracy was being hatched. Now on the basis of the materials available we have lodged an FIR against Dawood and D-company," said the NIA official wishing anonymity. NIA Public Relations Officer Sanjukta only confirmed that a case was lodged against the D-company. Meanwhile, seeing the gravity of the matter, the NIA has formed a team of its elite officials to look into the matter. Check out latest videos from DH: The seizure of 45 kilograms of heroin at two separate border areas in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday reveals how narco-terror is becoming a big threat from Pakistan not only in terms of sustenance of terrorist activities but also in terms of its impact on youth in the region. In the first incident, three Pakistani intruders were gunned down by the BSF as it scuttled a major narcotic smuggling attempt and recovered 36 kg heroin worth crores of rupees along the International Border in Samba sector of Jammu. This was the fourth narcotic smuggling bid foiled by the BSF troops along the border in Jammu region this year. On the same day, J&K police seized nine kilograms of heroin in the Uri sector of north Kashmirs Baramulla district. Also Read 3 narco-smugglers shot dead by BSF along J&K border The seizure of narcotics in several incidents in Uri during the last few years suggests that multiple networks are involved in narcotic trade. We are investigating how such networks operate and how they are interconnected here and across the border with their counterparts, SSP Baramulla, Rayees Bhat, told DH. According to sources, the two recoveries of heroin on Sunday were worth over Rs 200 crore in the international market. In the wake of serious crackdown by the law enforcement agencies against the Hawala operators, Pakistan based agencies used cross-LoC trade and narcotics to fund the terrorism and unrest in the Valley. However, since early 2019 when the cross LoC trade was shut down, Narco-trade seems to have become the exclusive route to finance terrorism and unrest, they said. As is observed across the globe, huge money is transacted between the recipients and suppliers of drugs in the world of narcotics which as per general observation is missing in the narco-trade between recipients in Kashmir Valley and suppliers in Pakistan. It is such nuances that differentiate the existence of narco-trade elsewhere in the world from narco-terrorism in Kashmir, they said. A senior doctor at a drug de-addiction center in Srinagar said that after selling illusions and Azadi dreams, Pakistan has now started selling drugs to Kashmiri youth. The huge seizures of heroin by police and other security agencies have proven it beyond doubt that people sitting across the LoC want to have a drug addict in every house in Kashmir to fight the proxy war which commenced in 1990, he added. As per the J&K police data, in 2020 over 152 kg of heroin and 49.7 kg of brown sugar were recovered from different parts of J&K. In 2020, the police had registered 1,132 cases and arrested 1672 people involved in drug trafficking. The narco-terror plot got exposed largely in 2018. In July that year, the then J&K police chief Shesh Pal Vaid had termed drug menace a bigger challenge than terrorism in the region. His successor Dilbagh Singh says drug menace is as big a challenge as terrorism and asserts that police was doing its bit to control the menace. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Nine people returning from a wedding were killed when a car in which they were travelling was hit by a truck in Andhra Pradesh's Anantapuram district. Father of the bride was among those killed in the accident that occurred near Budagavi village of Urvakonda mandal on Sunday night, police said. According to police the victims were returning home from a wedding in Bellary, Karnataka. The tragedy occurred when a truck coming from the opposite direction rammed into the car on Anantapuram-Bellary highway between Budagavi and Kottalapalli villages. A police officer said all the occupants of the car were killed in the collision. Police had a tough time in retrieving bodies from the badly mangled car. The deceased include bride's father Venkatappa Naidu (58), who is state secretary of BJP Kisan Morcha. He along with other relatives was returning their home in Nimbagallu village after attending wedding of her daughter in Bellary. The other deceased were identified as Swati (38), Jaswanth (12), Jhanvi (12), Saraswati (60), Ashok (30), Shivamma (30) and Subhadramma (60). Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the accident and announced ex-gratia from Prime Minister's National Relief Fund to the families of the deceased. "Pained by the loss of lives due to a tragic accident in Ananthapuramu district, AP. Condolences to the bereaved families. An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of the deceased," tweeted the Prime Minister on Monday. Pained by the loss of lives due to a tragic accident in Ananthapuramu district, AP. Condolences to the bereaved families. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of the deceased: PM @narendramodi PMO India (@PMOIndia) February 7, 2022 Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan has also expressed shock over the accident and conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Monday gave his assent to the ordinance promulgated by the Left government in the state to curb the powers of the Lokayukta. The Governor signed the ordinance a day after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had appraised Khan of the circumstances that led to an ordinance to amend the Lokayukta Act in the state. Sources from the Governor's office confirmed that Khan has signed the ordinance. The opposition Congress has been urging the Governor to not sign the ordinance. saying the CPI(M)-led dispensation was trying to promulgate it at a time when complaints of several irregularities of the government were pending. Also read: Lokayukta dismisses plea against Kerala Higher Education Minister The meeting on Sunday was a first of its kind in recent times between the Chief Minister and the Governor after a row had erupted over the differences between the government and the Raj Bhavan on the alleged political interference in the functioning of the universities. In December last year, the Governor wrote a letter to the Chief Minister urging the latter to remove him from the post of the Chancellor of universities, and take over. The Chief Minister is also learnt to have briefed the Governor about his visit overseas. Vijayan went to the UAE last week after his two-week-long medical treatment in the United States. He returned to the state on Sunday. Check out latest videos from DH: The Kerala High Court on Monday declined to grant bail to one of the accused in the killing of BJP's OBC Morcha state secretary Ranjith Sreenivas in Alappuzha last year, saying there was material to suggest the man was part of the conspiracy behind the murder. Justice Gopinath P said he was not inclined to accept the accused man's claim that the only allegation against him was that he committed the offence under Section 212 (harbouring an offender) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) which is a bailable offence. "Prima facie, there are materials to suggest he was part of the conspiracy to murder Ranjith," the court said. The BJP leader was hacked to death in front of his family on the morning of December 19, 2021, hours after the state secretary of Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), K S Shan, was killed the previous night. Shan was brutally attacked while he was on his way back home at night on December 18, 2021. A car had rammed into his bike and as he fell down, the assailants inflicted around 40 injuries on him leading to his death. The very next day, in the morning, several assailants barged into Ranjith's home and hacked him to death before his family. The back-to-back killings in Alappuzha on December 18-19 last year had rocked the coastal district and led to imposition of prohibitory orders there for a couple of days. The accused had claimed that he was not part of the conspiracy, but senior Public Prosecutor P Narayanan, vehemently opposing the bail plea, said there was evidence that he was part of the plan to kill the BJP leader. The prosecutor also told the court that according to digital evidence, including call detail records, he was in contact with those involved in the killing of the BJP leader. The high court on January 13 had granted bail to three of the accused in the murder case of Shan, saying "the only allegation against them is that of having committed an offence under Section 212 (harbouring an offender) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) which is a bailable offence". Therefore, they are entitled to bail, the court had said. A similar relief was sought by the accused in the Ranjith murder case, but the court dismissed the plea. Watch the latest DH videos: Telangana's IT, Industries Minister KT Rama Rao has accused the BJP led central government of conspiring to privatize the Singareni Collieries in the state. The Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) is a coal mining company jointly owned by the Telangana and Union governments on a 51:49 equity basis. The Singareni coal reserves stretch across 350 km of the Pranahita Godavari Valley of Telangana with proven geological reserves aggregating to a whopping 8,791 million tonne. SCCL is operating several opencast and underground mines in Adilabad, Karimnagar, Warangal and Khammam areas, with a manpower of about 44 thousand workers. The present controversy is around the Centre's plan to auction four coal blocks -Kalyan Khani Block-6, Koyagudem Block-III, Sathupalli Block-III and Shravanapalli located in Telangana. While the TRS is asking the Union government to cancel the auction of these four coal blocks and direct allocation to SCCL, the Centre is firm on auction route for the sale of coal. Minister KTR alleged that the BJP's plan is to first push Singareni into loss and then privatize it. In neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, iron ore mines required for the Vizag Steel Plant were not provided, which led to its losses. VSP will be privatized soon. The Centre is conspiring to kill Singareni also in a similar fashion by refusing to allocate the coal mines, KTR said. KTR shot off a letter to Union Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi on Monday demanding the coal mine allocation directly to Singareni. KTR questioned the Centre as to why the coal mines were not allocated to Singareni directly like the Lignite mines allocated to Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation in Gujarat. Under the BJP rule, there is one rule for Gujarat and another rule for Telangana! Is Telangana not a part of India? the minister asked. This is not just discrimination against Singareni organization, it is discrimination against the Telangana state and its people. SCCL is not a coal but gold mine giving employment to thousands of youth in Telangana. Singareni employees and Telangana people will show their power in Delhi if the BJP continues its attempts to privatize the company. This agitation will be much bigger than the agitation staged against the three farm laws, KTR said. In the letter, KTR stated that Singareni output went up from 450 lakh tonnes to 670 lakh tonnes in last seven years. "Singareni is providing coal not just within Telangana but also to various thermal power plants in Maharashtra and south Indian states. Singareni is the only public sector undertaking in the country to contribute 29 per cent of the profits," he said. "The Centre should have allocated the mines to strengthen Singareni running in profits. Instead, they are asking the company to participate in auctions. This is creating hurdles for Telangana and its development," said KTR. Check out latest DH videos here Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said Hindutva is nothing but a true reflection of Indian Constitution, and has been derived from the 5,000-year-old tradition and culture of the country. Speaking on 'Hindutva and National Integration' here in Maharashtra, Bhagwat described Hindutva as the reflection of the preamble of the Constitution, like equality, fraternity, justice, liberty, social justice and "thread of unity" running through its diversities. Bhagwat made the remarks while speaking at a programme organised by Lokmat group of newspapers on the occasion of its golden jubilee. He said the entire population of the country was progeny of Bharat Mata and Vande Matram unites the people. "We should all walk together and it is the Hindutva that binds all of us together as Hindus. We have to give up all wrong doings and and sustain unity in diversity. "All inclusive and all encompassing truth is what we call Hindutva. It is our national identity. We talk about secularism, but it existed in our country for years and before the constituting the Constitution and it's because of Hindutva," he added. Bhagwat said the idea of unity in diversity has been path of the Indian culture since ancient times and Indian cultural identity is defined by Hindutva. "The world thinks that for unity you need uniformity. But in our country, the idea of looking for unity in diversity has been prevalent since ancient times." He further said that the word Hindutva was first coined by Sikh religious leader Guru Nanak Dev and not not Veer Savarkar as claimed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, without mentioning his name. "Hindu is a name of "Sanskriti" that is largely the lifestyle of people in the country. No one is free from religion," he said adding "we should change ourselves as the time changes and demands and does not oppose any religious rituals". Check out DH's latest videos: The Dharam Sansads, or religious congregations, that took place over the last two months in Haridwar in Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh's Raipur and Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, all called for eliminating the nation's largest minority, pushing them out of localities, boycotting them economically, and in one instance impregnating Muslim women by Hindu men. Essentially, these were calls for murder and rape and therefore fit the definition of genocide, which means crimes committed to destroy or eliminate people of a particular racial or religious group. So it came to pass that on February 3, 2022, shots were fired at the vehicle of AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi when he was returning to Delhi from a poll campaign in UP. Two men were arrested within 24 hours. One of the alleged shooters, Sachin Sharma, according to his social media accounts, is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and has pictures of himself with MP Mahesh Sharma and UP Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma. Media reports say that hours before the firing, Sachin Sharma shared on his Facebook account a video of a speech made by Owaisi in which the Hyderabad MP was critical of UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Given the terrifying levels of anti-Muslim speech in the last few months, one can only presume that the shooters were inspired to act with impunity because they believed they would ultimately get immunity. After all, an individual named Kapil Gurjar, who fired shots in the air near an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protest site in Shaheen Bagh, Delhi, in the run-up to the assembly elections in the city-state in 2020, would get out of jail quite easily and be photographed joining the BJP in UP's Ghaziabad (the party later reversed the decision due to a media outcry). It would be a natural progression of thought to words to action when we note that Owaisi was mentioned by name at all the three recent congregations where speakers raved and ranted about Muslims. Therefore, this can be seen as an instance of a threat being put into practice, of words inspiring criminal action. Meanwhile, Owaisi, in his powerful speech in Parliament, refused the highest Z level security offered to him and said he would prefer to be an "A" category citizen. So, who exactly is Asaduddin Owaisi and what is his importance today? He is arguably the most influential and forceful Muslim voice in Indian public life today. He has a fan following among Muslims who see him as an individual who articulates their problems and fears in an age when traditional secular parties have been compelled to avoid showcasing Muslims or raising their issues, even if they are seeking minority votes. In Uttar Pradesh, which has a 20 per cent Muslim population, there is admiration for Owaisi, and his speeches are listened to on mobile phones in areas where minorities live. Yet, this does not translate into votes for his party in the state. In the 2020 Bihar assembly election, the AIMIM had won five assembly seats in the Muslim dominated part of the state, known as Seemanchal. In doing so, the AIMIM had brought down the tally of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)-led alliance that lost the state narrowly to the BJP-Janata Dal (United) alliance. However, indications from the ground do not suggest that the AIMIM could repeat the Bihar performance in UP. However, in the backdrop of the election, some commentators see the attack on the Hyderabad MP's car not as a lone wolf attack but as a false flag operation designed to communalise the ongoing assembly poll. The pockets with the largest Muslim populations vote in the first two phases. One theory goes that attacking Owaisi could lead to Hindu-Muslim tension and impact the polls in two ways, both of which could be advantageous to the BJP. First, if Muslims got emotional and outraged, that would lead to counter polarisation among Hindus (this has not happened). Second, it would give a higher profile to Owaisi and the AIMIM candidates who can cut some votes of the minority community, most of which are headed to the Samajwadi Party (SP)-led front. So, is Owaisi a vote-cutting agent of the BJP? Actually, most average Muslims do not think so, although some analysts in the Urdu press say so. But many young Muslims, alienated, jobless, communally profiled and therefore with few prospects outside the ghetto, describe him as the last man standing up and speaking for the community. But on the question of actually voting for him, there is still a debate on whether it would be a wasted vote in the state election, particularly as the SP-led front is seen as leading the fight against the ruling BJP. Owaisi himself is socially a conservative, and therefore many liberal Muslims are uncomfortable with the idea of the community he represents. Yet, he does speak out on issues on which many political parties claiming to represent minorities have become speechless. When confronted with why the so-called secular parties keep attacking him, Owaisi has the following response. That when any election takes place, "The people I call the Chaudharys of Indian democracy tell Muslims that it is a matter of their life and death and they must keep secularism alive by voting for them." Therefore, he says, political parties are "training Muslims to live in fear and to render all their other issues such as education, livelihood, equality, irrelevant." Then when the elections are over, he says, Muslims continue to die every day. Today, in the midst of death threats and genocidal speech, attacks on Muslim dress codes and spaces for prayer, this does not sound alarming but realistic. (Saba Naqvi is a journalist and an author.) Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH. Check out DH's latest videos: India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations T S Tirumurti seems to have tied himself in knots while making a case for Hinduphobia, Buddhistphobia and Sikhphobia and to place it along with Islamophobia, Christianophobia, and anti-semitism, and on the other hand opposing the expansion of the definition of terrorism to include "racially and ethnically motivated violent extremism, violent nationalism, rightwing extremism etc." He was speaking at the International Counter Terrorism Conference held by the Global Counter Terrorism Council on January 18. India is the chair of the UN counter-terrorism committee for 2022. Tirumurti's argument, which is the official Indian position, comes in two parts. The first is that the UN and the world must recognise discrimination against other major faiths like Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism, and not just the Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam as it is the case now. The second part of the argument is that the definition of terrorism should not be diluted to include all shades of extremist ideologies. He argued that left- and right-wing ideologies are part of democracy, and those who believe in them come to power through the battle of the ballot, and they enjoy the acquiescence of the majority of people. Therefore, right-wing extremism and left-wing extremism should not be counted as terrorism: "We, therefore, need to be wary of providing a variety of classifications, which may militate against the concept of democracy itself." Tirumurti said that "so-called threats which are limited to national or regional contexts" should not be included in a global narrative "because they are neither global nor have any global definition." It is evident that there are quite many ambiguities embedded in the Indian position, and it is neither a weakness nor a sin because there are no simple definitions. What is implied is that terrorism has to be defined very clearly as something that threatens the global order. It is to be understood that in the Indian view, Al-Qaeda, and till recently, the Taliban, posed such a trans-national threat. India has not yet made up its mind whether the Taliban is a legitimate political actor on the global stage or not. Clearly, India is not keen to use the term 'Islamic terrorism' or even 'jihadi terrorism'. It wants to stick to the term 'terrorism' without too many qualifications. India and the Western powers, including Europe and the United States, generally agree on the term 'terrorism'. They know that it emanates mainly from non-state actors like Al-Qaeda, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) Boko Haram in Nigeria. Of course, Pakistan-based jihadi groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM), which have been placed on the UN list of terrorist groups, are deemed terrorist. India has indeed to tread carefully because the jihadi groups claiming to fight for Kashmir should not be allowed to internationalise the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. And that indeed is the intent of Pakistan which is not content to keep the Kashmir question a bilateral one because Pakistan finds itself at a disadvantage. India then will have to show that organisations like LeT and JeM pose a threat to the international order in the same way that Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and Boko Haram do. India is confident of repelling any attack on Kashmir, either Pakistan or a jihadi group. India's stance would be that the jihadi organisations and the states like Pakistan, which provide them with a base, are disturbing international peace. Pakistan has won a part of its battle when its support for the Taliban has been legitimised and strengthened by the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan after an unsuccessful 20-year war. But the fact that most countries are unwilling to recognise the Taliban government makes it a thorny issue. This is also the reason that Pakistan, too, has not recognised the Taliban regime. India, especially under a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, is keen to keep the issue of global terrorism boiling. However, it appears that the United States itself, which has made terrorism a global issue after September 11, 2001, terror attacks in New York and Washington, seems to have lost interest in the issue. Washington now has new issues Ukraine and Taiwan. If the Americans are to withdraw from the war against global terror, it might be difficult to sustain it. India does not have the economic and military clout to keep it going. There is no official declaration from the Americans that the war against global terrorism is over though it is practically over, and America is engaged in new Cold War hostilities with Russia and with China. It is plausible the reason the Indian representative alluded to discrimination against Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism is a clever way of moving away from the ever-elusive issue of terrorism proper. If America does not any more feel threatened either by Al-Qaeda and ISIS et al, and the Taliban have been left free to govern Afghanistan according to their own rules and whims, then talk about terrorism becomes nothing more than a debating society topic. Hinduphobia then becomes a more amenable topic for discussion. But terror finance remains an issue. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is active, but here too, its ambit has been generalised as it includes money laundering, which is only a part of combatting terror finance. It is aimed at tax-evaders and global drug syndicates as well. India is interested in FATF because Pakistan is on its radar, and India believes, and perhaps rightly too, that this should serve as a check on Pakistan's financial and so-called moral support to groups like LeT and JeM. The America-determined post-global terrorism agenda then is directed towards Russia and China. America is pursuing its strategic goals under the garb of democracy and freedom. India is not too hung up on the issues of democracy and freedom. New Delhi is keen on strengthening itself on nationalist credentials and economic reach. And China is its main rival, though China does not consider India to be one. It is inevitable perhaps that the 2001-2021 anti-terrorism era should come to an end, and India has to look for a new global perspective. (The writer is a New Delhi-based political commentator) Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH. The Hijab row was not created by students, but some people with vested interests from coastal Karnataka, Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda said on Monday. "Students of both Muslim and Hindu communities are being misled. Students are innocents," he told reporters outside the Parliament. A small political outfit from coastal Karnataka with vested interests raked up this controversy, he said, adding that both national parties (BJP and Congress) are taking political advantage of it. "We must take steps to stop this row immediately in the interest of students future," Gowda said. A new celeb baby has been born, and it is not Nick Cannons. Kylie Jenner last week welcomed her second child with Travis Scott, she said in a Sunday Instagram post consisting simply of a black-and-white photo of the newborns hand cupped in a childs hand, presumably her big sister. Advertisement The 24-year-old confirmed the pregnancy in September with an Instagram video that showed her celebrating with boyfriend Scott. The baby was born the day after big sister Stormi Webster turned 4, Jenner said. Its a boy, which she informed the world with a blue heart next to the auspicious date of his birth, 2/2/22. Advertisement Travis Scott and Kylie Jenner attend the premiere of Netflix's "Travis Scott: Look Mom I Can Fly" at Barker Hangar on August 27, 2019 in Santa Monica, California. (David Livingston/WireImage) The youngest self-made billionaire turned her famous name into a cosmetics empire by founding Kylie Cosmetics, which in 2019 was valued at about $900 million. Jenner, the youngest of Kris Jenners six children, has been wanting to give Stormi a sibling for a while, a source told People. She loves being a mom. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 22 Los Angeles Rams football player Odell Beckham Jr. and girlfriend Lauren Wood are happy in their newborn bubble after welcoming their first child together on Feb. 17, 2022. "Zydn was born n at that moment I knew my life changed for the better." (Odell Beckham Jr. via Instagram) Said to be thrilled to be pregnant, Jenner kept close to home, spending time with close friends and family, a source told People last fall. Those friends and family threw her a baby shower in January, complete with wooden giraffe sculptures amid rose-adorned trees. The new baby comes three months after the Astroworld Festival tragedy during which 10 people died during a crowd surge while rapper Scott was on stage. Tension prevailed for a while at Sahyadri Commerce and Management College campus in Shivamogga when a group of students staged a protest on the college campus objecting to the hijab worn by Muslim girl students on Monday. Noticing that some Muslim students attended the classes wearing hijabs, a few students including women staged a protest wearing saffron shawls and demanded the college authorities to ask those girls to remove hijab in classrooms or permit them to attend the classes wearing saffron shawls. Also Read | Karnataka students wear saffron shawls to colleges as hijab row escalates Reacting to the protesting students' demand, the college Principal Veena said that all students must attend classes wearing their uniform and there would be no compromise in it. She added that the college had however yet to receive the government order mandating that students wear their uniform. Sensing that the situation may move from bad to worse, police rushed to the college campus and held talks with agitating students. Meanwhile, Muslim students staged a protest in the premises of the deputy commissioner's office, urging the government to allow them to attend classes wearing the hijab, which they said is their fundamental right. Check out latest DH videos here Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday asked Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai to take up the Cabinet reshuffle only after the Assembly elections in five states. Bommai, who is in Delhi on a two-day tour, held a half-an-hour-long meeting with Shah. During the meeting, Shah is learnt to have told the CM that the central leaders were busy with elections in five states. Shah is learnt to have told Bommai that the issue will be discussed after the elections. Cabinet expansion and appointments to board and corporations should take place simultaneously, Shah suggested. Results of the elections to the five states will be declared on March 10. When Bommai favoured a complete reshuffle by dropping some senior ministers, Shah is learnt to have told him that it would be better to expand the Cabinet by filling vacant berths, cautioning the CM of possible dissident activities if senior ministers are dropped. Shah also suggested to the CM to meet BJP president J P Nadda and discuss the issue. Bommai is likely to meet Nadda on Tuesday. Prior to meeting Shah, Bommai also held a long meeting with Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi. Separately, former CM Jagadish Shettar and Sugar Minister Shankar Patil Munenakoppa also arrived at national capital. Both the leaders came to Delhi to meet the party top leaders. Earlier, the CM said he would meet the party brass and discuss the Cabinet rejig. Pressure is mounting on the CM to expand or rejig his Cabinet soon. The Bommai Cabinet currently has four vacancies against a full strength of 34 ministers. There is a strong push from Belagavis leaders led by former minister Ramesh Jarkiholi for a Cabinet position to one of the two Jarkiholi brothers or their associates. Citing the Karnataka Assembly polls in 2023, several legislators, including Basanagouda Patil Yatnal and M P Renukacharya, have openly said that if the Cabinet exercise is delayed and carried out after the elections in the five states, it will be too late for new ministers to make any mark, even in their own constituencies. Check out latest videos from DH: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and requested her to extend the GST compensation period up to 2024-25. As per the existing system, GST compensation period will end on March 2022. However, state government has been financial crisis due to Covid-19 pandemic. To ease the state's burden, the Centre should extend the compensation period, the CM said. Emerging out of the meeting, the CM said the Finance Minister responded positively to his plea. The CM said during his meeting with Union Power Minister R K Singh, he requested him to relax some conditions imposed on electricity distribution companies (Discoms) to availing bank loans. Since Karnataka is spending Rs 15,000 crore per year for electricity subsidy, the Centre should relax some conditions to clear discoms pending bills by state governments. Read | 'Karnataka not to compromise in river linking projects' During his meeting with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the CM requested him to arrange more wagons to supply coal to states. The CM also held meeting with state MPs and requested them to take up state pending issues at the Centre. The meeting was also attended by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. On river linking, the CM said Karnataka should get its rightful share of waters in the inter-linking of rivers. "Our share should be decided on water accruing in our river basin, our need and equitable share. This is our stand. All the states should be taken into confidence before finalising the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the project. All measures would be taken to get Karnataka's rightful share of water. As it involves Krishna and Cauvery, the lifelines of our state, we have made our stand clear. There is no compromise on this," he said. Watch latest videos by DH here: Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra suspected that some organisation or some people are behind the surface of the hijab row in schools and colleges across Karnataka. "I have directed police to discover who are behind this development." Speaking to media persons in Thirthahalli town on Monday, he calimed earlier Muslim students used to attend classes without wearing hijab. All of a sudden, they are demanding the government to permit them to attend classes wearing hijabs, he added. "Besides, they are threatening that they would quit their studies if not permitted. It seems there is some one behind this development", he said. Jnanendra further said, "students are saying that this is my religion and permit us to wear this in classrooms. But the government can't allow for it." "Wearing uniform has been made mandatory in schools and colleges. All students must follow it and saffron shawl and hijab are banned in classrooms. Police have been directed to provide protection to all schools and colleges", he said. Watch the latest DH videos: Despite the Karnataka government issuing a new circular banning hijab as well as saffron shawls in college campuses, the row continued on Monday as students in different cities of the state came wearing the shawls and hijabs. Protesting against the girl students attending schools and colleges wearing hijab, students of two colleges in Indi taluk of the Vijayapura district attended their classes wearing saffron shawls on Monday. The incident took place at Shanteshwar PU College and GRB Degree College in Indi town. Administrative board of the both colleges called an emergency meeting and declared holiday to avoid controversy. The students have been directed to come college wearing uniform as per the government order. Also Read: Headscarf row: Separate room for agitating girls Vijayapura is considered a BJP stronghold and also communally sensitive. Meanwhile, students of Venkataramana College in Kundapur, Udupi district, were stopped by a sub-inspector attached to the Kundapur police station, Sadashiva Gavaroji, from entering the college premises as they were wearing saffron shawls. The Principal of the Venkataramana College said that students wearing saffron shawls and hijab won't be allowed inside the college premises. Also Read Students must follow government order on uniform: CM Basavaraj Bommai amid hijab row The intelligence agencies and Education Department are on high alert about disturbing developments regarding the hijab row in the state. Miscreants threatened BJP leader Raheem Uchil for speaking for the ruling government in connection with row. Uchil, leader of BJP Minority Morcha and also President of Karnataka Byari Literature, came out in the open and condemned the move by few organisations to kick up the hijab row in the state. Also Read: Its now Congress vs BJP on hijab row The miscreant had abused the lawmaker and threatened that he would be killed for speaking against the wearing of hijab. He has lodged a complaint in this regard with the Pandeshwara Police station in Dakshina Kannada district. In another development, Udupi police have taken two persons into custody for flashing knives during hijab-saffron shawl protest on February 5. The police have launched a search operation for three other persons who were spotted with weapons at the site of a student protest. The arrested persons have been identified as Abdul Majeed (32) and Razab (41), residents of Gangolli. The police have identified the persons who flashed weapons at the students protest site as Khaleel, Rizwan and Iftikar. Kundapur police have registered a case and are investigating the case. These developments have put the state agencies on high alert. The Karnataka High Court will take up the hearing of petitions by Muslim students on hijab row on Tuesday. The students have sought directions for the government and education department to allow them to wear hijab and attend classes. The state government has stated that they would frame a policy on uniform once the High Court gives its orders. Meanwhile, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the civic agency of the state capital known as Silicon Valley of India, planned to take preventive measures fearing surfacing of hijab row. The administration has started distributing uniforms, shoes and books to students and aiming to complete the exercise as early as possible. (With inputs from agencies) Watch the latest DH Videos here: The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a plea by former Karnataka Minister and senior Congress leader Vinay Kulkarni, questioning the validity of a CBI probe into the 2016 murder of a BJP worker in Dharwad. A bench of Justices U U Lalit, S Ravindra Bhat and P S Narasimha dismissed the petition by Kulkarni. "We see no reason to interfere," the bench said. Yogeshgouda Goudar, 26, a member of district Panchayat, was hacked to death on June 15, 2016, at his gym in Saptapur in Dharwad after being immobilised with chilli powder thrown on his face. The victim's family members suspected the role of former Minister and Congress leader Kulkarni in the murder. The B S Yediyurappa government had on September 6, 2019, ordered the CBI probe, within a couple of months of assuming charge. The top court had earlier on February 21, 2020, stayed the Karnataka High Court's order of November 21, 2019, that suspended the probe by the central agency into the matter. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Kulkarni, contended that the state government could not have issued the order for CBI probe when the trial was already complete. The decision would mean reinvestigation and retrial, resulting in negation of the petitioner's rights and violation of law, he added. The counsel said the High Court had earlier rejected a plea for the CBI probe by the mother and the brother of the victim, which was affirmed by the top court. Senior advocate Devdatt Kamat, assisted by advocates Rajesh Inamdar and Sharangouda Patil also argued for Kulkarni. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for co-accused and maternal uncle of Kulkarni, Chandrashekhar Indi, said it would be a very very dangerous principle of law if the government was allowed to reopen cases. The bench, however, said every criminal case depended on peculiar facts. Check out latest DH videos here Released: February 4, 2022 Delaware County Council recognized February as Black History Month in Delaware County during its Feb. 2 public meeting. Each February, Americans observe Black History Month, which was founded by Carter G. Woodson, the son of former slaves, and the Father of Black History, to celebrate the achievements of African Americans and recognize the central role they had in shaping U.S. history. Delaware County is fortunate to have numerous members of the community, schools, organizations, and faith-based groups who work to educate, celebrate, and promote black history and culture through education and the arts. County Council is proud to recognize the accomplishments of African Americans throughout our history, who have helped move our country toward a more equal and just society, said Delaware County Chair Dr. Monica Taylor. This month, we celebrate the men and women, across the nation and here in Delaware County, who struggled and sacrificed to guarantee freedom and rights for the children and grandchildren of the future. The contributions of African Americans and their endeavors to learn and thrive throughout history and make unforgettable marks in our Nation as artists, scientists, educators, business people, influential thinkers, members of the faith community, athletes, and political and governmental leaders, reflects the greatness of our country. What is a Robot Lawyer? A robot lawyer or robo-lawyer refers to a legal AI application that performs tasks that are typically done by paralegals or young associates at law firms. Some commentators say that legal AI is, technically speaking, neither a lawyer nor a robot and should not be referred to as such. However, artificial intelligence (AI) software systems and computer programmes that can update and analyse themselves are becoming increasingly popular. They are increasingly being used by the legal community. Why do we need a Robot Lawyer? Youd think that human attorneys would be concerned about AI invading their territory. However, some are thrilled because the programs or algorithms can swiftly comb through and sort massive amounts of case information. Artificial Intelligence (AI) also aids human lawyers in writing legal letters. These systems may help enhance productivity, reduce backlogs, ensure accuracy, and aid attorneys in improving the versatility of the services they offer. It may also have an indelible impact on document assembling, time monitoring and billing, job management, contract analysis, legal research, and data analytics in litigation. This help can prove to be crucial, particularly in countries with impossibly vast backlogs. Professor Richard Susskind, who leads the Lord Chief Justice of Englands advisory committee, highlights that in the country of Brazil, a court has a backlog of more than 100 million court cases. Another expert group, Felix Steffek and Ian Dodd highlighted how both sides may have obtained better or worse results under other conditions. More processing power has aided artificial intelligence in the legal community. Will this early level of AI development be restricted to merely descriptive analysis, or will it be capable of assessing rules and events? Thats what remains to be seen. Artificial Intelligence robots can be used as legal aid in many areas. Some of these include- 1) Organisational Lawyers Many organisations use robots to help them operate their businesses. Some organisations also have instruments that assess the compliance of their operations and policies with international legislation. They can do tasks traditionally performed by attorneys, such as client interviews and contract preparation. 2) Legal Consultant They assist consumers in locating the appropriate answers to their legal queries and difficulties. Robot legal advisers are now lowering the cost of legal services by making it simpler for clients to obtain legal advice before meeting with a human lawyer. 3) Corporate Lawyer Robot attorneys carry out corporate legal responsibilities such as conducting research, offering legal opinions, and informing corporations about fundamental compliance. However, programmers have created an AI lawyer that can help a corporation make a legally enforceable agreement with another company or entity. 4) Real Estate Lawyer Real estate lawyers are experts in the laws that govern property transactions and negotiations. However, lawyers who manage real estate properties are extremely busy. There are several tools and software on the market that can assist real estate owners in keeping track of their interests and commitments. Now, with the types of robo lawyers out of the way, lets look at examples of three lawyer bots in use today: DoNotPay, a legal service chatbot created by Joshua Browder, bills itself as the worlds first robot lawyer. The chatbot was originally designed to challenge parking charges, but it has now extended to incorporate additional services. The author claims an overall success rate of 80 percent, although this decreases to 65 percent for parking tickets. Chrissie Lightfoot, entrepreneur and legal futurist based in Yorkshire created the Robot Lawyer LISA. It is an AI-powered contracts tool that saves startups, real estate companies, and consumers time, effort, and money. LISA levels the playing ground by allowing everyone to construct a customised NDA that will protect them. A property package also includes three more contract tools for establishing business leases, residential leases, and lodger agreements. ROSS, Arruda, DallOglio, and Ovbiagele co-founded a legal research engine that employs artificial intelligence to automate legal procedures, making them more efficient and cost-effective. ROSS is based on IBMs Watson cognitive computer. Lawyers may pose research questions to them, and they may answer by reading the law, obtaining evidence, and making inferences. Because AI attorneys, like ROSS, are not paid, legal companies may be able to charge reduced costs. Robot lawyers or legal aids in the future are very much inevitable. Much like email transformed the way we do business every day, AI will become ubiquitous an invaluable assistant to almost every lawyer. A major concern is whether AI will genuinely replace attorneys, as appears to be the assumption. And, if so, are there any ethical or moral quandaries that should be explored about AI and the legal industry? In our opinion, the issue is, will people who did not adapt and welcome change be left behind in some way? It is true that attorneys are burdened and need to be liberated from the mundane duty of data collection to focus on the more valuable work of assessing outcomes, thinking, and advising their clients. These are professions that will almost always necessitate the human touch. AI may simply be a tool to assist attorneys in doing all of this more efficiently, quickly, and affordably. While algorithms are great at processing data, they fall short when it comes to emotional intelligence and human judgement. Complex areas of statutory law, such as tax, will gain from technologys greater processing abilities, but people will almost always be better at negotiating agreements, settling disputes, and making ethical decisions. Algorithms will undoubtedly affect legal practice in the future, even if they will not completely replace attorneys. Dispute resolution is likewise expected to be transformed by technology. Virtual courts may replace the traditional courtroom where all parties gather. From the start, the lawyer may shift from fighting the matter to designing smart contracts. Many individuals avoid going to see attorneys not because they dont need them, but because they are expensive. The good ones, that is. And if you were looking for money, you might not have much to take home after visiting a lawyer and paying their legal costs. Some may say, the elite are catered to by the human legal profession. Those who can afford to pay exorbitant prices. Large swaths of the population, particularly the most vulnerable, are left out in the cold. Where human attorneys have failed, robot lawyers could succeed. They can provide legal assistance to impoverished and disadvantaged areas in great need. The legal profession and the practice of law are evolving. There may be numerous issues that the profession will confront in the next few years, but no one can anticipate what the legal profession will look like in the future. One thing is certain: the number of robo-lawyers is certainly growing. This article was first featured in the January 2022 issue of the Digit magazine. To subscribe to the magazine, head to this link. To get the digital subscription, head over to Geek.Digit.in The V12 Detect Slim employs Dysons Hyperdymium motor that generates up to 150 air watts of powerful suction a 5-stage filtration system. Dyson has launched a new cordless vacuum cleaner in India, the V12 Detect Slim. One of the cleaning heads includes an angled laser light to reveal hidden dust on the floor and another major highlight is an acoustic piezo sensor that converts vibrations into electrical signals, precisely displaying the size and the number of particles sucked in on an LCD screen at the back. As engineers, our job is to solve daily problems, and the past few months has created plenty of new ones with more time spent indoors explains James Dyson, Chief Engineer and Founder. We are all cleaning more frequently, trying to remove the additional house dust but desperate for peace of mind that our homes are truly clean. Price and availability Dyson V12 Detect Slim Vacuum Cleaner has been priced at INR 58,900 in India and it will be available for purchase at Dyson.in and Dyson Demo stores across India starting from February 7. Also Check: iPhone SE 3 5G, a new iPad Air, and Mac Mini expected at Apple event on March 8 Dyson V12 Detect Slim Features The V12 Detect Slim employs Dysons Hyperdymium motor that generates up to 150 air watts of powerful suction a 5-stage filtration system and claims to capture 99.99% of particles as small as 0.3 microns before it expels the air. The Slim Fluffy cleaner integrates a green laser diode positioned at a 1.5-degree angle, 7.3mm off the ground. Dyson says that this laser will help see and detect dust particles that may otherwise not be visible to naked eyes. Carbon fibre filaments in the cleaner head pick up microscopic particles which are sized and counted up to 15,000 times a second. The dust enters the vacuum and hits the acoustic piezo sensor within the bin inlet with the tiny vibrations being converted to electrical signals. The dust size and quantity are shown on the in-built LCD screen, so the user gets a fair idea of how much dust the vacuum has removed. The cleaner also includes a new anti-tangle Hair screw tool which has a conical shape and spirals hair off and into the bin. This prevents the wrapping of hair around the brush bar and should be a great asset for cleaning pet hair. Subscriber content preview WASHINGTON (AP) The IRS will begin offering taxpayers limited Saturday walk-in help this tax season. Thirty-five tax assistance centers around the country will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 pm. on the second Saturday of the next four months, the agency said Friday. This comes after the IRS nixed walk-in visits during the pandemic, and limited service to appointments only. . . . Will your home insurance policy pay to fully replace your roof if its damaged in a hailstorm, a tornado, a fire, or by a falling tree branch during a summer thunderstorm? Or does your policy cover only your roofs depreciated value, leaving you on the hook to pay thousands perhaps tens of thousands of dollars if you suddenly need a new one? Advertisement It might be time to check. Several insurers have been offering reduced roof coverage as an option over the past two years. And you might have unwittingly elected that option at your last renewal if you were seeking the lowest possible price and didnt ask your agent to carefully explain how that was calculated. Soon, you might not have much choice. A recently filed state Senate bill proposes allowing insurers to substitute depreciated-value roof coverage in their standard multiperil policies. Full replacement coverage, now required under state law with those policies, would be offered at insurers discretion at a higher cost. Advertisement Insurers say the downgrade is necessary to keep insurance affordable if your roof is more than 10 years old and you need to insure your structure, contents and personal liability. But reducing your coverage could become a problem for you and the bank that owns your mortgage loan. Chances are, the contract you signed when you agreed to your loan requires you to maintain full replacement coverage for everything that could go wrong with your house. [ RELATED: Proposed bills would tighten eligibility to keep Citizens Insurance ] A question of survival Insurers and their supporters say they have little choice. Floridas home insurance market is in crisis, with most companies in the state reporting operating losses over the past five years, thanks to excessive claims and litigation. The culprits, insurers say, are a small number of large roofing contractors and the attorneys that work for them. Theyve been exploiting a Florida building code requirement that forces full roof replacement if more than 25% of the roof is damaged. Contractors dispatch teams to canvass neighborhoods, asking homeowners to let them inspect their roofs. If they find damage, they search old weather reports for a storm that could have caused the damage, then pinpoint it in an insurance claim demanding full payment for a new roof, often at inflated prices. If insurers balk at the claims, attorneys are standing by to litigate on roofers behalf. Insurers say the practice is killing their industry and driving consumer costs to unsustainable levels. Some consumers say their insurance costs more than their mortgage loan each month. Three insurers Florida Farm Bureau, United Property & Casualty, and TypTap recently announced that they wont be writing new business in the state for the foreseeable future. Southern Fidelity is seeking authorization from state regulators to raise its average rates 84.5% for 14,757 multiperil policies and 111% for 44,042 dwelling/fire policies. Meanwhile, several insurers are expected to declare insolvency because they wont have enough reserves to to purchase required levels of reinsurance prior to the June 1 start of hurricane season, state Sen. Jeff Brandes, a Pinellas County Republican, warned last week. Advertisement To remain solvent, insurers have two choices, says Paul Handerhan, president of the consumer-focused Federal Association for Insurance Reform. They can reduce coverage or raise prices, he said. [ RELATED: Your home insurance coverage costs so much because big-money forces are at war ] Theyve been raising prices. Now theyre seeking to cut coverage, Handerhan said. The depreciated roof proposal, part of a larger insurance bill filed by Senate Banking and Insurance Committee Chairman Jim Boyd, would reimburse homeowners based on the age of their roof and the materials used to build it. Exceptions would be roofs less than 10 years old, which would still be covered for full replacement cost, roofs that must be replaced if the structure is declared a total loss, and damage sustained in a hurricane named by the National Hurricane Center. The proposal cleared the Banking and Insurance committee by a 9-2 vote on Feb. 2. Opponents Annette Taddeo and Darryl Rouson, both Democrats, said they worried that low-income homeowners would be unable to come up with their share of the replacement cost if necessary. Would lenders allow coverage downgrade? Insurance agents contacted by the South Florida Sun Sentinel said they were concerned that homeowners who accept the depreciated roof coverage could risk being out of compliance with terms of their mortgage loans, which typically require full replacement coverage. Advertisement Those terms are dictated to lenders by federal mortgage guarantors, including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which combined back 63% of all single-family home loans in the United States. Spokespersons for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac contacted for this story pointed to language in their loan-purchasing guidelines that require borrowers to have full replacement coverage in place before the guarantors will purchase the loan from a lender. Anthony DiMarco, executive vice president of governmental affairs for the Florida Bankers Association, worked with Sen. Boyd when a similar reform was proposed during the 2021 spring Legislative session. He told Boyd that other states enacted laws allowing insurers to offer actual cash value coverage, rather than replacement coverage, for various risks, and generated no opposition from Fannie and Freddie. But those states were not as populated as Florida, nor do they have as much insured property value, he said. DiMarco said he reached out to officials of Fannie and Freddie for clarification on their policy but we cant get a straight answer. He added, We have concerns that yes, the homeowner could be out of compliance if they are not insured for replacement costs. We are trying to track it down. [ RELATED: Home insurance benefits could shrink to head off the spiral towards collapse ] Boyd said the Legislature and insurance industry wouldnt allow homeowners to be put in jeopardy with their mortgages if Fannie and Freddie announced that borrowers without full replacement coverage would face negative consequences. Advertisement Presumably, [that would mean] insurance companies would not be able to offer those coverages, he said. but we are paying attention to it for sure. At this point, theres no guarantee that Boyds bill will be enacted this year, or even come up for a vote before the full Legislature before the session ends on March 11. So far, no member of the state House of Representatives has filed a similar bill, which would have to be passed in that chamber before the measure could advance to the full Legislature. Many insurers offering option But some insurance companies have already sought and received authorization to offer depreciated roof coverage on an optional basis. State Farm was approved by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation in 2020 to offer what it called a Roof Services Payment Schedule Endorsement as an option to make its homeowners coverage more affordable. Since then, other companies started offering the same option to their own policyholders, including Heritage, Olympus, Southern Oak, Tower Hill, American Strategic, and Security First. One of the nations largest insurers, Progressive Home, emailed agents in December to announce that its depreciated roof coverage endorsement would be automatically included as the default option in policy quotes. Progressive owns several insurance companies operating in Florida, including American Strategic, ASI Preferred, ASI Assurance, Progressive Property Insurance, and ASI Home Insurance. Advertisement [ RELATED: Can you afford a new roof? If not, you might not be able to find home insurance ] Progressive spokesman Jeff Sibel said in an email that the company expects agents to tell customers that they are not required to purchase the endorsement. However, if they choose Replacement Cost Coverage, for homes with roofs 11 years or older, a roof inspection must be done within 30 days to ensure the policy will meet our underwriting guidelines, he said. Kyle Ulrich, president and CEO of the Florida Association of Insurance Agents, said that none of the members he polled reported encountering depreciated coverage included as the default quote for multiperil homeowner insurance. Dulce Suarez-Resnick, vice president of the Miami-based agency Accentria Insurance, said companies she works with have been careful about mentioning that it is available to be quoted if the customer is interested and they get a discount. That discount typically ranges from 6% to 12% off of the cost of a policy with full roof replacement coverage, she said. But Nancy Dominguez, executive director of the Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters, said her office has fielded complaints from homeowners upset by the discovery they did not have full roof coverage. Many policyholders, she said, simply ask their agent to find them the least expensive coverage option and the agent says, sign here, here and here and they sign it. Advertisement More than ever, Dominguez said, insurance customers need to ask their agent questions and carefully read their policies to ensure they understand what coverages they have and what they dont have. Waiting until they need to file a claim can become an expensive mistake, she said. Ron Hurtibise covers business and consumer issues for the South Florida Sun Sentinel. He can be reached by phone at 954-356-4071, on Twitter @ronhurtibise or by email at rhurtibise@sunsentinel.com. Subscriber content preview By KEITH RIDLER Associated Press BOISE, Idaho Idaho officials want to spend $300 million over the next five years to upgrade drinking water and wastewater treatment systems across the state, the state's top environmental official said Thursday. Idaho Department of Environmental Quality Director Jess Byrne told the Legislature's budget committee that the plan is to spend $60 million annually over the next five years for a total of $300 million. . . . Subscriber content preview SEATTLE An apartment building at 6708 California Ave. S.W. sold last week for a bit over $2.1 million, according to King County records. The seller was Morgan Junction 6 LLC, which acquired the property in 2019 for almost $2 million. . . . Douglasville, GA (30134) Today A mix of clouds and sun. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 84F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 63F. Winds light and variable. The group of Ukrainians sings their national anthem in support of their country at the Orange County Courthouse on Sunday. (Natalia Jaramillo/Natalia Jaramillo) A group of Ukrainians gathered outside the Orange County courthouse Sunday to show their support for their country amid growing tensions over a possible Russian invasion. The crowd of 26 assembled amid increasing tension over Russias military presence on the border of Ukraine and as the Biden administration announced Wednesday the deployment of about 3,000 troops in an attempt to stop a potential invasion. Advertisement We are here to show support for Ukraine and ask for support from the American government, said Vasyl Boichook, one of the rally organizers and president of St. Mary Protectress Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Apopka. If Russia were to invade Ukraine, it could lead to a war which would mean Ukraine would suffer the most due to its proximity, Boichook, 55, said. Advertisement We need help to fight Russia, Boichook said. Similar rallies were held Sunday across the country in New York City, Philadelphia and Washington D.C., said Mykola Havrlyuk, 39, a Ukrainian rally organizer. In Orlando, the rallygoers sang the Ukrainian national anthem, waved large flags and chanted Glory to Ukraine. If I need to, I would go and fight or if they need it, I would help support Ukraine financially, Havrlyuk said. We want to show respect to our country. Breaking News As it happens Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. > Many Ukrainians want their country to become part of NATO in order to ease struggles in the nation and gain help from the European Union, Havrlyuk said. Russia always wants to tell other countries what to do, but we want to be independent, Havrlyuk said. Ukrainians very much dont want to be part of Russia. They want to preserve what Ukraine has accomplished and preserve the culture, Havrlyuk said. Ukraine has a lot to offer; [the people] are hardworking, make some great art and music so it would be sad to lose that, Volodymyr Boichook, 26, said. Advertisement Yuliia Konstantinova, 28, last went to Ukraine in August 2021 to visit her family before Russia added more troops to the border. People still go to school and work and they live normal lives, Konstantinova said. I was more scared when everything first started. Konstantinova said she and other Ukraninans feel greatly appreciative that the U.S. is showing that they care through troop deployment and media coverage of the action at the border. An online petition calling on the government to initiate a public inquiry into the deaths of 23 people at Dealgan House Nursing Home in Dundalk has been launched. The petition, which can be signed here, asks for people to support the families calls for a public inquiry into the deaths, which happened during the first wave of Covid 19 in April and May 2020. In a statement on the Uplift website, the families said: During the first Covid 19 outbreak in 2020, 23 residents in Dealgan House Nursing Home died tragically and under harrowing circumstances as a result of contracting COVID-19. This represents one of the highest incidence rates of COVID in nursing homes in Ireland at that time. The RCSI hospital group took over operational control of Dealgan House during this period. Dealgan House is the only nursing home in Ireland where this happened. We have, over the last nearly two years, worked tirelessly as a collective of families to find out the circumstances surrounding the deaths of our loved ones. Our objective is to ensure safeguards, regulations and other measures are put in place to prevent the devastating events that unfolded in Dealgan House taking place again. We met with Minister Stephen Donnelly on 28th October 2020 and we put our questions to him and highlighted the importance of such an inquiry. We asked Minister Donnelly when he would respond to our call for a public inquiry into the deaths at Dealgan House. He said his response would be issued 'in weeks, not months.' Over one year later we have had no reply and no substantive reply to continued emails to the minister's office. We have myriad of outstanding queries and concerns that Dealgan House management and government officials have yet to clarify and respond to. For all of those who care about the safeguarding of the most vulnerable members of our society can we ask you to sign our petition asking for Minister Donnelly to set up an independent public inquiry into the deaths at Dealgan House. We need a mechanism where people are compelled to tell the truth about what occurred, to clarify inconsistencies and to provide learnings for the State in relation to how we care for older people in residential settings." Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. Lisa Smith, a former Irish soldier who denies membership of Islamic State, told gardai that she was not obsessed with jihad and described a prosecution witness as "dangerous" and a "selfish jihadi". In a garda interview in December 2019 Ms Smith said that Carol Karimah Duffy, a witness for the prosecution, taught her things about Islam that were not true and had "messed" her mind. She said Ms Duffy told her about Osama bin Laden and Sharia law and talked about Islam being "spread by the sword". Ms Smith also told gardai that if she had extremist views in the past, she doesn't have them now. Ms Smith called another prosecution witness, Tania Joya, a "liar". Ms Smith (39) from Dundalk, Co Louth has pleaded not (NOT) guilty to membership of an unlawful terrorist group, Islamic State, between October 28th, 2015 and December 1st, 2019. She has also pleaded not guilty to financing terrorism by sending 800 in assistance, via a Western Union money transfer, to a named man on May 6th, 2015. Detective Garda Ciaran McGeough told prosecution counsel Sean Gillane SC that he interviewed Ms Smith over several days at Kevin Street Garda Station following her arrest on December 1, 2019. During the sixth interview gardai read to Ms Smith a statement made by Ms Duffy a week earlier. Ms Smith said Ms Duffy was "the one who messed my brain with Islam." Ms Smith said she went from knowing nothing about Islam before meeting Ms Duffy to learning about Osama bin Laden, Sharia law and jihad. She said Ms Duffy was "dangerous" and a "selfish jihadi" who had told her that everything in Islam is "haram" or forbidden. She added: "She made me hate Islam at the beginning and I wanted to leave but I couldn't because I love god." When Ms Smith met an American convert to Islam named John Georgelas, aka Abu Hassan, she said she learned the opposite of what Ms Duffy had taught her. When gardai referred to Ms Duffy's claim that Ms Smith was "obsessed" with jihad, Ms Smith said: "She was the one who taught me all about this, about Osama bin Laden and Sharia. How was I obsessed with that? I was only a brand new Muslim who had no knowledge of Islam." She said Ms Duffy had taught her that Islam is "spread by the sword" and encouraged her to leave her job with the army because she said nationalism was forbidden. She denied that she has extremist views and said if she had extremist views before, she doesn't now, and added: "Having seen the extremism of the Islamic State I am not extremist any more. I'm the opposite, but she is extreme." Ms Smith said extremists are people who say it is forbidden to listen to music or speak with men. There are other extremists who cut off people's heads, including journalists, and say they have to kill everyone who doesn't agree with them. Others don't allow their wives to go outside or to own a telephone. She added: "I just want to go away and relax and stop talking with people. I just want to be left alone to pray and worship my god and be with my child." When Ms Tania Joya's statement was read out, Ms Smith denied being a jihadist. She also denied Ms Joya's claim that she wanted to become a martyr when she first went to Syria in 2013 with Ms Joya and Ms Joya's husband John Georgelas. She said her leg was injured at the time and so she would have been unable to fight and asked why, if she wanted to die a martyr, did she leave three months later with her husband. She said of Ms Joya: "She is a liar, she lied about many things." Gardai also asked Ms Smith about e18,000 she lodged into one of her bank accounts in February 2015. She said that she had received compensation of e25,000 following a car crash in 2005. She explained a series of withdrawals of e1,000 up to 18 September 2015 saying she paid for improvements to her family home and her flight to Turkey. She brought e8,000 with her but e7,000 was taken from her when she arrived in Syria. She said nobody told her to bring money with her and while in Syria she received food from the Islamic State or through Georgelas or her husband. The trial continues in front of Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding, with Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Cormac Dunne at the non-jury court. In this Dec. 11, 2021, photo provided by the U.S. Navy, Mobile Diving Salvage Unit One performs inspection and sampling of a water well near Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where U.S. Navy divers are trying to remove fuel from a water shaft at Red Hill. North Andover, MA (01845) Today Cloudy with periods of rain. High 61F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight A steady rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low near 45F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. Convicted cop-killer Markeith Loyd delivered a profanity-laced tirade at a Monday hearing as he struggled with deputies while trying to remove himself from the courtroom. Loyd appeared to be frustrated by technology issues during the hearing that delayed a defense experts virtual testimony. Advertisement I said Im leaving! he shouted to Circuit Judge Leticia Marques as he insulted her. Who is going to make me stay? You dont run me. ... Yall dont run me [expletive]! After the technical issues were resolved, clinical psychologist Xavier Amador testified that he diagnosed Loyd with schizophrenia and found him incompetent to proceed with his case. Amador said some of Loyds delusions are about the judge and prosecutors, who he believes are slave masters intent on killing a slave, which is how Loyd refers to himself. Advertisement Another delusion centered around a pair of red high-heeled shoes worn by Marques on occasion in court. Loyd believed she was wearing those shoes because she was out for [his] blood and determined to kill him, Amador testified. Loyd, 46, faces a possible death sentence after a 12-person jury convicted him of first-degree murder in the 2017 killing of Orlando police Lt. Debra Clayton. The same jury unanimously recommended that Loyd should be executed for fatally shooting Clayton when she tried to arrest him for killing his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Sade Dixon. The judge will decide whether to follow the jurys recommendation or sentence Loyd to life in prison. Marques allowed Loyds attorneys to present Amadors testimony Monday because he was not available for a sentencing hearing last month. The expert planned to testify about Loyds diagnosis of anosognosia, which impairs his ability to recognize his own mental illness, court records show. But at the start of Mondays hearing, his attorneys told the judge Amador had also found Loyd incompetent. After Loyd had an outburst and was escorted by deputies into a holding cell, defense attorney Allison Miller asked the judge to waive Loyds appearance at the hearing, saying she observed in a recent interaction that he was full-blown psychotic. Hes manifested that behavior since the day he was arrested, the judge said. ... He needs to come back in the courtroom. But Terence Lenamon, Loyds other attorney, said he had never witnessed during his clients numerous past outbursts Loyd make contact with Special Response Team deputies from the Orange County Sheriffs Office, who surveil him in court. Loyd could be heard cursing and arguing with his other attorneys in the holding cell. Hes never exhibited a contact with SRT in any of those situations and today he did, Lenamon said. Advertisement After a brief recess, Amador testified over the phone while Loyd was placed in a different room where he could still see and hear the proceedings. The psychologist said Loyd does not understand the proceedings taking place against him and has a fixed, false belief that there is absolutely nothing wrong with him. My testimony wouldnt convince him in any way, shape or form that he has a mental illness, Amador said. During cross-examination, Assistant State Attorney Rich Buxman asked Amador if Loyd was using the slave master reference as a metaphor for his feelings about systemic racism in the criminal justice system. No, he has certainty that the court, the judge in this case and the government in this case are slave masters, Amador said. He is a slave and the slave masters are seeking his death. He didnt talk about the system as a whole. Buxman said no other medical professionals diagnosed Loyd with schizophrenia during his incarceration. Breaking News As it happens Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. > Is your testimony that a person with schizophrenia not controlled by medication would be able to hide the symptoms from trained professionals over the course of decades? Buxman asked. Advertisement In many cases, yes, Amador responded. The judge said she was going to appoint two more experts to evaluate Loyd for competency. She tentatively scheduled a competency hearing for Feb. 21. Loyds sentencing is set for March 3, but it now hinges on whether Marques will find him competent. This is the second time Loyd faces a possible death sentence. He was convicted of first-degree murder in 2019 for killing Dixon but avoided the death penalty after jurors recommended he be sentenced to life in prison without parole. mcordeiro@orlandosentinel.com Plaistow - Linda Diane Bettincourt, age 71, of Plaistow, NH, formerly of Wakefield, MA passed away Thursday, April 28 at the Exeter Center in Exeter, NH. Born in Potsdam, NY on March 13, 1951 she was the daughter of the late Leon and Jean (Kembel) Schuyler. Linda was raised in Foxborough and Vincent Palmeri of Rockscapes clears a wooded area just east of the Fort Lauderdale airport on Monday as construction begins on a sanctuary for a colony of African vervet monkeys that has survived on a wedge of swampy forest for more than 70 years. Dania Beach Vervet Project, a nonprofit organization, will house the monkeys in a structure complete with fences, medical care and regular meals. (Susan Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel) Construction began Monday on a sanctuary for the vervet monkeys of Dania Beach, a wild colony whose ancestors escaped from a breeding farm in the 1940s. Workers began clearing space in a swampy forest wedged between Port Everglades and Fort Lauderdale airport, where the first enclosure will house monkeys who have become a weird and beloved part of the neighborhood. Advertisement About 45 monkeys live in the dense shadowy forest, darting from tree to tree, grooming each other and begging for handouts of fruit and peanuts. The initial enclosure will house only two, but there are plans for expansion. For the monkeys, whose ancestors had been headed toward the miseries of research laboratories and roadside zoos, the loss of freedom may carry a touch of irony and sadness. But Deborah Missy Williams, a biologist who heads the non-profit Dania Beach Vervet Project, said life for the monkeys can be rough, with some getting electrocuted on power lines or suffering grievous wounds from cars. Advertisement These monkeys are descendents of monkeys that escaped from a breeding facility in the 1940s. (Scott Luxor/Contributor) After seeing some of the monkeys dying of wounds that could be treated or people taking them for the pet trade, I just felt it was almost my responsibility to help out with them, just because I knew what was going on behind the scenes that people arent aware of, said Williams, who wrote her doctoral dissertation on the colony for Florida Atlantic University. I just couldnt walk away knowing that if a monkey gets hurt, that the animals going to suffer. The enclosures are required by state law. Williams had hoped to just provide the monkeys with veterinary care and return them to their forest. But Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission refused permission since theyre a non-native species, saying they couldnt be released back into the wild. Breaking News As it happens Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. > The initial enclosure is intended to help monkeys in need, Williams said, those that had been injured or rescued from trappers working in the pet trade. The alternative for these monkeys, she said, could be euthanasia. The work on the sanctuary is being done by two companies, Seawall Systems and Rockscapes, both giving the monkey organization a discount, Williams said. The colonys original monkeys, native to Africa, had been housed at the Dania Chimpanzee Farm, which sold monkeys to zoos and medical research facilities. A few escaped into the forest in 1948 and thrived, the colonys numbers growing as their sleepy corner of the world became home to an international airport, a busy seaport and the roaring traffic of Interstate 595. Signage is seen on Monday for the Dania Beach Vervet Project, a nonprofit organization that will oversee a sanctuary for a colony of African vervet monkeys just east of the Fort Lauderdale airport. (Susan Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel) One of the first arrivals to the enclosure will be a monkey named Spock. He had been trapped in the neighborhood on orders of a warehouse manager who didnt want him begging for treats from employees. He was traced to a small cage in the yard of a house in Miami-Dade County and rescued. With his rescue, he will return to the Dania Beach colony, although hell be living inside the fenced enclosure. The initial sanctuary plan is modest, a 200-square-foot enclosure that will house two monkeys. They will be given extensive enrichment activities, such as food hidden in pine needles so they have to forage for it. College students will receive academic credit for interacting with them. The sanctuary wont be visible from the street and will not be open to the public. The long-term plan is more elaborate. Plans call for adding on to the enclosure and constructing overhead walkways through the forest, so an entire social group of 16 monkeys can be safely housed. The Dania Beach Vervet Project has already leased 3 acres for the new enclosure, which is enough land to expand it. But Williams estimates it could cost $100,000. Thats my dream, to have various sizes of enclosures on the three-and-a-half acres, theyre all connected with walkways to they can have their own space to spread out as they need to, Williams said. So they have plenty of room to get away from another monkey. So they can take a break from all the social activity. Advertisement David Fleshler can be reached at dfleshler@sunsentinel.com and 954-356-4535. Visit focused on post-Covid-19 recovery, green transition and innovation Green projects accounted for 100 per cent of 2021 finance in the Czech and Slovak Republics Total 2021 investment in the CEB region was 1.3 billion EBRD Vice President for Banking Alain Pilloux visited the Czech and Slovak Republics last week for meetings with national governments and the business community. First, in Bratislava, he met with EBRD Governor and Slovak Finance Minister Igor Matovic. Later, in Prague, where a new government was sworn in December 2021 shortly after EBRD re-engagement in the country, he met with new EBRD Governor and Czech Finance Minister Zbynek Stanjura. Having graduated from direct EBRD investment activity in 2007, at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic the Czech Republic requested the resumption of EBRD investment for a limited period of five years to support the countrys economic recovery and help it to build back better. On his first visit since EBRD re-engagement, the Vice President discussed EBRD priorities with the newly appointed government. The EBRD adopted a new Country Strategy for the Czech Republic last September, with the sole priority of supporting a green and inclusive economic recovery from the Covid-19 crisis. At his meeting with the new Czech Minister of Finance on 3 February, the Mr Pilloux discussed Bank plans to support the decarbonisation of the economy and the green transition, including the EBRD flagship Green Cities programme. They also discussed ways to support cross-border activities and the further internationalisation of local companies, including through equity investments (directly through private equity funds). Examples of projects financed last year in the Czech Republic include a 35 million equity investment in Rohlik, a leading Czech online grocery retailer now expanding outside the Czech Republic, and a 10 million tranche of a green bond issued by regional PV developer, Photon Energy, which also operates in the Slovak Republic and Hungary. In the Slovak Republic, the EBRD continues to support the strengthening of the electricity transmission network following the closure of two obsolete nuclear reactors. The entirety of the EBRDs investment in the Czech and Slovak Republics last year was channelled to green projects. Investment in the CEB region in 2021 According to its final results for 2021, the EBRD last year committed a total of 1.27 billion to 50 projects in the economies of central Europe and the Baltic countries (CEB). Cumulative commitments to the regions in which the EBRD operates were 26.9 billion. The EBRD made its first ever investment in Poland in 1991, shortly after its inception. The EBRDs 2021 investment in the region was as follows, with the share of funds for Green Economy Transition (GET) initiatives in brackets: Croatia: 176 million (64% GET); Czech Republic: 8 million (100% GET); Estonia: 56 million (66% GET); Hungary: 63 million (76% GET); Latvia: 113 million (84% GET); Lithuania: 115 million (82% GET); Poland: 598 million (78% GET); Slovak Republic: 86 million (100% GET); Slovenia: 40 million (95% GET). The EBRDs priorities in the CEB countries are a green transition and the development of debt and equity capital markets. Overall, in CEB, 78 per cent of 2021 investment was green finance, up from 64 per cent in 2020. The vast majority was to private companies (87 per cent, or 1.24 billion), with only 30 million to a state-owned enterprise (to support green bond issuance by a Latvian electricity company). According to the EBRDs classification, the CEB region includes the westernmost economies of the regions in which the Bank operates, including Slovenia and Croatia, and the northern area of emerging Europe. Other European economies are classed as part of the south-eastern Europe region and the eastern Europe and the Caucasus region. A woman threw herself over Cork chef Timmy Hourihane to try to protect him as he was allegedly beaten to death in a crazy wild attack, the Central Criminal Court has heard. Kathleen OBrien was living in a tented village off Mardyke Walk in Cork city at the time of Mr Hourihanes violent killing on October 13, 2019. James Brady, 28, of Shannon Lawn, Mayfield, Cork, is on trial for Mr Hourihanes murder and has pleaded not guilty. Another man has also been charged with his murder and is to be tried at a later date. She said that on the night of the killing, a man who cannot be named for legal reason and James Brady "were shouting and yelling and screaming at the tented village. They were firing each other up, getting angrier and angrier, Ms OBrien said. They came across Timmy. They started beating him. James Brady and [the unnamed man] hit Timmy. Timmy fell down. I think James Brady hit him first. I think he hit him in the face with his fist. Timmy fell over. He didnt know what was going on. James Brady and [unnamed man] were shouting, egging each other on. I seen them stamp on Timmys head. Both of them. They were stamping on his head. Then one started stamping on his legs. They were taking turns. I threw my body over Timmys head to try to protect him, then down to his legs. Ms OBrien said that she repeatedly moved from covering Mr Hourihanes head to his legs, trying to deflect the blows as the two men allegedly moved unremittingly from one unprotected area to the next during the allegedly sustained attack. James Brady opened his [Mr Hourihanes] legs and said to [unnamed man] to go on kick him, hes only a faggot, she said James Brady then kicked him first followed by the unnamed man, she said. I could hear Timmy gurgling, Ms OBrien said. I screamed and pleaded, everything, for them to stop. I put my body over his head, they were pulling me off of him. I was getting hitthey were going crazy wild, with hits and kicks. I ended up with a black eye a few bruises, a few hits to the head. Mr Hourihane was covered with his own blood by the end of the attack, she said. Maybe they exhausted themselves by beating so much. It finally stopped when the man was beyond recognition. I ran, I got scared, back to the tent. James Brady just disappeared. Ms OBrien gave a statement to gardai following the alleged attack, initially saying that she knew nothing about it because she was scared for my life after seeing what they did. But she later changed her statement, giving gardai the same account that she gave to the Central Criminal Court in Waterford today. The trial in front of Justice Deirdre Murphy and a jury of seven women and five men continues. Mr Hourihane, a father of one, was a trained chef and worked for some time for the Hilton Hotel group in the UK but was homeless at the time of his death. He was originally from the Sheep's Head Peninsula outside Bantry in West Cork. He suffered extensive lung hemorrhaging due to blunt force, and head and facial trauma and died at Cork University Hospital after the alleged assault. A WOMAN has gone on trial by judge and jury charged with carrying out a sexual assault in her early teens on her eight-year-old cousin. The 24-year-old woman was arraigned at Cork Circuit Criminal Court and pleaded not guilty to a charge of sexually assaulting a girl at an address in Cork on an unknown date between May and September 2011. Prosecution barrister, Donal OSullivan, said the allegation in the case is that the defendant was sleeping at the complainants home in the Summer of 2011 when they were aged around 14 and eight, respectively. Mr OSullivan said it was alleged that, During the course of staying there, there was an inappropriate touching that went on between them There was inappropriate touching, kissing all over her body by the defendant. Detective Garda Iris Brosnan conducted an interview with the complainant at a time when she was 15 and a DVD of this recording was played to Judge Dara Hayes and a jury of nine women and three men at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. The complainant said she was eight and her cousin the defendant was 15 and was thrown out of home and she was allowed to stay at her house. She said the two of them shared a bed while her sister slept in another bed in the same room. She made me do stuff with her that I wasnt supposed to do. She said if I told anyone we done stuff together Id get in trouble. She used to be kissing up and down my body and she made me do the same stuff on her. I used to have to kiss her. At the end she fingered me. She used to be kissing down there on my private parts. She was on her knees. I was on the bed facing up. I felt weird. I didnt feel comfortable. I didnt know what she was doing. She was saying it was just a game like, to play along. She said it was a game and like everyone played it. If I didnt do it I would get in trouble. She put her finger in my private part. I didnt know what was going on. I felt weird. I felt confused and I felt a weird feeling travelling up my body. Charges denied Defence senior counsel Alice Fawsitt said the accused had a learning difficulty and that she totally denied the charge against her. At the outset of cross-examination, Ms Fawsitt said to the complainant: You are a very bright young woman. You need to speak up and give answers like the person you are and not the person you are pretending to be. Ms Fawsitt said that when the complainant first told people about this in June 2018 she communicated with the defendant by Snapchat and downloaded the communications. The defence senior counsel said: All you were interested in was setting up (defendants name). The complainant replied, Setting her up? I told her what I was going to do. Ms Fawsitt said: You decided to throw it at her. The complainant replied: I did not throw it at her. She knew what she done. Ms Fawsitt said to the complainant about this Snapchat communication: You used nasty words like c**t and paedophile. This is the same person (complainant) appearing so angelic in the interview (on DVD). The complainant replied in court: I was angry. Ms Fawsitt said the defendant kept asking on Snapchat: What is this about? The complainant said: Yes, because she was playing like she did not know. Ms Fawsitt said that the complainant and the defendant were in two different parts of a wider family of relatives who were rowing with each other for some time prior to the complaint being made first in 2018. The trial continues tomorrow. LEAVING Certificate students across the country have begun CAO applications and dreaming of future carers. Parents and guardians are beginning to foster evening conversations across kitchen tables about course choices and plans, while flicking through university and college prospectuses. In seven months time, some will have taken up employment for the first time, some will begin that apprenticeship training they have always wanted to do, while others will commence their first year at university. The often limited scope of their CAO application will finally come to fruition while others will be settling for alternative choices. This time of year always brings me back to my own time as a young adult, on the brink of new adventures after 14 years of primary and secondary school institutionalisation. Looking back now more than 20 years on, I had a limited idea of who I wanted to be, but no idea where that someone would end up. The adventure that ensued was one I would not change in a heartbeat. I set my sights on becoming an actor, however, this was nearly derailed as I didnt get a place on my course of choice. Alternatively, I started an Arts Degree in UCD, but at the end of my first week, Trinity College called to offer me a place on the professional actor training programme. I didnt think twice and switched courses, ultimately changing the course of my life for the next ten years. Society and educational structures encourage us to define ourselves as one thing. Employment labels on our social media platforms, conversations on dating apps or being introduced to new friends, we find ourselves forced to search for easy accessible nouns to name who we are: accountant, teacher, waiter, taxi man, nurse, doctor, journalist the list goes on. A job title that exudes security or respect is often met with warmth and interest and one I searched for. I often felt apprehensive about defining myself as actor. Once I revealed my profession, it was always followed up by So, what have you done? Have you been in any films? For some reason, I was being asked to defend my title and take them through my CV. I struggled with this for many years, the joy of performing often overshadowed by the cloud of rejection I so often faced. I have had a colourful work life since leaving school. I have been a waiter, English language teacher, voice-over artist, actor, dancer, fire dancer, bar man, drama facilitator, sales assistant, business English tutor, pilates teacher, physiotherapist and writer. The joy of life is that it is so much more than a CAO application. The pressure to set sail on a career direction that may define the rest of your life is one that so many struggle with. Yes, some may complete their studies and work in the same area throughout their work life. But, for many that CAO first choice course might be the beginning of a meandering journey of work and life experience like me. In my late twenties, I decided I needed to make a change. I went back to university to study a second degree. I interviewed for and enrolled in the Royal College of Surgeons to study Physiotherapy. During my performance career I had always been fascinated by the human body and movement. It was for this reason I landed on physiotherapy after lots more evening kitchen table conversations and soul searching. I did not take a traditional route to my current job but, like many, I decided to return to studies later in life to redefine who and what I was. However, recently I have begun asking myself, why do I have to define myself as only one thing? Why do we have to limit ourselves, often from such an early formative age of 18, choosing a university course and often ultimately a job title? Life changes, we grow and progress, our interests mature, and the way we view the world alters as we move through it. Employment and life opportunities are plentiful and by sticking to such strict title- defining boundaries, we can often stifle growth, opportunity and experience. Our strengths and talents evolve as we learn and improve while navigating life. However, it is also possible for us to start fresh with new ideas or interest at any point along the way. We are all so much more than one course and one job title. Taking the plunge into a new career can be scary, but one I would recommend to anyone who is feeling unfulfilled in their current situation. I wish my 18-year-old self knew that endless possibilities to redirect the course of my life was possible at any stage all those years back. Maybe it would have released me from the stressful pressure of feeling like my CAO application was the only starting point for everything. I READ recently that an 11-year-old wheelchair user had made an appeal to dog owners to clean up after their pets. He said no matter how careful he is, he often ends up with dog poo on his wheels on the way to school. Then he has to get his mother to push him the rest of the way and that upsets him. Closer to home, my wife took our grandchild out for a walk last week. It was her maiden voyage with the pram, and she wasnt gone long, but by the time she arrived back, one of the wheels was covered in dog muck. The following day, I collected two of my grandsons for school. I drove into their estate and pulled up outside the house at 8.30am. As the two lads ran out the front door, I grabbed the smaller guy just before he stepped into a pile of dog poo that had been deposited at their entrance. They dont own a dog. The fact it hadnt been washed away by the rain during the night meant it had arrived there some time earlier that morning, so there are two possible explanations. The first explanation is that someone had walked a dog there and allowed it to defecate outside someone elses door and didnt bother cleaning it up. And the second one is that someone had left the dog out first thing in the morning with the intention of allowing it to wander the estate until it found a suitable location to empty its bowels. That person obviously didnt care where it happened, as long as it wasnt outside their own front door. Both scenarios are unacceptable, but far from unusual. Unfortunately, too many dog owners have little or no respect for their neighbours or the environment. That couldnt care less attitude is very prevalent and I dont know how we can fix it. There are regulations and laws relating to the control of dogs, and there are punishments for owners who refuse to abide by them, but theyre not enforced. Appealing to their better nature doesnt work either. Last year, Cork City Council launched a campaign to win over the hearts and minds of dog owners and sought to identify habitual abusers to encourage them to take responsibility for cleaning up after their dog. It was a carrot and stick approach focused on encouragement and education and maybe it was worth a shot, but it was a wasted effort. Enforcement isnt working either. Fines havent been issued in years because, were told, its too complicated. Thats evidenced by the fact that not a single dog fouling fine was issued in Cork city between 2017 and 2020 and just two were issued in 2021. A pretty dismal record. Dog fouling is not a new problem. Politicians will tell you they constantly hear complaints from their constituents about it. Claire Byrne, of the Green Party said: Its coming up on the doors, we see it ourselves all the time, and I think its getting worse rather than better. Corks Labour local area representative, Peter Horgan, has called for new legislation to tackle it. Given the poor record of the local authority to get results, youd have to wonder if there is a genuine will on behalf of any of them to really get to grips with it. Theyve been hearing about it for a while. In January, 1967, 55 years ago, a letter writer to the Evening Echo questioned why Fitzgerald Park, a small, beautiful park, allowed dogs to foul up all the pathways. In 1968, the following year, the Evening Echo published a letter of complaint written by a disappointed visitor to Cork. It was the third visit of the writer and his wife to Cork, and they usually stayed in Well Road, which they described as one of the most picturesque parts of the county. He said while the residents were improving their property, the council seemed to have forgotten about the area. The roads were filthy, having been fouled by cattle and uncontrolled dogs, and it was almost impossible to walk from the Cross to the Well Road after dark for fear of walking through the mess. Recently, wearing sandals, my feet were in a disgusting state by the time I reached home. I will again be over here for a few weeks next year, as I love the quiet and solitude of the countryside, and would like to retire here in a few years time, but if the city is not looked after by the council, in five years time, when I hope to settle here, one will not have a road or pavement to walk on. That was very prophetic of the writer. I dont know if he did manage to retire here, but if he did, he was probably disappointed to see that as far as dog fouling is concerned, he was spot on. But its not only a problem in this jurisdiction. In 1975, the Evening Echo reported that London was working on the problem of what to do about dogs that do things on the sidewalk. They had a novel idea and introduced street inspectors who walked around their respective areas, citing people whose dogs had fouled the footpaths. These inspectors identified, with less technology than is available today, that most of the offences occurred between 7.30 and 8.30 in the morning and at sunset in the evening. That was 47 years ago yet, we still employ dog wardens to work from 9am to 5pm and then wonder why there are so few prosecutions. Peter Horgan wants high-visibility enforcement, which is very laudable, but it wont make a blind bit of difference unless the enforcers follow the same roster as the dogs. URINARY Tract Infections, or UTIs, are unfortunately a fact of life, and something around half of us women will experience at some point in our lives. We are far more likely than men to suffer from UTIs too. The good news is that while they can be painful and inconvenient, they are mostly easy to treat and cure. Its really important you dont let embarrassment about your urinary or sexual health concerns put you off dealing with any symptoms youre experiencing. Your pharmacist or GP has seen and heard everything before, and youll recover much more quickly if you address it as soon as possible. So here are the top things you need to know about a UTI: What is a UTI? A Urinary Tract Infection can develop when certain bacteria find their way into and grow in a persons bladder, the tube that brings urine out of the bladder or in the kidneys. Because their urinary tract is shorter than a mans, these infections occur more frequently among women, and can be very common in pregnancy. How do I know if I have a UTI? The most common symptoms are feeling pain or a stinging sensation when you pass urine, your urine is cloudy, or when you feel the need to go to the toilet a lot, but there isnt much urine there when you do. Sometimes you can have back pain that radiates down to your legs or even a fever - UTIs can make you feel really unwell. Whats the treatment for a UTI? If you suspect youve developed a UTI, go to your GP or maternity hospital doctor if youre attending one. Theyll probably do a urine dip to see if you have these bacteria in your system. Sometimes if you have symptoms that suggest a UTI but the usual bacteria arent showing up, the doctor will send a urine sample to a lab to check it out and make sure you get the best treatment for you. If you have a UTI youll likely be prescribed an antibiotic to treat it. How can I prevent UTIs? There are really simple ways to help prevent picking up a urinary tract infection: Opt for loose, cotton underwear Wipe from front to back when you go to the toilet Go to the toilet after sex Avoid using perfumed products The most important thing to remember is to keep the area clean and dry - all of the above suggestions will help with that. Your community pharmacy can advise you on all of this too. Ive found our local CarePlus Pharmacy to be a mine of information around over the counter treatments for many ailments and they will have plenty of information on UTIs too. The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Madison Although solar panels can help save you a decent chunk of change on utility bills over time, it's necessary to consider the startup costs. Some important things that determine how much it will cost and how much you could save include: Your income and budget: This determines what type of solar panels you can afford. This determines what type of solar panels you can afford. How much energy costs for you: If your local energy rates are especially high, there's a good chance you'll see a higher return on your investment in solar panels. In Madison, you can save an average of $138 a month on your electricity bills. If your local energy rates are especially high, there's a good chance you'll see a higher return on your investment in solar panels. In Madison, you can save an average of $138 a month on your electricity bills. Incentives: One thing that can reduce the cost of your solar project is the solar investment tax credit (ITC), which is a tax credit that's equal to a percentage of the project cost. You can also save a decent amount of money on your utility bills, which can result in an average of $22,000 of savings over 20 years. One thing that can reduce the cost of your solar project is the solar investment tax credit (ITC), which is a tax credit that's equal to a percentage of the project cost. You can also save a decent amount of money on your utility bills, which can result in an average of $22,000 of savings over 20 years. Typical energy usage: The more energy your household uses on average and the higher your current energy bills are, the more money you could save by switching to solar. There are several great benefits of solar despite the upfront cost of installation. It can help the environment and your wallet. In addition, it can raise the value of your home, leading to even more benefits if you choose to sell your home later. Solar Savings Calculator for {{ solarcalc.name }} If you're wondering what your impact could be if you switch to solar, you can use the calculator below. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Madison, WI. 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Over {{ solarcalc.time_period|number:0 }} years, a {{ solarcalc.system_size }} kW solar array would prevent {{ solarcalc.CO2_savings()|number:0 }} lbs of CO2 from entering the atmosphere. This is equivalent to driving {{ solarcalc.CO2_total()*0.78|number:0 }} miles in an average car. Solar Incentives in Madison Because solar power is better for the environment than fossil fuels, there are quite a few government incentives in place to encourage its adoption. No matter what state you live in, you can take advantage of the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which allows you to claim 26% of how much your solar project cost when you file taxes, reducing the amount of taxes you owe that year. In addition, there may be some state and city incentives that can save you some extra money too. Check out the table below to see what incentives are available to you. Renewable Energy Sales Tax Exemptions Name Renewable Energy Sales Tax Exemptions Incentive Amount 100% exemption from sales and use tax for eligible purchases Incentive Max None Website Visit here More Info Click here Biogas, Solar, and Wind Energy Equipment Exemption Name Biogas, Solar, and Wind Energy Equipment Exemption Incentive Amount 100% of the value added by an eligible renewable energy system Incentive Max None specified Website Visit here More Info Click here ITC Name ITC Type Tax Incentive Incentive Amount 26% of installation cost Website Visit here Renewable Rewards Program Name Renewable Rewards Program Incentive Amount Solar PV: Residential - $200 per kW Business - 0-5 kW: $200 per kW 5-10 kW: $1000 + $150 per kW over 5 10-100 kW: $1750 + $125 per kW over 10 100-300 kW: $13000 + $100 per kW over 100 300-500 kW: $33000 + $85 per kW over 300 Incentive Max Solar PV (Residential) $1,000 Solar PV (Commercial) $50,000 Website Visit here More Info Click here Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Madison There are a few important reasons why homeowners are considering solar energy: for the good of their bank accounts and the planet. A question many homeowners might be wondering about is how much can they really help save the environment by going solar anyway? The average person has a rather large carbon footprint. Between their car, which is responsible for over 10,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions every year, and energy for their home, it can be overwhelming to think about what to do. Using solar power is a practical thing you can do to help. In fact, if you install solar panels, you could lower your carbon dioxide emissions by about 100 pounds each year. If you want to do what you can for the environment, you'll most likely find that there are many advantages to adopting solar power other than just saving money on bills. You can also help preserve the environment, which some would argue is priceless. Best National Provider SunPower 5.0 Most efficient panels on the market Most efficient panels on the market National coverage National coverage Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification Great warranty coverage Great warranty coverage Expensive Expensive Customer service varies by local dealer Get Quote Best Technology Tesla Energy 4.5 Price-match guarantee Price-match guarantee Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels Best solar battery on the market Best solar battery on the market Some reported issues with customer service Some reported issues with customer service Customer service varies by local dealer Get Quote Best for Leasing Sunrun 4.0 Expansive service area Expansive service area Many financing options Many financing options Some reported issues with customer service Some reported issues with customer service Some reported issues with door-to-door sales Get Quote EcoWatch's Madison, WI Solar Company Rankings FAQs Which solar power company is the best near me? In Madison, Magitek Energy Solutions, Inc. is the top local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 4.27 stars, so it's a great choice if you're looking to install solar panels on your home. What are the best and worst things about solar power? A few of the biggest pros are that it decreases your electricity bills, it's a sustainable source of energy, and it provides a significant return on your investment (ROI). The most notable cons are that solar panels don't work as well when there's limited direct sunlight, they cost a lot upfront and solar panels can be an eyesore. How long does it take to see a return on your investment after getting solar panels? The average payback period for solar panel installation is about 8.4 years, but the exact period varies depending on local electricity costs, incentives and net metering programs. What is the efficiency of solar panels? Solar panel efficiency is the amount of energy from the sun that is converted into electricity. Most panels today have an efficiency rating of about 15 to 25%. If your panels are more efficient, you'll need less of them for your home's energy needs. Our goal is to reach as many people as we can with sensible solutions like solar energy. Our team of full-time local researchers collects solar price and installation data for every city in America then compiles it to create these digestible city guides. If you want to read our solar experts opinion on the top solar companies featured here, follow this link. Company research was conducted by Melissa Smith and Karsten Neumeister. Local data analysis was conducted by James Savino. See something we missed or could do better? Email the editor. A car that Martin County Sheriff's Office says was stolen and left on some train tracks was struck by a train and thrown into a nearby house on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. (Martin County Sheriff's Office) A Florida man has inserted himself into a car vs. train vs. house story while also attempting to steal a forklift and vandalizing a fruit stand, according to law enforcement. Bradford Weitzel, 38, of Port St. Lucie was arrested after events early Saturday left a stolen car tossed into the side of a house after it was hit by a train, according to the Martin County Sheriffs Office. Advertisement Weitzel told sheriffs detectives that he could not find his car after leaving a bar early in the morning, so he stole one in a good faith effort to locate his own, according to a post on the sheriffs office Facebook page. Bradford Weitzel (Martin County Sheriff's Office) He told deputies that he ended up on train tracks along Indian River Drive and that the vehicle stopped dead on the tracks as a train was coming, the post said. Advertisement Weitzel told sheriffs detectives he ran from the vehicle, which was hit by the train, catapulting it into a nearby home where the homeowners were sound asleep, the post said. Fortunately, they were not physically injured, although the explosive sound of a driverless car smashing into the side of their home was clearly jolting. The sheriffs office said Weitzel then vandalized a nearby fruit stand and attempted to steal a forklift. In the end, Weitzel said he thought it was best to flag down the responding deputies to let them know he was still looking for his car, according to the post. He was charged with grand theft and criminal mischief with more charges possible, the sheriffs office said. Choosing to switch to solar energy for your home or business should be exciting. However, finding the right solar installation company in the Tampa, Florida area can be challenging. Here at EcoWatch, we understand the gravity of choosing an outstanding solar company. We want you to have the best experience and get the best bang for your buck. Since were solar experts and know what it takes for an installation company to exceed your expectations, we put together this quick reference guide of Tampas top 5 solar companies. So continue reading to learn all about them! In This Article: What Are The Top 5 Solar Companies In Tampa, Florida? Out of the dozens of solar companies servicing Tampa, Florida, we narrowed down many companies to the top five options. Below is an at a glance chart of our top picks, along with a link to our solar company matching tool. We hand-picked the best solar companies that service Tampa using countless hours of research and our solar industry expertise. Our careful selection process eliminates unsatisfactory solar installation companies that have concerns with lawsuits, quality, and other undesirable scenarios. So, if you dont see a solar company youre familiar with, that could be the reason why. We know how tedious it can be to find a solar panel installation company. It takes time and a lot of research to find the best, most suitable solar company to handle your project. To save you time researching solar companies for days on end, EcoWatch has done the work for you. Our chart gives each company a best for rating, so you can easily pick the one thats best for you. For a more detailed blurb on each company, jump to the sections below the chart. Company Solar Services Warranty Options BBB Rating Year Founded Prosolar Systems LLC Solar panel and battery sales and installation 25 years A+ 2007 Solar Energy World Solar panel and battery sales and installation 20- to 25-year Manufacturer warranty between A+ 2009 Voltage Pros Solar Solar panel sales and installation, electrical services, battery backup 25 years A+ 1997 Blue Raven Solar Solar panel sales and installation 25-year manufacturer warranty; 10-year workmanship warranty; 2-year production guarentee A+ 2014 Solar-Ray Inc. Solar panel sales and installation Lifetime workmanship, 25-year A+ 2003 Before we dive in, we should note that you wont find some of the more popular solar companies on our list. We excluded companies from our rankings that were involved in ongoing lawsuits or cited routinely for poor customer service. 1) ProSolar Systems LLC ProSolar Systems is a top solar company in Tampa with several branches throughout Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands, and the Cayman Islands. ProSolar Systems has been around for over 15 years, serving the residents and businesses of Tampa for many years. If you hire ProSolar Systems to add a solar panel system to your home, the process is easy. You can reach ProSolar Systems in various ways: call, email, or online contact form. Within one to two business days, a solar energy specialist will be in touch to guide you through the energy assessment and consultation process. ProSolar Systems uses this information to design a custom solar panel system for your home and estimate the savings to your power bill. Once the design is complete and you sign off on the paperwork, installation quickly starts. Just like that, youre up and going with solar panels, drawing from the suns enormous energy. If youre looking for financing options with ProSolar Systems, it does offer many financing options, although it doesnt list specific options on its website. So, youll have to wait until your consultation to learn about their financing. Pros for ProSolar Systems ProSolar Systems offers excellent service to homeowners and businesses and commercial settings alike. Some of the high points of the companys services include: Offers Tesla Powerwall (for energy storage) sales and installation Online instant ballpark solar estimate Branches throughout the U.S. Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, and the Cayman Islands Cons for ProSolar Systems As with all companies, ProSolar Systems isnt perfect and falls short in a few aspects. These points may not be a big deal to some individuals, but its good to be aware of them. Not available nationwide More expensive on average than other options Specific financing information isnt readily available online Summary Facts and Figures for ProSolar Systems EcoWatch Rating 4.5 BBB A+ Year Founded 2007 Service Area Florida, U.S. Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands Average Cost $$$$ Solar Services Solar panel and battery sales and installation Panels Offered Enphase, SolarEdge, Q-Cells, Tesla, LG, Silfab Solar, Sunpower Financing Options Cash purchase, solar financing 2) Solar Energy World Solar Energy World is a highly-rated solar company seeing to the needs of commercial and residential scenarios across parts of the southeast United States. Since 2009, the company has won numerous solar industry awards, with its most recent accomplishment or ranking amongst the Top Solar Contractors of Solar Power World. The company has countless satisfied solar customers in the Tampa area and many positive reviews attesting to their quality, customer service, pricing, and more. Solar Energy World makes the process of going solar simple for its customers. It ensures you receive all tax incentives, rebates, and grants you can get in a hassle-free process while saving you the most money on your new solar system. While Solar Energy World has been providing solar services for the past 12 years, the company has been around locally for the past 88 years, offering roofing, electrical design, and home improvement services. So, besides a new solar system, they can help you with all your home improvement projects. In addition to its commitment to its customers, Solar Energy World is dedicated to the environment. It prioritizes and promotes sustainable, renewable energy from the sun. Solar Energy World is also a GivePower partner, which donates a portion of the profits from each solar installation to support solar-powered water purification farms in developing countries worldwide particularly where water contamination is a huge problem. Pros for Solar Energy World Solar Energy World is a leading solar company for a variety of reasons. Here are a few benefits youll enjoy if you choose to go with Solar Energy World: No subcontractors; its direct staff are industry experts Competitive pricing Committed to protecting the environment and clean energy Cons for Solar Energy World Although Solar Energy World offers top-tier services, it falls short in a few areas. Here are a few things to be aware of: Doesnt offer nationwide service BBB outlines a few customer complaints in past years Summary Facts and Figures for Solar Energy World EcoWatch Rating 4.5 BBB A+ Year Founded 2009 Service Area Washington D.C., Delaware, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia Average Cost $$$ Solar Services Solar panel and battery sales and installation Panels Offered Hanwha SolarOne, SolarEdge, SMA, Fronius, Enphase, Silfab Solar, LG, Tesla, Longi, REC Financing Options PPA/Solar Lease, Ownership 3) Voltage Pros Inc. Voltage Pros Inc. is a seasoned Florida solar company that has been providing solar installation services to the Tampa Bay area for over 20 years. It also offers several other services, including electrical, LED, and security camera installation. It uses various solar technologies that are proven to reduce your operating expenses, which save you money on the upfront costs of your new system and your electric bill. Voltage Pros Inc. offers exceptional quality, tier 1 solar products, tailored to each customers specific needs. Every installation comes with a 25-year product guarantee. Voltage Pros sends over its own in-house solar installers and electricians, who are some of the best solar panel installers on the market. It handles the entire process from start to finish, meaning you only have to deal with one set of contractors coming into and out of your property. Voltage Pros offers very competitive pricing, even though it is a smaller, local installer. Hundreds of customer reviews highlight their good experiences with Voltage Pro solar services. Pros for Voltage Pros Inc There are several areas where Voltage Pros excels. Some of the companys high points include: Competitive pricing Great local option Custom solar designs Cons for Voltage Pros Inc As with most companies, Voltage Pros has a few downfalls. While some people may not find these nitpicks concerning, its always good to be aware of all aspects of a company. Limited to a small field of service Financing information isnt available online Summary Facts and Figures for Voltage Pros Inc EcoWatch Rating 4.5 BBB A+ Year Founded 1997 Service Area State of Florida, locations in Palm Bay and Gulfport Average Cost $$$ Solar Services Solar panel sales and installation, electrical services, battery backup Panels Offered SMA, Enphase, Fronius, LG, Panasonic, REC, Solaria, Q-Cells, Silfab Solar, Jinko Financing Options NA 4) Blue Raven Solar Blue Raven Solar has grown into a formidable company in the solar industry over the past seven years. The company has skyrocketed growing from just three employees to over 1,000 over the course of seven years. This is a good indication it must be doing something right. Blue Raven Solar offers excellent customer service and two warranties: a 25-year manufacturer warranty, 10-year workmanship warranty and a 2-year productivity guarantee. While the 25-year warranty is fairly standard, the two-year warranty protects the customer, as it guarantees the system will produce the estimated amount of energy. Blue Raven makes the installation process simple with a three-step process. It starts with the contact form, which customers fill out to initiate the process. Once thats done, a consultant reaches out and reviews the installation process, financing and pricing. If you choose Blue Raven, a technician will analyze your roof to ensure it can handle the installation, then design a custom solar solution. After the system design is complete and you approve it, the team will handle legal paperwork, permits and contact your energy company. Then, the installation process begins the team mounts the solar panels, rewires the electrical panel, and connects your system to your utility meter. After installation, your new solar energy source is ready to go. Blue Raven explains how to operate it, provides an estimate of your future energy bills, and reminds you of all local and federal tax credits. Click here for the Companys full review. Pros for Blue Raven Solar Blue Raven offers its fair share of excellent benefits. Some of these benefits include: 18 months of free solar energy with BluePower Plus+ plan Two-year power production guarantee with every installation Customers can get $250 for each referral that uses Blue Raven for solar services Cons for Blue Raven Solar There are a few areas where Blue Raven may not meet customer needs. Some of the things to be aware of include: Financing options are limited Service is restricted to certain states Summary Facts and Figures for Blue Raven Solar EcoWatch Rating 4.5 BBB A+ Year Founded 2014 Service Area Florida, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri Average Cost $$$ Solar Services Solar panel installs Panels Offered SolarEdge, SMA, SolarWorld, Hyundai, Axitec, Canadian Solar, Trina Solar, Enphase Financing Options Cash, loan financing 5) Solar-Ray Inc. Solar-Ray is a local solar power system installation company located in Pine Castle, Florida (just south of Orlando). It was the first Florida company to receive NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) accreditation as a PV (photovoltaic) installation company. In its 18 years of experience in the industry, the company has focused on providing exceptional service, the best pricing and high-quality products. Solar-Ray offers one of the most thorough solar site evaluations available. It includes an entire years analysis of your homes solar exposure from five different points of the projected array location, which is done using digital imaging from a Solar Pathfinder. Customers get a basic design and price estimate for their recommended system, which includes the module size, wiring diagram, array configuration, inverter selection, and balance-of-system component location. Plus, Solar-Ray gives you an estimate on your future home energy bills. In addition to the other specifications, Solar-Ray Inc provides a spreadsheet of the estimated daily AC production using the U.S. DOEs (Department of Energys) regional solar radiation data and calculations of inevitable system power losses. Solar-Ray also considers the current information on your utilitys net metering and interconnection policy. It also provides information on applicable building codes, Florida construction contracting law, tax credits, energy audits, safety regulations and best practices for system installation. Click here for the Companys full review. Pros for Solar-Ray Solar-Ray stands out from its solar company competitors in several areas. Some of the benefits of Solar-Rays services include: Offers cash rebates Website details financial incentives Precise solar site evaluations and free quotes Cons for Solar-Ray While Solar-Ray does an exceptional job, it has a few downfalls. While some people may not view these points as make-or-break factors, here are a few things to be aware of: Higher pricing (on average) than other companies Not available nationwide Specific financing options arent available online Summary Facts and Figures for Solar-Ray EcoWatch Rating 4.0 BBB A+ Year Founded 2003 Service Area Pine Castle, Florida and surrounding areas Average Cost $$$$ Solar Services Solar panel sales and installation Panels Offered SolarWorld, Suniva, SMA, Mage Solar, Canadian Solar, Enphase, Renesola, Sun Spark Financing Options NA The EcoWatch Criteria For Selecting The Top Solar Company In Tampa, Florida Warranty The warranty is a critical factor in our selection process for the top solar companies in Tampa. An excellent warranty indicates the manufacturer and company believe in their products. Think of it this way it makes sense that a company would offer an exceptional warranty on their product and workmanship if theyre confident in their product and skillset. The solar company is basically betting you their solar system wont have issues. On the other hand, a short warranty is usually a red flag. When the company offers an extremely limited warranty or none at all, proceed with caution. In our selection process, we eliminate companies with poor warranties. Year Founded Generally, older companies have more experience and wisdom simply from their time in the industry. While there are a few exceptions to this, since some newer companies can perform equally as well as their older competitors, we still put a lot of weight on this aspect. Since there are a lot of less-than-stellar fly by night solar companies popping up all over Florida (Sarasota, Odessa, Clearwater, not just Tampa) then filing for bankruptcy a few months later, we strongly consider the founding year of each company. Services Offered The services each company offers also play into our selection process. We look at what services the company provides, such as if they offer battery backup sales and installation. While this factor may not be a defining component in their choice of solar company, we prefer companies that can do it all and not outsource to less experienced subcontractors. Solar Panels Offered Solar panel availability is an essential component in choosing the best solar company. As supply chain issues become more and more prevalent, solar panel availability has swam its way to nearly the top of our checklist. Some companies may not have the materials necessary to complete your solar project, so this is something we consider when choosing the best companies. On the other hand, a few solar panel installers may use inexpensive, low-quality panels. While they might offer a lower upfront cost, these companies are best to avoid. Solar Pricing and Financing Great financing options are essential in a good solar company. A new solar solution can be an expensive investment, and many homeowners may not be able to afford the upfront cost. This is where financing comes in. The best companies offer various financing options to accomodate the needs of various individuals. Additionally, we analyze the pricing scale of the company. We look for companies that combine excellent service, great quality materials and workmanship and a competitive price. Industry Affiliations Many solar companies are affiliated with other companies in the industry, solar power organizations, or renewable energy initiatives. We pay attention to this in our selection process, as it can tell us more about the company. Size of Company The size of the company isnt always a defining factor. However, larger companies tend to have the team necessary to quickly and efficiently serve you. With that said, this doesnt mean smaller companies are worse. In some cases, smaller companies can handle their customers just as well as, if not better, than large companies. It mostly depends on how well the organization balances their workload. Best Solar Company In Tampa, Florida: EcoWatch FAQ Here at EcoWatch, there are a few questions we get regularly. So, to make things easier, heres a list of the most common questions we get asked: Author Paul Watson has no problem with critics calling him and his marine-life-defending colleagues pirates its far better than helplessly standing by and doing nothing in the face of the violence against animals they have witnessed. By Paul Watson In 1975, Robert Hunter and I were the first people to physically block a harpooners line of fire when we intercepted a Soviet whaling fleet and placed our bodies between the killers and eight fleeing, frightened sperm whales. We were in a small inflatable boat, speeding before the plunging steel prow of a Russian kill boat. As the whales fled for their lives before us, we could smell the fear in their misty exhalations. We thought we could make a difference with our Gandhi-inspired seagoing stand. Surely these men behind the harpoons would not risk killing a human being to satisfy their lust for whale oil and meat. We were wrong. The whalers demonstrated their contempt for our nonviolent protests by firing an explosive harpoon over our heads. The harpoon line slashed into the water and we narrowly escaped death. One of the whales was not so lucky. With a dull thud followed by a muffled explosion, the entrails of a female whale were torn and ripped apart by hot steel shrapnel. The large bull sperm whale in the midst of the pod abruptly rose and dove. Experts had told us that a bull whale in this situation would attack us. We were a smaller target than the whaling ship. Anxiously, we held our breath in anticipation of sixty tons of irate muscle and blood torpedoing from the depths below our frail craft. The ocean erupted behind us. We turned toward the Soviet ship to see a living juggernaut hurl itself at the Russian bow. The harpooner was ready. He pulled the trigger and sent a second explosive missile into the massive head of the whale. A pitiful scream rang in my ears, a fountain of blood geysered into the air, and the deep blue of the ocean was rapidly befouled with dark red blood. The whale thrashed and convulsed violently. Mortally wounded and crazed with pain, the whale rolled, and one great eye made contact with mine. The whale dove, and a trail of bloody bubbles moved laboriously toward us. Slowly, very slowly, a gargantuan head emerged from the water, and the whale rose at an angle over and above our tiny craft. Blood and brine cascaded from the gaping head wound and fell upon us in torrents. We were helpless. We knew that we would be crushed within seconds as the whale fell upon us. There was little time for fear, only awe. We could not move. The whale did not fall upon us. He wavered and towered motionless above us. I looked up past the daggered six-inch teeth and into the eye the size of my fist, an eye that reflected back intelligence and spoke wordlessly of compassion and communicated to me the understanding that this was a being that could discriminate and understood what we had tried to do. The mammoth body slowly slid back into the sea. The massive head of this majestic sperm whale slowly fell back into the sea. He rolled and the water parted, revealing a solitary eye. The gaze of the whale seized control of my soul, and I saw my own image reflected back at me. I was overcome with pity, not for the whale but for ourselves. Waves of shame crashed down upon me and I wept. Overwhelmed with horror at this revelation of the cruel blasphemy of my species, I realized then and there that my allegiance lay with this dying child of the sea and his kind. On that day, I left the comfortable realm of human self-importance to forever embrace the soulful satisfaction of lifelong service to the citizens of the sea. The gentle giant died with my face seared upon his retina. I will never forget that. It is a memory that haunts and torments me and leaves me with only one course to chart toward redemption for the collective sins of humanity. It is both my burden and my joy to pledge my allegiance to the most intelligent and profoundly sensitive species of beings to have ever inhabited the Earththe great whales. Reykjavik, Iceland, November 1986 Despite the criticisms, the name-calling, and the controversy that have arisen from our work since 1975, one indisputable fact emerged from a raid made by my crew (which included Rod Coronado of the U.S. and David Howitt of the UK) on two whaling ships in Reykjavik in 1986 in order to enforce an international moratorium on commercial whaling that had been established that year: it was successful. The two whaling ships were razed, although their electronics and mechanical systems had been totally destroyed. Insurance did not cover the losses because the owners had stated that terrorists sank the ships, and apparently they were not insured for terrorism. Most importantly, from that day of November 8, 1986, to sixteen years later in the year 2002, the Icelanders did not take another whale. What talk, compromise, negotiations, meetings, letters, petitions, and protests had not accomplished, we achieved with a little monkey-wrenching activity in the wee hours of the morning. Were we terrorists? No, not even criminals, for we were never charged with a crime, even though we made ourselves available for prosecution. We had simply done our duty, and we put an end to an unlawful activity. The only repercussion was that Iceland moved before the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in 1987 that the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society be banned from holding observer status at the meetings of the IWC. After this passed, Iceland resigned from the IWC, leaving us with the distinction of being the only organization to enjoy the status of banishment from the IWC. How ironic, I thought, to be the only organization banned from the IWC because we were the only organization to have ever enforced an IWC ruling. It was not much of a punishment. I had never enjoyed listening to the delegates of the member nations barter whales like they were bushels of wheat or pork bellies. I also never had much use for the posturing of the nongovernmental organizations pretending that they were actually making a difference by attending this annual circus. All that we were interested in were the rulings of the IWC, and we fully intended to continue to enforce those rulings. I have been asked many times why we consider the IWC rulings important. Why not just oppose all whaling everywhere? The answer is that we do oppose all whaling by everyone, everywhere. However, we only actively attack whaling operations that are in violation of international conservation law. The reason for this is simple: We do not presume to be the judges and jury. We simply execute the rulings of the IWC or the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) or any rulings from international conservation authorities, and we do so in accordance with the definition of intervention as defined by the 1982 United Nations World Charter for Nature, Part III (Implementation), Principle 21, Section (e): States and, to the extent they are able, other public authorities, international organizations, individuals, groups and corporations shall Safeguard and conserve nature in areas beyond national jurisdiction. As a seaman, I have a great and abiding respect for the traditions of the law of the sea. To attack without a vested authority would be piracy. Thus, the difference between a privateer like Sir Francis Drake and a pirate like Blackbeard was that the former was in possession of a letter of marque from a sovereign authority and the latter practiced the same trade solely upon his own authority. I have never considered it my place to judge the illegal activities of others. However, I feel that when there are laws and international treaties that it is the responsibility of individuals and nongovernmental organizations to strive toward the implementation of these rulings, especially in light of the fact that there is no international body empowered to police these international laws. Nation-states intervene when it is advantageous for them to do so, but little enforcement is carried out in the interests of the common good of all citizens of the planet. It is worth noting that it was not the British or Spanish navies that brought the piracy of the Caribbean under control in the 17th century. There were too many conflicts of interest, too much corruption, and too little motivation for any real action to have been taken. The bureaucracies in the British admiralty and the Spanish court did nothing because the very nature of a bureaucracy is the maintenance of the status quo. The achievement of first shutting down piracy on the Spanish Main is attributed to one mana pirate himself. Henry Morgan did what two nations chose not to do: he drove the pirates to ground and ended their reign of terror. As a result, the pirate was made governor of Jamaica, although history would show that the man was far more effective as a pirate than as a politician. In fact, he was more of a pirate as a politician than he was as an actual pirate. When Andrew Jackson failed to get the support of the merchants of New Orleans to back his attack on the British, it was a pirate who came to his service in the personage of Jean Lafitte. When the United States successfully endeavored to cast off the yoke of British rule, it was a pirate who achieved the most dramatic and successful naval victory at sea. That person was captain John Paul Jones. Consequently, it is a pirate who was the founder of what is today the worlds most powerful navy. Today, with the pirates of corrupt industry aided by corrupt politicians plundering our oceans for the last of the fish, killing the last of the whales, and polluting the waters, we find that there is very little real resistance to their activities upon the high seas. Once again it is time for some good pirates to rise up in opposition to the bad pirates, and I believe that the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is just such an organization of good pirates. When our critics call us pirates, I have no problem with that. In fact, we have taken their criticisms and in an aikido-like manner; we have incorporated their accusations into our image. Our ships are sometimes painted a monochromatic black. We have designed our own version of the pretty red [a flag which, when translated to French, becomes joli rouge and is rumored to have inspired the jolly roger phrase applied to pirate flags], and our black-and-white flag flies from our mast during campaigns. We even carry cannons, with the difference being that our guns fire cream pies and not red-hot balls. As good pirates, we have evolved to suit the time and culture in which we live, and this being a media-defined culture, our primary weapons are the camera, the video, and the internet. Like modern-day Robin Hoods, we take from the greedy and give back to the sea. We dont profit materially, but we profit tremendously both spiritually and psychologically. This excerpt is from Death of a Whale, by Captain Paul Watson (GroundSwell Books, 2021). This web adaptation was produced by GroundSwell Books in partnership with Earth | Food | Life, a project of the Independent Media Institute. Captain Paul Watson is a Canadian-American marine conservation activist who founded the direct action group the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in 1977 and was more recently featured in Animal Planets popular television series Whale Wars and the documentary about his life, Watson. Sea Shepherds mission is to protect all ocean-dwelling marine life. Watson has authored or co-authored more than a dozen books, including Death of a Whale (2021), Urgent! (2021), Orcapedia (2020), Dealing with Climate Change and Stress (2020), The Haunted Mariner (2019), and Captain Paul Watson: Interview with a Pirate (2013). In two years, Iceland will officially hang up its harpoon. The country, one of only three in the world that allows commercial whaling, will end the controversial practice when current quotas expire. There are few justifications to authorize whale hunting beyond 2024, Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture Svandis Svavarsdottir said Friday in Icelands Morgunblai newspaper, as CNN reported. Icelands current three-year hunting quota lasts from 2019 to 2023 and permits the hunting of up to 209 fin whales and 217 minke whales, according to an AFP story published by The Guardian. However, so far during this period, hunters have only killed one whale: a minke in 2021. Svavarsdottir said this showed that the practice had little economic benefit. One major reason is that Japan, which was once a major market for Icelandic whale meat, resumed its own commercial whaling in 2019. Japan has been the largest buyer of [Icelandic] whale meat, but its consumption is declining year by year. Why should Iceland take the risk of continuing fishing that has not yielded economic benefits, in order to sell a product that is in low demand? she asked, as CNN reported. In fact, in some ways whalings controversial status has hurt Iceland economically. For example, U.S. retailer Whole Foods ceased promoting Icelandic products for a period in protest. Conservation groups celebrated the news. This is obviously hugely welcome news and not before time. Icelandic whalers have killed hundreds of whales in recent years, despite almost zero domestic demand, Vanessa Williams-Grey of Whale and Dolphin Conservation told BBC News. During Icelands last full whaling season, 146 fin whales and six minke whales were killed, according to AFP. The International Whaling Commission banned all commercial whaling in 1986, according to CNN. Iceland left the IWC in 1992, rejoined in 2002 while announcing a reservation about the ban and then resumed commercial whaling in 2006. Since 1986, More than 1,700 minke, fin and sei whales have been slaughtered in the country. Fin whales are the second-largest whale species in the world, according to AFP, while minke whales are one of the smallest. Fin whales are considered vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, while sei whales are endangered and minke whales are considered a species of Least Concern. Once Icelands decision goes into effect, the only two countries to allow commercial whaling will be Norway and Japan, according to BBC News. Commercial whaling ships set sail from Japan Monday for the first time in more than 30 years, The Guardian reported. Japan had been hunting whales in the waters off Antarctica for research purposes since 1987, according to BBC News. The hunts killed between 200 and 1,200 whales a year, and conservationists accused the Japanese government of using the hunts as a cover for commercial whaling, since much of the meat was eventually sold. Following its decision to leave the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in December 2018, Japan is ending the Antarctic hunts, but resuming commercial whaling in its own waters. A dark day for life on earth as Japan begins commercial whaling not that they havent been slaughtering whales for years but this is a very ugly backward step against the growing global belief that its time to love life : all life . https://t.co/IlucwDrwV6 Chris Packham (@ChrisGPackham) June 29, 2019 The decision has prompted an international outcry. A group of NGOs, celebrities and activists including Stephen Fry, Ricky Gervais and Dr. Jane Goodall signed an open letter to the nations involved in the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan urging them to pressure the Japanese government to abandon its whaling plans, as CBS News reported. Today, all whale populations are vulnerable to non-hunting threats including bycatch, ship collisions, climate change, and chemical, litter and noise pollution, which will take their toll on these mammals long into the future, the letter said. It therefore remains critical that co-ordinated global efforts are maintained to ensure the continued protection and survival of the worlds whales. This includes maintaining the international ban on commercial whaling. Whales are set to suffer agonising deaths as Japan leaves the IWC & returns to commercial whaling. Weve joined global NGOs & @rickygervais @stephenfry etc to ask #G20 for a #WhalingIntervention at this weekends #G20OsakaSummit RT if you support https://t.co/g32QR9BqN4 pic.twitter.com/84hpRuV5wp Humane Society International (@HSIGlobal) June 28, 2019 Despite international criticism, three whaling vessels left the port of Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Monday, and five smaller ships embarked from Kushiro in Hokkaido, The Japan Times reported. Together, they are launching the first commercial Japanese whale hunt in 31 years. The countrys Fisheries Agency has set a quota of 227 whales: 52 minke, 150 Brydes and 25 sei, which can be hunted through December. The numbers are based on what the government considers a sustainable catch if whaling were to continue for 100 years. Minke and Brydes whales are not considered endangered species by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Sei whales are, but their numbers are increasing, BBC News reported. We will conduct commercial whaling based on scientific grounds and appropriate resource management, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasutoshi Nishimura said at a press conference reported by The Japan Times. We hope it will get on track as quickly as possible, rejuvenate the community and lead to the handover of our countrys rich whaling culture to the next generation. However, some argue that Japans whaling culture is already in inevitable decline. The Japanese consumed around 200,000 tons of whale meat in the 1960s, but only around 5,000 tons currently. The palates of the Japanese people have moved on, International Fund for Animal Welfare Marine Conservation Director Patrick Ramage told the Guardian. They have lost their yen for whale meat, even as their government has spent billions in taxpayer yen trying to prop up this economic loser. What we are seeing is the beginning of the end of Japanese whaling. Marine life protection group Sea Shepherd, meanwhile, vowed to continue to fight Japanese whaling as it fights whaling in the other countries that have left the IWC to hunt whales for profit: Norway, Iceland and Denmark. Oil prices turned negative for the first time in history Monday as energy demand plummets in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The dramatic price drop, from to around negative for the lead U.S. oil benchmark, was caused because more oil is being produced than can be stored, so buyers had to pay traders to take their May supply, The New York Times explained . This isnt entirely unexpected. The gap between demand and supply has been such that news outlets including EcoWatch reported this could happen in early April. But for climate activists, the incident highlights the instability of fossil fuels as an energy source. We are experiencing an unparalleled upending in our economies, 350.orgs associate director of Fossil Finance Campaigns Brett Fleishman said in a statement. And it is time for the fossil fuel industry to recognize that, from now on, the cheapest and best place to store oil is in the ground. "We are experiencing an unparalleled upending in our economies. And it is time for the fossil fuel industry to recognize that, from now on, the cheapest and best place to store oil is in the ground." 350 dot org (@350) April 20, 2020 But it is uncertain what this dip in prices will mean both for fossil fuels and renewable energy going forward. The New York Times explained that Mondays price fall was partly because of how oil is traded. Future contracts for May expired Tuesday, which means buyers would have had to take possession of any oil purchased for the month despite a lack of storage space. The May crude oil contract is going out not with a whimper, but a primal scream, Pulitzer Prize-winning oil historian and vice chairman of IHS Markit Ltd Daniel Yergin told the Los Angeles Times. But contracts for June closed at a relatively normal price of .43 per barrel, and it is hard to know what the coronavirus-induced oil crisis will mean for the renewable energy transition once lockdown orders are lifted. Oil demand has fallen by almost a third compared to April of last year, according to International Energy Agency figures reported by TIME, and coal-fired electricity generation in the U.S. is at an all-time low, the Los Angeles Times reported. Carbon dioxide emissions are also down, but could ramp up again when the economy reopens. Whether the recovery is based on fossil fuels or clean energy will depend on political decisions, energy researcher Alex Gilbert, a fellow at the Payne Institute at the Colorado School of Mines, told the Los Angeles Times. The big question with clean energy is probably what happens on the policy side, he said. How much do China, the U.S. and the European Union pursue clean energy technologies as a stimulus method? Jason Bordoff, founding director of Columbia Universitys Center on Global Energy Policy, cautioned that oil demand could bounce back if people are afraid of taking public transportation following the pandemic. You may have tried or even switched to oat or almond milk for your coffee and maybe soy milk for your homemade vegan mac-and-cheese. Perhaps youve tasted more recent milk alternatives such as cashew, hemp, pea protein, and banana milks. Now, you might find a new plant-based milk competing for your attention: potato milk. At major grocery retailer Waitrose in the UK, the Swedish brand Dug is bringing potato milk to store shelves as the hot new trend in alternative milks. The brand prides itself on being delicious and creamy, and there are three options to choose from: original, unsweetened, or barista blend, which is ideal for foaming up for lattes. Some milks, like soy, can separate when they hit hot coffee or other foods or beverages, but Dug promises its milk wont do that thanks to an emulsion of potatoes and rapeseed. Because its made with potatoes, this milk also provides fiber, vitamins and minerals. One major benefit to this milk is that it is dairy-, soy-, nut- and gluten-free, making it a suitable milk alternative for most people. Dug also boasts impressive sustainability statistics, because potatoes are a more sustainable crop to grow compared to soybeans, nuts and oats, and theyre more sustainable than raising dairy cows. Potatoes are water-efficient, using 56 times less water than almond crops, and they have twice as much land efficiency as oat crops, because they yield higher amounts per square meter. If you compare dairy milk to a potato-based alternative, the climate footprint of the potato drink is significantly lower, the Dug website says. In fact, switching to a potato-based alternative reduces the climate impact by about 75%. But the real question is does it taste like potatoes? The flavor is mostly described to be neutral, although The Guardian reports some customers have noted a salty aftertaste, probably delicious in creamy pasta dishes but less ideal for pouring into your sweetened coffee or cereal. Customers in the UK can try Dug for themselves by purchasing it at Waitrose or one of four online retailers, including Amazon. Prices per bottle range from 1.80 to 2.39, or 11.00 for a three-pack on Amazon. For now, U.S. customers interested in trying this potato-based milk will have to wait. Dug only delivers to the UK and is the sole commercial retailer for potato milk at this time, although in 2015, a brand called Veggemo launched a potato-based milk. That company is now out of business. Still, Forbes predicted potato milk could be the plant-based protein trend of the year, and we could see this milk alternative in the U.S. soon. If you really cant wait to try it, Food52 offers a recipe for homemade potato or sweet potato milk. A recent report contends that reintroducing sea otters to the Oregon coast is feasible and beneficial to the states marine ecosystem if certain best reintroduction policies are followed. However, sea otters voracious appetites for certain invertebrates may have consequential impacts on area fisheries. Sea otters have an outsized impact on the ecosystems they inhabit, making them a keystone species with few if any other species suitable to replace them. The report explained how sea otters role in a marine food chain naturally limits sea urchins and other large invertebrate species, like Dungeness crabs. By munching on urchins, [a sea otter] helps kelp forests flourish, and by crunching on crabs, it promotes eelgrass in estuaries, according to a Monterey Bay Aquarium fact sheet. All that uneaten kelp helps to draw down [carbon dioxide] from the overlying atmosphere, thus potentially influencing carbon sequestration, the report noted. But while the report noted that the return of sea otters to Oregons coastline would be celebrated by local Indigenous peoples with deep spiritual connections to the marine mammal, not everyone living in the area would necessarily cheer on the recovery effort. With sea otters erased from Oregons coastline for over a century, commercial and recreational fisheries havent had any non-human competition for invertebrates that are harvested and sold for human consumption, the report explained. Although researchers said it was hard to predict the extent of negative impacts to certain invertebrate species, Dungeness crabs, red rock crabs, razor clams, butter clams, Gaper clams, littleneck clams, cockles, mussels, ghost shrimp, and both red and purple sea urchins would all potentially be affected by sea otter recovery. Some of these fisheries represent hundreds of thousands of dollars annually, or even tens of millions of dollars, thus the potential economic impacts of even a small reduction due to sea otter recovery are consequential, the report noted. However, while for some of fisheries there is good reason to project a substantial negative impact of sea otter recovery, in the case of others it is far from clear whether there would be a negative impact, or how substantial such an effect would be. Nevertheless, while relocating sea otters to Oregon waters to reestablish the local population is feasible, the report pointed out any captures shouldnt exceed around 10% of the individual animals that make up a specific raft of otters. Models used by the reports authors showed that removing more than that number could result in population-level consequences, while capturing fewer than 10% of a local population may be sustainable. Capturing sea otters in certain parts of southeastern Alaska would have little measurable population-level effect and would be the best potential source of northern sea otters, the report noted. However, to maximize genetic diversity, sea otters from populations both north and south of Oregons coastline should be considered for relocation. Sea otters once could be found between northern Japan and Russias Kamchatka Peninsula, along the Aleutian Islands, along the entire U.S. West Coast and even south into Mexicos Baja California Peninsula, according to the report. But an insatiable desire to hunt sea otters for their thick fur coats, later sold in the international fur markets, eventually eradicated the creatures from significant portions of their former territory, including Oregon. Earlier attempts to relocate and reintroduce sea otters to areas within their historic range showed that those involved in the process lacked a basic understanding of the creatures bodily functions and survival needs. Many sea otters died during the very first relocation attempts, which the report attributed in part to a lack of clean water, sufficient space and suitable food during transportation and holding. Later endeavors would show the importance of making sure that transplanted sea otter populations would also have plenty of prey in their new habitat to consume. Successful sea otter relocations in the 1960s and 1970s in southeast Alaska drove population growth that eventually led to current-day estimates of over 25,000 individual otters in that region. An Oregon-based nonprofit known as the Elakha Alliance made up of tribal, academic and conservation stakeholders focused on sea otter and marine ecosystem conservation issued the report in January. The authors of the 12-chapter report included current or retired staff of the U.S. Geological Survey, the Seattle Aquarium, the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the University of Oregon. The creator of the world's most popular antivirus, John McAfee, ended his eccentric life behind bars in the Brians 2 prison in Catalonia, accused of fraud and tax evasion. In the midst of a bureaucratic process to extradite him to the United States to respond to justice there, he appeared dead in his cell with a farewell note and many unresolved questions. Despite the massive media impact of his alleged suicide, his body has now been in a morgue in the city of Barcelona for seven months. John McAfee's body remains in a Barcelona morgue The business news website MarketWatch broke this news and it was confirmed by newspaper La Vanguardia, which added that the body remains in a refrigerated room of the Institute of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Sciences of Catalonia, in the so-called City of Justice court complex in metropolitan Barcelona. But how is it that a person with his power has not yet been given a funeral? The main obstacle is the case still open over his alleged suicide: not all of the requested tests have yet been carried out. The story is complicated by the fact that, after the tragic news of the IT magnate's death, his daughter and ex-wife became involved in a legal battle for the body, while a judge from the town of Martorell has been investigating the exact cause of death, which is currently considered to be suicide. The 75-year-old businessman was found dead on June 23rd in his cell in the Brians 2 prison, in Sant Esteve Sesrovires, on the edge of Barcelona's metropolitan area. He had been in prison for less than a year, after being intercepted at the Barcelona El Prat airport in October 2020, when he tried to flee to Istanbul after the issuing of an arrest warrant by the United States, on accusations of fraud and tax evasion. From a life of fame, to fugitive John McAfee rose to fame in 1987 after creating the first commercial antivirus software, founding McAfee Associates, a company that he ended up selling to Intel Corp for $7.68 billion in 2010. A couple of years later, in 2012, police in Belize voiced their suspicions about the murder of American resident Gregory Faull in the Caribbean country, who had boasted of killing McAfee's dog. It was at this time that the IT magnate first took flight from the law, leaving the US state of Tennessee, to travel through Bahamas, Cuba and the Dominican Republic, before finally landing in Spain. However, he was unable to flee, as a new indictment was filed against him by a US Attorney's Office in New York, who charged both him and his former bodyguard, Jimmy Gale Watson Jr., with conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering of cryptocurrencies. In fact, he was accused of failing to declaring taxes between 2014 and 2018, in addition to hiding assets such as a yacht, as reported by La Vanguardia. This led to a request to the Spanish authorities for his arrest and extradition. Suicide, conspiracy and further incognitos He was arrested and imprisoned in Catalonia, but while the wheels of bureaucracy were turning, McAfee died, apparently taking his own life rather than return to his home country. Since then, however, everything has been in the shadows and conspiracy theories about an alleged murder began to spread. In fact, Janice, his ex-wife, was one of the main proponents of this thesis, claiming that the suicide note attributed to the millionaire was false and that it was part of a plot to murder him. However, the woman who was the businessman's wife has long since left the media spotlight. It was the lawyer of McAfee's daughter, Joy Athanasiou, who was hoping to resolve the case before the end of 2021 after negotiating with Javier Villalba, Janice's lawyer, but they were never able to contact her. According to MarketWatch, Athanasiou said, "As far as I know, they haven't done anything to his body... He's been there all these months," referring to the morgue where the body still remains. The daughter, Jen, requested cremation and transportation of her father's remains to the United States, but she eventually gave up her claims over the body to avoid delaying his funeral still further. His ex-wife, who divorced him in 2019, will eventually receive the remains of the former computer programmer who even tried to run for the US presidency on two occasions. High electricity prices in Europe are expected to ease. Bloomberg reported that China's largest liquid natural gas (LNG) supplier is preparing to supply natural gas to Europe, which is expected to ease the European fuel shortage. European gas prices plummeted on the news, with benchmark futures down as much as 8.9%. China has ample natural gas reserves. According to Bloomberg News, Sinopec is expected to sell dozens of batches of spot LNG this year and more natural gas will enter Europe in the future, which will help ease the pressure caused by low natural gas inventories in Europe and reduced gas supplies from Russia. As LNG deliveries increase, coupled with good weather forecasts and a resumption of gas supplies in Norway, there may be some relief from dire electricity price situation in Europe, which has more than tripled last year and now has the chance to end. A report from consultancy Rystad Energy pointed out that, although Asian demand is stable, European LNG demand remains strong and the natural gas market is cautiously bearish this week. After all, the United States may also be shut down due to weather in the next few days. Analysts at Citibank noted that natural gas prices in Europe and Asia should "peak this winter" unless there is a severe cold snap in the next two months or a significant escalation of geopolitical tensions in Russia. At present, Russian natural gas exporter Gazprom PJSC refuses to provide spot natural gas quotations but the long-term contract gas supply has dropped sharply and tensions in Ukraine and the Russia-Germany Nord Stream 2 dispute has attracted the attention of traders. Germany said that if Russia uses energy as a weapon, then Nord Stream 2 is a sharp blade. In response, Moscow reiterated that it has no plans to attack Ukraine. Rystad Energy said Russia would increase its supply of as much as 30 billion cubic meters of gas this year but be prepared for those supplies to dry up if tensions escalated into a military conflict. (Source: Nord Stream 2) A Florida man has been sentenced after pleading guilty to several federal charges 46 years after a rape conviction. Douglas Edward Bennett, 77, of Clearwater made the plea after spending decades living life under an assumed identity. Advertisement His initial guilty plea for passport fraud, aggravated identity theft, and possession of a firearm happened in September, the Department of Justice reported. On Feb. 7, a judge sentenced Bennett to 22 years in prison, according to WFLA. Advertisement The case began after a Connecticut jury convicted Bennett in 1975 for several violent felony and sex offenses, including robbery, kidnapping, sexual contact, rape, and two counts of deviate sexual intercourse. He was sentenced to nine to 18 years in prison but was a free man while out on appeal. Breaking News As it happens Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. > Instead of surrendering himself to authorities after his conviction was affirmed, Bennett assumed the identity of Gordon Ewen, the DOJ reported. Ewen died in 1945, according to Massachusetts death records. In 2016, Bennett, who posed as Ewen for more than 40 years, applied for a passport using Ewens name, date of birth, and social security number. In 2020, authorities arrested him on a warrant from the State of Connecticut as a fingerprint comparison confirmed he was the same person convicted in 1975, according to the DOJ. Federal agents executed a search warrant at his Clearwater home in 2020. They found evidence of the first time he began using Ewens identity as well as five firearms and nearly 5,000 rounds of ammunition which Bennett, a convicted felon, is prohibited from owning. Advertisement He now faces a maximum penalty of 22 years in federal prison for the fraud, identity theft, and possession charges. Athens, AL (35611) Today Mostly sunny early then increasing clouds with some scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. High around 85F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Nacional El Gobierno anuncia que los telefonos de Sanchez y Robles han sido infectados con el software Pegasus Being led by Chairman & CEO Santosh Menon, this new agency partnership aims to bring forth the KL.LK expertise to brands, coupled with FCBs philosophy - to do timely and timeless work for clients FCB Group India announced today it is expanding its footprint in South Asia with the launch of FCB KL.LK, being led by Chairman & CEO Santosh Menon. FCB KL.LK, a fully integrated marketing communications agency, is the newest affiliate office under the FCB Group India umbrella. The agency works with marquee clients and brands including Ceylon Biscuits Ltd, HNB credit cards, Fairfirst life Insurance, Ultratech Cement, and Godrej Consumer products. This new agency partnership aims to bring forth the KL.LK expertise to brands, coupled with FCBs Never Finished philosophy; to do timely and timeless work for clients. Speaking on the importance of this partnership, Rohit Ohri, Chairman & CEO, FCB Group India, said, Were delighted to partner with KL.LK in Sri Lanka. They are a young, future-ready agency that is growing very rapidly with many global multi-national clients. With this association, we are hoping to offer seamless service to many of our clients who look at South Asia as a contiguous market. Brandon Cooke, Global Partner, Global Chief Marketing & Reputation Officer, FCB (Global), talked about how thrilled he is to have a partner in Sri Lanka, The creative passion and business momentum made KL.LK the perfect partner for us in the Sri Lankan market. As we continue on our global mission to unleash creativity fuelled by diversity, data and technology, were incredibly excited about the opportunities that lie ahead as we expand our footprint across this region to a new client base. Santosh Menon, Chairman/ CEO, FCB KL.LK, added, I came to Sri Lanka first in 2003 as a team member of FCB for its clients here. Today, bringing FCB back in its latest avatar as part of KL.LK gives me special pleasure and happiness. It's the wheel turning full circle. Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India) FloatMe, a San Antonio tech startup that makes cash advances to workers against their next paycheck, said it raised $16.2 million from investors in its latest fundraising round. Overall, the startup has garnered $49.1 million in funding since June 2019, including $25 million in debt financing, according to Crunchbase, which tracks investments in tech companies. FloatMes newest investors include locally based Active Capital and ManchesterStory, of Iowa. Weve been under the radar, FloatMe co-founder and President Joshua Sanchez said. The funding is validation that weve grown significantly and allows us to scale up. However, he declined to say how many customers use the app. FloatMe, with 60 employees and an office on Soledad Street downtown, is part of a wave of online and mobile cash-advance companies that have gained ground during the coronavirus pandemic. They compete with payday lenders who peddle high-interest loans to largely low-wage workers, a disproportionate share of whom are Black and Hispanic. FloatMes service is similar to the offerings of financial technology, or fintech, firms such as Moneylion, Earnin and Dave. Like its larger rivals, FloatMe says it provides customers with cash advances on their wages, not loans. Customers pay a monthly fee of $1.99 and can request small advances of no more than $50 that they repay when their upcoming paychecks hit their bank accounts. The startups terms of service say users must be U.S. citizens who are at least 18 and have a cell phone and an email address. To create an account, customers authorize the company to access their bank account balance and transaction histories. They also must prove theyve received at least $200 in electronic wage deposits three times before they can request advances. Jessica Phelps Once approved, users can receive their advances through an Automated Clearing House transfer to their bank accounts in one to three business days. Or they can pay $4 for an instant cash drop within eight hours. Fees for faster access to cash advances have gotten the attention of industry watchdogs. Many workers seeking cash advances are in a financial bind and need the money quickly. Those kind of fees are said to be voluntary but really add up for consumers, said Yasmin Farahi, a senior policy counsel at the Center for Responsible Lending, a North Carolina-based nonprofit research and policy group. FloatMe users also can receive pitches from third-parties companies for financial-management services or products if they choose to, according to the startup. From the terms of service: In all cases, you will need to opt in to receive these partner offers, and FloatMe may receive compensation from these partners for connecting you with them. FloatMe is not responsible for the products and services offered by those partners. Payday debt traps The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes a payday loan as a short-term, high-cost loan, generally for $500 or less, that is typically due on your next paycheck. The loans are available at storefronts and online. If borrowers dont repay their loans on time or at all, the lenders can withdraw money from their bank accounts, sometime resulting in overdraft fees. Payday lenders also sometimes send collection agencies after delinquent borrowers. Payday lending has long been big business in Texas. The Center for Responsible Lending has analyzed the average annual percentage rates, or APRs, for a $300 loan with repayment periods of 14 days in each state. The data shows Texans can pay up to 664 percent APR the highest in the country because the state lacks interest-rate caps to protect borrowers. Payday loans are marketed as a quick financial fix, but its actually a long-term debt trap, Farahi said. People will take out a loan thinking its a one-time loan to address a short-term crunch. But with all the fees and costs, they end up having to take out another loan and another loan. Like his peers, Sanchez says FloatMe isnt a payday lender. FloatMe is focused on transparency, he said. We charge $1.99 per month for members to access out personal finance management tools, overdraft alerts and other budget management features. Members can access floats without having to pay the $1.99. There are no credit checks. Theres no interest and no hidden fees. We do not collect or store sensitive (personal information), Sanchez said. We work with a third party to simply connect a members bank account. We do not sell any user data. The companys website says it uses Plaid, a California-based financial service company, to connect to customers bank accounts. Debt trap Sanchez said he had his own bad experience with a payday lender. Five years ago, he was driving in San Antonio when a VIA Metropolitan Transit bus veered into his lane and crashed into his vehicle. The University of the Incarnate World graduate had auto insurance but couldnt wait on the payout to repair his car he needed it to drive to work. At the time, he was among the 67 percent of millennials without a credit card. So he tapped his savings to pay for vehicle repairs, leaving him short on cash before his next paycheck. He didnt want to ask his mother for money, so he turned to a payday lender for a $200 loan and soon fell behind on payments. I got to understand its important to pay on time, he said. The way the lenders make their revenue is betting on the fact that people cant pay back upfront and get into a habitual cycle of having to pay interest. The sad thing is the majority of people cant afford abrupt payback. Later that year, Sanchez pitched the idea for FloatMe at a startup challenge at Geekdom, a co-working space in downtown San Antonio, and won $13,000. FloatMes terms of service say it doesnt charge late fees or penalties, and that it wont go to a collection agency to track down customers for payment. If a member does not repay a float, we dont seek recourse, Sanchez added. Our only response is to not allow the member to take on another float. Still, consumer advocates remain wary of cash-advance companies since they arent regulated like payday lenders. A lot of them try to say theyre not loans, but we believe theyre loans and should be regulated under consumer protection laws and state lending laws, Farahi said. Obviously in Texas, those laws arent strong when it comes to user caps, but we are concerned that theyre trying to get carve-outs from state and federal lending laws saying theyre not loans. And really, a lot of these are payday loans in another form. eric.killelea@express-news.net San Antonio-area real estate firm the Lynd Co. is facing a $90 million fraud lawsuit filed by a Florida company over efforts to sell a purported coronavirus disinfectant in Argentina. Miami-based AHBP alleges that it couldnt get the Argentina governments approval for the disinfectant because they were provided with doctored laboratory reports that grossly and fraudulently exaggerated the products efficacy. AHBP also has sued Bio Supplies, described in the complaint as the Shavano Park-based Lynd Co.s cleaning supply business. Also named as a defendant is ViaClean Technologies, a Philadelphia company that has manufactured the disinfectant. At the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic, AHBP sought to provide a product manufactured by ViaClean to the Argentinian public, which Bio Supplies and its affiliate The Lynd Company represented would kill the virus that causes COVID-19, attorneys for the New York law firm Oved & Oved, which represents AHBP, said in an email Monday. As alleged in the complaint, not only were these representations false, the defendants doubled down on their duplicity by forwarding fabricated laboratory reports to AHBP and the Argentinian government falsely showing the product to be effective, the lawyers added. Adam David Lynd, the Lynd Co.s president, disputed the allegation and said he planned to file a motion to dismiss the complaint. We emphatically believe we belong nowhere in this lawsuit, Lynd said. All we were was a facilitator of information provided by ViaClean, and thats it. While Lynd is involved with Bio Supplies, the Lynd Co. said it does not own or operate Bio Supplies. The suit was filed Thursday in San Antonio federal court. The defendants have yet to file answers to the complaint. On ExpressNews.com: H-E-B, Beaumont partnerships dispute over disinfecting wipes gets messier The Lynd Co. manages 16,000 apartment units in 81 communities, according to its LinkedIn page. It also specializes in development and construction services. AHBP says the defendants alleged deception cost it $89.6 million in profits and $826,300 in expenses. AHBP is managed by New York real estate investor Alex Sapir. According to the suit, as the coronavirus pandemic ravaged Argentina in the summer of 2020, AHBP began negotiating with Bio Supplies to sell BioProtect 500. Bio Supplies, described as an alter ego of the Lynd Co., asserted the product would destroy the virus that causes COVID-19, the suit says. Bio Supplies is a distributor of ViaClean products, Lynd said. We have nothing to do with the production of ViaClean products, he added. We couldnt have committed fraud because we dont create any of the materials. We dont produce the product. We just literally hit forward in an email and said, Here you go. Lynd said his company uses the same ViaClean product to spray down common areas of its apartments. During negotiations, AHBP said it needed to know the products composition, manufacturing and quality controls and toxicology to obtain approval from Argentinas National Administration of Drugs, Foods and Medical Devices. Bio Supplies replied that it could not initially provide the information because of confidentiality concerns, the suit says. It assured AHBP that the product would meet the applicable standards. But Bio Supplies knew it could not perform as claimed and would not meet the Argentina governments standards to allow it to be sold in the country, the suit adds. Even though AHBP couldnt verify Bio Supplies representations, it entered into an exclusivity and resale agreement in October 2020. Within 45 days, AHBP was required to buy $100,000 worth of product and spend $350,000 promoting it in Argentina. In December 2020, the suit says, Bio Supplies provided the lab reports. One of the reports, from a Canadian lab, prompted questions from the Argentina agency. SA Inc.: Get the best of business news sent directly to your inbox AHBP contacted the lab, which advised that the report sent to AHBP and the Argentina agency was not the same as what we had originally issued, the complaint says. Bio Supplies initially denied altering the report, but on March 5 of last year admitted that it and ViaClean had provided the Argentina agency with a version of the report that had been modified from the original, the lawsuit says. A call to ViaClean was not immediately returned. The defendants fraudulent representations became crystal clear later that month when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ordered ViaClean to stop marketing the product with claims that it is effective against the coronavirus, the suit adds. The EPAs order related to the product BioProtect RTU. BioProtect 500 is a concentrated form of BioProtect RTU, according to the website of a company that sells both products. AHBP says that as a result of defendants fraudulent scheme, breaches and other misconduct, it was unable to sell BioProtect 500 in Argentina the only place in the world where it had a license to sell the product. pdanner@express-news.net Editor's note: This story originally published in 2021. The ex-wife of Carlos Uresti, the disgraced former state senator now behind bars, has sued a San Antonio adult nightclub for allegedly using her photo to promote the business on Facebook. Lleanna Elizondo says Capisce Gentlemens Club has inflicted emotional distress on her by using her photograph to promote a sexually explicit business and by making it appear that shes associated with the establishment. Elizondo seeks more than $100,000 in damages from Capisce; DAngelos Italian Grill, which operates inside the club; and principal Arturo Velarde. The suit was filed last month in state District Court in San Antonio. The defendants are aware that (Elizondo) is a well-known individual in San Antonio and (the) surrounding community and utilized her likeness that was lifted without her permission from her Facebook profile in order to promote their business, her lawsuit says. Elizondos photo appeared on Velardes personal Facebook page, the complaint says. She had posted the photo, which features her smiling in a neon orange mini skirt with matching midriff-baring top while seated at a bar, on her own Facebook page in October 2019. Velarde said no one ever contacted him about the photo. The only thing she has to do is tell us, and Ill make sure that we take it down, Velarde said. Shes probably trying to make some money. On ExpressNews.com: Ex-wife of imprisoned San Antonio politician, feds fight over his state pension Elizondo was by Urestis side entering and leaving the courthouse for much of his 2018 trial on 11 felony charges, including securities fraud and money laundering. The charges related to his role in a now-defunct oil field services company that ripped off investors. A jury convicted Uresti on all counts, and he was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison and ordered to pay $6.3 million in restitution. Hes serving time in a correctional facility in Louisiana and is slated to be released in May 2029, when hes 65. The case cost the Democrat his long political career, his law practice, his wealth and his marriage. About a week after Urestis conviction, Elizondo filed a divorce petition to end their nearly six-year marriage. Elizondo landed in the spotlight again last fall, embroiled in a tussle involving the pension Uresti earned as a public official. The issue was over whether the federal government could garnish 25 percent of Urestis monthly annuity before what Elizondo received as alimony under the terms of her divorce settlement. She argued the government should get its cut after the deduction for her alimony. The dispute was over a little less than $200 a month. Elizondo could not afford an attorney to represent her, and she declined to have one appointed by the court. I lost everything, she told a judge during a hearing. I came out of this marriage with less than I had. In November, Senior U.S. District Judge David Ezra ruled against the federal government entitling Elizondo to $647.61 a month from the pension. Elizondos legal claims in her complaint are for appropriation of likeness, defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. San Antonio attorney Juanita Pelaez-Prada, who represents Elizondo, declined to say how they learned of the photo appearing on Velardes Facebook page. Hes seeking to make financial gain off of her face, the lawyer said. On ExpressNews.com: Retired Spurs star Tim Duncan settles lawsuit over altered photo Velardes Facebook page includes numerous photos of women including actress Scarlett Johansson and model Tyra Banks to promote Capisce Gentlemens Club. A caption above those photos mentions that the club is under new management and that patrons can get a shot courtesy of Velarde. The club is at 9504 Perrin Beitel. Especially (since) she doesnt work for us, we dont need to use her for any reason, Velarde said of Elizondo. If she would have called me and say, Hey, somebody posted something, I would have taken it down immediately. Were not out to offend anybody. Velarde described Capisce as a restaurant and bar. It had been closed because of COVID-19, but he said it reopened about a month ago. Women who work at the club are clad in bikinis, and there is no nudity, he added. Elizondos lawsuit is reminiscent of 2016 litigation filed by retired Spurs forward Tim Duncan over an altered photograph showing him holding a sign promoting a Keller Williams real estate agent on Facebook. A caption with the photograph said, Wow. Just WOW! TD took the time to give us some love! Thanks Tim! We love you too man! The lawsuit was eventually settled, and the agent resigned. pdanner@express-news.net Actor and musician Jackson Rathbone, who played Jasper Hale in the Twilight Saga film series, and his wife, Sheila, in July sold their five-bedroom, 3,929-square-foot house in Pflugerville for an amount likely close to their $800,000 asking price. The sale came six months after the couple sold another Austin-area house a four-bedroom, 4,254-square-foot contemporary-style house in Austins Northwest Hills area for an amount likely close to their $1.495 million asking price. The Rathbones have left the Austin area and have moved to just outside Atlanta in the suburb of Alpharetta, Ga., where they paid $920,000 in July for a six-bedroom brick house on a 1.17-acre property. In June 2021, Rathbone, 37, posted on Facebook about his angst of moving again. And in May 2021, he posed for a photo on Facebook while seated on a Genuine Buddy 125 scooter in front of his garage in Pflugerville. In Pflugerville, the couple had bought their home in September 2020 for an undisclosed amount from do-it-yourself Instagram influencers Brad and Holly Lauritzen, who had owned it since 2017. The Lauritzens gave the home numerous upgrades during their ownership of it. Built in 2016, the Pflugerville house has 3-1/2 bathrooms, a shiplap fireplace in the family room, engineered hardwood flooring, and a kitchen with large brass pendants, subway tile, quartz countertops and a large farmhouse apron front sink. The houses primary bedroom is on the main level and has a bath with a soaking tub and walk-through shower, while the second level has a loft area with barn-style doors and a pool table. The house also has a media room with a built-in bar area. Outside on the property is a playhouse. Listing agent Jessica Murdock declined to comment on the Rathbones Pflugerville sale. However, Jackson Rathbone wasnt the only celebrity to own a home in his area of Pflugerville. Just a few blocks away, comedian and podcaster Brian Redban in late 2020 paid likely close to $440,000 for a four-bedroom, 3,225-square-foot house. The Rathbones had bought their Northwest Hills-area house in April 2018 for an amount likely close to the $995,000 asking price at the time. They then listed that house in October 2020 for $1.65 million. They later cut their listing price to $1.49 million before finding a buyer and closing on the sale of that house in January 2021. Built in 1967, the Northwest Hills-area home has a pool off the living room, Swedish white oak floors throughout the entire first floor, a kitchen with Thermador appliances, new light fixtures and custom hand-painted tile, and new recessed lighting and cans throughout the first level. Goldsborough is a freelance reporter Courtesy of Central Alabama CrimeStoppers An Alabama man wanted in connection with the 2017 shooting death of his sister-in-law turned himself into Hondo Police over the weekend. Darin Starr, 54, was arrested at 1:30 a.m. on Saturday and charged with the use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of the murder-for-hire scheme. A Dallas man pleaded guilty to assaulting a Border Patrol agent and transporting undocumented people at Big Bend National Park, the Department of Justice said. Jose Alejandro Crecencio, 21, was charged with transporting an undocumented noncitizen and forcibly assaulting a federal officer. A Border Patrol agent was patrolling on Route 12, near the national park, on Nov. 13 when he observed Crecencio driving slowly in a Chevrolet Tahoe. On ExpressNews.com: A heartbreaking story: BCSO deputy rescues group from possible human smuggling operation The agent followed the Tahoe until it turned into the visitors center near the parks entrance and parked in the driveway instead of a parking spot, a federal complaint said. When the agent attempted to make contact with the Tahoe, Crecencio sped away back onto Route 12. The Border Patrol agent and a park ranger, who witnessed the incident, pursued the Tahoe. During the pursuit, the vehicle stopped and six people exited the Tahoe and ran into the brush and desert, the complaint said. The Tahoe then continued east on Route 12, before making a U-turn and driving directly at the Border Patrol agents vehicle, the complaint said. Crecencio forced the two law enforcement vehicles off the road as they avoided head-on collisions with the Tahoe. On ExpressNews.com: Human smugglers using TikTok, other social media to recruit drivers for Texas runs Crecencio eventually drove off of the road and 50 feet into the desert before he stopped the Tahoe and fled on foot. The two law enforcement agents arrested Crecencio after a roughly 30-minute chase. Other Border Patrol agents detained two of the six people who fled from the vehicle. Crecencio is scheduled to be sentenced on March 29. He faces up to five years in prison on the transporting charge and up to 20 years on the assault charge. taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @Taylor Pettaway TAMPA A Florida prosecutors office has concluded the fatal shooting of an 88-year-old man by a deputy was justified. The State Attorneys Office in Tampa said Monday that the fatal shooting of Ronald Ehrich last December by a Hillsborough County deputy was justified because the deputy was in fear for her life or great bodily harm when she fired her weapon. The deputy also had no duty to retreat, the State Attorneys Office said in a statement. Advertisement Accordingly, there is no legal basis for criminal charges against the deputy, said the statement. The deputys name was withheld in the State Attorneys Office statement but she had previously been identified as Deputy Anastacia Castillo. Video released by the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office last December showed the deputy repeatedly trying to de-escalate the situation. Advertisement She went to the home in Riverview, Florida, after a neighbor asked for a well-being check on Ehrich. The neighbor was concerned because she had not seen Ehrich for at least two days and had noticed his garage door was open. In the video, the deputy repeatedly identified herself as she made her way through the home, saying sheriffs office as she knocked on walls and doors. Once upstairs, she opened doors to bedrooms until Ehrich finally answered from behind a closed door. She explained that she was just there to check on him. Then she apparently saw he was armed and took cover at the far end of the hallway as she called for backup. She backed into a bedroom, continuing to plead with Elrich to put the gun down. In the video, Ehrich advanced toward her and she fired after he moved within a few steps of her. Ehrich received emergency medical treatment at the scene and died at a hospital. An autopsy determined he died from gunshot wounds to the head and chest, the statement said. The investigation was conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. San Antonio police are searching for the shooter who killed a 24-year-old man on Monday. Officers were called at around 5:30 a.m. to an East Side residence in the 200 block of Longview Drive a couple of blocks from Martin Luther King Park for a shooting. Witnesses found the victim unresponsive in the driveway. He was taken to the hospital where he later died. On ExpressNews.com: Dead man found in Ojeda Park ruled homicide victim Police said they have no suspects and that no arrests have been made. The investigation is ongoing. taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @Taylor Pettaway A federal judge has ordered the U.S. government to pay families of victims and survivors of the Sutherland Springs mass shooting more than $230 million in damages for the Air Forces failure to report the gunmans violent criminal history to the national firearms database, which could have prevented him from buying his assault-style rifle. In a 185-page order, U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez included individual awards of $5 million to $6 million for pain and mental anguish for several survivors or estates of those killed. He ordered the government to pay millions more for damages such as loss of companionship or consortium, pecuniary loss, disfigurement and physical impairment, and medical costs associated with the massacre at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs. The verdict is the largest award or settlement in recent memory over a mass shooting in the United States. Plaintiffs lawyers said that if the government doesnt appeal, the verdict would compensate more than 80 family members of victims and survivors who filed suit. The losses and pain these families have experienced is immeasurable. Our civil justice system only allows us to rectify these kinds of losses through money damages, the attorneys said in a joint statement issued by lead counsel Jamal Alsaffar. Lisa Krantz, Staff Photographer / San Antonio Express-News The U.S. Attorneys Office in San Antonio, whose lawyers helped defend the Air Force at trial, referred questions to the Justice Department in Washington, D.C. The department said it is reviewing the decision, and it declined further comment. Attempts to reach some of the victims for comment Monday were unsuccessful. On Nov. 5, 2017, disgraced former airman Devin Kelley opened fire at the church with an AR-556 rifle, killing 26 people and wounding more than 20 others. His wife attended the church, but Kelley had tied her up at their New Braunfels home before going on the rampage in Sutherland Springs, about 35 miles to the south. Kelley was booted from the Air Force in 2014 because of his propensity for violence. Before his discharge, he was convicted of domestic violence for seriously injuring his infant stepson and was sent to jail for a year. He had been barred from Holloman AFB in New Mexico because of a pattern that included threats to superiors and bringing firearms onto the base. After a trial last spring, Rodriguez ruled in July that the Air Force was 60 percent responsible for the shooting and Kelley was 40 percent responsible. Testimony showed that for more than 30 years, the Air Force failed to report thousands of violent felons, including Kelley, into the FBI National Instant Criminal Background Check System. That system is designed to prevent convicted criminals from purchasing or possessing firearms. Without that flag, Kelley was able to buy guns from licensed dealers. Rodriguez held a separate trial in October and November to determine damages, during which survivors told harrowing stories of the shooting. Many believed the gunshots were firecrackers initially. But when they realized what they heard were gunshots, they hit the floor and crawled under pews to try to escape the rain of bullets. Many cried as they saw their fellow worshippers killed, while some sang Jesus Loves Me or prayed. Mothers used their bodies to try to shield their children; some dragged the wounded to safety or triaged those who were shot. Kelley shot more than 450 rounds at the victims and through the church walls. The trial even made seasoned police investigators break down on the witness stand. It was the worst mass shooting in Texas and drew dozens of local, state and federal law officers to the small town east of San Antonio. Juan Gunny Macias, 53, who served in the Marine Corps, testified during the damages phase of the trial that he began to get up to rush Kelley when he heard him drop one of the magazines to reload the rifle, but he couldnt get up because he had been shot in the leg. Kelley saw Macias move and fired, hitting him several more times before he fled and was chased out of town by good Samaritans. Kelley took his own life at the end of the chase. I didnt save anybodys life. Thats a big thing for me, Macias testified. At one time, someone got on the news and said about Sutherland Springs that we did everything wrong, that we should have ran. And I felt so guilty because I was the first one to yell get down. Although I know I know if anybody would have gotten up and tried running, the church so small, I think more people would have died. But the guilt is still there. At the end of the damages phase, lawyers for the survivors and for bereaved relatives of the deceased had asked the judge for $418 million. The Justice Departments lawyers had proposed $31.8 million. In their statement, lawyers for the families and survivors noted that, during the damages phase, the federal government settled two other mass shooting cases accusing the federal government of negligence, while refusing to settle the Sutherland Springs case. At the end of October, the Justice Department announced that it had settled lawsuits stemming from the 2015 church shooting in South Carolina. In that case, the Justice Department agreed to pay $88 million to the families of nine people who were killed at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston by gunman Dylann Roof. And in November, families of more than a dozen victims of the 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Fla., reached a $127.5 million settlement with the Justice Department to resolve their lawsuit over the FBIs failure to act on tips about the gunman. Seventeen people were killed in that shooting. Despite the overwhelming facts presented that proved the governments severe negligence in the Sutherland Springs Church shooting, the government chose not to make a settlement offer to the 26 deceased Texas victims and instead forced their families to endure two long and emotional trials, the Sutherland Springs lawyers statement said. These families are the heroes here, attorney Alsaffar said. While no amount can bring back the many lives lost or destroyed at the hands of the governments negligence, their bravery in obtaining this verdict will make this country safer by helping ensure that this type of governmental failure does not happen in our country again. guillermo.contreras@express-news.net | Twitter: @gmaninfedland A San Antonio couple were arrested after being accused of severely beating a 12-year-old boy who later died, court documents said. Derrick Coles, 32, and his wife, 27-year-old Kapri Cheatom, were arrested on suspicion of assault on a child resulting in serious bodily injury. Each is being held on $150,000 bail, and the charges against the couple may be increased in light of the childs subsequent death. Police on Feb. 6 went to the couples Northwest Side home at 7026 Wurzbach Road after receiving a report of an injured child. Coles told police that his son Danilo fell in the shower and collapsed, an affidavit supporting the couples arrest said. When medics arrived, they found Danilo unresponsive. He was taken to University Hospital and died later that night, according to Bexar County death records. On ExpressNews.com: Unforgivable: Woman arrested after toddlers found alone, tied up in Highland Park home At the hospital, staff found suspicious injuries that were inconsistent with Coles account, the arrest affidavit said. Danilos injuries consisted of whipping marks on his torso and legs, rectal bleeding and internal stomach bleeding, the affidavit said. He was found to have no brain activity. Danilo had recently moved to San Antonio from Chicago to live with Coles and Cheatom after suffering abuse at the hands of his mother, the affidavit said. Cheatom told police that Danilo had been disrespectful since he moved in and that she and Coles would discipline him by making him do pushups while holding 50-pound boxes, the affidavit said. On Sunday, the couple told police, they made Danilo hold a 32-ounce case of bottled water for an hour, and when he couldnt hold it any longer, the two lightened the load by giving him smaller boxes to hold. The couple told police that they continued to discipline Danilo for about four hours before they told him to take a shower. Coles said the boy told his father and stepmother that he fell in the shower and cut his eye. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio man who squeezed baby to death sentenced to life in prison According to the affidavit, Coles and Cheatom said they allowed Danilo to eat before resuming their discipline making him do pushups until he physically couldnt and hitting him multiple times with a belt. Cheatom told police they were aware the child was bleeding while they were whipping him and that the 12-year-old was not moving and was lying in a fetal position. She said she didnt think he was in pain because he wasnt crying, according to the arrest affidavit. taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @Taylor Pettaway Jerry Lara /San Antonio Express-News The Alamo already one of the most popular historic sites in the United States is also among the most beautiful landmarks in the country, according to a travel website. ParkSleepFly, which helps travellers find long-term parking while flying, said it analyzed thousands of Tripadvisor reviews of famous landmarks around the world to see how many reviews included the terms "beautiful," "pretty," "picturesque" and "stunning" to come up with its list of the top 25 most beautiful travel sites in the world and in the U.S. A slate of anti-immigrant, anti-trans, pro-death penalty resolutions proffered by a Harris County GOP precinct chair drew outrage from Democrats and scorn from Republicans, though the opposing sides remained at odds over the correct outcome. Carla Richburg of Cypress, chair of GOP precinct 602, proposed eight resolutions to the party platform, including outlawing all sex education in schools; mandatory death penalties for anyone convicted of murdering a police officer or murders committed during other felonies; a call to wage war against all invaders related to Texas borders that authorizes deadly force; considering all Chinese nationals as spies and removing them from the country; refusal to recognize transgender identification; and removal of the word marriage from official documents. On HoustonChronicle.com: Cagle, Ramsey pitch cutting 1,000 jobs to hire law enforcement; Hidalgo calls it 'horror story' The resolutions were roundly rejected by the local Republican partys advisory board, which forwarded them to voters, noting, we unanimously condemn the tone and content. Even the consideration of resolution with this salacious rhetoric would embarrass and impugn the integrity of this body, the advisory board wrote. Richburg and the local GOP leadership did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday. Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Democrats, who began lambasting the local GOP over the weekend, demanded more action on Monday morning. They called for Richburg to be removed. The hate-filled priorities list she submitted is indefensible and not legitimate political discourse, Harris County Democratic Party chair Odus Evbagharu said in a statement. We condemn the promotion of hatred in any form and will continue to call out anyone who attempts to magnify messages of hate. The calls for Richburg to resign follow by eight months demands by Democrats for a member of their own caucus to step aside. Former county precinct chair John Behrman resigned from his Democratic post in June after suggesting two rising members of the local party one being Evbagharu were suspect because of their Nigerian descent. On social media, state Republicans were quick the denounce the proposals but also defend their processes and stopped short of saying Richburg must resign. Texas election code and state party bylaws only allow for removal of precinct chairs under certain circumstances, such as embezzling party funds, election fraud or missing party meetings. GOP rules allow for removal after at least three other documented instances of sufficiently egregious conduct that the Republican Party in that county or senatorial district is subjected to public disgrace. On HoustonChronicle.com: Former Harris County clerk Chris Hollins announces run for Houston mayor Under the rules, Richburg also would have to be notified and given an opportunity to defend herself. (Texas Democrats) know there is no legal remedy to remove Carla Richburg, state GOP vice-chair Cat Parks said in a tweet. Should she be primaried and beaten? Without question. The controversy comes as both parties are preparing for a flurry of primary activities and campaigning in advance of what is likely to be a contentious general election. Early voting in the primaries runs Feb. 14-25, with election day on March 1. dug.begley@chron.com Chris Hollins, the former Harris County clerk who implemented a number of measures aimed at expanding voting access during the 2020 election, announced Monday he plans to run for Houston mayor in 2023. With his announcement, Hollins becomes the second entrant in the race to succeed Mayor Sylvester Turner, who will be forced out of office by term limits in January 2024. State Sen. John Whitmire, a Democrat and the longest-serving member of the Texas Senate, told supporters at a campaign rally in November that he plans to run for mayor. Hollins campaign team said he would spend the coming months engaging community leaders, thought leaders, and Houstonians in every corner of the city to share his vision for Houston and hear their concerns about the city. His campaign will be run by political strategist Grant Martin, who oversaw the successful mayoral campaigns of Turner and his predecessor, Annise Parker. Our next mayor will lead Houston at a defining moment in its history, Hollins said in a statement. The pandemic changed our world overnight, and we as a city have to deal with that change. We cant go back. I am offering my leadership and experience to propel Houston forward. Hollins, a member of the METRO board and vice chair of finance for the Texas Democratic Party, previously worked at the consulting firm McKinsey & Company, where he focused on helping government agencies become more efficient. He has never been elected to public office, though in May 2020 he was appointed to oversee Harris County elections, taking over on an interim basis after his predecessor, Diane Trautman, stepped down because of health issues. With election officials projecting record turnout amid the coronavirus pandemic, Hollins put in place several programs intended to boost turnout while limiting in-person contact between voters during the 2020 general election. Those initiatives included drive-thru voting, 24-hour voting and attempting to send mail-in ballot applications to all 2.4 million registered voters in the county, including those who did not request them. Armed with $27.2 million in extra funding from Commssioners Court, Hollins nearly tripled the number of early voting sites in Harris County and hired 11,000 poll workers to staff them. Though Hollins was lauded for the effort, mostly by Democrats, Republican officials and activists challenged a handful of the measures in court, arguing Hollins had exceeded his legal authority. The all-GOP Texas Supreme Court struck down the countys plan to proactively send out mail ballot applications, and a federal court upheld Gov. Greg Abbotts proclamation limiting Harris County to a single location for voters to drop off completed mail ballots, instead of the 12 envisioned by Hollins. The state Supreme Court and a federal judge sided with Hollins, however, in striking down attempts by Republicans to halt drive-thru voting and, later, nullify the more than 120,000 ballots cast by Harris County voters from their cars. The county ultimately smashed turnout records during the 2020 election. Republicans in the Texas Legislature responded by passed a sweeping bill that targets many of Harris Countys 2020 initiatives, including bans on 24-hour and drive-thru voting. The countys innovative election measures and the barrage of lawsuits challenging them quickly raised Hollins profile. He appeared frequently on national TV and in local and national coverage of the Harris County elections spectacle, and drew the praise of local officials, including Turner. The mayor, a Democrat, effusively praised Hollins work, at one point tweeting that Hollins has done a brilliant job handling this election season. Innovative, organized, poised, articulate. On Saturday, Turner moderated a panel with Hollins and two Democratic legislators about the impact of the new Texas voting law. Renee Cross, senior director of the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston, said an endorsement from Turner would go a long way toward helping Hollins compete with Whitmires deep ties among Democrats and his $11 million campaign war chest. That endorsement is going to mean a lot more to a Chris Hollins than it would to a John Whitmire, Cross said. Hollins is still relatively new. Whitmire has 50 years of solid support among Democrats. It is unclear where Turner will come down on the battle to succeed him. Whitmire also is a public ally of the mayor, whom he overlapped with in the Legislature for nearly three decades. Whitmire supported Turner in his 2015 bid for mayor and again in 2019, when Turner won re-election. Last year, however, Whitmire publicly backed the Houston fire unions effort to collect signatures to put a charter amendment on the city ballot that would force stalled contract talks to be resolved through binding arbitration. The move put Whitmire at odds with Turner, who opposed the effort. Turners successor will face a number of immediate challenges, including a city budget patched together by a one-time infusion of federal stimulus funds. The federal relief is helping pay for a 6 percent pay raise for firefighters this year, which the union has blasted as mere bonus pay that does not make up for years of stagnant salaries. Aside from the long-simmering firefighter salary dispute, the next mayor will confront a cash-strapped Solid Waste Management Department plagued by an aging fleet, high staff turnover and numerous service delays during the last few years. And the citys infrastructure remains in a tenuous spot, with a network of pockmarked streets and a sanitary sewer system under a federal consent decree requiring the city to spend an estimated $2 billion over 15 years on improvements. Other challenges include the citys large unfunded liability for retiree health care costs, and property tax revenue caps both locally and state imposed that limit the citys budget to address the host of issues. Whitmire, up for re-election in the Senate this year, has said he plans to serve during the 2023 legislative session before turning his attention to the mayoral campaign trail. He faces a spirited challenge in the March 1 primary from Molly Cook, an emergency room nurse who has accused Whitmire of running for two offices at once by way of his early mayoral announcement. If elected, Hollins, 35, would be the youngest mayor of Houston since Kathy Whitmire, who also was 35 when she was elected mayor in 1981. John Whitmire is Kathy Whitmires former brother-in-law. Cross noted that Hollins would not be the first Houston mayor who had not been previously elected to a different office. Former mayors Bill White and Bob Lanier Kathy Whitmires successor had been appointed to previous political posts but never elected. jasper.scherer@chron.com The claim: In 2022, illegal immigrants will have MORE FREEDOMS and easier access to healthcare and ballot boxes than most Americans... Just think about that. U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Amarillo. Jackson, a physician and retired Navy admiral, made the claim on Twitter, receiving more than 6,000 replies. PolitiFact rating: Pants on Fire! Unauthorized immigrants dont have access to the ballot for federal, state and almost all local elections. Though immigrants can have access to some medical assistance programs depending on where they live, they do not qualify for any health insurance coverage with any federal dollars. They do not qualify for Affordable Care Act marketplace coverage even if they pay costs without using an ACA subsidy. Discussion Immigrants lacking legal authorization to live in the United States cannot vote in federal and state elections, said Matthew Weil, director of the Washington-based Bipartisan Policy Centers Elections Project. The project explores and analyzes voter legislation to ultimately inform policymakers. Almost all localities in the U.S., and all in Texas, limit elections to citizens. Even in the small handful of localities where noncitizens can vote in local elections, those localities allow only lawfully present noncitizens to vote. 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 Weil noted New York City is one example of the few places where noncitizens can vote in local elections. New York City allows Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals participants but not all unauthorized immigrants to vote, as reported by the Associated Press in early January. There are no circumstances where noncitizens can vote in federal elections. I dont know of any jurisdiction that allows somebody whos here undocumented to access the ballot box, Weil said. TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox There are an estimated 1.7 million people lacking legal immigration status in Texas, according to 2019 estimates by the Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan policy research institution. More than 20 percent of them, according to the institute, have been in the U.S. for 20 or more years. Unauthorized immigrants are barred from federal health care programs, said Anne Dunkelberg, associate director at Every Texan, an Austin-based nonpartisan policy institute. This includes Medicare, Medicaid, the Childrens Health Insurance Program and coverage through the ACA marketplace. Based on policy research, Every Texan advocates for Texas to expand Medicaid under the ACA, which all but 12 states have done. That expansion would not include immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. Dunkelberg said there is an exception where providers can recoup the cost of treating an unauthorized immigrant in an emergency situation. Even that emergency funding for providers is subject to the same restrictions as for Medicaid in Texas for adult citizens. And so hospital emergency rooms cant turn away people with real emergencies, regardless of whether theyre uninsured, regardless of what their immigration status is. They have to treat you in real emergencies, Dunkelberg said. So thats why there is a provision back for emergency room visits by a very limited number of undocumented immigrants, not even all of them. Unauthorized immigrants have access to some state and local health programs, which can be funded by federal grants. This patchwork of programs addresses some aspects of well-being such as mental health, immunizations and communicable disease. However, these programs are not health care coverage, Dunkelberg said. That care isnt free, and in many cases program costs work on a sliding scale. Those programs are available to citizens, too. Locally, counties can opt to serve uninsured immigrants living in the U.S. illegally through medical assistance programs. The uninsured people seeking care have to meet specific income requirements. Dunkelberg said most of Texas major urban counties opt to provide care to unauthorized immigrants who are uninsured. States also have the option of providing prenatal care to women regardless of immigration status through the Childrens Health Insurance Program, said Ruth Wasem, professor of public policy practice at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas. Wasem said this option was created under former President George W. Bush. Texas is one such state that opts for the CHIP perinatal program (prenatal, delivery and postpartum care) for unauthorized immigrants. Even with limited emergency Medicaid, its a stretch to say unauthorized immigrants have easier access compared with most Americans. There is no aspect of that that is in any way superior to the access for U.S. citizens, Dunkelberg said. Air Serbia will lease a second Airbus A330 aircraft and launch at least two new long haul destinations, one in North America and another in Asia. Serbias President, Aleksandar Vucic, confirmed the airline is in advanced stages of planning the new routes. The comments came following talks between Mr Vucic and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in Beijing. After almost five years of hard work, the service to New York is finally profitable. Now we want to increase frequencies on that route and introduce another destination in North America, either Toronto or Chicago. Due diligence is being carried out and a business plan is being drafted, so we can gauge interest. Air Serbia will lease a second Airbus A330 aircraft and launch at least two new long haul destinations, one in North America and another in Asia. Serbias President, Aleksandar Vucic, confirmed the airline is in advanced stages of planning the new routes. The comments came following talks between Mr Vucic and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in Beijing. After almost five years of hard work, the service to New York is finally profitable. Now we want to increase frequencies on that route and introduce another destination in North America, either Toronto or Chicago. Due diligence is being carried out and a business plan is being drafted, so we can gauge interest. Commenting on services to Asia, Mr Vucic said, We are initially planning one route to China, which would increase to two. We are talking about Belgrade - Shanghai and Belgrade - Beijing. I believe we can be successful in this pursuit. Of course, we are seeking certain discounts and incentives from the Chinese side, in terms of airport fees and taxes. If all this is achieved, we are getting another A330 and launching these routes this year. Mr Xi is supportive of our plans and has already taken it up with his advisors. We believe that flights to China will become profitable earlier than was the case with New York. These services will further improve business ties between the two countries and bring more Chinese tourists to Serbia. We are the only country in the region whose airline offers nonstop flights to New York. After five years it became profitable, and this is a big achievement for a small airline such as Air Serbia. As previously reported , during the pre-pandemic 2019, China (excluding Hong Kong) was the largest long haul market from Serbia based on OAG data, just outperforming the United States, which was followed by Canada. Shanghai and Beijing were Belgrade Airports two busiest unserved routes in 2019. That year, a total of 62.526 passengers flew indirectly between Serbias capital and Chinas largest city, while a further 52.289 travelled indirectly between Belgrade and Beijing on a single itinerary. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, Shanghai was still Belgrade Airports busiest unserved destination in 2020, while Beijing came fourth, falling behind Toronto and Chicago. There is also believed to be notable cargo demand between the two countries. BRIDGEPORT - A Fairfield man, charged by police for an incident captured on video in which he yelled at employees of a local smoothie shop and threw a drink, was ordered Monday to stay away from the business. You are ordered to stay away from Robeks and have no further contact with the victim, Superior Court Judge Ndidi Moses told 48-year-old James Iannazzo as he stood before her with his lawyer. The judge then continued the case to March 9. This regrettable incident will be addressed in court in due course, Iannazzos lawyer, Eugene Riccio, said as he and Iannazzo left the Golden Hill Street courthouse. Assistant States Attorney Justina Moore, who urged the judge to impose the stay away order, declined comment. Iannazzo is charged with second-degree breach of peace, first degree criminal trespass, and intimidation based on bigotry or bias. He did not enter pleas to the charges Monday. On Jan. 22 police said Iannazzo angrily confronted teenage employees at the Robeks shop, accusing them of earlier making a drink containing nuts for his son who he said suffers from a nut allergy. The teen was later transported to a hospital, police said. Police said Iannazzo demanded to know who had made the smoothie and became increasingly angry when employees could not respond. He is accused of using expletives and throwing a drink at an employee that hit their right shoulder. Iannazzo also made comments toward an employee referencing their immigration status, police said. Employees told police that Iannazzo had not told them about the peanut allergy, only requesting that no peanut butter was put in his drink. The incident was recorded on an employees phone and later released on social media gaining national attention. Iannazzo, who was fired from his job at Merrill Lynch after the incident, later released two statements apologizing for his actions. They do not reflect my values or my character, he said in a statement. I feel terrible that I lost my composure so completely. Iannazzo said he returned to the Robeks to find out what ingredients were used in the smoothie. He said he made the regrettable comments because his 17-year-old son was taken to the hospital suffering with life-threatening anaphylactic shock. I was out of my mind with fear for him when I returned to Robeks, and I wish I had not done so. I also wish they had been more careful preparing my sons beverage, he said in the statement. I will be extending my apologies personally to the Robeks organization, particularly the staff that was working there that night. The adoption of some unprecedented measures supporting the COVID-19 fight, the commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, and new records in the stock market are among the 10 most outstanding economic events of Vietnam in 2021. The following is the list selected by the Vietnam News Agency. 1. Some economic targets achieved and surpassed amid severe impacts of COVID-19 pandemic The fourth wave of COVID-19 infections has taken a heavy toll on the economy and society when prolonged and widespread social distancing was imposed on many provinces and cities. A large number of businesses have faced difficulties and bankruptcy due to disruptions to global supply chains. In that context, Vietnam has managed to achieve and surpass some economic targets: the gross domestic product (GDP) grew by over 2 percent; trade revenue rose 22.4 percent to over 660 billion USD, turning Vietnam into one of the 20 leading economies in terms of international trade; trade surplus reached about 3 billion USD; and the attracted foreign direct investment exceeded 29 billion USD, up by over 0.5 billion USD from 2020. These are the fruits of efforts and determination by the entire political system and economic elements in implementing the important policies to realise the twin targets of fighting against the pandemic and developing the economy. 2. Resolution issued to permit some unprecedented measures supporting COVID-19 combat Support for residents in Nghe An (Photo: VNA) On July 28, at the first session of the 15th National Assembly, the parliament issued Resolution No. 30/2021/QH15, which assigned the Government and Prime Minister to make decisions about and organise the implementation of some measures that havent been stipulated or are different from the provisions in existing laws and ordinances so as to meet urgent requirements in the COVID-19 prevention and control. Under this resolution, the Government promulgated many policies, especially Resolution No. 86/NQ-CP on the urgent anti-pandemic solutions, which has created conditions for ministries, sectors, and localities to proactively take steps against COVID-19, guarantee social security, and assist the pandemic-hit people and businesses. Data from relevant agencies show that as of early December 2021, authorities exempted, reduced, or extended payment deadlines for about 140 trillion VND (6.1 billion USD) worth of tax and fee for enterprises; provided over 253,000 tonnes of rice for people; disbursed 1.754 trillion VND for helping pay salary to workers; and exempted and reduced about 31 trillion VND in interest and fee for clients of credit institutions. 3. National Assembly adopts economic restructuring plan At Toyota Vietnam factory in Vinh Phuc (Photo: VNA) On November 12, at the second session, the 15th National Assembly approved a resolution on the economic restructuring plan for 2021 - 2025. This resolution pointed out the need to form a reasonable and efficient economic structure, develop many national products based on new and high technology, make breakthroughs in the competitiveness of some key economic sectors, and improve the economys self-reliance, adaptability, and resilience. Amid opportunities and advantages intertwined with challenges and difficulties, especially when the COVID-19 pandemic remains complicated, the Government stressed that this plan needs to be implemented strongly to accelerate economic recovery and create an impulse for making breakthroughs in the time ahead. 4. Vietnam commits to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 At the World Leaders Summit of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh declared Vietnams commitments to climate change response. Accordingly, the country pledged to reduce net emissions to zero by 2050 and agreed to support the important declarations and initiatives on forest protection, transition to renewable energy, assistance for local communities adaptation, and methane reduction. It also committed to gradually omitting coal from electricity production and stopping support for the building of new coal-fired power plants. The strong commitments by Vietnam have received positive assessment from the international community and shown its leading role in the fight against global climate change in Southeast Asia and the world at large. 5. Vietnam marks 15 years of WTO membership, affirms stature in integration The country marked the 15th year since it became a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on November 7, 2006. According to the WTO, among the 50 countries with the largest trade in goods in the world, Vietnam has recorded breakthrough growth. Total trade turnover rose by over 7-fold to exceed 667 billion USD in 2021, from only 84.7 billion USD in 2006. The country has continually seen growing trade surplus since 2016, with a record of over 19 billion USD in 2020. This year, trade surplus still reached about 3 billion USD despite difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Together with the WTO, the 17 free trade agreements that have come into force or are under negotiation have turned Vietnam into an economy with its openness equivalent to 200 percent of GDP. 6. First-ever country strategy dialogue between Vietnam and WEF On October 29, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh co-chaired a country strategy dialogue held both in person and via videoconference between Vietnam and the World Economic Forum (WEF). The event was attended by nearly 70 leading businesses in the region and the world that have invested or planned to invest in Vietnam. It was a chance for the Government to share economic restructuring plans so as to promote the cooperation with enterprises in resuming production and business activities, especially in industrial, export processing, and special economic zones. 7. Vietnam sees higher position in global soft power rankings VinFast's first electric models come out (Photo: VNA) Vietnam is the only ASEAN country to record a higher position in the Global Soft Power Index Report 2021 released by Brand Finance, the world's leading brand valuation consultancy. It saw an improvement of 2.5 points in overall score to rank 47th among the 105 countries in the list According to Brand Finance, Vietnam seems to have managed all aspects of its perception quite well, especially the integration and alignment of its nation brand and the brands from the country. 8. Vietnam becomes one of top 10 emerging logistic markets In the 2021 Emerging Markets Logistics Index released by the worlds leading logistics company Agility, Vietnam jumped three places from 2020 to the 8th position in this years rankings. In recent years, the countrys production and technological capacity has improved considerably, helping attract investment from producers. Amid the worlds logistics industry undergoing a year full of challenges and fluctuations, Vietnam ranking among the top 10 emerging logistics markets has opened up promising opportunities for investment attraction. It is expected to help achieve the Governments target that by 2025, logistics services will contribute 5 - 6 percent of GDP and grow by 15 - 20 percent. 9. New records in stock market In 2021, the stock market of Vietnam set new records. The benchmark VN-Index hit 1,500.8 points, the highest score so far, on November 25, rising by nearly 36 percent from the end of 2020. Liquidity frequently reached billions of US dollars and set a record of nearly 53 trillion VND (almost 2.3 billion USD) on December 23. In the first 11 months of this year, domestic investors opened more than 1.3 million securities accounts, higher than the combined number of the four previous years. Domestic investors formed the decisive factor in the historic records of the stock market this year. 10. First urban rail route in Vietnam put into use Cat Linh - Ha Dong urban rail route (Photo: VNA) On November 6, the Ministry of Transport and the Hanoi Peoples Committee officially put the Cat Linh - Ha Dong urban rail route in the capital city into operation. As the first urban rail route in Hanoi and the whole country, this mode of public passenger transport is hoped to help reduce traffic congestion in the capital. The elevated route, 13.05km in total length, consists of 12 stations, starting at Cat Linh Station and ending at Yen Nghia Station, and 13 trains. It was funded by Chinas official development assistance with total investment of 18 trillion VND, rising by 57 percent from the initial estimate. The construction lasted for 10 years and missed deadlines for multiple times./. VNA White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday that Russia could invade Ukraine any day, launching a conflict that would come at an enormous human cost. The senior adviser to President Joe Biden offered another stark warning the day after U.S. officials confirmed that Russia has assembled at least 70% of the military firepower it likely intends to have in place by mid-month to give President Vladimir Putin the option of launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Advertisement If war breaks out, it will come at an enormous human cost to Ukraine, but we believe that based on our preparations and our response, it will come at a strategic cost to Russia as well, Sullivan said. Sullivan did not directly address reports that the White House has briefed lawmakers that a full Russian invasion could lead to the quick capture of Kyiv and potentially result in as many as 50,000 casualties as he made appearances on a trio of Sunday talk shows. Advertisement U.S. officials, who discussed internal assessments of the Russian buildup on the condition that they not be identified, sketched out a series of indicators suggesting that Putin intends to start an invasion in the coming weeks, although the size and scale are unclear. They stressed that a diplomatic solution appears to remain possible. Among those military indicators: An exercise of Russias strategic nuclear forces that usually is held each fall was rescheduled for mid-February to March. That coincides with what U.S. officials see as the most likely window for invasion. The administration has stepped up warnings in recent days that Russia increasingly seems intent on further invading Ukrainian territory. Last week, Biden administration officials said that intelligence findings showed that the Kremlin had worked up an elaborate plot to fabricate an attack by Ukrainian forces that Russia could use as a pretext to take military action against its neighbor. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Thursday that the the scheme included production of a graphic propaganda video that would show staged explosions and use corpses and actors depicting grieving mourners. It could happen as soon as tomorrow or it could take some weeks yet, Sullivan said. He added that Putin has put himself in a position with military deployments to be able to act aggressively against Ukraine at any time now. Still, Sullivan said that the administration held on to hope that the Russians would move to de-escalate the situation through diplomacy. The key thing is that the United States needs to be and is prepared for any of those contingencies and in lockstep with our allies and partners, Sullivan said. We have reinforced and reassured our allies on the eastern flank. Advertisement Texas Rep. Michael McCaul, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, attended a classified briefing last week that administration officials gave to members of Congress. He was asked on ABC whether he came away from the briefing thinking it was certain that Russia would move on Ukraine. I would say the conditions are there. Its more likely than not. I think the noose is being prepared. Its around Ukraine right now as we speak. These are dangerous times, McCaul said. Meanwhile, elite U.S troops and equipment landed Sunday in southeastern Poland near the border with Ukraine following Bidens orders to deploy 1,700 soldiers there amid fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Hundreds more infantry troops of the 82nd Airborne Division are still expected to arrive at the Rzeszow-Jasionka airport. A U.S. Army Boeing C-17 Globemaster plane brought a few dozen troops and vehicles. Their commander is Maj. Gen. Christopher Donahue, who on Aug. 30 was the last American soldier to leave Afghanistan. Our national contribution here in Poland shows our solidarity with all of our allies here in Europe and, obviously, during this period of uncertainty we know that we are stronger together, Donahue said at the airport. Advertisement Breaking News As it happens Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. > Biden ordered additional U.S. troops deployed to Poland, Romania and Germany to demonstrate Americas commitment to NATOs eastern flank amid the tensions between Russia and Ukraine. NATOs eastern member Poland borders both Russia and Ukraine. Romania borders Ukraine. The division can rapidly deploy within 18 hours and conduct parachute assaults to secure key objectives. Based in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the divisions history goes back to 1917. Biden is set to meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday at the White House. Scholz has said that Moscow would pay a high price in the event of an attack, but his governments refusal to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine, bolster its troop presence in eastern Europe or spell out which sanctions it would support against Russia has drawn criticism abroad and at home. French President Emmanuel Macron was to arrive Monday in Moscow for talks with Putin, and in the days to come, Scholz will be there, too. Sullivan expressed certainty that operation of the Russia-to-Germany Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline will not move forward if Russia further invades Ukraine. Construction of the pipeline is complete, but gas is not yet flowing. While its true that Germany has not sent arms to Ukraine, after the United States, they are the second largest donor to Ukraine in Europe, Sullivan said. The great thing ... about having the kind of alliances we have with 30 NATO allies is that different allies are going to take different pieces of this. Advertisement Sullivan appeared on Fox News Sunday, NBCs Meet the Press and ABCs This Week. BRIDGEPORT - Arrested for allegedly starving five dogs to death in her Fairfield home, a crying Heidi Lueders turned to a detective and asked, Do you think they will ever let me own dogs again? She appeared remorseful, Fairfield Detective Kerry Dalling continued under questioning by Superior Court Judge Peter McShane Monday afternoon. She was crying and she told me she had just gotten out of a rehab facility that day. Dalling was the final witness called by Assistant States Attorney Felicia Valentino in the trial of the 34-year-old Lueders, the former president of Bully Breed dog rescue. Valentino then rested her case. Lueders lawyer, Robert Serafinowicz, told the judge he didnt expect to call any witnesses but would decide Tuesday. Both Valentino and Serafinowicz are to present their summations Tuesday afternoon. Lueders, accused of leaving the five dogs to die in the Prince Street, Fairfield, home she rented in November 2018, is charged with five counts of first-degree maliciously killing an animal, a felony, and one count of first-degree criminal damage to property. If convicted of all the charges she could be sentenced to more than 10 years in prison. She requested a trial by judge rather than a jury. Lueders, the lower half of her face covered by an American flag bandanna, sat busily writing on a page of lined paper during testimony Monday. Her landlord, Celly Roberts, testified earlier in the trial that she called police after going into the house and finding the remains of the five dogs in locked cages throughout the home. She said the house was filled with garbage. Police testified they found dog feces all over the floor of the home and that it smelled heavily of rotting flesh. A retired state pathologist previously testified that he couldnt tell how the dogs died from their remains - just skin and bones - but that it was probably from lack of care. Christine Antollini, the vice president of Lueders dog rescue operation, testified Monday that Lueders had been keeping the five dogs in her home since November of 2017 but she had not been in the Prince Street home after October 2017. She said at that time the home appeared fine. Dalling testified that Lueders turned herself in at the Fairfield Police Department on Jan. 15, 2019, after being told there was a warrant for her arrest. She appeared to be a little bit disheveled, tired. She started crying, Dalling related. She said she couldnt believe she did this, she was a terrible person and she talked about how much she loved dogs, Dalling said of Lueders. She said she had a tattoo of a dog. Browns Food Group has secured the purchase of Quality Pork Ltd (QPL), which runs Scotland's biggest pork processing plant. Meat manufacturer Browns, which operates seven sites in the UK, has secured the purchase of the pork processor and its Brechin site. The acquisition now makes Browns Food Group, which was established in 1885, Scotland's largest pork processor. Browns CEO, Wayne Godfrey said: This acquisition demonstrates our deep commitment to a sustainable Scottish pig industry, for both our customers and consumers of Specially Selected Pork and Scottish Pork. It provides the opportunity for Browns to process high welfare local pork for our own manufacturing sites as well as for retail, foodservice and wholesale channels. "In addition, we will reduce food miles with improved logistics, efficiencies, and closer management of welfare. Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) has welcomed the announcement, as the acquisition would help "build a stronger future for the Scottish pig industry". QMS chair, Kate Rowell said: We are confident that the strong experience Browns holds will ensure a smooth transition of the Brechin site. "In the longer-term [it] will help alleviate some of the ongoing pressures faced by the sector. Our priority remains to support producers of Specially Selected Pork and Scottish Pork to uphold robust whole chain assurance." Challenging market conditions continue in the pig sector but there is reason to remain hopeful, according to new analysis by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS). Although the pace of price declines for pig producers has eased from the autumn peak, sector data continues to highlight severe challenges for producers and processors. However, the acquisition of Quality Pork Processers Ltd in Brechin by Browns Food Group may help alleviate some of the ongoing challenges faced by the sector. Iain Macdonald, QMS senior economics analyst, notes that the downward pressure on the pig market continues. "The GB standard pig price (SPP) slipped below 138p/kg in the final week of January, leaving it 1.9% below the same week of 2021 while, at just under 142p/kg, the price for carcases weighing 70-104.9kg was down by 0.5%. "Reflecting that market conditions had also been challenging in early 2021, the SPP trailed its five-year average by nearly 7%. Downwards pressure on the pig market has come from an inability of the processing sector to expand output to handle an increased supply of finished pigs. This constraint in output has been driven by a lack of suitably skilled workers, with the change in UK immigration rules after EU exit making it harder to recruit from overseas. "Meanwhile domestic workers tend to favour careers in other industries, such as warehousing for online retail, said Mr Macdonald. In June 2021, Englands agricultural census reported a 6% year-on-year increase in fattening pigs, with a 2% increase reported in Scotland. Yet, at GB level, slaughter declined slightly on a year earlier between June and the year-end. This resulted in a backlog of slaughter-ready pigs on farms, with weak competition for these pigs leading to lower market-clearing prices. "In addition, delayed slaughter meant that fast-growing pigs quickly exceeded target weight-ranges, further reducing their value to the producer and processor as heavy carcases and their component cuts have fewer outlets. Recently published December census results for England showed a much smaller seasonal decline in fattening pigs between June and December than usual, falling 3.5% compared to a five-year average of 8%. Mr Macdonald said: Comparing against a more normal seasonal scenario, this suggests that slaughter numbers could have been 177,000 below potential between June and December. "The result in England was that the year-on-year increase in slaughter pigs on farms widened to 11% in December. In Scotland, December census results have not yet been published but since the number of fattening pigs on Scottish farms was 8% of the English total in June 2021, this could suggest around 14,000 fewer pigs being slaughtered from Scottish farms than potential over the same period, pushing the GB backlog to 191,000. Moving into 2022, slaughter of standard pigs at GB price reporting abattoirs has started the year below its 2021-weekly average, suggesting little inroads have been made into the backlog, said Mr Macdonald. Further evidence of market distress and a severe backlog comes from an increase in carcase weights since the turn of the year, approaching 96kg. "In the four weeks to January 29, an estimated 18.2% of the standard carcases weighed at least 105kg, up from 5.6% a year earlier, and this was already at an elevated level in early 2021 due to a backlog caused by covid-19 abattoir closures in late-2020. One slight positive for producers is that the rise in carcase weights has been offsetting lower per kilo prices, resulting in higher average prices per carcase. "In the final week of January, the price per carcase was 5% higher than last year and 4% above its five-year average. Nevertheless, this is before factoring in the cost of production. Back in the late summer and early autumn, grain and soya futures prices had fallen back from the highs of early 2021," Mr Macdonald said. "And Defras compound feed report for the July to September period had suggested that, while still 13% higher than a year before, the cost of pig feed had eased slightly on the quarter." Since then, a deterioration in the anticipated global balance of supply and demand for grain has seen prices for wheat and barley surge by around 15% and 25% respectively. Meanwhile, a dry summer in Argentina and Brazil has resulted in a tightening of global soyabean supply, pushing up the price of soyameal by around 15% since the autumn. As a result, these higher raw material prices will have been passing into the price of compound feeds over the winter, likely raising them beyond the levels last reported by Defra from Q3 2021. More positively for the pig sector in Scotland is a potential recovery in pig slaughter towards the levels seen in 2020 following a change in ownership of Brechin abattoir. This change in ownership also comes with wider benefit to the Scottish economy given that the pig carcases will be converted into cuts of pork and other pigmeat products at processing sites in Scotland. "As a result, economic value will be added, and employment supported, in Scotland rather than at production sites south of the border, concluded Mr Macdonald. Sixteen land-based universities that offer courses in agriculture or carry out research for the industry have formed the Agricultural Universities Council (AUC). The Council will agree on joint agricultural research priorities and work with farmers and others who have a stake in the agricultural industrys future. As farming faces up to a transitional period, the initiative aims to provide a joined-up approach to research and to ensure public investment in agri innovation makes a difference on the ground. The new initiative was announced by Defra Secretary George Eustice at the launch of the UK Agriculture Partnership which took place last week at the Royal Agricultural University, which is one of the members of the AUC. The Councils 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 environmental, welfare and community groups, food businesses, and other stakeholders, to shape future research priorities. Matt Bell, director of agriculture at Hartpury University, said the university was "thrilled to be part of this forward-thinking Council, formed at an incredibly important time for our industry". "The AUC allows us to contribute to conversations with policy and decision makers with a combined voice of 16 leaders, allowing for a joined up approach to informing the UK research strategy for agriculture. "Our students, the farmers of the future, are sure to benefit from this joined-up approach, just as they do from having access to our existing industry links and commercial farm." 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 Centre and who is also the Elizabeth Creak Chair in Rural Policy at the Royal Agricultural University, also attended the UK Agriculture Partnership launch event. Farmers, industry, and public interest groups have longstanding concerns about the impact of publicly-funded research," he said. "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. The introduction of African swine fever in the UK would have a 'detrimental impact' on the pig sector, the government has warned following outbreaks in Italy. The deadly pig disease, already present in a number of countries across western and eastern Europe, has been spreading in wild boars in northern Italy. Authorities there are now moving toward a cull of up to 8,000 pigs following discovery of ASF in 29 wild boar carcasses, according to veterinary institute ISZUM. It comes after the disease was recently detected in domestic pigs in Germany, along with outbreaks in Belgium, Romania, and Poland. Asian countries including major pig producing countries such as China and Vietnam have also been hit hard, with millions of pigs culled. The risk of an incursion to the UK has been assessed as 'medium' by government scientists, but concern is growing over its spread in northern Italy. While there has never been a case of ASF in the UK or Ireland, and there is no human health risk with the disease, it is easily transmitted in pork products. UK legislation states that feeding farmed animals with catering waste or feed material containing, or derived from catering waste, is illegal. Doing so can result in prosecution. Northern Ireland's agriculture minister, Edwin Poots said the introduction of the disease in the UK would have a 'detrimental impact' on the domestic pork sector. "It could have a devastating effect on export markets and would also require the humane culling of pigs on infected premises to prevent further spread," the minister warned. "I stress the need of maintaining a high level of biosecurity, make sure that your pigs do not access any kitchen waste, only feed your pigs a purchased pig ration and to remain vigilant for signs of disease for early detection of the disease. The government says good biosecurity practices including strict hygiene measures are essential in preventing the disease. People should not take meat or meat products into areas where pigs are kept and should only eat food in designated areas such as staff rooms or the farm kitchen. Pig keepers, farm staff and anyone in contact with pigs should also wash their hands before and after eating or preparing food. Northern Irelands chief veterinary officer, Robert Huey added: No matter how many pigs you keep, you need to be aware of the potential consequences of feeding waste food to your animals. "Not only is it illegal, but you run the risk of spreading disease which could be fatal to your livestock." Senior US agricultural leaders got to sample British beef and learn more about the UKs meat production during a recent high-profile event in Texas. The UK ambassador to the US, Dame Karen Pierce held an event to promote and celebrate British beef to the all-important US market. The reception, which saw more than 50 senior US beef figures attend, was held alongside the NCBA Convention a major US beef sector event which attracts more than 6,500 farmers every year. Held at the Consul Generals residence, the reception gave attendees the opportunity to sample British beef which was prepared with authentic Texan flavours. Attendees also heard about the key characteristics of British beef, which was provided by Foyle Food Group. Exports of British beef to the United States has been rising steadily since gaining market access in September 2020. The event aimed to promote and celebrate British beef to the all-important US market The US placed a ban on British beef in 1996 after the outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), also known as 'mad cow disease', in the UK. In the first eleven months of 2021, 2,300 tonnes of beef fresh, frozen and offal were shipped to America, worth more than 9.5 million. The US market offers potential for UK red meat as a whole, with pork exports rising year-on-year. Lamb exports are also expected to resume this year after more than two decades of restrictions. The amended 'small ruminant rule' came into force last month, which changes a rule introduced more than 20 years ago banning imports of lamb from countries where scrapie had been identified. AHDBs director of international development, Dr Phil Hadley participated in the reception, which he called a 'valuable opportunity' for the UK beef sector. "[It highlighted] the traceability, high animal welfare standards and food safety that we operate to in the UK, all of which is valued in the US marketplace. I was able to showcase our famous native breed cattle, the flavour and health benefits of grass-fed beef as well as discussing the trade between our two countries. Attending trade shows, exhibitions and events in key global markets is a hugely important area of work for AHDB as we are able to showcase our exceptional products. Only subscribers with PAID Print or E-Edition subscriptions please enter here to gain access. If you are not already a Paid subscriber do not go through this portal. Please return to the subscription page to purchase one of our offers. Thank you! Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category MOSCOW President Joe Biden said Monday it would be wise for Americans other than essential diplomats to leave Ukraine amid the Russian military threat. Biden made his comments during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the White House, shortly after the two leaders met for talks about the simmering crisis. Advertisement The State Department has already authorized nonessential employees to leave and has called on all family members of diplomats in Ukraine to do so. Biden also said Monday there will no longer be Nord Stream 2, a crucial Russia-to-Germany natural gas pipeline, if Russia further invades Ukraine with tanks and troops. Advertisement President Joe Biden speaks during a joint news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the East Room of the White House, Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, in Washington. (Alex Brandon/AP) The buildup of an estimated 100,000 Russian troops near Ukraine has fueled Western worries of a possible offensive. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan warned Sunday that Russia could invade Ukraine any day, triggering a conflict that would come at an enormous human cost. Russia has denied any plans to attack its neighbor but demands that the U.S. and its allies bar Ukraine and other former Soviet nations from joining NATO, halt weapons deployments there and roll back NATO forces from Eastern Europe. Washington and NATO reject those demands. Macron, who met in the Kremlin with Russian President Vladimir Putin before he is scheduled to head to Ukraine on Tuesday, spoke by phone Sunday with U.S. President Joe Biden to discuss ongoing diplomatic and deterrence efforts, according to the White House. The security and sovereignty of Ukraine or any other European state cannot be a subject for compromise, while it is also legitimate for Russia to pose the question of its own security, Macron said in an interview with French newspaper Journal du Dimanche, adding that he believes that the geopolitical objective of Russia today is clearly not Ukraine, but to clarify the rules of cohabitation with NATO and the EU. Macron told reporters that he felt reasonably optimistic ahead of his meeting with Putin. I dont think there are short-term victories, he said. We can prevent some things in the short term. I dont believe in spontaneous miracles. There are lots of tensions, nervousness. Thats also why I decided to start the discussion a few weeks ago. French President Emmanuel Macron, right, welcomes Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Fort of Bregancon in Bormes-les-Mimosas, southern France, Monday Aug. 19, 2019. (GERARD JULIEN/AP) Putins spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, described Macrons visit as very important, but sought to temper expectations, saying the situation is too complex to expect a decisive breakthrough after just one meeting. He noted that the atmosphere has remained tense, adding that the U.S. and its allies have continued to ignore Moscows security demands. Advertisement Continuing the high-level diplomacy, Scholz is to meet with Biden later Monday in Washington. Scholz is set to travel to Kyiv and Moscow on Feb. 14-15. Sullivan, the national security adviser, reiterated Sunday that the Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Germany will not move forward if Russia attacks Ukraine. Biden and Scholz are expected to address the pipeline during their their first face-to-face meeting since Scholz became the head of the German government nearly two months ago. Ahead of the visit, the White House sought to play down Germanys refusal to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine, bolster its troops in Eastern Europe or spell out which sanctions it would support against Russia a cautious stand that has drawn criticism abroad and inside Germany. White House officials, who briefed reporters ahead of the meeting on the condition of anonymity, noted that Germany has been a top contributor of nonmilitary aid to Ukraine and has been supportive of the U.S. decision to bolster its troop presence in Poland and Romania to demonstrate its commitment to NATO. German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said Monday it will add up to 350 troops to about 500 already a part of a NATO battlegroup it leads in Lithuania. The reinforcements will be sent within a few days, Lambrecht said, adding that with this, we are strengthening our contribution to forces on NATOs eastern flank and sending a very clear signal of unity to our allies. Advertisement Biden has deployed additional U.S. troops to Poland, Romania and Germany, and a few dozen elite U.S troops and equipment landed Sunday in southeastern Poland near the border with Ukraine, with hundreds more infantry troops of the 82nd Airborne Division set to arrive. In 2015, France and Germany helped broker a peace deal for eastern Ukraine in a bid to end the conflict between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed separatists that erupted the previous year following the Russian annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula. The agreement signed in the Belarusian capital of Minsk helped stop large-scale fighting, but efforts at a political settlement have stalled and frequent skirmishes have continued along the tense line of contact in Ukraines industrial heartland known as the Donbas. The leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany last met in Paris in 2019 in the so-called Normandy format summit, but they failed to resolve the main issues. Amid tensions over the Russian military buildup, presidential advisers from the four countries met in Paris on Jan. 26 but didnt make any visible progress and agreed to meet again in Berlin in two weeks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pushed for another four-way Normandy summit, but the Kremlin said such a meeting would only make sense if the parties agree on the next steps to give special status to the rebel east. Advertisement Breaking News As it happens Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. > Putin and his officials have urged France, Germany and other Western allies to encourage Ukraine to fulfill its obligations under the 2015 agreement, which envisaged a broad autonomy for the Donbas region and a sweeping amnesty for the separatists. The agreement stipulated that only after those conditions are met would Ukraine be able to restore control of its border with Russia in rebel regions. The Minsk deal was seen by many Ukrainians as a betrayal of national interests, and its implementation has stalled. During the latest tensions, Ukrainian authorities have warned the West against pressuring Ukraine to implement the agreement. Last week, Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraines National Security and Defense Council, told The Associated Press that an attempt by Ukraine to fulfil the Minsk deal could trigger internal unrest that would play into Moscows hand. Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the country has received more than 1,000 metric tons of weapons and military supplies from its allies, noting that a series of visits by Western officials has helped deter Russia. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is visiting Kyiv Monday and later head to the area near the line of contact in the east. The British government said Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will visit Moscow on Thursday and Defense Secretary Ben Wallace will follow meet Friday with his Russian counterparts. __ Advertisement Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani in Washington, Yuras Karmanau in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed. Rani Mukerji has opened up on music legend Lata Mangeshkars death. Lata Mangeshkar, known as the Nightingale of India died yesterday at the age of 92. The songstress had a flourishing career for over seven decades and is said to have sung almost 30,000 songs across languages. Lataji is an institution and this is truly the end of an erathough she is no more, her voice is immortal and will stay with us forever. Lataji was truly gifted and blessed, people would often say that goddess Saraswati resides in her voice and what a coincidence that she left us one day after Basant Panchamishe has left a big void in all our lives as India has lost its nightingale. She is and always will be remembered as one of the most integral people in the history of Indian cinema. Every actor past and present dreamt of lip-syncing to her voice and in my career I had the good fortune of being able to do that in my film Mujhse Dosti Karoge, said Rani Mukerji. I will always cherish the memories I have of meeting her and getting her blessings through my career, she was kind-hearted and always exudes warmth, there was truly an aura around her and when we met she greeted us with so much love. We as an industry can now celebrate her life and thank her for the countless memories and songs she has left us with. Rest in peace Latajilove you, she added. 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. CHICAGO (dpa-AFX) - Boeing (BA) said that, at the Singapore Airshow this month, it will showcase its portfolio of commercial, defense and support services by highlighting advanced systems and capabilities focused on safe and sustainable aerospace. Boeing noted that its presence at the show will include its newest fuel-efficient widebody jet, the 777X, along with the company's offerings in maritime patrol aircraft, advanced fighters and trainers, and autonomous systems. Boeing will also highlight the F-15, P-8 Poseidon, T-7A Advanced Pilot Training System, as well as autonomous technology including the Boeing Airpower Teaming System. The United States Department of Defense corral is expected to display the KC-46A Pegasus, P-8A Poseidon, and C-17 Globemaster III. Additionally, Boeing will highlight its digital ecosystem of services, including integrated flight operations, a data-driven supply chain, e-commerce, predictive maintenance, digitally enabled MROs and competency-based training for commercial and defense customers. 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. Press Release Outside trading hours - Regulated information* Brussels, Dublin, 7 February 2022 - 8 a.m. CET (before stock exchange hours) KBC Bank Ireland closes sale of substantially all of its remaining non-performing mortgage loan portfolio KBC Group and KBC Bank Ireland finalised the deal announced on 30 August 2021 concerning the sale of a non-performing mortgage loan portfolio of roughly 1.1 billion euros (mainly Private Dwelling House (PDH) and Buy to let (BTL)) in a transaction financed by funds managed by CarVal Investors ('CarVal'). KBC Bank Ireland contacted the customers whose loans are included in the sale beforehand to inform them that their loans were being transferred. Pepper Finance Corporation (Ireland) DAC will be managing the loans as legal title holder. Pepper is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Customers will continue to have the same legal and regulatory protections (for example, under the Consumer Protection Code (CPC) and the Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears (CCMA)) after the sale. The transaction is marginally capital accretive with a combined impact (P&L and RWA) of approximately 2 bps on KBC Group's CET1 ratio, fully recognised in 2021. The -0.1 billion euros impact on KBC Group's P&L was almost fully booked in 3Q2021. The risk-weighted assets decreased by 0.8 billion euros, also in 3Q2021. Note to the editors CarVal Investors is an established global alternative investment manager focused on distressed and credit-intensive assets and market inefficiencies. Since 1987, CarVal's team has navigated through ever-changing credit market cycles, opportunistically investing 133 billion US dollars in 5 610 transactions across 82 countries. Today, CarVal Investors has approximately 11 billion US dollars in assets under management in corporate securities, loan portfolios, structured credit and hard assets. Pepper Finance Corporation (Ireland) DAC ('Pepper') will be managing the loans post completion as the legal title holder and the lender of record. Pepper is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland, so all customers will continue to be afforded all regulatory protections. For more information, please contact: KBC Group Viviane Huybrecht, General Manager, Corporate Communication/Spokesperson, KBC Group Tel + 32 2 429 85 45 - E-mail: viviane.huybrecht@kbc.be , pressofficekbc@kbc.be Kurt De Baenst, General Manager, Investor Relations, KBC Group Tel + 32 2 429 35 73 - E-mail: IR4U@kbc.be KBC Bank Ireland Edelman - Joe Carmody, CEO Tel + 353 86 805 87 64 - E-mail: joe.carmody@edelman.com * This news item contains information that is subject to the transparency regulations for listed companies. KBC Group NV Havenlaan 2 - 1080 Brussels Viviane Huybrecht General Manager CorporateCommunication /Spokesperson Tel. + 32 2 429 85 45 Press Office Tel. + 32 2 429 65 01 Stef Leunens Tel. + 32 2 429 29 15 Ilse De Muyer Tel. + 32 2 429 32 88 Pieter Kusse Tel. + 32 2 429 85 44 Sofie Spiessens E-mail: pressofficekbc@kbc.be (mailto:pressofficekbc@kbc.be) KBC press releases are available at www.kbc.com (http://www.kbc.com/) or can be obtained by sending an e-mail to pressofficekbc@kbc.be (mailto:pressofficekbc@kbc.be) Follow us on www.twitter.com/kbc_group (http://www.twitter.com/kbc_group) Stay up-to-date on all innovative solutions (https://www.kbc.com/en/newsroom/innovation/innovatie-2022.html?zone=topnav) Attachment If the disruption to Russian gas deliveries spread beyond flows through Ukraine to include all Russian pipeline exports to Europe, LNG imports alone would not be able to meet shortfall and additional supply levers would be required, report says Supplies of Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine have already fallen-and been replaced by LNG imports-to such a degree that shutting off the remaining gas that is still flowing through Ukraine would have relatively limited additional impact on European supply, according to a new report by IHS Markit (NYSE: INFO), a world leader in critical information, analytics and solutions. The report, entitled Putting Europe's Security of Gas Supply to the Test by the IHS Markit Global Gas service highlights the reduced role of Ukrainian gas transit in Europe's gas supply. The report says Russian gas flows through Ukraine fell to historical lows in January-50 million cubic meters per day (Mmcm/d), less than half of levels from a year ago. While flows through the Ukraine have swung back up with the beginning of February, they remain half the levels of the period 2015-2020. "Europe is already experiencing a 'quasi-curtailment' of Russia gas flows," says Michael Stoppard, chief strategist, global gas, IHS Markit. "The result is a European gas import picture that is starkly different from a year ago. One where LNG imports have ramped up to fill the gap." LNG imports to Europe increased considerably in January 2022 supplying higher volumes (34% of total supply) than Russian pipeline supply, which fell to 17% of supply, the report says. LNG imports from the United States rose to a new record of 245 Mmcm/d, accounting for the largest share of LNG by far. Average total LNG imports in January were 490 MMcm/d, with the upward trend in LNG imports continuing into February. LNG imports for the first three days of February have averaged 605 MMcm/d, with February 3rd reaching 710 MMcm/d. The surge in LNG imports has reduced core Europe's previously abundant spare regasification capacity, which has gone from 82% in January 2021 to 25% in late January 2022. Nevertheless, enough spare regasification capacity exists to cover the loss of remaining pipeline flows from Ukraine relatively comfortably, the report says. A modest acceleration in storage withdrawal could also feasibly compensate for any lost supply. While the loss of remaining pipeline flows through Ukraine would not present a threat to physical supplies, it would likely put further pressure on prices as LNG volumes are pulled away from other destination markets in an already tight and rattled global market, the report says. "So far, this is more of a price crisis than a physical supply crisis," says Shankari Srinivasan, vice president, global gas, IHS Markit. "While gas supply is sufficient to meet most market needs through the end of the winter heating season, high prices are already leading to closures of some industry and furloughing of workers in Europe." While additional LNG supply would be enough to cover the shortfall of a cutoff of gas flows through Ukraine, if a more far-reaching reduction of Russian volumes were to take place-in the form of a complete stoppage of pipeline flows through all routes going into Europe-it would create an immediate supply deficit that LNG alone could not compensate for. In the event of such a scenario, which the report says is unlikely, additional supply levers would need to come into play. "Under an extreme, if highly unlikely, scenario where all Russian pipe flows were cut off, the tightness of global LNG supply and limited spare European LNG regasification capacity means that other supply levers would be needed to close the gap," says Stoppard. "Extra coal and nuclear power generation capacity-either in the form of mothballed capacity being brought back online, resorting to strategic reserves or delayed plant closures-along with additional drawdowns of gas from storage would all be required." Despite starting the winter well below average fill levels, European gas storage would be able to accommodate the additional drawdowns required under the more extreme shut off scenario for the remainder of the winter season, the report says. However, it would leave storage levels well below their normal averages. "Low storage inventories have been a key element in keeping gas prices at elevated levels," says Stoppard. "Running down storage further this winter would leave a huge mountain to climb to restock before the start of next winter." About IHS Markit(www.ihsmarkit.com) IHS Markit (NYSE: INFO) is a world leader in critical information, analytics and solutions for the major industries and markets that drive economies worldwide. The company delivers next-generation information, analytics and solutions to customers in business, finance and government, improving their operational efficiency and providing deep insights that lead to well-informed, confident decisions. IHS Markit has more than 50,000 business and government customers, including 80 percent of the Fortune Global 500 and the world's leading financial institutions. Headquartered in London, IHS Markit is committed to sustainable, profitable growth. IHS Markit is a registered trademark of IHS Markit Ltd. and/or its affiliates. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners 2022 IHS Markit Ltd. All rights reserved. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220207005246/en/ Contacts: News Media Contact: Jeff Marn IHS Markit +1 202 463 8213 Jeff.marn@ihsmarkit.com Press Team +1 303 858 6417 press@ihsmarkit.com First of its kind device allows operators to remotely ensure precise loading of semitrailers onto railcars, improving terminal operations As cargo terminal operators around the world race to overcome supply chain bottlenecks, TradeTech pioneer Nexxiot has unveiled a new remote control that helps speed the loading of semitrailers onto railcars to improve the precision and safety of complex intermodal shipping operations. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220207005280/en/ Nexxiot AG introduces the first-of-its-kind Kingpin Monitor Remote System (pictured) that equips intermodal cargo crane operators with a digital assistant that ensures accurate, real-time loading status for better safety and efficiency, reducing the possibility of human error. (Photo: Nexxiot AG) Nexxiot's Kingpin Monitor is recognized as the industry's go-to technology for ensuring proper loading of semitrailers. The Kingpin sensor detects whether the kingpin is engaged and whether the hitch status is open or locked. It provides real-time visibility on the status of semitrailer loading for both on-site operations via LED light indicators and for other stakeholders via the Nexxiot Connect Intelligent Cloud. Now, with the introduction of remote capabilities, crane operators are equipped with a digital assistant. This means they receive accurate, real-time indications on loading status for better safety and efficiency, which reduces the possibility of human error. Nexxiot's Remote Kingpin Monitor is not intended to replace human operators but rather assist them to improve efficiency and prevent possible catastrophic accidents. The deployment of Nexxiot's Kingpin Monitor remote control has been initiated through the company's ongoing collaboration with one of Europe's leading working group of terminal operators, Agora Intermodal Terminals. Agora represents a significant share of central European cargo handling volume across Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and Switzerland, and welcomes this contribution to the transfer of digitization from the railcar to the Terminal. "Speed is a critical performance indicator in today's complex shipping industry, but it must not be prioritized at the detriment of safety. Agora Intermodal is committed to this objective which makes them the ideal partner for the rollout of this technology," explained Nexxiot's CEO Stefan Kalmund. "Kingpin Monitor's new remote capabilities prioritize safety by helping operators reduce critical mistakes and speed up loading operations even in adverse weather conditions." About AGORA Intermodal Terminals: The AGORA Intermodal Terminals Working Group was established in 2011 as a result of an EU project. The approach of the working group is to bring together terminal operators in order to promote the exchange of information and ideas and joint learning with regard to "good practices" in terminal management, increasing terminal capacities and improving interaction with cargo terminal operators, rail transport companies and other cargo terminal stakeholders. The current 18 member companies operate more than 40 cargo terminals with a total capacity of about 5 million loading units. AGORA terminals achieved a handling volume of around 3.8 million loading units in the "Corona year" 2020 and expect a further increase in traffic in 2021. The office of AGORA is managed by KombiConsult GmbH, Frankfurt am Main. https://www.intermodal-terminals.eu/ Nexxiot Nexxiot is a driver of the digital logistics of tomorrow. An industry leader in the digitalization of cargo transportation, Nexxiot empowers global shipping companies and suppliers to harness the power of their data through proprietary, cutting-edge technology and integrated data solutions to track, find and protect cargo across more than 160 countries around the world and via 450 network roaming partners to ensure accountability, security and efficiency. Headquartered in Zurich, Nexxiot operates throughout Europe and the U.S., employing people from 21 countries. The company's secure, industry leading Cloud comprises data from over 2,5 billion travelled miles. Committed to sustainability through corporate and social responsibility, Nexxiot's goal is to enable a five percent reduction in global cargo carbon dioxide emissions by increasing cargo transport efficiency and eliminating waste caused by empty runs and inefficient routes. https://nexxiot.com/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220207005280/en/ Contacts: Media: David Simpson dsimpson@lakpr.com ID Quantique (IDQ), a world leader in quantum-based cybersecurity solutions, announces today it has set up an independent company and Center of Competence (CoC) in quantum communications in Austria called ID Quantique Europe. This European presence will allow IDQ to provide technology and business expertise to ensure Europe's technology sovereignty. GENEVA, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In this decade, quantum technologies will dramatically impact our society: more secure communication; more computational power for research, innovation, and industry; and better sensors and instruments for measuring and data collection. From being pioneers back in 2001, ID Quantique today is the world leader in quantum key distribution, random number generators and quantum photonic instrumentation. Actively contributing to shaping the future of quantum information technologies for communication and computation in Europe has always been part of IDQ's mission. ID Quantique Europe is supporting the European Union (EU)'s ambitions to stay at the forefront of quantum technologies and retain and develop new quantum talents in Europe. ID Quantique has a long tradition of strong partnerships with European universities, research institutes and industries. A physical presence in the EU has therefore become a logical and timely step for IDQ to support the EU's efforts towards technology sovereignty. Austria, like Switzerland, is an early pioneer with close to 30 years of tradition in quantum information research. Austrian institutes and research groups are playing key roles in many European initiatives like the Quantum Flagship or the European Quantum Communication Infrastructure. IDQ has over the years established strong collaborations with these Austrian organizations, motivating the choice to open its new CoC in Vienna. The Austrian Business Agency (ABA), the Federal Ministry of Climate Action (BMK), as well as the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) have strongly supported IDQ's expansion to Austria, which lays the foundation for future deep-tech development and business in the Vienna region. IDQ Europe's goal is to gradually establish a European CoC covering the full value chain, from R&D, product design, manufacturing, to certification activities, customer service and support for the whole of Europe. IDQ Europe aims at creating highly skilled jobs and know-how in Austria. IDQ Europe is also committed to build up strong national and European partnerships and will continue to form a strong voice within Europe to keep this leadership position in quantum initiatives, altogether, contributing to strengthening the EU's technological competitiveness. "With the set-up of this CoC, we want to make our contribution to the leadership of Europe as a continent. Quantum physics was discovered about 100 years ago in Europe. Now that we are entering the second quantum revolution, we believe at IDQ, that the center of gravity of this revolution needs to remain in Europe" said Gregoire Ribordy, founder and CEO of ID Quantique. "Companies and research organizations in the EU and neighboring countries, which share the same traditions and values, must work together to unlock the full potential of quantum technologies to make our world a better place to live in." "IDQ Europe's CoC will contribute to the value creation of quantum technologies in the EU, with home-grown technology development and innovative services" said Victor Canivell, non-executive director of IDQ Europe. "Quantum technologies promise answers to problems that cannot currently be solved with any other technology and are a strategic key to the future success of national economies" said Margarete Schrambock, Austrian Minister of Economy and Digital affairs. "Companies that do pioneering work in this field and thus advance development are essential drivers for a country's competitiveness. We welcome the IDQ's new independent CoC in Austria all the more." "Quantum technologies are the best bet for a truly low energy Green IT. We are sincerely pleased that ID Quantique has chosen Austria as the location for its CoC in quantum communication. For the very fertile Austrian research landscape in quantum technologies, this is a most welcome enhancement on the way to European technology leadership" remarked Leonore Gewessler, Austrian Minister for Climate change. "IDQ has a proven track record of deep technological innovations to secure our critical infrastructure and global communication networks with quantum technologies that benefit our society" said Rene Tritscher, CEO of ABA. "We are pleased that IDQ has chosen Austria to continue its successful path with strong collaborations in Austria and in Europe." "We are pleased that ID Quantique as a Swiss company has established a CoC in quantum communications in Austria and that this high-tech and research center will secure highly qualified jobs. Congratulations on your project" emphasized Klaus Pseiner, Managing Director of the Austrian Research Promotion Agency FFG. Florian Frowis - General Manager, ID Quantique Europe, florian.froewis@idquantique.com or + 43 (0) 680 123 87 19 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1740726/ID_Quantique_Europe.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1516139/IDQ_Logo.jpg VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pioneer Media Holdings Inc. (CSE: PNER, AQSE: PNER) ("Pioneer" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has appointed Jim MacCallum as Chief Financial Officer ("CFO") of the Company. Jim has more than 20 years of international financial and operational executive experience with multinational public companies and Big 4 accounting firms. Jim has extensive capital markets, acquisitions, and financial reporting experience and has worked in Canada, the US and Europe. Jim currently serves as the CFO of East Side Games Group (TSX:EAGR) and previously had senior finance roles with Westport Fuel Systems, Absolute Software and Cisco Systems, Inc. Jim articled with KPMG in Vancouver and is a CPA, CA in addition to being a CFA charter holder. Jim holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of British Columbia and is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. Andrew Stewart has resigned as the Company's CFO and the Board and Management would like to thank him for his dedication and support over the last few years. About Pioneer Media Holdings Inc. Pioneer is a technology incubator creating a full Web3 ecosystem focusing on NFT, NFT Gaming, DAO and tokenized communities. Pioneer's experienced management team leverages its global network and expertise to provide investors with direct access to a portfolio of innovative, early-stage to mid-level growth companies in the space. Additional information about Pioneer is available at www.p10neer.comor www.sedar.com. ON BEHALF OF PIONEER MEDIA HOLDINGS INC. "Mike Edwards" CEO & Director First Sentinel Corporate Finance Ltd (AQSE Corporate Adviser) Brian Stockbridge / Gabrielle Cordeiro +44 7876 888 011 Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor any Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. 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. Upon the publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 7, 2022 / Commerce Resources Corp. (TSXV:CCE)(FSE:D7H0)(OTCQX:CMRZF) (the "Company" or "Commerce") is pleased to announce assay results received from three (3) additional holes completed at the Ashram Rare Earth and Fluorspar Deposit ("Ashram Deposit") as part of the 2021 drill program. The field program, completed in July-August 2021 in support of the Ashram Project's Prefeasibility Study, included twelve (12) drill holes totalling 2,814 m focused on resource infill within the planned open-pit shell. Results for the first seven (7) drill holes were announced December 22nd, 2021, and January 17, 2022 (noted in Table 1 and Figure 1) with the results for an additional three (3) drill holes reported herein. Highlights include: 1.79% rare earth oxide ("REO") over 223.2 m (EC21-190), including, 2.15% REO over 67.9 m 1.71% REO over 221.5 m (EC21-191), including, 2.15% REO over 64.4 m 1.97% REO over 23.3 m (EC21-188) The primary objective of the 2021 drill program at Ashram was to improve the confidence of the mineral resource (inferred -> indicated -> measured) in support of an updated mineral resource estimate to be completed as part of the ongoing Prefeasibility Study, which will also determine the initial mineral reserve estimate for the Ashram Project. Based on the drilling to date, the Company anticipates a large portion of Ashram's current inferred and indicated resources will be converted to indicated and measured resources. All three (3) drill holes (EC21-188, 190, and 191) were collared in the southern portions of the deposit, and intersected grades consistent with previous drilling, remaining mineralized over their entire length. Strong NdPr distributions (i.e. % of Nd+Pr oxide of the total REO) continue to be returned in excess of 20-21%, including drill hole EC21-191 with 64.4 m of 2.15% REO at an NdPr distribution of 21.1%. As the Ashram Deposit is known to continue for more than 600 m in depth, and remains open, the 2021 drill holes were ended at pre-determined depths below the anticipated pit shell, and therefore, most holes completed as part of the infill drilling at Ashram ended in mineralization. Core sample assays for ten (10) out of twelve (12) drill holes from the 2021 drill program have now been reported with assays pending on the remaining two (2) drill holes. Grade over width and corresponding NdPr oxide distributions are presented in Table 1, with drill hole highlights and locations presented in Figure 1. Table 1: 2021 assay results for infill drill holes at the Ashram Deposit The Company notes that it carried out its field programs while adhering to all federal, provincial, and regional restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company successfully navigated the process to obtain authorization to enter Nunavik, and no cases of COVID-19 were documented relating to its 2021 mineral exploration programs. Mineral exploration has been recognized as an essential service in Canada and the Province of Quebec. Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QAQC) A quality assurance / quality control protocol following industry best practices was incorporated into the program and included systematic insertion of quartz blanks and certified reference materials into sample batches, as well as collection of quarter-core duplicates, at a rate of approximately 5%. Drill holes were sampled from top to bottom and shipped to Activation Laboratories in Ancaster, ON, for analysis. Lab analysis included major oxides and multi-element, including the rare earth elements, by ICP-OES/MS following a lithium borate fusion (package 8-REE) and fluorine by Fusion Specific Ion Electrode-ISE (Code 4F-F). Standard drill core sample preparation was completed and comprised of crushing to 80% passing 10 mesh, followed by a 250 g riffle split and pulverizing to 95% passing 105 (package RX1). Figure 1: 2021 drill assay highlights - Ashram Deposit About the Ashram Deposit The Ashram Deposit ranks as one of the largest REE (and fluorspar) deposits globally, consisting of a monazite dominated, single mineralized body outcropping at surface, and has a footprint approximately 600 m along strike, over 300 m across, and 600 m deep, remaining open in several directions. The deposit hosts a measured resource of 1.6 million tonnes (Mt) at 1.77% rare earth oxide (REO) and 3.8% F, an indicated resource of 27.7 Mt at 1.90% REO and 2.9% F, and an inferred resource of 219.8 Mt at 1.88% REO and 2.2% F, at a cut-off grade of 1.25% REO (Effective Date July 5th, 2012). Note, mineral resources are not mineral reserves as they do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that all or any part of the Mineral Resources will be converted into Mineral Reserves. NI 43-101 Disclosure Darren L. Smith, M.Sc., P.Geo., Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd., a Permit holder with the Ordre des Geologues du Quebec and 'Qualified Person' as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release. About Commerce Resources Corp. Commerce Resources Corp. is a junior mineral resource company focused on the development of the Ashram Rare Earth and Fluorspar Deposit located in Quebec, Canada. The Company is positioning to be one of the lowest cost rare earth producers globally, with a specific focus on being a long-term supplier of mixed rare earth carbonate and/or NdPr oxide to the global market. The Ashram Deposit is characterized by simple rare earth (monazite, bastnaesite, xenotime) and gangue (carbonates) mineralogy, a large tonnage resource at favourable grade, and has demonstrated the production of high-grade (>45% REO) mineral concentrates at high recovery (>70%) in line with active global producers. In addition to being one of the largest rare earth deposits globally, Ashram is also one of the largest fluorspar deposits globally and has the potential to be a long-term supplier to the met-spar and acid-spar markets. For more information, please visit the corporate website at www.commerceresources.com or email info@commerceresources.com. On Behalf of the Board of Directors COMMERCE RESOURCES CORP. " Chris Grove " Chris Grove President and Director Tel: 604.484.2700 Email: cgrove@commerceresources.com Web: https://www.commerceresources.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements, which includes any information about activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future. Forward looking statements in this news release include that we expect to complete an updated mineral resource estimate and a prefeasibility study for the Ashram Project, that we anticipate that certain of Ashram's inferred and indicated resources will be converted to indicate and measured resources; that an open-pit shell is planned for the Ashram Project; and that the Company is positioning to be one of the lowest cost rare earth producers globally. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Risks that could change or prevent these statements from coming to fruition include: that we may not be able to fully finance any additional exploration on the Ashram Project; that even if we are able raise capital, costs for exploration activities may increase such that we may not have sufficient funds to pay for such exploration or processing activities; the timing and content of any future work programs; geological interpretations based on drilling that may change with more detailed information; potential process methods and mineral recoveries assumptions based on limited test work and by comparison to what are considered analogous deposits that, with further test work, may not be comparable; testing of our process may not prove successful and even if such tests are successful, the economic and other outcomes may not be as expected; the availability of labour and equipment to undertake future exploration work and testing activities; the required permits to build and operate the envisaged open-pit shell may not be obtained in a timely or cost-effective manner, or at all; and despite the current expected viability of the Ashram Project, conditions changing such that even if metals or minerals are discovered on the Ashram Project, the project may not be commercially viable; The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. SOURCE: Commerce Resources Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/687403/Commerce-Resources-Intersects-215-REO-over-679-m-at-the-Ashram-REE-Fluorspar-Deposit-Quebec If you plan to visit the Orlando International Airport on Monday, take note of a few changes that will begin regarding the shuttle service that transports travelers between the airports economy parking lots. The North Park Place lot will only have drop-off and pick-up shuttle services on the A-side of the North Terminal. And the South Park Place lot will only have drop-off and pick-up services on the B-side. Advertisement At the airports main building, shuttles back to the North Park Place lot will pick up passengers only in spots A16 and A17 from the first level commercial lanes on the A-side. And shuttles back to the South Park Place lot will pick up passengers only in spots B16 and B17 from the first-level commercial lanes on the B-side. Airport officials said travelers flying with the following airlines should consider parking in the North Park Place lot: Aer Lingus, AeroMexico, Air Transat, Alaska Airlines, Avelo, Avianca, Azul, Copa, Emirates, Frontier, Hawaiin, JetBlue, LATAM, National, Southwest, Sunwing and Virgin Atlantic. Advertisement And travelers flying with the following airlines should consider parking in the South Park Place lot: Air Canada/Rouge, American, Bahamasair, British Airways, Caribbean, Delta, Edelweiss, Gol, Icelandair, Lufthansa, Silver Airways, Spirit, Sun Country, United, Viva, Volaris and West Jet. Therefore, if a travelers airline lands in the airports B terminal, they will need to ride the shuttle from the first level Aside to get back to their vehicle on the North Park Place lot; and vice versa. Officials said the changes are temporary as the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority waits for additional transportation staff. mcomas@orlandosentinel.com RIGA, Latvia, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The consolidated, provisional financial data of Grindeks Group indicate that the Group has closed 2021 with a record high turnover and profit. In this period, the turnover of Grindeks amounted to EUR 231.1 million, which is EUR 44.0 million or 24% more than in 2020. In 2021, the Group's profit was EUR 41.0 million, which is EUR 22.1 million or 2 times more than in 2020. In 2021, the largest sales volume was accounted for by cardiovascular and central nervous system medicines. Sales growth was also strong in the hospital segment medicine, provided by the subsidiary of Grindeks - Kalceks company. In 2021 the products of the Group were exported to 103 countries for the total amount of 218.7 million euros. Dr. chem. Juris Hmelnickis, Chairman of the Board of Grindeks: "2021 has been a year of change for Grindeks Group, showing that an excellent team can achieve great things. Expanding the range of medicines, understanding patient needs, exploring new markets, taking the course of green thinking and many more important initiatives are the unstoppable driving force for growth. Over the past year, I have seen that challenges can be overcome through constant transformation, where every team member is aware of his or her important role in achieving common ideas and goals. The turnover of EUR 231.1 million is the highest ever for Grindeks, and I would like to thank the team - all the professionals - for the achievements, as well as our partners, healthcare professionals and patients for their continued trust in us!" The Group sales of finished pharmaceutical products in 2021 totalled EUR 219.5 million, which is an increase of EUR 45.9 million or 26% compared to 2020. Sales of final dosage forms in the EU and other countries reached EUR 117.5 million in 2021, an increase of EUR 31.6 million or 37% compared to 2020. Compared to 2020, the sales in 2021 increased 29 times in Portugal, 18 times in Brazil, 9 times in the Netherlands, 4 times in the United Arab Emirates and Bulgaria, 3 times in Poland and Norway, and 2 times in Australia and the Czech Republic. Sales in Russia, other CIS countries and Georgia in 2021 amounted to EUR 102.0 million, which is an increase of EUR 14.3 million or 16% compared to 2020. Compared to 2020, sales in 2021 increased by 57% in Ukraine, 40% in Belarus, 34% in Georgia, 33% in Moldova, 23% in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. The product portfolio of Grindeks includes advanced cardiovascular, central nervous system, oncology and diabetes medicines, while its subsidiary Kalceks offers medicines for the hospital segment. There are currently 64 new JSC Grindeks and 42 new JSC Kalceks medicines in development. In 2021 the registration procedure of 10 new Grindeks generic products was started. Kalceks has also started decentralized registration procedure of 9 new generic products in EU countries, including first 4 antibiotic product registration for hospital segment. Due to the company's long experience in the development, manufacture and registration of forms of sterile products, the development of the first ophthalmological products has been launched. The production of active pharmaceutical ingredients is also very important for Grindeks and is one of the Group's competitive advantages. The company currently produces 25 active pharmaceutical ingredients. This segment increases its independence from raw material producers, which is why the company is developing 36 new active pharmaceutical ingredients. Most of export of active pharmaceutical ingredients produced by Grindeks are made to the European Union, Japan, the USA and Australia. In 2021, Kalceks achieved outstanding results. Sales grew rapidly, increasing both the number of export countries and the number of products with 7 new generic products. Product portfolio in 2021 contained 35 medicines. Kalceks products generated sales of EUR 66.7 million in 2021, which is an increase of EUR 26.0 million or 64% compared to 2020. Kalceks products were exported to 77 countries in 2021, the main ones being the Netherlands, Mexico, the UK, the Czech Republic and Poland. Kirovs Lipmans, Chairman of the Council of Grindeks: "Despite various obstacles posed by the pandemic, last year Grindeks focused on its priorities - new products and global expansion. I am truly pleased with the achievements of the Grindeks Group in 2021. The excellent results - turnover of EUR 231.1 million and profit of EUR 41 million - clearly demonstrate competitiveness of Grindeks in the global arena. This is the basis for successful development projects." In 2021, Grindeks paid special attention to improving production infrastructure and installing new production facilities, including the current modernisation of the final dosage form laboratory. In order to continue the gradual and steady growth of the Group in the long term, the Grindeks Innovation Centre will be built in Riga, Asotes street 12, in several stages. In 2021, a design contract was signed and site improvement works were carried out. The Innovation Centre will provide complicated production processes for active pharmaceutical ingredients, state-of-the-art technological equipment, as well as automated and energy-efficient solutions. It will be the largest pharmaceutical innovation centre in the Baltic region. About Grindeks Group Grindeks is an international pharmaceutical group, and its main activities are research, development, production and sale of original products, generic medicines and active pharmaceutical ingredients. Grindeks Group consists of JSC Grindeks and its companies: JSC Kalceks in Latvia, JSC Tallinn Pharmaceutical Plant in Estonia, HBM Pharma s.r.o. in Slovakia, LLC Grindeks Rus in Russia and LLC Namu Apsaimniekosanas projekti in Latvia. Representation offices have been opened in 10 countries. The main therapeutic groups of Grindeks are cardiovascular, central nervous system, anti-cancer and diabetes drugs. Kalceks specializes in medicines for the hospital segment. The product range consists of the original products Mildronate (meldonium) and Ftorafur (tegafur), generic medicines as well as active pharmaceutical ingredients. In 2021 the Group exported its products to 103 countries. Major markets for Grindeks are the European Union countries, Russian and other CIS countries, Australia, United Arab Emirates and Israel. Infographic of results: https://infogram.com/grindeks-group-has-reached-record-high-turnover-and-profit-in-2021-1hzj4o3vx9z534p?live Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ungCtl5tctU Photos: https://grindeks.eu/company/about-grindeks/photos/ Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1508714/Grindex_Logo.jpg TALLINN, Estonia, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- DesignTech startup OCCO, which offers an AI-powered platform for interior design professionals that saves valuable time on product search and project management, is poised to innovate the interior design industry. The platform has digitised the product catalogues of more than 800 high-quality interior design brands from Europe. Having access to these products from one source has been found to shave off 27% of monthly working hours for interior design professionals. The company's focus is to disrupt the outdated interior design industry and bring innovation to design professionals. "OCCO's AI-based platform already helps hundreds of designers, and we are constantly working on developing this product based on user feedback," says OCCO's co-founder and CEO, Ander Soorumaa. OCCO's extensive database helps interior designers and architects find suitable products or alternatives faster than ever, thereby saving time and money. During the soft launch, OCCO has already secured 250 users from the Netherlands and Estonia, and increased its yearly revenue to 7m. According to architect Casper Schwarz, the platform has provided surprising and exciting search results that have led him and his team to different choices and proposals in their interior design projects. "It is great to learn about new or unfamiliar manufacturers and their products. It saves us time in research for new products and it makes it easier to find solutions within our projects' budget boundaries," Schwartz adds. OCCO has completed its first investment round, raising 750k to expand to new markets in Europe. The company's main investor is Oliver Ahlberg, founder of Skeleton Technologies. "I think for many people it would seem rather archaic to buy a plane ticket from a travel agency or order something from a paper catalogue. But that's the daily life of interior designers: paper catalogues, emails, resellers," says investor Oliver Ahlberg, explaining the need for OCCO's digital solution in the market. "OCCO's aim is to innovate all that and that's what appealed to me. I've always believed that if something was done the same way 15 years ago as it is today, it's a great opportunity to create value," adds Ahlberg, who will also join OCCO as an advisor to support the company's expansion and help raise finance for future growth plans. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1741204/OCCO_Founders.jpg Stephens, an independent financial services firm, today announced the addition of Anthony Donges and Meet Desai to its Consumer advisory practice in London. Messrs. Donges and Desai will assume the roles of Director and Associate Director, respectively. These experienced hires deepen Stephens' transatlantic Consumer capabilities, built around proven industry and transaction expertise in Europe and the United States. Messrs. Donges and Desai share extensive Consumer M&A experience, and have worked with a broad client base of entrepreneurs, family-owned businesses, private equity and corporate clients. Mr. Donges joins the senior team at Stephens from KPMG, where he was a Director in the Consumer Goods and Retail team. He has worked in the industry for 13 years and recently has advised on notable transactions such as SportPursuit's investment by bd-capital as well as Mindful Chef's majority stake acquisition by Nestle. Mr. Desai comes to Stephens from UK Government Investments, with prior experience at DC Advisory and Lincoln International, where he began his career in 2013. His notable transactions include the UK Post Office sale of its Telecoms business to Shell Energy, as well as the Altor Equity Partners and Rossignol Group minority stake investment by IDG Capital. "Bringing on Anthony and Meet as experienced members of the London team enhances our offering to the Consumer sector, which impacts a broad segment of the European economy," said Brad Eichler, Head of Investment Banking. "Their hires also reflect our commitment to establishing a significant UK-based Consumer presence and builds on our momentum from the 2020 recruitment of Rob Horton." Mr. Donges added: "I am delighted to be joining Stephens and look forward to helping build its European and global proposition alongside the highly-reputable Consumer team." Mr. Desai added: "I am very pleased to be on board and I am excited to bring Stephens' unique capabilities and reach to our clients." Stephens' Consumer practice has dedicated senior bankers across Little Rock, New York, London and Frankfurt, and is active in all segments of the industry. About Stephens "Stephens" (the company brand name) is a leading family-owned investment firm comprising the businesses of investment banking, advisory, sales and trading, research, insurance and wealth management. Founded in 1933, Stephens' US operations are headquartered in Little Rock, AR, with additional locations in strategic domestic markets and a European practice in the UK and Germany. Stephens is committed to building long-term value for corporations, state and local governments, financial institutions, and institutional and individual investors. Stephens' affiliates include: Stephens Inc. (offers securities products; member NYSE SIPC), Stephens Investment Management Group, Stephens Insurance, LLC, Stephens Capital Partners LLC, and Stephens Europe Limited. 2022 Stephens. For more information, visit www.stephens.com. Stephens Inc. is regulated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (Home Office: 111 Center Street, Little Rock, AR USA, 501-377-2000) and Stephens Europe Limited is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Registered office 12 Arthur Street, London, EC4R 9AB, Registered number 8817024). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220207005260/en/ Contacts: Media: Jamie Legg, KL Communications +44 (0) 203 995 6670 jamie@kl-communications.com Carbon Streaming Corporation (NEO: NETZ) (OTCQB: OFSTF) (FSE: M2Q) ("Carbon Streaming" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Justin Cochrane, CEO and Geoff Smith, President and COO, will be participating in a number of industry conferences this month. Stifel Global Carbon Conference Date: Tuesday February 8, 2022 Time: 10:15am ET Presentation by Mr. Cochrane Featuring keynote by Verra CEO David Antonioli, moderated by Ian Gillies, Diversified Industrials ESG Analyst. The primary focus of the conference will be on the role of carbon credits and technological innovation in the race to net-zero. Canaccord Genuity 2022 Carbon Energy Transition Conference Date: Wednesday February 9, 2022 Time: 1pm ET Panel Discussion on Offsetting Environmental Impact through Carbon Credits Mr. Cochrane will be participating in a panel discussion moderated by Roman Rossi, Canaccord Genuity,Equity Research. BMO Capital Markets' 31st Global Metals Mining Conference Date: February 27 March 2, 2022 Mr. Cochrane and Mr. Smith will be speaking during the Carbon Breakfast at 7am ET on Tuesday March 1st, 2022 and participating in 1x1 meetings throughout the conference. About Carbon Streaming Carbon Streaming is a unique ESG principled company offering investors exposure to carbon credits, a key instrument used by both governments and corporations to achieve their carbon neutral and net-zero climate goals. Our business model is focused on acquiring, managing and growing a high-quality and diversified portfolio of investments in projects and/or companies that generate or are actively involved, directly or indirectly, with voluntary and/or compliance carbon credits. The Company invests capital through carbon credit streaming arrangements with project developers and owners to accelerate the creation of carbon offset projects by bringing capital to projects that might not otherwise be developed. Many of these projects will have significant social and economic co-benefits in addition to their carbon reduction or removal potential. To receive corporate updates via e-mail as soon as they are published, please subscribe here. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220207005326/en/ Contacts: ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY: Justin Cochrane, Chief Executive Officer Tel: 647.846.7765 info@carbonstreaming.com www.carbonstreaming.com 7 February 2022 HYDRO HOTEL, EASTBOURNE, PLC ("Hydro Hotel" or the "Company") FINAL RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2021 HIGHLIGHTS The Coronavirus pandemic has had a significant effect on the trading of the Company. The profit for the financial year after taxation was 362,660 (2020 loss of 139,289). Turnover from the Hydro Hotel operation increased during the year by 25.0% (2020 decrease of 40.2%). Earnings per share were 60.44p compared to (23.21)p for the previous year. The Company's operating activities generated cash of 829,213 (2020 absorbed cash of 181,069) and it invested 39,987 in new fixed assets (2020 95,593). During the year the Company paid ordinary dividends of Nil (2020 54,000). At the year end the Company had net current assets of 1,254,405 (2020 993,357). CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT Results for year ended 31 October 2021 I report on the company's results for the year ended 31 October 2021. It has been a difficult trading year for the Company and particularly for the global hospitality industry as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. The company's trade has been impacted by the effects of the pandemic which resulted in the closure of the hotel from 5 November 2020 to 2 December 2020 and Tier 2 restrictions being applied from that date to 25 December 2020. Tier 4 restrictions were applied from 26 December 2020 with a further lockdown period and closure of the hotel from 6 January 2021 to 16 May 2021 in accordance with the Government legislation and guidelines. The hotel reopened on 17 May 2021, trading in accordance with Government guidance and restrictions. It was pleasing to note how strongly trading resumed following the reopening in May. Sales for the year totalled 2,791,482, an increase of 25.0% on the 2,233,068 sales for the previous year (2020 40.2% decrease). Operating profit for the year was 461,312 (2020 loss of 179,382). After interest receivable, interest payable and the corporation tax charge, the post-tax profit for the year was 362,660 (2020 loss of 139,289). Taking into account the level of post-tax profits for the year, the Board decided to declare a dividend of 20p per share (2020 Nil paid) absorbing 120,000 (2020: Nil paid). Capital improvements at the hotel during the year included the installation of walk in showers for a limited number of rooms, and a new telephone system. The redecoration of a number of bedrooms and major repairs to the roof were also undertaken. To support the business through the Coronavirus pandemic, the company took advantage of Government financial assistance. The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan was repaid during the year. Developments since 31 October 2021 There have been no further periods of closure for the hotel during 2021, however the Board and management are mindful that further restrictions may be imposed by Government to curb the spread of Coronavirus and all necessary action will be undertaken at the appropriate time to protect and maintain the company's business. No new capital projects are due to be undertaken but repair work to maintain the fabric of the building and room stock continues and new marketing techniques will continue to be developed during the year to encourage direct bookings at the hotel. Our Staff I would like to thank our General Manager, Jonathan Owen, for his prompt and creative responses to the challenges brought by the Coronavirus pandemic and the ongoing challenges for the hotel and tourism industry. I wish also to record thanks to our management team and all our staff for their dedication to the hotel during these challenging times. All staff continued to deliver a high quality of service to the hotel's customers in very difficult circumstances. Graeme C King, MA, CA 4 February 2022 Chairman of the Board STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2021 2021 2020 Turnover Continuing operations 2,791,482 2,233,068 Cost of sales (2,444,700) (2,537,521) Gross profit/(loss) 346,782 (304,453) Administrative expenses (237,241) (238,548) Other operating income 351,771 363,619 Operating profit/(loss) 461,312 (179,382) Interest receivable and similar income 5,000 7,370 Interest payable and similar expenses (9,286) (2,354) Profit/(loss) before taxation 457,026 (174,366) Taxation (94,366) 35,077 Profit/(loss) for the financial year 362,660 (139,289) Earnings per share - continuing operations 60.44p (23.21)p Earnings per share have been calculated using 600,000 shares, being the weighted average number of shares for both years. The company has no potential ordinary shares, therefore basic and diluted earnings per share is the same figure. STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AS AT 31 OCTOBER 2021 2021 2020 Fixed assets Tangible Assets 2,500,211 2,653,876 Current assets Stocks 36,657 27,899 Debtors 115,672 128,926 Investments 451,014 200,000 Cash at bank and in hand 1,328,353 1,025,141 1,931,696 1,381,966 Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year (677,291) (388,609) Net current assets 1,254,405 993,357 Total assets less current liabilities 3,754,616 3,647,233 Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year - (240,000) Provisions for liabilities (94,380) (109,657) Net assets 3,660,236 3,297,576 Capital and reserves Ordinary Shares - Authorised and Issued: 600,000 Shares of GPB1.00 each fully paid 600,000 600,000 Revaluation reserve 402,651 406,930 Profit and loss reserves 2,657,585 2,290,646 Total equity 3,660,236 3,297,576 STATUS OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION The financial information set out above does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. This has, however, been extracted from the statutory accounts for the year ended 31 October 2021. These accounts have not to date been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The Company's auditor, UHY Hacker Young LLP, has issued an unqualified audit report which does not contain a statement under section 498 of the Companies Act 2006 in respect of these accounts. DIVIDEND ANNOUNCEMENT An interim dividend of 20.0 pence per share (2020 Nil paid) was paid on 13 January 2022 to shareholders on the register on 31 December 2021. The directors do not propose the payment of a final dividend. The Directors of Hydro Hotel, Eastbourne, plc accept responsibility for this announcement. For further information please contact: Hydro Hotel, Eastbourne, plc Sally Gausden Telephone: (+44)(0) 1323 431200 Peterhouse Capital Limited Mark Anwyl Telephone: (+44)(0) 2074 690930 Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation EU 596/2014 as it forms part of retained EU law (as defined in the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018). WHITE ROCK, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 7, 2022 / TDG Gold Corp. (TSXV:TDG) (the "Company" or "TDG") is pleased to report bonanza grade gold ("Au") and silver ("Ag") intercepted in the Cayley-Rainier Target Zone ("CR") (Figure 1) located approximately 700 metres ("m") south of the historical JM Pit at TDG's former producing Shasta project in the Toodoggone District, B.C. Diamond drillhole SH21-022 intercepted: 50.17 grams per tonne ("g/t") Au and 4871 g/t Ag over 1.5 m This assay result is included within a broader interval of 16.2 m grading 7.22 g/t and 817 g/t Ag [17.42 g/t AuEq*] starting at a downhole depth of 100.3 m. Other key intercepts in the 2021 drilling within the CR Target Zone are summarised in Table 1 and an oblique cross section is provided in Figure 2. Assay results were received from SGS Labs Canada ("SGS"). Internal QA/QC review by TDG, working with Moose Mountain Technical Services ("MMTS"), is ongoing and therefore results are still considered preliminary. Fletcher Morgan, TDG's CEO, commented: "The Cayley-Rainier Target Zone is located at the southern extremity of the known mineralization at TDG's Shasta project. Cayley-Rainier is one of multiple target zones at Shasta that were under-explored historically and is the only outlying zone that we drill tested in 2021. To hit bonanza grade gold and silver in our first drill campaign is a testament to the hard work of our Senior Geologist Steven Kramar and the team from Moose Mountain Technical Services. We're excited to resume drilling this coming field season and to explore for further extensions to the known mineralization at Shasta." Image 1. Shasta drillhole SH21-022; mineralization encountered grading 50.17 g/t Au and 4871 g/t Ag over 1.5 m from 113.5 m to 115.0 m depth. The drillholes encountering the high grade mineralization are within a package of volcanic dominantly crystal, subordinately ash tuffs, with increasing quartz/carbonate vein density approaching the high grade intercepts, where multi-generation vein density increases and complete hydrothermal brecciation occurs. Mineralization is quartz/carbonate veins and veinlets carrying visible sulphides of pyrite, and appreciable acanthite (silvery veins, centre of Image 1), bismuth and a bright, white-brassy mineral in irregular quartz veins, i.e. visible gold (centre of Image 1, adjacent to yellow asterisks on core, but difficult to see without magnification). The CR Target Zone is approximately 700 m south of the historical JM Pit and 500 m south from closest small-scale underground historical workings in the JM Zone. The area between the mine workings and the Cayley-Rainier drill targets for 2021 was under-explored historically. TDG's current interpretation is that the JM controlling structure changes orientation into the CR Target Zone. Historical drilling attempting to 'close the gap' only assayed core that had potential for higher grades and, as a result, the area has remained relatively poorly understood. Historical drill holes intersected significant mineralization including 8.2 m of 4.72 g/t Au and 19 g/t Ag in hole SH10-05, including 1.0 m of 23.23 g/t Au and 53 g/t Ag. See Table 2 for a summary of historical drill results. Continuity across drillholes and over the CR Target Zone was never established. TDG's 2021 drill program in the CR Target Zone consisted of 10 diamond drillholes all drilled within the Permitted Mine Area at Shasta which were designed to validate historical grades and test the potential to expand the high grade intercepts encountered historically. In addition to the bonanza grade gold and silver encountered in drillhole SH21-022, other 2021 drillholes encountered similar high grade mineralization as historical intercepts (see Table 2) and expanded the footprint from 10 m of potential strike (from hole SH10-04 to SH10-05) to 50 m of potential strike (from SH10-04 in the south to SH21-022 in the north). This initial drill test has identified a near-surface, sub-vertical west dipping potential extension of the JM Zone 500 m south of the furthest extent of the previous small-scale underground workings. Figure 1. Plan view of the Cayley-Rainier Zone. In 2021, TDG completed a high-resolution ground based magnetic survey at Shasta. Follow up work in 2022 is warranted and will include testing further south of the CR Target Zone along the same geophysical magnetic low signature that hosts much of the Shasta high grade mineralization. And also to strategically 'fill the gap' between the CR Target Zone and JM Zone with targeted infill holes, now knowing the orientation of the high grade 'pod' of gold-silver mineralization. All 2021 drill holes were HQ sized drill cores. Particulars for drill holes (location, depth, etc.)are presented in Table 3. Table 1. Significant Results from the 2021 Drilling in the Cayley-Rainier Target Zone. Drillhole From To Length Au Ag AuEq* (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) (g/t) SH21-009 97.0 97.5 0.5 1.27 9 1.38 and 100.5 103.0 2.5 0.53 11 0.67 and 122.0 122.5 0.5 2.43 15 2.62 SH21-010 10.0 17.3 7.3 0.61 9 0.72 and 28.0 30.5 2.5 1.93 313 5.84 and 80.0 80.5 0.5 3.75 276 7.20 and 82.5 83.0 0.5 1.79 38 2.27 and 90.5 91.0 0.5 1.49 53 2.15 and 94.0 94.5 0.5 1.01 80 2.01 and 140.0 141.0 1.0 1.44 91 2.57 SH21-011 15.5 20.1 4.6 0.36 7 0.44 SH21-012 53.2 56.2 3.0 1.38 48 1.98 SH21-014 56.5 58.0 1.5 0.65 38 1.13 SH21-015 22.9 29.0 6.1 6.76 5 6.82 and 92.1 93.5 1.4 5.78 208 8.38 and 98.9 101.9 3.0 0.89 63 1.68 SH21-018 35.5 37.0 1.5 0.37 0 0.38 and 152.4 153.3 0.9 0.01 46 0.58 SH21-020 132.5 134.0 1.5 0.19 47 0.78 SH21-022 15.1 16.5 1.4 4.42 193 6.83 and 36.5 41.0 4.5 0.69 10 0.82 and 100.3 116.5 16.2 7.22 817 17.42 incl. 102.0 103.5 1.5 10.16 2035 35.60 113.5 115.0 1.5 50.17 4871 111.06 SH21-024 25.9 27.4 1.5 0.66 51 1.29 *Gold equivalent (AuEq) is used for illustrative purposes, to express the combined value of Au and Ag as a percentage of Au. Calculations are uncut and no allowances have been made to accommodate potential recovery losses that would occur in a mining scenario. AuEq is calculated using 80:1 silver to gold ratio. ** Intervals are core-length weighted. True width is estimated between 75 to 95 % of core length, and core recovery is calculated to be > 90 %. ***Calculated composites are truncated to significant 2 digits for Au/AuEq and the nearest whole number for Ag. Table 2. Significant Historical Results from the CR Target Zone. Drillhole % From To Length Au Ag AuEq** Assayed* (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) (g/t) SH10-02 15 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A SH10-03 37 32.3 33.3 1.0 1.20 105 2.51 SH10-04 40 29.0 29.3 0.3 17.00 39 17.48 and 33.0 37.7 4.7 0.96 52 1.60 SH10-05 42 40.0 48.2 8.2 4.72 19 4.96 incl. 40.0 41.0 1.0 23.23 53 23.89 and 50.0 54.3 4.3 0.54 15 0.73 SH10-06 31 42.5 50.2 7.7 1.09 38 1.57 incl. 44.5 46.9 2.4 2.99 103 4.27 SH10-07 72 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A SH10-08 7 148.9 150.4 1.5 0.27 7 0.36 SH90-16 51 25.0 25.5 0.5 3.85 266 7.18 and 33.0 33.5 0.5 1.17 6 1.25 and 37.0 39.5 2.5 4.14 24 4.44 and 75.5 76.5 1.0 0.46 23 0.75 and 115.0 116.0 1.0 4.49 137 6.20 and 118.0 118.5 0.5 1.91 80 2.91 and 131.0 133.8 2.8 0.81 41 1.32 and 165.0 166.5 1.5 0.47 23 0.76 SH83-01 97 9.4 11.0 1.6 1.35 25 1.7 and 19.1 24.5 5.4 0.46 7 0.5 and 30.8 43.0 12.2 0.56 10 0.7 and 57.3 62.2 4.9 1.37 93 2.5 and 68.9 82.3 13.4 0.51 24 0.8 SH83-02 96 61.4 69.6 8.2 0.23 15 0.42 SH83-04 31 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A * "% Assayed" is the assayed portion of the drillhole in the historical database compared to total length *** Intervals are core-length weighted. True width from historical core is unknown. ****Calculated composites are truncated to significant 2 digits for Au/AuEq and the nearest whole number for Ag. Table 3. 2021 Drillhole Particulars. HOLE UTME (NAD83) UTMN (NAD83) Azimuth() Dip() Final Depth (m) SH21-009 621,260 6,346,783 270 -45 136 SH21-010 621,230 6,346,820 240 -50 167 SH21-011 621,230 6,346,820 240 -70 179 SH21-012 621,211 6,346,783 270 -50 126 SH21-014 621,200 6,346,780 240 -70 127 SH21-015 621,252 6,346,821 240 -45 197 SH21-018 621,305 6,346,780 270 -50 148 SH21-020 621,305 6,346,780 270 -70 145 SH21-022 621,229 6,346,843 240 -52 142 SH21-024 621,229 6,346,843 000 -90 152 Figure 2. Oblique Cross Section of CR Target Zone. QA/QC Samples for the Shasta 2021 drill program followed chain of custody between collection, processing and delivery to an SGS laboratory in Burnaby, B.C. The drill cores were delivered to the core shack at TDG's Baker Mine site, and processed by geologists who inserted certified reference materials, blanks and duplicates (pulp and coarse) into the sampling sequence. The 2021 drill core was cut in half (1/2 HQ core) and placed in zip-tied polyurethane bags, then in security-sealed rice bags before being delivered directly from the Baker Mine site, to Bandstra Transportation Systems in Prince George, B.C., and ultimately to the SGS laboratory in Burnaby, B.C. Samples were prepared and analyzed following procedures summarized in Table 4, where information about methodology can be found on the SGS Canada Website, in the analytical guide (here). Table 4. Au and Ag Analytical Methods. Drillhole Prep Method Au Method Ag Method Au-Overlimit Method Ag-Overlimit SH21-009 PRP89 GO_FAI50V10 GE_IMS40Q12 N/A N/A SH21-010 PRP89 GO_FAI50V10 GE_IMS40Q12 N/A GO_ICP42Q100 SH21-011 PRP89 GO_FAI50V10 GE_IMS40Q12 N/A N/A SH21-012 PRP89 GO_FAI50V10 GE_IMS40Q12 N/A N/A SH21-014 PRP89 GO_FAI50V10 GE_IMS40Q12 N/A N/A SH21-015 PRP89 GO_FAI50V10 GE_IMS40Q12 N/A GO_FAG37V SH21-018 PRP89 GO_FAI50V10 GE_IMS40Q12 N/A N/A SH21-020 PRP89 GO_FAI50V10 GE_IMS40Q12 N/A N/A SH21-022 PRP89 GO_FAI50V10 GE_IMS40Q12 N/A GO_FAG37V SH21-024 PRP89 GO_FAI50V10 GE_IMS40Q12 N/A N/A Quality assurance and control ("QAQC") is maintained internally at the lab through rigorous use of internal certified reference materials, blanks, and duplicates. An additional QAQC program was administered by TDG Gold through the use of certified reference materials ("CRMs"), duplicate samples and blank samples that were blindly inserted into the sample batch. If a QAQC sample returns an unacceptable value an investigation into the results is triggered and when deemed necessary, the samples that were tested in the batch with the failed QAQC sample are re-tested. For the purposes of this press release, results are 'preliminary' and thus have not undergone TDG's comprehensive QAQC investigations. Qualified Person The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Steven Kramar, MSc., P.Geo., a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. This news release includes historical drilling information that has been reviewed by the Company's geological team. The Company's review of the historical records and information reasonably substantiate the validity of the information presented in this news release; however, the Company cannot directly verify the accuracy of the historical data, including the procedures used for sample collection and analysis. Therefore, the Company encourages investors to exercise appropriate caution when evaluating these results. Further data review is underway, in order to verify the validity of the data for the anticipated NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate. About TDG Gold Corp. TDG is a major mineral claim holder in the historical Toodoggone Production Corridor of north-central British Columbia, Canada, with over 23,000 hectares of brownfield and greenfield exploration opportunities under direct ownership or earn-in agreement. TDG's flagship projects are the former producing, high grade gold-silver Shasta, Baker and Mets mines, which are all road accessible, produced intermittently between 1981-2012, and have over 65,000 m of historical drilling. In 2021, TDG advanced the projects through compilation of historical data, new geological mapping, geochemical and geophysical surveys, and, for Shasta, drill testing of the known mineralization occurrences and their extensions. TDG currently has 78,361,085 common shares issued and outstanding. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Fletcher Morgan Chief Executive Officer For further information contact: TDG Gold Corp., Telephone: +1.604.536.2711 Email: info@tdggold.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the Company's current expectations and estimates. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "suggest", "indicate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from estimated or anticipated events or results implied or expressed in such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others: the actual results of current exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans to continue to be refined; possible variations in ore grade or recovery rates; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; and fluctuations in metal prices. There may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. SOURCE: TDG Gold Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/687518/TDG-Gold-Corp-Intercepts-5017-gt-Gold-and-4871-gt-Silver-700-Metres-South-of-Historical-Workings-at-Shasta-Toodoggone-District-BC A seasoned climate change and sustainability investor with extensive emerging market finance experience TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / February 7, 2022 / Electrovaya Inc. (TSX:EFL)(OTCQB:EFLVF), a lithium-ion battery manufacturer with differentiated intellectual property that allows heightened safety and improved longevity enabling industry-leading performance, is pleased to announce the appointment of Kartick Kumar to its Board of Directors, effective immediately. Mr. Kumar is a highly skilled executive and dealmaker with more than two decades of investment and operations experience in frontier markets across Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. He has held a range of senior roles within the World Bank Group, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector (private equity/venture capital), and the multilateral engagement sphere (United Nations, G20). Mr. Kumar brings particular expertise on decarbonization and energy transition issues. Over his career, he has led investments and mobilized more than $2.5 billion of capital for growth-oriented companies active in wind, solar, hydropower and other renewable energies. He has also worked with governments and international financial institutions to set carbon pricing and green banking standards, expanding the range of financial instruments in these areas and channeling global capital flows to renewable energy opportunities in key emerging markets. Mr. Kumar holds degrees in international relations, economics and law from the University of Toronto, Columbia University and Cambridge University. "We are thrilled to welcome Kartick to the Electrovaya Board," said Alexander McLean, Chairman of Electrovaya's Board of Directors. "Kartick is a highly-valued strategist and long-term impact investor with an impressive track record of supporting high-growth companies across the energy transition space. We believe that his expertise in corporate finance, strategic planning and business development will bring tremendous benefits to Electrovaya." "Climate change is an urgent threat to humanity. As we shift towards a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy, lithium ion batteries have become a crucial element of climate mitigation and energy transformation," Mr. Kumar commented. "Electrovaya is at the forefront of this technology. I am excited to work alongside Alex, Sankar and other members of the Board to further propel Electrovaya's growth." For more information, please contact: Investor & Media Contact: Jason Roy Electrovaya Inc. Telephone: 905-855-4618 Email: jroy@electrovaya.com Website: www.electrovaya.com About Electrovaya Inc. Electrovaya Inc. (TSX:EFL)(OTCQB:EFLVF) is a pioneering leader in the global energy transformation, focused on contributing to the prevention of climate change by supplying the safest and longest-lasting lithium-ion batteries. Electrovaya is a technology-focused company with extensive IP, designs, develops, and manufactures proprietary lithium-ion batteries, battery systems, and battery-related products for energy storage, clean electric transportation, and other specialized applications. To learn more about how Electrovaya is powering mobility and energy storage, please explore www.electrovaya.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements and can generally be identified by the use of words such as "may", "will", "could", "should", "would", "likely", "possible", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "objective" and "continue" (or the negative thereof) and words and expressions of similar import. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Additional information about material factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations and about material factors or assumptions applied in making forward-looking statements may be found in the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended September 30, 2021 under "Risk Factors", and in the Company's most recent annual Management's Discussion and Analysis under "Qualitative And Quantitative Disclosures about Risk and Uncertainties" as well as in other public disclosure documents filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the forward-looking statements contained in this document, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. SOURCE: Electrovaya, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/687417/Electrovaya-Announces-Appointment-of-Kartick-Kumar-to-its-Board-of-Directors VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 7, 2022 / Element79 Gold Corp. (CSE:ELEM) (OTC PINK:ELMGF) (FSE:7YS) ("Element79 Gold", the "Company") is pleased to announce the filing of a National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report (the "Technical Report") on the flagship Maverick Springs Project ("Maverick Springs") located in the famous gold mining region of northeastern Nevada. The Report has an effective date of October 7th 2021 and is entitled "Technical Report on the Maverick Springs Project, Nevada, USA" and was prepared by SGS Canada Inc. Highlights of the Technical Report on Maverick Springs include: 3.71 million gold equivalent ounces "Au EQ" (278.0M Ag EQ ounces), within 125.4 million tonnes at an average grade of 0.92 g/t Au EQ (68.9 g/tonne Ag EQ) in the Inferred category. Table 1. 2022 Pit-Constrained Mineral Resource Estimate for Maverick Springs Class Tonnes Ag (g/t) Au (g/t) Ag (Moz) Au (Moz) Ag EQ (g/t) Ag EQ (Moz) Au EQ (g/t) Au EQ (Moz) Inferred 125,421,000 43.5 0.34 175.7 1.37 68.9 278.0 0.92 3.71 The classification of the current Mineral Resource Estimate into Inferred is consistent with current 2014 CIM Definition Standards - For Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves and 2019 CIM Estimation of Mineral Resources & Mineral Reserves Best Practice Guidelines. Mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. An Inferred Mineral Resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to a Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of Inferred Mineral Resources could be upgraded to Indicated Mineral Resources with continued exploration. All figures are rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimate. Composites have been capped where appropriate. Resources are presented undiluted and in situ and are considered to have reasonable prospects for economic extraction. Open pit mineral resources are reported at a cut-off grade of 22.5 g/tonne Ag EQ. Cut-off grade is based on a gold price of US$1,650 per ounce and a silver price of US$22 per ounce, a gold recovery of 75%, a silver recovery of 85% and reasonable mining, processing and transportation costs. High grade capping was done on silver grades in the composite data. A capping value of 25 oz/ton Ag was applied to the silver grades. A fixed specific gravity value of 13.6 ft 3 /ton (2.35 g/cm 3 ) was used to estimate the tonnage from block model volumes. The Authors are not aware of any known environmental, permitting, legal, title-related, taxation, socio-political or marketing issues, or any other relevant issue not reported in the technical report, that could materially affect the mineral resource estimate. Table 2. 2022 Maverick Springs Open-Pit Optimization Parameters Parameter Unit In-Pit Maverick Springs Gold Price $US per ounce $1,650 Silver Price $US per ounce $22 Gold Recovery Percent (%) 75 Silver Recovery Percent (%) 85 Pit Slope Degrees 45 Strip Ratio Waste:Mineralisation 5.8:1 Mining Cost $US per tonne mined $1.90 Processing Cost and G&A $US per tonne milled $12.50 Mining Dilution Percent (%) 5% Mining Recovery Percent (%) 95% Cut-Off Grade g/t Au EQ 0.3 Cut-Off Grade g/t Ag EQ 22.5 The Technical Report, filed on SEDAR on February 4, 2022, was completed by Allan Armitage, PhD., P. Geo., and Rohan Millar, B.Sc., P. Geo. of SGS Canada Inc. with an effective date of October 7, 2021. The Technical Report includes an updated Mineral Resource Estimate (the "MRE"), which incorporates an additional 52 drill holes (Figure 2 and 3) drilled since the historical 2004 Mineral Resource Estimate by Snowden Mining Industry Consultants Inc. (the "2004 MRE")(5) and is constrained by a conceptual Whittle Pit (Figure 4.). There are no material differences between information disclosed in the Company's January 31, 2022 news release and the Technical Report. The Maverick Springs Project The Maverick Springs Project consists of approximately 4,800 acres across 247 unpatented claims that straddle the border of Elko County and White Pine County, proximal to the Carlin Trend, a belt of gold deposits approximately 5 miles wide and 40 miles long that is one of the world's richest gold mining districts, having produced more gold than any other mining district in the US.(1) The Maverick Springs Project is located just 30 kilometres northeast of Kinross's Bald Mountain Mine with measured and indicated resources (inclusive of proven and probable reserves) of 4.5 million ounces grading 0.52 g/t gold.(2) Maverick Springs is a silver-rich sediment/carbonate hosted deposit located adjacent to the famous Carlin Trend (Figure 1) which hosts some of the largest gold deposits in the world, such as Nevada Gold Mines' Carlin Mine, a combination of Newmont Corporation's Carlin Mine and Barrick Gold Corporation's Goldstrike Mine, which reported 1.665 million ounces of gold produced in 2020.(1,4) As of 2019, the Carlin Trend as a whole has produced over 92.5 million ounces of gold since the original Carlin Mine went into production in 1965(6). In addition to Carlin style gold deposits Nevada is also famous for large silver-rich epithermal deposits such as Comstock Lode and Tonopah Districts.(3) Work by the authors of current MRE suggests that Maverick Springs has similarities to silver rich epithermal deposits. Maverick Springs is a blind deposit comprising a 30-120 metre thick, flat-lying zone centered on an anticlinal structure with oxidation pervasive to 120 metres and intermittent to 270 metres.(5) The fact that Maverick may be an epithermal deposit leaves open the possibility of additional mineralization above this flat laying zone, which could have a significant positive impact on any future open pit mining. The Maverick Springs Project is accessible year-round via gravel road, with a network of drill roads spread throughout its claims. Nearby electrical power can be sourced from the eastern Nevada grid system to the northwest. The claims at Maverick Springs were first staked in 1986, with several exploration programs conducted from 1987 to 2004, including a total of 195 drill holes totaling 47,000 metres.(8) Figure 1. Location Map of the Maverick Springs deposit, and nearby select significant gold mines. Figure 2. Plan View looking North of Maverick Springs Mineralized wireframe and drill holes by year. Figure 3. View looking north showing all drill holes, the mineralized wireframe, the base of oxidation and surface topography of the Maverick Springs Deposit. Figure 4. Isometric View of Conceptual Open Pit and In-Pit Block Model Qualified Persons The National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report on the Maverick Springs Project was independently prepared by Allan Armitage, PhD., P.Geo, and Rohan Millar, B.Sc. P.Geo., both of whom are "qualified persons" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and a Senior Resource Geologist and Senior Geologist, respectively, of SGS Canada Inc. The technical information in this release has been reviewed and verified by Neil Pettigrew, M.Sc., P. Geo., Director of Element79 Gold and a "qualified person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101. About Element79 Gold Element 79 Gold is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of mining properties for gold and associated metals. Element79 Gold has acquired its flagship Maverick Springs Project ("Maverick Springs") between the Elko and White Pine Counties in Nevada, USA and recently filed an updated National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report on Maverick Springs dated February 4, 2022. The acquisition of Maverick Springs also included a portfolio of 15 properties along the Battle Mountain trend in Nevada, and the Company is completing analysis on these properties for further merit of exploration, along with the potential for sale or spin-out. In British Columbia, the Company has executed a Letter of Intent to acquire a private company which holds the option to 100% interest of the Snowbird High-Grade Gold Project, which consists of 10 mineral claims located in Central British Columbia, approximately 20km west of Fort St. James. The Company also has an option to acquire 100% interest in the Dale Property which consists of 90 unpatented mining claims located approximately 100 km southwest of Timmins, Ontario, Canada in the Timmins Mining Division, Dale Township. For more information about the Company, please visit www.element79.gold or www.element79gold.com Contact Information For corporate matters, please contact: James C. Tworek, Chief Executive Officer E-mail: jt@element79gold.com For investor relations inquiries, please contact: Investor Relations Department Phone: +1 (604) 200-3608 E-mail: investors@element79gold.com Sources Element 79 Gold makes no warranty as to the completeness, accuracy, verifiability, or suitableness of any of the information contained on the following third-party links and expressly undertakes no obligation to update the following links. (1) https://www.kitco.com/news/2021-04-05/Top-10-biggest-gold-mines-in-the-United-States-report.html (2) Kinross Bald Mountain Mine 2020 Mineral Reserves and Resources https://www.kinross.com/operations/default.aspxreserves (3) History of the Silver StateL Nevad and it's Silver Districts https://www.visualcapitalist.com/nevada-silver-districts/ (4) Evidence for a magmatic origin for Carlin-type gold deposits: isotopic composition of sulfur in the Betze-Post-Screamer Deposit, Nevada, USA - Stephen E. Kesler, Lee C. Riciputi, Zaojun Ye, May 28, 2005 https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/46046/126_2005_Article_477.pdf;jsessionid=34000A663A86E4DA526E84CEB03811AD'sequence=1 (5) Vista Gold Corp. News Release 2004 https://www.vistagold.com/news/archive/news-2004/578-vista-gold-corp-announces-updated-resource-estimate-for-the-maverick-springs-project-in-nevada (6) Special Publication MI-2019: The Nevada Mineral Industry 2019 - Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, p. 3 https://pdacnv.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/2019_MI_Report_Draft_21621.pdf (7) Barrick Gold Corporation, March 22, 2019, NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Goldstrike Mine, Eureka and Elko Counties, State of Nevada, USA, available on SEDAR (8) Vista Gold Corp., December 16, 2002, Resource Estimate Report for the Maverick Springs Project Nevada, USA, available on SEDAR Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Technical Disclaimer This news release and related maps contain information about adjacent properties and properties with similar characteristics on which the Company has no right to explore or mine. Readers are cautioned that mineral deposits on adjacent properties or properties that share similar characteristics are not indicative of mineral deposits on the Company's properties. Readers are also cautioned that this news release contains historical technical information which is based on prior data prepared by previous property owners. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to confirm such information; significant data compilation, re-drilling, re-sampling and data verification may be required to do so. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements This press contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" under applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). These statements relate to future events or the Company's future performance, business prospects or opportunities that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management made in light of management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: anticipated benefits to Element79 Gold of the acquisitions of Maverick Springs and the Battle Mountain Portfolio; the Company's business strategy; future planning processes; exploration activities; the timing and result of exploration activities; capital projects and exploration activities and the possible results thereof; acquisition opportunities; and the impact of acquisitions, if any, on the Company. Assumptions may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Consequently, forward-looking statements cannot be guaranteed. As such, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance that the plans, assumptions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "forecast", "potential", "target", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements". Actual results may vary from forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to materially differ from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: the duration and effects of the coronavirus and COVID-19; risks related to the integration of acquisitions; actual results of exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; commodity prices; variations in ore reserves, grade or recovery rates; actual performance of plant, equipment or processes relative to specifications and expectations; accidents; labour relations; relations with local communities; changes in national or local governments; changes in applicable legislation or application thereof; delays in obtaining approvals or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities; exchange rate fluctuations; requirements for additional capital; government regulation; environmental risks; reclamation expenses; outcomes of pending litigation; limitations on insurance coverage as well as those factors discussed in the Company's other public disclosure documents, available on www.sedar.com . 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. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included herein should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date hereof. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws. SOURCE: Element79 Gold Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/687529/Element79-Gold-Files-NI-43-101-Technical-Report-on-the-Maverick-Springs-Project Bordeaux and Valencia welcome their hashtag sculptures and start the year as the 2022 European Capitals of Smart Tourism with launching events BRUSSELS, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bordeaux (France) and Valencia (Spain) launched their European Capital of Smart Tourism 2022 titles and respective programmes with the presence of the cities' Mayors, academia, stakeholders and representatives of the European Commission. The European Capital of Smart Tourism is an EU initiative, currently financed under the COSME Programme. It promotes smart tourism in the EU, fosters innovative, sustainable, and inclusive tourism development and the exchange of best practices. The initiative recognises outstanding achievements by European cities as tourism destinations in four categories: Accessibility, Sustainability, Digitalisation as well as Cultural heritage and creativity. During the launching events, the 2022 Capitals received their trophies from Marie-Helene Pradines, representative of the European Commission, and their 3-meter-high hashtag sculptures were unveiled. The sculptures, awarded to celebrate the cities' success as European Capitals of Smart Tourism, are located in the City of Arts and Sciences of Valencia and the Exhibition Centre of Bordeaux. The sculptures are an enduring landmark to the four categories of the initiative and a visual representation of the EU's commitment to smart tourism. During the festivities, Bordeaux's Mayor Pierre Hurmic said, "I am very pleased to receive today the European Union's European Capital of Smart Tourism Award, which rewards our commitment to the inclusion of all, to sustainable digital technology, to ecology and to the participation of residents and stakeholders." Valencia's Mayor Joan Ribo said, "Six years ago we decided to change the city's tourism model and transform it into a sustainable, integrated, competitive model that respects its citizens and its natural and cultural heritage." On behalf of the 2020 European Capitals of Smart Tourism, Eva Flyborg, Vice President of Goteborg & Co, and Francisco de la Torre, Mayor of Malaga sent their digital greetings and congratulations to the new Capitals. During 2022, the two European Capitals of Smart Tourism will benefit from communication and branding support. Both Bordeaux and Valencia are planning extensive programmes to showcase their outstanding initiatives and inspire other European cities to develop tourism in a smarter and more sustainable way. For all the latest news on the European Capital of Smart Tourism, sign up to our newsletter, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter. For further press information, contact: European Capital of Smart Tourism Secretariat: Antigoni Avgeropoulou, info@SmartTourismCapital.eu, +49 (0) 30 70 01 86 390 Notes to Editors: For a school project, an elementary school student draws his family: himself, his sister, his cat and his two moms. The teacher, afraid of violating a new state law, forbids the student from showing his picture to the class or talking about his family in front of his classmates. Sound extreme? Not to some Florida lawmakers who are advancing HB 1557/SB 1834, a bill that would ban schools from encourag[ing] classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in primary grade levels or at any level in a manner that is not age-appropriate. Florida schools are still not safe for most LGBTQ students, and HB 1557/SB 1834, if enacted, would harm LGBTQ students and families. This bill follows in the footsteps of similar Dont Say Gay laws enacted in the late 1980s and 1990s, some of which still remain in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Mississippi. Advertisement By suggesting there is something so shameful about LGBTQ people that they cant be mentioned or must be discussed in negative terms, these laws stigmatize and isolate LGBTQ youth, contributing to a climate of hostility and harassment in public schools around the country. LGBTQ students who lack support and face harassment and discrimination at school experience increased isolation, depression, and risk of suicide, and they are more likely than their peers to miss school, often in an effort to avoid abuse. At the National Center for Lesbian Rights, weve seen firsthand how Dont Say Gay laws harm students. And these laws arent just harmful theyre unconstitutional. Working alongside youth, families, and state and local advocates, NCLR has brought successful legal challenges to similar laws in three states. Advertisement In 2016, NCLR filed a lawsuit in Utah challenging state laws restricting discussion of LGBTQ people in schools. The legislature subsequently repealed the challenged laws. Following that victory, in 2019 NCLR and Lambda Legal took aim at Arizonas 1991 law prohibiting HIV/AIDS instruction that [p]romotes a homosexual life-style. The state legislature repealed the law two weeks after the lawsuit was filed. Most recently in 2020, NCLR and Lambda Legal filed another suit in South Carolina to challenge a 1988 law prohibiting public school health education from including any discussion of same-sex relationships except in the context of sexually transmitted infections. That lawsuit resulted in a consent decree declaring the law unconstitutional and barring its enforcement. All students including those who are LGBTQ need and deserve to learn in a safe environment. Like other Dont Say Gay laws, HB 1557/SB 1834 seeks to silence discussion about LGBTQ people and issues in schools. The bill would also create new liabilities for school districts, allowing parents to bring lawsuits for a violation. If HB 1557/SB 1834 becomes law, Florida teachers will likely feel afraid to support LGBTQ students or to stop bullying or harassment in the classroom. Elected officials cannot force LGBTQ students or their families back into the closet by banning the discussion of sexual identity or gender identity in public schools. Thats why Florida legislators must reject the harmful HB 1557/SB 1834 Dont Say Gay bill before it becomes law. Julie Wilensky is a senior staff attorney at the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR). VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 7, 2022 / Golden Lake Exploration Inc. (CSE:GLM) (OTCQB:GOLXF) ("GLM" or the "Company") wishes to report the full and final results from drilling to date at the Jewel Ridge project in Nevada as well as report on the commencement of drilling at Jewel Ridge. Core drilling has now commenced at the historic Hamburg mine and will seek to expand on high-grade intercepts of Carlin-style mineralization and Carbonate Replacement Deposits encountered by prior drilling. The geologic team is preparing further targets in advance of the 2022 program at the Eureka Tunnel target for spring and early summer. Big Sky Exploration LLP has been contracted again after a very successful campaign in 2021. CEO Mike England stated "Golden Lake's geological team is very excited to return to Jewel Ridge after a very successful campaign in 2021. Some highlights from the first 2 phases include the bonanza hit from phase 1 drilling where we hit, from surface, an intercept of 24.54 meters of 9.16 grams per tonne g/t gold Au, 65.8 grams per tonne g/t silver Ag and in phase 2 a hit of 18.68 meters of 5.85 g/t Au and another 8.09 meters of 8.93 g/t Au on the first three holes of phase 2 drilling. In addition to the high grade CRD results encountered in our 2020 and 2021 drill campaigns the company is quite excited about the thick, lower grade intercepts of potentially open pit mineable Carlin-type mineralization that was also encountered in the Eureka Tunnel target area. Gold was encountered in all but one hole drilled to date and we are looking forward to focusing on new CRD targets at Hamburg to kick off this drill season." The last five drill holes at the Eureka Tunnel target have continued to expand the footprint of the shallowly-dipping Carlin-style mineralization. Highlights JR-21-30DD was drilled peripheral to JR-20-12DD and averaged at 2.76 g/t Au 8.51 g/t Ag over 15.67 m with 1.52 m from 9.45 m to 10.97 m assaying at 15.81 g/t Au and 47.81 g/t Ag. JR-21-33DD is the most southeastern hole drilled to date and encountered a low-grade zone that was punctuated by a 4.42 m intercept from 37.4 m to 41.82 m that averaged at 2.67 g/t Au and 7.86 g/t Ag. The Golden Lake team is encouraged and are working on understanding this dimension of the Eureka Tunnel zone. JR-21-31DD and JR-21-34DD have expanded the Eureka Tunnel mineralized zone to the north. Mineralization remains open in the north at depth and along strike with rock sampling on the surface indicating the potential for higher-grade zones. Drilling Quality Assurance and Quality Control Statement Procedures have been implemented to assure QA/QC of drill hole assaying being done at an ISO accredited assay laboratory. All intervals of drill holes are being assayed and samples have been securely shipped and received by Paragon Geochemical in Sparks, Nevada, with chain-of-custody documentation through delivery. Mineralized commercial reference standards and coarse blank standards are inserted every 20th sample in sequence. All results will be analyzed for consistency. About the Jewel Ridge Property The Jewel Ridge property is located on the south end of Nevada's prolific Battle Mountain - Eureka trend, along strike and contiguous to Barrick Gold's Archimedes/Ruby Hill gold mine to the north and Timberline Resources' advanced-stage Lookout Mountain project to the south. The property comprises 96 unpatented lode mining claims and 30 patented claims covering approximately 728 hectares (1,800 acres). The Jewel Ridge property contains several historic small gold mines. The Company's focus is on Carlin-style disseminated gold deposits, the primary focus in the area since the late 1970s. Nevada Carlin-type gold deposits (CTGD) have a combined endowment of more than 250 million ounces, which are concentrated (85 per cent) in only four trends or camps of deposits: Carlin, Cortez (Battle Mountain-Eureka), Getchell and Jerritt Canyon. The Company cautions that results on adjacent and/or nearby projects are not necessarily indicative of results on the Company's property. Qualified Person Golden Lake Exploration's disclosure of a technical or scientific nature in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Garry Clark, P.Geo., who serves as a qualified person under the definition of National Instrument 43-101. About Golden Lake Exploration Inc. Golden Lake Exploration is a junior public mining exploration company engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets. Its objective is to acquire, explore and develop economic precious and base metal properties of merit and to aggressively advance its exploration program on the Jewel Ridge property. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Mike England" Mike England, CEO & DIRECTOR FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Telephone: 1-604-683-3995 TollFree:1-888-945-4770 Neither the Canadian Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings with SEDAR in Canada (available at WWW.SEDAR.COM). SOURCE: Golden Lake Exploration Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/687528/Golden-Lake-Announces-Additional-Drill-Hole-Assays-Plus-The-Commencement-Of-Drilling-At-The-Jewel-Ridge-Project-Nevada LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 7, 2022 / UMAX Group Corp. (OTC PINK:UMAX), a Nevada corporation, has signed a deal with Los Angeles-based agency, InkBalloon, to handle all the digital marketing for UMAX's subsidiary, Funny Media Group ("FMG"). "InkBalloon has a strong background in building on the web using the latest and greatest technologies," said Rondell Fletcher, UMAX President and CEO. "We are looking forward to having them step up our digital efforts." One priority, Mr. Fletcher said, will be revamping FMG's website to highlight recent comedy shows. After the acquisition of FMG in May 2021, UMAX has now fully transitioned into comedy development as the vehicle to achieve a cash-flow positive operation and to provide the best return on shareholder's investment. InkBalloon is a multi-disciplinary, independently owned design studio that provides 360-degree solutions, Mr. Fletcher said. InkBalloon has already worked on multiple projects for FMG, and the relationship is strong, Mr. Fletcher added. Funny Media Group is also discussing the marketing of Season 2 of comedy shows, which start taping in March, Mr. Fletcher said. "We really are going to market Season 2 with a passion," Mr. Fletcher said. Mr. Fletcher has an extensive background in production and media. He has owned his own production studio in Los Angeles for the past 20 years and has produced national shows for CNN, FOX, Food Network and Comedy Central, among others. The short-term goal for Funny Media Group is to produce content for streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon with the long-term goal of building a large media catalog for acquisition. About Us UMAX Group Corp. is a Nevada corporation, is a public-quoted Pink Sheet issuer under the ticker symbol "UMAX". UMAX reports as an alternative reporting issuer with OTC Markets Group, Inc. and is current in its mandatory required filings (E.g., "Pink Sheet Current"). Disclaimer Regarding Forward Looking Statements Certain statements that we make may constitute "forward-looking statements" under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include information concerning future?strategic objectives, business prospects, anticipated savings, financial results (including expenses, earnings, liquidity, cash flow and capital expenditures), industry or market conditions, demand for and pricing of our products, acquisitions and divestitures, anticipated results of litigation and regulatory developments or general economic conditions.? In addition, words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "projects," "forecasts," and future or conditional verbs such as "will," "may," "could," "should," and "would," as well as any other statement that necessarily depends on future events, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees, and they involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. ?Although we make such statements based on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements.? We caution investors not to rely unduly on any forward-looking?statements. Company Information: UMAX Group Corp. 2020 Bay Avenue Los Angeles, California 90021 Website (FMG): https://funnymediagroup.com/ Website (FMS): https://BroadcastWest.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/funnymediagroupofficial/?hl=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/FunnyMediaGroup Investor Relations: Jack Zietz Email: investors@umaxgrpcorp.com SOURCE: UMAX Group Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/687541/UMAX-GROUP-CORP--UMAX-Signs-Digital-Marketing-Deal-with-Los-Angeles-Studio-InkBalloon CHICAGO, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new research report, the "Structural Health Monitoring Market with COVID-19 Impact by Offering (Hardware, Software & Services), Technology (Wired, Wireless), End Use (Civil Infrastructure, Aerospace & Defense, Energy, Mining) and Geography - Global Forecast to 2027", published by MarketsandMarkets, the market is estimated to grow from USD 2.0 billion in 2022 to USD 4.0 billion by 2027, at a CAGR of 14.6% between 2022 and 2027. Ask for PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=101431220 The major factors contributing to the market growth are increased importance of automated maintenance and repair of critical infrastructures, cascading effects of structural failures such as loss of lives and capital, significant investments in infrastructure sector, stringent government regulations to build sustainable structures, aging infrastructure and benefits offered by structural health monitoring, and reduced costs of structural health monitoring systems. The civil infrastructure segment is expected to hold the largest share of the structural health monitoring market during the forecast period Civil infrastructure consists of structures, such as bridges, dams, buildings & stadium, and tunnels. The development of new infrastructure ultimately results in the economic growth. Structures for transportation, such as bridges and tunnels, are essential as they reduce the cost of travel, save time, and facilitate regional trade. Hence, many regions such as the US, the UK, Germany, Japan, China, South Korea, India, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia are extensively investing in civil infrastructures to develop new infrastructure facilities and renovate the old infrastructures. The growing demand for new infrastructure globally, is expected to increase the need for regular monitoring of structures to reduce the risk of structural failure. Structural health monitoring hardware to hold the largest market share during the forecast period Hardware components play a crucial role in measuring the physical parameters, such as stress, cracks, temperature, vibration, and alignment, of structures that are being observed. The data gathered from hardware components helps technicians proactively take necessary or corrective measures to ensure the safety of structures. The increasing number of structural failures in recent years has led to a surge in demand for structural health monitoring systems, thereby driving the market growth for hardware offerings. However, the software & services market to register higher growth in structural health monitoring market during the forecast period. Software such as MATLAB and SCADA are used for early detection of damage and provide predictive analytics that helps determine the remaining lifetime of a structure and make timely decisions regarding the future maintenance of the structure. The increasing need for regular monitoring of structures is a key factor driving the demand for software and services. Wireless technology to register the highest growth in the structural health monitoring market during the forecast period The adoption of wireless technology significantly reduces monitoring costs as the need for installation and protection of cables is eliminated. Also, the wireless system offers greater flexibility. Various sensors used in the wireless structural health monitoring system are organized by wireless transmission, which makes updating, adding, moving, and replacing of sensors easy after the initial installation. Technological advancements related to wireless technology have led to the development of products to which instruments such as strain gauge sensors, tiltmeters, crack meters, inclinometers, linear voltage displacement transducers, and accelerometers can be integrated for centralized data collection and analysis. The growing demand for wireless technologies for structural health monitoring is a major factor contributing to the high market growth for wireless technology. Browse in-depth TOC on "Structural Health Monitoring Market" 196 - Tables 81 - Figures 263 - Pages Inquiry Before Buying: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=101431220 Asia Pacific to register the highest growth in the Structural health monitoring market during the forecast period Asia Pacific is expected to register the highest growth in the structural health monitoring market during the forecast period. The major factors driving market growth include the increasing investments related to infrastructure and stringent regulations by governments for the compulsory use of structural health monitoring for various structure to reduce catastrophic failures. The growing population in many Asia Pacific countries has led to rapid urbanization and industrialization which has led to the commencement of several infrastructure projects, thereby, driving the market growth. The report profiles key players such as Nova Metrix LLC (US), Geokon (US), Campbell Scientific (US), COWI (Denmark), Geocomp (US), Acellent Technologies (US), Sixense (France), Pure Technologies (Canada), Structural Monitoring Systems (Australia), SGS (Switzerland), and Digitexx (US). Related Reports: Geotechnical Instrumentation and Monitoring Market with COVID-19 Impact Analysis by Offering, Networking Technology (Wired, Wireless), Structure (Bridges & Tunnels, Buildings & Utilities, Dams, Others), End User and Geography - Global Forecast to 2026 Vibration Monitoring Market With COVID-19 Impact Analysis by Offering (Hardware, Software, Services), Monitoring Process, Deployment Type, System Type (Embedded Systems, Vibration Analyzers, Vibration Meters), Industry, and Region - Global Forecast to 2026 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/structural-health-monitoring-market.asp Visit Our Web Site: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/structural-health-monitoring.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg COLORADO SPRINGS, CO / ACCESSWIRE / February 7, 2022 / Fortitude Gold Corp. (OTCQB:FTCO) (the "Company") declares its monthly dividend of $0.04 per common share payable on February 28, 2022 to shareholders of record as of February 18, 2022. Fortitude Gold is a gold producer, developer, and explorer with operations in Nevada, U.S.A. Dividends may vary in amount and consistency or be discontinued at the Board of Directors' discretion depending on variables including but not limited to operational cash flows, Company development requirements and strategies, construction, spot gold and silver prices, taxation, general market conditions and other factors described in the Company's public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. About Fortitude Gold Corp.: Fortitude Gold is a U.S. based gold producer targeting projects with low operating costs, high margins, and strong returns on capital. The Company's strategy is to grow organically, remain debt-free and distribute substantial dividends. The Company's Nevada Mining Unit consists of five high-grade gold properties located in the Walker Lane Mineral Belt, with the Isabella Pearl gold mine in current production. Nevada, U.S.A. is among the world's premier mining friendly jurisdictions. Cautionary Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. If you are risk-averse you should NOT buy shares in Fortitude Gold Corp. The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are 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. When used in this press release, the words "plan", "target", "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend" and "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the statements regarding the Company's strategy, future plans for production, future expenses and costs, future liquidity and capital resources, and estimates of mineralized material are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon information available to the Company on the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those discussed in this press release. In particular, the scope, duration, and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mining operations, Company employees, and supply chains as well as the scope, duration and impact of government action aimed at mitigating the pandemic may cause future actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements. Also, there can be no assurance that production will continue at any specific rate. Contact: Greg Patterson 719-717-9825 greg.patterson@fortitudegold.com www.Fortitudegold.com SOURCE: Fortitude Gold Corporation View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/687504/Fortitude-Gold-Declares-February-Monthly-Dividend WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Abbott (ABT) announced the world's first patient implants of a dual-chamber leadless pacemaker system as part of its AVEIR DR i2i pivotal clinical study. Abbott's investigational Aveir DR dual-chamber pacemaker is designed to provide synchronous, beat-by-beat pacing of the right atrium and right ventricle of the heart. Proprietary implant-to-implant device technology is used for communication between two implanted leadless pacemakers to regulate the heart rate. Abbott also designed the Aveir DR leadless pacemaker to be retrievable, so the system can be replaced or retrieved as therapy needs evolve. The Aveir DR system is designed to provide real-time mapping capability so physicians can assess therapy delivery and reposition the device before implant during a patient's procedure. 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. FinancialForce, the leading provider of customer-centric business applications across finance, services, and customer success teams has announced its 2022 hiring program with Talent Works, a recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) partner. Headquartered in San Francisco, California, with EMEA headquarters in Harrogate, England, FinancialForce chose Talent Works to support its overseas hiring targets. FinancialForce has its talent acquisition leadership team based in the US, but with the UK facing unprecedented demand for roles in technology and R&D, additional on-the-ground representation is needed to hire at least 70 roles. With hiring globally now a candidate's market, leveraging Talent Works' data-led approach gave FinancialForce the agility and flexibility to see location demands in the new remote working environment, helping the company to hire in a new market. Support provided by Boston-based Talent Works SVP, Jody Robie, the Talent Works team has built a digital recruitment marketing campaign targeted specifically to Software Developer candidates that helps to differentiate FinancialForce by communicating innovation messages to technical applicants. Kathy Erickson, Head of Global Talent Acquisition at FinancialForce, said: "The recruitment landscape has changed in the last two years, and I've never lived through such a busy market, with businesses struggling to fill the gaps in their teams. At FinancialForce we recognize the need to outsource our efforts to ensure we are able to reach the right talent. Being based in the US while searching for talent in the UK has been a hurdle that we have only been able to overcome with the help of Talent Works acting as an extension of our team. The consultative approach of Talent Works has been invaluable, working with us to produce the best outcome for our team in the UK." Jody Robie, SVP at Talent Works, added: "We don't anticipate hiring to slow down anytime soon, and the conversations we are having with clients show a desire to hire great talent in the EMEA region too. Even recognizable brands like FinancialForce need to evaluate hiring and recruitment processes to ensure they are appealing to the right candidates abroad. Understanding that prospective hires are looking for more than just stability and salary, means marketing key differentiators that will help your brand stand out during the hiring process." -ENDS- View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220207005032/en/ Contacts: Media inquiries: Jennifer Reid, jreid@thecommsco.com, 778-772-0754 Regulatory News: Spartoo (ISIN: FR00140043Y1 ticker: ALSPT) (Paris:ALSPT), one of the leading online retailers for fashion items in Europe, today announced its non-audited consolidated annual GMV1 ( thousands, limited review) 12/31/2021 12/31/2020 Change Gross Merchandise Value 213,663 193,725 10.3% As of December 31, 2021, the GMV reached 213.7 million, up 10.3% compared to the same period last year, when the GMV amounted to 193.7 million2. The Group thus confirms its objective of GMV growth exceeding 10% compared to 2020. Boris Saragaglia, co-founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Spartoo, stated: "The sales performance recorded in 2021, in line with our target announced during the IPO, supports our short and medium-term development ambitions, which are driven by the positive dynamics of e-commerce and our broad range of products. The roadmap established during our IPO, aimed at strengthening our fashion offering and increasing awareness of the Spartoo brand, remains unchanged. Our growth momentum is expected to continue in the coming year, driven by our strong strengths, namely our strategy of internalizing the entire e-commerce value chain, ensuring a unique customer knowledge and experience, and our commitment to offering the widest possible choice of items to our customers To receive next press releases from SPARTOO, please contact us at newcap@spartoo.com! Next financial event 2021 Full-year Results, on Monday March 21, 2022, after market close About Spartoo With 10,000 brands and more than 1 million items, Spartoo offers one of the widest selections of fashion items (footwear, ready-to-wear, bags) in more than 30 countries in Europe, thanks to its team of more than 400 employees of nearly 30 different nationalities. In 2021, the Group generated a GMV (Gross Merchandise Value) of 214 million, 41% of which was generated internationally. With an integrated logistics platform and after-sales service, Spartoo stands out for its customer-centric approach, as evidenced by a very high customer satisfaction rate. The strategy is based on the strong synergies between the online sales model and the advantages of physical stores, which support loyalty and brand awareness. Capitalizing on its e-commerce know-how, Spartoo has also developed a complete range of services for professionals. Visit the Group's websites: www.spartoo.com www.spartoo-finance.com 1Gross Merchandise Value (GMV): total sales of products (including VAT) and services, net of returns. 2Figures subject to a limited review by the auditors. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220207005708/en/ Contacts: Spartoo 04 58 00 16 84 investors@spartoo.com NewCap Louis-Victor Delouvrier Nicolas Fossiez Investor Relations newcap@spartoo.com 01 44 71 94 94 NewCap Ambre Delval Media Relations newcap@spartoo.com 01 44 71 98 52 The "New Data Centre and Cloud Developments in Europe 2021 and Beyond" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Data Centre and Cloud Developments in Europe 2021 and beyond report is based on research made for Data Centre planned developments across eighteen European Countries (including: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK) using the publisher's unique database of third- party Data Centres in Europe. The publisher calculates that the new Data Centre projects from 2021 onwards will add potential new space of just over 1 million m2 and just under 3,000 MW of power in the seventeen European countries surveyed. The UK sees the highest number of new Data Centre projects with twenty (20) followed by Germany with sixteen (16) and Spain with fifteen (15) these three European Countries account for just over fifty (50) per cent of all Data Centre developments (by number). The report provides a profile of each of the Data Centre that is expanding giving an insight into their presence across Europe as well as details of the proposed development(s). Key Topics Covered: Methodology Executive Summary European Data Centre Development Overview: 2021 Key Countries with Data Centre Developments in Europe Austria Data Centre Providers Expansion Plans: Space, Power, Location, Proposed Launch Date Data Centre Provider Profiles for new developments. Summary Belgium Denmark Finland France Germany Greece Iceland Ireland Italy Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Spain Sweden Switzerland UK New Cloud Developments in Europe Conclusions Key Data Centre Developments 2021 Appendix I: A List of Data Centre Developments sorted by company, location and size. Appendix II: A list of Data Centre Developments sorted by launch date Appendix III: A list of Data Centre Developments sorted by Data Centre Provider across all 18 countries For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/gpc1wb View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220207005750/en/ Contacts: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com 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 PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Armis , the leading unified asset visibility and security platform provider, is pleased to announce that CRN , a brand of The Channel Company , has included Tim Mackie, VP Worldwide Channel at Armis, in its 2022 Channel Chiefs list. CRN's annual Channel Chiefs project identifies top IT channel vendor executives who continually demonstrate expertise, influence, and innovation in channel leadership. For the second time, the panel of CRN editors has selected Mackie as an honoree in the category due to his channel dedication, industry stature, and accomplishments as a channel advocate. This accolade reinforces his position as an influential leader who continues to shape the IT channel with ingenious strategies, programs, and partnerships. Armis appointed Tim Mackie in 2021 to direct this key function as part of the company's commitment to its partner community and the increasing demand for businesses to collaborate with it. Since then, Mackie led the creation and launch of the Armis Partner Experience (APEX) Program , allowing partners to tap into the market opportunity of securing managed and unmanaged IoT, IoMT, and OT/ICS devices. "The creation of the APEX program marks Armis' transition from a hybrid-channel model to a channel-first model. The program is flexible and evolves as Armis and our clients grow. We are investing our resources, tools, training, and value to make sure we create long-term relations with our partners and have even shifted the business strategy to ensure the channel is being involved in all opportunities," said Tim Mackie, VP Worldwide Channel, Armis. "We are on our way to reaching our goal of 90% participation of the channel in all Armis opportunities. Our key to success is working with our partners and educating each other in order to co-create new opportunities to drive our pipeline." "CRN's 2022 Channel Chiefs recognition is given exclusively to the foremost channel executives who consistently design, promote, and execute effective partner programs and strategies," said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. "We're thrilled to recognize the tireless work and unwavering commitment these honorees put into fostering outstanding business innovation and building strong partner programs to drive channel engagement and success." CRN's 2022 Channel Chiefs list will be featured in the February 2022 issue of CRN Magazine and online at www.CRN.com/ChannelChiefs . Discover how the APEX program can help your company thrive in your areas of business expertise and expand to other areas that help drive your go-to-market model. Apply today to be part of the Armis Partner Experience Program. About Armis Armis is the leading unified asset visibility and security platform designed to address the new threat landscape that connected devices create. Fortune 1000 companies trust our real-time and continuous protection to see with full context all managed, unmanaged, and IoT devices, including medical devices (IoMT), operational technology (OT), and industrial control systems (ICS). Armis provides passive and unparalleled cybersecurity asset management, risk management, and automated enforcement. Armis is a privately held company and headquartered in Palo Alto, California. About The Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers, and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelcompany.com Follow The Channel Company: Twitter , LinkedIn, and Facebook . 2022. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All rights reserved. Media Contacts: Armis Dillon Townsel Sr. Director, Public & Media Relations dillon@armis.com 512-571-3455 The Channel Company Jennifer Hogan The Channel Company jhogan@thechannelcompany.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/519971/Armis_Logo.jpg The Ikoniscope20 has been successfully installed at Toma Advanced Biomedical Assays and being used for daily workflow for the patient care TomaLab will act as a Reference Laboratory for Ikonisys, boosting R&D and commercialization opportunities Future applications for novel tests are under evaluation, to further exploit the capabilities of the instrument to automate laboratory workflow and analyze samples otherwise impossible to investigate manually Regulatory News: Ikonisys SA (Code ISIN: FR00140048X2 Mnemonique: ALIKO),a company specializing in the early and accurate detection of cancer with a unique fully-automated solution for medical diagnostic labs, announced the successful sale and installation of the Ikoniscope20 at Toma Advanced Biomedical Assays Spa (Busto Arsizio, VA, Italy) and the continuation of the productive collaboration between the laboratory and the company. Since the installation, TomaLab has been successfully validating the Ikoniscope20 for routine FISH testing in oncology, using several applications that span from lung cancer (oncoFISH ALK) to bladder cancer (oncoFISH bladder). The partnership is a concrete milestone for the marketing strategy and demonstrates the ability of the sales organization to achieve the objective of rapid growth of Ikoniscope20 installations: TomaLab will act as a reference laboratory for Ikonisys, allowing interested stakeholders and prospects to review the instrument and its capabilities. The laboratory will continue to collaborate in the development of novel applications for tests that are becoming or will become of particular interest in the field of cancer diagnostics, with a particular regard to the capabilities of the instrument to perform both FISH-based and antibody-based tests. This is a factual step in the strategy mentioned at IPO to develop new applications, expanding into new promising segments of the IVD market. Dr. Tshering Dorji, Head of Pathology, TomaLab, commented, "We are highly impressed by the Ikoniscope20 and pleased to continue our collaboration with Ikonisys. The instrument's compact size allowed us to install it flawlessly in our facility and the high throughput of this new FISH analyzer is very impressive. Combined with the high quality of the scanned images reported and the easy-to-use remote connection, the instrument continues to play a very important role in our daily workflow for the patient care." Michael Kilpatrick, Chief Scientific Officer of Ikonisys, added"We are honored and thrilled to continue working with a leading European laboratory such as TomaLab. This, in our opinion, certifies the hard work that was put into the development of the new instrument in order to meet and exceed customers' expectations. The collaboration with TomaLab has already allowed us to develop new applications in the past and we're looking forward to the excellent ideas that might come from the discussion with such a sophisticated customer, to expand our product portfolio in FISH and other segments. We believe that in the short term this will allow us to add new applications for detection of genetic aberrations in several tissue types, whilst continuing to utilize the capabilities of the platform to develop tests based on the combined analysis of genes and proteins." Jurgen Schipper, Chief Commercial Officer of Ikonisys concluded: "The fact that TomaLab will act as a first reference lab for us represents an important support as we continue our expansion in the European market. After the recent hiring of our experienced Sales Director for France, this is another important brick in the construction of our sales strategy, based on initial sales to Key Opinion leaders and highly respected customers, that will act as sponsors for our innovative instrument and applications." About Ikonisys Ikonisys SA is a cell-based diagnostics company based in Paris (France), New Haven (Connecticut, USA) and Milan (Italy) specialized in the early and accurate detection of cancer. The company develops, produces and markets the proprietary Ikoniscope20 platform, a fully-automated solution designed to deliver accurate and reliable detection and analysis of rare and very rare cells. Ikonisys has received FDA clearance for several automated diagnostic applications, which are also marketed in Europe under CE certification. Through its breakthrough fluorescence microscopy platform, the company continues to develop a stream of new tests, including liquid biopsy tests based on Circulating Tumor Cells (CTC). For further information, please go to www.Ikonisys.com Disclaimer This press release contains forward-looking statements about the Company's prospects and development. These statements are sometimes identified by the use of the future tense, the conditional tense and forward-looking words such as "believe", "aim to", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "believe", "should", "could", "would" or "will" or, where appropriate, the negative of these terms or any other similar variants or expressions. This information is not historical data and should not be construed as a guarantee that the facts and data set forth will occur. This information is based on data, assumptions and estimates considered reasonable by the Company. It is subject to change or modification due to uncertainties relating to the economic, financial, competitive and regulatory environment. This information contains data relating to the Company's intentions, estimates and objectives concerning, in particular, the market, strategy, growth, results, financial situation and cash flow of the Company. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is made only as of the date of this press release. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information contained in this press release, except as required by applicable law or regulation. The Company operates in a competitive and rapidly changing environment and therefore cannot anticipate all of the risks, uncertainties or other factors that may affect its business, their potential impact on its business or the extent to which the materialization of any one risk or combination of risks could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking information, it being recalled that none of this forward-looking information constitutes a guarantee of actual results. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220207005776/en/ Contacts: Ikonisys Alessandro Mauri CFO investors@ikonisys.com NewCap Olivier Bricaud Louis-Victor Delouvrier Investor Relations Ikonisys@newcap.eu Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 92 NewCap Nicolas Merigeau Media Relations Ikonisys@newcap.eu Tel.:+33 (0)1 44 71 94 98 The Orlando Sentinel has been covering the communities of Central Florida since 1876., but social-media outlets make big bucks recirculating our stories. (Roger Simmons) Last year, in a rare display of bipartisanship, a reform designed to modernize Americas infrastructure was signed into law by President Biden, having received the support of dozens of congressional Republicans and nearly all Democrats. This year, President Biden and Democrats in Congress can pass an important piece of legislation on a bipartisan basis: the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act (JCPA). On Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary antitrust subcommittee held a hearing on the legislation, which is designed to curb Big Techs monopoly over news and information. Advertisement If passed, the JCPA would allow news publishers to collectively negotiate under the authority of a federal arbiter with social media companies over how news is distributed online. This would ensure that local news outlets receive adequate compensation for their content so that they can continue to operate. Currently, Big Tech disseminates the intellectual property of media outlets without offering any compensation or benefit to these local content providers. This is not only blatantly unfair as it represents an expropriation of outlets work products without any economic benefit but it is also one of the major reasons why local newspapers across the country are facing unprecedented challenges in remaining economically viable. Advertisement The world of news and information has changed dramatically over the last two decades, yet antitrust and antimonopoly laws havent changed with it. As a result, local newspapers have been on life support throughout much of the 21st century. Google News, Facebook News, and similar news aggregator sites drive traffic to their sites by presenting a constant flow of links to articles from thousands of smaller publishers. Parent companies like Alphabet and Meta monetize their own advertising and related products without fairly compensating smaller publishers for their material. Current copyright and antitrust laws in the U.S. do not provide any legal basis for news publishers to collectively negotiate with these online platforms. Companies such as Alphabet and Meta havent taken the initiative to self-regulate. It is now the job of the federal government to make news and information a freer and fairer industry. It is noteworthy that the JCPA is part of a global trend in which governments have been cracking down on social media monopolies by strengthening their antitrust laws. The Canadian government is currently working on a proposal similar to the JCPA, and last year, Australia became the first government to pass actual legislation to that effect. In the U.S. alone, over the last several months, there have been numerous antitrust hearings in Congress in which the CEOs of Big Tech social media companies were questioned about their approach of bullying competitors into either accepting buyouts, or face being destroyed. Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. > JCPA has bipartisan support in the House and Senate, but faces opposition from some members of both parties. Some are claiming that the JCPA would enable large news outlets to make special deals with Big Tech companies, worsening the problem of monopolization in the news industry. However, as the bill does not allow big companies to negotiate alone or to broker side agreements under the threat of harsh penalties. Advertisement Those on the political right have taken issue with the bill for different reasons, arguing that it would actually give Big Tech more power to discriminate against smaller conservative publications for the purposes of demonetizing the outlet. Yet, the JCPA is also written to prevent Big Tech from engaging in this kind of behavior. Its clear that the time has come for the U.S. to rein in Big Tech. President Biden should begin increasing the visibility of the issue by addressing the JCPA in his State of the Union speech next month. Ultimately, if America is to have a news and information industry that is truly free and fair, we must stop allowing Big Tech companies to engage in market manipulation without consequence. We can start by passing the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act into law. Douglas Schoen is a longtime political consultant. He writes a column for the Orange County Register, where this piece originally appeared. Benchmarking study of over 70 financial institutions identifies potential revenue enhancement and increased regulatory compliance as drivers of progress on climate risk strategy. NEW YORK, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A new benchmarking study found that climate change is placing increasing demands on major financial institutions worldwide to establish and execute on climate risk mitigation strategies. The study - led by consulting firm Sia Partners and law firm Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP - involved dozens of interviews and a quantitative survey of over 70 global financial institutions. Survey submissions and interviews for the full market research study ran through January 2022. The study involved foreign banks, G-SIBs, investment managers, U.S. regional banks and European banks. Preparedness varied based on institution size and geography, but, notably, approximately 90 percent of participants have at least started the process of a climate risk framework. Execution could be a challenge, however, as less than 20 percent of participating firms had fully engaged business lines to perform risk assessments and, as a result, "still do not have a clear understanding of how climate change will impact them," according to the study analysis. "It is promising and significant that so many financial institutions worldwide are focused on the implications of climate change very seriously," said Bradley Ziff, an Operating Principal at Sia Partners who directed the project for the two firms. "There is considerable work to be completed, and study participants noted that the industry is well past the point of kicking the can down the road. Leaders in this space are emerging - namely, the larger banks and investors and those who have been investing for several years by putting in place real climate risk mitigation strategies supported by operational and data efforts to meet both market and regulatory objectives." Even though coalition-building efforts including the globally recognized efforts by the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), with its more than 2,500 signatories, have made an impact, an increasingly important driver is the rapidly expanding regulatory oversight globally. Increased pressure from governmental entities is already compelling financial institutions to further action, the study found. After all, just 21% of the G-SIBs in the study said that they have implemented all the recommendations and supplementary guidance published by the TCFD, although there were meaningful geographic differences among that group. "Banks and financial institutions must look at climate risk mitigation not simply as a regulatory requirement but also as a significant opportunity for increasing market presence and as a client service," said Scott Cammarn, a senior counsel in Cadwalader's Financial Services group. "The financial institutions that are most advanced in their thinking about climate risk are applying what they learn in dealing with their internal and proprietary challenges as lessons that can be passed on to clients and potentially as opportunities to increase revenue by helping clients with the management of clients' regulatory, business and stakeholder risks." Study participants emphasized the essential need for global standardization across regulators and the industry for disclosure requirements, among other items. The plethora of differing approaches has made adherence to better practices a major challenge for almost all study participants. This was a highlighted concern among study participants with global operations, where conflicting regulatory approaches created meaningful issues in building out their programs. Another key finding from the study is the criticality of enhanced data. The study found that participants "who have succeeded to date are those who have begun efforts to attain quality data to drive many other areas of their programs." Participants also noted that more required public disclosure will, in turn, drive more data generation and analysis. John Gustav, Partner and Head of U.S. Financial Services at Sia Partners, emphasized that enhanced data will likely be attained through improvements in governance. "Effective governance models will drive implementation and more disclosures, and thus better data for the industry to measure and analyze," he said. The Sia Partners-Cadwalader study uncovered a number of other significant findings: Only 8% of participants conduct scenario analysis to assess the impact of climate risks and broader environmental risks. 92% of our respondents believe that regulators should adopt more standardized or detailed disclosure rules. Nearly all (95%) firms identified international frameworks as a priority for consideration in the development of their framework, emphasizing the need for regulatory convergence. A slight majority of participants (51%) are conducting internal research to develop new climate risk products. G-SIBs had the highest percentage of respondents (80%) actively pursuing the development of sustainable products. 25% of participants have no plans to allocate budget towards climate-risk transformation projects and activities. "The opportunities are not lost on financial institutions," said Brendan Moriarty, a co-author from Sia Partners. "There are serious players with innovative approaches, moving forward with their offensive position, rather than strategizing on how to mitigate physical and transition risks." Sia Partners' Ziff concluded: "The study suggests that firms appreciate that the climate clock is ticking fast and that, for a host of good reasons, they will need to have both thoughtful and balanced efforts that achieve meaningful risk mitigation reductions. Policymakers are now increasingly challenged to create approaches that map out targeted reductions in Co2 emissions while recognizing the economic realities of achieving those targets among the richest and poorest nations. Study participants realize that the next several years will be critical in initiating those mitigation programs and working with the official sector in developing practical solutions that the industry can embrace." About Sia Partners Sia Partners is a next-generation management consulting firm and pioneer of Consulting 4.0. We offer a unique blend of AI and design capabilities, augmenting traditional consulting to deliver superior value to our clients. With expertise in more than 30 sectors and services, we optimize client projects worldwide. Through our Consulting for Good approach, we strive for next-level impact by developing innovative CSR solutions for our clients, making sustainability a lever for profitable transformation. About Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, established 230 years ago, serves a diverse client base, including many of the world's leading financial institutions, corporations and funds. With offices in New York, London, Charlotte, Washington and Dublin, Cadwalader offers legal expertise in antitrust, banking, corporate finance, corporate governance, executive compensation, financial restructuring, health care, intellectual property, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, private wealth, real estate, financial regulation, securitization, structured finance, tax and white collar defense. For more information, visit www.cadwalader.com. Contact: Ron Brandsdorfer +1 212 504 6712 ron.brandsdorfer@cwt.com WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Crude oil futures settled notably lower on Monday amid signs that nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran are moving in a positive way, and there could be a removal of U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil sales. West Texas Intermediate Crude oil futures for March ended lower by $0.99 or about 1.1% at $91.32 a barrel. Brent crude futures drifted down $0.58 or about 0.6% to $92.69 a barrel. Worries about crude supply have faded a bit following the Biden Administration restoring sanctions waivers to Iran to allow international nuclear cooperation projects. Following a short break, indirect talks in Vienna between Iran and the United States on reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal will resume on Tuesday, the European Union, which is coordinating the talks, said today in a statement. Separately, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh told a weekly news conference that the issue of removal of sanctions and Iran benefiting from it is Iran's red line in the talks. Meanwhile, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies, collectively known as OPEC+, are struggling to meet targets despite pressure from top consumers to raise production. 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. Wood Dale, Illinois, Feb. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AAR (NYSE: AIR), a leading provider of aviation services to commercial and government operators, MROs, and OEMs, announced a 10-year extension of its component maintenance, repair, and overhaul contract with International Aerospace Management Company (IAMCO), which is responsible for depot-level maintenance for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) E-3A AWACS aircraft fleet. The services will be performed at AAR's Component Repair facility in Amsterdam. AAR's Amsterdam facility has served IAMCO for two decades and been ranked an "Outstanding Source of Repair" on numerous occasions. "AAR is honored to announce the extension of this long-term service contract," says Eric Bron, AAR General Manager, Component Repair - Amsterdam. "We look forward to continuing a partnership with NATO and providing outstanding service." "IAMCO is very pleased to confirm AAR as one of its sources of repair for component MRO in this extension of the E-3A program," says Bernard Masuy, IAMCO Branch Manager, Components. "AAR's Amsterdam facility proves to be a reliable partner and a strong pillar of the E3A DLM component maintenance program." For more information on AAR's Component Repair services, visit aarcorp.com/mro/component-repair/. About AAR AAR is a global aerospace and defense aftermarket solutions company with operations in over 20 countries. Headquartered in the Chicago area, AAR supports commercial and government customers through two operating segments: Aviation Services and Expeditionary Services. AAR's Aviation Services include Parts Supply; OEM Solutions; Integrated Solutions; and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul. About IAMCO IAMCO is a multinational joint venture company founded in 1991. As an industrial prime contractor, IAMCO is responsible for management of collaborative efforts in depot-level maintenance of NATO's E-3A airborne early warning and control (AWACS) fleet, including the maintenance of engines and aircraft components. Allego confirms its 2021 revenue and positive operational EBITDA guidance. Utilization rate 1 , a key performance metric, continues to experience a solid upward trend owing to significantly higher EV penetration rates in Europe. Allego signed a long-term partnership with Nissan in 16 countries and across more than 600 locations to install, operate, and maintain fast-charging solutions. The Company closed the first-of-its-kind special purpose project finance vehicle to support the development of more than 2,000 fast and ultra-fast EV charge points at over 200 locations across France powered entirely by renewable energy, in partnership with the leading French supermarket chain Carrefour The Company also announced the expansion of ultra-fast charging locations in the Netherlands, Belgium (recently securing the largest number of sites compared to the competition along highways in Flanders) and France, and extended its existing relationship with REWE Nord , one of the leading supermarkets in Germany. The Honorable Jane F. Garvey, the 14th Administrator of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, will assume the role of Chairwoman of the combined company's Board of Directors upon the closing of the business combination. Allego Holding B.V. ("Allego" or "the "Company"), a leading pan-European electric vehicle charging network that announced a business combination with Spartan Acquisition Corp. III ("Spartan") (NYSE: SPAQ), is providing a financial and strategic update on several performance highlights before the release of the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021. Selected Financial Highlights for Full Year 20212 Revenues are on target with at least 86 million for fiscal year 2021, an increase of over 95% compared to fiscal year 2020, driven by the diversity of charging and services mix. This was achieved through 6.1 million charging sessions, representing an increase of 65% over the prior year, all facilitated by the robustness of the Company's proprietary technology platforms. Allego expects strong utilization trends to continue in 2022 amidst rapid growth of its network, from secured sites and expanded B2B partnerships. Allego's network delivered 83GWh of clean, 100% renewable energy to EV drivers in 2021, an increase of 77% from 2020. Therefore, its network enabled 414 million green kilometers (258 million miles) compared with 234 million green kilometers (145 million miles) in 2020. Utilization rate3, a key performance metric, reached its highest average in December 2021 at 7.6%, almost doubling from pre-pandemic levels, despite lockdown measures in the Netherlands, one of Allego's most active countries. Utilization rates remained resilient through 2020 and 2021, as demand significantly exceeded supply, and EV sales were three times higher than in the US. 4 Total unique users on Allego's network at the end of 2021 increased by about 70% compared to the prior year, bringing the total cumulative users on Allego's network since its founding to 620,000 customers. Allego's network continued to have an approximate 80% recurring rate per month. The Company benefits from scale advantages with a presence across 12 countries and more than 28,000 charging ports. In November 2021, Allego and Meridiam closed the first-of-its-kind special purpose project finance vehicle for EV charging infrastructure, which will support the construction of more than 2,000 fast and ultra-fast charge points at over 200 locations across France, in partnership with Carrefour. The total transaction size amounted to 138 million, approximately 55 million of which was financed by senior debt from seven leading European commercial banks committed to green energy and sustainable mobility. The financing received the Green Loan label due to its positive environmental impact. Mathieu Bonnet, CEO of Allego, said, "I am extremely proud of the team and delighted with the significant progress we have achieved under dynamic market conditions since the business combination announcement as we continue to execute our growth strategy. Both the marquee partnerships we have signed and strong tailwinds in EV penetration in Europe contribute to robust utilization rates and new opportunities to scale the business. Allego's proprietary software and cloud solutions provide the Company with a unique technological edge. We have generated a backlog of approximately 800 long-term sites in high-traffic and premium locations and over 500 sites in the pipeline to support our future growth." Ton Louwers, CFO, added, "The novel project finance transaction is a testament to investors and partners' confidence in Allego's unique planning tools and long-term business strategy, providing us with access to a significant amount of growth capital at attractive rates." Mr. Bonnet continued, "The European EV market is rapidly expanding, with EV sales in December 2021 outpacing those of diesel cars for the first time5. Coupled with favorable environmental regulation, high urbanization rates, scarcity of in-home parking in dense cities, and significant interurban traffic, we expect that the fundamentals for our business will remain resilient for years to come." Recent Operating and Strategic Initiatives: Allego agreed to open 120 new fast charging EV stations across the Netherlands and Belgium, and separately secured 13 additional ultra-fast charging locations along major highways in Flanders, Belgium. Additionally, the Company entered a partnership to install ultra-fast charging locations in France. Allego expanded its existing partnership with Van der Valk VDC, a prominent European hotel group, to offer fast charging facilities at over 50 hotels across the Netherlands and Belgium. (October 8, 2021) In a project co-financed by the European Union and the Flemish Agency for Roads and Traffic, Allego expects to install 28 ultra-fast charging stations by the end of this year and to double it to 56 ultra-fast stations by the middle of 2024. (January 20, 2022) The Company plans to build five ultra-fast charging locations near one of France's highly trafficked A355 Motorways, with over 28,000 individual vehicles utilizing the road each day. (January 21, 2022) Allego entered into a strategic partnership with Nissan. Spanning 16 countries and across more than 600 locations, Allego plans to install, operate, and maintain DC fast charging solutions of 50kW and 24kW. The partnership provides the full scope of charge point operations services for Allego DC charging hardware at Nissan dealer charging networks with five-year service and maintenance contracts for each charger. (December 2, 2021) The Honorable Jane Garvey was appointed Chairwoman of the Board of Allego. Upon the closing of the business combination with Spartan, Ms. Garvey, the 14th Administrator of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), is expected to assume the role of Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Allego N.V., the combined company. Ms. Garvey served under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. (November 30, 2021) Allego expanded its partnership with REWE Nord to build hundreds of new charging locations across Germany. The partnership extension aims to increase the number of fast charging to over 100 locations within the REWE Nord network from the initial 14 fast-charging locations established in 2018. REWE Nord is the leading food retailer in Germany. (November 16, 2021) About Allego Allego delivers charging solutions for electric cars, motors, buses, and trucks, for consumers, businesses, and cities. Allego's end-to-end charging solutions make it easier for companies and cities to deliver the infrastructure drivers need. In contrast, the scalability of our solutions makes us the partner of the future. Founded in 2013, Allego is a leader in charging solutions, with an international charging network that comprises more than 28,000 charge ports operational throughout Europe and proliferating. Our charging solutions are connected to our proprietary platform, EV-Cloud, which gives our customers a complete portfolio of features and services to meet and exceed market demands. We are committed to providing independent, reliable, and safe charging solutions, agnostic of vehicle model or network affiliation. At Allego, we strive every day to make EV charging easier, more convenient, and more enjoyable for all. About Spartan Acquisition Corp. III Spartan Acquisition Corp. III is a special purpose acquisition entity focused on the energy value chain. It was formed to enter into a merger, amalgamation, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Spartan is sponsored by Spartan Acquisition Sponsor III LLC, owned by a private investment fund managed by an affiliate of Apollo Global Management, Inc. (NYSE: APO). For more information, please visit www.spartanspaciii.com Forward-Looking Statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release ("Press Release") are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may generally be identified by the use of words such as "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "should," "would," "plan"" "project," "forecast," "predict," "potential," "seem," "seek," "future," "outlook," "target" or other similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or phrases) 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 estimates and forecasts of other financial and performance metrics and projections of market opportunity and market share. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this Press Release, and on the current expectations of Allego'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 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 may differ from assumptions, and such differences may be material. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of Allego. These forward-looking statements are subject to several risks and uncertainties, including (i) changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political, and legal conditions; (ii) risks related to the rollout of Allego's business strategy and the timing of expected business milestones; (iii) risks related to the consummation of the proposed business combination with Spartan being delayed or not occurring at all; (iv) risks related to political and macroeconomic uncertainty; (v) the risk that the operating and strategic initiatives described in the press release are delayed or do not occur at all; (vi) the risk that the benefits to Allego of the operating and strategic initiatives described in the press release are delayed, are less than anticipated or do not occur at all; and (vii) the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic, including its impact on any of the foregoing risks. If any of these risks materialize or Allego's assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that Allego does not presently know or that Allego currently believes are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect Allego's expectations, plans, or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this Press Release. Allego anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause Allego's assessments to change. However, while Allego may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Allego expressly disclaims any obligation to do so unless required by applicable law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Allego's assessments as of any date after this Press Release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements. 1 Utilization rate, a key performance measure, is referenced for ultra-fast chargers. 2 The unaudited financial highlight included in this press release may vary from actual results after finalizing the audit for the year ended December 31, 2021, and such variance may be material. 3 Utilization rate, a key performance measure, is referenced for ultra-fast chargers. 4 Source: LMC Automotive 5 Source: Financial Times View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220207005811/en/ Contacts: For Allego Investors investors@allego.eu Media allegoPR@icrinc.com For Spartan Acquisition Corp. III Investors info@spartanspacIII.com Media Communications@apollo.com Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 7, 2022) - POCML 6 Inc. (TSXV: POCC.P) (the "Corporation" or "POCML6"), a capital pool company ("CPC") listed on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"), is pleased to announce it has entered into an amalgamation agreement dated February 7, 2022 (the "Amalgamation Agreement") with Lithium Ionic Inc. ("Lithium Ionic"), a private company incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) (the "OBCA"), pursuant to which POCML6 will acquire all of the issued and outstanding securities of Lithium Ionic by way of a three-cornered amalgamation with a wholly-owned subsidiary of POCML6 ("Subco") incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario, with such acquisition (the "Proposed Transaction") constituting a reverse take-over of POCML6, subject to the terms and conditions outlined below. POCML6, as the resulting issuer following the completion of the Proposed Transaction (the "Resulting Issuer"), will continue on the business of Lithium Ionic. POCML6 intends that the Proposed Transaction will constitute its Qualifying Transaction, as such term is defined in TSXV Policy 2.4 - Capital Pool Companies. It is anticipated that the common shares of the Resulting Issuer (the "Resulting Issuer Shares") will be listed for trading on the TSXV. Unless otherwise noted, all financial information is in Canadian Dollars. About Lithium Ionic Lithium Ionic is a private company which owns a 100% ownership interest in the Itinga lithium project in Brazil (the "Itinga Project" or the "Project"). The Itinga Project The Itinga Project is located in Minas Gerais State (MG), Brazil. The Project comprises five mineral licenses covering more than 1,300 hectares in the prolific Aracuai lithium province. A portion of the Project occurs immediately south of the CBL lithium mine and plant, Brazil's only lithium producer, and immediately north of the large Barreiro and Xuxa lithium deposits of Sigma Lithium Corp. CBL has been in operation since 1993. Sigma's estimated mineral resources, based on their technical reports prepared pursuant to National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), exceeds 50 million tonnes of lithium oxide (Li2O) mineralized pegmatite in four deposits. The Project area has excellent infrastructure, including access to hydroelectrical grid power, water, a commercial port, highways and communities. Lithium mineralization (spodumene, lepidolite, petalite) occurs within a halo of pegmatite dikes and apophyses that occur within the rocks surrounding Neoproterozoic granitic intrusions. Mineralization within the mineralized province and the distribution of the mineralized pegmatites is controlled by a complex and crosscutting system of northeast and northwest oriented faults that were exploited by the dikes. Mineralized structures have been identified in two areas within the Project and the remainder of the Project area remains to be explored. The technical information in this news release has been prepared by David Gower, a director of Lithium Ionic, and a "qualified person" as defined in NI 43-101. Lithium Ionic has commissioned a NI 43-101 compliant technical report on the Project, which it expects will be finalized before the end of Q1 2022. The following table contains selected financial information in respect of Lithium Ionic as at and for the period indicated. This information should be read in conjunction with Lithium Ionic's audited and unaudited financial statements for the periods presented which will be included in the filing statement to be filed by POCML6 on SEDAR in connection with the Proposed Transaction (the "Filing Statement"). Period from incorporation (July 5, 2021) to December 31, 2021 (unaudited) Assets 6,162,000 Liabilities 65,000 Revenues Nil Net Profit (losses) (380,000) Summary of the Qualifying Transaction The Amalgamation Agreement contemplates POCML6 and Lithium Ionic completing an arm's length three-cornered amalgamation, pursuant to which Resulting Issuer Shares will be issued to holders of common shares in the capital of Lithium Ionic (the "Lithium Ionic Shares"). POCML6 currently has 11,104,958 common shares (the "POCML6 Shares") issued and outstanding. Additionally, POCML6 has 1,100,000 incentive stock options in addition to 91,042 broker warrants outstanding. Prior to the Closing Date (as defined below), POCML6 shall undertake a consolidation (the "Consolidation") of the POCML6 Shares on the basis 0.61983471 post-Consolidation POCML6 Share for each one pre-Consolidation POCML6 Share, or such other ratio that results in POCML6 having 7,500,000 POCML6 Shares, plus such number of POCML6 Shares resulting from the exercise of all, or part of, the POCML6 Broker Warrants, issued and outstanding upon completion of the Consolidation. There are currently 71,710,001 Lithium Ionic Shares outstanding. Additionally, there are outstanding warrants to acquire an aggregate of 2,672,750 Lithium Ionic Shares. In accordance with the terms of the Amalgamation Agreement, the Proposed Transaction will be structured as a "three-cornered amalgamation" involving Lithium Ionic, Subco and POCML6. In connection with closing of the Proposed Transaction, it is expected that, among other things: Lithium Ionic and Subco will be amalgamated under the provisions of the OBCA and the resulting amalgamated entity will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of POCML6. Each Lithium Ionic Share will be cancelled, and the former holders of Lithium Ionic Shares (including the Lithium Ionic Shares issued upon conversion of the Subscription Receipts (as defined below) issued under the Offering (as defined below)) will receive one (1) Resulting Issuer Share for each Lithium Ionic Share held by them. Other securities of Lithium Ionic (including warrants and options that are exercisable into Lithium Ionic Shares) will be cancelled, and the former holders of such securities will receive economically equivalent securities of the Resulting Issuer. The Resulting Issuer will have obtained conditional approval of the TSXV for the listing on the TSXV of the Resulting Issuer Shares, as required by the policies of the TSXV. It is anticipated that a total of 91,710,001 Resulting Issuer Shares, having a deemed value of $64,197,000.70 based upon the price of the Offering, as defined below, will be issued to current securityholders of Lithium Ionic (including the Resulting Issuer Shares issued upon conversion of the Subscription Receipts). Upon completion of the Proposed Transaction, the non-diluted common shares of the Resulting Issuer shall be held as follows: 71,710,001 Resulting Issuer Shares (72.28%) held by former Lithium Ionic shareholders; 20,000,000 Resulting Issuer Shares (20.16%) held by subscribers of Subscription Receipts assuming closing of the maximum amount of the Offering); and 7,500,000 Resulting Issuer Shares (7.56%) held by existing POCML6 securityholders (assuming exercise of all POCML6 options and broker warrants prior to the closing of the Proposed Transaction), subject to change as a result of the final size of the Offering and other issuances of securities of Lithium Ionic prior to closing of the Proposed Transaction. The parties to the Proposed Transaction are at arm's length and it is therefore anticipated that the approval of the shareholders of POCML6 in respect of the Proposed Transaction, as per the provisions of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions and TSXV Policy 5.9 will not be required. It is anticipated that the Proposed Transaction and Amalgamation Agreement will be put before the shareholders of Lithium Ionic for their approval. Lithium Ionic was incorporated on July 5, 2021 under the laws of the Province of Ontario. Subject to applicable laws and TSXV policies, it is anticipated that all Resulting Issuer Shares issued in exchange for the Lithium Ionic Shares (including the Lithium Ionic Shares issued upon conversion of the Subscription Receipts of Lithium Ionic issued pursuant to the Offering) on closing of the Proposed Transaction will be freely tradable pursuant to applicable securities laws in Canada. Conditions to Closing The completion of the Proposed Transaction is subject to the satisfaction of various conditions as are standard for a transaction of this nature, including but not limited to (i) receipt of all requisite regulatory, stock exchange, court or governmental approvals, authorizations and consents; (ii) the absence of any material change or a change in a material fact or a new material fact affecting POCML6 or Lithium Ionic; (iii) the completion of the Consolidation and the name change of POCML6 (the "Name Change") to "Lithium Ionic Corp." or such other name as determined by Lithium Ionic; (iv) if applicable, POCML6 having received appropriate approvals from its shareholders; (v) Lithium Ionic having received appropriate approvals from its shareholders; (vi) the completion of the Offering for minimum gross proceeds of $7,500,000; (vii) the completion of a NI 43-101 compliant technical report in respect of the Itinga Project; and (viii) the exercise of all outstanding stock options of POCML prior to the Consolidation. There can be no assurance that the Proposed Transaction will be completed on the terms proposed above or at all. Concurrent Financing In connection with the Proposed Transaction, each of Lithium Ionic and POCML6 are completing a brokered private placement subscription receipts ("Subscription Receipts") at a price of $0.70 per Subscription Receipt up to a maximum of 20,000,000 Subscription Receipts under both offerings for gross proceeds of up to $14,000,000 (collectively, the "Offering"). The Offering is being conducted on a commercially reasonable efforts basis led by Clarus Securities Inc., on behalf of a syndicate of agents including PowerOne Capital Markets Limited, iA Private Wealth Inc., Haywood Securities Inc., and Research Capital Corp. Upon satisfaction or waiver of all conditions precedent to the Transaction and certain other ancillary conditions (the "Escrow Release Conditions"), immediately prior to effecting the Proposed Transaction, (a) each Subscription Receipt of POCML6 will automatically convert into one post-Consolidation POCML6 Share without any further consideration on the part of the purchaser and (b) each Subscription Receipt of Lithium Ionic will automatically convert into one Lithium Ionic Share (which will in turn be exchanged for one Resulting Issuer Share pursuant to the Proposed Transaction) without any further consideration on the part of the purchaser. For further details on the Offering, please see the Corporation's press releases dated January 12, 2022 and January 18, 2022. The Resulting Issuer Upon completion of the Proposed Transaction, the Resulting Issuer is expected to change its name to "Lithium Ionic Corp." or such other name as determined by Lithium Ionic. It is expected that the Resulting Issuer will be a Tier 2 Mining Issuer under the policies of the TSXV. Concurrently with the completion of the Proposed Transaction, it is expected that all directors and officers of POCML6 will resign, and be replaced by nominees put forth by Lithium Ionic. The directors of the Resulting Issuer are anticipated to be Helio Diniz, Patrizia Ferrarese, David Gower, Lawrence Guy, Blake Hylands and Michael Shuh. These directors shall hold office until the first annual meeting of the shareholders of the Resulting Issuer following closing, or until their successors are duly appointed or elected. The officers of the Resulting Issuer are anticipated to be Helio Diniz as Chief Executive Officer, Greg Duras as Chief Financial Officer and Damian Lopez as Corporate Secretary. Biographies of the proposed directors and officers of the Resulting Issuer are included below. Helio Diniz - Chief Executive Officer and Director - Mr. Diniz, has 40 years of experience with exploration and mining activities and has served as the Managing Director of Brazil Potash Corp. since July 2009. Mr. Diniz started his career with GENCOR South Africa where he was involved in the evaluation and development of the Sao Bento gold mine in Brazil currently operated by Eldorado Gold Corp. He then went on to work for Xstrata (now Glencore) as Managing Director Brazil during which he discovered the world class Araguaia Nickel Deposit (over 100 million tonnes, 1.5% Ni). He then went on to set up several companies, such as Falcon Metais and HDX Consultoria, as an entrepreneur to identify, explore and develop mining opportunities in Brazil. During this time, he founded and developed several companies for the Forbes & Manhattan Inc. group in different commodities such as potash - Brazil Potash, phosphate - Aguia Metais, gold - Belo Sun Mining and oil shale - Irati Petroleo e Energia Ltda. Patrizia Ferrarese - Director - Ms. Ferrarese has more than 20 years of experience in capital markets, entrepreneurship, and strategy consulting. She is currently Vice President (VP) of Business Design and Innovation at Investment Planning Counsel (IPC), overseeing strategic growth initiatives in wealth management. Prior to joining IPC as VP of Product Management, Ms. Ferrarese held senior roles in product management and performance optimization at Tangerine Bank and Praxair, with responsibility for strategic growth across Canada. Her management consulting experience includes engagements in South America and EMEA spanning graphite, oil and gas, and potash industries focused on identifying new market opportunities. Her career includes equity and options market making and trading in North America, culminating in portfolio and commodity trading manager roles as co-founder of an investment management company. Beyond her professional career, Ms. Ferrarese mentors case competition teams at the Rotman School of Management and is a Volunteer Advisor with the Canadian Executive Service Organization (CESO). Ms. Ferrarese is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Business Administration at SDA Bocconi and holds an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Economics from York University. Blake Hylands - Director - Mr. Hylands is a Professional Geoscientist with over a decade of experience in advanced and early-stage exploration. Mr. Hylands is currently the Senior Vice President of Exploration for Troilus Gold Corp. where he has built and led a substantial technical team to the discovery of over eight million gold equivalent ounces at their development stage asset in northern Quebec. He has successfully trained and managed large teams with a focus in gold, base metals, and iron ore in Canada and internationally including South America and Europe. He has held numerous board positions for junior mining companies and has extensive professional experience in capital markets and community outreach including executive roles in corporate development and communications with First Nations. Mr. Hylands has a B.Sc in Geology from the University of Western in London Ontario. David Gower - Director - Mr. Gower has held Executive and Director positions with several junior and midsize mining companies for the past 12 years, including Chief Executive Officer and Director of Emerita Resources, Nobel Resources and President of Brazil Potash Corp. David spent over 20 years with Falconbridge (now Glencore) as Director of Global Nickel and PGM exploration and as a member of the Senior Operating Team for mining projects and operations. He led exploration teams that made brownfield discoveries at Raglan and Sudbury, Matagami, Falcondo, in the Dominican Republic, and greenfield discoveries at Araguaia in Brazil, Kabanga in Tanzania and Amazonas in Brazil. Mr. Gower is a Director of Alamos Gold. Lawrence Guy - Director - Mr. Guy is Chief Executive Officer of North 52nd Asset Management Inc. and Chair of Emerita Resources Corp. Previously, Larry was a Portfolio Manager with Aston Hill Financial Inc. Prior to Aston Hill, Mr. Guy was Chief Financial Officer and Director of Navina Asset Management Inc., a company he co-founded that was subsequently acquired by Aston Hill Financial Inc. Mr. Guy has also held senior offices at Fairway Capital Management Corp., and First Trust Portfolios Canada Inc. Mr. Guy holds a Bachelor of Arts (Economics) degree from the University of Western Ontario and is a Chartered Financial Analyst. Michael Shuh - Director - Mr. Shuh is a Managing Director, Investment Banking, at Canaccord Genuity. Mr. Shuh has over 20 years of investment banking experience and leads the Financial Institutions Group at Canaccord Genuity, Canada's largest independent investment bank. In addition to covering traditional financial institutions, Mr. Shuh has deep expertise in structured finance and special purpose acquisition corporations (SPACs). Mr. Shuh is also is the CEO and Chairman of Canaccord Genuity Growth II Corp., a publicly-listed SPAC that raised $100MM to pursue acquisitions. Mr. Shuh received an Honours, Bachelor of Business Administration from the Lazaridis School of Business & Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University and a Masters of Business Administration from the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University. Greg Duras - Chief Financial Officer - Mr. Duras is a senior executive with over 20 years of experience in the resource sector in corporate development, financial management and cost control positions. He's held the position of CFO at several publicly traded companies, including Savary Gold Corp., Nordic Gold Corp and Avion Gold Corp. Greg is a Certified General Accountant and a Certified Professional Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Administration from Lakehead University. Damian Lopez - Corporate Secretary - Mr. Lopez is a corporate securities lawyer who works as a legal consultant to various TSX and TSX Venture Exchange listed companies. He previously worked as a securities and merger & acquisitions lawyer at a large Toronto corporate legal firm, where he worked on a variety of corporate and commercial transactions. Mr. Lopez obtained a Juris Doctor from Osgoode Hall and he received a Bachelor of Commerce with a major in Economics from Rotman Commerce at the University of Toronto. Sponsorship Sponsorship of a Qualifying Transaction of a CPC is required by the TSXV unless exempt in accordance with TSXV policies. POCML6 intends to apply for an exemption from the sponsorship requirements. About POCML6 POCML6 is a CPC governed by the policies of the TSXV. POCML6's principal business is the identification and evaluation of assets or businesses with a view to complete a Qualifying Transaction. Investors are cautioned that trading in the securities of a CPC should be considered highly speculative. Additional Information Further updates, including financial information and further particulars of the Resulting Issuer, and the Offering, will be provided as the Proposed Transaction advances in accordance with the policies of the TSXV. All information contained in this press release with respect to POCML6 and Lithium Ionic was supplied for inclusion herein by the respective parties and each party and its directors and officers have relied on the other party for any information concerning the other party. For more information, please contact: From Lithium Ionic Inc. Lawrence Guy, Director p:416-930-7660 larry.guy@nextedgecapital.com From POCML 6 Inc. David D'Onofrio Director p:(416) 643-3880 ddonofrio@poweronecapital.com Cautionary Note As noted above, completion of the Proposed Transaction and the Offering are subject to receipt of all requisite regulatory, stock exchange, court or governmental approvals, authorizations and consents and approval of the shareholders of Lithium Ionic and POCML6 (as applicable). Where applicable, the Proposed Transaction and Offering cannot close until the required approvals have been obtained. There can be no assurance that the Proposed Transaction or Offering will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the continuous disclosure document containing full, true and plain disclosure regarding the Proposed Transaction, required to be filed with the securities regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the affairs of POCML6, any information released or received with respect to the Proposed Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. The trading in the securities of POCML6 on the TSXV should be considered highly speculative. Trading in the common shares of POCML6 is presently halted and is expected to remain halted pending closing of the Proposed Transaction. While halted, the common shares of POCML6 may only trade upon TSXV approval and the filing of required materials with the TSXV as contemplated by TSXV policy. Forward-Looking Information Although POCML6 believes, in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because POCML6 can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. When used in this press release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. The forward-looking statements and information in this press release include information relating to: the business plans of POCML6 and Lithium Ionic, Lithium Ionic management's expectation on the growth and performance of its acquisitions, the completion of the Proposed Transaction (including TSXV approval of the Proposed Transaction), the completion of the Consolidation, the completion of the Name Change, the board of directors and management of the Resulting Issuer upon completion of the Proposed Transaction, the completion and amount of the Offering, and the preparation of a technical report for the Project, the listing of Resulting Issuer Shares on the TSXV and the exercise of POCML6 options and warrants. Such statements and information reflect the current view of POCML6 and/or Lithium Ionic, respectively. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information. Forward-looking information in this news release are based on certain assumptions and expected future events, namely: the Corporation and Lithium Ionic's ability to continue as a going concern, continued approval of the Corporation's and Lithium Ionic's activities by the relevant governmental and/or regulatory authorities, the continued growth of Lithium Ionic, and the ability of the Corporation and Lithium Ionic to fulfil the listing requirements of the TSXV. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: the potential inability of the Corporation and Lithium Ionic to continue as a going concerns, risks associated with potential governmental and/or regulatory action with respect to the Corporation's and Lithium Ionic's operations, respectively, the potential unviability of the business plans of POCML6 and Lithium Ionic, respectively, Lithium Ionic's expectation on the growth and performance of its acquisitions may prove incorrect, failure to complete the Proposed Transaction (including the inability of the Corporation and Lithium Ionic to obtain TSXV approval of the Proposed Transaction), failure to complete the Consolidation, failure to complete the Name Change, the inability of the Corporation and Lithium Ionic to appoint members of the board of directors and management of the Resulting Issuer upon completion of the Proposed Transaction, the potential inability to complete the Offering on the terms outlined herein, and the potential inability to complete a technical report for the Project, and the inability of the Resulting Issuer to list its shares on the TSXV. Such statements and information reflect the current view of POCML6 and/or Lithium Ionic , respectively. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the expectations of POCML6 as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. POCML6 does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws. This press release is not an offer of the securities for sale in the United States. The securities have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The TSXV has in no way passed upon the merits of the Proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/113066 Kilter Finance is pleased to announce that it has entered into a binding agreement to invest $40 million into Best Practices Medical Partners LLC ("BPMP"). BPMP will use a significant amount of this investment to make a planned capital contribution to its risk retention group, Applied Medico-Legal Solutions Risk Retention Group, Inc. ("AMS RRG"), which has recently been assigned a Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and a Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "a-" (Excellent) by AM Best. The investment proceeds will be used by BPMP to increase the statutory surplus of AMS RRG, as well as to accelerate the growth of its best-in-class medical professional liability insurance business and enable it to execute upon other critical strategic initiatives. Richard Welch, Co-Founder and CEO of BPMP said, "We are excited about the investment from Kilter Finance, who have demonstrated their insurance expertise and speed of execution through this process, and believe Kilter Finance's insights and flexibility make them a perfect partner for us as we continue to grow." Dan Knipe, Chief Investment Officer of Kilter Finance, said, "We are delighted to be partnering with the BPMP management team for an exciting stage in their corporate development. We are deeply impressed by the group's success and the quality of their existing financial partners, some of whom have supported the business for well over a decade." Charles Lens, Managing Director of Kilter Finance, commented, "We have carefully structured our investment to provide the company with the flexibility it needs to grow, while satisfying the requirements of all of its key stakeholders, in particular its regulator, the ratings agencies and its management team." BMS Capital Advisory served as exclusive financial advisor to BPMP and Troutman Pepper served as legal counsel to BPMP. Debevoise Plimpton LLP served as legal counsel to Kilter Finance. ABOUT KILTER FINANCE Kilter Finance is a KKR-backed, insurance-focused specialty finance group. As of January 31, 2022, Kilter Finance has made commitments totalling approximately $200 million to four businesses in both the United Kingdom and United States of America. As a permanent capital vehicle, Kilter Finance is first and foremost a solutions-led business, providing flexible, bespoke capital solutions to its clients. It is collateral, structure, territory, currency and tenor agnostic. The Kilter Finance management team are specialists in the insurance and asset management sectors. For additional details, please visit www.kilterfinance.com. KKR, with $459 billion of assets under management as of September 30, 2021, is a leading global investment firm that manages multiple alternative asset classes, including private equity, credit and real assets, with strategic partners that manage hedge funds. For additional information about KKR Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKR's website at www.kkr.com and on Twitter @KKR_Co. ABOUT BEST PRACTICES MEDICAL PARTNERS LLC Best Practices Medical Partners LLC, the holding company for AMS RRG and affiliated subsidiaries, operates to provide superior clinical risk management services to the organizations nationwide at risk for medical liability. Domiciled in Arizona as a domestic casualty insurance company since 2003, AMS RRG provides high value medical liability insurance and enterprise risk management solutions, with unparalleled service to members located throughout the United States. AMS RRG's risk management contributes to its success by offering a unique program that engages member physicians in initiatives focused on reducing errors and risks, with key objectives of overall claims reduction and improved operating profitability. Comprised of experienced and trusted healthcare executives, medical leaders, and insurance professionals, the Company's executive offices are located in Florida, New Jersey, Texas, New York and Connecticut. AMS RRG is rated A- (Excellent) by AM Best, and A' (A Prime), Unsurpassed by Demotech. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220208005385/en/ Contacts: Charles Lens Managing Director, Business Development charles.lens@kilterfinance.com Toby Johncox, of Enness Global, a leading high net worth (HNW) mortgage broker and bridging loan broker, and Carlton Crabbe, CEO of Capital for Life, a life insurance and premium financing firm for HNW clients, offer tips about how life insurance can help you protect your hard-earned wealth for yourself and for future generations. What is life insurance and where does it fit into Inheritance Tax (IHT) planning Its important to be aware that most countries in the world charge inheritance tax or wealth tax. However, in places like the Middle East they dont have inheritance tax so this is something people from that region have to become familiar with when they own properties in places like France, Spain, Portugal and the UK. Wealth tax is incurred on the death of the owner of a property so people need to prepare for that to make sure they can pass on their property to their children or other beneficiaries. The levels of inheritance tax and how its charged varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction but life insurance can be used as a way of planning for wealth tax liability. If we focus just on UK property, prior to 2017 the usual form of wealth planning for owners of UK property who are non-domiciled, but potentially UK resident, was through an offshore trust or an offshore company. This avoided them having to pay UK inheritance tax on the property. Then in 2017, a new system was introduced called de-enveloping which, in summary, meant that properties held in offshore trusts and offshore companies became fully exposed to UK inheritance tax. So life insurance came to the fore over the past few years in particular, because of this need to cover the UK inheritance tax liability, which after all the allowances is charged at 40%. For example, someone with a 10 million pound London property held in an offshore company, or held in personal names, will be liable to an inheritance tax charge of almost 4 million pounds, which is a large chunk of money, and people should plan for how to deal with this. The general types of life insurance used for IHT planning Broadly speaking, there are two types of life insurance policy. Theres a term policy, which is fixed for a set amount of time such as 7 years, 10 years or 20 years. You pay the premiums to the insurance company every year, and that gives you or your family a benefit if you should pass away during that term. For example, you might have a 10 year term covering you for 4 million pounds, and it might be costing you, say, 130,000 pounds a year. The other version is a whole-of-life policy that insures you for the rest of your life no matter when you pass away. A term insurance policy is generally there to make sure that youre covered for a specific period of time such as the period of a mortgage although there are benefits of having a whole-of-life policy as well. For estate planning purposes, somebody should typically hold a life insurance policy inside a trust. There are complex tax rules around that. If youre UK domiciled and UK resident, there is one set of rules. But if youre a non-domiciled UK resident, there is another set of rules. Everyone should hold a life policy inside a trust because you dont want the policy paying out, lets say, 4 million pounds, and then all of a sudden your estate has to pay inheritance tax on the 4 million pounds because the policy is part of your estate as well as the property. That doesnt solve the problem. So broadly speaking, people should be holding an insurance policy in trust to make sure that the children or the beneficiaries benefit in a tax-efficient way from the policy payout. When a policy is in trust it sits outside of the bureaucratic red tape of any sort of probate so theres also peace of mind. Annual tax on enveloped dwellings (ATED) The other thing to consider is ATED, which is the annual tax on enveloped dwellings. People have the choice of paying that if they wish but, again, that can be expensive. So one of the things worth doing is a tax analysis to determine whether its cheaper to pay the ATED or to take out a life insurance policy. On a large 20 million pound plus property, for example, ATED currently is sitting at just below a quarter of a million pounds a year. In conclusion Its fair to say that there have been a number of changes to the rules around how you can hold property in the UK and how tax is charged on it so thats best left to the tax experts. The one thing you can say about life insurance is its non contentious. And its unlikely to be legislated against because it provides a lump of cash for the family or the beneficiaries to pay the tax bill. From that perspective, its a clean and straightforward solution to planning for payment of an inheritance tax bill. Elicit Plant, an Moulins-Sur-Tardoire, France-based agtech company specialized in crops water resistance and in the development of innovative phytosterol-based solutions, raised 16m in Series A financing round. The round was led by Sofinnova Partners, with participation from ECBF, Bpifrance, and historical investors, Aquiti Gestion-NACO fund and Credit-Agricole Charente Perigord Expansion. The rest of the funding came from a banking pool and public programs from Region Nouvelle Aquitaine and Bpifrance. The company intends to use the funds to accelerate commercialization of its products in France and several key markets throughout Europe, North America and South America. They will also serve to consolidate the scientific platform, expand laboratories, and diversify the portfolio of products to address additional types of crops. Founded in 2017 by Jean-Francois Dechant, President and cofounder, Elicit Plant is an agro-biotech company whose proprietary technology platform brings a breakthrough solution in the water stress resistance market, which is part of the 4 Bn global market of biostimulants. Through its laboratories located in a precision farm in the Charente region in France, and its Brazilian branch in Sao Paulo, the company has developed an innovative biostimulant using phytosterol, a molecule found in plants. In April 2021, Elicit Plant obtained market approval from French regulatory authorities, and launched the commercialization of its first BEST-a products addressing corn and soybean crops. FinSMEs 07/02/2022 Intimately, a New York-based company adaptive lingerie brand designed for disabled women, raised $1M in Seed funding. The round was led by Venrex and the British Fashion Council with participation from Steph Korey, Michelle Kennedy, Alexandra Fine, and Sarah Drinkwater. The company intends to use the funds to expand operations, products and its business reach. Led by Twenty-three-year-old founder Emma Butler, Intimately is a one-stop-shop for disability inclusive lingerie using magnets, loop grips, Velcro, and extra room in the straps. The brand targets a niche of adaptive intimates that is virtually white space, uses new technology and patents to create the complex garments, and mobilizes a community of disabled women to demand change in the fashion industry to include disabled shoppers. The new collection features inclusive lingerie and sleepwear, which is developed by 23-Year-Old founder Emma Butler. FinSMEs 07/02/2022 Florida wont tolerate any election shenanigans and will look into recent complaints of voter fraud in Miami-Dade County, where elderly Democrats are complaining their party affiliations were changed to Republican without their knowledge, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday. DeSantis said the latest election-fraud complaints are an example of how his proposed election integrity unit made of investigators and law enforcement could help crack down on such problems. Advertisement The unit will go after those types of election shenanigans, he said, because some local jurisdictions will investigate and others dont really pay a lot of attention to any election infractions. [ RELATED: Ghost candidates, dark money wouldnt be focus of DeSantis election security office ] On Friday, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava asked prosecutors to investigate claims of voter fraud after elderly residents in Little Havana said their party affiliations were changed without their knowledge. Advertisement In December, WPLG-Ch. 10 reported that an 84-year-old lifelong Democrat unknowingly signed paperwork to change her registration to Republican after canvassing staff for the Republican Party of Florida knocked on her door. More elderly residents, all over the age of 65 years old, then came forward to say they were now registered as Republicans without their knowledge, according to WPLG, which published its most recent report on the issue Thursday. Levine Cava subsequently sent an official request to the State Attorney to investigate recent reports of voter registration fraud to ensure the integrity of the elections process, a county spokeswoman wrote in an email late Friday. In Miami-Dade on Monday, DeSantis responded a reporters questions about complaints from residents of Haley Sofge Towers, a county-managed public housing complex in Little Havana. Were pursing the strongest election integrity measures, weve already done the strongest in the country, DeSantis said, which includes banning ballot harvesting and a requirement of identification when requesting an absentee ballot. Anything trying to violate election law is something that I think needs to be taken seriously, he said. Were going to try to have it all referred to the statewide prosecutor ... so it doesnt even matter which jurisdiction. Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. > And DeSantis said, It doesnt matter which group is doing it. If theyre changing to Republican and thats illicit, they need to be held accountable. Democrats have scrutinized DeSantis motives for pushing a crackdown on election crimes, accusing him of political posturing. Advertisement It seems completely politically motivated, Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, told the Orlando Sentinel in December. Governor Ron DeSantis wants to set himself up to be president in 2024 and part of that means going along with some of this extreme rhetoric around election fraud that isnt accurate. My Statement regarding Voter Fraud Allegations & activation of my Voter Protection Hotline & Task Force pic.twitter.com/F0kEOoFagw Kathy Rundle (@KathyFndzRundle) February 5, 2022 The voter fraud concerns in Miami-Dade have drawn prosecutors attention, said Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle. We are aware of recent reports relating to voter registration fraud, and we have been investigating these claims for several weeks now as we take these allegations very seriously, Fernandez Rundle said. Voting is one of our most sacred rights and privileges as citizens. We must all be diligent in protecting our individual rights as voters. Our right to vote and the voting process should always be free from interference and misconduct by others. State Sen. Annette Taddeo, D-Miami, submitted a letter last week to the Miami-Dade elections supervisor. Taddeo is also seeking the nomination for governor. It no longer appears that this was an isolated incident but a targeted effort to swindle one of our most vulnerable populations: our elders, Taddeo wrote. Numan, a UK-based digital platform for mens health, raised $20M in debt funding from Kreos Capital and closed a $60.1M Series B funding round. The round was led by White Star Capital, with participation from Novator, VNV Global, and Anthemis Exponential. The new funding coincides with launch of blood testing proposition in the UK, as Numan looks to double headcount in 2022. The capital will be used to accelerate growth and consolidate growth as a consumer health brand for men in Europe, having grown revenues by almost 3x YoY. The company also plans to use the funding to launch new therapeutic areas in mens health and expand internationally. Led by Sokratis Papafloratos, CEO & founder, Numan provides a digital health clinic for men that offers direct-to-consumer health products and pharmaceuticals. The subscription service for healthcare treatments enables members to receive medication and other products to home rather than having a pharmacy trip. All patients have ongoing access to a team of clinicians who are on hand to help and inform them to make the best decisions for their health. Numan is also regulated by the Care Quality Commission as a registered healthcare provider. FinSMEs 07/02/2022 PIKEVILLE Suddenlink has now amassed nearly $1 million in unpaid fines to the City of Pikeville for ongoing alleged violations of its franchise agreement, and the city is considering its legal options as it works on a new franchise agreement with Intermountain Cable, Inc. In July 2020, the Pikeville City Commission held a public hearing and approved a resolution which found Suddenlink to be in violation of the cable television franchise agreement that it had signed with the city. The approved resolution also provided the costs of damages ($100 or $200) that the city would require Suddenlink to pay for each violation on each day they were found in violation of the agreement. As of press time Jan. 27, Suddenlink had amassed at least $936,400 in unpaid fines to the city for these alleged violations, and its franchise agreement has expired with the city, though it has not yet been terminated. As of today, they havent bothered to cure or fix any of those violations so the fines keep on running, Pikeville City Attorney Rusty Davis said. Davis said Suddenlink has violated 14 sections of the franchise agreement. Some of these sections include: Showing proof of liability insurance to the city every year; posting a letter of credit in the sum of $15,000 to secure their performance; providing a method by which City Mayor Jimmy Carter can override the emergency notification system in case of an emergency; and maintaining that all parts of their system are in good condition. Based on the amount of complaints we get from the public, theyre not doing that, Davis said. And, they havent made any attempt to remedy the system and the holes so that people dont have problems with their TV cable. Other sections of the agreement that Suddenlink has allegedly violated include: The requirement that the company render efficient service; make repairs promptly; maintain standards and quality of service; and interrupt service only for a good cause and for the shortest time possible, among others. The franchise says that, if you call them, they have to come out and start making repairs within 24 hours, Davis said. Well, they dont do that. In fact, if you call them to see if they can come check your TV or Internet, they would probably schedule you an appointment a couple weeks out. Davis said that the city is currently weighing its options in terms of what its next move will be against the company, but they are cautious about terminating the agreement and filing legal proceedings right now. We could ask that their franchise be terminated, Davis said. Heres the problem: They cover about 80 percent of the territory in the city. What would our customers do for service if we terminated their franchise? However, Davis said, the City of Pikeville has signed a franchise agreement with Intermountain Cable, Inc., to build high-speed fiberoptic cable networks within the city, which officials believe will help customers receive high-speed broadband. Intermountain is telling us that they will offer television services over the Internet at much more competitive price than Suddenlink, Davis said. Once theres adequate cable service for our citizens, we probably will start proceedings. Representatives of Suddenlink could not be reached for comment. Pikeville City Engineer Brad Slone said that the City of Pikeville has signed a franchise agreement with Intermountain Cable, Inc., where the city will provide the fiberoptic cable and Intermountain Cable will provide the systems to make the cable work. The first phase of the project will include 30 miles of fiberoptic cable and cover about 1,500 homes in the city, which will include downtown Pikeville, Chloe Creek, Bypass Road, etc. Then, Slone said, once that phase of the project is completed, they will move onto phases two and phase three, which will expand further out into the northern and southern areas of the city. Currently, Slone said, Kentucky Power workers started putting up make-ready telephone poles around September or October, and this make-ready work must be completed before phase one of the project can begin. As of Jan. 31, Slone said, Kentucky Powers work is nearly complete. Regarding phase one of the project, Slone explained, the 30-mile coverage area will be broken into 15 different smaller areas, and coverage will be tested in those smaller areas as each one gets finished. We dont want everyone in phase one to have to wait for the whole thing to be finished before they can get coverage, Slone said. Also, Intermountain Cable has committed to tie what they charge to a national standard so theres some price protection for our residents. On January 14, 2022, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province. The two sides announced the launch of the implementation work of the comprehensive cooperation plan between the two countries. Wang Yi conveyed President Xi Jinping's greetings to President Ebrahim Raisi. Wang Yi said, in the face of complex and severe challenges over the past year, China and Iran, under the guidance of the two heads of state, took the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to strengthen solidarity and cooperation and deepen political mutual trust, making new achievements in bilateral relations and writing a new chapter in bilateral friendship. China is willing to work with Iran to fully implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen communication and coordinate actions, constantly enrich the connotations of China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership, and open a new 50-year period for the development of bilateral relations. Wang Yi said, both China and Iran boast a long history of civilization and important influence. Deepening bilateral relations accords with the traditional friendship between the two sides and the interests of the two peoples, forms an integral part of China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership, and is conducive to maintaining peace and stability in the region and the world at large. China will continue to make utmost efforts to provide vaccines for Iran to help the country defeat the pandemic. China stands ready to enhance communication with Iran to expand cooperation in various fields and push China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level. Abdollahian conveyed President Raisi's sincere greetings to President Xi Jinping. On behalf of President Raisi, Abdollahian said that Iran firmly supports China in safeguarding its core interests, firmly pursues the one-China principle, and highly appreciates and will actively participate in the Belt and Road cooperation. Abdollahian said, developing relations with China is a decision made by Iran's top leaders. Iran speaks highly of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties and the signing of the comprehensive cooperation plan between the two countries last year, and thanks China for providing strong support for Iran in its fight against the pandemic. Iran firmly commits itself to promoting Iran-China cooperation, looks forward to learning from China's development experience and advanced technology, and stands ready to be a trustworthy, long-term and reliable partner of China. Iran firmly supports China in hosting the successful Beijing Olympic Winter Games, and will actively attend the opening ceremony and participate in the competition. The two sides jointly announced the launch of the implementation work of the 25-year comprehensive cooperation plan between the two countries, and conducted in-depth discussions in this regard. Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in energy, infrastructure, production capacity, science and technology, and medical and health care, expand cooperation in agriculture, fisheries and cyber security, as well as tripartite cooperation, deepen cultural and people-to-people exchanges such as education, film and personnel training, so as to deliver more tangible cooperation outcomes. Wang Yi said, China firmly opposes illegal unilateral sanctions against Iran, political manipulation on human rights and other issues, and gross interference in the internal affairs of Iran and other regional countries. China is willing to work with Iran to continue to firmly support each other in defending respective core interests, hold high the banner of multilateralism, oppose hegemonism and power politics, uphold the basic norms governing international relations and safeguard international fairness and justice. Abdollahian appreciates China's sense of responsibility as a major country and its diplomatic wisdom in international affairs, saying that Iran is willing to jointly oppose bullying acts and unilateral sanctions, and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of both sides. The two sides exchanged views on the Iranian nuclear situation. Wang Yi said, the ins and outs of the Iranian nuclear issue are plain to see. The United States single-handedly caused the current difficult situation by unilaterally withdrawing from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), so it should bear the main responsibility and redress its mistakes as soon as possible. China will firmly support the process of negotiations on resuming compliance with the JCPOA, and continue to constructively participate in the follow-up negotiations. China hopes that all parties will overcome difficulties, work in the same direction, and adhere to pushing forward the political and diplomatic settlement process. Abdollahian said, Iran stays committed to reaching a package of and stable safeguards agreements through serious negotiations, appreciates the constructive role played by China, and stands ready to maintain close communication with China. The two sides also exchanged views on the Middle East situation and the Afghan issue, among others. The Chinese side proposes the establishment of a multilateral dialogue platform for the Persian Gulf at an early date to discuss regional countries' security concerns, starting with a political settlement to the Yemen issue, improve relations among all parties, take it into their own hands, and promote regional peace and stability. The Iranian side expressed its willingness to actively improve relations with Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf countries, and also hoped to push the issues such as the one related to Yemen into the track of political settlement as soon as possible. Every now and then, software applications will refresh their icons as a way of keeping them up to date with current trends and design languages. Google Chrome is the latest to get a new icon, as a designer at the company has revealed how the icon will be changing across various supported platforms. The last time Google changed the icon for Chrome is back in 2014, when they flattened the icon and brought it in-line with its Material Design language. This time around, the icon has been simplified with no shadows, brighter colours that have a subtle gradient, and also has updated proportions. These icons will not be the same across all platforms, however. Google will be introducing platform-specific changes to the icon. For example, on Windows 11, it will have an obviously gradated look, while on ChromeOS, the colours will be brighter without gradients. Similarly, macOS icons and iOS will look different too. These new icons have been rolled out today to the Canary version of Google Chrome. It will soon come to the stable version on different platforms, and over the next few months, it will be reflected inside the app too. Source The L.A. Dodgers The L.A. Angels Both the Dodgers and the Angels Neither one of them Vote View Results TRANSMISSION ISSUES Ok....here is the classic mistake that some people make. Let me preface by saying, I have hands down, driven the best truck I could have ever wanted. My 2016 F150 XLT 3.2L V6 has, by far, been an outstanding truck. I have never performed an ounce of repairs on this truck except typical tires, brakes and basic maintenance. However, I have also failed to perform a transmission service the entire time I have owned the truck, which was the day I bought it brand new with 2.5 miles on the odometer. Today, I have 194,203 miles on the vehicle and it still looks great. My truck "grew up" in Florida but has been to every state east of Missouri, except Maine, including the Blizzard of 2016 in the Northeast. Recently, I had a water leak in my front yard....on a 3yr old house no less (story for another time). Instead of killing my back and my buddies back, I opted to rent a Mini Excavator. I was a little concerned with pulling the excavator plus trailer, but was assured by the rental company, that I would be fine. I am in a very small community, south of Nashville, now, so, I believe they would rather err on the side of caution, than worry about the money. So, I pulled just over 10,000lbs with my bumper mounted hitch. It did VERY well. It did great with breaking and slowing down in TOW gear. Hell, the truck even ran better than I remember it driving, after I towed that much weight. Now, a few weeks later, I get that vibration like I am going over elephant farts (rumble strips). It is not a constant issue, but it's very noticeable to me. My wife is like....it just feels like your going over bumps to me.....typical wife comment before the engine seizes up. Will this require a full rebuild, rebuilt transmission or a new transmission? I am not opposed to spending the money on a brand new tranny since the truck is in very good shape. Cold a/c, hot heat, hot heated seats.....not a damn thing wrong with the truck and with the prices of vehicles today, I could buy 2 of my truck in 2016, for the price they are wanting these days.....SCREW THAT! Nice try Sparky! So, before you shred me on here....save your rude comments to yourself. And if you ask why I have so many miles on my truck....its because I have owned my own business for 26yrs and install telematics for MAJOR companies, so I am all across the eastern half of the US. Kindly keep your rude comments to yourself...I have heard and seen them before. Now, I am a Flight Nurse on a helicopter, so my mileage has been drastically reduced and I only drive 41 miles round trip! TALLAHASSEE After Democrats lost their traditional edge in voter registration in Florida, party leaders on Monday announced a $2.5 million effort to boost registration numbers before the November elections. Florida Democratic Party Chairman Manny Diaz acknowledged that his party had taken our foot off the gas after former Democratic President Barack Obama won the state in his 2012 re-election campaign. Advertisement We have let our guard down and the other side has eaten away at our margins. Thats not going to happen anymore. Were changing the paradigm, Diaz told reporters during a video conference call. Republicans recently eclipsed Democrats decades-long dominance in voter registration. As of Dec. 31, Florida had 5,123,799 people registered as Republicans, 5,080,697 as Democrats, and 3,829,372 with no party affiliation, according to the Florida Division of Elections website. Advertisement The state Democratic party, the state House and Senate Democratic caucuses and Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava will participate in the effort to sign up hundreds of thousands of Democrats before an October deadline to register to vote in the November elections. Those elections will include races for governor, a U.S. Senate seat and U.S. House and legislative seats throughout Florida. The money is coming from an organization known as Florida Alliance and will be coordinated through the Florida Democratic Party, leaders said. Democrats are fighting for the people and for policies to ensure everyday Floridians are free to achieve their own version of the American dream. The future of Florida is at stake, Senate Minority Leader Lauren Book, D-Plantation, said. Florida Alliance is a non-profit made up of a collection of organized donors that have political interest as well as quality-of-life interests, executive director Raymond Paultre said during Mondays call. While registration is one indicator of party strength, Republicans have controlled almost all of state government for the past two decades. The state also has seen a steadily increasing number of voters not registered with either party. Democrats announced the voter-registration plan midway through the 2022 legislative session, as Republican lawmakers advance measures to restrict abortion access, add new restrictions on voting and ratchet up immigration enforcement. The voter-registration push also comes after the Democrats suffered major setbacks in the 2020 elections, in which former Republican President Donald Trump easily carried the state, Democrats lost seats in the Republican-dominated Legislature and the GOP ousted two Democratic congresswomen from Miami-Dade County. This is our best offer! You get home delivery Monday through Saturday plus full digital access any time, on any device with our six-day subscription delivery membership. This membership plan includes member-only benefits like our popular ticket giveaways, all of our email newsletters and access to the daily digital replica of the printed paper. Also, you can share digital access with up to four other household members at no additional cost. Subscriptions renew automatically every 30 days. Call 240-215-8600 to cancel auto-renewal. Most subscribers are served by News-Post carriers; households in some outlying areas receive same-day delivery through the US Postal Service. If your household falls in a postal delivery area, you will be notified by our customer service team. Keep the conversation about local news & events going by joining us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Recent updates from The News-Post and also from News-Post staff members are compiled below. Gov. Ron DeSantis would not answer a question Monday about Mike Pences rebuke of Donald Trump over whether he had the power to overturn the 2020 election. Asked by NBC reporter Marc Caputo in Miami whether he agrees with Pence or Trump, DeSantis said, Im not, I... before changing the subject. Pressed further, DeSantis talked about his great working relationship with Trump. Advertisement DeSantis has not said much about the events of Jan. 6, 2021, which included the pro-Trump riot at the U.S. Capitol and Pences eventual certification of President Bidens victory, other than saying Democrats were trying to smear Trump supporters. Pence said at a Federalist Society event Friday at Disneys Yacht Club Resort, I heard this week that President Trump said I had a right to overturn the election. President Trump is wrong. I had no right to overturn the election. Advertisement Frankly, there is almost no idea more un-American than the notion that any one person could choose the American president, Pence added. DeSantis followed Pence on stage at the event an hour later but did not address the former vice presidents remarks. Later that evening, Trump responded in an email from his Save America PAC, again falsely claiming fraud and that Pence could have single-handedly overturned the vote. Trump said Pence and his unwitting advisors were an automatic conveyor belt for the Old Crow [Republican Senate leader] Mitch McConnell to get Biden elected President as quickly as possible. DeSantis non-answer came amid reports of a rift between DeSantis and Trump over their shared 2024 presidential ambitions, as well as over COVID-19 vaccines. The governor has refused to reveal whether hes received the COVID booster. Trump said he has been boosted and that political leaders who wont say whether theyve gotten the shot are gutless. Oregon will remove general mask requirements for indoor public places no later than March 31, the Oregon Health Authority announced Monday, Feb. 7. Mask requirements will be kept in place for now while COVID-19 hospitalizations crest and the states health care system is strained, according to a news release. Health officials said by late March, health scientists expect around 400 or fewer Oregonians to be hospitalized with COVID-19, which is the level of hospitalizations Oregon experienced before the omicron variant began to spread. As of last week, 1,092 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 in Oregon. Mask requirements for schools will be lifted March 31 to give time for schools to prepare for the transition. During the next few weeks, state health officials will work with Oregon Department of Education officials to revise guidance so schools can continue to operate safely and keep students in class after the mask requirements are lifted, according to the news release. Oregon Republicans responded with an it's-about-time. State Sen. Chuck Thomsen, R-Hood River, called the move "long overdue. These metrics should have been put forward months ago, Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp, R-Bend, said in a statement. On Monday, Feb. 7, OHA filed a new rule with the Oregon Secretary of State to require masks indoors in public places. The new rule replaces a temporary rule set to expire Tuesday, Feb. 8. The news release said this was the only way to extend the current temporary mask rule past its expiration date until mask rules will no longer be needed. Oregon has the third lowest cumulative COVID-19 case rate in the country and the seventh lowest COVID-19 death rate, according to OHA. State health officials said scientific research shows that masks protect people from COVID-19, and Oregons strong compliance with mask rules and high vaccination and booster rates have, at the moment, blunted the omicron surge. According to OHA, COVID-19 hospitalizations have not topped 1,178, which was the high point of the delta surge. The evidence from Oregon and around the country is clear: masks save lives by slowing the spread of COVID-19, Dean Sidelinger, health officer and state epidemiologist, said in a statement. We should see COVID-19 hospitalizations drop by the end of March because so many Oregonians are wearing masks and taking other steps to protect themselves and each other, such as getting a booster shot or vaccinating their children. At that point, it will be safer to lift mask requirements. According to OHA, over the past week, the average number of newly diagnosed cases has dropped around 40% in the state. Hospitalizations, which are a lagging indicator, have remained above 1,000 people per day. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Albany Democrat-Herald. As of Monday, Oregons seven-day total in COVID-19 hospitalizations decreased 1% with 1,072 people reported as hospitalized with COVID-19. More than nine in ten intensive care unit and acute care beds are currently occupied by a patient in Oregon hospitals, according to OHA. Current models predict hospitalizations will peak at 1,169 and then start to decline through February and March, according to the news release. State health officials said emerging from the omicron surge will still depend on Oregonians sustaining effective prevention measures in the coming weeks. Were likely to see as many cases on the way down from the omicron peak as we saw on the way up, Sidelinger said. That means we need to keep taking steps to prevent more hospitalizations and deaths. According to OHA, state health officials will consider lifting the mask requirement before March 31 if hospitalizations decrease to the projected end of March levels sooner than expected. As of now, health experts strongly recommend that high-risk individuals continue to wear masks in indoor public settings after the mask requirements are lifted. These individuals include: The unvaccinated. The immunocompromised. At a high risk of COVID-19 hospitalizations, like those with underlying health conditions and those 65 and older. Living with people at high risk. After requirements are lifted, employers and businesses can continue to have their own mask requirements for employees and customers, according to OHA. The news release said more than 100 people testified at the indoor mask rule public hearing and gave written comments. According to OHA, a large part of the testimony brought up the following concerns: Oregon being one of the few states with an indoor mask requirement. Questioning the effectiveness of masks. Mask rules infringing on personal choice. Mask rules taking decisions away from local communities. 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_ Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Gillette, WY (82718) Today Windy. Cloudy skies will become partly cloudy this afternoon. High 54F. Winds SSE at 20 to 30 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy and windy. Low near 35F. Winds SSE at 20 to 30 mph. Democrat Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick greets supporters as she arrives at an election night party, Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Cherfilus-McCormick, a health care company CEO, defeated Republican Jason Mariner in the special election to fill Florida's 20th Congressional District seat, left vacant after Democratic U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings died last April of pancreatic cancer. (Rebecca Blackwell/AP) TALLAHASSEE Critics of Gov. Ron DeSantis request for the state Supreme Court to issue a quick opinion about potentially revamping a sprawling North Florida congressional district argued Monday the ill-conceived attempt to hijack the redistricting process is improper and outside the courts jurisdiction. Meanwhile, DeSantis and supporters of his request said in briefs that they are seeking needed judicial guidance as part of the once-a-decade redistricting process. Advertisement The issue centers on what is now Congressional District 5, which stretches about 200 miles from Jacksonville to west of Tallahassee and was designed to help elect a minority candidate. It is held by Democrat Al Lawson, who is Black. DeSantis last week asked the Supreme Court for an advisory opinion about dramatically changing the design of the district to make it more compact and only in Northeast Florida. The House and Senate will ultimately have to agree on a congressional map, which then would go to DeSantis, who has veto power. Advertisement DeSantis proposed map would also vastly alter an Orlando-area district held by U.S. Rep. Val Demings, a Black Democrat, and potentially would increase the number of Republicans in Floridas congressional delegation from the current 16 to 18. The groups Common Cause Florida, Fair Districts Now and All On The Line Florida and South Florida Democratic Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick submitted briefs opposed to DeSantis request. Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. > Henry Coxe III, an attorney for Common Cause Florida and Fair Districts Now, contended the Florida Constitution does not provide the governor with the right to ask the court to advise him whether he should veto a hypothetical congressional redistricting bill. Any other result would implicate the constitutional principle of separation of powers by entangling the (Supreme) Court in the legislative drafting process, Coxe wrote. Cherfilus-McCormick, who is Black, said that beyond the potential impact to minority voters in District 5, the governors proposed map significantly diminishes the voting strength of minorities in her South Florida district. The Senate has passed a congressional map that generally would keep the current design of District 5. But DeSantis request paused the House congressional redistricting efforts. In briefs submitted Monday to the Supreme Court, Attorney General Ashley Moody, Republican legislative leaders and Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry backed DeSantis request for an advisory opinion. Curry argued that such an opinion would let voters in his city know the district in which they vote and the candidates for whom they vote will withstand constitutional scrutiny. Advertisement It was not immediately clear when the court will rule on DeSantis request for an advisory opinion. MIAMI Sometime in early December, Juan A. Salazar, a 77-year-old Dominican living in Little Havana, got out of the elevator of his building tower in his electric wheelchair to get some fresh air in the parking lot out front, as he usually does. But he recalls that on that particular day, a group of three canvassers wearing red caps and T-shirts that said Republican Party of Florida approached him. Salazar said the three workers asked him if he wanted to fill out an application to get his new voter ID card. Salazar has been registered to vote in Miami-Dade County since 1985 and as a Democrat for even longer, since at least the 70s, when he was still living in New Jersey. Advertisement So he told the canvassers there was no need he knew he got one automatically in the mail before every general election. But the canvassers insisted. You will get it faster, Salazar recalled them saying. Without signing or filling out any form, Salazar said he gave them his name and they pulled up his address. Several weeks later, he received his new voter ID card, now identifying him as a member of the Republican Party of Florida. Advertisement This is a system to eliminate voters so that voters cant participate in the primary, Salazar said in an interview with the Miami Herald in front of Haley Sofge Towers, the public housing building hes lived in for the past five years. It concerns me about whats going to happen in these next elections ... This is a scam. Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. > Salazars experience with the canvassers, which was first reported by WPLG Local 10 News, is not unique. He is one of several Miami residents, many of whom are Hispanic and over 60 years old, who are now coming forward with their own claims about having their party affiliation changed from Democrat to Republican after interacting with canvassers. On Friday, Miami-Dade Mayor Levine Cava requested that State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle investigate the complaints from residents of Haley Sofge Towers, a county-managed public housing complex in Little Havana. She joined Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, both running for governor against Gov. Ron DeSantis, in calling for an investigation. Helen Aguirre Ferre, the executive director of the Republican Party of Florida, pushed back against the claims from voters like Salazar, saying the partys voter registration program includes reviewing any report of concern about their efforts. The RPOF conducts its voter registration in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. Individuals are free to make any decision related to party affiliation, which includes choosing not to register with a political party, said Aguirre Ferre. Overwhelmingly, Floridians are choosing to register to the Republican Party on their own and this trend shows no sign of subsiding. Aguirre Ferre also noted that, contrary to what Salazar said, canvassers who are registering voters for the Florida GOP dont wear red shirts that say Republican Party of Florida, based on my understanding. Salazar said he was interviewed on Friday by an investigator from Fernandez-Rundles office. Its like when they put up a false candidate who wont win but steals votes from a candidate, said Salazar, who lives in Florida Senate District 37, a state district that has been at the center of a sprawling sham candidate investigation. Its the same thing. Dublin, Feb. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Rockets and Missiles Market by Speed (Subsonic, Supersonic, Hypersonic), Product, Propulsion Type (Solid, Liquid, Hybrid Propulsion, Ramjet, Turbojet and Scramjet), Guidance Mechanism (Guided and Unguided), Launch Platform & Region - Forecast to 2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global Rockets and Missiles market size is projected to grow from USD 58.3 billion in 2021 to USD 73.8 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 4.8% from 2021 to 2026. The Rockets and Missiles market is expected to witness growth due to a consistent increase in defense budget across the globe and the need for advanced Rockets and Missiles to counter the modern combat around the country's border. Furthermore, the increasing number of conflicts and high defense spending are some of the major factors driving the market globally. Governments of various countries, such as the US, China, India, and Russia, are spending heavily on modernizing their military resources. Thus, a large number of weapon manufacturers are shifting their focus towards developing precision-guided munitions. However, issues related to the integration of missiles pose a challenge for Rockets and Missiles market growth. Northrop Grumman Corporation (US), Lockheed Martin Corporation (US), BAE Systems (UK), and Thales Group (France) are some of the leading players operating in the Rockets and Missiles market. These companies secure contracts from governments of different countries to carry out various Rockets and Missiles programs. The missile segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR rate for the rockets and missiles market during the forecast period A missile plays an important role in rockets and missiles majorly for land, air, and marine platforms. The missile segment has been further sub-segmented further segmented into cruise missiles and ballistic missiles. The missile segment is projected to reach USD 57.1 billion by 2026. In the Asia Pacific region, this segment is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The hypersonic segment is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period Based on speed, the rockets and missiles market has been segmented into subsonic, supersonic, and hypersonic. Hypersonic rockets and missiles are equipped with a propulsion system to enable them to attain a speed of Mach 5 or higher, which is five times faster than the speed of sound. Hypersonic precision-guided weapons are difficult to counter due to their high speed. Currently, these weapons are in a development phase and are expected to be operational in the near future. The solid propulsion segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR rate for the rockets and missiles market during the forecast period Based on propulsion type, the rockets and missiles market has been segmented into Solid, Liquid, Hybrid Propulsion, Ramjet, Turbojet and Scramjet. Solid propulsion uses solid propellants to boost missiles and rockets. Solid propellants consist of a homogenous mixture of various composites, which are easier to store and handle. These systems cost less and offer a large amount of thrust to the missiles. High-performance propellants and modified grains enhance the capability of solid propulsion. By launch mode, the surface-to-surface segment is estimated to account for the largest share (21) of the rockets and missiles market in 2021 Based on launch mode, the rockets and missiles market has been segmented into surface to surface, surface to air, air to air, air to surface, and subsea to surface. Surface to surface rockets and missiles are fired from the ground or the sea. They can be launched from hand-held or vehicle-mounted devices or fixed installations. These missiles used in land warfare operations are designed to hit ground or sea targets. Hence, they are also known as ground to ground rockets and missiles. The North American market is projected to contribute the largest share from 2021 to 2026 North America is projected to be the largest regional share of rockets and missiles market during the forecast period. Major companies such as Northrop Grumman Corporation, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Technologies, and General Dynamics Corporation are based in the US. These players continuously invest in the R&D of new and advanced technology used in the missile defense system. Key Topics Covered: 1 Introduction 2 Research Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Premium Insights 4.1 Attractive Opportunities in Rockets and Missiles Market 4.2 Rockets and Missiles Market, by Propulsion Type 4.3 Rockets and Missiles Market, by Product 4.4 Rockets and Missiles Market, by Launch Mode 4.5 Rockets and Missiles Market, by Country 5 Market Overview 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Market Dynamics 5.2.1 Drivers 5.2.1.1 Defense Programs to Secure Nations Against Various Threats 5.2.1.2 Increasing Defense Expenditure of Emerging Economies 5.2.1.3 Heavy Investments in Indigenous Missile Defense Systems 5.2.1.4 Increasing Need for Missile Detection Systems 5.2.1.5 Changing Nature of Warfare 5.2.2 Restraints 5.2.2.1 Stringent Regulations for Arms Transfer 5.2.2.2 High Complexity and Requirement of Periodic Maintenance of Rockets and Missiles 5.2.2.3 High Development Cost of Missile Systems 5.2.3 Opportunities 5.2.3.1 Miniaturization of Missiles and Their Components 5.2.3.2 Rising Adoption of Ai in Military Operations 5.2.3.2.1 Ai in Missile Defense Testing and Operations 5.2.3.3 Development of New-Generation Air and Missile Defense Systems 5.2.3.4 Development of Hybrid Rockets and Missiles 5.2.4 Challenges 5.2.4.1 Integration Issues of Larger Rockets and Missiles 5.3 Covid-19 Impact on Rockets and Missiles Market 5.4 Ranges and Scenarios 5.5 Value Chain Analysis of Rockets and Missiles Market 5.6 Trends/Disruption Impacting Customer Business 5.6.1 Revenue Shift and New Revenue Pockets for Rockets and Missiles Manufacturers 5.7 Rockets and Missiles Market Ecosystem 5.7.1 Prominent Companies 5.7.2 Private and Small Enterprises 5.7.3 Ecosystem 5.7.4 Demand-Side Impacts 5.7.4.1 Key Developments from January 2020 to November 5.7.5 Supply-Side Impact 5.7.5.1 Key Developments from January 2021 to December 5.8 Pricing Analysis 5.9 Porter'S Five Forces Analysis 5.9.1 Threat of New Entrants 5.9.2 Threat of Substitutes 5.9.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers 5.9.4 Bargaining Power of Buyers 5.9.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry 5.10 Regulatory Landscape 5.10.1 North America 5.10.2 Europe 5.10.3 Asia-Pacific 6 Industry Trends 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Technology Analysis 6.2.1 Next Generation Interceptor (Ngi) Program 6.2.2 Hypersonic Defense Systems 6.2.3 Development of Defense Technology 6.2.4 Anti-Satellite Missiles & Weapons 6.2.5 Smart E-Bombs & Hypersonic Munition 6.2.6 Advanced Tactical Data Links 6.2.7 Next-Generation Target Locking Technology 6.2.8 Infrared Technology 6.2.9 Fiber-Optic Guidance Systems 6.2.10 Network-Enabled Weapons 6.2.11 Hybrid Guidance Systems 6.2.12 Semi-Active Laser (Sal) Guidance Systems 6.2.13 Automatic Target Recognition (Atr) 6.3 Use Case Analysis 6.3.1 Use Case: Missile 6.4 Impact of Megatrends 6.4.1 Next-Generation Missile Seekers 6.4.2 Active Phased Array Radar (Apar) 6.5 Innovations and Patent Registrations 7 Rockets and Missiles Market, by Product 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Missiles 7.2.1 Cruise Missiles 7.2.1.1 Short Range (<300 Km) 7.2.1.2 Medium Range (300-1000 Km) 7.2.1.3 Long Range (>1000 Km) 7.2.2 Ballistic Missiles 7.2.2.1 Short Range Ballistic Missiles (Srbm) 7.2.2.2 Medium Range Ballistic Missiles (Mrbm) 7.2.2.3 Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles (Irbm) 7.2.2.4 Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (Icbm) 7.3 Rockets 7.3.1 Increasing Effectiveness of Overall Combat Platform Drives Market 7.3.2 Artillery Rockets 7.3.2.1 Shoulder-Fired Rockets 7.3.3 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (Mlrs) 7.4 Torpedoes 7.4.1 Modern and Advanced Submarine Torpedoes Influence Market Demand 8 Rockets and Missiles Market, by Speed 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Subsonic 8.2.1 Subsonic Speed Munitions Play Key Role in Modern Warfare 8.3 Supersonic 8.3.1 Increased Demand and Integration for Supersonic Munitions Due to High Capabilities 8.4 Hypersonic 8.4.1 Highly Advanced Hypersonic Weapons is Expected to Boost the Market 9 Rockets and Missiles Market, by Propulsion Type 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Solid Propulsion 9.2.1 Lower Operational Cost and High Thrust Drives Demand for Solid Propulsion 9.3 Liquid Propulsion 9.3.1 Prithvi, Scud, Rsm - Widley Procured Missiles That Use Liquid Propulsion 9.4 Hybrid Propulsion 9.4.1 Safer Attributes of Hybrid Propulsion Disrupt Market Trends 9.5 Ramjet 9.5.1 Requirement of High Speed for Rockets and Missiles Increases Demand for Ramjet Engines 9.6 Turbojet 9.6.1 Supersonic Speed of Aircraft and Missiles Leads to More Demand for Turbojet Engines 9.7 Scramjet 9.7.1 Scramjet to Provide and Maintain Supersonic and Hypersonic Speed Throughout the Cruise Phase 10 Rockets and Missiles Market, by Launch Mode 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Surface to Surface 10.2.1 Versatility in Launching Drives Surface to Surface Segment 10.3 Surface to Air 10.3.1 Majority of Anti-Aircraft Systems for Anti-Air Warfare Operations Increases Demand for Surface to Air Rockets and Missiles 10.4 Air to Air 10.4.1 Dominance in Dogfight and Aerial Combat Fuels Demand for Air to Air Rockets and Missiles 10.5 Air to Surface 10.5.1 Air to Surface Rockets and Missiles Market Driven by Need for Overall Dominance of Space 10.6 Subsea to Surface 10.6.1 Fortification Efforts at Ports for Better Security Boost Subsea to Surface Rocket and Missile Demand 11 Rockets and Missiles Market, by Guidance Mechanism 11.1 Introduction 11.2 Guided 11.2.1 Development of Long-Range Guided Missiles and Rockets to Lead Market 11.3 Unguided 11.3.1 Modernization and Technological Advancements in Unguided Rockets to Boost Demand 12 Regional Analysis 13 Competitive Landscape 13.1 Introduction 13.2 Market Share Analysis of Leading Players, 13.3 Market Share Analysis, 13.4 Competitive Evaluation Quadrant 13.4.1 Star 13.4.2 Pervasive 13.4.3 Emerging Leaders 13.4.4 Participants 13.5 Competitive Scenario 13.5.1 New Product Launches 13.5.2 Deals 14 Company Profiles 14.1 Northrop Grumman Corporation 14.2 Lockheed Martin Corporation 14.3 Raytheon Technologies Corporation 14.4 the Boeing Company 14.5 General Dynamics Corporation 14.6 Bae Systems 14.7 Israel Aerospace Industries 14.8 Thales 14.9 Lig Nex1 Co. Ltd. 14.10 Bharat Dynamics Limited 14.11 Mbda 14.12 Elbit Systems 14.13 Kongsberg 14.14 Saab Ab 14.15 Diehl Defence 14.16 Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. 14.17 Hanwha Defense 14.18 General Atomics 14.19 Kbp Instruments Design Bureau 14.20 Denel Dynamics 14.21 Almaz-Antey 14.22 Roketsan 14.23 Spetstechnoexport (Ste) 14.24 Frontier Electronic Systems Corp. 14.25 Ariane Group 15 Appendix For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/f841oo Attachment Sydney, Feb. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of BuddeComm report outlines the latest developments and key trends in the telecoms markets. - https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Liberia-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW While this fixed-line network was neither efficient nor accessible to much of the population, the war rendered it virtually inoperable. As a result, Liberia became a country in which mobile networks essentially provide the only voice and data services available outside Monrovia. The fixed network was a monopoly of Libtelco (rebranded as LTC Mobile in early 2022), a company which became a by-word for mismanagement. The government also lost interest in the company, though from 2020 there have been attempts to revitalise the companys prospects by enabling it to operate mobile services in competition with MTN Liberia and Orange Liberia. Developing fixed-line infrastructure is largely in the hands of private enterprise, along with support from USAID and other agencies. In July 2017 Google started a project with ISPs aimed at improving access to internet services and enhancing IP-delivered services in the health, education, and agriculture sectors. Google is being supported by its partner CSquared, which built a fibre network covering parts of Monrovia and connecting 51 government institutions. Ithas also designed small-scale fibre metro networks in Kampala and Accra. CSquared in November 2021 was awarded a licence tobuild an open-access fibre network across Liberia, which will be available to MNOs and ISPs on a wholesale basis. Key developments: National carrier Libtelco is rebranded as LTC Mobile ahead of its launch of GSM services; CSquared is approved to deploy fibre infrastructure covering all of Liberia; Regulator tightens SIM card registration scheme; MNOs again investigated for poor QoS; Global Voice Group (GVG) delivers International Gateway Management System; Regulator to receive portion of operator revenue under new payment regime; Report update includes telcos operating data to Q3 2021, updated Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of the pandemic on the telecoms sector, recent market developments. Companies mentioned in this report: LTC Mobile (Liberia Telecommunications Corporation, Libtelco), MTN Liberia (LoneStar), Cellcom, Comium (Novafone), LiberCell, Globacom, West Africa Telecom (WAT) Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Liberia-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW Dublin, Feb. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "United States Generic Drugs Market, By Type (Small Molecule Generics v/s Biosimilars), By Application, By Mode of Drug Delivery, By Form, By Source, By Distribution Channel, By Region, Competition, Forecast and Opportunity, 2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The United States Generic Drugs Market was valued USD70.78 billion in 2020 and is forecast to grow at CAGR of 9.43% during the forecast period and may achieve the market value of USD126.74 billion by the year 2026. Factors like cost effective nature of generic drugs and increasing demand from the developing economies are majorly responsible for this futuristic growth estimation of the United States Generic Drugs Market in the upcoming five years. Generic drugs do not require extensive research and development as in case of prescription drugs and patented drugs. Market players and research institutes invest heavily on patent pharmaceuticals. Also, FDA approvals for the generic drugs are not required since generic drugs contain same composition as that of previously patented drug and thus supports the growth of the United States Generic Drugs Market in the next five years. United States healthcare industry, in terms of the generic drugs, has grown from registering 80% growth in 2020 from previous growth of 20% in 2015. Increased export of generic drugs to the developing economies like Kenya, India, etc. is also substantiating the growth of the United States Generic Drugs Market in the future five years. The United States Generic Drugs Market is segmented based on type, mode of drug delivery, form, source of manufacturing, application, company and regional distribution. Based on type, the market can be split into small molecule generics and biosimilars. Small molecule generics are anticipated to register largest revenue shares of the market and dominate the market segment in the upcoming five years on the account of its simpler and easier manufacturing processes. Generic drug manufacturers during the production of small molecule generics are required to prove that the final product contains identical chemical compounds as that of the patent drug. With similar pharmacokinetic functions and properties, the small molecule generic is accepted. Moreover, the demand for the cost-effective generic drugs is anticipated to further support the growth of the United States Generic Drugs Market in the future five years. Based on application, the market can be fragmented into cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, neurology, oncology, infectious diseases, and others. Cardiovascular diseases are expected to dominate the market segment while registering largest revenue shares of the market in the upcoming five years on the account of increasing instances of cardiovascular diseases in the United States. Moreover, increased demand for the treatment and prolonged medication protocols drives the growth of the sub-segment cardiovascular diseases meanwhile supporting the growth of the Untied States generic drugs market in the next five years. Increasing researches and pharmaceutical developments for the oncology disease is anticipated to drive the growth of the oncology sub-segment and drive the growth of the United States Generic Drugs Market in the future five years. Major market players in the United States that lead the market growth of generic drugs include: Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. Pfizer Inc Sandoz US Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc. Aurobindo Pharma USA, Inc. Abbott Laboratories Inc. Eli Lilly and Company Sun Pharma Inc. Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Zydus Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. Report Scope: Years considered for this report: Historical Years: 2016-2019 Base Year: 2020 Estimated Year: 2021 Forecast Period: 2022-2026 United States Generic Drugs Market, By Type: Small Molecule Generic Biosimilars United States Generic Drugs Market, By Application: Cardiovascular Diseases Diabetes Neurology Oncology Infectious Diseases Others United States Generic Drugs Market, By Mode of Drug Delivery: Oral Parenteral Topical Others United States Generic Drugs Market, By Form: Tablet Capsule Injection Others United States Generic Drugs, By Source: In House Manufacturing Contract Manufacturing Organizations United States Generic Drugs Market, By Distributions Channels: Retail Pharmacies Online Pharmacies Hospital Pharmacies Others For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/3b41r9 Attachment Dublin, Feb. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Body Dryer market (2021-2026) by Distribution Channel, Type, End Users, Application and Geography , Competitive Analysis and the Impact of Covid-19 with Ansoff Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Global Body Dryer market is estimated to be USD 4.65 Bn in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 5.96 Bn by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 5.1%. Market Dynamics Body dryers are the type of air dryers that eliminate the need for bath towels by using the steam system. Body dryers blow hot or cold air at high speeds, ranging from 60-100 km/h, onto the body and are being developed to limit the use of bath towels. The factors such as growing awareness concerning personal hygiene, rising standard of living, and increasing consumer spending, particularly on premium hygiene products, are the significant factors projected to propel the growth of the Body Dryer market. Also, a body dryer enhances convenience, especially for disabled people, making the appliance necessary for sanitation. Personal hygiene products are increasingly favored, thereby boosting the growth of the body dryers market. However, the availability of several substitutes such as wipes and disposable towels and the high cost of the product limits its adoption. It hampers the growth of the body dryer market. The Global Body Dryer market is segmented by Distribution Channel, Type, End Users, Application & Geography. Company Profiles Some of the companies covered in this report are Avant Innovations, Dolphy India Private Limited, Full Body Dryer LLC, Haystack Dryers, Kingkraft, Orchids International, Regal Care Shower Trays Ltd., Tornado Body Dryer, LLC, Valiryo, and AKW Medi-Care Ltd. Competitive Quadrant The report includes the Competitive Quadrant, a proprietary tool to analyze and evaluate the position of companies based on their Industry Position score and Market Performance score. The tool uses various factors for categorizing the players into four categories. Some of these factors considered for analysis are financial performance over the last 3 years, growth strategies, innovation score, new product launches, investments, growth in market share, etc. Why buy this report? The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the Global Body Dryer Market. The report includes in-depth qualitative analysis, verifiable data from authentic sources, and projections about market size. The projections are calculated using proven research methodologies. The report has been compiled through extensive primary and secondary research. The primary research is done through interviews, surveys, and observation of renowned personnel in the industry. The report includes an in-depth market analysis using Porter's 5 force model and the Ansoff Matrix. The impact of Covid-19 on the market is also featured in the report. The report also includes the regulatory scenario in the industry, which will help you make a well-informed decision. The report discusses major regulatory bodies and major rules and regulations imposed on this sector across various geographies. The report also contains the competitive analysis using Positioning Quadrants, the analyst's Proprietary competitive positioning tool. Key Topics Covered: 1 Report Description 2 Research Methodology 3 Executive Summary 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Market Size and Segmentation 3.3 Market Outlook 4 Market Influencers 4.1 Drivers 4.1.1 Rising Awareness Regarding Personal Hygiene 4.1.2 Rapid Rise in Urbanization 4.1.3 Rising Standard of Living and Increasing Consumer Spending on Convenience Products 4.2 Restraints 4.2.1 Availability of Several Substitutes Such as Wipes and Disposable Towels 4.2.2 High Costs of Body Dryer 4.3 Opportunities 4.3.1 Technological Advancement and the Rising Popularity of Body Dryers 4.4 Challenges 4.4.1 Higher Cost of the Product 4.4.2 High Cost Associated with Product Installation and Maintenance 5 Market Analysis 5.1 Regulatory Scenario 5.2 Porter's Five Forces Analysis 5.3 Impact of COVID-19 5.4 Ansoff Matrix Analysis 6 Global Body Dryer Market, By Distribution Channel 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Online Channel 6.3 Offline Channel 7 Global Body Dryer Market, By Type 7.1 Introduction 7.2 On Floor 7.3 Wall-mounted 8 Global Body Dryer Market, By End Users 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Commercial 8.3 Residential 9 Global Body Dryer Market, By Application 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Hotels 9.3 Spas 9.4 Gyms 9.5 Home 9.6 Hospitals 10 Global Body Dryer Market, By Geography 11 Competitive Landscape 11.1 IGR Competitive Quadrant 11.2 Market Share Analysis 11.3 Strategic Initiatives 11.3.1 M&A and Investments 11.3.2 Partnerships and Collaborations 11.3.3 Product Developments and Improvements 12 Company Profiles 12.1 Avant Innovations 12.2 Dolphy India Private Limited 12.3 Full Body Dryer LLC 12.4 Haystack Dryers 12.5 Indiegogo, Inc. 12.6 Kingkraft Ltd. 12.7 Orchids International 12.8 Regal Care Shower Trays Ltd. 12.9 Tornado Body Dryer, LLC 12.10 Valiryo 12.11 AKW Medi-Care Ltd. 13 Appendix For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/nntigw Attachment Dublin, Feb. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Security Market (2021-2026) by Type, Function, Application, End-User, & Geography, Competitive Analysis and the Impact of Covid-19 with Ansoff Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Global Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Security Market is estimated to be USD 11.75 Bn in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 16.59 Bn by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 7.14%. Market Dynamics CBRN security refers to a safety & security solution, equipment, and technology that deals with chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats. These threats are majorly intended to detriment human health and public properties. Majority of the governments have special reserve forces to tackle the situation of CBRN threats. An increasing rate of terrorism activities, rapid technological development of weapons & ammunition, and increasing government initiatives towards CBRN security are driving factors for the market's growth. However, high costs associated with CBRN security services & products, fluctuating defense budgets for security systems, and lack of resources may create hindrances in the market's growth. The Global Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Security Market is segmented by Type, Function, Application, End-User, & Geography. Company Profiles Some of the companies covered in this report are Argon Electronics (UK) Ltd., Avon Protection PLC., AirBoss of America Corp. Blucher GMBH, Bruker Corporation, HDT Global, Thales Group, Karcher Futuretech GmbH, General Dynamics Corporation, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., etc. Countries Studied America (Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, United States, Rest of Americas) Europe (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Rest of Europe) Middle East and Africa (Egypt, Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Rest of M.E.A.) Asia-Pacific (Australia, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Taiwan, Rest of Asia-Pacific) Competitive Quadrant The report includes the Competitive Quadrant, a proprietary tool to analyze and evaluate the position of companies based on their Industry Position score and Market Performance score. The tool uses various factors for categorizing the players into four categories. Some of these factors considered for analysis are financial performance over the last 3 years, growth strategies, innovation score, new product launches, investments, growth in market share, etc. Why buy this report? The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the Global Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Security Market. The report includes in-depth qualitative analysis, verifiable data from authentic sources, and projections about market size. The projections are calculated using proven research methodologies. The report has been compiled through extensive primary and secondary research. The primary research is done through interviews, surveys, and observation of renowned personnel in the industry. The report includes an in-depth market analysis using Porter's 5 forces model and the Ansoff Matrix. In addition, the impact of Covid-19 on the market is also featured in the report. The report also includes the regulatory scenario in the industry, which will help you make a well-informed decision. The report discusses major regulatory bodies and major rules and regulations imposed on this sector across various geographies. The report also contains the competitive analysis using Positioning Quadrants, the analyst's Proprietary competitive positioning tool. Key Topics Covered: 1 Report Description 2 Research Methodology 3 Executive Summary 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Market Size and Segmentation 3.3 Market Outlook 4 Market Influencers 4.1 Drivers 4.1.1 Increasing Rate of Terrorism Activities 4.1.2 Rapid Technological Development of Weapons & Ammunition 4.1.3 Increasing Government Initiatives Towards CBRN Security 4.2 Restraints 4.2.1 High Costs Associated with CBRN Security Services & Products 4.2.2 Fluctuating Defense Budgets for Security Systems 4.3 Opportunities 4.3.1 Rising Agreements and Contracts with Law Enforcement and Military Agencies 4.3.2 Rapid Development and Fusion of Several Technologies to Transform CBRN Security 4.4 Challenges 4.4.1 Security and Privacy Concerns 4.4.2 Lack of Resources 5 Market Analysis 5.1 Regulatory Scenario 5.2 Porter's Five Forces Analysis 5.3 Impact of COVID-19 5.4 Ansoff Matrix Analysis 6 Global Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Security Market, By Type 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Chemical Security 6.3 Nuclear Security 6.4 Biological Security 6.5 Radiological Security 7 Global Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Security Market, By Function 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Decontamination 7.3 Protection 7.4 Detection 7.5 Simulation 8 Global Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Security Market, By Application 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Military 8.3 Law Enforcement 9 Global Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Security Market, By End User 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Agriculture & Forestry 9.3 Civil Engineering 9.4 Energy & Utilities 9.5 Government 9.6 Media & Entertainment 9.7 Military & Defense 9.8 Others 10 Global Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Security Market, By Geography 11 Competitive Landscape 11.1 I.G.R. Competitive Quadrant 11.2 Market Share Analysis 11.3 Strategic Initiatives 11.3.1 M&A and Investments 11.3.2 Partnerships and Collaborations 11.3.3 Product Developments and Improvements 12 Company Profiles 12.1 Argon Electronics (UK) Ltd. 12.2 Avon Protection PLC. 12.3 AirBoss of America Corp. 12.4 BioFire Defense, LLC 12.5 Blucher GMBH 12.6 Bruker Corporation 12.7 FLIR Systems, Inc. 12.8 HDT Global 12.9 MSA Safety Incorporated 12.10 Thales Group 12.11 Karcher Futuretech GmbH 12.12 General Dynamics Corporation 12.13 Leidos Holdings, Inc. 12.14 Northrop Grumman Corporation 12.15 Smiths Detection 12.16 Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. 12.17 Survitec Group 12.18 Tingley Rubber Corporation 12.19 Dharma Magna 12.20 Honeywell Safety 13 Appendix For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/79e47p Attachment LOS ANGELES, Feb. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles, a Japanese cultural destination in the heart of Hollywood, announces the reopening of its acclaimed 35-seat restaurant space with the A5 Wagyu Experience, the first in a series of educational, limited-time culinary experiences. Debuting on Wednesday, February 23, the dinner series will allow diners to dive into the intricacies of Japanese wagyu beef, including its farming practices and lesser-known cuts. Reservations are now available for booking here . The five-course dinners, taking place on Wednesday evenings from February through April, will showcase Japanese A5 Wagyu in a side-by-side comparison with American Wagyu. Throughout the series, JAPAN HOUSE will host rotating guest chefs utilizing a range of wagyu preparations from raw to grilled, each designed to highlight the best qualities of Japanese wagyu. Diners will learn what sets Japanese wagyu apart from others, and explore and savor the essence of the highest grade of wagyu and other premium Japanese ingredients, all served in an intimate setting with sweeping views of the city. Menus will change based on seasonal ingredients. The menu for the first A5 Wagyu Experience features: Gyu-Tataki (side-by-side comparison of lightly seared Japanese A5 Wagyu and American Wagyu beef); Shishito Pepper Salad; Wagyu Shabu Shabu (thinly sliced cuts of Miyazaki A5 Wagyu and American Wagyu beef in a hot pot); Zosui (Japanese rice soup); seasonal dessert. Subsequent dinner experiences are scheduled for March 9, March 16, March 23, March 30, and April 6 (dates subject to change as we adhere to COVID-19 safety guidelines). The A5 Wagyu Experience costs $125.00 per person inclusive of tax and service charge (additional $50.00 fee for premium sake or Japanese whiskey pairing). Reservations must be booked online in advance via Tock . The experience lasts approximately two hours and the seating commences at 6:30 p.m. Guests are invited to join any time after 6:00 p.m. for a welcome drink before service. An optional sake and Japanese whisky pairing will be available for purchase on site. No reservations accepted over the phone; group reservations must be made together. For additional questions or inquiries on the A5 Wagyu Experience, please visit this page. While at JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles, guests are welcome to pair their dinner outing with a visit to the Gallery to view the latest exhibition. Check the exhibition page for the latest information. Gallery hours are 11:00 AM 6:00 PM (PST). For more information, visit the JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles website and social channels: Facebook , Instagram , Twitter , YouTube and LinkedIn . ABOUT JAPAN HOUSE JAPAN HOUSE is an innovative, worldwide project with three hubs London, Los Angeles and Sao Paulo conceived by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. It seeks to nurture a deeper understanding and appreciation of Japan in the international community. Occupying two floors at Hollywood & Highland, JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles offers a place of new discovery that transcends physical and conceptual boundaries creating experiences that reflect the best of Japan through its spaces and diverse programs. Location: 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028 Website: www.japanhousela.com Media Contacts: Nerissa Silao | 310-874-9230 | nerissas@ca.rr.com Lisa Nakanouchi | 323-904-9298 | lnakanouchi@japanhousela.com Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d6852911-4348-4bd4-a543-e8ac2e096a4f https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ef061500-b08d-426c-b837-5638bd2747ec WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Feb. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Comvest Partners (Comvest), an operationally-focused middle-market private investment firm, is pleased to announce that it has become a signatory to the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). The PRI is the leading global network of investment managers, asset owners and service providers committed to investing responsibly by incorporating Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors into their investment practices and business operations. We are proud to further demonstrate our commitment to corporate responsibility as a signatory to the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment, said Michael Falk, founder and CEO of Comvest. Comvest has long embraced the importance of good corporate citizenship throughout our firm and across our direct lending and private equity practices. Environmental, social and governance considerations play a role in every investment decision we make. Our pledge to the PRI affirms and solidifies Comvests dedication to prioritizing ESG issues in all of our activities. Mr. Falk continued: At Comvest, we know that every decision creates an ESG impact whether thats to the environment, to workplace conditions, to community relationships, or to company oversight. Thats why, years ago, Comvest thoughtfully developed responsible investment standards to help us assess ESG risks, align our investment decisions with the values of our limited partners and employees, create long-term shareholder value, and ensure we always consider the broader impact of our activities not only on our firm, but on our industry, our local community, and society overall. As a signatory to the PRI, we will continue to strive to be a leading force for good as an employer, investment manager, business partner, and corporate citizen. As a signatory, Comvest pledges to incorporate the PRIs six Principles for Responsible Investment into its investment, due diligence and portfolio management practices to create a more sustainable environment for global financial and investment activities. We are very pleased to welcome Comvest Partners as a PRI signatory, said David Atkin, CEO of the PRI. Through their heightened focus on ESG factors, investment management firms like Comvest play an important leadership role in advancing sustainable investment practices. We look forward to working with the Comvest team in the months and years ahead. About Comvest Partners: Comvest Partners is a private investment firm providing equity and debt capital to middle-market companies across the U.S. Since its founding in 2000, Comvest Partners has invested over $7.1 billion. Today, Comvest Partners has approximately $6.5 billion of assets under management. Through its extensive capital resources and broad network of industry relationships, Comvest Partners offers companies financial sponsorship, critical strategic and operational support, and business development assistance. For more information, please visit www.comvest.com. About the Principles for Responsible Investment: The Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) is the worlds leading proponent of responsible investment. Supported by the United Nations, it works to understand the investment implications of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors and to support its international network of investor signatories in incorporating these factors into their investment and ownership decisions. The PRI acts in the long-term interests of its signatories, of the financial markets and economies in which they operate and ultimately of the environment and society as a whole. Launched in New York in 2006, the PRI has grown to more than 4,600 signatories, managing over $121 trillion AUM. Visit www.unpri.org. For more information, please contact: Robert OSullivan, Managing Partner, Comvest Partners Robert@Comvest.com Michael Altschuler, General Counsel, Comvest Partners M.Altschuler@comvest.com Chicago, Feb. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Saudi Arabia construction equipment market by volume is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 5.85% during the period 20222028. Key Highlights Offered in the Report: The construction equipment market in Saudi Arabia by revenue is estimated to reach USD 1,889.5 million by 2028. In 2020, the construction industry was adversely impacted as major infrastructure projects were halted to curb COVID-19 outbreak. This primarily led to a decline of 22.1% in demand for new construction equipment in Saudi Arabia. In 2021, the construction contractors benefitted through government support such as investment in construction projects (housing projects worth USD 613 million) which led to the resumption of construction activities supporting the demand for construction equipment. Additionally, the initiative to make Saudi Arabia as a logistic hub is expected to provide new opportunities for construction equipment in infrastructure development. By 2028, the material handling equipment segment in Saudi Arabia is estimated to rise at a CAGR of 7.45%. The government of Saudi Arabia had invested around USD 300 billion on new infrastructure in 2021, including massive new passenger rail networks and a new airport for Riyadh (USD 147 billion). In July 2021, Saudi Ports Authority had partnered with private sector to build eight new port terminals which are expected to surge demand for the material handling equipment industry over the long term. Key Offerings: Market Size & Forecast by Volume | 20222028 Market Size & Forecast by Revenue | 20222028 Market Dynamics Leading trends, growth drivers, restraints, and investment opportunities Market Segmentation A detailed analysis by type and application Competitive Landscape 10 key vendors, 3 other prominent vendors, and 6 distributor profiles Get your sample today! https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/saudi-arabia-construction-equipment-market Saudi Arabia Construction Equipment Market Segmentation Earthmoving equipment captured a major share of the overall Saudi Arabia construction equipment market due to their extensive use at construction sites for excavation and demolition and loading/unloading heavy weights. The growth in the transportation sector with the boost in government investment toward the highway, metro and airport construction projects are major drivers increasing the demand for earthmoving equipment in Saudi Arabia. Cranes are expected to dominate the machinery market, owing to numerous construction projects and increased demand for material handling. Transforming Saudi Arabia into a logistics hub is a major driving force for the crane market as they are mostly used at construction sites and ports. Increasing investments in the mining industry using new mining ventures (in 2021, 60 new industrial licenses have been issued by the government) the Saudi Arabia mining sector is poised for significant growth during the forecast period. Saudi Arabia continues to be a significant player in the global mining industry. Abundant and diverse range of over 48 minerals and metal resources have made Saudi Arabia the largest gold producer in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia Construction Equipment Market by Type Earth Moving Equipment Excavator Backhoe Loaders Motor Graders Other Earth Moving Equipment Road Construction Equipment Asphalt Paver Road Rollers Material Handling Equipment Crane Forklift Telescopic Handlers Aerial Platforms (Articulated Boom Lifts, Telescopic Boom Lifts, Scissor Lifts, etc) Saudi Arabia Construction Equipment Market by Application Construction Manufacturing Mining Others Saudi Arabia Construction Equipment Market Segmentation Saudi Arabia Vision 2030s housing agenda to drive the construction equipment market. In 2020, a slowly developing housing crisis emerged in Saudi Arabia as there is an increasing shortage of affordable housing. In 2020, Saudi Arabia witnessed 24% growth of real average housing prices while real average income only grew 8%. Housing prices grew far more rapidly compared with the average income. The decline in median household income has made it more challenging for Saudis to become a homeowner. A key pillar in Saudi Arabias Vision 2030 is the development of a thriving society. It is to increase the availability of affordable housing for its citizens. This translated into the objective of 70% Saudi home ownership by 2030 (Eskan Program). It requires that the existing housing supply grows with ~700k houses between 2020 and 2025 to achieve 65% Saudi home ownership, the 2025 target to stay on track for the 2030 ambition. Key Drivers and Trends fueling Market Growth: Pollution concerns and labor shortages surge the demand for material handling equipment in Saudi Arabias prefabricated construction sector. Government projects to transform Saudi Arabia into a logistics hub will boost the demand for construction equipment. Shift toward green hydrogen fuel-based construction equipment in the renewable energy sector. Environmental policies and initiatives to increase the use of excavators and loaders in the waste management industry. Why Should I Buy This Research? This report is among the few in the market that offers outlook and opportunity analysis forecast in terms of: Volume (Unit sales) Type Application Value (USD) Type Application Gain competitive intelligence about the economic scenario, advantages in Saudi Arabia countries major projects and investments, dynamics, and market share. Examples of the latest technologies. Get presentation-ready format and easy-to-interpret data. Enable decision-makers to make informed and profitable choices Gain expert quantitative and qualitative analysis on value/volume growth projections of the Saudi Arabia construction equipment market share. Complete supply chain analysis Get COVID-19 impact analysis of the market Get your sample today! https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/saudi-arabia-construction-equipment-market Major Vendors Caterpillar Volvo Construction Equipment Liebherr Komatsu XCMG Group Hitachi Construction Machinery Middle East Corporation FZE (HMEC) JCB Ltd SANY Kubota Corporation Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology Co. Ltd. Other Prominent Vendors: Yanmar Manitou Kobelco Construction Machinery Other Distributor Profiles: Kanoo Machinery Al-Futtaim Auto & Machinery Company Arabian Truck & Construction Equipment Co. Arabian Auto Agency Dayim Equipment Rental Al-Qahtani Vehicle & Machinery Company Explore our industrial machinery profile to know more about the industry. Read some of the top-selling reports: About Arizton: Arizton Advisory and Intelligence is an innovation and quality-driven firm, which offers cutting-edge research solutions to clients across the world. We excel in providing comprehensive market intelligence reports and advisory and consulting services. We offer comprehensive market research reports on industries such as consumer goods & retail technology, automotive and mobility, smart tech, healthcare, and life sciences, industrial machinery, chemicals and materials, IT and media, logistics and packaging. These reports contain detailed industry analysis, market size, share, growth drivers, and trend forecasts. Arizton comprises a team of exuberant and well-experienced analysts who have mastered in generating incisive reports. Our specialist analysts possess exemplary skills in market research. We train our team in advanced research practices, techniques, and ethics to outperform in fabricating impregnable research reports. Mail: enquiry@arizton.com Call: +1-312-235-2040 +1 302 469 0707 By XU WEI Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, host a banquet at the Great Hall of the People around noon on Saturday to welcome distinguished guests from around the world who attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games. [Photo/XINHUA] Chinese president and international dignitaries urge cooperation at Beijing banquet President Xi Jinping called for greater solidarity in the international community to respond to various global challenges as he hosted foreign dignitaries attending the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games at a banquet in Beijing on Saturday. While toasting the banquet's participants at the Great Hall of the People around noon on Saturday, Xi highlighted the need to promote the spirit of the Olympic Movement and meet the common challenges facing the international community through solidarity. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and emerging global issues, including climate change and terrorism, the only way for all countries to address the various challenges effectively is to strengthen solidarity and cooperation and work together for a shared future, he said. "We shall keep in mind the original aspiration of the Olympic Movement and jointly uphold world peace. The Olympic Movement was born for the sake of peace and has thrived thanks to peace," Xi said. He underlined the necessity to uphold mutual respect, equality, dialogue and consultation, and to strive to bridge differences, eliminate conflict and work together for a world of durable peace. It is important to act on the purpose of the Olympic Movement, continuously pursue human progress and stay true to humanity's common values of peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, he said. If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Dallas, Feb. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As per the report published by The Brainy Insights, the global nonfat milk powder market is projected to grow from USD 8.16 billion in 2020 to USD 13.66 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 6.59% during the forecast period 2021-2028. Non-fat milk powder contains at least 35-37% of protein, and it is most commonly used in the therapeutic and supplementary foods. It can also be used in the ready-to-use foods (RUFs) or fortified blended foods (FBFs). The nonfat milk powder enhanced the flavor in the finished products and required less cost than the regular milk. The nonfat milk powder reduces the risk of food poisoning and other food risks, as it is resistant to bacterial growth due to less fat and moisture. Request a Sample Copy of the Research Report: https://www.thebrainyinsights.com/enquiry/sample-request/12560 Nonfat milk powder is the product which is obtained by removing the water from pasteurized nonfat milk. This milk powder contains less than 1% of milk fat and less than 5% of less moisture than the normal milk. Based on the heat treatment, the nonfat milk powder is classified into three types high-heat (least soluble), medium-heat, and low-heat (most soluble). The nonfat milk powder has various applications in the bakery products as it helps to make the excellent loaf in bread. It contains the same amount of protein, minerals, and vitamins as regular milk. The nonfat milk powder has a long shelf life and can be stored up to 3 years if stored properly. Nowadays, the production of dried milk powder, including nonfat milk powder and skimmed milk powder has become increasingly important. The factors such as better quality, less cost, longer shelf life, and lower shipping cost are some of the key factors driving the growth of the market. As it requires less cost and less shipping charges, the nonfat milk powder has become one of the great economic alternatives for the regular milk. The longer shelf life and easy availability is also propelling the growth of nonfat milk powder market. Furthermore, increasing applications of nonfat milk powder in the bakery and confectionary industry is pushing the growth of the market from the past few years. However, the nonfat milk powder consumption is not suitable for the children under age, as it does not provide the proper amount of calories and fats, which is required for the healthy growth of children. Therefore, this factor may hinder the growth of the market over the forecast period. Click here to get the short-term and long-term impacts of COVID-19 on this Market. Please visit: https://www.thebrainyinsights.com/report/nonfat-milk-powder-market-12560 Major players in the global nonfat milk powder market are Hochdorf Holding AG, Amul, Nestle S.A., Bob's Red Mill, Mayfield Dairy Farms, Inc., All American Foods, Inc., Dairy Farmers of America Inc., The St. Albans Cooperative Creamery, Inc., Unilever, and DairyAmerica, Inc. among others. The key players are now concentrating on implementing strategies such as adopting new technology, product innovations, mergers & acquisitions, joint venture, alliances and partnerships to improve their market position in the global nonfat milk powder industry. In February 2020, Hochdorf Holding AG announced that it has sold its German milk plant to Ostmilch Handels GmBH to focus on other business. In November 2019, Nestle S.A. announced the launch of high-end milk powder products, Shu Chun, for Chinese family consumers. The low heat treatment nonfat milk powder segment dominated the market and valued at USD 5.11 billion in the year 2020 The heat treatment segment is divided into high-heat nonfat milk powder, medium-heat nonfat milk powder, and low-heat nonfat milk powder. The low heat treatment nonfat milk powder segment dominated the market and valued at USD 5.11 billion in the year 2020. The low heat treatment is used for the production of nonfat milk powder which widely used in the application of bakery and cheese manufacturing. Increasing demand for nonfat milk powder in the bakery and confectionary is driving the growth of the market. Confectionery & bakery segment accounted for the major market share of 32.87% in the year 2020 The application segment includes confectionery & bakery, nutritional foods, prepared foods, dairy products and others. Confectionery & bakery segment accounted for the major market share of 32.87% in the year 2020. Nonfat milk powder has immense application in the bakery and confectionary products such as bread, pastry, chocolates, and cakes. Increasing demand for ready to eat bakery products is driving the growth of the market. The online store is anticipated to grow at the highest CAGR of 8.1% over the forecast period The distribution channel segment includes online stores and offline stores. The offline segment further sub-segmented into supermarket, wholesalers, and retail stores. The online store is anticipated to grow at the highest CAGR of 8.1% over the forecast period. The convenience to buy and doorstep delivery are some of the factors contributing to the growth of the market. In addition to this, online stores offer high discount to the customers, further boosting the growth of the market. Quick Buy - Nonfat Milk Powder Market Research Report: https://www.thebrainyinsights.com/buy-now/12560/single Regional Segment Analysis of the Nonfat Milk Powder Market North America (U.S. , Canada, Mexico) Europe (Germany, France, U.K., Italy, Spain, Rest of the Europe) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan India, Rest of APAC) South America (Brazil and Rest of South America) Middle East and Africa (UAE, South Africa, Rest of MEA) The Asia Pacific region dominated the global nonfat milk powder market and valued at USD 3.14 billion in the year 2020. The high production of milk as a raw material in the countries such as India is one of the key contributing factors in the growth of the market. In addition to this, rising bakery and confectionary industry in the Asia Pacific region, further boosting the growth of the market. On the other hand, North America held the second-largest market share in the global nonfat milk powder market. High awareness about the health benefits of nonfat milk powder is boosting the growth of the market in this region. Have Any Query? Ask Our Experts: https://www.thebrainyinsights.com/enquiry/request-customization/12560 About the report: The global nonfat milk powder market is analyzed on the basis of value (USD billion), volume (kilotons), export (kilotons), and import (kilotons). All the segments have been analyzed on global, regional and country basis. The study includes an analysis of more than 30 countries for each segment. The report offers in-depth analysis of driving factors, opportunities, restraints, and challenges for gaining the key insight of the market. The study includes porter's five forces model, attractiveness analysis, and competitor position grid analysis. About The Brainy Insights: The Brainy Insights is a market research company, aimed at providing actionable insights through data analytics to companies to improve their business acumen. We have a robust forecasting and estimation model to meet the clients' objectives of high-quality output within a short span of time. We provide both customized (clients' specific) and syndicate reports. Our repository of syndicate reports is diverse across all the categories and sub-categories across domains. Our customized solutions are tailored to meet the clients' requirement whether they are looking to expand or planning to launch a new product in the global market. Contact Us Avinash D Head of Business Development Phone: +1-315-215-1633 Email: sales@thebrainyinsights.com Web: www.thebrainyinsights.com VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Standard Uranium Ltd. (Standard Uranium or the Company) (TSX-V: STND) (OTCQB:STTDF) (Frankfurt: FWB:9SU) is pleased to announce that exploration activities have commenced on the Companys Sun Dog Project, (Sun Dog or the Project) located in the northwestern Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan. High-resolution geophysical surveys are currently underway on the Project, with the Standard Uranium team and drill crews scheduled to mobilize in three weeks. The Project is comprised of 6 mineral claims over 15,770 hectares and is highly prospective for basement-hosted and unconformity-related uranium deposits. Inaugural Sun Dog Drill Program Summary: High-resolution ground gravity and UAV magnetic surveys will refine specific drill targets; Approximately 3,000 metres in ten (10) diamond drill holes planned, subject to weather and ice conditions, to follow up on known high-grade* uranium mineralization; Drilling to commence first week of March 2022; Inaugural drilling by Standard Uranium at the Skye, Haven, and Java target areas (See Figure 1); Exploring several kilometres of graphitic conductors coincident with cross-cutting faults and historical surface and drillhole intersections of high-grade uranium mineralization; Efficiently testing down-dip extensions of structures hosting mineralization at surface with the aim of discovering high-grade basement roots of the mineralizing systems underlying the Athabasca sandstones. High-resolution ground gravity and UAV magnetic surveys are currently proceeding over Sun Dog target areas which will further refine existing high-priority drill targets. The ice road access to the Project is presently underway, and Standard Uranium geologists and drill crews are slated to mobilize to site the last week of February 2022, with drilling commencing the first week of March. *The Company considers uranium mineralization with concentrations greater than 1.0 wt% U 3 O 8 to be high-grade. Figure 1. Property overview of the Sun Dog Project showing Skye, Haven and Java target areas in context of historical drilling results, geophysical anomalies, and historical prospects including JSW-1, JSW-2, and Walli is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5ef09e5b-204f-48ea-8f53-6814636b28f9. The Haven discovery zone is situated in the center of the Haven target area. The Sun Dog Project boasts all the favorable characteristics to host an Athabasca-style unconformity-related uranium deposit, and despite positive historical results, the Project has not been drill tested in 14 years. The Company aims to breathe new life into the Uranium City area through exploration for high-grade basement- and sandstone-hosted uranium using modern techniques and geological understanding. Appointment of Sean McGrath as President: The Company is pleased to announce that Mr. Sean McGrath has been appointed President of the Company, effective February 7, 2022. He will be working alongside Standard Uraniums CEO Jon Bey as the Company advances its uranium projects in the prolific Athabasca Basin in Saskatchewan. Mr. McGrath has extensive experience as a mining executive over a 25-year career that includes both exploration stage and producing mining companies. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland and is Chartered Professional Accountant. In his role as President, Mr. McGrath will work closely with the CEO supporting him in the Company's financing and strategic activities on a day-to-day basis. Jon Bey, CEO comments, We are thrilled that Sean has agreed to bring his experience to Standard Uranium as our new President. With a background in the resource sector and capital markets, he is a great fit for Standard Uranium in our exploration and growth stage. I look forward to working closely with him as we continue to unlock value for Standard Uranium shareholders. Granting of Stock Options Standard also announces that, pursuant to its Stock Option Plan, it has granted stock options to certain directors, management, and consultants to purchase an aggregate of 2,860,000 common shares of the Company at the price of $0.20 per share for a period of 5 years from the grant date. The options will vest immediately upon grant. Qualified Person The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Sean Hillacre, P.Geo. who is a Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101. About Standard Uranium (TSX-V: STND) We find the fuel to power a clean energy future Standard Uranium is a mineral resource exploration company based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Since its establishment, Standard Uranium has focused on the identification and development of prospective exploration stage uranium projects in the Athabasca Basin in Saskatchewan, Canada. Standard Uranium's Sun Dog Project, in the northwest part of the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, is comprised of 6 mineral claims over 15,770 hectares. The Sun Dog Project is highly prospective for basement and unconformity hosted uranium deposits yet remains largely untested by sufficient drilling despite its location proximal to uranium discoveries in the area. Standard Uraniums Flagship Davidson River Project, in the southwest part of the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, is comprised of 21 mineral claims over 25,886 hectares. The Davidson River Project is highly prospective for basement hosted uranium deposits yet remains relatively untested by drilling despite its location along trend from recent high-grade uranium discoveries. A copy of the NI 43-101 technical report that summarizes the exploration on the Davidson River Project is available for review under Standard Uraniums SEDAR profile (www.sedar.com). For further information contact: Jon Bey, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman 550 Denman Street, Suite 200 Vancouver, BC V6G 3H1 Tel: 1 (306) 850-6699 E-mail: info@standarduranium.ca Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements or forward-looking information (collectively, forward-looking statements) within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this news release. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, identified by words or phrases such as expects, is expected, anticipates, believes, plans, projects, estimates, assumes, intends, strategy, goals, objectives, forecasts, budget, schedule, potential, possible or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events, conditions or results may, could, would, should, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: the timing and content of upcoming work programs; geological interpretations; and estimates of market conditions. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements contained herein. 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. Certain important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among others: general economic conditions in Canada and globally; industry conditions; governmental regulation of the mining industry, including environmental regulation; geological, technical and drilling problems; unanticipated operating events; competition for and/or inability to retain drilling rigs and other services; the availability of capital on acceptable terms; the need to obtain required approvals from regulatory authorities; stock market volatility; volatility in market prices for commodities; liabilities inherent in the mining industry; the development of the COVID-19 global pandemic; the ability to commence and complete work on the Davidson River Project given the global COVID-19 global pandemic; changes in tax laws and incentive programs relating to the mining industry. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect the Companys forward-looking statements. There may be other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements contained herein. See the section entitled Risk Factors in the Companys annual information form for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2020, dated September 28, 2020 for additional risk factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements contained herein. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of factors and assumptions that, if untrue, could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements contained herein. Forward-looking statements are based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies that may cause the Companys actual financial results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied herein. Some of the material factors or assumptions used to develop forward-looking statements include, without limitation: the future price of uranium; anticipated costs and the Companys ability to raise additional capital if and when necessary; volatility in the market price of the Companys securities; future sales of the Companys securities; the Companys ability to carry on exploration and development activities; the success of exploration, development and operations activities; the timing and results of drilling programs; the discovery of mineral resources on the Companys mineral properties; the costs of operating and exploration expenditures; the Companys ability to identify, complete and successfully integrate acquisitions; the Companys ability to operate in a safe, efficient and effective manner; health, safety and environmental risks; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability of increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); uncertainties related to title to mineral properties; assessments by taxation authorities; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Any forward-looking statements and the assumptions made with respect thereto are made as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Neither TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. English French TORONTO, Feb. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ninepoint Partners LP (Ninepoint) is pleased to announce that it has expanded its offering of liquid alternative mutual funds with the Ninepoint Carbon Credit ETF. In response to global efforts to reach net zero targets by 20501, governments around the world are using cap-and-trade programs to incentivize carbon-intense industries to evolve their business models to both meet continued demand and prepare for a low carbon future. These cap-and-trade programs have paved the way for the emergence of global Carbon Credit markets. An exciting, new asset class has emerged through carbon markets that offers investors a way to buy carbon credit products as an investment seeking an investment return and hedging against climate transition risks. Investment Objective The investment objective of Ninepoint Carbon Credit ETF is to seek to provide unitholders with long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in global carbon emissions allowance futures. The Fund will initially invest in the major carbon allowance futures globally, namely, the European Union Allowance (the EUA), the California Carbon Allowance (the CCA) which includes the province of Quebec, and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (the RGGI) which is focused on the northeast United States. Wood Mackenzie has estimated that the global emissions trading market may be worth as much as $22 trillion by 20502. Taking a long-term view on the important transition to a clean energy economy as measured in decades, not years this Fund will give Canadian investors access to a global asset class expected to see exponential growth, said John Wilson, Co-CEO, Managing Partner & Senior Portfolio Manager, Ninepoint Partners. As the first-in-Canada carbon credit fund, Canadian investors now have a new way to benefit from the growing efforts to decarbonize the global economy.The low correlation of Carbon Credit Futures to the broader financial market could provide a natural hedge for any diversified portfolio while potentially improving the resilience of their portfolios against climate transition risks. This fund is expected to be available for purchase on Fundserv and NEO Exchange on or about February 16, 2022, and will be eligible for registered plans. The mutual fund series units are expected to be available on Fundserv. Subject to satisfying the NEO Exchanges original listing requirements, the ETF series units are expected to be available for purchase in U.S. dollars (Ticker: CBON.U) and Canadian dollars (Ticker: CBON) on the NEO Exchange or another exchange or marketplace where ETF series units are traded through registered brokers and dealers in the province or territory where the investor resides. 1 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Race to Zero Campaign. https://unfccc.int/climate-action/race-to-zero-campaign 2 Wood Mackenzie. (2021, August 11). COP26: Make or break for Global Emissions Trading. About Ninepoint Partners Based in Toronto, Ninepoint Partners is one of Canadas leading alternative investment management firms overseeing approximately $8 billion in assets under management and institutional contracts. Committed to helping investors explore innovative investment solutions that have the potential to enhance returns and manage portfolio risk, Ninepoint offers a diverse set of alternative strategies including North American Equity, Global Equity, Real Assets & Alternative Income. Ninepoint Digital Asset Group is a division of Ninepoint Partners. For more information on Ninepoint, please visit www.ninepoint.com or inquiries regarding the Offering, please contact us at (416) 943-6707 or (866) 299-9906 or invest@ninepoint.com. Media Inquiries: Joanne Kearney Smithcom Ltd. 416.804.5949 joanne.kearney@smithcom.ca Sales Inquiries: Neil Ross Ninepoint Partners 416.945.6227 nross@ninepoint.com Certain statements included in this news release constitute forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, those identified by the expressions expects, intends, anticipates, will and similar expressions to the extent that they relate to the Fund. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect Ninepoint's current expectations regarding future results or events. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations. Although Ninepoint believes the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and, accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. Neither the Fund nor Ninepoint undertake any obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement or information whether as a result of new information, future events or other such factors which affect this information, except as required by law. Ninepoint Partners LP is the investment manager to the Ninepoint Funds (collectively, the Funds). Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees, performance fees (if any), and other expenses all may be associated with investing in the Funds. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. The information contained herein does not constitute an offer or solicitation by anyone in the United States or in any other jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation is not authorized or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation. Prospective investors who are not resident in Canada should contact their financial advisor to determine whether securities of the Fund may be lawfully sold in their jurisdiction. Chicago, Feb. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Southeast Asia Construction Equipment Market to Reach Volume of 85,678 Units by 2028 Arizton The Southeast Asia construction equipment market is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 6% during the period 20222028. Southeast Asia Construction Equipment Market Segmentation The Southeast construction equipment market by revenue is likely to reach USD 10.7 billion by 2028. Government bodies in the region are investing in several construction projects such as the relocation of Singapore Science center, redevelopment of Alexandra Hospital, and Development of metropolitan regions for Palembang, Banjarmasin, Makassar in Singapore, and other Southeast Asian countries in 2021. Therefore, these developments are expected to influence the market. Large construction projects such as Changi Airport, Tuas Mega port in Singapore development of metropolitan regions for Palembang, Banjarmasin, Makassar, and Denpasar in Indonesia of worth USD 20 billion in 2021 expect to drive the demand for bulldozers and trenchers in Southeast Asia countries. The Southeast Asia other earthmoving equipment market is expected to reach USD 402.9 million by 2028. In 2021, several public infrastructure projects planned such as Bicol Medical Centers Medical Arts Building, NEDA sa Makati Property Redevelopment Project in Philippines. Similarly, several development projects, which are under progress in the Southeast Asia region. Therefore, the demand for aerial platforms expects to rise during the forecast period. Get Your Free Sample Report Now! https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/south-east-asia-construction-equipment-market Market Segmentation by Moving Equipment Earth Moving Equipment Excavator Backhoe Loader Motor Grader Other Earth Moving Equipment Road Construction Equipment Asphalt Paver Road Roller Material Handling Equipment Crane Forklift and Telescopic Handler Arial Platforms (articulated boom lifts, telescopic boom lifts, scissor lifts, etc) Market Segmentation by Application Construction Manufacturing Mining Others Market Segmentation by Countries Indonesia Thailand Singapore Philippines Malaysia Vietnam Looking for more information? https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/south-east-asia-construction-equipment-market Key Highlights Southeast construction equipment market is expected to grow significantly at a CAGR of 6.37% during forecast period (2022-2028) with high demand for excavator in earthmoving segment due to high infrastructure and transport development projects in the pipeline. In 2021, the economic recovery among Southeast Asian countries was highly affected by the decline in the tourism sector. The Asian Development Banks survey revealed that the Southeast Asia tourism industry experienced a GDP loss of 8.4% in 2021. The overall economic recovery in the region is estimated to be slower than other developing countries in Asia. This slow recovery is primarily due to new waves of COVID pandemic that will impact international cross border trade and tourism industry in the region. However, Governments investment in development of public infrastructure such as roads, airports, seaports, and the increasing demand for energy expect to offer strong growth opportunities in the construction equipment market in the region. Countries such as Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand are expected to experience significant urbanization growth, which will drive the demand for infrastructure development in these countries. Investments in renewable energy projects have risen across the region. Countries such as Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines are planning to increase renewable energy generation capacity by 2030. For instance, in Singapore, the grid-connected installed capacity rose to 376.9 MWp in 2020, with a total of 4,067 solar PV installations. This was a sharp increase from 2019, when the capacity was 262.4 MWp, with only 3,173 PV systems installed. Similarly, in Indonesia, government has regulated the implementation of rooftop panels since 2018. Solar projects are targeted to reach an installed capacity of 3.6 GW by 2025. Several mega infrastructure project such as Jakarta-Bandung & Jakarta Surabaya high-speed rail project, Jakarta MRT (Mass Rapid Transit), and Jakarta LRT project in Indonesia, Earth North-South Expressway Sections in Vietnam, East Cost Rail link and Penang Transport Master plan in Malaysia are in the pipeline. Caterpillar, Komatsu, Volvo Construction Equipment, Hitachi Construction machinery, and JCB hold more than 55% of market share in construction equipment market across Southeast Asian region. SANY, XCMG, LiuGong, Yanmar, Kubota, Kobelco, Sumitomo, Hyundai Construction equipment are other prominent vendors in southeast Asian construction equipment market. Key Offerings: Market Size & Forecast by Volume | 20222028 Market Size & Forecast by Value | 20222028 Market Dynamics Leading trends, growth drivers, restraints, and investment opportunities Market Segmentation A detailed analysis by type, application, and countries Competitive Landscape 10 major vendors, 4 other prominent vendors, and 3 distributors profile Why Should You Buy this Report? This report is among the few in the market that offers outlook and opportunity analysis forecast in terms of: Volume (Unit sales) Type Application Countries Value (USD) Type Application Countries Gain competitive intelligence about the economic scenario, advantages in Southeast Asia countries major projects and investments, dynamics, and market share. Examples of the latest technologies. Get presentation-ready format and easy-to-interpret data. Enable decision-makers to make informed and profitable choices Gain expert quantitative and qualitative analysis on value/volume growth projections of the Southeast Asia construction equipment market share Complete supply chain analysis Get COVID-19 impact analysis of the market Company Profile of 19 vendors and distributors Southeast Asia Construction Equipment Market Competitors Analysis Caterpillar launches its new next-generation large excavator in the Singapore market. The company launches large excavators CAT 352, 374, and 395 to increase their presence in the Southeast Asia construction equipment market. Liebherr are working on multiple digitization and sustainability projects in a systematic manner. On an ex-works basis, 2D and 3D machine control systems will be implemented in Liebherr's sixth and eighth generation mobile and crawler cranes to create competitive environment across the industry. SANY Group strategizes to increase value for customers through its brand, products, marketing, and services and will continue to defend its position in the highly competitive international market. Moreover, SANY launches SY27U, a 2.75-ton mini excavator, specially designed for slurry terrains. It is equipped with an advanced remote management system (EVI) to strengthen its foot in the construction equipment market. Get Your Free Sample Report Now! https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/south-east-asia-construction-equipment-market Major Vendors Caterpillar Komatsu Hitachi Construction Machinery Kobelco Volvo Construction Equipment Kubota Liebherr JCB Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group Co., Ltd. (XCMG) SANY Group Other Prominent Vendors Sumitomo Heavy Industries Yanmar Holdings Co Zoomlion Heavy Industry LiuGong Distributors Profiles TAT Hong United Tractor Multicranes Perkasa (MCP) Target Audience Top-level management personnel of existing operators/vendors Potential new entrants to the market Consultants/consultancies/advisory firms Professional landscaping service providers/contractors Corporate and governments bodies Explore our industrial machinery profile to know more about the industry. Read some of the top-selling reports: About Arizton Arizton Advisory and Intelligence is an innovation and quality-driven firm, which offers cutting-edge research solutions to clients across the world. We excel in providing comprehensive market intelligence reports and advisory and consulting services. We offer comprehensive market research reports on industries such as consumer goods & retail technology, automotive and mobility, smart tech, healthcare, and life sciences, industrial machinery, chemicals and materials, IT and media, logistics and packaging. These reports contain detailed industry analysis, market size, share, growth drivers, and trend forecasts. Arizton comprises a team of exuberant and well-experienced analysts who have mastered in generating incisive reports. Our specialist analysts possess exemplary skills in market research. We train our team in advanced research practices, techniques, and ethics to outperform in fabricating impregnable research reports. Mail: enquiry@arizton.com Call: +1-312-235-2040 +1 302 469 0707 ARVADA, Colo., Feb. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Colorado Visiting Nurse Association (Colorado VNA) announced today that it has reached an agreement with 24/7 AvaRe Home Health to absorb their healthcare staff and patients into Colorado VNA. Headquartered in Arvada, CO, the expanded Colorado VNA will remain a mission-driven nonprofit, home healthcare, hospice, palliative and wellness agency. The addition of the former 24/7 AvaRe Home Health staff will allow Colorado VNA to now offer home healthcare and wellness care throughout the Denver metro area, Colorado Springs and parts of greater El Paso and Teller counties. Colorado VNA will also continue to offer hospice and palliative care services throughout the Denver metro area and north to Larimer and Weld counties. 24/7 AvaRe Home Health has been a home healthcare agency providing adult and pediatric care to patients in the Denver and Colorado Springs area since 2012. "This move will strengthen Colorado VNA, benefiting patients, employees as well as referring providers and facilities," said Tim Bowen, President and CEO of the Care Synergy network. "The transition will be smooth while expanding the continuum of care offered throughout Colorado VNA's service area." Colorado VNA President, Julie Nunley will continue in her role for the expanded organization. "Colorado VNA has a distinguished community legacy of more than 130 years and this will allow us to grow and develop while expanding our clinical expertise and the breadth and depth of care offered to patients," Nunley said. "I am excited about the potential in enhancing Colorado VNA, one of the largest home health, hospice, palliative and wellness agencies in the state." 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 care, quality and comfort through a range of services 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 Related Images Image 1: Colorado VNA Logo This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment Castle Rock, CO , Feb. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In this episode of the Mission Matters Business Podcast, former teacher, longtime online learning pioneer, nonprofit leader and societal changemaker Amy Valentine, CEO and Education Evangelist for Future of School, discusses the current landscape of online and blended learningincluding the proven benefits of education innovation, the critical need for students and families to have options for their learning, and the campaign to ensure no child ever again has to say I hate school. Listen to Amy Valentines full interview with Adam Torres on the Mission Matters Business Podcast. What mission matters to you? Valentine asserts that an outdated, one-size-fits-all model of education isnt up to the task of educating 21st century students (if it ever was). She describes Future of Schools mission to promote access and opportunity for every student, no matter where their learning takes place, so they can reach their unbounded potential. To achieve this aim, Valentine and her organization focus on engaging stakeholders at all levelsbusiness leaders, corporate and nonprofit partners, district decision-makers, educators, parents and studentsin becoming active creators of meaningful change. Online and blended learning are two options that have provided countless students with opportunities they otherwise would have missed, altering their trajectories and outcomes in the process. In fact, though many Americans have only recently been introduced to online learning as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, these options have supported learners for more than two decades. Through authentic, student-centered blended and online schools and courses, we can create a platform where every child can access a high-quality education, no matter their strengths, interests, zip code, or their previous experiences in school," she says. How did you get started on this path? Valentines professional background is rooted in teaching and education technology (edtech), including online teaching. Prior to her current role, she managed a portfolio of Colorado schools where she led academic and operational turnaround strategy and served as executive director for a network of California schools. Her passion for teaching and technology has informed the entirety of her career, and she says she couldn't resist being all in when the opportunity arose to pursue the expansion of online learning, due to its tremendous potential to close opportunity gaps and provide all students with the choices they deserve. Tell us more about Future of School. As the name suggests, she says the organizationa national public charity dedicated to mobilizing change in American K-12 educationpays close attention to the interests of schools, parents, and teachers as well as students themselves. Future of School is always there to amplify stakeholder voices and empower dynamic conversations that incorporate feedback and address the challenges that arise across the field of education. Just a few examples of the organizations work to advance, document, forecast and broadcast the evolution of education include: student scholarships that increase access to higher education and related storytelling projects; direct support of teachers including the Innovative Educator Prize; the Resilient Districts Prize honoring and funding educators and schools whose innovation supported student success despite challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic; and Future of School: The Podcast, hosted by Valentine, in which all stakeholder voices in education can be heard. The organizations new "No More I Hate School" campaign, Valentine explains, elevates the voices of students, parents, and teachers, giving them resources to transform the way education is imagined from kindergarten through high school. There's also a grant program to help teachers and schools manage their expenses while broadening the array of education options offered to students. How is online learning different? Learning is at the core of the human spirit, says Valentine, and every child deserves two thingsa personalized education that is aligned with how they learn best and access to schools and/or programs where this is possible. What happened during the pandemic, in many cases, wasnt truly online education but in fact crisis schooling, in which schools and stakeholders hadnt built the infrastructure and effective practices to deliver consistent, high-quality learning. True online learning has been around for more than 25 years, is organized, intentional and has teachers who are trained in this learning environment. Crisis learning implemented quickly and without a comprehensive strategy was designed in a moment of urgency to keep the students connected by scheduling meetings on Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Classroombut this is the opposite of online and blended learning, she says. "The biggest differences are in the intentionality, training, and volitionally signing up to learn this way. What's next for Future of School? The efforts to transform education are designed to approach students needs from each angle, and toward fulfillment of every goal that parents, families, and stakeholders in the workforce have for students: the opportunity to learn more comfortably, conveniently, confidently and comprehensively; to have access to content and learning environments that match up with personalized needs and preferences; and to develop the critical skills to thrive in a fast-changing, exciting future of work. This is a critical juncture at which to listen to teachers as they discuss their experiences over the recent academic years, says Valentine, to discover educators perspectives on how best to support all families and students in modern classrooms. Further, Future of School will keep working to spread awareness about the need for broad, thoughtful education options that help students learn, grow, and reach their unbounded potential. Future of School is a public charity, run by the people, for the people, and every contribution matters. Please consider donating today to support programs that create opportunities for students and educators. To learn more, visit website Future of School https://www.futureof.school/ To learn more about Podcast Host Adam Torres and Mission Matters https://missionmatters.com/ Media Contacts To learn more about Brand Publicity Partners for Mission Matters Podcast https://kisspr.com/ KISS PR Digital PR & Marketing powers the Mission Matters Business podcast with brand storytelling. T: 972.437.8942 Media contact az@kisspr.com Attachment Sydney, Feb. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Office of Immigration Australia is pleased to share the priority skilled occupation list in Australia. It is a fact that Australia is currently in shortage of skilled workers. Australia is the most preferred country for pursuing higher studies as well as job prospects. The country promises quality of life and guarantees socio-economic wellbeing. The lucky country also ranks high in variables such as employment, income, education, housing, safety, lifestyle, health, and environment. For those who are looking at migrating to this beautiful country for a prosperous future, now is the time. The Office of Immigration Australia helps skilled professionals understand the application and the Visa process and discover their eligibility. Candidates who qualify for an Australian Work Visa i.e. the Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) are the ones with work experience and educational qualifications as an accountant, architects, engineers, and medical practitioners in various disciplines, nurses, surveyors, social workers, pharmacists, veterinarians, cartographers, and chefs. The skilled occupation list in Australia consists of more than 50 professions in the above-mentioned categories. Once a person identifies their industry is on the priority migration skilled occupation list, they can start by completing the online eligibility assessment on the website. Every participant must satisfy the assessment with a score of 65 points or more. The Office of Immigration Australia The results will be displayed immediately and candidates will get to know whether they are have the minimum points required to progress to an application to live and work in Australia permanently and also receive a guide to Immigration to Australia. The guide consists of several links which provide access to the mandatory immigration forms which need to be filled out as part of the process. Australia is known as the lucky country for a lot of reasons. One can choose to live anywhere in Australia and can enroll in the countrys free family healthcare. Apart from the eligibility of becoming an Australian citizen, they could also sponsor eligible relatives for a permanent residence. A Skilled Visa allows people to stay in the country indefinitely. They become permanent residents on the day the visa is granted. The Australian Migration Program is designed to invite migrants who wish to fill positions that are vacant due to a shortage of Australian workers. The skilled migrants are known for their high contribution rates in the workforce thereby backing the economic growth resulting in more employment opportunities. The Office of Immigration Australia assists skilled individuals with understanding the migration process and connecting individuals with a Registered Migration Agent. Those who are unsure about the immigration requirements or need more information with regards to the visa application process can always contact the team for a consultation. Apart from complete data protection, the agency also uses the highest level of security for all online payments. To learn more visit https://www.immigrationsaustralia.com.au/ About Office of Immigration Australia The Office of Immigration Australia website aids skilled individuals by providing general information about the process of migration and connecting them with RMAs to help them migrate to Australia with the primary goal of receiving Permanent Residence and Citizenship. The websites information is general in nature and individuals are encouraged to speak with a registered migration agent in order to get tailored advice. ### Contact Office of Immigration Australia Address: Sydney, Australia Phone: +61-2-9158-3242 Website: https://www.immigrationsaustralia.com.au/ Newsroom: news.38digitalmarket.com NEW YORK, Feb. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Guggenheim Securities, the investment banking and capital markets division of Guggenheim Partners, announced today that Alexander Ramirez will join the firm as a Senior Managing Director in its Technology, Media, and Telecom (TMT) Investment Banking Practice and will focus on advising companies in the telecom and network infrastructure sectors. Mr. Ramirez will commence work at Guggenheim in April and will be based in the firms New York office. Mr. Ramirez joins Guggenheim after 18 years at Citigroup, where he most recently served as a Managing Director in its Global TMT Group and led the firms global coverage of clients in the data center industry. Mr. Ramirez holds a B.S. in economics from The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. We are excited to welcome Alex to Guggenheim, said Mark Van Lith, CEO of Guggenheim Securities. Alex is a well-respected advisor in the digital infrastructure sector. With his deep relationships and extensive sector knowledge, as well as experience advising on landmark transactions in the industry, he will be a significant addition to our TMT investment banking team. We look forward to his continued success at Guggenheim. About Guggenheim Securities Guggenheim Securities is the investment banking and capital markets business of Guggenheim Partners, a global investment and advisory firm. Guggenheim Securities offers services that fall into four broad categories: Advisory, Financing, Sales and Trading, and Research. Guggenheim Securities is headquartered in New York, with additional offices in Chicago, Boston, Atlanta, San Francisco, and Houston. For more information, please contact us at GSinfo@GuggenheimPartners.com or 212.518.9200. About Guggenheim Partners Guggenheim Partners is a diversified financial services firm that delivers value to its clients through two primary businesses: Guggenheim Investments, a premier global asset manager and investment advisor, and Guggenheim Securities, a leading investment banking and capital markets business. Guggenheims professionals are based in offices around the world, and our commitment is to deliver long-term results with excellence and integrity while advancing the strategic interests of our clients. Learn more at GuggenheimPartners.com, and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @GuggenheimPtnrs. Media Contact Steven Lee Guggenheim Securities 212.293.2811 Steven.Lee@guggenheimpartners.com Gloucester, MA (01930) Today Overcast with rain showers at times. High 54F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Occasional rain. Low 44F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Maine Democratic Gov. Janet Mills and the four members of Maines congressional delegation said Monday the federal government should push the deadline for conversion of lobster gear to protect endangered right whales from May 1 to July 1. Yes, like every other state in the nation At least half of it No, keep funneling to the General Fund Eliminate the fuel tax Uncertain Vote View Results A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Australia-based Avass Group recently signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia to jointly manufacture electric vehicles and lithium batteries. The agreement bolsters Avass Groups plans to mass manufacture full electric buses and lithium batteries in Saudi. The partnership stems from the consideration of strategic advantage that Saudi Arabia has due to its location at a central point between both Asia and Europe. Given the increasing consumer awareness of environmental protection and in view of recent development trends of the electric vehicle industry, Avass Group is targeting the huge potential in global electric vehicle market. At a time when more and more countries are trying to reduce their carbon footprint, its imperative to boost manufacturing of EVs to meet this goal. Saudi Arabia stands at a central point between Asia and Europe which gives it a strategic location advantage as a production hub. The agreement will also greatly assist the trade relationship between Saudi Arabia and India and help Avass to provide an integrated solution for batteries, EVs. Dr. Allen Saylav, Group Chief Executive Officer at Avass In 2019, when Avass became a subsidiary of the DFT Group Pty Ltd, it strengthened its commitment to continuing technology development by producing an array of electric vehicles, components, and lithium-ion batteries. Rockport, TX (78382) Today Partly cloudy and windy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 85F. Winds SSE at 20 to 30 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 76F. Winds SSE at 15 to 25 mph. Bergen Engines recently launched a comprehensive test program towards zero-carbon-emission engines, allowing a gradual transition from liquid natural gas to 100% green hydrogen fuel, as and when it becomes commercially available. The first tests on a B-Series Bergen gas engine, running on a blend of 15 %v hydrogen and 85 %v natural gas, have been successfully completed without any hardware adjustments. It was confirmed that the power output was maintained according to specification at all load levels while the carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide emission were reduced. The lower unburned hydrocarbon levels and methane slip are also proven. Hydrogen is being considered as an energy carrier for renewable fuel production for land power generation, short sea and inland navigation. A blend of hydrogen and natural gas as fuel is a first step towards zero carbon emissions, the company said. Bergen Engines aims to have a commercial solution in the market that will accept hydrogen content of up to 60%, and solutions that can be further developed to accept 100% for new engines to come. The aim is for its current gas engine fleet to take low levels of hydrogen without any hardware changes. When there is viable access to green hydrogen, the intention is that the Bergen engines are ready and mature with higher levels of hydrogen. An applicable engine upgrade may be done as part of a main service revision that includes piston replacement, so that a portion of the expense can be offset into the normal service cost. Bergen Engines produces medium-speed liquid- and gas-fueled engines and generator sets supplied to a broad range of land-based, commercial marine and naval customers. In 1946 the company built its first diesel engine and has since commissioned more than 7,000 of its liquid- and gas-fueled engines. More than half of them are still in operation today. From 1999, Bergen Engines AS was owned by Rolls-Royce plc. On 31 December 2021, the company was sold to the privately owned engineering and industrial group, Langley Holdings plc. Bergen Engines will be at the core of Langleys Power Solutions division, working closely with the Langleys Italian Marelli Motori and German Piller Power Systems subsidiaries. Fukuoka Citythe sixth-largest city in Japan and the second-largest port city after Yokohamaand Toyota Motor Corporation have signed a partnership agreement aiming for the early realization of a hydrogen society. They will work closely with Commercial Partnership Technologies Corporation (CJPT), which works on commercial projects, to promote a wide range of collaborative initiatives to achieve the goal. As a first step, they have commenced discussions regarding the introduction of fuel cell vehicles. Fukuoka City has focused on the potential of hydrogen energy from an early stage and initiated the Hydrogen Leader City Project. As part of the project, the city launched the first initiative to produce hydrogen from public household sewage and supply it to fuel cell vehicles. It was also the first city in Japan to undertake various verification tests for trucks and motorcycles equipped with fuel cell technologies. Fukuoka City and Toyota have held numerous talks with regard to making hydrogen more familiar to residents, and encouraging its sustainable and practical use. Their first collaboration in the field of hydrogen was implemented in November 2021 during the final round of the Super Taikyu Series. In this race, Toyota used hydrogen produced from the citys public household sewage to power its hydrogen-engine vehicles. Under the terms of the partnership agreement, Fukuoka City and Toyota in cooperation with CJPT will discuss a range of other hydrogen-related topics as follows: developing and using vehicles that can support social infrastructure and creating logistics models for them, using hydrogen energy at resident-centered facilities and events, and revising the regulations required for realizing a hydrogen society. To begin with, discussions are being held on the use of fuel cell vehicles for school meal delivery trucks and the citys garbage trucks, as well as deploying Moving e mobile power generation and supply systems. Going forward, Fukuoka City, Toyota and CJPT will work together to develop and verify technologies related to producing, transporting, and using hydrogen. Support local journalism We are making critical coverage of the coronavirus available for free. Please consider subscribing so we can continue to bring you the latest news and information on this developing story. GREENWICH Rising transportation costs are carrying the blame for higher-than-expected increases in the budget request from the Greenwich Public Schools for 2022-23. The increase year to year for transportation came in at 10.51 percent, or about $1.1 million, Chief Operating Officer Sean OKeefe told the Board of Estimate and Taxations Budget Committee. OKeefe and other school officials appeared before the Budget Committee on Thursday to discuss the districts proposed operating budget for the next fiscal year. That request totals $176,693,242 million, which is an increase of $4,850,645, or 2.82 percent, over this years budget. Last fall, the BET approved a guideline calling for budget increases to stay below 2.64 percent. The guideline was exceeded for several reasons, said OKeefe, citing contractually mandated salariy increases of $3.1 million; and rising costs for outside tuition for special education students, summer school and utility costs. Those increases total $5 million, with higher-than-expected costs in the districts new transportation contract as a main driver. We budgeted a placeholder of 5 percent in our original superintendents budget. We subsequently learned that the bid came in a lot higher than what we had anticipated, OKeefe told the Budget Committee. For transportation, that bid was 10.51 percent higher, which is an increase year to year of about $1.1 million, he said. The BET guidelines (for transportation costs) call for 2.25 percent so there is a deferential embedded in our budget of about $840,000 not considered by the BET guideline, OKeefe said. The increase is for one year only in the proposed five-year contract for transportation services, he said. The district is ending its contract with Student Transportation of America. The contract, which was first signed in 2017, expires during the current 2021-22 school year. According to OKeefe, the new contract has not yet been signed, and the district is still working on it. The original bid came to a total of increase of nearly 12.5 percent increase, but it has come down since then. The rest of the contract would have 3 percent to 4 percent increases per year, which OKeefe said is fairly consistent with previous contracts. No further details about the contract were immediately released. The budget guidelines are nonbinding, but they represent what the BET is willing to approve when it votes on the budget in March. With those drivers adding $5 million to the school budget, OKeefe said the school budget request exceeds the BET guideline by 0.017 percent. No decisions were made during the meeting, but the costs were discussed. BET Budget Committee member Nisha Arora urged the district to look at covering the cost increase through federal money coming to the school district through the American Rescue Plan. According to state guidance, the ARP funding can be used for increases in transportation due to salary increases due to shortages in transportation drivers, Arora said. The guidance was issued after the district received the contract bids in November, she said. However, OKeefe said the federal funds cannot be used because the increases are not related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fund from ARP cannot be used to supplant our budget, he said. The reason for the significant increase is in the middle of our current contract. Roughly three years ago, STA signed an agreement with their bargaining unit that called for significant increases in salaries and benefits, OKeefe said. Theyve been carrying that cost for the last three years and, in fact, theyve been complaining about losing money year after year after year, he said. The increases are not because of COVID. There is no bus driver shortage. It was due to the fact they negotiated a very expensive agreement with the Teamsters union three years ago before COVID and were now having to pay the piper. But Arora disagreed and asked the district to revisit the idea of using federal funds. Id love for you to get some state guidance on that transportation, she said. Budget Committee Chair Leslie Tarkington agreed with Arora on asking about the funds. This is something you can follow up on and look at, Tarkington said. I think Sean has done a great job in terms of the negotiations with the bus contracts, but nevertheless, if there are opportunities to reimburse the town through one of these federal programs for this contract I think its a very valid point. At the start of the pandemic two years ago, when the BET rolled back budget requests in town to lessen the economic impact, a reduction in the transportation contract paid dividends for the town. At the time, the district was facing a nearly $3 million budget hole. And Superintendent of Schools Toni Jones said at the time that it could result in cuts in staff and services. But the shortfall was covered when OKeefe renegotiated the existing transportation contract. Board of Education Chair Kathleen Stowe said, Sean basically saved us two years ago with the bus contract. kborsuk@greenwichtime.com As the Greenwich Tree Conservancy celebrates the 15th anniversary of its founding, the Board of Directors announced the election of Urling Searle as its new president. Searle has served in a variety of GTC leadership roles, including as a Tree Party co-chair, Communications Committee chair, Program Committee chair and vice president, according to JoAnn Messina, the nonprofits executive director. Among her community contributions, Searle has served on the Town of Greenwich Conservation Commission and currently serves on the First Selectmans Sustainability Committee and the board of the Greenwich Land Trust. Urlings fascination with and concern for the environment has led her to serve various roles at local nonprofits and in town government, Cheryl Dunson, founding board member and immediate past president, said in a statement. Her experience and commitment to our community are the right combination to lead GTCs successful public-private partnership to plant, preserve and protect our towns trees. We are fortunate to have her as our new president with an outstanding Board of Directors by her side, Dunson said. The nonprofit Greenwich Tree Conservancy has a mission to preserve and enhance the towns urban forest to benefit the community. For more information, visit www.greenwichtreeconservancy.org. Local Eastern students make Deans List for fall Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic recently released its Deans List for the fall 2021 semester, in which nearly 1,300 students were honored. The honored local students include Kelly Pompa of Cos Cob, who majors in communication; Victor DelVecchio of Greenwich, who majors in sport and leisure management; Ryan McGinn of Greenwich, who majors in accounting; and Ashley Rosales of Greenwich, who majors in business administration. To qualify for Deans List, full-time students must complete a minimum of 12 credits in letter-graded courses with an average GPA of 3.5 or higher in the semester. Local students make Deans List at URI The University of Rhode Island in Kingston announced that a number of local students were honored as members of the Fall 2021 Deans List. The honored students are Chris Collins, Ali McMachan, Falon Nethercott, Samantha Silverman and Yanna Zoumboulis, all of Greenwich. Also honored were Valeria Ospina Jaramillo of Cos Cob as well as Emily Alogna and Carly OBrien, both of Old Greenwich. Other honored students were Sabrina Fischer, Makenna Goeller, Ava Krieg, Emily Lanzarone and Michael Rincon, all of Riverside. Students named to the Deans List represent nearly all of Rhode Islands cities and towns, all six New England states, New York and New Jersey, and many other states and countries. To be included on the Deans List, full-time students must complete 12 or more credits for letter grades and achieve at least a 3.30 quality point average. Local student honored at Norwich University Alexander Raymond Reeves of Greenwich has been honored with inclusion on the Deans List at Norwich University in Northfield, Vt., for the Fall 2021 semester: Full-time undergraduate students, who earned a semester grade point average of at least 3.40 are awarded Deans List honors. Family Centers hosts Titan Speaker Series The Greenwich-based nonprofit Family Centers will welcome former Blackstone Executive Vice Chairman Tony James as the latest speaker in its popular Titans Speaker Series. The event will be held at Greenwich Country Club at 8 a.m. Tuesday, March 29. James is one of the worlds most respected and successful financial minds. During his tenure at Blackstone, he was instrumental in helping the firm become the largest international asset manager. He also led the firms initial public offering, facilitated the acquisition of its $178 billion credit division and established Blackstones $34 billion tactical opportunities sector. Alan Murray, CEO of Fortune Media, will interview James on topics ranging from his approach to investing to the outlook on the global economy. All funds raised will directly support the 26 health, education and human service programs offered by Family Centers. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Family Centers continued to meet the needs of those most impacted through its continuum of services that assist more than 20,000 Fairfield County children, families and adults. Sponsorship information is available at www.familycenters.org/product/titan. A limited number of in-person tickets are available for $250. Access to an exclusive live video stream is also on sale for $100. Just ahead of the Punjab polls, self-styled jailed godman and Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who is undergoing a 20-year sentence for raping his two disciples, was granted furlough for 21 days on Monday by the BJP-led Haryana government to meet his family members in Gurugram. He is lodged in Haryana's Sunaria jail since 2017 after being convicted in rape and murder cases. He has a large number of followers in Punjab, which is going to the polls on February 20. Earlier, he was released from the jail thrice for various reasons, including his plea to meet the ailing mother. Justifying the decision, Haryana Jail Minister Ranjit Chautala told reporters, "Ram Rahim was granted parole as per the jail manual. The state government has nothing to do with granting parole or furlough to a jail inmate." "It is the legal right of a convict, who becomes eligible to seek parole or furlough after he has completed three years of conviction," he added. He is likely to be taken to Gurugram under heavy security. Reacting to his furlough, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the body responsible for the management of gurdwaras, asked the Haryana government to refrain from releasing a criminal responsible for several killings from the jail. Earlier, Ram Rahim was granted parole on his wife Harjit Kaur's plea that his mother Naseeb Kaur, 85, suffering from a heart disease was seriously ill. Ram Rahim (52) is currently lodged at the high-security Sunaria jail in Rohtak, 250 kms from state capital Chandigarh. In June 2019, Ram Rahim Singh had withdrawn his parole plea after the state BJP government was cornered by opposition parties for favouring the self-styled godman, who sought parole for 42 days to tend to his agricultural fields at his sect's headquarters in Sirsa town. Also, the high court had rejected his parole plea for attending the wedding ceremony of his foster daughter. Ram Rahim was sentenced to 20 years in jail in August 2017 for raping two women. A special CBI court in Panchkula this January 2019 also sentenced Ram Rahim and three others to life imprisonment for the murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati over 16 years ago. His conviction on August 25, 2017, had led to violence in Panchkula and Sirsa, leaving 41 people dead and over 260 injured. Ram Rahim was patronised by political leaders and parties in Punjab and Haryana for nearly two decades due to his ability to influence the votes of his followers. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and the subsequent Haryana Assembly polls, Dera Sacha Sauda, with the Punjab's prominent sect at Salabatpura in Bathinda, had issued a public appeal for people to vote for the BJP. In the 2017 Punjab Assembly polls, the sect, which claims to have 60 million followers pan-India of which 4 million are in Punjab alone, supported the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP alliance, but the party lost to the Congress. However, the sect had supported Congress in the previous Punjab Assembly polls in 2012 and 2007. With 84 campuses named 'satsang ghars' across Punjab, the Dera Sacha Sauda sect says it is not a religion but a humanitarian organisation. Followers of Dera Sacha Sauda, if they follow the edict, hold the key to 35-40 seats in Malwa, the largest political region of Punjab with 69 seats out of the state's 117. Week 5 brought another change at the top of our trending chart, the upcoming Galaxy S22 Ultra already gathering enough interest to dethrone the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G. The dominant-in-January Galaxy S21 FE retains third, while the Galaxy A52s makes it three Samsung phones in the top 4. The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max is another gainer, placing fifth this time around, while the Gionee G13 Pro that has a design heavily inspired by the Apple flagship sits in sixth. The Redmi Note 11 Pro is down to the seventh position, while the Galaxy A12 returns to the chart in eight. The vanilla Redmi Note 11 and last year's Redmi Note 10 Pro complete the top 10 in that order, leaving no room for the OnePlus 10 Pro and Xiaomi 12 Pro. If you think someone has stolen your identity, you should immediately report it to the Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Attorney General. The office tracks scam trends they see locally, alerts the community, and assists with connecting victims to resources that can help rebuild their lives. You should also consider alerting family and friends if your email or social media account has been compromised. Sometimes, scammers use personal information to scam another victim. For example, they will send an email from a relatives address and say they are stranded in a foreign country, then proceed to ask to borrow money until they can arrive safely back on Guam. In many cases, scammers are from a different country or state. For example, when you hear about a data breach from large companies, it is often people off island who have hacked into that data will sell that information, which includes your address or Social Security number, to identity thieves. Unfortunately, in cases like this, its nearly impossible to track down the people who stole your information. You will need to provide supporting documents related to your complaint. This can include printouts of bank statements or emails that alerted you about being a possible victim of identity theft. Other reporting According to identitytheft.org, if you think someone has hacked your financial accounts, contact your banking institution. Inform them that someone stole your identity and provide all documents that are asked. Note who you contacted and when, as well as keeping copies of any letters you send. You should also change your logins, passwords and pins on all of your online accounts. If someone used your information to get cable, electric, water or other similar services, contact your service provider immediately. Inform them that someone stole your identity and provide all the necessary documents requested.You should also ask them to change your login information or close the account and create a new one. If someone used your information to get government benefits, contact the agency that issues the benefit. Inform them that someone stole your identity and ask what you need to do to fix the problem. If you stopped receiving benefits because of identity theft, ask what you need to do to get them reinstated. If someone opened a school or program loan using your personal information, contact the school or program and explain the situation. Ask them to close the loan and send you a letter that says you are not responsible for the loan. If someone rented property using your information, talk to the landlord and ask what tenant history services they used. Ask for a copy of your tenant history report and ask what steps you need to take to correct fraudulent information in the report. Additional recovery steps Depending on your situation, you may need to take additional steps. You may need to request for new Government-issued IDs such as your social security card, passport or drivers license. You can find out how to replace your social security card by searching for Ayuda Line on our website. If there is a debt claimed on your behalf, you should contact the debt collector immediately and provide a copy of your Identity Theft Report and any other necessary documents. If someone is arrested and uses your personal information, contact the law enforcement agency. You will need to file a report about the impersonation and provide copies of your fingerprints, photograph and identification documents. For more information regarding identity theft, contact the Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Attorney General at consumerprotection@oagguam.org or call 671-475-2720. You can also find more resources and information on the Federal Trade Commissions website at ftc.gov. A coffee shop embodying the flavors and community spirit of Guam is in the works in Oakland, California. Sisters Analyssa and Arianna Cruz are hard at work bringing the brick-and-mortar Charlie May named for their CHamoru nana, Charlotte, and their Filipino lola, Anna May to life. Analyssa Cruz has spent about a decade working in coffee, gaining experience in everything from making drinks to servicing equipment to managing a team of workers. Meanwhile, Arianna Cruz came to the scene about two years ago, after being laid off from her work in tech and marketing due to the economic impacts of COVID-19. Intrepid and determined, she jumped into more tech education while training as a barista under her sister to earn some cash. Now, shes so skilled she trains baristas at a cafe herself, and she and her sister swap insights. On top of managing the demands of their current workplaces, they have been steadily developing cold-brew recipes that have racked up Charlie May devotees. We started with our signature champorado cold brew, we use our lolas recipe. Its typically a chocolate rice porridge, so we use rice milk, and a little bit of coconut milk, and then a little bit of monk fruit sugar to add the sweetness to it. And then we do primarily the coconut sugar, cacao and vanilla, and then pair it with our 24-hour cold brew, Analyssa Cruz said. We also got started with a seasonal spiced caramel, and that one is all coconut milk in all coconut sugar. And then we use a chai spice to infuse the sauce, so that was our seasonal ode to fall. And then recently we did a latiya and we introduced it at a CHamoru festival that we were at. That one has been a hit, Analyssa Cruz said. The impact of their CHamoru and Filipino heritage does not stop at flavors. Central to their vision for Charlie May are ethical, sustainable practices that support fair treatment of workers and a reduction of carbon footprints. We are trying to make sure that were being conscious of the Earth as well. So were looking into getting a zero-emission roaster for roasting coffee beans, and then actually working with farmers and having fair-trade organic coffee that we can mark as our own, Analyssa Cruz said. Something about roasting coffee, it creates a lot of carbon dioxide right now. Its pretty tough on the Earth for sure. And that takes an effect everywhere in the world, we see climate change happening throughout the world. When we went back, we were so surprised what the reefs look like on Guam. Because as a kid, it was so full of life, and now theres definitely a lot less fish. Any way that we can reduce our carbon footprint, reuse anything that we can, like, thats one of our biggest things and what we stand behind as a business. Neighborhood resource Charlie May may have started as a cold-brew brand, but it is quickly expanding to be so much more. The Cruz sisters are envisioning a space that guests may initially find thanks to a newfound latiya cold-brew addiction, but they will return to as a community resource. This space that we are moving into, historically the neighborhood doesnt have any grocery stores, or a coffee shop, or any sort of community hub at that. And so, when we met the building owners, they were like, These neighbors want a small market and cafe and a meeting place, Analyssa Cruz said. The owners were adamant that they neednt try to make the space into all three, opting for one or the other would be fine. Ever ambitious and deeply committed to serving those around them, the Cruz sisters are creating a space that combines a general store, cafe, artisanal market and gathering place for book clubs, community organizing and more. A community space Ultimately, we have seen ourselves wanting a community space, and different people can grow there, and we can hold the space. So we were thinking about it, and we came to the decision that we could do all three, Analyssa Cruz said. We have a very big community, and that stems probably from our CHamoru and Filipino sides. Them being so supportive and always wanting to support one another. It just seems to be like we are the people gathering, and I think that goes back to how we were raised as well. Like, our nana always wanted everyone to gather at her house for Thanksgiving, Arianna Cruz said. Her sister interjected with a smile, And our lola, too. Guam goals For the Cruz sisters, Charlie Mays immediate goal is to bring together and serve the community in which its located, but they are already thinking of how to connect their business to serving Guam as well. When Ari and I were on Guam, we were like, there is so much life here that just isnt being used in the right way. Like coconut, they obviously grow like crazy out there. So just like the fact that its not used more as an export product ... we want to bring attention to Guam, and realize that they have so many resources and the land to be able to provide things like that and be able to sustain as an island, Analyssa Cruz said. And then on top of that, the volcanic soil that Guam has is also really great for growing coffee trees. So we would love to be able to start planting them and getting those crops up and going. Itll take a few years to have a solid, quality product, but its something that we would like to act on. And that would also help with mudslides and the land not being as it used to be. If you can support us on Guam, we want to bring more back to Guam. And ultimately, that is our goal. Sky Dive Guam reopened its doors to adventure seekers with the help of the Governors LEAP Program. Two more people died from COVID-related causes and 45 people were hospitalized with the virus Monday, according to the Joint Information Center. On Friday, an 81-year-old unvaccinated woman who had underlying health conditions died at Guam Memorial Hospital. The woman, who was the islands 297th COVID-related fatality, tested positive Jan. 19. On Sunday, a 70-year-old vaccinated man with no known underlying conditions was pronounced dead on arrival at GMH. He was the 298th fatality, and he tested positive the same day. Jeff, Josh, and I express our deepest sympathies to their families during this difficult time, said Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero said in a release. Just as our communitys healthcare workers are doing all they can to prevent further turmoil, we too must do our part to combat this pandemic. Continue to wear your mask, wash your hands, and watch your distance, and please get vaccinated and boosted to ensure maximum protection from severe illness. 6 people in ICU Of the 45 people hospitalized Monday, 27 were vaccinated and 18 were unvaccinated, the Joint Information Center reported. There was one child hospitalized. Six people were in intensive care, and four were on ventilators. 499 new cases There were 499 new cases reported since Saturday including 113 reported by the Department of Defense. On Saturday, there were 608 cases reported from 1,905 tests (397 were previously reported). On Sunday, there were 579 cases from 1,510 tests (344 were previously reported). On Monday, there were 53 cases from 397 tests. There have been a total of 36,612 cases of COVID-19 reported on Guam. There were 5,722 actives cases on Monday. The events that led up to the resignation of Cecil Buddy Orsini as executive director of the Guam Contractors Licensing Board warrant further investigation, said Public Auditor Benjamin Cruz. If I need to, I will make a special effort to forward it to the attorney general for his review and determination, Cruz said. In a report issued Thursday, Cruz found that Orsini committed fraud in relation to a dispute between two companies over a baggage handling system contract with the airport. The Guam International Airport Authority gave the project to Menzies Aviation, and JMI-Edison protested the award, stating that Menzies did not have a necessary license from the contractors board. Orsini signed off on a document titled Decisions and Findings which upheld that Menzies would need a license to perform the work, the report stated. The document was a verbatim reiteration of a draft document that JMI President Ed Ilao previously emailed to him, and issued without the needed approval of four board members. The Office of the Attorney General confirmed it received the Office of Public Accountabilitys report Monday afternoon. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero on Monday appointed Linda Ibanez, deputy director of the Department of Public Works, to serve as acting executive director for the contractors board. No due process JMI Vice President John Ilao on Monday confirmed that his company plans to take the OPA to court over the dismissal of JMIs appeal. JMI requested a hearing on the allegations raised against it, and the Public Auditor refused. lnstead, our elected public auditor rendered his judgment based upon his false perception of impropriety, and not based on the facts and evidence, a release from JMI stated. The OPAs decision falsely claimed that the (Contractors Licensing Board) director needed four board votes to issue a letter detailing the agencys findings and decision, the release stated, and wrongly invalidated the actions of another agency. Uncertainty Cruz said that Orsinis actions left it unclear as to whether Menzies needed a license to carry out the airport contract. I was leaning towards the appellant argument that there was a need for license, he said. But now, I cant depend on any document from the Contractors Licensing Board, so I dont know. Cruz said his office is currently writing a decision for another dispute, this time over a contract to install wireless internet service in 40 public schools. Technologies for Tomorrow Inc. was awarded the project by the Guam Department of Education last year, but G4S Security Systems is protesting the award. According to the OPA report issued last week, In the [G4S] case, the appellant argued that the successful bidder lacked a required license from the (board). Appellant relied on a document signed by Director Orsini, also labeled Findings and Decisions, which stated that a contractors license was required for the scope of work of the award, very similar in form to that submitted by JMI to Director Orsini herein. The report goes on to state, (board) Investigator Nida Bailey acknowledged that it is the (board) which is to decide such issues, and confirmed that no board meeting had taken place regarding the issues raised in the (G4S) case. When asked whether the incident with JMI-Edison would affect the G4S appeal, Cruz said, Youve watched enough TV. If the credibility of a person is questioned in one case, whats going to happen in the other? G4S G4S General Manager Teresa Kasperbauer Sakazaki said via email that the company had not relied solely on any findings from Orsini in their appeal. We want to make clear that our case is completely separate from the JMI case, she said. In the G4S appeal, we had testimony presented by a (board) employee who supervised investigations regarding contractors license complaints that went to the merits of G4S appeal. Her company also presented testimony from Guam DOE and the winning bidder supporting the claim, she said. G4S was disappointed in the events that took place, she said, and believed that their appeal for the contract had merit and should be granted. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday requested AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi to take the central security cover, accorded to him after evaluation of threat perception. Making a statement in the Rajya Sabha on Monday over the incident of firing at the carcade of Owaisi on February 3, Amit Shah further said that two people have been arrested and the Union Home Ministry has sought a report from the Uttar Pradesh government. "An FIR has been lodged in the Pilakhua Police station in UP and the local police is investigating the case with all seriousness and minutely. Two unidentified people had fired on the carcade. He came out safe but there were three bullet marks on the lower portion of the vehicle," Shah said in his statement. The incident was seen by three witnesses, he added. The Home Minister also said that Owaisi did not have a planned event in Hapur and the district authorities were not informed of his trip. "We have assessed his security threat and decided to give him security. I request him to accept the security cover, Shah said, adding that in the past too, he was accorded with the central security but he refused," he said. "I request him to take Security cover provided by the Central Reserve Police Force in which he will have bullet proof car and round the clock security cover in Delhi and in Telangana," the Home Minister added further in his statement. On February 4, the Centre had accorded 'Z' category of security to the AIMIM Chief following a firing incident that occurred when he was returning to Delhi from Meerut. The firing incident took place at a toll plaza in Hapur in Western Uttar Pradesh on February 3, 2022. Local mixed martial arts fighter Roman Aaron Duenas Alvarez, also known as Sonic Boom, was arrested and charged in connection with hitting another MMA fighter, Joseph Baby Joe Taimanglo II, with his car after the two were seen fighting inside a Tumon bar. Officers early Sunday morning responded to reports of an altercation at Blue Lagoon Plaza in Tumon and found Taimanglo unconscious laying in the parking lot with his head bleeding, according to a magistrates complaint. A witness told officers Taimanglo and Alvarez got into a fight inside a bar when Taimanglo put Alvarez into a headlock and started punching his head. The two MMA fighters then left. However, while Taimanglo was talking to someone in the parking lot, Alvarez got into his car and was heard revving his engine. He then hit Taimanglo with his car, the complaint stated. Alvarez then left the scene but his car came to a stop across the street. Taimanglo was taken to Guam Memorial Hospital where he regained consciousness. Alvarez, who smelled like alcohol, according to the complaint, resisted being handcuffed when officers tried placing him under arrest. A Taser device was used to get him under control. Alvarez was charged with aggravated assault as a third-degree felony with a special allegation of possession and use of a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony. He also was charged with resisting arrest as a misdemeanor. Magistrates hearing In Alvarezs first court hearing Monday afternoon, the prosecuting attorney proposed a $25,000 cash bond because his release might cause danger to the community considering his alleged actions started from mutual combat. Alvarezs newly pointed attorney from the Alternate Public Defender however argued his client being choked and punched did not sound mutual and asked Alvarez be released on house arrest. Alvarezs attorney also called Taimanglo a dangerous individual in his argument. Taimanglo is currently facing charges connected to possessing a gun and methamphetamine, PDN files states. Magistrate Judge Jonathan R. Quan decided on a $10,000 cash bail but scheduled a bail modification hearing for Friday. Misdemeanor In 2020, Alvarez was charged in connection with assaulting a woman known to him. Alvarez and the woman reportedly got into an argument and later in the day Alvarez threw a car seat at the her but missed. Alvarez then pulled her hair and head butted her on her forehead, charging documents state. The courts Probation Office revealed at the hearing that Alvarez was on deferred probation in the misdemeanor case. According to tapology.com, Alvarezs professional MMA record is 8-3 with his last fight being a loss in March 2019. Taimanglos professional MMA record is 21-4 with his last fight being a loss in November 2018. Former Gov. Carl T.C. Gutierrez is the president and CEO of Guam Visitors Bureau, permit czar, and chairman of the Governors Economic Strategy Council. Send comments or questions to GVB at communityrelations@visitguam.org. Members of the University of Guams Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics in Underserved Populations Protecting Life Project and members of the Micronesian Resource Center One-Stop Shop at Manelu hosting a survey event for community input and testing of COVID-19 in 2021. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday filed a case against underworld don Dwaood Ibrahim and others under various sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. Now the elite probe agency will look into the cases pertaining to the D-company. Sources have confirmed to IANS that the Union home ministry has given them approval to start a thorough probe. An NIA official told IANS that the names of Dwaood Ibrahim and his aides have been mentioned in the FIR filed by the NIA. The official said for quite a long time Dwaood had been spreading terror activities across India. He has also pumped money through Hawala channels to financially help those who are working at his behest to create unrest across India. The agencies have been keeping a close eye on the activities of the D-company and have found that in the recent past they have recruited people across India to create riot-like situations. They are promoting anti-national activities and are also trying to create rifts between different religious groups. "Earlier, a lot of information was shared with us regarding the involvement of Dawood in a lot of anti-national activities that took place across India. He is recruiting people in India and is financially and logistically helping them to create a riot-like situation. Different social media platforms are being used by them to communicate. We intercepted a few of them and came to know that a deep rooted conspiracy was being hatched. Now on the basis of the materials available we have lodged an FIR against Dawood and D-company," said the NIA official wishing anonymity. NIA Public Relations Officer Sanjukta only confirmed that a case was lodged against the D-company. Meanwhile, seeing the gravity of the matter, the NIA has formed a team of its elite officials to look into the matter. Haiti - News : Zapping... Address to the Nation by PM Monday, February 7, 2022, the Primature announces "Prime Minister Ariel Henry, will give an address to the Nation. This address will be broadcast on National Radio and National Television (RNTNH) several other media in the capital, the province, the diaspora, as well as on social networks." 311 earthquakes in January The Bureau of Mines and Energy reveals that during the month of January 2022, 311 earthquakes of magnitude between 1.2 and 5.5 on the Richter scale were recorded in Haiti, including 141 between 24 and January 31 (127 in Nippes 10 in Grand'Anse and 4 in the South) Caracol : Electricity restored at the PIC The Caracol Industrial Park (PIC) is ready to resume its activities, electricity was restored the past weekend, after the major interruption that occurred Monday, January 31 at the thermal power plant following the floods https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35883-haiti-news-zapping.html Vocational training for 73 displaced young people 73 young displaced people from Martissant, Fontamara and Bas Delmas living in Carrefour received professional training in plumbing, tiling and electricity, organized by the Ministry of National Education, the Town Hall of Carrefour, the Directorate of Civil Protection, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA International) and UNICEF. The President of the Senate will address the country The Speaker of the Senate, the Honorable Senator Joseph Lambert, will address the nation this Monday, February 7. His message will be broadcast live on several stations in the capital, provincial towns and also on several social media platforms. Disabled : Contribution from Former Secretary of State Gerald Oriol Jr. United for victory in the fight against exclusion, Genard Joseph, the Secretary of State for Persons with Disabilities met with former Secretary of State Gerald Oriol Jr. about the action plan for the current exercise. HL/ HaitiLibre Login or sign up to follow actresses, movies & dramas and get specific updates and news Login Sign Up Email Password Password Username Your E-mail will only be used to retrieve a lost password. Stay logged in Help Hastings, NE (68901) Today Rain and wind. High around 40F. Winds NNE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Cloudy and windy at times with occasional light rain...mainly this evening. Low 34F. Winds N at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Higher wind gusts possible. Five Afghan pilots who had left the country after the Taliban takeover in August last year, have returned and resumed work, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced. In its announcement on Sunday, the Ministry also said the Taliban regime will strive to encourage all professional staff of the previous government to return to Afghanistan, reports TOLO News. With the fall of the former government, many of the experienced military and air force staff of Afghanistan fled the country to Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, the United Arab Emirates and the US. But there were no details about where these five pilots have returned from. Taking to Twitter on Sunday, Taliban member Anas Haqqani welcomed the return of Afghan pilots, saying Afghanistan currently needs professionals. Reports have stated that around 140 Afghan air force pilots and personnel who were trapped in Tajikistan after leaving Afghanistan have since gone to the US. The return of the Afghan pilots comes days after the UN said in a report that over 100 Afghan military forces of the previous government were killed since the Taliban came to power. The report was denied by the Taliban regime. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Submit There are no easy ways to address the severe shortage of housing. Land is scarce, Stiffarm: Listening to the community a sign of good things to come A sings warns of hazards at a water treatment plant treating contaminants from the mine in the Little Rocky Mountains run by a subsidiary of Pegasus Mining. An initial decision on an environmental impact statement on proposed new mine exploration near the Zortman Mine says more analysis is needed. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality released a final environmental assessment last week requiring additional analysis in an environmental impact statement for a proposed exploration project near the former Zortman Mine, which has been aggressively opposed by the nearby Fort Belknap. The new exploration project, proposed by Luke Ployhar, would be to look for mining opportunities in the Little Rockies, a sacred place to the people of Fort Belknap who almost universally oppose any efforts to mine in the area, and whom officials said were pleasantly surprised by DEQ's decision. In the statement announcing the decision DEQ said the response the project proposal got from the people of Fort Belknap suggest that more study, in the form of an environmental impact statement, must be done to determine if the exploration will have negative effects on the area. "Comments on the draft EA presented DEQ with conflicting evidence from credible and potentially expert sources," the release says. "This evidence raises substantial questions regarding whether significant impacts could occur to historical, archeological, social and cultural resources as a result of the proposed actions. Based on the current information before us, DEQ cannot say with certainty that potentially significant impacts do not exist, DEQ must comply with the requirements of Montana Environmental Policy Act and complete an environmental impact statement (EIS) that will further analyze potential impacts." This decision came as a shock to many on Fort Belknap, who regard it as a victory, and a good sign for the future. Fort Belknap Indian Community Council President Jeff Stiffarm said DEQ clearly listened to the people of his community who showed up at a meeting last month to voice their opposition to the mining exploration. "I asked them not to listen with your ears when you hear people speak here today but to listen with your hearts," Stiffarm said. "Obviously they did, and I'm so thankful." The tribes have objected to mining in the area primarily because of the cultural and environmental impacts it could potentially have. Fort Belknap Indian Community Council Member Warren Morin, who represents an area very close to the mountains, also expressed his surprise at DEQ's decision and pointed out the devastating environmental impacts of Zortman Mining Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pegasus Mining Co., which used heap leach mining to extract gold from the area via two open-pit mines totaling about 1,200 acres of land, half public and half private, before going bankrupt in 1997. Heap leach mining, which uses chemicals including cyanide to leach minerals like gold from ore, left incredible environmental damage that the bond posted by Pegasus could not cover. The state and federal government have spent millions on the cleanup so far with millions more to come in annual water treatment along with reclamation. "We just can't let it happen again," Morin said. " ... It's a perpetual nightmare for us, and for the people cleaning it up. There's no end in sight and the cost is just getting worse and worse." Ployhar has argued that the mining techniques his company would employ are different and would not cause any significant environmental destruction, but that claim has been met with skepticism by many, especially given the area's history of exploitation by the U.S. federal government and private entities. The federal government coerced the Fort Belknap tribes in the 1890s to sell the land, part of the original Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, back to the government after gold was discovered there. This, coupled with the circumstances by which Ployhar came to propose this exploration, have been cited by many, Stiffarm included, as a big reason for their concerns about any new mining operations. Since 2000, the U.S. Department of the Interior had been issuing five-year withdrawals of the federal lands in the region from mining claims, renewing the withdrawals every five years. In a request for an investigation by the office of the inspector general of the U.S. Interior Department, opponents of the mining noted that Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt signed a notice for a 20-year mineral withdrawal, but on a reduced area, Oct. 1, 2020, and the notice wasn't published in the federal register until Oct. 7, 2020. The previous five-year withdrawal expired Oct. 4, 2020, and Blue Arc, owned by Ployhar, filed 10 mining claims in the area Oct. 5, prior to the intended withdrawal being noticed to the public. Morin said he remembers the days when the Pegasus mining began and the effect it had on the people beyond the environmental impacts. "It was traumatic for us," he said, " ... those blasts going on every day, shaking windows." He said the mountains aren't just sacred to the people of Fort Belknap, but integral to their way of life, a place where they pray, fast, prepare for the Sundance and is very close to their Sundance grounds and powwow grounds. To the tribes, he said, the mountains are like people, they gave life to the tribe in their times of need and should be respected, not cut up for mineral extraction. Morin said he thinks DEQ didn't really understand just how sacred the mountains are to the people of Fort Belknap, but the testimony they heard last month may have changed that, a development he couldn't be happier about. "It gives me hope, I'm just glad they listened to us," he said. He thanked everyone who showed up that day for making their voices heard and he's proud of them. Fort Belknap Indian Community Public Relations Officer Camille Stein, who was integral to organizing last month's meeting, said she's happy about the decision and the community's efforts to get them to see their perspective. "We felt like (DEQ) was looking at the economic side and they really needed to listen to the people, and I'm glad that the people showed up," she said. "... Everything we believe in is tied into those mountains." Stiffarm also praise the community for braving the minus-33 degree weather that day to make sure they were heard. He said the tribe is universally opposed to mining efforts in the mountains but he wants to make it known that neither he nor the tribe have anything against Ployhar. However, he said, Ployhar needs to understand where the tribe is coming from. "What if Fort Belknap went to his backyard and set up a Sundance lodge, what do you think his thoughts would be? ... 'Go back to your homes,' that's what he'd probably tell us, 'because this is my home.' What we told him is those mountains out there, that's our home, you have no right there, trying to come up there and mine again. That's what I want Mr. Ployhar to think about," Stiffarm said. While reaction to DEQ's decision has been positive, Stiffarm and his colleagues said they realize this is ultimately a small victory in the long run, and much of the war yet remains. He said the tribe plans to oppose any efforts to mine with everything they have and they're not going to stop. "We plan on battling all the way to the end, we're going to fight till we can't fight no more," he said. "We're fighting for life here," he added. "We're not fighting for minerals or gold, we're fighting for life and the life of our grandchildren and our great grandchildren. That's what it means to us." Dan Belcourt, a Missoula Attorney working with Fort Belknap on this issue, said the tribes are working with like-minded organizations and have no intention of backing down, especially in the wake of what Pegasus left behind. "We knew the environmental degradation that it would cause," he said. " ... And when Pegasus used a corporate strategy to go bankrupt and bail out on the reclamation promises they made, that didn't sit right with the tribe, they've been diligently fighting this, and they will continue to fight this." While the tribes are steeling themselves for a legal fight if that's what it comes to, Stiffarm said, this DEQ decision does give him hope, not just on this issue, but for improved relations between Native American communities and DEQ in general. He said the fact that they listened to the community and took them seriously is a good sign of things to come. 2022-02-06 19:17 On February 6, Ambassador Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China to the Untied Nations, released a press statement to resolutely refute the unfounded accusations against China made by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Permanent Representative of the United States to the UN, in her interview with CNN. Ambassador Zhang said that the US has again made accusations against China and wrongful, irresponsible remarks on issues like the Beijing Winter Olympics, Xinjiang and Taiwan. Such groundless, politically-biased words have seriously poisoned the China-US relations. Facing such a smear campaign, China has no choice but to push back and clarify our position and reject the unfounded accusations by the US. Ambassador Zhang stressed that the Beijing Winter Olympics has successfully kicked off. The opening ceremony was attended by around 170 official representatives from nearly 70 countries and international organizations, including 31 heads of state, heads of government, members of the royal family, and heads of international organizations. Many more state leaders and heads of international organizations have called or sent letters to President Xi Jinping to wish the Beijing Winter Olympics a great success and the Chinese people a happy Lunar New Year. Here in New York, I myself also received warm congratulations from other Permanent Representatives on the successful opening of the Beijing Winter Olympics. This fully shows the international community's firm support for China, for the Beijing Winter Olympics, and for the Olympic Movement. The US attempt to make an issue of the Olympic Games has won no support and met with complete failure. Athletes from China, the US and other countries are competing fairly at the Beijing Winter Olympics. They are the ones that should be in the spotlight, and the US politicians should have left the stage for them long ago! Ambassador Zhang said that the repeated lies by the US about the genocide in Xinjiang have already be debunked by facts. People of all ethnic groups there are enjoying a peaceful, harmonious and happy life. In Team China, there are 20 athletes from 9 ethnic minorities, including Uyghur and Tibetan. One of them is Ms. Dinigeer Yilamujiang, a Uyghur cross-country skier who lit the Olympic caldron. She is the pride and excellent representative of the Chinese people. On what ground does the US has such inexplicable anger over this? And why? Ambassador Zhang stressed that Taiwan is an inseparable part of the Chinese territory. The settlement of the Taiwan question is Chinas internal affairs and allows no interference by the US or any other external forces. The future of Taiwan lies in national reunification, not some security guarantee from the US. The US should stop emboldening and supporting the Taiwan independence forces, follow the true one-China policy, and match its actions with words. Otherwise, playing fire on the Taiwan question will only end up getting burned. Ambassador Zhang said that the US claims to care about human rights, yet it has left a disgraceful record in violating human rights, which deserves close attention and serious accountability from the international community. With a population less than a quarter of China, the US has a staggering number of more than 900,000 deaths from COVID-19, and that figure is still increasing, almost 200 times the number in China. The US is awash in gun violence, with 17,800 deaths in less a year of 2021 alone, leaving its people with no sense of security. The systematic ethnic cleansing and massacre of the Native Americans throughout the US history is the real genocide and crime against humanity. The indiscriminate killing of civilians, including women and children, by the US military in Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq, has already constituted war crimes. Ambassador Zhang stressed that the US is facing serious political, economic, social, security and public health issues. Under such circumstances, the US politicians need to heed the voice of the people and solve its own problems, instead of being trapped in the mindset of American supremacy over everything, still less shifting responsibilities, creating confrontations or obstructing other countries development. Here is my advice to the US: Do not go further down the wrong path. It will not only make your own people suffer, but also create more trouble for other countries and the whole world. A team of US researchers has detected at least four "cryptic" variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, in samples of wastewater from New York City's public sewer system. Marc Johnson, Professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at the University of Missouri and a co-corresponding author on the study, believes the results suggest the "cryptic" mutations they identified in New York City could be linked to possible animal origins. While these origins have not been verified yet, he believes one possible source could be the rats that frequent New York City's sewer system. The findings are published in Nature Communications journal. "For instance, we still don't know where the Omicron variant came from, but it had to come from somewhere," Johnson said. "These variants are bubbling up everywhere, including Omicron, which eventually spilled into the general population and wreaked havoc. We think these weird lineages could be where the next variant of Covid-19 comes from." The researchers have been sampling wastewater from 14 treatment plants in New York City since June 2020. They also reached out to other researchers in the US who were doing similar work with wastewater. They observed some unusual results. "They were different, but all of them had similar mutations in common at one particular location on the virus -- Q498. What's amazing is that in most of the samples from New York City, the Q in Q498 had turned into a Y, or glutamine into tyrosine. If you look at the database, there was not, and continues to not be, a human patient who has had that mutation," Johnson said. The researchers noted a possible explanation could be a biological process called convergent evolution. "An animal in Missouri is not going to mix with the same type of animal in New York City," said John Dennehy, a virologist and professor of biology at Queens College, City University of New York. "Therefore, the evolution of the virus in each geographic area is independent of each other, but because it's the same animal, the virus looks the same in both places," he added. According to Davida Smyth, the lead author, Associate Professor at Texas A&M University-San Antonio, "wastewater surveillance is fast, inexpensive and unbiased." It also "has the ability to be implemented depending on resource availability in a variety of contexts, especially in areas with limited resources such as low testing and vaccine availability," Smyth said. Editor in chief of the Shams News focusing on Turkish and Kurdish affairs Mihsin 'Awed Allah was interviewed by ANHA. Mihsin 'Awed Allah confirmed the aim of the attacks carried out by the Turkish occupation state against North-eastern Syria and Makhmurt and Shengal is to return and revive ISIS as that was made clear in the attack on the Sina'a prison in the city of Hasaka. 'Awed Allah said Erdogan backed and sponsored the attack on the Sina'a prison in the city of Hasaka. ''it is not strange the close relation between the terrorist group and the Turkish state rather we can say confidently that ISIS is one of the tools and militias that are pro-Turkey and the Erdogan regime. The regime of Erdogan uses the ISIS group to create disorders and disputes in the areas under the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria. ISIS was the hand of the Turkish state to control the Syrian revolution and abort it and transforming it from a civil revolution of a people aspiring for freedom and sow discord between Sunnah and Shias, Kurds and Arabs, and hence what Turkey does is seeking to create sedition in North eastern Syria and in northern Iraq to keep these areas burning, to meet Turkish aspirations in extending and expanding in the whole of Syria and Iraq according to the Misak I Mili that embraced by Erdogan'', Awed Allah said. The Egyptian writer said ''when we discover that in line with the attack on the Hasaka prison and as a force was moving in the NES to stand up to the organization it was shelled by the Turkish state . this is a hard proof to the love affair of the Turkish state and the ISIS organization''. 'Awed Allah said Erdogan spares no time to revive ISIS to regain its strength and to control new areas in north Syrian and northern Iraq''. Mihsin 'Awed Allah said in case new areas occupied by ISIS they are added to the influence of Turkey, indicating to the position of Baghdad and Irbil as disgraceful, especially the Iraqi sovereignty is violated on daily bases by Turkey whether in Qandil that is attacked relentlessly under the guise of the presence of the Kurdistan Workers' Party noting Turkey kills civilians under the fought of terror''. Mihsin went on to say ' if we look at the border areas with between Iraq and Syria we will find them remote proper in which civilians are killed. They people of these villages left their homes, as the Iraqi government preserves silence, and the KRG stance is astonishing and its silence is disgraceful, the KRG says that Iraqi sovereignty is concerned with the Iraqi central government. Whenever the Iraqi government keeps silent the Turkish attacks will go on. The ISIS attacks pose threats not only to Syria and Iraq but to the whole international community''. L..A ANHA On Jan. 26, Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Dr. Jewel Bronaugh announced that USDA is investing $434,500 to improve essential community facilities across 10 rural Kentucky counties, including Perry County. This announcement is part of a larger $1 billion announcement made benefitting 48 states, Guam and Puerto Rico. The Biden-Harris administration has made investing in infrastructure improvements a top priority, Bronaugh said. These loans and grants will help rural communities invest in facilities and services that are vital to all communities, such as health care facilities, schools, libraries and first responder vehicles and equipment. When we invest in essential services in rural America, we build opportunity and prosperity for the people who call rural communities home. The 10 rural Kentucky counties selected to receive funding to improve community facilities include Cumberland County, Breathitt County, Owsley County, Estill County, Bracken County, Menifee County, Garrard County, Hart County, Letcher County and Perry County. The Cumberland County Fiscal Court will use a $34,900 Community Facilities Disaster Grant to purchase a new truck for the countys Emergency Management Services. The truck will be equipped with first aid equipment, firefighter gear and equipment, a drone for search and rescue and other equipment, as well as a methamphetamine tech bag and Narcan to treat opioid misuse. Two organizations in Breathitt County received funding. The Watts-Caney Volunteer Fire Department in Breathitt County will use a $42,200 Community Facilities Disaster Grant to purchase a commercial vehicle equipped with advanced life support gear. The vehicle will be used to assist on emergency calls and those requiring advanced life support. The Breathitt County Water District also received funding, and will use a $39,800 Community Facilities Grant to purchase a utility truck for the water district. Two Owsley County organizations also received funds for improvements. The city of Booneville in Owsley County will use a $50,000 Community Facilities Disaster Grant to purchase two vehicles for the Water and Sewer departments. These vehicles will be used for maintenance, both preventative and emergency. The Owsley County Fiscal Court was also selected to receive funding from the USDA, and will use a $25,200 Community Facilities Grant to purchase a public safety vehicle. The Marcum and Wallace Memorial Hospital LLC, located in Estill County, will use a $9,900 Community Facilities Disaster Grant to purchase a vehicle to provide courier services for the hospital staff. The city of Augusta, located in Bracken County, will use a $32,800 Community Facilities Grant to purchase a vehicle equipped with radar for the citys police department. The Menifee County Fiscal Court will use a $19,300 Community Facilities Grant to purchase a new vehicle for the Menifee County Sheriffs Office. The city of Lancaster, in Garrard County, will use a $50,000 Community Facilities Grant to purchase two vehicles for the citys police department. The Hart County Ambulance Service Taxing District will use a $50,000 Community Facilities Grant to purchase a new ambulance for the ambulance service to replace an older, unreliable vehicle. The city of Jenkins (in Letcher County) will use a $36,900 Community Facilities Grant to purchase a vehicle with K-9 equipment for the citys police department. The Perry County Fiscal Court will use a $43,500 Community Facilities Grant to purchase a truck for the city of Vicco water and wastewater systems. This, said Perry County Judge-Executive Scott Alexander, is vital for continued growth and is something the county has been working on for years. Weve been using grants to try to update our equipment that takes care of the Perry County water system and the wastewater system. Thats huge when we can get a grant. It allows you to take your other money and put towards the infrastructure, said Alexander. Anyone knows that when youre running the system you need good equipment thats working, he said, adding that the truck they will purchase will be very beneficial for the systems productivity. Being selected as one of the recipients, said Alexander, was a big deal and Perry County is appreciative of the opportunity. Its huge, were excited. We knew years ago in order for us to continue to grow we was going to have to go after grants so weve been pretty good with the grants and helping our community grow, said Alexander. OUR next meeting will take place at Woodcote village hall on Wednesday, February 9 at 7.30pm. Dr Richard Duckett will speak about the Special Operations Executive in Burma during the Second World War. In the mountains and jungles of occupied Burma, British special forces launched a series of secret operations, assisted by parts of the local population. The men of the Special Operations Executive, who were trained in sabotage and guerrilla warfare, worked deep behind enemy lines, starved of resources, to frustrate the puppet Burmese government of Ba Maw and continue the fight against Hirohitos Japan. Using recently declassified documents, Dr Duckett will reveal the extent of British special forces involvement in this theatre of war. This will include how Operation Character and Operation Billet, launched in support of General Slims Fourteenth Army, were some of the most important missions undertaken by members of the executive. Dr Duckett teaches at Leighton Park School in Reading. His research has primarily focused on the Burma campaign. If you are planning to join us at this meeting, please book your seats by emailing info@bmmhs.org Now, calling anyone who was involved in the Falklands War. To mark the 40th anniversary next year, the society is compiling a book of memories and stories of those who served in the Falklands. The stories can be of any role, any of the services, civilians, Falkland Islanders, those based in the UK or the families of those who served. We would also be interested in any stories from the Argentine perspective too. All profits will go to the charity Blind Veterans UK as with our two previous Glimpses of War volumes, published this year. If you have a story to tell, whether a short anecdote or a longer piece, please email andy.cockeram@bmmhs.org Please can I have any contributions by February 20? For more information about the society, visit www.bmmhs.org Andy Cockeram chairman JOHN HOWELL has refused to comment on the initial findings of an investigation into illegal parties at 10 Downing Street. The Henley MP said it was too early to comment due to the ongoing Met Police investigation into the parties held during the pandemic, which follows call for his predecessor Boris Johnson to resign as Prime Minister. Mr Howell said: The process is a very long one and I am not going to comment on it as it goes along. Last month, he told the Henley Standard that he was grateful for the honest comments by constituents on what was a difficult issue and reiterated that he didnt vote for Mr Johnson to be prime minister at the Tory leadership vote in 2019. On Monday, senior civil servant Sue Gray published her initial findings into parties held in and around Mr Johnsons home in Downing Street and Whitehall during the coronavirus pandemic. The Prime Minister said an updated version of the report would be published once the police have finished their investigation. The initial findings point to failures of leadership and judgement and excessive drinking at work against the backdrop of the pandemic. Ms Gray said 16 events fell within her investigations remit and 12 of those are now being investigated by the police. The events took place over a dozen dates between May 2020 and April last year in 10 Downing Street or the Cabinet Office, apart from one in the Department for Education. Ms Gray said some events should not have been allowed to take place and others should not have been allowed to develop as they did and that some of them represented a serious failure to observe standards for government and those expected of the public at the time. She also said that some of the behaviour surrounding these gatherings is difficult to justify and that there was an excessive consumption of alcohol that was not appropriate in a professional workplace at any time. Ms Gray was asked by the Met to leave out details of parties which are the subject of its investigation. Mr Johnson told a packed House of Commons that he was very, very sorry for misjudgements that may have been made by me or anybody else in Number 10 and the Cabinet Office but said no conclusions should be drawn from the fact that the police are investigating. Politicians on all sides have expressed anger and dismay at Johnsons leadership but the Prime Minister has refused to stand down. Meanwhile, Green Party councillors on South Oxfordshire District Council have asked Mr Howell to make his position clear on the scandal. Group leader Robin Bennett said: Boris Johnsons desperate and shameful attempts to cling on to power are making a mockery of our democracy. Anything less than a clear call for his resignation from John Howell is to fail his constituents. It is not enough for Mr Howell to say that he understands peoples anger, while hiding behind the Sue Gray report and refusing to take action. Boris Johnsons flagrant disregard for the rules is not only damaging trust in public health measures but also our countrys international credibility and it is paralysing government while issues affecting us all, such as the cost of living crisis and potential war in Ukraine, spiral out of control. For the good of the country, Johnson must go and I find it deeply worrying that Mr Howell appears to be placing misguided party loyalty ahead of the interests of the people of South Oxfordshire. Jo Robb, a green councillor who represents Woodcote and Rotherfield on the council, said: We should be under no illusion that just getting rid of Boris Johnson will fix the culture of hypocrisy and entitlement that has taken hold in our political system. Whoever is our next prime minister should be subject to rigorous scrutiny, and be held to the basic principles that we are all expected to follow when given the privilege of elected office. They should not, like Boris Johnson and his colleagues seem happy to do, lie to the public and to other MPs. Former prime minister Theresa May, the MP for Maidenhead, said she was angry at the partygate revelations. In a letter to her constituents, she said that nobody is above the law. Speaking in the House of Commons on Monday, she said: What the Gray report does show is that No. 10 Downing Street was not observing the regulations they had imposed on members of the public. So either my right honorable friend had not read the rules, did not understand what they meant and nor did others around him, or they didnt think the rules applied to No. 10. Which was it? Mr Johnson rejected the question, insisting the Gray report did not come to that conclusion and called on Mrs May to wait for the full report to be published. THE new recreation ground in Sonning Common will remain closed for another few months despite the groundworks being completed. A multi-use games area has been installed at Memorial Park, off Reades Lane, and the new grass has grown well. The work was carried by Blakedown Sport & Play, of Banbury, and was overseen by Aurora Construction Consultancy, of London. However, the parish council has decided to keep the park closed until the rest of the work has been completed due to safety and maintenance issues. A 100,000 play area is still to be installed by Kompan, of Milton Keynes. The company, which was one of four companies that bid for the tender, has produced a computer-generated image of what the play area could look like with equipment such as swings, a cliff rider, a memorial hill fitted with a slide and a musical area. The play area will have a rubber crumb surface to provide extra safety for the children before it is officially handed over to the council. The facility should be able to accommodate up to 80 children, aged from one to 14, at once with 40 different play features. The Tarmac Landfill Communities Fund has awarded the council a 100,000 grant towards the cost of the playground. An additional 2,000 was donated by the Boshier Hinton Foundation, a grant-making trust which aims to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities or learning difficulties. Work on the play area is due to start this month and is expected to take months to complete, depending on the weather. A pathway is also due to be created between the park and Farm Close, off Ashford Avenue. This is currently a tractor route for when the field was used for agriculture. A route into the park already exists from Lambourne Road with access through the new homes of Sonning Grove, which were built by Linden Homes. The developer owned 10 acres of land which it sold to the council for a nominal fee of 1 in order to build the 50 properties next door. The multi-use games area is due have lighting which will be allowed to stay on until 9.30pm. The whole site is due to be landscaped. Cherry trees and hedging will be planted. Native trees and plants have also been chosen but the planting times will depend on the weather. The council hopes to hold the villages first fete on the field to celebrate the Queens platinum jubilee in June. A preliminary programme has been drafted for the special bank holiday weekend from Thursday to Sunday, June 2 to 5 which includes a tea party, a falconry display and a brass band. Councillor Diana Pearman, who chairs the Memorial Park working group, said: The play space was decided through consultation with residents and advice from our play safety consultant, the working group and other councillors. Becky Jenkins, deputy parish clerk, said: The tractor play unit is a nod to the agricultural past of the field and a roundabout was included because we do not have one in Sonning Common. Im looking forward to seeing the designs become a reality. FIVE trees have been planted at Shiplake College to commemorate the Queens platinum jubilee. The crab apples are on the Jubilee Lawn, by the Jubilee Building, which was built to celebrate its silver jubilee in 1984. A planting ceremony took place on Friday with headmaster Tyrone Howe, heads of college Casey Green and Jai Angell and head groundsman Reiss Phillips. Also present was year 7 pupil George Ault, whose birthday is on Sunday, February 6, which was the date the Queen succeeded to the throne following the death of her father, George VI. Mr Howe said: It is very important to the Shiplake community that we mark the platinum jubilee and the incredible service the Queen has given to this country for so many years. We chose crab apple trees because of the beautiful blossom they produce in the spring. They will be a lasting reminder of this huge milestone for many years to come. The planting was part of the Queens Green Canopy initiative, run in partnership with the Woodland Trust, which invites people from across the UK to plant a tree for the jubilee to create a sustainable legacy to benefit future generations. A plaque will be installed in front of one of the trees to mark the occasion and the independent school will feature on the Queens Green Canopy map. SIXTY years ago, a group of Henley residents banded together to save the Catherine Wheel Hotel from development. After successfully overturning a decision to turn the Hart Street hotel into shops and garages, they launched the Henley Society. The group, which aims to preserve and improve the town, was officially formed on December 6, 1961 at the town hall in Market Place. Now it is planning to hold a series of events to mark the anniversary and chairman Geoff Luckett has put together a 72-page book about the history of the society. He says: I dont know whether we would call 60 years an achievement as such but as long as we have keen committee members the society will go on. We hope it goes on for another 60 years or more but this cannot be achieved without a keen, supportive and hard-working committee we dont do it for our own glorification, its for the good of the town. Over the years the society has been involved in a range of initiatives, including campaigning for a weight restriction on Henley Bridge, volunteering as car park attendants during the coronavirus pandemic and donating to the Kenton for Keeps appeal. However, its most important role has been engaging in the planning process, in the tradition of its origins, by commenting on hundreds of applications. After the society helped save the Catherine Wheel, which is now a J D Wetherspoon pub, it was asked for its views on other applications by Oxfordshire County Council, which was the planning authority until 1974 when South Oxfordshire District Council was formed. During its first decade the society had many successes, including preventing Baltic Cottage in Bell Street being turned into nine maisonettes and 27 flats. It also influenced a decision to reject the development of low-type buildings at Friar Park, which was bought by Beatles guitarist George Harrison in 1970, the year the Fab Four broke up. Members also managed to have several trees put on the preservation list and sat on the committee to help restore the Kenton Theatre in New Street. The society was also registered as a charity. During the Seventies, the society partnered with Henley Town Council to raise money for tree planting on Fair Mile with a total of 4,000 being donated by its members. Trees were also planted at the Kings Road and Greys Road car parks. The society successfully campaigned against a proposed petrol station at Phyllis Court Club and a permanent grandstand on the Berkshire bank of the river. It also opposed plans for a national rowing museum in Mill Meadows due to the loss of a large area of open space but this went ahead and the River & Rowing Museum, as it came to be called, was opened by the Queen in 1998. Over the decade membership increased to 550 and the society had a then record 1,000 in funds. In the Eighties, the society supported proposals to demolish the old Regal Cinema to make way for a new Waitrose store. Five members who were against the plans resigned in protest but the proposal was dropped due to the economic recession only to be delivered some years later. In the Nineties the Duke of Kent became president of the society as he lived in Crocker End, near Nettlebed. The society unsuccessfully opposed plans to the build the Tesco supermarket in Reading Road and once again called for the cinema to be demolished and the Waitrose to be built. Tesco submitted a planning application in 1990 when it was rumoured that the town council had entered into a binding contract to grant a lease of the site for 6 million. The society opposed the application because it was contrary to the draft 1970 town plan and the 1990 draft plan. It said the development would intrude on the open countryside, increase traffic congestion, cause loss of trade at town centre shops and set a precedent for further commercial development along Reading Road. However, as many residents were keen to have a second supermarket, the society suggested that an alternative site be sought. A town poll was held in which just over 20 per cent of the electorate voted, with about two-thirds in favour of the proposal. The district council rejected the application due to the likely effect on small shops in the town centre but Tesco appealed and won. By the end of the Nineties, society members had begun questioning what the organisation stood for, whether those aims were stated clearly enough in public reports and what it was actually doing to improve Henley. An executive committee meeting noted that the society had been born out of a protest and was a campaigning body and it was agreed that this should be given greater emphasis in future. However members were still questioning what was being done to sell the group to them. A membership working group was formed with the aim of increasing the membership and coming up with proposals to bring the societys name to the fore. Over the next two decades the society continued to offer its views on planning applications. It was in favour of the pedestrianisation of Market Place an issue which has returned this year and donated 2,000 to the Kenton for Keeps appeal, which was launched in 2010. In recent years, it has objected to the change of name of the Red Lion Hotel to The Relais and against plans for a Premier Inn in the station car park. It also successfully lobbied the town council to restore the slipway at the bottom of Friday Street after this was concreted over and has refurbished 19 Victorian street signs in the town. Members also helped supervise the car park at the Bell and Hart surgeries during the coronavirus vaccination programme. Mr Luckett says: Over the years the society has been through several ups and downs and it did go very quiet for a long time but now we are very active and well-financed. We have a great interest in the town and preserving what we believe is the best of Henley and improving the rest. Planning has always been a major part of our activity and we have continued that. We look at thousands of applications a year and the majority go through with no issues. The society has always been keen to give to the town. In fact, in the first year of its existence it gave a new St Georges flag to St Marys Church. Recently, we cleaned up all the street signs which are a part of Henleys history, and weve campaigned to have the toilets in Greys Road car park improved, which is finally happening. We have monthly meetings and we make decisions and get things done. The society currently has more than 580 members, including eight who sit on the executive committee. Mr Luckett, who joined the society in 2017, says he had four aims when he became chairman in 2020. They were to: Increase the membership Make the society better known Keep members informed Reinvigorate the society. Its a lot different now with a very keen committee and theres a lot more enthusiasm, says Mr Luckett. We used to have a newsletter once a year but now we have a monthly one and members are getting more proactive in making suggestions to the committee. We had tremendous success with our recruitment drive last summer we had 253 new people. The applications were flying through my door like confetti. I think we were so successful because during lockdown people realised the value of where they live. One of his proudest moments was the renovation of the street signs after he saw a comment on Facebook saying it was a pity they were in such a poor condition. Mr Luckett says: I saw that post and thought, You know what? Thats exactly the kind of thing the society should be involved in. I talked to the committee and we had an idea of how much it would cost. I got the committee to pay for the first three signs and then the responsibility fell on me to raise the rest of the money to do the remaining signs, which was about 8,000. I wouldnt say it was easy to get the money but we did it and we were able to cover the whole cost of the project. That pleased me as much as anything. It took him just under a year to write the book, which is called The Henley SocietyThe First 60 Years and was printed by Higgs Group, publisher of the Henley Standard. Mr Luckett says: I had no clue about what the society had done in the past, so I got all the records and put them in chronological order. We had AGM minutes going back 60 years and a number of newsletters. I started writing in the first lockdown and finished in the last one. I wouldnt be able to tell you how much time I spent on it altogether. Judy Clinton did all the layouts and design and I got it proofread by two people and we made changes. Finally, the weekend before I sent it to print, I went through it again and found 54 mistakes. We were very fortunate that one of our members, Rosemary Hardie, paid for the print costs. To buy a copy of the book (8), call 07860 145982 or email thehenleysociety@btinternet.com To celebrate its 60th anniversary, the Henley Society is holding a number of talks throughout the year. These include one by David Barber, the Queens swan marker, who lives in Henley, on Wednesday, March 2. There will also be a music on the lawn event at the Remenham Club on Sunday, August 7 which will have a Beatles theme as this year is also the 60th anniversary of the groups first hit, Love Me Do. There is also likely to be a Christmas event at the Catherine Wheel in early December. For more information, visit www.thehenleysociety.org Finland: Magazine highlights Norway's proposal to attract youngsters Finland's national amateur radio society SRAL has made the latest issue of their magazine Radio Amateur available free for everyone to read as a convenient PDF The editorial on page 1 looks at the move in Norway to introduce an Entry-Level amateur radio qualification based on CEPT ECC Report 89. At the present time Finland doesn't have an Entry-Level license, their lowest class is CEPT Novice, equivalent to UK Intermediate / USA General. Norway is aiming for an Entry-Level qualification that permits 10 watts output on all bands and allows home construction of transmitting equipment. In the magazine SRAL Editor-in-Chief Markku Tuhkanen OH4UI writes: More broadly, there is a desire that amateur radio at an early age would lead more Norwegian young people to study technology and engineering. Background research shows that decisions about career direction are made at an even younger age. An ever-technological society wants to ensure that there are enough experts in the future. Thus, the renewal of the amateur radio qualification requirements is not only being done by radio amateurs on their own, but other parties in society are also involved in the project, e.g. several universities and the Defense Forces Research Institute. The White Paper published by this broad background group in 2020 explained why it would be worthwhile to introduce a so-called Entry-Level in amateur radio. One year ago, the Norwegian Research Council (Forskningsradet) launched a two-year program to improve the digital literacy of children and young people. And bingo - the Norwegian Amateur Radio Association (NRRL) received funding of around 100,000 for its proposal. Download the SRAL magazine PDF at https://www.sral.fi/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/radioamatoori-2022-01-ilmaisnumero.pdf Pages 17-19 of the magazine have a history article about UK radio amateur Jack Wakeman G4FN from Southend-on-Sea in Essex. SRAL https://tinyurl.com/IARU-Finland Further details on the Norwegian Entry-Level proposal are at http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2021/november/norway-looking-to-introduce-entry-level-ham-radio-license.htm Sharon Jean McCarthy, 83, of Greenville, passed away on April 11, 2022 in Greenville, Texas. A memorial service will be at Wesley United Methodist Church on April 30, 2022 at 9 a.m. Coker-Mathews Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Mrs. McCarthy was born Feb. 4, 1939 in St. Louis, Mi 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 Healthy hams USKA, the Union of Swiss Radio Amateurs, has launched a health initiative for its members. Not trying to replace the GP, but recognizing that older YLs and OMs would like to exchange their experiences and support each other when confronted with health issues. Overseen by physician Dr. Heinz Hofstetter, HB9HVS, help and advice is available to members of all ages, accessible via the 'health-adviser' hamgroup on the USKA web portal. IRTS Italy's ARI release 2021 membership statistics The national amateur radio society in Italy, ARI, reports they only lost 13 members in 2021 but the membership is aging The post on the ARI website provides a detailed breakdown of the membership by region. The overall membership for 2021 was 11,286 compared with 11,299 in 2020. The Secretary General of ARI, Mauro Pregliasco I1JQJ, writes: As I wrote in the February 2020 editorial, the aging process is a phenomenon that affects the life of our Sections. This essentially depends on two factors: the first is of a structural nature, and is directly connected to the demographic decline in our country; the second is a direct consequence of technological progress, which makes radio less and less interesting for young people. In statistics, the mode of a set of numbers is the value that appears most frequently; in our case it is made up of 59-year-old members. The range that includes the greatest number of Members is from 55 to 64 years. The Association needs young forces and new ideas, to renew our delicate age balance, trying to acquire new young members so as not to compromise the opportunities for growth. See the full February 2022 editorial at https://tinyurl.com/IARU-Italy Addis Ababa, 7 February 2022 (SPS) - The resolution of the conflict in Western Sahara must be consistent with the provisions of the Constitutive Act of the African Union (AU), which emphasizes the principle of the inviolability of the borders inherited at the time of independence, says the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) in its new report on peace and security in the continent. "Deeply concerned" about the unstable situation in Western Sahara following the resumption of the war in this non-self-governing territory, the AU PSC stresses the "urgent need to reinvigorate efforts to facilitate a definitive resolution of the conflict, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the AU Constitutive Act. The situation remains "tense (...) despite the UN-AU resolutions and decisions", said Uhura Kenyatta, President of Kenya who chairs the PSC at the presentation of the report. "The PSC has noted with deep concern the resumption of military confrontation between SADR (Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic) and Morocco," he said. According to Uhura Kenyatta, the AU Assembly could "request the PSC to discharge its mandate on the conflict in Western Sahara under the relevant provisions of its Protocol and the relevant decisions of the Assembly, by considering the situation in Western Sahara as necessary at the level of Heads of State and Government, including information from the AU Troika. In his report, the Kenyan president said that the AU Assembly should ask the African Troika on Western Sahara, so far inactive, to start a political process that must guarantee the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination. "It is also important that this Assembly calls on the Troika to begin a dialogue with the parties to the conflict to find an amicable solution to the conflict that will ensure the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara," said the PSC chairman. The PSC has included the issue of Western Sahara in its monthly agenda and plans a virtual summit on this issue at the level of heads of state on February 16. 062/700 Home to more global organisations than you can shake a tiny novelty flag at, cultures meet, mingle and merge in laidback Geneva. Perched just a stone's throw from the tranquil shores of Lac Leman, Ruby Claire draws inspiration from the city's long-standing role as a global centre of peace and cooperation. That's why, when it comes to design, we've taken design notes from across the world. In the bar, neutral tones offset colourful nods to far-flung lands. Cool marble and polished glass rub shoulders with woven textures and vintage furniture, all lit by an eclectic collection of traditional lamps and lanterns. The bar menu's similarly diverse, with its tantalising mix of classic cocktails and signature originals, local tipples and tasty snacks. Come morning, the healthy breakfast and barista coffee will set you up for a day of diplomacy (or lakeside daydreaming). To get a breath of fresh Swiss air, head to one of the two terraces, coffee or cocktail in hand. In your room, you'll experience our unique Lean Luxury style, with a big, comfy bed, a rainfall shower and soft, fluffy towels. Woven motifs in the wood panelling and macrame artwork above the bed speak to the city's intertwining cultures and styles. And a Marshall amp's on hand to give your globe-trotting playlist a boost. Geneva's main station is a 12-minute stroll away, from where the airport's seven minutes by train. Hotel website Radisson Hotel Group is delighted to announce the signing of Radisson Blu Hotel, Barcelona Sagrada Familia, bringing Europe's largest upper upscale brand to the city with the rebranding of Hotel Barcelona 1882 and achieving the group's ambitions to grow its presence in Spain. Boasting an enviable location in the Eixample district of the city and just 450 meters from the Sagrada Familia, Spain's most visited landmark, the hotel features an impressive rooftop pool and terrace overlooking the famous basilica. It has excellent links to the city centre, situated within walking distance from Passeig de Gracia and Placa Catalunya and only 2 kilometers from Parc Guell, a popular tourist attraction by Antonio Gaudi. The hotel is scheduled to open under the Radisson Blu brand in Spring 2022 and comprises of 182 guest rooms, including standard and superior rooms and 2 junior suites. Guests will be able to relax in the hotel's vibrant and cozy lobby bar or enjoy something to eat in the light, airy restaurant. Those wishing to maintain their exercise regime are catered for thanks to the hotel's fitness room, and there are 120 square meters of meeting space as well as 64 underground car parking bays for guests. The highlight rooftop terrace and pool offer the perfect place to unwind after a day of sightseeing while admiring the view of the Sagrada Familia and Gaudi's mesmerizing architecture. With its LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold green building certification, the hotel is the ideal location for the eco-conscious traveler. Radisson Blu Hotel, Barcelona Sagrada Familia is easily accessible from the Sagrada Familia metro station, just a 500 meter walk away. The city's main train station, Sants Barcelona, can be reached via car or metro in 20 minutes, connecting Barcelona with other Spanish cities and French cities, and the city's international airport is a 40-minute drive from the hotel. In 2018, Radisson Hotel Group started an ambitious plan to transform the company. For the Spanish market, the ambition - always with a prudently optimistic approach - is to open more than 20 hotels within the next five years. In recent months, Radisson Collection hotels have opened in Seville and Bilbao, and later this year Spain's first Radisson RED lifestyle property will open its doors in the center of Madrid. Meanwhile, guests can already enjoy the recently-renovated Radisson Blu Hotel, Madrid Prado as well as Radisson Blu Resort, Gran Canaria and Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Gran Canaria Mogan. Hotel website W Hotels and Cajetan Araujo - General Manager unveil W Algarve & W Residences Algarve ahead of its highly anticipated opening this spring. The new W Escape is the first opening in Portugal for W Hotels, part of Marriott Bonvoy's portfolio of 30 extraordinary hotel brands, giving sunseekers and trendsetters a new reason to visit the Algarve. Portuguese-Indian Araujo is a seasoned General Manager and joined W Algarve with over twenty years of experience and a global reputation in luxury. Araujo has spent over a year developing W Algarve's design, architecture, and product to bring the Algarve to life in every facet of the hotel, and the very first W branded residences in Europe. Prior to joining W Algarve, Araujo was the General Manager of W Goa, with previous tenures at St Regis Hotels in Doha, Mumbai, and Miami's Bal Harbour. "To me, the Algarve is one of the best regions on the planet, and I can't wait to bring the W spirit to life in Portugal," says Araujo. "The W brand is iconic, playful and luxurious - the combination of the destination and brand is a match made in heaven." In addition to his impressive professional history, Araujo is a passionate musician, painter and photographer who loves to travel for food and wine. As GM for W Algarve, Araujo will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the final build, including recruitment, training the hotel's talent, and managing all pre-launch activity, and the W brand's entry into Portugal with its signature Whatever Whenever service, along with spearheading the commercial and operating strategy. With a dynamic team on board, Araujo commented that he was "thrilled and honoured to have the unique opportunity to connect our guests to the destination through their W experience". A former culinarian, restauranteur, and global hotelier, Araujo studied at Switzerland's Ecole Les Roches, and Johnson & Wales and Cornell University in the US. Having spent his time in Portugal exploring the land, sea, food and lifestyle, Araujo says "I'm looking forward to showcasing the destination as an Insider and bringing the locale to life as a native. The W brand is all about making sure our guests have fun in an environment of liberated luxury, where everyone can be themselves. I always say: it's not the number of breaths, but the moments that take your breath away that truly matter. I want to ensure every one of our guests has the trip of a lifetime." Araujo was also drawn to W Algarve by its unique design. "I love how the design of the hotel is inspired by the destination. The guest rooms showcase the Algarve reinterpreted by W, with Atlantic colours and asymmetrical forms that mimic the nearby cliffs" he says. "The Extreme WOW Suite - our interpretation of a presidential suite - is reason alone to visit. It's inspired by the Algarve, drawing on the picturesque fishing villages and unique landscape, featuring a panoramic rooftop with an infinity pool." Located on the sun-drenched shores of the southwestern coast, where jagged cliffs merge with crystal clear waters and year-round sunny climes, the 134-guest rooms hotel, 83 residences, AWAY Spa and five new gastronomic offerings, will bring the W brand's distinctive energy to Portugal for the first time making it the place "to be and be seen". W Algarve officially opens its doors this spring. For more information and to book, please visit: https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/faowh-w-algarve/ Byron began his career in the healthcare industry, where he co-founded a medico-legal company that provides specialist assessments to plaintiff law firms in South Australia. He then worked for a healthcare consulting firm providing rapid business growth solutions to private practice owners across Australia. With his outstanding entrepreneurial spirit, Byron then co-developed his first mobile application and was a founding partner and director of XOXO Ice Cream, Balis leading dessert chain in 2017. At SABA Hospitality, Byron looks after all things Sales & Marketing. He holds a Masters Degree from the University of South Australia. In Britain and Denmark most coronavirus restrictions have been lifted, including mask mandates; Austria and the Netherlands have eased lockdown measures despite surges in cases, and in late January, the European Union recommended that vaccinated residents should not be required to undergo testing or quarantine when traveling between the 27 member states. In the United States, major travel industry groups have called on the federal government to eliminate the testing requirement for U.S.-bound vaccinated travelers, saying that the measures fail to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The call to loosen pandemic restrictions and the actual relaxation of measures comes as health experts across the world have determined that, while the now-dominant Omicron variant is highly contagious, it is causing lower rates of severe disease, especially among people vaccinated and boosted. This has led to a growing chorus of voices from the prime minister of Denmark to President Bidens former pandemic advisers calling for a change in approach to the virus, to accept it as a part of everyday life to be managed, not a deadly scourge requiring lockdowns and stringent preventive measures. That message has been resonating in the world of travel and among industry representatives, who frequently borrow a public health term to make their case to ease travel restrictions. Read the full article at The New York Times Ruby Hotels expansion continues to successfully progress. In the first half of 2022, two hotels will open in Munich and Geneva, as well as a workspace in Vienna. To support the ongoing internationalisation and diversification, Ruby is expanding its top management team. Fabian Zellinger, who as Group Director is responsible for the Ruby Workspaces business segment, joins the management team and, at the start of the year, also takes over two newly created areas: New Ventures and Corporate Development. Both areas are aimed at the strategic international expansion of Ruby and include, among other things, the establishment of partnerships and joint ventures in new markets, as well as the development of new business areas and licensing concepts. In his new role as Group Director Corporate Development, New Ventures & Workspaces, Zellinger will report directly to founder and CEO Michael Struck. The Ruby Workspaces division, for which Zellinger will continue to be responsible, posted strong revenue and margin growth last year despite the challenges in the market. The pipeline also continues to develop as planned. In summer 2022, the Ruby Paul Workspace will open in Vienna's first district with over 400 workspaces. Additional workspaces in Stuttgart and Florence are already under construction. To support the ongoing international expansion, Mark Braune also joins Ruby's management team as Group Director Revenue & Distribution. Revenue specialist Braune, who joins from HR Group, started at Ruby in mid-2021. In his newly created role, Mark Braune leads the four-person Revenue & Distribution team, driving the expansion of Ruby's distribution landscape, pricing AI and BI, as well as the continued automation of all corresponding processes. He reports to Daniella Boeken, Vice President Commercial. Also, Thomas Fink has been promoted to Group Director Finance & Administration. In this newly created role, Fink and his staff are responsible for the continued automation and complexity reduction of accounting, payments, cash management, and bookkeeping in order to efficiently handle international growth in the background. The Ruby Group already operates in six countries, with two more to be added shortly thanks to the contractually secured project pipeline. Thomas Fink has already been successfully accompanying Ruby's growth for five years as part of Martin Zilkens' team, Vice President Finance. His promotion is in line with Ruby's elective goal to train and develop junior management staff. Ruby currently employs 330 people. By the end of 2023, the group plans to have around 680 employees across Europe, with a capacity of 3,576 rooms and more than 1,500 workspace desks. About Ruby Hotels The Munich-based Ruby Group under the leadership of founder and CEO Michael Struck is breaking new ground with its Lean Luxury philosophy. With a lean organisational structure and concentration on the essentials, Ruby succeeds in creating a contemporary, affordable form of luxury for modern, cost and style-conscious customers. Founded in 2013, the Group already operates twelve Ruby hotels, with a further 22 hotels under construction or in the planning phase. Ruby is expanding into Asia with the joint venture Ruby Asia, founded in 2018. Ruby also offers Ruby Workspaces in Munich, Hamburg and Dusseldorf. Perfectly equipped workplaces and a creative atmosphere with access to an inspiring office community. Financially strong partners support Ruby's expansion. ECE Group; the Austrian Soravia Group; Franger Investment, a German family office; Ocean Link, a private equity fund; the entrepreneur Michael Hehn and Michael Struck jointly hold the company shares. Shanghai Land Group Acquired Hyatt on the Bund, Shanghai for RMB4.5 Billion Hong Kong-based Shimao Group Holdings Limited (Shimao Group) has sold Hyatt on the Bund in Shanghai to China-based Shanghai Land Group Co., Ltd. For RMB4.5 Billion (approximately USD707 million). The 620-key hotel is located in front of the Huangpu River and a 10-minute ride from the Lujiazui CBD area, with a panoramic Bund waterfront view to the south. The property spans over 109,905 square metres, features six food and beverage outlets, 3,466 square metres event space, a fitness and spa centre, an indoor swimming pool, and a business centre. This sale would help Shimao Group realize a gain of RMB3 billion. Ibis Budget Melbourne CBD Sold to Capit.el Group Singapore-based Well Smart International Investment Pte. Ltd. has sold Ibis Budget Melbourne CBD to Australia-based Capit.el Group Pty Limited (Capit.el) for approximately AUD25 million. The 146-key hotel is located right in front of the tram station 2-Collin St/Elizabeth St, in close proximity to the Flinders Street Railway Station and Melbourne Town Hall. The freehold strata property features a food and beverage outlet and a carpark above four retails shops. The new buyer believes that although central Melbourne area continues to see abundant upcoming hotel supply, opportunities in the economy segment is limited. This will also be Capit.els first direct acquisition in Melbourne city. Universal Hotels Group Acquired Sydneys Bats & Ball Hotel for AUD10 million Sydney-based Universal Hotels Group (UHG) has acquired Bats & Ball Hotel (BBH) for AUD10 million. BBH is situated on a 504 square metre site on the corner of Cleveland and South Dowling Streets in Redfern. The sale of the 15-key property includes a 2am trading license and 10 gaming machines. The Chief Executive of UHG, Harris Kospetas, mentioned that the addition of BBH was an opportunity they mobilised quickly to achieve. UGH has previously acquired the Tempe Hotel in April 2021 for AUD10 million and a leasehold to the Newtown Hotel for AUD5 million in May 2021. Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Officially Announced Reopening of Tourism On January 19, from Sihanoukville Cambodia, The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has officially announced the reopening of ASEAN tourism. The joint measurement includes the establishment of the ASEAN Travel Corridor, the creation of a digital vaccination card, the promotion of ASEAN internal tourism, and the promotion of the New Normal in conformity with the health safety rules of each member country. ASEAN travellers should follow the core public health rules such as wearing face masks, social distancing and work from home initiatives to limit the impacts of the new variant. The new ASEAN Tourism Logo and ASEAN Safe Travel Stamp included the slogan Safe and Warm as part of the plan to support tourism recovery. The ASEAN members include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. About HVS HVS is the world's leading consulting and valuation services organization focused on the hotel, restaurant, shared ownership, gaming, and leisure industries. Established in 1980, the company performs more than 4,500 assignments per year for virtually every major industry participant. HVS principals are regarded as the leading professionals in their respective regions of the globe. Through a worldwide network of over 50 offices staffed by 300 experienced industry professionals, HVS provides an unparalleled range of complementary services for the hospitality industry. For further information regarding our expertise and specifics about our services, please visit www.hvs.com. Even if you arent someone that works in a technology role, youve probably heard the term agile used to describe software development and project management. Its sometimes characterized as a methodology or framework, but thats not quite right. Agile is often presented this way by consultants or companies that are trying to sell their products and services. If youre unsure about what agile really means (and why you should care about it), youve come to the right place. What Is Agile? In 2001, a group of seventeen frustrated software developers gathered at a ski resort in the snowy Wasatch Mountains. They saw a problem with software development; companies were more focused on planning and documentation than the satisfaction of their customers. They were there to discuss how lightweight software development methods could offer a solution to the problem. These conversations resulted in the Manifesto for Agile Software Development and the 12 Principles of Agile Software. We wont include the full manifesto or list of principles here - youre welcome to read them at the links we provided - but the values they listed are as follows: Individuals and interactions over processes and tools processes and tools Working software over comprehensive documentation comprehensive documentation Customer collaboration over contract negotiation contract negotiation Responding to change over following a plan These developers werent saying that they didnt value process, or documentation, or thoughtful planning. They were simply saying that they valued the items on the left more. Youll also notice that the words methodology and framework are absent from those titles. Thats because agile isnt a set of rules or steps. Instead, agile is a philosophy, setting the foundation for good decision-making that produces great software. Why Should I Care? Agile was originally written to help software developers satisfy and delight their customers, early and often. However, youll find that many of the principles can be applied to any company or team that provides goods and services to customers. If youre in hospitality, that means that thinking in the agile way can help you adapt quickly to unexpected challenges, build high-performing teams, and consistently improve your offerings. Lets examine a few of the agile principles and how they can be applied to the work of hoteliers. Principle 1: Welcome changing requirements, even late in development. Agile processes harness change for the customer's competitive advantage. This principle is about adaptability. The agile mindset requires a shift to seeing unexpected changes as opportunities, rather than setbacks. The pandemic is an obvious situation that illustrates this principle. Some hotel brands took the challenges that arose from COVID-19 restrictions and used them to make changes that benefit their customers. For example; consider The Roxbury, a hotel near Stratton Falls in New York State. Rather than completely shut down their spa to minimize risk, they began offering individual and family reservations of the hot tub, sauna, steam room, and relaxation room. This meant that guests got to experience the luxury of privacy while allowing the hotel to still generate income. Principle 2: Build projects around motivated individuals. Give them the environment and support they need, and trust them to get the job done. At the heart of agile is an emphasis on people, rather than process. Leaders of agile teams ensure that their people have the information and resources necessary to make good decisions, rather than offering them checklists and constant guidance. The goal here is to build teams with enough competency and confidence that theyre able to function as autonomously as possible. The Fairmont at Copley Plaza in Boston, Massachusetts takes this principle to heart (even if they dont know it). Theyve invested a lot of time and money into developing a variety of training programs for their employees. These programs include opportunities for cross-training, which help their employees understand the big picture and make better-informed decisions. Principle 3: At regular intervals, the team reflects on how to become more effective, then tunes and adjusts its behavior accordingly. A common practice on agile software teams is the retrospective (or retro). Generally, retros are meetings held at the end of a sprint or project. During this meeting, the team discusses what worked well, what could be more efficient, and areas of concern. There are many different ways to conduct a retro, and the cadence can be adjusted to fit your specific context. Whats most important is that your team reflects consistently on the quality of their efforts. The Role Of Technology To adapt quickly, empower your team, and reflect on performance, you need access to accurate, real-time information about your hotel. That data must be collected from various sources, stored, and organized in a way that makes sense to you and your team. Generally, hospitality organizations utilize a Customer Relationship Management system (or CRM) to store this data. Consider employee training programs, like the one that the Fairmont at Copley Plaza uses with their teams. Leaders within the organization likely want to understand how effective these programs are at improving performance. A CRM could be used to keep track of guest satisfaction, associating reviews and complaints with particular employees or teams. At the same time, the CRM could store training completion rates. During a year-end review, if hotel leadership notices that teams that completed a specific training had a lower number of guest complaints, they could prioritize the delivery of that training to lower-performing teams. Insights like this are critical to building an agile organization, and they arent possible without the power of technology. The Future Of Hospitality Is Agile Thynk is a platform designed to help hoteliers make sense of the data stored in their CRM. With drag-and-drop dashboards and reports, teams can consistently evaluate their performance, identify areas for improvement, and make changes that delight their guests. About Thynk.Cloud The Hospitality Cloud for Operational Excellence, Thynk.Cloud, is designed by hoteliers for hoteliers to simplify and automate sales, operations and data management. Thynk.Cloud leverages the world's leading CRM, Salesforce, as a platform to bring agile hospitality to the industry with a focus on driving B2B and MICE sales through data-driven decision-making. With Thynk.Cloud every process is easier, faster and fully integrated. Melissa Jurkoic Chief Experience Officer Thynk.Cloud View source The Munich-based Ruby Group under the leadership of founder and CEO Michael Struck is breaking new ground with its Lean Luxury philosophy. With a lean organisational structure and concentration on the essentials, Ruby succeeds in creating a contemporary, affordable form of luxury for modern, cost and style-conscious customers. Founded in 2013, the Group already operates twelve Ruby hotels, with a further 22 hotels under construction or in the planning phase. Ruby is expanding into Asia with the joint venture Ruby Asia, founded in 2018. Ruby also offers Ruby Workspaces in Munich, Hamburg and Dusseldorf. Perfectly equipped workplaces and a creative atmosphere with access to an inspiring office community. Financially strong partners support Ruby's expansion. ECE Group; the Austrian Soravia Group; Franger Investment, a German family office; Ocean Link, a private equity fund; the entrepreneur Michael Hehn and Michael Struck jointly hold the company shares. Unwanted critters landed on bags of potatoes and clean utensils and even helped themselves to sweet tea at Boston Market, Five Guys and TooJays Deli, all ordered shut last week by state inspectors. But these South Florida pests didnt limit themselves to chain restaurants: China Sky in Lauderhill was also temporarily closed by inspectors. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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 ] Boston Market, Boynton Beach 9929 S. Military Trail Ordered shut: Feb. 1, reopened Feb. 2 Why: Six violations (two high priority), led by 13 live flies found swarming around the kitchen garbage can, as well as the self-serve sweet-tea machine and soda machines in the dining room. The state also discovered eight live cockroaches crawling beneath the oven and reach-in cooler, plus 13 dead roaches in the same area under the oven and cooler. State inspectors cleared the restaurant to reopen the next day on Feb. 2. (The restaurant also was last ordered shut on Nov. 29 for more cockroach woes.) China Sky, Lauderhill 7748 W. Commercial Blvd. Ordered shut: Feb. 1, reopened Feb. 2 Why: 22 violations (seven high priority), led by five rodent droppings in the kitchen storage area where canned goods, corn starch and flour is being stored, as well as one dead cockroach in the same area. Inspectors also uncovered multiple cleanliness issues, spotting one employee with no hair restraint preparing food and another employee who touched [their] hair then proceeded to touch food items without washing hands. They also saw an uncovered container of cooked rice sitting beneath a dirty rack, along with cut cabbage and cut broccoli not washed before cooking for service. The Chinese restaurant was allowed to reopen Feb. 2 after inspectors discovered a handful of minor issues. Five Guys Burgers & Fries, Fort Lauderdale 1818 Cordova Road Advertisement Ordered shut: Feb. 4, reopened Feb. 5 Why: Three violations (one high priority, but its a big one): 25 live flies landing on a bags of potatoes and a box of cups near the front counter and cook line, on a table in the dining area as well as nearby barstools, on the liner bag of an open box of peanuts in the dining room, on the lid of a customers beverage container, on a kitchen shelf where napkins and cups are stored, on a clean food container (which was later cleaned and sanitized), and on a prep table where hamburgers are being garnished and wrapped. The hamburger chain reopened the next day when inspectors found zero new issues during their second visit. TooJays Deli, Wellington 2605 S. State Road 7, Suite 400 Ordered shut: Feb. 4, reopened Feb. 5 Why: 13 violations (six high priority), led by 40 live flies landing on walls behind dishwasher machines in the kitchen and on clean utensils in the same dishwashing area. The restaurant was ordered to stop selling and trash its day-old potato pancakes due to temperature abuse. One inspector spotted an employees personal drink and their ibuprofen on a food prep table near where packets of sugar are stored. The state found no new issues during its second visit to the deli chain on Feb. 5, and let the restaurant reopen. [ RELATED: South Florida restaurants: Now open, coming soon and closed | PHOTOS ] Vadim Ghirda, STF / Associated Press WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden should not count on the U.S. LNG industry to fill the gap should Russia cut off natural gas supplies to Europe, according to a new report from the research firm IHS Markit. With Russia already limiting flows to Europe through Ukrainian pipelines, liquefied natural gas import facilities in Europe are already near capacity. Should tension escalate and Russia reduce flows on other pipelines into Europe, there is not spare infrastructure to make up for the shortfall through LNG imports from the United States and other suppliers. Brent oil eased following a run of seven weekly gains thats pushed crude to the highest level since 2014. Futures in London lost 0.8% after earlier touching $94 a barrel. Marathon Petroleum Corp.s 593,000 barrel-a-day Galveston Bay refinery in Texas was shut after cold weather. Oil product markets surged after the news, with heating oil margins climbing to their strongest since April 2020, while crudes structure cooled. Traders also continue to watch the Iran nuclear deal negotiations, with diplomats set to return to Vienna Tuesday. On Friday, the U.S. signed several sanctions waivers related to Irans civilian nuclear activities, though Tehran said it still needs guarantees from Washington in order to revive the deal. Though crude has begun the week on the back foot, the oil markets structure has been indicating one of the strongest supply-demand balances in years. That has come as the average price of gasoline in the U.S. rose to the highest level in more than seven years and calls for $100 a barrel by some of Wall Streets biggest names grow louder. Crude oil trades lower, led by WTI, said Ole Hansen, head of commodities research at Saxo Bank. The potential for an Iran nuclear deal is higher than for a long time. Over the weekend, Saudi Arabia raised oil prices for its customers in Asia, the U.S. and Europe. The hike of 60 cents to its key Arab Light grade to Asia was largely in line with trader expectations. OPEC+ last week agreed to boost output by 400,000 barrels a day in March, but the group is struggling to fulfill its supply pledges. One of Libyas biggest oil companies was recently forced to cut output due to a lack of storage capacity caused by the inability to perform maintenance on tanks. The Texas power grid and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas passed a closely scrutinized cold-weather test as the grid withstood this weeks winter storm, but one that critics say didnt measure up to the damaging freeze of 2021. One reason could be better planning: ERCOT, the states power grid manager, lined up more power and earlier than it did before the storm that killed hundreds during days of bitter cold in February 2021. Another possible reason lights stayed: The weather. Unlike last year, with multiple days of temperatures in the teens, this weeks storm was milder with lows in the 20s, reducing electricity demand to levels short of early forecasts. At a news conference Friday morning, Gov. Greg Abbott said Texas electricity demand had peaked hours earlier at 69,000 megawatts, according to ERCOT projections, well below the 86,000 megawatts the governor said was available during the storm, and shy of the 75,000 megawatts of demand projected by state officials earlier this week. One megawatt is enough to power about 200 homes on a hot summer day. CHRIS TOMLINSON: Another February freeze, avoiding another Texas blackout As I said yesterday, and I can say again today, the Texas electric grid is more reliable and more resilient than its ever been, Abbott said. Still, Texass gas system didnt get through the cold snap unscathed. Kinder Morgan said Thursday morning that its El Paso Pipeline was operating at reduced pressure because wells in the Permian Basin had frozen. And some power companies burned fuel oil at their natural gas-fired plants - a fairly unusual phenomenon in gas-rich Texas. One of the states largest power companies, Dallas-based Vistra Corp., turned to fuel oil at four of its natural gas plants after being unable to come to terms with pipeline giant Energy Transfer for natural gas delivery. Absolutely not a stress test Some experts did not view this winter storm or the lack of outages as a testament to the grids stability. This was absolutely not a stress test of the Texas grid, said Alison Silverstein, an Austin-based energy consultant who worked for the PUC from 1995 to 2001 and with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission from 2001 to 2004. Its great the grid survived this storm, but gosh it should have, and had it not Id be pretty darn worried. Silverstein pointed to the temperatures, which were warmer than during the 2021 storm. The low in Houston on Friday morning, for example, reached 26 degrees, while the lowest temperature during last years was 13 degrees. Temperatures were at 32 or below this week for 18 straight hours, while last year Houston-area residents endured 44 straight hours of temperatures at freezing or lower. Facing scrutiny in the wake of last years deadly freeze, however, ERCOT took no chances. It brought online far more power earlier than it did in February 2021. At times on Thursday, there were more than 84,000 megawatts of available power online about equal to the power that could have been generated last year before the cold knocked it offline. Often the supply of electricity in recent days exceeded demand by more than 22,000 megawatts. A YEAR LATER: Cold weather sparks fear among some Houstonians The number of power generation facilities that experienced issues this year won't be known until ERCOT releases more data about the grid's performance next week. Some customers did lose power during the recent storm. About 71,000 homes were without electricity on Thursday, but those outages were likely caused by trees or branches falling on power lines or ice bringing down lines. Political fodder In El Paso, meanwhile, Democrat Beto ORourke embarked on what he said would be a 12-day Keeping the Lights On tour of the state, designed to draw attention to Abbotts handling of the the February 2021 power grid failure. At the first stop of his tour, ORourke who has made the power grid a central focus of his campaign told reporters he did not view this weeks storm as a legitimate measure of the grids reliability. We are so grateful that yesterday was relatively mild when compared to last February, and we didnt have the kind of outages that so many people feared, ORourke said. But theres a reason that you are seeing record sales of power generators across the state of Texas. Theres a reason that so many people had a traumatic reaction to seeing the weather reports that the temperature was going to plunge across the state of Texas, because it reminded them of what they went through. In any case, the grids performance this week likely helped Abbott avoid major political blowback. A poll released Thursday by the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston found that 49 percent of Texans would hold Abbott responsible trailing only ERCOT, at 70 percent if Texas were to experience power outages in line with those of February 2021. Chronicle reporters Jasper Scherer and James Osborne contributed. shelby.webb@chron.com Since the start of the pandemic-driven downturn, Big Oil has preached the gospel of capital discipline to woo back Wall Street investment to the battered energy sector by controlling spending, limiting growth and delivering profits. Even as oil prices rebounded above $85 a barrel from $48 a barrel last year, U.S. oil giants such as Exxon Mobil and Chevron remained restrained, funneling the cash to boost dividends, repurchase shares and pay down debt instead of drilling new wells and boosting production. But after a banner year in which companies delivered massive profits and shareholder returns in 2021, Big Oil appears ready to get off the sidelines and spend, looking to grow production and expand again as crude demand has rebounded from the pandemic. And that could mean new jobs in Houston and Texas, and ever stronger recovery for the local and state economies. Exxon and Chevron, which reported combined 2021 profits of nearly $40 billion, recently said they plan to increase Permian Basin production this year by 25 percent and 10 percent, respectively. Exxon said it plans to boost capital spending on new projects this year by as much as 44 percent to $24 billion, compared to 2021 levels. Chevron said it plans to increase spending by 20 percent to $15 billion. ConocoPhillips, which reported profits of $8.1 billion in 2021, said it intends to bring production online from its recently acquired Permian assets from Shell, and boost its capital spending this year by nearly 36 percent to $7.2 billion. On HoustonChronicle.com: How Exxon made $23 billion last year And for the first time in at least two years, Exxon said it was considering selective mergers and acquisitions, a costly move that the company had dismissed during the depths of the downturn. Big Oil is getting room to run because companies are generating the payoffs that investors have demanded as energy companies ride higher oil prices to the biggest profits since 2014. The S&P 500 Energy Index, a group of the largest U.S. energy stocks, rose 48 percent in 2021, recovering to near pre-pandemic levels. So far this year, energy stocks are up 22 percent, outpacing the S&P 500 index, which is down 4.5 percent. Changing dynamic The dynamic has changed, said Peter McNally, the global energy leader at Third Bridge, a New York market research firm. Oil majors are getting a bit more growth because oil prices are higher, and they really delivered on shareholder returns. There is money in their pockets to do this stuff. Theyve got a bit more wiggle room. To be sure, Big Oils spending plans are nowhere near pre-pandemic estimates. The oil industrys renewed interest in production growth and expansion also comes at the risk of refueling the ire of investors unsatisfied by the recent run of returns after years of lackluster performance, analysts said. Large public oil companies will have to walk a tight line, but if they succeed in growing production and while still delivering big profits, Houston stands to benefit as investment flows back to the energy sector, allowing oil companies to invest in new projects and hire more workers again. On HoustonChronicle.com: Exxon to move headquarters to Houston U.S. producers are going to be able to manage dual objectives in 2022, said Aaron Brady, executive director for IHS Markit, a global research and consulting group. Theyll be able to return record cash to investors and also grow volumes to help meet fast-recovering world oil demand. Analysts are expecting big growth in production this year as demand continues to recover from the pandemic. The Energy Information Administration this month estimated the U.S. will end the year producing about 12.2 million barrels of oil a day, 630,000 barrels a day more than current levels. Thats a conservative estimate. Conoco CEO Ryan Lance on Thursday said he could see U.S. crude output grow by 800,000 to 900,000 barrels a day this year, surpassing the pre-pandemic peak of 13 million barrels a day. Public (oil companies) are kind of regenerating and coming out of the maintenance capital mode in 2021, Lance told analysts during a conference call Thursday. We plan to add some activity in all three of the big three (oil basins): The Bakken (in North Dakota), the Eagle Ford (in South Texas) and the Permian (in West Texas and New Mexico). Case for growth Oil giants have certainly built a case for growth. Crude prices are at seven-year highs, historically a strong market signal to drill more wells and produce more oil. West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. crude benchmark, settled at $90.27 a barrel on Thursday, up $2.01 from Wednesday. Exxon, the Texas oil major, last year repaid $20 billion of debt and returned $15 billion in dividends to shareholders, while its California rival Chevron repurchased $1.4 billion of company stock and reduced its debt by $12.9 billion. Houston independent ConocoPhillips last year returned $6 billion to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks, and plans to boost shareholder returns to $8 billion this year, up more than 30 percent from last year. At the same time, Exxon, Chevron and ConocoPhillips have all set ambitions to become net-zero emissions companies by 2050, laying out a strategy to mitigate methane leaks and capture carbon dioxide to satisfy growing investor concern about climate change. The industry has kind of ticked all the boxes that they needed to before they could spend more, McNally said. Debts down, buybacks and dividends are up. More: Read the latest oil and gas news from HoustonChronicle.com Investors so far have largely rewarded Big Oils disciplined strategy. The industrys focus on profits, shareholder returns and improving their environmental image have catapulted energy stocks over the past year. Exxons stock price rose by nearly 58 percent last year to $61.19 a share as of Dec. 31, while Chevron stock climbed 46 percent to $117.35 a share. ConocoPhillips shares shot up 87 percent last year to $72.18. Wait and see Whether investors can stomach double-digit production growth and spending increases in the Permian remains to be seen. Analysts say investors may have an appetite for moderate growth, as long as profits and shareholder returns keep growing. Oils hit $90, McNally said. Theres a lot more flexibility for companies to walk and chew gum. Bloomberg News contributed. paul.takahashi@chron.com twitter.com/paultakahashi Tony Buzbee, the high-profile lawyer and former Houston mayoral candidate, has put his River Oaks home up for sale and will accept the cryptocurrency bitcoin as payment. Buzbee recently listed his Tudor-style, five-bedroom, five full-bathroom home for $27.5 million, real estate brokerage Douglas Elliman said. The home, more than 12,000 square feet, is located at 1722 River Oaks Boulevard in the enclave of Country Club Estates, just three doors from River Oaks Country Club. Buzbee said in an email that he and his wife had discussed relocating elsewhere in Houston and decided now was a "good time, given market conditions." If the couple sells this house prior to finding a new one in Houston, Buzbee said they would temporarily live on their ranch, called Frances Farms, in Burton, Texas about hour or so outside of Houston. The couple plans to set up an animal rescue charity at the farm sometime in 2022, Buzbee said. The River Oaks property underwent renovations last year that involved adding a new suite and expanding a workspace in the residence, Buzbee said in an email. For at least part of the renovations, Buzbee stayed in the Four Seasons Hotel Houston -- except for one night around the time of the winter freeze last February. Thats when he stayed on the streets to prove a point and raise awareness of what it was like to be homeless in the cold. He called it a learning experience" that reminded him of the value of a warm, safe home, he said in social media posts. Buzbee is a prominent attorney known for snatching headlines in high-profile cases. The Buzbee Law Firm is representing nearly two dozen women suing Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson over alleged sexual assault and harassment claims. His firm is also representing more than 125 victims of the Astroworld Festival tragedy seeking $750 million in damages. Buzbee purchased the River Oaks home with his former wife, Zoe, in 2013 from John Michael Stewart and Carole Anne Stewart, according to Harris County records. Buzbee paid a record price for a single-family home at the time, according to the Houston Association Realtors a record that Buzbee joked that he wasnt sure he should be proud of. The sales price wasn't disclosed but the home was listed for $14 million. Buzbee said he paid in cash. Buzbee maintained ownership of the home after he and his ex-wife divorced in 2017, according to Harris County deed records. Buzbee remarried to Frances Moody of Galveston last year. Luxury features Built in 2005, the River Oaks house has an appraised value of $9.5 million, according to Harris County records. The annual real estate taxes on the 1-acre property tally more than $222,000, according to Douglas Elliman.. Designed by Tom Wilson with interiors by Ginger Barber Nash, the brick house features hardwood floors, limestone tile, mahogany millwork and Segreto plaster walls. There is also a stone gas fireplace imported from Italy, imported stone floors and LED lighting throughout. Luxury features include a gym, wine cellar with a tasting room and storage for hundreds of bottles, theater, library, family room with outdoor views and adjoining wet bar, guest suite with a private entry, game room and temperature-controlled attic spaces. Douglas Elliman associate Beth Cassidy is marketing the home. Is there a place for small, local company in a high-speed internet market dominated by telecommunications giants such as AT&T, Verizon and Comcast? Ezee Fiber is betting yes. Since launching in July, the Houston company has begun to build out its 2,000-mile fiber optic network from Galveston to Huntsville, extending fiber to homes and businesses and promising speeds many times faster than those of cable internet providers. Ezee Fiber is relying on the same proven strategy employed by other small firms taking on dominant players: offer competitive rates coupled with more personal customer service. We just provide a different level of service than other incumbents like AT&T or Comcast, said CEO Scott Widham. Because of that, we can punch above our weight. Widham, a 40-year veteran of the telecom industry, founded Ezee Fiber with $550 million in financing from I Squared Capital, a Miami private equity firm with $13 billion of assets under management. With the investors backing, Widham purchased ICTX WaveMedia, which over the past three decades had built an extensive fiber network, largely to connect government agencies, schools and hospitals with one another. The network travels through Houstons downtown as well as the Texas Medical Center. The ICTX system was designed as a so-called dark-fiber network, meaning that the company did not provide internet services itself, but rather sold the capacity to customers that wanted to create private networks to connect scattered facilities. The dark-fiber customers, however, use only a small fraction of the fiber-optic trunks capacity, offering Ezee Fiber the opportunity to sell high-speed internet services to households and businesses. Ezee Fiber which operates across Harris, Montgomery, Brazoria, Fort Bend, Waller, Liberty and Polk counties, aims to land 15,000 customers by the end of 2022. Matt Asmus, Ezee Fibers president and chief operating officer, estimates the company will generate between $10 million and $20 million in revenues this year, and double them in 2022. Were on quite a growth trajectory, he said. Rapid industry growth The fiber-optics industry is growing rapidly across the world, as global internet usage continues to expand. An analysis by the Canadian consultancy Emergen Research predicted that the global fiber-optics market would expand at a compound annual growth rate of almost 10 percent, more than doubling to $9.5 billion in 2028 from $4.5 billion in 2020. On HoustonChronicle.com: 'It's ugly': Verizon 5G data boxes appear without notice on Houston front lawns In the United States, bipartisan legislation passed by Congress in response to the economic dislocations caused by the pandemic provides nearly $28 billion to expand broadband networks and access. COVID-19 drove much of the economy online as companies relied on remote workforces and consumers accelerated their shift to ecommerce, underscoring the importance of broadband connections and high-speed internet in 21st century society. Stimulus programs and other legislation approved by Congress have earmarked billions of dollars for broadband expansion programs, according to the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank. Experts predict that because of their superior speed, reliability and transmission capacity, fiber-optic lines will replace conventional coaxial cables in the construction of new communications networks. Fiber-optic lines are created by bundling hair-like strands of glass fibers. Data is transmitted via blinks of light rather than the electronic pulses on coaxial cables. This technology uses the different colors of light on the spectrum to transmit data packages simultaneously along the same fiber strand, a process called dense-wave division multiplexing, which allows massive volumes of data to be transmitted. The data transmission rate of optical fiber is 1,000 times greater than that of cable, said Ali Golbazi, chair of the electrical and computer engineering department at the University of New Haven. Optical fiber can be stretched hundreds of miles further than copper wire, and is far more durable, he added, making it all but certain that data transmission networks built in the future will rely on fiber optics. Its inevitable, Golbazi said. Nobody is going to put a backbone of communication systems on a cable. Focus on residential growth Widham said Ezee Fiber plans to grow in three areas: residential, commercial and institutional ICTXs legacy business of government, education and medical facilities. In its residential business, the company will focus on marketing services to existing homes as well as extending its network and services to new subdivisions. The company plans to extend its fiber network to 12,000 homes scattered across its seven-county coverage area this year. On HoustonChronicle.com: The digital divide is causing major economic problems for rural Texas. What now? Ezee Fiber offers internet service with upload speeds up to 77 times faster than cable internet. It offers four levels of pricing for basic internet-fiber service: $59 per month for data transfer speed of 500 megabits per second (Mbps); $70 for 1-gigabit speed; $109 for 2-gig speed; and $249, plus installation, for 10-gig speed. The 10-gig service level is aimed at high-usage customers who need to transmit large data files, such as videos. The service is provided without data caps, contracts or hidden fees. Our value proposition is were easy to do business with. Lets say you buy our service, and you call us up and you say your service is out, Widham said. If we cant diagnose it over the phone, were rolling a truck. Ezee Fiber is small enough to provide live, person-to-person service to customers, said Asmus. The website even lists his phone number and email for customers who want to speak directly with the company president. There are no automated attendants, Asmus said. Were never going to ask a customer to press one for this or two for that. Our services are here in the greater Houston area. Thats where our call center is. Our technical support is here as well. Mark Lutkowitz, a data communications analyst firm fibeReality, a consulting firm in McLean, Va., said the market for fiber-optic networks is so large that small companies like Ezee Fiber can carve out a niche even as they compete with telecommunication and cable giants. Theres room for the small companies, although its certainly not without risk, he said. There are maybe hundreds of these kinds of firms across the country. Fertile ground The Houston area and Texas in general could prove fertile ground for smaller fiber companies as big telecom companies have largely focused on building out fiber networks in the densely packed cities in the Northeast. In Texas, however, large cities are spread across the state, creating opportunities for regional fiber networks. In addition, the number of businesses moving into Texas is increasing substantially as companies seek lower taxes and business-friendly climates, said Lutkowitz, adding to the demand for high-speed internet access. Recent transplants include the electric car maker, Tesla, which moved its headquarters to Austin from Silicon Valley. Texas Inc.: Get the best of business news sent directly to your inbox In December 2020, Hewlett Packard Enterprise said it would relocate its global headquarters to Spring from San Jose, Calif. The same month, business software and services company Oracle said it would relocate its corporate headquarters to Austin from Silicon Valley. Since Ezee Fiber has a customer base of governmental, educational and medical entities, Lutkowitz said, the (business) market would be the next logical step for them. Widham said Ezee Fiber is poised to tap into that growth. The Houston area, he said, offers a market to which both businesses and people are moving, offering opportunities to expand the network and Ezee Fibers services. If Houston was a state, it would be the 18th largest state, Widham said. We look forward to putting a lot of money into Houston, creating a lot of jobs and building our business. The recent opening of A&A Bakery Panaderia y Pasteleria LLC in Deer Park is the fulfillment of a lifelong ambition for Anselmo Valencia Gonzales. The family owned Mexican bakery, which opened in December, specializes in sweet breads, cookies, pastries and specialized cakes and makes its own in-house tamales that come in several varieties. Rows of traditional Mexican favorites like marranitos (gingerbread pigs), ornately decorated conchas, fruit-filled pastries, tres leches and flan sit alongside cupcakes, cheesecakes, macaroons, king rolls, cookies and doughnuts. Everything in the shop is prepared and baked by hand in the kitchen, said Gonzales, a 38-year-old Pasadena resident. The variety at A&A, he said, sets his bakery apart. In addition to the many varieties of sweet breads, pastries and French-inspired desserts, A&A specializes in custom-order cakes for all occasions. The cakes can be as colorful, whimsical and ornate as desired or as simple. The bakery is a business long in the making. A&A Bakery Panaderia y Pasteleria LLC Address: 3709 Center St, Suite G, Deer Park. Facebook:facebook.com/AandABakery.Pasteleria/ Phone: 281-884-8786 See More Collapse Gonzales was 8 when he began working at a bakery in his hometown of Puebla, Mexico. Arriving in the United States when he was 18, Gonzales honed his skills as a baker and pastry chef at various bakeries and restaurants, but those businesses always belonged to others. It was always my dream to have my own business, said Gonzales. The name combines the first names of its owners, Gonzales and his wife, Alva. Their youngest children help at the bakery. This was a personal goal (for my husband), said Alva Gonzales, who bakes alongside her husband and helps create many of the special-order cakes. I wasnt always planning to open a business, but Im happy we have it now. The pandemic impacted the opening of bakery due to increasing costs of materials but didnt keep the family from losing its enthusiasm. Im still a little nervous because this is my first business, but I feel blessed and I thank God for giving me the opportunity, Anselmo Gonzales said. yorozco@hcnonline.com The tugboat and barge that ran aground in Deerfield Beach and Boca Raton, respectively, Thursday night have been removed, according to the U.S. Coast Guard, and the beaches have fully reopened. The boat and barge are at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale for inspection and repairs, the Coast Guard said in a statement Sunday. The salvage operations closed stretches of beach in both cities over the weekend, but reopened Sunday, representatives for those cities said. Advertisement [ RELATED: Tug and barge carrying Navy munitions and supplies run aground in South Florida ] The boats were transporting ammunition, supplies, and about 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel from Port Everglades to the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center Naval Base in the Bahamas. With the help of the responsible party, federal and local partners, we were able to safely and expeditiously remove the hazards from the beach, said Coast Guard Cmdr. Eric Pare, the incident commander for the response. It was inspiring to be part of such a unified response. Advertisement The 70-foot Sea Eagle tugboat sent out a mayday call Thursday around 8:45 p.m. because it was taking on water, the Coast Guard said. The boats captain was on board, while three crew members were on the connected barge. All four were rescued with no injuries. A barge that washed ashore Thursday night is shown on Deerfield Beach on Friday, Feb. 4, 2022. A tugboat that had been pulling the barge had also run aground just south of the barge. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel) The U.S. Navys Military Sealift Command chartered the vessels, which are owned and operated by Northcliffe Ocean Shipping & Trading, based in St. Simons Island, Georgia. The Coast Guard said Sunday that they worked with Northcliffe and a commercial salvage company to refloat the tugboat and barge, and oversaw the removal of 9,500 gallons of diesel fuel from Sea Eagle. A representative for Northcliffe Ocean Shipping & Trading could not be reached by phone or email for comment Sunday. A tugboat that washed ashore Thursday night is shown on Deerfield Beach on Friday, Feb. 4, 2022. The tugboat had been pulling a barge that also ran aground just north of the tug. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel) The incident is still under investigation by the Coast Guard, the agency said in a statement. This is a developing story, so check back for updates. Click here to have breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox. Austen Erblat can be reached at aerblat@sunsentinel.com, 954-599-8709 or on Twitter @AustenErblat. A pair of Houston mothers have each been charged with a felony after authorities say they abandoned their combined six children, leaving them in deplorable conditions for a significant amount of time. Riccy Padilla-Hernandez, 28, and Yures Molina, 34, were both charged with endangering a child after their kids were found "covered in filth" and "infested with lice," without access to food, and a 1-year old toddler was left "eating his own feces," according to court documents filed in Harris County. Houston Police Department said officers arrived to an apartment complex in the Green Landing neighborhood in north Houston on Feb. 2 around 3:30 p.m. after a maintenance worker told management that he noticed a 2-year-old female wandering around the property's pool area unattended. Police called the fire department to examine the 2-year-old, HPD spokesperson Shay Awosiyan. While there, a related 7-year-old came outside and led officers through the home where they found four more children living in "deplorable conditions," Awosiyan said. The two women were roommates, but it is unclear if they were friends or related. Of the six kids, each have three children. Padilla-Hernandezs children are a 9-year-old male, a 8-year-old female and a 1-year-old male. Molinas children are a 2-year-old female, a 7-year-old male and a 3-year-old male, according to Awosiyan. The 1-year-old had a soiled diaper, and another dirty diaper with flies around it and an empty bottle that had not been washed for days lying next to the crib, according to Awosiyan. Molina returned to the home while officers were on scene, and officers called Padilla-Hernandez to come back to the scene, where they both were detained and arrested, authorities say. Child Protective Service took custody of all six children. Both women were released from jail after each posting a bond of $15,000, according to court records. A 20-year-old man is facing a felony murder charge after a crash that killed a man early Monday in west Houston, authorities said. Cameron Rogers was charged in connection to the crash, and online court records show he is in jail with bond set at $250,000. Just after midnight Sunday, three people took off from a gas station near Richmond Avenue and Wilcrest Drive after officers approached someone drinking out of an open container near their vehicle, according to Assistant Chief Belinda Null of the Houston Police Department. On HoustonChronicle.com: Man killed by intruder in SE Houston apartment Officers lost sight of the vehicle as it fled north on Richmond, Null said. By the time they caught up, the driver of the vehicle which was a white Cadillac STS had crashed into another vehicle, a white BMW 5281, at the intersection of Wilcrest Drive and Meadowglen Lane. Bystanders told police that the fleeing vehicle ran a red light at the intersection, and struck the other vehicle as it traveled through, Null said. On HoustonChronicle.com: Woman fatally shoots boyfriend during domestic incident in west Houston, police report The BMW driver, who was not involved in the pursuit, was killed in the crash. A court document identified the man who died as Carl Lee Wiley. The three people in the Cadillac the 20-year-old driver, a 21-year-old man and an 18-year-old woman were hospitalized but expected to survive their injuries. Rogers did not show signs of impairment when he was evaluated on scene, according to police. The incident is under investigation. New data from Houston hospitals Monday showed COVID-19 cases continue to plummet from Januarys omicron-fueled peak, evidence the omicron wave is receding almost as quickly as it arrived. But the encouraging figures come after a brutal few weeks, in which Texas approached 80,000 fatalities from COVID and Houston area hospitals scrambled to treat an influx of patients, many unvaccinated. And federal health forecasts predict the state could log up to 4,000 more deaths by the end of February as omicron infections continue to churn through vulnerable populations. Its like a forest fire and we are the wood, William McKeon, president and CEO of the Texas Medical Center said Monday afternoon. It only spreads through us. Vulnerable people create opportunities for it to continue burning. In a series of tweets Friday, Dr. Peter Hotez condemned Texas mounting death toll, calling it a devastating and totally unnecessary loss of human life. The state is tied with California for the most COVID fatalities in the nation, despite having 10 million fewer residents. More than 30 percent of COVID deaths in America after vaccines made widely available, the Baylor vaccine researcher wrote. Literally hundreds of thousands of unvaccinated American lives lost needlessly, victimized by political aggression, far right extremism." Two months after the highly contagious variant was first identified in a Houston Methodist patient, ICUs across the region on Monday continued to treat high numbers of omicron patients. The greatest challenge facing health facilities remains staffing, not space, said McKeon. Omicrons high transmissibility coupled with laxer masking have meant many doctors and nurses are being exposed to the virus in their communities, he said. Despite the stresses on health care workers, Texas Medical Center facilities have plenty of room to handle more patients and are no longer tapping into overflow areas for COVID patients, McKeon said. Health officials are hopeful declining case counts will futher lessen the burden on hospitals in the weeks to come. New infections fell by nearly 30 percent last week, according to Texas Medical Center data. Around 3,900 people tested positive for the virus daily in the greater Houston area, a significant decline from the January peak, when the region averaged 9,000 new cases daily. But while health experts are confident the worst of the omicron surge is over, they urged caution amid falling infections. Cases are coming down and thats good, but we are still at high levels, said Catherine Troisi, an infectious disease epidemiologist with UTHealth School of Public Health. Troisi fears Texans collective pandemic fatigue is leading to a dangerous degree of wishful thinking. Were pretending the pandemic is over because we are all tired of it, she said. Oh my goodness, we are tired of it. Data shows the amount of COVID circulating in Houston is on par with the worst of summers delta peak and last winters post-holiday surge. A small but growing body of research suggests omicron is less severe than previous strains of the coronavirus. The rate of transmission a key metric used to gauge viral spread flat-lined at 0.75 across the Houston area for the past two weeks, meaning the average infected person gave the virus to one person or less, according to TMC data. First identified in South Africa around Thanksgiving, the highly contagious strain swept across the globe with unprecedented speed, overtaking delta to become the dominant strain circulating worldwide. In Houston, more than 423,000 people have tested positive for the virus since the pandemic began, more than 100,000 of those since the emergence of omicron. The citys trajectory appears to be following that of the United Kingdom and South Africa two major omicron hot spots to report skyrocketing case counts. British and South African health officials have in recent weeks seen encouraging evidence of the variants rapid decline, with shorter hospital stays and fewer deaths than previous surges. nora.mishanec@chron.com nora.mishanec@chron.com Two years before the start of the Civil War, Col. Jared Ellison Kirby issued a blunt advertisement seeking the return of runaway slaves. Three enslaved men had fled the Alta Vista Plantation, and Kirby was convinced they were headed to Mexico. The slave-owner never found them. Now, on the same grounds from which the men escaped, historians are working to piece together their stories plus other accounts of plantation life on land that later became Prairie View A&M University, a historically Black college. Were trying to understand how you take a place that was a site for degradation, violence, and then transform it into the place that it is today, said Melanye Price, director of the universitys Ruth J. Simmons Center for Race and Justice. On the exact same soil, how do you go from being a slave plantation to being a university that has educated generations of African-Americans? The nation is confronting similar questions throughout February, which is Black History Month. The annual celebration takes place this year against the backdrop of a debate over President Joe Bidens plans to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court, and whether the role of systemic racism should be taught at schools and colleges. More Information Want to help? Anyone who is a descendant of enslaved people on the Alta Vista Plantation, has artifacts related to the plantation, or artifacts related to early Prairie View A&M University is asked to contact simmonscenter@pvamu.edu. See More Collapse On HoustonChronicle.com: Center for Race and Justice launches at Prairie View A&M University Price is one of several Prairie View A&M scholars delving into the history of the campus, using archives, oral histories and technology such as GIS and ground-penetrating radar systems. The school turns 150 in 2026, and by then she and the Simmons Centers Epa Committee on the Legacy of Slavery and the Impact of Segregation aim to present a comprehensive history examining those issues at the Waller County campus. Many of the records describe horrific conditions, but Price said she ultimately finds them to be stories of promise. That notion is compounded by the inherent purpose of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, said N. Joyce Payne, founder of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, which financially supports HBCU students. We change not only opportunities for our students, but we make democracy and the notion of American exceptionalism true, she said. The founding of HBCUs Most Historically Black Colleges and Universities were established after the Civil War, many for the purpose of educating the children of formerly enslaved people in separate but equal institutions in the South. After years of struggling to attain more funding, 19 such institutions, including Prairie View A&M, were designated land grant schools for agriculture and mechanics through an 1890 federal law that required state funding for the Black colleges. On HoustonChronicle.com: A history of funding failures at Texas HBCUs Prairie View A&M was founded in 1876 on a 1,388-acre plot of land purchased from Alta Vista Plantation, more than 40 miles northwest of Houston. The plantation owners widow, Helen Marr Kirby, sold the land to the schools board of directors for the establishment of the Alta Vista Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas for Colored Youths, according to the school website. Eight Black men began their studies two years later, making it the second-oldest institution of public higher education in Texas. Harry L. Williams, CEO and president of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, said he knows of at least four HBCUs built on former plantations, making them outliers among the 107 total universities. But he said he doesnt find it surprising that states would have purchased plantations, because they contained an appropriate amount of land to create schools. The state surely knew at the time the significance of making Black students learn on former plantations it wasnt lost on them, Price said. More coverage: An interactive guide to HBCUs across Texas Dealing with complex stories Prairie View A&M students are told about Alta Vista, Price said, but they dont know the intricacies of how their school began. Price was struck when she saw a bill of sale from Kirby, purchasing an enslaved woman named Lucinda in Galveston in 1858. Another appalling find came in the form of newspaper articles that revealed Kirby had sent slaves to tend to Confederate soldiers, clothing and feeding the same troops who were fighting to ensure that they remained property, Price said. The team has identified about 50 enslaved people, said Marco Robinson, associate director of the Ruth J. Simmons Center. The study comes at an important time in Texas, he and Price said, especially with the Texas Legislature taking aim at the teaching of so-called critical race theory, which focuses on the prominence of systemic racism in United States history. Many people dont want to deal with complex stories, Robinson said, but some people do. One of the Kirby descendants, for example, left her results open on the DNA genetic testing site 23andMe, so any potential relatives Black or white could connect with her. 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. You have people who are attempting to look past all this shadowing of history that you dont want to face, and they are trying to seek truth, Robinson said. When we dont want to know that truth, then were not being transparent with each other. 'Look what we turned this plantation into' Students from various fields such as political science, history and architecture, are also contributing to the work. One architecture student, Milton Javari Henderson, is reconstructing a digital rendering of the main Kirby House on the plantation, which is no longer standing. History student Kalyse Houston said she has always kept the plantation in the back of her mind, especially through student customs such as not stepping on the campus grass because of uncertainty where slaves were buried. But now, through her work tracing the lineage of those on the plantation, she said she has gained a deeper understanding of the pain and torture that people experienced there. A place that has been so terrible for our history and the way it has transformed everybodys lives to be an institution of higher education is a blessing, Houston said. It really makes me happy to know I made a choice to go here, to know where we came from and where we are now. To be a part of that history is very monumental to me. Some schools, such as Rice University, are currently seeking to make amends for their pasts founder William Marsh Rice was a slave owner and founded the private college for whites only. The University of Virginia last year dedicated the Memorial for Enslaved Laborers, which honors the roughly 4,000 enslaved people who lived and worked at the campus in the decades before the Civil War brought an end to slavery. The work that Prairie View A&M is doing is different, Price said, because the college doesnt have anything to apologize for. It can instead serve as an example to others. In this historical moment we need to understand the power of transformation, and that is the ability for groups that have been marginalized to use their own agency, their own skills, their own fortitude to transform their lives, Price said. Thats the story here for me, she said. You put us back on this plantation, but look what we turned this plantation into. samantha.ketterer@chron.com As a candidate for Harris County Precinct 2 commissioner, Adrian Garcias shoe-leather campaign raised money from a wide swath of residents. Wage workers and police officers chipped in alongside lawyers and real estate agents, while the big-dollar donors who dominate county politics largely ignored him. They instead donated heavily to his opponent, two-term incumbent Jack Morman. After Garcia narrowly defeated Morman on Election Day, however, he welcomed the donors who had spurned him engineering and architecture firms who compete for lucrative county contracts, over which commissioners hold significant influence, to design and build roads, bridges and flood infrastructure. They gave generously. In the final two months of last year, Garcia raised more money than he had in the first 10, even though he will next appear on the ballot in 2022. Two-thirds of the $478,500 he raised from Election Day to Dec. 31 came from firms, including their employees and family members, who have done business with the county in the past two years. During his campaign, that figure was 15 percent. The reliance of commissioners on donations from companies who receive county contracts a practice that took root in Harris County politics long before Garcias election creates the impression businesses must contribute in order to receive work, scholars said. Rice University political science Professor Mark Jones said the stark shift in Garcias donor base after Election Day was not the result of engineers suddenly having a change of heart about him, but rather a recognition he soon would control millions of dollars of infrastructure spending. More Information Commissioners Court 2018 monetary campaign donations Pct. 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis: $664,550, 78 percent from county vendors Pct. 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia: $1,397,257, 42 percent from vendors Pct. 3. Commissioner Steve Radack: $873,000, 88 percent from vendors Pct. 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle: $803,378, 82 percent from vendors County Judge Linda Hidalgo: $470,907, 8 percent from vendors* *The county judge's office has no infrastructure budget and, thus, less influence over contracts See More Collapse Under the logic of pay-to-play, you give to power, and Garcia did not have power until his victory on November 6, Jones said. The moment he became a county commissioner, engineering firms and others who do business with the county flocked to him like flies to manure. Even with his end-of-year windfall, Garcias reliance on vendor cash is dwarfed by the other three county commissioners. Each raised at least $660,000 last year, almost exclusively from this donor pool: Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis, 78 percent; Precinct 3 Commissioner Steve Radack, 88 percent; and Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle, 82 percent. Only Cagle was up for re-election in 2018. Many of those vendor donations are difficult to trace. Fewer than 20 percent were made through political action committees set up by firms, as corporations are prohibited from donating directly. The rest were given individually by firm principals or their spouses, whose occupations often are left off of the commissioners campaign finance reports. Garcia raised no objection to Jones argument that engineers and other vendors have flooded his campaign coffers in hopes of receiving Precinct 2 business. He said the cash will play no role in his offices hiring and purchasing decisions. If you look at my voting history over the years, Ive made decisions and taken votes that worked against some of the interests of people that contributed to me, said Garcia, who previously served as a Houston city councilman and Harris County sheriff. Garcias haul included some of the largest individual checks any commissioner candidate received in 2018, including $30,000 from a political action committee for S & B Engineers and Constructors, $20,000 from a principal at Cobb Fendley & Associates and $15,000 from engineering firm IDC, Inc. president James Gonzales. Garcia has taken the opposite approach of County Judge Lina Hidalgo, a fellow Democrat and the other new Commissioners Court member. Hidalgo took few donations from county vendors during her campaign and in January announced she would not accept any more, citing a desire to act ethically. Unlike commissioners with their precincts, the county judge has no infrastructure budget and, thus, less influence over road and bridge spending. Subjective criteria Harris County hires scores of outside firms to perform many services, including road building, flood control projects, mowing and a phone system for inmates at the county jail. Many of these contracts are put out to competitive bid through the countys purchasing office and awarded to the lowest bidder. Commissioners, however, ultimately decide which firms receive professional services contracts no-bid agreements required by Texas law to hire certain types of skilled labor, including engineers, lawyers and architects. Each contract must be approved by the five-member Commissioners Court, though the body long has followed an unwritten rule that commissioners refrain from meddling in each others precincts. Votes usually are unanimous and court members rarely discuss individual infrastructure contracts at their twice-monthly meetings. County Engineer John Blount said commissioners must select engineers from a list of 290 firms approved by the county. Blount typically recommends a handful of engineering firms for a project based on their qualifications, but said commissioners make the final call. If we gave them a list of three or seven, and they said hey, could I use so and so? They worked real well, if they were qualified, wed say yes, Blount said. Blount said he never has looked at commissioners campaign finance reports and pays no attention to their relationships with engineer donors. He said commissioners in the past have asked him, along with leaders of the flood control district and toll road authority, to attend fundraisers so engineers could introduce themselves. Art Storey, the former head of Harris Countys Public Infrastructure Department, likewise said choosing qualified firms for county work was his primary responsibility. He declined to share his views on how he believed commissioners made their selections. My job was to make sure that the projects were done competently, with people who were qualified, Storey said. He added, Am I telling you everything I know, or believe, or suspect about those choices? Hell no, Im not. Ed Emmett, who served as Harris County judge from 2007 until this year, said engineering firms should not need to become campaign donors in order to do business with the county. He said engineers have said they feel pressure to contribute to a commissioner in order to improve their chances of winning a contract that depends on his whims. I dont think theres any question about that, Emmett said. Its just under state law, the way engineers and architects need to be selected, it allows it to be subjective criteria. Few engineers were eager to discuss their contributions. The Houston Chronicle contacted the principals of 31 engineering firms who do business with the county and donate to commissioners. Two agreed to interviews. Sirrus Engineers Inc. President Sujeeth Draksharam, who donated $40,000 last year between commissioners Ellis, Radack and Garcia, said he felt no need to contribute in order to receive jobs. Harris County paid Sirrus $685,737 for work in 2018, according to the county vendor database. Draksharam acknowledged the relationship between donations given and contracts received may appear a quid pro quo arrangement but said in his experience, a commissioners priority is selecting competent engineers. He said they are loathe to re-hire firms that perform substandard work. If a commissioner is a friend, and you screw it up, you hear about it immediately, he said. They dont hesitate to pick up the phone. The head of a small Houston engineering firm, who asked not to be identified because he feared losing business with the county, said he donated $4,000 to a commissioner last year because he liked his ideas. The man said he suspects there is a correlation between donations and awarded contracts. All you have to do is see whos getting the projects and see whos contributing, said the engineer, whose firm did $30,000 in county work last year. I think you can draw a parallel chart to see thats the case. Harris County awarded 119 professional services contracts through the county engineers office in 2018, totaling $29.1 million, according to county records. Ninety-one percent of those contracts, which included designing roads and subdivision drainage, went to companies connected to donors. Those firms, which received $26.4 million in county work, collectively contributed $2.5 million to commissioners. Reform a hard sell Past county judges have proposed campaign finance reforms, without success. In the late 1990s, Robert Eckels, whose father resigned as Precinct 3 commissioner after pleading no contest to corruption-related charges, proposed a $250 limit on campaign contributions from county vendors. He was unable to convince a single commissioner to support it. Emmett, Eckels successor, created an ethics task force that recommended a number of reforms, including the creation of a county ethics board. Emmett said the county attorney concluded Commissioners Court lacked the authority to enact much of what the task force proposed, but he acknowledged some commissioners were not keen on new rules. The court at that time included Precinct 4s Jerry Eversole, who resigned in 2011 after pleading guilty in a federal corruption case in which he was accused of steering county business to a friends firm in exchange for more than $100,000 in cash and gifts. None of the four current commissioners said they plan to follow Hidalgos pledge to refuse donations from county vendors. University of Houston political science Professor Brandon Rottinghaus said a steady stream of checks from engineers enables commissioners to maintain massive campaign accounts. Those war chests often deter challengers and all but guarantee them the ability to out-spend opponents. Having a bunch of money is a way to make sure nobody thinks twice about trying to match you, dollar for dollar, Rottinghaus said. As a result, he said, turnover on Commissioners Court is low and elections seldom are competitive. Since 1960, there have been fewer Harris County judges than popes in Rome; from 1974 to 2016, more Commissioners Court members left office after criminal indictments than were defeated at the ballot box. Ellis said he is open to contribution limits but said the realities of politics trump academic discussions. To remain in elected office, as he has for most of his life as a Houston councilman, state senator and county commissioner, Ellis said a politician must constantly maintain a sizable campaign fund to fend off opponents. I got my Ph.D. by practicing the art of politics, he said as he pedaled a stationary bike in his office. Not by just reading about it. Former Houston mayor Annise Parker said vendors should be able to contribute to city and county political campaigns, since firms have an interest in ensuring politicians are competent. She noted Houston has made reforms Harris County has not, including placing limits on how much donors can contribute and how long city council members may serve. Zach Despart covers Harris County for the Chronicle. You can follow him on Twitter or email him at zach.despart@chron.com . A slate of anti-immigrant, anti-trans, pro-death penalty resolutions proffered by a Harris County GOP precinct chair drew outrage from Democrats and scorn from Republicans, though the opposing sides remained at odds over the correct outcome. Carla Richburg of Cypress, chair of GOP precinct 602, proposed eight resolutions to the party platform, including outlawing all sex education in schools; mandatory death penalties for anyone convicted of murdering a police officer or murders committed during other felonies; a call to wage war against all invaders related to Texas borders that authorizes deadly force; considering all Chinese nationals as spies and removing them from the country; refusal to recognize transgender identification; and removal of the word marriage from official documents. On HoustonChronicle.com: Cagle, Ramsey pitch cutting 1,000 jobs to hire law enforcement; Hidalgo calls it 'horror story' The resolutions were roundly rejected by the local Republican partys advisory board, which forwarded them to voters, noting, we unanimously condemn the tone and content. Even the consideration of resolution with this salacious rhetoric would embarrass and impugn the integrity of this body, the advisory board wrote. Richburg and the local GOP leadership did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday. Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Democrats, who began lambasting the local GOP over the weekend, demanded more action on Monday morning. They called for Richburg to be removed. The hate-filled priorities list she submitted is indefensible and not legitimate political discourse, Harris County Democratic Party chair Odus Evbagharu said in a statement. We condemn the promotion of hatred in any form and will continue to call out anyone who attempts to magnify messages of hate. NEWSLETTERS Join the conversation with HouWeAre We want to foster conversation and highlight the intersection of race, identity and culture in one of America's most diverse cities. Sign up for the HouWeAre newsletter here. The calls for Richburg to resign follow by eight months demands by Democrats for a member of their own caucus to step aside. Former county precinct chair John Behrman resigned from his Democratic post in June after suggesting two rising members of the local party one being Evbagharu were suspect because of their Nigerian descent. On social media, state Republicans were quick the denounce the proposals but also defend their processes and stopped short of saying Richburg must resign. Texas election code and state party bylaws only allow for removal of precinct chairs under certain circumstances, such as embezzling party funds, election fraud or missing party meetings. GOP rules allow for removal after at least three other documented instances of sufficiently egregious conduct that the Republican Party in that county or senatorial district is subjected to public disgrace. On HoustonChronicle.com: Former Harris County clerk Chris Hollins announces run for Houston mayor Under the rules, Richburg also would have to be notified and given an opportunity to defend herself. (Texas Democrats) know there is no legal remedy to remove Carla Richburg, state GOP vice-chair Cat Parks said in a tweet. Should she be primaried and beaten? Without question. The controversy comes as both parties are preparing for a flurry of primary activities and campaigning in advance of what is likely to be a contentious general election. Early voting in the primaries runs Feb. 14-25, with election day on March 1. dug.begley@chron.com WASHINGTON Robot dogs may soon be patrolling the southern border, as the Department of Homeland Security has been testing the four-legged ground drones it aims to send out alongside border patrol agents. The agency says the project will help boost U.S. Customs and Border Patrols presence along the border while reducing human exposure to life-threatening hazards and harsh terrain. The 100-pound robots have been successfully tested in El Paso and Virginia, the agency says. The southern border can be an inhospitable place for man and beast, and that is exactly why a machine may excel there, said Brenda Long, program manager at DHSs Science and Technology Directorate, which is overseeing the project with Philadelphia-based Ghost Robotics. FACT CHECK: Texas lawmaker claims illegal immigrants get more freedoms than most Americans A DHS article detailing the project does not say when the robots might be deployed, how many may patrol the border or how much money the agency has invested in the project so far. It does offer a bit of information about what the robots are capable of, describing extremely nimble machines that can operate automatically or by remote, in the heat of the desert and the dark of night. It hints at some defensive capabilities, as well, saying tests included situations where the robots were met by potentially hostile individuals. The agency did not respond to a request for more information Monday. The DHS article says the robot dogs were tested walking up hills, down ravines and over rocks carrying 20 pounds of cameras and sensors. They were also tested indoors, moving through hallways, peering around corners and climbing stairs. The tests included simulated inspections, including of rail cars, as well as sentry duty, when the robots were sent on programmed paths through the desert during the day and night. TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox The new details about the project sparked pushback from immigration advocates and some on the left who see it as an inhumane militarization of the border. Its shameful how both parties fight tooth + nail to defend their ability to pump endless public money into militarization, said U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat, on Twitter. From tanks in police depts to corrupt military contracts, funding this violence is bipartisan + non-controversial, yet healthcare + housing isnt. THIS IS TERRIFYING and sickening, tweeted Juan Escalante, an immigrants rights advocate. Others said the machines were evocative of an episode of the sci-fi series Black Mirror in which robot dogs hunted humans. Yall seen Black Mirror right? one Twitter user wrote. ben.wermund@chron.com The claim: In 2022, illegal immigrants will have MORE FREEDOMS and easier access to healthcare and ballot boxes than most Americans... Just think about that. U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Amarillo. Jackson, a physician and retired Navy admiral, made the claim on Twitter, receiving more than 6,000 replies. PolitiFact rating: Pants on Fire! Unauthorized immigrants dont have access to the ballot for federal, state and almost all local elections. Though immigrants can have access to some medical assistance programs depending on where they live, they do not qualify for any health insurance coverage with any federal dollars. They do not qualify for Affordable Care Act marketplace coverage even if they pay costs without using an ACA subsidy. Discussion Immigrants lacking legal authorization to live in the United States cannot vote in federal and state elections, said Matthew Weil, director of the Washington-based Bipartisan Policy Centers Elections Project. The project explores and analyzes voter legislation to ultimately inform policymakers. Almost all localities in the U.S., and all in Texas, limit elections to citizens. Even in the small handful of localities where noncitizens can vote in local elections, those localities allow only lawfully present noncitizens to vote. Weil noted New York City is one example of the few places where noncitizens can vote in local elections. New York City allows Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals participants but not all unauthorized immigrants to vote, as reported by the Associated Press in early January. There are no circumstances where noncitizens can vote in federal elections. I dont know of any jurisdiction that allows somebody whos here undocumented to access the ballot box, Weil said. TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox There are an estimated 1.7 million people lacking legal immigration status in Texas, according to 2019 estimates by the Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan policy research institution. More than 20 percent of them, according to the institute, have been in the U.S. for 20 or more years. Unauthorized immigrants are barred from federal health care programs, said Anne Dunkelberg, associate director at Every Texan, an Austin-based nonpartisan policy institute. This includes Medicare, Medicaid, the Childrens Health Insurance Program and coverage through the ACA marketplace. Based on policy research, Every Texan advocates for Texas to expand Medicaid under the ACA, which all but 12 states have done. That expansion would not include immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. 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 Dunkelberg said there is an exception where providers can recoup the cost of treating an unauthorized immigrant in an emergency situation. Even that emergency funding for providers is subject to the same restrictions as for Medicaid in Texas for adult citizens. And so hospital emergency rooms cant turn away people with real emergencies, regardless of whether theyre uninsured, regardless of what their immigration status is. They have to treat you in real emergencies, Dunkelberg said. So thats why there is a provision back for emergency room visits by a very limited number of undocumented immigrants, not even all of them. Unauthorized immigrants have access to some state and local health programs, which can be funded by federal grants. This patchwork of programs addresses some aspects of well-being such as mental health, immunizations and communicable disease. However, these programs are not health care coverage, Dunkelberg said. That care isnt free, and in many cases program costs work on a sliding scale. Those programs are available to citizens, too. Locally, counties can opt to serve uninsured immigrants living in the U.S. illegally through medical assistance programs. The uninsured people seeking care have to meet specific income requirements. Dunkelberg said most of Texas major urban counties opt to provide care to unauthorized immigrants who are uninsured. States also have the option of providing prenatal care to women regardless of immigration status through the Childrens Health Insurance Program, said Ruth Wasem, professor of public policy practice at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas. Wasem said this option was created under former President George W. Bush. Texas is one such state that opts for the CHIP perinatal program (prenatal, delivery and postpartum care) for unauthorized immigrants. Even with limited emergency Medicaid, its a stretch to say unauthorized immigrants have easier access compared with most Americans. There is no aspect of that that is in any way superior to the access for U.S. citizens, Dunkelberg said. Wait! Before you go Please sign up for our Evening Digest and Breaking Newsletters Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Spirit Airlines of South Florida and Frontier Airlines of Denver would become the nations fifth largest airline and likely one of the largest discount carriers if government regulators allow a planned merger announced by the companies Monday. The airlines both advertise themselves as ultra-discount carriers that serve mainly leisure travelers. Besides one airline charging cheap fares on flights to a broad cross-section of U.S. and foreign destinations, the proposed airline pairing offers intriguing consumer possibilities for a frequent flier program, analysts said. Advertisement According to the airlines statement, the merger would allow the combined company to: Offer more than 1,000 daily flights to more than 145 destinations in 19 countries, across complementary networks. Expand with more than 350 aircraft on order. Increase access to ultra-low fares by adding new routes to locations with limited service across the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean. Expand frequent flyer memberships. This transaction is centered around creating an aggressive ultra-low fare competitor to serve our guests even better, expand career opportunities for our team members and increase competitive pressure, resulting in more consumer-friendly fares for the flying public, said Spirit CEO Ted Christie in a statement. Advertisement In a telephone interview, Christie said the similarities of the airlines fleets, which consist of European-made Airbus jetliners, as well as their low-cost business models, will deliver efficiencies that result in substantial fare savings. Both of these airlines operate the most fuel-efficient fleets in the country, he said. Spirit and Frontier have similar price points in the market, Christie added. We are similar carriers. On average were [charging] 30% lower than the prevailing fare in the market. Once the airlines become one, they will control around 7% of the U.S. domestic aviation market as measured by capacity, which is dominated by the Big 4 of United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines. Collectively, the Big 4 control 80% of the market, making it difficult for smaller airlines such as Spirit and Frontier to compete, Christie said. We are going to incrementally grow, he said. So there will be more jobs. We can deliver benefits to our shareholders. Nick Ewen, editor of travel website The Points Guy, said airline passengers are less interested in cumulative savings than the individual deals theyd receive when they fly. The average traveler whos looking to fly Frontier or Spirit, or really any airline, doesnt care about cumulative, annual savings across all passengers, he said. They want to see it reflected on the price of their tickets. As long as they still classify their individual flights in the category of a deal, thats what will matter. He said his site will be paying very close attention to how the airlines combine their frequent flier programs, which are designed to foster customer loyalty and repeat business. Many airline programs have dissatisfied customers who complain about award availability, dilution of benefits and complexity. Advertisement I see a major opportunity here for the combined carrier to aggressively court travelers turned off by issues at legacy airlines especially as it relates to elite travelers, Ewen said. Weekend votes The two companies unveiled their merger plans in New York early Monday morning after the boards of each airline voted in favor of the deal over the weekend. The combined companies would create the nations fifth largest airline. The new carriers headquarters, brand name and leadership will be announced at a later date, after company shareholders and federal regulators give their approvals. The terms call for Frontier to buy Miramar-based Spirit for $2.9 billion in cash and stock. The total deal is valued at $6.6 billion when accounting for the assumption of debt and other liabilities. A Spirit Airlines Airbus A320 takes off from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. The Miramar-based budget airline is being acquired by Frontier Airlines of Denver for $6.6 billion. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) (Wilfredo Lee/AP) Spirit maintains an a la carte pricing system, charging additional fees above the quoted fares for certain seating, luggage and other services. Both airlines serve the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean. Advertisement Spirit is the leading carrier in daily flights and passengers to and from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, where it maintains its biggest operation. After a short hiatus, Frontier is scheduled to resume service there on Feb. 17 with a dozen nonstop flights. Spirit and Frontier maintain substantial operations at Miami International Airport, and also serve Palm Beach International Airport. Christie denied that financial losses driven by the COVID-19 pandemic helped influence the decision to merge. Airlines have suffered a devastating stretch during the pandemic despite assistance from the U.S., and are in a weakened position heading into 2022. On Monday, Spirit reported a 2021 loss of $440.6 million, excluding special items, such as federal pandemic aid. The results were an improvement from the $719.6 million deficit posted in 2020. Frontier lost $299 million last year, around the same amount as the previous year. South Florida HQ site still needed The deal raises questions about the status of Spirits proposed new headquarters in Dania Beach. The airline is now located in a corporate park in Miramar. Advertisement In 2019, Spirit declared it would invest $250 million to build a headquarters near Fort Lauderdale Hollywood-International Airport, and move up to 1,000 employees to the location. In the interview, Christie said the project remains an important part of the airlines future. A sizable piece of that project is designed to satisfy our training needs of crews, he said. Regardless of what happens, we need that space. But he added that as important as South Florida and Florida are as contributors to the airlines fortunes, this is a real chance for South Florida to put its best foot forward. The Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, the economic development arm of Broward County, said it is prepared to respond. Well be doing everything we can to help the company determine that we would be the best location of choice, said Ron Drew, executive vice president at the alliance. We have one of the largest aviation clusters in the country, of which Spirit has been an important part for many years. We also have a great pool of talent who is located here or wants to be here. Well be working hard to make our case to the company about the reasons the new company would want to be here. Advertisement Both airlines said they intend to add 10,000 people to the payroll by 2026. Spirit employed more than 8,750 system-wide at the end of last year, with roughly a third in South Florida. [ RELATED: Spirit Airlines to invest $250 million in new headquarters and move 1,000 employees ] One tension point could come from Denver-based Frontier itself. The company is emerging as the predominant carrier in the deal; any decision about the base of the merged airlines operations and other major decisions would be under Frontiers control. According to the companies statement Monday, the new airlines board of directors will be comprised of 12 directors, including the CEO, seven of whom will be named by Frontier and five of whom will be named by Spirit. The merger is expected to close in the second half of 2022, subject to federal antitrust reviews, and approval by Spirit stockholders. A Frontier Airlines jetliner taxis to a runway to take off from Denver International Airport. The airline is buying out South Florida-based Spirit Airlines in a merger of low-fare carriers. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File) (David Zalubowski/AP) Antitrust scrutiny possible The carriers may be in for a very close look by antimonopoly regulators. The Biden administration has signaled a tougher line against big corporate mergers. Advertisement Existing Frontier shareholders will own approximately 51.5% and existing Spirit stockholders will own approximately 48.5% of the combined airline. Spirit shareholders will receive 1.9126 shares of Frontier plus $2.13 in cash for each existing Spirit share they own. This implies a value of $25.83 per Spirit share at Frontiers closing stock price of $12.39 on Friday. Shares of Frontier rose 3.15% on Monday to $12,79 while shares of Spirit jumped about 16.2%. to $25.25. Information from the Associated Press appears in this report. As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. DJ with 15.5M streams made more $s shorting Spotify stock for a month than he has in hiswhole music career DJ and electronic music producer Party Thieves has found a way to earn a living from Spotify. But it has nothing to do with the 15.5 million streams that his top 10 tracks have accumulated on the platform. Party Thieves, who has had tracks on Spotify since 2015 says that his score came thanks to shorting Spotify stock during the companys recent 42% market slide. Ive made more money shorting Spotify this month than theyve paid me in royalties thru my whole music career. shorting Spotify stock is my new career it seems. party thieves (@partythieves) February 4, 2022 Its no secret that artists get paid very little by streaming services. For the people who read this as a complaint, its not- maybe its solution, Party Thieves told EDM.com. Im very grateful for any and all opportunities Ive had over my music career and money isnt a driving factor. But when you contextualize whats happening, music artists arent being paid more to do anything besides create music. So my suggestion: invest. Bruce Houghton is Founder and Editor of Hypebot and MusicThinkTank and serves as a Senior Advisor to Bandsintown which acquired both publications in 2019. He is the Founder and President of the Skyline Artists Agency and a professor for the Berklee College Of Music. Share on: Radio revenue tops $10B a year and it comes from the pockets of hard-working recording artists While the NAB has the right to represent its members interests, writes Michael Huppe, the president and CEO of SoundExchange, it cannot do so credibly when pushing for two hypocritical positions in two different hearings on the very same day in Congress. By Michael Huppe, the president and CEO of SoundExchange Those of us fighting to have radio broadcasters compensate performing artists have long felt like Bill Murrays character in Groundhog Day. Each morning we get up and explain that musicians deserve to be paid for use of the recordings that make up radios product. We point out that satellite and internet radio stations pay such royalties, and that broadcasters in most other industrialized nations pay, but that U.S. broadcasters unjustly refuse. The National Association of Broadcasters then launches into its typical misdirection. It falsely calls such compensation a tax and claims the royalty would put radio stations out of business. And it argues recording artists do not deserve to be paid because the promotional value of airplay is enough. The next morning our alarm wakes us to relive the same day all over again. Theres a chance, however, that the juxtaposition of two hearings yesterday on the actual Groundhog Day, no less- will help us skip to the happy end of the movie as music plays and the credits roll. In a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing yesterday on the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act, the broadcasters argued that big media platforms (such as YouTube) are not paying enough when using broadcaster content to generate advertising revenue. Broadcasters pushed for legislation to grant broadcasters an antitrust exemption so they could negotiate collectively and withhold content unless online platforms pay more for journalists articles. In a nutshell, the NAB wants media platforms to pay more for the NAB members content or risk losing access to it altogether. On the same day on other side of Capitol Hill, a different group of content creators made a similar plea before the House Judiciary Committee in support of the American Music Fairness Act (AMFA). AMFA also seeks to have big media platforms (in this case radio broadcasters) compensate creators when using their content to generate advertising revenue. Arguing in favor were supporters such as Gloria Estefan, Lawrence Boo Mitchell, Dave Pomeroy, and Barry Massarsky. But thats where the similarities end. They simply asked that recording artists be granted similar copyrights as others. The AMFA crew didnt ask for an antitrust exemption, like the broadcasters did. They simply asked that recording artists be granted similar copyrights as others. They didnt ask for more money, like the broadcasters did. They simply asked for at least some payment, since they now receive none when broadcast radio stations air their music. They didnt ask for special treatment, like the broadcasters did. Rather they asked that they be treated the same as all other artists around the world, and even the same as artists on virtually all other media platforms in the U.S. And they didnt ask for rights to negotiate and withhold content, like the broadcasters did. Under AMFA, radio stations would still be allowed to play music as they please. Artist advocates simply asked that the biggest-of-the-big stations pay a modest royalty set according to market rates. Stations making less than $1.5 million per year would pay a flat, annual royalty of $500 (less than $1.40 per day) for as much music as they choose to air. And the smallest stations payments would drop all the way down to $10. No station is going to go bankrupt over these royalties. In the third quarter of 2021, alone, iHearts net revenues were $928 million, exceeding even their own prior estimates by approximately 20 percent. Audacys revenues were $329.4 million. Cumuluss revenues were $238 million. The NABs claim that these royalties are a tax is a new form of B.S.: Broadcaster Spin. The royalties would compensate recording artists for the billions of advertising dollars radio broadcasters make from airing music. We dont call it a tax when freelance writers ask to be paid for stories used by newspapers. And the NAB certainly doesnt call it a tax when it demands that social media pay writers for selling ads around broadcaster content (as it demanded yesterday). Fair music royalties are no more of a tax than these. The NAB claims musicians should just be happy with the promotion radio provides. But artists cant pay the rent with promotion, and this same argument apparently rings hollow when the NAB is seeking to protect its own content. I understand the NABs job is to minimize costs so their members pocket more of the $10 billion the radio broadcast industry earns each year. But that money comes out of the pockets of hard-working recording artists, who represent the very foundation of what these broadcasters sell. And while the NAB has the right to represent its members interests, it cannot do so credibly when pushing for two hypocritical positions in two different hearings on the very same day in Congress. At the end of the day, the NAB was pushing to get paid more for (their) content in one room, while vigorously opposing paying anything for (others) content in another room. Pretty bold but they cant have it both ways. Whats good for the goose is good for the gander (or in this case, the groundhog). Broadcast radios inequitable opposition to paying for sound recordings must end. It is unfair to musicians and creates a competitive disparity with satellite and internet radio stations. I note that Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow yesterday. Lets hope that doesnt mean recording artists must continue to endure yet another long winter. Michael Huppe is president and CEO of SoundExchange. Share on: Free N95 masks are expected to be given to Publix shoppers this week as part of the supermarket chains participation in a national effort to distribute hundreds of millions of masks to U.S. residents. Publix says it expects the masks to arrive in stores throughout the week, and the masks will be given out based on the available supply. As masks arrive, stores will have a table setup to distribute up to three masks per customer while quantities last, said Publix spokeswoman Maria Brous. Advertisement Publix is among the participants in the federal governments program to distribute free N95 masks as part of the effort to curb the coronavirus. Other companies include Winn-Dixie, CVS, Walgreens and Walmart. The Biden administration recently announced that it would distribute 400 million of the high-quality face masks free to Americans. The masks come from the Strategic National Stockpile, which has a supply of more than 750 million. Advertisement Well-fitting N95 masks also called respirators offer the highest level of protection against COVID-19. Florida on Monday reported 32,035 new coronavirus cases from the weekend and increased its death total by 456, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. In addition to Publix, here are additional details about the other participating companies: CVS Distribution inside both CVS Pharmacy stores and CVS pharmacies located inside Target have started in South Florida. Inventory will continue on a rolling basis as additional supply becomes available, according to a corporate spokeswoman. Walmart and Sams Club Most Walmart and Sams Club locations throughout the U.S. should have the masks by this week, according to a spokeswoman. The masks will be available at the front of the stores. Walgreens More South Florida stores are getting their supply of masks. The list with locations that now have masks are available at walgreens.com/n95storelist. The locations include one store each in Boynton Beach, Pompano Beach and Davie and three stores in Oakland Park. A spokeswoman said distribution would continue on a rolling basis. Advertisement Winn-Dixie, Fresco y Mas, and Harveys Supermarket Distribution of the free masks has already started in South Florida. A spokeswoman for Southeastern Grocers, the chain that owns Fresco y Mas, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie, said that all South Florida stores with in-store pharmacies will eventually have a supply of masks. Lisa J. Huriash can be reached at lhuriash@sunsentinel.com or 954-572-2008 or Twitter @LisaHuriash. ADVERTISE Hypebot & MusicThinkTank With the internet and digital technologies driving rapid change within the music industry, articles about new releases and who has been hired and fired are no longer enough. Our up to the minute industry news alongside insightful commentary helps our readers sift through the rumors and developments to find the information they need to keep their businesses moving forward. Hypebot is read daily by more than 30,000 music industry professionals including executives and senior staff of music related tech firms, internet based music sites, every major label group and most indies as well as many managers, artists and members of the live music community: Contact us for the latesst stats, ad rates and sponosorship opportunites. We also offer combined rates with MusicThinkTank. Berkshire Regional Planning Commission Gets Economic Development District Designation PITTSFIELD, Mass. After years of anticipation, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission's request for the county to be designated as an Economic Development District (EDD) was approved by the U.S. Economic Development Administration. With this designation, the planners will be able to address activities and priorities outlined in the Berkshire Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) that identifies goals and priorities, strategies, and actions for the region. A five-year economic strategy was certified in 2017 and another will be created this year. The 2017-2022 strategy has six broad goals and objectives: talent and workforce; entrepreneurship and innovation; infrastructure, site readiness, and transportation; collaboration; industry and occupational clusters; and economic resiliency. Executive Director Thomas Matusko announced the approval at BRPC's executive meeting on Thursday as "a big deal." "We started working on this in 2011 with our very first draft, except it sat dormant for a number of years, but then we resuscitated it back, I think, in 2018 or 2019," he said. "We were told that when we submitted the second application that it would be a two-year process, and it came in just a little bit longer than two years, I guess with COVID that's not so bad." North Adams Tree Commission Eyes Spring Plantings NORTH ADAMS, Mass. The city has about six months left to acquire the remaining 39 trees available through the Franklin Land Trust grant and a little more than $1,000 in funds. The Tree Commission recently was setting plans for the upcoming growing season as well determining what it's mission and goals are. The commission was re-established late last summer to take over the work initiated by the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition and the Franklin Land Trust. Its first planting was the memorial tree planted at Noel Field in honor of William Evans, a Drury High graduate and U.S. Capitol Police officer killed in the line of duty. "I am very excited to plant more trees this spring," said Commissioner Danielle Galietti. "We did our first inaugural tree in the fall ... So that was really nice to to get to be able to break some ground and to get some new life started and looking so forward to adding some more the spring." Commissioner Dianne Olsen had some concern about the ability to recruit volunteers during the pandemic but thought by the time any plantings would start, the case numbers would have dropped off. Commissioner Francesca Olsen agreed, saying, "if it's anything like last summer, I think we will be able to at least coordinate one tree planting with volunteers. That seems reasonable to expect at this point." About 20 volunteers had signed up to help over the past couple years with plantings and Galietti said she would contact them to see if they were still interested. Commissioner Kevin Boisjolie said working in smaller groups of people outside would make a big difference. "Looking ahead, I'd like to check with the people that are going to supply the trees that we get and see what kind of shipments we can get them in," he said. "I don't know if they've ever sent 39 trees at once. If that's a normal order, or can be broken down into maybe, I don't know, what the minimum is." Galietti thought the delivery fee itself was standard and not based on quantity and that she would speak to the commission's contact with the trust about the remaining balance and fees. "I think looking at it more so through that lens might give us a little bit more clearer direction," she said. "While I don't want to kind of waste resources for just one tree, all things considered. It's kind of contingent on, I believe, it's just like a one flat rate for delivery fee." Commissioner of Public Services Timothy Lescarbeau attended this meeting, in part in his role as the city's tree warden. He informed the commission that trees could be delivered to the City Yard but he could not guarantee that city crews would be able to help in delivering them to specific sites or in planting. "The city has limited resources and I'll help you the best I can," he said. "But if I have some other issues going on, those will be priority. And we always have a lot of issues. If I can help, then I will. That's not an issue because I fully support this program." He said his concerns included where the trees will be planted because of considerations such as underground wires and other hidden infrastructure. The commission should also be aware of street and sidewalk work, such as being planned for parts of Ashland Street. And research the best trees for where they plan to plant. Trees on Church Street, for example, are being removed this summer by the utility company because they've grown into the wires and have to be repeatedly cropped. "They look terrible," Lescarbeau said. "I believe they're all Norway maples, which are junk trees." Norway maples are considered an invasive species. Lescarbeau suggested the commission confer with Bret Beattie, the former coordinator of the effort, on what trees would be more suitable. Galietti suggested reviewing the city's Vision 2030 master plan, which has some details on greenspaces. "I was just looking at it for some work," she said. "And I'm wondering if there are specific areas listed that are, you know, these areas are primary for greening and we could maybe start there. That could give us some guidance." Dianne Olsen also provided the commissioners with a mission statement that she had written up for their review. The statement was written broadly with four parts: That the commission's mission is to plant trees to enhance the city's environment, health, beauty and community spirit; to offer educational opportunities, such as workshops, lectures and tree walks to improve public appreciation of urban trees; to serve as a resource for residents and organizations on incorporating trees in the urban landscape; and to liaison with city departments such as public works, tourism and community development. Galietti and Olsen suggested that the commission contact similar commissions to see how they operate and consider applying for grants if they wanted to workshops and outreach projects. One thing the commission agreed that it did not want to become is a complaint board about trees. Last fall, the commission had been approached by a resident about a tree near her home. The commission pointed her in the direction of the Public Services Department, and agreed that deferring to city departments should be the standard. "I think the best thing we can have is directions on where these type of complaints should go to, so we can tell people very clearly, very quickly about who they need to contact," said Boisjolie. Lescarbeau said complaints like that should go to his department. "If they're healthy trees, and people just want to take them down? I got a problem with that. You know, if they're a dangerous tree, I have the authority, I'm the tree warden ... I'm gonna take it down. I'm not gonna come to the Tree Commission first on that," he said. "Those are my only issues and everything else we can work around." COLUMBUS, Ohio When Jane Timken kicked off an eight-week advertising campaign on the Fox News Channel in her bid for the Republican nomination for Senate, she did not focus on immigration, health care or the economy. Her first ad was titled Fire Fauci. Her target Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Joe Bidens top medical adviser for the coronavirus is also under attack in Pennsylvania, where Mehmet Oz, a television doctor who has entered the Republican Senate primary there, calls him a petty tyrant. Oz recently ran a Twitter ad calling for a debate not between candidates, but between him and Fauci. Advertisement Jane Timken, who is running to represent Ohio in the U.S. Senate, speaks at a meeting of the Franklin County Republican Committee in Columbus on Jan. 26, 2022. Timken is one of at least three Republican candidates for Ohio's Senate seat who are going after Dr. Anthony Fauci. (Maddie McGarvey/NYT) In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis released an advertisement last month telling Fauci to pound sand via the beach sandals the governors reelection campaign is now selling: Freedom Over Fauci Flip-Flops. In Wisconsin, Kevin Nicholson, a onetime Democrat running for governor as a conservative outsider, said Fauci should be fired and referred to prosecutors. Republican attacks on Fauci are not new; former President Donald Trump, irked that the doctor publicly corrected his falsehoods about the virus, called him a disaster and repeatedly threatened to fire him. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., has grilled Fauci in nationally televised hearings, and Fauci true to his fighter-from-Brooklyn roots has punched back. Advertisement But as the 2022 midterm elections approach, the attacks have spread across the nation, intensifying as Fauci draws outsize attention in some of the most important state and local races on the ballot in November. The Republican war on Fauci is partly a sign of Trumps strong grip on the party. But Fauci, both his friends and detractors agree, has also become a symbol of something deeper the deep schism in the country, mistrust in government and a brewing populist resentment of the elites, all made worse by the pandemic. And Fauci, whose perpetual television appearances have made him the face of the COVID-19 response and who is viewed by his critics as a high-and-mighty know-it-all who enjoys his celebrity seems an obvious person to blame. Populism is essentially anti: anti-establishment, anti-expertise, anti-intellectual and anti-media, said Whit Ayres, a Republican strategist, adding that Fauci is an establishment expert intellectual who is in the media. For the 81-year-old immunologist, a venerated figure in the world of science, it is a jarring last chapter of a government career that has spanned half a century. As director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a post he has held since 1984, he has helped lead the response to various public health crises, including AIDS and Ebola, and advised eight presidents. He has never revealed a party affiliation. President George H.W. Bush once cited him as a hero. Now, though, some voters are parroting right-wing commentators who compare Fauci to the brutal Nazi doctor Josef Mengele. Candidates in hotly contested Republican primaries like Ohios are trying to out-Trump one another by supplanting Speaker Nancy Pelosi with Fauci as a political boogeyman. DeSantis has coined a new term: Faucism. In Washington, lawmakers are taking aim at Faucis salary, finances and influence. I didnt make myself a polarizing figure, Fauci declared in an interview. Ive been demonized by people who are running away from the truth. The anti-Fauci fervor has taken its toll on his personal life; he has received death threats, his family has been harassed and his home in Washington is guarded by a security detail. His standing with the public has also suffered. In a recent NBC News Poll, just 40% of respondents said they trusted Fauci, down from 60% in April 2020. Advertisement Still, Ayres said, Fauci remains for many Americans one of the most trusted voices regarding the pandemic. In a Gallup poll at the end of 2021, his job approval rating was 52%. On a list of 10 officials, including Biden and congressional leaders, only two scored higher: Chief Justice John Roberts and Jerome Powell, the chairman of the Federal Reserve. Republican strategists are split on whether attacking Fauci is a smart strategy. Ayres said it could help rev up the base in a primary but backfire in a general election, especially in a swing state like Ohio. But John Feehery, another strategist, said many pandemic-weary Americans viewed Fauci as Mr. Lockdown, and it made sense for Republicans to run against both Fauci and lockdowns. Here in Ohio, Timken, a Harvard graduate and former chairwoman of the Ohio Republican Party who promises to advance the Trump agenda without fear or hesitation, is doing just that. Her ad shows a parent struggling to put a mask on a screaming toddler, which she brands child abuse. The spot, she said in an interview, was prompted by what she hears from voters who are resentful of vaccine mandates, confused by shifting public health advice and tired of being told what to do. It taps into the real frustration they feel, Timken said, that Fauci claims to be the bastion of science, but I think hes playing God. She is one of three candidates with elite academic credentials who are going after Fauci in a crowded primary for the seat that Sen. Rob Portman, a Republican, is giving up. The others are J.D. Vance, a lawyer with a Yale degree and the author of the best-selling memoir Hillbilly Elegy, and Josh Mandel, the former Ohio state treasurer, whose law degree is from Case Western Reserve University. Advertisement Vance called Fauci a ridiculous tyrant during a rally with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, the far-right Republican banned from Twitter for spreading COVID misinformation. Mandel has railed against Fauci for months on Facebook and Twitter, calling him a liar and one of the biggest frauds in American history. Ohio Republicans are split between the Trump wing and centrists in the mold of John Kasich, the former governor. Those tensions were on display last week at Tommys Diner, a Columbus institution, and at a meeting of the Franklin County Republican Committee, which convened to vote on endorsements. Sentiments seemed to track with vaccination status. At the diner, Republicans like Mike Matthews, a retired state worker, and George Wolf, a retired firefighter, both of whom voted for Trump, found no fault with Fauci. Both are vaccinated. Ive never heard of anyone that I would trust more, Wolf said. But at the next table, Andy Watkinson, a remodeling contractor who is unvaccinated, said he was a fan of Joe Rogan, the podcaster, provocateur and Fauci critic. I think hes done the same thing for 50 years and hes in bed with all the pharma companies, Watkinson said of Fauci, though there is no evidence of that. He needs to retire. At the committee meeting, views about Fauci were more strident. He needs to be brought up on charges, declared Lisadiana Bates, a former business owner who is home-schooling her children. Echoing Dr. Robert Malone, who has become a conservative celebrity by arguing that COVID vaccine mandates are unethical experiments, she asserted that Fauci had violated the Nuremberg Code, the set of research ethics developed after the Holocaust. Advertisement This whole thing is nothing but an experiment! Bates exclaimed. The roots of anti-Fauci campaign rhetoric can be traced to Washington, where Fauci has clashed repeatedly with two Republican senators who are also doctors: Paul, an ophthalmologist, and Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas, an obstetrician. Paul has fueled speculation that COVID-19 was the result of a lab leak produced by federally funded gain-of-function research high-risk studies aimed at making viruses more infectious in Wuhan, China. Fauci and other National Institutes of Health officials have said that the Wuhan research did not meet the criteria for gain-of-function studies, and that it is genetically impossible for viruses studied there to have produced the pandemic. The nuances of that dispute, however, have gotten lost in the increasingly hostile exchanges between the two men. In July, after Paul accused him of lying to Congress, Fauci shot back, If anybody is lying here, senator, it is you. Last month, Fauci arrived at a Senate hearing brandishing a fundraising webpage for Paul that included a Fire Dr. Fauci graphic, and accused Paul of exploiting the pandemic for political gain. Later in that same hearing, Fauci muttered under his breath that Marshall was a moron a comment caught on an open microphone after the senator posted Faucis salary on a placard and demanded his financial disclosure forms, suggesting he might be engaged in financial shenanigans with the pharmaceutical industry. (Faucis financial disclosure forms, which Marshall has since posted on the internet, show investments in bonds and mutual funds, not drug companies. He is paid an annual salary of $434,312 under a provision that allows government doctors and scientists to be highly compensated, akin to what they could earn in the private sector.) Advertisement Fauci said he did not regret the moron remark, or the pushback against Paul. But Timken said calling Marshall a moron was beyond the pale. Even some Fauci fans in academia and government say he might have been better off keeping his cool to avoid amplifying his Republican critics and alienating voters who need to hear his public health message. Some suggest he lower his profile; he says the White House asks him to go on TV. Hes been pushing back in a way that is not common for us to see for American scientists, and I dont know if its a good idea, said Dr. Ashish K. Jha, the dean of the Brown University School of Public Health. If Democrats lose seats in the midterm elections, as many expect, Fauci may have a Republican-controlled Congress to contend with. Another Republican from Ohio, Rep. Jim Jordan, who claims that Fauci knew the coronavirus came from a lab, has vowed that Republicans will investigate him if they win control of the House. Some of Faucis friends are urging him to avoid that possibility by retiring. He has been working on a memoir, but cannot look for a publisher while he is still a federal employee. Fauci says Republicans will not dictate the terms of his retirement, and he has no plans at the moment to step down. And, he said, he is not worried about any investigation. I cant think of what they would want to investigate except this whole pile of lies that theyre throwing around, he said. Advertisement c.2021 The New York Times Company US troops deploy for Europe from Pope Army Airfield at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on February 3, 2022. Photo: AFP US President Joe Biden recently approved the deployment of 3,000 US troops to the eastern part of Europe. The first batch has arrived in Germany and Poland. This is an eye-offending move the US made after it withdrew its troops from Afghanistan and Iraq. The Pentagon previously announced that 8,500 US troops are placed on heightened alert to possibly deploy to Eastern Europe. In addition, NATO defense ministers will discuss further reinforcements at their next meeting on February 16 and 17. Although these troops are not deployed directly in Ukraine, the move has de facto made people think Eastern Europe is on the brink of war. Washington, it must be noted, is furthest away from the Ukrainian frontline but it is most eager for a war, while both Russia and Ukraine have repeatedly announced they have no intention of going to war or solving their problems by force. Ukraine's president and defense minister publicly stated that the situation is not as tense as the US has portrayed. But Washington, which is far away from the region, has been hyping that war is on the verge of breaking out. US media Bloomberg has even released fake news that "Live: Russia Invades Ukraine." The US has not only fanned the flames of public opinion, but also provided arms to Ukraine and enhanced military deployment around the European country. The US' intention is to urge Ukraine to "hold on" and not "fall behind" in its confrontation with Russia. Washington intends to instigate wars, in a bid to increase the legitimacy of NATO's existence and the bloc's internal cohesion to tie Europe - which has shown some signs of departing from Washington - more tightly to the US. Some other analysts say the US can take the opportunity to sell arms - a reasonable suspicion based on history. In short, the US is trying to hit various birds with one stone, but it is playing an immoral and dangerous game. The New York Times reported that "even many reliably hawkish voices in both parties show no appetite for seeing US troops fight and potentially die for Ukraine." The US is pushing Ukraine into the firing line, but it itself has jumped aside to avoid being implicated. One of Washington's aims is to make Russia feel uncomfortable, but Ukraine is very likely to become the victim. Anyone with a discerning eye can figure out that the last thing Ukraine really needs is arms. The US' donating or selling weapons to Ukraine cannot change the military balance between Russia and Ukraine. What Ukraine does need is a peaceful and stable internal and external environment. The country has to focus on developing its economy, improving people's livelihoods, and easing tensions with Russia. If the US "stands with Ukraine" as it has claimed, it should have provided Ukraine the necessary and substantial help in these fields. It needs to be underlined that the most difficult thing for Ukraine to withstand right now is to add fuel to the fire, but Washington has repeatedly "created" opportunities to escalate the situation between Russia and Ukraine. In this context, the latest joint statement that China and Russia has released also triggered the US' scruples. White House press secretary Jen Psaki "warns" Beijing that if an armed conflict breaks out between Russia and Ukraine, it "would impact China's interests all over the world." The US' such move is like nitpicking with China. This China-Russia document covers broad consensus and common demands on economy and trade, security, regional situation and global order, and it does not even mention Ukraine. Washington's vision is clearly too low to see the real landscape of today's world. It is now more like a "class representative" of old thinking, proudly flaunting its lies with an old trumpet from the last century. They believe they are smarter than everyone else, but they are giving themselves too much credit. In fact, the China-Russia joint statement stated clearly: "Peace, development and cooperation lie at the core of the modern international system and the international community is showing a growing demand for the leadership aiming at peaceful and gradual development." Against this backdrop, Washington still intends to impair other countries and maintain its hegemony by instigating wars. This is a staggering geopolitical daydream. To wake up from such a pipe dream, the bunch of political elites in Washington should carefully read this joint statement and understand how to make the US conform to the trend of the times and become a truly responsible power. After watching their once formidable advantage in registered voters evaporate and losing an embarrassing amount of ground in South Florida in the last presidential election, Florida Democrats say theyve received the message and are going to change. Their solution is to kick off what theyre calling an unprecedented, well-funded effort to register voters. Top Democratic elected officials and party leaders have announced the launch of a $2.5 million effort to register new voters by the fall deadline for the November 2022 elections. Advertisement The effort will deploy hundreds of canvassers in key markets beginning with five targeted areas in Florida. The Democrats on Monday declined to reveal much else from their playbook. [ RELATED: Vastly outnumbered, Broward Republicans train on how to turn out more votes for Ron DeSantis ] It sounded similar to previous announcements. But state Democratic Party Chairman Manny Diaz, Florida Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book of Plantation, incoming House Democratic Leader Ramon Alexander of Tallahassee, and Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava appeared together in a video news conference to outline the effort they said would be bigger and better than any party voter registration drive since at least former President Barack Obamas successful 2012 re-election campaign. Advertisement Democrats face critical elections in November: They will attempt to defeat Gov. Ron DeSantis and derail his presidential ambitions, and attempt to defeat U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. They also hope to reduce the Republicans advantage in the number of members of Congress and state senators and state representatives. Democratic decline Republicans in Florida have been pouring money and people into registering voters and then mobilizing those voters to turn out in elections. The trend is unmistakable: Republicans have been growing their numbers faster than Democrats. In October 2021, Republican voter registrations overtook Democrats in Florida for the first time in modern history. At the end of the year, it was 35.9% Republican to 35.6% Democratic. The Republican lead was slight, 43,102 out of 14.3 million registered voters in the state. (Almost all the rest are no party affiliation/independent voters, the fastest growing category.) At the end of 2012, Republican registered votes made up 35.4% of the total, compared to the Democrats 40%. The Democratic advantage was 558,272 out of 12 million registered voters. At the end of 2002, Republicans accounted for 38.7% of registered voters compared to Democrats 42.4%. Democrats had 345,707 more registered voters than Republicans, out of a total of 9.3 million. Despite those numbers, in statewide elections from 2002 through 2020, Republicans won 25 and Democrats won just six. Currently, the only statewide office held by a Democrat is agriculture commissioner. They havent won a top-tier race in Florida since 2012, when Obama and then-U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson prevailed. Diaz, the former mayor of Miami who was elected state Democratic chairman 13 months ago, said a coordinated, comprehensive voter registration effort was overdue. As you know, over the course of the last 10 years the partys efforts have been lacking in efforts and in continuity. We have let our guard down, especially during off years. And the other side have eaten away at our margins, he said. Thats not going to happen anymore. Were changing the paradigm. We are renewing our fight for the heart and the soul of voters throughout our state of Florida. He also said its not quite as dire as the numbers appear. He said too many people look at the top-line number of active, registered voters. Inactive voters remain on the rolls, and can show up to vote, and if they can be mobilized, Diaz said Democrats arent in as bad a position as the numbers make it appear. Voters are declared inactive if they dont vote for four years and dont confirm their voter registration status. Republican view Helen Aguirre Ferre, executive director of the Florida Republican Party, said Diaz explanation is unpersuasive. We have always said we are ahead with active voter registrations and that is important. Inactive voters in ANY election makeup less than 1% of the electorate, she said via email. Ferre said theres a more plausible reason for the Democrats problem: We can only surmise that Florida Democrats are spending so heavily on voter registration to make up for their historic lack of enthusiasm caused by bad leadership and an even worse agenda.... Overwhelmingly, more people are choosing to register to the Republican Party on their own and this trend shows no sign of subsiding. Advertisement Julia Friedland, spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee in Florida, also scoffed at Diaz assertion. Democrats its not as bad as it looks Florida strategy isnt going to lessen the blow of their losses come November. They should instead go back in time and do what Republicans have been doing in the state for years: invest in a multi-year data-driven ground game, Friedland said via email. Past efforts have been more piecemeal, or theyve ended abruptly after a given election. Once Obama was re-elected, Diaz conceded Democrats took their foot off the gas. There is absolutely no question about it. Diaz said the new effort wouldnt end with the November 2022 election. [ RELATED: Billionaire's political organization registering young voters in Florida, to help himself and Gillum ] Familiar ring Christian Ulvert, a longtime campaign strategist currently working with Florida Senate Democrats, and Raymond Paultre, executive director of the Florida Alliance, a major group of big-money Democratic donors helping to finance the effort, said it would be the most comprehensive voter registration initiative since at least the 2011-2012 Obama campaign efforts that led to the former president winning the state for a second time. They said the new effort would involve spending of $2.5 million. In 2019, Terrie Rizzo, then the state Democratic Party chairwoman, announced a $2 million effort to register 200,000 voters before the 2020 presidential election. Advertisement Rizzo said at the time the investment is monumental for the party, adding that The Florida Democratic Party has not dedicated enough resources to voter registration in recent years, and we are making it a top priority ahead of 2020. The 2019 plan was billed as involving technology, date and hiring field organizers throughout the state. [ RELATED: State Democrats and Andrew Gillum announce efforts to register new Democratic voters ] Then, in March 2020 then-national Democratic Chairman Tom Perez visited South Florida to announce a big effort in Florida. Within weeks, coronavirus was spreading rapidly and the Democratic effort shut down, and most of the partys efforts moved to the virtual world, largely abandoning in-person efforts to register and mobilize voters. Republicans barely missed a beat and ramped up their in-person efforts leading up to the November 2022 election. In 2020, Democrats cut way back on in-person efforts at registering and mobilizing voters and former President Donald Trump had a bigger Florida victory than in 2016. Trumps 51.2% of the vote, 3.3 percentage points ahead of Joe Biden, qualified as a Florida landslide, which is what people in the political world call anything greater than 1 point in a statewide election. Ulvert wasnt as specific about the 2022 goal as Rizzo was about the plan in 2019. He said the party would like to see six-figure registration numbers by the October deadline. Another difference, Diaz said, is greater coordination among different groups and a plan to keep it going in the future. Advertisement [ RELATED: Democrats say they have your number and the people to reach you to sell their candidates ] One of the things that I think distinguishes this effort is this commitment to build a year-round infrastructure. This is not a ramp-up. And thats what weve done before. Weve essentially taken off years off and then mobilized around elections, and we ramp up the elections and then everybody takes their clipboards and their pencils and goes home, Diaz said. This is going to be not just a few months before Election Day, but an annual. Were going to do this in 23, were going to do it in 24. Book appeared to acknowledge the effort announced Monday isnt going to immediately pay off with widespread Democratic victories. Book said Democrats see a multicycle path to win back the Florida Senate. Multicycle means multiple election years not something achievable in 2022. Rich Logis, executive director of SOSS Save Our Sunshine State, a political group focused on the impact the influx of voters from other states has on Florida, said via email that an aggressive voter registration initiative confirms that the [Democratic] party understands that our state is a purple state, where nearly 1 out of 4 registered Floridians belong to no party. He said voter registration efforts by state Democratic parties in Nevada, Colorado, Arizona and Georgia led to Democratic victories in those states. The Florida Democratic Party, at times, appears to be intimidated by the RPOF political machine; voter registration is a crucial way to show voters that the party is not afraid of the Republicans; afraid men and women can never effectively lead anyone. Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com or on Twitter @browardpolitics Abdulakhleq Amran, Akram Al-Waleedi, Hareth Humaid and Tawifq Al-Mansoori were arrested together with five other journalists in July 2015 at the Palace of Dreams Hotel in Sanaa, where their media had moved to access communications and utilities. The State Security Court in Sanaa, under the control of Ansar Allah/the Houthi Movement, has sentenced them to death. World journalists community urges you to stand up for journalists in Yemen Abdulakhleq Amran was born in 1983, hes married with two children. Having graduated in Journalism from the University of Sanaa, he works for Al-Islah Online website. He was arrested in Bahr al-Ahlam Hotel in Sana'a while there using the internet and electricity for his reporting. Since then, he had been held in extremely harsh conditions in prison, where he had suffered torture which left him with a pain in his spine and a kidney problem. Akram Al-Waleedi was born in 1985. He graduated from the College of Communication and worked for Alrabie-ye.net news website and the Yemen News Agency SABA. Detained in bad and harsh conditions, he was also subjected to torture in prison, where his health has seriously deteriorated. His family told the IFJ that he suffers from back and colon pain, besides a very delicate psychological situation. Hareth Humaid was born in 1990, graduated from high school and was working as a reporter for Alrabie-ye.net news website, which is currently suspended. As with his colleagues, he was been held in prison since his arrest in bad and harsh conditions and has been tortured. Tawifq Al-Mansoori was born in 1986. He studied journalism and worked forAl-Masdar newspaper. He has been held in harsh conditions since his detention and has also been subjected to torture in prison and suffers from poor health. His family told the IFJ that he has asthma, shortness of breath, rheumatism of the heart, diabetes and prostate problems. They were arrested for reporting on human rights violations committed by Houthi forces. Now they could lose their life for fulfilling their professional duties and informing the world about the cruelty of the Yemeni war. Yemen: Help us save the lives of four journalists on death row for their reporting Four Yemeni journalists have been detained by the Ansar Allah in Sanaa, Yemen, since 2015, and are now on the death row after being condemned for their work as journalists. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate (YJS) are launching an emergency call to members and the global journalism community to join the campaign to put pressure on the Houthi authorities to release our colleagues and save their lives. Abdul Khaleq Amran, Tawfiq Al-Mansouri, Harith Hamid, and Akram Al-Walidi -read their profiles here- were arrested together with five other journalists on 9 June 2015 at the Hotel Dream Castle in Sanaa. Their arrest was motivated by their reporting on human rights violations committed by Houthi forces, who charged them with espionage for foreign states and spreading fake news. Since their arrest, they have been subjected to a series of crimes, including forced disappearance, physical and psychological torture, denial of the right to be visited and the right to have access to medical care. These actions break all international conventions and norms on the treatment of prisoners. Now they are on death row and the IFJ and the YJS are seeking to increase pressure on the Ansar Allah to release them and push key actors across the international community to put the lives of our colleagues high on their agenda. The IFJ campaign will: Launch an open letter to the United Nations envoy to Yemen to treat this case as an urgent matter click here to sign the open letter Put pressure on relevant government and intergovernmental bodies to demand that this issue has a priority in his agenda Secure the participation of YJS at the upcoming meeting of the Human Rights Council to raise this issue in particular and the critical situation of Yemeni media workers in general IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger, said: "We need to hear the UN, the EU and governments across the world stand up for journalists and unequivocally tell Ansar Allah and the de facto government in Sanaa that torturing and executing journalists is a war crime and that the world should not tolerate war criminals. But that's not all. We must send a message to our friends Abdul, Tawfiq, Harith and Akram and their families that they are not alone and the whole global journalism community and freedom of expression and human rights activists will relentlessly work for their freedom". As financial institutions continue to invest heavily in technology to augment, digitize, and even disrupt traditional operations and service offerings, the concept of what constitutes a 'bank' continues to change dramatically. Thanks to digital tools, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), we now have a glimpse of what banks of the future may look like: intelligent and able to provide a more convenient and impeccable banking experience for all. While banks continue to embrace these technologies, the past year emphasized the need for financial institutions to transform digitally. Limited mobility due to the much-needed lockdowns to stop the spread of COVID-19 made it apparent that customer-centricity and financial inclusion remain a challenge in the banking sector. In the Philippines alone, the number of unbanked adults remains one of the highest in Southeast Asia (SEA). In 2019, unbanked Filipinos were estimated at 51.2 million, out of a total adult population of 71 million, as revealed by the BSP's Financial Inclusion Survey released in 2020. As a response, BSP released Circular No. 1105 last year to decrease the country's unbanked population. This circular considers digital banks a distinct classification of banks and provides the framework for its operation and establishment. Initially, only five financial institutions were given licenses to operate as digital-only services. It was later expanded to seven last August 2021. The goal is to bring 70 percent of Filipino adults into the banked population and 50 percent to online payments by 2030. The past year has also seen significant changes as businesses and consumers alike went increasingly digital, driving the rise of online transactions and digital payments. BSP's latest data revealed that 20.1 percent of monthly payments volume was done digitally by the end of 2020, indicating an improvement from the 17-percent digital transactions in the first six months of the same year. As consumers increasingly go digital, particularly amid the never normal, it is now a crucial period for financial institutions to recalibrate their banking services and help improve financial inclusion and provide better customer experiences through customer-centric service offerings. But what does it take to achieve all these? Unlocking Possibilities through Data Intelligence Banking involves sifting through tremendous amounts of data gathered from various clients and transactions recorded in the bank's systems. External sources also add up to these data, including mobile operators, social networks, and credit bureaus, among others. For banks to truly explore the full potential of their data, they need to ensure that the entire data lifecycle is adequately managed and governedfrom data collection, recording, monitoring to visualization, analysis, and interpretation. When done correctly, data assets can add significant value to the bank's profitability and sustainability. With AI-enabled tools, financial institutions can effectively use and transform them into data intelligence, which is necessary for making intelligent business decisions and staying competitive and profitable. Banks need a clear data strategy to utilize the full benefits from data, which constitutes three crucial aspects. First is data management that involves data ownership and governance, including data collection, storage, structuring, review, cleaning, and monitoring. Next is reporting and visualization, which involves the creation of an intelligent view of the bank's performance, quality of the portfolio, staff productivity, and other categories necessary to drive the business. And lastly, data analytics, which is deemed the most challenging yet valuable part of data strategy. Through analytical models developed by banks, they can predict customer behavior, understand better their needs and preferences, and proactively manage the overall business. As financial services become more available due to digital banking, AI-powered analytics can help banks differentiate themselves, particularly with the help of data intelligence. Nowadays, data intelligent banks utilize AI and ML to analyze and transform massive data sets into intelligent insights. With these insights, banks can understand better their collected information and provide better services and experiences to their customers while ensuring robust regulatory compliance and risk management. Becoming an 'Intelligent Bank' Among the country's banks that utilize data intelligence is the UnionBank of the Philippines (UnionBank). As part of its data strategy, the UnionBank accelerated its digital initiatives further by collaborating with SAP to create a new banking model to support customer-centric services. With the help of SAP Data Intelligence, UnionBank integrated into their systems the first-known "Data Science Factory" model in SEA's financial sector. This model can help the bank realize an enhanced business management, improve internal processes, and have a better end-to-end perspective of all its operations. UnionBank's adoption of SAP Data Intelligence for its new digital model provides several advantages. This comprehensive data management solution helps the bank transform its distributed data sprawls into critical data insights, delivering innovation at scale. Intelligent banks using this solution can easily find the most relevant data through enriched metadata tags, user-generated ratings and comments, and unified business glossaries. It can also build an enterprise data fabric that connects data silos and increases visibility into several data assets. For UnionBank, SAP Data Intelligence serves as a critical pillar in the governance and management of internal processes. It aids the bank to streamline operations and stay ahead in regulatory compliance and risk management while supporting its new digital model. It also helps equip the bank's administrators and other internal staff with the necessary insights and tools to provide high-quality customer service. For instance, using its Data Science Factory model, all the data and insights gathered by UnionBank can help them enable hyper-personalized accounts, allowing the customers to understand their financial capabilities better. By personalizing these accounts, the bank can support whatever specific goals their customers want to achieve. It also makes it easier to fulfill its responsibilities like providing loans, managing savings, and offering other services with ease while protecting its customers' privacy. Making Transactions Easier As UnionBank embraced this new model, the company also saw the need to improve its efficiency and communications internally, particularly since the bank handles numerous documents every day. To tackle this challenge, the bank now employs SAP Signature Management by DocuSign. As a global reseller of DocuSign, SAP knows first-hand the great benefits that customers like UnionBank gain from the solution. It allows users to automate workflows from simple agreements to the most complex transactions like loan applications to service agreements. DocuSign provides users the ability to send, review, and sign documents from anywhere at any time for their convenience, with network support for iOS, Android, and Windows Mobile. It also helps employees increase productivity by integrating with common document authoring applications, document management, and identity management systems. Embracing Intelligent Banking Amid the never normal world, organizations across all industries are taking initiatives to retain their customersbanks and financial institutions are no exception to this reality. As intelligent banking becomes one of today's most significant trends in the industry, it's high time for banks and financial institutions in the country to embrace AI-enabled technologies for their digital transformation journeys. Becoming an intelligent bank does not only ensure customer retention. It also enables banks to develop innovations that make for better banking experiences while helping achieve increased financial inclusion and defining what lies ahead for the future of banking. By Edler Panlilio, Managing Director, SAP Philippines In order to bring people closer together for the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, despite the Covid restrictions and geographical distances between them, Alibaba has launched an innovative cloud-based technology Cloud ME powered by its real-time communication (RTC) solution. Cloud ME facilitates social interactions for people who are keen to explore bona fide meeting experiences during the Olympic Winter Games, enabling them to meet, and enjoy real-time conversations with each other via life-sized, true-to-life projection. By stepping into a pop-up studio in the Cloud ME booth, participants will have their full body image projected realistically into a remote booth, in which their projected personas will be displayed to meet and greet with their counterparts. The true-to-life meetings can also be opened up to a wider audience across unlimited locations, thanks to easily-installed remote projection functionality. Alibaba is committed to the digitalization of the Olympic Games, and providing the technology infrastructure to promote a more inclusive and engaging experience, said Daniel Zhang, Chairman and CEO of Alibaba Group. We hope to unite athletes and fans around the world with our cloud technology, and allow the Olympic spirit to inspire us all as we celebrate the joy of sports. Together with Alibaba, we are making history here in Beijing. For the first time ever, all core systems needed to run these Olympic Winter Games are hosted on Alibaba Cloud. Whether it is powering the Olympic online store in China, the OBS Cloud, or technology to support the worlds media here in Beijing, Alibaba Cloud technology is setting new standards and raising the bar to new levels, said Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The Cloud ME booth is simple to set up. Beyond typical studio equipment such as a video camera and a computer to capture the footage, it does not require any additional onsite IT infrastructure, or optimized internet bandwidth, to execute recording and transmission thanks to the power of cloud computing. Daniel Zhang in Shanghai Cloud ME studio (left), with Thomas Bach from Beijing closed-loop (right), having a true-to-life meeting projected at the Beijing Media Center Videos and audios produced in the Cloud ME booth will be transmitted on Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group. The proven RTC solution is powered by Alibabas advanced cloud computing capabilities and extensive global network coverage. Backed by the low latency, high availability and high concurrency features of Alibaba Cloud, the process can be completed within 200 milliseconds. The live recording can then be projected onto a remote 4K high-definition screen, generating a true-to-life hologram effect, reconstructing all details in high definition including micro facial expressions and clothing texture, which are essential to in-person interaction. The real-time communication solution powered by cloud technology plays a critical role in helping the world to connect effectively. Leveraging our global cloud network and self proprietary algorithms, we aim to bring the benefits of real-time communication to various day-to-day scenarios including online education, interactive entertainment, video conferencing and other enterprise services, said Lijuan Chen, General Manager of Product and Solution, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence. Alibabas Cloud ME booths are available both within the closed-loop management system at Beijing 2022, as well as outside for participants of the Olympic Winter Games so that they can experience interesting social interactions in a mixed reality. The first Cloud ME event for Beijing 2022 took place to facilitate a remote meeting between Zhang and Bach on February 6, who were unable to meet physically due to COVID-19 restrictions in China. A recent Kaspersky research showed that e-payment adopters in Southeast Asia (SEA) are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of safeguarding their financial data amidst the rapid rise of digital payment use in the region. And they are clear on the additional security features they hope to see implemented by banks and mobile wallet providers here, moving forward. Titled Mapping a secure path for the future of digital payments in APAC, the study discovered that more than three in five (67%) users of digital banking and e-wallet apps in SEA prefer the implementation of one-time-passwords (OTPs) through SMS for every transaction. ajority of the respondents also want to see the implementation of two-factor authentication or 2FA (57%) as well as biometric security features like facial or fingerprint recognition (56%). Interestingly, the implementation of OTPs is the top priority for consumers in most SEA countries including Indonesia (67%), Malaysia (66%), The Philippines (75%), Thailand (63%), and Vietnam (74%) except Singapore where two-factor authentication is the most urgent concern (65%). Kasperskys fresh study reveals customers security-related wishlist for banks and mobile payment providers in the region Digital payment customers also welcome the use of machine learning in combatting social engineering attacks. Almost half (40%) noted that companies should start preventing frauds/scams automatically based on spending behavior and/or transfer history. Over a quarter (28%) also said Tokenization the process of protecting sensitive data by replacing it with an algorithmically generated number called a token can also augment the security of mobile banking and e-payment applications in the region. SEA's sheer market size in terms of digital payment offers a lengthy runway for expansion. In a competitive sector, payment companies should be assessed not just on their innovations, but also on their security posture. We can draw from our findings that customers are increasingly becoming aware of the value of technology to protect their finances online. In general, these security features are useful preventive measures that can potentially enhance the cybersecurity standards in the digital payments space. However, these options should not be viewed in an isolated manner, but considered as part of a holistic cybersecurity framework, says Yeo Siang Tiong, General Manager for Southeast Asia at Kaspersky. The usage of two-factor authentication, for example, has its limitations, particularly when it comes to SMS-based authentication. Password-bearing SMS messages can be intercepted by a Trojan lying inside the smartphone, or by a defect in the SS7 protocol used to transmit the messages, making SMS-based 2FA unreliable at times. In such cases, it would be advisable to employ self-contained authenticator apps, with SMS being used only as a last resort to limit a company's vulnerability to data breaches. With the complicated nature of securing apps and finances online, it is not surprising that over three in five (65%) of the respondents said that banks and mobile wallet companies should provide more incentives to maintain the security decorum such as changing passwords regularly. Another 60% noted that providers should educate users more about the threats online. When it comes to choosing a mobile e-wallet provider, security remains a priority for digital payment users in SEA. More than half (58%) said they will use an e-wallet that includes extra security features like fingerprint and 2FA while more than a third (37%) said they will use banking apps or mobile wallets from providers that have not have been engaged in any previous data breach or cybersecurity attack. A number of respondents also noted that mobile e-wallet has to be independent can be used directly by a bank or through a third party (42%) or a closed one - linked to specific merchants, where users can only use the funds to make payments for transactions initiated with the specific merchant (35%). Another set of considerations in choosing a digital wallet company includes apps that should offer promos, cashback, lower transfer fees (49%); provide anonymity users don't need to reveal credit card details to too many merchants (35%); be bankless bank account details not needed (25%); and be locally made (16%). To develop a long-term and sustainable growth strategy, digital payment companies need to take into account some of the wants and needs of their users. While some of the preventive measures are not entirely new and have been around for some time, it is crucial to consider how security features can be integrated in a manner without compromising the user experience. Our study showed how customers are increasingly holding digital payment providers accountable to the security of their finances online so we suggest companies to determine the cybersecurity gaps in each of the stages of their payment process and fit in the right IT measures in a calibrated manner, adds Yeo. To stay protected from ever-changing fraud and cybercrime techniques, Kaspersky recommends digital payment providers to adopt the following measures: Ensuring prompt patching and updating of software to prevent adversaries from penetrating the system. Implementing high-grade encryption for sensitive data and enforcing strong credentials and multi-factor authentication. Using effective endpoint protection with threat detection and response capabilities to block access attempts, and managed protection services for efficient attack investigation and expert response. Educate your customers and employees on possible tricks malefactors may use. To save time and receive quality service, companies should work with globally recognized providers that can ensure an efficient learning process. Conduct annual security audits and penetration tests to find security issues in a companys network. Install a fraud prevention solution that can be quickly adapted for identifying new attack schemes and methods. For enterprises with mature IT infrastructure, install anti-APT and EDR solutions, enabling capabilities for advanced threat discovery and detection, investigation, and timely remediation of incidents. Provide your SOC team with access to the latest threat intelligence and regularly up-skill them with professional training. All of the above is available within Kaspersky Expert Security framework. To read the full report, please visit https://kas.pr/b6w8. Survey Methodology The Kaspersky Mapping a digitally secure path for the future of payments in APAC report studies our interactions with online payments. It also examines our attitudes towards them, which hold the key to understanding the factors that will further drive or stem the adoption of this technology. The study was conducted by research agency YouGov in key territories in APAC, including Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam (10 countries). Survey responses were gathered in July 2021 with a total of 1,618 respondents surveyed across the stated countries. The respondents ranged from 18-65 years of age, all of which are working professionals who are digital payment users. Through this study, when the behavior of the population of a market is generalized, it is in reference to the group of respondents sampled above. FILE - In this Jan. 11, 2019 file photo, Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony speaks after being introduced by Gov. Ron DeSantis at the BSO headquarters in Fort Lauderdale. (Wilfredo Lee/AP) Re: The plain truth: Tonys lies make him unfit for sheriffs badge, Editorial I agree with your editorial about Sheriff Gregory Tony. I was a police officer for more than 26 years and took great pride in that I never lied to the public. I would often tell new recruits: If you lie, your credibility will always come into question. Advertisement After I retired, I worked part-time as a police expert witness. Unfortunately, the public and attorneys perceive expert witnesses as willing to slant testimony to favor their clients. All too often this is the case. But I never did. I assumed the attorney who hired me wanted truthful answers. Common sense should have told me otherwise. Being truthful cost me cases and money. I can only assume that the voters who elected Tony believed his little lies were okay. I wrote a letter to the editor several years ago about another sheriff who compromised his ethical standards for personal gain as Tony has done. That sheriff went to federal prison. Advertisement [ RELATED: Public defender will review Sheriff Gregory Tonys cases from when he was a cop in Coral Springs ] In Tonys case, he has in effect told his deputies its okay to lie. How can the public and deputies ever believe what Tony says is the truth? How many people have gone to jail, based in whole or in part on Tonys lies? Philip Sweeting, St. Augustine The writer is a retired deputy police chief of Boca Raton. DeSantis in damage control Gov. DeSantis appointed Gregory Tony as sheriff of Broward County without having any reliable information about the person he was appointing. Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony. (Susan Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel) Did DeSantis act solely on he recommendation of one of his wealthy and influential backers? Now that it has been discovered that Tony was not entirely truthful on police job applications, DeSantis is backpedaling to mitigate damage to himself. As he said in 2020, Its not like hes my sheriff. I didnt even know the guy. [ RELATED: 'I'm here to serve': New Sheriff Gregory Tony says he's a cop, not a politician ] Who makes uninformed decisions like that? DeSantis does. How many other appointments has he made based solely on the recommendations of political backers? The surgeon general, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, comes to mind. Does Florida deserve a governor whos strongly influenced by wealthy supporters or a governor who can make sound decisions after carefully weighing all the facts and making decisions in the best interests of Florida? I vote for the latter. David Butorac, Wilton Manors Advertisement A double standard The person least at fault in the Sheriff Tony debacle is Tony himself. He was handed a gift by Gov DeSantis when he was appointed sheriff for literally being a workout partner with Andrew Pollack. Who quits a $198,000-a-year job because he got caught being dishonest and no one holds him accountable? Any other sworn police officer in Florida with Tonys history and documented proof of numerous lies on official documents would be fired. The simple truth: DeSantis is never going to admit he made a mistake and correct it because it doesnt look good for a presidential candidate. The law does not apply equally to all and never will when politics are involved. To all those who were fired or never had the opportunity to work in law enforcement because of your background, this is called a double standard. Jerry Fuller, Coconut Creek Lesser of two evils The vendetta by this newspaper is pushing me to cancel my subscription. The voting public, for whatever reasons, has spoken. What occurred 30 years ago has very little bearing on his thoughts and actions now. A 14-year-old childs history is just the past. The voters decided Tony was the lesser of two evils. Rudy Weingart, Coconut Creek Advertisement About that laptop If your opinion is accurate (i.e., the sheriff omitted sealed information about a self-defense situation years ago), wheres your outrage at the lies from the White House, including the 4 Pinocchios claim that Hunter Bidens laptop was Russian disinformation, or that the southern border is secure? I used to respect journalists once, but your constant bias has only tarnished your reputations. C. Edward McGee Jr., Pompano Beach Twitters purpose is to serve the public conversation. In alignment with this years Safer Internet Day theme, Together for a better internet, Twitter is calling upon people to join together to make the Internet a safer and better place for all, especially for young people. In the last year, Twitter has made expansions on its policies and updated its features to help ensure that people have positive experiences while using Twitter. There will always be more to do, but the service has made meaningful progress. Key highlights on Twitters Safety and Health updates include: Sensitive contents can be unsettling when you encounter it without prior warnings. Twitter launched the one-time content warnings globally to be added as warnings for sensitive contents on their timelines. Twitter launched the Digital Safety playbook to help people feel safer, be in control, and manage their digital footprint. The playbook is downloadable and available in seven languages: English, French, Hindi, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish (Spain), and Spanish (Latin America). Twitter has updated its Covid-19 misleading information policy to help ensure that people can find the right information about Covid-19 on Twitter. Twitter also expanded the #ThereIsHelp notification search prompt to provide credible information from authoritative sources to those who need it. Being in control of your experiences on Twitter In the digital age, the need to have safe, inclusive, and authentic conversation has become increasingly important, and Twitter is dedicated to making people feel safer and empowering them to be in control of their experience. At times you may have not had the experience you expected, here are seven tips to help you feel safer while participating in the conversation on the service: #WhatsHappening: Conversations on Twitter to look out for this Safer Internet Day In the Philippines, Plan International (@Planphilippines) teamed up with Twitter to launch #NotForSale: A Safer Twitter Campaign and Resource Hub. More information about this campaign is available here. They will also host a Twitter Spaces with partners from the Down to Zero programme to combat Sexual Exploitation of Children in 12 countries across Asia and Latin America. To encourage conversation around safer internet use, the service has launched a special emoji which will be available until 13 February. People can activate it by Tweeting with the following hashtags, among others: #SaferInternetDay, #SID2022, #MasLigtasNaInternet, #ArawNgMasLigtasNaInternet. Since 1963, The Independent has helped create a great community! Since our founding in September of 1963, The Independent has been dedicated to giving Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Sunol readers the news they need to be in-the-know about what's going on in the Tri-Valley region. We explain how to register your NGO in India, including the steps for setting up a Trust, Society, and Section 8 Company, and their respective benefits. Based on the type of NGO registration Trust, Society, or section 8 company an applicant needs to follow various laws and procedures prescribed in respective Acts. We discuss them below. Previously, we listed the legal and financial benefits of registering as an NGO in India and the tax status of non-profit organizations in the country: What Are the Benefits of Registering as an NGO in India? NGO registration procedure for a Trust The procedure for Trust registration involves the below steps: Select an appropriate name Drafting of Trust deed Selecting settlers and trustees of the Trust Preparing Memorandum of Association Paying the requisite fees Collection of a copy of Trust deed Submission of the Trust deed with the Registrar Obtain the registration certificate Benefits of registering as a Trust Trusts can get land from the government There is no federal law that governs public charitable trusts in India. However, it is important to note that some Indian states, such as Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan do have a Public Trusts Act. An NGO registered under the Trusts Act can bring into practice the word Govt. Regd. or Regd. Avail tax benefits. 80G certificate advantage under the Income Tax Act. Trusts can get white capital money or other assets owned by a person or organization or used for starting a company or investing for building construction. Benefits under Goods & Service Tax (GST) NGO registration process for a Society For NGO registration as a Society, the founding members must first choose a unique name for the Society and prepare the memorandum of the Society. Choosing a name for Society While selecting a name for the Society, it is essential to keep in mind that as per the Societies Act, 1860, the name should be unique and non-identical. Further, the name proposed by the applicant must not suggest patronage of the Government of India or any State Government or attract the provisions of Emblem and Names Act, 1950. Preparing the Memorandum of a Society While registering the society, an applicant shall prepare the Memorandum of Society. The Memorandum of the Society along with the Rules and Regulations of the Society must then be signed by each of the founding members, witnessed by: An Oath Commissioner; Notary Public; Gazetted Officer; Advocate; Chartered Accountant; or Magistrate 1st Class with their official stamp and complete address. Prepare documents An applicant shall prepare the below-mentioned documents required for Society registration. The documents shall be duly signed. Name of the society Address proof of the working space Identity proof of all the members 2 copies of the Memorandum of Association and by-laws of the Society Filing of application An applicant shall file the signed Memorandum and Rules and Regulations with the concerned Registrar of Societies in the State with the prescribed fee. Get Society certification Once the documents are submitted and the Registrar is satisfied with application for Society Registration, they would certify to deem the Society to be registered. Benefits of registering as a Society NGOs registering under the Society Registration Act, 1860 can avail the following benefits: Exemption from income tax: Society registration is a kind of NGO registration where the firm is saved from paying income taxes. Separate legal identity: An NGO is a separate legal entity in the eyes of the law. A separate legal entity is a The entity has its own legal rights and obligations, separate to those running and/or owning the entity. Limited liability: Since the Society is a separate legal entity from its members, the liability of its members is limited to their share only. This means that under no circumstances can the members assets be utilized to pay the organizations liabilities. Also, each member of the Society is accountable for their own individual actions only. In other words, members of a Society are responsible only for the activity undertaken by them and not by other members. Legal protection: You will be provided with legal protection once you have registered your society under the Society Registration Act, 1860. It indicates that no other company or persons can use your organizations name, your assets, etc.; they will be subject to punishment if found liable for any violation. NGO registration process for a Section 8 Company For NGO registration as a Section 8 Company, an applicant needs to follow the below steps: Apply for Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) The very first step is to apply for the Digital Signature Certificate. DSC is used for affixing the signature in the electronic forms. Name reservation through SPICE+ The procedure for name reservation of a Section 8 Company is similar to other companies. For the same, click on the SPICe+ Form placed under MCA Services. SPICE+ form is used for name reservation of the company that includes all the steps right from the name reservation to post-incorporation compliances. The applicant of a Section 8 Company must fill the name they want to reserve for the organization. The name shall include a term/label or one similar to it from the below list: Federation; Chambers; Foundation; Forum; Association; Confederation; or Council, etc. Submission of SPICE+ Part A form The applicant needs to submit the SPICE+ Part A form for name reservation and incorporation purposes. (DIN Application is also included in the SPICE+ form). Filing SPICE+ Part B After submitting the SPICE+ Part A, the next step is to download SPICE+ Part B in PDF for incorporation. The related forms are- SPICe+AoA SPICe+MoA AGILE PRO INC-9 and URC-1 and for affixing the DSC Preparing MOA and AOA After the proper filing of the SPICE+ form, an applicant must file MOA and AOA form. All the details, which are common in PART-B, will be auto-fill in MOA and AOA. Both the forms are web-based forms. An applicant is required to fill in all the details in the MOA/ AOA as per the requirement of Schedule I. Also, affix the Digital Signature Certificate of all the subscribers and professional on the portal for the same. Filing the details in AGILE PRO The next step is to fill all the details in the AGILE PRO form. Like Part A, the details that are common in PART-B shall be auto filled in AGILE PRO. AGILE PRO includes: GST- Optional EPFO/ ESIC mandatory Bank account opening the bank account through this form Fill requisite details in INC-9 INC-9 includes the declaration by the subscriber or First Director. Filing of forms with MCA An applicant shall file the respective forms with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs / MCA after filling all the requisite details in SPICE+ and AGILE PRO. After successful submission, the documents can be submitted, and DSC can be affixed in the respective form. Pre-scrutiny check and payment of requisite fees The next step to be followed is to do a pre-scrutiny check. After a successful pre-scrutiny check, the applicant must click on the confirmation button. Also, the applicant company is required to pay a requisite fee for Section 8 Company registration. COI from the Registrar If the Registrar finds the information and the documents appropriate they will issue a Certificate of Incorporation to the applicant company. Benefits of Section 8 Company registration NGOs registering themselves as section 8 companies can gain various advantages. We discuss them briefly below: No minimum capital requirement: There is no minimum capital requirement for creating an NGO as a section 8 company. Unlike other corporate entities, such as a public/private limited company, Section 8 companies have no prescribed limit for any minimum capital necessities. Separate legal entity: Comparable to the Trust, a section 8 company also gets the special recognition of being a separate legal entity. Like private limited and other limited companies, a section 8 company, too, continues its own identity and possesses its separate legal entity from its members. Tax exemptions: Since section 8 companies are a form of a non-profit organization, they can avail several tax exemptions if it registers under the Section 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961Exemption of Stamp duty for registration. No title needed: The certification u/s 80G helps donors reduce their tax liability by 100 percent or 50 percent on the amount donated, depending on the nature of activities undertaken by the Trust/NGO. Not Required to Add The Suffix: Section 8 Companies are not required to add the suffix Limited or Private Limited at the end of their name. Security of ownership or title transfer: As per section 8 of the Income Tax Act of 1961, people can transfer the ownership of both movable and immobile assets externally with no restrictions. Apart from the above-described advantages, there are many other advantages of a section 8 company registration, such as attending general meetings under a short notice period, which is within 14 days rather than 21 days, and many more. Dezan Shira & Associates can help you set up your NGO in India and stay compliant with our advisory services. For more information, you may reach us at india@dezshira.com 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. Union Minister for Commerce & Industry, Textiles and Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Piyush Goyal said that the Union Budget 2022-23 has laid a focus on demand stimulus and that the enhanced capital spending would lead to greater demand and job opportunities.The minister addressed these during an industry interaction on the Union Budget, at the Bombay Stock Exchange in Mumbai, on February 5, 2022.Capital expenditure has been raised by 35%, to more than Rs. 7.5 lakh crore. Rs. 1 lakh crore is being given to states as interest-free 50-year loan to support funding of infra projects. Centre and states together, we are looking at Rs. 10.5 lakh crore of public spending. The Minister said that the enhanced capital spending of Rs. 10.5 lakh crore provided in the Budget 2022 is expected to have at least a 3-4 times multiplier effect in economic activity.The Minister noted that import figures were rising, indicating a revival of demand. He added, together with the CAPEX thrust provided by the government, this opens up huge opportunities for businesses to expand and look at new business avenues.Goyal said India was showing rapid recovery in terms of tax collections, industrial output, consumer demand. He said in the Budget 2022-23, there are no new taxes, no new revenue generation measures. The government has forecast conservative revenue estimates. We don't over-commit while ensuring needs of every department's expenditure needs, he added.Union Minister further said Budget 2022 has provided sufficient funding so that economic growth continues to be above 8% in next year and hope to look at least two decades of growth, ensuring prosperity can flow to everyone.Furthermore, the Minister exhorted the merchandise sector and services sector to go for a race to the top. The merchandise exports target which stands at $ 400 billion and service exports which stands at $ 240 billion should each aim to reach $ 1 trillion, he said. He shared that "despite the pandemic, our services export this year will cross $ 240 billion, the highest ever in India's history."The Minister recalled that to determine India's export target PM did a first-of-its-kind bottom-up approach in consultation with industry and foreign missions in 180 countries. Minister was glad to inform that as of 31st January, India has already achieved $ 336 billion of exports, thanks to 10 months of continuous $ 30 billion-plus exports. remaining of Thank you for Reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. The Missouri State University Board of Governors passed a tuition increase during its April Read more America is at that juncture, when its global standing and its ability to shape outcomes in the international system is under critical scrutiny. When President Joe Biden took office after the disruptive four years of the Trump presidency, he promised to restore and bring back Americas moral and material status in the world. A year later, the United States continues to battle challenges that are much deeper and structural, than the impact of Trump. It is that phase in the life of a great power, when it can no longer ignore the tectonic forces of a changing balance of power, not only in terms of its competition with the nearest peer, but in its capability to affect regional outcomes to its favour. From the Afghanistan withdrawal to the Taiwan flashpoint and the emerging crisis over Ukraine, the plate is full for President Biden for the remainder of his term. Biden and Foreign Policy for the American People AP Bidens team started by recalling the often-used rhetoric that foreign policy starts at home, and asking for foreign policy decisions to be primarily based on the metric of how it best served the American people. President Biden inherited a deeply polarised American electorate, and racial tensions soaring new heights in American society. Early last year, the violence and chaos that engulfed the U.S. Capitol Hill and the uncertainty over peaceful power transfer to President Biden severely dented Americas image globally. From economic regeneration, battling COVID-19, dealing with climate change, building new-age infrastructure and ending the war in Afghanistan, Biden had his eyes set on making decisions that would ultimately be in the interest of the American people. However, one year into the job, a hard reality now stares Biden, that foreign policy may begin at home, but it does not end at home. Setting the American house in order, does not come at the expense of Americas image as a global power and the credibility of being a security guarantor to a number of countries across the world. Biden and Americas Credibility AP Americas hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan, overnight changed the dynamics of power there. That Washington was withdrawing was a foregone conclusion but the lack of strategy in a 20-year-old war left many questioning the credibility of American commitments and guarantees in other geopolitical hotspots. It has been an uphill task for the Biden administration to reassure allies and partners that Americas withdrawal from Afghanistan and the fall of Kabul to the Taliban should not be automatically construed as Washingtons willingness to surrender its security commitments elsewhere. From the Taiwan flashpoint to the Ukraine crisis, Bidens presidency has had to contend with old and new geopolitical currents. The complexity of holding on to its old allies and building new strategic partners has thrown upon a challenge of new foreign policy dexterity that Washington may not be accustomed to. The way Washington handled the AUKUS deal while understandable from the point of countering Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific, opened new wounds in its transatlantic ties with France. As the United States builds new strategic arrangements like the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), the developments over Ukraine and the shape of things to come in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) throws open the question of handling the equally significant U.S.-Russia equation. Strategic Competition is the Primary Threat No doubt the U.S.-China strategic competition will remain the primary occupation of the Biden presidency or for that matter any succeeding one in the near future. Restoring U.S. credibility and global influence, requires asking what was lost in the Trump era and what was gained, and not just a blanket assumption that it was all zero and minus during those four years. Watchers of American foreign policy still see a sizeable gap in the trade competition with China, and the absence of any pragmatic American led alternative to Beijings economic restructuring of the international system. Infrastructure and connectivity projects remains a major component that needs urgent attention. There is a lot on paper and in vision, but any real time answer to the Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) remains desired but not delivered. The very point of deterring Chinese aggression not only requires a recalibration of American responses, but also a clearer view of how to diplomatically and materially support like-minded partners in the same pursuit. The Double Whammy Reuters Is Russia a secondary question, and a secondary player in Americas calculations of the new strategic competition? NATO and any prospect of new members in the group from the post-Soviet space is a major boiling point for Moscow, and a future assessment of European geopolitics has to include one of Russias perception of its own sphere of influence and its willingness for assertive actions. It is a double whammy of sorts for the Biden presidency to battle the China and Russia challenge, or for that matter, the outcomes of a China-Russia alliance. Unlike in the Cold War, when differences between the Soviet Union and China, presented an opportunity of U.S.-China rapprochement, there does not seem any immediate prospect of love lost between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, which could present Washington with such a strategic gambit. Therefore, manoeuvring new geopolitical tides across the Atlantic and Pacific theatres and engineering strategic stability will remain a primary challenge for Bidens presidency, and a longer-term challenge for future presidencies. The Biden administration needs to re-evaluate and build on its interim national security strategic guidance to exude a clearer strategic outlook, and a pragmatic sense of mutual expectations between Washington and its allies or partners. *The Author currently teaches at the Amity Institute of International Studies (AIIS), Amity University, Noida. He is a regular commentator on international affairs and Indias foreign policy. The views expressed in the article are author's own. At the Kundapur government college in Karnataka, instead of waiting at the gate, students have been made to sit in a separate room where they still cant attend classes. Many on social media are equating the separation in classrooms to the Apartheid. Separate classroom with no teaching is an apartheid process and a form of punishment without media coverage. This is even more outrageous than non entry of Hijabis to college. (@tamashbeen_) February 7, 2022 Say No to Apartheid Education. https://t.co/jczHiOFzHL Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) February 7, 2022 We are watching Apartheid in 2022 in India https://t.co/TB6L86CXWg Sankul Sonawane (@Sankul333) February 7, 2022 Yesterday, the Karnataka government issued an order and banned the wearing of any such clothes that "disturb equality, integrity, and public order in schools and colleges." "Invoking 133 (2) of the Karnataka Education Act-1983, which says a uniform style of clothes has to be worn compulsorily. The private school administration can choose a uniform of their choice," the government order said. Twitter It said the students have to wear the dress chosen by the College Development Committee or the appellate committee of the administrative board of the pre-university colleges, which come under the pre-university education department. Karnataka high court is all set to hear the Hijab-related writ petition on Tuesday, the government is now probing the six girls of Government PU College in Udupi, who are demanding permission to wear the Hijab inside the classroom. BJP MLA Raghupati Bhat confirmed the same to News18, saying state Home Minister Araga Dnyanendra had asked the police department to probe any links that the girls and their parents could have with other organisations. Meanwhile, Udupi Additional SP ST Siddalingappa said two people have been arrested, with the police on the lookout for another three, for carrying arms into a protest on the Hijab row. Muslim Voice/ Twitter We are trying to trace them. They had one knife and they were not locals. They are from Gangolli. They have been sent to judicial custody. The case is under investigation," he told ANI. All eyes are now on the Karnataka High Court which will be hearing the petition over the hijab row, as the controversial issue boils in the state. A section of Muslim girls is demanding permission to wear headscarves to college, while the state government has cracked the whip making uniforms mandatory for students attending classes in educational institutions. For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News. Prime Minister Narendra Modi once again topped the Global Leader Approval rating list with the highest rating of 72 per cent, beating global leaders such as US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron. According to a released by American research firm Morning Consult, PM Modi topped the list of 13 world leaders and is followed by Mexico President Lopez Obrador at 64 per cent, Italy Prime Minister Mario Draghi at 57 per cent, Fumio Kishida at 47 per cent, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at 42 per cent. US President Joe Biden, South Korean President Moon Jae-in, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau all scored 41 per cent ratings. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at 37 per cent, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and French President Emmanuel Macron at 35 per cent. Shutterstock The approval ratings suggest that PM Modi has a net approval rating of 50, with 71 per cent of respondents voting in approval while 21 per cent voting in disapproval. UK prime minister Boris Johnson scored the lowest on the list as he battles his political career amid a crisis after a report found he and staff held parties during strict coronavirus lockdowns. This is the third year in a row that PM Modi topped the list with such a high margin among all other world leaders. Since the time Morning Consult started tracking each leader, PM Modi's approval rating was at its peak in May 2020 during the nationwide lockdown, while dipping to its lowest during the disastrous second Covid wave last year. AFP The company is currently tracking the approval ratings of government leaders of Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Spain, Britain and the US. The ratings are based on a seven-day moving average of adult residents, with sample sizes varying by country. Morning Consult Political Intelligence was founded in 2014 and has built a data collection technology platform. It accesses upwards of 100 million people globally to collect more than 15 million interviews in over 100 countries annually. For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with severe cases of COVID-19 as well as mortality, reveals yet another study, this time by researchers from Azrieli Faculty of Medicine of Bar-LLan University in Safed Israel and Galilee Medical Centre in Nahariya, Israel. Reuters Also Read: Covid-19 Has Made Us All Forgetful And Diluted Our Memories: Here's How To Fix It The study is actually the first that analysed vitamin D levels before the infection, offering a more accurate assessment compared to post-hospitalisation or post-Covid infection that could lower the levels. They looked at vitamin D levels measured two weeks to two years prior to infection of 1,176 patients admitted between April 2020 and February 2021 to the Galilee Medical Centre with positive PCR tests. The study adjusted for age, gender, season, chronic diseases etc. Patients with Vitamin-D deficiency (less than 20ng/mL) were 14 times more likely to have severe cases of COVID-19 than those with more than 40ng/mL. Surprisingly, mortality among patients with sufficient vitamin D levels was at 2.3 percent compared to those with vitamin D deficiency at 25.6 percent. Also Read: Scientists Identify Why Covid Patients Suffer From Loss Of Smell And Taste Dr Amiel Dror of the Galilee Medical Centre and Azrieli Faculty of Medicine of Bar-Ilan University who led the study explained, "Our results suggest that it is advisable to maintain normal levels of vitamin D. This will be beneficial to those who contract the virus. There is a clear consensus for vitamin D supplementation on a regular basis as advised by local health authorities as well as global health organisations." BCCL Also Read: Corbevax: How Not-For-Profit Covid-19 Vaccine Wants To End Global Inequality Study co-author Prof. Michael Edelstein, of the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine of Bar-Ilan University, added, "This study contributes to a continually evolving body of evidence suggesting that a patient's history of Vitamin-D deficiency is a predictive risk factor associated with poorer Covid-19 clinical disease course and mortality. It is still unclear why certain individuals suffer severe consequences of Covid-19 infection while others don't. Our finding adds a new dimension to solving this puzzle." Keep reading Indiatimes.com for the latest science and technology news. A couple and their dog were rescued two months after being trapped inside a remote cabin in California, U.S., after a snowstorm stranded them and they began to face a dwindling food supply. The unidentified couple and their dog had been stuck inside the cabin in Northern California since December 6 after a winter storm left behind significant snowfall and fallen trees, CNN reported. California Highway Patrol On Tuesday morning, the Sierra County Sheriff's Office got a call from the couple asking to be rescued from a cabin in a northwestern part of the county, about two hours north of Sacramento. The couple was still stuck and "running low on food." The Sheriff's Office then contacted California Highway Patrol (CHP) for a helicopter rescue. Shortly after, the helicopter was able to land on the property and pick up the couple and their small dog. CHP released a video that showed the helicopter flying over the home. Officers landed the helicopter near the cabin, despite strong winds. The couple and dog were taken to a safe location. CHP "Two people had been snowed in their cabin since December 6th. Unable to leave due to snow and downed trees, they were running out of supplies," CHP said, adding that the helicopter "was able to land near the cabin, while very strong winds were blowing." Friends of the couple later picked them up from the Sheriff's Office, officials said. For more from trending, click here. Real-time social media posts from local businesses and organizations across Northern Virginia, powered by Friends2Follow. To add your business to the stream, email cfields@insidenova.com or click on the green button below. By Nick El Hajj elhajjni@grinnell.edu Since the Talibans takeover of Afghanistan in August of last year, at least 600 Afghan refugees have arrived in Iowa where they hope to find a place where theres economic opportunity and escape a life that had to be difficult, says Al Ricks, one of the members of the Community Support for Immigrants (CoSI). CoSI is a grassroots organization, mainly based in Grinnell but also in Tama and Brooklyn, that is focused on trying to smooth the rough places and create a welcoming community for new Iowans, says Ricks. Its mission is to build bridges of trust, mediate attitudes of divisiveness around the topic of immigration and reduce the impact of an immigration enforcement incident on the social fabric and economic well-being of the community. The organization now serves as a mission of the Grinnell First Presbyterian Church, and Ricks explains how it was initially formed with the intent of preparing the community to respond to the possibility of immigration raids. Ricks then explains how the members quickly recognized that the mission of CoSI needed to be bigger than just responding to possible Immigration and Customs Enforcement action. The organization now mainly cooperates with the Des Moines division of the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) to provide services including assistance with food, shelter, living expenses and transportation along with offering English practice sessions at the library and instructing immigrants on their legal rights. Distribution mostly started through talk of mouth and Mexican restaurants, and then channels seemed to open by themselves after that, says Ricks. These distribution efforts were put to the test following the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic that threatened the entire community, especially its immigrant population. Relief organizations were not spared from the pandemics grip, and many struggled to resume operations. Its almost like theyre trying to build the airplane while its flying, says Ricks. As John Kenneth Ashby, also an active member of CoSI, states problems affect us all, but its the people who are less fortunate that suffer disproportionately worse. This disparity has alarmed many members of the community and Kenneth Ashby says I couldnt believe this was happening in America. That sort of lit the fire, and we began to realize there are truly a lot of needs. The way I look at it is if you parachuted me into Afghanistan right now, I doubt I would be able to survive, said Kenneth Ashby. He continued, thats the case for so many of these families. They need help navigating the school system, the bills, the health system, dealing with law enforcement, you name it. The organization also plans on partnering with Grinnell College on future projects, with many being mediated through Vanessa Preast, the associate director for the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment at the College and an active supporter of the organization. Preast helped CoSI run a mask-making campaign that recruited volunteers from the community and was able to make and distribute around 4,000 masks and several hundred bottles of sanitizer. The strictly non-political organization depends on the generosity of donors, and as Ricks says CoSI is appealing to the community to help raise some dollars that can be sent through the mail to buy the items needed by the immigrants. Ricks goes on to explain how the federal stipend [immigrants] initially get doesnt stretch and pretty soon they need to buy a cooking pot, a pair of work boots, a winter coat, and so much more. An extra drop in the bucket is a good thing because its one drop more than we had before, says Kenneth Ashby. Unless a person is from an indigenous background, were all immigrants. Very few of us arrived in first-class passage and everyone could use some help to settle into their new homes says Ricks. The organization is also working on setting up a way to donate Amazon and Walmart gift cards, along with possible volunteer opportunities to help with distribution efforts. Donations can be mailed or dropped off at CoSI Refugee Drive, First Presbyterian Church, 1025 Fifth Ave., Grinnell, Iowa 50112. For additional questions contact CoSI at cosicentraliowa@gmail.com or visit www.cosi-iowa.org. The Louisiana Supreme Court has disbarred a Lafayette attorney accused of failing to properly handle a clients case, then lying to investigators about it. Brad Thomas Andrus was formally disbarred, ordered to pay investigation costs and must participate in a program to make his former client whole, the court said in a ruling released Jan. 19. KATC-TV reports the case against Andrus centered on his handling of a case for an Acadia Parish man who filed a claim with his insurance company after a broken water pipe damaged his home. The court found that Andrus engaged in serious attorney misconduct. He neglected his clients legal matter, charged and collected an unreasonable fee, held client funds in his trust account, failed to return his clients file upon request, and engaged in deceptive and dishonest behavior in the course of this disciplinary proceeding. The court also found that Andrus conduct was knowing and intentional. The court said Andrus blocked a process server by claiming he was his twin brother and asked for a delay in the case, claiming his response to the accusations was on a laptop that had been stolen from his car. Church Point police found inconsistencies in his theft story. From the incredible tale of a vehicle burglary offered as justification for failing to timely respond to the disciplinary complaint, to his attempt to evade service of a subpoena by claiming to be his identical twin brother, and finally to submitting fabricated receipts and invoices to the ODC, respondent has violated the most fundamental duty of an officer of the court, the ruling said. The utter absence of candor respondent has demonstrated in these proceedings calls his good moral character into serious question and warrants disbarment. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Louisiana Claims A bill that would grant Massachusetts residents what supporters describe as fundamental internet privacy rights including greater control over their personal information is making its way through the Statehouse. The bill, which would set standards for how companies can collect and sell personal information, was unanimously approved by the Legislatures Committee on Advanced Information Technology this week. Supporters say the bill builds on similar efforts in Colorado, Virginia, and California and would help modernize Massachusetts laws for the digital age. Critics warn a state-by-state patchwork of regulations could unfairly burden businesses trying to comply with the laws. Online privacy and security issues are only going to get more important, said Democratic state Sen. Barry Finegold, Senate chair of the committee. In the absence of federal action, we can enact meaningful reforms in the commonwealth and help clarify the rules of the road for businesses. An Associated Press poll last year found most Americans dont believe their personal information is secure online. One change the bill would make would be to let Massachusetts residents opt out of the sale of personal information. The bill would require companies obtain consent for most sales of sensitive information _ such as geolocation, biometric or racial data _ and when selling the personal information of children under 16. It would also give internet users the right to delete and correct the personal information a company maintains about them. Opt Out Under the proposed law, companies would be required to provide easy-to-understand privacy notices that specify how personal information is being collected and sold and how residents can opt out. Businesses would have to conduct regular risk assessments for high-risk practices such as the sale of personal information and minimize the amount of personal information collected and retained. The legislation would also allow the attorney generals office to impose penalties of up to $7,500 per violation, ensure the states privacy laws adapt with the times and require those who buy and sell internet data register with the attorney generals office. Setting rules for the internet on a state-by-state basis makes little sense according to Chris Gilrein of TechNet, a technology industry group. Its not the internet of Massachusetts or the internet of New Hampshire or Connecticut. Ultimately, a federal privacy law is the only way to end the costly patchwork of state laws, Gilrein said in a statement. A federal law would give consumers assurances their data is protected no matter where they live while offering businesses, especially small businesses, certainty about their responsibilities. In the absence of a federal standard, businesses will face an expensive task of trying to comply with each new state law, Gilrein said. Supporters said the Massachusetts bill would help the attorney generals office ensure that the enforcement of the law aligns with similar laws in other states while protecting small businesses and minimizing excessive burdens to comply with the law. The public is demanding that government act to protect their personal information from being shared without their knowledge and consent, said Democratic Rep. Linda Dean Campbell, the House chair of the committee. A handful of other states have passed data privacy laws. The California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 also aimed to give individuals more control over personal information collected by businesses including the right to know what information is being collected and how it is used, the right to delete personal information and the right to opt-out of the sale of their personal information. The California Department of Justice began notifying businesses found not in compliance with the data privacy law in July 2020. In its first year of enforcement, 75% of businesses acted to come into compliance within 30 days, as required by the law, according to California Attorney General Rob Bonta. The remaining businesses were still in the 30-day period or under investigation. Last month, Bonta announced an investigation of business loyalty programs that offer financial incentives, such as discounts, free items, or other rewards, in exchange for personal information. He found businesses failed to notify consumers how theyre using the information for the financial benefit of the business, as required by the law. We may not always realize it, but these brick and mortar stores are collecting our data and theyre finding new ways to profit from it, he said. Last year Democratic Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed a similar bill giving people the right to access and delete personal information. Colorados law, which also enables people to opt out of having their data tracked, profiled and sold, takes effect in 2023. The Massachusetts bill must still be approved by the House and Senate and signed by Republican Gov. Charlie Baker before becoming law. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics California Legislation Massachusetts Colorado A federal judge in Baltimore on Thursday dismissed a wrongful death lawsuit against Uber Technologies Inc. filed by the family of a rideshare driver who was killed by a passenger in 2019. U.S. District Judge Catherine Blake ruled that Uber didnt have a duty to conduct background screenings of passengers. The judge also concluded that the harm to Uber driver Beaudouin Tchakounte was not sufficiently foreseeable to the company even if it had known that the passenger who killed him had been convicted of robbery 21 years earlier. The passenger who shot and killed Tchakounte and a second passenger in Prince Georges County, Maryland, later told authorities that he was high on PCP. Blake said Ubers bonus system and algorithm places pressure on drivers to accept the rides that Uber chooses for them without knowing anything about a passenger beyond their first name or length of ride. Drivers are theoretically free to reject any ride they would like, but those attempting to make a living understand the precarious nature of that freedom in the face of a power imbalance and information asymmetry favoring Uber, the judge wrote. However, the judge said requiring Uber to screen passengers could impose the same duty on taxi dispatchers, plumbing businesses and other companies that send service providers to a private shared space where there is some risk of interpersonal conflict or crime. Blake added that she hesitates to initiate such a significant expansion of duty absent a clear indication that it aligns with Maryland public policy. A spokesperson for the San Francisco-based company declined to comment on the ruling. A lawyer for Tchakountes family didnt immediately respond to an email seeking comment. On the evening of Aug. 27, 2019, Tchakounte was driving his personal vehicle with a passenger, 32-year-old Casey Robinson, when the Uber app matched them with a second passenger, Aaron Lanier Wilson, Jr. Wilson shot and killed Tchakounte and Robinson within minutes of getting into the car. Wilson, now 45, was charged with first- and second-degree murder in the deaths of Tchakounte and Robinson, a construction and security worker. Wilson told authorities he doesnt remember what happened during the ride because he was high on PCP. In April 2021, a Prince Georges County judge sentenced Wilson to 50 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to killing both men, WJLA-TV reported. The familys lawsuit claims Uber owed Tchakounte the same duty of care that businesses owe their customers. Uber argued that it would be impossible to protect its drivers from any and all harms, the judge said. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Legislation Personal Auto Maryland The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has clarified that a retirement board should not consider sick leave or vacation benefits that an injured employee received as a supplement to workers compensation payments when determining the employees retirement date. The court said that such supplementary payments are not part of regular compensation that state laws say should be used in figuring retirement dates. The high court also said this regular compensation definition is to be applied broadly and retroactively by retirement boards. In a 2018 (Vernava) case, the court had found that where an employee receives accrued vacation or sick leave pay in conjunction with workers compensation benefits, such supplemental pay is not regular compensation because the injured employee has ceased providing services to the employer. In this latest case, (Worcester Regional Retirement Board & Others Vs. Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission), the court addressed whether this definition of regular compensation should apply to all types of retirements and whether it applies retroactively. PERAC, the regulatory agency overseeing the 104 retirement systems had, issued a memorandum advising retirement boards on the scope of the Vernava regular compensation decision maintaining that it applied solely to calculations of an employees effective date of accidental disability retirement and did not apply to other retirements such as those related to ordinary disability or superannuations (pensions). However, the states high court has now clarified that its past ruling on regular compensation is not as narrow as PERAC interpreted it. Because our interpretation of regular compensation in Vernava did not depend on the specific retirement provision under which the issue arose, we conclude that this construction applies consistently across uses of the term, thereby applying to superannuation, ordinary disability, and accidental disability retirement, and does so retroactively, the court concluded. The high court rejected a PERAC request that the rule, if applied broadly, apply only to future calculations and not to past benefits, even though PERAC argued that might mean loss of benefits for some retirees. The justices said that PERAC did not offer a specific estimate of how many existing retirees would be rendered ineligible for benefits due to retroactive recalculation. PERAC offered only that at least hundreds of retirees had received supplemental pay in conjunction with partial incapacity workers compensation. The court suggested that retirement boards may exercise discretion to waive recalculations that would result in the total loss of retirement benefit eligibility for some existing retirees. Topics Workers' Compensation Massachusetts By Ellianna Cierpiot cierpiot@grinnell.edu Grinnell Colleges residence hall cluster system is set up to have five Residence Life Coordinators (RLCs) on staff; however, the College currently only has two employed on campus after the Jamaland (James, Main and Cleveland Halls) RLC Tyler Hoenig became the second RLC to step down in recent months. The former RLC for residence clusters Smounker (Smith and Younker Halls) and Clangrala (Clark, Gates, Rawson and Langan Halls), Jacob Ferguson, left at the end of last semester. Each RLC organizes and supports students within one housing cluster, which is an essential job, according to Director of Residence Life Dennis Perkins. This new shortage of RLCs on staff has led to Perkins, Associate Vice President and Dean of Students Ben Newhouse and Associate Director of Residence Life Leah Reuber taking over for the missing RLC positions, on top of their other jobs. RLCs are instrumental because theyre front-facing the students, Perkins said. So, students are having trouble with homesickness, or adjusting to college, mental health concerns, need just a little bit of counseling or a pep talk. Those are all skills that the RLCs have learned in grad school that make them qualified to be able to handle those issues with students. Because this job is so involved with students and student life, the absence of a full Residence Life staff has the potential to harm students who are seeking support. The RLC isnt readily available like they would be if you knock on their door, they might be handling another issue, Perkins said. We dont have that quick response time that we normally would have if we were full-staffed. Perkins said that Community Advisors (CAs) have experienced no change in their job expectations or workload because of the understaffing, but one CA said that although the expectations have not changed, some aspects of the job have been affected. That CA asked to remain anonymous to protect their employment. It has been stressful for me, as well as other CAs Ive talked to, to not have enough ResLife staff to advise us on what to do in situations we encounter while on call, or the serious concerns residents come to us with, the CA said. This has made me, and other CAs, feel that we are left with little guidance and ability to help in serious physical and mental health and safety issues our residents have. They also said that when they needed to reach out for support, the resources that should be there are often not. If a problem arises while we are on call, there is no longer a direct RLC we can ask for help or advice the RLC on call number often does not answer, they said. The former RLC for the Jamaland cluster, Tyler Hoenig, left the College on Feb. 2. He said that his reason for doing so was because he accepted a position at a different university. Hoenig did not provide further comment on his departure. One of the CAs of Main Hall, Sam Rowekamp `22, said in an email that he didnt expect many changes to his job due to this, but that it was very early to tell for certain. In response to the understaffing, Perkins said that the Residence Life team has plans to start looking for new candidates. According to Perkins, Grinnell recruits RLC candidates at a placement exchange in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Perkins said he has registered to attend a conference there this month. From now until then, we are going to be looking at resumes and cover letters people will submit to us, Perkins said. He attributes the understaffing to changes in the norm of how long people stay in positions like RLCs. There used to be a time where people in entry-level positions stayed for anywhere from three to seven years, Perkins said. Youre not seeing that anymore. I think folks really are here one to two years its an entry level position, its hard work and so we see that professional staff are staying less and less time. This is becoming the norm. The plan to address this involves contract changes that incentivize staying longer, with bonuses for the RLCs that choose to stay, but didnt say if RLCs who are overseeing more than one cluster would also receive extra compensation. RLCs Maggie Bell and Abigail Meert were not available to interview or comment. Shares in French care homes company Korian slid lower on Monday after a Paris lawyer said she was preparing a group lawsuit against the company. Lawyer Sarah Saldmann told FranceInfo radio over the weekend that she had received dozens of complaints by relatives of people living in elderly care facilities run by Korian, adding she intended to bring a group lawsuit, grouping together the claims of numerous individual plaintiffs, in April. Saldmann also confirmed her planned legal action against Korian on her official Twitter account (@SarahSaldmann). Korian in a reply to Reuters said it strongly denied any allegations of mistreatment, adding that although it had not been notified of any collective legal action it would treat any such legal action with the most serious consideration. Korian shares were down 4.2% in early session trading, with the stock down by around 40% since the start of 2022. Shares in Korian have slumped within the last two weeks since the first extracts of the Les Fossoyeurs book alleging malpractices in care homes run by Korians rival Orpea were published, triggering a public outcry, government probes and the departure of Orpeas CEO. Last week, Korian shares dropped further after a well-known French investigational TV host said she would reveal new information on the sector later in February. Korian had already said, in response to the forthcoming TV documentary, that it was ready to answer any questions raised in that report, and that the company did not deserve the negative media coverage. Shares in Orpea, which has also denied wrongdoing, were also down by around 2%. Saldmann said in the interview that the publication of the book has set off a collective reckoning about the way Frances elderly are being treated in facilities run by private companies that have to make a profit for their investors. Referring to Korian, she said that problems raised to her by family members seeking advice were noticeably the same as those at Orpea. (Reporting by Tassilo Hummel;editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta) Topics Lawsuits France STOCKHOLM Swedish price comparison firm PriceRunner said on Monday it was suing Alphabet-owned Google for about 2.1 billion euros ($2.4 billion), the latest firm to take legal action alleging the search giant manipulated search results. Google in November lost an appeal against a 2.42 billion-euro fine it received in 2017 which found using its own price comparison shopping service gave the company an unfair advantage over smaller European rivals. They are still abusing the market to a very high extent and havent changed basically anything, PriceRunner Chief Executive Mikael Lindahl told Reuters in an interview. PriceRunner, which is in the process of being bought by Swedish fintech Klarna, said a lawsuit it filed in Sweden aimed to make Google pay compensation for the profit it had lost in Britain since 2008, as well as in Sweden and Denmark since 2013. A Google spokesperson said the company would defend the lawsuit in court. The changes we made to shopping ads back in 2017 are working successfully PriceRunner chose not to use shopping ads on Google, so may not have seen the same successes that others have, the Google spokesperson said. Lindahl said PriceRunner was prepared to fight for many years, had secured tens of millions of euros in external financing and had steps in place in the event it did not win. The European Commissions 2017 fine was the result of a seven-year investigation triggered by scores of complaints that Google distorted internet search results to favor its shopping service, harming rivals and consumers. The commission found Google systematically gave prominent placement to its own comparison shopping service and demoted rival comparison shopping services in its search results. European consumers have been denied real choice in shopping services for many years and this is one step to ensuring this ends now, a Klarna spokesperson said. Klarna in November agreed to buy PriceRunner from investment firm Creades for 1.06 billion Swedish crowns ($124.36 million). The deal is expected to close in the first quarter. Axel Springers price comparison shopping service Idealo then sued Google in 2019 for 500 million euros. ($1 = 0.8749 euros) (Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee, European Technology & Telecoms Correspondent, based in Stockholm; editing by Simon Johnson and Jason Neely) Topics Lawsuits Europe Howden, the London-based insurance broker, announced the appointment of industry veteran Nicolas Aubert as CEO, France. After holding roles in various countries, notably in the UK market where he held major positions at AIG and Willis Towers Watson, he returns home to France to lead operations in this key market as Howden continues to expand its European platform and provide clients with more choice. Aubert brings over 30 years of experience and was most recently at WTW as head of Great Britain and CEO, Willis Ltd. Prior to this, he held leadership roles at AIG, as chief operating officer EMEA and had been managing director of different geographies, including the UK, Southern Europe and France. Nicolas appointment strengthens our existing European platform and brings choice to a market that is crying out for European-focused alternatives. Todays announcement demonstrates Howdens commitment to develop its network across Europe and specifically in France, one of the biggest broking markets on the continent, commented Luigi Sturani, regional CEO, Howden Europe. The first key step in expanding Howden France was to find a respected and credible leader in the market, and Nicolas was a natural fit because of his extensive experience in both the French and UK markets. He has a proven track record in managing high profile growth and transformation projects, strong managerial capabilities and industry knowledge that will be invaluable in overseeing the integration of future acquisitions in France, Sturani added. When deciding on what I wanted to do next, I knew I wanted to build a business. Joining Howden was an exciting opportunity as it is truly an entrepreneurial company, providing a great alternative for talent and for clients, according to Aubert. Our operations in France will extend Howdens existing capabilities to better serve clients, in France and all over the world. Aubert said Howdens goal is to become one of the top brokers in France with an extensive territorial presence and strong specialties. We will accomplish this by attracting the best entrepreneurial talent and like-minded companies, and by growing organically, supported by Howdens existing regional platform, he added. Howden first opened an office in France in 2019 launching a warranty and indemnity business, Howden M&A France. The team is made up of former M&A corporate and tax lawyers who advise clients across the entire spectrum of M&A insurance. In 2021, the team saw growth of almost 45%, by policy count, acting on more than 30 transactions with an aggregate value exceeding EUR 12 billion. In addition, Howden serves clients in France through Howden RE, its international reinsurance broker. Facultative Reinsurance Director Jean F. Fily will continue servicing cedents and captives as an integral part of Howden Frances wider offering. Howden has been building its European platform since 1994 and opened its first office on the continent in Spain in 1999. The appointment of Aubert as CEO, France follows the recent announcements of Holger Schaefer as CEO, Germany, Felix Jenny as CEO, Switzerland, Herman Kerremans as CEO, Belgium, Jeroen Everling, CEO, Netherlands Corporate and Luigi Sturani and Enrico Nanni as CEO and CCO, Europe, respectively. Source: Howden Broking Topics Europe Willis Towers Watson France Global insurance services provider McLarens has opened a new office in Madrid, Spain. In addition to expanding its European footprint, and handling losses in Spain for McLarens global client base, the office will serve Spanish and global clients with interests in Latin America and internationally. Heading up the office is long serving McLarens adjuster David Matias. Newly appointed Country Manager for Spain, Matias has more than 20 years experience in the insurance industry, and has held leadership positions with McLarens in London, Mexico and, most recently, the United States. He began his insurance career in 1999 in London, working for a Spanish insurance company in its underwriting and claims departments, before moving into loss adjusting where he has handled and overseen high profile, multi-million-dollar losses across the globe. Matias is multi-lingual and will work closely with both McLarens London market and Latin American teams, reporting into David Pigot, McLarens director of London Markets and global head of Specialty, and Leonardo Garzon, managing director, Latin America. McLarens Latin American operation incorporates a network of 16 offices and affiliates operating in North, Central and South America, managing complex losses across a range of specialist practice groups including machinery breakdown, marine, engineering, power & energy, construction & erection all risks, business interruption / delay in start up, agriculture, cyber, and financial lines. The new McLarens Spain office is located at Paseo de La Castellana 81, 15th Floor, 28046, Madrid, Spain. Photograph: Paseo de la Castellana street in city of Madrid. Source: McLarens Topics London A fire at a suburban Chicago boat storage warehouse caused millions of dollars in damage to the building and yachts stored inside, fire officials said Feb. 3. The Waukegan Fire Department said the fire began about 8 p.m. Feb. 2 at the Bay Marine boat warehouse, which stored 60 to 70 yachts. About 100 firefighters from departments in Lake, McHenry, and Kenosha counties responded to the scene, and spent 61/2 hours battling the flames before bringing the blaze under control, WBBM-TV reported. Crews were hampered by the amount of smoke and flames, along with bitter cold temperatures. The crews did an exceptional job in very extreme conditions. The nature of the boat storage is difficult to navigate in smoke and fire conditions, Waukegan Fire Marshal Todd Zupec said in a statement. No injuries were reported, but fire officials estimated the fire caused several millions of dollars in damage to the warehouse and the boats inside. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Waukegan is located along Lake Michigan about 11 miles (18 kilometers) south of the Wisconsin border, and some 40 miles (64 kilometers) north of downtown Chicago. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Johnson & Johnson created a plan last year to limit the financial bleeding from billions of dollars in jury awards to plaintiffs who alleged the companys Baby Powder and other talc products caused deadly cancers. The healthcare and consumer-goods giant assigned more than 30 staffers to Project Plato. In a memo on the project in July, a company lawyer warned the team: Tell no one, not even your spouse. It is critical that any activities related to Project Plato, including the mere fact the project exists, be kept in strict confidence, Chris Andrew, a J&J lawyer, wrote in an internal memo reviewed by Reuters. The covert team would go on to evaluate a strategy to shift all the liability from about 38,000 pending talc cases onto a newly created subsidiary, which would immediately declare bankruptcy. The goal, as a lawyer for the subsidiary said in a court filing: To halt all the litigation and transfer the cases to bankruptcy court, where plaintiffs would compete for compensation from a limited pool of money. J&J Tried to Get Judge to Block Reuters story By Maria Chutchian and Tom Hals Johnson & Johnson tried to get a U.S. judge to block Reuters from publishing a story based on what it said were confidential company documents about the healthcare giants legal maneuvers to fight lawsuits claiming its Baby Powder caused cancer. The First Amendment is not a license to knowingly violate the law, said the company in a filing late Thursday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New Jersey, where a unit of J&J had sought bankruptcy protection while defending the Baby Powder lawsuits. The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects freedom of the press. On Friday, Reuters reported that J&J secretly launched Project Plato last year to shift liability from about 38,000 pending Baby Powder talc lawsuits to a newly created subsidiary, which was then to be put into bankruptcy. By doing so, J&J could limit its financial exposure to the lawsuits. After the publication of the story, Reuters asked U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Michael Kaplan to deny J&Js motion, claiming it was moot. Less than an hour after Reuters submitted its letter, J&J said in a filing that it was withdrawing a request for an immediate hearing on the matter but was not prepared to agree that its request regarding the documents was moot. J&J said in its filing after the publication of the story that it intends to continue discussions with Reuters and said it was heartened that publication of confidential documents may no longer be imminent. J&Js request to block publication was among the most extraordinary remedies a litigant can request under the law, attorneys for Reuters, a unit of Thomson Reuters, said in a Friday court filing. The news agencys lawyers called J&Js request a prior restraint of speech on a matter of public interest. J&J said Reuters had obtained documents that were protected from public disclosure by an order from Kaplan. The company demanded that Reuters return the documents and refrain from publishing information gleaned from the documents. This is a complex matter that should be heard by the court in a forum where both sides present their cases in an appropriate setting and not argued through the media, a J&J spokesperson said in a statement on Friday. Reuters denied that it has confidential information, saying in court papers that the confidentiality of one of the documents was lifted in January and that the second is not in the possession of Reuters. J&Js LTL unit filed for bankruptcy in October to resolve the claims alleging J&Js talc-based products contained asbestos and caused mesothelioma and ovarian cancer. J&J maintains that its consumer talc products are safe and have been confirmed to be asbestos-free. The company has said it placed LTL into bankruptcy to settle those claims rather than litigating them individually. It has said resolving these claims through Chapter 11 is a legitimate use of the restructuring process. Talc plaintiff committees argue that J&J should not be permitted to use bankruptcy to address the talc litigation and that by doing so, it is depriving plaintiffs their day in court. (Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware and Maria Chutchian in New York; editing by Amy Stevens and Rosalba OBrien) In court and in public statements last July, J&J (JNJ.N) said it intended to keep fighting the allegations that its products were unsafe in trial courts. The company was actively defending itself in talc trials, including one that would result in a $27 million jury award that could be nullified by the bankruptcy maneuver. The plaintiff in that case now may have to instead seek compensation through a bankruptcy process. Privately, J&J took concrete steps starting as early as April to consider and plan the bankruptcy maneuver, according to internal company documents, depositions and other court records reviewed by Reuters. The strategy seeks to ensure the pending cases never reach a jury and instead be handled in a bankruptcy court. The documents provide the most detailed account to date of how the New Jersey-based conglomerate strategized to limit compensation to tens of thousands of talc plaintiffs. Reuters exclusively reported the broad outlines of the bankruptcy strategy being explored by J&J in July. The company went ahead with the plan in October, offloading responsibility for the cases to the new subsidiary, which then filed for bankruptcy. Before the filing, the company faced costs from $3.5 billion in verdicts and settlements, including one in which 22 women were awarded a judgment of more than $2 billion, according to bankruptcy-court records. Now, J&J proposes to give the subsidiary in bankruptcy $2 billion to put into a trust to compensate all 38,000 current plaintiffs, as well as all future claimants. J&J has said in court filings and in public statements that the subsidiary, LTL Management LLC, could also tap a stream of royalty revenues valued at more than $350 million at the time of the bankruptcy filing. J&J did not answer detailed written questions from Reuters about its planning of the bankruptcy maneuver. In a statement, J&J defended the LTL bankruptcy as a way to resolve the talc claims. This filing follows established process, and courts have uniformly acknowledged that equitably resolving these types of claims through Chapter 11 is a legitimate use of the restructuring process, the statement said. LTLs objective is to reach a fair and equitable resolution for claimants through a plan of reorganization and create a reasonable framework to address the unprecedented number of existing and future talc-related claims. It continued: We stand behind the safety of Johnsons Baby Powder, which is safe, does not contain asbestos and does not cause cancer. We continue to believe resolving this matter as quickly and efficiently as possible is in the best interests of claimants and all stakeholders. We will continue to follow the process and put forth our position in the court. On Thursday, a lawyer for the J&J subsidiary appeared at a bankruptcy hearing and accused attorneys for people who have sued Johnson & Johnson over its talc products of sharing confidential documents with Reuters in a calculated effort to try the case in the press. Later Thursday, lawyers for J&J and its subsidiary sought a temporary restraining order from the bankruptcy judge to block Reuters from publishing information that, the company claims, comes from confidential documents. A Reuters spokesperson called J&Js claims without merit. We reject the factually-unfounded and legally-meritless claims made by J&Js lawyers and will continue to report without fear or favor on matters of public interest, the spokesperson said in a statement on Thursday. BANKRUPTCY BENEFITS WITHOUT BURDENS J&J started secretly considering and planning the maneuver to redirect plaintiffs to bankruptcy court as early as April, when company attorneys were briefed on the strategy by lawyers at Jones Day, a firm with experience in the tactic, according to deposition testimony from an LTL lawyer. On July 19, the day after Reuters broke the news of the strategy, a J&J official contacted Moodys, the Wall Street ratings firm, to ask if the subsidiary bankruptcy would harm the companys pristine credit, according to emails reviewed by Reuters. She was told it likely wouldnt because the agency would only consider the maneuvers impact on the finances of J&J, and not those of the subsidiary in bankruptcy. The exchange underscores why the strategy was so attractive: J&J could create a related-party bankruptcy to limit liability, while avoiding the burdens of declaring bankruptcy itself, seven legal experts argued in an amicus brief filed with the court. Moodys declined to comment. In court papers, a lawyer for the J&J subsidiary said the bankruptcy filing was a prudent and necessary step that offered the only alternative for equitably and permanently resolving all the talc litigation. Last July, Reuters reported that one of J&Js attorneys told plaintiffs lawyers that the company could pursue the bankruptcy plan, according to people familiar with the matter. At the time, J&J publicly downplayed concerns about the strategy and did not confirm that it was exploring the option. Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc has not decided on any particular course of action in this litigation other than to continue to defend the safety of talc and litigate these cases in the tort system, as the pending trials demonstrate, the company told Reuters at the time. A few days later, in a California courtroom, a lawyer defending J&J against talc plaintiffs told a judge that news of the bankruptcy strategy amounted to unsubstantiated rumors. J&J executed the bankruptcy plan starting on Oct. 11, taking the first steps to create the new subsidiary. The new company swiftly filed for Chapter 11, on Oct. 14. ALTERNATIVE JUSTICE SYSTEM The strategy, while rare, could be adopted more widely by big companies facing liability crises if Johnson & Johnson gets bankruptcy-court approval, according to lawyers for talc plaintiffs and some legal experts. If J&J succeeds, they argue, it could provide a blueprint for Corporate America on how to circumvent jury trials involving allegations of defective products or misconduct. Such a precedent could allow companies to routinely pursue related-party bankruptcies to escape accountability from juries, said Melissa Jacoby, a University of North Carolina law professor. Thats one step closer to making bankruptcy an alternative justice system for big corporations, Jacoby said. If a company as deeply pocketed as J&J can do this, where does it stop? In testimony last November, a lawyer for the Johnson & Johnson subsidiary has said the company pursued the strategy in reaction to an onslaught of litigation with the potential for outsized jury awards. A bankruptcy court, the lawyer argued, could provide a more consistent and equitable process for compensating claimants. Johnson & Johnson has said it would provide a fair amount of money to the subsidiary to pay claims. Johnson & Johnson, valued at more than $450 billion, had about $31 billion in cash and marketable securities on hand at the end of the third quarter, securities filings show. The New Jersey judge overseeing the subsidiarys bankruptcy is scheduled on Feb. 14 to begin hearing arguments on plaintiff-creditors contention that the bankruptcy should be dismissed because it was filed in bad faith. The October bankruptcy temporarily halted the litigation against Johnson & Johnson. LTL has said it will seek to permanently resolve the talc litigation through a reorganization plan that would prohibit current and future plaintiffs from seeking redress in a trial court. Instead, their claims would be directed to a trust, which would divvy up a limited amount of money through an administrative process approved by the bankruptcy court. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PLAINTIFFS J&Js bankruptcy strategy is the latest example of the companys efforts to manage liability amid mounting allegations that asbestos lurks in its iconic Baby Powder and other talc products. A December 2018 Reuters investigation https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/johnsonandjohnson-cancer revealed that the company knew for decades about tests showing its talc sometimes contained carcinogenic asbestos but kept that information from regulators and the public. Tens of thousands of plaintiffs, many with mesothelioma or ovarian cancer, have filed lawsuits alleging that exposure to talc in J&Js Baby Powder and other company products made them sick. Records J&J produced in response to those lawsuits led plaintiff lawyers to refine their argument: The culprit wasnt necessarily talc itself, but also asbestos in the talc. That assertion, backed by decades of science showing that asbestos causes mesothelioma and is associated with ovarian and other cancers, has had mixed success in court. The company has insisted in lawsuits and public-relations campaigns that the product was safe and asbestos-free. One plaintiff is Thomas McHattie, 78 years old, who traveled the world as an obstetrician-gynecologist before receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis in March 2020. McHattie said he recommended Baby Powder to countless pregnant women while also using it himself. McHattie said he endured five courses of chemotherapy to treat tumors in his abdomen, and has suffered from pronounced fatigue and shortness of breath. He sued J&J in New York in July, a few months after receiving his diagnosis. His case had not yet gone to trial when LTL Management filed for bankruptcy. In a 2020 court filing, J&J said it denied each and every allegation, statement, matter and thing asserted by McHattie in his lawsuit. McHattie told Reuters in an interview that he was disappointed theyve chosen to do what is expedient and not what is right. There is no excuse for them filing a bankruptcy, McHattie said. Why? This is a solvent company. RELEASED FROM LIABILITY J&Js subsidiary bankruptcy is one variation of a longstanding and increasingly controversial tactic of limiting liability through so-called nondebtor releases granted to companies, owners or executives. The releases can allow companies or executives to piggyback on the bankruptcies of other entities to obtain broad protection from lawsuits and restrict litigation payouts. The party receiving the release typically agrees to contribute a lump sum to the company in bankruptcy to pay off plaintiffs in exchange for an exemption from all future liability. That was the case with members of the Sackler family, the billionaire owners of Purdue Pharma LP, which filed for bankruptcy as a hail of lawsuits alleged it had contributed to a deadly addiction epidemic with its opioid painkiller, OxyContin. In a landmark decision in December, a U.S. district judge in New York invalidated Purdues bankruptcy reorganization plan on the grounds that it improperly insulated the Sackler family from liability through nondebtor releases. Purdue has appealed the ruling. The company pleaded guilty in November 2020 to three felonies covering misconduct regarding its handling of opioids. Sackler family members, who also faced litigation, have denied allegations they contributed to the opioid crisis. J&Js bankruptcy takes the approach a step further. Instead of seeking releases from liability in an existing bankruptcy proceeding, the company created a bankruptcy by forming a company that plaintiff-creditors allege has no business purpose other than to limit J&Js legal exposure. Lawyers for talc plaintiffs contend that the J&J maneuver amounts to an abuse of the bankruptcy system, which is intended to help a struggling business reorganize and not to help a well-capitalized conglomerate limit legal liability for alleged wrongdoing. This case is all about litigation advantage for J&J, said Robert Stark, a Brown Rudnick LLP lawyer representing a creditors committee of talc plaintiffs during a December hearing of the subsidiarys bankruptcy. J&J successfully halted the claims by tens of thousands of plaintiffs while people are dying of cancer and trying to prepare their families financially for their deaths, Stark said at the hearing. It does not get more inhumane than that, he said. The Purdue and J&J bankruptcy strategies have sparked efforts in the U.S. Congress to stop such tactics. U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois is co-sponsoring legislation with other Democrats that would all but outlaw the strategy J&J is using and restrict the ability of companies to obtain liability releases without declaring bankruptcy themselves. Our bankruptcy code and civil procedure has to be explored to make sure that this exploitation does not take place, Durbin said in an interview. Business groups and some bankruptcy lawyers say that nondebtor releases can be an effective tool to resolve litigation to the benefit of both plaintiffs and the companies they sue. While limited amounts for compensation are often criticized, they offer plaintiffs better odds of getting paid than if they take their chances in trial courts, said Donald Workman, a Baker & Hostetler restructuring lawyer who isnt involved in the J&J subsidiarys case. You have an elegant solution to resolve burdensome if not crushing obligations, Workman said, that provides funding for constituencies that might otherwise receive nothing. TEXAS TWO-STEP J&J turned to the bankruptcy plan following a series of setbacks. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration found trace amounts of asbestos in a bottle of Baby Powder purchased online, forcing the company to issue a recall in October 2019. In May 2020, the company stopped selling talc-based Baby Powder in the U.S. and Canada, citing misinformation and unfounded allegations regarding the products safety. In April, J&J attorneys consulted with Jones Day lawyers, who explained how the company could use a Texas law to split the companys consumer-product business into two parts. One would absorb all the talc liability; the other would carry on the business free from the threat of billion-dollar judgments. Texas pioneered the so-called divisional merger, which allows companies to break apart and more easily divvy up assets and liabilities among the resulting companies. Jones Day helped Georgia-Pacific, a company owned by conglomerate Koch Industries, execute the maneuver in 2017 to offload mounting asbestos litigation. Georgia-Pacific faced allegations regarding asbestos exposure from building products that spanned decades. Georgia-Pacific used the Texas law to create a new subsidiary called Bestwall to shoulder asbestos liability. As the subsidiary declared bankruptcy, the new Georgia-Pacific continued to produce Brawny paper towels and other lucrative brands. The maneuver came to be known in legal circles as a Texas two-step. Georgia-Pacific paid nearly $3 billion in dividends to Koch over the next several years, according to a court filing, that it might have been unable to dole out had it filed for bankruptcy itself. Georgia-Pacific has proposed giving Bestwall $1 billion to settle all asbestos claims, an amount plaintiff-creditors are still challenging in bankruptcy court. Koch Industries and Georgia-Pacific declined to comment; Jones Day did not respond to a request for comment. When J&J needed help last year, it hired Dallas-based Jones Day partner Greg Gordon and other members of the firms Georgia-Pacific legal team. As the bankruptcy planning moved forward, a major court defeat heightened the urgency. In June of last year, J&J lost a bid to reverse a watershed verdict in favor of 22 women who blamed their ovarian cancer on Baby Powder and other talc products. The women had initially won a verdict of $4.69 billion from a Missouri jury. A state appeals court reduced the award to more than $2 billion. PROJECT PLATO By July 12, the company had secretly set up the Project Plato team. The more than 30 employees staffing it came from J&Js finance, risk management, tax and business development operations, according to the internal J&J memo and deposition testimony. A week later, J&J treasurer Michelle Ryan reached out to Moodys to get guidance on the impact to J&Js credit rating. We are looking at a number of ways of capping our talc liability, Ryan said in a July 19 email to Michael Levesque, a senior vice president at the credit-ratings firm focused on pharmaceutical companies. One scenario under consideration, Ryan said, would be to capture the liability in one subsidiary and then basically bankrupt that subsidiary. Ryan asked whether the bankruptcy would hurt the companys credit rating. J&J at the time was one of just two U.S. companies with a triple-A rating, the other being Microsoft. Levesque replied that the technical aspect of the subsidiary bankruptcy wasnt likely to cause concern about J&Js creditworthiness. Rather, he said, Moodys was highly likely to focus on how the subsidiarys Chapter 11 filing affected J&Js finances, which the maneuver intended to help. Ryan did not respond to a request for comment. To execute the plan, J&J created a limited liability company on Oct. 11 in Texas through a series of transactions. That company then merged with J&Js existing consumer products business. The merged company then divided itself under the states divisional merger law, creating the subsidiary that would take on all the talc liability. The consumer business could then go on as if the lawsuits had never been filed. GREEN LIGHT Early on the morning of Oct. 11, Andrew, the in-house J&J lawyer who initially sent the internal memo to the Project Plato team, sent an email to eight J&J colleagues, including several senior executives. He asked them to approve the Texas two-step bankruptcy plan as soon as possible and no later than that day, according to Andrews email to his colleagues, which was reviewed by Reuters. He attached a detailed memo outlining the impending bankruptcys purported benefits. It would allow, the memo said, the bankruptcy court to determine the final amount of money for resolving all of the litigation, in a process enabling claims to be settled in an equitable and efficient manner, without the waste and abuses experienced in the state court tort system. The memo warned of risks. The plan would be consummated under a tight time frame and would be scrutinized by the media. Appropriate messaging (internally and externally) will be required to avoid or mitigate misunderstandings about the nature of the restructuring and negative publicity, the memo said. Andrew quickly received the green light, within hours of the request, internal emails reviewed by Reuters show. LTL, the new subsidiary, held its first board meeting on Oct. 14. The board members and lawyers discussed that LTL faced what they viewed as exorbitant costs if the current talc litigation barrage continued, which included 12,000 lawsuits alone through the first nine-and-a-half months of 2021, according to meeting minutes and deposition testimony Reuters reviewed. The group noted that J&J faced a total of about $5 billion in costs from judgments, settlements and legal fees. The board voted to pursue a Chapter 11 filing. J&J disclosed the move in a news release that evening as one that would equitably resolve the litigation. A plaintiffs lawyer grilled Robert Wuesthoff a J&J manager appointed president of LTL Management on that point in a Dec. 22 deposition. One of the considerations was to treat claimants equitably; it was for their benefit? Is that what youre saying? asked Jeffrey Jonas, a Brown Rudnick lawyer representing a creditors committee comprising talc plaintiffs. Yes, it would be more equitable to the claimant. Yes, we believe that, Wuesthoff responded. But the real reason we filed for bankruptcy, the LTL executive said, was that the large and growing amount of talc cases some with lottery-size awards put J&Js consumer products business in financial distress. (Reporting by Mike Spector and Dan Levine; editing by Janet Roberts and Brian Thevenot) Topics Lawsuits USA Texas Claims New York Georgia New Jersey A U.S. appeals court on Friday threw out a jury verdict ordering Apple Inc. and Broadcom Inc. to pay $1.1 billion to the California Institute of Technology for infringing its Wi-Fi technology patents, and ordered a new trial on damages. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit said the January 2020 award by the federal jury in Los Angeles, one of the largest ever in patent cases, was legally unsupportable. It also upheld the jurys findings that Apple and Broadcom infringed two Caltech patents, and ordered a new trial on whether they infringed a third patent. Caltech had sued Apple and Broadcom in May 2016, alleging that millions of iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches and other devices using Broadcom chips infringed its data-transmission patents. The jury had ordered Apple to pay Caltech $837.8 million and Broadcom to pay an additional $270.2 million. Caltech spokeswoman Shayna Chabner said the Pasadena, California-based school was confident that the value of its patents would be fully recognized at a new damages trial. Neither Apple nor Broadcom immediately responded to requests for comment. Apple is a major purchaser of Broadcom chips, and in January 2020 reached a $15 billion supply agreement that ends in 2023. Broadcom has estimated that 20% of its revenue comes from Apple. Caltechs damages model had been based on an argument that the school could have simultaneously negotiated a license with Apple for devices containing Broadcom chips, and a license with Broadcom for chips used elsewhere. Writing for the appeals court, Circuit Judge Richard Linn rejected that theory. The mere fact that Broadcom and Apple are separate infringers alone does not support treating the same chips differently at different stages in the supply chain, Linn wrote. Caltechs two-tier damages theory is legally unsupportable on this record. Caltech has also sued Microsoft Corp, Samsung Electronics Co, Dell Technologies Inc and HP Inc for alleged infringement of the same patents. Those cases are pending. (Reporting by Blake Brittain in Washington and Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by David Bario, Matthew Lewis and Richard Chang) A helicopter was seen descending toward the ground in a nose-down position before it crashed near Houma, killing the pilot and a passenger, federal investigators said. The account was included Friday in the National Transportation Safety Boards preliminary report on the Jan. 14 crash. The victims were identified by a coroner as Dylan Horn, 30, of Panama City, Florida; and Dana Burt, 50, of Kaplan, Louisiana, The Courier and Daily Comet reported. Data showed the Bell 407 helicopter was an altitude of about 1,200 feet (365 meters) before descending, the NTSB report states. The wreckage was found in a marshy area, parish President Archie Chaisson told reporters shortly after the crash happened. It appears that the aircraft nosedived and basically sunk into the mud, so theres very little of the aircraft above the water line, Chaisson said at the time. The Coast Guard said a privately held helicopter operator, Rotocraft Leasing Co., had alerted the agency that the aircraft was overdue with two people aboard. Its expected to take several months before the agency issues a final report on the crash. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Louisiana North Carolinas insurance commissioner said he plans to distribute more than $145,000 in grants this week to volunteer fire departments in seven counties. The grants are part of the $500,000 that Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina recently donated to help firefighters in the state, Commissioner Mike Causey said in a statement. Volunteer departments fundraising efforts have suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Causey said the money is much needed across the state. Half of the Blue Cross contribution will be made in $5,000 grants to the 50 volunteer fire departments that have received the least amount of funding from local governments, Causey explained. The other $250,000 will be used for mental health education and treatment programs for firefighters. Topics North Carolina A jury in South Carolina awarded $50 million in damages to a mayor in a defamation case against a longtime critic. The Beaufort County jury decided Thursday that Skip Hoagland has to pay Bluffton Mayor Lisa Sulka $40 million in actual damages and $10 million in punitive damages, The Island Packet reported. Hoagland who wasnt in the courtroom throughout the trial or when the verdicts were read laughed when the newspaper informed him of the outcome. Thats a joke, right? Thats insanity, he said. Hoagland represented himself in the case after firing a lawyer that his insurance company hired Sulka filed the lawsuit against Hoagland over emails he sent in 2015 and 2017 to several people including the state attorney general. The mayor claimed there were defamatory statements in the messages, such as accusations that she committed a crime and was unfit for office. An examination of the Defendants rambling and at times incoherent emails can lead to only one conclusion: the Defendant had every reason to know that his statements lacked veracity, yet he continued to publish them with vigor, Sulkas lawyers wrote in a 2019 court filing. During the two-day trial, the mayor described the impacts these messages have had on her: It really hits your psyche, it really affects you. I am his target now, personally. Hoagland has frequently and vocally critiqued the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, which some elected officials have spoken out against for its failure to share how it spends public money. Daniel Henderson, one of the mayors attorneys, said Hoagland started a crusade against Sulka after the town helped the Chamber of Commerce with a membership drive in 2015. Her lawyers said in a filing that Hoagland believed the drive unfairly benefitted the Hilton Head chamber at the expense of the Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce. Mayor Sulka, I hope you fully understand the severity of this as a public official if this is true on using public funds to attempt to put one business out of business, Hoagland wrote in a 2015 email to the mayor, town attorney, state attorney general, lawmakers and others. The following year, he filed a complaint with the State Ethics Commission against the mayor, claiming she voted in favor of land purchases that financially benefitted the real estate agency where she worked. The commission eventually cleared her of allegations that she violated the state ethics law. Sulkas lawyers argued in the lawsuit that the defamatory statements were published with malice and hurt the mayors reputation. Hoagland shared his thoughts with the trial judge, the attorney general and others by email instead of participating in the proceedings in person. There is zero evidence I defamed anyone, Hoagland wrote Wednesday night. The first amendment allows me to exercise my free speech rights to criticize, and shed light on, public corruption. He told The Island Packet in a statement Thursday that he was actually happy with the trials outcome because it proved theres more corruption in South Carolina. This case was all predetermined, a sham, Judicial Malfeasance I will now seek damages for violations to my First Amendment Rights caused by this lawless, filthy, frivolous defamation lawsuit to silence a critics voice, he wrote. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits South Carolina . : , 30.000.000 Three months after the most destructive fire in Californias history, the residents of Paradise were sifting through the rubble of their houses, moving out of shelters and into less temporary but not permanent housing, considering the future of their home. Catrin Edgeley took her notebook and recorder to the destroyed town. She wanted to understand the ecology of the human response to the Camp Fire. For how often this happens, there are still so many unknowns. Edgeley works at the intersection of forest management and sociology, studying how human communities adapt to wildfire and how they prepare and recover. Despite the significant human toll of wildfires, particularly in recent years, as fire seasons in the West have gotten longer, more severe and closer to development, most research has focused on the ecological effects and response. The human side is really challenging because its always evolving, she said. Humans move, fires come through in different ways, dynamics changethe same community could be completely different after a few years. There are always new things to be looking at, which makes it a lot more challenging than basic ecology. We often have a good idea of how vegetation is going to return, but we dont necessarily know how people are going to respond. This research, Exploring the social legacy of frequent wildfires: Organizational responses for community recovery following the 2018 Camp Fire, published in the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, examines not just how the people of Paradise and the surrounding communities responded but also how lessons learned from one fire could be applied to future fires. For all the similarities of wildfires in American West, there is a surprising amount of discontinuity in the responses. A community today could respond to fire differently than it did five years ago. The same fire could hit communities differently. Or, as is increasingly common, fire responses are layeredorganizations are still responding to one fire when another fire requires a response, and two months later, while in different response phases for the first two fires, a third occurs. There is not a manual that tells a community the correct way to respond because each fire and each community are distinct enough to require a more specific approach. How the research started Three months after a fire is early for a sociological study. Edgeley collected the data then because the initial emergency response was winding down and the long-term recovery was ramping up. FEMA and the American Red Cross were leaving, shelters were closing, people were returning and planners were asking howand whetherto rebuild. I could see back and I could look forward in terms of timing and where they were, she said. In Paradise, a town of about 30,000 people, she interviewed locals involved in the responsecity and school district leaders, county government, nonprofit leaders, the Rotary Club and so on. She asked what they were struggling with, from where they got information and resources and what roles state and national organizations played in the recovery. What she found were people who were attempting to navigate the recovery with little to no experience and no how-to manual. Many hoped, for instance, that FEMA would take a leading role in recovery. That was somewhat true early on; FEMA and the Red Cross have the resources to set up shelters, provide food and water and provide emergent care. But they are not set up to continue leading the response. That put pressure on local groups to lead the response. They had to figure out how to get information and resources and what processes had to be put into place to initiate long-term recovery. Edgeley found that one of the best sources of help was when interviewees could connect to people with the same jobs in other fire-affected communities, of which there were many. The problem with those two approaches is no two communities are the same and no two fires are the same, so the lessons are useful but theyre not 100 percent transferable, she said. Lessons learnedand the more complicated question of how to apply them In fact, the scale of destruction from the Camp Fire was more in line with the effects of Hurricane Katrina. It was a melting pot of all the challenges we might face in recovery, Edgeley saida rural, low-income community with a large elderly population who had difficulty evacuating and without a lot of resources, financial or otherwise, to facilitate rapid recovery. And it raised questions about equity in recovery, how certain populations bear the brunt of such fires and how even fire can run along demographic lines. Theres a recognition that recovery isnt equalit doesnt happen the same way in every household or community or across the same fire, Edgeley said. What people define as recovery, the way they experience it, the resources they gettheres hasnt been as much conversation about that for wildfire recovery yet. She found looking to other disaster responses, including hurricanes, tornadoes and flooding, offered lessons to wildfire responses, since more research exists on the social effects of those disasters. From the academic side, Edgeley believes a variety of case studies of community experiences after fires can help as well; even if no fire and no response are exactly the same, having such tools will provide a mix-and-match set of solutions that will guide communities and organizations in how to respond and help them know what to expect, who to ask and for what they need to ask. Increasingly, that work needs to include ways to respond to multiple fire disasters in various stages of recovery at the same time. The biggest challenge was figuring out what lessons were learned after these fires. Those lessons usually become apparent a year or two in, but the next disaster is already happening, she said. Back-to-back fires have really created these condensed periods of time where everythings going on and those involved in recovery only come up for air when they have the time, so those reflections might not be available yet by the time the next community is facing a wildfire. Edgeleys research includes some of the following recommendations: Build connections before a fire . Leaders were most likely to reach out to people they already knew, rather than cold-calling a leader in another fire-affected city. She advised that people have a list of who they would reach out to and make that connection today. . Leaders were most likely to reach out to people they already knew, rather than cold-calling a leader in another fire-affected city. She advised that people have a list of who they would reach out to and make that connection today. Find the community navigators. These people are often community leaders or champions who can work with national organizations to make sure the large-scale response is in keeping with community values. These people are often community leaders or champions who can work with national organizations to make sure the large-scale response is in keeping with community values. Talk to people about what matters. Its not always what you think. Paradise had a Welcome to Paradise sign that was destroyed in the fire. Residents wanted the sign rebuilt because it was central to the communitys identity. Its not always what you think. Paradise had a Welcome to Paradise sign that was destroyed in the fire. Residents wanted the sign rebuilt because it was central to the communitys identity. Understand cultural sensitivities during recovery and policymaking. Ecologically, fire is not always bad. It can provide significant value to a landscape; Native Americans have known this for centuries. What does this mean for Arizona? In recent years, California has had the lions share of severe fires. However, theyre coming for the rest of the West. In northern Arizona, the 2021 Rafael Fire and 2019 Museum Fire threatened Flagstaff and surrounding communities, and the 2010 Schultz Fire did significant damage in the San Francisco Peaks. The 2020 Bighorn Fire in Tucson burned more than 100,000 acres and got dangerously close to the city. We may not be far behind California, Edgeley said. Its the same with the rest of the region, as Decembers Marshall Fire in Boulder County demonstrated. The West should expect to see more of the layering of disasters, with resources stretched thin both during and immediately after fires and in the longer-term recovery process. Edgeleys hope is that Arizona officials are looking at those fires, and the responses to fires in neighboring states and extracting lessons that can be adapted and applied in later emergencies. I think we have a lot of recovery knowledge in Arizona that isnt talked about as much as it could be, she said. With all these fires, there have been really rich lessons learned, and weve done a good job with a couple of them, especially in Flagstaff we have a lot more resources than some rural places so were able to document lessons learned more readily and figure out how we can level the playing field. Related: Topics California Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire Arizona A central Montana coal mine must pay a $1 million fine for violating environmental and employee safety regulations by failing to report worker injuries and improperly disposing of mine waste, the U.S. Attorneys Office for Montana said. Signal Peak Energy, through a representative, pleaded guilty last October to four counts of willful violation of health and safety standards at its underground coal mine near Roundup. The fine was included in the plea agreement and the mine was also placed on three years of probation during the sentencing before U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Cavan in Billings. Federal prosecutors said in 2013 and 2015, managers of the mine improperly disposed of mine waste called slurry by pumping it into abandoned sections of the mine. And twice in 2018, mine managers tried to cover up injuries that occurred at the mine by encouraging employees to report they had been hurt at home, the prosecutors said. Mines are required to report employee injuries to the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration. The companys vice president of underground operations gave $2,000 in cash to an employee whose finger was crushed at work and had to be amputated, prosecutors said. A miner who suffered a severe laceration on his head caused by falling rock had the days he was unable to work charged against his vacation time, court records said. This case holds Signal Peak Mine accountable for its utter disregard for environmental and worker health and safety standards, U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said in a statement. Mine owners provided little in the way of meaningful oversight of mine operations as long as the mines managers could meet reported safety and production goals. Johnson added: That lax oversight fostered a climate of fraud, which today cost the mine $1 million in fines. At the time the plea agreement was reached, the company said a small group of Signal Peak employees had broken the law without the companys knowledge and that the employees involved no longer worked for the mine. The mines human resources director, Phil Stansell, did not immediately return a phone message Tuesday seeking comment. The prosecution of the mine was part of a broad corruption investigation into mine management and operations that led to convictions of former mine officials and associates for embezzlement, tax evasion, bank fraud, money laundering, drug trafficking and firearms violations, officials said. Larry Wayne Price Jr., the companys former vice president of surface operations, was sentenced to five years in prison in 2020 for defrauding companies of $20 million. Zachary Ruble, a former surface mine manager, was sentenced to probation for conspiring to defraud Signal Peak Energy of $2.3 million, federal prosecutors said. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics USA Mining A blank canvas of possibility lies ahead of most children when they are born. But for some, that canvas has already been filled in in the early days of pregnancy, according to those with experience of children and young people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Now, a new advocacy organisation to support children, young adults, and families living with FASD across Ireland has been established in Clare, by parent Tristan Casson-Rennie. FASD Ireland opened its doors in Ennis on January 17. See panel below. Ireland has third-highest prevalence of FASD According to figures published by the World Health Organization in 2017, it is estimated that approximately 600 babies are born each year in Ireland with the syndrome. Ireland ranks third out of 187 countries for prevalence of FASD, behind South Africa and Croatia. It is also estimated that up to 40,000 people with FASD are currently living in Ireland. FASD Ireland and another organisation working to raise awareness of the condition, ENDpae, are adamant that not enough is being done for people affected by FASD. ENDpaes David Gerry says there is not enough recognition that alcohol is unsafe in pregnancy, despite it being known for more than 50 years that alcohol is toxic to a fetus. He points to a 1973 US study in which fetal alcohol was termed a teratogen an agent that causes an abnormality in the fetus. Indicators range from ADHD to low body weight There are several indicators of the disorder, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and low body weight as well as poor co-ordination, poor memory, problems at school (particularly around maths), and learning disabilities. Advocate Michele Savage says children born with FASD can have problems in school, as well as with organisational skills. Their baseline for anxiety is hugely increased, she says, pointing to a report carried out by US academic Ann Streissguth in 1996 which found that when children with FASD reached the age of 12, 94% of the surveyed cohort had mental health issues. Some 80% of those surveyed could not get or retain a job. She also says that young people with FASD find it difficult to live independently and deal with responsibilities such as utility bills and rental contracts. However, she stressed that children with FASD also have gifts and talents. They can be erudite and eclectic. They have huge gifts. They could be anything if given huge supports. 'No blame or shame, only information and support' Tristan Casson-Rennie, the founder of FASD Ireland, stressed there should be no blame or shame when it comes to FASD. Tristan Casson-Rennie launched FASD Ireland in Co Clare last monght. Picture: Eamon Ward There are risks here and they were not known about so we now need to do something. The whole point of the organisation is to reinvigorate that education campaign, to put some fire in the bellies of the people who can make those decisions so that support can be provided for the young people, children and young adults, that now have to live with FASD. He said FASD is a contributor to the numbers in prison and is also linked to suicide. These children are not making their way through school very well, Mr Casson-Rennie said. They often get excluded or expelled, they can become isolated away from family, away from friends. They lose their support network and crime beckons, and drugs beckon, and these young people end up in prison. He has met previously with the minister with responsibility for disabilities, Anne Rabbitte. He is expected to meet again with her and says he would also like to meet with Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion, Josepha Madigan, to highlight the education needs of people with FASD. Mr Casson-Rennie is particularly concerned that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) does not recognise FASD as a disability which requires support in schools. For a child to get support with FASD, they actually have to apply to the NCSE and say they have a secondary diagnosis, for example ADHD. This, he said, needs to change. He also says awareness of FASD in Ireland is at an all-time low, with many people in responsible public positions unaware of the disability or what it means to live with it. The HSE established an expert advisory group on FASD in August 2020. Expertise recruited into HSE's expert advisory group The group includes representatives from the HSEs addiction services and social inclusion unit, and from the faculties of paediatrics and of public medicine of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, as well as the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Other groups represented on the expert group include the Irish College of General Practitioners, the Office of the Nursing and Midwifery Services Director, the HSEs health and wellbeing services, and primary care areas, as well as the HSEs National Women and Infants Health Programme. Tusla is also represented on the body, as are representatives from the alcohol health and wellbeing sector. A spokeswoman said the advisory group has so far overseen the development of a HSE statement on alcohol and pregnancy which is currently being finalised for dissemination in the coming weeks: It has also overseen the development of a survey to identify professional development needs relating to FASD with health, social care and education professionals in collaboration with University of Limerick. "This will be disseminated in the next couple of months, she said. Other areas of work to date include collaboration with Katy Tobin in TCD on the design and dissemination of the survey with carers of people with FASD, currently being disseminated, and the development and dissemination of a resource for maternity services to raise awareness of FASD and promote brief interventions with pregnant women. Results of the survey will inform professionals on the drawing up of training and professional development supports. The focus of the group for the coming year will include the development of supports for pregnant women who use alcohol, as will the development of business cases for developing services and supports for people with FASD and their families, she said. For more information, visit FASDIreland.ie and endpae.ie. Australia will officially reopen its borders to vaccinated travellers this month, bringing an end to the strict border controls. The latest development will allow Irish people to reunite with family in Australia and to plan a trip 'Down Under' for the first time in two years. Heres what is currently happening and what you will need in order to travel to Australia. What has changed? The decision to reopen borders effectively calls time on the last main component of Australia's response to the Covid-19 pandemic, which it has attributed to relatively low death and infection rates. The other core strategy, which saw stop-start lockdowns, was shelved for good late last year. The country had taken steps in recent months to relax border controls, like allowing in skilled migrants and quarantine-free travel arrangements - "travel bubbles" - with select countries like New Zealand. When can I travel to Australia? The official reopening, which takes effect on February 21, represents the first time since March 2020 that people can travel to Australia from anywhere in the world as long as they are vaccinated. However, despite the most recent changes, travel will still be restricted within Australia with much of Western Australia remaining closed to most non-residents. What do I need in order to travel? From February 21, all fully vaccinated visa holders will be able to travel to Australia without a travel exception, as was previously required. "If you're double-vaccinated, we look forward to welcoming you back to Australia," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said. Unvaccinated visa holders will still need a valid travel exemption in order to enter Australia and will be subject to state and territory quarantine requirements. Travel exemptions previously were in place for Australian citizens, permanent residents, or those who are an immediate family member of an Australian citizen or permanent resident, among other scenarios. According to the Australian Governments Department of Home Affairs, you are considered to be fully vaccinated for travel to and from Australia if you have completed a course of a vaccine approved or recognised by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). This includes mixed doses or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen-Cilag vaccine. At least seven days must have passed since the final dose of vaccine for you to be considered fully vaccinated. A negative rapid antigen test (RAT) or Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) Covid-19 test taken within 24 hours of departure will also be required unless a medical exemption applies. Travellers with acceptable proof they cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons and children under 12 can access the same travel arrangement as fully vaccinated travellers. Travellers will need to comply with requirements in the state or territory of their arrival, and any other state or territories that they plan to travel to. How can I get there? The tourism industry, which has relied on the domestic market that has itself been heavily impacted by movement restrictions has welcomed the changes for travellers. "Over the two years since the borders have been closed the industry has been on its knees," said Australian Tourism Export Council Managing Director Peter Shelley. "Now we can turn our collective efforts towards rebuilding an industry that is in disrepair," he added. Currently, return flights to Sydney from Dublin on February 21 range from 1,920 to 910 on skyscanner.ie. Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said in a statement the company was looking at flight schedules to determine ways to restart flights from more international locations soon. What is the Covid situation like in Australia? As elsewhere in the world, Australian Covid cases have soared in recent weeks due to the Omicron variant which medical experts say may be more transmissible but less virulent than previous strains. However, with more than nine in 10 Australians aged over 16 fully vaccinated, new cases and hospitalisations appear to have slowed, the authorities say. The country reported just over 23,000 new infections on Monday, its lowest for 2022 and far from a peak of 150,000 around a month ago. A judge has handed down 60-day jail sentences to two men for carrying out an unauthorised collection for the Jack and Jill Foundation, saying he didn't believe their explanation and instead found it was for "self-enrichment". John Delaney and James Delaney, of Pier Road in Bantry in Co Cork, both pleaded guilty before Bandon District Court to one count each of conducting an unauthorised collection in the car park of Lidl in Kinsale on November 23 last. Sgt Paul Kelly told Judge James McNulty that gardai in Kinsale received a report of the collection and two officers on patrol then attended outside Lidl, where they saw John Delaney, 24, and James Delaney, 33. Both had Jack and Jill t-shirts, sponsorship cards, and a bucket with a poster attached bearing the name of the charity. The bucket contained loose change. The court heard that John Delaney explained to gardai that he had contacted a senior person in the charity seeking to hold a collection and was planning on running a marathon to raise funds after Christmas. The court heard he told gardai on the day that he had received the t-shirts and cards from the charity and that he believed this was in effect a permit to hold the collection. Gardai contacted the Jack and Jill Foundation immediately and were informed by a fundraising executive that the t-shirts and cards had been forwarded to the men some months before, but not the bucket, as the charity had not received proof that the men had applied to gardai for the necessary permit. The items were seized, along with 61.50 in cash. "Good intentions" The men pleaded guilty but in evidence, John Delaney, questioned by his solicitor, Ray Hennessy, said he had lost his own child four years previously when she was just an infant, and that he had already carried out a skydive for charity. He told the judge he had planned to run a marathon somewhere in Cork for charity and denied the collection was for self-gain, adding: "I genuinely thought everything was legit." Mr Hennessy told the judge the men clearly believed they were holding a legitimate collection and added of John Delaney: "I don't think his good intentions should be punished." The court heard that James Delaney had 81 previous convictions, including three for conducting house-to-house collection offences. John Delaney had 19 previous convictions, mostly for public order offences. The possible sanctions in the case extended to 5,000 in fines or six months in jail. Judge McNulty said he recalled sympathising with John Delaney at the time of the death of his child but he said: "I think the Jack and Jill t-shirts were all a cover for personal fundraising." He gave John Delaney a 60-day sentence, suspended, and handed James Delaney a 60-day sentence which he said was to be served, adding: "The court has no doubt this was personal enrichment." Both men lodged appeals on their own recognisance of 100. Property magnate Jim Mansfield Jnr, who ordered the destruction of CCTV footage showing him with his former employee, Martin Byrne, on the morning Mr Byrne was kidnapped by republican terrorists Dessie O'Hare and Declan 'Whacker' Duffy, has been jailed by the Special Criminal Court for 18 months. Sentencing Mansfield Jnr at the three-judge court on Monday, presiding judge Mr Justice Alexander Owens said the actions of the convicted man fell into the category of "foolish and selfish criminality, whose efforts did not succeed". The non-jury court found that when Mansfield Jnr ordered the CCTV footage to be destroyed, he knew there would be a major criminal investigation including an examination of his role in these events. "He did it to distance himself from any involvement with Declan Duffy and Dessie O'Hare and to hide his association with gangsters," added Mr Justice Owens. Last month, Mansfield Jnr, was taken into custody after he was found guilty of attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing Patrick Byrne to destroy recorded CCTV footage showing Mansfield Jnr with his former employee Martin Byrne departing from Finnstown Park Hotel, Newcastle Road, Lucan, Co. Dublin on June 9, 2015, when Mr Byrne was later kidnapped by former terrorists Dessie O'Hare and Declan 'Whacker' Duffy. Delivering judgement at the non-jury court on January 17, presiding judge Mr Justice Owens said that the evidence established to the requisite standard of proof that Mansfield "was prepared to hinder an investigation into very serious criminal activity" by instructing Patrick Byrne to destroy a CCTV hard drive holding footage of himself and Martin Byrne leaving Finnstown House Hotel on the morning of June 9, 2015. He added: "This direction was given by James Mansfield to Patrick Byrne with intent to pervert the course of justice. This is an effort to destroy CCTV footage which was of potential value in any garda investigation or prosecution relating to the kidnapping of Martin Byrne. James Mansfield wanted to suppress this footage because it connected him to events of June 9, 2015". Acquittals The 54-year-old, of Tasaggart House, Garters Lane, Saggart, Co. Dublin, was acquitted by the Special Criminal Court of a separate charge of conspiracy to falsely imprison Martin Byrne, who had previously provided security for the family business, on a date unknown between January 1, 2015, and June 30, 2015, both dates inclusive. The non-jury court found that although there was contact between Mansfield Jnr, O'Hare and Duffy "for nefarious purposes", the evidence was "insufficient" to establish that Mansfield Jnr had "deliberately lured" Martin Byrne there to attend the meeting at Keatings Park as part of a plan to facilitate O'Hare in the kidnap and removal of Martin Byrne. In addition, the court also found that overall evidence was insufficient to establish that Mansfield "was a party to the plot to kidnap Martin Byrne". The three-judge court said it could not "completely exclude as a reasonable possibility" either a scenario that Mansfield was misled by O'Hare as to the purpose of the meeting at Keatings Park, or a scenario that he was not privy to a plan by O'Hare and Duffy to kidnap Martin Byrne. "This court has no way of knowing how much, if any, knowledge, control or direction Mansfield had of the forces which he unleashed when he decided to recruit O'Hare to his purposes," said Mr Justice Owens. However, the court was satisfied from the evidence that Mansfield was aware that members of the INLA and the New IRA had been engaged on his behalf in dealing with threats from Traveller gangs and his efforts to "get back in control of assets" held by business associates. Furthermore, the court found that the evidence showed that Mansfield had become involved with "some very dangerous players". Sentencing Mr Justice Owens, sitting with Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain and Judge James Faughnan, sentenced Mansfield to two years imprisonment with the final six months suspended for a period of six months, backdated to January 17, 2022, when he went into custody. Mansfield Jnr had pleaded not guilty to conspiring with one or more persons to falsely imprison Martin Byrne on a date unknown between January 1, 2015, and June 30, 2015. He had also denied attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing Patrick Byrne to destroy recorded CCTV footage, with the alleged intention of perverting the course of public justice in relation to the false imprisonment of Martin Byrne (53) at Finnstown House Hotel, Newcastle Road, Lucan, Co. Dublin between June 9, 2015, and June 12, 2015. In 2019, O'Hare was jailed for seven years for falsely imprisoning Mr Byrne. Duffy was jailed for six years in 2018 for the same offence. Burma 38 Junta Soldiers Reported Killed in Upper Myanmar A house ablaze after regime forces torched houses in the town of Pale in Sagaing Region on Saturday night. / CJ At least 38 junta soldiers were reportedly killed on Sunday when Peoples Defense Forces (PDF) conducted a number of daring attacks in Sagaing Region, including using drones to bomb regime troops. On Sunday evening, around 20 soldiers were killed and many injured when Kalay-PDF ambushed a detachment of 60 regime troops with mines while they were travelling to Kale Township from a village in Sagaing Region, claimed Kalay-PDF. The resistance group said the attack was in response to the regimes arbitrary shelling of Tinthar Village in the south of Kale Township on Sunday morning, when junta forces deployed at Kyantha and Hantharwadi villages deliberately shelled nearby Tinthar Village without provocation. 10 villagers including a child were injured in the artillery strike and five houses burned down. At least four of the villagers hurt suffered serious injuries. Residents from five nearby villages were also forced to flee their homes because of the junta shelling, said Kalay-PDF. Also in Sagaing Region, Katha-PDF claimed to have killed at least 16 junta soldiers on Sunday morning when a combined force of resistance groups from Katha Township continued their attacks on military regime forces stationed near Nantsann Village. Katha-PDF said that it used more than 50 explosives to attack the junta troops and that one of the resistance groups managed to attack the regime forces from close range. Two Katha-PDF fighters were injured in the three hour-long clash. On Saturday, the combined resistance forces also clashed with junta soldiers near Nantsann Village and reported that there were many military casualties. A combined force of three resistance groups based in Sagaings Shwebo Township claimed to have killed two junta soldiers on Sunday after using a drone to bomb regime troops in two villages. The PDFs used a drone to bomb regime forces giving military training to pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee militia members in Myinchin Village on Sunday morning. Two regime soldiers were killed in the attack, according to Snake Eyes, one of the PDFs involved. Snake Eyes said that it conducted another drone attack on junta soldiers and Pyu Saw Htee militia based at Taethetaw Village in Shwebo Township on Sunday evening. However, military casualties are unknown. A video shows the drone dropping a homemade bomb on military targets. Kani-PDF also said that it used a drone on Sunday morning to drop three bombs on regime forces and Pyu Saw Htee members deployed at Yaylalkyun Village in Sagaings Kani Township. It is not known if there were any casualties. On Saturday night, Kani-PDF also bombed junta police sentries in Kanis No. 3 ward. On the same night, a combined force of PDFs from Pale, Myaing and Kani townships attacked regime troops deployed at the Pale Township general administration office and police station. Two well-known junta informants were killed in the attack and many regime soldiers were injured, claimed the PDFs. In response, junta forces randomly opened fire on residential areas and torched 10 houses, according to residents. At least eight civilians were reportedly killed, locals claimed. Currently, the military regime is facing daily attacks from PDFs and ethnic armed organizations nationwide, with the exception of Rakhine State. You may also like these stories: Over 200 Myanmar Junta Troops Killed in Three Days: Kachin Independence Army Junta Watch: Old Faces Reappear, Coup Leader Declares Himself Buddhisms Savior and More Myanmar Regime Detains Over 100 People for Supporting Silent Strike Online Burma Myanmar Junta Invites Some Ethnic Armed Groups to Preliminary Peace Talks Myanmar coup leader Min Aung Hlaing in Russia in June 2021 / AFP The Myanmar junta released an announcement on Sunday inviting ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) excluding those it has declared as terrorist groups to attend preliminary peace talks on the upcoming Union Day, which will fall on Saturday. The offer comes as it struggles to control the country a year after the coup and faces intensified clashes nationwide with civilian resistance forces and ethnic armed groups allied with them. The junta, which is notorious for its brutal killings, shelling, air strikes and atrocities against civilians including in ethnic states, claimed in the Sunday announcement that achieving enduring peace for the entire nation was a policy that formed part of its roadmap. It is necessary to focus on perpetual peace by seeking a solution in negotiations in accord with democratic practices in order to solve the political problems [that have existed] in successive eras, the regime stated in the announcement. It added that except groups declared as terrorist groups, it had invited not only ethnic armed organizations that are signatories to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) but also non-NCA signatories to the Diamond Jubilee Union Day ceremony and the pre-coordination meeting on perpetual peace talks. The junta has declared the parallel civilian National Unity Government (NUG), its parliamentary body the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) and it armed wing the Peoples Defense Force as terrorist groups. The regime has already violated the NCAThe military is the main enemy and destroyer of peace, and thus we have nothing to discuss with them, said Padoh Saw Taw Nee, head of the Foreign Affairs Department of the Karen National Union, one of the major ethnic armed groups of Myanmar and an NCA signatory. Thats why we are working to overthrow the military dictatorship, which is the publics strong desire, first, and the second is to build a federal democracy, he added. The longstanding revolutionary group has provided military training to youth resisting the military regime. Its armed group has attacked regime bases near the Thai border in response to the juntas deadly crackdowns on protesters. The KNU has urged the regime to step down. Meanwhile spokespersons from the Arakan Army (AA), Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) offered vague responses to the offer, saying they had not yet received the invitation and had therefore not decided whether to accept. You may also like these stories: Over 200 Myanmar Junta Troops Killed in Three Days: Kachin Independence Army Junta Watch: Old Faces Reappear, Coup Leader Declares Himself Buddhisms Savior and More GEGE Melika Jericho Church in Zions Bishop Khanyakwezwe Vilakati has warned members of the church against singing ungodly songs during church services. The bishop told members of the church that by ungodly songs, he meant struggle and healing-related songs. The angels of the church, which appeared to the founder Melika Gadlasenyama Vilakati appeared to me in a dream. I was standing in front of you singing a few songs before I sang amen. As the amen continued with other songs, the angels of the church told me to pay attention to some of the songs that you sing. I observed that some of the songs are ungodly. Some of the songs are associated with struggle while some are associated with your individual gifts. The angels were clear that such songs are not allowed in this church and should not be sung anymore, he said. The bishop mentioned a few lyrics of the ungodly songs such as dubula, madubula and tsakatsa mawutsakatsa. He urged the church leaders and the congregants present to warn members of the church against mixing ungodly songs with the church. Vilakati further told the congregants about another dream he had before the ceremony. He said the founder of the church appeared to him in a dream along with a foreign child. According to the bishop, the child represented ambassadors, who represented their countries in Eswatini. The bishop stated that the founder then told him to design and include all flags of countries which had ambassadors to Eswatini in one big flag and place it at the entrance of the church. As you can see the flag outside, it has been designed for peace. Ambassadors to Eswatini should live in peace and harmony with emaSwati, he said. The bishop issued the warning and shared his dreams at the time the congregants were eager to know the fate about the much anticipated cleansing ceremony at the sacred dam. Worth noting was that, the elder of the church, Jeremiah Vilakati, had told the congregants that the bishop would give them direction in relation to the cleansing ceremony. As you know that I made it known during the Christmas service that the cleansing ceremony will remain suspended even this year due to COVID-19. We decided to meet church leaders for ordainment and other church related business as opposed to the cleansing ceremony. However, the sheep decided to follow their Shepherd because they want to be cleansed, he said. The bishop told the congregants that he understood them to be like cellphone batteries, which needed to be charged at all times as he mentioned during the Christmas service. He said in as much the church was not led by the flesh, they always took orders and abided by all laws put in place by government. As I was confused on what to do about the cleansing ceremony when you came in numbers, the angels of the church provided a solution so that we cannot be seen as breaching the COVID-19 regulations. The angels stated that the sacred water was blessed. I wish people do not lose context of this. The angels said we can go for cleansing provided we form small groups and maintain social distancing before we get into the dam. We will bless the water and allow you to cleanse yourself as opposed to someone laying hands on you, he said. Containers He said even a drop of water was enough to make a difference. He said the congregants could also fetch the water with the containers and take it home for cleansing. It should be noted that the bishop was hesitant of hosting the cleansing ceremony even though His Majesty King Mswati III had urged the nation to adapt to living with COVID-19 as there were not yet signs of it going anywhere. The King also urged the nation to learn from the recent Incwala Ceremony, which was held during the pandemic. The head of State stated that the event had proven that emaSwati could now host events with large gatherings as long as they adhered to COVID-19 put in place by the World Health Organisation. The bishop then led the congregants to the sacred dam at a high pace. He ditched the public road and clear pathways and followed the stream leading to the sacred dam. The bishop cut across swamps and maize fields. Noted was that he spent some few minutes praying in almost all the swamps. Upon arrival at the sacred dam, the bishop blessed the water and allowed the congregants to cleanse themselves before he proceeded to the main dam, where he performed the church rituals. However, the bishop had no choice but to attend to some of the church members as they did not believe in entering the sacred dam without him and the church leaders laying hands on them. The cleansing ceremony was attended by thousands of congregants. Some congregants came from South Africa. They stated that they would plead with the bishop to use other alternatives as opposed to turning them back without cleansing. The church members stated that the cleansing ceremony played a significant role in their lives. Some have tried and failed to find jobs, marriages, peace, promotions among other things, but the cleansing has been able to break the barriers. They have been delivered from the forces of darkness and got what they asked from God who blessed the water, said some women who came from South Africa. Burma Over 200 Myanmar Junta Troops Killed in Three Days: Kachin Independence Army KIA troops during an operation / The 74 Media Around 200 junta troops including a battalion commander were reportedly killed within three days during a series of intense clashes with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in Hpakant Township, Kachin State, according to local residents and media outlets. The fierce fights between military regime forces and the KIA occurred near Kat Hmaw Village in Hpakant from Thursday, according to the local residents and news outlets based in Kachin State. There were fierce clashes amid continuous rain. A junta battalion commander died in the fighting. More than 200 junta soldiers died in three days. The clashes continue, a source close to the KIA told The Irrawaddy. Sources said the Peoples Defense Force (PDF) had joined the KIAs battalions in the fight against the regimes forces. After sustaining heavy losses, the junta launched indiscriminate airstrikes against KIA troops and civilian targets in the area while airlifting in reinforcements on Saturday, according to local media. The junta used its air force to bomb [the area] on Saturday. Before the airstrike, a battalion commander died in the attacks by the KIA and PDF, a local resident told The Irrawaddy. Many regime soldiers who were airlifted into the area on Saturday were also killed in clashes on the same day, local media reported. Video footage shows military reinforcements being airlifted in on helicopters and a jet fighter attacking ground targets. Two civilians were also killed and two others seriously injured when a military jet fighter and a helicopter gunship indiscriminately attacked Kat Hmaw Village on Saturday. Some houses were destroyed in the junta air strikes. On Friday, the junta also used two jet fighters and a helicopter gunship to attack KIA troops in the area. At 4 a.m. on Monday morning, a shootout occurred in Phankharkone Village, Bamaw Township when an unknown group attacked a junta police outpost in the village, said Kachinwaves, a local media outlet. Additionally, an intense clash between 300 junta troops and a combined KIA/PDF force broke out near Lonsharyan Village in Putao Township on Monday morning, according to the media outlet. Currently, the military regime is facing intense attacks from PDFs and many ethnic armed groups across the country. You may also like these stories: Junta Watch: Old Faces Reappear, Coup Leader Declares Himself Buddhisms Savior and More Myanmar Regime Detains Over 100 People for Supporting Silent Strike Online Kachin Independence Army, PDFs Attack Myanmar Junta Bases in Kachin State Guest Column UN Contributing to Myanmars Drug Problem Junta-appointed Home Affairs Minister Lieutenant General Soe Htut (center) looks at a stack of seized drugs during a destruction ceremony to mark the UNs International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Yangon on June 26, 2021. / AFP A recent string of drug busts in Southeast Asia 55 million methamphetamine pills and 1.5 tonnes of crystal meth in Laos in October, and this year at least a billion pills, 6 tonnes of heroin and 4.4 tonnes of crystal meth have led some international agencies to conclude that the production of illicit narcotics in the region is booming. The reason, Jeremy Douglas from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Bangkok told Reuters as far back as Oct. 28, is the breakdown of security and governance in Myanmars Shan State following the coup a year ago. Then, on Dec. 12, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation quoted Douglas as saying that right now, the [Myanmar] police are fighting an insurgency or dealing with ethnic unrest, so they have other issues on their mind, and there is free space for others [drug smugglers] to do their business. More recently, on Feb. 1, Douglas told Reuters: Meth production increased last year from already extreme levels in northern Myanmar and there is no sign it will slow down. Critics, however, see the problem in a completely different light. Apart from being disconcerted by Douglas offensive choice of words other issues on their mind can only be interpreted as a reference to the police gunning down peaceful demonstrators they are pointing out that there can be many reasons for the increase in drug busts, and that it does not necessarily mean that production is skyrocketing. The Transnational Institute (TNI), a Netherlands-based research and advocacy organization, stated in a report published in December: Sweeping assertions that Myanmar has become one of the worlds largest ATS [Amphetamine-Type Stimulants] producers if not the largest and reports about sudden huge increases in production shouldbe treated with great caution. It is important to note that increases in seizures could be because of other reasons, and these do not automatically mean that there is an increased equivalent in production. An obvious reason in todays context would be that the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted border security forces in, for instance, Thailand and Laos, to step up surveillance of all movements across their respective borders. Another could be that new couriers have been recruited, and they are taking risks that more experienced smugglers would not. Or there is no particular reason. The number of seizures and the amounts of drugs confiscated always fluctuate regardless of the level of production. The TNI also points out that the production of ATS, among them methamphetamine, or ya ba (madness medicine), is entirely dependent on the availability of chemicals that have been diverted from legal markets, and does not require the cultivation of specific crops like the opium poppy (from which heroin can be made), which can be monitored via satellite imagery and field surveys. The ease with which ATS production can be concealed, therefore, makes production estimates extremely unreliable. A source familiar with the Golden Triangle drug trade stated quite bluntly in an interview with The Irrawaddy: All those claims about large increases are based only on information gathered from police reports about seizures, and not on any real on-the-ground research. The claim that Myanmars police resources have been diverted from drug suppression to performing other issues is equally problematic. In fact, there have been no credible reports of police units being sent away from the Golden Triangle to contain unrest in other parts of the country. Reflecting the same point of view as Douglas, Richard Horsey, Myanmar adviser to the International Crisis Group, told the Financial Times in an article published on Aug. 22: What the [Feb. 1] coup has done is completely distract the police from anti-drug activities and created a perfect storm for these criminal organizations, who thrive in the gaps where justice authorities cant easily get. That, in turn, would mean that the same justice authorities that are now meting out stiff sentences, including the death penalty, to pro-democracy activists would otherwise be going after drug traffickers. The critics point out that similar misrepresentations of developments in the regions drug production were made after the massive 1988 pro-democracy uprising. When Myanmars production of opium and its derivative heroin reached record levels in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Daniel ODonahue, a former US ambassador to Thailand and Myanmar, said in an interview published in the July 14, 1989 issue of the Bangkok Post that many Burma [Myanmar] Army troops, previously dedicated to anti-narcotics operations, were withdrawn from the field and redeployed to enforce martial law. In reality, the forces that were used to quell the demonstrations in 1988 and then to hunt down pro-democracy activists in hiding came mainly from the 22nd and 44th Light Infantry Divisions from Karen State, where no poppies were grown. The problem with the UNODC, critics say, is that the organization has no choice but to cooperate with often corrupt authorities in countries where it operates and, therefore, has a long history of turning a blind eye to official complicity in the drug trade. In 2019, the UNODC released a report claiming that the highest density of poppy cultivation took place [the year before] in areas under the control ofthe Kachin Independence Army (KIA), referring to an ethnic armed organization active in Kachin State. The KIAs political wing, the Kachin Independence Organization, was the first to respond to the report, pointing out in a statement in March 2019 that even the UNODCs own map in the report showed the states poppy cultivation was not in rebel-held areas, but rather where government-recognized militias and Border Guard Forces allied with the Myanmar military hold sway. On March 5, 2019, the TNI issued a statement saying passing the blame for the drugs problems in Myanmar in this case opium cultivation has long been practised by different local and international actors. Such accusations serve as a distraction, ignore realties in the field, and allow high levels of corruption and a multi-million dollar drug trade to flourish in the region. The UNODC actually has a long history of covering up official complicity in the drug trade and blaming it on Myanmars ethnic armed organizations. While referring to information provided by the UNODC, Reuters stated in its Feb. 1 report that drug production in the Golden Triangle is run by Asian crime gangs in partnership with armed factions from some of Myanmars ethnic minorities and then not a word about the real culprits, the Myanmar militarys local, armed allies which are responsible for most of the Golden Triangle drug trade. Other misinterpretations of the Golden Triangle drug trade came in 2019, when the UNODC and some Western anti-narcotics officials claimed that the region had a new kingpin. His name was Tse Chi Lop, a Chinese-born Canadian citizen also known as Sam Gor, or Brother No. 3 in Cantonese, who was reputedly the leader of a gang that then controlled most of the regions illegal and wide-reaching methamphetamine trade. In October 2019, Reuters published an in-depth investigation exposing Tses new Asian meth syndicate, which according to the report controls the bulk of the regions rampant trade in the narcotic. The Reuters report referred to him as Asias most-wanted man who runs a vast multinational drug trafficking syndicate in alliance with five of Asias triad groups. The UNODC, the report said, estimated Tses syndicates 2018 revenues at US$8-17.7 billion, with Asian sales reaching from Japan to New Zealand. In the report, Douglas was quoted as saying: Tse Chi Lop is in the league of El Chapo or maybe Pablo Escobar. The word kingpin often gets thrown around, but there is no doubt it applies here. Other, more knowledgeable seasoned observers took issue with the Hollywood-like portrayal of Asias drug trade, which they argued is instead run by loosely and informally organized networks and not by an overarching, all-powerful kingpin. Ko-lin Chin and Sheldon X. Zhang, two of Americas most accomplished criminologists, have shown in seminal books like The Chinese Heroin Trade and The Golden Triangle: Inside Southeast Asias Drug Trade as well as numerous papers and articles that Chinese [drug and crime] networks are horizontally structured, fluid, and opportunistic. They have also argued that, in private conversations, even US drug enforcement officials in the field have acknowledged that there are no drug kingpins, or at least they have not seen any in China or Southeast Asia. Furthermore, Chin and Zhang state categorically in their books and research papers that they have never uncovered any evidence of significant triad involvement in the drug trade. Some triad members may deal in drugs but their main illicit income derives chiefly from enterprises such as construction, extortion, gambling, prostitution and fraud. Indeed, the use of the term kingpin is and has always been misleading when referring to narcotics suppression in the Golden Triangle and the term is often manufactured as a distractionary focal point while other actors including supposedly legitimate businessmen and even state officials wheel and deal narcotics under the radar. But naming and shaming such people could have diplomatic as well as legal consequences. Then, on Jan. 21 last year, Tse Chi Lop was arrested by Dutch police in Schiphol Airport when he rather astonishingly if he was such a notorious criminal was changing planes on his way to Canada from Taiwan. And during the year that has elapsed since the arrest of Asias El Chapo, drug production in the Golden Triangle has, apparently, increased rather than suffered any major blows. Recent UNODC claims about massive increases in narcotics production in Myanmar along with fanciful stories about kingpins may be questionable to say the least. But it is even more disturbing that the UNODC recently advertised on its website that it is looking for a new drug control and crime prevention officer to be based in Yangon. According to the announcement, the officer will liaise with Governments institutions (in line with the common UN position), civil society, regional and international aid agencies and financial institutions, and the media. It is not specified which Government that might be, but because the office is located in Yangon, the reference is surely to the military regimes current State Administration Council-appointed cabinet. That is also in line with inviting the juntas deputy minister of home affairs, Lieutenant General Than Hlaing, to attend the 64th meeting of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in Vienna in April last year. The CND is the UNODCs governing body and the event was highly publicized in Myanmars now military-run media but, predictably, drew criticism from civil society organizations. As a member of a ministry that controls both the police and the special branch, Lt-Gen Than Hlaing has since the coup played a central role in violent crackdowns on pro-democracy protests. The CND also overlooked the fact that he was, and still is, therefore officially blacklisted by both the European Union and the United States. Despite such blunders, there is no denying that drug abuse is a major social problem in the region. According to official statistics from the various Southeast Asian countries, in 2019 there were no less than 9.86 million users of ATS-type drugs, while 3.67 million people used ecstasy, and 3.29 million users were addicted to opium or heroin. That means tens of millions of dollars in income to the traffickers and substantial amounts of money to corrupt police officers and other officials while many users have had to resort to crime to finance their habits. The sad reality, though, is that the UNODC has become part of the problem rather than the solution. Bertil Lintner is a Swedish journalist, author and strategic consultant who has been writing about Asia for nearly four decades. You may also like these stories: Cambodia, ASEAN and Myanmar UN Envoy Joins Her Predecessors in Myanmars Graveyard of Diplomats A Textbook Example of Authoritarian Rule in Myanmar Ithaca, NY (14850) Today Rain. High near 60F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 46F. Winds light and variable. GUEST INTERVIEW: Promising a data-driven approach to help companies deliver content optimised for digital accessibility, SEO, marketing and more to turn content into revenue, SiteImprove is also now the latest SaaS provider to reach US $100 million in annual recurring revenue, or ARR. Arrgh, me hearties, the world wild web still has pirates who sail the seven cyber seas, but with the Internet, online services, legal content, digital transformation, the cloud, connected super devices that fit in your pocket and more so infused and intertwined into modern life, with the true metaverses still to come, it is only natural that the experiences on offer continually evolve, too. Companies that offer content need to ensure that content - and the online experience of content delivery - is as accessibility-friendly as possible, takes full advantage of SEO, and is as performant as possible, which is the precise area SiteImprove specialises in. Companies create content to inform, educate, entertain and to make money - and it certainly says something very positive when a company that helps other companies to get this all right is now reporting over $100 million in ARR or annual recurring revenue. That company is SiteImprove, which first began business in 2003, founded by Morten Ebbesen, and nearly 20 years later, SiteImprove says its platform is well-positioned to accelerate growth, especially given its claim the market for inclusive, high performing content is approaching $10 billion. Shane Paladin, CEO of Siteimprove, (Twitter here) joined me for a video interview to explain what SiteImprove is and does, which I'll get to in a moment, but with the company achieving the $100M ARR milestone, Paladin said: "Siteimproves mission is to empower every person to experience, engage and thrive in the digital world. "As Forrester predicts $10 billion will shift to companies looking to commit to accessibility, we look forward to helping even more companies offer truly accessible digital experiences to customers, while also capturing the opportunity that comes when content is optimised for all consumers. We are proud of what we accomplished in 2021 and enter this year with optimism about our unique and differentiated market solution in an increasingly dynamic space. The Forrester predictions are contained in a "Total Economic Impact" study that Siteimprove commissioned, showing SiteImprove "enables companies to provide a more consistent and elevated digital experience for their customers, leading to a boost in profit and widened market reach," among the benefits on offer. So, to learn more, I spoke with SiteImprove CEO Shane Paladin, with that video interview embedded directly below, after which is key stats from SiteImprove on its $100M ARR achievement, and then a summary of the topics we spoke about, so please watch the video interview, and read on! So, what are SiteImprove's key results for 2021? The company achieved the following noteworthy milestones having contributed to its continued growth and momentum: Reached $100M ARR. As businesses find it mission critical to reach ESG goals, SiteImprove says the need for inclusive, digital experiences is driving demand for its platform, resulting in significant growth in customer adoption and industry recognition. Siteimprove reports ending the year with a 42% increase in ASP across manufacturing, education, financial services, retail, government and other verticals. As businesses find it mission critical to reach ESG goals, SiteImprove says the need for inclusive, digital experiences is driving demand for its platform, resulting in significant growth in customer adoption and industry recognition. Siteimprove reports ending the year with a 42% increase in ASP across manufacturing, education, financial services, retail, government and other verticals. Solutions for Marketing Departments. In the past twelve months, Siteimprove reports engaging in continued innovation and investment in its platform and now offers three core solutions: Inclusivity, Content Experience and Marketing Performance, with seven supporting products. We're told the three solutions support the entire marketing department, web teams and CMOs in delivering tangible ROI by optimising content performance across any marketing channel. In the past twelve months, Siteimprove reports engaging in continued innovation and investment in its platform and now offers three core solutions: Inclusivity, Content Experience and Marketing Performance, with seven supporting products. We're told the three solutions support the entire marketing department, web teams and CMOs in delivering tangible ROI by optimising content performance across any marketing channel. Demonstrated ROI: As indicated by a recent Forrester TEI Report, which is linked here https://siteimprove.com/en-us/tei-of-siteimprove/ and above, Siteimprove delivers a 275% ROI over three years among Fortune 500 companies. Customers include Merck, OpenReach, Vodafone, Harvard, Oxford University, Renault, Allianz, Cbus and many more. What else? Thanks to continued product innovation. Siteimprove says it continues its leadership position in product innovation: Continued Innovation of The Digital Certainty Index (DCI). As Siteimprove continues to evolve its industry leading platform, it has "recently enhanced its Digital Certainty Index component to use more than 200 checkpoints to test a websites performance across three major categories: Quality Assurance, SEO, and Accessibility." As Siteimprove continues to evolve its industry leading platform, it has "recently enhanced its Digital Certainty Index component to use more than 200 checkpoints to test a websites performance across three major categories: Quality Assurance, SEO, and Accessibility." Established next generation accessibility standards. Siteimprove says it made significant progress with W3C and other prominent industry partners in defining a set of new standards that take digital accessibility testing to the next level and beyond. The company explains it introduced the Accessibility NextGen tool that enables its clients to create more accessible, inclusive web content. There's another stat to back it up - as of January 2022, the company says "more than 90% of its customer base successfully adopted the Accessibility NextGen tool, further validating its commitment to empowering marketers and web teams to deliver inclusive and accessible content." Siteimprove says it made significant progress with W3C and other prominent industry partners in defining a set of new standards that take digital accessibility testing to the next level and beyond. The company explains it introduced the Accessibility NextGen tool that enables its clients to create more accessible, inclusive web content. There's another stat to back it up - as of January 2022, the company says "more than 90% of its customer base successfully adopted the Accessibility NextGen tool, further validating its commitment to empowering marketers and web teams to deliver inclusive and accessible content." Introduced Googles Core Web Vitals to enable marketers and web teams to deepen their understanding of user experience and help them to consistently provide a high-quality, fast-loading visitor experience. to enable marketers and web teams to deepen their understanding of user experience and help them to consistently provide a high-quality, fast-loading visitor experience. Powered Local SEO by adding Google My Business integration, which allows marketers to improve their SEO strategy and reach, as well as attract more local customers. Naturally, the company promises strong educational resources and support: Providing Access to Everyone Through the Siteimprove Academy: The Siteimprove Academy, which helps brands and marketers deliver a more inclusive digital experience, now includes more than 50 courses. In 2021, SiteImprove says it nearly 50,000 of its users completed courses in the Siteimprove Academy. In addition, SiteImprove's "New Success Plans" provide its customers with unlimited seats and access to the Siteimprove Academy. The Academy supports Siteimproves broader mission of helping everyone participate in the digital economy. Recognised for award-winning solutions: Siteimprove explains it is "recognised as a market leader in G2 Grid across all four major categories for the second consecutive year in a row. The companys innovative machine learning, combined with the latest best practices and regulations cemented its leadership in Digital Analytics, SEO, Digital Accessibility, and Digital Governance markets." SiteImprove CEO Paladin added: As we look to 2022, we will continue to focus on accessibility and how Siteimprove can enable companies to build personal connections with people through inclusive content and marketing. Content is the gasoline that fuels the marketing engine, and when done in an inclusive way, allows teams to reach people they never thought they would reach. SiteImprove also notes "accessibility is a journey," with its Accessibility Statement here. SiteImprove also opened offices in Australia in 2015 and already counts a quality range of public and private Australian organisations as customers, so the company naturally invites you to lear more - and to become a SiteImprover! Here are the topics we spoke about, so to see all the answers for yourself, please watch the video interview above! I started by introducing Shane and welding him to the program, after which I asked what the company started offering when it lated in 2003, and what that has grown into today. Shane shared some examples of the ways SiteImprove's products and services have transformed the digital presence, content experiences, accessibility and more for various customers. Next, we discussed Bruce Lindsay Maguire's win for accessibility during the Sydney 2000 Olympics, and the evolution of accessibility services for all types of accessibility challenges. I wondered whether SiteImprove might ever launch an AppImprove division, asked about security, dark modes, smart invert and more. We then discussed SiteImprove's activities in the Australian market since it opened its local offices in 2015, along with some of the Australian companies it counts are customers, along with a bit about Paladin's history and travels throughout the world of tech, leading him to become SiteImprove's CEO. Paladin prognosticated on the future, shared great advice he had received in life, and shared his final message to iTWireTV viewers and iTWire readers, as well as to SiteImprove's current and future customers and partners. So to learn more, please watch the video interview with SiteImprove CEO Shane Paladin above! GUEST OPINION: Australian managed service providers (MSPs) are constantly on the hunt for new ways to deliver better value to their business clients. Improving the performance of IT infrastructures supports business activity and ensures long-term and mutually beneficial relationships. Increasingly, MSPs are being asked to assist in strengthening cybersecurity measures. Faced with a rapidly evolving threat landscape and an increasing number of attacks, businesses need to be sure their defences are solid and capable of protecting valuable digital assets. One particular area of focus is endpoint security. With many staff likely to remain in work-from-home mode for an extended period, ensuring their devices are secure and able to connect to centralised resources is critical. There are five key ways in which MSPs can assist their clients to achieve effective endpoint security during 2022. They are: 1. Deploy a cloud-based management platform: For MSPs, the advantages of managing their clients security through a unified, cloud-based platform extend well beyond operational efficiency. This approach also makes the MSP more efficient and reduces the need to employ additional staff as client numbers grow. This is especially the case when it comes to endpoint prevention and detection as a cloud platform allows effective visibility and traceability of all threats. In addition, an MSP can manage the entire lifecycle of customer licenses, from trials to renewals, from the same environment. 2. Automate core security capabilities: The diverse range of security products available on the market often leads to businesses ending up with overlapping functionality. This can result in them having to deal with large volumes of notifications and juggle a variety of different management consoles. This, in turn, can lead to alert fatigue with security teams leaving alerts invalidated or ignoring potentially important events. A better approach is to use tools that can automate many lower-level and time-consuming tasks. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine-learning (ML) algorithms can undertake constant threat monitoring and detection and prioritise alerts. This can free security staff up to focus their time on more value-adding activities and the investigation of what the tools have deemed to be potentially serious threats. 3. Introduce zero-trust and threat-hunting services: By encouraging clients to adopt a zero-trust strategy, an MSP can significantly increase its ability to prevent unauthorised access to networks, applications, and data. Zero trust involves preventing access by any party unless they can prove their identity and the fact that they have been authorised to have that access. As well as zero trust, effective endpoint security also requires sophisticated threat hunting capabilities. These tools can analyse any suspicious activity and flag incidents for the security team to investigate. When an MSP includes threat hunting in their security offering, it enables them to sell additional services based on the information gleaned from the management console. 4. Use simplicity to increase efficiency: MSPs are constantly looking for tools that can make managing the distributed networks of their clients easier. They also want to be able to deliver this management without needing to deploy additional on-premise IT infrastructure. A better approach is to use hosted or cloud-based tools that remove as much complexity as possible from the clients infrastructure. As well as improving efficiency, this will help to ensure endpoint security is as robust as possible at all times. 5. Leverage vendor relationships: An MSPs selection of appropriate security vendors is also key when it comes to improving endpoint security for clients. MSPs need to find vendors that offer continuous and specialised training as well as robust tools that are constantly being improved. Chosen vendors should also be able to help the MSP overcome the ongoing shortage of security professionals by offering solutions and services that are tailored to their clients particular requirements. MSPs need to select vendors that can provide integration, automation, security, power, and simplicity. Achieving effective endpoint security for clients will remain an ongoing challenge for MSPs for the foreseeable future. However, those that are able to achieve this goal will be well placed to thrive in the months and years ahead. COMPANY NEWS: AAMC, one of Australias leading repair management companies, has partnered with Stelvio Australia to deploy the EstImage Motor and EstImage Connect solutions to streamline its operations and improve communications across three independent business units. With offices in Melbourne and Brisbane, AAMC is supported by an Australia-wide team of specialist consultants, and has been delivering end-to-end accident management, specialist assessing, and repair management services within the Australian insurance industry for 20 years. AAMC operates through three independent business units that solve different problems for customers across different markets, including loss and litigation assessing and repair management. AAMC was restricted by limited access to comprehensive accident and damage details early in the repair management process and its legacy system lacked the connectivity needed to deliver security and compliance requirements to customers. Luke Hill, national operations manager, AAMC, said, AAMCs legacy system let the company streamline the repair management process from receiving a referral all the way through to issuing an invoice, though it was restricted by connectivity limitations. AAMC needed a system that was flexible enough to replicate the existing solution yet with enhanced capabilities that would help AAMC integrate with the market in a way that the in-house system could not achieve. With three independent business units, AAMC required a secure system that would support its end-to-end operations while meeting the technical needs of each business unit. To deliver this, AAMC identified Stelvio's EstImage product suite, including EstImage Motor and EstImage Connect, as the ideal, secure solution to support its end-to-end repair management process and meet AAMCs business requirements. Yannick Giguere, general manager, Stelvio Australia, said, The flexible and configurable nature of EstImage Motor has provided AAMC with a solution that could be configured to replicate its legacy system while further streamlining internal procedures to achieve a more efficient motor loss assessing process. Simultaneously, EstImage Motor has empowered AAMC to enhance its efficiency and process consistency across each individual business unit without compromising on security and compliance. By leveraging this solution, AAMC significantly improved its communication with repairers and other key stakeholders across its business units. As a result, 100 per cent of business communication with AAMCs repair management ecosystem is now delivered digitally via EstImage. AAMC also deployed EstImage Connect, which connects AAMC with customers to capture information and assess claims in real time with the support of the latest web technology, to complement its Motor solution. Luke Hill said, Since deploying the EstImage Motor and Connect solutions, AAMC has achieved a more streamlined user experience for its specialist consultants. The EstImage solutions are flexible and easy-to-configure, which lets AAMC team members manage and triage various types of referrals and match them to the correct product lines, while providing expertise in that specific area as required. By implementing EstImage Motor and Connect, AAMC has successfully transitioned to a cloud-based platform at a fraction of the cost of its previous solution. The cloud-based nature of Stelvios solutions ensures AAMC doesnt require continuous downloads and device updates. This lets AAMC operate using the most up-to-date software and features available at any time. Yannick Giguere said, EstImage Motor and Connect have helped AAMC increase the problem-solving capability of its three independent business units while simultaneously improving the companys connectivity with customers, repairers, and other key stakeholders in the repair management ecosystem. 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. SITEKI A fight ensued at Malindza Reception Centre, which houses refugees, after one of the males allegedly attempted to rape two minors. The man is suspected to have imbibed in marula brew prior to the incident. The young girls, who were sleeping on the floor in one of the houses at the camp, together with their three-year-old brother are aged 13 and 14. Worth mentioning is that, about 400 foreigners reside in the camp and their countries of origin are mainly Rwanda, South Sudan, Somalia, Burundi and Ethiopia, to mention a few. According to the mother of the girls, who happens to also be a pastor, they were asleep at around 11pm when the incident occurred. The woman, *Daphne, claimed that together with her husband, they were awoken by screams from the girls who were sleeping on the floor. She said when they rushed out of bed, they were met by a half-naked man inside the room. The mother of the girls said they raised the alarm. The man, who is known in the camp, stays in one of the houses. She said her husband tried to grab him but he fell and stabbed the three-year-old son while attempting to flee. However, there were attempts to try to catch the man. The three-year-old son sustained a minor bruise near the head. Door Daphne said their rooms door handle had broken, which was why the man had easy access to the room. She added that her children were still traumatised and this was evident in that they were scared to sleep in fear of the unknown. My children are still traumatised and we are living in an unsafe environment. The man entered the room at around 11pm and headed straight for the children who slept on the floor. We heard screams and when we tried to ascertain what was happening, the man who speaks one of my languages tried to flee but fell as he was suspected to have drunk marula brew. I could smell the strong stench from his breath, she claimed. Police Daphne said she reported the matter to the Mpaka Police Station on Saturday morning and the police officers promised to come and check them at the camp. She said the police had not yet visited the camp by yesterday to investigate the matter. When I got there, they wrote something on a piece of paper and told me that they would come and check on me but up until today (yesterday), they havent checked on us. We are afraid and living in fear with my children, Daphne said. She added that she had called the Ministry of Home Affairs to request its intervention on this matter. We were promised that officials would be dispatched to the camp and investigations be undertaken, she added. She said she called the ministry and they promised to attend to the matter. We dont have peace at the camp. We were attacked by this man who wanted to rape my daughters and my son was stabbed in the process. We are living in fear because we dont know whether the man would attack us again, Daphne said. Matter However, Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector Nosipho Mnguni said the matter had not yet been reported. We do not have a report of any attempted rape from the refugee camp, she said. Meanwhile, last month, a 27-year-old Mozambican national appeared before Siteki Senior Magistrate Donald Mavuso charged with the rape of a minor aged 11. Jaivas Edu Shongo of Mhlumeni area under Chief Mlimi Maziya was charged for contravening Section 33 (1) as read with Section 3 (2) and Section 3 (9) (b) of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Act No. 15/2018 in that upon or about January 22, 2022 and at or near Mhlumeni area in the Lubombo Region, the said accused person did commit the offence of rape by having an unlawful sexual act with a female minor aged 11. The rape was accompanied by aggravating factors as envisaged by Section 185 bis of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act No.67, 1938 as amended that the accused person did not use a condom thus exposing the survivor to the risk of contracting sexual transmitted infections such as HIV/AIDS. The accused person used threats of violence to induce submission to the victim and that in the event of conviction; the particulars would be included in the national register for sex offenders. Jacksonville, TX (75766) Today Cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 85F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening. Scattered thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low 71F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%. SITEKI He intentionally snubbed the official opening of Parliament. That is Mtsambama Member of Parliament (MP) Simosakhe Shongwe, who made this known when interviewed about his absence during the official opening of the 4th session of the 11th Parliament on Friday by His Majesty King Mswati III. He said he snubbed the event because he was not happy that we continue to attend events as if all is well, yet there are MPs who are still incarcerated with no clear reasons as to why they were still in jail. Shongwe is one of the MPs who are calling for change and he made it known that he was in solidarity with the incarcerated MPs. The incarcerated MPs are Hoseas Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Ngwempisis Mthandeni Dube, who have been charged under the Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2008. The Mtsambama MP said he did not attend the event due to the fact that he was in solidarity with the arrested MPs. He emphasised that as long he was alive, his call for political reforms would not stop because he, together with others, were sent by their electorate to do so. Voices He said their voices and call for an elected prime minister (PM) by the people would one day be heard, even though he could not pre-empt the time but eventually, the will of the people would prevail. The legislator added that he could not be part of the official opening of Parliament due to the fact that the MPs who were calling for political reforms were not happy and there was nothing pleasing about their arrest. He further mentioned that he would ensure that their voices would be heard, as he and other MPs had been delegated by the oppressed emaSwati to be their voice on this matter. We wont be happy as long as there are no clear reasons given regarding their arrest. As long as emaSwati are still oppressed, we will continue to make our call loud and clear because it was the people who elected us that are calling for that. We will continue to debate the issue in Parliament, he said. His counterpart at Lomahasha, Ndumiso Masimula, said even though he attended the event, there was a need to put pressure on government so that the incarcerated MPs were released. Masimula said there was a need for a collective arrangement among MPs on the matter when it was debated in Parliament. I was present during the Parliament opening but there is a need to put pressure on government to release the arrested MPs and this should be a collective mandate. We will pursue the call for political reforms, he said. Gilgal MP Sandla Fakudze, politely declined to comment on this matter. Fakudze was asked if he had also snubbed the official opening of Parliament considering the fact that he was one of the MPs calling for political reforms. Let me politely ask not to comment on the matter, he briefly said. Another MP Manzi Zwane of Nhlambeni Inkhundla, did not answer calls after several attempts for the better part of yesterday. He had not responded to text and WhatsApp messages sent to him at time of compiling this report. The MP is also one of those who are calling for political reforms in the country. On the other hand, Nkilongo MP Timothy Myeni also did not respond to a text and Whatsapp messages after countless calls were made to his mobile phone. When contacted after church, he asked that he be contacted after a few minutes as he was at a pharmacy. However, when called later, he did not answer his mobile phone. The Whatsapp messages blue-ticked, indicating that he had read them. Asked He had been asked what prevented him from not attending the Parliament opening event. Manzini North MP Macford Sibandze, when also sought for comment, could not be reached as his mobile phone rang unaswered. He also did not respond to Whatsapp messages. He had been asked what the reason for not showing up during the official opening of Parliament was. House of Assembly Speaker Petros Mavimbela said he was not aware that there were some Members of Parliament (MPs) who did not show up during the official opening of the 4th session of 11th Parliament on Friday. He, however, mentioned that he was yet to get a full report on those who attended and those who did not attend. Mavimbela further asked not to commit himself on the action to be taken against those who snubbed Parliament and failed to report their absence. The speaker was asked if he was aware that there were some MPs who snubbed the event and further asked what action would be taken against them. I am yet to look into the matter as I didnt know there were MPs who did not attend the event. I will be able to give a full response tomorrow (today) about this matter and what action will be taken against them, he briefly said. Meanwhile, the MPs who openly came out and supported the call for political reforms are Shongwe (Mtsambama), Masimula (Lomahasha), Fakudze (Gilgal), Myeni (Nkilongo), Zwane (Nhlambeni), Mabuza (Hosea), Dube (Ngwempisi) and former Siphofaneni MP Mduduzi Magawugawu Simelane, who is in exile. Ballad Health on Monday reported 454 people hospitalized with the coronavirus, surpassing the previous record of 450 reported last Tuesday. According to the hospital systems scorecard, a daily document providing system statistics related to COVID-19, there were 74 admissions in the past day the third most ever reported. There were 76 admissions reported on Jan. 25, and a record 83 on Jan. 26. Sixty-eight people had been discharged over the same time period Monday, indicating that hospitalizations increased over the weekend as well. Mondays inpatient total was up 23 compared to Friday, after hospital officials said they were hopeful the surge peaked last week. Ballads Chief Operating Officer Eric Deaton told the Press last Wednesday that he was pretty hopeful the surge had peaked, but did say you dont really know exactly because these are individuals its not just statistics. Sign up to Johnson City Press Today! Top stories, delivered straight to your inbox. That hope stemmed from a decline in the number of people testing positive for the virus in recent days. Deaton said last week the hospital system saw the number of people testing positive cut almost in half. Data reported last week from the Tennessee Department of Health also showed a decline in the number of people testing positive in Northeast Tennessee, though that data is now more than a week old. As of Jan. 29, the most recent day for which data is available, the region was averaging 1,226.4 new cases per day over the past seven days, down from a peak of 1,309.4 reported on Jan. 26. It was the first time that number had declined in a month. Of the 454 people hospitalized with the virus, 90 were in intensive care and 67 were on ventilators, both numbers down slightly from Friday. There were also nine children hospitalized with the virus, a total that has not dropped below 6 in more than three weeks. FOR THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS AND UPDATES, DOWNLOAD THE JOHNSON CITY PRESS APP Johnson City, TN (37604) Today Sun and clouds mixed. High 79F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low 59F. Winds light and variable. Joplin, MO (64801) Today Rain this morning with strong thunderstorms likely by evening. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. High 68F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall may reach one inch.. Tonight Strong thunderstorms likely. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low 48F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. MBABANE - Jobs of close to 200 emaSwati hired by a local NGO are on the line after a project funded by the USAID was terminated last week. The project was terminated following findings of alleged mismanagement of funds and tax evasion by the non-governmental organisation known as Joyful Hearts Organisation (JHO). The JHO was responsible for a project known as Insika Yakusasa, which it implemented using funds from USAID through the Pact World Organisation. According to a notice written by Pact Country Director Nosipho Storer dated February 1, 2022, the termination of the project followed a submission and review of JHOs December 2021 financial report, where there was a finding of alleged financial mismanagement of the USAID funds. An investigation of remittance of statutory payments was also conducted and we discovered that pay as you earn (PAYE) deducted from employees was not consistently remitted to the Eswatini Revenue Service. This was further deliberated with the Joyful Hearts Organisation senior management and an acknowledgement of this mismanagement was also confirmed by the organisation, reads part of the letter. Regulations It was stated that as per the projects regulations, Pact was suspending the sub-award which was Co-operative Agreement No.268-000076, which was awarded to JHO due to the breach of some clauses of the sub-award co-operative agreement. Article 8 states that all costs charged to the award should be allowable. Funds were transferred from the project account without prior approval, it was mentioned. The notice also cited another clause which states that the non-federal entity assumed responsibility for administering federal funds in a manner inconsistent with underlying agreements, programme objectives and the terms and conditions of the award. Project funds were used to pay for the organisations activity (i.e gratuity) yet monthly deductions for this cost were already remitted to the organisations account, the notice said. Furthermore, it was highlighted that the Eswatini Revenue Service mandated by government to collect taxes, clearly stipulated that all employees tax deducted by the employer must be paid in full before the seventh day of the following month together the PAYE monthly declaration return. It was mentioned that interest was charged at 18 per cent on late payments and penalties charged at 20 per cent. According to the notice, JHO currently owed ERS for PAYE, which was deducted from employees but not consistently remitted and this was deemed as an unlawful evasion of tax payment. The ERS will also charge penalties and interest on the outstanding debt. JHO has not presented a plan of how this liability will be paid. The termination notice will be for 30 days with effect from February 1, 2022. During this period, Pact will be conducting further investigations on the total liability to ERS. JHO is requested to inform employees and give notice of termination of services to employees as well, it was mentioned. Suspension The notice stated that JHO shall within 30 calendar days, after the effective date of the suspension, repay Pact all unexpended donor funds provided by Pact, which were not otherwise obligated by a legally binding transaction applicable to the grant. This includes the current amount of E141 763.51 owed to Pact by JHO, it was further mention. When sought for comment through a questionnaire sent by this publication last Thursday, the Pact country director confirmed the latest development. She said; Pact has been supporting local organisation, Joyful Hearts Organisation (JHO) since August 2018 to implement community-based programming for orphaned and vulnerable children and HIV prevention. Throughout this time, Pact has provided routine programme oversight, capacity development and financial auditing to JHO. The country director mentioned that through routine technical and financial oversight processes, it was determined that JHOs grants management did not meet Pacts standard for financial accountability. Pact places high value and integrity on our partners and because our standards were not met, a decision was taken to discontinue this partnership, she highlighted. Following the latest developments, some employees of JHO were already on panic mode as they said they were worried that they would lose their jobs. Employees It was gathered that the Executive Director of JHO, Annonciatta Mukabucyane, met some of the employees last Friday to discuss the issue. According to its website, JHO is a local NGO established in August 2011 with an objective to contribute to the improvement of the quality of life for emaSwati and refugees/asylum seekers living with HIV/TB and to address social challenges that include poverty, environmental, hunger and lack of access to health services for emaSwati and refugees/asylum seekers. The profile states that JHOs basic philosophy is the promotion of basic human rights, through access to health, education and economic strengthening services. It was also highlighted that JHO was compliant with government laws, policies, and regulations. Although the organisation is faith-based, the website states that it does not proselyte beneficiaries; however, services are provided to people regardless of their faith, creed, sexual orientation and preference, community and political affiliations. The organisation works with leaders through their organised forums or denominations and the focus is the role of the leaders in the advocacy of spiritual and healthy life of their members. Some of the work it has been involved in, include the Malindza HIV/TB Project, which was done between 2013 and 2015. The project, according to the JHO website, was implemented at Malindza and surrounding areas using funds from PEPFAR and USAID through the Coordinating Assembly of Non-Governmental Organisations (CANGO) and Pact. BEIJING, Feb. 7 -- The 39th and 40th Chinese naval escort taskforces held a farewell ceremony in waters of the Gulf of Aden on the afternoon of February 4, local time after completing the task handover procedure and joint escort tasks. The 39th Chinese naval escort taskforce will perform other follow-up tasks as planned while the 40th Chinese naval escort taskforce, consisting of guided-missile destroyer Hohhot (Hull 161), guided-missile frigate Yueyang (Hull 575) and comprehensive supply ship Luomahu (Hull 907), has officially started the escort tasks in the Gulf of Aden. It's known to all that the Chinese navy has effectively safeguarded China's overseas interests and personnel safety since its escort mission from 2008. The 39th and 40th Chinese naval escort taskforces hold a farewell ceremony in waters of the Gulf of Aden on the afternoon of February 4, local time. (Photo by Yang Jie) Sailors assigned to the 39th and 40th Chinese naval escort taskforces bid farewell to each other in waters of the Gulf of Aden on the afternoon of February 4, local time. (Photo by Yang Jie) MBABANE - Members of Mangololo Eswatini have called upon those criticising One SA Movement (OSA) leader Mmusi Maimane to leave him alone. Mangololo Spokesperson Gcina Dlamini confirmed the meeting with Maimane and said there was nothing sinister about the OSA leader meeting them. In fact, he said Mangololo Eswatini would not mind even to meet the Commander-in-Chief of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Julius Malema. Dlamini said besides being a leader of OSA, Maimane was part of the African Leaders Group which was started by the late Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and others. The entity, Dlamini said, supported the opposition of a ruling party and also took care of exiled people. We are coming in because we have heard him talk about the political situation in Eswatini and we felt there was information he lacked. We have a problem with our political activists; they do not want the other side to be heard. We went to him and enlightened him on the political side of Eswatini since the British era. Explained We also explained how Eswatini came about and the 1973 decree, how it was reached. We also explained to him the false information that there were many appointed Members of Parliament (MPs) than those elected. He wanted to understand the system, Dlamini explained in an interview yesterday. The spokesperson said they also got a chance to enlighten Maimane on the countrys Constitution and some of its key sections. He said in their view, Maimane needed to be enlightened on the background of the country and its political situation. He is a friendly guy and is someone who we are praying will come to Eswatini soon and have interviews with all stakeholders. We told him that if he understands democracy to mean the majority, that is exactly what we are about as Mangololo. It is very much unfair to criticise him for meeting us, said Dlamini. Another member of Mangololo Eswatini, Pastor Phetsa Dlamini, who is one of the founding members, also said people should leave Maimane alone as he had done no wrong. In jest Pastor Phetsa said; Bamjwayela kabi. He said Maimane made a comment about the Kingdom of Eswatini and that as Mangololo Eswatini, they felt he needed to be enlightened. Pastor Phetsa said they also needed to engage with Maimane since in South Africa, he was known for pushing for individual election of people in local government. Information We requested to see him so that we could ask where he got the information he talked about regarding the political situation in Eswatini. He informed us that he was approached by progressives who told him certain things. So we told him that we just wanted to share with him the other side of the story. We then discussed issues of how elections are conducted, he said. Pastor Phetsa said the meeting was just a courtesy call they felt was needed to address certain things. Meanwhile, this publication sought a view from one of the organisations calling for change in the country. Sive Siyinqaba Chaiperson Musa Nkambule said in his view, it would not be fair to assume that Maimane betrayed the struggle by having a meeting with the Mangololo Eswatini delegation. Nkambule said he was of the view that before a person could have a say on issues of politics, it was wise to hear both sides. Even if he supports the pro-democracy faction, it is good to listen to the views of those who are against it. However, I can only say much once I hear what he has to say about Mangololo Eswatini, said Nkambule. Also interviewed was Secretary General of the Peoples United Democratic Movement Wandile Dludlu, who said; The regime is under pressure to try and redeem itself and win friends out there so it is bound to directly and indirectly try its best to make friends. As it may be, as PUDEMO we are unshaken. There is no amount of PR and political facelift will rescue the regime from the time and moment of democracy. We are not bothered at all. COCKROACH INFESTATION? WHAT: Residents of the Vernon Court Apartments have complained about a cockroach infestation that, they say, the Housing Authority is not adequately addressing. TREATMENT: The Vernon Housing Authority, which maintains the apartment building at 21 Court St. along with five other federal or state subsidized public housing or congregate community complexes for elderly, disabled, or low-income residents in town, says that common areas are routinely treated for cockroaches. Opinion Columnist Chris Powell has worked for the Journal Inquirer since 1967, first as a reporter, then as an editor, and now as a columnist. He was managing editor from 1974 until retiring from that position in 2018. The British miners strike lasted from 8 March 1984 to 3 March 1985. The violence of clashes which led some commentators to speak of a civil war caused 11 deaths and more than 7,000 injuries. It was a protest against the closure of 20 mines and the loss of 20,000 jobs. Nearly 140,000 miners followed the strike. More than 11,000 of them were arrested by the police and 5,653 prosecuted. Two hundred were imprisoned and more than a thousand were fired. It was a massive, extremely harsh conflict, which ended in the total defeat of the miners and which remains vivid in the political and social memory of Britain. As we previously recounted, more than 30 years later, in June 2018, the Scottish governments secretary of state for justice, Michael Matheson, said he was determined that the Scottish Government should do what it can to do right by those affected by the dispute. In his statement, Matheson stressed the continuing trauma of silence and a sense of injustice. Supported by the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM)s president in Scotland Nicky Wilson, he announced the establishment of an independent commission of inquiry to investigate the impact of policing on affected communities in Scotland during this period. The commissions work culminated in a final report in October 2020 and, a year later, the submission by the Scottish government of a bill to pardon miners arrested and convicted during the 1984-85 strikes. A transitional justice approach Remarkably, the commissions inquiry that led to introduction of the bill was part of a global and inclusive approach, which made victims hearings a preferred mechanism for seeking the truth. Its stated intention was to work over a fairly long period (June 2018-October 2020) and involve a large number of people and institutions, allowing for the gradual emergence of a narrative testifying to multiple memories. Especially to be highlighted is that it organized a certain number of public meetings in various places symbolic of the strike. Both in terms of their importance and their content, these public meetings were part of a logic of transitional justice similar to the mobile hearings of certain truth commissions. In Scotland, these meetings were held in eight locations and were attended by 167 people. Meetings generally lasted for three hours, allowing everyone who wished to speak to be heard, says the commission. Attendance at some meetings was quite small but, at those meetings, we were able to have more in-depth discussion with those who attended. The minutes of these meetings show the depth and long-lasting nature of the trauma. It appears the years that have passed have not put an end to the suffering, and that the effects of the strike are still being felt in the communities. This suffering has its roots in the repression but also its longer-term consequences: We heard powerful and moving testimony from individuals and their families who had been very badly affected by the strike, especially those who were arrested, charged, prosecuted, convicted and sentenced, the commission writes. And it is the principle of being able to express this felt truth that was appreciated by those concerned. It is worth noting, the commission continues, that at all of our meetings, speakers were generally keen to acknowledge their appreciation that the Scottish Government had set up this review. While many wanted more, in particular those who continue to campaign for a full public inquiry at UK level, and some queried the limits of our Terms of Reference, those who spoke said that they were glad to be heard and listened to, for what seemed to many to be the first time. Wide social trauma Both the intentions of the Scottish government in setting up the commission and these reports reflect the fact that there has been considerable social trauma. Although more than three decades have passed since the main miners dispute, the scars from the experience still run deep, said the Scottish justice minister in a speech when he received the report and introduced the bill. In some areas of the country most heavily impacted, the sense of having been hurt and wronged remains corrosive and alienating. That is true of many who were caught up in the dispute and aftermath. Those who were employed in the mining industry at the time, of course, but also wider families and communities. The miners strike was also a difficult period for the police, with many individual officers finding themselves in extremely challenging situations, and police and community relationships coming under unprecedented strain. Confronted with a global form of social trauma, the commission set out to incorporate truth seeking mechanisms. Throughout their work, commission members noted two characteristics emerging from the debates and exchanges that bring this experience closer to those of truth and reconciliation commissions. First of all, expressions of individual trauma, whose intensity and complexity shows states of mind and the impact of the violence. This was notably the case during face-to-face meetings between miners and former police officers, allowing the commission to evaluate the strength of feeling and some of the subtlety of impacts and impressions not always captured in written submissions. There was also expression of a collective traumatic reality that goes beyond individuals to affect entire communities, perpetuating the divisions and ruptures born of the strike and its repression. The meetings confirmed, says the interim report, that, as a result, strong feelings persist on the subject of the 1984/85 strike and its policing. [ ] We have been conscious of the fact that the public meetings in mining communities were not necessarily conducive for retired police officers to share their experience and recollections but were keen to try to have some further face-to-face meetings with retired officers. The limits of rehabilitation In response to the findings of the commission of inquiry, the Scottish government has developed a mechanism for redress. However, this willingness seems to reflect a paradox: even though the principle of need for reparation was amply confirmed in the report submitted in 2020, the reparation granted appears to be relatively small in relation to the extent and complexity of the harm suffered. In March 2021, the government began a public consultation to establish the appropriate criteria for a law on pardons. The consultation received 377 responses from individuals and 13 organizations, which demonstrated clear support for the rehabilitation of miners. The government then introduced a bill in parliament that proposes to grant a collective and automatic pardon to former miners convicted of the following offences related to the 1984-1985 miners strike: breach of the peace; breach of bail conditions; assault or resisting, molesting and obstructing a police officer or a person assisting a police officer in the performance of his or her duties. The offence must have been committed while the miner was participating in or traveling to or from a picket line, demonstration or similar pro-strike rally. However, the pardon granted in the current bill does not provide for any effect on the conviction or sentence. It does not give rise to any rights for the person benefiting from it, nor does it call into question the responsibility of the institution that handed down the conviction. This is despite other possibilities, such as the conviction being overturned and compensation granted. A central objective: reconciliation In addition, the financial harm suffered by convicted miners is not be taken into account either. This includes loss of their jobs, the cost of legal proceedings, fines to be paid, loss of years of wages, etc. For the moment, it appears that this injustice will not be remedied by the law. Quantitatively, the scope of the law seems uncertain: according to the note accompanying the draft, the miners eligible for pardons could represent a group of 200 to 400 people, but no study has yet established with certainty the exact number. Perhaps this is why the minister emphasized that the pardons for former miners are done in a spirit of reconciliation and symbolize our desire as a country for truth and reconciliation, as stated in the bill. For while it was indeed a question of getting to the truth about the law and order violations during the strike, the commissions mission was envisioned from the start as a reconciliation project. The policy memorandum accompanying the bill explains that the pardon is intended to remove the stigma of any associated convictions. It emphasizes that it presents an opportunity now to bring reconciliation between those who were upholding the law in circumstances of a scale which they had never encountered before and to those who were fighting to protect their jobs, their way of life, and their communities. The pardons as envisioned in the bill thus aim, the memorandum argues, to encourage reconciliation, but without suggesting that the law itself was at fault, or was applied in a systemically discriminatory manner. The bill is currently before the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. Its review is expected to conclude in June 2022. Despite its limitations, this process appears promising for restoring social peace and reconciling the population after 40 years of continued injustice. MBABANE - When One SA Movement (OSA) leader Mmusi Maimane held a meeting with a delegation of Mangololo Eswatini over the weekend, little did he know that he will be strongly criticised for it. Following the meeting, some political activists and commentators have viewed him as one whose name and brand aligns with the Monarch. The political activists also accused Maimane of betraying the struggle. Mangololo Eswatini is a pro-monarchy movement formed in August last year and made it clear that it was against multiparty organisations. A delegation of about five members of Mangololo, are said to have held a meeting with Maimane in Johannesburg, South Africa last Saturday, which has not settled well with some activists. Some of them are said to have relayed their disappointment at Maimane as they felt that the meeting meant that he was in alliance with the monarch yet they believed that he supported the calls for change in the country. Conversation This publication is in possession of a conversation between Maimane and one of the political activists. The political activist, who is known to this publication, but cannot be revealed as he could not be sought for comment, registered his disappointment at Maimane. I am penning this note to register my disappointment at your meeting with the Mangololo delegation from Swaziland (Eswatini). Mangololo is the political face of the increasingly kleptocratic regime, reads part of the message. The sender of the message mentioned that the Mangololo that Maimane met and engaged with was no more than an organ of the State for the Eswatini Government. It would help, for your own political career advancement in this very intricately intertwined region we live in to have asked one or more organisations before you are used, the sender wrote. He listed the organisations that he felt Maimane should have engaged first and these included the Swaziland Solidarity Fund, Multi-Stakeholder Forum and the Progressive Party Alliance. He then mentioned that he was deeply disappointed by Maimanes actions and deemed them as an abject lack of political sophistication from his side. Kindly make it a practice and habit to read and keep abreast with developments on what afflicts your neighbour, the sender said. This publication is in the possession of a response allegedly sent by Maimane to the unhappy sender. In the response, Maimane mentioned that he respectfully disagreed with the views expressed by the sender. He then made about three points which he said were to make the sender understand. In the first point, Maimane stated that he spoke to Eswatini political activists in South Africa to establish whether the meeting was appropriate or not. For your information, they had invited me to the opening of Parliament, which I declined for an emphatic demonstration that I didnt want to endorse the government, Maimane stated. In the second point, the OSA leader mentioned that he requested a meeting with the opposition movement, including those who were jailed. Thirdly, he mentioned that he had requested a human rights investigation report on issues of violence in the country. One principle, I learnt from the greats is that if you want to play a meaningful role in any situation, you must be willing to hear both sides. The constitutional provisions are matters in discourse. If your engagement is to argue that hearing the other side is the betrayal of the struggle, then only listening to one set is often unhelpful. Dying I learnt this from the Zimbabwe situation. As much as the politics are at play, people are dying in Eswatini, a fact that is lost to both sides, said Maimane. Again, the sender responded and first thanked Maimane for the response. He then mentioned that it would help Maimanes name and brand to issue a statement to the media on his alleged alliance with Mangololo Eswatini. Called for comment, Maimane confirmed the conversation and reiterated the response he gave to the political activist. When it comes to political issues, you must be willing to hear both sides of the argument. The meeting itself was a request by them because they said I needed to understand the position they are taking. I was invited to the opening of Parliament by the Government of Eswatini and I said I cant come because that would justify what is going on, he said. Elaborating, Maimane said the conclusion of the meeting agreed on three things, one of them being that he wanted to come to Eswatini to meet not only the government, but members of the opposition including those in jail. The report of the police on why the riots took place and people killed, they told me that the Human Rights Commission had investigated, so I told them that I would have to see the report first. So my views are consistent, he said. He said when consulting prior to the meeting, he had asked members of the opposition based in South Africa on what they thought. Their advice to me was that I can meet the people but cant go to the Parliament opening. Those are facts, Maimane said. It should be noted, however, that both Deputy Government Spokesperson, Thabile Mdluli and Clerk to Parliament Benedict Xaba, said they had no knowledge of an invite extended to Maimane to attend the opening of Parliament. Other social media users, who got wind of the meeting, questioned where Mangololo had obtained the mandate to meet with Maimane. Maimane made a bold move in 2019 when he decided to bow out as a member and the leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA). He then formed the Movement for One SA (Mosa), which would later lead to the formation of OSA. Mosa was envisaged as a platform for individuals, civil society, NGOs, religious bodies and smaller political parties, much as the United Democratic Front was in the 1980s. Born in 1980, Maimane grew up in Soweto South Africas largest township. He attended Allen Glen High School, where he matriculated in 1997. He holds two Masters Degree in Public Administration as well as Theology, and is working towards his PhD in Economic Development. He speaks seven South African languages fluently. Unrest It should be noted that Mangololo Eswatini was formed when the country had witnessed the worst scenes of the political unrest. At the announcement of Mangololo Eswatini, its members stated that the political unrest had brought fear among some emaSwati because they no longer knew who they were and in the process of calls for multiparty democracy, had lost their identity. The members made it known that they were against the idea of multiparties and the formation of their movement was premised on the ideology to oppose such. The members also claimed that the people who talked negatively and caused turmoil in the country were not sent by emaSwati. After the formation of the organisation, this publication reported that some of its members allegedly received threats from unknown people locally and internationally. The party alleged that the callers and senders of the text messages used South African and Eswatini registered cellphone numbers to threaten them. It was claimed that the members were threatened with violence for trying to stand in their way by forming an organisation that was against multiparty democracy. Jun Ji Hyun has officially ended her long-term contract with the outdoor brand NEPA. The Hallyu star has been the company's brand ambassador for eight years and their main muse for various collections. With this, NEPA released a statement officially announcing that they will not be renewing their contract with the actress. "Our exclusive modeling contract with Jun Ji Hyun has come to an end after 8 years. We have thoroughly discussed this earlier and we have now decided to part ways and support each other from afar," the statement reads. Moreover, they also praised the CF queen for being their representative and endorsing the domestic outdoor market through her stunning visuals and "stylishness that leads trends." Unfortunately, due to the brand's decision to end their ties with the "The Legend of the Blue Sea" star, others speculated that this might be because of the controversy involving "Jirisan." Did NEPA End Their Contract with Jun Ji Hyun Because of the 'Jirisan' Advertisement Controversy? The outdoor company faced criticism due to their "excessive" product placement in Jun Ji Hyun's Kdrama "Jirisan." At the height of the series, viewers noted that it affected the quality of the program with its "appropriate" endorsements. In various online communities, an article titled "NEPA is publicly promoting the drama Jirisan" circulated, noting that the tvN series was "ruined" because of the advertisement seen on the Kdrama. Over social media, viewers expressed how the weekend series looked like a commercial ad for the excessive product placement. "Jirisan" is a thriller mystery drama that revolves around the park ranger and the unexplainable mystery inside Jirisan National Park, the oldest and largest national park in South Korea. In the drama, Jun Ji Hyun plays the legendary park ranger Seo Yi Kang, who faced a tragic incident while rescuing her junior Kang Hyun Jo, played by Ju Ji Hoon, who was then a rookie ranger. Apart from the duo, "Jirisan" includes a state studded cast lineup starting with Sung Dong Il as chief park ranger Jo Dae Jin, Oh Jung Se as ranger Jung Goo Young and Jo Han Chul as team leader Park Il Hae. In addition, Go Min Si, who is also NEPA's brand ambassador, played Jun Ji Hyun's assistant ranger. "Jirisan" is the Hallyu star's Kdrama come back after the 2016 hit series "The Legend of the Blue Sea" however, she did a bit part in "Kingdom: Season 2" and headlined the spin-off "Kingdom: Ashin of the North" where she reprised her role as Ashin. Interestingly, Jun Ji Hyun remained the unbeatable CF queen as she continued to endorse top-notch brands, including clothing, tech, beauty brand, and more. Jun Ji Hyun Among the Kdrama Actress Who Showed Stellar Performance in 2021 From rising stars to sought-after stars, Jun Ji Hyun joins Kim Go Eun, Han So Hee, Kim So Yeon as the most talked-about female leads in 2021. According to Soompi, she once again proved her impressive acting skills portraying Seo Yi Jang in "Jirisan." IN CASE YOU MISSED: Hallyu Queens Song Hye Kyo and Jun Ji Hyun are Kdrama's Highest Paid Actresses KDramastars owns this article. Written by Geca Wills Yoo In Young joins Kim Jae Wook and Krystal Jung in the KBS2's upcoming office romance drama "Crazy Love," flaunting her timeless beauty. Yoo In Young Transforms Into Kim Jae Wook's Ex-Lover in 'Crazy Love' On February 7, the production team of the new KBS office rom-com "Crazy Love" confirmed actress Yoon In Young's special appearance as the male character's ex-lover. "Crazy Love" depicts the enigmatic love story of CEO Noh Go Jin (Kim Jae Wook), an educational institute in South Korea, and the quiet and reserved secretary Lee Shin Ah (Krystal Jung) who doesn't have much time left to live. Because of an unexpected incident, the two pretend to be in a romantic relationship in order to help overcome each other's personal struggles. The drama stars Yoo In Young as Baek Soo Young, Noh Go Jin's first love. She is born to a prestigious family, which becomes the hindrance in their premature love. She leaves Noh Go Jin to pursue her dreams in the United States. After eight years, she returns to South Korea to take her lover back. Yoo In Young, who proved her acting prowess in popular Korean dramas like "Good Casting'' and "Oh My Venus," is expected to showcase her beauty, talent and wits as "Crazy Love" marks her comeback drama. 'Crazy Love' Production Unit on Yoo In Young's Casting The production unit of "Crazy Love" chose Yoo In Young for her reputation as an actress. A representative from the team explained, "Baek Soo Young is one of the foundations as to why Noh Go Jin's company is a success." "Because of this, we wanted an actress who has the charms that best fit Soo Young's strong-willed and determined charisma," they shared, "Yoo In Young is the perfect actress for the role, creating great synergy beyond satisfaction." Anticipation is heightened for Yoo In Young's immersion with her new acting role. Her chemistry with fellow veteran Kim Jae Wook is also one of the things that viewers shouldn't miss in the series. 'Crazy Love' Pre-Production and Further Details The new KBS drama "Crazy Love" is helmed by director Kim Jung Hyun and penned by screenwriter Kim Bo Gyeom. Krystal Jung and Kim Jae Wook are set to headline the drama, with the support of actors Ha Jun and ASTRO Sanha. "Crazy Love" airs sometime in March on KBS during Mondays and Tuesdays. It will also be available for worldwide streaming through iQIYI. KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. Kelowna-Mission Liberal MLA Renee Merrifield, shown here during a leadership debate, has been named critic for environment and climate change in a shadow cabinet announced Monday by new party leader Kevin Falcon. Merrifield finished fifth in the six-person leadership race. Fuel containers line a trailer in front of a truck along Wellington Street as a protest against COVID-19 restrictions that has been marked by gridlock and the sound of truck horns continues into its second week, in Ottawa, on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang Osool Asset Management, the investment arm of the Social Insurance Organization, has appointed its new board of directors for a period of three years starting from 2022. The new board boasts members with extensive experience and expertise across various fields including banking, finance, investment, risk management, business development, advisory, human capital, and information technology. These are Mohammed Ebrahim Al Bastaki, Mishal Ali Al Hellow (representatives of the SIO) and Brigadier Hassan Ali Al Muhanna and Brigadier Adel Abdulla Amin ( representatives of Military Pension Fund) in addition to Yousif Abdulla Taqi and Dr Anwar Khalifa Al Sada as independent members. The announcement was made following Osools Extraordinary General Assembly meeting, which concluded today (February 6) upon receiving approval from the regulatory authorities. Osool Chairman Khalid Mohammed Najibi said: "I am pleased to extend my sincere congratulations to all board members. We look forward to working as a team and dedicating our efforts to providing best-in-class asset management services in light of the latest international practices and continue to achieve key milestones, remarkable results and greater success." "We are confident that the new Board will work closely to ensure the delivery of exceptional results and will continue to develop the companys strategies and plans while strengthening its asset management," stated Najibi. A suspicious FedEx package headed from Belize to Kenosha led authorities to find more than 1 kilo of cocaine and a felony charge filed Friday against a 24-year-old Kenosha woman. Stefany L. Gomez, of the 900 block of 48th Street, is free on a $5,000 cash bond set during her initial appearance by Kenosha County Circuit Court Commissioner Larry Keating. According to information included in the criminal complaint: On Jan. 31, a special agent with U.S. Homeland Security alerted the Kenosha Special Investigations Unit that a package headed to Kenosha had been intercepted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Miami International Airport. The package was opened and found to contain an envelope with a white powdery substance inside. The vacuum-packed plastic bag reportedly contained 1.089 kilograms that tested positive for cocain and was deemed far too large for personal use and is indicative of intent to sell, according to the complaint. Authorities also stated the defendants Kenosha residence has been receiving packages since 2020 from a shipper in Hong Kong that is known to be connected to individuals currently under investigation by Homeland Security for narcotics and money laundering. SWAT team deployed On Feb. 2, a member of the Special Investigations Unit delivered the package to Gomezs residence, and a detective observed a female there pick up the package, read what was on it and take it inside. Members of the SIU and Kenosha Police Department SWAT then executed a search warrant of the residence, where they found Gomez and her 10-month-old child. Inside the home, police reported finding a bin with a package of baby formula that contained 14 grams of marijuana, along with a plastic container of small marijuana cigar ends on a dresser and a glass smoking pipe in the closet. Officers also reported finding two corner-cut plastic bags on the floor of an entry room, a digital scale, a marijuana bong, 2.5 grams of marijuana, and inside the garbage, a large heat-sealed empty bag that smelled like marijuana. Police spoke with Gomez, who stated she lives at the residence with her boyfriend and their child. She told police when she saw the package came from Belize, she assumed it was meant for him, because thats where hes from. Gomez admitted the marijuana belonged to her, but denied knowing about the contents of the package. Detectives reviewed the defendants cell phone and uncovered conversations regarding the sale of illicit drugs, along with videos that show Gomez weighing cocaine on a digital scale and others where she is seen recording amounts of marijuana and methamphetamine. Additional conversations on the phone appear to show that Gomez is allegedly involved in prostitution, the complaint states, as people were asking for rates and what is offered, the complaint states. Felony possession Gomez is charged with a felony count of possession with intent to deliver more than 40 grams of cocaine, which carries a possible maximum prison term of 25 years, 15 years extended supervision and a fine of $10,000. The defendant also faces a felony charge of neglecting a child, which carries a possible prison term of 18 months, two years extended supervision and a $10,000 fine, along with misdemeanor counts of possession of THC and possession of drug paraphernalia. Gomez is due in court Friday for a preliminary hearing. Love 9 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. FRANKFORT, January 25, -- Rep. William Lawrence, R-Maysville, wants state public institutions to freeze rates for four years when changes are made. (LRC photo) Kilgore, TX (75662) Today Overcast. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 86F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early. Thunderstorms developing late. Low 69F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Oman International Hospital (OIH), the multi-super specialty hospital in Oman, has launched Med Academy, an exclusive centre for medical training, research and development, at its premises. The Med Academy is established with support from Siemens Healthineers and will be the first of its kind in the private healthcare sector in Oman. OIH soft-opened in May 2021 and was officially inaugurated by Dr Ahmed Mohammed Al Saidi, Minister of Heath, Oman on January 6, 2022. It has already achieved several milestones. The establishment of Med Academy comes close on the heels of the hospital accredited with the prestigious EFQM Certification two weeks ago. Dr Jose Alexandre Cunha, Board Member of OIH and Chairman of IGHS Group that manages the hospital said: Its indeed a proud moment as we embark on yet another ambitious goal of establishing Med Academy. IGHS believes strongly in investing in research and development and training of doctors and health professionals, especially as we face greater health challenges in the form of pandemics, epidemics and outbreaks. Research and development can lead to new discoveries while training will improve our existing practices resulting in contributing to the overall health of a population. We will be working in tandem with the Ministry of Health, who have been very supportive ever since we stepped into this beautiful country. Joao Seabra, Head of Global Enterprise Services of Siemens Healthineers said: We are very happy to be associated with the great work done at the multi-super specialty Oman international Hospital. With the dedicated Centres of Excellence and state-of-the-art equipment and modern facilities as well as a great team of doctors from Oman and across the globe, all guests are guaranteed high quality treatment. Going one step ahead, we are very thrilled to collaborate with OIH in establishing the Med Academy through which we will enrich young medical students and also support various research and development projects. The Med Academy, established in the OIH premises, will have dedicated teams of R&D experts working on various disciplines while welcoming senior students and sophomores from various universities in Oman as well as abroad to stay and get firsthand training by working along with OIH doctors. OIH has already welcomed final year students from the University of Porto and has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Coimbra. The sprawling 42,000 sq m hospital is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and cutting-edge technological solutions from across the world and is the home to five Excellence Centres- Women and Children Centre, Heart and Vascular Centre, Ortho and Spine Centre, Oman Vision Centre and Derma and Cosmetic Centre, a hybrid operation theatre and several other cutting-edge features and facilities. The expert doctors, nurses and para-medical staff of the hospital are drawn from Oman and across the globe and are highly experienced. Strategically located in the centre of capital Muscats Al Ghubra area, just across the road from the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Oman International Hospital is easily accessible from any part of the city.-- TradeArabia News Service Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. To subscribe, click here. Already a subscriber? Click here. Gov. Doug Burgum speaks to the media after getting his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine at the Bismarck Event Center on March 9, 2021. Kilkenny-based FinTech Loanitt has signed a major partnership with Three Mobile to become its exclusive mortgage provider. From Feb 1, Loanitt is now the new Official Mortgage Partner to Three Irelands customers and 3Plus. Loanitt will exclusively offer a range of mortgage services to all 3Plus members from helping them to get mortgage ready, to applying for a mortgage and switching Lenders. Loanitt, founded by ex-bankers John Duggan, from Tullahought and Padraig Nolan has experienced rapid growth since being founded in early 2018. Loanitt is already the largest Finance Intermediary in Ireland and last year signed a significant partnership with DoneDeal which saw Loanitt propelled to the leading provider of Agri Finance in Ireland. Already servicing thousands of customers in Car, Agri & Commercial Finance every month, the company launched into the mortgage market in December 2021. This partnership with Three Mobile will see it become a major player in the mortgage market in Ireland. This recent new partnership is part of ambitious plans for the company. Loanitt CEO, John Duggan said of the new jobs We are incredibly lucky as we have a great team in Loanitt, the new jobs will be across a range of departments including Mortgage Advisors, Software Engineers and Analytics. We have come a long way in a short time and there is always huge interest and competition for roles at Loanitt and to be part of something different and exciting. In addition, Loanitt has just launched a new technology brand named Kyiper, which has recently been granted a European Open Banking Licence and coincides with plans to open a large Series A funding round this year. We were granted our Open Banking Licence in November 2021 and have had a lot of interest in the technology. Open Banking is seen as the next big Tech revolution and as one of the first providers, we are designing innovative and specialised solutions. We have had a lot of interest from International Investors and its very exciting. Loanitt have engaged Industry giants KPMG to lead the fundraise which will lead to further growth and job creation for the company and Kilkenny in 2022. ABCK-AmCham Kuwait hosted a two-session virtual workshop on How to do Business with the Military with speakers from the US Armys Regional Contracting Center- Kuwait (RCC-KU), The Theater Contracting Center- Southwest Asia (TCC-SWA), and the US Air Forces 386TH ECONS. The event was held in partnership with several American Chambers of Commerce (AmChams) in the GCC: Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. The event started with the opening remarks by AmCham Kuwaits Chairman - Pete Swift, who welcomed the AmChams in the region and thanked participants for taking the time to learn more about doing business with the US Federal Government. The opening remarks were followed by the US Armys presenters - Major Eric Forcey, Contracting Officer at the Regional Contracting Center Kuwait (RCC-KU), and 1st Lieutenant Peter Hunerkoch from the Kuwait Pay Office. The first session of the workshop targeted current vendors, covering topics such as: What are the PIEE and WAWF? How to gain access: Pre-registration and General Steps, PIEE Self- registration, Invoicing: Kuwait Pay Office, Invoice Types, Contracting Relationship, Invoice Workflow and Timelines, WAWF invoice Workflow and Timelines, Invoice Instructions and Elements of a Contract Line-Item Number (CLIN) and Common Invoice Errors and WAWF invoicing Instructions. Major Forcey spoke about the Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment (PIEE) as the US Governments one-stop-shop for procurement capabilities. PIEE is a suite of business information systems for the companys US Federal sales, and it is home to the Wide Area Workflow (WAWF) and Electronic Data Access (EDA), MyInvoice, and other capabilities. RCC-KU also spoke about WAWF which is a module within the broader PIEE, as WAWF is a secure Web-based system for electronic invoicing, receipt, and acceptance. RCC-KU also added that WAWF is the official system through which contractors must submit shipping/receiving reports and invoices. Subsequently, the presenters provided an in-depth explanation about PIEE Self-registration and how vendors can gain access to the mentioned. To conclude the detailed guidance, the presenters spoke about common WAWF invoice document types, status, descriptions, and reasons why invoices get rejected. Following the discussion, the Kuwait Pay Offices representative 1st LT Hunerkoch spoke about the role of the Kuwait Pay office, whose role targets the review, certification, and payment of contractual invoices on behalf of the United States Government. This presentation was followed by a virtual live demonstration on how to go about invoicing through WAWF. To finalise the 1st Session, Lieutenant Colonel LaTasha Watson, Battalion commander of the TCC-SWA, spoke about their role in the region, and procurement and contracting support opportunities available throughout the region. The TCC-SWA provides contracting support to all GCC countries except Kuwait, Iraq and Syria. Moving on to the second session, the US Air Forces presenters - Captain Andrew Ingerson, Deputy Commander, and Master Sergeant (MSgt) Seth Swieter, Flight Chief, Government Purchase Card section, from the 386TH ECONS provided an in-depth presentation on how to register as a vendor in Sam. Presenters spoke about the purpose of this training and highlighted that it is mandatory for vendors to have an active Sam registration if vendors are interested in being eligible for contract awards above the micro-purchase threshold, which is $35,000. The presentations concluded with a question and answers session. -TradeArabia News Service TK Elevator, one of the worlds leading elevator companies, said it has made a significant contribution to the development of Doha Oasis, a key residential, commercial and mall complex in Qatar. With more than 170 transport systems, the company provides maximum indoor mobility efficiently, safely and comfortably. Doha Oasis exhibits the typical challenges associated with rapid urbanisation. These include ensuring the highest possible transportation capacity as well as maximum energy efficiency and space utilization. Doha Oasis is located in the heart of Doha, the capital of Qatar. The mixed-use project with a total construction area of 470,000 sq m includes a 28-storey, seven-star hotel tower with 245 luxury residential apartments, penthouses and numerous stores. In addition, this development encompasses the first indoor amusement theme park in Qatar. TK Elevator is meeting these requirements - among other things - with two TWIN elevator systems, the only elevators with two cabins operating independently in one single shaft. They have lower energy requirements and allow faster passenger transportation. TWIN can move up to 40 per cent more passengers than conventional elevators. Due to a smaller number of shafts, TWIN occupies up to 50 per cent less space. This creates additional commercial usable area and offers architects greater design freedom. On its key contribution, CEO Peter Walker said: "With our solutions specially adapted to the needs of Doha Oasis, we offer all passengers a smooth, safe and comfortable mobility experience, and operators the best possible building utilization." "TK Elevator stands for German engineering excellence and thus for quality, innovation and efficiency. Doha Oasis perfectly showcases the possibilities our sophisticated technologies offer in commercial and planning terms, as well as with regard to user experience," he added. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Rain. High 52F. Winds ENE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low 42F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible. Two Easy Ways To Subscribe! The Kodiak Daily Mirror offers full-service, five-day a week subscriptions with home delivery in addition to unlimited access to our online services (including our e-Edition). Online-access-only subscriptions include unlimited access to the Mirror's online services without delivery of the printed newspaper. (Note: New users: You must register and login before purchasing a subscription. Support local journalism Local news, sports and entertainment when you want it. Please consider subscribing so we can continue to bring you the best local news, sports and entertainment coverage. Zain KSA, a leading telecommunications provider in Saudi Arabia, has signed an agreement with its global partner Huawei to expand and develop its cloud and digital services infrastructure. The announcement was made on the sidelines of the global future technologies event Leap 2022. Zain KSA participated in line with its strategy to support the efforts and initiatives of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), overseeing and organising the landmark event. Being a key player in the Saudi telecom market, the cooperation with Huawei comes as part of Zain KSAs efforts to strengthen its leadership as one of the largest 5G providers in the kingdom and invest in industry digitisation. In this regard, Zain KSAs CTO Eng Abdulrahman bin Hamad AlMufadda, stated: Our journey in driving forward digital transformation in the kingdom has been enabled by pairing investments in innovative technology with pioneering digital products and services. Today, Zain KSA plays a pivotal role in empowering a digital society and in pursuing the transition towards a digital economy, supporting the strategy of MCIT towards accelerating nationwide digital transformation. We will continue to focus on digital infrastructure investments, backed by our partnerships with global tech leaders, including Huawei, to achieve our objectives in promoting economic growth and sustainable development, in line with Saudi Vision 2030. Zain KSA continues to enhance its wireless network, the foundation of its 5G target network infrastructure and the first phase of its 5G non-standalone network. The next step will be the transition to the 5G standalone phase, which will boost the ultra-reliable low latency communications (URLLC) application development and support the massive requirements of Machine Type Communications (mMTC), to enable a new range of vertical services for industry digitalisation. Zain KSA already offers a full suite of 5G-based solutions including Zain Drones and Zain Cloud, as well as a range of other services catering to individual and business users. Zain KSA was recognised as having the best 5G in Riyadh and the fastest in downloading and uploading files by umlaut. Zain KSA also ranks first in 5G coverage and speed in Riyadh according to the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) report. Also, Zain KSA earned the Ookla Speedtest Fastest Fixed Network Award three consecutive times. Recently, Zain KSA won the Best 5G User Growth award at the Telecom Review Leaders 2021 summit, cementing its position in building 5G networks, deepening innovative experiences, and developing 5G use cases and deploying them across the kingdom.-- TradeArabia News Service Sara Sarwar, charge d'affaires at the Embassy of Pakistan in Korea, speaks during the opening ceremony of a photo exhibition titled "A Journey through Pakistan" at Dongjak Art Gallery in Seoul, Feb. 3. Courtesy of Embassy of Pakistan in Korea By Kwon Mee-yoo The Embassy of Pakistan in Korea hosted a photo exhibition titled "A Journey through Pakistan" at Dongjak Art Gallery from Feb. 3 to 5, giving a peek into the beautiful natural environment and rich culture of the country. Put on display at the gallery were photos depicting Pakistan's unique landscape such as Katpana Desert, Baltoro Glacier and Hingol National Park as well as religious landmarks including Katas Raj Temples and Shah Jahan Mosque. Sara Sarwar, charge d'affaires at the Embassy of Pakistan in Korea, said the exhibit is a precursor to Pakistan Day, which falls on March 23, and which she hopes will introduce the country to the people of Korea. "In 'A Journey through Pakistan,' we have tried to highlight a few key things including the ancient heritage sites of Pakistan, the beautiful and scenic landscapes, people of Pakistan and, last but not the least, a place that is called Heaven on Earth, which is Kashmir," Sarwar said. "Pakistan has different regions and every region is unique in terms of its identity, its culture, its food and handicraft. I'm sure that you can have a fair idea of Pakistan through this exhibition." "A Journey through Pakistan" sheds light on the unique landscapes and culture of Pakistan. Courtesy of Embassy of Pakistan in Korea Ahn Cheol-soo, the presidential candidate of the minor opposition People's Party, speaks during a party meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap By Kang Seung-woo One after another, presidential candidates have invoked the late President Roh Moo-hyun in their campaign speeches, in an attempt to win over his supporters who are well-known for their strong solidarity even a decade after their beloved leader's sudden death. Roh, a human rights lawyer-turned-politician, was elected president in 2002 and his tenure continued until 2008. The late president was one of the rare politicians to possess a legion of diehard supporters who even created a fan club, dubbed "Rohsamo" which literally means people who love Roh. Former President Roh Moo-hyun / Korea Times photo In each and every election, candidates particularly among the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) try to court Roh's supporters and this election has been no exception. Ahn Cheol-soo, the presidential candidate of the minor opposition People's Party, is the latest politician who vowed to succeed Roh's legacy. "President Roh Moo-hyun's life and political legacy came to me suddenly this morning. He was committed to national integration, while fighting against discrimination and segregation throughout his life," Ahn said during a party meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday. "If Roh were alive, he would think the current presidential race was really awful as morality and vision are gone, while candidates are blaming each other." Ahn, a former software tycoon, touted his candidacy's similarity with Roh's. Bahrain-based RAK Art Foundation and Dar Alfann Gallery have entered into a joint venture to create NFT MENA Exhibit 2022, a state-of-the-art exhibition that will take place at the Ritz-Carlton Manama from March 16 to 18. The NFT exhibition, being held during the F1 weekend in Bahrain, offers a unique and innovative experience and is the first of its kind in the region. The global art conversation is changing, presenting us with a revolution in digital art one that will forever alter the way we perceive the art world and Bahrain has chosen to capitalise on this, show organisers said at a press conference today. The exhibition -- which is the first edition and will go on to become an annual event -- will provide a platform for much-needed conversations about a decentralised future and the next phases of the Internet, as we begin to consider the blockchain and its many facets and assets and try to come to terms with a new frontier; one that merges the worlds of technology, art, culture and the economy, said Abdulrahman Almokla, Chairman of Dar Alfann Gallery. The main purpose of this event is educational. While these topics are making the front pages and gaining popularity fast, most people are still asking themselves what are NFTs? We want to answer this question and show them the possibilities that NFTs can offer. What it could mean for them as artists, investors, businessowners, gallerists and so on. In other words, NFT MENA Exhibit 2022 is an attempt to propel the web 3.0 narrative, and showcase the cultural relevance of digital artworks and their potential as both intellectual, cultural and investment capital. In fact, the exhibited art and the panel of speakers will demonstrate how utilising the emerging technologies as a creative outlet creates new dynamics in the art world and new opportunities in terms of investment and global markets, he said. Alongside some international artists, the exhibition will present a curation of artworks by Bahraini artists such as Leena Al Ayoobi, Adnan Al Ahmed and more, and explain step-by-step the process of getting your artwork on the blockchain, in addition to talks, live minting and auctioning, workshops by NFT experts, NFT markets and crypto-exchange representatives, as well as educational sessions for artists and NFT enthusiasts. The organisers have also partnered with NFT BAZL, a leading NFT marketplace to bring their expertise to realise this event. This one-of-a-kind presentation stands at the crossroads between the digital and the physical, the material and the immaterial. Its aim is to create awareness, harness the enthusiasm generated by such new disruptive technologies and inject it back into the art trade in order to create a more versatile and inclusive market, said the organisers. We also aspire to open a public debate about the social perception of art, the legitimacy of digital artworks and their cultural implications on both local and global fronts, they said. The RAK Art Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering artists worldwide by providing opportunities, encouraging cross-cultural collaborations and exchange, and fostering international partnerships. Dar Alfann, based in Bahrain, is a boutique firm that specialises in creating art and artwork that speaks to the traditional heritage of the Arabian Gulf countries. - TradeArabia News Service President Moon Jae-in held a telephone conversation with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday, during which Moon called for diplomatic solutions to the Ukraine crisis amid fears Russia could launch a full-scale invasion. Tensions have mounted over Russia's deployment of troops at Ukraine's borders, with the United States and its allies warning over a package of sanctions against Moscow. During the 20-minute conversation, the European Commission chief briefed Moon on the European Union's efforts for a peaceful resolution and the stabilization of energy supply in connection with the Ukraine crisis, Moon's office said in a statement. In return, Moon said he expects peace and stability in Ukraine to be restored through diplomatic solutions, according to the statement. Moon briefed the European Commission chief on recent situations on the Korean Peninsula and asked the European Union to continue to support South Korea's efforts to bring peace on the peninsula, according to the statement. Last month, North Korea conducted seven rounds of missiles tests, including an intermediate range ballistic missile capable of hitting the Pacific U.S. territory of Guam. North Korea has also threatened to scrap its self-imposed moratorium on long-range missile and nuclear tests. (Yonhap) From left, presidential candidates Lee Jae-myung, Yoon Suk-yeol, Sim Sang-jung and Ahn Cheol-soo / Joint Press Corps, Hankook Ilbo Political strategists analyze presidential candidates' debate styles By Ko Dong-hwan Dr. Louis Perron, a political strategist and expert on how elections are won Debates reveal a lot about politicians. It's a rare opportunity for people to see them talking unscripted for hours, except for a few pages of notes. It provides viewers with plenty of insights and clues as to who the people on the platforms really are, while hundreds of news reports produced daily share rumors that are often inaccurate. The preparations for the first TV debate between four leading candidates for the March 9 presidential election weren't always smooth, as opposition between the candidates' election camps continued to delay plans for debates, much to the disappointment of an uneasy public. In addition, the two minor parties insisted that it was illegal and undemocratic for the two giant parties to hold their own one-on-one debate. The minor parties ended up filing an injunction against the latter's efforts, and a court accepted it leaving no option but to hold a four-way debate. The recently televised debate on Feb. 3, with the second-highest TV rating for a presidential debate in the country's history (39 percent combining the three broadcasters MBC, KBS and SBS), gave each of the candidates a chance to leave their quintessential impression on the viewers. And, according to Dr. Louis Perron, a political strategist and an internationally renowned expert on how elections are won, those impressions varied between what a successful candidate should and shouldn't do in a debate. "It's a rare occasion to directly compare the candidates next to each other," Perron, based in Zurich, Switzerland, told The Korea Times. "We say that debates are the equivalent of the swimsuit round in beauty pageants, meaning that strengths and weaknesses are easily exposed." The debate, which according to many expert evaluations was missing ferocity and critical blows that would have added some fire to the debate's rather mediocre atmosphere, did have some memorable moments. Yoon Suk-yeol of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) constantly zeroed in on Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) pummeling him with a series of questions on his alleged involvement in a controversial land development project scandal in the Daejang-dong area of Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. Sim Sang-jung of the minor Justice Party mauled Yoon as he claimed the need for deploying an additional U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in South Korea against North Korean missiles, questioning the tactic's effectiveness in the country's current geopolitical situation. Lee, aware that Yoon wants to resume use and construction of nuclear power plants, quizzed him on the meaning of terms like "RE100" and "EU Taxonomy." Perron said those instances reflect some of the strategic goals of an effective debater who is clear on what they seek to accomplish. "Strategic goals (of an effective debater) might be to address a certain weakness to show another side of your candidacy, pivot away from a certain issue or allegation, stop the bleeding related to a certain scandal, create a certain controversy or to get a certain message across," he said. Bad debaters, on the other hand, let their emotions take over and thus fail to deliver their message, according to Perron. Shin Ji-young, a linguistic scientist and a Korean literature professor at Korea University in Seoul, said Yoon, as a public speaker, is very provocative and often arouses his listeners emotionally through frequent use of words considered inappropriate for a public event or a politician. "He isn't trained to speak in public," she said, adding he is almost the complete opposite of Lee, a fast, specific and concise speaker. "Yoon isn't often specific about what he is trying to say, making his speeches sound tedious and not gripping." "If a candidate is less gifted, then one needs a strategy on how to deal with it," Perron said. "George W. Bush was not a particularly gifted or even appealing speaker. He dealt with it by, first, always speaking in short bursts, and second, by being an extremely focused speaker. He would speak in a brief way and stay on message. Even when Al Gore physically walked up to him at a debate, he wouldn't divert from his point. As we say in the industry: Get to the point, make the point and repeat the point." The four candidates for Korea's presidential election on March 9 pose before starting their first TV debate at KBS Hall in Yeouido, Seoul, Feb. 3. Joint Press Corps By Zev Chafets U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid last Monday. According to the State Department's readout of the conversation, they discussed "shared challenges, in the face of potential Russian aggression against Ukraine." It's not clear what, if anything, Blinken is hoping for from Israel. But two days later, Israeli radio, quoting Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, reported that Ukraine is seeking to buy Israeli cyber- and air-defense systems. That may be what Blinken had in mind, but taking a side in this conflict is very clearly not in Israel's national interest. Certainly, Israel should be rooting for the United States in this dispute. The U.S. is, after all, Israel's indispensable ally. And the unprovoked invasion of a neighboring country and the potential mass loss of life is something no democracy could want to see. But Israel is almost unique in that it has good relations with Moscow, Kyiv and Washington. It's not a member of the European Union or North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); it has no dog in this fight. From Israel's viewpoint, the borders of Europe are matters for the big powers to decide. And threatened by Iranian proxies who are armed with a vast arsenal of missiles, the government in Jerusalem can also understand why Russia is nervous about advanced NATO weapons stationed along its borders in Eastern Europe. No, NATO hasn't declared the destruction of Russia its central mission, as Iran has; it has always been a defensive alliance. Still, there is respect in Israel for Russia's viewpoint too. Israel which has annexed East Jerusalem and the Golan after winning them in battle is hardly in a position to lecture or even share international umbrage at Russia's threatened annexation of eastern Ukraine on the grounds that it is a historical part of the Russian homeland. Putin has even held up Israel as a model for Ukrainians and Russians. He has publicly expressed his friendship with the million-strong community of Russian emigres in Israel. An escalation of the conflict could be dangerous for Israel, too. As the Kenyan ambassador put it in this week's United Nations Security Council session, when the elephants fight the grass gets trampled. Kyiv is 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles) from Jerusalem. Washington is even farther. But Russia is effectively right next door in Syria, where Putin is the real decider and his goodwill is critical to Israeli security. For more than a decade, Israel has been fighting a clandestine intelligence and air campaign against Iranian efforts to supply Hezbollah in Lebanon with advanced rockets and missiles for use against Israel. This campaign has been, and still is, waged mostly in Syrian skies against Syrian weapons depots. Putin could have shut down Israeli operations when his troops entered Syria in 2015. Instead, he has allowed the Israeli air force to operate with something like freedom, asking only that Israel "de-conflict" (i.e., coordinate) with Russian military headquarters in Syria. This is a break with traditional Kremlin policy, and it has won Putin friends here. So have gestures that demonstrate personal warmth toward the state of Israel. In 2020, Putin came to Jerusalem to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Russian liberation of Auschwitz. He has referred to Israel's million ex-Russian immigrants as "brothers and sisters." But Putin is not in Syria for sentimental reasons, nor is he there to rehabilitate that country after its civil war. He has come to establish a beachhead in the Middle East and the Mediterranean a dream of Russian foreign policy since the time of the Czars. The naval bases he has built on the Syrian coast are a warrant that he intends to stay in the region. It's useful to have Israel as a neutral party, if not quite a friend. Russia's strategy and its positioning in the region are something that Israel needs to take into account, especially at a time when the U.S. is turning its own strategic focus to the Pacific. The U.S. will not likely abandon the Middle East or surrender its role as Israel's chief defender. But Russia is now a permanent resident in the neighborhood. Staying out of its quarrels with Europe and the U.S. is simply common sense. Zev Chafets is a journalist and author of 14 books. He was a senior aide to Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and the founding managing editor of the Jerusalem Report Magazine. This editorial was produced for Bloomberg and distributed by Tribune Content Agency. Samsung SDI headquarters in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province / Courtesy of Samsung SDI By Park Jae-hyuk Samsung SDI, which is less active than LG Energy Solution (LGES) and SK on in forming partnerships with electric vehicle (EV) manufactures in the U.S., has been trailing its Korean competitors in terms of the global EV battery market share, according to the latest industry data Monday. The public company ranked sixth in the global EV battery market share last year, yielding fifth place to SK on, according to the data compiled by an energy market tracker, SNE Research. Samsung's market share dropped to 4.5 percent from 5.8 percent a year earlier, while SK's rose to 5.6 percent from 5.5 percent the previous year. LGES maintained second place, following China's CATL, although the Korean firm's market share fell to 20.3 percent from 23.4 percent a year earlier. Samsung SDI began lagging behind SK on in global market share since last July. The battery manufacturing unit of Samsung has focused more on enhancing its profitability, as its management has emphasized qualitative growth based on technical skills and reduced emphasis on quantitative growth. Samsung SDI CEO Choi Yoon-ho "If we focus on quantitative expansion without a qualitative growth, this may cause irrevocable problems," Samsung SDI CEO Choi Yoon-ho said last month. "We should pursue qualitative growth, based on thorough precautionary inspections and products that can dominate the market." In contrast, the subsidiary of SK Innovation has made aggressive global investments, joining hands with foreign carmakers to expand its presence in North America. "We surprised the market by receiving an unprecedentedly large amount of orders," SK on CEO Ji Dong-seop said last month. "We received more orders from global carmakers, securing new clients." SK on and Ford established a joint venture named BlueOval SK and agreed last year to invest $11.4 billion to build EV battery factories in Tennessee and Kentucky by 2025. They are considering setting up another joint venture for the European market. In addition, SK on will invite preliminary tenders this week from global institutional investors, such as Carlyle, KKR and TPG, to attract up to 4 trillion won ($3.3 billion) in investments for increasing the capacity of its battery factories overseas. LGES has also accelerated efforts to strengthen its partnership with General Motors, through their joint venture named Ultium Cells. Only a week after they announced on Jan. 26 that Ultium Cells will build its third factory in Michigan, the two companies said the joint venture will unveil the location of the fourth factory during the first half of this year. Although Samsung SDI signed a memorandum of understanding with Stellantis last October to establish a joint venture for the production of battery cells and modules, they have yet to sign a contract for the building of the factory in the U.S. "We are in talks with another carmaker, but at this moment, it is difficult for us to mention details," Samsung SDI Senior Vice President Michael Son said Jan. 27 in the company's conference call on its fourth-quarter earnings. In another apparent effort to gain trust from global carmakers, Samsung SDI also decided late last month to voluntarily recall 1,163 high voltage battery packs installed in around 100 plug-in hybrid vehicles of Ford and Stellantis. The company said it made the decision after discovering welding issues which could cause sudden loss of drive power. Bahrain has announced the launch of the Golden Residency Visa, part of a series of economic initiatives within the Economic Recovery Plan. This was decided at the cabinet meeting chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, held today (Monday) at Gudaibiya Palace, said a Bahrain News Agency report. The Golden Residency Visa for residents and non-residents will be processed immediately on applications filed electronically upon meeting the prescribed criteria, senior government officials said later at a press conference. Golden Residency Visa holders will see their visas renewed indefinitely, provided they continue to meet the eligibility criteria. They will enjoy benefits, including multiple entry and exit from Bahrain without restriction, residency for close family members, and the right to work in Bahrain. To qualify for the Golden Residency Visa, existing residents must have resided in Bahrain continuously for at least five years and earned an average basic salary of no less than BHD2,000 ($5,305) per month throughout the five-year period. The long-term residence permit shall be renewed indefinitely provided the candidate continues to meet the eligibility criteria, officials said. In addition, the Golden Residency Visa will be issued on an immediate basis to applicants (whether resident or non-resident) who meet the following criteria: * Own one or more properties in Bahrain, valued no less than BD200,000 ($530,000), or retirees with an income of BD4,000 per month or more. * Be highly- talented' individuals who meet the relevant requirements. * Must reside in Bahrain for 90 days a year, to ensure their visa continues to be valid. The press conference, at the Officers Club in Qudaibiya, was jointly addressed by Shaikh Hisham bin Abdulrahman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Undersecretary for Nationality, Passports and Residency Affairs at the Interior Ministry and Shaikh Ahmed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Assistant Undersecretary at Nationality, Passports and Residency Affairs at the Interior Ministry. They noted that the move is a part of the Kingdoms strategy that will serve as a catalyst for attracting foreign investments. The introduction of the Golden Residency Visa is designed to attract investors, benefit our businesses, and contribute to the provision of quality opportunities for Bahrainis. This programme will also provide deserved reward to those existing residents who have contributed significantly to Bahrains economy and society over many years, Shaikh Hisham said. By retaining and attracting those with talent, experience, and internationally renowned knowledge, the Government of Bahrain has adopted a dynamic approach as we emerge from the pandemic with reasons to be highly optimistic about the strength and growth of our economy, Shaikh Hisham added. This Golden Residency Visa will enhance and promote the continued development of the business and investment-friendly environment that the Kingdom of Bahrain is already known for. Bahrains Golden Residency Visa will be available for qualifying residents, allowing them to take advantage of the benefits of being permanent residents of Bahrain. The Golden Residency Visa will be open to residents and non-residents alike, and is aimed at attracting investors, entrepreneurs, and highly- talented individuals who can contribute to Bahrains ongoing success. QatarEnergy has announced an oil discovery in a deep-water exploration well drilled in the PEL-39 license located in the Orange Basin, offshore Namibia. The consortium partners comprising QatarEnergy, Shell and National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor), have successfully concluded drilling operations of the Graff-1 well establishing the presence of a working petroleum system with light oil. The partners will conduct analysis on the well data and further exploration activity to determine the full size and recoverable resource potential. Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, the Minister of State for Energy Affairs, the President and CEO of QatarEnergy, said: We are encouraged by the Graff-1 well results, which enhance the potential of our exploration acreage in Namibias offshore. I would like to take this opportunity to thank and congratulate our partners Shell and Namcor, and my colleagues in QatarEnergy for their great efforts that led to this discovery, in a safe and efficient manner. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the government of Namibia on the next steps, following this discovery. The Graff-1 well was drilled to a total depth of 5,376 meters in water depths of approximately 2,000 meters in the PEL-39 license area, which covers a total area of 12,299 sq km. QatarEnergy has interests in three areas in offshore Namibia covering a total area of 28,327 sq km. TradeArabia News Service UPDATE, FEB. 9 AT 2:58 PM: A full Avalanche Fatality Report was released Wednesday following the death of a snowmobiler who was caught and killed in a small avalanche on the Ski Hill at the south end of Lionhead Ridge. The report says the victim was on a 45-degree wind-loaded slope when it released and partially buried him against a tree. Nobody witnessed the avalanche, and the victim was estimated to have been buried 15 to 25 minutes before he was uncovered. He was a part of a group of four men from Iowa were riding in Lionhead on Feb. 6 as they had for several winters before, the report says. Everyone had also taken avalanche awareness classes multiple times and had read the avalanche forecast for the morning of the day of the incident. The report says the victim, 30-year-old Bradie Harold Becker, was an expert rider who spent three winters in the area. Although the avalanche danger for the Lionhead Area was rated low for the day, it is likely the victim triggered the avalanche as he sidehilled across the slope according to the report. You can read the report here. UPDATE: FEB. 8 AT 12:47 A.M. The following is a release from the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office: On Sunday, February 6, 2022, the Gallatin County Coroners Office investigated an avalanche-involved fatality near West Yellowstone. Investigation concluded that 30-year-old Bradie Harold Becker, of Iowa, died of asphyxiation after being buried in avalanche debris. Bradie had been separated from the group of snowmobilers at the time of the avalanche and when located resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful. He was wearing an avalanche airbag that had been deployed and a helmet. Sheriff Springer thanks the rapid response of the Gallatin County Sheriffs Search and Rescue, National Forest Service, Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, and Hebgen Basin Rural Fire Department, who all assisted with the recovery. Our deepest condolences go out to Bradies family and friends during this time. UPDATE: FEB. 7 AT 11:33 A.M. The following is a Facebook post from Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue: "On February 6, 2022, at 4:48 pm, the West Yellowstone Police Dispatch Center received a call for an injured snowmobiler. The snowmobiler was involved in an avalanche in the Dry Fork of Denny Creek, 9.8 miles west of West Yellowstone. Initial reports indicated the injured snowmobiler was unresponsive and members of the group were performing CPR. Volunteers from Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue in West Yellowstone, National Forest Service, Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, and Hebgen Basin Rural Fire Department responded to Denny Creek. A snowmobile rescue team deployed immediately up the trail. Lifesaving efforts were attempted for over an hour before the patient was pronounced deceased. The victims name has not been released. Forest Service Law Enforcement and Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center is conducting the investigation and all media inquiries should be directed to the Avalanche Center at 406-587-6984. Sheriff Dan Springer would like to offer his condolences to the family and friends of the victim during this tragic time." WEST YELLOWSTONE, Mont. - A snowmobiler died after he was stuck in an avalanche in the Lionhead area near West Yellowstone Sunday. Avalanche experts are warning people to stay away from wind-loaded slopes where unsteady slabs are lying on top of a weak layer of facets 18-24 below the snow surface. Friends of the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center posted to Facebook people should non-winded carefully assess the snowpack and stay away from terrain traps that could increase avalanche consequences. "The wind increased late yesterday afternoon in Hyalite Canyon and will continue to transport recent snow into unstable drifts where avalanches large enough to injure or bury climbers, skiers and riders are possible," Friends of the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center said on Facebook. HELENA, Mont. - A website summoning qualified health care workers to move to Montana was launched Monday. A release from the governor's office said CareInMontana.com is a health care workforce recruitment program to bring in more health care workers in the state through the Claim Allowance for Relocation Expenses (CARE) program. For too long, Montana has struggled to attract and retain health care providers, and the pandemic has only made this longstanding problem worse, Gov. Gianforte said in the release. Thats why, with the CARE in Montana program, were inviting qualified doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals to move to Montana, serve in our communities, help reduce the burden on existing workers, and ensure Montanans have access to high-quality care. The website tells health care workers from all over the nation how to join the CARE program in Montana. It was announced in November 2021 at Billings Clinic, and since then, Montana has set up the program and guidelines, and state employers started using the program to recruit health care workers. Through the CARE program, the state is funding participating employers to reimburse new employees up to $12,500 in moving costs and another 35% to offset taxes in relation to the reimbursement amount. In order for a new employee to qualify for reimbursement, they must accept a health care job, move to Montana, and work the job for at least 12 consecutive months, the governor's release said. "We appreciate and applaud the focus Governor Gianforte is placing on the acute-care workforce shortage that healthcare facilities throughout Montana are currently experiencing," Karen Costello, President of SCL Health - Holy Rosary Healthcare in Miles City said in the release. "SCL Health is committed to bringing experienced healthcare professionals to Montana, and this program will provide additional resources to our state that we hope will help ease the current labor shortage challenges." A slot machine in Las Vegas malfunctioned and didn't tell a tourist he won. The gaming board tracked him down The US has been deliberately hyping up the risk of a war between Russia and Ukraine recently. Analysts pointed out that the US government's move has dual purposes. On the one hand, in the context of its own poor domestic affairs performance, the US uses diplomatic issues to divert the attention of the American people, and gives a huge build-up for the midterm elections in the second half of this year. On the other hand, the US aims to win over and bind European allies via suppressing Russia in a bid to maintain its influence in Europe. Based on the recent words and deeds of the US, we can see that the US government has mainly taken three moves on the Ukraine issue. First, it has vigorously exaggerated the imminence of the so-called Russian "aggression" against Ukraine, including releasing the so-called "intelligence" obtained by the US and its allies, showing the so-called "evidence" that Russia continues to undermine Ukraine's domestic stability, and authorizing the staff of the US embassy in Ukraine to evacuate. Second, it has continued to increase the threat of economic sanctions against Russia. The US aims to cut off Russia's connections with the Western financial system and plans to strengthen export controls on Russia to restrict Russia's access to advanced technologies in the fields of artificial intelligence, quantum computing, defense and aerospace. Third, the US has strengthened military deployment within the scope of NATO, and also transported several batches of weapons and equipment to Ukraine. Until now it has not directly sent troops to Ukraine to avoid direct military conflict with Russia. These moves of the US government have aroused strong dissatisfaction of Russia. Dmitry Peskov, Press Secretary of the President of Russia, said on Monday that people should stay clear-headed as the US media released a lot of "unsubstantiated, distorted and provocative information" about the situation at the Ukrainian border in recent months. Ukraine also opposes the moves of stirring up trouble by Western countries. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed dissatisfaction with Western rhetoric that "war is inevitable" last week, as he believed that this is not the case. Analysts pointed out that the US government deliberately hyped up the risk of war because it clearly has dual purposes. From the perspective of domestic affairs, the US will hold midterm elections in November 2022, and the Biden administration hopes that this strategy can resist attacks by Republicans on its foreign policy. In addition, Biden's approval rate is currently at a low point, and his belligerent attitude against Russia is likely to attract a lot of votes. From a diplomatic point of view, the Biden administration hopes to use this tactic to further clamp down on Putin, exacerbate Russia's strategic dilemma, and win over and bind European allies at the same time. The hasty withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan in August 2021 has seriously damaged the "international image" of the US. The Biden administration hopes to use the Ukraine issue to show that the US can still unite Western countries. However, the effects of the "Ukraine card" is limited. Currently, diplomacy is not the top topic in the US election. In contrast, the American people focus more on topics that are more closely related to their lives, such as the economy and the pandemic. In addition, many European countries, especially Germany and other countries that are more dependent on Russian energy, do not want the tension in Ukraine to escalate. Editor's note: This article is originally published on www.news.cn, and is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn. Bahrain International Airport (BIA) has joined the highest ranking international airports to become the third airport in the Middle East to receive a 5-star rating from Skytrax, the world's top airport and airline rating body. The Transportation & Telecommunications Minister and Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) Chairman Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed met with Skytrax CEO Edward Plaisted to receive a plaque commemorating the achievement, reported Bahrain News Agency (BNA). The accolade recognizes the high standards of BIAs facilities and services. The rating includes direct services for departures, arrivals, and diverted flights, including airport facilities and customer services, security, immigration, and retail, as well as food and beverage facilities. This international-level achievement by BIA owes a lot to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifas support for the aviation sector and the full backing of the government, headed by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. This sector is a pillar of the Kingdoms economic growth and a major focus of its development plan for the logistics sector, the minister said. This ranking also reflects the tireless efforts of the BAC team, our strategic partners, and airport service providers, as well as Team Bahrain. They all strive to implement the highest international standards in their provision of services to travellers and airlines and their close supervision of the airports facilities, to ensure operational continuity and the highest levels of efficiency and safety, he added. The minister expressed his pride in this achievement during the new Passenger Terminal's first year of operation. This reflects the efficacy of its design, construction, and ability to meet and exceed the needs of travellers. He noted that Bahrains gateway to the world serves all economic sectors, and the completion of the projects second phase will ensure that the airport is able to deliver an unforgettable travel experience. "I would like to thank BAC employees for their contributions towards this achievement and their tireless efforts in helping to ensure the highest levels of service during the airports first year of operations. I would also like to thank our strategic partners for their continuous support and cooperation, which contributed to the airport making a major impact globally, said BAC CEO Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah. This prestigious accolade inspires us to continue to offer an exceptional travel experience in 2022. We will continue to elevate our high standards as we continue with the Airport Modernization Program. This achievement reflects the excellence of the airport's operations, services and facilities, and its 5-star customer service. The new passenger terminal is equipped with advanced technology to enhance efficiency and security while providing improved levels of service aimed at exceeding customer expectations. These advancements streamline many time-consuming processes and procedures, reducing waiting times and giving passengers more control over their journeys, Al Binfalah added. It is a great achievement for Bahrain International Airport to become just the third airport in the Middle East to achieve this highest 5-Star Airport Rating. It is a much-deserved recognition of the high standards provided at BIA. Described as a boutique airport, it provides an excellent range of passenger facilities with a very pleasant ambiance, and the terminal design makes this a most customer-friendly airport, whether departing, arriving, or in transit, Skytrax CEO Edward Plaisted said. BIAs new passenger terminal opened in 2021, increasing the airports capacity to 14 million passengers annually. The state-of-the-art facility positions BIA as the most modern boutique airport in the Gulf and reinforces its reputation as an attractive hub for airlines and passengers. The Pennsylvania Department of Agricultures Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services has gone mobile with a retrofitted trailer testing for SARS-CoV-2 and other infectious diseases where there appears to be an imminent risk. Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], February 7 (ANI): Extending support to Samajwadi Party, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said there is a chance of Akhilesh Yadav winning the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls. Briefing mediapersons, Banerjee said, "I want Samajwadi Party to win in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. If people support him, then there is a chance of Akhilesh Ji winning this election." Also Read | Here Are The 10 Main Issues on Which PM Narendra Modi Lambasted Congress in Parliament. Earlier, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo had informed that the party will not contest the Uttar Pradesh elections but will field candidates in the state in the Lok Sabha elections in 2024. "In Uttar Pradesh, I am not going to contest Assembly polls but I am going to support Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav. We (TMC) will contest from Uttar Pardesh in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls," she had said, reflecting her national ambitions in the next general elections. Also Read | COVID-19 Guidelines for Assembly Elections 2022. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be on a two-day visit to Uttar Pradesh on Monday to "support Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav for upcoming State Assembly elections" that are scheduled to be held in seven phases beginning from February 10. The Trinamool Congress is seeking to increase its footprint nationally ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The 403-member Uttar Pradesh Assembly is scheduled to go to the polls in seven phases on February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27, March 3, and 7. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) UW Communications, Marketing Staff Members Honored for Excellence Milton Ontiveroz, a UW Institutional Communications specialist, won first place for UW Success Stories in the annual Wyoming Press Association Associates group contest for the states public relations professionals. Maria Montano, left, and her oldest daughter, Ada Montano Mushati, both from Sheridan, were among the subjects of the student success stories. (UW Photo) University of Wyoming Institutional Communications and Marketing specialists and a UW communications coordinator received nine awards during the annual Wyoming Press Association (WPA) Associates group contest. Winners were announced at the WPAs annual winter meeting last weekend in Casper. The convention attracts Wyomings newspaper professionals and the WPAs Associate members -- many of whom are public relations professionals -- for workshops, seminars and speakers. The WPA convention culminated with the awards program where the top newspapers in three divisions (daily, Sheridan Press; large weekly, Douglas Budget; and small weekly, Pinedale Roundup) were named. Individual award winners also were announced in several categories. In the Associates contest, Chad Baldwin, UW associate vice president for communications and marketing, won a first-place award; UW Institutional Communications specialist Milton Ontiveroz received three media writing awards; and media specialist Ron Podell won two writing awards. Ali Grossman, a UW Institutional Marketing video producer, won two awards for her work. Emilene Ostlind, communications coordinator for the UW Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, received third place for the schools magazine. The great work of UWs faculty, staff and students provides an abundance of good stories to tell our state, the nation and the world, and were delighted to share them, Baldwin says. Its great to be recognized for those efforts. This years contest drew entries from communications professionals from around the state. UW personnel competed against media representatives such as those from various Wyoming state government departments, Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County and area public relations firms. WPA Associates members, including those from UW, attended five workshops during the convention. Ontiveroz is the statewide Associates members chair, representing the Associates on the WPA board. He is only the second person to hold that position in the associations 29-year history. Listed are the UW staff members with their individual awards, contest categories in which they won, titles of their entries and the judges comments for each entry: UW Institutional Communications -- Baldwin, first place, One News Release, Researchers Find Broad Impacts from Political Polarization. The judges said, A thoughtful examination of an important topic, written in a clear and digestible way. Awards Ontiveroz received: -- First place, Three Features Dealing with the Same Topic, UW Success Stories. The judges said, Three very well-written articles on three UW success stories. -- Second place, One Feature, UW Cowgirl Overcomes Cancer. The judges said, This piece came in second, but just barely. It was a well-written article and highlighted the struggles and accomplishments of the subject without using her as just a model for inspiration. -- Third place, Three Releases Dealing with the Same Topic, College National Finals Rodeo. The judges said, Nice work! Entertainingly informative with just enough rodeo culture sprinkled in to make it perfectly authentic. Awards Podell received: -- Second place, Three Releases Dealing with the Same Topic, Wildfires. The judges said, Excellent job distilling very technical work into great releases. -- Second place, Three Features Dealing with the Same Topic, Wildlife Issues. The judges said, The pieces were very well-written and informative. UW Institutional Marketing Awards Grossman received: -- First place, Short Video -- Shorter than 1 Minute, UW Grad Student Plays Key Role in UW Economists Pandemic Research. The judges said, Nice, short and to the point. I would have liked to know a bit more about the research specifically, but probably not possible in a short-form video. -- Second place, Long Video -- Longer than 1 Minute, UW Research Spotlight. The judges said, High-quality video production, as one would expect from the states only public university. Good selling points for the program. UW Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources -- Ostlind, third place, Publications, Western Confluence. The judges said, Fantastic cover illustration! This magazine does a great job taking readers through the many layers of road ecology. Its captivating, well-illustrated and written. Your efforts are very worthwhile. Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh) [India], February 7 (ANI): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday held a review meeting on the progress of Agri Infra projects and directed the authorities to achieve considerable progress in agricultural infrastructure development projects this year. The authorities informed the Chief Minister that the Aqua hubs and spokes provide employment to roughly 80,000 individuals, directly and indirectly, an official statement said. Also Read | Assembly Elections 2022: Who Are The Preferred Leaders to Become Chief Minister of Their State?. The authorities stated that 70 aqua hubs and 14,000 spokes would be established across the state by June 2022 and that the goal of establishing three pre-processing facilities and 10 processing plants is in the works, adding to that, nine organizations have been established in this respect, the release said. The authorities notified the Chief Minister that work on fishing harbours in Juvvaladinne, Nizampatnam, and Machilipatnam is underway and that they will speed the work in Uppada as well. Also Read | Here Are The 10 Main Issues on Which PM Narendra Modi Lambasted Congress in Parliament. "They promised to complete the job in four months. According to them, work in Pudimadaka, Biyyaputhippa, Odarevu, and Kottapatnam would begin in the second phase and be completed in the third phase," it said in a statement. During the review meeting, the Chief Minister stated that infrastructure development projects should be made available to farmers and agriculture-related industries as quickly as possible in order to provide farmers with additional revenue. He stated that change must be felt on the ground level and that all sorts of constructions, including warehouses, should be built as quickly as possible. The organic and natural farming goods are in high demand across the world and farmers should take advantage of these changes," Reddy said. By next year, a natural custom hiring centre for organic farming should be established at every RBK level, and the chief minister urged authorities to raise awareness among farmers about it. Reddy instructed authorities to prepare for the machinery and equipment needed for organic and natural farming at each RBK, as well as to secure better pricing for organic and natural farming goods and to develop a program to give incentives to farmers who utilize these methods. The Chief Minister reviewed fundraising and tie-ups for 15 different projects, including Dry Storage - Drying Platforms, warehouses, horticulture infrastructure, primary processing centers, assaying equipment, procurement centers, e-marketing, mega custom hiring hubs, custom hiring centers at the RBK level, combined harvesters in paddy grown districts, MACs-BMCs, Aqua Infra, Fishing Harbors-Fish Landing Centers, Food Processing Centers, and Infrastructure in Animal. The state government has spent around Rs 16,320.83 crore on these projects. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, February 7: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed the penalty of Rs 25 crore on Hindustan Zinc Ltd and others for alleged violations/damage of environmental norms by Hindustan Zinc Ltd. in Udaipur, Rajasthan. The direction came while hearing various applications stating that the project proponent has caused extensive damage and has violated environmental conditions and other norms. The bench headed by Tribunal Chief Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel in an order passed on February 2, 2022, said, having regard to the violations/damage by the Project Proponent (PP) and overall estimated cost of ecological rehabilitation, restoration, and financial capacity of the PP, we require the PP to deposit a sum of Rs 25 crores with the District Magistrate, Bhilwada within three months to meet the cost of remediation measures. Tribunal also said that a joint Committee of CPCB, State PCB and District Magistrate, Bhilwada with the assistance of any other experts may prepare a restoration plan for remediating the soil and quality of groundwater in the area, apart from undertaking a health improvement programme for the inhabitants and the cattle. The NGT further noted that the Committee has failed to consider the precautionary principle of the environment and on that basis, ignored serious violations and damage to water and land. "It has not gone into damage to health by simply referring to record of hospital admissions. While the recommendations for plantation, further studies for remedial action in other measures like de-siltation and increase of water sprinklers may certainly be undertaken, in view of the damage to the quality of groundwater resources that has an adverse impact on soil, the PP has to take necessary restoration measures for improvement of water quality as well as soil." "Violation of plantation conditions has continued for a long period. Merely requiring the cost of the plantation to be deposited without fixing the accountability for the past violations may not be adequate. Environmental law violations cannot be taken lightly when the violators are being entities like the present PP and victims are poor villagers," the NGT said. The Counsel for the PP/Hindustan Zinc Ltd submitted that the monitory value cost of the plantation assessed by the Committee will be deposited by the PP and steps will be taken to increase the plantations as per EC conditions. The PP will also undertake further studies as suggested and ensure de-siltation of the tailing dam, garland dam and increase water sprinklers to curtail fugitive emissions. No further remedial action is required as the PP is not responsible for damage to the environment or health or fertility of soil or groundwater. According to Counsel for the applicants/petitioners, the PP has caused extensive damage and has violated EC conditions and other norms. Applicants also alleged that the concerned Committee has noted some of the violations but has erroneously ignored some of the violations and thus recommendations made do not fully remedy the wrong caused in the process of the PP. "There is damage to the wells, pits, loss to agriculture produce, livestock, contamination of groundwater and land degradation which has not been fully appreciated on the wrong assumption that clear proof of industrial activity is responsible for the damage is required," the applicants alleged. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Feb 7 (PTI) The PM CARES Fund, set up to deal with emergencies such as the Covid pandemic, saw its corpus grow nearly three-fold to Rs 10,990 crore in the 2020-21 fiscal, while the disbursal rose to Rs 3,976 crore, according to the latest audited statement. The disbursal included Rs 1,000 crore for migrant welfare and over Rs 1,392 crore for procurement of Covid vaccine doses. Also Read | Here Are The 10 Main Issues on Which PM Narendra Modi Lambasted Congress in Parliament. The fund recorded nearly Rs 494.91 crore as foreign contributions and over Rs 7,183 crore as voluntary contributions during the fiscal. The overall contributions to the fund received in 2019-20 was Rs 3,076.62 crore which was collected in just five days of its formation on March 27, 2020, with an initial corpus of Rs 2.25 lakh. Also Read | COVID-19 Guidelines for Assembly Elections 2022. According to details posted on the website of the 'Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund)', it consists "entirely of voluntary contributions from individuals/organisations and does not get any budgetary support". The government has used a part of the money to buy medical equipment, including ventilators, to boost the battle against the COVID-19 and has also provided relief to migrants. Opposition parties have, however, criticised the PM CARES fund, claiming its contributions and expenses are not transparent, a charge denied by the government. According to the latest audited statement, it disbursed Rs 1,311 crore for 50,000 made-in-India ventilators to government hospitals, Rs 50 crore for the establishment of two 500-beds Covid hospitals in Muzaffarpur and Patna, and 16 RT-PCR testing labs in nine states. Further, Rs 201.58 crore was spent on oxygen plants at public health facilities, while Rs 20.4 crore was disbursed for the upgradation of labs working on Covid vaccines. While Rs 1,000 crore was allotted to states and Union territories for the welfare of migrants, Rs 1,392.82 crore was spent on the procurement of 6.6 crore doses of Covid vaccines. The fund also spent Rs 1.01 lakh as bank charges. The fund's closing balance as of March 31, 2021, stood at Rs 7,013.99 crore, more than double of Rs 3,076.62 crore a year ago. A total of Rs 10,990.17 crore was received during the 2020-21 fiscal, including through interest income and refund of unspent balance from NDMA, while Rs 3,976.17 crore was dispersed during the period, according to the audited statement prepared by Chartered Accountants SARC and associates. The fund was set up as a public charitable trust "keeping in mind the need for having a dedicated national fund with the primary objective of dealing with any kind of emergency or distress situation, like posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and to provide relief to the affected". PM CARES FUND had generated a lot of interest immediately after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced its formation after the COVID-19 outbreak and appealed for donations, prompting several private firms, government bodies and individuals, including celebrities to donate money. The fund's objectives include undertaking and supporting relief or assistance of any kind relating to a public health emergency or any other kind of emergency, calamity or distress, either man-made or natural, including the creation or upgradation of healthcare or pharmaceutical facilities, other necessary infrastructure, funding relevant research or any other type of support, according to its website. While prime minister is the ex-officio chairman of the PM CARES Fund, the ministers of defence, home affairs and Finance are its ex-officio trustees. The chairperson of the fund has the power to nominate three trustees to the board of trustees, who can be eminent persons in the field of research, health, science, social work, law, public administration and philanthropy. Also, any person appointed as a trustee will act in a pro bono capacity. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Feb 7 (PTI) Karnataka Chief Minister Basavraj Bommai on Monday asked Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh to post more IAS, IPS and Indian Forest Service officers to ensure effective implementation of welfare-oriented flagship schemes. Bommai had called on Singh here and discussed general administrative issues, a statement issued by the Personnel Ministry said. Also Read | Haryana: Sabka Sath-Sabka Vikas Increased the Social Pension by Two and a Half Times in the Last Seven Years Under CM Manohar Lal Leadership. He also urged the DoPT (Department of Personnel Training) minister Singh for posting of all-India service officers in the state, especially the IAS officers for effective implementation of welfare-oriented flagship schemes, it said. Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFoS) are the all-India services. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Address in Parliament: Congress Crossed All Limits, Committed Paap for Pushing Migrant Labourers into Difficulties During COVID-19 First Wave. Referring to the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS), Bommai informed that besides grievances being resolved promptly, complaints under 'COVID 19 category' is also continuing and taken up on high priority and resolved maximum within three days. Singh flagged the issue of "replication of good governance practices" in the states and underlined that citizen-centric administration is at the heart of Modi government's governance model. He said the changes (brought in) by the Government of India towards improved quality of governance have to be reflected in states and districts as the aim is to provide governance which is corruption free and transparent. Singh also shared with the Karnataka chief minister some of the recent developments in the space sector which has its headquarters at Bengaluru. He also spoke about the progress on India's first human space mission 'Gaganyaan'. Bommai also presented Singh a booklet highlighting the achievements in the last six months and future impact. Bommai has completed six months as chief minister of the southern state, and during the short span of time, his government has initiated a number of programmes and schemes for the benefit of farmers, students, urban dwellers, unorganised workers, elderly, widows and physically disabled, the statement said. Bommai is in the national capital on a two-day tour, during which he will be meeting many central ministers, including the finance minister, to discuss the issues related to central projects and the state budget to be presented next month, it added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Feb 7 (PTI) BJP leader Prakash Javadekar on Monday said it was "strange" that those who allegedly issued orders of firing on devotees of Lord Ram were today claiming that they will build the Ram Temple faster. He was speaking in Rajya Sabha during the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Address in Parliament: Key Highlights From Prime Ministers Reply On Motion Of Thanks To Presidents Address In Lok Sabha. Targeting the Samajwadi Part, Javadekar said: "A fellow (member) said they will build the Ram Temple more quickly. "It is strange that those who issued orders of shooting on devotees of Lord Ram are talking about the Ram Temple today," he said in an apparent reference to the firing on kar sewaks in Ayodhya during the Mulayam Singh Yadav government. Also Read | Kolkata Shocker: Minor Alleges Rape in Anandapur; Two Arrested. Referring to Ram Setu, Javadekar claimed that (those part of) the party whose government gave an affidavit in court that Lord Ram was a fictional character is now saying they will build the Ram Temple quickly. "Now everyone is saying 'I am a practicing Hindu'," the former union minister said. On Covaxin, Javadekar said some people called the COVID-19 vaccine the ''BJP's vaccine" and refused to take it but when Prime Minister Narendra Modi took Covaxin it silenced all the critics globally. Referring to Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge's address, Javadekar said Kharge referred to the erstwhile National Advisory Council chaired by Congress President Sonia Gandhi and said the Manmohan Singh led UPA government implemented all its suggestions. Javadekar said this statement by Kharge proves who was the de facto prime minister at the time and who was de jure. However, Kharge who was present in the Upper House countered this assertion and asked Javadekar not to misinterpret his remarks. Kharge said he was referring to the Food Security Act which was implemented by then prime minister Manmohan Singh after intense discussion and agreement by all parties in the UPA, after its then Chairperson (Sonia Gandhi) said the Act was needed. To this, Javadekar said the Food Security Act was implemented only in nine states by the Congress-led UPA government but at present it has been rolled out in all states of the country with Rs 1.8 lakh crore subsidy disbursed under the scheme. Referring to Congress leader Digvijaya Singh's speech, Javadekar said he claimed that subsidies have been reduced in the present regime when in fact the theft of subsidy has been plugged by the government. Participating in the debate, Minister for State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale said that the country has progressed under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. Rakesh Sinha (BJP Nominated) accused the Congress party of being soft towards China. It led to heated exchanges between Congress leaders and treasury benches. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], February 7 (ANI): Due to weather issues, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not travel to Bijnor district in Uttar Pradesh to address the BJP's "Jan Chaupal Rally". The Prime Minister will now address the people of Uttar Pradesh virtually at 12:30 pm today. Also Read | Karnataka Hijab Row: More Students Wear Saffron Shawls and Hijabs in College Campuses Despite Ban. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had also made arrangements for people to listen to the Prime Minister's address at about 75 locations expecting close to a lakh of people at these locations given the easing of restrictions by the election commission. The polling in Uttar Pradesh will be held on February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27 and March 3 and 7 in seven phases. Also Read | Sensex Slumps 628 Points; Nifty Trading in Red For Third Consecutive Session. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Feb 7 (PTI) The government has not yet decided on public sectors banks that are to be privatised, Minister of State for Finance Bhagwat Karad informed Parliament on Monday. The government had in Budget 2021-22 announced its intent to privatise two public sector banks (PSBs) during the year. Also Read | Sensex Tanks 1023 Points; HDFC Bank, L&T, Bajaj Finance Slump. "As per inputs received from Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), the government has not yet decided on the banks that are to be privatised. The amendments to the relevant Acts are required to be done before initiating the process of privatisation," Karad said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. The government has received representations from bank unions wherein they have expressed their views and concerns on the matter of privatisation of banks, the Minister of State for Finance said. Also Read | SBI Recruitment 2022: Apply for 48 SCO Posts on sbi.co.in; Check Details Here. Further, he said, "DIPAM has informed that the representations with regard to strategic divestment of CPSEs and banks received from various stakeholders including the employee's unions from time to time are duly examined as per the extant disinvestment policy of the government." Replying to another question, he said, as many as 73,552 cases of frauds involving Rs 2.51 crore were received by banks during 2019-20. He said, this number declined to 69,818 cases involving Rs 2.07 crore in 2020-21, as per the RBI data on frauds reported by Scheduled Commercial Banks in the category of fraud 'Card/Internet - Debit Cards, Credit Cards and Internet Banking'. "As far as cases relating to cheating in the name of Covid vaccinations/booster dose is concerned, 5 complaints have been received by PSBs during the years 2019-20 and 2020-21, as per information received from PSBs," he said. Under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, institutional collateral-free credit of up to Rs 10 lakh is provided by Member Lending Institutions (MLIs) for entrepreneurial activities to micro/small businesses, including individuals, which help in creating income generating activities in sectors such as manufacturing, trading, services and also for activities allied to agriculture, he said in a reply to another question. As per data uploaded by MLIs on Mudra portal, as on December 31, 2021 over 32.53 crore loans involving a sanctioned amount of Rs 17.32 lakh crore have been extended under the scheme, since its inception in April 2015, he said. Out of this, he said, more than 21.98 crore loans amounting to Rs 7.55 lakh crore have been extended to women borrowers. This constitutes approximately 68 per cent of the total number of loans and 44 per cent of amount extended under the scheme, he added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Colombo, Feb 7 (PTI) The 56 Indian fishermen, released by a Sri Lankan court in the northern Jaffna peninsula last month, will be shifted to an immigration detention center here on Monday after completing their COVID quarantine period, the prison authorities said. Prison Superintendent and Spokesman Chandana Ekanayake told PTI on Sunday that the Indian fishermen have spent the isolation period in the prison-run COVID-19 quarantine centre in Iyakkachchi in the Northern province since their release on January 25. Also Read | Canada COVID-19 Protest: Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson Declares State of Emergency Over Anti-Govt Protests. Some of them were found COVID positive, now their quarantine period has ended, Ekanayake said, adding that they would be moved to an immigration detention center in Colombo on Monday. A court on January 25 ordered the release of 56 Indian fishermen who were detained by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly fishing in the island nation's territorial waters in mid-December in the seas south of Mannar. Also Read | Beijing Olympics 2022: Frustrated Athletes Left Complaining on Multiple Fronts Just Two Days After Start of Winter Games. The contentious fishermen issue is certain to figure during Sri Lankan Foreign Minister G L Peiris' visit to India. He arrived in New Delhi on Sunday for talks. The fishermen were arrested on two separate days. Their 10 trawlers have been seized. The court's order for their release came as the Indian authorities urged Sri Lanka to release them on humanitarian grounds in the backdrop of economic assistance talks that were ongoing at the time. India last month announced an economic relief package to Sri Lanka to help its southern neighbour tackle its worst foreign exchange crisis. Meanwhile, sources in the northern fishing department said the 21 Indian fishermen arrested on February 1 will be produced in the Point Pedro magistrate court later on Monday. The Sri Lankan Navy arrested 21 Indians along with two fishing trawlers after being alerted by local fishermen. The issue of fishermen remains one of the irritants in India and Sri Lanka ties. There have been several alleged incidents of Sri Lankan Navy personnel even firing at Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait and seizing their boats. The Palk Strait, which is a narrow strip of water separating Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka, is a rich fishing ground for fishermen from both countries. The issue of fishermen had figured in the talks between Sri Lanka's Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa and External Affairs minister S Jaishankar held last month on the economic assistance from India. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Warsaw [Poland], February 7 (ANI/Xinhua): A plane carrying US soldiers landed in southern Poland on Sunday, on US President Joe Biden's order to deploy additional US troops to Poland, Romania and Germany this week, amid rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine. The 1,700 US soldiers sent to Poland will operate in the country's eastern-southern part, according to the Polish Defence Ministry. Logistics, equipment and a handful of soldiers arrived on other planes on Friday and Saturday. Also Read | Beijing Olympics 2022: Frustrated Athletes Left Complaining on Multiple Fronts Just Two Days After Start of Winter Games. Tensions between Russia and Ukraine are growing as the Western countries are stepping up military manoeuvres near the Russian borders. Kyiv and its Western allies have accused Russia of massing troops near the Ukrainian border, further pointing to the possibility of an "invasion". Also Read | Sputnik Light COVID-19 Vaccine Approval in India Major Step in Bilateral Cooperation Against Coronavirus, Says RDIF CEO Kirill Dmitriev. Moscow has denied such claims, adding that it had every right to mobilise troops within its borders and defend its national security. (ANI/Xinhua) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Tokyo [Japan], February 7 (ANI/Sputnik): The Japanese government has expressed its objection to Russia regarding the scheduled live-fire military drills close to the South Kuril Islands, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said on Monday. Moscow informed Tokyo of the firing drills near the Kunashir Island on Tuesday, the official said at a press conference. Also Read | Canada COVID-19 Protest: Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson Declares State of Emergency Over Anti-Govt Protests. "In this regard, we have protested to Russia through diplomatic channels. The strengthening of Russia's military presence in the Northern Territories is unacceptable and contradicts the government's position," he explained. The Japanese Coast Guard has issued a warning about the possible danger of maritime navigation in the area in question. Also Read | Beijing Olympics 2022: Frustrated Athletes Left Complaining on Multiple Fronts Just Two Days After Start of Winter Games. Japan lays claims to the Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and Habomai islands in Russia's Kuril Island chain, known in Russia as the Southern Kurils, citing the 1855 bilateral treaty on trade and borders. Moscow insists that its sovereignty over the islands, which became part of the USSR after WWII, is undisputed. In 1956, the Soviet Union and Japan signed a joint declaration in which Moscow agreed to consider the possibility of transferring the Habomai and Shikotan islands to Japan after the conclusion of a peace treaty, while Kunashir and Iturup islands were not mentioned in the document, which the Soviet Union expected to put an end to the dispute. Japan, however, considered it only as part of the solution to the issue and did not give up its claims to all the islands. Subsequent negotiations never resulted in a peace treaty. Serious opposition arose from the United States, which is believed to have threatened to harden the process of returning Okinawa under the Japanese sovereignty if Japan agreed to the transfer of only two of the four Kuril Islands. In 2018, Japan and Russia agreed to speed up negotiations on the peace treaty based on the 1956 Japanese-Soviet Joint Declaration. (ANI/Sputnik) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) 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: WyoFile reported that Brian Anderson, executive director of the Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization, said the agency will match previously denied Wyoming coal community grant proposals with other granting opportunities. Holly Krutka, UW School of Energy Resources (SER) executive director, was interviewed for the article. Wyoming News Now interviewed UW Professor Bryan Shader about the new School of Computing planned on campus. UW political science Professor Jim King was interviewed by WyoFile on U.S. Rep. Liz Cheneys record-setting fundraising and what it means when she begins campaigning in the Cowboy State. Global Mining Review published UWs release noting that student Nadia Dworian will work with U.S. Gold Corp. on the Copper King Gold Project, located near Curt Gowdy State Park. She will collect geological data. UWs SER received a $500,000 commitment from energy company Williams to help develop a Hydrogen Energy Research Center. H2 View and Hydrogen Central both published UWs announcement. Williams published its own release announcing the donation. Laramie Live and Wyoming News Now published UWs release noting that the Division of Kinesiology and Healths Healthy Kids Round Up program will offer training to middle school students, as well as equip physical education teachers with resources to provide healthy lifestyle improvements for Wyoming students. The Wyoming Center on Aging at UW is providing educational programs during American Heart Month this month. Hits106 published UWs announcement. Western Ag Reporter interviewed UW Extension entomologist Scott Schell about the direction the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is headed with decisions that restrict access to safe and necessary crop protection products. IMPACT 307, a business incubator program at UW, is expanding statewide. Wyoming News Now published UWs release on its website. Wyoming News Now reported that Sarah Hankins, a UW mechanical engineering doctoral student, recently won the Harry H. and Lois G. Hilton Student Paper Award in Structures in the Aerospace Design and Structures Group Student Paper Competition. Mexico City, Feb 7 (AP) Mexico's president said Monday French auction houses had gone beyond the pale with brazen sales of pre-Hispanic artifacts. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said some auction houses had gone so far as to send Mexico's archaeological institute photos of relics, asking if they were genuine, so they could sell them for more money. Also Read | US Researchers Detect Four Cryptic Variants of COVID-19 in Samples of Wastewater From New York City. Lopez Obrador said he had issued orders for the government National Institute of Anthropology and History, known by its Spanish initials as the INAH, to stop responding to such requests. They, the organisations that auction these pieces off, are so brazen they ask the INAH for information, they send photos, so the INAH can tell them if these are authentic or fakes, Lopez Obrador said. Also Read | Iran-US Nuclear Talks to Resume in Vienna from Tomorrow. The president also took a dig at the French government, which has done nothing to stop a series of such auctions in recent years. Lopez Obrador said the French should be more like the Italian government, which has made a point of identifying and returning ancient artifacts. It is very regrettable that the French government hasn't passed legislation on this, as has been the case in Italy, Lopez Obrador said. We are going to raise this on the international level. We have managed to recover a lot of pieces and that is very important, the president said. For example, Italy and the United States have sent us a lot of pieces. He said First Lady Beatriz Gutierrez Muller had written to France's foreign minister asking for two upcoming sales of around 50 Mexican artifacts, including pottery and stone sculptures, to be stopped. The Paris auction house Societe Baecque et Associes is scheduled to auction off native artifacts from around the world on Feb. 9. On Feb. 11, the Societe Binoche et Giquello is scheduled to auction a variety of pre-Hispanic artifacts from across Latin America. Lopez Obrador said many of the pieces in those sales are fakes, and asked potential buyers not to act like criminals. The president and the first lady have mounted a campaign to win the return of artifacts from the Maya, Aztec and other pre-Hispanic cultures, and the president said 6,000 relics have been returned to Mexico so far. But despite letter-writing and diplomatic requests, Mexico has had little success in convincing the French to crack down on the lucrative trade. The most recent occurred in November, when Christie's Paris branch auctioned off 72 sculptures and figurines from the Maya and Olmec cultures despite Mexico's claim that the pieces were national treasures and part of its national heritage. Fifteen other items failed to sell. One stone Maya carving, traditionally known as an Axe because of its shape, went for almost $800,000 (692,000 euros). The Christie's catalogue described the piece as a sculpturally-carved with a bearded dignitary with his head dramatically thrown back and struggling with a sinuous, mythical rattle snake. Mexico previously failed to stop several auctions, including a sale of pre-Hispanic sculptures and other artifacts by Christie's Paris earlier last year. Mexcian archaeologist Leonardo Lopez Lujan, who has overseen the excavations in Mexico City's Templo Mayor, wrote on his Twitter account at the time that this is a never-ending story. It's proven that the old, recurring method of sending letters and demands does not have any effect, other than pretending that something is being done, Lopez Lujan wrote. Complex problems are solved with complex strategies. Paris auction houses often sell Indigenous artifacts that are already on the art market, despite protests from activists who say they should be returned to their native lands. Christie's said the Mayan sculpture, for example, had been bought by a European collector from the United States around 1970. That appears to pre-date a 1972 Mexican law that forbids export or sale of archeological or significant cultural artifacts. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], February 7 (ANI): Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi on Monday met with Emmanuel Lenain, Ambassador of France to India and discussed cultural exchanges. Taking to Twitter, Lekhi said that both ministers agreed to further cooperation in museology and at UNESCO. Also Read | Canada COVID-19 Protest: Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson Declares State of Emergency Over Anti-Govt Protests. "Delighted to meet Ambassador of France @franceinindia and discuss cultural exchanges. On the occasion of AKAM an elaborate schedule of events are planned in as part of 'Bonjour India' and in as 'Namaste France'. Agreed to further our cooperation in museology and at UNESCO," Lekhi tweeted. Namaste France festival is organised as per the Indo-French Joint Statement issued on the occasion of visit of President of the French Republic Francois Hollande to India in January 2016 during which he was the Chief Guest of India's Republic Day celebrations on January 26, 2016. (ANI) Also Read | Beijing Olympics 2022: Frustrated Athletes Left Complaining on Multiple Fronts Just Two Days After Start of Winter Games. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Beijing [China], February 7 (ANI): Pakistan and China have called for the release of Afghan bank assets to improve the humanitarian situation in the country. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan who was invited to Beijing for the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games 2022, met with China's President Xi Jinping and discussed a range of issues, including Afghanistan, reported Tolo News. Also Read | US Researchers Detect Four Cryptic Variants of COVID-19 in Samples of Wastewater From New York City. In a joint statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China on Sunday, the two sides reiterated that a peaceful Afghanistan is in the interest of the region. "The two sides underscored the need to expedite humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and its people to avert the looming crisis and called upon the international community to provide continued and enhanced assistance and support to Afghanistan including through unfreezing of Afghanistan's financial assets," the statement read. Also Read | Iran-US Nuclear Talks to Resume in Vienna from Tomorrow. Following the collapse of the former Afghan government, over USD 9 billion in assets of Afghanistan's central bank were frozen in Europe and the United States. Afghanistan is now facing a humanitarian crisis due to economic problems, reported Tolo News. "On Afghanistan, the two sides agreed that a peaceful, stable, united, safe, and secure Afghanistan is fundamental for prosperity and progress in the region," added the statement. Khan and Xi also discussed the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and called on the international community to support the people of Afghanistan by providing humanitarian assistance as well as releasing Afghanistan's central bank assets frozen abroad, mainly in the United States, reported Tolo News. According to the statement, Pakistan and China are ready to discuss with Afghanistan the extension of a China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan. The Taliban took over control of Kabul on August 15 and following this the country has been battered by deepening economic, humanitarian, and security crisis. A combination of a suspension of foreign aid, the freezing of Afghan government assets, and international sanctions on the Taliban have plunged a country already suffering from high poverty levels into a full-blown economic crisis. Meanwhile, the international community, from governments to non-governmental organizations, has been providing various assistance to the Afghan people. It has been nearly six months after the Taliban recaptured power in Afghanistan but they have not been recognized by any country yet. Taliban, who are desperate to seek international recognition, and have time and again been reminded that respect for women and human rights, establishing inclusive government, not allowing Afghanistan to become a safe haven of terrorism are the preconditions for the recognition set by the international community. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], February 7 (ANI): Sri Lankan Foreign Minister G. L. Peiris is set to meet his Indian counterpart External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar in New Delhi on Monday amid the ongoing economic crisis in the island nation. Sri Lankan Foreign Minister arrived in Delhi on Sunday for a three-day visit to India. Both the ministers are expected to discuss economic support to Sri Lanka and other possible infrastructure projects. Several issues concerning fishermen's rights could also feature in the talks. Also Read | Canada COVID-19 Protest: Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson Declares State of Emergency Over Anti-Govt Protests. During his visit, Peiris is also expected to meet Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla. "Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka Prof. G. L. Peiris arrives in Delhi on an official visit," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted on Sunday. Also Read | Beijing Olympics 2022: Frustrated Athletes Left Complaining on Multiple Fronts Just Two Days After Start of Winter Games. Jaishankar last met Peiris in September last year in New York where they held a comprehensive discussion on the close partnership between the two countries. Sri Lanka's Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa travelled to India in December last year. His trip focused on measures concerning the economic crisis faced by the island nation. Jaishankar had a virtual meeting with Sri Lankan Finance Minister on January 15, where he conveyed that India has always stood with Sri Lanka and will continue to extend support. This visit comes days after the USD 400 million SAARC currency swap facility was extended to Sri Lanka and the ACU settlement of USD 515.2 million was deferred by two months. Another USD 500 million LOC for the purchase of fuel from India has also been extended. Last week, India delivered 100,000 Rapid Antigen Self Test Kits to Sri Lanka to assist it in the fight against COVID-19. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) The UN top envoy in Afghanistan on Sunday expressed deep concern about the well-being of "disappeared" women activists. Kabul [Afghanistan], February 7 (ANI): Germany on Monday joined the ranks with the United Kingdom and United Nations in raising concern about the recent disappearance of female Afghan activists. "We share the concerns of @DeborahLyonsUN and Afghans in Afghanistan and around the world for these brave women, who disappeared after making use of their right to FreedomOfSpeech. An investigation and answers regarding their whereabouts and well being are urgently needed," the German embassy in Afghanistan said on Twitter. Also Read | Canada COVID-19 Protest: Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson Declares State of Emergency Over Anti-Govt Protests. Earlier on Sunday, the United Kingdom had shared concern over the disappearance of women activists in Afghanistan. "Full support to Special Representative of the Secretary General. @DeborahLyonsUN in expressing the deepening concerns of the international community and seeking answers about 'disappeared' activists," said Hugo Shorter, Charge d'Affaires, UK Mission to Afghanistan. Also Read | Beijing Olympics 2022: Frustrated Athletes Left Complaining on Multiple Fronts Just Two Days After Start of Winter Games. The UN top envoy in Afghanistan also expressed deep concern about the well-being of "disappeared" women activists. In a meeting with Afghanistan's acting Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs, Deborah Lyons, head of the UN Assistance Mission said world support to Afghanistan is eroded without respect for all Afghan's rights. Separately, Special Envoy of the European Union for Afghanistan Tomas Niklasson slammed the Taliban, saying that arbitrary detention of citizens contradicts outfits' declared commitments to upholding human rights. Earlier this week, US Special Envoy Rina Amiri had asked the Taliban to stop unjust detentions of Afghans' human rights if the outfit wishes to seek legitimacy from the Afghan people and the world. "These unjust detentions must stop. If the Taliban seek legitimacy from the Afghan people & the world, they must respect Afghans' human rights - especially for women - including the freedom of expression and immediately release these women, their relatives, and other activists," Amiri had tweeted. This comes after media reports said that the Taliban arrested two women activists in Kabul last Thursday. Recently, women activists who were voicing for their rights in the capital city started disappearing in recent months. The UN Mission in Afghanistan has sought information from the Taliban on the latest reported detentions by the outfit. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) An Iranian top security official has underlined cautious optimism about the progress in the #ViennaTalks on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal, calling for a "balance" in the parties' commitments. pic.twitter.com/yL8Reymk6h IANS Tweets (@ians_india) February 6, 2022 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.) Pope Francis made headlines across the globe when he suggested he was open to the idea of ordaining married men as a way to alleviate priest shortages in remote areas. Some raised their eyebrows and took note, whereas other Catholics shrugged, pointing out that paths, although they are narrow, already exist for married men to enter priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church. Experts say as many as 120 Catholic priests in the U.S. are married. Thats largely because of a policy change made by Pope John Paul II in 1980, which offered a path for married Episcopal priests to continue their ministry after converting to Catholicism. Under the pastoral provision, Father Paul Sullins, a former Episcopal priest, was ordained in the Catholic Church in 2002 after converting four years earlier. Advertisement Each diocese is allowed up to two active married priests, according to the Pastoral Provision Office, which facilitates the Vaticans policy. The restriction came several years ago after a number of dioceses sponsored four or five candidates, causing concerns that it might appear the discipline of celibacy was being relaxed. As a married man with three grown children, Sullins said his parishioners at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church in Hyattsville, Md., feel more comfortable coming to him with marital problems. He and his wife sometimes co-counsel couples together. If I have some difficulties or struggles in my vocation, I can come home and have a sounding board thats going to give me honest advice, he said. Los Angeles Archbishop Jose H. Gomez says a prayer over new Catholic priests during their ordination in 2014. The number of priests has dropped by more than 30% in the U.S. since 1965.. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) Almost a decade after Sullins converted to Catholicism, the Vatican revised the policy to apply to other denominations with Anglican roots, not only the 2 million-member Episcopal Church. The Episcopal Church has been rocked in recent years by divisions over doctrine and the role of gays and lesbians in church life. Some dissatisfied congregations aligned themselves with Anglican bishops overseas, and others sought to leave Anglicanism entirely. In 2012, Pope Benedict XVI established the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter for those groups of Anglicans in the U.S. seeking to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church. Many married Catholic priests in the U.S. are former Episcopalians, but there is another path for married men to work as priests in the Catholic Church. Eastern Catholic Churches have allowed the ordination of married men as priests for centuries. In 2014, Francis quietly lifted a 114-year-old ban on married Eastern Catholic priests serving outside their rites home country, opening the door for them to serve in the U.S., according to Sullins book Keeping the Vow: The Untold Story of Married Catholic Priests. The popes recent remarks came during an interview published Thursday with a German newspaper, Die Zeit, when Francis was asked about creating incentives to attract young men to the church. Optional celibacy is not a solution, Francis said, ruling out a suggestion to allow ordained men to get married. The interviewer then asked: What about the viri probati, those tried and tested men who are married but can be ordained to deacons because of their exemplary life according to Catholic standards? We have to think about whether viri probati are a possibility, Francis replied. Then we must also determine what tasks they can take, for example, in remote communities. The Latin phrase viri probati refers to proven men of exemplary faith. Often middle-aged, they are usually married, but sometimes widowed or celibate, according Father Allan Deck, a Catholic priest and Loyola Marymount University professor. In the majority of cases, when you use the term viri probati, youre referring to good married men, men that have families, he said. According to Vatican figures, between 1964 and 2004, 69,063 men left the priesthood worldwide, Sullins wrote. Thousands resigned because they wanted to marry. But some came to regret their decisions, and 11,213 were allowed to return to priestly service. That included widows or men who had their marriages annulled, Sullins said. The number of Catholic priests in the U.S. has dropped by more than 30% since 1965, when there were 58,632 priests, according to the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate. In 2016, there were 37,192. But Latin America has the worst priest shortage. In Brazil, which has the worlds largest Catholic population, there were more than 10,000 Catholics per priest last year, Sullins said. In the U.S., there were more than 1,800 Catholics for every priest, he added. Sullins has a different interpretation of the popes remarks to the German newspaper. He believes the pope was indicating that one solution to the priest shortage would lie in Canon 517 that allows deacons, who can get married, to oversee parishes when there is a lack of priests. But others said Pope Francis signaled a willingness to consider ordaining married men in 2014, when he met with Erwin Krautler, the bishop of Xingu in the Brazilian rain forest. Krautler complained that in his diocese, which counted 700,000 faithful, he had only 27 priests. He wouldnt do it unilaterally, Deck said of the popes consideration of ordaining married men. But he wanted bishops to come together and discuss it. Having married men in the ranks of Catholic priests presents advantages, as well as drawbacks, Sullins said. Married priests, Sullins said, are less mobile than celibate ones and therefore more difficult to reassign. Sullins said priests are reassigned every five to seven years on average. Reassigning a married priest is harder, he said, noting that they may have children in school or own their homes. His children range in age from 19 to 37. We are more deeply embedded in our community it would be harder for us to get up and move. Sullins, who has served as associate pastor at the same church since his ordination, has seen four senior pastors rotate through his parish. But Sullins also notes that having a partner in life provides extra guidance and encouragement for a clergyman to do his best. If he gets a phone call in the middle of the night, he said, his wife would encourage him to get up and go, whereas a celibate priest may be tempted to roll over and go back to sleep. All of us have married women who knew they were going to marry a man who was going to be a minster, he said. A married man gets an elbow in the side, Hey, hon, youre a priest. Get up and do your duty. Our wives actually encourage us to be better priests than we would otherwise. To read the article in Spanish, click here alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com Follow me on Twitter @AleneTchek ALSO Fearful parents sign papers for friends to care for kids in case theyre deported Seeing red: Membership triples for the Democratic Socialists of America Utah on the verge of the toughest drunk-driving standard in the U.S. .05% Mexican authorities demolished on Sunday a makeshift migrant camp in Tijuana, near the U.S.-Mexico border. According to Associated Press, around 381 immigrants, mostly Central Americans and Mexicans, were evicted in the area. Excavators and trucks arrived at the scene to bring down the migrants' tents around El Chaparral crossing, where migrants had been staying for almost a year. At least a hundred members of the police, National Guard, and army arrived in the area and helped in demolishing the migrant camp that is fenced by metal mesh, per Reuters. Tijuana Mayor Montserrat Caballero Ramirez said the eviction was carried out peacefully and orderly. "It was a relocation that had to be carried out carefully to avoid a collapse," Caballero Ramirez said. The mayor also explained that the demolition came as the migrants lived in a state of "insecurity" for health reasons. However, the mayor did not provide details on the mentioned health concern. Caballero Ramirez further noted that the demolition and eviction were not done in response to U.S. pressure. "You know that Tijuana is governed by its own legal norms," the mayor pointed out. At around 6 a.m., Border Report noted that all of the migrants in the camp were moved to a new location. All that was left in the camp were the tents and some of the migrants' belongings that were collected by authorities as trash. By late morning, the area was reportedly cleared out of any debris. Authorities then disinfected the area. READ NEXT: Biden: Deportation of Mexican' Hit-and-Run' Driver Canceled Over New DHS Rules Migrants Say Eviction and Demolition Done by Authorities in Mexico is 'Unfair' The 381 evicted migrants, composed of 86 families with single mothers and children, were reportedly transferred to three different shelters, namely the Migrant Integration Center, Migrant Sanctuary, and the Salesian Project in Mexico. Despite being transferred to migrant facilities, migrants who were evacuated still saw the move from the Mexican authorities as "unfair." One migrant identified as Guadalupe Omeca said the move was "inhumane" because the evacuation and demolition were done at dawn while the "children were asleep." Another migrant, Graciela, underscored that kicking them out of the migrant camp was "unfair" because they are still human beings. "They could've talked to us before they moved us out, we all came here out of need. We want to stay because we have a lot of needs," Graciela noted. However, Caballero Ramirez contradicted what the migrant said and explained that migrants collected their belongings and boarded the bus voluntarily, and they were previously notified about their transfer. The demolition of the migrant camp in Tijuana came after hundreds of migrants in Tapachula, Mexico protested last week over the government's delayed visa approval process. They also threatened to form a new caravan that would head towards the U.S. border. On Saturday, Mexico's National Health Human Rights Commission (CNDH) urged the country's immigration authorities to speed up the processes of visas that would help almost 2,000 migrants get documents for a regularized stay in Mexico. Tijuana Migrant Camp in Mexico The said Tijuana camp in Mexico, also known as "El Chaparral" camp, was formed in late January last year, with the arrival of the Biden administration. The said camp resulted from the U.S.' limiting the flow of migrants under the policies that force migrants to wait in Mexico. The said camp became a problem for authorities in both countries as it affected traffic through one of three pedestrian crossings to San Diego in the U.S. According to reports, tens of thousands of migrants flee their home countries and seek to live in the U.S. However, some of them also aim to stay in Mexico. READ MORE: Mexico Health Regulator Authorizes Cuba's COVID Vaccine for Emergency Use as Baja California Sur Becomes Country's Epicenter of Coronavirus This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Joshua Summers WATCH: Inside Migrant Camp In Tijuana, Asylum-Seekers Are Waiting On A Plan - From KPBS Public Media A Mexican gang war has left 16 people dead, with 10 of the bodies wrapped in blankets and left abandoned in the streets of Mexico on Saturday. According to Daily Mail, the 10 bodies were found on the streets of Fresnillo municipality in the state of Zacatecas. State prosecutor Francisco Murillo said the six other bodies were discovered hanging in a warehouse in the nearby Panfilo Natera community. Zacatecas has become the latest territory being fought for control by various Mexican drug cartels in Mexico, with Jalisco Cartel battling with the Sinaloa Cartel for synthetic drug production. None of the 16 bodies have been identified. However, police noted that the victims were all males. Reuters reported that authorities had already arrested two people transporting a separate body the day beforehand. Murillo said the two suspects are now under investigation into the 16 other murders. Zacatecas state governor David Monreal Avila blamed Operation Zacatecas II, implemented by the state and federal government, for the recent wave of violence in the state. Avila noted that the operation had decreased crimes, but it also escalated violence due to confrontation between organized crime groups. Meanwhile, a Twitter user with handle @DavidWolf777 slammed Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's "hugs, not bullets" policy. The user noted that the policy "has the country under unprecedented levels of violence." #Zacatecas again, ten bodies dropped along a street. The state is governed by #morena, just as with the other most violent states in #Mexico. President @lopezobrador_ 's "hugs not bullets" policy has the country under unprecedented levels of violence. #Narcostate https://t.co/LvyE5fPZGs pic.twitter.com/y7CZpgwIdm David Wolf (@DavidWolf777) February 5, 2022 READ NEXT: Jalisco Cartel in Mexico Is Creating Homemade Bombs Similar to Those Use by Islamic Militants Amid Drug War Violence in Mexico's Zacatecas State In the first 10 months of 2021, at least 948 people were killed due to the rampant violence in Zacatecas. Official data noted that this was 342 more than in the same period the previous year, Aljazeera reported. In January, 10 murdered bodies were left in front of the governor's office in Zacatecas. The bodies were composed of eight men and two women, who were crammed into a pickup truck left before dawn near a Christmas tree in the main plaza. Avila said he was starting his work when he was informed about the bodies, CBS News reported. The governor added that the bodies were apparently beaten and were with wounds. Turf Wars Between Mexican Drug Cartels in Mexico's Zacatecas State Officials said Mexican drug cartels have been battling for control of the state since Zacatecas is a key transit point for drugs. Security experts noted that Zacatecas was crucial in transporting fentanyl from Mexico's South Pacific ports to the U.S. border. Zacatecas reportedly links the center and west of Mexico to the U.S. border, a key territory for drug-trafficking routes. Aside from the Jalisco cartel and Sinaloa Cartel, the Gulf Cartel, Northeast Cartel, and the Los Talibanes also reportedly operate in Zacatecas state. All five crime organizations are involved in the operations of trafficking fentanyl and other illegal drugs. Security experts said an unprecedented wave of violence had enveloped the streets of Zacatecas as the Mexican drug cartels fought over the territory. Mexican drug cartels usually make public displays of bodies to taunt their rivals or authorities. It is also sometimes used to scare local residents. The Jalisco cartel or the Jalisco Cartel New Generation is currently the Sinaloa Cartel's main rival. The Jalisco cartel is being led by Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known by his alias "El Mencho," according to an InsightCrime report. The Sinaloa Cartel is reportedly not a hierarchical structure as its leaders like Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman and Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada all maintained their own separate but cooperating organizations. The Jalisco cartel came out from the Sinaloa Cartel in 2010 after the death of former Sinaloa Cartel capo Ignacio Coronel, known as "Nacho," who was killed by Mexican security forces. Nacho's death resulted in the split into two factions - "La Resistencia" and "Torcidos" - of the Sinaloa Cartel. The "Torcidos" became what is now the Jalisco cartel, which has since expanded rapidly in Mexico. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel or Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG) involves itself in many criminal activities, including international drug trafficking. READ MORE: Mexico: 2 Bodies Found Hanging From Bridge, 3 Police Officers Killed as Mexican Drug Cartels Battle for Territory This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: En Zacatecas, Encuentran 16 Cuerpos Y Reportan Dos Asesinatos en Tres Municipios - From MILENIO Octaviano Juarez-Corro, a double murder suspect on the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" list was arrested in Mexico last week, the bureau announced on Friday. Juarez-Corro, who had been on the loose for 16 years, was wanted for double homicides and multiple attempted homicides in Milwaukee. He was added to the FBI list last September 8. After receiving a tip of his whereabouts from the public, FBI Milwaukee, in conjunction with the FBI's International Operations Division, and Mexican authorities successfully located and apprehended Juarez-Corro in Zapopan, a city located in Mexico's Jalisco state, on Thursday night. In the past 16 years, Juarez-Corro spent his time fleeing from law enforcement, hiding in another country, and "believing time and distance was on his side," according to the Special Agent in Charge, Michael Hensle. Octaviano Juarez-Corro's Involvement in 2006 South Shore Park Shooting In a Memorial Day picnic on May 29, 2006, Octaviano Juarez-Corro is believed to have killed two individuals and wounded three others, including his estranged wife. Authorities said the suspect, who is now 48, showed at the South Shore Park, on the banks of Lake Michigan, where hundreds of people gathered to celebrate the holiday. The suspect then struck up a conversation with some of the friends of his soon-to-be ex-wife. The couple, who have a kid together, are said to be in the middle of a divorce. Juarez-Corro reportedly demanded to see their three-year-old daughter at the time. According to the bureau, after being told he wouldn't be able to see his child, he demanded five individuals drop down on their knees and begin shooting them "execution-style." Suddenly, within split seconds, Special Agent Steve Whitecotton said it turned into a "massive shooting scenario," where five people were "ultimately struck." His wife survived despite two bullet wounds to the chest. Two other people were injured, one of them gravely. READ NEXT: Mexican Billionaire Alberto Bailleres, 4th Richest Man in Mexico, Dies at 90 | How Much Did His Family Inherit? Octaviano Juarez-Corro is 525th Person Added In FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List Octaviano Juarez-Corro was the 525th person to be added to the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" list that was first established in 1950. The FBI had previously offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to his arrest. According to the FBI, Juarez-Corro has been charged with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide and three counts of first-degree attempted intentional homicide in Milwaukee County Circuit Court. The FBI said he was also arrested on a federal warrant for evading prosecution by fleeing the country. Michael Hensle, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Milwaukee Division, said the agency has "extraordinary law enforcement partnerships across the globe" as he commended the tireless efforts of their partners from Milwaukee to Mexico in closely coordinating with them. With the capture of Juarez-Corro, Hensle noted that authorities are now "one step closer to bringing justice and closure to the victims, the victims' families and everyone that was impacted by this tragic incident." Juarez-Corro's extradition proceedings and if he has an attorney are still unclear. READ MORE: World Cup Qualifiers: Argentina Beats Colombia To Extend 29-Game Unbeaten Streak, Chile Holds On To World Cup Hope This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Jess Smith WATCH: Milwaukee Fugitive Captured in Mexico, Sought for 2006 Killing: FBI - From FOX6 News Milwaukee The city of Austin in Texas has issued a city-wide boil water notice after Austin Water's Ullrich Walter Treatment Plant is out of service due to an internal treatment process issue. The boil water notice will last "a couple of days" after officials failed to address the issue after a failure a year ago at the same treatment plant, according to a Fox Business News report. Novelist Richard Kadrey took to Twitter to express his disappointment over the matter, saying who needs "infrastructure when we have FREEDOM." Hey Austin folks: In case you missed it, the city just put out a boil water notice. Don't drink from your faucets without zapping it with heat first. Welcome to Texas. Who needs infrastructure when we have FREEDOM? Richard Kadrey (@Richard_Kadrey) February 6, 2022 A Twitter user with a handle @WeHearPodcast tweeted that as long as Texas stays "Republican-held," one can expect more boil water notice and grid failures. As long as TEXAS stays Republican held, you can look to more water boils and grid failures! Try voting for your best interests! #VoteBlue2022 https://t.co/NP6Yzm1C2Q We HearVoicesOutThere (@WeHearPodcast) February 6, 2022 Meanwhile, Mayor Steve Adler said that the situation will be "over in a couple of days." He also lauded the city's purchase of water trucks after Winter Storm Uri, which impacted Texas in February 2021. City Council Member Mackenzie Kelly said that it is frustrating to be joining the water distribution due to a failure on behalf of the city of Austin. Kelly added that she is glad to be given the opportunity to work with intergovernmental partners to help residents of Austin. READ NEXT: Tropical Storm Fred Makes Landfall in Florida; Two More Tropical Disturbances Being Watched "Third World Conditions," Texas Residents Complain Residential customers are asked to curtail indoor water use as much as possible, adding that all outdoor water use is prohibited until further notice, according to Austin Texas statement. Austin residents were angered with the boil water notice, finding the situation unacceptable. They focused on Adler, noting that he appears to prioritize defunding the police instead of ensuring Austin can handle the brief winter storms it experiences year to year. Save Austin Now co-founder Matt Mackowiak said that city leaders have ignored the real issues the Austin residents face every day. He noted that this was Texas's third boil water notice in three years. In February 2021, around 12 million people in Texas had been told to boil water before consuming it after a winter storm had affected the state's power grids. In addition, over 13 million people have faced some water services disruption at the time, according to a BBC News report. Some residents labeled the recent situation as a "third world condition." Twitter user @Thurcules mockingly encouraged people to come to Texas, saying they could stay for "ice storm, grid issues," as well as boil water notice. Come to the Texas Open tournament for the in-person debates - stay for the ice storm, grid issues, COVID-19, flight cancelations, and boil water notice! Tyler Thur (@Thurcules) February 6, 2022 Podcaster Jake Flores said that a friend of his in Texas threw up "a bunch of times" from drinking tap water. A friend of mine in Texas threw up a bunch of times from drinking her own tap water because apparently there's a "boil notice" going on down there Jake Flores (@feraljokes) February 6, 2022 Twitter user @badwebsites claimed that Republicans have filled tap water with "pandemic, amoeba & fungi." My friends in Texas have to boil their tap water because Republicans have filled it with pandemic, amoeba & fungi. bad websites (@badwebsites) February 7, 2022 Austin Water Director Greg Meszaros said that they have no indication that there was a contamination. He added that the boil water notice is not connected to the winter storm that swept through Central Texas, calling it "coincidental." Meszaros said that the issue was caused by internal systems and was not connected to river water. The Austin Water Director said that the company experiences a "turbidity spike," adding that it must consult with regulatory agencies such as the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. READ MORE: 4 Texas Grid Board Members to Resign After Winter Storm Leaves Millions Without Electricity This article is owned by Latin Post Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Boil water notice in place for Texas City - from KHOU 11 Prince Charles on Sunday was "deeply conscious" about her mother Queen Elizabeth's future desire that his spouse Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, will someday be called "Queen." It can be recalled that Camilla's future title was still unknown when Prince Charles married her in 2005, per Fox News. The Duchess of Cornwall was not given the title Princess in honor of Charles' late wife, Dianna, who kept the title after their divorce. On Sunday, Prince Charles addressed Queen Elizabeth's request through a statement from the Clarence House, as the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall paid tribute to the Queen's 70th anniversary of her ascension to the throne. A message from The Prince of Wales on the 70th anniversary of Her Majesty The Queens Accession. https://t.co/YguFitwY2T pic.twitter.com/u1wYi2u2mw The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall (@ClarenceHouse) February 6, 2022 Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla congratulated Queen Elizabeth for her "remarkable achievement" of serving their nation. In addition, the Royals also commented on the Queen's request and desire regarding Camilla's future title. "We are deeply conscious of the honor represented by my mother's wish. As we have sought together to serve and support Her majesty and the people of our communities, my darling wife have been my own steadfast support throughout," Prince Charles said. Despite claiming that they knew about the Queen's wishes, Prince Charles did not mention whether Camilla is open to accepting the title Queen Elizabeth wants her to uphold. The Prince of Wales then ended his statement by urging the people to "come together" and celebrate the services given by Queen Elizabeth, which according to him, will set an example "in the years to come." READ NEXT: Queen Elizabeth Fails to Attend on Remembrance Sunday Over Sprained Back Duchess Camila to Receive Queen's 'Priceless' Platinum Crown Aside from being called a "Queen," The Daily Mail noted that Duchess Camilla will also receive Queen Elizabeth's "priceless" platinum and diamond crown when Prince Charles is made the new ruler of their sovereign. The Queen's diamond crown features 2,800 diamonds with a large stone given to Queen Victoria in 1856 by the Sultan of Turkey. The front of the crown holds the famous 105-carat Koh-i-Noor diamond, a stone that originated in India. The said stone is held by a detachable platinum mount. Queen Elizabeth Wants Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, to Be Called Queen Prince Charles's statement came after Queen Elizabeth voiced out her desire that Camilla be called "Queen" when the Prince of Wales someday ascends to the throne. Queen Elizabeth on Saturday made her comments as she wrote her remarks on the 70th anniversary of her ascension to the throne. "It is my sincere wish that, when the time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service," Queen Elizbeth said, adding that she knows that people will give Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla the same support she received from the public when she ascended into the throne. The Daily Mail noted that the plans to crown Camilla as the Queen Consort instead of Princess Consort were underway for some time. "This is something that has been on the Prince of Wales's mind for some time, but the timing had to be right," a royal source noted. In her written address, Queen Elizabeth also paid tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh, who died last year after decades of serving her as consort. "I was blessed that, in Prince Phillip, I had a partner willing to carry out the role of consort and unselfishly make the sacrifices that go with it," Queen Elizabeth said. READ NEXT: Princess Diana Wanted to Move to California With Prince William, Prince Harry to Make Movies, Voice Coach Says This article is owned by Latin Post. Written By: Joshua Summers WATCH: Queen Elizabeth II Wants Camilla to Be Queen Consort - From E! News A California women's prison was found to have inmates being subjected to rampant sexual abuse by correctional officers, including the warden. It was dubbed as "the rape club," which was a name given by prisoners and workers at the federal correctional institution in Dublin, California, according to an Associated Press News report. An AP investigation has revealed a "permissive and toxic" culture at the Bay Area lockup, which has enabled years of sexual misconduct by predatory employees and cover-ups that have kept the abuse from going public. Federal Bureau of Prisons documents, statements, and recordings from inmates note thousands of pages of court records from criminal and civil cases involving Dublin prison staff. The inmates' allegations against members were ignored or set aside. In addition, prisoners could be sent to solitary confinement for reporting abuse. READ NEXT: Chicago Cops Turned Their Backs on Mayor Lori Lightfoot at Hospital After Ella French Shooting Female Prisoners in California's Women Prison One inmate said that she was "overwhelmed with fear, anxiety, and anger." The inmate said that she was crying uncontrollably after being under abuse and retaliation at Dublin, according to a Los Angeles Times report. Another inmate said she thought about suicide when her cries for help went unheard and now suffering from severe anxiety and post-traumatic stress. Correctional employees have power over the lives of inmates from mealtime to lights out. There is no situation wherein an inmate can give consent. Four arrests have been made in light of the allegations in Dublin. In 2020, there were 422 complaints of staff-on-inmate sexual abuse across the system of 122 prisons and 153,000 inmates. Meanwhile, the agency said it substantiated only four of those complaints and that 290 are still being investigated. Thahesha Jusino will be taking over as Dublin's warden at the end of the month. She vowed to have zero tolerance for sexual abuse and sexual harassment. Jusino said that a culture of misconduct or actions not representing the BOP's Core Values will not be tolerated. California Guard Indicted Alex Tafoya, a California correctional officer, was arraigned on charges that include oral copulation by force and sexual penetration by force, according to a U.S. News report. Tafoya also faced false imprisonment by violence, fraud, or deceit by a police officer. District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar said in a statement that they must protect from sexual violence irrespective of their circumstance. In October, Zachary Simmons was convicted of sexually assaulting multiple female inmates. Simmons was sentenced to eight years in prison after a jury found him guilty of having raped an inmate in 2015 and committing other sex crimes with two inmates in 2015 and 2018 while he was working at the San Joaquin County Jail. He was placed on administrative leave in late August after officials started investigating allegations against him. Simmons had been with the sheriff's office since 2008. Meanwhile, in September, the former warden was accused of molesting an inmate as she tried to push him away. Former warden Ray J. Garcia made her and another inmate strip naked, did around, and took pictures that were found on his personal laptop computer. READ MORE: Killer Dad Chris Watts Spends 36th Birthday Alone in Prison: 'He's an Outcast,' Says Source This article is owned by Latin Post Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Lawsuit against the Chowchilla Women's Prison claims guards physically abused several of their inmate- from ABC30 Action News Need help logging in? We have transitioned to a new user-friendly interactive website. You will need an account and a subscription to see the site in its entirety. HOME DELIVERY subscribers get online access for free with their subscription. If you are a home delivery subscriber, create a new account and follow the directions to validate your home delivery subscription. If you were a previous ONLINE ONLY subscriber, you should have received an email with directions on how to log in. If you are still experiencing issues contact us at bulletincirc@gmail.com. News featured Unsung heroes: Transit Equity Day celebrates progress, acknowledges work remains Staff photo by Dan Reiland A rose and sign with Rosa Parks story were placed on Eau Claire city buses and paratransit vehicles Friday in honor of Transit Equity Day. Equitable transit, an aspect of the civil rights movement ignited by Parks and others, provides options for people to work, shop and maintain their independence. EAU CLAIRE Katherine Schneider needed a ride to the airport, so she called a taxi. When the vehicle arrived, though, the driver declined to take Schneider because she had a Seeing Eye dog. Schneider, who is blind, had to call a friend for a last-minute lift. That encounter highlighted for Schneider the importance of reliable, accessible transportation. As an Eau Claire County supervisor, Schneider co-authored a County Board proclamation declaring last Friday Transit Equity Day. That experience of, I need transportation is dear to me, Schneider said. Transit Equity Day is a national event that takes place Feb. 4, and local proclamations from the County Board and Eau Claire City Council began in recent years. Gov. Tony Evers issued a state proclamation this year as well. Affordable, reliable public transit is an essential public service, on par with utilities such as water and electricity, the county proclamation states. The day occurs on Rosa Parks birthday. On Friday, city buses and paratransit vehicles carried roses and information about Parks and transit equity. In Alabama in 1955, Parks, a Black woman, refused to give her city bus seat to a white passenger, which was required under segregation laws at the time. Her subsequent arrest led to the Montgomery bus boycott that eventually resulted in transit integration. Schneider said Parks story resonates with her. I really identify with what Rosa Parks did, because Ive experienced denials of transportation, Schneider said. Hers were, Go to the back of the bus because youre Black. Mine were, Get off. You cant get on the transportation because you have a guide dog. For most people, its a history lesson, and for me its a lived experience. Providing independence Renee Tyler, Eau Claire community services director, said it is phenomenal how Parks helped start the civil rights movement, which includes transit. Tyler said equitable transit provides options for people to go to work, school and maintain their independence. The ability for everyone in any community in this country to have access to public transportation is paramount, Tyler said. We often take for granted (that) we get in our cars and were good. Everybody doesnt have a car. Everybody doesnt have the means to drive, and (transit) is an equalizer Everyone should have the ability to access the amenities in their community. Transit has allowed Georgia Eaton to access amenities. Eaton, vice chair of the Eau Claire city transit commission, has progressive multiple sclerosis and uses a power chair. Eaton said transit has been crucial for her to lead a meaningful life. It has allowed her to shop, travel and socialize. As far as equity goes, I am the poster child for that, Eaton said. Free will is the most important thing to me, and (transit) allows that independence for me to decide, Im going to go here, Im going to go there, Im going to take care of myself. After giving up her drivers license around 2015 because of MS, Eaton was considering transportation options. After she contacted the city, Tom Wagener, Eau Claire transit manager, and another staffer drove a bus to Eatons home and demonstrated how to use it. Eaton appreciated the lesson but was still reluctant to take the bus. Eventually she gave it a try, and that decision has profoundly impacted her. I decided, I can do this. I can do this, Eaton said. I feel like it saved my life when I started taking the bus. Buses are for everybody The most tangible forms of public transit are city buses. Transit also means safe, reliable ways for pedestrians to navigate, such as curb cuts and crosswalks, and paratransit for people with disabilities. Abby Vans is the paratransit provider in Eau Claire. It offers door-to-door rides for people with disabilities who qualify. This year, paratransit is officially part of the county proclamation for the first time, an encouraging sign for Schneider. Its so appropriate, because Rosa Parks was about, The buses are for everybody, Schneider said. Im really pleased that were honoring that more fully this year. Philip Swanhorst worked as a city bus driver from 2001-17 and was instrumental in getting Transit Equity Day locally recognized. Swanhorst is president emeritus of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1310, which represents Eau Claire city bus drivers. Like Schneider, Swanhorst is encouraged to see recognition for paratransit, but he said that doesnt mean equity has been achieved. Equity to me (is) when its accessible to anyone and everyone, as it should be, said Swanhorst, a city transit commission member. There are other things we probably havent even thought of that other people cant enjoy because it still isnt fully equitable. Equity challenges Transit disparities exist for people with disabilities. According to a report from the The American Association of People with Disabilities and The Leadership Conference Education Fund, 31% of adults with disabilities have inadequate transportation, compared to 13% for adults without disabilities. That disparity is one challenge to making transit equity a reality. Another is the limited operating hours of Eau Claire buses. Most notably, buses do not run on Sundays, an issue of which Wagener is well aware. Thats a challenge for everyone in the community, Wagener said. If you dont have your own means of transportation, how do you get around on Sundays? Thats something that we would like to provide, but there has to be the capability of meeting that with funding and resources. Several people said more state money is needed to improve city transit, including Eau Claire City Councilman Jeremy Gragert. We basically have the same transit system that we had 25 years ago because we havent been seeing the kinds of (necessary) investments, Gragert said. We need to find a way to fund Sunday bus service, because right now its a big gap in our system. Tyler said providing more equitable transit is an ongoing process, noting that the city constantly reviews potential bus routes to offer as many services as possible. We do not ignore problems or barriers that are brought to our attention, Tyler said. We might miss things, but (we) look and are not blind to inefficiencies in the system. An important option Gragert often rides city buses during winter, saying they provide transportation for people of all walks of life. He said area residents could take buses more often, especially for recreation. I have no illusions that our transit system is necessarily good enough to work for every single trip that someone has, but it should be an important option, Gragert said. Eaton takes the bus as much as possible in warmer months. She rides less often in winter but enjoys occasional evening trips to view Christmas lights. Taking the bus makes me feel young, Eaton said. Rides also serve as social occasions. Eaton met a woman on the bus who is now her good friend, and Eaton was recently asked to be a bridesmaid in her wedding. Before MS, Eaton had never taken the bus and was hesitant because of safety concerns, but she quickly realized her fears were unfounded. Im proud that Im a transit user, Eaton said. Ive never, ever had a negative experience People who take the bus are very good people Were homeowners, were students, were employees and moms and dads and sisters. Supervisor Judy Gatlin, who co-wrote the county proclamation, rode the city bus when she worked at UW-Eau Claire. It offered a reliable, convenient commute, and Gatlin said that would ideally be the case for everyone. The bus worked out perfectly for me, which it didnt for a lot of people, Gatlin said. In addition to helping people work and shop, Gatlin said equitable transit could benefit the environment by resulting in fewer cars that emit greenhouse gases. If youre going to have sustainability, if you want to get vehicles off the roads, youre going to have to have a way to move people, Gatlin said. Indeed, the city and county proclamations state that transit is part of a strategy to combat climate change. Unsung heroes Swanhorst enjoyed driving a bus for over 15 years and getting to know the community. He said a misconception is that bus drivers wont assist riders, when in reality they are willing to do so. Were there to help you, Swanhorst said. Several people praised transit employees for their selfless work, and Tyler said they are unsung heroes. There are about 30 city bus drivers, and Tyler and Wagener said they play a key role in treating riders with dignity. Tyler said that has been especially true during the pandemic. (Drivers) are frontline workers, and they are not recognized the way they should be, Tyler said. They drive and they put themselves at risk daily. Swanhorst said the early months of the pandemic were particularly difficult for bus drivers, but he said the city served them well by using protective shields and eliminating front door entry to limit close contact. We did better here than a lot of places in the country, Swanhorst said. Was it perfect? No but theyve done a good job of protecting the drivers. Schneider, who uses transit and paratransit, thanked drivers for their labor and understanding of her disability, unlike the taxi driver years ago. Without them, we wouldnt get where we need to get, Schneider said. For Schneider and the community, Transit Equity Day noted the progress made thanks to Parks and many others, and it served as a reminder of work that remains. The last 12 months has seen a fourfold increase in emergency calls from domestic abuse survivors and Monday's RTE Investigates programme will hear that the Midlands is a 'blackhole' and 'getting scraps from the table' when it comes to domestic abuse. In the last year RTE Investigates filmed in several refuges across the country as the services reached crisis point. Laois is amongst nine counties in Ireland that have no refuge service available, along with Carlow, Cavan, Laois, Leitrim, Offaly, Monaghan, Roscommon, and Sligo. Anne Clarke, Manager Offaly Domestic Support Services tells RTE Investigates: The midlands seem to be this blackhole we seem to be getting the scraps from the table. Coercive control is extremely common for a male victim. If you are a man in this country, you have zero options for a refuge, there is nowhere to go. Some services do help, and support men, but there are very few. Women predominantly remain the highest ratio as domestic abuse victims, and that is why the services are directed more for women. Our service is different, we support male victims as well, percentage wise 25% of our clients would be male. International figures indicate one in nine men have experienced abuse from their partner. Having given RTE Investigates unprecedented access, staff describe their daily struggle to keep sufferers safe, because a shortage in refuge places means they are forced to live with their abusers. From coercive control, repeated patterns of domestic violence, femicide and the traumatic journey through the justice system, the documentary reveals the human stories behind the statistics. Last year, the number of people that contacted the domestic violence support services increased by 40% from the previous year, in some cases as a direct result of Covid-19 restrictions. Catherine Casey from Kerry refuge: We have had women ringing in the middle of the night, whispering at the end of phone. We are getting four times the amount of calls than we were getting pre-covid. RTE Investigates spoke with a male victim, who took his case through the courts. Peter (not his real name): It is something that just crept up on me and I didnt realise I was in that situation until the day I called a halt to it. "I realised things were not normal. My goodness today I can look back and say no, things were not normal. It is to not have control of your money, its not normal to be put down, its normal to have things thrown at you, to be slapped. You are treated like, nearly like a dog. "I did not see it until the end. You cannot help a person like that. You have to run, I should have run years ago. The warning signs were there. Who do you turn to? Who is going to believe you? And if you even tell someone, are they going to believe you. One in four women in Ireland who have been in a relationship have been abused by a current or former partner. On Sept 18th 2016, Sarah Behan was assaulted by her then partner Patrick Fitzpatrick, who was an actor in RTEs Fair City playing the character Zumo from 2007 to 2016. The attack actually went on for over two hours, according to Sarah. Sarah Behan: I got beaten badly. He pulled me back from the window, by the hair, and dragged me, and tried to strangle me for what felt like an eternity and I could see the room closing in. That was window I was contemplating jumping out, possibly broken my two legs and pelvis. I wasnt sure how I would do it, I was just thinking survival mode. flight or fight. A choice, will I just jump then I was pulled back. "I thought he was the best thing since sliced bread, there was nobody like him. I had never been with anyone like him. He was obviously a fantastic actor, but he acted in real life as well. It started with romanticising and love bombing, treating me like a princess, and then it was like a switch. He was upfront and told me he had abused women before in past relationships. But of course, I thought I could fix him. "And then it got worse, worse and worse. It was regular, all I did was curl up into a ball, I didnt have any fight left in me. Hed broken me down so much; I had no fight left. "But when the case came up in the district court, it was put back again and again. The assault charge against Patrick Fitzpatrick, for which he pleaded guilty, was remanded before the courts 14 times, followed by a further two appeal hearings. Sarah Behan: It was trauma relieved over and over, and over again. It was constant, that I could not put it to rest, I could not move on. Sarahs mother Antoinette attended all of the remand hearings. Antoinette Behan: It was just put off put off put off, held back, and pushed back, for two years, repeatedly, for two years 4 months to be precise. We were told that their defence was not ready, and that is why the cases were pushed back. "The lowest point, when during the hearing, the judge looked at the medical report, and on the medical report it had that she clumps of hair missing, and bruises on her face, and jaws. The prosecution of Patrick Fitzpatrick was finally resolved in January 2019. Sarah Behan: I thought he would go away for a year or two at least, for all the things he has done but he got one month that was it, a suspended sentence then. A year before his attack on Sarah Behan, Fitzpatrick assaulted a previous partner at his home in Ballymun in 2015, punching her twice in the jaw. That assault was finally dealt with in May 2018 when he received a 12-month probation bond. The following January, the remainder of a sentence for the assault on Sarah was suspended. It meant he served two days in prison for that assault. Sarah Behan: I feel let down by the system really. Antoinette Behan, (Mother): I could not protect her. So, no matter how old your baby is, its tough. The psychological impacts are lifelong. She is a different girl to what she was before. Kildare volunteers with the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) are encouraging people to volunteer with the Society. The national campaign seeking volunteers comes following a record number of calls for help in 2021 to SVP. During 2021 a total of just over 191,000 calls for help were made to the Society throughout the country. This is 12% up on the number of calls in 2020 and the highest on record for the Society. As the Society prepares for a full return to home visitations shortly the national campaign for volunteers will primarily focus on over 900 Visiting Conferences (Branches) throughout the country. But volunteers are also being sought to help in shops, social housing as well as children and family services. The recruitment campaign theme is You know who you are - But we dont To apply to become an SVP volunteer. Visit: svp.ie/volunteer or call 01 884 8246. In launching the campaign SVP National President Rose McGowan said; The characteristics required of our volunteers include; kindness, compassion, discretion, respect and being non-judgemental. Volunteers are our greatest strength, they know the issues in their communities and can address immediate needs as well as helping families and individuals, young and old, move towards self-sufficiency and equal opportunity through friendship and support. Offering a little help at the right time can give people hope for the future. Volunteers sharing their time and skills can change lives forever. She added: Volunteering with SVP involves working with and supporting the largest and oldest voluntary charitable organisation in Ireland. Training will be provided and the time commitment, while variable, is usually 3-5 hours weekly. Other than visitation some other volunteer positions required by SVP are in: Technical support for Conferences Providing professional data management and finance support for Conferences,to ensure that Conferences capture and record important data that improves their ability to assist people, while also adhering to relevant legislation e.g. GDPR. Shops The role as a volunteer in the network of almost 240 shops, is to carry out or assist in general shop duties and to ensure customers are the priority at all times through the delivery of exceptional customer service. Social Housing The key attributes of volunteers are experience and knowledge in the areas of Architecture, Engineering, Surveying, Health & Safety, Social Work and Social Care, Family & Children Services Volunteers can share their time and skills in one of the SVP youth clubs, community resource centres, daycare centres, or holiday homes. SVP has a Safeguarding Policy to prevent and protect children and adults at risk of harm. It takes all safeguarding complaints seriously to ensure that those who require assistance, volunteers, staff, and anyone associated with the SVP, are kept safe from all forms of violence, coercive control, abuse, neglect and exploitation. This is achieved through a robust and effective approach, including police vetting on recruitment, and providing a quality standard of support and service delivery. A father of two has spoken of how he believed he was going to die seconds before a car was used to run him down in a feud related incident in Co Longford three years ago. Gerard Donoghue was speaking after his first cousin Eamon Stokes (21), 44 Cluain Na Sibhe, Killashee, Co Longford was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to assault causing harm and possession of a hatchet following an incident at Pound Street, Edgeworthstown, Co Longford on January 7, 2019. A co accused Alan Whelan (27) yesterday pleaded guilty at Longford Circuit Court to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Mr Donoghue after it emerged Whelan had been at the wheel alongside Stokes who was sitting in the front passenger seat. The court heard there had been bad blood between the two cousins over a woman with the pair inadvertently coming across each other less than half an hour earlier while collecting their social welfare from a local post office. CCTV footage showed Stokes turning around to spit on the floor when seeing Mr Donoghue and his partner in the queue behind him. The victim was spotted standing outside a shop shortly afterwards while his partner went into a shop to buy a drink. Moments later, a Fiat Punto could be seen suddenly darting across the road, mounting a pavement and pinning the 27-year-old between the car and a wall. The court heard the car then reversed and tried to strike Mr Donoghue for a second time before both of its occupants fled the scene on foot. A hatchet was subsequently found in the well of the front passenger seat where Mr Stokes had been sitting along with a mobile phone. Gardai later found photographs on Mr Stokes phone which, Judge Keenan Johnson, established a firm link between the accused and the offending vehicle. During Mr Stokes' sentencing hearing, the court heard a key factor in the ensuing garda investigation which followed, came from Mr Stokes brother William Stokes Jnr. In a statement given to gardai on July 19, six months after the incident, William Stokes Jnr told of how his brother Eamon Stokes had returned from the post office to reveal he had met the victim Gerard Donoghue inside. Mr Stokes Jnr also said he spotted two men change their clothing before they jumped into a Fiat Punto with Alan Whelan getting into the drivers seat and Eamon Stokes in the front passengers seat. The court heard Eamon Stokes had over 30 previous convictions, including three for assault, four for possession of an article, seven for criminal damage, five for public order and 11 for theft and burglary offences. It was also revealed that the defendant had also breached a bond to be of good behaviour in relation to a public order offence committed in November 2020, some ten months after receiving a three year sentence with the final two years suspended for assaulting another man in August 2016. There can be little doubt that this was an extremely serious assault perpetrated in broad daylight, said Judge Johnson, adding it was difficult to understand the mentality which prompted Eamon Stokes to agree to his involvement in a common design to assault Mr Donoghue. He sentenced Stokes to three years in prison alongside a six month consecutive prison term for breaching the terms of the previous suspended sentence which was handed down in January 2020. Speaking afterwards, Mr Donoghue said he has been left constantly looking over his shoulder for fear he may be targeted again. This (feud) will never be over, he said, revealing also how he has received two separate threats on his life in the aftermath of the incident. I thought it was the end and I will never forgive him for what he done to me. My girlfriend was six months pregnant at the time and had only left me seconds before that to go into a shop. What he got (three years) hes laughing at, but I will never be able to forget that day as long as I live. Stokes co-accused Alan Whelan has been remanded on continuing bail ahead of sentencing on May 17. Speaking in the Dail on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) Deputy Harkin stated that in June 2020, the then Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Richard Bruton, said that "All counties will see premises passed in the first two years and over 90% of premises in the State will have access to high-speed broadband within the next four years.". That, Deputy Harkin said, would mean full access under the NBP by mid-2024. Addressing Minister Ossian Smith Deputy Harkin stated, If we talk about 90% access, Leitrim County Council has confirmed that more than 90% of Leitrim properties requiring intervention in the National Broadband Plan will not have access because they will not be connected until 2025 or 2026. Deputy Harkin, having looked at the figures for Sligo, said that by the end of 2022, broadband coverage under the NBP would be approximately 16% and at the end of 2023 it would be about 35%, leaving a further 60% of all premises still not connected until 2025 or 2026. She continued I have listened to the debate and I heard the Minister of State saying that people would like broadband tomorrow. He is correct and that is fine, but for 90% of Leitrim and 60% of Sligo it is not tomorrow, it is not the day after tomorrow, it is not the year after tomorrow and it is not the year after the year after tomorrow. That is what businesses and families in those counties are facing", she stressed. In his response to Deputy Harkin, Minister Ossian Smith said that he was examining everything he could do. I asked the Minister if he would specify what he was examining and what actions he intended to take that would make a difference to the people who were waiting in Sligo and Leitrim?" The figures for Donegal were also unacceptable, she said, and emphasised that next weeks Dail debate on the right to work from home would be meaningless for all of the people in her constituency who would be waiting to at least 2025 or 2026 for acceptable broadband service under the NBP. Deputy Harkin concluded that the Minister had spoken about broadband helping to deliver balanced regional development but from the figures available this was not the case for the north west. She emphasised that there was no balance in the delivery of broadband to the north west which was once more being placed at the back of the queue in terms of balanced delivery to the regions. A man who told Nenagh District Court that he had a microchip implanted in his thigh after an appendix operation suffers so much pain that only strong alcohol can alleviate it. Declan Foran with addresses at 68 Cormack Drive, Nenagh, and 38 Horan Hall, The Square, Tallaght, Dublin 24, pleaded to a number of theft, criminal damage and public order offences. I get movement, like I get some force to get it out. It seems it might be extraterrestrial, Mr Foran told the court in relation to the microchip. Mr Foran, 50, pleaded to theft of a bottle of whiskey valued at 20.56 from Centra, Clare Street, Nenagh, on December 31, 2021. He also pleaded to stealing a gas cylinder valued at 35 from outside Maloneys shop, Tyone, on December 30, 2021, and causing criminal damage to Dr Pat Harrolds surgery at Tyone on the same occasion by throwing the cylinder through the front door. The damage amounted to 290. Mr Foran pleaded to being intoxicated in public and threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour at Sarsfield Street, Nenagh, on December 10, 2021. The court heard he had been discovered by the gardai on the pavement and became abusive to the gardai and the general public. Mr Foran pleaded to a similar offence at Nenagh Hospital, Tyone, on December 13, 2021, when he was intoxicated and threatening hospital staff at the entrance to the hospital. He also pleaded to causing damage totalling 200 to Clare Street Pharmacy by breaking two windows in the premises on the same date. In his evidence to the court, Mr Foran said that on each occasion he had just wanted to get medication. It was like pushing a panic button. My body was wracked with pain. It was a cry for help, he said. The only way to tackle the torture is to take strong alcohol - at least a third of a bottle of whiskey to alleviate the pain, said Mr Foran. In relation to the incident at Nenagh Hospital, Mr Foran said that he thought Shannondoc was still on the hospital grounds and, again, he had only been looking for medication. He said all the incidents had been out of character. I had no choice. It was a desperate cry for help. Mr Foran told his solicitor, David Peters that he had a microchip implanted in his thigh following an operation on his appendix and something keeps pressing on him. Mr Foran, who is in custody since January 1, 2022, said that he had learned a lot since going into prison. I say my prayers every night. Judge Elizabeth MacGrath said the incidents all had the hallmarks of someone looking for help as they had occurred at a doctors surgery, a pharmacy and a hospital. Mr Peters asked for a probation report but said there was no point in releasing Mr Foran as there was no emergency accommodation available in Tipperary and Mr Foran would need to be able to attend a clinic. He suggested that his client be remanded for a further two weeks on consent to get the probation report through the Prison Service. Judge MacGrath remanded Mr Foran in custody until February 11, 2022 and ordered a probation report for that date. The country's biggest trade union SIPTU has called for a radical overhaul of domestic waste collection to end what it says is duplication of services and dramatically cut back on illegal dumping which is costing nearly 1 million a year in Dublin alone to collect. SIPTU Public Administration and Community Division Organiser, Adrian Kane, said: RTE is today reporting on the extraordinary costs of illegal dumping in Dublin. This issue is due to the structural problems in our domestic waste collection services." The issue is not a Dublin-only problem and there are regular reports of illegal dumping across the country. Ireland is the wild west of domestic waste collection," Mr Kane continued. "Nowhere else in Europe is there side-by-side competition within the same local authority area between waste collection services. This leads to a situation where we have multiples of trucks in excess of what is required covering the same collection routes. This leads to unnecessary traffic congestion and increased carbon emissions. In addition, one in four households have no domestic waste collection service. We have designed a dysfunctional system which directly results in increased illegal dumping. When local authorities operated the system all domestic waste was collected and those who couldnt afford the service were subsidised by local government. Without this subvention it increases the likelihood of illegal dumping. He added: There needs to be a radical reform of the domestic waste collection system which allows local authorities to re-enter it. We are currently awaiting the results of a feasibility study commissioned by Dublin City Council concerning the remunicipalisation of the domestic waste collection service in the city. This may well present us with the best way forward for domestic waste collection services in Ireland. The national St Patrick's Festival is set for a comeback in 2022 after being cancelled for the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The theme of this year's festival was revealed today (Monday February 7) as 'connections', or 'naisc' as gaeilge, along with an extensive programme of events. Festival organisers have promised it will be "the biggest and most ambitious ever produced in scale, creativity and participants", with dozens of events taking place from March 16 to March 20. Interim Director of St. Patricks Festival, Anna McGowan, said, "We are so thrilled to bring St. Patricks Festival back to the streets of Dublin this coming March. "The very best of Irelands creative community have come together to present a spectacular programme of events, the biggest, most exciting offering we have ever produced. Hundreds of artists, arts workers, makers, creators, live events teams and community organisations, drawn from across the nation, will present a magical five days and nights of live and virtual events, from song, story and performance, to film, theatre, tours, food and so much more. "We are incredibly thankful to all our funders, partners and sponsors who have made this years Festival possible. We cant wait to welcome Ireland and the World back to Dublin and we are equally delighted that we can continue to present a virtual programme through SPF TV for those who cannot be with us in person." Artists and performers announced include Damien Dempsey, Lyra, Grave Mulvey and Soule. This year the Museum of Decorative Arts and History at Colins Barracks will transform into a day-to-night urban festival for all in the heart of Dublin, featuring a 3000 capacity outdoor main stage, comedy tent, story yurt, performance spaces, relaxation areas and an Irish food and craft village. All daytime events will be free of charge, while some nighttime events will require a pre-purchased ticket. In a statement, oraganisers called the upcoming festival "a landmark celebration". Lord Mayor of Dublin, Alison Gilliland congratulated the team behind the festival, calling the programme "packed full of so much fantastic Irish talent" with something for people of all ages. She said, "After an absence of two years, its wonderful to see the return of St. Patricks Festival with in person events and the parade through our Capitals streets on March 17 which will include a much missed international flavour. I congratulate the St. Patricks Festival Board and team for once again creating such a wonderful celebration of our contemporary culture." FAST food company McDonalds has secured conditional permission to add a second drive-thru lane at its restaurant in Dooradoyle. At present, just one lane operates for customers in cars wanting to order and collect food at its outlet beside the Crescent Shopping Centre. McDonalds Restaurants Ireland has now secured permission from the planning authority to put in place a two lane arrangement" with an additional customer food ordering point. Other works around this will see a reduction in size of the existing corral to facilitate the new drive-thru arrangement. On top of this, there will be the addition of a new paved traffic island, re-location of existing signage, the provision of new drive-thru signage and the relocation of existing notices. Two new glazed drive-thru booth windows would be provided to replace the existing windows, while there will be an extension to the existing restaurant floor area by 13.7 square metres to facilitate a new delivery entrance at the west side. A new entrance door at the restaurant outside the Crescent Shopping Centre is also planned. The height of the building will stay the same, McDonald's has said. Council has given the project permission, subject to 10 separate conditions. These include that McDonalds pays the council 1.3m for public infrastructure benefiting the area. No work is allowed to take place outside the hours of 8am and 8pm weekdays, plus 8am to 4pm Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. While no additional signage is permitted. McDonalds secured permission to make changes to its outlet in Castletroy in April 2020. And local planners are currently mulling over a bid by the fast-food giant to also open a second drive-thru lane at its outlet beside the Jetland Shopping Centre in Caherdavin. These plans could also see an expansion of the store area. A decision on this proposal is due on Tuesday, February 15 next. RETAIL giant Iceland has formally objected to Aldi's plans to build a new store just 500 metres away from its outlet in Moyross. In November, the Limerick Leader revealed the German discounter is seeking to invest 7m and open a new branch at the Knockalisheen Road. However, Limerick City and County Council has now sought further information on the scheme, and Iceland has joined the Watch House Cross shopping centre itself in objecting to the project. For its part, Aldi says it hopes to open the store by mid-way through 2024 in a move which will create up to 30 permanent jobs. Approximately 50 jobs will be supported through the construction phase, the firm added. However, agents representing Iceland, which opened in the Watch House Cross in 2017, have placed on record its opposition to the project. It's argued that a new Aldi branch is "unsuitable" for the area, and "would result in a serious negative impact on surrounding commercial businesses in Moyross." "Existing commercial and retail in Moyross currently meets the demands of those living in the area and therefore at a development scale which is sufficient. Provision of further retail in the area would be excessive and unwelcome due to potential impacts on existing businesses in the area," Iceland's agents added in a dossier to council planners. "The design is unsuitable for the area and provides for a development which negative impacts on the visual amenity of Knockalisheen Road. It would seriously compromise the ability of surrounding businesses to perform," Iceland added. Meanwhile, the Watch House Cross shopping centre also objected - claiming that Aldi were offered the chance to move onto its site some years ago only for the firm to decline. A number of Aldi's claims around projected spend and usage were also challenged, with Moyross's population halving since the early 1990s. The Watch House Cross itself, has they say, "struggled to cope with declining population since it opened in the early 2000s, and has vacant units at the moment. Two previous anchor tenants have quit the centre due to falling expenditure." Council planners have written to Aldi expressing its concerns that the development is not in accordance with the City Development Plan. A number of extra cycle spaces were also requested as part of the scheme. THE LIMERICK branch of the Irish Red Cross are looking for new volunteers to join the organisation. The group will hold an information and registration night on Thursday, February 10 where people can learn more about what they do. The organisation will be running a 12 week First Aid Response course where participants will learn life-saving skills, how to treat wounds and fractures, how to manage medical conditions while awaiting an ambulance amongst other skills. The theory element of the course will be delivered online and there will also be some practical sessions. The information night as well as the in person sessions will be held at the Irish Red Cross base at Unit 3, Ashbourne Business Park, Dock Road. The organisation are also recruiting for their volunteer driver's panel for its fleet of ambulances and minibuses. Drivers must be aged over 25 years and hold a minimum of a clean B Licence (D1 for minibus). Volunteers will be expected to undertake a training programme provided by the Red Cross. Founded in 1940, the Limerick area of the Irish Red Cross now have 600 members who volunteer across the city and county. The organisation offers a range of services including first aid and ambulance cover at events, first aid training, health and social care support and a Red Cross Youth section. The type of services that need further volunteer support includes checking in on the elderly in remote areas over the phone or through video calls, delivering essential supplies of food, medication or heating fuel as well as providing daily shopping runs, collecting medications and assisting Meals on Wheels services. You must book your attendance for the information night in advance by calling 087 840 0400 to book a place. You can call the same number to find out more information about joining the driving panel for the charity. OVER 442,000 has been allocated to Technological University of the Shannon as part of a long term strategy for universities across Europe. TUS will receive the funding as a member of the European Regional University Network (RUN-EU), one of seven European University Alliances. The funding will help plot a course to implement a shared, integrated, and long-term joint strategy for the new technological university and its partner universities. TUS will be the recipient of 442,000 funding which has been announced by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris. The initiative aims to build a European Education Area and European Research Area with the assistance of European University alliances including RUN-EU. These alliances will help create a European inter-university campus, where students, staff and researchers enjoy seamless mobility to study, train, teach, do research, work or share services at cooperating partner institutions. TUS Vice President Research, Development & Innovation Dr Liam Brown welcomed the news: The RUN-EU long term vision places innovative teaching, learning, research and engagement at the centre of the alliance activities and plots a course to implement the shared, integrated, and long-term joint strategy of the European Universities, with students at the centre. "Todays funding will help us further along this journey. The RUN-EU alliance contributes to the European Higher Education Area goals of enhanced mobility opportunities and recognition of qualifications across the EU through the design and delivery of collaborative European degrees, educational opportunities and the promotion of a strong sense of European identity, culture, and citizenship. "This will ultimately deliver for all stakeholders and addresses the skills of the future for our employers, he added. TUS Head of Research Dr Patrick Murray outlined the benefit of RUN-EU not only to TUS, but the region, country and Europe as a whole. RUN-EU fosters the free movement of researchers, scientific knowledge and innovation bringing together a new generation of creative Europeans, whereby learning, studying and doing research enables our staff and students to cooperate across borders, languages, and disciplines, contributing to a more competitive European industry, he said. YOUNG CARERS have 'higher depressive symptoms' than youths not providing care according to a new study from the University of Limerick. The study of young carers aged 14-18 years from across Europe and Ireland reported higher levels of depressive symptoms among this group when compared to youths who did not report a caring role. However, the research also shows that when these young carers reported higher levels of social participation, they were more satisfied with their lives and as such were less depressed. The study was carried out by researchers at the Study of Anxiety, Stress and Health Lab in ULs Department of Psychology, along with Family Carers Ireland. The International Journal of Adolescence and Youth has published the major study using evidence from 21 EU countries, including Ireland. Professor Stephen Gallagher, director of the UL Study of Anxiety, Stress and Health Lab said: "When young carers had higher or comparable levels of social participation compared to those of a similar age, it increased their life satisfaction that protected against depressive symptoms. "However, these protective effects were not evident at lower levels of social participation." Family Carers Ireland has previously published research that suggests that almost 67,000 young people in Ireland aged 10-17 provide regular unpaid care for a loved one. Dr Nikki Dunne, Research Officer with Family Carers Ireland, who was a co-author on the study, said that young carers were at greater risk of mental and emotional difficulties than those who do not provide care. These findings show just how important it is that young carers are recognised and supported to prevent them from experiencing negative outcomes to their mental health and wellbeing. Investment in supporting young carers is critical, said Dr Dunne. AFTER a gap of two years, excitement and anticipation are growing as Athea Drama Group prepares to tread the boards once again and hundreds of fans and enthusiasts are happy at the thought of finally satisfying their hunger for live drama. The cast of eight is ready to wow audiences with one of its most challenging productions ever Brian Friels hugely popular Dancing at Lughnasa, Bookings have now opened for the run which begins on February 13 and, already, tickets are going fast as Athea is one of the very few amateur groups to be emerging from Covid restrictions with a production ready to go. There is great satisfaction within the Athea Drama Group that they have finally secured the rights for a production of Dancing at Lughnasa. We have been looking at this for a couple of years, explains the plays director Tom Denihan. For the first time ever, we opened up the readings. We decided we would have open readings. We got such a crowd, it was unbelievable. And he is pleased that as a result two people, Mary Ellen Tierney and Shane McEnery are appearing on stage for the first time. In such a character-driven play, getting the right people was vital, Tom believes, and they were fortunate in achieving that. We got the right people at the right time. The play itself is semi-autobiographical and centres around five sisters eking out a living in rural Donegal and their one brother, Fr Jack, returned from the missions. The story unfolds through narrator Michael who recalls a summer spent with his uncle and aunts, one of whom is his mother. It is a play that reaches deep into the emotions, touching themes such as love, longing, loss, loyalty, poverty, pride and survival. Brian Friel dedicated it to his own aunts, those five, brave Glenties women and the play was first produced for the stage in 1990. A film starring Meryl Street appeared in 1998 and became a firm favourite with Irish audiences. But Atheas Tom Denihans first advice to his troupe of actors was to forget the film. We said to everybody, park it, get rid of it, Tom explains. The production on stage is different. It is a difficult play, Tom admits. You dont get too many amateur groups doing it, he says There is a lot going on. He describes the play as three-dimensional, where you have the narrator and then you have the sisters and where Michael, as a child, never appears. We have to work harder to make people believe, he says. But he adds: We were fortunate enough in getting the right people. Rehearsals began in the lull before the Omicron surge and, Tom says, they were very lucky and succeeded in having two rehearsals a week without a problem. We made a decision that after Christmas there would be no panic so all the heavy lifting was done before Christmas, he explains. They also put opening night back a week. Big audiences are expected in Athea for Dancing at Lughnasa. The curtain goes up Sunday. February 13 for a matinee performance at 3pm followed by evening shows on Thursday February 17, Saturday February 19 and Sunday February 20. The run continues on Wednesday and Thursday, February 23 and 24 and on Saturday, February 26. All evening shows begin at 7.30pm but doors open at 7pm. Booking is essential as no walk-ins will be allowed. Secure your seat by ringing 087 6926746. Tickets cost 10. Home Delivery of The Troy Free Press print PLUS full access to LincolnNewsNow.com.com as well as full access to the Electronic Edition of The Troy Free Press. ONLY $19.99 per month for the first 3 months! Only $23.99 per month after promotional period. Or ONLY $37.99 for a full year Only $49.99 per year after promotional period. U.S. President Joe Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett he looks forward to visiting Israel in 2022 during a call that included discussion of the threat posed by Iran and its proxies, the White House said in a statement. Biden underscored his commitment to promoting stability in the Middle East, including Israelis and Palestinians enjoying equal measures of security, freedom, and prosperity," according to the statement. He told Bennett on Sunday he looks forward to a visit later this year." Biden and Bennett met at the White House in August, after which the Israeli leader said they had agreed to pursue a joint strategy to halt Irans nuclear program. The U.S. is engaged in diplomacy for a possible return to the Iranian nuclear deal abandoned by former President Donald Trump, though a breakthrough has remained elusive. Israels cabinet in December approved a plan to double the Jewish population in the southern Golan Heights in a bid to cement control over the territory. The Trump administration officially recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan in 2019, departing from longstanding U.S. and international policy. The Biden administration has not challenged that decision. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. About 1 1/2 hours before shooting and wounding a male near United South High School, the alleged shooter was talking to investigators at police headquarters as a witness in another criminal investigation. At approximately 3:20 p.m. Feb. 3, Jesus Rodriguez, 19, voluntarily arrived at LPD headquarters to speak with an investigator as a witness in an ongoing criminal investigation into a deadly conduct. During that meeting, Rodriguez was wearing a red windbreaker-type jacket. The investigator asked Rodriguez if he is commonly known as Chuyito. Rodriguez allegedly stated yes and added that he is also known as Chuy. Rodriguez then left the police department. At about 4:39 p.m. Feb. 3, police officers were dispatched to a shooting reported near United South High School. Authorities discovered that a 20-year-old man was shot in the hand. During the investigation, it was determined that the man was shot in the 3400 block of Monclova Drive and then drove himself to the school to ask for assistance. He was then taken to Laredo Medical Center. He stated that he was a passenger in a red Ford Fusion and he had been shot at from a gray Ford Taurus. He identified the shooter, Rodriguez, as the front passenger of the Taurus. The investigation led police to the 2900 block of Bayard Street, where Rodriguez was detained for questioning. Rodriguez stated that upon leaving the police station earlier in the day, he was in the front passenger seat in the Taurus with two other occupants. When they were traveling in the area of Guaymas and Aguanieve, he observed a red Ford Fusion parked on the side of the road. One passenger in the Fusion exited with what Rodriguez believed was an AR-15. Rodriguez stated they departed the area and heard a single gunshot as they departed, he allegedly told police. Police then spoke to the complainants who were in the Ford Fusion. They stated Chuyito, or Rodriguez, brought up his upper body out of the gray Taurus holding a firearm with both hands. They ducked and immediately after heard two to three gunshots. Soon they realized that the 20-year-old man was shot in the hand, according to court documents. Rodriguez was arrested and charged with three counts of deadly conduct, discharge of a firearm and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Gun in diaper bag During the shooting investigation, officers observed a red and black Cadillac CTS leaving the residence of the suspected shooter in the 2900 block of Bayard. Police pulled over the Cadillac for failure to stop at a designated point at New York Avenue and Palo Blanco Street. The vehicle pulled over into an apartment complex. The vehicle was occupied by four people, including Aaliyah Ortegon, 20, and Dante Vela, 24. Ortegon was carrying an infant on her lap when police stopped the vehicle. An officer asked the driver for consent to search the vehicle for any weapons, but the driver denied the consent. The officer then observed a baby diaper bag on the backseat floorboard. Ortegon claimed ownership of the diaper bag. Ortegons mother arrived to take care of the baby Ortegon had on her lap. Ortegons mother asked officers for the baby formula. Ortegon then stated that the baby formula was inside the diaper bag. Ortegon allegedly allowed the officer to get the baby formula. When the officer opened the diaper bag, he observed a black .40 caliber Glock handgun inside along with a baggie of marijuana weighing four grams. Police said the handgun contained an extended magazine and eight live rounds of ammo. Authorities believe that is the gun that Rodriguez used in the shooting, according to court documents. In a post-arrest interview, Ortegon stated she knew the gun and the marijuana were inside her babys diaper bag, according to court documents. Ortegon was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and unlawful carrying of a weapon. Police said that Vela identified himself with a fake name and date of birth during the vehicle stop. He was arrested and charged with fail to identify by giving false or fictitious information. He, too, was served with warrants for skipping court dates for the following charges: evading arrest, evading arrest with a vehicle, criminal trespass and terroristic threat. He remained behind bars at the Webb County Jail as of Saturday afternoon. Rodriguez and Ortegon are out on bond, jail records show. crodriguez@lmtonline.com Last week, Laredo faced dire news with over 17,200 new COVID-19 cases reported by the Department of Texas Health and Human Services in a two-week span. And this week saw cases remaining at among their highest levels ever. The City of Laredo and Webb County have 80,520 positive cases and 1,032 deaths historically since the emergence of the pandemic in March 2020. The ongoing cases continue to impact many sectors of the city including, hospitals, businesses, schools and more. The start of 2022 was a somber moment as the threat of the omicron variant surged through the city. Despite it being a milder variant, its increased infection rate swept through the city, including into a 6-week-old child. In January, Laredo Health Authoritys Dr. Victor Trevino said that in the case of a small percentage of people seeing severe symptoms crop up, it could overwhelm local hospitals. Initially, the increase in infections amid the latest COVID-19 surge affected personnel limiting their workforce, Laredo Health Director Dr. Richard Chamberlain said. However, our local hospitals have done an amazing job, as they always have, at providing equal care to all patients despite the increase in hospitalized. As infections and duration of stay among patients decrease, we hope to return to a level of stability. It has been stressed repeatedly since 2021 that vaccines mitigate the risk of severe infection and/or death against COVID-19. In light of the recent historically high surge in Laredo, Chamberlain said there has been a stable gradual increase in individuals receiving the vaccine and booster shots. Currently, DSHS reports 53,315 individuals in our community have received a booster, approximating 25% of the population 12-plus to be vaccinated with an extra dose, he stated. Laredo currently has a 93.9% fully vaccinated rate, and is currently one of the Top 3 in the state of Texas and in the Top 5 of the United States. He also acknowledged that breakthrough cases may still occur, and he said there have been 303 vaccine breakthrough cases this year to date. Chamberlain added that of the citys 1,032 deaths, 13 were vaccine breakthrough cases. But data indicates that recipients of the booster dose were associated with lower likelihood of hospitalization and ICU admission. Laredo Health will continue to stress the importance of getting boosted to protect yourself, family, friends and community, he concluded. cocampo@lmtonline.com / A Nuevo Laredo teen was arrested in the City of Rio Bravo for smuggling migrants, according to the Webb County Sheriffs Office. Luis Enrique Gonzalez Santiago, 17, was charged with three counts of smuggling of persons, criminal conspiracy. He remained behind bars as of Saturday morning, according to Webb County Jail records. The Zapata County Fair is back and bigger than ever for its 50th anniversary. After being canceled less than a month ago because of COVID-19 concerns, the Zapata County Fair Association announced the fair is back up for the prestigious anniversary. Kicking off our event with a BANG! It is with great delight that the Zapata County Fair Association Board of Directors announces the 50th anniversary of the 2022 Zapata County Fair, the Zapata County Fair Association said in a statement. We are excited to bring back all of our events for this upcoming fair. In addition, we would like to invite all former ZCFA Presidents, former ZCF Queens and Court, former Queens Madrinas, and former Parade Marshals to join us at our Zapata County Fair parade on Saturday, March 12. Since it is the 50th anniversary, the fair association states the event will be bigger than ever as it plans to invite many former figures including presidents of the association, royalty and parade marshals to participate. The president of the Zapata County Fair Association discussed the concerns over COVID and what went into the decision to go forward with the fair. When the board met back in January, we were a little concerned as we are a small community, of course, and cases were up to 50 cases of COVID a day. So we decided then that it was the responsible thing to do to put the health and safety of our community first, because we didnt want to be a super-spreader event that would be the harm of our community, Zapata County Fair Association President Jessica Villarreal said. Keeping the events for the children was never an issue, as we were still going to do the livestock sale, livestock events and all the judging, the queens contest, and all other activities that are really for our children. So initially, we had said, Lets forego the street dance just to ensure the safety of the community. Villarreal, however, notes that this changed when the association saw that the Laredo International Fair & Exposition board decided that they would be hosting their fair while cases in Zapata also started declining to some extent. Villarreal states that once the community of Zapata saw that L.I.F.E. was going to host its fair, the Zapata County Association then moved to reconsider their decision of canceling several major areas of the Zapata County Fair. Overall, even though there is still some uncertainly as to how the situation will be in March, Villarreal voices optimism about the event going on. I am confident. I am happy that the community is excited as this is the 50th anniversary, so I am hopeful that everyone can remain safe, Villarreal said. But of course, it is up to everyones own description whether they use a mask or not, but I am hopeful and confident that it will be a successful event. The community will be happy. According to the Zapata County Fair Association, the Zapata County Fair, livestock show and livestock auction will take place March 10-12. One of the premier events of the fair, which is the concerts that they host throughout the days of the fair, will also be back as the association states that the lineup be posted soon on their social media pages. Villarreal states that the concert lineup may be posted as soon as Friday. The announcement of the fair being hosted again surprised many. However with this announcement, it means the fair is back and includes all the activities with it. As the fair announced the news, locals were divided on the situation as some believe that the surge in cases has not yet peaked to be stating events like this again. It is evident that the cases will soon peak and go down, but this does not mean that they might go down significantly or still stay super high, local Jennifer Trevino said. It is due to this that I will probably not go, even though I like wearing my boots and enjoying some country music at the venue. It is yet not safe for me and my kids. However, though Trevino is still wary, others are more optimistic about the event. It is good to see these events come back as the virus is here to stay, and as more people get vaccinated, we will all soon reach immunity and be protected, Patricio Torres said. We cannot stop our lives because of this, and we must continue living. Many people are suffering mentally alone at home, but this helps people find an outing to finally relieve some stress. Villarreal states that she understands how some people might continue to be wary of COVID-19 but expresses that ultimately it is something that the people will have to deal with as the virus remains a part of our lives and people must continue finding a way to be involved in these activities. As a mom, I understand because, of course, I would be concerned as well for the safety of my children, but it is up to everybodys own discretion whether they want to attend the event or wear a mask. Everybody has a choice in this aspect, Villarreal said. You do whatever you think is best for you and for your family, but schools are already opened, kids are out and kids want to go out and have fun, so I believe this will be a great event. Whether people are going or not, the Zapata County Fair Association also stated that people should stay tuned to their website and Facebook page for more information about the upcoming events. We cannot wait to see everyone at this years Zapata County Fair The Biggest Little Town Fair in Texas, the Zapata County Fair Association states. jorge.vela@lmtonline.com Police on high alert in Haiti as political uncertainty looms, no president to swear in Hinds was convicted of vehicular homicide by intoxication in the 2019 hit and run death of Chattanooga Police Officer Nicholas Galinger. She was sentenced to eleven years in prison in February. Lena Ann "Lee Ann" Enzinna, age 77 of the City of Tonawanda, April 28, 2022. Lee Ann was a 1962 graduate of Tonawanda High School and a graduate of Buffalo State Teachers College. She had been employed by Roswell Park Cancer Inst. for many years. Daughter of the late Samuel F. Sr. and Lena E Mayor Michelle Roman of Lockport, at left, and Mayor Austin Tylec of North Tonawanda meet on the Lockport Community Television set of "Access to Government" Thursday night. The recording of their meeting with Brian Stratton of the Canal Corp. in regard to Gov. Kathy Hochel's budget can be found at https://trms.lctv.net/CablecastPublicSite/show/7732?channel=3. (Photograph submitted) According to the IPAV's Residential Property Price Barometer Longford presents the best value in the country for three and four bedroom properties. The latest Institute of Professional Auctioneers & Valuers barometer states, "Longford is the still the best value in the country for four bed semis despite prices rising 9.68% to 170,000 thus narrowing the gap on neighbouring Roscommon. Another neighbour Cavan is third cheapest at 190,000 despite an 8.57% rise." In the same region, neighbouring Leitrim is fourth cheapest at 193,334 after a 4.5% rise and Mayo is fifth cheapest at 200,000 despite a 7.14% rise. In the three bedroom semi segments of the market Clare scored the strongest growth rising 13.53% to an average of 206,250. It was closely followed by Mayo and Wexford which both spurted 13.04%. A spurt of 6.09% price growth saw Roscommon three beds at 152,500 move from being cheapest in the first half of 2021 to move back above Longford. The latters 3.45% price growth to 150,000 was not enough to prevent it from falling back to cheapest three bedroom in the country. Longford Residential Property Jan - June '21 July - Dec '21 % Change Jul - Dec price per sq metre Two Bed Apartment 70,000 75,000 7.14% 1,250 Three Bed semi 145,000 150,000 3.45% 1,500 Four Bed semi 155,000 170,000 9.68% 1,478 Top Six Least and Most Expensive Locations for Q3 & Q4 2021 These figures are an average across the three property types three and four-bedroom semi-detached houses and 2-bedroom apartments. House Prices Now Close to 2006/7 Levels Pat Davitt IPAV Chief Executive explained, "We are now very close to 2006/7 levels of house prices. However, we are in a very different market. At that time there was no shortage of supply, we were building 93,000 units per year. There was excessive lending with banks often approving several prospective buyers for the same property. They ended up competing against each other, thereby pushing up prices. "We now have a shortage of supply and very tight lending rules, with the Central Bank of Irelands macroprudential mortgage rules. Many properties are being purchased from savings and parents are contributing hugely to deposits for young buyers." Countrywide Price Breakdown The peaceful death occurred on Sunday, January 23, 2022 of well-known horseman, Jack Finn, at his residence in Moigh, Ballymahon in his 91st year. He was predeceased by his parents John and Ciss, sisters Lucy and twins Beattie and Cissie and brothers Mick, Eamonn and Bernie. Jack was a renowned and highly respected horse-man, farmer and a great character to meet. Just like his brothers, Jack was very involved in horses over the years, they were the centre of his life, working as a groomsman over 65 years ago in Foxs in Garrynagh, Shrule. In the early days the Finns used to visit farms in the area ploughing and hay-making. As horse-trainer Jack had many successes over the years in most race tracks in Ireland, they were involved in the Point to points circuit, Show jumping, Hunts, Ballymahon Show, indeed hundreds of horses were broken at Moigh during that time. Himself and the late Eamonn had been regular visitors to Goffs Blookstock Sales and Tattersalls buying and selling horses, they were known far and wide in the horsing fraternity. So many people have fond memories of visiting the Finn family in Moigh down the years, Jack would have inspired and influenced many young people in the industry. No one had a bad word to say about him, he was a thorough gentleman and a great neighbour as they were to him at all times. Jacks Funeral Mass was celebrated by Fr Liam Murray, Ballymahon assisted by Fr Paddy Conlon, Tang in St Matthew's Church on Tuesday, January 25 following which he was laid to rest not far from his home in Shrule Cemetery. A large number of neighbours and friends and many involved in the horse industry attended the Mass and lined the route to the graveyard which reflected the respect which is held for Jack. We offer our deepest sympathy to his sister Carmel and her husband David (USA), to his nieces and nephews, the Tumeltys, Downpatrick and the Finns in Gort, to Frances Keenan, Darogue, wife of the late John, cousin of Jacks, to his cousins the Lynns in Tang and Nance Reilly, Darogue, to Ciaran Quigley who worked with Jack for the last ten years and to all his neighbours and wide circle of friends. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis. An Iraqi clay tablet is displayed between a Lebanese flag, right, and an Iraqi flag during a ceremony held at the National Museum of Beirut, before 337 artifacts were handed over by Lebanese Minister of Culture Mohammed Murtada to Iraqs ambassador to Lebanon, in Beirut, Lebanon, on Sunday. An Garda Siochana has unveiled a brand new uniform to be worn by officers across the country. The new uniform is now being delivered and will be worn by all uniformed members by the end of March. The delivery of a new Garda Uniform to frontline operational Gardai commences this week. Over the next number of weeks, this new operational uniform will be delivered to over 13,000 uniform members of An Garda Siochana of Garda, Sergeant and Inspector rank across every Garda Region, Division, District and in excess of 560 Garda stations nationwide. In a statement, An Garda Siochana said: "The new uniform is contemporary, and incorporates elements such as durability, protection and functionality. A key finding of the internal Garda Cultural Audit 2018 was a desire from front-line Gardai for a new, practical operational uniform. Over 6,500 members of An Garda Siochana contributed to the findings of the Cultural Audit. "The new Garda Uniform is also a key recommendation outlined in the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland Report, A Police Service For Our Future. "At a later date, the Garda Commissioner will announce a formal go-live date when this new uniform will become the operational uniform for daily duties, currently expected to be in March 2022. "As An Garda Siochana approaches the 100th anniversary of its establishment, this is only the third time in that century that a formal upgrade of the Garda uniform has taken place." The new uniform will consist of: Two tone soft shell jacket Two tone waterproof jacket Garda blue polo shirt (short sleeve/ long sleeve) Operational trousers (cargo pants style) Practical base layers (wicking t-shirt and thermal wear) MORE BELOW IMAGE Gardai say this is the first time for the use of the Garda Crest on the Operational Uniform, other than the uniform cap, and demonstrates the respect held by An Garda Siochana for this unique symbol as we enter the 2nd century of policing in Ireland. While some Gardai have use of alternative headgear and the PSNI uniform includes baseball type hats, the standard headgear for uniforms is not changing. "The current uniform cap remains in operation as a unique and distinctive element of the Garda uniform. An Garda Siochana has previously updated our uniform policy to embrace the wearing of official headwear for religious and cultural reasons and beliefs including Turban, Kufi, Topi, KIppah, or Hijab," said the Gardai. MORE BELOW IMAGE. A statement said the new uniform is contemporary, and incorporates elements such as comfort, durability, protection and functionality. HQ said they embarked on a bottom up collaboration through the Uniform Committee of An Garda Siochana, including international research and implementing a Pilot Project involving nearly 200 frontline Gardai based at three Garda Stations (Tallaght, Henry Street and Bunclody). It says these extensive collaborations and engagement designed they new uniform by Garda members, for Garda members. MORE BELOW IMAGE. Commissioner Drew Harris told Gardai it was his great pleasure to introduce the new uniform to them in a Guide to Your New Uniform circular. "We are all working to ensure that Irelands national police and security service remains best placed to meet the needs of an evolving society, and embracing this re-designed, modern uniform is a visual representation of a new era in policing. "It is my hope that in receiving this new uniform, it will further enhance your sense of pride in being a member of An Garda Siochana as you go about your day-to-day duties. Projecting a professional appearance and wearing the uniform of An Garda Siochana with the deep respect it deserves are important because they underscore our overarching mission: Keeping people safe," he said. Over 600,000 in funding will help promote eighty Irish arts projects globally this year. The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, announced news of the funding today (Monday February 7), to aid projects presenting Irish film, literature, architecture, music and theatre to the world. Minister Martin said, "During 2022, Culture Ireland will continue to support Irish artists to present their work internationally and I am delighted that this funding will ensure that our artists can again reach audiences in person. It is for our artists that Ireland is best known and the period around St. Patricks Day offers a unique platform for Irish artists to reach audiences worldwide." Culture Ireland aims to present a diverse array of Irish talent to increase awareness and appreciation of Ireland's reputation for creativity. An extra 100,000 in funding has been ringfenced for SEODA 2022, a special online curated festival which is due to take place over the St Patrick's Day period. It's hoped SEODA 2022 will build on last year's success and reach audiences Irish artists may not usually reach in person. The Irish Architecture Foundation will present 'There is a forest in my backyard, but my house is built from trees grown far away' at the Tallinn Architecture Biennale in Estonia. Currently exhibiting in Solstice Arts Centre in Navan, the exhibition will be presented in Tallinn for a 7 week period in September and October this year. Funding will also enable Irish artists to travel abroad to Britain, Europe and the US during this same period to present work at Irish film festivals in Toronto and Chicago, This includes Sharon Shannon, who is set to perform in Britain, as well as contemporary Irish musicians such as Shane Hennessy, Teada and Screaming Orphans. A dance show called 'Yes and Yes' will showcase in Washington DC and Philadelphia in September, with Manchan Magan undertaking a US tour from March to May with his acclaimed show 'Aran agus Im'. Other projects include a dance feature called 'Birdboy', which will be presented at Imaginate, Edinburgh's International Children's Festival; and Teac Damsa, which will present their award-winning show MAM at the International May Festival in Wiesbaden in Germany. Local News, Health & Wellness By Chris Boyle Published: February 07 2022 Calls on Governor to release metric she will use to lift mandate. Recently, Nassau County Executive Bruce A. Blakeman was joined by Plaintiff Michael Demetriou, Parents, Students, and School Board leaders to update residents on the status of COVID-19 in Nassau County, and discuss the decision of the NYS Appellate Court to extend the stay on school mask mandates until March 2nd. COVID cases are down 86% state-wide yet the Governor refuses to even tell residents, business owners, parents, students, and school boards what metric must be reached to lift her unconstitutional mandate. The Governor should adhere to the law, follow the science, and allow local officials to decide what is best for their hometown communities. Nassau is not in crisis and shouldnt be painted with the same broad brush as the rest of New York State. County Executive Blakeman said. (Alliance News) - Analysts took differing stances on Reckitt Benckiser PLC's infant-nutrition business after Bloomberg reported the household goods firm was considering the future of what remains of the business. Reckitt Benckiser is weighing options for its infant nutrition unit, including a potential sale, Bloomberg reported on Friday. Citing people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg said Reckitt is reviewing the business globally and has been informally gauging buyer interest in the operations. The business could attract offers from private equity firms or rival baby food makers, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private. Bloomberg noted the sale would complete a reversal of Reckitt's largest-ever purchase, the USD17 billion acquisition of Mead Johnson Nutrition, made five years ago under former Chief Executive Officer Rakesh Kapoor. His successor, Laxman Narasimhan, sold the Chinese infant formula business to local buyout firm Primavera Capital for USD2.2 billion last year, exiting one of its largest markets. Following the sale of its Infant Formula operations in China, Reckitt's IFCN business, which is now the Nutrition division excluding the Vitamins/Supplements & Minerals category, accounts for 15% of group's sales, with annual revenue of GBP1.9 billion in 2021. Around half of the unit's sales are in the US, with the rest in coming predominantly from emerging markets. UBS analyst Guillaume Delmas said improved momentum in US IFCN puts Reckitt in a position of strength. Delmas also noted the article suggests that Reckitt is informally gauging buyer interest in its IFCN assets but was also not ruling out keeping the business. "North America now accounts for more than half of Reckitt's Nutrition division's revenue. In the third quarter, Reckitt's US IFCN business achieved high single digit like-for-like sales growth which, we believe, reflected the recent acceleration in category growth coupled with Reckitt's improved market share development," said Delmas. "We expect these two positive trends to continue into 2022 and thus drive robust LFL and margin expansion. Outside of the US (which remains a duopoly with Abbott and Reckitt holding a combined market share of 85%), Reckitt IFCN unit commands several leading market share positions in Canada, Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia," added Delmas. However, Jefferies analyst Martin Deboo cautioned against too much euphoria saying RB is the number four player, in a troubled industry, with rivals Danone SA or China's Feihe Dairy the only incumbents free of antitrust complications. "Reckitt acquired Meed Johnson Nutrition for 17.5 times Ebitda in 2017. However since then falling birth rates and a tilting of the playing field in China have made infant formula less attractive, with incumbents like NESN and Danone seeing slowing top lines and a squeeze on margins. Bulls will argue that by exiting China to Primavera, Reckitt have dealt with the 'toxic' asset, making the (growing) stub more attractive. The counter-argument is that the business has de-scaled by a third and has left any future owner locked out of the world's biggest market, should conditions change," Deboo said. By Arvind Bhunjun; arvindbhunjun@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. (Sharecast News) - Copper-gold exploration and development company Bezant Resources announced the completion of an all-parties technical visit to review the Hope and Gorob Project in Namibia on Monday, leading to consensus on the best way to optimise the project's development, including the lodging of a mining licence application.The AIM-traded firm said lead engineering consultant Practara had developed a number of recommendations to be adopted, aimed at including near-surface mineralisation into the resource model. Project design engineers Nurizon, meanwhile, would review plant layout specifically to offer multiple options for presentation to the Namibian authorities for consideration. Further guidance would be provided by Namibian environmental consultants Namisun Environmental Projects and Development, managing a consortium of local experts given the responsibility for environmental impact assessment documentation. Plant design consultants would embark on high-level design based on feedback from the company and consultants, referencing project throughput, ore types, scheduling and life of mine. The company said the current 2,000 metre drill programme objectives would be realigned with the mining licence application process. That would lead to a short-term emphasis on twinning historic drill holes to provide invaluable geological data, completing initial geotechnical logging for engineering purposes including the siting of infrastructure and underground development, collecting drill core for detailed metallurgical test work, and drilling to intersect near-surface copper oxide potential and to refine the geological model. "The team had very productive site meetings and discussions with all stakeholders," said executive chairman Colin Bird. "The outcome was that the project presents significant opportunity over and above previously considered mining plans. "Our work suggests that an open pit working oxides and transition materials may well be possible and as such we are fast tracking determination of the presence, mineralisation style and metallurgical suitability for leaching or similar processes." Bird said the apparent occurrence of significant gold workings that were reported as exploratory, but appeared to actually have been exploited by previous artisanal mining, was "impressive" to the company. "The work programme should lead to early submission of the mining licence application and we will keep the market fully informed of material developments as the process continues." At 1022 GMT, shares in Bezant Resources were up 3.33% at 0.16p. Tower Resources PLC - Africa-focused oil and gas company - Notes releases from Shell Namibia Upstream BV, Qatar Energy and National Petroleum Corp of Namibia that announced primary and secondary targets have been found in the Graff-1 well in Namibia. Press reports say that the well had one 60-meter layer of hydrocarbons, which hold an estimated 250 to 300 million barrels of light oil. Says it demonstrates conclusively the potential for light oil in substantial quantities in Namibian offshore, where it has a net acreage of 18,637 square kilometres, which is believed to be behind only Exxon Mobil Corp and Eco Atlantic Oil & Gas Ltd in size. "We are delighted by the Graff-1 discovery, for the Republic of Namibia and our partners at Namcor, and also for the greater confidence that this discovery gives us in our own Namibian Blocks. As Immanuel Mulunga, Managing Director of Namcor, has said, this should put to rest any remaining doubts about the hydrocarbon potential of Namibia," says Chair and Chief Executive Jeremy Asher. Separately, Global Petroleum Ltd says Graff-1 discovery has positive implications for its PEL 94 licence, which is about 1,000 kilometres north of the well. Tower Resources current stock price: 0.31 pence, down 9.6% on Monday 12-month change: down 39% Global Petroleum current stock price: 0.73 pence, up 0.8% on Monday 12-month change: down 32% By Elizabeth Winter; elizabethwinter@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN OR SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY JURISDICTION FOR WHICH THE SAME COULD BE UNLAWFUL. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF SECURITIES FOR SALE IN ANY JURISDICTION, INCLUDING IN THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN OR THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA. Amati AIM VCT plc 7 February 2022 Amati AIM VCT plc (the "Company") Legal Entity Identifier: 213800HAEDBBK9RWCD25 Publication of Circular and Notice of General Meeting At the last Annual General Meeting ("AGM") of the Company, held on 9 June 2021, the Board was given authority by shareholders to issue or sell from treasury, on a non pre-emptive basis, 30 million Ordinary Shares in the 12 months leading up to the 2022 AGM. This equated to approximately 25 per cent. of the Company's then issued share capital. Since the AGM held in June 2021, the Company launched an offer for subscription (the "Offer") in order to raise funds to enable the Company to make further qualifying investments as and when suitable opportunities arose, in accordance with its published investment policy. Under the terms of the Offer, the Company sought to raise up to 40 million with an over-allotment facility to allow the Company to raise a further 25 million should there be sufficient investor demand for Ordinary Shares and suitable investment opportunities. The Company experienced strong demand for its Ordinary Shares under the Offer. The Company announced on 4 August 2021 that 40 million had been raised under the Offer and, on 15 December 2021, the Board announced that it intended to utilise the over-allotment facility and to re-open the Offer in February 2022. The number of Ordinary Shares issued under the Offer was higher than was anticipated at the time the 2021 Notice of AGM was published. This is as a result of the Company increasing the aggregate size of the Offer from 60 million to 65 million in anticipation of a strong pipeline of investment opportunities. In addition, as the issue price of the Ordinary Shares issued under the Offer is based on the Company's prevailing NAV per Ordinary Share, the fall in NAV per Ordinary Share since the 2021 AGM Notice was published means that a larger number of Ordinary Shares will require to be issued to satisfy subscriptions than was envisaged. On the basis of the Company's NAV per Ordinary Share of 180.98 pence as at 3 February 2022 (the latest published NAV per Ordinary Share), the Board believes that it will not have sufficient authority to allot the requisite number of Ordinary Shares so as to utilise the 25 million available under the over-allotment facility in full, should it be fully taken up. This would therefore limit the amount of capital that the Company could raise under the Offer. For illustrative purposes only, the issue of the remaining 10,451,263 Ordinary Shares under the over-allotment facility would only allow approximately 19.1 million to be raised under the over-allotment facility (based on the NAV per Share as at 3 February 2022). For this reason, the Board believes that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders as a whole that it be granted additional authority so as to enable the Company utilise fully the overallotment facility. In the light of the above, the Board has today published a circular (the "Circular") convening a general meeting (the "General Meeting") at which shareholders will be asked to consider and, if thought fit, approve the grant of additional authority, in addition to any existing authority, to allow the Board to issue on a non pre-emptive basis up to a further 10,000,000 Ordinary Shares (being approximately 7.3 per cent. of the Company's issued share capital as at 4 February 2022) up until the Company's 2022 AGM (the "Proposed Authorities"). By enabling the Company to utilise its over-allotment facility in full, the issue of new Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Proposed Authorities would enable the Company to deploy further capital into attractive investment opportunities. The Board believes the level of the Proposed Authorities will be sufficient to allow the over-allotment facility of 25 million to be utilised in full, notwithstanding current market volatility. Whilst the Board has indicated the Offer will re-open in February 2022, it is not intended that the first allotment pursuant to the use of the over-allotment facility will occur until after the General Meeting has taken place. For the avoidance of doubt, the Board intends, as is the usual practice, to seek further share issuance authority at the 2022 AGM. The purpose of the Circular is therefore to convene a General Meeting at which the Proposed Authorities will be sought. The General Meeting will be held at 11.00 a.m. on 2 March 2022 at the offices of Amati Global Investors Limited, 8 Coates Crescent, Edinburgh, Scotland EH3 7AL. Should shareholders not pass the resolutions at the General Meeting, the Company will only be authorised to issue up to 10,451,263 more Ordinary Shares under the Offer. As indicated above, this would equate to raising approximately 19.1 million under the over-allotment facility (based on the Company's NAV per Ordinary Share as at 3 February 2022). Therefore, if the requested authorities are not granted, investors wishing to subscribe for Ordinary Shares under the over-allotment facility may not be able to have their subscriptions satisfied in full. As further described in the Company's prospectus dated 28 July 2021, in the event that the Offer is over-subscribed, investor allocations may be scaled back and/or investor subscription monies returned without being processed. A copy of the Circular has been submitted to the Financial Conduct Authority and will be available for inspection at the National Storage Mechanism which is located at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism and on the Company's website at https://www.amatiglobal.com/fund/amati-aim-vct/amati-aim-vct-offer. For further information, please contact the investor line at Amati Global Investors on 0131 503 9115 or by email at info@amatiglobal.com. Notes This Announcement is an advertisement for the purposes of the Prospectus Regulation Rules of the UK Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA") and is not a prospectus. This Announcement does not constitute or form part of, and should not be construed as, an offer for sale or subscription of, or solicitation of any offer to subscribe for or to acquire, any ordinary shares in Amati AIM VCT plc (the "Company") in any jurisdiction, including in or into Australia, Canada, Japan, the Republic of South Africa, the United States or any member state of the EEA (other than any member state of the EEA where the Company's securities may be lawfully marketed). Investors should not subscribe for or purchase any ordinary shares referred to in this Announcement except on the basis of information in the prospectus (the "Prospectus") in its final form, published on 28 July 2021 by the Company in connection with the offer for subscription and the supplementary prospectus published on 18 January 2022 related thereto. Copies of the Prospectus and the supplementary prospectus are available for inspection, subject to certain access restrictions, from the Company's registered office, for viewing at the National Storage Mechanism at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism and on the Company's website (www.amatiglobal.com). Approval of the Prospectus by the FCA should not be understood as an endorsement of the securities that are the subject of the Prospectus. Potential investors are recommended to read the Prospectus and the supplementary prospectus before making an investment decision in order to fully understand the potential risks and rewards associated with a decision to invest in the Company's securities. The content of the Company's web-pages and the content of any website or pages which may be accessed through hyperlinks on the Company's web-pages, other than the content of the document referred to above, is neither incorporated into nor forms part of the above announcement. 7 February 2022 Gulf Marine Services PLC ('Gulf Marine Services', 'GMS', the 'Company' or the 'Group') APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER GMS is pleased to announce the appointment of Alex Aclimandos as the Company's new Chief Financial Officer with immediate effect. Alex brings with him a wealth of progressive international financial management experience gained in over 27 years with first-tier companies viz. Proctor & Gamble, ABB and Alvarez and Marsal. In his recent role, Alex was the Chief Financial Officer at Qatari Investors Group, a publicly listed company. He holds an MBA and is a US Certified Management Accountant. Andy Robertson who has most recently served in that role will remain available to assist with an orderly handover of his duties and responsibilities after which he will be leaving GMS after almost 14 years of service with the Company. Mansour Al Alami, GMS Executive Chairman, commented: "I would like to welcome Alex to GMS. He brings with him a wealth of relevant experience and joins us at an exciting time as we continue with the Company's development. "I also wish to thank Andy for his extensive contribution to GMS over the years, having served as CFO through the update to the Company's banking arrangements and its equity raise last year. We wish him well for the future." Enquiries: Gulf Marine Services PLC Mansour Al Alami Executive Chairman Tel: +44 (0)20 7603 1515 Celicourt Communications Mark Antelme / Philip Dennis Tel: +44 (0) 20 8434 2754 Notes to Editors: Gulf Marine Services PLC, a company listed on the London Stock Exchange, was founded in Abu Dhabi in 1977 and has become a world leading provider of advanced self-propelled self-elevating support vessels (SESVs). The fleet serves the oil, gas and renewable energy industries from its offices in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The Group's assets are capable of serving clients' requirements across the globe, including those in the Middle East, South East Asia, West Africa, North America, the Gulf of Mexico and Europe. The GMS fleet of 13 SESVs is amongst the youngest in the industry, with an average age of eight years. The vessels support GMS's clients in a broad range of offshore oil and gas platform refurbishment and maintenance activities, well intervention work and offshore wind turbine maintenance work (which are opex-led activities), as well as offshore oil and gas platform installation and decommissioning and offshore wind turbine installation (which are capex-led activities). The SESVs are categorised by size - K-Class (Small), S-Class (Mid) and E-Class (Large) - with these capable of operating in water depths of 45m to 80m depending on leg length. The vessels are four-legged and are self-propelled, which means they do not require tugs or similar support vessels for moves between locations in the field; this makes them significantly more cost-effective and time-efficient than conventional offshore support vessels without self-propulsion. They have a large deck space, crane capacity and accommodation facilities (for up to 300 people) that can be adapted to the requirements of the Group's clients. Gulf Marine Services PLC's Legal Entity Identifier is 213800IGS2QE89SAJF77 www.gmsplc.com Disclaimer The content of the Gulf Marine Services PLC website should not be considered to form a part of or be incorporated into this announcement. Prospex Energy PLC / Index: AIM / Epic: PXEN / Sector: Oil and Gas 7 February 2022 Prospex Energy PLC ('Prospex' or the 'Company') Conditional Placing and Subscription to raise 2.395 million and Notice of General Meeting Prospex Energy PLC, the AIM quoted investment company focused on European gas and power projects, today announces that it has raised 2.395 million before expenses, through the conditional placing and subscription of 68,428,572 New Ordinary Shares of 0.001 each at a price of 3.5 pence per share, a 16.7 percent discount to the closing share price on 4 February 2022. The fundraising was oversubscribed and supported by existing and new institutional and retail investors, as well as Directors of the Company and is subject to shareholder approval. Highlights Proceeds of the fundraising will be used to: o Acquire 20% of the Selva Field in Italy, more than doubling the company's current holding from 17% to 37%, estimated to add 2.7 billion cubic feet ("Bcf") of 2P gas reserves to Prospex's portfolio o Fund the development costs of the Selva project to first gas expected in Q1 2023 Full Director participation in the subscription Existing shareholders who have not had the opportunity to participate in the placing, will be able to do so now at the same placing price through Broker Option Shares via Peterhouse Capital Ltd (contact details below) to raise up to a further 0.24 million Proposed removal of pre-emptive rights over 41.3 percent of the enlarged share capital to allow the Company to capitalise on the fast-moving opportunities within the energy sector and advance its existing portfolio Commenting on the placing, Mark Routh, CEO of Prospex said: "This placing has exceeded expectations and we have surpassed the minimum amount we needed for Selva from existing and new investors. We have had full support from our major shareholders and participation from all Board directors and we have closed the placing without issuing any warrants. It will provide Prospex with the funds needed to significantly increase our interest in the Selva Field in Italy, fund the development costs of that project to first gas and will enable us to fund other opportunities. "I am particularly pleased to be offering all existing shareholders the opportunity to participate in this placing via the broker option at the same price as the placees in this subscription. The broker option will be available to existing shareholders until 16:30 on Tuesday 8 February 2022. "Any extra funds received via the broker option scheme will allow us to accelerate and advance work on the infill well drilling campaign on the El Romeral concession in Spain currently waiting on permits to drill the first three infill wells. The first two wells to be drilled on two proven gas-bearing structures are expected to bring the generation utilisation of the plant up to full capacity. "I would like to take this opportunity to thank existing shareholders for their support and welcome our new shareholders as we look to accelerate growth and increase shareholder value." For further information visit www.prospex.energy or contact the following: Mark Routh Prospex Energy PLC Tel: +44 (0) 20 7236 1177 Rory MurphyRitchie Balmer Strand Hanson Limited Tel: +44 (0) 20 7409 3494 Colin RowburyJon Belliss Novum Securities Limited Tel: +44 (0) 20 7399 9427 Duncan VaseyLucy Williams Peterhouse Capital Limited Tel: +44 (0) 20 7220 9797 Susie Geliher Ana Ribeiro St Brides Partners Ltd Tel: +44 (0) 20 7236 1177 Background on Conditional Placing and Detail of General Meeting Use of Proceeds The net proceeds of the Placing and Subscription, (being approximately 2.32m) together with certain of the Company's existing cash resources and income, will be used to enable the Company to fund the development of its 17% share of the Selva field in Italy and to fund the proposed 20% acquisition of the Selva field in Italy, together with the associated 20% share of the development costs. In addition, any proceeds raised from the broker option scheme will be used to fund several business development activities, including providing funds to accelerate the planning and execution in Q4 2022 of the first infill well in the Company's El Romeral power project in Southern Spain through its 49.9% shareholding in Tarba Energia ("Tarba"). If the income generated by the El Romeral power project, which is passed onto Tarba shareholders throughout 2022, does not cover the overheads of the Company, then certain of the proceeds may be used for general working capital purposes. The Placing and Subscription and Broker Option are subject to, inter alia, the receipt of Shareholder approval of the necessary Resolutions to enable the issue of the New Ordinary Shares free of pre-emption rights. Accordingly, the Company is convening a General Meeting to seek Shareholder approval of relevant authorities to allot shares in the Company and to disapply pre-emption rights. These authorities will enable the Directors to complete the Placing and Subscription and Broker Option. Notice of General Meeting The Company is convening the requisite General Meeting for 10:00 a.m. on 23 February 2022 at the Company's registered office at Shakespeare Martineau LLP, 60 Gracechurch Street, London, EC3V 0HR to approve the necessary resolutions in respect of the Placing and Subscription and Broker Option. If the Resolutions are not passed, the Placing and Subscription and Broker Option will not proceed. This announcement explains, inter alia, the background to and reasons for the Placing and Subscription and Broker Option, and why the Directors consider the Placing and Subscription and Broker Option to be in the best interests of the Company and its Shareholders as a whole and recommend that shareholders vote in favour of the Resolutions to be proposed at the General Meeting, notice of which is set out at the end of the circular to be sent to shareholders today. Details of the Placing The Placing Price represents a discount of 16.7 percent to the closing middle market price of 4.2 pence per Ordinary Share on 4 February 2022, being the last business day prior to the announcement of the Placing and the Subscription. The New Ordinary Shares to be issued pursuant to the Placing have been conditionally placed by the Company and by Peterhouse Capital Limited ("Peterhouse") and Novum Securities Limited ("Novum") (together "the Brokers") as agents of the Company, with certain existing and new institutional and other investors pursuant to the Placing Agreement, subject to the passing of Resolutions 1 and 2. Under the terms of the Placing Agreement, conditional on Admission, Peterhouse and Novum will receive commission from the Company on the funds they introduce. The Company has given an indemnity and certain customary warranties and undertakings to Peterhouse and Novum in relation, inter alia, to its business and the performance of their duties under the Placing Agreement. Broker Option Shares To provide existing shareholders who did not participate in the Placing and Subscription with the opportunity to do so, the Company will also offer "Broker Option Shares" via Peterhouse, subject to the completion of the Placing, representing a number of Ordinary Shares up to 10% of the New Ordinary Shares offered in the proposed Placing and Subscription. In order to satisfy the demand for Broker Option Shares, the facility may be increased by agreement between the Board and the Brokers. This is a facility to allow existing shareholders to acquire Ordinary Shares at the Placing Price after the Placing and Subscription have closed. The Company and the Brokers will prioritise valid orders from existing shareholders. As far as is practical, participation in the Broker Option Shares will be prioritised for shareholders (direct or indirect) on the register at the close of business on 4 February 2022. The broker option will be available to existing shareholders until 16:30 on Tuesday 8 February 2022. The Broker Option Shares will rank pari passu with the Company's Ordinary Shares and the New Ordinary Shares. The ability of the Company to offer Broker Option Shares is conditional on the passing of the Resolutions. To subscribe for Broker Option Shares, investors should communicate their bid to Peterhouse via their stockbroker as Peterhouse cannot take direct orders from individual private investors. Existing Shareholders or other interested parties who wish to register their interest in participating in the Broker Option Shares should instruct their stockbroker to call Peterhouse on STX: 76086 or 020 7469 0938 or 020 7469 0936 or 020 7220 9797. Each bid should state the number of Broker Option Shares the investor wishes to subscribe for at the Placing Price. Directors' participation in the Subscription and Related Party Transaction The following Directors are subscribing for New Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Subscription for an investment, in aggregate, of approximately 0.135 million. Their subscription for New Ordinary Shares is taking place on the same terms and conditions as the Placing. Director No of New Ordinary Shares subscribed for pursuant to the Subscription Resulting holding of Ordinary Shares Resulting % of Ordinary Share Capital following the Placing and Subscription William Smith 430,000 5,636,797 2.29% Richard Mays 571,429 1,933,356 0.79% Alasdair Buchanan 1,428,571 3,428,571 1.40% Mark Routh 1,428,571 1,428,571 0.58% Related Party Transaction The participation in the Subscription by the Directors constitutes a related party transaction under the AIM Rules. Due to the participation by all of the directors in the Subscription, there is not a director, or directors, independent of the Subscription to provide the necessary AIM Rule 13 related party transaction opinion. Accordingly, Strand Hanson Limited, the Company's Nominated Adviser, confirms it is satisfied that the terms of the Subscription are fair and reasonable insofar as the Company's shareholders are concerned. 1. Resolution 1 - Allotment of Ordinary Shares Resolution 1 (to be proposed as an ordinary resolution): proposes that authority be granted to allot ordinary shares in the capital of the Company up to a maximum nominal amount of one hundred and twenty-five thousand pounds (125,000) representing an authority to allot approximately 70.5 percent of the Company's issued ordinary share capital as at 4 February 2022 (being the latest practicable date before publication of this document) during the period following the passing of this Resolution until the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting. Resolution 1 will be proposed as an ordinary resolution. This means that for Resolution 1 to be passed, at least 50% of the votes cast must be in favour of the resolution. 2. Resolution 2 - Disapplication of Statutory Pre-Emption Rights Resolution 2 (to be proposed as a special resolution): to dis-apply the pre-emption rights pursuant to the provisions of section 570 of the Act in respect of the allotment of shares up to a maximum nominal value of one hundred and twenty-five thousand pounds (125,000), representing an authority to allot approximately 70.5 percent of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company as at 4 February 2022 (the latest practicable date before publication of this document) and shall expire upon the expiry of the general authority conferred by Resolution 1. Resolution 2 will be proposed as a special resolution. This means that for Resolution 2 to be passed, at least 75 % of the votes cast must be in favour of the resolution. The Board is proposing Resolutions 1 and 2 in order to achieve the Placing and Subscription and Broker Option. The Placing and Subscription and Broker Option are conditional on the passing of Resolutions 1 and 2. Accordingly, if Resolution 1 is not passed, the Placing and Subscription and Broker Option will not proceed. 3. Proposed use of authorities In addition to fulfilling the Placing and Subscription, together with sufficient headroom to cover the Broker Option Shares, the Company is seeking authority to be able to raise funds, if needed, through the issue of equity without pre-emption to be able to execute transactions, if and when needed, without having to call a further general meeting. The Board believes that Prospex's current portfolio is a springboard for further growth opportunities. Organic growth is already happening and corporate acquisitions will also be considered. Investment and acquisition size will vary according to the available production linked financing and the Company intends to leverage the optimum debt levels, a common practice in the industry, in order to increase returns to shareholders with minimal risk. The Company is looking at onshore asset divestments in Northwest Europe and elsewhere. The Company is also talking to debt financiers and others to limit the use of equity and shareholder dilution, but future deals are likely to comprise an element of both debt and equity. Therefore, the Company proposes to ask shareholders for the ability to raise funds to grow the Company through the issue of shares to finance future deals that are in line with the Company's stated vision and strategy. The share authorities being granted by Resolutions 1 and 2 will provide the Company with sufficient share authorities to cover its growth opportunities in addition to the Placing and Subscription and any issue of Broker Option Shares. The authorities will also allow the Company to issue 25 million warrants at 3p per share and 1.92 million warrants at 2.25p share to honour a historic commitment to the brokers and placees in the March 2021 fundraise as announced on 9 March 2021. 4. Irrevocable undertakings The top twelve registered shareholders including the eight 'TR-1 holders' as appearing on the 'AIM Rule 26' of the Company's website have given irrevocable undertakings to the Company to vote in favour of the Resolutions to be proposed at the General Meeting (and, where relevant, to procure that such action is taken by the relevant registered holders if that is not one of them) in respect of their beneficial holdings totaling, in aggregate, 100,362,386 Ordinary Shares, representing approximately 56.61 percent of the voting rights of the Existing Ordinary Shares. Together with the Board directors who hold in aggregate 8,568,724 Ordinary Shares, the total votes in favour of the Resolutions will be approximately 61.41 percent of the voting rights of the Existing Ordinary Shares. 5. Action to be taken by Shareholders You will find enclosed with this document a reply-paid form of proxy for use by Shareholders at the General Meeting. Whether or not you intend to be present at the General Meeting, you are requested to complete this form in accordance with the instructions printed on it as soon as possible. To be valid, completed forms of proxy must be received by Neville Registrars, by no later than 10.00 a.m. on 18 February 2022. Completion and return of the Form of Proxy will not preclude you from attending and voting in person at the General Meeting if you so wish. Shareholders are reminded that the Placing and Subscription is conditional on the passing of Resolutions 1 and 2 to be proposed at the General Meeting. Should Resolutions 1 and 2 not be passed, the Placing and Subscription and Broker Option will not proceed and the monies in respect of the New Ordinary Shares will be returned to investors. 6. Recommendation The Directors consider the passing of Resolutions 1 and 2 and the completion of the Placing and Subscription and Broker Option to be in the best interests of the Company and its Shareholders as a whole. Accordingly, the Directors unanimously recommend that all Shareholders vote in favour of the Resolutions, as they intend to do, or procure to be done, in respect of their own beneficial shareholdings, being at the Latest Practicable Date, in aggregate, 8,568,724 Ordinary Shares, representing approximately 4.83 percent of the Existing Issued Ordinary Share Capital. * * ENDS * * Editor Notes Prospex Energy PLC is an AIM quoted investment company focussed on high impact onshore and shallow offshore European opportunities with short timelines to production. The Company's strategy is to acquire undervalued projects with multiple, tangible value trigger points that can be realised within 12 months of acquisition and then applying low-cost re-evaluation techniques to identify and de-risk prospects. The Company's strategy is to rapidly scale up gas production in the short term to generate internal revenues that can then be deployed to develop the asset base and increase production further. About Selva: The Podere Gallina Licence is in the Po Valley region of Italy. The licence contains the currently shutin Selva gas-field as well as exciting exploration opportunities. The Podere Maiar-1 well was completed in December 2017 and successfully found a commercial gas accumulation up-dip of the previous wells on the Selva field. The well is suspended and is awaiting permissions to connect it to the local gas grid for gas export. The Company currently has as 17% working interest in the Podere Gallina licence. The Company announced on 10 August 2021 the conditional acquisition of a further 20% of the Podere Gallina licence from UOG. Subject to securing funding Prospex is set to increase its working interest to 37% in Q2 2022. Subject to the award of the Production Concession by the Italian authorities, expected in March 2022, first gas is targeted for Q1 2023. The Podere Gallina Licence holds independently verified 2P gross reserves of 13.4 Bcf (5.0 Bcf net to Prospex at 37% WI), gross Contingent 2C Resources of 14.1 Bcf (5.2 Bcf net) and a further 91.5 Bcf of gross Best Estimate Prospective Resources (33.9 Bcf net). (Source: CGG Services (UK) Limited Competent Persons Report - January 2019 https://bit.ly/3nZNfYf). About El Romeral and Tarba The El Romeral gas and power project in Spain, with gas production wells supplying gas to an 8.1MW power plant near Carmona in Southern Spain is owned and operated by Tarba. Prospex owns a 49.9% working interest in the El Romeral project via Tarba. Tarba sells electricity generated from the plant on the spot market in Spain. Current spot market prices have reached all-time highs in recent months. Prospex also owns a 15% working interest in the large scale Tesorillo gas project in southern Spain, which has the potential to hold gross un-risked Prospective Resources of 831 Bcf of gas (Best Estimate), with upside in excess of 2 Tcf. The Tesorillo permit is temporarily suspended, awaiting Ministry resolution and reinstatement as production licence. The Tesorillo permit contains the Almarchal-1 gas discovery well (drilled in 1957) which logged 212m of net gas pay. Multiple drill stem tests flowed gas to surface. Operated by Tarba (85% Warrego Energy (ASX:WGO) and 15% Prospex). Prospex has an option to increase to 49.9% for 1,725,000 ahead of drilling a well. The updated Corporate Presentation for Q1-2022 is available on the Company's website at https://bit.ly/3G6JtCm. 7 February 2022 Tower Resources plc Namibia Update and statement regarding the Graff-1 exploration well Tower Resources plc (the "Company" or "Tower" (TRP.L, TRP LN), the AIM-listed oil and gas company with a focus on Africa, is pleased to provide an update on activity in respect of license PEL 96 in Namibia, covering blocks 1910A, 1911 and 1912B (the "Namibian Blocks") and in particular the recent news regarding the Shell-operated Graff-1 exploration well. Tower has noted the announcements by the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia ("Namcor"), and also operator Shell Namibia Upstream B.V. ("Shell"), and partner QatarEnergy, confirming that the Graff-1 well on PEL 39 has made a discovery in both its primary and secondary targets, and proved a working petroleum system for light oil in the Orange Basin, offshore Namibia. The partners' announcements say that they intend to perform further laboratory work and also intend to drill a second exploration well, to determine the size and recoverable potential of the discovery. The Graff-1 well was drilled, apparently without incident and in around 50 days, to a total depth of 5,376 metres in water depths of approximately 2,000 metres. Other press reports have indicated that the well has been drilled in a slope channel system with a startigraphic trap, and has encountered at least one 60-metre layer of hydrocarbons, holding an estimated 250-300 million barrels of light oil, in an Upper Cretaceous sandstone reservoir. While the announcements say nothing about the source rock, it appears reasonable to infer that the light oil has been generated in Lower Cretaceous (probably Aptian-Barremian) or possibly older/deeper source rocks. Tower's net acreage position of 18,637 km2 is believed to be the third largest net acreage position in the Namibian offshore, after Exxon and Eco Atlantic Oil & Gas. Tower's Namibian Blocks, covering a gross area of 23,297 km2, are in the Northern area of Namibia's offshore, in the Walvis basin which is closer to the border with Angola and the Namibe basin, approximately 950 kms away from Graff-1. While this is a considerable distance, certain conclusions can nevertheless be drawn that are relevant to our Namibian Blocks. 1. Initial conclusions The most important point is that the Graff-1 well demonstrates conclusively the potential for source rocks in the Namibian offshore to have been buried sufficiently to generate light oil in substantial quantities. In the past, this had been open to question, as the only potentially commercial reservoir previously encountered in the Namibian offshore had been the Kudu gas discovery, and the Lower Cretaceous source rock at Wingat-1 (about 250 kilometres to the South of our Namibian Blocks) had produced light oil but until now no substantial oil-charged reservoir was found. The result at Graff-1 therefore reduces the risk of all leads which may rely on similar source rocks, even though each source rock carries its own characteristics and the risks of migration, charge and reservoir are also unique to each case. The Graff-1 well also would appear to indicate, if the press reports are correct, that the slope channel system with a stratigraphic trap has enabled successful migration of oil into a potentially commercial scale reservoir, which is encouraging for further plays of the same type in both Namibia and South Africa. 2. Tower's Namibian Blocks This key conclusion is relevant to our Namibian Blocks because our license area contains a large number of prospects and leads in the Cretaceous turbidites (sandstones) and also in the Albian carbonates and early Cretaceous clastics; and the license area also contains stratigraphic intervals that correlate with regional Lower Cretaceous source rocks which are buried at a sufficient depth to put them in the light oil window. We now have confirmation that these source rocks are potentially capable of producing oil in quantities required to charge substantial reservoirs. We note that the two wells drilled by Norsk Hydro in the mid-1990s in the Tower block 1911 already penetrated both Upper Cretaceous turbidites and Albian carbonates, with well 1911/15-1 recovering light oil from Albian carbonates, as well as penetrating three source rock intervals including one in the Upper Cretaceous (which is oil-prone, but not mature) and two Lower Cretaceous intervals. In addition to the oil potential from the marine source rocks encountered in the Lower Cretaceous, the oil actually recovered from well 1911/15-1 appears to be from deeper Lacustrine sources, also thought to be Lower Cretaceous, which are clearly mature. As previously announced, our Namibian Blocks contain two giant structures (identified on the map on our website at the link below as Alpha and Gamma) and four other substantial leads in the Dolphin Graben (identified on the same map as leads A, B, C and D), each of which contain multiple stacked reservoirs including Albian carbonates and Upper Cretaceous turbidites. Both Alpha and Gamma are interpreted as giant 4-way dip closured structures with billion-barrel potential. The Dolphin Graben Leads A, B C & D, all of which are located directly adjacent to areas with mature source rocks, are each estimated to hold between 250-686 million barrels of prospective resources (arithmetically summed gross, unrisked, Pmean), based on Tower's own initial unaudited estimates. In addition to the structural plays identified above, Tower has also identified significant prospectivity in stratigraphic plays within the Cretaceous and Palaeogene intervals, with potential for deep-water turbidite reservoirs interbedded with mature source rocks. These various plays include leads in the slope channel system and the base of slope/fan setting, similar to Graff and Venus respectively, although we do not yet have enough information to say how closely analogous individual structures may be. For more information on our Namibian Blocks, please see our website at this link: https://www.towerresources.co.uk/operations/namibia/ 3. Next steps Tower has already been conducting basin modelling to support technical evaluation of the leads identified to date as part of the work programme for the Initial Exploration Period for PEL 96. We are now moving forward with more detailed and focused geological and geophysical analysis aiming to high-grade areas for further seismic data acquisition, and we will also be looking out for further information regarding Graff and Venus as and when it becomes available. Once this work is complete, we will acquire new 3D seismic data over the most promising leads/prospects in line with our work programme. Jeremy Asher, Tower's Chairman and CEO, commented: "We are delighted by the Graff-1 discovery, for the Republic of Namibia and our partners at Namcor, and also for the greater confidence that this discovery gives us in our own Namibian Blocks. As Immanuel Mulunga, Managing Director of Namcor, has said, this should put to rest any remaining doubts about the hydrocarbon potential of Namibia. We hope that this discovery will bring prosperity to Namibia, and that the further exploration and appraisal activity it generates will also reduce costs and provide further insights to assist all of us exploring in the area." Contacts: Tower Resources plc +44 20 7157 9625 Jeremy AsherChairman and CEO Andrew MatharuVP - Corporate Affairs SP Angel Corporate Finance LLPNominated Adviser and Joint Broker Stuart Gledhill Caroline Rowe +44 20 3470 0470 Novum Securities LimitedJoint Broker Jon Beliss Colin Rowbury +44 20 7399 9400 Panmure Gordon (UK) LimitedJoint Broker Nick Lovering Hugh Rich +44 20 7886 2500 Notes: In accordance with the guidelines for the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange, Dr Mark Enfield, BSc, PhD, and a member of the Board of Tower Resources plc, who has over 30 years' experience in the oil & gas industry, is the qualified person that has reviewed and approved the technical content of this announcement. Youth Arts Jamboree 2022 Gibraltar Cultural Services, on behalf of the Ministry of Culture, has announced another interesting and varied programme of events for the 2022 Youth Arts Jamboree. Activities as part of this years YAJ will mainly run from 14th February to 12th March. 'Our collaborators have designed tailor made workshops and tutorials covering different aspects of the arts which GCS is sure will be as much educational as it will be enjoyable.' Award winning playwright Louis Emmitt-Stern will deliver several acting workshops for those interested in drama and writing. GCS Cultural Award Ambassador recipient, Gabriel Moreno will host interactive sessions on songwriting and musical composition as well as poetry and creative writing. A life drawing session will be run by the Fine Arts Association. MAG musicians will run a series of workshops focusing on different aspects of performing; from guitar maintenance, to preparing for a gig, as well as music mixing and production. The Gibraltar Heritage Trust will also be hosting a tour of the newly restored Withams Cemetery and The Gibraltar Photographic Society will be hosting workshops for beginners outlining the basics of photography. GCS is also committed to working alongside educational establishments with specific activities being organised. The Street Art mural walk is a new addition which is proving popular this year, with fun and educational tours of the Mario Finlayson National Art Gallery and City Hall, and GEMA Gallery also available. World Book Day activities for schools will be on offer on the 3rd of March at the John Mackintosh Hall with storytelling sessions and other related activities running from the library that week. 'We are also excited to be offering art illustration workshops with renowned childrens book illustrator and artist Eleanor Taylor-Dobbs - a great opportunity for young people interested in writing too.' Dance and drama sessions have been organised for older pupils at Westside School, delivered by Nathan Conroy and Louis Emmitt-Stern. A varied programme will be delivered to the Youth Service, with an array of workshops on subjects and themes of interest to their members. They benefitted from many activities last year and were keen once again to make the most of the Jamboree offering. This year there will be Capoeira with Nathan Conroy, tours of the WWII tunnels with Heritage Trust Trustee Pete Jackson, drama workshops with Hannah Mifsud, and art workshops delivered by Kitchen Studios. The Jamboree will once again include the Gibraltar Festival For Young Musicians scheduled for the week of the 14th of February, and the Gibraltar International Dance Festival running between the 10th 12th March. The aim of the Youth Arts Jamboree is to invest in young people and nurture their love of the arts by giving them access to a variety of interesting fun and educational sessions, which in turn will encourage growth and development. Minister for Culture, the Hon Prof. John Cortes said, The Youth Arts Jamboree provides a wonderful opportunity to promote Culture and to inspire young people and encourage their development in Culture and the Arts. All credit once again to the team at Cultural Services for preparing this inspiring programme for our youth. These activities will encourage and develop their creativeness and will without doubt serve to consolidate even more the Cultural richness of the community. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION LEI: 21380089BTRXTD8S3R66 For immediate release 7 February 2022 Taylor Wimpey plc CEO appointment Following the announcement on 8 December 2021 that Pete Redfern will be stepping down as CEO of the company after more than 14 years of outstanding service in the role, the Board is delighted to announce that Jennie Daly has been appointed as CEO, effective from the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting on 26 April 2022. The appointment follows a thorough recruitment and selection process, led by the Nomination and Governance Committee of the Board, that considered a long list of industry and non-industry candidates, along with extensive consultation with shareholders. Jennie Daly is currently Group Operations Director of Taylor Wimpey and a member of the Board of Directors. In her current role, Jennie oversees Taylor Wimpey's land, planning, design, technical, sustainability, production and supply chain functions, as well as managing the Taylor Wimpey Logistics business. She has almost 30 years of experience in the housebuilding and land and planning industries, with excellent relationships across all stakeholders. Jennie joined Taylor Wimpey in 2014 from Redrow Plc where she was Managing Director of its Harrow Estates business and, prior to that, was Group Land Manager at Westbury Plc. Her early career was in local authority and council planning roles in Macclesfield and Blackpool. Jennie is also a Non Executive Director of the Peabody Trust and of the New Homes Quality Board Limited. Irene Dorner, Chairman, said: "I am delighted to announce the appointment of Jennie Daly as our new CEO. Jennie has extensive experience in the housebuilding sector and has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a razor-sharp operational focus. Her strong focus on execution, combined with her customer and people-focused skills, set her apart from the other candidates we were considering. I look forward to continuing to work closely with her as we execute our next phase of growth." "I would also like to extend the Board's thanks once again to Pete for his exemplary leadership of the business and over two decades of service to Taylor Wimpey. Pete leaves behind a very strong and stable business well set for growth, with a culture that we are all truly proud of. On behalf of the Board, I wish him and his family very well for the future." Jennie Daly, CEO Designate, said: "It is an honour and privilege to take on the role of CEO at Taylor Wimpey and I am delighted to have the support of the Board and our Executive and wider teams. This is an outstanding business with a strong landbank and strategic land pipeline, and a talented and committed team. Taylor Wimpey is strongly positioned to deliver sustainable sector-leading growth and returns, whilst always operating as a responsible business. I am energised by the opportunities at Taylor Wimpey and look forward to working closely with the Board and our teams to deliver on the significant potential at the company." As previously announced, the Board also confirms that a search is underway to identify two new Non Executive Directors, with a focus on operational and industry expertise, as well as customer service experience. Pete Redfern will step down from the Board at the conclusion of the AGM on 26 April 2022 and will be available to the business to ensure an orderly transition until his notice period ends on 8 December 2022. Remuneration arrangements Jennie Daly's remuneration arrangements have been set in accordance with the Directors' Remuneration Policy approved by shareholders at the AGM on 23 April 2020. Jennie's remuneration package comprises: A salary of 750,000 Pension in line with the rate applying to the majority of the workforce, of 10% of salary A bonus opportunity of 150% of salary (earned in respect of FY22) Performance Share Plan (PSP) award for 2022 of 200% of salary, subject to the same performance conditions as applied to the 2022 PSP award for the Group Finance Director Full details will be set out in the Directors' Remuneration Report in the 2021 Annual Report and Accounts. Consistent with his contractual terms, Pete Redfern will be paid salary, pension and benefits in the normal way until the expiry of his 12-month notice period on 8 December 2022. As a good leaver for the purpose of the bonus and PSP rules, he will be eligible to earn a pro rata bonus to 26 April and will retain a pro rata entitlement to outstanding PSP awards, in both cases subject to the achievement of the relevant performance conditions. Further details will be set out in the Directors' Remuneration Report in the 2021 Annual Report and Accounts. The person responsible for releasing this announcement is Alice Black - Group General Counsel and Company Secretary. - Ends - For further information please contact: Taylor Wimpey plc Tel: +44 (0) 1494 885656 Alice Black, Group General Counsel and Company Secretary Debbie Archibald, Investor Relations Finsbury TaylorWimpey@Finsbury.com Faeth Birch Anjali Unnikrishnan Notes to editors: Taylor Wimpey plc is a customer- focused homebuilder operating at a local level from 23 regional businesses across the UK. We also have operations in Spain. For further information please visit the Group's website: www.taylorwimpey.co.uk/corporate Follow us on Twitter @TaylorWimpeyplc Today Mainly cloudy. A few peeks of sunshine possible. High 87F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Tonight A few clouds. Low around 70F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Tomorrow Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 88F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Jefferson, GA (30549) Today Sun and clouds mixed. High 84F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 61F. Winds light and variable. Viewed of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. MANISTEE COUNTY The following includes reports made to the Manistee County Sheriffs Office from Jan. 9-15. All calls may not be reported. This is part of a lengthy report and is compiled by assistant editor Arielle Breen. Jan. 9 A vehicle-deer accident was reported at 6:23 a.m. in Stronach Township. A gun-shooting incident was reported at 10:16 a.m. in Norman Township. A vehicle-deer accident was reported at 11:59 a.m. in Cleon Township. A civil issue was reported at 12:46 p.m. in Norman Township. Animal control was called to a complaint at 12:44 p.m. in Springdale Township. A person was reported as being suicidal at 1:33 p.m. in Stronach Township. A property damage crash was reported at 2:25 p.m. in Manistee Township. A coyote-vehicle accident was reported at 9:22 p.m. in Manistee Township. Deputies conducted a well-being check at 10:49 p.m. in Maple Grove Township. Jan. 10 A personal injury crash was reported at 2:57 p.m. in Pleasanton Township. A person was reported to have been unwanted at a location at 5:46 p.m. in Manistee Township. Deputies assisted Lake County with an incident at 8:55 p.m. Jan. 11 Truancy was reported at 9 a.m. in Dickson Township. A person was reported to have been unwanted at a location at 10:31 a.m. in Manistee Township. Attempted prescription fraud was reported at 12:09 p.m. in Filer Township. Animal control was called to Arcadia Township at 12:44 p.m. for a dog bite. A person was reported to have been unwanted at a location in Filer Township. A neighbor dispute was reported at 3:04 p.m. in Filer Township. A reckless driver was reported at 3:34 p.m. in Filer Township. A vehicle-deer accident was reported at 5:55 p.m. in Bear Lake Township. Harassment was reported at 6:39 p.m. in Eastlake. Deputies assisted a citizen at 8:09 p.m. in Manistee Township. A vehicle-deer accident was reported at 8:29 p.m. in Arcadia Township. Jan. 12 A vehicle-deer accident was reported at 7:51 a.m. in Brown Township. Truancy was reported at 9 a.m. in Onekama Township. Truancy was reported at 9 a.m. in Onekama Township. Truancy was reported at 9:02 a.m. in Onekama Township. Deputies assisted a citizen at 10:38 a.m. in Filer Township. A youth was reported as being incorrigible at 12:24 p.m. in Norman Township. A person was reported to have been suicidal at 3:13 p.m. in the county. Jan. 13 Fraud was reported at 4 p.m. in Norman Township. A two-vehicle property damage crash was reported at 4:21 p.m. in Manistee Township. A domestic incident was reported at 11:18 p.m. in Norman Township. Animal control was called to a complaint at 10:07 p.m. in Manistee Township. Jan. 14 Deputies conducted a well-being check at 9:19 a.m. in Norman Township. A warrant arrest was made at 10:30 a.m. in Onekama Township. A personal injury crash was reported at 12:46 p.m. in Stronach Township. A civil situation was reported in Filer Township. A suspicious vehicle was reported at 7:35 p.m. in Eastlake. Property damage was reported at 8:06 p.m. in Manistee Township. Deputies assisted the City of Manistee Police Department with a use of force at 11:17 p.m. in the city of Manistee. Jan. 15 A vehicle-deer accident was reported at 12:52 a.m. in Manistee Township. Deputies assisted the Michigan State Police with a use of force at 1:20 a.m. in the city of Manistee. A warrant arrest was made at midnight in Manistee Township. A domestic incident was reported at 6:57 a.m. in Springdale Township. A vehicle-turkey accident was reported at 2 p.m. in Manistee Township. Did you know ... The Buffalo Soldiers were members of the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army, formed on Sept. 21, 1866, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. The group was formed after Congress passed legislation in 1866 that allowed African Americans to enlist in the countrys regular peacetime military. This nickname was given to the Colored Cavalry by Native American tribes who fought in the Indian Wars. They were the African American soldiers who mainly served on the Western frontier following the American Civil War, battling Native Americans and protecting settlers. Many of the men in these regiments, commanded primarily by white officers, were among the approximately 180,000 African Americans who served in the Union Army during the Civil War. The Black infantry regiments fought in the American-Indian Wars, captured cattle thieves and even served as park rangers. The 24th U.S. Infantry and the 25th U.S. Infantry also became part of the Buffalo Soldiers. Where did the name come from? One Archivist, Walter Hill, stated that in 1871, the Comanche bestowed the name of an animal they revered, the buffalo, on the men of the 10th Cavalry because they were impressed with their toughness in battle. The term was later used by the 9th Cavalry as well. Another source theorized the name originated with the belief of some Native Americans that the soldiers dark, curly, black hair resembled that of a buffalo. When the American-Indian Wars ended in the 1890s, the Buffalo Soldiers went on to fight in Cuba in the 1898 Spanish-American War and the Philippine-American War. They also participated in General John J. Pershings 1916-1917 hunt for Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa. In addition to their military duties, the Buffalo Soldiers served as some of the first care takers of the national parks. They even acted as rangers in Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks. Although their pay was low, $13 a month, many African Americans enlisted because they could earn more and be treated with more dignity than they often received in civilian life. While in the parks, the soldiers duties included fighting wildfires, curbing poaching of the parks wildlife, ending illegal grazing of livestock on federal lands, and constructing roads, trails and other infrastructure. Capt. Charles Young and his troops managed to complete more infrastructure improvements than those from the previous three years. They completed a road to the Giant Forest and a road to the base of Moro Rock. Their work on these new roads now allowed the public to access the mountain-top forest for the first time. In 1948, President Harry Truman issued an executive order eliminating racial segregation and discrimination in Americas armed forces. The last of the all-Black units were disbanded during the first half of the 1950s. The nations oldest living Buffalo Soldier, Mark Matthews, died at the age of 111 in Washington, D.C. in 2005. Six companies of the 25th Infantry worked in what is now the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and built precursors to the modern Mauna Loa Trail. In the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, the Buffalo Soldiers protected the community of Skagway in spite of discrimination from those they served. President George Bush in 1992 gave honor to the all-Black Army regiments as outstanding legacy of service, recognizing 85 years of courage, valor and heroism. Bush also acknowledged that because of racism, they often received the worst food and equipment and labored without the respect and recognition that were their due. The National Museum of African American History and Culture wrote, Black soldiers used military service as a strategy to obtain equal rights as citizens. Paradoxically, they sought to achieve this by engaging in government-led wars meant to overtake the Southwest and Great Plains from Native Americans. The National Association of Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club of Michigan was formed in Detroit in 2004. There are over 5,000 members in this organization. They pay homage to and ensure the legacy of African American military contributions in the post-Civil War are remembered. During the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) for the year 2022, some Chinese military members kept on conducting overseas missions such as international peacekeeping, maritime escort, and humanitarian relief. On the barren land of the Sahara Desert, there are a group of Chinese military observers participating in the UN peacekeeping operations in the disputed territory of Western Sahara, where they have faithfully fulfilled their duty of safeguarding peace along the ceasefire line. The Strategic Trade Control Enforcement (STCE) Programme delivered its first virtual French language training from 31 January to 3 February 2022, involving four Countries in North and West Africa, nominally Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Senegal. In preparation for the event, the STCE Programme translated its curriculum for online delivery in French in order to be able to properly engage the audience. The eighteen participants were guided through the Definition and Importance of strategic goods and their Components together with an explanation of the different kinds of strategic goods and their characteristics. They were also introduced to the Strategic Trade Atlas and its valuable data for Customs Authorities, in particular in the design of their Risk Management system. The STCE team involved three French speaking pre-accredited Expert Trainers in this event, from the administrations of Canada, Algeria and Burkina Faso, who attended the Train the Trainer event in March 2020 and had not had the opportunity to test their STCE knowledge and training skills in a national training yet due to the disruptions caused by the pandemic. They could also present to the audience their different national STC systems and answer their questions. In addition, a representative of the UN1540 Committee was invited by the WCO to introduce the attendees to the United National Security Council Resolution 1540, the main international legal framework governing strategic goods. The WCO plans to follow-up with an in-person training for Francophone Customs Administrations in the second quarter of 2022, hoping that travel will be possible for all participants involved. Liverpool have progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup after beating Cardiff City 3-1, with Harvey Elliott finding the back of the net on his return from injury. Elliott, who has not played since September after dislocating his ankle, came on as a substitute to the delight of the Anfield crowd to score Liverpool's third goal with a brilliant volley. After several half chances for both sides in the opening 45 minutes, Diogo Jota made it 1-0 at the start of the second half. Diaz makes his debut New singing Luis Diaz came on in the second half and made an impact immediately, assisting Takumi Minamino to double Liverpool's lead. Elliott's goal sealed the win for Liverpool, although Rubin Colwill scored a consolation goal with an equally impressive finish. The victory means Jurgen Klopp has equalled his best run in the FA Cup by reaching the fifth round, where Liverpool host Norwich City. A Leicester City fan is pushed to the ground by stewards after trying to attack the Nottingham Forest players. A Leicester City fan is pushed to the ground by stewards after trying to attack the Nottingham Forest players. Tim Goode AP The Leicester City supporter who made his way onto the pitch to attack Nottingham Forest's players during their FA Cup fourth-round tie on Sunday has since been arrested and banned for life from attending any Foxes matches. Forest had just gone 3-0 ahead in the 32nd minute through Joe Worrall when the away supporter decided to make his way onto the pitch before throwing several punches at the group of players. The Leicester fan was then restrained by stewards before being handed over to the police. "We have arrested a man in connection with an incident that took place today [Sunday, February 6] during the first half of the Nottingham Forest and Leicester City FA Cup match," said Nottingham Police's chief inspector, Neil Williams. "Investigations are in the very early stages and our enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing." A Leicester City fan invades the pitch and tries to punch the Nottingham Forest players, as they celebrate scoring their side's third goal of the game. Tim Goode AP Leicester condemn the supporter's actions Leicester were quick to issue a statement on the matter, as a spokesperson condemned the act and praised the stewards at the City Ground. "The club is appalled by such behaviour and offers its apologies to Nottingham Forest and its players whose safety was compromised," said the Leicester spokesperson. "We applaud the swift action taken by City Ground stewards in apprehending the individual involved, who will be subject to a lifetime ban from all Leicester City fixtures at home and away. "We will offer every support to the relevant authorities in pursuing further appropriate action." Further criticism There was further criticism labelled at the Leicester supporter after the incident, with the likes of former Real Madrid centre-back Jonathan Woodgate and Foxes legend Gary Lineker offering their thoughts on the matter. "That just should not be happening, it is disgusting," said Woodgate on BBC Radio 5 Live. Whoever that so called fan was who ran on to the pitch throwing punches at Nottingham Forest's players should be banned for life by Leicester City. An embarrassment and a disgrace," Lineker posted on Twitter. McAlester, OK (74501) Today Generally cloudy. A stray severe thunderstorm is possible. High 79F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Variable clouds with strong thunderstorms. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low 51F. SW winds shifting to NNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. MONDAY, Feb. 7, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- There will no longer be a limit on how many over-the-counter rapid COVID-19 tests customers can buy at a time, the pharmacy chains CVS and Walgreens say. CVS previously restricted customers to purchasing six tests at once, but has dropped those restrictions because it has increased its supply, the company said. "We've worked with our vendors to increase inventory of OTC COVID-19 tests and have removed all product limits on those products at CVS Pharmacy locations nationwide and on CVS.com," a CVS Pharmacy spokesperson told CBS News. CVS currently carries six different rapid COVID-19 tests. Walgreens had limited customers to a maximum of four tests per purchase in stores or online, but they may now buy as many as they want, according to a company spokesperson. Around the holidays, the tests were particularly difficult to obtain as Americans sought to travel and gather with others at a time when there was a surge in cases of the highly contagious Omicron variant. In mid-January, the Biden administration introduced a rule requiring private insurers to cover the cost of eight over-the-counter COVID-19 tests per month for each covered member, and on Thursday that rule was extended to recipients of Medicare. Americans can also receive four free at-home tests directly from the U.S. government. Some insurers have teamed with retailers to make the tests available for free at the point of purchase, while clients of other insurers have to save their receipts and submit them for reimbursement, CBS News reported. More information Find out more about COVID-19 tests at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. SOURCE: CBS News TRIPOLI, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- Libya's Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Omar Katti on Tuesday called on Italian companies to return to Libya. Katti made the appeal during a meeting with Italian Ambassador to Libya Giuseppe Buccino in the capital city of Tripoli, according to a statement issued by the Libyan Foreign Ministry. Katti stressed the need for the Italian companies to return and resume major construction projects in Libya, including a highway connecting eastern and western Libya as well as the rebuilding of the Tripoli International Airport that was destroyed by armed conflict in 2014. Libya has suffered armed conflict and instability ever since the fall of late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Years of armed conflict has forced most foreign companies to take flight and abandon their projects. ALGIERS, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- Algeria on Tuesday condemned the recurrent attacks targeting Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). "Algeria expresses its strong condemnation and indignation following the repeated attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, reaffirming its constant solidarity with the two brotherly countries," said a statement of Algerian Foreign Ministry. Algeria reiterates its call to "avoid escalation, and to use wisdom and dialogue to overcome differences and find solutions that can ensure a future of peace, security and prosperity for all people in the region," the ministry statement added. The Houthi armed movement in Yemen announced on Monday that it had launched attacks with ballistic missiles and drones on specific targets in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The Saudi-led Arab coalition, with the participation of the UAE, has been intervening in the Yemeni war since March 2015, aiming to support the Yemeni government led by President Abd-Rabbuh Mansour Hadi who was forced into exile after the Houthi rebels took over most northern provinces including the capital Sanaa in 2014. It is not a hidden fact that Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif were dating each other and were madly in love between the years 2010 and 2016. They have worked in Bollywood movies Ajab Prem Ki Gazab Kahani, Raajneeti and Jagga Jasoos. Back in 2013, Katrina made headlines as her bikini pictures from her vacation with ex Ranbir Kapoor started doing the rounds on the internet. She was snapped holidaying in Spain with her rumoured boyfriend. A leading magazine shared their pictures and in no time, their private photos were out in public to mock and judge. They had not openly accepted their relationship and wanted to know each other better. With these pictures leaking in the media, Ranbir and Katrina were left annoyed and upset. When Ranbir was asked to react to it, he told IANS at an event as quoted by International Business Times, How would you feel if pictures of your sister, wife or girlfriend surfaced like this on the internet. It is wrong to show someone's private pictures to the world. I am very upset and did not like this act of the media." We completely agree with the fact that the photographer didnt have the right to intrude into their privacy. Katrina had also sent an open letter to the media with an appeal that all media running the pictures not to circulate it anymore. As quoted by Indian Express, Katrina wrote, I am writing this to say that I feel most upset, distressed and invaded at my pictures published in a film magazine (and which were carried by other media). The pictures were taken while I was on holiday by someone who,in an act of cowardice, had shot without permission and then used the pictures for commercial gain. She added, There is a breed of journalism that preys on celebrities in the worst possible manner crossing all lines of privacy and decency. Running these pictures shows support for this school of journalism. I request that all media running these pictures please refrain from doing so. I have a wonderful relationship with the media and have been accessible to the media at all times. There is no reason for this furtive and invasive behaviour, her letter further read. What do you have to say about this fiasco? Let us know in the comments section below. Salman Khan is a star who is omnipresent on all platforms. He has been in the industry for over three decades and when he is not seen on the big screen, he is seen on Bigg Boss, schooling the contestants and entertaining his fans. While many actors dream of working with the bhai of Bollywood, there are some actresses who actually refused to work with the superstar for some weird reasons: 1. Deepika Padukone The actress who will soon be seen in Gehraiyaan has actually never worked with Salman Khan in her career. While she has shared the stage with him at events, it is interesting to note that DP rejected not one, but over five films with him owing to date and schedule issues. She was offered Sultan, Prem Ratan Dhan Paayo and Kick as well. Instagram 2. Sonali Bendre The two have worked together in the past but as per reports, post the black buck case that co-incidentally happened during the Hum Saath Saath Hain shoot, where Sonali was working with Salman, she apparently tried to stay away from signing any more projects post that with him. 3. Aishwarya Rai No one needs to know why she never worked with him after their much-loved chemistry in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, but if you must know, their bitter break-up was the reason. 4. Twinkle Khanna Everyone remembers the beautiful actress and her chemistry with Salman in Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai . While their chemistry did wonders for the screen, reportedly the actress never really signed anything after it. She quit movies soon after she got married. Shakti Kapoor is one of the most popular villains of Bollywood. When you are seen as the bad boy on the big screen, people perceive you in a certain way. From casting couch sting operation to his misconduct towards women, Shakti has been in the news for many wrong reasons. Back in 2005, India TV carried out an explosive sting operation wherein the female journalist met him disguised as an aspiring actress. His statements caught in the video created a stir in the whole industry highlighting the truth of casting couch in Bollywood. He told the undercover reporter, I want to make love to you and if you want to come into this line (film industry), you have to do what I am telling you to do. He then goes and names three actresses who slept their way into films. He told how Aishwarya Rai had to go to Subhash Ghai and Rani Mukerji had to go to Yash Johar. He also mentioned the name of Preity Zinta. Heres the video: The news soon spread like wildfire, and Shakti Kapoor was banned from the industry by the Film and Television Producers Guild of India. As per a report in International Business Times, Shakti told the Film and Television Producers Guild of India that the undercover reporter met him several times and threatened to commit suicide if he did not come to the hotel room she had booked. Later on, the ban was lifted as there was no substantial proof against the veteran actor. As he dragged Subhash Ghai and Preity Zinta, they later on bashed him in an interaction with PTI as quoted by Hindustan Times. "It is very sad that people like Shakti project our industry and seniors in such a bad light. I am sure our associations will take action against such acts," Ghai said. Preity Zinta, who also has been blamed by Kapoor, said "this comment is made in a very poor taste and he is truly a person who has no respect for anyone and no honour." "I am happy to be part of the industry but feel that one dirty fish spoils the whole pond. He is truly a real life villain and deserves to be banned from our film industry as there is no place for him here," she said. Condemning the way the sting operation was conducted, director Sawan Kumar earlier told PTI, "Had the actor been caught luring an innocent victim, it was understandable. But having a journalist pose and enact a drama is different... It appears to have been staged to trap him. "It is unfair on part of the media to blame the industry. A sensible director would not indulge in this because he cannot afford to put his entire career, reputation and work at stake for a single night stand," he said. "Moreover, how can the media trespass into private spaces? What the channel has done is wrong," he said. We wonder whats the truth here! Was he trapped or did he actually ask for sexual favours? Let us know in the comments section below. Of all the topics that big brands should discuss on social media, there are some that demand extreme vigilance and sagacity, as they have the potential to touch raw nerves everywhere because of how sensitive they are. Kashmir is one such topic that everyone has strong opinions about, and Hyundai decided to mess with that very topic, to the dismay of their communication team in hindsight. via GIPHY If you're wondering what exactly is the issue, the official handle of Hyundai Pakistan ended up tweeting this. Hyundai in Pakistan is asking for freedom of Kashmir. Hyundai Pakistan also posted them same on its Facebook page. Link: https://t.co/ZOBDggsdW0 pic.twitter.com/Kmmk2Rc1wu Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) February 6, 2022 2) Hyundai returned to Pakistan in 2017 by partnering with Nishat Mills, a subsidiary of Nishat Group. Link: https://t.co/K3WfaqPcY7 And now, official social media accounts of 'Hyundai Pakistan' are asking for freedom of Kashmir. pic.twitter.com/J3TbSyaPfI Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) February 6, 2022 After huge backlash as expected, there have been attempts at their end for damage control, but too little too late. 5) Update: Kia Motors Crossroads showroom in Pakistan also tweeted for the freedom of Kashmir. And, just now they deleted the tweet. Link of deleted tweet: https://t.co/ThhQLviNne pic.twitter.com/3CPXS1KxR9 Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) February 6, 2022 Indians on Twitter have not taken this lightly, and are fuming. They are not ready to take this lying down, and have already decided to boycott the brand. The hashtag #boycotthyundai has taken over Twitter, and the number of tweets is only increasing by the hour. Here are some of the angry reactions: #BoycottHyundai I've made all my mind to book Brand new alcazar tomorrow and i was about to make token payment today, you can check the quotation here, but now I need to think again,this biased view is not acceptable. pic.twitter.com/7dofiDS5x5 Nitesh Kumar Agrawal (@caniteshji) February 6, 2022 Hyundai communication disaster is a good learning experience for corporate world to not support Pakistani terrorism. Bad for business. @HyundaiIndia needs to ask @Hyundai_Global to issue apology and take stringent action against @PakistanHyundai. Or people will #BoycottHyundai. Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) February 6, 2022 I am amused that this #BoycottHyundai campaign is being carried out by the citizens whereas it should be GOIs responsibility to ensure that every MNC signs an agreement that Kashmir is integral to India before being allowed to do any business in India. @narendramodi @nsitharaman Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) February 7, 2022 We have sacrificed Brave Soldiers and innocent unarmed Civilians Their sacrifice is more precious to us Indians Say NO to Be Indian Buy Indian #BoycottHyundai Jai Hind KJS DHILLON (@Tiny_Dhillon) February 7, 2022 I own Hyundai Creta, since their apology was just an eye wash. I have decided to use this car for removing garbage at home. Anyways creta is a petrol guzzler #BoycottHyundai Pratiba Kaul (@pratiba_sk) February 7, 2022 While Hyundai tried to apologize for the blunder using a statement, that only seemed to make matters worse. Here is the statement. This further angered Indians on Twitter, who were having none of it. Here are some responses to that apology. No @HyundaiIndia ! This statement does not serve any purpose!!! Be clear and apologise for @PakistanHyundai tweet and make them apologise too or else we Indians shall continue to #BoycottHyundai ! You decide! @Hyundai_Global https://t.co/CCX7oEYOK9 richa anirudh (@richaanirudh) February 6, 2022 In my personal capacity and with limited reach, I request everyone not to buy a #Hyundai vehicle. First time supporting a boycott call. Lets #BoycottHyundai. They have no respect for our national sentiments. The half-hearted statement below tells that they have no remorse also. https://t.co/RziyiBeJo7 Arun Bothra (@arunbothra) February 7, 2022 . @HyundaiIndia This is neither apology nor regret but a joke.@Hyundai_Global MUST apologise & clarify Its stand on Kashmir otherwise be ready to face the music of 140 Cr Patriot Indians. You have 24 Hrs ..Period ! Remember,Kashmir is in our blood#BoycottHyundai https://t.co/yiZE7LtMaw Major Surendra Poonia (@MajorPoonia) February 6, 2022 Looks like this is going to be a PR nightmare for the brand, and they have already started seeing the impact. The Hyundai stock has already plummeted in the share market, and people seem to have decided never to buy their cars till a proper apology is issued. Never Mess with Indians Hit them Where it hurts #BoycottHyundai pic.twitter.com/MtzsKSKiIQ The Random Indian (@randm_indianguy) February 7, 2022 Clearly, this has proved to be a self-goal for the brand. What are your thoughts? Please let us know in the comments section. Meridian, MS (39302) Today Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms this afternoon. High 86F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Mainly cloudy. Low 68F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. VIENTIANE, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Laos recorded a trade deficit of 80 million U.S. dollars in December, according to the latest information from the Lao Trade Portal website. Laos' exports in December totaled 552 million U.S. dollars and imports totaled 632 million U.S. dollars. In December, the main exported products were copper ore, copper and copper products, mixed gold, banana, cassava, clothing, coffee, sugar, maize, and rice. Meanwhile, the main imported were vehicles, diesel, mechanical equipment, steel, water, soda and energy drink, auto parts, gasoline, plastic products, precious and semi-precious stones, chemicals, and food industry waste. Laos shipped goods worth 210 million U.S. dollars to China, 122 million U.S. dollars to Vietnam, 101 million U.S. dollars to Thailand, 12 million U.S. dollars to India, and 8 million U.S. dollars to Japan. In terms of imports, Laos imported goods worth 325 million U.S. dollars from Thailand, 111 million U.S. dollars from China, 52 million U.S. dollars from Vietnam, and 16 million U.S. dollars from Japan. The figures for December do not include earnings from the export of electricity. The Rev. M.G. Matally stands in front of what will be the new church campus of One Faith Fellowship at 1301 Tamarack Road. One Faith purchased the property in December for $650,000 from Century Christian Church, which closed in July 2021. One Faith Fellowship is scheduled to hold its first service at the site at 10:30 a.m. March 6, with a dedication ceremony at 6 p.m. the same day. While Owensboro Community & Technical College has always offered some level of youth programming, opportunities for local kids and their families have increased the last the decade. This is, in part, because of the availability of additional grant opportunities, according to Jessica Cecil, OCTC academic program facilitator. Additionally, she said that since the pandemic began, there has been an increase in response to youth programming offered. That is why the college is amping up its programs this semester and summer. Cecil also attributed the increase in opportunities to the nationwide goal of guiding students into a career path or field early, as well as an expanded focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education, as well as more opportunities to serve underrepresented populations. This includes more support from local industry partners. The ultimate goal is to let students know what college is, and that it can be attainable for them, she said. We also want to welcome and encourage them to consider a future at OCTC, she said. The school is in the middle of a science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) program that was funded, in part, by Alcoa. Middle and high school students engage in five outreach sessions during the academic year, in which they participate in faculty-led, hands-on activities in advanced manufacturing, computer information technology, art and robotics. The Promoting Health Equity Through Allied Health Workforce Diversity Initiative that is funded, in part, by a $18,500 grant from Owensboro Health Regional Hospital, is also underway. The goal of this initiative is to increase the number of African American, Hispanic and multicultural healthcare professionals in the OCTC service area. Through the initiative, OCTC is working closely with community partners, like the Dugan Best Community Center, the H.L. Neblett Community Center, Cliff Hagans Boys and Girls Club and Girls, Inc., to offer camps for elementary and middle school students. There are four community outreach activity camps planned for the spring 2022 semester. Students will be led in hands-on activities by faculty in OCTCs allied health programs nursing, medical assisting, radiography, surgical technology and paramedic technology. There will also be virtual outreach sessions for high school students and adults to provide more information about the allied health programs OCTC has to offer. Experience Nursing Days is an upcoming opportunity for high school students who are interested in studying nursing at OCTC. Events are scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m. on March 18 and April 22. Students will participate in hands-on activities and will also receive a practice kit with a stethoscope and penlight. Interested students may learn more about how to participate in Experience Nursing Days by contacting Nancy Wilson at nancy.wilson@kctcs.edu. Cecil said these programs benefit students and the community at large because they have the potential to impact their overall success. Students can explore career options, gain valuable mentorship and have increased knowledge about the opportunities that would help make their path to postsecondary options easier, like the benefits of dual credit and scholarships. Many of the programs offered host students on campus and encourage them to explore different career paths, Cecil said. Many kids follow the path that is before them, so we just want to expose students to all the possibilities that are available so they can pick the one that suits them the best. Bobbie Hayse, bhayse@messenger-inquirer.com, 270-691-7315 While Springfield, Missouri, is home to the worlds largest fork, and the worlds largest cuckoo clock can be found in Sugarcreek, Ohio, Owensboro has its own worlds largest in the form of a roughly 300-year-old sassafras tree. Standing prominently at 2100 Frederica St., the tree continues to attract sightseers today, more than 110 years after it first received recognition in the Messenger-Inquirer. Shane Satterfield, State Farm Insurance agent, moved his business office to 2100 Frederica in December 2020. Becoming the latest owner of the iconic sassafras tree has become an added bonus for him. We get five to 10 people a week, especially during the summer months, I would say, that stop by the office to look at the tree, he said. Satterfield said visitors to the tree have not caused any disruptions with his business, and oftentimes just stop by for a photograph. The only ones that have come into the office are maybe State Farm agents from other parts of the country that stop by and come in to let us know that they are State Farm people too, Satterfield said. The sassafras has also proved to be a good tool in helping people find his office, telling new clients that the agency is by the sassafras tree. We havent done anything with this particular aspect yet, but I have considered maybe one day planting another one, he said. I plan on being there for the rest of my career, so I would assume at some point it would probably die before I move on, so it would be nice to pay it forward a little bit. It is the latest chapter in a story that dates back about 300 years, but began to receive media attention in the early 20th century. In March 1912, the Messenger-Inquirer published an article detailing a sassafras tree in Atlanta that was being billed as the largest in the nation. The Atlanta trees measurements were reported to be 50 feet in circumference with a diameter of 7 feet. A March 19, 1912, Messenger-Inquirer article titled A Whopper: Probably the largest sassafras tree in the world, reported that Owensboro was home to an even larger sassafras tree than the one in Atlanta. The Owensboro tree, in the front yard of a home owned by Alexander Hill on South Frederica Street, was reported to be 60-feet tall with a circumference of 10.5 feet. The newspaper said at the time that it was very probable that the largest sassafras tree in the world is in Owensboro and that compared with a sassafras tree in Mr. Alexander Hills yard on South Frederica Street in Owensboro, the one in Atlanta is not much more than a sapling. It also shows that the department of agriculture is not well posted on big sassafras trees. The sassafras tree made headlines again during the fall of 1917, when the newspaper reported that Owensboros worlds largest sassafras tree was attracting attention because of its colorful leaves. When the sunlight falls upon it, all the shades from bright scarlet to the softest fold are to be seen, blended with the skill that no artist could ever reach, the Messenger-Inquirer reported. The tree faced an uncertain future for a period of time during the 1950s, when Frederica Street was being expanded from two lanes to five lanes. The property owners at the time, Dr. and Mrs. O.W. Rash, were concerned that the road work would destroy the noted sassafras trees root system. The couple took their concerns to City Hall, and while 66 trees were cut down for the project, the beloved sassafras continued to stand tall. Officially registered with the American Forestry Association, a historical marker near the tree notes that the giant sassafras was first mentioned for its size in 1883, and it has been a noted landmark in Daviess County for centuries. When the marker was placed in 1968, it was noted that the tree was over 100 feet tall with a circumference of 16 feet. In January 1984, E.M. Ford Insurance began maintenance work on the tree after moving its offices to 2100 Frederica St. Writer Keith Smith reported at the time that the agency was spending up to $1,500 to help ensure the natural landmark would still be around for future generations to enjoy. It hadnt had anything done to it in a long time, Reyburn Ford said at the time. Owensboro tree service was hired to do maintenance on the tree, installing feeder hoses around the base of the tree so water and fertilizer could be poured directly into the trees underground root system. Dead, hollow limbs were also filled with concrete and antiseptic tar paint was sprayed over its recently trimmed limb stumps. The crew also installed cables to help support the larger limbs during strong winds. The Messenger-Inquirers Keith Lawrence reported in January 1992 that there remained a desire in the community to see the giant sassafras tree preserved. The late Joe Ford, longtime county naturalist, said the tree is female in variety you can tell by the blue berries on the tree. There are a good many trees around here, but thats the most significant, Ford said at the time. An Afghan currency exchange dealer waits for customers in Kabul, Afghanistan, Feb. 6, 2022. The U.S. dollar has depreciated against Afghanistan's national currency Afghani, compared with a couple of days ago, according to Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB) on Sunday. According to the foreign exchange rate issued by the DAB, the country's central bank, the value of 1 U.S. dollar has dropped from 103.3 afghanis on Jan. 27 to 86.86 afghani on Sunday. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) KABUL, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. dollar has depreciated against Afghanistan's national currency Afghani, compared with a couple of days ago, according to Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB) on Sunday. According to the foreign exchange rate issued by the DAB, the country's central bank, the value of 1 U.S. dollar has dropped from 103.3 afghanis on Jan. 27 to 86.86 afghani on Sunday. The prices of food and non-food items have also fallen down in Kabul's markets. The shortage of the greenback with high demand in the local market has been reportedly behind the rise in the U.S. dollar against afghani a couple of months ago. Photo taken on Feb. 6, 2022 shows Afghani banknotes in Kabul, Afghanistan. The U.S. dollar has depreciated against Afghanistan's national currency Afghani, compared with a couple of days ago, according to Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB) on Sunday. According to the foreign exchange rate issued by the DAB, the country's central bank, the value of 1 U.S. dollar has dropped from 103.3 afghanis on Jan. 27 to 86.86 afghani on Sunday. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) Currency exchange dealers wait for customers in Kabul, Afghanistan, Feb. 6, 2022. The U.S. dollar has depreciated against Afghanistan's national currency Afghani, compared with a couple of days ago, according to Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB) on Sunday. According to the foreign exchange rate issued by the DAB, the country's central bank, the value of 1 U.S. dollar has dropped from 103.3 afghanis on Jan. 27 to 86.86 afghani on Sunday. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) Paducah, KY (42003) Today Sunshine this morning. Becoming mostly cloudy with showers developing this afternoon. High around 80F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy overnight with thunderstorms likely. Low 67F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%. We're sorry, but we're unable to locate the page you requested. The page may have been removed, renamed, or deleted. You can try searching for the topic using the search button in the right hand corner above. Its hard to imagine such a long time ago, when moose, elk, bear, and other wildlife found in the area were hunted by the Indigenous people who lived here. Michigans Upper Thumb has a rich native history that can be seen within its roots today. With Native American Heritage Month having just passed, it gives us the opportunity to remember the tribes that were here long before us and the impressions they left here. Anishinaabe Long before the Treaty of 1819, which was one of the first to cede the Northern Thumb Area to the United States, the Big Finger, of the thumb region was called Tessakamiga, which meant the flat country. According to records from the Port Austin Historical Society, the native people who named it such were the Anishinaabe. They lived in waakaaigaans, or wigwams, made of birchbark and would relocate based on the various seasons to follow game animals and fish. In the Spring, the Anishinaabe would harvest tree sap and catch spawning fish at the lakeshore before returning to larger villages in central Michigan during the summer season. They returned to follow the fish in the fall and spent the winter season hunting and trapping the local wildlife. This group of Indigenous people believed that all things possessed a spirit, and all those spirits were connected under a creator known as Gichi Manido. It is believed that Gichi Manido created land on the back of a turtle and humans in four sacred colors: red, black, white, and yellow. Preserved history Many of the names we know today can be traced back to the Native Americans who were here before us. The Thumb Region was celebrated for its peltry, as an ideal location for small animal trapping. River names included sebe-wa-ning, which meant the river of the furriery, The Pinnebog, or Partridge, River was known as a great place for birds and the Pigeon River was named for the wild pigeons that once nested there. The Sanilac Petroglyphs, which can still be seen today, are carvings from the Anishinabek. It is believed that this was a place where elders gave lessons to their people. The Saginaw Chippewa Band of Anishinabek still perform ceremonies and leaves offerings at this sacred location. The large slab of Marshall sandstone was formed by a mixture of sand, mud, and lime millions of years ago, later to be shaped by glacial melt. The carvings were discovered after the devastating fire of 1881 and depict things like an underwater panther, which is believed to live in the Great Lakes, and the night walker, that steals children at night. It isnt hard to imagine, after some tragedy, string of events, or tall-tale that these images would have been carved into the sandstone, creating a unique history book. While M-25 has taken the place of most of the trail, parts of Sand Road are still intact between Bay Port and Port Austin. It is very likely that Sand Road was a hunting and fishing path for Michigan Indians traveling into the Upper Thumb. Huron Countys 85-mile shoreline held a village site every few miles, with a few small islands in Saginaw Bay said to have had villages as well. According to a history of Huron County, written by Mrs. Florence McKinnon Gwinn, the settlers that came later followed the Indian trail along the beach. There were a number of Indians about here at this period belonging to the Chippewa tribe, she wrote. They were generally peaceful and frequently exchanged visits with these early pioneers bringing them gifts of venison, bear meat, and in the spring maple sugar. Indian Dave Ish-don-quit, who was known widely as Indian Dave, followed the traditional native ways of life. He was witness to the Treaty of 1819 and was often invited into homes of people living across the Upper Thumb. Tuscola Countys earliest recorded inhabitants were Sauk Indians, but by the time the first permanent pioneer settlements were established in 1836, mostly Chippewas occupied the area. According to a Michigan Historical Marker dedicated to him, Indian Dave was one of the last Chippewas to hunt, fish, and trap in Tuscola County. He often fascinated children with his stories and native customs. According to the Saginaw Evening News, printed on April 5, 1907, Indian Dave and his son, Bill, who was nearly 60, would spend the warm season near Murphys Lake, which was eight miles southeast of Vassar. There he would gather ginseng roots and cure them for market, which would bring them around $8 a pound. Indian Dave was born around 1803 near Vassar and died in 1909. He is buried near Wisner Cemetery, where the historical marker stands. According to an obituary printed in the Cass City Chronicle on June 4 1909, Indian Dave was sure he had passed his 106th birthday prior to his passing, although it was questionable to whether he knew his exact age. He claimed to be the son of Chief Nipmup of the Chippewa tribe, but was recognized by the tribe only as an outcast. Although he was known across the Thumb as Indian Dave, he was recorded as David Stocker as a citizen. The First Michiganders Since their time, the Indigenous People who lived here and across the country have faced treaties that were ultimately not honored and attempts by early settlements to wipe their culture. Native Americans were denied acknowledgment and respect through a system of Indian schools meant to strip them of their practices and history. Today, there are several hundred individuals living in Huron County with Native American ancestry. As the first Michiganders, the Indigenous People that came before us deserve to be remembered and celebrated like anyone else fortunate enough to come from the Great Lakes state. It is now that we can appreciate their history and see it alive and well all around us. A child poses for photos at an exhibition of New Year pictures in Xicheng District of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 1, 2022. The exhibition kicked off here on Jan. 25, featuring more than 270 New Year pictures created to commemorate the arrival of the lunar new year in the Chinese tradition. (Xinhua/Hu Zhixuan) BEIJING, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- "The performances in our new theater are often sold out, and even tickets for standing-room have to be added, which was unimaginable in the past," said Hong Shijian, head of the Quanzhou puppet theater in east China's Fujian Province. Hong was talking about the well-received string-operated marionette performances at his theater during the Spring Festival holiday, or Chinese Lunar New Year holiday, which ran from Jan. 31 to Feb. 6 this year. Quanzhou held various cultural tourism activities, encouraging tourists to visit cultural heritage museums and traditional Chinese opera houses to savor the culture of the city. Besides Quanzhou, cities across China have provided tourism products like local cultures to attract more people. Many have avoided long-distance travel this year and stayed put to prevent the spread of COVID-19. CULTURAL EXPERIENCES Online and offline cultural experiences are offered in many Chinese cities, covering different themes. In Ningbo city of Zhejiang Province, nearly 100 cultural tourism activities were held during the Lunar New Year holiday in famous scenic spots, towns and villages, featuring local cuisine, folk customs, music, and exhibitions. The city also sent out coupons worth 1 million yuan (about 156,873 U.S. dollars) online to spur local cultural tourism. Cities like Harbin in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, famous for ice and snow-related tourism, have become hot destinations for tourists as the ongoing Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games draws global attention. New products and consumption scenarios also give fresh experiences to visitors. During the seven-day holiday, Ningbo has opened a cultural tourism market, pooling creative products and local food from neighboring cities, and adopting methods like the "blind box," VR, and livestreaming to bring more tourist involvement. In January, China unveiled a development plan for the tourism sector. It aims to build a stronger modern system for the sector by 2025, integrating cultural development and boasting an improved barrier-free environment and services. The integration of culture with tourism is a process for people to appreciate Chinese culture and enhance their cultural confidence, and promote the organic integration of social and economic benefits of tourism, said an official with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. LOCAL TOURS Short-distance travel and private tours using an independent vehicle have become the choice of most tourists during this holiday. Orders for intra-provincial tourism products accounted for 65 percent of the total, increasing significantly compared with the holiday period in 2019, according to China's leading online travel agency Trip.com Group, formerly known as Ctrip. The preferences of tourists are reflected in their booking of vacation rentals. According to Muniao, an online booking platform for short-term property rental, the number of intra-provincial homestay orders is expected to reach 1.53 times that of the same period last year. The average number of days they stayed has dropped, with 58 percent of people choosing to stay for only one or two days. Customers this year are less sensitive to prices, and their requirements for quality services are higher, according to a Muniao report. MIDDLETOWN The Church of the Holy Trinity and Ekklesia Contemporary Ballet recently raised $5,000 to benefit St. Vincent de Paul Middletown. Both organizations share a mission to serve those in need, according to a press release. The church has been a loyal supporter of St. Vincent de Paul ever since the soup kitchen first opened its doors 42 years ago, the news release said. Support has taken many forms over the years: from consistent monetary donations to creating the first overnight warming center in former rector Maggie Minnicks basement, relocating the center to the church chapel, enlisting the help of other churches and Columbus House as needs expanded exponentially, and continuing to dream of a workable permanent solution for those without safe homes in Middletown. This year, Ekklesia brought to Middletown its annual Christmas ballet, Ahavah, which had previously run for 15 years on the Shoreline. The show has traditionally given all of the profits to a local soup kitchen, and now that it has moved to Middletown, it will continue to support SVDM in years to come, the release said. Organizations who share the same mission can make an even greater impact, the Rev. Mary Barnett said in a prepared statement. ECB has been partners with CHT since the company moved to Middletown in 2020. We couldnt do this work without the support of CHT, ballet Artistic Director Elisa Schroth added. We are so grateful to all of the faith-based communities, local businesses and Mayor Ben Florsheim for his leadership in local government to help us end hunger and homelessness here in Middletown, SVDP Executive Director MaryEllen Shuckerow said in the release. St. Vincent de Paul is a front-line service provider. Anyone in need is welcome to stop by for food, shelter, and groceries through the Amazing Grace Food Pantry, the organization said. November through March are the hardest months financially for SVDP, the organization said. For information, visit svdmiddletown.org. One perk to military life is the VA Loan Benefit. What's not to like about a 0% down loan with no mandatory private mortgage insurance (PMI)? Bonus that they often offer lower rates than a conventional loan? If you are eligible for this benefit, it's one you should take advantage of. The meaning behind the name: The VA does not provide home loans directly. The VA acts as the security of the loan. This means the VA guarantees to cover the bank's losses if there is a default on the loan. This is added security for lenders! Do you qualify? Eligibility is based on service. Did you or your spouse served on active duty during wartime for 90 consecutive days? Or serve on active duty during peacetime for 181 days? Or serve in the National Guard or Reserves for six years? Were you or your spouse discharged from the service under honorable conditions? Or are you the spouse of a service member who died in the line of duty or as a result of a service-related injury or disability? If you can respond with "yes" to one or more of these requirements, you should be eligible. Prove you're eligible. For the loan, you'll need to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (COE). To do this, complete a Certificate of Eligibility Request Form (VA Form 261880). Sign onto ebenefits.va.gov with your CAC card (military ID card) to complete this form. This part of the process will require you to create an eBenefits account if you don't already have one, or to login with existing credentials. Once on the site, click on the link entitled "Certificate of Eligibility for a Home Loan" and follow the instructions. Make sure to print out at least two copies of the COE -- one for your own records and one for your mortgage lender. You can also request your COE by mail with VA Form 26--1880. If you apply for a mortgage through a VA approved vendor, you should also be able to get your COE. Any questions or technical issues? You can contact VA/DoD at 1--800--983--0937. You can also ask your lender for assistance with obtaining your COE. Most COEs are sent electronically. Find a Lender. Most lenders can offer VA Loans. However, it is to your advantage to choose a lender who specializes in them. If you are working with a real estate agent who works regularly with military families, he or she knows and works with lenders with experience and expertise navigating the VA Loan program. This means smoother sailing for you! Get your other documentation in order. Get a binder, and gather up the gear. Buying a house is not unlike a move or deployment, it is best to keep everything all in one spot. You'll need: If you are still on active service, you will need a statement of service. A DD-214 will verify an honorable discharge. You will also need to demonstrate that you have steady income sufficient to cover your mortgage payment and monthly expenses, so you'll want to make sure you have your pay stubs or other proof of income readily available. While individual lender requirements may vary, you will likely be asked to produce bank statements, tax returns, W-2s, and orders (if you're PCSing). Your lender will communicate any additional documentation that is necessary. Pro tip: Put this information aside before you're packing up if you're in the middle of a move. Once you've obtained your Certificate of Eligibility, put together your documentation, and assembled your dream team -- an agent who is a pro at working with military families and a lender who's comfortable with VA Loans -- you're ready to move forward with your home purchase. And in the process, you'll be able to reap the financial rewards of a hard-earned benefit. Find a VA Loan If you're ready to move forward, or just want more information, the first step is to get no-obligation rate quotes. This article originally appeared on the Millie Journal. Ben Milligan's new book, "By Water Beneath the Walls: The Rise of the Navy SEALs," is not your typical Navy SEAL book. There is not a single mention of how the author successfully completed the toughest military training in the world, the BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL) training. This is first a well-researched study of history that goes back to the years just after World War I when the political and economic situation of the times required conventional leaders to think out of the box and create soldiers, sailors and Marines who were "raiders, commandos and amphibious operators." Second, it is an entertaining storyline detailing incredible "special operations" missions conducted by brave and larger-than-life Americans throughout World War II, Korea and Vietnam from all of the services, not just the Navy. These missions and lessons from the Army Scouts, Army Rangers, Special Forces, Marine Raiders and RECON, and the Navy's own Navy Combat Demolition Units (NCDU) and Underwater Demolition Team (UDT) were the historic backbone of today's Navy SEAL teams. The building of today's CIA from the World War II Office of Strategic Services by pioneers such as William Donovan also played a significant role in creating a maritime special operations unit that would inevitably be run by the Navy, thanks to such brilliant thinkers and leaders as the Chief of Naval Operations Arleigh Burke. "By Water Beneath the Walls" is more of a joint special operations history book than an individual Navy SEAL book. Great military and even political minds were key to taking advantage of the geopolitical and military situation to forcefully influence the need for such unconventional war fighters. The internal military and political battles fought by many of the founding fathers of today's special operations were won and lost throughout the decades between World War II and the Vietnam War, with many early special operations units being disbanded. What has emerged today as a joint group of specialized military personnel within today's Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is the result of unconventional leaders sending brave men on harrowing missions behind enemy lines. The missions' successes and failures and larger-than-life egos were often a double-edged sword for the fledgling organizations that soon became the most decorated units within the military. The need for small unit tactics was proven over and over until the military found the formula for peacetime training (versus disbandment) and wartime operational tempo. I found it funny that "Navy SEAL book" does not mention the term "Navy SEAL" until chapter 11 when a creative naval officer used the term SE-A-L as an acronym for units that were capable of fighting from the water, air and on land well behind the amphibious range of the hinterland (lands closest to the coasts of waterways). However, there are plenty of Scouts and Raiders and NCDU and UDT missions expertly described etching these brave men into history of the formation of the unit that today is the Navy SEAL team. Milligan just so happens to be a combat veteran and former Navy SEAL, but he is first and foremost an engaging historian. His writing style is comparable to many of the history books of David McCullough, such as "1776," "Mornings on Horseback" and "The Pioneers." I found the best part of this book to be the bibliography that makes up nearly 20% of the book's bulk, giving an endless supply of resources on many of the individual forefathers if you want to read with greater detail in the future. Milligan's genius in writing is immediately observed on the first page of the book when the odd title, "By Water Beneath the Walls," is explained by a covert mission where ancient frogmen swam through an aqueduct beneath the walls of the fortress. I was hooked immediately. 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. 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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 MEXICO CITY, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- At least eight people were killed and several more injured when a bus overturned on a highway in Mexico's Quintana Roo state on Sunday, local authorities confirmed. The Quintana Roo Prosecutor's Office tweeted that the accident had occurred on the Kantunilkin-Cancun highway in the municipality of Lazaro Cardenas near the town of El Tintal, and the victims were five men and three women. According to local media, the bus belonged to the Autobuses de Oriente company and collided with a truck carrying construction material. Mexico ranks seventh worldwide and third in Latin America in terms of road traffic deaths, according to data from the National Institute of Public Health. Fort Madison, IA (52627) Today Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 61F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Rain likely. Low around 50F. Winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible. Keokuk, IA (52632) Today Partly cloudy skies during the morning giving way to a few showers late. High 62F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Periods of rain. Low 52F. Winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a half an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible. As a current print subscriber, you receive 24/7 access to our website and online e-edition at no additional charge. All you have to do is activate your access. To activate digital access, you will need your account number. You can find your account number on any recent subscription notice or bill. Female Afro-pop sensation Aidalyne known in real life as Aida Ansah Asare is set to release her second single as part of her yet-to-be unveiled EP. The musician who received lots of praises after releasing her first single titled This thing called love said her second single is ready and will be released by ending of February. Aidalyne who is fully ready for the Ghanaian music industry said she wants to be a positive influence and a character that people can relate and potentially look up to brighten their lives. I see the music industry as the thriving industry which has helped a lot of young people put their vision into reality and are able to achieve their life goal and I like to add unto and also gain from that, she said. As to what her second single Twisted Fantasy talks about she said Twisted Fantasy talks about life Sekondi-Takoradi Mayor Mr. Abdul Mumin 05.02.2022 LISTEN The National Democratic Congress (NDC) office in the Western North Region is demanding an apology from suspended Sekondi-Takoradi Mayor, Mr. Abdul Mumin on behalf of the people of Enchi. This is in relation to comments made by the MCE during exchanges with a Police officer in midweek that has landed him in trouble. Mr. Abdul Mumin while insulting a Police officer at a checkpoint, threatened to have him transferred to Enchi. Following the matter that has gone viral on social media, the NDC in Western North Region has issued a statement condemning what it describes as demeaning and disrespectful comments. In the release signed by Communications Officer Sam Jerome, the NDC demands that the MCE issue an apology to the people of Enchi. However, we are highly concerned about the statement made by the MCE about the town Enchi. In his comment, the Hon Abdul-Mumin was heard saying he will transfer the said police officer from Takoradi to Enchi. By inference, Enchi isnt a place or town to live thus serving as a punishment area for people. This statement we find very demeaning and disrespectful to the town and people of Enchi, part of the statement from NDC Western North has said. Read the full statement below: WESTERN NORTH COMMUNICATION BUREAU - NDC WESTERN NORTH NDC TAKES STRONGER EXCEPTION TO THE LOOSE AND MALIGNANT COMMENT MADE BY THE EMBATTLED MCE FOR SEKONDI TAKORADI AGAINST THE CAPITAL OF AOWIN - ENCHI By this release, the NDC in the Western North region highly condemn in no certain term the disparaging comment made by Hon Abdul-Mumin Issah, the MCE for Sekondi Takoradi when arrested by the police after his reckless driving and open disrespect and disregard towards the police officers on duty. A video circulating on social media captured the embattled MCE who after careless driving, had the impetus to exhibit non-existing powers and in the cause of it hurling insults at the police officers on duty. Though very despicable, we are not too concerned about that since the police will take the necessary action thereof. However, we are highly concerned about the statement made by the MCE about the town Enchi. In his comment, the Hon Abdul-Mumin was heard saying he will transfer the said police officer from Takoradi to Enchi. By inference, Enchi isnt a place or town to live thus serving as a punishment area for people. This statement we find very demeaning and disrespectful to the town and people of Enchi. As Honorable as the MCE may be, it will be prudent for him to render an apology to the people of Aowin particularly Enchi. Find attached the video. Long live Western North! Long live Enchi! Sam Jerome Communication Officer - WN The Souvenir Part II is not just a stroll down memory lane for British director Joanna Hogg. It is a powerful portrait of the filmmaking process itself. Although designed to be a sequel, the film stands alone in its exploration of love, life and cinema. Shown as part of the Director's Fortnight at Cannes in 2021, it was released in France on 2 February. Joanna Hogg kept her diaries from the 1980s, and even certain items of clothing and objects, like talismans for a time capsule. Did she suspect that forty years later she would hand these items over to her team of actors to make two semi-biographical feature films, The Souvenir Part I and Part II? The idea came from thinking about the beginning of my film making career, Joanna Hogg says. It's the story of a woman who is just starting to be recognised for her true value as an artist. The Souvenir Part II picks up where Part I left off, telling the story of Julie, roughly based on Hogg's own experiences as a student at film school in the UK. It should be noted that it is not necessary to see the first film to understand the second. Having broken up with a charismatic older man, Anthony, Julie is now trying to piece her life back together. This involves pitching her idea for her graduation film to a jury, and then organising the crew to make it. As she pulls herself out of an emotional black hole, flashbacks fill the viewer in on the sway Anthony held over her and she can't help but seek out the people who knew him in order to get closure. What saves her is making her own film, which acts as a catalyst for freedom as a woman and as a filmmaker. From personal heartbreak, to creative liberation When mulling over whether to make a film about this period of her life, Hogg said there was a key issue holding her back: how to write the part of 'Anthony' the man who broke her heart. He was too elusive, too mysterious, too potent, she told journalists at the Directors' Fortnight screening during the Cannes film festival in July. In the end, Hogg said she realised she didn't need permission to write his side of the story she could make it up, leaving it deliberately vague and instead focus on her own story, her 'souvenir'. Hogg admits to having a very instinctive way of going about filmmaking, much like her on-screen alter ego, played by Honor Swinton Byrne. I kind of make things up as I go along, she told RFI after the premiere screening at Cannes. This can be quite destabilising for my collaborators but we're all going on this journey. Once we're all of the mindset that we're going to change things, new ideas are going to come up then it's really exciting. For me that's how filmmaking should be. It's not about planning something and then executing it, it's about really living it and the process being the fun of it. Hogg doesn't write scenarios in a traditional way, instead she uses a kind of map, an illustrated text of around thirty pages which sum up the story briefly. There are photos, drawings, a description of the inner lives of the characters, she says, adding that it went against what she was advised to do at film school but it works for her. Recreating the 1980s Hogg has underlined on several occasions how the spirit of a family both on and off screen helped contribute to the making of the Souvenir films. In a nod to the past, Julie's mother is played by Tilda Swinton, who as a fellow student, acted in Hogg's graduation film. Tilda also happens to be Honor's real-life mum. I knew Tilda at the time I'm describing in the film, so she has been influenced by the same things and I knew she would be able to portray the atmosphere of those days. She is now the age our mothers were back then. We often speak about our parents' generation, who knew the Second World War, it's a generation that is disappearing and it's important to highlight it. With Tilda, it's like family, and choosing her daughter as the lead, confirms this spirit, Hogg explains, adding that casting Honor only came about a few weeks before filming started, much to the alarm of the production team. On top of that, Honor had never acted before. The 21 year-old was given Hogg's diaries from the early 80s to read as well as snapshots and short films she made at the time as a student. The other actors sat down to chat with Hogg about her life as a student to pick up on the vibe of the time. The feel of the period was recreated on set with music from Joe Jackson and Pyschedelic Furs along with decorative items that came directly from Hogg's student bedroom. I really looked hard for the actress I wanted, someone who would be portray both a gentle and rough side, and it got quite stressful for my team, Hogg explains, insisting that the casting process is as vital to the success of a film, as a loyal technical team. Universal message But I wasn't ready to make a compromise. The casting period is very instinctive for me, I need to feel that the actors really correspond to their roles. I met professionals and amateurs. I didn't have any ethnic or physical criteria in my mind. Seeing as the character is only loosely inspired by me, I didn't necessarily need someone who resembles me. I was incapable of describing exactly what I wanted, but Honor matched it perfectly. As for Honor, she says the role felt very natural for her, despite preferring to stay behind the camera much like Hogg herself. She needed no urging to act like a 21 year old seeing as it was her real age and she brings a genuine naivety and freshness to the role. Even playing beside her mother was not an issue. In fact, it was easier than she expected, she said, because their real-life relationship is so different to the on-screen one. It's a very intimate film in lots of ways, filmed mostly indoors, often on the set which Julie has made for her project. We weave in and out of reality, dream, memory, with some stylised inserts in black and white, with references to antique theatre and the classics. Ultimately The Souvenir part II is a journey, in time and space, with a triumphant, positive ending. Although set in the 1980s, it could have just as easily been set in today's world, as its message is universal. First loves, disappointment, heartbreak, finding one's feet as an adult, taking responsibility. And letting your voice speak. When I make a film, I return to my memories of the time and dive fully into the creative process. But when it's over, I draw a line and the work becomes the property of the public, says Hogg. The Souvenir Parts I and II were released in French cinemas on 2 February, 2022. Morocco was in shock Sunday after emergency crews found a five-year-old boy dead at the bottom of a well in a tragic end to a five-day rescue operation that gripped the nation and the world. The ordeal of "little Rayan" since he fell down the 32-metre (100-foot) well on Tuesday gained global attention and sparked an outpouring of sympathy online, with the Arabic Twitter hashtag #SaveRayan trending. "The fall of a child who reminded the whole world of the values of humanity," read one Moroccan newspaper headline, while others bemoaned the "tragic epilogue" that had brought "sadness and shock". Graphic on the failed rescue operations to save a a five-year-old child who fell into a well in Morocco. By Emmanuelle MICHEL AFP The boy's father said he had been repairing the well when the boy fell in, close to the family home in the village of Ighrane in the Rif mountains of northern Morocco. "Little angel, you fought until the end, a hero", said one Twitter user called Anouar, while another said "he has brought people together around him". The funeral is to be held on Monday, provincial council head Abderahim Bouazza said. A Moroccan security officer gestures to the crowd to move back as the ambulance carrying Rayan Oram's body departs. By Fadel SENNA AFP Throughout the major digging operation to extricate Rayan from the bottom of the well shaft, authorities had cautioned that they did not know whether he was alive. The shaft, just 45 centimetres (18 inches) across, was too narrow for the boy to be reached directly, and widening it was deemed too risky -- so earth-movers dug a wide slope into the hill to reach him from the side. The operation made the landscape resemble a construction site, and red-helmeted civil defence personnel had at times been suspended by rope, as if on a cliff face. From hope to sorrow Rescue crews, using bulldozers and front-end loaders, had excavated the surrounding red earth down to the level where the boy was trapped, and drill teams began creating a horizontal tunnel to reach him from the side. The parents of five-year-old Rayan Oram arrive at the scene of the rescue effort, late on February 5, 2022. By Fadel SENNA AFP On Saturday morning, the head of the rescue efforts, Abdelhadi Tamrani, said images from a camera sent down showed the child "lying on his side", and that while it was "impossible" to confirm he was alive there were "very high hopes". But progress slowed as the drill teams worked by hand to avoid any vibrations that might bring the brittle soil down on the child, local authorities said. Late Saturday evening, crowds cheered when the rescue workers broke through the final stretch of earth to reach the boy, and volunteer digger Ali Sahraoui cleared the last soil away with his hands. But soon after, AFP correspondents saw the boy's parents walk down the slope into the horizontal tunnel, visibly crushed. They returned and boarded an ambulance without saying a word. Race against time It was Morocco's royal cabinet that announced he had been found dead. Thousands of bystanders converged on the site where rescue crews excavated the surrounding earth before creating a horizontal tunnel. By Fadel SENNA AFPFile "Following the tragic accident which cost the life of the child Rayan Oram, His Majesty King Mohammed VI called the parents of the boy who died after falling down the well," a statement from the royal court said. Thousands of people had gathered to watch the rescue beside the giant pit, singing songs to urge on the diggers, who worked through the nights under floodlights. Map locating the village Ighrane where emergency crews found a five-year-old boy dead at the bottom of a well in a painstaking five-day rescue operation. By Emmanuelle MICHEL AFP Many of the watchers prayed, chanting in unison "Allahu akbar" (God is greatest). Workers had tried to get oxygen and water down to the child but it was not clear whether he was able to use them, AFP correspondents reported. The race against time to rescue Rayan was followed live across the world, and as soon as the tragic conclusion was announced, tributes poured in. Pope Francis, while mourning the loss of Rayan, praised the "beautiful" sight of "how all the people gathered together" to try to save a child. "Our hearts broke last night," Israeli President Isaac Herzog said in a condolence message to King Mohammed. French President Emmanuel Macron said: "I want to say to the family of little Rayan and to the Moroccan people that we share your pain." "Rayan's courage will stay in our memories and continue to inspire us," wrote AC Milan's Algerian midfielder Ismael Bennacer in a tweet, accompanied by a drawing of a child being lifted into the sky, carried by a heart-shaped balloon marked with the colours of Morocco. "We all of us had been holding out hope that little Rayan would make it," Moroccan-American novelist Laila Lalami wrote on Twitter. "This is all so tragic." hic-fs-isb-agr/fka/pjm/it The National Vice-Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), H.E Alhaji Said Sinare has charged members of his party to work hard to secure more parliamentary seats in the upcoming polls. He commends and implores the party to invert Rawlings' style of campaigning that gave the NDC and Professor Atta Mills, of blessed memory, a resounding victory in 2008. You could remember that Chairman Rawlings and Professor Mills had two different campaign teams, yet with one common agenda of rescuing Ghanaians, he stated. Speaking at the NDC's reorganizational program in the Greater Accra Region yesterday, he urged delegates to reject the monetization of politics. What is most important for the party's next victory he noted, is appropriate leadership, and for that matter delegates must do everything possible to elect dedicated and committed leaders to fight the cause. "We must ensure that we encourage our hardworking NDC members to advance to the next level of the political ladder." The Rawlings look-alike politician stated that each constituency within the NDC should be able to identify a strong committed persons. Alhaji Said Sinare added that the party should be prepared to move hard-working, dedicated, and committed people from the constituency to the region and then to the national level for the good of the party. "The political discourse in the NDC is taking another turn, with people coming from nowhere with money and goodies thinking that is enough for leadership positions, and we must rise against that or we will not have a strong party to face the NPP in 2024," he stated. Alhaji Said Sinare expressed confidence that his party would perform well and win the next general elections in 2024. The irate National Vice Chairman labeled the e-levy as a dubious penalty devised by the terrible government economic management team led by Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. Alhaji Said Sinare, a former Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and a former Member of Parliament for Ayawaso North, says NDC has a higher chance of winning the 2024 presidential elections if John Dramani Mahama remains as the party's flagbearer. He was accompanied by former NHIS boss Mr. Sylvester Mensah, Adenta MP Abu Ramadan Mohammed, the Deputy National Communications officer, Mr. Godwin Ako Gunn, Hon. William Vinyo Greater Accra first Region vice-chairman, and other NDC bigwigs in the Awayaso North and Adentan Constituencies. 06.02.2022 LISTEN Government have presented a cheque of GH500,000 to the families of two victims who were shot dead by military officers at Ejura in the Ashanti Region as compensation. Each family received a cheque for GH250,000 on Saturday February 5, 2022. Mutalar Mohammed and Abdul Nasiru Usif died on June 28, 2021 when a team of military officers shot at a group of irate youth protesting the alleged murder of a social media activist Mahamed Ibrahim popularly known as Kaaka at Ejura Presenting the cheque, the Deputy Interior Minister Naana Eyiah who lead the team of delegation to Ejura said the compensation is to honour an earlier promise made to the bereaved families. She expressed regret over the killings and pledged that government will see to it that such incident will not occur again. The Chief of Ejura Barima Osei Hwedie II who welcomed the delegation at his Palace commended the government for delivering the end of its bargain. He added that the Ejura Traditional Council will continue to foster the peaceful coexistence the people of Ejura are enjoying now. He pledged his support to the government in the development of infrastructural projects for security in the area. He however urged stakeholder to help the traditional council complete an ultra modern Divisional Police Headquarters initiated by the traditional council. Background Some irate youth of Ejura on Monday June 28, 2021 took to the streets to protest against an alledged mob attack which lead to the death of Ibrahim Mohamed Kaaka, a social media activist in the area. The military men who were deployed to ensure security reportedly shot into the protesting crowd leaving two dead with four other persons with gunshot wounds. Following the melee, a three-member committee of inquiry was set up by the Minister of Interior to probe the issues. After 22 witnesses, 555 pictures in soft copies, 117 videos evidence, eight documentary evidence, two written statements and two physical evidence, the committee chaired by Appeals Court judge, Justice George Kingsley Koomson concluded its investigation on July 16, 2021. The committee on Tuesday, July 27, 2021 presented its recommendations to Ambrose Dery, the Minister of Interior. TEHRAN, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Health Ministry on Monday reported 39,819 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of COVID-19 infections in the country to 6,619,085. The pandemic has claimed 104 lives in the last 24 hours, bringing the total death toll from the virus to 132,934, according to the ministry. A total of 6,171,587 people have recovered from the disease or been discharged from hospitals across the country, with 2,615 remained in intensive care units, it added. As of Monday, 61,170,578 Iranians had received their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, including 54,561,630 receiving two shots and 19,973,438 receiving three. The Omicron variant of COVID-19 has surged in Iran over the past weeks after the first case of the variant was detected in the country on Dec. 19, 2021. The National Chief Imam Sheikh Osman Nuhu Shaributu has praised the chief of Ejura, Barima Osei Hwedie II, for promoting peaceful coexistence amongst tribal groups within his jurisdiction. Barimah Osei Hwedie II who's also the Protocol Director at the Office of the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana is known for taking some bold measures to resolve disburnces in his community. Notable among them is his move to amicably resolve a clash between some irate youth of Ejura and military personnel which led to the death of two persons. Again, there was a misunderstanding between the Imam of the community and Zongo Chiefs over some pertinent issues which threatened to destabilise the peace of the entire community. Barima Osei Hwedie II and his elders swiftly intervened to resolve the issue. Owing to the two landmark conflict resolution by the Ejurahene, the Chief Imam noted that , the sense of belongingness under the reign of the Ejurahene Barima Osei Hwedie II , was a key factor for the existing social harmony amongst all identifiable tribal groups in the area. Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu, the spokesperson of the National Chief Imam said this on Saturday February 5, 2022 while delivering a speech at an event held to present a compensation to some bereaved families of the Ejura Shooting incident. He believes that the promotion of good neighbourliness by Barima Osei Hwedie II has helped to foster unity of purpose and peace in the Ejura Traditional Area. "I was there when Ejurahene Barima Osei Hwedie II led feuding Zongo factions of his community to the office of the National Chief Imam to seal and bless a peace process. "This I must emphasized is something we at the Imam's office respect so much about the chief," he added. He uregd chiefs and residents in the area to continue to work together as one people to propel the nations development since there could be no meaningful growth in a divided society. 07.02.2022 LISTEN President of Breast Care International (BCI), Dr. Mrs Beatrice Wiafe Addai, said integrated approach must be adopted to evolve cancer-reduction strategies aimed at providing greater access to care for the poor and vulnerable. She explained that cancers in Ghana could be significantly reduced if charity organisations operating within that space are assisted with adequate resources and logistics to reach the hinterland where the condition is pervasive, due to abject poverty and ignorance. Dr. Mrs Beatrice Wiafe Addai, said this during the celebration of the 2022 World Cancer Day at Goaso in the Asunafo North municipal of the Ahafo region, on Friday, February 4, 2022. The celebration was under the theme Close the Care Gap organized by the Breast Care International (BCI) in collaboration with the Goaso Traditional Council and Ghana NCD Alliance. She then called on the government and other relevant stakeholders to help expose the major barriers related to socio-economic factors that prevent many people from accessing life-saving services, including treatment and care. Closing the gap on cancer disparities cannot be done today or tomorrow, its something we can work towards it. The government, politicians, traditional authorities must come together in discussing diagnoses, prevention and treatment of cancers, she stated. Dr. Mrs Wiafe Addai, who is also the chairperson for the Ghana NCD Alliance, added that the closing care gap can be done if disparities in cancer diagnosis, prevention and treatment between the rich and the poor are eliminated, through the collaborative efforts by all the health industry players. She also lamented on the upsurge in cancer cases in Ghana annually and called for prompt action to check the situation through intensify education in the hinterlands. The 2020 Globocan cancer report estimates that 24,009 new cases of cancer occur annually in Ghana out of which 15,802 die. The most common cancers, according to the report, are breast, (4,482-2,055), liver, (3, 45-3,166) cervix (2,797-1, 69), and prostrate (2,129-1,117), she revealed. The Omanhene of Goaso Traditional Area, Nana Akwasi Bosompra, who chaired the occasion, said the fight against cancers in the country should not be limited to few individuals like Dr. Mrs Wiafe Addai, but a national canker that needs a concerted efforts by all. He also dispelled the notion that cancers like breast cancer are caused by witchcraft and urged the public to report to the hospital if they notice an unusual thing in their breasts to prevent late stage cases that can lead to death. Nana Akwasi Bosompra concluded in his speech by appealing to the government to set up cancer treatment centres in the district capitals across Ghana, equipped with the needed resources and logistics to assist in cancer education. 06.02.2022 LISTEN The Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has launched a new digitalization measure to end the era of cash for travel in the public sector, with the aim of bringing further transparency and accountability in the use of public funds. Known as the e-Travel Card Project, the Card is designed to facilitate the cashless disbursement of travel allowance and other payments for local and foreign trips by government and other public officials. Dr Bawumia performed the launch at the closing ceremony of the Annual Conference of the Controller and Accountant Generals Department in Cape Coast on Friday, February 4, 2022. It was under the theme The role of Controller and Accountant Generals Department in advancing the Digitalization Agenda of Ghana. According to officials of the Controller and Accountant Generals department, the eTravel Card project automates and integrates all the processes from the point of initiation of card issuance requests, funding request from MDAs/Entities, through approvals and disbursement to the issue of the cards. It further provides expenditure tracking and retirement of accountable imprest. The Card is expected to deliver a number of benefits, including elimination of the risk of carrying cash; transparency and ease of accountability; timely retirement of accountable Imprest; and improved monitoring and controls of budgetary allocations for official travels to avoid over spending. I am informed that the eTravel Card portal is to replace all manual systems of managing imprest in the Public Service by delivering personalised cards to every Government Office and employee. This initiative is designed to further consolidate the digitalisation agenda of His Excellency, President Nana-Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo which has already delivered a number of successful projects including the Digital Address System, the Ghana Card Project, Mobile Money Interoperability, among others. From the Birth and Death Registry to NHIS, DVLA, Insurance and Passport, these projects are already positively impacting the lives of Ghanaians. Our Digitalisation agenda is not only focused on transforming how citizens conduct business with the government sector but also how the public sector in reverse conducts business with enterprises. The e-Travel Card Project seeks to end the era of cash for travel in the public sector. Digitalization and Efficiency While commending the CAGD for playing a very crucial role in the management of public finances and the accountability process, Vice President Bawumia emphasized the link between enhanced digitalization and transparency, and urged the Governments chief pay master to continue with efforts to link public sector wages to the GhanaCard, which is increasingly becoming the one true source of proof. Citing the management of the National Service Scheme, whose adoption of digitalization processes led to the weeding out of over 14,000 potential fraudsters and saved the State up to Ghs112m, Vice President Bawumia urged other public sector entities to adopt similar measures to fish out those who have been robbing the State. Government, he said, is committed to cracking down on financial malpractices, wasteful public spending, bottlenecks in the management of public expenditure and the wage bill, and needs all stakeholders to play their part to make it a reality. Digitalization in the accounting field is about incorporating interactive technologies and transforming accounting processes from manual to digital to achieve efficiency, transparency and savings to the public purse. I am aware that the Controller and Accountant-Generals Department is already taking steps towards the electronic enhancement of its business processes. Key measures include the continuous use of the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), the upgrading of the Third Party Referencing System (TPRS), the Electronic Salary Payment Voucher (ESPV) system and the E-Payslip system among others. I must say that these initiatives are commendable, are in the right direction and are beginning to manifest in many ways. The Advertising Association of Ghana (AAG) says it is ready to collaborate with government in ensuring the removal of all unlawfully erected billboards in the city. The Association says it is geared up to assist the government get rid of all billboards erected at inappropriate locations, which could be harmful to the public. Billboards, such as those placed in pedestrian walkways, clutter at intersections and junctions amongst others, will be removed. According to the association, many parts of Accra continue to be flanked by the haphazard display of billboards, causing a nuisance to the public. Addressing the media, the Executive Director of the association, Francis Dadzie cited the 37 Military hospital intersection as an instance. Speaking to Citi News on the sidelines of a Night Vigil held in honour of the deceased President of the Advertising Association of Ghana, Torgbor Mensah, the Executive Director of the association, Francis Dadzie assured of his resolve in sustaining the legacy of a clean community with the siting of billboards. We don't have the political mandate, those that have the mandate, that is, the Assemblies, the Regional Coordinating Council are those we are waiting on. We did our part, we are waiting on them to invite us to work together to enforce all the things we have done. Until that, there is nothing much we can do because the law is not on our side, but rather on the side of the RCC and the Assemblies. We are however hoping that as we have started the New Year, the issue will be revisited. What I have noticed is that some of the signboards which were removed are being re-erected. We hope that the exercise will begin again. In May last year, the AAG issued a two-week ultimatum for all unauthorised billboards to be removed. Francis Dadzie stated that their actions are driven by public safety. In issuing a warning to the public through the media, he said; National interest and public safety are the key things that will direct our actions. I am aware that the RCC is trying to set up a centralized approval process with the Urban Roads, National Road Safety, Ghana Highways, and others to ensure that these things don't happen again, and if they do, this time around, we will take you to court. He went on to urge the media to use their platforms to educate the public on laws regulating outdoor advertisements so that people wouldn't make excuses to breach them. citinewsroom Feminist organisations in France have called on presidential election candidates to take up an ambitious "emergency plan" in favour of gender equality with ten objectives from dealing with domestic violence to education and equal salaries. The opinion piece published in Le Journal du Dimanche was signed by seven leaders of women's groups including Anne-Cecile Mailfert (Fondation des femmes), Dominique Guillien and Francoise Brie (National Federation for the solidarity of women), Danielle Bousquet (National Federation for information on the rights of women and families) and Sarah Durocher (Family Planning). "Our society has never before been as alarmed at the number of femicides, and yet, we are continuing to count our dead," they wrote. "If society is so concerned by the question of sexual violence, why has there never been a lower number of sentences handed out by the legal system?" On the subject of wages, "women are still discriminated against. Even if there is progress on the sharing of household chores, women still take on more than their fair share." Hence the need for an electroshock on a political scale and a challenge for the winner of the April polls. "The candidates for the presidency need to adhere to ten ambitious measures within the first 100 days of office." The first measure is to invest one billion euros per year to put a stop to domestic violence by training professionals to deal with victims, tripling the number of places in emergency housing, and increasing funding for organisations. "We need to see a national coordination to deal with violence against women, supported by the president of the Republic". Abortion, education Secondly, the women are calling for abortion rights to be enshrined in the constitution, and make this option available to all women across France. They have also called for the cancellation of the double "conscience clause" which allows doctors to refuse the carry out an abortion and the need to improve the status of this medical act. The opinion piece also calls for a "Grenelle" or public consultation on the topic of wages, to improve sectors where mostly women are employed, often in a part-time capacity. The measure would include the elimination of discrimination in companies and guarantee access to women for professions of the future. With regards to the legal front, the opinion piece proposes to set up courts and teams specialised in dealing with violence against women. Another measure is to guarantee equal access to information about sex education, and personal development, as well as efficient measures against the pornography industry. For parents, the petition calls for extending the mandatory leave for the spouse or partner (usually taken by fathers), ""revolarise" maternity leave without losing salary, and to provide an attractive option for parental leave for both parents. The Ghana Police Service says it has no hand in the circulation of an unrelated picture of Mr Abdul-Mumin Issah, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly. They said the picture of the MCE was not taken by the Police, was not taken at any Police station and, certainly, could not have been put in circulation by the Police. A statement signed by Superintendent Alexander Kwaku Obeng, Director, Public Affairs and copied the Ghana News Agency said the attention of the Ghana Police Service had been drawn to a library photograph circulating in the Ghanaian media in, which a person depicted as the suspended MCE for Sekondi-Takoradi Municipal Assembly was seen bare-chested, sitting around a collection of items. It noted that the photograph in question, which was featured prominently on the front page of the Chronicle newspaper of Friday, February 4, 2022, had nothing whatsoever to do with the Police. The statement said the policy adopted recently by the Police Administration was not to publish the images of suspects under investigation in their custody. It condemned the practice of people taking unrelated pictures of events and using them to create misleading impressions. The statement said such sensational acts, which sought to cast a slur on the dignity of the person involved and bring the name of the Ghana Police Service into disrepute should not be encouraged. It said the Police Professional Standard Bureau had been tasked to ensure that in line with international best practice, due process was followed in the investigation and prosecution of the case just as was expected in all other cases. GNA The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia has described President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as a big disappointment who has managed to scam Ghanaians. Speaking in an exclusive interview on TV3 on Monday morning, the NDC General Secretary stressed that the President since assuming the biggest role in the country has acted contrary to all the things he preached to convince Ghanaians to give him power. According to Mr. Asiedu Nketia, President Akufo-Addo in simple terms for overseeing the most corrupt government in the history of the fourth republic. Nana Addo has scammed some of us Ghanaians. At least for me, he cannot scam me. He has been doing what people will call monkey business, the NDC General Secretary indicated. Mr. Asiedu Nketia added, I met him one time and he complained I have been attacking him. I told him it is because he has disappointed me. There was once I believed this is a man when given the chance he would change things for the good of Ghanaians. He is now here and he has changed things for the worse. The NDC General Secretary accused President Akufo-Addo of failing to protect freedom of speech. He added that under the current President, the justice system has failed and the government is using the security apparatus to abuse power. Dabaso Galgalo is now used to the smell and grisly spectacle of rotting flesh festering in the scorching heat as Kenya reels from a spate of climate disasters. Surrounded by barren scrubland littered with withered carcasses of sheep and goats, the 56-year-old pastoralist is struggling to keep his beloved animals, and himself, alive. What was left of his herd after a months-long dry spell was decimated by once-in-a-generation floods that hit northern Kenya, the latest in a series of unforgiving climate shocks lashing the region. "We recently had heavy rains and strong winds that ended up killing livestock that had gathered at this water point," he told AFP, outside a settlement called 'kambi ya nyoka' (snake camp) in Marsabit. Nomadic livestock herders in East Africa's drylands have learnt to cope with the vagaries of weather over decades. By Tony KARUMBA AFPFile The semi-arid region has been the scene of a prolonged drought. Then, when the rains finally came, the deluge pushed communities, who rely exclusively on livestock for their survival, to the edge of disaster. "This is a very huge loss because we have lost lots of resources following this tragedy," said Galgalo. "If one had 500 goats (earlier), they have between five and 20 goats left." Nomadic livestock herders in East Africa's drylands have learnt to cope with the vagaries of weather over decades, driving their relentless search for water and pasture in some of the world's most inhospitable terrain. But their resilience is being severely tested by climate change. Fight for resources Poor rainfall in the last quarter of 2021 followed a devastating locust invasion a year earlier. By Tony KARUMBA AFPFile Poor rainfall in the last quarter of 2021 -- the third consecutive failed rainy season -- followed a devastating locust invasion a year earlier, with animals now too weak to produce milk or too skinny to be sold. There are growing fears that as the situation worsens, tensions among communities could sharpen as they compete for access to meagre resources. Marsabit is particularly vulnerable because of a perennial conflict between the Borana and Gabra pastoralist communities. President Uhuru Kenyatta declared the drought a natural disaster last September, with 2.1 million people -- four percent of Kenya's population -- already grappling with hunger, according to government figures. The government said last week that 23 of the country's 47 counties faced "food and water stress" while the meteorological department has warned of a potential increase in "human-to-human and human-to-wildlife conflicts". The authorities have invested 450 million shillings ($3.9 million, 3.4 million euros) to buy 11,250 cattle and 3,200 goats from farmers in the worst-hit counties. Africa hardest-hit East Africa endured a harrowing drought in 2017 which also brought neighbouring Somalia to the brink of famine. Experts say extreme weather events are happening with increased frequency and intensity due to climate change. By Tony KARUMBA AFPFile In 2011, two successive failed rainy seasons in 12 months led to the driest year since 1951 in arid regions of Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Uganda. With conflicts raging in Ethiopia and Somalia, aid agencies are struggling to assess the true extent of the current crisis. Experts say extreme weather events are happening with increased frequency and intensity due to climate change -- with Africa, which contributes the least to global warming, bearing the brunt. For Galgalo, the race is on to save his remaining animals and protect his only source of income. But he is losing hope. "They are suffering from pneumonia and are still dying," he said. The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia has described Ghanas current economic situation under President Akufo-Addo as a hopelessly devastated one. Speaking to TV3 in an exclusive interview on Monday, February 7, 2022, the NDC General Secretary indicated that it will take the umbrella party in 2025 after wrestling power from the NPP to fix the economic mess. We are going to inherit a bad economy. 2025 will be a bad year. Whoever comes into power in 2025 will inherit a very bad economy. So whichever party that would be should be ready. The NDC, we are very ready. We have taken over a hopelessly devastated economy before and we are determined. When we come we will fix this bad Akufo-Addo government economy, Johnson Asiedu Nketia stressed. The General Secretary of the largest opposition party in the country further accused President Akufo-Addo of being a scam, insisting that he has been a big failure since assuming power from ex-President John Dramani Mahama. Nana Addo has scammed some of us Ghanaians. At least for me, he cannot scam me. He has been doing what people will call monkey business. I met him one time and he complained I have been attacking him. I told him it is because he has disappointed me. There was once I believed this is a man when given the chance he would change things for the good of Ghanaians. He is now here and he has changed things for the worse, Johnson Asiedu Nketia emphasised. It seems that every move Russian President Vladimir Putin makes has Western powers ever more perplexed as to what his intentions are when it comes to Ukraine. As French president Emmanuel Macron embarks on a diplomatic mission to Moscow and Kyiv, Paris Perspective looks at what's at stake amid the standoff between the Kremlin and its Cold War adversaries, and if France can deliver a solution. Following a flurry of high-level diplomatic talks throughout January from Geneva to Brussels, to Vienna and Paris the meetings achieved next to nothing and Russia continues its military build-up on Ukraine's eastern border. This Monday, Macron kicks-off a whirlwind tour of lightning diplomacy to Moscow and Kyiv, playing multiple roles: international mediator, level-headed negotiator and de facto leader of the European Union. It's a heavy, hydra-headed performance for even the most seasoned political player in their prime, let alone a 44-year-old rookie looking to secure a second, five-year mandate this April. Macron's latest attempts to lower tensions between Putin and Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky are, however, consistent with the two main features of French foreign policy since he came to power in 2017. 'Diplomacy of audacity' vs realpolitik Macron has always argued the European Union should take greater charge of its own defence and security, and has sought to push France forward on the international stage with what he describes as a "diplomacy of audacity". However, his noble efforts at deal brokering to date have not borne fruit: Libya is still in chaos, Iran continues its uranium enrichment and Lebanon's political system is as byzantine as ever despite Macron's good intentions. Yet with France holding the rotating EU presidency, Macron's diplomatic intervention may pack a bigger punch when he hits the tarmac in Moscow. As he wades into the fray, one of the first points of rhetoric to be addressed relates to a 1999 agreement between Russia and Western governments that states that "no country can strengthen its own security at the expense of others". This is a key issue that Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov maintains is at the heart of the Ukraine crisis, amid Russian fears of Nato expansion. Instead of dealing with the EU as a whole, Russia has appealed to individual states who were signatories to the document to test the temperature. Divide and conquer? So is Russia actively trying to undercut the European bloc by appealing to individual states bilaterally, in a bid to further divide a fractured Europe? Marie Dumoulin director of the Wider Europe programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations, says Russia's overtures are open to interpretation. "Yes, it's probably a way to feed divisions among Western countries, and not only the European Union but all the Western allies. But you also have a very legalistic vision of this [approach]. "These countries signed up to these commitments as OSCE participating states. And the OSCE is not the kind of coherent organisation like the EU or Nato. So it's really as individual states that these commitments have been signed. And that's why he addresses them individually," Dumoulin explains. But to counter this rhetoric, the OSCE charter says countries should be free to choose their own security arrangements and alliances. And Ukraine's right to choose whether to join Nato or not is central to the current standoff with Moscow. Does that not, in itself, undercut any Russian complaints of self-determination when looking for international recognition of Ukraine's separatist regions, such as Luhansk and Donetsk? Hypocritical perhaps. Paradoxical? Definitely, says Dumoulin: "Russia is saying you're not respecting this commitment that security should not be guaranteed at the expense of the security of another state. "But at the same time, Moscow pressures Ukraine and the West by threatening Ukraine's security. So it's doing what it reproaches the West of doing. "Another paradox is that Russia is appealing to this 1999 OSCE declaration, but at the same meeting, Russia made commitments to withdraw its troops from a number of territories where they are stationed including Transdniestria and Georgia at the time," Dumoulin underlines. Nato in post-Soviet Europe Ukraine was not of concern when the 1999 accord was signed, but it it can be considered as another example of a "Russian presence" without the compliance of a neighbouring country. Since the escalation of the latest post-Cold War expansion spat, the finger pointing has gone both ways, with the steady absorbtion of former Soviet states into the military alliance over the past 20 years. There is indeed controversy over Nato encroachment into Russia's sphere of influence, says Dumoulin, especially over what promises Nato actually gave Moscow at the time. "Russia says there was a clear promise back in the 1990s, that Nato would not expand, and there is this 1997 act and they want to go back to this period. "At the same time, Nato countries say there was never a clear commitment not to expand and expansion has been also a consequence of Russia's behaviour. "Neighbouring countries need to have some sort of security guarantees," Dumoulin adds. "And if Georgia and Ukraine want to join Nato, it's precisely because they feel threatened by Russia." Securing Europe's place at the table Many of Macron's detractors say the young president is naive about France's status on the international stage, failing to grasp the country's limitations as a middle-ranking world power. So taking on board what is at the centre of the maelstrom, and the self-righteous interpretations that can be used as ammunition on both sides of the dispute, can Macron's diplomacy prevail where previous negotiations floundered? Dumoulin remarks that initially Russia only wanted to deal with the US and wasn't interested in engaging with the EU. "They didn't want to start or launch new talks in the framework of the Normandy Format, where France and Germany play a mediation role," she says. "Now, it seems that they have changed their approach and they accepted a first meeting of the Normandy Format in Paris recently ... And definitely Putin has talked to a number of European leaders among them Macron with whom he's had regular contact for the last five years." Since Chancellor Merkel left office, Dumoulin concludes: "Macron is probably one of the European leaders who has the closest relationship with Putin, so he's trying to make use of this relationship, whether it brings added value and allows for de-escalation? It remains to be seen." Watch full video here Written, produced and presented by David Coffey. Recorded and edited by Vincent Pora and Erwan Rome. Marie Dumoulin is the director of the Wider Europe programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations' Paris bureau. BEIJING, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- China's air travel rebounded during the seven-day Spring Festival holiday although it did not recover to pre-pandemic levels, data from the Civil Aviation Administration of China showed on Monday. A total of 5.01 million air passenger trips were recorded from Jan. 31 to Feb. 6, up 40.2 percent year on year, the administration said. Air passenger flow peaked on Feb. 6, with 1.23 million trips made. The number of flights totaled 62,744 during the Spring Festival holiday, rising 33.3 percent year on year. The punctuality rate reached 97.08 percent, up 0.83 percentage points from a year earlier. Chinese people usually travel to reunite with their families for the Chinese Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, which fell on Feb. 1 this year. The Founder of Royal House Chapel, Rev. Sam Korankye Ankrah has urged government to cut down its national expenditure to motivate the citizenry to gladly pay taxes. According to him, leaders must be seen punishing themselves a little by doing away with extravagant lifestyles. He said if Ghanaians know that government is protecting the public purse, they will gladly pay any tax when it is introduced. We are asking the members of the ruling class to show the example by cutting down our national expenditure, they must punish themselves a little bit and when we see that expenditure is being cut down, if they call upon us to pay taxes, whatever they ask us to pay, we shall pay with gladness and willingness, because we all know that we all suffer to gain, Rev. Sam Korankye Ankrah. The Founder of Royal House Chapel said this while speaking at a ceremony in Accra, where a US Presidents Lifetime Achievement Award was conferred on him. He shared, The reason we elect you into public office is to protect the purse and the monies of this nation to develop and to move this nation forward. We dont elect them to amass wealth for themselves and to forget about us once they get to that place. This is what brings anger and this is what brings the kind of challenges we have in Africa here. But if our politicians place at their heart, first and foremost, the desire to see this nation move forward, all of us as citizens of this nation will have an equitable share of the national cake. Rev. Sam Korankye Ankrah further noted that If they [government] ensure that our young people will get the jobs to do, if they can ensure that people can put food on their table three times a day, if they can ensure that our children are educated, if they can ensure that at the end of the day, everybody can get a place to lay your heads, nobody will complain, nobody will fight, there will be no agitation and there will be no reason for any military intervention in our nation. This is coming on the back of the agitations from Ghanaians after the government announced plans to introduce and implement an Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy). Critics have argued that government has been a bad manager of the countrys resources hence the rejection of the e-levy. They further argue that there is no reason to pay the levy when there is no assurance that money generated will be put to good use. A decade after his untimely death, a foundation to promote the legacy of President Mills has been launched in Accra. In his keynote address, the venerable Kwame Pianim did justice to President Mills, the occasion and Ghana. I shall return to his remarks on President Mills later but he offered succinct and pointed advice to our politicians, our lawyers, journalists, our parties and the public on our nation and its challenges. He urged our politicians to be courageous, our lawyers to defend all while invoking the courage of Justice Annie-Jiagge, urged journalists to eschew unprincipled feeding at the hands of those who wish to corrupt them and ended up urging the public to support MPs, judges and the constitution. Indeed, he vindicated the courage and judgment of those who invited him. I hope Parliament will render the apology he demanded on behalf of all Ghanaians. The organization was flawless, except for the absence of Koku Anyidoho. Based on the passion with which he has guarded the legacy of President Mills, he deserved to be-- and had a responsibility-- to be there. And I daresay that the Asomdwehene would have been pleased to see him there. Akora Pianim described the arc of President Mills life, from his arrival at Achimota school as a teenager, through his Presidency. He described him as a man "who danced to his own tune", and " a man who reached across". Furthermore, he called the departed President "decent", " honest" and "a man of character"-- " a stickler for the rules". And he backed these up with examples that brought the man to life. He talked of the man who slept in Yaw Osafo-Maafo's house rather his NDC brother's house, the man who returned the envelop containing a bribe from a businessman and the man who stopped the use of the tax office for the harassment of political opponents. Indeed, there are other stories. Who can forget President Mahama's moving account of the pivotal argument between Presidents Mills and Rawling in early 2009, as recounted at the launch of the Presidential Transition Bill. President Rawlings, it was revealed wanted a wholesale arrest of NPP functionaries. President Mills responded, "You can't just arrest people in a democracy" and refused to authorize that. Their relationship never recovered, and each time President Rawlings attacked President Mills, there were cheers from NPP media and functionaries! But the central question is this: Why is it that despite his sterling personal qualities, President Mills didn't have a transformative effect on our politics? Why did corruption grow despite his honesty? Why didn't bipartisanship flourish despite his commitment to reaching out to the other side? Might it be that our system is so broken that the virtues of an individual leader does not matter? Or was he ineffective at executing policies consistent with his vision and qualities? As we reflect on President Mills and his life, we must, in true bipartisan fashion, search for how to embed the qualities he had, in our body politic. As Kwame Pianim put it, "What is wrong with our constitution are us". May President Mills rest in peace and may we all build a Ghana that would honour his decency, honesty and willingness to reach out to the other side. God bless Ghana. Arthur Kobina Kennedy (February 6th, 2022) The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare, has taken over the case of an alleged assault on Connect FMs morning show Producer Eric Nana Gyetuah. Nana Gyetua was on Thursday manhandled by police in the Western Region. He was accused by the officers of unlawfully taking photographs of them, in the company of some handcuffed suspects, at the God Is Love Chop Bar in Sekondi-Takoradi. Nana Gyetuah had gone to the eatery for lunch but the confrontation saw him whisked away in a police vehicle. Eye witnesses say he was kicked, slapped and hit by the police officers boots and the butts of their guns. He returned with a swollen face. The show producer was asked to report on Tuesday, February 8 after a written statement was taken from him at the police station. However, on Monday, he had a call from Dr Dampare not to report on the scheduled date and that he will deal with the issue. The incident comes weeks after Connect FMs morning show presenter, Emmanuel Paa Kwesi Simpson, was picked up by the police over a kidnapping story they claimed to be a hoax. The matter is before the Takoradi High Court. General Manager of Connect FM Ransford Osei Asare told Johnnie Hughes on TV3s New Day on Monday, February 7 that they are unfazed the incidents and will continue to serve their listeners to continue to be Number One in the Region. We will continue to remain unshaken, he stressed. ---3news.com On or around Thursday, 3rd February 2022, the students and the management of Nursing and Midwifery Training College (NMTC) in Mampong in the Ashanti region, woke up only to be greeted with what a shock news. This time around, it wasnt about the usual incidents of young people or loved ones passing away unexpectedly but about the school been poop bombed. They were confronted with an eyesore smelly scene. The school has been poop bombed by unknown person(s) probably during the wee hours of the day. I can just imagine the foul stench of the poo reaching everywhere in the school, causing the holding or pinching of noses by people to reduce or avoid the intake of the stench by breathing. What could have triggered the poop bombing of the school by the faceless persons who are yet to be discovered and or, apprehended? Where did the poop bomber(s) get the poo from? When and how did they carry it to the school to contaminate the buildings, throwing them all over the floors, walls and balustrades? Not wasting time, let me try to narrate some of the causes that could incite people to take to actions of defecating in classrooms or bombing schools with faeces or human excreta. Human beings are different and some can resort to extreme measures to express their views or acquire their wish. If it were not so, most of the political lawlessness and the telling of lies to the faces of people to court their support to win political power wouldnt be the flagship principle of the roguish NDC. Having said that, I do not subscribe to, or condone, such despicable actions but as human beings are individuals with their own personal characteristics, there is not much that I can do but to request the law enforcement agents in the country to ensure that people and properties are safe and protected always. People do resort to criminal actions of say, poop bombing schools, urinating into waters to serve to others to drink, etc., when they want to punish their victims for a reason. From the beginning to mid-1970s, there was a Head teacher (Master) of the Kumawu Anglican Middle School mockingly called by the nickname Master Koo Wuo. He was very tall, likely over 7 feet and slightly stooped by the fact of his tall height. Kumawu was at height of experiencing water supply shortages. Therefore, school heads or teachers arranged the pupils to fetch them water to their homes from the streams from time to time. Master Koo Wuo was renting accommodation in my fathers house. One day, a girl in form 3, urinated into the bucket of water she was taking to Master Koo Wuo in my fathers house. This is all because she told her friends Master Koo Wuo was very wicked. He used to cane them for any least offence they commit without mercy hence her chance to repay him his wickedness was to serve him with urine-contaminated water. Some of the pupils felt it was wrong. They had her reported and she got expelled from the school only for the late Kumawuhene Barima Asumadi Sakyi II to intervene in her behalf for her re-admission. In mid-1960s while I was a pupil at Kumawu Roman Catholic primary school, some unknown persons on a number of occasions defecated onto the desks of Headteacher Mr Osei Kufuor and Teacher Oppongs. These two mentioned persons had infatuation with caning pupils for any least and stupid offences. When you were asked a question during lessons, the cane was always readying to give you strokes on your back well ahead of you answering the question. That was how bad they were. No wonder that their desks and classrooms were poop bombed. Once in Paris, my workmate narrated to some members of our team how he once presented a bottle of whisky contaminated with urine to his wicked boss when he was on another site. He had opened the bottle, drank a glass from it and urinated into the bottle, tightened the lid back on and took it to the boss. He served it to the boss and watched him drink it. The boss said it was nice without knowing it had been adulterated. It is always when one wants to punish the other for reasons best known to them that they resort to deplorable, wicked or morally disgusting actions as described above. Therefore, there could be underlying but unknown reasons for NMTC to have been poop bombed. Could it be related to the contentious behaviour by the Principal, Mrs Gifty Hellen Dwamena Amoah, an alleged pompous, stubborn, wicked and disrespectful person? She is currently having issues with some students at the school for all reasons that I have come to see as very unprofessional, concluding from the information available to me unless she presents her counter version of the story. I may be compelled to believe that she is jinxed to suffer humiliation wherever she goes as head of school. I have brief information on her regarding been kicked out of Teshie school she headed in 2017 and also, Hoehoe school, all through students demonstration. Barely three years into her principalship at NMTC, Mampong, she has had to contend with two demonstrations. What is going on with her character that makes her become unwanted wherever she goes? She had better re-examine herself, I will suggest. She can be either right or wrong but the persistency of her becoming persona non grata with the schools she heads raises concern that needs investigating. I pray the police find the poop bombers. The authorities are admonished to be up and doing to find a peaceful solution to the near antagonistic relationship between the students and the principal of the school. It is my expectation that all the aggrieved students find the solution they seek following my published alerts to their plight. Rockson Adofo Monday, 7th February 2022 In the framework of democratic governance and service delivery, it is quite evident that in two years of quality leadership, the Prosperity Administration has achieved some of its targets in fulfilling her mandate. A passionate look at what the government has been able to achieve since February 14, 2020 when the Governor assumed office on the strength of his February 14, 2020 electoral mandate, clearly shows strides in virtually all sectors. These landmark achievements bear eloquent testimony to a focused leadership, which has been able to lay a solid foundation for enduring legacies in the pursuit of the common good. The massive constructions of legacy projects have also been given more than a passing attention. The Governor Douye Diris Prosperity administration, the mantra that laced his Prosperity Agenda had been a paradigm shift in the culture of governance with greater emphasis on Development and Prosperity. This requires a new mindset and new rules of engagement. Since a mans words are his bond, he strove with sincerity of purpose and great sense of commitment to the ideals of goodness by keeping faith with his electoral promises of renewed vigor in transforming the State from its politics of enmity to an acceptable standard via infrastructural and human capital development initiatives. Which are key components of progressive change. Bayelsa is a State blessed with rich natural resources. As a riverine State, Bayelsa is blessed with aquacultural and food crops: Fish, oyster, shrimps, cassava, coco-yam, plantain, timber, raffia palm, Irvingia (Ogbono), maize, palm produce, rice, yam, sugar cane, and plantain. Over the years these potentials have not been fully harnessed. During the electioneering campaigns in 2019, Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri promised to hinge the development of the State on agriculture and other agro-based industries. This has popularized the slogan "Prosperity For All" as government's resolve to invest in agriculture as a spark plug for job creation, food production and poverty reduction in the State. Governor Diri expressed his passion and zeal to restore the farming Culture of the State when he presented a N12billion 2022 Appropriation Bill of his administration, christened "Budget of Sustainable Growth". Senator Diri said the appropriation bill defines the structure for economic activities to be undertaken in the fiscal year. In his word he said "we intend to focus on the Agricultural sector as a major means of wealth creation. Therefore, various agricultural projects shall be embarked upon with the aim of diversifying the economy of the state from total dependence on crude, providing employment and achieving food security in the State. We are poised to quit being a net consumer of food items to becoming a producer and supplier State. Value Chain Transformation Programmes will be supported to achieve food security in the State. We will partner with private sector investors, research institutes, communities etc. in our pursuit of viable agric projects that will provide food for our people and also enhance the development of Agro-allied industries". The Governor Further Stated That: - We are already partnering with CBN and other agencies to increase the funding of various agricultural projects. - We will put to optimal use the Aquaculture projects in Igbogene/Yenigue, Igeibiri, Angalabiri etc. In addition, this government shall create more outlets to harness our existing natural aqua ecosystem endowments. - Our state-of-the-art Starch Processing Plant at Ebedebiri, a community in Sagbama Local Government Area and our comparative advantage in cassava production, will be fully enhanced. - We shall engage in cassava, rice, plantain, sugarcane farming etc. In his quest to restore the farming culture of Bayelsa State in order to have a massive production of food and increase wealth in the State, the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, unveiled the locally made rice in the State as part of his administrations programmes in agriculture and food production. The Governor in his word, made it clear that the State will not only consume its own rice, but export them in commercial quantity. The refurbishment of the Bayelsas 60-Metric Tonnes Cassava Starch Factory shows readiness of the Prosperity Government to increase food production in the State. The 60-Metric Tonnes Cassava processing plant built by the Bayelsa State Government is expected to come on stream soon. According to the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, The factory well built with modern starch processing equipment will engage about 400 people directly. Consequently, the Prosperity Government has engaged a Top European Investment Enterprise, African Atlantic Gulf of Guinea Fisheries (AAGGF), to build a robust agro-and maritime economy that will generate over 4,000 job opportunities in the State. In order to achieve these legacy investments, a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Bayelsa State Government and the AAGGF for a massive aquaculture project that include setting up of 300-hectares offshore aquaculture farm, 20,000-metric tonnes capacity fish processing plant and a boat building yard across the three Senatorial Districts of Bayelsa State. In addition to economic diversification, investment in agriculture will not only create jobs but de-emphasize the over-dependence on crude oil as a major foreign exchange earner. The commercial production and export of Made in Bayelsa Rice project is a vision that must be pursued with vigour and the much-needed synergy between government and the private sector cannot be overemphasized. Onyeche Success Onyeanuna Is A Special Assistant On New Media To The Governor Of Bayelsa State. 07.02.2022 LISTEN Ive had the occasion to discuss the much denigrated E-Levy proposed by the Nana Dee government in the 2022 Budget Statement. Im repeating the dose today because the blacksmith doesnt hesitate to continue hitting the part of the metal he wants to straighten. The proposed E-Levy has been so opposed and denigrated because the propagandists under the eagle-headed Umbrella have succeeded in hoodwinking a chunk of the populace into believing that the new tax regime was not in their best interest. The mischievous tales were swallowed hook, line and sinker because the recipients of the tales were not ready to part away with anything from the meagre cowries in their electronic wallets. Ive said this before and would repeat it here: many of those singing scrap the E-Levy chorus are doing so ignorantly. Some are singing along because it is a party chorus, while others simply enjoy the tune. Either resisting the levy for party sake or for the fun of it, the ignorance is too glaring to ignore. Im sometimes amazed at the contradictory nature of my compatriots. We, as a people, demand to have the entire fine things life has to offer, yet are unwilling to make a little sacrifice to make those demands see the light of day. Simply put, we want everything given to us on a platter of gold. Is it not intriguing that soon after chorusing scrap the E-Levy, the same bunch starts singing we need roads, schools, hospitals etc? Such blatant contradiction from my kith and kin makes me wonder if they are really thoughtful and sincere. The same group will start singing yet another chorus: Asomdwekroms debt stock keeps on rising. Of course, the debt stock will continue to rise if innovative ways to raise cowries, such as the E-Levy, are fiercely resisted for parochial political purposes. Or do they want government to conjure cowries like manna from the skies? Abusuapanin, what could be so diabolical than the internal memo signed by General Ntomtom to his party folks on why they should remain resolute in their quest to ensure that the E-Levy never sees the light of day? Their main motive for opposing the electronics tax is to stifle the Nana Dee government of the needed revenue so the government would be compelled to go for an IMF bailout with its attendant restrictions, which would freeze employment and stop social interventions such as the teacher and nursing trainee allowances. How can such a power-hungry group be trusted? As for those living abroad, the least said about them the better. You live in a country where you pay about 7 different taxes on top of your income tax, yet you come on Facebook or YouTube to dissuade your fellow Asomdwekromanian from paying E-Levy. Are you not a nation-wrecker? In the USA, Canada, UK or wherever you live, you pay income tax, property tax, federal tax, provincial tax, ad valorem tax, health services tax, sales tax and gift tax. Why dont you advocate same so your country can see some improvement in its infrastructural deficit? Interestingly, these Facebookers and YouTubers always show us videos of the beautiful roads, buildings and railway infrastructure in their country of residence. What they do not realise is that the beautiful roads and fanciful infrastructure wouldnt have been possible if citizens of those countries had resisted paying taxes as they are doing to the E-Levy today. For a country with only less than 30% paying taxes on their income, E-levy couldn't have come at a better time. I therefore impress upon the government to do everything possible to let it come into fruition, despite Zu-zas shenanigans in the House of Honourables. As for things are hard, it is a common tune in Asomdwekrom. In the minds of my compatriots, things would continue to be hard, irrespective of the one sitting on the presidential throne. Not even Yesu Kristo or Nkomsheni Muhammad can change that perception in the minds of Asomdwekromanians. But one thing is certain: posterity will judge the Nana Dee government favourably, even though some are complaining today. The efficient use of the E-Levy proceeds will make posteritys judgement even more favourable. See you next week for another interesting konkonsa, Deo volente! From Agya Kwaku Ogboro The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia has labeled President Akufo-Addo's government as the embodiment of failure. Speaking to TV3 on Monday morning, the long-serving scribe of the largest opposition party in the country stressed that the current government has continuously failed in delivering what it promised the Ghanaian people. The government failed too much. The problem is not about the promises they made. The failure rate is too much. It creates the impression of people who consciously plan to come and deceive the people and get away with it, Johnson Asiedu Nketia said. During the long conversation, the NDC General Secretary claimed that President Akufo-Addo's government has led the countrys economy into a hopelessly devastated state. He said the NDC has watched on keenly and would fix the mess of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government when it snatch power in the 2024 general elections. We [NDC] are very ready to govern. We are ready to go to the drawing board because 2025 is not going to be easy. Whoever comes to power in 2025 will inherit a difficult economy. We have taken over a hopelessly devastated economy before and we are determined. When we come we will fix this bad Akufo-Addo government economy, Johnson Asiedu Nketia stressed. The Ghana Tourism Authority, GTA, has begun a series of stakeholder engagements towards the celebration of the annual Kwahu Easter Paragliding Festival in April this year. The annual Kwahu Easter celebration which has gained international recognition since its inception is one of the biggest tourism events on the calendar of the Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture and the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA). But the annual event which brings dozens of tourists from the diaspora and serves as a major revenue booster for the hospitality players in the country was put on hold for two years due to Covid-19 restrictions. In an interview with Citi News on the sidelines of the Media Launch of the National Chocolate Week celebration at the Tetteh Quashie Cocoa Farm at Akuapem Mampong in the Eastern Region, the CEO of Ghana Tourism Authority, Akwasi Agyemang confirmed that the celebration will come off this year. He said the GTA is working on protocols and a final sign-off from the Ministry of Health to make this years event one of a kind. This year God willing Kwahu Easter is going to come on and in order to kick-start the process, we have engaged stakeholders. Next week is a big week for us, we have a series of stakeholder engagements with the traditional council, with the various districts and municipal assemblies in the area, and the hoteliers more importantly, and also everybody who is involved in the organization of events around Kwahu, we want it to be one of a kind. We want to also ensure that the safety and health protocol are rightly adhered to and in place, so I can confirm that based on the final stakeholders engagement we will be having next week, we will be making the announcement that Kwahu Easter will happen. Akwasi Agyemang however called on investors and other partners to get on board for a successful event this year. We are telling them they should get ready, we still have some two months to go. As I indicated, we started some series of engagement, we are working on the protocols, and we need to get some final signal from the Ghana Health Service. Based on all the protocols and what happened in the past in terms of outdoor activities and respect for the protocols that we did around December, we are very confident that we will get the final green light and then we will have Kwahu ooo kwahu this year. ---citinewsroom Four persons are confirmed dead and scores injured after a trailer truck ran into some food vendors at Nsawam in the Eastern Region. The accident occurred at the former Mobil fuel station on Monday February 7. The trailer truck reportedly failed its brake leading to the accident. A trailer truck that was carrying cement descending a hill towards and ran over food vendors along side the road injuring some of them in the process. The victims were sent to the Nsawam Government Hospital by the Police, fire service and NADMO officials, for medical attention. ---3news.com Professor Mawutor Avoke has been reinstated as the Vice Chancellor for the University of Education, Winneba by the Governing Council on Monday, 7th February, 2022. The embattled Vice Chancellor was reinstated after a ruling by the Winneba High Court after he was axed from office in 2017. During a short ceremony at the school, Chairman of the Governing Council of the university, Nana Ofori Ansah said the protracted legal battle has been brought to an end by the February 2, 2022 ruling by the Winneba High Court. He stressed that Professor Avokes reinstatement takes immediate effect as the Universitys acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Anthony Birikorang goes back to his substantive position as Pro-Vice Chancellor. Nana Ofori Ansah also announced that the directive of the court to have some other five persons also reinstated is purely a managerial issue and shall be taken care of by the Vice chancellor as he resumes his position. On his part, Professor Mawutor Avoke announced that, in collaboration with Council, steps shall be taken to have the other persons who were also relieved of their positions at the university to be reinstated in due time. In order to carry forward the Universitys developmental agenda, Professor Mawutor Avoke said all parties at the university must be united and help achieve the dream of making the University the best globally. Meanwhile, some lecturers and students who spoke to the media expressed gratitude to all stakeholders who partook in the resolution agenda and pledged to support the Vice Chancellor and other five persons. A bunch of foreign students have recently participated in an event in Shanghai to celebrate the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. These students are mainly from the countries along the Belt and Road route, such as Tanzania and Morocco in Africa, Myanmar and Kazakhstan in Asia, and Russia. They made Chinese knots, tried Chinese tongue twisters, sang songs and wrote Chinese calligraphy. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Daniela Sena selects the Chinese New Year decorations at a market in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Jan. 19, 2022. Daniela Sena, who has been living in China for 11 years, now works as a live-streamer on a cross-border e-commerce company in Shenyang. Her daily work mainly includes selling Chinese goods to overseas buyers via live streaming. For Daniela, the Spring Festival has become an important chance to experience the Chinese tradition and custom. "During the Spring Festival, elderly people usually give red envelopes to younger ones. Now, I will give this 'lucky money' to my family and friends as well," Daniela said. In addition to giving red envelopes, wearing new year clothes, pasting the Spring Festival couplets and eating dumplings also draw her attention during the Spring Festival season. (Xinhua) Daniela Sena sells products through livestreaming in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Jan. 19, 2022. Daniela Sena, who has been living in China for 11 years, now works as a live-streamer on a cross-border e-commerce company in Shenyang. Her daily work mainly includes selling Chinese goods to overseas buyers via live streaming. For Daniela, the Spring Festival has become an important chance to experience the Chinese tradition and custom. "During the Spring Festival, elderly people usually give red envelopes to younger ones. Now, I will give this 'lucky money' to my family and friends as well," Daniela said. In addition to giving red envelopes, wearing new year clothes, pasting the Spring Festival couplets and eating dumplings also draw her attention during the Spring Festival season. (Xinhua) Daniela Sena (R) sells products with her colleague through livestreaming in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Jan. 19, 2022. Daniela Sena, who has been living in China for 11 years, now works as a live-streamer on a cross-border e-commerce company in Shenyang. Her daily work mainly includes selling Chinese goods to overseas buyers via live streaming. For Daniela, the Spring Festival has become an important chance to experience the Chinese tradition and custom. "During the Spring Festival, elderly people usually give red envelopes to younger ones. Now, I will give this 'lucky money' to my family and friends as well," Daniela said. In addition to giving red envelopes, wearing new year clothes, pasting the Spring Festival couplets and eating dumplings also draw her attention during the Spring Festival season. (Xinhua) Daniela Sena holds the Chinese New Year decorations in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Jan. 19, 2022. Daniela Sena, who has been living in China for 11 years, now works as a live-streamer on a cross-border e-commerce company in Shenyang. Her daily work mainly includes selling Chinese goods to overseas buyers via live streaming. For Daniela, the Spring Festival has become an important chance to experience the Chinese tradition and custom. "During the Spring Festival, elderly people usually give red envelopes to younger ones. Now, I will give this 'lucky money' to my family and friends as well," Daniela said. In addition to giving red envelopes, wearing new year clothes, pasting the Spring Festival couplets and eating dumplings also draw her attention during the Spring Festival season. (Xinhua) Daniela Sena (R) sells products with her colleague through livestreaming in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Jan. 19, 2022. Daniela Sena, who has been living in China for 11 years, now works as a live-streamer on a cross-border e-commerce company in Shenyang. Her daily work mainly includes selling Chinese goods to overseas buyers via live streaming. For Daniela, the Spring Festival has become an important chance to experience the Chinese tradition and custom. "During the Spring Festival, elderly people usually give red envelopes to younger ones. Now, I will give this 'lucky money' to my family and friends as well," Daniela said. In addition to giving red envelopes, wearing new year clothes, pasting the Spring Festival couplets and eating dumplings also draw her attention during the Spring Festival season. (Xinhua) A Paris lawyer is preparing a group lawsuit against nursing home company Korian following complaints of mistreatment in its facilities. The news comes a week after similar complaints levelled at the Orpea group prompted outrage and an official investigation. Lawyer Sarah Saldmann told FranceInfo radio on Sunday that she had received "dozens of complaints" by relatives of people living in elderly care facilities run by Korian. She intends to bring a group lawsuit in April, bringing together the claims of numerous individual plaintiffs. Korian, which manages 298 for-profit nursing homes in France, has strongly denied any allegations of mistreatment. It told Reuters that although it had not been notified of any collective legal action it would treat any such legal action with the most serious consideration. Shares in Korian slumped by 4.2 percent early on Monday, with the stock down by around 40 percent since the start of 2022. They began falling two weeks ago with the publication of Les Fossoyeurs (The Gravediggers). The book accused Korian's rival Orpea of malpractice and negligence including the rationing of food and adult nappies. The revelations triggered a public outcry, government probes and the sacking of Orpea's CEO. 'Collective reckoning' Trust in Korian and Orpea has taken an additional blow after a well-known French investigational TV host said she would reveal new information on the sector later this month. In a statement, Korian said that it was ready to answer any questions raised in the Cash Investigation TV documentary, and that the company did not merit the negative media coverage. It regretted that the journalist had entered one of its facilities undercover to do the report. In the interview with FranceInfo, Salmann said that the publication of the book has set off a collective reckoning about the way France's elderly are being treated in facilities run by private companies that have to make a profit for their investors. A French minister said last week she was "disgusted" to discover the sacked head of Orpea had sold close to 590,000 euros of company stock after being informed of the allegations of abuse. Referring to Korian, Saldmann said that problems raised to her by family members seeking advice were "noticeably the same as those at Orpea". (with Reuters) A Ugandan court on Monday ordered a prominent author to stand trial next month on charges of insulting President Yoweri Museveni and his son. Kakwenza Rukirabashaija was detained shortly after Christmas and later charged with "offensive communication" in a case that has raised international concern. The 33-year-old satirical novelist says he was tortured in custody and appeared on television at the weekend to reveal painful-looking welts criss-crossed on his back and scars on other parts of his body. "They beat me with batons, everywhere. You collapse they beat you, you get up, you go into unconsciousness," he said in the interview with NTV Uganda broadcast on Saturday. Chief magistrate Douglas Singiza announced a trial date of March 23 but refused to relax Rukirabashaija's bail conditions set at a January hearing, which include an order not to speak to journalists. Singiza warned the author -- who stood in the dock in a business suit at Monday's session -- that speaking to the media about his case "exerts unnecessary pressure on this court". The charges against him relate to unflattering comments on Twitter about Museveni, who has ruled Uganda since 1986, and his powerful son Muhoozi Kainerugaba. In one post, he described Kainerugaba, a general who many Ugandans believe is positioning himself to take over from his 77-year-old father, as "obese" and a "curmudgeon". 'Plucked flesh with pliers' In Saturday's television interview -- carried out despite the bail conditions -- the author described being forced to dance without rest for days alongside other prisoners. Kakwenza Rukirabashaija's novel 'The Greedy Barbarian' describes high-level corruption in a fictional country. By KATUMBA BADRU SULTAN AFPFile Describing a technique other Ugandan dissidents claim has been used against them, Rukirabashaija also said tools were used to torture him. "They were getting pliers and they plucked flesh from my thighs, everywhere," he said, also charging that he was injected several times with an unknown substance against his will. Uganda has witnessed a series of crackdowns aimed at stamping out dissent, with journalists attacked, lawyers jailed, election monitors prosecuted and opposition leaders violently muzzled. On Monday, the European Union and several member states issued a joint statement calling for a "comprehensive investigation" into rights abuses in Uganda. The statement voiced concern "over a situation that for more than a year has seen a significant increase of reports of torture, arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, harassment as well as attacks against human rights defenders, members of the opposition and environmental rights activists". Rukirabashaija won acclaim for his 2020 satirical novel "The Greedy Barbarian", which describes high-level corruption in a fictional country. He was awarded the 2021 PEN Pinter Prize for an International Writer of Courage, which is presented annually to a writer who has been persecuted for speaking out about their beliefs. In 2020, he was also held for a week after being arrested for breaching Covid-19 social distancing rules, inciting violence and promoting sectarianism. The surprise arrest of DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi's special security advisor while the head of state was abroad has sparked protests and fears of instability within the government. Francois Beya, who had been considered a key figure in the conflict-wracked central African country, was arrested by the intelligence service on Saturday. There has been no official reason given for the arrest. However a security source told AFP on condition of anonymity that Beya is "suspected of wanting to try something in the absence of the head of state, the nature of which will be determined after his hearing". Tshisekedi had travelled to Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa to attend a two-day African Union summit, which ended on Sunday with leaders condemning a recent "wave" of military coups on the continent. Tshisekedi returned home on Saturday night, with his entourage denying that he had cut short his stay. Lawyer Georges Kapiamba of the Congolese Association for Access to Justice (ACAJ) said he had visited Beya at the premises of the National Intelligence Agency (ANR). "The ACAJ confirms the arrest and hearing of Mr Francois Beya by ANR investigators," he tweeted on Saturday. "The top officials of this service have reassured us that the entire procedure was conducted in strict respect for human rights." Kapiamba told reporters that Beya was "suspected of having participated in meetings involving state security". In an editorial in the Forum des As newspaper on Monday, Jose Nawej wrote that "by arresting the man whose job is to secure institutions", Tshisekedi's government had given "proof of the existence of a malaise at the heart of the government". 'It smells bad' "Whether an attempted palace revolution, clan war... or even a diversionary manoeuvre -- as some have suggested -- it smells bad," the editorialist wrote. The arrest follows military takeovers in Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea in the past year and a half, as well as a foiled coup in Guinea-Bissau last week. Congolese human rights NGO Justicia urged the government to "inform the population" rather than "allow hysteria over widespread insecurity to grow". News of the arrest prompted supporters of Tshisekedi's Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) party to take to the streets of the capital Kinshasa on Sunday, blocking part of a main road, with some throwing stones at passing cars, police said. The protesters' demands were unclear, but one, Justin Kashama, quoted in the newspaper Le Potential on Monday, said they "wanted to express their indignation against the report of a conspiracy against the head of state." "The people are angry," he added. Beya served as the head of migration under long-ruling former president Joseph Kabila until 2019 when he joined Tshisekedi's team. The unease comes as Tshisekedi has struggled to stop the bloodshed from conflicts with armed groups raging in the country's east, after placing the North Kivu and Ituri provinces under a "state of siege" last May. The Governing Council of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) is set to meet on Thursday, February 10 to take a decision as to whether to close the school or otherwise, a highly placed source at the university has said. The move, a consequence of the ongoing strike of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), is in line with its statute, which provides that the school shall close after 21 days of non-academic activity. Already, some crunch meetings have been ongoing on the way forward, checks by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) last week indicated. UTAG embarked on a strike on January 10, 2022, to protest what they describe as "worsening conditions of service". The industrial action is, therefore, intended to compel government to restore the 2012 condition of service, which fixed the Basic and Market Premium of a lecturer at 2,084.42 dollars. The Association said the current arrangement had short-changed their members' premium by 997.84 dollars. GNA President of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), Legon, Dr. Samuel Nkumbaan has stated that the National Labour Commission (NLC) after dragging them to court cannot act as the mediator between them and government. Speaking to Accra based Joy News, he stated that, upon the advice of the court the NLC sent the association a letter to meet and reach a resolution. According to him, upon a second thought came to the conclusion that NLC is not fit to mediate their issues. He indicated that the NLC has no right to order them. We were of the opinion that, we could not possibly be in the court with the NLC and be ordered to appear before it. In actual fact, the letter did not have an agenda item and so for us the best to have done was to write to the commission and let them know that the meeting wasnt the best forum for us. Dr. Nkumbaan added that it was government that can resolve their issues not the NLC. He indicated that the absence of a representative from government in the proposed meeting with the NLC is the reason for their boycott. However, Dr. Nkumbaan stressed that the association has received an invitation from the Minister of Education through the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission and its stakeholders to meet on February 8, 2022 at 3PM. UTAG is in its fifth week of the strike action since February 10 after government according to them failed to meet their demands per timelines agreed upon by both parties. Prior to this strike, UTAG embarked on strike action in September 2021. A lecturer of economics at the University of Ghana Business School, Prof. Godfred Bokpin has described as misplaced, government's attack on credit rating organizations following their damning ratings of Ghanas economy. The Finance Ministry in a statement accused Moodys of omitting key information in its recent downgrade of Ghana from B3 to Caa1 with a stable outlook. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has also bemoaned the impact of such ratings on cost and access to capital markets by African countries. But Prof. Bokpin believes the rating agencies are not far from the truth despite any shortcomings. He is thus urging the government to take steps to turn things around by making some more expenditure cuts. I do not see a lot of reactions from the government. I think that government should rather focus on the fundamental imbalances and the fiscal unsustainable issues that the country is saddled with. Other than that, we will be majoring on the minors. If you look at governments own drive to pass the E-levy at all cost, it tells you about a certain level of desperation. There is enough that we can get from the economy that all is not well, even without the help of the credit rating report. The best reaction government can do is rather to cut wasteful expenditure. Fitch, in January 2022 downgraded Ghana's economy from B to B- with a negative outlook. Moody's also downgraded Ghana's economy from B3 with a negative outlook to Caa1 with a stable outlook. The new ratings, they say, reflect Ghana's challenges in fixing its liquidity and debt challenges. With limited access to the international financial market, Ghana, for instance, is turning to domestic revenue mobilization to rescue the situation. Some analysts have proposed seeking an IMF bailout as a better alternative amidst wide public disapproval for the E-levy, but the government has indicated on different platforms that it does not want to seek assistance from the IMF. ---citinewsroom The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on the Government to suspend some taxes on petroleum products as a remedial measure to cushion consumers against the continuous hike in fuel prices. The Party, at a media briefing in Accra on Monday, February 07, 2022, urged the Government to suspend the Price Stabilisation and Recovery Levy, and the Sanitation and Pollution Levy on petroleum products to reduce the percentage of taxes on the total price build-up. Mr George Opare Addo, National Youth Organiser, NDC, who addressed the media, said failure on the part of the Government to keep the fuel prices at affordable levels could badly affect the livelihoods of the people. The country in recent times is rolling back on its progress. Times are hard for young people and families alike. ...we demand that the Price Stabilisation and Recovery Levy be suspended without fail and the irrelevant Sanitation and Pollution Levy all added to the petroleum price build-up be cancelled, he said. Fuel prices have gone up by at least 50 pesewas per litre at the pumps since February 01, 2022. Petrol and diesel are currently being sold at an average of GH 7.3 and GH 7.4 per litre respectively. The hike has been blamed on rising cost of Brent crude on the international market, with some analysts projecting that fuel prices could hit GH8.0 per litre by March this year if the situation on the world market progressed. The National Youth Wing of the NDC said it would on Thursday, February 10, 2022, stage a demonstration dubbed Yentua, to wit We won't pay to oppose the proposed Electronic Transactions Levy (E-Levy). Mr Addo said the rationale behind the demonstration was to among others, support Minority in Parliament to resist the passage of the E-Levy Bill, demand a resolution of the prolonged industrial action by the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), and payment of the gratuities of NABCO trainees. The NDC is not against taxes. The Government must tax the right sources. Last year alone, mobile money transactions exceeded $500m. What it simply means is that they (Telcos) made more profits. Financial institutions are making abnormal profits. What the Government needs to do is to tax financial institutions and financial companies. The extractive industry is still available, he noted. Mr Bernard Monarh, Convener for the pressure group, Justice for Ghana Movement, said the Group would persistently resist the E-Levy until it was completely withdrawn from Parliament. He said the tax had the potential to collapse Ghanaian businesses, particularly those that relied on mobile money for daily transactions. We believe that taxes are levied on profits, gains on capital, interests, and other incomes. Taxes are not levied on the working capital, he said. Mr George Kofi Aboah, a convener of the Coalition of Concerned University Students, appealed to the Government to urgently resolve the impasse with UTAG for academic activities to resume. When two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. The students are suffering. We've paid exorbitant tuition and hostel fees and yet our lecturers are on strike for weeks, he lamented. GNA 07.02.2022 LISTEN Former President John Dramani Mahama says the Akufo- Addo led administration has no credible or viable plan to get the Ghanaians out of the current economic crisis. In a Facebook post, he stated that the collective buy-ins from Ghanaians, development partners and investors are being ignored when they can be used to alleviate the current crisis. He added that the much needed Post COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan is nowhere in sight. According to him, the recovery plan would lay a firm blueprint for fiscal consolidation in the face of a worsening economic situation. The former President further adds that, beyond the ill-conceived E-levy, the Akufo-Addo administration seems to have no viable plan to alleviate the current economic hardships of the Ghanaian people. In addition, he states that government must borrow a leaf from the approach of the NDC during the challenges the party faced in 2015 while it was in power. As I have indicated previously, the government must as a matter of urgency, borrow a leaf from our sound approach toward the challenges we faced in 2015. We immediately convened the Senchi Economic Forum at which we tapped the brains and expertise of a wide variety of knowledgeable people and stakeholders and built a consensus on our economic plan going forward. Former President John Mahama stressed that President Akufo- Addo is nonchalant to the crisis on the ground and his team has limited responses to harsh tax measures. Yet, President Nana Akufo-Addo and his Head of the Economic Management Team, rather appallingly, remain nonchalant in the face of this serious crisis and have limited their response to the imposition of very harsh and regressive tax measures, one of which is the E-Levy, which has been roundly rejected by the people of Ghana. He also stated that the Akufo- Addo administration received and misused the largest economic bailout in the history of Ghana from the IMF, World Bank and others. He said, it's a pity that the NPPs economic plan is largely reliant on the e-levy. The Akufo-Addo administration in 2020/21 received and misapplied the largest windfall or bailout in Ghana's history: a $1 billion concessional facility from the IMF, another $1 billion in SDR allocation, $430 million from the World Bank, $250 million from the Stabilization Fund, Gh10 billion from the Central Bank. This amounted to a total of about GH33 billion. "It is a pity that today, the NPP's entire economic plan hinges on the passage of an E-levy expected to raise a little over Gh6 billion. How did we arrive here? The former President is of the view that, the current administration must swallow its pride and set up a forum to engage stakeholders for a better solution to the current challenges before "we hit a point of no return." The Central African Republic's prime minister has been sacked, the presidency confirmed Monday, against the backdrop of tensions between pro-Russian and pro-French factions within the government of the poor, unstable country. Henri-Marie Dondra had been named prime minister in June 2021, shortly after Paris froze budgetary aid to its former colony, accusing it of "complicity" in what it called a Russian "disinformation" campaign against France. Presidency spokesman Albert Yaloke Mokpeme told AFP that Dondra was "fired" and replaced by his economy minister, Felix Moloua, confirming a weekend report by online news website Africa Intelligence. President Faustin-Archange Touadera was attending an African Union summit in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa at the time. Russia's influence in the Central African Republic (CAR) has increased steadily over the past four years, and in late 2020 Russian military contractors helped quell a rebellion against Touadera. At the time of Dondra's appointment as prime minister he was perceived as more "pro-French" than his predecessor Firmin Ngrebada, seen as more sympathetic to the Russians. "Touadera had named Dondra because he was close to international donors and he had good relations with France," said Roland Marchal, a researcher at Sciences Po university in Paris. But Dondra had "little control" over the defence and foreign ministers as well as the influential pro-Russian parliament speaker, Simplice Sarandji, Marchal told AFP. A civil war broke out in the CAR in 2013, pitting myriad militias against a state on the verge of collapse. Map locating Central African Republic's capital Bangui. By AFP The fighting had lessened considerably in recent years, but it resumed abruptly when rebels launched their failed offensive to overthrow Touadera. The UN accused both sides in the fighting of human rights abuses. The private military contractors are often described as belonging to the "Wagner group" -- an entity with no known legal status. Last week the European Union said it would resume a suspended military training mission in the CAR if the country's soldiers stopped working for Wagner. Opponents of Tunisian President Kais Saied have condemned his "illegal" decision to dissolve the country's top judicial watchdog, a move experts warned Monday is part of a slide towards autocracy. Tunisia had been lauded as a rare democratic success story following the 2011 Arab uprisings, despite widespread public anger in the country at political parties seen as corrupt and self-serving. But last July, Saied sacked the government and seized a range of powers, vowing a deep overhaul of Tunisia's political system. What now for Tunisian justice system? Saied on Sunday dissolved the Supreme Judicial Council (CSM), after repeatedly accusing judges of corruption, selling posts to the highest bidder and delaying politically sensitive enquiries. The CSM's president Youssef Bousakher said Saied had "seized the judiciary by force, which represents a danger to the justice system, rights and freedoms". Political analyst Slim Kharrat said the move was "a very serious and very worrying sign". "The sole representative of the executive has taken control of the judiciary. It's what we feared," Kharrat said. "We can now say we're living in a personal authoritarian regime, as Kais Saied is not at all known for listening." Police on Monday surrounded the CSM's headquarters and blocked its staff from entering, a move Bousakher said was "illegal". For Fadil Aliriza, editor-in-chief of the Tunisia news website Meshkal.org, that was "yet one more escalation of tensions between the police and the judiciary, which have been growing for years". How does it impact Tunisia's politics? Political analyst Youssef Cherif noted that "Tunisians are not particularly fond of their judges" and that many would welcome Saied's latest move. But Cherif warned that the CSM is "another check on authoritarianism that's being discarded". Aliriza said Saied's core supporters had long called for a "cleansing" of the judiciary, but that most Tunisians were more worried about the crumbling economy -- on which Saied has largely kept the same approach as previous administrations. "Saied had lost most of his support among the political elite, but polls also suggest his support has waned among the broader public too," he said. Without his own party and with few allies in civil society, "the main institutional players on which President Saied is relying are the security forces", Aliriza added. What will President Saied do next? Kharrat warned that Saied "won't stop now" and that Tunisia was "rejoining the club of dictators and authoritarian regimes". Dissolving the CSM will allow the president "to finish off his project to dismantle every institution, all the checks and balances in place for the past decade", he said. European powers and the US have publicly urged Saied to bring back the separation of powers and return to the constitution. But Aliriza said the West had "largely ignored" both abuses under former dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and sometimes deadly violence by post-revolution authorities. "As long as Tunisia does not stop security cooperation or make a geopolitical or economic realignment away from Western dependence, it's unlikely there will be serious changes in these relations," he said. TEHRAN, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Iranian foreign minister said here Monday that "parts" of Iran's demands for the removal of U.S. sanctions have not been addressed in the Vienna talks. Hossein Amir Abdollahian made the remarks at a joint press conference with his visiting Finnish counterpart Pekka Haavisto in Iran's capital Tehran, official news agency IRNA reported. "In the latest texts obtained from the Vienna talks, parts of our demands for the lifting of sanctions have not yet been addressed," he said. In the coming days, Iranian Chief Nuclear Negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani and accompanying negotiating experts will focus on the document expected to be agreed upon in Vienna, he added, calling on parties involved in the talks to show their commitment to the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The Iranian minister also expressed hope for final agreement in the upcoming meetings. "We will continue our efforts to reach a good and even immediate agreement with optimistic view, good faith and seriousness," he said, adding the United States and the three European states (namely Britain, France and Germany) also need to engage with "good faith and seriousness" in the talks. For his part, Haavisto expressed regret over what happened to the Iranian nuclear deal, saying "we European countries look forward to reaching an agreement and revival of the JCPOA during the (upcoming) Vienna talks." The European Union, as the coordinator of the nuclear talks, and Iran's Foreign Ministry confirmed on Monday the resumption of talks in Vienna on Tuesday. "Following a short break, the eighth round of negotiations in Vienna in the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) will resume on February 8," the EU said in a statement. Under the nuclear agreement reached in June 2015, Iran accepted some restrictions on the development of its nuclear program in return for removal of the UN and Western sanctions. However, the former U.S. president withdrew from the deal unilaterally in 2018, and reinstated old and new sanctions against Iran which, in return, retaliated by dropping some of its nuke commitments. Since April 2021, several rounds of negotiations have been held between Iran and the remaining parties to the deal, with the United States indirectly involved, aimed at removal of sanctions against Iran and the restoration of the deal. 07.02.2022 LISTEN The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has asked government to abandon its plan to introduce controversial E-Levy. According to the party, government must introduce better ways of raising revenue to fund the administrations business. Addressing the press at the NDC headquarters ahead of a planned protest dubbed Yentua E-levy demonstration, Youth Organizer for the party, George Opare Addo said government should instead tax the profit of telecommunications and insurance companies whom he said are making abnormal profits. Today, we know how much the Telcos are making, last year alone we understand that mobile money transactions exceeded $500 million meaning they make more profit. The NDC is not against taxation, we are saying financial institutions are making abnormal profits. Tax the right sources, tax the extractive industries, and dont tax the poor Ghanaian. Mr. Opare Addo further called on the public including members of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) to rally behind the Yentua demonstration which will begin from Obra Spot at 7:00 am on Thursday, February 10, 2022. The protest is to enable the NDC youth convey their stance against the E-Levy the government proposed in the 2022 Budget Statement awaiting approval to be passed into law in Parliament. The NDC youth had already invited the #FixTheCountry Movement and the Economic Fighters League to join in the protest, but the invitations were declined. ---citinewsroom Grassroots women in Africa have devised tools to help them fight for their land rights and have access to land, something they have been denied for a long time. These tools are also helping women at community level to build solidarity among themselves to enable them to negotiate with their respective governments, raise awareness and amplify their voice over issues concerning land, such as disinheritance, property grabbing, land eviction. At a session on grassroots womens engaging customary structures for just and equitable land governance at local level during the fourth Conference on Land Policy (CLPA) in Kigali, Rwanda, earlier this month, various womens groups presented the tools they are using to access land and create awareness about their land rights. These groups are part of the international Huairou Commission - an international, women-led network that builds the capacity of grassroots womens organizations. From their presentations, it was clear that local solutions to sensitive issues such as land rights can be found if local authorities, women, government, and non-governmental organizations join hands. For example, Ms. Violet Shivutse, the leader of Shibuye Community Grassroots said women groups in rural western Kenya have organized themselves into groups called Collective Women Farmers which they use as a tool to fight for land access for food production. When women work as individuals, it becomes so hard to access agricultural extension officers because of shortage of these officers. This is a challenge in East African countries. However, under the collective group, women farmers are able to identify a demonstration centre and get an agricultural extension officer to attend to them regularly, said Ms. Shivutse. The womens group and the agricultural officer then develop a workplan and use part of their land as a training and demonstration centre where other women farmers come to see and learn and then replicate the same practices, she added. Another tool the women are using is mapping to secure and access land. Mapping is used to address issues around climate change, eviction, and succession challenges. To use mapping as a tool Ms. Shivutse says the women first come up with a core team of leaders and a spokesperson to lead the process, then engage the other members to ensure that the community rallies behind them. They then identify what they want to map. They use drawings, videos, pictures, and personal testimonies, through which they identify challenges such as land eviction and disinheritance. In the process they document other issues that are indirectly related to land ownership and access like the number of children out of school as a result of eviction, or food insecurity. We do this so that its not about politicizing the issues of land and women. Because land is about power, people think women are just looking for wealth, she said. The mapping process reveals other issues that are undermining development. When you connect land issues to education, which everyone values in the community, then there is solidarity even from the community leaders. When you link it to food security, everyone rallies behind the issue to ensure that there is no hunger. Ms. Shivutse noted that mapping had become the baseline of how grassroots women can engage the entire community on issues related to land. Lobbying and community dialogue, she said, works hand-in-hand with mapping. From the findings of mapping tools, the women are able to engage the community leaders for action plans which include relocation of people evicted, how to communicate eviction, how to ensure that the safety and privacy of women and their children is considered during eviction, or remuneration. The mapping reports also help to influence policy discussions and set priorities related to women and land issues. The use of the social tenure domain model as a tool that is being implemented in countries such as Zambia and Uganda, Ms. Shivutse said, begins with the mapping. Women then engage everyone else in the community, including the youth, on the traditional land management system, including when land titles do not exist. This has prompted joint titling where husbands, wives and their children are recognized as having a stake in family land. This is important because when a person dies, the spouse remains secure on their land. Womens group have also embraced land leasing, by an individual or a group. Through group leasing, the members get sufficient land area to set up demonstration plots on which they can practice conservation agriculture. However, the challenge is that issues of land leasing have not been streamlined in some African countries. To beat this challenge, the Shibuye grassroots womens group in 2017 drafted guidelines on land leasing to ensure access to land by women, and formulated key issues they experienced in land leasing, which served as terms of reference for the guidelines. Furthermore, they nominated community representatives to draft the guidelines. This led to land lease guidelines being adopted. Madagascar Lilia Ravoniarisoa, the leader of the Federation of Women Farmers in Madagascar, said in her country, up to a third of the rural population are without land because most land is government or community-owned. In addition, up to 70 per cent of family tasks are done by women, yet women do not inherit land due to local customs and high illiteracy levels which hinder their access to land. Ms. Ravoniarisoa womens groups have mapped land in every region in the country including community land which they protect by replanting mangrove trees. They then sell the mangrove by products for income. The wood is used for building coastal houses, while the roots and leaves are used for medicinal purposes. Over 90 hectares has been obtained from local authorities and we have requested for 300ha to replant the trees. The aim is to reduce the vulnerability of women by increasing their income and food security, said Ms. Ravoniarisoa. Women's groups use the community land leased from the authorities to address food insecurity and lack of resources through agriculture. The leases are long-term but renewed every year. This has increased womens income as well as decision-making in their households, Ms. Ravoniarisoa said. Ms. Ravoniarisoa notes that the women plan to form cooperatives at the grassroots level to enable them to have more power in discussions on land issues. They do this by pooling resources which enables them to negotiate for land ownership and use with one voice. In the South West region, the group has convinced the local authorities to give them part of the community land at no fee for reforestation. In other regions they have land where women are planting algae and practicing fish and crab farming. We have market access because we produce organic products, she said, adding that through dialogues, women are empowered and are more aware of their land rights. For more information on COVID-19, visit www.un.org/coronavirus Africa Renewal French President Emmanuel Macron met with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Monday at the start of a week of intense diplomacy over fears Russia is preparing an invasion of its pro-Western neighbour Ukraine. Moscow calls the fears "hysteria", but just how worrying is the build-up of Russian troops? Macron told Putin on Monday he hoped talks in Moscow could lead to an easing of tensions over Ukraine. "This discussion can make a start in the direction in which we need to go, which is towards a de-escalation," Macron said at the start of the meeting in Moscow. He added that he hoped to "avoid a war" and "build elements of confidence, stability and visibility for everyone". Putin, meanwhile, hailed France's efforts to strengthen European security as he hosted French leader Emmanuel Macron for talks. "I see how much effort the French leadership is making to resolve the issue of security in Europe ... namely to resolve the crisis in the south-east of Ukraine," Putin told Macron at the start of the talks. Welcoming Macron as "dear Emmanuel", Putin said Russia and France have "shared concerns regarding security in Europe" and hailed "how much effort the current French leadership is making" to resolve these concerns. With tens of thousands of Russian troops camped near the Ukrainian border, Macron was the first top Western leader to meet Putin since the crisis began in December. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was due to meet Monday with US President Joe Biden in Washington, as Western leaders look to maintain a united front in their biggest showdown with Russia since the end of the Cold War. On Tuesday, Macron will meet with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymir Zelensky in Kyiv. Russia denies invasion plans Russia points out tthat it holds military exercises which rotate each year between four strategic theatres. They are called Zapad (West, 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2021) Vostok (East, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022), Tsentr (Centre, 2011, 2015 and 2019) and Kavkaz (Caucasus, 2012, 2016 and 2020). Troop numbers vary from just over 12,000 to more that 300,000 soldiers. Over the last decade, armies from friendly countries such as China, Pakistan and the Central Asian states were invited to take part as well. During the cold war, the then Soviet Union carried out yearly Zapad (West) exercises together with its allies of the Warsaw Pact. After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the demise of the Soviet Union in 1991, Zapad exercises were reduced to only Russia and Belarus and continue today. In 2018, Russia held its largest military exercises since the cold war, Vostok 2018, involving 300,000 troops, 1,000 aircraft and 900 tanks while a flotilla of warships was exercising in the Mediterranean off the coast of Syria, host to Moscow's naval base in Tartus. In Tsentr 2019, 128,000 troops took part, and in last year's Zapad 200,000. Smaller exercises, like Union Shield 2015 together with Belarus are also frequently held, as well as the Slavic Brotherhood exercises where Serbia joins in as well. Union Courage 2022 The reported troop buildup near the Ukraine border does not fit the pattern, as the regular exercises take place in September. As a result, they send jitters through Western governments, which fear it may be a sign of a looming invasion. But from the Russian side, there is no talk of war. This year, Russia and Belarus, in a strategic alliance called the Union State, will hold over 20 joint exercises, according to the Russian Defence Ministry. Official Russian dispatche say the massive buildup is called inspection of the Reaction Force of the Union State and includes training exercises by S-400 anti aircraft missile systems in Brest, near the Polish border. There are also joint Russian-Belarus air patrols with Sukhoi SU-30SM fighter jets in the Kaliningrad Region, the small Russian enclave between EU member states Lithuania and Poland. A first stage, starting 9 February, sees a redeployment of Russian forces in Belarus. The second stage (10-20 February) goes by the name Union Courage 2022, and is aimed against external aggression and countering terrorism and protecting the interests of the Union State. Hysterics? Invasion into Ukraine? Hysterics, says Russia a scenario which is repeated from 2017 when Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitri Peskov complained about the west whipping up hysteria after Nato allies reacted to the then "Zapad 2017" exercises. As for the numbers of the current exercise, western reports mention over 100,000 Russian troops being gathered at the border between Russia/Belarus and Ukraine. However the Russian Defence Ministry hasn't put a figure on it, saying the number of participants and weapons systems do not exceed stipulations set by the 2011 Vienna Document, which requires the presence of observers from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Full-scale attack Washington and most of its Nato allies don't trust this. US officials said if Moscow does opt for a full-scale attack, the invading force could take the capital Kyiv and topple Zelensky in a matter of 48 hours. They estimated such an attack would leave 25,000 to 50,000 civilians dead, along with 5,000 to 25,000 Ukrainian soldiers and 3,000 to 10,000 Russian ones. It could also trigger a refugee flood of one to five million people, mainly into Poland, the officials added. Biden has decided to send American forces to bolster Nato's eastern flank, with the first contingent of US soldiers arriving in Poland on Saturday. (With agencies) The Deputy Minister for Defence, Kofi Amankwa-Manu has assured Ghanaians that the country is safe from potential terrorist attacks. Speaking to TV3, the Minister said the county will continue to be safe as all security forces stay on alert to avert any danger that may arise. I will say to a very large extent we are safe. Our security forces especially, our men and women in uniform and working 24/7 around the clock to make sure every Ghanaian and our borders are protected, he said. The assurance to Ghanaians comes at a time when the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region is said to be under threat following recent Jihadist attacks. According to Kofi Amankwa-Manu, the Ghana Armed Forces can be trusted to defend the borders of the country. I have so much confidence in the Ghana Armed Forces, they will defend this country and our borders. Ghanaians are protected but we cannot take security for granted, he noted. The Deputy Defence Minister during the interview urged Ghanaians to help the various security agencies by staying vigilant and providing information on activities that may pose a threat. Every Ghanaian in spite of the fact that the Ghana Armed Forces are doing the best to make sure our borders are protected and that Ghanaians are protected. We also must be our own security experts. "We must look around for any suspicious character trying to do anything to destabilize this nation. As soon as we see anything like that we alert the GAF. We must all assist in this direction to make sure Ghana is protected, Kofi Amankwa-Manu shared. The Nii Akwanor Royal Family of Ashalaja in collaboration with Sissamba Empire have commissioned a land secretariat at Ashalaja in the Greater Accra Region. The secretariat seeks to help developers who acquire land at Ashalaja in the name of Adams Addy and Adu Akwanor families to regularize their documents. It also seeks to help the family keep records of its land transactions and address irregularities of sites for the Ashalaja township as well as mobilize revenue for the development of the area. The Akwanor Royal Family has mandated Sissamba Empire Limited, an entity specialized in land management and administration to steer the affairs of the family land. The Akwanor Royal Family Land Secretariat would be operated by Sissamba Empire Company Limited in collaboration with the family head, Solomon Mintah Ackaah. In a speech read on his behalf, Mr. Solomon Mintah Ackaah revealed that the decision to establish the office has been the vision of the family adding that the office does not belong to the family but to the people of Ashalaja and for the future generation. According to him, after a long legal battle, the Supreme Court gave a judgement in favour of Mr. Solomon Mintah Ackaah as the substantive Head of Akwanor Royal Family and was given the full mandate to alienate lands to prospective developers and new clients which judgement was published in the dailies. Making reference to the said publication, Mr. Solomon Mintah Ackaah stated that "all must note that Ashalaja lands is a family land and it is only the legitimate head of the family (Solomon Mintah Ackaah) who has the authority to supervise the dispositions of such lands". Therefore, the Courts having declared any act or acts done by the said Adams Addy and Adu Akwanor in their purported capacity as joint heads or head of the Akwaanor Royal Family of Ashalaja as null and void, all dispositions of land made by the said Adams Addy and Akwaanor are also null and void. The Head of Nii Akwanor Royal Family further revealed that the core objectives of the office is to regularize documents that have been issued out and declared null and void by the Supreme Court. He cautioned all developers in Ashalaja that the Akwanor Land Secretariat is not a Court to deal with land litigations and will therefore refer challenges that are beyond its capacity to the appropriate authorities for redress. Solomon Mintah Ackaah further called on individuals or organizations who have acquired land in Ashalaja in the name of Adams Addy and Adu Akwanor to regularize the said acquisitions with the land secretariat in compliance with the Land Act 2020 (Act 1036). Police in the Eastern Region are on a manhunt for the driver who lost control of his trailer truck and in the process crashed into several vehicles, killing four women instantly at Nsawam in the Nsawam Adoagyiri Municipality. The Eastern Regional Police PRO, DSP Ebenezer Tetteh, who confirmed this incident to Citi News, said efforts are underway to arrest the driver. The Mercedes Benz truck with registration number GT 7176 N according to the police was loaded with an unspecified quantity of cement and was headed to Nsawam from Accra. On reaching a section of the road at Prince Boateng Memorial School, the trucks brakes allegedly failed, causing it to run into vehicles ahead of it. This resulted in the death of the four women. Even though the remains of the deceased have been deposited at the Nsawam government hospital for identification and autopsy, the crashed vehicles are yet to be towed from the scene. ---citinewsroom The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat has called for more partnerships to support youth development in Africa. He made this statement ahead of the 35th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly in a virtual event that showcased the results of the 1 Million by 2021 initiative. Launched in 2019, the initiative sought to provide direct opportunities for African youth in the areas of education, employment, entrepreneurship, and engagement (the 4Es). Speaking at the launch, he indicated that despite the disruption brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, joint efforts with; young people in the driving seat as implementers, enthusiastic, and the collaborative support of partners across the 4Es were what ensured the 1 million by 2021 initiative was a success. H.E Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Chair of the African Union sent a video message where he spoke about the 4Es being in line with the strategic vision of his tenure at the helm of the African Union. He explained that they contributed to promoting the development of African human capital for an emerging Africa. H.E President Tshilombo congratulated the Chairperson of the AUC on the resounding success of the 1 Million by 2021 Initiative while calling for strategic links between youth, Member States, and partners to be strengthened. The Deputy Chairperson who was also in attendance, H.E. Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa, noted that the initiative responded to fundamental questions on new approaches to solving existing problems targeted towards African realities. It is my hope that with this success we will all be galvanized into taking even bigger actions, and be pushed towards even more fruitful collaborations as we all work towards achieving Aspiration 6 of Agenda 2063, she said. Presenting the results of the 1 Million by 2021 initiative, the Acting Director of Women, Gender and Youth Directorate, Ms. Prudence Ngwenya, shared with partners and youth in attendance that the initiative was able to reach over 8 million young people across Africa through the initiative. She also highlighted that key lessons learned from the initiative were that more member states should be engaged, the program should be agile and adaptive to respond to the ever-changing landscape, more institutional strengthening, sustained partner engagement, and more youth engagement are also crucial to advancing the youth agenda. Partners in attendance conveyed their congratulations to the Commission and indicated that the successes of the 1 Million by 2021 initiative proved that targeted investments were the key to building the Africa we want. They all recommitted their support to build on the gains of the initiative to ensure no young person is left behind. Speakers at the high-level session included; Dr. Muthoni Wanyeki, Regional Director for Africa, Open Society Foundations (OSF), Dr. Kevin Frey, Chief Executive Officer Generation Unlimited (GenU), Mrs. Ahunna Eziakonwa, UNDP Assistant Administrator and UNDP Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Inge Baumgarten - Director, GIZ Office to the AU, H.E Mme Bineta Diop Special Envoy, Women Peace, and Security, AND Ms. Chido Cleopatra Mpemba - AUC Chairperson Youth Envoy. Professor Mawutor Avoke has expressed happiness for his return to the University of Education, Winneba. He pledges to embark on reconciliatory efforts to heal the wounds among the staff of the university. In a brief address with the media after his reinstatement on Monday, Professor Mawutor Avoke expressed joy about the decision of the governing council to comply with the orders of the court. "We have come back to the University that we love, a University that we are part of its history since 1992. What is urgently required of the University now is unity, reconciliation and peace, and this my administration together with the support of the University Council we shall achieve this goal collectively," he observed. The Vice Chancellor also hinted that it was critical to ensure that all stakeholders work hard, in honesty and dedication so as to forge ahead for the developmental agenda of the University. According to Prof Avoke, his reinstatement as UEW Vice Chancellor was characterized by a sense of duty and purposeful direction, an attitude that builds unity amongst parties that have been at loggerheads for the past four and half years. He indicated further, his readiness to collaborate with the governing council to resolve the case of the other five staff members to take back their rightful positions in the University. "I am thankful to the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, sector Minister, the governing council and all other stakeholders whose prayers and contributions in divers ways have helped in this success," he stated. For his part, the Chairman of the governing council of the University of Education, Winneba, Nana Ofori Ansah I hinted that the council's move was in adherence to the ruling of the High Court which seeks to bring a lasting solution to the brouhaha. "It was the vision, wish and hope of the President that litigations end someway, and with the court ruling on February 2, 2022 at University of Education, Winneba, the long impasse has come to an end," he added. The Governing Council of the University of Education, Winneba, has on Monday, February 7, 2022 reinstated Professor Mawutor Avoke as substantive Vice Chancellor. This move follows a ruling by a High Court in Winneba ordering the University's Council to reinstate Prof Avoke as Vice Chancellor of UEW together with five other University staff with immediate effect. 07.02.2022 LISTEN More than half a million doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine arrived at Accras Kotoka International Airport on February 6. The United States has donated 7.6 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to Ghana since September 2021. These vaccines are being used across Ghana to protect Ghanaians from serious illness and to save lives. The Ghana Health Service reported vaccinating nearly three million people in December alone. Last week, U.S. Ambassador Stephanie S. Sullivan visited a Ghana Health Service clinic to support National COVID-19 Immunization Days, accompanied by Director General of the Ghana Health Service Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye and other Ghana Health Service officials. She added her voice to the campaign to encourage those eligible to get vaccinated now and commended the community health workers who have been on the front lines to administer vaccines, debunk misinformation, and address vaccine hesitancy. We are all in this together. The United States has provided over 7 million vaccine doses to Ghana. I know that Ghana has made an incredible effort at getting the vaccines out to people. We are here to encourage public health workers, here, throughout Ghana and around the world, who have been doing an incredible jobalso to assure people that these vaccines are safe and effective. They will help protect you, your family, and your community, noted U.S. Ambassador Sullivan while visiting the vaccination clinic in Teshie, Greater Accra, late last week. The group was welcomed to the clinic by the sounds of Ghana COVID Ambassador Celestine Donkors new song Kor Wor Vaccine nu, encouraging Ghanaians to get vaccinated. The United States has now shared 7,605,580 COVID-19 vaccine doses with the Ghanaian people. President Biden has committed to donating 1.2 billion doses worldwide. The U.S. Government has already shared well over 400 million doses, including nearly 119 million to 43 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Visit our Flickr page for additional photos. world leaders and taking the pulse of global trends. Its clear to me that we are at a defining moment in international relations. Global decision making is plagued by gridlock and a fundamental paradox lies at the heart of it. On the one hand, many of todays global leaders recognize our common threats COVID, climate, the unregulated development of new technologies. They agree that something needs to be done about them. Yet that common understanding is not matched by common action. Indeed, divides keep deepening. We see them everywhere: in the unfair and unequal distribution of vaccines; in a global economic system rigged against the poor; in the utterly inadequate response to the climate crisis; in digital technology and a media landscape that profit from division; and in growing unrest and conflict around the world. So if the world agrees on the diagnosis of these common problems, why is it unable to effectively treat them? I see two fundamental reasons. First, because foreign policy often becomes a projection of internal politics. As a former Prime Minister, I know that despite good intentions, international affairs can be hijacked by domestic politics. Perceived national interests can easily trump the larger global good. This impulse is understandable, even if it is wrong-headed in instances where solidarity is in a countrys self-interest. Vaccines are a prime example. Everyone understands that a virus like COVID-19 does not respect national borders. We need universal vaccination to reduce the risk of new and more dangerous variants emerging and affecting everyone, in every country. Instead of prioritizing vaccines for all through a global vaccination plan, governments have acted to safeguard their people. But that is only half a strategy. Of course, governments must ensure the protection of their own people. But unless they work simultaneously to vaccinate the world, national vaccination plans could be rendered useless as new variants emerge and spread. Second, many of todays global institutions or frameworks are outdated or simply weak and the necessary reforms are impeded by geo-political divides. For example, the authority of the World Health Organization is nowhere near what is required to coordinate the response to global pandemics. At the same time, international institutions with more power are either paralyzed by division like the Security Council or undemocratic like many of our international financial institutions. In short global governance is failing at precisely the moment when the world should be coming together to solve global problems We need to act together in the national and global self-interest, to protect critical global public goods, like public health and a livable climate, that support humanitys wellbeing. Such reforms are essential if we are to deliver on common aspirations for our collective global goals of peace, sustainable development, human rights and dignity for all. This is a difficult and complex exercise that must take into account questions of national sovereignty. But doing nothing is not an acceptable option. The world desperately needs more effective and democratic international mechanisms that can solve peoples problems. As the pandemic has taught us, our fates are tied. When we leave anyone behind, we risk leaving everyone behind. The most vulnerable regions, countries and people are the first victims of this paradox in global policy. But everyone, everywhere is directly threatened. The good news is that we can do something about our global challenges. Problems created by humanity can be solved by humanity. Last September, I issued a report on these issues. Our Common Agenda is a starting point; a roadmap to gather the world together to tackle these governance challenges and reinvigorate multilateralism for the 21st century. Change wont be easy, nor will it happen overnight. But we can begin by finding areas of consensus and moving in the direction of progress. This is our greatest test because so much is at stake. We are already seeing the consequences. As people start to lose trust in the ability of institutions to deliver, they also risk losing faith in the values that underlie those institutions. In every corner of the world, we see an erosion of trust and what I fear is the emergence of a twilight of shared values. Injustice, inequality, mistrust, racism and discrimination are casting dark shadows across every society. We must restore human dignity and human decency and respond to peoples anxieties with answers. In the face of growing inter-connected threats, enormous human suffering, and shared risks, we have an obligation to speak up and act to put out the fire. Antonio Guterres is Secretary-General of the United Nations by Liu Zhoupeng, Bai Shaobo, Jin Yiqing LHASA, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- "K249+502; K166+700..." In a dark tunnel on the Lhasa-Nyingchi railway, Rinchen Tsering wrote a raft of numbers on the back of his left hand under the faint light of his cap-lamp. The 36-year-old from southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region has been a railway worker for 15 years. The numbers are his "security codes," indicating the maintenance conditions on bridge and tunnel equipment. The codes mark the locations of tunnel diseases. Rinchen Tsering said "K249" is the number of kilometers corresponding to the bridge and tunnel section, and "+ 502" is the specific location where tunnel diseases appear. The back of his left hand looks much rougher than his right hand due to the long-term recording of codes. "It's convenient to write them on the hand because I can see it with my head down," he said. The main line of the Lhasa-Nyingchi railway stretches for 435 km. With complex geological conditions, 75 percent of the line comprises bridges and tunnels. The Gyaca bridge and tunnel area where Rinchen Tsering and his team work includes 33 bridges and 18 tunnels. It accounts for 46.9 percent of the total length of tunnels along the railway. Rinchen Tsering leads a group of young people with an average age of less than 25, responsible for the maintenance and repair of equipment in the area within 137 km, including the investigation and treatment in the off-road environment. They are called "tunnel guards." The codes recorded to ensure the safe operation of the railway are not only the numbers on the back of Rinchen Tsering's hand but also show the boldness and meticulousness of every tunnel guard. At the Lengda No.2 bridge above the Yarlung Zangbo River, Zhao Haoze, a Generation-Z tunnel guard in a bright yellow safety vest with his strap fastened, opened the cover plate at the entrance of the hanging fence under the bridge deck. Zhao climbed down slowly from the safety ladder, loosened and buckled the strap latch each step down the ladder until he landed safely, and began to check the situation of anti-seismic piles, bearings, and supporting pad stones in the fence. "They write down what they learn every day in a small notebook -- as their codes," Rinchen Tsering said proudly. To avoid the moving train, the railway maintenance and repair work can only happen by using the travel interval of the train. From 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following morning, tunnel guards have to endure a low temperature of more than 10 degrees Celsius below zero. In the dim light of the cap-lamp, they check and repair every joint and drainage cover plate of the railway and do not miss any hidden dangers that may affect driving safety. In 2021, China Railway Qinghai-Tibet Group Co., Ltd. handled 11.8 million passenger trips, up 12.3 percent from the previous year. The annual delivery volume of goods was 37 million tonnes, with a year-on-year increase of 1.2 percent. By the end of 2021, the Lhasa-Nyingchi railway had transported 621,000 passengers and more than 7,900 tonnes of goods since it opened to traffic in June last year. These tunnel guards braved the cold winter wind to eliminate cracks, cavities, water seepage, and other diseases in bridges and tunnels to ensure the safe operation of Tibet's first electrified railway during this year's Spring Festival travel rush. The women commissioner of the Students Representative Council (SRC) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Miss Delali Forgive Setugah has appealed to government and the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) to reach a compromise for an amicable solution. According to Miss Delali Forgive Setugah, the timely resolution of the issues would ensure the continuation of smooth and effective academic work in the affected Universities which is already distorted. UTAG directed its members to withdraw teaching and related activities with effect from Monday, 10th January, 2022 until further notice. According to UTAG, the strike action is in response to the worsening Conditions of Service (CoS) of the University Teacher and the failure of the Employer in addressing the plight of UTAG members within the agreed timelines. UTAG noted that not only has government failed to address the concerns within the agreed timelines, it has also implemented recommendations of a Labour Market Survey (LMS) report in a manner that the association deem meaningless as the implementation is without any accompanying technical report on the implementable market premium and does not address the pertinent issues of improved conditions of service. But speaking to our reporters on Monday, January 7, 2022, Miss Setugah said the strike had affected academic activities and called on the parties to reconsider the interest of the students and address the situation in the shortest possible time. She indicated that the University was expected to start the first-semester but was suspended indefinitely due to the ongoing strike. The outbreak of COVID-19, she said, had distorted the country's educational calendar, stressing that if the situation was not addressed quickly, it would further affect academic activities in the Universities, including national service. "We have communicated with the students to remain calm and prepare adequately for the exams, in case the strike is called off," she said. She has, therefore, appealed to government to consider the demands of the Union bodies for academic work to continue. Hyundai Motor India Ltd, the countrys second-largest carmaker and a unit of South Korean Hyundai Motor Corp, has come under massive flak on social media after the companys dealership in Pakistan posted a tweet on freedom for Kashmir. Many people have demanded a boycott of Hyundai cars in India. While the company tried to distance itself from the tweet, many, including senior officials from the Indian army, call the response lacklustre, especially considering India is a huge market for the South Korean auto-maker. On Saturday, a Twitter handle @hyundaiPakistanOfficial, the official account of Hyundai Nishat Motor (Pvt) Ltd from Pakistan, posted a message on Kashmir, stating, Let us remember the sacrifices of our Kashmiri brothers and stand in support as they struggle for freedom. Notably, on the same day, Pakistan was observing Kashmir Solidarity Day to push its propaganda. This tweet, however, led to an eruption of massive anger and flak on social media. Many people started #BoycottHyundai, which became a trending hashtag on Twitter. Some even called for a mass boycott of Hyundai cars in India, with several people cancelling bookings of the company cars. The tweet by @hyundaiPakistanOfficial was later deleted, but screenshots of the post remained in circulation on social media. Even on Facebook, there was a similar message posted by a Pakistan dealership of Kia, also owned by Hyundai Motor group. After facing flak on social media, Hyundai Motor India issued a statement saying, The unsolicited social media post linking Hyundai Motor India is offending our unparalleled commitment and service to this great country. We have a zero-tolerance policy towards insensitive communication and we strongly condemn any such view. However, Hyundai Motor India statement failed to cool down the anger on social media. Not only common users, but even retired veterans posted sharp comments on the issue. Reacting to the company statement, general Ved Prakash, former chief of the Indian Army, says, I hope Hyundai will condemn cross border terrorism anywhere. I hope Hyundai will condemn cross border terrorism anywhere Ved Malik (@Vedmalik1) February 6, 2022 Lt Gen Vinod Bhatia (retd) says, A more responsible response was expected specially as India is a big, big market. A condescending note by Hyundai Motor corporation. A more responsible response was expected specially as India is a big big market. Lt Gen Vinod Bhatia Retd (@Ptr6Vb) February 6, 2022 We have sacrificed Brave Soldiers and innocent unarmed Civilians Their sacrifice is more precious to us Indians ???? Say NO to ????? Be Indian Buy Indian #BoycottHyundai Jai Hind ???? KJS DHILLON???? (@Tiny_Dhillon) February 7, 2022 The South Korean auto-maker entered India in 1996 and became the second largest car-maker in the country, with a 16.2% market share as of February 2019 and a US$5.5bn (billion) turnover. Hyundai India is also the largest car exporter in the country. The company exports cars to more than 92 countries across Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, Australia and Asia. At present, Hyundai Motor India has 12 car models across various segments. In the ongoing IndusInd Bank microfinance saga, we earlier learned of a ' technical glitch ' whereby the bank generously disbursed loans to customers without their consent. Now comes the banks claim of a ' procedural lapse ' whereby the bank received repayments of large numbers of loans, and disbursed new loans to the same accounts, on the same day, and in cash. Intriguingly, on 6 November 2021, Sumant Kathpalia, chief executive officer (CEO) of IndusInd Bank, on an analyst call stated that the Bank had an approved product during the second wave of COVID-19, whereby the cooling period between repayment of earlier loans and the disbursal of new loans to the same customers was reduced from 30 days to within the 'same day and three days'. The revised policy was fraught with risk. The Bank claimed it was concerned to ensure that the repayment of the earlier loan should precede the disbursal of the new loan. But when the policy apparently permitted both transactions to take place within the same day, and also allowed for the transactions to be done in cash, it eventually led to a situation where the Bank was unable to determine the timing of the repayment of the old loan and the disbursal of the new loan. In other words, borrowers may have funded their repayment with a fresh loan from the bank. The 'procedural lapse' was therefore the direct result of a product approved by the risk management committee of the Bank. The ongoing investigation will, therefore, have to probe the role of the senior executive management, which approved the product and permitted the repayment of earlier loans and disbursal of new loans being done in cash on the same day. As this was an unusual revision in the policy, it needs to be probed not only by the external consultant, but also by the regulator. When senior executive management of a bank play a critical role in an episode of irregularity, the credibility of external consultants engaged by the bank becomes doubtful, and it requires the banking regulator to undertake an investigation. It remains to be seen how the IndusInd Bank board of directors, especially the chairpersons of the board, audit committee and nominations and remuneration committee, review the 'technical glitch' and the 'procedural lapse', both of which reflect poorly on the executive leadership at IndusInd Bank. The IndusInd Bank shareholders should be concerned, as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has been flexing its considerable muscle on small and mid-sized private sector banks, and apparently removed Vishwavir Ahuja as CEO, RBL Bank at end-December 2021. Depending on how seriously the regulator views the 'technical glitch' and 'procedural lapse', shareholders should not take Mr Kathpalias continuance at the helm of the Bank for granted. DISCLOSURE I, Hemindra Hazari, am a Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) registered independent research analyst (Regd. No. INH000000594). I own equity shares in Indusind Bank. Views expressed in this Insight accurately reflect my personalopinion about the referenced securities and issuers and/or other subject matter as appropriate. This Insight does not contain and is not based on any non-public, material information. To the best of my knowledge, the views expressed in this Insight comply with Indian law as well as applicable law in the country from which it is posted. I have not been commissioned to write this Insight or hold any specific opinion on the securities referenced therein. This Insight is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide financial, investment or other professional advice. It should not be construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any security. Weather Alert ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO MIDNIGHT MDT TUESDAY NIGHT FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 6000 FEET... * WHAT...Snow expected, mainly for elevations above 6000 feet. Total snow accumulations of 2-4 inches at the passes along the Montana-Idaho border, with higher amounts at higher elevations. * WHERE...Beaverhead, Gallatin and Madison Counties. * WHEN...From midnight tonight to midnight MDT Tuesday Night. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous conditions could impact the Tuesday morning and evening commutes. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...A heavy band of snowfall may pivot through the area late tonight and early Tuesday. This band of snowfall could bring heavy snow to the valley floors. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Slow down and use caution while traveling. The latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1 or visiting the MDT Road Report website. To see a graphical representation of the degree of stress on young livestock please visit our webpage and select Local Programs then Cold Air Advisory for Newborn Livestock. && UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Monday urged the UN Security Council to adopt a prudent and responsible approach to sanctions while raising the issues of sanctions imposed on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and unilateral sanctions. "It has been China's consistent position that while all UN member states have the obligation to implement in good faith the sanctions authorized by the council, the council should take a prudent and responsible approach to sanctions," Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, told the Security Council debate on "general issues relating to sanctions: preventing their humanitarian and unintended consequences." "For over 20 years, there has been a trend of expansion of the council sanctions regime, whose adverse humanitarian - and livelihood - related impact cannot be brushed aside and has increasingly caused disruptions to the normalcy of economic and social activities of the general public and third countries," said the envoy. "We need to consider in all seriousness how to take steps to improve the design and implementation of the council sanctions to minimize their adverse impact," added Zhang. According to the ambassador, sanctions are meant to create enabling conditions for a political solution. "They are not a substitute for diplomatic efforts. The council should keep in check the impulse to resort too readily to sanctions or the threat of sanctions, and should give precedence to non-compulsory measures such as good offices, mediation and negotiation." On sanctions mechanisms, the envoy said that it is important to design sanctions mechanisms that dovetail precisely with the core issues at hand and the desired objectives. "The intensity and the scope of compulsory measures should be carefully calibrated with clearly and unequivocally articulated provisions to minimize collateral damage. Humanitarian assistance should not be construed as a violation of Security Council sanctions," he said. Zhang stressed that member states must faithfully implement the council sanctions. "Neither should they subtract a value from the formula by cutting corners, nor should they add a value to the formula by giving themselves too much license in interpretation and over-compliance." "The Security Council should closely monitor and comprehensively assess the humanitarian, economic and social impact of sanctions," said the ambassador, adding that "transparent, standardized and actionable exemption provisions should be established." Zhang pointed out that as a basic principle, Security Council sanctions "should not be open-ended," noting that "a sunset clause" should be introduced into all new sanctions mechanisms going forward. Referring to the council's sanctions committees, the ambassador underscored that the committees "must be selected against the highest professional standards consistently and in line with the principles of diversity and equitable geographical distribution." From 2000 to 2016, the Security Council had an Informal Working Group on General Issues of Sanctions, which "did useful work" to help fine tune and improve the council sanctions. Zhang said that China proposes that the Security Council "re-establish a working group on general issues of sanctions tasked with a comprehensive review of the adverse humanitarian and other impacts of Council sanctions and issue specific recommendations for improvement." Talking about the sanctions imposed on the DPRK, Zhang said that "Resolution 2397 has brought about serious humanitarian consequences since its adoption," noting that the import of humanitarian livelihood goods such as agricultural machinery, medical equipment and water purification pipes has been severely restricted. "There was a serious shortage of food and the conditions for medical care leave much to be desired. The experts of the 1718 committee have reported on these issues on many occasions," he added. The ambassador said that China and Russia co-sponsored a draft resolution on the DPRK in the Security Council last October, aiming to eliminate the humanitarian and livelihood impact of sanctions and create enabling conditions for resuming dialogue and consultation and supporting political solution. "Regrettably, however, a scant few council members chose to refuse to discuss this draft resolution. China once again calls on those members not to evade the issue, and to participate in the consultations on the draft resolution in a responsible and positive manner," said the envoy. Turning to unilateral sanctions, Zhang said that "we should be all the more cognizant of the harm of unilateral sanctions imposed by certain countries," adding that "unilateral sanctions, often in the glorified name of implementing council sanctions, have caused great disasters and chaos, not only putting the UN on the receiving end of the blame when it shouldn't be, but also undermining the authority and effectiveness of the council sanctions themselves." The ambassador stressed that unilateral sanctions are extremely harmful, but it is a matter of concern that a few countries have not only failed to rein in their unilateral sanctions. "On the contrary, they have been flinging them about left, right and center, in a frenzy so much so that they seem to be addicted to them." "We have seen that unilateral sanctions imposed in the various names have thrown a spanner in the works of economic and social development and scientific and technological progress of the targeted countries, created an aggravated humanitarian crisis, violated the basic rights of civilians, including women, children, and caused great damage to the harmony and stability of international relations," he said. Zhang further pointed out that unilateral sanctions have even affected the payment of UN assessed contributions and the participation of targeted countries in the work of the UN. "We hereby solemnly urge the countries concerned to immediately cease and desist from unilateral sanctions, and to stem the severe consequences of unilateral sanctions. We call on the international community to join hands to come together to resist such unlawful acts," he said. The Midland County Sheriffs Office wants your ex-Valentines. The Sheriffs Office posted on its Facebook a Valentines Day Weekend Special that will allow for Midland County residents to call in their exes with warrants or if they are engaged in illegal activity. The special includes a set of limited-edition platinum or red bracelets, free transportation with a chauffeur and a one-night minimum stay in luxurious accommodations, according to the MCSO report. The Special also includes professional glamour shots that will be posted online. This special is capped off with a special Valentines weekend dinner. MCSO joined neighboring agency Odessa Police Department in the Valentines Day Weekend Special. A sister law enforcement agency has come up with quite an idea for Valentines Day and Sheriff Criner is going to extend their idea to the citizens of Midland County, MCSO posted on their Facebook. Interested in the Special?" Call 432-688-4600 with your ex-Valentines location. Midland International Airport is set to get a sixth gate. The addition will provide American Airlines with a second gate, thus giving all three carriers two gates at Midland International. Currently American, Southwest and United operate at the airport. The new gate will be located on the south end of the terminal and will be up and running in a few weeks, according to Justin Ruff, director of Airports of the city of Midland. Ruff said a federal grant allowed Airport officials to replace jet bridges at Midland International and there was extra money that allowed airport officials to add a jet bridge to the facility. Currently Midland International is experiencing a rebound in the number of passengers flying in and out of the region. Through the first quarter of the fiscal year, the number of people who boarded an airline at Midland International reached 148,710 a 71.7 percent increase over the first quarter of FY 2020-21. The number of passengers in December was the third most in a December in the past 10 years. Southwest flight to Austin in March Ruff said that the Southwest Airlines non-stop flight to and from Austin begins March 10. She said the flight will be convenient for business travelers as it leaves Midland in the morning and returns at night. She also said that Midlanders and people in the Permian Basin need to use the flight, because if the flight doesnt make money for them, they will not continue it. Currently, there are airline flights leaving Midland for both airports in Dallas, both airports in Houston and airports in Las Vegas, Denver and Phoenix, Ruff said. Southwest has the largest percentage of those flying out of Midland International (45.5 percent in the first quarter of the fiscal year). Sun Valley, ID (83353) Today Showers developing this afternoon with the possibility of a thunderstorm. High 51F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Rain and snow this evening, becoming all snow overnight. Low 34F. Winds light and variable. Chance of precip 90%. Snowfall around one inch. Like many Michigan Technological University students before him, Tanner Sheahan got his first taste of life at Michigan Tech as a high school student attending Summer Youth Programs. The many outdoor opportunities in the area, coupled with the Universitys academics, sealed the deal. Sheahan, a chemical engineering major and native of Bay City, Michigan, has been chosen as student speaker for the spring 2021 graduating class and will deliver a virtual student address as part of this springs graduation celebration. Looking back at his time at Tech, Sheahan is confident his decision to come to Houghton was the right one. "This was 100 percent the correct choice, I could not see myself going anywhere else." A self-described natural storyteller, Sheahan is enthusiastic about the message hell share with his class. I love writing, and I think I have a knack for telling stories, he said. I wrote it in a day. He wasnt intimidated by the competitive aspect of the speaker selection process. I had fun, he said. It was a great experience, whether or not I was selected. But Im happy to be chosen. Sheahan admits that, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, his final two years at MTU have been difficult at times, but he tends to look for the silver lining. "Weve been through challenging times, but through it, Ive learned how to stay positive." Because of travel restrictions, Sheahans summer internship last summer was conducted virtually. The situation really opened up extreme doors and led to a job as a sales operations manager at Nalco Water, an Ecolab Company in Naperville, Illinois, he said. Sheahan said he likes to make the most of any situation and that certainly applied to his time at Michigan Tech. He took advantage of the many outdoor recreation opportunities and was active in many student organizations. He said St. Albert the Great University Parish is responsible for significant growth. My faith community is a key component to my time here, he said. Theyve become my family and are a part of any success I may have had. Looking at how his college experience has prepared him for a successful career while developing his life intellectually, socially, and spiritually, Tanner Sheahan is certain: Coming to MTU was the right choice. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Contact us MOGADISHU, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- The African Union Commission (AUC) said Monday it has appointed Fiona Lortan as the deputy special representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Somalia and deputy Head of Mission. The pan African body said Lortan who takes a wealth of experience to the position will play an important role in the transition phase of the African Union's commitment to ensuring a stable and secure Somalia. The African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Bankole Adeoye, underscored the importance of the next few months for AMISOM as the mandate ends on March 31. "Among many other tasks, she (Lortan) will work to help the African Union to deliver on all that is required to end AMISOM and follow through on ongoing preparations for the mandate, composition, size, and structure of a proposed new mission in Somalia," Adeoye said in a statement issued in the Somali capital, Mogadishu. Lortan, a South African national, joined the AUC in May 2002 and has worked in various roles in ensuring Peace and Security around the continent. She was most recently the acting Director for Conflict Management in the Political Affairs Peace and Security Department (PAPS) and worked assiduously on AMISOM. Lortan previously worked in Khartoum, Sudan, as a member of the AU High Level Implementation Panel on Sudan and South Sudan, headed by former South Africa President, President Thabo Mbeki. Members of a Grande Dunes community had another roadblock placed in front of them Friday in their efforts to stop a gas station from being built near their property. For months, the Myrtle Beach Healthy Neighborhood Coalition has been trying to stop a 7-Eleven from being built on the corner of 82nd Avenue North and Kings Highway. But the city has approved the developers plans stating it fits in with zoning requirements and city codes. A hearing with the Myrtle Beach Board of Zoning Appeals was the latest effort from the coalition to halt development. The appeals board disagreed and voted to deny the coalition giving the nod to the developers. And Kenneth May, the citys director of Planning and Zoning, said hes never wavered from his stand that a gas station can be built on the property even though it is within the Grand Dunes Planned Unit Development (PUD). May said the intent of the PUD was always to be a mixed-used community. During the hearing Friday, May confirmed that a 7-Eleven gas station and convenience store is proposed to be built at the intersection. May said gasoline sales has always been included in the plans, even as an accessory use, meaning the majority of business will be the sale of other merchandise. So we will have everything from diapers to donuts? zoning appeals member Allen R. Lee quipped. The nationwide gas station chain is known for several food and beverage items, including Big Gulps and renowned Slurpees. A 7-Eleven convenience store is making money off other high-priced items in their store, May said. I can assure you theyre not making money off gas. The site will be used for a convenience store with gas pumps, said Charleston-based attorney Cheryl Shroun. Shroun represents GDMB, LLC, which owns the property at the corner of 82nd Avenue North and Kings Highway. She also represents WNG Development, which is contracted to build the 7-Eleven. Spencer Wetmore, attorney representing the coalition, said the residents understood that the area was to be commercially developed but were stunned to hear that a 24-hour, 16 pump gas station was to be built so close to their neighborhood. 2 out of 3 Americans are currently living paycheck to paycheck A growing number of consumers are living paycheck to paycheck, impacting their ability to access... Jacksonville helping clear the clutter in June Unused and unwanted items cluttering up the house can be disposed of next month during... 12 named recipients of farm bureau foundation scholarships Twelve students who are pursuing careers in agriculture have been named recipients of... The Illinois Department of Corrections has resumed intake of prisoners from county jails after a two-week pause due to a COVID-19 spike. As coronavirus cases at Illinois correctional facilities continue trending downward, space previously used to safely quarantine and isolate incarcerated people who had been exposed or tested positive for COVID-19 will now be available for county jail transfers, according to a statement released by the corrections department. The agency paused intake of prisoners on Jan. 11, citing high transmission rates due to the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus. The Illinois Department of Corrections resumed intake into its facilities on Jan. 27. In that span, hospitalizations for COVID-19 in Illinois have decreased sharply. Sheriffs around the state complained the move to pause transfers to the Illinois Department of Corrections put more strain on county jails that continued to house, feed, clothe and provide medical attention for offenders awaiting transfer to prison. Before a transfer, prisoners are held in isolation for 14 days as a quarantine measure. This is the second time the corrections department halted intakes from county jails during the pandemic. The Illinois Sheriffs Association filed suit against the Illinois Department of Corrections in March 2020. An appellate court sided with the agency and the Pritzker administration in August 2020, finding that the governor has the authority to control the movement of persons within a disaster area under the authority of a disaster proclamation. A new executive order resumed the transfer of prisoners, but said the scheduling of transfers from county jails was under the sole discretion of the director of the Illinois Department of Corrections . The director must ensure the health and safety of the transferring people and the prisoners and staff of the facilities receiving them. Gov. J.B. Pritzker ordered all prison guards to be vaccinated in August, but the union took the case to arbitration. The arbitrator ultimately sided with the governor, but that was in late December. Guards were to have their first shot by the end of January. The Better Government Association reported that in early December, there were fewer than 160 COVID-19 cases throughout Illinois Department of Corrections facilities. Six weeks later, that number jumped to 3,300 prisoners and 1,100 staff members. Last week, the corrections department's website reported 1,022 cases among the staff and 2,800 cases among offenders. The highest offender positivity rate was at Robinson Correctional Center, with 409 cases. The eastern Illinois facility has a capacity of 1,200 prisoner. Although the Illinois Department of Corrections paused intakes to its facilities, they did continue accepting people from county jails who were scheduled to be released from custody the same day they are transferred. Colleges should admit the most qualified applicant. Thats the way many of us were taught life is supposed to work. But we know it often doesnt. The U.S. Supreme Court is taking up the issue of university admissions in its upcoming term. It will look at the admission formulas used by Harvard University and the University of North Carolina that give extra help to Black and Hispanic applicants who apply. Some Asian and white applicants were turned away from these universities while Black and Hispanic candidates with lower test scores were admitted. And they say it isnt fair. But it also is unfair that many African American and Hispanic kids reside in neighborhoods with under-performing schools that fail to adequately prepare them. There are strong arguments on both sides, but something that is rarely discussed is a different set of preferences that are inherently wrong but legal. Im talking about development admits, the children of wealthy donors. Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Golden won a Pulitzer Prize looking at this phenomenon and went on to write the 2006 book, The Price of Admission. Its one of my favorite works of investigative journalism. I first became aware of the issue when I read a Wall Street Journal story in 2003 about a prominent family with roots deep in Illinois: the Bunns. Here is the first few paragraphs of the story: Despite her boarding-school education and a personal tutor, Maude Bunn's SAT scores weren't high enough for a typical student to earn admission to Duke University. But Ms. Bunn had something else going for her coffeemakers. Her Bunn forebears built a fortune on them and, with Duke hoping to woo her wealthy parents as donors, she was admitted. Afterward, her parents promptly became co-chairmen of a Duke fundraising effort aimed at other Duke parents. My child was given a gift, she got in, and now I'm giving back, says Maude's mother, Cissy Bunn, who declines to say how much the (Lake Forest) family has contributed to the university. Later in the story, Cissy Bunn acknowledges her daughter didn't fit the academic profile of a Duke student saying, "She's bright, she had good grades, but she doesn't meet the superstar status." She then added, "Did my normal child take the place of somebody who could really make a difference in the world? Sure, yes, to an extent. But there are so many things you can lose sleep over. I'm happy for me and my child." When I first read that quote, I was outraged. It had never occurred to me that rich people received preferential treatment when applying to colleges. The story made me think of Danny, my roommate my junior year at Iowa State University. Danny was a bright, motivated student who dreamed of being an aerospace engineer. But he graduated from a failing high school in a poorer Chicago neighborhood. My roommate, who happened to be African American, had many of the precursors associated with academic success: a loving, stable two-parent family that valued hard work. Perhaps the biggest drawback was the high school he attended. The institution didnt adequately prepare him for college. For example, it didnt offer the advanced math classes necessary for a budding engineering student to succeed. While his college peers were taking calculus, he was enrolled in remedial math. In many ways, the future academic performance of college students isnt determined just by effort or intellect but by their home ZIP code. Danny lasted a year on campus and never returned. Thats why I have long favored giving parents vouchers that they can use at either public, charter or private schools. It would give academic choices to families otherwise trapped. The fact that youngsters in predominantly Black or Hispanic neighborhoods often are forced to attend schools that perform far below the national average is a form of systemic racism. Another form of racism is interpersonal. For example, in her book Becoming, Michelle Obama writes about the mother of one of her white roommates being so appalled that her daughter was assigned a Black roommate that she hectored university administrators until her daughter was moved to a different room. Along those lines, I remember that my college roommate Danny and I were proud uncles. We both had pictures of our young nieces framed above our desks. My niece was about 3 and his was 1. I cant count the number of times a white person came into our room and saw the picture above his desk and said, Oh my God, hes got a kid. Never once did anyone look at my desk and say, Is that your daughter, Scott? A recent New Yorker article noted that Harvard has more students from families in the top 1% of wealth than in the bottom 60%. And yet this is the university fighting all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court for greater diversity. How about economic diversity? Why not admit more kids from the middle and working classes and fewer from ultra-wealthy families? Strange, I havent heard any groundswell among college administrators to do that. To be honest, I dont have a ready opinion on how the Supreme Court should finesse the issue of racial preferences this year. Its a terribly divisive issue. But something most Americans can agree upon is that a group not needing extra help getting into college is the children of the wealthiest 1%. It makes little sense to cut a break to someone because of the size of their parents pocketbooks. In January, a Tennessee county school board voted unanimously to ban "Maus", a graphic novel by Art Spiegelamn about his parents experience in Auschwitz. The ban, which complained about profanity and (mouse) nudity, came shortly before Holocaust Remembrance Day. Decisions like these shortchange kids in every community. Authors like Spiegelman didnt just write (or illustrate) their books for a Jewish audience. They wrote for a wider audience of people who dont know how horrific the Holocaust was, what caused it, or that the Holocaust didnt kill only Jews. Most books like these are disturbing. Theyre supposed to be. Reading about how human beings died so horrifically, youre supposed to break down crying, asking: How could this have happened, and how can we ensure it never happens again? That gut-wrenching sense of mourning and the thrill for the people who fought back is similar to how you should feel when you read other banned books about Black Americans being sold as human chattel, lynched or blasted with water cannons as they protested for civil rights. The people who want to ban "Maus" or "The 1619 Project" or any number of books about the lives of queer people or people of color are the ones who need to read them. Perhaps they dont want to confront that ugliness because it means confronting something within themselves, their upbringing or their communities that needs fixing. Confronting history also means recognizing that those legacies are far from over, a tough but crucial realization. Fear and hatred have a close cousin in ignorance its much easier to hate or fear someone you cant see. And millions of Americans may have never met a Jewish person, a person of color or an immigrant. But one of the best tools to defeat prejudice is education. Thats why books like "Maus" and other frequently banned titles are so powerful and necessary. The Holocaust, after all, didnt start with gas chambers and crematoriums. It started with book burnings, segregation, persecution and hateful rhetoric from powerful politicians whom some dismissed as harmless buffoons until it was too late. If youre hearing eerie echoes of that today, youre not wrong. Genocide isnt a thing of the past any more than racism. For decades, Holocaust survivors have shared their stories, because they know that those who dont understand past horrors are doomed to repeat them. So have others who endured slavery, racism and all kinds of discrimination. Participating in our democracy requires confronting some of the awful and inconvenient truths about our society. You cant change things for the better if you dont understand why they shouldnt remain the same. That isnt critical race theory. Thats basic critical thinking. Instead of banning books, we should be asking: Why arent more school districts requiring students to read Holocaust memoirs like "Night" or "Maus", Black stories like "Between the World and Me", or reflections on Japanese-American internment camps like "They Called Us Enemy"? All of these titles have been banned at some point. Thats why we need more parents of all backgrounds demanding that kids in their communities get a chance to learn from these stories. We still need Black History Month because Black history isnt treated like U.S. history. We still need Holocaust Remembrance Day because some people dont know why we should remember it. And every day of the year, we still need books to remind us of how we got here, of our common humanity, and of a better future were still seeking for everyone. Terra Vi Lodge Yosemite View Photo Sonora, CA Mother Lode Views over the weekend focused on projects currently being reviewed by the Tuolumne County Community Development Department. Community Development Director Quincy Yaley was on the show, and says, There are a number of interesting projects that have been submitted that we are working on. A fast-food restaurant could be coming to Jamestown. CDD is processing a permit for a Taco Bell on Highway 108 adjacent to Dollar General. Further up Highway 108, the Twain Harte Shopping Center has had various vacant spots so the owners are looking to revitalize it. Yaley says, The site right now is limited to just commercial use and the owners have applied for a mixed-use designation that would allow for a broader variety of land uses. While no specific applications have been submitted, Yaley says housing would be allowed under the change. The board of supervisors will review the proposed zoning alteration later this year. In addition, there is a new application for the building right behind the shopping center, the office space that houses the Twain Harte Library and some businesses. A proposal requests that the top floor be allowed to have residential units. Meanwhile, in the Groveland area, two resort projects were approved by the supervisors not too long ago. The Yosemite Under Canvas glamping resort project is planned for Hardin Flat Road and the Terra Vi Lodge Yosemite (lodge, cabins and guest rooms) on Sawmill Mountain Road. Yaley says, The Under Canvas project is moving forward. There was litigation, but it has concluded, and they are free to move forward towards grading permits and improving the site. The other project (Terra Vi Yosemite) is still in litigation, so I am not sure where that will go. There is also a new resort project proposed on Highway 120 in Big Oak Flat at the site sometimes referred to as the Scar. The Yonder Yosemite project proposes a resort, conference space, and about 175 individual rooms. The county is finalizing the environmental review and is planning to bring it to the planning commission this spring. You can find the full radio show focused on community development by clicking here. Other topics were housing, code compliance and streamlining the permit process. Tori is a sweet and charming young girl. She is active and constantly on the go! The 9-year-old describes herself as creative, smart, and funny. While exploring the outdoors, Tori enjoys playing with others on the playground and making up her own games. She has an active imagination and marches to the beat of her own drum. Tori likes to have imaginary friends and express her creativity with drawing. She loves all things girly, especially Disney princesses and dolls. She is helpful by nature and is always eager to lend a hand to her teachers at school. She does well in her classes and makes friends easily; she strives to make others laugh. Tori is excited to find her forever family who will love her and all her individuality. Can you keep up with this girls active sense of adventure? --- Tori is among the children listed on the Texas Adoption Resource Exchange (TARE) website. Visit https://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Application/TARE/Home.aspx/Default for more details. Saint Francis Ministries is a nonprofit organization and a community-based care provider for the Texas Department of Family Protective Services Region 1. This region includes 41 counties across the Panhandle and South Plains. To learn more about fostering or adopting, those interested are encouraged to attend one of the monthly virtual meetings hosted by Saint Francis Ministries and other child placing agencies. The meetings provide information about how to get started, the basic qualifications and more, in addition to providing opportunity for attendees to ask questions. Those interested can visit Saint Francis Texas on Facebook @SFMtexas to register for the online meetings, which can also be found below: The meetings are scheduled for the second Thursday of the month (Lubbock area https://lubbock-area-foster-care-adoption.eventbrite.com) and the third Thursday of the month (Amarillo area https://amarillo-area-foster-care-adoption.eventbrite.com). For more information, please contact Erin Baxter at (806) 317-5631 or email texasinfo@st-francis.org. Visit Saint Francis Ministries online at https://saintfrancisministries.org. Theres still time to register for the Mid-Plains Ag Expo set for Tuesday at the Ollie Liner Center. The agenda for the day includes several hours of presentations given by area agriculture experts. Registration and the welcome is set for 8-8:30 a.m. Katie Lewis, assistant professor of the Lubbock Research and Extension Center, and Angie Martin, industry affair director for Texas Corn Producers, will present Carbon Footprint. Lewis will also present On Farm Assessment of Soil Carbon Storage. Those presents are scheduled for 8:30-10 a.m. Dana Porter, professor and associate department head of the Lubbock Center, is set to present Precision Irrigation Technology from 10-11 a.m. Kevin Heflin, extension program specialist I for soil and crop sciences, will share information about Emerging Sorghum Tech from 11 a.m. to noon. That presentation will be followed by lunch, during which attendees can browse booths. The lunch hour is set for noon-1 p.m. The days presentations will continue from 1-2 p.m. with IPM Issues and Discussion presented by Blayne Reed, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Agent for Hale and Swisher Counties. Presentations will conclude with Wheat Diseases presented by Ken Obasa, assistant professor and extension specialist of plant pathology and microbiology, which is scheduled for 2-3 p.m. The days activities will conclude with a round table discussion from 3-4 p.m. and surveys and certificate presentations from 4-4:15 p.m. Attendees could be eligible for three IPM TDA CEU. Those interested can register to attend at https://texas-am-agrilife-extension-service-hale-county.square.site/hale-ag-improvement. Same-day walk-in registration is also welcome for this event. CAPE TOWN, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's legislative capital Cape Town on Monday said its Health Department recorded a significant drop in the use of condoms, which contributes to a rise in the number of sexually transmitted infections. The use of male condoms has nearly halved during the last financial year, while the use of female condoms is just more than a third of the previous year, the second consecutive year which shows a decline, the city said in a statement as it has entered Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI)/Condom Month. STIs have a profound impact on sexual and reproductive health worldwide, with more than 1 million STIs being acquired every day, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In South Africa, it is estimated that millions of people were newly infected with STIs in 2017 alone, including 4.5 million for gonorrhoea, 6 million for chlamydia and 71,000 for syphilis, according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases. The use of male condoms dropped from 30.6 million during the 2019/2020 financial year to over 16 million during the 2020/2021 financial year, read the statement. The decline is "concerning," especially when coupled with the rise in STIs, said the city's Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health Patricia van der Ross in the statement. Mike Sutter /Staff San Antonio's Alamo Biscuit Co. & Panaderia are landing on the popular Cooking Channel show Food Paradise. The restaurant, which incorporates housemade biscuits into a comfort-food-filled menu, will be included in segment of the show called, appropriately, Southern Comfort. Three dishes from the biscuit company's menu will get some shine on the screen: The Nashville Madame, The Old Smoky, and a flight of biscuits. The Nashville Madame is an intersection of Tennessee and Lone Star State, with hot chicken and grilled cheese on Texas toast topped with gravy, an egg, and served potato hash. The Old Smoky is topped with Alamo Biscuit's brisket slathered in pepper cream gravy and cheese sauce. The Savory Flight features a trip of biscuits topped with house gravy, poblano, and chorizo. National and global chains are moving into San Antonio, but there's still plenty of space for local talents to stretch their legs. Despite a trying year for business with setbacks brought on by the pandemic, at least 16 local restaurants have managed to grow their footprint in the San Antonio market. For some, like Wayne's Wings and Comfort Cafe, the openings marks a milestone for growth. Others, like Project Pollo and Burger Boy, seem be announcing new locations every other month. Whether its wings or birria tacos, the following new or upcoming locations give residents more opportunities to try some of the best food in Texas. Wayne's Wings The restaurant, owned by Dwayne Price, officially opened its second location at 11600 Bandera Road on June 11. Price's wings have been named Texas' best by Delish.com. The Northwest Side wing spot joined the 4453 Walzem Road location. Mike Sutter /Staff file photo San Antonio's authority for birria tacos and mariscos unveiled a third taco truck recently. The expansion will debut at El Camino, a new food truck park and bar, Fourth of July weekend. Stout House The bar expanded to four locations in June. The latest addition is at 22810 U.S. Highway 281. Stout House owners are also working on opening Stetson Dance Hall, which will replace Cooter Browns, on the far Westside. Courtesy, Project Pollo The vegan chain opened in September 2020, during the height of pandemic-related business woes. So far, San Antonio has five Project Pollo restaurants. Austin will have three. Dallas, Katy, Boerne, and Waco are all going to be home to a Project Pollo, too. Owner Lucas Bradbury expects to have 14 locations open before the end of the year. Mike Sutter /Staff The pay-what-you-can, volunteer-based restaurant, which benefits a community of recovering addicts, has quickly become a foodie favorite throughout San Antonio. The eatery opened a second location at Los Patios, at at 5616 Bandera Road, in June. The restaurant nabbed Yelp's top U.S. brunch spot in May. Courtesy, GiantNoise The Caribbean-inspired restaurant expanded to the Pearl's Bottling Department food hall with the opening of Mi Roti in July 2020. Chef-owner Nicola Blaque is also readying Jerk Shack locations at 10234 State Highwy 151 and Hemisfair. Courtesy, Burger Boy The San Antonio favorite will debut its sixth location early next year. The Live Oak outpost marks the chain's first outside of San Antonio proper. The business started expanding from the St. Mary's Street flagship in 2018. A year later, the second location opened at 9334 Potranco Road. A restaurant at 151 West Bitters Road opened in May. Burger Boy also has a spot at Southcross in the works. Mike Sutter /Staff Pollos Asados' second location, which boasts more parking and a drive-thru, opened at 403 Culebra Road in April. The addition is less than a mile away from the original at 547 Culebra Road. Courtesy, La Panaderia The La Cantera Heights addition to the chain, which features boozy coffee drinks, opened in March. It marks the first expansion into the Northwest side for the 7-year-old bakery and cafe business owned by brothers Jose and David Caceres. Rock and Rye The cocktail bar opened at The Rim in March. It's the new venture of Don Marsh, who also owns Southtown staple Bar 1919. Mike Sutter /Staff Southerleigh's offshoot, casual restaurant at The Rim celebrated a grand opening in September 2020. A third restaurant is planned for Brooks on the Southside. Laguna Madre The seafood restaurant chain, which is owned by Bill Miller BBQ, shared the news of the sixth upcoming location in February. The new location will be at 1227 N.E. Loop 410. Mike Sutter /Staff file photo Sichuan House owner Kristina Zhao is expanding her local footprint with the opening of Chinese restaurant Dashi Sichuan Kitchen & Bar on Thousand Oaks Drive at Jones Maltsberger Road this summer. Mike Sutter /Staff The Thai and Japanese spot, which originally started in 2018 at the Dominion Ridge shopping center, opened a second restaurant at 17306 Bulverde Road in February. Courtesy, Emily Carpenter The sophisticated sister of Little Em's Oyster Bar is in the works in Southtown. Owners Houston and Emily Carpenter announced the extension, which will focus on steak and sushi, in February. The new restaurant is expected to open this fall at 1024 South Alamo. Paul Stephen /Staff Less than three years after opening in their first brick-and-mortar location downtown, Andrew Ho and Sean Wen of Pinch Boil House announced expansion plans to take their Southeast Asian flavors to the Stewart Center at 5120 Broadway in May. An opening date has not been set, but permitting is in the works. The owners also partnered with Andrew Samia of South BBQ & Kitchen to open Curry Boys on the St. Mary's Strip last fall. Mike Sutter /Staff The taste San Antonio came to know from pop-ups at farmers markets and an Olmos Park trailer found brick-and-mortar space near the Pearl last summer. Paul Biris/Getty Images The U.S. Air Force must pay more than $230 million in damages to survivors and victims families of a 2017 Texas church massacre for failing to flag a conviction that might have kept the gunman from legally buying the weapon used in the shooting, a federal judge ruled Monday. More than two dozen people were killed when Devin Patrick Kelley opened fire during a Sunday service at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs. Kelley, who died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after being shot and chased by two men who heard the gunfire at the church, had served in the Air Force before the attack. AUSTIN, Texas (AP) A boil water notice has been issued for residents in Austin, Texas, after a problem at a water treatment plant, officials said. When the city issued the boil water notice Saturday evening, Mayor Steve Adler said it appeared this will be over in a couple of days. The city is also prohibiting outdoor water use and asking residents to curtail indoor water use, in addition to requiring commercial customers to reduce water consumption. Austin Water Director Greg Meszaros said the Ullrich Water Treatment Plant had a treatment process upset that resulted in a spike in turbidity, which is the measurement of the water's clarity. The city said that turbidity can interfere with disinfection and provide a medium for microbial growth, and may also indicate the presence of disease-causing organisms like bacteria, viruses and parasites. Meszaros said though that there have been no indications of contamination. This was a very short term event. ... Very low risk, but regulations are regulations and we have to do this boil water notice and and really encourage people you know to treat it seriously," Meszaros said. The city, which has a population of about 960,000, has opened water distribution sites for the public. Yves here. Its painful to keep on top of the unserious-by-design US effort to negotiate with Russia over Ukraine and the general issue of the US continuing to use NATO and NATO-lite arrangements to move men and materiel closer to Russias border. So Helmer deserves credit for scrutinizing another manifestation of Americas not agreement capable conduct, this in the form of a wildly misrepresented document that the US released in Madrid. However, we have some unexpected good news. Americas performance is so shambolic that of all people, Emanuel Macron is successfully playing statesman by throwing spanners into our escalate the hostilities plan. Above the fold at the BBCs site: Deal to avoid war in Ukraine within reach Macron. Suhbead: Frances leader calls for a new balance to protect European states while affording Russia respect. Key bits from the story: French President Emmanuel Macron has said he thinks a deal to avoid full scale war in Ukraine is possible and that it is legitimate for Russia to raise its own security concerns. Before talks in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, he called for a new balance to protect European states and appease Russia. He restated that the sovereignty of Ukraine was not up for discussion. Moscow has made a string of demands, including that the Nato defence alliance rule out Ukraine becoming a member, and that it reduce its military presence in eastern Europe. Western countries have rejected this, instead suggesting other areas of negotiation, for example talks on cutting back nuclear weaponry. Mr Macron told the Journal du Dimanche newspaper that Russias objective was not Ukraine, but a clarification of the rules with Nato and the EU. Mr Macron, who also spoke with US President Joe Biden on Sunday, cautioned against expecting Moscow to take unilateral measures to de-escalate the situation and said Russia had the right to raise its own concerns. I imagine some head in State are exploding. Good. 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 A soldier who lays a booby trap for his adversary thinks him fool enough to be tricked or lured to his own death. He thinks his enemy is inferior and deserves death. He hates him. The German expression for war planned and executed like this is rassenkampf, race war. The German generals who planned and executed the 1941 invasion of Russia, Operation BARBAROSSA, claimed they didnt hate the Russians. Their war was krieg ohne hass, war without hate. They said that after their surrender or capture, when they were facing war crimes trials. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (lead image, centre) hates Russians; thinks them inferior to Americans; fools compared to himself; deserving of the fate Blinken intends for them. The evidence is in the booby traps Blinken set in the document the State Department arranged to leak in a Spanish newspaper last week. It is called NON-PAPER CONFIDENTIAL/REL RUSSIA Areas of Engagement to Improve Security. The State Department has announced in a double negative that it has seen nothing to suggest these documents are not authentic. The paper claims to be a response to Russias request that the United States provide a direct written response to Russias draft treaty proposal. What follows is not a direct response to the seven substantive Russian treaty articles. Instead, it lays a booby trap for each of the seven Russian proposals with a reaffirmation of the US intention to continue with its plans to attack Russia from the territories of other states, from international waters and the airspace bordering on Russia and much more. To camouflage these booby traps, the Blinken paper lists these intentions as Concerns. The Blinken paper has issued 55 lines of Concerns one for each of the 55 lines of US Position. Only three of the Russian treaty articles are identified in the Blinken paper Articles 5, 6, and 7. By ignoring the first four articles of the Russian treaty the Blinken paper has declared its refusal not to undertake actions nor participate in or support activities that affect the security of the other Party (Article 1); its dismissal of the core security interests of the other Party; and its rejection of the principles contained in the Charter of the United Nations (Article 2). The Blinken paper also declares the US intention to continue to use the territories of other States with a view to preparing or carrying out an armed attack against the other Party or other actions affecting core security interests of the other Party (Article 3); to encourage further eastward expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization(Article 4); and to plan to establish military bases in the territory of the States of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics that are not members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, use their infrastructure for any military activities or develop bilateral military cooperation with them (Article 4). In the Blinken paper, that last point means it no longer matters to the US whether Ukraine joins NATO or not. The US intends to make war on Russia from the territory of the Ukraine across the Red Line. Writers in the alternative media have made much of the failure of the State Department spokesman last week to provide any evidence for his allegation, widely printed in the mainstream media, that Russia has prepared a plan of fabricated attacks to justify an invasion of Ukraine. The media have all missed the bigger and more obvious fabrication this is the text of the documents leaked in Spain last week. Source: www.state.gov To understand this fabrication and the war plan it conceals, it needs to be read beside the Russian treaty proposals of December 17 and compared, line for line, article by article. Start here. Source: https://mid.ru/ And then here. Source: https://elpais.com/ Blinken Booby Trap 1. The reason Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (lead image, left) has insisted publicly on a written US response to the Russian draft treaty is that he has repeatedly said, as has President Vladimir Putin, that the US makes promises it violates, including the verbal promises of February 1990 not to expand the NATO alliance eastwards (not one inch) to the Russian border. Lavrov and Putin have also said many times that the US violates its own signed treaty agreements. In responding with the leak in Madrid, the US is issuing an official paper it can deny to be official later on. The classification tag at the top confirms this intention. With CONFIDENTIAL, the lowest possible classification to hold the leaker harmless, the State Department declares its position paper to be a NON-PAPER. Record of the February 1-9, 1990, promises, including those of then-secretary of State James Baker to Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev. Transcript of the Baker-Gorbachev conversation, February 9, 1990. Blinken Booby Trap 2. The paper claims that Ukrainian membership of NATO cannot and will not be negotiated between the US and Russia, according to Russias proposed Article 4. The US paper sets two preconditions for this non-negotiability: the first is that issues related to NATO will be addressed separately by the Alliance [and] with our Allies and partners. The Ukraine is, in Blinkens recent public formulations, the partner which currently holds priority over the Allies. Blinkens second precondition relegates Article 4 to the NRCthe appropriate forum for discussions of that issue (Russias proposed treaty Article 4). NRC stands for NATO-Russia Council. In practical effect, according to NATOs one-member veto rule, the US allows itself to be blocked from negotiating with Russia on Article 4 by Lithuania (or by Albania, Canada, Estonia, Iceland, Luxembourg, Poland, or Romania). Blinken Booby Trap 3. Article 1 of the Russian treaty proposed that one state, like the Ukraine, cannot be armed, financed, and supported by the US or NATO to threaten the security of Russia, according to the principles of indivisible, equal and undiminished security. US agreement to the principle of indivisible security was signed twice in Istanbul in 1999 and again in Astana in 2010. In the Blinken paper this is admitted. He then adds two qualifiers our respective interpretations of that concept and [it] cannot be viewed in isolation. This means that Blinken interprets the indivisibility of security in Europe by dividing it into the NATO-Ukrainian version, and the Russian version. Blinken Booby Trap 4. Russia has proposed to revive the intermediate-range nuclear forces treaty (INF). It has added in Article 4 that the US and Russia should also agree not to deploy ground-launched intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles outside their national territories. This wording applies to the US Navys Aegis offshore missile bases in Romania and Poland. Blinkens reply ignores Article 4 entirely. Instead, it says it is willing to discuss transparency measures and reciprocal commitments covering offensive ground-launched missile systems and permanent forces with a combat mission in the territory of Ukraine. This implies that the US reserves the right to move nuclear weapons into Ukraine on a temporary basis, and that its decision to do this will be based on consult[ation] with Ukraine. This amounts to a provocative, and hitherto unpublished escalation of US arms in the Ukraine. In the Concerns section Blinken has attached a US offer to negotiate not to do this on condition that Russia withdraw from its build-up of military forces in Crimea and on Ukraines borders. This means that Washington is offering to trade the withdrawal of US nuclear weapons in Ukraine for Russian withdrawal of Russian nuclear weapons from Crimea and the Black Sea Fleet. Blinken Booby Trap 5. Addressing the Romanian and Polish missile sites run by the US Navy the Aegis Ashore Tomahawk bases Blinken offers a transparency mechanism to confirm the absence of Tomahawk [nuclear] cruise missiles at Aegis Ashore sites in Romania and Poland provided Russia offers reciprocal transparency measures on two ground-launched missile bases of our choosing in Russia. One of the Russian targets identified in the paper is modern dual-capable missiles in Kaliningrad. Blinken also adds the NATO veto qualifier consult[ation] with Romania and Poland on this issue plus additional consultation in NRC. The US Navys nuclear missile base at Deveselu, Romania, under US Sixth Fleet command. For more detail, read. For the Russian Red Line warning of 2016. Blinken Booby Trap 5. Russia has proposed Article 6 to withdraw the US Navys Aegis nuclear missiles from the surface fleets operating in the Black and Baltic Seas, and from their warhead transfer bases at Souda Bay (Crete, Greece), and Rota (Spain). The Blinken paper ignores this entirely, but demands negotiations on Russian nuclear or dual capable weapons deployed or stocked on Russian territory near NATO Allies borders. Blinken is also requiring that Russia agree to curb those of its weapons for which the US has no match novel intercontinental-range nuclear weapons delivery systems. Blinken Booby Trap 6. Until now, the paper declares, US and NATO current force posture is limited, proportionate, and in full compliance with commitments under the Russia-NATO Founding Act. But this proportionate compliance is about to change. Further Russian increases to force posture or further aggression against Ukraine will force the United States and our Allies to strengthen our defensive posture. Blinkens formulation implies that unless Russia withdraws from its own borders, including Crimea, the US proposes to respond with its own proportionate multi-domain military buildup, more assertive posture, novel military capabilities, and provocative activities. This is camouflage for US and Canadian trainers, mercenaries and special forces at the Donbass Contact Line; Turkish and Israeli drones and new NATO ordnance in the Ukrainian line of attack; US tripwire deployments to Germany, Poland, and Romania; and Anglo-American cyber and information warfare. Attached to this booby trap is this proviso in the NATO document released in Madrid last week. Lacking a title, this public release is tagged RESTRICTED for which there is no US equivalent or restriction. In this document, the US and NATO now demand that Russia accept Kievs rejection of the Minsk Agreements for military and political resolution of the Donbass conflict; as well as Georgian territorial claims on Abkhazia and Ossetia, and Moldovas claims against Transnistria. Source: https://elpais.com/ This is a selection of the Blinken booby traps. There are others if you read carefully. There is no prize for discovering them all. Not even a booby prize. Jerri-Lynn here: Im inherently suspicious of legislative proposals being heavily touted by the core of the current Democratic leadership, particularly Chuck Schumer even though pushback from Nancy Pelosis almost certainly a welcome sign. Nonetheless, theres no doubt that current rules are too lax. As with so much financial regulation, the devils in the details. And as happened in the Dodd-Frank fiasco, I fear any reform current Congresscritters can agree will be overly complex and riddled with loopholes, so when alls said and done, one wonders, what was the point? Yet recall, we once knew how to enact toothsome reforms. Look at New Deal legislation, particularly the securities regulatory framework. So, Ill just say here, the situation deserves careful scrutiny. By Jake Johnson. Originally published at Common Dreams The momentum behind a widely popular effort to ban stock trading by members of Congress is growing, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer reportedly instructing fellow Democrats to unite behind a specific legislative proposal. After weeks of silence, Senate Democratic leaders have asked lawmakers to propose improvements on rules governing congressional stock trading, Insider reports. In a call Friday, Democratic leadership staff told legislative directors for Democratic senators about their aspirations for bringing a congressional stock-trading ban bill to the floor of the U.S. Senate. The development comes weeks after Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) ignored pushback from prominent Democratic leadersincluding House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)and unveiled legislation that would bar members of Congress, their spouses, and their children from buying and selling stock while in office. Its working. Keep pushing, Ossoff tweeted Sunday, highlighting the Senate Democratic leaderships openness to the proposed ban. Thus far, just eight Senate Democrats have officially signed on as co-sponsors of Ossoffs bill (S.3494), which he introduced alongside Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) last month. Its time for Congress to act and ban members from trading stocks while theyre in office, Sean Eldridge, founder and president of Stand Up America, said Sunday. Despite broad support from the public and growing backing from rank-and-file lawmakers, some Democratic leaders remain opposed to a prohibition on stock trading. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said last week that hes not sure that its necessary to enact such a ban given existing rules against insider tradingrules that critics say are far too lax and seldom enforced. Schumer, for his part, said last month that he doesnt own any stocks and that banning individual trading by sitting lawmakers would be the right thing to do. Its unclear where Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), a key swing vote who owns a stake in his sons West Virginia coal business, stands on the proposal. I dont own any stocks, and I think thats the right thing to do. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer comments on the recent push to bar members of Congress from trading individual stocks. pic.twitter.com/pZ3V7EE4pm Forbes (@Forbes) January 11, 2022 A recent analysis of financial documents by Capitol Trades and reporting from MarketWatch found that congressional lawmakers or members of their families traded an estimated $355 million worth of stock in 2021, a year in which the coronavirus pandemic killed hundreds of thousands of people across the U.S. and pushed many into financial ruin. While insider trading has long been commonplace on Capitol Hill, suspiciously timed transactions during the pandemicparticularly soon after Covid-19 was detected in the U.S.brought fresh attention to lawmakers use of secret information to buy and sell stock. Former Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.), Ossoffs Republican opponent in the 2021 U.S. Senate runoff in Georgia, was a prolific stock trader, and he was accused of using insider information to buy shares of companies that stood to benefit from the pandemic. Recent revelations about stock trades at the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic and economic downturn, increasingly prevalent violations of the STOCK Acts reporting requirements, and investigations and even convictions of members of Congress pertaining to insider trading have all served to galvanize public interest and media scrutiny around real and perceived corruption in Congress, a coalition of 14 advocacy groups wrote in a letter endorsing Ossoffs legislation last month. The public needs to know that Congress recognizes the issue of insider trading as a problem that undermines its own legitimacy and erodes the trust of voters, the coalition added. The good news is that Congress is able to respond to this concern in a meaningful way by advancing S. 3494 and sending it to President Bidens desk for his signature. Wellie, if CalPERS had actually done what it asserts it has done, as in prepare a legal memorandum on March 25, 2021 that had to be presented to the board no later than than August 24, 2020, and then send it to the past to make it kosher, CalPERS should immediately stop managing money and go into the business of selling time machines. It would do far better for beneficiaries than it has with its public-pension-fund-industry-lagging investment performance. Of course, this isnt the case. CalPERS is just lying in a particularly shameless manner, but now to a judge, not to its captured and clueless board. And for grins, CalPERS has tossed a smear at whistleblowing former board member Margaret Brown into the mix. The reason this row over a legal memo matters is that CalPERS is trying to justify its defiance of a clearly-worded order from Judge Michael Markman in a Public Records Act lawsuit filed by former board member JJ Jelincic. Judge Markman ruled that CalPERS held an illegal closed as in secret, board meeting on August 17, 2020 to discuss the abrupt resignation of former Chief Investment Officer Ben Meng. Recall Meng quit after we exposed that Meng had violated California conflict of interest laws by approving a $1 billion investment in a Blackstone fund when Meng owned Blackstone shares. Jelincic petitioned the court to require CalPERS to release the transcript for that secret meeting and also find that CalPERS had violated the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act. Markman ruled that CalPERS had indeed violated Bagley-Keene and also directed CalPERS to either produce the full transcript (ex some teeny bits the judge has agreed to be excluded as related to hiring of the new CIO; CalPERS has only provided one with more sections redacted) or produce the legal memorandum, called a litigation memorandum, that could justify keeping the disputed parts hidden. By way of background, one valid basis for relegating a board discussion to closed session is to talk about pending litigation. But the basis for that exclusion is very narrow. It has to be an active suit or one that is imminent, not hey, maybe someone might take us to court over that. It is hard to see one could make that claim with respect to a meeting about Ben Meng having quit since: Meng resigned, completely undercutting any basis for Meng pursuing CalPERS CalPERS in the substantial portions of the closed session transcript that have been exposed, repeatedly referred to the hiring of an outside law firm to look into Mengs misconduct as an investigation. It was never depicted as intended to prepare for litigation Most important, the draft investigation memo was presented to Meng and his outside law firm, which no one with an operating brain cell would do if there was any possibility of a lawsuit For a litigation memo for the August 17, 2020 board meeting to be legitimate, it would have to have been prepared and given to board members no later than August 24, 2020, a week after the board meeting. From Judge Markmans order on December 20, 2021: CalPERS has said in court filings that it had prepared the litigation memo. From its Opposition to Motion and Writ of Mandate, page 13, line 18: Those discussions were thus properly closed. ( 11126(e). The meeting cannot have been properly closed unless CalPERS, as the filing asserts, satisfied the requirements of ( 11126(e),1 which includes preparing the litigation memo and delivering it to the state body (here the board) on a timely basis. So by making such a sweeping statement, CalPERS was asserting that it had not only prepared the litigation memorandum as required but had also provided it to the board as stipulated by law no later than one week after the board meeting on August 17, 2020. I was not able to get a copy of the interrogatories and the CalPERS responses to confirm, but Jelincics recollection is They said they didnt possess the litigation memo during the time requested in the discovery. Which if accurate is awfully cute in light of the representation above. Judge Markman did take note that CalPERS had handwaved about having a memo and ordered CalPERS to produce that: As we wrote in a post earlier this month, CalPERS in a January 2022 filing took the astonishing position that it could provide a memorandum prepared well after the legally mandated one-week-max deadline. Recall further that the law requires that the litigation memo be presented to the state body which in this case is the full CalPERS board. From a January 27 filing by Jelincics counsel, Michael Risher: CalPERSs so-called litigation memo fails to comply with these statutory requirements because it was apparently drafted months after the closed session and was never submitted to the Board. Apparently recognizing these legal deficiencies, CalPERS suggests that it can cure any delay under 11130.3(a) by drafting a memo months after the meeting. CalPERSs Sept. 17, 2021 Supp. Opp. at 6 fn. 2. This is wrong, because that provision applies only in cases brought to nullify legislative actions on the grounds that the state body violated 11123 or 11125. See 11130.3(a). This case does not seek to nullify any action that the Board took; it simply seeks a declaration that the Board violated the law and access to the discussions that should have been public in the first place. Moreover, nothing in 11130.3 even suggests that it supersedes other requirements such as the one-week deadline set forth in 11126(e), the requirement that the Board determine whether a closed session is appropriate before it have the discussion, or the requirement that the memorandum be sent to the Board And Risher also filed an affidavit, embedded at the end of this post, from former board member Margaret Brown, that staff never sent the board any litigation memo for the verboten August 17, 2020 closed session. Risher has further argued the memo should be unsealed, which has the potential to be highly entertaining: CalPERS has moved to seal the memorandum it has submitted based on privilege. But its failure to comply with 11126(e) means that this memorandum is not privileged under that section or the one it references, 6254.25. Apparently stung by the Risher filing, CalPERS deigned to reply.and only dug its hole deeper. Weve embedded the CalPERS February 3 response below. In this short document, CalPERS effectively admits: The memorandum was not provided to the board as mandated by law, as of by a week after the August 17, 2020 meeting. CalPERS created the memorandum on March 25, 2021 and then sent a clandestine e-mail to the board on April 1, 2021. That is a full seven months late and more than three weeks after Jelincic sued CalPERS. Yet CalPERS cheekily describes the memo as the August 17, 2020 document, not its actual March 2021 date. In fact, CalPERS never delivered the litigation memo to the board. Its almost certain no member of board has seen it even as of now. The first affidavit, from Margaret Brown, is accurate. CalPERS is engaging in yet another gratuitous smear to cover for its own misrepresentations. CalPERS had as of the time of the August 17, 2020 illegal board meeting had a long-established practice of sending litigation memos that were clearly labeled in their subject lines as such to the full board. Board Services staff member Christina Ortega would send those e-mails. Crucially, Ortega would provide the litigation memo itself as an attachment to these e-mails. CalPERS did not do that with the March 25, 2021 memo about the illegal August board meeting and there is no reason to think it has done so since then. CalPERS also had a well-established practice for alerting the board to important documents (aside from litigation memos and other material that were e-mailed directly to board members). Those would instead be uploaded to CalPERS board document system, Diligent. When that happened, a different Board Services staff member, Pam Hopper, would send an e-mail to the board, clearly identifying in the subject line what the new document in Diligent was about, like Consultants valuation on 301 Capitol Mall. Generally speaking, mandated communications to the board came from Ortega; information that the staff deemed to be nice know but not essential was uploaded to Diligent, with an e-mail alert from Hopper stating what the document was about. However, while this approach might sound like reasonable disclosure to the board, it wasnt. Even with a document name that was descriptive, it was difficult to find the files in Diligent. Margaret Brown, who is no techo-phobe, complained publicly about the difficulty of finding records in Diligent and requested that they be sent via e-mail. Note that if they was a way to send board members a link to a particular report in Diligent, staff didnt generate and send them for board member benefit. With those practices in mind, when you read the third embedded document, you can see CalPERS engaged in fake disclosure. Instead of the person who usually tells the board about important documents, Christina Ortega, sending the e-mail, it was Pam Hopper, who is typically handles more technical matters for the board, like resetting their iPads. Second, the subject line said absolutely nothing about the matter: Diligent Updates and Reports Confidential. So it read as if the technician Hopper was telling the board about new Diligent procedures. And even if a board member were to read the body of the message, it still left them in the dark. As one CalPERS insider put it: Why on earth would anyone think that a document titled Attorney- Client Privileged (ACP) Memorandum March 25, 2021 relates in any way, shape, or form to the August 17, 2020 Board meeting? These people are smoking crack. Third, as indicated above, even if for some peculiar reason the designed-to-deter-interest labels nevertheless piqued the curiosity of a board member, he would have to go on an more-difficult-than-it-ought-to-be hunt to find it. So not only has the staff actively impeded the board finding this memo by deliberately misleading signposting, it appears that the staff intends to hide all legally important material, including future litigation memos, this way. As a lawyer and prominent CalPERS beneficiary assessed this CalPERS filing: It shows an utter contempt for the law, the Court, and the members and beneficiaries. Given their earlier the dog ate my homework excuse, Id like to see a forensic audit of Diligent to see whether the April 2021 date is even truthful. First they claim they filed the memo timely, then they claimed it was lost, then they claim its the plaintiffs fault for not requesting a wildly untimely memo, and finally they want the court to pretend it depends on how you define shall and week. Its unethical, bad faith lawyering which is why Jacobs is hiding behind the skirts of outside counsel, who can be pushed in front of the train should the judge stir himself to address the issue. Rule 3.1 Meritorious Claims and Contentions (Rule Approved by the Supreme Court, Effective November 1, 2018) (a) A lawyer shall not: (1) bring or continue an action, conduct a defense, assert a position in litigation, or take an appeal, without probable cause and for the purpose of harassing or maliciously injuring any person;* or (2) present a claim or defense in litigation that is not warranted under existing law, unless it can be supported by a good faith argument for an extension, modification, or reversal of the existing law. (b) A lawyer for the defendant in a criminal proceeding, or the respondent in a proceeding that could result in incarceration, or involuntary commitment or confinement, may nevertheless defend the proceeding by requiring that every element of the case be established. Remember, this sorry example is the result of the CalPERS boards abject failure to hold CEO Marcie Frost accountable for lying on her resume and keeping up the falsehoods in her official bio after she joined. There are far too many smoking guns here, like the dodgy but thankfully thwarted scheme to move CalPERS private equity portfolio out of what little transparency it has now.at higher cost and with no reason to expect any performance improvement. In addition of Mengs Blackstone financial conflict, how about his eagerness to put money in China, which has generated serious losses? What about the failure to explain the overvaluation of real estate assets to the tune of nearly $600 million? What else is CalPERs staff hiding from the board? _____ 1 CalPERS in its sneaky way made its misrepresentation early on, in its August 18, 2021 Opposition to Motion and Writ. But first see the relevant section of California Government Code, 11126. Note in particular (e)(2)(C)(ii): My Nashville Post role has evolved since 2000 when I joined the now-defunct The City Paper. TCP became a Post sister publication in 2008 (when I began doing some Post work) and folded in 2013. I have been managing editor of the Post since late 2011. Follow William Williams Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today BANGKOK, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Thailand on Monday reported 10,470 new COVID-19 cases and 12 more fatalities in the previous 24 hours, according to the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). This is the third day in a row that the country has recorded more than 10,000 daily cases. The last time that Thailand continued to report more than 10,000 daily caseloads was in mid-October 2021. The capital Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Chon Buri, Nonthaburi and Phuket provinces reported the most cases during the past 24 hours, according to the country's COVID-19 task force. The CCSA said the overall pandemic situation in the country has remained under control, and the hospitalization and death rates remained comparatively low, which it believed were the results of the COVID-19 control measures and rising vaccination rate. As of Sunday, the country has administered more than 117 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, with 70.4 percent of the country's nearly 70-million population having been fully vaccinated, while 22.5 percent had received booster shots, according to the CCSA. The total number of infections in the country has risen to more than 2.5 million while that of fatalities climbed to 22,303, according to the CCSA data. (Natural News) After many months of aggressive tyranny, 12 European countries and counting are rolling back their Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) restrictions. Sweden and Switzerland both joined Denmark, Norway, Finland, Ireland, The Netherlands, Italy, Lithuania, France and the United Kingdom in lifting most or all of the fascism and opening back up their countries. Israel is the 12th country, though not technically European, that is doing the same while also eliminating its green pass program. Since tyranny never stopped any disease we have been saying this for the past two years, by the way each of these countries is re-embracing the freedom they once had, freedom being a powerful way to promote health. Effective February 6 in Israel, the green pass covid vaccine passport scheme will officially get scrapped for restaurants, hotels, gyms and theaters, announced Prime Minister Naftali Bennetts government. Pending a parliamentary committee, Israels proof-of-vaccination policy will remain in effect for larger events such as parties and weddings. To continue the green pass in the same way can create false assurances, said Nadav Davidovitch, an epidemiologist and public health physician who advises Bennetts government. Its not reducing infections in closed spaces like theatres. It needs to be used mainly for high-risk places like hospitals, elderly care homes, or events when you are eating and singing and dancing. Are Sweden and Denmark the freest countries in the world? On February 9, all covid restrictions in Sweden, which were minimal to begin with, will be completely scrapped and the country will return back to the old normal. Its time to open up Sweden, announced Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson. The pandemic isnt over, but it is moving into a new phase. Swedens decision to reopen came just one day after Switzerland announced much the same thing, indicating that it will abolish its mandatory work-from-home and quarantine rules. Tourists entering at the Swiss borders will also no longer need to receive Swiss covid certificates showing that they are safe to enter based on their injection status. After consulting with 26 cantons, employers, trade unions and parliamentary committees, the Swiss government also said it plans to phase out a bunch of other restrictions that have held the country hostage. It is possible that Switzerland will see the entirety of its covid restrictions disappear by February 17. A few days prior to all this, Denmark became the first country in the European Union to lift all of its covid restrictions, reclassifying covid as an endemic disease rather than a pandemic. Danish Health Minister Magnus Heunicke wrote a letter on February 1 to the parliaments epidemiology committee indicating that covid is no longer a socially critical disease that requires government tyranny. The rules will lapse when the illness will no longer be categorized as socially critical on 1 February 2022, Heunicke further wrote. It was only due to covids prior designation as a socially critical disease in Denmark that the government there was able to impose the type of fascism that the world has been forced to endure for the past two years. No one can know what will happen next December, Heunicke added as a caveat to all this in a statement to CNN. But we promised the citizens of Denmark that we will only have restrictions if they are truly necessary and well lift them as soon as we can. Thats whats happening right now. When further pressed about jab mandates, which the Biden regime is aggressively pushing here in the United States, Heunicke told CNN that luckily we dont need that in Denmark. Im really happy that we dont need it because its a very troubling path to move that way. The latest news about the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) can be found at Pandemic.news. Sources for this article include: LifeSiteNews.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) In acts of absurd desperation, we now see the White House and deep state propaganda rag mouthpiece publishers (WashPost, NYT, CNN, etc.) pushing aggressively to start a war with Russia. Theyre working every angle to try to bait Putin into defending Russias borders against NATO provocations, and if they fail to get Putin to respond, U.S. and NATO forces will run their own false flag attack on Ukraine and immediately blame Russia. The desperation behind all this is impossible to miss, and it begs the question: WHY does the Biden regime so desperately want to whip up war with Russia? The answer, of course, is because creating a greater emergency (i.e. international war) will allow the Biden regime to further terrorize the America people in all sorts malicious ways. In also creates a cover story for Bidens disastrous economic failures that are already plunging millions of Americans into food scarcity, joblessness and homelessness. With an outbreak of (engineered) war with Russia, Bidens handlers could probably manage to declare a domestic state of emergency and roll out martial law across the USA as a wartime police state action. This, in turn, would allow Biden and his treasonous democrats to: Suspend the mid-term elections and stay in power as long as they can maintain the emergency. Attempt nationwide gun confiscation from the American people. Label anybody opposed to the Biden regime as terrorists or sympathizers with Russia. Further attack the supply chain and cause mass famine and food riots, while blaming Russia for everything. Achieve the desired collapse of the US dollar as the final act of looting of productive American workers. In addition, war with Russia would allow the treasonous, woke Pentagon to destroy another few tens of billions of dollars in US military hardware, adding to the planned destruction / loss of hardware that was intentionally carried out during the evacuation of Kabul last year. Understand that the deliberate mission of the traitors running the Pentagon right now is to cripple US military readiness by using deadly vaccines to mass murder active duty military personnel while engineering war scenarios to dispose of US military hardware. As Daniel Horowitz writes for TheBlaze, The Pentagons RESPONSE to the explosive DOD medical data is an even bigger story than the data. Horowitz goes on to explain: One thing is clear about the revelation of the 2021 military epidemiological data and the militarys response to it: There is undoubtedly a public health and national security crisis in the military, and the Pentagons reaction only seems to be concerned with exonerating the vaccine, not fixing its own alleged problem. Its now certain that the militarys health surveillance system DMED showed a massive increase in sickness and injury diagnoses in 2021 over previous years, particularly in the neurological, cardiovascular, oncological, and reproductive health categories. However, one by one, the military public health officials have been adding back random numbers to the 2016 through 2020 codes. Im told by Renz and two of the whistleblowers that throughout the past week, they have queried the same data again, and in most of the ICD categories, they have found that the numbers from 2016 through 2020 were increased exponentially to look as though 2021 was not an abnormal year. Talk about pure evil. The DoD is literally spiking historical data in order to make the explosive vaccine injuries of 2021 look normal. Thats beyond fraud its criminal. Its treason. The Pentagon is working with communist China to weaken America in preparation for a CCP invasion of the continental USA The ultimate goal of this is to make America weak enough so that a communist China invasion of the continental USA can be successfully achieved. The Pentagon, the Biden regime and over half the United States Congress is on the CCPs payroll and actively working with the Chinese to occupy and control the United States of America. (They need the farmland to avoid catastrophic starvation in mainland China.) To carry out this plan, they need U.S. military leaders to decimate national military readiness while enacting domestic gun confiscation so that the American people cannot defend themselves from a Peoples Liberation Army invasion. Engineering war with Russia is the scheme that Bidens handlers believe will allow them to accomplish all these goals: Cancelling elections, suspending the US Constitution, disarming the American people and destroying more US military hardware while murdering active duty personnel with deadly vaccines. This is the real plan to destroy America, and it is a plan being carried out by domestic enemies who run the Pentagon and all the highest levels of power after stealing the 2020 election. Right now in 2022, America is an enemy occupied nation, and the enemies are systematically working to destroy the United States of America, its economy, its culture, its military and its currency. Get full details in todays Situation Update podcast which reveals even more details about why Bidens handlers are working so hard to fabricate or engineer a war with Russia: Brighteon.com/3a749777-f9d3-403f-b1b8-4809c6ed76b0 Find more information-packaged podcasts each day, along with special reports and emergency updates, at: https://www.brighteon.com/channels/hrreport Also follow me on: Brighteon.social: Brighteon.social/@HealthRanger Telegram: t.me/RealHealthRanger Gettr: GETTR.com/user/healthranger Parler: Parler.com/user/HealthRanger Rumble: Rumble.com/c/HealthRangerReport BitChute: Bitchute.com/channel/9EB8glubb0Ns/ Clouthub: app.clouthub.com/#/users/u/naturalnews/posts Join the free NaturalNews.com email newsletter to stay alerted about new, upcoming audiobooks that you can download for free. Download my current audiobooks including Ghost World, Survival Nutrition, The Global Reset Survival Guide and The Contagious Mind at: https://Audiobooks.NaturalNews.com/ Download the full, free Ghost World audiobook at GhostWorld.co (Natural News) The risk-benefit analysis used by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to grant emergency use authorization (EUA) to Pfizers Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 is critically flawed, warns Childrens Health Defense (CHD). The FDA failed to take into account natural immunity, for instance, which U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data, as of June 2021, estimates is held by upwards of 42 percent of all children aged 5 to 11. More recent estimates would likely show an even higher level of seroprevalence. The FDAs risk-benefit assessment failed to account for the large proportion of children in the United States who already had COVID-19, recovered from it and now have natural immunity, writes Luke Yamaguchi. For these millions of children, the risks of COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the benefits, as studies show natural immunity is superior to vaccine-induced immunity. An FDA senior advisor admitted that if natural immunity is at least equivalent to vaccine immunity it turns out that natural immunity is far better than so-called vaccine immunity then this would result in a 45 percent reduction in all of the alleged benefits outlined in the FDAs risk-benefit analyses. Using the FDAs risk-benefit analysis (shown above) and conservatively adjusting for 42% of children having already acquired natural immunity through prior COVID-19 infection, the risk of hospitalization from vaccine-related heart inflammation in 5 to 11 year-old boys is greater than the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations prevented by vaccination, Yamaguchi further points out. FDA has been lying about the number of covid hospitalizations in children Another thing the FDA conveniently overlooked is rates of myocarditis, which the agency vastly underestimated as a potential consequence of children getting vaccinated. The FDAs risk-benefit analysis assumed an incidence rate of 106 myopericarditis cases per one million children vaccinated. However, a Kaiser Permanente study found that the actual rate is nearly double that amount at 208 cases per one million children. The true incidence of myopericarditis is markedly higher than the incidence reported to US advisory committees we identified that the encounter text description methodology identified approximately twice as many cases of myopericarditis following COVID-19 mRNA vaccination, the authors of the Kaiser study wrote. After correcting for the FDAs underestimate, a more accurate assessment is that for every one million children who get vaccinated, 180 will have to be hospitalized for myopericarditis and 67 will have to be admitted to an ICU for critical care. The FDA also vastly over-classified the number of hospitalizations for covid. Pediatric hospitalization rates, while used as a marker of COVID-19 disease severity in children, can be inflated by the detection of mild or asymptomatic infection via universal screening, Yamaguchi explains, pointing to a Stanford University study which found that 45 percent of all pediatric covid hospital admissions were unlikely to have been caused by SARS-CoV-2. Then we have waning immunity from the injections and adverse reactions, both of which were skewed in the FDAs risk-benefit analysis to make the jabs seem safer and more effective than they actually are. The FDAs risk-benefit assessment assumed a constant vaccine efficacy over a time span of six months, Yamaguchi says, noting that the FDA also failed to account for a potentially necessary booster dose after five months, with each booster further increasing the risk of myocarditis. This was an inappropriate assumption, as it is well established that the effectiveness of Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine rapidly declines over time, with one study showing a drop below 50% effectiveness after five months. The FDA also only accounted for the risks of myocarditis and pericarditis caused by the jabs, and nothing else. As we know, there is an entire laundry list of serious adverse events caused by the jabs that the FDA is ignoring. More related news about the corrupt FDA can be found at FDA.news. Sources for this article include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Vaccinated individuals now make up the majority of Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and deaths in New South Wales. The Australian states latest COVID surveillance report showed record spike in cases since omicron arrived late last year, and most cases had been overwhelmingly linked to the vaccinated. From November 26 last year up to January 8, around 90 percent of those who tested positive were shown to have received two doses of the vaccine. Excluding children under twelve who are ineligible for the vaccines, the double-vaccinated individuals made up 98 percent of cases. In contrast, unvaccinated individuals, or those with no effective dose as classified by the NSW Health, made up less than one percent of cases. This also included anyone who took one shot of a two-dose vaccine within 21 days of exposure to COVID. Fully vaccinated individuals made up most of the COVID hospitalizations and deaths over the same period as well. For patients hospitalized with COVID, 82 percent already received two doses. Similarly, fully vaccinated individuals also made up around three-quarters of ICU patients and COVID deaths. New South Wales has a high vaccination rate of 91.5 for qualified individuals as of late November 2021. However, it did not deter cases from skyrocketing to unprecedented levels in recent weeks as the state saw a record number of breakthrough infections. Hospitalizations have exceeded previous peaks from September 2021 and doubled in the week ending January 8, compared to the week before. At the height of the delta wave, the state reported seven-day averages of about 1,400 cases before most Australians were fully vaccinated. However, daily cases peaked at more than 90,000 by early January. COVID-related deaths also rose with a current average of 40 per day, up from just one at the end of December. Despite evidence of failing vaccines, the NSW government is still requiring its healthcare workers, teachers, airport personnel and senior care workers to be fully vaccinated. Pandemic of the vaccinated NSW numbers mirror that of COVID trends in Europe, where recent data from Denmark, the U.K. and Iceland all reported higher rates of infection among vaccinated individuals, with some calling it the pandemic of the vaccinated. In the U.K., the unvaccinated have lower case rates than double-vaccinated individuals across all age groups over 18 as of late January. The vaccinated also made up most of the COVID deaths in Britain, outpacing the unvaccinated nearly five to one. (Related: Excess deaths soaring in every country where covid vaccine uptake is high: data.) COVID cases remain treatable for most who catch it. The NSW Health data shows that 99.4 percent of unvaccinated individuals above 12 years who tested positive between November 26 and January 8 were able to recover from the disease. Unvaccinated children under 18 also have a death rate of less than 0.1 percent. NSW Health noted: Since the start of the pandemic, 0.2 percent of cases [738 people] have died. This includes 122 residents of aged care facilities. In explaining why fully vaccinated people still get COVID severe enough to end up in the ICU, some doctors point out that no vaccine is 100 percent effective. Stephen Warrillow, the director of intensive care at the Austin Hospital in Melbourne, said: Very rare events, such as getting critically ill when youre double-vaxxed, still will occur when youve got millions of people [who are vaccinated]. He also warned that some medical conditions mean others are more at risk for adverse outcomes from COVID despite being vaccinated, such as transplant recipients, whose immune systems are suppressed due to medications to stop their body rejecting new organs. Warrillow said that it is an especially tough time for people who are immunosuppressed because despite doing everything right, like following all health advice and doing well, they can still get very sick. Other factors that could lead to more severe COVID cases include obesity, older age, heart disease and other chronic conditions such as obstructive pulmonary disorder. More related stories: Numbers dont lie: British children 52 times more likely to die after COVID shot. CDC finally admits natural immunity is SUPERIOR to vaccines. Mainstream media attacks health freedom advocates for comparing vaccine mandates to Holocaust. Leaked DoD database shows U.S. military illnesses skyrocketing due to covid jabs. Watch the video below to dispel the myth of COVID-19 being a pandemic of the unvaccinated. This video is from the KristallKlar channel on Brighteon.com. Follow Vaccines.news for more updates related to the coronavirus vaccines. Sources include: LifeSiteNews.com ABC.net.au Brighteon.com (Natural News) An Idaho-based pathologist with decades of experience is warning that he has found a link between increased cancer cases and COVID-19 vaccines. In a recent interview with New American journalist Veronika Kyrylenko, Dr. Ryan Cole talked of a pattern he has seen in recent months between vaccines and dramatically increased cases of cancer and is attempting to sound the alarm. According to the RAIR Foundation: Data from his vaccinated patients and data sent to him by oncologists show that the vaccines disrupt the immune system. Cole also said that the all-cause mortality rate is higher in vaccinated people. When the vaccine was rolled out, the pathologist began to see this virus that causes this little bump in kids, starting to appear in adults. In addition, he noticed that cancer rates among women were starting to rise. For example, the number of endometrial and cervical cancer cases was higher than usual. Its a pattern, Cole told Kyrylenko. People need to know that there are risks involved. The benefits have to be higher than the risks. We know that these shots are not working they are failed now. Now that Omicron is here, the shots have completely failed, he continued. The shot they still are telling people to get a booster [of] is a spike protein that is toxic to the human body. It causes the same disease as the virus and predisposes people to autoimmune attacks and potentially short-term cancer risks, the pathologist added. It should be noted that Cole is a board-certified pathologist who was trained at the Mayo Clinic, as well as the CEO and Medical Director of Cole Diagnostics, one of the largest independent labs in the State of Idaho. But of course, after he began to speak out, hes now being maligned and targeted by the deep state and others in bed with Big Pharma and profits, leading him to observe that we have lost our collective medical minds for money. Still, after Cole began to speak about the risks of the COVID vaccine, numerous oncologists began to contact him, reporting that they are seeing the weirdest cancers, and cancers that we have been able to keep in check and treat, taking off like wildfire going stage 2, stage 3, stage 4, just like that. Thats because of the immune dysregulation that these shots cause, Cole said, noting further immune systems that become compromised are not able to keep the growth of cancerous cells in check. The RAIR Foundation notes further: In most countries, any measures to combat Covid other than the failed and dangerous vaccination are systematically suppressed. Ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, monoclonal antibodies, quercetin, NAC, zinc, vitamins D3 and C are all are being condemned, ridiculed, and banned by the state. Doctors like Cole who prescribe Ivermectin or alternative treatments are fired, deemed medically and psychologically unfit, or persecuted. And yet increasingly, new research is proving that treatments other than vaccines are not just working to suppress COVID illnesses, they are saving lives which is what the same leaders who are pushing nothing but vaccines and endless boosters claim they want to do. As for the vaccines, they appear to be responsible for the formation of micro blood clots thanks to the formation of spike proteins on cells. Doctors and researchers are now confirming that nearly all the negative side effects and deaths stemming from covid vaccines are the result of blood clots, Natural News founder and editor Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, wrote this week. Many of those clots are very small and unable to be easily detected with standard medical imaging equipment. These clots, called micro blood clots, can cut off the blood supply to small regions of the brain, organs and tissues throughout the body, he adds. Adams explains how to better protect yourself by improving the quality of your own blood in an eye-opening column and video, for those interested in self-care. Sources include: NaturalNews.com RAIRFoundation.com (Natural News) Assistant Principal Janet Davidson of Creightons Corner Elementary School in Ashburn, Va., is threatening to imprison any student who dares to show up at school without a face mask. A leaked audio recording tweeted by the Daily Callers Chrissy Clark (listen below) features Davidson explaining how she plans to charge maskless children with trespassing, which in Virginia is a Class I misdemeanor that carries with it a 12-month jail sentence or a $2,500 fine. This is audio from the Assistant Principal of a Loudoun County elementary school informing parents that children who come back to school maskless will be charged with trespassing In Virginia, trespassing is a Class I felony that holds a 12-month jail sentence or $2,500 fine pic.twitter.com/lawXgLIfI5 Chrissy Clark (@chrissyclark_) February 2, 2022 Until you arrive, your children will be held in an in-school restriction situation here at school, Davidson is heard screeching over the call. It is important that I point out to you that [maskless students] are not allowed on campus or on Loudon County Public School property. Starting tomorrow, it will be considered trespassing, so its important that I make that statement to you. When she was then asked how long maskless students will be suspended and prevented from receiving an education, Davidson responded with: The guidelines that were receiving from the county is student suspensions will end as soon as they fully follow mitigation policies. Why are leftists so obsessed with covid face veils? Loudon County Public Schools spokesman Wayde Byard told the Caller that students will be suspended for up to 10 days or until they comply with the LCPS Covid-19 mitigation practices. Suspended students, he added, can still access their schoolwork virtually through the Schoology platform, but they will not be allowed to interact with their friends and teachers until they obey the public school systems order to cover their nose and mouth with a covid veil. After 10 days of suspension has elapsed, if a student continues to remain unmasked, Byard added, he or she will be recommended for further action. This ominous statement suggests that the public school system could pursue trespassing charges that result in children behind handcuffed and hauled off to prison, or issued large fines for non-compliance. The new Republican governor of Virginia, Glenn Youngkin, came in with a bang after he struck down the states mask mandates. He is supported by his new attorney general, Jason Miyares, who has promised to join several lawsuits filed by parents against the corrupt Loudon County school board. (Related: Pennsylvanias school mask mandate was also struck down.) Its a good thing assistant principals arent district attorneys, wrote someone on Twitter about Davidson and her sick power trip. Remove your consent, wrote someone else. Sometimes that means removing yourself and / or your child from tyrants surroundings. Perhaps someone should file an assault complaint against her, this person added about Davidson. She has used the state and the legal system for terrorizing children. Assault is the threat of bodily harm. The realization of that harm comes from the prison sentence and / or other punishments she thinks she has at her disposal. P.S. Mexico is open and has never shut down for covid. Perhaps its time to go and get some better weather and private tutors south of the border. Another suggested that parents of students at Davidsons school should allow her to try to get their children arrested and have a plan ready and waiting to sue her personally in civil court for harming their children. More related news about Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) tyranny can be found at Fascism.news. Sources for this article include: Twitter.com AmericanMilitaryNews.com NaturalNews.com CitizenFreePress.com (Natural News) The compound psilocybin found in so-called magic mushrooms is well known for its hallucinogenic properties. However, a new study has suggested its efficacy in addressing symptoms of depression. Researchers compared the magic mushroom compound to antidepressant medications and found that it worked as well as the drug. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, divided volunteers into two groups. One group took two doses of psilocybin spaced three weeks apart, while the other group took a six-week course of the antidepressant drug escitalopram. Both groups were asked to answer a survey at the start and the end of the study regarding the depression symptoms they experienced. It found that the psilocybin and escitalopram groups reflected similar reductions in the symptoms of depression they experienced. However, the psilocybin group was more likely to report remission from symptoms. The papers findings concur with previous research suggesting the potential benefit of psilocybin in those with depression. The trials lead researcher and study author Robin Carhart-Harris said in a statement: One of the most important aspects of this work is that people can clearly see the promise of properly delivered psilocybin therapy by [comparing it] with a more familiar, established treatment in the same study. The head of Imperial College Londons (ICL) Center for Psychedelic Research remarked that the magic mushroom compound performed very favorably in the trial. But the researchers warned about the limitations of their study, pointing out three things in particular. First, they stressed the absence of a statistically meaningful difference between the scores of the groups taking psilocybin and escitalopram. Second, they mentioned that the study did not test a placebo so it cannot be determined if either therapies worked better than a dummy treatment. Third, they warned that self-medication with psilocybin should be avoided because of its potential negative effects when taken unregulated. Psilocybin remains illegal despite potential for addressing depression Several small studies performed over the past decade have looked into psilocybins potential for treating those with psychological disorders. The magic mushroom compound was touted to address treatment-resistant depression and psychological distress related to cancer. However, the April 14 study joins the few trials that compare psilocybin with standard anti-depression drugs. In an editorial accompanying the study, Dr. Jeffrey Lieberman of the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons said the findings by Harriss team provide tantalizing evidence for the efficacy of psilocybin in the treatment of major depressive disorder. He continued that it is still unknown if the same benefits of natural psilocybin could be replicated with a drug engineered to work like the compound without the hallucinogenic effects. We are still awaiting definite proof of the therapeutic effect of psychedelics and their capacity of the human condition, Lieberman wrote. Back in May 2016, the Telegraph reported that a study highlighted the potential of psilocybin against severe depression. A group of ICL scientists gave 12 patients with depression high doses of the compound, inducing intense psychedelic trips in the participants. One week after the trial, all 12 volunteers were rid of their depression. A follow-up done three months later reported that five participants had not experienced any symptoms. Incidentally, Harris also served as the lead author for the 2016 study. He said that time: Psychedelic drugs have potent psychological effects and are only given in our research when appropriate safeguards are in place, such as careful screening and professional therapeutic support. Research team member and professor David Nutt said: Our study has shown psilocybin is safe and fast-acting. [It] may, if administered carefully, have value for our patients. He also slammed the myriad of Kafka-esque regulations and licensing requirements, which forced the team to wait almost three years before being permitted to conduct the study. It cost 1,500 [pounds] to dose each person, when in a sane world it might cost 30 [pounds], Nutt remarked. Nutts sentiments definitely ring true even across the pond. The use of psilocybin for recreational purposes in the U.S. is illegal at the federal level. However, a number of cities have decriminalized the use of magic mushrooms. The cities of Denver, Oakland and Santa Cruz in California and Ann Arbor in Michigan are some that have refused to outlaw psilocybin. Advocates of magic mushrooms would definitely be thrilled to know that Oregon is the first state to decriminalize the use of psychedelic mushrooms. The measure to decriminalize psilocybin received more than 50 percent of votes during the November 2020 elections. However, it still had caveats: Psilocybin would only be used for medical purposes and all doses must be taken at a medical treatment facility. Visit Medicine.news to read more about psilocybin and other natural cures against depression. Sources include: LiveScience.com NEJM.org Telegraph.co.uk WayOfLeaf.com 1 WayOfLeaf.com 2 KABUL, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Afghan police have busted a band of armed robbers in a crackdown on the outlaws in the western Herat province, reported the state-run news agency Bakhtar on Monday. The four-member band was involved in armed robberies and arrested in Anjil district on Sunday, according to the news agency. Police have also recovered armed and ammunitions including two hand grenades, one AK-47 and a sword from their possessions, Bakhtar added. Similarly, police have rounded up two more criminals on the charge of stealing a motorbike from the central Daykundi province, senior police officer in the province Mir Ali Misbah said Monday. (Natural News) The police chief of the Ottawa Police Service in Canada has threatened to arrest and prosecute any member of his department who provides food, water or other logistics support to the Freedom Convoy truckers protesting the countrys insane COVID-19 vaccine mandate. There is no facilitation of food, water, fuel, logistics, or funding by any member of this police service or any other police service that I am aware of, Chief Peter Sloly announced last week. BREAKING: Ottawa Police Chief says the department will investigate and prosecute any officer who provides support to the Freedom Convoy, including giving the truckers food and water. pic.twitter.com/AICxyTxlr4 Election Wizard ? (@ElectionWiz) February 4, 2022 Let me repeat: There is no supply of food, water, fuel, logistics, or anything else that relates to enabling this demonstration by any member of the Ottawa Police Service or any other police service that I am aware of, Sloly continued. Should that information come to me, you can be clear as chief of police in this service I will conduct a full investigation, I will use the full extent of the Police Service Act, and if relevant the criminal code to pursue charges against such a member who would do that. In short, the police have become completely authoritarian even domestic terrorists, you could say in the face of a legitimate, peaceful protest against a government policy that is not based on science and makes no sense whatsoever especially in the face of a worsening supply chain crisis. In addition, Slolys department also warned that any civilians who are offering supplies to truckers will also be summarily arrested. Enhanced intelligence operations and investigations: National, provincial and local intelligence agencies have increased efforts to identify and target protestors who are funding/supporting/enabling unlawful and harmful activity by protestors, the department noted in a tweet. Investigative evidence-gathering teams are collecting financial, digital, vehicle registration, driver identification, insurance status, and other related evidence that will be used in criminal prosecutions, the department added. Enhanced intelligence operations and investigations: National, provincial and local intelligence agencies have increased efforts to identify and target protestors who are funding/supporting/enabling unlawful and harmful activity by protestors. /11 Ottawa Police (@OttawaPolice) February 4, 2022 Investigative evidence-gathering teams are collecting financial, digital, vehicle registration, driver identification, insurance status, and other related evidence that will be used in criminal prosecutions. /12 Ottawa Police (@OttawaPolice) February 4, 2022 Other law enforcement measures include, per Citizen Free Press: Expand and harden perimeter of the demonstration red zone: The Ottawa Police Service and City of Ottawa will be utilizing concrete and heavy equipment barricades to create no-access roadways throughout the downtown core. The City of Ottawa will be releasing a map of impacted roads later today. Protestor vehicles will be directed to designated parking zones outside of the downtown core. Illegal parking by demonstrators will result in by-law enforcement, removal and impound. If necessary, interprovincial bridges, and highway off ramps will be closed. Enforcement directives: The surge of police officers will result in enforcement to restore public safety. This includes increased investigation enforcement and charges for all criminal acts related hate, harassment, assaults (including spitting), intimidation, and mischief. And to add to the tyranny, the Ottawa Police Service, as well as other Canadian agencies, are also now reportedly working with Joe Bidens corrupt Department of Homeland Security and FBI to ensure that Canadian citizens are properly targeted for exercising their supposed right to protest asinine government policies. On Saturday, Sloly called for an additional surge of resources as thousands of trucks and drivers continued to besiege the capital city, according to CTV News. And ironically, Diane Deans, Ottawa Police Services Board chair and councilor, claimed that by exercising their right to protest, the drivers were actually harming democracy. This group is a threat to our democracy. What were seeing is bigger than just a city of Ottawa problem, this is a nationwide insurrection. This is madness; we need a concrete plan to put an end to this now, she claimed. If this doesnt prove, again, that the left is the biggest threat to freedom and liberty, nothing will. Sources include: CitizenFreePress.com OttawaCTVNews.ca (Natural News) Russian space agency Roscosmos is planning to set up an observatory on its future moon base to help spot Earth-threatening asteroids. The agencys Executive Director for Science and Long-Term Programs Alexander Bloshenko announced the plan, which aims to reap scientific rewards such as learning more about the moon and deep space. The location chosen for the base is the south pole of the moon. It has favorable relief and conditions, enough light for solar panels and constantly shadowed craters with ice reserves for fuel and raw material, Bloshenko said. Bloshenko said that the lunar base will feature a nuclear-powered observatory with the task of tracking asteroids and comets that could pose a threat to Earth. The observatory will be installed with telescopes that will coordinate with a spacecraft in Earths orbit to give warning about potential asteroid or comet collisions with the planet. The moon base will be manned by robots, according to Bloshenko. Russian astronauts will only go to the area if there are tasks that are beyond the capabilities of the robots. According to the Russian space agency official, they are currently conceptualizing the design of the robots. It will be a wheeled walking cart that can either roll on wheels or step over obstacles. Another conceptual design is a centaur-like robot mounted on a cart to perform complex planetary tasks, Bloshenko added. In August 2019, Roscosmos sent a remote-controlled robot to the International Space Station (ISS). Named Skybot F-850 and also known as FEDOR (Final Experimental Demonstration Object Research), the robot was sent to assist researchers on the ISS. Moreover, the Roscosmos director general Dmitry Rogozin revealed that the agency is currently developing two modules named NEM-1 Science and Power Module which are being designed to enforce the ISS. The modules will feature state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, additional living quarters and external solar panels. The operating time of the ISS is of course up to 2028. In contrast, the life of the modules is from 15 to 20 years, Rogozin said, adding that the modules could also be used in the development of the lunar base. Russia is reportedly assessing how much future investment it wants to place in the development of the ISS and how much energy it wants to use in establishing a permanent presence on the moon. Russia holds many firsts in space missions Once successful, the construction of the first base on the moon will be added to Russias plethora of achievements in space exploration. (Related: Russians successfully grow edible food crops in space.) Russia was the first country to send a man-made object to space on Oct. 4, 1957. The satellite, named Sputnik 1, stayed in Earths orbit until Jan. 4, 1958. The country was also the first to send a living thing to space when they sent a dog named Laika. However, the dog died during the mission. On August 19, 1960, the Russians tried again with a pair of female dogs sent aboard the Vostok spacecraft. The dogs, named Belka and Strelka, orbited the earth for 24 hours before returning to the planet safely. On Sept. 14, 1959, Russia successfully sent the first human artifact to the surface of the moon through Luna 2. It was preceded by the Luna 1, which was the first human-made object to have orbited the moon. On April 12, 1961, Russian astronaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space. Aboard a Vostok spacecraft, he orbited the earth successfully from 23,000 feet above the planet and he landed safely in a travel that lasted a total of 108 minutes from takeoff to landing. The first woman in space was also Russian. On June 16, 1963, Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space and she spent three days in the Earths orbit. The other significant feats of Russian space exploration include being the first country to send a man to walk in space (Alexei Leonov, March 18, 1965) and the first to send a remote-controlled rover to a celestial body (Lunokhod 1, Nov. 10, 1970). Visit Space.news for more on Russias space missions and the latest space news in general. Sources Include: DailyMail.co.uk RT.com History.com (Natural News) The Democrats 50-50 majority in the Senate is hanging by a thread after Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) suffered a stroke not long after getting vaccinated and boosted for the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19). When Lujan was still in good health, the Democrats led the Senate with fake vice president Kamala Harris holding the tiebreaker vote. Now that Lujan is potentially on the brink, however, the Democrats are powerless to do anything further unless he returns. Its just a reminder that in a 50-50 Senate, any unexpected development could be a challenge to our moving forward on an agenda that the Democratic caucus shares, announced Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), adding that he is very optimistic that the 49-year-old Lujan will make a full recovery. Until he does, Democrats will only hold 49 active seats in the Senate plus Harris while the Republicans hold 50. This makes it a dead tie which is probably a good thing to prevent either party from screwing Americans, at least for a little while. News of Lujans jab injuries drove Democrats on the Commerce Committee to almost immediately pull three nominations that were expected to get voted on Wednesday. An aide explained that the agenda is having to be recalibrated to take into consideration the need for all Democratic votes in order to move certain nominees forward. Oh, my g**, I didnt know that, expressed Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the No. 2 Senate Democrat, apparently unaware of how things work in this type of scenario. Oh, my g**, also expressed Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), using the same blasphemous language as Durbin when asked by reporters what will happen next. Ill found out, Tester added. I did not know that, wow. Congress cant seem to get enough healthy senators present to vote on anything Numerous Republicans, including Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah and Sen. John Hoeven of North Dakota, are said to be in quarantine after testing positive for the Fauci Flu. Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the No. 2 Senate Republican, says he expects these two back next week. When asked when Lujan might return to the Capitol, his office did not immediately respond to questioning. In a statement, however, it was explained that the Democrats expect Lujan to make a full recovery. Democrats in the Senate have had quite a bit of trouble in recent days voting on things due to fears about the plandemic. Another vote on election-related legislation as well as one about changing the legislative filibuster process had to be delayed by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York after Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii tested positive for Fauci Germs. Earlier in the year, Democrats also had to delay several votes after Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia reportedly got stuck in his car for 27 hours trying to travel back to Washington, D.C., during a snow and ice storm. This coming week, the Senate floor is expected to be eaten up by some 20 nominees that Schumer has teed up for votes. Because of the GOP absences, the Democrats can still confirm fake president Joe Bidens nominees. However, if all GOP senators do end up being present, then the Democrats will require Republican help to confirm any of the nominees. Democrats are still waiting for China Joe to name his replacement to succeed Justice Stephen Breyer on the Supreme Court. The dementia patient-in-chief has pledged to pick a replacement by the end of February, and once he does it is expected to take at least a month for the Senate to reach a final confirmation vote. More of the latest news about Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine injuries can be found at ChemicalViolence.com. Sources for this article include: Twitter.com Yahoo.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) A new study published in the journal PNAS suggests that Greenland might have been largely ice-free millions of years ago. Researchers arrived at this conclusion after studying ice core samples that U.S. Army scientists dug from a mile below northwestern Greenland in 1966 as part of a top-secret project codenamed Iceworm. The ice core was lost in a freezer for decades before it was accidentally rediscovered in 2017. And as it turned out, it had been harboring frozen plant fossils for millions of years. The researchers analysis of these plant fossils suggested that Greenland was mostly covered in lush vegetation instead of dry, bleak ice at least once within the past millions of years. Ice sheets typically pulverize and destroy everything in their path but what we discovered was delicate plant structures, perfectly preserved, said Andrew Christ, a professor of geology at the University of Vermont and the lead researcher of the study. Theyre fossils, but they look like they died yesterday. Its a time capsule of what used to live on Greenland that we wouldnt be able to find anywhere else. Top-secret military base leads to stunning discovery The pack of dirt came from Camp Century, a Cold War-era subterranean base some 75 miles from Greenlands northwestern coast and around 800 miles from the North Pole. The Army built the base to hide nuclear missiles but presented it as a polar science station. As part of the front, the Armys science team drilled nearly a mile-long ice core, which ended up in Denmark in the 1990s and languished there for decades. The long-forgotten ice core resurfaced only when it had to be moved to another cold-storage facility. In 2019, Christ was able to get hold of samples of the ice core and study them under a microscope. His analysis showed that the ice core contained twigs and leaves instead of only sand and rock. This suggested that a vegetated landscape stood where a mile-deep ice sheet as big as Alaska stands today. Over the last year, Christ and his colleagues further examined these fossil plants using various analytical techniques that werent available to researchers decades ago. For instance, they measured ratios of rare isotopes (variants of an element) of aluminum and beryllium, which provided a picture of what was happening in Greenland in the distant past. The teams analyses showed that rain fell at much lower elevations than the height of the current ice sheet, indicating that this ice sheet melted and then reformed. Greenland, the analyses suggested, was literally green with moss and lichen, perhaps even spruce and fir trees at least once during the past million years. (Related: Bombshell science study reveals internal heat from Earths hot core is whats causing Greenlands ice sheets to slide.) The finding lines up with past studies involving two other ice cores taken from the center of Greenland. Sediments from the bottom of these cores also indicated that the islands ice sheet vanished for a period of time in the recent geologic past. These studies provide compelling evidence against the idea that the majority of Greenland is permanently trapped in ice. A 1960s movie about Camp Century, for instance, noted that more than ninety percent of Greenland is permanently frozen under a polar ice cap. Today, the Greenland Ice Sheet covers around 80 percent of the Arctic Island, accounting for 12 percent of the total volume of the worlds glacier ice. Read more fascinating studies about Earths geologic history at Discoveries.news. Sources include: ScienceDaily.com AtomicHeritage.org Britannica.com An Atlantic storm formed over the Atlantic Ocean, off the east coast of Florida on Sunday, Feb. 6. The formation transpired during the aftermath of winter storm Landon. The storm has been forecasted to bring only minimal impact with occurrences of light snowfall and rain showers until Tuesday, Feb. 8. Atlantic Storm Moving Towards the Northeast Meteorologists are monitoring the movement of an Atlantic storm, which formed over the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Southeast US, as reported by AccuWeather on Sunday. The AccuWeather report described the Atlantic storm as "sneaky" since the storm formed off the east coast of Florida by the end of the weekend, just shortly after the last large-scale winter storm Landon struck the US for several days. Although the Atlantic storm has been forecasted by the National Weather Service (NWS), meteorologists are tracking the progress of the storm due to the potential snowfall and icy conditions it may bring. As of Sunday evening, the storm was gradually starting to form off the east coast of Florida. Weather forecasts from both AccuWeather and the NWS indicate the Atlantic storm will move on a north-eastern pattern, navigating the Atlantic Ocean in parallel with US coastal areas. "This low-pressure system is projected to slide just to the east of the Carolinas throughout the day Monday," says Adam Sadvary, a meteorologist from AccuWeather. Forecasts also said the greatest risk posed by the storm will be between Monday and Tuesday, likely affecting the southeast and northeast regions. Snowfall may occur in Bangor, Fredericton, Maine, New Brunswick-and could also extend across western Massachusetts and New Hampshire, said AccuWeather. Furthermore, meteorologists said Boston city may experience winter hazards along its roadways in the northern and western part of the city between Monday and Tuesday. Overall, weather forecasts say the general impact of the Atlantic storm will be low across the Southeast. However, the Atlantic storm is expected to cause relative disruption to travel due to snowfall and icy conditions. Also read: Winter Storm Aftermath: US Gradually Recovers, Arctic Air to Leave Midwest and Northeast US Continues to Recover from Winter Storm Landon The northeast and midwest regions of the US have already started to recover following the widespread disruption caused by winter storm Landon last week and throughout Saturday, Feb. 5. Domestic and international flights across the US have gradually resumed operations following the winter storm, as per Flight Aware. In terms of power outages, only the states of New York, Tennessee, Ohio, and West Virginia have remaining reports of outages. Moreover, weather forecasts beyond Tuesday show that the occurrence of light snowfall and rain showers are likely to occur until Feb. 13 due to a clipper weather system, as per Allen Media Broadcasting. Winter storm Landon has already left the US skies before Sunday. The storm was reported to be heading the North Atlantic due to the dragging effect caused by a polar vortex, as per the Severe Weather Europe agency. The Arctic air also shifted away from the US as the country is heading towards the end of its winter season. Related article: Winter Storm: Blizzard Conditions Affects 100 Million People Across the US Several towns around Western Australia are experiencing a renewed "horrendous" bushfire as specialists firefighters from New South Wales arrived to help other states. Police, with the cooperation of detectives from the specialist arson squad Strike Force Vulcan, are investigating the cause of the Bridgetown bushfire that started around lunchtime Saturday, Feb. 5. The 'horrendous' bushfire spread The blaze from the bushfire continues to threaten the small railway town of Hester, while other fires continue to spread in the coast shire of Denmark and the Bruce Rock shire, East Perth. Residents warned it was too late to leave because of the emergency warning that was placed for Babakin, Bilbarin, and Corrigin, in Western Australia's Wheatbelt about 200km east of Perth, according to The Guardian. Stephen Dawson, Western Australia's emergency services Minister stated that, "We still have an active fire situation so we ask people to please be patient. It's an incredibly difficult time for everyone involved, for all the affected community, please know everyone in Western Australia is thinking about you," as published by West Australian. As per ABC News, as of Monday, Feb. 7, it has been revealed that the fire has been spread through more than 60,000 hectares of bushland, sparking a widespread power outage for thousands of residents. Furthermore, it has reportedly destroyed at least six homes and damaged businesses. All residents within 500 meters of Hester's wood processing plant must be moved immediately on Sunday evening, Feb. 6, due to the spread of toxic substances by the wind. Bridgetown County Emergency alerts have already been issued for areas in the Southwest, including Hester, Brook, and Bridgetown in Greenbushes. Darren Klemm, Department of Fire and Emergency Services commissioner, stated that 80% of the fire is being tracked, however, as they're dealing with changing weather and a westerly influence in the wind, the northeast corner still presents problems, West Australian noted. More than 200 people showed up at the evacuation center as Bridgetown Hospital was evacuated on Saturday night. Firefighters extinguished the blaze and reinforced containment lines on Sunday evening as an out-of-control and unpredictable wildfire moved rapidly in a northeasterly direction. According to ABC News, Des Hickey, Shire of Corrigin president stated, "We thought the two fires might link up and head towards the town, but the wind shift gave us a reprieve." Read More: Church destroyed by a suspicious fire in Adelaide's south, leaving $2 million damage bill New South Wales Firefighter Specialists came for help DFES Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Wade said that the specialist firefighters from New South Wales have arrived in Perth overnight to help combat the raging fire. "Crews from Kimberley, Pilbara, and specialist incident management teams from New South Wales have arrived," he said, further saying that it's an "amazing effort," but that they have great work ahead of them. Related Article: Australia PM promises $700m more to protect Great Barrier Reef WELLINGTON, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand reported 188 new community cases of COVID-19 on Monday, the Ministry of Health said in a statement. Among the 188 new community infections, 117 are in the largest city Auckland, 15 in Waikato, 20 in Bay of Plenty, 16 in Northland, 12 in the Lakes Region, three in Canterbury, two in Hutt Valley, one in Tairawhiti, Hawke's Bay and Mid Central each. In addition, 27 new cases of COVID-19 were detected at the New Zealand border. The ministry urged the public to take their booster jab of the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible. "With Omicron in New Zealand, one of the best things you can do is get your booster as soon as it is due." There are 14 COVID-19 patients in New Zealand hospitals, with one person being treated at the ICU. New Zealand reported a total of 17,612 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 13,266 cases in the current community outbreaks. The country is currently at the highest Red settings under the COVID-19 Protection Framework. At Red settings, face masks become mandatory in many indoor environments and gatherings are limited to 100 people. Unanimous written resolution of the New Canaan Republican Town Committee The New Canaan Republican Town Committee February 1, 2022 WHEREAS, Governor Ned Lamont declared a public health emergency in the State of Connecticut on March 10, 2020 in order to provide the Governor and other state officials with all authorities necessary to limit the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus and protect public safety within the State of Connecticut; and WHEREAS, pursuant to such emergency powers, Government issues eleven Executive Orders (the "Emergency Orders") mandating policies designed to control public behavior in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19; and WHEREAS, FDA approved vaccines and therapeutic pharmaceutical treatments are now widely available to all citizens above the age of 5 and will be available for those under age 5 by the end of February and have proven effective in preventing severe infection and death from COVID-19; and WHEREAS, nearly 77% of the population of Connecticut is fully vaccinated and 92% of the population of the state has received at least one vaccine dose; and WHEREAS, our healthcare system now has the requisite tools to operate safely and effectively and has proven able to manage COVID-19 cases even during periods of increased outbreak; and WHEREAS, data continues to show that children are at very low risk for severe COVID-19 infection; and WHEREAS, data has shown a need for a risk vs reward analysis of the policies contained in the Executive Orders for (i) a lack of efficacy of certain policies, and (ii) a negative effect on certain segments on the health and well-being of our community; and WHEREAS, Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution of the State of Connecticut expressly provides, "All political power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their benefit," and WHEREAS, because the current state of the pandemic does not inhibit state or local government officials from meeting and operating to make policy for their respective constituencies; and WHEREAS, a Person's right to own decisions regarding the health and the physical well-being of themselves and their children, their right to travel and congregate freely, their right to work and to hold and maintain personal property (including a business) is indelibly inscribed within a Person's right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness guaranteed by the United States Constitution and should not be unduly restricted by the government; and WHEREAS, our locally elected officials including our own Board of Education and our Town Council are the proper body to determine policy affecting the citizens of our town in order to ensure that such policies are limited in scope and designed to meet the needs of the citizens of New Canaan; and WHEREAS, the authority of the local government of New Canaan has been appropriated by the Governor and the state agencies under his control, including but not limited to the State Department of Public Health, and the State Department of Education; and WHEREAS, the Connecticut General Assembly and the Governor of the State of Connecticut are poised in the next several weeks to permanently abrogate of the authority of local government by codifying eleven Executive Order issues by the Governor under his emergency powers authorization; and WHEREAS, the New Canaan Republican Town Committee believes it is in the best interest of the citizens of New Canaan for the local government and agencies to design and administer COVID-19 mitigation policies bespoke to the needs of the community; and NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the New Canaan Republican Town Committee in regular session assembled calls upon the Governor of the State of Connecticut and the Connecticut General Assembly to rescind any executive or legislative authority created under or in connection with the emergency powers granted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and restore authority over such matters to the local control of the Board of Education and Town Council of the Town of New Canaan and to halt any further action on these matters by the General Assembly or state agencies under the control of the Office of the Governor. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the New Canaan Republican Town Committee supports the restoration of the Board of Education and the Town Council as the policy making body for the Town of New Canaan as it was prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and the issuance of the emergency powers in connection therewith, in order that that policy shall be instituted in accordance with the Constitution of the State of Connecticut and the United States Constitution by and on behalf of the Citizens of New Canaan. American Legion Post 343 will pay tribute Tuesday to four World War II chaplains who sacrificed their lives to help save men on their sinking ship. The chaplains were, from left, Reformed Chaplain Clark Poling, Methodist Chaplain George Fox, Jewish Chaplain Alexander Goode and Catholic Chaplain John Washington. A Canadian startup called Infinidium Power claims it has a new data-center cooling system that will generate power from the heat generated by the servers deployed within it. Infinidium claims its Next Generation Datacenter Cooling and Power Supply Infrastructure can reduce both operating and capital costs by as much as 50% through air cooling. It has its own compute containers called the Vortex Vacuum Chamber and a low-voltage direct-current smart Nanogrid, which saves power by not doing AC-to-DC conversion. A video animation on the company's site explains how the Vortex Vacuum Chamber sucks in cold air to a bell-shaped chamber where server boards are arranged in levels of circular racks. It uses a combination of the shape of the chamber and physics (warm air rises, cold air sinks) to generate power. Cool air is pulled into the chamber, and as heat generated by the servers warms the air it rises to a vent in the ceiling where it drives a turbine on its way out, generating power. Its much like an old chimney, CEO Paul Grist told me. We allow hot air to escape where it wants to go, directly up. In the process as the hot air escapes, it creates a vacuum bringing in outdoor air. We basically create a low-cost, low-velocity controlled tornado inside of our chamber. He claims the system eliminates complex cooling infrastructure, like HVAC, as well as backup generators and other auxiliary equipment. The company's servers are its own design rather than from an ODM like Supermicro. They have no fans, just heat sinksm and are equipped with Xeon E5 and Nvidia 20 series GPUs, which will eventually be replaced with 30 series. Grist said Infinidium is designing the servers in partnership with Nvidia. No fans in a data center is something that required water cooling, but Grist says it can be done with air. He says most servers have heat sinks and fans to cool them because they're designed to fit in tight spaces. But, in general, the fans can be removed from most servers and they will operate "fine" at room temperature with adequate air flow, he says. But high density racks doing things like AI run notoriously hot, and Grist admits the solution is not for every use case. As far as density goes, that's a balancing issue. We still have to test is how high of a density we can get. But we anticipate that we'll have very similar densities to current data centers, he said. The systems can be placed in existing facilities with minimal retrofitting and permitting requirements. The only real retrofitting that a customer would have to do is plug in 12 inch and six inch air holes into the ceiling, just like standard hot air vent. Some upgrading might have to be done to the electrical circuit to accommodate Infinidiums power network, but overall, Grist said the servers could go into vacant buildings and within weeks be operational. But he emphasized that the chambers are for new deployments and not meant as replacements for existing infrastructure. Going with the chambers could yield up to 75% capital cost savings, plus savings in cooling costs, which he says is up to 50 percent of data-center operating costs. In addition to continued R&D, Infinidium is building its own data center as proof of concept to show its system actually works. Its looking at strategic alliances with other data-center, infrastructure, and operators, infrastructure providers, and operators. Newburyport, MA (01950) Today Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers. High 54F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Periods of rain. Low 44F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. Woburn, MA (01801) Today Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers. High 59F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Occasional rain. Low around 45F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. VIENTIANE, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Over 70,000 people were affected by natural disasters, mostly floods, in Laos in 2021, in which 17 people were injured and 19 were killed. Issues on extreme weather were the theme of the Disaster Management Committee Meeting for 2021 and a report on the Disaster Preparedness Plan for 2022, which took place online recently, local daily Vientiane Times reported on Monday. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Chansamone Chanyalath. Floods, drought, storms, landslides and crop pest invasions were recorded 65 times, affecting a total of 70,200 people in 15 provinces, 94 districts and 786 villages. Chansamone stressed the need for central and local disaster management committees to jointly work on the systematic implementation of emergency responses as well as incident reporting and damage assessment, he said. However, he praised overall disaster management over the past year, saying several successes had been achieved. In terms of cooperation with ASEAN and internationally, a Memorandum of Understanding between China and Laos was signed on cooperation in disaster management. Laos is also participating in the ASEAN Disaster Management Committee and has shared in regional and international remedial meetings, as well as getting advice from international organizations on disaster prevention, control and mitigation. Meeting participants were invited to share ideas and discuss solutions to outstanding issues and challenges in this line of work, in the hope that a more concerted response to natural disasters would be rolled out in 2022, according to the report. Help support your local hometown newspaper/website. Independent local news reporting matters. Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription, for as little as $3, so we can continue to provide independent local reporting on our communities. SEOUL, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in's approval rating rose 0.1 percentage point to 42.2 percent last week, a weekly poll showed on Monday. The negative assessment on Moon's conduct of state affairs gained 0.6 percentage points to 54.4 percent, according to the Realmeter survey. Support for Moon's ruling Democratic Party increased 3.3 percentage points to 37.6 percent last week. The main conservative opposition People Power Party secured 39.4 percent of support last week, up 4.2 percentage points from the previous week. The minor center-right People's Party won 7.3 percent of approval score, followed by the minor progressive Justice Party with 2.8 percent of support. As for the approval rating of presidential candidates, support for the Democratic Party's Lee Jae-myung shrank 0.4 percentage points over the week to 38.1 percent last week. Support for the People Power Party's Yoon Suk-yeol climbed 3.2 percentage points to 43.4 percent last week. The country's presidential election is scheduled for March 9. The results were based on a poll of 1,509 voters conducted from Wednesday to Friday. It had plus and minus 2.5 percentage points in margin of error with a 95-percent confidence level. Google Streetview / Contributed NEW LONDON A fire on Thursday in a building slated for demolition has been deemed an arson, according to officials. Firefighters responded to an alarm in Building A of 48 Crystal Ave. and found a fire in a bathtub in a third-floor apartment and the nearby stairs, Fire Marshal Vernon Skau said. Champaign, IL (61820) Today A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 67F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 56F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall may reach one inch. SYDNEY, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Australia's national carrier Qantas announced on Monday that it would open a new flight path between the iconic outback town Broken Hill in far west to New South Wales state capital Sydney. After nearly two years of disrupted travel, airline Qantas, known for its kangaroo logo, has been forced to look within the nation's own shores for new avenues to expand the business and satisfy itchy travellers barred from international travel. The new route will bring the historic mining town founded in 1883 within reach of Sydney jet setters. Located some 1,100 km west of Sydney, it takes a staggering 13 hours to drive to the regional center surrounded by large stretches of desert. QantasLink CEO John Gissing said the service would help open up regional NSW for both business and travel, while giving a much-needed boost to the state's regional economies that have been particularly ravaged by drops in tourism during the pandemic. "We are constantly looking for new opportunities to stimulate domestic tourism and support small business operators across regional Australia," said Gissing. "We know many Australians are eager for their next holiday destination and outback New South Wales has plenty to offer." The town, while still primarily a mining hub, also boasts a number of heritage sites including colonial architecture, historical mining locations, and a wealth of natural beauty. Mayor of Broken Hill Tom Kennedy welcomed the announcement, saying it would provide new accessibility to the town's population of about 17,000 people. "I think the community will be very excited to see the arrival of Qantas and to see some competition in the local market. Air travel is of vital importance to our community for tourism, health, and education," said Kennedy. Since the start of the pandemic, Qantas has looked internally to expand its flight paths, opening some 52 new domestic routes over two years. The latest addition will begin with 50-seat flights on Mondays and Fridays starting from April 8. SB 63 is an attack on your right to know In a recent study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server, researchers discuss the impact of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) booster immunization on the neutralizing activity against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant in elderly individuals. Study: Durability of Omicron-neutralizing serum activity following mRNA booster immunization in elderly individuals. Image Credit: Yuganov Konstantin / Shutterstock.com Background Older age is a common risk factor for severe disease and mortality following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Thus, elderly individuals have been prioritized for both primary and booster vaccination against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant is of particular concern for older individuals as compared to younger individuals because there has been a greater amount of time since the elderly received their COVID-19 vaccine. While booster vaccines can induce Omicron-neutralizing activity, their long-term effects on the elderly are not yet clear. About the study The researchers of the present study longitudinally determined SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing activity of sera against different SARS-Cov-2 variants in a prospective cohort of 37 individuals with a median age of 82 years. All study participants were monitored for ten months after a two-dose BNT162b2 vaccination and for up to 4.5 months after receiving a single BNT162b2 booster vaccine dose. Using a pseudovirus assay, the researchers determined 50% geometric mean inhibitory serum dilutions (GeoMean ID 50 ) against the SARS-CoV-2 Wu01 vaccine strain, as well as the Delta and Omicron variants. Upon completion of the two-dose vaccine regimen, the researchers collected sera from the participants at one and five months. Study findings The results show that detectable neutralizing activity against Omicron was almost absent after two vaccine doses; however, these levels returned in 89% of the participants after booster immunization. Two BNT162b2 vaccine doses induced detectable neutralizing activity against the Wu01 and Delta strains at 95% and 84%, respectively, in most individuals, while neutralizing activity against Omicron was undetectable or only minimally detectable. Over the four months of follow-up, neutralizing serum titers declined by six- and seven-fold, respectively, against Wu01 and Delta strains. The researchers obtained early post-boost sera samples one month after booster vaccination and found that booster immunization led to an over 50-fold increase in neutralizing activity against the Wu01 and Delta strains. Furthermore, booster immunization was found to induce a strong Omicron neutralizing activity in 89% of the elderly participants. Follow-up samples obtained three to five months after the booster vaccination showed that neutralizing titers against the Wu01, Delta, and Omicron strains declined by 2.7-, 2.3-, and 3.0-fold, respectively. The team used linear mixed-effects models to determine the decline rate in neutralizing activity and found that neutralizing titers against the SARS-CoV-2 Wu01, Delta, and Omicron variants showed similar declines following booster dose. Furthermore, detectable activity was maintained against Omicron in 81% of individuals. Longitudinal assessment of SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing serum activity in elderly individuals. Conclusions The current study demonstrates the effectiveness of mRNA booster doses in inducing neutralizing activity against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in the highly vulnerable elderly population. Furthermore, these findings provide crucial information on the durability of vaccine response. Furthermore, booster immunizations were found to be highly valuable tools that can restore waning vaccine effectiveness and reduce the risk of severe disease in the elderly in the absence of vaccines specific to the Omicron variant. Taken together, these findings also show that previous knowledge about waning humoral immunity can guide vaccination strategies against the Omicron variant in the highly vulnerable elderly population. *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. Humboldt Research Fellow Dr. Maria Rita Ortega Vega from the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil will be a guest at the Faculty of Chemistry and Food Chemistry at TU Dresden. Here, she will work together with her host Prof. Stefan Kaskel on the development of novel electrochemical sensors for the salivary detection of kidney diseases. The kidneys are vital organs that clean the blood and influence many bodily functions. Many kidney diseases initially show neither pain nor symptoms. Often, it is only as a result of a random examination that proteins or only microscopically visible traces of blood in the urine indicate damage to the kidney. The Brazilian material scientist Dr. Maria Rita Ortega Vega would like to develop a completely new method for the early detection of kidney disease at the Technische Universitat Dresden. To this end, she is collaborating with host Prof. Stefan Kaskel and his team as part of a Humboldt research stay. Kaskel is a professor of inorganic chemistry and is particularly involved in research into porous materials, e.g. for the energy transition or for environmental technologies. However, Dr. Ortega Vega wants to use these materials in her project "Nanostructured transition metal-based electrochemical sensor for salivary urea detection for kidney failure diagnostics" to detect and quantify urea in saliva using electrochemical techniques. The presence and amount of urea in saliva can be an indicator of kidney problems. With such a sensor, patients and doctors can get reliable results quickly and without blood testing. For patients who are already in the chronic stage of the disease, this technology can help evaluate the performance of the dialysis process. We expect to jointly develop a specific and sensitive material for this application." Maria Rita Ortega Vega, Humboldt Research Fellow, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil "I am delighted that we have been able to attract Ms. Ortega, a talented young scientist who is an excellent fit for our team, to TU Dresden. Her innovative research into new topics in biosensorics will certainly benefit decisively from the excellent research environment in Dresden," states Prof. Kaskel. As a Henriette Heart Scout of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, he has the opportunity to identify three excellent and highly sought-after young scientists from abroad, to propose them for a Humboldt Research Fellowship and to bring them to the TU Dresden. Maria Rita Ortega Vega is the first fellow Kaskel has been able to recruit for his team in this way. "I liked the level of work of the team: there are many promising developments here with great opportunities for technology transfer and applicability. This is very important to me: doing science that can have an impact on society. I consider science as a democratic project, so studying systems and materials that are scalable to make them reach people by means of different applications and that can make life easier, "materializing" knowledge, is a huge motivation. I also liked the infrastructure, which is very different from the one in Brazil. TUD has different technologies and equipment that I am not used to and I'm looking forward to learning about them," Maria Rita says about her motivation to accept Stefan Kaskel's invitation to Dresden. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant is highly contagious and has been associated with an increasing number of breakthrough infections. Recent guidelines published by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that healthcare workers who are diagnosed with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can return to work within five days if they are asymptomatic or have only experienced mild to moderate symptoms that are improving. Importantly, infected healthcare workers can return to work even without a negative rapid antigen test (RAT) result. Study: High Rates of Rapid Antigen Test Positivity After 5 Days of Isolation for COVID-19. Image Credit: Michele Ursi / Shutterstock.com A new study published on the preprint server medRxiv* shows that a high proportion of individuals still tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection using RATs after five days of quarantine. SARS-CoV-2 dynamics and RAT After SARS-CoV-2 infection, viral shedding begins two to three days before the onset of symptoms. Viral shedding correlates with infectiousness or contagiousness. Maximal virus shedding is often observed one day before the onset of symptoms. On average, infectiousness continues through day three of illness. RATs are highly sensitive assays that detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in nasal swabs, particularly when concomitant reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests are also positive. Furthermore, several studies have shown that darker or more intense positive results with RAT indicate higher viral counts. About the study The current study assessed healthcare workers from a large, urban, academic medical center. All participants were fully vaccinated and non-immunocompromised. Individuals who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 starting in late December 2021 were selected for the study, which is when the Omicron variant was widely circulating. All infected healthcare workers were allowed to return to work early if all symptoms had resolved except for mild, intermittent cough and/or lingering loss of taste/smell. Importantly, a negative RAT was required before the healthcare worker was allowed to return to work. Quidell Quickview (San Diego, CA, USA) point of care RAT was performed on qualifying healthcare workers as soon as day five of their illness. Day 1 of illness was the start of symptoms or test date if asymptomatic. RAT positive results were recorded as 1 for a positive result line in which the intensity was darker than the control line, 2 for the intensity that was the same as the control line, or 3 for intensity lighter than the control line. Study findings A total of 260 healthcare workers were tested between days five and ten of their illness between January 2, 2022, and January 12, 2022. Taken together, 309 tests were performed. Among the 260 individuals, 43% were RAT positive between days five and ten. On day six, 58% of individuals tested RAT positive, which was the highest rate of positivity reported in this study. Only 26% of individuals tested RAT positive on days eight and nine. Among the RAT-positive individuals who tested after their first test on days five or six, 49% had the darkest intensity on their RAT. Individuals who tested positive on their first test mostly tested positive on their second test as well, with 56% of positive second tests aggregated across days 6-10. Among the healthcare workers, 53% of boosted individuals tested positive. More than 40% of fully vaccinated healthcare workers who were well enough to resume work still had positive RAT tests between days five and ten. Boosted individuals were nearly three times as likely to test positive on day five and around twice as likely to test positive on their first RAT overall. Limitations Participation in this study was voluntary; therefore, all healthcare workers did not report every day for testing. Many non-medical factors may have influenced the timing of the RAT. Since RAT test results correlate with the presence of cultivable viruses, it is believed that healthcare workers with positive RAT are likely still contagious; however, this correlation has not been established for the Omicron variant. Thus, the current study is being continued to establish this corroboration. Conclusions The SARS-CoV-2 dynamics of the Omicron variant are different from previous variants. The trend observed between the onset of symptoms and peak virus load has changed. In light of this data, five days from symptom onset may no longer be an appropriate window to end isolation. Instead, a negative RAT should support a safe exit from isolation. The current study demonstrates that a substantial proportion of individuals with COVID-19 are assumably still contagious after day five of illness. This is independent of the status of symptoms. If individuals return to their communities or work settings between days six and ten of illness, it may increase the spread of SARS-CoV-2 to others. As a result, more workers will likely get infected with SARS-CoV-2, thereby undermining the intended benefits of a shortened quarantine period to staffing issues. *Important notice medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information. Northwestern Medicine investigators continue to study the COVID-19 pandemic, from the biological mechanisms of disease and infection patterns to the pandemic's impact on women and sexual and gender minorities. Outcomes of COVID-positive youths at emergency departments Among 3,221 youths who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in emergency departments (EDs), 3.3 percent had severe outcomes within 14 days, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open. The findings add to the growing body of knowledge about differential COVID-19 outcomes in children compared to adults, according to Todd Florin, MD, associate professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Emergency Medicine and a co-principal investigator of the study. Children with COVID-19 can present with very different symptoms than adults and respond to infection in different ways, therefore it is important that we evaluate outcomes in children rather than relying on adult data." Todd Florin, MD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Emergency Medicine, Northwestern Medicine While COVID-19 is generally mild in children, severe outcomes and death do occur, though risk of those outcomes is poorly understood. Current studies examining large administrative databases or hospitalized youths have produced a wide range of risk estimates, Florin said. The investigators found severe outcomes, defined as complications or interventions suggesting severe organ impairment or death, occurred in 3.3 percent of patients. For children well enough to be discharged from the emergency department, risk of developing severe outcomes was low: just 0.5 percent. "This study provides clinicians with evidence to assist in risk stratifying children who present with COVID-19, supporting them to provide focused care on those at higher risk, while also providing reassurance for those without risk factors for severe disease," Florin said. This study was supported by grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Operating Grant: COVID-19 - Clinical management; Alberta Innovates; the Alberta Health Services - University of Calgary - Clinical Research Fund; the Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute; the COVID-19 Research Accelerator Funding Track (CRAFT) Program at the University of California, Davis; and the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Division of Emergency Medicine Small Grants Program. Sex and gender bias in COVID-19 case reports Case reports of patients with COVID-19 exhibited similar sex and gender bias seen in previous studies, including an overrepresentation of male patients, according to a study published in Frontiers in Global Women's Health. As sex and gender are increasingly recognized as important biological variables, recognition of theses biases is an important step towards changing them, according to Nicole Woitowich, PhD, research assistant professor of Medical Social Sciences and senior author of the study. "It's imperative that we strive to present sex- and gender-balanced information in both educational and research settings," said Woitowich. Woitowich and her collaborators analyzed nearly 500 clinical case reports of patients with COVID-19: 45 percent were male and 30 percent were female, and only 25 percent of case reports included patients of both sexes. Case reports with male senior authors were more likely to include male-only patients, compared to case reports with female last authors. Female authors were also more likely to include patients of both sexes. Unbalanced genders in biomedical science are not a new phenomenon, Woitowich said, but the novelty of COVID-19 means it's especially important to understand any gender differences in illness an understanding that's made difficult by gender bias in case reports. "I think the biomedical community has made forward strides in acknowledging how conscious and unconscious biases may inform decision-making and clinical care," Woitowich said. "Yet, this work indicates that there is much more work to do and this may fall upon journal editors to ensure that the reports which do get published are representative and balanced." This work was supported by a Womens Health Access Matters Grant. Impact of COVID-19 and substance misuse in sexual and gender minority young adults Sexual and gender minority (SGM) young adults who reported employing fewer social distancing behaviors were also more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors and use methamphetamines, according to results of a study published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence. These findings illustrate the intersecting vulnerabilities in which many SGM people lie, according to Casey Xavier Hall, PhD, MPH, research assistant professor of Medical Social Sciences and lead author of the study. "Sexual and gender minority young adults can experience discrimination and stigma. They often rely on the LGBT community for support," Xavier Hall said. "Its possible that some prevention measures for COVID-19 such as social distancing could disrupt this support, increase mental health concerns and increase risk for intimate partner violence." Further, the use of fewer social distancing behaviors was associated with higher odds of intimate partner violence contrary to what some in the field had speculated, according to Xavier Hall. "There are several possible explanations, but it may be related to how younger people are less likely to live with their romantic or sexual partners. If this is the case, logically those who were physically near their partners and possibly exposed to risk of violence were not strictly following isolation behaviors," Xavier Hall said. Brian Mustanski, PhD, professor of Medical Social Sciences and director of the Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing (ISGMH), was senior author of the study. Michael Newcomb, PhD, associate professor of Medical Social Sciences, was a co-author of the study. Omicron: Evolution of the pandemic A study of several South African countries confirmed the Omicron variant of COVID-19 spreads more rapidly compared to previous variants. The findings, published in the journal JMIR Public Health and Surveillance, demonstrate the need to curb future variants to prevent new waves like this one, according to Lori Post, PhD, the Buehler Professor of Geriatric Medicine, director of the Buehler Center for Health Policy and Economics at the Institute for Public Health and Medicine (IPHAM) and senior author of the study "We are playing with fire by allowing this variant to plow through our populations because it increases the risk of a novel variant of concern that is even more transmissible or more lethal," said Post, who is also a professor of Emergency Medicine and of Medical Social Sciences. Using surveillance metrics in several southern African countries, the authors compared the Omicron infection wave to previous outbreaks. "If a country has almost zero cases of SARS-CoV-2 infections, we only get seven to nine days of advanced warning that a country is going into an outbreak whereas with other variants, we had up to 35 days advanced warning," Post said. "The magnitude of an Omicron outbreak is two times that of Delta in half the duration." This has implications for public health measures, said Ramon Lorenzo-Redondo, PhD, assistant professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases and a co-author of the study. "The biological properties and transmission dynamics of the virus have shifted, suggesting the need for re-assessing the prevention strategies needed to avert future viral outbreaks," said Lorenzo-Redondo, who is also bioinformatics director of the Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution (CPGME). As the wave continues and eventually subsides, more investigation is required to better understand how mutations in Omicron affect therapeutics and vaccine efficacy, said Judd Hultquist, PhD, assistant professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases and co-author of the study. "A lot more research still needs to be done to understand how these changes influence disease severity, risk of re-infection and potential vaccine breakthrough," said Hultquist, who is also associate director of the CPGME. This study was supported by the Robert J. Havey, MD Institute for Global Health. Teams at the Institut Pasteur, CNRS, Vaccine Research Institute (VRI) and Universite de Paris have discovered a new function of anti-HIV-1 antibodies by applying cutting-edge microscopy techniques to in vitro viral cultures. The scientists found that certain antibodies already known for effectively targeting HIV-1 envelope (Env) protein can prevent infected cells from releasing viral particles, thus halting viral spread. The antibodies are Y-shaped, enabling them to attach themselves between the infected cell and viral particles or directly between viral particles. This chain composed of antibodies and viral particles prevents viral spread. These findings demonstrate that these powerful antibodies exhibit different antiviral activities in addition to neutralization. The study is published in the February 2, 2022 issue of Nature Communications. Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) targeting virus envelope (Env) protein have significant potential for treating HIV-1. They were initially identified in rare cases of patients whose serum was capable of inhibiting numerous HIV strains. These antibodies exhibit multiple antiviral activities. As well as neutralizing the virus, i.e. preventing it from infecting new cells, they also kill infected cells. Consequently, they are referred to as polyfunctional molecules. It is necessary to fully understand the scope of these antiviral activities in order to use existing antibodies more effectively or refine the selection criteria for new antibodies. It is moreover useful to further investigate the polyfunctionality of anti-HIV-1 antibodies in order to improve our understanding of the role played by antibodies and thus tackle other viral infections. Initially, teams at the Institut Pasteur, CNRS, VRI and Universite de Paris sought to determine whether antibodies were capable of preventing infected cells from producing viral particles. To that end, they cultured CD4 T cells (HIV's natural target) in vitro with various antibodies for 24 hours. They subsequently measured the quantity of viral particles produced by the cells in the culture medium and the quantity of viral particles remaining in the cells. As a result of these experiments, the scientists were able to demonstrate that certain antibodies increased virus quantity in cells but reduced it in the culture medium. This intriguing finding led them to believe that certain antibodies impeded the release of viral particles without preventing their production. To test this theory, the scientists used various microscopy techniques to observe cells' production of viral particles. They initially examined the cells by fluorescence microscopy, a technique used to differentiate virus proteins. This enabled them to demonstrate that infected cells accumulate large quantities of mature viral protein. This finding suggests that full viral particles accumulate in cells. To determine the precise location of these viral particles, the scientists subsequently used scanning electron microscopy to observe the surface of infected cells. "Using this method, we observed that these antibodies (bNAbs) prompt an accumulation of viral particles at the surface of cells, forming clusters and highly atypical structures (see illustration)," comments Timothee Bruel, co-last author of the study and scientist in the Virus and Immunity Unit at the Institut Pasteur. Next, the scientists combined a transmission electron microscopy technique with immunogold labeling. This enabled them to demonstrate that antibodies interpose themselves between viral particles and the infected cell, forming a chain cluster. Experiments with mutant antibodies subsequently demonstrated that the antibodies' Y shape creates this clustered structure. Their arms are capable of linking two viruses, or one virus to the infected cell membrane, and their attachment points are sufficiently strong to prompt this phenomenon. We have demonstrated that only the most powerful antibodies tether viral particles at the surface of infected cells. Trapped viral particles can no longer infect new cells." Olivier Schwartz, co-last author of the study and Head of the Virus and Immunity Unit, Institut Pasteur This work has revealed a new antiviral activity for broadly neutralizing anti-HIV-1 antibodies. It deepens our understanding of these antibodies' mechanism of action and explains their efficacy in clinical trials. The scientists are now examining antibodies targeting other viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, to determine whether they also inhibit viral spread through this mechanism. Switching from a metered-dose inhaler to a dry powder version for maintenance therapy more than halves the carbon footprint of people with asthma, and without any worsening of their condition, finds a pharma industry sponsored study published online in the journal Thorax. This substitution would be an acceptable and worthwhile 'green' option for most patients who can safely manage their condition at home, and should be widely encouraged, conclude the researchers. The use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in aerosol propellants was banned under the 1987 Montreal Protocol agreement because of their impact on global warming. But while the hydrofluorocarbons that replaced CFCs in pressurized metered-dose inhalers don't deplete the ozone layer, they are potent greenhouse gases, say the researchers. Emissions from this source account for 34% of the total carbon footprint associated with healthcare in the UK. The researchers wanted to compare the potential impact on carbon footprint and symptom control of switching maintenance therapy to a dry powder inhaler and continuing with a metered-dose inhaler containing hydrofluorocarbon propellant. They carried out a secondary (post hoc) analysis of data from a group of patients who were part of the Salford Lung Study in Asthma. This included a broad range of 4000 patients with asthma who were managing their condition at home and closely reflected routine UK clinical practice. Adults with asthma on regular maintenance therapy to control their symptoms were randomly assigned to either start using a dry powder inhaler (1081; 'switch group') or to continue using a pressurised metered dose inhaler (1151; 'usual care') for a period of 12 months. Both groups were matched for average age (49) and symptom severity. Symptom control was assessed at the start of the study, and after 12, 24, 40, and 52 weeks, using a validated test (Asthma Control Test). Annual CO 2 emissions in kg were calculated for the total number of maintenance (preventer and rescue) inhalers prescribed over the 12 month study period. Patients were allowed to change inhaler during the study, but most stuck with the type to which they had been assigned: 80% remained on a metered dose inhaler in the usual care group and 85% remained on a dry powder inhaler in the switch group. Analysis of the data showed that after a year annual CO 2 emissions for each person in the 'switch' group were less than half those of the usual care group:108 kg vs 240 kg. Asthma control improved in both treatment arms during the study period. By week 24, the odds of responding well to treatment in the switch group were around double those of the usual care group, and this difference persisted over the entire 12 months. As a result, the switchers were prescribed around one less rescue salbutamol metered dose inhaler than those who continued on usual care: 7.2 vs 8. The researchers calculated that the annual carbon footprint saving for each patient in the switch group was 130 kg CO 2 emissions. Scaling this up "would represent approximately 40% of the total carbon footprint due to [metered dose inhalers] in the UK," they suggest. "The potential for carbon saving could be much greater if patients also switched to a rescue medication administered via a [dry powder inhaler]," as most patients in this study used pressurised metered dose rescue inhalers, "typical of usual care in the UK," they add. In a linked podcast, lead author Professor Ashley Woodcock suggests that asthma patients are often unaware of the environmental impact their inhalers have. "Each puff of a [metered dose inhaler] is equivalent to driving 1 mile in a family car, so one inhaler is close to driving 200 miles but a powdered inhaler is about a twentieth of that," he points out. This is an "easy win" for the NHS to cut its carbon footprint, he suggests, especially because the UK is very much an outlier in its use of high carbon inhalers, he adds. Low carbon inhalers are predominantly used in Europe. The large carbon footprint caused by the use of hydrofluorocarbon propellants in metered-dose inhalers in the UK is three times that in Europe. Where feasible, switching these patients to powder inhalers would "make a big difference to our carbon footprint," he suggests. "Essentially this is about evolution, not revolution. In discussion with patients, healthcare professionals should have a conversation about the environmental footprint of their inhalers," he emphasizes. The researchers conclude: "The results of this analysis support the growing calls from official bodies that, where possible, switches to low carbon-impact alternatives should be sought. "Together with the role of pharmaceutical companies in producing accessible alternatives, prescribers, pharmacists, and patients should be made aware of the significant differences in the global warming potential of different inhalers." It is well known that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a zoonotic disease. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID-19, did not initially infect humans. The exact path the disease took before jumping to humans is controversial. Despite early media attention that the disease began in bats, alternate theories have gained strong traction, including the idea that the disease might have made multiple host jumps, even infecting humans in an earlier form before the pandemic began. Study: ACE2 binding is an ancestral and evolvable trait of sarbecoviruses. Image Credit: Kateryna Kon/Shutterstock In a study published in Nature, researchers have been investigating sarbecovirus lineages and the ability of those lineages to evolve the ability to bind angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). The study The researcher assembled a gene library encoding the receptor-binding domains (RBDs) of 45 sarbecovirus', spanning all known RBD phylogenetic clades. This library was then cloned into a yeast surface display platform to enable high-throughput measurement of ACE2 binding avidities through titration assays combining fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and deep sequencing. A panel of recombinant dimeric ACE protein from four humans, civets, pangolins, and mice, as well as two alleles from two different species of bats (R.affinis and R. sinicus) was also assembled. The dissociation constant (KDapp) of each RBD for each ACE2 ortholog was measured in duplicate using independently constructed libraries. As expected, human ACE2 was most strongly bound by the human sarbecovirus' SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2, followed closely by similar diseases to SARS-CoV-2 commonly found in pangolins. The RBD from the bat virus RaTG13 showed much lower affinity, as did the RBD's from civet diseases. A bat virus closely resembling SARS-CoV-1 showed a very similar binding affinity to hACE2 as SARS-CoV-1, even higher in some cases. Only viruses' in the SARS-CoV-1 clade could successfully bind to the civet ACE2, and pangolin ACE2 binding was far more commonly seen in the SARS-CoV-2 clade. In bats, R, Affinis, and R. Sinicus ACE2 showed very varied binding to RBD from both clades which the researchers suggest is due to an evolutionary arms race. Strangely, the BtKY72 virus from Kenya could also bind to R. Affinis ACE2 the only non-Asian sarbecovirus that could. The results from the BtKY72 virus lead the scientists to believe that ACE2 binding was present in the ancestor of all sarbecovirus' before the clades split. To test this, they used ancestral sequence reconstruction to infer plausible sequences that would represent ancestral nodes on the RBD phylogeny and then evaluated ACE2 binding for the most probable reconstructed sequences. They found that the reconstructed ancestor could also bind the R. affinis ACE2 allele (as well as broader ACE2 binding, including hACE2), but this binding was then lost along the branch to the clade 2 ancestor. The researchers then constructed mutant libraries in 14 RBD backgrounds spanning the RBD phylogeny to explore how easily RBDs can acquire the ability to bind ACE2 due to single amino acid mutations. They then introduced the mutations at six positions that the previous experiments implicated strongly in the evolution of receptor binding. The results show that ACE2 binding evolves very easily, and in almost every case in which a parental RBD binds ACE2, a single mutation can improve that binding 5-fold. In cases where a parental RBD does not bind ACE2, low-to-moderate binding is easily conferred. As ACE2 binding is an ancestral trait that is easily evolved, unsampled sarbecovirus' are likely to evolve easily to bind ACE2. To test this, the researchers investigated viruses from Africa and Europe that were reported after the initiation of the study. They found that two newly described sarbecovirus' from Russia could bind R. affinis ACE2 easily, and one could bind to hACE2 even without any additional mutations The conclusion The authors highlight that they have shown that binding to ACE2 is an easily evolvable trait initially present in the common ancestor of SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2, suggesting that this could explain the sarbecovirus lineages propensity for host jumps. The simplicity of the mutations that can confer the ability to bind hACE2 to other sarbecovirus' suggests that it is likely that more will be able to infect humans in the future, as the barriers between human populations and animal habitats continue to thin although hopefully not in as devastating a manner as SARS-CoV-2. The researchers' findings could be very useful to those studying zoonotic diseases and could be considered an early warning to prepare for additional lineages evolving the ability to infect humans. HELSINKI, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Finland's former Foreign Minister and long-time Member of Parliament (MP) Erkki Tuomioja said he doubted that his country's possible North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) membership would strengthen its security. Commenting on his new book "Finland and NATO" on Monday, Tuomioja raised the question of what in practice would NATO countries be willing to do to help Finland in the event of a war. If Finland were a NATO member, it would become the primary front in a war between NATO and Russia, he said. "I believe NATO would ultimately emerge as the winner and would show up as the liberator of Finland, but what would remain of us by that time, especially if nuclear weapons are used?" Tuomioja asked. According to him, it is not in the interest of either Finland or Russia to turn the 1,300-km border between them into a military conflict zone. In his opinion, Finland should have the opportunity to apply for NATO membership, but now is not the time to do so. According to national broadcaster Yle's report on Monday, a recent poll found that 45 percent of those surveyed would support Finland's application for NATO membership on condition that it is recommended by the nation's leaders. Roughly one-third of the respondents opposed the idea and under one quarter were undecided. Last December, Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin and her Swedish counterpart Magdalena Andersson said they had no plans to apply for NATO membership. Most all of us have felt the exhaustion of pandemic-era decision-making. Should I travel to see an elderly relative? Can I see my friends and, if so, is inside OK? Mask or no mask? Test or no test? What day? Which brand? Is it safe to send my child to day care? Questions that once felt trivial have come to bear the moral weight of a life-or-death choice. So it might help to know (as you're tossing and turning over whether to cancel your non-refundable vacation) that your struggle has a name: decision fatigue. In 2004, psychologist Barry Schwartz wrote an influential book, "The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less." The basic premise is this: Whether picking your favorite ice cream or a new pair of sneakers or a family physician, choice can be a wonderful thing. But too many choices can leave us feeling paralyzed and less satisfied with our decisions in the long run. And that's just for the little things. Faced with a stream of difficult choices about health and safety during a global pandemic, Schwartz suggests, we may experience a unique kind of burnout that could deeply affect our brains and our mental health. Schwartz, an emeritus professor of psychology at Swarthmore College and a visiting professor at the Haas School of Business at the University of California-Berkeley, has been studying the interactions among psychology, morality, and economics for 50 years. He spoke with KHN's Jenny Gold about the decision fatigue that so many Americans are feeling two years into the pandemic, and how we can cope. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity. Q: What is decision fatigue? We all know that choice is good. Thats part of what it means to be an American. So, if choice is good, then more must be better. It turns out, thats not true. Imagine that when you go to the supermarket, not only do you have to choose among 200 kinds of cereal, but you have to choose among 150 kinds of crackers, 300 kinds of soup, 47 kinds of toothpaste, etc. If you really went on your shopping trip with the aim of getting the best of everything, youd either die of starvation before you finished or die of fatigue. You cant live your life that way. When you overwhelm people with options, instead of liberating them, you paralyze them. They cant pull the trigger. Or, if they do pull the trigger, they are less satisfied, because its so easy to imagine that some alternative that they didnt choose would have been better than the one they did. Q: How has the pandemic affected our ability to make decisions? In the immediate aftermath of the pandemic, all the choices that we faced vanished. Restaurants werent open, so you didnt have to decide what to order. Supermarkets werent open, or they were too dangerous, so you didnt have to decide what to buy. All of a sudden your options were restricted. But, as things eased up, you sort of go back to some version of your previous life, except [with] a whole new set of problems that none of us thought about before. And the kinds of decisions youre talking about are extremely high-stakes decisions. Should I see my parents for the holidays and put them at risk? Should I let my kid go to school? Should I have gatherings with friends outside and shiver, or am I willing to risk sitting inside? These are not decisions weve had practice with. And having made this decision on Tuesday, youre faced with it again on Thursday. And, for all you know, everything has changed between Tuesday and Thursday. I think this has created a world that is just impossible for us to negotiate. I dont know that its possible to go to bed with a settled mind. Q: Can you explain what's going on in our brains? When we make choices, we are exercising a muscle. And just as in the gym, when you do reps with weights, your muscles get tired. When this choice-making muscle gets tired, we basically cant do it anymore. Q: Weve heard a lot about more people feeling depressed and anxious during the pandemic. Do you think that decision fatigue is exacerbating mental health issues? I dont think you need decision fatigue to explain the explosion of mental health problems. But it puts an additional burden on people. Imagine that you decided that, starting tomorrow, you are going to be thoughtful about every decision you make. OK, you wake up in the morning: Should I get out of bed? Or should I stay in bed for another 15 minutes? Should I brush my teeth, or skip brushing my teeth? Should I get dressed now, or should I get dressed after Ive had my coffee? What the pandemic did for a lot of people is to take routine decisions and make them non-routine. And that puts a kind of pressure on us that accumulates over the course of the day, and then here comes tomorrow, and youre faced with them all again. I dont see how it could possibly not contribute to stress and anxiety and depression. Q: As the pandemic wears on, are we getting better at making these decisions? Or does the compounded exhaustion make us worse at gauging the options? There are two possibilities. One is that we are strengthening our decision-making muscles, which means that we can tolerate more decisions in the course of a day than we used to. Another possibility is that we just adapt to the state of stress and anxiety, and were making all kinds of bad decisions. In principle, it ought to be the case that when youre confronted with a dramatically new situation, you learn how to make better decisions than you were able to make when it all started. And I dont doubt thats true of some people. But I also doubt that its true in general, that people are making better decisions than they were when it started. Q: So what can people do to avoid burnout? First, simplify your life and follow some rules. And the rules dont have to be perfect. [For example:] "I am not going to eat indoors in a restaurant, period." You will miss out on opportunities that might have been quite pleasant, but youve taken one decision off the table. And you can do that with respect to a lot of things the way that, when we do our grocery shopping, we buy Cheerios every week. You know, Im going to think about a lot of the things I buy at the grocery, but Im not going to think about breakfast. The second thing you can do is to stop asking yourself, "Whats the best thing I can do?" Instead, ask yourself, "Whats a good enough thing I can do?" What option will lead to good enough results most of the time? I think that takes an enormous amount of pressure off. Theres no guarantee that you wont make mistakes. We live in an uncertain world. But its a lot easier to find good enough than it is to find best. Researchers have discovered two peanut allergy treatments for children that are both highly effective at inducing remission. The research, led by the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI), found the treatments a combination of a probiotic together with oral immunotherapy (the gradual introduction of the allergenic food) and oral immunotherapy alone significantly induced remission and desensitization. About half of the children achieved remission, allowing them to stop treatment and safely eat peanut freely. Both treatments also provided substantial improvement in quality of life compared with current standard care. The randomized controlled trial conducted at The Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, Perth Children's Hospital, and the Women's and Children's Hospital in Adelaide involved 201 children aged between 1-10 years. The trial was staged over four years, with participants followed up to 12-months post-treatment. The team led by MCRI Professor Mimi Tang had previously shown that the combination treatment resulted in 74 per cent achieving remission after 18 months of treatment, and 70 per cent of those initial responders remained in remission and were eating peanut safely four years later. The next step was to test whether adding a probiotic gave a benefit over and above oral immunotherapy on its own and to compare long-term outcomes following treatment. The new research, published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, found after 18 months of treatment, 46 per cent and 51 per cent of children who received the combination treatment or the oral immunotherapy alone, respectively, were in clinical remission compared to 5 per cent in the placebo group. The children who reached clinical remission were able to stop treatment and eat around a standard serve of peanut freely. Both treatments also led to a significant improvement in quality of life, with those children who achieved clinical remission experiencing the biggest improvement, greater than those who only achieved desensitization. The results show that high dose peanut oral immunotherapy provides meaningful benefit to treated children. After 18 months of treatment, 74 per cent of children who received the oral immunotherapy tolerated roughly a standard serve of peanut, equal to a snack pack of peanut M&Ms, 51 per cent achieved clinical remission and were able to stop treatment altogether, while the remaining 24 per cent were desensitized to this amount of peanut. Addition of a probiotic did not significantly improve effectiveness compared to oral immunotherapy, however it appeared to enhance tolerability of the treatment, with fewer gastrointestinal symptoms, especially in children between one and five years of age." Mimi Tang, MCRI Professor The results also showed that treatment with oral immunotherapy, with or without a probiotic for childhood peanut allergy, provides a significant and substantial improvement in quality of life compared with current standard care, which is peanut avoidance. MCRI Dr Paxton Loke said remarkably 99 per cent of children who achieved remission and ceased treatment were eating peanut as frequently as they liked in the 12 months after stopping treatment. "Children who were in clinical remission had fewer reactions to peanut compared with those who were just desensitized," he said. "Being desensitized still requires continued daily treatment and allergen avoidance so remission appears to be a better outcome for children. Importantly, children in remission had a significantly improved quality of life compared with allergic children, suggesting that no longer having to avoid peanut provides greater benefit than continued allergen avoidance despite the risk of a possible reaction." The peanut oral immunotherapy approach used in the trial applies a proprietary high dose, rapid escalation regimen that is being developed by Prota Therapeutics as a lead candidate for the treatment of peanut allergy, PRT120. Prota Therapeutics is an Australian biotech company, focused on bringing its allergy immunotherapy treatment for children with life-threatening peanut allergies to market. Melbourne's Kate Lawlor's son Declan, 9, who took part in the trial, is now in clinical remission and eats peanuts weekly. Declan was diagnosed with a peanut allergy at age four after having a reaction to peanut butter. Kate said it was a huge relief that her son could now eat peanut freely without fear of a reaction or having to avoid the nut for the rest of his life. "Having a child with a food allergy is quite stressful," she said. In the home you can control the environment around food but school, play dates and birthday parties are largely out of your hands." "With Declan now in remission a lot of anxiety has been lifted and he is enjoying eating peanut chocolate M&Ms. He sees this as a real treat and looks forward to eating them every week." Peanut allergies are the most common cause of severe allergic reactions, called anaphylaxis, and one of the most frequent causes of death from food allergy. About 3 per cent of babies have a peanut allergy. "As there is currently no cure, patients must adhere to strict allergen avoidance, which leads to psychological distress and reduced quality of life," Professor Tang said. "There is a need for disease modifying therapies that improve health and well-being and both the combination and standalone immunotherapy treatments provided a meaningful benefit. The combination therapy in particular could offer a safe and well tolerated approach to inducing clinical remission in young pre-school children with peanut allergies. Starting treatment early seems to increase the chances of achieving remission and pre-school children are especially vulnerable, so a treatment that causes fewer side effects brings an important advantage." Researchers from The Royal Children's Hospital, Monash Children's Hospital, University of Melbourne, University of Adelaide, Women's and Children's Hospital in Adelaide, Perth Children's Hospital, The University of Western Australia, Telethon Kids Institute, Monash University and University College Cork in Ireland also contributed to the study. In a recent study posted to the bioRxiv* pre-print server, a team of researchers demonstrated that ubiquitin-specific peptidase 22 (USP22) is a crucial regulator of basal interferon (IFN) signaling in native human intestinal epithelial cells (hIECs). Innate immunity components, such as pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and interferon (IFN) signaling, are closely regulated by deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs), like USP22, that take over the host ubiquitin machinery. The cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes protein (STING) is a PPR and a sensor for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection that mediates the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines during the infection. Upon activation, STING activates interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) and IFNs, leading to the initiation of antiviral and inflammatory transcriptional programs. Amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, it is of utmost relevance to identify host factors that control SARS-CoV-2 infection. Although USP22 has been associated with IFN signaling and ISG expression upon viral infections, the mechanisms underlying USP22 priming of PRRs and IFN signaling in native, uninfected environments remain unknown. Study: USP22 controls type III interferon signaling and SARS-CoV-2 infection through activation of STING. Image Credit: Juan Gaertner / Shutterstock About the study In the present study, researchers studied how the prolonged expression of low basal levels of type I and III IFNs primes host responses against SARS-CoV-2 in hIECs. It is worth noting here that the expression of IFN-specific receptors is restricted by cell type and determines IFN responses. The researchers performed gene-set enrichment analysis on USP22-regulated genes to investigate if gene ontology (GO) sets specifically regulate USP22. They used quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to validate the USP22-regulated changes in gene expression. Wild-type (WT), non-human target cells (NHT) CRISPR/Cas9 control Caco-2 cells and USP22 knockout (KO) Caco-2 cells were subjected to infection with SARS-CoV-2 particles at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 1 to test the functional relevance of the increased antiviral signaling upon loss of USP22 expression. Infected Caco-2 cells, fixed at 24 hours post-infection (hpi), were subjected to quantification of SARS-CoV-2 replication via immunofluorescence to recognize SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein. Profiling USP22-mediated gene expression in HT-29 hIECs. A. Volcano plot showing the differential gene expression patterns of two independent single-cell HT-29 USP22 CRISPR/Cas9 KO clones (#16 and #62) compared to CRISPR/Cas9 control (NHT) HT-29 cells. Color code represents the log2 foldchange compared to NHT. B. Heatmap of the top-50 differentially regulated genes between HT-29 USP22 KO single clones #16 and #62 and the NHT control. Color coding represents the row-wise scaled (Z-score) RNA intensities. Genes are sorted according to their log2 fold change, compared to NHT. C. Basal mRNA expression levels of the indicated genes were determined in control and two independent USP22 KO HT-29 single clones using qRT-PCR. Gene expression was normalized against 28S mRNA and is presented as x-fold mRNA expression compared to NHT. Mean and SD of three independent experiments in triplicate are shown. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001. Study findings USP22-mediated gene expression profiling in hIECs (cell line HT-29) identified transcriptional and extranuclear targets for USP22. The quantification of alterations in gene expression in two independent HT-29 USP22 KO single-cell clones revealed a marked alteration in gene expression, with 401 genes up-regulated and 182 down-regulated. The differential regulation of gene expression, as well as loss of USP22 expression, was also demonstrated by qRT-PCR of the USP22-dependent up and down-regulated genes, confirming the quality of the microarray. GO analysis revealed an enrichment of genes linked to type I and II IFN signaling. Compared to control NHT HT-29 cells, in KO HT-29 cells, USP22 regulated viral genome replication and several other viral processes, such as the IFN-, and IFN- mediated signaling pathways. The GO terms of strongly downregulated genes were enriched in mitochondrial translation and gene expression. In addition, the GO analysis showed processing of transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA), ribosomal RNA (rRNA), and non-coding RNA (ncRNA). qRT-PCR confirmed that the expression of several ISGs increased in two independent HT-29 USP22 KO clones, including BST2, PARP9, USP18, OAS3, IFIT1, IRF9, ISG15, OAS2, IFI27, and IFI6. In addition, loss of USP22 increased protein expression of MX1, IRF9, ISG56, and ISG20, suggesting that USP22 controls the expression of IFN signaling and viral defense genes, even in the absence of exogenous IFN stimulation or virus infection. The immunofluorescence results showed that USP22-deficient cells displayed a substantial decrease in SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to infected control cells. Notably, USP22-deficient Caco-2 cells also expressed higher levels of IFN-1, compared to control cells, whereas their IFN- and IFN- expression remained unaltered. Together, these findings indicated that USP22 controls SARS-CoV-2 infection, replication, and the generation of de novo infectious SARS-CoV-2 particles, partially through STING, a mediator of IFN-1 production in HT-29 cells. Conclusions Cellular functions of USP22 in viral infections, interferon signaling, USP22 interactions, and USP22-mediated ubiquitination have been studied previously. According to the authors, the current study is the first study to depict the basal functions of USP22 in the regulation of ISG expression and STAT signaling in native hIECs. These findings have important implications for SARS-CoV-2 infections. They identified USP22 as a negative regulator of type III IFN secretion in basal settings in the absence of exogenous IFNs or viral infection. In addition, it revealed that USP22 regulated both basal and 23-cGAMP induced STING ubiquitination and activation. However, it remains undetermined why USP22 alters a significant fraction of IFN-unrelated genes while the expression of other genes is not altered upon the loss of USP22 expression. *Important Notice bioRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information. Jeffersonville, IN (47130) Today A mix of clouds and sun. High 79F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies with periods of rain late. Low 63F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. Jeffersonville, IN (47130) Today A mix of clouds and sun. High near 80F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Cloudy skies with periods of rain late. Low 63F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. (Newser) Update: A man who pleaded no contest last year in the killing of his 14-year-old daughter in 1989 was sentenced to 35 to 50 years in prison for the crime, reports the AP. Dennis Bowman, who was already serving two life sentences for the rape and murder of another woman in 1980, told police the Michigan teen died when he pushed her down a set of stairs after she threatened to report that he molested her. Our original story on the case, which Aundria's biological mother helped crack, follows from September 2021: In one sense, it's a crime story with a familiar ring: DNA evidence results in charges in a decades-old killing. In this case, 72-year-old Dennis Bowman of Holland, Michigan, will go on trial in January in the death of a 14-year-old girl who disappeared in 1989. But the story by Nile Cappello in Atavist magazine takes one twist after another. For one thing, the girl who was killed was Aundria Bowman, who was adopted as an infant by Bowman and his wife. For another, one of the amateur sleuths who took up the case to figure out what happened was Aundria's biological mother, Cathy Terkanian. In 2010the first time she learned of her daughter's disappearanceshe teamed up with Carl Koppelman, another amateur sleuth who had stumbled upon Aundria's case. It didn't take long for the pair to zero in on Dennis Bowman as a suspect. Before Aundria disappeared, he already had a criminal record of sexual assault against young women. They also discovered that Aundria had told friends and even school officials that Dennis Bowman had been sexually assaulting her. Police were interested but said they never had enough evidence. The break in the case came, incredibly, when he was arrested and charged with the rape and murder of yet another woman, one who was killed nine years before Aundria disappeared. As it turns out, police had his DNA evidence on file because he had come into the station to complain that Terkanian was harassing him, and a detective kept his water bottle. In custody, he confessed to killing Aundria and burying her body under a concrete slab in their yard, though he maintains the death was accidental. Prosecutors don't believe that. (Read the full story.) (Newser) Lawyer Jerry Buting defended Steven Avery on Netflix's Making a Murderer. Now he and wife Kathleen Stilling, also an attorney, have taken on the case of a Wisconsin man convicted of murdering his wife. As CBS News' 48 Hours reports, "They insist this isn't a murder mystery. It's an old-fashioned love story that ended in a tragic accident." Todd and Barbara Kendhammer met as teens and had been married for 25 years when Barbara died; by all accounts Todd adored his wife. On the morning of Sept. 16, 2016, Todd set out to drive Barbara to work. Minutes later, at 8:05am, he called 911. He told police a pipe flew off a truck, came through the windshield, and hit Barbara. She was declared brain dead the next day. Police were immediately skeptical of Todd's story, and 48 Hours details their suspicions. Police say Todd had bloody knuckles and apparent scratch marks on his neck at the scene; he was driving in a direction opposite from Barbara's work; Barbara hadn't made her regular morning call to her mom or called work to say she'd be arriving after 8am as scheduled; surveillance video seems to show the Kendhammer car but no truck. And then there was the autopsy, which turned up three lacerations on the back of her head. Prosecutor Tim Gruenke believes Todd damaged the windshield himself with the 53-inch pipe after killing Barbara. The couple's two children argue the prosecution's timelinethat Todd killed his wife and staged the scene in five minutesisn't plausible. Todd was arrested three months later, found guilty of first-degree intentional homicide in 2017, and given a life sentence. His children engaged Buting and Stilling to challenge the conviction and managed to secure an evidentiary hearing; a judge will rule in the coming months on whether Todd should get a new trial. (Read the full story for much more.) (Newser) The first of 1,700 US service members to arrive in Poland from Fort Bragg landed Sunday, about 56 miles from the Ukraine border. A C-17 and several other planes delivered troops and equipment, Reuters reports, as well as Army Maj. Gen. Christopher Donahue, commanding general of the 82nd Airborne Division, at a time when tension remains high over the Russian buildup on its border with Ukraine. "Our national contribution here in Poland shows our solidarity with all of our allies here in Europe," Donahue said. President Biden announced last week that he was sending troops to Poland and Germany. The flights brought a few dozen troops to Rzeszow-Jasionka airport, per the AP, in the first of the deployments in support of NATO allies. "More planes will be landing in the coming hours," Poland's defense minister said Sunday. "The soldiers will operate in the southeastern part of our country." Mariusz Blaszczak welcomed the US action, saying, "Deterrence and solidarity are the best response to Moscow's aggressive policy, to the aggressive attempt at reconstructing the Russian empire." The US has had about 4,000 troops in Poland since 2017 in response to the increase in Russian military activity. (Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.) (Newser) As protests spread across Canada, a state of emergency has been declared in Ottawa, where they started. The police chief in the capital city described it as being under "siege" Saturday, and by Sunday, the mayor had declared it "the most serious emergency our city has ever faced" and was calling for outside help. But Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has so far ruled out calling in the military, the New York Times reports. "We do not have sufficient resources to adequately and effectively address this situation" as well as everyday police matters, Ottawa's police chief said Saturday. Businesses have been forced to close amid the protests, monuments have been desecrated, and a city councilor says hundreds of people have told her they're getting yelled at, harassed, or followed when they leave their house to run errands. The chair of Ottawa's police services board says what's happening there is part of a "nationwide insurrection," and some are seeing parallels to the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. Ottawa's police chief says "a significant element from the United States" is helping with funding and organization of the protests; former President Trump himself is among those praising the truckers who started it all. While the "Freedom Convoy" of truckers that descended on Ottawa is protesting the country's COVID-19 requirements, including a vaccine mandate for truckers crossing the border from the US, the protests happening in Toronto, Quebec City, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, British Columbia, and elsewhere encompass issues from COVID measures to unhappiness with Trudeau's leadership to the balance between free speech and police maintaining order. But Trudeau has said relatively little on the matter, Politico reports, and he continues to insist a "fringe minority" is to blame; he has said nothing at all on the issue since Thursday, even while releasing statements on other matters. He continues to isolate in an unknown location after testing positive for COVID. As for Trump, he released a statement Friday saying the convoy "is peacefully protesting the harsh policies of far left lunatic Justin Trudeau who has destroyed Canada with insane COVID mandates." In the same statement, he accused "Facebook and Big Tech" of trying to silence the truckers by canceling their accounts; he also called out GoFundMe for canceling crowdfunding for the truckers and refunding donors. He suggested a similar convoy could descend on Washington, DC, and called for likeminded truckers to use his own upcoming social networkthe release of which was recently delayed, per the Washington Examiner. (Read more Canada stories.) TEHRAN, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman said Monday that the Islamic republic is waiting for the United States to take "practical" steps in line with the removal of anti-Iran sanctions and the restoration of 2015 nuclear deal. Saeed Khatibzadeh announced at his weekly press briefing the return of Iranian nuclear negotiating delegation to the Austrian capital of Vienna on Tuesday, who were in Tehran for "necessary consultations." "All delegations are expected to return to Vienna tomorrow," Saeed Khatibzadeh said, adding that "it is natural that Iran expects necessary decisions to be made in Washington." "The issue of lifting sanctions and the economic dimension of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) are key issues, and Iran's line (of negotiations) is in the field of lifting sanctions," he said. The Iranian spokesman asked the U.S. delegation to return to Vienna "with clear agenda" in the field of lifting the sanctions. "What is heard about positive talks and expectations should be put into action," he noted. "Iran is seeking a good and credible agreement," he said, stressing that the U.S. officials should "pay the price for (the restoration of) the JCPOA and violation of the (UN Security Council) resolution 2231." In the meantime, Khatibzadeh urged the European members of the JCPOA for a response to "the inaction and inconstancy" of the United States in regard to its commitments. The Vienna talks, which were basically initiated about 10 months ago to restore the JCPOA after the withdrawal of former U.S. president in 2018, have now reached a crucial stretch requiring political decisions of the parties involved. Iran insists on removal of all the U.S. sanctions, a mechanism for verification of the embargo removals and guarantees from Washington that it will remain committed to its undertakings in case a deal is reached. (Newser) Nearly two months after a lawsuit was filed accusing Oxford High School officials of failing to heed warnings of the school shooting that ultimately took the lives of four students on Nov. 30, the Michigan school district has issued its first formal response. "Defendants deny that they breached any duties and, further, deny that they were negligent in any manner," the district's attorney said in a court filing Friday cited by the Detroit Free Press. Officials "strictly observed all legal duties and obligations" and were "careful, prudent, proper and lawful," he writes. They are also immune from liability because they were performing "governmental functions," he claims. According to the lawsuit, the accused mass shooter was caught searching for ammunition on his phone during class the day before the shooting, and the following day made a violent drawing, including a gun and the words "The thoughts won't stop. Help me," on a test review sheet, Fox 2 Detroit reports. Despite that, he was allowed to return to class after he and his parents were called to the office over the drawing, and no one searched his backpackwhich held the gun used hours later in the shooting, police say. The lawsuit argues he should have been removed from school premises. But the district's lawyer argues that the harm caused to students was carried out only by the suspect, not the school. (More on the lawsuit here.) (Newser) Update: Former President Trump's apparent mishandling of his administration's records could be the subject of a federal investigation. Sources tell the Washington Post that the National Archives has asked the Justice Department to look into whether federal law was violated. Archives officials say 15 boxes of Trump administration records have been recovered from his Mar-a-Lago estate and there could be more to come. Anne Weismann, chief counsel for the Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility group, tells the Post that while other administrations have mishandled records and the relevant statute may be "essentially not enforceable," it would set a bad precedent if there was no investigation of such "flagrant" violations of federal records laws. Our story from Monday follows: It's probably a safe bet that Donald Trump is the least favorite president of employees at the National Archives, for reasons that have nothing to do with politics. Last week, it emerged that Trump was causing headaches because of his long-standing habit of ripping up paper records, which then had to be taped backed together for posterity. Now, the Washington Post reports on a new issue: The Archives had to take the unprecedented step of retrieving multiple boxes of records Trump took with him to Mar-a-Lago after leaving the White House. The boxes included letters Trump exchanged with North Korea's Kim Jong Un"we fell in love," Trump memorably said at the timeas well as a letter left for Trump by predecessor Barack Obama. The Post quotes Trump advisers as saying that no sinister motives were behind the decision to keep the boxes. But the newspaper frames it as another example of how Trump flouts the Presidential Records Actwhich requires that presidential documents be turned over to the Archivesto a degree none of his predecessors reached. The boxes were retrieved last month after months of negotiations with Trump's attorneys. (Read more Donald Trump stories.) (Newser) Will Russia invade Ukraine and set off what could become the biggest land war in Europe since World War II? The answer might well depend on talks that take place this week with French President Emmanuel Macron as the focal point. Macron meets with Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday and with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Tuesday. Coverage: Macron's clout: The French leader has emerged as a key figure in the standoff, with the Wall Street Journal describing him as "filling a leadership void in Europe" since the retirement of Germany's Angela Merkel. The French leader has emerged as a key figure in the standoff, with the Wall Street Journal describing him as "filling a leadership void in Europe" since the retirement of Germany's Angela Merkel. 'Putin whisperer': An analysis at CNN goes further, suggesting that Macron has replaced Merkel as the world's "Putin whisperer." The Russian leader appears to like and respect Macrondescribing him as a "quality interlocutor," per the New York Timesand they have spoken by phone five times since mid-December. Macron's view: The French leader has been pushing for Europe to have a more independent voice when it comes to such disputes, rather than relying on US-dominated NATO, per CNBC. He "wants to show European leadershipinstead of kowtowing to the USas he campaigns for reelection," according to analysts quoted in the piece. Still, Macron, who's up for reelection in April, spoke with President Biden on Sunday. The French leader has been pushing for Europe to have a more independent voice when it comes to such disputes, rather than relying on US-dominated NATO, per CNBC. He "wants to show European leadershipinstead of kowtowing to the USas he campaigns for reelection," according to analysts quoted in the piece. Still, Macron, who's up for reelection in April, spoke with President Biden on Sunday. The talks: Macron sees hope for his Russian diplomacy, notes the BBC. "We will discuss the terms to de-escalate," he told a French outlet ahead of the trip, per CNBC. "One has to be realistic. We will not achieve unilateral gestures, but it is indispensable to avoid a degradation of the situation before we build mechanisms and gestures of reciprocal trust." Putin's spokesman put it this way, per the Times: "Of course, the situation is too complicated to expect some breakthroughs as a result of just one meeting. But we know, and Macron told Putin that he will bring some ideas that could help de-escalate tensions, and that he plans to share these ideas." Macron sees hope for his Russian diplomacy, notes the BBC. "We will discuss the terms to de-escalate," he told a French outlet ahead of the trip, per CNBC. "One has to be realistic. We will not achieve unilateral gestures, but it is indispensable to avoid a degradation of the situation before we build mechanisms and gestures of reciprocal trust." Putin's spokesman put it this way, per the Times: "Of course, the situation is too complicated to expect some breakthroughs as a result of just one meeting. But we know, and Macron told Putin that he will bring some ideas that could help de-escalate tensions, and that he plans to share these ideas." A worry: "There's always been a lingering suspicion that France plays solo, and may be too prone to concessions to Russia," French political scientist Bruno Tertrais tells the Journal. (Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.) (Newser) New Jersey is dropping its requirement that students and staffers wear masks at schools, reports NJ.com. The news was seen as significant because Gov. Phil Murphy is a Democrat "who has imposed some of the nations most stringent pandemic-related mandates," per the New York Times. The mandate will be lifted the second week of March, though local districts will have the authority to reimpose the rule if they deem it necessary. Delaware, led by Democratic Gov. John Carney, also is lifting its mask mandate for schools, effective next week, reports CNN. Both states are acting as new COVID cases plummet in the wake of the omicron surge. Pennsylvania already rescinded its school mandate, and New York and Connecticut are considering doing the same. All are led by Democratic governors. Many Republican governors never instituted such mandates in the first place, and the issue has set off divisive fights in school districts and in courtrooms. But with cases on the decline, more Democratic governors say the timing is right to join in dropping the mandates. "The overwhelming sentiment on both sides of the aisle is we want to get to a place where we can live with this thing in as normal a fashion as possible," said Murphy last week. Carney similarly summed up the sentiment: "I want to be clear about this pointCOVID is still circulating in our communities," he tells CNN. "And the virus still poses a risk of serious illness, particularly among those who are not up to date on their vaccinations. But we have the tools to keep ourselves and each other safe." (Read more mask mandates stories.) (Newser) Just six months after he announced his resignation amid a sexual harassment scandal, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo claims he's been "vindicated"and he isn't ruling out another run for office. "I never resigned because I said I did something wrong. I said, Im resigning because I dont want to be a distraction," the Democrat tells Bloomberg. He says, however, that before he can talk about his political future, he wants to deal with what he calls "prosecutorial misconduct" by state attorney general Letitia James, whose office determined last year that Cuomo had sexually harassed 11 women and retaliated against at least one of them for coming forward. Multiple district attorneys have decided against trying to prosecute Cuomo, saying that while they find the accusations credible, they have insufficient legal grounds to bring charges. Cuomo argues that this means the allegations were "bogus," despite prosecutors' statements to the contrary. "It turns out in a remarkably short period of time that it did become all bogus. Eleven became zero, he tells Bloomberg. "If you do an honest summary, which is what I get from people on the street, I have been vindicated." He has claimed James' investigation was politically motivated. The 64-year-old was never impeached, meaning he could still run for office again. Sources tell the Wall Street Journal that Cuomowho had lunch with New York City Mayor Eric Adams last weekis working on raising his profile and might be considering running against James for attorney general, though a spokesman for the former governor dismisses that as a "silly rumor." James ended her run for governor in December, saying she has important investigations to continue. A spokesperson for the AG rebutted the "baseless attacks" from Cuomo. "Only he is to blame for inappropriately touching his own staff and then quitting so he didnt have to face impeachment," the spokesperson said, describing Cuomo as a "serial sexual harasser." (Read more Andrew Cuomo stories.) (Newser) The body overseeing Berlin's museums will hand over Hawaiian ancestral remains collected by a German naturalist in the 19th century to authorities in Hawaii. The Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation said Monday that the remains of 32 individuals, known as "iwi kupuna," will be handed over Friday to a representative of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, a semi-autonomous state agency directed by Native Hawaiians, the AP reports. "Human remains from colonial contexts have no place in our museums and universities," Germany's culture minister, Claudia Roth, said a statement. "Their return must be a priority." The remains were part of collections that the heritage foundation took over from Berlin's Charite hospital in 2011 and whose provenance it is researching. The foundation said the bones were acquired by collector and naturalist Hermann Otto Finsch around 1880 during a voyage to the South Pacific and were sent to Berlin. Most of the bones are probably several hundred years old and were collected from a beach at Waimanalo on Oahu island. Two more skulls came from a place in Hawaii that can't be identified precisely, the foundation said. Discussions about repatriating the remains had been ongoing since 2017. The German foundation has said it will return human remains from "colonial contexts" if the countries and groups they come from are known and their return is desired. In addition to the human remains, the Berlin foundation plans to return to Hawaii this year funerary items that were removed from burial caves around 1885. (Read more Hawaii stories.) Note: Several of the ladies mentioned in the article are still here today being among the eternal residents of the Clay St. Cemetery, which is our oldest historical landmark within the city of Fairbanks. The next time you have a few minutes on a nice day, stop in there and pay your respects to these valiant ladies and the other remarkable founders of our great river city! This history nugget has been proudly brought to you by the Fairbanks Igloos of the Pioneers of Alaska, who would like to remind you that more history nuggets are available on our website at pioneersofalaskafairbanks.org. Editors Note: The News-Miner acknowledges language in this article sample from 1913 is no longer acceptable. As an institution we are glad to evolve with society regarding race and racial issues; however, we wanted to present the historically accurate sample with the language unchanged. Since the late 1970s, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute has provided this column free in cooperation with the UAF research community. Ned Rozell is a science writer for the Geophysical Institute. RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of Brazilian migrants deported by the United States pointed to the appalling treatment they suffered both during their detention and on their return journey, local news site G1 reported Saturday. The deportees had been handcuffed on the plane back to Brazil, and their luggage confiscated by the U.S. authorities, according to the statements collected by the news site of several of the 187 deportees who arrived Saturday at the Belo Horizonte Airport from the city of El Paso, Texas. When they arrived, they were given a plastic bag with water and food at the airport, the report said, adding they had not received any food or drink before their arrival. "We spent 10 days without showering or brushing our teeth. My wife would cry with my two-year-old son," a 27-year-old man said. "The children were vomiting, they only received apples, juice and burritos. There was pasta and all that made them sick," said a man, who would have had to pay 90,000 reais (about 16,800 U.S. dollars) to a smuggler if he had managed to stay in the United States. Since 2019, more than 3,000 Brazilians living illegally in the United States have been deported on 54 flights after the government of Jair Bolsonaro again began to accept deportation flights. Brazil refused to receive the flights between 2006 and 2019. Taiwan will announce a series of measures Tuesday to regulate imports of food and agricultural products from areas affected by the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, in effect ending an 11-year ban that has long been criticized by Japan. Presidential spokesman Xavier Chang () said the government will make adjustments to the decade-long ban but will still safeguard the health of Taiwanese by "adopting science-based border inspection measures that are stricter than current standards used by the international community," without elaborating. More details on the proposed regulations will be announced at a press conference Tuesday to be held at the Executive Yuan, he said. For food safety reasons, Taiwan's then-Kuomintang (KMT) government banned the imports of food and agricultural products from areas near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant after several reactors melted down following a massive earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011. The meltdowns released radioactive substances, leading to the ban covering Fukushima, Ibaraki, Gunma, Tochigi, and Chiba prefectures. It further tightened restrictions in 2015, when products from those prefectures were discovered on store shelves in Taiwan, drawing strong criticism from the Japanese government, which had been pushing Taiwan to lift the ban. DANBURY The population growth the city has seen over the last 10 years could reshape the local ward where some residents live. As mandated by City Charter every 10 years, a committee has formed to redraw the maps for the seven City Council wards a process that could turn into a partisan battle for control over City Council. They must keep each wards population relatively even, while keeping neighborhoods intact. The underlying concept to this whole redistricting, at least in my opinion, is to underscore the importance of that one person, one vote concept, said Duane Perkins, a Democrat and 5th Ward council member on the committee. The difficulty may lie in determining the most efficient way to proceed with this process. Itll also provide greater insight into the areas of the city that have seen the most growth over the decade. The so-called reapportionment will be based on the latest numbers from the 2020 census, which showed Danburys population grew 7 percent to about 86,500 since 2010. The area that could see the biggest change is the 6th Ward, which includes parts of the west side. That section of the city has seen the greatest commercial and residential development, including the Reserve, the Summit, and the upcoming rehabilitation hospital and Danbury Proton cancer therapy center. The city is bulging in different directions, but the major direction its bulging in is the 6th Ward, said Paul Rotello, Democratic minority leader who represents that ward, which he said is as big as New Fairfield and Sherman combined. Parts of the 6th Ward will likely be moved to the neighboring wards, officials said. I don't see any wards that have shrunk in size to tell you the truth, Mayor Dean Esposito said. Danbury is the shining start in Connecticut and we continue to grow. The committee must present a plan by September to City Council, which must adopt a new map by March 2023. Its likely all wards will see their population rise. I would be surprised to see any ward go down in population, said Vinny DiGilio, a Republican and City Council president. I would just be curious to see the distribution among the wards and how thats changed over 10 years. DiGilio represents the 2nd Ward, which he expects has grown, but not by as much as other areas that have seen high density development. Theres probably more potential for the 2nd Ward to absorb some growth from neighboring wards, versus give up some of its space, he said. How lines are drawn City Councils majority and minority leaders have already selected two Republicans and two Democrats who will serve on the committee that will redraw the map. Those four members must appoint a fifth member a task that has been historically difficult due to partisan gridlock, officials said. If they cant agree on a fifth member, the Republican-led City Council would pick. The Republicans on the committee are a former council member and the chairman of the Republican Town Committee, who sat on the reapportionment committee in 2010. The Democrats are council members who represent the 5th and 6th Wards, which could see the most change. Danburys wards are shaped like pies, albeit slightly odd-looking ones. The idea is that each ward has a part of the urban downtown area and then spreads out into the suburbs, so that the council members represent a cross section of the population, said Warren Levy, the Republican majority leader on the council. Levy had been on the committee when members had the tedious and challenging task of redrawing the maps by hand, rather than using software now available. Esposito said he was not aware of the city purchasing any new software for the reapportionment, but that he expects itll be available. Ward lines are based on population and the U.S. census blocks, not on the number of voters or members of a particular party. The lines may be shifted to keep the population of each ward fairly even. Think of it in terms of a clock, Levy said. You have to move the whole clock to get it balanced. The committee will look at the census blocks and use roads for boundaries, said Ben Chianese, a Democrat and the 6th Ward council member on the committee. Its really on the borders of the wards that are where were going to see the biggest impacts, he said. Some roads straddle two wards. On Southern Boulevard, for example, one side of the road is in the 5th Ward, while the other is in the 6th Ward, Chianese said. You really want to avoid that if you can, he said. Keeping neighborhoods together The committee will need to look at more than just math. The idea here is to make an apolitical boundary as to recognize neighborhoods and geographic boundaries, versus political ones and to keep the strength of Danbury, which is where representatives manage a section of the city that includes people in all walks of life, Rotello said. Republican Mike Safranek, who will sit on the committee, said he wants to consider the state legislative districts, too. Some state districts only include a small portion of a certain ward, which means the registrars need to set up ballots for only a few hundred voters at one location. I want to try to clean up those little things first, he said. With so much development in and around the 6th Ward, it could be difficult to move the map around, Rotello said. For example, the proposed WestConn park development, which includes 200 apartments, is in the 7th Ward, but on the edge of the sixth. The subdivision known as the Reserve could need to be broken up, which Rotello said would be unfortunate because its been helpful for all those residents to have the same representatives. The problem with that is its so freaking big and theres so many people in it, its almost a ward unto itself, he said. Politics Just like at the federal and state level, the process runs the risk of political maneuverings. We did this 10 years ago, and it was completely 100 percent political, Rotello said. The first draft coming out of there was so political we looked at it and laughed at it. But the committee members said they wont gerrymander the wards. I want to do whats best for Danbury, said Safranek, chairman of the Republican Town Committee, who was on the committee in 2010. In all the wards, unaffiliated voters make of the greatest number of voters. Democrats also outnumber Republicans in all wards, according to data from the registrar of voters. However, Republicans dominate the council 14-7, holding all the at-large seats and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd wards. Democrats hold the 4th, 5th and 6th wards. The parties split the 7th Ward. It needs to be fair and balanced, Chianese said. Thats the approach you need to take at it. Youve got to leave the politics at the door. Its for the betterment of the city. He lives on the edge of the 6th Ward, so he could get moved out of the ward he represents. Do I vote myself out of the ward? he asked. If its in the best interest of the city, yes I will. SAN DIEGO, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- San Diego Zoo Safari Park on Saturday kicked off its first Chinese New Year celebration in its 50-year-long history. During the two-day celebration of the Year of the Tiger, a Chinese zodiac animal, guests can discover such activities as Chinese New Year good fortunes, Asian-inspired food, engaging experiences with wildlife care specialists and adorable animals in the park. Guests are also invited to tie red ribbons written with their wishes to the trees in the park's Tiger Trail and will receive red envelopes and small gifts from the Consulate General of China in Los Angeles, including souvenirs of the Beijing Olympic Winter Games. Located in the city of Escondido in the U.S. state of California, the 1,800-acre wildlife park, home to more than 3,600 animals representing over 300 species, welcomes more than 1 million guests each year. A Chinese New Year celebration is also being held in its sister park, the San Diego Zoo. Sending his greetings to those celebrating the arrival of the Chinese New Year, Paul Baribault, president and CEO of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, operator of the parks, said during the launching ceremony that the wishing trees will be planted in Tiger Trail and "marked with a commemorative plaque honoring this day and our long-term friendship with our Chinese conservation partners." "May these trees tell a story of our collective power to create positive change, forge lasting friendships, and recognize the beauty in the diversity of our world," he said. Baribault praised the joint efforts by the alliance and its Chinese partners in contributing to breeding and protecting giant pandas. In 1996, a female panda named Bai Yun, meaning white cloud in Chinese, arrived at the San Diego Zoo and soon gained in popularity. In 2019, she and her sixth cub Xiao Liwu, meaning a small gift in Chinese, returned to China. Chinese Consul General in Los Angeles Zhang Ping, who also attended the launching ceremony, thanked the alliance for holding the Chinese New Year celebration, saying it enables the public to feel the strength and vitality of the real tigers in close range, and better understand the symbolic meaning that the Year of the Tiger carries. "As the Beijing Winter Olympics motto goes, 'Together for a Shared Future,' we hope our two peoples will come together and work together to build a better future for the world," he added. Due to expected inclement weather Monday afternoon, some Danbury area schools have announced early dismissals. Consolidated School and Meeting House Hill School in New Fairfield will dismiss at 12:35 p.m. The Sherman School, including its preschool, will dismiss at 12:30 p.m. Hill And Plain and Northville Elementary School in New Milford, and Sarah Noble Intermediate School in New Milford, will dismiss at 1 p.m. Region 12 elementary schools Booth Free, Washington Primary, and Burnham are dismissing at 12:45 p.m. Region 12 serves students in Washington, Roxbury and Bridgewater. According to the National Weather Service, rain or freezing rain is likely, becoming all rain after 2 p.m. The chance of precipitation is 70 percent. There is little or no ice accumulation expected. On Monday night, there is a chance of rain before midnight, then a chance of rain, snow, and freezing rain between midnight and 4 a.m., the weather service said. The hashtag #BoycottHyundai trended on Twitter in India on Sunday, with many individuals requesting that the company's products not be purchased in the nation. Hyundai, the second-largest car manufacturer in India, has received harsh criticism when a Hyundai dealer in Pakistan posted a message on the companys official Twitter and Facebook accounts expressing solidarity with Kashmir and supporting the struggle for freedom. Kashmir Solidarity Day is an annual national holiday marked on February 5 to demonstrate sympathy for Islamic terrorists and Kashmiri separatists operating from Indian territory. Following it, Hyundai was trending on twitter for all the wrong reasons. The hashtag #BoycottHyundai trended on Twitter in India on Sunday, with many individuals requesting that the companys products not be purchased in the nation. Let us remember the sacrifices of our Kashmiri brothers and stand in support as they continue to struggle for freedom, the tweet read. According to Twitter users, an account associated to Hyundais affiliate Kia Corp. also posted identical social media messages. Meanwhile, on Monday, the original posts were pulled down. Hello @Hyundai_Global ,How come your official handle in Pak is supporting terror state Pakistans propaganda on Kashmir ?@HyundaiIndia If you cant respect sovereignty of my nation,Pack your bags and leave my country ! Friends,Keep retweeting till @Hyundai_Global apologise ! pic.twitter.com/zbtth6NklS Major Surendra Poonia (@MajorPoonia) February 6, 2022 Hyundai Motors India responded to the situation by posting a statement on social media emphasizing its commitment to the Indian market. The company stands strongly for its strong ethos of honoring nationalism, according to a social media post. Hyundai Motor Indias unsolicited social media post, according to the firm, offends their unmatched devotion and service to this great country. The companys response has been slammed by top journalists and internet users. The response from Hyundai India, according to Editorjis founder Vikram Chandra, does not make things better. Through his verified Twitter profile, IPS officer Arun Bothra claimed he was backing a boycott demand for the first time after finding no remorse in the statement. Above all this, Hyundai is now also being accused of censoring Indian netizens who urged the company to tweet in favour of India, and who questioned whether they endorsed Hyundai Pakistans post. Hyundai India went on a blocking spree after Indian Twitter users attacked the firm over the tweet by Hyundai Pakistan, according to one Twitter user who was blocked by the automaker. One tweet being critical about Hynduai and they block me @Hyundai_Global , thank you for showing how your system work. Only + feedback allowed by your system time to say #BoycottHyundai pic.twitter.com/bzR4ruj4rP Ajay Pillay (@ajaypillay06) February 6, 2022 Meanwhile, calls to boycott Hyundai India are gathering traction on social media. Several users have contacted the Prime Ministers Office and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to demand harsh action against the South Korean automaker. Earlier in the day, two persons were arrested for carrying a knife near the protesting students, said the police official. Days after protest, Hijab-wearing students at Government PU College have been allowed to enter the campus on Monday in Kundapura area of Udupi district in Karnataka. However, such students will be seated in separate classrooms, informed the school administration. The situation is under control in Kundapura, and students are being allowed to come to the colleges and the campus even if theyre wearing Hijab. There is no law and order situation in Kundapur, said ST Siddalingappa, Additional Superintendent of Police, Udupi. Students were protesting near the campus after they were allegedly denied entry for wearing Hijab into Government PU College on Friday. Earlier in the day, two persons were arrested for carrying a knife near the protesting students, said the police official. Two persons have been arrested, and three others are absconding. We are trying to trace them. One of them was in possession of a knife. They are not locals, and hail from Gangolli. They have been sent to judicial custody. The case is under investigation, said Siddalingappa. Meanwhile, classes were suspended at Shanteshwar Education Trust in Vijayapura on Monday after some students arrived on the campus wearing saffron stoles amid the ongoing Hijab row in Karnataka educational institutions. The government order to treat everyone equally is a welcome move, and thats why we came here in saffron stoles in support of our brother and sisters, said one of the students who came to the college wearing saffron stoles. Students of different colleges in Karnataka are coming to colleges wearing saffron stoles amid the ongoing Hijab row in the state. Students coming to the colleges wearing saffron stoles are protesting against those who are insisting to wear Hijab in the classrooms. The girl students wearing Hijab are continuing with their demands to be allowed to enter classrooms in Government PU College in Kundapura area of Udupi district. Earlier, students of Anmol college in Kundapura sported saffron stoles as a mark of protest against those raising demands to wear Hijab in the PU College. Students of Anmol college were allowed inside the campus on Saturday only after they removed the saffron stoles. The pre-University education board on Saturday had released a circular stating that the students can only wear the uniform approved by the school administration and no other religious practices will be allowed in colleges. (With ANI Inputs) Days after shots were fired on the vehicle of AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday urged the Lok Sabha MP to accept the Z category security cover provided to him by the central government. Shah told Parliament, The threat to Owaisi has been reassessed and a bulletproof vehicle and Z category security has been given to him. But, as per verbal information by himself, he has refused to accept it. I request him to accept the security given to him by the central government. Home Ministry took a report from the State government immediately. On basis of earlier inputs from central security agencies, the Centre had ordered to provide him security. But due to his unwillingness to avail security, Delhi and Telangana Polices efforts to provide him security did not succeed, Amit Shah said in the Rajya Sabha. Informing the House further about the investigation into the attack on All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief, the Union Home Minister said, Taking quick action two accused were arrested. Two unauthorized pistols and a car were recovered from them. The forensic team is doing a minute investigation of the car and the incident site. Evidence is being collected. Shah said that the district administration had no prior information of Owasis visit to Hapur as he did not have a prescheduled event. Two unidentified people had fired on the carcade. He came out safe but there were three bullet marks on the lower portion of his vehicle. The incident was witnessed by three witnesses. An FIR has been registered. Owaisi had no prescheduled event in Hapur district. No information about his movement was sent to District Control Room beforehand. After the incident, he reached Delhi safely, said the Union Home Minister. Notably, two men have been arrested allegedly for firing at the convoy of Asaduddin Owaisi when he was leaving Meeruts Kithoudh area for Delhi after poll campaigning on Thursday, informed Uttar Pradesh Police. The AIMIM president was in poll-bound Uttar Pradeshs Meerut for campaigning. Following the attack, the central government reviewed the security of the AIMIM chief and provided him with Z security of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) with immediate effect, said sources on Friday. Launching a scathing attack on the opposition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that assault on women was very common during the previous governments in Uttar Pradesh and pointed out that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) restored the true honour of women in the state. Addressing the Jan Chaupal rally virtually, PM Modi said, Earlier, molestation of women was very common. The situation was so bad that after incidents of chain snatching, people were thankful that they were still alive. CM Yogi Adityanaths government freed women from that fear. We gave women their true honour. Discussing the law and order situation in the state, PM Modi also stated that the criminals who went to jail under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath are waiting for the elections so that the ruling government can be changed and they can come out of prison. During CM Yogis tenure, criminals themselves ran to jails and demanded that they be locked up. They have been waiting for these elections for years. They have just one hope, that the elections come soon and there is a change of government so that they can come out of jail, he added. They are hoping for the old mafia raj government to come back. These criminals want reimbursement from the people of UP for their dacoity and loot business which is shut for the last five years, PM Modi asserted. The Prime Minister also said that the previous governments followed a model of creating trouble for every community and then covered everything in the name of sympathy. He said the governance model led by previous governments in Uttar Pradesh troubled farmers, youth, poor people, Dalits, and other sections of society. Appreciating the efforts made by the double engine government for the development of Uttar Pradesh, he said, We want that in the next 25 years, when the nation would complete 100 years of independence, UP could mark with its development story. Referring to the Adityanath government and Centre, the prime minister said, Our government is making continuous efforts to see that the businessmen, industrialists, farmers here get all possible help. Prime Minister apologized for holding Jan Chaupal rally virtually, saying that the bad weather couldnt allow his helicopter to take off for Bijnor. The polling in Uttar Pradesh will be held on February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27, and March 3 and 7 in seven phases. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. Oh, the hysteria! Connecticuts 2022 legislative session doesnt begin until Wednesday. But Greenwich voices are already crying out against anticipated housing proposals, prepared to battle legislative efforts that address land use, even if such efforts might benefit the environment, strengthen the states economy, and result in more equitable and inclusive housing. Never mind that the state enables all local zoning. Land use viewed through a statewide lens evokes an enemy and provokes a call to arms. This year, as last year, these exclusionary Greenwich voices demonize DesegregateCT, a coalition of more than 80 Connecticut organizations. Founded in June 2020 following George Floyds murder, DesegregateCT promotes racial, economic, and climate justice. A grassroots movement, not a formally incorporated entity, it has organized itself under the umbrella of the Regional Plan Association, a century-old nonprofit planning organization that serves the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut metropolitan region. As if DesegregateCT were not bogeyman enough, the Greenwich voices now extend their battle cry to affordable housing legislation in effect since 1990 that has nothing to do with DesegregateCT. Rather than only play defense and defend the status quo, state Rep. Kimberly Fiorello says in a Jan. 21 opinion piece published in Greenwich Time, I believe we should go on the offense to demand a substantial modification or repeal of the Affordable Housing Land Use Appeals Act, known as 8-30g. For 30 years, affordable housing advocates have successfully fought off efforts to repeal or weaken 8-30g. This Greenwich initiative will likely be struck down, dead on arrival. As the housing specialist for the Connecticut League of Women Voters in the 1980s, I was involved in the lobby effort supporting 8-30g, originally a Blue Ribbon Commission recommendation. This affordable housing appeals process was never intended as a requirement that every town have 10 percent of its housing affordable. Although its been interpreted that way, theres no such state mandate. This threshold was meant to exempt communities that already had a significant amount of affordable housing, particularly a concentration of low-income housing. The appeals process was designed to break through exclusionary zoning barriers that prevented affordable housing in most Connecticut municipalities. It was a market-driven approach to harness private developer funds in the service of affordable housing when public dollars were limited. More than 5,000 affordable units have been developed under 8-30g, many in municipalities that would never have otherwise had affordable housing. Many more affordable units have resulted from the 8-30g moratorium provisions, which allow municipalities a four year moratorium, renewable for another four years, during which the municipality is exempt from 8-30g while it develops affordable housing toward the exemption threshold. Greenwich currently has 34 affordable units built under 8-30g in six separate developments, with eight additional affordable units in three separate developments that are approved but not yet occupied. Greenwichs 2009 Plan of Conservation and Development found 8-30g under-utilized and recommended a legislative amendment (never pursued) that would tie income and rent limits to the area median rather than state median. Given the much higher Stamford-Norwalk area median, this would give area developers greater incentive to use 8-30g. But now that high demand and limited supply have made Greenwich housing extraordinarily expensive, 8-30g has become more attractive to developers. Given the high market rents they can charge, the affordable rents tied to the lower state median are more economically feasible. And with the sudden proliferation of 8-30g applications currently at least seven the outcry of Greenwich voices for the status quo reaches fever pitch. Fiorello advances the notion that naturally occurring affordable housing should count toward the 10 percent exemption, absurd because given the market dynamic, whats affordable in Greenwich today is inevitably unaffordable tomorrow. Tony Johnson, executive director of Greenwich Communities that administers the federal Section 8 program, confirmed that its becoming increasingly difficult for Section 8 clients to find private market rentals within the section 8 rent limits. Had Greenwich given more than lip service to 1980s affordable housing proposals inclusionary zoning, housing trust fund, systematic dedication of town-owned land for affordable housing, unrestricted accessory apartments, and support for redevelopment of Housing Authority properties the town might be exempt from 8-30g today. Will this 8-30g hysteria advance affordable housing? Or will it only amplify the exclusionary voices? Alma Rutgers served in Greenwich town government for 30 years. TEHRAN, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani said on Monday the anti-Iran sanctions re-imposed by former United States administration should be lifted in order to reach a "good agreement" in the ongoing Vienna nuclear talks. "The Iranian negotiators' agenda for continuing the eighth round of talks has been carefully specified," Shamkhani tweeted, adding "an agreement in which the 'maximum pressure' sanctions are not lifted will have an impact on the country's (Iran) economy, and cannot be the basis of a good agreement." The eighth round of Vienna talks, which had been postponed for a few days, was expected to continue in the Austrian capital of Vienna on Tuesday, according to media reports. Under the nuclear agreement reached in June 2015, Iran agreed to some restrictions on the development of its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of U.S. and Western sanctions. However, former U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the agreement in 2018, and re-imposed sanctions on Iran, after which Iran responded by abandoning some of its nuclear commitments. Since April 2021, several rounds of negotiations have been undertaken between Iran and the other parties to salvage the 2015 deal, with the U.S. indirectly involved. Theaters have faced big challenges since March 2020 in producing shows and just staying afloat. Pivoting and persevering, companies across Connecticut kept the show going. Many found new ways to connect with audiences, and this year the BroadwayWorld 2021 Connecticut Awards included recognition of productions that were presented online. The theater news website recognized ten Connecticut companies for shows that opened between October 2020 and September 2021. They are: Playhouse on Park, Pantochino Productions, Fairfield Center Stage, the Department of Theatre Arts at Western Connecticut State University, Theatre Fairfield, Elm Shakespeare Company, Windham Theatre Guild, Madison Lyric Stage, Brookfield Theatre and Connecticut Shakespeare Festival. Leading the pack with ten awards was Pantochino Productions Inc., a non-profit theater company in Milford specializing in theater for the entire family. Its show The Spongebob Musical, garnered nine out of the ten awards it received and Lets Learn Stuff was recognized in the best streaming concert/cabaret non-professional category. The Spongebob show was also named 'best musical' overall and its star Rowan Simonelli took home the 'best performer in a musical' award. Were thrilled with the continued support and enthusiasm from our audiences, sponsors, donors, volunteers, fans, family and followers, co-producer Bert Bernardi said. "'The SpongeBob Musical was an unforgettable moment for our company, our teen theater participants and their families." The Theatre Arts Department at Western Connecticut State University live-streamed its 2020 shows. The Radium Girls: A Jaw-Dropping Musical, alone fetched four awards, including awards in the non-professional category for 'best streaming musical' and 'best editing and direction of a stream.' The 'best performer in a streaming musical' award went to Alexis Reda, now a senior musical theater major from Trumbull. Reda impressed the judges so much that they invited her to perform one of her characters songs at a concert at The Green Room 42 in New York City. The award for 'Best Performer in a Streaming Play' in the non-professional category went to Chrystal Campbell for Dognap on Dekalb. The Weston resident graduated from WCSU in spring 2021 and has since signed with the talent agency CLA Partners in New York and California. Sal Trapani, a WCSU professor and director of one of the first full productions of Dognap on Dekalb, said the BroadwayWorld awards once again demonstrated the talents within WCSUs performance program. Playhouse on Park in West Hartford got awards for three shows: Kill Move Paradise, All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 and Pippin. We are so very proud of the work we produce, especially throughout the pandemic and in the new (to us) streaming format," said Tracy Flater, the theater's executive director. "It means the world that our patrons took the time to vote and acknowledge our work in this way. We are proud and grateful. Theatre Fairfields Woman and Scarecrow by Marina Carr, which was performed live and presented virtually last January, received the award for 'Best Streaming Play' in the non-professional category. This award is a great testament to the excellence of Fairfields theater students, said program director Martha S. LoMonaco. Theatre during the height of the pandemic had to be reinvented so that it could be done safely and securely while maintaining full artistic integrity...not an easy task, but our terrific students were up to the challenge and made it happen. The play was co-produced by Park Lytle and Kierstin Jones, both members of the class of 2021. With the creative and production teams and actors scattered around the country, Lytle used a new theater software to meld Zoom-based performances together into a mellifluous, exciting, edgy piece of theatre, which was streamed live for four performances. This production was, from the beginning, a work of passion and creative freedom, Lytle said. We sought to make the most unique show we could, given the barriers and technology, and I believe this award reflects that. In 2020, the Brubeck family, like many others, had plans. Their plans, worked on for years leading up to it, were to honor the centennial of their late father, Dave Brubeck. The Brubeck brothers intended to hold international celebrations, including the Hollywood Bowl and the Royal Albert Hall in London with the BBC Orchestra. The celebrations were to include many special guests. Instead, the pandemic arrived, causing those plans to be put on hold. And now, though the big blowout shows are no longer meant to be, the brothers intend to hold a meaningful and musical event this month at The Ridgefield Playhouse to celebrate their fathers life and legacy. Dave Brubeck, designated a Living Legend by the Library of Congress, was one of the most active and popular musicians in both the jazz and classical worlds. His experiments in odd time signatures, improvised counterpoint, polyrhythm and polytonality remain hallmarks of innovation. Daves career spanned seven decades from the 1940s to the early 2010s, and his music transcended jazz to the mainstream and far beyond as he composed ballets, musicals, a mass, and large-scale orchestrations. He embarked on his career in 1947 and by 1954 his portrait was on the cover of Time magazine. His seminal 1959 Time Out album was the first jazz album to sell a million copies. Brubeck played to fans all over the world, making many appearances at Newport, Kool Jazz festivals, Monterey, Concord and several performances at the White House. Dave received the Kennedy Center Living Jazz Legend Award in 2007, and on his 89th birthday, in 2009, he was a Kennedy Center honoree, an award given for exemplary lifetime achievement. He said that while the award was a great personal honor, it was also significant that this honor recognizes the importance of jazz in American culture. Dave met his future wife, Iola Whitlock, while they were students at the College of the Pacific in Stockton, California. She became his collaborator in life and in music, raising six children and writing myriad lyrics for his compositions. Dave Brubeck died in 2012; Iola Brubeck died in 2014. The Brubeck Brothers performed and recorded with their father since the 1970s and have curated a multimedia show with their own Brubeck Brothers Quartet. With Dan and Chris as the foundation, guitarist Mike DeMicco and pianist Chuck Lamb complete this dynamic quartet. Through stories told by his sons and music performed by the Quartet, the show invites audiences to travel along the timeline of Daves extraordinary life and career. Chris and Dan Brubeck have been making music together practically all their lives. Drummer Dan and bassist, trombonist, and composer Chris cut their first record together in 1966nearly a half century ago. Theyve subsequently played a variety of styles in several different groups, performing at concert series, colleges, and jazz festivals across North America and Europe including the Newport, Detroit, Montreal, Playboy/Hollywood Bowl, and Monterey Jazz Festivals. Chris Brubeck said while he and his brother could obviously speak from their own experience to explain their fathers impact, the Playhouse show offers ways to let others show the true reach of Daves life. Weve created a video that will be up and there will be tributes by others about how great our dad was, Brubeck said. The video will be introduced by jazz great Herbie Hancock and will include comments from President Barrack Obama, jazz musicians and others, interspersed with the quartets live music. We will be playing music and sometimes the music will set up the video or vice versa, he said. The audience will learn a lot about my dad, and the words about him being a good will ambassador, a musical influence, a civil rights activist and more are coming from a lot of other people, he said. A particularly moving segment will be the sharing of Brubeck home movies. People always ask us what it was like growing up as a Brubeck, Chris said. While playing a Dave Brubeck composition dedicated to their sister Catherine, Kathys Waltz, the home movies will be rolling on the screen. Speaking of hometown memories, Brubeck also spoke with pride that the Brubeck Collection now resides in the Wilton Library. The Brubeck Collection was established by late jazz legend Dave Brubeck and his wife, Iola, as a living archive to Daves long and illustrious career as a celebrated musician and composer. The Brubeck Collection is one of the preeminent jazz archives in the world and passes on Daves legacy to future musicians, musicologists, researchers, historians, jazz aficionados, and the public. Im really proud of the town of Wilton, and the library, and all the people marshalling their will and spirit to get that installed. My parents would be very proud, he said. Playing the Ridgefield Playhouse is especially valued by the Brubecks, who play to fans all over the world on a regular basis, having grown up in Wilton where Chris and his wife Tish and family still reside. Tish is also a Ridgefield native. Its a hometown feeling. Certainly, a lot of people we know will be there from Wilton and with my wife being from Ridgefield, he said. We love playing there its great to go somewhere that we dont have to go through security and get on a plane, Chris said. The Brubeck Brothers Quartet celebrates Dave Brubecks Centennial is at The Ridgefield Playhouse on Jan. 30 at 4 p.m. Visit https://ridgefieldplayhouse.org/event/brubeck-brothers-centennial/ for more information and tickets. EAST HAVEN A strong winter storm on Jan. 17 brought winds, rain and snow to town but it also brought flooding to streets in town. On that day, Coe Avenue turned into a mini river, with water seen flowing over the pavement as vehicles drove through it. One resident estimated the water to be between 8 and 10 inches deep so deep that a car got stuck and stalled. Over on Fairview Road, a video shared with the New Haven Register shows water flowing faster than it did on Coe Avenue. This is just an example of recent coastal flooding due to its proximity to Long Island Sound. But flooding along the Farm River and Tuttle Brook have also been a longtime issue. With increased development, residents are concerned flooding will increase unless town officials create an effective plan. Resident Lorena Venegas, who shared photos and videos of the recent flooding on social media and with the Register, has been vocal about her concerns, even submitting testimony to the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Committee and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. I believe it is water displacement from inundated wetlands due to construction on Short Beach (storage units sit higher with more pavement), Venegas wrote Thursday. Zoning Boards are still not learning that building on top of, besides, next to wetlands exacerbates local flooding with poor drainage solutions. Venegas is calling for more stormwater management, stating that plenty of grants are available to mitigate the issues. One of her concerns is that the flooding occurs on the primary evacuation route from town. Mayor Joseph Carfora acknowledged the flooding issues, stating that some locations along Farm River cannot be easily cleaned out and require special equipment, tying the hands of Public Works. It might be time to clean the river again, he said, and that may be possible with help from the federal infrastructure bill. I have also been talking with (U.S. Rep.) Rosa DeLauro (D-3)about federal funding to manage and clean up rivers, Carfora said. The mayor also had a meeting scheduled with U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy last week to discuss the issues, but it got postponed. Carforas concern for the future is a microburst, a localized column of sinking air within a thunderstorm, that could cause major damage to the town or river. If this happens, it could be difficult to clean sections of the Farm River as specialized equipment needs to be used to access certain sections, he said. As for coastal flooding prevention, Carfora said the town in the past has done things like give out sandbags at the beach. The towns planning and zoning rules have also changed over the years to help mitigate the damage of coastal flooding. If you build on the shoreline, youve got to be up like 14 to 16 feet, said Ray Baldwin, the towns economic development director. Still, older homes may have been grandfathered in with previous zoning laws. Some of the shoreline residents decided to lift their homes after Hurricane Sandy and other major tropical storms, but they are not required to do so by law. East Haven was also named a Connecticut 2000 Project Impact community, a project by FEMA that gave the town funding to elevate or demolish homes, clean up debris along the river banks and buy a shallow rescue boat intended for river use. Carfora said Wednesday that his administration last year authorized the purchase of a Vactor truck to clean catch basins and storm sewers. The town, by state statute, is required to clean the drains and without the truck, the town was not in compliance with Connecticuts regulation. Since the vehicles purchase, East Haven has been taking care of the drains and complying with state statute, he said. As for now, Carfora is hoping to work with legislators to get funds to help with maintenance and flooding, but there is no set announcement yet. We literally have to keep our fingers crossed that theres no major flooding, Carfora said. christine.derosa@hearstmediact.com SAN JOSE, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Former Costa Rican President Jose Maria Figueres leads in the current presidential elections, while a runoff is looming as no clear winner emerged, according to the latest data from the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) on Monday. With 79.96 percent of the ballot counted, Figueres of the National Liberation Party, who was the country's president from 1994 to 1998, led the result with 27.29 percent of the valid votes cast, followed by former official of the World Bank and former Finance Minister Rodrigo Chaves of the Social Democratic Progress Party with 16.66 percent of the vote. Fabricio Alvarado of the New Republic party placed the third with 14.93 percent of the vote, and the gap between Chaves and Alvarado has been widening, according to the TSE. If none of the candidates exceeded the threshold of 40 percent of the vote to win the country's presidency in the first round, a second round vote should be held on April 3. The winner of the runoff will assume the presidency in Costa Rica on May 8, replacing the current president, Carlos Alvarado. GUILFORD The newest restaurant in town is a classic case of East meets West where diners may order pad thai or traditional prime rib with all the trimmings. The new Ayuthai/Maritime Grille is feeding hungry diners while fueling the chefs passion for cooking. Its in our DNA, said Pete Melanidis, former owner of Maritime Grille. At the Thai-American restaurant, Melanidis and the Maritimes new owner, Mexay Khambounhouang, better known as Sai Kham, are joining forces in the kitchen. The two restaurants officially merged in mid-January, combining menus at the former Maritime Grille, 2548 Boston Post Road. 5 1 of 5 Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 5 of 5 The 7,000-square-foot restaurant is less than a mile from the original 2,500-square-foot Ayuthai Royal Thai Cuisine restaurant. Sai is beaming with excitement about the arrangement. Asked if he is proud of what he has accomplished, the 40-year-old restaurateur said with modesty, I think so. Being a small business, Sai knows his clients well. He said he feels like he is inviting people into his home when they come to dine. Sofia Melanidis, who has been in business with her husband for the last 20 years, echoed this. We are family, she said. Melanidis talked about leaving his restaurant in Sais hands. Hes been coming here, I go there, so Ive known him for years, Melanidis said. Hes wanted to buy this place forever and now is the right time for me and the right time for him, so we did each other a favor. Sofia Melanidis continues to be an integral part of the restaurant during the transition. Everybody is happy so far, she said. They like it, they like him. Hes very personable. Were family, she added. At 65 years old, Melanidis is semi-retired. While the Madison resident no longer owns the restaurant, he still is preparing the cuisine that has made his restaurant a popular destination for the past 20 years. His most popular dish is the prime rib. I put my heart in it whether its for me or somebody else, he said. He talked about grinding the meat for the burgers and procuring the freshest ingredients possible. I make the bread, the dressings, the sauces everything, he said. He said the most important thing about his cooking is that I put love in all my food. Sai enjoys Pete Melanidis zuppe di pesce clams, mussels, shrimp, scallops, calamari and white fish over pasta. In a separate kitchen area, within the restaurant, Sai prepares the Thai food that he has taken pride in serving for the last 14 years. The most popular Thai dishes are drunken noodle, spicy flat noodles with onion, tomatoes, basil, bell peppers and chili sauce; and lamb chops with sticky rice, Thai basil, and my grandmas recipe Thai green chili sauce. Also a hit are the curry dishes, especially jungle curry, a spicy curry with eggplant, green beans, bamboo shoots, kachai, mushrooms, Napa, snow peas, baby corn and basil. The Thai chef talked about his grandma Sais lamb chop recipe, which is his signature dish. If you go any Thai restaurant, you cannot have it, he said. Nobody can have it because its from my family. The chef talked about what makes his food unique: Thai food is very light, very fresh and lots of vegetables. And, every dish is made to order. So, if I have 100 people, I have to do the cooking 100 times, Sai said. I dont cook ahead of time, he added. Thats why when they order, sometimes it takes a little bit longer. If youre looking for real Thai food, its here, he said. The food he serves is exactly what I eat every day. Helping Sai in the kitchen is his family, which includes his sister, his aunts and his cousins. Sai talked about what makes both him and Melanidis unique chefs. We dont cook from the book, he said. We didnt go to school for cooking. He (learned to) cook from his father, I (learned to) cook from my parents. We grew up cooking, he added, getting a nod from Melanidis. Sai was a young boy when he started cooking in his homeland of Thailand. I didnt go to school for cooking, he said. Im from a very poor family, so when I was 5 or 6 years old, I knew how to cook, I knew how to steam rice, I knew how to clean dishes. Cooking was a necessity for him, If you dont do it, youre going to die, he said. You have to do it to survive. My parents, in the morning, 4 or 5 oclock, they went to the jungle looking for food. Me, when I got up, I had to cook for myself, steam rice myself. Melanidis is a second-generation restaurateur. He and his father owned two New Haven County restaurants, the Elm Diner in West Haven and Crossroads restaurant in North Haven. He purchased the former Roadhouse Grill in Guilford in 2002 and renamed it the Maritime Grille. Head waitress Marissa Grillo said customers are enjoying the variety of foods on the menu. The customers are enjoying that they get to come in and they can have either Maritime or they can have Thai, the Guilford resident said, stopping between taking orders and serving customers. Theres a lot of people that come here that said they would go to both restaurants, she said. Terry Raiola, sitting at the round bar, said she has been coming to Maritime Grille for years. I love Petes cooking, she said, as she waited for a takeout order. Since Sai began cooking on the premises Raiola said she has started eating Thai food. I tried the cashew shrimp, delicious, she said. Ive tried that twice. Ive tried the shrimp and fried rice and vegetables. Everything Ive tried here is very good, she added. She enjoys the greater variety of choices on the menu when she and husband place takeout orders a couple times a week. It depends on what my husband would like, sometimes well get both and then bring it home, she said. Ive never had a bad meal at Maritime and right now Ive never had a bad meal on Ayuthais side, she said. Sofia Melanidis talked about the transition. Im so happy, she said. Weve tried to help him, hes a nice guy and Im happy Im retiring. She is lending a hand, where needed, to help Sai learn the Maritime Grilles business and often comes in to help out if he has parties and try to set up everything for it to be the same as in the Maritime Grille tradition, she said. On this evening, right before she left for the day, Sofia Melanidis reviewed details about the monthly Madison Lions Club meeting coming up. In addition, the Guilford Rotary meets there for a weekly luncheon, financial advisers use the restaurants event space for dinner seminars, plus there are high school reunions and weddings. So, as the transition continues, the Melanidises still are at the restaurant, assisting where needed. Whatever he needs, we can help, said Sofia Melanidis. We just wish him good luck. For Sai, this relationship is very important. I look at them like godparents, he said. He said this new arrangement is win-win, for all. Its a good mix, Sai said. Everybody is learning from each other. I cook for him, then he cooks for me, now, he added. I learn his food. He learns my food. Its a match made in heaven. Ayuthai-Maritime Grille, 2548 Boston Post Road, Guilford, 2093-453-0774 and 203-453-2988; maritimegrill.net, ayuthaict.com. Prof. Pat Utomi, a political economist, has spoken on plans to join the presidential race in the 2023 election. Utomi, a former pres... Prof. Pat Utomi, a political economist, has spoken on plans to join the presidential race in the 2023 election. Utomi, a former presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos that he does not need a title to make contributions in Nigeria. When asked if he would contest for the office of the president, Utomi said: It is not a criminal offence. We will cross that bridge when we get there. Our commitment is to a better society. I dont need a title to make a contribution to the betterment of my country. If it then turnouts that a title drops itself in, well, so be it, but I dont need a title to make a difference to my countrys history. I think people are obsessed with titles. Lets first build a great Nigeria and history will remember those who it will remember with or without titles, he said. Utomi noted that how Nigeria would be led in 2023 would determine where it would be in the comity of nations. The Grace of God Mission International, a pentecostal church in Onitsha, Anambra State, on Sunday held a prayer rally around the city to pro... The Grace of God Mission International, a pentecostal church in Onitsha, Anambra State, on Sunday held a prayer rally around the city to protest the spate of ritual killings, cultism and drug consumption in the society. The rally, which was led by the General Superintendent and Presiding Bishop of the church, Dr Paul Nwachukwu, moved around prominent streets in the commercial city, occasionally stopping at popular junctions for prayers and a sprinkling of anointed oil. There has been a recent upsurge in the number of ritual killings related to the quest for wealth in many states across the country, most of which involve youths, with young girls being the victim. Nwachukwu, who led the rally, said: We are doing this to pray against the spate of ritual killings in the society today, the high level of involvement in cultism by our young people and the rate at which they consume hard drugs. Today is a very big and great day. Grace of God youths held a rally all over the streets of Onitsha, declaring and making it loud and clear that yahoo plus, mkpulummili (hard drugs) and every kind of cultism shall never end in Onitsha. We prayed against the spirit of wickedness and lawlessness, praying that the youths will start to live a life that will bring glory to Christ. Honour their parents and be a blessing to the society. The prayer rally, which began from 3 pm to 6 pm, moved from Upper Iweka Road, Owerri-Onitsha Expressway, Enugu-Onitsha Expressway and other prominent streets in the city. Some members of the church who spoke to journalists said the aim of the rally was that Onitsha youths will be delivered from ritual killings, hard drugs and cultism, and they expressed the belief that Onitsha will not remain the same after the rally, as God will bring deliverance on the city and the youths. Sopulu Uba, a member of the church, and a student of Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe, who participated in the march said: I wish other churches will come out and do the same thing that our church is doing today. This will help to sensitize the people. The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has called on the countrys citizens living in Ukraine to be security conscious. The c... The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has called on the countrys citizens living in Ukraine to be security conscious. The call comes as tensions between Ukraine and Russia continue to rise. The crisis stems from the protracted Russia-Ukrainian war that began in early 2014. Russia had annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula and allegedly threw its weight behind a separatist rebellion after then-President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted. Gabriel Odu, NIDCOM spokesperson, in a statement issued on Sunday, said Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairman of the commission, has given assurances that the Nigerian embassy in Kyiv is doing all it can for the safety and security of Nigerians in the country. Odu said the NIDCOM chairman also urged Nigerian citizens in Ukraine to visit the embassys website and follow the registration process. Additional information and necessary action with regards to emergencies and concerns, he said. Meanwhile, in a January 26 statement issued by the embassy, Nigerians in Ukraine were advised to take their individual and collective safety and security very seriously. They were also advised to carry requisite identification at all times and avoid unnecessary travel within the country, especially to identified hotspots in Eastern Ukraine. The security warning comes on the same day the US disclosed that Russia could invade Ukraine any time now. In an interview with ABC, Jake Sullivan, the White House national security adviser, had said there is a very distinct possibility that Vladimir Putin will order an attack on Ukraine. He added: It could take a number of different forms. It could happen as soon as tomorrow or it could take some weeks yet. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has called on the federal government to implement the agreement it signed with the union.... The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has called on the federal government to implement the agreement it signed with the union. The University lecturers made the call in a statement signed by Chairman and Secretary of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Drs. Biodun Olaniran and Toyin Abegunrin. The union issued the statement shortly after the unions monthly congress on Monday. It said the union was tired of the insincerity of the Mohammadu Buhari administration. The union alleged that Buhari has failed to fully implement the agreements reached with its members. ASUU LAUTECH said staff members have resolved to embark on an indefinite strike. They added that this was necessary since the government was not ready to do the needful. Our Union, ASUU, is using this medium to call upon the Federal Government (FG) of Nigeria once again to implement the agreement it (FG) has signed with ASUU. It is unfortunate to mention that the FG signed an agreement with the ASUU since 2009 but the agreement has not been implemented to date. The agreement was renegotiated in the name of peace. But to our dismay, the government has refused to sign the renegotiated agreement. In order to make the implementation of the agreement easy for the FG, the union has limited its demand to only three. The Governor of Niger State and Chairman North Central States Governors Forum, Abubakar Sani Bello, has urged the Military to intensify eff... The Governor of Niger State and Chairman North Central States Governors Forum, Abubakar Sani Bello, has urged the Military to intensify efforts in their operations in the state as directed by the President Muhammadu Buhari. Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mary Noel-Berje, said the plea followed the incessant and sporadic increase in attacks by the terrorists in Shiroro, Munya, Rafi and Paikoro Local Government Areas of the state recently. Noel-Berje said, The Governor decried and lamented the constant attacks on many communities and consequential loss of lives and property, including military bases in Allawa and Galadiman Kogo. He expressed displeasure over the heightened nefarious activities of the terrorists, noting that the criminality is carried out with reckless abandon in a manner that undermines the efforts of the security agencies drafted to the area. Governor Bello was quoted as saying, With these recent attacks, the terrorists are daring the capability and capacity of the military, hence we must demonstrate our military might through the approved coordinated Air and ground assault to flush out the miscreants from our forests, their hideout. If we must win this battle against the terrorists, which we will, we must increase and sustain military operations to comb the forests. This is expedient because our people are dying and the living are becoming more agitated and hopeless, the Governor added. While appreciating the efforts of the Joint Security Taskforce stationed in the embattled communities, the Governor renewed his call to the people to assist the security agencies with credible intelligence that will enhance effective operations against the terrorists. Senator Ademola Adeleke who is a top aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Osun 2022 gubernatorial election, has stormed ... Senator Ademola Adeleke who is a top aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Osun 2022 gubernatorial election, has stormed out of the peace and reconciliation meeting convened by a former governor of the state, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola in his Okuku home. Our sources revealed that Adeleke who has five other aspirants on his tail was not comfortable with the direction of the meeting. When contacted, the Osun PDP Director of Media and Publicity, Oladele Bamiji said he could not say anything because he was not at the venue of the peace meeting but would revert with details. However, the state chairman, Sunday Bisi has debunked the information stating nothing like that has happened. There was nothing like that. None of the aspirants walked out of the meeting. The meeting went well. By the grace of God, come March 7, 2022, we are going to have our party primary. Whoever emerges will be our flagbearer and everybody will support him, he said Watertown, NY (13601) Today Periods of rain. High near 55F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low around 45F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Yes, it should be paid for indirectly through property taxes No, continue the 50-50 split between property owners and the city Yes, but I don't like either of these methods of paying for it Vote View Results The New Orleans Pussyfooters celebrated turning 21 at the sold-out Blush Ball a Party with a Purpose 2022, at Generations Hall on Jan. 28. Proceeds benefited Metro Centers for Community Advocacy as the Pussyfooters closed in on their goal of raising $40,000 for the MCCA this year. The Boogiemen performed, and DJ Ally Bea kept the dance floor going with her eclectic mixes. There was a silent auction, and local celebrity and Pussyfooter extraordinaire, Fresh Johnson, was MC. And, of course, there were special performances by the Pussyfooters themselves. The Pussyfooters are 130-plus women over 30, parading in their trademark pink plumage and corsets in nearly 50 parades, fundraisers and special events year round and at the Blush Ball. The annual signature event has raised more than $120,000 for Metro in the past seven years. The Pussyfooters said their support for Metro Centers for Community Advocacy was a natural fit for this group that encourages empowerment, self-confidence and sisterhood. But make no mistake they had a good time doing it. The Pussyfooters get their inspiration from and are grateful to the original women of New Orleans unique parading and second line culture, especially the Baby Dolls. The Pussyfooters motto is: We are Majorettes from the Mothership sent here to help the party people get their groove on! Marilyn Monroe left no room for equivocation: Diamonds are a girls best friend. But for beaus on a budget, chocolates are arguably the next best thing and for innumerable lovestruck New Orleanians, for much of the 20th century, that meant chocolates made at the former Jacobs Candy chocolate factory at 827 Carondelet St. Today, the three-story, 113-year-old Warehouse District building, made of masonry and timbers, is a shell of its former self, the outer walls still standing but its inside gutted as it awaits a long-gestating redevelopment. Its candy-making genesis, however, is still evident on the northeast-facing exterior wall, where the companys saucy slogan Made Last Night (wink, wink) is still visible, a faded reminder of the citys confectionary past. Flash back to the early 20th century, a time in which, in addition to the citys legendary praline makers, large-scale confectioners including the Elmer Candy Co., Fuerst & Kramer and, briefly during the Depression, the Jax brewery spinoff Jackson Pure Products, cropped up to satisfy the regions collective sweet tooth. Meanwhile, upriver in Natchez, Mississippi, businessman Mose Jacobs started his eponymous candy-making company in 1892. With the death of his wife, he moved to New Orleans in 1903, where, with the help of business partner Alex Lisso, he sold $50,000 in stock and moved into a facility on Tchoupitoulas Street. Heretofore all high-grade chocolates have been supplied from St. Louis, Chicago and New York, and this is to be the first plant of its kind in the South, The Daily Picayune wrote in announcing the move, noting that the new factory would employ 100 people. Plans were announced for improvements to the Tchoupitoulas facility, but by late 1909, a new opportunity presented itself. It came in the form of a spectacular, late-night blaze at you guessed it 827 Carondelet St. The three-story brick building occupying that address at the time was previously the home of local fruit magnate Santo Oteri. He sold it to the New Orleans Dental College, which undertook extensive renovations to suit its crusade against cavities. The college was still occupying the building when that 2:15 a.m. fire on Nov. 14, 1908 fueled by chemicals in the building and a high northwest wind destroyed it. A year later, Jacobs stepped in, purchased it and hired architect Emile Weil to design a new three-story factory building for the site, including a chocolate-friendly cold-storage facility with a 25-ton ice-maker. Business was apparently good. By 1914, Jacobs had recommissioned Weil to expand the still-new building, including the addition of a fourth story, so he could install larger machines to meet local demand for his products. Besides the reconstruction of the operating departments the office will be rebuilt and enlarged and finished in white enamel, The Daily Picayune wrote. A fine mezzanine floor will be put in and a fine display department added in that part of the building, with glass and enamel work abounding. For the next five decades, Jacobs candies caramel-filled Southern pecan candies, flower-shaped Daisy Mints, nut-filled Petits Chocolate, fruit-filled Old Tyme Hand Rolled Chocolates and the like were sold to New Orleanians in stores throughout the city, including as many as 300 drugstores and other retailers at Christmastime, and throughout the region. Just as important as what was inside those Jacobs Candy boxes were the boxes themselves sometimes metal, sometimes wood, but always elegant and, according to one ad, almost as delightful to look at as the taste of the candies. Then there was that suggestive slogan, a not-so-subtle double entendre intended to convey the freshness of the product but which also called to mind the romantic possibilities. By 1931, the company had grown to employ 300 people and boasted an annual payroll of $250,000, the equivalent of nearly $4.6 million in 2022. Behind the scenes, though, Jacobs life wasnt always as sweet as his namesake product. In September 1911, he was arrested and charged with battery for beating a delinquent 16-year-old girl in the Carondelet Street factory. The details of that incident are unclear, although he was convicted. That conviction, however, was later vacated by the Louisiana Supreme Court, which ruled the juvenile court that tried him did so without proper jurisdiction. Then, in July 1914, Jacobs was returning home from a prizefight at Pelican Stadium with friends when the car he was driving jumped the curb of the Old Basin Canal. The Jacobs machine leaped nearly to the opposite bank of the canal. It lay on its side upon the opposite bank of the stream, battered almost beyond repair, the Picayune wrote. Jacobs suffered a compound fracture of his left femur in the accident and was taken by a bystander to Charity Hospital. Insult was added to injury when one of Jacobs two passengers, a liquor store owner who broke an arm and dislocated a shoulder in the accident, filed suit against Jacobs. Jacobs would win that case, too. He didnt win every battle, though. With the death of Lisso in 1936, the fortunes of Jacobs Candy turned, resulting in a reorganization that saw Jacobs stepping down as president and, by 1936, selling a controlling interest in the company to businessman Seymour Weiss, the Roosevelt Hotel manager and noted friend of Huey P. Long. It didnt help. In 1941, Whitney National Bank foreclosed on the Carondelet Street building over an outstanding $28,000 debt. That presaged the sale of the company to a new owner, H.D. Bannister, its former vice president. Soon after, Jacobs retired. On Jan. 9, 1950, he died at the age of 80. His namesake company soldiered on for 17 more years until it shareholders in 1967 voted to sell off its assets and dissolve. The era of Jacobs Candy was over. Plans to convert the building into high-end condos have sputtered on and off for years. Today, the gutted building is still waiting for something to happen. Until then, weve got that ghost sign to remind us of that Made Last Night slogan and the made-last-century business behind it. Know of a New Orleans building worth profiling in this column, or just curious about one? Contact Mike Scott at moviegoermike@gmail.com. A Jefferson Parish Library stalwart the Lego Club is gradually returning after a hiatus due to Covid. Staff now makes sure that all the Legos are sanitized after they are used. The Lego Clubs are at the following libraries so far. Old Metairie Library, 2350 Metairie Road: Meets one Saturday per month. Check the librarys activity calendar for more information. Lakeshore Library, 1000 W. Esplanade, Metairie: 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. the first Thursday of each month, beginning in April. Rosedale Library, 4036 Jefferson Highway: 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. West Bank Regional Library, 2751 Manhattan Blvd.: 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. the first Thursday of each month. BOOK SALES RISING: Publishers and booksellers celebrated the news that print book sales were up 9.1% last year. According to Publishers Weekly, booksellers sold 825.7 million books in 2021, up from 757.9 million in 2020. A huge increase in fiction books sold led the way, with young adult fiction sales jumping 30.7%, adult fiction up 25.5%, and childrens fiction up 9.6%. All told, print book sales have risen more than 18% since the start of the pandemic in early 2020. The percentage of Americans reading e-books rose 5% in the past two years, and the share of lower-income adults who listen to audiobooks increased 8% since 2019. According to the Book Manufacturers Institute, more than 81% of commercial printers expect the book market to hold steady or continue to grow over the next one to two years. START READING NOW: Meetings of the March book clubs are right around the corner. Here are the books that are to be read and discussed. Old Metairie Book Club: The group meets from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. March 15, at the Old Metairie Library, 2350 Metairie Road. The book up for discussion is "The Girl Next Door" by Ruth Rendell. The group meets from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. March 15, at the Old Metairie Library, 2350 Metairie Road. The book up for discussion is "The Girl Next Door" by Ruth Rendell. Jefferson Highway Book Club: It meets from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. March 15 at the River Ridge Library, 8825 Jefferson Highway. The book to be discussed is "Finding Dorothy" by Elizabeth Letts. It meets from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. March 15 at the River Ridge Library, 8825 Jefferson Highway. The book to be discussed is "Finding Dorothy" by Elizabeth Letts. Great Books Discussion Group: It meets at 7 p.m. March 15 at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie. The book is "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd," by Agatha Christie. It meets at 7 p.m. March 15 at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie. The book is "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd," by Agatha Christie. BestBank Book Club: Meeting time is 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Feb. 16, at the Gretna Library, 102 Willow Drive, Gretna. The book is "The Consequence of Fear" by Jacqueline Winspear. MINDFUL FUN HOUR: This event geared for kids 6 and older takes place at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, in the courtyard of the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie. Being mindful is all about being kind and gentle in the present moment. Activities will include kid-friendly yoga and meditation and a fun exercise. Participants should bring their own mat. Benefits of mindfulness for kids include reduced stress, greater ability to focus, and a more positive outlook on life. SURPRISE BOXES: As many as 12 teens may sign up for a new program in which they pick up a box at the Teen Center in Metairie from 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 28. The box includes one or two books hand-picked by Teen Center staff as well as some treats to enjoy while reading. After participants have read their books, they should be returned to the Teen Center, at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie. Open to young people in sixth through 12th grades. WWII DISCUSSION GROUP: Submarine expert Pat Doyle will speak on the USS Sculpin and the USS Sailfish at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 3, at the River Ridge Library, 8825 Jefferson Highway. The Sculpin was awarded eight battle stars. She ended the war with a total of three confirmed ships sunk, totaling 9,835 tons, and is the subject of an episode of the syndicated television series "The Silent Service," which aired 1957 '58. The Sailfish conducted numerous patrols in the Pacific War during World War II, earning nine battle stars. COMPUTER CLASSES: Receive free computer training at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie, or at West Bank Regional Library, 2751 Manhattan Blvd., Harvey. Seating is limited, and online registration is required. Visit the Computer Classes page at www.jplibrary.net/training and click East Bank Regional Schedule or West Bank Regional Schedule. Upcoming Metairie classes include: Microsoft Word 2 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 23. Upcoming Harvey classes include: Basic Computer Skills: 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 26 Basic Computer Skills: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 26 Chris Smith is manager of adult programming at the Jefferson Parish Public Library. Whats open, whats coming back? For restaurants, these have been constant questions through the pandemic. They only intensified after Hurricane Ida, which brought both physical damage and further financial loss to a sector already on the ropes. A few weeks back, we provided a round-up on the status of a number of restaurants and bars that had remained closed since the hurricane or closed in the time after. Some still face a long road back, particularly Central Grocery, which suffered catastrophic damage. This historic market is still shipping its famous muffulettas until it can reopen. But Im happy to report that a number have progressed and returned since our earlier story. Here are a few updates. Adolfos Restaurant 611 Frenchmen St., (504) 408-3253 With the doors locked and signs that read Adolfos Restaurant closed indefinitely, many understandably figured it meant the end of the beloved Italian restaurant on Frenchmen Street. But now Adolfos restaurant is back, in a limited capacity to begin. The closure last month came after founder and chef Adolfo Perez Palavicini was hospitalized with a serious health issue. His family reports that he is on the mend, but it will be some time before he can return to work. So the chefs wife Kim Perez and the restaurant staff put together a plan to get back to business, and Adolfos reopened last week. It has an abbreviated menu to begin, with dinner served Thursday through Saturday. For reservations, text (504) 408-3253. Adolfo's is among the dwindling few spots on Frenchmen Street that has endured from the era before it landed on tourist bucket lists, and it still retains a close local following. This July will mark the 25th anniversary of his taking over the small, second-floor space. The Apple Barrel, the pint-size bar on the ground floor of the same building, is also slated to resume live music soon. Crescent City Brewhouse 527 Decatur St., (504) 522-0571 This French Quarter restaurant and brewery, which introduced the modern brewpub idea to New Orleans three decades ago, had just reopened from the pandemic this time last year. Six months later damage from Ida forced it shut it down again. 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 But it is back to full steam now, producing its own beers, served only in house, and with its full menu, now in a newly repaired space. German-born brewmaster and owner Wolfram Koehler specializes in traditional beer styles, including pale ale, a wheat beer and the Red Stallion, a Vienna-style lager. Saint Joes Bar 5535 Magazine St., (504) 899-3744 Some regulars began to fret that this atmospheric corner bar had closed for good when the plywood stayed up over its Gothic-style windows for months after the storm. But owner Charlie Thompson took the boards down last week and the drinks are flowing here yet again. As usual, between the churchy art and dim lights the bartenders mix mojitos with abundant fresh mint, and the pagoda-like patio offers a cloistered space in back under heaters and a ceiling full of paper lanterns. Its starting with a limited schedule, Thursday through Sunday from 4 p.m., with plans to expand hours. Kebab 2315 St. Claude Ave., (504) 383-4328 Known for Middle Eastern-style sandwiches made on crusty bread and crisp Belgian fries, it looked like the end for Kebab last fall when owner Walker Reisman said he was closing the business. But then a former employee, Taylor Olfert-McCrea, stepped in to take over along with his wife Amanda, who was formerly pastry chef at the Elysian Bar. Theyre opening with a similar menu as before like doner kebabs, falafel and gyros on fresh-baked loaves with garlicky sauces and will begin adding their own touches. Eventually they also plan to bring in vintage pinball machines, once a fixture of the restaurant. Kebab is slated to reopen Wednesday (Feb. 9), with initial hours from 2 p.m.-11 p.m., Wednesday and Sunday, 2 p.m.-midnight Thu.-Sat. Reds Chinese 3048 St. Claude Ave., (504) 304-6030 Just down St. Claude Avenue, this deliciously unconventional Chinese restaurant was another one that has drawn questions from readers about its return. Owner Amy Mosberger said that the building sustained damage in the storm, but she confirmed that she does intend to reopen Reds. Shes eyeing a date after Mardi Gras to return. Krewe Boheme 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11 Faubourg Marigny, French Quarter kreweboheme.com Chef and entrepreneur Linda Green, aka The Ya-Ka-Mein Lady, probably doesnt cook much with absinthe, but this year shes being honored as the Supreme Green Fairy by Krewe Boheme. Absinthe is the inspiration for the krewe, which dubs its processions The Green Hour. The theme for 2022 is A Love Letter to New Orleans. Most of the throws are handmade by krewe members, but there are also wooden doubloons and many absinthe-inspired throws, including wooden absinthe spoons, sugar cubes, green fairy earrings and lapel pins and green bath bombs. Many krewe members are artists and service industry workers whove formed their own subkrewes. The lineup includes the James Brown-inspired Krewe of King James and the Super Bad Sex Machine Strollers, The Merry Antoinettes, Les ReBelles, Krewe of Dystopian Paradise, The Bayou Babes, Krewe DEnsite, Krewe de la Renaissance and Krewe DEspirit. New groups this year include Neon Cowboys and Krewe of DADA. There also are two brass bands and subkrewes with DJs. Krewe Boheme was formed in 2018 and quickly grew to 1,000 members. This years parade has 450 marchers due to Covid-19 considerations. Also, its Absinthe Ball is for members only this year. Jenny Peterson and Greg Wilson are all smiles after months of practicing an intricate surprise first dance at the Audubon Tea Room Krewe du Vieux 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12 Faubourg Marigny, French Quarter, Warehouse District kreweduvieux.org The return of satirical Krewe du Vieux is more welcome than ever given what weve been through the past two years. With the theme of Vaxxed and Confused the 900-member marching parade will weave through downtown streets accompanied by brass bands, mule-drawn floats and heavy doses of wit. Some of the floats, per usual, merit an R rating and are not for the easily offended, and many fans may opt to leave their children at home if they dont want to explain lewd concepts. The 17 sub-krewes that make up Krewe du Vieux touch upon a variety of timely topics, delivering social and political commentary. A krewe spokesperson, Keith Twitchell, promises that its costumed revelers have been inspired by endless material since the last time the parade rolled in 2020. Parade-goers can expect to see many giant needles and similarly shaped objects on the streets. One sub-krewe, the Seeds of Decline, will mock billionaires recent intergalactic vanity missions with its theme of Giant Pricks in Space. Meanwhile, the Krewe of L.E.W.D.s Wasted Management and T.O.K.I.Ns Entergy Cant Keep It Up will poke fun at the dysfunction of municipal and utility services experienced at the local level. There will also be a sci-fi component as members of the Krewe of K.A.O.S will be costumed as giant, mutated flies spawned amongst the piles of debris and garbage that went uncollected for months post-Hurricane Ida. The parade typically honors local culture bearers or an under-appreciated hero as its monarch. For 2022, the krewe selected Dr. Jennifer Avegno, the citys health director, as its queen. Avegno has since had to pull out of the parade due to concerns over her personal safety. Nevertheless, spectators will see and experience her presence throughout the parade, Twitchell says. The groups post-parade Vieux Doo ball will take place at the Sugar Mill and includes performances by The Quickening and the New Orleans Nightcrawlers. Tickets are $50 and available to the public from krewe members, via Eventbrite and at Louisiana Music Factory, Peaches Records and Up in Smoke. Taking her to Jazz Fest We'll go to brunch I gotta go to church with her A nice card / flowers / phone call Vote View Results WOODSTOCK, Ga. A caller who threatened to blow up a historically Black university in Florida one of numerous threats made against schools across the nation described an elaborate plot involving seven bombs hidden in duffel bags and backpacks around the school's perimeter, a Florida police chief said. In a 20-minute phone call, the caller said the bombs containing C-4 explosives would be detonated at Bethune-Cookman University on Monday, Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young said at a news conference. The caller also said a gunman would open fire on the campus around lunchtime the same day, Young said. At least a half-dozen historically Black universities in five states and the District of Columbia received bomb threats Monday, and at least a dozen more schools received such threats on Tuesday. Many of the schools locked down their campuses for a time. Authorities found no bombs after extensive searches. The threats to some of the other schools also were telephoned in, school officials have said, but few details of those calls have been released. Investigators have identified at least five "persons of interest," a law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The investigators believe a spoofed phone number was used to make the threats, the official said. The official could not discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. ABC News was first to report the development. Both the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced investigations. The FBI Joint Terrorism Task Forces is investigating the threats as hate crimes, the agency said in a statement Wednesday. "This investigation is of the highest priority for the Bureau and involves more than 20 FBI field offices across the country," the agency said. "These threats are being investigated as Racially or Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremism and hate crimes." In Florida, Young said the caller with whom he spoke claimed to be affiliated with the neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up In May, a federal judge in Virginia sentenced former Atomwaffen Division leader John Cameron Denton to more than three years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to make bogus bomb threats and 911 calls to over 100 targets, including a Black church. Others charged in the "swatting" scheme were affiliated with or expressed sympathy for the group. Oren Segal, vice president of the Anti-Defamation League's Center on Extremism, said he is "reserving judgment" for now on whether Atomwaffen is connected to the bomb threat investigation. "Does that fit the Atomwaffen bill? It does. In other ways, it could be people who have no affiliation with Atomwaffen but are using it because they know it will create shock value," Segal said. "I just think it's too early to tell." In addition to Florida, threats were sent to schools in Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi and other states. "What I'm saying is, it's plain and simple terrorism, no matter how you cut it, no matter how you slice it," Belvin Perry, chairman of the Bethune-Cookman Board of Trustees, told the Daytona Beach News-Journal. "It is designed to inflict terror. It is designed to make people feel uncomfortable. It is designed to make people be afraid." White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki has called the threats disturbing, and said the White House is in touch with federal law enforcement officials. The bomb scares come at 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. ___ Balsamo reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Michael Kunzelman in College Park, Maryland, contributed to this report. From her office in Birmingham, Alabama, DeJuana Thompson looks across the street and sees a daily reminder of terror. Her window overlooks the 16th Street Baptist Church, where a bomb in 1963 killed four young Black girls. "Living in the era of bomb threats is not new to people of color," said Thompson, president and CEO of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. Nearly six decades after that bombing by the Ku Klux Klan, the FBI is now investigating last week's bomb threats against at least 17 historically Black colleges and universities across the U.S. Thompson said the threats underscore the need to teach new generations the history of violence targeting people of color so the lessons of the past can be applied to the present. The FBI said the hate crimes probe involves more than 20 field offices and "is of the highest priority." Investigators have identified at least five "persons of interest," a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The official could not discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. In one of the cases, a caller claiming to be affiliated with the neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division described a plot at Bethune-Cookman University in Florida involving seven bombs hidden in bags, Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young said. University campuses are considered "soft targets," but "they're not as soft as they used to be," said Robert McCrie, a professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. Universities have traditionally been easily accessible to the public, but many hardened their security after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. Now, picture IDs are needed to enter buildings on McCrie's campus and others, he said. Though no devices were found at the schools threatened last week, "people of color don't have that privilege to think it's not real," said Lance Wheeler, director of exhibitions at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta. The bomb threats against Black institutions are deeply rooted in U.S. history. In Alabama, people used to call Birmingham "Bombingham" because of how many bombs and bomb threats occurred, Thompson said. Among the many victims: the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, a civil rights leader whose home was damaged on Christmas Day in 1956 by 16 sticks of dynamite placed beneath his bedroom window. When a KKK member suggested he leave town, Shuttlesworth responded that "I wasn't saved to run," U.S. Rep. John Conyers Jr. told the House of Representatives after Shuttlesworth died in 2011. "How we responded then is how we are responding now," Thompson said. "We will not stand for these hate crimes, we will not stand for this intimidation, we shall not be moved." The Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus' statement on the latest bomb threats recalled 1969 racial segregation protests at North Carolina A&T that prompted an armed response by the National Guard and police. One student was killed, dozens injured and more than 300 people arrested as gunfire was exchanged from campus buildings. The protests followed the first sit-in at a whites-only lunch counter by four Black men, later known as the Greensboro Four. "We know from history that in spite of external threats, HBCUs are resilient institutions that will persist through all forms of adversity," the statement said. Universities in Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, and other states targeted last week have resumed operations since the lockdowns. But many still worry about future threats and efforts to prosecute those responsible. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Maurice Mitchell, national director of the Working Families Party and strategist for the Movement for Black Lives, said HBCUs and independent Black institutions are targeted because they represent independence and resilience for African Americans, which is a threat to a white supremacist ideology. "The mere existence of Black schools, Black churches, Black political organizations and Black business are a threat," he said. "We see upswings in these attacks as backlash to Black resistance, the exercising of independent Black political power, the influence of Black social movements." The attacks are "ways to try to put fear into communities that are trying to obtain freedom," Wheeler said. The impact of the Black vote this last election has been felt at the ballot box, such as Georgia flipping two Senate seats for Democrats including the election of Raphael Warnock as the first Black senator to represent the state. And the Black Lives Matter movement has led a national push for protests against police violence and injustice, including murder convictions for the men who killed Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia and George Floyd in Minneapolis. There is a "culture of fear of Black independence, of Black people building our own institutions, our own power and setting out our own direction politically, economically. There's always efforts to suppress that, and I think that is what's happening right now," Mitchell said. "The best way to challenge these white supremacists and haters is by doubling down and investing in HBCUs long term and strengthening them as institutions." National Urban League President Marc Morial called the latest bomb threats "part of the poisonous tree of hate," putting them in the same category as legislative proposals that would suppress the vote, the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, a spike in hate crimes and backlash against affirmative action. "Terrorism is always about creating discord, creating unrest and fear it's about disrupting society," said Warren Eller, who also teaches at John Jay. Delaware State University President Tony Allen said students and community members shouldn't let threats disrupt their spaces. Sharing in Thompson's message, Allen wrote a letter to the university community shortly after a bomb threat on his campus. "Here is what I say to these bullies, these fearmongers of our day: 'We shall not be moved,'" he said. ___ Mumphrey reported from Phoenix. She is a member of The Associated Press' Race and Ethnicity team. Martin reported from Atlanta. AP reporter Michael Balsamo in New York contributed. The St. Tammany Federation of Teachers and School Employees rejected a stop gap offer from the St. Tammany Parish school district that would have slightly increased bus driver pay after bus drivers called the proposal "insultingly low." The deal would have paid drivers an extra $200 per month for five months with some additional money for extra runs. But the bus drivers who met with St. Tammany school Superintendent Frank Jabbia to discuss possible solutions urged the union to reject the offer because they said it was lower than they had discussed with Jabbia. Jabbia told the St. Tammany School Board that the offer would have been a bridge to hold over the struggling transportation system until the St. Tammany Federation of Teachers and School Employees and school district open formal contract negotiations in a few months. "I'm disappointed -- whether you're a federation employee or whether you're just a traditional St Tammany Parish employee I was hoping that we could come to some kind of resolution that would get us to negotiations," Jabbia said. But tensions flared at the School Board meeting as the sides offered their takes on the issue. Brant Osborn, president of the union, and several bus drivers who attended the meeting with Jabbia, claimed Jabbia presented a skewed narrative of the closed door meeting to School Board members. When asked by a School Board member whether he received a counter offer from the union, Jabbia told the board he did not. Osborn said he did counter, but never heard back. Im not trying to gouge the system, I just want something thats fair, Osborn said. Jabbia clarified on Monday that he misspoke at the meeting and thought the School Board member was referring to an initial response Osborn had given to the administration before he rejected the offer. He thought the board member was referring to a second counter offer. Bus owner operators in St. Tammany say their pay has not kept up with rising costs of bus upkeep and the strain that COVID has had on an already stressed stressed system, with drivers calling out sick and others being tasked with covering multiple routes. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The federation, formed in 1979 by Elsie Burkhalter, is among only a handful in Louisiana with collective bargaining. About 42% of teachers and school employees are union members. After the January School Board meeting, several bus drivers approached Jabbia and asked him to meet with them. Jabbia said the drivers had asked him to be the only person from the administration at the meeting. Osborn said the drivers told him not to attend the meeting per Jabbia's request. "I wanted to hear from my employees about the deep-rooted issues with operational pay and what they said was going on," Jabbia said on Monday. He said they discussed possible long-term solutions to ease the burdens on bus drivers, including raising a monthly stipend. Osborn contended that although it was characterized as a casual meeting, numbers were discussed. Osborn said he thought it may have violated the collective bargaining agreement, which establishes the federation as the sole bargaining agent in the district and that the union's attorneys are looking into it. Osborn called the meeting with the bus drivers bad faith bargaining and "an attempt to drive a wedge" between bus drivers and the union. Kari Wichers, a longtime owner operator who said she was in the meeting with Jabbia, called the offered stipend an insult to owner operators." After taxes it wouldnt be sufficient, it wouldn't have made a difference which is why the five drivers that were in the meeting all said no, she said. Collective bargaining will begin later this spring. Most of us dont teach hate, but clearly some do. It seems that someone somewhere taught six young people to move from love to hate, focusing on individuals or groups of people not like them. These young people supposedly worked to hide digital fingerprints as they targeted Historically Black Colleges and Universities across several states, including Southern University in Baton Rouge and Xavier University in New Orleans, with bomb threats. NBC News recently quoted an unnamed law enforcement official calling them persons of interest in the case, although there were no arrests or charges as of Monday morning. These threats are being investigated as racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism and hate crimes, the FBI said in a statement released as the investigation continued. The investigators are probably determining how best to pursue the people involved, especially since there are a few states and territories without hate crime laws. Three states Arkansas, South Carolina and Wyoming dont have hate crime laws. Neither do American Samoa or the U.S. Virgin Islands. These youths targeted Arkansas Baptist College and Philander Smith College in Arkansas. On Jan. 4, Xavier University in New Orleans was one of several higher education institutions to receive a bomb threat. The next day, Jan. 5, about eight schools got bomb threats. On Jan. 31, Southern University in Baton Rouge and at least six other HBCUs got bomb threats. The next day, Feb. 1, the first day of Black History Month, there were more bomb threats. Xavier was targeted again. What causes someone to threaten institutions like this? Are they cowards, afraid of Black authority, influence, power and the possibilities? Xavier produced a brilliant young leader who emerged to be the universitys longest-serving president, Norman C. Francis, and the first Black mayor of New Orleans, Ernest Dutch Morial. Southern produced a New Orleans activist and politician who led the end of Mardi Gras segregation, Dorothy Mae Taylor, and a man who became Prez at Grambling State University, Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones. These higher education institutions have had great success with limited investment and resources. The 106 HBCUs make up about 3% of our nations colleges and universities, yet they produce about 20% of all Black graduates and many Black attorneys, doctors, STEM field professionals and all kinds of leaders. Alcorn State University (alma mater of Alex Haley); Jackson State University (Walter Payton); Tougaloo College (Congressman Bennie Thompson); Rust College (Ida B. Wells) and Mississippi Valley State University (Jerry Rice) in Mississippi were threatened. So were Morgan State University (Black Enterprise publisher Earl Graves) in Maryland nearby Howard University (Vice President Kamala Harris) in Washington, D.C. Through the decades, HBCUs have worked daily to show that Black lives matter well before it became an important, modern-day catchphrase. The institutions have long been a base, a foundation, a cultural oasis upon which students could build strong academic foundations while getting to know various aspects of their rich culture with campus activities, events and organizations more specific to them. As a group, the schools have been so successful that the number of non-Black students attending HBCUs has grown since the 1970s. The bomb threats didnt happen in a vacuum. Love and hate are passed along from generation to generation. As parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, we teach one or the other or both. Unfortunately, whatever actions these young people took isnt surprising. The climate in our nation fuels it beyond the home. We might disagree about something espoused by one group or another, perhaps because someone we know seems like a nice, or at least an OK, person. But its no small thing to argue about and to fight to ban books that are about people who arent like us. Its a big deal when a local, state or national leader of prominence cuddles neo-Nazis and White supremacists. The Southern Poverty Law Center identified more than 800 hate groups in the United States in 2020, including several in Louisiana. Im sure the young people learned to smile, hug and kiss loved ones. Perhaps they learned to be friendly with people at school only to feel comfortable using racial slurs to describe them at home. Perhaps their actions were intended to disrupt the education of future Black leaders and professionals. Weve seen this before, for decades. It wont work. HBCUs are used to challenges. This will only provide resolve and make them stronger. The Oklahoma House has given final approval to a Texas-style abortion ban that prohibits abortion after about six weeks of pregnancy. The bill passed Thursday by the GOP-led House now heads to Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt. He's expected to sign it within days. The bill was immediately challenged in court by abortion rights advocates. The measure prohibits abortions once cardiac activity can be detected in an embryo. Experts say thats typically about six weeks into a pregnancy, before many women know they are pregnant. Like Texas, the bill allows private citizens to sue abortion providers or anyone who helps a woman obtain an abortion for up to $10,000. The U.S. Supreme Court allowed a similar law in Texas to stand. Norman, OK (73070) Today Becoming windy with thunderstorms, possibly severe this afternoon. High 81F. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Thunderstorms, some strong during the evening will give way to partly cloudy skies after midnight. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low near 45F. Winds NNW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Stay up to date on local news Get Breaking News Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. To help professionals and practitioners in various industries safely manage pesky particles, NFPA has developed six standards. Earlier this year, after an industrial manufacturing explosion in Singapore killed three and injured seven more, NFPA Journal put out a timely piece entitled Dust Disaster and an NFPA Learn Something New video that answered the question, What is a Combustible Dust Explosion? Speaking to NFPA Associate Editor Angelo Verzoni, Alexander Ing, one of the Associations hazardous chemicals engineers, explained that combustible dusts are created when finely divided solids are turned into smaller pieces. We see this with metal manufacturing where chipping and grinding are commonplace, chemical processing plants when raw materials are turned into plastics and during agricultural manufacturing when grain or products are often converted into a flour or powder, as was the case in Singapore. Ing pointed to the dust explosion pentagon, which is an expansion of the fire triangle as it relates to dust to set the stage for what might have happened in that February incident. The fire triangle starts with fuel, oxygen and an ignition source. If the three elements are present at the same time, you can get a fire. For example, if a pile of potato starch is exposed to a sufficient ignition source, fire can erupt on the top of that pile because that is where the surface area of the potato starch interacts with oxygen and all three elements of the fire triangle are present. If that same pile is dispersed into the air, a flash fire can be started from it. And, if that pile is dispersed in an enclosed space, that is considered confinement, which allows pressure to build as the gases rapidly expand during the reaction. So, a dust fire can occur if the three elements of the fire trianglefuel, oxygen and an ignition sourceare present and an explosion can occur if you add dispersion and confinement to the three elements of the fire triangle. So, how common are combustible dust incidents? According to the 2021 Mid-Year Combustible Dust Incident Report generated by Dust Safety Science, there were 51 fires and 28 explosions reported globally in the first six months of the year. These incidents caused 44 injuries and eight fatalities, with two incidents causing more than $1 million in losses. The data shows that wood processing, wood products, agricultural activity and food production typically make up a large portion of the overall fire and explosion incidents, but from January through June this year, the other category of industries made up 45 percent of the injuries and 37 percent of the fatalities reported. Other settings include facilities that deal with pulp, paper or ethanol, and include places like high schools and educational facilities. A running tally of recent incidents on the Dust Safety Science site indicates that there were 12 fires or explosions around the world in October alone. These incidents wrought varying degrees of havoc on facilities and resulted in employees being evacuated, response resources being called in, water supplies being tapped, operations coming to a halt and export schedules being affected. To help professionals and practitioners in various industries safely manage pesky particles, NFPA has developed six standardsone that covers the fundamentals of combustible dust and five more addressing commodity-based considerations: *NFPA 652, Standard on the Fundamentals of Combustible Dust, which lays out the basics of things that are common throughout the dust world *NFPA 654, Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing, and Handling of Combustible Particulate Solids, which generally handles chemical dusts *NFPA 61, Standard for the Prevention of Fires and Dust Explosions in Agricultural and Food Processing Facilities, which generally handles agricultural and food dusts *NFPA 484, Standard for Combustible Metals, which generally handles combustible metals *NFPA 664, Standard for the Prevention of Fires and Explosions in Wood Processing and Woodworking Facilities, which generally handles wood dust *NFPA 655, Standard for Prevention of Sulfur Fires and Explosions, which handles the size reduction and handling of sulfur This fall, a new training program also debuted. It applies the guidance found within the 2019 edition of NFPA 652. NFPA tapped into an expert training advisory group to glean specialized industrial knowledge and input for the training that is set in a grain mill. The three modules cover different forms of dust, proactive preventative measures to be taken to reduce risk and the impact that compliance has on protecting people and property. Completion of a dust hazard analysis (DHA) is emphasized in NFPA 652 and the DHA needs to be reviewed and updated every five years. Therefore, trainees are required to identify potential risks, perform a DHA and then implement the recommendations put forth in the DHA during the training. The three-part NFPA 652 Combustible Dust (2019) Online Training Series entails Combustible Dust Safety Awareness, Combustible Dust Hazard Evaluation and Combustible Dust Controls and Safeguards modules that feature engaging videos, interactive simulations, informative case studies and other educational enhancements. The training trio benefits manufacturing personnel as well as engineers, designers, health and safety leaders, loss control/facility risk/safety specialists, facilities managers, insurers, inspectors and code enforcers. And finally, if you are not familiar with all the great research that NFPA generates to inform audiences about persistent threats and emerging hazards, it is time to visit the Applied Research section on our website and the microsite for the Fire Protection Research Foundation, the research affiliate of NFPA. The Foundation issued a report last December on the Variables Impacting the Probability and Severity of Dust explosions in Dust Collectors because, as the NFPA Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem outlines, one of the best ways that organizations, including NFPA, can invest in safety is by prioritizing research. Combustible dust can wreak havoc on facilities, if prescriptive and proactive steps are not being taken by key personnel. That is why NFPA standards, training, content and research exist. Are you taking full advantage of the insights and information found in these resources? Submitted February 2, 2022 Small businesses, from mom and pops to manufacturers and exporters, account for two-thirds of net new jobs in the U.S., generating more than 40% of our nations economic output. So, when the number of small business owners declined by 20.2% between April 2019 and April 2020, the impact was significant. The highest declines were experienced by Black-owned enterprises - 37.6%. With the pandemic ramping up, the hardest hit were still Black small business owners. Theyve begun to recover due to their resilience, but also thanks to COVID-related financial assistance programs such as the Paycheck Protection Program, the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, Shuttered Venues Operators Grants, and Economic Injury Disaster Loans. Still, the opportunity gap is real: According to a Federal Reserve report, more than half of white-owned employers applying for non-emergency financing received most or all the capital they needed, while only 20% of Black-owned firms could say the same. Nearly two-thirds of Black-owned employer-firms applying for financing received nothing or had financing needs but did not apply. This is not unique to pandemic relief: FDIC data on commercial small business lending by regulated banks shows a three percent decline (600,000 loans) in the proportion of loans under $100,000. This lack of small-dollar-loan appetite from lenders led to disproportionate impacts on minority businesses. Firms with non-Hispanic Black ownership and firms with $100,000 or less in revenues were only half as likely as firms with non-Hispanic white ownership to obtain bank funds. The Biden-Harris Administration and the U.S. Small Business Administration are striving to balance the scales. We continue to offer an array of resources to help minority and underserved businesses reset and retool while doing more through policy and process to remove historic impediments. Under SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas-Guzman, the agency will continue to support small business owners and startups through our traditional lending portfolio (7a, 504, microloans), which had a historic year in FY21, and through accessing new opportunities, such as climate focused manufacturing, presented in President Bidens Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The Infrastructure Plan will be big for small businesses. The federal government is the largest buyer of goods and services in the world. In FY 2020, 1.9% of federal contracts went to Black-owned firms while 2.1% went to Latinx-owned firms and 3.2% went to AAPI-owned firms, even though they represent 9.9%, 12.8% and 8.1% of all small businesses, respectively. For the first time, President Biden is directing that 11% of contracting dollars are awarded to small, disadvantaged businesses, up from the current statutory goal of five percent. This is a first step towards meeting the Presidents goal of ensuring 15% of federal contracts go to SDBs by 2025. Buying from small, disadvantaged businesses leverages the governments purchasing power to reestablish domestic supply chains and Made in America products using market growth opportunities to strengthen our nations industrial base. To ensure were hitting the mark, the SBA is dis-aggregating federal contracting data to track equity across racial and ethnic categories, and advancing reforms that will increase transparency, encourage accountability and, most importantly, drive inclusion in the U.S. governments small business contracting system. Achieving President Bidens contracting goals will be a giant leap forward and make a big difference for many small businesses and communities across the country, putting an extra $50 billion into the hands of Americas small, disadvantaged businesses over the next five years. This will spur innovation, helping Americas entrepreneurs to develop and bring to market the products and services of the future. -- The opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints expressed in this letter to the editor do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints of NorthcentralPa.com. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Get Our Free Newsletters Never miss a headline with NorthcentralPa.com newsletters. Sign Up Today! Morning Headlines: Would you like to receive our daily morning newsletter? Afternoon Update: What's happening today? Here's your update! Daily Obits: Get a daily list straight to your email inbox. Trout Run, Pa. During a presentation in school about abuse and how to report it, a school counselor said she noticed a student begin to cry. The child was approached after class and asked about her reaction. According to an affidavit from State Police, the child told the counselor she had been sexually abused. Timothy Wayne Kuhns, 34, of Williamsport was charged with multiple felonies and misdemeanors on Jan. 26 after an investigation into the allegations by authorities. (School Counselor) related the victim told her nobody knows this and continued to explain that Tim Kuhns touches her where she doesnt want to be touched and is only nice to her when other people are around, wrote State Trooper Josiah Reiner. During a tour for new students on Sept. 3, 2020, a counselor spoke about reporting sexual abuse and noticed the juvenile put her head down and begin to cry. After speaking with her, the counselor alerted Lycoming Children and Youth, who then reported the incident to PSP Montoursville. A forensic interview was conducted with the child, who told authorities she awoke one night with no underpants and Kuhns standing over her. Kuhns allegedly attempted to force the juvenile to perform oral sex on him several times while he was exposed. According to the report, Kuhns left the childs room after the accuser got out of bed and stood by the door. Once Kuhns left, the child told authorities she cried herself to sleep. (School Counselor) further related that (accuser) said Kuhns has told her not to tell anyone that he touches her, or he would beat her, wrote Reiner. Kuhns was charged with second-degree felony intimidates or intends to intimidate person to refrain from reporting. He was also charged with several third-degree felonies that included indecent assault of a person less than 13, endangering the welfare of children, and corruption of minors to go with first-degree misdemeanor indecent exposure and second-degree indecent assault. Kuhns was arraigned before Judge Gary Whiteman on Jan. 26 and will face him again on Feb. 7 for a preliminary hearing. Kuhns posted $50,000 monetary bail through a professional bondsman and was released from the Lycoming County Prison on Jan. 27. Docket sheet Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Get Our Free Newsletters Never miss a headline with NorthcentralPa.com newsletters. Sign Up Today! Morning Headlines: Would you like to receive our daily morning newsletter? Afternoon Update: What's happening today? Here's your update! Daily Obits: Get a daily list straight to your email inbox. Education featured Cave Spring Community Coalition proposing to buy elementary school; board meets Monday File Cave Spring Elementary School, 13 Rome Road, Cave Spring. Floyd County Schools Board of Education will be hearing Monday from the Cave Spring Community Coalition. The citizens group will present its plans to transform the Cave Spring Elementary School property into a community center. The elementary school is just a few blocks north of the downtown district is scheduled to be closed at the end of the school year and its students reassigned to other schools. County school board members made the decision last year, on the basis that the system has too many buildings for their projected number of students. In response to the announcement, community members formed the Cave Spring Community Coalition to try and buy the property and create a space that would still benefit the community. Operational plans include providing tutoring and afterschool care for children as well as health and wellness activities for senior citizens. With the Cave Spring Housing Authority and Northwest Georgia Housing Authority potentially consolidating in the near future and rescinding their interest in the property, the coalition would be the only organization that has voiced an interest in the elementary school property. Following the presentation, the school board has scheduled a closed session to discuss property matters. The board meeting will also include action on a contract to replace the roof at Model Elementary School. Board members will be looking over new media center policies and social media policies at the Monday meeting as well. The board will also be approving employee contracts for the 2022-2023 school year. The contracts for teacher Amanda Waits and counselor Melissa Shell will be approved separately with their board member spouses Danny Waits and Jay Shell abstaining from the vote. Caucus will begin at 5 p.m. in the superintendents office in the Floyd County Schools building at 600 Riverside Parkway. The regular meeting will take place in the meeting room at 6 p.m. Photo taken on Sept. 30, 2020 shows the street view of the Lujiazui area of Pudong, east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang) BEIJING, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- China's capital market is expected to see sound development with more opportunities this year, experts said. "The opportunities outweigh the challenges for China's capital market in 2022," said Peng Wensheng, chief analyst of the China International Capital Corporation, in a recent interview with Xinhua. Peng added that the country's innovation drive and policies to stabilize growth would further stimulate vitality and unleash the potential of China's capital market. Despite uncertainties in the global financial market in 2022, China's capital market still has the foundation and conditions for sustainable and sound development, said Liu Yuanchun, vice president of Renmin University of China. More liquidity support and continued reforms would help China's capital market maintain its sound development, said Liu. The steady growth momentum of the Chinese economy has laid a solid foundation for capital market development, said Liu. Liu added that China's economic growth is forecast to range from 5.2 to 5.6 by some agencies. Chinese authorities have underscored a "triple pressure" -- shrinking demand, supply shocks, and weakening expectations -- and prioritized stability in its economic work for 2022 in a tone-setting economic meeting. Despite the triple pressure, China's economy will likely maintain steady growth momentum this year with decreased unemployment, generally stable commodity prices, and enhanced technological innovation, Liu said. The successor to the M1 Apple Silicon, currently widely expected to be known as the M2 chip, could appear in no fewer than four different Macs before the end of the year. The lineup of potential new Apple M2-powered devices consists of a MacBook Pro laptop, an iMac refresh, a beefed-up Mac mini, and the hotly anticipated 2022 MacBook Air. 4 Reviews , News , CPU , GPU , Articles , Columns , Other "or" search relation. 3D Printing , 5G , Accessory , AI , Alder Lake , AMD , Android , Apple , ARM , Audio , Benchmark , Biotech , Business , Camera , Cannon Lake , Cezanne (Zen 3) , Charts , Chinese Tech , Chromebook , Coffee Lake , Comet Lake , Console , Convertible / 2-in-1 , Cryptocurrency , Cyberlaw , Deal , Desktop , E-Mobility , Education , Exclusive , Fail , Foldable , Gadget , Galaxy Note , Galaxy S , Gamecheck , Gaming , Geforce , Google Pixel , GPU , How To , Ice Lake , Intel , Intel Evo , Internet of Things (IoT) , iOS , iPad , iPad Pro , iPhone , Jasper Lake , Lakefield , Laptop , Launch , Leaks / Rumors , Linux / Unix , List , Lucienne (Zen 2) , MacBook , Mini PC , Monitor , MSI , OnePlus , Opinion , Phablet , Radeon , Raptor Lake , Renoir , Review Snippet , Rocket Lake , Ryzen (Zen) , Science , Security , Single-Board Computer (SBC) , Smart Home , Smartphone , Smartwatch , Software , Storage , Tablet , ThinkPad , Thunderbolt , Tiger Lake , Touchscreen , Ultrabook , Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR) , Wearable , Wi-Fi 7 , Windows , Workstation , XPS , Zen 3 (Vermeer) , Zen 4 Ticker Once again, Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman has been sharing some interesting tidbits of information in regard to Apples product plans for the year. While it has already been revealed that Cupertino will have a launch event taking place on March 8, it is believed that some of the big Mac-related product releases of the year will be coming in the fall. This gives Apple time to make sure the M2 silicon is up to scratch, as it is expected to be making a star turn in at least four different Macs. There has been plenty of talk about a new entry-level MacBook Pro laptop, with Gurman also offering up some idea of what the laptop will feature (and not feature). This M2 MacBook Pro could simply slot into the current Apple laptop product stack as a replacement for the M1 MacBook Pro 13, which will be two years old in November. The M2 Apple Silicon should offer generational performance improvements over the M1 but will likely not be a match for the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, leaving the higher end of the MacBook Pro stack untouched for now. Of course, plenty has also been said about the 2022 MacBook Air with M2 processor, with the laptop seemingly delayed at some point during its production. A refreshed look for the M2 MacBook Air is expected to ape the design language of the M1 iMac, so plenty of color choices, and there will supposedly be a notch present on the display. Speaking of the iMac, Gurman reckons a revamped 24-inch iMac for 2022 will also feature the M2 chip, possibly pushing the current M1 model down into a convenient entry-level purchase position. Last but not least, there is the M2 Mac mini apparently on the cards. The Apple compact desktop computer has been a popular product since its introduction in 2005, and Apple Silicon became part of its makeup with the release of the fifth-generation lineup in 2020. Although there probably will be M2 Pro and M2 Max SoC extensions at some point later down the line, this updated M2 Mac mini will likely be introduced as an entry-level model. Buy the Apple MacBook Pro 13 with M1 chip on Amazon Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. BEIJING, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Beijing 2022 has received extensive support from the international community, and that "Together" advocated by the Olympic movement is most needed in the current times, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian. #GLOBALink Produced by Xinhua Global Service Sheldon, IA (51201) Today Cloudy this morning. A few showers developing during the afternoon. High 46F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Showers early, then cloudy overnight. Low 36F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%. MICHIGAN CITY City Engineer Jeff Wright asked the City Council last week if Mayor Duane Parry should accept Wrights resignation after he made a mistake that cost the city its Community Crossings Matching Grant funds. That will cost the city hundreds of thousands of dollars. Wright explained that Parry said he would accept Wrights resignation but wanted council feedback. Before anything gets set in stone, it would be nice to hear from the council, Wright said. Wright explained he missed a procedural detail, which meant the city cant receive the money from the Indiana Department of Transportation grant the city was awarded. This is being put on the Board of Public Works and Safety agenda for internal controls to be put in place, council President Angie Deuitch, D-at large, said. I did not direct Mr. Wright to resign and did not fire Mr. Wright, Parry said. However, in the private sector, a mistake of that magnitude would immediately cost a person his job, the mayor said. Council Vice President Don Przybylinski, D-at large, consoled Wright. Everybody makes mistakes, and there are things going on presently that are a lot more volatile or disciplinary that arent being looked at, he said. I dont recommend that you resign. I think you are a great city employee, Przybylinski said. There was a mistake that you made. We all make mistakes. Weve all been there. Councilman Paul Przybylinski, D-2nd, also didnt want Wright punished or severely punished. Wright explained what happened in detail to the councils finance committee, Paul Przybylinski noted. He admitted his mistake. Yes, we have to cover it, he said, but Wright has always been upfront about roadwork or other construction work. The man has saved us a lot of money over the course of his employment with the city. Affirming his mistake shows the depth of Wrights character, Paul Przybylinski said. Councilman Bryant Dabney, D-1st, said some questions still need to be answered. Really, we dont have all the information. Remember when Police Chief Dion Campbell was castigated for sending out a fundraising letter with water bills, Dabney asked. This city was turned on its head, and now theres an instance where $300,000 needs to be covered to pay for paving work the city had expected the INDOT grant to pay for. We have people that will go up in arms with (Controller) Yvonne Hoffmaster for not sending out a report with fund balances, Dabney said. If you can hear my voice getting a little bit more angry, I am. Parry said Wright has saved the city over $1 million in two years by doing engineering design work in-house. Wrights mistake was due to inexperience, he added. He is probably one of the most ambitious people Ive met. Wright recently came up with a plan to improve drainage that could be done for $600,000 instead of the $13 million project it could otherwise be, Parry said. Were not in a trial or anything for Mr. Wright, Deuitch said. I just dont believe its up to the council to deal with resignations for the administration, she said. Its up to the mayor to make those determinations on his staff. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. HAMMOND Get ready to roll out. The Dirty South rapper Ludacris is coming to disturb tha peace in Hammond. The verbally dexterous hip hop star known for hits like "Act a Fool" and "Southern Hospitality" will perform at The Venue at the Hammond Horseshoe Casino on March 5. The concert will take place at 8 p.m. in the music venue at the casino at 777 Casino Drive near the Chicago border in north Hammond. "The multifaceted superstar rose to fame in the early aughts with his debut album, 'Back For The First Time,' and his sophomore album, 'Word of Mouf,' both peaking in the top 5 of the Billboard 200 charts and both achieving triple platinum status, respectively," Hammond Horseshoe Casino said in a press release. "Spawning hits like 'What's Your Fantasy,' 'Roll Out,' 'Area Codes,' 'Stand Up' and more, Ludacris continues to blaze trails today with his music alongside his featured appearances in the Fast & Furious movie franchise." His prolific acting career also has included roles in "Hustle & Flow," "Crash," "American Hustle," "Ball Don't Lie" and "Max Payne." The Atlanta-based rapper started his own label, Disturbing tha Peace, in the late 1990s before signing with Def Jam South. He has released multiple albums that reached multiplatinum status, including "Chicken-n-Beer" and "The Red Light District." He most recently released the album "Ludaversal" in 2015 and the single "Butter.ATL" last year. Ludacris has won critical acclaim, including three Grammy Awards and an MTV Video Music Award. The legendary sportscaster Bob Costas once declared Ludacris his favorite rapper. The silver-tongued southern rapper, whose real name is Chris Bridges, has worked over the years with many luminaries in the music industry such as Pharrell Williams, Shawnna, Timbaland, Mystical and Snoop Dogg. He headlined Hammond's Festival of the Lakes rap night at Wolf Lake Pavilion back in 2016. Tickets to his upcoming concert in Hammond range from $49 to $79. For more information or tickets, visit caesars.com/horseshoe-hammond/shows. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Today's Sound Off is about the spoken word: Dear Heloise: Why do people use such sloppy English? I teach English in high school, and I'm saddened to hear people say things such as, "I'd have went" instead of, "I'd have gone." Then there is the overused word "like." One student of mine said, "I was, like, sorry to hear he was, ya know, like, gone." The word "like" doesn't even need to be there and neither does "ya know." Culturally, I know language picks up various phrases and words, but people who use bad English seldom have jobs that pay higher salaries. I don't think I have ever met a CEO who spoke bad English. It seems that many companies will hire someone with poor English skills to do manual labor, jobs where the worker does not really have contact with the public. But those jobs also pay lower salaries and are rapidly disappearing. A man or woman who could speak proper English was the sign of an educated person, and I'm not talking about someone for whom English is a second language. Oddly enough, in my experience, most foreign-born people learn and use correct English. I can teach students the correct use of present and past tense, but it all comes down to parental responsibility. Parents need to insist their kids learn and use proper English. Believe me, it's not clever or "hip" to sound as though you didn't attend school past fifth grade. A Teacher in California Public Schools FAST FACTS Too many electrical cords? Try to secure them by one of the following methods: Tape to the floor with electric or fabric tape. Run cords through cardboard tubes. Use old phone coil cords to wrap around the cords. Secure together with rubber bands. Chilly nights Dear Heloise: Sometimes I can't get to sleep because my feet are like ice and they just won't warm up. I discovered that rubbing in a moisturizer lotion before going to bed takes that problem away. I also moisturize my nose, ears and hands if I'm going to be in a chilly environment for more than a few minutes. A good moisturizer seems to help the body retain much of it's heat. Janel, Centerville, Ohio Janel, I did some research and found out that some moisturizers do, indeed, help warm up the body and help regulate body temperature. It also has an added benefit of re-hydrating dry skin, and helps many people feel relaxed and pampered, too. Heloise PEARL PROBLEM Dear Heloise: How do I clean my pearls? Mine have changed color a little. Is that normal? -- Eunice A., Helena, Montana Eunice, to clean pearls, use a very soft cloth dipped in a bowl of soapy water (a mild shampoo would work well), and gently wipe each pearl. Rinse with clean water and use a soft cloth to pat the pearls dry. Some experts believe you should wipe down your pearls after each wearing. They will change color over time, and there is no way to reverse the color. It's a natural process of pearls. -- Heloise Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Got a sweet tooth? This months for you! There seem to be aisles of chocolates in all the supermarkets and department stores as we approach Valentines Day. But once the holiday passes and youre still itching for some creamy bites of goodness, there are plenty of candy shops to visit for that sugar rush. Many of them are historic gems where chocolates have been produced by hand for decades, and some are being run by second and third generations. Some are stand-alone chocolate shops, while others serve up ice cream treats as well or have a full cafe menu with sandwiches and salads. Some of my favorites are: Gayetys Chocolates in Lansing. Although this place originated in Chicago over a century ago, it relocated to Lansing on Torrence Avenue and then to its current location on Ridge Road. Its been my go-to place for a treat usually a mini muddle sundae, which includes their vanilla ice cream topped with homemade whipped cream and hot fudge and sprinkled with pecans. They have wonderful seasonal and specialty flavors, too. I love the peppermint and banana flavors. But for chocolates, youll find a number of hand-dipped candies, like the muddles (which are similar to Turtles), chocolate covered nuts, toffee and other goodies. Id always get giddy when Id get one of those gold gift boxes from Gayetys that I knew was filled with chocolate stuff I loved. Cunis Candies in South Holland. This is another local one that is not far from where I grew up. It dates back to 1933 and they have a variety of chocolates, freshly-roasted nuts, homemade ice cream and chocolate covered strawberries. McCords Candies in Lafayette is an adorable old-school soda fountain shop where you can choose from so many chocolate treats, shakes and other goodies. Theyre also known for their homemade candy canes made from the original recipe (the store opened in 1912) and hand-pulled as they have been since the beginning. Carlisle Coffee & Sweets in New Carlisle, Indiana. When we went for lunch at Mosers Austrian Cafe, we discovered this place attached to the restaurant. Youll find delectable desserts, like the strudel and cheesecake you can get in the restaurant along with fudge, stroopwafels, truffles, tortes, tarts, brownies, canoli and more on the menu. Long Grove Confectionery in Long Grove, Illinois. I have fond memories of my visits there with my mom, older sister and sisters-in-law when I was a child. We made a few trips to this lovely little historic downtown to shop and dine and no trip was complete without chocolate covered strawberries from Long Grove Confectionery. Abbotts Candies in Hagerstown, Indiana is a place I discovered on a road trip with my family. Its totally worth heading a little off the beaten path to visit this shop that has been around since 1890 and still uses old-fashioned candy making techniques and equipment to create the confections by hand. The truffles and caramels and amazing. Riverside Chocolate Factory in McHenry, Illinois. My sister-in-law once lived nearby and on each trip to her house we would make a stop here for all kinds of chocolate treats among them the chocolate covered bananas, which were out of this world. Anderson's Candy Shop in Richmond, Illinois is a chocolate lover's paradise where you'll find adorable chocolate molded chocolates, truffles, fudge, chocolate covered nuts and cremes and my favorite - the Filbert, which is a chocolate bar with hazelnuts. The shop is a charming little spot that is still in the same family with a fourth generation behind the helm. And a few others Id recommend: DeBrand Fine Chocolates in Fort Wayne Ethereal Confections in Woodstock, Illinois Katherine Anne Confections in Chicago Flesors Candy Kitchen in Tuscola, Illinois Kilwins is a chain with many locations. Ive been to stores in Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois. Fannie May is another chain worth visiting with most locations in Illinois and Northwest Indiana. South Bend Chocolates has several locations in Indiana as well as a couple in Ohio and Michigan. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Need to get away? Start exploring magnificent places with our weekly travel newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CROWN POINT A 25-year-old man received a four-year sentence Friday for breaking into a Hammond church in 2019 and causing extensive damage, court records show. Nicholas D. Reding, of Hammond, was ordered to serve two years in the Lake County Community Corrections alternative placement program, followed by two years on probation. Reding pleaded guilty in April to burglary, a Level 5 felony, in connection with the May 29, 2019, break-in and vandalism of Faith United Church of Christ, 3030 175th St. Reding's co-defendant, Aaron Vanoppens, 26, of Hammond, was sentenced in April to three years in the Lake County Community Corrections program. During Vanoppens' sentencing, Lake County Deputy Prosecutor Patrick Grindlay read a statement written by a church elder describing the shock and horror congregation members felt upon learning every room in their place of worship was in shambles. Relics from the early 1900s were destroyed, and a vintage organ never can be replaced, Grindlay said. Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. WARSAW, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- A plane carrying U.S. soldiers landed in southern Poland on Sunday, on U.S. President Joe Biden's order to deploy additional U.S. troops to Poland, Romania and Germany this week, amid rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine. The 1,700 U.S. soldiers sent to Poland will operate in the country's eastern-southern part, according to the Polish Defense Ministry. Logistics, equipment and a handful of soldiers arrived on other planes on Friday and Saturday. Tensions between Russia and Ukraine are growing as the Western countries are stepping up military maneuvers near the Russian borders. Kiev and its Western allies have accused Russia of amassing troops near the Ukrainian border, further pointing to the possibility of an "invasion." Moscow has denied such claims, adding that it had every right to mobilize troops within its borders and defend its national security. CROWN POINT For more than three years, the families of three young people gunned down in July 2018 have waited for justice. Now that charges have been filed against two men, the parents of two of the victims know they still have a long road ahead of them. Dennis Ross said he was getting ready for church Jan. 30 when he first learned Lake County prosecutors had filed charges in the homicides of his son Darius Ross, 28, of Gary; Darius' fiancee, Heather Talley, 27, of Hammond; and the couples friend, Nicholas Edwards, 28, of Gary. "I was like, 'Wow, we did it!'" he said. "But then I started thinking, 'But do I really want to go through this all over again?'" Ross said his son would say, "Pops ain't gone let it die out." And he didn't. For years, he called detectives at the Lake County/Gary Metro Homicide Unit every other month to ask for an update. "People think they never solve any cases," Dennis Ross said. "Well, they're wrong. This took three years, but it got filed. It happened for us, but we had a lot of extra help from the Man above." Talley's mother, Diana Graczyk, said Detective Sgt. William Poe promised her he wouldn't let the case go cold. "He did not disappoint us," she said. "I can't say enough how grateful we are for him." Graczyk, Dennis Ross and Darius' mother, Anissa Ross, said they plan to stand together as the cases against Erik P. Long, 43, and Huston J. Bond, 32, both of Gary, make their way through Lake Criminal Court. A magistrate entered not guilty pleas on behalf of Long and Bond during separate initial hearings last week. Anissa Ross said she recently spent time with her mother, daughter and grandchildren watching videos of Darius Ross. "It's been four years now, and there's not a day I don't think about him," she said. The filing of charges won't bring her son and his girlfriend back, but she was relieved to finally learn something, she said. According to court records, detectives uncovered a connection to Raymon Truitt II, 28, who was killed in a shootout in June 8, 2018, with undercover agents for the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. An ATF agent was wounded in the shooting at 554 Kentucky St. in Gary. Investigators learned four calls were made early July 15, 2018, between a cellphone used by Talley and Darius Ross and another number, which was identified as Long's as part of the investigation into the shooting involving Truitt, court records state. Phone location data showed the Talley/Ross phone was in the area of Long's residence on Martin Luther King Drive in Gary's Valley neighborhood from 2:20 to 3:30 a.m. July 15, 2018, records state. The Talley/Ross phone traveled without interruption about 3:40 a.m. to the 2500 block of Central Avenue in Gary, according to court documents. It's the same location where Talley's body was discovered about 4:20 a.m. The bodies of Ross and Edwards were found hours later concealed in Ross's car, which was abandoned in the area of West Ninth Avenue and Harrison Street. Talley had been shot seven times. Ross was shot 12 times, and Edwards suffered eight gunshot wounds, records state. Gary police Cmdr. Jack Hamady said detectives built their case by sending out multiple subpoenas for phone records. When the connection to Truitt was discovered, they asked the ATF to assist, he said. The investigation became complex, but detectives could not initially tell the families they had solicited help from federal partners, Hamady said. After years of working the case, they were fortunate to finally secure charges, he said. "It's not true that Gary police don't care," he said. "The Gary Police Department has a high volume of crimes that come through. We look at each and every case the same." Homicide victims can't speak for themselves, so investigators work those cases as much as possible. They look at who's cooperating and gather intelligence, he said. Complex investigations can become expensive, but the department leans on its federal partners for help and taps into resources funded through the Indiana High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. According to court records, Truitt was a friend of Edwards. Bond told police in an interview in March 2021 he initially suspected Truitt and Edwards of robbing him in January 2016, court records state. Truitt was charged with shooting Bond in April 2016 while Bond was visiting a family member in the Valley area. Bond said during his interview with police that he, Long and a third man went to Edwards' home at one point to settle a feud, and that he and Edwards "were cool" after that meeting, documents state. Investigators caught another break in the triple homicide case in May, when a man facing federal firearms charges agreed to testify against Bond and Long, records show. The man, who was a friend of Bond, told authorities Bond confessed to him during a phone conversation to playing a role in the triple homicide, court records state. The man said Bond told him Long contacted Edwards about drugs and invited Edwards to a home on Martin Luther King Drive in Gary, court records state. According to the mans story, Edwards, Ross, Talley and a fourth person walked in the front door of the home, and Long and Bond began shooting. Ross and Edwards were killed, but Talley began screaming and ran out of the home with the fourth person, court records state. The man told police Talley was shot outside, but he was unsure what happened with the fourth person. Graczyk said her daughter was part of a large extended family, and her homicide has affected all of them. "They don't realize the trauma a family goes through and the nightmare they have to live," she said. "Not only my family, but the Ross family and the Nicholas Edwards family." After Talley's homicide, Graczyk went to her grave all the time, but she eventually had to take a step back to focus on her own mental health. When she learned arrests had been made, it brought back all of the pain, she said. There are days when Graczyk can't look at her daughter's picture or speak her name, because Graczyk has to make it through her day and stay strong for other family members. "I'm damaged for the rest of my life," she said. "I can't even watch the news. I can't even watch a movie that's violent. It affects me. It affects my soul. "When I see another parent lost their child, I weep for them, because I know the pain they have to deal with." Anyone with more information about the case is asked to call Detective Sgt. Poe at 219-755-3855. To remain anonymous, call 866-CRIME-GP. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CHICAGO A 19-year-old Hammond man faces an attempted murder charge as part of a wider anti-violence crackdown on Chicago-area expressways. Darrell D. Wardington was arrested Jan. 31 for his involvement in an expressway shooting that occurred at 11:23 a.m. Dec. 15 on northbound Interstate 94 at 159th Street, Illinois State Police announced Monday. Troopers responding to that incident reported a 32-year-old Chicago man suffered nonlife-threatening injuries from gunfire. Wardington was identified as a suspect and was taken into custody in Indiana with the assistance of the FBI Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force, ISP said. He was extradited to Illinois and taken to Cook County Jail on a $250,000 bond. Wardington was one of 20 people charged as part of the crackdown, state police said. Charges include three first-degree murders, one involuntary manslaughter, three attempted murders and additional charges on allegations of aggravated discharge of a firearm, reckless discharge of a firearm, aggravated vehicular hijacking and aggravated fleeing and eluding. There were 24 homicides on Chicago-area expressways in 2021, according to police. State police, crediting the leadership of Illinois Gov. J. B. Pritzker, said they have significantly ramped up enforcement action on expressways, including more proactive patrols with additional troopers, deployment of air operations to monitor expressways and provide real-time information to troopers on the ground, and the installation of automated license plate readers on expressways to provide state police special agents with essential leads and evidence. "I have directed the Illinois State Police and other agencies to make every possible effort to keep our expressways safe and solve the heinous shootings that spill over from neighborhoods onto the expressway, and these arrests are proof that these efforts are working," Pritzker said. ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly said, "The ISP is showing: If you engage in criminal activity on the expressways, you will be identified, you will be arrested and you will be charged with the most serious charges under the law." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. GARY Full South Shore Line train service was restored early Monday afternoon after a morning vehicle/pole collision east of Miller Station had caused a power outage and required busing of passengers between Miller and Dune Park Station. The multiple-vehicle crash damaged a utility pole in the area of the tracks at County Line Road, according to the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District. Gary police Cmdr. Jack Hamady said three vehicles were involved in the crash and a pole fell on the South Shore tracks. The crash occurred shortly after 8 a.m. on south County Line Road near U.S. 20, he said. NICTD Police Chief Jessie Watts Jr. said a driver lost control of a vehicle, hit a guardrail and split a power line pole feeding service to the train line. A second pole was also damaged, he said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. GARY A suspect was taken into custody Monday after a Gary police officer was wounded in a shooting after responding to a car crash, prompting a massive, intensive manhunt that led officers from all across Northwest Indiana to descend on downtown Gary. The suspect was taken into custody by Gary police officers with help from the Lake County Sheriff's Department, Gary Mayor Jerome Prince said. The wounded officer, identified as Detective Sgt. William Fazekas, was in stable condition with his family late Monday afternoon, Gary Police Department Chief Brian Evans said. Fazekas, who joined the Gary Police Department in December 1989 and currently works in the Violent Crimes Division as an investigator, was shot about 1 p.m. while responding to a vehicle accident he happened to pass, police said. He was driving down the street when he witnessed a vehicle strike another vehicle, Evans said. He went to see if he needed to render aid or otherwise help out when one of the suspects started shooting at him, he said. "Sgt. Fazekas activated his emergency lights and engaged the vehicles in the incident," he said. "One of the suspects opened fire on Sgt. Fazekas, striking him in the left shoulder. At 12:57 p.m., the officer called out shots fired and officer down." Fazekas was able to return fire. "We do not know if he struck anybody," Evans said. "The individual we have in custody was unharmed." The officer was taken to a local hospital for treatment after the shooting near West Fifth Avenue and Johnson Street, Lake County sheriff's spokeswoman Pam Jones said. He went to a local hospital at 12:59 p.m. and then was taken to a Chicago hospital for further treatment at 2:15 p.m., Evans said. Prince said he was thankful the officer was in stable condition. "I visited with the officer briefly, and I am relieved to say he is doing well," Prince said. Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. said one person was taken into custody at an abandoned building in the area of West Fourth Avenue and Buchanan Street. Another person of interest was still at large as of late afternoon Monday, Evans said. Sheriff's police took the lead in the investigation at the request of the Gary Police Department, he said. The mayor did not release further details about the identity of the suspect. "Our Gary Police Department has made significant progress in making our city safer, but, as today reminds us, our dedicated men and women on the police force put their lives and well-being on the line every day to serve and protect us," he said. "It can be dangerous work, and I thank each and every one of them." The investigation remains active. "One of our veteran officers was injured in the line of duty today," Prince said at a press conference Monday afternoon. "The Gary Police Department as well as the Lake County Sheriff's Office responded immediately, secured the scene and was able to actually apprehend the suspect. To that extent, we're certainly proud of that immediate service to the community." Prince went to the scene and to the hospital to check on Fazekas. "He appeared to be doing as well as could be expected," he said. "It's sort of cliche to say police personnel and fire personnel run to danger when others run away from it. But having said that, it's important to note that these men and women place themselves and their lives in danger every single day. To that extent, as the mayor of Gary, I'm certainly please by all of our officers as well as the Lake County Sheriff's Department but in this instance certainly Sgt. Fazekas in particular. He has proven himself to be committed to the success and safety of our city, and we're certainly grateful to have him. But also I wanted to mention I am grateful to all of the officers who responded to the scene." Elected officials wished for the officer's speedy recovery. I was pained today to hear the news that my friend Sgt. William Fazekas was shot in the line of duty. However, Im grateful to hear that he is in stable condition and receiving further treatment," said state Sen. Rodney Pol, D-Chesterton. "Sgt. Fazekas has honorably served the Gary community for 32 years, putting his life on the line every day. I wish him a speedy recovery and hope he knows that he has the entire Gary community behind him. State Sen. Eddie Melton, D-Gary, voiced his concern. I was saddened to hear the news that Sgt. William Fazekas was shot while on duty, but Im glad to know he is receiving treatment and recovering. I want to thank him for his service to our community, and he and his family will be in our prayers. Authorities scoured the neighborhood near the shooting scene, which also is near Methodist Hospitals Northlake Campus in the 600 block of Grant Street. The Lake County Sheriff's Department helicopter circled overhead as officers from multiple agencies converged on the neighborhood. Officers from Gary, Griffith, Crown Point and Merrillville and their K9s scoured residential streets in the area. Evans described the crime scene as being from Fourth Ave to the north to Sixth Ave to the south, from Grant Street to the west to Taft Street to the east. The person of interest is believed to be within that radius. He encouraged residents not to be alarmed. "The Gary Police Department is very committed to your safety and very committed to our jobs," Evans said. "We do it every day to the best of our abilities. Sometimes, these things happen. Sometimes it's dangerous to do traffic stops and dangerous to be police. But we're committed to make sure you're safe and committed we're doing our jobs. The one thing I can say about the residents of Gary is they always come forward when we need them. That's our sixth man off the bench." For much of Monday afternoon, police blocked off Grant Street in front of the hospital as well as West Seventh Avenue and Fifth Avenue. At the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Johnson Street, police refused to allow pedestrians to pass through an area described by one officer as a crime scene. Officers placed crime tape around an apartment building at Fifth Avenue and Johnson Street and could be observed counting bullet shells there. An armored SWAT vehicle and dozens of officers, several armed with assault rifles and many with K9s in tow, gathered on Fifth Avenue outside the building for much of Monday afternoon. The heavy police presence tied up traffic and delayed school bus drop-offs, leading Gary schools to notify parents via robocall and Skyward. Brian Hurst, a steelworker at Gary Works, found Fifth Ave was closed off after trying to commute home from the mill. "Honestly, it's nothing new, being in Gary," he said. "There's crime and shootings all the time. It's scary driving to work every day. I drive right through here. It could happen to anybody. Wrong place, wrong time, you know." He hoped the officer would recover. "It's a sad world," he said. "It could happen to anybody." Times Staff Writer Bob Kasarda contributed to this report. Come back to nwi.com for more details as they become available in this developing story. Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 2 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Bob Kasarda Porter/LaPorte County Courts and Social Justice Reporter Bob is a 23-year veteran of The Times. He covers county government and courts in Porter County, federal courts, police news and regional issues. He also created the Vegan in the Region blog, is an Indiana University grad and lifelong region resident. Follow Bob Kasarda 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 Joseph S. Pete Business Reporter Joseph S. Pete is a Lisagor Award-winning business reporter who covers steel, industry, unions, the ports, retail, banking and more. The Indiana University grad has been with The Times since 2013 and blogs about craft beer, culture and the military. Follow Joseph S. Pete 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 HOBART A new industrial complex could bring hundreds of jobs and about $200 million in investment to Hobart, but many residents have made it clear they oppose the project. Becknell Industrial is asking the city to rezone about 156 acres of land at 61st Avenue and Colorado Street. The property currently has a residential classification and Becknell wants it to have a light manufacturing zoning. Ethan Frisch, of Becknell Industrial, said preliminary plans for the site call for six buildings that would have about 2 million square feet of space in total. This is a speculative development, Frisch said. We dont have a user for it yet. The project went before the Plan Commission on Thursday for a recommendation regarding the zoning change request. The panel deferred the matter until its March 3 session to determine if it could rezone a portion of the property to create a buffer and how that could affect the feasibility of the potential development. The panel spent more than two hours reviewing the matter and hearing comments from residents who strongly oppose the development. Many residents indicated they believe the project doesnt fit there because of the nearby residential communities. This is not an area for this kind of business, one resident told the Plan Commission. Some indicated they wouldnt have invested in homes in that area if they knew the development was on the horizon. Many indicated they are concerned about the development creating more traffic, causing deteriorating roads, affecting wildlife, decreasing property values and producing noise and light pollution. One resident said the project doesnt fit with the aesthetics of residential areas, and residents would view nothing more than concrete boxes as far as the eye can see. Frisch said he understands the concerns of the residents, and Becknell would create buffering with landscaping and other methods. He said the buildings would be set back about 325 feet from the community to the north and 515 feet from the western neighborhood. Frisch said Becknell has done many industrial projects across the country, and some have been in proximity to residential areas. The commission asked how those projects affected residential property values. Generally with investment and jobs, the values stayed the same or increased, but I understand the concerns of the neighbors, he said. To help address noise, docks would face away from the streets. After the Plan Commission decides if it will support the rezone, it will head to the City Council for a final decision. This has to go through the council, City Councilman Chris Wells said. He assured residents he wont support a project that wont benefit the city. Just because its being proposed doesnt mean its going to happen, he said. Wells also said the rezoning request is the first hurdle of many steps associated with Becknells proposal. If the rezone advances, Becknell would later go before the Plan Commission again for a site plan review, and that also would require a public hearing. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. MERRILLVILLE The Merrillville Police Commission has a new composition. The Town Council recently decided to rescind Eugene Guernseys appointment to the panel and select Michael Rich to serve on the commission. Guernsey, a former Merrillville clerk-treasurer and police officer, is a Democrat, and he was appointed to the commission Jan. 11. Rich, chairman of the Merrillville Republican Party, said the commission would consist of four Democrats and one Republican by selecting Guernsey. He said state statute indicates a five-person panel can have no more than three members of the same political party. Are we going to just keep four Democrats and one Republican on the Police Commission? Rich asked the council. After reviewing the matter, Town Attorney Joseph Svetanoff concurred that the political makeup of the Police Commission didnt comply with state law. We need to have whats called a blended commission, Svetanoff said. He then suggested the council replace Guernsey with Rich on the panel, and the council unanimously supported it. Rich thanked the council for the opportunity to serve on the commission. I appreciate it, going into the Police Commission he said during council session. Rich also thanked Merrillvilles police officers for their dedication to the community. To me, its a very big thing to say that police officers need to be treated with respect, that we need to honor our Police Department and we need to keep them safe, Rich said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. VALPARAISO As Porter County rethinks its ARPA spending plan, County Auditor Vicki Urbanik is leading public information sessions Tuesday. At 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday, Urbanik will lead a presentation on the American Rescue Plan Act and the role the auditors office will play in tracking the county governments expenditures of the $33 million coming to the county. The sessions will be in the commissioners meeting chambers at the Porter County Administration Building, 155 Indiana Ave., Valparaiso. Urbanik will discuss eligible uses under the U.S. Treasury Departments final rule as well as how her office will track and report expenditures. Commissioner Jim Biggs, R-North, said he thinks the sessions should be mandatory for anyone who wants their organization to receive a chunk of the federal funding coming to the county. Commissioner Laura Blaney, D-South, outlined her plan to revise how the county decides to spend the money. The County Council had decided to give bonuses to county employees with a portion of the money, but they hadnt been paid out yet, Urbanik said. Among the other planned uses for the money was $5.5 million to renovate the Memorial Opera House and build an addition to connect it to the 1860 sheriffs residence next door. Blaney wants that to go forward but without using ARPA funding. The county already has enough money in another fund that could be used, she said. Biggs had objected to the Memorial Opera House being included in the original plan. Blaney proposes a steering committee that would be chaired by a nonvoting member. The committee would have commissioners and two council members with the auditor, county attorney and a health department representative as advisers. Three subcommittees infrastructure; nonprofits and employers; and mental health and homelessness would also have advisers, including people like the Center and Portage township trustees and County Engineer Michael Novotney. The committee and subcommittees would meet in public, including at least one evening and one weekend meeting, to get public input. In addition, the existing online public input process on porterco.org would be tweaked to make it easier to direct input to the appropriate subcommittees. The subcommittees would include one commissioner, two council members and two citizen volunteers. The private citizens shouldnt be people seeking some of the federal money for their own project, Blaney said. Shes looking for one-time proposals, especially those that leverage matching funds. The number of people served would be a factor in determining how to spend the money. Each project would have to be capable of proper accounting and the money must be spent and the project completed by Dec. 31, 2024. If we dont document it properly, well have to pay it back, she warned. Each project should be impactful and located in Porter County, too. The county will solicit applications for citizen appointees through the countys website, Blaney said. Theres a lot of work here that has to be done, Board of Commissioners President Jeff Good, R-Center, said. Biggs asked if the ordinance outlining the original plan would have to be scrapped. County Attorney Scott McClure said it could be amended. The ordinance was passed, but the money wasnt allocated. Blaney said its important to move forward with some of the original ideas, including a $25,000 study of mental health needs that could help the subcommittee and steering committee evaluate subsequent proposals. Biggs wanted the whole ordinance scrapped, with a few exceptions, including the employee bonuses. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. WHITING Gayle Kosalko is hoping to meet a 75-year-old woman who once served as a flower girl at a wedding in Whiting. That woman might help her identify some of the people in about 1,000 photos donated to the Whiting-Robertsdale Historical Society. From 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, the historical society is holding a Photo ID Day at Studio 659, 1413 119th St., hoping to learn the names of people in the photos left behind at George Vrabels photography studio. We were looking at a batch when we first got them, and I immediately recognized my high school gym teacher from her first communion photo when she was little, Kosalko said. That was exciting, and I hope visitors have similar experiences at our Vrabel Studio ID Day. At past photo ID days over the last 10 years, more than 400 people have been identified in all kinds of photos, she said. The Vrabel photos include graduations, first communions, weddings and more, Kosalko said. Many are individual photos of women, which appear to be senior photos. These are beautiful, professional photos, she said. The only problem is that nobody knows who they are. People in their 70s and 80s will enjoy looking at the photos because they might have known the people back in their 20s and 30s. Kids will be amazed to see photos that arent on a cellphone, Facebook or Instagram, she said. These photos havent been seen in years, Kosalko said. Vrabels son Jim was helping the historical society with a project when he told Kosalko about the boxes of photos left behind at his fathers photo studio, which opened in the early 1940s and closed around 1960, she said. The wedding photos were taken at the studio because the Catholic churches in Whiting didnt allow wedding photos in the sanctuary, she said. On a Saturday, Vrabel could photograph as many as three wedding parties. His wife, Ann, would help him, making sure the dresses looked perfect and the shoes were just right. Professional photos were 42 cents for an 8x10 and 50 cents for a 5x7 back in the day. According to family history, Vrabel worked for the government in labs at the University of Chicago. He also photographed the site that would become Cape Canaveral, served as a trusted government courier and reliable Russian translator, and worked on the atom bomb and the lunar probe. Often, the family would have to make themselves scarce while FBI agents visited Vrabels studio for special government photos. He reportedly held a high security clearance. Vrabels studio, at 1830 Indianapolis Blvd., was later home to P&H Printing. When his wife died, it took their sons a dozen dumpsters to clear out the studio. Over the years, the darkroom in the studio building basement had become something else: an accidental archive of the city of Whiting in the 20th century, containing a collection of prints and film and negatives that documented decades worth of wedding photos, historical documents, local histories and documents of the day-to-day lives of residents of a steel mill town in Northwest Indiana, son Jeff Vrabel wrote. Many of the prints and negatives were distributed through St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Whiting. Others were given to the Whiting-Robertsdale Historical Society. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. MONDAY PUZZLE Happy Monday, solvers, and welcome back to todays constructor, Rebecca Goldstein, who is making her second appearance in the New York Times Crossword. As I know from making puzzles with her, Ms. Goldstein has a condition some crossword constructors refer to as incurable theme brain: She can take just about any phrase or mundane experience and turn it into a viable crossword theme with a tight, fully thought-out theme set. In fact, I think she cant not do this with every phrase she comes across. Its truly uncanny, and I find myself wondering not only how she learned to process information in this way, but also, why, given her incredible skills for wordplay, it took her until just this past year to start constructing puzzles. I dont think this skill is unique to Ms. Goldstein, however incurable theme brain may just be endemic among constructors who excel at creating themed puzzles. The ability to turn everyday phrases into revealers, as Ms. Goldstein has done here, is a real boon for anyone looking to get into crossword construction. I guess its just how great minds think! Tricky Clues 15A. The Word sung twice after Que is SERA, as in Que SERA SERA, the song popularized by Doris Day. 27A. I enjoyed the clue r u serious?! for OMG (oh my god!). The New York Times Crossword likes to call this textspeak, but Ive certainly said oh em gee out loud without a trace of irony (and then, to be fair, immediately regretted it). Follow our latest coverage of the trucker protests in Canada. OTTAWA One day after the police chief in Canadas capital said his city was under siege by thousands of truckers and other protesters angry over government policies, the mayor on Sunday declared a state of emergency and called for outside help. Were in the midst of a serious emergency, the most serious emergency our city has ever faced, the mayor of Ottawa, Jim Watson, said in a television interview after declaring the emergency. And we need to get moving much more quickly and much more proactively to bring order back to the streets. Someone is going to get killed or seriously injured because of the irresponsible behavior of some of these people, the mayor warned. Across Canada this weekend, thousands of protesters took to the streets for the second week in a row, snarling traffic and disrupting business and residential neighborhoods. The truckers, whose cross-country convoy sparked the protest, paralyzed downtown Ottawa and the area around Parliament, parking their vehicles in intersections and across busy thoroughfares. Staff members disinfect a bullet train at a maintenance base in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Jan. 20, 2022. (Xinhua/Lu Boan) NANNING, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region has reported multiple local infections amid the latest COVID-19 resurgence. As of Sunday noon, 98 people tested positive for the virus during a city-wide massive nucleic acid testing campaign launched by the region's Baise City, said local health authorities Sunday. Over 207,000 residents in the city have been sampled, among which results of 87 people are yet to come out. As of 4 p.m. Sunday, Baise City had logged a total of 43 locally-transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases, mainly in its Debao County. Meanwhile, a traveler heading home for the Spring Festival holiday tested positive for the coronavirus on Sunday in Jiangnan District of Nanning, the region's capital city. The city has upgraded its epidemic prevention and control measures, including strengthening local travel restrictions and launching mass nucleic acid testing. When the janitor-turned-artist Henry Darger died in Chicago at 81 in 1973, leaving a single room crammed with his colorful illustrations, a 15,000-page book and no immediate surviving relatives, Dargers landlord began showing, sharing and selling his work. For decades, the landlords, Nathan and Kiyoko Lerner, have been credited with rescuing Dargers creations from the scrap heap and promoting them in a way that gained Darger an international reputation as an outsider artist. Most landlords would have been, Lets rent the room, get out the dumpster, said Andrew Edlin, a leading Darger dealer. Nathan Lerner spent 25 years protecting his legacy. If not for him, we would never know about Darger. But now distant relatives of Darger tracked down by a collector of vintage photography are making a legal claim to that legacy, asserting the landlord did not have the right to pluck and profit from Dargers art. They filed a petition for determination of heirship in an Illinois probate court last month; a hearing in Cook County is scheduled for Feb. 23. Disneys Encanto soundtrack, with songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, tops the Billboard album chart for a fourth time this week, with no major new releases to challenge it. The Encanto soundtrack, which has been out since November, had the equivalent of 113,000 sales in the United States in its 10th week on the chart, according to MRC Data, Billboards tracking arm. That total down only 2 percent from the previous week included nearly 140 million streams and 16,000 copies sold as a complete package. Last week, We Dont Talk About Bruno, the films breakout hit, reached No. 1 on Billboards Hot 100 singles chart, displacing Adeles Easy on Me after its 10th week at the top. The last soundtrack album to notch four weeks at No. 1 was A Star Is Born, by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, in late 2018 and early 2019. Appreciating art, especially narrative art, requires a moral sensibility. Its what allows you to distinguish good behavior from bad, to orient yourself in a fictional worlds moral universe. And we live in a moralistic time, when many audiences dont want to see daylight between the text of a work and the beliefs of its creator. So its tempting to believe that only good people create good art and to be disturbed that you, a good person, have connected in some way with the creation of someone who turns out to be a monster. Who wants to be a sucker, a victim, an accomplice? It may be even more disturbing to acknowledge not only that a bad person created a great work but also that the work cant be neatly isolated from the creators worst aspects. We each harbor within us good and bad impulses, which hopefully most of us master in favor of good, but which every artist, however moral or immoral, draws on to create. This messy, unsatisfying reality plays out in a damning recent New York magazine story on the TV creator and film director Joss Whedon. Like Cosby, Whedon benefited from a righteous public image in his case, as a feminist and thoughtful nerd whose enlightenment elevated his pulp-literate creations, especially Buffy the Vampire Slayer. That image collapsed in recent years amid accusations that he treated actors cruelly on set, had affairs with employees and used his persona as a shield. (Whedon has disputed some of the charges.) Though Whedon seems to participate in the article as damage control, he does himself few favors. The interviewer, Lila Shapiro, hands him the stake and he does the rest. Asked about his affairs on the Buffy set, he quickly added that he had felt he had to sleep with them, that he was powerless to resist. But Whedons bad allyhood and rationalizations are only part of the story. Shapiro also writes insightfully about the Buffy fans who, whatever their idols hypocrisy, were genuinely thrilled, inspired and given a witty voice by the shows outcast heroes. Some of them have tried to adjust to what they now know about Whedon by adjusting their view of his work: Over the last year, some of his fans have tried to scrub him out too, erasing him from their narratives about what made Buffy great. In posts and essays, they have downplayed his role in the shows development, pointing out that many people, including many women, were critically important to its success. It may be hard to accept that Whedon could have understood the pain of a character like Buffy, a woman who endures infidelity, attempted rape and endless violence. But the belief that her story was something other than a projection of his psyche is ultimately just another fantasy. Whedon did understand pain his own. Some of that pain, as he once put it to me, spilled over into the people around him. And some of it was channeled into his art. Buffy was always a collaborative work, of course; nearly all TV is. But it didnt suddenly become more collaborative because we needed it to be. Which leaves a disappointed fan with a dilemma: How to sit with what you felt once and what you know now, with how an artwork moved you and how reality appalled you, without diminishing either to make room for the other. Olusoga, who is half-Nigerian, traces this focus to his mother telling him when he was a child that Nigerian soldiers served in World War II. In that moment, his interest in history overlapped with his attempts to understand his Black and British identity, he said. It made me realize not just that there was more to this for me, but also that I wasnt being told the whole truth, he said. And a lot of what I do is from that moment of realization. The historian was born in Lagos to a Nigerian father and a white British mother. He moved to Britain as a child and grew up in northeast England with his mother and siblings. In the book Black and British, he spoke of the racial tensions of the 1970s and 1980s and a campaign of racist abuse his family experienced, which forced them to leave their home. Image Olusogas Black and British: A Forgotten History explores the long and fraught relationship between Black people and Britain. Despite having a difficult time in school Olusoga was diagnosed with dyslexia at age 14 there he developed a love of history from a favorite teacher and the television he watched. He studied history at university but opted for a career in TV over academia. For Olusoga, history was naturally public, he said. I chose very deliberately to leave universities and go into television in order to make history. After 15 years in TV production, he started appearing in front of the camera. Hes now a fixture on British screens presenting shows like A House Through Time, which each season tells the story of a British house and its inhabitants over the centuries. In 2019, Olusoga was awarded an Order of the British Empire for services to history and community integration (which he struggled to accept because of its association with the violent acts of the empire). In an email, Mary Beard, the author of Women and Power and a professor of classics at Cambridge University, praised Olusogas skills of persuasion. She remembered that, when filming Black and British with Olusoga in a rural English village, an older white woman said she was proud to know that one of the earliest inhabitants of her village had been Black after being presented with a reconstruction of that ancient womans face. Even as cases of the coronavirus in the U.S. are declining among humans, scientists are getting worried about outbreaks among wild animals particularly in the countrys enormous population of white-tailed deer. In July, a U.S. Department of Agriculture study found that 40 percent of the deer in Illinois, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania had antibodies to the virus. A later study reported that 60 percent of Iowas white-tailed deer population was infected. My colleague Emily Anthes said that if the deer or other wild animals become a reservoir for the virus, the pathogen could mutate, leading to potentially dangerous new variants. There are many possibilities, but the worst-case scenario is that the virus evolves in a way that either becomes more virulent, which means it causes much more severe disease, or it evolves in a way that it can escape the immune defenses that weve all been building up over the last two years through vaccination or infection, Emily said. And then it spills back over to humans and circulates, as a new, more dangerous pathogen. In todays edition of the Morning newsletter, David Leonhardt writes: The United States has a vaccination problem. And it is not just about the relatively large share of Americans who have refused to get a shot. The U.S. also trails many other countries in the share of vaccinated people who have received a booster shot. In Canada, Australia and much of Europe, the recent administering of Covid-19 booster shots has been rapid. In the U.S., it has been much slower. Compare the slopes of these lines: WASHINGTON The Biden administration reached a deal to partly lift tariffs that the Trump administration had imposed on Japanese steel, agreeing to scale back levies that had rankled both the Japanese government and American manufacturers that use imported metal. The agreement, which U.S. trade officials announced on Monday, will maintain some protections for American metal makers by transforming the current 25 percent tariff on Japanese steel into a so-called tariff-rate quota, an arrangement in which higher levels of imports are met with higher duties. Up to 1.25 million metric tons of Japanese steel will be allowed to come into the country duty-free each year, with volumes above that level subject to a 25 percent tariff. That level is the average of Japanese steel exports to the United States in 2018 and 2019, a Biden administration official said. The arrangement is set to take effect April 1. The deal will place restrictions on products that are finished in Japan using steel from other countries. To qualify for duty-free treatment, steel products must be entirely made in Japan, to ensure the agreement is not providing a back door to the United States for cheap metal from China and other countries. Spirit brings more international exposure, with nearly three times as many flights abroad as Frontier, according to Cirium. The airlines said that together they would be able to serve destinations that one or both had abandoned, including Jackson, Miss.; Birmingham, Ala.; and Dulles International Airport near Washington. They said the merger could enable the new airline to start flights to small cities, too, including Eugene, Ore.; Ithaca, N.Y.; and Worcester, Mass. The airlines argued that the deal would benefit consumers, with flights to and from 145 destinations in 19 countries. In November, the average price of a domestic ticket sold by Spirit was $109, before taxes and fees, compared with $73 for Frontier, according to Cirium. By joining forces, the airlines assert, they will be able to offer more flights on existing routes, giving customers more choices and allowing the new company to better respond to disruptions. I think its a slam dunk, not a reduction of competition, said Robert Mann, an industry analyst and consultant. It essentially reinforces the price discipline that D.O.J. relies on when they allow other things which arguably arent so good. The combination would consolidate the airlines hold over some airports, which could put pressure on other carriers, such as JetBlue, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Allegiant Airlines, to join forces through partnerships or mergers. Together, Spirit and Frontier would hold a 26 percent share of the market in Orlando, Fla., more than any other airline, according to Cirium data for 2021. In Las Vegas, the combined carrier would have a 24 percent share, second only to Southwest Airlines. Still, competition in those cities is fierce and not nearly as limited as in some of the airport hubs maintained by the largest carriers, Ted Christie, Spirits chief executive, said in an interview. Those are both big leisure destination marketplaces and very competitive as it is, he said. American Airlines, which is based in Fort Worth, holds a more than 80 percent share of the market at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, according to Cirium data. At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where Delta Air Lines is based, that airline holds a 78 percent share of the market. United and Southwest also command similar shares at some of their hubs. In addition to regulatory approval, Spirit and Frontier will have to renegotiate contracts with their unions, which were notified of the deal on Monday. Pilots at both airlines are represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, while the flight attendants for both are represented by the Association of Flight Attendants. Chinese tech giant Huawei has launched its largest overseas store in Saudi Arabia, which welcomes the company's increased commitment to the kingdom. The worlds glaciers may contain less water than previously believed, a new study has found, suggesting that freshwater supplies could peak sooner than anticipated for millions of people worldwide who depend on glacial melt for drinking water, crop irrigation and everyday use. The latest findings are based on satellite images taken during 2017 and 2018. They are a snapshot in time; scientists will need to do more work to connect them with long-term trends. But they imply that further global warming could cause todays ice to vanish in many places on a shorter timeline than previously thought. In the tropical Andes, for instance, the study estimated glacier volume to be 27 percent less than the scientific consensus as of a few years ago. In parts of Russia and northern Asia, glacier volume was 35 percent smaller, the study found. Worldwide, the study found 11 percent less ice in the glaciers than had been estimated earlier. In the high mountains of Asia, however, it found 37 percent more ice, and in Patagonia and the central Andes, 10 percent more. That could be a big problem for food production stability, Dr. Seifert said. Health officials must stay vigilant, experts said. The U.S.D.A. is now working with state agencies to collect blood samples and nasal swabs from dead deer in more than two dozen states. The work should help experts estimate how many deer have already been infected and whether certain characteristics, from age to habitat type, put some deer at elevated risk. As we learn more, we will continue to refine and target our surveillance, said Dr. Tracey Dutcher, the science and biodefense coordinator for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service at the U.S.D.A. Long-term genomic surveillance is also needed, experts said. If we start to see some really divergent viral variants popping up in deer in certain places, that would be a red flag, Dr. Goldberg said. Depending on what scientists learn in the near future, officials could consider a variety of potential mitigation measures, including vaccinating captive deer, thinning infected herds or cleaning up whatever environmental viral contamination is giving the deer the virus in the first place. I think weve got to get our hands around the situation before we really make plans on where to go, Dr. Bowman said. For now, scientists also advise keeping a close eye on other wildlife. If the virus is so prevalent in deer, which are relatively easy to sample, it could be silently spreading in other species, too. After all, the only reason scientists found the virus in deer is because they thought to look. We hadnt realized it was spread in deer at all, Dr. Kapur said. We had no clue. Are these sequences unique? How different are they from sequences from coronavirus patients? They appear to be unique. In other words, the researchers havent found them in any genomic databases theyve looked in. But its possible that the same sequences are circulating elsewhere and just havent been detected yet. That said, do these lineages pose a health risk to humans? There are a few threads to pull apart here. The virus itself is clearly a risk to humans. So you wouldnt want to get infected by these lineages any more than you would want to be infected by any other version of the virus. But there is no reason to think that these particular lineages are uniquely dangerous to humans. We know, for instance, that theyve been circulating for at least a year and have not overtaken Delta or Omicron theres nothing to suggest that these lineages are going to become the next major variant of concern. But theres a lot that we still dont know about these lineages in general, which is why scientists are trying to learn more. You wrote that these lineages have been circulating long enough that researchers would have expected to see them in an infected person. Why havent they? Another thing we dont know! There arent a lot of great answers here, which is part of what makes it a good mystery. But its theoretically possible that we could just be missing these infections. After all, we know that not everyone who gets the virus is tested for it, and not everyone who is tested has their virus sequenced. So its possible that people who are infected with these lineages either do not realize that they are infected perhaps because they have no symptoms or have not sought testing or have not been in the subset of New Yorkers who have had their virus sequenced. How did the researchers do their work? Theyve been taking samples weekly from 14 wastewater treatment plants around the city since June 2020. In January 2021, they also started doing some targeted sequencing of the samples. The virus is fragmented in wastewater, so instead of sequencing the entire genome, they focus just on the spike protein, which is a vital part of the virus and one in which a lot of mutations tend to appear. Weather Theres a chance of freezing rain first thing this morning, then a chance of drizzle at midday and chance of rain in the afternoon. The high will be around 40. Theres also a chance of rain tonight, with temps in the high 30s. Mr. Mikulincer was born on Jan. 20, 1923, in what is now known as Ukraine, one of eight children. He fought in two wars, once with the Russian Army during World War II before being confined in the Stanisawow Ghetto, and once with the Israeli Army during Israels war for independence. Image Mr. Mikulincer, left, fought for the Russian Army and the Israeli Army. Credit... via Elke Weiss These were dark periods of his life he was often reluctant to discuss, Ms. Weiss said. In Israel, Mr. Mikulincer met and married his wife, Frantiska, an Auschwitz survivor, before moving to New York. Family and friends described Mr. Mikulincer as charismatic, lively and devoted to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He could also be stubborn, Ms. Weiss said, resisting anyone who offered to help take care of him and refusing to move to a nursing home. I cant believe my grandfather, who survived so much, was killed in a car accident, Ms. Weiss said. Traffic deaths in New York City surged last year to their highest level in nearly decade, with a pedestrian being hit and killed by a driver about every three days. For many years, Mr. Mikulincer owned a bakery in Brighton Beach called Aviva Bakery, named after one of his daughters. Though he made everything from nut cake and rainbow cookies to mandelbrot, he was especially famous among the family for his brownies, Ms. Weiss said. Ms. Weiss said one of her favorite memories of her grandfather was the first time she had a Skype call with him. As her mother connected the call, he peered into the screen, thinking he was looking at a picture of his granddaughter. When she waved, she said, he jumped in surprise. Scaremongering is Mr. Bolsonaros preferred method. Hes suggested that the vaccines collateral effects are unknown and that we dont have an antidote to them. Casting himself as a wise uncle, though a totally delusional one, he advised parents to not be fooled by the propaganda around childrens vaccination. My 11-year-old daughter will not be vaccinated, he informed the country, solemnly. (Pity that poor child.) But his subterfuge goes further. Though Covid-19 vaccines for children have been proved safe and effective, the government showed no rush to buy them. On Dec. 16, Brazils independent Health Regulatory Agency took matters into its own hands and approved the use of Pfizers vaccine for children 5 to 11. Mr. Bolsonaro sprang into action: The decision, he said, was lamentable and unbelievable. Not content with that dismissal, he then asked for the names of the health officials behind the approval, saying he wanted to release their identities so the public could come to its own judgments. This was, to put it lightly, reckless: Over the past few months, the agencys directors have been receiving hundreds of death threats from people who oppose childrens vaccination. (Whats next? Lynching sanitation workers? Setting fire to penicillin prescriptions?) As the year ended, the government tried to hold back the campaign by setting up a nonsensical public survey about the issue. It also planned to require every child to have a doctors prescription for a vaccine, a demand that governors rejected and was later withdrawn. And the administrations Health Ministry keeps repeating that vaccinating children is a parents decision, implying that it might not actually be a good idea. Every step of the way, Mr. Bolsonaro has tried to obstruct childrens access to vaccination, as if catching the coronavirus were preferable. Luckily for us, he failed. Starting Jan. 14, children 5 to 11 began receiving their first shots. Though the number of Pfizer doses available barely covers the countrys 20.5 million children, they are being supplemented by CoronaVac, the Chinese vaccine that has the advantage of being manufactured locally by the Butantan Institute. As with the countrys other vaccination campaigns, we can expect eager uptake. This week, we continue our discussion about speculative financial technologies, specifically those that run on the blockchain: cryptocurrency and non-fungible tokens. Since I started writing about such technologies last month, it feels that my crypto marketing has picked up significantly. Every app that I use for banking has invited me to invest in cryptocurrency or to attend an investment seminar on the blockchain. The question guiding the newsletter remains, What problem does this solve? Last week, I offered up an answer: For a small group of very wealthy people, blockchain and crypto solve the problem of where to put a lot of money. And, for some aspirational people, the culture of crypto makes them feel part of the action. But why are politicians and other institutions so drawn to the promise of crypto? One reader suggested that these technologies will ultimately solve the problem of the unbanked, those several million or so American households that the F.D.I.C. says do not, as of 2019, have a checking or savings account. People are untethered from banks for different reasons. Some are pushed away by retail banks high fees, minimum balance requirements and inflexible terms of use. Others live in bank deserts, places where there arent many retail banking options. (I support postal banking for this very reason. After years of various people putting proposals before Congress, the U.S. Postal Service finally started a pilot program offering routine financial services.) If part of cryptos pitch is that it can bring people much-needed financial services, then that would be a good reason to figure out how it does that and on what terms. That raises the question, who is in charge of figuring that out? Mm-hm, yeah. No, no, no, its great to be here. Great to be here. Its The New York Times. Its very exciting. Yes, I can hear you, yeah. See if you can do something with these eyes. Ive got bags like Yodas ball sac. So you just want me to explain why British people are so [expletive] off with Boris Johnson, basically. In a way that an American audience can understand, right. Without swearing, obviously. Sorry. Let me think. Boris Johnson, a demonstrable liar whos only out for himself. Dont know if that sounds familiar to an American audience. Boris Johnson, a narcissist with [expletive] hair. Again, sound familiar? Actually, I cant say liar, can I? Really? Oh, in the U.K., you cant call them liars. You have to say, like, Oh, he inadvertently misled Parliament. Seriously, I can just come out and say it? Call him a liar? Oh, God bless America. OK, lets go for one, shall we? Yeah. The first thing you need to know about Boris Johnson is hes a liar. Trumpian is the ease with which he tells porkies. But Boris is a product of a system that Sorry? Porkies, porky pies. Lies. Cockney rhyming slang. You know, apples and pears and you dont have that, do no, of course you dont. American audience. Sorry, New York Times. Boris Johnson is a liar. Just keep it simple. Stick to that. All right. Lets start from the beginning, OK? It began with a party. It seems there really might have been a Christmas party at Downing Street. Staff here in No. 10 held a large party, seemingly breaking Covid rules. Two parties. New allegations that he broke his own Covid lockdown rules again. Sixteen of them. Sixteen separate piss-ups, most of them when the rest of the country was in full lockdown. You should not be meeting friends. If your friends ask you to meet, you should say no. At a time when the prime minister was telling us all to have no social contact with friends, colleagues and, in thousands of instances, dying relatives, when the cops were handing out fines for anyone inviting more than two people over for a cup of tea, the people who set those rules were having work drinks, summer garden parties and, later, Christmas office quiz nights. But the one that got us really riled up. Two parties were held at No. 10, the night before the Duke of Edinburghs funeral. Boris was forced to apologize to the queen when it emerged two of those parties took place the night before her husbands funeral. The queen, shes our head of state, bit like your president. But shes in her 90s, so shes a lot younger than your guy. So on the day that the queen sat on her own at her husbands funeral because of rules Boris had set, his closest colleagues in government were taking Alka-Seltzer and the morning-after pill, having got blind drunk on B.Y.O. M.&S. G.&T.s. B.Y.O., bring your own, booze, drink, alcohol. M.&S., Marks and Spencers. Its like a British upmarket Walmart, except you can buy butter instead of military- grade assault rifles. G.&.Ts, gin and tonics. A sort of English alcoholic Sprite. Anyway. All the guidelines were observed. I thought that I was attending a work event. Boris denied any knowledge of any parties until it became clear he was at some of them. Mr. Speaker, I want to apologize. I.e., he lied. To the country and to Parliament. And he did it again this week when he lied to Parliament by denying that hed previously lied to Parliament. And thats Boris all over. His lies are no secret. He essentially lied to the queen when he illegally shut down Parliament. He lied to the country when he said Brexit would be good for farming and fishing and trade deals and the economy. Hes been fired twice for lying. He was fired as a journalist from The London Times newspaper for simply just making stuff up. And he was fired for lying about shagging someone behind his wifes back. And shagging is English for making love, but in a sort of around the back of the pub and next to some bins sort of way. A pub, thats a British bar where they serve warm ale and Scotch eggs. Scotch eggs, theyre boiled eggs covered in sausage meat and bread crumbs, and theyre [expletive] disgusting. Sorry, Ive just gone a bit off track there, havent I? Bit nervous. New York Times. How can someone with demonstrably questionable morals and a more than casual relationship with the truth reach such a powerful position? One word springs to mind: entitlement. Boris comes from a long succession of posh, upper-class, bumbling idiots who were destined for greatness only because no one has ever or will ever tell them theyre not. Boris went to Eton, a sort of Hogwarts for wankers, where you get taught Latin and tax avoidance whilst wearing full evening dress. These people have never spoken to a real person in their life, apart from perhaps their chauffeur. Then on to Oxford, where Boris Johnson was part of the infamous Bullingdon Club, a fun elite social club for the boys. Activities included smashing up restaurants and burning 50-pound notes in front of homeless people, allegedly. But you know, it was great fun at the time. And the British government is full of them, entitled arseholes sorry, sorry entitled assholes with a Bentley and a nanny making decisions for us all about things that they will never understand. Aristocrats running the fifth-largest economy in the world whilst allowing 30 percent of British children to live in relative poverty. Where the rich get richer and the poor literally get hungrier. Millionaires who spend their time in government giving tax breaks and P.P.E. contracts to their rich mates. Cannibals, self-serving parasites, tapeworms in tiaras, swimming through the intestines of the state, sucking all the goodness out of it for their own repugnant gratification. Boris was born into wealth. He never wanted for anything, never really earned his place in the world. A narcissistic serial shagger, an opportunistic liar whos happy to work outside the law and the realms of accepted decency. And who has dragged his once great political party into scandal and moral bankruptcy. Sound familiar? You can see where Im going with this, right? Boris and Trump, both products of a broken political system that rewards ignorance and hubris. And like Trump, Boris says he loves his country. Yet Boris and his cabal of vicious, right-wing populists show open disdain for all the things good about it. The N.H.S., the welfare state, teachers and judges, the courts. They hate the BBC and allow corporations to churn raw sewage into our rivers and beaches. Selling off and deregulating anything they can for a quick buck. Allowing and openly encouraging the country to rot from the inside out so they can sell it for scrap to the highest bidder. Bring it back a bit? Yeah, too much, too much. It was the self-serving parasites, wasnt it? OK, lets go for another. Actually, can I get a cup of tea? To the Editor: Re G.O.P. Weighs How Much to Fight a Black Female Supreme Court Pick (news article, Feb. 3): The hearing on President Bidens prospective Supreme Court nominee may prove to be one of those infrequent occasions on which Republicans would be wise to take a page from the Democratic playbook. As the most opportunistic and self-serving among them might fail to recall (and Im looking at you, Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley), the Democrats took a mostly low-key approach to the hearing on the nomination of the most recently appointed justice, Amy Coney Barrett. Of course, this was because they realized they had little to gain and possibly much to lose from doing otherwise under the circumstances. As your report suggests, if any Republicans go scorched earth at the hearing on the first Black female nominee to the Supreme Court, it will be at their peril. Los Angeles | $2.195 Million A circa 1930 Spanish-style house with five bedrooms and four bathrooms, on a 0.2-acre lot View Park, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2016, is one of the largest historic districts in California, with its well-kept 1920s and 1930s homes. This house, a contributing property to the historic district, is about half a mile from Crenshaw Boulevard, one of the areas major thoroughfares. Downtown Los Angeles is about 20 minutes away, depending on traffic; Culver City is about a 15-minute drive. Size: 3,160 square feet Price per square foot: $695 Indoors: The house is elevated from street level, with stairs leading up to a covered entry. The arched front door opens into a foyer with Venetian plaster walls and a staircase with wrought-iron railings. To the left and down a step is a sunken living room with original hardwood floors, a fireplace with its original hearth and restored leaded-glass windows. To the right is a dining room with original hardwood floors, tall windows facing the street and arched doorways leading to the kitchen. The sellers preserved the original tile buttery yellow with aqua and black accents that covers the kitchens walls and its coved ceiling. Off the kitchen is a breakfast room with built-in shelving and a door to the pool area. Elizabeth Way, associate curator of the Museum at F.I.T. and co-curator of the exhibit Black Fashion Designers, wrote in an email that Black Fashion Fair is an invaluable resource for students learning all aspects of the fashion business and fashion history, and for B.I.P.O.C. people who aspire to careers in fashion. Knowing that people who look like you have succeeded in the industry before you is a powerful motivator in a field still plagued by systemic discrimination. Mr. Gregorys print publication, Volume 0: Seen, features the designs of Kerby Jean-Raymonds Pyer Moss, Sergio Hudson, House of Aama and Edvin Thompson of Theophilio, who was named emerging designer of the year by the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Its pages feature Black photographers, including Aijani Payne, Amber Pinkerton, Quil Lemons, and Ahmad Barber and Donte Maurice, who are together known as AB+DM. Mr. Barber, 31, said that fashion shoots often require him to fulfill the vision of a set of magazine editors; here, the photographers had the opportunity to bring all of their ideas to each shoot. It was super-freeing to be able to have a project like that, Mr. Barber said in a video interview. If we wouldnt have shot them in this publication, who knows if, not only us, but other creatives would have been able to see their work in print in this way. Starting Feb. 7, the book ($95) will be sold on Black Fashion Fairs website and at Mulberry Iconic Magazine store in Manhattan. press release Rabat Here follows a statement by the Royal Office: "Following the tragic incident which claimed the life of the child Rayan Aourram, His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God preserve him, had a telephone call with Mr. Khaled Aourram and Mrs. Ouassima Kharchich, parents of the deceased who died after he fell into a well. In these painful circumstances, His Majesty the King, may God assist Him, expressed His deepest condolences and His sincere feelings of compassion to all the members of the family of the deceased in this painful ordeal, the divine will being unstoppable, praying the Almighty to have him in His holy mercy and accept him in His vast paradise, and to grant patience and comfort to his family who lost their child. HM the King, may God glorify Him, assured that He closely followed the developments of this painful incident and that He had given His High Instructions to the authorities concerned to take the necessary measures and to deploy all possible efforts in order to save the deceased, but the will of God is unstoppable and the child died. The Sovereign, may God preserve Him, expressed His consideration for the tireless efforts made by the various authorities, public forces, and associative actors, as well as for the outpouring of solidarity and the broad sympathy expressed towards the family of the deceased by the different Moroccan categories and families, in this painful circumstance. In conclusion, His Majesty the King assured the family of the deceased of His High Benevolence and High Solicitude." Imagine for a moment that the millions of computer chips inside the servers that power the largest data centers in the world had rare, almost undetectable flaws. And the only way to find the flaws was to throw those chips at giant computing problems that would have been unthinkable just a decade ago. As the tiny switches in computer chips have shrunk to the width of a few atoms, the reliability of chips has become another worry for the people who run the biggest networks in the world. Companies like Amazon, Facebook, Twitter and many other sites have experienced surprising outages over the last year. The outages have had several causes, like programming mistakes and congestion on the networks. But there is growing anxiety that as cloud-computing networks have become larger and more complex, they are still dependent, at the most basic level, on computer chips that are now less reliable and, in some cases, less predictable. In the past year, researchers at both Facebook and Google have published studies describing computer hardware failures whose causes have not been easy to identify. The problem, they argued, was not in the software it was somewhere in the computer hardware made by various companies. Google declined to comment on its study, while Facebook, now known as Meta, did not return requests for comment on its study. Peter Thiel, one of the longest-serving board members of Meta, the parent of Facebook, plans to step down, the company said on Monday. Mr. Thiel, 54, wants to focus on influencing Novembers midterm elections, said a person with knowledge of Mr. Thiels thinking who declined to be identified. Mr. Thiel sees the midterms as crucial to changing the direction of the country, this person said, and he is backing candidates who support the agenda of former President Donald J. Trump. Over the last year, Mr. Thiel, who has a net worth estimated at $2.6 billion by Forbes, has become one of the Republicans Partys largest donors. He gave $10 million each last year to the campaigns of two proteges, Blake Masters, who is running for a Senate seat in Arizona, and J.D. Vance, who is running for Senate in Ohio. Mr. Thiel has been on Metas board since 2005, when Facebook was a tiny start-up and he was one of its first institutional investors. But scrutiny of Mr. Thiels position on the board has steadily increased as the company was embroiled in political controversies, including barring Mr. Trump from the platform, and as the venture capitalist has become more politically active. But it was Petra stunning in its scale, dazzling in its grandeur that captured our imaginations. Tucked away in the mountains between the Dead Sea and Aqaba, and just miles from Highway 35, the ancient city defies all expectations. Its many temples, tombs and altars including its best-known structure, the Treasury, or Al Khazneh left us breathless. No matter how many photographs you may have seen, nothing can ever prepare you for the feeling of standing in front of those incredible structures. Carved into the wall of a narrow canyon and reaching some 130 feet high, the Treasury is thought to have been built as a mausoleum some 2,000 years ago. Though undoubtedly Petras most famous structure, the Treasury is not its largest. Ad Deir, a monastery that reaches some 154 feet, claims that title. GLENDALE, Calif. In a quiet corner of the Glendale Galleria shopping mall, between a video game store and a pizza place, a red sign glows Panda Express. Here, according to my research, is the first ever Panda Express location, which opened in 1983. But neither outside the store nor inside, with its typical cafeteria-style counter and steel bins of hot food, are there any signs indicating as much. So as I paid for my chow mein and egg rolls there on a recent afternoon, I asked the cashier if we were in fact inside the original location of Panda Express. Thats what they say, she said, clearly disinterested in my line of questioning. This, for better or worse, sums up the state of Californias culinary history. The Golden State deserves credit for dozens of fast-food chains and dining trends that have taken off across the United States, but much of that legacy has been forgotten. Among the main concerns ahead of the meeting, Mr. Bidens advisers said, was Mr. Scholzs reluctance to sign onto punishing economic sanctions in the event of an invasion, or to call off the gas pipeline project, Nord Stream 2. On Monday, Mr. Biden, who has refrained publicly criticizing Mr. Scholz, said that the Germans supported a strong package of sanctions but did not detail what those would be. In recent weeks, Mr. Biden has threatened severe economic sanctions against Russias financial sector and members of Mr. Putins inner circle. On Nord Stream 2, Mr. Biden said that the project would not go forward if Russia invaded. Mr. Biden defined invasion in the most traditional terms possible troops and tanks not addressing a number of other ways his aides fear Mr. Putin could bring the country to its knees, including organizing a coup or launching crippling cyberattacks. If Russia invades, that means tanks and troops crossing the border of Ukraine again, then there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2, Mr. Biden said. We will bring an end to it. When asked exactly how, Mr. Biden said, I promise you well be able to do it. Mr. Scholz, asked the same question, did not answer as forcefully. He has been vague about whether he would agree to terminate the pipeline project, but on Monday he repeated what he has said frequently: We are absolutely united. Now, though, some voters are parroting right-wing commentators who compare Dr. Fauci to the brutal Nazi doctor Josef Mengele. Candidates in hotly contested Republican primaries like Ohios are trying to out-Trump one another by supplanting Speaker Nancy Pelosi with Dr. Fauci as a political boogeyman. In Pennsylvania, Dr. Oz recently ran a Twitter ad calling for a debate not between candidates, but between him and Dr. Fauci. In Wisconsin, Kevin Nicholson, a onetime Democrat running for governor as a conservative outsider, says Dr. Fauci should be fired and referred to prosecutors. In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis has released an advertisement last month telling Dr. Fauci to pound sand via the beach sandals the governors re-election campaign is now selling: Freedom Over Fauci Flip-Flops. Mr. DeSantis has coined a new term: Faucism. In Washington, lawmakers are taking aim at Dr. Faucis salary, finances and influence. I didnt make myself a polarizing figure, Dr. Fauci declared in an interview. Ive been demonized by people who are running away from the truth. The anti-Fauci fervor has taken its toll on his personal life; he has received death threats, his family has been harassed and his home in Washington is guarded by a security detail. His standing with the public has also suffered. In a recent NBC News Poll, just 40 percent of respondents said they trusted Dr. Fauci, down from 60 percent in April 2020. Still, Mr. Ayres said, Dr. Fauci remains for many Americans one of the most trusted voices regarding the pandemic. In a Gallup poll at the end of 2021, his job approval rating was 52 percent. On a list of 10 officials, including Mr. Biden and congressional leaders, only two scored higher: Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Jerome H. Powell, the chairman of the Federal Reserve. Republican strategists are split on whether attacking Dr. Fauci is a smart strategy. Mr. Ayres said it could help rev up the base in a primary but backfire in a general election, especially in a swing state like Ohio. But John Feehery, another strategist, said many pandemic-weary Americans viewed Dr. Fauci as Mr. Lockdown, and it made sense for Republicans to run against both Fauci and lockdowns. WASHINGTON During his first address to Congress last spring, President Biden said that Jill Biden, the first lady, would lead an effort to fulfill his administrations promise to provide two years of free community college to all eligible students. That provision, tucked inside a massive social spending package that has struggled to win the support of all the senators who caucus with the Democrats, was the first ladys signature legislative initiative. But on Monday, Dr. Biden addressed a summit of community college leaders and confirmed what her husband has recently suggested: The plan has no future in a bill that Democrats are trying to whittle down in order to salvage. One year ago, I told this group that Joe, my husband Joe, was going to fight for community colleges, she said at the Community College National Legislative Summit in Washington. But Joe has also had to make compromises. Congress hasnt passed the Build Back Better legislation yet. And free community college is no longer a part of that package. The writing had been on the wall. Democrats had moved away from the provision, and Dr. Biden has previously said that the current political climate meant that it might not be the right time for free community college to pass as part of a social spending bill. But her remarks on Monday were her starkest acknowledgment yet that a measure she had championed is dead. When an election is close at hand, the rules of the road must be clear and settled, Justice Kavanaugh wrote. Late judicial tinkering with election laws can lead to disruption and to unanticipated and unfair consequences for candidates, political parties and voters, among others. It is one thing for a state on its own to toy with its election laws close to a states elections, he wrote. But it is quite another thing for a federal court to swoop in and redo a states election laws in the period close to an election. In dissent, Chief Justice Roberts said the lower court in the Alabama case had properly applied existing law in an extensive opinion with no apparent errors for our correction. Still, he wrote, the Supreme Courts precedents have engendered considerable disagreement and uncertainty regarding the nature and contours of a vote dilution claim. The correct solution, the chief justice wrote, would have been to agree to hear the states appeal but not to grant a stay in the meantime. The practical effect of this approach, he wrote, would be that the 2022 election would take place in accord with the judgment of the district court, but subsequent elections would be governed by this courts decision on review. In a separate dissent, Justice Elena Kagan said the majority had gone badly astray. It does a disservice to the district court, which meticulously applied this courts longstanding voting-rights precedent, she wrote. And most of all, it does a disservice to Black Alabamians who under that precedent have had their electoral power diminished in violation of a law this court once knew to buttress all of American democracy. A sweeping hunt has ended for a suspect who the police say killed one person and critically wounded another in a shooting at a grocery store in Richland, Wash., on Monday. The suspect, Aaron Christopher Kelly, was arrested on Interstate 90 between Sprague and Spokane, more than 100 miles from the shooting, the Richland Police Department said late Monday in a statement on Facebook. Mr. Kelly, 39, faces charges of first degree murder and attempted murder, the police said. Earlier in the evening, during the dragnet, the police shared a photograph of Mr. Kelly, describing him as armed and dangerous. Pancreatic cancer is a nasty, stubborn killer that has thus far defied medicines best efforts at early diagnosis and curative treatment. In November, it claimed the life of my friend Peter L. Zimroth, a 78-year-old New York City attorney who was devoted to public service and who most recently oversaw the decline in the police departments stop-and-frisk strategy. Mr. Zimroth had been on my most admired list even before he married the esteemed actress Estelle Parsons, who was 16 years his senior. Even during his yearlong, albeit losing, fight against cancer during the pandemic, Mr. Zimroth remained devoted to the public good, designing a brightly colored T-shirt and cap bearing an urgent plea, Smash the Virus! Get the Shot, and raising more than $73,000 to support research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where doctors tried valiantly to buy him more time. Mr. Zimroth was fit and active and in otherwise good health before symptoms developed in his case, stomach pains and constipation. By that time, the cancer had spread and it was too late to operate. His death follows that of several other well-known people who have succumbed to the same disease: Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Representative John Lewis, the Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek and the Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. Although pancreatic cancer is a relatively rare cancer, it is so deadly it is now on track to become the countrys second leading cause of cancer-related deaths by 2040. Currently it accounts for about 3 percent of all cancers and 7 percent of cancer deaths. Overall, only one person in 10 diagnosed with pancreatic cancer survives five years. A cure is almost always a lucky accident, when the cancer is detected at an early, symptom-free stage during an unrelated abdominal scan or surgery and the tumor can be surgically removed. An infographic showing how many women were diagnosed with cervical cancer and how many women died from the ailment. In joining the cancer awareness campaign, PREMIUM TIMES will, in the coming days and weeks, give a special attention to the coverage of cancer care in Nigeria. As it has become a global custom in the last 22 years, Nigerians joined the rest of the world to mark the 2022 edition of the World Cancer Day on Friday. Apart from the rising number of deaths, the www.worldcancerday.org, a website dedicated to activities around cancer care, puts the annual estimated global economic cost of cancer at $1.16 trillion. Themed "Close the Care Gap," this year's activities are geared towards raising awareness of the equity gap noticed in cancer management, which is said to affect people in high as well as low- and middle-income countries, and which is costing lives. This year thus marks the first of a new three-year campaign which centres on the issue of equity. In joining the cancer awareness campaign, PREMIUM TIMES will, in the coming days and weeks, dedicate special attention to the coverage of cancer care in Nigeria, spotlighting various types, causes, signs and symptoms, and the general preventive and management measures as offered by experts and narratives of patients and survivors. In this piece, our reporter focusses on one of the commonest types of cancer - cervical cancer - detailing relevant statistics, awareness level and, particularly, Nigerians' knowledge level of an ongoing vaccination campaign against the disease. What is cancer? Cancer is a disease that occurs when changes happen in a group of normal cells within the body leading to uncontrolled, abnormal growth and forming a lump called a tumour. This definition, according to www.worldcancerday.org, is true of all cancers except the cancer of the blood, otherwise referred to as leukaemia. According to the website, "if left untreated, tumours can grow and spread into the surrounding normal tissue, or to other parts of the body via the bloodstream and lymphatic systems, and can affect the digestive, nervous and circulatory systems or release hormones that may affect body function." Types of cancers Depending on where the tumour is discovered, cancers are generally classified into five major groups including Carcinoma, which affects the lining of cells that helps to protect organs such as breast, lung, colon or prostate; Lymphoma and Myeloma, which affect the immune system, and Sarcoma, which affects bones or soft tissues. There is also Leukaemia, which affects the blood, and those tumours that affect the central nervous system, which could either be brain or spinal cord cancers. Generally, it is estimated that 10 million people die of cancer annually worldwide, and that 70 per cent of these deaths occur in low-to-middle income countries including Nigeria. What is cervical cancer? Cervical cancer, a type of cancer that develops in a woman's cervix, is the fourth most common cancer among women globally. Experts said in 2018 alone, it caused an estimated 311,000 deaths worldwide. Expectedly, the majority of these cases were reported in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), where approximately 84 per cent of global cases and nearly 90 per cent of deaths from the disease occur. A research by The Lancet reveals that more than 44 million women globally, stand to develop cervical cancer between 2020 and 2069. It also warned that deaths from cervical cancer will increase a further 50 per cent by 2040, and that many women, their families and communities will be impacted. Although the causes of cancer are unknown, 14 out of the 100 types of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) strains have been identified to cause at least 99 per cent of cervical cancer cases. HPV versus cervical cancer According to WHO, HPV types 16 and 18 cause at least 70 per cent of cervical cancers and pre-cancerous cervical lesions. There is also evidence linking HPV with cancers of the anus, vulva, vagina, penis, and oropharynx. "What HPV does is that it invades the cells of the cervix when infected through either anal, oral or vaginal sex. So once that happens, it goes to the cells and causes what we call continuous DNA replications," Amina Isah, an expert in obstetrics and gynaecology, told PREMIUM TIMES. Ms Isah explained that although HPV is a causative agent in cervical cancer, not everyone infected with HPV eventually ends up with cancer of the cervix. WHO estimates that cervical cancer could be the first cancer to be eliminated if 90 per cent of girls are vaccinated against HPV, 70 per cent of women are screened and 90 per cent of women with the disease receive treatment. However, poor access to the HPV vaccines, low awareness and negative perceptions of vaccines generally are amongst other factors hindering the elimination of cervical cancer. How much do Nigerians know of HPV? In late 2020, Gloria Lawal lost her long time friend to cervical cancer after three years of intensively battling the disease. Although an unfortunate incident, it was also an eye opener for Ms Lawal as she never heard of cervical cancer, its causes or even the dreadfulness of the disease prior to this. "I have heard about cancer generally but I never knew something like cervical cancer existed until my friend died from it," Ms Lawal told this reporter. Similarly, Mariam Baba, a final year student at the University of Abuja, said although she knows about cancer, she had never heard of cervical cancer or its causes. "I believe everyone must have heard about cancer, especially breast cancer but I am unaware of cervical cancer. This is the first time I am hearing about it," she said. Just like Ms Lawal and Ms Baba, many Nigerians have very little knowledge of cancer and for the few that have heard about it, they do not know about cervical cancer. At least 45 persons interviewed by PREMIUM TIMES did not know about cervical cancer, its causes, and how it can be prevented. A Twitter survey carried out by this newspaper on January 26 to ascertain people's knowledge of the disease shows that less than 40 per cent of the respondents know the main causes of cervical cancer. The survey carried also shows that 62.2 per cent of the respondents were unaware of vaccines for the HPV, the virus that causes cervical cancer. It also shows that almost 92 per cent of the female respondents were unvaccinated against the virus. Health experts, however, say more women need to be fully vaccinated to avert a looming disaster. About HPV vaccine With the introduction of vaccines for HPV, many health professionals predicted a global drop in incidence of cervical cancer. However, many years after, over 570,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Various researches, including a recent analysis, have established that the HPV vaccines could lead to the outright eradication of cervical cancer. A meta-analysis of over 600 prior studies of HPV vaccination funded by WHO and published in the peer-reviewed journal, Lancet, found a decline in cases of HPV and in growths that could lead to cervical cancer. Covering 600 million people in 14 high-income countries, cases of HPV from the vaccine's introduction up till 2019 fell 83 per cent in girls 15 to 19; and 66 per cent in women 20 to 24 years. Meanwhile, pre-cancerous growths also saw a 51 per cent decrease in girls 15 to 19; and 31 per cent in women 20 to 24. "These results provide strong evidence of HPV vaccination working to prevent cervical cancer in real-world settings, as HPV infections -- which are the cause of cervical cancer -- and precancerous cervical lesions are significantly declining," said Marc Brisson of Universite Laval in Quebec, who led the review, in a statement to USA TODAY. But despite the preventive benefit and documented efficacy in its protection against cervical cancer, a low percentage of women globally are vaccinated against the virus. Although there is no available data on HPV vaccination in Nigeria, health experts said less than three per cent of women in the country are vaccinated against HPV. The low percentage is partly due to low awareness, unavailability of vaccines and the relatively high-cost, findings by PREMIUM TIMES show. Nigeria in retrospect Africa's most populous nation is one of the countries where high cases of cervical cancer are reported. It is the second most common cancer among women in Nigeria. There were 31,955 new cervical cancer cases in West Africa in 2018, out of which Nigeria accounted for almost half (14,943). There were also 10,403 deaths from cervical cancer in the country the same year. In 2020 alone, 12,075 new cases of cervical cancer were recorded in the country, according to Globocan statistics. Wale Akinboboye, an expert in obstetrics and gynaecology at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, Abuja, said deaths from and increased cases of cervical cancer can be prevented if everyone gets vaccinated against HPV. Mr Akinboboye said no woman should die of cervical cancer because it is highly preventable, insisting that vaccination should be done early for both boys and girls between the ages of 9-15. "This is necessary because the HPV can cause other diseases in both genders, not just cervical cancer," he said. The gyneacologist explained that women who are not vaccinated at an early age can still get vaccinated during their reproductive years. He lamented that shortage of resources and the high cost of HPV vaccines pose a major obstacle in tackling cervical cancer in the country. "HPVs vaccines are available in some health facilities unlike before when it was very difficult to access. Fortunately, in Abuja, Lagos and other major cities in the country, HPV vaccines are available but at a high cost," he said. Costly but effective Although HPVs are preventable through vaccination, the high cost and unavailability of these vaccines frustrate those willing to get vaccinated. Rachael Moses, a woman in her early 20s, said she had attempted to get vaccinated against HPV twice but failed. Ms Moses said; "I was advised to do an HPV test earlier in 2022 and it was negative. After this, I decided to get vaccinated at the Wuse General Hospital but the attendant said the vaccines were not available in the hospital. She advised that I should visit a private health facility to get the vaccines. "On getting to the private facility, I was told a dose of the vaccine costs about N15,300 and that I would need three doses to be fully protected. That's over N50,000. As a student, there is no way I can afford that." To corroborate Ms Moses' account, PREMIUM TIMES visited some health facilities in Abuja and confirmed the trouble patients encounter to get vaccinated against HPV. The first stop was Medicaid, a private health facility that specialises in cancer related issues. At this facility, a dose of the HPV vaccines costs N13,500, which amounts to N40,500 for the three doses needed. These three doses are taken in the space of 0 month to one month, and then to six months. At FMC Jabi, a public hospital, a dose of the vaccine costs N15,000, meaning that N45,000 would be required for the complete dosages of the vaccines to gain full protection. Similarly, at the Wuse district hospital, a public facility, a dose of the vaccines goes for N15,500. Although the vaccines were unavailable at the time this reporter visited the facility, the nurse on duty promised to get the vaccine once payment is confirmed. Inquiries made at the National Hospital also show that the vaccines are not available. A nurse who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES anonymously said "I can't remember the last time we had HPV vaccines in this hospital. You know it is not included in the immunisation programme so it is too costly for the hospital to have in store." Quest for inclusion in Nigeria's vaccine programme Ms Isah, the gyneacologist, said most women still suffer from cervical cancer because "HPV vaccines are not readily available, it is not accessible and it is not affordable." She called on the Nigerian government to include the vaccines in the country's vaccine programme. "Most of the institutions that have this vaccine in Nigeria are private institutions. It is not in our National Immunisation Programme and that is why we are pleading with the government to consider this," she said. "That is, it should be incorporated into the country's immunisation programme so it can be free for both females and males, especially in the rural communities where we have the most populated and the less-educated ones." Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Health By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. George Ikaraoha, the Cervical Cancer Prevention Programme advisor for the Reaching Impact, Saturation and Epidemic Control (RISE), said the best way to handle cervical cancer is through primary prevention. "From age nine, girls are supposed to have access to the HPV vaccines but the problem we have is access to these vaccines. It is not included in the national immunisation schedule, so persons have to pay out of pocket," he said. Mr Ikaraoha said more advocacy is needed for the government to include the HPV vaccines in the national programme. Late case presentation Ms Isah, the gyneacologist, said Nigerians, especially those in the rural communities, and to some extent, those in the urban centres, have poor health-seeking behaviour such that when they have some symptoms, they do not go to the hospital early. She said this boils down to lack of awareness of cervical cancer and other killer diseases. She explained that many women diagnosed with cervical cancer die because the disease is identified too late to prevent further progression. "The symptoms include abnormal vaginal discharge, which a lot of women experience at a time and they think it is a toilet infection. "What I am advocating now is for every woman that has abnormal virginal discharge to visit the health facility to get a pap smear done or even evaluate the discharge. "If it is other infections, it will be treated and if pre-cancerous legion is detected, it will be treated. Other symptoms are bleeding after sex, postmenopausal bleeding, lower abdominal pain, etc." Matilda Kerry, the founder of George Kerry Life Foundation, a non governmental organisation, said there is an urgent need to enlighten at least 10 million Nigerians about cervical cancer. Ms Kerry said women of childbearing age and those sexually active are more vulnerable to the disease. She said cervical cancer is one of the few cancers with a pre-cancer stage, hence it can be stopped before it starts. "It is instructive for these vulnerable groups of women to undergo screening once in two to three years," she said. Risk behaviour, Screening Mr Akinboboye explained that the increased risk for cervical cancer is having multiple sexual partners or those that have partners with multiple sexual partners. He said those that engage in sexual activities at an early age are also at risk of HPV. "Cigarettes smoking also perpetuates the virus and increases the risk of having cervical cancer. Also people living with HIV/AIDS are at higher risk of cervical cancer, diabetes patients and generally those with immunosuppressive therapy are all at risk," he said. He said screening is one of the many ways to beat cancer, noting that early detection is key. "Pap smear is a strategy used to detect things that may lead to cervical cancer. Once detected, these stages can be treated through various mechanisms before getting to a full blown cancer," he said. Mr Ikaraoha, the programme officer, also said in the absence of HPV vaccines, regular screening is an alternative form of prevention. He said early detection of cervical cancer is key to eradicating the disease. "This can only be achieved when people make themselves available for screening." KHARTOUM, Sudan In a bare, dusty field in a neighborhood north of the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, about a hundred people gray-haired men in white robes and turbans, young women in jeans and T-shirts, mothers with their children in tow gathered on a recent evening to discuss what they see as their nations most pressing need: democracy. For more than six hours, over sweet milky tea and doughnuts, they debated how to dislodge the military from its grip on power, cemented on Oct. 25 when a military coup suddenly put an end to Sudans two-year-old transition to democratic rule. Across this vast nation of more than 43 million in northeast Africa, hundreds of similar groups, known as resistance committees, are convening regularly to plan protests, draw up political manifestoes and discuss issues like economic policy and even trash pickup. They are committed to nonviolence, though they have paid a high price. On a makeshift stage in the dusty field, in the Kafouri neighborhood, 16 photographs were on display one woman and 15 men, martyrs from the neighborhood. They are among 79 people who have been killed in the protests since Oct. 25, according to a doctors group. Two years after the death of Li Wenliang, the doctor who tried to warn China about the coronavirus only to succumb to it himself, his memory remains a source of equal parts grief, anger and hope for many Chinese. Dr. Li, an ophthalmologist from Wuhan, where the pandemic began, rose to national attention after he warned friends on social media in late December 2019 of a mysterious new virus in his hospital, only to be reprimanded by the local police for spreading rumors. When the government belatedly confirmed that there was an outbreak at hand, Dr. Li became a national hero, seen as an embodiment of the importance of free expression. But Dr. Li soon fell ill with the virus himself. On Feb. 6, 2020, he died. Chinese social media exploded in fury and grief, at both Dr. Lis fate and the governments sluggish response to the outbreak generally. Many users flocked to Dr. Lis profile on Weibo, a Twitter-like social media platform. They thanked him for his bravery in speaking up, apologized for his treatment by the authorities and shared a quote he gave in an interview with Chinese media before his death: A healthy society should have more than one voice. Two years later, much of that anger has faded from view, because of both censorship and the governments subsequent success at controlling the outbreak. But Dr. Lis Weibo profile suggests that the memory of those early days remains strong. IZU, Japan For three decades, Mitsuyasu Asada has proudly tended the same lush mountainside terraces where his father and grandfather grew wasabi, the horseradish-like plant with a fluorescent green hue and head-clearing pungency that unmistakably connotes Japanese cuisine. Yet at the age of just 56, Mr. Asada is already thinking about retiring, worn down by the many threats facing this indispensable condiment that graces plates of sushi and bowls of soba. Rising temperatures have rendered his crops more susceptible to mold and rot. He worries about unpredictable rainfall, deluging floods and more intense typhoons. The thick cedar forest that blankets the mountain overlooking his paddies a result of postwar timber policy has degraded the quality of the spring water that the wasabi needs to grow. Wild boar and deer increasingly attack his fields, driven down the mountains for lack of nutrition at higher altitudes. And his two adult daughters have married and shown no interest in succeeding him on his one and a half acres in Izu, a city in Shizuoka Prefecture, about 90 miles southwest of Tokyo. The truck convoy protests in Canada that have roiled the nations capital are attracting support online among far-right activists across the world. The protests initially focused on vaccine mandates imposed by the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau but have since grown to encompass broader demonstrations over general pandemic rules like vaccination mandates, shutdowns and mask requirements. About two weeks ago, photos of the truckers appeared on anti-vaccine groups on Facebook and other social networks. The hashtag used by the truckers, #FreedomConvoy, spread quickly across Facebook and Twitter, as well as the messaging app Telegram. Since then, prominent far-right figures in numerous countries, including the United States, Australia and Germany, have praised the protests online, spreading the images and arguments even more widely. Some are also calling for similar demonstrations in their countries. President Emmanuel Macron of France, who has positioned himself at the center of Europes furious diplomatic maneuvering over Ukraine, said on Monday that the continent was at a critical crossroads as he met in Moscow with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. Amid fears over Russias military buildup surrounding Ukraine, Mr. Putin and Mr. Macron met at the Kremlin, sitting some 20 feet apart at a long table to maintain social distancing. In televised opening remarks, the Russian president spoke to his French counterpart using the informal form of address, and praised France for trying to resolve the fundamental questions of European security. Mr. Macron said that he hoped the meeting would begin a process of de-escalation, adding: This dialogue is absolutely essential, more than ever, to ensure the security and stability of the European continent. Later, President Biden was scheduled to hold his first meeting with Germanys new chancellor, Olaf Scholz, in the hope of strengthening Western nations response to Russia. Mr. Putin is demanding a rollback of NATOs presence in Eastern Europe, and has massed troops near Ukraines borders about 130,000 according to U.S. and Ukrainian officials, in what they say appears to be preparation for a full-scale military assault. A subvariant that scientists believe is even more contagious than the most common form of Omicron is spreading rapidly in parts of Asia and Europe and is now dominant in Denmark, where nearly all Covid restrictions were lifted last week. For now, scientists are not expecting the subvariant, known as BA.2, to do significantly more damage than the version of Omicron that remains dominant in the rest of the world, BA.1. But they are concerned that BA.2 could extend the global Omicron surge, because it seems to be even more infectious than BA.1, which was already extremely contagious. The subvariant has been documented in at least 57 countries. This may mean higher peak infections in places that have yet to peak, and a slowdown in the downward trends in places that have already experienced peak Omicron, Thomas Peacock, a virologist at Imperial College London, told The New York Times recently. BA.2 doesnt appear to cause more severe disease than BA.1, and vaccines are just as effective against it as they are against other forms of Omicron, Dr. Boris Pavlin, an epidemiologist at the World Health Organization, said at a news briefing last week. LONDON The title queen looms large in the British public consciousness, never more so than during the rule of the nations longest-serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. So when the queen, who is 95, announced that her daughter-in-law Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall and wife of Prince Charles, should become the queen consort when Charles takes the throne, it put to rest years of speculation about Camillas future status. The announcement, which came on Saturday in a letter to mark 70 years since Elizabeths ascension, could be seen as an official stamp of approval of their union, as well as an effort to smooth the path for Prince Charles own journey to the throne, historians and royal experts say. In the royal family, and in the U.K., titles matter in a way that is sometimes hard for Americans to parse, said Arianne Chernock, an associate professor of history at Boston University. The Times recently reported that Mr. Netanyahus government used the sale of the spyware to extract political favors from foreign countries, a claim Mr. Netanyahu denied. The Times also found that the U.S. government bought NSO spyware, before outlawing the company last year. Several Israeli government agencies have purchased Pegasus and other NSO spyware products during the past decade, three Israeli officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. These products can be used against Israeli phone numbers, the officials said, and Israels internal security service, known as the Shin Bet, has used at least one NSO cyberweapon since 2015 in its counterterrorism work against Palestinians and some Israelis. The Israeli police have used a version of Pegasus domestically since 2015, and in the last two years have hacked the phones of more than 100 targets a year, according to a former official and a person familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity. But NSO and its products have attracted little attention within Israel, and the question of their domestic misuse by the Israeli authorities had never been formally investigated until this year. Previously, many Israelis saw NSO as a peripheral story about an international Israeli company that got mixed up in a cyberweapon scandal, said Nadav Eyal, a prominent Israeli commentator. Now it has become something that Israelis are seeing has been used against them. The accusations were seized on by Mr. Netanyahus supporters and critics alike. To his backers, the claims were an opportunity to undermine the legitimacy of his corruption trial, which helped prompt his loss of power last summer. Prosecutors accuse Mr. Netanyahu of giving businessmen political favors in exchange for gifts and positive news coverage charges he has denied and portrayed as politically motivated. Israel Katz, a lawmaker from Mr. Netanyahus right-wing Likud party, described the alleged hacking of the phone of a trial witness as a blatant attempt to overthrow an incumbent prime minister by illegal means and a serious threat to democracy in the state of Israel. QAMISHLI, Syria Suad Shukri arrived early one morning last week to visit her sons grave. An hour later, the small cemetery would be thronged by thousands of mourners burying 12 fighters from a Kurdish-led force who were killed battling the recent Islamic State attack on a prison in northeast Syria. But for the moment, she had the place its hundreds of graves adorned with plastic flowers almost to herself. Her son, Eli Sher, was also killed fighting ISIS, but that was six years ago near the Syrian city of Raqqa. He had joined a Kurdish militia when he was 13 and by the time he died at 16, he was already a veteran fighter. This is our life, Ms. Shukri said of this vulnerable corner of the Middle East. Not long after the start of Syrias civil war 10 years ago, the Kurdish minority that dominates the countrys northeast set up an autonomous region as an experiment in multiethnic, gender-equal self-rule. But ever since, the Kurds have been engulfed in a seemingly endless war, subject to the whims of their more powerful neighbors, most notably the regime of President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus and Turkey to the north. Women from various communities in Kaduna State now converge along the Umaru Yar'adua road in Millennium city of Chikun Local Government Area of the state to engage in trading activities. The women, Daily Trust gathered come from Malali, Kawo, Kaduare, Danbushia, Badarawa and Sabon Gero communities to sell mostly food items such as tomatoes, pepper and spring onions, sweet potatoes, sugar cane and yams. Speaking with our correspondent, the women explained that most of their goods are sold at cheaper rates because they are sourced directly from the farms at Kurmin Kaduna. One of the women, Hafsat Atiku, said women are now forced to make ends meet in the face of the current economic hardship across the country. "I have been selling vegetables for over a year in my house; I leave the house early to get my goods which I then sell in my community. However, about six months ago, I was told about this market where other women sell their goods and I decided to join." She said the journey has been challenging but thanked God for His blessings and mercy saying, "without this trade, I don't know how my family would have survived. With the little I make from the trade, I am able to meet my family needs." She called on husbands to support their wives by allowing them to engage in a trade of their choice so they can contribute to the development of the home. Also speaking with our correspondent, Aisha Adamu, another trader in the market, said she is now able to take care of her children and pay their school fees. "My husband is alive and he is doing the best he can but I decided to start the trade to complement his efforts. This life is about helping each other because things have gotten so bad in every aspect," she said. The leader of the market women, Saudatu Shuaib, said most of the women who engage in trading in the market are widows who have orphans to care for. She however lamented that their source of livelihood is being threatened by security agents enforcing the state government policy which has place a ban on roadside markets. "Right now, we have been asked to vacate our current location because of a state government policy on roadside markets. We want to appeal to the government to empower women with capital and provide scholarships for our children in order to ease our hardship," she said. She also appealed to the government to ensure speedy completion of the state government market located in Millennium City so they can have a permanent location to sell their goods. A wanted prison escapee dubbed the Galician Rambo eluded capture by hiding in the forests of Galicia since March of 2021. Alfredo Sanchez Chacon, a Spanish ex-military and survival expert, was sentenced to hard time in prison for shooting and killing a 24-year-old man in 1996. Back then, authorities spent months combing the forests of Galicia and hunting him down, but they eventually captured the wanted man. Then, during the murder trial, Sanchez Chacon escaped Vigo prison by using a brawl between other prisoners to climb down from the prison building using a bedsheet and then getting over the walls. It wasnt until 2002 that he was once again apprehended. He was sentenced to 17 years for murder, as well as additional time for his prison escape and other minor crimes. The survival expert was still serving his sentence when he disappeared in March of last year Photo: Kyle Glenn/Unsplash Technically, Alfredo Sanchez Chacon didnt escape prison this time around. Seeing as he had already served most of his prison sentence already, in March of last year, he had been allowed a three-day get out of jail pass to see his family, but he never returned. He was supposed to be back at Monterosso prison on March 15, but he was a no-show, so after two weeks authorities activated a search and arrest warrant against him. Just like the previous time that the survival expert escaped, Spanish authorities had been having a very difficult time closing in on him. Since his escape, last March, all theyve had to go on have been random testimonies from people all over Galicia, but nothing too helpful. 63-year-old Alfredo Sanchez Chacon was believed to have sneaked into a house by climbing the walls until he reached an open window and taking bacon, beers, sausage, cookies, a package of biscuits and five loaves of stale bread from the kitchen. Authorities suspected it was him, because the thief didnt bother taking the money from a wallet left in plain sight. A hunter claimed to have seen him in the Fragas do Eume national park last year, and, a couple of weeks ago, a man from Santa Marina do Monte said that he found Sanchez Chacon in his garage. He froze, and the wanted criminal hit him in the face with a club and ran away. Because he keeps moving around the Galicia region of Spain, and is a proven expert at surviving in the wild and covering his tracks, Alfredo Sanchez Chacon made it very difficult for authorities to locate him. His ex-military history also earned him the nickname Galician Rambo. The Spanish fugitive who had captured the publics imagination over the last 11 months was finally captured last week. He was trying to break into a house in Valdovino, La Coruna, but was heard by the owners, so he hid in the bushes. The owners of the house remained on the lookout, and when they saw him come out of the bushes they called the Guardia Nacional. Because of the heavy backpack he was carrying and a visible limp, he couldnt outrun his pursuers. Its unclear how much more time the 63-year-old Galician Rambos recent adventure has added to his already long prison sentence, but its safe to say he will have to spend a few more years in prison. Unless he manages to escape again, that is. Implementing Gas Market Reform in Brazil Insights from European experience The Novo Mercado de Gas (New Gas Market) reform programme is set to enhance the physical flexibility of the gas system, enable gas to be delivered more quickly, foster competition and facilitate the integration of a higher share of intermittent renewables into the Brazilian energy system. In the longer term, an open, competitive gas market can more easily adapt to a multi-gas system that includes and deploys low-carbon gases. At the request of the Brazilian government, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has been providing technical advice based on international experience to inform and shape the countrys gas market reform programme from day one. This current white paper follows the report Towards a competitive natural gas market in Brazil: A review of the opening of the natural gas transmission system in Brazil, published in September 2018. It aims to share best practices from Europe in terms of gas market design and reforms, including commercial and practical implications. This white paper includes a section on the role of natural gas and low-carbon gases in Brazilian clean energy transition. KYRGYZSTAN, NOVEMBER 2016. A policy options workshop was held in Bishkek in November 2016 to discuss the preliminary findings of the Social Protection System Review (SPSR) for the Kyrgyz Republic. The workshop brought together officials from the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and various line ministries, as well as researchers from CASE-Kyrgyzstan and other think tanks active on social protection. Donor partners and civil society representatives also engaged in a lively discussion about policy responses to the challenges identified in the SPSR. The workshop concluded with a brainstorming about mechanisms for promoting the systematisation of social protection. These ideas will feed into the final SPSR, which is to be published in mid-2017. < Back to News NAMIBIA, MAY 2017. A seminar organised jointly by the Ministry of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare, the EU-SPS and UNICEF was held in Windhoek from 31 May 2 June. The meeting provided a platform for government officials, social protection experts and civil society organizations to exchange views on the remaining gaps of the current social protection system and agree on a roadmap for reform. Discussions focused on developing governance arrangements, strengthening coordination between different ministries and improving delivery and support mechanisms (such as national ID and a consolidated beneficiary registry). Gaps regarding the evidence-base were also highlighted which will inform a social protection system assessment which is currently underway. The Honourable Minister Kameeta expressed his appreciation for the debates and outcomes of the seminar, acknowledging the importance of EU-SPS support. < Back to News MEXICO, OCTOBER 2018. The EU-Social Protection Systems Programme (EU-SPS) team attended and presented projects findings in the joint SOCIEUX+ and AMEXID meeting on employment and social protection systems in Latin America, which was held in Mexico City between 25 and 26 October. The regional meeting was attended by representatives from governments, including the Minister of Labour of El Salvador, academics, and other social protection experts. Caroline Tassot, presented results on gender and informality in 12 Latin American countries from the EU SPS forthcoming report Tackling Vulnerability in the Informal Economy, which will be published early 2019. The presentation was well received by the audience, and emphasised that although globally more men are in the informal economy than women, in certain regions like Latin America there are not only more women in informal work but also they are in the most vulnerable segments of informality, creating repercussions in wage gaps and access to pensions. < Back to News ZAMBIA, JULY 2018. A policy dialogue on the extension of social security coverage to workers in the informal economy was held in Lusaka on 17 July 2018. The workshop was organised by the EU-Social Protection Systems Programme, with the collaboration of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Zambian Ministry of Labour and Social Security. The event was attended by approximately 30 people; representing the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA), the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Finance, unions for informal workers and the Central Statistical Office. During the workshop Caroline Tassot, economist at the OECD, presented updated findings from the 2015 Living Conditional and Monitoring Survey. The discussion and suggestions resulting from the presentation focused on the contributory capacity of informal workers and the need to further detail the profile of the highest earning workers. These comments and feedback will be incorporated in the forthcoming EU-SPS report. < Back to News The Youth Well-being Policy Review of Moldova study is part of the OECD Development Centres Youth Inclusion Project, co-financed by the European Union. The key findings and recommendations of the study were presented in Chisinau by the Development Centre of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova, and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research of the Republic of Moldova. In the past decade, the Republic of Moldova has made considerable socio-economic progress. However, young people continue to face multiple and interconnected challenges. The OECD Development Centres analysis of youth well-being in Moldova uses an innovative multi-dimensional approach to look at various dimensions of well-being affecting young people and gives recommendations for the formulation of public policies in favour of youth and for government action. The event was opened by welcoming and introductory remarks by Mr Radu Rebeja, State Secretary for Youth and Sports, Ministry of Education, Culture and Research; Mr Fabien Schaeffer, Project Manager, EU Delegation to the Republic of Moldova; and Mr Ian Brand-Weiner, Policy Analyst, OECD. During his speech, Mr Rebeja highlighted the Ministrys efforts in developing the youth sector and the Youth Inclusion projects contribution in providing evidence to improve policies to foster youth well-being. Mr Ian Brand-Weiner, presented the main findings, conclusions and recommendations of the review and emphasised the need for policy co-ordination and making youth a priority beyond the work of the Ministry of Education, Research and Culture, as well as the need for investing in the provision of professional, local youth services (including health) in order to better tap the Republic of Moldovas youth dividend. A panel discussion on Youth policies and provision of youth services in youth centres in Moldova was held during the event. This panel discussed the implementation of youth policies in the regions and local provision of services through youth centres and youth workers. Over 50 representatives from ministries, youth organisations, non-governmental organisation, UN agencies, youth centres and development partners participated in the event. Participants recognised the importance of providing employment and participation opportunities, the low percentage of youth making use of youth friendly services and the ways of improving outreach were major discussion points. Agenda of the event > Presentation "Youth well-being policy review of Moldova study" > Photo gallery Back to News and Events Policy and Legislation Over the last decade, youth related issues were brought into the national agenda by the Peruvian government, which developed different tools and policies to address youth needs and rights. The government of Alejandro Toledo established the National Youth Council (CONAJU) in 2002 to implement youth policies through the National Youth Commission (CNJ). As a ministerial authority, the CNJ developed the Guidelines for the National Youth Policy which led to the establishment of the first National Youth Strategy (2006-2011). CONAJU and CNJ were merged under the Ministry of Education (MINEDU) and replaced by the National Secretary for Youth (SENAJU) in 2007. SENAJU is the current state body in charge of formulating and implementing youth policies as well as creating space for consultation with young people under the responsibility of the Ministry of Education. The SENAJU co-ordinated the process for the establishment of the National Youth Strategy (2012-2021) gathering youth groups, civil society organisations and representatives from indigenous communities. The Strategy constitutes a kind of "National Agreement" for young people in Peru. It promotes a national dialogue between the State, civil society, as well as young Peruvians, and provides these actors with a strategic roadmap along six key areas of intervention: 1) access to inclusive and quality education; 2) youth participation and representation; 3) employment and entrepreneurship; 4) health; 5) culture, identity and integration; and 6) environment and sustainable development. Although the strategy demonstrates the willingness of the government to address youth related issues, it has yet to be fully operationalised and the SENAJU has neither the authority nor the resources to fulfil its mandate. As a non-ministerial body under the Ministry of Education, the SENAJU lacks both autonomy and decision-making power. Additionally, due to a lack of legitimacy and clarity of its mandate, the SENAJU is not able to play a co-ordinating role and there is no effective co-ordination mechanism between the different entities in charge of youth-related issues, which leads to frictions and overlaps. A similar lack of co-ordination can also be found at the intergovernmental level between the central, regional and municipal authorities in charge of youth issues. Health Socio-economic inequalities, compounded by gender, cultural and geographical discrimination, impede the public health system of Peru. Young women as well as youth from poor, rural and indigenous communities do not have adequate and equal access to basic health services and information. Perus youth is exposed to a variety of risks, including high rates of alcohol, tobacco and drug abuse, as well as diseases related to sexual and reproductive health. Although the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Peru is low (0.2 per cent of youth aged 15-24), new infections are concentrated among youth due to a reluctant use of contraceptive methods. The rate of STD among young women (15-24) has significantly increased from 0.2 per cent in 2004 to 0.5 per cent in 2014 according to the Peruvian DHS, posing a serious risk for youth well being. As for alcohol consumption of teenagers, results show that more than half (58.6 per cent) of youth aged 17-19 are consumers of alcohol (Young Lives Survey). Alcohol and tobacco consumption is related to an urban lifestyle, high levels of education, predominantly for youth from richer and Spanish-speaking households. Regarding early pregnancy, birth rates among young women aged 15-19 vary widely depending on residence (42 per thousand in rural vs. 17 per thousand in urban areas) and wealth (44 per thousand in poorest vs. 14 per thousand in wealthiest households in 2014). The adolescent fertility rate was 48.5 per 1,000 women aged 15-19 in 2015 (UNDP), and the majority of these births are the result of unintended pregnancies, reflecting the insufficient awareness of sexual and reproductive health. Abortion is illegal in Peru (except in case of a threat to the life or health of the woman) and complications of abortion are the main cause of maternal death. More worrying, this indicator has deteriorated over the last decade for rural, poor, less educated, indigenous young women. In addition, gender-based and domestic violence are common in Peru; hence sexual intercourse at an early age is highly associated with coercion. Although gender-based violence has significantly decreased for women aged 15-29, almost a third of young women had suffered physical and/or sexual violence from their intimate partner in their lifetime in 2014. Finally, youth are at higher risk of perpetuating violence but also of being victim of it. According to the National Youth Survey of 2012, 58.6 per cent of Perus youth consider gang activity and crime to be the most serious problems affecting their lives and health. A 2015 report by SENAJU shows that youth (15-29) have both the highest rates of deaths associated with criminal acts compared to other cohorts and represent the highest proportions of the prison population (41.8 per cent, for youth aged 18-29). Education The low quality of Peru's educational system is another major concern. The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which analyses the performance of students in mathematics, reading literacy and science, ranked Peru as the worst performing country in 2012 despite an overall improvement for math, reading and science. Main barriers towards high-quality education are poor infrastructure, inadequate learning materials, out-dated curricula, and a lack of well-trained teachers. According to the World Bank, Peru spent 3.3% of its GDP on education in 2013. Nevertheless, over the past decade Peru has made significant progress in providing universal basic education. In 2014, the net enrolment rate in primary schools was 92.8 per cent. Enrolment rates have also increased for secondary and tertiary levels and female enrolment has had a significant increase over the last decade. More girls are now enroled in secondary and tertiary education than males: in 2014, the net enrolment rate in secondary schools was 79.4 per cent for young females and 77.4 for young males (World Bank). In addition, the literacy rate of people aged 15-24 years has also increased and was estimated at 98.94 per cent in 2015, showing an improvement in education quality. Dropout rates have also experienced a significant reduction, including in rural areas and for indigenous youth. However, dropout rates for lower and upper secondary education is still very high for youth living in rural areas, with low income and/or indigenous origins. Persistent inequalities related to geographical location, cultural identity and gender remain major problems while poverty status and ethnicity are still important factors of poor education outcomes. Indigenous youth face a variety of challenges they are more likely to be poor, usually from uneducated households and live in rural areas, where access to public services is limited. These factors impede the educational attainments of young indigenous people significantly. Spanish-speaking students are more likely to access and to complete basic education than students whose maternal language is indigenous (more than 12 per cent of young Peruvians speak an indigenous tongue as their maternal language, in some provinces the rate raises over 50 per cent). Although more indigenous youth now enrols in education further than primary level, the gap between indigenous enrolment rates and Spanish-speakers remains significant. Employment Young Peruvians still face a number of challenges when they enter the national labour market, above all the lack of decent employment opportunities and skills mismatch. Young women and indigenous youth are the most afflicted. Gender, location and ethnicity have a significant impact on the access and quality of employment, the most vulnerable groups being rural, low educated, female, poor and indigenous young people. The relatively low youth unemployment rate (9.2% in 2014) is an imperfect indicator. Indeed, the unemployment rate among young Peruvians is almost three times higher than that for adults. The integration of young people on the labour market also remains precarious: the labour force participation rate among youth (15-24) was 61.4 per cent in 2014 (ILO). The majority of youth works in the informal sector, while every second young worker is exposed to precarious working conditions, such as low wages, unstable employment, no social security or health insurance, and dangerous environments. In addition, more than one-sixth of the youth are inactive (neither in the labor force nor in education or training) with a majority of women (almost three fourths of Peruvian NEET). Even though the rate of youth NEET has decreased over the last years, from 16.5 per cent in 2004 to 15.3 per cent in 2014, this reduction seems small compared to the increase in youth population over the decade. Many Peruvians who leave school lack the foundational learning-, practical-, and life-skills demanded by the labour market. Especially marginalised youth groups are less likely to access vocational training and high-quality education, and face difficulties in the school-to-work transition. Lack of information about job opportunities and skills mismatch are major issue, with a high proportion of youth being over-educated for their jobs. However, the structure of the labour market has changed significantly over the past decade: while in 2004 31.29 per cent of youth were contributing family workers, this proportion is only a fourth in 2014 (24.35 per cent). More and more young people are employees (28.5 per cent in 2014 compared to 20 per cent in 2004) (ENAHO). In addition, the share of youth (15-29) with below-average wages has improved, dropping from 64.2 per cent in 2004 to 57.2 per cent in 2014 (ENAHO), for both young males and females. Youth Participation Even though there has been an increase in youth participation in civic and political activities, their participation to social, economic and political spheres of public life remains low. Less than 7 per cent of youth were civically engaged in 2014 (ENAHO) (i.e. the percentage of youth who during the past month have volunteered their time to an organization). In addition, institutional trust seems to have deteriorated, with a high proportion of youth who declared not being confident in institutions, such as national government, civil services, police, military, judiciary services and media: for instance, 80 per cent of youth declared that they did not trust the Congress in 2014 (ENAHO). Yet, the National Youth Strategy of 2012 identifies 'Youth Participation and Representation' as a strategic priority of public policy and defines as its objective to promote the integration, civic participation, and political engagement of young people in national development and the democratic system. In this line, the National Secretariat for Youth (SENAJU) established the volunteer program Voluntariado Juvenil, which articulates, promotes and co-ordinates youth volunteering in Peru. The priority areas of intervention are poverty alleviation, humanitarian aid, and public policies that contribute to the Millennium Development Goals. The programme Jovenes Electores also aims to promote political participation among young people, while the programme Jovenes Voluntarios organise awareness-raising activities about civic and political life, elections and young people's rights. Finally, the Youth Parliament of Peru is comprised of 130 members allowing young people (18-29) to become familiar with decision and law-making processes. Migration Persistent social and economic inequalities in the Peruvian society are the main factor that drives migration from rural to urban areas, and across national borders. In 2009, 76,400 young Peruvians left the country, representing about 54 per cent of all emigrants in that year. Between 1994 and 2008, the total number of young emigrants was around 500,000. The wish to leave Peru varies between age groups (56.3 per cent of youth aged 15-19, 36.5 per cent of youth aged 25-29) and between rural (33.3 per cent) and urban (51 per cent) youth (ILO). Most of the emigrants are male, aged 25-29, and relatively highly skilled while the share of female migrants is increasing. The main destination of internal rural-urban migration is Lima; international migrants predominantly aim at Chile, Bolivia, the United States and Spain. The main drivers of emigration are better economic perspectives and living conditions, education and family reasons. However, most of the young and skilled migrants are exposed to non-professional jobs and social exclusion. References Foreign Policy in Focus (2011): Perus Leftist Student Revival. http://fpif.org/perus_leftist_student_revival/ ILO (2013): Youth Employment and Migration in Peru. http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_emp/---ed_emp_msu/documents/publication/wcms_230171.pdf Machel McCatty (2004): The Process of Rural-Urban Migration in Developing Countries. National Youth Institute of Statistics and Informatics Peru (2014) Peruvian National Household Survey ENAHO National Youth Policy (2014): Factsheet Peru. http://www.youthpolicy.org/factsheets/country/peru/ Population Reference Bureau (2013): The World's Youth. 2013 Data Sheet. UNESCO (2010): Explaining and overcoming marginalization in education: a focus on ethnic/language minorities in Peru. UNESCO (2012): Youth and skills: Putting education to work. UNESCO (2015): www.uis.unesco.org/DataCentre/Pages/country-profile.aspx UNFPA (2005): Public Youth Policies and Reproductive Rights: Limitations, Opportunities and Challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean. UNICEF (2008): Situation of Children in Peru. Executive Summary. USAID (2010): Evaluation of USAIDs/Peru's Education Program: Apprendes and Cett-Andino. USAID (2014) Demographic and Health Survey ENDES Secretaria Nacional de la Juventud (2012): Plan Estrategico Nacional de Juventudes. 2012-2021. Secretaria Nacional de la Juventud (2012): Peru: Primera Encuesta Nacional de la Juventud 2012. Resultados Finales. Secretaria Nacional de la Juventud (2014): Website. http://juventud.gob.pe/ Young Lives (2014) Young Lives Survey Back to Peru page Back to the Youth Inclusion Project homepage Despite Cambodias economic growth, young Cambodians face multiple challenges: according to the Youth Multi-dimensional Deprivation Indicator (Y-MDI) developed by the EU-OECD Youth Inclusion project, one young person in five is deprived in at least two well-being dimensions, including health, employment, education and civic participation, while 40% fare poorly in at least one dimension, mostly in education. Cambodia has made significant progress in achieving universal primary education. The enrolment rate in secondary school however, drops significantly, despite it being compulsory. Both access and quality of education are crucial issues and indicate a need for more relevant school curricula, better trained teachers and more resources for school improvements. Young people find it hard to integrate into the labour market due to limited education and training, poor access to job information and inadequate skills. Only 31% of youth have matching qualifications for their current occupations, while 23% are overeducated and 46% are undereducated. In addition, decent work is difficult to find for young people: almost three-fourth of employed youth are underemployed, with a higher proportion of poorly paid youth. About half of working youth in Cambodia are in the agriculture sector, but out of the 250 000 post-secondary graduates in 2014, only 3% are from technical and vocational fields like agriculture, science and engineering. For young people, agriculture equals hard labour and low income. Yet, the potential to develop profitable businesses along the agro-food value chain is real. Public investments are needed to improve rural infrastructure, and policies should support the training of farmers and rural youth in business development and marketing. Despite improvements in the health situation of youth, much remains to be done. The major challenges are sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues, which affect mostly adolescent and young girls. Teenage (15-19) pregnancy affects 12% of girls. Early marriage and early pregnancy affect negatively education and employment outcomes for young women. In rural areas, they are three times more likely to become teenage mothers than their urban peers. Youth participation in politics has been limited. A majority of youth, especially those living in rural areas and migrant workers, are excluded from the initiatives of political parties and NGOs. The rapid spread of social media, however, is changing the situation: youth are increasingly informed and engaged in civic and political activities. However, the lack of trust in communities, political agendas and the justice system act as a barrier to participation. Furthermore, youth are cautious about participating in political activities due to the legacy of the war. THE Junior Parish Pastoral Council held their annual Spirit of Christmas fete in the grounds of the Church of the Assumption Tullamore after all masses on the weekend of December 18, 2021. Parish worker Annette Evans said usually all of the money raised is divided to help fund their own retreat and a local charity. However, she said that this year in the light of the brutal murder of school teacher Ashling Murphy and the fact that there is a 'Rainbows Centre,' which is a charity that helps children deal with significant loss in their lives, in Durrow National School where Ashling taught, the JPPC decided to donate the full amount and add money they had set aside for this years retreat to the school which is still mourning the death of Ashling. On behalf of the JPPC, Chairperson Sian Evans presented a cheque for 1,000 to Principal Mr James Hogan. Ashling Murphy was a teacher in the school and was murdered while she exercised on the Grand Canal in Tullamore last month. At least 30 people were killed in one of the attacks in Zamfara. At least 43 people were killed in various attacks by non-state actors across Nigeria last week (January 30 - February 5). Four of those killed were security personnel - three police officers and one soldier - while the rest were civilians including one traditional ruler. The figure for the week signifies an increase by about 50 per cent when compared to the previous week where at least 25 people were killed. Four geopolitical zones recorded at least one incident while the North-east and South-west zones had no reported incident. PREMIUM TIMES compiled the incidents from media reports. Thus, unreported cases are not included. Below are the recorded incidents: South-south A soldier was killed and two others injured as gunmen attacked troops in Rivers State. The incident happened in the early hours of last Sunday at the boundary bridge between the Asari-Toru Local Government Area in the Kalabari region and the Emohua Local Government Area of the state. North-west Bandits numbering about 200, on Thursday night, attacked Yangayya in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State. They killed the village head, Jafaru Rabiu, and four others. The police command confirmed the attack and the killings. In Zamfara State, gunmen invaded Nasarawa ward in Bakura Local Government Area. They killed three persons including a Chief Imam of the area, Akilu Dan Malam. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Legal Affairs By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. The attack occurred at about 2:00 p.m. on Thursday. In a separate incident in Zamfara, bandits killed at least 30 people, and abducted several others, mostly women, in separate attacks Friday afternoon. The attacked communities are Nasarawar Mai Fara in Tsafe Local Government Area, Yar Katsina in Bungudu Local Government Area and Nasarawa village in Bakura Local Government Area. South-east The police in Anambra State, Nigeria's South-east, 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 was identified as Onyedika Nnofu. North-central Three police officers were on Thursday killed, while an unspecified number of others were abducted in a banditry raid of a police station in Niger State. The report gathered that the gunmen in a night raid stormed Ishau police station in the Paikoro Local Government Area of the state and carried out the attack. Yes. I would be the first in line. No. I don't trust that a vaccine will be safe. I plan to, but I want to wait to see effects of first doses. Not sure. Vote View Results What's Included With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call our customer service team at 716-372-3121 or email nfinnerty@oleantimesherald.com. Belfast Telegraph 28 Mar 2022 Paul Collingwood hopes he has a future in Englands new coaching set-up but has warned the teams schedule is at risk of.. The US and the EU are threatening new sanctions on Moscow over fears about an invasion of Ukraine. Excluding Russian banks from the SWIFT global payments system has been ruled out, according to reports, so what is left? A former NATO Supreme Allied Commander for Europe told Reuters on Wednesday (February 02) that the recent troop deployments announced by the United States to bolster Eastern European allies as Russia master troops around Ukraine, are likely having an effective deterrent effect. It is Baerbock's second trip to Ukraine in less than a month. It comes as tensions between Russia and the West remain high. Her meeting with President Zelenskyy has been canceled, though, due to scheduling issues. For the first time since taking office, Chancellor Scholz is meeting with President Joe Biden in the White House. Scholz described the US and Germany as "the closest of allies." In the past few months, many Nigerians have called on the government of the United Kingdom (UK) to reform the policy. Over 60 per cent of Nigerians who participated in a poll believe that the country should be included in the list of countries whose citizens are exempted from writing the IELTS exam when they want to study or work in the UK. The poll also showed that less than six per cent of Nigerians believe the IELTS for Nigerians should be left the way it is. In the past few months, many Nigerians have called on the government of the United Kingdom (UK) to reform the policy of the English proficiency test, IELTS, in Nigeria. While some demanded a reduction in the cost of the tests and an increase in the validity period, others demanded Nigeria's removal from the list of countries required to take the test. The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a major requirement for citizens of any country who wish to relocate to the UK for work or study opportunities. The cost of the test in Nigeria ranges between N80,000 and N90,000 - an aspect which has prompted many Nigerians to describe the exercise as "extortion." Besides the cost, the test is only valid for two years and can only be taken in 12 cities across the country - another criterion many Nigerians have deemed unfair. But while there has been a general call for a total reform of the IELTS policy, many Nigerians were particular about asking the UK government to include the country in its Visa and Immigration (VI) list, a poll conducted by PREMIUM TIMES shows. Already, countries like Barbados, Guyana, the Bahamas and Belize are on the list which exempts their citizens from the IELTS. Other countries on the list are Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and Grenada. Following the social media attention that the issue generated, PREMIUM TIMES conducted a poll to test the views of Nigerians on the topic. The Poll The poll, which ran on PREMIUM TIMES' website and its official Twitter handle, lasted for five days. On Twitter and the website, it was conducted in a way that made it impossible for a respondent to vote more than once from the same computer or mobile device. The voters were asked a single question: "What do you think should be changed about IELTS for Nigerians?" On the Website, the question had five options for participants to choose from. - Price should be reduced - Validity period should be increased - Price should be reduced and validity period increased. - Nigeria should be added to the UKVI exemption list. - IELTS for Nigerians should be left as it currently is. Because Twitter allows only four options, the third option was not included. A total of 2,125 respondents voted across the two platforms. On the PREMIUM TIMES' website, 1,468 people voted. About 60.2 per cent (884) of the respondents said Nigeria should be added to the UKVI list, while 18.9 per cent (277) said the price should be reduced and validity period increased. Another eight per cent (117 respondents) said they only want the validity period increased while 7.7 per cent (113 respondents) only want the cost of the examination reduced. Only 5.2 per cent of the respondents (77) said the IELTS for Nigerians should be left as it currently is. On Twitter, the respondents had only four options to choose from as allowed by the social media platform. A total of 657 participants voted. About 40.9 per cent of the respondents (269) called for Nigeria's inclusion in the UKVI list, 32.1 per cent want the validity period extended, 24.2 per cent want the cost of the examination reduced while only 2.7 per cent said the IELTS should be left as it is for Nigerians. Call for reform While this is not the first time many Nigerians will be asking the UK to reform the IELTS policy in the country, the recent call, which started a few months ago, has been the most pronounced. Advertisements Nigerians are currently kicking against the policy, describing it as a rip-off and accusing the UK of commercialising the test. They have taken to social media using hashtags like #ReformIELTSPolicy, #IELTS, and #TOEFL, among others, to drive home their demands. A youth-led open-source policy platform, Policy Shapers, is at the forefront of this call. The group has initiated an online petition on Change.org, wondering why none of the over 20 anglophone countries in Africa is on the list of countries exempted from taking the test. This, they say, is "despite the fact that these African countries are former British colonies and belong to the Commonwealth." The petition, addressed to Secretary of the UK Home Office, Priti Patel, has been signed by over 70,000 people. However, in its response to enquiries made as to why Nigeria is not on the UKVI exemption list, the criteria used for selecting countries and why Nigerians are subjected to the test, the UK Home Office, in charge of the test, said it had no evidence yet that majority of Nigerians spoke English as the first language. It said it must have evidence that at least 51 per cent of the population speaks English as a first language for a country to be included in the list. The UK High Commission had also said that while individual test providers set the fees, they are always comparable to what is charged globally. When asked if Nigeria meets the target going by the fact that the majority are made to speak their indigenous languages while growing up, the founder of Policy Shapers, Ebenezer Wikina, noted that many countries on the UKVI exemption list have indegenous languages as well. "We did some data mining and we found out that on that same list, the countries there, speak a combined 82 additional languages. People often refer to our indigenous languages as a reason why we should write the IELTs and so we just thought maybe they feel like our native languages corrupt our English so is it possible that their own languages corrupt theirs," Mr Wikina said. "Some countries like Guyana speak as much as 18 and it's a very small island. So, why not us? Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Europe and Africa Migration By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "There's another data that shows that more than 60 per cent of Nigeria's population is under 24 years old. We have a young population. If you call an average 24-year-old, most of them struggle to speak their indigenous language." Nigeria not alone Apparently, Nigerians are not the only ones calling on the UK to reform the IELTS policy. Citizens of Ghana, Cameroon and Malawi have made similar calls. On Saturday, Ghana's second deputy speaker of parliament, Andrew Asiamah, mandated the parliament's Education and Foreign Affairs Committee to look into the IELTS policy as it relates to Ghanaians. His directive was sequel to a statement by a fellow lawmaker, who expressed the view that the test was being used as a source of revenue for the UK government. The lawmakers, like Nigerians, had argued that Ghana is a Commonwealth nation and English is the official language of the state and the language of instruction in Ghanaian Schools. Meanwhile, in Malawi, over 7,300 Malawians signed a petition asking the UK government to exempt them from taking the test before they can be accepted for studies in the UK. A media practitioner, Rogers Siula, who launched the petition in 2021, told a local newspaper that the call was not only because English is Malawi's official language, but also because the country was a former British Protectorate. With over 70,000 signatures in Nigeria, many are hopeful that the IELTS policy in Nigeria will be reviewed. US President Joe Biden has said there is no chance of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project going ahead if Russia invades. The issue has been a bone of contention between Washington and Berlin. Scholz told the Washington Post that Germany was observing strict criteria on weapons exports in declining to supply Ukraine with arms. The United States and United Kingdom have sent Ukraine arms deliveries. Prime Minister Scott Morrison looks forward to "welcoming" fully vaccinated tourists from February 21. Elsewhere, Vietnam hopes to welcome students back to schools after nearly a year. Follow DW for the latest. President Zelenskyy has invited Putin to meet him in eastern Ukraine for talks on ending the long-running conflict there. Kyiv has accused Russia of a massive troop buildup at the border. It comes as WAs new seven-day quarantine rules came into effect for vaccinated returning travellers and those deemed a close.. Brisbane Times 08 Feb 2022 German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said extra forces will be deployed to the Baltic nation amid regional tensions with Russia. The deployment there could be Germany's second largest after Mali. Hundreds of people have gathered for the funeral of young boy in Morrocco who died after being trapped inside a well for five days. Germany faces a lawsuit which demands Berlin grant visas and refuge to former police trainers who had worked for the German development agency GIZ in Afghanistan. US President Joe Biden has said there is no chance of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project going should Russia mount an offensive. Chancellor Olaf Scholz, on his first White House visit in office, was more guarded. Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya yesterday lamented the influx of narcotics and illicit drugs into the North-east, revealing that drug menace had been supporting terrorism and other nefarious activities in the region. Yahaya, therefore, noted that the prevalence of drug abuse in Nigeria and its negative impact on public health and safety underscored the need for all hands to be on deck in order to curtail the challenge. He made these remarks at a meeting of all Secretaries of State Governments in the Northeast held at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Gombe yesterday. Speaking at the meeting, Yahaya said the abuse of drugs propels the development of crime and criminality within the sub region, which compelled the forum to take decision in order to reduce and eventually put a stop to the unfortunate development. He challenged the governors of the North-east states "to join forces with major stakeholders, especially the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to stem the ugly trend of drug abuse in the region." He said: "It is a known fact that the North-east has passed through what can best be described as horrific and traumatic experiences as a result of the Boko Haram Insurgency that almost paralyzed its socio economic activities. "We must do everything humanly possible to curb the influx of narcotics and illicit drugs into the North-east. This will help in the fight against insurgency. It is a known fact that drug menace supports terrorism and other nefarious activities. "Let me also reiterate that the government is fully aware of the contributions of our traditional, community and religious leaders in all security matters. I call on you not to relent on your oars by drawing the attention of security agencies on any breach of peace within your domains and areas of jurisdiction." Specifically, the governor challenged the community leaders, religious bodies and voluntary organisations to, as a matter of urgency, embark on drug abuse enlightenment, treatment and prevention campaigns in order to stop the ugly trend. He said the prevalence of drug abuse and its negative impact on public health and safety underscored the need for all hands to be on deck in order to curtail the challenge. Yahaya, however, said his administration "is specifically taking the issues of drug abuse critically. The state governments as with other stakeholders are intensifying efforts at tackling the problems to stem the slipping slope that many youths who dabble into drugs are heading to." He, therefore, commended the North-east Governors Forum for the foresight and commitment to handle any detrimental challenge to the overall improvement in the living conditions of our people. He said: "As you have all converged here, I urge you to join hands with the relevant agencies and explore the wealth of experiences you all have in order to combat this ugly trend that prevails within the sub region". "There is no better time than now for all relevant stakeholders to rise and join the crusade to make our region and Nigeria a better and safer place of living, especially for the youths, who are the leaders of tomorrow." Yahaya then expressed the hope that the secretaries to the state governments and other stakeholders involved in this meeting will deliberate exhaustively on the theme of the meeting and come up with robust, viable and implementable resolutions for the benefit of the people. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Governance By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. The Director General, North-east Governors Forum, Senator Abba Aji said the synergy among the governors "is yielding meaningful results especially in a region that has suffered the monumental effect of insurgency." He, therefore, called for more of such collaborations across the North-east in order to rid the region of crimes and criminality. In his welcome address, the Secretary to the Gombe State Government, Prof. Abubakar Njodi said the meeting was sequel to a directive by the governors of the region during their last session in Damaturu, where they observed the unfortunate development of the rise in drug and substance abuse. Njodi, also Chairman of the North-East SSGs Forum noted that the meeting was expanded "to include heads of security agencies and NDLEA in the geo-political zone in order to brainstorm and share ideas on the best way to tackle the alarming rate of drug abuse in the society." PM Narendra Modi today blasted Congress over multiple issues, saying that the states that once rejected the party never accepted them back again. PM Modi said that states like Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Jharkhand and Bihar never voted the Congress to power after rejecting them once. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday tore into the Opposition parties in Parliament accusing the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party.. Zee News 07 Feb 2022 British monarch Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her platinum jubilee, marking her 70-year reign as the region's anchor of stability. Buckingham Palace also said that the royal will be celebrating the milestone by inviting guests to her Sandringham residence and having a new portrait. Until now, research assumed that the vast forest area of the Congo Basin, like other tropical forests, releases large amounts of nitrous oxide and binds methane. Researchers have now shown that it behaves differently: methane is released, while nitrous oxide emissions are smaller than thought. His side head to Anfield on the back of just three wins in their last 11 Premier League games and are now out of the FA Cup. Daily Record 10 Feb 2022 ODN 12 Apr 2022 Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak will be fined by the police for breaking lockdown laws. The prime ministers wife, Carrie Johnson,.. Daily Star 13 Feb 2022 Marc Overmars resigned from his position as director of football earlier this month after admitting that he had previously sent.. Boris Johnson has said the Government is setting tough targets for dealing with the NHS backlog in England amid frustration.. Belfast Telegraph 07 Feb 2022 An auction of artwork is set to raise millions of pounds towards the legal costs of Julian Assange as he continues to fight extradition to the United States. Mashable 25 Feb 2022 If you can believe it, Tumblr turned 15 this month. The microblogging site that launched a thousand ships was created by software.. The court had, in June 2022, ordered Mobil and NNPC to pay the Akwa Ibom oil communities cumulative damages of N81.9 billion over oil spillage that ruined their economic lives. Some oil communities in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have initiated garnishee proceedings at the Federal High Court, Abuja, against the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited to enforce an N82 billion judgement debt. Ibeno communities led by Obong Effiong Archianga and nine others brought the action against the NNPC and the two oil giants through their lawyer, Lucius Nwosu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). They had, in their original suit, sought about N100 billion compensation for economic losses they had suffered as a result of the oil spillages caused by the defendants during exploration. In June last year, the court ordered the international oil companies and NNPC to pay the oil communities cumulative damages of N81.9 billion over oil spillage. The judge, Taiwo Taiwo, ordered the defendants to pay the plaintiffs within 14 days, failing which eight per cent interest would be accruable on the principal sum annually. The judge struck out the name of the 3rd defendant, which is another subsidiary of Mobil, ExxonMobil Corporation, on the grounds that it had no blame in the issue. Court grants request to 'attach' NNPC's, Mobil's funds at CBN, commercial banks To enforce the judgement debt, the plaintiffs (judgement creditors) approached the court with an ex-parte application, seeking to compel the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and some commercial banks to pay them the N82 billion judgement debt from the bank accounts of the debtors. A.O. Okeaya-Imoh and Ogwu Onoja, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria, filed the garnishee nisi proceedings, which is a preliminary judgment enforcement application, on behalf of the plaintiffs on December 15, 2021. Ruling on the application, the judge, Mr Taiwo, ordered the attachment of funds belonging to the judgment debtors in the CBN and the various commercial banks. Apart from the CBN, other banks affected by the order include First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, and Access Bank Plc. There are 19 other commercial banks ordered by the court to pay over the N82 billion judgement debt from the accounts of the plaintiffs in their custody to the aggrieved oil communities in Ibeno LGA of Akwa-Ibom State. "An order is hereby made directing that the garnishee nisi be served on any branch of the garnishee banks throughout Nigeria for the attachment of funds of the judgement debtor with the said garnishee banks for the purpose of satisfying the total judgement debt in the sum of N81,925,157,500.00 with interests thereon and the cost of execution in this suit," the judge held in a certified true copy of the order obtained by PREMIUM TIMES on Friday. Mr Taiwo went to fix a date for the garnishee (the banks) to appear before the court to show cause why the "order nisi" should not be made absolute, which would lead to the final payment of the judgement debt to the judgement creditors. NNPC, banks kick against enforcement of judgment debt Following the court's order asking the banks to explain why its earlier orders should not "be made absolute", the NNPC represented by Damian Dodo, a SAN, appeared before Mr Taiwo on January 31. The NNPC's lawyer argued that the court's judgement debt of last June was being contested at the Court of Appeal in Abuja. "My Lord, it's unfortunate that steps are being taken to enforce the judgement despite a pending appeal at the Court of Appeal," Mr Dodo lamented. He further contended that the failure of the plaintiffs to join all the garnishee debtors to the entire proceedings was fatal to the suit's survival. "We urge the court to bring to an end the garnishee proceedings," Mr Dodo prayed the court. The CBN on its part contended that "the facts before the court does not support the court to proceed with granting the garnishee order absolute. Mr Omoruwa Adediran, also a SAN, who represented the CBN, further argued that the garnishee order was not binding on government's companies. He cited the recently enacted Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which, he said, provides that the NNPC is a national oil company, and not a private firm as canvassed by the judgement creditors in their arguments. Similarly, First Bank Nigeria Plc's lawyer, Joy Iloh, urged the court to strike its name out of the garnishee proceedings as it was not holding the judgement debtors funds. But in his counter-argument, the communities' lead counsel, Mr Nwosu, said there was no pending appeal against the court's judgement being sought to be enforced since when it was delivered last June. He pointed out that the NNPC and Mobil were only applying for leave of court to appeal against the verdict. Advertisements "Nothing lies in your way in making the garnishee order absolute," Mr Nwosu urged the court. Recounting the ordeals of oil producing communities in the Niger Delta who grapple with the havoc of environmental degradation, Mr Nwosu said the activities of the judgement debtors (NNPC and Mobil) had completely destroyed the Ibeno communities. "We are not going after statutory funds or taxpayers' money, but a piece of cake that is being baked in our land," the Mr Nwosu argued. He informed the court that the CBN and First Bank Plc had both agreed that they have the NNPC's funds for garnishee proceedings. "First Bank Plc has admitted that it has N153 million standing to the credit of the judgement debtor," the plaintiffs lawyer said. The court has now fixed February 28 to deliver its ruling. Backstory In his verdict last June in a joint suit filed by the aggrieved oil producing communities, Mr Taiwo held that Mobil, the American oil company, and the NNPC were negligent in the way they handled oil spills that caused environmental degradation in the communities. Specifically, Mr Taiwo took umbrage at the NNPC for being interested in revenue generation from the oil exploration at the expense of the lives of the people in the communities. The judge said he believed the oral and documentary evidence adduced by the plaintiffs to support their claims that lives were made miserable for them when their water and land were polluted through crude oil leakages from old oil pipelines. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Petroleum By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Mr Taiwo noted the claims of Mobil that it did clean up exercise and held that the oil giant failed to address the compensation that would have mitigated the economic losses of the people said to be mainly fishermen and farmers. He held that the oral and documentary pieces of evidence produced by Mobil Company were not in any way helpful to the court as they were targeted at serving predetermined interest. The judge further said that some of the witnesses should not have come to the court at all going by the discrepancies in the documents brought to the court, adding that they only embarked on guess research that was not reliable. He further held that both Mobil and NNPC were negligent by their failure to visit places of the leakages of the crude oil that led to the contamination of rivers and creeks. The court rejected the claims of the Mobil's joint venture partner, NNPC, that the suit was statute barred in 2012 when it was filed by the aggrieved plaintiffs. The NNPC had claimed that the suit was not filed within 12 months by the plaintiffs as required by the provision of Section 12(1) of the NNPC Act, 2004. However, the judge held that the suit had to do with fundamental rights that cannot be rendered impotent by the statute of limitation. He stated further that Section 11(5) of the Oil Pipeline Act made it mandatory for oil companies to monitor and repair their pipelines to avoid spillages and environmental degradation. As a result of this, the judge awarded N42.8 billion as damages for intangible losses, N21.9 billion for special damages as annotated, and N10 billion as general damages. The two leaders are meeting amid concerns that Germany has not been a forceful enough partner in calming tensions between Russia and Ukraine. A Texas couple thanked their doctor for saving the pregnant mom's life while battling COVID-19 by naming their newborn son after him. A former United States ambassador to Canada warned against groups supporting protests in Canada opposing vaccine mandates. The situation comes as thousands of demonstrators have conducted protests for more than a week in the nation's capital, Ottawa. A Chinese city of 3.5 million near the border with Vietnam was on lockdown Monday after more than 70 coronavirus cases were discovered there over the past three days. Local officials in the city of Baise in the southern Guangxi region announced that no one would be allowed to leave the city, while residents of some districts would be confined to their homes. Eighteen people were rescued from Lake Erie on Sunday after they became stranded on an ice floe that broke away from land. #lakeerie Tanya Tagaq says her new album 'Tongues' is a reminder to Canadians they can no longer "turn their head" to the atrocities inflicted on Indigenous Peoples. Hong Kong residents crowded supermarkets and neighbourhood fresh food markets to stock up on vegetables, noodles and other necessities after a record number of Covid-19 infections. A 40-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the fire that broke out in the basement of St George's Cathedral in Cape Town on Sunday. Upworthy 07 Feb 2022 Kyle Mullen, 24 from New Jersey, died in a hospital on Friday in California, while second sailor is in a hospital in stable.. Laxman Pai, Opalesque Asia: BBAM Limited Partnership, a player in commercial aircraft leasing and financing, has closed its latest flagship aircraft leasing fund, Incline Aviation II, with total capital commitments of approximately $1.5bn. A diverse group of institutional investors committed to Incline Aviation II, including some of the world's largest public and private employee pension plans and sovereign wealth funds, said a press release from the world's largest dedicated manager of investments in leased commercial jet aircraft. The fund attracted a mix of repeat and first-time investors, it said. "We appreciate the strong backing from existing and new investors that made our second Incline Aviation fund closing a huge success," said Steve Zissis, President and Chief Executive Officer of BBAM. "We have been actively investing and are excited about the opportunity to generate attractive returns for our investors while partnering with our airline clients globally." According to the release, the fund, Incline Aviation II has deployed approximately $318.0 million of equity commitments across 31 aircraft investments as of December 31, 2021. Incline Aviation II continues BBAM's successful aviation investment strategy with a fund dedicated to investing in leased commercial aircraft. Incline Aviation I, a first-of-its-kind multi-strategy fund, closed in 2017 with total capital commitments of $931 million. With more than $21 billion of assets un...................... To view our full article Click here Nigeria has secured a World Bank credit to implement Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL). The minister of state for environment, Barr. Sharon Ikeazor, who disclosed this in a keynote address at the 2022 World Wetlands Day in Jigawa State, said the ACReSAL project was intended to improve sustainable management of drylands in northern Nigeria. She said; "The Federal Government has just secured a credit from the World Bank to implement Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) which is intended to help improve sustainable management of drylands at scale in the northern Nigeria. "The project aims to restore critical ecosystems including the Hadejia-Nguru wetlands and will be implemented over a period of six years". The minister recalled that the president recently approved the establishment of 10 additional national parks including the Hadejia Wetland Games Reserve which will now be known as Hadejia Wetlands National Park. "This implies that the country's protected areas have been expanded to conserve our biodiversity, enhance ecosystem resilience, mitigate climate impacts, and support socio-economic development of the people," she said. The minister added that the expansion would contribute to the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals, Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework Goals, Nationally Determined Contributions, Global Goals for Forests, and others. Ikeazor restated that Nigeria commits to international agreements, conventions and treaties in pursuance of the global agenda towards sustainable environment, climate solution and a healthy planet. "We strongly support Agenda 30X30 of the Global Biodiversity Framework which seeks to designate 30% of the world's oceans and lands for sustainable development by year 2030 Two Forestry Reserves in Bayelsa State have been designated as Nigeria's Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) while the process of taking over and handing over by the federal government has commenced," she added. She said the implementation of the MPAs serves as an opportunity to intensify efforts towards better and more effective management of the critical ecosystems. Oskaloosa, IA (52577) Today Mostly cloudy skies. High 59F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Cloudy with periods of rain. Low around 45F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible. Today, Midlanders have multiple avenues to share their thoughts to a public audience. Facebook, Twitter, a personal blog, or countless other online platforms can help one instantly convey feelings to others. But back in the early 1970s, people might simply use pens, markers, spray paint, and a wall. After making some initial renovations, the new owners of the former Sleepy Hollow Bookshop building, located at 22 Ashman Circle, uncovered a time capsule of doodles and messages from decades prior. However, it is largely a mystery as to why this was a gathering space for people to share their thoughts on war, romances and then-President Richard Nixon. Kevin Harrison, owner of the Midland Furniture Garage, bought the Sleepy Hollow building months ago and began tearing down wall coverings. However, after removing some wood paneling and wall treatments, a 10-foot to 15-foot stretch of wall holding thoughts and feelings of a bygone era was revealed. We were thrilled to find the (mural) there, Harrison said. Reaching out to the former owner of the building for answers on the mural's origin proved to be fruitless, as they were not aware of the murals existence, Harrison said. The wall features an abundance of messages from what appears to be the Vietnam War era. One message read, Either war is absolute, or man is. Another read, They shoots students, dont they? More explicitly stated was a message that read, Were f*****g up in Vietnam, lets pull out now! One of the more striking messages against the war is a partially torn up celebration that reads War is over, in big, bold, black lettering. However, not all topics on the wall relate to the war. There are remnants of the hippie movement on the wall, including one message that reads, Love doesnt die, (if it does, it doesnt die easily. Right)? There even appeared to be someone soliciting dating advice on the wall, with the question Help me choose: Mike or Dave? Jake Huss, historical programs and exhibitions manager at the Midland Center for the Arts, said the writings were most likely done over an extended amount of time in the 1970s. When he researched the current address of the building, he found that the building housed an H&R Block office from the late 1960s into the early 1970s. Through most of the 70s, it was Pioneer Water Co., and then in the 80s it turned to Circle Video, a video rental place, he said. One signature Huss recognizes from the mural is that of Peter Sinclair, a lifelong Midland resident and a climate change activist and videographer. While Sinclair does not remember signing his name on the mural, he does recognize the signature as his own from that time. However, Sinclair remembers the building being used as a small bookstore in the 1970s, and a gathering place for young baby boomers. Huss said that would not have been Sleepy Hollow since it did not move in until the 1990s. But he said there could have been another bookstore in that cluster of buildings at one point. Huss said the writings on the wall were most likely encouraged by the owners at the time, but Sinclair was not sure if that was the case. However, Sinclair said the wall reflects the emotions of young people during the time, especially with topics such as the Vietnam War. There were a lot of young people who were not feeling heard at the time, Sinclair said. The Vietnam War was still raging, Richard Nixon was in the White House, and (there) was a lot of frustration. It seems natural that people would seek to express themselves outside of normal channels and pass messages back and forth in that way. Bandits have killed at least 30 people, abducted several others, mostly women, in separate attacks Friday afternoon in Zamfara State. The attacked communities are Nasarawar Mai Fara in Tsafe local government area, Yar Katsina in Bungudu local government area and Nasarawa village in Bakura local government area. Zamfara, like many of the Nigerian Northwest states, is beleaguered by insecurity in the forms of kidnapping described as banditry. The crime has become rampant and the bandits are seemingly irrepressible. Thousands of people have been killed or kidnapped by the bandits in the region and extending to Niger State, since 2021. In the first three weeks of 2022, at least 486 people were killed by non-state actors across Nigeria, over half of them by bandits in the North-west and Niger State. Multiple sources told PREMIUM TIMES that the attack on Nasarawar Mai Fara in Tsafe local government was due to the failure of the residents to pay a N40 million levy imposed by the bandits. The levy was imposed by Ada Aleru, a notorious banditry kingpin operating in the area and the Faskari part of Katsina State. Abubakar Bala, a resident of Tsafe, said residents could not pay the levy, hence the attack. Mr Balarabe, who has covered conflict for a local radio station and Thunder Blowers Online, said 20 people had been confirmed dead as of Friday evening. In Bakura area, a health worker, Masud Kyambarawa, told PREMIUM TIMES that three people, including the chief imam of the area, Akilu Dan Malam, were killed. (Premium Times) 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. Palestine, TX (75801) Today Cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. A stray thunderstorm is possible. High 86F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy with late night showers or thunderstorms. Low 71F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) High Level Committee on Libya, Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso, has announced the return of the AU Mission to its official headquarters in Tripoli in the coming days. In a meeting with the chairman of the Libyan Presidential Council, Mohamed al-Manfi, on Sunday evening in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on the sidelines of the 35th AU summit, President Nguesso announced that he had also accepted the invitation of the chairman of the Presidential Council to visit Libya, together with Moussa Faki, the current chairman of the African Union Commission. The chairperson of the African Union High Level Committee on Libya expressed his full support for the reconciliation dossier led by the Presidential Council. He expressed his support for the electoral process in appropriate conditions, in response to the aspirations of the 2.5 million voters to choose their representatives and president without exclusion, according to a statement from the Libyan Presidential Council. Since the postponement of the elections on 24 December, the political process in Libya has been at a standstill and efforts are underway to develop a plan for holding general elections. But the parliament has prioritized the dismissal of the government at the risk of overshadowing actions to maintain the momentum for elections. During the meeting, which discussed the latest political developments in Libya, the chairman of the Libyan Presidential Council praised the great support given by the African Union to Libya, through the formation of the High Level Committee for Libya, and the support and assistance Libya has received from President Nguesso. The chairman of the Presidential Council, Mohamed al-Manfi, left the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on Sunday evening for Tripoli, after participating in the 35th. Ordinary Summit of the African Union. The Libyan president attended the summit, along with a large number of presidents, leaders and heads of government of African countries. They discussed strengthening joint continental efforts to address the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on the economies, health and security of the African peoples at the national and regional levels. They also dealt with ways of advancing the AU to develop Afro-African relations, in addition to many of the current issues of concern to countries on the continent. -0- PANA BY/JSG/BBA/RA 7Feb2022 Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The House of Representatives in Libya (Parliament) has announced a plenary session next Thursday to choose a new Prime Minister from among three candidates Abuja THE federal government will,Monday (tomorrow), receive 2 million doses of J&J Covid-19 vaccine donated by the European Union. The formal handover of the vaccines to Nigeria is billed to take place at the National Primary Health Care Development Agency,NPHCDA's National Strategic Cold Store, Bill Clinton Drive, Airport Road, Abuja. The donation is coming at the time government has begun another phase of mass vaccination in its determination to control COVID-19 pandemic. It is equally coming six weeks after the government successfully withdrew about 1,066,214 of expired Astrazenecal vaccine donated to it by foreign agencies and governments. The withdrawn vaccines were subsequently destroyed on December 23,2021 at Gosa Dumsite, at Kilometer 2, near Idu Railway Station, in Abuja. At the moment,over 14,093,873 eligible persons have so far received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria while 5,252,406 eligible Nigerians have been fully vaccinated. Although there have been challenges of undue vaccine hesitancy in the country, the NPHCDA, through its Executive Director,Dr Faisal Shuaib,had recently expressed optimism that there would be improvement. "We strongly believe that a more committed approach to implementing mass vaccination will lead to improved vaccine uptake. "This is why our current vaccination phase emphasizes state supervision support to ramp up vaccine uptake especially in low-performing states,"Shuaib had said. Recall that Nigeria introduced booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine on the 10th of December 2021, following the recommendation by WHO for people who have received two doses of AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer Bio-N-Tech or one dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccines." So far, over 416,980 Nigerians have received their booster dose. " Again, this is a clear indication that many more Nigerians are determined to achieve maximum protection against COVID-19," Shuaib had also said. According to him, till date, Nigeria has not recorded any death arising from COVID-19 vaccination. "This should further serve to convince everyone that COVID-19 vaccines are safe. Let me, therefore, remind all Nigerians, that the second and booster doses are critical to achieving high protection against the virus especially as it keeps mutating,"the NPHCDA's boss had said. Photo: (Photo : Getty images ) After two months, a couple trapped in the snow at home was rescued by the California Highway Patrol Valley Division Air Operations (CHP), who sent a helicopter rescue team to airlift them and their dog from their snow- and fallen trees-covered California Cabin. On a Facebook post, CHP shared a photo of the couple calling for a rescue team as they were stranded in a remote Northern California cabin following a snowstorm since December 6, 2021. The couple and their family dog were running out of supplies. However, they could not leave the cabin as the roads were impassable due to heavy snow. CBS News reported that authorities recorded the cabin's location to have had a historic amount of snow in December, with more than 17 feet falling in Lake Tahoe. Read Also: Ohio Hotel Pool: 14 People Hospitalized Due to Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Helicopter rescue A video posted by CHP showed that the cabin's front was surrounded by trees and blocked by snow. The helicopter was able to land near the cabin, despite strong winds. The couple and their dog were rescued and flown to a landing zone. The authorities said that the couple remained at the sheriff's office until friends picked them up. Trapped inside his house in Ontario all winter A similar incident happened in Ontario where an Ottawa man could not leave his house all winter after being barricaded in by snow. In 2019, Narcity reported that an older man was trapped after a powerful storm brought 40-cm of snow in Ottawa in two days. The neighbors reported the older adult after not seeing him throughout winter. When the police forced their way inside the man's home, they noticed that winter snow blocked the door and the driveway, and there was no sign of life or track marks. The police called for assistance in clearing the snow to get in the house. Once inside, they found the older adult inside, alone and alive. After being trapped in snow, the man told them that he spent the winter surviving on whatever he had in his house. Three officers then cleared his house of snow. Preparing for winter at home The recently-rescued couple survived at home for almost two months and only called the police when they ran out of supplies. King5 recommended several essential things that a home should have to help household members through any weather-related disasters. These are: Water - Red Cross recommends that emergency supplies must have at least one gallon per person per day. If evacuation is necessary, then supplies should last for three days. If the reserve is only used at home, there should be at least a 2-week supply of water. Red Cross recommends that emergency supplies must have at least one gallon per person per day. If evacuation is necessary, then supplies should last for three days. If the reserve is only used at home, there should be at least a 2-week supply of water. Flashlight Battery-powered or hand-crank radio Extra batteries First Aid Kit Medication supply Multi-purpose tool Sanitation and personal hygiene items Family and contact emergency information Extra cash Emergency blanket Food supplies Related Article: Walking Dead' Actress Alicia Witt Finally Breaks Her Silence About Her Parent's Death Photo: (Photo : Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images) Brian Austin Green and his girlfriend, Sharna Burgess, are expecting their first baby. This will be the fifth child for Green, who has three kids with ex-wife Megan Fox and a 19-year-old son from a previous relationship. According to People, Green and Burgess started dating five months after his split with Fox in May 2020, after ten years of marriage. Fox then started dating Machine Gun Kelly while Green and Burgess became an item. Sources told People that Green and Fox have no bad blood, and they continue to co-parent their sons, Noah, 9, Bodhi, 7, and River, 5. The same source also said that Green and Fox have moved on and are "good and happy" with their current relationships. Read Also: Jennifer Lopez Says She's Teaching Her Teenage Twins These Important Life Lessons Celebrating First Year Together Green and Burgess celebrated their first year together in October 2021. Green wrote a loving message to Burgess on his Instagram and thanked her for accepting and loving him in a way he has "never been loved before." Burgess said in June last year that she and Green met at a coffee shop and were together during the lockdowns. The soon-to-be-mom said that the lockdowns gave them a chance to take their time and get to know each other. On the other hand, Green said that he loses track of time when he's with Burgess, which was unlike any relationships he has experienced. He also loves that he and Burgess have the "same moral compass. The couple joined "Dancing with the Stars" season 30 and ended in the 13th spot. In an interview with E! News, Green said that his girlfriend was hesitant about joining the dance competition, but she had a great time throughout the experience. Burgess said that her world changed when she met Green. She said that her relationship with the actor has been what she's been dreaming about for so long, and she cannot wait to start their new chapter as parents together. Wanting More Kids Before the pregnancy announcement, Burgess hinted that she might be heavy with a child when she posted a photo of a home pregnancy test kit. In an interview with Us Weekly, Burgess said that if Green did not want to have more kids, it would be a deal-breaker in their relationship. But she felt fortunate that it was Green who brought up having another baby. Burgess also said she wants to get married, but the couple has not announced any wedding plans. Meanwhile, Fox and her boyfriend got engaged during their trip to Puerto Rico in early January. The actress told a friend that she was excited to get married again. Kelly, whose real name is Colson Baker, had an engagement ring especially made that incorporated their birthstones, emerald and diamond. Fox also shared on Instagram that they drank each other's blood during their engagement. The couple has not yet announced the date and details of their wedding day. Related Article: What Megan Fox Teaches Son, Who Likes Dresses, About Handling Bullies Photo: (Photo : Getty images ) A passerby rescued a mom and her four children from a house fire in Wyoming early Tuesday morning, Fox 13 reports. Ryan Pasborg was driving towards town for work early Tuesday morning when he smelled smoke and noticed that a home's bedroom window was on fire. According to the Sweetwater County Sheriff's Office statement, he could not see any emergency lights. Hence, he pulled into the driveway and noticed a young girl and two boys standing outside the house. When he asked where their mom was, the children said their four-month-old brother and mom were still inside the burning house. Read Also: Preemie Twins Born at 22 Weeks Defy Doctor's Bleak Prognosis That They Will Not Survive Saving the mom and toddler from fire Pasborg, who used to be a volunteer firefighter, went inside the burning home without hesitation and pulled a woman and a child out of the house. In GoodNews Network, he told authorities that he could not see anything inside the house due to heavy smoke. Pasborg said he crawled on his hands and knees on the floor. He made it into the kitchen before he bumped into a child. He grabbed the boy around the waist, picked him up, and carried him outside. Once out, he noted that the windchill was below zero, so he placed the children in the truck before getting back in the house the second time. Once inside the house for the second time, he found the woman on the floor moments later. She was badly burned and had difficulty breathing. He dragged the young mother outside and performed CPR to save her. Pasborg then moved the family away from the burning house to the end of the driveway near the highway. He called for the emergency responders to arrive. According to the Star Tribune, the emergency responders took the woman, 34, and her four-year-old son to a hospital for treatment by ambulance. Later, the woman was flown by helicopter to the University of Utah Burn Center in Salt Lake City. However, the family's two dogs died in the fire. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire, but according to the sheriff, it was not suspicious. Pasborg later purchased clothing worth several hundred dollars and essentials. Mower said he delivered the goods to the family at their grandmother's residence. Bravery and Selfless According to Deputy Jason Mower with the Sweetwater County Sheriff's Office, Pasborg served as a volunteer firefighter in Superior, Wyoming. Mower also told Fox13 News that it is more likely than not that it would have been late for the mom and that little boy by the time the emergency responders arrived. The head of the police department also said he was impressed by Pasbourg's bravery and selflessness. In a press statement, Sheriff John Grossnickle said that it is a blessing that Pasborg was in the right place at the right time. He also noted that it was commendable that Pasborg did not doubt risking his own life to save the family, without hesitation, even if it meant risking his own life to help keep the family. His bravery meant a difference between life and death for the young mother and her child. "He gave them a fighting chance," Grossnickle wrote. Related Article: Kids with Adverse Childhood Experiences Most Likely to Reject Vaccine, Restrictions It's being reported today that the Dutch antitrust watchdog is now studying whether a new round of changes Apple announced last week to its App Store's terms and conditions in the Netherlands will bring it into compliance with national law, according to Reuters. Last Thursday Apple made a further statement on their website, laying out how developers could implement the alternative payment methods. The Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has been levying weekly fines of 5 million euros ($5.7 million) on Apple since Jan. 24, saying the company had failed to open its app store to allow dating app providers in the Netherlands to use alternative payment methods. Apple on Jan. 15 asserted it had complied with the Dutch regulator's December order covering only dating apps like Match Group's Tinder, but the regulator responded that Apple hadn't actually yet made changes -- it had just indicated it would. For more background on this story, read the full report by the Jurist that was published on Christmas day 2021. Historically, malicious Office macros have been the equivalent of emails phishing attempts, launching malware at the click of a users mouse. Microsoft said Monday that its finally clamping down on this security vulnerability, blocking Visual Basic (VBA) macros by default. To date, Microsoft has warned users about the dangers of untrusted macros, but allowed users to download and run them by manually approving them. Now, untrusted macros will be blocked by default within Access, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, and Word for any file downloaded from the Internet. The change will roll out to Microsofts Current Channel of these Microsoft 365 apps beginning in April, and applied later to the other update channels, too. This is the warning message youll see if Microsoft blocks an untrusted VBA macro. Microsoft At a future date to be determined, we also plan to make this change to Office LTSC, Office 2021, Office 2019, Office 2016, and Office 2013, Microsoft added in a blog post Monday. Apps like Excel can run scripts and other active content to automate processes and import data from outside sources. VBA can be a source of great power for Excel pros. The problem is that without downloading these macros from a trusted source, theres really no way of telling of what theyre downloading, or what actions that code will take. Microsoft has recognized the security issues associated with macros for some time. The enduring appeal for macro-based malware appears to rely on a victims likelihood to enable macros. Previous versions of Office include a warning when opening documents that contain macros, but malware authors have become more resilient in their social engineering tactics, luring users to enable macros in good faith and ending up infected, the company wrote in 2016. Technically, the block will apply to macros downloaded from the Web, with what Microsoft calls with the Mark of the Web applied. The macro will still be loaded if the file comes from a trusted location, or if the macro is digitally signed, with the security certificate supplied to the user. The macro will also run if the user had previously opened the file, before this change in default behavior, and had selected Enable content from the Trust Bar, according to a Microsoft support document. In that case, the macro is considered to be trusted. That support document also details how enterprises can manage macros by policy. Microsoft has previously put in protections in place to help manage macros, and its unclear whether those protections will still be in place. For example, Microsoft announced Application Guard in 2019, as a way to sandbox untrusted spreadsheets and other documents. The idea is that if an untrusted document contained malware, it would be isolated from your PC. Microsoft representatives declined to comment. This story was updated at 4:38 PM after Microsoft declined to comment further. Mr Ousmane Diagana, the World Bank Regional Vice President for Western and Central Africa region, will on Monday, February 6, be in Ghana for a three-day working visit. Mr Diagana will pay a courtesy call on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and hold a high-level discussion with key government officials on critical issues relating to the macro-economy, energy sector, COVID-19 pandemic, and vaccine rollout. The Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and the Minister of Finance, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta will be part of the engagement. The visit, which is the first since his appointment in July 2020, will afford the Regional Vice President the opportunity to also monitor some World Bank-funded projects, including the Ghana Tech Hub and Ghana Innovation Hub at the Accra Digital Centre. The visit is taking place days after the World Bank Country Director, Mr Pierre Frank Laporte, indicated that the Country's decision to seek financial support from a fellow Bretton Woods institution, International Monetary Fund (IMF) would not solve its economic challenges in the long term. At a media engagement, he said the support of IMF would, however, help the Country renegotiate some of its debts, provide economic framework to shore up reserves and provide more loans. The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of low- and middle-income countries for the purpose of pursuing capital projects. It has been operational in Ghana since 1957 with active portfolios worth $2.9 billion (about $9 per person in the US) across 25 active projects. Portfolios are spread across several sectors, with 18 per cent in finance and competitiveness, Health, 13 per cent in Nutrition & Population, 13 per cent in social protection & jobs and 10 per cent in urban resilience and land. With debt to Gross Domestic Product ratio set at 78.4 per cent as of November 2021, the government has announced some expenditure cut measures while working to introduce an Electronic - levy to shore up revenue and improve its debt situation. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video One of Americas leading fast-food chains, Burger King, just opened its fourth location in Accra. The new restaurant, located on the Dansoman High Street near the old police station, will open every day from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The restaurant is independently owned and operated through a franchise agreement by Royalty QSR Ghana Limited, a subsidiary of Franchise Foods Africa. Burger King (BK), founded in 1954, operates over 18,000 outlets in over one hundred countries and is without a doubt a world-class establishment. Creating classic meals with an unforgettable experience has defined the Burger King brand for more than 50 successful years and is what Ghanaians can expect with the launch of the Dansoman store. BK is best known for its signature Whopper, a savoury flame-grilled beef patty topped with freshly cut vegetables, creamy mayonnaise and ketchup on a soft sesame seed bun. In addition, BK Dansoman will also offer an array of other mouth-watering meals. Customers can look forward to Burger Kings classic savoury menu, fast service, catchy product packaging, amazing offers, customizable meal options as well as plans to open stores in 13 more locations across Ghana! With this launch, Burger King is encouraging you, the customer, to be your more you and invites you to come around and have a burger experience like none other. 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 Parliament has initiated moves to get Ghanaian students who wish to study abroad exempted from taking English proficiency examinations as a prerequisite to gaining admission to foreign universities. This follows a statement delivered by the Member of Parliament for South Dayi, RocksonNelson Dafeamekpor. Mr. Dafeamekpor argued that being a member of the Commonwealth and English being Ghanas official language and no one is never able to progress beyond Junior High School without a pass in English language, it was unfair for Ghanaian students to be mandated to write a proficiency examination before being granted admission to schools in other countries especially the US and the UK. He stated that the current system appears to be a means to profiteering for the UK government, noting that it is strange for Ghanaian students, like other anglophone countries in Africa, to write language tests such as the IELTS, and TOEFL before being offered admission to UK and US schools. Other members of parliament who contributed to the statement endorsed it and insisted that Ghanaian students must be exempted from taking such tests. Others also suggested that the cost of the exam, often an average of 150 be reduced. The second deputy speaker of parliament, Andrew Amoako Asiamah following the debate directed the education and foreign affairs committees to look into the issue and unravel the circumstances under which Ghanaian students are compelled to write and pass such English Language Examinations before being offered jobs and admissions into tertiary Institutions in the United Kingdom. This action by Ghanas Parliament comes after a similar campaign in Nigeria, where over 35,000 people signed a petition calling for the removal of the requirement. A request by Ebenezar Wikina, founder of Policy Shapers, an open source policy platform for the removal of the requirement came with a response from the UK Ministry of Home Affairs which said for a country to be recognised as a Most English-Speaking Country, there must be evidence that more than half of the population speak English as their first language. The letter indicated that, there are at least 27 English-speaking countries on the continent that do not meet that threshold. We, along with other academic sources, rely on publicly available evidence, such as official census, to make this decision. If additional evidence is required, we may also consult with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Commonwealth and Development Offices. Based on the information we currently have available, Nigeria does not meet the requirements. This list is periodically reviewed and updated, and new countries are added as they are found meeting the requirements, excepts of the letter read. Source: citinewsroom 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 Mr Gabriel Anokye, Senior Revenue Officer of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has bemoaned the dwindling revenue mobilization at the Hamile border due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and the coup d'etat in neighbouring Burkina-Faso. He said though the COVID-19 pandemic led to the closure of the country's borders, which affected revenue mobilization, the recent coup in Burkina Faso had worsened the situation, making it difficult to meet their targets. Mr Anokye told the GNA in an interview at Hamile that before the outbreak of COVID-19, about 1,200 long vehicles with goods used to pass through the border monthly but that has reduced to between 700 and 800 and further declined recently due to the coup d'etat in Burkina Faso. "Burkina Faso doesn't have seaport and they rely on the Tema Port for imports, which we also generate a lot of revenue from. We sometimes get as much as GH12,000 from one vehicle depending on the goods in it", he explained. "Again, because the borders are closed, the Ghanaian and Burkinabe traders are no longer transacting businesses as it were, which obviously has affected revenue mobilization. The coup d'etat has also worsened the situation", he said. He said though there had not been an influx of Burkinabe nationals into the country due to the coup d'etat, they were highly alert for any unforeseen circumstances. He said security was tight at the border with businesses going on normally and expressed the hope that the situation would normalize to improve revenue mobilisation. He cautioned the public against using unapproved routes to cross the border and that the law would deal with them if they do so. There was calm at the border when the GNA arrived there with long vehicles in queues to either enter or leave the country. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The remaining kidnapped Bethel Baptist High School student who was held in the kidnappers den, has allegedly refused to return to his family and expressed that he was now comfortable staying with the terrorists. However, the member of the Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN) who took the ransom demanded by the terrorists was also kidnapped after he delivered the message. Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN) in Kaduna State, Rev Joseph John Hayab, also Vice Chairman of CAN in the North and Abuja, had expressed worry that "the remaining pupil, the youngest of the abductees, rejected an offer of freedom from the terrorists." Recall that 121 Bethel Baptist High School students were kidnapped on July 5, 2021, at the school premises along the Kaduna-Kachia highway, Damishi, in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna state but 120 were released. "The remaining student preferred to remain with the bandits, it puzzled the entire members of the Baptist family and indeed, CAN. The bandits were said to be showering the boy with gifts each time they went out and come back from operations, thereby, making him reject the offer of freedom," Hayab said. "Only one pupil of the Bethel Baptist High School is remaining with the terrorists. The reason is that this young boy - because we have to be clear with the story so that we don't get misquoted - is the smallest among them." "I think the kidnappers were smart. They worked and changed his mind that he even said he wants to stay with them. They gave him meat, good things. Anytime they go out and come back, they pick him among the rest and gave him so many things and then he starts acting funny." "If they tell him to go home, he would say he was not going and gave some flimsy excuses that his parents used to beat him at home. But we also made findings and we don't want to expose his parents to any noise but that is what he said. We are confused too." "But I understand they are playing mind games with him by giving him gifts and convincing him to talk that way. But last week, they asked us to bring some money to come and take him. The person who took the money to them was kidnapped. The person is with them as I speak now." "So, it's a very complicated situation that we are praying and managing with care. The man who has been helping us to deliver the money all this while went to deliver the money to free this boy they were confusing and they kidnapped him. So, the whole thing is taking a different dimension and we need to be careful." Hayab had repeatedly, called on the authorities to help free the student and other kidnapped victims on the state. Professor Mawutor Avoke, who has just been reinstated as the substantive Vice-Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) says his focus will be on peace of the university, reconciliation and unity. In a brief remark, Monday morning after the University Council introduced him as the substantive Vice-Chancellor and he started work, Prof Avoke said: "What is urgently required at the University of Education today is unity, reconciliation and peace." He pledged to work with the University Council to help address outstanding issues. "I don't want to over-rehearse the issues mentioned by the chairman of the governing council. "It is also critical to understand that we must work together in unity otherwise we cannot forge any development agenda. Even as we celebrate today, that we are back at the university, we are also mindful of some of our colleagues who have not had the opportunity to come back yet. And so within the coming days, I will work with council to see to it that those other people who were dismissed and are home will also come back." Prof Avoke expressed appreciation to the President of Ghana, the sector Minister, the Governing Council and all others who have made it possible for his comeback. Asked what was going to be done about the outstanding remunerations as ordered by the court, Prof Avoke said: "I'm not sure the issue is about money at this time, what was critical now was to stabilise the system, after all we have been home for 5 years without money so that is not the most urgent need at this time." 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 Pelangio Exploration Inc. has on Monday 7th February 2022 donated an amount of $10, 000 to the Appiate Support Fund. The contribution by the Exploration firm, is to support governments effort to rebuild the Appiatse community and also provide relief for affected persons. The donation was made by the companies Africa Vice President, Mr. Samuel Torkonoo. This donation by Pelangio follows earlier donations from his Excellency the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the Minerals Commission, making Pelangio the third to donate to support the fund. Speaking on behalf of Pelangio Exploration Inc., Mr. Torkonoo noted that this gesture was necessary as it will go a long way to provide relief for the people of Appiatse, and also motivate other organizations to donate to the fund. He hoped the donation from his company and others will go a long way to support the livelihood of the people in the community. Receiving the donation, the Chairperson of the Appiate Support Fund, Dr. Joyce Aryee thanked Pelagio Exploration for their kind gesture. She also used the opportunity to call on Ghanaians and other benevolent organizations to donate to the fund to achieve the aim of rebuilding the Appiatse community. Pelangio Exploration Inc. is a Canada-based mineral exploration company and a member of the Ghana Chamber of mines. The principal business of the Company is the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral property interests in Canada and Ghana. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video An engagement between the coalition of Private Transport Operators and the Government over proposed increment in transport fares has ended inconclusively, the Transport Operators told the Ghana News Agency. The Executive members of the coalition met Mr Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, Minister of Transport in his office on Monday, February 07, 2022, to deliberate on a proposal by the transport operators to increase transport fares by 30 per cent. It was the case of the transport operators that the continuous hike in fuel prices coupled with other factors had taken a toll on their businesses, hence the call for an upward adjustment of the fares. The transport operators and Mr Asiamah were locked in a closed-door meeting for close to three hours Monday evening. Mr Godfred Abulbire, General Secretary, Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), told the Ghana News Agency after the meeting that we did not reach a consensus. He said the negotiations had been rescheduled for Thursday, February 10, 2022. He said the Coalition, based on a market survey found that the prices of the valuables that affected its operations, including spare parts and lubricants had shot up by at least 35 per cent over the period. Consequently, he said the Coalition proposed a 30 percent increment in transport fares during its negotiations with the Minister. Last Friday, we sent a copy of the document to the Minister but when we went to the meeting today, he said he did not receive the copy. So we gave him another copy. The Minister said he will not object to the margin we have stated in the document but he will have to study it, so we should come back on Thursday by, which time they would have also studied the document and know what percentage they will accept, Mr Abulbire said. We will play safe and cushion our customers so when we come and we think the 30 per cent increment would do more harm, we will all arrive at a better consensus, he said in response to if the proposed 30 per cent increment could change on Thursday. The coalition of private transport operators is made up of the Ghana Private Road and Transport Union (GPRTU), Association of Tipper Truck Drivers, Harbor Transport Owners, Ghana National Cargo Transport Association, Ghana Committed Drivers Association, Concerned Drivers Association, Digital Drivers, Commercial motorbike riders, popularly referred to as Okada, the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers among others. Fuel prices have gone up by at least 50 pesewas per litre at the pumps since February 01, 2022. Petrol and diesel are currently being sold at an average GH 7.3 and GH 7.4 per litre respectively. The hike has been blamed on the rising cost of Brent crude on the international market, with some analysts projecting that fuel prices could hit GH8.0 per litre by March this year if the situation on the world market progressed. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Reverend Dr Kwadwo Bempah of the Holy Hill Assemblies of God Church has urged Christians to give God first place in their lives to experience prosperity. "Serving God makes one prosperous. Seek God first and He will take care of all your needs. It doesn't matter what prophesies you have received. If you do not pursue God first, you won't experience the blessings He has in stock for you," he said. Rev Dr. Bempah gave the advice on Sunday whilst delivering a sermon titled, "Engaging the law of seedtime and harvest." He quoted from Psalm 63:8 saying: "My soul [my life, my very self] clings to You; Your right hand upholds me." He said some ways Christians could make God a priority in their lives were through soul winning, giving of firstfruits, financial seeds and being obedient to every instruction from God. Rev Dr Bempah again quoted from Psalm 119:46 saying: "I will speak to kings about your laws, and I will not be ashamed." He said if any Christian was ashamed to talk about God, He would also be ashamed to be associated with that Christian. Rev Dr Bempah added that anyone who advanced God's Kingdom and pursued God's business would also have God advancing his life. He entreated them to always walk in obedience to God because every promise of God became manifested through the law of obedience. Rev Dr Bempah said Christians must not withhold their financial seeds and offerings from God because every seed sown was an opportunity for them to experience financial overflows. God will always give you a seed to see what youll use it for. Every seed God gives you is what He will use to meet your need, he said. He quoted from Galatians 6:7; Dont be misledyou cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Member of Parliament (MP) for Afigya Kwabre North, Collins Adomako Mensah has charged the security agencies in Ghana to be on the alert to safeguard Ghanaians against the ravages of the coup d'etats happening in neighbouring countries. Hon. Collins Adomako Mensah was worried about the anarchy going on in some African countries like Guinea Bissau, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire among others. Burkina Faso, on Monday, experienced a coup d'etat when the countrys army led by Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba ousted the President, Roch Kabore and dissolved the government and the national assembly as well as closed the borders. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in the aftermath of a military coup, has suspended Burkina Faso making it the third member nation to be punished for a military takeover in only 18 months. Speaking on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', Hon. Adomako Mensah asked the security agencies not to trivialize the insurgence in other African countries. He said; ''I plead with the security agencies in Ghana to be on full alert. I believe, by this time, they are on full alert...I always say that the worst form of democracy is better than the best form of a coup d'etat. When you look at soldiers wielding guns like in the situation at Burkina Faso and the gunshots happening, I'm not sure Ghana can contain that kind of pressure at this moment.'' Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) has called on the Majority and Minority Members of Parliament (MPs) to find a common ground to resolve the issues concerning the introduction of the electronic transaction levy (E-Levy). That, it said, would ensure that the country moved on with its development agenda. The President of the GPCC, Rev. Prof. Paul Frimpong-Manso, said this in an interview after the opening of the 53rd Annual Conference of Heads of Churches and Organisations at the Pentecost Convention Centre at Gomoa Fetteh in the Central Region last Wednesday. The four-day conference is on the theme: "Defending the Christian Faith in Contemporary Times". Compromise "Ghana needs money to work, so let us all do our best to make sure that the nation works. If E-Levy will work, the opposition and the Majority should come to a compromise, so let us not entrench ourselves as if it is political tension and battle, and one party will win," he said. Already, he said, the fight by the Majority and Minority MPs in the House last year was one of the most shameful incidents in the history of the country, and should not happen again. "It has happened twice in this Parliament and should not happen again," he said. Corruption Rev. Prof. Frimpong-Manso expressed concern about corruption in the country, especially when 70 per cent of the population were Christians. He wondered how the Church, as the body of Christ, could defend the Christian faith in a morally degenerating and corrupt society where the lack of fear of God and the love for money was reaching the tipping point. He explained that defending the Christian faith went beyond mere slogans, condemnation and militancy but "allowing our light to shine in every dark area of our private and public life and allowing our salt to season and stop the rot in every sphere of our national life". He added that it was an open secret that public sector corruption was the greatest threat to the democracy, development, peace and stability of the country. "How do we defend the Christian faith when 70 per cent of all monies siphoned illegally from the public purse every year were stolen by Christians who are supposed to be the light and salt of this world?" he asked, admonishing all Christians to first hold themselves accountable and then teach and discipline corrupt people in the society to eschew corruption and petty stealing. 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 Members of Parliament (MP) have condemned the recent wave of coups detat in the West African sub-region that are fast eroding the democratic gains made in the region. The MPs have, therefore, called on the Heads of State and government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to take urgent steps and actions to address the root causes of military takeovers in the sub-region. The MPs were the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for North Tongu, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa; the New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Nsawam-Adoagyiri; Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh; the NPP MP for Abuakwa South, Mr Samuel Atta Kyea, and the NDC MP for Bawku Central, Mr Mahama Ayariga. They expressed concern when they contributed to a statement read on the floor of Parliament last Wednesday by Mr Ablakwa, who is also the Minority Ranking Member of Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs. Resurgence Mr Ablakwa had expressed concerns about the alarming resurgence of a new wave of coups detat in the sub-region. He noted that within the short space of nine months, the sub-region had witnessed successive military takeovers in Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso and fourth attempted coup in Guinea-Bissau on February 1, 2022. "Mr Speaker, what is even more intriguing is the popular support and massive jubilation which these coups are greeted with by the African people. A clear paradox of the peoples democracy versus popular coups. Solution Mr Ablakwa, therefore, emphasised the need for African leaders to pursue urgent, bold and robust Marshall Plan to address regional insecurity, acute unemployment, lack of opportunities for the youth, marginalisation, corruption, nepotism, proliferation of arms, dictatorships, economic mismanagement, foreign exploitation and clueless leadership. He also called on the AU and other sub-regional bodies such as ECOWAS to institute an independent monitoring and evaluation system that assessed the democratic health, stability and economic well-being of member states for frank peer review as a proactive measure to forestall more coups. The independent assessment, he said, must be conducted regularly by credible African Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and foundations in a transparent and scientific manner. Their findings, Mr Ablakwa said, must be made public to both enrich the African democratic discourse and also assure citizens that their leaders were paying attention to what really matters to them. Ballot box Contributing to the statement, the MP for Abuakwa South, Mr Samuel Atta Akyea, said he did not side with the view that the military should take arms to overthrow an under-performing government as a solution to the problem. Rather, he said the solution to the problem was through the ballot box by allowing the elected government to serve its term of office and be changed during elections. Unacceptable conduct The NPP MP for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh, said while MPs must condemn coups detat in the sub-region, they must reflect on condemnable acts that undermined the image of Ghanas Parliament. The MP for Bawku Central, Mr Ayariga, in his contribution, called on the various arms of government, the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary, to play their roles effectively to let the people have confidence in democracy. Source: graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC , Sammy Gyamfi has said Ghanas economy has collapsed. He referred to a comment made by the Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to the effect that it will be disastrous if the proposed E-levy in the 2022 budget statement is not approved by Parliament, and also the downgrade of the economy by Fitch Ratings, to support his point. Mr Ofori-Atta, at the governments Town-Hall meeting to discuss the E-levy on Thursday, 27 January 2022, said, When we were in the IMF programme, we couldnt pay for nurses and teachers, he said; we couldnt hire any more because there were restrictions on that. I mean, its just really thinking you can go back to Egypt. In a way, we have forgotten how difficult and tenacious that master from Washington was. So, we can deal with them for them to give us advice but we need not ever get into an IMF programme [again]. If we dont do this E-levy, were just pushing ourselves in a way that would potentially end up in such a disaster, Ofori-Atta said. Fitch Ratings has also downgraded Ghanas Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to B- from B. The Outlook is Negative. Speaking on this development on TV3, Sammy Gyamfi said You cannot but agree with fitch and the other international financial agencies who have all downgraded Ghana relative to our economy , our economic outlook. You cannot but agree with them that our economy is in shambles , our economy is in tatters , our economy has collapsed in fact as we speak we dont have an economy . The Finance Minister agrees with me because few weeks you heard him say that without the passage of the E-levy our economy will collapse . If you have an economy that, according to the Finance Minister is billed to collapse , should a policy that can only bring in some 6.9billion is not approved then it means the economy has has already collapsed. Source: 3news.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Former Deputy Information Minister under the Mahama administration, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has urged the government to rescind its decision to raise revenue for the country through the proposed e-levy. Instead, he has advised government to cut down on its expenditure and invest the savings thereof into developing the country. The e-levy, which this government touts as the panacea to all our problems is completely irrelevant as far as resolving the crisis we are in at the moment, is concerned, he said. He made the assertions on Joy News Newsfile, on Saturday, February 5, 2022, where he accused the government of mismanaging the economy. It is important to stress that the Ghanaian Economy currently is hanging by a thread and its no exaggeration to say that it has already collapsed. The office of government machinery is receiving about GHC3.2 billion over 500 million cedis more than they received last year. As I speak to you, our President likes to sit in a $14,000 an hour rented jet at a time when we have a Presidential jet that is fit for purpose. How can you live like an Arabian King, you will not listen to cries and pleas to cut down on this cost and you expect them to pay e-levy which will be taxing peoples savings and their capital? he asked. He stated that two things have undermined Ghanas economy unsustained debt overhang and a large budget deficit of which both result from the decisions of the government. He added that investors are no longer interested in lending money to the government due to a lack of faith that the country will be able to comply with the terms of payment. Government creates the impression that once the e-levy is passed, theyll need something little in order to finance our development, but the crisis we are in is that this government does not have policy credibility, so investors no longer want to lend us anything in terms of financing or lending, he said. The comment comes in the wake of town hall meetings by the government aimed at sensitising the government on the need to accept the e-levy. It also comes at a time when Ghanas Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) has been downgraded by international rating agencies such as Fitch and Moody. Fitch downgraded Ghanas IDR to B- from B with a negative outlook. The downgrade of Ghanas IDRs and Negative Outlook reflect the sovereigns loss of access to international capital markets in the second half of 2021, following a pandemic-related [COVID-19] surge in government debt. Moodys Investors Service (Moodys) also on Saturday, February 5, 2022, downgraded Ghanas long-term issuer and senior unsecured debt ratings to Caa1 from B3 and changed the outlook to stable from negative. Moodys has also downgraded the senior unsecured MTN programme ratings to (P)Caa1 from (P)B3 and the backed senior unsecured debt rating to B3 from B1. The downgrade to Caa1 reflects the increasingly difficult task the government faces in addressing its intertwined liquidity and debt challenges. Weak revenue generation constrains governments budget flexibility and tight funding conditions on international markets have forced the government to rely on costly debt with shorter maturity. Moodys estimates that interest payments will absorb more than half the governments revenue over the foreseeable future, which is exceptionally high compared to peers at all rating levels. As a remedy, the government has proposed sharp fiscal consolidation and a switch to borrowings from external partners on more favourable terms. Source: myjoyonline.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 Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa South, Samuel Atta Akyea says the Majority Caucus will henceforth, ensure that the embattled Assin North MP, James Gyakye Quayson does not participate in any parliamentary business. According to him, once a High Court of the land has declared the MP as a non-legislator and ordered his seat vacant, he cannot be allowed into the Chamber. The Assin North MP, James Gyakye Quayson has been slapped with criminal charges including perjury and forgery by the Attorney-Generals office. Also, the MP has been charged with an additional offence of deceit and knowingly making a false declaration to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that he did not owe allegiance to another country to acquire a Ghanaian passport. The charges have been described by the Minority as frivolous and a lousy tactic by the Akufo-Addo led government to pass the controversial Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) Bill. Having failed several times to pass the much-loathed e-levy in the wake of the nationalistic resistance of the gallant 137 NDC Members of Parliament, the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia Government has now resorted to crude and disgraceful tactics to reduce the numbers of NDC MPs in the august house of Parliament, hoping that would help the regime to railroad the e-levy into law, Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu said at a press conference. In a sharp rebuttal, however, Mr Atta Akyea said claims that the criminal prosecution against the MP is to reduce and weaken the Minoritys strength, can best be described as preposterous. So we are saying that when it comes to criminality and it is the NDC who are affected, we shouldnt pursue them? We shouldnt do anything about crime because a bill is pending before Parliament? he questioned. Speaking to JoyNews parliamentary correspondent, Kwesi Parker-Wilson, Mr Atta Akyea said his side will draw the attention of the Speaker anytime Mr Quayson appears in the Chamber to partake in the business of the House. How can a non-MP be in the Chamber and deliberate on matters considering legislation? They should know better. I was even surprised that the Speaker did not call his attention to the fact that he should get out of the Chamber. Until that decision by the High Court is reversed, he has no right to be in the Chamber, he said. Source: The Newsroom Online 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 residents say the hoodlums do come out from the shanties to perpetrate evil acts by dispossessing people of their belongings and kill anyone who refuses to oblige. Some residents of Agric community in Ojo Local Government, Lagos State, are bemoaning the increase in armed robbery attacks at their major bus stops. The residents also alleged that the hoodlums sell and smoke hard drugs with reckless abandon and at night rob people of their valuables. The residents said the hoodlums live in the shanties built at the bus stops. Agric Bus stop , which consists of six Community Development Association (CDA), is located along Okokomaiko Road before Volkswagen bus stop in Ojo Local Government. The community leaders are pleading with the Lagos State Government to clear the shanties built by the hoodlums and station security personnel at the bus stops. The CDA leaders who spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said their bus stops are not secure anymore. They said the armed robbers do come out from the shanties to perpetrate evil acts by dispossessing people of their belongings and kill anyone who refuses to oblige. They disclosed that about 11 people have been killed and over 50 people injured and shot while returning to their various homes in both daytime and night. Abiodun Gbamgboye, the CDA leader of Habib community, said the incessant robbery attacks at Agric bus stop have stricken fear in people. "Returning home or going out in this area is now a herculean task. "The whole community is scared as our bus stops now turn to arm robbers' den and hard drugs zone, the shanties built by the hoodlums are their major hideouts," he said. He noted that in the daytime, "we see them display hard drugs they sell on their tables and smoke, they even display mixture of drinks with hard drugs. "There are many people who have been killed while being robbed. For instance, one Stanley Mbosah was killed last week while returning home. "Most of us no longer take our cars out of the community for fear of being robbed by the hoodlums. Appeal to government "We want the State Government, the police and Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agencies (NDLEA) to come to our aid," Mr Gbamboye said. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Legal Affairs By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Another CDA leader, from Olowotabutabu community, Emmanuel Chukwudi, said there is the need for government to arrest the hoodlums who live in the shanties built at the bus stops. "I want Government to help us station Police Patrol at the bus stops, remove shanties and arrest the hoodlums, their presence is causing agitation to inhabitants of this community," he said. In his reaction, Salau Rasheed, a CDA leader of Ayedoto community, also expressed concern on insecurities and sale of hard drugs at the bus stops. "Our bus stop is no longer safe for even our children who go to school, we are scared that the hoodlums may want to lure our children into taking hard drugs," he said. Others who talked on the insecurity of the communities were the CDA leaders, Mr Celestine Igwilo of Otubu Community; Mr Albert Mere, Secretary, Olugbemi Community. They all said there was the need for Police to help them arrest those thieves. Mr Olawale Saliu, who is a renowned lawyer living in one of the communities, told NAN that residents are scared of the evil the hoodlums unleash as they might extend their act to houses if not curtailed. He, however, urged the security personnel in the area and Ojo Local Government Chairman to help them in clearing shanties where the hoodlums hide. (NAN) Advertisements The Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper has expressed his disappointment in ECOWAS leaders after another coup d'etat in Burkina Faso. "I'm so disappointed in the ECOWAS leaders...the coup leaders are even better than them. Currently, over 70 percent of Burkina Faso are now under the control of Islamic insurgents; were the ECOWAS leaders asleep when that was happening?" he queried while contributing to a panel discussion on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo' Listen to him in the video below Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A rash of military coups in Africa has resurrected a long dormant question: should leaders who take power through armed insurrections be barred from addressing the United Nationsan institution which swears by, and promotes, multi-party democracy? The most recent surge, which the United Nations describes as an epidemic of coups, include military takeovers in Chad, Guinea, Mali, Sudan, and Burkina Faso (and not excluding Myanmar, which marked the first anniversary of a military government in the Southeast Asian country on February 1). After a failed coup in Guinea-Bissau last week, President Umaro Sissoco Embalo told reporters it was a failed attack against democracy. It wasnt just a coup, it was an attempt to kill the president, the prime minister and the entire cabinet. In 2004, when the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the predecessor to the present African Union (AU), barred coup leaders from participating in African summits, then Secretary-General Kofi Annan singled out that landmark decision as a future model to punish military dictators worldwide. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a UN diplomat told IPS: Perhaps it is time for African leaders to pursue such a proposal to censure military leaders. But that decision has to be ultimately taken by the General Assembly, the highest policy-making body in the Organization. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters February 1: It is clear that coups are totally unacceptable. We are seeing a terrible multiplication of coups, and our strong appeal is for soldiers to go back to the barracks and for the constitutional order to be fully in place in the democratic context of todays Guinea-Bissau. At an earlier press briefing on January 25, Guterres said: I am deeply concerned with the recent coup detat in Burkina Faso. The role of the military must be to defend their countries and their peoples, not to attack their governments and to fight for power. We have, unfortunately in the region, terrorist groups, we have threats to international peace and security. My appeal is for the armies of these countries to assume their professional role of armies, to protect their countries and re-establish democratic institutions. Asked about the celebrations in the streets following a military coup, at least in one African country, Guterres said: There are always celebrations for these kinds of situations. Its easy to orchestrate them, but the values of democracy do not depend on the public opinion at one moment or another. Democratic societies are a value that must be preserved. Military coups are unacceptable in the 21st century. The New York Times reported February 1 the African Union had suspended Mali, Guinea and Sudan, but not Chad a double standard that analysts warned could have dire consequences for Africa. Djibril Diallo, President & CEO African Renaissance and Diaspora Network Inc (ARDN) told IPS there is reason to be concerned about the resurgence of military takeovers in Africa. Contrary to perceptions, he pointed out, military coups tend to lead to more state repression not less, more political instability and halt or reversal of economic gains. Geopolitical divisions among the international community have not helped to address the effects of military takeovers. Regional and subregional organizations are still to find an effective way of pressuring coup leaders to hand over power to a democratically government in a timely manner, he added. Any solutions to the effects of military takeovers should start with addressing prevailing chronic poverty conditions and youth unemployment, as well as endemic corruption. Hence the importance to push forward with the rollout of the UNs Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), said Diallo, who was a former Spokesperson for the President of the UN General Assembly, 2004-2005; and Special Advisor to the Executive Director and Deputy Director of Public Affairs at UNICEF in 1986. Prof Daniel D. Bradlow, SARCHI Professor of International Development Law and African Economic Relations, Center for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria told IPS these coups are a troubling development. However, they are a symptom of the breakdown in security and governance arrangements in each country and the region, in many cases, caused by pressure from outside forces and the difficult economic situations in the country. He pointed out that sanctioning the military governments without also addressing the underlying governance problems and their causes is unlikely to produce sustainable improvements in the affected countries A newly-released book* on the United Nations recounts Annan as the only Secretary-General (1997-2006) who challenged the General Assembly, urging member states to deny the UN podium to political leaders who come to power by undemocratic means or via military coups. As one senior UN official put it: Were military leaders seeking legitimacy by addressing the General Assembly? When the OAU, in 2004, barred coup leaders from participating in African summits, Annan went one step further and said he was hopeful that one day the UN General Assembly would follow in the footsteps of the OAU, and bar leaders of military governments from addressing the General Assembly. Annans proposal was a historic first. But it never came to pass in an institution where member states, not the Secretary-General, rule the Organization. However, any such move could also come back to haunt member states if, one day, they find themselves representing a country headed by a military leader. The outspoken Annan, a national of Ghana, also said that billions of dollars of public funds continue to be stashed away by some African leaders even while roads are crumbling, health systems are failing, school children have neither books nor desks nor teachers, and phones do not work. He also lashed out at African leaders who overthrow democratic regimes to grab power by military means. Needless to say, the UN does not make any distinctions between benevolent dictators and ruthless dictators. But as an international institution preaching multiparty democracy and free elections, it still condones military leaders by offering them a platform to speak while wining and dining them during the annual General Assembly sessions. Although Yasser Arafat, the leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), once addressed the UN, some of the worlds most controversial authoritarian leaders, including Iraqs Saddam Hussein, Syrias Hafez al-Assad and his son Bashar al-Assad, and North Koreas Kim il Sung and his grandson Kim Jong-un, never made it to the UN. When former Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, accused of war crimes, was refused a US visa to attend the high-level segment of the General Assembly sessions back in September 2013, a Sudanese delegate told the UNs Legal Committee that the democratically-elected president of Sudan had been deprived of the opportunity to participate in the General Assembly because the host country, the United States, had denied him a visa, in violation of the U.N.-U.S. Headquarters Agreement. Meanwhile, some of the military leaders who addressed the UN in a bygone era included Fidel Castro of Cuba, Col Muammar el-Qaddafi of Libya, Amadou Toure of Mali (who assumed power following a coup in 1991 but later served as a democratically elected President), and Jerry Rawlings of Ghana (who seized power in 1979, executed former political leaders but later served as a civilian president voted into power in democratic elections). In October 2020, the New York Times reported that at least 10 African civilian leaders refused to step down from power and instead changed their constitutions to serve a third or fourth term - or serve for life. These leaders included Presidents of Guinea (running for a third term), Cote dIvoire, Uganda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Ghana and Seychelles, among others. The only country where the incumbent was stepping down was Niger. Condemning all military coups, the Times quoted Umaro Sissoco Embalo, the president of Guinea-Bissau, as saying: Third terms also count as coups Source: IPS News Agency 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 One artiste who believes in originality is Highlife musician Kofi Nti and he says it is about time young musicians stopped sounding like artistes from other countries especially Nigerians. According to Kofi Nti, young musicians are now sounding like Nigerians and it is sometimes difficult to tell them apart. I listen to the radio and I sometimes wonder which artiste is singing because the young Ghanaian musicians are sounding so much like the Nigerians. It is now difficult to tell whether it is a Nigerian or a Ghanaian singing. We better put a stop to it because it is not helping, he told Graphic Showbiz recently. Kofi Nti said the real authentic Ghanaian music seems to be forgotten lately. Look at the days of Daddy Lumba, Obrafour, Amakye Dede, Lord Kenya, Kojo Antwi, Ofori Amponsah, Kwabena Kwabena and myself. You could clearly tell that this is Ghanaian music but what do we see now? We cant even boast of our own music and are rather copying the Nigerians. The likes of Wiyaala, King Ayisoba, Sherifa Gunu, Atongo, Worlasi should be appreciated for their works but unfortunately, we dont really appreciate such musicians in Ghana, he told Graphic Showbiz. Away from that, Kofi Nti said he is planning to release his latest single Sika Fata Wo featuring Bless. Source: Graphic Showbiz 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 Matias Munoz stands outside his apartment on Lisgar Street, where police are investigating what appears to be an attempt to start a fire in the buildings lobby, in Ottawa, on Monday, Feb. 7, 2022. Tenants say they have been besieged by anti-vaccine mandate protesters raging in the national capital for more than a week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang A nurse in protective gear greets a woman entering the Seven Oaks Long-Term Care Home in Toronto on Thursday, April 2, 2020. Ontario's Minister of Long-Term Care says the province wants to take a cautious approach to easing social restrictions in long-term care while stressing that the COVID-19 situation is improving. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn The cost of IELTS, which currently stands between N80,000 and N90,000 in Nigeria, is almost three times the country's minimum wage of N30,000. Nigerians have maintained that the continuous request of an English Proficiency Test from Nigerians, and citizens of other Anglophone countries in Africa, seeking to study or work in the United Kingdom, "is simply a way of swindling the citizens of these countries of their monies by the UK authorities." Many participants, who spoke at the maiden edition of PREMIUM TIMES' TwitterSpaces on Wednesday, condemned what they described as the UK authorities' unwillingness to include Nigeria and other African countries on the list of its Majority English Speaking Country (MESC). PT TwitterSpaces is an innovation of PREMIUM TIMES to advance conversations around issues of national concern and those that may be trending on social media and particularly Twitter. Many participants had argued that English being the language of instruction in Nigerian schools from kindergarten to tertiary level is a testimony that Nigerians speak and understand the language. Petition As of Saturday, over 75,000 people had signed a petition by Policy Shapers, a public policy organisation, on Change.org, seeking a policy reform by the UK on its request for English Language Proficiency from Nigerians who are migrating to the UK to study or work. The cost of the test, which currently stands between N80,000 and N90,000 in Nigeria, is almost three times the country's minimum wage of N30,000. Apart from its high cost, the test is only valid for two years and can only be taken in 12 cities across the country. Individuals requiring it for their pursuits would have to take the test again if they fail or did not relocate to the UK after two years of taking the test. UK Home Office reacts In October 2021, Policy Shapers wrote to the UK Home Office seeking answers to why none of the Anglophone countries in Africa was part of its Majority English Speaking Countries, and what it will take for the UK to include them on the list. Three months later, in January 2022, amidst the growing number of signees of the Policy Shapers' petition, and growing Twitter trends of #ReformIELTSPolicy #IELTS, #TOEFL, most of them tagging the UK home office's twitter handle, the UK replied the inquiry by the public campaign organisation. Parts of its reply read: "To be included on the Majority English Speaking Country (MESC) list, we must have evidence that most people in the country (more than half) speak English as a first language. "We rely on publicly available evidence such as official censuses to make this determination along with other academic sources. "We may also consult the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office where additional evidence is required. Currently, based on the information available to us, Nigeria does not meet the requirement. "This list is periodically reviewed and updated, and new countries are added if they are found to meet the requirements. However, speaking on PREMIUM TIMES' Twitter Space, Ebenezer Wikina, the founder of Policy Shapers, and a champion of the #ReformIELTSPolicy campaign, said the UK home office is too elaborate and not specific in what kind of public evidence it relies on to verify that more than 51 per cent of Nigerians speak English. He said: "Public evidence is very broad. There is a lot of public evidence on why Nigerians should be on that list." To back his claims, Mr Wikina cited how Nigeria made the top 28 countries for six consecutive years in the English Proficiency Index released annually by Education First, a Sweden-based international education company that specialises in language training. Mr Wikina said: "We actually deserve to be on the list. And I think that we should be on the list and that's what the campaign is all about." He also hinted that Policy Shapers is working on a policy brief to be presented to the UK Home Office. Others react A participant, Senibo @Sen_Abbey, argued that IELTS is designed as a standardised IQ test and not necessarily as a language proficiency test. He said: "It's more of an intelligence quotient test than an English proficiency test. I have been to several classes, where I have to learn or study under someone to prepare for the test. And I have come to discover that what they are only testing is your IQ. How good you are and how fast you are in answering questions, which is the same thing with every other exam. These guys just go and rip us of our money, every two-two years. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Europe and Africa Migration By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "For me, it's a scam, there is nothing else to it. It's just a pure scam. These guys are just there to collect our money and that's it. So for me, I will say this thing should be scrapped totally". Another participant, Joe Abuku @JoeAbuku, said: "Proficiency doesn't get worse, it gets better. The ultimate goal is to scrap it". Munachi Deca-Anyanwu, @munadeca6 said: "For me, I am for the total scrapping of the test because our primary schools, high schools and our universities all teach in English. "I have a friend who goes to France who went to language school before they go to university. There they finish a language school and they go to university and they get their masters. People who never spoke French. So why would people who have immersed themselves through English all through their lives will now have to go through another English language exam? And if somebody is going to the UK to study if you cannot speak English, that should be the person's problem." Thank you for reading the Philadelphia Tribune. You have exhausted your free article views for this month. Please press the "subscribe" button below and see our introductory price of $0.10 per week for 10 weeks. Otherwise, we look forward to seeing you next month. Students line up to enter Christa McAuliffe School in Jersey City, N.J., April 29, 2021. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy will end a statewide mask mandate to protect against COVID-19 in schools and child care centers, his office said Monday. AP Photo/Seth Wenig Press Release February 7, 2022 Drilon stands by anti-troll provision in SIM card registration bill The author of the anti-troll provision says it's about time to address the anonymity in the social media that allows an environment for troll accounts and fake news Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon disputed claims that the anti-troll provision that he introduced in the proposed SIM Card Registration Act was inserted during the bicam and an out of topic or a mere rider provision. Drilon said he introduced the provision mandating the use of one's real name, instead of a fictitious name, and a registered phone number when creating social media accounts during the period of amendments. "It's not a bicam insertion. We studied it and introduced it in the plenary as part of our humble contribution in the fight against trolls and fake news. Twenty-two senators voted in favor of the measure on third reading last December. The provision is meant to curb the proliferation of fake and troll accounts on various social media platforms," Drilon said. "It is not an out of topic provision. It is not a rider provision that those against the measure can cite to challenge the legality of the measure," he stressed. Drilon explained that the title of the bill clearly mandates the registration of SIM cards for electronic devices and social media accounts to eradicate mobile phone, internet or electronic communication-aided criminal activities. The bicam later on adopted his provision. The bill is now up for approval by the President. The author of the anti-troll provision said it is about time to address the anonymity in the internet and the social media that allowed an environment for troll accounts and fake news. "It is about time that social media companies and social media users operate in the daylight. This anonymity in the social media allows the use of fictitious names which trolls use to propagate fake news and attack anyone endlessly and mercilessly," Drilon said. The provision, he added, will create a safe environment for social media users, especially children who are also victims of online bullying and harassment on various social media platforms. "Look at your friends or relatives, maybe a co-worker or classmates, who are victims of trolling and fake accounts. This provision is for them, because trolling, online harassment and fake news happen because the environment today allows it," Drilon said. "Online bullies hide behind anonymity. Trolls thrive in anonymity. Ask the parents of the kids bullied online before you oppose the measure. All we want here is to address the anonymity in the internet and social media and make a safe cyberspace for our people," he added. Drilon likewise disputed privacy concerns raised against the proposal, saying that the "duties and responsibilities to protect the privacy of SIM card holders are clearly laid out in the bill." Drilon said that Section 9 of the bill provides for the confidentiality clause which mandates that "any information obtained in the registration process described under this Act cannot be disclosed to any person." The disclosure may only be done in compliance with any law obligating the PTE or social media provider to disclose such information in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act. No. 10173 or the Data Privacy Act of 2012; in compliance with a court order, legal process, or other government regulatory, or enforceable administrative request for information; in compliance with Section 10 of the bill; or with the written consent of the subscriber, he explained. Section 10 provides for the disclose wherein the PTEs and social media providers, upon order of a competent authority, duly authorized under existing laws to issue subpoena, shall be required to provide information obtained in the registration process pursuant to an investigation of a complainant's verified sworn complaint that a specific mobile number or social media account was or is being used in the commission of a crime or that it was utilized as a means to commit a malicious, fraudulent or unlawful act including libel, anonymous online defamation, hate speech, trolling, or spread of digital disinformation, or fake news; and that he or she is unable to ascertain the identity of the perpetrator. Drilon noted that no PTE or social media provider shall be held administratively, civilly, or criminally liable on account of any disclosure done in compliance with this Act. The relevant data and information shall be kept by the PTEs or social media providers for ten (10) years from the time the end-user deactivates the mobile number or social media account, he added. The two leaders met at the headquarters of the African Union. African growth and development will require strong, visionary leadership that caters for the needs of the people, and effectively strengthens institutions that encourage peaceful co-existence, while providing disincentives to conflicts and coups, President Muhammadu Buhari and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said on Sunday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. At a meeting between both leaders at the headquarters of the African Union, President Buhari commended the efforts of the Prime Minister in maintaining peace and unity in the country, and dedication to ensuring fairness and justice in development. "You are leading a country that is large and diversified, just like Nigeria, and I know the sacrifices required to make desired impact, especially in maintaining peace," the president said. President Buhari urged the Ethiopian leader to stay focused on keeping the country together, in spite of the difficulties, assuring that Nigeria will continue to support efforts in peaceful co-existence and unity. The president said Mr Ahmed had provided strong leadership for the country, encouraging him to sustain the good work in ensuring even development. In his remarks, the prime minister thanked the president for support to the country over the years, on national and personal endeavours, particularly in encouraging unity and stability. Mr Ahmed noted that the African continent had been slow in growth due to conflicts, adding that the larger economies, like Nigeria and Ethiopia, should provide the leadership that will deepen progress and prosperity on the continent. The prime minister said the resurgence of coups on the continent could further weaken institutions and reverse the gains of democracy, appreciating President Buhari for his position on zero tolerance for military interference in governance. Mr Ahmed said collective and visionary leadership will move Africa forward. Femi Adesina Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) MOSCOW In a flurry of diplomacy across two continents, President Joe Biden emerged from a meeting with Germanys new leader Monday vowing the crucial Nord Stream 2 Russia-to-Germany gas pipeline would be blocked if Russia further invades Ukraine. Russia's Vladimir Putin said the U.S. and its allies were the only ones talking about invasion. Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron met for hours in Moscow at the same time Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke at the White House in efforts to defuse the crisis before armed conflict breaks out. Russia has massed thousands of troops at the Ukraine border, adding military might almost daily. The White House has expressed increasing alarm about the prospects of a war, and Biden has been looking to solidify support among European allies for economy-jarring sanctions against Russia if it moves further with an invasion. We are jointly ready, and all of NATO is ready, Biden said, referring to the powerful Western alliance, though Ukraine is not a member. While Biden reiterated with certitude that the pipeline would not move forward, Scholz stressed the need to keep some ambiguity about sanctions in order to press Russia to de-escalate the crisis. Its necessary for Russia to understand that a lot more could happen than theyve perhaps calculated with themselves,. Scholz said. The buildup of over 100,000 Russian troops near Ukraine has fueled Western worries of a possible offensive. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan warned Sunday that Russia could invade Ukraine any day, triggering a conflict that would come at an enormous human cost. Putin described his lengthy talks with Macron at the Kremlin as businesslike. He noted that the U.S. and its NATO allies have ignored Moscows demands for security guarantees. He said that NATOs expansion eastward to Russia's border has violated the security principles of international agreements and scoffed at Western assurances that it is a defensive alliance that doesnt threaten Russia. People of Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan have had learned it from their own experience, the Russian leader said in a sarcastic reference to the U.S. allies' involvement in military campaigns in those countries. He also referenced NATOs 1999 bombing campaign in the former Yugoslavia. He derided the Western criticism of the Russian military buildup near Ukraine, saying that NATO members consider it possible to lecture us about our troops movements on our own territory and cast them as a threat of Russian invasion in Ukraine. Russia has denied any plans to attack its neighbor but demands that the U.S. and its allies bar Ukraine and other former Soviet nations from joining NATO, halt weapons deployments there and roll back NATO forces from Eastern Europe. Washington and NATO reject those demands. Unswayed, Biden on Monday said it would be wise for Americans other than essential diplomats to leave Ukraine amid the Russian military threat. On a positive note, Putin said without elaboration that some of Macrons proposals could serve as a basis for a settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, adding that they agreed to have a call after Macrons visit to Kyiv Tuesday. Likewise, Biden said when asked if there remained an offramp for Russia in the standoff: The answer is yes. Macron said after his substantial, deep meeting with Putin: The upcoming days will be crucial and deep discussions together will be needed ... to build new guarantees for peace and security for the European continent. Macron and Putin spent several hours in a meeting with a meal that included fish soup, the choice of sturgeon or reindeer with sweet potatoes and pear pie with vanilla ice cream. Macron, who heads Tuesday to Ukraine, spoke by phone Sunday with Biden. Before the Putin meeting, Macron said: I dont believe in spontaneous miracles. The security and sovereignty of Ukraine or any other European state cannot be a subject for compromise, while it is also legitimate for Russia to pose the question of its own security, Macron told the French newspaper Journal du Dimanche. The State Department has been warning American citizens to reconsider any plans to travel to Ukraine since last year due to the buildup of Russian forces near the border. In January, it upgraded that advice, urging U.S. citizens not to travel to Ukraine or to leave the country if they are already there. That stepped-up warning came as the department ordered the families of all American staffers at the U.S. embassy in Kyiv to depart and allowed non-essential diplomats there leave Before meeting Biden, Scholz told German media that "there will be a very high price if Ukraine is attacked militarily. And we are preparing for this very precisely and have been talking about the details for a long time. Scholz will travel to Kyiv and Moscow Feb. 14-15.. Separately German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said her country would add up to 350 troops within a few days to about 500 already a part of a NATO battlegroup in Lithuania. With this, we are strengthening our contribution to forces on NATOs eastern flank and sending a very clear signal of unity to our allies, she said. Biden already has deployed additional U.S. troops to Poland, Romania and Germany, and a few dozen elite U.S troops and equipment landed Sunday in southeastern Poland near the border with Ukraine, with hundreds more infantry troops of the 82nd Airborne Division set to arrive. Britain said it was sending 350 troops to Poland to bolster NATO forces, joining 100 Royal Engineers already there. At a news conference in Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the U.S. and Europe defended the increasingly dire Western warnings that a Russian invasion may be imminent. This is not alarmism. This is simply the facts, Blinken said. And the facts are that weve seen over the last few months a massive amassing of Russian forces on Ukraines borders." Borrell noted that 140,000 troops massed on the border is not to go to have tea. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance is weighing a more permanent military presence in southeast Europe in response to Russias massive military deployment near Ukraine. We are considering more longer-term adjustments to our posture, our presence in the eastern part of the alliance, Stoltenberg said after talks in Brussels with Polish President Andrzej Duda. If Russia really wants less NATO close to the borders, they get the opposite. Stoltenberg gave no details and said no final decision has been made, but the move could mirror NATOs long-term military presence in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, where about 5,000 troops are stationed. It would see a similar force based in Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia. That would mean NATO troops stationed long-term near Ukraines western border and in the Black Sea area. The aim would be only to bolster the defenses of NATO allies in the region and the troops would not cross into Ukraine should Russia invade. In 2015, France and Germany helped broker a peace deal for eastern Ukraine in a bid to end the conflict between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed separatists that erupted the previous year following the Russian annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. Associated Press writers Matthew Lee, and Zeke Miller in Washington, Lorne Cook in Brussels, Yuras Karmanau in Kyiv, Ukraine, Geir Moulson and Frank Jordans in Berlin and Jill Lawless in London contributed. Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines are proposing to combine in a $2.9 billion deal that would create a larger discount airline to compete against the nation's dominant carriers and, they say, promote lower fares. Both are ultra-low-cost operators that tempt travelers with rock-bottom prices for no-frills service but often generate more than their share of consumer complaints. In South Carolina, Spirit has been a major source of visitor traffic for years at Myrtle Beach International, where Frontier operates on a seasonal basis. The latter also has offered flights during certain travel periods at Charleston International since early 2018. The proposed tie-up is likely to get a close examination from antitrust regulators in the Biden administration, which has signaled a tougher line against big corporate mergers. Consumer advocates criticized the Obama administration for allowing a string of major-airline mergers that greatly consolidated power in the industry. However, the Frontier-Spirit combination would rank only fifth among U.S. airlines in passenger-carrying capacity and seventh in revenue. The carriers are pitching their merger as a counterbalance to American, Delta, United and Southwest, which together control about 80 percent of the U.S. air travel market. "The Biden administration has made it very clear over the last year that they would like to promote competition in the airline space, and this is really an answer to returning balance from a competitive perspective to the big four," Frontier CEO Barry Biffle said. Savanthi Syth, an airline analyst for Raymond James & Associates, said that because of the relatively small size of the two companies, she wouldn't expect antitrust issues "in a normal environment ... but given the Biden administration's 'big is bad' approach we would expect some objection." Airlines are struggling to recover as the pandemic stretches into a third year. Frontier and Spirit both reported Monday that they suffered fourth-quarter losses $87.2 million for Spirit, $53 million for Frontier. Both also posted full-year losses for 2021. The airlines claim that if they are allowed to merge it will create many new routes that aren't currently served by ultra-low-cost carriers, resulting in $1 billion a year in savings for consumers. They also say the combined company will grow and create 10,000 jobs by 2026. Ultra-low-cost airlines have shaken the airline industry in recent years, using their lower cost structure including less-senior workers to take customers away from entrenched carriers and lure people who balk at paying major-airline fares. Frontier and Spirit say their costs are up to 40 percent lower on a per-mile basis, which will discourage bigger airlines from matching their prices. But the budget airlines lack advantages of the giant carriers. They don't fly long international routes, have smaller frequent-flyer programs and tend to operate fewer flights per route, which leaves fewer options to rebook passengers if a flight is canceled or delayed. Frontier and Spirit frequently have among the highest complaint rates in the industry they ranked last and next to last in the latest monthly figures from the U.S. Transportation Department. Many of those complaints are for canceled or delayed flights. The airlines said that by combining, they will create a more reliable airline with fewer flight disruptions. While the airlines were saying that, the Federal Aviation Administration ordered the grounding of all Frontier flights nationwide because of "automation issues." By midday, the carrier had canceled more than 110 flights, or more than 20 percent of its schedule, and delayed a similar number. Frontier spokeswoman Jennifer De La Cruz said the problem was a technology-related issue that was fixed. She said the airline was working to restore its flight schedule for the rest of the day. According to the deal announcement, shareholders of Denver-based Frontier will own 51.5 percent of the combined company. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of the year. It still needs approval from shareholders of Spirit, which is based outside Miami. The airlines did not announce the combined company's name, its CEO or where it will be headquartered. Frontier chairman Bill Franke, who heads a committee that will make those decisions and would be chairman of the merged carrier, said there is no reason to announce such details until it is clear that the merger will go through. "Right now, we need to have regulatory oversight, regulatory support for the transaction. That could take a matter of months," said Franke, who was once Spirit's chairman and whose Indigo Partners investment firm is Frontier's biggest shareholder. South Carolina's low unemployment rate is making it difficult for the state Commerce Department to attract new businesses, and the agency in charge of bringing jobs to the Palmetto State is studying what other factors might be holding back industrial recruitment. "Frankly, the main area that we're dealing with is workforce we have very, very low unemployment across the state," S.C. Commerce secretary Harry Lightsey told legislators at a recent House Ways and Means subcommittee meeting. "Prospects are looking at us and saying, 'I want to understand where my workforce is going to come from. Where are we going to get the workers that we need to bring my business online?'" The state's unemployment rate dipped to 3.5 percent in December and was even lower 2.9 percent at South Carolina's top industrial markets of Charleston and Greenville. A study of unemployment claims by WalletHub showed the Palmetto State has recovered jobs lost during the pandemic the past two years faster than any other state. "The historically low unemployment that we're dealing with presents some unique challenges in particular areas of the state," Lightsey said. The only bright spot, he added, is that competing states are dealing with the same issue. "It's all across the country," Lightsey said. An available workforce isn't the only issue that could be keeping industries from choosing South Carolina. Lightsey said his agency has launched a study that will compare the types of incentives South Carolina offers to those available in other states. "We're going to take a long look at what other states are doing, particularly the states that we compete with on a regular basis North Carolina and Georgia, Tennessee and, to some extent, Texas," he said "We want to see what they're doing and, frankly, what we hope to do." The study should be completed by this fall, Lightsey said, in time for legislators to consider during their next budget-writing session. Despite Lightsey's concerns, Commerce said last week it helped recruit a record $5.7 billion worth of capital investments in 2021 from business expansions and new locations. The 153 projects created more than 18,000 jobs. Be among the first to know when new restaurants are opening. Subscribe to Charleston's Menu, a newsletter offering an inside look at our city's unique food and dining scene. A new local bar has joined the East Side neighborhood of downtown Charleston. Brothers Brendan and Brian Kirkpatrick brought their New York City bar concept to the South in December when they opened Bedford Falls at 430 Meeting St. in Charleston. Bedford Falls moved into the space previously occupied by Tu, a second concept from Xiao Bao Biscuit owner Josh Walker that closed in 2021. The Kirkpatrick brothers started looking for a restaurant space in Charleston in 2018. They hope to replicate the atmosphere theyve developed at their neighborhood watering hole in New York Citys Upper East Side neighborhood. If we can try to recapture that magic here that would be great, said Brendan Kirkpatrick, who moved to the area before opening Bedford Falls. We just fell in love with Charleston. The restaurant is split into two buildings: A renovated single-story structure that was once home to Tus modern dining room and a more private dining area set in the first floor of a Charleston single. TVs have been added to the Charleston single that serves as Bedford Falls' main sit-down dining area. In the other building, Tu's former dining room has a new look; patrons can now order drinks and food at a long L-shaped bar or one of multiple surrounding high-top tables. Additional seating is available on Bedford Falls' patio. Its definitely a different layout and I think theres a lot of charm to it, Brendan Kirkpatrick said. Open daily, Bedford Falls has the potential to be a spot frequented by locals several times a week. Drinks range from local drafts and wine by-the-glass to craft cocktails like the Smoked Old Fashioned, made with Bulleit Bourbon, bitters and Vermont maple syrup. When it comes to food, Bedford Falls' offering could be described as "elevated pub fare," meaning there are familiar bar food options, such as starters and handhelds, with a gourmet twist. Nachos, for instance, are topped with house-made queso and chorizo, and the wings are tossed in a dry rub and served with an Alabama-style white sauce. Bedford Falls also serves blistered shishito peppers, Prince Edward Island mussels, grilled shrimp tacos and a 12-ounce ribeye with chimichurri. According to our server and a patron exiting the restaurant, the Bedford Burger featuring caramelized onions, house-made burger sauce, cheddar, pickles and lettuce has been an early favorite. Bedford Falls is open from 3-p.m.-midnight Monday-Friday and 10:30 a.m.-midnight Saturday-Sunday. Georgetown, SC (29440) Today A mix of clouds and sun. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 86F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. Low near 65F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. GREENVILLE The week Brandi and Jon Ward opened their coffee shop, hundreds of customers walked through the front door. Brandi described herself as feeling like a baby bird being pushed out of the nest, only recently having trained as a barista. Jon joked that his cheeks hurt from smiling so much as they welcomed their guests to Chestnut. "It genuinely warms your heart to see the outpouring of support from the community," Jon said. The Wards, who also own a home construction and design business, opened their doors on Jan. 26. With a growing staff, the couple is preparing to add a marketplace next door in March. The coffee shop at 325 Rocky Slope Rd. is near the Verdae YMCA, Stella's Southern Brasserie and the residential community Hollingsworth Park. The Wards love the location since the local coffee options that dominate downtown don't always transfer to the outskirts of the city. "It's all Starbucks and Dunkin," Brandi said. Chestnut serves Greenville-based Methodical coffee and tea. Before opening, the Wards paired with the owners of the Upstate coffee catering company Synergy Coffee, who trained Brandi as a barista. Ten other baristas have been hired and more are in the interview process. The Wards are still unsure how many people they will employ. Next door, their market will focus on products with no toxins, no dyes and no preservatives that are as local as we can get, Brandi said. One of their vendors is Happy Cow Creamery in Pelzer. As of Feb. 1, they've used 90 gallons of the locally-sourced milk in coffee and tea. Another shipment of 130 gallons is on the way. Brandi has harbored the idea of owning a coffee shop for a while but obstacles and excuses stood in her way. She "thought it would forever be a dream." On a 15-hour car ride back from Texas after she and Jon bought antiques for clients of their home renovation business, Brandi proposed the coffee concept again. The Wards have long family ties to the Upstate. Their families met before Brandi was born, and both fathers worked for Brandi's grandfather at Carolina Material Handling in Greer. "We've known each other our entire lives," Brandi said. The name of the coffee shop is a reminder of those family ties. Brandis grandmother named the property she lived on in the Greenville area Chestnut Oaks. When Brandis parents eventually moved to the property years later, they started a landscaping business and called it Chestnut Oaks. Keeping the moniker alive, the Wards named their home construction and design company Chestnut Living. Chestnut Living was eventually shortened to Chestnut to better encapsulate their growing brand. The exhaustion of the opening is still setting in for the Wards, who said they are grateful to have their immediate family lending a hand. Their daughters, 13 and 16, will work a few hours after school and on the weekends. Brandis mom is their general manager and handles accounting. Her father and Jons parents sometimes help bus tables or wash dishes. When it comes to just pitching in and making stuff happen, it all comes natural to us, Jon said. South Carolina lawmakers have introduced a new bill that would add additional requirements for the operation of optometry mobile units like the ones used by Vision to Learn. The national nonprofit group operates a mobile optometry clinic that provides free prescription glasses to kids in Title I schools in Charleston and in several other cities across the U.S. If signed into law, the bill filed Jan. 20 would mandate mobile optometry units to be limited to visiting and providing eye care services to licensed health care facilities within the state and on the site of Title 1 public schools. Services must be provided to students attending the school and must be provided as part of a not-for-profit program. Other provisions under the bill include requiring companies to obtain a mobile clinic permit following an inspection of the mobile clinic by the S.C. Board of Examiners in Optometry. The mobile clinics would also be subject to periodic unannounced inspections upon approval. The bill was sponsored by members of the S.C. Optometric Physicians Association as a way to regulate and coordinate standards for all residents who are provided eye care through mobile clinics like Vision to Learn. Vision to Learn, which started offering its services in Charleston last year, has traveled a rocky road to establish its presence in South Carolina. An existing state law prohibits mobile vans from conducting simple eye exams on a school campus, and the state's optometrist association has vocally opposed the nonprofit's model, arguing Vision to Learn's providers are offering sub-standard care because they do not dilate a student's eyes during an exam. Officials from the optometrist group say that dilating a student's eyes during an exam is common and standard practice for optometric physicians in South Carolina and should be provided, or at least offered, to students receiving care outside of a health care facility. "Currently there's more protections in place for somebody getting a haircut in a van than there is for a child to have an eye exam in one," said Dr. Johndra McNeely, president of the group. "That can be sort of frightening." In July 2021, the Legislature gave Vision to Learn a one-year pass to operate outside Title 1 schools. This pass was made possible by a temporary budget proviso passed by the S.C. Senate and is set to expire June. If further legislation is not passed in the current legislative session to change the laws that bar mobile optometry clinics to operate within the state, Vision to Learn will no longer be allowed to operate in South Carolina. Rep. Jason Elliot, R-Greenville, who is also a sponsor of the bill, told The Post and Courier he is optimistic about the bill's ability to pass through the Senate and lauded Vision to Learn on making a huge impact in the lives of South Carolina's most vulnerable. The organization has also received support from members of the Charleston County School Board, the Medical University of South Carolina, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and other local politicians in the area, despite concerns from the state's optometrist group. "We have a responsibility to lean into this opportunity to be the difference for those who cannot do for themselves just yet," said Scott said at a recent event for Vision to Learn held at Stono Park Elementary School. So far, the organization has completed more than 1,000 eye exams across 10 different Charleston County public schools and has given out nearly 900 pairs of prescription eyeglasses. They have also referred 19 percent of the students seen through the mobile clinic to local optometrists, who can recommend more detailed prescription glasses as needed. The organization also updated its mobile clinic to include a fundus/retinal camera, a specialized microscope with an attached camera designed to photograph the rear part of the eye. The camera allows the optometrists to perform a more detailed exam and get a better look at areas where health problems are discovered. However, specialists from Vision to Learn said finding abnormalities in elementary and middle school-age students is very rare. Officials from the organization say the addition was something recommended to them by the optometrists group and in some cases can render better results than dilating a student, which the organization said takes a longer amount of time. Dilating a student's eyes would pull them away from the classroom and impair their vision up to 24 hours, Vision to Learn officials have argued. "By the end of this school year, we hope to have helped several thousand children," said Joan Chu Reese, executive director of Vision to Learn. "We've already screened over 5,000 children and identified approximately 2,000 who need and don't have glasses." ASUU has declared Monday a work-free day in preparation for the strike. President Muhammadu Buhari commenced the week under review with a promise that the Federal Government would honour promises made to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). This , the President said, was to prevent disruptive strikes, engender uninterrupted academic programmes and improve funding of education institutions. The President made the pledge on February 1, when he received members of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) led by the Co-Chairs, the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa'ad Abubakar, and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Samson Ayokunle. ASUU, on Friday, expressed doubts over the ability of the Federal Government to resolve the lingering crisis in the education sector, particularly the universities, threatening that the union might soon commence an indefinite strike. However, the President stated that no society which wished itself well neglected its educational system and all its component parts. He, therefore, commended the leadership of NIREC for intervening in the year-long strike by ASUU and holding consultations with the parties. Mr Buhari had earlier hosted the 2022 Committee of Business, Political, Media and Civil Society Leaders to a dinner at the State House, Abuja, on Monday. At the event, the president 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. On February 2, the Nigerian leader congratulated President Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea-Bissau for surviving Tuesday's coup attempt in his country. The President also inaugurated the Presidential Committee on the Repatriation, Return and Resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North-East,on Feb. 2. According to him, Nigerians in the North-east will, in the coming months, witness a change from the protracted insurgency to peace and development in their respective communities. He explained that the administration had embarked on a revised approach to address the 13-year conflict and insurgency in the region and would not relent in efforts toward a return to peace and normalcy. Also on February 2, the President presided over the virtual meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC). The council approved over N115.4 billion for the dualization of the Kano-Kazaure-Kongwalam road linking Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states. According to the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, the project is expected to be completed in two years, and will be financed through the country's tax credit scheme. The President met behind closed doors with a former governor of Imo, Rochas Okorocha at the State House, Abuja, on Thursday. Speaking to state house correspondents after the meeting, Mr Okorocha said he was in the Villa to seek President Buhari's intervention over his ordeal with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Okorocha is being charged by the EFCC with allegations he conspired with others, including an APC politician and five companies, to steal N2.9 billion from public coffers when he was governor of Imo. However, the former governor, who is currently the senator representing Imo West senatorial district, also accused the people he described as cowards of being behind his ordeal with the EFCC. Mr Buhari inaugurated the Revised National Policy on Population for Sustainable Development, as well as the National Council on Population Management (NCPM), on Thursday, in Abuja. While inaugurating the policy and the council, the President stressed the need for urgent measures to address Nigeria's high fertility rate. He saw this happening through expanding access to modern contraceptive methods across the country. The Nigerian leader, shortly after the inauguration on Thursday, commenced a four-day trip to the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, where he is currently participating in the 35th Ordinary Session of Assembly of the African Union Heads of State and Government. Advertisements The theme of the deliberation is: "Building Resilience in Nutrition and Food Security on the African Continent: Strengthen Agriculture, Accelerate the Human Capital, Social and Economic Development." While in Addis Ababa, Mr Buhari said the poor and vulnerable in Nigeria remained top priority for protection and lifting from the poverty cycle. He stated this at the virtual official presentation of the Country Review Report of Nigeria at the 31st Africa Peer Review Forum of the African Union leader on Friday. Mr Buhari assured that social safety nets would be further sustained, while access to education and opportunities would be expanded. The President also congratulated the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, on the conferment of the title of "Dan Amana," (the trusted one) on him by the Daura Emirate Council, on Saturday. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Education By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. He described the conferment of the title on Amaechi as a clear commitment to the harmonious relationship between the nation's diverse cultures. He commended the minister "for working with enormous energy to make the CHANGE we promised Nigerians a reality," noting that "the change we are witnessing in the transport sector is an extraordinary legacy." On February 5, the Nigerian leader met with the Prime Minister of Palestine, Mohammad Shtayyeh, at the ongoing African Union meetings, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Mr Buhari assured that Nigeria would continue to pursue peace and progress in Africa, and other parts of the world, by consistently pushing for justice, fairness and inclusiveness in global affairs. According to him, Nigeria remains unwavering in supporting democracy, development and good governance, particularly in ensuring the rights of individuals and institutions. President, who is expected back to Abuja from Ethiopia on Monday, participated in the opening of the 35th Ordinary Session of Assembly of the African Union Heads of State and Government, on Saturday. (NAN) Brandon Alter covers the town of Kingstree and Williamsburg County for The Kingstree News. He is from the suburbs of Washington, D.C. He graduated from the University of South Carolina's school of Journalism and Mass Communications in May 2021. After sitting in storage for over a year, Charleston's statue of John C. Calhoun may be headed to the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia. City of Charleston and museum officials have worked out an agreement for an "extended loan" to the museum, according to a Feb. 7 news release. It is pending final approval from City Council and the museum commission. Under terms of the agreement, the state museum will form a task force to "create and execute a long-term storage and interpretive plan for" the Calhoun statue, the release said. The potential loan to the museum is being considered in addition to a loan request from a Los Angeles art curator that has stirred up debate over what should be the statue's fate in recent months. If the agreement with the State Museum is finalized, the loan request from the L.A. art exhibit will need approval from both council and the appropriate state officials, Charleston city spokesman Jack O'Toole said. "As I've said from the start, I don't support erasing history, but rather, serious efforts to place complicated figures such as Mr. Calhoun in their full context," Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg said of the proposed deal. "In this instance, I can't imagine a more appropriate institution to perform that valuable public service than the S.C. State Museum." If the agreement is approved, the museum will be responsible for transporting the statue and conserving it. The State Museum looks forward to working with Mayor Tecklenburg and the City of Charleston, said John F. McCabe, chairman of the South Carolina State Museum Commission. We believe the museum will be an important resource in determining an appropriate resolution to the care and interpretation of the monument.' The state museum has a history of accepting decommissioned artifacts. It currently houses both Confederate flags previously displayed at the S.C. Statehouse. The museum also agreed to store the city of Columbia's statue of Christopher Columbus, which was taken down in June 2020. Columbia officials removed the monument from its 7-foot brick pedestal overlooking the capital city's Riverfront Park after the statue was vandalized multiple times with spray paint amid protests following the death of George Floyd in Minnesota. Plaques at the base of the statue were also removed. Columbia and the State Museum are in the final stages of an agreement for the museum to temporarily store the Columbus statue while the city reaches a final resolution, a museum spokesman said Feb. 7. The city has stored the monument since its removal in an undisclosed location. Charleston leaders voted to take the statue of Calhoun down in a similar vein. For weeks before the announcement, the city saw protests against racial violence prompted by Floyd's killing at the hands of Minneapolis police. A congressman and vice president, Calhoun died years before the Southern states launched the Confederacy but he is also remembered as a fierce defender of slavery and, to some, represents the citys dark past. The Charleston Commission on History, a board of City Council members and volunteers, has been debating what to do next with the statue. Los Angeles-based curator Hamza Walker made a request to the city to borrow the Calhoun statue for his upcoming exhibit. He and his co-curator are requesting loans of decommissioned Antebellum and Confederate-era statues from the across the U.S. They hope to display them alongside newly commissioned works of contemporary art at the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art beginning in the fall of 2023. After lengthy debate over the course of two meetings, the Charleston Commission on History voted to recommend the City Council agree to lend out the statue of Calhoun to the curators, though council has not taken a vote on the recommendation. The members disagreed over how Calhoun should be described and characterized in a catalogue accompanying the exhibit. Some pushed back on the idea that Calhouns legacy should be strictly tied to slavery, while others said it represents the portion of his legacy that has the most impact on the present day. Ultimately, they moved to form an agreement with the curators that the catalogue entry would be written by University of South Carolina history professor Thomas J. Brown. History Commission member Michael Allen said he was surprised to hear about the potential deal with the state museum. He said he hopes that if approved, Charleston will still consider temporarily loaning the monument to the Los Angeles exhibit. Either way, he said he hopes any display at the state museum prompts important conversations about Calhouns legacy that do not romanticize the past. I believe it needs to be displayed in a place where there can be a substantive conversation about his impact then and now, he said. A lawsuit backed by the conservative advocacy group the American Heritage Association seeks to block the loan to the LA exhibit. The plaintiffs, descendants of Calhoun and the Ladies Calhoun Monument Association which erected the statue over 125 years ago argue the statue was never intended to leave South Carolina. The AHA released a statement Dec. 7 also opposing the potential loan to the state museum. The woke movement believes most monuments should be removed from the public square and displayed in museums as oddities of the past, AHA President Brett Barry said. From a state policy perspective, this would set a dangerous precedent that the State Museum is now a repository for South Carolinas monuments. Stephen Fastenau contributed to this report from Columbia. Opponents of medicinal marijuana arent wrong to say there are dangers involved in South Carolina legalizing even the limited use of a drug that the federal government outlaws and the FDA hasnt approved and the CDC hasnt recommended for medical treatment. They arent wrong to raise questions about whether Sen. Tom Davis proposal will create an industry that will be well-placed to lobby for future liberalization of a strict medical cannabis law, which in turn would make it easier for adolescents to have access to yet another drug that can alter their still-developing brains. And theyre not wrong to raise questions about whether the medical marijuana bill entering its third week of debate in the S.C. Senate is written tightly enough to help patients who truly need the pain-relief and other medical benefits it could provide while also limiting abuse by people who want to use marijuana recreationally. But some opponents overlook important context: While the federal government does categorize marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug an illegal drug with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse thats based on political decisions by the Congress, not medical decisions by the Food and Drug Administration or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those agencies havent approved or recommended marijuana's use because federal law has effectively prevented them from even seriously considering doing so. Look no further than the CDCs warnings about marijuana and prescription opioids to see which is more dangerous; its not even a close call. Opponents overlook, too, the rest of the story on that political decision: Since 2015, the Congress has included language in the annual federal budget to prohibit the Justice Department from taking any action to stop states from allowing the medicinal use of marijuana. Thats not the same as prohibiting federal agents from arresting people for selling or using medical marijuana, but it is a legally binding acceptance of medical marijuana by the Congress and the president. They also overlook the fact that S.150 doesnt allow anyone to use marijuana in the most popular way: by smoking it. Patients who would have to get approval from a physician to purchase up to a 14-day supply from a special dispensary would be limited to using oils, salves, patches, vaporizers or edible cannabis. Perhaps most importantly, opponents overlook the fact that the choice for people with debilitating pain isnt always between using marijuana or suffering although that is the choice for some, and its a morally difficult one to justify when there are relatively safe alternatives. The choice is more often between marijuana or opioids, which are not only in many cases less effective but in all cases more dangerous. Although the bulk of opioid deaths in the United States are from illegal opioids such as heroin and fentanyl, many of the people using those drugs got addicted through prescription opioids. And the CDC reports that more than 14,000 Americans died in 2019 from prescription opioids; in comparison, it notes that a fatal overdose of marijuana is unlikely. Indeed, if Congress would lift its effective ban on FDA-approved cannabis drugs with standardized dosing that could be doled out in commercial pharmacies, marijuana would be the obvious choice as the first-line treatment for much of the pain relief thats now provided by opioids. What we need most is for the Congress to change marijuana to a Schedule II drug, like the far more dangerous opioids whose death toll is high and growing, or pass a permanent law giving states the authority to regulate marijuana, just as they may regulate alcohol. In either event, Congress should authorize the CDC to study medicinal cannabis to provide some recommendations. Unfortunately, Congress is largely dysfunctional. So if we want to do anything to relieve the nausea of cancer treatment and the debilitating pain of neuropathy and other chronic conditions and treat multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, sickle cell anemia and autism which we should want to do then the S.C. Legislature has to do what 37 other states already have done: Heed Congress wink and nod and legalize the medicinal use of cannabis. Would some supporters immediately begin a campaign to expand the law to allow smoked marijuana, and eventually its recreational use? Of course they would; indeed, some advocates already are complaining that S.150 is too limited. But it would be up to the Legislature to make changes, and by the time lawmakers are likely to take up the matter again which won't be soon we would have some real-life experience to demonstrate whether critics concerns were well-founded or overwrought. And regardless of what happens with S.150, medical marijuana supporters as well as those lawmakers and law enforcement officials who say theyd be fine with it if only Congress authorized it should put as much energy into lobbying Congress as theyre putting into this legislation. And they also might lobby the state Republican Party, which like the Democratic Party shouldnt have any role in legislative decisions but which is adamantly opposed even to U.S. Rep. Nancy Maces bill to get Congress out of the business of medical decision-making and turn decisions about the medicinal use of marijuana over to the states. Goose Creek, SC (29445) Today Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 86F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. Low 66F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. In a major coup toward her reelection bid, Republican congresswoman Nancy Mace won an endorsement from former S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley, putting the high-profile Republican in Mace's camp at a time when former President Donald Trump is looking for a Mace challenger. The endorsement was announced by Haley's political action committee on Feb. 7, with the former United Nations ambassador calling Mace "the conservative voice the Lowcountry needs in Washington." Shes a fighter who stands up to Bidens reckless spending, punches back against lawless lockdowns and mandates, and is strong on border security," Haley continued. "Thats why Im proud to endorse my congresswoman, Nancy Mace, for reelection." The move is significant in that Trump has put South Carolina's 1st Congressional District in his target list, issuing a notice last year he was calling on any interest from good and SMART America First Republican Patriots to challenge Mace. Haley, who served in Trump's administration, lives in the district on Kiawah Island and had previously endorsed Mace during her initial run for Congress in 2020. Coupled with the endorsement, Haley is expected to headline a fundraiser on Mace's behalf. Mace, of Charleston, said she wanted to thank Haley "from the bottom of my heart," and that "Ambassador Haley is a great American. And like she did as governor, Im working hard every day for the people of South Carolina and the Lowcountry. Her friendship and support means the world to me. Haley's endorsement came from the office of her Stand For America Political Action Committee. It cited Mace's support for veterans in terms of tuition assistance and homeless programs, and speaking out against President Joe Biden's stances on taxes, handling of the economy and managing the influx of immigrants across the Southern border. Mace ended up on Trump's hit list this season in part because of comments she made in the wake of the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol condemning the president for instigating the attack that interrupted certification of the 2020 election. The presidents four years of accomplishments were wiped out in just a few short hours, she said. Trump has already made South Carolina a focus of his efforts in the 2022 midterms, endorsing state Rep. Russell Fry in his GOP primary challenge to unseat U.S. Rep. Tom Rice, R-Myrtle Beach, one of the 10 Republican lawmakers who voted to impeach Trump after the riots. Sign up for updates! Get the latest political news from The Post and Courier in your inbox. Email Sign Up! In a Feb. 1 statement, Trump called Fry an America First Champion, a leading fighter on Election Integrity and pro-Life, pro-God, pro-Gun and, very importantly, pro-LOW Taxes. Russell loves our Military and our Vets he is strong on Border Security and Crime, Trump said. Russell Fry, who is all in for the Palmetto State, has my Complete and Total Endorsement. VOTE TOM RICE OUT NOW! The Haley endorsement of Mace could work to stave off challengers and push other Republicans supportive of the popular former governor to recommit to Mace, who has been criticized by members of her local district Republican parties. Mace has two announced challengers: Lynz Piper-Loomis, a North Charleston military spouse, and Ingrid Centurion, an Army veteran. Recent chatter has ebbed and flowed that former 1st District congressional candidate Katie Arrington and former Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer are being seen as potential candidates with strong Trump ties. Filing for the seat opens and runs the last two weeks in March. The primary is June 14. Earlier this month Haley visited the S.C. Statehouse in Columbia where she discussed helping Republicans in the upcoming election. Three Democrats have announced bids: Annie Andrews, a Lowcountry doctor; Dorchester County Democratic Party Chairman Timothy Lewis; and former Statehouse candidate Rebecca Niess Cingolani. This is a developing story. Check back for more. Adrian Vermeule is a law professor at Harvard and a leading proponent of Common Good (or National) Conservatism. He has written an op-ed for the New York Times called The Supreme Court is on the wrong path. Im not sure what path the Supreme Court is on (well probably have a better idea by the end of June). Therefore, I neither agree nor disagree with proposition set forth in the title. In the article itself, Vermeule criticizes what he calls todays reigning theories of law. The first is progressivism, which he says (and I agree) shamelessly instrumentalizes the law in the service of a particular vision of social justice centered on identity politics and libertine social and sexual mores. The second is originalism, which he says pretends to separate law from justice [and] rests on an invented tradition that has projected itself back into the past. As evidence that originalism is the wrong track, Vermeule points to the Courts decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, which found that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects against discrimination based on sexual orientation and transgender identity. Justice Gorsuch, a hardcore textualist, wrote the opinion. But other originalists/textualists reject the conclusion Gorsuch reached. Justice Alito memorably called Gorsuchs opinion a pirate ship that sails under a textualist flag. Thus, the decision in Bostock is less a stain on originalism or textualism than evidence that, like any moderately sophisticated approach to interpretation, originalism and/or textualism can lead to different results depending on which originalist/textualist is doing the interpreting. As Justice Scalia used to say, proponents of originalism dont have to show their approach is without flaws. They only need to show that its better than the alternatives. Is common good constitutionalism better than originalism? I doubt it, for reasons set forth below. In any event, it seems clear that interpreting texts based on what outcome serves the common good can yield different answers to the same question including whether Title VII protects sexual orientation and transgender identity. Unless the common good is defined theocratically, and maybe even then, it will often be in the eye of the beholder. Michael Ramsey, a law professor at the University of San Diego and a former Scalia clerk (as is Vermeule), offers this response to Vermeule at The Originalism Blog: [S]o far I confess that I am entirely unable to understand how [professor Vermeules] program is anything other than courts should rule in accordance with my moral intuitions because thats best for everyone. For example. . .I dont see that common good constitutionalism explains how Bostock should have been decided (though I bet if I knew what his moral position on private sexual orientation discrimination is, I would know how he thinks it should have been decided). And, though I agree on the need to improve the health of the constitutional order, I dont see how a jurisprudence of common good is going to provide a remedy where there is no agreement on what constitutes the common good. Though I have no easy solutions to the health of the constitutional order, I would guess that empowering judges to aggressively pursue the common good (as they see it) is not the solution. Instead, I might suggest (1) judges undertake to say what the law is rather than what it should be, and (2) when judges are unsure what the law is, they stay out of it. (Emphasis added) Thats how it seems to me, too. Agribusiness company Ellah Lakes Plc has announced a partnership with Montserrado Investment Limited via a joint venture for the development of a 600 tonnes of cane per day (tcd) sugar refinery. Ellah Lakes Plc made the disclosure in a statement on the Nigerian Exchange Limited on Monday, signed by Geraldine Ofoluwa, its spokesperson, and seen by PREMIUM TIMES. In December 2021, the company sealed a similar deal with the Enugu State Government to boost rice production through expansion of Ada Rice Company. Ellak Lakes said the latest milestone will help advance the National Sugar Master Plan (NSMP) initiative championed by the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) in the nations quest for self-sufficiency in sugar. The Sugar Processing facility is expected to run on 100% renewable power, and the period from construction to completion and commissioning, is expected to be 24 month, the company said. The chief executive officer, Chuka Mordi, said this is a significant landmark for the Company in fulfilling our strategic objective of diversifying our portfolio and production base and were very excited to be working with Montserrado. We are very pleased at this collaboration and look forward to a mutually beneficial, valuable and fruitful venture. Last October, Ellah Lakes began a partnership with the Ekiti State Government which is geared towards developing the states biodiversity and landscape, in turn opening up opportunities for wealth creation. Minister of state for environment, Sharon Ikeazor, has said the recent fire incident at Ukpokiti Oil Field, which involved Floating Production Storage and Offtake of Shebah Exploration and Production Company Limited (SEPCOL) has been contained. Ikeazor, in a statement issued by the director of press, Ministry of Environment, Saghir el-Mohammed, said the National Oil Spill Detection Response Agency (NOSDRA) would yesterday and today go for overflight to monitor the crude spill in the sea. She said the operation would be sustained in the weeks ahead, until the oil in the FPSO is evacuated and measures evolved to forestall a recurrence of such incident. The ministry had last Friday said efforts had been made to ensure the fire incident at Ukpokiti oil field was contained, after a fire engulfed a FPSO vessel named 'Trinity Spirit' in the early hours of Wednesday. Ikeazor said the fire incident at Ukpokiti Oil Field was eventually contained on the evening of Thursday, February 3, 2022. She stated this after receiving an update from the director general of NOSDRA, saying a joint investigation operation was conducted at the incident area on Saturday. She said NOSDRA had an overflight on the incident area last Friday, to ascertain from the air what the surrounding conditions were, after extinguishing the fire. She said, "A joint investigation visit to the incident area, as well as the FPSO, was undertaken on Saturday by NOSDRA, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Ondo State Ministry of Environment, representatives of communities proximate to the area and staff of Shebah Exploration and Production Company Limited. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Environment Petroleum By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "While the cause of the fire incident is yet to be fully determined, the environment around the FPSO is only slightly covered by sheen and emulsified oil". Earlier reports revealed that the approximate quantity of oil in the FPSO in the recent past was said to be a little less than 200 000 barrels. One of the operators utilising the services provided by the FPSO was said to have made an Offtake of approximate 120,000 barrels before the incident; leaving an estimated 50-60 000 barrels in the FPSO as at the time of the fire incident. "NOSDRA will continue to give updates on this incident after each aerial surveillance scheduled for today and Monday," Ikeazor. The annual crime statistics for 2020-21, released by Police Minister Bheki Cele in December, showed drops in virtually all types of violent crime. Most property crimes also decreased. For reasons probably related to the COVID-19 lockdown, murders recorded by the South African Police Service (SAPS) went down by 6 per cent, from 21 325 in 2019-20 to 19 972 in 2020-21. Taking into account Statistics SAs national population estimates, this represents a decrease in the murder rate from 36.3 to 33.5 per 100 000 people. But these national statistics oversimplify the picture. There are major differences in crime across South Africa and they must be well understood for responses to work. More nuanced policing and violence prevention are needed, rather than the one-size-fits-all approach reflected in police strategic and performance plans. To support this, provincial and metropolitan governments should be given greater authority regarding policing especially those that can shape policy in a useful way. Provinces vary not only in their levels of urbanisation, economic activity, and demographic and geographic characteristics, but also the nature of violence and other crimes. Metropolitan areas often have distinct features that differentiate them from other parts of the provinces theyre in. Murder figures provide a good example. During 2020-21, murders dropped in all nine provinces but there were major differences in the scale of the decline. South Africas murder rate is mainly driven by the high rates in three provinces the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). In 2020-21 both the Eastern and Western Cape recorded 55 murders per 100 000 people. KZN recorded 42 per 100 000 (Chart 1). Data source: SAPS, Stats SA The latest figures show that these three provinces recorded the lowest percentage of reductions in murder numbers. In the Eastern Cape, the level fell by 4 per cent, the Western Cape by 3 per cent and KZN by 1 per cent. In the six other provinces, murders dropped by an average of 13 per cent per province. There are also major variations in how violence is distributed in each province. Murder in the Western Cape is concentrated in Cape Town. In 2019-20, 78 per cent of murders in the Western Cape happened in the city. A quarter of these are believed to be gang-related. Gang violence is concentrated in specific parts of Cape Town, mostly the Cape Flats. The Eastern Cape also has a gang violence problem concentrated in the north-western suburbs of Gqeberha and other nearby parts of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro. But the provinces violence patterns differ from those in the Western Cape. Violence in the Eastern Cape is not as concentrated in metropolitan areas. In 2019-20, the Nelson Mandela Bay metro area accounted for just 21 per cent of Eastern Cape murders. The per capita murder rate in Nelson Mandela Bay (69 per 100 000) was similar to that in the Amathole (70 per 100 000) and Chris Hani (67 per 100 000) district municipalities. The OR Tambo and Joe Gqabi districts also had high murder rates at 58 and 57 per 100 000 respectively. The Eastern Capes other major metropolitan area, Buffalo City, recorded a murder rate of 42 per 100 000 lower than Nelson Mandela Bay and all district municipalities in the province. KZNs major metropolitan area eThekwini accounted for 41 per cent of the provinces murders in 2019-20. Like in Eastern Cape, high murder rates outside this metro area contributed to the provincial murder rate of 42 per 100 000. Gauteng, which is primarily composed of three major metropolitan areas Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni metros had a murder rate of 26 per 100 000 in 2020-21; less than half of those recorded in the Eastern and Western Cape. Another difference between the provinces is in the weapons used. Data from the South African Medical Research Councils (SAMRC) latest national survey of injury-related deaths, published in September 2021, shows that weapons like knives (sharp force) account for 41 per cent of murders in South Africa. Firearms account for 32 per cent. The SAMRC data, which reflects deaths in 2017, says the Western Cape (42 per cent) and Gauteng (41 per cent) have the highest proportion of firearm homicides. In the Western Cape, sharp force also accounted for almost 42 per cent of deaths. In Gauteng it accounted for 28 per cent. Source: The 2nd Injury Mortality Survey: A national study of injury mortality levels and causes in South Africa in 2017, South African Medical Research Council. Elsewhere in the country, sharp force-related homicides outnumber those connected to firearms use, though proportions vary substantially. In KZN, firearms accounted for 35 per cent of homicides and sharp force 41 per cent. In all other provinces, firearms accounted for less than 30 per cent of homicides. Different strategies are needed in different parts of the country to deal with the primary manifestations of violence. A continuing focus on gun violence is clearly required, particularly in the provinces where this has the biggest impact. But other aspects of violence must also be addressed. Interpersonal conflicts between acquaintances more frequently involves sharp force and blunt force weapons than firearms. Rates and characteristics of other types of violent crime, including sexual offences, assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm, and aggravated robbery also vary between the different provinces and metropolitan areas. Section 206(2) of South Africas constitution states that the national policing policy developed by the police minister may make provision for different policies in respect of different provinces after taking into account the policing needs and priorities of these provinces. But a national policy that confronts the policing needs of the various provinces hasnt been developed since the Constitution was passed in 1996. South Africa needs a new, more effective set of arrangements that align crime and violence responses to the varying characteristics and needs in different parts of the country. This should include legislation empowering provinces and metropolitan governments to play a more active role in setting policing policy. They should also be legally able to provide greater support to community-based initiatives working to prevent crime and violence. David Bruce, Independent Researcher and Consultant, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Pretoria Advertisements (This article was first published by ISS Today, a PREMIUM TIMES syndication partner. We have their permission to republish). The prolonged leadership crisis rocking Nigerias Project Development Institute (PRODA), Enugu, is yet to be resolved, more than two years after it started. This is as the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) released the report of its investigation into allegations of mismanagement, contract splitting, nepotism, sabotage, among others, which were levelled against the administration of a former chief executive officer of the agency, Charles Agulana. The report recommended that Mr Agulana, who was suspended in November 2020, should embark on terminal leave immediately. However, Mr Agulanas successor and former director of electrical, power and electronics department, Fabian Okonkwo, has also been removed in an abrupt manner. Until his appointment as the acting director-general of the agency in 2020, two other officials had battled to take control of the affairs of the organisation. The duo of Nathan Abia-Bassey, then a deputy director at the department of industrial promotion, information and documentation (IPID), and Edwin Oriaku, then second most senior official at the institute after Mr Agulana, had struggled to take control of the agency over conflicting directives. But based on a letter of appointment dated December 7, 2020, with reference number FMST/DAS/385/II/T and signed by the permanent secretary at the ministry of science, technology and innovation, Edet Akpan, Mr Okonkwo took charge as acting director-general pending the investigation instituted by the office of the SGF. However, following allegations of insubordination, violation of procurement laws, illegal suspension and dismissal of workers, and corrupt practices, Mr Okonkwo was replaced on January 25, 2022, by the director of ceramics research and production department, Arit Etukudo. PREMIUM TIMES learnt that Mrs Etukudo, who is said to be the next most senior official on the agencys nominal roll, and who has since taken over the management of the institute, is yet to be handed over to by Mr Okonkwo, who is kicking against his removal. Mr Okonkwo is said to have absconded from work since he was requested to hand over to Mrs Etukudo via a letter dated January 21, 2022, and signed by an overseeing permanent secretary in the ministry of science, technology and innovation, Idowu Afe, on behalf of the minister, Ogbonaya Onu. The letter, with reference number; FMSTI/HM/2021/005/III, was titled; Re-Request for Clarification on the Role of the Board and Management of PRODA Vis-a-Vis Recent Board Directives, Immediate Directive to Call for PRODA Governing Board Meeting and the Report of the Administrative Panel to Investigate Activities in the PRODA. Consequent upon the numerous allegations levelled against you and in line with the principle of natural justice, it has become expedite for you to step aside as the overseeing director-general of PRODA to allow further, through and fair investigation to be carried out, the letter addressed to Mr Okonkwo reads in part. But Mr Okonkwo has told PREMIUM TIMES that he did not abscond from office but that he has been sick. He described his removal from office as an illegal and unconstitutional move allegedly perpetrated by those he described as the enemies of the research institute. Allegations against Okonkwo Various documents and official memo obtained by this newspaper revealed series of allegations levelled against the administration of Mr Okonkwo which include disregard for relevant provisions of public procurement law in the award of contracts, illegal cancellation of contracts duly awarded by predecessors, non-payment and diversion of contractors funds and refusal to release the report of promotion of workers to the board and the supervising ministry. The former acting director-general has also been accused by the supervising ministry of insubordination by communicating directly to the office of the secretary to the government of the federation and also President Muhammadu Buhari without routing them through the ministry. You can imagine the minister receiving information of what is happening at an agency under his supervision through the office of the SGF. And this is an official whose letter of appointment was signed by the same minister. Such rude conduct cannot be tolerated by any serious ministry, an official of the agency, who does not want to be mentioned for fear of victimisation, told PREMIUM TIMES reporter. The source added that Mr Okonkwo refused to forward the 2021 staff promotion report to the new governing board of the institute for ratification. And the reason for that was simple. He was avoiding the boards sitting in order not to allow deliberations on various allegations against him, the source added. BPP writes ICPC Following what it regarded as deliberate disregard for procurement laws, the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), an agency of the Nigerian government in charge of monitoring compliance with government procurement rules and legislation, has recommended the agency for probe by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Commission (ICPC). In a letter dated November 22, 2021, and addressed to the office of the ICPCs executive chairman, Bolaji Owasanoye, BPP urged the anti-graft agency to probe the procurement activities of the agency for the financial years of 2018, 2019 and 2020. The letter, with reference number; BPP/S.1/PAR/CCM/21/Vol.1/026, and signed by the agencys director general, Mamman Ahmadu, noted that the outcome of the procurement audit of the agency revealed several contraventions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 by PRODA which appeared to be deliberate Mr Ahmadu said the details of its audit findings were attached to the letter to properly guide ICPC in its activities. In its conclusion in the audit report of the procurement activities of the agency for the years 2018, 2019 and 2020, a copy of which PREMIUM TIMES obtained, BPP noted that the violations were more pronounced in 2020 following what it regarded as disregard for law by Mr Okonkwo. Advertisements From the findings of the procurement audit, the institute did not substantially comply with the relevant sections of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, and extant government policies guiding public procurement during the implementation of its procurements under review especially for the year 2020 under the leadership of the acting director general, Engineer Fabian Okonkwo, BPP wrote as part of its recommendations. EFCC invites officer In a similar development, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has also invited an official of the institute following its investigations into the award of contract for the empowerment/training of farmers on piggery, cassava productions/processing and fish farming. The letter, which was addressed to the acting director-general and chief executive officer of the agency, and dated December 22, 2021, was signed by EFCCs director of operations, Abdulkarim Chukkol. Referenced; CR:3000/EFCC/ABJ/HQ/PFS/TC/VOL.10/32, the letter noted that the commission is investigating an alleged case of conspiracy and diversion of funds in which the need to seek clarification from your office becomes imperative. On the same subject, EFCC wrote another letter dated January 24, 2022, and invited the agencys head of procurement unit, Chukwudi Ihunweza, to meet with its men on Thursday, February 10, 2022, at its headquarters in Abuja, federal capital territory. The new letter, which was also signed by Mr Chukkol with reference number CR:3000/EFCC/ABJ/HQ/PFS/TC/VOL.11/65, requested the agencys procurement director to come along with comprehensive report on the training, details of the trainers, trainees and attendance register, pictures and videos taken during the training, and job completion certificate awarded to the contractor, among other relevant documents. Embattled Okonkwo reacts Contrary to the BPPs claim, Mr Okonkwo said he was aware of the agencys audit report on the 2020 procurements and that the matters raised were already resolved. But if there is a follow-up or an additional thing about that, I am not aware. In a telephone conversation with our reporter, he said: My removal there is illegal and I have made a report to appropriate authorities and is being followed up. I made a submission to the appropriate offices, telling them the injustice which is against the rule. On the EFCCs invitation, Mr Okonkwo said there was nothing new in the invitation extended to his officials by the anti-graft agency, saying it is normal for EFCC to invite anyone for questioning. He also debunked the claim that he absconded from work, saying; Thats not true. I have some health challenges now, that is why I am taking care of myself. He, however, refused to disclose why he did not hand over to the new acting director-general and if the new management of the agency is aware of his whereabouts. The African Development Bank (AfDB) has said it will invest $3 billion to support Africas vaccines manufacturing capacity. The President of the AfDB, Akinwumi Adesina, disclosed this on Saturday at the 35th African Union Summit, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Mr Adesina said the funds will ensure that the continents 1.4 billion people gain greater access to quality healthcare. He said the continent still needs $484 billion over the next three years to address the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and support economic recovery. He explained that the most important lesson of the pandemic for Africa is the need to build a defense mechanism against external shocks, especially in healthcare and financial security. Priorities The AfDB boss outlined three strategic priorities for an African healthcare defence system: building quality healthcare infrastructure; developing the continents pharmaceutical industry, and increasing the capacity of vaccine manufacturing. The COVID-19 pandemic has once again highlighted the need for Africa to begin the production of its vaccines. More than 10.2 billion doses of vaccines have been administered across 184 countries, according to data collected by Bloomberg. In total, 130 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been given for every 100 people around the worldbut the vaccine distribution has been lopsided. Countries and regions with the highest incomes are getting vaccinated more than 10 times faster than those with the lowest. In Africa, only 21 out of 54 countries have vaccinated at least 10 per cent of its population. About 16 Africa countries have vaccinated less than five per cent and three countries have fully vaccinated less than two per cent, the World Health Organisation (WHO), Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti. said at a recent conference. These vaccination statistics underlines how severe the problem of lack of locally-produced vaccine development has caused on the continent. According to WHO, as of February 3, 2022, Africa had received more than 587 million COVID-19 vaccine doses. About 58 per cent of vaccines were delivered through the COVAX Facility, 36 per cent from bilateral deals, and six per cent through the Africa Vaccines Acquisition Trust (AVAT) of the African Union. Ms Moeti said currently, six million people are vaccinated on average every week in Africa, and this number needs to increase to 36 million to reach the 70 per cent target agreed globally. Vaccines production Meanwhile, African scientists believe that the COVID-19 vaccine challenges of access, unequal distribution and short supplies African countries are currently facing would have been avoided if the continent had invested in local manufacturing of vaccines. Africa, a continent of over 1.4 billion people, produces only 1 per cent of the vaccines it administers. The remaining 99 per cent are imported, according to WHO. If no urgent action is taken, health experts believe there would be dire consequences for health security as the continents population is estimated to double by 2050. As a follow up, African countries in 2021 pledged to increase the share of vaccines manufactured in the region from one per cent to 60 per cent by 2040. This includes building factories and bolstering capacity in research and development. Mr Adesina, during the summit, added that Africa also needs $600 million to $1.3 billion to meet its goal of attaining 60 per cent vaccine production by 2040. COVID-19 booster shots Mr Adesina noted that 11 per cent of the population has been fully vaccinated, while 16 per cent has been partially vaccinated. He said while developed countries have moved to booster shots, Africa is still struggling with basic shots. Advertisements Your Excellencies, we must learn from this experience. Africa can no longer outsource the security of the lives of its 1.4 billion people to the benevolence of others, he said. He commended the leadership efforts of the African Union and state authorities in dealing with the pandemic. The Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has said there are reasonable grounds to proceed against a suspended celebrity police officer, Abba Kyari, who was fingered in a multi-million dollars fraud spearheaded by Ramon Abass, aka Hushpuppi. Mr Malami disclosed this while appearing on the Channels Televisions Politics Today on Monday. The U.S. government had in July 2021, unveiled the charges against Mr Kyari and other alleged co-conspirators. Huspuppi, a Nigerian Instagram celebrity until his arrest in Dubai, UAE, in June 2020, is one of the arrowheads of the scam. He has pleaded guilty to the charges in a separate case, and his sentence is billed to come up later in the year. Police authorities conducted an enquiry into Mr Kyaris roles in the scam, but continue to keep sealed lips over the outcome, despite persistent demand of public disclosure by Nigerians. Confirmation But Mr Malami, whose office was forwarded the report of police investigations, confirmed on Monday that there were reasonable grounds to proceed against Mr Kyari by either putting him on or extraditing him to the U.S. where charges are pending against him$. As far as I am concerned, the parties are discussing, the parties are collaborating and there are exchanges of correspondence from the perspective of investigation, from the perspective of extradition and associated things, he said. Asked if Mr Kyari was found guilty in the police report, Mr Malami said, You cant find someone guilty, but perhaps, reasonable grounds for suspicion can be established which will translate into prosecution that will eventually translate He added, That is why we are talking of reasonable grounds for suspicion. Reasonable grounds for suspicion have been established and that will eventually translate to the possibility of prosecution and eventual conviction if at the end of the day one is adjudged guilty by the court of law. The position now is that there are prima facie grounds, reasonable grounds for suspicion that have been considered, from the perspective of prosecution, prospective of likely extradition, if the need for so doing arises. That is what is unfolding in terms of international collaboration. Mr Malami also said there was also an ongoing collaboration with the U.S. authorities over Hushpuppi. More details later The Zamfara State House of Assembly has served Mahadi Ali, the deputy governor of the state, an impeachment notice. This came on Monday, three days after the House received a request to commence impeachment process against him. Premium Times reported how the Assembly began fresh moves to impeach the deputy governor. The deputy speaker of the House, Musa Bawa, at Fridays plenary, submitted a document requesting the impeachment of the deputy governor. Mr Bawa, who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Public Account, moved a motion for the consideration of the request. The deputy governor parted ways with Governor Bello Matatwalle after he refused to join the defecting governor and other elected officials in Zamfara to the All Progressives Congress (APC) last year. They had all taken their offices on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after the Supreme Court disqualified candidates of the APC who had been declared winners in the 2019 elections. Impeachment notice The Assembly, in a statement signed by Shamsudeen Basko, House Standing Committee Chairman, has now communicated to the deputy governor through the Secretary to the State Government. Mr Basko said, having satisfied the requirement of Section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) which requires 1/3 of whole Honourable Members of the Honourable House to endorsed notice of impeachment. The House under the leadership of the Rt. Hon. Speaker accepts that particular notice as proper and in accordance with the provisions of the Law, he said. Mr Basko said when in 2021 the House invited the deputy governor to appear before it, he refused to honour the invitation and instead went to court, when they had no intention of impeaching him then as being alleged. According to the lawmaker, the House abided by the court verdict. Mahadis sins In the statement, Mr Basko said the deputy governor is being accused of abusing office, criminal self enrichment using public fund and failure to discharge official duties. He said, Abuse of office. This includes Constitutional breached of section 190 and 193 (1), (2) (a)(b)(c), of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). Criminal self enrichment using public fund; includes criminal diversion of state fund, conspiracy to defraud the state and approval of dubious retirement in his office. Failure to discharge constitutional duties which give rise to insubordination, he added. Efforts to get the deputy governors reaction failed as his press secretary, Babangida Zurmis known phone number was unreachable. BUA Foods Plc has received commendations from the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) over the level of progress made at its wholly owned subsidiary, LASUCO Sugar Company Limited (LASUCO) which sits on 20,000 hectares of arable land in Lafiagi, Kwara State. Over the years, BUA foods has invested heavily in the backward integration program of the Federal Government under the supervision of the NSDC. When fully completed, the over $300 million integrated sugar factory will comprise of a sugar mill with a capacity of 10,000tons of cane per day, a sugar refinery with an annual capacity of 220,000 metric tonnes, a 35 megawatts power generating plant to fuel the factory with potential to supply the national grid, and a 20 million litres per annum ethanol production plant. The plantation also has a 3km airstrip of international standard, built to support its operations. Addressing the NSDC team in Lafiagi, the acting Managing Director, BUA Foods, Ayodele Abioye, said the visit was timely as it restates the companys drive to ensure the advancement of the food sector and the Nigerian economy. According to Mr Abioye, We thank the National Sugar Development Council. We are glad you like the level of work that has gone into this plantation and remain committed to fully attaining the backward integration program. Its role in conserving foreign exchange, boosting local capacity, creating jobs, enhancing skill acquisition and ensuring that less emphasis is placed on imported raw materials is clearly understood. We believe at take-off; this enormous project will make a huge impact to our business and the aspirations of the council. Speaking during the working visit to the plantation, the Executive Secretary of the NSDC, Zacch Adedeji, said the President Muhammadu Buharis led Government is committed to revamping the sugar industry through the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan, (NSMP) which has the capacity to ensure we grow what we eat, and eat what we grow while providing job opportunities for millions of Nigerians. Mr Adedeji who thanked BUA Foods for its resilient commitment towards the Backward Integration Programme (BIP) expressed satisfaction with the level of progress made at the integrated sugar factory adding that Nigeria is a step closer to achieving self-sufficiency in sugar production. At the sugar council, our aim is to locally produce 70% of Nigerias sugar consumption which is currently at 1.7metric tons per annum. LASUCO is expected to play a pivotal role in achievement of this goal as its expected to contribute up to 25% of the targeted local consumption based on its capacit. Mr Adedeji added that I am impressed with the level of progress I have seen here. All thats required is to further develop the field to which I have seen the commitment of the BUA team to meet that. The company is working towards supporting farmers through an out-grower scheme to increase sugar cane production and provide a springboard for expansion of its local sugar production while impacting the host community and Nigerian economy at large. Earlier, Mohammed Kudu Kawa, the Emir of Lafiagi described the project as a game-changing initiative that will spur development of the community. According to him, For us, the BUA-LASUCO project is a dream come true for Lafiagi as there are only a handful of towns that can boast of a $300m dollar investment. We are proud of this project and very happy it is situated in our area. The potentials are huge, the type of transformation this project will bring Lafiagi beats the imagination. Today, we are on the world map due to the 3km runway. We are very happy and committed to this project; There is nothing BUA needs that we will not accommodate. About BUA Foods PLC BUA Foods is a leading food business with well diversified and scalable operations producing sugar, flour, pasta, rice and edible oils. With strategically located plants across Nigeria, coupled with a cordial alliance with local stakeholders in host communities, BUA Foods is a resilient business built on a strong brand proposition and is an operator with reputation for delivering high-quality products. BUA Foods continues to invest in modern technology for efficient food production, innovatively expanding with strategic partners across the value chain. The company is also well positioned to leverage significant export potentials across West Africa and the larger African continent. Headquartered and listed in Nigeria, BUA Foods has become one of the most capitalized companies on the NGX and a leading consumer goods firm by market value. Media Contact Adewunmi Desalu II Director, Marketing & Corporate Communications II 08028395787 The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Lagos (UNILAG) chapter, has said it would hold its sensitisation meeting on Tuesday between the hours of 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. It, therefore, declared that within the period of the sensitisation meeting, there shall be no lecture, statutory meetings including supervision and seminars. This is as the Lagos zone of the union has scheduled a briefing on the matter for between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. on the same campus to address the public on the failure of the government to implement the contents of the Memorandum of Action (MoA) entered with the union in 2020 which led to the suspension of the then nine-month long industrial action. Agenda The aim of the meeting, the union said, is to sensitise the university community, the media and members of the public on the Nigerian governments failure to address its grievances. The universitys branch of the union, in a statement signed by its chairperson, Dele Ashiru, described as misinformation the news that the university was observing lecture-free day on Monday. The statement read in part: At the last NEC meeting of our union, all branches were directed to observe a day of mobilisation and sensitisation of members, students and the general public to the impending strike action over government insensitive and unwillingness to implement the renegotiated 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement which will usher in a new and robust salary structure for our members. As you are already aware, tomorrow, 8th February, 2022, has been declared as UNILAGs day of mobilisation and sensitisation in compliance with the directive of NEC. In view of the above, there shall be no lectures, meetings, seminars, workshops, etc, during the period of the mobilisation and sensitisation congress between 11a.m and 2p.m. Members are therefore enjoined to attend the congress enmasse as a show of support and solidarity for the new salary and welfare structure. Meanwhile, in a short notice issued by its coordinator, Laja Odukoya, the Lagos zone of the union said it will address the press on the matter. The zone comprises universities in Ogun and Lagos States including UNILAG, Lagos State University (LASU); Federal University of Agriculture. Abeokuta (FUNAAB); Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye (OOUA), and Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun. PREMIUM TIMES had on Sunday reported how Ahmadu Bello University, Bayero University and Usmanu Danfodiyo University released circulars informing their members and students of a lecture free day on Monday. ASUU national president, Emmanuel Osodeke, a professor, also confirmed the development via a telephone conversation. He said the national executive council of the union directed alll chapters to embark on sensitisation on its demands that the government has failed to meet since 2020. Mr Osodeke listed his unions demands to include the sustainability of the university autonomy, which it said the introduction of IPPIS violates; immediate deployment of UTAS to replace IPPIS; renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement; release of the reports of visitation panels to federal universities and distortions in salary payment challenges. Others include funding for revitalisation of public universities, earned academic allowance, poor funding of state universities and promotion arrears. Japhtah Yekorogha, a cousin of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, abducted on January 24, has regained his freedom from his abductors. The news of Mr Yekoroghas freedom was contained in a statement by Azibaola Robert, the younger brother to the kidnapped victim in Yenagoa on Monday. The statement signed by Austin Ekeinde, media aide to Mr Robert, founder of Zeetin Engineering, said the family appreciated the concern of well-meaning members of the public. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Mr Yekorogha was whisked away from his Yenagoa residence by unidentified gunmen to an unknown destination. We are glad to confirm that our brother, Mr Jephthah Robert Yekorogha, has finally regained his freedom and reunited with the family after a protracted ordeal in the hands of his kidnappers. He regained freedom in the early hours of today, Monday; no information on whether or not ransom was paid before he regained freedom. He is in good health, but will see his doctor for routine medical checkups. Once again, we appreciate all well-meaning Nigerians who by way of calls, text messages and visits stood by us throughout the ordeal, he said. Mr Robert said he appreciated the efforts of the commissioner of police, Bayelsa State and the State director of the State Security Services for their assistance. He said that the incident was promptly reported to the law-enforcement agencies who mounted pressure until the victim regained freedom. (NAN) The Supreme Court on Monday fixed May 6 for judgment in a legal tussle between Rivers and Imo states over the ownership of 17 oil wells in their territories. Olukayode Ariwoola, who led a six-man panel of justices, fixed the date after taking arguments from lawyers involved in the suit. Rivers, the plaintiff in the matter, represented by Joseph Daudu, SAN, while adopting its final address, asked the apex court to give judgment in favour of Rivers on the ground that historical evidence right from 1927 till date clearly indicated that the oil wells belonged to the state. Mr Daudu drew the attention of the apex court to the boundary adjustment paper of 1976, where Ndoni and Egbema communities were confirmed to be in Rivers. He disagreed with the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) in his claim that adjudication of the suit on the oil wells ought not to have originated from the Supreme Court but at a Federal High Court because oral evidence ought to be taken from people in the disputed areas. Mr Daudu argued that the Supreme Court has original jurisdiction and can conveniently use all available sufficient historical documents right from the colonial era to determine the real owners of the oil wells. However, counsel to the Imo State Government, Olusola Oke, SAN, asked the apex court to dismiss the suit on the grounds that it ought to have originated from the federal high court. Mr Oke claimed that because of the nature of the matter, oral evidence ought to be called from the people of the area to confirm where they actually belong. He contended that Rivers ought not to have started the suit from the Supreme Court and therefore, prayed the court to dismiss the suit. In the same vein, counsel to the AGF, Remi Olatubora, SAN, aligned himself with the position of Imo State, to the effect that proper procedure for such a suit was not adopted by Rivers State. He argued that witnesses, including officials of the National Boundary Commission, Surveyor-General of the Federation and indigenes of the disputed areas ought to be heard, for the court to make appreciable and acceptable findings. Although Mr Olatubora claimed the AGF was neutral in the disputed oil wells ownership, he said, however, that scientific evidence must be considered along with open court hearings for the Supreme Court to make good findings. (NAN) The family of Timothy Adegoke, the deceased Masters student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, has hired popular human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, to represent the family as they attempt to unravel the mystery behind their sons death. In a letter dated February 3 and signed by the deceaseds father, Moses Adegoke; his brother, Olugbade Adegoke; and the deceaseds wife, Victoria Adegoke, the family expressed their confidence in Mr Falanas competence. The letter titled, Appointment as our family lawyer, partly read, We the family of Moses Adegoke have decided to appoint you as our family lawyer, to demand justice on our late son, Timothy Adegoke, who was murdered at Hilton Hotel and Resorts, Ile Ife. We have full confidence in your expertise and professionalism and hope to get justice on the case. In a telephone interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Monday, Mr Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, confirmed that he had accepted to represent the family in court. He said his firm would handle the case free of charge. We have heard their request and accepted their instructions as well. We shall be their lawyer and ensure that justice is served. Mr Adegoke died under a controversial circumstance in a hotel, Hilton Resort, at Ile-ife, in Osun State. He died on November 6, 2021, where he had lodged in preparation for his MSc examination at the distance learning centre of the OAU, at Moro, near the campus in Ile-Ife town. The suspect, Rahman Adedoyin (owner of the hotel), is, however, being charged for unlawful interference, while the other six accused persons are to face charges bordering on various offences including murder, conspiracy, altering receipt, among others. Charged alongside Mr Adedoyin are: Adedeji Adesola, 23; Magdalene Chiefuna, 24; Adeniyi Aderogba, 37; Oluwale Lawrence, 37; Oyetunde Kazeem, 38; Adebayo Kunle, 35, and others who are currently at large. The uncertainty over the membership of former President Goodluck Jonathan in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continued yesterday amid reports of his purported resignation from the party. The report which emerged yesterday comes barely 24 hours after former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, expressed doubts over the former president's PDP membership. Lamido, when asked by the BBC during an interview if Jonathan was still a member of the PDP, said, "I doubt it; he has not been attending recent activities of our party." The speculation over the former president's membership of the opposition PDP has become rife since rumours of his defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) began to gain traction after the caretaker chairman of the APC, Governor Mai Mala-Buni, led some APC governors to pay a private visit to Jonathan at his Abuja residence two years ago. Besides Buni, others at the meeting were Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi, who had recently defected to the APC from the PDP; Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu, who is the chairman of the Progressives Governors' Forum, and Governor Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa State. Also in the team was Mr. Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, former presidential liaison officer to the National Assembly. Although the former president's media team has repeatedly denied any defection move, the absence of Jonathan from party engagements, especially the national convention, and his vague posture towards the party during the governorship election in Bayelsa State have continued to fuel speculations over his allegiance to the PDP on whose platform he served as deputy governor, governor, vice president, acting president and president. Also, his frequent visits of the presidential villa has caused some raised eyebrows even though such visits are said to be related to his mediating missions within West African countries. However, the former president had purportedly complained to the PDP Reconciliation and Strategy Committee led by a former president of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, of being kept in the dark by the PDP since he left office in 2015. LEADERSHIP gathered that while Jonathan had a not-too-smooth political relationship with the former Bayelsa State governor, Senator Seriake Dickson, his relationship with the incumbent, Senator Douye Diri, is more cordial. However, when contacted, Mr.Wealth Dickson Ominabo, a media assistant to former President Jonathan, denied knowledge of the claim that he had resigned from the PDP. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Governance By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. According to him,"the report is strange to us. We are not aware of such a report." When asked about Jonathan's resignation from the PDP, the national publicity secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, said he was not aware of the former president's resignation. He, however, added that if Jonathan was to make such a move, he wouldn't do it secretly. Ologunagba said, "I don't have that information. As I speak to you I don't have that information. If somebody like that wants to leave the party, he won't do it in a secretive way. He will announce it properly. When that happens, we will take it from there." Reacting also, the publicity secretary of PDP in the state, Hon. Ebiye Ogoli, said while they had heard of the rumour, they had yet to be informed. He, however, maintained that Jonathan remains a bonafide member of PDP. "Yes, we have heard the rumour but we are not officially aware that he has left the party. We have not been informed. And we believe that the former president is still a bonafide member of the PDP until we officially hear otherwise," he said. A magistrate court at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, has sentenced popular kayanmata (aphrodisiac) merchant, Sadiya Haruna, to six months in jail for defaming the character of a Kannywood actor, Isah Isah. Ms Haruna, a former Kannywood actress turned kayanmata merchant, was found guilty of defaming the character of Mr Isah on social media. She had in a video clip posted on her Instagram page alleged that Mr Isah had temporary marriage with her and had anal sex with her against her wish, according to Daily Nigerian. She was arraigned in 2019 before the court for the alleged offence which contravenes Section 391 of the Penal Code. Delivering judgment in the case on Monday, Magistrate Muntari Dandago sentenced Ms Haruna to six months imprisonment without an option of fine. The judgment followed that of a Shariah court in the state which sentenced her to six months of Islamic education after finding her guilty of posting nudity on social media. In the previous judgment, the judge, Ali Danzaki, ordered Ms Haruna to attend Darul Hadith Islamiyya at Tudun Yola quarters for six months as her punishment. The court said her school attendance would be monitored by an official of the Hisbah Board to ensure compliance. The Hisbah, in a one-count charge of obscenity and indecent act, had argued that the actress violated section 355 of penal code law 2000. Ms Haruna pleaded guilty to the charge and was promptly convicted and sentenced. She completed her sentence before this latest development. Two more bodies have been recovered from an offshore oil facility that exploded in Delta State, Nigerias South-south, according to a report on Monday afternoon by Channels Television. The Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facility, the Trinity Spirit, which belongs to Shebah Exploration & Production Company Ltd (SEPCOL), was engulfed in fire on Wednesday. The Channels Television report said the oil company confirmed on Monday in a statement the recovery of the two bodies, after their earlier statement on Sunday which disclosed that one body had been recovered and three crew members rescued. Ten crew members were said to have been aboard the FPSO at the time of the explosion. SEPCOL said four crew members were still missing. We have made incident reports to the police and relevant authorities to assist the ongoing investigation, and due process to establish the identities of the dead bodies is under way, the CEO of SEPCOL, Ikemefuna Okafor said in the statement on Monday, according to the Channels Television report. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of all the victims of this unfortunate incident, and we are on hand to provide support to them as required. Thus far, the potential total number of the crew members accounted for is six, including the three persons who were found alive last week. Our priority remains focused towards establishing the whereabouts, safety, and security of the four crew members still missing. Furthermore, our efforts are geared towards cleaning up the area to minimise any damage to the environment and seeking to ascertain the exact cause of the explosion, Mr Okafor said. READ ALSO: He thanked Clean Nigeria Associates, Chevron National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Shell Petroleum Development Company, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, as well as the communities, particularly fishermen, for their assistance during the incident. Our Crisis Management Team will continue to monitor developments in the investigations and update all stakeholders with new information accordingly. We appeal to members of the public to keep away from the area and contact the company with any information that may assist our investigations, he said. The police in Imo State have arrested one of the suspected killers of a retired chief superintendent of police, Christian Kpatuma, who was killed by suspected cultists on Wednesday, at Agwa in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Mr Kpatuma was abducted at his residence by suspected cultists. They took him to a nearby bush where they allegedly killed him, brought his body back and dumped it in front of his compound. The police spokesperson in Imo State, Mike Abattam (CSP), said in a statement that the suspects, Deberechi Chukwu, who is the leader of the cult group, was arrested after discreet investigation. Mr Abattam, a chief superintendent of police, said the suspect was arrested while trying to escape to a neighbouring state. The statement said, Following a report of a case of murder received by the Agwa Divisional Police Headquarters that Kpatuma was abducted by a group of young men suspected to be cultist in his house. On receipt of information that Kpatuma was taken to a nearby bush where he was killed and later the corpse was brought back and dumped in front of his compound, the Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Hussaini, immediately dispatched the commands tactical teams to the Agwa community with a mandate to fish out the perpetrators of the dastardly act. READ ALSO: Gunmen kill inspector in another deadly attack on Imo police facility On arrival, the team commenced a discreet investigation and after diligent gathering of both forensic and technical intelligence, one of the suspects, Deberechi Chukwu, was arrested while escaping to another state. The police spokesperson said in the course of investigation, it was revealed that the suspect is a notorious kidnapper and an escapee from the Imo Correctional Center, Owerri. According to him, the suspect, after escaping from the prison, recruited young men into his cult group who were terrorising the Agwa community. It is also on record that he was involved in the killing of a lot of security personnel in the state. He has made useful statements and has volunteered to assist the police in the arrest of other members of his gang currently on the run, he said. (NAN) Bara Ogidi, a Nigerian journalist and publisher of the blog Tracknews, is enmeshed in a blackmail scandal. Mr Ogidis name came up in a U.S. court in a libel suit filed by the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board, Simbi Wabote, against Jackson Ude, the publisher of Pointblanknews. Mr Ude, a Nigerian, is a naturalised American citizen who lives and transacts business in Pennsylvania, U.S. Mr Wabote, in a document filed in the U.S.court, said Mr Ogidi tried to use a story written against him in Pointblanknews to blackmail him. The Pointblanknews story, which accused Mr Wabote of bribery and corruption in the Bonny NLNG contract, is the subject of the libel suit in the U.S. Mr Wabote provided as evidence in the court text messages sent to his phone line by Mr Ogidi asking for money so that the bribery allegation story against him (Mr Wabote) could be pulled down from the website of some news platforms, including Saharareporters. Mr Ogidi, in one of the text messages, appeared to have implicated the publisher of Pointblanknews, Mr Ude, and a former deputy national publicity secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank. Good day Sir, I am the publisher of Tracknews online, Mr Ogidi introduced himself to Mr Wabote in a text message on October 11. He went on to say, Jackson (Ude) and Timi Frank called me for some publications against you but as a Bayelsan I wanted to talk to you so I ask Amb. Igali to send me ur number. The next day, October 12, Mr Ogidi sent another text message to Mr Wabote. Boss, is there any little thing, I can talk to Saharareporters and the other platforms to drop it, he said in the message, apparently referring to the bribery allegation story. Mr Ogidi, still on October 12, sent another message to Mr Wabote, informing him that he had spoken with Saharareporters and three other platforms that published the bribery allegation story and that they agreed to take down the story in return for something. They have agreed to take it down and I promised to send them something for appropriation tomorrow, he said in the message. Mr Ogidi told the executive secretary that the story was bad for his image locally and internationally. Well if they like they should not pull it down it is part of the evidence in court, Mr Wabote said in a response to Mr Ogidis request. Mr Ogidi, unrelenting, continued to push for money from Mr Wabote, at least for his own blog. I told my editor that u will send us something to appreciate us, he said in a text message on October 13. He sent his Stanbic IBTC account number to Mr Wabote. Two days later, things took a different turn as indicated by another text message sent on October 13 by Mr Ogidi to Mr Wabote. Good day Boss. Sorry to disturb you, the message began. Chief Timi Frank called me and upset with me greatly that 2 persons called him that u told them that I called u and informed u is Timi Frank and Jackson that is fighting him. He just called me from Dubai, said Mr Ogidi in the message. Is he denying that he did not ask you? Mr Wabote responded. He said as a journalist I should have hide such identities, Mr Ogidi said to Mr Wabote. Advertisements Mr Wabotes inclusion of Mr Ogidis text messages to him in his evidence before the U.S. court is to strengthen his libel suit against Mr Ude, apparently. He also provided the U.S.court with a 2018 judgement by a Nigerian court against Mr Ude in a libel suit filed by Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a former finance minister in Nigeria and the current Director-General of the World Trade Organisation. The Pointblanknews story had accused Mr Okonjo-Iweala of purchasing N1.2 BILLION house at Maitama, Abuja, while Nigerians were suffering under an administration she was a key player. For Okonjo-Iwealas suit, the Nigerian court a High Court in Abuja awarded N200 million against Pointblanknews, its publisher, Mr Ude and Churchhill Umoren. Mr Wabote, through his lawyer, Joshua Macel, told the court that the bribery allegation story against him in Pointblanknews was false. He asked the court to order the publisher of Pointblanknews to remove the story from their website and pay him $10,000,000 as damages, as well as restrain him from making further publication against him. Mr Ude, in his counterclaim, denied that the story published against Mr Wabote was false. He challenged the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case. Ogidis arrest, reaction to blackmail allegation The publisher of Tracknews, Mr Ogidi, was arrested last month in Bayelsa State, Nigerias South-south, by operatives of the countrys secret police, SSS. The former official of APC, Mr Frank, had condemned Mr Ogidis arrest and called for his immediate release. A few hours after his release, Mr Ogidi in a video clip he posted on Facebook thanked Mr Frank whom he described as his boss, for standing by him. In the clip, he assured the media community and his political associates that the arrest has strengthened him to do more both in politics and in media. Mr Ogidi told PREMIUM TIMES that his arrest was in connection with Mr Wabotes libel suit in the U.S. He did not give details of why he was arrested. He, however, admitted to this newspaper that he had requested money from Mr Wabote, but said he did it based on his relationship with Mr Wabote. I dont think that I sent him (a) text message that I have the power over other platforms that he should give me money to give them to take them (the story) down, he added. Mr Ogidi said he and Mr Wabote are from Bayelsa State and that they have been mutual friends. The publisher of Saharareporters, Omoyele Sowore, told PREMIUM TIMES that the news site does not take down stories once they are published. He said Saharareporters does not have any relationship with Mr Ogidi. The publisher of Pointblanknews, Mr Ode, denied working with Mr Ogidi. We dont take money to drop stories, he said. I didnt even know anything about Tracknews until my lawyer sent me something that Simbi Wabote was tendering in court. I dont know whos Tracknews. Ive never met him, Ive never spoken with him before. Probably, what the Tracknews guy was doing was trying to use our story to go and negotiate his own business dealing with Mr Wabote, not on my behalf. A lot of people do that when you publish a story. What they do is if they have a relationship with whoever the story is about they use it to go and do deals. Ive had to make (a) disclaimer on this before, many times, he said. Mr Ude forwarded to PREMIUM TIMES an apology letter Mr Ogidi sent to him. In the apology letter, which Mr Ude is likely going to tender as exhibit to defend himself in the U.S. court, Mr Ogidi praised Pointblanknews as being a trusted and dependable news site and Mr Ude as a thoroughbred professional whom I look up to, while he accused Mr Wabote of being corrupt. Mr Ogidi, in the apology letter, said the former official of APC, Mr Frank, did not ask him to publish negative reports against Mr Wabote, obviously contradicting what he (Ogidi) said in a message he sent to Mr Wabote. I dont fight a fly Mr Frank denied having any relationship with Mr Ogidi, apart from sending him press statements the same way I send to other journalists. Hes a Bayelsan that respects me as a leader and a stakeholder of Bayelsa. I dont have any one on one dealings with him, I have never asked him to discuss anything on my behalf or on behalf of Mr Jackson (Ude), he added. Mr Frank also spoke on Mr Wabote. For the fact that Mr Wabote is a Bayelsan and I am a Bayelsan, Mr Wabote believes because Mr Ude is my friend that I am the one fighting him. So far I am concerned, Mr Wabote is like a fly for me to fight. I fight his employer, I dont fight a fly. I have never fought a small battle. If I wanted Mr Wabote I would go all out for him, hes like a fly before me. I have said clearly that I have no hand in this case between Mr Wabote and Mr Ude. Ive fought many corrupt people. If Mr Wabote is corrupt I will fight him, he said. Mr Wabote did not respond to calls and a text message seeking comment from him. Naboth Onyesoh, manager, corporate communications, Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board, did not also respond to calls. Mr Ogidis blackmail scandal is coming a few months after a Nigerian journalist and the publisher of Peoples Gazette, Samuel Ogundipe, was accused of blackmailing the Chairman of Air Peace airlines, Allen Onyema. Lack of a defence team on Monday stalled the trial of Abdulmalik Tanko and two others for the alleged kidnap and murder last month in Kano of a five-year-old pupil, Hanifa Abubakar. Mr Tanko, Hashimu Isyaku and Fatima Jibrin, appeared before Kano State High Court No. 6 for hearing in the case by the trial judge, Usman Na-Abba. The three were charged with criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, concealing/keeping in confinement a kidnapped person and culpable homicide, offences the prosecution said are contrary to Sections 97, 274, 277 and 221 of the Penal Code. On Monday, they were docked without legal representations. The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, M. A. Lawal, who is the state counsel, prayed the court to decide if the proceeding could go ahead despite the accused persons not having lawyers. The judge, Mr Na-abba, then asked the defendants, starting from the principal suspect, Mr Tanko, if they could engage the service of lawyers or want the state government to provide them some. Mr Tanko, who is the first accused person, said he could not hire a lawyer and wants the state to provide him one. Mr Isyaku, the second defendant, and the third defendant, Ms Jibrin, also said they want the state to provide them lawyers. The attorney-general then prayed the court to adjourn the hearing to February 14 to enable the state to provide lawyers for the accused persons as they had requested. The judge then granted the state counsels prayer and adjourned to Monday, February 14 for the continuation of the trial when the accused persons would have their lawyers. Mr Lawal also told the court of their application to substitute the charges filed by the state against the accused persons on February 1 with the one filed on February 2, a prayer that was granted by the judge. The Ibrahim Shekarau faction of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Kano State says it will accept only a just, fair and equitable sharing formula for the composition of the executive committees of the party in the state. This was contained in a statement jointly signed by seven members of the group and issued to journalists on Sunday night. It will be recalled that the national leadership of APC had met with the warring parties on Saturday where it was agreed that the state executive committee of the party would be shared between the two camps. The national leadership announced that it will release the sharing formula on Monday and deploy a committee to ensure full compliance with it in the composition of the executive committee. The faction in its statement called on APC members in Kano State to remain calm and loyal to the party until the reconciliation process comes to an end. The statement was jointly signed by Ibrahim Shekarau (Senator Kano Central), Barau Jibrin (Senator Kano North), Tijjani Jobe (D/Tofa/Rimingado Federal Constituency), Nasiru Gabasawa (Gezawa/Gabasawa Federal Constituency), Haruna Dederi (Karaye/Rogo Federal Constituency), Shaaban Sharada (Kano Municipal Federal Constituency) and Shehu Dalhatu (Chairman, Buhari Support Group), the group said they have not taken final decision on the crisis. The statement read in part: As we await the proposals of the National Leadership, we assure our teeming supporters that we shall closely study such proposals and accept only what is just, fair and equitable in the interest of ensuring inclusiveness in our party and strengthening party cohesion We the undersigned, hereby reaffirm our total support and commitment to the promotion and development of the ideals of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State and Nigeria in general. Everyone is aware of the efforts initiated by the National Leadership of our party aimed at finding possible ways and means of amicably resolving the crises bedevilling the Kano State chapter of our great party. We wish to commend this great initiative of the National Leadership. We wish to unequivocally state that, up to this moment of issuing this statement, there is no final decision taken and/or conclusion reached in the reconciliation process going on. As we await the proposals of the National Leadership, we assure our teeming supporters that we shall closely study such proposals and accept only what is just, fair and equitable in the interest of ensuring inclusiveness in our party and strengthening party cohesion. This is in spite of the fact that we are beneficiaries in the two judgements in Suits Nos. FCT/HC/CV/2030/2021 of 30/11/2021, and FCT/HC/CV/2532/2021 of 17/12/2021 respectively relating to the party leadership in our state. We wish to call on every party member in Kano State to remain calm and loyal to the party until the reconciliation process comes to an end. We thank you all, for your continued support and prayers as we continue to stand for truth and justice in the party. The Niger State Government has restricted movement in Rafi and Shiroro local government areas of the state being troubled by banditry. Earlier, residents said the government had imposed a curfew on Kagara, the council headquarters of Rafi; and Tegina town which had recorded repeated attacks. A resident of Kagara, Hassan Ahmad, said people were ordered to remain indoors from 5.p.m till 10.a.m while security forces were seen patrolling the area. He said motorists were allowed to ply the dangerous highway from Tegina Junction, linking Kagara and Birnin Gwari in Kaduna, only from 10:a.m. But the Secretary to the State Government, Ahmad Matane, told PREMIUM TIMES that the government did not impose a curfew in the areas but only restricted movement of persons for an ongoing security patrol. Mr Matane said the security patrol taking place in Shiroro and Rafi council areas will last until the security agents review their operational plan, depending on the severity of threat posed by the bandits. President Muhammadu Buhari had recently directed the military to respond robustly to killings and kidnappings by bandits in Niger State. Attacks by armed groups have continued in the North-west and Niger State despite repeated government assurance to address the challenge. Officials said over 151, 380 people, mostly peasant farmers, were displaced in the state by the activities of bandits in the last two years. The displaced persons were registered in 13 local government areas, with Rafi council area, neighbouring Zamfara, topping the chart with 28,987 displaced persons. President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday returned to Abuja after participating in the 35th Ordinary Session of Assembly of the African Union Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Muhammad Bello, Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, and Director-General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi, were among those who welcomed the president at the Presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. While in Addis Ababa, the Nigerian leader, apart from participating fully in the 35th Ordinary Session of Assembly of the African Union Heads of State and Government, held various bilateral meetings with some African leaders. The theme of the deliberation was: Building Resilience in Nutrition and Food Security on the African Continent: Strengthen Agriculture, Accelerate the Human Capital, Social and Economic Development. Mr Buhari, who also met with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia, commended him for maintaining peace and unity in that country, and for ensuring fairness and justice in development. The two leaders also agreed that African growth and development would require strong, visionary leadership that will cater for the needs of the people, and effectively strengthen institutions that encourage peaceful co-existence, while providing disincentives to conflicts and coups. Mr Buhari also received a comprehensive briefing on the coup attempt to oust President Umaru Embalo of Guinea-Bissau, on the sidelines of the African Union Summit, on Sunday. NAN reports that the coup was, however, aborted by loyal forces in that country. The Nigerian leader met with Senior Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guinea-Bissau, Suzi Barbosa, who made a graphic presentation of the attempt to overthrow the constitutional order in her country. The president was accompanied on the trip by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Health Osagie Ehanire, Minister of Agriculture, Mohammed Abubakar and Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouk. The National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai, were also on the trip. (NAN) The Nigerian government on Monday received about two million doses of Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccines from the European Union. The delivery is part of a pledge by the European Union to distribute vaccines to some developing countries. Speaking at the handover ceremony in Abuja, the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Faisal Shuaib, said Nigeria had in 2021 procured 39,850,000 doses of Johnson and Johnson vaccine from the AFREXIM Bank through the African Union. Mr Shuaib noted that with the donation of two million doses by the EU, the total doses of the brand of vaccines available in Nigeria is about 51 million. He said: At the moment, Nigeria currently has in-country 12,916,450 doses of the Johnson & Johnsons vaccine. On behalf of the federal government of Nigeria, I want to sincerely appreciate the European Union for your continued partnership in development. We have no doubt about the commitment of the European Union to the eradication of COVID-19 from Nigeria and the rest of the world. The onus is upon us to make rational and effective use of the vaccines, he said. Johnson and Johnson vaccines Mr Shuaib explained that the J&J vaccines will be channeled to those in hard-to-reach locations such as riverine areas, desert areas and security-compromised areas. This is because the Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires only a single dose for full vaccination. This way our health workers will be able to do what is called a touch and go without compromising their safety, he said. He said Nigeria is committed to a safe, equitable, and effective COVID-19 vaccination programme, noting that the availability of different vaccine brands does not in any way mean that some categories of people are selected for high-quality vaccines while others are targeted for low-quality ones. All COVID-19 vaccines approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) are safe and can deliver adequate protection against the disease, he said. While choice of vaccine is left for eligible persons to make, it is important to note that no particular vaccine brand is preferable to the other, he added. Samuela Isopi, the EU ambassador to Nigeria, said the two million doses were part of a global donation of almost 20 million J&J doses from EU member states to Nigeria. READ ALSO: Mr Isopi said more vaccines would arrive in the coming weeks. He explained that the EU is supporting the Africa region where vaccination is lower than other parts of the world. As we head into the third year since COVID-19 outbreak, the pandemic is not yet defeated. We must continue to work together, help partner countries to speed up vaccinations and to develop the capacity to manufacture vaccines locally, he said Vaccination so far Mr Shuaib said Nigeria has successfully vaccinated 15,792,392 persons representing 14.1 per cent of the eligible population, with the first dose. He said the government is using the COVID-19 vaccination platform to make vaccines accessible in other primary healthcare interventions. He said the immunisation agency has been engaging with the poor performing states to identify areas where they would require more support and to also help in identifying areas where they can improve in order to ramp up their vaccination coverage. He appealed to all eligible Nigerians who are yet to be vaccinated to avail themselves of current opportunities to receive their COVID-19 vaccines. Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has accepted a family request to lead their legal team in the case of the alleged murder of Timothy Adegoke, a postgraduate student of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, Osun State, reportedly killed in a hotel. We have accepted the instructions of the bereaved Adegoke Family. We shall handle the case pro bono publico and ensure that justice is done, Mr Falana stated in a WhatsApp message sent to PREMIUM TIMES. Mr Falanas message came on the heels of a letter by the Adegoke family seeking his services to help them secure justice regarding the death of their son. The letter dated February 3, 2022, stated, We the family of Moses Adegoke have decided to appoint you as our family lawyer, to demand justice for our late son Adegoke, Timothy Oluwadamilare who was murdered at Hilton Honour Hotel and Resorts, Ile Ife. We have full confidence in your expertise and professionalism and hope to get justice on the case. Thank you for your great concern and sympathy. Backstory Controversy had trailed Mr Adegokes death after he lodged at Hilton Hotel and Resort in Ile-Ife, Osun State. He was in the ancient city to sit an examination at the OAU Distance Learning Centre, Moro campus, when he was declared missing on November 7, 2021. PREMIUM TIMES learnt that Mr Adegokes body was discovered after some suspects, including workers at the hotel, were arrested by the police for questioning. The police had stepped into the matter, and in January, charged the owner of the hotel, Rahmon Adedoyin, and six others over Mr Adegokes death. The family has repeatedly expressed concerns about the poor handling of the case by the police. Falana writes IGP Upon his acceptance of the familys request, Mr Falana wrote the the Inspector General of Police (IGP) on February 4, 2022, requesting that the suspect be charged in Osun State, where the incident happened. The letter stated that as all the aforesaid criminal offences were said to have been committed at Ile-Ife you will agree with us that the suspects ought to have been charged before a court of competent jurisdiction in Osun State. It added, Consequently, we are compelled to request you to use your good offices to ensure that the case file is handed over to the Attorney-General of Osun State to enable him to study same with a view to filing relevant charges against the suspects at the High Court of Osun State. Falanas role Asked by our reporter what his role in the case would be since the police have already charged suspects, Mr Falana noted on Monday that although the police had conducted a thorough and professional investigation, for now we want to ensure that the case is instituted in the proper venue. He added that being a murder case, the matter had to be well prosecuted. Once our request for a change in venue has been granted, we shall consult with the Attorney-General of Osun State with a view to ensuring that the matter is properly prosecuted, Mr Falana said. Controversy On December 14, 2021, The ICIR reported how the coroners inquest showed that Mr Adegoke died from severe bleeding due to traumatic injuries. On January 26, 2022, Premium Times reported that the Nigerian police had filed charges against Mr Adedoyin, and six others over the mysterious death of Mr Adegoke. Mr Adedoyins son (Raheem) who managed the hotel was reported to have supervised the dumping of Mr Adegokes corpse far from the hotel. Charged alongside with Mr Adedoyin in the case filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, are: Adedeji Adesola, 23; Magdalene Chiefuna, 24; Adeniyi Aderogba, 37; Oluwale Lawrence, 37; Oyetunde Kazeem, 38; Adebayo Kunle, 35; and others still at large. Mr Adedoyin faces a charge of attempted felony, conspiracy, unlawful interference with Adegokes corpse, and tampering with the hotels receipt and CCTV camera with the intent to destroy evidence that would prove that Mr Adegoke visited the hotel. As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to celebrate World Radio Day, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has urged relevant stakeholders to take advantage of it and address the learning crisis in the country. UNICEF communications and advocacy specialist in Nigeria, Dr Geoffrey Njoku said the continued relevance of radio in the digital age cannot be overemphasised. "The advent of COVID-19 pandemic and its attendant lockdowns, coupled with the possibility of digital connectivity for education, seem to have put radio on the back foot. "But radio reached more children with remote learning during the lockdown than did digital platforms. It reached far more children in deprived neighbourhoods and hard-to-reach communities. "UNICEF supported several state governments to pilot radio learning programmes for children during the lockdown. For example, working with the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in Borno State, more than 300,000 children received learning in four core subject areas including English and Mathematics. "In planning communication strategies and education interventions today, it is good to focus on the new technologies. "Our future, after all, is digital. But when we look to conquer the learning crisis that stares us in the face, with more than 13 million children not going to school in Nigeria; when we agonise over the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic on education and how to address them, let us not forget the importance of radio. "Any strategy that ignores millions of poor children in hard-to-reach communities who are digitally excluded will only succeed in achieving less than half of its objective. It needs the complementary role of radio, the sound alternative that allows us to reach all," he said. Njoku added, "That radio has everything to perform an educational role effectively, given that it has the warm intimacy and soothing voice of your favourite teacher. "Radio breaks down the barriers of distance and illiteracy, reaching far-flung, difficult to access communities in their own languages. It is cheap and mobile." Dowen College, Lagos, on Monday alleged before an Ikeja Coroners Court that it was ambushed by Sylvester Oromoni Snr, father of a late student of school, Sylvester Oromoni Jnr. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that counsel to Dowen College, Anthony Kpokpo, made the allegation at the start of the testimony of Oromoni Snr. after some documents, videos and audio recordings were tendered in evidence. Mr Kpokpo said that the documents, videos and audio were withheld from other parties in the suit all the while to create shock. The evidence include documents, photographs, audio recordings, videos and battered luggage of the deceased. They were tendered by counsel to the Oromoni family, Andrew Efole. Video and photo slideshows of late Mr Oromoni Jnr. was played at the inquest. One of the videos was Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) of November 23, 2021, which showed the late student arriving home from school. In the footage, he could not walk into his home from the vehicle that brought him. He had to be given a piggyback into his home. A voice speaking over the recording said: This is my brother when he was brought home from school. I had to call the security man to come and carry my brother. I do not know where Mr Adeyemi got his facts that he (Oromoni Jnr.) walked by himself. Another footage showed the late student crying in severe pain, being unable to walk and being aided by two female relatives. Other videos showed him in various states of pain and discomfort. There was an audio recording of Mr Oromoni Snr. enquiring from the late students classmate about what happened to his son. Following the playing of the footage and audio, Mr Kpokpo described tendering of the documents as an intent to ambush the other side. The content of this flash affirms our earlier assertion that it was deliberately kept away from us. The videos that we just watched and the managed audio we listened to had always been in the custody of the family of the deceased and were brought at this stage for shock value. In the circumstances of what we are seeing, we are constrained to go and view all the materials put before us. I pray that my learned friend is kind enough to extend the courtesy to us as we did to them so that we will be appropriately prepared to cross-examine the witness to move forward, he said. The counsel to Lagos State Government, Akin George, also described the development as ambush. It will not be out of place to say the counsel on the other side acted in the nature of ambush, he said. Godwin Omoaka (SAN), counsel to one of the accused Dowen College students, said that other parties to the proceedings were blindsided. My learned friend (Efole) ought to have made the documents available to us all this while. Advertisements It is only appropriate that we see those videos and watch them, else, it will impact on the issue of fair hearing to us, he said. The Coroner, Mikhail Kadiri, adjourned the evidence of Mr Oromoni Snr. until February 14. This is to enable parties to study the documents and videos, he said. Proceedings were, however, adjourned until February 8, for the testimony of a pathologist The 12-year-old Oromoni Jnr. allegedly died on November 30, 2021, from injuries sustained in an attack by five senior students of Dowen College for reportedly refusing to join a cult. It was also alleged that he was forced to drink an obnoxious substance by his attackers. An advice by Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions released on January 4, however, disputed the allegation, stating that two autopsies revealed the cause of the students death as acute bacterial pneumonia due to severe sepsis. (NAN) Social media is a very competitive tool. Millions of political aspirants will jostle for the attention of the same audience. This poses the challenge of creative online crowdsourcing and increases the power of social media influencers. To a considerable extent, the outcome of the 2023 elections may be influenced majorly by social media. Society is constantly evolving, and nothing stays the same for long. This constant change is a feature of human nature and endeavours. The old passes away, the new takes over, and the circle continues. For it is in this eternal change of scene that humanity lives forever. In all facets of our existence, humans progress or retrogress to allow for change. This process is catalysed by our dynamic environment, culture, and biology. Even in our most destructive stance, war, strategy, instrumentality, and conceptualisation constantly change to fit the times mood, technology, and science. Change, therefore, is inevitable. The world had a period of global peace until the interregnum of the early 1900s. Between 1914 and 1918, the world witnessed the First World War. It was fought from trenches, supported by artillery and machine guns. For the first time, aeroplanes and poisonous gas were instruments of war. Twenty years later, in 1939, following the rise of Adolf Hitler and German intransigence, the Second World War broke out, but the weapons of warfare changed to the extent that firearms that served in the First World War had become almost entirely irrelevant. Nations used nuclear power and missiles, submarines, and tanks heavily. The tools of war had changed. Like in wars, the weapons of political combat have changed drastically in recent times. The conventional media had always been the primary tool in politics and for generations it influenced and shaped public opinion and perception. Political discourse is transmitted through the media, especially, the television and radio, to millions who rely on these media for their political information. For decades, the newspaper was the voice and conscience of the elite and the primary source of political information for the literate in society. The role of media in politics and power struggle earned them the status of the fourth estate of the realm. It is almost as if there is no politics without the media. The media disseminate political information, frame messages, and interpret political events for their audience. However, the media does not tell people what to think but what to think about. The traditional media mediates and gatekeeps information to the audience. This gatekeeping function makes the media so powerful that they set agenda for society. Change has come. Social media is the new kid on the block, and it has radically democratised the public sphere. With one hundred naira data on your smartphone, you can start a political storm that will have a volcanic impact. Social media is so powerful that any political actor discountenancing them does that at his or her own peril. Although it has not entirely replaced the traditional media as the fulcrum of political activism, it is the melting pot of political debates and the crucibles of political wrestling in recent times. In Nigeria, social media has become very potent as weapons of politics. Statistically, there were 33 million social media users in Nigeria in January 2021. With a cell phone access figure of over 48 per cent and internet access of 36 per cent, Nigerias social media concentration is about 40 per cent of the population, amounting to almost 90 million people. The total registered voter population in the country was 89 million as of 2021. Therefore, it is safe to assume that most voters have access to social media, meaning that social and online media have almost replaced the combined mix of other media as critical avenues of communication in social and political matters. Social media can be a force for democratic good and a bulwark against autocracy. It provides political actors with platforms for routine political communication between elections to offer unmediated and direct contact to connect leaders and citizenry, and re-energise the political landscape. In line with the global trend, Nigerian politicians have increasingly used social media for routine political communication to link with their supporters directly. Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, under the supervision of Labaran Maku, then minister of information, allegedly set up the 40-labtop crew to influence voters choices through the instrumentality of social media. President Buhari had the Buhari Media Centre, once described by Farooq Kperogi as a Mind Management Centre and interactive platform set up to project the Buhari personae, as well as counter the vitriolic attacks of critics of the government he leads. Social media has emerged as a pivotal battleground to mould public opinion and set an agenda. The jury is out on the role of social media in influencing political outcomes; however, the potency of social media to affect and determine voting behaviour may be limited but significant. The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 presidential election used social media a great deal to de-market the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). As we approach 2023, political actors and political parties are jumping on the social media bandwagon, and the landscape of political communication in Nigeria has never been so heterogeneous, fragmented, energetic, chaotic, creative, and equally polarising at the same time. Through regular, humorous, and strategic engagement with audiences on social media, political actors are (re)branding themselves as serious political contenders at both the state and national levels. Some of their audiences are savvy and can distinguish between political razmataz and genuine political engagement and enlightenment. Social media has emerged as a pivotal battleground to mould public opinion and set an agenda. The jury is out on the role of social media in influencing political outcomes; however, the potency of social media to affect and determine voting behaviour may be limited but significant. The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 presidential election used social media a great deal to de-market the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Exploratory studies done in Nigeria during the 2015 elections indicate that social media played a significant role in turning popular support amongst young voters against the then incumbent Federal Government. By the 2019 presidential election, social media had come of age, and instead of the dominance of that space by young millennials and young adults, we observed that even older people were relying on them for political information and debates. News and messages quickly go viral through the platforms, with significant consequences. The government hardly controls the social media, and the open space that results is a marketplace of ideas and opinions. Advocates for or against a political actor, party, and politicians, easily contend to win over people to their side via social media. Social media has afforded activists, whistle-blowers and opposition politicians, whose voices were stifled by the government in power the opportunity to engage with the people. It became challenging to conceal potential harmful information. As discussed widely, the APCs massive victory in these past elections, in part, lay in the complementarity of its online and offline campaign strategies and its robust grassroots support base and organisational structure. The ethical implications of using social media in politics are clear. They stand out for new lows in public and political discourse the pervasiveness of fake news, misinformation and routine flouting of ethical norms relating to political communication. Social media has tended to get filled with fake news, half-truths, and malicious lies from all sides. Sometimes in past elections it was difficult to distinguish between fake news and accurate news. Character assassination and dirty language were rife. For example, one of the most prominent fake news in the 2019 election campaigns was that a certain Jibril, a Sudanese impostor, was standing in for President Buhari at public events, which he repeatedly and firmly denied. Besides, the rise of polarising and divisive content was a defining characteristic in the run-up to the 2019 general elections, with both the APC and the PDP highlighting communal elements in their campaigning, sometimes bordering on hate speech. Social media enabled a style of populist politics that is combative and personal, allowing hate speech to thrive in unregulated online spaces, particularly in regional languages and within private WhatsApp and Facebook group chats. While name-calling, fake news, and other types of low-level discourse and unethical political communication have always existed, social media have undoubtedly exacerbated these problems to another level. Observers have lamented how political discourse in the country has plummeted to new lows, with misinformation, insults, and mudslinging becoming common, even among seasoned and top political leaders. The routinisation of such political discourse in a social media age, where such messages are manufactured, shared, and replicated among populations with low-to-no levels of critical digital literacy, is undoubtedly problematic. The implication is that the basis for individual judgment, opinions, perceptions, attitudes, and behaviours are getting influenced by non-human autonomous systems and can be subject to machine manipulation. With inadequate regulatory systems, social media and content curating companies have unlimited capabilities to control what Nigerian youths watch, read, know about, and consider essential. Apart from ethical dilemmas, social media posts also lend themselves to the tyranny of Artificial Intelligence. Machine learning and extensive data collection have created new opportunities for governments and private companies to mount algorithmic influence operations across states and issues. Such influence activities are increasingly subtle and powerful. The implication is that the basis for individual judgment, opinions, perceptions, attitudes, and behaviours are getting influenced by non-human autonomous systems and can be subject to machine manipulation. With inadequate regulatory systems, social media and content curating companies have unlimited capabilities to control what Nigerian youths watch, read, know about, and consider essential. The consequence is that an unmonitored and unaccountable information-opinion ecosystem would form around the most contentious or hot-button political and social issues. An ecosystem of rumours and untrustworthy information diminishes trust in factual media. When trust in objective media or democratic institutions is reduced, people become more vulnerable to manipulation from maligning actors. The opportunity for consensus becomes narrower as the basis for agreement informed, accurate, and trusted information diminishes. The EndSARS riot resulted from the tyranny of the social media. As we tweet, like, upvote, downvote, retweet, and post our way through our interconnected socially and technologically intertwined operating systems, we contribute to a mass trove of data on what we think, when and how we respond to ideas and arguments. Our collective social selves and digitised convictions and sentiments are collected per second, stored, analysed by commercially minded organisations, and made commercially available to anyone who wants them. This may be dangerous in the long run. This phenomenon is forcing the government to consider regulating social media, and the Twitter ban of the Nigerian government is a testament to the governments appetite to exercise control over big social media platforms. The advent of social media has changed how politics is being organised and conducted and the nature of political communication in Nigeria. And the platforms have allowed for a diversity of viewpoints and public engagement in a social-public sphere on an unprecedented scale. On the one hand, they have permitted democratising politics and re-energised the political landscape. Conversely, several ethical dilemmas arise with the involvement of political actors in the non-ethical uses of social media, compounded by the proliferation of social media among an essentially digitally illiterate population. Given the severe implications of unethical political communication in this 2023 election period, political actors need to introspect further and focus on bringing back ethics to the table. As routinised dishonest political communication has grave implications for politics, social cohesion, and national security, we must tackle the issue through a multi-stakeholder approach. Political parties have a crucial role of reining in their proxies and supporters and working with fact-checkers and civil society organisations to put ethical communication principles into practice in a social-media age. Social media is a very competitive tool. Millions of political aspirants will jostle for the attention of the same audience. This poses the challenge of creative online crowdsourcing and increases the power of social media influencers. To a considerable extent, the outcome of the 2023 elections may be influenced majorly by social media. Advertisements Dakuku Peterside is a policy and leadership expert. It was a landmark event in Lagos, Nigeria on January 31, 2022, when Arla Foods, makers of Dano Milk, signed an agreement with its joint-venture partner, Tolaram Group, to build a Danish-designed state-of-the-art commercial dairy farm in Kaduna State, as part of efforts aimed at boosting local milk production. Construction of the dairy farm, which has since started, is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Located in Kaduna State, the 200-hectare farm will house 400 im-ported dairy cows, modern milking parlor, advanced animal cooling technology and all other modern technology used in dairy farms today. Furthermore, the farm will produce all roughage for feeding and would have housing facilities for its employees. The milk will be processed by Arlas dairy plant in Kaduna to supply locally produced dairy prod-ucts to Nigerian consumers. Arla Foods farm management expert, Snorri Sigurdsson, says, We are highly delighted by the signing of the construction agreement with our joint-venture partners, Tolaram Group. This signals the beginning of greater things to come in the dairy sector in Nige-ria and we are truly happy to construct the farm in Kaduna, the Dairy State of Nigeria! Without a doubt, this collaboration will help a great deal to boost local milk production in Nigeria. The farm will be located on the Damau Household Milk Farm project land, where Arla has entered into a public-private partnership with the Kaduna State government to support about 1,000 local dairy farmers and 3,000 imported cows with investment in milk collection and processing, and with training to improve milk production, animal husbandry techniques, and farm profitability, thereby enhancing the dairy sector in Ni-geria. You can read more about Arlas commitment to Nigeria HERE. The Speaker of the Ebonyi House of Assembly, Francis Nwifuru and 16 other lawmakers have challenged the hearing of their defection suit before the Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Justice Inyang Ekwo had fixed March 8 for judgment in a suit, praying the court to sack Governor David Umahi and lawmakers who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. Mr Nwifuru and his colleagues, in November 2020, defected from the PDP, alongside the governor, for the APC. The PDP had filed a suit before Justice Ekwo, urging the court to declare the lawmakers seats vacant on account of an alleged violation of Nigerias constitutional provision that forbids defection without justifiable reasons. The party also filed a separate suit to challenge Mr Umahis defection. Governor Umahi had attributed his defection to the injustice done by the PDP to the South-east region of the country. NAN reported that the PDP is praying the court to make a declaration that by defecting from the party on which the speaker and his colleagues were sponsored and elected as members of the Ebonyi House of Assembly, they have resigned or deemed to have resigned from office. But, in their preliminary objection, the lawmakers, through their lawyer, Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume, SAN, contested the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter. Mr Ume argued that the defendants, comprising the lawmakers and the APC, as well as the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) are desirous of this suit being transferred to the Federal High Court in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, on the ground that all the parties either work or reside in the state. He said the hearing of the suit in Abuja would cause great inconvenience as well as occasion great financial loss to the defendants. Citing civil procedure rules in the application filed on January 26, the lawyer said, By virtue of Section 22(1) of the Federal High Court Act, this court has the power to transfer a suit to any other judge of the court. He further contended that, By virtue of Order 2 Rule 1(3) of the Federal High Court (civil procedure) Rules 2019, a suit should be commenced and determined in the judicial division in which the defendant resides or carries on substantial part of his business or in which the cause of action arose. A commissioner in Ebonyi, Joseph Ekumankama, in an affidavit in support of a motion on notice, questioning the courts jurisdiction in Abuja to hear and determine the suit, said the defendants had filed several requests, seeking the transfer of the suit to the Federal High Court, Abakaliki. Mr Ekumankama referred to the January 19 proceedings of the court, where Justice Ekwo lumped the hearing and determination of the applicants motion on notice and all their other applications questioning the various aspects of the jurisdiction of the court. He argued further that the defendants applications touched on both the territorial, cause of action and constitutional jurisdiction of the court. The deponent recalled the filing of a similar suit by the PDP and Fred Udeogu on July 26, 2021, in which they challenged the defendants defection to the APC. Mr Ekumankama said the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, John Tsoho, in September 2021, transferred the said suit to the Abakaliki division of the court. According to him, the cumulative effect of the refusal and failure to have transferred this suit as was done in the plaintiffs earlier suit no: FHC/ABJ/CS/729/2021, is an act of discrimination. In the affidavit dated January 25, the Ebonyi commissioner said, These founded lack of confidence by the defendants in this proceeding is certainly vitiating this Hon Court of its inherent and absolute authority jurisdiction over the 2nd to 20th defendants/applicants. He pointed out that it would occasion a miscarriage of justice for the court to determine the issue of transfer of this suit as well as the judgment on the merit or otherwise of the suit simultaneously, instead, the ruling should be on a different day, well separated from the day for hearing in the main suit. Similarly, the defendants lead counsel argued that Mr Umahi was sworn-in by the Ebonyi chief judge and not by the chief judge of the Federal High Court. Therefore, his removal from office could only be pursued through the state House of Assembly and High Court. NAN reported that the governor and his deputy had approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja, seeking interpretation of some constitutional issues arising from the suit filed by the PDP. The applicants, in their motion urged the appellate court to restore the powers of the state high courts. Advertisements They argued that only courts clothed with the exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine the question as to whether the term of office of a member of the house of assembly of a state, a governor or deputy governor has ceased or become vacant. (NAN) The Catholic Diocese of Enugu said it is still evaluating the allegations made by Fr. Ejike Mbaka, a Catholic priest and the spiritual director of the Adoration Ministry, Enugu, after more than one month. PREMIUM TIMES reported how Mr Mbaka in his New Year message alleged that there was a plot to kill him after his row with the diocese last year. Mr Mbaka said the leadership of the diocese had planned to drag him to brothels before killing him. The outspoken Catholic priest subtly accused the Catholic Bishop of the Diocese, Callistus Onaga, of having a hand in the plot, although he did not mention the bishop by name. The Director of Communication in the diocese, Ben Achi, told PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday that the church was yet to take a decision on Mr Mbakas allegations. The Diocese hasnt made her decision yet (on the allegations). We are still looking at the situation. Nothing on that yet, said Mr Achi, who is also a Catholic priest. Mbakas row with the diocese Mr Mbaka had, in April, called for the presidents impeachment over the rising insecurity in the country. The presidency fired back at Mr Mbaka, saying the priest was angry because Mr Buhari ignored his request for contracts. Mr Onaga, the diocesan bishop, said to be displeased with the priests exchange of words with the presidency, consequently, asked Mr Mbaka to shut down his Adoration ministry for one-month and embark on a retreat. When Mr Mbakas followers did not see him for about 24 hours, they embarked on a protest to the bishops residence, on the suspicion that Mr Onaga, who had summoned the fiery priest, might have handed him over to security agencies. The protesters destroyed properties within the bishops residence and the Holy Ghost Cathedral before Mr Mbaka emerged and took them away to a location where he addressed them. The priest told the protesters he was denied access to his phone and ordered to proceed on one-month suspension. The bishop later declared one-week prayer in reparation and atonement for this heinous act against our ancestral place of worship and sanctity of the church. Although Mr Mbaka later apologised to the bishop and the Catholic Church, his New Year allegations against the diocesan leadership appear to have signaled a resumption of hostilities with the church. After partnering with Zero Hash, Checkout.com, Visa and Sutton Bank, distribution has begun on its hugely popular debit card across America. Wirex already provides cutting-edge services to over 4.5 million users across the EEA and APAC regions, earning itself a reputation for its commitment to innovation and security, and a US launch is the next step for the London-based company in introducing this financial alternative to a mainstream audience. Wirex seeks to revolutionize payments in the US, offering the ability to buy, hold, exchange and sell US dollars as well as 37 different cryptocurrencies from a single intuitive app, as well as seamlessly send and receive crypto from external wallets. State-of-the-art technology links the app to a contactless Visa debit card, allowing customers to spend their cryptocurrency* online and in-store at over 61 million locations globally. Additional features include free domestic and international ATM withdrawals**, no annual fee, zero exchange fees, near instant crypto transactions, and live transaction notifications. Following an impressive collaboration with Checkout.com, customers can also instantly top up with zero fees by linking their debit cards. Since launching in 2014, Wirex has become famous within the fintech community for developing the first crypto-enabled debit card, as well as the world's first crypto rewards scheme, Cryptoback. The program rewards users with up to 8% in X-points for every purchase which can be exchanged for any other crypto in-app. Continuing its quest for the mass adoption of the digital economy, they released an upgraded rewards scheme, X-tras, as well as a DeFi-powered interest-earning product, as X-Accounts, which will both be available in the US shortly. "We're excited to be able to empower American consumers, whether a hardcore crypto-enthusiast or a novice fintech fan, to experience the benefits of a digital economy," commented Harold Montgomery, Managing Director of Wirex USA. "US users have been demanding an alternative to traditional forms of payments that are antiquated, slow and non-transparent, and that's where Wirex steps in. We're known for upholding regulatory and licensing standards where required, and applying industry-best practices where regulations don't yet exist. American customers can expect the same level of compliance." Edward Woodford, the CEO of Zero Hash and the crypto trading infrastructure platform powering the Wirex's crypto launch, commented that, "This is an excellent time to enter the US market and Wirex is primed for success as cryptocurrencies gain momentum as a payment option. Recent studies confirm this with nearly 60 percent of US consumers wanting to pay with crypto to make everyday purchases.1Our deep expertise in US regulations and our API-first approach makes us consistently the chosen partner for fintechs such as Wirex to expand to the US." The company continues to create an enhanced digital ecosystem with the recent release of the Wirex non-custodial wallet and an investment in DeFi protocol, Nereus, positioning Wirex for exponential growth. The US launch will play a pivotal role in this, and in the coming months, the company plans to roll out more valuable features and services that have proved hugely successful in other regions, bringing the benefits of crypto and DeFi to over 300 million Americans. Key Points: Mobile app allowing customers to easily and safely buy, store, exchange and sell traditional and digital currencies anytime, anywhere On-chain transactions enable crypto to be sent and received from external wallets Next-generation technology links the Wirex app to a contactless Visa debit card, allowing these funds to be spent at over 61 million locations globally Prepaid Card Funds are held in an FDIC-insured federally chartered bank, insured up to $250,000 per person Commission-free trading and zero ATM fees** Instant top-ups by linking your debit/credit card Ability to earn up to 8% X-Points rewards back for any in-store and online purchases made, with Cryptoback rewards scheme and X-tras program Over 4.5 million customers globally, with huge success in EEA and APAC already Currently available to all US states (except New York & Hawaii , coming later this year) Further plans to launch additional features and products to US customers * Cryptocurrencies are automatically converted to USD at point of sale or ATM withdrawals ** Zero ATM fees on withdrawals up to $250 per month, 2% thereafter Your Wirex Visa Prepaid Card (the "Wirex Card") will be issued by Sutton Bank, an Ohio chartered bank corporation whose main address is at 1 South Main Street, Attica, Ohio and who is a member of Visa. About Wirex Wirex is a worldwide digital payment platform and regulated institution that has forged new rules in the digital payments space. In 2015, the firm developed the world's first crypto-enabled payment card that gives users the ability to seamlessly spend crypto and traditional currencies in real life. Wirex was created in 2014 by CEOs and co-founders Pavel Matveev and Dmitry Lazarichev, who identified the need to open up the esoteric world of cryptocurrencies and make digital money accessible for everyone. With the core aim of making it as easy as possible to use digital assets in everyday life, Wirex provides a trusted and cost-effective service for crypto and traditional currency transactions by incorporating the next generation of payments infrastructure integrated with cryptocurrency blockchains With over 4.5 million customers across 130 countries, the company offers secure accounts that allow customers to easily store, buy and exchange multiple currencies instantly at the best live rates on one centralised mobile app. Quick and simple crypto transfer options are available, as well as the freedom to spend 150+ traditional and cryptocurrencies in more than 80 million locations around the world using the Wirex card. Wirex continues to develop the product in line with market developments, whilst adhering to regional regulations and securing appropriate licensing where it exists. A proven industry pioneer, Wirex launched their own native utility token, WXT, and introduced the world's first crypto reward programme, Cryptoback, which earns cardholders up to 2% back in WXT for every transaction they make. To reflect the growth of the metaverse, throughout 2021, the company has expanded their product to enable mainstream access to DeFi. Starting with the launch of their popular X-Accounts feature, offering unprecedented levels of interest, Wirex has continued to add to their DeFi arsenal with the release of the non-custodial Wirex Wallet and a partnership with Nereus, a decentralised liquidity market. Wirex is based in London, with offices in Singapore, Kyiv, Dallas, Dublin and Atlanta. With over $5bn worth of transactions processed already and rapid expansion into new territories, including the US, Wirex is uniquely placed to support and promote the mass adoption of a cashless society through creative solutions. | wirexapp.com | App store | Google Play Store | About Zero Hash Zero Hash is a B2B embedded infrastructure platform that allows any platform to integrate digital assets natively into their own customer experience quickly and easily (a matter of API endpoints). Zero Hash's turnkey solution handles the entire back-end complexity and regulatory licensing required to offer digital asset products. Zero Hash powers neo-banks, broker-dealers, and payment groups to offer digital asset trading and custody, crypto-backed rewards, and round-ups programs, as well as the ability to earn crypto through staking and DeFi. Clients include MoneyLion, Transak, Deserve, Wirex, MoonPay, tastyworks. Zero Hash is backed by investors, including Point72 Ventures, Bain Capital Ventures, and NYCA. Zero Hash Holdings Ltd. is a Delaware C-Corp that wholly owns Zero Hash LLC and Zero Hash Liquidity Services LLC. Zero Hash LLC is a FinCen-registered Money Service Business and a regulated Money Transmitter that can operate in 51 US jurisdictions. Zero Hash also holds a virtual currency license from NYDFS. In Canada, Zero Hash LLC is registered as a Money Service Business with FINTRAC. 1 Report: Nearly 60 Percent of Consumers Want To Buy Stuff With Crypto, PYMNTS, August 2, 2021, https://www.pymnts.com/cryptocurrency/2021/report-nearly-60-percent-of-consumers-want-to-buy-stuff-with-crypto/ Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1740575/Wirex_US.jpg SOURCE Wirex SEATTLE, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Coherent Market Insights, Global Smart Cities Market was valued at US$ 334.2 Bn in 2018 and is forecasted to reach a value of US$ 1,359.8 Bn by 2027 at a CAGR of 16.3% between 2017 and 2027. In recent years, the focus has been on creating smarter cities through the deployment of sensors and information analytics in order to provide citizens with enhanced functionality. Smart cities are becoming more popular across the world and are beginning to replace large, costly metropolitan planning projects such as smart cities initiatives in major cities around the world. A smart city is an electronically organized urban region which deploys a range of sensors, voice activation systems and other types of information-gathering devices to collect and deliver specific information to citizens in a user-friendly manner. The most famous of these is the Smart City initiative in Tokyo, which has set the benchmark for other cities around the world to follow. Smart Cities aim at organizing and managing the economic, social and technical resources of an integrated metropolitan area by collecting and disseminating real-time information within a few seconds. Request for Sample Copy @ https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/3457 Market Drivers: Increasing launch of smart city solutions is expected to propel growth of the global smart cities market over the forecast period. For instance, in October 2021, Vodafone Idea partnered with Larsen and Toubro (L&T), an engineering and Construction Company, for a pilot project to test 5G-based smart city solutions. Moreover, R&D of new products is also expected to aid in growth of the global smart cities market. For instance, in October 2021, Zyter, IoT product provider, partnered with Juganu, a technology company providing solutions for the professional lighting market, for development of advanced lighting for smart cities. Market Opportunities Government initiatives to promote smart city development is expected to offer lucrative growth opportunities for players in the global smart cities market. For instance, in October 2021, The Department of Municipalities and Transport United Arab Emirates partnered with Microsoft to drive SMART City initiatives across Abu Dhabi. Strategic marketing is also expected to offer lucrative growth opportunities for players in the global smart cities market. For instance, in October 2021, AVEVA, an industrial software company, with its strategic partner, Schneider Electric, presented its AVEVA Unified Operations Center for Smart Cities, at the GITEX Technology Week 2021. Market Trends Major players operating in the global smart cities market are focused on adopting partnership strategies to enhance their market share. For instance, in October 2020, Bentley Systems, a provider of infrastructure & engineering software & solutions, and Microsoft Corp. announced an expansion of a strategic alliance focused on advancing infrastructure for smart city urban planning and smart construction. Major players operating in the global smart cities market are also focused on launching new projects to enhance their market share. For instance, in October 2021, Makedonski Telekom announced the final phase of the Skopje Smart City project. Africa is expected to witness significant growth in the global smart cities market, owing to increasing funding for smart city projects. For instance, in October 2021, The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, South Africa, approved US$ 3.45 million in grant funding towards an estimated US$ 103 million smart city in Limpopo. Similarly, in October 2021, Hilshaw Group, a Dubai-based group, which primarily invests in low supply and finite real estate opportunities, announced to launch nine projects worth more than US$ 40 billion in smart city developments in the Middle East, Africa, and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Request for Customization @ https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/3457 Competitive Landscape: Major players operating in the global smart cities market include, AT&T, Inc., Cisco Systems, Inc., Ericsson, General Electric, IBM, Hitachi Data Systems Corporation, Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., Microsoft Corporation, Oracle Corporation, Panasonic Corporation, Philips Lighting, SAP SE, Toshiba Corporation. Major players operating in the global smart cities market are focused on launching new projects to enhance their market share. For instance, in October 2021, Intracom Telecom, a telecommunication systems and solutions vendor, announced a Smart City project in Belgrade, Serbia. Market Segmentation: By Component Hardware Software Services By Application Smart Security Smart Building Smart Transportation Smart Governance Smart Energy Smart Healthcare Smart Water Network System Smart Education By Region: North America By Country: U.S. Canada Europe By Country: U.K. Germany Italy France Spain Russia Rest of Europe Asia Pacific By Country: China India Japan ASEAN Australia South Korea Rest of Asia Pacific Latin America By Country: Brazil Mexico Argentina Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa By Country: GCC Countries Israel South Africa Rest of Middle East & Africa Buy this Complete Report Now @ https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/buy-now/3457 About Us: Coherent Market Insights is a global market intelligence and consulting organization focused on assisting our plethora of clients achieve transformational growth by helping them make critical business decisions. We are headquartered in India, having sales office at global financial capital in the U.S. and sales consultants in United Kingdom and Japan. Our client base includes players from across various business verticals in over 57 countries worldwide. We create value for clients through our highly reliable and accurate reports. We are also committed in playing a leading role in offering insights in various sectors post-COVID-19 and continue to deliver measurable, sustainable results for our clients. Contact Us: Mr. Shah Senior Client Partner Business Development Coherent Market Insights Phone: US: +1-206-701-6702 UK: +44-020-8133-4027 Japan: +81-050-5539-1737 India: +91-848-285-0837 Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Website: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/902389/Coherent_Market_Insights_Logo.jpg SOURCE Coherent Market Insights Increase in incidences of cancer worldwide and favorable reimbursement policies provided by manufacturers & insurance providers drive the growth of the global idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis market. PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Market by Drug Type (Nintedanib, and Pirfenidone) and Distribution Channel (Hospital Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies, and Online Providers): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030." According to the report, the global idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis industry generated $3.12 billion in 2020, and is expected to reach $6.16 billion by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 7.0% from 2021 to 2030. For Right Perspective and Competitive Insights, Get Sample Report at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/4407 Drivers, restraints, and opportunities Increase in incidences of cancer worldwide, favorable reimbursement policies provided by manufacturers & insurance providers, and rise in cigarette smoking drive the growth of the global idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis market. However, the unavailability of the proper treatment options restrains the market growth. On the other hand, rise in number of pipeline drugs and untapped potential in developing countries present new opportunities in the coming years. Covid-19 Scenario There has been decline in the number of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patient visits in hospitals & clinics for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis therapy (IPF) to avoid cross-contamination. Moreover, there has been postponement of elective surgeries to take care of Covid-infected patients. The idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis market was impacted negatively by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The demand for drugs reduced from retail pharmacies and online providers due to reduced therapy sessions and treatments. The pirfenidone segment to continue its leadership status during the forecast period Based on drug type, the pirfenidone segment accounted for the highest share in 2020, holding around three-fourths of the global idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis market, and is expected to continue its leadership status during the forecast period. Moreover, this segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 7.2% from 2021 to 2030. This is due to rise in adoption of pirfenidone drugs such as Esbriet and Pirespa across the world. The research also analyzes the nintedanib segment. Do You Have Any Query Or Specific Requirement? Ask to Our Industry Expert: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/4407 The retail pharmacies segment to continue its lead position during the forecast period Based on distribution channel, the retail pharmacies segment accounted for the highest share in 2020, contributing to nearly half of the global idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis market, and is estimated to continue its lead position during the forecast period. This is attributed to rapid increase in rate of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis among the geriatric population, technological advancements, and lifestyle changes worldwide. However, the online providers segment is expected to portray the largest CAGR of 8.5% from 2021 to 2030. This is due to offers and discounts offered by providers and the availability of different types of drugs under a single platform. North America to continue its lead in terms of revenue by 2030 Based on region, North America contributed to the highest market share in 2020, holding more than two-fifths of the global idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis market, and is projected to continue its lead in terms of revenue by 2030. This is attributed to high expenditure on R&D activities, presence of major players & their product availability, and well-established healthcare infrastructure in the region. However, Asia-Pacific is expected to manifest the fastest CAGR of 8.9% during the forecast period, owing to improvement in R&D facilities and rapidly developing economic conditions. Leading Market Players AstraZeneca Plc Biogen Inc. Boehringer Ingelheim F. Hoffmann-La Roche FibroGen, Inc. Mission Therapeutics GNI Group Ltd. Galapagos NV Biogen Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Shiongi Co. Ltd. Avenue Basic Plan | Library Access | 1 Year Subscription | Sign up for Avenue subscription to access more than 12,000+ company profiles and 2,000+ niche industry market research reports at $699 per month, per seat. For a year, the client needs to purchase minimum 2 seat plan. Request for 14 days free trial: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/avenue/trial/starter "We have also published few syndicated market studies in the similar area that might be of your interest. Below are the report title for your reference, considering Impact of Covid-19 Over This Market which will help you to assess aftereffects of pandemic on short-term and long-term growth trends of this market." Trending Reports in Healthcare Industry (Book Now with 10% Discount): VR In Healthcare Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20202030 Hydrocephalus Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2030 Optical Imaging Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2030 Plant tissue culture market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20202030 Surgical Robotics Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20202030 Nephrology Drugs Market - Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20202030 Telemedicine Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20202030 Pharmaceutical Suppositories Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20202030 Enteric Softgel Capsules Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20202030 Over The Counter Test Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20202030 About Us Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. Pawan Kumar, the CEO of Allied Market Research, is leading the organization toward providing high-quality data and insights. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States USA/Canada (Toll Free): +1-800-792-5285, +1-503-894-6022 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1(855)550-5975 help@alliedmarketresearch.com Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/reports-store/life-sciences Follow Us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/life-sciences-industry-research/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE Allied Market Research - Increase in drilling & production activities, advent of technologically advanced pipes, exploration of resources, and the growing global offshore rig count drive the growth of the global oil country tubular goods market. PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Oil Country Tubular Goods Market by Manufacturing Process (Electric Resistance Welded and Seamless), Product (Well Casing, Production Tubing, Drill Pipe, and Others), Application (Onshore and Offshore), and Grade (API Grade and Premium Grade): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030." According to the report, the global oil country tubular goods industry was estimated at $20.9 billion in 2020, and is anticipated to hit $37.5 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 6.5% from 2021 to 2030. Drivers, restraints, and opportunities- Increase in drilling &production activities, advent of technologically advanced pipes, exploration of resources, and the growing global offshore rig count drive the growth of the global oil country tubular goods market. On the other hand, rise in import duty on oil country tubular goods and uncertainties in the international crude oil prices restrain the growth to some extent. Moreover, extensive expansion of oil and gas resources is expected to create lucrative opportunities in the industry. Download Sample PDF (303 Pages PDF with Insights): https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/9393 COVID-19 scenario- The partial or complete shutdown in production facilities of non-essential goods due to imposed lockdown in the initial days of the pandemic has impacted the oil country tubular goods market. The disturbed import and export services due to the transportation ban have negatively affected the oil and gas industry. The electric resistance welded segment to dominate by 2030- Based on manufacturing process, the electric resistance welded segment contributed to nearly three-fifths of the global oil country tubular goods market share in 2020, and is anticipated to rule the market by 2030. This is due to increase in oil and natural gas transportation from source to consumer and increase in construction activities across the developing nations. The seamless segment, on the other hand, would register the fastest CAGR of 6.8% throughout the forecast period. Get detailed COVID-19 impact analysis on the Oil Country Tubular Goods Market: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/9393?reqfor=covid The well casing segment to retain the lion's share- By product, the well casing segment held the major share in 2020, more than one-third of the global oil country tubular goods market, and is projected to maintain the lion's share, as it provides aid in the drilling process. The production tubing segment, on the other hand, is projected to cite the fastest CAGR of 6.8% throughout the forecast period. North America garnered the major share in 2020- Based on region, North America garnered the major share in 2020, holding nearly two-fifths of the global oil country tubular goods market, and is expected to continue its dominance by 2030. This is attributed to increase investment in the upstream sector which leads to increase in number of rig charter activities and wells drilled. However, the market across Europe would cite the fastest CAGR of 6.9% from 2021 to 2030. The research also includes Asia-Pacific, North America, and LAMEA regions. Schedule a FREE Consultation Call with Our Analysts/Industry Experts to Find Solution for Your Business @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/connect-to-analyst/9393 Leading market players Sumitomo Corporation Oil Country Tubular Limited (OCTL) NOV Inc. JFE Steel Corporation TMK INC. Tenaris ILJIN Steel Corporation U.S. Steel Corporation ArcelorMittal S.A. Evraz North America PLC Interested in Procure Data? Visit Here: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/oil-country-tubular-goods-octg-market/purchase-options Access AVENUE- A Subscription-Based Library (Premium on-demand, subscription-based pricing model) at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/library-access Avenue is a user-based library of global market report database, provides comprehensive reports pertaining to the world's largest emerging markets. It further offers e-access to all the available industry reports just in a jiffy. By offering core business insights on the varied industries, economies, and end users worldwide, Avenue ensures that the registered members get an easy as well as single gateway to their all-inclusive requirements. Avenue Library Subscription | Request for 14 days free trial of before buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/avenueTrial Similar Reports We Have: Refinery Vacuum Distillation Units Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030 Oil Storage Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2017-2023 Oil Shale Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2018 2025 Pump Jack Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030 Artificial Lift System Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2014 2022 Coiled Tubing Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030 Pipeline Transportation Market Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030 Digital Oilfield Market Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030 Geotechnical Services Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030 Oil Refining Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030 Pre-Book Now with 10% Discount: Well Stimulation Material Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20192026 Smart Oilfield Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2030 Pyrolysis Gasoline Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2030 Well Completion Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast 2020-2030 Crude Oil Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2030 Crude Oil Desalter Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2030 Well Intervention Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030 Drilling and Completion Fluids Market: Global Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20202030 About us: Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact us: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States Toll Free: 1-800-792-5285 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1-855-550-5975 help@alliedmarketresearch.com Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com Follow us on: LinkedIn Twitter Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE Allied Market Research Federal Government of Nigeria has issued an advisory to all Nigerians resident in Ukraine following a looming war with the threat of a Russian invasion of the country amid counter moves by Western powers led by the United States (US) to forestall alleged Russian intentions. In a statement issued yesterday by Mr Gabriel Odu of the media, public relations and protocol unit of the Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Nigerian citizens living in Ukraine were urged to remain calm and be security conscious following recent happenings and tensions generated between Ukraine and Russia. In the statement, the chairman/CEO NIDCOM, Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, gave assurances that the Nigerian Embassy in Kiev, Ukraine is doing all it can for the safety and Security of all Diaspora Nigerians in that country. The NIDCOM Boss also urged Nigerian Citizens in the country to visit the Embassy website and follow the Registration Process. Meanwhile, a press release from the Nigerian Embassy in Kiev, said that "in view of the current developments in Ukraine, all Nigerians resident in Ukraine and Environs, including students and their relations in Nigeria are hereby advised to contact the Embassy of Nigeria in Kiev for matters pertaining to enquiries, consular, welfare and emergencies on nigeriaconsul@gmail.com, nigeriakiev@yahoo.com "Nigerians are further advised to take their individual and collective safety and security very seriously: avoid unnecessary travel within the country, especially to identified hotspots in Eastern Ukraine and ensure that they carry requisite identification at all times." Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Governance By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. The lingering face-off was triggered when Russia started massing troops around the border with Ukraine, which the US and other countries in Europe have denounced as an attempt to invade Ukraine even as they vowed to truncate the intentions of Russia. Russia has denied intentions to invade Ukraine. On Friday, the US sent thousands of troops to Germany for onward movement to Eastern Europe to stop Russia, a development Russia has condemned as an attempt by the US and its allies to stoke the crisis in the region. Yesterday, a source from the US said Russia had established 70 percent of the military buildup it needs to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to American officials cited anonymously in US media. During six hours of closed meetings last week, officials were warned by senior members of the administration of President Joe Biden that among the most aggressive of possibilities is a quick capture of the capital Kiev, according to the Washington Post and New York Times. After seven eventful days across six continents and 24 time zones, a remarkable edition of the world's Biggest Culinary Battle came to a close. Connecting over 50 countries of the world through state-of-the-art technology and infrastructure, YCO22, was one of the biggest in size and scale with 176 cameras catching all the action of 40 participants, 200 judges, 150 hospitality stalwarts. The Closing Ceremony, on the online platform, was as grand and exciting as the offline event. IIHM Global Campus in Kolkata had turned into YCO Global Studio, that was the nerve centre of all the action that was happening over the seven days of this mega culinary event. The winners, connected over video conferencing at different ends of the world and sitting in different time zones, rejoiced and celebrated their win on video, as their names were announced by Prof David Foskett, Chairman of the Jury, YCO and Padma Shri Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, the Principal Judge of YCO. Besides the top three, YCO 2022 had a long list of special category winners. The Plate Trophy round held with the next best ranked between 11 to 20 in the competition, went to Gayane Simonyan of Armenia. The Kitchen Cut Management Award went to Switzerland. The Best Vegetarian Dish went to England while the Best Creme Caramel Dish went to Bulgaria. Six Mentor Awards were given away based on each of the mentor's recommendations about their respective participants. The awards went to Nigeria, Canada, Italy, Nepal, Spain, and England. The six Best Young Chef Ambassador Awards went to India, Mexico, Switzerland, Iceland, Greece, and Namibia. Participants were also marked on Best Hygiene and Kitchen Practice maintained during competition and this award went to four participants from Greece, Iceland, Iran and Nepal. The Best Knife Skills Award went to four participants from Iran, Italy, Canada and Namibia. Three special awards of The Spirit of YCO 2022 went to Kulsum Hussin, CEO, Welcome Skills International School of Hospitality, Bangladesh, Chef Andreas Mueller, Programme Director (International Cuisine) at VTC, Hong Kong, who was also one of the chief judges at YCO 2022 and Chef Enzo Oliveri, Sicilian Celebrity Chef with Six Italian Restaurants in London and Sicily. Organised by the International Hospitality Council (IHC) and hosted by the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM), YCO 2022 was a larger and more inclusive edition thanks to the technological advancement that broke all barriers. YCO 2022 had a brilliant panel of esteemed judges from around the world. The event was led by Prof David Foskett, Chairman of the Jury and Chief Judge, Chef Andreas Muller, Programme Director (International Cuisine) at VTC, Hong Kong. Michelin-starred chefs Chris Galvin, co-founder Galvin Restaurants and John Wood, the Founder and Director of Kitchen Cut, Chef Gary Maclean, National Chef of Scotland, Chef Stuart Littlejohn, former Executive Chef of Oxford and Cambridge Club, UK, Sicilian Chef Enzo Oliveri, Chef George Smith, Lecturer TU Dublin University, Chef Garth Stroebel, South African chef, Chef Brian Turner, celebrity TV chef and President of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts were senior judges of the competition among several other iconic culinary professionals from around the world. Other renowned chef judges of the competition included Chef Stephen Hogan, Executive Chef, The Corinthian Palace Hotel, Malta, Chef Geoff Acott, MBE, Fund Manager Army Catering Training Trust, England, Sharad Dewan and several other renowned chef judges. YCO 2022 had a very important and significant theme that aims to achieve the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A special award, the Zenobia Nadirshaw Diamond Research Award went to students who had done research on the SDGs and on how to achieve them to make the world a better place to live. Four awards in this category went to Kenya, Bangladesh, India and Italy. YCO 2022 successfully connected the world on a single virtual platform and left everyone awestruck with its scale and organisation by IIHM. From the Opening Ceremony, the cook-offs, the United World of Young Chefs, the symposiums and even the glamorous Closing Ceremony saw seamless connection of participants, mentors and judges from different geographies and time zones together at the same time on the same platform. "YCO 2022 has been exemplary in showing how we can beat a pandemic and the obstacles that it brings with it and we have done it together. This has been an incredible YCO with the support of the countries, mentors, judges and everyone who was involved. It has been tough for everyone including those who have even tested Covid positive during the competition. YCO 2022 has shown the light of hope and positivity to the hospitality industry and I think this is the beginning of good days again. We are absolutely committed to the UN SDGs and we are also proud and grateful to the UNWTO Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili for his support. This YCO was dedicated to the SDGs and it is an honour to be able to be associated with these goals," said Dr Suborno Bose, CEO, International Hospitality Council (IHC) and Founder, YCO. Closing Ceremony and the Awards Night may be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyaQc-PMNRw More updates on the competition can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/user/IIHMhotelschool/videos About IIHM 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 the Indismart Hotels. IIHM campuses are located across ten 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 Young Chef Olympiad, a unique idea and initiative inviting young culinary talents across the world to participate in the biggest cookery reality shows of all times. 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 and 2019. 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. Contact: Abdullah Ahmed, Chief Operating Officer International Institute of Hotel Management [email protected] +91-(0)11-43204700 Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1741202/YCO_Winners.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1572818/IIHM_Logo.jpg SOURCE International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) CHICAGO, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Liquidware, the leader in digital workspace management, today announced that CRN , a brand of The Channel Company , has named Anthony Keller, Director, US Channels, Liquidware, to its 2022 Channel Chiefs list. CRN's annual Channel Chiefs project identifies top IT channel vendor executives who continually demonstrate expertise, influence and innovation in channel leadership. A panel of CRN editors selected the honorees for their channel dedication, industry stature and accomplishments as channel advocates. The 2022 Channel Chiefs are influential leaders who continue to shape the IT channel with innovative strategies, programs and partnerships. CRN's 2022 Channel Chiefs list is featured in the February 2022 issue of CRN Magazine and online at www.CRN.com/ChannelChiefs. "Having been a previous recipient of this accolade, I am delighted that Anthony's efforts in reinvigorating our channel and his leadership have been recognized," stated Chris Akerberg, President and COO, Liquidware. "For 2022, we will accelerate our 'channel first' strategy to help further expand our existing Enterprise focus. This recognition for Anthony signals Liquidware's enhanced focus on deep relationships with leading "trusted advisor" channel organizations." During 2021, Anthony and his channel team achieved the following results: Increased active channel partners by 30% Average deal size through the channel grew by 70% Registered deal pipeline grew by 18% License sales through the channel increased 28% year-on-year Anthony holds an MBA from St. John's University, graduating in the top 10 percent of his class. Starting his career at AppSense, Anthony moved to VMware to build and scale the newly created VMware Cloud Provider Program working closes with MSPs. During his six years at VMware he was part of a team that grew the SaaS business 30%+ year-on-year. Being focused on the EUC space throughout his career, joining Liquidware to build and scale their channel program was a natural career progression. XenTegra is a Liquidware Center of Excellence and Acceler8 partner, their CEO Andy Whiteside commented, "Partnering with Liquidware is a pleasure for the team at XenTegra. Their solutions solve problems that our Digital Workspace focused company needs to help our customers. They understand how VARs work and communicate with us weekly to drive solution oriented outcomes for the customers we both serve." "CRN's 2022 Channel Chiefs recognition is given exclusively to the foremost channel executives who consistently design, promote, and execute effective partner programs and strategies," said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. "We're thrilled to recognize the tireless work and unwavering commitment these honorees put into fostering outstanding business innovation and building strong partner programs to drive channel engagement and success." About Liquidware Liquidware is a leader in digital workspace management solutions for Windows workspaces. The company's products encompass all facets of management to ensure the ultimate user experience across all workspaces physical, virtual, DaaS or in the cloud. Enterprises across the globe utilize Liquidware solutions to dramatically decrease time spent managing workspaces, while delivering increased security, flexibility and scalability. Supported platforms include Microsoft physical, Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD), and RDS desktops, Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops, VMware Horizon, Amazon WorkSpaces, and Nutanix Frame. Liquidware products are available through a global network of partners. For more information, visit www.liquidware.com or follow on Twitter @liquidware. About The Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers, and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelcompany.com Media Contacts: Jane Rimmer | [email protected] | +44 7710 633488 Jennifer Hogan | [email protected] SOURCE Liquidware CALGARY, AB, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Calgary based Fintech Platform founder, Arti Modi has been awarded the Business Excellence Award for 2020 for the founding of some of Canada's top online FinTech Platforms. "I appreciate the recognition and highly coveted award from AI Global. This means a lot to me as it has been years of hard work to reach the place that I feel our platforms have reached today." Say Arti. "Fintech is an amazing sector, and I am looking forward to taking part in it for years to come" Arti has been involved in many aspects of the world of Marketing and Technology during the past few years and has excelled in the digital marketing field for the FinTech space within the Auto, Debt and Personal Loans for multiple online platforms. Her efforts lead directly to over 50,000 people applying for a loan every month through various web platforms, which in turn end up at a lender or financer to ensure that applicant gets the service they were looking for. In today's economy, digital customer acquisition is crucial for companies, lenders, and financers to obtain lead flow, and to push the economy forward, the country needs more people like Arti. AI Global Media is the Awards Administrator. Since 2010 AI Global Media has been committed to creating engaging B2B content that informs readers and allows them to market their business to a global audience. AI has 12 unique brands, each of which serves a specific industry or region. Each brand covers the latest news in its sector and publishes a digital magazine and newsletter which is read by a global audience. The flagship brand, Acquisition International, distributes a monthly digital magazine to a global circulation of over 108,000 businesses, who are treated to a range of features and news pieces on the latest developments in the global corporate market. Steve Simpson, spokesperson for the Business Excellence Awards says, "We are excited to hand the Business Excellence Award to Arti. Her Excellence in the digital media and marketing field is unrivaled and we absolutely love her style and approach to FinTech. Arti has worked hard over the past few years to help all of the platforms she is part of with growth and innovation, and we at AI Global believe that she has only just begun" says Steve. About Arti Modi Born in London, United Kingdom, Arti Moved to Canada in 1998 and attended the University of British Columbia. After graduating from UBC, Arti went on to establish her own Real Estate company in Alberta. Gaining from that experience and past successes, Arti moved onto a variety of other industries, successfully building upon experience in the Foods Manufacturing, Asset Management, Movie Production, Real Estate, FinTech and Technology Industries. Arti is now focused full time in the FinTech space and has helped build the Marketing division of some of Canada's Top Platforms, building relationships with multiple partners in the Marketing Arena within the FinTech Sector Nationwide. About AI Global Since 2010 AI Global Media has been committed to creating engaging B2B content that informs readers and allows them to market their business to a global audience. AI has 12 unique brands, each of which serves a specific industry or region. Each brand covers the latest news in its sector and publishes a digital magazine and newsletter which is read by a global audience. The flagship brand, Acquisition International, distributes a monthly digital magazine to a global circulation of over 108,000 businesses, who are treated to a range of features and news pieces on the latest developments in the global corporate market. SOURCE BFC Media Corp. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Baby Kingdom is a quickly growing, family-focused health and wellness brand located in the United Kingdom. The company has gained a reputation for its luxurious, effective products, which have set a new standard for infant hygiene and skincare. The key to Baby Kingdom's growing reputation is its commitment to infuse its products with Mother Nature's finest hygiene and cosmetic ingredients. "Baby Kingdom has been created using the highest quality ingredients to deliver gentle formulas that cleanse, nourish and heal," explains the brand's Global Sales Director, Katie Roberts, adding that her company's products are able to "harness the ability of high-quality ingredients to soothe, calm and nurture young skin." One example of this use of elite ingredients is Argan oil, which Roberts highlights as a "really effective" part of creating a natural formula. Argan oil is known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and is thought to help with moisturizing skin and hair. It also has the ability to beautifully absorb into the skin and can be an excellent addition to any baby care product. Along with Argan oil, Roberts identifies Aloe Vera, Chamomile, and Nettle Leaf Extract as three key ingredients in the Baby Kingdom repertoire of products. She adds that they offer anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits and are "perfect for soothing and calming often-irritated and inflamed baby skin." While hero ingredients are important, the Baby Kingdom team understands the value of clearly explaining each and every ingredient that it uses. That's why the company has included an entire section of its website devoted to their primary ingredients, what they are, and why they add value to the company's products. "We use good quality extracts within all our products," explains Roberts, "because our customers are very aware of what they are putting onto their babies' skin. They want to be reassured that there are no harmful ingredients." A quick scan of the web page reveals many other proven natural ingredient winners, such as Shea butter, Coconut oil, Vitamin E, Sweet Almond Oil, and Panthenol (also known as Pro-vitamin B5.) These ingredients are carefully combined to create Baby Kingdom's award-winning products, all of which are hypoallergenic, dermatologically tested, and perfect for sensitive baby skin. About Baby Kingdom: Baby Kingdom is a health and wellness brand that operates out of Warwick in the U.K. The company was founded in 2018 as an enterprise created by parents for their children. Since its inception, the brand has seen a rapidly growing demand for its luxury baby products. The Baby Kingdom product line is proud to be vegan-friendly, recyclable, 97%-99% natural, hypoallergenic, and suitable for sensitive skin. Learn more about Baby Kingdom at babykingdomcollection.co.uk . Please direct inquiries to: Teddie Wolf (954) 673-4634 [email protected] SOURCE Baby Kingdom "Congratulations to our Premier Partners for being among the top 3% of Google Partners in the United States." "We are thrilled with this recognition of our team's efforts in driving industry leading paid search and digital marketing results for our clients and to be among the top 3% of agencies working with Google as a Premier Partner", said Stuart Meyler, President and Co-founder of Beeby Clark+Meyler. "Our agency works very hard to ensure that our clients' media investments return the maximum amount of ROI, with paid search often being a critical component of digital and performance marketing for many of our clients". This month, Google recognized the achievements of top-performing digital marketing partners across the globe by awarding Premier Partner status as part of the new Google Partners program. The Google Partners program has undergone significant changes for 2022, including redefining what it means to be a Premier Partner through new, advanced program requirements and offering new Premier Partner benefits to support growth and success with Google Ads. "Congratulations to our Premier Partners for being among the top 3% of Google Partners in the United States. These companies stand out based on their commitment to developing product expertise, building new client relationships, and helping their current clients grow. We look forward to supporting them as they help their customers succeed online." - Davang Shah, Senior Director, Google Ads Marketing Beeby Clark+Meyler is part of a select group of Premier Partners in the Google Partners program. This program is designed for advertising agencies and third parties that manage Google Ads accounts on behalf of other brands or businesses. Its mission is to empower companies by providing them with innovative tools, resources, and support to help their clients succeed and grow online. Beeby Clark+Meyler is a performance-based digital marketing agency integrating media, creative, advanced analytics and marketing automation to drive leaps in advertising productivity. In business since 2005, the Beeby Clark+Meyler team helps clients like Choice Hotels, Visit Florida, Energizer, Stokke, and other industry leaders to scale their digital performance marketing efforts through advanced analytics, cutting edge digital marketing technology and Salesforce-Media integration, all backed by a team with over a quarter of a century of digital marketing experience. Learn more about our approach to performance based digital marketing at www.beebyclarkmeyler.com. CONTACT: Michael Clark, [email protected] SOURCE Beeby Clark+Meyler PANAMA CITY, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S.A. ("Bladex" or the "Bank";NYSE: BLX) announced today the successful closing of a US$101.5 million senior dual-tranche syndicated loan (the "Facility") for Inversiones CrediQ Business, S.A. and its subsidiaries in Costa Rica and El Salvador ("CrediQ" or the "Company"). Bladex was the Sole Lead Arranger and Bookrunner, as well as the Administrative Agent for the Facility. Established in 1991, CrediQ is the captive financial arm of GrupoQ, one of the leading vehicle dealerships in Central America with a track record of 70 years and operations in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Guatemala. CrediQ finances the acquisition of vehicles primarily to SMEs and individuals in the middle- and lower-middle-income segments. The Company absorbs over 40% of GrupoQ's vehicle sales. The transaction constitutes the first international syndicated facility led by Bladex for CrediQ. The Facility was structured with a senior unsecured short-term tranche and a senior 5-year tranche secured with a portion of CrediQ's loan portfolio. Proceeds of the Facility were used to support the growth of the Company's loan portfolio in Costa Rica and refinance existing indebtedness of its subsidiaries in Costa Rica and El Salvador. The transaction attracted the interest of 10 financial institutions from Central America, the Caribbean and South America, the majority of which represent new banking relationships for CrediQ and GrupoQ. Francis Henriquez, Chief Financial Officer of CrediQ commented: "For CrediQ it is imperative to have a balanced and well diversified liability structure that matches our asset duration, while permitting net interest margin growth in the long-run. The financial solution presented by Bladex fitted with our strategic plans, materialized an opportunity to start new banking relationships, and thus opened new funding frontiers for our companies. We are grateful with Bladex for the successful closing of this syndication, as we look forward to the consolidation of our business model in the Central American region." Andrea Cuadrado, Vice President of the Loan Structuring and Syndications team at Bladex, stated: "Bladex is very pleased to have successfully supported CrediQ in securing a tailored financing that addresses the Company's short and medium-term needs and diversifies its funding sources through new banking relationships. This transaction marks the fifth syndicated loan led by Bladex for a Latin American Non-Bank Financial Institution (NBFI) in the last two years, accumulating over US$640 million in arranged transactions, which attests to the Bank's deep understanding of the NBFI segment and its strong structuring and distribution capabilities in the Latin American loan syndication space." Bladex, a multinational bank originally established by the central banks of Latin-American and Caribbean countries, initiated operations in 1979 to promote foreign trade finance and economic integration in the Region. The Bank, headquartered in Panama, also counts with offices in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and the United States of America, supporting the regional expansion and servicing its customer base, which includes financial institutions and corporations. Bladex is listed on the NYSE in the United States of America (NYSE: BLX), since 1992, and its shareholders include: central banks and state-owned banks and entities representing 23 Latin American countries; commercial banks and financial institutions; and institutional and retail investors through its public listing. For further information, please contact: Bladex: Felipe Suarez SVP, Head of Loan Structuring & Syndications E-mail address: [email protected] Head Office Address: Torre V, Business Park, Ave. La Rotonda, Urb. Costa del Este, Panama, Republic of Panama SOURCE Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S.A. (Bladex) SINGAPORE, Feb. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- At the Singapore Airshow this month, the largest in Southeast Asia, Boeing (NYSE: BA) will showcase its industry-leading portfolio of commercial, defense and support services by highlighting advanced systems and capabilities focused on safe and sustainable aerospace. Boeing's presence at the show will include its newest fuel-efficient widebody jet, the 777X, along with the company's offerings in maritime patrol aircraft, advanced fighters and trainers, and autonomous systems. "We are looking forward to gathering with our industry colleagues in Singapore, in support of the recovery of aviation in the Southeast Asia region, as it provides us an opportunity to engage with customers, government officials, partners, suppliers, media and other stakeholders from the region," said Alex Feldman, president of Boeing Southeast Asia. "We will highlight our investment in, and commitment to, technology, innovation and sustainability, building the foundation for the long-term growth of the aerospace industry." During the show, a Boeing 777X flight test airplane will make its Asia debut, demonstrating aerial maneuvers that showcase its new carbon-fiber composite wing and quiet GE9X engines, which contribute to the airplane family's leading environmental performance. Based on the most successful twin-aisle airplane ever, the 777, and with advanced technologies from the 787 Dreamliner family, the 777-9 will be the world's largest and most efficient twin-engine jet, delivering 10% better fuel use, emissions and operating costs than the competition. Boeing's exhibit at the show will also highlight the F-15, P-8 Poseidon, T-7A Advanced Pilot Training System, as well as autonomous technology including the Boeing Airpower Teaming System, which is the company's first uncrewed system to be designed and developed in Australia. Designed to provide a transformational capability for global defense customers, it is the company's largest investment in a new uncrewed aircraft program outside the United States. This purpose-built aircraft can be missionized to suit country-specific needs. The United States Department of Defense corral is expected to display the KC-46A Pegasus, P-8A Poseidon, and C-17 Globemaster III. Additionally, Boeing will highlight its growing digital ecosystem of services, including integrated flight operations, a data-driven supply chain, e-commerce, predictive maintenance, digitally enabled MROs and competency-based training for commercial and defense customers. Showcased service offerings use digital innovation to reduce fuel use and support sustainability targets for customers utilizing all airplane platforms. Boeing will also focus on measures to deliver a safer, more efficient and sustainable air transportation system for the future with an emphasis on the Confident Travel Initiative, a Boeing led effort to provide passengers and crew a safe, healthy and efficient travel experience and deliver that information to governments and the general public. Additional information about Boeing and the Singapore Airshow: Company leaders will discuss market opportunities and other topics at a series of media briefings during the show. Please visit boeing.com/ Singapore , and follow @Boeing on Twitter for more information about Boeing's presence at the show. , and follow @Boeing on Twitter for more information about Boeing's presence at the show. Visitors to the Boeing exhibit can experience a 360-degree theater and learn more about the company's capabilities through the lifecycle of several products. (Exhibit # A-U01, U23). Boeing's Commercial Market Outlook (CMO) forecasts that rising air travel will see the airplane fleet in Southeast Asia growing five percent by 2040, resulting in the demand for more than 4400 new airplanes valued at $700 billion . Single-aisle jets will account for more than 80% of the deliveries, which will well position the region to connect the domestic routes in Southeast Asia and key leisure routes between China and Northeast Asia . Widebody jets including passenger and cargo models will total over 800 airplanes. Tied to economic and fleet growth, demand for maintenance, repair, overhaul and modifications account for a majority of projected commercial aviation services demand. About Boeing As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. As a top U.S. exporter, the company leverages the talents of a global supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing's diverse team is committed to innovating for the future and living the company's core values of safety, quality and integrity. Learn more at www.boeing.com. Contact Chris Singley Boeing Global Media Relations +1 214 697 8980 [email protected] Swetha Mahesh Boeing Singapore +65 9824 4836 [email protected] SOURCE Boeing The NGLD-M will be used broadly by U.S. government agencies and U.S. global partners to replace aging Simple Key Loader fill devices. The NGLD-M devices will transfer the strongest NSA-generated cryptographic keys to tactical, strategic, and enterprise network systems operating from unclassified up to the highest levels of security classification. "We are proud to partner with the Army to bring our industry-leading crypto experience to bear, along with a powerful user experience team," said Chris Brady, president of General Dynamics Mission Systems. "Our device will be designed with the mobile Soldier in mind to ensure security and ease of use, while standing up to the rigors of a tactical environment." "By leveraging our demonstrated crypto, key management, and tactical computing expertise, we will deliver an accelerated, low-risk, sustainable, NSA-certified NGLD-M solution," said Brian Morrison, vice president for the Cyber Systems line of business with General Dynamics Mission Systems. "It will be built from the ground up to support useability and security, with significant modularity to allow future upgrades." General Dynamics Mission Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), provides mission-critical solutions to defense, intelligence and cyber-security customers across all domains. General Dynamics is a global aerospace and defense company that offers a broad portfolio of products and services in business aviation; ship construction and repair; land combat vehicles, weapons systems and munitions; and technology products and services. General Dynamics employs more than 100,000 people worldwide and generated $38.5 billion in revenue in 2021. More information about General Dynamics Mission Systems is available at www.gdmissionsystems.com. More information about General Dynamics is available at www.gd.com. SOURCE General Dynamics We are very grateful and humbled that GMP will continue doing this important work for the Army. Over the past 10 years, the GMP Team has assembled the most qualified and experienced manufacturers and suppliers of NATO and Former Soviet Bloc defense items from around the world. We are proud to be the industry leader for sourcing and delivering special ammunition and weapon systems. In addition to supplying SAWS products, Global Military Products performs systems contracting and engineering services for various munitions, weapon systems, and military vehicles. Global Ordnance attributes much of their successful growth to their ability to attract and retain qualified talent and is always looking for the next addition to their team. If you are an experienced program manager, engineer, or program finance professional and are interested in applying, email your resume to [email protected]. Media Contact: Marc Morales [email protected] SOURCE Global Ordnance LLC Rajendra joined HAP in 2019 as senior counsel with more than 25 years of professional experience. Among her many accomplishments, she was instrumental in managing HAP's 2019 acquisition of Trusted Health Plan Michigan, a Detroit-based Medicaid plan, which was a key component of HAP's Medicaid expansion strategy. "Health plans operate in a highly regulated environment, particularly related to government programs like Medicare and Medicaid, which are designed to help us serve our must vulnerable members," said Dr. Michael Genord, president and CEO, HAP. "Archana's extensive background within these regulatory environments, coupled with her well-rounded experience and in-depth knowledge of the ever-evolving issues facing the health care industry, will benefit HAP greatly as we continue to expand throughout the state of Michigan." Prior to joining HAP, Rajendra was senior counsel at CareSource, a managed care plan based in Dayton, Ohio, and was also a partner at Foster Swift Collins & Smith in Lansing. Early in her career, she managed her own private practice and represented clients in highly regulated industries. Rajendra holds a J.D. from Indiana University School of Law and a bachelor's degree in psychology from Michigan State University. She serves as a member of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Taskforce and is a champion of DEIJ efforts. About Health Alliance Plan Health Alliance Plan (HAP) is a Michigan-based, nonprofit health plan that provides health coverage to individuals and companies of all sizes. For 60 years, HAP has partnered with leading doctors and hospitals, employers, and community organizations to enhance the health and well-being of the lives it touches. HAP offers a product portfolio with six distinct product lines: Group Insured Commercial, Individual, Medicare, Medicaid (using the HAP Empowered name), Self-Funded and Network Leasing. HAP excels in delivering award-winning preventive services, disease management and wellness programs, as well as personalized customer service. For more information, visit www.hap.org. SOURCE Health Alliance Plan A caricature of Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, known as IBK, being thrown off a chair by a soldier (file photo). Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Sudan have all been suspended from the AU. At a summit in Addis Ababa, AU delegates decried "the wave of unconstitutional changes of government." The African Union on Sunday "unequivocally" condemned a wave of military coups and attempted putsches across the continent. An unprecedented number of member states have been suspended from the bloc as a result of the military power grabs. West Africa's recent surge in coups began in Mali in 2020, followed by another in Guinea the following year. Meanwhile, gunmen recently tried to overthrow the president of Guinea-Bissau in an attack that lasted hours but ultimately failed. Last month Burkina Faso joined Guinea, Mali and Sudan in being shut out from the union, after disgruntled soldiers in Ouagadougou toppled President Roch Marc Christian Kabore. Sudan has been under suspension since June 2019, when the country was banned from all AU activities until the effective establishment of a civilian-led Transitional Authority. But the country' military intervened once again in October last year and detained the civilian prime minister, although the military leaders insisted the move should not be described as a coup. Unprecedented number of suspensions "Every African leader in the assembly has condemned unequivocally... the wave of unconstitutional changes of government," Bankole Adeoye, head of the AU's Peace and Security Council, told the media. "Do your research: At no time in the history of the African Union have we had four countries in one calendar year, in 12 months, been suspended," Adeoye added. Addressing African foreign ministers ahead of the summit, Moussa Faki Mahamat, chair of the African Union Commission, denounced a "worrying resurgence" of such military coups. Israel debate on hold Meanwhile, African leaders suspended debate on Faki's decision to accept the accreditation of Israel, postponing a potentially divisive vote. Faki's decision last July attracted criticism from influential member states, including South Africa and Algeria, which argued that granting Israel observer status contradicted AU statements supporting the Palestinian Territories. Both South Africa and Algeria failed in their efforts to place the issue on the two-day summit's agenda. As the summit got underway on Saturday, Faki defended Israel's accreditation, saying it could be "an instrument in the service of peace" while calling for "a serene debate." He also said the African Union's commitment to backing Palestinian independence was "unchanging and can only continue to grow stronger." Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Africa Governance By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh on Saturday said Israel's accreditation should be revoked, saying the country "should never be rewarded" for its "apartheid regime." Conflict in Ethiopia avoids scrutiny The two-day summit is hosted in the Ethiopian capital, but it was unclear how much attention was given to the 15-month war in Ethiopia. The conflict sees Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government pitted against fighters from the northern Tigray region. Abiy had received a Nobel Peace Prize in 2019, before launching the Tigray offensive. The fact that Ethiopia hosts the AU makes any intervention by the bloc particularly sensitive, and Faki waited until last August -- nine months after fighting began -- to assign Olusegun Obasanjo as a special envoy tasked with seeking a cease-fire. Ethiopia also held a seat on the Peace and Security Council throughout the conflict, though it failed in its bid to stay on the 15-member body for the next term, diplomats said. On Saturday, Ethiopia's Abiy called for the African Union to be given a more significant voice at the UN's international peace and security organization. Abiy said the continental body should have a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, alongside the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France. (AP, AFP) CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SafeGuard Cyber, the leading provider of security and compliance solutions for today's communication-based threats, is pleased to announce that CRN , a brand of The Channel Company , has named Karen Kukoda, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, to its 2022 Channel Chiefs list. CRN's annual Channel Chiefs project identifies top IT channel vendor executives who continually demonstrate expertise, influence and innovation in channel leadership. Ms. Kukoda was selected because she created, developed and successfully launched SafeGuard Cyber's partner program, Illuminate. A panel of CRN editors selected the honorees for their channel dedication, industry stature and accomplishments as channel advocates. The 2022 Channel Chiefs are influential leaders who continue to shape the IT channel with innovative strategies, programs and partnerships. At SafeGuard Cyber, Ms. Kukoda is responsible for the company's strategic development, partner ecosystem, growth of collaborative partnerships and go-to-market activity. Her partner strategy includes: strategic alliances, reseller partners and referral partners. SafeGuard Cyber's partners all contribute to channel advocacy, channel growth, partner revenue and visionary leadership. "In 2021, Karen launched an incredible partner program. Karen's industry experience and her relationships have accelerated our channel and partner growth. Our leadership team is committed to the success of this program," said Chris Lehman, CEO of SafeGuard Cyber. Ms. Kukoda is passionate about developing more female talent in the cybersecurity industry. She co-chairs SGC Vision & Voice Community, focused on supporting mentors and women who would like to join and ascend in the cybersecurity industry. A recognized business leader in the cybersecurity industry, Ms. Kukoda's sales career has spanned more than 25 years at FireEye, MobileIron, Hewlett-Packard and AT&T Mobility. She is a previous honoree of CRN's Women of the Channel List in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021, and she was named one of CRN's "100 People You Don't Know But Should" in 2018. "CRN's 2022 Channel Chiefs recognition is given exclusively to the foremost channel executives who consistently design, promote, and execute effective partner programs and strategies," said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. "We're thrilled to recognize the tireless work and unwavering commitment these honorees put into fostering outstanding business innovation and building strong partner programs to drive channel engagement and success." CRN's 2022 Channel Chiefs list will be featured in the February 2022 issue of CRN Magazine and online at www.CRN.com/ChannelChiefs . About SafeGuard Cyber SafeGuard Cyber provides security and compliance for human connections so enterprises can trust modern communications. With patented Natural Language Understanding technology, our security solutions deliver comprehensive visibility, detection and response to threats across the disparate communication methods used by today's digitally enabled businesses. In addition, cloud-based machine learning provides compliance solutions for governance and policy enforcement that empower customers to communicate through modern apps and social networking. Learn more at www.safeguardcyber.com . About The Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers, and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelcompany.com Follow The Channel Company: Twitter , LinkedIn, and Facebook . 2022. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All rights reserved. The Channel Company Contact: Jennifer Hogan The Channel Company [email protected] SafeGuard Cyber Contact: Michael Sias Firm 19 for SafeGuard Cyber [email protected] SOURCE SafeGuard Cyber GAVS is an AI-led digital transformation company that focuses on differentiated managed services, analytics, and product engineering in Healthcare, BFS, Retail and other verticals. GS Lab provides high end digital product engineering services and acts as the innovation engine for ISVs, digital-native startups, and enterprises globally, enabling them to develop and manage new digital products. Both companies have grown at a stellar rate of 20%+ over the last five years (10x+ in the previous 10 years). Sunish Sharma, Co-CEO & Managing Partner of Kedaara, and Parin Mehta, Managing Director of Kedaara, said, "Digital transformation and product engineering are key investment themes for us, and we are very excited to play this theme through our partnership with GAVS and GS Lab. The combination of GAVS and GS Lab will have digital engineering and AI led digital transformation capabilities across a broad array of new-age technologies and will allow them to tap into rapidly growing demand for adoption of digital technology across various sectors globally." Kedaara will further help accelerate the growth for the combined platform through: Leveraging their global relationships, as well those of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice ("CD&R"), a global private equity firm and JV partner of Kedaara Continuing to foster innovation and competency development in leading-edge technologies like AI, Cloud, Analytics to meet the digital needs of customers Making investments for enhancing the global client reach out program and focus on client centricity through the combined entity The combined entity will have access to decades of rich experience from Pramod Bhasin, Operating Partner at Kedaara, and Keith Pitts, Operating Advisor at CD&R and ex-Vice Chairman, Tenet Health, both of whom will be on the Board of the combined entity. Pramod had led the carve-out of Genpact from GE and grew it into a US$ 3.5B market cap entity as its President and CEO. On this occasion, Pramod Bhasin said, "Digital is becoming the core differentiator for businesses across the board globally by enabling them to become more agile. Both GAVS and GS Lab have complimentary and unique expertise in this area, with a deep understanding of their respective industries, which we plan to offer to our customers and accelerate the timelines for them to achieve their digital transformation goals." Keith Pitts said, "Abundance of untapped data is likely to drive IT adoption especially in the space of cloud migration, data analytics, and security services. With a strong DNA of innovation-led culture and customer centricity, the combined entity is well-positioned to be one of the premier digital-transformation focused service providers globally." Sumit Ganguli will be the Group CEO and lead the next phase of growth for the combined business. Deepak Doegar, who has joined GAVS, will be appointed the Group CFO and will spearhead the integration initiatives. Before this, Deepak was the CFO of JCB India and prior to that, has 18+ years of experience across GE and Genpact. The co-founders and CXOs of GS Lab will provide their support through the transition period. Sumit Ganguli, the Group CEO, said, "We are excited by the immense possibilities that this combination and the partnership with Kedaara and CD&R present, in terms of Digital IT transformation and solutions in the growth sectors and the board room connects with some of the largest clients across the world. Our focus will be to create a vibrant combined entity that will enable our employees to meet with their professional aspirations and build on the culture of technological innovation and client centricity. We will jointly work towards our magnificent obsession to create a compelling future for our employees, clients and stake holders." Shridhar Shukla and Sunil Gaitonde, the co-founders of GS Lab, said, "GAVS and GS Lab represent the best of breed in digital product engineering services and enterprise digital transformation services from India. Both organizations have complementary entrepreneurial, and innovation-mindset cultures focused on client centricity. The combination will offer a comprehensive suite of services across a broad range of clients and is very well positioned to be one of the premier digital engineering service providers based out of India, enabling employees across the board to realize their full potential." The integration process is expected to be completed over the next few months and will be subject to the applicable regulatory and other approvals. About Kedaara Kedaara is an operationally oriented private equity firm pursuing control and minority investment opportunities in India. It currently advises / manages over ~US$ 3.6 billion through investments in several market leading businesses across a variety of sectors including consumer, financial services, pharma/healthcare, technology / business services and industrials. Kedaara's operating partner model comprising former CEOs with proven track records of building market leading businesses that enables businesses to realize their full potential. Since its inception, Kedaara has remained singularly dedicated to its stated strategy of focusing on investments built through trust-based relationships with best-in-class entrepreneurs and management teams across secular fast growing end markets. Kedaara was co-founded by Manish Kejriwal, Sunish Sharma and Nishant Sharma and combines the strengths of a well-networked, highly experienced local investing and operating team, with the experience of their strategic partner, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, a global private equity firm whose investment model blends financial skills with operating expertise. For further information about Kedaara, please visit: https://kedaara.com About GAVS Technologies Limited, BVI GAVS is an AI-led digital transformation company that focuses on differentiated managed services and product engineering in Healthcare, BFSI and other verticals. GAVS has developed ZIF.ai, a world-class AI-based Tech-Ops product that focuses on predictive insights, automation-based remediation, and monitoring. GAVS' offerings also include cloud migration, data analytics and cyber security services. GAVS is headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey with operations in New York, Chicago, California, Denver, and North Carolina. GAVS is also present in the Middle East and in India (Chennai, Hyderabad, and Bangalore). Long 80 LLC, a collaboration between GAVS and Premier Inc., is addressing the digital needs of the Healthcare Provider space in the USA. For further information about GAVS and its other entities, please visit: https://www.gavstech.com/ www.zif.ai www.long-80.com About Great Software Laboratory Private Limited GS Lab is a provider of digital product engineering services, helping ISVs and enterprises build, deploy and manage their digital products. Over 18 years, GS Lab has engineered 350+ software and digital products for its customers. Their innovation-led culture and client-centric engagement model helps GS Lab craft solutions for its clients in a nimble and agile manner. Headquartered in Pune, GS Lab has engineering centers across India, the USA and the UK, and services clients across technology, telecom, communications, networking, healthcare, financial services, real estate, and various other industries. GS Lab works with ISVs and enterprises, both large market-leading organizations as well as emerging innovators, to enable them to develop and manage new digital products. For further information about GS Lab, please visit: https://www.gslab.com/ SOURCE Kedaara, GAVS Technologies Limited and GS Lab The virtual evening event will provide attendees with an opportunity to hear from two First Amendment scholars on the topic - Resolved: "Internet Platforms Should Be Treated Like Common Carriers" (as suggested by Justice Clarence Thomas's concurring opinion in Biden v. Knight First Amendment Institute ). Professors Eugene Volokh of UCLA School of Law will be taking the pro position, and Professor Ash Bhagwat of UC Davis Law School will be taking the con position. Judge Lawrence VanDyke of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit will act as the program's moderator. The Seigenthaler Debates are part of Catholic Law's First Amendment Initiatives, the purpose of which is to provide a collegial forum that fosters debate, dialogue, and study of First Amendment issues from all sides. Named after John L. Seigenthaler, journalist, publisher, and free speech advocate, The Debates are co-sponsored by Catholic Law and The Free State Foundation . This event is the inaugural venture of this type by Catholic Law and is planned to take place every spring semester. For more information about the event, visit law.edu/debates or contact Catholic Law Faculty Director of Bench and Bar Programs, Professor A.G. Harmon: [email protected] . SOURCE Catholic University's Columbus School of Law; Catholic University of America Parent Market Analysis Technavio categorizes the global LNG bunkering market share in Europe as a part of the global oil and gas storage and transportation market within the global energy market. Technavio uses the total revenue generated by manufacturers to estimate the global LNG bunkering market share in Europe 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 LNG bunkering market share in Europe market throughout the forecast period, Download a free sample . LNG Bunkering market share in Europe Value Chain Analysis To maximize profit margins and evaluate business plans, an end-to-end understanding of LNG bunkering market share in Europe is required. The report will help vendors drive costs and enhance customer services during the forecast period. Inputs Storage and transportation Distribution of refined products: Industry innovations To unlock information about vendor drive costs and customer service, download our free sample report. Vendor Insights The LNG bunkering market share in Europe 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 LNG bunkering market share in Europe, including some of the vendors such as Broadview Energy Solutions B.V., Crowley Maritime Corp., Equinor ASA, Exxon Mobil Corp., Fjord Line AS, Petroliam Nasional Berhad, PJSC Gazprom Neft, Royal Dutch Shell Plc, SHV Energy, and TotalEnergies SE. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the LNG bunkering market share in Europe market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile, and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Product Insights and News Broadview Energy Solutions B.V. - Offers solutions for LNG bunkering which makes it available from various on-shore LNG bunkering stations to ferries, patrol ships, tugboats, oil and chemical tankers, under the brand name of Broadview. Offers solutions for LNG bunkering which makes it available from various on-shore LNG bunkering stations to ferries, patrol ships, tugboats, oil and chemical tankers, under the brand name of Broadview. Crowley Maritime Corp. - Offers solutions for LNG bunkering which operates on a new shore-side and serves as the fueling station for the LNG-powered ships, under the brand name of Crowley. Offers solutions for LNG bunkering which operates on a new shore-side and serves as the fueling station for the LNG-powered ships, under the brand name of Crowley. Exxon Mobil Corp. - Offers solutions for LNG bunkering which later can be shrinked in its volume for easier, safer storage and shipping overseas, under the brand name of Exxon Mobil. LNG bunkering market share in Europe market forecast report offers in-depth insights into key vendor profiles and offerings Download Free Sample Report Geographical Highlights The LNG bunkering market share in Europe market share growth in APAC will be significant during the forecast period. Indonesia and China are the key markets for the LNG bunkering market share in Europe in APAC. Market growth in this region will be slower than the growth of the market in other regions. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), Russia, the world's second-largest natural gas producer behind the United States, has an enormous untapped production capacity in the Yamal Peninsula. Through a pipeline to China, Russia hopes to diversify its natural gas export outlets. Apart from the United States and Australia, which will have the top and second-largest liquefaction capacity, Russia is estimated to add 15 billion cubic meters of gas to the worldwide liquefaction capacity of 140 billion cubic meters by 2023. With the exception of Russia, the fall in domestic natural gas output in Europe is likely to boost natural gas imports in Norway during the forecast period. Moreover, regions like Norway, The Netherlands, Denmark, and Rest of Europe are the key market for the LNG bunkering market share in Europe owing to the decline in domestic natural gas production. To unlock the top strategies practiced by the maximum growth generating region, View Sample Report Key Market Dynamics- LNG Bunkering Market in Europe Key Drivers: Growing marine logistics business The increased availability of shipping data and the use of big data analytics have given shippers a better understanding of market and pricing patterns, allowing them to choose the best routes, minimise fuel usage, and eliminate piracy threats. This has helped to reduce the extreme boom and bust cycles that have plagued the shipping industry in the past, as well as turning obstacles into opportunities. As a result, technical advancements have increased the shipping industry's growth potential. LNG Bunkering Market in Europe Key Trends: Increase in demand for cleaner fuels CO2 emissions from the burning of petroleum-based goods like gasoline account for the majority of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the transportation industry. In addition, when compared to on-road diesel and gasoline, the bulk of marine fuel contains 1,666.67 times higher sulphur. Fuel with a high sulphur level has contributed greatly to local air pollution, resulting in health problems. The transportation sector has made a considerable contribution to air pollution. As a result, during the projected period, the demand for cleaner fuel is expected to drive the expansion of the LNG bunkering market in Europe. Download a free sample for highlights on market Drivers & Trends affecting the LNG bunkering market share in Europe market. Customize Your Report Don't miss out on the opportunity to speak to our analyst and know more insights into this market report. Our analysts can also help you customize this report according to your needs. Our analysts and industry experts will work directly with you to understand your requirements and provide you with customized data in a short amount of time. We offer USD 1,000 worth of FREE customization at the time of purchase. Speak to our Analyst now! Related Reports: Hydrogen Storage Market by Product and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026 Underground Gas Storage Market by Type and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025 LNG Bunkering Market Scope in Europe Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 17.41% Market growth 2022-2026 $ 441.45 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 15.12 Regional analysis Norway, The Netherlands, Denmark, and Rest of Europe Performing market contribution Norway at 71% Key consumer countries Democratic Republic of Congo Competitive landscape Leading companies, Competitive strategies, Consumer engagement scope Key companies profiled Broadview Energy Solutions B.V., Crowley Maritime Corp., Equinor ASA, Exxon Mobil Corp., Fjord Line AS, Petroliam Nasional Berhad, PJSC Gazprom Neft, Royal Dutch Shell Plc, SHV Energy, and TotalEnergies SE Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for the forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. About Us: Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio Vendor Landscape The market structure is expected to remain fragmented during the forecast period. Vendors are deploying growth strategies such as service delivery innovation and acquiring high-quality medical publishing products to compete in the market. American Medical Association, Australasian Medical Publishing Co. Proprietary Ltd., Charlesworth Publishing Services Ltd., Crimson Interactive Pvt. Ltd., EBSCO Industries Inc., Hearst Communications Inc., Informa Plc, International Business Machines Corp., John Wiley and Sons Inc., and OMICS International Pvt. Ltd., among others are some of the few key vendors competing to maintain their market position in the market. The key news of some of these vendors is mentioned below: In June 2021 , International Business Machines Corp. acquired Turbonomic Inc., an Application Resource Management (ARM) and Network Performance Management (NPM) software provider. , International Business Machines Corp. acquired Turbonomic Inc., an Application Resource Management (ARM) and Network Performance Management (NPM) software provider. In March 2021 , John Wiley and Sons Inc. partnered with NUS Advanced Computing For Executives to launch a global certification program aimed to close the technology skills gap. View more about the market's vendor landscape highlights with a comprehensive list of vendors and their offerings. Key Market Segmentation Segmentation by Product: Journals: The journals segment contributed largely to the overall market growth in 2020. Medical journals are peer-reviewed scientific journals that share medical information with physicians and other medical professionals. They are the major tool for communicating medical information. This segment is observing strong growth due to the increase in the number of clinical trials and the growth of scientific and medical research. E-books Print books Request a FREE Sample of this report for more highlights into the market segments. Regional Market Outlook North America will contribute to 46% of the market growth during the forecast period. The growth of this region can be attributed to the increasing prevalence of diseases across the world. Market growth in this region will be slower than the growth of the market in APAC. If we look at the country-wise market growth, the US will contribute the highest market growth. Download our FREE sample report for more key highlights on the regional market share of most of the above-mentioned countries. Latest Trends and Drivers in Medical Publishing Market Market Driver: Rise in digital publishing: Digital publishing has many advantages, such as adding source links to articles and instant availability of medical articles. Digital medical journals use graphical abstracts for a visual summary of the main findings of publications. They provide new ways of presenting medical research and ease the way of accessing research journals at medical conferences. These factors are increasing the adoption of digital publishing among medical researchers and publishers. Market Trend: Transition towards the OA publication model: OA is a method of providing unlimited access to books, articles, and publications online to users free of cost. This model has advantages such as knowledge enhancement, improved patient care, and access to information about new developments. Hence, the adoption of this model is rising more than the subscription-based model. These factors will result in the growth of the OA model in medical publishing during the forecast period. Find additional information about various other market drivers & trends mentioned in our FREE sample report . Need More? Are You Looking for Information Not Covered in This Report? Want to understand more about the various research methodology? Evaluate a specific segment or region in detail Identify key suppliers, customers, or other market players Analyze market regulations Tailor this report according to your needs. Get it done with our USD 1000 worth of free customization. Speak to Our Analyst Now ! Related Reports: Digital Educational Publishing Market by End-user and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025 Global Digital Publishing Market by Type and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025 Medical Publishing Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Decelerate at a CAGR of 2.16% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 1.14 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 3.03 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA Performing market contribution North America at 46% Key consumer countries US, UK, China, Japan, and Germany Competitive landscape Leading companies, Competitive strategies, Consumer engagement scope Key companies profiled American Medical Association, Australasian Medical Publishing Co. Proprietary Ltd., Charlesworth Publishing Services Ltd., Crimson Interactive Pvt. Ltd., EBSCO Industries Inc., Hearst Communications Inc., Informa Plc, International Business Machines Corp., John Wiley and Sons Inc., and OMICS International Pvt. Ltd. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for the forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio AMSTERDAM and OSLO, Norway, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MPC Energy Solutions (MPCES) has completed the acquisition of Los Santos Solar I project, located in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico. The solar photovoltaic (PV) plant reinforces MPCES' position as a regional leader in renewable energy and supports the country's ongoing energy transition. Martin Vogt, CEO of MPC Energy Solutions, said: "Los Santos Solar I contributes towards Mexico's goals of achieving 50% of electricity generation from clean energy by 2050 and reducing the levels of greenhouse gas emissions by 50%. We are pleased with the swift completion of this project acquisition that marks our first operational asset in Mexico. We would like to thank Buenavista Renewables (BVR) for their excellent cooperation during this process and we are looking forward to a continued collaboration for the future expansion of this project." In 2020, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), power generation from renewables accounted for 18.8 per cent of the total electricity produced in Mexico. This is a 28.55 per cent increase in renewables power generation since 2015. The plant is operational since 2017 and has a capacity of 15.8 MWp, with the potential to be extended to 90 MWp. The project has a USD-denominated power purchase agreement (PPA) with Leoni Cable, a German cable manufacturer, and the International De La Salle Educational Network. The US Government's Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and the North American Development Bank (NADB) provided a 20-year project funding. Martin Vogt added: "We are excited to have our first operational project in the portfolio reinforcing our commitment to assist Latin America diversifying its energy mix towards cleaner sources and helping create resilience in the region." About MPC Energy Solutions MPC Energy Solutions ("MPCES") is a global provider of sustainable energy and primarily focuses on low-carbon energy infrastructure, including solar and wind assets, and other hybrid and energy efficiency solutions. The Company participates in the full project lifecycle of renewable solutions, from early-stage development through construction and operation. More details atwww.mpc-energysolutions.com Media contacts MPC Energy Solutions N.V. Investor Relations & Public Relations Email: [email protected] Norway Jo Christian Lund-Steigedal Corporate Communications AS Phone: +47 415 08733 Email: [email protected] Americas Perry Goldman Montieth & Company Phone: +1 (646) 8643568 Email: [email protected] United Kingdom Charles Font Montieth & Company Phone: +44 020 38575478 Email: [email protected] This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/mpc-energy-solutions-n-v-/r/mpc-energy-solutions-completes-acquisition-of-los-santos-solar-i-project-in-mexico,c3499720 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Public/20542/3499720/a99088faca998340.pdf 2022 02 07 Los Santos Solar Financial Close https://news.cision.com/mpc-energy-solutions-n-v-/i/los-santos-solar-1,c3008112 Los Santos Solar 1 SOURCE MPC Energy Solutions N.V. WASHINGTON, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The White House Historical Association today released the 64th issue of its award-winning magazine, White House History Quarterly which features retellings from historians on Queen Elizabeth II's relationship with the White House on the occasion of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations this year. Included in this issue: Marcia Anderson , the Association's Chief Publishing Officer and Editor of the Quarterly opens the issue with her foreword and photo essay. opens the issue with her foreword and photo essay. Curator Candace Shireman details the queen's stays at Blair House, The President's Guest House. details the queen's stays at Blair House, The President's Guest House. Curator Sally Goodsir of the Queen's Royal Collection Trust discusses official gifts exchanged by the queen with the U.S. discusses official gifts exchanged by the queen with the U.S. Historian Alan Capps looks back to when Queen Elizabeth II joined America in celebrating the bicentennial of its independence. looks back to when joined America in celebrating the bicentennial of its independence. Culinary Historian Alexander Prud'homme gives a behind-the-scenes look at the White House kitchen during the 1976 bicentennial State Visit. gives a behind-the-scenes look at the White House kitchen during the 1976 bicentennial State Visit. Colleen Shogan , the White House Historical Association's Senior Vice President and Director of the David M. Rubenstein National Center for White House History , looks at the traditional practice of toasting with wine and the rhetoric of diplomacy. , looks at the traditional practice of toasting with wine and the rhetoric of diplomacy. Frederick J. Ryan , Publisher and CEO of The Washington Post , and author of Wine and the White House, details the selections of wine Queen Elizabeth II shared with presidents of the United States . , and author of details the selections of wine shared with presidents of . Historian Sarah Thomson recounts the journey Queen Elizabeth II made to reach President Ronald Reagan's California home. This issue retails for $9.95. Visit shop.whitehousehistory.org . Read more about Queen Elizabeth II and her visits to the White House. First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy envisioned a restored White House that conveyed a sense of history through its decorative and fine arts. She sought to inspire Americans, especially children, to explore and engage with American history and its presidents. In 1961, the nonprofit, nonpartisan White House Historical Association was established to support her vision to preserve and share the Executive Mansion's legacy for generations to come. Supported entirely by private resources, the Association's mission is to assist in the preservation of the state and public rooms, fund acquisitions for the White House permanent collection, and educate the public on the history of the White House. Since its founding, the Association has given more than $50 million to the White House in fulfillment of its mission. SOURCE White House Historical Association NEW YORK, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Save Armenian Monuments condemned the Azerbaijani government's February 3 launch of a "working group of specialists to remove the fictitious traces written by Armenians." Azerbaijan announced the heritage purge organ during the visit of top European Union officials Kadri Simson and Oliver Varhelyi, who offered a 2 billion aid package to Azerbaijan. The purge organ plans to eliminate the entire indigenous epigraphic heritage of the disputed Armenian region of Nagorno-Karabakh that Azerbaijan partially conquered in late 2020. The official justification for the erasure is a state-sponsored conspiracy theory in Azerbaijan that reimagines ancient Armenian monuments as stolen from a long-extinct culture. "We are nauseated by Azerbaijan's brazen belligerence to continue its targeting of Armenian sacred sites," remarked Dr. Virginia Davies, President of Save Armenian Monuments. "The purge organ does not just violate the December 7, 2021 International Court of Justice decision that ordered Azerbaijan to protect Armenian monuments," continued Davies, "it is tantamount to a declaration of genocide, emboldened by the West's shameless courting of Azerbaijan despite the latter's 2020 aggression against Armenians and 1997-2006 state-sanctioned flattening of every Armenian cultural monument in the exclave of Nakhichevan." As Hyperallergic art magazine revealed on February 4 in its "Emboldened by Ukraine Crisis, Azerbaijan Escalates its War on Armenian Heritage Sites" report, Azerbaijan appears to be reassured by the 2 billion EU aid package and anticipated USA military aid release, which are perceived as vindications of the 2020 aggression on Nagorno-Karabakh. "Washington and EU are supporting a genocidal dictatorship that thrives on getting away with anti-Armenian crimes, while positioning themselves as defenders of democracies and oppressed peoples elsewhere. This tacit approval of the heritage purge committee is particularly shameful coming from President Joe Biden, who as a candidate criticized Turkey's military support and mercenary supply for Azerbaijan in 2020 as 'irresponsible' but now appears uninterested in following his own advice," remarked Davies. Founded in 2020, Save Armenian Monuments LLC, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization and subsidiary of the Eastern Prelacy, pursues the sustained safeguarding of in situ Armenian Christian heritage at risk, in particular protection and awareness-building of at-risk churches, monasteries, gravesites, stone crosses, and other sacred sites and structures located in Artsakh and the wider region, through activities including pilgrimages and education. Headquartered in New York, Save Armenian Monuments operates in collaboration with relevant institutional and individual stakeholders. SOURCE Save Armenian Monuments Download Now! Major Price Models in the Server Market Sourcing and Procurement Market The report discusses in detail each pricing model and the pros and cons attached to every pricing model prevalent in the market. Also, the report provides insights with respect to the category supply chain and the margins of various suppliers within the supply chain. The most widely adopted pricing models in the Server Market Sourcing and Procurement Market Volume based pricing model Fixed pricing model Learn about various other pricing models: Request for a FREE sample report Spend Growth and Demand by Region The Server Market Sourcing and Procurement market will register an incremental spend of about USD 118 Billion during the forecast period. However, only a few regions will drive the majority of this growth. Moreover, on the supply side, North America, Europe, and APAC will have the maximum influence owing to the supplier base. The growth is expected to be primarily driven by increasing demand and adoption of the category across those few regions. To get a detailed analysis of the regional factors driving the Server Market Sourcing and Procurement Report: Download the sample report now! Subscribe to our "Free Limited Period Starter Procurement Plan" to get the following: View 6 full reports View 800+ report samples Pre-order upcoming reports Dedicated account manager Subscribe Now for FREE! Most Adopted Procurement Strategies by Buyers Across the Server Market Sourcing and Procurement Market The report provides a detailed insight of the most adopted procurement strategies by buyers across industries and analysis of these strategies with respect to innovation, regulatory compliance, quality, supply, and cost. Adoption of these procurement strategies will enable the buyers to reduce category TCO and achieve cost savings, while sourcing for thermal equipment requirements. To get the exact information on various procurement strategies: Get the FREE Sample Report Now! This Server Market Sourcing and Procurement Market report answers help buyers identify and shortlist the most suitable suppliers, for instance: Am I engaging with the right suppliers? Which KPIs should I use to evaluate my incumbent suppliers? Which supplier selection criteria are relevant for? What are the workplace computing devices category essentials in terms of SLAs and RFx? Our Top Selling Procurement Reports: Asset Recovery Services - Forecast and Analysis: The asset recovery services will grow at a CAGR of 9.49% during 2021-2025. Asia Asset Recovery Pte Ltd., TES-Amm Singapore Pte Ltd., and Iron Mountain Inc. are among the prominent suppliers in asset recovery services market. Click the above link to download the free sample of this report. Vulnerability Management Sourcing and Procurement Report: Vulnerability Management Procurement Market, prices will increase by 4%-6% during the forecast period and suppliers will have a Moderate bargaining power in this market. Click the above link to download the free sample of this report. Celebrity Talent Management Services - Sourcing and Procurement Intelligence Report: This report offers key advisory and intelligence to help buyers identify and shortlist the most suitable suppliers for their celebrity talent management services requirements. Click the above link to download the free sample of this report. 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. Contact SpendEdge Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340 https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us SOURCE SpendEdge "Since his appointment to CEO in 2019, Jonathan has made notable improvements to Overstock's profitability and market share through a keen focus on enhancing the company's strategy and its ability to deliver for consumers," said Mark Smucker, President and CEO, The J.M. Smucker Co. "We are excited to have his extensive retail and ecommerce experience on the Board and look forward to his contributions in support of our strategy, as well as the continued advancement of our digital capabilities, financial technology and innovation." Johnson is a passionate blockchain and fintech advocate, and in the past has served as a director with New York-based financial services firms tZERO Group Inc. and FinClusive; blockchain companies GrainChain Inc., SettleMint and Voatz; financial services firm PeerNova Inc.; and financial software company Bitt. In addition to his professional credentials, Johnson is also an active leader in the community. He has served as a director with Salt Lake City-based University Hospital Foundation, the National Museum of American Religion, the Hale Centre Theatre, the Right to Try Foundation, the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, the Utah Technology Council and the Salt Lake Chamber Clean Air Task Force. About The J.M. Smucker Co. Each generation of consumers leaves their mark on culture by establishing new expectations for food and the companies that make it. At The J.M. Smucker Co., it is our privilege to be at the heart of this dynamic with a diverse portfolio that appeals to each generation of people and pets and is found in nearly 90 percent of U.S. homes and countless restaurants. This includes a mix of iconic brands consumers have always loved such as Folgers, Jif and Milk-Bone and new favorites like Cafe Bustelo, Smucker's Uncrustables and Rachael Ray Nutrish. By continuing to immerse ourselves in consumer preferences and acting responsibly, we will continue growing our business and the positive impact we have on society. For more information, please visit jmsmucker.com . The J.M. Smucker Co. is the owner of all trademarks referenced herein except for Rachael Ray, a registered trademark of Ray Marks II LLC, which is used under license. SOURCE The J.M. Smucker Co. Vihiga Kenya Kwanza Alliance leaders Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetangula have castigated President Uhuru Kenyatta, accusing him of attempting to extend his term in office by influencing the Azimio La Umoja presidential candidature. Speaking at various stop overs to popularize the new political outfit, Wetangula told off Kenyatta for attempting to impose Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga on the people. "We will not allow you to succeed yourself, because the sovereign authority on succession lies with the people of Kenya," he said. Mudavadi claimed Kenyatta's backing Raila is repeating the events that saw Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Felix Tshisekedi rise from being a last compromise opposition candidate to defeat then Vice-President Martin Fayulu in the 2019 presidential polls. "Azimio's riddle has been solved. We have now realized that the owner of Azimio is none other than Uhuru Kenyatta. He wants to be the overall Chairman and allow Raila, his puppet to take the Presidency, so that he can rule by proxy," Mudavadi claimed. Deputy President William Ruto told President Kenyatta to stop interfering with the country's succession politics, saying such a move would taint his image ahead of his retirement after the August elections. "President Kenyatta will not generate any votes from the factory for Raila Odinga. The President has only one vote," said Wetangula. He repeated his claims that Kenyans would not bow to pressure to elect a puppet president whose responsibility will be to protect the wealth of some few individuals at the expense of millions of ordinary citizens. "Kenyans want to elect individuals who will take the country to the next level in terms of development. They are not interested in a puppet whose work will be to protect wealth belonging to few people," said Ruto Cannabis company to introduce two proprietary brands and bring a favorite back to Florida patients TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE: TRUL) (OTCQX: TCNNF) ("Trulieve" or "the Company"), a leading and top-performing cannabis company in the U.S., today announced the Florida launch of two proprietary brands, Sweet Talk and Momenta, new Cultivar Collection flower releases, and the second product drop of Live Diamonds by Muse. "It's an exciting time for Florida's medical cannabis patients as we continue to expand our offerings and introduce proprietary brands in our home state," said Kim Rivers, CEO of Trulieve. "Trulieve continues to focus on growing safe, quality cannabis and continually innovating to provide a wide variety of products for our medical patients in Florida." Florida patients can expect the following product introductions this February: Momenta Trulieve's staple cannabis line for everyday wellness and overall well-being. The product lineup includes tinctures, nano tinctures, capsules, RSO and a topical muscle gel. Momenta takes a modernized approach to holistic wellness by empowering personal progress every step of the way on your wellness journey. Trulieve's staple cannabis line for everyday wellness and overall well-being. The product lineup includes tinctures, nano tinctures, capsules, RSO and a topical muscle gel. Momenta takes a modernized approach to holistic wellness by empowering personal progress every step of the way on your wellness journey. Sweet Talk Trulieve's newest introduction of tasty edibles. The brand will launch in Florida with strawberry gels. In the future, Sweet Talk products will expand to include chocolate bars and a variety of gummies. Trulieve's newest introduction of tasty edibles. The brand will launch in with strawberry gels. In the future, Sweet Talk products will expand to include chocolate bars and a variety of gummies. Live Diamonds by Muse The most recent innovation from Trulieve's state-of-the-art hydrocarbon extraction lab, the only one of its kind in the state of Florida . The initial product release last month of 500 units sold out within 24 hours. Trulieve's second batch of Live Diamonds will become available for purchase on February 7 at noon. The most recent innovation from Trulieve's state-of-the-art hydrocarbon extraction lab, the only one of its kind in the state of . The initial product release last month of 500 units sold out within 24 hours. Trulieve's second batch of Live Diamonds will become available for purchase on at noon. Cultivar Collection Throughout the month, Trulieve will introduce regional product drops of its small-batch, top-shelf whole flower throughout the state of Florida . Patients can register to receive product release alerts here. The introduction of Sweet Talk and Momenta, in addition to the expansion of Muse and Cultivar Collection offerings, represents Trulieve's continued focus on offering its proprietary brands to Florida's patient community. The company also recently announced an exclusive launch with Miami Mango cannabis in South Florida later this February. Trulieve patients across Florida can choose from the largest selection of THC and CBD products available in a variety of consumption methods, including smokable flower, concentrates, edibles, capsules, syringes, tinctures, topical creams, vaporizers and more. Patients have access to beloved brands such as Bellamy Brothers, Bhang, Binske, Blue River, Black Tuna, Love's Oven, O.pen, and Sunshine Cannabis, all available exclusively at Trulieve in Florida. For more information, to find a location, or to learn how to become a registered patient, please visit Trulieve.com and connect on Instagram or Facebook. Stay up to date with Trulieve's proprietary brands on social media: @meet.your.muse, @mymomenta, @sweettalkedibles and @thecultivarcollection. About Trulieve Trulieve is an industry leading, vertically integrated cannabis company and multi-state operator in the U.S. operating in 11 states, with leading market positions in Arizona, Florida, and Pennsylvania. Trulieve is poised for accelerated growth and expansion, building scale in retail and distribution in new and existing markets through its hub strategy. By providing innovative, high-quality products across its brand portfolio, Trulieve delivers optimal customer experiences and increases access to cannabis, helping patients and customers to live without limits. Trulieve is listed on the CSE under the symbol TRUL and trades on the OTCQX market under the symbol TCNNF. For more information, please visit Trulieve.com. Facebook: @Trulieve Instagram: @Trulieve_ Twitter: @Trulieve Investor Contact Christine Hersey, Director of Investor Relations +1 (424) 202-0210 [email protected] Media Contact Rob Kremer, Executive Director of Corporate Communications +1 (404) 218-3077 [email protected] SOURCE Trulieve Cannabis Corp. ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- United Way Worldwide (UWW) announced today the appointment of key leaders to the Executive Leadership Team who will report to President and CEO, Angela F. Williams. This new slate of senior leaders will play a critical role in helping her develop and execute a new vision for United Way Worldwide. Together, they will strengthen the organization's position as the leading non-profit of choice, deliver mission-critical services and support to its Network, and drive transformational growth as a part of United Way's second-century of service. The new appointments include the following individuals, and their backgrounds are detailed below: Odessa P. Jackson, Esq . General Counsel and Chief Risk Officer . General Counsel and Chief Risk Officer Omoiye O. Kinney EVP and Chief Marketing Officer EVP and Chief Marketing Officer Leonel Parra EVP and Chief Financial Officer EVP and Chief Financial Officer Sonal Shah Interim EVP, Worldwide Network Advancement. Interim EVP, Worldwide Network Advancement. Tim Berger United Way Senior Fellow "I am thrilled that these experienced and accomplished leaders are joining the United Way family during this transformational time," Williams said. "We are assembling a leadership team capable of launching our organization into its next chapter, and ensuring we can continue doing meaningful work well into the future. With the arrival of these dynamic leaders, United Way Worldwide now has one of the most diverse leadership teams in the field a significant development for our long-term success. I believe it is crucial that our leaders reflect the communities we serve so that diversity and equity is effectively centered in all that we do." "United Way is committed to diversity in all that we do -- and that starts with leadership," said Dr. Juliette M. Tuakli, Chair of United Way Worldwide's Board of Trustees. "From our board to the thousands of UWW team members we partner with every day, United Way is stronger because of the unique perspectives and experiences each person brings to the table. This is a transformational moment for United Way, and I look forward to working alongside these world-class leaders as we bring the organization into a new era of service." Odessa P. Jackson, Esq. EVP, General Counsel and Chief Risk Officer As EVP, General Counsel, and Chief Risk Officer, Odessa P. Jackson will help United Way Worldwide navigate the complex elements of United Way's global operation, and keep us charted on the right course. Jackson brings a wide range of corporate, legal, and non-profit management experience to the General Counsel role. She joins United Way from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, where she served as General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Board Secretary since 2017. Prior to her time at the University of the Sciences, Jackson served for 12 years as Principal Deputy General Counsel at Howard University, where she worked on all international and domestic legal matters, including student affairs, corporate governance, compliance, ethics investigations, and employment matters. Jackson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from American University and her Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina School of Law. Omoiye O. Kinney EVP and Chief Marketing Officer As EVP and Chief Marketing Officer, Omoiye O. Kinney will craft the narrative behind United Way Worldwide's work, and reach new audiences through the organization's storytelling. Kinney is an accomplished marketer with deep experience in brand strategy, marketing, communications, digital engagement, and member relations particularly with federated organizations like the YMCA at the national and local level. Most recently, Kinney served as SVP of Marketing and Technology for YMCA of Greater Charlotte providing strategic vision and direction for brand positioning and fundraising campaigns. She also created strategies to grow membership and drive revenue by leveraging technology, developing impactful cause marketing partnerships and driving member and donor engagement. She holds a Master of Science degree in Organizational Leadership from Springfield College and Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Temple University. Leonel Parra EVP and Chief Financial Officer As EVP and Chief Financial Officer, Leonel Parra will ensure United Way Worldwide's resources are responsibly stewarded and leveraged to maximize community impact. Parra has had an extensive career highlighted by his global experience that spans Mexico, Latin America, the Asia-Pacific region and the U.S. He has expertise in financial planning and analysis, international finance, capital and cash management, risk framework, and change management. Parra comes to UWW from Freddie Mac, where he helped create a new strategic organization to integrate Risk and Finance operations, and led the Business Management Center of Excellence for those two divisions. Prior to Freddie Mac, Parra worked at GE for 15 years, last serving as CFO and Pricing Leader - Corporate Finance, for a commercial lending unit of GE Capital. Parra also has served in other leadership roles at GE in Bangkok, Hong Kong and the U.S.. Parra received his Bachelor of Science in Business with a major in Accounting from the Universidad Autonoma de Chihuahua, Mexico. He obtained his CPA from the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy and is a graduate of the GE Corporate's Experienced Financial Leadership Program (EFLP). Sonal Shah Interim EVP, Worldwide Network Advancement As Interim EVP for Worldwide Network Advancement, Sonal Shah will lead the U.S. and International Network teams to work with local United Ways to help deliver the greatest impact for UWW's communities. Shah is a global leader on social impact and innovation. She has started and led social impact efforts in academia, government, and the private and philanthropy sectors for more than 25 years. Most recently, Shah founded and led The Asian American Foundation (TAAF), the largest philanthropic organization for the Asian American community. Shah was Deputy Assistant to President Obama and led the Office of Social Innovation at the White House. At Georgetown University's Beeck Center for Social Impact and Innovation, Shah created the first cross disciplinary center to provide undergraduate students an opportunity to work on social impact projects in the public, private, and social sectors. In 2020, Shah served as the National Policy Director for Mayor Pete Buttigieg's presidential campaign. She has also worked in the private sector with Goldman Sachs and Google and government at the U.S. Department of Treasury on international development. Tim Berger Inaugural United Way Senior Fellow As the inaugural Senior Fellow for United Way, Tim Berger is part of launching an exciting new initiative that will leverage the experience of senior corporate executives to provide guidance and support in their specific area of expertise. United Way's Senior Fellow program will bring fresh perspective and insights from a wide array of industry leaders and put them to work in support of United Way's mission. Berger joins after retiring in 2021 from a distinguished career at Mastercard where he served as Executive Vice President, Global Tax. He played a prominent role with members of Congress on the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This background and experience will play an important role as United Way advances its transformation and carves a new path to financial growth. About United Way Worldwide United Way fights for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community. With global reach and local impact, we're making life better for 48 million people annually. United Way is the world's largest privately funded nonprofit, working in 95% of U.S. communities and 40 countries and territories. That's why we're the mission of choice for 2.5 million volunteers, 7.7 million donors and 45,000 corporate partners in some 1,200 communities. In the wake of COVID-19, we're helping people stay in their homes, stock their pantries, and protect their lives and livelihoods. And we're working to build resilient, equitable communities. Learn more at UnitedWay.org. SOURCE United Way Worldwide TORONTO, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Versapay, a leading provider of cloud-based payments and accounts receivable (AR) automation solutions, is pleased to announce that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Dave Vieregg, Senior Vice President, Channel Sales, to its 2022 Channel Chiefs list. CRN's annual Channel Chiefs project identifies top IT channel vendor executives who continually demonstrate expertise, influence, and innovation in channel leadership. A panel of CRN editors selected the honorees for their channel dedication, industry stature, and accomplishments as channel advocates. The 2022 Channel Chiefs are influential leaders who continue to shape the IT channel with innovative strategies, programs, and partnerships. During his 20+ years in leadership and management, Dave has led and built partner channels at organizations from Insurance to Tax software, Accounting, CRM, Sales & Marketing SaaS, and Payments. He is a producer of world-class sales and distribution channels that support Small Business (SMB), Mid-Market & Enterprise, Government, and Education. With a customer-first mindset, he builds channels that bring trusted advisors to the forefront, including VAR, MSP, Distribution, and Strategic partnerships. In his current role as Senior Vice President, Channel Sales, Dave is responsible for leading the channel sales team and growing Versapay's channel sales relationships. "Congrats to Dave on this well-deserved recognition," shares Craig O'Neill, Versapay CEO. "He is a proven leader with a track record of building high-achieving teams. Under Dave's leadership our channel team has been driving great results: high partner engagement, partner revenue growth, and ultimately, happy customers. His positivity and commitment to partnering with our channel partners add to Versapay's #CustomerObsessed culture." With nine out of ten CFOs currently digitizing their account operations, Versapay's VersaPartner program is growing quickly. Built specifically for Value Added Resellers (VARs), the VersaPartner program provides access to world-class products, resources, and support to help partners drive digital payment adoption, transform accounts receivable teams, and deliver more value to their customers. One great example of Versapay's offerings designed for VARs is the company's integrated payments solution for NetSuite, the market-leading payments product that recently earned Versapay NetSuite Partner of the Year recognition. "CRN's 2022 Channel Chiefs recognition is given exclusively to the foremost channel executives who consistently design, promote, and execute effective partner programs and strategies," said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. "We're thrilled to recognize the tireless work and unwavering commitment these honorees put into fostering outstanding business innovation and building strong partner programs to drive channel engagement and success." CRN's 2022 Channel Chiefs list will be featured in the February 2022 issue of CRN Magazine and online at www.CRN.com/ChannelChiefs. About Versapay Versapay is focused on driving accounts receivable efficiencies and accelerating companies' cash flow by connecting AR teams with their customers over the cloud. The Versapay Network makes billing and payments easy for buyers and sellers, reducing costs and eliminating paper, checks, and manual processes. Based in Toronto and Atlanta, Versapay is owned by Great Hill Partners, a Boston-based technology investment firm. Learn more at versapay.com. Join the conversation at https://twitter.com/Versapay and https://www.linkedin.com/company/versapay/. About The Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers, and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelcompany.com Follow The Channel Company: Twitter, LinkedIn , and Facebook. 2022. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All rights reserved. SOURCE VersaPay Corporation BETHESDA, Md., Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Walker & Dunlop, Inc. announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire GeoPhy, a leading commercial real estate technology company. GeoPhy's data analytics and development capabilities will dramatically accelerate the growth of Walker & Dunlop's lending, brokerage, and emerging businesses including Apprise , its tech-enabled appraisal business and its small balance lending (SBL) platform. GeoPhy CEO and co-founder, Teun van den Dries will continue to lead the GeoPhy team and assume leadership of the Apprise and SBL businesses while supporting continued innovation throughout Walker & Dunlop. Walker & Dunlop Chairman and CEO Willy Walker stated, "This acquisition is a game-changing investment for Walker & Dunlop, as it dramatically accelerates the growth of our technology capabilities in two areas of the market where we have the ability to disrupt the commercial real estate services industry. As our current JV partner in Apprise, we are well acquainted with the GeoPhy team and their capabilities. Actionable technology that makes our bankers and brokers more insightful and capable is what has differentiated Walker & Dunlop, and the acquisition of GeoPhy immediately enhances our capabilities." "GeoPhy is the largest technology investment we have made and accelerates the achievement of our Drive to '25 strategy to use technology to grow our existing scaled lending and brokerage businesses, as well as transform the real estate services landscape by developing tech-enabled businesses that will be faster, better, and cheaper than the competition. We are thrilled to bring Teun, his visionary leadership, and fantastic team to W&D." Mr. van den Dries commented, "GeoPhy has gained a reputation for its unrivaled capabilities in data science and predictive models, which provide our customers in the commercial real estate space with unmatched efficiencies and insights. We're thrilled to bring our industry experience and insights to Walker & Dunlop to propel the growth of their lending, brokerage, and emerging businesses. As a combined company, we have the scale, resources, and expertise to truly differentiate Walker & Dunlop's services in the marketplace. We know W&D, we know the value of their brand and platform, and we expect this acquisition to be a fantastic success." Transaction Details Under the terms of the purchase agreement, Walker & Dunlop will acquire GeoPhy for $85 million in cash to be paid at closing with an additional $205 million of cash earn-out potential structured to directly align with Walker & Dunlop's Drive to '25 goals surrounding growth in appraisal revenues, SBL volumes and mortgage banking gains, as detailed below. Small Balance Lending(1) 2021 mortgage banking gains (MBGs) $29 million MBGs target to achieve low-end of earn-out $61 million MBGs target to achieve maximum earn-out $175 million 2021 origination volume $515 million Origination volume target to achieve low-end of earn- out $1.75 billion Origination volume target to achieve maximum earn-out $5 billion Maximum earn-out potential(2) $155 million (1) Earn-out opportunity is structured in four phases. A portion of the earn-out payment can be earned if the specified target within a phase is achieved. (2) Full earn-out potential requires achievement of all phases of volume and MBGs milestones by 2025. Earn-out is measured and paid annually. Apprise(1)(2) 2021 revenues $9 million Revenues target to achieve low-end of earn-out $30 million Revenues target to achieve maximum earn-out $75 million Maximum earn-out potential(3) $50 million (1) Earn-out includes revenue and productivity targets, with the latter target based upon the annual average number of appraisals issued per month per appraiser. (2) Earn-out opportunity is structured in three phases. A portion of the earn-out payment can be earned if the specified target within a phase is achieved. (3) Full earn-out potential requires achievement of all phases of revenue and productivity milestones by 2025. Earn-out is measured and paid annually The transaction is expected to close during the first quarter of 2022. Closing is subject to certain approvals and consents. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is acting as advisor to Walker & Dunlop, and Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP and Stibbe are representing the Company as legal counsel. Houlihan Lokey is acting as advisor to GeoPhy, and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and Biesheuvel Jansen Advocaten are representing GeoPhy as legal counsel. About Walker & Dunlop Walker & Dunlop (NYSE: WD) is the largest provider of capital to the multifamily industry in the United States and the fourth largest lender on all commercial real estate including industrial, office, retail, and hospitality. Walker & Dunlop enables real estate owners and operators to bring their visions of communities where Americans live, work, shop, and play to life. The power of our people, premier brand, and industry-leading technology enables us to meet any client need including financing, research, property sales, valuation, and advisory services. With over 1,000 employees across every major U.S. market, Walker & Dunlop has consistently been named one of Fortune's Great Places to Work and is committed to making the commercial real estate industry more inclusive and diverse while creating meaningful social, environmental, and economic change in our communities. About GeoPhy GeoPhy, with international headquarters in the Netherlands and U.S. headquarters in New York City, provides CRE professionals with instant access to unique data and hyperlocal insights so they can find, evaluate, and close more deals in less time with greater confidence. GeoPhy is making the world of commercial real estate more transparent, efficient, and faster. Forward Looking Statements Some of the statements contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements relating to: (1) the expected strategic benefits of the acquisition of GeoPhy, (2) the anticipated date of completion of the acquisition; and (3) any assumptions underlying the foregoing statements. The forward-looking statements reflect our current views about future events and are subject to numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and changes in circumstances that may cause actual results to differ significantly from those expressed or contemplated in any forward-looking statement. While the forward-looking statements reflect our good faith projections, assumptions and expectations, they are not guarantees of future results. Furthermore, we disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, new information, data or methods, future events or other changes, except as required by applicable law. Factors that could cause our results to differ materially include, but are not limited to (1) GeoPhy's ability to obtain the consents and approvals required to close the transaction and satisfy other closing conditions, (2) general economic conditions and multifamily commercial real estate market conditions, (3) significant costs related to the transaction, including unexpected costs or liabilities that may arise and (4) our ability to successfully integrate GeoPhy's operations into our current business, including the retention of their employees, and achieve the expected benefits from the transaction. For a further discussion of these and other factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or contemplated in any forward-looking statements, see the section titled ''Risk Factors" in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as it may be updated or supplemented by our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and our other filings with the SEC. Such filings are available publicly on our Investor Relations web page at www.walkerdunlop.com SOURCE Walker & Dunlop, Inc. ABBOTT PARK, Ill., Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Abbott (NYSE: ABT) today announced the world's first patient implants of a dual-chamber leadless pacemaker system as part of its AVEIR DR i2i pivotal clinical study. The implant of Abbott's investigational Aveir dual-chamber leadless pacemaker represents a significant technological milestone for leadless pacing technology and is the first to occur around the world within the pivotal trial. The study is being co-chaired by Daniel J. Cantillon, M.D., clinical trial steering committee co-chair and Associate Section Head and Research Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Cleveland Clinic, and Reinoud Knops, M.D., Ph.D., clinical trial steering committee co-chair and Department of Cardiology and Electrophysiology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, The Netherlands. People who experience a slower-than-normal heart rate may receive a pacemaker -- a small battery-powered device implanted in the chest that delivers electrical impulses via thin insulated wires, called cardiac leads, that cause the heart muscle chambers to contract to help restore a normal heart rhythm. Unlike traditional pacemakers, leadless pacemakers are implanted directly into the heart through a minimally invasive catheter-based procedure and eliminate the need for cardiac leads. While leadless pacemakers work like traditional pacemakers to regulate heart rate, they offer reduced lead-related complications and a less restrictive recovery period due to the minimally invasive implant procedure.i Yet historically, leadless pacing options have been limited to single-chamber devices because synchronization of two leadless pacemakers has been highly difficult to achieve. Abbott solved for this challenge by designing the company's innovative "i2i technology" to provide beat-by-beat communication between two leadless pacemakers, one positioned in the right ventricle and one positioned in the right atrium. This technology is designed to regulate the heart rate synchronously between chambers and allow for true dual-chamber leadless pacing. The first implant was performed at Na Homolce Hospital in Prague, Czech Republic, led by site principal investigator Petr Neuzil, M.D., Ph.D., Head of the Department of Cardiology, and assisted by site co-investigator, Vivek Y. Reddy, M.D. "The first-in-human implant of a dual-chamber leadless pacemaker is a major clinical milestone that will open up new possibilities for patients requiring pacing support," said Dr. Daniel J. Cantillon. "Abbott has designed a device capable of treating these patients, and we're excited to see this technology advance patient care." Abbott has focused significantly on driving leadless pacing technology that can potentially improve care for more patients battling abnormal heart rhythms. The latest milestone for the Aveir DR leadless pacemaker follows recent data showing that Abbott's investigational single-chamber leadless pacemaker Aveir VR met the pre-specified primary endpoints in its pivotal trial. "As leadless pacing technology has evolved, we've always viewed dual chamber leadless technology as a therapy evolution that would have a dramatic impact on more patients but a technology that was going to be very challenging to develop," Dr. Reinoud Knops. "That we've reached this point in time where dual chamber pacing without leads has become a reality is a monumental moment for modern medicine." Because nearly 80% of people who receive a pacemaker need a dual-chamber option to pace both chambers on the right side of the heart, Aveir DR has been designed to address a critical need for these patients. Abbott also designed the Aveir DR leadless pacemaker to be retrievable, so the system can be replaced or retrieved as therapy needs evolve. The Aveir DR system is designed to provide real-time mapping capability so physicians can assess therapy delivery and reposition the device before implant during a patient's procedure. "The Aveir DR dual-chamber leadless pacemaker builds upon our Aveir VR single-chamber leadless platform, and we believe that once approved these systems have the potential to change the way doctors approach the treatment of abnormal heart rhythms," said Randel Woodgrift, senior vice president of Abbott's cardiac rhythm management business. "The involvement of world-class heart institutions in this study reinforces that the innovations we are developing are exactly the kind of advancements physicians around the world want for their patients." ABOUT THE AVEIR DR I2I STUDY The Aveir DR i2i study is a prospective, multicenter, international, single-arm, pivotal investigational study designed to evaluate the clinical safety and efficacy of the Aveir DR leadless pacemaker in patients who were indicated for a DDD(R) or dual-chamber bradycardia pacing pacemaker, which stimulates the appropriate chamber of the heart when clinically necessary. The study plan is to enroll up to 550 patients from up to 80 sites in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Asia-Pacific, and all patients will be followed for a minimum of 12 months post-implant. The Aveir DR i2i leadless pacemaker is an investigational device being clinically evaluated as part of a global pivotal study and is not yet commercially available. The device design specifications are subject to change. About Abbott Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 113,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries. Connect with us at www.abbott.com, on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/abbott-/, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Abbott and on Twitter @AbbottNews. i. Sattar Y, Ullah W, Roomi S, Rauf H, Mukhtar M, Ahmad A, Ali Z, Abedin MS, Alraies MC. Complications of leadless vs conventional (lead) artificial pacemakers - a retrospective review. J Community Hosp Intern Med Perspect. 2020 Aug 2;10(4):328-333. doi: 10.1080/20009666.2020.1786901. PMID: 32850090; PMCID: PMC7427453. SOURCE Abbott SAN RAMON, Calif., Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Accela , the trusted provider of cloud solutions for government, today announced that Accela Vice President of Alliances and Channels, Tony Aiello, was named to CRN's 2022 Channel Chief list, a brand of The Channel Company. CRN's annual Channel Chiefs list recognizes top IT channel vendor executives who demonstrate influence, innovation, and expertise in channel leadership. All honorees are selected by a panel of CRN editors. In his role, Aiello is focused on empowering the company's partner ecosystem. In 2021, Accela onboarded several strategic system integrators and resellers as well as important independent software vendors to both extend and deliver Accela's solutions to even more counties and states to help their modernization journey and prepare for whatever comes next. "I am honored to be named a CRN Channel Chief, and grateful for my team and the channel partners that help Accela advance governments' digital transformation and build stronger communities," said Aiello . "Our partners play a critical role in delivering Accela's solutions and helping government agency leaders meet the evolving needs of their citizens. I look forward to continuing to support our channel partners' successes." Recent Accela channel successes include receiving two Microsoft US Partner Awards for "Government Partner of the Year" and "Community Response," launching and implementing 12 COVID-19 response solutions, as well as having 80 percent of Accela's partner ecosystem attending the company's annual Partner Summit. The spring 2022 Partner Summit will showcase Accela's ecosystem of innovative companies from Microsoft to Esri who help implement Accela's platform and enhance customer experience. The company also developed new strategic partnerships that empowered agencies to improve how they deliver services to residents. "CRN's 2022 Channel Chiefs recognition is given exclusively to the foremost channel executives who consistently design, promote, and execute effective partner programs and strategies," said Blaine Raddon , CEO of The Channel Company. "We're thrilled to recognize the tireless work and unwavering commitment these honorees put into fostering outstanding business innovation and building strong partner programs to drive channel engagement and success." This recognition reflects Accela's leadership in building an ecosystem to deliver modern solutions that accelerate governments' digital transformation and meet communities' needs. To learn more about Accela's solutions, please visit https://www.accela.com/solutions/ . About Accela Accela provides a unified suite of cloud solutions trusted by governments across the globe to accelerate their digital transformation, deliver vital services, and build stronger communities. More than 275 million citizens worldwide benefit from Accela's government software solutions. The company offers agile, purpose-built solutions and the power of a platform that provides users with a consumer-like experience, shares data across departments, and ensures world-class security. With Accela, government agencies experience rapid and effective digital transformation. Accela's government software meets agencies wherever they are on their modernization journey, while also helping them prepare for whatever comes next. The company is a 2021 Microsoft US Partner Award winner for its innovative SaaS solutions to help governments respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and was named as one of the Largest East Bay Tech Employers by San Francisco Business Times. Accela is headquartered in San Ramon, California, with offices around the world. For more information, visit www.accela.com . Contact: Holly Langbein, (916) 769-2199, [email protected] SOURCE Accela MIDLAND, Texas, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- America's Warrior Partnership (AWP) and the Permian Strategic Partnership (PSP) announce an alliance to increase support for the 20,000 veterans across the Permian Basin area. The partnership will provide unique community support for local veterans through the Community Integration model, a nationally recognized program of AWP. "Every veteran community has unique needs and challenges. By partnering with the Permian Strategic Partnership, we will be able to truly understand how we can help and support this veteran population by enhancing the efficacy of community resources to meet those needs," said Jim Lorraine, President, and CEO of America's Warrior Partnership. "We are thrilled to be partnering with Permian Basin communities and the veterans that call this area home and we look forward to all of the work we can do together. America's Warrior Partnership is a national veteran organization that focuses on an upstream approach to proactively know the veterans in the community and connect them with local resources and opportunities. AWP ensures greater access to services and opportunity by partnering with local leaders and the full scope of support organizations: VA, local and regional resources; educational, employment, faith-based, recreational, etc. to provide coordinated, holistic care to veterans, and improve their quality of life. The community analysis funded by the PSP and performed by AWP found the area's existing support for the veteran population could be enhanced and bolstered by creating its own unique program customized to the needs of local veterans. Through this partnership, AWP will build and implement this customized programming utilizing the Community Integration model within the Permian Basin communities to proactively connect with the veteran population and ensure access to quality services and opportunities. AWP will work to create a strong and engaged military community that keeps residents connected and thriving. "Reaching our veteran population is a priority for the PSP and we are pleased to bring America's Warrior Partnership to the Permian Basin to deploy programming customized to fit the needs of veterans in our region," said Tracee Bentley, President and CEO of the PSP. "Veterans across the Permian Basin represent an essential part of our culture and we are deeply invested in improving their quality of life by helping them meet their goals and dreams. We know this partnership will allow us to achieve these objectives and we look forward to seeing our military community grow, while strengthening the whole region in the process." For more information on America's Warrior Partnership and their Community Integration efforts in the Permian Basin and across the country, subscribe to America's Warrior Partnership newsletter by visiting https://www.americaswarriorpartnership.org . About America's Warrior Partnership America's Warrior Partnership is committed to empowering communities to empower veterans. We fill the gaps between veteran service organizations by helping nonprofits connect with veterans, their families, and caregivers. Our programs bolster nonprofit efficacy, improving their results, and empowering their initiatives. Preventing veteran suicide is the singular outcome of America's Warrior Partnership's work. www.AmericasWarriorPartnership.org About the Permian Strategic Partnership The Permian Strategic Partnership aims to strengthen and improve the quality of life for Permian Basin residents by partnering with local leaders to develop and implement strategic plans that foster superior schools, safer roads, quality healthcare, affordable housing, and a trained workforce. The companies involved with the PSP will bring people, expertise, resources, and leadership to develop solutions in partnership with local leaders and communities. Learn more at www.permianpartnership.org SOURCE Americas Warrior Partnership OSLO, Norway, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Photocure ASA, The Bladder Cancer Company, announces U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of a new and improved Blue Light system to be used with Photocure's Cysview product in Blue Light Cystoscopy (BLC) procedures for the detection of NMIBC*. Manufactured and soon to be commercialized by KARL STORZ Endoscopy-America, Inc. (KARL STORZ), the new Blue Light system is approved for use in procedures requiring rigid cystoscopy. FDA approval was granted to KARL STORZ on February 4, 2022. "The successful FDA approval is great news for the bladder cancer community in the U.S.," commented Geoffrey Coy, Vice President and General Manager, North America at Photocure. "In healthcare, constant technical innovation is crucial, and we expect that this new, enhanced BLC system will fulfill our clients' expectations for improving the Blue Light experience. The new system is the next generation and includes practical features to make the technology more user friendly. We look forward to expanding the use of BLC with Cysview," Geoffrey Coy concluded. "At KARL STORZ, we are committed to helping our customers deliver top-quality care, and we believe that our new Blue Light system demonstrates this commitment," said Michael Lyman, Executive Director, Sales & Marketing, Urology and Gynecology, KARL STORZ Endoscopy-America. "The New Blue Light Powered by Saphira will allow us to serve the needs of our customers, providing next-level visualization to enable the right solutions for urological procedures in patients with Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer and continue our collaboration with the Photocure team to make high-quality BLC available to more patients in the U.S.". Photocure expects to inform its stakeholders about the launch of the new Blue Light system as KARL STORZ provides further information regarding the product and its launch plans. *NMIBC: non-muscle invasive bladder cancer Note to editors All trademarks mentioned in this release are protected by law and are registered trademarks of Photocure ASA and KARL STORZ Endoscopy. Hexvix/Cysview and BLC are registered trademarks of Photocure ASA. Saphira is a registered trademark of KARL STORZ Endoscopy. This press release may contain product details and information which are not valid, or a product that is not accessible, in your country. Please be aware that Photocure does not take any responsibility for accessing such information, which may not comply with any legal process, regulation, registration, or usage in the country of your origin. About Bladder Cancer Bladder cancer ranks as the seventh most common cancer worldwide, with 1 720 000 prevalent cases (5-year prevalence rate)1a, 573 000 new cases and more than 200 000 deaths annually in 2020.1b Approx. 75% of all bladder cancer cases occur in men.1 It has a high recurrence rate, with an average of 61% in year one and 78% over five years.2 Bladder cancer has the highest lifetime treatment costs per patient of all cancers.3 Bladder cancer is a costly, potentially progressive disease for which patients have to undergo multiple cystoscopies due to the high risk of recurrence. There is an urgent need to improve both the diagnosis and the management of bladder cancer for the benefit of patients and healthcare systems alike. Bladder cancer is classified into two types, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), depending on the depth of invasion in the bladder wall. NMIBC remains in the inner layer of cells lining the bladder. These cancers are the most common (75%) of all cases and include the subtypes Ta, carcinoma in situ (CIS), and T1 lesions. In MIBC, the cancer has grown into deeper layers of the bladder wall. These cancers, including subtypes T2, T3, and T4, are more likely to spread and are harder to treat.4 1 Globocan. a) 5-year prevalence / b) incidence/mortality by population. Available at: https://gco.iarc.fr/today, accessed [January 2022]. 2 Babjuk M, et al. Eur Urol. 2019; 76(5): 639-657 3 Sievert KD et al. World J Urol 2009;27:295300 4 Bladder Cancer. American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/bladder-cancer.html About Hexvix/Cysview (hexaminolevulinate HCl) Hexvix/Cysview is a drug that preferentially accumulates in cancer cells in the bladder, making them glow bright pink during Blue Light Cystoscopy (BLC). BLC with Hexvix/Cysview improves the detection of tumors and leads to more complete resection, fewer residual tumors, and better management decisions. Cysview is the tradename in the U.S. and Canada, Hexvix is the tradename in all other markets. Photocure is commercializing Cysview/Hexvix directly in the U.S. and Europe and has strategic partnerships for the commercialization of Hexvix/Cysview in China, Chile, Australia, and New Zealand. Please refer to https://photocure.com/partners/our-partners for further information on our commercial partners. About Photocure ASA Photocure: The Bladder Cancer Company delivers transformative solutions to improve the lives of bladder cancer patients. Our unique technology, making cancer cells glow bright pink, has led to better health outcomes for patients worldwide. Photocure is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, and listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE: PHO). For more information, please visit us at www.photocure.com, www.hexvix.com, www.cysview.com About KARL STORZ Endoscopy-America, Inc. KARL STORZ Endoscopy-America, Inc., is an affiliate of KARL STORZ SE & Co. KG, an international leader for more than 75 years in advanced medical technology, providing surgical and procedural imaging, instrumentation, and enterprise-wide integration. Based in Tuttlingen, Germany, KARL STORZ SE & Co. KG is a family-owned company that designs, engineers, manufactures, and markets all its products with an emphasis on visionary design, precision craftsmanship, and clinical effectiveness. For more information, call (800) 421-0837 or visit the company's website at www.karlstorz.com. For further information, please contact: Dan Schneider President and CEO Photocure ASA Email: [email protected] Erik Dahl CFO Photocure ASA Tel: +4745055000 Email: [email protected] David Moskowitz Vice President, Investor Relations Photocure ASA Tel: +1 202 280 0888 Email: [email protected] Media and IR enquiries: Geir Bjrlo Corporate Communications (Norway) Tel: +47 91540000 Email: [email protected] This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/photocure/r/bladder-cancer-technology--new-improved-blue-light-cystoscopy-system-receives-fda-approval-for-use-i,c3499758 The following files are available for download: SOURCE Photocure Braeburn and Chatham Apartments consist of 4 locations, all within a 1.5 mile radius a 21-unit two-story building, 24 townhomes, a 6-unit three-story building and a 40-unit three-story building. The overall unit mix consists of 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms. The townhomes are unique in particular as they are two-story masonry buildings that were originally constructed circa 1863-1864 by the Wanskuck Company to house company workers. The buildings are considered historic properties that contribute to the Wanskuck Mill Village Historic District, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. All of the site exteriors will be renovated with a new fresh look with the exception of the townhomes which will maintain the existing historic fabric of the buildings. The building systems will be modernized with a focus on increasing energy efficiency. Each resident's home will be upgraded with new kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, paint and LED lighting. The renovation will also include new amenities such as a business center, dog park, BBQ and picnic areas. BLVD's Managing Principal, Robert Budman, states, "It is exciting to kick off our first affordable housing redevelopment in the State of Rhode Island. We are grateful for RIHousing's assistance in bringing this project to fruition, and look forward to more projects within the state in the future." "Preserving the existing housing stock of affordable rental homes is critically important for Rhode Island and its residents," said Carol Ventura, RIHousing's Executive Director. "The acquisition and rehabilitation of two existing affordable developments will provide residents with both interior and exterior improvements and systems upgrades, while also positively contributing to surrounding neighborhoods. And importantly, the affordability of these rental homes has been extended for another 40 years." The redevelopment of Braeburn and Chatham apartments will have a positive impact on the community by preserving its affordability for individuals and families who fall in an income range between 30% and 60% of the area's median income. All units are covered by a Section 8 Housing Assistance Program (HAP) contract and the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) requirements will keep the property available for income eligible residents through 2061. Project Team: Developer: BLVD Communities BLVD Communities Equity Partner: Boston Financial Investment Management Boston Financial Investment Management General Contractor: STAND Corporation STAND Corporation Construction Lender: Citi Community Capital Citi Community Capital Architect: David Presbrey Architects Total Development Costs: $25,325,000 BLVD Communities ("BLVD") is an owner, operator and developer of affordable housing nationwide. It aims to preserve and expand long-term housing affordability for low-income households primarily through utilizing the Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit program and the Section 8 rent subsidy program. BLVD's team has a proven record of successfully owning, developing and asset managing affordable housing with a current portfolio of 6,000 affordable units in 17 states. SOURCE BLVD Group The SDA is a key national initiative by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology ( MCIT ) of Saudi Arabia, which aims to develop human capital and the digital capabilities of Saudi youth. It builds a national academy with international standards to educate Saudi talent in emerging technologies, and prepare them for careers in the communications and IT sector that advance the Kingdom's digital transformation and 'Saudi Vision 2030'. Through the new blockchain academy in Riyadh, the BSV association and SDA will collaborate to provide blockchain learning and development resources for a variety of audiences - including developers, students, start-up entrepreneurs, business executives and government agency representatives. The academy will focus on the BSV blockchain, an enterprise-grade network that can support big business and government-scale data applications with high volumes of transactions at minimal cost; BSV median transaction fees are often a small fraction of a U.S. cent. The BSV Blockchain Academy is the latest in a series of sector-specific educational programs launched by the SDA. As Eng. Faris AlSaqabi, Deputy Minister for Future Jobs & Capabilities at MCIT explains, "Because the Fourth Industrial Revolution involves many emerging technologies, the SDA seeks to attract multiple digital academies in order to provide training across all fields that will be vital to Saudi Arabia's digital transformation. Since the initial academies announced at our launch event in October 2021, we continually look to add new fields of learning. Given the high interest in blockchain technology, we are proud to work with BSV's team to bring world-class blockchain training to Saudi Arabia in this landmark initiative for the Middle East." The BSV blockchain's association and SDA announced their educational partnership during a signing ceremony on the final day of LEAP 2022 the global technology conference in Riyadh which took place on 1-3 February 2022. LEAP 2022 was the biggest ever technology event debut, attracting over 100,000 people. Commenting on the agreement, Mohammed Alsuhaim, CEO of the Saudi Digital Academy said: "We are pleased that the Saudi Digital Academy is partnering with the BSV Blockchain Association to create in Riyadh the Middle East region's first full scale blockchain academy. This initiative will teach students, developers, business executives and government representatives across Saudi Arabia the blockchain knowledge necessary to navigate the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The BSV team shares our vision for building true blockchain utility at big scale to power data for a digital Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and we anticipate this is the first step in other areas of collaboration with the BSV Blockchain Association." Also commenting, Jimmy Nguyen, Founding President of the BSV blockchain's association said: "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is at the forefront of emerging technologies such as Internet of Things, robotics, smart cities, and artificial intelligence. These fields are all driven by data, and only the BSV blockchain has the scaling capacity to act as their distributed data infrastructure. We are very excited to educate Saudi youth and professionals about the power of BSV to drive digital transformation and build a better world. We look forward to this educational partnership with the MCIT and the Saudi Digital Academy, and bringing useful blockchain adoption to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia." About the BSV Blockchain BSV is the ideal blockchain for enterprise and government projects. With unbounded on-chain scaling, the BSV blockchain meets the needs of large-scale technology applications: high transaction volumes, fast speed, predictable low fees, micropayment capabilities, and greater data capacity. Its powerful technical capabilities enable smart contracts, tokenization, IoT device management, computation and more. As a public ledger, BSV also enables transparency, auditability and more honesty for governments, citizens and enterprises. Applications on BSV now span a wide array of industry sectors media & entertainment, social media, online games, Metaverse/AR/VR, digital advertising, data integrity, ID management, government services, supply chain, accounting, RegTech, distributed network intelligence, Internet of Things, and financial services. BSV also supports an environment-friendly and regulation-compliant blockchain ecosystem that enterprises and governments want. SOURCE BSV Blockchain Growing challenges in Mali are forcing Germany's military to consider the future of operations in the West African state. There are around 1,200 German personnel deployed. Germany's defense minister on Sunday expressed doubt as to whether Germany's military mission in Mali can continue. Christine Lambrecht told German broadcaster ZDF: "I am currently very skeptical about whether we can actually continue to be involved on the ground. I don't have the impression that we are welcome any longer." Germany's Mali mission There are around 1,300 German military personnel involved in the European Union Training Mission in Mali (EUTM) and the UN's MINUSMA mission. They're part of the multinational counter-terrorism and peacekeeping mission in the country that has been in progress for nine years. Eberhard Zorn, the Inspector General of the German armed forces, also expressed concerns over the continued viability of the mission. Speaking to Deutsche Presse-Agentur Zorn highlighted growing military threats and political instability in the west African state. "We have a government there that we understand does not have democratic legitimacy. That elections is in five years is an intolerable state of affairs for us. There can be no 'business as usual,'" Zorn said. Frayed relationships Tension between Mali's military junta and former colonial power France has led to the expulsion of the French ambassador. The military leadership also called for the immediate withdrawal of Danish forces in January. They were to join the fight against Islamist insurgents in the Sahel region. Mali along with a number of west African neighbors has been locked in a war of attrition with various insurgent groups active in the border region between Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Western states have been concerned that if they pull forces out of the country, Russia will step in and fill the gap. In January the US military said Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group were in Mali. The military junta has denied that Russian mercenaries are being used but says there are Russian trainers in the country. (dpa, Reuters) "This Super Bowl, we celebrate a historic moment in Bud Light and Anheuser-Busch's history: the introduction of Bud Light NEXT, our first-ever zero carb beer," said Andy Goeler, Vice President of Marketing, Bud Light. "Ten years in the making, Bud Light NEXT is a symbol of our continued commitment to innovation. Now, on advertising's biggest stage, we'll pay tribute to those who are pushing boundaries and redefining the world around us every day." Featuring four vignettes synced to the tune of Barbra Streisand's hit song Gotta Move, the new commercial titled, "Zero in the Way of Possibility" demonstrates what's possible when you choose to break traditional conventions and challenges fans to re-think the status quo. From living in a cramped New York City apartment to roaming freely in a home upstate. From wandering traditional art galleries to exploring unique NFT communities. From an in-real-life concert performance to a Metaverse experience. Bud Light NEXT is a celebration of the barrier, rule, and mold breakers. The spot also marks another milestone for the brand's recent entry into the NFT space, by featuring a Nouns DAO partnership. The partnership comes to life in the third vignette when their famous glasses, as well as a token from the new Bud Light N3XT NFT Collection, make an appearance. For its first-ever Super Bowl spot, Bud Light NEXT wants to ensure that there's Zero in the Way of Possibility for 21+ fans everywhere. So, when fans spot a "zero" in their everyday lives, Bud Light NEXT might add a "zero" to their bank account. Starting now through February 18, fans can enter the "Spot a Zero, Add a Zero*" sweepstakes by posting photos on social of all the zeros in front of them zeros in the Bud Light NEXT spot, zeros on NEXT cans, zeros in other ads, zeros on street signs, and zeros anywhere in between using #SpotAZero and #Sweepstakes for a chance to be one of seven lucky people to win $10,000. Ten years in the making, Bud Light NEXT is brewed for today's 21+ consumers who have long desired a beer that breaks the barriers of a traditional lager and offers the sessionability and stats of a seltzer. In addition to offering zero carbs, the new super crisp light beer boasts 80 calories, 4% ALC/VOL and offers a clean, and refreshing taste. Bud Light NEXT is now available nationwide wherever Bud Light is sold. To follow the latest on Bud Light, visit BudLight.com and follow Bud Light on Facebook at Facebook.com/BudLight, on Twitter at @BudLight, and on Instagram at @BudLight. *BUD LIGHT NEXT #SPOTAZERO. No Purchase Necessary. Open to US residents 21+. Begins 2/7/22 and ends 2/18/22. Multiple entry periods. See Official Rules at Budlight.com/SpotAZeroRules for entry deadlines, prizes & details. Msg & data rates may apply. Void where prohibited. About Bud Light The Bud Light brand name represents a family of products including Bud Light, Bud Light Seltzer, Bud Light Peels, Bud Light Chelada, Bud Light Platinum and Bud Light Platinum Seltzer. At the forefront of innovation, Bud Light continues to expand its product portfolio, offering a wide range of products brewed to meet the ever-changing preferences of consumers everywhere. Since 1982, Bud Light has delivered the best-selling premium light lager in America that is consistently brewed with a fresh, clean finish. For more information about Bud Light and our full family of products, visit www.BudLight.com . About Anheuser-Busch For more than 160 years, Anheuser-Busch has carried on a legacy of brewing great-tasting, high-quality beers that have satisfied beer drinkers for generations. Today, we own and operate more than 120 facilities, including breweries, wholesaler distribution centers, agricultural facilities and packaging plants, and have more than 19,000 colleagues across the United States. We are home to several of America's most recognizable beer brands, including Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob ULTRA and Stella Artois, as well as a number of regional brands that provide beer drinkers with a choice of the best-tasting craft beers in the industry. From responsible drinking programs and emergency drinking water donations to industry-leading sustainability efforts, we are guided by our unwavering commitment to supporting the communities we call home. For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com or follow Anheuser-Busch on LinkedIn , Twitter , Facebook and Instagram . Press Contacts Bud Light Michael Goon [email protected] 3PM Sherman Fabes [email protected] SOURCE Bud Light TORONTO, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Canntab Therapeutics Limited (CSE:PILL) (OTCQB:CTABF) (FRA:TBF1) (the "Company" or "Canntab"), a leading innovator of cannabinoid and terpene blends in hard pill form for therapeutic applications, is pleased to announce a strategic planning collaboration and commercial partnership to create an Indigenous Opiate and Illicit Drug Crisis Plan (the "Plan") lead by First Nations community leader Chief Adam Pawis of the Shawanaga First Nation. The Plan includes Canntab providing direct online access through a First Nations specific web portal designed to service Indigenous communities and their members nationwide, both on and off First Nations territories. The goal in entering into this partnership is to provide health and wellness solutions to over 100,000 patients, helping to mitigate opiate use and abuse and other medical issues utilising Canntab's products. The Canntab web portal will provide First Nations-Inuit and Indigenous Peoples with customised access to Canntab's offering of patented and proprietary pharmaceutical grade cannabidiol ("CBD") and tetrahydrocannabinol ("THC") in solid dose pills and caplets. Canntab's alternative solutions will be made available online to service the most remote First Nation's communities and its members regardless of location. Chief Pawis and the Shawanaga First Nation that he leads, are proud members of the Robinson Huron Treaty Territory in Ontario, Canada. In his leadership role, Chief Pawis aims to eradicate opiate and illicit drug use in his and other communities throughout the First Nations through the creation of the Plan, a culturally sensitive strategic community plan developed in collaboration with Canntab. "ahnii kinawaia (hello everyone), I am extremely excited to have an opportunity to contribute to the better health of our First Nation communities and individual members by working in collaboration with Canntab. Current opiate, and other health treatments, are expensive and therefore have been largely ineffective as our people continue to experience. The current opiate and illicit drugs epidemic is an extremely trying crisis for many of our community members and their extended families, including our community elders and grandparents, as they are called upon to provide essential and important additional family care and support in the twilight of their own lives. We need to do more to address this crisis, which continues to cause more deaths than the Covid-19 pandemic. In collaboration with Canntab, our goal is to ensure every First Nation-Inuit, and Indigenous person across Canada has immediate ease of access to Canntab's healthy alternative medicinal solutions to opiate and illicit drugs, regardless of community remoteness or geographical location. Our shared efforts are dedicated to creating a clear path where no individual or family is left behind without direct immediate access to Canntab's alternative medicinal CBD and THC offerings," said Chief Pawis. "The current environment surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic has limited individual movement, further isolating the First Nations communities across Canada. Canntab is very pleased to provide easy online and direct access to First Nations and their members nationwide, both on and off the First Nations reserves/territories, and from within their own home communities, regardless of location through a web portal developed to specifically service Indigenous communities' health and wellness needs. Canntab is well positioned to provide community members alternative treatments for pain management, sleep, alcohol and drug addictions and other overall general well-being solutions" stated Chief Executive Officer, Larry Latowsky. Since 2017, First Nations have seen an increase in opioid-related poisonings and deaths, primarily due to the growing presence of fentanyl in the unregulated drug supply. First Nations are significantly overrepresented in opioid-related deaths, with a mortality rate approximately four times higher than the rest of the population. Off-reserve First Nation individuals and those aged 44 years and younger have been impacted even more. The opioid use epidemic has been disrupting families and entire Indigenous communities across Canada for many years and has now been amplified by the Covid-19 pandemic. The use of opioids and other substances, including fentanyl-related poisoning, continues to surge during the Covid-19 pandemic, during which time the number of First Nation deaths attributed to opioid poisonings more than doubled and the First Nations continue to be disproportionately affected. The Plan will make Canntab's full suite of oral tablet products, which include a comprehensive range of THC and CBD strengths, available to First Nations, Inuit and Indigenous communities and their members across Canada. The Canntab hard tablet delivery format is easy to administer and is also titratable, due to the availability of multiple strengths. The ability to customize dosage makes Canntab's suite of products the ideal choice for Elders and patients with substance use disorders related to the use of opiates and other related painkillers and illicit drugs as well as chronic pain, and addictions including drugs and alcohol. "Indigenous mental health issues and conditions that have been caused by elevated trauma relating to the now disclosed history of the 60's Scoop and Residential Schools can also be addressed," Chief Pawis further stated. Dawn Tabobondung, Chief Executive Officer of First Nations Growers GP Inc. commented, "I am very excited to play a role in the Plan as opiates and illicit drugs continue to devastate indigenous and non-native communities across Canada. Canntab is to be commended in our shared efforts to address and provide better health solutions for indigenous peoples. I am especially proud that our shared Plan includes ensuring that healthy alternative solutions and products approved by Health Canada, under the Canntab corporate umbrella, will "specifically" reach both Ontario and Canada's most northern and remote First Nation communities through Canntab's easy accessible, indigenous specific, online web portal. My grandmother Chief Flora Tabobondung was Awarded the Royal Order of Canada for her continued efforts as Chief for 27 consecutive years contributing to the betterment of indigenous peoples. I am proud to follow in her footprint in contributing to the betterment of the indigenous peoples across Turtle Island." Mr. Latowsky further stated, "the Plan really is a game changer, as not very often can an initiative be undertaken that benefits the general wellness of people, attacks an addiction crisis in a community and for our shareholders has the potential to generate substantial positive revenues and profits." The Plan is being conducted through an agreement with First Nations Growers GP Inc. The agreement is for an initial one-year term, which is renewable, and provides for a cash fee of $ 30,000 for start-up costs and an issuance of 1,000,000 warrants upon the satisfaction of specified milestones and regulatory approval, which are exercisable into one common share of Canntab at price of $0.80 per warrant for a period of 24 months. About Canntab Therapeutics Limited Canntab is a Canadian phytopharmaceutical company focused on the manufacturing and distribution of a suite of hard pill cannabinoid formulations in multiple doses and timed-release combinations. Long referred to as Cannabis 3.0 by the Company, Canntab's proprietary hard pill cannabinoid formulations provide doctors, patients and consumers with medical grade solutions which incorporate all the features one would expect from any prescription or over the counter medication sold in pharmacies around the world. These include once a day and extended-release formulations, both providing an accurate dose and improved shelf stability. Canntab holds a Cannabis Standard Processing & Sales for Medical Purposes License, a Cannabis Research License from Health Canada. Canntab trades on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol PILL, on the OTCQB under the symbol CTABF, and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol TBF1. Notice Regarding Forward Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. The forward-looking information and forward- looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: the adoption of the Company's products; the future plans and goals of the Company; affiliates recommending and prescribing the Company's products; the future product offerings and distribution channels of the Company, including the Company's website; the Company providing a web portal specific to the First Nations-Inuit and Indigenous Peoples and fulfilling the Plan; the Plan being successful; the First Nations-Inuit and Indigenous Peoples utilizing the Company's web portal and buying the Company's products; the Company helping to curb the opiate and illicit drug epidemic; and the success of the agreement with First Nations Growers GP Inc and its continued renewal. Forward-looking information in this news release are based on certain assumptions and expected future events, namely: the Company's ability to continue as a going concern; the continued commercial viability, adoption and growth in popularity of the Company's products; continued approval of the Company's activities by the relevant governmental and/or regulatory authorities; the Company continuing to develop products; continued growth of the Company; the Company hitting its future plans and goals; affiliates will recommend and prescribe the Company's products; the Company providing a web portal specific to the First Nations-Inuit and Indigenous Peoples and fulfilling the Plan on its anticipated timeline; the Plan being successful; the First Nations-Inuit and Indigenous Peoples utilizing the Company's web portal and buying the Company's products; the Company helping to curb the opiate and illicit drug epidemic; and the agreement with First Nations Growers GP Inc being continued and successful. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: the potential inability of the Company to continue as a going concern; risks associated with potential governmental and/or regulatory action with respect to the Company's operations; competition within the industry; risks that the Company will be unable to execute its plans and/or meet its goals; risk that the Company will not grow as anticipated; risks that consumers will not purchase its products; risks that affiliates will not recommend and prescribe the Company's products; risks that the Company will not meet its anticipated timelines; risk that the Company will not complete the web portal and/or that the web portal will not be utilized by the First Nations-Inuit and Indigenous Peoples; risk that the Plan will be unsuccessful; risk that the First Nations-Inuit and Indigenous Peoples will not utilize the Company's web portal and buy the Company's products; risk that the Company will be unable to help curb the opiate and illicit drug epidemic; and risk that the agreement with First Nations Growers GP Inc will be cancelled, be unsuccessful and/or not renewed. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and reflect the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change thereafter. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law. SOURCE Canntab Therapeutics Limited ALBANY, N.Y., Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to analysts at Transparency Market Research (TMR), the global chlor-alkali market is estimated to expand at a CAGR of 4.4% during the forecast period from 2020 to 2030. Caustic soda is being increasingly used in the manufacturing of aluminum. In the recent years, companies from different end-use industries are increasing the demand for caustic soda that offers high abrasion resistance and free flowing properties. Hence, enterprises in the chlor-alkali market are increasing the use of next-gen production technologies in order to cater to the rising product demand. Several companies in the global chlor-alkali market growing efforts to offer customized packaging solutions. Such efforts are helping enterprises to fulfill urgent and unexpected supply demands, thereby strengthening their credibility credentials. Moreover, several companies in the chlor-alkali market are focusing on surfactants and biodiesel production in order to boost their revenues. Hence, the global chlor-alkali market is prognosticated to cross US$ 100 Bn by 2030, according to the research report by TMR on the chlor-alkali industry. Leading companies operating in the chlor-alkali market are executing different strategies, including partnerships, collaborations, mergers, and acquisitions to maintain their prominent market positions. Furthermore, several enterprises in the chlor-alkali market are tapping avenues in different sectors, including pharmaceuticals and viscose staple fiber. Get PDF Brochure for More Insights https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=1521 The chlor-alkali market in Asia Pacific is expected to maintain its dominant position during the forecast period. Swift industrialization and urbanization in many nations, including China and India, have resulted in a surge in construction activities for residential, industrial, and commercial purposes. As a result, there is sizable growth in the demand for PVC and glass wherein chlor-alkali is extensively used. This factor, in turn, is propelling the Asia Pacific chlor-alkali market. India is estimated to play a key role in the Asia Pacific chlor-alkali market during the forecast period, as the nation is one of the important manufacturers of alkali chemicals, including bleaching solutions, sodium hypochlorite, and chlorine, which find wide application in different disinfection solutions. Chlor-alkali Market: Key Findings Handling chlor-alkali without necessary precautions may result in hazardous reactions. Hence, the Alkali Manufacturers Association of India (AMAI) has introduced some guidelines, which compels chlor-alkali manufacturers to spread awareness on precautions to be taken while handling such products. As part of the awareness efforts, enterprises operating in the chlor-alkali market are suggesting end-use industries to utilize diluted disinfection chemicals for the sanitization of surfaces as well as contaminated or infected objects. (AMAI) has introduced some guidelines, which compels chlor-alkali manufacturers to spread awareness on precautions to be taken while handling such products. As part of the awareness efforts, enterprises operating in the chlor-alkali market are suggesting end-use industries to utilize diluted disinfection chemicals for the sanitization of surfaces as well as contaminated or infected objects. Companies operating in the chlor-alkali market are increasing efforts to strengthen their production capabilities in order to cater to the burgeoning demand for disinfections amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, the towering demand for disinfection solutions is favoring market growth. Ask for Special Discount on Report https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=1521 Chlor-alkali Market: Growth Boosters Chlor-alkali is being used in multiple applications such as alumina manufacturing, PVC production, chemical processing, pulp & paper, and textile industry, and glass manufacturing. Hence, rise in demand for products from these industries is fueling the expansion of the chlor-alkali market. Surge in use of chlor-alkali in water treatment and food processing activities is expected to drive sales in the global chlor-alkali market Request a Sample https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=1521 Chlor-alkali Market: Key Players Some of the key players profiled in the report are: Dow Solvay Tata Chemicals Ltd. INEOS Occidental Petroleum Corporation Kemira Tosoh Corporation AGC Inc. Chlor-alkali Market Segmentation Product Caustic Soda Chlorine Soda Ash Application Aluminum Processing EDC/PVC Chemical Processing Dyestuff Glass Manufacture Food Processing Pulp & Paper Water Treatment Soaps & Detergents Others (including Hydrochloric acid and Sodium Hypochlorite) Region North America (U.S., Canada ) (U.S., ) Europe ( Germany , France , U.K., Italy , Spain , Russia & CIS, Rest of Europe ) ( , , U.K., , , & CIS, Rest of ) Asia Pacific ( China , India , Japan , ASEAN, Rest of Asia Pacific ) ( , , , ASEAN, Rest of ) Latin America ( Brazil , Mexico , Rest of Latin America ) ( , , Rest of ) Middle East & Africa (GCC, South Africa , Rest of Middle East & Africa ) Buy an Exclusive Research Report at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=15216mo) immunogenicity with a favorable safety (no fever and only mild injection site redness and swelling). NanoPass CEO, Dr. Yotam Levin says: "We commend the Chinese researchers for their continued pioneering work during COVID-19, in an effort to develop, evaluate and improve vaccines against this horrible pandemic. Excitingly, the study design used a mere 1/15 of the dose, potentially allowing to multiply available doses by 15-fold, and has demonstrated durability of response for at least six months. The study was conducted with the MicronJet600 injection device, which is registered in China and most major markets, and which provides consistent intradermal inoculation." This milestone is a joint effort between NanoPass and YNC, who supported IMB. YNC has been working hard to promote NanoPass's intradermal delivery platform in China and this cooperation is a major milestone on the track to helping China combat COVID-19. YNC CEO, Ni Jian, says: China has made significant achievements in combatting COVID, however, the antibodies drop to a significantly low level six months after immunization, which provides a hotbed for the recurrence of the pandemic. This means that finding a way to improve antibody levels and sustaining such high levels for a longer time becomes critical. Through the reliability and consistency of the MicronJet600 device for intradermal injections, IMB, with our support, has found a method to significantly increase the antibody levels (by 8 to 97 fold) and keep it at a high levels for at least six months. This milepost discovery and follow-up study are expected to provide important weapons for the global victory over COVID-19. About NanoPass: NanoPass is a pioneer in the development and commercialization of microneedle-based delivery platforms for aesthetics, vaccines and more. It is supported by extensive clinical data and approved for the delivery of any substance or drug under the surface of the skin that is approved for this delivery route. Visit www.nanopass.com . About YNC: YNC Medical has been committed to integrate advanced products and technologies from the East and the West, and creating value for the whole industrial chain through the upgrading of key products. As the premiere partner of NanoPass in the medical market in China, in the past few years, YNC worked with the KOLs in more than 20 provinces and conducted training and academic communications with more and 10,000 doctors and medical workers. In the same time, we assisted multiple research institutions in relevant academic research. By implementing the stable intradermal injection performance of MicronJet600, we aim to make the revolutionary change in the fields of skin testing for allergy and TB and primarily for vaccines, including COVID-19. [1] Fan S, et al. "Ameliorated immunity elicited by intradermal inoculation in individuals vaccinated with inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine". Vaccine. 2021 Nov 26;39(48):6980-6983. SOURCE NanoPass WASHINGTON, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is a statement from NASA Administrator Bill Nelson on U.S. Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski's visit Friday, Feb. 4, to NASA Headquarters in Washington: "It was a pleasure to welcome U.S. Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski to NASA last week. "Poland is a valued partner and ally, and as recent signatory of the Artemis Accords, there are countless opportunities for our countries to work together on the future of space. "Ambassador Brzezinski and I share the same sense of urgency on addressing the climate crisis, so it is my hope that we will venture out into the cosmos together, as well as work to improve life here on Earth." During the meeting, Brzezinski underscored the importance of diplomacy in maintaining relationships with Poland and the nearly 10 million Polish Americans across the country. Nelson discussed the importance of working with Poland on a climate change call to action to benefit future generations of Poles and others around the world. Nelson said he would welcome a collaboration with Poland in this area, noting Polish contributions to a variety of NASA missions, including sensors aboard NASA's Mars Curiosity rover and the Global solar Wind Structure instrument that will be part of NASA's Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe mission, planned for launch in 2025. As an ESA (European Space Agency) member state, NASA encourages Poland's support of key NASA-ESA cooperative activities, including the International Space Station, as well as the European Service Module, the Gateway, and lunar surface cooperation as part of NASA's Artemis program. In October, Poland joined a growing list of nations affirming their commitment to ensuring sustainable space exploration by signing the Artemis Accords, which establish a common set of principles benefiting all of humanity. For information about NASA's missions, discoveries, and activities, visit: https://www.nasa.gov SOURCE NASA SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The National AIDS Memorial marks Black History Month and National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day with featured online programming honoring Black lives touched by AIDS. A specially curated selection of stories is being featured as part of a virtual exhibition of the AIDS Memorial Quilt and engraved names in the National AIDS Memorial Grove. The special programming, available for free to the public by visiting www.aidsmemorial.org uses the power and beauty of the Quilt and Grove to bring to light the countless Black men, women and children who have died of AIDS during 40 years of the pandemic, and the continuing impact of HIV in the Black community today. "Our hope is that these online programs help raise greater awareness about the ongoing struggle with HIV and the impact systemic barriers have on positive health outcomes, particularly in the Black community," said CEO John Cunningham. "This collection of powerful stories are part of the hope, healing and remembrance these two national treasures the Grove and the Quilt bring to our nation throughout the year." In the 40 years since the first cases of AIDS were reported, Black Americans and communities of color have been disproportionately impacted by AIDS. In 1993, HIV was the leading cause of death for Black men between ages 25-44. By 2004, HIV became the leading cause of death for Black women in the same age group. In 2019, Black Americans made up 42% of the nearly 38,000 new HIV diagnoses in the U.S., with half of those living in southern states. While today, Black people account for a higher proportion of new HIV diagnoses and people living with HIV compared to other races and ethnicities, progress has been made, with HIV diagnoses decreasing 8% among African American people overall from 2015 to 2019. However, racism, HIV stigma, homophobia, poverty, and barriers to health care continue to drive disparities. The Virtual Exhibition of the Quilt features touching stories that include letters, news stories and photos about Quilt panels made to honor Black children, women and men who died and are forever remembered through the Quilt. Viewers can see a panel made for 2-year-old Alexzandria that shows her photo, a teddy bear, Big Bird, and a poem written by her mother Charlene on Block 2542. Another shares the panel of Belynda, a Massachusetts AIDS activist who dedicated herself to helping organize Black churches in the fight against AIDS on Block 5718. Other panels include those honoring Black men, including several that have military uniforms sewn into them to honor their service on Block 5976. The Stories from the Grove features touching stories of Black lives remembered in the National AIDS Memorial Grove, whose names are engraved in the beautiful 10-acre space in San Francisco. Tributes include musical legend Sylvester, AIDS activists Reggie Williams and Ken Jones, poet Mary Bowman, Sean Sasser, Hemophilia leader Val Bias, and Lonnie Payne, a long-term survivor and Board member of the National AIDS Memorial, who shares the loss of his twin brother Lawrence to AIDS. Each story includes photos, curated narratives, and videos. "The Grove and the Quilt hold a special place in my heart. Both have provided comfort to millions of people during the darkest days of the AIDS pandemic," said Payne. "Today, they are important teaching tools to raise greater awareness about HIV/AIDS, particularly in Black and Brown communities where rates of infection continue to be disproportionate." Visit HIV.gov and the CDC to learn more about programs and services available. Partners for the National AIDS Memorial Black History Month programming include Gilead Sciences and Vivent Health, national leaders in the fight against AIDS. The online resources coincide with National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day #NBHAAD which is on February 7 each year. Learn more at www.aidsmemorial.org. SOURCE National AIDS Memorial Dr. Peltier is an Assistant Professor of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at the University of Michigan specializing in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and cellular therapies. His research interests focus on translational immunology with a particular focus on the role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). GVHD is a post-transplant complication in which donor T cells attack tissues in the recipient's body. Dr. Peltier's research will contribute to increased understanding about how to regulate immune responses to help prevent GVHD, ultimately improving patient outcomes and transplant safety "The NMDP/Be The Match remains committed to investing in research that makes transformative, impactful differences in the lives of transplant and cell therapy recipients," said Jeffery Auletta, MD, Senior Vice President of Patient Outcomes and Experience and Co-Scientific Director of the CIBMTR (Center for International Blood and Marrow Research) at NMDP/Be The Match. "We are very excited for Dr. Peltier and his team, and we look forward to continuing our support of all cutting-edge research supported through the Amy Strelzer Manasevit Research Program, which focuses on improving patient outcomes." The Amy Strelzer Manasevit Research Program, among the largest and most coveted grants in the transplant and cellular therapy field, supports the research efforts of scientists and clinicians early in their careers. Celebrating its 24th year, the award is funded through generous donations to the Be The Match Foundation and focuses on launching young investigators on a lifelong journey of discovery to prevent or treat life-threatening complications following all forms of cellular therapy. The grant will support Dr. Peltier's research through its 5-year provision of a total $400,000. Dr. Peltier holds a B.S. in Microbiology and Immunology from Michigan State University. He completed the Medical Scientist Training Program at the University of Michigan where he attained an M.D. and a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology. For clinical training, Dr. Peltier completed a Pediatric Residency and Hematology/Oncology Fellowship at the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children's Hospital. After fellowship, he joined the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Division at the University of Michigan and completed post-doctoral training in transplantation biology in Dr. Pavan Reddy's lab. "I am honored to be named among the prestigious list of previous Amy Scholars, and I want to thank Be The Match and its supporters for making this possible," said Dr. Peltier, Pediatric Hematologist and Oncologist at the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children's Hospital. "This generous grant will support a team of researchers and scientists dedicated to finding ways to limit complications for transplant recipients, particularly graft-versus-host disease. My passion is helping children overcome cancer, and I know this research will give hope to patients and their families by making transplant safer." The NMDP/Be The Match established the research program in 1997 to honor the memory of Amy Strelzer Manasevit, a young mother of two children who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 1993 and succumbed from pneumonia following a successful bone marrow transplant. Amy Manasevit's family and friends partnered with the NMDP/Be The Match to establish a research program to help prevent other families from losing loved ones due to complications from hematopoietic cell transplantation. To date, the Amy Strelzer Manasevit Research Program has supported 46 scholars and 13 post-doctoral fellows with financial investments of more than $9 million since 1998. The Amy Scholars have leveraged this funding to develop their research portfolios and win more than $110 million in additional grant funding to support the discoveries that improve survival rates and quality of life for transplant patients. Dr. Peltier will be honored at a reception during this year's Tandem Meetings, the combined annual meetings of the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT) and the Center for International Blood & Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR), being held in April Salt Lake City. Visit our website to learn more about the Amy Strelzer Manasevit Research Program and the many ways NMDP/Be The Match supports transplant and cellular therapy research. About the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP)/Be The Match The National Marrow Donor Program(NMDP)/Be The Match is the leading global partner working to save lives through cellular therapy. With more than 30 years of experience managing the most diverse registry of potential unrelated blood stem cell donors and cord blood units in the world, NMDP/Be The Match is a proven partner in providing cures to patients with life-threatening blood and marrow cancers and diseases. Through their global network, they connect centers and patients to their best cell therapy optionfrom blood stem cell transplant to a next-generation therapyand collaborate with cell and gene therapy companies to support therapy development and delivery through Be The Match BioTherapies. NMDP/Be The Match is a tireless advocate for the cell therapy community, working with hematologists/oncologists to remove barriers to consultation and treatment, and supporting patients through no-cost programs to eliminate non-medical obstacles to cell therapy. In addition, they are a global leader in research through the CIBMTR(Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research)a collaboration with Medical College of Wisconsin, investing in and managing research studies that improve patient outcomes and advance the future of care. SOURCE The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP)/Be The Match WASHINGTON, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) today released new data from a national poll conducted by Lake Research Partners that reveals 83 percent of Americans oppose the slaughter of U.S. horses for human consumption. Opposition to horse slaughter has remained strong and even increased slightly since prior polling in 2012, and this opposition extends across political party, race, gender and regardless of whether the respondent lived in a rural or urban setting. Despite Congressional efforts that shuttered horse slaughterhouses on U.S. soil in 2007, tens of thousands of American horses continue to be shipped to Canadian and Mexican slaughterhouses that supply other countries with horsemeat. A bipartisan group of federal lawmakers is working to close this legal loophole with the introduction of the Save America's Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act (H.R.3355/S.2732), which would permanently ban horse slaughter in the U.S. and end the export of American horses for slaughter in other countries. "In an era of rare political bipartisan agreement, this research confirms that the overwhelming majority of Americans remain strongly opposed to horse slaughter," said Nancy Perry, senior vice president of ASPCA Government Relations. "The ASPCA is working resolutely to provide support for horses in need, but we cannot fully succeed while the slaughter pipeline remains open because it directly impedes the rehoming of horses. This new research makes it clear that now is the time for Congress to finally end this shameful practice in America by passing the SAFE Act to keep our equine athletes, work partners, and trusted friends safe." Last year, approximately 23,000 horses were exported for slaughter, and research demonstrates that there exist far better options available for every horse sent to slaughter. The slaughter industry will only be stopped if Congress acts, and when they do, research published in 2017 reveals that 2.3 million Americans have both the strong interest and resources to adopt a horse. With the equine industry and equine shelters working together to increase adoption of horses in need of homes and provide safety net programs to help keep owned horses in homes, it's clear that every horse in need can be helped, if given the opportunity. In addition to overwhelming public opposition to horse slaughter, many equine-related industries and interest groups have joined in to help end horse slaughter. The ASPCA recently partnered with a diverse group of equine industry stakeholders, including The Jockey Club and the U.S. Trotting Association, on a joint letter to members of the U.S. House and Senate, urging them to pass the SAFE Act. "The slaughter of horses for the purpose of human consumption is wrong on every level," said Mike Tanner, CEO of the United States Trotting Association (USTA). "The USTA wholeheartedly supports the SAFE Act, and the protection that it will provide to Standardbred horses at all stages of their lives." In honor of Valentine's Day, the ASPCA is hosting "Have a Heart for Horses" week from February 7-11, urging the public to contact their members of Congress and ask them to pass the SAFE Act to ban the cruel practice of horse slaughter once and for all. To take action to protect horses, please visit www.aspca.org/SAFEact. To learn more about the ASPCA's efforts to ban horse slaughter or support the SAFE Act, please visit www.aspca.org. About the ASPCA Founded in 1866, the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) was the first animal welfare organization to be established in North America and today serves as the nation's leading voice for vulnerable and victimized animals. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with more than two million supporters nationwide, the ASPCA is committed to preventing cruelty to dogs, cats, equines, and farm animals throughout the United States. The ASPCA assists animals in need through on-the-ground disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and the advancement of the sheltering and veterinary community through research, training, and resources. For more information, visit www.ASPCA.org, and follow the ASPCA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. SOURCE ASPCA DENVER, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NFTglee is once again partnering with Bitcoin Media in conjunction with Bitcoin 2022 to be held in Miami, April 6-9. NFTglee with be the official host of the Bitcoin 2022 After Party to be held at The Temple House, one of the most recognized event venues in the nation. Access to the Bitcoin 2022 After Party will be affected via NFT's built on Bitcoin, and are already oversubscribed. Sponsors and event hosts expect 400 VIP guests (ticket prices TBA) to attend, and engage in an immersive visual and Web3 experience at The Temple House. As host for the Bitcoin 2022 After Party, NFTglee will be including celebrity guests, an internationally recognized DJ, and the announcement of its Bitcoin streaming service. "While we continue to explore and develop the seemingly limitless application of NFT utility, our focus is on access. Our NFT's will replace your username and password, or physical ticket, providing access to streaming content, physical location/real world events, all entirely authenticated in our wallet." - NFTglee CEO, Tillman Holloway. As the growth of Web3 applications evolve and mature, NFTglee is focused on providing the rails by which consumers engage with content and experiences. NFT's built on Bitcoin are uniquely positioned to solve a plethora of issues: exponential scalability, smart contract functionality, cross-chain royalty risks, carbon-free transactions, financially empowering creators, and secondary sales capture. "We lower the barriers to entry and simultaneously solve single-chain limitations to engagement in the Metaverse. Using our multi-sig wallet functionality and smart contracts, we ensure creators are properly paid their royalties on each blockchain and each platform." "Our platform is built on Bitcoin and transacts in L-BTC (Liquid Bitcoin) giving us two immutable advantages: cost and carbon free. As the NFT ecosystem evolves and matures, large shifts to nearly no-cost minting will occur." - NFTglee CEO, Tillman Holloway. Bitcoin 2022 will serve as a showcase for the continuing evolution of Bitcoin and the ways in which it presents economic and privacy freedom for consumers. Our announcement of a Bitcoin streaming service and Web3 access tools (NFT's) will serve notice that creators now have an outlet to take back control of their content and fanbase in a censorship resistant way. Website: https://www.nftglee.com For All Inquiries: Mark Gilbert, Magellan Fin. [email protected] (317) 361-2392 SOURCE NFTglee SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Okera , the Universal Data Authorization company, is pleased to announce that CRN , a brand of The Channel Company , has named John Marchese, Okera's Vice President of Global Alliances & Partner Channels, to its 2022 Channel Chiefs list. CRN's annual Channel Chiefs project identifies top IT channel vendor executives who continually demonstrate expertise, influence and innovation in channel leadership. A panel of CRN editors selected the honorees for their channel dedication, industry stature and accomplishments as channel advocates. The 2022 Channel Chiefs are influential leaders who continue to shape the IT channel with innovative strategies, programs and partnerships. "CRN's 2022 Channel Chiefs recognition is given exclusively to the foremost channel executives who consistently design, promote, and execute effective partner programs and strategies," said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. "We're thrilled to recognize the tireless work and unwavering commitment these honorees put into fostering outstanding business innovation and building strong partner programs to drive channel engagement and success." John is a lifelong entrepreneur and innovator, having worked across a wide array of industry segments and global markets where strategic alliances were paramount to success. Prior to joining Okera, he led partner sales channels at Collibra and Sisense, both of which achieved unicorn status during his tenure. He brings a broad perspective and incredible experience to the Okera alliance and partner ecosystem. "John has been an outstanding addition to our executive team, allowing us to position Okera for global scale," said Nick Halsey, Okera CEO. "He has enabled us to double down on our partner-centric strategy of composing best-of-breed integrations that create state-of-the-art solutions for our customers, and we look forward to continuing to benefit from John's leadership experience and drive as a key advantage for Okera in the market. Our entire team congratulates him on this well-deserved honor from CRN." "I want to thank CRN for the recognition as well as the team at Okera for their support and execution to foster our success. Driving revenue scale through strategic partners and channels may as well be in my DNA," said John Marchese. "My journey, with too many incredible colleagues and partners to name, has been my life's reward, and I look forward to growing and evolving to meet the future challenges ahead together with the scale and support of our channel partners." CRN's 2022 Channel Chiefs list will be featured in the February 2022 issue of CRN Magazine and online at www.CRN.com/ChannelChiefs . About Okera Okera , the Universal Data Authorization company, helps modern, data-driven enterprises accelerate innovation, minimize data security risks, and demonstrate regulatory compliance. The Okera Dynamic Access Platform automatically enforces universal fine-grained access control policies. This allows employees, customers, and partners to use data responsibly, while protecting them from inappropriately accessing data that is confidential, personally identifiable, or regulated. Okera's robust audit capabilities and data usage intelligence deliver the real-time and historical information that data security, compliance, and data delivery teams need to respond quickly to incidents, optimize processes, and analyze the performance of enterprise data initiatives. Okera began development in 2016 and now dynamically authorizes access to hundreds of petabytes of sensitive data for the world's most demanding F100 companies and regulatory agencies. The company is headquartered in San Francisco and is backed by Bessemer Venture Partners, ClearSky Security, and Felicis Ventures. For more information, visit www.okera.com or contact [email protected], or connect with the team on Facebook , LinkedIn , or Twitter. SOURCE Okera HOUSTON, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Voss Capital, LLC ("Voss"), a significant shareholder of Griffon Corp. (NYSE: GFF) ("Griffon" or the "Company"), today announced that leading proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services ("ISS") has recommended that Griffon shareholders vote on the BLUE proxy card for Voss's truly independent and engaged director candidate Charlie Diao . The ISS report highlights the underperformance of Griffon's Total Shareholder Return and the Company's poor overall operational performance. "Over the nearly 14-year tenure of CEO Ron Kramer , arguably the most meaningful timeframe for assessing the success of the company's portfolio optimization strategy, GFF's TSR has significantly lagged both the performance of the median of its peers and the broader market ." , arguably the most meaningful timeframe for assessing the success of the company's portfolio optimization strategy, ." "Despite top-line revenue and adjusted EBITDA growth, and expanding margins, the company's ROA and ROIC have been low, with ROIC consistently lagging the company's WACC over the last six years ." ." "The DE segment posted sizable revenue and EBITDA declines, which could impact the potential sale price at the conclusion of the ongoing sale process. Despite a double-digit decline in total adjusted EBITDA margins, the company's unallocated expenses grew by 2.6 percent quarter over quarter." ISS concurred with Voss's criticisms of Griffon management's compensation, specifically pointing to the extreme disconnect between high executive pay, weak shareholder returns and the Company's lack of response to persistently low say on pay results. "GFF's total NEO compensation of $83.8 million over the last three fiscal years easily eclipses the $60 million GFF has returned to shareholders over the same period." over the last three fiscal years over the same period." "Shareholder support for GFF's say-on-pay has remained low for several years , dropping to 51 percent in 2021 ." ." " The board has been insufficiently attentive to longstanding shareholder concerns in terms of compensation , highlighted by low shareholder support for recent say-on-pay votes and the low percentage of shareholders engaged by the board following the low show of support." , highlighted by low shareholder support for recent say-on-pay votes and the low percentage of shareholders engaged by the board following the low show of support." "Perhaps most tellingly, despite four years of declining shareholder support for say-on-pay votes, executive compensation remains excessive and has increased in every year except for 2019." ISS also agreed with Voss that Griffon's corporate governance continues to be subpar. " The declassification is staggered and won't be complete until 2024 if approved by shareholders, the company maintains a combined chair/CEO role , and there is a plurality vote standard for uncontested director elections ." if approved by shareholders, the company maintains a , and there is a ." "There are concerns regarding the independence of directors , with six directors having been recommended for nomination by the CEO or other sitting directors, and two independent directors and the CEO with long tenures of 18+ years." , with six directors having been recommended for nomination by the CEO or other sitting directors, and two independent directors and the CEO with long tenures of 18+ years." " The board size, at 14 directors, is also significantly larger than similarly sized U.S. listed companies that have a median board size of eight directors. Yet, the board has only issued vague promises with no clear timeline to right-size the board." that have a median board size of eight directors. Yet, the board has only issued vague promises with no clear timeline to right-size the board." [Regarding the circumstances surrounding Voss candidate withdrawals] "Though shareholders lack definitive evidence with which to weigh this dispute, the revocation of such authorizations is highly unusual, especially when coupled with the dissident's recent experiences with certain of its service providers. As such, it is difficult to dismiss the dissident's concerns out of hand." Additionally, ISS validates several of Voss's concerns with the Company's recent acquisition of Hunter Fan. The report reveals that Griffon's Board admitted to an M&A strategy of acquiring companies with no synergies, essentially describing their M&A strategy as collecting stand-alone businesses. "In discussions with ISS, the board stated that its philosophy towards M&A was to find targets that can stand on their own merits without cost synergies , like Hunter." , like Hunter." "Hunter's high margins (> 20 percent), coupled with the lack of identified cost synergies and the inherent risk in executing on cross-sell opportunities may cause shareholders to question the potential for meaningful operational improvement or further value creation from the acquisition." Lastly, ISS discusses their confidence in the ability of our nominee Charlie Diao to influence meaningful change at Griffon. "Dissident nominee Diao appears capable , is independent of the dissident and GFF, and seems to have the right demeanor and desire to work collaboratively within the 14-person board." , is of the dissident and GFF, and seems to have the and within the 14-person board." "Shareholders would likely benefit from Diao's ability to provide an additional degree of independent oversight of management by raising questions about the company's operating and M&A strategy, shareholder outreach, and governance." Voss greatly appreciates ISS's and Glass Lewis's support of our nominee Charlie Diao and the case for change at Griffon. Both proxy advisory firms have shared our concerns regarding the Company's persistent underperformance, outsized executive compensation, lack of Board independence and outdated corporate governance practices. We strongly encourage Griffon shareholders to follow the proxy advisors' recommendations and vote the BLUE proxy card to demand change at Griffon. Today's announcement follows last Friday's press release containing similar quotes from Glass Lewis, see here. For more information on our case for change, visit our website www.renovategriffon.com. 1 Permission to quote from the ISS report was neither sought nor received. Emphases added. Media Contact: Serena Koontz Head of Investor Relations Voss Capital, LLC [email protected] Investor Contact: John Ferguson Saratoga Proxy Consulting LLC [email protected] SOURCE Voss Capital BUSAN, South Korea, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Many emerging technologies related to sustainable energy, such as grid-scale energy storage systems and electric cars, require high-performance rechargeable batteries. Unfortunately, conventional lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have almost reached their theoretical limit, and need to be supplanted by batteries with higher theoretical capacity and energy density. Pusan National University Scientists Enhance Durability of Lithium-Sulfur Batteries with Dyes Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are regarded as the potentially best option for next-generation rechargeable batteries, due not only to their much higher energy density than LIBs but also to relatively lower costs, thanks to their use of sulfur, a widely abundant material. However, Li-S batteries suffer from a few key issues that need to be solved before they can become commercially viable, with the most prominent one being the "polysulfide shuttling effect." This phenomenon causes long chains of sulfur to leak from the cathode over time, permanently degrading the capacity of the battery with each chargedischarge cycle. Fortunately, in a recent study, a team of scientists from Pusan National University, South Korea, found an efficient way to mitigate the shuttling effect and improve the performance of Li-S batteries. This paper was made available online on September 29, 2021 and will be published in Volume 430 of Chemical Engineering Journal on February 15, 2022. Led by Professor Seung Geol Lee, Assistant Professor Jin Hong Lee, and Associate Professor Oi Lun Li, the team developed an innovative approach involving the use of a common organic dye called methylene blue as a precursor for a novel coating material for the separator of Li-S batteries. The procedure involved dissolving the dye in aniline, a carbon-containing solvent, and subjecting the mixture to plasma engineering followed by heat treatment. This created a porous carbon material doped with both nitrogen and sulfurtwo elements already present in methylene bluethat could be applied to the separator between the battery cathode and anode. Thanks to the high heteroelement (element other than carbon) content (10%) of the doped carbon material obtained through this process, the polysulfide shuttling effect could be greatly mitigated, as the scientists demonstrated in various experiments. This, in turn, allowed them to produce more durable Li-S batteries with better electrochemical performances. "Our findings show that methylene blue, and possibly other dyes, can be useful in next-generation energy storage systems," remarks Prof. Lee. Overall, this study could motivate scientists worldwide to look into other potential applications of organic dyes outside textile dyeing. Prof. Lee speculates: "We expect our results to greatly contribute to the manufacturing of not only lithium-sulfur batteries but also various other energy storage systems such as sodium-ion batteries, in which carbon materials can be used." Let us hope these alternative uses of organic dyes help color a better and more sustainable future. Reference Title of original paper: Plasma-engineered organic dyes as efficient polysulfide-mediating layers for high performance lithium-sulfur batteries Journal: Chemical Engineering Journal DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2021.132679 Personal website address: https://amdlab.pusan.ac.kr/ (Prof. S. G. Lee) https://re-energylab.pusan.ac.kr/re-energylab/index.do (Prof. O. L. Li) ORCID id: 0000-0001-6800-5543 (Prof. J. H. Lee) 0000-0001-7965-7387 (Prof. S. G. Lee) 0000-0001-8911-5573 (Prof. O. L. Li) About Pusan National University Website: https://www.pusan.ac.kr/eng/Main.do Contact: Na-hyun Lee +82 51 510-7928 [email protected] SOURCE Pusan National University Lewy body dementia (LBD) is the second most common form of dementia but has largely been understudied. Research into Lewy body dementia has implications for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, which is why the Alzheimer's Association and The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research are sponsors of this $3 million, multi-year research award. "This award to find a biomarker for LBD offers the hope that this will lead to an accurate method of diagnosing the disease and give patients and their loved ones clarity about the prognosis. This will also allow researchers to better study LBD and develop effective therapies," said Orly Avitzur, MD, MBA, FAAN, President of the American Academy of Neurology. Currently, LBD can only be definitively diagnosed with a brain autopsy after death, so the need to identify a biomarker (an avenue for early diagnosis) is crucial. Former American Brain Foundation Board Vice Chair Susan Schneider Williams spearheaded this initiative in honor of her late husband, actor and comedian Robin Williams. She received the diagnosis of his Lewy body dementia after his death. "If we'd had a diagnosis while my late husband Robin Williams was alive, it could have been a game-changer, full stop. This disease can progress very quickly, and without accurate diagnosis, too much time is lost in the chase. That was our experience," said Schneider Williams. Schneider Williams recently completed her six-year term on the American Brain Foundation board of directors and will continue to support advocacy projects to help raise awareness and funds for LBD. Major funding for the American Brain Foundation 2022 Cure One, Cure Many Award is provided by sponsors, the Alzheimer's Association and The Michael J. Fox Foundation , and with generous support from The Mary E. Groff Charitable Trust and the William Siegel Foundation. The American Brain Foundation's research partner is the American Academy of Neurology . "There is an urgent need for simple, inexpensive, non-invasive, and easily available diagnostic tools for LBD, such as a blood test. Uncovering markers that distinguish one dementia from another will ultimately lead to a more accurate diagnosis and can help people living with the disease get the specific care and support they need," said Heather Snyder, PhD, Alzheimer's Association vice president of medical and scientific relations. Senior Vice President of Research Resources at The Michael J. Fox Foundation, Jamie Eberling, PhD, reiterated the need and importance of partnership. "Cures for brain diseases such as LBD and Parkinson's will come only from collaboration. Biology and clinical experience cross diagnostic lines, and the outcome of this awarded project will have impact in broader research," said Eberling. These partnerships highlight the interconnectedness of brain diseases as well as the American Brain Foundation's effort to create awareness that when we cure one brain disease, we will cure many. LBD and other neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease share many similarities in presentation and symptoms. As a result, they are often mistaken for one another, which hinders diagnosis, treatment, and research. Investigations into LBD could have implications for other brain diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. "The American Brain Foundation promotes and invests in research across the whole spectrum of brain diseases and disorders in the belief that when we find a cure for one brain disease, we will find cures for many. Our holistic approach focuses on building bridges between different brain diseases to break new ground in both research and application," said Jane Ransom, the Foundation's executive director. The award recipients have extensive experience in Lewy body disorders and have assembled a team of experts across a range of disciplines. They have taken a multipronged approach to support the diagnosis of Lewy body dementia by employing protein biomarkers, extracellular vesicles, and seed aggregation assays. Investigators at Mayo Clinic are joined by colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania (Dr. David Issadore) and the University of North Texas Health Science Center (Dr. Sid O'Bryant). The data generated will be combined with a vast amount of clinical, imaging, and pathologic data available to the investigators, and machine learning approaches will be used to create a unified diagnostic model. "We have taken a coordinated team approach to the development, validation, and acceleration of DLB-related biomarkers and believe an early and accurate diagnosis is critical to tackling this disease," said Dr. Ross, research team lead . You can hear directly from Dr. Ross and others during our free webinar on February 21 at 8 p.m. ET. During the event, you'll hear about ongoing research and the impact the 2022 Cure One, Cure Many Award will have on people who experience Lewy body dementia. Register for the webinar , donate to the research fund , or learn more about the Cure One, Cure Many Award here. Media Contact Ashley Logan [email protected] 312-282-4314 SOURCE American Brain Foundation Nairobi Molo MP Kuria Kimani says he will defend his parliamentary seat through the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket. Speaking after he was received by Deputy President William Ruto at his official Karen residence, Kimani said he looked forward to serving his electorate under the new outfit which has been advancing the bottom-up economic model. "These economic times call for the building of plans that build from the bottom up and not from the top down, that put their faith once more in the forgotten man at the bottom of the economic pyramid," the first term MP said, quoting, the 32nd US President Franklin D. Roosevelt. DP Ruto has been popularising the model since 2020 as one that will promote investments of ordinary Kenyans and empowering them financially so the country can generate taxes to spur the economy, in what has been dismissed by his main opponent Raila Odinga of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). MILWAUKEE, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ademi LLP is investigating Spirit (NYSE: SAVE) for possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law in its transaction with Frontier. Click here to learn how to join the action: https://www.ademilaw.com/case/spirit-airlines-inc or call Guri Ademi toll-free at 866-264-3995. There is no cost or obligation to you. Ademi LLP alleges Spirit's financial outlook and prospects are excellent and yet Spirit shareholders will receive only 1.9126 shares of Frontier plus $2.13 in cash for each existing Spirit share they own, implying a value of $25.83 per Spirit share at Frontier's closing stock price of $12.39 on February 4. The merger agreement unreasonably limits competing bids for Spirit by prohibiting solicitation of further bids, and imposing a significant penalty if Spirit accepts a superior bid. Spirit insiders will receive substantial benefits as part of change of control arrangements. We are investigating the conduct of Spirit's board of directors, and whether they are (i) fulfilling their fiduciary duties to all shareholders, and (ii) obtaining a fair and reasonable price for Spirit. If you own Spirit common stock and wish to obtain additional information, please contact Guri Ademi either at [email protected] or toll-free: 866-264-3995, or https://www.ademilaw.com/case/spirit-airlines-inc. We specialize in shareholder litigation involving buyouts, mergers, and individual shareholder rights throughout the country. For more information, please feel free to call us. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Contacts Ademi LLP Guri Ademi Toll Free: (866) 264-3995 Fax: (414) 482-8001 SOURCE Ademi LLP NORTHBROOK, Ill., Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Children's Heart Foundation will be profiled in the twenty fifth season of The Visionaries, the award-winning public television series hosted by acclaimed actor Sam Waterston of Netflix's Grace and Frankie and formerly of HBO's The Newsroom and NBC's Law & Order. PBS stations across the country will air the 5-part documentary series focused on highlighting the work of nonprofit and public service organizations from around the world. Now in its 25th season, The Visionaries will showcase important topics, including congenital heart defect research by featuring The Children's Heart Foundation. Selected from hundreds of organizations, The Children's Heart Foundation is the country's leading organization solely dedicated to funding congenital heart defect research. "We are thrilled to be featured in the 25th season of The Visionaries," says Gail Roddie-Hamlin, President and CEO of The Children's Heart Foundation. "The work we do is critically important for babies born with, and children and adults living with CHDs, and we look forward to more people learning about this cause." Congenital heart defects, or CHDs, are America's most common birth defect, affecting nearly 40,000 babies each year. Since 1996, The Children's Heart Foundation has funded $15 million of CHD research and scientific collaborations, leading to dramatic increases in survival, longevity, and quality of life for individuals living with CHDs. "I believe that the central idea of The Visionaries - doing what you can about huge, intractable problems - is an idea worth encouraging," says actor Sam Waterston, the host of the series. The Children's Heart Foundation's episode was made possible by generous underwriting from Medtronic. Jody Santos, Senior Producer at The Visionaries said, "Despite the challenges of filming during a pandemic, we've delivered one of our strongest seasons yet. The organizations profiled, including The Children's Heart Foundation, have overcome tremendous challenges this year to continue doing their work. It's only fitting that we're profiling them during our 25th season on public television." About The Children's Heart Foundation The Children's Heart Foundation (CHF) is the country's leading organization solely dedicated to funding congenital heart defect (CHD) research. The mission of CHF is to advance the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of CHDs by funding the most promising research. Since 1996, CHF has funded $15 million of CHD research and scientific collaborations. For more information, visit childrensheartfoundation.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. About The Visionaries The Visionaries documentary series, hosted by acclaimed actor Sam Waterston, highlights the rarely told stories of individuals and nonprofit organizations that are working to create positive social change throughout the world. Visionaries, winner of several Telly Awards and Emmy nominations for Best Documentary, has produced over 240 documentaries shot in over 65 countries and all over the US. Visionaries has aired on PBS stations throughout the nation for 24 seasons. For more information, please visit www.visionaries.org . SOURCE The Children's Heart Foundation Proven oil and gas reserves increased by 13%, up to 2,002 MBOE[1] - The Reserve-Replacement Ratio (RRR) of 200% implies that, for each barrel produced in the year by the Company, two barrels were added to reserves. - The Ecopetrol Group's average reserve life increased to 8.7 years, exceeding the 2014 figure when the average Brent was USD 102 per barrel (compared to USD 69.2 per barrel in 2021). - The incorporation of proven reserves for the Ecopetrol Group was 462 MBOE, of which 282 MBOE were primarily due to outstanding performance within development fields, optimal and timely maturity of new projects, and greater capacity to execute and implement enhanced recovery expansion projects. Excluding the price effect, the RRR would have been 122%. - Proven gas reserves increased by 7.9% as compared to 2020, with an RRR of 176%. - 89% of the reserves correspond to fields in Colombia, increasing the average reserve life up to 8 years, while the remaining 11% corresponds to the operation of Ecopetrol Permian and Ecopetrol America in the United States. BOGOTA, Colombia, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ecopetrol S.A. (BVC: ECOPETROL,NYSE: EC) announced today its consolidated proven oil, condensate, and natural gas reserves (1P reserves, according to the standard international denomination), which include the results of Ecopetrol S.A. and its subsidiaries, as of December 31, 2021. Reserves were estimated based on the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) standards and methodology. 99.5% of the reserves were certified by four independent specialized firms (Ryder Scott Company, DeGolyer and MacNaughton, Gaffney, Cline & Associates, and Sproule International Limited). The SEC-defined price used for the 2021 valuation of reserves was USD 69.2 per barrel of Brent versus USD 43.4 per barrel of Brent in 2020. At the end of 2021, the net proven reserves of the Ecopetrol Group were 2,002 MBOE. The Reserve-Replacement Ratio was 200% and the average reserve life was equivalent to 8.7 years. In 2021, the Ecopetrol Group incorporated 462 MBOE of proven reserves and the total accumulated production was 231 MBOE. Of the total balance of reserves, 72% are liquid reserves, with an average life of 8.2 years, while the remaining 28% are gas reserves, with an average life of 10.4 years. Of the 462 MBOE incorporated, 61% (282 MBOE) was primarily a result of performance within development fields, optimal and timely maturity of new projects, and greater capacity to execute and implement enhanced recovery expansion projects in fields such as Chichimene, Castilla, and Akacias, among others. The remaining volumes correspond primarily to the favorable effect of the recovery of international oil prices during 2021. As a result of Ecopetrol's sale of Savia Peru effective as of January 2021, a disincorporation of said company's reserves was carried out for 3.5 MBOE. 83% of the proven reserves are owned by Ecopetrol S.A., while the other Ecopetrol Group companies contributed with 17% of the 2,002 MBOE, mainly due to the operation of Ecopetrol Permian and Ecopetrol America in the United States. The 13% increase achieved in reserves in 2021 demonstrates the strength of the Ecopetrol Group's hydrocarbon portfolio, which supports the company's sustainable growth path within its energy transition strategy. Ecopetrol Group's Proved Reserves 2021 Proven Reserves 1P MBOE Proven Reserves as of Dec 31, 2020 1,770 Revisions 315 Mineral Purchases 0 Enhanced Recovery 139 Extensions y Discoveries 12 Mineral Sales -3.5 Production -231 Proven Reserves as of Dec 31, 2021 2,002 Ecopetrol is the largest company in Colombia and one of the main integrated energy companies in the American continent, with more than 17,000 employees. In Colombia, it is responsible for more than 60% of the hydrocarbon production of most transportation, logistics, and hydrocarbon refining systems, and it holds leading positions in the petrochemicals and gas distribution segments. With the acquisition of 51.4% of ISA's shares, the company participates in energy transmission, the management of real-time systems (XM), and the Barranquilla - Cartagena coastal highway concession. At the international level, Ecopetrol has a stake in strategic basins in the American continent, with Drilling and Exploration operations in the United States (Permian basin and the Gulf of Mexico), Brazil, and Mexico, and, through ISA and its subsidiaries, Ecopetrol holds leading positions in the power transmission business in Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Bolivia, road concessions in Chile, and the telecommunications sector. This press release contains business prospect statements, operating and financial result estimates, and statements related to Ecopetrol's growth prospects. These are all projections and, as such, they are based solely on the expectations of the managers regarding the future of the company and their continued access to capital to finance the company's business plan. The realization of said estimates in the future depends on the behavior of market conditions, regulations, competition, the performance of the Colombian economy and the industry, among other factors, and are consequently subject to change without prior notice. This release contains statements that may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements, whether made in this release or in future filings or press releases or orally, address matters that involve risks and uncertainties, including in respect of the Company's prospects for growth and its ongoing access to capital to fund the Company's business plan, among others. Consequently, changes in the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements: market prices of oil & gas, our exploration, and production activities, market conditions, applicable regulations, the exchange rate, the Company's competitiveness and the performance of Colombia's economy and industry, to mention a few. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. For more information, please contact: Head of Capital Markets Tatiana Uribe Benninghoff Email: [email protected] Head of Corporate Communications Mauricio Tellez Email: [email protected] [1] Million Barrels of Oil Equivalent Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/95646/ecopetrol_s_a__logo.jpg SOURCE Ecopetrol S.A. SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - TPCO Holding Corp. ("The Parent Company" or the "Company") (NEO: GRAM.U) (OTCQX: GRAMF), a leading vertically-integrated California cannabis company, announced today that Dennis O'Malley, the Company's Chief Operating Officer has elected to step down in the spring of 2022. To ensure a smooth transition, Mr. O'Malley will remain with the Company until March 15th, at which time Troy Datcher, Chief Executive Officer of the Company is expected to assume his duties and responsibilities. Mr. O'Malley has served as Chief Operating Officer since January 2021, when the Company completed its qualifying transaction to create one of the largest vertically integrated cannabis operators in California. Prior to that, he served as CEO of Caliva since January 2017. "Today our business is well positioned with both high-quality cannabis products and reach to become the preferred choice for California cannabis consumers. Our recent announcement of the extension of our voluntary lock-up agreement from 100% of Board Directors and key members of our leadership team reinforces confidence in our long-term plans to deliver shareholder value," said Troy Datcher, Chief Executive Officer of The Parent Company. "On behalf of myself, our Board, and the entire senior management team, I would like to sincerely thank Dennis for the dedication and passion he has displayed during his time here. We wish Dennis the best in his future endeavors." Dennis O'Malley, Chief Operating Officer of The Parent Company, added, "It's been a privilege over the last five years to work with such outstanding people. I know the Company is in good hands for the future." About The Parent Company Formed in January 2021, The Parent Company is a leading vertically integrated California cannabis company. The Company's three manufacturing facilities provide access to high-quality cannabis, while its vast wholesale distribution network of more than 450 California dispensaries, a direct-to-consumer omnichannel platform, six consumer delivery hubs and eleven omni-channel retail locations, currently service approximately 80% of the largest legal cannabis market in the country. The Company's curated product portfolio includes eight valuable and scalable brands, including Monogram, Caliva, Deli, Fun Uncle, and Mirayo, which set the tone for The Parent Company's industry leadership in California and beyond. In addition to its manufacturing infrastructure, consumer reach and cultural influence, The Parent Company is committed to using its resources and status to play a significant role in molding a more equitable cannabis industry. Its social equity ventures initiative, established by Chief Visionary Officer Shawn "JAY-Z" Carter, was created to break down the systematic barriers Black and other minority entrepreneurs face as they endeavor to secure meaningful participation, growth and leadership in the multibillion-dollar legal cannabis industry. The Parent Company's common shares are traded on NEO Exchange under the ticker symbol "GRAM.U" and on the OTCQX under the ticker symbol "GRAMF". Caution Regarding Cannabis Operations in the United States Investors should note that there are significant legal restrictions and regulations that govern the cannabis industry in the United States. Cannabis remains a Schedule I drug under the U.S. Controlled Substances Act, making it illegal under federal law in the United States to, among other things, cultivate, distribute, or possess cannabis in the United States. Financial transactions involving proceeds generated by, or intended to promote, cannabis-related business activities in the United States may form the basis for prosecution under applicable U.S. federal money laundering legislation. While the approach to enforcement of such laws by the federal government in the United States has trended toward non-enforcement against individuals and businesses that comply with medical or adult-use cannabis programs in states where such programs are legal, strict compliance with state laws with respect to cannabis will neither absolve The Parent Company of liability under U.S. federal law, nor will it provide a defense to any federal proceeding which may be brought against the Company. The enforcement of federal laws in the United States is a significant risk to the business of The Parent Company and any proceedings brought against the Company thereunder may adversely affect the Company's operations and financial performance. SOURCE The Parent Company NEW YORK, Feb. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Thomas J. Kent Jr., C.E.O. of the Investment consultancy firm Kent Global LLC, entered into Joint Ventures with Hollywood disruption and funding companies. Mr. Kent has expressed his excitement about the combined Joint Ventures. This gives Kent Global LLC access into Hollywood and its insiders. With the exclusive Joint Ventures in place, Kent Global can facilitate the funding of deals as small as 500k and go as high as a 100 million dollars for Movie productions. Mr. Kent confirms that he will be spending a lot more time in the greater Los Angeles area to firm up relationships and evaluate new projects. Mr. Kent plans on setting up a Los Angeles office along with an office in the Atlanta, Georgia area. Mr. Kent goes on to say that the Investment consultancy firm formed in 2011 will become a major force in the Hollywood community. Mr. Kent goes on to state that if you are a Movie Producer or someone that is looking to get movie deals funded, please contact Kent Global LLC. VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Trilogy Metals Inc. (TSX: TMQ) (NYSE American: TMQ) ("Trilogy" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority ("AIDEA") has formally approved the proposed plan and budget for the 2022 summer field season activities and services of up to $30.8 million for the Ambler Access Project ("Ambler Access Project" or "AAP"). The cost will be shared 50/50 by AIDEA and Ambler Metals LLC ("Ambler Metals"), the joint venture operating company equally owned by Trilogy and South32 Limited (ASX, LSE, JSE: S32; ADR: SOUHY) ("South32"). All amounts are in US dollars. 2022 Ambler Access Project Budget and Proposed Field Work The Board of AIDEA, a public corporation of the State of Alaska with the purpose to promote, develop and advance the general prosperity and economic welfare of the people of Alaska, has authorized up to $15.4 million for field season activities on the Ambler Access Project. These funds will be matched by up to another $15.4 million from Ambler Metals under the terms of the Ambler Access Development Agreement (the "Development Agreement") that was approved by the AIDEA Board on February 10, 2021, and subsequently executed by both parties. Both South32 and Trilogy have approved Ambler Metals portion of this budget. The $15.4 million amount that Ambler Metals is contributing to this year's AAP budget is in addition to the $28.5 million that was approved by Trilogy and South32 for the 2022 program at the Upper Kobuk Mineral Projects ("UKMP"). During the 2022 field season, AIDEA will be carrying out additional work including, geotechnical investigations, right-of-way surveys, environmental studies, road and bridge engineering design work, and cultural resources work. According to AIDEA, the AAP is expected to create thousands of new jobs resulting in over $5 billion in wages paid during the lifetime of the project and that the bulk of the work force required for the construction, management and maintenance of the road will be from the local communities. AIDEA is already holding job fairs in the local communities with a commitment to hire locally and benefit local villages. Tony Giardini, President and CEO of Trilogy, commented, "It has been over 10 years since Trilogy formed its partnership with NANA Regional Corporation, Inc ("NANA"). This partnership has been a very productive and fulfilling experience for all sides. Since that time, Trilogy and now Ambler Metals, have been fully committed to our core values which include respect for the environment, Inupiaq and Athapaskan subsistence cultures and the safety and wellbeing of all our employees. We have always taken extreme pride on our commitment to our native partners and have always worked hard to earn their trust. We believe our unparalleled track record and strong relationships with our local partners will ultimately prove to be successful in the development of the AAP and the development of the UKMP. Since 2004 to the formation of the Ambler Metals joint venture we invested $147 million into the UKMP. Subsequently, the joint venture invested $3.5 million and $22.6 million in 2020 and 2021, respectfully. Ultimately, there has been approximately $176 million invested in the Ambler Mining District over the years." Simon Collins, Chief Development Officer of South32, commented, "Our participation in the Ambler Metals joint venture, which is studying the potential development of the UKMP, is fully aligned with South32's aim of reshaping our portfolio by increasing our exposure to the base metals that are important in a low carbon future. In line with our company's purpose and values, we are committed to progressing the UKMP in a way that minimizes social and environmental impact and is based on positive stakeholder relationships and the creation of opportunities for local communities." Ramzi Fawaz, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ambler Metals, "We are looking forward to a busy and productive 2022 field season. Ambler Metals will be recruiting for over 60 direct hire positions, ranging from geologists to heavy equipment operators. Additionally, there will be approximately 50 positions hired through contractors working for us. We are also pleased to announce that as part of our workforce development plans, Ambler Metals will be kicking off several vocational training programs involving participants from the NANA and Doyon regions. This in addition to the very successful scholarship program that Ambler has in place for deserving NANA Shareholders studying for future careers in the natural resources sector." History of Ambler Access Project In 1980, President Jimmy Carter signed the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act ("ANILCA") into law. ANILCA sought to balance the state's natural resource-based economy with environmental protection and preserve Alaskans' unique ways of life. signed the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act ("ANILCA") into law. ANILCA sought to balance the state's natural resource-based economy with environmental protection and preserve Alaskans' unique ways of life. ANILCA established 10 new federal parks, preserves, and monuments throughout Alaska while guaranteeing certain rights of access for subsistence, hunting, fishing, recreation, and other economic and social purposes. Access to and from the Ambler Mining District for resource development is guaranteed in Section 201(4) of ANILCA. while guaranteeing certain rights of access for subsistence, hunting, fishing, recreation, and other economic and social purposes. Access to and from the Ambler Mining District for resource development is guaranteed in Section 201(4) of ANILCA. In 2009, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities ("DOT&PF") began evaluating multiple road and railroad routes that could provide access to the Ambler Mining District. Access to the District was assessed for both east and west alignments. As a result of these studies, a potential corridor was identified that would connect the Dalton Highway to the Ambler Mining District crossing the Gates of the Arctic National Preserve. In 2013, the project was transferred from DOT&PF to AIDEA, a public corporation of the State of Alaska . AIDEA's purpose is to promote, develop and advance the general prosperity and economic welfare of the people of Alaska . . AIDEA's purpose is to promote, develop and advance the general prosperity and economic welfare of the people of . AIDEA undertook the project with the goal of forming a public-private partnership to finance, construct, operate and maintain the controlled industrial access road. The project approach is modeled on AIDEA's successful DeLong Mountain Transportation System ("DMTS"), which includes a 52-mile industrial access road from the Red Dog Mine to the DMTS shallow-water port. AIDEA worked with private industry to develop the DMTS industrial access road and the costs of road construction were paid back through tolls on road use. According to AIDEA, during the scoping period (which was extended from 90 days to over 330 days), the United States Bureau of Land Management ("BLM") held 15 public hearings in 13 communities and received more than 7,200 written comments. Subsequently, after the draft EIS was released in August 2019 , the BLM held an additional 18 hearings in rural communities, hearings in two hub communities ( Anchorage and Fairbanks ), and a hearing in Washington, D.C. The BLM received an additional 29,000 written comments to the draft EIS which were scrutinized and incorporated into the final EIS. AIDEA has stated that the development and production of the the Joint Record of Decision ("JROD") and the Final Environmental Impact Statement ("FEIS"), which cost almost $5 million , was an extraordinarily high-quality and comprehensive analysis report, which, in their opinion, far surpasses the BLM's legal obligations. , the BLM held an additional 18 hearings in rural communities, hearings in two hub communities ( and ), and a hearing in The BLM received an additional 29,000 written comments to the draft EIS which were scrutinized and incorporated into the final EIS. AIDEA has stated that the development and production of the the Joint Record of Decision ("JROD") and the Final Environmental Impact Statement ("FEIS"), which cost almost , was an extraordinarily high-quality and comprehensive analysis report, which, in their opinion, far surpasses the BLM's legal obligations. On July 23, 2020 , the Company announced that the BLM issued the JROD and the FEIS for the AAP. Subsequently, a Section 404 Permit, which is governed by the Clean Water Act ("CWA"), was issued by the United States Army Corp. of Engineers ("USACE") to AIDEA. , the Company announced that the BLM issued the JROD and the FEIS for the AAP. Subsequently, a Section 404 Permit, which is governed by the Clean Water Act ("CWA"), was issued by the United States Army Corp. of Engineers ("USACE") to AIDEA. Lawsuits were filed shortly thereafter by a coalition of national and Alaska environmental non-government organizations in response to the BLM's issuance of the JROD for the Ambler Access Project. Subsequently NANA, AIDEA, Ambler Metals and the State of Alaska applied for and were granted intervenor status in the litigation. environmental non-government organizations in response to the BLM's issuance of the JROD for the Ambler Access Project. Subsequently NANA, AIDEA, Ambler Metals and the applied for and were granted intervenor status in the litigation. On January 6, 2021 , BLM, the National Park Service and AIDEA signed Right-of-Way agreements giving AIDEA the ability to cross federally owned and managed lands along the route for the Ambler Access Project approved in the JROD. The authorizing documents with the two agencies are the final federal permits required for the Ambler Access Project. , BLM, the National Park Service and AIDEA signed Right-of-Way agreements giving AIDEA the ability to cross federally owned and managed lands along the route for the Ambler Access Project approved in the JROD. The authorizing documents with the two agencies are the final federal permits required for the Ambler Access Project. On February 10, 2021 , AIDEA entered into the Development Agreement, a long-term agreement with Ambler Metals for shared pre-development costs of the Ambler Access Project. The Development Agreement is an agreement between AIDEA and Ambler Metals to contribute up to $35 million each for feasibility and permitting activities of the Ambler Access Project through the end of December 2024 . , AIDEA entered into the Development Agreement, a long-term agreement with Ambler Metals for shared pre-development costs of the Ambler Access Project. The Development Agreement is an agreement between AIDEA and Ambler Metals to contribute up to each for feasibility and permitting activities of the Ambler Access Project through the end of . During the second quarter of 2021, AIDEA signed a land access agreement with Doyon Limited to conduct feasibility and permitting activities to advance the Ambler Access Project and in September 2021 AIDEA signed a land access agreement with NANA to conduct similar activities. AIDEA signed a land access agreement with NANA to conduct similar activities. In October 2021 , the Northwest Arctic Borough Assembly passed a resolution in support of the Ambler Access Project. , the Northwest Arctic Borough Assembly passed a resolution in support of the Ambler Access Project. On October 27, 2021 , the federal defendants, which include the BLM, the USACE, United States Department of the Interior, the National Park Service and the United States Department of Transportation were granted a 60-day stay with respect to each of the lawsuits. The stay was granted through November 29, 2021 . , the federal defendants, which include the BLM, the USACE, United States Department of the Interior, the National Park Service and the United States Department of Transportation were granted a 60-day stay with respect to each of the lawsuits. The stay was granted through . Throughout 2021, the Ambler Access Project made significant progress achieving multiple land access milestones, including rights-of-way ("ROW") between AIDEA, the National Park Service , and BLM as well as an AIDEA-Doyon land access agreement and an AIDEA-NANA land access permit. The agreement and permit with Doyon and NANA, respectively, are effective until December 31, 2024 . Note that these are not ROW agreements. Project resources were added to advance the project through Final Feasibility and Permitting, including a dedicated program manager, external communications manager, and a team of contractors to complete nine critical scopes of work. . Note that these are not ROW agreements. Project resources were added to advance the project through Final Feasibility and Permitting, including a dedicated program manager, external communications manager, and a team of contractors to complete nine critical scopes of work. On January 21, 2022 , the federal defendants filed a request for an additional 30-day extension. About Trilogy Metals Trilogy Metals Inc. is a metal exploration and development company which holds a 50 percent interest in Ambler Metals LLC which has a 100 percent interest in the Upper Kobuk Mineral Projects ("UKMP") in Northwestern Alaska. On December 19, 2019, South32, a globally diversified mining and metals company, exercised its option to form a 50/50 joint venture with Trilogy. The UKMP is located within the Ambler Mining District which is one of the richest and most-prospective known copper-dominant districts located in one of the safest geopolitical jurisdictions in the world. It hosts world-class polymetallic volcanogenic massive sulphide ("VMS") deposits that contain copper, zinc, lead, gold and silver, and carbonate replacement deposits which have been found to host high-grade copper and cobalt mineralization. Exploration efforts have been focused on two deposits in the Ambler Mining District the Arctic VMS deposit and the Bornite carbonate replacement deposit. Both deposits are located within a land package that spans approximately 181,387 hectares. Ambler Metals has an agreement with NANA Regional Corporation, Inc., an Alaska Native Corporation that provides a framework for the exploration and potential development of the Ambler Mining District in cooperation with local communities. Trilogy's vision is to develop the Ambler Mining District into a premier North American copper producer. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including, without limitation, statements relating to the permitting and construction of the AAP, the timing and benefits of the AAP and the merits of the UKMP are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include the uncertainties involving whether the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority will build the AAP; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; success of exploration activities, permitting timelines, requirements for additional capital, government regulation of mining operations, environmental risks, prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services, uncertainties involved in the interpretation of drilling results and geological tests, unexpected cost increases and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2020 filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and in other Company reports and documents filed with applicable securities regulatory authorities from time to time. The Company's forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law. SOURCE Trilogy Metals Inc. BERWYN, Pa., Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Triumph Group [NYSE:TGI] announced today that its Triumph Interiors operating company has been awarded a new contract with Airbus to design, manufacture and provide full program lifecycle support on the primary thermal acoustic insulation system for the Airbus Canada A220 aircraft. Triumph's global engineering team will provide design solutions while manufacturing and program support will take place at the Triumph Interiors site in Mexicali, Mexico. "As a global market leader in commercial transport insulation systems, Triumph's proposal provided an innovative, collaborative solution to optimizing the thermal-acoustic insulation system throughout the life-cycle of the aircraft, creating an efficient and cost-effective solution for Airbus and A220 operators." said Howard Sanderson, General Manager of Triumph Interiors. "This competitive win with Airbus is testament to the comprehensive value Triumph Interiors is able to deliver to primary insulation solutions on commercial platforms." said Ian Reason, President of Triumph Interiors. "The A220 is a single aisle aircraft with significant potential for many more years of sales growth. I am delighted that Triumph has been selected as the best value provider and look forward to competing for further Airbus content on other platforms to grow our relationship." Triumph Interiors is a market leader in integrated design and manufacturing of thermo-acoustic insulation, environmental control system ducting, thermoplastic, and other aircraft interior and composite components for major aerospace OEMs, with facilities located around the globe. Triumph Group, Inc., headquartered in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, designs, engineers, manufactures, repairs, and overhauls a broad portfolio of aerospace and defense systems, components, and structures. The company serves the global aviation industry, including original equipment manufacturers and the full spectrum of military and commercial aircraft operators. More information about Triumph can be found on the company's website at www.triumphgroup.com. SOURCE Triumph Group DULLES, Va., Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Unanet, the leading provider of project-based ERP and CRM for the government contractor (GovCon) and architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industries, today detailed strong 2021 results, highlighted by all-time- growth levels across all product lines and categories, and continued gains in market share. "2021 was a watershed year for Unanet, and it was driven by our belief that customers shouldn't just buy our solutions, they should experience genuine success using them," said Craig Halliday, CEO of Unanet. "More than one-third of Unanet customers come from a competitor. That's because our focus is on our customers' success, not our own. It's about giving customers the complete package: Product-driven innovations; quick, smooth implementations; and an unwavering commitment to service and support so they get the best possible business outcomes." In the past year, many Unanet customers expanded into new markets or enhanced existing contracts, and Unanet's ERP and CRM supported their growth. New features like multi-legal entity invoicing and management, in-depth analytics, mobile timekeeping, security and compliance, and sub-K management were essential to helping customers succeed. Additionally, Unanet's customers increased employee and customer engagement, resulting in faster invoicing and revenue recognition, and more new business wins. Unanet Connect, the industry's first and only open integration marketplace, now offers more than 150 pre-built connectors to some of the business world's most popular and best-in-class applications. The marketplace expanded significantly in 2021, with dozens of new integrations including OpenAsset, a project-based asset-management solution for AE, Flowtrac, an inventory and asset-management software, along with UKG, Paycom, Gusto and Paychex - all popular apps for automating payroll processing. These integrations provide the building blocks for an integrated digital ecosystem with Unanet ERP at its core. Unanet ERP and CRM platforms also cemented its reputation as easier and quicker to implement than the competition, with more lightning-fast implementations in 2021 than ever. Additionally, newly upgraded plug-and-play analytics and dashboarding help executives unlock strategic information in just minutes, wherever they happen to be working, giving the AEC and GovCon firms real-time access to make well-informed, data-driven decisions on the fly. "2021 product innovations were about increasing the value customers get from Unanet, whether that's through quicker revenue recognition, better employee engagement, faster implementation times, or insightful analytics," said Assad Jarrahian, chief product officer for Unanet. "New features only work when customers can get real value from successfully using them. So, our priorities in 2022 are to continue our trajectory of industry-leading go-live times, simplifying complex work, and always fine-tuning the employee experience so that customers achieve their desired business results." Unanet's focus on customer success showed results in the past year, with hundreds of new customers in both the GovCon and AEC spaces, many of which upgraded to Unanet from a competitive product that wasn't serving their needs. Among those new GovCon and AEC customers are EDA, ESP Associates, Inc., Leo Technologies, MAPP, MWA Architects, Precis Engineering, Strategic Technology Consulting, and TechWorks. In addition to hundreds of new customer wins, Unanet claimed several highly coveted industry and business awards, which offer strong support for the company's unparalleled quality and success. Those awards include: The Gold Stevie Award for Cloud-Based ERP in the 2021 American Business Awards CRM Excellence Award from CUSTOMER Magazine Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Business Northern Virginia Tech Council's Tech 100 Top Workplaces' Diversity, Equity and Inclusion award-winner Top Workplaces' Remote Work award-winner Further solidifying Unanet's place as the ERP and CRM solution provider of choice is the company's outstanding ratings in the independent analysis firm G2, which bases their scores on reviews by actual users. Unanet ERP GovCon and Unanet ERP AE landed in G2's Top 5 highest-rated among project-based ERP offerings. "Despite the curveballs that 2021 threw in global economics, supply chain, the pandemic and more, Unanet had a banner year, and we attribute that entirely to our team that puts customer needs first, every day," continued Halliday. "We plan to achieve as much or even greater growth in 2022 by continuing our strategy of innovating for customer success, and delivering the industry's most dedicated service and support teams." About Unanet Unanet is a leading provider of project-based ERP and CRM solutions purpose-built for Government Contractors, architecture, engineering, construction, and professional services. More than 3,400 project-driven organizations depend on Unanet to turn their information into actionable insights, drive better decision-making, and accelerate business growth. All backed by a people-centered team invested in the success of your projects, people, and financials. For more information, visit www.unanet.com. SOURCE Unanet CHICAGO, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Veterinary Infectious Disease Diagnostics Market by Technology (Immunodiagnostics, Molecular Diagnostics (PCR)), Animal (Companion, Food-producing animals), End User (Reference Labs, Hospital, Clinics, Universities) - Global Forecast to 2026", published by MarketsandMarkets, the global market is expected to reach USD 2.6 billion by 2026 from an estimated USD 1.7 billion in 2021, at a CAGR of 9.0%. Browse in-depth TOC on "Veterinary Infectious Disease Diagnostics Market" 326 Tables 55 Figures 392 Pages Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=221816584 The major factors driving the growth of the veterinary infectious disease diagnostics include the growing demand for rapid tests, rising technological advancements, growth in companion animal population, rising demand for pet insurance, increasing incidence of transboundary and zoonotic diseases, rising number of veterinary practitioners in developed economies, increasing disease control & disease prevention measures, and growing animal health expenditure. However, increasing pet care costs are expected to restrain the market growth to a certain extent. Additionally, the lack of animal healthcare awareness in emerging markets, coupled with a shortage of veterinarians in these regions, poses a challenge to the growth of this market. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdowns it triggered is visible on various markets, including the veterinary infectious disease diagnostics market. A person with COVID-19 might transmit the virus that causes this disease to pet cats and dogs (and perhaps pet ferrets) in the same way we might transmit it to another person. Since the initial outbreak of COVID-19, multiple countries have reported infections of SARS-CoV-2 in mammals. Further, the global number of naturally infected animals is far less than the number of people with COVID-19, indicating that animals, including pets, are not a driver of the COVID-19 pandemicthe pandemic continues to be driven by human-to-human transmission. Due to an increase in the prevalence of COVID-19 across the globe, testing volumes on humans and animals continue to rise. At the height of the pandemic, many countries stipulated that only urgent or emergency procedures necessary for the veterinary healthcare of companion animals could take place. COVID-19 pandemic is expected to have a temporary and minimal impact on the market during the forecast period. Immunodiagnostics segment occupies the largest share in the global veterinary infectious disease diagnostics market in the 2020 Based on technology, the global veterinary disease diagnostics market is segmented into immunodiagnostics, molecular diagnostics, and other technologies. In 2020, the immunodiagnostics segment occupied the largest share in the global market. The higher preference for this technology by veterinarians, pet owners, and livestock producers contributes to the large share of the immunodiagnostics segment. The growing demand for early & accurate diagnosis; increasing preference for in-house testing; and the increasing applications of immunodiagnostics are supporting the growth of this application segment. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=221816584 The companion animal segment dominated the global veterinary infectious disease diagnostics market in 2020 Based on the animal type, the global market is segmented into companion animal and food-producing animals. In 2020, the companion animals segment accounted for the largest share of the global market. The growth in this segment is attributed to the increasing pet ownership (especially in developed countries), rising penetration of pet insurance, a growing number of veterinary practitioners globally, and increasing animal disease control and disease prevention measures. Veterinary reference laboratories are the major end users in the veterinary infectious disease diagnostics market in 2020 Based on end users, the global veterinary infectious disease diagnostic market is segmented into veterinary reference laboratories, veterinary hospitals and clinics, point-of-care testing/in-house testing, and veterinary research institutes and universities. Veterinary reference laboratories were the major end users in the market in 2020. The large share of this segment can primarily be attributed to the growing number of veterinarians, the increasing number of veterinary practices, and the rising number of samples received for diagnostics in reference laboratories from small and large animal practices. Rising awareness among pet owners regarding routine and preventive care is further expected to propel market growth. Speak to Analyst: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalystNew.asp?id=221816584 Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the highest CAGR in the veterinary infectious disease diagnostics market Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the highest CAGR in the market during the forecast period. In 2020, the China accounted for the largest share of the Asia Pacific market. In the past few years, the market in the Asia Pacific region has witnessed significant changes owing to factors such as growth in pet adoption, increasing awareness regarding animal health, and growing per capita animal health expenditure, especially in India and China. Some of the major players in the veterinary infectious disease diagnostics market include IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (US), Zoetis, Inc. (US), Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. (US), Virbac (France), bioMerieux SA (France), Heska Corporation (US), IDvet (France), NEOGEN Corporation (US), QIAGEN N.V. (a part of INDICAL Bioscience) (Europe), Randox Laboratories Ltd. (UK), Agrolabo S.p.A. (Italy), Bio-Rad Laboratories (US), Bionote, Inc. (South Korea), Biogal Galed Labs (Israel), BioChek (Netherlands), (UK), Biopanda Reagents (UK), URIT Medical Electronic Co. Ltd. (China), MEGACOR Diagnostik GmbH (Austria), LIVET (UK), INDICAL BIOSCIENCE GmbH (Germany), Fassisi GmbH (Germany), Alvedia (France), SKYER, Inc. (South Korea), Shenzhen Bioeasy Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (China), and Precision Biosensor (US). Browse Adjacent Markets: Medical Devices Market Research Reports & Consulting Browse Related Reports: Veterinary Diagnostics Market by Product(Instruments, Consumables), Technology (Immunodiagnostics (Lateral Flow, ELISA), Clinical Biochemistry, PCR, Hematology, Urinalysis), Animal (Dog, Cat, Cattle, Pig, Poultry, Horse), End User - Global Forecast to 2026 https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/veterinary-diagnostics-market-26017452.html Veterinary Reference Laboratory Market by Service Type (Clinical Chemistry, Hematology, Immunodiagnostics, Molecular Diagnostics, Urinalysis), Application (Pathology, Bacteriology, Virology, Parasitology), Animal, and Region - Global Forecast to 2026 https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/veterinary-reference-laboratory-market-256972714.html About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. 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Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/veterinary-infectious-disease-diagnostic-market.asp Visit Our Web Site: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/veterinary-infectious-disease-diagnostic.asp SOURCE MarketsandMarkets DUBLIN, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Copper Pipes and Tubes Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global copper pipes and tubes market reached a volume of 4.53 Million Tons in 2021. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to reach 5.45 Million Tons by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 3.16% 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 Copper pipes and tubes are widely used in the construction sector owing to the electrical and thermally conductive properties of copper. Although an overall copper plumbing is expensive as compared to its plastic counterpart, it still is a convenient option in terms of cost-benefits because of its long-term reliability. Furthermore, copper pipes have extensive industrial utilization owing to their non-corrosive and non-reactive nature. These pipes and tubes are also used for the transportation of gases since copper is non-permeable to air and gas and offers reduced chances of leakage and contamination caused by oxygen, ultraviolet (UV) rays and temperature from the external environment With the growing population and rapid urbanization, there has been a significant increase in construction expenditures. This has resulted in an increasing demand for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), where copper pipes and tubes find extensive applications owing to ease in handling, malleability, recyclability and non-pyrogenic properties. Furthermore, these pipes and tubes have a high yield, tensile and fatigue strength along with antibacterial properties that play a crucial role in the transportation of medical gases and water distribution systems. Moreover, rapidly growing oil and gas industry, which requires copper pipes and tubes for various operations, is contributing positively to the sales of these pipes and tubes. Other factors such as demand from the solar thermal energy and waste heat recovery systems and product innovations such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) coated copper tubes are further catalyzing the market growth Competitive Landscape: The report has also analysed the competitive landscape of the market with some of the key players being Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd, KME, Kobe Steel, Ltd., Luvata, MetTube, Mueller Industry, KMCT, Cerroflow Products, Golden Dragon, Mehta Tubes, Qingdao Hongtai Metal Co.Ltd., Shanghai Hailiang Copper Tubes, etc Key Question Answered in this Report 1. What is the size of the global copper pipes and tubes market? 2. What are the key factors driving the global copper pipes and tubes market? 3. What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global copper pipes and tubes market? 4. What is the breakup of the global copper pipes and tubes market based on the finish type? 5. What is the breakup of the global copper pipes and tubes market based on the end user? 6. What are the key regions in the global copper pipes and tubes market? 7. Who are the key players/companies in the global copper pipes and tubes market? Key Topics Covered: 1 Preface 2 Scope and Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Introduction 4.1 Overview 4.2 Key Industry Trends 5 Global Copper Pipes and Tubes Market 5.1 Market Overview 5.2 Market Performance 5.3 Impact of COVID-19 5.4 Market Breakup by Finish Type 5.5 Market Breakup by Outer Diameter 5.6 Market Breakup by End-User 5.7 Market Breakup by Region 5.8 Market Forecast 6 Market Breakup by Finish Type 6.1 LWC Grooved 6.1.1 Market Trends 6.1.2 Market Forecast 6.2 Straight Length 6.2.1 Market Trends 6.2.2 Market Forecast 6.3 Pancake 6.3.1 Market Trends 6.3.2 Market Forecast 6.4 LWC Plain 6.4.1 Market Trends 6.4.2 Market Forecast 7 Market Breakup by Outer Diameter 7.1 3/8, 1/2, 5/8 Inch 7.1.1 Market Trends 7.1.2 Market Forecast 7.2 3/4, 7/8, 1 Inch 7.2.1 Market Trends 7.2.2 Market Forecast 7.3 Above 1 inch 7.3.1 Market Trends 7.3.2 Market Forecast 8 Market Breakup by End-User 8.1 HVAC 8.1.1 Market Trends 8.1.2 Market Forecast 8.2 Industrial Heat Exchanger 8.2.1 Market Trends 8.2.2 Market Forecast 8.3 Plumbing 8.3.1 Market Trends 8.3.2 Market Forecast 8.4 Electrical 8.4.1 Market Trends 8.4.2 Market Forecast 8.5 Others 8.5.1 Market Trends 8.5.2 Market Forecast 9 Market Breakup by Region 10 SWOT Analysis 11 Value Chain Analysis 12 Porters Five Forces Analysis 13 Price Analysis 13.1 Price Indicators 13.2 Price Structure 13.3 Margin Analysis 14 Competitive Landscape 14.1 Market Structure 14.2 Key Players 14.3 Profiles of Key Players 14.3.1 Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd 14.3.2 KME 14.3.3 Kobe Steel, Ltd. 14.3.4 Luvata 14.3.5 MetTube 14.3.6 Mueller Industry 14.3.7 KMCT 14.3.8 Cerroflow Products 14.3.9 Golden Dragon 14.3.10 Mehta Tubes 14.3.11 Qingdao Hongtai Metal Co.,Ltd. 14.3.12 Shanghai Hailiang Copper Tubes For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/wyerm7 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 Addis Ababa President Uhuru Kenyatta has rallied the African Union (AU) to end the increasing cases of political instability and insecurity on the continent by taking decisive actions saying the deteriorating situation was undermining the continent's socio-economic progress. "As you note excellencies, 2021 was marked by a spread of terrorism and violent extremism and the resurgence of unconstitutional change of Government across the continent. This is a worrying trend that needs to be arrested and dealt with decisively. "We need to take bold steps to address issues of terrorism and violent extremism and to undertake in depth review of our existing instruments on unconstitutional changes of Government in order to address the resurgence of unconstitutional changes of Government," he said. President Kenyatta spoke on Saturday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia when he delivered the progress report of the African Union Peace and Security Council (AU-PSC) at the ongoing 35th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU. Despite the restrictions imposed by Covid-19, President Kenyatta said the AU-PSC had continued to discharge its mandate noting that the entity had held 85 virtual meetings in 202, and addressed concerns in Burundi, Central Africa Republic, Chad, Ethiopia, Guinea, Libya, Mali/Sahel, South Sudan, Sudan, Western Sahara, Somalia and Comoros. On the conflict in Western Sahara, President Kenyatta decried the escalating military tension between the Kingdom of Morocco and Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) despite the various UN and AU resolutions and proposed measures to de-escalate the tension. "In this regard, the assembly may wish to request the Peace and Security Council to discharge its mandate on the conflict in Western Sahara, in accordance with the relevant provisions of its protocol and the relevant assembly decisions by reviewing the situation in the Western Sahara as necessary, at Heads of State and Government level. "This should include receiving briefings from the AU Troika; engaging the two parties, both of whom are member states of the AU, to address the unfolding situation in order to prepare conditions for a new ceasefire and to reach a just and durable solution to the conflict," President Kenyatta proposed. Earlier, President Kenyatta, who arrived in the Ethiopian capital on Saturday morning, witnessed the transfer of the African Union's Chairmanship from President Felix Tshisekedi of DR Congo to his Senegalese counterpart Macky Sall during the opening ceremony of the two-day summit. In their speeches, leaders who spoke at the opening ceremony, among them UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed paid glowing tribute to past AU chairpersons Cyril Ramaphosa (South Africa) and Felix Tshisekedi (DR Congo) for outstanding stewardship of the pan-African institution. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Africa Governance Conflict By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. PM Abiy particularly applauded President Ramaphosa for AU's response to Covid-19 saying the South African leader had provided "exemplary leadership in a collective response to the challenges of the pandemic". The Ethiopian leader also spoke about the conflict in his country's Tigray region saying his Government was taking all necessary steps to ensure that law and order was restored. "As you are aware, despite the intransigence of the other side in this conflict, my Government has taken a variety of measures to minimize the loss of life and destruction of property. "We have implemented unilateral withdrawal from conflict areas and used force that is necessary to ensure law and order. "As a gesture of goodwill, we have released high profile suspects with a view to creating a conducive environment for peace," PM Abiy said. In his acceptance speech, President Sall assured of his commitment to serve the African Union with determination during his one-year tenure, and listed climate change, reform of the multilateral system including the UN as well as peace and security as some of his priority areas. On Sunday, President Kenyatta, who is the current Chairperson of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), will present a progress report on the fight against malaria on the continent. Pantheon Resources PLC (AIM:PANR, OTC:PTHRF) has received expectation-beating flow test results for the Talitha A vertical test well in Alaska. The well test was primarily designed to determine whether the oil in Talithas Basin Floor Fan (BFF) discovery was moveable and oil flowed in separate tests on three separate reservoir intervals. Rates averaged 73 barrels of oil per day which bodes well for the future of project. Pantheon highlighted that the project would be developed using horizontal wells, stimulated with multiple stage fracs to produce flow rates that the company predicts will be many times higher. "This is a great result and better than we had expected at this location, said chief executive Jay Cheatham. The BFF horizon in this well is in a downdip distal location with suboptimal reservoir qualities, over 10 miles from the ideal location. The objective of this test was not about flow rates; it was about confirmation that we had both movable and high quality light oil. We have achieved both of these objectives which is extremely encouraging for the entire BFF system. Pantheons next well, Theta West 1, is presently being drilled, meanwhile, test operations at Talitha will continue in shallower zones. The company today added that the drilling of Theta West remains on track and on budget and is expected to reach target depth either today or tomorrow. "Whilst these flow rates exceeded our expectations, we must caution that, although this is very positive for Theta West, it does not guarantee success, Cheatham added. We must wait to complete the drilling and for flow test results from the Theta West #1 well. However, we remain cautiously optimistic. Bob Rosenthal, Pantheon technical director, added: The Talitha A location sits at the edge of our conceptual development scenario for the targeted potential of 1.2bn barrels of oil recoverable resource in the Lower Basin Floor. This is very promising given that we have mapped the BFF extending updip, all the way beyond Theta West. This means that, if drilling and testing is positive at Theta West, the implications for Pantheon are very significant indeed." Mode Global Holdings PLC (LSE:MODE, OTCQB:MODGF) said employees of ecommerce platform Heroes will be able to take some of their monthly salaries in Bitcoin as part of a new partnership. Any employee who takes part of their salary in the crypto currency will have payment made into a Mode wallet, a Financial Conduct Authority-registered Bitcoin wallet. The London listed fintech said interested employees of Heroes will have the option to steadily invest into Bitcoin each month. The agreement is part of the expanding #PayMeInBitcoin movement, and follows the partnership between Mode and PayEscape, a payroll supplier, in November 2021, a statement said. Heroes has recently undergone a series of successful funding rounds and is looking to use Modes platform to give its employees additional benefits. We are delighted to be working with the Heroes team to bring their employees an innovative and secure way of investing in Bitcoin for the longer term through our payroll product, said Rita Liu, chief commercial officer of Mode. Being able to receive salaries partly in Bitcoin has been very well received and adds another string to the bow of benefits available to our employees, added Heroes chief financial officer Giancarlo Bruni. Bezant Resources PLC (AIM:BZT) has hosted an all-parties technical visit to review the Hope and Gorob project in Namibia, leading to consensus on the best way to optimise project development and more specifically the lodging of a mining licence application. Lead engineering consultant Practara has developed a number of recommendations to be adopted aimed at including near-surface mineralisation into the resource model. Project design engineers Nurizon will review plant layout specifically to offer multiple options for presentation to the Namibian authorities for consideration. Further guidance will be provided by specialist Namibian environmental consultants, Namisun Environmental Projects and Development, managing a consortium of local experts given the responsibility for environmental impact assessment documentation. Plant design consultants will embark on high-level design based on feedback from the company and consultants in regard to project throughput, ore types, scheduling and life of mine. The ongoing 2,000 metre drill programme will focus on twinning historic drill holes to provide invaluable geological data, the completion of initial geotechnical logging for engineering purposes, including the siting of infrastructure and underground development, collection of drill core for detailed metallurgical test work, and drilling to intersect near-surface copper-gold oxide potential and to refine the geological model. "The team had very productive site meetings and discussions with all stakeholders, said Colin Bird, executive chairman of Bezant. The outcome was that the project presents significant opportunity over and above previously considered mining plans. Our work suggests that an open pit working oxides and transition materials may well be possible and as such we are fast tracking determination of the presence, mineralisation style and metallurgical suitability for leaching or similar process. What did impress the group was the apparent occurrence of significant gold workings that were reported as exploratory but appear in actual fact to have been exploited by previous artisanal mining. A coordinated programme of action has been implemented by Bezant aimed specifically at the completion of scoping studies, preliminary design and the expansion and upgrade of the mineral resource model all aimed at the near-term submission of a mining licence application. The Hope copper-gold project is located in central Namibia approximately 100km to the south west of Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. The project covers a significant portion of the highly prospective Matchless copper belt. Cobra Resources PLC (LSE:COBR) chief executive Rupert Verco joined Proactive's Stephen Gunnion with an update on the company's Wudinna Project in Australia. Verco telling Proactive that northern drillholes at Clarke intercepted additional gold mineralisation - as well as rare earth interceptions directly above the gold zones. Not only do the results from Cobra's recent 14-hole phase of reverse circulation drilling confirm the potential for a significant gold mineral system at Clarke, but the discovery of critical REEs is also significant, exposing Cobra to multiple high-value commodities, Verco added. The FTSE 100 made a modest start to what is a big week for UK company earnings kicking off with BP tomorrow. Londons blue-chip index was up 9 at 7,525 in early trades. House prices hit a new record in January, but the rate of growth is slowing suggested the latest survey from the Halifax Building Society. Prices rose 0.3% to 276,759 against gains of 1% in each of the previous four months. The worst of surging food prices is "yet to come" with a potential 5% hike in spring, Tescos chairman said. John Allan advised people also to keep bread in the fridge and ignore some sell-by dates. Australian bank Macquarie Group is in talks with Downing Street officials over 10bn investment in British infrastructure. The investment would be one of the largest in history by an overseas company and will mainly be renewable energy investments. Among the small caps, Cobra Resources reported further gold mineralisation within the northern drill transect confirming the potential for a significant gold mineral system at Clarke in Australia. Additional rare earth elements were intercepted above and proximal to the gold interceptions. Oil explorer Pantheon Resources shares were up 16% after it received expectation-beating flow test results for the Talitha A vertical test well in Alaska. Oil flowed in tests on three separate reservoir intervals. Immupharma said dosing will begin later this month for its Lupuzor treatment to assess how a new formulation of the lupus treatment interacts with the body. The study in 24 healthy male volunteers will get underway on February 15. Oriole Resources PLC (LSE:ORR) said Eileen Carr, who has over 30 years of experience within the resources sector, will become its non-executive chair on 17 February. We look forward to working with her and, with Eileen's extensive experience of the mining industry and previous board positions, she will help us to continue the successful development of the company's portfolio," said chief executive Tim Livesey. Carr will replace John McGloin, who is leaving the AIM-quoted West-African-based explorer for another role. "The last three years have been transformational for the company, Livesey added. Our market capitalisation has more than doubled and we have also seen a significant advancement of our Senegalese asset, the development of our new frontier exploration targets in Cameroon and the rationalisation across the legacy assets leading to significant reductions in G&A. Tharisa PLC (LSE:THS, JSE:THA) head of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Tebogo Matsimela joined Proactive's Stephen Gunnion with news that the company has signed an agreement for the development of a solar power plant to supply power to its Tharisa Mine in South Africa. Matsimela telling Proactive that the platinum group metals and chrome producer has signed a comprehensive memorandum of understanding (MoU) with renewable energy producer Total Eren and Chariot Ltd (AIM:CHAR, OTC:OIGLF). He added that the agreement will help Tharisa meet its pledge to reduce carbon emissions by 30% by 2030 and be carbon net neutral by 2050. An Oxford University professor has reignited the row over AstraZeneca PLC (LSE:AZN)s covid vaccine by claiming the criticism the jab received might have cost hundreds of thousands of lives. Sir John Bell, who worked on the vaccines development, told the BBC that Bad behaviour from scientists and from politicians has probably killed hundreds of thousands of people and that they cannot be proud of. The use of the Astra vaccine stalled in western countries and elsewhere after a small number of highly publicised incidences of clots linked to a rare blood disorder, especially in the young. Britain has now recommended that the jab only be given to the over-40s while the US has never given its approval. AstraZeneca also had to fight a legal battle with the European Union over supplies of the vaccine, despite Frances president Emmanuel Macron claim that it didnt work as expected. Germany dropped the vaccine for the over-65s a year ago saying there was no evidence of its efficacy. Italy, France, Poland and Sweden also stopped using it though data published later showed the jab was as least as effective as the Pfizer and Moderna alternatives, especially over longer periods. In an interview in November, Pascal Soriot, AstraZenecas chief executive, claimed that the low level of hospitalisations in the UK from recent variants such as Delta and Omicron might be the result of the widespread use of its vaccine in the initial jab programme. AstraZenecas vaccine was also produced on a not-for-profit basis and accounts for the vast majority of jabs supplied to third world countries. Other vaccine suppliers have been criticised for the small number of doses made available to low-income countries. Matador Mining Ltd (ASX:MZZ, OTCQX:MZZMF) has kicked off its inaugural winter drilling program at the Cape Ray Gold Project in Newfoundland, Canada, as it seeks to add to the projects considerable gold bounty. The first-ever winter program maintains the companys aggressive exploration at Cape Ray and will comprise 30 diamond holes for 3,000-4,500 metres. The work will focus on a corridor encompassing the PW East, Stag Hill, Isle aux Morts and Benton prospects along the Cape Ray Shear Zone. Winter challenges Executive chair Ian Murray said: I would like to congratulate our exploration team and our service providers for the hard work they have put into the planning and preparation of this inaugural winter drill program. "As with all exploration programs, safety and environment are front of mind. With a winter program, new potential challenges need to be planned for, which our team has done well during the preparation for this program. "In 2021, we commenced the largest ever drill program at the highly prospective Cape Ray Gold Project, with 20,681 metres of diamond drilling completed during the year. However, winter conditions in Newfoundland typically halt traditional drilling for a few months. Aggressive pace "To mitigate this, our inaugural winter drill program, which consists of around 30 diamond holes for 3,000-4,500 metres, will allow Matador to maintain the aggressive pace of exploration that we have established at Cape Ray, during what is typically a period of inactivity in the field, the chair said. Purpose of program The program has been designed to: Investigate surficial geochemistry and magnetic anomalies at PW East and along the untested northern margin of the Central Zone mineral resource which hosts 526,000 ounces at 2.2 g/t gold; Follow up on results of the 2021 surficial and auger geochemistry and magnetic anomalies at Stag Hill; Drill test the brownfield depth extensions and greenfield targets proximal to the Isle aux Morts deposit identified at the end of the 2020 diamond drill program, including IAM-SW; and Follow up on results of the auger drilling, diamond drilling, surficial geochemistry and magnetic anomalies at Benton. Winter program target locations in relation to the Exploration Camp and detailed magnetics. Year-round news flow Murray added: "As the winter program then segues into our 2022 summer program, Matador will prove itself as an exploration company that can successfully and efficiently execute exploration programs in all seasons and provide investors with regular news flow throughout the year. "I look forward to updating the market of the results from this winter drill program in due course. Awaiting assay results While Matador is executing the winter drill program, the company expects to release results from 35 diamond drill holes in the 2021 summer drilling season that are pending assays. This program included: 10 greenfield diamond drill holes assessing the WGHG Heart-Shaped Pond (HSP) target area. This area, just west of the main WGH mineral resource, has never been drilled, however, new power auger geochemistry delivered multi-gram bottom-of-hole gold intercepts prompting a reassessment of the areas prospectivity; Seven greenfield diamond drill holes testing for along-strike extensions of the WGHG Margin mineralisation to the northeast; Three greenfield diamond drill holes from the Big Pond Area); 11 infill drill holes within the WGH mineral resource; and Four geotechnical drill holes for 623 metres undertaken at Central Zone. Matador also has results pending for 1,200 conventional till samples from the Malachite Lake greenfield reconnaissance program and the remainder of the Stag Hill power auger sampling program. Mako Gold Ltd (ASX:MKG) has set drills to targets as it begins 7,000 metres of dual auger drilling at the Korhogo Gold Project in Cote d'Ivoire, targeting high-priority structural and geochemical targets identified through previous work programs. This program is being fast-tracked with two drills working simultaneously, with a further 10,000 metres of aircore drilling planned to follow up promising results. The Korhogo project area has so far remained unexplored with modern methods, constituting some 296 square kilometres of prospective greenstone belt, just 15-30 kilometres from Barrick Golds 4.9-million-ounce Tongon Gold Mine. Fully financed to advance We are pleased to be advancing exploration on our Korhogo Project in the highly prospective Birimian greenstone belt which hosts Barricks 4.9-million-ounce Tongon Gold Mine, Mako Gold managing director Peter Ledwidge said. We started work on the project in 2021 with an airborne geophysical program as well as a geochemical soil sampling program, which identified highly prospective targets which we will now be testing with auger drilling. We are fast-tracking the auger drilling sampling program with two rigs on the ground so that we can commence a 10,000-metre aircore drilling program when the auger results are received. We are fully financed to advance this exciting new greenfield program on the Korhogo Project, as well as the Napie Project which remains our primary focus as we rapidly progress towards our mineral resource estimate. Mako says its core focus will remain on the flagship Napie Project, where an extensional drilling campaign is in progress with a maiden mineral resource estimate planned for the second quarter of this calendar year. About Mako Gold Mako Gold is an exploration company focused on advancing its flagship Napie Gold Project in Cote dIvoire in the West African Birimian Greenstone Belts which hosts more than 70 deposits of in excess of 1 million ounces. The company is concentrating on a systematic exploration and growth strategy that aims to extend existing high-grade mineralisation and test multiple high priority regional prospects. The Rwandan community in Kenya on Saturday, February 5 came together to celebrate the 28th anniversary of the Heroes Day, during which they paid tribute to people who defended patriotic values and sacrificed for the wellbeing of Rwandans. Organized by the Rwanda High Commission in Kenya under the theme; "Our Heroism, Our Dignity," the ceremony was held in a hybrid format where over 60 representatives of the Rwandan community attended physically at the High Commission premises in Nairobi. More than 100 Rwandans also participated virtually from different parts of Kenya, including Nairobi, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret and Mombasa. Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Richard Masozera, Rwanda's High Commissioner in Kenya, urged Rwandans to embrace patriotism while keeping in memory the countrymen and women who made exceptional contributions to nation-building. "The Rwandan heroes, who displayed immense dedication and service to the country, represent our values, collective history and through them we're reminded of who we are and our potential to be dignified and prosperous," Masozera said. He further noted that under the leadership of President Paul Kagame, Rwanda has become a reference point for robust governance in the region, political stability, sustained economic growth and the rule of law, among other things. Masozera said the youth and generations to come "need to rise to the occasion and take this opportunity and contribute to the rebuilding and development of our nation." Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Rwanda Kenya By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Other speakers at the event included Lt Col (Rtd) Ndore Rulinda and Lt Col Ephrem Ngoga, who made presentations on the significance of the Heroes Day, noting that the celebrated heroes are in three categories, namely Imanzi, Imena and Ingenzi. Imanzi is the highest order, featuring people who registered utmost achievements at the expense of their own lives, among other things. This category currently has two people; Late Maj Gen Fred Gisa Rwigema, the first commander of the liberation struggle, and the Unknown Soldier, who represents those who died during the liberation struggle. Imena has different people including King Umutara III Rudahigwa, former Prime Minister Agathe Uwiringiyimana, Felicite Niyitegeka, Michel Rwagasana and the Nyange Students. Rulinda and Ngoga also gave testimonies of how heroism today manifests itself in different forms, including contribution to national development efforts. In Rwanda, the Heroes Day was celebrated nationally on Tuesday February 1, with a wreath-laying ceremony at the National Heroes' Mausoleum in Remera, where President Kagame was accompanied by the First Lady Jeannette Kagame and other high-ranking officials as well as diplomatic corps. Create your account: sign up and get ahead on news and events NO INVESTMENT ADVICE The Company is a publisher. You understand and agree that no content published on the Site constitutes a recommendation that any particular security, portfolio of securities, transaction, or investment strategy is... In exchange for publishing services rendered by the Company on behalf of Mako Gold Ltd named herein, including the promotion by the Company of Mako Gold Ltd in any Content on the Site, the Company receives from said... Cooper Metals Ltd (ASX:CPM) recently commenced exploring for copper and gold mineralisation at its Mt Isa East Project in northwest Queensland, where it reports recent "encouraging assay results from follow up reconnaissance rock chip geochemical sampling. Following the companys first reconnaissance geochemical program late last year, where samples of up to 35.3% copper were returned from the Python prospect, the company has received results from follow-up sampling at several prospects including Python, King Solomon, Yarraman and Prince Albert Trend. Follow-up surface geochemical sampling in the north-eastern part of the Mt Isa East Project continues to impress and build an exciting picture of the broader copper and gold potential of the project area, managing director Ian Warland said. King Solomon delivers Infill rock chip sampling along the 1.5-kilometre copper mineralised trend at King Solomon has returned up to 9.85% copper and 2.58 g/t gold, indicating higher gold potential than the company had expected. At Python prospect, around 2.3 kilometres northwest of King Solomon, Cooper previously collected three rock chip samples from the shallow workings that returned copper grades from 1.65% to 35.3%. During the current sampling campaign, the company has discovered an additional previously unknown historical mine shaft. A rock chip sample from near these old workings unveiled 8.53% copper and 0.11 g/t gold, extending the known mineralisation at the prospect. The project area covers part of the Mary Kathleen Domain within the world-class Mt Isa Inlier that also hosts Carnaby Resources Nil Desperandum and Lady Fanny prospects. High-powered ground electromagnetic (EM) surveying continues apace at Python. The high powered electromagnetic survey underway at Python is designed to aid interpretation of the mineralisation in three dimensions and delineate preliminary drill targets, said Warland. Copper for 400 metres Meanwhile, at the Yarraman prospect, historical copper in a soil anomaly appears to extend for 400 metres around old workings, with rock chip samples revealing up to 3.31% copper from the historical mine shaft. Also near Yarraman, rock chip samples indicate up to 20.2% copper from a gossanous outcrop 640 metres southeast of the prospect, giving the company high hopes for the potential of the area. An additional 18 rock chip samples have been collected from historical workings and selected outcrops which contain visual evidence of copper mineralisation or appear gossanous in nature. Positive view of prospectivity The results extend the mineralisation at Python and King Solomon and confirm Coopers positive view of the area, highlighting the prospectivity of the Mt Isa East Project for copper and gold. The highest gold result to date of 2.58 g/t gold at King Solomon highlights the strong gold potential of the prospect, which was mainly exploited by historical miners for copper mineralisation," Warland said. At Python, the footprint of the old workings and copper mineralisation continues to grow as field teams continue to explore the area. Initial field reconnaissance at other prospects has been very encouraging including Yarraman area, which returned up to 20.2% copper from an iron oxide gossan hosted in a significant shear zone within mafic rocks, which are often spatially associated with copper-gold mineralisation in the region. The company plans to move to less-explored areas of the prospective Mary Kathleen Domain, with an airborne electromagnetic survey to start after the wet season. Next steps The company has big plans for the Mt Isa Project, including: Tietto Minerals Ltd (ASX:TIE) has delivered further high-grade gold results from an infill drilling program completed at AbujarGludehi (AG) Deposit, part of the 3.35-million-ounce Abujar Gold Project in Cote dIvoire, West Africa. Strong results from AG drilling include: 5 metres at 33.86 g/t gold from 38 metres including 1-metre at 164.28 g/t; 2 metres at 26.07 g/t gold from 118 metres including 1-metre at 51.33 g/t; and 9 metres at 4.61 g/t gold from 137 metres including 7 metres at 5.8 g/t. Notably, Tiettos six diamond rigs continue actively drilling, with 100,000 metres planned in 2022 to drive resource growth. Looking ahead, the company is funded to production with construction progressing on schedule targeting first gold at Abujar in the December quarter of 2022. Dual strategy in 2022 Tietto managing director Caigen Wang said: Following on from the fantastic intercept of 1.1 metres at 2,853 g/t gold, our infill drill program continues to add multiple highgrade gold intercepts at AG Core. These assays are from the 10th batch of results received for the infill drilling program, which was designed to convert indicated resources to measured resources, scheduled to be mined over the first two years of production. We are incorporating results into the resource model update, due at the end of this quarter. We are well positioned to execute our dual strategy in 2022; our Exploration Team has recently commenced drilling 100,000 metres of diamond core this year to drive resource growth, and our Build Team is advancing construction work on schedule as we develop the Abujar Gold Project into West Africas next gold mine. Drilling at AG core Results are presented for 44 diamond drill holes totalling 5,794 metres completed as part of Tiettos infill drilling program which aims to increase confidence in the Abujar mineral resource by upgrading indicated resources to measured resources. Other strong results from AG core include: 16 metres at 2.51 g/t gold from 105 metres including 6 metres at 5.05 g/t; and 15 metres at 2.57 g/t from 64 metres including 8 metres at 4.47 g/t. Gold mineralisation at AG Core remains open at depth well below open pit limits and Tietto will plan further drilling to assess the potential for underground mining at Abujar below the planned DFS open pit. Financial summary The second tranche of Tiettos A$85 million placement was approved by shareholders on January 7, 2022, and shares issued on January 17, 2022. This capital raising complements Tiettos debt strategy, where the company mandated Taurus Mining Finance Fund No.2 L.P. to deliver an underwritten project development Facility of up to US$140 million of debt funding for the US$200 million project. Looking ahead, Abujar DFS demonstrated robust financial results and estimated first-year gold production of 260,000 ounces and 1.2 million ounces over the first six years of Abujars 11year mine life for an NPV5% A$1.3 million (pre-tax) and A$0.97 Billion (posttax) using US$1,700 per ounce gold and A$/US$=0.741 Forward plan Tietto remains very well positioned to advance its dual strategy into 2022: Continue to drive rapid resource growth at the 3.35-million-ounce Abujar Gold Project; and Fasttrack development of Abujar Gold Project to achieve first gold in December quarter 2022. The company is negotiating the final regulatory step, the Abujar Mining Convention, with the Ivorian Government, having already secured all mining and environmental approvals. Tiettos is advancing the construction of the process plant and associated infrastructure which remains on schedule as the Abujar Gold Project progresses towards first gold by the end of the December quarter and is on track to become West Africas next gold mine. Kingston Resources Ltd (ASX:KSN) has kicked off an initial 15,000-metre exploration drilling program at its recently-acquired Mineral Hill Project in New South Wales. The companys immediate exploration strategy is to focus on near-mine or brownfields targets within the existing mining leases. Looking ahead, the commencement of exploration drilling at Mineral Hill is an important step for Kingston on the pathway to establishing production beyond the existing Gold Tailings Project. Re-commencing mining operations Kingston managing director Andrew Corbett said: Following the completion of the Mineral Hill Project acquisition on January 18, we are delighted to now be in a position to commence exploration drilling to support our ambition of re-commencing mining operations at Mineral Hill. The Kingston team completed a significant amount of preparatory work and due diligence leading up to the completion of the transaction to ensure we could hit the ground running, with an initial focus on drilling existing resource and reserve areas to extend the current mining inventory. We are particularly pleased to have partnered with a locally-based drilling contractor, Resolution Drilling. Kingston is committed to supporting local businesses and contributing positively to the local community, and we look forward to continuing to foster positive relationships with local stakeholders as we complete the tailings reprocessing project and restart mining operations. Exploration program In terms of modern exploration, Mineral Hill is considered to be highly under-explored and, while subject to extensive historical drilling, the recent discoveries of Pearse and Red Terror have highlighted the projects significant potential, with just 2% of drill-holes testing beyond 350 metres below the surface. Kingstons exploration program will target: Near-surface mineralisation is adjacent to the existing resources and reserves at the Pearse and Pearse North open pits; Southern Ore Zone (SOZ) Underground will be drilled from surface to in-fill and extend known resources within the A Lode; and Historical drilling at Jacks Hut, GD140 and Missing Link will be followed up with the aim of defining the geological models and identifying potential open-pit resources. Moving forward, a program is also underway to rank a pipeline of greenfields exploration targets on both EL1999 and EL8334. Corbett adds: The Pearse deposits are an attractive place to start when planning mine life extension activities. With a relatively small investment, we believe additional drilling at these deposits has the potential to underpin the first year of ore feed following completion of the tailings reprocessing project. Additionally, the significant potential evident at the Southern Ore Zone, Jacks Hut, Parkers Hill and the broader exploration package as a whole provides an outstanding base for us to extend the mine life at Mineral Hill. About Mineral Hill Mineral Hill is a gold and copper mine located in the Cobar Basin of New South Wales. Alongside current production, exploration is focusing on near-mine production opportunities from both open pit and underground targets located on the existing mining licences The aim will be to expand and update the existing resource base to underpin mine feasibility work and approvals to ensure an immediate transition to open pit and/or underground feed after the tailings reprocessing. Corbett adds: Were looking forward to reporting results from this upcoming drilling and extending the mine life at Mineral Hill so that it can positively contribute to the local region and create value for Kingstons shareholders. The timing of the Mineral Hill acquisition could not be better, with our flagship Misima Gold Project in PNG now entering the final stages of the definitive feasibility study which remains on track to be completed in Q1 2022. Mineral Hill will provide important cash flow and an enhanced development platform for Kingston as we transition from mining studies to a permitting and approvals phase at Misima. Australian Gold and Copper Ltd (ASX:AGC) has intercepted encouraging zones of sulphides within quartz veining in Phase 1 reverse circulation (RC) exploration drilling of Carlisle Reef at the Moorefield Project in New South Wales. The drilling campaign sought to define gold targets over the 15-kilometre-long Boxdale-Carlisle Reefs historic gold trend, drilling 1,070 metres over nine holes. Exploration findings Drilling at Carlisle and previous results from Boxdale intercepted what AGC describes as encouraging zones of sulphides consisting of pyrite and arsenopyrite hosted in quartz veining, which were visually logged and analysed with X-ray Fluorescence (pXRF). The host rocks along the reef trend are interbedded meta-siltstones and sandstones. The mineralisation is preferentially hosted within the sandstone units as the sandstones are brittle, allowing them to fracture and for mineralisation in quartz veins to develop within these fractures. Gold assays from pre-Christmas drilling at Boxdale are due in late-February, while post-Christmas Boxdale and Carlisle Reefs assays are expected to arrive in March. The final gold and multi-element assay for Cargelligos Achilles target are also still pending, with results expected imminently. About Australian Gold and Copper Australian Gold and Copper is an exploration company with a focus on the exploration and development of a multi-asset gold and gold-copper portfolio in the world-class Lachlan Fold Belt in New South Wales. The wholly-owned Moorefield, Cargelligo and Gundagai projects cover about 1,000 square kilometres and contain numerous drill-ready targets identified by multiple datasets and each provide the opportunity for a major gold or copper-gold discovery. These projects are within the Central Lachlan Fold Belt that hosts the Cowal Gold Mine as well as the large copper-gold operations at Northparkes and Cadia Valley. Cookie Policy Overview This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping us understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. See our Cookie Policy for more information. Check out the news headlines on any given day and theres a fair chance youll find a story about China. Headlines just in the past week: 'Iron ore reaches US$150 a tonne on China bets', 'China accepts stranded coal as shortages bite', 'Lithium prices surge on Chinese EV demand'. So it would be fair to say, then, that China plays a large role in the global mining industry. But why? And how? David Paull, chairman of Aspire Mining Ltd (ASX:AKM) and board member of five other companies, tells Proactive that China has a wealth of resources beneath its feet, but that its prominence in the mining sector stems back to the mid-2000s. China has an enormous endowment of raw materials across the full spectrum, he said. They were exporters of that raw or transformed concentrate matter for a very long time. From the mid-2000s they started to realise that their own resources could not meet all of their needs, with internal demand not only for domestic consumption but also to transform products for export. And so they became a large importer to meet internal demand. China is the worlds leading producer of coal, aluminium, gold, tin, titanium, vanadium and zinc. It is also the worlds largest exporter, the second-largest importer of goods and services, and is the worlds largest importer of petroleum, iron ore and copper ore. This mix of massive internal production alongside a globally significant import industry is what makes China the king at the top of the food chain, Paull explains. Factory of the world China has become the factory of the world, he said. Their demand for raw materials and resources quickly outpaced everyone else, particularly in things like iron ore and coking coal. China is now the marginal purchaser of most commodities globally. Chinas rapid economic growth in the early to mid-2000s led to rapid upheaval of the status quo in the resources sector. The price-setting mechanisms we grew up with in the 60s through until the 90s went out the window, Paull said. Generally steel commodities like coking coal were set by Japanese steel mills but at the end of the day that went out the window because most of the market was moving to supply China. That led to different pricing mechanisms, largely driven by spot markets, and the reason we have spot markets today is because of the impact of broad Chinese demand across many commodities. Looking ahead Markets never remain still, and things are changing. Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) has noted that sharp new growth in the customer base for resources is coming from North America, rather than China. Meanwhile, the exponential growth seen in electric vehicles and devices has led to huge increases in demand for battery metals such as lithium, nickel, copper, cobalt and rare earths. In 2021, electric vehicle (EV) sales rose 154% in China, and estimates have EV penetration in the country sitting at 40% by 2030. Paull says with supply deficits forecast for battery metals, Chinas EV demand looms large over the global resources sector. China has some pretty aggressive forecasts when it comes to EVs but the cupboard is looking pretty bare when it comes to their own resources so they are keen on expanding, he says. He points to Chinese cobalt business Huayou, which late last year paid in excess of $500 million for the Arcadia hard rock lithium mine in Zimbabwe. And theyll be looking to secure other assets around the world because its crucial to their domestic plans, he says, pointing out that it wont just be for battery metals. Aspire Mining, one of a handful of Mongolian companies that will provide resources to China, will play a large role in the countrys demand for coking coal. Resilience Mining Mongolia Ltd (ASX:RM1) recently acquired Kincora Copper Ltd (TSX-V:KCC), and Elixir Energy Ltd (ASX:EXR) is building on Mongolias first gas discovery. Paull also expects geopolitical interests such as the South China Sea to play a large part in Chinas role in the industry moving forward, rather than just commercial interests. - Daniel Paproth Cooper Metals Ltd (ASX:CPM) is a junior explorer focused on three highly prospective copper-gold projects in Queensland and Western Australia. The company listed on the ASX in November 2021 following an oversubscribed initial public offering (IPO) which raised A$4.8 million. Coopers flagship Mt Isa East Project in northwest Queensland covers a large ~1,300 square kilometre portion of the Mt Isa Inlier and is prospective for copper and gold mineralisation. The Mt Isa East Project is complimented by two Western Australian Projects, including the Yamarna Gold Project along strike from Gold Roads multi-million-ounce Gruyere gold deposit and the Gooroo Copper-Gold Project in the Gullewa Greenstone belt ~20 kilometres from Silver Lakes Deflector Mine. Mt Isa East Project Cooper is exploring for copper and gold mineralisation at the Mt Isa East Project, where it has reported encouraging assay results from follow up reconnaissance rock chip geochemical sampling. Following the companys first reconnaissance geochemical program in late 2021, where samples of up to 35.3% copper were returned from the Python prospect, the company recently received results from follow-up sampling at several prospects including Python, King Solomon, Yarraman and Prince Albert Trend. High-grade results from Python and King Solomon Infill rock chip sampling along the 1.5-kilometre copper mineralised trend at King Solomon has returned up to 9.85% copper and 2.58 g/t gold, indicating higher gold potential than the company had expected. At Python prospect, around 2.3 kilometres northwest of King Solomon, Cooper previously collected three rock chip samples from the shallow workings that returned copper grades from 1.65% to 35.3%. During the current sampling campaign, the company has discovered an additional previously unknown historical mine shaft. A rock chip sample from near these old workings unveiled 8.53% copper and 0.11 g/t gold, extending the known mineralisation at the prospect. The project area covers part of the Mary Kathleen Domain within the world-class Mt Isa Inlier that also hosts Carnaby Resources Nil Desperandum and Lady Fanny prospects. King Solomon location of historical workings, samples and Coopers rock chip samples. Sampling continues to impress Cooper managing director Ian Warland said following the release of the sampling results: Follow-up surface geochemical sampling in the north-eastern part of the Mt Isa East Project continues to impress and build an exciting picture of the broader Cu-Au potential of the Project area. The highest gold result to date of 2.58g/t Au at King Solomon highlights the strong gold potential of the prospect, which was mainly exploited by historical miners for the copper mineralisation. At Python, the footprint of the old workings and Cu mineralisation continues to grow as field teams continue to explore the area. The high powered electromagnetic survey underway at Python is designed to aid interpretation of the mineralisation in three dimensions and delineate preliminary drill targets. Python Prospect Rock chip sample location over geology. 400-metre copper zone at Yarraman Meanwhile, at the Yarraman prospect, historical copper in a soil anomaly appears to extend for 400 metres around old workings, with rock chip samples revealing up to 3.31% copper from the historical mine shaft. Also near Yarraman, rock chip samples indicate up to 20.2% copper from a gossanous outcrop 640 metres southeast of the prospect, giving the company high hopes for the potential of the area. An additional 18 rock chip samples have been collected from historical workings and selected outcrops which contain visual evidence of copper mineralisation or appear gossanous in nature. Yarraman prospect location of Cooper Metals Rock chip samples on geology. Warland added: Initial field reconnaissance at other prospects has been very encouraging including Yarraman area, which returned up to 20.2% Cu from an iron oxide gossan hosted in a significant shear zone within mafic rocks, which are often spatially associated with Cu-Au mineralisation in the region. Im very pleased with the Companys progress at assessing Cu-Au occurrences and targets to date, the company is planning to move into less explored areas of the prospective Mary Kathleen Domain with airborne electromagnetic survey to start after the wet season. Next steps at Mt Isa Cooper has big plans for the Mt Isa Project, including: Ground electromagnetic surveys at the King Solomon and Python prospects to delineate any sulphide conductors for drill testing; Continued compilation and integration of historical exploration results from the project area; Extensive follow-up mapping and geochemical programs at lesser developed targets (Prince Albert, Yarraman, Mt Zsu Sui), to start to build a more accurate picture of the extent of some of these strongly mineralised systems; and A regional airborne electromagnetic survey in early June quarter. Gooroo Copper-Gold Project The Gooroo Copper-Gold Project is about 413 kilometres northeast of Perth, Western Australia. Nearby mining projects include Silver Lake Resources Limited. (ASX:SLR)s Deflector mine with ~1.27 million ounces of gold at 13.5 g/t and 3 million tonnes at 0.8% copper. Cooper is targeting Orogenic gold and copper-gold mineralisation (Deflector style) in the highly prospective Gullewa Greenstone Belt in the Murchison Province of the Yilgarn Craton. The area also has potential for Volcanic Massive Sulphide (VMS) deposits. The greenstone sequences at Gullewa comprise a package of felsic to mafic volcanics, exhalative cherts and fine to coarse grain sediments typical of VMS terrains such as those that host golden Grove VMS deposit ~60 kilometres to the east. During the December 2021 quarter, Cooper commenced a regional soil sampling program spaced on a 200m-by-200m grid focusing on an area of outcropping to thinly covered greenstones in the north-western portion of the project area. Yamarna Gold Project The Yamarna Gold Project is 140 kilometres east of Laverton in the Yamarna Terrane. Cooper has two tenements totalling ~171 square kilometres over prospective greenstones. Exploration tenement E38/3551 is along strike from Gold Road Resources Ltd (ASX:GOR)s 6.16 million ounces world-class Gruyere Gold Deposit and contains an extensive length of untested Dorothy Hills Shear Zone that was important in the formation of Gruyere gold deposit ~10 kilometres to the southeast of Coopers tenements. Adyton Resources Corporation is focused on exploration and development of copper and gold resources within world class discovery jurisdictions. It has a current focus in the Ring of Fire in locations that are adjacent to existing world class discoveries. For example its Gameta and Wapolo projects on Fergusson Island are adjacent to the existing discoveries of the renowned Misima and Woodlark projects and its Feni Island project is located on the Lihir volcanic between the Islands of Lihir ( 56 M oz Au) and Bougainville ( 25 M oz Au and 6.4 Mt Cu). Adyton has existing Resources of over 2 M oz Au with a geological setting at both Feni and Fergusson Island that is unexplored and hence offers significant scalability. Feni shares a near identical geological setting to the world class Lihir project, while also offering significant upside copper potential. The company and management team has deep PNG in country experience and is committed to delivering share holder value through sustainable development of its projects Glencore PLC (LSE:GLEN) said its performance in 2021 was in line with expectations in a challenging year dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Its production guidance for the current year is unchanged from the December update, when the commodities trader and miner said there is a generally steady overall production profile in the 2022-2024 outlook period, with zinc volumes lower in 2024, in line with mine closures. Glencore said own sourced copper production declined by 5% to 1.19mln tonnes in 2021, due to the Mopani disposal, lower copper grades at Antapaccay and lower copper by-products from the company's mature zinc and nickel mines. The company is forecasting 1.15mln tonnes of copper for 2022. Own sourced cobalt production increased by 14% to 31,300 tonnes last year after a limited restart of production at Mutanda. The forecast for the current year is 48,000 tonnes of cobalt. Own sourced zinc production dropped by 4% to 1.12mln tonnes in 2021, reflecting a decline at the Maleevsky mine in Kazakhstan, due to the slower-than-expected ramp-up of replacement Zhairem mine tonnage. Zinc production was also impacted by Mount Isa producing additional metal from ore stockpile drawdowns and Kidd lower grades (13,800 tonnes). These factors were partly offset by stronger zinc production at Antamina, which was suspended for part of 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions. Forecast zinc production for 2022 is 1.11mln tonnes. Nickel production fell by 7% last year to 102,300 tonnes due to a lengthy scheduled statutory shutdown and maintenance issues at Murrin Murrin. Glencore expects nickel production of 115,000 tonnes in the current year. Attributable ferrochrome production totalled 1.46mln tonnes in 2021, up 43% on 2020 when South Africa was in a national lockdown. The company is forecasting a similar output in 2022. Coal production of 103.3mln tonnes was 3% lower than 2020, reflecting Prodeco's care and maintenance status and lower domestic power demand and export rail capacity constraints in South Africa. These factors were offset by higher production at Cerrejon, following a Covid suspension and strike in 2020. Glencore expects coal production to rise to 121mln tonnes this year. Entitlement interest production increased by 34% to 5.3mln barrels of oil equivalents (boe) last year, primarily because of the start of the gas phase of the Alen project in Equatorial Guinea. Glencore noted that the purchase of the remaining interest in Cerrejon was completed in January 2022, a few months earlier than expected. "The operating environment remained challenging in 2021, with the COVID-19 pandemic again dominating the daily lives of many of our colleagues, families, local communities and society at large," said Glencore chief executive officer Gary Nagle. "Maintaining production in 2021 became increasingly important as many of our products, so crucial for decarbonisation, energy supply and industrial output, saw higher levels of demand. "Overall, our operations largely performed in line with guidance expectations. We completed the Cerrejon acquisition and Ernest Henry disposal in January, such transactions being consistent with our continued strategy to simplify and align our portfolio with the materials needed for the energy transition and the responsible decline of our coal business." It is about 10:50am on a Thursday when we arrive at the recently inaugurated Ellen DeGeneres facility in Musanze District. The imposing facility is located within about 12 kilometres from the Volcanoes National Park that is the home for mountain gorillas, which are listed among the world's endangered species. The weather is cold, as is often the case in the volcanic region. The New Times got exclusive access to the facility, just a day after popular American television personality, Ellen DeGeneres announced on her show that the centre was finally open, four years after it was conceptualized. The centre, whose primary role is to help in the preservation of mountain gorillas, was built in memory of renowned gorilla conservationist, Dian Fossey who was murdered in Rwanda in 1985. Kinigi is arguably Rwanda's major tourism hotspot, mainly owing to the gorillas. Before you enter through the stone-built gate with letters inscribed in black reading, "The Ellen Degeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund", your eyes are welcomed by three imposing structures with a round roof, standing sparsely across the landscape. This is where four years ago, the American TV host Ellen DeGeneres and her partner Portia de Rossi decided to build the campus in order to contribute to gorilla research pioneered by conservationist Dian Fossey. Did you hear the news?! The Ellen Campus of the Fossey Fund is open! : @theellenshow & @massdesignlab; @savinggorillas @visitrwanda_now @falconscg @_FDI_ @ioelephants @natgeo @omahazoo @clemetzoo @columbuszoo #Happy4thbirthday #bignews #conservation #weneedgorillas pic.twitter.com/A2KPLC77Hb -- The Ellen Fund (@TheEllenFund) February 1, 2022 Inside the campus, the first the building hosts the reception area and a gallery, where you are welcomed by a prerecorded video of Ellen DeGeneres herself. In the gallery hall there are visitors here and there, a mixture of researchers and tourists visiting the facility. The day is quite cloudy; you can hardly see the stony tops of Sabyinyo volcano in the background by looking through the glass windows of one of the buildings. It starts drizzling seconds before our interview with Felix Ndagijimana, the country director of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, who is also the substantive custodian of the new facility. "The campus has three main buildings," says Ndagijimana, as he takes us around. These majorly built with stones and timber, he says at the beginning of the interview. Across the campus's magnificent landscape over 250,000 plant species have been planted to "beautify this campus". "First, there's the conservation gallery, a public gallery where people can visit and learn about gorillas and about Dian Fossey herself," Ndagijimana explains as he delves into the different sections of the campus. In the gallery, portraits of Fossey with gorillas form the centerpiece in the main hall. Each photo is clearly captioned both in English and Kinyarwanda. Other elements of the gallery include skeletal portrayals of a gorilla and a human, which show their natural proximity of the two. "We have artefacts from Dian Fossey, some of which are her personal effects," Ndagijimana says. "We also have games in this gallery that people can play to understand gorilla behaviour." On one of the other stands, there are numerous snares formerly used by poachers in the past. Walls are lined with other details about the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund's activities and park rangers. In the gallery, there's also a 360-degree theatre. A lifetime of conservation activism The second building is the Research Centre. It also hosts the offices of the campus staff, an herbarium, a gorilla skeletal lab and a genetics lab, where researchers and scientists do their daily work. According to Ndagijimana, the labs will enable scientists and researchers to better understand the mountain gorillas as a species. Then, there's the Education Centre. "This is where we'll be doing all our education training and capacity building activities," he says. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Rwanda Wildlife By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. It also has meeting rooms, a computer lab, a library, classrooms and two units where students will stay while they do research in the national park or on campus, he continues. Rwanda's years-long conservation efforts have served mountain gorillas well. And the journey continues. For Ndagijimana, the new Ellen DeGeneres Campus comes to "help us amplify the mission of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund." He adds: "The mission of the campus is to inspire a lifetime of conservation activism. This campus has components that will allow us to really accomplish our mission, which is to protect and conserve mountain gorillas in their habitats in Africa. Prior to her murder, Dian Fossey spent years in Rwanda's tropical rainforest studying gorillas and their behaviour. The Fossey fund has continued her work to this day. "I want [Dian's] legacy to continue to help the gorillas in the country of Rwanda, which is such a beautiful country, because she had such an impact on me when I was a little girl," DeGeneres said recently as she announced the campus' official opening. The plan will make Canntab's full suite of oral tablet products, which include a comprehensive range of THC and CBD strengths, available to First Nations-Inuit and Indigenous communities Canntab Therapeutics Ltd (CSE:PILL, OTCQB:CTABF) has announced a historic strategic planning collaboration and commercial partnership to create an Indigenous opiate and illicit drug crisis plan led by First Nations community leader chief Adam Pawis of the Shawanaga First Nation. The plan includes Canntab providing direct online access through a First Nations-specific web portal designed to service Indigenous communities and their members nationwide, both on and off First Nations territories, in partnership with First Nations Grower GP Inc. "Canntab is to be commended in our shared efforts to address and provide better health solutions for indigenous peoples," Dawn Tabobondung, CEO of First Nations Growers, said in a statement. "I am especially proud that our shared plan includes ensuring that healthy alternative solutions and products approved by Health Canada, under the Canntab corporate umbrella, will 'specifically' reach both Ontario and Canada's most northern and remote First Nation communities through Canntab's easy accessible, indigenous specific, online web portal." READ: Canntab Therapeutics launches its eCommerce website making medical grade THC and CBD accessible The goal in entering into this partnership is to provide health and wellness solutions to over 100,000 patients, helping to mitigate opiate use and abuse and other medical issues utilizing Canntab's products, the company said. The Canntab web portal will provide First Nations-Inuit and Indigenous Peoples with customized access to Canntab's offering of patented and proprietary pharmaceutical-grade cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol in solid dose pills and caplets. The Toronto-based companys alternative solutions will be made available online to service the most remote First Nations communities and its members regardless of location. In his leadership role, chief Pawis aims to eradicate opiate and illicit drug use in his and other communities throughout the First Nations through the creation of the plan, a culturally sensitive strategic community plan developed in collaboration with Canntab. The current opiate and illicit drugs epidemic is an extremely trying crisis for many of our community members and their extended families, including our community elders and grandparents, as they are called upon to provide essential and important additional family care and support in the twilight of their own lives. We need to do more to address this crisis, which continues to cause more deaths than the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, said chief Pawis. He added: In collaboration with Canntab, our goal is to ensure every First Nation-Inuit, and the Indigenous person across Canada has immediate ease of access to Canntab's healthy alternative medicinal solutions to opiate and illicit drugs, regardless of community remoteness or geographical location. Canntab CEO Larry Latowsky noted that he is pleased to provide easy online and direct access to First Nations and their members nationwide, both on and off the First Nations reserves/territories, and from within their own home communities, regardless of location through a web portal developed to specifically service Indigenous communities' health and wellness needs. Canntab is well-positioned to provide community members alternative treatments for pain management, sleep, alcohol and drug addictions and other overall general well-being solutions," added Latowsky. Since 2017, First Nations have seen an increase in opioid-related poisonings and deaths, primarily due to the growing presence of fentanyl in the unregulated drug supply. First Nations have a mortality rate approximately four times higher than the rest of the population in opioid-related poisonings. Off-reserve First Nation individuals and those aged 44 years and younger have been impacted even more. The plan will make Canntab's full suite of oral tablet products, which include a comprehensive range of THC and CBD strengths, available to First Nations, Inuit and Indigenous communities and their members across Canada. "Indigenous mental health issues and conditions that have been caused by elevated trauma relating to the now disclosed history of the 60's Scoop and Residential Schools can also be addressed," chief Pawis noted. Latowsky said that the plan really is a game-changer, as not very often can an initiative be undertaken that benefits the general wellness of people, attacks an addiction crisis in a community and generates substantial positive revenues and profits for the shareholders. The plan is being conducted through an agreement with First Nations Growers GP Inc. The agreement is for an initial one-year term, which is renewable, and provides for a cash fee of $30,000 for start-up costs and an issuance of 1,000,000 warrants upon the satisfaction of specified milestones and regulatory approval, which are exercisable into one common share of Canntab at a price of $0.80 per warrant for a period of 24 months. Contact Ritika at ritika@proactiveinvestors.com The initial 2021 program of 11,700 metres of diamond drilling delineated a sizeable, shallow, high grade oxide copper-gold skarn system at the Montana de Cobre zone C3 Metals Inc (TSX-V:CCCM, OTC:CARCF) has announced a second and larger drill rig on-site at the Jasperoide project in Peru. The company said the new rig is set up on the first drill platform to test a high potential porphyry and stacked skarn copper-gold target delineated from recently acquired geophysical data coupled with 2021 drill results. "The 2021 exploration season in Peru was very successful. The initial program of 11,700 metres of diamond drilling delineated a sizeable, shallow, high grade oxide copper-gold skarn system at the Montana de Cobre zone and intersected highly promising skarn-hosted copper sulphide mineralization at Cresta Verde zone, said C3 Metals CEO Kevin Tomlinson in a statement. Our initial drilling coupled with newly acquired geophysical and geological data strongly supports our interpretation that a deeper-seated causative porphyry is driving the large mineralized hydrothermal system at Jasperoide. The presence of multi-phase intrusions, extensive skarn development, mineralized porphyry fragments, molybdenite mineralization, porphyry-style alteration and high sulphidation feeder structures are all features common in other large scale porphyry copper systems in Peru," he added. "The Jasperoide system is extensive with the high-grade MCZ copper-gold deposit representing only part of the overall potential. The larger drill will enable us to more effectively test for additional copper-gold skarn bodies and the causative porphyry copper source at depth," Tomlinson concluded. The company said the Jasperoide Stage 2 drill program highlights include: Deeper capacity rig on-site to test high priority copper-gold porphyry and stacked skarn targets at the Montana de Cobre and Cresta Verde zones First hole at Montana de Cobre has commenced testing coincident geophysical targets (Hybrid CSAMT and IP) proximal to the intersection of large scale faults that transect the nearby copper mine deposits at Las Bambas and Constancia Cresta Verde drilling to test for higher grades below massive sulphide skarn hosted copper-molybdenite mineralization intersected in 2021 drilling Drilling at the Montana de Cobre copper oxide skarn deposit is expected to be completed shortly. The smaller capacity rig will then be demobilized Contact the author: patrick@proactiveinvestors.com Follow him on Twitter @PatrickMGraham ACME's Clayton Valley project is located next to Albemarle's Silver Peak lithium resource and production facility ACME Lithium Inc announced that project operator GeoXplor Corporation has received a letter of approval under a Notice of Intent to Drill from the United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for ACME's near-term drill program at its Clayton Valley lithium brine project in Nevada. The company said the Notice of Intent covers a multi-hole drill program up to a depth of 500 meters and focuses on the most prospective lithium brine targets as defined by recent geophysical work, in addition to drill road access and site preparation. ACME noted that it is in the final stages of completing the preparatory work required to begin drilling operations, including securing drilling and hydrogeological services, as well as additional permits required. It added that a US$24,197 bond has now been accepted and put in place with the BLM to cover reclamation of up to 3.55 acres of permitted disturbance. ACME's Clayton Valley project is located next to Albemarle's Silver Peak lithium resource and production facility. Led by an experienced team, ACME Lithium is focused on acquiring, exploring and developing battery metal projects in partnership with leading technology and commodity companies. The company has acquired, or is under option to acquire, a 100% interest in projects located in Clayton Valley and Fish Lake Valley, Esmeralda County Nevada, and in southeastern Manitoba. Contact Sean at sean@proactiveinvestors.com The project is comprised of six mineral claims over 15,770 hectares and is highly prospective for basement-hosted and unconformity-related uranium deposits Standard Uranium Ltd (TSX-V:STND, OTCQB:STTDF) has announced that exploration activities have commenced on the companys Sun Dog Project, located in the northwestern Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan. The company said high-resolution geophysical surveys are currently underway on the project, with its team and drill crews scheduled to mobilize in three weeks. The project is comprised of six mineral claims over 15,770 hectares and is highly prospective for basement-hosted and unconformity-related uranium deposits. Inaugural Sun Dog Drill Program Summary: High-resolution ground gravity and UAV magnetic surveys will refine specific drill targets; Approximately 3,000 metres in ten diamond drill holes planned, subject to weather and ice conditions, to follow up on known high-grade* uranium mineralization; Drilling to commence first week of March 2022; Inaugural drilling by Standard Uranium at the Skye, Haven, and Java target areas; Exploring several kilometres of graphitic conductors coincident with cross-cutting faults and historical surface and drillhole intersections of high-grade uranium mineralization; Efficiently testing down-dip extensions of structures hosting mineralization at surface with the aim of discovering high-grade basement roots of the mineralizing systems underlying the Athabasca sandstones. High-resolution ground gravity and UAV magnetic surveys are currently proceeding over Sun Dog target areas which will further refine existing high-priority drill targets, the company said. The ice road access to the Project is presently underway, and Standard Uranium geologists and drill crews are slated to mobilize to site the last week of February 2022, with drilling commencing the first week of March, it added. The Sun Dog Project boasts all the favorable characteristics to host an Athabasca-style unconformity-related uranium deposit, and despite positive historical results, it has not been drill tested in 14 years. The company aims to breathe new life into the Uranium City area through exploration for high-grade basement- and sandstone-hosted uranium using modern techniques and geological understanding. Appointment of Sean McGrath as president Standard Uranium also announced that Sean McGrath has been appointed president of the company, effective February 7, 2022. He will be working alongside Standard Uraniums CEO Jon Bey as the company advances its uranium projects in the prolific Athabasca Basin in Saskatchewan. McGrath has extensive experience as a mining executive over a 25-year career that includes both exploration stage and producing mining companies. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland and is Chartered Professional Accountant. In his role as president, McGrath will work closely with the CEO supporting him in the company's financing and strategic activities on a day-to-day basis. In a statement, Bey commented We are thrilled that Sean has agreed to bring his experience to Standard Uranium as our new President. With a background in the resource sector and capital markets, he is a great fit for Standard Uranium in our exploration and growth stage. I look forward to working closely with him as we continue to unlock value for Standard Uranium shareholders. Standard Uranium also announced that, under its Stock Option Plan, it has granted stock options to certain directors, management, and consultants to purchase an aggregate of 2,860,000 common shares of the company at the price of $0.20 per share for a period of 5 years from the grant date. The options will vest immediately upon grant. Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com Gungnirs management team and board, led by CEO Jari Paakki, have extensive experience and proven success in mineral exploration, and importantly, expertise in Sweden Sweden is the leading mining nation in Europe and has high rankings as a top country in the world for exploration. Mining is a traditional industry in Sweden which extends back over a thousand years and the Nordic country continues to offer excellent ore discovery potential, in particular under glacial till (sand and gravel) which cover large areas. One company that has uncovered that discovery potential is Gungnir Resources Inc, a Canadian-based TSX-V listed explorer. In Norse mythology, Gungnir, "penetrating", is the spear of Odin, the king of the gods. Gungnirs management team and board, led by CEO Jari Paakki, have extensive experience and proven success in mineral exploration, and importantly, expertise in Sweden. The company holds gold and base metal exploration permits in Swedens prolific Vasterbotten District which hosts 12 million ounces of gold delineated in existing and mined resources plus several past-producing and producing volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) base metal mines. Gold and nickel shine Gungnirs focus is on advancing key gold and nickel assets. Its Knaften project is located at the south end of the Gold Line (Knaften-Barsele Arc) which hosts a number of gold deposits including Faboliden and Svartliden, and the Barsele Gold-VMS project. Meanwhile, two nickel-copper-cobalt deposits, Lappvattnet and Rormyrberget, collectively contain 177 million pounds of nickel in inferred resources based on NI43-101 resource estimates commissioned by Gungnir in 2020. Since commencing drilling in Sweden in 2017, Gungnir has made several new discoveries and announced significant developments including the discovery of a potentially sizeable intrusion-related gold system (Knaften 600), discovery of a new VMS zinc-copper base metal target and the discovery of a new copper-nickel target, all located on the Knaften project. It has also continued to advance its nickel assets which came to prominence last year following some exceptional assay results. Proactive caught up with Gungnir CFO Chris Robbins to find out more. So yeah, we've been drilling in Sweden for five years now. predominantly on the Knaften gold project where we also did some IP (Induced Polarization) work in the summer of 2021. While we were doing the IP, and with an up-tick in nickel price, we said, well, let's move the drill over to the nickel property. And on August 31, 2021, we put out our first assay results, and in total we were successful on 14 out of the 15 holes drilled in 2021. On hole seven we've just skimmed over the nickel, we believe, Robbins said in an interview. The next month Gungnir had reported that on-going drilling at the Lappvattnet nickel deposit had continued to intersect sulphide mineralization including a 10-metre core interval containing several narrow sections of massive and semi-massive sulphides. The nickel assays that came out showed almost every hole has some juice, you know, 5, 6 and 7 percent, over sections of less than a meter but also numerous longer sections of potential ore grade strikes in all 14 holes assayed. It's only a pilot programme, 15 holes, 1,300 meters to confirm our geological premise, but highly successful, Robbins noted. Nickel news dominates Since then, all the news coming from the company has been about nickel. In October 2021 Gungnir said that concurrent with the drilling at the Lappvattnet nickel deposit it had also completed EM (electromagnetic) survey profiles outside of the Rormyrberget nickel resource in areas with no prior drilling. The geophysical survey successfully outlined twelve, untested near-surface conductors immediately north and east of the nickel resource, the company noted. All final drill assay results from the 2021 drill campaign have been released although the company awaits the final results of the EM survey on the Lappvattnet. Coronavirus (COVID-19) factors having provided a slight delay. We got to get these results out, though, as I tell everyone 2021 isn't over yet. But we should have that wrapped up here in February, Robbins said. He added: We have a 10,000-meter program on the nickel properties permitted. We drilled 15 holes for 1,300 meters, so we have 8,700 meters to go. The nickel deposit is as shallow as18 meters, 20 meters from surface. We've got some historic drill sections that are up to 125 meters of nickel mineralization only. We don't even have to bother doing a nickel equivalent at this time as the numbers are so strong. So right now, we have 177 million pounds of nickel, all inferred. Our job now is to expand the nickel resource and tighten it up. Just drill it. So, our focus now remains to be gold, but with these results well let the nickel drive the bus for the initial drilling in 2022, the CFO said. Referencing the importance of nickel for the automobile industry and electric vehicles, Robbins added a little side story. For me to get to our property I have to fly usually to Frankfurt, then Stockholm and a short flight to a little town called Skelleftea. We then rent a car and drive right by our nickel properties in like half an hour. And then about an hour later, we're at our Knaften gold, VMS base metal property. In the town of Skelleftea Northvolt is building one of the largest battery factories in Europe there, which has nothing to do with us directly as an exploration company; but the industry will need to be mining more and more nickel to accommodate the EV Battery demands globally. Well strive to expand the resource(s) to a stage where we can attract a large mining company and let them take it to the mining stage." "But yeah, that's a hell of a story and just validates the demand for nickel going forward. Both nickel deposits are class one nickel sulphides. So, its the best nickel you can get, and right at surface with a large battery manufacturer coming online, furthering the demand for nickel," Robbins said. But gold still key However, the lure of gold remains. The Gungnir CFO pointed out: Were still going to drill the monster anomalies that we found on the newly acquired Knaften claim to the south of last years drilling. We will also be assessing the first 2022 nickel results. We think that along with continued strong nickel results we're going to continue to hit some good gold as well which cant hurt the cause. "So, we're going to get drilling on these assets very soon in 2022 and will be announcing the programs shortly. We're permitted on the nickel properties I believe to August 31, 2022, and we're just in the permitting process now for the newly acquired gold zone on the Knaften. Robbins admitted: There are almost too many targets, though you can never have too many targets of this quality, but we don't have a big enough budget at this time to be super aggressive. This can change quickly with further anticipated strong nickel results and work on the Knaften gold, VMS/base metal projects. In the near future we'll raise a little bit more money. Weve just north of a million bucks in the kitty right now, and no debt. We'd like to get another million to accelerate our exploration efforts in 2022 and beyond. That cash could certainly be put to good use by Gungnir. Obviously, I'm biased. But yeah, I think we have a hell of a story and genuine resources and targets. And now we're being looked at as a nickel play in the exciting EV battery minerals sector along with the gold and VMS/base metals at the Knaften property. So, we're looking forward to a very productive 2022. As I said, we're going to be busy drilling, assaying and announcing results throughout the year, Robbins concluded. Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com District Metals CEO Garrett Ainsworth joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share news the company has provided an update on the Bakar Property located on Northern Vancouver Island in British Columbia. Ainsworth telling Proactive the company has uncovered a large VTEM conductive anomaly covering an area of 1.5 km by 0.5 km that commences at a shallow depth of 50 m with depth extents below 500 m. The high priority target known as Elephant Crossing is interesting and with it showing potential their JV partner District-Sherpa has agreed to drill up to 800 m in two holes. A drill permit application was submitted to the BC Ministry in November 2021, and drilling will commence when the application is approved. Ramallah/Gaza, Feb 7 : A two-day general assembly meeting of the central council of Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) kicked off in the West Bank city of Ramallah in the presence of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. At the presidential headquarters in the city, Abbas delivered a speech at the meeting of the Palestinian Central Council (PCC), the second-highest decision-making body in the PLO, on Sunday evening noting that the PCC would consider all the options regarding the relationship with Israel, Xinhua news agency reported. "The Palestinian leadership will study all the options regarding the relationship with Israel after it responded to the fullest extent with international efforts to find a solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict," said the President. The official Palestinian news agency (WAFA) reported that the first session was titled "developing and activating the PLO, protecting the national project, and popular resistance". Salim Za'noun, the outgoing Speaker of the Palestinian National Council (PNC), the highest decision-making body of the PLO, was unable to attend the meeting due to his illness. Father Constantine Qarmash, his deputy, read the opening speech, saying the Palestinian people "will never accept the status quo and any alternative that is detracted from their national rights". Srinagar, Feb 7 : Srinagar acid attack victim is being flown to Chennai on Monday by the Jammu and Kashmir government for specialised treatment of her damaged eyes. "She is being flown to Chennai today. Four tickets have been provided to the victim's family. A doctor is accompanying the victim to Chennai hospital where she has been referred by a team of local ophthalmologists," an official told IANS. Her parents, sister and a cousin are accompanying the victim and will remain with her in Chennai during her treatment. Three persons, including the main accused, have been arrested by the special investigation team (SIT) for their involvement in the heinous crime that has sent shock waves throughout the Kashmir society. The victim was coming out of a beauty parlour after day's work in the Hawal area of Srinagar city on February 1, 2022 when the accused threw acid at her. Reports said the accused was assisted in the crime by two of his friends. The victim had reportedly earlier turned down an engagement proposal from the accused. Sultanpur : , Feb 7 (IANS) A Lucknow-based stationery shop owner and his two employees were charred to death when their car hit a divider and caught fire on the Purvanchal Expressway in Sultanpur district late Sunday night. The incident took place near milestone 127 under Gosaiganj police station. The deceased were identified as Aditya Kothari, who was owner of the stationery shop in Aliganj area. The other two were identified as Pankaj Kashyap and Vikram Singh. The police, however, were not able to ascertain the ages of the deceased. Superintendent of Police SP), Sultanpur, Vipin Mishra, told reporters that the three were returning from Sultanpur after attending the wedding of a friend, Sunny Jaiswal, in a car which hit a divider and caught fire. "Locals heard a loud thud and spotted the car turning into a ball of fire. They informed the police about the incident and a team of firemen and local police was immediately rushed to the spot. The fire was doused and then the bodies which were charred beyond recognition were pulled out from the car," said the SP. Police said that Aditya was first to be identified from the registration plate of the car which belonged to him. "We have informed the Lucknow police and also the family about the incident," he said. The police have also sent a forensic team and a technical team to examine the reason of the accident. Kabul, Feb 7 : A senior UN official for Afghanistan has pledged that humanitarian assistance to the people will continue, regardless of the political situation, the media reported Addressing reported, the UN Secretary-General's Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan, Ramiz Alakbarov, stressed the need to ensure human rights in the country. TOLO News reported. "I am very proud to say that, the agencies present at this table were able to reach 18- more than 18 million people in Afghanistan with lifesaving assistance," he said. Meanwhile, the Taliban government's Ministry of Economy said it has finalised a scheme for the transparent distribution of aid to the people who are in need. "This conference was held to increase our coordination in distributing aid," Minister of Economy Din Mohmmad Hanif said on Sunday. According to humanitarian organisations, around $4.4 billion is needed to provide aid to the 24 million vulnerable people in the total 36 million population, TOLO News reported. The Taliban has also welcomed the support of the UN and other aid organisations to counter the ongoing crisis in the country. Based on the statistics, the suspension of international aid, the high rate of unemployment following the Taliban takeover, as well as drought and the economic crisis has plunged Afghanistan into a humanitarian disaster. Uzima Chicken Ltd - one of the biggest chick producing firms in the country - has started exporting day-old chicks to different African countries. Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) described this as a good development as the country continues boosting the poultry sector. Theoneste Sikubwabo, Sales and Marketing Manager at Uzima Chicken Ltd told The New Times that in 2021, the company exported about 600,000 day-old chicks, and about 100,000 hatching (fertilised) eggs (which are hatched by customers themselves in the export countries). However, he said that in the previous year (2020), the company had exported about 700,000 day-old chicks because there were many SASSO chicks that went to Uganda, but they (exports to that country) were blocked because of the strained relations between both countries. Talking about other export markets, he said that the company was exporting day-old chicks to Central African Republic (CAR), Cameroon (for fertilised eggs, but with a plan to also export chicks), Congo Brazzaville, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Uganda. As of 2017, chicks reared in Rwanda were mainly imported from Europe, and some African countries, including Uganda. Figures from RAB show that in 2017, Rwanda was importing some 50,000 day-old chicks and 100 tonnes of eggs per month. It is to note that Rwanda's poultry was still in its nascent stage by then, with very few large-scale farms. Currently, three major poultry firms namely Uzima Chicken, easyHATCH, and Chief Chicks (which is a subsidiary of Poultry East Africa), are producing most of the chicks needed in the country. Sikubwabo also said that next month, the firm is expected to start exporting day-old chicks to Ghana - with an initial 15,000 chicks on February 15. "And, those countries are appreciating the quality of our chicks," he observed. "This year (2022), we have a plan to export 1.2 million day-old chicks, and 400,000 hatching eggs," he said, indicating that the export market was profitable and helps the country to generate foreign revenues to balance its trade. Currently, he said that Uzima Chicken is producing over one million day-old chicks per month, adding that the company can increase the capacity if the demand for that is there. Its current production comprises 500,000 chicks for SASSO (dual-purpose chickens - for both egg and meat production), 400,000 chicks for broilers, and 150,000 for layers which are supplied to both local poultry farmers and those in export countries. Fabrice Ndayisenga, Head of Animal Resource Research and Technology Transfer Department at Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) told The New Times that some African countries which do not have required hatcheries have mostly been importing day-old chicks from Europe. He indicated that Rwanda's poultry sector has been registering significant growth, adding that locally produced chicks were meeting quality standards based on inspections made by RAB. "We cut off importations [of poultry products including chicks and fertilised eggs], and now we are exporting [them]," he said, adding that the poultry export market is an opportunity for the country to earn foreign revenues. Insufficient cargo space as a major challenge Sikubwabo said that the main issue they were facing is the limited cargo space, mainly resulting from the fact that RwandAir has not yet acquired cargo aircraft. "Sometimes we want to export 15,000 chicks, and we are forced to reduce that to 10,000 or 5,000 as RwandAir tells there is not enough space," he said, adding that the demand is high. "When RwandAir has got cargo planes, the situation will be improved for the better; we will be exporting the number of chicks and fertilised eggs we want, everything will be fine, "he said. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Rwanda Agribusiness By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Meanwhile, he said there were destinations, such as Mozambique, to which RwandAir does not fly, yet the company wanted to export to, which was a hindrance to greater market diversification. As of 2017, some companies had just started venturing into hatcheries and producing the day-old chicks, a development that the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources said came in handy. It is in August 2016 that the Government leased, for 25 years, its Rwf2.3 billion Rubilizi National Hatchery to Flow Equity, a US firm. The firm would operate under the name of Uzima Chicken Ltd. It was expected that the firm would have the capacity to produce 200,000 day-old chicks per month, up from 10,000 that were being produced before the Government privatised it, according to information from the agriculture ministry. But, based on the current statistics, the firm exceeded such projections by far. Kabul, Feb 7 : Five Afghan pilots who had left the country after the Taliban takeover in August last year, have returned and resumed work, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced. In its announcement on Sunday, the Ministry also said the Taliban regime will strive to encourage all professional staff of the previous government to return to Afghanistan, reports TOLO News. With the fall of the former government, many of the experienced military and air force staff of Afghanistan fled the country to Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, the United Arab Emirates and the US. But there were no details about where these five pilots have returned from. Taking to Twitter on Sunday, Taliban member Anas Haqqani welcomed the return of Afghan pilots, saying Afghanistan currently needs professionals. Reports have stated that around 140 Afghan air force pilots and personnel who were trapped in Tajikistan after leaving Afghanistan have since gone to the US. The return of the Afghan pilots comes days after the UN said in a report that over 100 Afghan military forces of the previous government were killed since the Taliban came to power. The report was denied by the Taliban regime. Lucknow, Feb 7 : A self-styled 'tantrik' has been arrested for allegedly duping a woman from the district on the pretext of exorcising evil spirits. The police also recovered Rs 5.90 lakh from the arrested person identified as Mahendra Sharma. He hails from Delhi. Police said Sharma had duped the woman of Rs 10 lakh and has cases in Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. Superintendent of Police, Gonda, Santosh Mishra, said that Sharma operated a well-oiled racket. The accused used to circulate advertisements in local Hindi papers projecting himself as the godman who can eradicate all the problems, including evil spirits. The officer said that an FIR was lodged by the woman from Gonda. She alleged that after going through his advertisement in a newspaper, she called Sharma to her house on January 19. "Sharma performed some 'yagyas' and chanted some 'shlokas' to appear genuine. Later, the accused asked for all the cash and jewellery which was available in the house. On his insistence, I gave him Rs 7.5 lakh and jewellery worth another Rs 3 lakh," the woman told police. "He also made me believe that until 'maya' which is cash and jewellery, is there in the home the evil won't go," the victim alleged in her FIR. She also alleged that Sharma promised to return the cash and jewellery in 24 hours after his 'mantras' had cast its spell. However, when the victim went to meet Sharma at his shop after around 24 hours, it was found to be closed and the phone number which he had shared was also switched off. Police said that Sharma had duped many others in different parts of the country and used to frequently change his identity and also phone number. Kabul, Feb 7 : In Afghanistan, around 40,000 people are diagnosed with cancer annually and an estimated 16,000 to 20,000 of them lose their lives, the Taliban's Ministry of Public Health announced. In an announcement on Sunday, the Ministry said it was planning to establish cancer care centres in cooperation with the World Health Organization in several provinces, TOLO News reported. "In Afghanistan, annually, around 40,000 people are infected by cancer. Around 16,000-20,000 people are losing their lives to the disease annually," said Mohammad Hussien Ghias, Deputy Minister of Public Health, told reporters here. The officials blamed the previous Afghan government for not properly considering the status of the country's fragile health sector. "There has not been good work in the health sector during the times of the previous governments," Ministry official Naimullah Ayoubi said. Presently, there are three active cancer care centres in Kabul, Kandahar and Herat, the official said. Etah : , Feb 7 (IANS) The body of a six-year-old girl, who was raped before being murdered, was found in a vacant plot behind a private hospital in Uttar Pradesh's Etah district. The autopsy conducted by a panel of three doctors revealed that the girl, daughter of a local businessman, died due to asphyxiation. On the basis of the injury on her private parts, the doctors added that the girl was sexually assaulted before being murdered. Soon after the gruesome incident on Sunday, people in Awagarh protested and blocked traffic on Agra-Etah road after which District Magistrate Ankit Kumar Agarwal and SSP Udai Shanker Singh reached the victims' house and assured family members of stern action against the culprits. Station House Officer (SHO) Awagarh, Vinod Kumar, said that "the cause of the murder is not known yet. The girl's parents have also not accused anyone of the murder. We are examining CCTV footage of the area from where the girl went missing while playing outside her house". Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Dhananjay Singh Kushwaha, said: "On the basis of the complaint received from the victim's father, an FIR has been registered under IPC sections of rape and murder. Four teams are involved in the investigation of the case. Apart from that, we are working on some crucial leads and are confident that the culprit will be arrested very soon." Chennai, Feb 7 : The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has formally requested the Southern Railway to demolish concrete walls at five locations for the free movement of wild elephants. The Chief Wildlife Warden of Tamil Nadu, Shekar Kumar Neeraj along with forest officials trekked along the railway line A and B in the Podanur-Madukkari stretch for 7 km on Sunday and conducted a detailed on the spot study on the issues faced by wild elephants. Three elephants, including a calf, were killed by a speeding Mangalore-Chennai express in November 2021 and ever since the Southern Railway and the Forest Department have been on a collision course. Confirming the development, Shekar Kumar Neeraj told IANS that "measures for solar installation along railway line A have been taken". He also said that residents of the area have informed the department that trains only blow horns occasionally which was against the standard operating procedure chalked out. "We have found 30 retaining walls that are impairing the free movement of wild elephants and other wild animals. Elephant calves in most cases are not able to cross these walls. The plastic waste dumped across the railway tracks has also to be cleared as also food waste as animals including elephants reaches the railway tracks getting attracted at the smell of the food leftovers and get hit fatally by running trains." Seoul, Feb 7 : South Korea and the US are not considering the deployment of an additional THAAD anti-missile system here, the Defence Ministry in Seoul said on Monday amid a heated debate on the issue rekindled ahead of the March 9 presidential election. Boo Seung-chan, the Ministry spokesperson, made the remarks, following a media report that a government-commissioned research in 2015 noted the need for South Korea's military to acquire its own THAAD battery separately from the one currently run by the US Forces Korea (USFK), reports Yonhap news Agency. "Regarding the issue about the introduction of an additional THAAD unit, South Korea and the US have not been planning any additional deployment nor have they been considering it," Boo said at a press briefing. The spokesperson pointed out that South Korea's military has been developing its own interception system, called L-SAM (Long-range Surface-to-Air Missile), to establish a multilayered, low-tier missile defence system. The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system has emerged as a hot-button issue in the election season as Yoon Suk-yeol, the presidential candidate of the conservative main opposition People Power Party, pledged last month to push for an "additional THAAD deployment" following a series of North Korean missile tests. Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Party, has cautioned against an additional THAAD deployment, warning it could trigger pushback from China, South Korea's largest trading partner. Islamabad, Feb 7 : Five Pakistani soldiers were killed when terrorists from inside Afghanistan across the international border opened fire on the troops, a military statement said. The incident took place at the border area in Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations said in the statement on Sunday. The Pakistani troops retaliated the attack "in a befitting manner", and as per intelligence reports, the terrorists have suffered heavy losses, Xinhua news agency quoted the ISPR statement as saying. "Pakistan strongly condemns the use of Afghan soil by terrorists for activities against Pakistan," it added. Bengaluru, Feb 7 : Despite the Karnataka government issuing a new circular banning hijab as well as saffron shawls in college campuses, the row continued on Monday as students in different cities of the state came wearing the shawls and hijabs, but and were turned out. In Vijayapura district's Indi town, Hindu students of the Shanteshwara PUC College and GRB College came wearing saffron shawls in protest against the Muslim students wearing hijab. Considering the sensitivity of the situation, a holiday was declared by the managements of the two colleges. Vijayapura is considered a BJP stronghold and also communally sensitive. Meanwhile, students of Venkataramana College in Kundapur, Udupi district, were stopped at the playgrounds for wearing saffron shawls. The sub-inspector attached to the Kundapur police station, Sadashiva Gavaroji stopped the students from entering the college premises. The Principal of the Venkataramana College has said that students wearing saffron shawls and hijab won't be allowed inside the college premises. The intelligence agencies and education department are on high alert about disturbing developments regarding the hijab row in the state. Miscreants threatened BJP leader Raheem Uchil for speaking for the ruling government in connection with row. Uchil, leader of BJP Minority Morcha and also President of Karnataka Byari Literature, came out in the open and condemned the move by few organizations to kick up the hijab row in the state. The miscreant had abused the lawmaker and threatened that he would be killed for speaking against the wearing of hijab. He has lodged a complaint in this regard with the Pandeshwara Police station in Dakshina Kannada district. In another development, Udupi police have taken two persons into custody for flashing knives during hijab-saffron shawl protest on February 5. The police have launched a search operation for three other persons who were spotted with weapons at the site of a student protest. The arrested persons have been identified as Abdul Majeed (32) and Razab (41), residents of Gangolli. The police have identified the persons who flashed weapons at the students protest site as Khaleel, Rizwan and Iftikar. Kundapur police have registered a case and are investigating the case. These developments have put the state agencies on high alert. The Karnataka High Court will take up the hearing of petitions by Muslim students on hijab row on Tuesday. The students have sought directions for the government and education department to allow them to wear hijab and attend classes. The state government has stated that they would frame a policy on uniform once the High Court gives its orders. Meanwhile, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the civic agency of the state capital known as Silicon Valley of India, planned to take preventive measures fearing surfacing of hijab row. The administration has started distributing uniforms, shoes and books to students and aiming to complete the exercise as early as possible. Los Angeles, Feb 7 : Swedish audio streaming platform Spotify CEO Daniel Ek, under fire from critics inside and outside the company over its partnership with podcaster Joe Rogan, said in a memo to employees that it was "deeply sorry" for how the controversy over the podcast host has affected them. But after the company's removal of 70 past episodes 'The Joe Rogan Experience' amid Rogan's use of the N-word and racially charged language numerous times on his show, the CEO signaled that Spotify does not plan to terminate its deal to distribute the podcast, reports variety.com. "I do not believe that silencing Joe is the answera canceling voices is a slippery slope," he wrote in the memo on Sunday, which was obtained by Variety. Ek said he is "committing to an incremental investment of $100 million for the licensing, development, and marketing of music (artists and songwriters) and audio content from historically marginalized groups". Spotify's exclusive multiyear deal with Rogan is reportedly worth more than $100 million. "If we believe in having an open platform as a core value of the company, then we must also believe in elevating all types of creators, including those from underrepresented communities and a diversity of backgrounds," the CEO wrote. According to Ek, Spotify has had conversations "with Joe and his team about some of the content in his show, including his history of using some racially insensitive language". "Following these discussions and his own reflections, he chose to remove a number of episodes from Spotify. He also issued his own apology over the weekend." Rogan has been a controversial figure ever since Spotify inked its exclusive deal with him in 2020, given his friendliness with several right-wing personalities he has hosted on 'The Joe Rogan Experience'. The latest controversy over Covid misinformation on Rogan's podcast has gone beyond the low-level boil that previously accompanied outrage over his show. The current boycott was started by Neil Young, who two weeks ago demanded Spotify pull his songs or drop Rogan's podcast. Young has been followed by a few other artists and creators. Chennai, Feb 7 : The ruling DMK and opposition AIADMK have taken up the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to the MBBS course, as a major issue for the urban local body elections. The leader of opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly and coordinator of AIADMK, Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) in a speech while addressing party candidates and the public in Salem municipal corporation elections lashed out at the DMK and said that the party grabbed power promising to scrap the NEET exam. Palaniswami also said that after assuming power, the DMK was not able to do anything to abolish NEET. EPS in his speech said that Chief Minister M.K. Stalin as opposition leader had promised the people of Tamil Nadu that he would sign the file to abolish NEET 'as soon as he assumes office', but nothing happened since May 2021 after the DMK came to power. The AIADMK leader said that the DMK was a political party that used to lie to the people of the state with promises that it cannot keep. He said that it was the Congress government at the Centre that had introduced NEET and Gulam Nabi Azad was the Union health minister then. He also said that it was the AIADMK that prevented NEET exams in Tamil Nadu, but later it was implemented following a Supreme Court order. The former Chief Minister said that the AIADMK had brought in 7.5 per cent internal reservation for the government school students and this had helped the deprived students to get admission in Medical colleges of Tamil Nadu and said that DMK did not do anything to ensure social justice in the state. Even as the AIADMK is going hammer and tongs against the government, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, while addressing a virtual rally at Coimbatore on Sunday, said that the imposition of NEET was a new conspiracy to deny education to people based on their social status. He said that the DMK was under no compulsions to politicize NEET and said that the BJP government at the Centre was following a lot of anti-people policies and they need to be opposed. M.K. Stalin said that the BJP government had imposed NEET on the nation in 2016 and Tamil Nadu was exempted from it for one year as former Chief Minister late Jayalalitha had opposed it. He said that if that opposition had continued NEET would have ended, but the AIADMK government just succumbed and paved the way for all the problems that are in the state. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister said that the then AIADMK government could have adopted another resolution in the Assembly after the Union government returned the Bill against NEET. Stalin said that the present Tamil Nadu government under the DMK has the courage to readopt the resolution and would resend the Bill to the Governor. Chief Minister said that the DMK government has already implemented 75 per cent of its promises to the people of the state even before a year in office and called upon the people of Coimbatore to make the DMK candidates victorious in the ensuing Urban local body polls of February 19 to carry on the good work of the government to villages, towns and corporations. The neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo has great trade potential with Rwanda, with data from recent years showing growing trade and currently is Rwanda's biggest regional trading partner. The latest World Bank report on Rwanda themed 'Boosting regional trade integration in the post-Covid era' observed that DRC is a growing trade opportunity for Rwanda. Exports have grown considerably in the last decade, analysts said adding that Rwanda exports to DRC are more than to East African Community countries combined. By 2019, Rwanda had exported more goods to the DRC than to the EAC. The main exports to the DRC include livestock and crops, but cross-border trade in services, such as finance, transportation, and wholesale trading, are also important, the report noted in part. Non-EAC neighboring markets have proved to be more dynamic in recent years, the report noted, adding that it's expected to grow especially in the advent of the African Continental Free Trade Area. This is also at a time when statistics from the World Bank show that since 2012 Rwanda's exports to the East African Community have somewhat stagnated. Data shows that when Rwanda joined the EAC customs union in 2009, exports of goods to EAC partners more than doubled in the following three years to 23 per cent of the country's total goods exports. However, since 2012 Rwanda's exports to the EAC have almost stagnated with Rwanda's total exports increasing substantially on average 17 per cent per year from 2010-19. Analysts say that this has seen the country not be able to benefit from regional integration beyond price reduction conferred by tariff reduction. Among the reasons for such outcomes is the similarities of export products among EAC partners as most countries export almost the same set of products. However, experts noted that exports to EAC partners is a unique opportunity for Rwanda to learn to export relatively sophisticated products through value addition to bigger markets. Calvin Djiofack, World Bank's Senior Economist for Rwanda said that data shows a growing opportunity in neighbouring DRC where Rwanda exports more than to EAC countries combined. Non-EAC neighboring markets have proved to be more dynamic in recent years, the report noted, adding that it's expected to grow especially in the advent of the African Continental Free Trade Area. "Rwanda's trade with other sub-Saharan African countries (beyond EAC and DRC) has been low, declining from 7 per cent of Rwanda's exports in 2010 to just 2 per cent in 2019. This underscores the importance of the opportunity that AfCFTA represents for Rwanda," the report read in part. Djiofack called for rethinking Rwanda's Regional trade noting that it had been impacted more than exports to global partners during the crisis. "The pandemic severely depressed Rwanda's trade in 2020. Total exports of goods and services fell by 14.4 percent by value in 2020, despite the 130 per cent increase in gold exports following the establishment in Rwanda of Aldango Ltd," "Rwanda regional trade of goods was less resilient in 2020 compared to its trade with global partners. While Rwanda's merchandise exports to the world increased by 40 per cent in 2020 compared to 2019 (thanks to the unprecedented increase in gold exports), exports with EAC partners actually declined by 41 per cent," the World Bank report noted in part. Antoine Kajangwe Director General Trade and Investment Ministry of Trade and Industry that the similarity in exports from the region had had a negative impact on the competitiveness on Rwandan exports to EAC. He noted that Rwanda's response to the challenge involves value addition and high value products that can compete in the region and beyond. These sectors he said include electronics, textiles, pharmaceuticals and medical products among others. "We have started to see investments in these high value products. We have also seen an opportunity in value addition of minerals, we are already seeing demand in Gold, Tin and Cobalt," he said. Another sector that bears opportunity is specialized services such as ICT, Finance sector, he added. Kajangwe added that the DRC-Rwanda border offers a great opportunity for cross border trade and a huge opportunity diversification and upgrading exports. "We also have an opportunity in continuing to pursue standards as it will set us apart in accessing and retaining markets," he said. Rwandan businessman Dennis Karera, who is the East African Business Council (EABC) Vice Chairman said that the pandemic showed that EAC still has challenges in integration as trade was severely affected across the bloc. He said that the severe trade interruptions across the bloc was proof that much could be adjusted regionally to improve trade. Other aspects that he called for include the operationalization of a regional dispute resolution mechanisms which could affect the pace of business, trade and integration as well as inclusion of the role of the regional legislative assembly. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Rwanda Trade Congo-Kinshasa By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Karera added that liberalization of regional skies would be impactful to trade in the region including for Rwanda but added that the concern has been pending for years unresolved. Amina Rwakunda the Chief Economist at the Ministry of Finance said that other plans underway that could impact Rwanda's regional trade outcomes include establishing a foreign based multi-services centre targeting the country's point of entry like Dar es Salaam and Mombasa, continued investment towards becoming a regional trade hub as well as reprioritizing and restrategizing following the pandemic. Among the key recommendations by the World Bank Group is that Rwanda should continue its efforts to develop, improve efficiency in and strengthen coordination across the trade logistical infrastructure required for a regional logistic hub. Other recommendations include improvements that could significantly reduce both external and internal trade costs include improving the efficiency of trucking firms and capitalizing on the potential for increased handling of transit trade to and from Democratic Republic of Congo. Los Angeles, Feb 7 : Director Jane Campion's 'The Power of the Dog' won four major awards at the 42nd annual London Critics' Circle Film Awards. On Sunday, 'The Power of the Dog' won film of the year, Campion director of the year, and stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Kodi Smit-McPhee, actor and supporting actor of the year, respectively. This is Campion's second film to take the Circle's top honor, 28 years after 'The Piano' won in 1994, reports variety.com. Olivia Colman's performance in Maggie Gyllenhaal's 'The Lost Daughter', which was snubbed at the BAFTA nominations, earned her the actress of the year award. This is Colman's third award from the Circle, having previously won for 'Tyrannosaur' and 'The Favourite'. Joanna Hogg's 'The Souvenir Part II' won British/Irish film of the year, two years after its predecessor 'The Souvenir' won the same honour. It was one of three films for which Tilda Swinton won the British/Irish actress of the year award, along with 'Memoria' and 'The French Dispatch'. Rebecca Hall's 'Passing' won the breakthrough British/Irish filmmaker award, as well as supporting actress of the year for Ruth Negga. Andrew Garfield won the British/Irish actor of the year award for his performances in 'Tick, Tick... Boom!', 'The Eyes of Tammy Faye', 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' and 'Mainstream', while 11-year-old Woody Norman won the young British/Irish performer prize for 'C'mon C'mon'. Ryusuke Hamaguchi's 'Drive My Car' won foreign language film of the year, while Hamaguchi and co-writer Takamasa Oe won the screenwriter of the year award. BAFTA frontrunner 'Dune' won a technical achievement award for visual effects. For the second year in a row, the event took place virtually on the London Critics' Circle. YouTube channel, this time with critics presenting awards remotely from the ceremony's usual home at The May Fair Hotel. The 'Play It Safe' team, which won the British/Irish short film award, were present to receive their award and all other winners provided video messages. Colombo, Feb 7 : Sri Lankas Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda wants fishermen from Tamil Nadu to attend the annual church feast at the Kachchatheevu Island, adding that he would speak to the government and make arrangements to accommodate the Indian devotees to attend the feast. "In the backdrop of ongoing strained relationship between the Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen, the Fisheries Minister is on the opinion that it would be good to allow the fishermen from both parties to join the church feast," Devananda's media spokesman Nelson Edirisinghe told IANS. "This would be a good meeting point for the both parties," he said. Fishermen from northern Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu have been accusing each other for poaching in their territories. Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, Sri Lankan health authorities, the Catholic Church and government officials on January 30 decided to have the church feast without Indian devotees. The feast on March 11-12 is scheduled to be conducted with the participation of only 500 Sri Lankan devotees from the two Northern Sri Lankan Roman Catholic dioceses, Jaffna and Manner. However Indian pilgrims and fisheries bodies have protested against Sri Lanka's decision and on Friday Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin had requested External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to urge the island's government to enable the participation of the devotees in the annual feast of St Anthony's Church in Katchatheevu. In a letter to Jaishankar, Stalin requested the Centre to intervene in the issue. "The news of denial by Sri Lankan authorities has caused deep disappointment among the fishermen community in the state. I am sure that your efforts will ensure good relations between the people of both countries. "The government of Tamil Nadu has been facilitating the safe journey of fishermen devotees of Tamil Nadu who wish to participate in the Festival. It has come to my notice that fishermen devotees of Tamil Nadu are not allowed to participate in the annual festival this year, citing various reasons by the Sri Lankan authorities," he added. Last year, the feast in the iland located half a nautical mile from the India-Sri Lanka International Maritime Boundary Line was cancelled due to Covid. The feast is an annual meeting place for fishermen from both countries. Katchatheevu an uninhabited island was a disputed territory claimed by India until it was ratified by UN Law of the Sea conference in 1976, where maritime boundaries and Exclusive Economic Zones of India, Sri Lanka and Maldives were demarcated and agreed to by all three countries. Los Angeles, Feb 7 : Actress Susan Sarandon regrets posting a meme about police which earned her heavy criticism. The actress, who has been an outspoken critic of police brutality, admits it's "insensitive" and "disrespectful" to compare cops who attended a funeral to "fascists", reports aceshowbiz.com. The 75-year-old reflected on her controversial tweet on Friday, February 4. Returning to Twitter, she posted a statement which read: "I deeply regret the meme I recently shared on Twitter that included a photo of Officer Jason Rivera's funeral. I reacted quickly to the picture without connecting it to a police funeral and I realize how insensitive and deeply disrespectful it was to make that point at that time." The Academy Award-winning actress went on to extend her apology to the family of late NYPD Detective Jason Rivera, who was honoured by his colleagues at the memorial. "I sincerely apologize to the family of Officers Rivera and Mora for causing additional pain during their time of grieving," she concluded her statement. Previously, Sarandon landed in hot water following her anti-cop tweet, in which she retweeted a meme that featured an image of thousands of NYPD cops gathering at Manhattan's 5th Avenue last week to honor the slain NYPD detective. The original tweet came with a caption that read, "I'm gonna tell my kids this is what fascism looks like." Susan reposted the tweet last Tuesday, adding over it, "So, if all these cops weren't needed for CRIME that day, doesn't that mean they aren't needed ANY day?" Among those calling out the actress was the Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York, which tweeted on Thursday, "This is what privilege looks like: a wealthy actress, safe in her bubble, mocking heroes & making light of the crisis that cops are battling alongside our communities. NYC is uniting to stop the violence - @SusanSarandon is living on a different planet." Retired Los Angeles homicide detective Sal LaBarbera reprimanded the 75-year-old actress, "You seriously need help. Let's hope you never need us." Retired NYPD Detective Angel L Maysonet chimed in, "There are 35K #NYPD cops in NYC. This is 3 hours." "Many off duty, other agencies, representing over 850K sworn LEOs in this country. Shame on you @SusanSarandon 2 young Dominican cops were killed & you spread anti police rhetoric. You're a disgusting person." The National Fraternal Order of Police called Susan a "D-list actor" as it tweeted: "Of all the days for @SusanSarandon to share her true feelings towards police, she picks the day we bury our fallen brother to make such inflammatory & brainless comments. When you spend more time hating on cops than you do your own career, it's no wonder why you're a D-list actor." Sarandon previously took part in Black Lives Matter protests and criticised the NYPD over its handle of protesters during the George Floyd protests in 2020. New Delhi, February 7: All of Pakistan has been on the knife's edge for over 72 hours after fighters from the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) engaged Pakistan's Frontier Corps (FC) troops at its headquarters in Noshki and Panjgur inflicting heavy casualties. The two towns lie in Balochistan and are around 460 km apart, clearly showing the depth and coordination of Baloch nationalists. Pakistan has blocked the Twitter accounts of journalist Bahot Baloch (@bahotbluch) and BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch (@Jeeyand_Baloch2). Local newspaper, The Balochistan Post too had its account suspended for a while. Media continues to be blocked. The Pakistani military has claimed that it has killed 20 Baloch attackers and lost nine of its men. On the other hand, the BLA claims that it killed over 195 Pakistani FC men and lost 16 fighters in its attack called Operation Ganjal. However, the two warring parties-the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) of the Pakistani army and the BLA fighters-agreed on one point that the intense fighting has ended. Pakistan watcher Mark Kinra told India Narrative that it is difficult to ferret out the truth from the twin attacks. "Considering there is a media blackout in Balochistan and the social media handles are suspended, it is difficult to ascertain truth at this time. I think we will get to know about the Pakistani personnel casualties only later". The intensity of the attack by the Baloch group has taken the world by surprise and deeply embarrassed Pakistani forces. A handful of Baloch fighters captured the Frontier corps (FC) headquarters in Panjgur through a bomb and gun attack for three days and then held at bay Pakistani Army drones, armed personnel carriers and helicopter gunships for nearly 72-odd hours before forces could take back the Panjgur camp. Pakistan had to impose curfew as well as evacuate people from the vicinity of the Panjgur FC camp. There has been much speculation about the daring shown and the weapons used by the Baloch nationalists in their twin attacks. Weapons research handle on Twitter, Calibre Obscura has published Baloch fighters with "Afghan-origin hardware; M4 Carbine/ACOG/PEQs, and a M32A1 MGL", proving that the Baloch armed groups are in touch with their Taliban comrades. Kinra says: "One thing which has been corroborated is that the BLA has developed a modus operandi to breach the security of the Pakistani Army and hold it for 72 hours. This became possible due to two factors-Operation Ganjal had support from allied organizations in Baloch Raaji Aajoi Sangar (BRAS) and the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) factor. The TTP is providing logistical support to the Baloch as it has a presence in Balochistan and has led attacks in the region". Even as the Panjgur fighting was going on, Baloch nationalists blew up a paramilitary vehicle in Dera Bugti district, killing one paramilitary soldier and three pro-government tribal militiamen. Balochistan is famous for the Pakistani State-run "death squads" that kidnap, torture and kill Baloch youth and strew their bodies randomly to create fear among the populace. During the same time, the Baloch fighters also claimed to have fired rockets on the Pakistani naval base of Turbat in Kech district. Rattled by the ferocious attacks, the Pakistani Interior Ministry issued a threat alert for the second time on Friday. Even as the fight was raging on in Balochistan, the top brass of the Pakistani leadership was away in Beijing trying to wrangle better deals for the troubled China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as well as loans from China. Besides Prime Minister Imran Khan, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin, Planning Minister Asad Umar, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, National Security Advisor Moeed Yousaf, Commerce Advisor Abdul Razak Dawood and Special Assistant,CPEC, Khalid Mansoor are in China. British newspaper The Guardian reported that Pakistani officials feel the deadly attacks on Pakistani forces have been timed with Prime Minister Khan's visit to China. Kinra sums up the Balochistan situation: "With the ongoing spate of attacks, one thing is clear-the Baloch nationalist struggle is taking a defiant approach which means complete independence and indiscriminate attacks across Pakistan". (The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative Moscow, Feb 7 : Most children carry the Omicron strain of Covid-19 without any consequences for their health, according to a study. While the Omicron variant has been touted as mild, it has led to significant rise in infection among kids. However, "we have only preliminary data so far. It is currently impossible to estimate the frequency of complications in kids", Deputy Director for Clinical Research of the Russian sanitary watchdog's Gabrichevsky Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology Tatyana Ruzhentsova told TASS news agency. But, "most children do not have any consequences after being infected with Omicron", she said. At the same time, according to Ruzhentsova, some young patients still have fatigue, headaches, and a slight temperature rise. "Such children should be under medical supervision, generally [under supervision of] a local pediatrician. If necessary, (they) should get an additional examination," she added. Ruzhentsova said earlier that the Omicron coronavirus variant causes a milder post-Covid syndrome than the Delta strain, the report said. A study by Case Western Reserve University, looked at health records of 80,000 kids and found the Omicron hospitalisation rate was 1 per cent. With Delta it was higher, at 3 per cent. But again, with a lot more infected kids, that 1 per cent turns into a bigger actual number. Long covid diagnosis is considered very rare in children. But some children across the US have reported an array of symptoms, ranging from headaches, stomach aches and dizziness, to fatigue, brain fog and mood changes, long after their initial infection. the Guardian reported. One Danish study published online in the European Journal of Pediatrics in January included about 30,000 children aged 0 to 17, around half of whom had previously tested positive for Covid. For those ages six to 17, 0.8 per cent more Covid-positive children recalled having symptoms lasting more than four weeks, compared with a control group. Another report from Italy showed that among 129 children who tested positive for Covid about 43 per cent experienced at least one symptom more than 60 days after their initial infection. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Chennai, Feb 7 : The 56 Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu who were released by a Sri Lankan court will be shifted to a detention centre on Monday following the completion of their quarantine period. Since the fishermen were released on January 25, they have been under quarantine after few had tested positive for Covid-19. Sri Lankan Prison authority sources told IANS that they would be moved to an immigration centre on Monday. Fishermen unions in Tamil Nadu is on a confrontation path and several agitations were carried out at Rameswaram, Ramanathapuram, and Mandapam on the arrest of the fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy on charges of crossing the International Marine Boundary Line (IMBL) and 10 trawlers were also confiscated. A high-level meeting of Indian and Sri Lankan authorities is expected to take place on the issue during bilateral talks between the Foreign Ministers of the two nations. Sri Lankan Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris reached India on Sunday and is expected to meet his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar in New Delhi on Monday. A series of meetings are scheduled to be held by Peiris and his delegation with Indian authorities and the arrest of Indian fishermen is likely to be prominently figured in the talks. The Sri Lankan delegation will be requesting the Indian side for humanitarian assistance to the island nation which is currently under a severe economic crisis. India has already supported the island nation with an economic assistance package in January to tackle its foreign exchange crisis. Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen generally fish in the Palk Strait which is a narrow strip of water separating the two neighbouring nations. This is considered a rich fishing ground for fishermen from both countries and the Sri Lankan Naval authorities and Sri Lankan coastal police arrest Indian fishermen if they cross the Palk Strait strip into the Sri Lankan side. Prayagraj : , Feb 7 (IANS) Nearly 510 convicted prisoners from different jails of Uttar Pradesh have taken admission in the UP Rajarshi Tandon Open University (UPRTOU) for various courses. The university had started enrolling prisoners for several courses run by it to motivate youths in jail to continue their academic pursuit. The university had started the facility of free education for the convicted prisoners from 2019 and 41 prisoners had taken admission at that time. Now, the number of prisoners, getting enrolled in courses of their choice, has increased almost 12 times in just one year. These 510 prisoners have taken admission in bachelors, masters, certificate and diploma courses being run by the university. UPRTOU had decided to provide free education to prisoners serving sentences for serious crimes in Naini Central Jail in the year 2019. After this, the jail administration of different districts of the state also approached the university to provide the facility for the convicts of their respective jails. Vice- chancellor Prof Seema Singh said, preparations are being made to conduct the examination of this session in offline mode after the second week of next month and this time 510 convicted prisoners would also give their exams for various courses they are enrolled in. The examination of these prisoners will be conducted in the jail itself. The vice chancellor further informed that maximum numbers of prisoners (100), who have taken admission, are from Naini Central Jail, while the minimum (4) are from Ayodhya Jail. Similarly, convicted prisoners of Azamgarh, Fatehpur, Agra, Noida, Bareilly, Kanpur, Meerut and Banaras have taken admission in different courses. She added that 41 prisoners had taken admission during last year and 21 prisoners were awarded diplomas/ degrees in this year's convocation. Islamabad, Feb 7 : The fresh surge in turning Pakistans Balochistan province into a war zone has led to a debate on the factor that played role in promoting terrorist groups in carrying out widespread targeted attacks on security forces, flaring up a new wave of violence and terrorism. Political and security analysts believe that the volatile situation in Afghanistan, coupled with foreign support to the terror groups from other neighbouring countries are among the main factors that behind regrouping and targeted assaults by separatist terror organisations. In the latest series of attacks by terror groups in Balochistan, dozens of security personnel have lost their lives while large number of militants have also been neutralised in bomb blasts, clashes, ambushes and heavy exchange of fire. "The resurgence of terrorism in the province is not unexpected, given the vastness of the region, loose control of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, and involvement of foreign elements," said Lt. General Retd. Talat Masood. Balochistan province holds pivotal importance as it routes the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Militant groups have been targeting sensitive security installations around the CPEC route and border line areas with major attacks, resulting in killing of at least 20 Pakistani soldiers. The killing of 10 soldiers in an attack on a security checkpost in the Kech area near the Pakistan-Iran border on January 28 was among the deadliest of the attacks, claimed by separatist group, the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF). Terror attacks in Panjgur and Noshki districts on February 3, which targeted security posts and installations, were foiled by the Pakistani security forces, resulting in the killing of at least seven personnel and 13 militants. Analysts believe that the 600-km coastline of Gwadar under the $64 billion dollar CPEC project, the takeover of the Afghan Taliban in Afghanistan, support by India for the Baloch separatist groups and lastly, the Iranian terror groups including Zainabiyoun, are among the key factors behind the unrest in Balochistan. Balochistan separatist groups have always been in opposition of the CPEC project, accusing China for what they call, stealing their resources. The separatist groups have also opposed province's inclusion into Pakistan, claiming that it was forcibly incorporated into Pakistan during the end of British colonial rule in 1947. Analysts also say that the vastness of the Balochistan province with widespread mountains and untapped terrains; the province has become a most suited place for militant organisations to regroup. "The security forces should have been more complacent after subsiding the insurgency in recent years. They have reared their head also because of lack of preparedness from the security forces," said defense analyst Ikram Sehgal. Anwar Sajidi, a political analyst believes that the reunification of separatist groups and the facilitation from suspected Indian handlers has also been one of the prime reasons behind the fresh wave of violence in Balochistan. "Different separatist outfits have recently formed the Baloch National Alliance (BNA), an umbrella group, which has improved coordination and access in terms of attacks," he said. Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 7 : After an hour-long meeting between Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who returned to the state capital early on Sunday after a visit to the US and the UAE, and Governor Arif Mohammed Khan at the Raj Bhavan, on Sunday night, the Kerala Lokayukta amendment Ordinance was signed by Khan. Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan said, this is nothing but a trade-off between Vijayan and the Governor as reports have surfaced that a file appointing a BJP leader at Khan's office is with Vijayan. "This is a trade-off and the news is there were middlemen engaged in working out this. Vijayan will now go down in history as the one who tweaked this anti-corruption body. Through this the biggest beneficiary is Vijayan himself (there was a case before Lokayukta against him on handling the Chief Minister Distress Relief Fund)," said Satheesan and added that the green flag to do corruption has now been put up. Satheesan said this tweaking is being said that Sec 14 of this Act is unconstitutional, but such a thing has not been said by any court at all and even the second biggest party -- the CPI in the ruling Left has by now on umpteen occasions said none knows why was there a hurry in an Ordinance. "Through this tweaking the Lokayukta can only bark and cannot bite and through this corruption can go forward unabated. We will seek legal recourse on this amendment," added Satheesan. Meanwhile expressing his displeasure yet again was CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran who said on Monday that none has told him why was there a hurry in floating an Ordinance. "None has convinced me of the urgency, but now that the Governor has been convinced, then other things are not important," said a peeved Rajendran. Through the fresh amendment, the Chief Minister can reject the findings of the Lokayukta in a corruption case against any minister and the Governor can reject if the case is against the Chief Minister. During the previous LDF government led by Vijayan, Higher Education Minister, K.T. Jaleel had to resign after the Lokayukta had found that he had abused his office. Shivamogga : , Feb 7 (IANS) The Karnataka Police have arrested a pastor who attempted to convert a family to Christianity in Shivamogga district of the state, the police said on Monday. The arrested person has been identified as 34-year-old Madhu, a resident of Kashipura Layout in Shivamogga. A case has been registered in the Vinobanagar police station of Shivamogga district. According to police, the accused pastor has forced a family to convert to Christianity in the pretext of curing their three-year-old child of a disease. The three-year-old child of a resident of Bommanakatte suffered from a disease and though the family approached many doctors, they could not find a solution. Taking advantage of this fact, the pastor told the family members that religious conversion from Hindu religion to Christianity is the only solution for their problem. The accused Madhu also allegedly asked the family to remove all images of Hindu gods from their home, and told them to carry out prayers for Jesus Christ. He had also given them religious books and asked them to follow Christianity, according to police. The locals have complained about this to the Vinobanagar police station. The police have taken him to custody on charges of forceful conversions and they have also booked him under illegal construction of a building in Bommanakatte area. A case has been registered against the accused under IPC Sections 417 (cheating), 295 (a) (whoever, with the intention of wounding the feelings of any person or of insulting religion of any person are likely to be wounded, or that the religion of any person is likely to be insulted, there by commits any trespass in any place of worship). Nairobi A section of Muslim leaders have demanded answers from the government on the whereabouts of a Marsabit businessman, who was abducted by unknown people three days ago in Nairobi's South C area. According to the muslim leaders, Roba Abduba Sereka, 60 was kidnapped in broad daylight on February 2 while walking out of his home. Abdullahi Abdi, Chairman of National Muslim Leaders Forum (NAMLEF), said that the government has enough machinery to investigate and bring all those involved in the kidnappings in the country to book. "It is our appeal that if this has happened because organs of the government have picked this guy up and taken him, within the least possible time, he should be produced in the court of law," he said. He added that due process must be followed in prosecuting any Kenyan as opposed to resorting to kidnappings which they said is likely to worsen the already volatile situation in Marsabit county. The NAMLEF Chairperson took a swipe at those running for different political seats for remaining tightlipped despite being aware of the increased cases of abduction in the country. He made reference to the recent discovery of over 20 bodies dumped in River Yala in Siaya county pointing out that they are yet to get any significant reactions from the political class. "We are in a period of elections and there are people who are running for higher office in this country... I am not hearing any single political leader who is vying for the top office confirming to us as Kenyans that the security of Kenyans is being protected," he said. Ali Gulicha, a SUPKEM official joined Abdi in castigating political leaders for failing to speak out against the rising cases of disappearances in the country and warned that it sets a dangerous precedent. "You only come to us when you want votes, but the Azimio guys are not talking about it, the Tangatanga group is not talking about it, the Kalonzo axis the OKA axis, nobody is talking about it," he added. Yusuf Jillo, NAMLEF youth leader described the missing businessman as an honest, hardworking man who has worked in the public service as a civil servant and later promoted as the District Education Officer (DEO) by the government where he served until his retirement. "This is somebody who is still serving this nation in the public sector, he is not someone hidden and involved in any other crimes that he can be associated with. Currently he is the manager of Marsabit Municipal Council," he added. Bengaluru, Feb 7 : As students across Karnataka were coming to colleges wearing hijabs and saffron shawals, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Education Minister B.C. Nagesh on Monday urged them not to get provoked and follow government orders regarding the ongoing row. Addressing the media, Bommai, who is currently in New Delhi, said all the students must follow the state government order issued regarding uniforms. The students must not make any attempts to disturb peace, he added. "The court order is coming tomorrow (Tuesday). The state government will take a decision on the issue once the order comes. As the case is before the court I don't want to speak about it." He further said that there were forces active behind stirring up the hijab row in the state, as it had earlier surfaced in Kerala and Maharashtra. Meanwhile, Nagesh told reporters in Mysuru: "The students must come wearing uniforms to the colleges. Students wearing hijabs and saffron shawls will not be permitted to enter. "It's your wish that until you reach college entrance you can wear clothes of your choice. Once you come inside the gate, you have to be in uniform." The state Education Minister defended the measure of sending hijab wearing and saffron cladding students to separate rooms in the Udupi Government PU College, adding that the government will frame rules on uniform after the order from the High Court. The management of Kundapur Government Pre University College also sent hijab wearing and saffron shawls cladding to separate rooms inside the premises of the college. The College Development Committee spokesperson Mohan Das Shenoy stated that Muslim students who are agitating outside would be allowed inside the college premises and given a separate room. However, they won't be allowed to attend classes until they remove the hijab as per the government order. The hijab row has now spread across the states, including in Chikkaballapur, Chikkamagalur, Hassan, Mandya, Vijayapura. It has affected seven colleges in Udupi alone, while also spreading to Bommai's native district of Haveri. The row took a new turn with students of IDSG College in Chikkamaglur district, who came in blue shawls in support of wearing the hijab by Muslim students. They raised 'Jai bheem' slogans and condemned the communalisation of education. After declaring a holiday at the Shanteshwar PUC College and GRB Colleges in Vijayapura, the saffron shawl wearing students gathered in front of the entrance gates and raised the slogans of Jai Shri Ram'. The Muslim students who came wearing the hijab have said that they were not bothered about the state government's order and were awaiting for the directive from the High Court of Karnataka on the matter. The Hindu students are adamant that until the hijab is allowed, they will come wearing saffron shawls. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Agartala, Feb 7 : In a major political jolt, two more MLAs of the ruling BJP -- Sudip Roy Barman and Ashis Kumar Saha - on Monday resigned from the assembly and the party before leaving for Delhi to decide their next course of action. After submitting their resignation letters to Tripura Assembly Speaker, both Roy Barman, a former Minister, and Saha told the media that they have also sent their resignation letters to the BJP's state President Manik Saha. "We are going to Delhi today (Monday) and will come back here on Saturday, then we will tell you everything in detail about our future political course," Roy Barman told the media just after submitting resignation letters to Chakraborty and before leaving for the national capital. Sources close to Roy Barman and Saha said that they might meet Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other leaders in Delhi and join the party. Roy Barman and Saha, strong critics of Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, were earlier in Congress before joining TMC in 2016 and then to BJP next year (2017). Earlier, BJP MLA Ashish Das after strongly criticising the saffron party and its leadership including Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on October 31, 2021 following which he was disqualified from Tripura Assembly by Speaker Ratan Chakraborty on January 5. New Delhi, Feb 7 : The Rajya Sabha on Monday resumed the debate on the 'Motion of Thanks' to the President's address. Initiating the debate, BJP MP Seema Dwivedi said that many lives were lost to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Government initiated measures to produce vaccine against the dreaded virus and also provided it to many other countries in the world. She also said that India is committed to bringing down the impact of climate change."Women are capable of doing everything men can, and thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, all women could reach their true potential," she added. Highlighting the significance of Amar Jawan Jyoti, Congress lawmaker Anand Sharma said that it was dedicated to soldiers killed during Bangladesh war, but it was merged. On the Gross Domestic Product(GDP), employment and national security, Sharma, quoting the economic survey said the unemployment in the country is at an all time high and 42 crore people do not have jobs. "We understand that it has affected the economy and it is on March 2020 level, while the debt to GDP ratio is 90 per cent, and this will not be corrected by selling national assets." "We all know that 1 lakh forces have been deployed at the China border but shouldn't this be discussed in Parliament? In 1962, Nehru discussed the situation in the middle of a war. We were also told that in-camera briefing will be done (on China), but nothing has happened," he commented. Sharma, further a wrong message is being sent about the Opposition. "Everyone wants the country to progress, but a perception is being created that the Opposition does not want it to, this is not correct." he added. Referring to earlier Prime Ministers, he said: "Nehru remained in jail for 14 years, Indira and Rajiv Gandhi were martyred, how can you question their contribution? We acknowledge the work done during Atal Bihari Vajpayee's tenure also. We never said Vajpayeeji did not work, but this government said that the Congress government has not done anything at all which is completely wrong." "You cannot dismiss the work done by previous governments. A country cannot run on single ideology, India did not rise in 2014, it is a culmination of 74 years, he added. It was said that India Gate is a colonial legacy. They were not mercenaries but they were martyrs of the British India and the place where the government wants to set up the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose is also a British relic," he added. Pointing out to the hate speech, he said: "People of Indian origin are everywhere. Kamala Harris, Priti Patel, Rishi Sunak, Sundar Pichai and what they will think about?," Sharma commented. While concluding his speech, he mentioned about the nightingale of India Lata Mangeshkar, who passed away on Sunday. "The country paid homage to her, we all have heard her song- ae mere watan ke logon. This country belongs to all, we have to move forward together. Please no not corrupt young minds, it will damage the country's conscience", he said. Bhubaneswar, Feb 7 : The Covid-19 cases in Odisha continued to decline and on Monday 1,497 news cases were reported. The state had reported 2,106 cases Sunday and 2,603 cases on Saturday. According to the State Information and Public Relations department, among the 1,497 positives reported on Monday, 874 cases were detected in quarantine and 623 were the local contact cases. This is the lowest daily case reported since January 6, 2022. Highest 251 cases have been reported from Khurda district, while 101 cases detected in Sundergarh districts. All other 28 districts of Odisha have recorded below 100 cases today. The daily test positivity rate (TPR) has also dropped to 3.18 per cent from 3.48 per cent the previous day. However, the fatalities due to Covid-19 continued to remain high in Odisha. The state, which had reported 23 death cases on Sunday, registered another 20 deaths on Monday. The death toll due to Covid-19 in Odisha now stands at 8,754. Khurda district reported six new fatalities followed by four in Kalahandi, three in Cuttack, two each in Jagatsinghpur and Nayagarh, and one in Rayagada, Kendrapara and Jajpur district. Meanwhile, all educational institutions of Class 7 and above, including universities, colleges, polytechnics, ITIs and technical colleges were reopened on Monday with strict adherence to Covid-19 protocols. All schools have been reopened for students of Class- 7 to 12 for the academic session 2021-22. The physical teaching for KG to Class 7 students will resume from February 14. The teaching hours for the students of Class 9 to 12 will begin at 10 a.m. and will continue till 4 p.m. while the Class 7 students attended classroom teaching from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The classes will continue on all days excluding Sundays and public holidays. However, cooked meals will not be served to the students at schools, officials said. Similarly, the colleges and universities also reopened in the state Monday. The students started attending classes at their respective institutions. The school and college hostels have also been reopened. "After doing thermal scanning and ensuring wearing masks, students have been allowed into the school. We have kept an isolation room ready for those students, who develop any Covid-like symptoms" said a teacher from Municipality College, Rourkela. The students are allowed to attend the classes either online mode or offline mode in consultation with their parents. Attendance is not mandatory for students in offline mode, the officials said. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) San Jose, Feb 7 : Costa Ricans have cast their ballots to elect a new President, as well as a new National Assembly for the next four years. Some 3.5 million eligible voters on Sunday cast their ballots in 6,767 polling stations across the country, and 52 consulates around the world to serve the 50,833 registered nationals, reports Xinhua news agency. The candidate of the National Liberation Party Jose Maria Figueres led in the polls with 17 per cent, followed by the candidate of the Christian Social Unity Party Lineth Saborio with 12.86 per cent, and the New Republic candidate Fabricio Alvarado with 10.27 per cent, according to polls conducted by the University of Costa Rica. Meanwhile, Welmer Ramos, the candidate of the ruling Citizens' Action Party, barely garnered 1 per cent of the vote, despite the party having governed for two consecutive terms. According to the polls, about a third of voters were undecided five days before the elections. In order to win, the candidates will require 40 per cent of the necessary votes in the first round to succeed President Carlos Alvarado Quesada, who will leave office on May 8. Officials reminded voters to follow sanitary protocols such as wearing masks and maintaining social distancing to avoid the spread of Covid-19. Mumbai, Feb 7 : Kenneth Branagh, the director of the upcoming murder mystery 'Death On The Nile', recently spoke about how with changing times the tonal quality of movies is also changing. The director also shared his thoughts about his shooting experience while travelling to holiday hotspots like Egypt, where a major chunk of the film has been shot. The director said, "For me, the escapism and the transportation are so total. It is a wonderfully immersive, illusory experience that is very full and thick. The depth, the detail, the chance to replicate the experience of the human eye is absolutely at its premium." He further said, "And it is a very unusual and unique opportunity (especially in the wake of what we've all been through recently, the pandemic) to share the experience of community in the telling of a story in a socially distanced, smaller audience-auditorium with a massive wall of communication and picture and sensory stimulation." Talking about the dynamism in cinema, he added, "Cinema has never been more attractive. Cinema has never been more vital and cinema has never been more thrilling than it has a chance to be, coming out of lockdown and coming into stories like 'Death on the Nile'". 'Death on the Nile' is based on Agatha Christie's novel of the same name and is a follow up to 'The Murder On The Orient Express'. Produced by 20th Century Studios, the film features an ensemble cast which includes Kenneth Branagh, Tom Bateman, Gal Gadot, Ali Fazal and Emma Mackey in pivotal roles among others. The movie is set to arrive in Indian theatres on February 11 in English and Hindi. Chennai, Feb 7 : Director Unnikrishnan's upcoming Malayalam action entertainer 'Aaraattu', featuring actors Mohanlal and Shraddha Srinath in the lead, is to release worldwide on February 18 this year. Mohanlal, who made the announcement on Instagram on Monday, said, "'Aaraattu' is all set to hit theatres worldwide from February 18, 2022." It was only recently that the team chose to release the trailer of the film, which will have Shraddha Srinath playing an IAS officer. The film's trailer gives away the fact that the film will be a proper commercial entertainer with ample amounts of both action and humour. Apart from Mohanlal and Shraddha Srinath, the film will also feature Vijayaraghavan Saikumar, Siddique, Riyaz Khan, Johny Antony, Anoop Davis, Rachana Narayanankutty, Swaswika, Malavika Menon, Neha Saxena and Seetha among others. The film, which has music by Rahul Raj, has cinematography by Vijay Ulaganath and editing by Shameer Muhammed. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Mumbai, Feb 7 : For actress Avantika Dassani, who is all set to make her debut with the upcoming series, 'Mithya', the grey zone of her character sealed the deal. The debutante was instantly drawn to the project because of the flaws that her character comes with. Shedding light on her character in the series, the actress said, "We actually had a list of pros and cons and Rhea's grey character actually made it to the pros list and not to the cons list simply because it is a well written character." Talking about what she found appealing in the character, she shared, "Yes, it's an unconventional and risky choice but I think that's exactly what excites an actor to play a grey character because that's how humans are. In real life, we are all shades of grey. She is explosive and she drives the plot in an interesting way." She lauded the show creators and writers for sketching such a good character, "Her relation with all the characters in the show is also very interestingly designed and very well developed by our amazing writer and the entire team." Islamabad, Feb 7 : One of the reasons for the fresh wave of unrest in Balochistan is being linked with the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban, which has forced Baloch terror groups, who were operating from hideouts in Helmand and Kandahar in the war-torn nation, to flee into the Pakistani province. Pakistan in the past has had its problems with the former Ashraf Ghani government in relation to cross-border movement, terror hideouts of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch militants inside Afghanistan and the extended support that Afghan Intelligence agencies along with external actors. Pakistan accused the US-backed Ghani regime for harbouring and supporting anti-Pakistan groups and using them to spread terror and instability in the country. Pakistan has maintained that its operation against terror elements forced TTP and Baloch groups to seek flee the country and find refuge in neighbouring Afghanistan. Islamabad claims that these groups were being facilitated to target Pakistan's and Chinese interests in the region. When the Taliban took over control of Afghanistan in August 2021, authorities in Islamabad handed over a list of organisations and individuals from the TTP and Baloch organisations, calling on the new leadership to ensure that these terror elements are nabbed and stopped from spreading chaos in Pakistan. "Afghan Taliban eliminated the hideouts of Baloch groups on Afghan soil. Most of the Baloch terrorists fled Afghansitan after the Taliban takeover," said a senior Pakistani official on the basis of anonymity. Since then, a fresh wave of violence has engulfed Balochistan, while terror groups like the Balochistan National Army (BNA), formed through a merger of various small separatist groups, also claimed attacks in major cities including Lahore, other than a series of terror attacks on various security checkposts in the province. While it seems that the Taliban cooperated with Pakistan on the issue of Baloch terror groups and eliminated their hideouts in Afghanistan; the Afghan Taliban have been deliberately reluctant in taking a similar strong action against the TTP. Analysts believe that Taliban have opted the same strategy on TTP as Pakistan opted with the Americans on the Taliban. As per the same strategy, the Taliban, instead of taking action against TTP installations in Afghanistan, have offered their good offices to facilitate both the TTP and Pakistan to find a solution and have mutual agreements on face saving strategy to end the longstanding conflict. Mumbai, Feb 7 : Way back in 1999, the Melody Queen Lata Mangeshkar - who attained immortality on Sunday - had made her maiden foray into exclusive merchandising. She started with a signature perfume brand 'Lata', launched by a Thane-based company and manufactured by a Vapi-based chemical group. A mega-launch event was organised in a suburban sea-facing five-star hotel with the Mumbai paparazzi turning out in full strength to cover and discover the new fragrant 'Lata' brand spectacle. As the gathering appeared restless, the show started - with our own Lata Didi clad in a sparking saree, coming on the stage - with the company Aqua P & C Ltd Chairman, Managing Director, Directors, et al, beside her. After a brief presentation on 'Lata - Eau De Parfum' the eager mediapersons fired questions - mostly mundane - ranging from: "What is the colour of the perfume, how is the fragrance, the bottle design, price,... etc". The replies came, though Lata Didi herself seemed a tad bored and the company's top gents could be seen stifling yawns. Then with The Week magazine (the Malayala Manorama Group) this correspondent was seated somewhere in the middle of the auditorium and harboured mild anxiety over his news-report 'content' on the "Lata - Eau De Parfum". Finally, he summoned courage - and the mic, and stood up with an innocent query, which later turned out to be akin to barging into territory shunned by Angels! "Lata Didi... Recently, actor Shah Rukh Khan had launched his own perfume brand and had stated how much he earned from the venture... So, I would like to know how much you are getting paid for 'Lata' perfume," this correspondent asked. Suddenly, the entire media glare tuned onto him and there was furious activity on stage, and Lata Didi diplomatically said she was now aware of the financial aspects, but the company chairman could throw more light. As she dumped the mic into the bewildered chairman's hands, he got up, mumbled something and passed the 'hot' mic to the managing director next to him. The rattled MD got up half to claim he was unaware of these aspects which are handled by the finance director - and thrust the 'burning' mic to the bewildered man. As the correspondent - and the rest of the media - waited patiently for a juicy reply, the finance director took his time and rose, almost shaking. Yet, gathering his wits a wee bit, he softly said that "the financials of the deal have still not been finalised..." but assured that whenever done, the media would be suitably informed. Quite disappointed, this correspondent remained on his feet and maintained his ground. Finally, Lata Didi graciously came to the aid of the party, took the mic and deployed her mellifluous voice to magically defuse the situation. "Aap ne mujhe Didi kaha hai... Aap to mere chhote bhai jaise ho...Kya aapko achha nahin lagega agar aapki Badi Didi kuchh aur paise kamaye toh?" said Lala Didi, with her enchanting smile, as the company's gents visibly heaved a sigh of relief. Well... this correspondent gallantly surrendered before Lata Didi's charms - lock, stock and barrel - and the organisers hurriedly announced lunch to prevent any more lightning bolts at the launch. Needless to say, the next days' media prominently 'covered' the incident and the attempts to 'uncover' the deal. Years later, the well-known diamond merchant and Bollywood moneybags Bharat Shah had relaunched the 'Lata - Eau De Parfum', but its current status is not clear. Incidentally, besides the late Lata Didi, stars like Zeenat Aman, Khan, Amitabh Bachchan and Shilpa Shetty comprise the handful of elite Bollywood celebs with fragrances dedicated to them by international brands. (Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text A new survey has detected "shocking" declines in the populations of 22 species of eagle, vulture, buzzard, falcon and other birds of prey in Kenya -- and roads, railways and rat poison have all played a part. Populations of 19 out of 22 Kenyan birds of prey species had declined by 70 percent on average in just 40 years, the survey published in the journal Biological Conservation said, with one species -- the common kestrel -- having declined by 95 percent. Birds of prey play a key role in keeping down rats and other pests and vultures dispose of animal carcasses that can harbour deadly diseases. But being at the top of the food chain makes them highly sensitive to human impacts on the environment. In Kenya, the development of roads, railways and power lines have fragmented many ecosystems, while deforestation, intensive agriculture and overgrazing have left "a biologically impoverished landscape," the study says. Declines were recorded among vulture and large eagle species, and were especially noticeable among once-common small and medium-sized raptors like augur buzzards and black-winged kites, the survey found. No species had increased significantly. The long-legged snake-hunting secretary bird that strides across open grassland, and the long-crested eagle, named for the long feathers that dangle from its head, had declined by 94 percent. Roadside surveys "Species you should see every other day - they're just not there," Darcy Ogada, assistant director of African programmes for the Peregrine Fund and the study's lead author, told RFI. She said that the extent of the decline of multiple species was "shocking". "Declines are expected - I agree - but not the level that we're talking about. We need to tell people what's going on." These were roadside surveys. Data was collected between 2003-2020 along the same routes as those carried out between 1970-77. The routes cut through protected areas in national parks and privately-run conservancies, and also through unprotected areas. Kenya has more than 80 different raptor species. Although 55 species were seen by the researchers during their surveys, only 22 were seen in sufficient numbers to model changes in encounter rates. Owls were not included, nor species living in forests or near cliffs. Raptors declined less severely inside parks and protected areas, the survey found. But the extent of the decline of small to medium-sized species like augur buzzards and long-crested eagles outside of protected areas came as a surprise to the research team. Electrocutions Augur buzzards whose white underwings and red tails give them a striking resemblance to North American red-tailed hawks have declined by 91 percent. Their decline could be linked to the use of rat poison, which is ingested by birds that hunt rodents, and electrocution, said Ogada. One raptor rehabilitation centre run by the Kenya Bird of Prey Trust has consistently attended to augur buzzards injured from collisions with power lines, she said. Ornithologist Colin Jackson, director of conservation group A Rocha Kenya, was not part of the survey team but said he was confident the careful and highly-methodical collection of data over many years gives a realistic picture. "As a birder and ornithologist born and brought up in Kenya, I have personally witnessed the decline of raptors over the past 30-40 years," he told RFI. He said countless warnings had been given over the years on the effect that collapsed ecosystems were having upon raptors. Writing on the wall "Kenya was once one of the places to visit to watch and appreciate birds of prey. While this is still true in some ways, the reduction described in this paper has impacted one of the many natural wonders that Kenya has been able to boast of." Alex Ngari, the Nairobi-based migratory birds and flyways programme manager with BirdLife International-Africa, said Kenya was reliant on tourism and that the rate of nature loss detected by the survey called for swift action by all stakeholders to address bird poisoning and adopt bird-friendly infrastructure, among other measures. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Kenya Environment Wildlife By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "Can you imagine the agony of setting out for a nature tour of Nairobi National Park but going back home without seeing some of your favourite raptors that you were used to seeing a few years ago?" Kenyan human-bird honey partnership is dying out, research shows The findings come at a time when Kenyan conservation groups are angry at government plans to amend the Forest Conservation and Management Act, allegedly making it easier for developers to impinge on protected forest areas and worsen biodiversity loss. Ogada said the declines in Kenya's birds of prey are likely to reflect a trend across other regions of Africa. "Sadly the declines in West Africa are even greater than here in East Africa. I think the writing's on the wall for a lot of these species." New Delhi, Feb 7 : Pakistans leverage appears to have declined after the Taliban takeover in mid-August 2021, while new irritants have already emerged, as per a report by International Crisis Group (ICG). Pakistan's efforts to secure its border with Afghanistan, to prevent both an influx of refugees and infiltration by Pakistani militants based in Afghanistan, are already a point of contention, the report said. The Taliban's apparent refusal to break off relations with their Pakistani counterparts, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), is of even greater concern to Islamabad. The Taliban, in fact, at least initially appeared in some ways to be dictating Pakistan's policy choices, forcing Islamabad to concede to at least some demands on cross-border movement and pressuring it to reach a negotiated settlement with the Pakistani Taliban. "Islamabad has difficult choices to make. It is unwilling to distance itself from a friendly government that it sees as a vehicle for asserting influence over its western neighbour. Yet in the Taliban it could find itself saddled with an ally that refuses to do what is needed to ease Western sanctions and end the attendant diplomatic isolation," the report said. That Pakistan's clout with the Taliban has declined after the group seized power complicates things further. Pakistan faces difficult challenges in shaping policy toward Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Though Pakistan continues to back its Afghan ally, the Taliban's military takeover and subsequent diplomatic and economic isolation could make Afghanistan's new government more of a burden than an asset for Islamabad, it added. Growing instability and economic hardship could lead impoverished Afghans to seek shelter in Pakistan. Islamabad's alliance with the Taliban could also strain relations with the U.S. and other Western countries. Most importantly, the Taliban's failure to take action against Pakistani militants operating from Afghan territory could endanger Pakistan's internal security, the report said. Islamabad's hesitancy to take the plunge this time around is primarily driven by concern that no other government worldwide, including among Afghanistan's other neighbours, has yet taken the step of recognition. Unilateral action by Pakistan would likely strain relations with powerful Western countries, particularly the US, Islamabad also realises that recognition in itself would do little to ease the Taliban's diplomatic and economic isolation. Islamabad is well aware, however, that the Taliban must also assuage international concerns with regard to both governance and security if Western pressure is to let up. While Pakistan is encouraging the Taliban to opt at the very least for a faAade of inclusive government and demonstrate at least token respect for basic rights, the Taliban have yet to heed its advice. Nor has Islamabad succeeded in convincing the militant group-turned-government to break links with Afghanistan-based jihadi outfits such as Al Qaeda, the report said. Concerned about such inaction on the Taliban's part, even countries such as Iran, China and Russia that have opted for closer engagement with the Taliban government are unlikely to officially recognise it any time soon. The odds are even lower that the US and its Western allies will recognise the Taliban government and lift all sanctions so long as the Taliban show no willingness to compromise. Given its closeness to the Taliban, Islamabad could itself face Western pressure, aimed at compelling it to work harder at convincing its Afghan allies to respond more positively to international demands. Cooler relations with the U.S. could become particularly onerous given Washington's weight in international financial institutions, such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, on which Pakistan is dependent to prop up its floundering economy, the ICG said. Islamabad is also concerned about the cross-border implications of Afghanistan's economic and diplomatic crises. Afghanistan's economic collapse is depriving Pakistan of opportunities to revive trade ties that had been badly eroded by frictions with erstwhile Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's government. Growing insecurity and economic hardship could translate into thousands, possibly hundreds of thousands, of impoverished Afghans seeking shelter and livelihoods in Pakistan, the report said. (Sanjeev Sharma can be reached at Sanjeev.s@ians.in) Sydney, Feb 7 : The Federal Court in Australia on Monday dismissed Meta's appeal in a bid to throw out a Cambridge Analytica data lawsuit from the country's privacy regulator. The rejection means the Office of Australian Information Commissioner's (OAIC) lawsuit against Facebook, now Meta, can finally be heard in court. Meta had claimed that it neither conducts business nor collects personal information in Australia. The full bench dismissed Meta's argument that Facebook platform merely acted as an overseas website that provides data to an Australian device when requested to do so as being "divorced from reality". "The problems with this submission are first that it proves far too much, and secondly that it is, with respect, divorced from reality," Justice Nye Perram wrote in his judgment. The court found Meta's installation of cookies on the physical devices of Australian users was sufficient in meeting the threshold of conducting business and collecting personal information in Australia, reports ZDNet. "What this case decides is only that an inference may be drawn that a firm which installs and removes cookies in Australia (and which also manages for Australian developers a credential system which is widely used in Australia) is carrying on its worldwide business of data processing in this country." The privacy watchdog will now look to accuse Meta of breaching the privacy of over 300,000 Australians whose data were caught up in the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Australian Information Commissioner and Privacy Commissioner Angelene Falk said her office would continue to move forward with the case. Facebook in 2019 agreed to pay a record-breaking $5 billion to the US FTC as fine for users' privacy violations in the Cambridge Analytica data scandal involving at least 87 millions of users. Cambridge Analytica (CA) was a British political consulting firm, started in 2013 as a subsidiary of the private intelligence company and self-described "global election management agency" SCL Group by long-time SCL executives Nigel Oakes, Alexander Nix and Alexander Oakes. The company closed operations in 2018 in the course of the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica data scandal, although firms related to both Cambridge Analytica and its parent firm SCL still exist. New Delhi, Feb 7 : The Delhi High Court on Monday rejected a plea seeking removal of police booths that are allegedly constructed arbitrarily and unlawfully on the footpaths and roads in the national capital. The division bench presided over by Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh while refusing the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) asked the petitioner to withdraw it otherwise fine could be imposed. Accordingly, the PIL has been withdrawn by advocate Banke Bihari, who appeared on behalf of the petitioner 'Jan Sewa Welfare Society', an NGO based in Delhi. The plea alleged that the construction of police booths have resulted in grave inconvenience and hazard to the life and safety of the general public and residents of Delhi. Therefore, the petitioner has come before this Court for protection of fundamental rights (right to life) of the pedestrians guaranteed under the Constitution of India and also against the arbitrary and unlawful acts of Delhi Police. It also sought direction from the Delhi Police to remove all Air Conditioners and Display Boards installed in the office of Delhi Police in contravention of its own circular, concerning ACs, issued on November 23, 2005. It further said there is hardly 10-20 per cent of police booths that have lawful electric and water connections. However, in practice, it has been noticed that most of the police booths have all amenities like water connections, electric connections, even ACs and Display Boards, etc. It manifestly suggests wrong practice on the part of the Delhi Police. The counsel pointed out that the higher officer of Delhi Police should make a report to this Court regarding arrears of electricity and water bills pending payment against Delhi Police and to ensure that arrears of water bills and electric bills are cleared by the concerned office of Delhi Police as soon as possible. New Delhi, Feb 7 : A fire broke out at a house in the Subzi Mandi area of the national capital on Monday, a fire department official said. The official informed that they received a call about the fire incident around 10.34 a.m. at a house located near Ghanta Ghar, Subzi Mandi area, in northwest Delhi after which as many as 3 fire tenders were immediately pressed into the service. "Only the top floor of the four storey building had caught the fire," the official said. The official confirmed that there have been no casualties or injuries in the incident, however, there was certainly a loss of property. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. The inferno was brought under control in less than 30 minutes and the last fire engine returned at 11.00 a.m. "Even the cooling process has now been completed," the official said. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Thick fumes of black smoke could be seen billowing out of the top floor of the ill fated building. Delhi Fire Service chief Atul Garg told IANS that one person was briefly hospitalised after he inhaled the smoke. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in a tweet, informed that he had given instruction to the Fire Department to quickly douse the fire. "Instructed the fire department to ensure that the fire does not spread further, and to help the local people," said Kejriwal. The incident comes a day after a fire broke out at Karkardooma Court in East Delhi. No injuries or casualties were reported then. Canberra, Feb 7 : Multiple bushfires continued to rage in the state of Western Australia (WA) on Monday with more emergency warnings issued. The fires have threatened several towns in the state in the past few days, with residents from some areas, including the small railway town of Hester, being warned to leave before it was too late, reports Xinhua news agency. All residents within 500 metres of Timber Treaters in Hester are to evacuate immediately due to toxic materials being dispersed by wind. The state's Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) said on Monday that Hester is no longer under direct threat from the bushfire, but it remains in the emergency area along with many other newly-reported dangerous shires. The latest warnings were also placed for residents from the state's southwest Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes and the Shires of Quairading, Bruce Rock, Kondinin and Kulin. People were told to leave immediately and protect themselves by wearing long sleeves and trousers made from cotton or wool, and strong leather boots. "You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. There is a threat to lives and homes," the DFES said. Chandigarh, Feb 7 : Just ahead of the Punjab polls, self-styled jailed godman and Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who is undergoing a 20-year sentence for raping his two disciples, was granted furlough for 21 days on Monday by the BJP-led Haryana government to meet his family members in Gurugram. He is lodged in Haryana's Sunaria jail since 2017 after being convicted in rape and murder cases. He has a large number of followers in Punjab, which is going to the polls on February 20. Earlier, he was released from the jail thrice for various reasons, including his plea to meet the ailing mother. Justifying the decision, Haryana Jail Minister Ranjit Chautala told reporters, "Ram Rahim was granted parole as per the jail manual. The state government has nothing to do with granting parole or furlough to a jail inmate." "It is the legal right of a convict, who becomes eligible to seek parole or furlough after he has completed three years of conviction," he added. He is likely to be taken to Gurugram under heavy security. Reacting to his furlough, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the body responsible for the management of gurdwaras, asked the Haryana government to refrain from releasing a criminal responsible for several killings from the jail. Earlier, Ram Rahim was granted parole on his wife Harjit Kaur's plea that his mother Naseeb Kaur, 85, suffering from a heart disease was seriously ill. Ram Rahim (52) is currently lodged at the high-security Sunaria jail in Rohtak, 250 kms from state capital Chandigarh. In June 2019, Ram Rahim Singh had withdrawn his parole plea after the state BJP government was cornered by opposition parties for favouring the self-styled godman, who sought parole for 42 days to tend to his agricultural fields at his sect's headquarters in Sirsa town. Also, the high court had rejected his parole plea for attending the wedding ceremony of his foster daughter. Ram Rahim was sentenced to 20 years in jail in August 2017 for raping two women. A special CBI court in Panchkula this January 2019 also sentenced Ram Rahim and three others to life imprisonment for the murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati over 16 years ago. His conviction on August 25, 2017, had led to violence in Panchkula and Sirsa, leaving 41 people dead and over 260 injured. Ram Rahim was patronised by political leaders and parties in Punjab and Haryana for nearly two decades due to his ability to influence the votes of his followers. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and the subsequent Haryana Assembly polls, Dera Sacha Sauda, with the Punjab's prominent sect at Salabatpura in Bathinda, had issued a public appeal for people to vote for the BJP. In the 2017 Punjab Assembly polls, the sect, which claims to have 60 million followers pan-India of which 4 million are in Punjab alone, supported the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP alliance, but the party lost to the Congress. However, the sect had supported Congress in the previous Punjab Assembly polls in 2012 and 2007. With 84 campuses named 'satsang ghars' across Punjab, the Dera Sacha Sauda sect says it is not a religion but a humanitarian organisation. Followers of Dera Sacha Sauda, if they follow the edict, hold the key to 35-40 seats in Malwa, the largest political region of Punjab with 69 seats out of the state's 117. Bengaluru, Feb 7 : Amid the hijab row threatening to evolve as a major crisis in the state, ruling BJP is witnessing heavy political activities inside the party as Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has reached New Delhi on Monday. As per sources in the party, CM Bommai is going to discuss Cabinet expansion and cabinet reshuffle with the BJP high command. Though officially the CM stated that he would discuss with MPs, legal experts and senior counsels who are arguing for the state regarding inter-state water disputes, Cabinet expansion will be discussed on priority as senior BJP legislators in the state are insisting for Cabinet berth. With the state Congress unit threatening 'reverse operation lotus', the visit has assumed importance. The sources explain that as many as seven cabinet ministers who are holding plum posts will be dropped. Hence, these senior ministers are busy lobbying with their godfathers in New Delhi to retain their posts. Sources said that CM Bommai has met former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa before the trip and took his suggestions on Cabinet expansion and future strategies regarding organisation of the party in the backdrop of general elections scheduled to be held in 2023. The high command is going to take a call on the crucial issue of providing Cabinet posts to Yediyurappa's son B.Y. Vijayendra which will have direct consequences on Yediyurappa's involvement in the upcoming Assembly elections. The sidelining of Yediyurappa has proved costly to the party during bypolls. The party is also going to take call on providing cabinet berth to former minister Ramesh Jarakiholi, accused of sex CD case. Jarkiholi, a prominent backward leader, is one among the major leaders who installed the BJP government after the collapse of Congress-JD (S) coalition government in Karnataka. Now, he is into hectic lobbying with high command for plum post for himself or his brother BJP MLA Balachandra Jarakiholi. Yediyurappa's close associate M.P. Renukacharya has expressed his outrage in public and demanded that 15 cabinet ministers, who are slack and unresponsive, be dropped from the Cabinet. State-in-charge Arun Singh had made a personal call and pacified him. Senior legislators, Tippa Reddy from Chitradurga, Abhay Patil from Belagavi, Basavana Gouda Patil Yatnal from Vijayapura, Satish Reddy from Bengaluru have conveyed their wishes to become ministers on the basis of their seniority. CM Bommai has stated that he had conveyed the feelings of legislators to the high command and will discuss as and when the party leadership takes up the issue. New Delhi, Feb 7 : India is implementing the largest immunisation programme globally where annually more than 3 crore pregnant women and 2.6 crore children are covered through the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP), said Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya while launching the Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) 4.0 virtually on Monday. The Mission will have three rounds and will be conducted in 416 districts which will include 75 districts identified for Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav across 33 States/UTs in the country. In the first round from Feb-April 2022, 11 states - Assam, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura and Chhattisgarh will conduct IMI 4.0. The remaining 22 states will conduct the rounds from April to May 2022. These states/UTs include Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar, Puducherry, Delhi, Punjab, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Telangana, Jharkhand, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Andman & Nicobar Islands. "Vaccines are one of the most effective, affordable and safe methods to protect infants, children and pregnant women from diseases and mortality. With the aim to increase the Full Immunisation Coverage, the Prime Minister launched Mission Indradhanush in December 2014 to cover the partially and unvaccinated pregnant women and children in pockets of low immunization coverage, high-risk and hard-to-reach areas and protect them from vaccine preventable diseases", Mandaviya said. Under Mission Indradhanush, all vaccines under Universal Immunization Program (UIP) are provided as per National Immunization Schedule. Mission Indradhansuh was also identified as one of the flagship schemes under Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (16,850 villages across 541 districts) and Extended Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (48,929 villages across 112 aspirational districts). The Union Health Minister virtually launched the IMI 4.0 portal and released the 'Operational Guidelines for IMI 4.0', "Strengthening Immunization in Urban Areas- framework for Action" and a handbook for "Mahila Arogya Samiti on Urban Immunization" and awareness material/IEC package developed as part of the campaign. Emphasising on the need of 'Sabka Prayas' and 'Jan Lok Bhaagidaari' to achieve the goal of universal immunisation in the country, Mandaviya said that only with the collective and collaborative efforts of the Centre, the States and beneficiaries, shall we be able to achieve the target of full immunization coverage in the country. He urged the States to work holistically at different levels, coordinating with district administration, panchayats and the urban local bodies. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Seoul, Feb 7 : South Korean President Moon Jae-in's approval rating rose to 42.2 per cent last week, a new poll showed on Monday. The negative assessment on Moon's conduct of state affairs gained 0.6 percentage points to 54.4 per cent, according to the Realmeter survey. Support for Moon's ruling Democratic Party increased 3.3 percentage points to 37.6 per cent last week, reports Xinhua news agency. The main conservative opposition People Power Party secured 39.4 per cent of support last week, up 4.2 percentage points from the previous. The minor centre-right People's Party won 7.3 per cent of approval score, followed by the minor progressive Justice Party with 2.8 per cent of support. As for the approval rating of presidential candidates, support for the Democratic Party's Lee Jae-myung shrank 0.4 percentage points over the week to 38.1 per cent last week. Support for the People Power Party's Yoon Suk-yeol climbed 3.2 percentage points to 43.4 per cent last week. The country's presidential election is scheduled for March 9. Patna, Feb 7 : Bihar BJP chief Sanjay Jaiswal has slammed Janata Dal United (JD-U) for criticizing Niti Aayog. Releasing the data, Sanjay Jaiswal claimed that the Bihar government is not addressing its own challenges and criticizing Niti Aayog is not right. The backwardness of Bihar will be addressed only after the setting up of industries which will generate employment. The population of Maharashtra is one crore higher than Bihar, still the central government is giving Rs 31,000 crore extra to Bihar. Similarly, The condition of West Bengal is no different from Bihar, still, the central government is allocating Rs 21,000 crore more to Bihar," Jaiswal said. Jaiswal's statement came after JD-U national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi for special status demand of the state. "The consumer state like Bihar is benefited with GST. The revenue generation of the state government has increased due to GST. Some states are known for large number of industries and they are giving extra income to states where production is taking place. After the implementation of GST, the earnings of industries are also distributed in the consumer states like Bihar. It has added Rs 20,000 crore in state exchequer," Jaiswal said. "Bihar government should promote industries. Industry Minister Shahnawaz Hussain is actively pursuing it but such efforts are needed from other ministers as well. The Bihar government should promote public private partnership to install industries in Bihar. People of Bihar should leave the anti-Industrialist mindset," he said. The Prime Minister is allocating funds every 6 years and Rs 10,000 crore is still pending with the Centre due to callous attitude of the Bihar government. For example, the PM has sanctioned Rs 2,500 crore for the airport at Raxaul which comes under my constituency but the state government has not acquired adequate land for the purpose," he said. Nairobi A seven-member Heads of State Commitee will now consider Israel's observer status in the African Union (AU) after the union's top organ deferred deliberations on the matter on Sunday. The AU Assembly meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the 35th Ordinary Session tasked the committee to review the decision by the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson Moussa Faki to grant Israel observer status after Palestine protested the decision. The 7-member panel consists of President Cyril Ramaphosa (South Africa), Nigeria's Muhammadu Buhari, Rwanda's Paul Kagame, Algeria's Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Cameroon's Paul Biya, DRC's Felix Tshisekedi and Senegal's Macky Sall. "The AU Assembly has mandated a Committee of Heads of State (South Africa, Nigeria, Rwanda, Algeria, Cameroon, DRC, Senegal) to deliberate on the merit of the Chairperson's decision to grant observer status to Israel," Faki's Press Secretary Ebba Kalondo reported. She pointed out that Faki's decision will stand unless and until the Heads of State Committee overturns it after the Assembly after Members States failed to reach a consensus on the matter. "Until such time, the Chairperson of the Commission's decision stands," Kalondo said in a brief statement. Faki granted Israel observer status at the AU in July 2021 after nearly 20 years of diplomatic efforts. While expressing its position on the matter, South Africa had joined Algeria in contesting the accreditation of Israel as an observer. Rwanda and DRC are among nations that expressed approval. In an address preceding determination of the matter by Assembly, Faki defended his decision as having been taken in good faith further saying he followed the laid down procedure while considering Israel's request. He noted that 44 African States, members of the union, had diplomatic ties with Israel out of which seventeen had fully-accredited missions in Tel Aviv. Faki pointed out that there were only eleven African nations which did not recognize Israel. "It was clear to me and it remains clear to me that I acted in harmony and consistency with the national choices in this matter of more than two-thirds of our Member States, four-fifths in fact," Faki told the AU Assembly. "It is clear that by acting in this way I have only done, independently of any subjectivity or personal inclination, a faithful reflection of a tangible, irrefutable reality, that of the recognition of Israel on a very large scale in Africa," he noted. Faki said rationale for his determination was also anchored on "number of Member States which expressly asked for the granting of Observer Status to the State of Israel." He noted that the number of African States in support of Israel's accreditation as an Observer in the AU "appeared to me larger than that of the Member States that did not recognize Israel." "Which number should I comply with? The majority or the minority? I leave it to your appreciation," Faki told over 25 Heads of State, including President Uhuru Kenyatta, who attended the summit in person. The AUC Chairperson also defended his decision as having been informed by the global consensus led by the United Nations for a Two-States solution to resolve the Palestine-Israel conflict. "It is the harmony and coherence of our decision with the consistent option which is that of our Organization and the entire international community, particularly the United Nations, that is the recognition and solemn support to the Two-States solution, for the Palestinian and Israeli peoples," he asserted. Faki said the forth aspect that informed his decision was his conviction that the AU needed to use its "political and diplomatic tool" to contribute to global peace and security. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Africa Governance By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. He noted that by conferring Israel the Observer status, the AU could challenge the nation to observe fundamental rights of the Palestine people and stop acts of violence. Faki said he made it clear to Israel representative to the AU when he accredited its representative in July 2021 that the AU was committed a Two-States solution including the right of Palestinians "to establish a National State with East Jerusalem as its capital." The AUC Chairperson ended his pitch by encouraging the Assembly not to shy off from considering a vote on the matter where the decision by the the "legally required majority" carries the day. "If the majority remains committed to maintaining the Observer Status, why should the minority not comply, as on any other issue. This is the golden rule of any democratic process and it is the constant practice within our Organization, without any damage to it," he asserted. Kanpur, Feb 7 : Nearly 1,878 endangered turtles have been seized and two men of Kashmiri origin arrested in the Chakeri area of the city by the Special Task Force's (STF) Kanpur unit. The men had stuffed the turtles in sacks, they had concealed the same in a truck along with a consignment of sunmica and they wanted to take the turtles to West Bengal, when they were arrested. According to the STF spokesman, the two arrested men belong to Kathua area of Jammu & Kashmir and have been identified as Javed and Farukh. "They confessed that they both are truck drivers and were heading towards West Bengal from Rajasthan with the consignment of sunmica. In the middle of the journey, one Kapoor, a notorious smuggler of Etawah, had contacted them and asked them to transport sacks of turtles to West Bengal in lieu of Rs 60,000. Kapoor had been apprehended earlier also on several occasions," stated the official STF release. Smuggling of endangered turtles has become a cause for concern for the Wildlife agencies, as there is no check on the poachers, who are smuggling aquatic endangered species in lieu of money. A case has been registered against the two arrested Kashmiri men under relevant sections of the Wild Life protection act. "We are now tracking Kapoor, the notorious smuggler of Etawah who had asked them to deliver the consignment in West Bengal," said a senior STF official. Tokyo, Feb 7 : The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) plans send a team to the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant next week to evaluate the safety of Japan's contentious plan to discharge radioactive water from the plant into the Pacific Ocean, the government said on Monday. Japan's Foreign and Industry Ministries said a team of IAEA experts led by Gustavo Caruso, director and coordinator of the IAEA's Department of Nuclear Safety and Security, will visit Japan from February 14-18, reports Xinhua news agency. The visit to the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant is likely to take place on February 15. The visit and on-site assessment of the plant have been pushed back from December last year, as Japan was overrun by a surge in Covid-19 cases in another sluggish rollout of vaccines by the government. Japan has said it still plans to release radioactive water that has accumulated at the plant into the Pacific Ocean. The water, stored in tanks at the plant in Japan's northeast, is expected to soon reach capacity. The Fukushima plant had its key cooling functions knocked out after being battered by a massive earthquake-triggered tsunami in 2011, resulting in the worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl in 1986. The polluted water that the government plans to release into the Pacific Ocean contains radioactive tritium as a result of being used to cool down melted nuclear fuel at the plant in Fukushima Prefecture. Japan's fisheries industry has voiced its ardent opposition to the plan, as it will almost certainly cause further damage to the industry's reputation. Moreover, some of Japan's closest neighbours have voiced strong concerns over the plan as well as a number of worried counties from further afield. Japan's government had been considering a number of alternative plans other than its unilateral proposal to just dump radioactive water into the Pacific. These options included injecting the toxic water deep into the ground, releasing it into the atmosphere after vaporizing it, or making it into a solid state and burying it underground. San Jose, Feb 7 : Former Costa Rican President Jose Maria Figueres is leadinin the country's presidential election, while a runoff is looming as no clear winner has emerged as of Monday, according to the latest data from the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE). With 79.96 per cent of the ballots counted, Figueres of the National Liberation Party, who was the country's President from 1994 to 1998, was leading with 27.29 pe rcent of the votes, Xinhua news agency reported citing figures from the TSE In second place was former Finance Minister Rodrigo Chaves of the Social Democratic Progress Party with 16.66 per cent of the votes. Fabricio Alvarado of the New Republic party came third with 14.93 per cent of the vote, and the gap between Chaves and Alvarado has been widening, according to the TSE. If none of the candidates exceeded the threshold of 40 per cent of the vote to win the country's presidency in the first round, a run-off will be held on April 3. The winner of the runoff will assume the presidency in Costa Rica on May 8, replacing the current president, Carlos Alvarado. Agartala, Feb 7 : In a major political jolt, two more dissident MLAs of the ruling BJP -- Sudip Roy Barman and Ashis Kumar Saha who are strong critics of Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb for the past more than two years -- on Monday resigned from the Assembly and the party before leaving for Delhi to decide their next course of action. After submitting their resignation letters to Tripura Assembly Speaker, both Roy Barman, a former Minister, and Saha told the media that they have also sent their resignation letters to the BJP's state President Manik Saha. "We are going to Delhi today (Monday) and will come back here on Saturday, then we will tell you everything in detail about our future political course," Roy Barman told the media just after submitting resignation letters to Chakraborty and before leaving for the national capital. He said: "The BJP government led by Deb utterly failed to deliver the goods. An autocratic rule has been prevailing in the state. A reign of terror has been going on in the state. People are in serious distress. We want to work for the people as we are unable to do this while remaining in the BJP." Sources close to Roy Barman and Saha said that they might meet Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other leaders in Delhi and may join the party. Roy Barman and Saha, strong critics of Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb and other BJP leaders, were earlier in Congress before joining TMC in 2016 and then to BJP next year (2017). Earlier, BJP MLA Ashish Das after strongly criticising the saffron party and its leadership including Chief Minister, joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on October 31, 2021 following which he was disqualified from Tripura Assembly by Speaker Ratan Chakraborty on January 5 (this year). BJP, on the other hand, downplayed the resignations of Roy Barman and Saha and said that the duo's quit from the Assembly membership would not be any constitutional crisis in the state. "It was in the expected line that Roy Barman and Saha left from the Assembly membership and the party. They have been openly criticising the chief minister and other party leaders. Their resignation from the Assembly and the party has no importance to BJP," state BJP spokesman Nabendu Bhattacharjee told the media. Roy Barman and Saha and three other BJP MLAs -- Ashish Das, Diba Chandra Hrangkhawl and Burba Mohan Tripura -- in August last year held a big gathering in Agartala which was attended by many local BJP leaders and workers. Roy Barman, Saha and few other BJP MLAs and leaders for the past more than two years met BJP's National President J.P. Nadda and other central leaders and Ministers and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and apprised them about the "misgovernance in Tripura and Chief Minister's authoritarian style of work". To curb the rebellion in the party organisation and to set the governance right, several central party leaders led by BJP's North East Zonal Secretary (Organisation), Ajay Jamwal, had visited the state several times. In the presence of the central party leaders, three BJP MLAs -- Ram Prasad Paul, Sushanta Chowdhury, Bhagaban Chandra Das -- were on August 31 last year inducted into the Tripura cabinet in its first cabinet expansion after the BJP-IPFT (Indigenous People's Front of Tripura) alliance assumed charge in March 2018. The open dissent and internal dispute in the ruling BJP began after Roy Barman, who was holding the Health and Information Technology departments, was sacked in May 2019 following differences with Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb. The BJP came to power in Tripura on March 9, 2018, after defeating the CPI (M)-led Left Front for the first time in 25 years after the latter first came to power in the northeastern state in 1978 along with West Bengal and again in 1993 (after a gap of five years - 1988-1993, when Congress-led coalition government governed the state). Meanwhile, IPFT MLA Brishaketu Debbarma resigned from the Assembly in June 2021 and joined the TIPRA (Tipraha Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance) headed by Tripura's royal scion, Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barman. Debbarma's resignation was, however, not yet accepted by the Assembly speaker. The IPFT with eight MLAS is an ally of the ruling BJP, who secured 36 seats in the 60-member Assembly in the 2018 elections while remaining 16 seats bagged by the CPI-M. Jaipur, Feb 7 : After many flip-flops, the Congress' Chintan Shivir started on Monday at Hotel Leela Palace in Jaipur, a day after its scheduled date which was Sunday. On Sunday afternoon, Lokesh Sharma, OSD to the Chief Minister, in his message to media said, "10 to 12 MLAs will not be able to come to Chintan Shivir, some being Covid positive, some ill, some engaged in marriage functions at home and some MLAs are campaigning in states going to polls. Seven to 8 MLAs will join the Chintan Shivir from Tuesday. Around 20 to 22 MLAs will not be able to attend the Chintan Shivir on Monday." Also, a cabinet meeting scheduled on Sunday was postponed to Monday at 2 p.m. Sources said that the meeting was postponed in wake of a limited number of MLAs. Also, CM did not reach the location at 9 p.m. and hence the meeting was postponed. This is the third time in three years when all Congress MLAs have been asked to camp in a plush hotel to discuss burning issues of the state. Rajesh Pilot is also present in the Chintan Shivir. Official sources said that a few MLAs are anguished over the delayed political appointments and hence the camp will give them an opportunity to speak to the Chief Minister. Further, the opposition is getting aggressive on the issue of REET paper leak and Alwar rape case and hence the MLAs will be asked to stand united and reply to opposition. Also, a strategy shall be chalked out for 2023 and 2024 polls in the chintan baithak, they added. Sources said that around 125 rooms have been booked in the Leela Palace Hotel whose one day cost is over Rs 20,000. Those present in the chintan camp include Rajasthan in charge Ajay Maken, PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasra, CM Gehlot, Rajesh Pilot and other MLAs. PCC spokesperson Swarnim Chaturvedi confirmed that there will be a discussion on the achievements of the government, the public manifesto, upcoming budget session of the assembly and how to return to power in the year 2023 Assembly polls and to get maximum seats in 2024 look Sabha polls. A target has been set to connect 50 lakh people with the Congress through a digital membership campaign. The role of legislators in strengthening the organization will also be discussed prominently in the Chintan Shivir. A plan will be made in the camp to share information on the achievements of the state government to every person of the state, he said. A press conference has been called at 4 p.m. on Monday (today). New Delhi, Feb 7 : Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL), the world's largest solar power developer and the renewable energy arm of the diversified Adani Group, has received approval for being a member of the GRI South Asia Charter on Sustainability Imperatives. AGEL had initiated this pursuit in response to a call from GRI by becoming a signatory to the GRI South Asia charter in April 2021. Firming up its commitment, the company has now submitted a declaration with clearly identified UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) where it can make an impact in following years. These SDGs are aligned with AGEL's sustainability strategy and show its measurable impact. Organizations that sign up to the GRI Charter agree to uphold three principles: Compliance: Adhere to all applicable national and sub-national laws and regulations wherever they operate. Ethics and governance: Act with the highest ethical standards and integrity, taking decisions and implementing actions in good faith. Transparency and disclosure: Make public their performance on economic, environmental and social dimensions. "AGEL is committed to ramp up its sustainability performance and build credibility as an effective corporate citizen while strengthening internal data management and reporting systems," said Vneet S. Jaain, MD & CEO, AGEL. "Sustainability is integrated into the business and is evident at each stage of the project cycle. Being a pure play renewable energy company, our business goals are in line with climate change concerns and global efforts to mitigate its impacts. Going beyond the obvious advantages of the green business, we have taken many initiatives to make this a responsible corporate organisation." Aditi Haldar, Director of GRI South Asia, said: "The GRI South Asia Charter commits organizations to increase their engagement in support of sustainable development, acting as a catalyst for responsible business practices. I am delighted that AGEL has committed to the aims of the Charter. I would encourage other organizations in India and the wider region to join with us and work together in support of a sustainable future for all." Understanding the three SDGs where AGEL is set to make an impact: SDG 7 which entails access to affordable, modern, and clean energy for all which is essentially reliable and sustainable. To achieve SDG 7, the average tariff across the portfolio will be lower than the national APPC. The cost reduction will be achieved by improvement of technology, optimisation of resources using IoT and machine learning related digital interventions. SDG 9 has a more investment appetite which calls on to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation, to achieve the ambitious goal of renewable capacity addition by keeping the average tariff below national level. In addition, many digital interventions like IoT, machine learning and innovations are in the pipeline. Digitalisation is perceived as the key to future-ready remote operations, improved efficiencies, resource optimisation and energy efficiency, leading to cost reduction and keeping tariffs competitive. SDG 13 encourages companies to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. AGEL has announced a target of having operating renewable energy generation capacity of 45 GW by 2030. AGEL has aligned its operations and capex plans to meet these objectives. Through these measures, the company is committed to mitigate climate change and contribute to global sustainable development goals. In our journey towards this goal, we displaced 14.64 million tCO2 until March 2021. The GRI South Asia Charter on Sustainability Imperatives - a unique creation by GRI South Asia Hub - is a clarion call for decision and action for business and its stakeholders. It is anchored to a framework of transparency and disclosure, as enshrined in the GRI Standards, and provides an ameliorating way out of the climate change quagmire. Given the Covid-19 recovery context, it is essential to focus on the SDGs and respond to the call to build back better while keeping in mind the underlying principle of leaving no one behind. The Charter serves as an important stimulus to implement sustainability-oriented imperatives that help to realise the UN Sustainable Development Goals by the end of the current decade. New York, Feb 7 : A team of US researchers has detected at least four "cryptic" variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, in samples of wastewater from New York City's public sewer system. Marc Johnson, Professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at the University of Missouri and a co-corresponding author on the study, believes the results suggest the "cryptic" mutations they identified in New York City could be linked to possible animal origins. While these origins have not been verified yet, he believes one possible source could be the rats that frequent New York City's sewer system. The findings are published in Nature Communications journal. "For instance, we still don't know where the Omicron variant came from, but it had to come from somewhere," Johnson said. "These variants are bubbling up everywhere, including Omicron, which eventually spilled into the general population and wreaked havoc. We think these weird lineages could be where the next variant of Covid-19 comes from." The researchers have been sampling wastewater from 14 treatment plants in New York City since June 2020. They also reached out to other researchers in the US who were doing similar work with wastewater. They observed some unusual results. "They were different, but all of them had similar mutations in common at one particular location on the virus -- Q498. What's amazing is that in most of the samples from New York City, the Q in Q498 had turned into a Y, or glutamine into tyrosine. If you look at the database, there was not, and continues to not be, a human patient who has had that mutation," Johnson said. The researchers noted a possible explanation could be a biological process called convergent evolution. "An animal in Missouri is not going to mix with the same type of animal in New York City," said John Dennehy, a virologist and professor of biology at Queens College, City University of New York. "Therefore, the evolution of the virus in each geographic area is independent of each other, but because it's the same animal, the virus looks the same in both places," he added. According to Davida Smyth, the lead author, Associate Professor at Texas A&M University-San Antonio, "wastewater surveillance is fast, inexpensive and unbiased." It also "has the ability to be implemented depending on resource availability in a variety of contexts, especially in areas with limited resources such as low testing and vaccine availability," Smyth said. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Chennai, Feb 7 : Korean car maker Hyundai Motor India found itself on a sticky road with its statement that many Indians consider as insufficient and skirting over the issue of whether Kashmir is an integral part of India. To control further damage, Hyundai Global should come out with an appropriate statement, said a brand expert. On Twitter the handles 'Boycott Hyundai' and 'Boycott Kia' started trending. It all started on February 5 with a tweet from a handle Hyundai Pakistan Official that read: "Let us remember the sacrifices of our Kashmiri brothers and stand in support as they continue to struggle for freedom." India's neighbour Pakistan observes February 5 as 'Kashmir Solidarity Day' as a mark of its support to the so-called 'separatist' movement in Kashmir. Soon social media users started forwarding the controversial post and also tagged it to Hyundai Motor India's Twitter account with their comments and a call for boycotting the car maker's models. On its part, Hyundai Motor India started blocking those social media accounts and later came out with a statement. "The unsolicited social media post linking Hyundai Motor India is offending our unparalleled commitment and service to this great country. India is second home to the Hyundai brand and we have zero tolerance policy towards insensitive communication and we strongly condemn any such view," Hyundai Motor India tweeted. Continuing further Hyundai Motor India said: "As part of our commitment to India, we will continue our efforts towards the betterment of the country as well as its citizens." The statement not expressing any regret to the original offending tweet questioning the territorial integrity of India further infuriated Indians on social media. Shiv Sena party's Rajya Sabha Member Priyanka Chaturvedi tweeted: "Hi Hyundai. So many wishy-washy words not needed. All you need to say is - we are unequivocally sorry. Rest is all unnecessary". "Hyundai Motor India is managing the crisis in India. There is nothing wrong with that. It should be remembered brands are global entities and they should not touch religion, politics and geopolitics," Harish Bijoor, brand expert and founder of Harish Bijoor Consults Inc, told IANS. According to Bijoor, brands are global and need to be extremely careful when they go local. "Hyundai Pakistan tried to go local and sacrificed the global brand," Bijoor added. He said it is imperative on the part of Hyundai Global to come out with an appropriate statement that manages the crisis. "Brands should take a global stance and not a national stance," Bijoor added. India is a major production and sales market for Hyundai. The company has a capacity to make 7.5 lakh cars at its plant near here. The company also ships out its cars to various overseas markets. Group company Kia has its facility in Andhra Pradesh. (Venkatachari Jagannathan can be reached at v.jagannathan@ians.in) New Delhi, Feb 7 : The Supreme Court on Monday said the demolition work for the two 40 story towers constructed by Supertech in Noida, will begin in two weeks. A bench headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud directed the Noida CEO to commence the demolition work within two weeks, and also convene a meeting with all agencies concerned, including GAIL, within 72 hours to finalise the schedule and the dates for the demolition. The top court was informed that GAIL's NOC was required as there is a high pressure underground natural gas pipeline, which is passing at a distance of 15 metres and depth of 3 mets.re The court was also informed that the Defence Ministry will provide the explosives for the demolition. In its August 31 judgment, the Supreme Court, besides ordering demolition of Supertech twin towers in Noida and refund for the flat purchasers, ordered prosecution of errant NOIDA and real estate company officials under Section 49 of Uttar Pradesh Urban Development (UPUD) Act for their "nefarious complicity", which resulted in the construction of towers. On January 17, senior advocate Ravindra Kumar, representing the Noida, submitted before a bench headed by Justice Chandrachud and Surya Kant that demolition agency, Edifice Engineering, has been finalised to carry out the demolition of towers. Senior advocate Parag Tripathi, representing Supertech, submitted his client would require additional two weeks to obtain the mandatory no-objection certificates (NOC) in connection with the demolition process, for example NOC from the Fire Department to store explosives to pull down the structures. Opposing Tripathi, Kumar said the real estate firm can sign the agreement with demolition agency, and the process to obtain NoCs can carry on. He said one week is sufficient to sign the agreement. After hearing arguments, the top court told Supertech to execute the agreement with a building demolition finalised by the authority agency within a week, to pull down its two 40-story towers. Chennai, Feb 7 : At a time when it is granting about Rs 18,090 crore as financial assistance to Sri Lanka whose Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris is here in the country, India should not remain silent on the island nation auctioning off the boats of Indian fishermen, PMK Founder S.Ramadoss said here on Monday. Ramadoss said the Lankan government has decided to auction the 105 fishing boats of Indian fishermen starting Monday. The boats were confiscated by the Lankan authorities on the grounds that the Indian fishermen fished in the island nation's waters. Ramadoss said after he had issued a statement opposing Lanka's decision to auction the Indian boats, Chief Minister M.K.Stalin wrote a letter to the central government. However, more than two weeks has gone and no pressure seems to have been exerted by the Indian government on Lanka and hence the latter is daringly going ahead with the boat auction, Ramadoss said. According to him, India should stop Lanka from auctioning the boats and also insist that the island nation cooperate in finding a solution for the fishing issue being faced by the Tamil Nadu fishers. Your browser does not support the video tag. Marking the International Day of Human Fraternity on Friday, the United Nations' Secretary-General issued a stark warning over rising hate speech, intolerance, discrimination and physical violence. According to AntonioGuterres, the hateful attacks are being directed at some, "simply because of their religion or belief, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation." The UN chief's message was broadcast during a virtual panel discussion with Member States, religious leaders, faith actors and civil society representatives, organized by the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) in partnership with the Permanent Missions of Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The designation of 4 February as the International Day of Human Fraternity is the result of a UN General Assembly resolution adopted in December 2020, as a way to promote greater cultural and religious tolerance. Opportunity Celebrating the date for the second time, the UN chief said it should be an opportunity to reflect on the importance of cultural and religious understanding, and mutual respect. "I am grateful to religious leaders across the world who are joining hands to promote dialogue and interfaith harmony", Mr. Guterres said. The Secretary-General also highlighted the declaration, Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, co-authored by the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Egyptian Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb, calling it "a model for compassion and human solidarity." Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines International Organisations Africa Religion By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "We need this spirit more than ever", he declared. Appeal From deepening poverty and widening inequalities, to conflict, division, and mistrust, Mr. Guterres said that "our human family faces a cascade of challenges." "To confront them, we need to challenge those who exploit differences, traffic in hate, and instill fear of 'the other' in anxious hearts", he continued. Mr. Guterres believes "these heinous acts are violations of human rights and affronts to the values of the United Nations." The UN chief concluded with an appeal to stand firm against bigotry wherever and whenever we see it. "Let us recognize our diversity as a richness that strengthens us all. Let us build bridges between the faiths, inspired by our common humanity. "And let us come together in solidarity to create a more inclusive, peaceful and just world for all", he said. Besides Mr. Guterres, the discussion included the High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, Miguel Angel Moratinos, the Secretary-General of Higher Committee of Human Fraternity, leading New York Rabbi Arthur Schneier, the Secretary-General of Religions for Peace, Adama Dieng, as well as the Permanent Observer of the Holy See, and representatives of Morocco, India, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia. Mumbai, Feb 7 : As his film 'Malang' completed two years since its release, actor Anil Kapoor has opened up about playing a flamboyant police officer. There's a certain charm that Anil Kapoor adds to any project that he becomes a part of and 'Malang' is a perfect example of the same. The action drama, released two years ago, became a hit. The actor's expressions, body language and dialogue delivery earned him great acclaim. While speaking about the same, Anil said, "The Malang set was beaming with infectious, young energy and you could see the same on the screen." He added: "I had fun playing with my character because it was very well written. It was such a great experience collaborating with the team." Anil's other work includes 'Jug Jugg Jeeyo', 'Animal' and 'Fighter'. New Delhi, Feb 7 : FAITH, the policy federation of all the national associations representing the complete tourism, travel and hospitality industry of India (ADTOI, ATOAI, FHRAI, HAI, IATO, ICPB, IHHA, ITTA, TAAI, TAFI) has placed an urgent request on the opening up of India's international borders to tourists and to permit all commercial flights in full strength to operate to and fro from India. FAITH said, that Indian inbound travel and outbound travel industry has been shut for the past 23 months. In the pre-COVID year of 2019-20 Indian travel industry had received almost 10.9 mn foreign tourists and almost $30 bn (Rs 2.12 lakh crore) in revenue and was engaged in travel planning for almost 26.9 mn outbound travellers from India. Both of those two lines of businesses have been completely closed rendering huge distress, unemployment and financial burden on employees and enterprises of Indian travel industry in the absence of that work. A lot of countries have now opened or have announced opening up their borders to fully vaccinated travellers with the impact of Omicron subsiding. FAITH has requested MOT to take up with Ministry of Health, the same for India and announce the opening up of our borders and resumption of full commercial flights with zero quarantine to fully vaccinated travellers across all Indian ports. FAITH has also requested for extension of the free e-visa from the currently announced 0.5 million for the whole duration of 2022-2024 till our inbound travel recovers. To ensure that Indian tourism is able to regain and then build on its market share of 1 per cent which was pre-Covid in the global inbound travel, FAITH has asked for immediate rollout of global marketing campaign across all digital, print, electronic and OOH media in all global markets of India. New Delhi, Feb 7 : The Covid-19 pandemic has increased the challenges and brought greater neglect, especially for marginalised/ people affected by Leprosy. Reinforcing the need to focus and enable communities, Yohei Sasakawa, WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination, said: "The impact of the coronavirus pandemic has been particularly hard on people affected by leprosy and their families who were in a vulnerable situation to begin with. Lockdowns and other measures to prevent the spread of the virus have caused many problems at the field level, making access to medical services difficult, causing loss of livelihoods and exacerbating the difficulties that persons affected by leprosy already encounter due to stigma and discrimination. They must not be forgotten." Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative launched the "Don't forget leprosy" campaign in August 2021 to ensure that efforts against leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, are not side-lined amid the coronavirus pandemic. In the run-up to World Leprosy Day on 30th January, Sasakawa-India Leprosy foundation (S-ILF) along with 32 organizations including NGOs, organisations of persons affected by leprosy, research institutes and government agencies from Bangladesh, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and the United Kingdom took part in an international campaign to promote the message 'Don't forget leprosy'." Organised by Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative, the campaign includes awareness-raising activities and outreach to Governments, webinars targeting youths and healthcare professionals including paramedics like Nurses and ASHA workers. In India, Sasakawa-India Leprosy Foundation (S-ILF) participated along with the Association of People Affected by Leprosy (APAL) and other organisations like Acworth Leprosy Hospital Society for Research, Rehabilitation & Education in Leprosy, Atma Swabhiman, Greater Tenali Leprosy Treatment and Education Scheme Society (GRETNALTES), St Joseph Leprosy Hospital and NLR India Foundation in creating awareness and bringing back focus on leprosy through the campaign initiatives. Activities for World Leprosy Day by Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative - The Initiative has launched a special website for the Global Appeal to End Stigma and Discrimination against Persons Affected by Leprosy. Inaugurated by WHO Goodwill Ambassador Yohei Sasakawa in 2006 and released in conjunction with World Leprosy Day, the annual Global Appeal underlines the messages that leprosy is curable, treatment is available free of charge throughout the world, and that social discrimination has no place. - As side events of this year's Global Appeal, the Initiative hosted two webinars on raising awareness of leprosy ("The role of health professionals at the grassroots level" and "The role of young people: sharing discussions from three regions") as well as a photo contest on social media. A selection of the best photos, which depict the daily lives of persons affected by leprosy and relief activities, will be displayed on the Global Appeal website. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Mathura/Agra, Feb 7 : Yamuna, the lifeline and the heritage of Sri Krishna land (Braj Bhoomi), is not an issue in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Candidates of different political parties, as well as the top leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) who have been campaigning relentlessly in the Braj area, have ignored the demand for rejuvenating the dying river. The ghats have either vanished or are inundated under heaps of dirt and garbage. A road has been thoughtlessly built right in front of the beautiful row of ghats in Vrindavan. The famous ghats of Mathura are buried under the debris, sludge from sewer waste. River activists in Agra, Mathura and Vrindavan have been campaigning hard for past ten years to demand continuous discharge of fresh water in the Yamuna to keep the river alive. Studies by government bodies and NGOs have already declared the river a vast sewage canal. The Yamuna in Agra supports and complements the half a dozen Mughal monuments including the 17th century white marble marvel, the Taj Mahal, but despite repeated warnings, the state government has failed to control pollution, tap the hundreds of drains and 'nalas' (drains), shift dhobhi ghats, and restrain polluters who openly discharge industrial effluents in the river. "Back in 2013, the prime minister had promised to revive the Yamuna. Later, Nitin Gadkari on many occasions had promised to start ferry service between Delhi and Agra for tourists, but not one baby step has been taken. Though plans for a construction of a barrage have been announced on several occasions, but once elected, they all forget their promises," says environmentalist Devashish Bhattacharya. Mathura MP and cine star Hema Malini herself had pleaded with the government to clean up Yamuna and release water from upstream barrages, but nothing has been done so far. The overall condition of religious shrines in Mathura and Vrindavan has gone from bad to worse despite the Braj Teerth Development Parishad specially constituted by the Yogi Adityanath government. Braj Foundation chief Vineet Narain accuses the powers that be for destroying the soul of Braj mandal. "The holy Kunds, the green patches, the makeover of shrines, which the Braj Foundation had done so meticulously and with so much love and Bhakti, are all in a state of shambles," he says. On numerous occasions, these gaps and flaws have been brought to the notice of the government but a wall of apathy and extreme insensitivity has prevented any remedial discourse or action, Narain adds. New Delhi, Feb 7 : The Supreme Court on Monday directed all authorities concerned with Covid vaccination should follow the Centre's policy and not insist on Aadhaar card for administering the vaccine. A bench of Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and Surya Kant was hearing a plea filed by Siddharth Shankar Sharma, through advocate Mayank Kshrisagar, seeking directions to authorities to not insist on Aadhaar card as the only proof of identification for administering vaccine. The Centre's counsel informed the bench that 87 lakh people have been vaccinated, without any identity card, in the ongoing vaccination drive. The bench noted that the Centre's affidavit establishes that Aadhaar card is not mandatory for registration on the Co-WIN portal and any one of the nine documents, which includes PAN card, passport etc, can be used for registration. "It is humbly submitted that Aadhaar card is not mandatory for registration of beneficiary on the Co-WIN portal," said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in its affidavit. The petitioner had moved the top claiming that he was denied vaccination due to the non-availability of Aadhaar card. The Union Ministry said: "It is humbly submitted that in so far as denial of vaccination to the present writ petitioner due to non-availability of Aadhaar is concerned, the answering department vide letter November 2, 2021 sent to the Principal Secretary, state of Maharashtra has directed to take requisite action against the concerned private CVC for denying vaccination to the write petitioner despite showing a valid passport ID issued by the government of India." The Centre informed the top court that there is also a provision to conduct vaccination sessions for certain categories of persons without the prescribed identity cards. "This includes nomads (including sadhus/saints from various religions), prison inmates, inmates in mental health institutions, citizens in old age homes, road side beggars, people residing in rehabilitation centre/camps and any other identified eligible persons, aged 18 years or more," added the affidavit. The bench said in view of the clarification which has been issued in the Centre's affidavit in connection with the production of the Aadhaar card is not a mandatory precondition for availing of vaccination facilities, the grievance of the petitioner is substantially met. "All concerned authorities shall act in pursuance of the stated policy which has been extracted in paragraph 8 of the counter affidavit," it added. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, Feb 7 : With Assembly elections just round the corner, the Congress party seems caught between the devil and the deep sea in Punjab. The problem seems to be the shenanigans, tantrums, and calculated sulk displayed by the President of the state unit Navjot Singh Sidhu. A CVoter survey conducted across Punjab found that Sidhu is rapidly losing both popularity and sympathy across the board in the state. Even Congress supporters in the survey seemed miffed with Sidhu and his verbal missiles. The survey asked Punjab voters: Who according to you is the better leader between the two: Captain Amarinder Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu? The answers would shock the Congress top brass in Delhi which has consistently backed Sidhu even as he has loudly proclaimed his loyalty to the High Command while criticising various moves and decisions of his own party. Coming back to the question, more than 35 per cent of Congress supporters in Punjab find the Captain a better leader, more than the 32 per cent plus who seem to prefer Sidhu. A little more than 32 per cent of Congress supporters think neither is a good leader. If you take the overall tally of all respondents, 37.1 per cent say they think the Captain is better while 26.7 per cent say Sidhu is better. As many as 36.2 per cent say neither is good. Between current Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Sidhu, the highest 39.4 per cent say neither is better. The problem becomes even more stark when answers to the following question are examined: In the internal fighting in the Congress, how much do you blame Sidhu? More than 57 per cent of Congress supporters say Sidhu is either entirely to blame or to a large extent. A slightly higher percentage among all respondents has the same response. Bengaluru, Feb 7 : In an embarrassment for the ruling party in Karnataka a middle aged woman has challenged a BJP MLA to swear upon God and deny that he is the father of her 14-year-old son. Speaking at a press conference here on Monday, the woman levelled serious charges against the BJP MLA from Sedam, Rajkumar Patil Telkur. "I know the MLA since childhood. We come from the same place. He has agreed that he is the father of my son, there is no dispute about it. Now, I am asking for justice for my son," she said. "Let him come before me, I will talk to him about it. I am not asking for money. Let him give rights to my son," she said. "After I asked for justice, about eight policemen came to my flat on Sunday and took me to Vidhana Soudha police station. They kept me in the station and ill-treated me till evening," she said. The woman divorced her first husband six years ago and presently lives with her second husband and three children. Her advocate Jagadish Kumar has lodged a complaint in this regard with Bengaluru Police Commissioner Kamal Pant. Kumar has stated that if the police do not file an FIR against the BJP MLA in 24 hours, he would approach the court and get the complaint registered. Meanwhile, BJP MLA Rajkumar has lodged a complaint against the woman and said that she is seeking to extort Rs 2 crore by making false allegations. He stated that the woman's family was introduced to him in 2009. They wanted help regarding a land dispute and school admission. Since 2018, the woman has been threatening him. Political opponents are behind the charges, he told the police. Rajkumar has stated that he has not done anything wrong and he is ready to face any investigation in this regard. New Delhi, Feb 7 : A Himachal Pradesh native, wanted in a murder-cum-kidnapping case was arrested by Delhi Police, an official said here on Monday. The accused, identified as Suresh Rana, a resident of district Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, was apprehended from a village in Kullu, HP. Furnishing details about the case, DCP Crime Branch Manoj C. said that in June, 2021, complainant reported that four persons on two bikes abducted his son Asit from Metro Plant, Mazlish Park and he is missing since then. Further, it came to notice that the victim Asit was beaten to death in a godown in the same area that afternoon after which the police registered an FIR under section 365, 302, 201, 120B and 34 of the Indian Penal Code and initiated an investigation. "Local police arrested two accused persons namely Krishan Prakash, 25, and Dharmender, 23," the official said. A Crime Branch team also started working on accused Prince Dixit and after a lot of technical and manual investigation, the suspected person was identified and lead was further developed. "It was revealed that the suspect is residing in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh. After confirming their presence in the area, a team was directed to conduct a raid in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh to nab the accused," the DCP said. On February 5, Saturday, on the basis of specific input about the presence of Suresh Rana in village Sultanpur, Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, a raid was conducted and the accused was nabbed. The concerned police station has been informed accordingly, the official added. New Delhi, Feb 7 : Microsoft is testing a tablet mode, desktop wallpaper stickers and a sustainability section as part of new Windows 11 features. References to stickers for desktop wallpapers, the ability to hide the taskbar for tablets, and a sustainability section in Settings have been discovered in the latest test version of Windows 11. The new customization feature to bring stickers to desktop wallpapers in Windows 11 has been shared by Windows enthusiast Albacore on Twitter, reports The Verge. It's possible that the new stickers feature could be part of Windows 11 SE, or consumer-focused versions of Windows 11. A new taskbar setting has also appeared, labeled "Automatically hide the taskbar when using your device as a tablet." Microsoft has said that it "will only communicate about features that we are purposefully enabling for Insiders to try out." The tech giant Microsoft is planning for Windows 11 testing throughout the year. The software maker said it plans to experiment more with features for Windows 11 testers to evaluate that may never ship. Microsoft is planning to give Windows 11 testers a window in which they can switch from the Dev Channel to the Beta Channel, to avoid the more experimental features that are on the way. That will likely coincide with the February release of features, including Android app support, taskbar changes, and the redesigned Notepad and Media Player apps. Hyderabad, Feb 7 : Alleging a conspiracy to privatise Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), Telangana's Industry Minister K.T. Rama Rao on Monday warned the BJP government at the Centre of an agitation which will be much bigger than the farmers' protest over three farm laws. Stating that the coal of Singareni is a big asset for Telangana, he warned that people of Telangana will give a befitting reply to BJP for their act of privatising the public sector undertaking. "Employees of Singareni and the people of Telangana will show their power in Delhi if the BJP continues its attempts to privatize the company. This agitation will be much bigger than the agitation staged against the three farm laws," said Rama Rao, who dashed off a letter to union coal minister Prahlad Joshi. KTR, as the state minister is popularly known, expressed anger over the Centre asking the SCCL to participate in the auction for JBROC-3, KK-6, Shravana Pally OC, Koyagudem coal mines instead of allocating them directly to the company. "The Centre is supposed to allocate coal mines to strengthen the Singareni which is running in profits. Instead, they are asking the company to take part in an auction for mines. This is nothing but creating hurdles for Telangana and its development," said KTR. KTR, who is son of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, stated that SCCL is not just a coal mine but a gold mine that is giving employment to thousands of youth of Telangana. He said that the Telangana leaders will stand by the Singareni employees in this fight against BJP. KTR stated that Singareni supplies coal to about 2,000 industries in Telangana and privatisation of Singareni will hamper the growth of the industrial sector in Telangana. The minister opined that the Centre is not auctioning just the four mines of Singareni, but is auctioning the lives of Singareni workers in the open market. He expressed concern that if privatised, Singareni will completely disappear soon. KTR also questioned the Centre as to why the coal mines were not allocated to Singareni directly like the Lignite mines allocated to Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation in Gujarat. "Under the BJP governance, there is one rule for Gujarat and another rule for Telangana! Is Telangana not a part of India?" he asked. KTR said that this was not just discrimination against the Singareni organisation, it is discrimination against the Telangana state and its people. He pointed out that in the past seven years Singareni has increased the production from 450 lakh tonnes to 670 lakh tonnes. He also added that coal mining, revenue increase, profits, and expansion of the company also took place highlighting the growth of the company. The minister said that the thermal power plant run by Singareni has the best Plant Load Factor (PLF) in the country. He added that the Singareni is providing coal not just within Telangana but also to various thermal power plants in Maharashtra, and other south Indian states. Singareni is the only public sector undertaking in the country to contribute 29 per cent of the profits, he said. Minister KTR also stated that with the efforts of Telangana government, Singareni workers, and management, the company was in news for making huge profits. But once the company gets privatised, the only news would be the company's downfall, he said. He alleged that the BJP is planning to push Singareni into losses and then privatise it. Similarly, in Andhra Pradesh, the iron ore mines required for the Vizag Steel Plant were not provided, which led to losses of the plant, and that plant will be privatised soon. About 27 requisition letters related to the Steel Plant were still pending with the Union government, he said. KTR alleged that the BJP government at the Centre is conspiring to kill the Singareni also in a similar fashion by refusing to allocate the coal mines. He claimed that since the Telangana state formation, about 16,000 jobs have been created by Singareni. He stated that the privatisation of PSUs was a threat to the future of thousands of youth, Dalits, and tribals. He described the privatisation of public sector enterprises by the Centre as a move against Dalits and Bahujans in the country. This sector plays a key role in jobs creation and privatisation of this sector is nothing but diluting the principles of BR Ambedkar and going against reservations. "We will not let this happen at any cost," he said. Privatisation of Singareni will impact the dependent jobs for the families of existing employees, he said. The employees will also lose all kinds of rights and opportunities and the employees will be removed gradually as the mines get closed in a phased manner, he added. Nairobi President Uhuru Kenyatta has declared the start of Jubilee campaigns, after months of uncertainty in the ruling party which does not intend to field a presidential candidate in the August elections. Kenyatta, whose second and final term ends in August has lately given clear signals he is keen to have Opposition chief Raila Odinga and not his Deputy William Ruto who started campaigns in 2018 as soon as they were voted in for a second term. "If anyone asks you where Jubilee has ben in the near past, just tell them we had gone to work to serve Kenyans," he told a meeting of Jubilee legislators at State House, Nairobi ahead of a National Delegates Convention (NDC) scheduled for later this month. A statement issued by the party Secretary General Raphael Tuju stated that Jubilee will not field a presidential candidate, and will instead "support a presidential candidate with whom we share common ideals, who will treat us with respect and whom we can form the next government as an anchor partner to continue with the work done during the last 10 years." "Jubilee has been silent because it has been at work. Now that the political season is with us, it's moving into politics," Kenyatta said. Despite Kenyatta exiting the political scene after completing his 10-year constitutional term as the head of state, the party has agreed to have him steer the party in the 2022 general elections. The meeting at Statehouse comes days before the party's National Delegates Convection slated on February 25 and 26 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC). The delegates conference is expected to ratify support for Odinga in the presidential race. Kenyatta fell out with his Deputy Ruto when he started campaigning and using public platforms to discredit the ruling party. Ruto stormed out of the party after he was declared persona non grata, taking with him some members including elected leaders. He took over the Party for Development and Reforms (PDR), a Jubilee coalition member and rebranded the formation of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) triggering a mass exodus. Ruto has intensified campaigns countrywide, often declaring his confidence of winning the election while dismissing the support Odinga is getting from the ruling party and the government. New Delhi, Feb 7 : Former Pakistan premier and senior Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has claimed that 22 MNAs of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are ready to jump ship, adding that a no-confidence motion would be tabled once the required numbers are achieved, Friday Times reported. "Twenty-two MNAs of the PTI do not want to be with their party. The country is hurtling towards devastation and collapse and the only solution is fair and immediate elections," he said during a press conference in Islamabad. "There is an unconstitutional interference in our system [...] Whenever the crutches are removed, the government will go home within 24 hours," he maintained. On Saturday, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif met with Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and his father PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari at Shehbaz's home in Lahore's Model Town on Saturday. PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz Sharif was also in attendance. The opposition leaders met to coordinate a strategy aiming to oust the incumbent government, according to insider reports. PML-N had reportedly told PPP that it would like to build a broader coalition with the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), after a no-trust proposal is presented to the party's central executive committee, the report said. New Delhi, Feb 7 : India's vaccination drive against Covid-19 achieved another milestone as it crossed 170 crore mark on Monday. As per the government CoWIN portal, India has administered over 170 crore of vaccine doses so far that includes over 95 crore of first doses, over 73 crore as second shots and over 1.45 crore precaution doses. "World's largest vaccination drive has crossed 170 crore mark. India is moving forward with great strength & vigour in its fight against COVID19. With PM Narendra Modi Ji's mantra of 'Sabka Prayas', we will win the battle against the pandemic", said Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in a tweet. Earlier in the day, talking about the important role of vaccines in public health while launching Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) 4.0 virtually, Mandaviya highlighted the achievements of the country-wide Covid 19 vaccination drive under which around 170 crore doses of vaccines have been administered. This achievement of India has been acknowledged and applauded globally, he said. He also emphasised on the need of 'Sabka Prayas' and 'Jan Lok Bhaagidaari' to achieve the goal of universal immunisation in the country. "Only with the collective and collaborative efforts of the Centre, the States and beneficiaries shall we be able to achieve the target of full immunization coverage in the country", he stated. Mandaviya urged the states to work holistically at different levels, coordinating with district administration, panchayats and the urban local bodies. He lauded the commitment and dedication of the frontline vaccinators who brave difficult terrain and weather to ensure that the farthest village and household are covered with the protection of vaccines. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, Feb 7 : Ever since he visited Pakistan and hugged its army chief, "nationalist" Indians have been deeply offended and spoken out against Navjot Singh Sidhu's allegedly pro-Pakistan views. The sentiment seems to have seeped into Punjab, says a CVoter survey conducted for IANS across the state covering all social and religious groups, apart from party supporters. The dislike for Sidhu amongst non-Sikhs and even non Jat-Sikhs is palpable. Respondents were asked the question: Has Sidhu proven to be an asset or a liability for the Congress? As many as 54.3 per cent of Dalit Sikhs consider him a liability. That's not surprising given the barbs Sidhu has been throwing at the Dalit Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, going public suggesting that party bosses in Delhi want a weak leader and Chief Minister they can control. More than 42 per cent of Hindu voters also find him a liability, as do more than 46 per cent of BJP supporters. The funny thing is that 40.3 per cent of Congress supporters think Sidhu is a liability while 34 per cent consider him an asset. The respondents were further asked: To what extent do you blame Sidhu for the infighting in the Congress? The maximum blame came from Hindu voters amongst whom 67 per cent of the respondents either blamed Sidhu entirely or to a large extent. When asked who was a better leader between the two: Captain Amarinder Singh and Sidhu, the highest percentage among all social and religious groups, 48.5 per cent of Hindus, clearly preferred the Captain. That should worry the Congress because while AAP was already threatening to take away a chunk of Sikh votes, the newly-formed alliance between the Captain and the BJP threatens to take away a chunk of Hindu votes. Analysts feel Sidhu's words and actions have alienated the Hindu community. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Hyderabad, Feb 7 : In a move aimed at bringing about a paradigm shift in the way film business is conducted in India, a technology entrepreneur and a movie business consultant have paired up to establish Oracle Movies - India's first NFT movie marketplace. NFT, short for Non-Fungible Token, allows film producers and companies to buy and sell movie rights through advanced and secure blockchain technology. Initially, Oracle Movies will provide its services to Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi and English film producers and IP rights holders, the promoters said. Thereafter, the services will be extended to other languages across the country. Oracle Movies will take the business of Indian movies to the traditional global markets as well as new and unexplored markets. It will also bring international films for release, dubbing and remakes to Indian market. Since NFT is unique and can't be replaced with something else, it helps prevent malpractices while offering a safe and secure environment to stakeholders. With NFTs, any asset, either physical or digital, can be "tokenised" and stored in a decentralised ledger known as blockchain to create a digital certificate of ownership that can be bought and sold. Since the current system relies on paper contracts which does not hold good for modern cinema and there is no central agency that keeps track of movie rights sold, NFT comes in handy to address the huge gap and Oracle Movies will be the one-stop service provider. Oracle Movies will integrate RBI's Central Bank Digital Currency, DigitalRupee when it launches later this year in their Blockchain Application Platform, the promoters explained. Oracle Movies has been floated by technology entrepreneur Senthil Nayagam and film producer and movie business consultant G.K. Tirunavukarasu. Senthil Nayagam has been working on open source technologies for over two decades. He had co-founded Sedin Technologies, a 16-year-old software service company employing hundreds of people , having offices in Chennai, Bangalore and Canada. GK Tirunavukarasu, is Media Professional with over 15 years of experience in the industry and specialised in Radio, Television, Events and Film. A movie producer and consultant, he is the co-founder and director of Oracle Movies. Kamesh Elangovan, co-founder and COO, GuardianLink.io who recently raised 12 million dollar funding after successfully launching Amitabh Bachchan's NFT, is one of the advisors to Oracle Movies. Other advisory members include IP strategist Bharath MS, Venkatesh Srinivasan, CEO, Nexus Consulting, Sriram, Founder and Managing Director of Contus, and operates GudSho, a new generation OTT platform, and P Ranganathan, Film Producer & Distributor. Patna, Feb 7 : The acrimony between the ruling JD-U and the BJP is increasing with each passing day in Bihar. Now BJP MP Chhedi Paswan alleged that Nitish Kumar can shake hands with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim for the post of the chief minister. "BJP top leadership has made a huge mistake by giving the post of the chief minister to Nitish Kumar. The value of BJP MP, MLA, MLC and workers are nothing in Bihar. It is totally zero," Paswan said. "Nitish Kumar is a person who could shake hands with Dawood Ibrahim for the post of chief minister. He did the same in the past and he can do it again," Paswan said. "Nitish Kumar and his party is raising disputed issues to bargain and blackmail BJP. The top leadership of BJP should open their eyes and take necessary steps. When PM Narendra Modi and the central cabinet turned down the demand for caste based census, still the party leaders of Nitish Kumar raised it," Paswan said. Nitish Kumar is also applying pressure on the Narendra Modi government on the special status of Bihar despite the fact that the Centre has already given a special package to Bihar. The BJP is the largest party in the alliance, still, it has given the chief minister's post to Nitish Kumar but he is going beyond the coalition dharma and is bargaining with the Centre," he said. "During 2020 Bihar assembly elections, we already suggested that the party should contest alone but the top leadership of our party turned it down. Now, I request the party to think of two and half years each of the tenures of the chief minister in Bihar. The JD-U held the post of chief minister for two and half years and then should hand over to BJP for the remaining period," Paswan said. Mumbai, Feb 7 : Actor Himansh Kohli is the latest celebrity to share his opinion regarding the ongoing surrogacy debate which started with Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Nick Jonas opting for surrogacy to become parents. Among others, author Taslima Nasreen reacting to the same said she has nothing against the couple or to do with anyone's personal choices but she is entitled to her opinion. Talking about the same, the 'Yaariyan' actor shares what he understood from the entire discussion so far. "I went through all the tweets that Ms Taslima Nasreen shared, and we have merely picked a word from the mammoth of things that are said and meant. She has targeted 'surrogacy' as a system in her tweets and not a particular person. I believe what she said is riveting and challenges societal norms which is why people got so aggressive about it. "Surrogacy is not the problem, norms that exploit human beings are. She wrote in one of her tweets why she won't accept surrogacy and why she thinks 'surrogacy, burqa, prostitution are just exploitation of women and the poor', and I appreciate the perspective born out of equality," says Himansh. The author had tweeted, "I won't accept surrogacy until rich women become surrogate moms. I won't accept burqa until men wear it out of love. I won't accept prostitution until male prostitution houses are built and men wait for female customers. Otherwise surrogacy, burqa, prostitution are just exploitation of women and poor (sic)". In the current times when we are welcoming and accepting towards genders, religions, political identities, Himansh thinks personal choices should be equally accepted. "Honestly, if my sister or any person I know asked for my opinion, I'd say that one should do what makes them comfortable because you will love your baby regardless of the fact if it came out of your womb or someone else's. All you need is the mindset to be a mother. To quote a real-life example, I have spent a lot of time with Tusshar [Kapoor] bhai and his son Laksshya, and you'd never feel there's any difference in their relationship because of the surrogacy aspect," he shares. In fact, Himansh gives another perspective to this debate. "As a pet parent, I know that the care and the love which a being receives makes all the difference. I'm not trying to compare a pet to a baby, but the love we have for them is special. Love and kindness can do wonders in every sphere, for every living being," he adds. New Delhi, Feb 7 : Travel in 2022 will be different. Especially after the ongoing third wave of the pandemic. Priorities will be re-defined as there are unique travel sentiments that are emerging. The Indian travel and tourism industry has shown a positive sign of recovery from the effects of the second wave, and more people are looking at 2022 as the year of travel and experience. Based on a strong vaccination drive, travellers who could not travel to their preferred destinations last year are now looking to revive that travel sentiment. This new mindset that travellers need to adopt has also changed the way we travel and EaseMyTrip shares emerging travel trends that are set to dominate in 2022. Wellness Travel The pandemic has made more people realise the importance of self-care and their well-being. Travellers looking to partake in their next adventure are realizing the importance of managing their wellbeing, even amid their travels. Travellers have been showing a preference for places that help them get away from their routine lives, and are choosing destinations that offer good wellness programs and benefits. Travellers looking to rejuvenate their mind and body have no shortage of beautiful destinations to pick from, not only the international destinations but within the country as well. Destinations like Kerala, Uttarakhand and Switzerland will emerge as some of the most preferred places for those who are looking to relax, rejuvenate and calm their senses. Sustainable Travel In 2022, we can expect to see a revival of the sustainable travel industry with more travellers opting to visit places that are known for being sustainable, and which have a minimal impact on the environment. Sustainable travel entails not partaking in activities that harm the environment and culture of local people. Many local governments in India are also undertaking measures to reduce the carbon footprint in the travel industry and support local businesses and people as well. Eco-Tourism is another branch of sustainable travel through which tourists visit destinations that are built around the eco-systems that they are present in, all while doing as minimal damage to the environment as possible. As a part of this, there are also people looking for tourist experiences that offer more meaningful and mutually beneficial experiences. This can include rebuilding rural communities and taking part in impactful conservation efforts. Travel portals such as EaseMyTrip are supporting this initiative by signing an MOU with the Ministry of Tourism to provide visibility to local accommodations and also to promote safe and sustainable tourism. Leisure Travel For nearly 2 years, travel limitations and work from home culture has caused travellers to have to restrict themselves in terms of the places that they wanted to visit. While the world is still reeling from the impact of the pandemic, travellers want to take a step back, relax and embrace the experiences that they missed out on. While the primary motivation for leisure travel is to break away from the monotony of everyday life, travellers are looking at this kind of travel to engage in new experiences and to visit tourist attractions that have been growing in popularity, even if the destinations are closer to home and places they might have visited in the past. Once in a Lifetime Travel Travellers all over the world realize that the future is uncertain, and lockdowns can be imposed at any moment given the present scenario. This has caused a change in the mindset of tourists who believe that they should focus on the now instead of the distant future. Travellers have been looking to visit places that they have dreamed about, and are making plans that they were unable to fulfil over the course of the last two years. Travellers are now significantly more comfortable in spending more on travel and stay options than they were before, thereby making the idea of a 'once in a lifetime' travel extremely popular. Tech-driven Travel The pandemic gave a boost to tech integration in the travel industry, which is why it is no surprise that this is a trend that we expect, will surface in 2022. Hotels across the world are already using smart technology and this is only expected to grow as more hotels realize the importance of integrating technology into their hotels, for their visitors. Right from keyless doors, VR tours and QR code-driven menus to robot housekeeping and voice-controlled rooms, the hospitality industry is set to completely change in the coming year. Many destinations are also now offering virtual reality tours of their destinations to give travellers a glimpse of what they have to offer. This can give travellers an idea of what they will expect when visiting these destinations, and can also help travellers who are undecided on which places to visit in 2022. With this shift, the new trends are likely to showcase what travel is like in a post-pandemic era and are probably here to stay for the next few years. However, it is imperative to follow all safety precautions while travelling. Kolkata, Feb 7 : Recently in an interview Trinamool Congress All India General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee in a way admitted that he has differences with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The admission comes just a couple of days after Trinamool Congress supremo gave a dry 'Thank You' in a reply to a request by the I-PAC chief Prashant Kishor that he doesn't want to work with Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, Tripura and Meghalaya. The response is indicative enough after the Chief Minister's announcement in a recent meeting with the party MPs where she said that she would look after the organisation of the party herself. Sources in the party said that the Chief Minister was not very happy with the shadow of a professional group (Read I-PAC) growing larger in the party and strongly interfering in the party's organisational policies and internal decisions. The differences between the party high command and I-PAC reached a flashpoint when a list of candidates for the 108 Municipalities was uploaded on the party website without the approval of the Chief Minister. Senior party leaders like Partha Chatterjee and Subrata Bakshi had to intervene and say that the list undersigned by them is the original list. The chief minister who was waiting for the list to have a look was kept in the dark and it was uploaded. This didn't go down well with Mamata Banerjee. Even Partha Chatterjee had to speak with the I-PAC representatives to make sure that the original list gets published," a senior Trinamool Congress leader told IANS on condition of anonymity. Not only that, the list prepared by I-PAC for the Kolkata Municipal Corporation was rejected and names of certain candidates were included. Senior candidates who won the assembly election and have become MLA were not considered following the 'One man one post' formula introduced by the party recently but Mamata Banerjee insisted that their names should be included. She even strongly pushed the name of Firhad Hakim who became the mayor of the corporation. Party insiders are of the opinion that the growing influence of the professional group not only on the party's organisation and internal policies but also on several departments has not gone down well with the senior party leaders and they have complained several times to the Chief Minister against it. "It is as if I-PAC is running the government in the name of Trinamool Congress. This cannot continue," a senior Trinamool Congress leader said. That Mamata Banerjee is also not happy with the development was manifested when she openly said that she would look after the organisation in West Bengal making it obvious that she was trying to cut to size the growing influence of I-PAC on the party's policies and decisions. Abhishek Banerjee who had introduced I-PAC to Mamata Benerjee after the debacle of the party in the 2019 parliamentary polls told in a recent interview that he might have differences with the Chief Minister but she is the leader of the party. Asked when Trinamool Congress is going to sever ties with Prashant Kishor and I-PAC, a senior Trinamool Congress leader said, "We need to find out what was the deal between I-PAC and the party and it will be done whatever needed". New Delhi, Feb 7 : The Economic Offence Wing of Delhi Police has arrested a 49-year-old man for cheating people on the pretext of allotment of residential plots at a proposed township in Rajasthan. The accused, identified as Vijay Chowdhury, was running in Judicial Custody in various other cases registered at Police Station Paniala, Jaipur, Rajasthan. After necessary permission from a concerned court of Delhi, the accused was arrested in this case as well. Furnishing more details, Joint Commissioner of Police, Chhaya Sharma said the case was registered on a complaint of Mehar Singh Rana, in which he alleged that authorised representatives and Directors of alleged company Habitech Infraventures Pvt. Ltd. having office at B-1, Mohta Building, Bhikaji Cama Place, Delhi, through their project namely "Habitech Wishtown- Neemrana" induced the complainants and victims for booking of plots which was proposed to be developed at Neemrana in Rajasthan. Bookings of plots were done without having sufficient land and necessary approvals from the concerned agencies. The money collected from the investors has been siphoned off by the alleged company through its directors. "Total 51 complaints for the allegedly cheated amount of Rs. 3.00 Crores approx have been received in this matter," the Jt CP said. During the course of investigation statements of complainants were recorded which revealed that present accused along with co-accused Kamal Singh had induced the public at large and collected an amount from them on the pretext of allotting them the plots in the proposed residential project. "The accused persons allured them by showing rosy pictures about the future values of the plots and amenities proposed," Sharma said. Documents were collected from the office of Tehsildar, Kotputli, Rajasthan which established that the accused company was not having sufficient land and whatever land was purchased by the accused company were in small parcels. "Hence, developing a township in small parcels of land was merely an eyewash," said the senior official. The accused was found involved in 11 more cases, registered in Rajasthan. Further Investigation of the case is in progress. New Delhi, Feb 7 : Brokerage house Centrum Broking has given a 'buy' call for shares such as HG Infra Engineering, PI Industries, and State Bank of India. For HG Infra Engineering, the brokerage has kept the target price at Rs 968. The current price is Rs 663. The company showed "agility" by securing five HAM projects in Telangana, Odisha and AP, outside its comfort zone of north and northwestern states, the brokerage said, adding that the balance sheet remained steady. "HG is also actively evaluating/bidding for non-highway sectors like railways, metro, and water. Within highways, HG is open to subcontracted orders from developers like Adani and IRB who have a strong pipeline of new HAM/ BOT projects. We expect the robust growth momentum to continue over FY22-24." For PI Industries, target is at Rs 2,990, as against its current share price of Rs 2,602. "Diversification into adjacencies through inorganic routes remains a top agenda for the company. Apart from technology scale-ups, PI is evaluating various M&A opportunities, both India and globally." Further, for SBI, the brokerage has kept target price of Rs 750 against its current price of Rs 534. On the other hand, the brokerage has given a 'reduce' call for Interglobe Aviation -- which runs airline Indigo -- as higher fuel costs are seen as a challenge. The share price is seen at around Rs 1,910, against current price of Rs 2,161. With one in five people worldwide developing cancer during their lifetimes, prevention of the disease has become one of the most significant public health challenges of the 21st century. To mark World Cancer Day, the World Health Organization's (WHO) International Agency for Research of Cancer (IARC) launched on Friday the World Code Against Cancer Framework, an online platform that will promote prevention globally and the development of Regional Codes to help fight the disease. Based on current scientific evidence, at least 40 per cent of all cancer cases could be prevented with effective primary prevention measures, and further mortality can be reduced through early detection of tumours. Regional differences Dr. Carolina Espina, theIARCscientist who leads the project, explains that some risk factors are common worldwide, but some patterns are specific to certain regions and socioeconomic and cultural conditions. Because of that, the new framework provides a common strategy and methodology to develop recommendations tailored to the context and needs of local populations. The framework builds on the success of the fourth edition of the European Code Against Cancer. "This new platform will host existing Regional Codes Against Cancer, such as the European Code... as well as Regional Codes that are currently under development, such as the Latin America and the Caribbean Code Against Cancer, and other future Regional Codes",Dr.Espina explained. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines International Organisations Africa ICT By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. The Latin America and the Caribbean Code Against Cancer is expected to be launched in 2023. It will be the first regional adaptation of the European Code Against Cancer. Rays of Hope Initiative Also on Friday, The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced a new initiative, called Rays of Hope, to support Member States with diagnosis and treatment using radiation technologies, beginning with African countries most in need. In a joint statement, the World Health Organization (WHO)Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and the IAEA Director General, Rafael Mariano Grossi,explained how low and middle-income countries (LMICs) are disproportionately affected. By 2040, over 70 per cent of cancer deaths are expected to occur in LMICs. According to the two officials, recommended interventions for preventing cancer and other noncommunicable diseases have not been adequately implemented, and treatment remains inaccessible in many parts of the world. "Globally, an estimated half of people diagnosed with cancer may require radiotherapy as part of their care, yet many countries do not have a single radiotherapy machine", they say. The disparity is particularly acute in Africa where nearly 70 per cent of countries reported that radiotherapy is generally unavailable. The IAEA and WHO have a long-standing collaboration to support Member States to address their cancer burdens. The organizations have successfully supported more than 90 governments through imPACT review missions, and through WHO cancer initiatives in cervical, childhood and breast cancers. Bengaluru/New Delhi, Feb 7 : Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday said that the state should get appropriate, judicious and due share of water from the river interlinking project. Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, CM Bommai stated: "It is the stand of Karnataka that the water should be determined based on generation of water in our river catchment areas, our requirements and equity. We have been told that before preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR), all concerned states must be taken into confidence." It is the question of Krishna and Cauvery watershed areas, the rivers are lifelines of the state and hence the stand of the state has been made clear. There is no compromise on this front, CM Bommai explained. He further stated that he would chair the MP's meeting and discuss many programmes related to state and central government. It would also be discussed on how the state budget has to be presented based on the allocations made in the central budget. CM Bommai explained that he would meet Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. He maintained that he would stay back in New Delhi on Tuesday as well. There is a possibility of meeting BJP party president J.P. Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Asked about Cabinet expansion, he said that the issue will be taken up when the central leaders fix up a time for it. Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while presenting the budget on February 1 for 2022-23 financial year, had proposed inter-linking of south Indian rivers. She has stated that Rs 46,000 crore has been reserved for this project. The river interlinking of Godavari, Krishna, Pennar and Cauvery rivers that flow in Andhra, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu states has been proposed. Karnataka's Leader of Opposition from Congress party Siddaramaiah had come down heavily on the central government in connection with interlinking of rivers of southern India stating that since Nirmala Sitharaman belongs to Tamil Nadu, she has announced the river-interlinking project which is going to benefit Tamil Nadu state. Siddaramaiah has also demanded an all-party meeting of all south Indian states to discuss the project of interlinking of southern rivers. New Delhi, Feb 7 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched a scathing attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party stating that the party had not lost its arrogance even when it had been out of power for so long. He also said that Congress seems to have decided to not come back to power for 100 years, and he too is prepared for it. "If you had feet on the ground, then you would have seen it. But most of you are stuck in 2014. You are facing the result. You give a lot of advice but forget that you too have had the opportunity to sit here (on the treasury benches) for 50 years," Modi said and went on to list the states that have not voted for Congress for the last 25 years onwards. People of Nagaland have not voted for Congress since 1998, that is 24 years. People of Odisha have not voted for Congress since 1995, that is 27 years; people of Goa has not voted for Congress since 1994, that is 28 years; Tripura since 1988, 34 years; Uttar Pradesh since 1985, 37 years; West Bengal since 1972, almost 50 years; Tamil Nadu last voted for Congress in 1962, almost 60 years before. "You take the credit for the formation for Telangana, but after that people there have not voted for you. Same in case of Jharkhand," he said. "Question is not about the election result. But you don't seem to retrospect. Why is it that despite all the electoral losses, it seems you are not ready to give up your arrogance. Also, your ecosystem does not allow you to let it go," he said in a direct attack on Rahul Gandhi's criticism. Then Modi recited a couplet in Urdu. "Criticism is an ornament of live democracy, but blind opposition is disrespect to democracy," Modi said. Criticizing Congress government in Maharashtra and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi, Modi said, in the last two years, we have been facing the largest threat to humanity by way of the pandemic and Congress crossed all limits during the pandemic time, he said, immediately prompting slogans from the opposition benches. Amid the chaos in the house, Modi waited for a few seconds and again started. "Congress government in Maharashtra handed over free tickets to migrants to leave Mumbai. In Delhi, the government offered bus rides to people to leave Delhi and go back to their native places. As a result, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, all saw the spiraling of cases across these states. Even WHO had suggested to stay put wherever one was," he said. Modi also said some people were waiting that coronavirus will damage his image, which was all out of opposition to Modi. "It seems you have decided not to come back to power for 100 years. But now that you have decided it, I too am prepared for it." New Delhi, Feb 7 : The National Green Tribunal has imposed a fine of Rs 25 crore to Hindustan Zinc Ltd, in connection with environmental violations at villages Agucha, Rampura, etc, Tehsil Hurd, District Bhilwada, Rajasthan covering nearly an area about 1,200 hectares of mining land. As per the complainant, there is heavy blasting and underground mining operations are resulting in contamination of source of drinking water, resulting in various diseases like Asthma and skin borne ailments. Livestocks are also affected. Dust and stones get accumulated close to the agricultural land and houses of the inhabitants. Toxic and contaminated waste water is discharged from the mines. The area is 'over exploited' in terms of the ground water, it said. While imposing the fine, NGT bench headed by its Chairperson Adarsh Kumar Goel, in an order dated February 2, said in case the amount deposited is found to be deficient, the Tribunal may consider further directions, depending upon the material available. Further, it directed a joint Committee to submit a report of status of compliance by March 31, 2023. Merely requiring cost of plantation to be depositing without fixing accountability for the past violations may not be adequate, the tribunal noted. Environmental law violations cannot be taken lightly when the violators are being entities like the present company and victims are poor villagers. Annual turnover of the company is said to be about Rs 22,000 crore per annum for the last more than three years and revenue receipt for the year 2020-2021 is more than Rs 20,000 crores per annum, though it is stated that there is no separate figure for particular mining unit, it observed. The victims of damage are unspecified number of persons spread over in more than six Panchayats in Hurda block namely Bherukhera, Agucha, Parasrampura, Kalyanpura, Kothiya, Balapura and others. Thus, case is made out for requiring the company to provide for compensation for the past violations and bear the cost of remediation, apart from complying with the recommendations of the Committee. Gandhinagar, Feb 7 : Finally, bowing down to pressure, the chairman of the Gujarat Secondary Service Selection Board (GSSSB) (Gaun Seva Pasandagi Mandal), Asit Vora stepped down on Monday, submitting his resignation to Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel. Vora has stepped down months before the completion of his term in an unceremonious exit, owing to a public outcry and some political pressure. Vora had received flak for the repeated leaks of question papers of recruitment exams. Notably, his resignation was asked for by the government, just when another recruitment exam is scheduled. The government probably expected him to leave the chair before the upcoming exams for the posts of head clerk and Non Secretariat. Asit Vora had been Mayor of Ahmedabad in the past. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Youth Wing vice president, Yuvrajsinh Jadeja had levelled serious allegations against Asit Vora for misleading the probe against their claimed head clerk exam paper leak and also asked for his removal from the probe. He demanded that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) be formed for the purpose. "We don't trust Asit Vora. You look at all the exam papers leak in the recent and past history, Vora has been entrusted with its probe. Despite our providing him with all the necessary evidence and submitting our complaint to him, within moments after that he addresses the media that they have not received a single complaint regarding exam paper leak. I will have to understand what is his meaning of authentic proof?" Yuvrajsinh Jadeja had asked when he exposed the paper leak in mid December. Besides, Vora, the state government has also asked for the resignations of several other boards and corporations' political appointees recently, appointed by the previous government led by then chief minister Vijay Rupani. It is learnt that the resignations of more political appointees, IK Jadeja, chairman 50 Agenda Implementation Scheme, Mulubhai Bera chairman, Rural Housing Board, Hansraj Gajera, chairman, Non Reservation Commission and Balwantsinh Rajput, chairman, Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) have also been asked for by the government. Panaji, Feb 7 : Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday accused the BJP of trying to redefine religion and dictating women what to wear in India. Speaking at an election rally in the St Cruz assembly constituency in North Goa, Vadra also accused the Trinamool Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party of trying to split the anti-BJP vote, adding that the two parties had come to Goa from outside the state only to fulfill their own ambitions of expanding it across the country. "...we believe that the conversation between us has to be about development. It has to be about progress. It has to be about education, health, jobs, and women's safety. This is the conversation that should take place. It should not be a conversation filled with negativity in which one ideology is telling women what to wear," Vadra said. The Congress leader's comment comes days after hijab-wearing students were debarred from entering an educational institute in Karnataka. "It is telling you that you should fight amongst yourselves. It is redefining your religions for you. That is not what it should be. The conversation in every election, with every political party, must be on what they are going to provide for you and your development," Vadra said. The Congress leader also trained her guns at the political parties like the AAP and TMC, who are participating in the February 14 assembly polls, accusing them of dividing the anti-BJP vote. "No other party can give you this (stability). The AAP and the TMC cannot give you a stable government. They cannot provide for you what is required today in Goa. They have come from outside, they have come here to expand their party. They have not come here to make Goa progress," she said. "Because all the parties have come to destabilise your governments, those that come from outside, cannot run Goa. When you vote for smaller parties you split the vote. By splitting the vote, you create instability. So please make sure in this election, that you have a clear choice..." she said. Mumbai :The body of Lata Mangeshkar, is taken for funeral procession outside her house in Mumbai, on Sunday, Feb.6, 2022.(Photo: Nitin Lawate/IANS) Image Source: IANS News Mumbai, Feb 7 : A day after the Melody Queen Lata Mangeshkar passed into eternity, the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday demanded a befitting memorial for her at Shivaji Park where she was cremated in a public funeral on Sunday. BJP legislator Ram Kadam has written to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray making the demand for the 'national pride', Bharat Ratna Lata Didi who is no more in our midst. "A more fitting tribute to her would be to erect a memorial dediated to Lata Didi-ji at the very same iconic Shivaji Park. There is a growing chorus among her millions of fans worldwide. A memorial can serve as an emotional place where her admirers can pay homage to her memory," Kadam demanded. Shiv Sena Chief Spokesperson and MP Sanjay Raut said that Lata Didi belonged to the whole world and the Maharashtra government and Centre would definitely consider it. However, he pointed out that building a monument of Lata Mangeshkar is not an easy task as she was not a politician though she belonged "to us, the country and the whole world", but said a memorial would come up in the state. New Delhi, Feb 7: The Pakistani army has publically accused the Taliban government of giving shelter to terrorists who are carrying out attacks on Pakistan from Afghan soil. "Terrorists from inside Afghanistan across the international border, opened fire on Pakistani troops in Kurram District. Pakistani troops responded in a "befitting" manner causing heavy causalities to terrorists, however, as a result of the exchange of fire, five Pakistani soldiers were martyred," read a statement issued by the Pakistani army's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Sunday. Though the Taliban has denied the firing had come from within Afghan territory, the Pakistani Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid said that the attack was launched by militants of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) who are given shelter by the Taliban in Afghanistan. He told the media that till now Pakistan has been down playing the incidents but now the situation has gone out of control. "Pakistan is running out of patience with the interim Taliban government," said Sheikh Rashid adding that there many groups based across the Durand Line in Afghanistan have intensified their attacks on Pakistan and yet the Taliban government has done nothing. The incident comes a day after twin unprecedented attacks by the Baloch pro-independence groups on two big camps of the Pakistani security forces. These attacks were a big embarrassment for the Pakistani army. According to the Pakistani army, the Baloch militants are getting full support from the TTP and despite the claim by the Taliban, the Baloch rebels have their hideout in Afghanistan. "In these attacks, the BLA used sophisticated weapons and explosives, left by NATO forces," said one official. When the Taliban took over Kabul, in August last year, the Imran Khan government cheered but now the rift between the two has widened. Disagreements over the demarcation of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and the Taliban support for the TTP have caused major tensions. Last week, Moeed Yusuf, the National Security Advisor of the Imran Khan government warned the Taliban government that it will strike inside Afghanistan unless its affiliate, the TTP, stops cross-border attacks. He accused the Taliban leaders of sheltering all TTP top militants who are on Pakistan's most wanted list. The Pakistani army generals are fearing that in the coming months the situation will worsen further as the Taliban has been refusing to address their concerns. The Imran Khan government is even thinking of announcing a bounty for the heads of TTP and Baloch leaders. (The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative New Delhi, Feb 7 : Former Prime Minister and JD(S) MP HD Deve Gowda on Monday said that decline in overall allocation in Budget has disappointed many who were expecting an increase in outlay for the agriculture sector. Participating on the Motion of thanks on the President's address in the Rajya Sabha, he said that there has been decline in budget allocation for the farm sector disappointing everyone. The allocation for agriculture in 2022-23 witnessed a decline of 3.8 per cent as compared to the last fiscal. Today India's economy is an agrarian economy that involves 50 per cent of the workforce of the country and contributes 70 per cent to the GDP, Deve Gowda said. He also said that 82 per cent of the farmers are marginal and small farmers with an average of 1.08 hectare land holdings. Noting that if the country has to progress economically, it will happen only through the agriculture sector by giving priority to this sector by the government. Despite all odds like climate change, flood, drought and declining ground water level, Deve Gowda said that the farmers of the country produced 305 million of food gains and 320 million tons of fruits and vegetables in 2020-21 with an average growth of 2.3 per cent. Speaking further, he demanded that the Goods and Service Taxes (GST) be removed from all the farm products and the processed food products. "The subsidy on the petroleum products have been reduced and this will affect the farmers income and reduce the margin of profits for farmers," the JD(U) lawmaker said. Samajwadi Party MP Sukhram Singh Yadav asked the government to have the caste census done soon as this will reveal the exact number of the castes in OBC category. He also said that Mulayam Singh Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav and even RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav have demanded for caste census but the government did not pay any heed to it. BJP MP Jaiprakash Nishad said that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath provided medicines and other necessity commodities to the people of the state during the pandemic while the central government gave free ration to 82 crore of the poor of the country during pandemic period which will be continued till March 2022. During the debate on the motion of thanks, YSR Congress MP V Vijayasai Reddy (YSRCP) raised issue of special category status for Andhra Pradesh. He said that ABJP government gave the Special category status to Uttarakhand but denied it to his state. "There cannot be one rule for BJP-ruled states and another for non-BJP rules states," he commented. BJP lawmaker Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, while speaking in debate, said that this government has done a lot for the betterment of the poor in the country. "Opposition alleged that newspapers are ours, but in the past three months, of the 30 editorials in Times of India, Indian Express and The Hindu, 25 articles have criticised the government," he said. Slamming the opposition on the PM Cares Fund, he said that this fund has been utilised in a proper way. "This is not like the Disaster relief Fund which was chaired by a chief of a political party we are surprised that how a party chief can be chairperson of a government fund", he quipped. Talking about the politics of performance and politics of prejudice, Shashtrabuddhe said that the Opposition should have praised the programme such as Vibhishika Diwas and Veer Bal Diwas which this government has instituted. Referring to the foreign exchange reserve, he said: In 2014, when our government took over, the reserve was 313 billion Us dollar which is now over 600 billion US dollar. We have given subsidy of 6.50 lakh crore to the fertiliser sector." The power generation in a year is now 1280 billion units while the road construction has increased by 30 percent, he added. Srinagar, Feb 7 : An encounter has started between terrorists and security forces at Awatipore in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, officials said on Monday. "Encounter has started at Nambal area of Awantipora. Awantipora police on job," police said. The firefight between terrorists and security forces took place after a joint team of the police and the security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation on the basis of specific information about presence of terrorists. As the security forces zeroed in on the spot where terrorists were hiding, they came under a heavy volume of fire that triggered the encounter. New Delhi, Feb 7 : In an indication of growing restlessness against the prolonged coal shortage plaguing the Non-Power sector at multiple industrial hubs in India, Indian Youth Congress (IYC) workers on Monday staged a forceful demonstration outside the South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) premises in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. Protesting that coal produced in Chhattisgarh was being transported outside the state without first meeting the urgent requirements of local industries, over 500 workers of the Indian Youth Congress participated in the protest. They claimed that despite repeated appeals to governing bodies on the continued coal shortage faced by CPPs (Captive Power Plants), there has been no respite to the situation, compelling workers unions to join hands to voice their concerns. Led by Shyam Narayan Soni, Former President, Youth Congress, Korba, the protesting workers also submitted a petition to the CMD, SECL with a plea that the continued dispatch of coal out of the state was hampering the viability of local industries, which could lead to mass unemployment if left unaddressed. Speaking on the issue, Soni said, "Despite Chhattisgarh being a coal rich state, the local industries that are totally dependent on coal-fired CPPs are left with only a single day's worth of coal reserves. This is because SECL has been dispatching the coal outside of the state at the cost of local industries and even locally not allocating the coal committed to CPPs. This is a very precarious situation, and the closure of the industries will lead to massive job losses and unrest in the state. Therefore, we urge SECL to restore the supply of coal to industries on an urgent basis." Indicating a possible escalation of the protests, he added, "If this situation is not addressed, workers and people from the state will camp outside the Parliament of India in the next few days". Chhattisgarh presently accounts for over 18 per cent (56 billion tonnes) of the country's total coal reserves. More than 250 CPP-based industries in the state require 30 million tonnes of coal per year for smooth operations, which comprises only 19 per cent of the total SECL production. However, the power plants of Chhattisgarh receive just 40 per cent of the coal produced by SECL while 60 per cent of the coal is being dispatched outside the state. As per contractual obligations, SECL is expected to supply 65 million tonnes of coal to the Non Power Sector. However, due to imprudent and ineffective management, the non-power sector has been provided only 30 lakh tonnes instead of the required 50 lakh tonnes of coal per month it is supposed to receive through auction. In the petition, the Indian Youth Congress workers highlighted the adverse consequences that the situation was leading to. Despite being the largest subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL) with an estimated production of 165 million tonnes per annum, the supply of coal from SECL to Chhattisgarh-based industries has been repeatedly reduced, negatively affecting local industries. The workers felt that the interests of the state of Chhattisgarh were being deliberately ignored and accused SECL management of adopting an arbitrary attitude towards the state by not honouring agreements with industries. Keeping the above concerns in mind, they demanded the SECL management's urgent intervention and support in regularizing the supply of sufficient coal to state-based industries, failing which there would be further protests. This year, when industries were hoping for a post-pandemic recovery, they have instead been pushed back to the brink of closure by the prolonged coal shortage. The coal supplies, if not suitably met could jeopardize the existence of local industries and threaten the survival of MSMEs and lakhs of people dependent on their continued operations. Lives, livelihoods, and vital crops are at risk across Madagascar with Tropical Cyclone Batsirai expected to make landfall within hours. Meanwhile, the island nation off the coast of East Africa is still reeling from the impact of Storm Ana last month, the World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Friday. "Frequent cyclones during the agricultural season mean loss of harvest, high food prices and increased food insecurity", said WFP Deputy Regional Director Margaret Malu. WFP at the ready Two weeks after Storm Ana ploughed across Madagascar, Mozambique and Malawi, causing heavy flooding, destruction to homes and public infrastructure and displacing communities, WFP is preparing for the impending arrival of Cyclone Batsirai. "WFP is on the ground, and we are ready to provide logistics support to governments and NGO partners, to aid relief efforts and drones and boats, in case of flooding", said Ms. Malu. "We have also prepositioned food to be able to quickly provide emergency food assistance". Food supplies 'in great peril' In response to Storm Ana, WFP is working closely with governments, providing logistics support to search and rescue efforts, conducting needs assessments and organizing food distributions. "The floods and bad weather have not only devastated homes and damaged property, but above all they have destroyed the livelihoods and sources of income of the affected households", said Pasqualina Di Sirio, WFP Country Director in Madagascar. Meanwhile, the UN agency continues its lean season food distributions and school meals programmes, where possible. "Their short and medium-term food security is in great peril", attested Ms. Di Sirio. "These families, currently in a situation of total destitution, will see their living conditions deteriorate in the absence of urgent assistance until their situation returns to normal". Extreme weather surges Cyclone Batsirai has the potential to derail relief efforts underway in the aftermath of Storm Ana, that hit not only Madagascar but also Mozambique and Malawi. And the impact of devastating Cyclone Idai in 2019, is still fresh in the minds of vulnerable communities who are struggling to build their lives back. Extreme weather events like cyclones have become more frequent and intense in Southern Africa - driving hunger and eroding development, causing devastation sometimes in a matter of hours, according to WFP. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Madagascar Environment International Organisations By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Between eight to 12 tropical systems are expected during the current cyclone season, which runs from October to May. WFP's resilience programmes - including dam building and irrigation systems; drought resilient farming methods; and rehabilitating forests - support long-term food security and bolster communities to better cope with future shocks. Meanwhile, in the aftermath of Storm Ana, the UN humanitarian office, OCHA, is supporting Government-led relief efforts to mobilize assistance for those displaced by flooding. This includes cash, food, water, sanitation and hygiene items, as well as health, protection and camp management services at the displacement sites. All activities emphasize COVID-19 risk mitigation and prevention. Bracing for Batsirai At the same time, OCHA is ramping up efforts to prepare for the strong winds, heavy rains, and the ensuing destruction anticipated from Tropical Cyclone Batsirai, which is expected to make landfall on the east coast of Madagascar as an Intense Tropical Cyclone shortly. Batsirai has already passed Mauritius, where it left one person dead, 138 people in emergency shelter and at least 1,600 households without electricity, according to the International Red Cross. New Delhi, Feb 7 : The opposition on Monday raised the Karnataka hijab row in the Lok Sabha and many MPs moved adjournment motions. The Congress, IUML and some other members raised the issue which is hogging the national attention these days. T.N. Prathapan, Congress MP said, "I request the Education Minister to intervene in this matter to ensure the constitutional rights of the students are upheld and matter is resolved." Earlier, IUML Lok Sabha MPs had given adjournment notice to demand discussion on the Udupi Hijab row in Karnataka which took place recently. Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Education Minister B.C. Nagesh urged the students not to get provoked and follow government orders. Addressing the media, Bommai, who is currently in New Delhi, said all the students must follow the state government order issued regarding uniforms. The students must not make any attempt to disturb peace, he added. "The court order is coming tomorrow (Tuesday). The state government will take a decision on the issue once the order comes. As the case is before the court I don't want to speak on it," he said. Lashing out at the government, Congress leader in the legislative council B.K. Hariprasad said, "BJP is fishing in dangerous waters by meddling in Hijab-Saffron row in Udupi district. It shows their sinister plans to create issues out of nothing for petty political gains. BJP is posing risk to students' education which is already affected by the pandemic." The state Education Minister defended the order of sending hijab wearing and saffron cladding students to separate rooms in the Udupi Government PU College, adding that the government will frame rules on uniform after High Court order. The management of Kundapur Government Pre University College also sent hijab wearing and saffron shawls cladding students to separate rooms inside the premises of the college. The College Development Committee spokesperson Mohan Das Shenoy stated that Muslim students who are agitating outside would be allowed inside the college premises and given a separate room. However, they won't be allowed to attend classes until they remove the hijab as per the government order. The hijab row has now spread across the state, including in Chikkaballapur, Chikkamagalur, Hassan, Mandya, Vijayapura. It has affected seven colleges in Udupi alone, while also spread to Bommai's native district of Haveri. The row took a new turn with students of IDSG College in Chikkamaglur district, who came in blue shawls in support of wearing the hijab by Muslim students. They raised 'Jai Bheem' slogans and condemned the communalisation of education. After declaring a holiday at the Shanteshwar PUC College and GRB Colleges in Vijayapura, the saffron shawl wearing students gathered in front of the entrance gates and raised the slogans of 'Jai Shri Ram'. The Muslim students who came wearing the hijab have said that they were not bothered about the state government's order and were awaiting for the directive from the High Court of Karnataka on the matter. Chennai, Feb 7 : The journey of 34-year-old Aravind Perumal is unique in many aspects with twists and turns to achieve his goal. He began as a farmhand and then wrote the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission exam and joined the police as a constable. After doing his post-graduation in economics from Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, he wanted to pursue higher education but could not do so due to a financial crisis at home.He wrote the Tamil Nadu PSC and joined the police force as a constable. Perumal told IANS, "I am the son of a farmer and we were struggling to make ends meet, and hence all through my academics, I was working in the fields to support my education. During my graduation and post-graduation, I worked in farms to support myself and my family. I wanted to pursue a Ph.D but could not do so at that time due to financial constraints." He said that at the age of 23 he joined the police force and continued there for 11 years. The 34-year-old said that after joining the police force, he wrote the entrance for the Ph.D course at Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU) and got into it. "I requested permission to pursue a part-time Ph.D course from the then Superintendent of Police, R. Chinnaswamy who is presently the DIG of Tamil Nadu coastal police who readily agreed to my request." He registered for the Ph.D under the guidance of a professor for the thesis "Economic study on wage level in the informal sector" with the focus on Tirunelveli district. He said that he was supported by a lot of people from all walks of life. He completed his Ph.D in 2019 but he was awarded it only in December 2021 due to the pandemic. Perumal who was working with the Suthamalli police station for the past 11 years was relieved from service on Thursday last week and is now joining ST Hindu College, Nagercoil. Chennai, Feb 7 : Tamil Nadu police are carrying out crackdown at places where illegal weapons are being made in several districts of the state just before the urban local body polls scheduled for February 19. During the rural local body elections of nine districts of Tamil Nadu in October 2021 also, the police had conducted similar crackdowns with the state police chief, camping at Madurai to give directions to the officers. A senior police officer at Madurai told IANS, "We have conducted raids at several strongholds of a few political parties including those with affiliations to the ruling party and has confiscated several machetes, sickles, axes and even country made guns at some places." However, the officer said that since the crackdown in October 2021, there is a considerable reduction in illegal weapons. Police said that in areas of South Tamil Nadu including districts of Madurai, Dindigul, Tirunelveli, Ramanathapuram, and Theni, where fights used to take place between Dalit outfits and Thevar communities, often leading to murder, there is an uneasy calm. Police attribute this to the strong measures taken by the force after the DGP directly camped at Madurai and took effective measures against the making of weapons and turf wars. The Tamil Nadu special team of officers has also cracked down on several hideouts in Northern Tamil Nadu and Western Tamil Nadu rather than Southern Tamil Nadu. Sources in the state police told IANS that in Chennai also the police are on search at some places linked to certain rowdy elements who are inside jails. While the local body elections are closely fought, the results are mostly decided by low margins. Surulikumaran A., a DMK leader from Theni, told IANS, "If police are strong enough, no goonda element will raise his head and this government has taken a special interest in curbing violence including political, caste-based, and gang rivalries." "Tamil Nadu DGP, C. Sylendrababu is a no-nonsense officer and he will break the backbone of the gang war that was taking place earlier in the state. With the crackdown on goonda elements in October 2021, there is a huge fall in the number of criminal activities including gang wars in these parts of the world." Tamil Nadu police are also tracking the presence of criminal elements who are outside prison either on parole or after getting cleared by courts. Another major aspect the police are looking into is the caste-based fights and the possibility of retaliatory attacks. The special team of police has also apprehended a few blacksmiths who were involved in the making of machetes, sickles, and country guns. Police had directed all the lathe owners and blacksmiths to keep a list of people who buy sickles, axes, and matchets for farming or domestic purposes, and those who have not kept a proper record are being interrogated in police stations. With the urban local body polls coming up on February 19, the state police do not want to leave any chances and the DGP has directed the team of officers to be on their toes all the time to effectively curb any violence. New Delhi, Feb 7 : Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday called on Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) Minister Dr Jitendra Singh to discuss the administrative matters of the state. During the meeting, Bommai discussed about the posting of All India Service Officers in the state especially the IAS officers for effective implementation of welfare-oriented flagship schemes. Referring to the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS), the Karnataka CM informed that besides grievances being resolved promptly, grievances under COVID-19 category are also continuing and taken up on high priority basis and resolved maximum within three days. Singh flagged the issue of 'Replication of Good Governance Practices' in the states and underlined that Citizen Centric Administration is at the Heart of Modi government's Governance Model. He said, the changed and improved quality of governance have to be reflected in states and districts as the aim is to provide governance which is corruption free and transparent. While discussing some of the recent developments in the Space sector which has its headquarters at Bangalore, Singh also spoke about the progress on India's first Human Space mission "Gaganyaan". Bommai has completed six months as Chief Minister and during the short span of time, his government has initiated a number of programmes and schemes for the benefit of farmers, students, urban dwellers, unorganised workers, elderly, widows and physically disabled. He is in the capital on a two-day tour, during which he will be meeting many Central Ministers including the Finance Minister to discuss issues related to central projects and the state budget to be presented next month. New Delhi, Feb 7 : The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea by former Karnataka Minister and senior Congress leader Vinay Kulkarni, challenging the CBI probe into the 2016 murder of a BJP worker in Dharwad. Dismissing the petition by Kulkarni, a bench of Justices U.U. Lalit, S. Ravindra Bhat and P.S. Narasimha said: "We see no reason to interfere." Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Kulkarni, submitted before the bench that the state government could not have issued the order for CBI probe, when the trial in the matter was already complete. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing co-accused and maternal uncle of Kulkarni Chandrashekhar Indi, submitted that if the government is allowed to reopen cases, then it would be a dangerous principle of law. Rohatgi argued that the decision would mean reinvestigation and retrial, which would result in negation of his client's rights and also the violation of law. Senior advocate Devdatt Kamat, assisted by advocates Rajesh Inamdar and Sharangouda Patil, also argued for Kulkarni. After hearing arguments, the bench said every criminal case depended on peculiar facts and declined to entertain the petition. In June 2016, Yogeshgouda Goudar, a member of district Panchayat, was hacked to death at his gym in Saptapur in Dharwad after being immobilised with chilli powder. The victim's family members suspected Kulkarni's role into the murder. In September 2019, the B.S. Yeddyurappa government ordered the CBI probe. In February 2020, the top court stayed the Karnataka High Court order passed in November 2019, where it suspended the probe by the central agency into the matter. Ludhiana, Feb 7 : Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday said a chief minister from whose frontman and nephew Rs 10 crore in cash and gold and ill-gotten property papers of Rs 56 crore had been recovered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) could not be called poor by any yardstick. The SAD chief was answering a query regarding Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's claim that Channi was a poor chief minister. He said it was clearly known that Channi, who had graduated from delineating illegal colonies to becoming a sand mafia kingpin, was worth more than Rs 500 crore. "If we are to use Rahul Gandhi's yardstick to measure Channi's wealth then even the Gandhi family is very poor." Asserting that Channi had not only betrayed Punjabis but even the scheduled caste community as well as weaker sections of society, Badal asked Channi to explain why he had never raised his voice in favour of the scheduled caste community and weaker sections. He said it was a fact that Channi was a cabinet minister for nearly five years before becoming the chief minister. "However he did not raise his voice to protect the interest of 4.5 lakh scheduled caste students who were not only denied SC scholarship but whose scholarship was embezzled by his cabinet colleague Sadhu Singh Dharamsot." He said similarly Channi did not object to scrapping of lakhs of blue cards which entitled weaker sections to subsidized ration. Badal also made it clear that no amount of announcements of the chief ministerial face could save the Congress party. "The Congress party's ship is sinking by the day in Punjab." When queried, Badal said Pradesh Congress chief Navjot Sidhu had maintained that he would not work as a showpiece horse but now Rahul Gandhi had not only tied the horse but also locked it in the stable. When queried about AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal, the SAD President said five years back Kejriwal had asked for votes by making grandiose promises to Punjabis. "However he did not come back to the state for five years. Eleven of his 20 legislators even left the party. Today he has come back to the state to sell party tickets and earn crores of rupees. He has even given tickets to history sheeters and those with shady pasts. AAP's Ludhiana North candidate Madan Lal Bagga was expelled from the SAD following complaints of his questionable dealings. The party's Ludhiana Central candidate is a rape accused. AAP's Sanaur candidate is a proclaimed offender and has now left the campaign midway." Badal also addressed public gatherings in support of R.D. Sharma in Ludhiana North during his tour to the city. He said the law and order situation had totally collapsed during Congress rule because its ministers and legislators patronized gangsters. "This is why extortions and ransom calls became the norm during the last five years." He promised to put an end to the gangster culture once and for all. New Delhi, Feb 7 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday said that they have filed a Prosecution Complaint (charge sheet), under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, against Sanjay Kumar Tiwary, Managing Partner of Bhanu Construction and others before a Special Ranchi court. The court after accepting the charge sheet fixed the matter for further hearing. The ED had in November 2021, arrested Tiwary, under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The arrest was preceeded by searches carried out in November at different premises located in Ranchi. During these searches various incriminating documents, digital evidences were found and seized along with five vehicles. After compiling the evidences, the ED filed the prosecution complaint before the Court. Investigation under the provisions of PMLA was initiated on the basis of an FIR registered on the complaint of State Bank of India, Hatia Branch, Dhurwa, Ranchi and charge sheet filed by CBI, ACB, Ranchi under various sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC), and Section 13 (2) read with 13(1)(d) of Prevention of Corruption Act, against Tiwary, Managing Partner of Bhanu Construction and others. An amount of Rs 100.01 crore was 'erroneously' credited in the account of Bhanu Construction from State Bank of India. The said amount belonged to Jharkhand Rajya Madhayan Bhojan Pradhikaran (Mid-Day-Meal). Sanjay Kumar Tiwary, deliberately/knowingly diverted the amount of Rs 53.38 crore to various accounts of Bhanu Construction and his associates, resulting in wrongful gain to them and corresponding loss to the State Bank of India. After arrest, the Court had granted custody of the accused to ED for six days. Currently he is in Judicial Custody. Further investigation into the matter is under progress. Mumbai, Feb 7 : Violinist and Bollywood musician Deepak Pandit feels blessed for having had a brief conversation with Lata Mangeshkar before India's Nightingale fell ill. He was in fact preparing to release his album with Hindustani classical vocalist Pratibha Singh Baghel, titled "Inheritance", which he has dedicated to her. Pandit and Lataji worked together on several projects, including "Sajda", the 1991 album by late ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh and the music icon. When he discussed his upcoming album with Lataji, she said, "Inheritance", which is being released on February 14 on the web platform Sufiscore, was "a great idea". On hearing this, Pandit had said: "Lata Didi, you have been showering your blessings upon us. I hope your blessings remain with us all our lives." Lataji's answer will remain etched in Pandit's heart for the rest of his life. He remembers her words: "I hope that everyone loves me and I am so grateful that I cannot describe the emotions in words. It's so kind of people like you to stay so connected with me." Responding to Lataji's gracious response, Pandit said to her: "Please do not thank me. It's my honour to say 'thank you' to you. I am blessed to carry with me memories of the times we got to work together, of the conversations we have had. I am blessed that I have you as my mentor and guide. My only wish is to have your blessings with me all my life." Pandit was in Dubai when they had this conversation. He ended it by expressing the hope that he would meet her as soon as he returned to India." He will never be able to fulfil that wish. Patna, Feb 7 : A prominent Patna property dealer's son was found dead in mysterious circumstances in the capital's outskirts on Monday morning, police said. The passers-by spotted the body of Rajiv Ranjan Azad near the Sun temple in Maner. In a statement to the police, his father said that Azad went in the morning hours to meet someone. "Some passers-by informed the family members that Azad's dead body was lying near the sun temple. They immediately rushed to the spot," ASP, Danapur, Sayyad Imran Masood, said. The family members suspected that he could be killed by someone, though no wounds or cut marks are visible on the body. There is also a theory that poisonous liquor consumption could be the reason for his death. "We have sent the dead body for autopsy in the sub-divisional hospital Danapur to ascertain the actual cause of his death," the ASP said. Srinagar, Feb 7 : Officials of the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir (DHSK) said on Monday that around 154 illegal appointments have been found in the health department in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora district. The officials of DHSK had last week said over 2200 illegal appointments have been found in Kashmir division. "Of these, 154 illegal appointments have been found in Bandipora district. "61 of these have been found in Gurez block, 53 in Hajin block, 28 in Bandipora block and 12 in district hospital Bandipora. Data submitted to chief medical officer Bandipora by the concerned block medical officers and the district hospital Bandipora have revealed these fake appointments. "The directorate has asked all the chief medical officers in Kashmir division to collect data from various block medical officers to find out the exact number of fake appointments made in various districts", health department officials said. Insecurity in Burkina Faso, particularly in the region bordering Cote d'Ivoire, is pushing more people to seek safety both within and outside the country, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, reported on Friday. The crisis is causing additional strain in Africa's fragile Sahel region, already plagued by political instability, widespread violence, food shortages and the climate emergency. UNHCR Spokesperson Boris Cheshirkov said the plight of Burkinabe refugees is becoming increasingly precarious, as more people arrive in Cote d'Ivoire without personal belongings or food. 'Vicious' extremist attacks "They told UNHCR staff that civilians had been killed and their homes burnt down by extremists," he said, speaking to journalists in Geneva. Since last May, some 7,000 Burkinabe have arrived in northwestern Cote d'Ivoire, fleeing vicious attacks by armed groups. UNHCR has so far registered, and provided assistance, to over 4,000. The influx has accelerated in the past six months, the agency said, but is not seen as being linked to the military coup last month. Local authorities report that an average of 100 people have been crossing the border daily. Last year, more than 19,000 Burkinabe fled to Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, Niger and Benin, UNHCR reported, a 50 per cent increase over 2020. Currently, more than 34,000 are now in exile across the region. Many Ivorian families are hosting up to 30 Burkinabe refugees in small houses. Overcrowding is exacerbating deteriorating sanitary conditions, resulting in numerous cases of malaria, respiratory infections and malnutrition. Humanitarian challenges Burkina Faso is also facing an internal displacement crisis. The number of people uprooted within the country rose to over 1.5 million last year, a 50 per cent increase, which is among the highest proportions of internal displacement on the continent. Mr. Cheshirkov said that while theregional crisis becomes more protracted,large parts of the Sahel remain - or have become - inaccessible to humanitarians trying to support the 2.5 million people forced to flee their homes in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. As a result, more people across the Sahel are moving southwards toward coastal countries, or to North Africa, where many find themselves in what he described as "a dangerous limbo". Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines International Organisations West Africa Burkina Faso By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Displacement dangers The Sahel region is confronting an unprecedented rural exodus. People who have been forcibly displaced are moving to urban areas due to shrinking areas under governmental control, reduced access to land and agricultural production, and multiple environmental challenges. Displaced populations encounter new risks in urban settings. "Threats to women and youth are particularly severe, including sexual and labour exploitation, gender-based violence, forced recruitment and trafficking," Mr. Cheshirkov said. "Interventions to support women and youth are vital to alleviate suffering and prevent abuse, along with investments in a more positive future for Sahelian communities." Meanwhile, the Sahel remains on the frontline of the climate emergency. Temperatures are increasing at 1.5 times the global average, which has aggravated conflict over scarce resources and facilitated encroachment by non-State armed groups, among other threats. UNHCR will soon launch an appeal for the Sahel region. A $307 million budget for central Sahel operations is only seven per cent funded. New Delhi, Feb 7 : If the predictions and projections hold true, Uttarakhand promises to be literally a neck and neck fight. This was revealed when final seat projections were announced by the CVoter-ABP News opinion poll released on Monday evening. It will be an agonising wait for both the Congress and the BJP. When the BJP changed three Chief Ministers in a span of six months in 2021, it looked like a cakewalk for the Congress, with former Chief Minister Harish Rawat still being projected as the most preferred Chief Minister. Going by the poll results, it will not be that easy. The BJP is reminded of bitter memories of 2012 when its sitting government won just one seat less than the Congress and lost power. Incidentally, the party had made a "last minute" Chief Ministerial change even then. According to the final results of the poll, the Congress is projected to win between 30 to 36 seats. Incidentally, 36 is the magic majority mark in Uttarakhand. The BJP is projected to win between 31 to 37 seats. The Aam Aadmi Party which made a determined effort to emerge as a serious contender, trails far behind with a projected range of 2 to 4 seats. It is very difficult to hazard even a guess when such a tight finish is being projected, just as it was in 2012 when the Congress finally pipped the BJP to the post. If it does, the two main reasons according to analysts will be anti-incumbency against the BJP government along with the popularity of Harish Rawat. If the Congress fails, one big reason could be the AAP cutting into the anti-BJP vote share. New Delhi, Feb 7 : There is no doubt that anti-incumbency, and often outright anger with the existing ruling party, plays a big role in voter decisions that lead to final election results. There can also be no doubt that "perceptions" about who will win the elections affects voter behaviour. This was revealed by final results of the CVoter-ABP News opinion poll released on Monday evening. A large number of voters seemed upset and angry with their existing governments in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa. But perceptions about who will win differed in many states. The Congress is in trouble in Punjab because anger against the government is reinforced by perceptions of winnability. The poll revealed that 65.4 per cent of the voters were angry and wanted the government out. At the same time, only 12.2 per cent of voters "perceived" that the Congress will win the elections. This is a clear double whammy for the party. In Goa too, a majority 50.4 per cent of voters were upset and wanted the current government out. Yet, close to 40 per cent of voters perceived the BJP will win the elections. That is giving some comfort to the BJP which seems decidedly unpopular in the state after ten years of rule. In Uttar Pradesh too, 46.8 per cent of voters, close to a majority, are upset with the BJP government and want it out. At the same time, 48.1 per cent of the voters perceived or felt that the BJP will win the elections. Could this be a reason for the C Voter ABP News projections that the BJP will win a simple majority in Uttar Pradesh. In Uttarakhand, 43.3 per cent of voters want to change the government while 51.8 per cent feel that the BJP will retain power. This could be an interesting area of research for social scientists. New Delhi, Feb 7 : The Delhi Police has apprehended two persons for murdering their cousin in the Ghazipur area of the national capital, an official said on Monday. The accused were identified as Akash, 20, a resident of Ghazipur village and Vishal, 22, a resident of Gharoli Extn., Delhi. According to the official, the incident took place around 1.30-2 a.m. on the intervening night of February 6-7. "A PCR call was received at Gazipur police station in which caller Sudhir informed that his brother Sunil Kumar, 40, sustained a bullet injury on the right side of head fired by the accused cousins," DCP (East) Priyanka Kashyap said. A police team immediately rushed to the spot and the injured Sunil was taken to Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital where he was declared 'brought dead'. According to the official, the accused Akash is the son of the deceased's maternal aunt and Vishal is the son of the deceased's maternal uncle. The DCP informed that soon after the incident, where one of the accused shot the victim with a country made pistol, a crime team of the Delhi Police examined the spot after which a case under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code was registered against the accused. Kashyap said all the nearby CCTV cameras were checked and several teams were deployed which nabbed the accused within 10 hours of the incident. New Delhi, Feb 7 : The Centre has no data on the number of dead bodies of Covid victims that were dumped in the Ganga river during the second wave of the Covid pandemic, the Parliament was told on Monday. Responding to a question by Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Derek O'Brien on the number of Covid-19 related dead bodies estimated to have been dumped in the Ganga, Minister of State for Jal Shakti Bishweswar Tudu said: "The incidents of 'unclaimed/ unidentified, burnt or partially burnt dead bodies, found floating in river or on grounds, in the shallow depth, on the banks of the river Ganga' were reported form certain districts in the States of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, in the media. National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) sought from concerned state governments, a report on the dead bodies found floating and action taken or contemplated for ensuring proper handling, management and disposal of dead bodies by the state authorities for ensuring the protection of the river Ganga. "Information regarding number of Covid-19 related dead bodies estimated to have been dumped in the river Ganga is not available." Responding to another question on water-born disease, Tudu told the house that total 59,07,572 cases of acute diarrhoeal diseases have been reported in 2021 against total 89,34,341 cases in 2020. Viral Hepatitis A cases have also been reduced to 4,077 cases in 2021, against 5,303 cases in 2020. Only 1,359 cases of Hepatitis E have been reported in 2021, against 2,362 in 2020, he said. However, the Cholera cases have risen to 209 in 2021 from 70 cases in 2020. Leptospirosis has also reported rise at 6,086 cases in 2021 as against 4,950 in 2020. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Jammu, Feb 7 : Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday launched J&K Single Window Clearance System -- www.singlewindow.jk.gov.in, and its integration with the National Single Window system. As many as 130 industrial services have been made online on a single window system & more than 160 services would be integrated this year. The Lt Governor reiterated the government's commitment to strengthen the industrial ecosystem in a manner that the benefits percolate to all sections of our society in Jammu and Kashmir. "The Single Window Clearance System is a historic move by the UT government to facilitate investments in Jammu and Kashmir. We are ensuring 'Ease of Doing Business' & 'Ease of Living' through minimum regulatory compliance burden," the Lt Governor said. Jammu and Kashmir is the first union territory to be integrated with the National Single Window System. Now, global investors can apply for all their business approvals in J&K through the National Single Window system, he added. Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister and Home Minister for bringing industrial reforms in J&K, the Lt Governor said that in the last one year, since the launch of the new Industrial development scheme, our policies have evolved to make Jammu & Kashmir more competitive and lucrative for industries and service enterprises. "These reforms have helped us receive investment proposals worth Rs.70,000 Crore in different sectors within a year," he added. After years of poor performance in industrialisation, Jammu & Kashmir is at a new stage in its development trajectory. Focused attention is being given to the growth of dynamic sectors including real estate, horticulture and tourism so as to create increased employment opportunities, said the Lt Governor "We are strengthening J&K's power and road infrastructure, improving connectivity and law & order situation. We have launched a massive programme costing about Rs 1 lakh crore to upgrade our infrastructure," the Lt Governor added. London, Feb 7 : Swedish price comparison platform PriceRunner on Monday sued Google in Europe, seeking 2.1 billion euros ($2.4 billion) in damages. The lawsuit has accused the tech giant of "continuing to breach a 2017 European Commission antitrust enforcement order against Google Shopping," reports TechCrunch. The lawsuit also alleges that Google continued to violate competition law in relation to product search, as well as seeking compensation for historical infringements that have allowed Google to reap revenue at rivals' expense. "It is causing consumers to overpay enormous amounts of money every year because Google is not showing the most relevant results and with too high prices when they could show better results further up," PriceRunner CEO Mikael Lindahl was quoted as saying. PriceRunner also estimated that European consumers are overpaying billions per year as a result of Google's search engine returning links to products that are more expensive than equivalents offered via (non-Google) price comparison services. Google in November lost an appeal against a 2.42 billion-euro fine it received in 2017 which found using its own price comparison shopping service gave the company an unfair advantage over smaller European rivals. Amaravati, Feb 7 : Twitter informed the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Monday that it has completely removed abusive and defamatory comments against the judiciary from the platform. This was conveyed to the court during the hearing of a suo moto case in connection with abusive and defamatory social media posts against the judiciary and judges. In an affidavit, Twitter said that all such posts have been removed and they were not visible even outside India. The court directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to verify the claim made in the affidavit. A division bench of Chief Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice M. Satyanarayana Murthy asked the CBI to file a memo in this regard and adjourned the hearing by two weeks. Twitter filed the affidavit after it was clearly told by the court on January 31 to either follow the law of the land or face action. The division bench was upset that Twitter did not remove several comments posted against the judiciary and some High Court judges. The social media platform was told that not taking any action to remove the content despite the court's direction amounts to contempt of court and that action could be taken against it. The court took serious note of Twitter not complying with its orders after the CBI told the court that while the objectionable posts were not visible to a Twitter user in India, they could still be seen outside the country. The court also noted that YouTube took down all the URLs given by CBI regarding the offensive posts, and they were no longer visible in other countries and asked Twitter why it failed to remove the posts. In October 2020, the High Court had directed the CBI to investigate some comments allegedly made by supporters of the ruling YSR Congress Party on social media against the court and some judges following a few court orders seen as a setback to the government. The CBI also arrested at least five persons who were allegedly behind the posts and comments on Twitter, and questioned a couple of leaders of the ruling party seeking information about their supporters who may have posted some of the comments. Bengaluru, Feb 7 : Karnataka Congress President D.K. Shivakumar has said "the hijab row has dented the image of our nation at the global level." Speaking to reporters on Monday, he said the Congress knows why saffron shawls have surfaced in colleges and schools. "We are not bothered about it. We are more concerned about protecting this country," he said. "The coastal districts have their own historical background. The districts have contributed to the banking, education and medical sectors immensely. However, at present times, the resources are not utilized, instead seeds of poison are sowed in the minds of young children and destroyed by provocations. There is a conspiracy to change the good traditions," he added. "Our leader Rahul Gandhi has made his stand clear on this issue. We cannot see anyone on the basis of their religion and caste," the Congress leader said. Meanwhile, Home Minister Araga Jnanendra has stated that both hijab and saffron shawls are not allowed in the college campus and everyone should have to follow it. "The matter will go nowhere if everyone talks on religious lines. The sense of unity is imbibed during the time of education," he said. "The love for hijab has suddenly come into the open in recent times. The children are saying they will only attend classes with hijab and otherwise they won't. They wouldn't challenge like this before. There are forces behind them. The direction has been given to the police department in this regard for investigation," he said. "Directions have been given to provide security to college managements. The examinations are starting in a few months. The children shouldn't be provoked," he added. Gandhinagar, Feb 8 : A special designated court on Tuesday will pronounce the judgement on Ahmedabad serial bomb blast case against 78 suspects who have been accused of killing 56 people and injuring hundreds of people in the city on July 26, 2008. The court concluded the hearings in September and had reserved the order for pronouncement which was to be on last Tuesday, but was deferred as the judge who was supposed to announce the verdict had tested Covid positive. At least 56 people were killed and over 200 injured in 21 bomb blasts that had hit Ahmedabad city within a span of 70 minutes on July 26, 2008. Special judge Ambalal R Patel had tested Covid positive on January 30 and was under home isolation, the senior public prosecutor said. The police had registered 20 FIRs in Ahmedabad while 15 other FIRs were registered in Surat, where bombs were recovered from various spots. The trial was conducted after the court merged all the 35 FIRs, as the police investigation claimed that "they were part of the same conspiracy" by a terrorist outfit Indian Mujahideen (IM), a breakaway faction of banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). Only two of the accused, one for treatment of schizophrenia, and the second for turning an approver, were granted bail while the rest of 76 suspects have been languishing in jail ever since their arrest at various points in time during the pendency of the trial. The case is considered to be one of the longest criminal trials in recent years. The police had claimed that people associated with the terror oufit IM were involved in the blasts. The investigation was carried out by Detection of Crime Branch, Ahmedabad which claimed that the motive behind the terror strikes was "avenging atrocities on Muslims during 2002 post Godhra riots." The trial, which began in December 2009, was conducted against 78 people. But, the number of accused later came down to 77 after one of them turned an approver during the course of trial. Four more accused were eventually arrested in the case, but their trial has not yet commenced, a senior government lawyer said. Over 1,100 witnesses were examined by the prosecution. The accused are facing charges of murder and criminal conspiracy, and have also been booked under relevant provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Among the suspects is Safdar Nagori, former head of SIMI, Hafiz Hussain Mulla, Saduli Abdul Karim, Kamruddin Chand Nagori, Amil Parvez Shaikh, Mohammed Yasin, Sibli Abdul Karim Muslim, Mohammed Ansari, among others. Meanwhile, the Ahmedabad sessions court has been converted into a fortress, where no one will be allowed till the pronouncement time. Not even the advocates of concerned would be permitted inside the court premises, considering the sensitivity of the matter. Tehran, Feb 8 : Iranian Foreign Minister has said the "parts" of Iran's demands for the removal of US sanctions have not been addressed in the Vienna talks. Hossein Amir Abdollahian made the remarks on Monday at a joint press conference with his visiting Finnish counterpart Pekka Haavisto in Iran's capital Tehran, official news agency IRNA reported. "In the latest texts obtained from the Vienna talks, parts of our demands for the lifting of sanctions have not yet been addressed," he added. In the coming days, Iranian Chief Nuclear Negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kani and accompanying negotiating experts will focus on the document expected to be agreed upon in Vienna, he said, calling on parties involved in the talks to show their commitment to the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The Iranian Minister also expressed hope for final agreement in the upcoming meetings, Xinhua news agency reported. "We will continue our efforts to reach a good and even immediate agreement with optimistic view, good faith and seriousness," he said, adding the US and the three European states (namely Britain, France and Germany) also need to engage with "good faith and seriousness" in the talks. For his part, Haavisto expressed regret over what happened to the Iranian nuclear deal, saying "we European countries look forward to reaching an agreement and revival of the JCPOA during the (upcoming) Vienna talks". The European Union, as the coordinator of the nuclear talks, and Iran's Foreign Ministry confirmed on Monday the resumption of talks in Vienna on Tuesday. "Following a short break, the eighth round of negotiations in Vienna in the framework of the JCPOA will resume on February 8," the EU said in a statement. Under the nuclear agreement reached in June 2015, Iran accepted some restrictions on the development of its nuclear program in return for removal of the UN and Western sanctions. However, the former US President withdrew from the deal unilaterally in 2018, and reinstated old and new sanctions against Iran which, in return, retaliated by dropping some of its nuke commitments. Since April 2021, several rounds of negotiations have been held between Iran and the remaining parties to the deal, with the US indirectly involved, aimed at removal of sanctions against Iran and the restoration of the deal. A map showing the location of the Benishangul-Gumuz region in Ethiopia. UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, and partners are rushing life-saving aid to more than 20,000 refugees after they fled clashes in Ethiopia's Benishangul Gumuz region, bordering Sudan and South Sudan. Fighting broke out on 18 January in the town of Tongo - reportedly between unidentified armed groups and federal forces - and the nearby camp hosting 10,300 refugees was looted and burned. "All humanitarian staff had to evacuate, and access to the area - including the two camps, Tongo and Gure-Shembola - remains impossible", UNHCR spokesperson Boris Cheshirkov told journalists at a regular press briefing in Geneva. Exhausted and displaced Since last December, the situation has been very tense in the Benishangul Gumuz region, which hosts more than 70,000 Sudanese and South Sudanese refugees and over 500,000 internally displaced Ethiopians. The 20,000 refugees who fled, made their way over long distances to three sites closer to the regional capital, Assosa, arriving exhausted and in need of assistance. "UNHCR is working with the Ethiopian Government's Refugee and Returnees Service and partners to provide the most urgent assistance to displaced refugees, including hot meals, clean water, and medical care", said Mr. Cheshirkov. Benishangul Gumuz regional authorities have shown solidarity with the incoming refugees, said UNHCR, and identified a new temporary site, which can accommodate up to 20,000 people. "UNHCR is working to install basic services including shelter, water points, and latrines and to begin relocating refugees to the site as soon as possible" the UN official said. Mr. Cheshirkov added that UNHCR has also recorded the arrival of 70 Sudanese refugees, mostly women and children, who fled the camps and returned to Sudan's Blue Nile State. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines International Organisations Conflict Ethiopia By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. At the same time, UNHCR teams in Sudan, together with the Sudanese authorities and partners, are providing assistance to the returnees, and contingencies are being put in place in case of more arrivals. Three other refugee camps in the Benishangul Gumuz region - Bambasi, Sherkole and Tsore -- remain fully accessible and all services there are functioning. Mr. Cheshirkov told journalists that the clashes in the region were unrelated to the conflict in Tigray and that refugees had been cohabiting in the same camps. Continued assistance In addition to refugee support, the Government, UNHCR and partners, have been aiding the region's internally displaced, reaching over 100,000 people throughout last year - particularly women and children - with clothing, shelter, psychosocial help, and other emergency items. To avoid further threats to civilian lives in the region, the UNHCR spokesperson underscored the need for an end to the conflict. "UNHCR urges the protection of civilians, including refugees and those forcibly displaced", he said. Meanwhile, some refugees who had sought and enjoyed safety and were rebuilding their lives have again, have tragically lost everything. Having only received nine per cent of the countrywide requirements of $35 million for the year, UNHCR's Ethiopia operation is in urgent need of more resources to respond to this and other emergency needs. New Delhi, Feb 8 : External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar on Monday held talks with his visiting Sri Lankan counterpart, Prof. G.L. Peiris, with the issues of fishermen, energy security, and tourism taking the centre stage. '"We will mark 75 years of our independence and diplomatic relations in a suitable way. Productive talks with Sri Lankan FM G.L. Peiris. Exchanged views on the fishermen issue and agreed that bilateral mechanisms should meet early," Jaishankar said after the talks. The fishermen issue is a long-pending matter between the two countries and the state governments of Tamil Nadu and Kerala have raised this several times with the Centre. MPs from these two states have also raised this issue in the Parliament and asked the government to talk with Sri Lanka on this matter. There have been recent incidents of attacks on Tamil fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy. Indian fishermen are arrested from time to time by the Sri Lankan authorities for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and fishing in Sri Lankan waters. As per the available information, 74 and 159 Indian fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy in 2020 and 2021 respectively. With sustained diplomatic efforts, India has secured their release. At present, 21 Indian fishermen, arrested along with 2 boats on 31 January 2022 are in Sri Lankan custody. They have been provided consular and legal assistance by the Indian High Commission in Colombo and Consulate in Jaffna, and efforts are on to secure the release of these fishermen too, the government informed the parliament in the current session. Along with the fishermen issue, both sides also discussed energy security and tourism. "Recognized the importance of greater tourism for economic recovery. Also noted the importance of P2P linkages through greater connectivity. Discussed economic and investment initiatives that will strengthen Sri Lanka at this time. Also focused on additional steps to enhance Sri Lanka's energy security," tweeted Jaishankar after the meeting. Jaishankar had held a virtual meeting with Sri Lankan Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa on January 15. Both sides agreed on the extension of $400 million to Sri Lanka under the SAARC currency swap arrangement and deferral of ACU settlement of $515.2 million by two months, which would assist Sri Lanka. India also extended a credit facility of $1 billion for importing food, essential items, and medicine and $500 mn for importing fuel from India. Chennai, Feb 8 : Coimbatore rural police on Monday arrested a 24-year-old man, Subash for murdering his 48-year-old father, S. Palanisamy. According to the Kovilpalayam police, the father and son who were both working in different private companies in Coimbatore took a loan of Rs 8 lakh to construct their house. The duo failed to repay the loan installments in time and this had frequently led to a quarrel between the two. On Sunday after consuming alcohol, Palanisamy picked up a verbal duel with his son over the loan repayment matter which was not taken lightly by Subash who assaulted his father. He also tried to strangulate him and later attacked Palanisamy with a sickle on his leg. Police said that on Monday, the 108 ambulance services received a call from Subash that his father was facing breathlessness and when the ambulance arrived, Palanisamy was found dead. Ambulance staff alerted the Kovilpalayam police in Coimbatore rural who promptly arrested the 24-year-old Subash. He was produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody. The body of Palanisamy is at Coimbatore medical college hospital for the postmortem and police said that it will be handed over to the relatives after the postmortem is over. Patna, Feb 8 : The JD-U on Monday hit back at Bihar BJP chief Sanjay Jaiswal's comments, saying he was questioning the ability of ministers from his own party in the state. Jaiswal on Monday said that JD-U is criticising the NITI Aayog despite the Central government having given additional funds to the state for different development projects. He said that the population of Maharashtra is higher than Bihar but the Centre is allocating a package of Rs 31,000 crore more to Bihar, which also gets Rs 21,000 crore more than West Bengal as well, despite it having a similar status to Bihar on the development front. In response, JD-U chief spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said: "Bihar government is, over the years, working hard on road construction of the state. Who is holding the ministry portfolio of road construction? It's BJP. Similarly, a large number of hospitals, medical colleges and health centers are opened in the state. The health ministry is also held by BJP ministers and it has been happening since Nitish Kumar came to power in Bihar in 2005. "It seems that the BJP state President is not staying in Bihar or he has lost contact with his party's ministers or MLAs. Hence, he is uploading his statement on Facebook. The Finance Minister of the state also comes from BJP. Deputy Chief Minister is holding the post of Finance Minister. In a reply in Bihar Vidhan Sabha, he said that the funds coming to the state since 2018-19 are in decreasing order." Meanwhile, the RJD claimed that BJP and JD-U leaders are involved in a mock fight in Bihar and common people are paying the price for it. Party spokesman Ejaz Ahmed said: "The common people of Bihar are far away from development and BJP and JDU are playing 'noora-kushti' (make-believe fight). The special package to the state is just a 'jumla' of the Narendra Modi government. The Bihar government has admitted that the Centre has decreased funds since 2018-19. The fund allocated for Bihar is also not delivered. Due to the failure of the double engine government, Bihar reached the lowest position on the development index of the NITI Aayog." New Delhi, Feb 8 : The Centre has allotted Rs 38.70 crore for cheetah introduction project up to 2025-26, the Union government told the Lok Sabha. As much as Rs 38.70 crore under the ongoing centrally sponsored scheme of 'Project Tiger' has been allocated to the cheetah introduction project for the years 2021-22 till 2025-26," Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, informed the Parliament on Monday. The cheetah was declared extinct from India in 1952; currently there are no cheetahs in any national park or wildlife sanctuary in India. Cheetah is the only large carnivore to have become extinct in independent India. The Government of India is in the process of holding consultation meetings with African countries for bringing cheetah in the country. A total of 12-14 cheetahs are intended to be brought from South Africa or Namibia or other African countries over a period of five years as per the action plan. The such introduced cheetahs would be fitted with satellite or GSM-GPS-VHF radio-collars before their release in the wild so as to enable monitoring remotely, the Union Minister said. Nearly 12-14 wild cheetahs (8-10 males and 4-6 females) from various parks or reserves or areas that are ideal (reproductive age group that is genetically diverse, disease-free, behaviourally sound - e.g. not overly imprinted to humans but tolerant, predator wary, capable of hunting wild prey, and socially tolerant of each other) for establishing a new cheetah population would be imported as required from African countries as a founder stock for five years initially and then as may be required by the programme. "As there are no cheetahs left in the wild in India, therefore, to introduce them in the country they have to be brought from abroad. Cheetah has been an integral part of Indian ecosystems, a major evolutionary force, and an important cultural heritage. Their restoration will likely result in better conservation of open forest, grassland and scrub ecosystems for which they will serve as a flagship species," Choubey added. New Delhi, Feb 8 : A Nationalist Congress Party MP in the Rajya Sabha has said the women in Karnataka are not being allowed to choose what to wear, referring to the ongoing Hijab controversy. Speaking on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address, Fauzia Khan on Monday asked, "What I eat, what I wear, whom I love, all these are dictated by the government. Where is the liberty that is prescribed in the constitution?" Referring to the 'Bulli Bai' app case, she accused the Union government, asking, "When photos of Muslim women were being auctioned online, the Central government was silent, so where is the feeling of fraternity?" BJP lawmaker Prakash Javadekar, while speaking on the Motion of Thanks, said the country has seen new levels of development since the Modi government came to power in 2014. Referring to the achievements of the Union government, Javadekar added that the all round development has been made in all spheres. In railway, now there is no unmanned railway crossing, which was one of the main reasons for accidents in the past, he said. Citing example of development in last seven years, the BJP MP said the Railways has set up wi-fi facility at 10,000 railway stations and the students of nearby stations are using this facility for downloading material for their studies. In abroad, one has to pay Rs 620 for one GB data while in India, we pay only Rs 16 for availing this facility., he added. Javadekar said only BJP government could construct the Ram temple at Ayodhya successfully. Opposition parties have ridiculed at the existence of Sri Ram and said in the Court that Ram was an "imaginary myth", he added, while questioning what these parties have done for Ram temple. "A party, which fired bullets at the karsevaks of the Ram temple, are claiming that they will construct the temple fast and quickly," he added. He went on saying that he spent three months in Manipur during the last Assembly elections and people told him that they would vote for Prime Minister Narendra Modi because they got ration at Rs 3 per kg. BJP MP Rakesh Sinha while debating on Motion of Thanks, said when Rajiv Gandhi became the Prime Minister, he brought an 'Anti- Defamation Bill' in October 1988, and during that time only, the then Bihar Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra brought the same type of Bill to silence the Indian media but the people of India forced them to withdraw that bill. When Sinha was speaking on the anti-cow slaughter movement, the Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge intervened and said he was expecting that he (Rakesh Sinha) would speak on the President's address but he was speaking on the Congress' history instead. "We will invite him whenever we would organise a seminar on the Congress' history to speak on. Now I must tell you that for the first time, we set up a statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Gulbarga much ahead of the present statue in Kevadia," Kharge added. Talking about China, the BJP MP said in 2008, the Congress and the Communist Party of China were in cahoots with each other. "When Congress was in power, they signed an agreement with China in 2008," he added. Tehran, Feb 8 : Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) has said the anti-Iran sanctions re-imposed by the former US administration should be lifted in order to reach a "good agreement" in the ongoing Vienna nuclear talks. "The Iranian negotiators' agenda for continuing the eighth round of talks has been carefully specified," Shamkhani tweeted on Monday, adding "an agreement in which the 'maximum pressure' sanctions are not lifted will have an impact on the country's (Iran) economy, and cannot be the basis of a good agreement." The eighth round of Vienna talks, which had been postponed for a few days, was expected to continue in the Austrian capital of Vienna on Tuesday, according to media reports. Under the nuclear agreement reached in June 2015, Iran agreed to some restrictions on the development of its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of the US and Western sanctions. However, former US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the agreement in 2018, and re-imposed sanctions on Iran, after which Iran responded by abandoning some of its nuclear commitments, Xinhua news agency reported. Since April 2021, several rounds of negotiations have been undertaken between Iran and the other parties to salvage the 2015 deal, with the US indirectly involved. Health Evolution announced a significant expansion of its Forum, with the addition of key initiatives, eight new partners, and plans to continue growing Fellowship ranks this year. The Forums new initiative will convene cross-industry leaders to confront the mental and behavioral health crisis in earnest, as part of its efforts to advance a more effective, efficient and equitable health care system. This behavioral and mental health initiative joins Forum work well underway on a host of critical topics including driving more value-based contracting, assessing new primary care and home-based care models, ensuring safeguards in leveraging AI, and reducing health disparities (see, for instance, the recently announced Health Equity Pledge). At the upcoming 2022 Health Evolution Summit, in fact, Forum Fellows will convene in-person as a full body to discuss these initiatives and shape the agenda for the year ahead. Health Evolution Fellows are endeavoring to confront the most significant shared and emerging imperatives, surfacing new learnings to incorporate within their own organizations, developing consensus-based industry-wide guidance, and identifying areas for pilot programs and cross-industry collaboration, said Richard Schwartz, President, Health Evolution. New Partners Support Forums Work To support and underwrite this important work, Health Evolution is excited to announce eight new organizations have signed on as Forum partners: AmeriHealth Caritas, Apixio, Clarify Health, League, MetaCX, Navvis, PatientBond, and Tomorrow Health. They join established Forum partners, including Change Healthcare, Amwell, Chicago Pacific Founders, Landmark Health, P3 Health Partners, VillageMD, Wellbe, Welltower and WellSky. For Paul A. Tufano, AmeriHealth Caritas Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, partnering with Health Evolution aligns with the organizations longstanding commitment to advancing health equity. For nearly 40 years, AmeriHealth Caritas has worked closely with our members to help them address the challenges of poverty and disability to achieve their dreams, Tufano says. We are proud to expand our partnership with Health Evolution as we continue to advance health equity for those most in need. League founder and CEO Michael Serbinis says, Were honored to work alongside some of health cares most forward-thinking leaders. The digital transformation of health care is far too complex to do alone. The Health Evolution Forum will bring together a collective of people with a shared vision: health care as a personalized, omnichannel experience that drives real and meaningful change. Clarify Health CEO Jean Drouin, MD, adds, The Forum brings together a unique community of leaders who are helping to shape the future of health care through candid debate, knowledge sharing and active collaboration. Navvis Chairman & CEO Mike Farris also highlighted the advantages of participating in the Health Evolution community. Achieving the highest performance levels in value-based care requires an ecosystem of partners where the key stakeholders in a market come together in new and innovative ways, Farris says. Health Evolution serves as a critical industry Forum bringing together performance- and quality-minded health care executives, many of whom are achieving success and accelerating the transformation to risk-based care models. PatientBond CEO Justin Dearborn says that, The Health Evolution Forum brings together leading experts and innovative thought leaders to help solve the toughest challenges facing healthcare. I was honored to be invited to join the Health Evolution Forum so PatientBond can contribute unique insights on motivating health care consumer behaviors and be a part of the solution to urgent imperatives. And MetaCX CEO & Founder Scott McCorkle adds, "Breakthrough advancements in any field require the alignment and contribution from many companies. We applaud Health Evolution for their efforts and are thrilled that MetaCX has an opportunity to collaborate with health care leaders on important advancements in the industry." Expanding Fellowship Ranks The Forum consists of some 200 CEOs and other industry leaders participating as Fellows. Health Evolution is now expanding those fellowship ranks to additional executives leading health systems, health plans and life sciences organizations. For those interested in Fellowship, please contact team@healthevolution.com About Health Evolution Health Evolution engages chief executives, presidents, founders, board chairs, policymakers and other top industry leaders. We do this by convening in-person and virtual gatherings, publishing insights and analyzing information that helps industry leaders accelerate progress, develop opportunities and shape new strategies. We support executives seeking to create a high quality and efficient health care system based on prevention, affordability, access, equity and outcomes for people and their communities. SDTCs $4M in funding to Wyvern will optimize the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and water, reducing the equivalent of 30,000 cars off the road worth in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. "SDTC is proud to support Wyvern in their mission to increase the productivity and sustainability of Canadian farmlands. - Leah Lawrence, President and CEO of SDTC. Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), an arms-length foundation created by the Government of Canada to fund technologies with economic and environmental benefits, announced today a CAD $4M investment into Canadian satellite startup Wyvern. The investment is tied to a 3-year project that includes support from xarvio Digital Farming Solutions a brand by BASF Digital Farming GmbH, Olds College, SkyWatch, Metaspectral, and Wild + Pine as consortium partners. This funding announcement comes just weeks after Wyverns recent announcement of USD $4.5M in funding and acceptance into the Y Combinator accelerator. Wyverns technology is addressing a major gap in the market, said Leah Lawrence, President and CEO of SDTC. Their imaging products are going to help farmers use less fertilizer, pesticides, and water and help produce bigger yields. SDTC is proud to support Wyvern in their mission to increase the productivity and sustainability of Canadian farmlands. According to The Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute, the agriculture industry contributes 8.4% of Canadian greenhouse gas emissions, while globally the industry accounts for about 23% of the worlds emissions and roughly 70% of the global water demand. Incremental improvements in on-farm management have enormous potential to contribute to global environmental improvements. A 2019 report from Canadas Space Strategy indicates that increasing the rate of crop farmers using satellite imagery by 25% by 2027 could lead to cost savings to farmers in the range of CAD $650M to CAD $1.3B, while contributing to more sustainable farming practices. "We are always looking for ways to improve farmers' lives and provide growers with the ability to make informed decisions surrounding their fields while enhancing sustainable food production," says Dr. Alex Melnitchouck, Chief Technology Officer - Digital Ag at Olds College. Our 2,800 acre Smart Farm and HyperLayer Data Concept is a perfect fit for the testing and analysis of new technologies. Our collaboration with Wyvern is an exciting opportunity to explore what cutting-edge satellite technology means for the next chapter of digital innovation in farming and for sustainability in the Ag industry." The funding from the SDTC will help Wyvern reach a significant milestone: the launch of their DragonEye satellite. Wyverns proprietary deployable optics technology is key to their ability to deliver affordable high resolution hyperspectral imagery, including 1m VNIR and 5m SWIR, in the coming years. DragonEye will be Wyverns first satellite equipped with this innovative technology that unfolds a telescope in space, similar to the James Webb telescope launched in late 2021. This funding is a massive win for the company, said Wyvern CEO Chris Robson. Our long-term vision is to measure Earths health from space, and this funding gets us closer to delivering on that in a big way. Its going to get our deployable optics into space for the first time, which is going to unlock significant opportunities for the farmers in our backyard and around the world. Media Contact: Adam Brown Strategic Initiatives Lead adam.brown@wyvern.space +1 (780) 807-3360 About Wyvern Edmonton-based space data company Wyvern was created to provide actionable intelligence that will enable a sustainable future for humanity. Wyverns cutting-edge unfolding camera technology will make high-quality, high-resolution hyperspectral imagery from satellites accessible and affordable like never before, unlocking applications in new markets for the very first time. The company is proud to be carving a path for the Canadian space industry. For more information, visit wyvern.space and @WyvernSpace. About Sustainable Development Technology Canada SDTC supports companies attempting to do extraordinary things. From initial funding to educational support and peer learning to market integration, SDTC is invested in helping small and medium-sized businesses grow into successful companies that employ Canadians from coast to coast to coast. The innovations SDTC funds help solve some of the worlds most pressing environmental challenges: climate change, regeneration through the circular economy, and the well-being of humans in the communities they live in and the natural environment they interact with. For more information, please visit https://www.sdtc.ca/en/ About Olds College Olds College is known for high-tech, hands-on agriculture education and innovative applied research that lays the foundation for solving real-world problems in farming, food and land. Olds College Centre of Innovation and Smart Farm are accelerating the development and adoption of technologies and practices that result in improved productivity, profitability and sustainability of the agriculture and agri-food industry through industry-driven applied research. As Canadas smart agriculture college, Olds College is working to achieve its social purpose of transforming agriculture for a better world. For more information, please visit https://www.oldscollege.ca/olds-college-smart-farm About xarvio Digital Farming Solutions a brand by BASF Digital Farming GmbH xarvio Digital Farming Solutions is at the forefront of the digital transformation of agriculture, optimizing crop production. xarvio Digital Farming Solutions offers digital products, based on a global leading crop model platform, which deliver independent, field-zone-specific agronomic advice that enables farmers to produce their crops more efficiently and sustainably. xarvio Digital Farming Solutions products SCOUTING, FIELD MANAGER and HEALTHY FIELDS are being used by farmers in more than 100 countries. xarvio FIELD MANAGER is used by 43,000 farmers (total area of more than 5 million ha) in 17 countries, and xarvio SCOUTING is used by more than 3.8 million farmers and consultants. xarvio is a registered trademark of BASF. For more information please visit http://www.xarvio.com or any of our social media channels. CEO ally, Inc. (CEO ally) served as the exclusive sell-side advisor to Florida based Knack Global (Knack or the Company) in a transaction through which LKCM Headwater Investments (LKCM) and Weave Growth Partners (Weave) acquired a significant stake in the Company. A well-established provider of Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) services to healthcare providers in the US, with expertise across multiple specialties, deep technical competencies and a team of more than 2,000 professionals, Knack is aiming to accelerate growth by bolstering its direct sales team, growing tech-enabled service delivery capability, and expanding within current and new specialties via opportunistic acquisitions. This transaction is CEO allys sixth transaction in support of Knack with the previous five transactions having been on the buy side. Jay Joshi, Managing Partner, CEO ally, said, LKCM and Weave bring an exceptionally good match of business expertise and technical capability to Knacks leadership in RCM that will enable Knack to further strengthen its existing business and enable rapid growth through organic and inorganic means. Seeing the management teams closely engaged with each other during the transaction, we are quite confident that the combined partnership will help the company grow to new heights in the coming future. We look forward to continuing to work with Knack in support of their inorganic growth plans. About Knack Global Knack Global, established in 2007, is a leading provider of a portfolio of high-quality RCM services that allows healthcare businesses to focus on their core competencies of providing patient care. Knacks portfolio of services spans the entire RCM value chain from Pre-Claim activities to Accounts Resolutions. Powered with best-in-class technology and a global team of more than 2,000 professionals, Knack serves healthcare providers across a broad range of categories and specialties including physician groups, durable medical equipment suppliers, optometry and ophthalmology practices, surgical & ambulatory care centers and hospitals, and health systems. To learn more visit http://www.knackglobal.com About LKCM Headwater Investments LKCM Headwater Investments is a Texas-based private investment firm that seeks to partner with management teams to build highly successful companies taking an operationally minded approach and provide companies with the tools necessary to build market leaders with sustainable competitive advantages. LKCM Headwaters investment discipline is derived from several decades of investing capital for their partners and themselves. To learn more visit http://www.lkcmheadwater.com About Weave Growth Partners Weave Growth Partners is a private investment firm based in Silicon Valley. As an experienced investor, entrepreneur and operator, Weave partners with management teams to create long-term value and bring technology expertise to portfolio companies. Weave brings a technology-enabled playbook of analytics and automation commonly used in high-growth Silicon Valley startups to portfolio companies. To learn more visit http://www.weavegrowth.com About CEO ally, Inc. CEO ally, Inc. (CEO ally) is a boutique M&A advisory firm headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, USA which focuses on small and mid-market transactions in the fields of software, IT services, engineering design services and BPO. Founded in 2006, CEO ally executes transactions that span the US, Canada, Western Europe, Latin America and India and has completed more than 50 transactions. To learn more visit http://www.ceoally.com/ We built TrackZero to make customer-facing advanced analytics, dashboards, and data visualization accessible to everyone, everywhere. LEIRA BILISIM TICARET LIMITED SIRKETI today announced the availability of TrackZero in the Microsoft Azure Marketplace, an online store providing applications and services for use on Azure. LEIRAS customers can now take advantage of the productive and trusted Azure cloud platform, with streamlined deployment and management. We built TrackZero to make customer-facing advanced analytics, dashboards, and data visualization accessible to everyone, everywhere, said Adel Alzubeir, Founder and CEO of LEIRA. Having our product, TrackZero, in the Microsoft Azure Marketplace enables us to offer TrackZero to a wider range of customers around the world. LEIRAs flagship product, TrackZero, is designed to give developers the tools to build customer-facing analytics, dashboards, and data visualization that are easy for customers to use. TrackZero offers a unique value proposition, as it doesnt require direct access to the customers databases to deliver on customer-facing analytics. Jake Zborowski, General Manager, Microsoft Azure Platform at Microsoft Corp., said, Were pleased to welcome LEIRA to the Microsoft Azure Marketplace, which gives our partners great exposure to cloud customers around the globe. Azure Marketplace offers world-class quality experiences from global trusted partners with solutions tested to work seamlessly with Azure. The Azure Marketplace is an online market for buying and selling cloud solutions certified to run on Azure. The Azure Marketplace helps connect companies seeking innovative, cloud-based solutions with partners who have developed solutions that are ready to use. Learn more about TrackZero at its page in the Azure Marketplace. About LEIRA LEIRA BILISIM TICARET LIMITED SIRKETI is a provider of enterprise-class software solutions that add value to the software industry. LEIRA helps its customers deliver on better analytics to the end user with a wide variety of services, including software, professional services, and partner ecosystem delivery. For more information, visit TrackZero's Website. Minister of information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has dragged an online publisher, Mr Jackson Ude, before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) over alleged libelous publication. In the suit, filed by his counsel, Taofeek Yahaya, the minister joined the editor of the publication, Pointbanknews, Mr Uduma Mba, as second defendant in the matter. In a copy of the writ of summons, the minister asked for the sum of N50 billion aggravated and exemplary damages for alleged libel from the defendants. The minister also asked the court to award another N50 billion general damages against the defendants for alleged libelous publications against him. Mohammed said the defendants in the publication alleged that he was involved in N10 billion fraud, adding that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) was investigating him. He said the report, published on August 3, 2021 in Pointbalnknews.com was circulated worldwide and had caused damage to his reputation. The minister therefore prayed the court to restrain the defendants from further publishing defamatory brackets against him. He also prayed the court for a perpetual injunction, restraining the defendants from writing or caused to be written, publishing or caused to be published and generally circulating or caused to be circulated by themselves or their agents or servants or otherwise howsoever any of such libel or similar words or any word to the like effect concerning the claimant. According to the writ of summons, one of the witnesses listed to give evidence in the matter is the minister, who is expected to lead evidence and show to the court that contrary to the mission statement as contained in the website the publication is a purveyor of false, untruth, malicious libel against anyone and intentionally sensationalises its report to defame innocent people as they have done in his case. He said the publication made by the defendants is untrue, malicious, unfounded and wicked. The minister will also lead evidence to show that he has always been at the forefront of the development of the Ministry of Information and Culture where he is currently serving as minister and will not do anything to bring his name and the name of the ministry to disrepute. At a time when our country faces unprecedented labor challenges, supply chain difficulties, and steel shortages, small businesses, especially, have found the rising tide of issues to be insurmountable. But not all small businesses. In Rochester, New York, Certified Grinding & Machine works closely with their clients and customers to stock and source hard-to-find materials, helping to bridge the shortage. This commitment and dedication recently caught the eye of Fox Business Networks producers, who extended an invitation for Certified Grinding & Machine to appear on an upcoming episode of Manufacturing Marvels, February 14, 2022 at 9:30 CST. We invite you to watch it on air or at certifiedgrinding.com following the broadcast. We are extremely proud to be featured on Manufacturing Marvels, said Robert G. Rock, III (Bobby), Vice-President of Operations This program gives us an opportunity to showcase our vast capabilities and our dedication to customer service. It is especially fulfilling that we are featured as we celebrate our 60th year in business. If you, too, would like a first-hand look at how small businesses like Certified are adapting to todays difficult business conditions, then Id love to set up an interview with Robert Rock Jr. and Robert. Rock III, President and Vice President of Certified Grinding and Machine. They would love to discuss how, with a commitment to customer serviceand quite a bit of elbow greasenothing is as insurmountable as it seems. Certified Grinding & Machine is a family-owned company and a leading provider of precision ground bars and parts for the most demanding of machining applications in industries such as defense, automotive, health and aerospace. At its 38,000 square foot facility in Rochester, New York, the ISO 9001 accredited company has the capability to precision grind tens of thousands of bars and millions of parts to extremely tight tolerances and superfine finishes each year for its customers throughout the United States and Canada. Manufacturing Marvels produces and airs educational videos featuring North American companies who supply quality products and services to a number of industries. The two-minute videos highlight manufacturers along with their products, customers and employees. The Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation (CISCRP), a non-profit organization dedicated to educating and informing the public about the clinical research process, has announced its Journey to Better Health | AWARE for All Birmingham event. This free event is open to the public and will be held March 9th, from 5-8 PM at The Harbert Center in downtown Birmingham, AL. The event is tailored for the Birmingham community, featuring local clinical trial participants, healthcare professionals, and exhibiting organizations. In an effort to reduce health disparities and increase demographic diversity in clinical trials, the event brings together a unique consortium of health educators and clinical trial participants who will share the benefits of clinical research and the important role trials play in advancing healthcare. To register for the Birmingham event visit:https://www.ciscrp.org/event/aware-for-all-birmingham/ The Journey to Better Health | AWARE for All - Birmingham event is supported by local research teams, advocacy groups, and a consortium of biopharmaceutical and service provider companies. The program will answer key questions about the clinical trials process, what to expect as a participant, the benefits and risks of participation, and other valuable information. This educational event will feature a speaker panel, including perspectives from clinical trial participants and healthcare professionals including: Jane Allendorfer, Ph.D, Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham Del Smith, Founder & CEO, Acclinate Monica Baskin, Ph.D., Professor, Preventative Medicine and Associate Director, Community Outreach and Engagement, University of Alabama at Birmingham: ONeal Cancer Center Brian Corbett, Parkinsons Disease Clinical Trial Participant, Board President of Parkinson Association of Alabama Kevin Jones, Associate Director, Manufacturing at Biogen Abi Kulshreshtha, Chief of Staff at Southern Research Institute, Overview Presenter Attendees can visit the Informational Exhibit Center featuring 20 local exhibiting organizations to meet, receive informational material, and learn more about the health & wellness services offered in Birmingham and surrounding counties. Exhibitors include Pfizer, Biogen, Janssen, Otsuka, IQVIA, CSL Behring, EMD Serono, and WCG. Visitors can also connect with local organizations such as the Alabama Kidney Foundation, Parkinson Association of Alabama, Clinical Research Center of Alabama, Girls Incorporated of Central Alabama, and many more. The Journey to Better Health | AWARE for All program has been critical in driving attention to clinical research via common medical conditions, with a goal of reaching a diverse population to advance research and quality of care. AWARE for All - Birmingham is the first of five events running throughout 2022 in cities across the U.S. For more information about the 2022 Journey to Better Health | AWARE for All program, including upcoming event dates, visit http://www.awareforall.org. About CISCRP The Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation (CISCRP) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to engaging the public and patients as partners in the clinical research process. CISCRP provides free educational resources to the public and patient communities. Visit http://www.CISCRP.org for more information or to participate in CISCRPs educational initiatives. For additional questions about AWARE for All, contact awareforall@ciscrp.org or call 877-633-4376. Rise of Atlantis: Young Gods By: Robert Estape Ive been writing since I was 15, Estape said. Science fiction, and mysteries, have always been some of my favorite genres. I wanted to combine mythology and superheroes for Rise of Atlantis, in hopes of introducing kids to these Greek gods for, possibly, the first time. To an outsider Zach is just your ordinary teen, but in reality, hes a demigod and the newest member of a secret sect of technologically-enhanced young men and women, called Olympians. Author Robert Estapes newest book, Rise of Atlantis: Young Gods, follows this group of enhanced humans, distant descendants of the original aliens who colonized the planet, working to save the planet from ecological disasters and intervene in human affairs, with the goal of preserving all life at home and in the galaxy. The book takes place on Atlantis, what we today call Earth, just off the coast of Florida. It was important for the author to base the book in a location that was familiar to him, so it could be as accurate and realistic as possible. It was also important for Estape to include a diverse group of characters. He wanted everyone to feel represented in Rise of Atlantis, so he was sure to include characters of different genders and races. Estape has had a fascination with mythology since he was a young kid and, as he got older, he began to develop his writing skills and allowed his imagination to run wild. He decided to combine his two passions, when writing Rise of Atlantis. He wanted to use this book to teach young kids to love themselves, reach for the stars and encourage them to be the best they can be. Ive been writing since I was 15, Estape said. Science fiction, and mysteries, have always been some of my favorite genres. I wanted to combine mythology and superheroes for Rise of Atlantis, in hopes of introducing kids to these Greek gods for, possibly, the first time. Estape hopes that this book will encourage readers of all ages to never be afraid to be who they truly are, just like the Olympians, and always help others. The team, which has become a family, always bands together to face all the challenges, in order to save each other, the planet, our solar system and our galaxy. The author wanted his book to show kids how they can come together for a greater cause and that each of us is special in their own way and that our differences are our greatest attributes. Rise of Atlantis: Young Gods By Robert Estape ISBN: 9781665701808 (softcover); 9781665701792 (hardcover); 9781665701815 (electronic) Available at Archway Publishing, Amazon and Barnes & Noble About the author Robert Estape studied literature and creative writing at Florida International University before joining the United States Navy and, later, graduating with honors as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse. He has practiced internal medicine for 30 years. He is board certified in anti-aging, nutritional, and functional medicine. He has worked as a gynecology oncology clinician and surgical assistant, including robotic surgeries, for the last eleven years. He is also a patented inventor, a published author, a medical consultant, a health insurance agent, a radiation technologist, a certified food management specialist, and a grocery/restaurant owner. He currently resides in Miami, Fla. To learn more, connect with Robert on Facebook. General Inquiries: LAVIDGE Phoenix Becca Armentrout 480 998 2600 barmentrout@lavidge.com Arizona Land Consulting, the Valleys leading, female-owned land consulting firm, announced today the closing of a 2,000-acre property near the Buckeye airport for $40 million. The land was originally zoned for a master-planned community called Cipriani. However, Arizona Land Consulting CEO and founder, Anita Verma-Lallian and her group of investors have plans to rezone the property for industrial use, with the hopes of developing it into a business park. Industrial zoned properties are typically much easier to develop. Arizona Land Consulting already has interest from potential buyers and is open to dividing the property into 400-500 acre parcels to sell as the size and location lists it as a high-demand property. It is difficult to find parcels of land that are a contiguous 50+ acres, making this a spectacular find, said Verma-Lallian. Not only was the serial acreage impressive but the location and city growth in itself made this particular property outstanding. The property is located next to the Buckeye airport in one of the fastest-growing cities in Arizona, strategically located off the I-10 freeway. A future off-ramp on the I-10 will lead right into the property located off Johnson Road and Yuma Road. For more information about Arizona Land Consulting, please visit https://arizonalandconsulting.com/. ### ABOUT ARIZONA LAND CONSULTING Arizona Land Consulting is a Phoenix-based land investment and consulting company that specializes in commercial real estate, founded by Anita Verma-Lallian. You can view more information at https://arizonalandconsulting.com/. These capabilities are built upon the shoulders of Spiral Modulation; however, we now have three additional distinct capabilities that address commercial, defense, and government challenges related to optimization of a very, very expense resource spectrum. - Dr. Jerrold Prothero, CEO. Astrapi Corporation is pleased to announce that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued Astrapi U.S. Patent No. 11,184,201, Communications Devices, Systems, Software and Methods Employing Symbol Waveform Hopping, Patent No. 11,228,477 Devices, Systems and Methods Employing Polynomial Symbol Waveforms, and Patent No. 11,240,088, Method and Systems for Transmitting and Receiving Data Using Non-periodic Functions. Significantly, Astrapi now holds eighteen (18) issued U.S. Patents with more pending and international coverage. Astrapi has four distinct capabilities: Spiral Modulation; Symbol Waveform Hopping; an advanced Non-stationary Software Spectrum Analyzer; and a novel approach to greatly reduce the computational overheard required for certain encryption methodologies. Generally, Astrapi Patents cover solutions to improve spectral efficiency, to secure signal transmissions, and to the identification, discrimination, and characterization of signals and other activity in a dynamic non-stationary electromagnetic spectrum. Spiral Modulation enables Astrapi to construct signals from the sum of complex spirals rather than the customary sine waves. This unleashes, for the first time, the ability to fully exploit the capabilities of a continuously non-stationary spectrum. Spiral Modulation improves the trade-off between the four fundamental parameters in telecommunications: signal power, data throughput, occupied bandwidth, and error rate. Astrapi licenses this capability into the modems, radios, smart devices, and sensors addressing satellite, terrestrial wireless, Internet-of-Things (IoT), and defense networks that are capacity and signal power constrained. Symbol Waveform Hopping (SWH) exploits the huge symbol waveform design space that is characteristic of Astrapis patented Spiral Modulation technology. Astrapi developed the use of Polynomial Symbol Waveform (PSW) alphabets, in which each symbol corresponds to a particular bandlimited polynomial. SWH is analogous to Frequency Hopping, but SWH uniquely operates in the time domain rather than the frequency domain, thus providing an advanced secure signal transmission capability. Astrapis Non-stationary Software Spectrum Analyzer (NSSA) provides a way to measure the occupied bandwidth (OBW) and other properties of a real-world non-stationary spectrum that would otherwise require a hardware swept-tuned spectrum analyzer (HSTSA) for accurate characterization. The NSSA provides 10X more precise frequency resolution, is more sensitive to small sources, can reduce the Size, Weight and Power (SWaP) of deployed equipment solutions, and can reduce the computational cost of wide-spectrum monitoring. Recently, Astrapi has been awarded two Phase II contracts from the USAF AFWERX program and has partnered with Space Micro, Inc., to demonstrate applications of both Spiral Modulation and Symbol Waveform Hopping. These projects will use Space Micros Nanocom, a small form factor, cost-effective Software Defined Radio (SDR) designed to perform in extreme environmental conditions. Nanocom is programmable on orbit and contains the latest-generation Xilinx Zynq System on a Chip (SoC) whose large availability of programmable logic resources supports sophisticated, cognitive anti-jamming algorithms. Its modular design allows for ease of configuration to support different data rates, frequencies, bandwidths and interfaces. Space Micros SDRs are space qualified and are part of both commercial and DoD programs such as the Space Development Agencys Tranche 0 Transport Layer. The Astrapi team has worked very hard to advance our capabilities. The fruit of that labor is paying off as our team now has eighteen issued U.S. patents with more pending, and international coverage. These capabilities are built upon the shoulders of Spiral Modulation; however, we now have three additional distinct capabilities that address commercial, defense, and government challenges related to optimization of a very, very expense resource spectrum. We are thrilled to be working with Space Micros SDR. We look forward to pushing all of these advanced capabilities out into the various markets we serve that make-up segments within the $4 trillion telecommunications industry, said Dr. Jerrold Prothero, Founder and CEO of Astrapi Corporation. ABOUT Astrapi Corporation Astrapi provides fundamentally new ways to optimize the use of the spectrum, to secure signal transmission, and to measure power in a non-stationary spectrum. Astrapi is able to improve the trade-off between the four fundamental parameters in telecommunications: bandwidth, signal power, data throughput, and error rate. The resulting efficiency translates into higher spectral performance with more bits available at a lower cost. Currently Astrapi has eighteen US Patents issued, with more pending and with corresponding international patent coverage. Further information is available at http://www.astrapi-corp.com ABOUT SPACE MICRO Space Micro Inc., powered by Voyager Space, and based in San Diego, CA, is an engineering-driven supplier of affordable, high-performance, radiation-hardened communications, electro-optics, and digital systems for use in commercial, civil, and military space applications around the world. Space Micro solutions include Telemetry, Tracking and Command (TT&C) transmitters, mission data transmitters, space cameras, star trackers, image processors, Command & Data Handling (C&DH) systems and laser communications systems. For more information, visit spacemicro.com or contact Michael Dowd, Vice President of Business Development at (858) 332-0700, extension 122 or via email at mdowd@spacemicro.com ABOUT AFWERX AFRL and AFWERX have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research process in an attempt to speed up the experience, broaden the pool of potential applicants and decrease bureaucratic overhead. Beginning in SBIR 18.2, and now in 21.1, the Air Force has begun offering 'The Open Topic' SBIR/STTR program that is faster, leaner and open to a broader range of innovations. A will alone, or no will, means the probate court makes the final decisions about your estate. It can be upsetting for heirs to discover that the probate court has stepped in and delayed the resolution of their deceased loved ones estate. Adam Daner, the Atascadero estate planning attorney from the Daner Law Firm, said that, in California, if someone dies without a will or a trust and their estate is worth more than $166,250, it is the role the probate court to review and settle the estate. Probate is the legal process during which the court reviews a will and the estate then distributes assets according to the terms of the will or state law. If there is no will, or if the will is contested, the final decision by the court may not be as the decedent wished. Probate can be legally avoided by creating a trust. A trust is not something that is reserved for the very wealthy. Many of us are surprised to discover just how much what we have is really worth. A trust can include insurance policies, checking and savings accounts, retirement accounts, personal property, vehicles, real estate, jewelry, investments, pets, tools and any thing else that is of any value. Anyone who owns real estate in California, even the family home that was purchased in 1975 is going to benefit from a trust. Its well worth the time to make an appointment with the Atascadero estate planning attorney to review everything that comprises your estate. A revocable trust remains in your control during your lifetime. You can make any changes to your will, your Advanced Health Care Directive (AHCD), also known as a living will, powers of attorney and to your beneficiaries at any time. The trust converts to an irrevocable trust upon death. At that time, the person named as administrator follows your wishes for paying your debts and distributing your estate. A will alone, or no will, means the probate court makes the final decisions about your estate. A will does provide some level of assurance that your wishes will be honored, but if the will is contested by a creditor or a displeased heir it can take a long time to settle the estate and there are not guarantees your wishes will be honored. This is a high-level explanation for what can be a complex process. The wisest thing to do is to avoid probate altogether by setting up a trust and the best way to create a trust is to first meet with an experienced estate planning attorney, identify all of your assets to be placed in the trust and make sure the trust is set up correctly. The Atascadero estate planning attorney can help make sure that a properly and legally documented estate is managed and distributed according to ones wishes and can avoid probate. Even if a relatives estate has already gone to probate, an attorney can be of great benefit for protecting your interests during the probate proceedings. Probate proceedings are not easily challenged, but legal advice and guidance is the best way for heirs to protect their interests. Mr. Adam M Daner, Esq. of Daner Law Firm, APLC assists clients with all aspects of estate planning, and offers free initial consultations for new estate planning clients. Estate planning helps people be sure that possessions, real estate holdings, investments and other assets are distributed according to their wishes upon their death. Estate planning also includes planning for incapacity, reducing or eliminating uncertainties of probate, and minimizing other estate liabilities. Some of the more important estate planning documents include: Wills Trusts Advanced Health Care Directive (AHCD), or living will Guardianship for minor children, disabled or incapacitated adults Power or Attorney Daner Law Firm 4555 El Camino Real, Unit J Atascadero CA 93422 (805) 464-5003 Kenneth Jeffres, a Florida resident who loves the rain and reading or watching a good fantasy, sci-fi, or horror novel or movie, has completed his new book Blaze: a gripping and potent work of fiction that keeps the pages turning until its dramatic conclusion. Blaze and Hawk are sent to Greenburg City to investigate the disappearance of a lady named Lilly Trust who was last seen with the governors son. While they were being briefed about the case, they are told of a murder that the police believe is connected to Lillys disappearance. With so many questions and not enough answers, they start their investigation, which leads them to a plethora of evidence that not only points to the governors son but also points to a mysterious tall man that steals their powers and has his own agenda. Published by Page Publishing, Kenneth Jeffres engrossing book is an excellent choice for avid mystery fiction readers. Readers who wish to experience this engaging work can purchase Blaze at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708. About Page Publishing: Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing understands that authors should be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com. Concept rendering of BHHS Chicago's new office at 1 N. Whittaker Street, New Buffalo, Michigan. Rendering by Mercury Studios, Inc. It is my great pleasure to share that we are moving to a fantastic, high-energy, high-visibility location on the corner of Whittaker and Buffalo streets in what will be an absolute showcase building. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago is pleased to announce that their New Buffalo office is moving to 1 N. Whittaker Street in downtown New Buffalo in February, 2022. The new space is close to Lake Michigan and one block from the present location at 30 W. Buffalo Street. Dave Camp, managing broker for the firms Harbor Country office, said, It is my great pleasure to share the news that we are moving to a fantastic, high-energy, high-visibility location on the corner of Whittaker and Buffalo Streets in what will be an absolute showcase building. Its right in the center of downtown New Buffalo. Best of all, its a high-tech space that is part of a redevelopment plan that we wanted to support. The old variety store building has been vacant for some time and needed new vision for the space. The new design will open the facade with huge windows on the street sides of the building. Its very bright and inviting. The BHHS Chicago office space is designed for agents, clients and customers to enjoy. Kyle McFarland, director of Property Management, CPM for Holladay Properties, said, The building owners are excited that Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago has chosen this property to relocate to and do business out of in the town of New Buffalo. 2022 is an exciting year for 1 N. Whittaker and the community, not only because of the investments being made in the renovation of this building, but also because of the mix of businesses that will call this location home. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago will be a great new addition to the building, and with the amount of foot traffic that is generated by the pharmacy and future tenants, we expect this to be a win-win scenario for everyone. The new BHHS Chicago office will occupy a portion of the building located at the corner of Whittaker Street and Buffalo Street. Additional tenants in the building include the Home Town Pharmacy, a long-term tenant, as well as a yet-to-be-disclosed 300 seat new restaurant and an additional retail space. The BHHS Chicago office is approximately 1,475-square-feet and will have a contemporary beach vibe with warm tones, and an espresso bar and bar stools rather than a traditional lobby. There will also be collaborative workspace, agent desks and a conference room. The transition to the new office is expected to take place by the end of February, 2022. ABOUT BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESERVICES CHICAGO The Harbor Country office is presently located at 30 W. Buffalo Street but is moving to 1 N. Whittaker Street in February 2022. To reach the office, please call 269.469.8300. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago is a full-service real estate firm with more than 1,500 real estate professionals and staff in 24 offices serving customers throughout the Chicago metropolitan area, the North Shore, West Suburban communities, Southern Wisconsin, Northwest Indiana and Harbor Country, Michigan. Recognized as a Top Workplace in Chicago, their local roots are complemented by the extensive global reach of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, one of the nations leading real estate brands. Clients can experience all-inclusive homeownership services from their affiliated companies: Prosperity Home Mortgage, Fort Dearborn Title, and HomeServices Insurance. Visit BHHSChicago.com. Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP For more information about the lawsuit against Options for Youth-California, Inc., call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. The Los Angeles employment law attorneys, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a lawsuit against Options for Youth-California, Inc. alleging the company violated Labor Code 2699, et seq. seeking penalties for DEFENDANTs alleged violation of California Labor Code 201, 202, 203, 204, 210, 221, 226(a), 226.7, 351, 510, 512, 558(a)(1)(2), 1194, 1197, 1197.1, 1198, and 2802. The lawsuit against Options for Youth-California, Inc. is currently pending in the San Bernardino County Superior Court, Case No. CIVSB2132685. To read a copy of the Complaint, please click here. According to the lawsuit filed, Options for Youth-California, Inc. allegedly failed to fully relieve Plaintiff and other Aggrieved Employees for their legally required thirty (30) minute meal breaks. Employees were also allegedly required, from time to time, to work in excess of four (4) hours without being provided the legally required ten (10) minute rest periods. The California Supreme Court defines off-duty rest periods as time during which an employee is relieved from all work related duties and free from employer control. PAGA is a mechanism by which the State of California itself can enforce state labor laws through the employee suing under the PAGA who do so as the proxy or agent of the state's labor law enforcement agencies. An action to recover civil penalties under PAGA is fundamentally a law enforcement action designed to protect the public and not to benefit private parties. The purpose of PAGA is not to recover damages or restitution, but to create a means of "deputizing" citizens as private attorneys general to enforce the Labor Code. For more information about the lawsuit against Options for Youth-California, Inc., call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is a labor law firm with law offices located in San Diego County, Riverside County, Los Angeles County, Sacramento County, Santa Clara County, Orange County and San Francisco County. The firm has a statewide practice of representing employees on a contingency basis for violations involving unpaid wages, overtime pay, discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination and other types of illegal workplace conduct. ***THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT*** Car Wars, the leading expert in automotive phone call handling technology, and GoTo Connect, the leader in cloud phone systems, announced today a new integration partnership to bring automotive dealers a best-in-class combined offering. More often than not, a dealerships endpoint phone system is a headache rather than an operational asset. For years, phone systems and IT companies have lacked the features, reliability, and industry expertise to support the needs of dealers. To solve this gap, GoTo Connect and Car Wars have developed an integration to give dealers access to a smarter, simpler phone system and extract raw phone system data into actionable metrics. In doing so, dealers are able to improve the customer's calling experience, fix gaps in operational phone metrics, and reduce costs. The backbone of every dealership is their phone process. For years clients have turned to us to fix their phones and our efforts have always been hamstrung by the limitations of their existing phone system, says Sarah Dragoun, Vice President of Strategy at Car Wars. Through our integration with GoTo Connect, we now have a world-class, flexible cloud phone system to offer our customers. Dealers taking advantage of the integration gain a cost-effective cloud-based phone system that provides an inclusive feature set. Every call can be tracked, recorded, and reviewed through artificial intelligence and human review and pushed into their CRM. Car Wars oversees the phone system deployment, alongside the GoTo Connect team, to guide the customer to proper configuration and take advantage of the operational gains provided. By capturing the raw data from the GoTo Connect phone system, Car Wars is able to analyze and report on inbound and outbound phone calls and text messages with or without the use of tracking lines. The integration provides a single end-to-end call recording irrespective of hold times, call transfers, parked calls, or call queuing. This ensures end users are able to easily surface a complete phone call compared to call segments seen in a phone system. More importantly, there are no gaps in calls or texts logged in CRM, and every call is assigned to the person who handled it. GoTo Connects cloud phone system offers intelligent call routing, helping dealers connect with customers faster through routing options like ring groups, call forwarding, queuing, and paging. Their simple online admin portal enables dealers to customize their phone experience. The combined offering often has the flexibility to use pre-existing hardware a dealership may already have in place, as well as the option to handle calls through tablets, smart phones, or softphones. Bringing together the industry-leading technology of Car Wars with GoTo Connects simple and powerful cloud telephony platform is a game changer for the automotive industry, said Pablo Gargiulo, Vice President of Sales, Americas at LogMeIn. By integrating these two tools, dealers will have access to better analytics and more information than ever before. Car Wars and GoTo Connect solve many of the communications problems the automotive industry faces in todays work from any environment and we are looking forward to helping our customers together. --- About Car Wars Car Wars, a division of Call Box, leverages human reviews, artificial intelligence, and seamless integrations with top automotive CRMs to equip Sales and Service departments with everything they need to Own The Phone. By listening to and categorizing every inbound and outbound call at a dealership, Car Wars provides managers with insight into how every call is handled, alerts them when an opportunity needs attention, and actively improves phone performance in both Sales and Service. Car Wars uses transparent accountability alongside live call insight to create a high-powered phone culture that helps more callers faster and, ultimately, converts more phone calls into booked appointments. About GoTo GoTos flexible-work software including GoTo Connect, GoTo Resolve, Rescue, Central, and more is built for small and midsize business IT departments, but powerful enough for the enterprise. GoTo software is designed to support end-users' unified communications & collaboration (UCC) and IT management & support needs, and nearly 800K customers contribute to the more than 1 billion people joining meetings, classes, and webinars through GoTos UCC products, and half a billion connections on the company's remote access and support tools. By building its secure, easy-to-use software, GoTo is committed to ensuring the time at work is well spent so that time outside of work is better spent. With over 3,000 global employees and over $1 billion in annual revenue, the remote-centric companys physical headquarters is in Boston, Massachusetts, with additional offices and thousands of home offices in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and beyond. The major tracking device by the Nigeria Police Force has remained inactive for the past 12 months now, making it difficult for police detectives to track thieves, fraudsters and kidnappers, LEADERSHIP findings have revealed. The device, which was reportedly deactivated since January 2021 was still not functional as of early February 2022, after more than one year, with police officers lamenting their inability to track criminals. However, the Force spokesman, CP Frank Mba, said the device was back on and working. A police source wondered why, in a country where theft and kidnapping is rife, the entire police force is operating just one tracking device for all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which is even inactive. "It does not show that the police are proactive in stemming the rising wave of kidnapping and other forms of criminality in the country," he said. Police investigators who spoke with LEADERSHIP on the condition of anonymity said the tracking of phones had become a challenge when carrying out their duties as the device has been inactive for long. The sources also said outsourcing to individual contractors has become the case now and this implies that the victims of any attack will have to pay the contractors before having their phones and other gadgets tracked. They said certain persons close to the system are capitalising on the situation to make money for themselves. One of the victims of armed robbery attack, simply identified as Mr. Mathew, who also spoke with LEADERSHIP, confirmed the story. According to him, when he reported an attack to the FCT police command, the case was sent to the FCT criminal investigation department, where he was told by a chief superintendent of police that the police tracking device was down and he would have to pay in order to outsource the tracking. LEADERSHIP's investigations also showed that the average amount paid for tracking is N25,000. Also, some police sources said that in certain cases that were of national interest, the police had to rely on the office of the national security adviser to track bandits. One of the officers explained that the equipment was handed over to the police by the Nigerian government a few years ago during the tenure of inspector-general of police (IGP) Solomon Arase and was installed by a Nigerian company. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Legal Affairs By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "The equipment was given to us by President Muhammadu Buhari. The thing has not been working because those who are supposed to ensure that it runs well have not played their part. They claim that they are being owed money for subscription," he said. He further said the police had not paid the fees for the subscription since 2015 and the police has had to rely on the Department of State Services (DSS), too, to track suspects and victims. "From what I gathered, subscription fees are meant to be paid yearly but you won't believe that the police have not paid since 2015. Initially, the company gave us a grace period but they have now cut off the police completely. We now rely solely on DSS and NSA office. It's a terrible situation and it has worsened the insecurity in the country. The Police Trust Fund promised to help but we have not seen any action yet," the source said. But another police source said the platform was undergoing a system upgrade which would soon be completed. He said: "You know, this thing is technology; just like computers, we do upgrades from time to time. A lot of people on the field don't even understand how it works. It is undergoing an upgrade because you have new features coming in from time to time. There are new technologies that you have to update to enhance their capacity. "We have some new equipment which we need to adjust so they can link together. Some are still working. It is not as if all components are shut. That is what is happening." Founders Nikki Carlson and Kailynn Bowling recognize a year of growth for ChicExecs, the retail-focused public relations and marketing agency. We love having the privilege of telling other brands' stories and getting the word out for all businesses that have been so deeply affected by the current times. Their resilience continues to amaze us, and we love being a part of their team." ChicExecs, the leading retail-focused public relations and marketing agency, announces a record year in 2021, growing 20 percent overall and securing over $20 million in retail orders for clients. Founder Nikki Carlson and Kailynn Bowling began the agency in 2007 after running a successful brand and product line, ChicBuds, in 2005. The makers of trendy retractable Swarovski studded earphones for iPods and cell phones, Chicbuds patented and developed innovative new products within the tech industry. Finding success in their business model, Carlson and Bowling felt their brand strategy was something other companies could use to grow their business. We decided to duplicate the recipe of success of our brand, ChicBuds, and create the model of a retail, digital and PR agency all under one roof, said Carlson. ChicExecs growth and expansion this last year alone is an incredible testament to the leadership, sales, PR, retail strategy and digital marketing teams. We have big things planned that will add even more exciting elements to our agency, focusing on what we do best when we Think Outside the Suit. With the mindset to Think Outside The Suit, ChicExecs is dedicated to being innovative as intrapreneurs, creators and entrepreneurs, rather than sticking within the lines of a corporate structure. With innovation at the forefront, ChicExecs has cultivated relationships with key buyers, editors and influencers both nationwide and internationally. With 20 years in business, Nikki and I are extremely proud of the efforts our team has taken under unprecedented circumstances to land our clients PR and retail wins, said Bowling. We love having the privilege of telling other brands' stories and getting the word out for all businesses that have been so deeply affected by the current times. Their resilience continues to amaze us, and we love being a part of their team. As they say, teamwork makes the dream work! Both the agency and its founders continued to receive accolades in 2021. Carlson and Bowling were named finalists in San Diego Business Journals Business Women of the Year Awards. ChicExecs was selected as a Top 10 San Diego PR Agency by DesignRush and was named the winner of a Bronze Stevie Award for Public Relations Agency of the Year in The 19th Annual American Business Awards. The year also saw Carlson and Bowling contributing regular blogs on Forbes and Newsweek covering industry tips and trends. The agency regularly gives back to its local community, supporting such worthy causes as the Susan G. Komen Foundation in honor of its director of retail strategy and her fight against breast cancer. For more information on ChicExecs, visit http://www.chicexecs.com. ### About ChicExecs: Based in San Marcos, California, ChicExecs Retail Marketing Agency is an award-winning firm founded by Nikki Carlson and Kailynn Bowling, encompassing their backgrounds in marketing, public relations, business management, retail and sales. By creating a cohesive strategy for brands with PR, Social Media, and Retail Strategy, the team of more than 80 employees develops innovative ways to generate retail sell-through and brand awareness on both regional and national levels. They know what it takes to turn a napkin idea into a household name. Bobby Devadoss is a skilled litigator and a strategic negotiator with extensive experience mediating and litigating federal employment cases. The Devadoss Law Firm, P.L.L.C., a Texas law firm that provides representation for federal employees, is honored to announce that founding attorney Bobby Devadoss has been named a 2022 Elite Lawyer for the state of Texas. Elite Lawyer is a nomination-based directory of diverse and highly accomplished attorneys. Mr. Devadoss has received this distinguished recognition for six consecutive years, demonstrating his consistently excellent legal services and continued commitment to the legal profession. Bobby Devadoss is a knowledgeable and dedicated attorney who practices in the field of federal employment law. Attorney Devadoss provides diligent legal services to individuals facing legal challenges involving labor laws, discrimination, sexual harassment, and whistleblower laws. Bobby Devadoss is a skilled litigator and a strategic negotiator with extensive experience mediating and litigating federal employment cases. Attorney Devadoss has years of experience working within the federal sector, taking on both labor and employment cases. He has represented clients from a wide variety of backgrounds and has personally conducted over 200 investigations regarding Unfair Labor Practice charges. He also conducts investigations involving Title VII Discrimination and has represented numerous clients facing such cases. Attorney Devadoss has represented clients in front of the federal sector of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Merit Systems Protection Board. Bobby Devadoss also dedicates time providing legal assistance to employers and management regarding Union Contracts, employee performance, conduct, discipline, and claims of reprisal. Before opening his practice, Attorney Devadoss served as a federal labor attorney for the Federal Aviation Administration as well as the Federal Labor Relations Authority. During this time, he gained experience within the federal sector handling complex labor and employment cases. About The Devadoss Law Firm, P.L.L.C. The attorneys at The Devadoss Law Firm understand how devastating it can be for individuals to be subject to discrimination and disciplinary actions at their jobs. Attorney Devadoss and his legal team are dedicated to protecting the civil and constitutional rights of government employees. The Devadoss Law Firm is composed of ten exceptional and highly regarded legal professionals, including attorneys Bobby Devadoss, Debra Hauser, Stephanie Glynn Berstein, Tyler Sroufe, Ryan Aubrey, Shane Robertson, Aubrey Rush, Morgan Smith, Marissa Hines, and Kelly Dowd. This team is dedicated to providing aggressive and thorough representation to federal employees. Bobby Devadosss legal practice is well equipped to handle complicated and unique employment and labor law cases. The firm has offices located in Dallas, Atlanta, and Washington, DC. To learn more about this firm or schedule a free consultation, visit https://www.fedemploymentlaw.com/ or call 888-351-0424. To learn more about Elite Lawyer, visit https://www.elitelawyer.com/. First Kiss, Last Kiss: a potent tale of young love and the tragedy of war. First Kiss, Last Kiss is the creation of published author Deborah D'Antonio, where she is currently working on a sequel to First Kiss, Last Kiss that begins in a supernatural realm. She is also writing a book about her life experiences as a healer for God. D'Antonio shares, Teens Jesse and Diane meet in a lively Midwestern American town, and its love at first sight! They share a time of young love in bloom that is playful and tender, leaving you lighthearted and smiling. Realizing that a deep and rare love found its way into each others hearts, they decide to get married after graduating from university. Plans change when Jesse gets drafted and becomes a combat soldier in Vietnam where he experiences the turbulent traumas of war. Even though an invisible bond remains, their journeys are forever altered through a twist of fate with many surprises along the way. First Kiss, Last Kiss spans three generations as they celebrate family and friendships with all its joys, losses, and messy wonderful times while the resiliency of the human spirit shines through it all. There is a blending of characters that are witty, enchanting, and uniquely quirky that fit together like pieces in a puzzle that will stay with you long after you read the last page. Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Deborah D'Antonios new book is a compelling mix of personal, spiritual, and historical themes that explores life during the Vietnam era and many years beyond. DAntonio invites readers to experience unique time in the worlds history as seen through the eyes of two high school sweethearts and those met along the way, reflecting on different relationships and the love that sustains us throughout our lives. Consumers can purchase First Kiss, Last Kiss at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about First Kiss, Last Kiss, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. We have known LBN Medical for several years and believe they are the logical company to help DirectMed expand our parts business outside of North America. Their distribution is the perfect complement to our business, said Brad de Koning, DirectMeds President & CEO. DirectMed Parts & Service (DirectMed) announced today that it has acquired LBN Medical (LBN or the Company). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Headquartered in Aalborg, Denmark, LBN is a leading reseller of aftermarket diagnostic imaging equipment to customers around the world. LBN sells complete systems and parts covering more than fifteen brands, including major OEMs such as Canon, GE, Hologic, Siemens, and Philips. The Company was founded in 2003 by CEO Lars Braun Nielsen and has since grown to more than 50 employees at facilities in Denmark and Egypt. Lars Braun Nielsen, CEO and Founder of LBN, stated, Brad and the DirectMed team have outlined their mission to extend the life of medical imaging equipment to improve access, reduce waste, and lower healthcare costs. We are thrilled to be a part of this endeavor, and to work with the DirectMed team and NMS to accelerate our growth. The partnership with DirectMed provides LBN with tremendous resources to provide an even higher level of service and expertise to our customers, including a greater breadth and depth of parts and technical support. We have known LBN Medical for several years and believe they are the logical company to help DirectMed expand our parts business outside of North America. Their distribution team which speaks 21 different languages, with sales history in over 60 countries, and employs experts across seven modalities is the perfect complement to our business, said Brad de Koning, DirectMeds President & CEO. Acquiring LBN Medical begins an exciting new chapter for DirectMed, with the addition of system sales to our customer base, and for LBN Medical, who will now stock and have access to over 10,000 unique part numbers to support theirs. Providers around the world are looking for cost-effective solutions to acquire and maintain equipment as they continue to grow their practice. The combination of DirectMed and LBN supports that exact need in the marketplace, said Tanner LoRusso, V.P. of Sales at DirectMed. Moreover, we can now supply our North America customers with complete diagnostic imaging solutions, with ready to ship ultrasound, mammography, X-ray, MRI, and CT machines. About DirectMed: DirectMed Parts & Service is the largest independent diagnostic imaging parts supplier specializing in MRI and CT machines with over 60,000 parts in stock. An ISO 13485 certified company, DirectMed repairs, supports and sells GE, Siemens, and Philips parts to healthcare networks, imaging centers and independent service organizations ("ISOs") around the world. For additional information on DirectMed, please visit the firm's website at https://directmedparts.com. About LBN: LBN Medical is a leading reseller of aftermarket medical imaging equipment to customers around the world. LBN sells equipment and parts covering more than fifteen brands, including major OEMs such as Canon, GE, Siemens, and Philips. The Company was founded in 2003 by CEO Lars Braun Nielsen, and has since grown to an organization of more than 50 associates at facilities in Denmark and Egypt. For additional information on LBN, please visit the firm's website at https://LBNmedical.com. DirectMed LinkedIn The market has been gradually growing for the last 12 years, but in 3 to 5 years that will shift. Most advisors feel that because things are working well for the moment, they dont want to start making changes because its time-consuming and costly. The traditional investment model focuses on gathering assets, developing relationships, handing over those assets to a mutual fund company, and leaving those parties to do their part and charge for their servicesthe advising. These advisors may be genuinely interested in helping people but have been getting the short end of the sticknot being properly compensated for their services, partly because they have a reputation for not doing a great job. Simultaneously, the market has been slowly growing for the past 12 years with little disruption, and massive complacency has set in among these asset advisors. They may periodically rebalance their asset allocation models, or not at all, and generally have their clients do what they tell them. However, the market is likely to enter a very rough period for the next three to five years, and clients are going to start calling their advisors to the taskhaving them justify their investments versus performance. However, most advisors feel that because things are working well for the moment, they dont want to start making changes because its time-consuming and costly. But enter disruptor Christian Hyldahl, President and Founder of Varium Investment Partners, who explains to KJ Helms, host of the Disruption / Interruption podcast, that instead of utilizing the traditional investment advisory model that focuses on one half of client revenue, Christian Hyldahls firm takes a radical shiftcapitalizing and monetizing the investment management portion and sharing it with their investment advisement partners. By making sure clients money is working harder, advisors and asset managers will differentiate themselvesgetting better performance even in bad market years, which attracts more capital, but more importantly, earns their customers loyalty. After years of being a traditional portfolio manager and having clients asked to lower his fees despite stellar performance year after year, Christian said to himselfTHATS IT. IM DONE WITH THE STATUS QUO and founded his own company based on a process, not a product, to consistently outperform expectations. Christian explains: 1. The key component for disruption is an extreme emphasis on what you do and how you provide it. 2. Asset management companies havent had to disclose their economics previously. 3. The market has been gradually growing for the last 12 years, but in 3 to 5 years that will shift. 4. There is no more 30-year pattern of fixed income and rates decreasing from 8% to 50 basis points. 5. Cryptocurrency has gained popularity lately and it has given some people the financial freedom to quit their employment. 6. We have more positions available than unemployed people at the moment. 7. Processes are being automated yet providing inferior performance. People are accepting it but shouldnt be. Disruption Interruption is the podcast where youll hear from todays biggest Industry Disruptors. Learn what motivated them to bring about change and how they overcome opposition to adoption. Disruption Interruption can be listened to via the Podbean app and is available on Apple's App Store and Google Play. About Disruption Interruption: Disruption is happening on an unprecedented scale, impacting all manner of industries MedTech, Finance, IT, eCommerce, shipping and logistics, and moreand COVID has moved their timelines up a full decade or more. But WHO are these disruptors and when did they say, THATS IT! IVE HAD IT!? Time to Disrupt and Interrupt with host Karla Jo KJ Helms, veteran communications disruptor. KJ interviews bad a**es who are disrupting their industries and altering economic networks that have become antiquated with an establishment resistant to progress. She delves into uncovering secrets from industry rebels and quiet revolutionaries that uncover common traitsand not-so-commonthat are changing our economic markets and lives. Visit the worlds key pioneers that persist to success, despite arrows in their backs at http://www.disruptioninterruption.com. About Karla Jo Helms: Karla Jo Helms is the Chief Evangelist and Anti-PR(TM) Strategist for JOTO PR Disruptors(TM). Karla Jo learned firsthand how unforgiving business can be when millions of dollars are on the lineand how the control of public opinion often determines whether one company is happily chosen, or another is brutally rejected. Being an alumnus of crisis management, Karla Jo has worked with litigation attorneys, private investigators, and the media to help restore companies of goodwill back into the good graces of public opinionKarla Jo operates on the ethic of getting it right the first time, not relying on second chances and doing what it takes to excel. Helms speaks globally on public relations, how the PR industry itself has lost its way and how, in the right hands, corporations can harness the power of Anti-PR to drive markets and impact market perception. About Varium Investment Partners: Varium Investment Partners is an "in-sourced" CIO solution for Independent Registered Investment Advisors. They are building the ideal investment solution which allows advisors to focus on building and managing client relationships and providing holistic financial planning advice, and Varium Investment Partners focuses on implementing institutional-level investment management solutions...the next evolution of the financial industry. Varium Investment Partners can be found online at VariumIP.com. About Christian Hyldahl: Christian Hyldahl has 27 years of portfolio management, investment strategy, and research experience across multiple investment styles and products. He is consistently a top portfolio manager in multiple equity categories as well as a value equity investment specialist in domestic and international equity. Christian Hyldahl can be found online at https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-hyldahl-cfa-b55514/. Endurance Warranty Services "Endurance was founded with a commitment to service, transparency, and accountability in the auto protection industry, shared Endurance CEO Rich Holland. I look forward to growing our coverage options even more." Drivers are holding onto their cars for longer. The average age of vehicles in the United States is over 12 years when in 2002 it was just 9.6 years.^ Because of this, breakdown coverage for used cars has become even more crucial. Endurance, a trusted source for vehicle protection, is proud to announce it has added luxury car brands to its list of coverage options. In January 2022, Endurance launched an extension to its Supreme vehicle service contract (VSC) that provides coverage for specific luxury vehicle models. The company is calling this their Highline add-on to the Supreme VSC. The luxury makes now covered by Endurance vehicle protection include: *Alfa Romeo, Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche. Eligibility for the Highline auto protection plan includes vehicles up to eight years old and/or 80,000 miles. Specific makes and models are covered, and exclusions may apply. Motorists, including luxury car owners, are keeping their vehicles longer. We wanted to meet this growing demand and supply new coverage options, said Chief Product Officer Aaron Segal. At Endurance, we pride ourselves on offering drivers customizable coverage for nearly all vehicle makes and models. The Highline addition to our Supreme vehicle protection plan offers luxury car enthusiasts reliable breakdown coverage and, most importantly, peace of mind. In 2021, Endurance was honored with the Business Intelligence Group's BIG Awards for Business New Product of the Year award for Advantage, a revolutionary auto protection plan. Advantage offers breakdown protection and routine vehicle maintenance coverage, making it unique amongst other auto protection plans. With Endurance customizable plans like Advantage and Highline, drivers can count on more than vehicle protection. Value-added benefits like 24/7 roadside assistance and car rental coverage make Endurance coverage worthwhile and practical. As a leader in vehicle service contracts that extend drivers mechanical coverage once the manufacturers warranty runs out, Endurance was founded with a commitment to service, transparency, and accountability in the auto protection industry, shared Endurance CEO Rich Holland. I look forward to growing our coverage options even more and continuing to provide customers with a trusted source for their vehicle protection needs. About Endurance Warranty Services, LLC For the most comprehensive auto protection plans in the industry, drivers turn to Endurance. Endorsed by real customers, recommended by auto experts, and highly rated on consumer advocate websites, Endurance plans shield drivers from the high costs of parts and labor when an unexpected breakdown occurs. Since 2006, the company has paid over $125 million in claims, helping customers save thousands on vehicle repairs and Empowering Confidence for the Road Ahead. Endurance Warranty Services, LLC, operates corporate headquarters in Northbrook, Ill., with additional offices in downtown Chicago and St. Louis, Mo. To learn more about Endurance vehicle protection plans and car maintenance packages, visit http://www.endurancewarranty.com. Source: ^ Average Age of Cars and Light Trucks in the US Rises to 12.1 Years, Accelerated by Covid-19. IHS Markit, June 14, 2021. ihsmarkit.com/research-analysis/average-age-of-cars-and-light-trucks-in-the-us-rises.html. The February issue of Health Affairs offers a comprehensive look at peer-reviewed research at the intersection of racism and health care. It includes a holistic overview of how systemic racism influences the health of underserved populations, including the need to acknowledge the central role of racism in the national discourse on health care inequities (Braveman, Zambrana). A series of studies provides empirical evidence of racism in the health care system. One study examines how structural racism and sexism shape employment for Black women in the US health care system, finding that Black women have the highest probability of working in the lowest-wage and most hazardous jobs, including in long-term care and as licensed practical nurses or certified nursing assistants (Dill). Another finds that higher levels of felony disenfranchisementthe denial of voting rights because of a felony convictionare associated with greater depression and difficulty performing daily living activities, and that felony disenfranchisement is more prevalent for Black residents (Homan). Analyses and first-person narratives share the experiences that underrepresented individuals have in a structurally racist health care system that too often leave people unheard. These commentaries and analyses examine how colonialism and racism preserve inequities for Fillipinx/a/o Americans, the third-largest Asian American group in the US (Sabado-Liwag); how the grouping of all Asian Americans together into data systems leads to poor data quality and stereotypes that perpetuate disparities (Yi); and case studies on how the generational trauma of colonization and genocide continues to affect the health of American Indians and Alaska Natives today (Solomon). Overview on Structural Racism in Health Care The Intellectual Roots Of Current Knowledge On Racism And Health: Relevance To Policy And The National Equity Discourse; Ruth Enid Zambrana of the University of Maryland and David Williams of Harvard University. Systemic And Structural Racism: Definitions, Examples, Health Damages, And Approaches To Dismantling; Paula Braveman of the University of California San Francisco and coauthors. Empirical Evidence on Racism in Health Care Structural Racism And Black Womens Employment In The US Health Care Sector; Janette Dill of the University of Minnesota and Mignon Duffy of the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Sick And Tired Of Being Excluded: Structural Racism In Disenfranchisement As A Threat To Population Health Equity; Patricia Homan of Florida State University and Tyson Brown of Duke University. Unheard Voices Addressing The Interlocking Impact Of Colonialism And Racism On Filipinx/a/o American Health Inequities; Melanie Sabado-Liwag of California State University and coauthors. The Mutually Reinforcing Cycle Of Poor Data Quality And Racialized Stereotypes That Shapes Asian American Health; Stella Yi of NYU Grossman School of Medicine and coauthors. The Generational Impact Of Racism On Health: Voices From American Indian Communities; Teshia Arambula Solomon of the University of Arizona and coauthors. ### ABOUT HEALTH AFFAIRS: Health Affairs is the leading peer-reviewed journal at the intersection of health, health care, and policy. Published monthly by Project HOPE, the journal is available in print and online. Late-breaking content is also found through healthaffairs.org, Health Affairs Today, and Health Affairs Sunday Update. Project HOPE is a global health and humanitarian relief organization that places power in the hands of local health care workers to save lives across the globe. Project HOPE has published Health Affairs since 1981. Health Affairs podcasts go beyond the journals pages to bring you insightful discussions on the latest news and research affecting health policy. Our newest podcast, Health Affairs Pathways, explores the health care system through storytelling from investigative journalism and health policy explainers to long-form interviews. On our flagship podcast, A Health Podyssey, Editor-In-Chief Alan Weil interviews the leading researchers and influencers shaping the fields big ideas. Join Health Affairs editors on Health Affairs This Week as they discuss the weeks most pressing health policy news. All in 15 minutes or less. Modular three-axes gantry robots can be delivered as ready-to-assemble kits, including cabinet and all necessary supporting components, or as preassembled systems. Festo introduces at SLAS 2022 the Modular Gantry Robot platform for laboratory-based automated liquid handling. Open sourced, customizable, and utilizing world-class components, this new solution enables equipment designers to quickly realize their unique solutions with fewer mechanical and electrical engineering resources, speeding time to market. (February 5-9, Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, Festo Booth #718) Festo also introduces a complete family of building blocks for developing pressure/time based automated dispensing and pipetting applications. This platform is compatible with a broad range of media, offers exceptional repeatability at high speed, and can be easily calibrated for targeted applications. A core component of the family, the PGVA pressure/vacuum generator, supplies microfiltered air and vacuum for lab fluidic applications, including dispensing and pipetting. A single automated pipetting system equipped with a PGVA can transfer a range of liquid volumes from milliliters on up with + 2% precision. Dispense/pipette heads are available in variants from 1 up to 96 channels for high throughput applications. These new solutions were developed at the Festo Life Science Technology Engineering Center (TEC), Billerica, Mass. Established in 2018 as part of the Festo research and development arm, the TEC pioneers the development of new high speed, high accuracy fluid handling and dispensing solutions and collaborates with OEMs to bring their laboratory equipment to market faster and with less risk based on Festo world-class automation components and global technical support. COVID has accelerated both product development and individualized work at the TEC. To speed development, personnel used a strategy of modular building blocks that can be applied quickly and mixed and matched as needed. COVID accelerated development led to the new Modular Gantry, open-loop pipettes, and PGVA air box. Modular Gantry Modular gantries feature an open-source motion and fluidic application programming interface (API) with Python, Java, and .NET/C# drivers. Utilizing a library of common drivers reduces the learning curve and enables integrators to easily develop an optimized control strategy for their machine strategies that support the end-use customers success and satisfaction with the machine. The flexibility and ability to customize eliminates the need for OEMs to purchase a generic machine and then adapt their test or assay solution onto it. Modular three-axes gantry robots can be delivered as ready-to-assemble kits, including cabinet and all necessary supporting components, or as preassembled systems. The Modular Gantry Robot platform follows a Lego-like building block strategy of hundreds of interoperable components designed to be assembled with simple hand tools. Festo Life Science engineers guide customers in the selection of the optimum modules for the target application, including the level of three-axis robot required to handle speed and load. Other modules can include dispense head, pipettes, capper/decapper, and bar code reader. Simple modular Gantries can ship in 8 to 12 weeks, and production scaled up rapidly where needed to suit urgent applications such as Covid testing. Open-loop pipettes Utilizing compressed air and vacuum, Festo open-loop pipettes transfer liquid volumes in microliter ranges with up to + 2% precision. The system can provide fast clog detection and liquid level sensing. Sterile pipettes are available with 20, 300, and 1,000 ul tips, with filters and without. They are compatible with Festo dispense heads, gantries, and PGVA, creating the benefits of modular automation. By the end of 2022, Festo will be offering the smart closed loop pipette. Programmed easily using a built-in web interface, the smart pipette will be used in applications benefiting from high accuracy and multiple sensor feedback that enables volume verification. PGVA pressure/vacuum generator In the PGVA unit, pressure and vacuum are generated by a quiet 50 dB pump and stored internally in individual reservoirs. Air is filtered to -0.001m purity. Flow is servo controlled by a fast, silent, energy efficient piezoelectric regulator. For easy operation, PGVA can be controlled from any RS232, USB, or Ethernet port. Open-source Python, C#, and Java drivers are posted and supported on Github: GitHub - Festo-se/PGVA-1: Pressure and Vacuum Generator This all-in-one 24V system has a footprint of 8"x3"x8". The PGVA received in 2021 an IDEA! gold award and LEAP engineering design silver award. For more information on Festo LifeTech solutions dispensing liquids, controlling gases, handling and gripping vials email life.sciences.nam@festo.com and visit Festo Laboratory Automation. Visit http://www.festo.us for the full range of products. About Festo Festo is a leading manufacturer of pneumatic and electromechanical systems, components, and controls for process and industrial automation. Celebrating 50 years in the US, Festo Corporation has continuously elevated the state of manufacturing with innovations and optimized motion control solutions that deliver higher performing, more profitable automated manufacturing and processing equipment. Through advanced technical and industrial education, Festo Didactic Learning Systems and its partners prepare workers for todays and tomorrows manufacturing technologies. Connect with Festo: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube FIPR protects Highmark customers premium dollars and well-being, ensuring that health spending supports high-value care for our more than 6 million members by rooting out bad actors, inefficiencies and errors."-- Kurt Spear, vice president of FIPR for Highmark Inc. Highmarks Financial Investigations and Provider Review (FIPR) department generated more than $245 million in savings related to fraud, waste and abuse in 2021, and has made a cumulative financial impact of nearly $1 billion in such activity since 2017. FIPR protects Highmark customers premium dollars and well-being, ensuring that health spending supports high-value care for our more than 6 million members by rooting out bad actors, inefficiencies and errors, says Kurt Spear, vice president of FIPR for Highmark Inc. FIPR accomplishes that work by deploying sophisticated artificial intelligence programs and partnering with health systems, public health officials, law enforcement and other health stakeholders. Highmark prevented significant fraud, waste and abuse across various business segments and across the communities that it serves in 2021. That includes approximately $152 million in savings related to employer-based health insurance, $49 million from the Blue Card program (which provides Highmark customers with access to national Blue Cross Blue Shield networks), $19 million from Medicare Advantage, $16 million from the Affordable Care Act marketplace, and $9 million from the Federal Employee Program. FIPRs 2021 savings included approximately $184 million in activity related to billing/coding errors, fraud, waste and abuse in Pennsylvania, $25 million in West Virginia, and $23 million in Delaware. FIPR deploys industry-leading initiatives and technology, a multi-disciplinary team and strong community partnerships to ensure claims payment accuracy and do right by our customers, says Melissa Anderson, executive vice president and chief risk and compliance officer for Highmark Health. Healthcare claims go through rigorous reviews, including automated AI algorithms as well as manual assessments. AI allows Highmark to detect and prevent suspicious activity more quickly, update insurance policies and guidelines, and stay ahead of new schemes and bad actors. FIPRs work translates to lower costs, better care and peace of mind for all of our customers. FIPR features an internal team of more than 80 people that includes registered nurses, investigators, accountants, former law enforcement agents, clinical coders and programmers, complemented by an array of industry-leading vendors, to complete its objectives. As part of its work, the team performs audits to identify unusual claims, coding reviews and investigations that assess the appropriateness of provider payments. Since 2014, law enforcement investigations involving fraud, waste and abuse detected by FIPR have resulted in 94 arrests, indictments and convictions across 29 states, impacting 70 providers and resulting in 157 pharmacy terminations. Sentencing for FIPR-involved cases since 2018 have resulted in 125 months of probation, 244 months of prison time and restitution of $603,000. ### About Highmark Inc. One of America's leading health insurance organizations and an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Highmark Inc. (the Health Plan) and its affiliated health plans (collectively, the Health Plans) work passionately to deliver high-quality, accessible, understandable, and affordable experiences, outcomes, and solutions to customers. As the fourth-largest overall Blue Cross Blue Shield-affiliated organization, Highmark Inc. and its Blue-branded affiliates proudly cover the insurance needs of more than 6 million members in Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia and New York. Its diversified businesses serve group customer and individual needs across the United States through dental insurance and other related businesses. For more information, visit http://www.highmark.com. Better Posture Fast Book It just made sense to put together a book to answer all of our patients' most common posture-related problems Bad posture has more negative effects than most people can possibly imagine. It can cause a decrease in confidence, difficulty breathing, headaches, and overall body pain. People dealing with chronic neck and back pain often overlook how much their daily posture can be the cause. What if you could improve your posture fast and feel better but also learn to maintain good posture so you can keep feeling better? Better Posture Fast was developed by two Houston chiropractors that have seen the negative results of posture problems up close and personal in their patients for more than twenty-five years. They've heard patients say, "Maybe I slept wrong" or "It just started hurting" and solved these problems by simply fixing their posture. "It just made sense to put together a book to answer all of our patients' most common posture-related problems," said Dr. Philip Cordova. Their patients tend to be busy people, so this book will help you zero in on the fastest route to making changes to your posture without turning it into a full-time job. Directions to the exercises are clear and the authors provide illustrations and include links to the Better Posture Fast website, where you can view demonstrations or gather more information. They also include recommend resources, so if you plan on buying a posture gadget or brace, you'll know where to start. Dr. Natalie Cordova said, "We put together all of the exercises that we know work, but gave options for those that may need modifications." By simply altering the way you use a phone or sit at a desk, you can change your day from one of agony to having a pain-free life. Improved posture can increase your quality of life. It's time to stop the pain now! You can schedule a consultation with the doctors at https://www.corechiropractic.net. Better Posture Fast is available on Amazon and all other online book sellers. Minister for education, Malam Adamu Adamu, has called for dialogue on matters of religious differences, rather than resorting to violence. Adamu made the call in a keynote address he delivered yesterday at the 2022 World Hijab Day Public Lecture, entitled 'The Hijab as a Metaphor of our National Aspirations.' The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the public lecture was organised by Coalition of Muslim Women of Nigeria. Adamu, who was represented by deputy director for social mobilisation, Universal Basic Education Commission, Mrs Sidikat Shomope, said Nigeria's constitution guaranteed freedom of religion for all citizens. "This, by implication, means that all citizens are allowed to practice their religion according to the dictates of their faith, as long as no harm or inconvenience is caused to other people. "The wearing of hijab by Muslim women is in line with the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), as recommended in Qur'an 33:59. "However, there has been much controversy on this matter in our country, which has unfortunately gone down to the school level and generated needless violent clashes. "I wish to take this opportunity to remind our fellow citizens that there is a lot we can gain by dialoguing on matters of religious differences, rather than resorting to violence. "Our children will remain citizens of Nigeria, irrespective of their faith. They will live and interact in the world outside their schools, where no boundary exists between the religions," Adamu said. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Governance Religion By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. The minister appealed to traditional, religious and community leaders to use their offices to douse tension and ensure peace, harmony and tolerance. "I call on parents and our school teachers to ensure that in both words and actions, they present the best model to our children to emulate," he said. Earlier, a member of House of Representatives, Hon Aishatu Dukku, said the National Assembly would ensure the passage of Religious Discrimination Prohibition Prevention Bill, 2021. Also, the guest lecturer, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, said hijab was a vehicle of unification, both nationally and internationally, adding that it helped Muslim women to identify themselves. Akintola also said that hijab was a symbol of social justice, freedom and equal rights, adding that it "commands confidence and radiates a feeling of safety. "Hijab is a key to morality. A hijab wearing woman is 24 hours conscious of her responsibility. That a woman puts on her hijab is a sign of a responsible woman ready to build the nation. "When you discriminate against a single woman, you are discriminating against the entire nation," he said. On her part, the deputy vice chancellor, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Prof. Sa'adatu Liman, urged Muslim women to exhibit good conduct while wearing hijab. L2T is honored to be recognized by Google as a Premier Partner. Our team of dedicated product experts worked hard to achieve our Premier status, says Jeff Kaufman, VP of Product & Strategy, L2TMedia. L2Ts team of experts provides Paid Search, Display Advertising, Video Advertising, SEO (Search Engine Optimization), OTT (Over-the-Top) Advertising, Paid and Organic Social Media and Reputation Management for automotive dealers in the United States. Explore the full range of offerings on http://www.l2tmedia.com L2T is honored to be recognized by Google as a Premier Partner. Our team of dedicated product experts worked hard to achieve our Premier status, says Jeff Kaufman, VP of Product & Strategy, L2TMedia. We look forward to another year partnering with Google, and we are thrilled to be able to take advantage of the benefits of the partnership to grow our knowledge of Google products and pass these learnings and strategies onto our dealers. In February, Google recognized the achievements of top-performing digital marketing partners across the globe by awarding Premier Partner status as part of the new Google Partners program. The Google Partners program has undergone significant changes for 2022, including redefining what it means to be a Premier Partner through new, advanced program requirements and offering new Premier Partner benefits to support growth and success with Google Ads. Congratulations to our Premier Partners for being among the top 3% of Google Partners in the United States. These companies stand out based on their commitment to developing product expertise, building new client relationships, and helping their current clients grow. We look forward to supporting them as they help their customers succeed online. Davang Shah, Senior Director, Google Ads Marketing L2T is part of a select group of Premier Partners in the Google Partners program. This program is designed for advertising agencies and third parties that manage Google Ads accounts on behalf of other brands or businesses. Its mission is to empower companies by providing them with innovative tools, resources, and support to help their clients succeed and grow online. About L2TMedia: Established in 2007, L2TMedia brings more than a decade of automotive digital experience to retailers. L2T has a robust suite of digital products and has become one of the premier service providers of digital marketing solutions in the automotive industry. We partner with a range of dealership groups and OEM certified programs to help dealers build awareness, engage customers and generate leads. For more information, visit l2tmedia.com. As we continue adding sophisticated talent to meet the growing demands of our clients, Todds reputation as a valued strategic advisor and his deep experience assisting companies with a wide spectrum of transactions will enhance our team in Utah and across the firm. Holland & Hart announced the addition of corporate and M&A lawyer Todd Reece to its Salt Lake City office as a partner. Reece brings extensive experience as a corporate transactional attorney advising emerging and established privately held companies to meet their strategic business goals. Todd advises businesses on mergers, acquisitions, financings (venture capital and private equity), joint ventures, restructuring, and other strategic combinations. He works with clients in an array of industries, including healthcare, food and beverage, retail, manufacturing, and professional services. As we continue adding sophisticated talent to meet the growing demands of our clients, Todds reputation as a valued strategic advisor and his deep experience assisting companies with a wide spectrum of transactions will enhance our team in Utah and across the firm, said Leslie Boyle, leader of the firms Corporate practice group. As an internal auditor with a multinational accounting firm for several years before pursuing a legal career, Todd brings valuable business perspective to help clients assess operational risk and make strategic decisions. Most recently, Todd was a practice leader of Ballard Spahrs Emerging Companies and Venture Capital Practice Group. I am pleased to join Holland & Harts sophisticated Corporate group and look forward to working with my new colleagues in a variety of practice areas across the firm, said Reece. Holland & Harts collaborative, team-based approach to serving clients in a variety of industries will be an asset to my clients. Holland & Harts Corporate attorneys have extensive experience advising clients from start-ups to public companies, at all stages of development, in a diverse range of industries including energy and resources, technology, finance, healthcare, gaming, outdoor recreation, animal health, construction and building materials, aerospace, and food, beverage, and consumer products industries. About Holland & Hart Founded in 1947, Holland & Hart is a full-service Am Law 200 firm with offices in eight states and in Washington, D.C. We deliver integrated legal solutions to regional, national, and international clients of all sizes in a diverse range of industries. For more information, visit http://www.hollandhart.com. Lulu Celebrates 20 Years of Amazing Authors Our technology and platform are on point, continued Young, but without people who are willing to share their stories in an effort to make the world a better place, all of that means nothing, fam. Earlier this week, pioneers in self-publishing, Lulu.com, celebrated a milestone that many tech startups and Internet businesses fail to achieve: 20 years of growth and industry leading innovation. In modern vernacular, Lulu would be a Gen Z right now, said Lulu founder, Bob Young. And I think its important to bring that youthful energy to everything we create. No cap. To ensure that youthful energy is felt throughout the year, Lulu has tapped their resident youth culture appropriator and VP of Marketing, Matt Briel, to keep the company up to date on emerging trends and technologies. When asked to comment on this story, Briel responded, DM me. When DMd to comment on this story, Briel responded, Lulu is straight fire. Theyve kept it 100 since I started and so many dope creators have been able to make books - which are like websites but you can carry them around - and make bank. And that is on fleek. Word, added Young. Since 2002, Lulu has been slaying the self-publishing sector with industry leading print-on-demand technology and innovative direct-to-consumer ecommerce solutions. However, the true milestone is the 2.1 million authors that have brought their projects, dreams, and ideas to fruition through Lulus platform. Our technology and platform are on point, continued Young, but without people who are willing to share their stories in an effort to make the world a better place, all of that means nothing, fam. Over the last 20 years, Lulu has seen projects published through their platform become best-sellers, podcasts, live shows, launch businesses, and preserve legacies. In recognition of the incredible creatives, authors and entrepreneurs that have made Lulu what it is today, Lulu will celebrate their 20th anniversary the week of 2/7-2/11. Follow Lulus 20th anniversary drip @luludotcom on social media or visit lulu.com. Today's investors want to know that the companies they are investing in are good corporate citizens that take care of the environment, create good jobs that pay a living wage, and further the advancement of human knowledge. MarketBeat, a leading source for stock market data and research tools, today announced a strategic partnership with The Upright Project to help investors assess the net environmental and societal impact of their trading decisions. Leveraging The Upright Projects Net Impact data, MarketBeat is the first financial media company in the United States that enables subscribers to make investment decisions based on holistic value creation and the net impact of companies. Investors can now assess the sustainability of each stock at marketbeat.com with new models measuring the societal, knowledge generation, health, and environmental impacts of a company. Net impact concentrates on the scientifically-examined largest impacts that a companys core business has on the surrounding world. The model answers the question: What does the company achieve with the resources it employs? This is part of a larger systemic change of money market dynamics where organizations have incentives to optimize their net impact to attract and to receive funding, said Upright Project Global Growth & Product Lead Tuukka Yrttimaa. Through our partnership with MarketBeat, Upright's net impact data will be involved in an increasing number of investment decisions and therefore contribute to the broader transformation of money market dynamics. This move is very much in line with our mission to incentivize companies to optimize their net impact. The announcement marks MarketBeats first feature release of 2022, following a year of rollouts that included sentiment-based tools which enable investors to spot trends, community conversations, and media traction with ease. Today's investors want to know that the companies they are investing in are good corporate citizens that take care of the environment, create good jobs that pay a living wage, and further the advancement of human knowledge, said MarketBeat Founder and CEO Matt Paulson. They want companies to do more than just generate bottom-line profits, and were pleased to support them in their mission to invest in a better world. Upright's Net Impact data provides objective measurements to show which companies are making positive contributions to the environment, society, and the workforce." About The Upright Net Impact Model The Upright net impact model is a mathematical model of the economy that quantifies the net impact of companies. The model is based on machine learning, open-source science, and the products and services that companies produce and offer. Upright's taxonomy consists of 20,000+ product and service categories connected with 500,000+ links based on their value chain. Using Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques, the model has been taught to understand causality in scientific articles (a database of 200+ million articles) and summarize what science knows about all the impacts that the products and services have on society, knowledge, health, and the environment. About MarketBeat MarketBeat is a financial media company with a mission to empower individual investors to make better trading decisions by providing real-time financial information and objective market research. More than 2.6 million investors receive MarketBeats flagship newsletter, MarketBeat Daily Ratings. MarketBeat also publishes a network of financial news websites, including insidertrades.com and pricetargets.com, which garner more than 25 million pageviews each month, a suite of web-based investment research software called MarketBeat All Access, and a mobile stock research app on iOS and Android. For more information, visit marketbeat.com. The complimentary small plates at the new Naked Tomato at Hudson Yards. Youre coming to a restaurant to create a deep relationship, so why not share food, says Celebrity Chef Eyal Shani who is the creative visionary behind 35 successful restaurants around the world. The latest idea from The Better Guys restaurant group, Naked Tomato burst onto the New York scene last month in The Shops at Hudson Yards, adjacent to Miznon, their fast-casual elevated Israeli street-food-in-a-pita place. While Chef Eyal Shani and partner, creative visionary Shahar Segal say Miznon cuisine tends to walk New York streets in a portable pita, Naked Tomato is all about sitting, connecting, and breaking barriers. The name is Chef Shanis joyous nod to the uproar caused by the $24 hydroponic tomato on his HaSalon New York menu. Few are aware in what high esteem Shani holds a fresh tomato, or the months-long search he undertook to find the perfect, most flavorful specimen. For Shani, a peeled naked tomato represents multiple deep meanings: perfection, joy, warmth, focus, happiness, hospitality; no one is more philosophical about a tomato, and this chef adamantly refuses to establish a restaurant without finding one. With his heart so firmly attached to the fruit, its logical that his newest restaurant iteration, and its core idea (the chef eschews the idea of concepts) be named Naked Tomato. For this, Shani returned to his Mediterranean roots, creating an elevated Israeli skewer concept, serving two-foot-long chicken, beef, and lamb skewers over 20 complimentary and replenishable small plate salads, including matbucha, eggplant, roasted bell peppers, tomato foam with schug, octopus, lavan, freekeh and a variety of tahini and eggplant. Patrons will dine on the same fresh vegetables Shani sources for his HaSalon menu at a much lower $30 to $40 price point. Chef Shani, who with partner Segal, confirm they have ideas not business plans, dreamed up Naked Tomato one November 2021 night in Miami as he catered an evening fundraiser in a private home with one singular chef assistant; the others were busy training for his South Beach HaSalon restaurant opening. As he describes his epiphany, I decided that the marble counter would be the first course, then I put the main course on the first course and suddenly, something amazing happened. I got another perspective, says Shani. The mezze made such a beautiful background, like a kaleidoscope, changing the picture of the first course, combining them into something vibrant and elegant; that is my way of cooking and thinking about food, he avers. Its a style of food Segal points out could be found decades ago at Israeli gas stations, now with Shani elevating it into the chefs original style. The philosophical Shani believes people see their plates and restaurant tables as personal territories when theyre out to eat, and designate borders between tables. Hes created Naked Tomato to break down those walls. A plate is a kind of territory. It belongs to you. I cannot stand it, says the chef. Even animals share their food; they hunt and eat together. I want to share my food with you and you with me, he says. Youre coming to a restaurant to create a deep relationship, so why not share food. By design, the spacious 80-seat restaurant is a cacophony of Israeli, Arabic, and American music, clattering plates, the whir of waiters between tables, and a din of conversations. The salads are fresh and sunny and youll be full, but youll order and eat the main course because its delicious, says Segal. The vibe is music, laughter, people, conversation; somewhere you go for a quick lunch or a fun dinner and the best Mediterranean food youve ever had. Naked Tomato is located on Level 2 of The Shops and Restaurants at Hudson Yards, 20 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001. For reservations, visit Resy.com. Follow Naked Tomato at http://www.instagram.com/nakedtomatonyc. All public, private, and homeschooled students in grades Kindergarten 12 are encouraged to participate. Were excited to see how each student will utilize their creativity and imagination to recognize our nations military men and women. The National Naval Aviation Museum and Naval Aviation Museum Foundation are excited to present the SALUTE Art and Essay Contest to students all across the nation. To participate, each student must submit artwork or an essay that recognizes the sacrifice, service and commitment of our service members and their families for a chance to have their artwork displayed in the Museum. All public, private, and homeschooled students in grades Kindergarten 12 are encouraged to participate. The contest calls for entries of original artwork from students in grades K 12 and essays from students in grades 6 12. Were excited to see how each student will utilize their creativity and imagination to recognize our nations military men and women, said retired Rear Adm. Kyle Cozad, President and CEO of the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation. Entries will be collected in February, March and April. The deadline for submissions is 11:59 p.m. on Friday, April 22. The contest will be separated and judged in separate grade level groups. Winners will be awarded in May. All art must be created using only pencils, paint, charcoal or markers. Three-dimensional art pieces, photography and digital art are ineligible. Glitter is not permitted on any art pieces. The art must be 11-by-17 inches or smaller. Drop-off locations are available in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties. Content submitted will not be returned. Essay submissions must be between 200 to 500 words typed using double-spaced lines. Essay submissions can be mailed or emailed. Ribbons will be awarded to the SALUTE Art and Essay contest first, second and third place winners in each category. All winning submissions will be displayed at the National Naval Aviation Museum for Military Appreciation Month in May. First place winners submissions will be displayed in the National Naval Aviation Museum for an entire calendar year. First place winners will also receive a $100 savings bond and each winners teacher will receive a $50.00 gift card. For details about the requirements and how to submit entries please visit https://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/contest/. For contest questions please contact Dianna Hayden at dhayden@navalaviationmuseum.org or 850-308-8935. IMPORTANT DATES: Rooted in science and education, Rocky Mountain Hemp promotes your overall wellness, Harrington states in the video. As the inventor of the infomercial and founder of As Seen on TV, Kevin Harrington has launched some of the best-selling DRTV campaigns in history. Since producing his first thirty-minute infomercial in 1984, Harrington has been involved in over 500 product launches that have resulted in over $5 billion in global sales. Using organically-grown local hemp, they offer high-quality products that are rich in phytocannabinoids, Harrington explains. Their knowledgeable team, including two full-time chemists, creates each product in house. All products are tested and verified by an FDA accredited laboratory, Kevin reveals. Harringtons testimonial video about Rocky Mountain Hemp is scheduled for release across social media platforms, digital channels, and streaming services as well as http://www.UtahRockyMTN.com and http://www.khbrandresponse.tv. About Shark Discoveries Headquartered in South Florida, Shark Discoveries is a full-service production, branding, and marketing company that specializes in brand response television, including Celebrity Influencer Videos, and brand building. Based out of a 25,000+ sq ft, state-of-the-art studio, the companys creative team handles every aspect of production from script to screen to airing. About Rocky Mountain Hemp Our company Rocky Mountain Hemp was created with a clear initiative: to develop effective premium-grade CBD products through innovation and excellence, with the best service in accordance. This commitment to product quality and customer service is due to the personal experience of the company's chief executive, Todd Robinson. Faced with personal experience with the need to find an effective cure for severe leg pain, and at a certain point in time, after trying CBD oil that helped him cope with his disease, he decided that he should bring comfort and compassion to as many people as possible. For more information about Rocky Mountain Hemp, visit http://www.UtahRockyMTN.com. Petz, the largest pet retail chain in Brazil, announces its acquisition of Petix, the leader in premium and sustainable dog pads, and its U.S. division, WizSmart by Petix. This news comes on the heels of exponential growth of WizSmart in the U.S., as more dog owners look for smarter and sustainable ways to care for their beloved pets. As the countrys top pet retail chain, Petzs mission is to create a dynamic ecosystem for animal lovers and their pets in Brazil and abroad. With sustainability at the forefront of its business model, WizSmart by Petix joins the companys U.S. portfolio among other distinguished brands in the pet category, such as Zee Dog, known for its elevated pet-lifestyle products sold online and at its Manhattan flagship store. We are adding manufacturing capacity, expanding our product line and investing in marketing to make WizSmart an industry leader in the U.S. and beyond, says Rogerio Haddad, CEO and founder of Petix. We have just begun to scratch the surface in the U.S. market, added Krister Holm, Petix partner and co-founder of WizSmart. We have proven in a short period of time that customers want a harder working, more sustainable pad and pet retailers want to offer better quality products. We are excited to be part of the Petz ecosystem and look forward to working with other industry bests like Zee Dog. Petix represents everything we believe in when it comes to building a differentiated platform, and very much in line with the Petz Group's strategic vision of being recognized worldwide as the best ecosystem in the Pet sector by 2025. The partnership represents a unique move to acquire a strong brand, market leader, with a differentiated product in a fast growing and still low penetrated category, says Sergio Zimerman, founder and CEO of Grupo Petz, publicly-traded under the symbol PETZ3. The innovation behind WizSmart Most pee pads on the market leave a wet mess behind, but WizSmart works every time and over-time, for up to 24 hours. Many pet owners know the agony of picking up a pad after a few hours, only to find that the pee has seeped through and leaked to the floor. Thanks to a leak-proof design using materials from upcycled unused diapers, pet lovers can keep pets paws dry and avoid a dirty home using just one (yes only one!) of WizSmarts premium pads. This means the days of layering four or five pads are over. Dog pads are also notoriously smelly, making it hard to decipher where in the house to station it. WizSmart quickly absorbs liquids to better trap and eliminate unpleasant aromas. About WizSmart Founded in Brazil in 2007, Petix created a zero-waste manufacturing model to produce incredibly absorbent, premium pee pads made from repurposed baby diapers normally disposed by leading companies for minor defects, saving half a billion diapers from landfills annually. In 2017, Petix started its U.S. brand, WizSmart, to bring its earth-friendly product to market and has since expanded into 2,400 specialty pet stores across the country through a network of nine national distributors. WizSmart All-Day Dry dog pads work hard so pet lovers dont have to leaving less waste, no cleanup and more time spent with our furry best friends. For more on WizSmart, visit Wizsmart.com, and follow on Facebook and Instagram. EDITOR'S NOTE: For more information about WizSmart and to arrange to speak with a company spokesperson, please contact Nancy Trent or Pamela Wadler at 212-966-0024 or pam@trentandcompany.com. We've had the infrastructure and talent within our collective team for years, so launching this new division puts us in a unique position to immediately offer an even wider range of solutions and job opportunities. As businesses across the country struggle to find qualified talent, PrideStaff is pleased to announce that their Dallas Downtown office has added a PrideStaff Financial division to its operations. A natural extension of PrideStaff's staffing and placement franchise, their PrideStaff Financial division addresses clients' unique staffing challenges related to accounting, financial and bookkeeping positions. This division is led by industry veterans with more than 40 years of specialized and professional recruiting experience. "As the award-winning north Dallas office expands into the downtown area, we felt it made sense to add these two divisions to better serve our markets staffing needs PrideStaff and PrideStaff Financial to employers and job seekers throughout the city," said Victoria Burke, Owner/Strategic-Partner of the Dallas Downtown office. "We've had the infrastructure and talent within our collective team for years, so launching this new division puts us in a unique position to immediately offer an even wider range of solutions and job opportunities. "It is important to us to provide the best experience possible to our clients; it's right there in our mission statement, 'Consistently provide client experiences focused on what they value most'," continued Burke. "To us, 'clients' are both the hiring managers and the job seekers that we work with. The best way for us to live our mission is by identifying top talent and companies who carry our same values. We know that this expansion into the downtown area will continue to open doors for our whole network, benefitting all parties in the employment equation." For job seekers throughout Dallas, working with PrideStaff Financial means access to specialized recruiters and higher-level positions throughout the area, many of which won't be advertised elsewhere. Experienced accounting and finance professionals are encouraged to explore and apply to job opportunities here. About PrideStaff Financial A division of PrideStaff, PrideStaff Financial specializes in accounting and financial staffing. The parent company was founded in the 1970s as 100 percent company-owned units and began staffing franchising in 1995. They operate over 85 offices in North America to serve over 5,000 clients. With over 40 years in the staffing business, headquartered in Fresno, CA, all PrideStaff brands offer the resources and expertise of a national firm with the spirit, dedication and personal service of smaller, entrepreneurial firms. For more information on PrideStaff Financial services, visit our website. PrideStaff and PrideStaff Financial's shared Mission: Consistently provide client experiences focused on what they value most. R. Reagan Sahadi and Dr. Mary Margaret Ara Donate Funds to City of Goliad To Repair World War II Memorial "World War II touched every corner of our country - including this special community. Its more important now than ever to honor these heroes of the Greatest Generation and remember the ultimate sacrifice they were willing to make for our ability to live free now." The Sahadi Legal Group, helping victims of negligence get the justice and compensation they deserve, today announced attorney R. Reagan Sahadi and his wife, Dr. Mary Margaret Ara, have donated money earmarked for the rehabilitation of the WWII memorial on the grounds of the Courthouse in the City of Goliad, Texas. This follows their purchase of the First National Bank building as they continue to breathe new life into the historically important area, which also holds a sentimental place for the generous couple. There are countless memorials and monuments throughout the world commemorating the sacrifices and the triumph of the Allied forces of the Second World War, which spanned from 1939 to 1945. 16 million members of the Armed Forces of the United States of America served in the conflict with 405,399 of them giving their lives. By donating funds with the purpose of restoring the World War II Memorial in Goliad, R. Reagan Sahadi and his wife Mary Margaret Ara, M.D. - a Goliad native - recognize the importance of the citys contribution to the world. The monument currently stands at the northwest corner of the Goliad County Courthouse square, at the intersection of S Commercial Street and N Courthouse Square. The large gray granite memorial marker is dedicated to the soldiers and sailors who set off to war from Goliad County but lost their lives in that service. There are three sections: the center stone delivers a dedication while the two side stones list the rank and names of the Goliad heroes. "World War II touched every corner of our country - including this special community. Its more important now than ever to honor these heroes of the Greatest Generation and remember the ultimate sacrifice they were willing to make for our ability to live free now, said R. Reagan Sahadi, Attorney at Sahadi Legal Group. We just love the community of Goliad and we will continue to find ways that we can help and honor this community." The memorial has two broken vases as well as a need to be cleaned. The funds, which were donated at the Goliad County Commissioners Court meeting, also include power washing and cleaning other monuments located on the courthouse square. Not addressed at the meeting, but Sahadi is keeping in mind for future donation is the broken lighting system. Sahadi, a personal injury attorney, was named for the third consecutive year to the 2021 Texas Super Lawyers list. The Sahadi Legal Group is also planning a permanent office in Goliad in 2022. Inscribed on the Memorial: "Because these sons of Goliad Co. gave their lives in World War II that freedom might live, the citizens erected this memorial and dedicated it to their undying hopes and everlasting memories." Mr. Sahadi and his wifes gift will make sure those hopes and memories live on. For more information please visit http://www.sahadilegal.com About Sahadi Legal Group The Sahadi Legal Group was founded by Reagan Sahadi on the idea that clients deserve more than just representation in the courtroom or around the negotiation table. The Sahadi Legal Group has a wealth of experience representing victims of catastrophic accidents. Since 2009, Reagan Sahadi's verdicts and settlements in cases have exceeded $200 million for his clients. From car accidents to tire defects, the Sahadi Legal Group aggressively pursues each claim for clients with finesse. The Sahadi Legal Group is ready to put their expertise and passion to work for you. The legal team at the Sahadi Legal Group has over 45 combined years of experience. The dedicated staff will be with you every step of the way to help you understand the process and keep you informed. http://www.sahadilegal.com. Girls participate in an event at their school in Garowe, Puntland, during which Y-PEER explains the harmful effects of FGM (file photo). In Somalia, over 90 per cent or more of girls and women, have been subjected to female genital mutilation, or FGM. Despite the practice having devastating health ramifications for women and girls - including pain, bleeding, permanent disability and even death - discussion over how to end the harmful tradition, remains taboo. The United Nations has called for collaboration at all levels, and across all sectors of society across the world, to protect millions at risk from FGM every year. As the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation is marked on 6 February, the UN sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA, continues to lead the UN effort to end FGM. Dear Daughters Last fall, and in collaboration with the Ifrah Foundation, the UN agency launched the Dear Daughter campaign, as part of the effort to end FGM once and for all. The idea is to get individual parents not to cut their daughters. Through letter-writing, they pledge instead, to protect them, and support their right to govern their own bodies. 'Dear Daughter' works towards ending FGM in Somalia, which has one of the highest prevalence rates of the practice in the world. To date, 100 Somali mothers have signed the pledge. By targeting rural and urban individuals and communities, that are making an extraordinary commitment, to change the FGM narrative. For Nkiru I. Igbokwe, gender-based violence specialist at UNFPA in Somalia, it is "accelerating the voices of women and men alike, to end FGM in the country". As part of the campaign, women living in an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp on the outskirts of the capital Mogadishu - home to 280 households that fled Danunay village nearly 250 kilometres away, due to insurgent violence - have been learning about the harmful effects of FGM. Halima*, 50, a mother of five daughters and five sons, was among them. As a camp gatekeeper and a community member with influence, she was identified as someone who could advocate to help end the harmful practice that she and her first daughter had also endured. Flashbacks Like so many other women in her community, Halima underwent FGM as a child, subjecting her to lifelong health problems. "The procedure was painful, with no anesthesia. I bled for days," she recalled. "I was in bed for more than three months and urinating was a problem". When Halima reached adolescence, passing menstrual blood was also difficult, and as a newlywed, sex with her husband was a painful experience. When she became an expectant mother, childbirth was excruciating with labour lasting for days, putting her life at risk. Despite her suffering, Halima allowed her first daughter to be cut, just like her mother had done. 'She felt the pain' "My daughter underwent the Sunna type of FGM (removal of part or all of the clitoris), and she felt the pain I have been through," Halima said. But because it was not the more severe 'pharaonic' procedure (stitching the opening closed), people insulted them, she said, saying her daughter was unclean. The World Health Organization (WHO) is opposed to all types of FGM and is opposed to health care providers performing FGM. "Throughout the training course, I had flashback memories of how the practice has badly impacted my life," she said. Three years ago, a young girl in the same camp died as a result of FGM, and Halima started galvanizing the community, to try and make sure the tragedy is never repeated. Changing the future for Somali girls The Ifrah Foundation, together with the Global Media Campaign to End FGM, distributed UNFPA-supplied radio transmitters to 100 households so residents could listen to awareness campaigns and information. "It has been a long-standing dream of mine to work to save girls from the unnecessary pain and suffering I endured as a result of FGM," said survivor Ifrah Ahmed, founder of the foundation that bears her name. "Halima is an example of how we can change the future for all Somali girls", she added. Halima's advocacy has expanded beyond FGM. She encourages pregnant and lactating mothers to visit health centres and raises awareness over sexual and gender-based violence. She also notes that community members used to stay silent about rape due to fear of stigmatization, but now they seek help. According to UNFPA, because of her leadership, almost 100 mothers have pledged not to practice female genital mutilation, sparing about 200 girls in the settlement. "I don't want my other daughters and other young girls to go through the pain we have gone through," Halima said. The numbers across the world According to WHO, more than 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, where FGM is practiced. Only in Somalia, based on the 2020 Somali Health and Demographic Survey, 99 per cent of women aged 15 to 49 in Somalia, have been subjected to FGM, the majority between ages five and nine. The survey also reports that 72 per cent of women believe it is an Islamic requirement, though some religious leaders have said Islam actually condemns it. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Women Health Human Rights By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. In 2020, UNFPA provided 52,225 Somali women and girls protection, prevention or care services related to female genital mutilation. While there is no national legislation outlawing the practice, Puntland state passed a FGM Zero Tolerance Bill last year. This year, WHO will launch a training manual on person-centered communication, a counselling approach that encourages health care providers to challenge their FGM-related attitudes, and build their communication skills to effectively provide FGM prevention counselling. COVID-19 challenges The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the risk of female genital mutilation continuing unfettered, with the UN predicting than an additional two million girls will be victimized in the next ten years. Prolonged school closures have provided cover for girls recovering from FGM. In addition, movement restrictions have prevented campaigners against FGM from accessing some villages. In 2018, it was estimated by UNFPA that globally 68 million girls were at risk; now the figure stands at 70 million. *The name in the story has been changed for privacy and protection. Seasoned trial attorney Ray Naderi from Naderi Law Group has been included in 2022s Super Lawyer List. Super Lawyers is a rating platform of exceptional lawyers from over 70 practice areas who have accomplished a high degree of professional achievement and peer recognition. Ray Naderi is the owner and founder of Naderi Law Group, a Los Angeles law firm that concentrates on personal injury and lemon law. Ray represents individuals in personal injury, product liability litigation, and automotive-related cases. He offers astute representation to clients throughout California. The lemon law practice of Naderi Law Group involves helping clients who have leased or purchased a defective vehicle. In terms of personal injury, Ray provides support, counsel, and advice to clients who have incurred economic and/or non-economic losses because of other parties negligence. Such cases typically arise out of incidents involving premises liability and/or motor vehicle accidents. I am extremely grateful to be selected for Super Lawyers 2022. This is an honor for me and my firm. I will continue to bring professionalism and dedication to each case to provide my clients with the highest quality of representation, said Ray Naderi. Ray has demonstrated trial success in products liability, personal injury, and automotive-related cases. He has a superior jury trial record from when he started practicing in 2009. Ray started his career clerking full-time at a civil litigation firm in Sacramento. Soon after passing the bar, he began trying cases in court at the age of 26. Since then, Ray has established himself as a steadfast client advocate. About Naderi Law Group Naderi Law Group is a Los Angeles lemon law firm serving clients throughout California. The firm specializes in personal injury and lemon law-related matters. Founder and attorney Ray Naderi is an experienced and professional trial lawyer with a successful record of accomplishment in bench trials and jury trials. Naderi Law Group is committed to providing clients with remarkable and responsive representation. To learn more about Ray Naderi and his law firm, call him at 323.834.9965 or email him at ray@naderilawgroup.com. Visit Naderi Law Groups official website at https://www.naderilawgroup.com/ to find out more about the law practice areas they offer. ### Senior Housing News (SHN), an Aging Media publication, has released the results of its 2022 Senior Housing Outlook Survey, finding that senior living organizations are optimistic about the industry in 2022, and they are innovating to prepare for a recovery year ahead. SHN conducted the survey in partnership with senior housing finance solutions provider Lument to gain perspective on how senior living organizations are navigating new challenges and opportunities in the wake of the pandemic. The results show the views of 351 senior living professionals in a variety of leadership roles and organizations, providing context and insight around the keys to recovery in the era of COVID-19. By examining the industrys outlook on 2022, this survey shed light on the factors driving optimism, occupancy recovery, staffing challenges and investments in the year ahead. In summary, respondents indicated: The senior housing industry is optimistic about 2022 Occupancy is expected to rebound in the coming months Staffing continues to be a significant pain point in 2022 and will cause ongoing challenges Many organizations anticipate buying assets in 2022 Clearly the road to recovery has its challenges, but thanks to the resiliency of the seniors housing industry and the hard work by our clients and lending partners, we remain optimistic about the industrys prospects moving forward, much like the respondents to SHNs informative survey, said Aaron Becker, head of seniors housing and healthcare production at Lument. In this critical period of recovery, the senior housing industry is optimistic about the year ahead, said Senior Housing News Managing Editor Tim Mullaney. The results from our survey with Lument reveal the key drivers of that sentiment, from occupancy recovery and staffing to the 2022 investment landscape. The survey was conducted online between Nov. 12, 2021, and Dec. 9, 2021. Access the full survey results here. About Aging Media Network and Senior Housing News Aging Media Network is an innovative publishing company based in Chicago, Illinois, and is the publisher of Senior Housing News, Home Health Care News, Skilled Nursing News, Hospice News, and Behavioral Health Business. Senior Housing News (SHN) is the leading source for news and information covering the senior housing industry. About Lument ORIX Real Estate Capital Holdings, LLC, d/b/a Lument, is a subsidiary of ORIX Corporation USA. Lument is a national leader in commercial real estate finance. As the combined organization of legacy industry experts Hunt Real Estate Capital, Lancaster Pollard, and RED Capital Group, Lument delivers a comprehensive set of capital solutions customized for investors in multifamily, affordable housing, and seniors housing and healthcare real estate. SGF physicians, Dr. McCarthy-Keith, Dr. Ochalski, and Dr. Setton, host free, virtual events throughout February. Black women are more likely to have certain kinds of infertility than women of other ethnic groups. ... Many of the issues facing Black women are medical, such as uterine fibroids, blocked Fallopian tubes, obesity, and advanced age, specifically for women over age 35. Shady Grove Fertility (SGF) celebrates the 2022 Black History Month theme of Black Health and Wellness with a free webinar highlighting infertility among Black patients and encouraging minority communities to seek fertility assistance early for best pregnancy outcomes. Other free virtual fertility events this month highlight topics including how to get started with fertility treatment, in vitro fertilization (IVF), and surrogacy in Maryland and Washington, D.C. Join Desiree McCarthy-Keith, M.D., medical director for SGF Atlanta, for the Fertility and Black Patients webinar on February 8 at noon ET for an important discussion on topics including: the stigmas and stereotypes surrounding fertility in the Black community, testing and causes of infertility found more prevalent in Black women, and Fertility treatment success rates for Black patients. Black women are more likely to have certain kinds of infertility than women of other ethnic groups, says Dr. McCarthy-Keith. Many of the issues facing Black women are medical, such as uterine fibroids, blocked Fallopian tubes, obesity, and advanced age, specifically for women over age 35. One in eight couples will have trouble conceiving or sustaining a pregnancy. While many are surprised by this, they certainly are not alone. The good news is there are now treatments available to help almost everyone conceive. Join Robert Setton, M.D., who see patients at SGF New Yorks Brooklyn office, for the Fertility Webinar + Q&A: Getting Started on February 17 at noon. During this informative presentation, Dr. Setton will review what patients can expect during their first appointment including the fertility evaluation, SGFs stepped approach to treatment, and SGFs unique financial programs. For information seekers looking to learn more about the IVF process, Melanie Ochalski, M.D., who sees patients at SGFs Lancaster, Pennsylvania office, will host an IVF webinar on February 22 at noon. Dr. Ochalski will discuss: what to expect during the IVF process, IVF success rates, and exclusive SGF financial programs that help make treatment more affordable. Rounding out the month of events, Gilbert L. Mottla, M.D., has partnered with Circle Surrogacy to host a virtual information session to educate patients on growing their families through surrogacy, egg donation, and IVF in Maryland and Washington D.C. February 2022 virtual fertility events at-a-glance While SGF fertility webinars are complimentary, interested parties must register to attend by visiting the SGF calendar of events. For more information, visit SGFs growing resource library for free, on-demand webinars, E-books, and other education resources on topics such as endometriosis, PCOS, low-tech treatment options, weight and infertility, and much more. Follow SGF on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates and events. For people struggling to conceive, it may be time to consult a fertility specialist. Contact the SGF New Patient Center at 1-888-761-1967 or complete a brief online request form to schedule a virtual fertility consult with an SGF physician. A virtual physician consult is the first step toward pursuing a pregnancy with the help of SGF. About Shady Grove Fertility (SGF) SGF is a leading fertility and IVF center of excellence with more than 100,000 babies born and 5,000+ 5-star patient reviews. With 47 locations, including new locations in Colorado and Norfolk, VA, as well as throughout CO, FL, GA, MD, NY, PA, TX, VA, D.C., and Santiago, Chile, SGF offers patients virtual physician consults, delivers individualized care, accepts most insurance plans, and makes treatment affordable through innovative financial options, including 100% refund guarantees. More physicians refer their patients to SGF than any other center. SGF is among the founding partner practices of US Fertility, the largest physician-led partnership of top-tier fertility practices in the U.S. Call 1-888-761-1967 or visit ShadyGroveFertility.com. SkyPoint Profile is a customer 360 solution that uses AI to create unique, unified customer profiles from multiple data silos, allowing companies to understand a customers full journey for better engagement and outcomes. SkyPoint Cloud (SkyPoint), the privacy-first customer data and artificial intelligence (AI) platform that enables consumer, financial services and healthcare brands to build deeper relationships with their customers and patients, today announced the launch of SkyPoint Profile. SkyPoint Profile is a customer 360 solution that uses AI to create unique, unified customer profiles from multiple data silos, allowing companies to understand a customers full journey for better engagement and outcomes. About SkyPoint Profile SkyPoint Profile solves a major problem present across healthcare, consumer and B2B companies siloed data. Each type of business could have customer or patient data across several different data sources and businesses do not have one complete profile to rely on, resulting in an incomplete understanding of their patients or customer base. SkyPoint Profile ingests, cleanses, and unifies all customer data to create a complete and comprehensive view of customers and patients. Having just one, unified customer or patient profile across an interoperable data platform allows businesses a deeper understanding of customers and their desires, while also providing a historical timeline of customer engagement, said Tisson Mathew, CEO and founder of SkyPoint Cloud. This allows businesses to make better informed business decisions and improve patient health outcomes. SkyPoint Profile Use Cases Consumer: In addition to compiling data in a more useable form, SkyPoint Profile employs AI to enrich the customer data that companies already have. Consolidated customer profiles can include insights on everything from a customers demographics to communication preferences, purchasing history and more. From this data, businesses have a better understanding of their audiences or customer segments. Companies can see which customers purchase the most, for example, and target them for discounts or rewards to ensure they continue to return for future purchases. Healthcare: SkyPoint Profiles AI capabilities are set to improve the healthcare space. Recent Center for Medicare Services (CMS) regulations encourage interoperability, and SkyPoint Profile is providing the technology to do just that. Healthcare systems have patient and member data spread across siloed databases. SkyPoint Profile brings this data together to create a patient 360 profile, collecting patient data from disparate data sources (including electronic health records and practice management systems) and using AI to deliver a single source of truth on each patient or member. See SkyPoint Profile in action schedule a demo and learn more about how SkyPoint Profile is helping businesses create a more personalized experience for customers here. About SkyPoint Cloud SkyPoint Cloud (https://skypointcloud.com/) is an industry-leading customer data platform (CDP), zero-trust data privacy vault, privacy compliance automation, analytics and AI solution for customer-centric brands in several industries including healthcare, retail, hospitality and financial services. SkyPoints platform enables organizations to take control of their customer data, deliver unmatched customer experiences and build brand loyalty. Industry leaders and more than 6 million end users currently use SkyPoint. SkyPoint Cloud was awarded The Development Stage award in the 2021 Oregon Entrepreneurs Network Annual Awards. Media Contact Matter Communications for SkyPoint Cloud, Inc. skypoint@matternow.com This clinic is a great opportunity for us to meet the needs of our patients and offer excellent customer service/care to the Austin-Mueller, community. I look forward to helping the community work to achieve their optimal level of function." -Scott Cartwright, Clinic Director, Austin-Mueller Clinic Texas Physical Therapy Specialists (TexPTS) is pleased to announce their newest clinic has opened today in Austin Texas. Located at 1201 Barbara Jordan Blvd. Suite 600, Austin, TX, the clinic is TexPTSs 37th location. Scott Cartwright, PT, DPT, OCS, will serve as the Austin-Mueller Clinic Director and primary treating physical therapist. He is among the top 8% of advanced educated physical therapists in the nation as a board certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS). Austin-Mueller specializes in providing exceptional physical therapy through a combination of evidence-based practice, care excellence, and clinical excellence. Services offered from the Austin-Mueller, clinic will include manual and orthopaedic physical therapy, trigger point dry needling, spinal manipulation/mobilization, and instrumented soft tissue massage. The clinic will also include Blood Flow Restriction Training and Game Ready Equipment, which utilizes revolutionary technology to promote faster healing times in post-injury or surgery. I am excited to be opening this new location in Austin Mueller, and to have been part of the TexPTS team for the last 5 years, says Cartwright. This clinic is a great opportunity for us to meet the needs of our patients and offer excellent customer service/care to the Austin-Mueller, community. I look forward to helping the community work to achieve their optimal level of function. For more information about the new Austin-Muller clinic and a full list of TexPTS services and offerings, please visit https://www.texpts.com/for-patients/schedule-an-appointment/. To book an appointment with Scott, please call (512) 900-8880. ### About TexPTS Texas Physical Therapy Specialists (TexPTS) is a Texas-based, private physical therapy practice group. As a proud member of the Confluent Health family, TexPTS positively impacts patients lives by delivering the best care and results through proven research, innovative treatments and technologies, and an approach that treats patients like family. For more information, visit texpts.com, or find them on Facebook at @texpts. At the dawn of WWII, Nazi scientists were years ahead in the race for the atomic bomb...but history is largely silent as to why Hitlers scientists failed to exploit this advantage. Germany had liberated nuclear energy years before America started work on the atomic bomb. So how did the U.S. avoid a Nazi Armageddon? In The Armageddon Secret: A Novel Inspired by Actual Events, author and forensic engineer Robert Burnham interweaves fact and fiction to give readers a potential explanation for how the world narrowly escaped nuclear destruction at the hands of Hitler, despite the Nazis massive head start and well-known engineering prowess. The story centers around real and fictional members of the German anti-Nazi underground, Black Orchestra, and their heroic attempts to foil Hitlers prewar program to develop atomic weaponry. In Burnhams new thriller, the widow of a murdered Black Orchestra member falls in love with an expat American journalist, and, together, they battle the SS, the Gestapo and their own inner demons, as they struggle to disrupt Hitlers atom bomb project. At the dawn of WWII, Nazi scientists were years ahead in the race for the atomic bomb, Burnham said, but history is largely silent as to why Hitlers scientists failed to exploit this advantage. Research for The Armageddon Secret spanned more than a decade and encompassed many locations, including Berlin, Munich, London, New York, the Institut du Radium in Paris, and the American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge, Tenn. Approximately 40 books were employed as references in Burnhams writing of the novel. His book has received praise from sources like Kirkus Reviews and Richard Rhodes, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Making of the Atomic Bomb. This story, Burnham said, while fiction, provides a credible explanation, based on historical facts, as to what COULD have happened. The Armageddon Secret By Robert Burnham ISBN: 978-1-6657-1155-5 Available at the Simon & Schuster Archway Publishing Online Bookstore, Amazon and Barnes & Noble About the author Robert Burnham is a licensed professional forensic engineer with two University of Michigan engineering degrees. He is a member of the National Academy of Forensic Engineers and the National Society of Professional Engineers. In addition to his career as Vice President of Technology and Engineering for several major transportation organizations, he served as a longtime professor of engineering and statistical quality control, and is an enduring student of science, history, and atomic energy. Burnham is currently completing a sequel to The Armageddon Secret, also revolving around the early phases of atomic bomb development. He resides in Ft. Myers, Fla., and Traverse City, Mich. To learn more, please visit: https://www.archwaypublishing.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/815933-the-armageddon-secret, or http://www.thearmageddonsecret.com. ### General Inquiries: LAVIDGE Lindsey Gobel 317.435.2116 lgobel@Lavidge.com Emergency remote learning vs well planned online/hybrid learning The Digital Learning Collaborative today released Snapshot 2022: an inflection point for digital learning? The release coincides with the start of the DLCs Digital Learning Annual Conference, in Atlanta and online. We call this report the Snapshot for two reasons. First, it provides a summary view of K12 digital learning activity in the United States, using public schools as the primary focus. Second, it provides a glimpse into the far more extensive information available on the DLC website. The Snapshot seeks to illuminate not only the digital learning response during the pandemic, including aspects of emergency remote learning, but also to look at prior data, and to anticipate a post-pandemic education future. As such, it is organized around three overarching data sets and themes: Online course and school data from the final pre-pandemic year (20192020), to provide the last online enrollment numbers in the digital learning trajectory before COVID chaos broke loose. Data from the 20202021 school year, when available, to demonstrate the spikes in online learning demand among online schools and course providers. These are incomplete because full data are not yet available. Findings and lessons from a year in which digital learning went from a niche to being a key element of education for almost all students. To support the estimated 1,000+ school districts starting or expanding online schools, the study also offers Five Keys to Success based on the experience of members of the Digital Learning Collaborative.. About the DLC The Digital Learning Collaborative is a membership group made up of the educators, providers, and supporters seeking to improve education for all schools and students through research, information-sharing, and collaborative activities. The DLC runs the Digital Learning Annual Conference. The DLC is organized by the Evergreen Education Group. Members include school districts, state agencies, online schools, state virtual schools, NGOs, and companies. About the Evergreen Education Group Evergreen has been the leading advisory and consulting firm in K-12 online, hybrid, and blended learning for 21 years. We advise companies, NGOs, and government agencies on a variety of digital learning issues, publish reports and blog regularly as part of the Digital Learning Collaborative, and coordinate the Digital Learning Annual Conference. "End Times: According to Scripture" By: C Pallaghy PhD Christians coast along happily singing All I need is Jesus when in fact the book of Revelation foretells that believers will be divided into three groups just before the Great Tribulation, said Pallaghy. The end of the world might be happening sooner than expected, according to author C. Pallaghy PhD. His new book End Times: According to Scripture analyzes and explains symbols throughout The Bible that signify the end and then compares them to events currently going on today. The book is divided into two parts. Part one discusses scriptures and concepts that reveal that the Lords coming is very near. While part two focuses on qualities that Christ is looking for in The Bride of Christ, and the approximate timing of her appearance in the world and how that signifies the end is coming soon. After the Lord saved Pallaghy, he realized the horrors that nonbelievers faced. In hopes of saving people, including his family, from these terrors, he began to study Gods word. The author studied scripture for over 40 years and learned from several Bible teachers, which is seen throughout the pages of his book. As he studied, he realized that nonbelievers werent the only ones in trouble. Pallaghy explains that he believes that many of todays Christians have become complacent in their faith and believe that all they need is Gods Mercy, but he makes it clear throughout his book that Gods promises are always conditional depending on repentance. Christians coast along happily singing All I need is Jesus when in fact the book of Revelation foretells that believers will be divided into three groups just before the Great Tribulation, said Pallaghy. Many are not warned from the pulpit that Jesus expects much from his followers. Grace? Yes, but all of God's promises are conditional, which readers will see in my new book. The goal of this book is not only to forewarn the Rapture but also to awaken Christians to the fact that God will separate them into three distinct groups, as explained in Revelations Chapter 12. Those in the third group will be put under the power of the Antichrist to test them, by the will of God. End Times will open both believers' and nonbelievers eyes to the potential horror of the afterlife if they do not follow God as is laid out in The Bible. Pallaghy hopes that by warning of these horrors that will occur years before the return of Christ, he will save many people from having to experience them. End Times: According to Scripture By C. Pallaghy PhD ISBN: 9781984507822 (softcover); 9781984507815 (hardcover); 9781984507808 (electronic) Available at Xlibris, Amazon and Barnes & Noble About the author C Pallaghy PhD is a retired Australian academic who spent many years studying biophysics and working in both the US and Australia. Along with research students, Pallaghy genetically engineered virus and drought-resistant crop plants. Everything changed in 1976 when he found God and was born again. End Times: According to Scripture is his second book. Pallaghy currently resides in Victoria, Australia. To learn more, please visit http://www.creation6000.com. General Inquiries: LAVIDGE Phoenix Becca Armentrout (480) 648 7560 barmentrout@lavidge.com These Californians show exceptional community leadership and innovation exemplifying to all how we can solve some of our most pressing challenges - California Governor Gavin Newsom The James Irvine Foundation today announced the recipients of its 2022 Leadership Awards, recognizing seven outstanding Californians at six organizations for their innovative solutions to pressing issues facing our state, including: civic engagement, crime prevention, health and healthcare, support for foster youth, wildfire prevention, and workforce development. "This years Leadership Award recipients are an incredible group of leaders that represent the best of our state, said California Governor Gavin Newsom. These Californians show exceptional community leadership and innovation exemplifying to all how we can solve some of our most pressing challenges. Each year, The James Irvine Foundation Leadership Awards recognize leaders whose breakthrough solutions to critical state challenges improve peoples lives, create opportunity, and contribute to a better California. The Foundation provides each recipients organization with a grant to support work that benefits the people of California and merits expansion, replication, or policy support. The Foundation also helps recipients share their approaches with policymakers and peers. The 2022 Award recipients are: Dr. Noha Aboelata, Founder and CEO of the Roots Community Health Center, for addressing the root causes of health disparities and improving outcomes for people impacted by systemic inequities Mr. DeVone Boggan, Founder and CEO of Advance Peace, for creating healthy, safe, and just communities by transforming the lives of individuals at the center of gun violence Ms. Camila Chavez, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Dolores Huerta Foundation, for strengthening underrepresented communities by inspiring and training the next generation of leaders Ms. Serita Cox, Co-Founder and CEO of iFoster, for using technology to connect foster youth with resources, jobs, and support to become successful, independent adults Mr. Naindeep Singh, Executive Director of the Jakara Movement, for empowering Sikh youth to reimagine and improve their communities Mr. Brandon Smith & Mr. Royal Ramey, Co-Founders of The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program, for preventing wildfires by training formerly incarcerated individuals for firefighting careers These trailblazing leaders are an inspiration for what they have accomplished for the people of California already and what they can accomplish in the future, said Don Howard, President and CEO of The James Irvine Foundation. We are delighted to highlight the promise of their efforts and help others take note of their approaches. Representatives of the Foundation will join California policymakers and former recipients of the Leadership Awards to honor the 2022 Award recipients at local events that include unveiling unique murals commemorating their work. Photos and videos of the recipients will be available in the coming weeks. The James Irvine Foundation has honored more than 100 Californians with a Leadership Award since the program began in 2006. Award recipients are chosen by an independent selection committee of distinguished California leaders that reviews nominations based on the work's significance, effectiveness, and innovation, among other criteria. More details about the work of this years recipients are below. To learn more, please visit IrvineAwards.org. Dr. Noha Aboelata, Roots Community Health Center Raised in Oakland, Dr. Noha Aboelata returned to Alameda County after medical school to address health disparities among African American residents and their root cause: poverty. As a family practice physician and later Chief Medical Officer at Oaklands Native American Health Center, Dr. Aboelata found the standard 15-minute patient visits insufficient to address the full range of her patients issues. So, in 2008, she founded Roots Community Health Center (Roots) to provide whole health care to those who lacked safety net services and access to traditional support systems primarily African American men, including those re-entering society from prison to help facilitate their journey toward self-sufficiency. Roots has since expanded to serve women and children and provides primary care, navigation services, and employment opportunities to individuals and families in Alameda and Santa Clara counties. Roots active clientele exceeds 10,000 89 percent are African American, evenly split between men and women, and largely Medi-Cal recipients. Roots holistic approach is enhancing accessibility and consistency of care and enabling Dr. Aboelata and her colleagues to connect patients to a range of resources that support their health, stability, and overall wellness. Mr. DeVone Boggan, Advance Peace DeVone Boggan has dedicated his life to helping young people heal and transform their lives. When the city of Richmond asked him to help reduce the gun violence ravaging the city, he knew a life-altering opportunity awaited. In 2007, Boggan became the first Neighborhood Safety Director in the country working within government to reduce gun violence in urban areas without the tools of law enforcement. Where many saw an insurmountable problem, Boggan saw humanity and the need for practical solutions informed by the individuals at the center of gun violence. In 2010, Boggan launched the Peacemaker Fellowship, which in its inaugural round provided deeply intensive, customized support to a cohort of 21 African American men under the age of 27 years old, all of whom had committed multiple gun crimes but avoided incarceration. The model is based on Boggans conviction that participants are products of their toxic environments and capable of changing their lives, a theory that is supported by outcome data. Between 2012 and 2019, firearm assaults in Richmond dropped by 85 percent and homicides were down 65 percent compared to the eight years prior to launching the program. In 2016, Boggan spun off the Peacemaker Fellowship into a non-profit, Advance Peace, which has supported the models implementation in Richmond, Stockton, Sacramento, Fresno, Salinas, and Woodland. Ms. Camila Chavez, Dolores Huerta Foundation Camila Chavez spent her childhood on picket lines advocating with her mother, iconic labor organizer Dolores Huerta. At a young age she saw how communities are strengthened when people use their voice to demand change. In 2003, Chavez founded the Dolores Huerta Foundation (DHF) with her mother to engage and train groups of neighbors primarily Latino, African American, and immigrant residents of Kern, Tulare, Fresno, and northern Los Angeles counties to collectively advocate for policy changes that improve public infrastructure, schools, and social services. Using the methodical house meeting model, DHF organizers meet with small groups of neighbors, co-workers, and friends to help them identify shared concerns and recognize that they are the leaders best equipped to make the change they seek. DHF and its members have a notable track record of achieving policy goals including altering school discipline practices, improving local infrastructure, expanding access to health care, and increasing opportunities for political engagement. As DHFs inaugural Executive Director, Chavez continues to honor her mothers legacy while growing the organization to a $5 million annual budget with 44 full-time staff and more than 100 seasonal canvassers. Ms. Serita Cox, iFoster Raised in the child welfare system, Serita Cox was impacted by challenges that many foster youth face housing instability, disrupted education, and involvement with the juvenile justice system. Despite these challenges, Cox achieved personal and career success as a senior executive of a Fortune 100 technology company in Silicon Valley. Her experiences inspired her to use technology to help foster youth overcome their challenges to achieve their full potential. In 2010, Cox co-founded iFoster to create a safe and private online community for foster youth, caregivers, and child welfare organizations to access thousands of resources and support such as computers, tutoring, housing, food, emergency funds, and mental health services. Cox believes that employment is key to independence for foster youth, stating a job is how foster youth can ensure they continue to live with a roof over their head and food on the table, and can pursue their dreams once they exit care. iFoster trains and places transition-age foster youth in competitive careers; it also hires hundreds of current and former foster youth to provide support to its 70,000 members ranging from basic resource navigation assistance to complex case management. Under Coxs formidable leadership, iFoster is improving child and caregiver well-being and transforming the child welfare system. Mr. Naindeep Singh, Jakara Movement Growing up as a Punjabi Sikh in the Central Valley, Naindeep Singh lacked opportunities to engage with his peers and the broader Sikh community about issues that were important to him. So, in 2000, he became a founding member of Jakara Movement, a youth leadership development organization focused on the Punjabi Sikh population and anchored in Californias Central Valley. Led by volunteers for its first 10 years, the organization educates Sikh youth about their heritage, explores challenges facing them like gender equality and caste, and prepares them to be leaders in their communities. Now with 70 registered high school clubs and 25 college chapters spanning 15 California counties, Jakara Movement has a paid staff of 41, including Singh who has served as Executive Director since 2009. Representing roughly 400,000 to 500,000 Californians, Jakara Movement has accomplished several goals, including expanding language access to voting materials, contributing to high vaccination rates among underserved communities, and securing protections for renters and agricultural workers. Jakara Movement has also helped build confidence, leadership skills, and civic engagement among thousands of youth participants, many of whom have encountered bigotry and harassment. Mr. Brandon Smith & Mr. Royal Ramey, The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program After being released from prison, Brandon Smith and Royal Ramey struggled to find firefighting jobs despite receiving the required training and experience while incarcerated at one of Californias fire camps. Fires were ravaging the state and firefighting agencies were reporting labor shortages so, why werent they being hired? Like countless other fire camp alumni, Smith and Ramey had to overcome significant barriers to entering the profession such as the stigma of having a prior criminal record and limited access to transportation. Determined to succeed, the leaders enrolled in a fire academy to be trained again and, nearly two years post-release, were hired as professional wildland firefighters. While on their first assignment, they ran into friends still in fire camps who were eager to learn how the leaders were able to find success after returning home from prison. That encounter inspired Smith and Ramey to create The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program (FFRP) to help their peers navigate the complicated hiring process to become firefighters. Launched informally in 2015 and incorporated in 2018, FFRP recruits incarcerated firefighters from fire camps and provides individuals primarily formerly incarcerated men and women of color with on-the-job training, re-entry support, and connections to firefighting careers. In under five years, Smith and Ramey have trained and provided career support to more than 3,000 currently and formerly incarcerated individuals. ### About The James Irvine Foundation The James Irvine Foundation is a private, nonprofit, grantmaking foundation dedicated to expanding opportunities for the people of California. The Foundations current focus is a California where all low-income workers have the power to advance economically. Since 1937 the Foundation has provided more than $2.2 billion in grants to organizations throughout California. The Foundation ended 2021 with $3.8 billion in assets and provided $128.9 million in grants. For more, please visit http://www.irvine.org The National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB), the voice of the mortgage industry representing the interests of mortgage professionals and home buyers since 1973, is pleased to welcome Citizens Bank as its newest Community Industry Partner. The entire executive board and membership of NAMB is thrilled to welcome our valued partner and colleagues within Citizens Bank into NAMB as a community industry partner, said Linda McCoy, NAMB board president. Citizens Bank is a trusted member of the mortgage and banking marketplace, and we are excited to create a very long standing and robust relationship with the organization. A full-service professional mortgage banker licensed to provide residential mortgages across the nation, Citizens Bank will champion NAMBs mission in 2022 through legislative-initiative support, supplying educational tools and promoting the overall vision of NAMB. Additionally, Citizens Bank will be highlighted and provide thought-leadership at many of NAMBs 2022 events. Our team is excited to partner with NAMB, the largest voice that advocates for the entire mortgage industry, and together we will work to increase organizational membership, improve the overall robustness of the marketplace and support NAMBs industry-wide professional development, said Bobby Frank, SVP, Wholesale Lending Director of Sales. About Citizens Bank: On August 1, 2018, Franklin American Mortgage became part of the Citizens Bank family. As one of the nations oldest and largest financial institutions, Citizens Bank gives Franklin American Mortgage access to capital needed to continue growing and evolving our capabilities. While you may notice some small changes, the core of who we are has not, and will not change. It all begins with home is more than just our tagline. Its why we do what we do. Citizens share these same values, making this an exciting integration for Franklin American Mortgage, our employees, our customers, and our partners. For more information, please visit https://www.franklinamerican.com/citizens-bank About NAMB: The National Association of Mortgage Brokers has been the voice of the mortgage industry representing the interests of mortgage professionals and homebuyers since 1973. NAMB members include independent mortgage brokers, loan originators, and small businesses. NAMB provides mortgage professionals with advocacy, education and rigorous certification programs to recognize members with the highest levels of professional knowledge and education. NAMBs active lobbying and advocacy efforts focus on national and state issues, protecting the interests of its members and borrowers. As the leading national trade association for the mortgage industry, NAMB is affiliated with State Associations throughout the country and represents the interests of more than 910,000* licensed and registered Mortgage Loan Originators and 39,000* licensed mortgage broker and mortgage lender businesses. The Association hosts several meetings throughout the year. Engage the organization via social media: https://www.facebook.com/NAMBPros For the last three years, a retired cook in northern Burkina Faso has been providing shelter for people displaced by armed attacks in the country, where the security situation continues to deteriorate. Recent unrest in the capital Ouagadougou surrounding the military coup, is just the latest example of instability in Burkina Faso, whose citizens have been facing turmoil for over a decade. By the end of 2021, there were over 1.5 million internally displaced people (IDPs) in the land-locked West African nation, with the country's Centre-North and Sahel regions the worst aected. Since November 2019, 85-year-old Lambda (not his real name), has welcomed more than 100 of his compatriots into his compound in the village of Tougouri after they fled their homes, offering them shelter, food, and even money to buy supplies. "I worked as a cook for 45 years in the prefecture of Tougouri. With the savings I had built up, I was able to acquire several plots of land. Then I built several houses with the intention to rent them to get some income for my retirement. I started helping displaced people as soon as they began arriving in Tougouri, in the Centre North region, in November 2019. I heard about armed men attacking and killing people in different villages, but I do not know who they were. What I know, is that many persons came here due to these attacks. 'Pitiful situation' When they arrived, they were in a pitiful situation that saddened me, and I provided them with shelter in my houses, free of charge, before the humanitarian workers built additional shelters in my compound for them. There are currently more than 100 people living here: sometimes, men go to work in a mining site before coming back. The fact that these people have stayed with us for more than two years without major incidents or tension, is a source of comfort and reassures me that I made the right choice to welcome them into my home. My motto is that people come before anything else in life! Happy to help I am happy to help them and feel myself useful by helping others. However, sometimes what hurts me the most is to see IDP children who do not have food without being able to help them. I've often helped them with food or money, but I must admit that it's very little. I call for the humanitarian actors to strengthen food assistance for displaced people and to build more shelters. I do not intend to take back my houses soon, but as the saying goes "even if the child does not cry, he needs his mother". This is to say that I am under pressure as I do not get income from the houses. Can't give up What is certain is that I can no longer give up, I will continue to support people in need because it is what gives meaning to my life. The reason why I helped them is that displaced persons are human beings like me, and what they are going through now can happen to me too. I couldn't bear to see them sleeping outside at the mercy of the cold and dust. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines International Organisations Refugees Burkina Faso By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. I have learned that you can get people's recognition and respect when you help them. I am grateful for the gratitude and appreciation shown by the people who now live with us. This gives me feelings and emotions that money cannot acquire." UN support for displaced people in Burkina Faso By the end of 2021, there were over 1.5 million internally displaced people (IDPs) in Burkina Faso, with the country's Centre-North and Sahel regions the worst aected. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Demographics, more than a third of the 115,000 people currently living in Tougouri are internally displaced. The rising numbers have increased pressure on already scarce resources such as land, water and social services. The UN refugee agency (UNHCR), together with other agencies, is supporting authorities to protect and assist displaced families, including through the strengthening of infrastructure and services in areas affected by population movements. I hugged the book in one arm and hugged a globe with the other, and promised myself that I would write a book that made other people, all across the world, feel better. Now, over 45 years later, I kept my promise - to myself and the world! Author Lionel Lowery shares his successful life-changing formula with readers in I.N.S.P.I.R.E.: The formula for finding your future self while making your way back home ($19.99, paperback, 9781662834219; $9.99, e-book, 9781662834226). Throughout his earlier life, Lionel tackled the question about why he was different and often felt misunderstood. As a result, he struggled with depression and anxiety. Then, he discovered a better way to overcome his challenges and find success. Working as a laboratory scientist, part of Lionels job was to research, get results, and provide the right answers to medical staff so they could diagnose and treat their patients. Lionel took those experiences and others learned in the military and developed the I.N.S.P.I.R.E. formula. Now, he is sharing his success story with readers in this motivation-filled book. Lionel takes readers on a transparent and transformative journey, sharing not only the sadness of his life but the funny and embarrassing situations, too. His compelling stories are aimed to connect with your mind, touch your heart, and transform your life. When I was a child, books were always waiting for me on my bookshelf, said Lionel. My books took me to places that I wanted to go, and some of them made me feel better when I felt alone. When I was eight years old, I wrote my name on the side of the book. I hugged the book in one arm and hugged a globe with the other, and promised myself that I would write a book that made other people, all across the world, feel better. Now, over 45 years later, I kept my promise - to myself and the world! Lionel Lowery is a husband, father, and a man of faith. He is also certified as a Medical Laboratory Scientist, Allied Health Instructor, taught as an Instructor of Microbiology, and retired from the United States Army after 32 years of honorable service to the Nation. ### Xulon Press, a division of Salem Media Group, is the worlds largest Christian self-publisher, with more than 15,000 titles published to date. I.N.S.P.I.R.E.: The formula for finding your future self while making your way back home is available online through xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com. We are excited to host another restaurant week to encourage locals to celebrate and support our local culinary community. This is the perfect time for residents and visitors to take a tour throughout the diverse and thriving food culture of Conejo Valley. Visit Conejo Valley is excited to be hosting its 3rd annual Conejo Valley Restaurant Week scheduled from February 18-27, 2022. From local flavors and craft brews to an inspired wine scene, Conejo Valley is the perfect foodie destination with a unique assortment of delicious restaurants, unique breweries, bakeries and more. Some of the excellent deals on existing menu items and special offerings will include: Mouthful Eatery: Pre-Fixe Menu ($25/per person) featuring: 1st Course: Choice of shrimp bisque with cognac & creme fraiche or baby mixed greens with triple creme brie, shaved radishes, candied pecans, and pomegranate vinaigrette 2nd Course: Chicken breast stuffed with gouda, spinach, and pistachios plus Israeli couscous with cranberries, shallots & preserved lemon Paul Martins American Grill: Enjoy $45 per guest meals (tax and gratuity not included): Starters (choice of one): House salad: mixed greens, tomato, red onion, avocado, lemon basil vinaigrette Chef's daily soup: house-made, seasonal inspiration Main course (choice of one): Brick chicken: skillet-seared, herb marinated chicken, mashed potatoes, croutons, herb jus Alaskan halibut: miso-marinaded overnight, snow peas, seasonal vegetables, quinoa Southern fried New York strip: buttermilk battered, sherry black pepper gravy, mashed potatoes, garlic green beans Dessert (choice of one): 5-layer chocolate cake: raspberry sauce Butter cake: St. Louis original, vanilla ice cream, fresh berries Tarantula Hill Brewing Company: Enjoy a buffalo cauliflower appetizer beer battered cauliflower tossed in buffalo sauce served with crispy shallots and cilantro with dijonnaise sauce on the side for $9 Tavern Tomoko & Ladyface Brewery: Enjoy Ladyface/Tavern Tomoko's Japanese fried chicken (Karaage) served with their own sriracha aioli dipping sauce or their pretzel bites with our beer cheese sauce for $8. Pair with Ladyface craft beer! We are excited to host another restaurant week to encourage locals to celebrate and support our local culinary community, said President/CEO of Visit Conejo Valley, Danielle Borja. This is the perfect time for residents and visitors to take a tour throughout the diverse and thriving food culture of Conejo Valley. Visitors can extend their visit after dining by staying at one of the 16 lodging options for all styles and budgets. Visitors that book minimum 2-night stay at one of the 16 participating hotels in the cities of Agoura Hills and Thousand Oaks can sign up to receive a $100 Conejo Cash gift card upon hotel check-in. To view all of the Conejo Valley Restaurant Week 2022 offers, visit https://conejo.com/restaurant-week-2022. For visitors looking for lodging, visit: https://conejo.com/stay. ABOUT VISIT CONEJO VALLEY Created in 2013, Visit Conejo Valley is the official tourism marketing organization for the cities of Thousand Oaks and Agoura Hills, Calif. With a mission to increase overnight visitation and improve the local economy, Visit Conejo Valley promotes the regions diverse 16 lodging properties, unique outdoor recreation, bustling arts and culture scene, diverse dining and tasting experiences, providing visitors with helpful resources to make the best of their trip and See Another Side of Southern California. To learn more about accommodations, attractions, and things to do in Conejo Valley, visit conejo.com. Woolpert Vice President and Water Market Director J.P. Johns We plan to continue to grow in the Southeast, while focusing on expanding in Texas, Florida, the mid-Atlantic and Ohio. Woolpert has promoted J.P. Johns, PE, to water market director. Johns is a vice president who has more than 20 years of experience in water resource engineering and management, including hydrology and hydraulic analyses and design, floodplain management, watershed master planning, stream restoration and MS4 program management. His educational background is in agriculture and biosystems engineering, with additional research experience in sedimentation and water quality modeling. In this new role, Johns will help Woolperts water market expand into new geographies, integrate existing and new technologies and services to benefit new clients, and increase support of the firms architecture, engineering and geospatial (AEG) clients. Our water services are well established in the Southeast, where we provide integrated water/wastewater and stormwater services, Johns said. We plan to continue to grow in the Southeast, while focusing on expanding in Texas, Florida, the mid-Atlantic and Ohio. More specifically, Im very excited to work with our Texas team at CivilTech this year to provide additional water resource solutions for our Texas clients. A graduate of Clemson University, Johns is president of the Southeast Chapter of the International Erosion Control Association and a member of the Southeast Stormwater Association and the Florida Stormwater Association. He has worked for Woolpert for more than 20 years, although not continuously. Johns said he gained valuable management experience at a smaller engineering firm but returned to Woolpert because he missed the people and he appreciated the benefits that a larger firm can bringespecially one that has expertise across AEG. Having industry leaders in-house who support projects from research to execution is tough to beat, Johns said. For example, for stormwater studies, Woolpert collects data via advanced geospatial technologies; has industry-recognized modelers who perform hydrologic, hydraulic and water quality modeling; has environmental scientists and stormwater engineers to analyze data; and has top design engineers and architects to design solutions. Then our strategic consulting team works with clients to build and apply stormwater asset management solutions. We are truly a one-stop shop. In addition to Johns, multiple individuals have been promoted to support the strategic trajectory of the water market. Those promoted include new Water Practice Leader Carla Muscarella; Eric MacDonald, who will lead the sewer system evaluation survey initiative; James Riddle, who will lead the water quality monitoring initiative; and Hal Clarkson, who will lead the markets stormwater asset management initiative. Those promoted to program director include Trevor Gauron and Richard Washington. Amanda Douglas and Darren Eastall were promoted to project manager. Woolperts former water market director, Senior Vice President Flint Holbrook, will become a program director. This move is part of the markets succession plan, easing the leadership transition both internally and externally. Holbrook has been at Woolpert for more than 25 years. This approach will ensure Woolpert clients will receive the same service and attention, while enabling others to grow within the market. Flint hired me back in 1998, and our careers have grown together. He has been a mentor and an inspiration to me, and his institutional knowledge is invaluable, Johns said. Our primary goal is to enable clients to realize the vast benefits that integrated water engineering and geospatial technologies can provide, and our reorg supports that goal. Long term, we aim to become a national water market provider. I am excited to lead that charge. Woolpert Senior Vice President and Infrastructure Sector Leader Tom Mochty said these water market changes illustrate the firms commitment to both addressing evolving industry needs and to promoting talent from within. We often share how the integration of AEG services benefits our clients, because thats what our comprehensive services are designed to do, Mochty said. We cant do that without having an outstanding staff that reflects the diversity of those capabilities and by providing each of them with opportunities to grow and flourish across markets. J.P. is a perfect example of this. His knowledge, teamwork and enthusiasm have been an asset to Woolpert from day one, and we look forward to all he and the market will accomplish in the coming years. About Woolpert Woolpert is the premier architecture, engineering, geospatial (AEG) and strategic consulting firm, with a vision to become one of the best companies in the world. We innovate within and across markets to effectively serve public, private and government clients worldwide. Woolpert is an ENR Top 150 Global Design Firm, recently earned its sixth-straight Great Place to Work certification, and actively nurtures a culture of growth, inclusion, diversity and respect. Founded in 1911 in Dayton, Ohio, Woolpert has been Americas fastest-growing AEG firm since 2015. The firm has more than 1,600 employees and 60 offices on four continents. For more, visit woolpert.com. "We're honored that Zomentum has once again been recognized by The ASCII Group. Being selected by technology partners as a Top 10 vendor is an honor. It assures us were on the right track with our Revenue Platform, which helps technology partners drive revenue at scale. Zomentum, the first intelligent Revenue Platform built for the technology partners, announced that the company was recognized as a top 10 vendor of 2021 as voted by The ASCII Group community of MSPs at attending ASCII Success Summit events. The award was presented at the ASCII Group IT Summit in Anaheim, Calif., on Dec. 9, 2021. "We're honored that Zomentum has once again been recognized by The ASCII Group," said Zomentum CEO and Co-founder Shruti Ghatge. "Being selected by technology partners as a Top 10 vendor is an honor. It assures us were on the right track with our Revenue Platform, which helps technology partners drive revenue at scale. Zomentum's Revenue Platform reduces the complexity of the sales process, eliminating numerous tools with a seamless suite that mimics the way technology partners sell. The industry-first platform enables partners to solve for client needs with a robust solutions marketplace, accelerate deals with an end-to-end sales engine that combines multiple tools, and simplify billing and protect revenue with an automated license reconciliation process. With Zomentum, technology partners can create documents 70 percent faster and close twice as many deals with a 600 percent increase in deal value. Zomentum customers have generated $500 million in Channel revenue using the platform. In addition to accolades from the ASCII Group, Zomentum's Revenue Platform recently received the ChannelPro Network Readers' Choice Award for Best Sales and Marketing Automation and the SMB TechFest Best Solution award. About The ASCII Group Inc. The ASCII Group is the premier community of North American MSPs, VARs and solution providers. The group has members located throughout the U.S. and Canada, and membership encompasses everyone from credentialed MSPs serving the SMB community to multilocation solution providers with a national reach. Founded in 1984, ASCII provides services to members, including leveraged purchasing programs, education and training, marketing assistance, extensive peer interaction and more. ASCII works with a vibrant ecosystem of major technology vendors that complement the ASCII community and support the mission of helping MSPs and VARs to grow their businesses. For more information, please visit http://www.ascii.com. About Zomentum Founded in 2018, Zomentum delivers the world's first Revenue Platform for technology partners. Zomentum's revolutionary end-to-end platform consolidates numerous tools while enabling technology partners to earn, grow and manage revenue quickly and cost-effectively. Thousands of partners across America, Europe and Australia trust Zomentum to accelerate the growth of their businesses. The Zomentum Revenue Platform fuels IT sales revenue of $500 million a year and counting. Zomentum is based in San Francisco, with offices in the U.S. and India. The company is backed by leading investors, including Accel Partners, Elevation Capital, Green Oaks Capital and Eight Roads Ventures. Learn more at http://www.zomentum.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook. Jason Epstein, the legendary Random House editor who combined a deep passion for literature with a shrewd business mind, died on February 4. He was 93. After beginning his publishing career at Doubleday, Epstein joined Random House in 1958, where he edited works by such authors as E.L. Doctorow, Norman Mailer, Philip Roth, and Gore Vidal. Soon, he became as well known for his author list as for his publishing innovations. In 1952, looking for a way to make hardcover books more accessible, Epstein borrowed a format that had been used in British publishing to start Americas first trade paperback publisher, Anchor Books. During a New York City paper strike in the early 1960s, he cofounded the New York Review of Books, and would go on to create the Library of America. Epstein's final innovation came in 2006, when he cofounded the On Demand Books company, which began marketing the Espresso Book Machine. The Espresso Book Machine prints books from digital files from various locations, including bookstores, although its high cost has limited its success. Epstein was also the author of Book Business, published in 2001, and Eating: A Memoir, released in 2009. We mourn the passing of our extraordinary, pathfinding former colleague Jason Epsteineditor, publisher and publishing entrepreneur, and visionary, Penguin Random House said in a statement. With his founding of our Anchor Books, which was the creation of the trade-paperback format, and his decades of distinguished editorial and publishing leadership and vision, he helped shape Doubleday, Anchor, Random House, Vintage Books, and the larger literary community and culture like no other. Among the many awards Epstein won was the Poor Richard Award, presented by the New York Center for Independent Publishing in 2010. In announcing the its choice, the award organizers said that Epstein embodies the award's true spirit, with his creativity and tireless devotion to the written word. In recent years, novels in verse for young readers have garnered wide acclaim. Notable examples include Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson and The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedowhich won the National Book Award for Young Peoples Literature in, respectively, 2014 and 2018and Kwame Alexanders 2015 Newbery Medal recipient, The Crossover. The coming months bring numerous works that use the hybrid form to tell their stories (a select list of titles starts on p. 32). PW spoke with authors and editors about how their forthcoming novels in verse convey intense emotion, express issues around identity and difference, and reframe forgotten or submerged histories through the language of poetry. Song of myself Poetry allowed Robin Gow, author of a debut novel in verse A Million Quiet Revolutions (FSG, Mar., ages 14 and up), to put into words a story about identity and finding ones place in history. I was trying to write a story for myself as a young person who didnt really have the language to express being a queer person and a trans person, says Gow, whose previous works include the chapbook Honeysuckle and the poetry collection Our Lady of Perpetual Degeneracy. Writing through verse helped me explore those concepts in a way that felt more authentic to my own experiences. It helped me bring alive a love story between two transgender boys in high school and also navigate really tough topics. Indeed, verse has proven capacious enough to grapple with global problems such as climate change. Ellen Hagan says her latest verse novel, Dont Call Me a Hurricane (Bloomsbury, July, ages 13 and up), arrived in poems for her. In telling the story of a young environmental activist, Hagan found that verse gave her the language and form necessary to address far-reaching issues surrounding climate injustice. This idea that I was holding this reckless, traumatic, earth-shaking environmental impact in wordsit felt like I could hold that tension in poems, she says. Each line and line break can create that emotional tension on the page. Other writers have discovered verse to be the missing piece that allowed them to tell personal stories. In the Beautiful Country (Quill Tree, June, ages 812), Jane Kuos debut, is a loosely autobiographical story of a girls first year in the United States after immigrating from Taiwan. Kuo initially struggled to tell the story in prose. Im covering big events like immigrating, at one point being separated from my father, trying to understand the whole idea of being separate from everything that Ive ever known and coming into America, she says. Really big themes about feeling different, about saying goodbyehow do you process that? The answer turned out to be poetry. Kuo explains that verse helped her to bring larger ideas about the immigrant experience into focus for younger readers. I found that the novel in verse really allows you to zero in and capture these moments, quite minuscule moments, and string them together, she notes. They become a wonderful way to tell a story and to take the reader along. Another book that draws on the authors life is Diana Farids Wave (Cameron Kids, Mar., ages 1014), illustrated by Kris Goto, about a Persian American girl growing up in Southern California who loves to surf. Cameron Kids editorial director Amy Novesky, who edited Wave, emphasizes poetrys visual storytelling power. So many of the poems were written in a way that evokes imagery like the wings of a bird or an actual wave, she says. That, in addition to the artwork, allows the reader to move through the story. Novesky adds that verses association with lyrics and musicality further amplifies the books subject matter. The story weaves in themes of songs and songwriting and ends with the narrator writing a song, she says. It just made senseits so important that the story and the form match up. Caitlyn Dlouhy, v-p and publisher of her eponymous imprint at Atheneum, also sees a crucial link between form and function. Hazard (Atheneum/Dlouhy, May, ages 913), the first verse novel by Frances ORoark Dowell (Dovey Coe), deals with themes of mental health, toxic masculinity, and the experience of being part of a military family. Dlouhy, who also edited and published the recent bestseller Aint Burned All the Bright by Jason Reynolds and Jason Griffin, says that verses expansiveness on the page may give reluctant young readers more autonomy as they encounter difficult subject matter. Its in an odd way kind of comforting because youre within a space that gives you room to take everything in instead of feeling like theres more and more and more, she adds. Youre in more control as youre reading it. Into the deep Writing in verse, editors and authors say, helps reveal certain truths. Great or Nothing (Delacorte, Mar., ages 12 and up) is a Little Women retelling set in 1942, with each March sisters point of view written by a different author. In this version Beth has already died; her sections are the only ones in verse, giving her an otherworldly voice befitting her character, says Wendy Loggia, v-p and senior executive editor at Delacorte. Verse allowed Joy [McCullough, who writes Beths POV] to develop sides of Beth that we normally wouldnt seeher passions, her desires, her flaws. R.M. Romero, who in The Ghosts of Rose Hill (Peachtree Teen, May, ages 14 and up) draws on Jewish and Eastern European folktales, believes verses emotional intensity makes it especially attractive to young readers. Verse novels resonate so much with young people because theyre so passionate and poetry is a really great format for conveying passion, she says; her debut novel, The Dollmaker of Krakow, was written in prose and for middle graders. Poetry is all about love and anger and disappointment and joyits this perfect snapshot of those powerful feelings. That piercing insight appeals to young people, says Monica Perez, editorial director at Versify, the imprint founded by Kwame Alexander thats now at HarperCollins: the novel in verse, Perez explains, lays bare the truth of issues or problems in our society in a very visual, impactful way. Versifys forthcoming verse novels include Kip Wilsons The Most Dazzling Girl in Berlin (Mar., ages 12 and up), set amid the queer cabaret culture of the 1930s; PWs review said, Its the eras politicsand their connection to the present daythat give the Cabaret-tinged story its urgent momentum. And Nothing Burns as Bright as You (Apr., ages 12 and up), by When You Were Everything author Ashley Woodfolk, explores the fervent connection between two teen girls. Perez believes the verse novel format, once considered something of a rarity, is rapidly becoming established. For a while the novel in verse had that shiny new appeal, she says. Now, were coming into a period when its going to be a staple and an accepted form of literature. Dont Call Me a Hurricane author Hagan sees the verse novels growing resonance with young readers as pointing to something fundamental about poetry itself. Its a place for young people to be vulnerable and tender, she says. Theres a generosity and this alive feeling. A teacher as well as a poet, Hagan recalls a classroom experience: I was teaching onomatopoeia to students and they just started making the sounds. It felt like this popcorn moment. Poems are alive on the page. Matthew Broaddus is a poet and associate poetry editor at Okay Donkey Press. Read more from our Children's Poetry 2022 feature: Children's and YA Verse Novels 2022 Here, a selection of the many new and forthcoming YA and middle grade works in verse. An electronic chip that can be reprogrammed on demand may enable artificial intelligence to learn more continuously like the human brain does, researchers have discovered. (Purdue University photo/Rebecca McElhoe) WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. When the human brain learns something new, it adapts. But when artificial intelligence learns something new, it tends to forget information it already learned. As companies use more and more data to improve how AI recognizes images, learns languages and carries out other complex tasks, a paper published in Science this week shows a way that computer chips could dynamically rewire themselves to take in new data like the brain does, helping AI to keep learning over time. The brains of living beings can continuously learn throughout their lifespan. We have now created an artificial platform for machines to learn throughout their lifespan, said Shriram Ramanathan, a professor in Purdue Universitys School of Materials Engineering who specializes in discovering how materials could mimic the brain to improve computing. Unlike the brain, which constantly forms new connections between neurons to enable learning, the circuits on a computer chip dont change. A circuit that a machine has been using for years isnt any different than the circuit that was originally built for the machine in a factory. This is a problem for making AI more portable, such as for autonomous vehicles or robots in space that would have to make decisions on their own in isolated environments. If AI could be embedded directly into hardware rather than just running on software as AI typically does, these machines would be able to operate more efficiently. In this study, Ramanathan and his team built a new piece of hardware that can be reprogrammed on demand through electrical pulses. Ramanathan believes that this adaptability would allow the device to take on all of the functions that are necessary to build a brain-inspired computer. If we want to build a computer or a machine that is inspired by the brain, then correspondingly, we want to have the ability to continuously program, reprogram and change the chip, Ramanathan said. Toward building a brain in chip form The hardware is a small, rectangular device made of a material called perovskite nickelate, which is very sensitive to hydrogen. Applying electrical pulses at different voltages allows the device to shuffle a concentration of hydrogen ions in a matter of nanoseconds, creating states that the researchers found could be mapped out to corresponding functions in the brain. When the device has more hydrogen near its center, for example, it can act as a neuron, a single nerve cell. With less hydrogen at that location, the device serves as a synapse, a connection between neurons, which is what the brain uses to store memory in complex neural circuits. Through simulations of the experimental data, the Purdue teams collaborators at Santa Clara University and Portland State University showed that the internal physics of this device creates a dynamic structure for an artificial neural network that is able to more efficiently recognize electrocardiogram patterns and digits compared with static networks. This neural network uses reservoir computing, which explains how different parts of a brain communicate and transfer information. Researchers from The Pennsylvania State University also demonstrated in this study that as new problems are presented, a dynamic network can pick and choose which circuits are the best fit for addressing those problems. Since the team was able to build the device using standard semiconductor-compatible fabrication techniques and operate the device at room temperature, Ramanathan believes that this technique can be readily adopted by the semiconductor industry. We demonstrated that this device is very robust, said Michael Park, a Purdue Ph.D. student in materials engineering. After programming the device over a million cycles, the reconfiguration of all functions is remarkably reproducible. The researchers are working to demonstrate these concepts on large-scale test chips that would be used to build a brain-inspired computer. Experiments at Purdue were conducted at the FLEX Lab and Birck Nanotechnology Center of Purdues Discovery Park. The teams collaborators at Argonne National Laboratory, the University of Illinois Chicago, Brookhaven National Laboratory and the University of Georgia conducted measurements of the devices properties. The research was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the National Science Foundation. About Purdue University Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to todays toughest challenges. Ranked in each of the last four years as one of the 10 Most Innovative universities in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at https://purdue.edu/. Writer, Media contact: Kayla Wiles, 765-494-2432, wiles5@purdue.edu Source: Shriram Ramanathan, shriram@purdue.edu ABSTRACT Reconfigurable Perovskite Nickelate Electronics for Artificial Intelligence Hai-Tian Zhang, Tae Joon Park, A. N. M. Nafiul Islam, Dat S. J. Tran, Sukriti Manna, Qi Wang, Sandip Mondal, Haoming Yu, Suvo Banik, Shaobo Cheng, Hua Zhou, Sampath Gamage, Sayantan Mahapatra, Yimei Zhu, Yohannes Abate, Nan Jiang, Subramanian K.R.S. Sankaranarayanan, Abhronil Sengupta, Christof Teuscher and Shriram Ramanathan DOI: 10.1126/science.abj7943 If you're interested in submitting a Letter to the Editor, click here. Submit On January 14, Michell Go, an Asian American woman, was pushed by a man in front of an incoming subway train in Times Square. She died immediately. While the man, Simon Martial, has now been charged with murder, the police said that there was "no indication that Go had been targeted because of her ethnicity". I don't know if this is the reason why the New York Times article covering the story (which ran 1300 words long) did not mention once that Martial is black. On the same day, BuzzFeed ran a story with a headline: "An Asian Woman Died After A Man Pushed Her In Front Of A Subway Train In Times Square". What I want to know is that If BuzzFeed, another left leaning media outlet, deemed it important enough to highlight the racial identify of the victim, why do they leave out the racial identity of the killer? As an Asian American who lived in New York City for 15 years, this is what I find most disturbing about Michelle Go's tragic death: the progressive media, which has tirelessly defended Critical Race Theory (CRT) as an important lens through which we should examine every wrong, falls silent on race whenever it does not fit the theory. I can understand this hesitancy even if it does not make it right: Asian Americans represent the single greatest empirical problem facing CRT and those progressive social theorists with any intellectual integrity. Asian Americans are NOT white but yet they have the highest educational attainment of any racial group in America and the highest per capita income. Moreover, many Asian Americans arrived in America as refugees, with nothing in their pockets. Many Chinese Americans today are descendants of coolies who were brought to America (in many instances against their will) to build the Central Pacific Railroad. They were treated not much better than slaves and 10% of them died during the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. Successful people are generally not well liked. In psychology, this is called hostile envy ("I think he manipulated his way up). I don't know if Michelle Go died because of hostile envy, but I suspect the disproportionate numbers of hate crimes against Jews and Asians in the United States are motivated directly or indirectly by it. The chart above shows that there were 329 hate crimes committed against Jews and Asians in New York in 2021, compared to 38 against blacks, 11 against Muslims and 8 against Hispanics. These numbers would suggest that America is not racist, at least not in the way that racism is generally defined. If anything, these numbers suggest that what America really suffers from is hostile envy. Simon Martial may be deranged or not. The choice of his victim may be random or not. It does not matter in the grand scheme of things. Hate crime statistics paint such a damning picture of the nature of hate crimes in the US that whether Martial is a racist does not add or subtract from it. What is lost in the data, however, is the actual person of Michelle Go: a successful executive at a leading accounting firm who spent her free time helping homeless people like Martial prepare for job interviews and improve their resumes. With her untimely death, the world has lost a productive member of society and an opportunity to find out what was more important in making her who she was: her race or her cultural upbringing. As much as this is convenient for the proponents of CRT who play down the role of culture, it is a loss for everyone, whether Asian or not. I suspect that what happened to Michell Go will drive more Asians to leave New York. I relocated from New York (a city that I once loved) to Israel a year ago to safeguard my right to exercise free speech. Safety has been an unexpected bonus. Yes, if you want to know, as a successful Asian I feel much safer in Israel than in New York today. The UN Secretary-General on Saturday said that Africa was "a source of hope" for the world, highlighting the examples of the African Continental Free Trade Area and the Decade of Financial and Economic Inclusion for African Women. Antonio Guterres also argued that, for the last 20 years, the African Union (AU) "has helped to bring this hope to life, in order to enable the continent to realize its enormous potential." The UN chief addressed the 35th Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the AU, taking place in Addis Ababa this weekend, via a video message. He is being represented in the Ethiopian capital, by Deputy Secretary-General, AminaMohammed. Partnership According to Mr. Guterres, the collaboration between the UN and AU "is stronger than ever", with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063 (Africa's blueprint for a peaceful, integrated and more prosperous continent) as the central pillars. The Secretary-General argued that "injustice is deeply embedded in global systems", but it is Africans who "are paying the heaviest price." He remembered that the vaccination rate in high-income countries is seven times higher than in Africa and stated that "a morally bankrupt global financial system has abandoned the countries of the South." "The unethical inequalities that suffocate Africa, fuel armed conflict, political, economic, ethnic and social tensions, human rights abuses, violence against women, terrorism, military coups and a sentiment of impunity", he continued. Because of that, Mr. Guterres said, tens of millions of people are displaced across the continent and the democratic institutions are in peril. The Secretary-General then offered the UN's support to ignite "four engines of recovery." Vaccination First, he said, everyone needs to get their vaccine. In this regard, he highlighted the African Vaccine Acquisition Task Force (AVATT) and the benefits that greater vaccine production in South Africa and other African countries will generate. "I urge you to create the conditions for the number of African countries capable of producing tests, vaccines and treatments to multiply, including by addressing intellectual property issues and providing the technical and finance needed", he said. Reform financial system Second, Mr. Guterres said Member States need to ignite the engine of economic recovery by reforming the global financial system. "But the deck is stacked against Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa is facing cumulative economic growth per capita over the next five years that is 75 percent less than the rest of the world", he said. He called for re-directing Special Drawing Rights - an IMF-created reserve currency asset - to countries that need support now, reform of the international debt architecture, and more concessional forms of finance. Green recovery Thirdly, the UN chief pointed to a green recovery across the continent. The vast continent contributes just 3 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, but many of the worst impacts of climate change are being felt there. "To address today's tragic reality, we need a radical boost in funding for adaptation and mitigation on the continent", Mr. Guterres said. According to him, the Glasgow COP26 commitment to double adaptation finance, from $20 billion, must be implemented, but it is not enough. He called on wealthier countries to make good on the $100 billion climate finance commitment to developing countries, starting this year, and hold to account private sector partners who have also made commitments. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Africa International Organisations By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "We are in emergency mode, and we need all hands on deck", he said, pointing to the next UN Climate Conference (COP27), happening later this year in Egypt, as "an essential opportunity for Africa and our world." Peace Lastly, the UN chief said peace across the continent can also work as an engine for recovery. In multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural States across Africa, Mr. Guterres believes an organization like the African Union "is about showing how people can co-exist - even flourish - by working together." According to him, this requires "inclusive and participatory structures" and so Member States need to make them a reality through good governance. Especially for young Africans, Mr. Guterres added, who need more connectivity to access information, benefit from faster communication, better education and jobs. By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 02/07/2022 ADVERTISEMENT GINO and JASMINE ADVERTISEMENT 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 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT BEN and MAHOGANY ADVERTISEMENT CALEB and ALINA ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT MEMPHIS and HAMZA ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. : Before the 90 Days featured Jasmine dumping Gino over alarming discoveries, Caleb breaking up with Alina, Mike and Ximena getting engaged, Ben realizing he may have been catfished, and Memphis asking Hamza to sign a prenuptial agreement that "humiliated" him during the fifth-season episode Sunday night on TLC.: Before the 90 Days' new season stars Usman "SojaBoy" Umar , a 32-year-old from Sokoto, Nigeria, and Kim Menzies, 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 ninth episode of : Before the 90 Days' fifth season:Jasmine asked Gino if he had ever sent naked pictures of her to his ex, but Gino promised Jasmine he would never do that and that never happened.Jasmine therefore asked Gino to explain how his ex had gotten a hold of one of her naked picture, a picture she had allegedly sent to Gino only. Jasmine insisted she had never released or sent anyone else nude photos of herself.Jasmine started to cry and asked Gino to be honest, and he admitted to sending the topless photo to his ex in order to rub in her face how beautiful his new girlfriend is."I was showing her, 'Look how hot my girlfriend is,'" Gino explained, before telling the cameras he had sought "revenge" on his ex by bragging about Jasmine.Jasmine said she had trusted Gino with her nudes and would never be able to trust him again. She walked away from him bawling her eyes out, and Gino wished he could take his actions back.Gino's ex also sent Jasmine an alleged screenshot of a conversation she had with Gino in which he had been making fun of Jasmine, writing, "She goes crazy if I mention anything about ex's. She gets super jealous if I even mention a woman's name."Gino added, "Haha she is napping right now lol," clearly showing how Gino had been texting his ex while Jasmine napped in bed right next to him."Oh ok, so you're talking to me behind her back then," Gino's ex noted in the screenshot.Jasmine called Gino's behavior "very low" and said she was "done" with him and would never forgive him. However, Jasmine decided to confront Gino first and hopefully cause him pain.Jasmine therefore stormed into their hotel room and screamed at Gino, "Shut your f-cking mouth!"Jasmine yelled at Gino for texting his ex behind her back and embarrassing her, and she called him depressing and "sick." She said she couldn't live with his "level of stupidity" and then called Gino "a loser."Jasmine proceeded to throw the electric toothbrush Gino had gifted her out of their hotel room.Jasmine told Gino that he had just lost the only person she loved him."His messages with his ex reveal a part of Gino that I just find disgusting," Jasmine told the cameras. "There were also some other screengrabs that she sent me from a few years ago."Gino allegedly bragged about treating his "SBs" or sugarbabies well by giving them $200-250 "per meet," but Gino said he hadn't done that in a long time. Regardless, Jasmine said it was disgusting Gino, "an old man," would have to pay for sex and company."I am not interested in a man like that!" Jasmine shouted.Gino admitted to the cameras he had paid a couple of women to go out to dinner with him and he realized it wasn't a good way to find true love. Gino said Jasmine had the wrong impression of him from those texts.Jasmine screamed at Gino, saying she's intelligent and hardworking and didn't need to be a man's sugarbaby."Thank God I took that birth control! Imagine me being pregnant by the sick person that you are?!" Jasmine yelled. "This is the last f-cking time you will see me in your damn life. And I thought my ex was bad! That was just an appetizer!"Gino scolded Jasmine for not being able to talk in a civil or rational manner, and then she shouted at the top of her lungs, "I hate you! You broke my f-cking heart!"Jasmine said she would eventually find true love because "the good ones always succeed."After spending a week-and-a-half in Colombia, Mike invited Ximena out to a romantic dinner with a view of the entire city. He decorated their table with balloons and planned to present Ximena with an engagement ring once a cake would be brought out.Mike also invited Ximena's family out to dinner because he knew how important everyone is to her. He also wanted to prove his love for Ximena and how he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.Ximena could see how much she meant to Mike, but she was nervous and a bit hesitant about the idea of getting to engaged to Mike after knowing him in-person for such a short amount of time.Mike said although he's not perfect, he wanted to be the best version of himself for Ximena, who could see minor changes in her boyfriend already and the fact he was trying really hard.Mike then stood up at the table and called Ximena his "other half," adding, "I love your children as if they were mine," referring to Harold, 3, and Juan David, 9.Mike announced how he only cared about Ximena and their family and how she kept him "tidy" and he loved her very much. A server then brought out a cake that read, "Ximena, do you want to marry me?"Ximena started to cry after seeing the diamond ring in a box on the cake."Will you marry me?" Mike asked."Yes, yes I want to marry you," Ximena replied with a smile.Ximena said she had questioned a future with Mike due to his bad habits but when she saw the cake and his beautiful words, she felt like her heart was going to "burst" out of her chest and she remembered why she loved Mike -- because he's "sweet, kind and very loving.""He's won the affection of my family and my kids," Ximena shared. "So why would I say no?"Ximena's loved ones cried tears of joy, and Mike said Ximena had made all of his dreams come true. Mike was thrilled to be getting "an instant family," and Harold and Juan both appeared very excited.Even Ximena's father was happy, knowing Mike took his relationship with Ximena very seriously and would probably follow through on his promises.Ximena was super emotional after the marriage proposal, and Mike said he felt like the luckiest man in the world to have Ximena by his side.It then became time for Mike to leave Colombia, but he planned to return in a couple of months. Mike said he had to go back to work but hated the idea of leaving only hours after proposing.Mike intended to marry Ximena during his next visit to Colombia, apply for a visa and then move Ximena and her sons to New York, and Ximena said she was excited about starting a life with Mike in the United States.Ximena was sad about Mike having to leave and wished they could stay together and get married immediately, but that just wasn't the case. Mike even said he was tempted to cancel his flight to stay with his family."I can't put into words how much I will miss her," Mike said.Ximena then gave Mike a necklace to solidify their love, and he promised that he would come back. Mike had found happiness with Ximena, and he said he trusted her wholeheartedly.Mike just hoped he and his new fiancee wouldn't grow apart.Mahogany was a no-show at the airport in Lima, Peru, and Ben was shown working out in the gym the next morning after hearing nothing from his girlfriend at all. He said he very disappointed, betrayed, angry, sad and "very, very discouraged."Ben wrote Mahogany a poem called "Runaway Train" hoping to receive a text in reply. He thought they had been on the same page considering they had begun planning a future together, including welcoming children, and so he didn't know what to do.Ben's friends wondered if Ben was being catfished, especially since it had happened to him once before, but he believed in his love with Mahogany "so hard.""The real difference is that I never really connected on a cerebral and emotional and even spiritual level the way that I have with Mahogany. This person knows me intimately and I feel like I know this person. And she's just scared," Ben said.Ben believed God was a part of his relationship, and so he decided to go to San Bartolo, where Mahogany allegedly lives. Ben planned to wait for Mahogany at a restaurant in her town so they could pursue their romance further, but he wasn't sure she would meet him."I haven't given up on love yet. I'm tempted to. I don't know how much more rejection I can take, but I've only got a couple weeks in Peru, so time is of the essence," Ben explained.After 24 hours in Peru, Ben was holding out hope he's see Mahogany that night in San Bartolo.Ben texted Mahogany to meet him at a restaurant in San Bartolo, and then Ben suddenly received a text in reply that read, "San Bartolo is very distant from Lima." He didn't know what she had meant by that, but Ben was happy to just receive a response.Regardless of Mahogany's text, Ben asked her to meet him at the restaurant at 8PM.Ben waited for about 45 minutes at the restaurant, and Mahogany didn't show up or answer any of his texts. He was starting to lose hope and realize his friends may have been right, that he had been set up by a catfish and may look like a fool to his loved ones.Caleb and Alina were shown going to a romantic dinner together in Turkey when they only had a few days left together. Caleb wished they could extend their trip to continue feeling each other out, but Alina wanted answers about their future together right away.Alina felt she had been patient with Caleb, and while she respected him needing some time, she said, "It's not going to work, this excuse, anymore."Caleb was going to return to the United States and Alina was going to return to Russia, and she was afraid of becoming just friends again. Alina wondered if Caleb didn't care about her enough to become her boyfriend."You are just very vague about me, about us, and about what's going to be after we leave Turkey," Alina told her man. "I just want to know if you are open -- even open -- to be exclusive or not... I can't go back home without an answer."Caleb said the idea of being exclusive felt "a little soon" since "a lot of unknowns" still lingered.Caleb seemed a little scared of commitment, but he said Alina it was about finding the right person with whom to settle down and he was trying to assess that in Alina.Caleb explained how he'd like to experience what life is like with Alina more before agreeing to be exclusive. Caleb felt a commitment was being "forced" on him, but Alina said she had been asking Caleb for an answer their entire trip."It's out of respect for you that I'm taking my time. You have needs that must be met. You need someone who's going to pay attention and help you," Caleb explained. "I don't want to take that lightly."Caleb wanted to make sure he could be the man that Alina really needs in terms of being her aide. Alina thought Caleb was trying to say that he feared he wouldn't be good enough for her, which she called "bullsh-t," but Caleb said that's not what he was trying to say.Caleb determined that he needed more time before making Alina his girlfriend and he wished she could wait a little longer. Alina said she couldn't go back to the way things had been before."Yes or no?" Alina questioned."I don't think there's anything more to talk about right now," Caleb replied.Alina said it hurt that Caleb still didn't know whether he wanted to be with her or not. Alina was certain that she wanted to be with Caleb, and so she told the cameras, "I feel played."Alina subsequently complained to Caleb about how he didn't love her, but he said he couldn't give her an answer right away."She wants it to be a 'yes,' but I just can't give her that 'yes' right now. She is forcing an answer and so she is creating a 'no' for herself," Caleb said in a confessional."But there's the reality maybe I go home and I should've said 'yes' and I really miss her. I just don't know what to do."Once the pair returned to their hotel room, Alina asked Caleb to sleep on the couch.The next day, Caleb and Alina enjoyed a boat ride together and tried to make the most of their last day together, even though Caleb felt like he was walking on eggshells. Caleb assured Alina that he wasn't wasting her time, but Alina felt upset that Caleb didn't seem "crazy" about her."How long do I wait?" Alina asked in frustration, adding in a confessional how she'd be able to wait if Caleb could promise her something certain and defined.Alina was concerned she and Caleb were on "a road to nowhere."Caleb eventually admitted to Alina that he needed more time because he wasn't used to dating little people and he did stumble across some "challenges" due to their height difference. Caleb was also used to an independent, bachelor lifestyle."I don't know if the life I want for myself is one of helping someone so much, because my life has been so different from that," Caleb confessed.Alina felt "disappointed" and "heartbroken" over Caleb's explanation, and she was tired of men not committing to her because she needs too much help."I thought you were different," Alina lamented."I thought I was! I didn't think this would be a problem, but the reality is the struggle I'm facing," Caleb admitted. "I don't know what to say beyond that."Caleb insisted he really cared about Alina and had been trying, but he just couldn't commit to her."I really didn't want to hurt you. Please believe me," Caleb said.Alina believed that Caleb was afraid of change and taking a big leap in his life. She had been hoping for something different and a much better outcome.The couple then packed up their belongings, and Caleb said they were "breaking up in a sense" since he couldn't commit to Alina. Caleb said he never imagined his trip would end this way.Alina felt like she was losing her boyfriend and her best friend, and neither she or Caleb knew what was going to happen down the road. Caleb wished he had opened up his heart to Alina sooner and actually let her in.The pair then said goodbye at the airport, and Caleb said he hoped they'd see each other again. Caleb made Alina promise that she wouldn't disappear, but she just responded, "I will try."Memphis had been in Tunisia for about a week, and she and Hamza planned to go to the embassy to receive their approval documents so they could get married the following week. The pair therefore slept in a hotel room together, and they both drank alcohol the night prior and slept in the same bed."The first time that Hamza and I had sex, it was very fast and furious," Memphis revealed."But I really feel so much more relieved because he did perform for me last night. He definitely showed me that he can do what he needs to do to satisfy me, so I was very happy."Hamza set out to prove to Memphis he can be a very responsible and organized person, and then the couple went out to lunch together.After eating their meals, Memphis broached the topic of getting a prenuptial agreement so that if she and Hamza ever got a divorce, he wouldn't be able to take any of her money."Why you no trust me?" Hamza asked."It f-cking happens! People split up!" Memphis explained."Me no divorce," Hamza responded. "Why problem?""No, you don't know. You may change your mind," Memphis said.Memphis was concerned Hamza had lied about his age, and she wasn't sure if he had been lying about other things as well. Memphis therefore felt the need to protect herself going into this marriage.Memphis said she wanted to feel safe and make sure her children would be protected if Hamza chose to divorce her. Memphis blurted out, "If you do not sign the contract, I do not want to marry you."Hamza said he's never heard of a prenup before and they don't exist in Tunisia. He apparently felt "insulted" since a marriage should be built on trust and respect."Your possessions do not mean anything to me," Hamza insisted."Good! But will you sign papers?" Memphis asked."Okay," Hamza replied, although he felt very uneasy and noticed new problems kept popping up for his relationship.Hamza didn't want Memphis to think he's a greedy man who would use her, and so their prenup conversation was still bothering her.Once Memphis received the paperwork -- an affidavit of eligibility to marry -- she admitted that she was feeling nervous and scared because she really wanted their marriage to work. The couple was able to get the ball rolling on their wedding, but she felt frustrated by Hamza's quiet demeanor.Memphis could tell that Hamza was frustrated about something, but he wouldn't open up about how he was feeling.Memphis asked Hamza if he had any money saved for their wedding, and he replied, "No."Memphis wanted their finances to be 50/50 in America, with Hamza working hard, and Hamza asked her to stop talking about negative things. Hamza said he felt humiliated and Memphis was making him feel "weak."Hamza began wondering if he could spend the rest of his life with a woman who was able to hurt him so badly.Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage! Peacock is giving a glimpse of its new series of 2022. ADVERTISEMENT The streaming service shared a first-look video Friday during the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics. The new shows include "Vampire Academy," a fantasy horror series based on the Richelle Mead book series. The TV adaptation hails from "The Vampire Diaries" showrunner Julie Plec and Maguerite MacIntyre and stars Sisi Stringer, Daniela Nieves, Kieron Moore and Andre Dae Kim. "Bel-Air," a reboot of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," is also coming to Peacock. The series stars Jabari Banks and features original "Fresh Prince" star Will Smith as an executive producer. Other series include a "Queer as Folk" reboot, "Joe vs Carole," a scripted series revisiting the "Tiger King" drama between Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin, "Killing It," a new comedy starring Craig Robinson, and a "Pitch Perfect" series with original star Adam Devine. In addition, "Lost" actor Matthew Fox will return to television in the new series "Last Light." FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! "Bel-Air" will premiere Feb. 13, with "Joe vs Carole" to follow on March 3. By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 02/07/2022 ADVERTISEMENT FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. star Olajuwon Dickerson has explained how he ended up sleeping with a mother and her daughter before he decided to commit to one person and marry a stranger, Katina Goode.Olajuwon, 29, and Katina, 29, were matched for matrimony on Season 14 of by the show's experts Dr. Pepper Schwartz, Dr. Viviana Coles and Pastor Calvin Roberson.During Wednesday night's episode of : Afterparty, Katina watched back a Season 14 clip of Olajuwon telling the cast while sailing on a catamaran in Puerto Rico he had slept with a mother and her daughter when he was living the single life."Have you ever slept with somebody in the same family?" Olajuwon asks his co-stars in the clip during a shocking game of "Never Have I Ever."He adds, "I messed with her mom and her daughter."MAFS star Noi Phommasak proceeds to make a disgusted face and notes, "That's weird."On Afterparty, host Keshia Knight Pulliam asked Katina to call her husband on the phone so they could get some "details of this story."Olajuwon answered the phone and spilled the tea about his jaw-dropping past."How did that happen?" Keshia asked of Olajuwon's family affair."Yeah, I can tell you," Olajuwon replied. "Back in the day, my cousin was dating this guy and he disrespected my cousin, and they broke up.""So one day I was walking down the street with my cousin and I seen the mother of the son and he told me that the mother likes to act young. So I told the mom, 'You look beautiful. You should let me take you out some time,'" Olajuwon shared."And then the mom got a hotel and she gave me a sex education class."This was clearly news to Katina as well, who appeared totally stunned."So how did you then get to the daughter?" Keshia probed, looking for answers."I'd say a month later, the daughter was sleeping over my cousin's house and she knew that I was going to be there," Olajuwon recalled.Olajuwon said as the night "got late," he made a move."I gave her sex [education] the same way the mother gave my sex ed," Olajuwon revealed.Keshia questioned whether Olajuwon taught the daughter the same things her mother had taught him."Absolutely," Olajuwon replied.Katina laughed and then Olajuwon continued, "Two months from the mom and a month from the daughter, the mother reaches out to me and says, 'Hey, can you pick me up?' She doesn't drive. So when I pulled up to the train station, she didn't tell me the daughter was with her."Olajuwon added how both women got into his car and he attempted to "narrate the conversation.""But I ran out of words to talk about, so I just stayed quiet and then they started talking and laughing. And they both patted me on the shoulder when they got out of the car," Olajuwon told Keshia."They told me that I passed the class!"Keshia, Katina and the other Afterparty guests, Steve Moy and Lindsey Georgoulis cracked up after hearing the full story.Although Lindsey and Olajuwon fought during their honeymoons in San Juan on the show, Lindsey blurted out, "This is why Olajuwon is my favorite!" So the pair clearly buried the hatchet at some point."That story was everything. Thank you for clarifying," Keshia concluded with a laugh.Olajuwon joked about how he was happy to help the community, and then Steve said a university should be opened in his pal's honor."I like him more now!" Lindsey said.When Keshia asked Katina to comment on the whole ordeal, Katina said she needed to drink, and so she took a sip of her cocktail.On 's fourteenth season, which currently airs on Wednesday nights at 8PM ET/PT, Katina didn't seem bothered by Olajuwon's wild and reckless past in which he had told women his name was "Isaac" and apparently partied and slept around without a care in the world.Katina -- who also left behind a past of partying and late nights going into -- remained focus on the present and how Olajuwon continued to insist she was his "queen" and he'd always be loyal to her.Olajuwon also assured Katina that he only needed one woman for the rest of his life and he'd love that person to be her.The latest episode of concluded with Olajuwon surprising Katina with rose petals and candles in their San Juan hotel room, and Katina cried about how wonderful Olajuwon was treating her.Katina determined that she and Olajuwon were meant to be and she was already "falling in love.""This is everything I dreamed of," Katina cried after Olajuwon rubbed her feet. "I wish every woman could feel what I'm feeling right now. I just feel happy. I'm not in love yet, but this definitely helps!"Interested in more news? Join our Married at First Sight Facebook Group or click here to view our newspage!And click here for more updates on former cast members and info on where they are now! Disney+ said it plans to air A Small Light, a new seven-part series about Anne Frank, the teen whose diary helped generations understand the horrors of the Holocaust. ADVERTISEMENT Deadline reported the National Geographic-produced drama will focus on Miep Gies, the young woman who helped hide Frank, her family and several others from the Nazis for two years in Amsterdam during World War II. Gies is also the person who preserved Frank's journal and gave it to her father after Frank, her sister and mother perished in concentration camps in 1945. Gies died in 2010 at the age of 100. No casting has been announced yet, but filming is expected to begin in Europe this spring. Grey's Anatomy alums Joan Rater and Tony Phelan penned A Small Light. "So proud to bring this important story to a wider audience. Thanks to all our partners," Phelan tweeted Sunday, along with a link to the Deadline story. Netflix is celebrating 10 years of original series. ADVERTISEMENT The nascent streaming service debuted the Norwegian crime dramedy, Lilyhammer, starring Stevie Van Zandt, a decade ago Sunday. Ted Sarandos -- Netflix's co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Content Officer -- recalled in a weekend blog post how Van Zandt had filmed the series for a Norwegian TV station, then offered it to Netflix when he heard the company was seeking new shows. "We watched it and we loved it," Sarandos wrote. "I thought it was a classic fish-out-of-water story, with Stevie playing a role loved by audiences, and the interplay between his no-nonsense hitman Frank Tagliano and the gentle community around him made for some great comedy. It was a character that was so familiar in a culture that few audiences had seen. I wasn't sure what would come from that first phone call with Stevie. I was (am) a huge fan of his music and I loved him in The Sopranos, so I was happy just to get to talk to him for a few minutes." Netflix not only bought the show, but ordered a second season of it. "Thank you Lilyhammer and Stevie Van Zandt for starting this incredible 10-year journey. It's always hard to predict what's to come in the next 10, but one thing is certain: we'll have many more great stories from anywhere that can be loved everywhere," Sarandos said. Whitney Rose thinks her "The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" co-star Lisa Barlow meant for her hot mic rant to be heard. ADVERTISEMENT Rose weighed in on Barlow's outburst about their fellow "The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" co-star Meredith Marks during Sunday's episode of "Watch What Happens Live." The January 30 episode of "The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" featured audio of Barlow implying that Marks cheats on her husband, Seth Marks, and saying that Marks has slept with "half of New York." Barlow also questioned why Seth Marks changes jobs "every five minutes" and claimed the couple don't own their house. When asked for her thoughts on Barlow's hot mic moment, Rose responded, "Is it really a hot mic? Because there's a producer in the room." Rose then said she believes Barlow meant for her comments to be heard. "I think she lost her cool, but at some level she's obviously been thinking that for a very long time and it finally came out," she added. Marks herself reacted to Barlow's rant on "WWHL" last week. FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! "When Lisa apologized to me later on, she told me that somebody told her that I said her house was ugly and that's why she felt that tirade was justified," Marks said. "I don't really understand that, that seems quite vapid to me." "This level of hate is far beyond anything I could have ever imagined, and the lies that she's spewing are just, like, incomprehensible," she added. On Sunday's "WWHL," Rose also rated her "The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" co-star Jen Shah's loyalty as a friend. "I'm going to get in so much trouble Andy, but she's probably a five," Rose told "WWHL" host Andy Cohen. "The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" is in its second season on Bravo. The series also stars Mary Cosby and Heather Gay. The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan has said that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari was in a hurry to develop Nigeria. Lawan made the remarks at the weekend, while on a visit to Kwara State to witness the launch of the 2022 Empowerment Programme of Senator Sadiq Suleiman Umar who is representing Kwara North. According to a statement, the event which was also witnessed by the State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq held at the Kwara State Polytechnic. The Senate President said there were infrastructural projects going on in virtually all parts of the country, stressing that the synergy between the states and federal government was producing positive results. "Development of any nation is not about federal government doing its beat. It is about federal government doing its own, working in partnership with the state government and even the local government and that is what we are doing. "Every single project of federal government of Nigeria whether it is a constituency project or direct project from the federal government, is to complement what the state government is doing and that partnership has been so purposeful that today in every corner, in every part of Nigeria, you have infrastructural development. "The federal government of President Muhammadu Buhari is in a hurry. We are in a hurry to develop Nigeria. By 2023, Nigeria would have been turned into an infrastructural laboratory because every part of Nigeria, from the east to the west to the north to the south, there is something going on. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Governance By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "In the east, the second Niger bridge, today it is at 75 to 80 per cent completion level. For 20 years, those people, they will go there, do groundbreaking and disappear to the ground. Another person would come, do groundbreaking and disappear to the ground," he said. According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari did only one groundbreaking and today, it is at 75 percent completion level. That is what it is, in every part of Nigeria." "So the synergy between our states and the Federal government is working. It is making Nigeria to develop the infrastructure that we need. We have never seen it done like this one by this administration," Lawan said. The Senate President was full of commendation for the Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for changing the narratives in the state in terms of development and urged the people of Kwara State to consider him for another term to continue his good work. "APC administration in this state is barely two and half years but we know how far we have gone in two and half years. Others were here for 16 years. What you (Governor Abdulrazaq) have been able to do in two and half years can be favourably compared with what others could not do in 16 years. "No one should deceive you. No one should confuse you. Elect His Excellency, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for a second term. He has already performed so well in two and half years," Lawan said. 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 Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers. High near 55F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low 44F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. As we finally head back to normal times after two years of the coronavirus pandemic, one constant worry is more intense than ever: Companies struggle to find the right employees as workers look very closely at where they might earn a living. Its a tough match-up game out there, all the more with the unemployment rate falling back to pre-pandemic levels. How can a business gain an advantage? If youre hiring, one of the most effective claims you can make is that youre a Top Workplace. That means the Hearst Connecticut Media Top Workplaces awards for employers in Fairfield, New Haven and Litchfield counties. Were now starting our 12th year, a great time for anyone whos hiring privately owned businesses, nonprofits, publicly traded corporations, even government agencies to showcase all the ways theyve valued employees throughout the coronavirus crisis. Nominations are open for the 2021 competition. Click here to see coverage of the 2021 winners. Watch this animated video about how Top Workplaces works. Click on www.topworkplaces.com/nominate/hearstct/ to nominate your company whether youre the CEO or the newest employee. Ask Maria Coutant Skinner what it has meant for the combined company where she is CEO, McCall Center for Behavioral Health and Help Inc., the mental health and addiction services nonprofits in Litchfield County and the Waterbury area. With employees having many options of where they want to go to work, CEO Coutant Skinner said, We point it out. Companies say the recognition works for recruitment, it works for the information they receive through employee surveys and it works for morale at a tough time. Like many workplaces, especially in the healthcare field, we experienced heart wrenching challenges, but our staff never faltered with their unwavering commitment and dedication to their colleagues and clients, said Coutant Skinner, at the two nonprofits that are merging this year. She tells a story about last months peak of the omicron variant, when upwards of 20 percent of the staff herself included was sick or unable to work. every person who wasnt sick stepped in, she said, including the director of outpatient services flipping pancakes for residential clients. Top Workplaces celebrates that spirit. Were looking to honor the best places to work, regardless of what kind of employers they are. A company need not have its headquarters here to compete. The contest is open to any employer with 35 or more people in the three counties. Recognition is given for small, midsize and large organizations, and the contest also rewards the best executives including Coutant Skinner, last years midsize winner. Dont wait, nominations close Friday, March 11. The cost to compete and win is zero. Last year, Hearst Connecticut Media honored 56 employers from across the region. Awards are based on short, 24-question employee surveys by our partner, Energage, about how well employers value their ideas, communicate, puts their strategies to work, operate ethically and create a culture of teamwork and competence. The currently reigning top winners from 2021 include Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties (1st place among large employers for the fourth consecutive year), and Bridgewater Associates at No. 2 for the large size category. Gaylord Specialty Healthcare was No. 3 among large employers. For midsize employers, Splash Car Wash won the top spot after many years of coming close. No. 2 was High Watch Recovery Center and No. 3 was HAI Group, a specialty insurer to housing authorities, based in Cheshire. Criterion, a small but global software developer in Norwalk, won 1st place among small employers for the second time in its two years in the contest. Autism Behavioral Health, a Danbury company, was No. 2 among small employers for the second straight year. The Star Supply Co. of New Haven was No. 3. Only one company, ICON International Inc., the corporate barter firm based in Greenwich, has made the winners list all 11 years. All of these winners, and all 56 from the 2021 list, have amazing stories to tell about working through coronavirus. And they can tell you why their Top Workplaces designation matters. Hearst Connecticut Media Top Workplaces winners will be featured in the Connecticut Post, The News-Times of Danbury, Greenwich Time, The Stamford Advocate, The Norwalk Hour, New Haven Register and The Register Citizen of Torrington in September and will be highlighted on all of the associated websites. For complete coverage of last years winners, go to any of those media outlets websites and type /topworkplaces such as www.ctpost.com/topworkplaces. Energage carries out the Top Workplaces surveys for more than 40 metro newspapers including some of the biggest. The company has surveed more than 20 million employees at tens of thousands of organizations. Energage launched its Top Workplaces USA designation in 2022, with the best of the best winners that have at least 150 employees. McCall/Help and several of our other 2021 winners made that national list this month. Employers can be nominated online at https://topworkplaces.com/nominate/hearstct or by calling 203-617-0727. Dan Haar is associate editor and columnist at Hearst Connecticut Media Group. dhaar@hearstmediact.com The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has said he nearly lost his life to the dreaded COVID-19 when he was quarantined for three weeks after testing positive to the disease at the end of last year. He recounted his sordid experience over the weekend after taking a COVID-19 booster jab. The minister confessed that he only survived the scare because he had taken two doses of the vaccines. "Although I was not hospitalised, I was quarantined in my residence for three weeks because subsequently, even after taking the medication, I tested positive twice. It was the third time that I got a negative result. If I had not taken the first and second doses, probably what has happened to many of my dear ones would have happened to me," he admitted. The minister recounted bout of headaches, sore throat, pains in the joints and general fatigue, while he fought the virus which also necessitated the change of the course of his medicine after the first 10 days. "For three weeks, I was not productive. I didn't go out of the house, I never had a chance to do my work and the multiplier effect was tremendous because even now, I'm just trying to cope, to clear all those files that I was not able to handle when I was under quarantine," he said. He made a case for all FCT residents to be vaccinated, while advising those who have taken the first and second doses to go for the booster. The minister said he would take all the recommended shots, "because I don't want to go through what I went through again". He thanked the federal government for ensuring the availability of the vaccines for Nigerians, while urging residents to get vaccinated as vaccines can truly save lives. Also, the Secretary for Health and Human Services of the FCTA, Dr. Abubakar Tafida said that a total of 433,000 people in the FCT have taken the first dose and 286,000 the second dose. He said about 12,000 people have taken the booster shot. HARTFORD Gov. Ned Lamont on Monday proposed a wide-ranging series of anti-crime and gun-safety measures, including $64 million in new spending to hire more state and local police, reduce juvenile crime and revive a dormant gun-trafficking task force. Speaking during an afternoon news conference with state officials, gun-safety advocates and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal in the State Capitol, Lamont said he expects to nominate as many as 20 new state judges, and he wants to consider reopening the Connecticut Juvenile Training School in Middletown. I want to see 500 more cops on the street by the end of the year, Lamont said. He proposed identifying chronic juvenile offenders faster and to get them in courthouses, before judges, within 24 hours of their arrests. Lamont also wants law enforcement officers to have the authority to ask people who openly carry their firearms to show their gun permits. In recent years, legislative attempts to require the presentation of permits have been rejected by lawmakers from urban communities concerned that such requests amount to racial profiling. In an expansion of the law requiring handguns to be sold with trigger locks, Lamonts plan would require all firearms to be sold with the locks. About $4 million would be invested in more mobile crime labs and upgrade forensic-science abilities. Its part of Lamonts legislative agenda that he will introduce to the General Assembly on Wednesday, opening day of the 12-week budget-adjustment session of the General Assembly. He also wants to eliminate loopholes in the states landmark laws against military-style rifles and homemade firearms with untraceable parts called ghost guns. We have more damn guns in this state than ever before, Lamont said with more than a dozen advocates and lawmakers in the Capitols historic Hall of the Flags. We have more legal guns, we have more illegal guns. Youre not tough on crime if youre weak on guns. He said that while Connecticut is among the national leaders in gun safety, the state needs to do more. Over the last year Lamont has been the target of criticism from Republicans in the General Assembly who have focused on instances of shootings in Connecticuts inner cities as well as an uptick in juveniles stealing cars in the suburbs. House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, said Monday afternoon that Lamont isnt focusing on the issues most-important to state residents. No matter how hard he tries, the issues he needs to push are not in the forefront, Candelora said. Just this weekend there is another story about car theft, and another shooting. Gun crime is a very serious issue. We have seen a rise in that. We have also seen crime against police officers. To continue to focus on guns, to me, is trying to deflect from the heart of the issue. Last week, Candelora proposed anti-crime initiatives, including tougher penalties for some juvenile offenders, and ending some of the police standards and transparency legislation that was enacted after the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020. I would like to see us stand up and come up with reforms to protect individuals from crime and preventing those individuals from committing crime, Candelora said in a phone interview. The state has a revolving door policy that only continues this behavior rather than put an end to it. State Rep. Steve Stafstrom, D-Bridgeport, co-chairman of the legislative Judiciary Committee, voiced support for Lamonts plan. The governor is right to be focused on the proliferation of guns on our streets as the best way to prevent violent crime, Stafstrom said. The uptick in certain criminal activity we have seen during the pandemic corresponds with a surge in gun sales and the trafficking of guns into our state. We should also look at a microstamping ammunition bill like New York has introduced, putting in place gun purchasing limits and providing notice to law enforcement when someone who fails a background check attempts to purchase a gun. Public Safety Commissioner James Rovella said the funding under the federal American Rescue Plan Act will help fund local police salaries for participation in the revitalized gun task force and drug-interdiction on highways. Guns and drugs, really they run hand-in-hand, Rovella said. Blumenthal said he believes there is support in the Senate for a nationwide version of a law requiring the locking of firearms, inspired by the 2018 accidental death of Ethan Song, of Guilford. The teens father, Mike Song, said unlocked guns are leading to the deaths of children throughout the country. The clock is ticking right now on some young child whos either going to get ahold of their parents unsecured gun, perhaps theyre going to commit suicide with that gun, maybe theyll take it to school as we saw it in Michigan in November and kill some of their classmates, Song said. It never leaves your mind that at the speed of opening a smart phone, the gun that killed my child could have been secured. Jeremy Stein, executive director of CT Against Gun Violence, noted that guns are most likely to kill Black men aged 14 to 34. On average, every day someone is shot in Connecticut and every other day, someone is killed by a gun, Stein said. We need to do something about this yesterday. He particularly supports Lamonts plan for a statewide strategy for tackling community gun violence. In October, Lamont joined three other regional governors in forming a task force to stem the flow of guns from southern states into the Northeast through better sharing of the federal firearms-registration database. Shootings in Hartford, Waterbury, Bridgeport and New Haven have increased over the last two years during the COVID pandemic, while gun crimes are down slightly statewide. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy recently announced a $7 million program to expand the use of gunshot-detection technology, plus more than $8 million for that 25 nonprofit organizations to focus on community-based violence intervention. kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT Obituaries for the Miami County Republic are $10 for the first 70 words. More information may be presented for an additional fee. For fee information, please consult your funeral director or call (913) 294-2311. Funeral homes may fax information to (913) 294-5318 or email to obits@miconews.com. Please include your contact information. Photos may be emailed in jpeg format. Deadline to run in the printed paper is 10 a.m. on Tuesday. The Miami County Republic publishes on Wednesday. Private-party obituaries are taken 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, except on holidays. Go to form President Muhammadu Buhari and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed have stressed that Africa's growth and development would require strong, visionary leadership that caters for the needs of the people. According to the duo, such leadership would effectively strengthen institutions that encourage peaceful co-existence, while providing disincentives to conflicts and coups. At a meeting yesterday, between both leaders in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, headquarters of the African Union, Buhari, according to a statement issued by Media Adviser to the President, Femi Adesina, commended the efforts of the Prime Minister in maintaining peace and unity in the country, and dedication to ensuring fairness and justice in development. He said: "You are leading a country that is large and diversified, just like Nigeria, and I know the sacrifices required to make desired impact, especially in maintaining peace." Buhari urged the Ethiopian leader to stay focused on keeping the country together, in spite of the difficulties, assuring that Nigeria would continue to support efforts in peaceful co-existence and unity. The president said Ahmed had provided strong leadership for the country, encouraging him to sustain the good work in ensuring even development. On his part, the Prime Minister thanked Buhari for supporting the country over the years, on national and personal endeavours, particularly in encouraging unity and stability. He noted that the African continent had been slow in growth due to conflicts, adding that the larger economies, like Nigeria and Ethiopia, should provide the leadership that will deepen progress and prosperity on the continent. According to the Prime Minister, the resurgence of coups on the continent could further weaken institutions and reverse the gains of democracy, while appreciating Buhari for his position on zero tolerance for military interference in governance. Ahmed said collective and visionary leadership would move Africa forward. A 1978 flood in Belle Creek surrounded houses with raging water. In 1972, flood plain regulations were passed in many counties, but its hard to do anything about buildings already located on flood plains. The revival of the party tests government tolerance after a 2017 crackdown wiped out the opposition. A small opposition party in Cambodia is growing quickly and can present a challenge to Prime Minister Hun Sens ruling party in upcoming elections, activists told RFA. The Candlelight Party, formerly known as the Sam Rainsy Party and the Khmer Nation party, was founded in 1995, and merged with other opposition forces to form the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) in 2012. Cambodias Supreme Court dissolved the CNRP in November 2017 in a move that allowed Prime Minister Hun Sens Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) to win all 125 seats in Parliament in a July 2018 election. Sam Rainsy, 72, has lived in exile in France since 2015 and was sentenced in absentia last year to 25 years for what supporters say was a politically motivated charge of attempting to overthrow the government. Ahead of the commune elections in June, the Candlelight Partys Acting President Thach Setha told RFAs Khmer Service that the party has established headquarters in every Cambodian province since it reactivated late last year and has built about 80-90% of its local infrastructure. He said almost 90% of the CNRPs members have joined Candlelight, which he added adheres to CNRPs ideals. Most of the countrys youth are also joining the party, he said. I have been to all 25 provinces and municipalities. The partys popularity is higher than it was in 1995, Thach Setha said. People have sacrificed physically and emotionally, and they have even contributed their resources as well. Thach Setha said the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party is concerned over the rising popularity of the opposition, although the Candlelight Party has not said whether it will compete in the upcoming elections. CPPs Sok Ey San told RFA that it does not consider Candlelight a competitor. He also disputed the idea that it is gaining political ground, although he acknowledged the CPP has urged Candlelight members to switch sides. Nothing is wrong when we convince other parties members to defect to our party. It is wrong if we intimidate them to join us, Sok Ey San said. Prominent activist and president of the Cambodian Confederation of Unions, Rong Chhun, has endorsed the Candlelight Party in a statement and urged his supporters to do the same. Boycott call In an interview with RFA, Rong Chhun said Candlelight is an alternative to the Cambodia National Rescue Party while it fights for reinstatement to participate in elections. If that happens, the two parties could join forces, he said. If we wait for the CNRP to be reinstated it will be too late for the upcoming elections. We must do something to compete in the elections, Rong Chhun said. He added however that he himself wont join the Candlelight Party, despite his endorsement. Lawyer and activist Theary Seng, however, told RFA call that she does not support the Candlelight Party or other parties competing in elections organized by the ruling party because that would legitimize a "rigged" process. You cant win," she told an RFA Khmer Service call-in show. She urged parties to "boycott the elections," in 2022 while using Cambodia's status as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to draw world attention to its political crisis at home. "Dont join the [election] process until we can resume normal political activism after 2022," said the Cambodia-American lawyer, who is among more 50 supporters and members of the CNRP on trial for conspiracy to commit treason and incitement of social unrest. The revived Candlelight Party has faced harassment at local levels by CPP officials. Authorities in the northwestern province of Battambang ordered the Candlelight Party to remove a sign from a citizens house last week, in spite of the fact that Cambodias Minister of Interior Sar Kheng recently asked local officials to allow political parties to act freely without political and partisan discrimination. Although Candlelight officials informed local authorities about the sign, they still stopped the villager from putting it up and threatened him, the Candlelight Partys Director Pho Sovantha told RFA, who said that authorities were trying to prevent competition in elections. This isnt the first time a sign has been targeted by local authorities. RFA reported in mid-January that governmental officials ordered the removal of a Candlelight Party advertisement from a public road in central Tboung Khmum province. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Eugene Whong. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has concluded plans to announce his presidential ambition immediately after the All Progressives Congress (APC) national convention, slated for Saturday, February 26. Sources close to Osinbajo's strategy team hinted at the weekend that in spite of the ongoing campaigns against his currently rumoured bid for the presidency by some interests in the South-west, where he hails from, Osinbajo had made up his mind to give the presidency a shot. Even more instructive, inside sources claimed, was the fact that Osinbajo had received the blessing and the charge to go ahead with his ambition from his spiritual father and General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye. The source said, "Take it to the bank, he will run and he is declaring soon after the APC convention. All is set, including premium consultations already done. The coast is clear and the journey is looking good. I believe prof is also motivated by the increasing level of support from across the country, especially, the youths of this country. "From the north to the south, tell me where he has visited recently and the charge has not been that he should contest? He has capacity, competence and knows what the issues are. Importantly, he can also sell them - I mean the issues. So, why will he not run? Why should the bitterness and envy of some minions stifle him?" Osinbajo, who sources said was unfazed by the growing allegation of betrayal and the push for him to stand down his ambition for his former principal and supposed benefactor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who had since declared his intention to run, was said to have described the attacks against him as the real motivation to take his chances. The source added, "In fact, none of such bothers him. But he has done one thing though, he has called his supporters and pleaded with them never to talk down on Tinubu or engage in a mud fight with his support groups, even in the face of obvious provocation." Although Osinbajo has refused to officially talk about his aspiration, despite the growing support for him to succeed Buhari, he is said to have been holding high level consultations with prominent Nigerians, many of whom have encouraged him to give the aspiration his best shot possible. THISDAY gathered that Osinbajo's motivation to run for the presidency in 2023 stemmed from the first time he acted as president, when Buhari was away on medical leave to London, during which he took far-reaching decisions in the national interest. It was further gathered that taking active charge during the period provided the vice president both the confidence and impetus to desire to succeed his current boss. An APC member, who is favourably disposed to Osinbajo's aspiration, stated, "It may be right to admit he stands a really good chance to succeed President Buhari after eight years as his deputy. He is an insider, who has had the opportunity of seeing things from high and serious vantage position, especially, having acted before on behalf of his boss. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Governance By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "Although that may not be enough to get the presidency of Nigeria, because I believe and I know there are some politics directly connected to being the president of Nigeria. But, how well Osinbajo fits into that conversation is another debate altogether. From the list of those currently strutting the turf, he stands a really good chance, except the election is not his to lose. "But, file this away, he is contesting and would declare after the APC convention. I am aware of that. There's actually no stopping him. The supports have been sweeping and encouraging and for him, this opportunity might just be once and might never come his way again. Sincerely, he has nothing to lose throwing his hat in the ring. After all, he is already a frontline aspirant." Asked if it was true that Adeboye had given his blessing, the party chieftain, who would rather maintain anonymity, stated, "I am not privy to that, but it's also a simple logic. Osinbajo is a pastor in Redeem and Baba Adeboye would never leave one of his own to support someone else. I also believe he must have hinted him. Honestly, the days ahead will be interesting." Authorities in the southwestern Chinese region of Guangxi have imposed a total lockdown on Baise, a city of some four million close to the border with Vietnam, in a bid to curb the spread of the omicron variant of COVID-19. "Transport restrictions will be imposed city-wide on Baise from Feb. 6," the city authorities said in a statement. "Strict controls ... will ensure that no people or vehicles will be allowed in or out, nor to pass between districts, townships or counties, unless absolutely necessary." City authorities reported 43 confirmed COVID-19 cases on , including 37 in Debao county, two in Youjiang district, one in Tianyang district, one in Longlin county and two in Jingxi city, state media reported. Schools and training institutions will remain closed and all public transportation will be suspended, with only supermarkets, farmers' markets, hospitals and pharmacies staying open to ensure supplies of daily necessities to residents, the city government said. The catering industry has been asked to do all it can to provide food takeouts to residents ordered to stay in their homes. People have been prevented from gathering, and all forms of transportation in and out of Baise have been shut down, including the city's airport, with road-blocks on highways, local roads and national expressways. Local officials and quarantine enforcement teams have been ordered to enforce an order to the population to isolate at home, and to coordinate delivery services to local residents. "[You must also] implement prevention and control measures such as stopping people from leaving the area they are in, and strictly prohibiting gatherings ... implementing a fine-grained grid management mechanism, down to the smallest grid unit," a copy of the order posted by official media reported. 'Nobody can leave or come here' Officials are also expected to keep track of the close contacts of any cases and monitor returnees from high-risk areas, it said. The authorities immediately ordered COVID-19 tests for more than four million people, reports said, with around 98 preliminary positive results after the first wave of testing. A local lawyer surnamed Li confirmed the reports from Baise. "It's true that the city is locked down," Li said. "It has been since midnight ... nobody can leave or come here." "I heard this wave of infections was brought by a bunch of people who had been working in Shiyan township ... in Shenzhen, and brought [the virus] back with them when they traveled back to their hometowns for Lunar New Year," he said. The outbreak had been traced to a single migrant worker surnamed Xu, who had passed the virus to a lover after an assignation in a hotel room, Li said. According to the Guangxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the infected person drove by private car to the Vienna Hotel in Debao county at 4:00 a.m. on , went to eat dinner at a branch of the "Dog Meat King" chain of restaurants, before going to Debao county railway station to pick up his date. He then spent time at the Vienna Hotel, before visiting local people in their homes, and going to a local hospital, spreading the virus as he did so, the official report found. Vaccines not effective Current affairs commentator Xiang Wei said currently available vaccines appear to offer little protection against the omicron variant. "Sinovac's inactivated vaccine doesn't work," Xiang said. "Some people are suffering from myocarditis and coronary heart disease after being vaccinated, causing blood clots." China has further tightened health checks on arrivals to the country, requiring incoming passengers on Chinese airline flights to quarantine in a local hotel for seven days on arrival. A recent inbound passenger who gave on the surname Wang said a slew of quarantine restrictions across different cities in East Asia have made the process of getting to China a lengthy one. "If you're coming back [to China] from South Korea, before you get on the plane in South Korea, you will be quarantined in a local hotel in South Korea for seven days," Wang said. "Then flying from Seoul to Qingdao, that's another seven days, and another 14 days if you fly to Shanghai after that," she said. "The whole world is like this now." On Jan. 27, authorities in the southern city of Guangzhou barred anyone who has recently spent time in Baise from entering the city. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Six parties including Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam claim parts of the sea. A collection of maps describing how different countries refer to the disputed South China Sea. Whats in a name? When it comes to the South China Sea, with its tangle of competing territorial and maritime claims, more than you might think. Philippine vice president and presidential hopeful Leni Robredo found that to her cost last week when she drew criticism for using South China Sea instead of the local, officially endorsed name, the West Philippine Sea. Whoa, South China Sea???- one person tweeted. Wait! Did she just call it "South China Sea" instead of West Philippine Sea? Basic terms, mam!- another posted. Robredos slip of the tongue during an interview with radio station DZRH was jumped on by supporters of her rivals in this Mays presidential election. It points to one of the less talked-about but fundamental matters of contention when it comes to the South China Sea, where nations dont just have disputes about who owns what, but about what to call it. The Philippines isnt the only claimant state that uses its own name for at least part of the vast waters stretching over 3.5 million square kilometers from the Indochinese Peninsula to Luzon Island. Vietnam calls it the East Sea. In China, its referred to as the South Sea the source of the anglicized name, South China Sea. But theres also people in the region advocating a new title altogether the Southeast Asia Sea. Credit: AFP One sea, different names Disputes among nations over naming, which extends to the myriad reefs and islets scattered across the South China Sea, are perhaps inevitable. Six parties including Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam all claim parts of the sea. China draws a so-called nine-dash line to claim historical rights to almost 90 percent of it, which further overlaps with the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of another nation Indonesia. Although South China Sea has near universal acceptance around the world, use of the nationally preferred names among claimants is deeply rooted. In ancient times, names often came from the geographic locations, explained Nguyen Nha, a well-known Vietnamese historian. Vietnamese people have been calling the East Sea for thousands of years and the name is embedded in our folk culture. Theres many traditional sayings that contain the East Sea, like, A harmonious couple of husband and wife is capable of draining dry the East Sea, meaning they can achieve anything they wish to do, Nha said. In fact, the East Sea has become virtually sacrosanct and the only acceptable version in Vietnamese domestic media and political literature alike. In the Philippines, the West Philippine Sea also has official endorsement. In 2012, late president Benigno Aquino used it to officially rename the part of the South China Sea that lies within its EEZ. Manila then submitted an administrative order and an official map to the United Nations. The Administrative Order No. 29 (2012) stipulates that the West Philippine Sea includes the Luzon Sea as well as the waters around within the adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal. This was a very important step, clarifying which portions of the sea were ours, said Celia Lamkin, founder and global chairperson of The National Youth Movement for West Philippine Sea. I was so happy, the new name brought us some sense of ownership, she said. An essay contest that Lamkin organized a few months after attracted hundreds of participants. I have the urge to promote the new name everywhere I go, said Lamkin, adding: I use the name in every paper that our organization produces, as well as at international conferences. When I have to use South China Sea, I put West Philippine after China to make it South China West Philippine Sea! For the Philippines, it is important to call parts of the South China Sea as West Philippine Sea and to raise awareness about the name, said Marites Vitug, a prominent journalist and author of Rock Solid, a book on the legal case against China that the Philippines brought to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016. The court rejected most of Chinas claims in the South China Sea but Beijing has not accepted the ruling, calling it null and void. Vitug quoted a former congressman, Walden Bello, as saying that the name West Philippine Sea could serve as a psychological blow to China." If you keep on calling a site the South China Sea, it subliminally connotes some kind of 'possession' by China ... For us, Filipinos calling the area the West Philippine Sea marks a subliminal paradigm change, Bello reportedly said. Indonesia although it maintains it is not a party in the territorial disputes over the South China Sea -- followed the Philippines steps by renaming the northern part of its EEZ North Natuna Sea. Vitug says that since the Philippine name only concerns our share of the sea within our EEZ, it shouldnt be a contentious issue. Perhaps it is contentious when it comes to official communiques of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). But this doesn't mean that we cannot continue to use [West Philippine Sea], she said. Protesters opposed to China's encroachment in Philippines waters carrying national flags and placards march towards the Chinese consulate in Manila on April 9, 2019. Credit: AFP Emotional values Some analysts, however, argue that even though the name West Philippine Sea was not given to the entire South China Sea, it does have political significance and should not be internationally recognized. In the 1898 Treaty of Paris used to delineate the islands of the Philippines as transferred to the U.S. on paper, it did not form a territorial sea claim or boundary until after independence, said Mark Hoskin, a lecturer on Chinas maritime history and law at China Foreign Affairs University in Beijing. Therefore, in his opinion the new name has no place or meaning in history, legally or otherwise. Chinese people have always referred to the South China Sea as the South Sea, Nan Hai, one of the 'four seas' (North, South, East and West seas). They are very emotional about the name and would defend its use wherever possible, said Hoskin. Historically, they have had domestic and international acceptance of it for centuries, so it is reasonable in my view for them to want to keep it as the international name for the sea. But South China Sea, the Anglicized version of Chinese Nan Hai, lacks neutrality and inclusivity, according to Le Trung Tinh, a Vietnamese scholar. In his opinion, it would be more appropriate to call it the Southeast Asia Sea instead since Southeast Asian countries encompass almost the entire South China Sea. Southeast Asias total coastline is approximately 130,000 kilometers (81,250 miles), whereas southern Chinas coastline measures only about 2,800 kilometers (1,750 miles). The name Southeast Asia Sea is more acceptable for countries in the region and also more accurate, in terms of the geography, Tinh said. In 2011, a change.org campaign organized by a Vietnamese overseas group to promote the name Southeast Asia Sea received over 40,000 signatures in the first couple months. Up to now, nearly 93,000 people have signed the petition, addressed to world leaders and leaders of Southeast Asian countries. But a change will not be easy to achieve. Tinh, who is also one of the signatories, said the campaigners should not give up. We should be persistent, patient and thinking long term, he said, pointing out that a personal campaign that he waged single-handedly to replace the word Chinese New Year with Lunar New Year in the U.K. where he lives, has borne some fruit. The other day I received an email from my sons school talking about Chinese New Year celebrations. I immediately emailed them back asking to change the title, Tinh recalled. And you know what? After a few email exchanges they changed. Around 100 Ukrainian civilians were being evacuated from the besieged Azovstal steel plant in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol on May 1, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, after the United Nations confirmed a "safe passage operation" was in progress there. "Grateful to our team! Now they, together with [United Nations], are working on the evacuation of other civilians from the plant," Zelenskiy said on Twitter. The evacuees would reach the city of Zaporizhzhya on May 2, he added. The long-awaited rescue came as the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, pledged continued U.S. support for Ukraine when she met Zelenskiy in an unannounced visit to Kyiv. 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. Zelenskiy posted videos from the unannounced April 30 visit by Pelosi online on May 1. We believe that we are visiting you to say thank you for your fight for freedom, Pelosi told Zelenskiy. We are on a frontier of freedom, and your fight is for everyone. Our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done. Pelosi arrived in the Ukrainian capital with a delegation that included House members Jason Crow (Democrat-Colorado), Jim McGovern (Democrat-Massachusetts), and Adam Shiff (Democrat-California). The trip had not been previously announced and comes when the United States and other countries are ramping up military aid and other support for Ukraine. Pelosi said the delegation delivered the message that additional American support is on the way. U.S. President Joe Biden last week asked Congress for a $33 billion aid package for Ukraine. U.S. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said on May 1 that he would add provisions to the Ukraine aid package to allow the United States to seize Russian oligarchs' assets and send money from their sale directly to Ukraine. Zelenskiy posted on Twitter: "The U.S. is leading strong support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression." Pelosi later traveled to Poland for talks with President Andrzej Duda and other officials. Poland has taken in more than 3 million refugees from Ukraine since the war began. "Do not be bullied by bullies," Pelosi said in Rzeszow in southern Poland after returning from Ukraine. "If they are making threats, you cannot back down. That's my view of it. We are here for the fight and you cannot fold to a bully," she said. The White House said Biden had spoken with Pelosi on May 1 about her trip, without giving details. Meanwhile, the United Nations confirmed that an operation to evacuate people from a steel plant in the bombed-out Ukrainian city of Mariupol is under way. UN humanitarian spokesman Saviano Abreu told AP on May 1 that the effort to bring people out of the sprawling Azovstal steel plant was being done in collaboration with the International Committee for the Red Cross and in coordination with Ukrainian and Russian officials. He called the situation very complex and would not give further details. The Red Cross also said it couldn't share any details about the operation. "The ICRC insists on the fact that no details can be shared until the situation allows, as it could seriously jeopardize the safety of the civilians and the convoy. Relevant local authorities are communicating with the civilians about practical details," it said. A plan to evacuate civilians from areas of the devastated city outside the steelworks had been postponed to the morning of May 2, Mariupol's city council said. Russia's Defense Ministry said 80 civilians had been evacuated from the steel plant, adding: "Those who wished to leave for areas controlled by the Kyiv regime were handed over to UN and ICRC representatives." The UN believes about 1,000 civilians are living under the Azovstal steelworks in the city, the only part of Mariupol that is not under Russian occupation. There are believed to be about 100,000 civilians in the city, which has been the scene of intense fighting since the Russian invasion on February 24. WATCH: RFE/RL correspondent Maryan Kushnir met with Ukrainian soldiers fighting Russian forces in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine. One of the soldiers called the Russian troops "cannon fodder," describing their tactics as "desperate" and without any coherent strategy. Russias Defense Ministry said on May 1 that two groups of civilians -- about 45 people in all -- had been evacuated from Azovstal the previous day as a result of a cease-fire regime and the opening of a humanitarian corridor. The evacuees were reportedly taken to the settlement of Bezimenne. The Ukrainian defenders in the Azovstal factory posted videos on April 30 saying they were running out of food, water, and other supplies and appealing for help. Elsewhere, Ukrainian officials said that four civilians were killed and 11 injured by Russian shelling in the town of Lyman as Moscow's forces push deeper into the eastern Donetsk region. Moscow claimed on May 1 -- without providing evidence -- that Ukrainian forces in the southern region of Kherson had shelled civilian areas and caused casualties. The Russian Defense Ministry did not respond to Reuters requests for details. Ukraines military said Russian forces had launched attacks along the Kherson regions borders and seemed intent on pushing toward the cities of Mykolayiv and Kryvyi Rih. Russia on April 30 launched a rocket attack on an airport runway in Odesa, Ukraines third-largest city and a key Black Sea port. The Ukrainian military said the attack had rendered the airport unusable. Odesas governor said the attack was launched from the Russia-occupied Black Sea peninsula of Crimea. Pope Francis on May 1 used his weekly Angelus prayer to renew his appeal for humanitarian corridors from Mariupol, saying that the city had been "bombed and destroyed in a barbaric manner." With reporting by Reuters, AP, and RIA Novosti After not holding in-person meetings with foreign leaders for two years due to the coronavirus pandemic, Chinese President Xi Jinping engaged in a flurry of face-to-face diplomacy on the sidelines of the Winter Olympics as China looked to project its rising global status. Despite a diplomatic boycott from many Western nations over Chinese human rights abuses, 22 world leaders attended the open ceremony in Beijing on February 4. Many represented autocratic nations, with leaders from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan sending leaders to meet with Xi, along with delegations from other nondemocratic countries such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. The leaders of Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, and Serbia also went to Beijing. For visiting dignitaries, the diplomatic possibilities on the sidelines of the Olympics were a rare opportunity to meet face-to-face with Xi and other senior Chinese officials, with many arriving with high-level delegations to try and invigorate relations with China and kick-start various initiatives derailed due to the pandemic. The most high-profile meeting came in the form of a summit between Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin in a choreographed showing of solidarity between the two leaders amid Moscows tensions with Ukraine that threaten turning into a war. Beijing and Moscow announced a new gas deal, with the Kremlin promising to increase its exports at a time when Putin is at odds with European customers. In a joint statement after they met, the two leaders said their friendship had no limits, and China sided with Russia on its security demand that NATO put a moratorium on an eastward expansion. The meeting with Putin concluded shortly before the Olympics opening ceremony in Beijing's National Stadium, and both events amounted to a display of Chinas newfound place in the world as it looks to shore up its own partnerships, win over countries, and push back against what Chinese officials view as Western pressure to impede its rise. Russia and China stand against attempts by external forces to undermine security and stability in their common adjacent regions, Putin and Xi said in the 5,300-word joint statement. Seeking Face Time While Putin and Xi put warming ties between China and Russia on display, no other region in the world was better represented diplomatically at the opening ceremony than Central Asia, with its five presidents eager to boost ties with China, the regions main source of trade and investment. Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev met with Xi for the first time since unrest rocked the country in January and the Chinese leader said ties between the two countries had reached beyond the boundary of bilateral relations. But perhaps the Central Asian leader with the most on the line was Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, who was keen to make progress on the long-stalled China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway. During a January 25 virtual summit between the five Central Asian leaders and Xi, Japarov said the railway could be a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Beijings global foreign policy venture, and that he was heading to Beijing with new contracts and a financing plan, RFE/RLs Kyrgyz Service reported. Japarov, however, failed to gain traction for the railway during his February 6 meeting with Xi despite Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev also pushing the project during his talks with the Chinese leader. According to the Chinese readout of their meeting, Beijing asked that Kyrgyzstan first improve the countrys business climate before it green-lighted the project. Besides the railway, Japarov also discussed other investment and cooperation possibilities, even proposing that Kyrgyzstan could begin to export electricity to western China. Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov both came to Beijing with more modest expectations and neither left totally empty-handed. Berdymukhammedov, who went to Beijing despite Turkmenistan not sending any athletes to the Olympics, gave a rare interview to China's state-run CCTV news agency in which he praised Xis leadership, discussed Ashgabats neutrality, and reaffirmed Turkmenistans adherence to the One China policy, which does not recognize Taiwans status as an independent entity from mainland China. While the Turkmen leader left with few deliverables, he also raised a long-delayed project of his own: a new natural gas pipeline to transport more gas across Central Asia to China known as Line D. While Turkmenistan is eager to increase its exports, many analysts contend the project is unlikely to gain momentum in the next decade when a substantial increase in Chinese demand is predicted. In addition to requisite face time and a photo op with Xi, Rahmon also inked a joint economic and trade cooperation plan with China through 2025 during his February 5 meeting. 'Ironclad' The chance to meet with Xi in person was also an important opportunity for two leaders close to Beijing that were eager to breathe new life into their established partnerships with China: Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. Vucic met with Xi on February 5, with the leaders referring to their countrys relations as an ironclad friendship, a level of rhetoric that Beijing reserves only for its closest partners. Under Vucic, Serbia has steadily deepened its ties with China in trade, technology, and defense. While the partnership has changed quickly, Belgrade also maintains a foreign policy that looks to balance its relations with Beijing off the European Union, Russia, and the United States. The Serbian president appeared to strengthen his hand during the trip to China, leaving with an array of economic and political deals, such as a fast-tracked, free-trade agreement, new investments, and the introduction of direct flights from Belgrade to Shanghai and Beijing. Khan was also looking to reaffirm Pakistan's all-weather friendship with China during his February 6 meeting with Xi. Beijing and Islamabad have a storied relationship and Pakistan has been one of Chinas most enthusiastic partners on the BRI, with the $62 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project becoming a centerpiece of the massive infrastructure initiative. But the CPECs progress has been patchy for several years and the combination of the pandemic and a series of attacks on Chinese workers across Pakistan in the summer of 2021 have slowed things down further and become a sore spot in relations between Beijing and Islamabad, despite their rosy public rhetoric. Khan left Beijing without any new agreements and instead used his visit to discuss his countrys long-standing ties with China. Pakistan and China not only see each other as iron brothers, Khan told Chinas state-run Global Times during a February 5 interview, but they also think that the China and Pakistan relationship is as high as the Himalayas. Russian President Vladimir Putin said several proposals put forward by French President Emmanuel Macron during talks on February 7 in Moscow could form a basis for moving forward on the crisis over Ukraine. Macron also said he found points of convergence during talks with Putin, which took place on a day of intensified international efforts to defuse the standoff. "A number of his ideas, proposals...are possible as a basis for further steps," Putin said after more than five hours of talks with Macron at the Kremlin. Putin described the talks as useful, substantive, and businesslike, although Macron admitted that differences remain. In a joint news conference with Macron after their meeting, Putin said the two presidents would talk again by phone after Macrons talks with the Ukrainian leadership on February 8 in Kyiv. 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. Macron said the coming days would be crucial in the standoff after he made proposals of "concrete security guarantees" to Putin. He said the Russian president had assured him of his "readiness to engage in this sense and his desire to maintain stability and the territorial integrity of Ukraine." Macron said, however, that he told Putin that creating a new security architecture in Europe should not be done by canceling states' right to join the NATO alliance. Putin again said he saw no alternative to the existing Minsk peace accords to resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine and said Kyiv must comply with the steps outlined in agreements reached in 2014 and 2015. "Whether they are alive or have any prospects or not -- I believe that there is simply no other alternative" to the Minsk agreements, Putin said. The leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany, and France have met under the so-called Normandy format to seek an end to the conflict. The agreements have been hamstrung by differing interpretations of its contents and the process for implementing them. Diplomats have tried to breathe new life into the accords, which contain the groundwork for a final settlement in the Donbas, parts of which have been under pro-Russia separatists' control since April 2014. In Washington, U.S. President Joe Biden held his own crisis talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz as the flurry of diplomacy over Russias troop buildup near Ukraine spanned two continents. The two leaders stressed their unity and trust as they work to further deter Russian aggression in Europe. Biden said Germany and the U.S. were in "lockstep" as they work to address tensions. Biden also vowed to bring an end" to the disputed Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which was built to deliver Russian gas to Germany but has not yet gone into operation. "The notion that Nord Stream 2 would go forward with the invasion by the Russians is just not going to happen, Biden said during a joint news conference with Scholz. He did not specify how the U.S. would be able to carry out such a move, but stressed that the Germany and the United States are prepared to act together in their response to any invasion. He said if Russia invades -- specifying that he means tanks or troops crossing the border of Ukraine again -- "then there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2," Biden said. "I promise you, we will bring an end to it." Scholz did not go as far in his comments, but said Germany and the United States will act together in their response to any Russian invasion, which Moscow denies it is planning. He said both countries are ready to enact far-reaching, severe measures in the event of an invasion. Biden added that the U.S is working on finding alternative sources for natural gas to make up for a loss of supplies if Russia cuts them. "We think we could make up a significant portion of gas," Biden said, adding that, if the supply is cut, Russia would be hurt very badly. "We are looking at what we can do to compensate for the loss -- the immediate loss -- of gas should that occur." Russia's media-monitoring agency, Roskomnadzor, last week began sending out dozens of letters to media organizations ordering them to remove online articles about corruption investigations conducted by a banned organization created by imprisoned opposition leader Aleksei Navalny -- or risk having their websites blocked. Officially, the orders to remove the old articles were based not on the content of the articles or the original investigations themselves, but rather solely on the fact that Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) was banned last year as an "extremist" organization -- a designation Navalny and many others say is baseless and politically motivated. Several investigations by the Proyekt investigative-journalism project -- which the Russian government last July labelled an "undesirable organization," another classification Kremlin critics say the state uses to quash efforts to expose corruption and other problems -- were also targeted. The investigations contain unanswered corruption allegations targeting President Vladimir Putin, former President Dmitry Medvedev, and others inside Russia's ruling circle. "Clearly the removal of these materials is a classic act of censorship," said Roman Dobrokhotov, editor in chief of the online investigative-journalism outlet The Insider. "It doesn't matter what the pretext isor whether it is done retroactively. It is clear that when bureaucrats or security agencies remove material covering their own corruption, you can't interpret it as anything other than censorship." The orders have placed Russian media outlets -- and could soon place international tech giants like YouTube -- before the difficult choice of complying or being de facto shut down in Russia. "They are poking around with a stick," Dobrokhotov said. "They are checking the reaction of the media and the international community. If the media go along with this, we can expect further waves of censorship." More than a dozen Russian media outlets received the warnings, including Dozhd, Novaya gazeta, Ekho Moskvy, and others. Many of them complied with the orders. RFE/RL's Russian Service, the company's other Russian-language projects, and Current Time -- a Russian-language network run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA -- were among the media outlets inundated with dozens of notifications during the night of February 4-5. RFE/RL immediately announced its refusal to comply with the demand, which RFE/RL President Jamie Fly condemned as "political censorship." "RFE/RL will not allow the Kremlin to dictate our editorial decisions. This is a blatant act of political censorship by a government apparently threatened by journalists who are merely reporting the truth," Fly said in a statement. 'Completely Ridiculous' Russian journalists who spoke with RFE/RL said the initial flurry of warnings was likely just the beginning of a much more far-reaching effort. "Did they pass these laws in order not to use them?" Dobrokhotov said. "I think that is completely ridiculous." Investigative journalist Ivan Golunov, who works for Meduza, which is among the media outlets that have complied with Roskomnadzor's orders, said this is "far from the last list of investigations they will demand be deleted." "Their goal is to remove as much information as possible," he said. "I think that the investigations of Navalny's regional officeswill soon be targeted by the regional offices of Roskomnadzor. In effect, everything will be removed." Golunov added that he believes many more Russian media outlets have already begun removing the targeted materials -- either because they have been warned by Roskomnadzor but decided not to make that information public or as an act of preemptive self-censorship. "I checked several publications, and I didn't find articles about these investigations," Golunov told RFE/RL's Russian Service. "I think that far from all the outlets that received these letters are speaking out about them or discussing their content." Dobrokhotov argued that the tactics of Putin's government will "divide the media into those who continue to cooperate, to label their content, to remove articles, to play by the rules and those who do not do this." "For the second category, for us, the most important thing will be to find ways of getting around being blocked -- because they clearly will be blocked this year -- and maintain access to their readership," he said. "These are the two different strategies for the survival of the nonstate media." "Putin is playing a subtle game now," the journalist continued. "He wants to give a small opportunity for obedient media and let them be able to say: 'We aren't like Komsomolskaya pravda or Izvestia. We can do such-and-such.' And they will be allowed to do something small, but it will be very small. The main things we are obligated to do as professionals -- journalistic investigations, reports on corruption, reports on protest activities, and so on -- all that will be strictly banned." Journalist Andrei Zakharov, who writes for the Russian Service of the BBC, notes that there are arguments in favor of complying with the Russian government's demands. For example, he argued, over the last two weeks there has been a flurry of stories about the threats that officials in Chechnya have leveled against the nongovernmental Committee Against Torture and one of its lawyers, Abubakar Yangulbayev. "Imagine a situation where there was no Novaya gazeta, no Meduza, no Ekho Moskvy," Zakharov said, "because they all decided to act according to their principles, got shut down, and now don't exist in the Russian information space. There will be fewer stories. No one will ask [Kremlin spokesman Dmitry] Peskov about it the next day. Will it really be better for anyone if they aren't able to generate these stories?' "Would that be good for society or not?" he added. "Everyone has to decide themselves. There are two different approaches." Written by RFE/RL senior correspondent Robert Coalson based on reporting by RFE/RL Russian Service correspondent Yelena Rykovtseva and by Current Time. The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Sosten Alfred Gwengwe on Friday signed a USD14 million grant (approximately MK12 billion) with African Development Bank (AfDB). Speaking after the signing ceremony, which took place at the Capital Hill in Lilongwe, Gwengwe said the grant will be used for financial inclusion, competitiveness and digitalization. He described the grant as a timely intervention towards the attainment of the Malawi 2063, the country's long-term vision. Gwengwe assured AfDB that the grant will be managed in accordance with the provisions of the agreement. The minister added that DFIC project is aligned with the Malawi Digital Economy Strategy (2021-2026) and the Third National Strategy for Financial Inclusion (2022-2026); both contribute to achieving Malawi's long-term objective of inclusive wealth creation supported by an inclusive financial system and digital economy. "I am delighted to have signed, on behalf of the Government and people of Malawi, a grant agreement with the AfDB Fund, for the implementation of the three-year Digitalization, Financial Inclusion and Competitiveness (DFIC) Project, to the tune of 10 million Unit of Accounts (approximately MK11.7 billion)," he said. Gwengwe said the main objective of the DFIC Project is to promote digital financial inclusion and develop an enabling environment for digital trade by building a robust and harmonized e-payments policy to enhance economic competitiveness and social resilience. On the other hand, the specific objectives are to (a) develop a digital payment ecosystem that will improve financial inclusion, accountability, efficiency and transparency of the payments system and reduce costs associated with a cash-based system; (b) strengthen mechanisms to support the competitiveness of the private sector and improve access to national and export markets; (c) improve access to financial services among the general population with a particular focus on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), women, youth and rural populations. Gwengwe said access to quality and affordable financial services, particularly to the excluded, enhances inclusive economic growth and reduces both poverty and income inequality. "As a country, we have made positive strides in increasing access to financial services among our people. However, the majority of our population remain excluded from accessing basic financial services such as savings, credit, insurance and payments," he said. According to the Malawi Financial Literacy and Consumer Protection Household follow-up Survey, overall, only 29.1 percent of Malawians have access to formal financial services. In addition, there are huge disparities in access across areas as well as gender. Only 24.7 percent of rural residents have access to formal financial services compared to 53.1 percent. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Malawi Business Sustainable Development By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Among other things, the bank expressed commitment to continue helping the government of Malawi through various interventions, with infrastructure development being one of the major items on the agenda. Speaking earlier, ADB Country Manager Macmillan Anynwu said the digitalization project aims to help increase access to financial services and efficiency of business transactions for small businesses in Malawi. Anynwu said Malawi and AfDB) will ensure smooth implementation of DFIC project. "This grant resources will be used to upgrade the financial system infrastructure to a more efficient and transparent digital payment system. "The signing of the DFIC project grant agreement today is an important step towards promoting the use of electronic transactions in Malawi to increase access and use of affordable financial services, particularly, amongst women, youth, and rural dwellers," he narrated. In Ukraine's southeastern port city of Mariupol, life continues as normal even as locals say the chances of a Russian invasion are very real. MARIUPOL, Ukraine -- A coastal city in the southeast of Ukraine, Mariupol lies around 20 kilometers from the line of contact between Russia-backed separatists and the Ukrainian military. Mariupols massive, Soviet-era metallurgical factories and its position as a gateway to the Crimean Peninsula make the city an obvious target if a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine were to take place. After nearly eight years of conflict with Russia-backed separatists, the ongoing war happening within earshot of Mariupol has become something like the weather for locals here -- a topic for discussion, but not particular concern. Andrei says locals are not overly worried about the talk of an invasion, despite him personally believing the chances of it happening are around 50-50: Were hoping that everything will be resolved peacefully." "No one needs this war," he says, referring to the conflict with Russia-backed separatists, "especially because who we are fighting against? We have relatives there [in the separatist-held areas] and relatives here. At this point, people are dying for no reason. On local news websites, reports of incidents at the front lines are interspersed with news of the Sea of Azov freezing over and other everyday stories. Locals were warned not to throw food to seagulls on the ice, which could lure dogs onto the treacherous surface. Mariupol still bears scars and memorials from chaotic violence that swept the city in 2014 when parts of eastern Ukraine teetered on the edge of becoming separatist territory. The mural above depicts Milana Abdurashitova, a girl who was 3 years old when a barrage of rockets fired from separatist territory landed in a marketplace in Mariupol in January 2015. Among the 31 people who died in the attack was Milanas mother. The little girl was seriously injured and had one leg amputated. She now lives with her grandmother in Kyiv. Details of what exactly happened inside the police building above in May 2014 remain sketchy, but according to people quoted by The Guardian, pro-Russia separatists had attempted to seize the police headquarters. When the police inside called for backup, the Ukrainian military began hammering the building, killing several people inside. It remains gutted by fire and largely empty. In reality, the sign above points to a road that ends with a series of Ukrainian military checkpoints, and eventually the front lines between Russia-backed separatists and the Ukrainian military. Donetsk is one of two major cities currently under control of the separatists. A local hotelier told RFE/RL that while many people have relatives and friends on both sides of the ongoing conflict, he has been told that doing business in the separatist-held territories such as Donetsk is nearly impossible without connections or bribery. The young hotelier, who runs a popular guesthouse in the center of Mariupol, says although high-level corruption remains a problem in government-controlled Ukrainian territory, small businesses in Mariupol such as his are able to operate freely. For many locals in Mariupol, the only sign of anything out of the ordinary are the foreign journalists now stationed here in anticipation of a potential invasion. The CGTN news crew above attracted a small cluster of onlookers, some of whom snapped selfies as the live report took place. BLAHOVISHCHENKA, Ukraine -- Out Svitlana Sukharevskas back door, under the laundry on the line, past the outhouse and the muddy paddock where she used to keep a cow and a couple of chickens, just beyond the tree line about 100 meters away is the country that is threatening her own country, Ukraine. Russia is the country that surrounds her village on three sides and forbids the locals to swim in the Povna River that marks the border, like she used to do in the summer as a child. It also bars them from fishing in the eddies -- and now forces farmers to drive twice the usual distance to sell their winter wheat, barley, or feed crops. War doesnt top the list of her worries, though. Its the damn school bus. It keeps breaking down, she says. Were supposed to make our kids walk, what, 10 kilometers to school? In the cold? There are wolves, foxes. The Ukrainian capital is a distant notion for the 100 or so villagers who remain in whats left of Blahovishchenka, a nub of a settlement that sticks into the neighboring Russian province of Rostov like a bent thumb. Here, Russian TV broadcasts are the norm; signals for Ukrainian channels are too weak. Until recently, Internet service came from across the border, too. But a new Russian invasion is also a distant notion. True, the border is a constant reminder of a foreign country out the back door. The main road out of town runs past barbed wire, soil raked for detecting footprints, warning signs, an anti-tank trench, and one fortified border guard post. And at multiple other locations along the long land border, Russia has massed troops -- more than 100,000, by most estimates -- and weaponry. Blahovishchenka is in Ukraines Luhansk region, which was ripped apart following the outbreak of war in 2014. Ukrainian government forces now face off against Russia-backed separatists along the line of contact that zigzags through the province and the neighboring Donetsk region. But from Blahovishchenka, the closest staging ground for any new Russian invasion force is about a four-hour drive almost due south, and aside from the rare echoes of gunshots, theres no reason that villagers expect to see tanks rolling through the town or through fallow fields. War? No one believes it here, said Oleksandr Kopov, 60, who was born here and was visiting his son-in-law and grandson, Sasha, who also wishes the school bus was working. Why dont I believe it? Well, in 2014, when this whole mess began, in Ukraine, the road was still open, the border was open, we went back and forth without checkpoints, he said. We had tanks here, National Guard everywhere, soldiers. Here at every field, there was heavy equipment, he said, referring to Ukrainian forces. Now we dont see anything. Nothing. Totally empty. If they were hiding something, wed see it. You cant hide equipment from the villagers. Like Sukharevska, Serhiy Ivanovskiy, who lives six houses down the street, said he has more pressing concerns. No one needs us here. hey dont give a damn about us. Not in Kyiv, not in Russia, said Ivanovskiy, 43, who feeds and clothes five children -- the youngest is 3, the eldest 14 -- by growing and selling feed crops for livestock. Theres nothing to buy here, he said. And theres nowhere to sell. He and other farmers here and in the next town down the road, Talove, used to be able to truck their sunflower seeds about a 45-minute drive east to the Russian town of Millerovo, to be pressed for cooking oil. Now, Ivanovskiy said, its about a two-hour drive southwest to Luhansk, the regional capital. These days, the more problematic border is in that direction. 'I Want A Post Office' For generations, as in many places along the two countries 1,970-kilometer land border, the frontier was an imaginary thing for the residents of Blahovishchenka. People came and went. Farmers drove crops to market, produce to stores, back and forth. They swam in the creeks, hunted in the fields, fished in river eddies, and visited relatives and friends without giving the border any thought. Even after Russia and Ukraine became independent nations in 1991, no one saw any reason why anything should change. In fact, before 2014, villagers said, there was even a sense of progress. There were people living in just about every home in the village, young and old, families with children, older retirees. But that was the year the massive protests known as the Maidan pushed President Viktor Yanukovych from power in February. Weeks later, Russia seized Ukraines Crimean Peninsula and backed anti-Kyiv forces in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, Russia denies supplying, equipping, or otherwise supporting the separatist fighters, who number around 20,000-30,000, according to Western estimates, and who now control sizable parts of the two regions, including their capitals. The violence has killed more than 13,200 people; more than 1 million have been displaced. Fighting continues even as the threat of a new Russian invasion looms. Residents cross back and forth via checkpoints that resemble those along the Berlin Wall during the Cold War. Just a couple of years ago, there were even footpaths that people used, without much hassle. Now, people can sometimes avoid the checkpoints by driving on circuitous routes via Russia, but that costs money for gas and food, and can mean long waits. The Russians gradually shut down the border for Blahovishchenkas residents. They also built a new, better road just to the north that bypasses the village and the border. Blahovishchenka is stuck with cratered and potholed roads and dirt paths. While the dead school bus is the top concern for most villagers these days, theres also bad Internet, which makes distance learning nearly impossible for schoolchildren, whove also struggled with COVID-19 restrictions. Heat for homes is wood -- some delivered, some scavenged. The fact that they live in Ukraines famed Donbas coal basin and are not supplied with coal for heating home stoves is even more galling. Sukharevska, whose house is on the main road -- Gagarin Street, named after the Soviet cosmonaut -- across from the village administration lives with Arina, her 12-year-old daughter from her second marriage, which did not work out. The broken-down school bus and bad Internet mean Arina sits at home; her teachers send photographs of homework assignments, which she completes, snaps with a cell phone, and sends back. Out her front window, she and Arina can see the mural on a garage wall: The future of Blahovishchenka is in the hands of our youth. Everythings fallen apart here. You cant buy anything anymore. Everyones gone. Its all gone to shit, she said. No one needs a war. I dont believe it [will happen]. How about some coal instead? There is one bit of good news, Sukharevska, 52, said: The local administration arranged for a free minibus to run through town twice a week: Mondays and Fridays. But its only scheduled to operate until June. War? I dont believe it. How can I believe it if we all live here right next door [to Russia]? We have phone calls back and forth with the neighboring villages, said Yelyzaveta Ivanovna, a 73-year-old retiree living across the street from the villages only store, and only gave her first name and patronymic. I was born in Russia. We moved here when I was 15 or 16. Lived here ever since. We call over there to my niece Liza [and ask], How are you dealing with all this? War? Russias just trying to scare us, seems to me, she said. I want a post office. They took it away. Whats that all about? she said. Who needs a war? 'Where Else Am I Going To Go?' The villages population is about a third of what it was before the conflict that still simmers in the Donbas broke out. Most of those who remain are retirees or just have no place else to go. And theres the informal support network: Villagers whove known one another -- sometimes for generations -- are willing to help one another out. Move away? Where to? Whos going to hire a 60-year-old for work? said Kopov, a farmer who grows wheat, sunflower seeds, and barley on 250 hectares, who says hes lived in and around the village his entire life. His son-in-law and grandson live directly across the street from a decades-old wooden building that once was a school, then a library, and now is slowly sinking into the earth, dying like the rest of the village, Kopov said. Say I have some sort of family problems with money or something, I can go to someone else here who knows me. Theyll loan me some money for some time, he said. If I go somewhere else and do that, no one knows me. People are going to say, Who is this guy? Ivanovskiy, the father of five, said he might consider moving away but he has roots in the area going back two generations. His mother, who is Russian, and his father, who is Ukrainian, live nearby. Ivanovskiy himself was born here, moved to western Ukraine in his 20s, then married and brought his wife back to his home village in 2012. Nairobi A Mombasa court has allowed the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) 100 percent inspection of 82 suspicious containers allegedly loaded with imported black tea at Mombasa port. According to KRA, the 82 forty-foot containers which were declared as black tea from Iran and Vietnam, were imported by Cup of Joe Limited between April and June 2021. KRA said in a statement Friday that High Court Judge John Mativo has ordered the verification the containers detained by KRA following advice by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations(DCI) on suspicion that the shipment is subject to criminal investigation for various offenses. "The offenses include the financing of terrorism, irregular importation, concealment and misdeclaration," KRA said. The company has sought judicial review of KRA's decision not to release the containers. The verification is taking place at the Regional Logistics Container Freight Station (CFS), Miritini, according to KRA. Written By Joe Schulz served as the reporter of the Green Laker in 2019 and 2020, before being hired as a reporter for the Commonwealth in October 2020. He is from Oshkosh and graduated from UW-Oshkosh in December 2020 with a bachelor's degree in journalism. | The Diamonds of South Africa. De Beers success story The discovery of a transparent small pebble in 1866 on the bank of the Orange River near todays city of Kimberley made South Africa one of the richest countries on the African continent. A 15-year-old son of the De Beers livestock farmer picked up the pebble from the ground. The curious find was given to a local collector of stones, but he could not determine what it was. Only after some time, it was found out it was a rough diamond. For this reason, this event is considered the first commercial diamond production. Although most likely, people found diamonds before, just no one knew what kind of pebbles they picked up and what their value was. Not everyone knows that the name of the stone comes from the Greek word adamas, which means indestructible. It is the hardest substance on earth. Paradoxically, real rough diamonds were seen by a few of those who give them as a gift or wear them. In fact, everyone knows polished diamonds that are obtained after cutting and polishing rough diamonds. An uncut diamond is a rather plain gem. But skillful cutting and polishing create a dazzling jewel being the standard of wealth and luxury. After the discovery that was a milestone, rough diamonds in this place were found more often, they were larger and in bigger quantities. In the 1870s, South Africa mined most of the worlds diamonds. All this gave an impetus to the development of the mining industry, and Africas first stock exchange was set up in 1881. At first, fortune seekers who rushed to this place from all over the world divided the area into hundreds of plots. However, the development of the diamond mining industry in South Africa almost immediately resulted in the concentration of numerous diamond mines in several hands. After all, most of the claim holders just did not have enough money, equipment, and skills to continue diamond mining as the pits became deeper. Moreover, the concentration of ownership meant more effective control over diamond production. Among the most successful buyers of diamond-bearing grounds was the Englishman Cecil John Rhodes who set up De Beers Mining Company. The final monopolization of the diamond mining market took place after De Beers bought two companies - Kimberley Central Diamond Mining Company and Compagnie Francaise des Mines de Diamant du Cap. The deal was financed by Alphonse de Rothschild who granted a loan of 1.4 mn. As a result, De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd was founded in 1888, which controlled 90% of the global diamond production as early as 1891. Later, diamond deposits were discovered in other countries of the world (Canada, Australia), as well as in neighboring countries (Botswana and Namibia). However, the largest gem-quality diamond in the world, Cullinan, weighing 3,106.45 carats (621.29 grams) was discovered in South Africa. The discovery of diamonds in various countries around the world threatened the De Beers monopoly. Cecile Rhodes soon realized that uncontrolled diamond mining could lead to lower prices and smashup of his business. Therefore, Rhodes also took control of the global diamond distribution in order to maintain high prices and strong demand. By the mid-1890s, he set up Diamond Syndicate, the forerunner of the Central Selling Organization (CSO), in order to control most of the global diamond trade. It is now known as the Diamond Trading Company (DTC). This is one of the diamond industrys features that, as a rule, remain in the shadow but plays a very significant role in regulating the global diamond market. The business was arranged in such a way that practically all major diamond miners were forced to sell their stones not on the free market, but specifically to CSO, because only CSO could provide decent prices for rough diamonds, regardless of the price fluctuations in the world markets. As a result of this strategy, by 1902 - the year of Cecil Rhodes death - De Beers controlled 95% of the worlds diamond production. At the same time, there was an opinion that a huge volume of rough diamonds was stored in the De Beers vaults, which were not put on the market to create artificial scarcity. Another fundamental feature of the diamond industry is the fact that the diamond mining countries, as a rule, do not engage in the subsequent diamond cutting and polishing. In South Africa, the jewelry industry was established in 1928, which made the country the fifth largest manufacturing center in the world. However, it turned out that the South African industry did not withstand the competition with the countries such as Belgium, Israel in terms of costs, as well as with India in terms of cheap labor, and the main diamond cutting and polishing capacities are now concentrated in India. All of this fits in well with De Beers strategy of controlling the global rough diamond market. At its peak (before the 2008 crisis), there were about 3,000 diamond cutters working in South Africa, cutting and polishing approximately 140,000 carats a year. Currently, South Africa accounts for only about 1% of the global consumer diamond jewelry market. The South African diamond production showed relatively steady growth in its history (excluding the war years), from an average of 1.26 mn carats in the 1870s (from 1870 to 1879) to an average of 13.0 mn carats in the first 6 years of the 21st century. In 2005, the diamond production reached 15.6 mn carats, after which its decline began. In 2020, South Africas diamond production was 8.5 mn carats, up 18.1% over the previous year. Today, the country ranks sixth in terms of diamond production in the world. For comparison, about 31.2 mn carats of diamonds were mined in Russia in 2020. Botswana and Canada ranked second and third with their diamond production of 16.9 and 13.1 mn carats, respectively. It is important to keep in mind that any monopoly ultimately leads to the emergence of a grey market. For example, the Minerals Council estimated in 2017 that illegal mining and trading cost about $1.5 bn a year in lost sales, taxes, and royalties. The South African government is trying to fight this, but so far, it cannot boast of much success. In 2011, the Oppenheimer family sold their 40% stake to Anglo American plc, and De Beers is now represented by Anglo American with its 85% and the government of Botswana with its 15%. In this regard, many people talk about the De Beers empires decline. However, in my opinion, this is not the case. Mergers and acquisitions are a special feature of multinational corporations, especially in the mining industry. Moreover, during the entire period of their activity, both companies - De Beers and Anglo American - were closely related. The very fact of the establishment of the Anglo American Corporation in 1917 was linked with the purchase of the diamond-bearing grounds in Namibia and the De Beers shares by E. Oppenheimer who used the money of the British company J. P. Morgan. By 1920, Oppenheimer received complete control over the diamond fields in South-West Africa (Namibia), and in 1929, in addition to being the head of Anglo American, he also became the De Beers CEO. The global business very quickly adapted to the changing conditions in order to maintain profits. That was the case in the last century. So it is now. Global diamond market. De Beers co-operation with the USSR The global diamond market is, perhaps, one of the most specific ones. It certainly needs to be tightly controlled, as the unlimited supply will bring down the rough diamond market, making diamond mining unprofitable. As mentioned above, De Beers established its monopoly over this market from the very beginning using the principle divide and conquer. The idea was that the diamond mining countries (Australia, South Africa, Russia, Botswana, Namibia) were not to cut and polish diamonds. The diamond cutting and polishing were to be carried out by the countries that did not mine diamonds at all (Belgium, Israel) or mine very little volumes of diamonds (India). It is noteworthy that even the USSR, which was a direct competitor of South Africa in diamond production and also a tough political enemy of South Africa that supported the armed struggle of the black population against the apartheid regime was forced to maintain secret relations with the Central Selling Organization. Little is known about the fact that the Soviet Union collaborated with Centenary AG, the Swiss-based subsidiary of De Beers. This public Swiss company was established in 1990 by De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd. to operate the De Beers non-South African business controlled by the Oppenheimer family. De Beers Centenary reached an agreement with Glavalmazzoloto (General Directorate for Precious Metals and Diamonds of the USSR) on the right to export rough diamonds mined in the Soviet Union and concluded an exclusive five-year contract to sell Soviet rough diamonds, the total amount of which could exceed $5 bn. The Soviet Union being one of the worlds largest producers of high-end rough diamonds and experiencing financial difficulties, received a $1 bn advance payment through Glavalmazzoloto for future rough diamond supplies. The repayment was to be made within five years. At the same time, the rough diamonds coming from the USSR were stored in the De Beers marketing division as advanced payment security. It is clear that the co-operation of the Soviet Union with De Beers in selling the rough diamonds was a extremely desperate measure. In general, the USSRs international activities, contrary to the popular opinion that the Soviet Union maintained Africa, were justified by pragmatism and concern for its own citizens. That was the case with the rough diamonds. As putting large quantities of the USSR rough diamonds to the global market threatened to bring down the world prices, the Soviet government made such a difficult decision. Meanwhile, Russia made attempts in the 1990s to bring in changes by creating something similar to OPEC (not for the oil industry, but for a diamond one) with the participation of the largest diamond-mining countries. The idea was to create a major diamond producers alliance as an alternative to De Beers. In this case, it would be possible to drive out the De Beers monopoly and jointly regulate the supplies and prices. According to E. Bychkov, the former head of the Russian Roskomdragmet (Russian Committee on Precious Stones), the respective settlements were made in the mid-1990s with the presidents of Namibia, Botswana, and the vice president of South Africa. But the matter, unfortunately, did not go beyond the settlements. It should be borne in mind that the potential for developing the relations between Russia and South Africa is enormous. Unfortunately, it is mostly unused. Although, in addition to the diamond industry, there are other areas of co-operation, probably, even more profitable. The combined resources of both states can result in driving out the traditional players monopoly from the world mineral and raw material markets. However, it should be borne in mind that the redistribution of spheres of influence in the world markets is a very complex process that will inevitably cause resistance from todays beneficiary countries. In this case, the interests of the global players are affected that have established connections and influence. Therefore, the success of any undertaking in this matter will depend, first of all, on the interest of the state and its full support. Indeed, all the diplomatic, political, and economic mechanisms available to the state should be used in this case to achieve a result. In the meantime, unfortunately, there is not very much interest at the highest level in strengthening the relations with Africa, in particular, with South Africa, although Western sanctions force the Russian authorities to turn more and more towards their former friends from the Black Continent. However, it is clear that this is an inevitable process. And one of the areas of mutually beneficial bilateral co-operation could be the co-operation in the mining industry. Margarita Obraztsova, Rough&Polished Paulo Mvika is a Mining Engineer, a graduated from the University of Friendship with the Peoples of Moscow, Russia, in 1990; he has a Post Graduate Diploma in Economic Evaluation of Mining Projects from the National Higher School of Mines in Paris, France, in 1992. During his professional career, he held several positions of responsibility in the mining industry at the Ministry of Geology and Mines and at the National Diamond Company of Angola as National Director of the Study, Planning and Statistics Office (1997-2003), National Director of Mines ( 2003-2009), Coordinator of the Mining Concession Negotiations Office, Executive Director of Endiama EP (2010-2017) and Executive Coordinator of the National Kimberley Process Commission (from 2014 to present). Paulo was also a Professor of Economics and Mining Legislation in the fifth year of the Geology courses at the Faculty of Science and Mines at the Faculty of Engineering of the Antonio Agostino Neto University. He is a regular Angolan participant in the Kimberley Process meetings from 2000 to the present, was a Chair of the Working Group on Artisanal Alluvial Production (2007-2017). Here, in an exclusive interview with Rough&Polished, Paulo Mvika speaks in detail about Angolas KP Commissions activities and future steps. For our readers benefit, please tell us about the Angola Kimberly process Commission its activities from inception until date. The National Commission of the Kimberley Process is a technical and administrative entity, supervised by the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, and is governed by the Decree 56/03, of 26 August, which establishes the rules for the implementation of the International Certification Scheme in Angola and is responsible for managing technical and administrative processes for traceability of diamond, internal controls and granting the Kimberley Process certification of rough diamonds. After active participation in the creation of the Kimberley Process Certification System, between 2000 and 2002, and considering the model of the inviolable diamond certificate of origin on which the National Commission of the Kimberley Process was inspired, in 2003 Angola became a signatory member of the International Certification Scheme. From 2003 to the present, under the coordination of the National Commission of the Kimberley Process, Angola assumed the following responsibilities under the KP: President, between 2007 and 2017, Angola chaired the Working Group on Artisanal and Alluvial Diamond Production Countries; In 2012, Angola presented and approved the Washington Declaration on artisanal and small-scale mining. From 2014 to 2015, the country took the vice-presidency of the KPSC and the presidency, respectively, and chaired the Committee for the Presidency and Participation of the Kimberley Process, in 2016; 2018 Assumed vice-chair of the Review and Reform Committee and a year later, in 2019, assumed the chairmanship of the Kimberley Process Review and Reform Committee. In its mission, the National Kimberley Process Commission continues to raise awareness of the compliance by national Players of the diamond industry to comply with the minimum requirements of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. Through the strengthening of internal controls for rough diamonds thereby, the KP Commission is promoting internationally accepted good practices in the diamond industry. The intention is to maintain consumers confidence, in the increasingly demanding manufacturing industry, and of competition from synthetic diamond producers increasingly aggressive in the marketing, while at the same time consolidating Angolas diamonds image in the markets. The commission also undertakes to continue to encourage the transition from the Diamond Age of Conflict to the Diamond Age of Prosperity and Sustainable Development for the well-being of the national economy and populations. In all the KP Plenaries to date the agenda discussed was on general issues reflecting on the development of the global diamond industry, but the main issues remained without finding concrete solutions. Your views? The agendas of the Plenary Meetings were always dominated to reach consensus among the participants, within the framework of the terms of the agreement signed on January 1, 2003, in Interlaken-Switzerland, which marked the entry into force of the Kimberley Process Certification System, following United Nations General Assembly Resolution 55/56, which has allowed the Kimberley Process to remain effective and credible as a United Nations instrument for the maintenance of peace. During the last few years, several initiatives have culminated in the adoption of Administrative Decisions that have been applauded by both participants and observers on the issues they consider general on the development of the global diamond industry. However, Observers in the Kimberley Process, namely Civil Society Coalition, as a consensus has not yet been reached on the issue of broadening the definition of the concept Conflict diamonds consider that the Kimberley Process has not focused on the essentials. From my point of view, an instrument like the KP is not static; it is dynamic and always seeks to improve over time, as we can see in the advances registered in the discussions during the last cycles of Reform and Revision of the KP. Do you think the digitalization of KP Certificates accompanying every export-import operation with rough diamonds will be followed by the global industry? Any workable ideas from you? Among the various initiatives under discussion at the KP, one of them introduced in the Russian Federation's mandate is the digitization of KP Certificates; a working subgroup was set up at the last Plenary in Moscow to continue discussions on the experiences of some countries trying to reach a bilateral agreement, taking into account the reliability of the process in terms of computer security and assistance to certain ASM diamond producing countries with limitations in information technology. We need to continue to mature the initiative, give the opportunity in bilateral agreements where this initiative can already be considered viable and safe, leaving a period of training and adaptation for those who consider themselves unfit now. Will an electronic exchange for the whole KP Family within the framework of common supranational legislation and harmonization of internal regulatory mechanisms be effective? Whats your opinion on this idea? The digital revolution has not reached the same developments level in all diamond-producing countries in Africa concerning consuming countries and countries where the main diamond exchanges are located, supranational legislation and the harmonization of internal regulatory mechanisms may not have the desired effects even among producers, the challenges are different if we consider the view of countries on large-scale mining concerning Artisanal and Small-scale mining producers. Do you think changing the KP documents to facilitate digitalization flexibly for all countries will be successful globally? Should responsible diamond sourcing be recommended as the best practice for the industry? Your suggestions? I think there is already progress or even to say that there is already a consensus on the KP's Core Documents within the framework of the Reform and Review Process that took place in the period 2017-2019, we have to keep up with the new tools that technology brings us to move from the way physical KPC to digital in addition to being quick and effective for reconciliation between trading partners, reducing errors and waste in issuing them and time of analyzing their authenticity, it also reduces the capacity for tampering and falsification of KPCs that have, in recent years, been registered in some countries participating in the KP, which we can consider as a good practice to be accepted globally. For the second part of the question, some advances recorded in the KP both with the Moscow 2005 and Washington 2012 Declarations on ASM and now with the Responsible Diamond Sourcing, Moscow 2021 that Angola has expressed its support for, are undoubtedly good practices for industry and a prelude that it is still possible to achieve significant advances on the definition of conflict diamonds during the Botswana and Zimbabwe mandates, as well as create a mechanism to promote the Principles for Responsible Diamond Sourcing in the Diamond Industry as globally accepted good practices. Will the KP Certification Scheme (KPCS) be effective in the long run? Also, Conflict Diamonds is still not clearly defined yet. For the benefit of our readers, please give your opinion in detail. I believe that I have already touched on this topic in the previous answers, however, I can say that diamond being a luxury and profitable business in which many players are involved, in the long term natural diamond will continue to be a preference of consumers, taking into account some of their concerns in terms of traceability, responsible sourcing as well as broadening the definition of conflict diamonds, which is only an emotional issue and market opinion makers. Due to the disconnect between perception and reality, there is a need to change the narrative around the diamond industry. People need to know about the good that diamonds do and that miners, manufacturers and jewellers are contributing to uplift the less fortunate in communities, the jobs and wealth they provide. Will the proposed KP review mission in the Central African Republic (CAR) in 2022 bring relief and allow the export of rough natural diamonds from the country? Your thoughts? As stated in the final communique of the Moscow 2021 plenary, it will be important to bring together volunteer participants to be part of the review mission team to verify on the spot the information obtained from various sources, despite the reticence of some participants about the safety concern, the recommendations to be presented by the review mission could clarify the KP's position in responding to CAR's requests to expand new green zones, already under the control of the authorities, which could help CAR increase its exports and prevent fraud and smuggling of diamonds from these areas. The synthetic gem industry is currently attracting more attention from entrepreneurs, which is a concern for the natural stones sector. Where do you think this will lead both the sectors, going forward? Natural diamond has a high unit value because of its characteristics the 4Cs and rarity, while synthetic diamond can be manufactured in a short period with the same properties without, however, the feeling of pride and prestige attributed to the jewellery made from natural diamond. If you compare it with gold and fancy jewellery, it has the same shine and the difference lies in the price and affection, in the same way, the jewellery made of a synthetic diamond can be bought at a low price and let you lose without feeling. Synthetic diamonds, easily produced in uncontrolled quantity, lose their rarity with the risk of becoming a common stone and with the depreciation of its value. The two sectors may well coexist in healthy competition, leaving the choice to consumers. As you are associated with the Angolan Kimberley Process Commission, our readers would like to know your insights into the global diamond industrys future in general; and in Angola in particular which is linked to the livelihood of countless peoples lives. Your comments. The future of the diamond industry is promising, despite the difficult years caused by the impact of Covid-19 and its new variants on the lives of populations and the global economy; in the diamond pipeline, various actors, manufacturers and suppliers of equipment and machinery, transport, washing, service providers, specialists in various fields, diamond sellers and buyers, cutters, and jewellery manufacturers, etc. creating jobs, community development and wealth. About geological reserves in diamonds, despite the exhaustion of some large mines known around the world, Africa still has considerable potential for the discovery of primary deposits, the case of Angola with mines in production and development such as Catoca, Luaxe, Sangaminas, Chiri, will sufficiently contribute to the supply of diamonds in the global market. The actors involved in this diamond business are fully aware of the challenges facing them to perpetuate this millenary industry from a geological, technological, market, investment and business perspective Aruna Gaitonde, Editor in Chief of the Asian Bureau, Rough & Polished In Russia, demand for jewelry increased by 25% 07 february 2022 News Jewelry sales in Russia in 2021 increased by 20-25% compared to the previous year, when there was a decline, the association "Guild of Jewelers of Russia" told Izvestia. The growth was stimulated by online jewelry sales, the redistribution of spending from traveling to buying jewelry, as well as deferred demand. In 2022, the situation may change - companies expect jewelry prices to rise by 10-15%, which may affect demand. According to the association "Guild of Jewelers of Russia", sales of jewelry in physical and monetary terms in 2021 increased by 20-25% compared to the same period in 2020. Last year, the average receipt for jewelry also increased - by 27% compared to 2020 and by 17% compared to 2019, said Alexey Felixov, CEO of "585*Gold". According to the company, one of the most popular product groups in 2021 was wedding rings. Their sales increased by 19% compared to 2020 and by 15% compared to 2019. Gold chains and bracelets were also in demand, the sale of which jumped by 20%, and jewelry with precious and semi-precious stones of the middle and high price segments - plus 25% in this category. Alex Shishlo for Rough&Polished A file photo of Covid-19 vaccine made by Moderna and administered in New Jersey in the United States. Cape Town, South Africa South African pharmaceutical company Afrigen is the first on the continent to make an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine using Moderna's publicly available data. The company hopes to start clinical trials of the vaccine in November. Afrigen is one of the companies taking part in a World Health Organization-backed hub to develop vaccines for low- and middle-income countries. Afrigen Managing Director Petro Terblanche said the mRNA vaccine was made with the company's own knowledge base, processes and people. She said there were no technology transfers from any third party. "The latest development at the mRNA hub at Afrigen in Cape Town is that our scientists have used the sequence of the Moderna vaccine 1273 published by Stanford University in an open-source manner and formulated a drug product at laboratory scale. They are currently doing more batches and analytical tests to make sure that they have the quality in place. So this is the first lab scale full end-to-end vaccine candidate that has been developed," she said. Terblanche said the company did not need permission from Moderna because its vaccine is still in the research and development stage. "The sequence is published in the first place, secondly we are operating in the R&D space," she said. "We have full freedom to operate, an exemption under the Bolar Exemption in IP law. So up to phase 3 clinical trials we are completely legal, and we don't need any permission. Once that product is commercialized and there are IP constraints, we need to get a voluntary license for that." Terblanche said they would be asking Moderna to voluntarily license the vaccine to them, as it will be mutually beneficial to the companies and to low- and middle-income countries that will use this technology. She added that they were using the new vaccine as a test case for a second-generation vaccine that is in the design phase. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Coronavirus South Africa By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Moderna has not commented on Afrigen's announcement, but it was widely reported late last year that the company had paused a patent dispute with the U.S. government over its coronavirus vaccine. Moderna had been disputing claims that three U.S. government scientists were co-inventors. However, the company said it would not pursue the fight for now, as it did not want to take attention away from battling the pandemic. Terblanche acknowledged support from scientists in other countries for Afrigen's work. "This is our learning case and we're pleasantly surprised with the results, but the design of the new formulation is already happening with the scientists and with technical partners globally," she said. "It's not only us, it's a fantastic partnership with scientists in the U.S. and in Europe." South Africa's acting director general of the National Health Department, Dr. Nicholas Crisp, welcomed news of the mRNA vaccine development. "We're very pleased to note that they've been picking up speed very fast in their capabilities," he said. "It's very exciting, it's very important for the country. It's one of a number of facilities that we are busy working on as a country between the department of health and science and innovation and other partners. So very encouraging." The World Health Organization's regional director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, said 11% of the African population is fully vaccinated, and 85% have not received a single dose. She added that 239,000 people in Africa have died due to the pandemic. Danvers, MA (01923) Today Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers. High 53F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Periods of rain. Low 44F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. Truth is, most of Earnest Lee Hargons people had been wiped out by the time he went to death row, and those who knew the family werent sorry to see him go. He got there by killing his cousin, the cousins wife and their 4-year-old boy the one who was supposed to carry on the Hargon name over getting cut out of a will. He told his wife about it over Valentines dinner five years ago, hours after the murders. I got them, all three, he said. If the Bible didnt trump superstition around here, some people might call the Hargons cursed. The patriarch, his wife, the young family, the grieving sister, the jealous, murderous cousin the better part of three generations gone, most of them before their time. Even Earnest Lee died before he was supposed to, stabbed in a prison fight before the state could put him down. Maybe pride was our sin that caused this to happen, matriarch Diane Hargon once wrote, looking for the why behind all that befell her family. We were so proud to be Hargons. This family did anything and everything for friends, family or even strangers in need. Advertisement The Hargons were the heart of Vaughan, a community about 40 miles north of Jackson where meandering, tree-lined roads divide sprawling farms. Its best known as the spot where railroad folk hero Casey Jones was killed in a crash in 1900. Everyone knows their neighbors here, and social activities revolve around churches, front porches and pitchers of sweet tea. And everyone still talks about what happened to the Hargons. Everything just lined up the wrong way against this family, said James Powell III, the district attorney who prosecuted the case. The Hargons hub was Fowler Road Grocery, the one-story brick building they used as a convenience store for years until 1994, when the killing started. The robbers arrived on a Friday, when they knew the store would have money on hand to cash checks. One waited in the car while two others went inside. Haywood Hargon (pronounced HAR-gihn), the proprietor and father, was shot and killed before a customer interrupted the robbery. The thieves made off with $114. The store closed and the Hargons turned the building into a home. Haywoods son Michael eventually moved in with his wife and their boy, undeterred by living in the house where strangers shot his father down. Michael was an easygoing construction worker with a quick wit and a generous personality. All you had to do was say you needed something and Michael was scouting around to find it, recalled his aunt, Katherine Hargon Alexander, the lone survivor from her generation of Hargons or the next. Michael, 27, and his wife Rebecca, a physical therapists assistant, doted on their son. Rebecca was like an angel sent from heaven, Alexander said of the petite 29-year-old. She was always loving. Always willing to help. The vibrant couple had much vested in their son, named for his great-grandfather. James Patrick was to carry on the family legacy, Michaels mother, Diane Hargon, would later write. Earnest Lee Hargon, a trucker often described as a modern day cowboy, was adopted into the family when as a young child his mother married a Hargon. Earnest Lee began to unravel in his early 40s with an addiction to crystal methamphetamine, which he began using to stay awake during his long trips hauling cattle. In January 2004, his adoptive father wrote Earnest Lee out of his will and died soon after, leaving a 50-acre cattle farm in Madison County to Michael instead. Earnest Lee, simmering over the will weeks after the fact, arrived before daylight that cold Saturday morning in a 1974 Corvette and banged on the door of his cousins home. Michael Hargon slipped on his boots and answered the door. They fought. Michael apparently tried to get to his truck where he kept a gun. Some of his teeth were found near the open door of the vehicle. Earnest Lee shot him in the head with a .22-caliber pistol. His own blood pumping quickly, Earnest Lee stalked through the house. He shot Rebecca in the arm, beat her and choked her but didnt kill her, not right away. Then he choked the child into unconsciousness too. He threw Michaels body across the Corvettes seats, torso on the passenger side, then heaved Rebecca atop her husbands corpse and stuffed their son in on top of her. Then Earnest Lee got behind the wheel, with his dead cousins feet against his back, and drove nearly 100 miles south to his Taylorsville farm, ditching the pistol along the way. Rebecca and the child were still alive when he arrived. This time he strangled the life out of them. Earnest Lee told police how he cinched a leather strap around the boys neck and walked away, and how Rebecca died with the child in her arms. The baby didnt even cry, he said. He piled the bodies into a truck and hauled them down a rural road to an isolated field. He buried the family together in a shallow grave and covered it with several pieces of rusted tin. That night, Earnest Lee took his wife, a veterinarian named Lisa Ainsworth, to a Mexican restaurant for Valentines dinner. He told her what hed done: I got them, all three. She told police, eventually. More than two weeks after the family disappeared and authorities undertook a massive search, Earnest Lee confessed to authorities and drew a cryptic map to the bodies. Michaels mother, Diane, was battling colon cancer at the time and had pleaded for the familys safe return. Her hopes dashed, despair became hatred. He may have the name of Hargon, she said of the killer, but no Hargon blood runs through his veins. In November 2005, 20 months after the killings, Diane Hargon declined an interview with The Associated Press, saying cancer treatments were taking a toll and she needed to save her strength for Earnest Lees trial. She died a month too soon. God has a weird way of working sometimes, Michaels sister, Jennifer Hargon McBride, said after the trial, lamenting that her mother did not see justice. But were strong enough to get through it. Six months later she was gone too, dead at 26 of an accidental overdose of sleeping medication. She left three children. Like the other Hargons, Earnest Lee got less time than he expected. Most condemned killers in Mississippi spend 20 years or more on death row waiting to die, but not him. A little more than a year after Jennifer Hargon died, a gang member broke out of his cell at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman and stabbed Earnest Lee 30 times with a homemade knife. I thought, pretty much, Earnest Lee got what he deserved and the type of death he had was appropriate for the pain he inflicted, said Powell, the district attorney. Im not encouraging anybody to do that, but Im not sad that it happened. Today, Michael and Rebecca Hargons home sits empty, surrounded by barbed wire to keep out the vandals and gawkers. On a recent afternoon, the place was eerily still. A large hawk swooped down into the dead grass behind the house, the leaves of a few cedar trees the only green in the dull winter landscape. It is a like a giant cemetery monument to them, Diana Hargon once wrote of the site. Just down the narrow road, Katherine Hargon Alexander can stand on her front porch, look through the pecan trees and across a field and see the home in the distance. Somehow, it comforts her. This land has been in her family for generations. Sometimes I tear up and I have to stop and think, Who I am tearing up about? she said. Weve lost so many. Editors note: Holbrook Mohr covered Earnest Lee Hargons trial for The Associated Press. The information in this story is based on testimony, Earnest Lee Hargons confession, court records and numerous interviews with Hargon relatives and the district attorney who prosecuted the case. ZIMBAMBE'S Minister for Minerals, Mr Wiston Chitando has been impressed with how Tanzania has successfully managed to enhance the operations of the small scale miners. Mr Chitando commended the country yesterday when he made a two day official visit to Tanzania accompanied by e Zimbabwe Attorney General, Mr Prince Machaya. The visit among others intended to discuss issues pertaining to Association of Diamond Producing Countries (ADPA) and Kimberly Processing Certification System (KPCS). "We want to enhance the economic cooperation between our two countries thus we compare notice and learn from Tanzania" said Mr Chitando. He told his host, Dr Dotto Biteko the country's Minister for Minerals that there are a lot of similarity in the geological patterns between the two countries thus the need to partner and develop the economies. He was impressed with how the country has managed to see operations of the artisan and small scale miners, saying they will send a special mission to learn from Tanzania how they attained the status. On his part, Mr Biteko said doors are open for them to come to learn and share experiences as the common goal is to see the contribution of the mining sector for economic development. "We shared experience on how best to deal with the minerals smuggling as that is the common problems in many countries as well as monitor and controls, checks and balance of the mining sector" said Biteko He said the country has also learned how Zimbabwe mining sector contribution to their national economy stood at 12 per cent compared to the country's 6.5 per cent. "We are happy that they made the visit, we learned a lot from them especially on the mining smuggling challenges and the need for having laws that control the situation and amendments from time to time to meet the demands" said Minister Biteko. Two Seychellois artists are displaying their artworks at the 9th Beijing International Art Biennale, currently taking place at the National Art Museum of China. Jude Ally and George Camille, well known for their abstract paintings, are showing their pieces at the biennale in the Chinese capital, which opened on January 21 under the theme "The Light of Life". Camille's piece is called "Behind the Curtain" as he says it is a necessity for humanity, though hesitantly and with uncertainty, to come out of confinement and into the light. He started working on the piece even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world. Camille painted the canvas in an abstract manner using a number of colours. During the pandemic, while preparing pieces for his exhibition at Kaz Zanana - his gallery in the capital Victoria - he reconsidered the piece. "The piece reminded me of a curtain and to me, this is what the pandemic is about - people behind the curtain. I placed a parting in the 'curtain' and introduced four faces which I painted blue. These are faces of people who are uncertain, and showing a certain amount of fear," he told SNA. He said that he used the colour blue on the faces as it is a colour that best depicts this depressive period that is affecting a lot of people. He added that the act of parting the curtain shows an element of hope and going on with our lives, despite the pandemic. This is the second time that Camille participates in this particular biennale. In 2019, he participated with an artwork entitled "Searching", which illustrated the journey in life that people undertake from birth to death. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Seychelles Entertainment By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Meanwhile, Jude Ally interpreted the theme in a more abstract manner with his mixed media collage artwork entitled "Loud". "My idea always bears meaning in relation to the human aspects and the quest for a better way. My work conveys a range of human conditions, from the struggles, conflict, and all the other 'noises' that we portray," said Ally. Elaborating on how the theme comes into play in his piece, Ally explained that there is light when people speak about what affects them as human beings. By listening attentively, people can achieve and do better. The Beijing International Art Biennale is an event for international artists to showcase contemporary artwork. For the ninth edition of the biennale, there are 573 artists from 117 countries and regions taking part. It will close its doors to the public on February 28. Standing in the backyard of an Oakland restaurant Wednesday morning, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation that revived supplementary COVID-19 sick pay for workers across California. Along with the sick leave legislation, Newsom signed a package of bills that included $5.5 billion in tax credits and tax deductions for businesses in California. Newsom said during the press conference Wednesday that relief was in addition to more than $6 billion in grants and tax cuts the legislature had already approved that had already been distributed to more than 300,000 businesses statewide. Asked if the grants and tax breaks would cover the costs of businesses paying workers to stay home, Newsom said, Is it enough? Ff its not were going to do more. Both houses of the California Legislature passed measures Monday that would revive the additonal COVID-19 paid sick leave that expired last year. The leigslation is retroactive to the beginning of the year. Labor groups had pressed Newsom and the Legislature to resurrect the measure, which was allowed to expire at the end of September when federal tax credits for businesses providing the leave expired. The measure takes effect 10 days after Newsoms signature. It would stay in effect until Sept. 30 and would apply to businesses with more than 25 employees. Todays passage of COVID paid sick leave is an important victory for frontline workers and families across the state, said California Labor Federation Executive Secretary-Treasurer Art Pulaski in a statement earlier this week after the legislatures vote. Paid sick leave is one of the most potent weapons we have in the arsenal to slow the spread and protect workers and the public. The expanded leave measures passed 55-7 in the Assembly and 30-7 in the Senate. The measure saw some pushback, including in the Assembly. There are significant unintended consequences to this bill, said Assembly Member Vince Fong, R-Bakersfield, ahead of the vote Monday. He said it created an unforeseen expense for many small businesses and nonprofits that are barely holding on by the skin of their teeth, and criticized the lack of tax breaks for businesses to help them pay for it. My concern about this is were asking these individual enterprises to shoulder the bill, said Sen. Andreas Borgeas, R-Fresno, ahead of the Senate vote. Assembly Member Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, said he hoped to see the issue of small business relief addressed in the June budget proposal. Full-time employees and those working an average of 40 hours per week the two weeks before they take the additional leave are eligible for the full 40 hours of paid supplemental leave. Non full-time employees are also eligible for the leave based on the number of hours they normally work. 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. An additional week of paid time off is also available under the measure for a person who shows a positive test for themselves or a loved one they are taking care of. That is a change from last year when employees were entitled to up to two weeks of paid supplemental COVID sick leave. Many business groups, including the California Chamber of Commerce, had not opposed bringing the additional sick leave back, but advocated for it to be less expansive than the initial automatic 80 hours of leave. The supplemental leave is in addition to the minimum of three days a year required under California law and any other sick leave a person might accrue at work. Workers can also be paid to stay home because of infection or exposure to COVID in some circumstances under temporary workplace rules established separately by the Cal/OSHA Standards Board. In a change from last year, employers can no longer require workers to exhaust their supplementary paid sick leave before being paid to stay home under the Cal/OSHA rules. Chase DiFeliciantonio is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: chase.difeliciantonio@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ChaseDiFelice A union-backed California law that bars government officials from discouraging their employees to join unions or pay union dues was upheld by a federal appeals court Monday against a challenge by local officials who said the law intimidated them from speaking out against unions. The law was passed in 2017 to prohibit state and local agencies and officials from preventing or discouraging workers from joining a union. After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2018 that nonunion government employees in about two dozen states, including California, could not be required to pay fees to unions for the costs of representing them in labor negotiations, state lawmakers added a ban on discouraging public workers from paying fees to unions. The law was challenged by seven city council members and school officials in Southern California, who said it violated their freedom of speech. They said they had previously discussed labor-management issues at public hearings and election campaign appearances, but have refrained from mentioning unions or related subjects in public since 2017-18 for fear that their positions would be attributed to their employers, who could face penalties under the law. But the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco said the suit was based on speculation and was premature at best, because the law does not apply to individuals like the seven public officials. The state Public Employment Relations Board, which enforces the law, declared in a court filing that comments by an individual elected official at a campaign event cannot reasonably be viewed as the speech of a public employer, the court said. It said the filing made the same disclaimer for remarks at a meeting of a public agency such as a school board, as long as other board members are present and the individual is not speaking for the entire board. There is no evidence of a credible threat that the law would be enforced against the individuals who challenged it, the panel said in a 3-0 ruling that upheld a federal judges dismissal of the suit. The court said they could file a new suit if they were actually faced with enforcement. The panel consisted of Judges Consuelo Callahan, John Owens and Danielle Forrest. A lawyer for the local officials said the ruling was disappointing but not a total defeat. The good news is that the court clarified elected officials can criticize union policies at public hearings, on the campaign trail and in discussions with constituents, said Terence Pell, president of the Center for Individual Rights. The bad news is that elected officials can be subject to state investigation any time a union wants to file a complaint. 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. For example, David Schwarz, another attorney for the local officials, said that last March the Public Employment Relations Board prohibited University of California regents or their representatives from deterring or discouraging UC employees or job applicants from joining a union or authorizing union dues or fees. The officials were members of city councils in San Clemente and Mission Viejo, both in Orange County; the Capistrano Unified School District and the Rancho Santiago Community College District, also in Orange County; the Whittier Union High School District in Los Angeles County; the Ramona Unified School District in San Diego County; and the Rossmoor Community Services District in Orange County. Matthew Murray, a lawyer for unions in the case, declined to comment on the ruling. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko Bay Area health officials are increasingly talking about the pandemics denoument, and a lot of that revolves around just what the endemic phase will look like. Its been two years since a Santa Clara woman became the first person in the U.S. known to have died from COVID-19. After taking an enormous hit during the pandemic, Muni is wrestling its way back to improved ridership, but its still an uphill ride and some lines are doing a lot better than others. Latest updates: Bay Area deaths double in two weeks: The number of daily COVID deaths reported in the Bay Area has doubled from two weeks ago but appears to be leveling off in recent days. At the same time, cases and hospitalizations of patients with COVID continue to plunge from the height of the omicron surge. Coronavirus fatalities in the region have ticked up since Jan. 24, from 11 per day to 22 per day as of Monday, according to state data on seven-day averages of new daily deaths. Read the details here. Californias indoor mask mandate on the way out: Californias statewide mask mandate, which requires everyone to wear face coverings indoors regardless of vaccination status, will be lifted Feb. 16, health officials confirmed Monday, noting that cases have dropped dramatically from the peak of the omicron surge. Read the full story here. Californias positive-test rate dips below 10% for first time since Christmas: The states rate of coronavirus tests coming back positive dropped to 9.5% as of Monday the first time since Christmas Day the rate has been below 10%, according to state data as the omicron surge continues its decline. At the height of the omicron wave around Jan. 9, the test positivity rate was nearly 23%. The figures are seven-day averages. San Francisco delays non-essential worker return: City staff who can work remote wont be back in the office until at least March 7, rather than February 14 as the omicron variant, though dropping in case numbers, remains a threat. Around a third of 35,000 workers are affected, with essential workers already in person. Israel, Japan, and Cuba join CDC list of countries to avoid: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preventions list of travel destinations considered to be a very high COVID-19 risk for travel risk grew to include about 135 countries on Monday, with the addition of Armenia, Cuba, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Israel, Japan, Libya, and Oman. To reach the highest risk category or Level 4 on the agencys list, a destination must report more than 500 cases per 100,000 residents in the past 28 days. In early January, there were nearly 80 countries to avoid on the list. COVID cases among U.S. children remain extremely high: There were 631,822 child COVID-19 cases reported in the United States from Jan. 27 to Thursday, with children representing a quarter of all reported cases nationwide, according to data Monday from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Childrens Hospital Association. While the tally is down from the 808,013 cases reported in the previous week, the organizations said in a statement that the rate remains extremely high. The cumulated number of child COVID-19 cases since the beginning of the pandemic has increased by 13.6% over the past two weeks. CDC considers longer time between vaccine doses, eight weeks: A longer interval between doses of two-shot coronavirus vaccines is under consideration by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC is looking at recommending eight weeks between the first and second doses of the Pfizer and Moderna shots. The CDCs Dr. Sara Oliver told a recent meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices that the longer interval may lower the risk of heart inflammation, an extremely rare side effect of mRNA shots, and increase overall vaccine efficacy. The agency currently recommends spacing out the first two shots of Pfizers vaccine for three weeks and Modernas for four weeks. Booster uptake in the highly-vaccinated Bay Area has lagged significantly behind rates of vaccination with the initial single - or two-dose series of coronavirus vaccine. High rates of COVID infections among white-tailed deer cause for concern: Scientists have discovered unusually high rates of coronavirus infections among the estimated 25 million white-tailed deer in the United States, and are expressing concern that it could alter the course of the pandemic. In a paper scheduled to be published Tuesday by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers found that about 40% of the deer population has been infected via human-to-deer transmission events followed by subsequent deer-to-deer transmission. Now there is concern that the virus can mutate in deers and reinfect humans. The discovery of sylvatic and enzootic transmission in a substantial fraction of free-living deer has important implications for the natural ecology and long-term persistence of SARS-CoV-2, including through spillover to other free-living or captive animals and potential for spillback to humans, the authors write. California tops 80,000 COVID deaths: There were at least 80,019 confirmed fatalities linked to the coronavirus in California as of Monday morning, according to health department data analyzed by The Chronicle. The state has now surpassed 8.5 million cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began likely an undercount given the widespread use of home testing kits. National forecasts predict up to 3,000 more Californians will die from the virus by the end of February, even as the state comes out of the worst of the omicron winter surge. Infected Bay Area skater drops out of Olympic event: U.S. figure skater Vincent Zhou of Palo Alto, who tested positive for the coronavirus a day after struggling through a poor free skate for the eventual team silver medalists, will not not compete in the mens singles competition that begins Tuesday. The skater made the announcement Monday night in a teary video posted to his Instagram account. Unfortunately I will have to withdraw from the individual event starting tomorrow, he said, recounting the emotional frustration of doing everything he was supposed to in order to prevent infection and then testing positive nonetheless. New Jersey drops school mask mandate: Gov. Philip Murphy says students and school employees will no longer have to wear face masks in the state that has imposed some of the nations most stringent pandemic mandates. Murphy said on Sunday that he would officially announce the elimination of the mandate on Monday afternoon, and it would take effect the second week of March, two years after New York and New Jersey became early epicenters of the deadly new coronavirus, the New York Times reports. CDC adds wastewater data to COVID tracking toolkit: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention added a new publicly available monitor to its COVID-19 tracking toolkit on Friday that measures the amount of the novel coronavirus present in wastewater. Measuring the amount of the virus present in wastewater samples has emerged as a way to track how its spreading through communities, including in the Bay Area. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. One home, 1,200 potential buyers the Bay Areas daunting real estate math after COVID: Frustrated house hunters arent imagining it; there really is just one home for sale for every 1,206 South Bay households earning $100,000 to $125,000 a year. Read the full story. What does the endemic phase look like?: With increasing focus on what will happen once the coronavirus enters the so-called endemic phase, the real question is whether that will also mean the end of the pandemic. Its possible the Bay Area could settle into an endemic stage once the omicron surge is over. The virus chaotic peaks and valleys of infection and concerns that hospitals would be overwhelmed by the Bay Areas widespread vaccination and, presumably, plenty of access to testing and treatments. Read the full story. Going to the Super Bowl? Vaccinate, test, mask rules rule: Masks will be required for fans at the Super Bowl in Inglewood, Los Angeles County authorities are emphasizing. Guests at the Feb. 13 game will also need to show proof theyve been vaccinated or recently tested negative for the coronavirus prior to entry. Two years since 1st known U.S. victim died of COVID: Sunday marked two years since the death of Patricia Dowd, a Santa Clara County woman who was the first person in the U.S. known to have died from COVID-19. She was 57, and her family said shed had no symptoms. Read The Chronicles account of what happened. Religious exemption letters for sale: Something of a cottage industry in vaccination exemption letters is enabling California employees to purchase attestations about why their beliefs justify a waiver from coronavirus vaccine mandates, the Los Angeles Times reports. The letters provide an out for workers whose jobs require them to be vaccinated but allow exemptions for religious exemptions. The Times through public records requests amassed more than 2,200 pages of emails, letters and other records related to such waivers. The majority of the exemption requests, from four public employers, were copied from letters posted on websites of evangelical churches, conservative legal groups and fee-based organizations. Several included statements identical to those on the website of a Texas organization led by Sidney Powell, a conspiracy theorist and lawyer connected to former President Donald Trump. Muni is changed a lot since pandemic started: Muni has recovered some of its ridership, but is still at about half of its 2019 pre-pandiemic levels and the growth has recently slowd, a Chronicle analysis shows. Not all lines and routes are recovering in the same way. Read where and why some lines are coming back strongest. Olympic isolation complaints get attention: Olympic organizers say theyre addressing complaints about isolation conditions for athletes who test positive for the coronavirus and are working to ensure they have clean rooms, better food and access to training equipment and the internet. Officials said Sunday that organizers will work to ensure everything is perfect for athletes waiting to be released, and that athletes who test positive will now be able to order food from the Olympic Village and have it delivered to their isolation rooms. Russia case numbers up tenfold in a month: Russia is reporting a record daily count of new coronavirus infections a tenfold spike from a month ago as the highly contagious omicron variant spreads through the country. The 189,071 new infections reported by the state coronavirus task force on Sunday was about 2,800 cases more than the previous day and continued a surge that began in mid-January, when daily new cases were around 17,000. Wealthier San Francisco neighborhoods are experiencing crime trends differently from less-wealthy ones, particularly when it comes to money-motivated crimes. On average, the 10 neighborhoods with highest incomes saw a 7.8% increase in rates of major money-motivated crime types motor vehicle thefts, larceny thefts, robberies and burglaries from 2018 and 2019 to 2020 and 2021. In contrast, the neighborhoods with the lowest incomes saw a 15.4% decrease in those same crime types, according to the Chronicles analysis of reported police incident data from the city of San Francisco. We excluded neighborhoods with fewer than 5,000 residents from our analysis, along with the Financial District because of its large decrease in commuters and subsequent outlier trends. Crime media researcher Pamela Mejia thinks this difference may explain why, in a recent poll conducted by the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, 8 in 10 survey respondents believed that crime had worsened in recent years an increase from previous surveys. For better or for worse, for worse mostly, theres a sense that in neighborhoods where crime happens all the time, its treated as business as usual, Mejia, who is a senior media researcher at the Berkeley Media Studies Group, told The Chronicle. But when crime starts happening in places where thats not the case. ... The response is different. The Chronicles analysis found a particularly strong relationship between the rise of burglaries and robberies and the income of the neighborhood. The data do not show this relationship for violent crimes that are less directly tied to money, like assaults, rapes and homicides. Magnus Lofstrom, a policy director and senior fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California, previously told The Chronicle that property crime rates tend to increase during times of increased unemployment, such as most of the pandemic. In a city like San Francisco, which already had the highest income inequality of any major California city, it makes sense that property crime would spike disproportionately in wealthier neighborhoods during such a period. If theres going to be increases in property crime, where might they take place? Theyll be taking place in areas where it actually pays off to commit these property crimes, Lofstrom said. When we have these increases in disparity, (these neighborhoods) become increasingly good targets. This change is part of broader shifts in the character of crime in the city during the pandemic, which the Chronicle examined by looking at incident data from the San Francisco Police Department from 2018 through the end of 2021. Starting in 2020, crime trends diverged dramatically from recent pre-pandemic years. While the overall number of reported crimes has been lower during the pandemic, three major crime types homicides, burglaries and motor vehicle thefts have increased significantly since 2019. The homicide increase is reflective of a nationwide surge that researchers are not able to fully explain, though criminologists have pointed at factors including school shutdowns, the loss of violence prevention programs and economic anxiety. San Franciscos homicide increase is actually smaller than that of other cities, particularly that of neighboring Oakland, and its homicide rate was already relatively low. The citys burglary increase, however, is an anomaly: Most other California cities (including Oakland) have seen fewer burglaries since the pandemic began, Lofstrom said. A possible explanation, Lofstrom said, is that many newly remote workers left San Francisco for more scenic, adventure-friendly locales like Montana and Tahoe, leaving their homes vacant and easier targets for burglars. In contrast, cities with fewer affluent tech workers had more people working from their actual homes, making daytime burglaries tougher to execute. San Franciscos increase in motor vehicle thefts is also reflective of broader state- and nationwide trends, Lofstrom added. The value of used cars is sky-high right now, making them more enticing to steal. In 2020-2021, motor vehicle thefts were up in all but three adjacent neighborhoods: The Financial District, Chinatown and Telegraph Hill. The greatest increases were in the Excelsior and Outer Mission neighborhoods. On the other hand, reported assaults, robberies and larceny thefts decreased in 2020 and 2021 compared to 2018 and 2019. Its likely that these crimes decreased because they require at least two people interacting with each other, and there are simply fewer people out in the streets right now, according to Lofstrom. (Of course, homicides also require an in-person interaction, so this explanation doesnt fit perfectly.) Robberies decreased in the citys eastern and southern sections, but increased in a few middle- and-higher-income neighborhoods in the north and western quadrants, including Russian Hill and the Outer Richmond. Assaults also mostly decreased across neighborhoods or increased modestly, although in one neighborhood the Marina reported assaults increased by over 100%. Larceny thefts are controversial from a data perspective national crime victim surveys show only about a third of larceny victims report to the police, and many people argue that underreporting has increased even more during the pandemic. Larcenies also decreased almost everywhere, although in one wealthy neighborhood, Sea Cliff, they increased by 75% (the Excelsior neighborhood also saw larcenies increase significantly, by 29%). Lofstrom concedes that its possible that underreporting of larceny theft has increased during the pandemic, particularly in a city like San Francisco where property crime is relatively high. Its understandable, with an increase in the frequency of something, theres a certain fatigue in reporting those incidents as well, he said. However, he noted that crime data has accurately captured other recent trends in larceny theft for example, it showed a spike in reported thefts in the year following the passage of Proposition 47, a statewide initiative that reclassified certain theft and drug possession charges from felonies to misdemeanors, including shoplifting of items under $950. 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. What the data is currently capturing, both statewide and locally, is that larceny thefts decreased in 2020 and have crept back up in recent months (burglaries, too, have started to decrease toward normal levels in the last several months). Its just hard to gauge the magnitude of those changes given reporting issues, said Loftstrom. Despite all of these changes to crime during the pandemic, as of 2020, both violent and property crime rates were lower than they were in the 1980s and 1990s, according to the California Department of Justice. Thats part of a broader pattern toward lower crime rates that began in the late 90s, with the exception of the property crime spike following Prop. 47. With such vastly different trends, why are so many people sure that crime is on the rise? For one, public perceptions of crime do not match crime trends overall. This has been long documented on the national and local scale: For instance, in the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce annual survey, more respondents have said crime in the city was getting worse than said it was getting better since at least 2010, irrespective of actual trends. Mejia said that this can partially be explained by the mean world syndrome, a concept defined by communications Professor George Gerbner to describe the impact of violent media on peoples perceptions of the world. Gerbner and other researchers have found that people exposed to high amounts of violent media display increased heightened levels of anxiety and fear; in short, Mejia said, they believe the world around them is more dangerous. Additionally, Mejia said that when the media covers crime, it tends to focus on individual incidents, particularly unusual-seeming ones. Thats why shootings in neighborhoods with traditionally high crime rates get relatively less coverage, or no coverage at all. But when a Louis Vuitton store gets broken into in a high-income part of town, that feels unusual and surprising, and is thus amplified. Sensationalized media coverage of crime thus contributes to wide-scale misperceptions of crime trends. Meijia said it also engenders a feeling of hopelessness because it often does not cover solutions or efforts to change the problem, or look at underlying issues. Its a hard thing to do, name responsibility and think of solutions, Mejia said. Traditionally coverage has not done that or doesnt try to do that. San Francisco Chronicle data visualization developer Nami Sumida contributed to this report. Susie Neilson is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: susie.neilson@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @susieneilson Restaurant critic Soleil Ho is taking a break from their Bite Curious newsletter this week. Taking over today: Janelle Bitker, food enterprise reporter. Taking over a newsletter seems like the perfect opportunity to talk about my marriage. My husband and I are blessedly on the same page about just about everything. We are cat people. We enjoy long walks on weekends. We both believe in the power of the written word. Despite so much harmony, there is one source of tension in our marriage: dessert. I require it daily. Blame my parents, who rewarded good behavior with ice cream, routinely took me out for doughnuts after school and once gifted me a giant bag of gummy bears for Christmas. (Yes, my mouth is full of cavities.) Ideally, my day starts with a slice of breakfast cake, perhaps a moist almond cake dotted with berries, because fruit is healthy. Ill sneak a cookie between lunch and dinner, and the show-stopper is always served before bed. With such a rigorous eating schedule, I tend to stock up on treats. I also try to have a supply of Trader Joes dark chocolate peanut butter cups for emergencies. With my job, sweets continue to pile on. Im often out and about, where temptation is everywhere. The other day, I arrived slightly early to an interview near Mission District bakery Le Dix Sept, so I popped over for a crispy, custardy canele to kill time. When I drove to Union City to check out the ube frenzy around Cafe 86, I figured I might as well drop by another Filipino bakery, the Original Luisa and Son Bakeshop, for an ube-coconut ensaimada. After all, how often am I in Union City? Along the same lines, if I ever find myself close to B. Patisserie, Im not not going to buy a kouign amann. Surely you agree that would be insane. My husband doesnt agree. Janelle, why did you buy this cake when you baked all these cookies last night?!? I reply, the cookies will last a few days. Janelle, why did you buy all these pastries when we have half a pie in the fridge?!?!? I stammer, its fine, well finish everything. We look at each other wondering, who is this monster I married? He rolls his eyes. I help myself to a cookie. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. Fortunately, I know my colleagues have my back. Fellow Chronicle food reporter Elena Kadvany told me, If I don't eat something sweet before I go to bed I lose my mind. (Solidarity!) And assistant food and wine editor Tanay Warerkar brought not one but two desserts to our teams holiday party last year. (I took home leftovers.) My husband and I have each come around ever so slightly. When I last ordered lunch at Berkeleys Fava, I asked myself, do I really need to add this banana pudding? The answer was yes, but on a subsequent occasion, it was no. Thats progress. He recently explained that his distress comes from the prospect of wasting food, something I also feel strongly about. But the difference coincides with our Netflix habits: I am game to binge, and he prefers to savor. He has confessed that his greater fear is that when we one day decide to start a family, my pregnancy cravings will send him all over the Bay Area to Fremont for soup dumplings from Bings, to San Franciscos Inner Richmond for kaya toast from Breadbelly, to Daly City for lechon from Chibog. I told him Ill do my best to keep such requests within a 15 mile radius of our home, but that also means I get all the dessert I want. Experimental, boundary-pushing drinks maker Woods Beer & Wine Co. is on a major expansion kick. The San Francisco company has grown quickly in recent years, opening several new taprooms and transforming from a brewery to a hybrid brewery-winery. Now it has two new locations, on Treasure Island and in San Anselmo, in the works and plans to begin distilling spirits, too. Owner Jim Woods hopes to unveil the Treasure Island outpost at the end of February, right around the launch of a 6-minute ferry from San Francisco to the island. Were scrambling to get open, Woods said. I think we can pull it off. The company has been on Treasure Island for seven years but had to vacate its longtime production facility and taproom called Woods Island Club, complete with a faux beach due to a sewage issue. It found a new production facility and managed to secure a retail space in the Administration Building, which is the crown jewel of Treasure Island, according to Woods. The semicircular 1938 building, which is on the National Record of Historic Places, was originally part of Naval Station Treasure Island. Its just a few hundred feet from the new ferry terminal, and Woods hopes that other craft businesses, like some of the coffee roasters or distilleries located on the island, might open up retail locations there too. It may ultimately end up like the Ferry Building, he said. Hes keeping the Woods Island Club name, even though he wont be re-creating any sort of sandy beach at the new location. At first, it will serve just wine and beer, but a food truck schedule will likely start soon. John Storey/Special to the Chronicle 2016 The new taproom will be the companys fifth, joining locations in San Franciscos Mission, Outer Sunset, Lower Haight and Russian Hill neighborhoods. Woods closed an Oakland taproom recently after the rent was raised. That closure temporarily reduced the companys brewing capacity, but now the company has moved the three-barrel brewing system in Oakland to the Treasure Island complex. Meanwhile, its first Marin County outpost is also under way, set to open in late 2022 following a major building renovation. Like the companys other taprooms, it will have a theme (the Russian Hill spot is modeled on a ski chalet, the Mission one on an Argentine estancia), but Woods wouldnt reveal any thematic specifics just yet. He has long had his eye on San Anselmo. San Anselmo is so unique in how walkable it is for a suburban location, he said. Hed looked at a possible storefront there about four years ago, but it didnt work out. When the landlord of his Outer Sunset taproom said hed bought a former Goodwill in downtown San Anselmo, Woods jumped at the chance to become the tenant. It will take several months to secure a new permit and complete the remodel. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle 2015 The company has also applied for a craft distillery license, which allows license holders to produce a small amount of liquor and operate a tasting room. It will be a little while before the company starts distilling anything, but Woods said hell likely focus on gin, following his longtime penchant for working with creative botanicals. Among Woods Beer & Wine Co.s many products is a gruit a type of beer that relies on botanicals other than hops made from yerba mate. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. Apart from the ferry service, one other aspect of the new Woods Island location is particularly exciting to Jim Woods: Im pretty sure its the least windy spot on the island. Esther Mobley is The San Francisco Chronicles senior wine critic. Email: emobley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Esther_mobley Regarding End the death penalty (Letters, Feb. 3): Once again The Chronicle prints an opinion held by a minority of Californias voters. The death penalty has come before the voters of California several times, and each time they have voted to retain the death penalty. In fact, the voters also approved another proposition to streamline the process for carrying out the death penalty. People are tired of heartless despicable murderers carrying out heinous acts of brutality only to live out the rest of their lives in prison while those they gave the death penalty are buried, leaving the shattered lives of the victims family and friends in their wake. The letter writer calls the death penalty an immoral practice. Is it a moral practice to snuff out any number of lives and still be able to live, unlike those they murdered? If you kill someone and meet the special circumstances required to receive the death penalty, your life should be forfeited. What could be fairer than that? Kenneth Jones, San Francisco Strike for single-payer Regarding How progressives can save single-payer (Front Page, Feb. 3): Joe Garofoli misses the point. He suggests that progressives need to do a better job of explaining single-payer, even though it is wildly popular. Its not a hard concept. Insurance companies need to make a profit. The medical care industry is a great profit center for them. Government just has to break even. The money insurance companies now put into their pockets would go into medical care under Medicare for All. No surprise the insurance industry uses its money power to intimidate politicians into voting against their own constituents. Words wont do it. Medicare for All needs its own nuclear option. A friend, a retired nurse, says that if all the nurses in California walked off the job, wed have Medicare for All in a week. Garofoli is a terrific journalist. Id like to see him run with that idea. George Grunwald, Benicia Solar that makes sense If our objective is to produce more solar electricity, were going about it wrong. The cost of rooftop solar with inverters and batteries is far more than the cost of adding the same amount of solar power to existing solar farms. Because the transmission costs are negligible and most transmission lines from solar farms dont run through forests, why invest $20,000 in rooftop solar ($30,000 with batteries) when you can elect to buy 100% solar through PG&E? The idea that PG&E needs to buy solar power from rooftops is absurd because when the sun shines here, the solar farms in the Central Valley produce excess power that has to be given away to Nevada and Arizona to balance the grid. Ed Kahl, Woodside Dont fear Maus Maus, the Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel about the Holocaust, was recently banned by McMinn County, Tenn., school board members because they were offended by its unnecessary use of profanity and nudity and its depiction of violence and suicide. Although the board said on Twitter that it doesnt dispute the importance of teaching our children the historical and moral lessons and realities of the Holocaust, its difficult to see how censoring a book about the subject accomplishes that goal. After all, our children could be doomed to repeat the lessons of history if they fail to learn them. Schools, bookstores, libraries and free speech proponents could help enlighten the good citizens and students of McMinn County by holding a good old-fashioned, all-day Maus teach-in, reading from the book and discussing its meaning. Shielding young people from inappropriate information is often warranted. Denying them access to the truth risks disastrous consequences. Regarding Project shows way to more housing (Bay Area & Business, Feb. 2): San Francisco Board of Supervisors, shame on you. Tonight, 145 formerly homeless people (including Timothy Isaiah, featured in Heather Knights column) are sleeping safely and soundly thanks to the people responsible for the funding and construction of 833 Bryant St. But what are the Board of Supervisors worried about? San Franciscos building and trades groups were left out of the equation along with community stakeholders. Lets get our priorities straight. San Francisco has a huge, citywide homeless crisis. We have hundreds of construction projects under way that the building trades and community activists can get involved with. Those in City Hall obstructing the future installation of these modular homes should have to spend a night in the same crime-ridden, drug-paraphernalia-littered single-occupancy hotel that Mr. Isaiah lived in. Betty Marshall, San Francisco Revisiting racist history Regarding Chinese residents to receive apology (Bay Area & Business, Feb. 3): As a third-generation Chinese American, I am pleased by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors resolution to formally apologize for past discriminatory policies and atrocities against our community. The story refers to an 1885 California Supreme Court case thats worth revisiting. Prior to that time, Chinese children were afforded education sponsored by Chinese merchants and white Christian missionaries. The family of 8-year-old Mamie Tape sued over the citys ban on Chinese students in public schools. The court sided with her, ruling that the exclusion of an American-born child of Chinese descent from the public schools was unconstitutional. Mamie was, however, still denied admission to Spring Valley School: The city quickly established the Oriental School, a harbinger of the separate but equal doctrine promulgated by the U.S. Supreme Courts Plessy vs. Ferguson decision of 1896. It was a legal victory, if only on paper, for Mamie and her brother (my uncle) Frank Tape. Indeed, it was not until 1954 that the Supreme Court, in Brown vs. Board of Education, ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. Alisa Kim, San Francisco Trash single-payer plan Regarding How progressives can save single-payer (Front Page, Feb. 3): Joe Garofoli argues that single-payer health care needs saving. What it needs is to be thrown on the trash heap of terrible ideas liberals come up with to have government take over every aspect of our lives. This idea was looked at and jettisoned five years ago in California for all of the right reasons. The governors proposed state budget is an enormous $286 billion, and single-payer alone could cost $391 billion a year. Even Bernie Sanders deep-blue Vermont home looked at this idea and concluded it was lunacy. All anyone needs to look at is how Californias Employment Development Department handled tens of billions in fraudulent claims over the last two years to see what a nightmare having the government take over health care would be. It is long past time to consign this idea to the dustbin of history. John Madden, Tiburon Vacancies not believable Regarding 40,500 S.F. homes vacant, but is taxation the answer? (Front Page, Feb. 1): I find that hard to believe. A large number of the vacancies are when occupants move out before new occupants move in. What is this number? Vacancies for remodeling and construction? What is this number? Vacancies of units for rent? What is this number? The article mentions some investors holding units vacant waiting for prices to rise. As someone whos been in the real estate industry for over 40 years (residential appraiser), I have a hard time remembering an investor Ive come across who has purchased a unit to hold vacant while waiting for prices to rise. Peter Thiel, one of the longest-serving board members of Meta, the parent of Facebook, plans to step down, the company said Monday. Thiel, 54, wants to focus on influencing Novembers midterm elections, said a person with knowledge of Thiels thinking and who declined to be identified. Thiel sees the midterms as crucial to changing the direction of the country, this person said, and he is backing candidates who support the agenda of former President Donald Trump. Over the past year, Thiel, who has a net worth estimated at $2.6 billion by Forbes, has become one of the Republicans Partys largest donors. Last year, he gave $10 million each to the campaigns of two proteges, Blake Masters, who is running for a Senate seat in Arizona, and J.D. Vance, who is running for Senate in Ohio. Thiel has been on Metas board since 2005, when Facebook was a tiny startup and he was one of its first institutional investors. But scrutiny of Thiels position on the board has steadily increased as the company has become embroiled in political controversies, including barring Trump from the platform, and as the venture capitalist has become more politically active. Thiels departure means Meta loses its boards most prominent conservative voice. The board has undergone significant changes in recent years, as many of its members have left and been replaced, often with Silicon Valley entrepreneurs. Drew Houston, CEO of Dropbox, joined Facebooks board in 2020, and Tony Xu, founder of DoorDash, joined it last month. Peter has been a valuable member of our board and Im deeply grateful for everything hes done for our company, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a statement. Peter is truly an original thinker who you can bring your hardest problems and get original suggestions. A spokesperson for Thiel said he wasnt available to comment. Thiel first met Zuckerberg 18 years ago when he provided the entrepreneur with $500,000 in capital for Facebook, valuing the company at $4.9 million. That gave Thiel, who with his venture firm Founders Fund controlled a 10% stake in the social network, a seat on its board of directors. Since then, Thiel has become a confidant of Zuckerberg's. Thiel counseled the company through its early years of rapid user growth and through its difficulties shifting its business to mobile phones around the time of its 2012 initial public offering. He has also been seen as the contrarian who has Zuckerbergs ear, championing unfettered speech across digital platforms. His conservative views also gave Facebooks board ideological diversity. In 2019 and 2020, as Facebook grappled with how to deal with political speech and claims made in political advertising, Thiel urged Zuckerberg to withstand the public pressure to take down those ads, even as other executives and board members thought the company should change its position. Zuckerberg sided with Thiel. Thiels political influence and ties to key Republicans and conservatives have also offered a crucial gateway into Washington for Zuckerberg, especially during the Trump administration. In October 2019, Zuckerberg and Thiel had a private dinner with Trump. Facebook and Zuckerberg have long taken heat for Thiels presence on the board. In 2016, Thiel was one of the few tech titans in largely liberal Silicon Valley to publicly support Trumps presidential campaign. In 2020, when Trumps incendiary Facebook posts were put under the microscope, critics cited Thiels board seat as a reason for Zuckerbergs continued insistence that Trumps posts be left standing. Facebooks ban of Trumps account last year after the Jan. 6, 2021, storming of the U.S. Capitol has become a key rallying point for conservatives who say that mainstream social platforms have censored them. Vance, who used to work at one of Thiels venture funds, and Masters, chief operating officer of Thiels family office, have railed against Facebook. In October, the two Senate candidates argued in an opinion piece in the New York Post that Zuckerbergs $400 million in donations to local election offices in 2020 amounted to election meddling that should be investigated. Recently, Thiel has also publicly voiced his disagreement with content moderation decisions at Facebook and other major social media platforms. In October at a Miami event organized by a conservative technology association, he said he would take QAnon and Pizzagate conspiracy theories any day over a Ministry of Truth. Thiel has also increased his political giving to Republican candidates over the past year. Before the midterms, he is backing three Senate candidates and 12 House candidates. Among those House candidates are three people running primary challenges to Republicans who voted in favor of impeaching Trump for the events of Jan. 6. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. What goes on inside Bjorks brain is one of the great mysteries of our time. Is her inner monologue soundtracked by fluttering flutes? When she closes her eyes, does she see watercolors, or 3D graphics? Is she thinking about trees, pretty much all the time? Or maybe her fierce but fragile interior voice is comfortably surrounded by fluffy white clouds. At the Chase Center on Saturday night, the Icelandic artist gave the audience a view inside. The Cornucopia tour, based on her Utopia album, came to San Francisco after three performances in Los Angeles. Theres a second show in SF on Feb. 8 (tickets are still available), which will be the conclusion of the short five-date series. A sold-out SF crowd dressed for the occasion, with outfits ranging from monochromatic hot pink bodysuits to Black Swan ballerina outfits, alongside plenty of buttoned-up boyfriends in dark sports jackets. Santiago Felipe/Getty Images for ABA The show began with an a capella intro by a choir out of Los Angeles called Tonality. Draped in all white, they set an ethereal foundation for the set, complemented by flute septet Viibra adding a layer of fantasy. A percussionist with a minimal kit and an arsenal of digital drums flanked one side of the stage, opposite a synthesizer command center featuring custom instruments like those used in her Biophilia tour. A harpist completed the ensemble with a cascade of delicate tones. Experimental Brooklyn musician Serpentwithfeet made a brief appearance for a duet. Santiago Felipe/Getty Images for ABA Bjork, now 56 years old but still seeming eternally youthful, floated around a multi-level stage that looked something like the mossy top of a scenic plateau. She wore an oversized dress that looked like it was covered in foamy loofahs (but make it fashion), plus an elaborate mask that obscured her face. Motion graphic projections completed the stage show, with the visuals pivoting between abstract undulating DNA strands to blooming pastel flower petals. One of the few downsides of the elaborate production was that the only video close-ups of Bjork projected on the screens were digitally shrouded by washes of color. If you wanted a good look at the legend but werent seated close, well, you were out of luck, but flashy visuals and vivid choreography made for an enjoyable experience no matter where you were sitting (tickets start at $49.50) Santiago Felipe/Getty Images for ABA The set list was heavy on songs from Utopia, so fans who overlooked her 2017 collaboration with experimental Venezuelan musician Arca might not have been familiar with much of the material (if youre going to the Feb. 8 show, itd be worth revisiting). Older hits were given a makeover, adapted to the flute and choir ensemble, including Venus as a Boy, Pagan Poetry and Hidden Place. The latter proved to be the shows high point, as the choir enveloped Bjork, circling her as she viscerally flailed at the ground with an emotional tenor unmatched by any other artists of her generation. There wasnt any stage banter, except for a couple of charming instances of Bjork expressing gratitude: thanks for tonight and simply saying San Francisco a few times, to huge applause. Bjork closed out the set with Tabula Rasa, drawing perhaps the biggest cheers of the night as she belted out the lyrics, Lets clean up, break the chain of the fk-ups of the fathers, it is time, for us women to rise, and not just take it lying down. She left the stage and the music dropped out, replaced by a gigantic projection of Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg giving a lengthy speech about environmental responsibility that felt inspiring (and more than a little shame-inducing). Then Bjork returned to close out with an encore of "Future Forever" and "Notget." Santiago Felipe/Getty Images for ABA By the time the lights went up, it was pretty clear to everyone what Bjork has been thinking about lately. Abstract motion graphic projections reminded the crowd that her mind is still firmly rooted in the future, albeit a nature-forward future where forests fight back against cities. There were moments of Matmos-style noise, however the electronic experimentation of her earlier work has largely evolved into beds of quivering flutes and choir harmonies. These delicate soundscapes are what so many superfans love about Bjork, the emotional tapestry shes woven over her 30-year career. Beyond her music, she's long been an activist for environmental and political causes, and it's clear from the inclusion of Thunberg that after decades of exploring her inner world, present-day Bjork is just as concerned with looking outward. Netflix released a new true-crime documentary last Wednesday about a man who filmmakers claim scammed dozens of victims, mainly women, for an estimated $10 million after matching with them online. By Friday, Tinder said it had banned the "Tinder Swindler." Dating app users reportedly can no longer swipe right on Shimon Hayut, also known as "Simon Leviev," the man who, as detailed by the documentary, posed as the billionaire son of a Russian-Israeli diamond tycoon and wooed multiple women by showering them with lavish goods, flying them by private jet to luxury hotels around the world and professing his love - then demanding they send him money, frequently claiming his life was in grave danger from his "enemies." Hayut, who called himself the "Prince of Diamonds," asked the women to take out American Express credit cards and hounded them to increase their spending limits and loan him cash that he never repaid. "We have conducted internal investigations and can confirm Simon Leviev is no longer active on Tinder under any of his known aliases," Tinder said in a statement to Variety on Friday. The production featured three women - Cecilie Fjellhoy, Pernilla Sjoholm and Ayleen Charlotte - in different European countries recalling their dealings with Hayut during 2018 and 2019. Tinder could not immediately be reached for comment. One day before the documentary was released, Tinder published new guidelines for users, titled: "Romance Scams: How to Protect Yourself Online." While Tinder's new guide to spotting a scammer online did not directly reference the streaming giant's film, the dating app said scammers often used such platforms to prey on "vulnerable" people "looking for love." The new documentary, which swiftly soared to the most-watched lists in the United States and United Kingdom, zoned in on Hayut's real-life criminal record and long history of scamming people - mainly women looking for love. In 2011, Hayut was wanted in Israel on charges of theft, forgery and fraud, including for defrauding family in that country while serving as their babysitter, the Times of Israel reported. He fled Israel before he could be sentenced. Also, according to Erlend Ofte Arntsen - one of the journalists who has covered Hayut and is featured in the documentary - Hayut also scammed a family in New York for $42,000 in 2008. Hayut settled in Finland. In 2015, authorities charged him with defrauding three women and sentenced him to two years in prison. In 2017, he was returned to Israel to face authorities for the outstanding charges there - but fled again. The Netflix documentary mostly covers his dealings with women after this point. In July 2019, Hayut was arrested in Greece (thanks to, as the documentary shows, a little help from Ayleen Charlotte, Interpol and Israeli police). He was extradited back to Israel. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison for fraud, and ordered to pay compensation of more than $43,000. But Hayut only served five months, the Times of Israel reported. The documentary says that Hayut is free - though his whereabouts are unknown - but his victims from the romance scams continue to pay off the debts they incurred at his request. Following the documentary's release, Hayut took to his personal Instagram account, telling his 200,000 followers that he was gearing up to provide his version of events, Variety reported. However the account - which showed the fraudster posing in swanky suits, clutching champagne bottles and sitting on private jets - has since been deleted. Tinder, in its new guidelines, urged its users to be wary when getting to know an online match, adding that in the United States alone, criminals bagged an estimated $304 million from romance scams in 2020, citing data from the Federal Trade Commission. In its list of lengthy advice, the company said users should "trust their gut," look out for "over-the-top displays of attention" and avoid sharing personal details such as their passport information or social security number. "Above all else, do not send money online," the company said in the three-page warning. On social media, many watchers were aghast at the stories of the women, with some praising them for sharing their experiences so openly and sounding the alarm on Hayut's actions. "Cecilie [Fjellhoy] put her pride and privacy aside to disrupt a longtime fraudster," read one tweet. Others called the women "incredible" and "brave." Ayleen Charlotte, the woman who is featured pledging to "swindle the Tinder swindler," was praised by many for her commitment to bringing Hayut down. Some branded her a "baller" and a "baddie." "I will forever be an Ayleen stan," tweeted one user. Charlotte says she loaned Hayut approximately $140,000 during the 14 months they dated. Fjellhoy has been declared bankrupt in the United Kingdom, where she is living and told Britain's ITV that she is over $270,000 in debt. ""It's impossible to pay it down," she said in an interview last week. While some sympathized with those who had been scammed, others said they would have spotted the signs or acted with a lot more haste. "The first red flag is a single billionaire on tinder," read one tweet. "Commonsense is not common," read another. Anyone who has pushed a cart down a grocery store aisle or ordered their groceries online recently has experienced some sticker shock when buying everything from milk to meat. As inflation soars and supply chain issues continue in the United States, grocery store prices are going up and to be exact, they are 6.5% higher than a year ago, the most recent consumer price index report released last month said. This may lead you to wonder where you can find the best prices on good staples so you can shift your shopping habits and stretch your dollars. To help do some of the legwork, SFGATE looked at the cost of 15 grocery items at four San Francisco stores: Grocery Outlet, Safeway, Whole Foods and Trader Joes. Grocery Outlet, a discount supermarket chain that offers discounted, overstocked and closeout products, had the lowest overall cost on all 15 items at $48.73. Trader Joes was the second cheapest at $53.98, and Safeway ($60.97) and Whole Foods ($60.21) were the most expensive. The items were priced out between Feb. 2 and 5. Prices may have changed since then. Amid rising production, labor and shipping costs and supply chain issues, grocery staples are being priced more like airline tickets and gasoline, where the sticker prices can move frequently within hours or days, the Wall Street Journal reported Feb. 4. We focused on pricing out store-brand staples, which tend to be less expensive than branded products, whenever possible. Because the intent of this story is to help people identify the lowest prices, we also honed in on nonorganic items, which are generally lower cost, though in some cases it was difficult to find conventional items. On the day we scoped out eggs, for example, Grocery Outlet happened to have only organic eggs and at a stellar price $2.49 for a dozen. As a result, we looked at organic eggs at the other outlets. While Grocery Outlets options were limited in some cases, those at Trader Joes were as well. We considered pricing out the cost of a can of coconut milk or a can of chickpeas at all four stores; Trader Joes didnt have either. In the time spent grocery shopping, we learned some things. If you want to buy gourmet ice cream at a low price, go to Grocery Outlet. SFGATE made two trips to the store on South Van Ness Avenue in the Mission District and found pints of ice cream from SF artisanal brand Humphry Slocombe for $2.49. In comparison, this brand was selling for $8.99 at Safeway and $8.49 at Whole Foods last week. On a follow-up visit to Grocery Outlet on Feb. 5, all the Humphry Slocombe ice cream was already gone, but Halo Top Lemon Cake was only 89 cents a pint. This brand sells for more than $6 a pint at other outlets. Straus ice cream, which usually sells for over $5, was available for $2.99 on both days. Grocery Outlet had some other astonishing deals on name-brand items. A 32-ounce carton of Forager cashew yogurt was only $2.99, compared to $5.99 at Whole Foods. We found a pound of dry black beans at Grocery Outlet for 99 cents, compared to about $3 at Safeway and Whole Foods (organic only). Trader Joes didnt have dry beans. We didnt scout out the quality of produce at the four stores, but Safeway and Whole Foods had more produce options, with the former offering a large selection of both conventional and organic. At Whole Foods, you can often only find organic with certain items. Grocery Outlet and Trader Joes in some cases only sold produce in plastic packaging. For example, we tried to price out a single head of kale at all four stores, and at Trader Joes you can only buy bagged, chopped kale. Grocery Outlet had four heads of kale for $5, while Whole Foods sold a single head for $2.79 (organic only) and Safeway for $2.49 (conventional). The Grocery Outlet heads were small, and you would need two to make a salad for a family of four. At Grocery Outlet, everything seems to be on sale, and Trader Joes has a similar model saying, Sale is a four-letter word to us. We have low prices, every day. NO coupons. NO membership cards. NO discounts. Of the 15 items, Safeway had four items on sale and Whole Foods only one. A case of LaCroix was $5.49 at Safeway, even cheaper than the $5.99 price at Grocery Outlet. Whole Foods had Fort Point Villager beer on sale for $10.99, also less expensive than Grocery Outlets $11.99. The moral of this story? You have to shop around. We see this as the start of a conversation about grocery store prices in the Bay Area, as theres no sign of a decrease in prices anytime soon. Please let us know what stories youd like to see on this topic and your ideas on how to compare prices at agraff@sfgate.com. David Sailors/Getty Images LATEST Feb. 9, 12:15 p.m. San Francisco Animal Care & Control confirmed to SFGATE that the rats at the Hellen Diller Civic Center Playground appear to be domesticated rats which have been illegally dumped on the premises. They're now conducting an investigation and will humanely capture and rehouse them. Feb. 8, 12:20 p.m Just a block away from San Franciscos City Hall on the corner of Larkin and Grove St., children play at the Helen Diller Civic Center Playground: a park that provides open space for families living in the close quarters of the Tenderloin, Western Addition, Hayes Valley and South of Market neighborhoods. But lately, the popular playground has been getting some unusual visitors: rats. "We saw a big, white, rat. Came out twice to look at us. It was about 8 inches long, albino white, and pink nose," Oakland resident Chad Avellai told ABC7. SAN DIEGO In a 2016 essay about life in academia, Monica Casper said that in a shallow Twitter zeitgeist you need to speak in a nuanced way when talking to the public about hot-button issues. She recently learned how ugly things can get if you choose to do otherwise. Casper, dean of the College of Arts and Letters at San Diego State University, went on Twitter in December and made statements about conservatives that were anything but nuanced, leading to an angry backlash that included threats of violence against the campus. She said: Just so were clear on the Rights agenda: racism good, abortion bad, money good, women bad, capitalism good, sustainability bad, stupidity good, science bad, power good, equality bad, white people good, nonwhite people bad. Stench, indeed. Casper also said on Twitter that Kyle Rittenhouses acquittal in the fatal shooting of two people in Wisconsin was an act of white supremacy. The schools president, Adela de la Torre, recently took to Twitter to uphold Caspers right to free speech. But in a rare move, she also chided her dean, saying, " I do not support actions that seek to divide us or undermine civic discourse for any reason. Ideology factories? Academia prides itself on nurturing free speech, a culture that arose in the U.S. in the early 1900s when professors began to push for rules that would shield their work and speech against interference from schools, donors and politicians. The movement led to academic freedom, a set of principles widely in place nationwide. Those principles help make it possible for professors to freely make the sort of hair-raising comments that have been coming out of academia lately. A University of Pennsylvania professor recently said the U.S. would be better off with fewer Asians. A University of California, Berkeley professor suggested that a U.S. senator be slapped for her vote on the filibuster. And at George Southern University, a literature professor said, The (critical race theory) conspiracy theory is rebranded Nazi-style antisemitism thats being used by wealthy donors and their think-tanks to weaponize history for their own purposes while radicalizing people to take over local governments and clear the way for the privatization of education. Such comments are sparking debate nationally about free speech, decorum, and whether universities are intemperate ideology factories that generally lean hard left. The concern has given birth to the University of Austin, a new school in Texas whose backers say they are alarmed by the illiberalism and censoriousness prevalent in Americas most prestigious universities. The schools advisers include Larry Summers, the former president of Harvard; Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the Somali-born author of Infidel"; and playwright David Mamet. Hostile remarks occur everywhere. But the rhetoric at colleges and universities gets special attention because they drive social change on issues like race and gender. The in-your-face comments are grist for social media platforms like Twitter, where outrage comes lickety-split. And little gets overlooked, especially by websites like The College Fix, an independent, conservative news organization where veteran journalists work with student reporters around the country to produce stories and opinion pieces on higher education. There are thousands and thousands of posts by professors, said Jennifer Kabbany, the SDSU graduate who serves as the sites editor. We only write about the jaw-droppers. And there are a lot of them. Caspers remark was drenched with fallacies and ad hominem attacks. The sites stories often get picked up by larger media outlets that span the world, and the political spectrum. The digital warfare has left Peter C. Herman, a tenured professor of literature at SDSU, in a funk about its impact locally and nationally. Caspers words confirmed peoples suspicions that this is how progressives on campus think about the right, said Herman, a self-described liberal. But many on the right show the same intolerance for those on the left. Theres a sense that tolerance doesnt exist in academia anymore that we dont let a thousand flowers bloom. Casper, a sociologist with deep expertise in gender and womens studies, did not respond to requests from the San Diego Union-Tribune to discuss the matter. But she said in an email to faculty: You may know that just before the winter break, I shared tweets through my personal (her emphasis) Twitter account. Though I was not tweeting in my capacity as Dean, coverage nonetheless focused on my role here. Stories portrayed the College, the University, and me very poorly and also led to a deluge of disgusting and threatening emails ... I deeply regret that SDSU was centered in the media coverage and that members of our community were hurt by the tweets. I remain committed to free speech and academic freedom for everyone. I also remain focused on creating a humane and collegial workplace, core themes in our planning process. De la Torre, the economist and social justice advocate who hired Casper in 2020, would not consent to an interview with the Union-Tribune. A new voice Casper, a Chicago native and first-generation college graduate, is little known to the general public. But she has a following in certain areas of sociology, particularly for her writings on health, trauma, gender and reproductive justice. In March, she will publish a book titled Babylost: Racism, Survival, and the Quiet Politics of Infant Mortality. Casper has described herself as an optimist. She also has publicly said that, for as long as she can remember, she has suffered from chronic anxiety that shapes how she views the world feelings she described in a 2020 essay published in Medium: The past four years have led to a state of collective chronic anxiety. It is not situational to worry about the collapse of democracy when every day under corrupt, autocratic leadership brings a new concern. It is not situational to worry about racist violence when the president encourages white supremacists to arm themselves and to take to the streets. It is not situational to worry about dying of COVID when 230,000 people have already perished from a lack of effective leadership. SDSU recruited Casper in 2020 from the University of Arizona, where she was associate dean for faculty affairs and inclusion in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Her new job, which currently pays $264,000, put her in charge of the College of Arts and Letters, whose faculty members have made many comments that triggered publicity. In 2017, political science professor Jonathan Graubart got death threats after he went on Facebook and said that Sen. John McCain, who had just been diagnosed with cancer, was a war criminal and, more to the point, someone who as a politician has championed horrifying actions and been lousy on state commitment to public health. So dying or not, hes a risible public figure (I have no idea what he is like on the personal level and dont care). The war criminal reference arose from the fact that McCain had been a pilot during the Vietnam War and participated in Operation Rolling Thunder, a bombing campaign that killed many civilians. A year later, economist Joseph Sabia was excoriated by politicians shortly before he was scheduled to appear before a congressional subcommittee when stories circulated that he had made anti-gay and anti-feminist comments nearly 20 years earlier, while attending Cornell. Sabia, who is gay, said his remarks were meant as satire. And in 2021, lecturer Robert Jordan used a cultural stereotype about Black people while trying to make a point about racial ideology in cinema. It spawned an uproar. SDSU replaced him with another teacher. The university says hes working on an SDSU-related project. Muted response Controversial remarks usually dont result in faculty losing their jobs. They are protected by the freedom of speech and, in most cases, academic freedom, which is meant to shield teachers and students from unreasonable restrictions and pressures. But there can be a chilling effect at a university when theres an uproar over viral tweets involving things like race and abortion. In mid-January, a small faculty group at SDSU attempted to secretly tell de la Torre by email that she was wrong to publicly rebuke the dean and that she needed to more strongly defend free speech and academic freedom. The email was leaked to the media and became public. Herman said the email reflects a deep, long-standing reluctance among his colleagues to publicly challenge the administration on controversial issues for fear of retribution. I dont worry about speaking out because I can see retirement in the distance and there are no more promotions to go after, said Herman. I think (Caspers) tweet implies that anyone who leans right is not welcome at SDSU, and so, her speech chills the speech of anyone subject to her authority. Graubart does not agree with Hermans view that Caspers tweet could alienate conservatives who might want to join the campus community. But he says there is a wariness among some professors about speaking out on campus issues, noting, People think, Maybe I wont get some kind of grant or I wont be appointed to a particular position. But were not going to lose our jobs. Thats the good thing about tenure. Indeed, some SDSU faculty spoke frankly about the universitys response to Caspers tweets and the idea that academic free speech is being challenged. In this instance (de la Torre) got it right, said philosophy professor Peter Atterton. She was not shutting down freedom of speech so much as underscoring the importance of ensuring viewpoint diversity. He added that Casper certainly is within her rights to share her opinions using her own personal Twitter account. But what you have a right to say may not be the right thing to say, especially when you are a dean at a public university. Roberto D. Hernandez, a professor of Chicana and Chicano Studies, said de la Torre should not have rebuked Casper publicly, noting, This was not a matter of university business. This is a private person expressing a private view. And Monica has been very open and welcoming to all faculty on campus. He reflected a bit longer on concerns that many universities have devolved into ideology factories. Is the university a place of enlightenment? I wish to say we were, Hernandez said. But I dont think thats the case. I think thats the aspiration in terms of the work we do. The university is a place that has a wide range of views, some of which are highly problematic, some of which are meant to challenge the status quo, but which actually reinforce it. I dont think we should speak of it as just a place of tolerance or intolerance. LOS ANGELES Last spring, Josh Potgieter faced a severe mental health crisis. The San Diego community college student had taken on extra work to pay rent. The additional responsibility, combined with the stress of college applications and the weight of the pandemic, exacerbated his anxiety and depression. It took an emotional toll. He worried about his biology class a mandatory class he needed to take in order to transfer to a university. Biology wasn't his strong suit and he feared that a low grade could tank his grade-point average, potentially jeopardizing his dream of attending a competitive four-year university. But if he dropped the class, he would lose the financial aid he needed to stay in school. He opted instead for a "pass/no pass" mark earning credit for the class without affecting his GPA or aid. "It was one less thing I had to worry about," said Potgieter, 20, who is now a political science major at UC Berkeley. At a time of plummeting enrollment at California Community Colleges brought on in part by pandemic hardships that forced students to get a job instead of an education the system has moved to permanently adopt a more forgiving pass/no pass grading system a transcript lifeline of sorts designed to prevent students from dropping out. Students will have until the last day of instruction before finals to decide whether they want a letter grade or a pass/no pass credit to protect their GPA. In addition, they can opt for an "excused withdrawal" for coronavirus-related hardships to avoid a transcript penalty. But the generous timeline and grade options, approved last week by the Board of Governors, comes with considerable risk to the transfer process at universities, including many in the University of California and California State University systems, which require letter grades in core subjects. The California Community Colleges and student advocates say that careful attention by academic counselors and students can address this issue. They believe greater flexibility in utilizing the options, which were enacted as an emergency measure in 2020 when the pandemic forced campus closures, are necessary nearly two years later to keep students enrolled especially those from underserved populations who have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. The grading decision is yet another example of how the pandemic has permanently altered the way community colleges are addressing student needs. Shifts once considered temporary, including more online class options and offering basic needs grants, have become necessary to keep pressured students pursing higher education. "This is a testament that this is our new normal. We need to embrace it, and we need to learn from it," said Marty Alvarado, California Community Colleges executive vice chancellor for educational services. Potgieter, who grew up in the foster care system, knows firsthand how the burden of financial stress was a big obstacle when trying to stay in community college. "Anxiety and depression affect people who come from low-income backgrounds at higher levels, compared to people that come from middle class and upper class, and people in community colleges are more likely to be lower income and need more resources," said Potgieter. The Campaign for College Opportunity believes flexibility is key. "We know that when a college student steps out, they often drop out never to return. That could be the determining factor in what they pursue in terms of their career and life path," said Jessie Ryan, the organization's executive vice president. Colleges have increased efforts to recruit new students and reconnect with those who have left. Efforts within the Los Angeles Community College District, shared during a Board of Trustees meeting this week, include billboard advertisements and radio spots promoting Los Angeles Harbor College. At Los Angeles Trade Tech College, attempts to reach 12,000 students who have not returned to school are underway. "Anything we can do to remove barriers once they're in, I think is our responsibility to do so," Ryan said. Greater ability to choose to take a pass/no pass or an excused withdrawal, which is recorded on a transcript as a dropped class due to an extenuating circumstance, is generally viewed as a helpful tool, advocates say. But students with dreams of a bachelor's degree will have to be cautious in their grade decisions as there are no uniform polices among universities to guide decisions. "There's 100 private universities in California alone, 23 CSUs and the nine UCs. Unless there was a standardized understanding of how these pass/no pass grades will be accepted or processed at these schools, I think we have to be very careful about how we disseminate the information," said Armando Duran, Pasadena City College dean of counseling and student services. PCC enrollment and counseling experts said students are advised not to use the option for major requirements and are told to talk with counselors and connect with admissions officers at each of the universities they're interested in to ensure their grade decisions will not hurt acceptance chances. For general education classes and electives, having more time to choose their grade option gives students the opportunity to make an informed decision. "If a student ends up with an 'A' in the class, great that's improving their GPA and there's no need for them to consider a pass/no pass," said PCC counselor Sharis Azar. "But if they're getting a lower grade than they were anticipating they were hoping for something higher now they have the option to consider, and they have all semester to get in contact with someone to talk to them about the decision." At Cal State, the so-called Golden Four courses written communication, oral communication, critical thinking and mathematics would not be eligible nor would some prerequisite classes needed to register for upper-division classes. Challenges could also arise when it comes to graduate and post-baccalaureate programs "that often consider specific courses and the grades to determine if a student is eligible for admission into their program," said Andrew Wright, Cal State Long Beach director of admissions. At UCLA, "pass" was accepted as a credit for winter, spring and 2020 courses because of the pandemic. From fall 2020 onward, that grading option has not been granted for major preparation courses. "Courses that are not for major preparation and are being taken to satisfy general education requirements and/or to meet the transfer unit requirements may be taken for a pass grade. We will accept pass grades in English and math courses, but prefer letter grades in those courses, as well," said Gary Clark, UCLA director of enrollment management. Requirements are meant to ensure that students are well-prepared for their major when they transfer into the system. "We require some of the major screening for about 35 different majors because that's going to really set them up to save them time and money once they get onto our campus the more prepared they are coming in," said UC Santa Cruz Associate Vice Chancellor Michelle Whittingham. A state community college analysis showed that while the excused withdrawal option increased during the pandemic, pass/no pass has not been widely used. One reason may be due to a lack of awareness. "If the students had a death in their family, they would go ahead and drop the class as it is the standard practice," said Iulia Tarasova, the system's student trustee during the board meeting. "Students would not be proactive," she said, unless they have a strong connection with a counselor or professor. Alvarado hopes that changes. College officials said a better communication strategy is part of the plan to ensure that students understand their options. "These permanent changes will allow students to at least have some stability in their academic performance," said Gerardo Chavez, Student Senate president for California Community Colleges and a student at Riverside City College. Chavez, 23, said the pandemic has taken a toll on students who have often become the main providers for families hit by the virus, delaying their academics for the workforce. "Especially for students coming from a working-class background, it's really hard for them to fully dedicate themselves to their education when there's the question of who's bringing bread to the table," he said. Having more time to decide whether to opt for pass/no pass or ask for an excused withdrawal could make a huge difference for students whose priorities have shifted, he said. For Potgieter, the option made all the difference for peace of mind in his biology class, which was not a required course for his political science major. "If I had not been allowed to opt for a pass/no pass grading option, the added stress would have exacerbated my disabilities," he said. "I fear that the added pressure, combined with the scarce mental health and disability resources at my community college, may have prevented me from passing my courses and transferring to UC Berkeley." WASHINGTON The Internal Revenue Service plans to stop using facial recognition software to identify taxpayers accessing their accounts on the agencys website amid concerns over privacy and data security. The decision comes as the IRS is coping with a daunting tax season, faced with backlogs of old tax returns, staffing shortages and additional complexity related to paying stimulus and child tax credits. Now, amid those challenges, the agency must change how it verifies the identity of taxpayers. The IRS said Monday that it would transition away from using a third-party service for facial recognition to help authenticate people creating new online accounts. The transition will occur over the coming weeks to prevent additional disruptions to the tax filing season, which ends April 18. At the center of the controversy is ID.me, an identity verification company that was awarded an $86 million contract by the Treasury Department last year to make taxpayer accounts more secure at a time when data leaks have been a growing concern. But the service, which requires taxpayers to take video selfies as part of the verification process, frustrated taxpayers and sparked concern that the tax collection agency could not be trusted with even more sensitive data. The IRS takes taxpayer privacy and security seriously, and we understand the concerns that have been raised, said Charles P. Rettig, the agency commissioner. Everyone should feel comfortable with how their personal information is secured, and we are quickly pursuing short-term options that do not involve facial recognition. The IRS is developing another authentication process that does not involve facial recognition and is working with other agencies to develop tools to protect taxpayer data. The agency said that the change would not affect the ability of taxpayers to file their returns. A group of Republican senators expressed alarm last week in letter to Rettig, questioning the use of the software, which they described as intrusive. Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, expressed similar concerns in a letter to Rettig on Monday. I have long argued that Americans should not have to sacrifice their privacy for security, Wyden said. The government can treat Americans with respect and dignity while protecting against fraud and identity theft. ID.me did not address the matter directly Monday, but it appeared to defend itself on Twitter. Facial recognition is just one of the components we use to follow the federal standards, the company said. Without it, the identity thieves behind these masks would be much more successful. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. The National Archives and Records Administration last month retrieved 15 boxes of documents and other items from former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence because the material should have been turned over to the agency when he left the White House, Archives officials said Monday. The recovery of the boxes from Trump's Florida resort raises new concerns about his adherence to the Presidential Records Act, which requires the preservation of memos, letters, notes, emails, faxes and other written communications related to a president's official duties. Trump advisers deny any nefarious intent and said the boxes contained mementos, gifts, letters from world leaders and other correspondence. The items included correspondence with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, which Trump once described as "love letters," as well as a letter left for his successor by President Barack Obama, according to two people familiar with the contents. Archives officials confirmed the transfer, which occurred in mid-January, following publication of a version of this story by The Washington Post earlier Monday. The agency said in a statement that "these records should have been transferred to NARA from the White House at the end of the Trump Administration in January 2021," and that Trump representatives are "continuing to search" for additional records. "The Presidential Records Act is critical to our democracy, in which the government is held accountable by the people," Archivist of the United States David Ferriero said in the statement. "Whether through the creation of adequate and proper documentation, sound records management practices, the preservation of records, or the timely transfer of them to the National Archives at the end of an Administration, there should be no question as to need for both diligence and vigilance. Records matter." Discussions between the Archives and the former president's lawyers that began last year resulted in the transfer of the records in January. One person familiar with the materials said Trump advisers discussed what had to be returned in December. Some of the people familiar with the transfer spoke on the condition of anonymity to reveal internal details. A spokesman for Trump did not respond to a request for comment. The Archives has struggled to cope with a president who flouted document retention requirements and frequently ripped up official documents, leaving hundreds of pages taped back together - or some that arrived at the Archives still in pieces. Some damaged documents were among those turned over to the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by a pro-Trump mob. "The only way that a president can really be held accountable long term is to preserve a record about who said what, who did what, what policies were encouraged or adopted, and that is such an important part of the long-term scope of accountability - beyond just elections and campaigns," presidential historian Lindsay Chervinsky said. From a national security perspective, Chervinsky added, if records and documents are not disclosed, "that could pose a real concern if the next administration is flying blind without that information." Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., a member of the Jan. 6 committee who did not have knowledge of the Mar-a-Lago transfer, said the overall records situation reflected the "unconventional nature of how this White House operated." "That they didn't follow rules is not a shock," Murphy said. "As for how this development relates to the committee's work, we have different sources and methods for obtaining documents and information that we are seeking." The recovery of documents from Trump's Florida estate is just the latest example of what records personnel described as chronic difficulties in preserving records in the Trump era - the most challenging since Richard Nixon sought to block disclosure of official records, including White House tapes. All recent administrations have had some Presidential Records Act violations, most often involving the use of unofficial email and telephone accounts. White House documents from multiple administrations also have been retrieved by the Archives after a president has left office. Bill and Hillary Clinton had to return thousands of dollars worth of gifts they took with them when they left the White House in 2001. Shortly after George W. Bush was sworn in as Bill Clinton's successor, The Post reported that the Clintons left the White House with $28,000 in furnishings that they said were personal gifts but that were actually given to the National Park Service for the White House permanent collection. But personnel familiar with recent administrations said the Trump era stands apart in the scale of the records retrieved from Mar-a-Lago. One person familiar with the transfer characterized it as "out of the ordinary. . . . NARA has never had that kind of volume transfer after the fact like this." Trump himself was unconcerned about the records act, according to former advisers. "Things that are national security sensitive or very clearly government documents should have been a part of a first sweep - so the fact that it's been this long doesn't reflect well on [Trump]," said a lawyer who worked in the White House Counsel's Office under Obama. "Why has it taken for a year for these boxes to get there? And are there more boxes?" While the law requires that presidents preserve records related to an administration's activities, the Archives has very limited enforcement capabilities. The Presidential Records Act operates on the basis of a "gentlemen's agreement," as one Archives official phrased it. Stephen Gillers, a New York University law professor and constitutional scholar, along with other legal experts point to the potential for enforcement that could take place via federal records laws. But several said they thought such action would be unlikely. "There is a high bar for bringing such cases," said Charles Tiefer, former counsel to the House of Representatives who teaches at the University of Baltimore School of Law. Typically, he said, records preservation proceeds by mutual agreement with the occupant of the White House, staff and archivists. "But if there is willful and unlawful intent" to violate the law then the picture changes, he said, with penalties of up to three years in jail for individuals who willfully conceal or destroy public records. "You can't prosecute for just tearing up papers," he said of Trump. "You would have to show him being highly selective and have evidence that he wanted to behave unlawfully." Some former Trump aides say they do not believe Trump was acting with criminal intent. "I don't think he did this out of malicious intent to avoid complying with the Presidential Records Act," one former Trump White House official said. "As long as he's been in business, he's been very transactional and it was probably his longtime practice and I don't think his habits changed when he got to the White House." - - - The Washington Post's Alice Crites and Olivier Knox contributed to this report. LOS ANGELES An 80-year-old nun who admitted stealing $835,000 from a Torrance elementary school asked a federal judge on Monday to show mercy and spare her from prison. I have sinned, I have broken the law, and I have no excuses, Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, the former principal of St. James Catholic School, told the judge. She called her crimes a violation of my vows, the commandments, the law, and above all the sacred trust that so many had placed in me. Torn between parents and students who forgave her and those who demanded retribution for her theft of tuition money to pay for Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe vacations, U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright II acknowledged his own anguish in finding a punishment to fit the crime. I havent slept well in God knows how long, Wright told a Zoom hearing audience, saying he could not bring himself to judge Kreuper solely on the worst thing that shes done in her life. Wright sentenced Kreuper to one year and one day in prison after telling her shed been one heck of a teacher during her 62 years as a nun. You can be proud of that, he said. But somewhere along the line, you just ran completely off the road, and I think you understand that. At least I hope you do. Kreuper, who retired in 2018 after 28 years as the schools principal, pleaded guilty in July to wire fraud and money laundering. Prosecutors told the judge she deserved two years in prison for stealing parents checks to the school over and over and over again for a decade, then covering up the embezzlement by ordering school staff to destroy records. They also urged Wright to keep in mind that her status as a nun helped her evade detection, saying it should not keep her from facing the same punishment as a defendant with no church ties. Put simply, anyone who stole over $800,000 from a school would go to prison, your honor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Poonam Kumar told the judge. In a memo to the judge, prosecutors cited letters from parents and students at the school, including one from a 12-year-old saying the nun was just like any other robber. When the Archdiocese of Los Angeles first confronted Kreuper about her embezzlement, she argued that priests are better paid than nuns, and said she believed she deserved a raise, according to the government. Mark Byrne, Kreupers attorney, acknowledged that Kreuper abused her trust and that people in the community rightly feel betrayed, but called on Wright to sentence Kreuper to probation. For three years, Byrne told the judge, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet have kept her under severe restrictions at a convent. She doesnt have anywhere to go, he said. Shes 80 years old. She doesnt have any money. Shes obviously not employable. Byrne also cited an expert report finding that Kreuper was addicted to gambling. This is not an excuse for what she did, he said. This is merely an explanation. Wright said he was grappling with the possibility that conditions at the convent might be worse than prison. I couldnt help think this is harsher than Club Fed, the judge said. After reviewing many letters from the school community, Wright said, it appeared most families had forgiven Kreuper and had no regrets about sending their children to the school. But Phil Rhilinger, who with his wife, Debby, sent five kids to St. James, urged Wright to impose the maximum sentence 20 years for each of the two crimes. The couple sacrificed family trips and meals at restaurants to pay for their children to attend a Catholic school that would build their moral character, he said, but instead several of them now question their faith after Kreuper stole at least $45,000 from the familys payment to the school. We need to send a message that embezzling and betraying is not OK no matter who you are, no matter what your age or circumstance, Rhilinger told the judge. Julija Garunkstis, who attended St. James from 2005 to 2014, told Wright about the fear that Kreuper had instilled in students there when they misbehaved. To know that she had been taking money from my parents and my peers parents the whole time I was there is extremely shocking, and it sways me away from the Catholic Church, she said. Trust shouldnt be broken like that. Canadians awoke on Monday with their capital, Ottawa, under a state of emergency, as protesting truckers continued to occupy the countrys center of political power and calls were growing in some quarters for the government to take more drastic action to end the crisis. With demonstrations snarling traffic and disrupting business and residential neighborhoods, Ottawas City Council was to meet Monday to try and find a way out of the upheaval. The demonstrations, during which some protesters have desecrated national memorials and threatened local residents, have shaken a country known globally as a model for humanism, peace and serenity. On Sunday afternoon, the mayor of Ottawa declared the emergency after 11 days of unrest that began with protests by truckers over vaccine mandates imposed by the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The protests have since mushroomed into an occupation of Canadas capital and broader demonstrations over pandemic restrictions that have spread well beyond the capital. Someone is going to get killed or seriously injured because of the irresponsible behavior of some of these people, Jim Watson, Ottawas mayor, warned on Sunday. City officials and the chief of police said they were under siege. One city councilor, Catherine McKenney, last week wrote to Trudeau and the commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Brenda Lucki, asking that Canadas national police force and the federal government take over operational control of Parliament Hill and the Parliamentary Precinct to allow Ottawas local police to refocus on keeping the peace in local neighborhoods. Thousands turned out to protest in Toronto and Quebec City over the weekend. Truck convoys congregated near provincial legislatures in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and British Columbia. Downtown Ottawa, site of the countrys Parliament, was paralyzed as truckers parked their vehicles in intersections and across busy thoroughfares. Early Monday morning in Ottawa, it was 14 degrees Fahrenheit and sunny, and the thousands of weekend protesters were gone. The streets near Parliament were quiet without the honking horns of the weekend. But trucks still clogged the roads heading to Parliament Hill, and with a snowfall overnight, had become part of the snow scape. Most had license plates from Ontario or Quebec, with a few from Alberta, in the west of the country. Many were decorated with Canadian flags. Several bore anti-COVID restriction posters and signs. Late Sunday night, heavily armed police seized a tanker truck with more than 3,000 liters of diesel fuel from a staging area used by the truckers, and arrested people in downtown Ottawa for transporting fuel. Near Parliament, one of the protesters said the group was prepared in the event the police seized more diesel fuel or if their trucks were towed. What we are doing is within the law, said Eric, a demonstrator from the Niagara region of Ontario who declined to give his full name. He was in a large delivery truck with a poppy painted on the side. Eric said he could not say specifically what he wanted from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, but that he needed to be a man of the people. Throughout the pandemic, Canadians have been living under varying restrictions to combat the coronavirus. Although polls show that most Canadians support the measures, the protests are an expression of frustrations as the pandemic enters its third year. The demonstrations were initially set off by Trudeaus decision to require COVID vaccinations for truckers returning from the United States But they have evolved into a more general protest against pandemic rules like vaccination mandates, shutdowns and rules requiring mask-wearing, as well as Trudeaus stewardship of the country. As the convoy rolled along, it was joined and ultimately outnumbered by supporters traveling in pickup trucks and cars. The group loosely organized and without a single, clear leader also expanded its demands, pressing Trudeau to end all COVID rules and restrictions in Canada, including those set by provinces and local governments. Long before the first trucks began trickling into Ottawa on Jan. 28, Trudeau said he would not reverse the vaccine mandate. He has refused to meet with members of the groups, which he described as a fringe minority. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Three Houston cops were shot Thursday afternoon in Third Ward, police said in a tweet. Police were pursuing the driver of a white Mercedes before gunfire erupted near McGowen and Hutchins streets just east of Texas Highway 288, according to archived police radio traffic. Paramedics were called to the scene around 3:15 p.m. All three officers were transported to the hospital, although it is unclear if paramedics transported them or other police officers. Details remain scarce as of this writing. Authorities with the Houston Police Department are expected to provide an update on the officers' conditions at a press conference outside Memorial Hermann Hospital later Thursday afternoon. Police did not immediately say what preceded the gunfire. They are currently looking for the driver of the white Mercedes. At least one patrol car was riddled with bullet holes, according to footage of the scene taken by OnScene.TV. A nearby gray Dodge Charger also had several bullet holes. Doug Griffith, president of the Houston cops union, said the man police were pursuing allegedly opened fire into his girlfriends house, according to reporters with the Houston Chronicle. Chron and the Houston Chronicle are both owned by Hearst but operate independently of one another. Several Houston leaders expressed sympathy for the officers on social media. This is the third act of violence against Houston-area cops in recent weeks. Around 12:45 a.m. Sunday, a driver gunned down Harris County Precinct 5 Constable's Office Corporal Charles Galloway in the 9100 block of Beechnut as the lawman attempted a traffic stop. Galloway had yet to get out of his patrol SUV before shots rang out. The shooter, who police identified as 51-year-old Oscar Rosales, escaped to Mexico but was later captured. Around the same time Monday morning, a driver hit and killed Harris County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Ramon Gutierrez as he was escorting an oversized load along the East Sam Houston Parkway near Tidwell Road. Gutierrez had positioned his police motorcycle to block an exit ramp as he, while on foot, directed traffic. Investigators allege 40-year-old driver Lavillia Spry was intoxicated when she drove around the motorcycle and hit Gutierrez before fleeing. This story will be updated. Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin. SHELTON A Shelton nonprofit rehabilitation center has managed to not only survive, but thrive in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moving with Hope long known for providing affordable care to those diagnosed with debilitating physical disabilities received about $600,000 in COVID relief funds. Owners Tad and Joanne Duni invested the federal money in state-of-the-art equipment and hiring experienced staff for the 10-year-old center. I thought we would never get this chance again, so we went for it, said Tad Duni, who hosted U.S Rep. Jim Himes last week for a tour of the facility, now located on Controls Drive. We invested the money to further develop our real-world working public health model to help people living with disabilities and COVID-long-haulers regain health, skills and independence, Duni said. Weve made Moving with Hope the best-equipped outpatient clinic in Connecticut. Duni added the facilitys cupboard is full. Now we just need to let everyone know what we offer. When insurance-based services stop short, Duni said, Moving with Hope focuses on continuing the clients journey to recovery. Duni said the organizations clients receive more than six hours of rehab and other support strategies each week. Pricing is about $55 per hour, he said. In the year prior to the pandemic which forced shutdowns and limited services the Dunis team of eight full-time and five part-time employees provided more than 24,000 hours of direct client services. Moving With Hope has since expanded its services to include skilled occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech language pathology. The additional services will complete the Dunis community-based model goal of providing the best opportunity for people seeking optimal recovery, health, wellness and independence, he said. Moving with Hope provides life changing rehabilitative services to those who are recovering from a serious injury, Himes said. I got to see that work up close. Best of all, I saw how the federal government has supported the critical mission of their team during this pandemic. Himes noted that $350,000 in state-of-the-art equipment and $80,000 in additional staffing and training were both made possible by the CARES Act. Thanks to Tad and his colleagues for showing me how theyve put this money to good use, Himes added. Duni also used the relief funds to purchase equipment, such as the Madonna intelligently controlled assistive rehabilitation elliptical (ICARE) trainer, which helps physically challenged individuals and those with chronic conditions regain or retain their walking ability and levels of physical fitness. Also, among the 25 new pieces of equipment is the AlterG anti-gravity treadmill, which uses air to unweight patients, enabling greater comfort and mobility without impeding natural gait mechanics. Duni said the AlterG integrates patented, NASA differential air pressure (DAP) technology, a precise air calibration system, and real-time information in rehab and training. Duni said AlterG enables patients to move unrestricted and pain-free restoring and building muscle strength, range of motion, balance, function, and fitness. There are only a handful of these in the state, Duni said. Moving with Hope also offers a virtual reality physical therapy occupational system, Duni says, which is the only one of its kind in the country. Duni said the technology is in place, along with the quality staff, in what is a model for similar facilities throughout the state and country. We need a public health plan in place that addresses the restoration of physical health for the current COVID-long-haulers, the next COVID-19 survivors and for the millions of aging Americans with poor health, disabilities, and poor savings, Duni said. Duni said the process can begin with a partial solution the establishment of dozens of re-ability clinics in every state. The model does not rely on health insurance to pay for services, Duni said. Reability clinics only provide activity-based therapy, using evidenced-based science to implement appropriate mass practice and task specificity. Duni said, with an aging population, there was a need for up to 20,000 such facilities in the U.S. in the next 10 years. There is no system like this anywhere in the country, but there are millions of people in need of what we offer, he said. brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com Wilton resident, and selectwoman Kim Healy has been appointed by Connecticut state House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora to serve on the Connecticut Reading Leadership Implementation Council. Council members are charged with providing guidance to The Center for Literacy Research and Reading Success. The Center was established under Senate bill 1202 in June of 2021. It also focuses on ensuring that Connecticut districts, teacher, and especially families, are equipped with structured support to help all students read on grade level by third grade. The council is made up of 12 bipartisan members, who were previously appointed by either Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, or legislative leaders. Reading is one the most important tools that children must acquire at an early age to become strong and developed individuals, Healy said after being announced as one of the councils 12 members. Being appointed to the Reading Leadership Implementation Council is an honor and I look forward to contributing to its work and the programs it establishes to help our children become strong readers and lifelong learners. She said that the councils commitment to families and providing resources for them was a major draw. As a parent, I believe that reading is the cornerstone of an effective education for every child, Healy said. The creation of this Council could not have come at a more critical time. The learning loss due to the pandemic is significant here in Connecticut. Additionally, Healy, and her colleagues will develop a coordinated statewide reading plan for students in kindergarten through the third grade. That plan will include strategies, publishing annual goals for the center, meeting at least once every two months, and consultation with representatives from public, private, and philanthropic organizations. Healy and her husband are the parents of four children, all of whom previously attended Wilton Public Schools. She is a 14-year resident of Wilton, and has been a longtime community volunteer for organizations including Minks to Sinks, of which she currently co-chairs; the Wilton Library, of which she was a former treasurer, chair of the finance committee, and member of the executive committee; the Wilton Youth Council, and its current 2022 project. In November 2021, Healy was elected to the Wilton Board of Selectmen. She previously served on the Wilton Conservation Commission. Healy is also a volunteer tax preparer for the American Association of Retired Persons, providing necessary assistance to residents with lower incomes and senior citizens. Professionally, Healy was previously an auditor with the audit, and assurance, consulting and tax services company, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and is a Certified Public Accountant. One of my favorite quotes is by Frederick Douglass: Once you learn to read, you are forever free, Healy said. Try out LudingtonDailyNews.com for only 99 per month for the first 3 months, $9.99 a month after. Unlimited website access 24/7 Unlimited e-Edition access 24/7 The best local, regional and national news in sports, politics, business and more! With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-Edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime. Try out WhiteLakeBeacon.com for only 99 per month for the first 3 months, $5.30 a month after. Unlimited website access 24/7 Unlimited e-Edition access 24/7 The best local, regional and national news in sports, politics, business and more! With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-Edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime. Each year, Wescos Drive Hunger Out of Our Neighborhood fundraiser provides local food pantries with a donation. Running from the end of October through the first of the year, the company matches $1,000 per location. Funds are collected from customers who wish to donate when they check out at the store. The four stores in the White Lake area have been donating the funds to the Lebanon Lutheran Churchs food pantry for years, and this years donation was the biggest yet. On Wednesday, Feb. 2, representatives from the local stores presented a $34,201 check to the church. This years donation has more than tripled the past donations. Pastor Doug Ogden and other members of the church were shocked by the amount they saw on the check. This is about a years worth of product for the pantry, said Ogden. According to Melissa Rendulic, store manager, this years donation was increased because of the way that funds were collected. In years past, the stores relied heavily on a jar that customers could drop their change in. This year, customers that used cards were able to round up their total to contribute. With Wescos new computer system, customers could simply click a button on the pinpad to choose a donation amount that rounded up the total to an even amount. The convenience of this new model paid off. We had very little money in the actual change jars, said Rendulic. With four locations pulling together for one pantry, and the promise from the corporate office to match $1000 dollar per location, the local stores were able to gather $4000 more for Lebanon Lutheran Church. Everything really goes out to the community for being the ones who helped support (the fundraiser), Rendulic said. During the presentation of the check, Rendulic made a heartwarming offer to the church. She expressed her intention to bring volunteers from her store on Colby Road to help with the pantry. Ogden graciously thanked her for the offer and showed a few of the Wesco employees the pantry storage, located in the basement of the church. The Lebanon Lutheran Church food pantry provides 70 boxes of food per week. The pantry is open on Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. The provided food is mostly purchased from Feeding America out of Grand Rapids. According to Ogden, during warmer weather a few local farmers provide produce and eggs. By Azernews By Ayya Lmahamad Azerbaijan's AzerGold CJSC Board Chairman Zakir Ibrahimov has said that the company's revenues from the sale of gold and silver in 2021 amounted to AZN 188.3 million ($110.7m), Trend has reported. He noted that the company's income from the sale of gold and silver increased by 0.4 percent year on year. Ibrahimov added that last year AzerGold sold 60,000 ounces of gold and 133,000 ounces of silver. "Over the past five years, the company has sold more than AZN 755 million ($444.1m) worth of gold and silver," he said. Net profit The board chairman noted that the company's net profit is expected to reach about AZN 80 million ($47m) as of 2021. He recalled that AzerGold's net profit amounted to AZN 82 million ($48m) in 2020. "AzerGold company paid taxes in the amount of AZN 29.7 million ($17.5m) in 2021," he added. Gold, silver production Speaking about the gold and silver production, Ibrahimov noted that the company has exceeded its production plan by 11 and 55 percent, respectively. Thus, in 2021, AzerGold produced 61,500 ounces of gold and 134,400 ounces of silver. "The company increased gold production by 2.5 percent in 2021 and silver production by 10.9 percent, compared to 2020," he said. Ibrahimov added that last year, a number of important steps were taken to improve the efficiency of the company's mineral resources and optimize production processes. He also noted that over the past five years the company has produced 255,600 ounces of gold and 484,500 ounces of silver. Transfers to state budget "In 2021, AzerGold transferred AZN 33 million ($19.4m) to the state budget of Azerbaijan," he said. He noted that the index rose by 158 percent (2.6 times) compared to 2020. "Overall, over the past five years the company has transferred AZN 73.8 million ($43.4m) to the state budget," he said. Domestic market At the same time, the board chairman emphasized that the company sold 2,649 ounces of its products on the domestic retail market in 2021, which is by 5.5 times more than a year earlier. He noted that 97 percent of the sold products were gold and 3 percent were silver. "The value of the realized production increased by 4.8 times, compared to 2020, up to AZN 8.7 million ($5.1m)," he said. Chovdar deposit Ibrahimov also stated that as a result of additional research, exploration and optimization of deposits conducted by the company in recent years, reserves of commercial gold in the oxide (surface) phase of the Chovdar deposit have increased from 179,000 to 212,000 ounces. He noted that the operation of the Chovdar deposit at the oxide stage was completed in April 2021. "At the same time in the reporting year, the operation of oxide ores of the Chovdar deposit at the sulfide stage resulted in the production of 28,000 ounces," he said. Earlier the board chairman stressed that the potential of non-ferrous metal reserves in the Azerbaijani liberated territories will play a big role in the further development of this sector. The initial research launched by our company in 2021 in Tutkhun gold deposit will contribute to the social and economic development of not only Kalbajar region, but also the Eastern Zangazur economic region as a whole, he said. The AzerGold CJSC is a national mining company, which was established on February 11, 2016, under the presidential decree. Page Content Immigration and workforce development provisions related to higher education were included in a sprawling omnibus bill passed by House lawmakers Feb. 4. The America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing, Pre-Eminence in Technology, and Economic Strength Act of 2022 (America COMPETES Act) is intended to boost U.S. competitiveness with China, specifically in semiconductor manufacturing and research. The billmade up of several previous proposals and hundreds of new amendmentsauthorizes billions of dollars to boost domestic research and development of semiconductors, as well as critical supply chains and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and training. House lawmakers passed the bill along party lines, and it now heads to the Senate to be reconciled with that chamber's bipartisan version, which was approved in June 2021. But reaching an agreement on the two versions is expected to be difficult because Republicans have since turned against the measure, largely due to its inclusion of dozens of other provisions related to climate change, immigration, labor organizing and trade. SHRM Seeks Changes The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) supports the workforce development and immigration provisions in the America COMPETES Act but is concerned about the addition of labor relations proposals from the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which passed the House last year. "Though the legislation includes provisions designed to retain international students and skill up domestic workers, it includes several provisions from the PRO Act that would create an imbalance in labor-management relations," SHRM said. "These provisions would apply to employers accepting federal funding, as well as their contractors and subcontractors, impacting workplaces regardless of their relationship with the federal government. The House-passed bill would undermine employee privacy by abolishing the use of secret ballots in union elections and diminish the role of HR in shaping the final terms of collective bargaining agreements. SHRM will continue to work with both chambers of Congress to ensure that the bill signed by the president maintains balanced labor-management relations." Immigration Reforms The America COMPETES Act contains two significant immigration reforms: a new visa for entrepreneurs and a direct path to permanent residence for immigrants who earn a Ph.D. in a STEM field in the U.S. "While larger structural reforms to our immigration system remain necessary, the immigration provisions of the America COMPETES Act represent important incremental changes that would create new opportunities for immigrant entrepreneurs to build business in the United States and provide a direct path to permanent residence for noncitizens who earn a Ph.D. from qualified institutions in certain STEM fields," said Jeremy Robbins, executive director of the American Immigration Council, a policy and research group in Washington, D.C. "If adopted by the Senate, these provisions will encourage entrepreneurship and innovation, and help many immigrants find a way to bring their talent to the United States on a permanent basis." The new W visa category for startups would be available for foreign entrepreneurs and startup founders, their essential employees and their spouses and children. Entrepreneurs could apply for legal permanent resident status if their startup proves successful. The provision related to foreign Ph.D. graduates of U.S. universities could benefit several thousand new graduates each year. Notably, immigrants made up almost half of all STEM Ph.D. students at U.S. universities in the 2019-2020 academic year, according to data from the Department of Education. "The provisions in the America COMPETES Act would modestly raise the amount and skill levels of U.S. immigration," said Douglas Holtz-Eakin, president of the American Action Forum, a Washington, D.C.-based policy and research group. "These are desirable changes, but the reforms are changes at the margins of the existing system confined to high-skilled individuals and entrepreneurs. This is not a substitute for broader substantive reform for all classes of immigrants. Congress should consider a total overhaul of the legal immigration system, shifting from a focus on family reunification to one of economic growth." The bill also contains numerous workforce development and higher education measures, including expanding registered apprenticeships and allowing workers to use Pell grants to rapidly retrain through short-term programs. Page Content A California appeals court rejected a challenge to COVID-19-related workplace safety rules brought by a group of agricultural business organizations, concluding that the need to protect workers outweighed any burdens the measure imposed on employers. The appellate court said the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board provided adequate reasons for issuing its emergency temporary standards (ETS), which require employers to implement various safety measures, record and report illnesses, and continue paying workers who have been quarantined. Six organizations filed suit challenging the ETS and sought a preliminary injunction suspending enforcement pending the outcome of the lawsuit. The trial court denied the request, concluding that the organizations had not shown a likelihood of prevailing on the merits, which is required for the court to issue a preliminary injunction. The trial court also found that the public interest in curbing the spread of COVID-19 weighed heavily in favor of ongoing enforcement of the ETS. The organizations appealed. Challenge to the ETS Under the ETS, employers must establish, implement and maintain an effective written COVID-19 prevention program that includes: Identifying and evaluating employee exposures to COVID-19 health hazards. Implementing effective policies and procedures to correct unsafe and unhealthy conditions. Allowing adequate time for hand-washing and cleaning frequently touched surfaces and objects. Employers must provide effective training to employees on how COVID-19 is spread; infection-prevention techniques; and information regarding COVID-19-related benefits to which affected employees may be entitled under applicable federal, state or local laws. Employers must investigate and respond to COVID-19 cases in the workplace and notify employees at a worksite of possible COVID-19 exposures. Employers must continue to pay employees who are excluded from work due to COVID-19 exposure. The organizations challenged the ETS, claiming that the standards exceeded the board's authority, and they sought to stop enforcement. They argued that the board failed to follow the necessary procedures for emergency rulemaking and that the pre-existing regulatory framework provided adequate protection to employees while the court considered the lawsuit. They also argued that employers faced a real threat of imminent and irreparable harm to their businesses under the ETS. The board claimed that the organizations had not shown that they were likely to succeed at trial. They also claimed that the harm to employers asserted by the business groups was only speculative, and the public has a strong interest in reducing or stopping the spread of COVID-19 in workplaces. The appellate court agreed with the trial court and affirmed the denial of the preliminary injunction. The appellate court found that the board had identified an emergency and the need for immediate action. The board had set forth specific facts indicating a serious risk of harm posed by COVID-19. It identified the significant health riskssuch as difficulty breathing; organ failure; damage to the lungs, heart and brain; long-term health problems and deathposed by the virus to certain individuals. The board also showed the need for immediate action in response to the ongoing threat posed by COVID-19. While existing regulations protected workers from hazards in general, there was no specific regulation that protected all workers from exposure to infectious diseases such as COVID-19, the court said. Therefore, the agency concluded that emergency regulations were required to preserve worker safety and health. The appellate court also rejected the organizations' claim that the ETS contained provisions that exceeded the board's authority. Under the California Labor Code, the board has exclusive state authority to adopt, amend or repeal occupational safety and health standards and orders. The labor code further grants the board power to issue orders ensuring the safety and health of California employees. The appeals court concluded that the trial court had properly ruled that the organizations were unlikely to succeed in permanently blocking the standards and that the potential harm to the public from failing to enforce the standards outweighed the possible damage to employers from enforcing them. Therefore, the trial court correctly refused to grant a preliminary injunction, the court said. Western Growers Association v. Calif. Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board, Calif. Ct. App., No. A162343 (Jan. 12, 2022). Professional Pointer: The U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision to halt the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration's COVID-19 temporary rule does not impact enforcement of California's COVID-19 ETS, and employers in the state must comply with the ETS, which have been revised as of Jan. 14. Joanne Deschenaux, J.D., is a freelance writer in Annapolis, Md. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! Peter Thiel, the tech investor and conservative provocateur who has advised Mark Zuckerberg for nearly two decades at Facebook parent Meta Platforms, will step down from the companys board after Metas annual shareholder meeting in May. Thiel, who joined the board in 2005 after an early investment in Facebook, plans to increase his political support of former President Donald Trumps agenda during the 2022 election and doesnt want his political activities to be a distraction for Facebook, according to person close to Thiel. Peter Thiel has been a vocal supporter of Donald Trump. Credit:AP He thinks that the Republican Party can advance the Trump agenda and he wants to do what he can to support that, said the person, who was not authorised to speak publicly. His focus will be on supporting Blake Masters, JD Vance and others who support the Trump agenda, he added, referring to Republican candidates for US Senate. He wanted to avoid being a distraction for Facebook. Neighbours cast and crew realised their show was vulnerable when Channel 5 would commit only to a 12-month contract extension last year. But they were left reeling on the weekend when they got news of the British broadcasters decision to can the long-running soapie not from production company Fremantle Media, but via British media. I got a message on Sunday afternoon saying, isnt it terrible, a writer on the show, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said on Monday. But Id heard nothing, and nor had any of the people I work with. Fremantle formally broke the news by email on Sunday, after the story broke in The Sun and was widely reported elsewhere. On Monday, the company addressed a grim meeting of cast and crew at the shows Nunawading studio. About 200 people are employed on the show, either as freelancers or on rolling contracts. Despite its waning popularity with audiences, it is widely considered one of the most important training grounds for talent in the country, both on screen and off. The NSW government has approved 85 per cent of proposed fossil fuel projects since the Paris Agreement, with another six projects in the pipeline which could contribute another 1.8 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases. Environmental groups are concerned the approval process for mines does not adequately address climate change and flies in the face of the state governments ambitious reductions targets. There are six projects awaiting determination in NSW which, if realised, could contribute to 1 per cent of the remaining global carbon budget to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. Credit:Bloomberg Research by the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) shows that, since the Paris Agreement took effect five years ago, the NSW Independent Planning Commission (IPC) and its predecessor, the Planning Assessment Commission, have approved projects responsible for 3.2 billion tonnes of climate pollution. The total emissions for both approved and pending projects are likely to top 5 billion tonnes. It includes the emissions generated by extracting and shipping the coal to port known as scope 1 and 2 emissions and the emissions caused when the coal is burnt for power or steel-making in the countries that buy it, known as scope 3 emissions. Trent Duffield has vivid memories of sitting in a park with his first child in 2017, enjoying a peaceful moment and thinking that had his manager not supported him to take parental leave, he may never have had the chance. Back then, it was rare in Australia for men to feel comfortable taking extended primary carer parental leave, but Mr Duffields boss a father of three and partner at the professional services firm KPMG was insistent. Trent Duffield with his sons Gus, 3, and William, 3 months old. He will shortly take his third period of primary carer parental leave. Credit:Jason South The key was his framing of the discussion, Mr Duffield said. It wasnt a why [take leave] discussion, it was a why not? The first of two 2020-21 scorecards by the national Workplace Gender Equality Agency shows the proportion of employers offering both parents paid leave has risen by up to 25 percentage points in some male-dominated industries over eight years. The Sydney/Melbourne divide has never been more starkly laid out than by the forthcoming Liberal Party fundraisers starring former British prime minister Theresa May who is heading Down Under. Former British prime minister Theresa May is in high demand on her trip to Australia. Credit:Illustration: John Shakespeare This Friday the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry will host an exclusive luncheon for Lady May, followed by a Q&A at Crown Palladium. Alas, strictly no filming is permitted and May, 65, is declining to do any media during her trip. Tickets for that shindig are $1700 for a table of 10 for members and $2050 for a table for 10 non-members. But whoa: on February 16 the NSW Liberal Party is promising a conversation with the Rt Hon Theresa May in Sydney. The dress code is business attire but the cost of a general single seat is $1000. While something that is a premium single seat sets you back $3000. First property prices, now this! A driver will face a bedside court hearing after allegedly running a red light, prompting a police pursuit that was then terminated, before he collided with five cars on Sydneys Parramatta Road. The 35-year-old man allegedly drove a Subaru Outback through a red light in Leichhardt, in the inner west, about 6.20am on Saturday. The Subaru involved in the collision in Leichhardt. Credit:Nine The Subaru allegedly failed to stop, and a pursuit was initiated before being terminated shortly after due to safety concerns, NSW Police said. A short time later, the Subaru collided with five vehicles on Parramatta Road, near the intersection of Old Canterbury Road. Unions for workers along Australias embattled supply chain want the major parties to commit to an independent body with greater flexibility to set rights and standards for gig workers. The Retail Supply Chain Alliance, comprising unions for transport, retail and agricultural workers, is also demanding free rapid tests for all supply-chain workers and mandatory consultation on proposals to address workforce shortages, such as Prime Minister Scott Morrisons recent short-lived suggestion to lower the age of forklift drivers. Unions want an independent body to determine rights and standards for gig economy workers. Credit:James Brickwood Transport Workers Union national secretary Michael Kaine said an independent body was needed to examine dependent work and enforce new minimum standards for people missing out on a range of workplace safeguards due to their classification as independent contractors. Our laws are hopelessly outdated. Gig behemoths are running rings around an ancient system, said Mr Kaine, who will be among union leaders meeting federal parliamentarians this week to discuss supply-chain issues exposed by the coronavirus pandemic and summer floods that have left many supermarket shelves bare. Four men have been arrested in NSW and Queensland over the 2009 killing of Omega Ruston, who was gunned down on the Gold Coast Highway in what was believed to be a road-rage incident. Police confirmed on Tuesday morning that one man had been arrested in Queensland and three in NSW, with Queensland homicide detectives travelling to Sydney for the trios court case, seeking to extradite them. Police will allege the firearm used in the shooting was an identical ballistic match to a gun used in a drive-by-style shooting at a west Sydney tattoo parlour in late 2008. Mr Ruston, a 32-year-old construction worker, was driving along the Gold Coast Highway on January 26, 2009, when he was shot dead in a suspected road-rage incident. Queensland has recorded 19 more COVID-related deaths, 10 in aged care, as the state scraps the use of its check-in app in most venues. There were 4701 new cases of coronavirus recorded in the state on Monday and 663 COVID patients in public hospitals, 43 being treated in intensive care. Of the deaths in aged care, just one person had received a vaccine boost, with 151 deaths in aged-care facilities since December 13 last year. One of the people who died was in their 60, five were in their 70s, nine were in their 80s and four were in their 90s. Professor Grigg said some of his patients had gone six months without seeing anyone, other than their doctors and nurses. Also, those with compromised immune systems continue to be profoundly over-represented in coronavirus hospitalisations during the Omicron outbreak and are far more likely to end up severely ill, he said, even if they have been vaccinated. Several of his vaccinated patients, who have blood cancer, including a young mother in her 30s, have ended up seriously ill after contracting the virus, developing severe pneumonia or requiring oxygenation. Its just incredibly distressing to see that happen to your patients when theyve done everything they can to protect themselves, he said. Melbourne doctor and president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Karen Price said some people, particularly those with underlying health conditions, were now so accustomed to approaching COVID-19 with caution that they were almost agoraphobic (a condition which can include an irrational fear of leaving the home). Theres a lot of lonely people, she said. We certainly see those people in practice that havent seen anyone for months. Its indescribable that despair. Others are taking a pragmatic approach, trying to avoid getting COVID-19 while they might have contact with a vulnerable family member, or before a special event such as a wedding attempting to bring a level of control to a pandemic that has taken so much control from people. Dr Price said choices about the level of risk people were willing to accept were often difficult because, while there were clear risk factors for more severe COVID-19, such as being unvaccinated, obesity, old age and pregnancy, it was impossible to predict how any individual would be affected. Doctors including Melbourne oncologist Cameron McLaren said the let it rip approach to Omicron had failed the most vulnerable people in the community, including the immunocompromised and the elderly, who were left scrambling for booster shots and rapid antigen tests. Loading He said others, including some of his patients undergoing hormone treatment therapy, were confused and anxious about what they should do. Ms Ferugia started wearing a mask everywhere before they were mandated. Before being vaccinated, she frequently stopped working her job at a supermarket whenever coronavirus cases surged. She still avoids crowded places and stays home as often as she can. But her worst fears were realised last month, when she was infected with the virus. She was not well enough to line up at a testing clinic and unable to secure enough rapid antigen tests. It made me feel confused and scared, Ms Ferugia said. We couldnt stay in lockdown forever, but I feel like the government has opened up without really thinking about people like me. Kathrine Ferugia Weeks later she still feels the lingering effects of the virus, including a persistent cough and crippling fatigue. We couldnt stay in lockdown forever, but I feel like the government has opened up without really thinking about people like me. The way they have lifted restrictions has been quite severe. Also trying to avoid COVID-19 is engineer Monica Russo, who is heavily pregnant with her second child. She enjoyed a relatively normal Christmas with her family, but when case numbers kept rising, and the impending birth got closer, she decided the risk of getting COVID-19 was too high to continue socialising with all but a small circle of close family members and stopped frequenting cafes or restaurants. Monica Russo and her 20-month-old son Leon are both in isolation at home. Credit: Scott McNaughton Ms Russo said she was told that if she entered labour while carrying the virus, shed have to stay in a COVID-19 ward, wouldnt be able to have her husband with her for the birth and would be largely separated from her baby bar breastfeeding until she was cleared of the virus. Thats a scenario the Camberwell mum wants to avoid. The family is in a privileged position where they can largely shut themselves off from the world, with Ms Russo and her husband both able to work from home. The couple also plan to pull their 20-month-old son out of childcare two weeks before his sibling is due to arrive. Weve basically cancelled any social gatherings, and that includes a wedding in the family that we chose not to attend, she said. Everyone was sad, but nobody was angry. I think everyone understood why were doing what we were doing. There is an early suggestion that the vaccines effectiveness wanes quickly for immunocompromised people, even after a third dose, amid mounting research that organ transplant recipients and those with blood cancers may need a fourth or fifth dose. Professor Grigg said the Austin hospital had already commenced a fourth-dose program for its immunocompromised patients. But he said the most crucial action all Australians could take was to get their booster shot as soon as possible to slow transmission of the virus and create a crucial layer of collective protection for the immunocompromised. People have a community responsibility to have the third dose. Professor Andrew Grigg People have a community responsibility to have the third dose, not just for their own health, but for the health of people who are otherwise going to be stuck at home and scared of going out, he said. It doesnt diminish the risk entirely, but it means people are less likely to be infectious, at least for longer periods of time. Cancer Council chief executive Todd Harper said there had been a sharp surge in people calling the organisations helpline as coronavirus cases hit tens of thousands of new infections a day this year. More than 650 people called in the first three weeks of January. Of those, more than 20 per cent expressed emotional distress about feeling increasingly isolated. Were really worried about the uncertainty for them, Mr Harper said. Cancer patients are telling us of significant levels of distress and not being able to access the usual support networks during a very difficult period. Australian infectious disease physician Sanjaya Senanayake said he felt the federal government had moved too quickly from very cautious to zero caution. What we needed was to have that bundle of COVID-safe measures in place, particularly as people gathered for Christmas before Omicron took off, he said. But Professor Senanayake said he always urged his patients to find the joy in life, noting the mental health implications of isolation were profound. Loading Taking precautions, including getting booster shots, investing in high-quality face respirators, such as N95s, meeting up with friends and family outdoors and requesting close friends and family clear themselves with a rapid tests before catch-ups all reduce risk. Mr Merlino said the running tally of students who had tested positive for COVID-19 was now at about 4500, or 0.6 per cent of the total student population. About 800 education workers had also tested positive since the start of the 2022 school year, the equivalent to less than 1 per cent of the workforce. He said 964 students tested positive on Friday, as well as 150 teachers. Over the weekend, [an additional] 607 students reported that they were positive, he said. Its better to support those many hundreds of students and teachers than have 1 million students at home remote learning, and thats the commitment we gave. He said the positive detections showed the system was working, and no schools had been forced to return to remote learning because of coronavirus outbreaks. Yes, were getting many hundreds of students, hundreds of teachers, but put it in perspective, he said. Weve got more than a million students in Victorian schools and more than 110,000 staff. Mr Merlino said authorities were discussing whether the states four-week trial of free rapid antigen tests in schools should be extended. Kids urged to exercise one hour a day Mr Merlino also announced a campaign aimed at encouraging Victorian children to do physical activity for an hour a day in 15-minute chunks. It is part of a $24.2 million active schools initiative that enables schools to apply for grants to upgrade sports equipments and playgrounds, upskill physical education teachers and engage local organisations to deliver sports programs before and after school. Weve had two years of long periods of remote learning. Weve had two years of significantly increased screen time in our kids. Weve had a couple of years when community sport has been disrupted, or in fact had to cease altogether, he said. Deputy Premier James Merlino with North Melbourne AFLW captain Emma Kearney (far left), and player Kaitlyn Ashmore (far right) at Mondays press conference. Credit:Eddie Jim So now two years [into] the pandemic ... this message is just so critical. Seven deaths, 8275 new COVID-19 cases Victoria recorded 8275 new COVID-19 cases and seven deaths involving people aged in their 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s on Monday. A total of 2178 Victorians have died with the virus since the beginning of the pandemic. On Monday, there were 638 people in hospital being treated for coronavirus. Of those, 72 were in intensive care units and 26 on a ventilator. Another 13,486 Victorians, including 1111 children aged between five and 11, received a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Sunday, taking the proportion of the population aged 18 and over who have received three doses to 45 per cent. About 7954 Victorians aged 16 and 17 have received a third dose of the vaccine at state-run clinics, GPs and pharmacies since becoming eligible last week. Loading Of the new coronavirus cases, 5967 were self-reported from positive rapid antigen tests, while 2308 were positive results from 16,338 PCR tests processed by health authorities on Sunday. The figures come as several Australian jurisdictions scale back the use of QR codes for checking in at venues as contact tracing winds down and case numbers decrease. Queensland, South Australia, and the ACT have limited the use of the codes, reserving them for use at high-risk settings. The definition of a high-risk setting varies from state to state, but includes venues such as aged care homes, hospitality venues, bars, nightclubs and gyms. NSW is yet to decide whether restrictions, including the use of QR codes, will be wound back when current rules expire on February 27, but Premier Dominic Perrottet said the state was on track to make an announcement soon. In Victoria, epidemiologists, civil libertarians and businesses have questioned the need to require people to keep checking in when that data collected is no longer used for contact tracing. Monash University head of epidemiological modelling James Trauer told ABC Melbourne on Monday the state should have moved away from using the codes as soon as contact tracing was halted. Weve asked a lot from people, for them to engage with the public health response, to do things to keep control of COVID, Associate Professor Trauer said. Loading So I think that comes with a responsibility to make sure that were moving away from things as soon as we say that theyre not helpful. Elective surgery resumes From Monday, private hospitals and day procedure centres across Victoria were allowed to resume day surgery at up to 50 per cent of their normal levels in Melbourne and 75 per cent in the regions; the first step in the state governments plan to bring back elective surgery. Mr Merlino said elective surgery would ramp up as soon as we are able. Were waiting on capacity within our health system [before we increase elective surgery], he said. We heard very clearly from the nurses last week their comment, absolutely, that theyre not robots. This has been a workforce under extreme stress for more than two years. We still have hospitalisations, we still have COVID patients in ICU. Health Minister Martin Foley said last Friday the decision to increase elective surgery would depend on the seven-day average for hospitalisations continuing to decline, and formalising arrangements with hospitals to boost their capacity. The feedback weve got from principals, from teachers, from parents, and from students, is that the voluntary but highly recommended twice-weekly rapid antigen testing is really providing confidence and comfort to everyone in our schools. Teachers and students are just loving to be back at school. Victoria almost had 50 per cent of its children aged between five and 11 vaccinated with one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday, with Mr Andrews saying that figure stood at 49.9 per cent. Decline in Victorian COVID-19 hospitalisations There are 575 people in hospital in Victoria with COVID-19, including 72 in an intensive care unit and 30 on a ventilator. Hospitalisation figures stood at more than 870 people at the start of last week, before dropping off significantly, and steadily declining since. Health Minister Martin Foley has said when the average dropped below 600 hospitalisations, authorities would consider whether metropolitan public hospitals could resume some non-urgent elective surgery. Tuesdays COVID-19 cases came from 7216 self-reported rapid antigen test results, and 2569 PCR tests. There were 19,404 PCR tests processed at state-run testing sites on Monday. The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 in Victoria has continued to decline. Another 15,870 Victorians received a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at a state-run clinic on Monday, meaning 46 per cent of the adult population has now received a booster shot. All the fatalities reported by health authorities on Tuesday involved people aged 70 and over, and six occurred in the past two days. A total of 2198 Victorians have died with the virus since the pandemic began. Australia received its first load of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine late on Monday, with about 3 million doses expected to be doled out to more than 3000 general practice clinics, pharmacies, and state-run vaccine hubs nationwide. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Monday afternoon the country would open its international borders on February 21 to visa holders who have received two doses of a coronavirus vaccine. The borders have been opening progressively since mid-December, with international students and family members of citizens and permanent residents the first allowed to return. University of Melbourne epidemiologist Nancy Baxter said Australians could expect COVID-19 case numbers to increase when international borders opened, but their reopening would not be the main driver behind the spike. We have a lot going on at the same time, so I wouldnt be surprised if we do see a fairly big bump in the road in terms of the number of cases, Professor Baxter told Radio National. We have kids going back to school, we have people starting to get back to work, and we have international travel. Loading I dont think international travel really at this point will be the main driver, I think just the normal mixing that were doing and the increased mixing that were doing will be more of a driver. The epidemiologist also warned the reopening would expose Australians to more COVID-19 variants, and rather than shutting off to the rest of the world, the country needed to figure out how to be more responsive to those variants. Business and tourism groups welcomed Mondays border announcement, but stressed the importance of Western Australias reopening after Premier Mark McGowan put off the states scheduled date indefinitely. On Tuesday, Mr Andrews said travellers would ultimately need to be triple-vaccinated to enter Victoria. The Premier lauded the Commonwealths decision to reopen the countrys international borders on February 21. I think we, all of us, were a bit bemused at the timeline that had been put forward by the Commonwealth government [of] around Easter. [We] thought that was quite some time off and perhaps we could do better than that, he said. The aged care watchdog is scaling back its compliance operations even as deadly outbreaks of COVID-19 sweep the sector and the Defence Force is called in, prompting concern from advocates for elderly Australians. Official data shows the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission conducted just 128 site visits and 87 external activities such as phone compliance checks across the nations almost 2700 aged care homes in January, a third of the level of activity a year earlier. Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner Janet Anderson fronts a Senate hearing in 2020. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Aged Care Matters founder Sarah Russell said health department outbreak data showed that some operators were struggling with infection control, with COVID-19 case numbers exploding. The regulator needs to step up and find out what is going wrong with some of these aged care homes, Dr Russell said. Theyre having these huge surges in cases because somethings going wrong. The first four teams of military personnel will be deployed to aged care facilities in extreme situations due to the Omicron outbreak, weeks after the sector first asked for Defence help. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced Australian Defence Force personnel would be made available in a targeted effort to support existing workforces as they dealt with outbreaks and staffing shortages. Scott Morrison and Peter Dutton announced the ADF would be deployed to help in aged care facilities. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Its a significant issue. Its a difficult issue. Its an issue thats been caused by the fact that we have large numbers of people who are contracting COVID, he told reporters on Monday. But Mr Morrison said the ADF could not fill all the gaps. The sector estimates as many as 140,000 shifts are going unfilled each week. Australia, the United States, India and Japan will ramp up initiatives to counter Chinas disinformation campaigns and coercive economic measures as the four countries look to keep the focus on Asia amid the Russia-Ukraine crisis. As American intelligence sources accused Russia of preparing for a potential large-scale invasion of Ukraine, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken prepared for his first visit to Australia for this weeks fourth foreign ministers meeting of the Quad grouping. Foreign Minister Marise Payne will meet her three counterparts on Friday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen China has been accused by Australia and the US of ramping up its disinformation campaigns during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the use of coercive economic measures over the past few years, including imposing more than $20 billion of trade strikes against Australia. Australian Foreign Minister Payne said she looked forward to hosting the Quad meeting in Melbourne on Friday and suggested a key focus would be to help countries in the region fend off coercion from other nations. The Perrottet governments decision to appoint a womens economic expert panel to help shape the state budget makes good economic sense. As the Heralds state political editor Alexandra Smith reports, the decision is an acknowledgement that women will play a key role in helping the NSW labour force recover from the pandemic. Treasurer Matt Kean has recognised the pandemic as the first national recession in which women lost more jobs than men. During the Delta outbreak last year, 85 per cent of all jobs lost in the first month of the lockdown were held by women. Women make up the majority of employees in the retail, accommodation and food services industries that faced extended lockdowns, with limited opportunities for COVID-safe working arrangements. While the pandemic exacerbated the structural economic disadvantage experienced by women, the pandemic did not create it. Rzeszow-Jasionka, Poland: The last American soldier to leave Afghanistan in August is the commander of the US division deployed to Poland, to reassure the NATO ally amid Russias threats to neighbouring Ukraine. Major General Christopher Donahue, who on August 30 appeared in a grainy night vision image from the tarmac on the ground in Kabul, has appeared in photos on Monday AEDT in Poland near the border with Ukraine, following US President Joe Bidens orders to deploy 1700 soldiers there amid fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Now you see him, now you see him again: US Major General Chris Donahue in Afghanistan in August and in Poland this week. Credit:The Age Donahue was leading a few dozen US troops and equipment that landed at Rzeszow-Jasionka airport, 90 kilometres from Polands border with Ukraine. A US Air Force Boeing C-17 Globemaster plane brought a few dozen troops and vehicles. Hundreds more infantry troops of the 82nd Airborne Division are still expected to arrive. Jerusalem: Israeli and Palestinian public figures have drawn up a new proposal for a two-state confederation that they hope will offer a way forward after a decade-long stalemate in Middle-east peace efforts. The plan includes several controversial proposals, and its unclear if it has any support among leaders on either side. But it could help shape the debate over the conflict and will be presented to a senior US official and the UN secretary general this week. Yossi Beilin, a former senior Israeli official and peace negotiator who co-founded the Geneva Initiativeis one of several Israeli and Palestinian public figures who have drawn up a new peace deal. Credit:AP The plan calls for an independent state of Palestine in most of the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, territories Israel seized in the 1967 Mideast war. Israel and Palestine would have separate governments but coordinate at a very high level on security, infrastructure and other issues that affect both populations. The plan would allow the nearly 500,000 Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank to remain there, with large settlements near the border annexed to Israel in a one-to-one land swap. The Presidential Records Act requires that the White House preserve all written communication related to a presidents official duties memos, letters, notes, emails, faxes and other material - and turn it over to the National Archives. Typically, the White House records office makes decisions on archival versus non-archival materials, according to an Archives official. The Presidential Records Act lays out a process allowing a president to dispose of records only after obtaining the assent of records officials. It is unclear how many records were lost or permanently destroyed through Trumps ripping routine, as well as what consequences, if any, he might face. Hundreds of documents, if not more, were probably torn up, those familiar with the practice say. It is against the law, but the problem is that the Presidential Records Act, as written, does not have any real enforcement mechanism, said James Grossman, executive director of the American Historical Association. Its that sort of thing where theres a law, but who has the authority to enforce the law, and the existing law is toothless. One person familiar with the National Archives process said that staff there were stunned at how many papers they received from the Trump administration that were ripped, and described it internally as unprecedented. One senior Trump White House official said he and other White House staffers frequently put documents into burn bags to be destroyed, rather than preserving them, and would decide themselves what should be saved and what should be burnt. When the January 6 committee asked for certain documents related to Trumps efforts to pressure his vice-president Mike Pence, for example, some of them no longer existed in the persons files because they had already been shredded, said someone familiar with the request. Early in the administration, the torn paper became such a problem that the administration officials responsible for records management went to then-White House counsel Donald McGahn and then-deputy White House counsel Stefan Passantino, who handled ethics issues, to urge them to remind Trump and other senior West Wing staff about the importance of preserving documents to comply with the records act. A former senior administration official said Trump was warned about the records act by McGahn, as well as his first two chiefs of staff, Reince Priebus and John Kelly, who lamented to allies that Trump would rip up everything, according to a person who heard his comments. Passantino also warned other aides about preserving documents. Passantino declined to comment. McGahn did not respond to requests for comment. A Trump spokesman did not respond to a request for comment. Priebus urged aides not to put what he called crazy documents on Trumps desk articles, for instance, from far-right websites spouting conspiracy theories, according to a person with direct knowledge of his request. He told others that Trump would read them and sometimes tear them up. He didnt want a record of anything, a former senior Trump official said. He never stopped ripping things up. Do you really think Trump is going to care about the records act? Come on. Problems with records preservation persisted throughout Trumps term and became particularly acute at the time of the transition to the Biden administration. Other administrations have also run afoul of the Presidential Records Act. White House aides in both Democratic and Republican administrations, for example, have long used personal devices to text with reporters as well as other staff, rather than government-issued devices, while others have been caught using personal email for official work. But people familiar with Trumps conduct said it ran far deeper than occasionally skirting up against the boundaries of the law. The biggest takeaway I have from that behaviour is it reflects a conviction that he was above the law, said presidential historian Lindsay Chervinsky. He did not see himself bound by those things. Former aides said Trump was haphazard in what he ripped, often tearing up papers that were not classified or even particularly sensitive. Some said they viewed it more as a quirk and not a deliberate attempt to avoid public scrutiny, in part because he was so indiscriminate with what he tore. While he occasionally left tiny scraps, three people who watched him described a regular process he would tear a sheet of paper in half once, and then rip it once more into quarters. I have seen Trump tear up papers, not into small, small pieces, but usually twice so take a piece of paper, rip it once, and then rip it again and then throw it into the garbage pail, said Michael Cohen, Trumps former personal lawyer who in 2018 pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations as well as lying to Congress. The habit dates back to the former presidents time as a businessman, when he used email extremely rarely. Cohen said that Trump seemed to enjoy the actual process of ripping paper, especially if he did not like the contents of the memo. When something irritated him, he would tear the document, Cohen said. The physical act of ripping the paper for Donald was cathartic, and it provided him a relief, as if the issue was no longer relevant. Basically, you rip the piece of paper and youre done thats how Donalds brain works. Loading The practice continued into the White House. Aides jokingly referred to The Boxes large boxes filled with reams of paper that Trump often travelled with. Two people familiar with the boxes said they contained a true miscellany of paper physical newspapers, articles, memos, briefing books, a media summary from the day including printed screenshots of cable news headlines and that Trump would often rifle through them on long flights. Sometimes he would read something and sign it in his signature Sharpie, placing it in a folder to be sent to a certain recipient, one of these people said. Other times, he would rip the paper once he was done and toss it on the floor. This person added that they once saw Trump tear up a piece of paper and then slip it into the pocket of his suit jacket. Trumps troubling habit became the focus of internal concern early in his administration, one former Trump official said, when records personnel noticed that a range of official documents logged as going to the Oval Office or the White House residence were not being returned to be filed in accordance with White House record-keeping rules. Loading When staffers first started going to look for these missing records which spanned a range of topics, including conversations with foreign leaders they sometimes found them in a pile of ripped paper in the Oval Office or the White House residence. But on other occasions torn documents were found in classified burn bags, which are used to dispose of documents, according to one former Trump White House official. Records personnel would routinely dump the contents of burn bags on a table and try to puzzle out which of the torn documents needed to be taped together and preserved, the former official said. Burn bags, which resemble paper grocery bags, are available throughout the White House complex. There are two types for classified and unclassified material, and different requirements for each in determining what can be destroyed, experts said. The classified bags are marked with diagonal red stripes. Both types of bags are ultimately destroyed, but the mechanism for how they are destroyed and safeguarded is different. There were regular burn runs, in which classified bags would be collected from offices and sent to the Pentagon for incineration. Grossman said that Trumps chaotic approach to handling physical documents leaves gaping holes in the historical record, not to mention being disrespectful to the archivists and general public. We dont know how much of it was or was not successfully taped back together, Grossman said. Also, how much did the taxpayers pay to have a bunch of highly qualified archivists sit at a desk and tape things back together? Some experts also said Trump hurt his own legacy with his document destruction practices leaving less behind for historians to examine. The Maori Party is calling for the Queen to be dropped as New Zealands head of state, on the 182nd anniversary of the countrys founding legal document and as the Queen celebrates her 70th year on the throne. Rawiri Waititi, co-leader of the party, said in a statement that a split with the British royals would be an opportunity to reimagine a more meaningful and fulfilling partnership. Maori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi poses for a photo outside New Zealands Parliament in Wellington. Credit:AP If you look at our founding covenant as a marriage between tangata whenua [people of the land] and the Crown, then Te Tiriti [the countrys foundational document] is the child of that marriage, Party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said. Its time tangata whenua to take full custody of Te Tiriti o Waitangi from the Crown. This wont mean the Crown is off the hook. If a couple gets divorced, you dont lose responsibility for your child, he added. PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- The Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a department in the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA), Vaccine Management Team (VMT), would like to inform the public that its COVID-19 Vaccination Program is closed on Monday, February 7th due to unforeseen circumstances. Vaccinations and COVID-19 testing will resume on Tuesday, February 8th. COVID-19 vaccinations for children under 12 will continue on Wednesday, February 9th at the CPS Vineyard Office Complex from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. CPS urges all to continue to practice the COVID-19 public health safety protocols such as handwashing, wearing your mask, cough and sneeze etiquette, and social distancing. Anna May Martin, 79, of Waynesburg, passed away Wednesday, April 27, 2022 at the Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital Jean Waddle Care Center. Private Services will be held. Morris & Hislope Funeral Home is honored to assist the family with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the On the internet you can find many myths about space, so you need to be a skeptical reader these days. Claims of aliens and UFOs, Mars being abnormally big, or the moon turning green are the kinds of things you should check out carefully. Here are some of the biggest space myths that just won't go away. 1. The Apollo moon landings were faked A total of 12 astronauts walked on the moon during NASA's Apollo missions in the 1960s and 1970s. (Credit: NASA) (Image credit: NASA) Twelve NASA astronauts walked on the moon between 1969 and 1972, and the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has since released photos of the landing sites. In the decades since Apollo 11 astronauts first set foot on the moon, many theories have been put forward claiming that the whole Apollo program was staged. Why are there no stars in the sky in the moonwalkers' photos? Why are the U.S. flags fluttering on the surface? Why do you see footprints in the pictures, but no marks from the lunar modules that landed there? The answers to those questions are simpler than you may think. There are no stars in the sky for the same reason you don't see stars during the day on Earth, according to NASA: The bright glow of daylight on the surface washes them out. U.S. flags planted into the lunar soil had metal rods sewn in them to appear as though they were moving, according to NASA. Without these wires, the flag would have hung straight down, making for a pretty lackluster photo prop. And the lunar modules, though heavier, didn't put prominent marks in the surface in some places because their mass was more evenly distributed than the astronauts' weight was in their boots. 2. NASA is a lie NASA's massive Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center. (Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett) Some people actually believe NASA's whole function is not to explore space, but to generate space-related hoaxes. (The Apollo moon landing is a famous example that we'll explore in the next slide.) People who believe this conspiracy, sometimes flagged with the hashtag "#NASAhoax" on social media, will say that amazing space pictures of Mars, Pluto and even Earth are fake, computer-generated imagery (CGI). In reality, NASA was formed in 1958 "to provide for research into problems of flight within and outside the Earth's atmosphere, and for other purposes," according to the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, which then-president Dwight D. Eisenhower signed into law shortly after the start of the space race against the Soviet Union. Since then, NASA has launched hundreds of satellites into orbit around Earth, the moon and several other worlds. In fact, NASA spacecraft have orbited, flown by or landed on every planet in the solar system. NASA also sends astronauts into orbit, where they conduct research at the International Space Station (ISS). Not convinced? Try watching a rocket launch for yourself, or see the space station and other satellites with your own eyes with the help of a satellite tracker. 3. The Earth is flat Earth is roughly spherical. (Image credit: NASA) This myth is so popular that there is even a group named after it: the Flat Earth Society. Members of the organization argue that the horizon is always at eye level, which they say would not be possible if the Earth were round. They also say there is no full movie of the Earth rotating from space which is not true, as NASA has published multiple videos taken from satellites, including a live video of Earth from the ISS, which orbits our planet 16 times per day. One way of demonstrating to yourself that the Earth is round is to consider how orbits of satellites work. Satellites constantly "fall" around the Earth as they are pulled around by our planet's gravity; they just need to be traveling fast enough at a high enough altitude to not slam into the atmosphere. Or, you can look at the amazing pictures taken by astronauts at the ISS. 4. Planet Nine will kill us An artist's illustration of Planet Nine. (Credit: Caltech/R. Hurt (IPAC)) In April 2016, the New York Post tweeted, "A newly discovered planet could destroy Earth as soon as this month." The newspaper was referring to Planet Nine, a theoretical planet at the edge of the solar system. An accompanying video also claimed that the new planet would be throwing all sorts of asteroids and comets at Earth, which would supposedly end up pummeling our planet. Although the planet's existence has not been confirmed, astronomers are actively looking for it to explain motions of some objects in the icy Kuiper Belt, a vast region of icy objects beyond Neptune. If the planet is actually found, the planet will pose no threat to us, according to the California Institute of Technology's Mike Brown (who is one of the original backers of the Planet Nine theory). 5. Alien research is happening at Area 51 A gate to Homey Airport/ Area 51. (Image credit: David James Henry) The 1996 movie "Independence Day" is one of the sources of the Area 51 hoax, which claims that aliens and their technology recovered from crashed flying saucers are being studied secretly at a classified military base about 80 miles (130 kilometers) northwest of Las Vegas in the Nevada desert. Some people in the area around the base claim that they have seen strange flights out of this area. While Area 51's true focus is classified, the U.S. government has acknowledged its existence (although the CIA officially calls it "Homey Airport" or "Groom Lake"). A part of Edwards Air Force Base, the area was a known location for high-technology airplane flights in the 1960s and 1970s. It first served as a proving ground for Lockheed U-2 and A-12 OXCART spy planes as early as 1955. UFO sightings reported in the area were indeed unidentified objects, but only because the planes were top-secret not because they were flown by aliens. 6. There is a killer planet known as "Nibiru" No, Niburu won't kill us all. (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech) (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech) Conspiracy theorists say another dangerous planet is Nibiru, which was first mentioned in the 1976 book "The Twelfth Planet," by Zecharia Sitchin. In the book, Sitchin translated ancient Sumerian cuneiform and claimed that the text is proof of a planet beyond Neptune called Nibiru that orbits the sun every 3,600 years. Years later, self-proclaimed psychic Nancy Lieder claimed to have communicated with extraterrestrials who said Nibiru would collide with Earth in 2003. When that didn't happen, the date was moved to 2012 (and linked, of course, with the 2012 doomsday predictions). Of course, the collision never occurred, the world didn't end in 2012 and no astronomer has ever found a planet on a collision course with Earth. 7. There is a face on Mars The original 'Face on Mars' image taken by NASA's Viking 1 orbiter, in grey scale, on July, 25 1976. Image shows a remnant massif located in the Cydonia region. (Image credit: NASA) In 1976, NASA's Viking 1 spacecraft took a picture of what appeared to be a face on Mars. Immediately, some people said there must have been aliens on the Red Planet that left that face behind as evidence of their existence. NASA, however, pointed out that the suspected face is really just a pile of rocks casting shadows that resemble face-like features. NASA followed up with better-resolution pictures taken from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and the Mars Global Surveyor in 1998 and 2001, respectively. These new images made it quite clear that the "face on Mars" is nothing more than a trick of light and shadows on a completely normal Martian mound. 8. The moon Iapetus is an alien Death Star Saturn's moon Iapetus. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute) Iapetus is a moon of Saturn that looks somewhat like the infamous Death Star in the "Star Wars" franchise, with a large crater that resembles the fictional weapon's superlaser focus lens. The Death Star is a planet-killing machine that destroys entire worlds with its outrageously powerful laser. It was prominently featured in the 2016 movie "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," as well as in 1977's "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope." A Daily Mail article published in May 2016 claimed Iapetus is an artificial object crafted by aliens. As "evidence," the article cited a photo taken by NASA's Cassini spacecraft in 2004. In the photo, there's a line around the moon's equator that resembles the equatorial trench around the Death Star. But this line isn't nearly as interesting as the Death Star's trench, which houses the battle station's engines, thrusters and docking bays. That line is nothing more than a mountain ridge, and Iapetus is actually just made up of boring old rock and ice. Cassini has flown by the moon to take pictures several times without being blasted by deadly alien lasers. Saturn's moon Mimas, with it's giant crater Herschel, also looks surprisingly like the Death Star. 9. Saturn's hexagon is alien technology Saturn's hexagon is visible on the planet's north pole. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute) Saturn's hexagon was first spotted when NASA's Voyager spacecraft flew by the giant, ringed planet in 1980. The bizarre, six-sided structure on the round planet's north pole caused quite the stir, because straight lines and polygons are not so common in nature. Immediately after the Voyager returned its first images of Saturn's strange feature, even stranger theories arose to explain it, including that it was somehow related to alien technology, or perhaps even was a gateway to hell. The hexagon is not artificial, but rather a weird-looking hurricane at Saturn's pole. NASA has done several flybys of this region with the Cassini spacecraft, studying the haze particles and other features of the storm, to try to learn more about its unusual properties. 10. Mars is as big as the moon Mars will never look as large as the full moon in the night sky. (Image credit: Space.com; NASA; ESA/Hubble Heritage Team/NASA) Originating in 2003, the infamous Mars hoax asserts that Mars was closer to Earth than it had been in the 60,000 years prior, and that the planet will appear as large as the full moon. What started out as a misconstrued email turned into a recurring rumor that gets reshared every August and, naturally, has spread to social media as it became more popular. Although Mars is indeed relatively close to Earth in a cosmic sense, it will never be as large as the full moon. It will appear as a red dot in the sky, just as the ancient astronomers saw it. If you'd like to see Mars magnified, take out a telescope or look at one of NASA's spectacular Mars pictures. Addis Ababa, 6 February 2022 (SPS) - President of the Republic, Secretary General of the Polsario Front, Brahim Ghali, has affirmed that the African Union (AU) could only preserve its unity and coherence through full compliance with the Constitutive Act of the organization. Speaking during the debate on the report of the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) submitted to the 35th AU Summit of Heads of State and Government, Prsident Ghali reaffirmed that the continental organization "can only preserve its unity and coherence and move forward in its project for the benefit of the African peoples through full compliance with the Constitutive Act of the AU, in particular Articles 3 and 4, as well as the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights". The President of the Republic reaffirmed the full readiness of the SADR to work with the PSC and the AU in general to achieve a just and final solution in accordance with the resolutions of the AU and those of the PSC in particular. He recalled that the PSC had clearly expressed its concern about the issue of human rights in occupied Western Sahara and the illegal plundering by Morocco of the natural wealth of the Sahrawi people. The President of the Republic is taking part in the work of the 35th Summit of African Union Heads of State and Government, held Saturday and Sunday at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He is accompanied by a delegation comprising Minister of Information, Government spokesperson, Hamada Salma, Counsellor to the Presidency of the Republic, Abdati Brika, Legal Counsellor to the Presidency of the Republic, Ahmed Sid Ali, Ambassador to South Africa, Mohamed Yaslam Bessat, Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union, Lamine Baali. 062/T Two low-cost airlines that serve Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks have announced plans to merge in a $6.6 billion deal. The deal combining Florida-based Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines, which is headquartered in Denver, is expected to close during the second half of this year. Officials with the two carriers claim the merger will benefit consumers with lower fares and more routes. If approved, the merger will create the nations fifth-largest airline. Spirit began providing service from Bradley in June 2017 and Frontier followed in 2018. Frontier offers seven nonstop destinations from Bradley, while Spirit offers six. Ted Christie, president and chief executive officer of Spirit, said the deal with Frontier will further democratize air travel. This transaction is centered around creating an aggressive ultra-low fare competitor to serve our guests even better, expand career opportunities for our team members and increase competitive pressure, Christie said in a statement. Officials with Spirit and Frontier say the combined airline will add 10,000 jobs by 2026. Barry Biffle, president and chief executive officer of Frontier, said the deal will deliver more ultra-low fares to more people in more places. Alisa Sisic, a spokesperson for the Connecticut Airport Authority, which oversees Bradley operations, said officials are closely monitoring the proposed merger. To date, both airlines have been an integral part of the growing route network at Bradley International Airport, Sisic said. We look forward to learning more about their potential merger and what their unified and strengthened national presence may mean for the local market. At this time, there is no impact to our travelers. Michael Boyd, president of the Colorado-based airline consultant Boyd Group International, said the deal doesnt make Bradley a less attractive option for travelers. It is still an incredibly viable access point, Boyd said. And by all accounts, both airlines are very happy with the routes they have from there. Connecticut travelers probably wont see lower fares from the combined airlines as a result of the merger, he said. These carriers dont compete out of Bradley and they really dont fly any of the same routes, Boyd said. What it should do, he said, is put the new airline on more solid financial footing. The combined carriers lost $500 million in 2021 and the merger will remove one set of overhead, Boyd said. Both Spirit and Frontier target discretionary travelers, he said. A lot of those people wouldnt be traveling if the two airlines werent operating, Boyd said. They make air travel more of a consumer option. luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com The approximately $10 billion merger completed last week by the parent companies of Webster Bank and Sterling National Bank ranks among the largest corporate deals in Connecticuts history. By combining, Webster and Sterling have created one of the largest commercial banks in the Northeast. Hearst Connecticut Media Group examined some of the key issues related to the deal that will affect Websters customers and employees. What we know By merging with Pearl River, N.Y.-based Sterling, Webster has amassed a core footprint that extends from New York to Massachusetts. Webster now operates 202 financial centers in the Northeast. The combined company which has kept the Webster name held approximately $65 billion in assets, $44 billion in loans and $53 billion in deposits, based on balances as of Dec. 31, 2021. Today, Webster employs about 4,300 people. As a result of the merger, Webster has relocated its headquarters from Waterbury to Stamford at 200 Elm St. In filings to the Securities and Exchange Commission, Webster lists 200 Elm as the address of its principal executive offices. About four years ago, Webster established its presence at 200 Elm by leasing 25,000 square feet. Webster has had a corporate presence in Stamford for many years, and with our merger, it became the appropriate midpoint of our combined company footprint, Webster said in a statement Friday in response to an inquiry from Hearst Connecticut. The bank did not make anyone available for an interview to discuss its post-merger plans. While the new headquarters is in Stamford, Webster officials have said Waterbury and Pearl River, which is in New Yorks Rockland County, will be part of a multi-campus presence. We maintain corporate offices throughout our expanded footprint. We continue to have a robust presence in Waterbury as well as the other corporate locations, the companys statement said. Webster is a proud Connecticut-based company, and we continue to maintain a strong employee presence in all our corporate locations in Connecticut. It is business as usual for us. Waterbury Mayor Neil OLeary is one of the elected officials who has been closely following the merger. I told them I was really concerned about the headquarters moving because bankers have traditionally supported our downtown businesses, OLeary said. But (Webster CEO and President) John (Ciulla) reassured me that even though the bank is now based in Stamford, he's keeping an office here and that the bank was actually going to expand its presence here. Webster's legal, human resources, finance, accounting, corporate real estate and purchasing departments remain in the banks former headquarters location on Bank Street in Waterbury, OLeary said. More than 40 employees were based at the Bank Street offices before the headquarters moved, according to OLeary, who was not certain about the exact number of people who worked there. OLeary also said Webster has recently hired more than 20 people for Bank Street-based positions. Messages left for the offices of Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons and Rockland County Executive Ed Day inquiring about whether Webster had contacted them about its post-merger plans were not immediately returned. Webster and Sterling clients will continue to bank as they normally do at branches and through Websters and Sterling's websites and mobile applications, Webster officials said in a press release last week. There is also continuity in the banks leadership. Ciulla had served as CEO and president before the merger. Jack Kopnisky, who formerly served as Sterlings CEO and president, has become executive chairman of Websters board of directors. Kopnisky is one of seven new directors appointed to the board, all of whom were directors of Sterling. What we dont know Major corporate mergers often result in significant layoffs. For instance, Connecticut officials were concerned last summer when the pending acquisition of Bridgeport-based Peoples United Bank by M&T Bank, of Buffalo, N.Y., called for layoffs of about 750 Connecticut-based employees. Webster officials have not reported to the state any planned mass job cuts. But they have not promised that their merger would not result in any layoffs. Our merger with Sterling is about enhancing our scale, having greater capabilities and expanding the geographies we serve, Webster said in its statement. With very little banking center overlap, there was minimal impact to our workforce and no changes to our banking center network. We are committed to investing in our talent, and as a growing commercial bank, we expect there to be new positions and expanded growth opportunities for our colleagues going forward. As for the deployment of its workforce, it is difficult to quantify how many employees work in each location. Webster officials said they could not specify how many employees are based in each of their Stamford, Waterbury or Pearl River locations because there are no specific headcounts for any locations as we have a hybrid and remote working model. Our colleagues work in company locations based on the needs of our customers and the most productive way to work in a safe and collaborative manner. Luther Turmelle contributed reporting to this article. pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; twitter: @paulschott She was a familiar face on TV screens in Northern California in the 1970s. Ginger Rutland is a twin, the youngest of four children. Her family moved to Sacramento when she was 4 years old. She attended McClatchy High School, but when her father who was working at McClellan Air Force Base was transferred to Germany, the family went too. Years later, after getting a history degree from Howard University, Ginger returned home and started working at KCRA 3. She was the station's first African American female TV reporter. "I grew up in the 60s, I came of age in the 60s and I grew up watching the civil rights movement and I was quite inspired by the journalist I saw on television and I read in the newspapers and so I thought I want to be a journalist," Rutland said. While Rutland told KCRA 3s Brandi Cummings that she was treated well and said nothing happened to her because of her race, she recalls areas of NorCal that at that time she simply refused to go. "I do not want to go to Placer County or Nevada County or any of the rural areas with a Black cameraman. We were frankly afraid," she said. While at KCRA, Ginger met and married her husband, who was working at the capitol. They have one daughter, named after Gingers mother. After nearly a decade, she moved on to work for a Bay Area TV station as their Capitol reporter. So she was able to continue living in Sacramento with her family. "I reported on Jerry Brown's first incarnation as governor and I went to New Hampshire, when he ran for president, and I guess my biggest story there was the opening of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant," Rutland said. She showed us the Emmy award she won for the story on the plant. Rutland shares the award with her husband, who became her producer. After a decade, the bureau closed and Rutland would say goodbye to TV news. She then landed a job on the editorial board at the Sacramento Bee. "I thought I was going to go to NBC, ABC, CBS and all those things. My goal was frankly to be the CBS correspondent in Paris and as I look back, I thought that was really not a good career move for me," Rutland said. "I grew up in Sacramento, I knew Sacramento and my advantage for a bunch of reasons was that I knew this town really well. I think that was an asset as a reporter." Now she enjoys spending time with her two grandsons and writing opinion articles in the paper. Rutland republished her mothers memoir, 'When We Were Colored'. "Its a story about what its like to move from a fully segregated world to suddenly an integrated world," she said. You can also add playwright to Gingers list of accomplishments. She turned the book into a play it starred her niece, who portrayed her mother. To sum up her career in television, Rutland said, "It was a great ride. It was a great ride." MIAMI -- The school system in Florida's most populous county includes students whose families moved here from 160 nations. Its expansive cultural mix is represented in the district's curriculum, which includes not only American history, but also the stories of violent government upheavals, such as the revolution of enslaved people who founded Haiti, and the more recent political trauma of protesters who fled or perished in Castro's Cuba. But as Florida lawmakers consider legislation to police what students are taught, Miami Beach Senior High School teacher Russell Rywell wonders if he will still be able to discuss how some of his students' ancestors arrived in the United States. "How do you teach slavery? The slave trade? The Holocaust?" asked Rywell, a speech and debate teacher who has taught in Miami-Dade County's public schools for 11 years. "How do you teach these issues without talking about the participants and the roles they played?" As part of the "stop-woke" agenda of Gov. Ron DeSantis, R, Florida lawmakers are now considering bills that would allow almost anyone to object to any instruction in public school classrooms. DeSantis wants to give people the right to sue schools and teachers over what they teach based on student "discomfort." The proposed legislation is far-reaching and could affect even corporate human resources diversity training. While the legislation mirrors national efforts to ban critical race theory in schools, the debate in Florida has turned especially raw and emotional, a testament to how central multiculturalism is to the state's identity. Many parents and teachers - who note that critical race theory is not taught in Florida's public schools and is already banned under state law - fear the legislation would force teachers to whitewash history, literature and religion courses. In recent days, advocates on both sides of Florida's ideological divide have said they are girding for a divisive political fight in a state where more than 1 in 5 residents are foreign-born and nearly half the population is Latino, Black or Asian American. Political analysts say the battle could have wide-ranging impacts that carry over into the 2022 midterms and DeSantis's reelection campaign. Florida voters have shifted to the right in recent elections. But many analysts remain skeptical that residents want to upend how cultural and ethnic histories are shared in classrooms and workplaces, raising questions about how far DeSantis can tug at the seams of Florida's demographic makeup. "A lot of people have been begging the Republican Party to be more inclusive, and if you look at the gains that were made in 2020, it was with Latino Republicans," said Susan A. MacManus, a retired political science professor at the University of South Florida and a widely respected state political analyst. "But things change, and with the debate over [critical race theory] . . . we may see challenged doctrines with regards to party voting and ethnic voting, and the old tried-and-true explanations may no longer apply." In speeches, DeSantis has sought to frame his "anti-woke" agenda as pushback against "a form of cultural Marxism" that elevates some historical lessons while downplaying others. "The goal is to delegitimize the founding of this country, the principles that the founders relied on, our institutions, our constitution, to tear basically at the fabric of our society," DeSantis said in a recent speech at the Common Sense Society, an international research institute for conservatives. "And they want to replace it with effectively left-wing ideology as the founding ethos of America. That would be a disaster." Florida Democratic lawmakers, who have been in the minority for nearly a generation, argue that DeSantis is polarizing the state while positioning himself for a possible presidential campaign, where predominantly White, conservative voters will play a crucial role in deciding the GOP nominee. "What is happening is our governor is competing with the governor of Texas over who will be the heir apparent to Donald Trump," said Florida House Democratic Whip Ramon Alexander, who is Black. "It's all about who can go to the farthest extremes of the Republican Party." Even some Florida Republicans lament DeSantis's approach, which they describe as divisive and a step back from how past state GOP leaders have governed. "Our party has become mean, and driven by emotion on whom we dislike," said Alex Patton, a Gainesville-based Republican consultant and pollster. "But that is the driving force in American politics right now." Florida legislators are debating two versions of DeSantis's Stop Woke Act, known as SB148 in the state Senate and HB7 in the House. DeSantis uses "woke" as an acronym he devised for "Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees." Under the Senate bill, Florida businesses could not mandate that employees attend diversity trainings that cause any individual to "feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any form of psychological distress." Employees who are distressed by a training could file a lawsuit against their employers. The Senate bill also sets new standards for school curriculum, requiring districts to teach "the history and content" of the Declaration of Independence and proper forms of patriotism. Teachers and lesson plans may not imply that any "individual is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously." "An individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, does not bear responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex," the legislation states. HB7 is even more expansive, giving parents and state regulators considerable authority to ban books or teachings that cause discomfort, including carefully reviewing lessons about "the Civil War, the expansion of the United States . . . the world wars, and the civil rights movement." A separate bill in the Senate, SB1300, would also appoint a state-trained reviewer in each school district to look over curriculums and textbooks, and establish procedures for any parents or resident to file objections to material they find offensive. Lawmakers are also considering bills that would bar teachers from discussing sexual orientation in primary school, giving parents the right to sue school districts that violate the policy. Vonzell Agosto, a professor of curriculum studies at the University of South Florida, said the Stop Woke Act looks very similar to an executive order signed by then-President Donald Trump in 2020 that barred the use of "divisive concepts," including the idea that the United States is "fundamentally racist or sexist." If it becomes law in Florida, she said, teachers will abandon lessons on issues ranging from the history of civil rights to the Holocaust. "Part of the way you teach the Holocaust in the state of Florida is associating it with prejudice and racism," Agosto said. "Once you make teaching racism taboo, you've made it very difficult to teach about antisemitism. . . . I don't understand how you'd teach the civil rights movement without connecting it to economic injustice and racism." Rywell, the Miami Beach teacher, said if the legislation passes he suspects most teachers will become even more cautious with their words, denying students the benefit of freewheeling classroom discussions. "Teaching is a constant set of judgment calls," Rywell said. "To try to specify, 'This is what you can say, this is what you can't say,' is very, very difficult. Every word can be interpreted differently." Other flash points in the legislation are provisions that give employees the right to file legal challenges if they are subjected to workplace diversity trainings that make them uncomfortable. Rosalie Ellis Payne, the interim dean of Florida Memorial University's business school, said those provisions could gut corporate trainings in the state's highly diverse tourism industry. "You'll have people in hiring positions who will go back to just dealing with folks who look like them, and they will see nothing wrong with that," said Payne, who previously did human resources work for cruise lines. But the push to crack down on what legislators view as critical race theory, an intellectual movement that examines how policies and laws perpetuate systemic racism, has galvanized conservative parents around the state. For more than a year, angry parents - who began by protesting mask mandates - have been crowding into school board meetings objecting to lesson plans that touch on race, gender or sexual orientation. In response to that pressure, Polk County Public Schools recently removed 16 books from the library including "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini and "Two Boys Kissing" by David Levithan. Rick Stevens, a pastor who is co-founder and director of the Florida Citizens Alliance, a conservative advocacy group, said parents are "horrified" to learn that some children are being taught explicit or potentially traumatic history lessons in classrooms. He is especially worried that lessons about slavery could make White children feel guilty over the actions of their ancestors. "What we don't want teachers to do is to take sides, and that's the objectivity that I believe the governor is trying to solve," Stevens said. "We want them to take sides that slavery was wrong, but they don't need to take sides that one race purposefully did it, and so now that race is forever condemned, and another race is forever exalted. That just doesn't add up. That's just not right." Tina Descovich, a leader of Moms for Liberty, a Sarasota-based conservative group that advocates for "parental rights," said DeSantis is merely responding to parents who have been "opening up backpacks" and finding history lessons or class assignments that are "divisive," especially for students in elementary school. "To say there were slaves is one thing, but to talk in detail about how slaves were treated, and with photos, is another," said Descovich, 47. Asked what age would be appropriate for detailed lessons about the treatment of enslaved people, Descovich said it should be up to parents to decide. "Moms in each community need to have a voice in that discussion," said Descovich, who has been trying to position Moms for Liberty as a nationwide political force in the 2022 midterm elections. Other Florida parents have started organizing against Moms for Liberty and their allies in the Florida Legislature. Lisa Schurr, an attorney who lives in Sarasota, and three other women recently founded Support Our Schools, a statewide group that advocates for what they describe as diverse, fact-based school curriculums and textbooks. "We are all appalled about what is happening in Florida," said Schurr, 62. "They don't want our kids to be critical thinkers. . . . And to say [a student] can't feel discomfort. What about the child of color? What about the gay child? You don't think this legislation is making them feel discomfort? You don't think they have felt discomfort for all of their lives?" Kim Hough, a Melbourne mother aligned with another newly formed group, Families for Safe Schools, said she is alarmed at how quickly the conservative parental rights movement transitioned into a major, statewide political force. "We are all trying to raise socially responsible human beings, in addition to well-educated human beings, so I don't understand the purpose of withholding information from them," said Hough, 48, a former Republican who recently became a Democrat and decided to run for the Brevard County School Board. "If DeSantis gets reelected in 2022, I really fear the rules will be so stringent that local school boards won't even be able to function at that point, and the state will be the end-all-be-all of all rules." DeSantis, however, continues to highlight his "anti-woke" agenda at public events, suggesting he believes it's a political winner. At a recent speech in Gainesville to distribute funding for workforce education programs, DeSantis said the concept of critical race theory is "denigrating our country." "We want to make sure people can go to school without being scapegoated or without being targeted," DeSantis said. "And I think that's where the vast, vast majority of people want to be." But Patton, the GOP strategist, said some of his clients in the Florida legislature are privately "exasperated" over having to consider DeSantis's bills, believing the governor is trading short-term political support for the party's long-term image among "young voters and college-educated voters." "How do you legislate someone feeling discomfort?" Patton asked. "To a lot of [GOP lawmakers], it doesn't make intellectual sense." For now, MacManus, the political scientist, said DeSantis has clearly tapped into the skepticism many suburban White parents who "vote their kids" feel around these issues. Those voters traditionally turn out in higher numbers in a midterm election, she said. In recent weeks, however, MacManus has seen Black mothers - who also tend to have robust turnout - become more galvanized in opposition to DeSantis's efforts. What remains unclear, MacManus said, is how various segments of the state's Latino community view the debate. "[Critical race theory] means different things, to different people depending on their circumstances, their backgrounds and their country of origin," said MacManus, adding that the debate over DeSantis's proposal remains largely anchored in "Black or White" terms. In Miami, some parents say they are starting to pay closer attention to how the proposals could affect their children's education. Liliana Vera, who has three children in Miami-Dade schools, is a first-generation American of Cuban and Argentine descent. In an interview, Vera, 34, recalled a lesson her daughter received on voting rights, which she now worries will be prohibited if the legislation is enacted. "The teacher gave them each a slip of paper and said they would vote on whether the class got recess. Then the teacher took away the papers from all the girls, and then from all the Black and Brown students, and that left only the White kids with the right to vote," Vera said. "I absolutely agreed with that lesson," Vera said. "We don't need to shield kids from the facts. They can handle the truth." - - - The Washington Post's Ted Melnik contributed to this report. BLOOMFIELD A Bloomfield High School student was hospitalized Monday after potentially overdosing on fentanyl, police said. Officers responded to the school around 10:50 a.m. for a medical call and found a 16-year-old student in the security office suffering from an apparent drug overdose, which is suspected to have been caused by marijuana laced with fentanyl, Lt. James Salvatore said. Salvatore said officers and school staff provided first aid, including administering multiple doses of Narcan to reverse the effects of a potential opioid overdose. The student was transported to the Connecticut Childrens Medical Center for further evaluation, Salvatore said. Police are continuing to investigate the incident. Last year, dozens of suspected overdoses were initially wrongly believed to have been caused by marijuana-laced fentanyl, a spokesperson for the state Department of Health said last week. william.lambert@hearstmediact.com As the state considers whether to adjust the required mold and yeast levels in medical cannabis products, patients and others remain concerned about the proposed change and are calling for stricter testing standards. The public comment period ended last week on the state Department of Consumer Protections proposed changes, which would set the total limit at 100,000 colony forming units per gram, and wouldnt allow any detectable levels of harmful breeds of mold in the Aspergillus family. As Connecticut prepares to launch its recreational cannabis program, the change would mean increasing the levels for one lab, while the other facility would need to lower its amount after gaining state approval last year for more mold and yeast in its products. While the medical and recreational programs have separate sets of regulations, testing standard changes will be reflected in both programs, said Kaitlyn Krasselt, a Department of Consumer Protections spokesperson. The proposal came in December after medical marijuana patients complained about the state approving a request from AltaSci Labs last year to raise its limits from 10,000 units per gram to 1 million. The approval occurred via email, and patients werent notified of the change. State officials and AltaScis lab director have said the Aspergillus requirement makes the products safer. The other lab, Northeast Laboratories, left its limit at 10,000 units per gram. Some of Connecticuts 54,000 medical marijuana patients have expressed concerns over transparency and the safety of the products after learning the state approved the change for AltaSci Labs. At least two medical marijuana patients who submitted public comments said they have mold allergies. A third who didnt mention an allergy wrote about getting sick from the products. This is medicine, it should have strict standards and the companies producing it need to be held to those standards, one comment read. I am deeply concerned for my health due to the recent update to the mold limit that was behind closed doors, another person commented. Others expressed concerns about transparency and communication regarding the state Department of Consumer Protection and the Medical Marijuana Program. I think CT DCP & CT MMP really need to improve communication with producers, dispensaries & patients, one comment read. Poor communication will limit potential for CT MMP. Poor communication hurts patients. Officials from both of the states labs that test cannabis products also submitted comments. Garrett Johnson, Northeast Laboratories president and director of operations, submitted a comment in support of the change. AltaSci lab director Jose Zavaleta suggested a handful of changes, including that a third party such as a research institution or university verify testing methods are valid and labs retain samples for three months after testing instead of disposing them. Fine Fettle, a Connecticut dispensary, and Willow Industries, a company that creates technology for microbial decontamination, suggested lowering the limit for total yeast and mold count from 100,000 to 10,000 colony forming units per gram. Milan Patel, founder and chief executive officer of testing company PathogenDx, also suggested a change from 100,000 to 10,000 units per gram as well as maintaining testing for Aspergillus molds and E. Coli, among other microbes. Sherman Hom, director of regulatory affairs for Medicinal Genomics, submitted two letters suggesting changes to testing procedures. The state Department of Consumer Protection has not yet reviewed the comments to consider whether changes need to be made, Krasselt said. This is not something were wanting to drag out were wanting to get it done quickly, albeit thoroughly and do it well, Krasselt said. Attorneys with experience in drug control and drug control agents will likely review the comments. If needed, they may consult researchers and outside experts, she added. After the department considers the comments and makes any changes, the proposal will go to the Attorney Generals office for review. If approved, it goes to the Legislative Regulations Review Committee, which has 45 days to put it on the agenda, Krasselt said. Things looked up at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport in 2021, but the cloudy skies still havent cleared. The airport attracted 156,786 departing passengers last year, up 41.5% from 2020 when COVID-19 decimated air travel. Thats still barely half its 2019 record of 296,632 departures. The pandemic continues to thwart a full recovery, airport Executive Director Carl Beardsley Jr. said. I dont think theres any question about (that), Beardsley said. You have business flyers who dont necessarily want to go (anywhere), but Im very encouraged by the fact that we are growing right now because there are many airports that arent seeing this level of growth. Before the pandemic began in March 2020, the airport broke monthly departure records in 16 of the preceding 19 months and appeared well on its way to achieving projections of more than 335,000 passengers a year by 2035. Beardsley acknowledged the airport probably wont return to 2019 departure levels without adding a third major airline. In the midst of 2020, Delta Air Lines suspended its flights to its Atlanta hub in April 2020 and its Detroit flights that July. He isnt hopeful Delta will return, at least not anytime soon. The company reported a better year in 2021, but far off 2019. In its latest quarterly report, Delta predicts financial losses in the first quarter of this year with improvement in the spring and summer. I think theyre having a difficult time financially, and lost some money in the last quarter, Beardsley said. Rather than growing, I think their concentration right now is just to get back on the tracks. The airport got good news recently when United Airlines announced the return of twice-daily flights to Newark Liberty International Airport in place of flights to Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C., starting in early March. In a statement, United spokeswoman Kimberly Gibbs said the airline evaluated its East Coast network to closely match supply with demand. The airline will still serve 105 cities, two fewer than before, with the new alignment. Besides the local airport, Pennsylvania airports in Harrisburg, Philadelphia and State College and one in Ithaca, New York, saw routes shift from Dulles to Newark, the airline said. Nine airports in the eastern United States, including Eries, lost United flights to either Chicago or Newark. Beardsley is trying to drum up new service by seeking outside help. In December, the airport board hired Volaire Aviation of Fishers, Indiana, for up to $100,000 to come up with a strategy to attract new air service. Its going to take working with the airlines to make sure they understand that were a market that can bring in additional customers for them and make them profitable, Beardsley said. Its very important that we work with the business community, to make sure that we gather all the support we can from the business people in this area ... to bring in additional passengers and customers. Kevin J. Schorr, a vice president with Campbell-Hill Aviation Group, which also helps airports develop new service, said the local airport is like other small, regional airports. The struggle to regain passengers centers largely on the lack of available pilots for the regional jets that serve airlines like United and American, the local airports remaining airlines. Scranton is definitely not in the minority, Schorr said. I mean, thats the crux of it. Theres shortages of everything nowadays. But the key thing is not enough pilots to fly all the hours that United, Delta and American wants from their regional (jet) partners. So theyre making really tough choices. In some cases, just reducing (flight) frequencies, but in some cases, dropping a route, or dropping an airport entirely, like you saw with Delta. 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: Foreign Shipping Traffic 2022, January Published: 7 February 2022 Sea transport decreased in December The goods volume of foreign sea transport was in total 7.9 million tonnes in December 2021. Sea transport decreased by two per cent from last year's December. Exports decreased by three per cent and were 4.3 million tonnes. Import volume decreased by two per cent and amounted to 3.6 million tonnes. Foreign sea Transport by month (tonnes) in 2019 to 2021 General cargo was transported most, in total 1.3 million tonnes, which was 16 per cent of all transport. The second most transported were oil products, 0.9 million tonnes, and ores and concentrates, 0.9 million tonnes. Container transport A total of 0.9 million tonnes of containers were transported through Finnish ports in December 2021, which was 3 per cent less than in December 2020. The number of containers transported was 61,417 (109,175 TEU containers) 1) . Exports of containers went down by 6 per cent measured in tonnes and imports went up by 3 per cent compared to December 2020. Vehicle transport A total of 217,978 transport equipment were transported in foreign sea traffic in December 2021. Most transports of transport equipment were cars belonging to passengers. In December, 123,578 cars belonging to passengers were transported. The second most transported were trucks, 55,232 and truck trailers, 35,202. Passenger traffic A total of 692,740 persons were transported in passenger traffic in December 2021. In all, 325,906 passengers between Finland and Sweden, 358,609 passengers travelled between Finland and Estonia and 8,225 passengers between Finland and Germany. Compared with December 2020, the number of passengers more than doubled. Compared with December 2019, the number of passengers was, however, just 51 per cent. In December 2021, no passengers of foreign cruise ships arrived in Finland. Vessel traffic and goods volume in the Saimaa Canal A total of 92,772 tons of transport were registered through the canal in foreign traffic. Crude minerals and cement were transported most in vessels in foreign traffic, in total 37,364 tonnes. The second most transported was fertilizers. 1) TEU, the basic measurement unit of container traffic, refers to one container that is twenty feet long, eight feet wide and 8.5 feet high. Source: Transport and tourism, Statistics Finland Inquiries: Olli Kajava 029 551 3531, olli.kajava@stat.fi Head of Department in charge: Hannele Orjala Publication in pdf-format (167.6 kB) Updated 07.02.2022 Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Foreign Shipping Traffic [e-publication]. ISSN=2670-2002. December 2021. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 2.5.2022]. Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/uvliik/2021/12/uvliik_2021_12_2022-02-07_tie_001_en.html Representatives of the Romanian Embassy in Copenhagen visited the Rotundu spouses on Sunday in the detention centers where they are currently being held. "In the dialogue with the two Romanian citizens, the representatives of the diplomatic mission made sure that they knew their rights and provided them with informative material containing the most important rules that apply to detained people or placed under preventive custody in Denmark. The Romanian citizens stated that their rights are respected in the detention centers, that they had meetings with their lawyers and that they benefit from their support", according to a Foreign Ministry (MAE) release sent to AGERPRES. At the same time, the Romanian diplomats informed the minor's parents about his state of health and confirmed to them that they are in permanent dialogue with the extended family members. They also underlined that the competent Romanian authorities pay special attention to the case, being notified and involved also the institutions of the Romanian state with attributions in the matter of assistance and protection of minors. In the context of the visits, the representatives of the embassy initiated the legal steps necessary for the registration of the Danish birth certificate of the minor in the Romanian civil status registers, a process completed by the issuance on Sunday of the Romanian birth certificate, Agerpres.ro informs. The MAE states that, according to the legal norms of the state of residence, the competent local authorities have started a social investigation, establishing on January 31, 2022 the measure of temporary placement on the minor. In this context, the representatives of the embassy established contact with a representative of the Danish municipality, the authority responsible for providing special support to children and their families, according to Danish law, and requested the support of the Danish authorities to obtain agreement to visit the minor. The MAE, through the Romanian Embassy in Copenhagen, continues the dialogue with the Danish authorities, the minor's parents and their designated lawyers and provides consular protection and assistance to Romanian citizens according to their competences, in compliance with legal norms. The maternal grandparents of the child Mathias Rotundu, located in Vaslui County, were the first to express their readiness to take care of him, and the National Authority for the Rights of the Child and Adoption started the evaluation procedures, the Minister of Family, Youth and Equal Opportunity Gabriela Firea said on Monday on Facebook. The Minister of the Family explained that he had asked the Danish authorities for a common solution for bringing the child of the Rotundu family to Romania. The two Romanian parents of the child were detained by the Danish authorities after they went to the hospital with the minor, and the child is hospitalized in a medical unit in Denmark. Monday's plenary sitting of the Chamber of Deputies debating the Save Romania Union (USR) simple motion was suspended, after the speech of the Minister of Energy, Virgil Popescu, was interrupted by George Simion, leader of Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), who went and took Popescu by the arm, having an exchange of remarks with him. During Minister Popescu's speech, George Simion shouted from the hall. "I am asking Mr. Simion to go to Putin to lower the price of gas," Popescu told Simion. In reply, he came to the rostrum and called Popescu a 'thief', Agerpres.ro informs. The sitting was adjourned for a short time, after which the chairman of the sitting, Daniel Suciu, said that it was unprecedented for a minister to be physically assaulted during the speech in Parliament and suspended the sitting. Last Tuesday, the Save Romania Union (USR) submitted a simple motion entitled "Incompetence and lies shut down the light in Romania. Minister 'next week' Virgil Popescu, a danger to Romania's energy security," signed by 51 deputies. According to USR, Minister Popescu "endangers" Romania's energy security every day and must resign immediately. The Minister of Energy, Virgil Popescu, does not return to the plenary hall of the Chamber of Deputies, where the simple motion against him is being debated, in protest against the gesture made by George Simion, leader to AUR. Popescu was asked how he categorized the gesture of Simion, who went to the tribune while talking, grabbed him by the arm and told him that he was a 'thief'. "It is an unqualified gesture for a parliamentarian, for a deputy. I am also a deputy, I am not in the first term, something like this has never happened before. (...) As a sign of protest, I will not return to the hall, I will give a written statement, the answer to the simple motion, and so will my colleagues in the PNL group. It is not about fear, it is about sounding the alarm that we are in the Romanian Parliament, we are not in the inter-war period, we are not in an area of sad memory, things must return to normal", he said at the Parliament Palace, Agerpres.ro informs. Monday's plenary sitting of the USR Chamber of Deputies debating the simple USR motion was suspended for several minutes after AUR MP leader George Simion interrupted Energy Minister Virgil Popescu's speech and took him by the arm, having an exchange of remarks with Popescu. Dacian Ciolos announced on Monday that he was resigning as Save Romania Union (USR) Chairman and mentioned he was not considering a new candidacy at the next congress of the party. "I thought natural and commonsensical to tender my resignation, because the sense for which I ran for the party chairmanship was to contribute to the party modernising - which I think this party needs after the merger - and for this thing to happen I also needed the support and complicity of the National Bureau. My belief is that USR is still an alternative on the political stage of Romania, an alternative to extremism. (...) I shall no longer run for chairman. It makes no sense," Ciolos showed, in a press conference at the party headquarters. Ciolos brought to mind that before the USR Congress of 2021 he proposed Dan Barna that neither of them ran for chairman of the party, in order to create the context of a "renewal" inside the political formation. "Here we are, unfortunately, we have reached the same situation, but with a few months' delay. I hope once more that my colleagues have the wisdom and together we have the wisdom to overcome this moment, for USR to become what we all wish for," he said. On the other hand, Ciolos said he had repeatedly been confronted with an 11 to 14 vote in the National Bureau, which showed a fissure in the party, potrivit Agerpres.ro. "It is not strength that I lacked, but the confidence that we could collaborate together. Power mustn't be concentrated in one single man. And, inside the USR, I don't believe there is anyone who can manage, any man, even from the outside, to concentrate power and carry the party in one direction all by oneself. However, without the confidence that we can collaborate with one another and have common interests, without that confidence (...) it will be tough. When you constantly have a 14 to 11 vote in the National Bureau, it shows that there is a fissure which is hard to overcome. I hope my colleagues can overcome it," said Ciolos. He mentioned that through the project he proposed to the Standing Bureau he endorsed an openness of the party to the business environment and the civil society. At the same time, he highlighted that he would remain a member of the USR. "I remain a party member and I will further seek, along with the other colleagues who believe that this party, in order to have a future, needs renewal, reconnection to the society, needs the courage to admit its limits that must be overcome in the coming period," Ciolos also said. According to him, the interim leadership of the party would be ensured by Catalin Drula, the deputy chair who garnered the highest number of votes in the National Bureau. Nonetheless Ciolos said that the party should start debating on a modification of the statutes. "I don't believe that 'business as usual' is still a solution for the USR. (...) I believe the USR still has ahead a period of time in which it will have to learn the lessons of the participation in the governing act, of what happened in the political crisis that we knew at the end of last year, and provide a new platform for what will happen in 2024," Ciolos said. The European Startups Universe incubator was brought to Romania by ROTSA, with the Romanian technology startups at the beginning of their journey, either incorporated locally or in the diaspora, to have February 28 as their registration deadline, according to to a press release sent on Monday to AGERPRES. The European Startups Universe is a parallel incubation program operating in 11 EU countries: Romania, Greece, Spain, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Slovenia. It takes 6 weeks to complete it, starting with March 2022. The initiative is officially supported by the European Commission's Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Mariya Gabriel, and the European Committee of the Regions. In Romania, the initiative is implemented by ROTSA - Romanian Tech Startups Association, a non-profit organization that aims to promote, support and represent the interests of technology startups in Romania, regardless of vertical. "It is our organizational mission to bring together the key players in the national ecosystem of technology startups, facilitating their communication and creating connections and partnerships between them. We are glad that we were selected to implement this programme at the national level because we have thus a better opportunity to support the initiatives of internationalization startups and to identify sources of financing to help them to grow," stated Cristiana Bogateanu, ROTSA executive director, Agerpres.ro informs. The programme is aimed at all tech startups in the EU and aims to connect hundreds of startups at the beginning of the road with experts, founders of unicorn startups, investors, VCs, etc. The activities of the programme will take place online in March and April, during which time each team or founder of an early stage tech startup in the EU will have access to funding opportunities, the possibility of scaling to other EU countries and opportunities to find new customers. The incubation programme, organized nationally by the countries involved in the programme, will be followed by sessions with Angel-type investors at the European level, which will be handled by European Startup Universe HQ, the initiator of the project. The maternal grandparents of the child Mathias Rotundu, who live in Vaslui County, were the first to express their readiness to take care of him, and the National Authority for the Rights of the Child and Adoption started the evaluation procedures in this respect, the Minister of Family, Youth and Equal Opportunities, Gabriela Firea, wrote on Facebook. Firea specified that a social investigation of the paternal grandparents' family will also take place, and all the documents and the results of the verifications will be made available to the Danish authorities, in order to serve as a legal basis for our request to bring the child back to Romania. The Minister of Family explained that she asked the Danish authorities for a joint solution to bring the Rotundu family's child back to Romania, arguing that the best solution for any child in a difficult situation is not the state, but the extended family. This principle is also included in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and national legislation is adapted in this regard, Firea said, Agerpres.ro informs. The Minister of Family underscored that the purpose of the Romanian authorities is to reunite the child with his family from Romania, not wanting an intervention in the evaluations of the Danish authorities, but offering support. According to the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two Romanian parents of the child were detained by the Danish authorities after they went to the hospital with the minor, and the child is hospitalized in a medical unit in Denmark. The Federation of Forests and Pastures Owners is protesting on Monday in front of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR) in order to draw attention to the proposal for derisory financing of the forestry sector in the 2023-2027 National Strategic Plan (PNS), financing reduced to 0.6% of the total funding through the National Strategic Plan. "Through this protest, we remind the authorities that Romania is under infringement procedure for not respecting its obligations in what regards the Natura 2000 network [case number is INFR(2020)2023]. On February 12, 2020, the European Commission sent a letter of formal notice to Romania, and later, on July 2, 2020, the European Commission has requested Romania again take the necessary measures to protect and to manage its Natura 2000 networks, insistently urging that Romania combat the illegal logging and better protect the forests in Natura 2000 sites on its territory," mentions a release of the Federation. Following the needs analysis for the forest sector, document sent to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development by the organizations of the forest sector, showed that 30% of Romania's forests have a very reduced degree of accessibility due to the lack of forest roads. In these areas, wood rots in forests and very few wood tending operations are carried out, the Federation's representatives claim. Romania has a national specific through the dependency of 3.5 million homes on the firewood resource, which creates an increased resource need and a deficit on the market, and combating illegal felling cannot be done without legal assurance of the necessary resource, which cannot be obtained without investments in making the forest fund accessible and in exploitation technologies with reduced impact on the environment. Furthermore, Romania has a unique patrimony of biodiversity, and protection of this patrimony cannot be transferred through restrictions towards forest owners, without sustained commitments through mandatory compensatory measures in national and European legislation. "Romania has over 500,000 hectares of wooded pastures. It's absurd to spend 11,000 euro/ha through the PNRR [the National Recovery and Resilience Plan] in order to create a hectare of forest from plantations and concomitantly through the National Strategic Plan to pay subsidies for farmers in order to clear pastures of forest vegetation that has appeared naturally. Supporting the forest-pastoral systems is a measure that is required according to any economic or environment logic," shows the release. The measures identified and proposed for financing under the National Strategic Plan, as part of the consultative process ran by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, include: support for forest-pastoral systems in land management, for the inclusion in a durable management regime the 500,000 hectares of forested pastures; measures to support the implementation of the network of protected areas Natura 2000; measures to invest in making the forest fund accessible and technologies to exploit in an environmentally-friendly manner; voluntary commitments to support the climate impact and for the preservation of biodiversity; measures to support the resilience of forests to climate change, through conducting tending operations and restoring the arboretum damaged by calamities. Two consortia, each consisting of an integrated robotics company and a Romanian factory, have been selected to receive a funding of almost 500,000 euros offered through Transylvania Digital Innovation Hub, to conduct an innovation experiment aimed at automating production, so as to sell the developed solutions to other entities in the same field. According to a press release of the digital innovation hub, sent to AGERPRES on Monday, the two consortia selected for financing, through the pan-European DIH (Digital Innovation Hubs) projects, are: InnoWest: Inno-Robotics (technology company from Cluj-Napoca ) with West Side Production (Satu-Mare Factory) - which will increase productivity by automatically polishing welded metal assemblies; PreBots: Canonical Robots (technology company from Gijon, Spain) with Composite Industries (Zalau Factory) - which will improve the production of Pre-Preg fiber with the help of collaborative robots. The organizations that will benefit from the financing will implement the innovation experiments between February 1, 2022 - November 30, 2022 and will benefit from technical mentoring and entrepreneurial development from the experts of the Transylvania Digital Innovation Hub, but also from the other partners in the project. DIH is a project funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program based on grant agreement no. 824964, with the aim of creating a sustainable network of Digital Innovation Hubs specializing in robotics, which will facilitate the commercialization and widespread adoption of solutions for agile manufacturing. Transylvania Digital Innovation Hub, the first Digital Innovation Center in Romania, recognized as operational by the European Commission, operates in the North - West region of Romania, through the Transylvania IT Cluster. With a history of almost five years, the organization has managed to bring under the same umbrella a partnership composed of clusters representing different industries, three universities, the National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies (INCDTIM) and other support entities. The General Prosecutor's Office announced having signed a 2 million euro financing contract for a project aimed at setting in place an efficient, accessible and high-quality criminal justice system for child victims of crime and for the victims of hate crimes, with a special focus on the Roma population, a release informs on Monday. As a project promoter and partnership leader, the General Prosecutor's Office will implement the project activities together with several partners, specifically the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), the Justice Ministry - through the Crime Prevention Directorate, and five Social Assistance and Child Protection General Directorates from the Bucharest sectors 2 - 6. The project will run for 27 months with a budget of 2,000,000 euros provided under the "Justice" program of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014-2021, a program managed by the Justice Ministry, as a program operator. The project's end beneficiaries are children who have been victims of crime, Roma victims of crime, the victims of hate crimes and their families, people who will benefit from a more efficient judiciary, including an efficient chain of justice and strengthened rule of law. Labour Minister Marius Budai said on Monday that achieving the targets in Romania's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNNR) is on schedule and the targets will be implemented, adding that PNRR will be renegotiated when the ruling coalition so decides. Asked if he still believes that PNRR can be optimised or amended, Budai said: "Certainly. It can and will be negotiated when the coalition so decides. (...) PNRR implementing regulations at European level provides for the possibility to discuss PNRR piecemeal or wholesale. We do not want to discuss PNRR wholesale. We have all said that we are extremely determined to implement PNRR. We will negotiate when the coalition and the coalition's working so decide politically." Budai added that hiking state pensions this year "is a wish we are all working on," adding that an analysis is being made and will be made public when a decision is made, Agerpres.ro informs. The most important of the 24 targets in PNRR that have to be achieved before March 31 are legislation on the Second Pillar pensions and the law on public pay, National Liberal Party (PNL) national chairman Florin Citu said on Monday, adding that Romania risks losing money unless the targets are achieved. The border guards with the Cenad Border Crossing Point (PTF Cenad), Timisoara County, have detected, in the past days, two groups of citizens from Sri Lanka, while they were attempting to illegally exit the country, hidden in a car driven by a Romanian citizen, the Timisoara Border Police announced, through a release sent on Monday to AGERPRES. Thus, at the Cenad Border Crossing Point, on Friday, a vehicle presented in order to exit the country, driven by a Romanian citizen aged 27, accompanied by another Romanian citizen, aged 21. At the control conducted, border policemen noted that between the backseat and the front seats there was a woman hidden, while the trunk held another four men, foreign citizens, hiding under a cover. Following investigation, border police officers found the persons detected to be from Sri Lanka, aged 26 to 53, holders of documents allowing residence in Romania. Furthermore, on Sunday, border police officers in the Sannicolau Mare sector detected, 50 meters from the border, in the range of the Beba Veche locality, another four Sri Lankan citizens that held residence permits in Romania. The foreign citizens stated that they tried to exit the country illegally, on foot, as they wanted to reach a state in Western Europe and they did not hold a valid visa for the Schengen Area. In both cases, investigations are being conducted under the coordination of the Prosecutor's Offices teams competent to deal with the illegal border crossing attempt charge for the Sri Lankan citizens, as well as with the smuggling migrants charge brought against the two Romanian citizens. The Minister of National Defence, Vasile Dincu, had a meeting on Monday, at the Ministry of National Defence headquarters, with the Charge d'Affaires of Ukraine in Romania, Paun Rohovei. During the meeting, a series of topics of common interest were addressed, mainly related to the recent developments of the regional security situation, in which context the Minister of National Defence reiterated Romania's solidarity and firm support for integrity, sovereignty, security and European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations of Ukraine, according to a press release sent to AGERPRES. In the same context, it was mentioned "Romania's concern regarding the massive concentration of military troops of the Russian Federation around Ukraine, noting also the Euro-Atlantic solidarity, at NATO and EU level, in condemning the actions with destabilizing potential, as well as the request to renounce this type of conduct, escalation and return to diplomatic dialogue", Agerpres.ro informs. At the same time, according to the Ministry of National Defence, during the discussions, topics related to the stage and prospects of the Romanian-Ukrainian cooperation relations in the field of defence were addressed, confirming the support for the neighboring country's efforts to strengthen the defence capacity. Deputy Ludovic Orban argues that it's time for the government "to lift the restrictions imposed under the state of alert, once we are over the 5th COVID-19 pandemic wave". "Increasingly more countries decide, or are about to decide to cancel health protection measures that restrict the rights and freedoms of their citizens. It's time for Romania to do the same. Freedom also implies individual responsibility. It's time for the government to show its confidence in our citizens, in their sense of responsibility, and cancel the restrictions imposed under the state of alert, once the 5th wave is over," Orban wrote on Facebook on Monday. He goes on to remark that "two years have passed (...) with restrictive measures, with information or disinformation campaigns, with more or less successful attempts to stop the transmission of the virus, with attempts to find vaccines, treatments". "It's time for us to return to normal life. To treat the virus like any other virus. We already know almost everything there is to know about COVID-19. We know how it spreads. We know how to protect ourselves. We know what risks it poses. We can get vaccinated for free, or we can strengthen our immune system if we don't want to get vaccinated. How we relate to the virus is already a personal matter," the former Liberal leader wrote. Western Oradea is the only city in Romania nominated in a European competition to receive the title of "Best European destination in 2022", by a known platform for promoting tourism and European culture, voting being to conclude in three days, the Association for Promoting Tourism in Oradea and in the Region (APTOR), informed on Monday. According to a press release sent by APTOR, Oradea can be voted on the website www.vote.ebdest.in until February 10. The competition is organized by the EuropeanBestDestinations.com, the most visited website for tourism in Europe, in partnership with the EDEN network of the European Commission and media partners such as Forbes US, Conde Nast Travelers. Several factors that position Oradea in the top of "must see & experience" tourist destinations in Europe stood at the grounds of the selection: the Art Nouveau architectural marvels, one of the most beautiful medieval citadel, the Oradea Citadel, a paradise of thermal water. "Oradea is a blossoming city, a city of relaxation and health. All these make Oradea a #SlowLivingCity that tourists discover and return to with fondness. We are honored and happy to be nominated among the best European tourist destinations in 2022. Through this nomination we are confident that Oradea will enjoy even more tourists who will discover its architectural and historical marvels. Visitors will find here a homey, fresh and full of life city. We are waiting for you to visit Oradea and we promise that we have all the ingredients for an unforgettable experience in the Art Nouveau capital of Romania!" said Alina Toie, CEO of APTOR. According to the presentation of those from EuropeanBestDestinations.com, Oradea is a "city that fully enjoys each season and energy, in a surprising architectural landscape, becoming one of the most known destinations in the region for a slow, stress-free tourism. As many as 19 tourist destinations in Europe have also been nominated alongside Oradea. These are Graz and Vienna - Austria, Istanbul - Turkey, London - United Kingdom, Amalfi Coast and Rome - Italy, Crete Island and Athens - Greece, Plovdiv - Bulgaria, Amiens - France, Lucerne - Switzerland, Lahti - Finland, Leuven - Belgium, Ljubljana - Slovenia, Prague - Czech Republic, Bavaria - Germany, Marbella - Spain, Clonakilty - Ireland and Nijmegen - The Netherlands. In June 2020, the same tourist platform designated Oradea as one of the safest travel destinations in the context of the the coronavirus pandemic (Europe Safest Destinations 2020), after public administrator and hospitality operators imposed a series of measures to prevent the spread of the virus. Pago, the Romanian app through which almost 10 million utility bills worth over RON 1.1 billion were paid, has launched the real-time money transfer to any card issued by a bank in Romania, solely with the phone number. Thus, those who have an account in the Pago app can transfer money in real time, at any time, to any card issued by banks in Romania or Revolut, using only the telephone numbers of the recipients. One can also ask for money, and the recipient will receive an SMS with a payment link - no POs, IBANs or registration in the banking platforms. "Money transfer is, along with bill payment, one of the most frequently used functionalities in Romanian financial apps. Based on suggestions from Pago users, we've created a better payment experience, with transfers made in real time, at any time, including at the weekends or public holidays, between any two cards, regardless of the issuing bank. For now, we have the possibility to transfer between cards issued by Romanian banks or Revolut, and we will launch later this year the transfer option between any cards issued by banks in the European Union," said Adrian Cighi, CEO and co-founder of Pago. Moreover, to mark the launch of this new feature, the first money transfers made by a Pago user with a Visa card will be free between February 7 and March 30, 2022. During this period, Visa cardholders who are also Pago users will also benefit from other special offers. Pago is an app launched in 2017, with the help of which one can pay bills to over 380 utility providers, local taxes and fees, phone card top-ups, RCA (mandatory vehicle insurance) and travel insurance or donations to NGOs. The app can be downloaded for free to your phone from the App Store, Google Play or Huawei AppGallery. Pago is also present in Poland, and will be launched in Italy. The "Plague T-Shirt" exhibition, created by artist Athena Dumitriu, will open on Thursday, at 5.00 pm, at the Aquarium Hall of the National Museum of the Romanian Peasant (MNTR). According to a press release of the MNTR sent to AGERPRES on Monday, Athena Dumitriu makes a "Plague T-Shirt" from hemp, starting from an ancient healing habit, which she reinterprets in a contemporary key and adapted to the current times. "After two years into a pandemic, in which we suspected each other at every sneeze, where our souls were saddened at every illness of a loved one or when we mourned our loved ones alone, we feel how we lose confidence in the optimistic slogan "Everything will be fine." In secret, the artist hopes that the restoration of this magical act will bring us the healing that we all want and long for," the statement said. The National Museum of the Romanian Peasant contributed to this exhibition with images of the icons representing Saint Haralambie, celebrated on February 10th, the protector and defender of people and animals against diseases, who is always depicted stepping on death or plague, and very often tied with a chain or rope. "In the Image Archive we have identified photographs that show how hemp plants become textile yarns, such as honeycomb, bleached and then spun. The museum library was the zero point of this research, the place that provided information about traditional medical folklore and other healing rituals used by Romanian peasants, and now that healing is no longer about sacrifices and rituals, we believe it is important to look to the future with hope, and why not keep a piece of magical thinking in our lives, it would help us get through the hardships," he said. According to ancient beliefs, the plague and other diseases were caused by the devil, demons, or evil spirits, and in order to regain health, these evil spirits needed to be cast out. Lacking medical information and other means of protection, the peasants believed in the healing magic of an item of clothing made of hemp, because "its threads were loved by devils and witches." The exhibition can be visited at the Aquarium Hall, until February 20, from Tuesday to Sunday, between 10.00 am and 6.00 pm. It is closed on Mondays. Along with other media outlets, AGERPRES is a media partner of the event. Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca has decided to invite, on Tuesday, at the Government, the representative trade federations in education for a discussion "on the basis of the draft agreement with the Education Ministry," shows a release of the Executive. The Prime Minister analyzed, on Monday, together with the Education Minister, the issues in education and the demarches necessary to implement the Educated Romania project. "The agreement is an essential step for the optimum implementation of measures that the educational system needs, as well as to support its employees, for reforming legislation in education following the principles and strategic objectives established by the Educated Romania project," the release shows. "The pupil is at the center of this system in which teachers represent the determining factor. We need a well-prepared and motivated human resource, dedicated to teaching, recognizing, at the same time, the role of the auxiliary teaching and non-teaching staff in the framework of the educational system. The Government fully understands the importance of a coherent and inclusive approach on behalf of all factors involved in the education process in Romania," said the Prime Minister, quoted in the release. The trade federations in education requested, at the end of last week, the parties in the governing coalition publicly state, until Monday, if they support Romanian education or not, given the "refusal" of Prime Minister Ciuca to sign an agreement. The trade organizations claim that the Government does not desire the conclusion of such deals, offering, in exchange, the possibility of concluding an agreement with the Minister of Education. The most important of the 24 targets under Romania's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) that have to be achieved prior to March 31 are legislation on the Second Pillar of pensions and the law on public pay, national Chairman of the National Liberal Party (PNL) Florin Citu said on Monday at the Senate, adding that Romania is at risk of losing money unless the targets are achieved. "There are some important things [at the Ministry of Labour]. One is legislation for the Second Pillar pensions, which is very important, and the second is about the public payroll law. There are other targets, there are 24 targets that have to be achieved by March 31, otherwise we lose money, and I would like to see that minister who comes up before the Romanians and says that he or she did not have time to deal with the matter and we will not receive the money under PNRR," Citu said when asked if he has signals that the Ministry of Labour could meet its PNRR commitments on state pensions and public pay. Regarding PNL's support for Labour Minister Marius Budai, Citu said once again that everything the party wants to say is done within the governing coalition. Budai previously said that increasing state pensions is needed, and the Social Democratic Party (PSD) "put that on its governing agenda." He said that as the labour minister he would in no way give up on state pensions being increased and the inequities in the state pension system ironed out. Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca disapproves of the act of aggression against a member of the Government, during a debate in the Parliament and calls for "decency and responsibility". "This reprehensible gesture, which marks an unprecedented degradation of the political dialogue in the legislature, is part of a worrying series of acts of incitement to violence, far beyond the limits of the free expression of a political opinion. Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca calls for decency and responsibility, in order not to publicly expose political expressions totally opposed to the Euro-Atlantic values that Romania has assumed", shows the message of the Prime Minister sent by the Government's spokesman Dan Carbunaru, Agerpres.ro informs. Monday's plenary sitting of the Chamber of Deputies debating the simple USR motion was suspended, after the speech of the Minister of Energy, Virgil Popescu, was interrupted by George Simion, leader of AUR, who went to the rostrum and grabbed his arm, having an exchange of remarks with the former. Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca discussed on Monday in a meeting with the Ministers of Energy, Finance and Agriculture, the impact of the measures adopted by the Government in the economic and energy fields, the participants emphasizing that Romania has no problems with food security, the Government informed in a press release. "Government representatives will continue to assess the situation generated by the increase in gas and electricity prices, the Executive being determined to strengthen the effects of the measures established to help household consumers and ensure the optimal functioning of public services and the economy. The participants also underlined that, according to the analysis of the specialists, it is not necessary to ration food, Romania not being affected by such a perspective," reads the release, Agerpres.ro informs. The meeting was attended by the Ministers of Energy, Virgil Popescu, Finance, Adrian Caciu, and Agriculture, Adrian Chesnoiu, the Secretary General of the Government, Marian Neacsu, and the Prime Minister's Chancellery head, Mircea Abrudean. The project proposed by USR (Save Romania Union) leader Dacian Ciolos, meant to change the structure and functioning of the party, was rejected on Monday by the National Bureau. Political sources told AGERPRES that the project garnered 11 votes in favour and 14 against. "Although the statute does not require a vote on the project, the leader insisted on it. Modifications were also sent. Some were accepted, some were not accepted. From the majority's point of view the essential ones have been rejected by leader Ciolos. The project was rejected, 11 to 14," said the sources. USR leader Dacian Ciolos will hold a press conference on Monday, at 6.00 pm, at the party's headquarters in Kiseleff boulevard no. 55, Agerpres.ro informs. USR Deputy Chairman Dan Barna on Thursday said that the party's leader, Dacian Ciolos, had proposed a series of changes regarding the party's structure and functioning, stating that if the National Bureau did not vote on this programme, he would give up his mandate. However, a day later, USR leader Dacian Ciolos announced in a Facebook post that it was time for the party to support alternative leaders and that Vice President Dan Barna should take "a real step back" and give himself the time he needed "to rebuild himself" politically. Senate President Florin Citu, the national chairman of the National Liberal Party (PNL) has said he will discuss inside the ruling coalition the refusal of Social Democratic Party's Titus Corlatean to start the procedure for hearing new ambassadors until there is a "direct discussion" with officials of the Presidential Administration and of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so that the rules of "loyal co-operation" among state powers may be followed. "We will discuss this issue in the coalition as well. I know that the appointment of ambassadors is the power of the President of Romania. I have heard [PSD national chairman] Marcel Ciolacu many times say that he respects state hierarchies and knows them very well," Citu said on Monday at the Senate. Chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee Titus Corlatean told AGERPRES on Sunday that the week before, when he was on a foreign mission with a European mandate, he accidentally found out from the Romanian media about the decrees signed by the President recalling ten ambassadors and the decrees appointing another 12 new ambassadors, at the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "We have a very well-defined legal power and, personally, I cannot and will not accept that Parliament should be treated as a mere mailbox without being officially, institutionally informed prior to the dissemination of such information to the press. So, there will be no hearing before the clarification through a very direct discussion with officials of the two institutions in the sense that from now on, in practice, the rules of loyal co-operation among state powers will be observed," added Corlatean. On Friday, President Klaus Iohannis signed decrees recalling ten ambassadors, including Romania's permanent representative to the United Nations in New York Ion Jinga. Also on Friday, several proposals for Romanian ambassadors were submitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including the ambassadors to Moldova, Ukraine, and the UN. The simple motion submitted by Save Romania Union (USR) against the Minister of Energy, Virgil Popescu, will be debated in plenary session on Monday, and will be put to the vote on Wednesday. Last Tuesday, USR filed a simple motion titled "Incompetence and lies shut down the light in Romania. Minister 'next week' Virgil Popescu, a danger for Romania's energy security". According to USR, Minister Popescu "endangers" Romania's energy security every day and must leave this position immediately. The signatories of the motion claim that the current Minister of Energy was given the "chance" to reform the energy system and put his shoulder to the consolidation of Romania's energy security, but "the same disaster and the same combinations have continued for the last 31 years". At the same time, USR describes as "a disaster" the management of the energy bill crisis, mentioning that Romanians have ended up paying "huge" sums, and people and the economy are suffering due to some "bad" decisions made by Minister Virgil Popescu. "The greatest danger to Romania's energy security comes from Virgil Popescu. The figures and facts say everything about his catastrophic tenure at the helm of the Ministry of Energy: managing the energy bill crisis is a disaster; 25 percent of the installed power in Romania's electricity generation capacities has been shut down; gas imports reached almost 30 percent of total national consumption; the offshore law, which would have given the prospect of starting investments in the exploitation of Black Sea gas, is still blocked; Romania has become a net importer of electricity importer between 2019 and 2021; new investments in the energy system are blocked due to delays and legislative blockages also generated by Virgil Popescu; more than 10 billion euros from the Modernization Fund lie unused due to incompetence; sinecure offices for party leadership in state-owned energy companies has flourished more than anywhere else," the signatories of the simple motion further maintain. The sitting of the Chamber of Deputies was resumed on Monday, after the incident in which the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) leader George Simion assaulted Minister of Energy, Virgil Popescu, but he will no longer participate and will submit his point of view in writing, and the deputies of Social Democratic Party (PSD), National Liberal Party (PNL), Hungarian Democratic Union (UDMR) and of the national minorities leave the sitting. "It was decided in the committee of group leaders to continue the debates. The Minister has decided not to attend the meeting and will send his point of view in writing. (...) The PNL group will leave the sitting room, the procedure of debating the motion will continue. I would have expected the sitting not to continue today, as such monstrosities have nothing to look for in the Parliament," announced the leader of the PNL deputies, Gabriel Andronache. The leader of the PSD deputies, Alfred Simonis, specified, in his turn, that the social democrats do not participate in the meeting either. "I would have preferred the meeting not to be resumed, to be taken only to the final vote. Unfortunately, the USR and AUR have decided to continue the sitting. The PSD group will also leave the sitting," Simonis said. The leader of the UDMR deputies, Csomo Botond, announced that the UDMR also decided not to attend the sitting, in protest. "We believe that what happened was very serious and the regulations need to be amended, to have drastic sanctions," the UDMR leader added. USR MP Dan Barna said that "what happened is unacceptable and intolerable" and called for the regulation to be amended, saying it was important for citizens to know what was going on with the bills. "What the majority is doing is taking advantage of the violence to give up the debate, I did not agree," Barna said. Monday's plenary sitting of the Chamber of Deputies debating the simple USR motion was suspended, after the speech of the Minister of Energy, Virgil Popescu, was interrupted by George Simion, leader of AUR, who went to the rostrum and assaulted him, having an exchange of remarks with Popescu, Agerpres.ro informs. During Minister Popescu's speech, George Simion shouted from the hall. "Can I tell Mr. Simion to go to Mr. Putin to make the gas cheaper?" Popescu told Simion. In reply, he came to the rostrum and abruptly called Popescu, calling him a 'thief'. "Mr. Simion, get your hands on the minister. I ask the quaestors to remove Mr. Simion," said Daniel Suciu, chairman of the sitting. The sitting was adjourned for a short time, after which Daniel Suciu said that it was unprecedented for a minister to be physically assaulted during the speech and suspended the meeting. Catalin Drula will ensure the interim leadership of USR (Save Romania Union), after Dacian Ciolos resigned from his position as leader, the party's spokesman, Ionut Mosteanu, informed on Monday. "A short meeting of the National Bureau has just ended. Dacian Ciolos will make statements at 6.00 pm, when he will give more details related to his decision. Catalin Drula will become the interim chairman of the party - as he is the deputy chairman who received the most votes at the congress of the party. It's a difficult time for the party and I am sorry that we got here so quickly after last year's congress and the election of the chairman. I trust the wisdom of my colleagues. It is important at this time to stay united. The party still has a lot to say," he told Antena 3 private television broadcaster, Agerpres.ro informs. The USR spokesperson mentioned that Dacian Ciolos will remain in the party. "Dacian Ciolos remains in the party. He has done a lot for the Romanian politics, for European politics and he will certainly do a lot in the future. (...) Dacian Ciolos confirmed this to us, that he will make efforts to keep the party united and I have confidence in this. (...) Dacian Ciolos has given up his chairman mandate. He even said that he will stay in the party and asked his colleagues to stay united," the USR representative said. Mosteanu also stated that the date of the next congress, for the election of the new chairman, is not yet known. According to him, the proposal made by Dacian Ciolos regarding the establishment of committees to include civil society representatives was not in line with the provisions of the current statute. "No names have been proposed and not even the detailed way of setting up these committees. (...) This proposal exceeds the statutory basis according to which USR operates. In USR, decisions are made by the statutory bodies: National Bureau, Political Committee, Congress. I have not for a second rejected the consultation with the civil society and sectoral specialists (...), but the decisions will be made by the statutory forums. (...) If you formalize such a committee, outside the party, when it makes some proposals and the party rejects them, it is already creating a big problem and a great animosity," he showed. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Several St. Louis-area restaurants have joined together for a fundraiser to benefit the Very Asian Foundation, created after KSDK reporter Michelle Li shared a viewer voicemail telling her to keep her Korean to herself. Timed to follow last weeks celebration of Lunar New Year, the fundraiser runs Feb. 7-14 and features 15 restaurants donating a portion of their sales to the Very Asian Foundation. Organizers include the Asian American Chamber of Commerce and Shayn Prapaisilp, whose family operates the Thai restaurants Chao Baan and the King & I. KSDK reporter gets racist message for being very Asian KSDK (Channel 5) reporter Michelle Li, who grew up in Missouri, reported on traditional foods for New Years and mentioned Korean dumpling soup. Nobody should ever be attacked for sharing details about their culture, Prapaisilp said in a statement. If everyone took the time to learn about others, we would have more compassion, respect and care for one another. Li received the racist message after she mentioned on air her New Years tradition of eating dumpling soup. Most of the participating restaurants are donating the sales from their respective dumplings (e.g., gyoza, potstickers, mandu). The list of participating restaurants and the details of each restaurants offer, as provided by the organizers: Akar (7641 Wydown Boulevard, Clayton) Dumpling of the day (e.g., pork and chive stuffed dumpling with black rice vinegar and ponzu). Chao Baan (4087 Chouteau Avenue) Potsticker starter. Chao Baan will also be donating 10% of total sales on Feb. 9-10. Corner 17 (6623 Delmar Boulevard, University City) Any of the restaurants eight varieties of dumplings, including colorful options in purple, orange and green. Drunken Fish (multiple locations) Gyoza, regular and large orders. Hello Poke (Food Hall at City Foundry, 3730 Foundry Way) 5% of all daily sales will be donated Feb. 11-13. Indo (1641D Tower Grove Avenue) Gyoza starter. Kimchi Guys (612 North 2nd Street and 282 Skinker Boulevard) Kimchi Mandu appetizer King & I (3155-3157 South Grand Boulevard) Potsticker appetizer. King & I also will donate 10% of total sales on Feb. 9-10. Mai Lee (8396 Musick Memorial Drive, Brentwood) Mai Lee will donate 10% of total sales on Feb. 10. Nami Ramen (278 Skinker Boulevard) Nami Ramen will donate a portion of proceeds from all appetizer sales for the weeklong giveback. Nippon Tei (14025 Manchester Road) Gyoza, pork and chicken dumplings. Nudo House (6105 Delmar Boulevard and 11423 Olive Boulevard) Nudo House will donate 10% of total sales on Feb. 10 at its locations. Sando Shack Available only for pre-order (here) and pick-up at the Hello Poke kitchen at the Food Hall at City Foundry. 10% of sales will be donated 5-7 p.m. on Feb. 7, Feb. 9 and Feb. 10. Seoul Taco (multiple locations) Potstickers made with pork and vegetables. Seoul Taco will donate 10% of sales on Feb. 9-10 at locations in Chesterfield, the Grove, Kirkwood and the Delmar Loop. Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. MONDAY, Feb. 7, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- The type of drill your dentist uses just might determine your chances of catching COVID-19 while in the chair. So claims new research that suggests dentists can significantly improve patient safety during the pandemic by switching the type of drill they use. British researchers used a harmless virus similar in size and structure to SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, to compare the aerosol spray patterns produced by conventional air-driven drills and newer electric drills. Reducing aerosol spray provides a safer environment for both patients and the dental team. Using a dummy head and simulated saliva, the researchers found that the electric drill produced 99.98% less aerosol spread of the virus into the air, compared with the air drill. When a dental suction tool was used with the electric drill, there was no detectable virus on surfaces or in air samples taken six to 10 minutes afterwards, the findings showed. The researchers also found that changing from air to electric drills can significantly reduce the time needed between appointments to make dental spaces safe, potentially enabling dentists to see many more patients during the pandemic. The study was published recently in the Journal of Dental Research. "The issue for dentists during the coronavirus pandemic is that their routine work involves creating an aerosol spray in a confined space with an associated risk of airborne spread of COVID-19," said lead clinical author Brian Nattress, a professor in the University of Leeds' School of Dentistry. "This is the first time the spread of a harmless COVID-19-like virus has been analyzed during routine drilling procedures," Nattress noted in a Leeds news release. "If the spread of that aerosol spray can be reduced or eradicated, that has enormous, positive implications for how dentists can go about their daily business, not just during the coronavirus pandemic, but also during future virus outbreaks," according to Nattress. Study co-author David Wood is director of research and innovation at Leeds' School of Dentistry. He said, "This robust scientific evidence addresses how the risks associated with the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus via dental drills can be successfully managed." More information The American Dental Association outlines what to expect when you visit your dentist during the COVID-19 pandemic. SOURCE: University of Leeds, news release, Jan. 31, 2022 Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. MONDAY, Feb. 7, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- It's a fate many older women fear: loneliness and isolation as they age. Now, new research suggests those feelings may also predispose them to heart disease. The findings may be especially relevant now because of social distancing required by the pandemic. "We are social beings. In this time of COVID-19, many people are experiencing social isolation and loneliness, which may spiral into chronic states," said study first author Natalie Golaszewski, a postdoctoral scholar in the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at the University of California, San Diego. "It is important to further understand the acute and long-term effects these experiences have on cardiovascular health and overall well-being," she added in a university news release. The study included nearly 58,000 postmenopausal women in the United States who responded to an initial questionnaire assessing social isolation in 2011-2012, followed by another questionnaire in 2014-2015 that assessed loneliness and social support. The women were followed through 2019 or until they were diagnosed with heart disease. During that follow-up, nearly 1,600 were diagnosed with heart disease. Social isolation and loneliness independently increased heart disease risk by 8% and 5% respectively. Women with high levels of both had a 13%-27% higher risk than those with low levels of social isolation and low levels of loneliness. The researchers pointed out that socially isolated people are not always lonely, and that lonely people are not necessarily socially isolated. "Social isolation is about physically being away from people, like not touching or seeing or talking to other people. Loneliness is a feeling, one that can be experienced even by people who are regularly in contact with others," explained senior author John Bellettiere, assistant professor of epidemiology at the Wertheim School of Public Health. "We do not yet know whether the increased risk of cardiovascular disease is due to acute exposure to social isolation and loneliness, or whether prolonged exposure accumulated over a lifetime is the culprit. Further studies are needed to better understand that," Bellettiere said in the release. One-fourth of adults 65 and older report social isolation, while one-third of adults 45 or older report being lonely. Previous research shows that social isolation is more common among women than men. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for U.S. women, accounting for 1 in every 5 deaths, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Measures of social isolation and loneliness -- even with brief questions as was done in our study -- should be incorporated into standard care," Golaszewski said. "We monitor our patients' blood pressure, weight and temperature, and it might also be beneficial to capture the social needs that individuals may be lacking to better understand cardiovascular risk and develop solutions," she added. The study was published online Feb. 2 in the journal JAMA Network Open. More information The U.S. Office on Women's Health has more on heart disease. SOURCE: University of California, San Diego, news release, Feb. 3, 2022 Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. MONDAY, Feb. 7, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- A motorcycle crash left Michel Roccati with complete lower-body paralysis from a devastating spinal cord injury. That was in 2017. But now, the Italian native is walking again, courtesy of groundbreaking Swiss research that restores motor function within one day by means of carefully targeted electrical stimulation. "At the beginning, I was unable to move the muscles of the legs, and I feel nothing," Roccati recalled recently. Now he can stand, walk and do stairs. In fact, "everything I have in mind to train I can do with the stimulation," Roccati said at a press briefing hosted by Nature Medicine, which recently published the findings. According to the World Health Organization, every year from 250,000 to a half-million people around the world suffer a seriously disabling spinal cord injury, most often the result of a fall, violence or, like Roccati, a traffic accident. Compared to people without this injury, they are two to five times more likely to die prematurely. Roccati is one of three patients enrolled in the Swiss effort, all men between 29 and 41 years old. Each had experienced a complete spinal cord injury at least a year prior to the study's launch. "This means that they could not move the legs, and they did not have any sensation over the legs," said study co-author Dr. Jocelyne Bloch, a neurosurgeon and chief of the functional neurosurgery unit at Lausanne University Hospital in Switzerland. Speaking at the briefing, Bloch noted that in 2020 the three men underwent surgery at NeuroRestore in Lausanne to implant a pacemaker in the abdomen and electrodes directly onto the spinal cord. Those electrodes are themselves an important innovation, explained study colleague and neuroscientist Gregoire Courtine. Constructed to be permanent, they are "precisely positioned to target all the regions of the spinal cord that are relevant to activate trunk and leg muscles," said Courtine, who is with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne. The electrodes were then paired with new software that facilitated a highly personalized mapping of each patient's spinal cord, Courtine said in the briefing. The software also provides a simple tablet-based interface that allows patients and physical therapists to easily set up semi-automated stimulation programs that enable a variety of movements. Patients can operate these programs themselves, via a tablet and small remote controls that can communicate wirelessly to the patient's pacemaker. For Roccati, all this meant that following a 10-day post-surgery recovery period, rehab began -- and "I was able to walk after one day," he said. The remote controls are attached to his walker. "Thanks to this technology, all three patients, immediately after surgery, were able to stand up and walk," said Bloch during the briefing. Pedaling, swimming, and torso movement were also enabled. None reported any pain or side effects triggered by the stimulation. Still, Bloch noted that motor control "was not perfect at the very beginning." And Courtine emphasized that regaining movement post-surgery is a process, "not a miracle." with patients initially needing a lot of physical support. Also, "the recovery of sensation is very different from one patient to the other," he added. "But what it does, is enable an immediate ability to train," Courtine noted. And because the technology is small and portable, that training can take place out in the real world. Every day, with the stimulation turned on, "Michel is able to stand for two hours, and he walks almost 1 kilometer (.6 of a mile) straight, without stopping," in addition to climbing up and down stairs, said Courtine. "When the stimulation is turned off, he had some recovery, but to a very limited extent." Bloch said the technology would almost certainly work equally well among female paralysis patients. And while future research may expand what's possible, Bloch acknowledged one key limitation: "We need at least 6 centimeters of healthy spinal cord under the lesion. That's where we implant our electrodes." Claudia Angeli, director of the University of Louisville's Spinal Cord Injury Research Center in Kentucky, agreed the Swiss team's work is "encouraging," but said other approaches also show merit. "This group is using a very specific stimulation" signaling method, while alternative efforts attempt to enable motor control via direct stimulation of brain signals, she said. Such alternative approaches "have shown similar results," Angeli noted. "There has not been a direct comparison of the two methods, but both are showing promise for recovery following spinal cord injury." Meanwhile, the Swiss team has a trial in the works in the United States. The researchers noted that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a "breakthrough devices" designation to expedite the process whereby the technology could become commercially available. This designation would also ensure coverage through the Medicare Coverage of Innovative Technology program if larger clinical trials are successful, the researchers said. As for Roccati, after nine months of Lausanne-based rehab, he now lives independently in Italy. "I continued rehab at home, working alone, with all the devices," he said. "And I see improvements every day." More information There's more on spinal cord injuries and paralysis at Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. SOURCES: Claudia Angeli, PhD, assistant professor, School of Engineering, University of Louisville, and director, Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center; press briefing, Feb. 2, 2022, and Nature Medicine, Feb. 2, 2022 Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. MONDAY, Feb. 7, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- A new study finds that kids who have received years of seasonal flu shots have antibodies that provide wider protection against new influenza strains, something researchers say doesn't happen in adults. These findings could help efforts to develop a universal flu vaccine for children. That would be significant, according to the authors of the study, because kids are at increased risk for serious flu complications such as pneumonia, dehydration and even death. "Little is known about how seasonal flu vaccination impacts the immune responses in children, who are a major source of flu transmission and a very high-risk group," said lead author Matthew Miller, an associate professor at the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada. "Understanding how seasonal vaccination and different vaccine formulations shape childhood immunity is critical for effective prevention," Miller said in a university news release. The research team spent three years studying immune responses in kids between 6 months and 17 years of age who received either a flu shot or a nasal spray vaccine. Both types of vaccine worked equally well at generating broadly protective antibodies, the study found. But as kids got older, they were less able to produce broadly protective antibodies, according to the findings. Children and adults have different immune responses to flu viruses and vaccines, Miller said. "[When] we give adults vaccines, they make a very specific immune response against seasonal strains," he said. Adults simply dont generate immune responses to seasonal flu vaccines capable of protecting them from pandemic viruses like children can." COVID-19 prevention measures such as distancing and masking have resulted in lower rates of seasonal flu, but the flu will return, possibly in dangerous forms, Miller pointed out. That both nasal and injected vaccines were effective should be welcome news for parents seeking pain-free shots for their children. "It means we have flexibility in terms of the type of vaccines we can use to make a universal vaccine for children," Miller said. "We now know that childrens immune systems are much more flexible than adults' when it comes to being able to teach them how to make these broadly protective responses." The study was published Feb. 3 in the journal Cell Reports Medicine. More information There's more on children and flu vaccines at the American Academy of Pediatrics. SOURCE: McMaster University, news release, Feb. 3, 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 Looks like Doyle Murphy has edited his last paragraphs for the Riverfront Times. Murphy, who had been with the RFT since 2015, broke the story of his own departure in the Friday edition of the free weekly newspaper. As to his future plans, Murphy only said that he was going to work for a nonprofit organization. Murphy succeeded Sarah Fenske as editor-in-chief in July 2019, when Fenske ankled the RFT to become the host of "St. Louis On The Air" at KWMU (90.7 FM). Now taking over for Murphy on a temporary basis is Ben Westhoff, a former RFT staff writer who recently was named executive editor of a number of weekly newspapers published by RFT's parent company, the Cleveland-based Euclid Media Group. The Riverfront Times was founded in 1977 by Ray Hartmann, who, along with co-owner Mark Vittert, sold the newspaper in 1998 to New Times Media newspaper chain. In 2006, the company merged with the Village Voice and was renamed Village Voice Media. The Euclid Media chain then bought the property in 2015. Your weekly capsule of local news, life advice, trivia and humor from Post-Dispatch columnist Joe Holleman. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ST. LOUIS Cure Violence ended its first full year operating as one of St. Louis top investments to address violent crime by sharing positive news: Homicides and shootings fell significantly in the four neighborhoods where it operated. The effort was soon lauded in local and national media by Mayor Tishaura O. Jones and program leaders as one possible reason St. Louis saw an overall 26% drop in homicides and a similar decline in gun assaults from 2020 to 2021, returning the city close to its pre-pandemic violent crime totals. But an analysis completed this month by criminologist Rick Rosenfeld calls those conclusions into question. Using St. Louis police crime totals, Rosenfeld found the decline in homicides and gun assaults in Cure Violence neighborhoods was no greater than just about the same declines seen in neighborhoods across the city with comprable demographics but without the program. Rosenfeld is a professor emeritus of criminology and criminal justice at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and a national expert on violent crime. He has previously served as a criminologist in residence for the St. Louis Department of Public Safety. Its important to know if a program with this level of public investment is working, Rosenfeld said. In the absence of clear evidence of effectiveness thats come from the program itself and suggestions that it contributed to the reduction in gun violence, I wanted to know if those claims were correct. In 2019, the St. Louis Board of Alderman committed $7 million to fund Cure Violence over three years, in hopes that it might have an impact on a city that regularly had the highest big-city homicide rate in the nation. The program, overseen by the St. Louis Health Department, treats the spread of violence like an epidemic, using lessons from public health work. It hires people from affected neighborhoods who work to interrupt the spread of violent conflicts. The program also takes on people statistically likely of becoming connected to crime as clients, connecting them with counseling, job programs and rental assistance. The city has funded the program in three areas. The first, covering parts of the Wells-Goodfellow and Hamilton Heights neighborhoods, launched in June 2020. Another, centered in Dutchtown, which includes some blocks in the Mount Pleasant and Gravois Park neighborhoods, started in November 2020. A third site in Walnut Park launched in January 2021. Jones told the Post-Dispatch last month she supports expanding the program to more neighborhoods using part of $5 million in COVID-19 federal relief money the city will dedicate to community public safety programs. Were focused on deterrence, intervention and prevention, and Cure Violence is a key piece of that, but its not the only piece, said Jones at a virtual media availability on the programs progress. Jones has said continued investment in the program, started during her predecessor Lyda Krewsons tenure, is part of her public safety agenda of increasing reliance on community programs, rather than police alone. Cure Violence isnt a silver bullet, she said in January. It was never built to be a silver bullet, but it is one piece of a larger holistic approach to address violent crime. The results Rosenfelds analysis compared the change in homicides and gun assaults in the north St. Louis Cure Violence neighborhoods with 22 other north St. Louis neighborhoods, which all have large minority populations. Dutchtown, a racially diverse neighborhood in south St. Louis, was compared with 22 south city neighborhoods with similar demographics. Neighborhoods bordering the Cure Violence neighborhoods were not included as comparisons, to rule out possible influence on violence there from the program. Both the north St. Louis Cure Violence neighborhoods analyzed Walnut Park East, Hamilton Heights and Wells-Goodfellow and the comparison north city areas without the program saw a 24% reduction in homicides and gun assaults, Rosenfeld found. Dutchtown saw a 15% reduction in those crimes, while the south city neighborhoods without the program had a 19% decrease. The results show pretty clearly that its not Cure Violence driving the reduction in the citys violent crime numbers, Rosenfeld said. Rosenfeld said his review should not be considered the final word on the program in St. Louis and acknowledges limitations in his analysis. With only one year of data, the true impact of Cure Violence might take longer to become clear, he said. Cure Violence also focuses its efforts on a 10-block-by-10-block catchment area within larger neighborhoods. Rosenfeld used neighborhood-level data because crime statistics in the catchments were not readily available from police. If there was a significant impact with hundreds of crimes being interrupted, you should see an impact at the neighborhood level, he said. Rosenfeld hopes his analysis will prompt more in-depth, public analysis of the program, like tracking success the program has in stopping people it takes on as clients from violence. I dont think the city should abandon the program from my limited evaluation, he said. I want it to succeed. Theres been too much time, too much talent and enormous investment, but more analysis could show whats working and what might need to be changed. I see this as a first step. Rosenfeld said other research on the Cure Violence model and similar programs in a number of other cities where its operated have shown mixed results. The first Cure Violence program launched in Chicagos West Garfield Park neighborhood in 2000, and the model has been replicated under several names in cities such as New York, Kansas City, Baltimore, Philadelphia and New Orleans. A 2020 review of the programs by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice found that studies on the model indicated promising, but less than definitive evidence of program effects. Studies in New York City and Philadelphia both found statistically significant reductions in gun violence in neighborhoods with the model compared with those without, while an evaluation in Baltimore found mixed results between sites and one in Richmond, California, found a significant reduction in shootings but a slight increase in other types of violence in areas with the program. It makes sense that there would be variation in implementation, Rosenfeld said. There is an emphasis on engaging directly with high-risk individuals in neighborhoods, who may or may not be involved in a conflict. Its a tall order to be able to select out where conflicts will occur before they happen. While Rosenfeld found that Cure Violence likely was not driving the citys reduction in homicides and shootings last year, hes less certain what did drive the trend. We saw sizable decreases coming from a very high base, said Rosenfeld, who also co-authored an analysis of COVID-19s effect on violent crime in large U.S. cities for the Council on Criminal Justice. Other cities saw reductions, but few have experienced this size of a drop. Rosenfeld said that some possibilities for the trend could be changes in policing and reduced stresses like lockdowns, unemployment, widespread protests and anxiety seen in 2020 that have eased in 2021. Give this program some teeth St. Louis Health Director Dr. Fredrick Echols, who oversees the Cure Violence program for the city, said in an interview Monday that he wasnt familiar with Rosenfelds findings but respects him as a subject matter expert. Echols said the city has contracted with Washington Universitys Institute of Public Health to perform an analysis on Cure Violences outcomes. The research will include surveys of residents and was briefly paused during the COVID-19 surge this winter, Echols said. He added that he expects the city to publish more of its own data on the program and Washington University to publish its findings later this year. Echols said that within the three 10-square-block catchment areas where Cure Violence operates, homicides fell in 2021 by 43% from 23 to 13 compared with a 26% drop in the city as a whole. Meanwhile, Echols said Cure Violence has tracked about 500 interruptions, or interactions that may have prevented violence. More than 200 people have been placed on the programs caseload, he said. Echols said the department tracks its community events and also its tips from the community. He said that those numbers indicate good participation from the community. We are grateful for the good reception weve seen and reductions in crime, but we are no means out of the clear, Echols said. He added that the city is still working to decide which neighborhoods might be chosen if there is an expansion of Cure Violence paid for through COVID-19 relief funds. We want a data-driven, focused approach, he said, adding that the prospect of an expansion is looking promising. People working directly in the neighborhoods have also attested to Cure Violences impact, including Mujaa Williams who works as a program interrupter in Dutchtown. Williams said at a January meeting with the media about Cure Violence that hes noticed crime has moved away from the blocks in Dutchtown where the program operates, and community events have been well-attended. Williams added that on the street level, his team is still dedicated to give this program some teeth in the city. He said, We ask the fundamental question: Are these neighborhood worth saving? And I think the answer we get is yes. Editor's note: This story was updated to clarify the neighborhood boundaries of the Cure Violence sites. Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Missouri Supreme Court on Monday focused mainly on procedural questions in a case that could determine the fate of a controversial new gun law. During oral arguments over the Second Amendment Preservation Act, the judges repeatedly questioned lawyers on both sides about whether the legal challenge to the law should have been handled differently in a lower court. The lawsuit, by St. Louis, St. Louis County and Jackson County, was filed in Cole County last year and dismissed by Circuit Judge Daniel Green in August. The law bars police from enforcing federal gun laws that the state declares invalid and carries potential $50,000 penalties for violations. The judges on Monday asked a series of questions, including whether the cities should have asked Green to declare the law invalid, along with their request for a temporary stay on its enforcement. They also asked why the cities couldnt have resolved the issues in up to five pending lawsuits filed by gun prosecution defendants in Cole County. Robert H. Dierker Jr., associate city counselor in St. Louis, responded that the city and counties dont have to wait to be sued or violate the law before they seek a courts declaration that the law itself is problematic. Dierker said cities are at risk of multiple, potentially conflicting outcomes of lawsuits in different jurisdictions. He said the cities had asked Green to declare the law invalid before their lawsuit was dismissed. D. John Sauer, Missouris solicitor general, called the request to have the Supreme Court resolve the case at this stage an extraordinary departure from this courts jurisprudence and an attempt to short-circuit what should happen the handling of the issue through cases already filed in state court. Sauer also suggested the Supreme Court could send the case back to Green to review the constitutional issues. Although not discussed at length Monday, Dierker said the law had a series of constitutional defects, quipping that it should have been called the separation of powers destruction act. Dierker and other lawyers say the legislations prohibition on enforcement of federal law encroaches on the power of judges and local governments ability to hire because it contains a provision barring employment of someone who has enforced federal gun laws. While the law forbids enforcement of federal gun laws, Dierker said it is unintelligible and leaves officials completely at sea about which federal laws are at issue. Sauer rejected that in court filings, saying the state is not required to help federal agencies enforce federal law and that the legislation is constitutional. The city of Arnold also filed a lawsuit last month in Jefferson County Circuit Court seeking a judges clarification of vague language in the law and saying the Second Amendment Preservation Act conflicted with other statutes. Arnolds suit is supported by nearly 60 Missouri police chiefs belonging to either the St. Louis Area Police Chiefs Association or the Missouri Police Chiefs Association Police raised concerns before the law was passed, and police, prosecutors and federal law enforcement officials have unsuccessfully tried to get the Missouri Legislature to make changes in response to their concerns. Federal prosecutors say the law has already drastically affected their ability to fight violent crime, as state and local officers have pulled out of joint task forces, refused to cooperate with investigations and balked at sharing information. Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SPANISH LAKE Two girls, ages 3 and 4, were shot in Spanish Lake Sunday morning in what police describe as an accidental shooting. St. Louis County police responded about 11:30 a.m. to a shooting call in a home in the 1200 block of Scott Avenue. Officers found the two girls with apparent gunshot wounds to their legs. Investigators were told one of the girls found a parent's gun in a coat and fired it accidentally, St. Louis County police said. The children were taken to a hospital for treatment. One of the girls had critical injuries. The other's wounds were not life-threatening, police said. St. Louis County police did not release any other details Sunday afternoon. Police initially provided an incorrect age for one of the injured children. This version has been updated. Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. JEFFERSON CITY Despite winning the support of 53% of Missouri voters in 2020, Republicans who control the state Legislature are making another run at gutting Medicaid expansion. In action Monday, a key budget panel forwarded a proposed constitutional amendment to the full House that would ask voters to allow the government-subsidized health care program to be subject to annual appropriations by the General Assembly. The proposal advanced on a 22-9 vote. If approved, the proposed constitutional change regarding Medicaid would put the power to make the program available to as many as 275,000 low-income Missourians in the hands of the Legislature, meaning it could, again, choose not to fund the expansion. Missouri Republicans have long fought against implementing one of the key initiatives of President Barack Obamas presidency by blocking additional funding for the Affordable Care Act. The 2020 referendum and a ruling last July by the Missouri Supreme Court changed the equation by forcing the Legislature to provide money for the expansion. Democrats say the latest end-around by Republicans is just another effort to hurt poor people who need health coverage. All were doing is kicking off people who qualify, said Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis, who is the ranking member of the House Budget Committee. House Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Cody Smith, R-Carthage, argued that his proposed constitutional change wouldnt necessarily cut all expansion costs. Rather, he said, it would allow lawmakers more flexibility to manage Medicaid spending. In addition to making expansion an optional funding line in the budget, the proposed referendum also would institute a requirement for Medicaid recipients to work or do qualified community engagement for 80 hours a month. The proposed work requirements would apply to applicants between ages 19 and 65 and allow for some exemptions. Prior attempts to institute work requirements have failed and efforts by Republicans in other states to impose the rules have largely fizzled. In Arkansas, for example, a work program was halted after nearly a year in 2019. The proposal also would have to win approval from President Joe Bidens administration, which announced in February 2021 that it would remove all work waivers the government granted during the Trump administration. If the proposal is approved by the House, it would then go to the Senate for further deliberations. The proposed constitutional amendment is House Joint Resolution 117. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CLAYTON Lobbyists for a controversial clean-energy loan program approved last week by the St. Louis County Council contributed a total of $1,500 to three county officials late last year, state records show. Between September and November, lobbyists for Home Run Financing donated $1,000 to County Executive Sam Page and $250 to Councilwoman Shalonda Webb, D-4th District. Byron DeLear, a lobbyist and executive with Ygrene Energy Fund, donated $250 to Council Chair Rita Days, D-1st District. The contributions, small portions of each lawmakers fundraising haul in the last year, came at a time when the county was deliberating changes to the Property Assessed Clean Energy, or PACE, loan program in the wake of an investigation by ProPublica, a nonprofit news organization. The investigation, published in the Post-Dispatch in April, found some low-income residential borrowers of PACE loans were hit with large tax bills they couldnt pay after agreeing to costly improvements. In the Legislature, concerns about PACE programs prompted a new law last year that requires the state finance division to audit the PACE program at least once every other year and caps the amount homeowners can borrow based on the assessed value of the home. In the two months leading up to the passage of the state law, Ygrene had donated a total of $7,500 to six political action committees that have supported Republican and Democratic state lawmakers. DeLear, a former Democratic candidate for state representative who has contributed to a wide range of St. Louis-area Democrats, including Page and Days, was a co-founder of a PACE company he sold to Ygrene in 2017. A Ygrene spokesman declined to comment on the campaign contributions. Days, who is running for reelection and faces a Democratic challenger in the August primary, did not return a voicemail seeking comment on the donation. David Jackson, a lobbyist who represented Home Run Financing, gave $250 to Webbs campaign fund on Oct. 21. Webb was elected in November 2020 to a four-year term. Jackson is a principal for the prominent lobbying firm Gamble and Schlemeier. Jorgen Schlemeier, also a principal in the firm, also donated $1,000 to Pages reelection campaign on Sept. 30. The firm, which has lobbied for Home Run Financing since late 2020, represents dozens of entities in the state, including the Missouri Society of Anesthesiologists. Page, an anesthesiologist, is a former president of the organization. Jackson said the firm has a hard policy that clients do not make political contributions to lawmakers weighing policy affecting them. He said his donation to Webb was part of general relationship-building with lawmakers. At times Ill personally support somebody as an individual that Ive gotten to know building a relationship, but its never tied to one specific issue, he said. Neither Home Run Financing nor officials with the Missouri Clean Energy District, which has a contract with Home Run to administer PACE loans, had contributed to campaigns, according to state records. Richard Callow, a spokesman for Pages election campaign, said Schlemeier is a longtime supporter of Page with a wide range of clients. The two did not discuss PACE legislation, he said. Webb did not return a request for comment. In the county, the ProPublica report had prompted Councilwoman Kelli Dunaway, D-2nd District, to delay action on a bill she had introduced in 2020 with Councilman Mark Harder, R-7th District, to allow the Missouri Clean Energy District, or MCED, to do business in unincorporated areas of the county, competing with Ygrene. In December, Dunaway said she was floating the possibility of ending the program entirely, but the council ultimately voted unanimously Tuesday to authorize the MCED to do business in unincorporated St. Louis County. In voting to expand the program, council members pointed to new county regulations that, in addition to a new state law, were aimed at protecting borrowers from financial risk. And they cited a strong endorsement for PACE loans from the local chapters of the NAACP and the Sierra Club, which told the council at a hearing on Jan. 25 they signed community benefit agreements with PACE lenders to ensure more community oversight. Representatives of Ygrene and MCED also touted a a new list of 22 consumer protection policies they promised to uphold. Last year, in two hearings in May, the council appeared highly critical of PACE loans. And County Assessor Jake Zimmerman urged the council to abandon the program entirely. In September, a council majority rejected reappointments for two members of the county clean energy board and called for reforming the panel from scratch. Months later, in December, Dunaway wrote a letter recommending the council pull the plug on the program. Page, at the time, said he supported the idea. And on Dec. 8, Ygrene hired Jeff Aboussie, a former St. Louis Building and Construction Trades official, to its roster of lobbyists, which include DeLear and two other lobbying firms. Aboussie said he was asked by DeLear, a longtime friend to help the company keep this residential program from being eliminated. He said he spoke with Days, Webb, Harder and Councilman Tim Fitch, R-3rd District, to discuss the PACE program and helped organize testimony at the Jan. 25 hearing, including data from Ygrene that less than 2% of its borrowers were in delinquency. (tncms-asset)d5b965c8-83b2-11ec-9031-00163ec2aa77[0](/tncms-asset)(tncms-asset)3c6144fa-546d-11ec-9e0d-00163ec2aa77[1](/tncms-asset) Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ST. LOUIS Interstate 44 will be shut down in both directions this weekend from near the Eads Bridge to the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge to allow for demolition work in the area. The closure of the highway segment will begin about 7:30 p.m. Friday. Crews also will close nearby ramps, starting about 6 p.m. Included are the ramps from the Martin Luther King Bridge and Biddle Street heading north on eastbound I-44 and the ramps from 11th Street heading south to the highways westbound lanes. The ramp to North Broadway will stay open only for traffic going to Americas Center. The highway segment and ramps will reopen by 5 a.m. Monday. The Missouri Department of Transportation said the closures are needed to allow the removal of the North Broadway bridge over I-44 and the ramp from the highways express lanes to North Broadway. During the weekend shutdown, northbound drivers on I-44 will be detoured to exit to Lumiere Place Boulevard and to follow that street to North Broadway and North Market Street to enter Interstate 70. Southbound drivers on I-44 will be detoured to exit at North Tucker Boulevard and to follow North Tucker and Lafayette Avenue to I-44 or Interstate 55. For southbound motorists heading to Americas Center, one I-44 lane will be open as far as North Broadway. Originally posted Monday, Feb. 7. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. By Azernews By Ayya Lmahamad Independent Azerbaijan's oil and gas path can be traced back to the signing of the Contract of the Century in September 1994, when national leader Heydar Aliyev defined the oil strategy that would serve as the foundation for further political and economic reforms. Azerbaijan has come a long way since then, establishing itself as a reliable supplier and a serious player in the global oil and gas market. The completion of the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) two years ago marked the beginning of a new stage on this path. Southern Gas Corridor The Southern Gas Corridor is a European Commission initiative for a natural gas supply route from the Caspian and Middle Eastern regions to Europe. The South Caucasus Pipeline, Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP), and Trans-Adriatic Pipeline connect Azerbaijan to Europe (TAP). The pipeline is fueled by natural gas from the second stage of Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz gas field in the Caspian Sea. The pipeline's initial capacity is approximately 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year, with the option to increase capacity up to 20 billion cubic meters. Azerbaijan started commercial gas supplies to Europe via this route, with the completion of the TAP construction on December 31, 2020. During the pipeline's first year of operation, Azerbaijan supplied 8.1 billion cubic meters of gas to European markets, rather than the planned 5 billion cubic meters. Azerbaijan intends to supply 9 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Europe through the Southern Gas Corridor by 2022. Ministerial meeting Azerbaijan hosted the 8th ministerial meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council on February 4. It should be noted that the Advisory Council has met every year since 2015. It's no coincidence that there were a lot of new faces at the most recent Advisory Council meeting. The global economic crisis that began last year and is still ongoing has heightened European partners' interest in Azerbaijan's export opportunities. As a result, by the end of last year, Azerbaijan began to receive requests from new countries wishing to export Azerbaijani gas. New chapter in Azerbaijan-Europe cooperation Energy expert Ilham Shaban told local media that February 4 may be referred to as a new chapter in European gas cooperation with Azerbaijan. "I believe that February 4 can boldly be labeled as a new chapter in European cooperation with Azerbaijan." Azerbaijan granted Europe's request for more gas. "The specifics will be determined later," he said. According to the expert, Azerbaijan, as a new player in the gas market, has proven to be the best by meeting all requests from European consumers completely and even ahead of schedule. "During the crisis, our country delivered 8.1 billion cubic meters to its European partners rather than 5 billion cubic meters as planned. This is a historic moment that, I believe, has left an impression on Europeans. They praised Azerbaijan as a dependable and trustworthy supplier and expressed a desire to expand cooperation," he said. European energy security In an interview with local media, American expert Peter Tase stated that the geopolitics of Europe today is increasingly linked to new sources of energy, coming primarily from Azerbaijan. Despite the hard days of the coronavirus pandemic, the unprecedented and unpredictable environment in the world, Azerbaijani government continues to fully meet its obligations on energy supplies, proving in practice its reliability in providing the energy needs of Europe, he said. The expert emphasized that the EU leadership should take the Southern Gas Corridor project seriously and consider its expansion prospects, noting that in this case, not only Eastern and Southern Europe but also Western Europe will be supplied uninterruptedly with natural gas. The Southern Gas Corridor is a project that will benefit the people of Europe and is of great geostrategic importance to Brussels. Azerbaijan has made huge investments to strengthen its energy cooperation with Europe. While Azerbaijan remains a geopolitical player on the transatlantic scale, the EU is in the deepest energy crisis. The European Commissioners, the President of the European Council and other high-ranking officials should give full support to the SGC and think about its expansion in the future," he said. Moreover, noting that Azerbaijan and the European Union have a long-term cooperation in the energy field, the American analyst Paul Goble said that the promotion of the Southern Gas Corridor route is beneficial for both sides. He stressed that the SGC has a very important role in ensuring energy security in Europe, as firstly, it ensures the diversification of gas supplies to Europe. "Secondly, the Southern Gas Corridor will provide Europe with cheaper natural gas and have a positive effect on the European economies. Moreover, the SGC brings EU-Azerbaijan relations even closer and shapes Azerbaijan's image as a reliable gas supplier in the eyes of Europeans. EU countries should be grateful to Azerbaijan for the SGC, for a helping hand at a difficult time," he said. Today, Azerbaijan's confirmed gas reserves total 2.6 trillion cubic meters. Shah Deniz accounts for 1 trillion. Production may soon begin at another major field - Absheron, where it is planned to extract 1.5 billion cubic meters of gas per year at the first stage. Other big fields are Babak with estimated reserves of 400 billion cubic meters, and Umid field with at least 200 billion cubic meters. There are also certain expectations for the deep-water part of the Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli. Azerbaijan has fully met the expectations of its European partners and has proven to be a reliable partner who always fulfills its obligations on time. Regarding Anti-vaccination forces push for ouster of Missouris public health chief (Feb. 1): Recently I spent two of the strangest and saddest days Ive ever had in the past several years in Jefferson City. A handful of Missouri Republican state senators, who are described as the Conservative Caucus, continue to show themselves to be obstructionists. Donald Kauerauf has been acting director of Health and Human Services for the past several months. His confirmation hearing was last week before the Senate Gubernatorial Appointments Committee chaired by Sen. Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan. A vocal group of protesters (and its certainly their right to protest) rallied and attended the hearing intent on stopping Kaueraufs confirmation. He was nominated by Gov. Mike Parson. The reasons that were voiced against Kauerauf? He believes in vaccines but not mandates. He stated that Missouris vaccination rate of 54% is atrocious, and it is. He also believes that public health professionals should guide public health. How outrageous. Kaueraufs faith was questioned. His commitment to opposing abortion access was questioned. Everything about the man indicated he is a long-term public health professional dedicated to the common good, but thats not good enough for the Republicans in the Missouri Senate. They got their wish. He has resigned. Its easy to obstruct, but this small, vocal group of senators cannot govern. Theres too darned much dysfunction at every level of government. Good luck trying to run essential government services when qualified professionals do not want to work for you. Steve Butz St. Louis Missouri State Representative, 81st District LONDON MARKET CLOSE: Johnson Matthey up as investor builds stake Friday, April 29, 2022 - 17:12 Stocks in London on Friday ended a volatile month of April in a positive fashion, with a strong first quarter performance from Smurfit Kappa allowing other packaging firms to rise in a positive read-across. The FTSE 100 index closed up 35.36 points, or 0.5%, at 7,544.55 - ending the week overall up 0.3%. Over the month the UK flagship index lost 0.5%. The mid-cap FTSE 250 index ended up 89.09 points, or 0.4%, at 20,708.71 and lost 0.8% over the past 5 days. The AIM All-Share index finished up 7.40 points, or 0.7%, at 1,022.26 - closing out the week 2.3% lower. The Cboe UK 100 index closed up 0.5% at 750.31. The Cboe 250 closed down 0.6% at 18,265.99, and the Cboe Small Companies closed down 0.2% at 15,139.35. In mainland Europe, the CAC 40 stock index in Paris ended up 0.4%, while the DAX 40 in Frankfurt up 0.8%. As China's lockdowns continue and new infections continue to spread in Beijing, the central government outlined wide-ranging economic stimulus plans to temper expected losses. The government will subsidise businesses, pausing unemployment insurance payments if companies avoid mass layoffs, as well as electricity and internet charges. In the FTSE 100, Smurfit Kappa closed up 4.3% after the paper and packaging firm reported first quarter earnings growth despite headwinds at the start of 2022. The Irish firm reported year-on-year revenue growth of 33% to 3.02 billion in the first quarter of 2022, with earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation rising at the same rate to 514 million. Its Ebitda margin was flat at 17% despite inflationary pressures in the period. Rivals Mondi and DS Smith rose 3.4% and 1.6% respectively in a positive read-across. Pearson closed up 1.9% after the educational materials publisher provided a positive update on first quarter trading, while also announcing a new acquisition. Pearson has agreed to buy Mondly, an online language learning platform. It provided no financial details, but said it expects the purchase to accelerate revenue growth for its English Language Learning division from 2023 onward. It expects mid-teens margins for the division by 2025. Turning to its own recent trading, Pearson reported underlying sales growth of 7% in the first quarter. It reaffirmed its guidance for adjust operating profit in 2022. Pearson added that its 350 million share buyback programme has begun, with 75 million already completed. AstraZeneca added 0.5% after the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker reported a sharp rise in first-quarter revenue. Quarterly pretax profit shrank 66% to $553 million from $1.61 billion a year ago. Revenue rose by 56% to $11.39 billion from $7.32 billion. Revenue from its oncology arm grew by 21% to $3.64 billion from $3.02 billion. AstraZeneca completed its $39 billion takeover of Boston-based rare diseases firm Alexion Pharmaceuticals in July last year, helping to boost its top line. In the quarter, AstraZeneca generated $1.09 billion in sales from its Covid-19 vaccine Vaxzevria, ups sharply from a year prior. Contracts with the vaccine are expected to complete delivery by the second half of the year, the firm added. Astra backed annual guidance. It tips revenue to rise by a high teens percentage and core EPS to climb by a mid-to-high twenties percentage. At the other end of the large-caps, Hikma Pharmaceuticals ended the worst performer, down 7.2%, after the drugmaker noted its Generics business has experienced some headwinds. Hikma explained its Generics business has been hurt by increased competition and a challenging pricing environment, resulting in a slow start to the year. Nonetheless, Hikma said it continues to expect full-year Generics revenue growth between 8% to 10%, though it noted this would likely be weighted towards the second half of the year. Conversely, Hikma reported its Branded business is performing well. Vodafone closed down 4.3% after Bank of America downgraded the telecommunications firm to 'neutral' from 'buy'. NatWest Group lost 2.2% despite reporting largely positive first-quarter numbers. In the three months to March 31, the Edinburgh-headquartered bank recorded an operating pretax profit of 1.25 billion, surging 41% from 885 million in the same period a year prior. Attributable profit rose 36% to 841 million from 620 million. NatWest - formerly Royal Bank of Scotland - saw total income rise 17% to 3.03 billion from 2.59 billion. Net interest income rose to 2.05 billion from 1.86 billion, while non-interest income increased to 982 million from 727 million. Looking ahead, NatWest said its 2022 income excluding notable items will be comfortably above 11.0 billion in the 'go-forward group' - advancing at least 4.7% from total income of 10.51 billion in 2021. In the FTSE 250, Johnson Matthey ended the standout performer, up 19%. A regulatory filing on Friday showed industrial investor Standard Investments LLC has built a 5.2% stake in the specialist chemicals firm. Standard Investments is based in New York. The pound was quoted at $1.2568 at the London equities close, up from $1.2458 at the close Thursday. The euro stood at $1.0547 at the European equities close, up from $1.0524 late Thursday. Against the yen, the dollar was trading at JP129.68, down sharply from JP131.00. On the continent, the eurozone's economy grew at a slower pace than expected in the first quarter of 2022, while separate data showed inflation picked up slightly in April. According to Eurostat, eurozone gross domestic product grew 0.2% quarter-on-quarter in the first three months of 2022. The figure fell short of an FXStreet cited estimate of 0.3% growth. In the fourth quarter of 2021, GDP had expanded by 0.3%. Annually, first quarter economic growth from the single currency area was 5.0%, accelerating from the fourth quarter's 4.7% rise. Annual growth came in line with FXStreet cited consensus. Separate figures from Eurostat showed inflation accelerated to another record high in April, as expected. The eurozone annual inflation rate for April was 7.5%, an uptick from 7.4% in March. The April figure was in line with FXStreet cited consensus. On a monthly basis, consumer prices grew 0.6%. New York was sharply lower at the London equities close amid disappointing corporate earnings reports. The DJIA was down 1.1%, the S&P 500 index down 1.6% and the Nasdaq Composite down 1.7%. Amazon.com plunged 13% after reporting its first quarterly loss since 2015 as sales growth slowed while the company faces challenges with rising costs. Intel was down 5.6% after the semiconductor maker warned the global chip shortage will remain a challenge for the industry until at least 2024, particularly in areas such as foundry capacity and tool availability. Brent oil was quoted at $110.30 a barrel at the equities close, up sharply from $106.55 at the close Thursday. Gold stood at $1,906.75 an ounce at the London equities close, higher against $1,887.75 late Thursday. The economic events calendar on Monday has manufacturing PMI readings from the Germany at 0855 BST, the eurozone at 0900 BST and US at 1445 BST. Financial markets in the UK are closed on Monday for the Early May bank holiday. Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. The covid19 pandemic has done more than kill a lot of people, it has revealed the inability, or unwillingness to obtain accurate data on how many people were infected and how many died. The first problem was that many nations ignored solid evidence of how covid19 spread and which people were most vulnerable to a fatal case of covid19. The hard evidence came in early 2020 when cruise ships and some large warships were infected. The first of these was the cruise ship Diamond Princess, which had nearly a thousand passengers and crew on board, and all were exposed to covid19 before March 2020 because there were enough infected but asymptomatic (not ill or showing other symptoms) passengers to begin with and the ship was quarantined long enough (two weeks) under conditions that allowed everyone on board to be exposed. Nearly all were tested and 19.6 percent tested positive but 47 percent of the infected showed no symptoms. Some of these did later exhibit symptoms and 14 died. The fatalities were older passengers with underlying conditions. Thousands of people caught on cruise ships and large warships that went to sea with a few people on board who were already infected with covid19 but tested before leaving the ship. That data was studied and studied and the pattern first seen on the Diamond Princess remained consistent. While this was great news to the medical community, especially epidemiologists (medical statisticians) it was not recognized as such by the mass media and many politicians refused to act on the evidence. The danger of the asymptomatic infected is that they can, in theory, spread the virus until their immune system eliminates it. It is unclear exactly how long that takes but it appears to be up to several weeks or, in many cases, not at all. It was discovered that 80 percent of those exposed to the virus did not become infected. This is typical of such diseases as influenza. What was unique about covid19 was that it had less impact on the young and was mainly a danger to the elderly, especially those that were already suffering from one or more serious illnesses (underlying conditions). This was in sharp contrast to severe strains of influenza. The 1918 (Spanish Flu) strain was particularly lethal to the young and healthy. In effect the Spanish Flu had an overall death rate (2.1 percent) three times that of covid19. The early 2020 news on covid19 from the medical statisticians was not universally accepted and acted on. Those countries that did pay attention kept their covid19 losses down as well as minimizing the financial costs. Politicians in some nations saw covid19 as an opportunity to do something impressive, or oppressive but definitely rewarding for them. Many governments declared the early epidemiological evidence to be fake news and promoted their own, generally self-serving, interpretations of what was going on. China, for example, suppressed data on the true number of deaths to demonstrate the impressive capabilities of the Chinese form of government. In contrast developed nations in East Asia, like Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan, imposed effective and medically correct measures and achieved very low death rates. It was different in the Americas and Europe, where governments tended to exaggerate covid19 deaths and deliberately ignore the early 2020 epidemiological evidence. Eventually, some Western nations heeded the original findings and found they could keep their economies going and deal with the usual acute medical emergencies. This meant paying attention to the difference between dying with covid19 and dying from covid19. For example, when Italy applied that rule to its covid19 data it found that the number of Italians killed by covid was only a few percent of what had previously been presented as covid19 deaths. This is what some strains of influenza have done for as long as medical data has been compiled. Every few decades a particularly severe strain of the flu comes along and kills a lot of people already suffering from life-threatening conditions. Only a small percentage of the population was vulnerable to a fatal case of covid19. Just keeping the elderly, those over 60 0r 70 safe from infection reduces covid19 deaths enormously. Doing a medical evaluation of elderly individuals can determine which of them are not in danger. Among the younger population, the grossly overweight were found to be very vulnerable, as were those with chronic asthma, of the type that could kill them even without covid19. In many countries the general population seemed to realize the reality of covid19 long before their governments. This continues to cause problems. Another problem was in most of the world there is no functioning medical care, or medical statistics capability. Covid19 may not even reach some of these groups and when it does the additional deaths are not noticed as anything unusual. Another bit of misinformation was the development of covid19 vaccines. Covid19 is a rapidly mutating disease similar to influenza. While more stable viruses like smallpox and polio can protect potential victims with a vaccine, the flu and covid19 vaccines are actually temporary treatments called antivirals. These slow down the spread of the disease but cannot stop it like polio or smallpox vaccination. Another major source of misinformation was the Chinese efforts to conceal the origins of covid19 and its impact on China. Initial evidence was that covid10 first appeared in Wuhan during late 2019. Chinese doctors complained that the government would not take action, as China had earlier said it would. Instead, those outspoken doctors were ordered to remain silent or else. Several of those doctors died of covid19 while a few others got out of China and were largely ignored by Western governments. China insisted that they had limited covid19 deaths to a few thousand and their lockdown approach kept reinfections from spreading. China tried to blame infected American soldiers, who arrived in China for a mid-2019 planned event. This claim was denied by the United States which tended to go along with the rest of the Chinese version. That eventually changed as the covid19 infection and death models proliferated and were accepted. The actual deaths in China were nearly two million. China continues to stand by its original claims but even WHO (the World Health Organization) and epidemic specialists in other countries are no longer supporting Chinese claims. The Chinese government took a big risk by not providing accurate and early reports about covid19, which they were legally required to do because of international criticism of earlier Chinese refusal to share data on new covid-type diseases. China is a communist police state, but like all similar governments they monitor public opinion and some senior officials saw covid19 as a potential disaster for the government and worth the effort and risks to suppress. China took a chance and lost. This covid19 side-effect may be the most lasting and damaging of all. Israel currently has six Dolphin-class submarines and the three older ones, which entered service in 1999 and 2000, are being replaced by three new Dakar-class subs Israel is buying from the German firm that built the Dolphins. The second three Dolphins were much more capable than the older three and the Dakars are improvements on the second three that entered service between 2014 and 2021. The first Dakar is to enter service by 2027. The three Dakars cost $3.5 billion and that is the most Israel, or anyone else, has ever paid for diesel-electric subs. Few details of the Dakars have been revealed but, as with the Dolphins, they tend to be improved versions of the latest model the builder is offering. In this case it is the Type 212CD (common design), which is the most advanced German sub design so far, a more specialized version of the Type 214. The 212CD is designed to be modified to suit customer needs and six are already on order, two for Germany and four for Norway. The three Israeli Dakars make that nine. The 212CD is a 2,500-ton (surface displacement) boat that comes standard with AIP (Air Independent Propulsion) as well as a lot of new electronics and no hull-penetrating periscope. All periscope and communications masts will be deployed by a power cable and controlled from inside the sub. The 2021CD also has two diesel-engines, which increases performance and endurance (time at sea.) The 2012CD hull is built with stealth features, making it more difficult for sonar or other sensors to detect. The Dakars have all that as well as a longer sail, which can contain VLS (Vertical Launch Tube) for ballistic missiles or facilities for divers to leave and return, perhaps using a battery powered sled to carry gear or return with captured items. Dakar is also highly automated, with a crew of less than 40 and berths for underwater operatives, passengers or prisoners. Israel has always been secretive about what its subs were capable of or how they spent their time. That changed in 2014 when Israel revealed what its Dolphin-class boats actually did. In 2013 these submarines spent 58 percent of their time at sea on combat missions while the rest of the time was spent for training. This was before the first late-model Dolphins arrived in 2014 and 2016. Israel revealed that their subs sometimes go far (to Iran and the Red Sea) from their bases on missions. Since Israel is not at war with anyone with a navy, these missions are probably related to collecting information on the ships and ports of potential enemies. In 2013 that included Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Sudan and so on. The navy revealed that the subs undertook 54 special operations in 2013 and that was a big increase from previous years. No details were given on what the special operations were but, based on what kind of surveillance operations Israel has conducted in the past, it was probably similar to what U.S. subs did in those same areas during the Cold War. Israeli subs have probably been using their passive (listen only) sonar to collect information about ports and warships as well as deploying and retrieving larger electronic sensors placed underwater near where enemy ships operate. Israel may also be tapping underwater communications cables. For some of these operations the Israelis would use divers carried on the subs as passengers. Israel has a small force of naval special operations troops similar to the American SEALS and the British SBS. All of the Israeli subs are built in Germany, where the local media periodically pretends to be appalled at what the Israelis actually do with these subs. Back in 2012 revelations in German media that the Dolphin class boats were equipped in Germany with a special hydraulic ejection (from torpedo tubes) systems for launching missiles with nuclear warheads caused a stir. This was actually misleading, as well as being old news. The Dolphin class subs have long had the ability to launch Harpoon anti-ship missiles and longer-range cruise missiles from the torpedo tubes. It makes no difference if the warhead has high-explosives or a nuclear bomb in it. For over a decade Israel and Germany played down this capability. Shortly after September 11, 2001 Israel denied that it had submarines capable of firing cruise missiles equipped with nuclear warheads. But the U.S. navy had reported spotting such missiles being tested by an Israeli sub in the Indian Ocean before 2001. In 2000 it was widely reported that Dolphin class subs were being equipped with nuclear weapons. The 135-kilometer range Harpoon missiles were alleged to have been modified to carry a nuclear warhead and also that Israel was developing a submarine launched 350-kilometer range cruise missile. Both of these weapons were launched from the subs torpedo tubes. Subsequently Israel developed a new cruise missile, with a range of 1,500 kilometers and carrying a 200-kiloton nuclear warhead. These nuclear equipped subs were to provide an extra degree of security as all other Israeli nuclear weapons were in land bases and, in theory, could be wiped out by a surprise missile attack. A nuclear missile equipped submarine at sea would be much more difficult to find. The second three Dolphins cost about $650 million each, with Germany picking up a third of the cost on two of them. The first two Dolphins were paid for by Germany, as was most of the cost of the third one. This is more German reparations for World War II atrocities against Jews. The three older Dolphins were later upgraded to include larger fuel capacity, converting more torpedo tubes to the larger 650mm size, and installing new electronics. The fuel and torpedo tube mods appear to have something to do with stationing the subs off the coast of Iran. Larger torpedo tubes allow the subs to carry longer range missiles. The larger fuel capacity makes it easier to move Dolphins from the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean. Although Israel has a naval base on the Red Sea, until 2012 Egypt did not allow Israeli subs to use the Suez Canal. Because of that Dolphins were modified to go around Africa if they had to. In the last decade Egypt and Israel have become informal allies against the Iranian threat. As built the first three Dolphins could stay at sea for about 40 days, moving at about 14 kilometers an hour, on the surface, for up to 8,000 kilometers. Larger fuel capacity extended range to over 10,000 kilometers and endurance to about 50 days. The second three Dolphins have a fuel cell-based AIP system which enables them to stay submerged for over a week at a time. The Dolphins are also very quiet and very difficult to hunt down and destroy. The first three Dolphins didn't have AIP. The first three Dolphins displaced 1,625-tons each and could carry 16 torpedoes or missiles and have ten forward torpedo tubes (four of them the larger 650mm/26-inch size). These Dolphins were considered the most modern non-nuclear subs in the world. The first three cost $320 million each. All have a crew of 35 and can dive to a depth of more than 200 meters (660 feet). The Dolphin design was based on the German 209 class subs but has been so heavily modified that it is considered a different class and only Israel had them. With the three Dakars replacing the older Dolphins Israel will continue to have the most modern and capable diesel-electric submarine force in the world. NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Kuvare Insurance Services (KIS), a boutique asset manager that oversees approximately $19 billion in assets for various insurance operating companies owned by or affiliated with Kuvare US Holdings (Kuvare), today announced the launch of its third-party asset management business. Over the past two years under the leadership of Brian Roelke, President and Chief Investment Officer, KIS has built a seasoned team of insurance industry professionals and asset class specialists to drive portfolio performance across Kuvares operating companies. Insurance investors continue to be motivated to search for yield against a backdrop that remains challenging. KIS has constructed bespoke private credit solutions in-house to augment Kuvares core fixed income assets, originating approximately $5 billion[1] in primarily investment grade private credit at attractive book yields vs. publicly-traded comparables, noted Roelke. KIS now plans to extend its experience across private asset-backed and structured credit, private corporates, and commercial mortgage debt to non-affiliated insurance clients. In conjunction with the launch, Roelke has recently added three key members to his executive leadership team. Ana Morales joins KIS as Managing Director, Head of Business Development and Product Strategy. She will be responsible for leading client relationships and advancing the growth of the KIS third-party asset management platform. Morales, who has 17 years of industry experience, joins from Goldman Sachs where she was a Managing Director, Senior Relationship Manager in the firms insurance asset management business. Prior to that, Morales built and led BlackRocks exchange-traded funds insurance distribution team. Joseph Orofino joins as Managing Director, Head of Investment Risk Management. He has over 20 years of industry experience, most recently at Further Global Capital Management where he was part of the executive team for two operating companies. Prior to that, Orofino led Aflacs investment initiatives in non-core fixed income, alternatives, and public equities. He also held senior investment and risk management roles at Swiss Re. Thomas Pasuit joins as Chief Legal Officer. Prior to joining KIS, Pasuit spent over 16 years at MetLife, most recently as Head of MetLife Investment Managements Fixed Income and Alternatives legal team. He began his legal career at Connell Foley, LLP, where he specialized in bankruptcy and financial restructuring. Commenting on these events, Dhiren Jhaveri, Kuvare founder and Chief Executive Officer, said, The launch of the third-party asset management platform and these new appointments reflect our commitment to attracting an extraordinary team to support outstanding client service and portfolio performance. Our talent bench positions us to address the unique investment objectives of insurers and capitalize on market opportunities to drive portfolio alpha. About Kuvare Insurance Services (KIS) Headquartered in New York City, KIS is a boutique asset management firm that specializes in building tailored solutions for insurance companies with the goal to deliver superior risk-adjusted returns. Led by a seasoned team of insurance industry investment professionals and asset class specialists, KIS oversees all investment activities for Kuvares operating companies. This represents approximately $19 billion in total assets as of December 31, 2021, including core fixed income assets, where KIS partners with leading global asset managers. For more information about KIS, please visit https://kuvare.com/insurance-services. About Kuvare Kuvare is a technology-enabled financial services platform that provides insurance, reinsurance, and asset management solutions. Headquartered in Chicago, IL, Kuvare focuses on delivering value-oriented solutions to the middle market. Founded in 2015, Kuvare is committed to a sustainable growth strategy, backed by a consortium of long-term capital partners. The family of Kuvare companies includes Lincoln Benefit Life Company, Guaranty Income Life Insurance Company, United Life Insurance Company, Kuvare Life Re, and KIS. For more information about Kuvare, please visit https://kuvare.com. [1] Company estimates based on private credit originations from 2/10/2020 to 1/31/2022 measured by committed par value at closing. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Disclaimer This release may contain or refer to forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements give expectations or forecasts of the future using terms such as anticipate, estimate, expect, project, intend, plan, believe, will, and other terms tied to future periods. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and expectations, and results could differ materially from those expressed or implied therein. The company has no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statement. Assets under management (AUM) are based on company estimates and are subject to change. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220207005215/en/ Erica Davis [email protected] 800-637-6318 Source: Kuvare Insurance Services Kelowna, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 7, 2022) - Enduro Metals Corporation (TSXV: ENDR) (OTCQB: ENDMF) (FSE: SOG) ("Enduro Metals" or the "Company") is pleased to report additional 2021 diamond drilling results which further confirms the discovery of an important alkalic copper/gold porphyry discovery at Burgundy Ridge. Burgundy is 1 of 4 major systems on the Company's wholly-owned 653 km2 Newmont Lake project in the Golden Triangle of northwestern British Columbia. Results from the other 3 zones on the property are still being accumulated and collated. Highlights Newly received assays include: BR21-03 which intersected 257m of 0.50% CuEq from surface, including 43m of 1.39% CuEq at surface. BR21-04 intersected 84m of 0.72% CuEq from 57m downhole. The drill hole was also successful in identifying another high-grade mineralization style including 6.63% CuEq over 3.00m at 136m downhole. Due to early winter conditions, the drill hole stopped short of target depth while in mineralization. These assay results expand on discovery hole BR21- 01 which intersected 331m of 0.71% CuEq from surface, including 18m of 3.00% CuEq at surface, and 146m of 1.00% CuEq at 138m downhole, and 1.80m of 7.30% CuEq at 218.6m (see News Release dated October 18th, 2021). ST21-01 intersected 2.17% Cu and 27.07 g/t Ag over 9.37m from 15.92m downhole, including 7.20% Cu and 87.77 g/t Ag over 2.00m. These results were drilled 2.3km NE of Burgundy Ridge and support additional copper potential across the entire Burgundy system. Results from the latest holes support the discovery of a porphyry copper/gold deposit first announced on October 18th, 2021 (see News Release dated October 18th, 2021). Alteration, mineralization style, and metal assay grades suggest that we are on the periphery of a porphyry system. Enduro continues to evaluate drill core and other data to help vector toward the core of this mineral deposit. Figure 1:Cross-section looking W-NW of 2021 drill fan at Burgundy Ridge discovery. All drill holes on section were drilled at a -45 dip. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6406/112992_fc6a6dc1f4abe813_002full.jpg Cole Evans, President/CEO of Enduro Metals commented, "Our 2021 drill results from the drill fan at Burgundy Ridge provide compelling evidence of a new silica-undersaturated alkalic porphyry discovery centred between two of BC's most prolific porphyry camps. This type of porphyry is rare globally, and the cryptic alteration style of alkalic porphyries make them difficult to find. Critical to our success moving forward is the work our technical team has done in developing early understandings of the geological complexities of this system, which we feel closely resembles the neighbouring Galore Creek deposit located 30km arc-parallel from Burgundy to the northwest. The three most encouraging features about Burgundy include the large scale of the system, the evidence for multiple mineralizing events, and the fact that we are right at the beginning of the discovery phase. The minimum target area so far is 300m wide by at least 1,200m long. Enduro's drill results are the only exploration record to date and are still very shallow tests for porphyry exploration. The alteration footprint of Burgundy is consistent with a big porphyry deposit, and only more drilling will tell us what we are sitting on." Figure 2:Plan view map displaying all diamond drill hole assay results to date defining 500m strike length of consistent copper/gold mineralization (open in both directions). The vertical elevation change between BR19-01 drill pad and BR21-01 drill pad is ~100m. The Company believes 2019 drilling drilled overtop of the main mineralized body indicating that steeper and deeper drilling has potential to intersect the main mineralized body as seen in 2021 drilling. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6406/112992_fc6a6dc1f4abe813_003full.jpg Figure 3:Plan view map displaying significant surface results to date at Burgundy Ridge. A combination of drilling and surface sampling shows a consistently mineralized 500m long zone that remains open along strike in both directions and at depth. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6406/112992_fc6a6dc1f4abe813_004full.jpg Figure 4:Simplified geological model of Burgundy Ridge looking north-northeast. This simplified cross-section model is subject to change as more information is acquired. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6406/112992_fc6a6dc1f4abe813_005full.jpg Hole ID: From To Interval Gold (g/t) Copper (%) Zinc (%) Silver (g/t) CuEq (%) BR21-01 5.47 336.90 331.43 0.35 0.29 0.49 5.5 0.71 5.47 23.74 18.27 1.33 1.05 2.91 21.6 3.00 138.22 344.80 206.58 0.43 0.35 0.42 8.3 0.81 138.22 284.02 145.80 0.55 0.42 0.53 8.2 1.00 218.59 220.39 1.80 3.93 3.48 4.33 84.73 7.30 BR21-02 Drilled to test geological contact of limestone. Sporadic results include: New 8.66 9.16 0.50 1.50 1.32 4.11 29.1 3.62 117.00 119.00 2.00 0.06 0.02 4.65 17.4 N/A 127.75 128.97 1.22 0.46 0.86 1.49 8.2 1.66 BR21-03 3.00 259.50 256.50 0.26 0.21 0.31 3.9 0.50 New 3.00 45.93 42.93 0.62 0.56 1.31 5.8 1.39 151.20 213.07 61.87 0.41 0.29 0.14 4.26 0.61 BR21-04 57.70 209.00 151.30 0.21 0.27 0.13 3.5 0.47 New 57.70 141.56 83.86 0.35 0.42 0.16 5.35 0.72 136.22 139.22 3.00 2.69 4.75 0.35 20.9 6.63 Drill hole did not reach target depth due to early winter conditions. ST21-01 15.92 25.29 9.37 0.02 2.17 N/A 27.07 N/A New 20.76 22.76 2.00 0.04 7.20 N/A 87.77 N/A Table 1: Reported assay intervals for BR21-01, 02, 03, and 04. Metal prices used in CuEq calculations are as follows: Gold $1670/oz, Silver $21.50/oz, Copper $4.10/lb, and Zinc $1.38/lb. The CuEq formula used for calculations is: CuEq % = (Cu ppm + ((Au ppm * $53.85) / $0.009038960) + ((Ag ppm * $0.69) / $0.009038960) + ((Zn ppm * $0.003042382) / $0.003042382)) / 10,000. True widths are unknown as the mineralized body remains open and requires further drill testing. Recoveries are assumed to be 100% for the purposes of equivalent calculations. Full assay data is available at www.endurometals.com Geological Discussion The geology of Burgundy Ridge is generally described as a series of porphyritic to megacrystic intrusive rocks intruding a calcareous sedimentary sequence adjacent to a 150m - 200m thick limestone horizon. The geology is thought to be moderately dipping west-northwest, but more information is required. Geochronological work on Burgundy was undertaken during the winter of 2020/2021 suggesting intrusive rocks to be coeval with the Galore Creek Suite, which also matches visual interpretations. The host rocks are believed to be Stikine or early Stuhini suite, but more information is required. The Company contracted the expertise of GeoAqua Consultants led by Dr. Alan Wilson during the 2021 field season to identify and begin characterizing various hydrothermal alteration assemblages at Burgundy Ridge which are as follows: calc-potassic, calcic, calc-sodic, silicification, propylitic, illite, and Fe-carbonate. Further alteration studies are on-going. Mineralization at Burgundy Ridge is seen in various forms including replacement, disseminated, endoskarns, exoskarns, and a total of 4 uniquely identified mineralized hydrothermal breccias referred to by distinguishable mineral characteristics of respective hydrothermal cements as follows: 1. Chalcopyrite-cemented, 2. Shreddy biotite-cemented, 3. Sphalerite-cemented, 4. Calcite-cemented. These terms are used for classification and are not precise descriptions of the entire nature of each hydrothermal breccia cement. The chalcopyrite and biotite dominant breccias are seen in the calcic to calc-potassic environments whereas the sphalerite and calcite-cemented breccias (referred to as Breccia A and Breccia B in Figure's 6 & 7) are observed immediately adjacent to the calc-potassic environment proximal to the western contact of the limestone body. It is possible that Breccia A and B are one large breccia body, but further drilling is required to delineate this relationship. Structural geology of Burgundy is not well understood, but it is generally thought structures strike northeast and dip northwest. Figure 5:Visual example of "replacement-style" mineralization typical of silica-undersaturated alkalic porphyry systems. Sulphide mineralization is characterized by chalcopyrite, pyrite, and sphalerite. This sample assayed 1.80m of 3.48% Cu, 3.93 g/t Au, 84.73 g/t Ag, and 4.33% Zn starting at 218.6m downhole in BR21-01. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6406/112992_fc6a6dc1f4abe813_006full.jpg Figure 6:Visual example of "Breccia A" characterized as a heterolithic hydrothermal breccia with a sulphide dominant cement of sphalerite, chalcopyrite, and pyrite. Clasts within the hydrothermal breccia vary in sulphide replacement intensity and phase. It is noted that the larger, more dominant syenitic clasts host what is thought to be "hypogene" chalcopyrite mineralization, indicating that "Breccia A" is a separate mineralizing event which post-dates a "main-stage" mineralizing event. This sample assayed 0.96m of 2.68% Cu, 3.47 g/t Au, 63.26 g/t Ag, and 8.75% Zn starting at 8.53m downhole in BR21-01. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6406/112992_fc6a6dc1f4abe813_007full.jpg Figure 7:Visual example of "Breccia B" characterized as a heterolithic hydrothermal breccia cemented by calcite, chlorite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, pyrite, and minor galena. Clasts within the hydrothermal breccia vary from argillic sediments to syenitic intrusions (not visible in photo example). "Breccia B" is located on the eastern contact of the Burgundy Ridge limestone with syenitic and volcanic rocks. This sample assayed 0.83m of 1.54% Cu, 0.29 g/t Au, 56.9 g/t Ag, 5.08% Zn, and 0.88% Pb at 358m downhole in BR19-10. The relationship between Breccia A and B are currently unknown. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6406/112992_fc6a6dc1f4abe813_008full.jpg QAQC / Analytical Procedures Core samples from the Newmont Lake Project were sent to MSALABS' preparation facility in Terrace, B.C., where samples were prepared using method PRP-910. Samples were dried, crushed to 2mm, split 250g and pulverized to 85% passing 75 microns. Prepped samples were sent to MSALABS' analytical facility in Langley, B.C, where 50g pulps were analyzed for gold using method FAS-221 (fire assay-AAS finish). Gold assays greater than 100 g/t Au were automatically analyzed using FAS-425 (fire assay with a gravimetric finish). Rock samples were analyzed for 48 elements using method IMS-230, multi-element ICP-MS 4-acid digestion, ultra-trace level. Silver assay results greater than 100 g/t Ag and copper, lead, and zinc greater than 10,000ppm were automatically analyzed by ore grade method ICF-6. Enduro Metals Corp conducts its own QA/QC program where five standard reference material pulps, five blank reference material samples, and two field duplicates are inserted for every 100 samples when analyzing core samples. Qualified Person The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Maurizio Napoli, P. Geo., Director for Enduro Metals, a Qualified Person responsible for the scientific and technical information contained herein under National Instrument 43-101 standards. About Enduro Metals Enduro Metals is an exploration company focused on it's flagship Newmont Lake Project; a total 638km2 property located between Eskay Creek, Snip, and Galore Creek within the heart of northwestern British Columbia's Golden Triangle. Enduro has completed the earn-in under an option agreemnt and now holds a 100% interest (subject only to a royalty on a portion of the property) in 653 square kilometres. Building on prior results, the Company's geological team have outlined 4 deposit environments of interest across the Newmont Lake Project including high-grade epithermal/skarn gold along the McLymont Fault, copper-gold alkalic porphyry mineralization at Burgundy, high-grade epithermal/skarn silver/zinc at Cuba, and a large 9km x 4km geochemical anomaly hosting various gold, silver, copper, zinc, nickel, cobalt, and lead mineralization along the newly discovered Chachi Corridor. On Behalf of the Board of Directors, ENDURO METALS CORPORATION "Cole Evans" President/CEO For further information please contact: Investor Relations Sean Kingsley - Director of Communications Tel: +1 (604) 440-8474 Email: [email protected] https://www.endurometals.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation (collectively herein referred to as "forward-looking information"). Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Enduro's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements in this document includes statements, but is not limited to results, analyses and interpretations of exploration and drilling programs; our grassroots exploration program, our mining (including mining methods), expansion, exploration and development activities, geological and mineralization interpretations and the plans, results, costs, and timing thereof. Although Enduro believes the forward-looking information contained in this news release is reasonable based on information available on the date hereof, by their nature forward-looking statements involve assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Examples of such assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, assumptions, risks and uncertainties associated with general economic conditions the effect of a pandemic and particularly the COVID-19 outbreak as a global pandemic on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations and the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on our workforce, suppliers and other essential resources and what effect those impacts, if they occur, would have on our business, financial condition and results of operations; assumptions regarding expected capital costs, operating costs and expenditures, production schedules, economic returns and other projections; adverse industry events; future legislative and regulatory developments in the mining sector; the Company's ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favorable terms; mining industry and markets in Canada and generally; the ability of Enduro to implement its business strategies; competition; and other assumptions, risks and uncertainties. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of our forward-looking information. Although we have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, actions, events, conditions, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results, actions, events, conditions, performance, or achievements to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. While the Company may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws. For US Investors Enduro Metals cautions that this release has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of U.S. securities laws. Information included in this media release have been prepared in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators which establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. Canadian standards, including NI 43-101, differ significantly from the requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and information contained herein may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/112992 Thunder Bay, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 6, 2022) - Metals Creek Resources Corp.(TSXV: MEK)(OTCQB: MCREF) (FSE: M1C1) (the "Company" or Metals Creek)is pleased to announce the successful completion of its annual general and special meeting held on January 20, 2022 (the "Meeting"). At the Meeting, shareholders voted to approve the Company's stock option plan, which is done annually, approved the re-appointment of Wasserman Ramsey, Chartered Accountants, Licensed Public Accountants as auditors of the Company for the ensuing year, and also re-elected Alexander Stares, Wayne Reid, Michael Stares, Nick Tsimidis, Patrick Mohan, Malvin Spooner, and John Anderson as directors to the board of directors of the Company to hold office until the next annual shareholder's meeting or until a successor is elected. Metals Creek has also entered into an advertising and investor awareness campaign with Dig Media Inc. dba Investing News Network (INN). INN is a private company headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, dedicated to providing independent news and education to investors since 2007. For the 12 month term of the agreement, INN will provide advertising to increase awareness of the issuer. INN does not provide Investor Relations or Market Making services. The cost of the campaign is $32,400 Cdn payable in standard net 30 terms. INN currently holds no securities in Metals Creek. About Metals Creek Resources Corp. Metals Creek Resources Corp. is a junior exploration company incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario, is a reporting issuer in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario, and has its common shares listed for trading on the Exchange under the symbol "MEK". Metals Creek has earned a 50% interest in the Ogden Gold Property from Newmont, including the past producing Naybob Gold mine, located 6 km south of Timmins, Ontario and has an 8 km strike length of the prolific Porcupine-Destor Fault (P-DF). In addition, Metals Creek has signed an agreement with Newmont, under which Metals Creek can earn a 100% interest in the past producing Dona Lake Gold Project in the Pickle Lake Mining District of Ontario. Additional information concerning the Company is contained in documents filed by the Company with securities regulators, available under its profile at www.sedar.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. Alexander (Sandy) Stares, President and CEO Metals Creek Resources Corp telephone: (709)-256-6060 fax: (709)-256-6061 email: [email protected] MetalsCreek.com Twitter.com/MetalsCreekRes Facebook.com/MetalsCreek To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/112943 NAPA, Calif., Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Old Bridge Cellars is proud to announce the addition of Napa Valley's Goosecross Cellars to their portfolio. The two companies entered a long-term agreement that introduces Goosecross to the wholesale market across the United States. Goosecross was founded in 1985 in Yountville by the Gorsuch family and is now owned by Dave and Christi Ficeli. The wine industry veterans met while working for E&J Gallo Winery. Dave's professional experience is primarily in marketing and production roles for Gallo, Treasury Wine Estates and Jackson Family Wines. Christi worked in her family's beer business, serving as a sales representative at Coors for over 14 years, before transitioning to the wine world. Together, they continue to build the Goosecross brand which is known for producing high quality wines and providing excellent customer experiences to visitors of their modern tasting room overlooking their vineyards in the heart of the Napa Valley. Renowned winemaker Bill Nancarrow joined Goosecross in 2014 after spending more than ten years making wine at Duckhorn. Until now, Goosecross Cellars wines have only been available through the winery, 100% direct to consumer. As of February 2022, Old Bridge Cellars will take on sales and marketing activities for Goosecross Cellars to the wholesale channel. The initial range for this market will be: 2021 Napa County Sauvignon Blanc ($25 SRP), 2020 Napa Valley Chardonnay ($33 SRP), 2019 Napa Valley Proprietary Red Wine Blend ($45 SRP) and 2019 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($50 SRP). "For years, we have loved sharing Goosecross wines with visitors to our family winery. With these new wines, we hope to reach Goosecross fans and wine lovers beyond Napa Valley and throughout the United States," says Christi. "The labels were intentionally designed with the goose flying over the mountains you see from our estate, tying the wines to this special place." Rob Buono, president of Old Bridge Cellars, is thrilled to welcome another family-owned Napa Valley winery to the portfolio. "Over the years, we have added fiercely independent family wineries from the world's leading wine regions which include Chianti, Champagne, Burgundy, Oregon and once again Napa Valley," says Buono. About Old Bridge CellarsOld Bridge Cellars imports, produces and markets wines from a handful of independent wineries in the world's leading wine regions. Our portfolio, while anchored in Australia, boasts 200 different wines from 26 applauded winemaking regions across the globe. Our 23 winemakers travel home to one of five countries (AU, FR, IT, NZ, USA), so from Hunter Valley Semillon to Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, we have it expertly covered. All our wineries are independently owned and operated. PR contacts:Old Bridge Cellars: Lara Abbott [email protected] Goosecross Cellars: Lisa Shea [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/old-bridge-cellars-adds-goosecross-cellars-to-its-growing-portfolio-301476151.html SOURCE Old Bridge Cellars (Tribune News Service) The CH-46 helicopter that evacuated the ambassador and flag from the roof of the American embassy during the fall of Saigon in 1975 may soon take a new journey, landing at the Irvine Great Park in California. The helicopter and another 40-plus aircraft of the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum in San Diego could soon be on display in a newly restored hangar once part of the Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. The base was the original home of the aviation museum when it was active in the late 1980s. Since then, the artifacts of American aviation have been housed at the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. Discussions between the Marine Corps, the Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation and the city of Irvine are progressing for the museum to move to Orange County, and officials expect an agreement soon that would result in a public/private partnership where the Marines would loan the aircraft and artifacts for display in the Great Park hangar. We are now collaborating with the Marine Corps on a draft memorandum of understanding that will allow for the Marines to lend the aircraft once the city and the foundation are able to ensure proper security and safety, said retired Marine Brig. Gen. Mike Aguilar, executive director of the museums nonprofit foundation. In discussions, weve received their (Marines) 100% commitment to this project. Camp Pendleton officials confirmed the service branch is prepared to loan aircraft and smaller artifacts when it becomes a viable museum and is able to properly care for the artifacts. In the meantime, the Corps will maintain its aircraft at Miramar; ship smaller artifacts to the National Museum of the Marine Corps to be cataloged, preserved and stored; and ship the archival material to the Marine Corps History Division to be cataloged, preserved and stored. Our goal is to meet and exceed their requirements, Aguilar said of plans for the Great Park museum. The proposed location is in an old Marine Corps hangar built during World War II known as Hangar 296 that is on the eastern edge of the Great Park. The hangar is large enough to house all of the aircraft and the memorabilia. Engineers are looking at what restoration of the hangar will entail, estimated to cost about $14 million, Irvine officials said. Essentially Irvine would be the landlord for the museum. Mayor Farrah Khan said getting the museum to the Great Park is very significant for the city. Many of the aircraft in the collection were already part of the museum while it was still part of the El Toro base. It will be like they are coming home, she said. As we develop the Great Park, knowing how it came to be is so important. The interior design and museum exhibit will be left for the foundation to develop. Some funding for the museum could come from private donations or corporate sponsorships. Im excited about the collegiate effort between the Marine Corps, the foundation and Irvine to bring home the Flying Aviation Museum to the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, Aguilar said. The museum, which at El Toro was the El Toro Historical Foundation and was under the leadership of Brig. Gen. Jay Hubbard, moved to Miramar in 1998 when the base was decommissioned. Hubbards vision was to preserve and tell the rich history of Marine Corps Aviation on the West Coast, which dates to 1920. Most of the Corps aviation forces that have deployed to combat and other contingencies have been trained at Southern Californias constellation of air stations and facilities since the 20s. The museums collection of aircraft, exhibits and archives were moved down to a site on Miramar Road adjacent to the air station. There, over the years, the collection of aircraft grew to more than three dozen historical aircraft, some of them unique to the Marine Corps. Amid budget constraints, the Miramar base closed the museum in 2020. Aguilar said the foundation was approached by Irvine about moving it back to where it was first established in the late 1980s. The museum collection, actually owned by the National Museum of the Marine Corps, is considered to be the only collection dedicated to Marine Corps aviation. One of them, an Iraqi Bell 214 ST assault helicopter, was captured and acquired by retired Marine Colonel Charles Quilter, of Laguna Beach, following the 1st Marine Divisions seizure of the Kuwait International Airport during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. Quilter, an aviator and historian who flew F-18s for decades in the Marines, is thankful plans for the museum are moving forward. As part of its planned Cultural Terrace, the city of Irvine is really stepping up to turn a vast historic hangar into what will be Orange Countys largest aviation museum, in terms of square footage, he said. More importantly, the story of the role of Marine Corps aviation in Southern California will not only be preserved, but told well. Im hoping that modern museum design will make it an experience worth going to. 2022 MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit ocregister.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. MOSCOW In May 1993, Estonias first post-Soviet leader, Lennart Meri a wise man with bitter experience of life in the Soviet Union told the visiting U.S. deputy secretary of state that Estonia urgently needed to join NATO. It was, he said, the only guarantee that Russia wouldnt invade the Baltic state once a less Western-friendly and authoritarian Russian leader replaced then-President Boris Yeltsin. Meanwhile, Yeltsin openly warned the U.S. that NATOs expansion to the east would inevitably lead to an explosion in nationalist and imperialist sentiment in Russia. Some of Meris and Yeltsins predictions have come true. It took Vladimir Putin, prone to imperial obsession, to awaken Russians ultraconservative feelings, complete with phantom pain for the lost Soviet Union. The more the Russian president advances his Make Russia Great Again strategy, the more Russians are convinced that their country was humiliated following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Yet Putins recent buildup of military forces along Ukraines border has equally brought out Russians fears as tensions heighten. The Pentagon announced Wednesday that about 2,000 U.S.-based troops will be deployed to Poland and Germany, and another 1,000 soldiers from Germany are shifting to Romania, in a show of American commitment to NATO allies. The U.S. says it will not enter Ukraine. The view from Russia isnt clear-cut. Russians think highly of their government. In a recent poll, half of the respondents blamed the U.S. and other NATO countries for the escalation in eastern Ukraine. Sixteen percent said Ukraine initiated the escalation, and only 4% faulted Russia. Such patriotic vision has led to an increase in recent years in the number of Russians who believe that the nation has enemies. Most cite the U.S. as the primary foe. Things can change, however. As soon as international rifts diminish even a little, the attitudes of Russians to everything Western, above all toward the U.S. and the European Union, instantly become less hostile, and vice versa. As for NATO, perceptions of the alliance as an instrument of American power took root back in Soviet times. Putins belligerent rhetoric and behavior have inspired ordinary Russians, but they have also frightened them. They worry about significant military threats from abroad. In recent years, Russians have begun to fear another world war. Its their second-biggest fear (after that of their loved ones becoming ill), according to a recent survey. When Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, there was an unprecedented torrent of patriotic sentiment, embodied by Putin, whose ratings soared. The vast majority of Russians believed that reincorporating Crimea for many years part of the Russian republic formerly under the Soviet Union simply righted a historical injustice. Although that consensus on Crimea still exists, it no longer inspires Russians to unconditionally support Putin. He cant invoke that campaign to mobilize ordinary Russians to rally around the flag or boost his ratings again. A war with Ukraine is no less complex. Indeed, Russians view their neighbor as a satellite of the West, but their opinion isnt entirely negative. Last year, nearly a quarter of Russians believed their country and Ukraine should be friendly neighbors but still have their own borders. More than half of Russians between ages 18 and 24 have a positive or very positive attitude toward Ukraine. Its hard to imagine how those young people could be forced to take up arms against their neighbors with that attitude. The Kremlin has only increased worries about a military confrontation with the U.S. and NATO. In recent years, the Russian public has gotten used to an atmosphere of constant tension. War has become routine, and the West is still considered the enemy. But that could evolve rapidly if tensions are dialed back. In my recent research with focus groups, I found that young people in Russia are very pragmatic about their countrys situation. Theyre concentrating on their private lives going to school, getting a good job. Some are trying to adapt to political constraints and outwardly showing obedience, while secretly supporting jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny, even if they dont show it. Theyre not interested in pursuing any war and are not indoctrinated with Putinism. The patriotic tantrums on television talk shows are mostly geared toward older demographics. Propaganda works, but many young people are immune to it; theyre mostly on social media. Liberal activists, bloggers and journalists are few in number but relatively influential. Take journalist Dmitry Muratov, for example, who won the Nobel Peace Prize last year. A lot of people also watch popular video bloggers such as Yury Dud, who has millions of YouTube subscribers, or follow other outlets like the independent TV channel Dozhd, which the Kremlin has designated as a foreign agent, or the liberal Ekho Moskvy radio station. Most Russians, though, are apathetic. These days, there are fewer ardent supporters of Putin than indifferent ones. Its far from a given that Russians will equate the autocrat with Russia and Russias security with that of the Kremlins inner circle. Todays urbanized Russians dont want to go and fight for Putin and the Kremlin. Invading Ukraine would not be seen as defending their country, and NATO is not Hitler. Andrei Kolesnikov is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Moscow Center. CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa Two Marines were killed and five other people were injured following a multivehicle crash Friday night on the Okinawa Expressway. The chain-reaction collisions occurred at 9:31 p.m. in the southbound lane near the Ishikawa interchange, an Okinawa prefectural police spokesman told Stars and Stripes by phone Monday. Cpl. Victor Varelamartinez, 22, and Lance Cpl. Bailey SpencerHoover, 20, both assigned to the III Marine Expeditionary Force, died as a result of their injuries, III MEF spokesman 1st Lt. Zachary Voss wrote in an email to Stars and Stripes on Friday. Three other Marines and two locals were taken to a hospital with minor injuries. "The accident is currently under investigation," Voss said. "Our deepest sympathy and steadfast support extend to the families and loved ones of the Marines who lost their lives in this tragic incident." Varelamartinezs black Nissan Silvia was traveling at an unknown speed when it crashed into the back of a blue-green Toyota Prius driven by a 53-year-old Okinawa woman, the police spokesman said. The Prius was pushed into the next lane, where it struck a blue Toyota Altezza, also southbound, driven by an unnamed Marine corporal, 24. SpencerHoover was a passenger in Varelamartinez's car, the police spokesman said. Varelamartinez died at the scene, a spokesman from the police Mobile Traffic Unit told Stars and Stripes on Monday. SpencerHoover died the next day. "We are collecting information from people involved in the accident and inspecting the cars to identify the cause of the accident," the traffic unit spokesman said. Varelamartinez, of Colorado, served as an automotive maintenance technician for Combat Logistics Battalion 4, Voss said. His personal awards include the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal. SpencerHoover, of Illinois, served as a motor vehicle operator at 4th Marine Regiment, Voss said. He, too, had been awarded the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. Its customary in Japan for some government officials to speak to the media on condition of anonymity. Stars and Stripes is making stories on the coronavirus pandemic available free of charge. See more stories here. Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter here. Please support our journalism with a subscription. MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan At least one ski resort in Hiroshima prefecture is turning away foreigners, specifically anyone affiliated with the U.S. military, apparently due to COVID-19 risks. Utopia Saito, a ski area about 60 miles north of MCAS Iwakuni, is refusing service to anyone in a vehicle with license plates bearing a Y, A or E that indicate its registered under the status of forces agreement. SOFA outlines the rules and responsibilities for anyone in Japan with the U.S. Defense Department. International numbers are not allowed to use the service, reads a sign in the resort parking lot that specifies SOFA plate numbers are not welcome. Being denied entry is extremely disappointing for Hope Carter, a spouse at MCAS Iwakuni who is a regular visitor to Utopia Saito along with her family. We called around and had trouble finding a place to go, she told Stars and Stripes over Facebook Messenger on Thursday. The only two that will allow us in currently are Mizuho and Osarakan. Utopia Saito is also discouraging Japanese skiers from outside Hiroshima prefecture from coming to the ski area, as other resorts among the half-dozen in the prefecture are apparently doing, according to a manager for the MCAS Iwakuni outdoor recreation office. They are currently not accepting any tours, even local Japanese tour buses, Outdoor recreation manager Masahiko Hiromoto said Thursday. We heard an individual went to a ski resort and was refused, so after we heard that we started calling all the ski resorts, because we dont want to issue the equipment to the customer and they drive two to three hours to the ski resort only to be refused. Thats sad. U.S. service members, DOD civilian employees and their families emerged Jan. 31 after being confined for three weeks to their installations or their off base homes at the Japanese governments request. The stay-at-home order, with exceptions for essential services, arose after reports in December of SOFA members arriving in Japan and immediately testing positive for COVID-19. After three weeks of no outside travel, except for essential services, many Americans turned to Japans renowned ski slopes for overdue outdoor recreation. Instead, they ran into Japans recently imposed public health measures as coronavirus case numbers surpassed previous records. The Carters drove almost two hours to Utopia on Feb. 1 only to have an employee signal an X with their arms and point to the sign, said Hope Carter, whose husband, Marty Carter, works for Marine Corps Community Services at MCAS Iwakuni. Hiroshima and neighboring Yamaguchi prefecture are under a quasi-emergency until Feb. 20 that encourages businesses to take measures to quell the spread of COVID-19. The omicron phase, the sixth wave of the coronavirus in Japan, is setting record-high case numbers across the country. Under the quasi-emergency, which is in place in 34 of Japans 47 prefecture, residents of one prefecture are discouraged from traveling into other prefectures. A representative of Utopia Saito did not return phone messages left by Stars and Stripes on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The Outdoor Recreation office at MCAS Iwakuni canceled sold-out bus trips to Utopia scheduled for Feb. 5 and 12. Another resort, Megahira Ski Area, about 30 miles north of Iwakuni, is also discouraging foreigners and Japanese skiers from outside the prefecture from coming to the slopes. Megahira ski resort is asking people living outside of Hiroshima prefecture to refrain from visiting the resort due to quasi-state of emergency declared in the prefecture after COVID-19 infected cases increased rapidly in the country, a spokeswoman for the resort told Stars and Stripes by phone Thursday. She said that they want people, not just U.S. military personnel, but anyone living outside of the prefecture to refrain from coming until the quasi-state of emergency is lifted. Stars and Stripes reporter Hana Kusumoto contributed to this report. Stars and Stripes is making stories on the coronavirus pandemic available free of charge. See more stories here. Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter here. Please support our journalism with a subscription. TOKYO Japans capital city reported its highest ever Monday count of new COVID-19 cases as the omicron wave of the pandemic started its first full week in February. Tokyo confirmed 12,211 people had tested positive for the coronavirus diseases on Monday, according to public broadcaster NHK. Although higher by 460 infections than a week ago, Mondays number was lower than Fridays count by nearly 9,000, according to metropolitan government data. U.S. Forces Japan on Monday reported 137 new cases at 15 installations and 10 individuals awaiting confirmation, according to its daily update. USFJ reported 162 new cases Friday. Yokosuka Naval Base, the homeport of 7th Fleet south of Tokyo, led the way with 32 new cases, followed by Kadena Air Base on Okinawa with 16. Yokosuka on Friday had 396 active cases, none hospitalized, according to its Facebook page. Kadena on Monday had 126 cases, according to an update on its website. Naval Air Facility Atsugi, 25 miles southwest of Tokyo, and Yokota Air Base, headquarters for USFJ in western Tokyo, each reported 13, according to the Monday update. NAF Atsugi has 69 total cases, according to its official Facebook page Monday. On Okinawa, Marine Corps camps Courtney, Foster, Hansen, Kinser and Lester and Marine Corps Air Station Futenma together accounted for 28 new cases, according to USFJ. Okinawa prefecture reported 316 new cases Monday, 511 on Sunday and 671 on Saturday; it also reported 169 new COVID-19 infections at U.S. bases on the island during the same period, according to a daily update from the prefectural Department of Public Health and Medical Care. Although omicron is less virulent than the preceding delta variant, it spreads more easily, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Stars and Stripes reporter Mari Higa contributed to this report. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is making his first visit to Washington since taking office Dec. 8 and will meet President Joe Biden at the White House on Monday. He has been thrust into a major security crisis as Russia masses troops around Ukraine, threatening a new war in Europe. Scholz's government is facing criticism that it has not done enough to support Ukraine and deter Russian President Vladimir Putin. Scholz spoke to The Washington Post's Souad Mekhennet on Friday. The interview, his first with the international press, was conducted in English and has been condensed and edited for clarity. Q: Is it bothering you that there has been so much commentary depicting Germany as an unreliable ally during the Ukraine crisis? A: Reality is more important than rumors. The reality is that Germany is the biggest NATO partner in continental Europe, that we are continuously strengthening our military forces, that we are a very good partner. We are cooperating with our allies in NATO and [the European Union], and with the United States, on the question of how to react to this threat to Ukraine that is coming from Russia. Our strict response is saying it will have very high prices if they intervene and that we work very hard to get a way out of this situation. Being a partner in NATO and the E.U. and doing our job is, I think, the best for solving the crisis. Q: What do you say to the criticism that Germany has not been a strong enough ally, both to Ukraine and within NATO? A: We are the strongest economic supporter of Ukraine. And we will continue to be. It is approximately 2 billion U.S. dollars so far, [in the past 7 years]. We are working together in renewable energies and future technologies that are important for giving Ukraine the chance for having more economic and financial resilience. Today, Germany has the largest defense budget in continental Europe. We contribute to the NATO response forces with thousands of German soldiers, have deployed hundreds of troops to Lithuania, where we lead the NATO Enhanced Forward Presence, and we currently dispatched several fighter jets to Romania to patrol the skies together with allies. And we will do so again in the Baltic countries. Q: People have criticized Germany for sending 5,000 helmets to Ukraine but no weapons? A: First, it was Ukraine that put in the request to send helmets, and we reacted to that. Second, there are strict export criteria we are following on the export of weapons into crisis regions. There is a long continuity of German export restrictions on weapons, which has been handled by the former government, and there is just continuity in that. Q: Would the German government halt the process to open the Nord Stream 2 pipeline if Russia launches another invasion of Ukraine? A: We are ready to take together with our allies all necessary steps. And we have a very clear agreement with the United States government on gas transit and energy sovereignty in Europe. We already also agreed that we will support Ukraine, that we will fight for the gas transit via Ukraine intensely and that we will be very strong if this gas transit would be endangered. Also, it is absolutely clear that in a situation like this all options are on the table. Please understand that I will not get into any specifics, but our answer will be united and decisive. Q: U.S. lawmakers have suggested the current sanctions waiver for Nord Stream 2 would end if Russia invades Ukraine. What do you say to that? A: We are working very hard with our allies in NATO and in the European Union to make clear what we can do in the specific situation [that Russia invades]. But we are also clear about the necessary strategic ambiguity. This is also critical for giving this strong message that it will be very costly so they cannot go to a computer and count whether it will be too expensive or not. It is something they should avoid, and it would be too high a price to intervene in Ukraine. Q: What will your message to Putin be [when you visit Moscow on Feb. 15]? A: First, that it will have a very high price if Russia would intervene into Ukraine with its military troops and on the other hand, that we are working very hard to use all the channels of talks that we have now: talks between the United States and Russia, the NATO-Russia Council, the [Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe], and obviously it's also the Normandy format [involving Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany] that is coming to life again with the strong activities of President [Emmanuel] Macron and me. Q: You are visiting Ukraine before going to Moscow? A: Yes, on the 14th. We are in intense talks together with Macron and President [Volodymyr] Zelensky about the common prospectus on the Normandy format. It is of essence that we work together. It's so important that we make some progress, that we come further with the components of the Minsk agreement, which is the basis for this Normandy format. While we had no meetings for a long time, we had no progress, now a lot of meetings are taking place. Q: The secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council recently said that the fulfillment of Minsk, and now I'm quoting him, "means the country's destruction." What do you say to that? A: I don't think that this is the view of the president of Ukraine, and Ukraine is part of the agreement, and they are working very intensely and constructively. Q: What steps are you taking to reduce Germany's energy dependence on Russia? A: We are starting a complete modernization of energy production and supply in Germany. In just 25 years, in 2045, we will be absolutely independent of the import of gas, oil and coal to Germany, because we just will rely on renewable resources. This is one of the key activities of the newly formed government, and this is why we increase the production of electricity, offshore wind farms, wind farms on shore and with solar. We will intensely increase the strength of our grid, and we will go into the production of hydrogen as a supply for industry, and for those aspects of energy supply where we need some sort of gas, this should then be hydrogen, and not natural gas. This is from a situation where you should know that it's just 25 to 26% of our energy that is natural gas and just a part of it is coming from Russia. There are also parts coming from Norway or the Netherlands. But just on the middle range, Germany will not import gas anymore, and this will be very soon. Q: What do you hope to achieve during your visit to the United States? A: Strengthening our transatlantic partnership. The United States are the most important ally of Germany and of Europe; we are together in NATO, and it is absolutely key that there is a strong unity between all the major partners, the transatlantic parties and between the United States and Germany. We worked hard to send a clear message to Russia that it will have a high price if they were to intervene into Ukraine. I really appreciate what President Biden is doing in the bilateral talks between the United States and Russia. They are very difficult. They have a very difficult agenda. But it is strength and leadership what he is doing there. Q: One other topic that you will probably discuss during your visit in Washington is Iran. How far away are the negotiations from making a deal? A: It depends on Iran. We gave them a clear message that now this is the time for decisions and for progress, and not for prolonging the process. We will not accept the ability of Iran of having a nuclear bomb that can be used. This is the decisive moment, and we hope that they will use the chance. We have not too much time left. Because we know about the progress of the nuclear program of Iran. Q: If there is no returning to an agreement, what is the strategy you think that needs to be taken against Iran, if diplomacy fails? A: Now we are in a situation where we wait for the answer. Let's wait. Q: Some demand that the negotiations with Iran should no longer be just about the nuclear matters but also address questions of ballistic missiles and Iranian proxies. A: I think we all know that we have a lot of questions to tackle when looking at Iran. We are now discussing how to deal with this [nuclear] agreement, and if there is a future which will have a good impact on peace and the situation over there. So it is absolutely critical that we now hear if Iran is willing to solve the problem. Q: There is an increasing issue with right-wing extremism in Germany, which is particularly concerning given Germany's history and has been highlighted in particular by Jewish organizations. How do you plan to counter this now as chancellor? A: We really understand that there is a real danger coming from right-wing extremists in our country, and this is one of the top priorities of our security services and our police to fight against them. So I think we have to be aware of these right-wing extremists, but we have a democratic society behind us that will give us the chance to fight against them successfully - and to give all the necessary support to our Jewish citizens. - - - The Washington Post's Paul Sonne contributed to this report. WASHINGTON Several hundred U.S. troops from Fort Bragg, N.C., have arrived in Poland and Germany amid rising tensions in Europe over Russian armed forces massing at the Ukraine border, chief Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Monday. The Pentagon announced last week that it would send roughly 1,700 troops with the 82nd Airborne Division from Fort Bragg to Poland and an additional 300 from other units of the 18th Airborne Corps from Fort Bragg to Germany to form a joint task force headquarters there. A couple hundred troops from the 82nd Airborne have landed in Poland since Sunday, with the rest to follow over the coming days, Kirby told reporters at the Pentagon. The headquarters element [in Germany] for the 18th Airborne Corps is pretty much all in place, he said. U.S. officials also said last week that they would move about 1,000 troops already stationed in Germany to Romania. Kirby on Monday said those troops had already arrived. The roughly 3,000 U.S. forces deploying did not include the approximately 8,500 troops that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin placed on high alert Jan. 24 to be ready to deploy within five days if called upon. Most of those troops would be sent to join the NATO Response Force, which includes 40,000 troops from multiple nations, should it be activated, Kirby has said. The moves come as more than 100,000 Russian troops continue amassing along Ukraines northern border with Belarus and eastern border with Russia. The buildup began in December, but Kirby on Monday said they continued to increase just over the past two days. European Commission Vice President Josep Borrell estimated Russian forces along the Ukraine border could be closer to 140,000. He offered that estimation Monday during a news conference with Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Kirby said the Pentagon is also concerned about the kinds of military equipment and forces that Russia is moving closer to Ukraine, such as tracked vehicles, artillery and long-range weapons, air and missile defense, and special operations forces. What's important is not just the numbers, it's the capabilities and what we see is that [Russian President Vladimir Putin] is really putting in place robust combined arms capabilities in Belarus and along that border with Ukraine, [and] in Russia, he said. I mean, he has a full suite available to him, and it continues to grow every day. Kirby also said Russia has moved capabilities to sustain troops in the field for an extended deployment that also raise concerns that Putin could be planning to invade Ukraine as Russian forces did in 2014, which resulted in the annexation of Crimea. Even as he has added combat capability, he has also added logistics and sustainment capability in other words, the ability to keep them in the field for longer and longer periods of time, he said. So, it's a whole panoply of things that we're looking at and watching. Still, Kirby said many unknowns remain regarding Putins intentions. We could not say with specificity now: A, that he's made a final decision one way or another [to invade] or B, if he does, what it's going to be, Kirby said. But with each passing day, he gives himself a lot more options from a military perspective. As Russias forces increase, it remains unclear how many troops Russia would need to launch a full-scale occupation of Ukraine, he said. As we know from our own experience, if you're intending to hold territory, you've got to make sure you have plenty of sustainment to do that to including ample force, Kirby said. I couldn't give you a number of what an occupation force would look like because it's really going to depend on what he ends up doing. Still, Kirby said, There is still time and place for a diplomatic resolution to the situation. We still believe there's a diplomatic path forward that should and can be pursued, he said. And Mr. Putin can easily de-escalate tensions by just getting some of that force presence away, which is certainly within his power to do that. Kirby said he had no announcements about more U.S. troops deploying to Europe. I would remind [that] we have upwards of 80,000 troops already on the European continent, so there's a lot of capability that just already exists, he said. They may not have to move anywhere. BERLIN German investigators have found nearly 400 cases of online hate speech related to last week's killing of two police officers, a shooting apparently meant to cover up the fact the suspects had been poaching wild animals, authorities said Monday. The 399 posts included 102 that were "criminally relevant," and in 15 cases people responsible for them already have been tracked down, officials in the western state of Rhineland-Palatinate said. Last Monday's early-morning shooting on a rural road near Baumholder shocked the country. Two men apparently opened fire with hunting weapons after being caught with poached animals in their van, investigators have said. They were arrested hours after the attack. "We will not accept people downright celebrating the cold-blooded killing of our two police colleagues and mocking the victims," said the regional government's interior minister, Roger Lewentz. Late last week, a man was arrested over a video in which a masked speaker called for people to lure police officers onto country tracks to be shot. BUCHA, Ukraine The Rev. Kostyantyn Kholodov was resplendent in his gold embroidered vestments, chanting the Divine Liturgy in a deep baritone and raising a chalice of wine to the ceiling of this ornate village church west of Kyiv. But beneath the glorious robes, he was wearing military pants along with the heavy boots he needs to protect his feet on the front lines. "I'm ready to go to war at any time," he said, stripping off his glittering surplice after congregants had filed out of the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin on Sunday. The 46-year-old Kholodov is ready just as he was in 2014, when Ukraine began fighting Russian-backed separatists in the country's east and he and hundreds of other priests "locked our churches and headed to the front." Kholodov spent three years as a volunteer chaplain in the war-torn Donbas region. But this time, as his country braces for a possible new Russian invasion, he is preparing for something historic: Ukraine's first fully formalized, professional chaplains corps since priests from the ranks of the newly formed Red Army nearly a century ago when Ukraine was a Soviet republic. "Because there was no God in the Soviet Union, there were no priests in the Soviet armies," he said. Ukraine began integrating faith leaders into its fighting units in 2014, but on a mostly volunteer basis, said Kholodov, who also serves as deputy head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine's Military Chaplains Unit. Now, after a law signed into effect on Dec. 17, the chaplains corps will have standardized requirements, be paid by the government "Not paid much," Kholodov says and integrated into the command structure. The new program, which takes full effect in July, enshrines clergy members as formal service members and establishes a military interfaith advisory council, according to a report by Ukraine's Public Broadcasting Service. The law will initially provide for 120 deployed clergy members and 500 in reserves, Kholodov said. Most are priests from the Kholodov's Orthodox Church of Ukraine, but Protestant ministers and Muslim imams also serve. There is one group of clergy not welcome to minister to the troops, according to Ukrainian nationalists: priests from the thousands of churches in Ukraine still affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church. As the fighting in the east has raged, their sermons are often seen as overly forgiving of Moscow's ambitions in Ukraine, or even traitorous. Church affiliation is just one of the Ukraine-vs.-Russia fault lines that now split this country, along with language and even styles of borscht. After the Russian invasion of Crimea in 2014, priests and parishes divided over perceived loyalties to either Moscow or Kyiv. In 2019, the local Orthodox Church was given self-governing status within the larger array of Orthodox churches, creating the autonomous Orthodox Church of Ukraine and an increasingly bitter rivalry with the Moscow-governed Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The tensions have split congregations. In 2015, a priest in a Russian-oriented church told his parishioners not to pray for the souls of Ukrainian soldiers killed fighting the Russian-backed separatists, according to the Kyiv Post. Within months, the villagers of Rivne Oblast on the Belarus border had driven the priest out and invited a replacement from the Kyiv-based patriarchy to take over. Many of the Russian-affiliated priests say they are only seeking an end to the bloodletting and they are being unfairly singled out because of their ancient affiliations with the mother church. But Kholodov, who used to count friends in the pulpits of those churches, said the ones who didn't change to Ukrainian-backed parishes have made their allegiance clear. "The Russian Orthodox Church is a unit of the Russian security services," he said. Kholodov is a bear of a man, both friendly and bellicose. He tells three reporters that they should come with him to the village cemetery if they want to understand the local attitudes toward fighting Russia. After changing his vestments for a blue sweater with a massive porcelain cross pendant, he locks the church door and drives a few hundred yards to a mountain of earth by the main road. A steel cross sits atop as a memorial to "those who have fought for Ukraine's freedom." Next to the mound is a decommissioned mobile rocket launcher pointed symbolically toward Moscow. Kholodov said it was he, the village priest, who decided on the targeting. "We have a red button in the village council office. If we push it " He smiles. "Not really. They are very old rockets." A few yards away, he approaches two graves, two men killed in the past eight years from this village of 1,500. One of them, Theodore Lypchak, was Kholodov's altar assistant. "I am the godfather to his sons," he said. He began to pray, his breath pluming in the cold as the five Ukrainian flags flanking the graves snapped in the breeze. Kholodov said he is not eager for war. But he is eager to return to the special forces unit he has spiritually guided for years. In 2016, he was given a formal army posting as its counselor because he also has a master's degree in psychology. He will deploy if Russia makes a move. He has already arranged for a substitute priest. His brother is standing by to take their mother from Kholodov's house to his own. His uniforms, both marshal and ecclesiastical, are ready for him to join the band of chaplains that he views as a force multiplier. "We have two kinds of weapons," he said. "The ones the enemy scouts can see, the guns and the grenades. And then the spirit inside of every soldier and officer. That second weapon is very dangerous and that is the one the chaplains create." Dmytro Dubas contributed to this report. NAPLES, Italy Samara Sloan turned down a shot at a lucrative investment banking job because a U.S.-NATO military treaty first written in 1951 makes no provision for her to legally work while her husband serves in the Navy. That was a huge opportunity that I had to turn down with a very good salary, said Sloan, who received the potential offer after moving to Naval Support Activity Naples in 2020. It was a huge financial hit to my family. Sloan didnt have much choice. Italian law makes it practically impossible in most cases for military spouses and children living in the country under the NATO Status of Forces Agreement to work anywhere except on base and many of the jobs there arent open to them. The agreement was written in an era when women were largely expected to stay home. As time went on, supplemental agreements between the U.S. and NATOs member countries addressed taxes, driving privileges and other issues related to U.S. military personnel in a foreign country. But they generally avoided rules on military dependent employment. The last time the U.S. and Italy agreed on a supplement to the SOFA was 27 years ago, again without addressing employment. Military spouse unemployment has been acknowledged as a problem by the services for decades, due in part to the nature of two- and three-year tours. The problem affects many dependents, regardless of age or gender. But it disproportionately affects women, who make up 92% of the military spouse community, a July 2020 Deloitte Insights report stated. And among the larger overseas military communities, Italy is arguably the toughest place for a spouse to be legally employed. Even teleworking for a U.S. company is technically illegal, if sometimes overlooked. Italian law requires military dependents to give up their SOFA rights and protections if they want to work for a private American, Italian or other employer while living in Italy. Had Sloan taken the job, she would have been forced to give up her SOFA status, return to the U.S., wait for an Italian work visa and permit, and then pay Italian income taxes. The agreement does not exempt family members of the Force (DoD civilians and active-duty service members) from Italian work visa requirements and paying taxes in the host nation to which theyre assigned when they are involved in non-duty related employment, Morgan Gilliam, U.S. Navy Europe Africa Central spokeswoman, said in a statement. Force impacts For Sloan and other military dependents, the fallout from that inability to work is acute, ranging from under- or unemployment to resume gaps, financial instability, mental health issues and other impacts that negatively affect their lives and the well-being of their families, experts say. Financial insecurity and unfulfilled career or personal aspirations for spouses have a direct impact on the retention of skilled service members, the 2020 Deloitte report said. If the military is to retain its most skilled service members, it needs to find ways to improve the military spouse experience, which includes ensuring military spouses are fully employed with meaningful careers, the report stated. Its difficult to determine how many people like Sloan are impacted by NATO SOFA-related employment restrictions. But with a U.S. military community of 15,020 active duty service members, reservists and Defense Department civilians in Italy, advocates say its a common problem. The Defense Department doesnt track spouse employment outside of the continental U.S. separately, said Jennifer Goodale, director of Military Family Policy and Spouse Programs for the government relations team of the Alexandria, Va.-based Military Officers Association of America. But unemployment for military spouses continues to hover around 22-24% and likely increased following the COVID-19 pandemic, Goodale said. Goodale and others would like to see the NATO SOFA and supplemental agreements reviewed and revised to accommodate more job options, such as telecommuting for a U.S. employer. But that process could open an entire document for review, resulting in changes that extend beyond the employment issue. Because there are so many potential ramifications, this needs to be done thoughtfully and deliberately, Goodale said. The decades-old NATO SOFA sets the rules, rights and responsibilities by which member countries, such as the U.S., Germany, Italy and others, may keep troops in another country. While the pact impacts the conditions under which military dependents may get jobs, it doesnt directly address employment, according to a November 2019 research paper from the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University. Rules for military spousal employment vary widely depending on host country laws and, sometimes, on NATO SOFA supplemental agreements with specific countries. For example, U.S. military dependents living in Germany may work for a German or other employer without losing their SOFA status in most cases. Spouses similarly may work in South Korea or Japan, but varying requirements, such as acquiring a work permit, must be met. In Italy, those who want to work and keep their SOFA status are limited to on-base jobs, which frequently are lower-paying positions in retail, child care or recreation. Because each SOFA was constructed with an individual nation, there is no specific explanation as to why some countries make it more difficult for military dependents to work, Goodale said. The agreements were established decades ago and often included an intent to protect host-nation citizens and their employment opportunities. You have to set a bar for yourself Over the last 7 1/2 years, Jessica Olsen and her husband, a Navy sailor, have moved four times, including to NSA Naples. Each move has meant an exhaustive and, sometimes, demoralizing effort to find a job suited for Olsens education, experience and skills. At NSA Naples, Olsen eventually received two job offers for work at the child development center and one for a position at the gym. She turned all three down, realizing that she wouldnt be happy working in an environment where her knowledge and skills werent fully used. You have to set a bar for yourself as to what your self-worth is and I do, the 34-year-old meteorologist and private pilot said. When I look for a job, I do value my self-worth but I also value what I can bring to that job. It wasnt until she arrived in Naples that Andrea Gill discovered her hope to teach English to Italians living in the Naples area wasnt possible unless she gave up her SOFA status. That wasnt an option, since on-base housing and commissary access were among the benefits she would have lost, Gill said. Gill accepted a full-time position working in the toddler room at NSA Naples child development center. But the job wasnt a good fit and she ultimately quit. Ive put the time in to get a degree. Thats like six years of education Im basically not using, said Gill, who holds a masters degree. I feel like my skills are going down. Nearly half of military spouses hold bachelors or advanced degrees, and 31%-53% of military spouses report being underemployed, according to the Deloitte report. Part of the difficulty for the thousands of spouses in Italy is that there arent many jobs for U.S. workers on base. At NSA Naples, 56% of the 1,445 occupied full-time positions funded through appropriated funds are filled by Italian citizens. Appropriated fund jobs vary in salary and responsibility, but they include professional and career-oriented positions. The remainder are filled by U.S. citizens, and of those, 185 are spouses. There were another 83 vacant jobs open to U.S. citizens, base figures showed in November. The base also employs 136 people full-time through the non-appropriated fund, or NAF, excluding the Navy Exchange and Naval Criminal Investigation Service. Of those, 57% are held by U.S. citizens, with more than half of those positions held by active-duty dependents. There were 21 vacant NAF positions available to all U.S. citizens, according to the November data. Making sure our spouses and dependents have the resources and opportunities they need to continue working is a priority for us, said Gilliam, who noted that Navy family support centers offer information, such as search strategies and resume writing, for job seekers. Rebecca Armbrister considers herself lucky. Not long after she and her active-duty husband arrived in Naples, she got a job that was similar to the work she did in the U.S. But Armbrister said she knows many highly skilled spouses who cant get jobs on base. That just bothers me, said Armbrister, who wants base officials to take a more holistic approach to hiring, such as looking beyond a resume job title and seeing how skill sets can be used in a variety of positions. Theres a lot of talented and educated people here who want to work and sometimes they just need an opportunity. Jessica Smith, the spouse of a Navy retiree, said she has seen the same problems play out for many families over the years she has been in Naples. They struggle with paying bills and saving for the future on a single income. Some have faced dire marital problems, she said. Smith would like to see the U.S. military make it a priority to renegotiate employment restrictions and enable more off-base opportunities for military dependents in Italy. Its an issue that impacts everyone and can have really severe consequences, Smith said. Its also not clear to me why it cant be updated. More information A Portability Roadmap for Military Spouses and their Employers is a 31-page research paper that includes information about the NATO Status of Forces Agreement as well as details about supplemental agreements and treaties. The paper includes a look at the rules impacting military spouse employment and SOFA status, income taxes and other effects of working in Germany, Brussels, Italy, Japan and South Korea. The paper also offers military spouses and their employers a guide of questions they should consider and steps needed to facilitate their decision-making process when it comes to employment while on an overseas military assignment. Olaf Scholz succeeded Angela Merkel as German chancellor nearly two months ago, but the West is still waiting for him to put his stamp on Europe's biggest economy. Scholz is under increasing pressure to take a stand on Russia over its military buildup near Ukraine, as well as face up to domestic difficulties including a rampant coronavirus outbreak and criticism of his spending plans. He has an opportunity to respond to critics when he embarks on his first trip to Washington as chancellor on Sunday. His meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House on Monday kicks off a period of more intense international activity. The extent of Scholz's duress was made clear on Wednesday when the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper wrote a headline, "Where is Scholz?" that questioned the chancellor's engagement with the tensions over Russia's troops massed near Ukraine. Moscow has repeatedly denied it plans to invade its neighbor. That evening, he stumbled through an interview with national broadcaster ZDF. Pushed to respond to comments from former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder a Social Democrat like Scholz, who now works as a lobbyist for Russian industry charging Ukraine with "saber-rattling," the soft-spoken 63-year-old said: "There's only one chancellor, and that's me." What Scholz didn't do was lay out a clear plan for how to respond to the crisis. Instead, he repeated his usual talking points, namely that all options to impose retaliatory sanctions against Russia are on the table, but shipping weapons to help Ukraine defend itself are off. "An invasion would carry a high price for Russia," Scholz told ARD television on Sunday before departing for Washington. In the interview he defended Germany's contribution to NATO and his own communication style. Calling his government the weak link in the military alliance's approach to Russia was a "false impression," Scholz said. While following Merkel's 16-year run was never going to be easy, Scholz has given little indication of how he's going to seize the moment. Last week, he didn't take part in his party's debate on the SPD's policy toward Russia, and has made few moves to carve out a bigger presence on the international stage in contrast to French President Emmanuel Macron's active diplomacy. Scholz's sputtering start has hit his party's popularity. Support is down to 23% of German voters, falling below the Christian Democrat-led conservatives for the first time since before the September election. The former finance minister pulled off a narrow victory with the promise of melding Merkel's steady approach to government with reforms to modernize Germany's economy. He's since put together a ruling alliance of his center-left SPD, the Greens, and the market-oriented Free Democrats, with little signs of tension despite various ideological differences. Since then, though, the coalition has lacked a clear agenda. In the fight against the coronavirus, arguably the defining issue of the decade, the government warned of a lack of vaccines, and then tightened curbs on unvaccinated people. Cases driven by the omicron strain remain extremely high. In another setback, Germany's public-spending watchdog called on the government to renounce plans to transfer 60 billion euros ($69 billion) from last year's budget to a fund to finance future climate projects, calling it incompatible with constitutional spending rules. The initial excitement around Scholz's government is "visibly dissipating," said Manfred Guellner, head of the Forsa polling institute. The Ukraine crisis is a critical test for Scholz. It touches on numerous aspects that complicate his position. Domestically, his party, which traditionally is in favor of engaging with Russia, is at odds about how aggressively it should challenge the Kremlin. While historic guilt over World War II also plays a role in Germany's stance, energy security is a more immediate concern. As Germany shuts off nuclear power plants and phases out coal, it's become more dependent on Russian gas to heat homes and to fuel power plants for industrial giants like BASF SE and Volkswagen AG. The fallout from a military conflict in Ukraine could put those supplies at risk. Scholz's meeting with Biden will likely prove critical. The leaders were introduced by Merkel at the Group of 20 meeting in October, and the White House has been pushing for Germany to play a more active role in geopolitics. While Scholz is unlikely to completely redirect Germany's foreign-policy approach, he could adopt a stronger, or at least clearer, stance. If not, the risk is that rivals fill the void. The White House, meanwhile, is stressing that there's no daylight between its views and the German government's and that the two leaders are aligned in their efforts to deter Russia as well as on promoting a diplomatic path to resolve the crisis. In the event of Russian aggression, there's absolute agreement on next steps, including on additional troops that would have to be deployed to the eastern flank and the imposition of a large economic sanctions package, according to a senior administration official. In a recent Bundestag debate, Friedrich Merz, the former Merkel antagonist elected in January as the new leader of the CDU, said Germany was currently seen as "woolly and unreliable" a state of affairs he blamed on Scholz. Scholz's Washington visit kicks off a series of meetings that could give him a more sustained presence in global affairs. After returning to Berlin, he'll meet the leaders of the former Soviet republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, as well as European Council President Charles Michel. The push culminates the following week, when Scholz is due to travel to Kyiv on Feb. 14. He heads to Moscow for talks with President Vladimir Putin a day later. Ukraine will be hoping for more than 5,000 protective helmets and a field hospital from the European powerhouse. Andrij Melnyk, the country's German ambassador, accused Scholz's administration in a Twitter post of keeping its head in the sand. "This ostrich-like policy needs to be stopped," he said. CHEROKEE, N.C. (Tribune News Service) Trey Peterson loved his job as a table-game dealer at Harrahs Cherokee Casino Resort in the N.C. mountains. When you sat at my table to play baccarat, blackjack, three-card poker and other games, you were family, he said. In each of his five years at the casino, he ranked in the top 1% for performance among 3,500 casino employees, he said. He so enjoyed the work that he never took a vacation, and always arrived early despite the hour drive from his native Asheville. Zero write-ups, the 31-year-old Peterson said. After eight years struggling as an Army veteran with PTSD, a condition he described in part as like being combat-ready 24/7, he finally felt I belonged. I felt like a contributing member of society. Then came the late night of Feb. 7, 2021, which would cost him and his wife their casino jobs and result in a federal safety citation against the casino, he said. Ear-splitting alarm At 11:30 that night, a boiler-plant malfunction on the casino grounds spewed dangerously hot steam, triggering an ear-splitting alarm throughout the casino, Peterson said. Over the intercom system, all guests and workers were ordered to evacuate, he said. His supervisor told game dealers to stay put and keep dealing, Peterson wrote in a complaint to casino management the day after the incident. He also filed an anonymous whistleblower complaint with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, records show. A casino spokeswoman declined a request by the Observer this week to comment about the incident, the resulting OSHA fine and Peterson and his wifes firings. As this is an ongoing legal matter, we will not comment, casino spokeswoman Kelci Coker said in an email. News of Petersons complaint against the casino and his assertion he was fired out of retaliation was first reported by Fox 46 Queen City News. After the alarm sounded, Peterson told the Observer, hundreds of employees and guests were funneled through the casino front doors. For years, construction on the casino grounds blocked the designated employee emergency exit, he said. Evacuation action plans hadnt been updated in years, he said, and evacuation maps posted in the casino were likewise years out of date. Peterson said he filed the complaints only after he sat down with his manager to discuss his concerns. The manager told him the evacuation went smoothly and nothing was wrong with the casinos emergency plans, he said. Acting on Petersons complaint, OSHA cited Harrahs in August for failing to conduct regular employee evacuation drills, but didnt fine the casino, according to the citation notice by Kim Morton, OSHA area director based in Raleigh. The agency cited the casino after two site inspections, OSHA spokeswoman Erika Ruthman told the Observer. Its vindication, Peterson said of the citation, but hes still considering a lawsuit in hopes of getting his and his pregnant wifes jobs back. Tips at the casino table Peterson said the couple was fired for what the casino manual considers a minor infraction his wife, Deborah, a beverage server, accepting tips from players at his table. Deborah Peterson was assigned to another area, and servers are allowed to accept tips only from players in their areas, according to the manual. Peterson provided a copy of the manual to the Observer that shows the infraction is considered to be minor. Players tipping servers not assigned to their game tables was common throughout the casino during his years there, Peterson said. When he chatted with players at his table about his wife, who is from the Philippines, some would go out of their way to find and tip her, or give her a tip when she passed nearby, he said. Casino response In a July letter to OSHAs regional whistleblower protection office in Atlanta, a lawyer for the casino denied that Peterson and his wife were fired because of his complaint to OSHA. Two incidents led to their firings, casino lawyer Matt Aiazzi wrote. Peterson provided the Observer a copy of Aiazzis letter to OSHA. On April 16, according to the letter, casino surveillance showed Deborah Patterson at her husbands table receiving an unspecified amount of red ($5) chips from a female patron in spite of not providing any service to that patron. Petersons wife should not have been physically present at the table, the lawyer wrote. On April 18, the letter continued, surveillance revealed a female patron at Trey Petersons baccarat table giving his wife $80 in chips that were considered tips. Once terminated, the couple denied wrongdoing and requested a peer review board look at their case, according to Aiazzis letter. The board sided with the casino, Aiazzi wrote. Trey Petersons termination notice, reviewed by the Observer, said he was being dismissed for failure to use professional judgment. Peterson said hed never been cited before in his years at the casino, and still, even if he committed the infraction the company claimed he did, its not considered termination-worthy in the company manual, he said. 2022 The Charlotte Observer. Visit charlotteobserver.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Walking into John Roys bright airy workshop that overlooks a lush garden its easy to see how the potter is inspired whilst shaping clay. Ceramic birds, figures of Uncle Sam, Bottle Men some etched with brick patterns others littered with purposeful holes line shelves and stands of the workshop in his Matua home. Aside from one pottery wheel littered with clay scraps, it is a very tidy space for an art form involving earth. John has been working with clay since he was a teenager; he attended Tauranga Boys College and studied fine arts at Whanganui Polytechnic in 1997. The artist enjoys clay because you can make whatever you want to make. John is most well-known for his iconic Bottle Men that hes been making for longer than he can remember. Figures and faces feature heavily in his works. The potters piece titled Glare, comprising of three connected people, is currently on display at Te Uru gallery in West Auckland as part of the 2021 Portage Ceramic Awards. Glare is part of an ongoing series, most of my stuff feels like one big series, says John. Although he is coy about the inspiration for the piece. I don't usually go too much into the story with each piece because it limits it, he says. People bring all sorts of stuff to art when they look at it. If you say one thing, it can only be one thing, rather than people bringing their own reading to it. John is one of 30 finalists out of 226 entries and his piece Glare, alongside 32 other works, make up the annual Portage Ceramic Awards exhibition, which is at Te Uru until February 27. The ceramicist has been a finalist in the Portage awards a dozen times and has received a merit and honourable mention in the past. His work is held in a number of public collections including: Tauranga Art Gallery, Waikato Museum, Auckland War Memorial Museum and Art Gallery, the James Wallace Arts Trust collection and the Sarjeant Gallery in Whanganui. Some previous awards include the Premier Award at the New Zealand Society of Potters Exhibition in 2004 and the Supreme Award at the Waiheke Ceramics Award also in 2004, but John doesnt create to win awards. He says if theres a piece he thinks will work for an award hell put it to one side and move on to his next piece. Im just potting along. I try not to get too personally attached to anything. I'm more interested in what I'm going to make next than dwelling too much, because anything can happen. It can break or crack in the firing, he says. I think most artists are more interested in what theyre going to make next than what they have made. The Ministry of Health has announced 20 new cases of Covid-19 in the Bay of Plenty today, with 18 of those in Tauranga. The two other Bay of Plenty cases are located in the Eastern Bay region. There are 188 new cases announced across the country today, down 20 from yesterdays total, including a total of 12 new cases in the Lakes DHB region. Regarding the 20 cases in the Bay of Plenty today, 13 are linked to known cases and seven are under investigation; one of which is likely to be reclassified as historical. Of the Lakes cases, 10 are in Rotorua, where one person remains in ICU with the virus. Across the nation, 14 people are currently in hospital with Covid-19. There were 24,935 booster doses administered on Waitangi Day yesterday, taking the total to date to 1,586,950. Also, 1,706 paediatric doses were given yesterday, bringing the total to 199,174. With Omicron in New Zealand, one of the best things you can do is get your booster as soon as it is due, says a MOH spokesperson. Boosters lower your chances of getting very sick and being hospitalised. Being boosted also helps slow the spread of the virus. If youre over 18 and your booster is due, please get it now. The MOH is imploring anyone with any cold or flu symptoms that could be Covid-19 to get a test and isolate at home until a negative result is returned. The most common early symptoms of the Omicron variant are a sore or scratchy throat, and a runny nose. Even if you develop a small sniffle, please get a test. Covid-19 vaccine update Vaccines administered to date (percentage of eligible people): 4,047,722 first doses (96%); 3,973,387 second doses (94%); 1,586,950 booster doses (51%) Vaccines administered yesterday: 286 first doses; 513 second doses; 1,706 paediatric doses; 24,935 booster doses. Maori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 514,469 first doses (90%); 489,188 second doses (86%). Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 278,199 first doses (97%); 270,727 second doses (94%). Paediatric vaccines administered to date (percentage of 5-11-year-olds): 199,174 first doses (42%) Maori (percentage of eligible people aged 5-11): 27,079 (first doses (23%) Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 5-11): 15,738 first doses (32%) Vaccination rates for all DHBs (percentage of eligible people aged 12 +) Northland DHB: First doses (89.9%); second doses (87%) Auckland Metro DHBs: First doses (97%); second doses (96%) Waikato DHB: First doses (95%); second doses (93%) Bay of Plenty DHB: First doses (95%); second doses (92%) Lakes DHB: First doses (93%); second doses (91%) MidCentral DHB: First doses (96%); second doses (94%) Tairawhiti DHB: First doses (93%); second doses (89.7%) Whanganui DHB: First doses (92%); second doses (89.7%) Hawkes Bay: First doses (97%); second doses (94%) Taranaki DHB: First doses (95%); second doses (92%) Wairarapa DHB: First doses (96%); second doses (94%) Capital and Coast DHB: First doses (98%); second doses (97%) Hutt Valley DHB: First doses (97%); second doses (95%) Nelson Marlborough DHB: First doses (97%); second doses (95%) West Coast DHB: First doses (93%); second doses (91%) Canterbury DHB: First doses (99%); second doses (98%) South Canterbury DHB: First doses (95%); second doses (94%) Southern DHB: First doses (98%); second doses (96%) Hospitalisations Cases in hospital: 14; North Shore: 3; Middlemore: 4; Auckland: 3; Waikato: 1; Rotorua: 2; Christchurch: 1 Average age of current hospitalisations: 62 Cases in ICU or HDU: 1 (Rotorua) Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region wards only excluding cases recorded in emergency departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible (1 case / 14%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (N/A cases / 0%); fully vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (5 cases / 71%), unknown (1 case / 14%). Cases Seven day rolling average of community cases: 170 Seven day rolling average of border cases: 38 Number of new community cases: 188 Number of new cases identified at the border: 27 Location of new community cases: Northland (16), Auckland (117), Waikato (15), Tairawhiti (1), Lakes (12), Bay of Plenty (20), Hawkes Bay (1), Mid Central (1), Hutt Valley (2), Canterbury (3) Number of community cases (total): 13,266 (in current community outbreaks) Cases epidemiologically linked (total): 9,681 Number of active cases (total): 1,865 (cases identified in the past 21 days and not yet classified as recovered) Confirmed cases (total): 17,612 Contacts Number of active contacts being managed (total): 5,183 Percentage who has received an outbound call from contact tracers (to confirm testing and isolation requirements): 79% Percentage who has returned at least one result: 72% Tests Number of tests total (last 24 hours): 12,830 Tests rolling average (last 7 days): 19,266 Auckland tests total (last 24 hours): 6,431. Wastewater No unusual detections to report. NZ Covid Tracer Poster scans in the 24 hours to midday yesterday: 2,011,848 Manual diary entries in the 24 hours to midday: 35,501 My Vaccine Pass Total issued to date: 5,067,840 Total yesterday: 9,840 We are reporting new community cases in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Tairawhiti, Lakes, Bay of Plenty, Hawkes Bay, Mid Central, Hutt Valley and Canterbury. Northland We are reporting 16 new cases in Northland today, seven of which were first announced in yesterdays update. Of the nine remaining cases, six are in Kerikeri and three are in Whangarei. The nine cases are under investigation to determine whether they are linked to existing cases. Auckland There are 117 cases to report in Auckland today. Health and welfare providers are now supporting 2,495 people in the region to isolate at home, including 997 cases. Waikato There are 15 new cases in the Waikato today, with 12 linked to previous cases and three under investigation. Of these new cases, there are nine in Hamilton, one in Ohaupo, one in Te Kuiti, one in Huntly, one in Waimiha, and locations for the remaining three are under investigation. Tairawhiti There is one new case to report in Tairawhiti today. The case is a household contact of an existing case and was already isolating when they tested positive. Hawkes Bay Today we are reporting one new case in the Hawkes Bay, which remains under investigation. Mid Central We are reporting one new case in Palmerston North today. The case remains under investigation for links to a previously reported case but had recently returned to the city after travelling outside the region. At this stage, it is believed there are only a small number of close contacts associated with this case, who will be contacted directly. The case is isolating at home. Hutt Valley We are reporting two new cases in the Hutt Valley today. Both cases are currently under investigation. Canterbury Today we are reporting three cases in Canterbury. All are close contacts of known cases and were already isolating when they tested positive. Get website access for only 99 per month for the first 3 months, then $8.50 a month after. Cancel anytime! Unlimited website access 24/7 Unlimited e-Edition access 24/7 The best local, regional and national news in sports, politics, business and more! With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-Edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime. Atlantic, IA (50022) Today Periods of rain. High 49F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Periods of rain. Low 41F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch. Higher wind gusts possible. Tahlequah, OK (74464) Today Scattered strong thunderstorms. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. High 73F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Occasional thunderstorms - possibly severe. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low 49F. SSW winds shifting to WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. Roscoe Harrison has left this world. Our Central Texas community has lost a man of wisdom and a voice of reason. In context: Meta has threatened to shut down Facebook and Instagram in Europe if it is not allowed to transfer, store, and process user data on its US servers. If such a move was to happen, it would affect hundreds of millions of social media users across its two popular platforms and have a huge impact on Meta's business and bottom line. London financial newspaper CityAM explains that Meta had used the transatlantic data transfer framework called Privacy Shield as the legal basis to transfer data on European users from the continent onto US servers, but the treaty was annulled in 2020 over data privacy violations. Meta also uses other agreements to enable transatlantic transfers and to store European user data within the US, though these are also under scrutiny from regulators. In its annual report to the US securities and exchange commission, Meta wrote: "If we are unable to transfer data between and among countries and regions in which we operate, or if we are restricted from sharing data among our products and services, it could affect our ability to provide our services, the manner in which we provide our services or our ability to target ads." Meta goes on to say that it is confident it will be able to reach agreements in 2022, but if it is no longer allowed to use current agreements or similar alternatives, it will "likely be unable to offer a number of our most significant products and services, including Facebook and Instagram, in Europe." Nick Clegg, Meta's VP of Global Affairs and Communications, told CityAM that "a lack of safe, secure and legal international data transfers would damage the economy and hamper the growth of data-driven businesses in the EU, just as we seek a recovery from Covid-19." Given that Meta's shares took a hammering last week after user numbers fell for the first time ever, wiping billions off its value, the chances of FB and Instagram really shutting down in Europe are slim to none---this feels more like an empty threat. Facebook alone has 309 million daily active users in Europe; Meta won't want to lose all that potential revenue and spook investors even more. A Facebook spokesperson said that "We have absolutely no desire and no plans to withdraw from Europe, but the simple reality is that Meta, and many other businesses, organizations and services, rely on data transfers between the EU and the US in order to operate global services." "Fundamentally, businesses need clear, global rules to protect transatlantic data flows over the long term, and like more than 70 other companies across a wide range of industries, we are closely monitoring the potential impact on our European operations as these developments progress." UN released a new report claiming some alleged state-backed crypto hackers fund North Korea's missile programs. If this is true, then the issue can lead to more malicious blockchain campaigns since it only shows that cyberattackers are now stealing cryptocurrencies for government-related purposes. As of the moment, security experts are identifying more and more crypto hacks. Recently, the United Nations' investigators recorded more than $50 stolen cryptocurrencies. Involved digital token thefts happened between 2020 and 2021. UN Says Stolen Cryptos Fund NoKor's Missile Programs According to BBC News' latest report, the latest UN report claims that the stolen cryptocurrencies play an important role in the development of Pyongyang's ballistic missile and nuclear projects. Also Read: Crypto Scam: Rapper Gunna Accused Over Alleged Rug Pull in a Now-Deleted Tweet The United Nations said that one of the proof is that the Asian country can still operate its missile programs despite the sanctions against it. "DPRK demonstrated increased capabilities for rapid deployment, wide mobility (including at sea), and improved resilience of its missile forces," said the sanction monitors. This means that there's a sudden acceleration in the defense activities of North Korea. Right now, some U.S. special representatives are preparing to meet South Korean and Japanese officials to discuss the issue. Crypto Thefts Allegedly Connected to North Korea CNN Business reported that some alleged North Korea-backed hackers could steal more than $400 million worth of cryptocurrencies in 2021 alone. Because it is a massive malicious campaign against digital currencies, security experts said it made 2021 the most lucrative year for cybercriminals targeting the blockchain industry. Around seven crypto attacks were recorded. Most of them focus on centralized exchanges and investment firms. In other news, the crypto exchange FTX was able to acquire its Japanese rival, Liquid, allowing it to expand in Asia further. On the other hand, India's crypto tax is expected to increase by 30%. For more news updates about cryptocurrencies and other related topics, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Meta-Backed Cryptocurrency Diem Calls it Quits After Selling its $200 Million Assets to Silvergate This article is owned by TechTimes Written by: Griffin Davis 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Meta is now warning Europeans that Facebook and Instagram will stop operating in the country if they won't allow them to conduct data sharing activities. The tech giant firm is still criticized because of its data tracking and sharing activities since experts claim that these habits can compromise users' privacy. Now, Meta released an annual report on why it considers removing Facebook and IG from the country. "If we are restricted from sharing data among our products andservices, it could affect our ability to provide our services," said Meta via its yearly report. Meta To Remove Facebook, Instagram From Europe According to Mashable's latest report, data sharing is essential for Meta. This allows the tech firm to allow its services, especially FB and IG, to be fully functional. Also Read: Facebook User Numbers Drop For The First Time Ever; Company Not Growing Anymore? Meta added that the ability to share and consume user data is important for its targeted advertisement business, which is one of the company's main sources of revenue. One of the things that Meta points out is the Privacy Shield data transfer framework in Europe, which allowed it to send user data between the United States and other European Union. However, this system was deemed invalid back in July 2020. The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) was the one that rejected the data framework. Now, Meta is threatening the country regarding its strict rules when it comes to sharing user data across Europe and the U.S. Meta Still Optimistic About the Issue Although the tech giant manufacturer already threatened Europe, it is still quite optimistic regarding their relationship. Meta said that it still believes that they will reach new agreements before 2022 ends, which will benefit both of them. But the company clarified that if their connection does not end well, Instagram and Facebook will definitely be pulled out from the country. In other news, Meta's $10 billion revenue loss is a sign that Facebook is spending too much on its next stage of growth. Meanwhile, Facebook failed to provide free internet service. For more news updates about Meta and its products, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Facebook Suffered 25% Dip in the Stock Market, Making it its Worst Performance Ever This article is owned by TechTimes Written by: Griffin Davis 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Apple's MacBook Pro M2 is launching this year, or in 2022 to be more exact. However, despite the upgraded Silicon chipset, its display appears to skip the next-generation 120Hz ProMotion display. Apple's MacBook Pro M2 Launch As per the news story by WCCFTech, citing Bloomberg's Mark Gurman in his Power On newsletter, the new entry-level MacBook Pro sporting the next-gen M2 chipset is debuting this year. MacBook Pro M2 Chip It is worth noting that the entry-level MacBook Pro that comes with an M1 chip is nearing its second year this November 2022. As such, Gurman predicted that Apple will release its successor during that time. Although the upcoming M2 chip is reportedly more powerful than its predecessor, it does not outperform the recently released M1 Pro M1 Max, which debuted in the top-of-the-line MacBooks. That said, the M2 is only taking over the M1 Apple Silicon chip. On the other hand, the M1 Pro and M1 Pro Max remain unbeatable, according to a report by NotebookCheck. Aside from that, Gurman has yet to disclose any details regarding the next M2 chip of the Cupertino-based tech giant. On top of that, the next-gen entry-level MacBook Pro is reportedly following the route of its higher-end sibling in ditching the touch bar. Read Also: Apple MacBook Pro Notch for the M1X, M1 Max is a Way to Maximize Space for More Content 2022 MacBook Pro: No 120Hz ProMotion? However, the journalist further explained what notably sets the MacBook Pro with M1 Pro and M1 Pro Max against the upcoming entry-level M2 MacBook Pro. First off, Gurman said the new M2 MacBook Pro is skipping the buttery smooth 120Hz refresh rate that the high-end Macs got. So, he predicts that the ProMotion display of Apple is nowhere in sight for its next entry-level this year. On top of that, the M2 MacBook is reportedly sporting an LCD instead of the miniLED found on the high-end MacBooks. WCCFTech reported in the same news story that some reports previously said that the next entry-level MacBook Pro is sporting a miniLED display. However, it would not have any ProMotion support. However, Gurman is now predicting that it would get an LCD screen instead. The Apple ProMotion tech has also reached the top-of-the-line iPhone 13 Pro, giving its flagship smartphone a buttery smooth 120Hz refresh rate. Meanwhile, the 120Hz ProMotion debuted Apple's high-end MacBook Pro models, which carried 14-inch and 16-inch displays. Related Article: Apple's New MacBook Pro Brings Back its Ports After Removing it-What to Expect This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Teejay Boris 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. SpaceX's Starship may only be a backdrop in the next event to showcase the Stainless Steel spacecraft in the upcoming event on Starbase, Boca Chica. The event coming by Thursday, February 10, will bring a massive update on the Starship spacecraft, especially with what it has to offer in the coming months after it is in the process of getting the test launch license. SpaceX Starship to Only Serve as Backdrop for Thursday Event? According to Teslarati's report, the SpaceX Starship will be the "ultimate backdrop" in an event for the spacecraft, and it pertains to the non-operational situation of the Stainless Steel rocket. The report said that it may be so that the Starship will not have a test launch anytime soon, especially now that the massive crane is not yet operational. The Booster 4, or the Super Heavy that will propel the Starships towards the sky, is now in position the orbital launch pad, something that is not the right location for the spacecraft, says Teslarati. The Super Heavy and Starship should be with Mechazilla, also known as the massive structure with arms to carry both spacecraft. Read Also: SpaceX Falcon 9 Sends US Spy Satellite Into Orbit! Starlink Launches To Follow Elon Musk said the Starship is a 'Good' Backdrop; No Test? Musk said that the Starship is a good backdrop compared to others, and this may also mean that the CEO is confirming that it would only be an opportunity to show it to the public. However, it is important to note that Musk did not confirm anything regarding the Starship's flights, particularly with the upcoming showcase and weeks to come. As backdrops go, this is a good one Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 6, 2022 SpaceX's Starship and its Mission to Mars SpaceX Starship's focus is to go to Mars, and the mission is to establish a colony in the Red Planet for the humans to live. The multi-planetary goals came from CEO Elon Musk, and this is because he thinks that this is the solution for the world to avoid and experience population collapse, which he said is happening now in most nations. The mission to Mars is a massive step for mankind and the space company from Musk, and this is because they aim to go places where no one else can come. However, it would ensure that legitimate scientists and experts will soon join its human flights that will happen in a few years. Musk thinks that coming to Mars may help in making life multi-planetary. The space company from Musk will soon hold a showcase in Texas to address its Starship plans for the future, especially now that it is close to happening. Moreover, there may be speculations regarding its delayed flights again, but that will soon get attention and a discussion from Musk that will wait until Thursday to address this issue. Related Article: SpaceX Starship Presentation: Full Stack on Starbase with Super Heavy Live Next Week, Elon Musk Confirms This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Isaiah Richard 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Toyota is joining the race to the Moon, developing its moon-exploring car with Japan's space agency, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, known as the Lunar Cruiser. As per the news story by SyFy, NASA is one of the contenders of the attempt to bring back humans to the surface of the Moon. However, its crew landing mission has been facing a couple of delays lately, pushing its supposed 2024 crewed Artemis mission for another year or in 2025. It is worth noting that NASA or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is working in collaboration with private space firms, such as SpaceX and Blue Origin in its attempt to return astronauts to the Moon. Toyota Moon-Exploring Lunar Cruiser On the other hand, Japan's space agency also signed an agreement with the Japanese automaker, Toyota, to develop a lunar vehicle that will explore the surface of the Moon. Toyota is now planning to develop its lunar car, known as the Lunar Cruiser, which pays homage to its iconic Land Cruiser SUV here on Earth. This time around, the Lunar Cruiser is exploring outside the confines of our home planet, according to a report by RoyalsBlue. For now, the Lunar Cruiser remains to be a mere concept. That said, the research teams behind it are still working on various simulations to kick off its development. What's more, the team behind it is already working on the layout of the Lunar Cruiser by using both virtual reality and full-scale model mockups. Read Also: 2023 Toyota Sequoia's Hybrid V6 Engine Boasts 437 HP | Here's What to Expect Toyota Lunar Cruiser and JAXA On top of that, another Japanese firm, Gitai Japan, is working with JAXA and Toyota to produce the robotic arm for the Lunar Cruiser. It would be used to inspect the surface of the Moon, as well as for the maintenance of the vehicle. Unlike the Toyota moon vehicle, its robotic arm already has its prototype. The president of Toyota, Aiko Toyoda, said in a statement that "the concept of 'home planet' is now more important than ever, noting that the car industry emerged from the concepts of "hometown." Meanwhile, one of the engineers of Toyota, Shinichiro Noda, said that he is looking forward to the Lunar Cruiser project. Syfy said in the same report that existing rovers, such as the Lunar Roving Vehicle and the Perseverance Mars rover, are powered by a battery. Meanwhile, the Lunar Cruiser plans to use hydrogen fuel cells that produce water to power it up. Related Article: 2022 Toyota Tundra is a Hybrid: Here's its Fuel Economy-Will It Be Better than the Ford Maverick? This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Teejay Boris 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Tehachapi, CA (93561) Today A mix of clouds and sun with gusty winds. High 68F. Winds WNW at 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Tonight A few passing clouds. Low 43F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible. Besides meeting with Prime Minister Mia Mottley, Alberto Fernandez will also hold a reunion with representatives of the countries of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States. Argentina's President Alberto Fernandez will arrive in Barbados on Monday afternoon after an international tour that previously included official visits to Russia and China. During his meeting with Prime Minister Mia Mottley on Tuesday, he is expected to discuss issues related to the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), climate change, gender equality, and bilateral cooperation. During the meeting, Fernandez and Mottley will also analyze issues of interest to this Caribbean country, which became independent of the United Kingdom in 1968 and became a parliamentary republic in Nov. 2021, after completely breaking with the British monarchy. During his visit, the Argentine president will also hold a meeting with representatives of the countries of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), an organization promoting economic integration which includes Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Martinique, and Guadeloupe. Argentine President @alferdez laid a wreath at the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall in Tian'anmen Square on Saturday at the sidelines of attending the opening ceremony of the #Beijing 2022 Winter Games: @CasaRosada pic.twitter.com/Vb4MN5S860 Global Times (@globaltimesnews) February 7, 2022 Last week, Fernandez also met with President Vladimir Putin, to whom he expressed that Argentina could become Russia's "gateway to Latin America." The Russia-Argentina "comprehensive strategic partnership" had its first push in 2015 when President Cristina Fernandez (2007-2015) established cooperation commitments with the Putin administration. Currently, both countries have 13 collaboration agreements in matters such as sustainable development, digital economy, space area, technology & innovation, education, agriculture, earth sciences, public media, and nuclear energy. On Sunday, during his stay in China, the Argentine president signed agreements to join his country to the Silk Road and Beltway, an infrastructure project through which China's President Xi Jinping wants to stimulate trade and investment among 140 nation countries. Nicaragua and Honduras signed a border treaty in 2021 that includes the Fonseca Gulf. El Salvador, however, has not recognized this treaty thus far. President Daniel Ortega's administration denounced to the international community that El Salvador sent armed military ships to Nicaraguan territory in the Pacific Ocean. Salvadoran military ships have entered less than 30 miles away from our coasts and remain in that place claiming sovereignty over those maritime spaces. Nicaragua wishes to emphasize that these spaces have always been under the unquestionable sovereignty of Nicaragua and that El Salvador has never before attempted or claimed sovereignty over them, the Ortega administration stated. Prior to the hostile actions that are being carried out by El Salvador, there was no document in which El Salvador claimed Sovereignty over those spaces, nor any record that it has entered that area as it is currently doing," it added. The Nicaraguan government also recalled that El Salvador has historically upheld an interpretation according to which "Honduras has no rights in the mouth of the Fonseca Gulf and therefore in the waters outside of it, in the Pacific Ocean." The Fonseca Gulf is one of the world's best natural harbors and has an extension of about 3,200 square kilometers. Around it are economically very active ports such as La Union (El Salvador), San Lorenzo (Honduras), and Potosi and Morazan (Nicaragua). Due to its geopolitical importance, this gulf has been a focus of tension for Nicaragua, Honduras, and El Salvador for decades. To avoid any conflict, Nicaragua and Honduras signed a border treaty in October 2021 that includes the Fonseca Gulf. El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele, however, has not recognized that treaty thus far. "The incursion of Salvadoran military vessels occurred on February 4 and 5 in the jurisdictional maritime space to the southwest of Punta Cosiguina... the vessels of the Salvadoran Naval Force that entered on February 4 were identified with the numbers PM-15 and PM-10. The next day a military artillery vessel identified as PC-01 and a Boston Whaler-type artillery speedboat entered," outlet Red Colectiva reported. Jady Regard with Cane River Pecan Company. The New Iberia business was one of the winners of the 2021 Lantern Awards, which go to companies across the state that demonstrate excellence in manufacturing. A Baton Rouge mother and her live-in boyfriend pleaded not guilty Monday in the September slaying of her 2-year-old daughter, whose remains were found in a wooded area in Mississippi after the woman reported her missing. Lanaya Cardwell, 24, and Phillip Gardner, 30, were indicted Jan. 27 on second-degree murder charges in the killing of Nevaeh Allen. Gardner also was charged with obstruction of justice. Cardwell initially told authorities the girl disappeared from her familys Belaire neighborhood apartment after her boyfriend set her down for a nap. A high-profile search ensued, spanning two states and involving nearly a dozen law enforcement units, including the FBI. Days later, however, authorities discovered the child's remains in the remote Logtown area of Hancock, Mississippi, buried beneath trees by the bank of the Pearl River. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up According to police, Cardwell admitted she punched the girl in the torso on Sept. 24 after she caught her playing with her last pair of contact lenses, causing her to hit her head on a bathroom cabinet. Then, after Gardner was unable to wake her from a nap later that morning, he put the girl in a suitcase and drove her, along with a 3-year-old sibling, across state lines to dispose of her body. Mother, stepfather of Nevaeh Allen arrested on second-degree murder after child reported missing The mother and stepfather of Nevaeh Allen the 2-year-old who was reported missing last week and whose body was found in Mississippi on Sunda Gardner told police he tried to resuscitate the girl, and, when his attempts failed, he admitted to placing Nevaeh in the suitcase, driving to Mississippi and placing her in a makeshift grave deep in the woods. Cardwell and Gardner appeared separately Monday before state District Judge Fred Crifasi. The East Baton Rouge Parish school system is looking to spend up to $100 million to build as many as three new schools south of Interstate 10, but it appears increasingly unlikely that any of them will be built within the boundaries of the proposed new City of St. George. I dont think its prudent for us to go purchase property inside the City of St. George, School Superintendent Warren Drake said in an interview about plans in the works for new schools. Voters living in this heretofore unincorporated area voted on Oct. 12 to go forward with the new city. Supporters hope to use their success at the polls to persuade first the legislature and then voters to create a companion St. George school district. If successful, it would be the fourth independent school district in the parish, following Baker, Central and Zachary. Voters in southeast East Baton Rouge Parish say 'Yes' to St. George Voters in southeast East Baton Rouge Parish decided Saturday to create the city of St. George, with 54% of the voters within the St. George bo If the school system builds new schools in St. George, they could quickly become the property of the new companion school district, which would become a competitor with whats left of the parish school system. Those schools would join the six schools that St. George is already set to inherit, one of which, the rebuilt Jefferson Terrace elementary set to open in August, will be brand new. School Board President Mike Gaudet, however, said hes not so worried about where the new schools in the planning stages end up being built. He noted that a new school district for St. George is likely to take years to come into being, if it happens at all. And, he said, the school districts boundaries may well be different than those of the new city, so its hard to figure out where to locate a school to avoid it being part of a new St. George school district. But theres a bigger issue with trying to build a new school within the boundaries of St. George. Most of the good land in that area has already been taken, Gaudet said, adding that school officials waited too long to move on getting the schools built. School Board member Connie Bernard, who represents much of the area, has long advocated for more schools built in her district. Despite the recent incorporation vote, she said, theres still a good argument for putting the schools inside the portion of St. George south of I-10. The area is among the fastest growing in the parish and an adequate number of schools were never built to serve them, she said. The school system last opened a new neighborhood school south of I-10 in 1969, when the ribbon was cut for Wildwood Elementary. This area of Baton Rouge could see lots of public school construction in next decade If you build it they will come, so the saying goes. That idea will be put to the test over the next decade in south Baton Rouge, where two sch (The schools) need to be where the children are, she said. Ive said that all along. I think its a mistake not to. Building new schools there sends a signal that we care about our community and we care about our kids, she added. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Bernard, though, agreed with Gaudet that finding suitable land in the St. George area has been difficult. The $100 million for the new schools in the southern part of the parish is part of $362 million worth of school construction that will occur between now and 2029. Parish voters in April 2018 approved this Tax Plan when they renewed a 1-cent sales tax earmarked for public education. East Baton Rouge school tax, in three parts, wins by wide margins in voting Saturday All three parts of a one-cent sales tax renewal for the East Baton Rouge Parish public school system were approved by wide margins in Saturday A new $35 million elementary school in south Baton Rouge is up first, starting construction during the 2020-21 school year. It would be followed by the construction of a $45 million middle/high school, perhaps built as separate schools depending on demand, starting in the 2024-25 school year. The Tax Plan was intentionally vague about where the south Baton Rouge schools would be built, but it set aside another $10 million to buy the land for the schools. Last year, the school system hired Kurz & Hebert, a local real estate agency, to help it scout out real estate for those schools as well as others in the Tax Plan. As that plan was being developed in late 2017 and early 2018, Drake suggested the new south Baton Rouge schools could be placed anywhere from the south gates of LSU to the Ascension Parish line. More recently, the superintendent has tended to mention properties closer to LSU. +3 Plan to build new schools in south Baton Rouge criticized as pushed too far in future The latest plans for school construction over the next decade arent sitting well with East Baton Rouge Parish School Board members who repres During a luncheon talk on Aug. 23 at the Main Library, Drake was asked whether the system would build the new south Baton Rouge schools in St. George. The (properties) we have cited for potential are not in that area right now, he responded. Gaudet said hes planning a board workshop soon to discuss where best to build these new schools. He noted that two newly constructed charter schools located near Gardere IDEA Innovation and South Baton Rouge Charter Academy have quickly attracted students. Putting a new school on the property long occupied Arlington Preparatory Academy, once talked up by Drake as a prime option, however, looks doubtful. Gaudet has raised questions about the small size of the property its just five acres and its limited access in and out, a potential problem during an emergency. I think its highly unlikely wed ever put anything there, Gaudet said. The East Baton Rouge Parish school system is nearing agreement on buying land to build one or more schools in or near the school-scarce area of the parish set to become the City of St. George. However, plans to buy five vacant residential lots to help with the demolition and reconstruction of University Terrace Elementary, located just north of LSU, have hit a wall. The difference is there is as much as $10 million set aside for the purchase of the land in south Baton Rouge, while the University Terrace land purchase, estimated at $250,000, is unfunded. East Baton Rouge school tax, in three parts, wins by wide margins in voting Saturday All three parts of a one-cent sales tax renewal for the East Baton Rouge Parish public school system were approved by wide margins in Saturday The money for both projects comes from a 1-cent sales tax earmarked for education, a tax that voters renewed in April 2018. The sales tax is funding 21 named projects to be built between now and 2029. These projects include $70 million to build two new schools at a still-to-be-determined location in the southern part of the district, as well as an additional $10 million to purchase land for one or both of those schools. Another project approved by voters in 2018 is $25 million to rebuild and expand University Terrace Elementary. Construction is set to start this coming spring. But the budget for that project did not specifically set aside money for buying additional land. If the school system cant settle on an acceptable way to finance unbudgeted land purchases, it will complicate future school construction projects. One such project is McKinley High School, which is set for $35 million in major renovations starting in fall 2024. School officials have identified 12 adjacent properties estimated at $1.5 million total that would allow the high school to be reconfigured. That money, however, is not currently in the project budget. The south Baton Rouge land purchase is set to come up for a vote when School Board meets next on Dec. 17. The plan is to have the board pick from one of four available properties in south Baton Rouge, a move that would start purchase negotiations. Two properties are located in St. George proper, while the other two are located in the Gardere area between Burbank and Nicholson drives. As to the University Terrace land purchase, the board discussed the idea Thursday night but was unable to muster the necessary five votes to spend $250,000 more on top of the $25 million project budget. Any cent over that budgeted amount to me is too much, said Board Vice President Tramelle Howard. The south Baton Rouge land purchase was also discussed Thursday, but no votes were taken. Board members did not tip their hand as to which one of the four properties they favored. Most of the discussion, though, focused on the two properties within the boundaries of St. George. One is a 62-acre tract on Perkins Road between Siegen Lane and Pecue Road. The other is 45 acres near the intersection of I-10 and Siegen Lane. Commercial Realtor George Kurz of Kurz & Hebert laid out some of the pros and cons of the four properties. One big problem, he said, with the Perkins Road land is that future plans for that section of Perkins call for the installation of J-turns. J-turns are U-turns with traffic lights and lanes in the median to hold vehicles waiting to make turns. The road design was named that because it results in an upside-down J shape. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The idea of a school bus making a J-turn during peak traffic just makes me very nervous, Kurz said. Its basically a school bus trying to make a U turn in a four-lane road, which in reality doesnt seem to really work. +2 A St. George school district could start off with ample funding, but costs will grow if popular The fight over the finances of a proposed City of St. George has been fierce, with proponents saying it will have ample money while opponents Another potential complication not discussed Thursday is that St. George supporters plan in the future to lobby for the creation of a companion school district. If successful, the new school district would assume ownership of any new schools built within the boundaries of the new district. On the University Terrace land purchase, the final vote Thursday was 4-2, with board member Dadrius Lanus abstaining. It needed five votes to pass. Board members Mark Belle, Jill Dyason, Mike Gaudet and Evelyn Ware-Jackson voted Yes, while board members Howard and Dawn Collins voted No. Board rules suggest the item cant be considered again for 60 days. If the vote had occurred earlier Thursday night, the result might have been different. The item didn't come to a vote until more than four hours into the nearly seven hour meeting. By then, board members Connie Bernard and David Tatman had already left. School admins set sights on property to expand McKinley High, rebuild University Terrace Elementary Voters in April 2018 agreed to set aside millions to rebuild University Terrace Elementary and expand nearby McKinley High, but before that ca The idea of purchasing land around University Terrace has been in the making for years. Board President Gaudet said that owning the five lots adjacent to the elementary school would ease traffic congestion in the area by expanding from one to three the number of streets accessible from the campus. He also said it could potentially save construction costs via better access to sewer and other utilities. I really want to caution us from being penny-wise and dollar-foolish when we are making a 50-year decision and (spending) $25 million, Gaudet said. For less than 1% of the project, we could make it much more viable. To pay for the $250,000 purchase, Gaudet is proposing using the proceeds from the future sale of vacant property southeast of LSU on Dean Lee Drive, which used to be the home of Arlington Preparatory Academy. Lanus, however, was unmoved. He said that buying the five lots next to University Terrace is not a necessity. He said there are more pressing needs in the school system, specifically including creating a new middle school in the Glen Oaks area, which is in Lanus district. Marcus Williams, program director for CSRS/Tillage Program Management, the private partnership which oversees most school construction in Baton Rouge, expressed ambivalence Thursday about the benefits of purchasing the five lots. He said his team can build a new school without a problem on the current site as is. That prompted a testy exchange between Gaudet and Williams. Would you say that having that added land would be desirable, or very desirable, or that you're indifferent to having that extra land to make a better building and a better school? Gaudet asked Williams. After a few minutes of back and forth, Williams said buying the additional property and gaining access to Aster and Alasks streets "does not determine whether its desirable or not when you design a building." "So the answer is no, Williams said finally. The East Baton Rouge Parish school system is entering into negotiations to buy up to 46 acres of land just west of the intersection of I-10 and Siegen Lane, land that could become home to the first new neighborhood public schools in southeast Baton Rouge in decades. The prospective land purchase is an important step in a long-running effort to build more schools in this school-scarce portion of the parish. To finance the purchase, the school system plans to tap into a $10 million pot of money established by voters in April 2018 when they renewed a 1-cent sales tax earmarked for education. The money is designated to buy land somewhere in the vicinity. The effort, though, is behind schedule. The timetable approved by voters called the purchase of the land months ago. That timetable was set back by the coronavirus pandemic as well the shortage of suitable property in the area. Wisdom of building new south Baton Rouge schools debated in wake of St. George incorporation East Baton Rouge Parish School Board members clashed Monday night over whether to spend millions of dollars on new schools in school-scarce so Another delaying factor has been uncertainty resulting from the successful October 2019 vote to incorporate a new city of St. George in East Baton Rouge Parish. That vote is being challenged in court. If St. George wins its court challenge, backers plan to turn their attention to creating a companion school district, which would carve territory out of the parish school system. The School Board on Thursday night voted 6-3 to start negotiations to buy the site, which is accessible from North Reiger Road and Reitz Avenue. The 45.8 acre site is actually two plots of land with two different owners. The property, which includes a three acre lake, fronts the north side of 1-10. Unlike three other sites under consideration, that site is within the boundaries of the proposed new city of St. George. The property, however, abuts the city of Baton Rouge and could be annexed into it. Board members Dawn Collins, Tramelle Howard and Dadrius Lanus voted No, all citing the St. George issue. I would like to see that we have any property annexed to our city before I feel comfortable voting on it, Lanus said. Board President Mike Gaudet, however, argued that the property's location need not be a holdup, saying that future annexation into the city of Baton Rouge is always an option. Being outside St. Georges city boundaries is no guarantee that the property wont stay out of a future St. George school district. That school district need not have the same boundaries as the city. Breakaway school districts in Baker, Central and Zachary all have different boundaries than their cities. In the case of Zachary, the school district is much larger. Voters in southeast East Baton Rouge Parish say 'Yes' to St. George Voters in southeast East Baton Rouge Parish decided Saturday to create the city of St. George, with 54% of the voters within the St. George bo Another area of uncertainty is what kind of school or schools the district will ultimately build on any property purchased. In addition to buying land, the renewal of the sales tax set aside $70 million to build new schools in the southern part of the district. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The approved construction schedule called for an elementary school to start construction this school year, followed by a middle/high school in 2024-25. School officials, however, arent sure whether they will stick with that plan. Board member David Tatman, whose District 9 includes much of the area, suggested flipping the schedule in order to build a high school first. We just need relief at Tara and at Woodlawn (high schools), Tatman said, noting that the attendance zones for those schools are much larger than they should be. Changing the construction schedule would require the approval of a special citizens committee established as part of the tax plan. Board member Connie Bernard, whose District 8 also includes much of the area, said she wants the district to purchase land large enough to build an elementary school as well. Im just suggesting we buy as big a piece as would be suitable and available to us, Bernard said. Commercial Realtor George Kurz of Kurz & Hebert has been leading the effort to find property for the school system to purchase in south Baton Rouge. Kurz said that public entities like the school system have legal limits on how much they can spend for property. We can only pay what the appraised value is, Kurz said. We cant go into usurious mode. Of the three other sites, only a 62.6-acre section north of Perkins Road has attracted much discussion. Its larger, but more of the property is at risk of flooding and there is concern about the quality of bus access from Perkins Road. Board member Collins offered a substitute motion to start negotiating for the purchase of both the Siegen and the Perkins properties. That motion failed by a 4-5 margin. Collins suggested having a second property under negotiation might lead to a better deal. But Gaudet rejected that idea. A retired vice president from Albemarle, he said buying commercial property is different than buying a house and that its costly to do the engineering work needed to determine the appropriate value of the property. He also said there are advantages to picking one property on which to focus negotiations. I dont feel like we would have our hands tied behind our back if we only had one site, Gaudet said. Because you can negotiate very hard if they know that when you walk, youre gone and youre not coming back. Senate leaders on Monday proposed a map that would largely keep current boundaries for Louisiana's top school board intact while three other proposals are aimed at adding a third majority-minority district to the mix. The Senate & Governmental Affairs Committee is set to vote on the measures Tuesday, the same day the House debates a separate measure that would largely keep the current lines in place. After arguments, House panel approves map with new boundaries for state school board Despite complaints from Black lawmakers, a state House committee Friday approved a bill that would spell out new boundaries for Louisiana's to The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education includes 11 members, with eight elected by voters and three named by the governor. Boundaries for the eight elected districts are being redrawn as part of the once-a-decade process called redistricting sparked by population changes. BESE sets policies for nearly 700,000 students statewide. Senate President Page Cortez, R-Lafayette and Sen. Franklin Foil, R-Baton Rouge, are proposing a map that would retain two majority-minority districts. That means a district where Black residents, who make up 33% of Louisiana's population, comprise a majority of the BESE district. Foil told the committee one goal of the proposed map Senate Bill 14 is "continuity of representation," which he said would allow voters to retain or reject members during elections in 2023. "This map achieves that," he said. Cortez rejected an argument by backers of a third majority-minority district that the lines should be shaped in part by the fact Black students and other minorities makeup 57% of the state's public school population. He said redistricting is driven by changes in population, not the population of student bodies. Two Black senators disagreed. Senate Education Committee Chairman Cleo Fields, D-Baton Rouge, is sponsoring two bills designed to add a third majority-minority district Senate Bills 7 and 12. Senate Bill 7 would convert BESE District 5 in northeast Louisiana, which now consists mostly of White voters, to one where Black residents make up 50.5% of the population and 47.7% of the voting-age population. District 5 is held by Ashley Ellis, of Monroe. The scoop on state politics in your inbox Get the Louisiana politics insider details once a week from us. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Senate Bill 12 would change BESE District 4 in northwest Louisiana, which is mostly White residents, to 51.1% Black residents and 48.3% of the voting-age population would be Black residents. District 4 is held by Michael Melerine, of Shreveport. Fields told the committee Black students make up 42% of public schools and Hispanic students 9%, with other minority students making up another 6% of the total. "So the total minority population in the state of Louisiana in public schools would be 57%," he said. Sen. Regina Barrow, D-Baton Rouge, offered a map that would convert District 5 to 50.5% Black residents, and Black voters would make up 47.8% of the voting-age population. Sen. Sharon Hewitt, R-Slidell and chairperson of the committee, repeatedly questioned Barrow and others on whether a voting-age population of 47.7% would be enough to ensure the election of a minority BESE member. "At the end of the day it creates an opportunity," Barrow replied. "That is the best we can ask for," she said. "Whoever the candidate is they have to get out and do the work." Bid to add new minority seat to BESE could spark controversy during redistricting session A new redistricting dispute is brewing amid a push by civil rights groups to add another minority seat to the state Board of Elementary and Se Victoria Wenger, an attorney with the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund Inc., said her group is confident that a revamped BESE district where Black voters make up about 47% of the voting-age population would stand a good chance of allowing a minority candidate to win. Hewitt said legislative officials disagree. Former BESE President Linda Johnson, who served on the board for 13 years, backed the push for a third majority-minority district and said it should have happened after the 2010 census. "I think it is morally responsible for us to have representatives not just on BESE but any of these organizations that look like the children," said Johnson, who lives in Plaquemine. Suncorp chief executive Steve Johnston has signalled home and motor insurance premiums are likely to continue rising due to the cost of more frequent and severe wild weather, after a series of natural hazards ate into its first-half profits. Despite the high disaster costs, which can be volatile, shares in the company behind brands including AAMI and Apia surged 5.8 per cent to $12.07 on Tuesday, amid signs it is making headway in improving long-term performance. Australia has been hit by several damaging storms over the past six months, leading to a high number of insurance claims. Credit:Brook Mitchell In its first half results, Suncorp reported cash earnings fell 29.1 per cent to $361 million, and that natural hazard costs were $205 million more than it expected in the first half. The company said it had been challenged by the La Nina climate pattern, with waves of wild weather in late 2021 that included storms and hail on Australias east coast, and an earthquake in the Victorian town of Mansfield. Magellan founder Hamish Douglass will step down from his duties and take medical leave after a period of intense pressure and focus on both his personal and professional life, causing the Sydney fund managers share price to plummet to new lows after months of turmoil. Magellan reported on Monday that Mr Douglass would take a leave of absence as Magellans chair and chief investment officer, with co-founder Chris Mackay taking responsibility for his investment duties and director Hamish McLennan becoming chair in the interim. Magellan co-founder Hamish Douglass is taking medical leave after a period of intense pressure and focus on both his personal and professional life. Credit:Janie Barrett The leadership reshuffle, alongside the re-appointment of portfolio manager Nikki Thomas to the group, comes as Magellan reported ongoing outflows had contributed to the groups total funds under management falling again to $93.5 billion from $95.5 billion between December and January this year. The news prompted Magellans share price to tank by more than 11 per cent to close at $16.43 per share, its lowest point in more than six years. Burger lovers will soon be forking out more for their Grilld favourites after the burger chains boss signalled the price of some items were set to increase in the coming months. Grilld co-founder and managing director Simon Crowe said supply chain and inflationary pressures had compounded into mounting costs for the business that needed to be passed onto the consumer. Grilld stores in Sydneys Crown Street and Melbournes Collingwood are serving a plant based-only menu as of this week. Were getting a lot of pricing pressure coming at us from all angles, Mr Crowe told the Herald and The Age, noting the rising costs of petrol as well as beef. From all suppliers, Ive not seen this sort of pricing pressure for over 10 years. As a result, the cost of some Grilld products which he said were priced at the premium at the end of the market will increase when the chain adjusts its menu at the end of March. At the height of its overseas success in the 1980s, Neighbours a show set and produced in suburban Melbourne occupied a slot just before the BBCs nationwide six oclock news every weeknight. Those were the days of Jason Donovan and Kylie Minogue, Craig McLachlan and Guy Pearce. Such was the shows grip on British culture that it could even put a single by Stefan Dennis (perennial bad guy Paul Robinson) on the pop charts. More than 19 million Britons watched Donovan and Minogue tie the knot as Scott and Charlene. Its star has faded since then. It moved to the UKs budget Channel 5 in 2008, and in Australia, Network Ten moved it in 2011 from a prime slot after the nightly news on the main channel to 10 Peach. Even so, the soap opera is still a drawcard for Channel 5, pulling in 1.4 million viewers across two daily screenings. His skills proved vast, matched only by his unquenchable curiosity. He became a journalist, author, cultural critic, essayist, memoirist, profile writer, poet, emeritus professor and walking encyclopaedia on American R&B and jazz, writing on everything from politics, class, popular culture, surfing, art and architecture to love, sex, desire, marriage and the nature of memory. Craig was my first journalistic mentor and close friend. He taught me and a generation of other writers and students what it meant to be joyful and celebratory, while still engaged in the deadly serious business of exposing injustice. His first feature piece, published in 1951 at the age of 18 for the Sydney Morning Herald, was on the American revival of Dixieland jazz. Twenty years later he was writing on popular culture for the New York Times. Bob Hawke and Craig McGregor at the launch of the McGregors book, The Australian People, in 1980. Credit:Fairfax In 1966, he interviewed Bob Dylan during his Australian tour and later edited the book Bob Dylan: A Retrospective, prompting Dylan to later comment, Craig is hip to the hip but not really hip. What set Craig McGregor apart from other journalists of his era was that he was formally educated, an idea scorned at the time. Hed enrolled at Sydney University and fallen under the spell of John Anderson, Challis professor of philosophy, a former Trotskyist and member of the Sydney Push, a pluralist, proponent of free speech and champion of sexual and religious freedom. Anderson changed Craigs life forever. He demonstrated to the young firebrand the destructiveness of undirected anger, showing him, instead, where to place his quiver and how to take aim. Craigs 1966 book Profile of Australia posited the then-heretical idea that Australia, far from being a classless society, was one riven with divisions, including a burgeoning underclass. At his core Craig was a true radical. In the late 1960s he was awarded a Harkness Fellowship and, together with his wife Jane, went to live in New York with their four young children, Rob, Kate, Sarah and Clare. Craig had met Jane Watson, an English nurse, in 1960 on a ban-the-bomb march from Aldermaston to London. They married the following year. They didnt choose the Village or the Upper East Side. They chose the fringes of Harlem. Their children went to local public schools while Craig wrote and drank in the revolutionary politics of Richard Nixons America, together with the New Journalism of Tom Wolfe, Hunter S. Thompson and Norman Mailer. Craig became an exponent of this new literary movement, smashing the boundaries between traditional journalism and non-fiction. He wrote fiction that was often true and non-fiction that employed the creative devices of fiction. He wrote from a mans point of view and a womans. He wrote one-word sentences and sentences with hundreds of words, neer a comma in sight. He wrote chapters with titles such as watching the mirror, watching you, in lower case, please and he would regularly summon intellectual support ranging from Plato to Dylan. One of the first McGregor articles I ever read was his Good Weekend profile on Jill (Wran) Hickson, for which he won his second Walkley award in 1986. His first Walkley, nearly a decade earlier, was for his profile of Bob Hawke in the National Times. Jill Wran talked and talked, and the more she talked the more extraordinary the story became. For me, this was the piece that redefined the art of profile writing in Australia, and the one that inspired me to want to emulate the man whod done it, despite Craig believing all character studies were false. Life is not a continuous linear narrative, he wrote, but a mix of remembrances and relationships and bits and pieces of the conscious and unconscious mind Ones writing should strive to enact that. When Craig invited me to launch his book on Mark Latham 18 years ago, it was just after his first stroke. In trying to do him justice, I delivered the speech with three different leads, all true. One of them read: Craig McGregor (second from left) at the presentation of the 1980 Earth Week Awards. Credit:Fairfax Craig McGregor, when he fixes you in his benign but quizzical gaze, when he gives you his rapt attention, can winkle just about anything out of anybody. And, at the same time as hes doing that, never tell you a damn thing about himself. Within 30 minutes of meeting Craig, Id told him my life story. Within an hour I felt like he was a friend for life. Id left nothing out. Friends. Enemies. Triumphs. Regrets. Nothing was sacred any longer. That was 20 years ago. And I still know nothing about the man who did this to me. But I came to know the man. I came to see that this brilliant, irascible, famously argumentative, committed, sometimes ego-driven, eternal agitator was also full of laughter, courage, insecurity, generosity and deep tenderness. Decades ago, he planted the first pandanus and casurinas to shade the edge of Wategos Beach in his spirit home of Byron Bay. An enthusiastic surfer, Craig had first visited the region in 1967 and become the first journalist in the country to explore Byrons culture, both working class and alternative. He was also prescient enough to see that Byron would become the first urban cultural experiment in Australia outside the cities. Craig played and sang the blues on guitar. He read verses of poetry to his friends. And he loved his family with the fiercest of passions, none more so than Jane, his devoted wife of 61 years. We need as much affection as the human heart can take, he once wrote, and from Jane he took it and gave it in an all-encompassing love for the ages. My love for you, he added, is the most honourable thing about me. It is the thing I do best. He wrote that one morning after lying in bed with Jane, listening to the wind in the hoop pines, wondering whether, when he was dead the happiness he now felt would endure. We can only hope so, Craig. Craig is survived by his wife Jane, four children, six grandchildren and two brothers. More than three-quarters of a $100 million NSW government gambling revenue grant program has been distributed to Coalition electorates and battleground seats over almost a decade. Despite the scheme drawing large amounts of cash from communities in Sydneys south-west, where poker machines are prevalent, about $75 million of the $103.4 million program was funnelled into Liberal and National electorates across NSW between 2013 and 2021, Herald analysis shows. Projects funded include a $236,523 meandering garden pathway in the Southern Highlands, $142,675 to replace an equestrian arena for a pony club in Terrigal, and $131,000 for an artist in residence sustainability project near Nowra. One in 10 gambling profit grants went to clubs with poker machines across NSW, including more than $1 million for kitchen expansions, refurbishments and upgrades and a container kitchen/food truck under the banner of emergency relief. Two Victoria Police officers have been suspended following an allegation they assaulted a 58-year-old man during an arrest in Melbournes south-east in the early hours of Friday morning. In a statement, Victoria Police said the 58-year-old man was injured in Narre Warren South shortly after 1.30am on Friday and had to be taken to hospital for treatment. He has since been discharged. Two senior constables from the transit and public safety command involved in the arrest were suspended from duty on Monday, pending the outcome of an internal investigation by the Victoria Police professional standards command. Victorias anti-corruption watchdog, the Independent Board-based Anti-Corruption Commission will oversee the police probe and make recommendations to the force if necessary. The commission is tasked with preventing and exposing police misconduct. Australia could build a successful domestic electric vehicle industry by offering major global manufacturers tax incentives to establish a local base and create jobs in communities that are transitioning from carbon-intensive industries, a new report has identified. Industry and the union movement have endorsed the findings from the Centre for Future Work, released on Tuesday, which also recommends tax breaks for mining companies involved in the extraction of key minerals primarily lithium and rare earths to boost local manufacturing capabilities, especially emerging EV battery industries. Australia can build an electric vehicles industry if it acts fast, a new report has found. Credit:Shutterstock The global electric vehicle market is rapidly growing as the worlds biggest companies attempt to decarbonise to combat climate change and keep global average temperatures as close to 1.5 degrees celsius as possible under international agreements. In 2021, electric car sales more than doubled from the previous year to 6.6 million, representing almost 9 per cent of the market. China accounts for more than half of all electric cars sold, but there is strong growth in Europe and the United States. Australia has lagged in the market, which also remains sluggish in Brazil, India, Indonesia and Japan. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is facing community opposition to two of the four railway station car parks he promised his electorate ahead of the 2019 election with campaigns running against the projects, which will deliver fewer car parks and cost far more than originally proposed. Residents, including the granddaughter of a former NSW Liberal Party leader, are angry at the car parks promised at the Glenferrie Road and Canterbury stations in Mr Frydenbergs blue-ribbon seat of Kooyong in Melbournes eastern suburbs. Residents around Hawthorn, in Josh Frydenbergs electorate of Kooyong, are angry at plans for a four-storey commuter car park. Credit:Penny Stephens The $660 million Commuter Car Park fund was the focus of a scathing report by the Auditor-General that found 77 per cent of its projects were pledged to Coalition seats. Most of them were pledged in Melbournes east and south-east where the Liberal Party was defending a string of marginal electorates. Mr Frydenberg promised four projects at Glenferrie Road, Canterbury, Camberwell and Surrey Hills that would deliver up to 2000 car spaces at a cost of $65 million. A trial to overhaul the 9am to 3pm school day could start later this year, using teaching models from before and after school tutoring programs established during the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools will be able to apply for the trial through an expression of interest process under development. The trial is expected to start in term three. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said he wanted the review to produce bold and brave policy ideas. Credit:Flavio Branceleone Premier Dominic Perrottet on Monday again voiced support for modernising the school day, as he announced a landmark womens economic review to increase female workforce participation and help shape the state budget. Mr Perrottet argued that the 9am to 3pm timetable was set up at a very different time in life, adding that his government needed to look outside the box ... to be bold and brave. Not a surprise One of Scott Morrisons promises before the last election was to create an integrity commission with real teeth. Now Attorney-General Michaela Cash has announced that other bills, such as the proposed Religious Discrimination Act, would take priority and the integrity commission would not be decided by Parliament before the election because Labor would not agree to the government model. The Labor Party wants a political witch-hunt with show trials, Senator Cash said. Why are we not surprised yet again? John Cummings, Anglesea Clash of beliefs It is hardly surprising that achieving consensus on the Morrison governments religious freedom bill is proving difficult (Libs struggle on religious bill, 7/2). The bill seeks to reconcile vastly different worldviews and aspects of individual meaning and identity. To a person of deeply held personal belief and faith, the possible offence their views may cause other people is hardly relevant. They regard their relationship with their God as being on a completely different plane from their relationship with the rest of society. This is the reason religious communities seek to shield themselves, to a greater or lesser degree, from broader society. A school wishing to exclude LGBTQI people is just one example. Conversely, many people regard such faith and belief as having little relevance in todays world. Religions cause conflict and insularity and the world would be better off without them. Seeking to accommodate such fundamentally different attitudes may be impossible. Rod Wise, Surrey Hills Cashflow problems Australia is a wealthy country yet the federal government cant fund a decent aged care system. It cant find the moneys to raise the dole so disadvantaged people dont live in poverty, but it can ways find ways to pay for exorbitant submarines that will probably be obsolete before they are built. Millions on locking up refugees? Tick. Well always find a way to pay for that. Bribing marginal and/or Coalition seats. Ditto. No, there is no shortage of money. There is a shortage of politicians who do give a rats about people who are old, poor or dont fit into their narrow definition of who is deserving. Ann Maginness, Beaumaris Save the sympathy I would advise Julie Ottobre who wrote (The Age, 4/2) that she felt for the Prime Minister after Peter van Onselen confronted him with savage text messages at the National Press Club, to save her sympathy for someone who needs it and may appreciate it. Morrison deserves savage treatment. He trampled colleagues such as Julia Banks and Bridget Arthur and had no compunction in humiliating Christine Holgate in a parliamentary tirade when she was CEO at Australia Post. He has been labelled a hypocrite. He says he is a Christian and yet if one reads the Gospels (as opposed to the propaganda of organised religion) it is apparent that Morrison does not practise those principles in his interaction with others. Andrew Crozier-Durham, Melbourne Remember Abbott So Scott Morrison has promised to restore funding to the ABC, amazing what desperate politicians will say. Of course this promise is worth as much as Tony Abbotts promise that there would be no cuts to the ABC and SBS in 2013. Graeme Henchel, Yarra Glen Fund guarantee needed In relation to the pot of gold found for the ABC it would be wise to remember, what is quickly given can be quickly taken away. The ABC needs an assured and legislated level of funding. This doesnt fool anyone. Irene Zalstein, Doncaster Friendly reminder Great to hear the Coalition are now ABC Friends. Hopefully, theyll become friends with climate and refugee action groups, too. Belinda Burke, Hawthorn Of course, there were cuts When the Coalition was returned to power almost 10 years ago it promised not to cut ABC funding. Prime ministers Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison all continued this charade and yet each imposed further stringent austerity measures. Three communications ministers Malcolm Turnbull, Mitch Fifield and now Paul Fletcher have repeatedly trumpeted there are no cuts. Now with an election in sight, funding has been restored thereby proving the lie of course there were cuts. How else could one explain the extensive loss of jobs and invaluable programming over these recent years? Royce Bennett, Baxter Didnt go father The current language debate is intriguing. When I was a child (quite a long time ago now), we did not talk about parenting. That term came later when we as a society encouraged men to be more involved in caring for their children in the same way the mothers were. Up until then, to love, nurture, care for, look after a child was to mother them. Of course we couldnt have men undertaking work labelled with a female term, that would be demeaning for the blokes. So we coined the term parenting to include men and women in the loving and caring role previously the sole preserve of women. That was because the term to father a child only meant basically being a sperm donor. Kath McKay, Bayswater North Little faith here I have to wonder what Scott Morrisons faith has always informed him to do regarding the plight of the refugees his government has had locked up for almost a decade? He says he understands human frailty, but perhaps not his own. Claire Cooper, Maldon Love and forgiveness Scott Morrison said he forgave Barnaby Joyce easily and that politics is a brutal business. I wonder what forgiveness looks like in a world where your reality is a brutal business? In my experience, forgiveness is usually connected with a vulnerable willingness to again trust someone after they have done something wrong. You acknowledge their wrongdoing as something that, while it has hurt you, you are willing to let go of in the greater interests of your relationship. Normally that would mean that you can move on again together with the expectation that there wont be a breach of trust again because you agree to commit to being better. Love underlies true forgiveness. I agree with Scott Morrison that politics is a brutal business. In fact I dont think anyone would disagree. My question to all politicians, is: What are you going to do about it? Do you seriously think any of you can create a kinder, more just, more open and more egalitarian world when the culture you are swimming around in is brutality? Mostly what we, the public, witness is a Parliament where people are tearing each other down, trying to win the power game. Because of course, once you win the power game, youll be in power and can run the country. With all those great policies designed to create a better world. Steve Ray, Coburg Cant have both What do we want? Properly resourced and staffed aged care, education facilities and health care. What dont we want? To pay more taxes! Sorry you cant have both. Sandra Ashton, Beaumaris Is this the war room? With his provocative utterances about China, Peter Dutton is sounding alarmingly and increasingly like United States Brigadier-General Jack D. Ripper in Dr Strangelove. Phil Alexander, Eltham Koalas, coral, ABC The ABC is clearly endangered, having now joined koalas and coral on the Coalitions three-year electoral cycle, trickle feed list. Brian Rock, Beechworth AND ANOTHER THING Politics Leaders have begun electioneering. When do they start shaking babies and kissing hands? Richard Sykes, Bell Park Another big mistake by the PM. He should have accepted Barnaby Joyces resignation. John Brodie, Alphington After working with Scott Morrison for 15 years, Barnaby Joyce thought the PM was a hypocrite and a liar. Just in the past 12 months he has realised he was wrong. Michael Brinkman, Ventnor Is Scott Morrison lying when he says hes forgiven Barnaby Joyce? Stuart Gluth, Northcote Scott Morrison needs to decide whether to be a hairdresser or to address the hairy problems of the nation. Jon Smith, Leongatha Richard Colbeck cant be sacked and Barnaby Joyce cant resign; the Coalitions talent pool is so weak. Phil Lipshut, Elsternwick Press send in haste, repent in leisure. Malcolm McDonald, Burwood Things must be bad if the government is throwing money at the ABC. Jenny Bone, Surrey Hills Shane Wright (5/2) maintains that, with an election coming up, its the economy, stupid. No, its the environment. Nick Jans, Princes Hill As someone who loves a photo op, will we see the PM changing dirty bed linen at an aged care facility? Graeme Mattinson, Altona The West Australian government plans to create hydrogen hubs and vast areas of solar panels along 500 kilometres of Pilbara coastline by 2030, with federal funds for initial infrastructure the first step towards the ambitious dream. A confidential WA Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation presentation obtained by WAtoday outlines a vision of WAs iron ore region becoming a global centre of hydrogen production, use and export at scale with a zero-emissions (green) iron ore and steel industry. The WA Government wants the Pilbara to be a hydrogen export and green steel powerhouse by 2030. Credit:JTSI presentation The plan is to manufacture hydrogen at numerous hubs near ports for export and with access to land for solar farms. Wind farms would be located further inland to provide additional clean energy, especially at night. By 2030 five production hubs from Onslow to Port Hedland, all areas already designated as strategic industrial areas, could be connected to each other and consumers by a hydrogen pipeline. Van Buren, AR (72956) Today Scattered strong thunderstorms. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. High 73F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Strong thunderstorms likely. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low 57F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Associate Editor Brent Addleman is an Associate Editor and a veteran journalist with more than 25 years of experience. He has served as editor of newspapers in Pennsylvania and Texas, and has also worked at newspapers in Delaware, Maryland, New York, and Kentucky. By Trend The mandate of the OSCE Minsk Group and the OSCE Minsk Group exhausted itself and new solutions are required, Russian military expert, editor-in-chief of the National Defense magazine Igor Korotchenko told Trend while commenting on a statement made following a videoconference meeting with President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President Emmanuel Macron as part of the French Presidency of the Council of the EU, President of the European Council Charles Michel and Prime Minister of the Republic Armenia Nikol Pashinyan. The OSCE Minsk Group was not mentioned in this statement. "The previous mandate of the OSCE Minsk Group actually exhausted itself in the current military-political situation and in its previous activity it has no demand, that is why it was not mentioned during the meeting," the expert stressed. As for the new opportunities of the OSCE Minsk Group, Korotchenko added that it must deal with such issues as assistance in the integration of Armenians living in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan into Azerbaijans political and legal aspects. "For this purpose, it is necessary to develop a specific roadmap through the active participation of the OSCE Minsk Group," the expert said. "France plays its game and it has been stipulated by several factors," the expert said. "The first and main factor is the influence of the Armenian lobby in France, which is politically and financially quite effective." "We see that the anti-Azerbaijani rhetoric along with the speeches of certain presidential candidates of France is also used as a factor in attracting the votes of Armenian citizens of France," Korotchenko added. "The Armenian lobby in France is quite influential." The expert said that a certain period of time must probably pass for France to finally accept the existing realities. "I think that France must demonstrate both in words and in deeds its position, in particular, an official ban on illegal visits of the French presidential candidates to the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan," Korotchenko said. The expert said that this must be formalized in France from a legal point of view. "I reiterate that we have seen a rather duplicitous position of Paris," the expert said. "The fact that France has spoken positively today does not mean that it cannot speak negatively on some issues in future." Korotchenko said that therefore, constant monitoring and a clear diplomatic reaction to any possible wrong actions of Paris are required. "But in general, we assess the results of the meeting as a victory of the Azerbaijani diplomacy because everyone understands that the mandate of the OSCE Minsk Group and the OSCE Minsk Group exhausted itself, new completely different solutions are required," the expert said. "I hope France shows common sense and will be committed to this process," the expert added. U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, D-St. Petersburg, gestures while speaking to supporters during a campaign rally as he announces his run for Florida governor Tuesday, May 4, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Crist, who served as Florida governor for a single term before running other offices, is seeking the states highest office once again this time as a Democrat. Staff Reporter Nyamekye Daniel has been a journalist for five years. She was the managing editor for the South Florida Media Network and a staff writer for The Miami Times. Daniel's work has also appeared in the Sun-Sentinel, Miami Herald and The New York Times. A voter begins to cast his ballot during voting at a poling place inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, on Election Day Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. In this Thursday, May 19, 2016 photo, people at right sit at public computers at the Kilton Public Library in Lebanon, N.H. There is not one single American dream. There are over 300 million that belong to each unique person living in the United States of America. Miguel Perezs American dream was to become a U.S. citizen. In 2003, four-year-old Perez and his family moved 10,600 miles across the world from the Philippines to the U.S. for a fresh start. Upon arrival, his family decided to plant their roots in San Diego. Perez has lived in San Diego ever since, and its where he went to school, got his first job and made many friends. San Diego has always been and will always be my home, said Senior Airman Miguel Perez, 90th Force Support Squadron fitness specialist. Perez joined the United States Air Force in 2019 for his own new start, to provide for his family and so he could become a citizen. His journey to naturalization was anything but easy. In January 2020, one year into his Air Force career, Perez submitted his first citizenship application. The whole process is through snail mail, said Perez. I put the application in the actual mailbox then had to wait about two months for immigration to receive it and send back a reply. After waiting two months, Perez received a denial letter explaining he would have to pay a $2,000 fee if he wanted to get his citizenship. Being in the military, this fee was supposed to get waived, so Perez sent in a second application hoping the denial was just a mistake. The second application was denied for the same reason. Frustrated, Perez went to the base legal office for assistance. With their help, Perez called immigration and explained the situation at hand. Immigration apologized and told Perez to send in his application, and they would look out for his name to make sure it was accepted. Perez sent in a third application, followed by a fourth application, which were both denied. I was just so frustrated and I felt so defeated, said Perez. I decided to wait awhile and figure it out in the future. In 2021, Perez was selected for a deployment to Qatar, so he got ready and sat through briefings just to be told he could not go due to the fact he was still not a citizen. Perez went to his squadron commander, Maj. Erin Holland, and his group commander, Col. Carolyn Ammons for assistance, bringing all of his denial letters. Holland and Ammons helped Perez, and when he sent in his fifth application for citizenship, he was finally accepted. Perez stood in the immigration office in Denver to become a citizen almost two years after sending in his first application. On December 20, 2021, he took his interview, his citizenship test and he raised his right hand to become a U.S. citizen. I dont know anything different than being an American. I grew up here, said Perez. Finally becoming a citizen just felt like such an accomplishment and it made me feel complete. If you want to hear a bit of good news for a change, look no further than 22,000 Wyoming students, 2,000 Wyoming employees, and 100 Wyoming families who all signed up to embrace Random Acts of Kindness Week from February 13-19, 2022. Thanks to support from The Caring Foundation of Blue Cross Blue Shield and Jonah Bank, the nonprofit Kindness Wyoming was able to send out nearly 500 kits to be utilized by over 25,000 residents of Wyoming. These kits were requested by students, teachers, parents, kids, and employees all across the state. Each kit includes a variety of activities and challenges to complete acts of kindness during Random Acts of Kindness Week. Families and students can also complete their challenge to be entered into a drawing for a gift card to be used for yet another act of kindness. Random Acts of Kindness Week is recognized around the world, and is intended to celebrate kindness. Governor Mark Gordon will sign a proclamation for Wyoming Random Acts of Kindness Week, as well as dozens of local proclamations from cities in Wyoming. In addition, local school superintendents have encouraged schools to find a way to integrate kindness curriculum and efforts into schools across the state. Kindness Wyoming also partnered with Braver Angels to provide Kindness Kits to the Wyoming Legislature that included letters encouraging civility from former legislators, drawings from elementary school kids in the state, and custom kindness coins made by students at Pathways Innovation Center in Casper. Critter Murray, President of Kindness Wyoming comments, The world needs more kindness, and we are here to help spread it to anyone and everyone willing to embrace it. It doesnt take much to be kind, and acts of kindness bring joy to both the giver and the recipient. We hope all citizens of Wyoming will join us in being kind during Random Acts of Kindness Week. Be on the lookout for random acts of kindness in your community, you never know where they might appear! Go to www.kindnesswyoming.org or on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/kindnesswyoming and post your favorite acts of kindness with hashtag #kindnesswyoming all one word. Tell us about something kind you saw or did during the week and help to build a better and kinder Wyoming. Listed below are all of the schools with either a classroom or the entire school participating in RAK Week. For more information please contact Mandy Fabel at 307-343-5922 or kindnesswyoming@gmail.com. 4J Elementary Afflerbach Elementary School Alta Elementary School Anderson Elementary AppleTree Early Care & Education Arapaho Elementary School Arp Elementary Baggs Elementary School BEEP (BOCES Early Education Program) Big Horn Elementary Big Piney High School Bondurant Elementary School Boys and Girls Club of Douglas Buffalo High School Buffalo Ridge Elementary Burlington Schools C-V Ranch Carbon County Higher Education center Centennial Middle School Cheyenne Central Cheyenne East High School Child Development Center Clark Elementary Clear Creek Middle School Cloud Peak Elementary Cody High School Cody Middle School Colter Elementary Conestoga Elementary School Davis Middle School Dean Morgan Douglas High School Etna Elementary Evanston Middle School Evansville Elementary Fairview Elementary Freedom Elementary Fremont County School District #38 Fremont County SD #24 Frontier Academy Gannett Peak Elementary Gilchrist Elementary School Granger Elementary Greybull Elementary School Greybull High School Greybull Middle School Guernsey Sunrise Elementary Guernsey Sunrise High School Harrison Elementary School Hebard Elementary Hobbs Elementary Holy Nae Catholic School Horizon Jr/Sr High School Hot Springs Co High School Jackson Hole High School Jessup Elementary Journey Elementary Kelly Walsh High School Key Explorers Lander Learning Express Preschool Laramie High School Laramie Middle School Laramie Montessori Charter School Laramie Montessori Elementary School Laura Irwin Elementary Linford Elementary Livingston Elementary Lovell High School Lovell Middle School Lyman High School Manor Heights Meadowlark Elementary School Northpark Elementary Paradise Valley Elementary Park Elementary School Pine Bluffs Junior/Senior High School Pinedale Aquatic Center Pinedale Elementary School Pinedale Middle School Piney Creek School Pioneer Park Platte County 4-H Powell High School Health Class Powell Middle School Prairie Wind Elementary Riverside Middle High School Rock Springs High School Rock Springs Junior High Rocky Mountain Middle/High School Roosevelt Elementary Rossman Elementary Saddle Ridge Elementary Saratoga Middle High School Sheridan High School Sheridan Junior High School Shoshoni Elementary South High School Southside Elementary School Spring Creek Elementary Stevens homeschool Stocktrail Elementary Sunset Elementary School Tech Trep Academy Tongue River & Big Horn Elementary Schools Torrington High School Torrington Middle School Truman Elementary School University of Wyoming Lab School Upton Elementary Urie Elementary School Wagonwheel Elementary Washington Elementary School Whiting High School Wild West 4-H Club Worland High School WWCC Children's Center Wyoming Girls School Wyoming Indian Schools Wyoming Virtual Academy Wyoming Whirlwind Yes house Youth Alternative Home Association Instant unlimited access to all of our E-Editions and content on thechronicleonline.com. The Chronicle E-Edition Newsletter emailed to you each week, the night before the paper hits the street! This subscription is for NEW or RENEWING online subscribers. (The charge will appear as "Country Media Inc." on your credit card statement) Batavia, NY (14020) Today Overcast. Slight chance of a rain shower. High near 55F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. Low 43F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. ONEONTA - Leslie Bischoff passed away peacefully, Wednesday, April 27, 2022, at the A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital. He was 96. He was born March 7, 1926, the son of the late Edward and Martha (Stohr) Bischoff. Les was an avid outdoorsman and excellent craftsman. He made furniture and many wooden Click the image to the left and log in to get your exclusive reader perks. 17-Year-Old Girl Beaten and Hospitalized Over Missing Mask: Berlin Police Authorities in Germany said six people beat and hospitalized a 17-year-old girl who apparently refused to wear a face mask on a train in Berlin. The girl told police that a dispute escalated after she said she wouldnt wear a mask in the district of Prenzlauer Berg, officials told Die Welt. The unidentified girl was traveling with her friends and was told that it was a legal requirement to wear the mask, officials told the paper. Police said that once the girl left the train, three men and three women attacked, punched, and kicked her, and tore out some of her hair. She was later hospitalized as a result of her injuries, officials said. Police officers later detained three menaged 42, 44, and 51in connection to the incident, officials told local outlets. The three men denied the allegations. Authorities told Die Welt that several of the men were drunk. They also found drugs on one of the suspects. Investigations into the three women who were allegedly involved in the attack are underway, police said. Other details about the incident, including the names of the male suspects, werent provided. Germanys COVID-19 restrictions include a mandate that travelers have to wear a medical or FFP [filtering face piece] mask on public transportation. They also have to have a COVID-19 vaccine passport or must show proof theyve recovered from the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, according to German health officials. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also requires travelers on public transportation such as trains, planes, and buses, to wear masks. Despite COVID-19 cases plunging in nearly every state, it isnt clear when officials will decide to relax such restrictions. German lawmakers are currently pushing a bill to make vaccination against COVID-19 mandatory, which has faced resistance from politicians as well as ordinary Germans. Nearby Austria recently passed a law that requires everyone who is eligible aged 18 and older to receive the vaccine or face heavy fines. However, on Feb. 7, the German state of Bavaria announced that it wouldnt enforce a CCP virus vaccine mandate for nursing staff in hospitals or care homes starting in mid-March, according to the states premier, Markus Soder. The vaccine mandate for [health care] institutions that was to come from March 15 is no longer an effective means to accompany, curb or stop the current Omicron wave, Soder said. It only leads to problems; it is unfortunately no solution. 4 Cryptic Sars-Cov-2 Variants Lurk in NYC Sewers Researchers have detected at least four cryptic variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in samples of wastewater from New York Citys public sewer system. The latest COVID variants have spread like wildfire across the globe in recent months, leading many scientists to wonder when the next variant will appear. The new research may get us one step closer to making that determination. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 can continually evolve by acquiring mutations. Variants, such as Delta or Omicron, may contain one or more mutations within their viral sequence that help to distinguish themselves from other variants of SARS-CoV-2. The cryptic mutations researchers identified in New York City could be linked to possible animal origins, says Marc Johnson, a professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at the University of Missouri and co-corresponding author of the new study in Nature Communications. While these origins have not been verified yet, he believes one possible source could be the rats that frequent New York Citys sewer system. For instance, we still dont know where the Omicron variant came from, but it had to come from somewhere, Johnson says. These variants are bubbling up everywhere, including Omicron, which eventually spilled into the general population and wreaked havoc. We think these weird lineages could be where the next variant of concern for COVID-19 comes from. Atypical Mutations The idea for this project started in March 2020 after John Dennehy, a virologist and professor of biology at Queens College, City University of New York, began looking for different ways to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Monica Trujillo, an associate professor at Queensborough Community College, City University of New York, shared with Dennehy a study from Australia that described using wastewater to track the spread of a coronavirus, and it inspired Trujillo to ask officials from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection to send her wastewater samples in order to conduct similar work. In the summer of 2020, Dennehy and Trujillo teamed up with Davida Smyth, the lead author of the current study. Smyth, now an associate professor at Texas A&M University-San Antonio, was at The New School, New York at the time. They put together a team of researchers to begin tracking the spread of coronavirus via New York Citys wastewater. Since then, Dennehy, a co-corresponding author of the study, found some interesting results. When he shared some of the more unusual results during a March 2021 episode of Vincent Racaniellos podcast This Week in Virology, Johnson happened to be listening. The mutations that we were observing in our sample werent typical among any of the known sequences circulating at that time, Dennehy says. Wastewater Surveillance\ Ironically, Johnson was simultaneously reaching out to various researchers across the United States who were doing similar work with wastewater after he observed some unusual results from his analysis of wastewater in some of his samples from the greater St. Louis area. On the podcast, he heard Dennehy describe their targeted approach, which happened to be the same method University of Missouri researchers were using to test samples of wastewater for SARS-CoV-2 in Missouri, but with one key differenceUniversity of Missouri was analyzing a larger region of the virus genome for possible mutations. Within a week, Johnson had samples of NYC wastewater delivered for further analysis. When we first started with the samples from New York City, I was looking to see if they had the same virus sequences that I saw in some of my samples from St. Louis, Johnson says. They were different, but all of them had similar mutations in common at one particular location on the virusQ498. Whats amazing is that in most of the samples from New York City, the Q in Q498 had turned into a Y, or glutamine into tyrosine. If you look at the database, there was not, and continues to not be, a human patient who has had that mutation. Dennehy believes a possible explanation could be a biological process called convergent evolution. An animal in Missouri is not going to mix with the same type of animal in New York City, Dennehy says. Therefore, the evolution of the virus in each geographic area is independent of each other, but because its the same animal, the virus looks the same in both places. For instance, we think conditions in South Africa that gave rise to the Omicron variant are the same conditions in New York City that gave rise to our cryptic variants. As a biologist, I thought the spread of Delta was menacing, but the speed [with] which Omicron took over New York City is on another level. Im interested in how we can take what we know and apply it to the real world where it is needed the most, says Smyth, who is also the deputy director for the National Center for Science and Civic Engagement. Wastewater surveillance is really important in the context of community-based, public health measures where we have the ability to communicate health information at a level where decisions, practices, and interventions can be implemented. Wastewater surveillance is fast, inexpensive, and unbiased, and for that reason it has the ability to be implemented depending on resource availability in a variety of contexts, especially in areas with limited resources such as low testing and vaccine availability. Additional coauthors are from Texas A&M University-San Antonio; Queensborough Community College, City University of New York; Long Island University; and the University of Missouri. The New York City Department of Environmental Protection, a donation from the Linda Markeloff Charitable Fund, and a grant from the National Institutes of Health funded the work. This article was originally published by University of Missouri. Republished via Futurity.org under Creative Commons License 4.0. People participate in the "Convoy to Canberra" protests outside Government House in Canberra, Australia, on Feb. 7, 2022. Protesters have surrounded the official residence of the governor-general in Canberra, calling for him to sack the Prime Minister. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) Australian Police Expect Convoy to Canberra to Peak as Parliament Prepares to Sit Police in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) expects crowd sizes for the Convoy to Canberra to peak on Feb. 8 when federal parliament resumes, with protestors expected to gather outside Parliament House. Police say more than 3,000 demonstrators are currently in the national capital of Canberra in solidarity with the massive Convoy to Ottawa. The crowd have been generally well-behaved and peaceful, Linda Champion, commander of ACT Policing, told reporters in Canberra. Were putting every resource we can towards these protesters and their activities throughout the week, she added. Were asking Canberrans to plan their trips into town tomorrow and if they need to get to locations where protesters may be please allowed for additional travel time. However, the ACT police have made several arrests in relation to the Convoy, with one man being arrested after hitting a traffic controller with their car as the controller attempted to stop the vehicle. Another 44-year-old man was also arrested after police executed a search warrant and allegedly found a loaded, modified rifle in his vehicle. Police said he was charged with possessing an illegal firearm and also faced multiple traffic offences related to his vehicles roadworthiness. This comes as the Convoy demonstrations in Australias capital entered a second week. Protestors have traversed and gathered across many landmarks and major roads in Canberra in the past few days including the National Library, Parliament House, Australian War Memorial, Canberra Airport, and on Feb. 7, 500 demonstrators gathered outside Government House, the governor-generals official residence. Protestors removed the Australian flag outside the landmark and replaced it with the Australian red ensignmerchant ship flagwhich protestors referred to as the peoples flag. ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said Canberrans were hospitable and respected the right to protest, however, the chief minister warned demonstrators were making more enemies than friends. If the objective of these protesters is to win over hearts and minds, theyre certainly not doing that, Barr said in comments obtained by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Canberra is one of the most vaccinated cities on earth, so the message from these protesters is really not gelling with Canberrans, who are educated [and] who understand the value of vaccinations as a way of protecting themselves, their families, friends, and indeed their fellow citizens. Many protestors have also taken to the streets of the national capital against vaccine mandates and other government-related COVID-19 restrictions. United Australia Party leader Craig Kelly, and George Christensen, federal Liberal-National MP of Dawson, both attended the demonstrations on Feb. 5, saying Australians wanted their freedoms back. Literally thousands of people here from all walks of life. You know, they claim that were fringe dwellers but look at the people here. Look at the mums and dads. There are frontline workers; youve got police, medicos, nurses, pilotspeople whove lost their jobs because these vaccine mandates, Christensen said in a livestream on Facebook. Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews on Feb. 6, responded to her fellow party members attendance saying she didnt agree with many of his views of late. I dont think that its appropriate for him to be attending those sorts of rallies, she told ABCs Insiders. But he is a member of Parliament, he can make his own decisions in relation to that. Australias Vaccination Rate Hits 95 Percent Australia has reached a new milestone in its vaccination campaign with 95 percent of the population now having taken the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Greg Hunt, the federal health minister, said the nation was right at the front of the highest global vaccination rate, noting that 95 percent of Australians who are 12 years old and above have received at least one dose of vaccine as of Feb. 5. Very significantly, over the course of today we will also pass one million children between five and 11 years of age having had a vaccination, he said. Hunt also said that Australias children vaccination rate remained one of the highest globally. The Australian health minister said thank you to the people for getting the vaccine and mentioned that the federal government was seeing intensitive care units being subject to less pressure. Meanwhile, a crowd of thousands of people protesting against vaccine mandates in Canberra on Feb. 5 was flanked by police. The group of protesters marched from Glebe Park, located in Canberras CBD, to Old Parliament House, and then moved to the Federation Mall. An ACT police spokesman said that most of the protesters had left by mid-afternoon of Feb. 5, but a few people still remained. The ACT police and the federal police took action to disperse demonstrators whom they accused of illegally camping and parking cars on Patrick White Lawns near the National Library. Protesters sit as police officers remove camping equipment at makeshift camp next to the National Library in Canberra, Australia, on Feb. 4, 2022. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) Meanwhile, the Northern Territory government lifted an outdoor mask mandate from 6 p.m. on Feb. 5. It made the decision with consideration that the territorys residents displayed high levels of personal responsibility via mask-wearing. However, the NT government is still maintaining an indoor mask mandate policy and urging people over 12 years old to wear a mask outside if they cannot physically distance themselves from other people. Balancing Rights and Freedom, Secular and Traditional Values Commentary Declared a fundamental human right in international treaties to which Australia is a signatory, the exercise of the right to religious freedom has nonetheless been sorely tested in recent days. The controversy was provoked by Citipointe Christian College, a Brisbane-based independent school within the Christian Outreach Centre Movement when it asked parents of pupils to agree that their children would identify as their birth gender and renounce homosexuality. The faith-based school decided to exclude gay, lesbian, and transgender students on religious grounds by enforcing a new enrolment contract with parents. It did this in a bid to enforce an ethos the school claims was based on Christian doctrine, taking literally the biblical teaching that God created humankind in his image and that male and female he created them. In some ways, the schools action should come as no surprise: its website states explicitly that, as part of its mission, the school is committed to developing the lives of students within the framework of a Biblical worldview. That sort of phrase is a clear signal that a Christian organisation intends to take a certain stand on issues of human sexuality and gender. But the controversial decision was ill-judged and attracted a firestorm of criticismespecially from those who said it was a blatant example of discrimination against LGBTQI students. Supporters and members of the LGBTQI+ community are seen protesting against Citipointe Christian College during a protest march through the CBD in Brisbane, Australia, on Feb. 4, 2022. (AAP Image/Darren England) It also threw fuel onto a long-burning controversy about whether or not religious organisations should be exempt from laws banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender. Eventually, mounting pressure forced the school to back down, withdraw the contract, and the principal to stand down. Prime Minister Scott Morrison also promised that rather than wait for the review of exceptions to the Sex Discrimination Act currently being conducted by the Australian Law Reform Commission, his governments new Religious Discrimination Bill would now include added protections for gay, lesbian, and transgender students. This was a headache Morrison didnt need: a federal election is imminent, and the billpromised in his 2019 election platformis already mired in controversy and faces the risk of defeat. The Citipointe College case has highlighted three key issues in the debate about the exercise of religious freedom. First, it clearly shows that the right to religious freedom is not an absolute right. Rather, it must always be balanced against the exercise of other rights and freedoms. LGBTQI+ people have won widespread acceptance in contemporary Australia. The hardened, hostile attitudes of former days have softened, and the law now affords protection against detrimental treatment. Citipointes attempt to exercise religious liberty came into sharp conflict not only with the law but also with prevailing social norms regarding claims about human sexualityand with general community attitudes. Indeed, many Christians responded vehemently to the schools action. As the angry community response has shown, the assertion of the right to religious liberty cannot disregard with impunity those legal protections and social norms. Second, the importance of balancing rights and freedoms cuts both ways. For one can disagree with the position, the school has taken on human sexuality while remaining wholly committed to upholding the freedom a faith-based school is entitled to exercise in defining its mission, purpose, and fundamental convictions according to the religious faith on which it is founded. Apse mosaic in the Basilica of San Vitale, featuring (LR) St. Vitalis, an archangel, Jesus Christ, a second archangel, and Bishop of Ravenna Ecclesius. (Channaly Philipp/The Epoch Times) Any not-for-profit organisation must be free to express commitment to its foundational values. Environmental organisations do this and are not likely to employ someone who advocates for the use of fossil fuels or nuclear power. Similarly, a person expressing sympathy for a police force opting for an occasional spot of torture in the course of making its investigations, would be unlikely to obtain a job at Amnesty International. Clearly, secular organisations are able to do this more easily than faith-based onesespecially if the tenets of that faith run counter to community views. Therefore, this is an important lesson for other faith-based organisations that may wish to ensure their ethos is shaped by their religious beliefs. However, there is a third issue that goes to the heart of what it means to live in a secular, liberal, and multicultural society. For no matter how discomfiting, it remains the case that many who are hostile to religion find it hard to accept that some religious traditions continue to state that their own teachings and doctrines conflict with contemporary, secular views about sexuality and gender. Live and let live used to be one of the principles of life in Australia that made this country so attractive to millions who lived in countries where totalitarian conformity was imposedoften under the heavy, hob-nailed heel of the jackboot. We must be wary lest we find the jackboot being worn by those in our own country who refuse to countenance any dissent from the ideologies they seek to impose on others. The virtue of tolerance risks becoming a notable casualty of the times in which we live. Goneor going fastare the days when we would tolerate the views of those with whom we disagreed. Now we are quick to demand that they tolerate whatever point of view we wish to espouse and to do so without question. Yet, in a multicultural society such as ours, which comprises people from varied cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds, it is inevitable that opinions will differ and the points of view will conflict. However, if multicultural Australia is to continue as a success story, it is essential that we learn to accept that differences between us exist and are real. We must also learn to accept that even when we are convinced we are right, others will be just as convinced that we are wrong. Denouncing them will not convince them otherwise. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Beijings Failure to Meet Phase 1 Pledges, Ongoing Trade Abuses Call for New US Policy: Experts Beijings marked failure to meet its promises under the phase one trade deal signed in January 2020, and its ongoing flouting of World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and guidelines, call for a shift in how the United States and aligned nations approach commerce with the vast markets of China, experts said. Under the agreement, China made a pledge to import higher volumes of U.S. goods in 2020 and 2021, to the tune of a total $700 billion beyond 2017 imports. The deal expired at the end of 2021 with China having imported only $221.9 billion out of a target of $380.5 billion for the two years in question. The Peterson Institute for International Economics has published a trade tracker giving the breakdown of shortfalls within specific import sectors. In agriculture, for example, China had purchased a total of $56.3 billion worth of agricultural goods by November 2021, out of a $74 billion target by the end of that month and an overall $80.1 billion commitment for 2020-2021. In energy, China had imported $28.6 billion in products out of a $60.3 billion target and a total $66 billion commitment for the two years. The failure to meet the phase-one commitments has been met with growing frustration by the Biden administration, which has been pressing Beijing for concrete action to meet its obligations, an unnamed U.S. official told Reuters on Feb. 7. Our patience is wearing thin, the official said. The issue is getting increased attention now because the trade partners involved have just come to the end of the two-year period that the deal covered, and are at a point where the intake of goods can be measured relative to trade targets, and also because of high-level discussions going on between the United States and China, acknowledged Clete Willems, a partner at the corporate law firm Akin Gump and a deputy director of the White House National Economic Council during the Trump administration. Another factor, Willems said, is that President Joe Biden has now been in office for a year and the continuing absence of clarity and of a forcefully articulated strategy with regard to trade with China has led the U.S. business community and members of Congress to step up pressure over the issue. To some observers, the Biden administrations nebulous stance contrasts with the more focused and forceful approach of its predecessor. The past administration was much more proactive in really taking actions to try to change Chinas behavior, whereas this one is maintaining the status quo, and hasnt really articulated what it wants to do, Willems said. Complexities of Phase One Compliance It is important to acknowledge that the trade agreement signed in January 2020 has not been an utter failure, and to give up completely on trade pacts vis a vis China would be a mistake, experts said. Chinas political and business classes have not ignored all their commitments under the deal. They did implement a lot of reforms that we asked them to do on agriculture, breaking down barriers that were not scientific in nature. They made changes to laws in IP and they did open up certain elements of their financial services sector, Willems said. On the other hand, there are aspects on the strategic sidearound biotechnology, patent litigation, and counterfeitingand they are woefully short on their purchases. So I think that, in any fair assessment, its a mixed bag, Willems added. Intellectual property, in particular, continues to be a grave concern. Although the phase one deal specifically took on this issue, U.S. businesses continue to lose many millions through intellectual property (IP) theft and forced technology transfers. My general impression is that there has not really been any significant progress in this area, although Chinese leaders recognize the fact that a sound IPR [intellectual property rights] protection system is also necessary for their own firms to become innovators, said Dylan Sutherland, a professor at Durham University in the UK. Means of Redress Willems sees Biden as being in a tricky position. On the one hand, Biden is subject to heavy pressures from the U.S. farming sector over Beijings failure to import nearly as many agricultural goods as envisioned in the deal. Companies in that sector are likely to be highly aggressive about protecting their interests. But if the U.S. administration takes strong enforcement action, Beijings response is hard to predict, Willems cautioned. Beijing might make a defiant response and raise tariffs on U.S. goods. Recent remarks from the president suggesting that China needs to make some concessions in order for Washington to lower tariffs on Chinese goods suggest that Biden is content, for now, to engage through diplomatic channels in quid-pro-quo bartering. His position appears to indicate a belief that stepped-up compliance and purchases of U.S. goods on Beijings part are still possible without enforcement action. But there are grounds for skepticism about this approach. Beijing does not appear eager to make new commitments, having blamed external factors such as COVID-19 and U.S. export controls for the failure to meet import commitments and goals, much to the frustration of U.S. officials. Things will reach a breaking point where they need to figure out how to take enforcement action, but articulate this to China in a way that doesnt totally get China to withdraw from the deal, Willems said. It may be time to revisit the panoply of tariffs put in place against ChinaWashington still has tariffs on hundreds of billions worth of Chinese importsand ask which of them are showing practical benefits and inducing Beijing to change its behavior, and which are falling flat. Willems sees such a case-by-case reevaluation as a pragmatic solution that U.S. politicians would not have undue trouble selling domestically. More Detailed Breakdown Needed Part of the problem on the U.S. side is the lack of total transparency. Members of Congress with whom Willems has spoken have expressed frustration, he said. U.S. business leaders could benefit from expanded reporting from the U.S. Trade Representatives office so that they can more precisely chart the effects of import goals and tariffs on specific areas of the market, Willems believes. It would be very useful if the U.S. Trade Representative actually provided full reporting, he said. The United States has itself restricted the sale of certain items to China, like semiconductors, without which it is trickier for China to fulfill import quotas to the United States, said Sutherland at Durham University. Many economists also believe the trade deficits with China are structural, owing to lack of consumption in China. Against this backdrop, facilitating the reorientation of Chinese consumerism will be important, Sutherland said. So the challenges to rebalancing of trade relations will require a long-term policy approach, mainly on the Chinese side. As deleveraging of the property sector shows, changing the development model is not easy, he added. Others question whether attempting to alleviate the trade deficit on a product-by-product basis will work, given how rapidly and spontaneously the markets for given products shift and the difficulty, if not impossibility of meeting, all targets across industries and sectors. The Peterson Institutes trade tracker affirms how common it is for China to miss import goals in specific product categories. My guess is that the only basis for a stable agreement on trade between these two countries would be something different from just accelerated purchases on a product-by-product basis. It would have to be a negotiated settlement at a very aggregate level, some kind of quantitative target of total exports and imports, said Thomas Hout, a professor at Tufts University. Doing away with specific import targets in a given sectorsuch as agriculturewould give a party to the deal the freedom to make up for the shortfall there in a different sector, like technology, thereby meeting its aggregate target. To a certain extent, such aggregation may be inevitable in a world where the markets for given products swing so unpredictably. Its like most agreements between conflicting parties. If you express all your targets in a very detailed fashion, the other side will always be aggregating some of them or unable to meet some of them, Hout said. An Iranian flag in Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant during an official ceremony to kick-start works on a second reactor at the facility, in Bushehr, Iran, on Nov. 10, 2019. (Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images) Biden Administration Waives Sanctions Related to Iran Civilian Nuclear Activities The Biden administration on Friday waived sanctions related to Irans civilian nuclear activities. Secretary of State Antony Blinken signed several sanctions waivers related to Irans civilian nuclear activities which would exempt foreign countries and companies that work in Irans civilian nuclear sector from American penalties. The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the sanctions waivers on Friday, said that they are aimed at turning Irans heavy-water Arak reactor into a less dangerous light-water reactor and also apply to the export of enriched uranium and heavy water outside of Iran. The waivers would also allow fuel to be sent to two reactors used for civilian purposes. The move comes as the Biden administration hopes to entice Iran back to the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which imposed restrictions on Irans nuclear program in return for an easing of economic sanctions. The Trump administration withdrew from that deal in 2018 before reimposing tight sanctions on the country. Former President Donald Trump had severely criticized the deal even before his presidential campaign began, calling it a horrible, one-sided deal that should have never been made. The waiver with respect to these activities is designed to facilitate discussions that would help to close a deal on a mutual return to full implementation of the JCPOA and lay the groundwork for Irans return to performance of its JCPOA commitments, the State Department said in a notice to Congress that announced the move last week. It is also designed to serve U.S. nonproliferation and nuclear safety interests and constrain Irans nuclear activities, the department said. It is being issued as a matter of policy discretion with these objectives in mind, and not pursuant to a commitment or as part of a quid pro quo. We are focused on working with partners and allies to counter the full range of threats that Iran poses. Fridays decision comes following last months eighth round of indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran which was attended by representatives of China, France, Germany, Russia, Britain, and Iran, in the Austrian capital of Vienna, regarding the nuclear deal. The United States has been participating indirectly in the talks because Iran refuses direct contact. President Joe Biden has signaled that he wants to rejoin the deal but had until last week kept in place all Iranian sanctions it inherited from the Trump administration. Critics of the nuclear deal have argued that even if the Biden administration wants to return to the 2015 deal it should at least demand some concessions from Iran before providing it with sanctions relief upfront. From a negotiating perspective, they look desperate: well waive sanctions before we even have a deal, just say yes to anything! said Rich Goldberg, a vocal deal opponent who is a senior adviser to the hawkish Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Meanwhile, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) said that even if Iran returned to compliance with the nuclear restrictions in the 2015 deal, Irans dangerously and rapidly escalating nuclear program has put it on the brink of having enough material for a nuclear weapon. While the deal the U.S. and our partners are pursuing in Vienna would ostensibly seek to reverse technological advancements, the acquisition of knowledge is never reversible, he said during a floor speech on Wednesday. At this point, we seriously have to ask, What exactly are we trying to salvage?' Iran has now apparently enriched uranium to 60 percent purity, 20 to 30 percent below the purity required for building weapons, but denies that it is seeking a nuclear weapon. Irans chief nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani and members of the Iranian delegation wait for the start of a meeting of the JCPOA Joint Commission in Vienna, Austria, on Nov. 29, 2021. (EU Delegation in Vienna/Handout via Reuters) Workers are seen on a construction site in Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran, on Nov. 10, 2019. (Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images) Talks in Vienna are ongoing as part of the effort to bring both the United States and Iran back into the 2015 deal and the latest move is thought to help push the negotiations forward. State Department spokesman Ned Price on Friday was quick to defend sanctions waivers for Irans nuclear program, saying that the move was not intended to provide relief. Price also stressed that the United States will not provide sanctions relief to Tehran before it returns to its commitments under 2015 nuclear deal. We did NOT provide sanctions relief for Iran and WILL NOT until/unless Tehran returns to its commitments under the JCPOA, Price wrote on Twitter. We did precisely what the last administration did: permit our international partners to address growing nuclear nonproliferation and safety risks in Iran, Price said. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on Feb. 5 that the move by the United States was not enough and Washington should provide political and economical guarantees for the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal. The lifting of some sanctions can in itself translate into good faith, Amir-Abdollahian said, according to Iranian state media. While what is on paper is good, its not enough, he added. We demand guarantees in the political, legal, and economic spheres. Certain agreements have already been reached, he added. Secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council in a Twitter post on Saturday said no agreement can restrict Irans legal right to continue research and development and to maintain its peaceful nuclear capabilities and achievements along with its security against supported evils. The Associated Press contributed to this report. President Joe Biden speaks during a joint news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the East Room of the White House in Washington on Feb. 7, 2022. (Alex Brandon/AP Photo) Biden: There Will Be No Longer a Nord Stream 2 If Russia Invades Ukraine President Joe Biden said Monday that there will no longer be a Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Europe if Russia invades Ukraine. In a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Feb. 7, the two leaders showed a united front in posing the threat of far-reaching, severe sanctions against Russia if it moves to invade Ukraine. Both Biden and Scholz described a dual tract approachcalling for a diplomatic path forward with Russia while simultaneously preparing sanctions to impose quickly against Russia in the event of an invasion. If Russia invades that means tanks or troops crossing the border of Ukraine. Then there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2, said Biden. We will bring an end to it. When pressed on how this will be done when the pipeline is in German control Biden said: I promise you well be able to do it. U.S. officials have repeatedly made this threat but without firm commitment from Germany. Both Biden and Scholz elected to leave some ambiguity as to the extent of the agreed-upon sanctions. It is part of this process that we do not spell everything out in public, because Russia could understand that there might be even more to come, explained Scholz. The approval process of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline has been delayed by Germany. Were it approved, it would carry 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Russia to Germany every year. Russia has amassed tens of thousands of troops on its border with Ukraine and in Russia-annexed Crimea and Belarus in recent weeks. This article will be updated as it develops. President Joe Biden meets with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, on Aug. 27, 2021. (Sarahbeth Maney-Pool/Getty Images) Biden Voices Support for Iron Dome, Plans to Visit Israel on Call With PM Bennett The White House announced Sunday that President Joe Biden plans to visit Israel later this year. On a Feb. 6 call with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Biden affirmed his unwavering support for Israel and agreed to visit the country later this year, according to a White House readout of the conversation. The White House statement also says two leaders discussed security concerns in the Middle East, including the threat of Iran and its proxies. Talks to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal have been ongoing for months and will resume in Vienna Tuesday. Former President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions against Iran. Tehran has responded by violating the terms of the agreement by increasing the uranium it enriches and stockpiles. The Biden administration has signaled that it wants to rejoin the deal, which also includes Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and China. But in December, as talks with Iran seemed to stall, the administration announced it is also preparing for the possibility that diplomacy will fail. If diplomacy cannot get on track soon and if Irans nuclear program continues to accelerate then we will have no choice but to take additional measures to further restrict Irans revenue-producing sectors, said White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Dec. 9. But as perhaps a last-ditch effort to salvage the deal, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday signed several short-term sanctions waivers related to Irans civilian nuclear activities. Up until that move, the Biden administration had kept the Iran sanctions in place it inherited from its predecessor. State Department spokesman Ned Price denied the U.S. was granting concessions to Iran when he wrote on Twitter: We did NOT provide sanctions relief for Iran and WILL NOT until/unless Tehran returns to its commitments under the JCPOA, using the acronym for the official name of the nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. We did precisely what the last Administration did: permit our international partners to address growing nuclear nonproliferation and safety risks in Iran. On Sundays call with Bennett, Biden also made clear his administrations full support for replenishing Israels Iron Dome system. In September, the House of Representatives approved a bill to provide $1 billion to fund the Israeli anti-missile system. The vote passed with 420 members in favor and only nine voting against the bill. The Iron Domes replenishment is expected to be back on the Senate agenda in the coming weeks. The readout of Fridays call also says that Biden underscored his commitment to expanding stability and partnerships across the Middle East region, as exemplified by the Abraham Accords, together with Israelis and Palestinians enjoying equal measures of security, freedom, and prosperity. The US multinational technology and Internet-related services company Google's logo on a smartphone screen in Moscow shows on Nov. 8, 2021. (Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images) Bipartisan Bill That May Help Chinese Avoid Censorship Heads to Senate Floor for Final Vote Something rarely seen these days in Congress is about to happen. A major piece of legislation with bipartisan support that seeks to help people in China and America evade digital censorship is about to be voted on by the full Senate. Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to send the Open Apps Market Act of 2022 to the floor with a favorable recommendation for a final vote on passage. The vote hasnt yet been scheduled, according to a spokesman for Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), one of two principal co-sponsors. Only two committee members, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), opposed the motion to report the proposal to the floor with a favorable recommendation. Senate co-sponsors include Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). A similar proposal was introduced in the House of Representatives with bipartisan support last year, co-sponsored by Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) and Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.). The House hasnt yet voted on the Johnson-Buck measure. U.S. consumers spent nearly $33 billion in mobile app stores in 2020 alone, downloading 13.4 billion apps. Googles Play Store and Apple App Store control virtually the entire market for apps. Blackburn said in a statement emailed to reporters: The passage of the Open App Markets Act out of the Senate Judiciary committee brings us one step closer to having this legislation signed into law. This bill will let people download apps directly from outside companies rather than being forced to go through official app stores. In China, it will help citizens circumvent Beijings strict internet censorship. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) rigorously censors what internet products and sites consumers in China can access. Those that arent approved by Party operatives are either barred or forced to submit to censorship prior to consumer access. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), who originally introduced the proposal in the Senate, said in Blackburns statement that breaking Apple and Googles ironclad grip on the multi-billion dollar app market will stop their predatory fees on consumers, and barriers to start-ups and rivals. This bill will lower charges and spur innovation while preserving privacy and security, he said. Despite self-interested opposition, our bipartisan success reflects the American publics view that the online app market is exploited by monopolistic gatekeepersand needs reform. Google and Apple, the two main companies affected by the measure if it becomes law, would be barred from using an in-app payment system they or any of their business partners own, as a condition of being distributed through a digital app vendor or accessible on an operating system; requiring as a term of distribution in a digital app store that pricing terms or conditions of sale be equal to or more favorable on its app store than the terms or conditions under another app store; or taking punitive action or otherwise imposing less favorable terms and conditions against a developer for using or offering different pricing terms or conditions of sale through another in-app payment system or on another app store. Google and Apple are both reportedly opposed to the Open Apps Market Act. The proposal is supported elsewhere. Neither Apple nor Google responded to The Epoch Times request for comment. Mike Davis, founder and president of the Internet Accountability Project, said in a statement after the judiciary panel vote: Google and Apple, which have a combined market capitalization of $4 trillion, control 99 percent of the app marketplace and use their gatekeeper control to their own advantage at the expense of smaller companies and start-up apps. We saw their duopoly in action just last year with the swift, politically motivated takedown of Parler. Innovation and competition die at the hands of these tech giants, with consumers and small businesses suffering the brunt of their overwhelming power. This unequal playing field cannot stand any longer. Nearly 90 percent of developers favor legislation promoting a level playing field in the app marketplace. The Open App Markets Act would finally allow small businesses to compete with the behemoths of Big Tech. The Coalition for App Fairness called the committee action a historic step toward competition in the app marketplace. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation will hold gatekeeper platforms accountable, increase fair competition, and benefit consumers across the nation with greater choice and innovation, it stated. A survey of 190 app developers for the coalition in January found that 86 percent of those surveyed support the Open Apps Market Act. California State Lawmaker Proposes Universal Basic Income Test Program for Poor College Students A California state lawmaker wants the government to give $500 a month to impoverished college students as a test for a controversial kind of social program known as universal basic income (UBI). Legislation that would create the program may be introduced later this month by Democrat Dave Cortese, a state senator who represents part of Silicon Valley. The measure would establish a UBI pilot program at 3-5 [California State University campuses], according to a summary Cortese provided to reporters. The pilot program would cover about 9,500-14,000 eligible student participants, and the total cost for the proposal would range between $57 million and $84 million, excluding minimal administrative costs. College students are couch surfing and sleeping in their cars. This could be enough money to rent a room, and if you dont need a room, by all means, use it for what you do need it for, Cortese told The Los Angeles Times. Its like a booster shot. It could help get them off of this treadmill and stop them from dropping out, being on the streets, and becoming homeless long term. Cortese could not be reached over the weekend to elaborate on his proposal. George Kamel, of Ramsey Solutions, a financial consultancy, told The College Fix that Corteses proposal was not a solution to the actual problem. Giving up to 14,000 students $500 a month is not going to change what caused the problem. In fact, costing the state $57-84 million over 3-5 years will add to the problem, he said, adding that UBI only works when the people receiving the money actually use the income to lift themselves out of poverty. All students, not just low-income students, should avoid the traps of student loans and the outrageous cost of higher education, he said. Support for UBI programs, in which a simple cash payment is made to every citizen without other requirements or restrictions, surfaces periodically in the United States, a country that is traditionally more hostile to government-funded welfare programs than European nations. Liberals have been pushing the idea of giving people money for doing nothing for years and the idea has popped up recently on the campaign trail as Democratic candidates compete for their partys 2020 presidential nomination. Republican President Richard Nixon flirted with the idea in 1969, supporting legislation that would have paid $1,600 annually to a family of four, but the bill never made it out of Congress. In the 1960s and early 1970s, New Jersey and Pennsylvania experimented with such income maintenance programs. Last year Oakland, Calif., launched Oakland Resilient Families, which it described as one of the largest guaranteed income pilot programs in the United States. The pilot, a collaborative effort between Oakland-based nonprofit UpTogether and the national organization, Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, will provide 600 low-income families with $500 per month for an 18-month period. Poverty is not a personal failure, it is a policy failure, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, a Democrat, said at the time. Guaranteed income presents one of the most promising tools for systems change, racial equity, and economic mobility weve seen in decades, she said, adding evidence is growing to justify a federally guaranteed income program. According to the University of Pennsylvanias Center for Guaranteed Income Research, various UBI programs have been tested or are currently being tested or planned in: New Orleans; Ulster County and New York City, N.Y.; Stockton and Los Angeles, Calif.; St. Paul, Minn.; Richmond, Va.; Columbia, S.C.; Gary, Ind.; Paterson, N.J.; and Cambridge, Mass. The center is participating in creating some of the programs. UBI programs dont work well in the real world, according to a 2019 study by a left-wing global trade union federation that The Epoch Times previously reported on. The report by the France-based global trade union federation Public Services International and U.K.-based New Economics Foundation think tank, concluded making cash payments to individuals to increase their purchasing power in a free-market economy is not a viable route to solving problems caused or exacerbated by neoliberal market economics. Pressing for UBI, which some claim is a silver bullet, wastes political energies that could be better used on more important causes, stated the report, which also found there was no evidence that UBI has achieved durable improvements in well-being anywhere it has been tried. There is no evidence that such programs can be affordable, inclusive, sufficient and sustainable at the same time. Technicians in a research and development lab at Chinese biotech company Coyote, which developed the Flash 20, a fast test for COVID-19, in Beijing, on Sept. 27, 2020. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images) CCP Investment in US Biopharm and Genomics Companies Raises Security Concerns News Analysis A growing number of biotech, genomics, and medtech firms with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) are operating in the United States, raising concerns about medical and genetic data security. With more than $1 trillion at its disposal, Chinas sovereign wealth fund has over 33 percent of the worlds total sovereign wealth fund assets. Since 2017, much of this money has been flooding into U.S. biotech companies, as part of the CCPs Made in China 2025. The industrial policy specifically identifies biotech as a strategic industry, entitled to government financial support. Consequently, Beijing has allocated $100 billion for investment in the sector. In 2018, China invested $5.1 billion in U.S. biotech companies, a 25 percent increase from the previous year. In keeping with the CCPs military-civil fusion strategy, the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) is involved in biotech research to develop bioweapons that target specific ethnic groups. In 2019, half of Chinas investment in the United States was in the health, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology sectors, followed by financial and business services, and information and communications technology. In 2021, the number of filings for FDA approval by Chinese drugmakers was the highest it has ever been. The number of Chinese biotech firms and joint ventures in the United States is steadily increasing. Innocube Bioscience Inc., located in Texas, is the U.S. headquarters for Chinas Lepu Biopharma Co., which is heavily invested by Beijings sovereign wealth fund, the State Development and Investment Corporation (SDIC). BeiGene, a Chinese pharmaceutical and research firm located in San Mateo, California, conducts research on molecularly targeted agents related to gene sequencing. The companys research center in China, which received significant local government funding, works on genetic engineering. Much of the CCPs infiltration of the U.S. bio and medical industries is aided by U.S. citizens and even the government. Last month, Chinese firm Andon Health Co. has received a $1.28 billion contract from the U.S. Army Contracting Command to supply COVID-19 self-test kits. A subsidiary of Andon, iHealth Labs, signed a contract with the New York State Department of Health in December for $120 million worth of self-test kits. These purchases evoked a harsh response from Republican lawmakers. The Republicans floated a bill, which was defeated by the Democrats, prohibiting the purchase of Chinese-made COVID test kits. Chinese tabloid Global Times touted the purchases as the United States relying on China to fill the gaps in its supply chains. The logo of Chinese gene firm BGI Group is seen at its building in Beijing, China, on March 25, 2021. (Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters) The PLA-linked BGI Group, formerly known as the Beijing Genomics Institute, purchased Complete Genomics, a California-based company that holds the genetic information of U.S. citizens. Last year, a China government sovereign wealth fund purchased 1.4 million shares in BGI Genomics. Another wealth fund, State Development and Investment Corporation (SDIC), owns more than 33 percent of BGI. Two other Chinese state-owned securities firms also bought shares, with Huatai Securities becoming BGIs fifth-largest shareholder. Chinese firm WuXi Pharma Tech acquired U.S. firm NextCODE Health in 2015, forming WuXi NextCODE Genomics. By 2019, there were 15 Chinese genetic testing or genomic sequencing companies with operations in the United States. WuXi Biologics, bought a Pfizer manufacturing plant in China, which will grant the company access to some of Pfizers data. In 2015, the firm also bought a stake in an American DNA testing company, 23andMe. WuXi Biologics now has locations in Massachusetts and New Jersey. Its drug plant in Delaware was built with a China government grant. In November 2021, WuXi Advanced Therapies (WuXi ATU) announced the opening of a cell and gene therapy testing facility, which is located in the Philadelphia Navy Yard. The Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018 (FIRRMA) expanded the jurisdiction of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to block investments that the government deems to pose a threat to national security. Increasingly, CFIUS has used its authority to halt Chinese biotech investments. The United States is expected to blacklist a number of Chinese biotech firms in the near future. Meanwhile, numerous Chinese biotech firms are operating in the United States while gathering the genetic data of American citizens. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. China Loses More in US-China Technology Decoupling, Peking University Report Reveals CCP's Overtake on the curve approach means plagiarizing U. S. technology: Expert The U.S.-China technology war has brought decoupling between the two big powers. Both sides are bracing for losses in the technological and industrial sectors. However, Chinas losses are significantly greater than those of the United States, a report by a research institute of Peking University reveals. A Jan. 31 report by Peking Universitys International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), published on its official site, said that China still has a long way to go toward being a technologically powerful country, and the United States still leads the world in technology, both horizontally and vertically. However, Peking University canceled the academic survey on Feb. 4 due to the authorities hefty censorship. Its standpoint, different from the official one, has already drawn public attention. Storm Media Ltd., based in Taiwan, used a screenshot of part of the report in its Feb. 3 report. Ji Lin, a Japanese current affairs commentator and software development engineer, said in an interview with the Chinese edition of The Epoch Times, the U.S.-China technology war is more than a competition between the two countries, the U.S. might need to take more protective measures to prevent the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from forcing U.S. companies to transfer technology and stealing U.S. intellectual property. The CCPs pursuits to overtake on the curve or reverse R&D are actually plagiarizing and copying the advanced and mature products and technologies from abroad, which saves a lot of research and development time and reduces the cost and risk of new product development, Ji said. Additionally, by taking advantage of violating human rights to squeeze labor costs and receiving government export subsidies, many Chinese companies would be able to capture the international market at fairly cheap prices, Ji added. The Peking University report said that compared with the United States, China is leading in only a few areas, while most areas are clearly lagging behind, especially in some sub-disciplines where disadvantages are obvious and technology gaps exist. Some key technology areas stall in a bottleneck, especially in the chip R&D field and domestic enterprises are abundant but less competitive, most of them sustained at the level of homogeneous development and inferior duplication, with core equipment and components relying heavily on imports. High-end chip autonomic R&D and supply seem to be beyond Chinas capabilities, Ji said. China will not be able to solve this problem for a long time as the country is systematically all-round backwards in the field of chips. Moreover, it is difficult to save costs through the regimes reverse R&D methods in this area. According to Ji, Chinese authorities failed to help Chinese chip makers win international competitions, and their efforts would be inefficient and in vain because the chip industry requires creativity, and creativity requires independent spirit and free-thinking, which the Chinese Communist system has no tolerance [for], Ji said. Qin Xiquan, a pro-democracy activist living in Australia, shared similar views, Chinas inability to develop high-end chips is not because Chinese people are not smart enough, on the contrary, Chinese people are no less intelligent than people in other countries, but the Chinese communist system has stifled their intelligence. A robotic shark is seen at the Apsara Conference, a cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) conference, in Hangzhou, in Chinas eastern Zhejiang Province on October 19, 2021. STR / AFP Comparing Three Major Areas The Peking University report compared the technological strengths of China and the United States in three areas: information technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and aerospace. According to the report, technology decoupling acted as a heavy blow to Chinas information technology industry, including the impact on sanctioned companies and university students who are banned from studying in the United States, as well as on companies that are not yet sanctioned. But for the U.S. information technology industry, no direct impact is evident. And in the artificial intelligence area, the United States has an apparent advantage in originality and innovation in basic research and is far ahead in core industrial technologies such as chips, algorithms, and machine learning. In addition, the United States is the worlds premier destination for AI talent to pursue higher education and employment. The U.S. universities have taken the lead in establishing a full set of AI talent development systems and laboratories, while China has only started in the area in the past three years, the report said. Currently, the number of Chinese talented people in high-end R&D is less than that in the United States. Although China has trained a large number of AI undergraduates, about 56 percent of the top AI talent chooses to work in the United States, and only 34 percent are employed in China. Among those who went to the United States to study, 88 percent stayed there after graduation. And only 10 percent returned to China. As to the aerospace field, China has its own technology in the aerospace and military aviation sectors, but its civil aviation industry is at a distinct disadvantage in that it needs to purchase complete aircraft or core components from the United States and other Western countries. Due to U.S. scrutiny and restrictions over investment and trade, it is difficult for Chinese companies to acquire core technologies through acquisitions, the report said. US Technology Policy Toward China Since the end of 2017, the United States has made a major shift in its policy toward China to curb Chinas forced transfer technology of U.S. companies and theft of U.S. intellectual property. In this case, the report said, China strengthened its own innovation capabilities in order to escape from the dilemma of having its vital core technologies controlled by others. The United States did not specify the boundary line of technology decoupling; but has reached a consensus on some crucial technologies and products such as chips and chip manufacturing equipment, along with AI technology. Areas not decoupled by the United States and China are only in low-tech and low-value-added industries. Meanwhile, the United States is working with its allies to form a coalition of democracies for science and technology to isolate and restrict China from buying critical products from third countries, and from bringing advanced technologies and high-end talent to China, the report said. Winnie Han Follow Winnie Han reports on China news for The Epoch Times. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan speaks during the daily briefing at the White House on Jan. 13, 2022. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images) China Would Face Costs If Russia Invades Ukraine, US National Security Adviser Says China would end up owning some of the costs if the regime is seen as supporting a Russian invasion of Ukraine, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan warned on Feb. 6. We believe that Beijing will end up owning some of the costs of a Russian invasion of Ukraine and that they should calculate that as they consider their engagements with the Russian government over the next couple of weeks, Sullivan told NBCs Meet the Press. The United States has threatened sanctions against Russia, targeting Russian government and military leaders, and firms in the countrys banking and financial sectors. Those possible sanctions, Sullivan said, would have an impact on China because they will go at the financial system of Russia, which, of course, engages the Chinese economy as well. Sullivans comments come just days after Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in person in Beijing. The two released a lengthy statement following their talks, accusing unnamed actors that interfere in the internal affairs of other states. The statement also joins China in Russias opposition to the further enlargement of NATO. Additionally, it claims that the two bordering nations enjoy a strong tie since friendship between the two States has no limits and there are no forbidden areas of cooperation. Tension between Ukraine and Russia has heightened in recent days. According to Reuters, U.S. officials said Russia has in place 70 percent of the military power it would need for a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In addition to more than 100,000 Russian troops at the eastern border of Ukraine, the number of Russian battalion tactical groups has increased to 83 from 60 in the past two weeks, according to Reuters. The Russian armys Iskander missile launchers take positions during drills in Russia, on Jan. 25, 2022. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP) Sullivan also told ABCs This Week on Feb. 6 that he thinks China is aware that its not in a position to compensate Russia for the economic losses that would come from our sanctions. If Russia does choose to move forward, not only will it come at a strategic cost to Russia, but if China is seen as having supported it, it will come at some costs to China as well in the eyes of the world, in the eyes of Europe, and in the eyes of other countries who are looking on now and sending a clear message that they would prefer to see diplomacy over war, Sullivan said. Sullivan commented on the lengthy SinoRussian statement while speaking to Fox News Sunday on Jan. 6. He pointed out the fact that the word Ukraine is missing from the statement should suggest that China is not so excited about cheerleading Russia on Ukraine. Last week, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), in a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, said the Biden administration should reconsider its commitments abroad in the face of increasing threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the Indo-Pacific. The United States has an interest in maintaining Ukraines independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. And we should urgently deliver to Ukraine assistance it needs to defend itself against Russias military buildup and other threats, the senator wrote. Our interest is not so strong, however, as to justify committing the United States to go to war with Russia over Ukraines fate. Rather, we must aid Ukraine in a manner that aligns with the American interests at stake and preserves our ability to deny Chinese hegemony in the Indo-Pacific. If China succeeds, it could harness that regions resources to further propel its rise, while restricting U.S. access to many of the worlds most important markets, he wrote. We must do less in those secondary theaters in order to prioritize denying Chinas hegemonic ambitions in the Indo-Pacific. Chinese Telecom Company Charged With Stealing Motorolas Trade Secrets A Chinese company and several former employees of Motorola have been charged with conspiracy to steal trade secrets from Motorola, according to a statement by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Feb. 7. The charges allege that Hytera, a telecommunications company headquartered in Shenzhen, China, led a concentrated effort to recruit Motorola employees, promising higher salaries and benefits in exchange for the employees theft of trade secrets from Motorola. Hytera was designated as a national security threat by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in March of last year, alongside Chinese telecom firms Huawei and ZTE. The company responded at the time by saying that the FCCs decision was anti-competitive. The DOJ said that certain technologies Hytera produced were wholly dependent on technology it systematically stole from Motorola. According to a heavily redacted copy of the indictment unsealed on Feb. 7, Hytera and the recruited employees, who are unnamed, used Motorolas proprietary and trade secret information to accelerate the development of Hyteras digital mobile radio (DMR) products, train Hytera employees, and market and sell Hyteras DMR products throughout the world from 2007 to 2020. The alleged conspiracy began after a 2004 announcement by the FCC, which said that all DMRs would need to use a narrower bandwidth by 2013. Motorola began developing new technologies to meet the new requirements and, beginning in 2007, Hytera allegedly started stealing them. By 2010, Hytera was selling the products through wholly-owned U.S. affiliates. Messages from email chains written by the accused are quoted throughout the indictment and provide a less than flattering picture of Hytera, the Motorola employees, and their efforts. We have/will signed the NDA and some of our lies may cause problems once Motorola finds out, one former Motorola employee wrote in May 2008, referencing the non-disclosure agreements that they had signed with Motorola. The former Motorola employees described themselves as technical people, focused on both software and hardware development. In one message, a conspirator described Hytera as a company setup from purely copying. In another, they explained their goal was to reuse as much as possible from the existing Motorola product. In still another, a conspirator described the theft of some 30 gigabytes of proprietary data, saying, We are trying to grab whatever we can. Do you have anything in mind that you need while we are still here? Maybe something in [the Motorola database]. :-), the conspirator wrote in February 2008. According to the indictment, the tech that Hytera subsequently sold to customers throughout the world was built on original and modified software that included Motorola source code. It further alleges that the trade secrets were stolen from an internal server in Illinois. In order to remotely access the server from a Hytera location in Malaysia, the indictment said, one needed a login, password, security token, Motorola laptop, and supervisory approval. When questioned on the matter during an earlier civil case, one of the Hytera conspirators said that the company had fired them in 2018. In truth, they continued to work for the company through 2020, the indictment said, though the document did not make clear in what capacity the employment was. In all, the indictment includes 21 charges alleging that Hytera and the former Motorola employees stole proprietary and trade secrets that took Motorola years of original research and design. If convicted, Hytera faces a potential criminal fine of three times the value of the stolen trade secret to the company, including expenses for research, design, and other costs that it avoided. A representative from Hytera told The Epoch Times that the company would plead not guilty. Hytera is disappointed to read the charges in the indictment, and respectfully disagrees with the allegations, the representative said in an email. The Epoch Times has reached out to Motorola for comment. This article was updated to include a comment from Hytera. Court Temporarily Blocks Pfizers Motion to Intervene in Vaccine Information Case A federal judge has denied, for now, an attempt by Pfizer to intervene in a case that has drawn international attention. U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman, a Trump appointee, said Pfizer may be allowed to intervene if a reason for it to do so arises in the future, but not at this time. The case concerns documents on Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) used to grant emergency use authorization for the vaccine. Pfizer attorneys said during a recent hearing that the company is aligned with government defendants and a doctors group that sued the government for the documents in terms of wanting to get the information to the group in an expeditious manner, but they also said the parties currently aligned interests could potentially diverge, Pittman wrote in a brief order explaining his decision. For instance, the parties could disagree about which documents, or portions of documents, should or should not be redacted prior to production. Accordingly, Pfizer seeks to intervene because their interests might not be adequately represented by either plaintiff or defendant in the future, he wrote. But Pittman decided to delay granting Pfizers motion to intervene until a conflict is imminent or has, in fact, manifested. The company was instructed to alert the court of such an instance, which would prompt a fresh ruling. Pfizers lead attorney in the case didnt return a voicemail seeking comment on the order. We are pleased that the court has not let Pfizer into the case at this time and that the court has kept Pfizer under its jurisdiction by holding its decision on Pfizers motion to intervene in abeyance until Pfizer can show a real need to intervene, Aaron Siri, an attorney for the plaintiffs, told The Epoch Times in an email. Siri represents Public Health and Medical Professionals for Transparency, a doctors group that sued the FDA after the agency said it would take decades to produce the documents regarding Pfizers vaccine. The case was filed in September 2021, but Pfizer didnt ask to intervene until January. Attorneys said the company didnt become aware of the case until reading news reports about it in December 2021. Pfizer attorneys told the judge in one filing that the company could help the FDA, which had stated that reviewing the documents in order to identify information that may need redacting, such as trade secrets, would take time. The FDA supported Pfizers motion, but plaintiffs opposed it, arguing that Pfizer can help the FDA without becoming officially involved in the case. Pittmans order came about a week after he approved a production agreement between the parties that will see the FDA produce all the documents in approximately eight months. Rescue helicopters stand on a street near the Gammerspitze, Austria, after an avalanche killed one person on Feb. 4, 2022. (Zeitungsfoto.at/APA/AFP via Getty Images) Death Toll From Avalanches in Austrian Alps Rises to 9 VIENNAAuthorities in Austria warned Saturday of considerable risk of avalanches in the west of the country after nine people were killed within 24 hours. Police said eight people died in three separate incidents in the states of Vorarlberg and Tyrol on Friday. In one avalanche near the Austrian-Swiss border, four Swedish citizens and their Austrian guide were killed. On Saturday, Tyrol authorities reported the death of one person in near the village of Schmirn in an avalanche and a second person was missing. Officials warned skiers and snowshoers drawn to the Alps amid good weather that even slight tremors could trigger a snow slide. Democrats Pushing Gun Registry as Precursor to Gun Ban Commentary Federal law explicitly prohibits the creation of a federal firearm registry, but the Biden administration is making one anyway. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) has collected nearly 1 billion firearm purchase records. The government has now created a searchable digital database containing 866 million of these transactions, including some 54 million made in 2021 alone. This massive data collection effort encompasses information on all guns sold by licensed gun dealers and on all legal gun transfers in states with so-called universal background checks. So federal officials will have the name of everyone who legally obtained a gun. Now President Joe Biden wants to make universal background checks nationwide so he can have an even more complete registration list. According to a Rasmussen Reports survey, Democrats support the idea by a two-to-one ratio, while Republicans oppose it by a similar margin. Two-thirds of Republicans believe the policy will lead to gun confiscation and even 40 percent of Democrats believe the same. Confiscating legally owned firearms, it seems, is not merely a right-wing conspiracy theory. Similarly, a recent Gallup poll shows that 40 percent of Democrats want a complete ban on civilian ownership of handguns. Countries such as Canada, the UK, and Australia arent the only ones to use registration to ban and confiscate guns. California, Chicago, and Washington have also used registration to know who legally owned different types of guns before banning them. Conducting background checks to see if someone can legally buy a gun is different from the government keeping a searchable record of those who own guns. Indeed, federal law has always required that the National Instant Criminal Background Check System erase background check information within 24 hours of its completion. Gun control activists push for registration as a way to solve crime. In theory, if criminals leave registered guns at a crime scene, they can then be traced back to the perpetrator. But in real life, a gun is usually left at the scene of a crime only when the gunman has been seriously injured or killed. Also, guns used in crimes are rarely registered. In the exceedingly unusual instances that they are, they arent registered to the person who committed the crime. However, with both the criminal and weapon present at the scene, police can solve these crimes even without registration. In a 2001 lawsuit, the Pennsylvania State Police could not identify any crimes solved by their registration system from 1901 to 2001. However, they did claim that it had assisted in a total of four cases, for which they could provide no details. In a 2013 deposition for District of Columbia v. Heller II, the plaintiffs recorded that the Washington police chief could not recall any specific instance where registration records were used to determine who committed a crime, except for possession offenses. During testimony before the Hawaii state Senate in 2000, Honolulus police chief stated that he couldnt find any crimes that had been solved due to registration and licensing. The chief also said that his officers devoted about 50,000 hours to registering and licensing guns each year. This is time that could have been spent on traditional, time-tested law enforcement activities. New York and Maryland spent tens of millions of dollars putting together a computer database on all new guns sold in the past 15 years, even recording the ballistic fingerprint of each gun. But even these states, which strongly favor gun control, eventually abolished their systems because they never solved a single crime. In 2010, Canada conducted a detailed examination of its program. It found that, from 2003 to 2009, 1,314 out of 4,257 Canadian homicides involved firearms. Of the identified weapons, about three-quarters were not registered. Among registered weapons, the registered owner was rarely the person accused of the homicide. In just 62 casesonly 4.7 percent of all firearm homicideswas the gun registered to the accused, and an unknown number of these homicide cases involve instances of self-defense. But the Royal Canadian Mounted Police failed to identify any cases where registration was integral to solving the crime. Why do Democrats keep pushing a policy that costs so much and has no crime-reducing benefits? With so many Democrat voters supporting complete gun bans, many Republicans and Democrats believe that the registry is designed to pave the way for a ban on guns. From RealClearWire. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Destruction of Traditional Culture Key to Successful Marxist Revolution: James Lindsay Culture prevented communist revolutions in advanced capitalist societies Marxist revolutions failed in advanced capitalist countries because people valued their traditional culture, institutions, and values, according to James Lindsay, bestselling author and founder of New Discourses. Critical race theory is used like acid to dissolve American society and break down its critical institutions, Lindsay told EpochTVs Crossroads program. Marx expected that the communist revolution would begin in advanced capitalist countries, asserting that these societies contradictions would build up so dramatically that the proletariat would awaken and form workers parties that would become a dictatorship of the proletariat and lead us into an idealized socialism, Lindsay explained. Marx published his Communist Manifesto around the mid-19th century but the first communist revolution succeeded only about 70 years later in 1917 in Russia. Nowhere in the developed capitalist societies was this happening, but you have peasant Russia which is an aristocratic mode still thats able to be flipped over by the Bolsheviks, Lindsay said. Same thing happened later in China. China was not an industrial center, it was not an advanced capitalist society, it was a peasant society. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) founded in 1920 by Chinese Marxists under the influence of the Soviet Union gained control of China in 1949 and established the most brutal totalitarian communist regime on earth. The Marxists of the time in the 1910s, 20s, and 30s were examining the situation trying to figure out why Marxs doctrine failed, Lindsay continued. They realized that it was the culture that was preventing Marxs theory from being accepted and successfully implemented in these advanced capitalist societies, Lindsay explained. Mao Zedong, a CCP leader who ruled communist China from its inception until his death in 1976, was able to undermine the existing proud culture of the Chinese, the author said. Marxist thinkers came to understand that people considered their Western culture or their Chinese culture with their values sets as being fairly good, and despite being aware of some of its imperfections, did not want to overthrow it, he continued. [Marxists] realize that if you can undermine the existing culture and create a break from the existing culture and demonize the existing culture, then you can especially get the younger generations to want to pick up with a whole new program. And thats the way that you can affect what they call a cultural revolution. Mao called it destroying the four olds, Lindsay said. In the 1960s, Mao launched the Cultural Revolution, carried out by fanatical youth encouraged to smash, beat, torture, and murder for the sake of destroying the so-called four oldsold customs, old culture, old habits, and old ideasof China. The death toll of the Cultural Revolution in China was estimated by many researchers at a minimum of two million, while an American professor R.J. Rummel who researched the mass killing, wrote in his book that the Cultural Revolution claimed the lives of 7.73 million people. So you have to poison the institutions. For example, in America, you have to make people think all the founding of America was rooted in racism and that racism is still the organizing principle of the society today, Lindsay said. This is why the 1619 Project was launched, he added. The 1619 Project is a series created by New York Times reporter Nikole Sheri Hannah-Jones based on the claim that America was founded in 1619 when a group of 20 Africans, who were considered to be the first enslaved Africans in British America, arrived in the colony of Virginia. After destroying the old culture, Marxists have to get the young generation to want to grow up to be a new man in a new society that understands that we arent individuals at all, Lindsay said. The goal is to have people perceive their true nature as a social collective, or as a communist kind of person, he pointed out. Critical race theory (CRT) takes this whole set of great values that have successfully shaped the West such as punctuality, hard work, Judeo-Christian values of right and wrong transmitted from one generation to the next, and characterize them as toxic whiteness, the author said. They put it into a scapegoat bucket and they just relentlessly criticize it until people are ashamed to be associated with it. Lindsay, who wrote the book Race Marxism: The Truth About Political Race Theory and Praxis, said that critical race theory is rooted in negative thinking [and] its goal is a ruthless criticism of all that exists. It is present across virtually every workplace, he added. It is based on the Marxist concept of class struggle, which pits two social classesthe bourgeoisie and the proletariatagainst each other to divide and conquer. CRT applies this same principle to race, dividing people into oppressors and the oppressed based on their skin color. It is an offshoot of a Marxist branch of thought known as critical theory developed in the 1930s by a group of Marxist scholars, the founders of the Frankfurt School, first associated with the University of Frankfurt in Germany and later with Columbia University in New York. Lindsay cited two of the prominent critical theorists of the Frankfurt School, Max Horkheimer and Theodor Adorno, who said they could not describe a good or positive society but could criticize an existing society. Once the culture is made sufficiently toxic, America [becomes] a bad word, we cant talk about Christopher Columbus we have to feel a little bit ashamed if we bring up Thomas Jefferson because we know he held slaves, Marxists try to make people break off from the old culture, Lindsay said. Then campaigns such as the Year Zero carried out by Cambodias Khmer Rouge communist regime in the 1970s or Maos campaign to eradicate four olds can commence. Year Zero was an idea declared by Cambodias communist dictator Pol Pot in 1975 to completely destroy the countrys culture including the institution of family and religion and replace it from scratch with a purportedly utopian peasant lifestyle. City dwellers, especially intellectuals, were targeted for persecution and elimination. As a result of this policy, the Pol Pot regime murdered between 1.4 million and 2.2 million people during four years of its ruleup to one-third of Cambodias population at the time. Lindsay said that the idea of a Great Reset, which involves a whole new culture with a whole new model [such as] a new economic model like stakeholder capitalism, also requires breaking off from the old culture. The Great Reset of capitalism is promoted by the World Economic Forum (WEF) and its founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab. The changes we have already seen in response to COVID-19 prove that a reset of our economic and social foundations is possible, Schwab said in June 2020. The pandemic represents a rare but narrow window of opportunity to reflect, reimagine, and reset our world. The Great Reset will harness the innovations of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to address health and social challenges among other things, the WEF Chairman explained. The revolutions occurring in biotechnology and Artificial Intelligence (AI), which are redefining what it means to be human will compel us to redefine our moral and ethical boundaries. Subjective Reality Reality can be perceived from an objective standpoint or a subjective standpoint, Lindsay said. For people who believe in God, the source of objectivity and the objective truth is God, while others believe the brute fact of the world is objectively true, he explained. The world is out there and then we are receiving information about the world via our senses, and that we understand the world and make our models of the world as best we can and try to work out the details and get things right. But the world itself is something that we must be humbled before. Thats the objective standpoint. The subjective standpoint sees it the other way around, that the world is actually that which we create in our consciousness. Some schools of thought assert that a persons true being is suppressed if their sex assigned at birth doesnt actually accord with what that person believes their true identity is, the founder of New Discourses continued. The fact that that assignment then brings with it all of these restrictions upon how youre supposed to present, how youre supposed to act, who youre supposed to hook up with, or have sex with, or marry, or whateverall of that is enormous oppression upon you, Lindsay described how these schools view gender identity. [Queer theory] explicitly says that the goal is not to create stable LGBT identities. It is, in fact, to create destabilized identities that are under absolutely no restrictions or no moral shackles of any kind. According to these theories, the ideas of a stable, monogamous relationship to raise the children, that children are supposed to be regarded as innocent and therefore non-sexualized, are just fictions that oppress people and have been created by people to maintain this system, so people need to liberate themselves from these artificial social relations and self-imposed limits, the author said. What that amounts to is the absolute destruction of morality, Lindsay concluded. Ella Kietlinska Reporter Follow Ella Kietlinska is a reporter for The Epoch Times focusing on U.S. and world politics. Sheriff's deputies line up before taking a man into booking at the San Diego County Jail in San Diego, Calif. on April 24, 2020. (Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images) Ex-San Diego Deputy Sentenced for Fatally Shooting Fleeing Detainee SAN DIEGOA former sheriffs deputy who fatally shot an unarmed, fleeing detainee outside the downtown San Diego jail was sentenced on Feb. 7 to three years of probation and one year in jail. Aaron Russell, 25, pleaded guilty last month to a voluntary manslaughter charge for the May 1, 2020, death of Nicholas Bils, who was shot multiple times as he was running away from police, leading to the rare decision to prosecute a law enforcement officer in a shooting. Russell, who had been with the department for 18 months, resigned shortly after the shooting and was later charged with second-degree murder. On Monday, the former deputy also received a three-year suspended prison sentence, which he will serve if he violates the terms of his probation. His one year of custody could be served in county jail, but may be served in a work furlough program, if he is approved. Bilss mother, Kathleen Bils, left the courtroom almost immediately after San Diego Superior Court Judge Francis Devaney imposed the sentence. Outside court, Bilss cousin, Amber Barnett, called the sentence shameful and said it sends the message to law enforcement officers that they can shoot someone in the back and maybe get a year in jail. Prosecutors sought a six-year prison term and argued Russell was ineligible for probation, but Devaney said the law allowed him to consider probation if he found that it was an unusual case where the interests of justice would best be served by granting probation. The judge, who said he did not believe Russell would re-offend, cited the defendants agehe was 23 at the time of the shootinghis relative inexperience as a deputy, and his lack of a prior criminal record, as factors that led to a probation sentence. Prior to sentencing, Russell apologized to the Bilss family, and told them, I think about the what ifs of the situation every day. Kathleen Bils said it was apparent from a young age that her son suffered from mental illness, and that he was prone to running from unexpected and frustrating encounters with people. She said he was not violent or aggressive, and displayed a gentle nature with animals and his family. Though she said she felt an obligation to forgive Russell, she said, Im just not ready. Bilss brother, Timothy Bils, called the shooting senseless and completely unnecessary and urged the judge to impose prison. If people dont know they will be held accountable for their actions, then society has nothing to prevent them from breaking the law as Mr. Russell did, Timothy Bils said. Bils, 36, was being taken to the downtown detention facility where he managed to partially slip out of handcuffs and escape from a California State Parks officers car. According to witness testimony and surveillance footage, another ranger in a separate vehicle tried to get out of his truck to subdue Bils, but he shoved the trucks door into the officer and took off running before he was shot four times in the back, arm, and thigh. Three other law enforcement officers were at the scene, but Russell was the only one to draw his firearm, according to prosecutors. Criminal charges against Russell came as a result of a change to state law, which now holds that officers can utilize deadly force only when they believe its necessary to defend against the imminent threat of death or serious harm to themselves or others. At Russells preliminary hearing, one of his attorneys, Richard Pinckard, argued his client had a reasonable belief that Bils presented a threat to members of the public. Though Bils wasnt carrying any weapons, Pinckard noted he had managed to slip the cuffs off one of his wrists and may have been clutching the dangling cuff in his hand as he ran from the scene. Pinckard said that while Bils ran, he briefly turned toward Russell with the metal object in his hand, and Mr. Russell perceived an imminent threat. Other officers present at the scene of the shooting testified they didnt feel Bils presented an immediate danger to them or the general public. Kathleen Bils filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit against Russell, San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore, the county, and others in connection with the shooting. The lawsuit remains pending. Kevin Falcon addresses the crowd after being elected leader of the British Columbia Liberal Party in Vancouver, on Feb. 5, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck) Falcon Heads to Victoria Pledging BC Liberal Rebuild, Looks for Seat in Legislature VANCOUVERThe new leader of the British Columbia Liberals says hes on his way to Victoria with promises that will rebuild the party and attract voters while he also seeks his own seat in the legislature. Party members acknowledge that Kevin Falcon has a big renewal job ahead, as the Liberals have lost two consecutive elections after holding power for 16 years. Falcon is the partys third leader since 2017. He replaces Andrew Wilkinson, who resigned shortly after the October 2020 election when the New Democrats were voted in with a majority government. Party members selected a new leader in online and phone voting that started last Thursday. The system awarded points to the seven candidates based on how those ballots were cast. Falcon scored a fifth ballot win Saturday, taking just over 52 per cent of the points available, in a sometimes fractious leadership race that saw the former cabinet minister face attacks from his opponents as the perceived front-runner. Former Liberal cabinet minister Mary Polak said Sunday rebuilding the party will be Falcons top priority, but it poses difficulties for an Opposition leader, especially without a seat in the legislature. She said the margin of Falcons victory and his lead from start to finish gives him some added strength as it shows his widespread support among party members. Itll be job one for the new leader to get everybody on the same page, said Polak. Thats always more challenging for a leader of the Opposition because theres not a lot they have to work with in terms of tools that would perhaps reward people for loyalty. Despite the admirable work done by interim leader Shirley Bond in the legislature since Wilkinsons resignation, the Liberals and voters have not had a leader to rally around since the 2020 election, Polak said. It has a big impact on how visible the party can be, how much their message gets out, she said. The B.C. legislature resumes sitting Tuesday with a throne speech. Falcon said in a statement late Saturday he will quickly seek a seat in the legislature and consult with the 28 members of the partys caucus about a potential riding in which to run. Once that seat becomes available, I will immediately ask (Premier) John Horgan to call that byelection at the earliest possible time, he said. Falcon held a seat in Surrey for three terms before deciding not to run in the 2013 election. Falcon, 59, said he left politics to spend more time with his young family. He has been working in the private sector with a Vancouver investment and property development firm. He held a number of portfolios in cabinet after first being elected in 2001, including transportation, health, finance and deputy premier. Falcon finished second in the 2011 leadership contest, losing to Christy Clark, who served as premier until the party lost power. Falcon focused on past Liberal accomplishments in his first news conference as leader late Saturday, saying the former Liberal governments of which he was part made major accomplishments on environmental, financial and infrastructure fronts. The grass didnt grow dry under our feet, he said. We got big things done and I dont see that happening now. I believe that the public wants to support people and leaders that arent afraid to get big things done. Falcon said he plans to be at the legislature as much as he can despite not having a seat, but hell also travel the province. Im going to talk candidly to the public. I want them to understand how much I care about this province and our future, and it will take time, he said. I believe its going to take at least a couple of years before people really start to say, Hey, you know what, I like what he talks about.' The B.C. Liberals are not affiliated with the federal Liberal party and have described themselves as a made-in-B.C. free enterprise coalition. Mike Bernier, a Liberal member of the legislature from Dawson Creek, said he was among a dozen caucus members who backed Falcon because they believe he has the experience and skill to unite B.C.s urban and rural voters, and its Conservative and Liberal supporters. Im the furthest MLA from Vancouver but I still supported Kevin because I knew we needed somebody who doesnt just have the ability to win the rural seats we already win, said Bernier. We need to get the trust back of the public and our voters, and we need that all across B.C., not just in pockets. By Dirk Meissner Freedom Convoy Organizer Says Removal of GoFundMe Donations Result of Government Interference OTTAWAAn organizer with the Freedom Convoy protest says the seizure of C$10 million (US$8 million) in donations for the truckers by GoFundMe was due to government interference. It was clearly direct interference from the government to cancel this campaign, Benjamin Dichter said at a press conference in Ottawa on Feb. 6. (L-R) JCCF Lawyer Keith Wilson, who represents the Freedom Convoy organizers; former RCMP officer Daniel Bulford, who is helping the organizers with security; and convoy organizers Tamara Lich and Benjamin Dichter hold a press conference in Ottawa on Feb. 6, 2022. (Limin Zhou/The Epoch Times) On Feb. 4, GoFundMe said it was removing the donations and giving the money to charities it had verified. Initially, the fundraising platform said those who had donated could request a refund, but on Feb. 5 it said it will automatically reimburse the funds to the donors. On Feb. 3, a House of Commons committee voted unanimously to call on GoFundMe to testify before MPs to learn about the source of the funds donated to the protest movement, and what safeguards were in place to ensure the money wouldnt be used to promote extremism. After GoFundMe pulled the funds, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson thanked the company for listening to the plea made by the City and the Ottawa Police to no longer provide funds to the convoy organizers. Im hopeful that limiting their access to funding and resources will restrict their ability to remain in Ottawa, Watson said in a Twitter post on Feb. 4. Dichter said the mayors statement on Twitter shows the cancellation was due to government interference. The Epoch Times reached out to Watson for comment but didnt hear back. A lot of people have been very concerned over the censorship, but I think we have it under control, Dicther said. Protest organizers have since set up a fundraising account with GiveSendGo, which had raised US$3.5 million by the evening of Feb. 6, just two days after its creation. GoFundMe had earlier allowed the withdrawal of C$1 million for costs such as fuel and food for the truckers. The protest movement started as a demonstration by truck drivers opposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates for cross-border travel, but has since become a much larger protest with people from across Canada joining in to oppose various COVID-19 mandates and restrictions. Protest convoys drove from different parts of Canada to Ottawa on Jan. 29, and many have stayed in the city, saying they will remain until the government lifts its vaccination mandate. Several U.S. Republicans raised concerns about GoFundMes removal of the funds for the trucker protest. On Feb. 5, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis tweeted that it was a fraud for the platform to commandeer the money and give it to causes of their own choosing, referring to the companys initial statement that it would donate the funds to charity. DeSantis said he would work with the states attorney general Ashley Moody to investigate these deceptive practices. Floridas Lieutenant Governor Jeanette M. Nunez also voiced support for the Freedom Convoy and denounced the cancelling of the fundraising account. The same @gofundme that supported Antifa, BLM, and CHAZ/CHOP just shut down fundraisers for the Canadian truckers protesting against vaccine mandate, Nunez said on Twitter. Florida stands with the Freedom Convoy. GoFundMe hasnt responded to requests for comment. Omid Ghoreishi contributed to this report. Supporters of the Freedom Convoy protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions in front of Parliament of Canada, in Ottawa, Canada, on Jan. 28, 2022. (Dave Chan/AFP via Getty Images) Freedom Convoy Protests Are Spreading Around World as Truckers Lead Fight Against Mandates Following the lead of Canadian truckers in Ottawa, a growing number of trucker-inspired protests appear to be gaining momentum worldwidewith groups forming in the Netherlands, Austria, the United States, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. The Ottawa protest, known as the Freedom Convoy, aims to do away with Canadian COVID-19 vaccine mandates that affect truckers working between the United States and Canada. On Feb. 6, the mayor of Ottawa declared an emergency, while police started making arrests and seizing the truckers fuel. In New Zealand, truckers reportedly launched a convoy from both the North and South Islands. They are slated to converge at the countrys capital, Wellington, according to the New Zealand Herald. One of the truckers, who only called herself Jess, told the Toronto Star that she is attempting to organize a trucker protest in New Zealand, which has some of the strictest COVID-19 restrictions in the world, because her country needed to hear the call to stand up. She confirmed that after communicating with truckers via social media the two groups will converge on Wellington in the near future. Farm vehicles joining the trucker convoy protest against COVID-19 mandates parked in Ottawa, Canada, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Courtesy of Simon Alary) I think youre starting to see what will become a big global movement to end these mandates, Brian Brase, co-organizer of the U.S. protest, told Fox News on Feb. 6, referring to vaccine requirements. Its a violation of your human rights to be mandated to take this vaccine. If you want it, go get it, but being mandated to get it, were standing up against that. We think its wrong. Last week, organizers of a U.S. freedom convoy criticized Facebook after the social media platform removed a page organizing protests against mandates. The truckers told Fox News that they were planning to drive from California to Washington, D.C. Truckers in the United Kingdom also will demonstrate against mandates in a Glasgow, Scotland, suburb and will drive to Edinburgh, the capital, before heading to London, organizers told the Scottish Daily Express newspaper. Freedom Convoys will also depart in the English cities of Manchester, Exeter, Bristol, and Bournemouth, as well as in cities in Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Wales. In the Netherlands, according to the local NL Times, dozens of trucks and other vehicles gathered in Leeuwarden to protest local COVID-19-related mandates and restrictions on Jan. 30. A video posted by the Freedom Convoy Nederland showed the group. Protesters demonstrating against COVID-19 mandates gather as a truck convoy blocks the highway at the U.S. border crossing in Coutts, Alberta, on Feb. 2, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh) Elsewhere in Europe, Aram Lemmer, a business owner and organizer in Austria, told the outlet that he got commitments from about 2,500 vehicles to drive to Vienna, the capital, to protest against mandates. Recently, Austria passed a law that will mandate vaccinations for all eligible people aged 18 and older or theyll face hefty fines. Meanwhile, police in the Australian Capital Territory say they expect crowd sizes for the Convoy to Canberra to peak on Feb. 8 when Australias Parliament resumes. Protesters led by truckers are expected to gather outside Parliament House. In Canada, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson declared a state of emergency on Feb. 6, asserting that the trucker protest poses a serious danger. Protest organizers say their movement is peaceful. IMPORTANT: Anyone attempting to bring material supports (gas, etc.) to the demonstrators could be subject to arrest. Enforcement is underway, Ottawa police also said in a statement on social media. The decision was panned by the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, a group that represents the truckers. In a free and democratic society that is governed by the rule of law, citizens can freely associate with each other, including the giving and receiving of goods and gifts. There is no law that would allow the Ottawa Police to arrest people for giving fuel or food to another Canadian, Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms lawyer Nicholas Wansbutter said in a statement. The Google logo is pictured at the entrance to the Google offices in London on Jan. 18, 2019. (Hannah McKay/Reuters) Google Accused of Manipulating Search Results, PriceRunner Suing Company for $2.4 Billion Swedish price comparison company PriceRunner has filed a lawsuit against Google in the Patent and Market Court in Stockholm for a preliminary compensation of 2.1 billion euros ($2.4 billion), accusing Google of showing favoritism toward its own services. In a Feb. 7 statement, PriceRunner cited the European General Courts decision that Alphabet-owned Google had violated the EUs antitrust laws by manipulating search results to benefit its comparison shopping solution. As such, Google took away from the revenue of comparison shopping services such as PriceRunner and harmed the interests of European customers who ended up overpaying while shopping online. This is also a matter of survival for many European entrepreneurial companies and job opportunities within tech. If American tech giants, through a market position almost equal to a monopoly, are allowed to do exactly as they please and manipulate markets, we can almost certainly count on the fact that many tech companies in Europe will be affected far beyond the comparison shopping market in focus today, Mikael Lindahl, CEO of PriceRunner, said in the statement. Lindahl said the lawsuit is also a fight for the rights of consumers who have suffered tremendously due to Googles violation of competition law for the past 14 years. In the statement, PriceRunner noted that Googles search engine has a market share of 90 percent in most European nations, thereby giving the tech giant a monopoly-like position. In 2017, the European Commission found that the unfair advantage enjoyed by Googles comparison shopping service on the companys search engine had deprived European companies of competing on equal grounds. Google was consequently ordered to pay 2.4 billion euros ($2.74 billion). The General Court of the EU upheld the decision in November 2021. The General Court finds that, by favoring its own comparison shopping service on its general results pages through more favorable display and positioning, while relegating the results from competing comparison services in those pages by means of ranking algorithms, Google departed from competition on the merits, the court stated (pdf). PriceRunner is accusing Google of not complying with the European Commissions order. As a result, internet traffic is diverted away from PriceRunner and other comparison shopping services. The company cited research conducted by accountancy firm Grant Thornton to claim that prices shown in Googles comparison shopping service tend to be 12 percent to 14 percent higher when compared to other similar services. When it comes to items such as clothes and shoes, the price variation goes up to 37 percent. This results in European consumers paying extra amounts to the tune of billions of dollars per year, according to the research. The lawsuit aims to make Google pay for profits that PriceRunner lost in the UK market from 2008 and from Denmark and Sweden markets from 2013. Such damages are calculated to be 2.1 billion euros up until 2020. During the court of litigation, the amount of damages mentioned in the lawsuit will be increased significantly, as Googles violation is still ongoing, PriceRunner stated. Google representatives didnt reply to a request for comment by press time. Shoppers line up outside Louis Vuitton at Chadstone The Fashion Capital in Melbourne, Australia, on Dec. 26, 2021. (Diego Fedele/Getty Images) Government Cant Provide Economic Support Forever: Australian Treasurer The Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has declared that the government could not permanently continue to support the unprecedented levels of economic support provided over the past two years. Speaking with the Australian Industry Group on Feb. 7, seven weeks away from the pre-election budget announcement on March 29, Frydenberg said the federal governments intervention would not remain ingrained and permanent. Continued support at crisis levels would do more economic harm than good, he said. Although the country experienced the biggest economic shock since the Great Depression, the Reserve Bank is confident that Australia is progressing toward a jobless rate beginning with a 3 compared with the current 4.2 percent. This would be the first time since 1974, Frydenberg said. Unlike some other countries, we are seeing a great reshuffle rather than a great resignation.' An analysis from the Treasury showed that one million-plus worker began new jobs in the three months to November 2021. This figure was nearly 10 percent higher than the average data from the pre-COVID period. In the past three months, a record number of about 300,000 workers said they quit their jobs to search for better employment opportunities, and this trend happened throughout all industries of the economy. Switching jobs allow workers to move up the job ladder for better pay, Frydenberg said. Treasurys latest analysis using single touch payroll data has shown that workers that moved jobs typically experienced pay increase of between eight and 10 per cent. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg speaks to the media during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on Sept. 1, 2021. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) He said the pandemic had resulted in fundamental changes across Australias economy and brought about a unique opportunity to evaluate the challenges and opportunities in the countrys productivity. As such, the Productivity Commission has kicked off its second five-yearly review on productivity under the treasurers request. With a post-pandemic economy as the backdrop, the PC is being tasked with developing an actionable roadmap to assist governments to make productivity-enhancing reforms, Frydenberg said. It will identify priority sectors for reform, including data and digital innovation and workforce skills. The commission expects to finalise the review over the next 12 months. Meanwhile, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) also updated its retail report for December 2021 on Feb. 7, adding quarterly spending results. Although the retail industry saw a 4.4 percent decrease in sales last December in the ABSs report, economists forecasts revealed that the sector grew by 8.1 percent over the quarter. Also, a large proportion of the quarterly economic growth result comes from household spending. This data will be included in the December quarter national accounts scheduled to publish on March 2. A primary indicator measuring future employment also came out on Feb. 7, with ANZ releasing its report on job advertisement series for January. Overall, ANZ Job Ads dropped by 0.3 percent in January; however, the figures increased sharply on a weekly basis throughout the month, as usually seen in the wake of the holiday period. This trend occurred despite the high number of Omicron cases reported in the community, which reflected the resilience in the labour markets demand. The guided-missile destroyer USS O'Kane makes its way out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Feb. 27, 2010. (MC2 Mark Logico/U.S. Navy via Getty Images) Guided-Missile Destroyer OKane Returns to San Diego SAN DIEGOThe guided-missile destroyer USS OKane returned home Feb. 6 to Naval Base San Diego, completing an eight-month deployment to the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operation. OKane deployed in June 2021, serving as the ballistic missile defense commander for Carrier Strike Group 1. The sailors aboard USS OKane lead the way in demonstrating resiliency and dedication to support the mission and each other, said Cmdr. Michelle Fontenot, OKanes commanding officer. As an independent deployer serving in both the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleets, OKane met each mission with success. OKane escorted multiple units through 30 straits, including the Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, and the Suez Canal, Navy officials said. OKane participated in maritime security operations in support of the International Maritime Security Coalition, collaborating with seven partner nations for security and the free flow of commerce. OKane also participated in Indigo Defender, a bilateral maritime exercise between Royal Saudi Naval Forces and U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. The ship conducted maritime interdiction operations; board, search, and seizure operations; and operated alongside international navies, including the Egyptian Naval Force, Royal Saudi Navy, and the Indian Navy. As the on-scene commander, OKane escorted two mine countermeasures ships through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, marking the first time in seven years a mine countermeasures ship operating from Bahrain transited to the Red Sea and back. OKane also participated in a seizure of illicit cargo from a stateless fishing vessel in the North Arabian Sea on Dec. 20. The OKane crew seized 1,400 AK-47s and 226,000 rounds of ammunition, the Navy said. People take part in a rally to encourage Canada and other countries as they consider labeling China's treatment of its Uyghur population and Muslim minorities as genocide, outside the Canadian Embassy in Washington on Feb. 19, 2021. (Reuters/Leah Millis) How CCP Racism Influences The Diplomat Commentary On Feb. 2, The Diplomat, a respected journal on Asia-Pacific politics, published an interview with Chandran Nair, a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) propagandist whose views border on racism. The title of the interview said it all: Chandran Nair on White Privilege in International Relations. Nairs beliefs are not atypical for a CCP propagandist. What really caught my attention was the interviewer at The Diplomat, based in Washington, falling for a lot of what Nair said. It bordered on racist, not least for its elision of the ultimate in racism and bigotry in Chinawhat I would argue is a triple genocide per the U.N. definition, against Uyghurs, Tibetans, and Falun Gong. Then I noticed the interviewer was none other than The Diplomats editor-in-chief. Maybe this explained the lackluster coverage of China by that journal over the years. I had seen a lot of description in The Diplomat, which is sometimes useful, though with information overload on the internet one craves more. One Diplomat author, years ago, told me that he was discouraged from taking normative positions, but when it came to Nairs CCP norms, they were not only encouraged with an interview, but amplified by The Diplomat itself. Leaving norms aside, there are relatively few articles in The Diplomat that deal with one of the most important issues, which is how Beijing uses its money and bribes of global leaders to get its way. When dealing with issues of totalitarianism, fascism, genocide, and the corruption of democracies around the world, straight description, which elides some of the most important facts that determine international politics, is morally lacking. While the interviewer and Editor-in-Chief Shannon Tiezzi rightly made an attempt to push back on some of Nairs CCP talking points, and she might argue that her interviewing style was to acknowledge something she agreed with the author while problematizing his more extreme points, she went so far as to endorse views that are themselves bordering on racist. Tiezzi did not immediately reply to requests for comment. In the interview, which was focused on racism, Tiezzi binned the Tibetans in with the Uyghurs, both of which were only mentioned once. Beijings persecution of the Falun Gong adherents, which reaches genocidal levels according to the U.N. definition and Dr. Miles Yu, a former U.S. State Department official, was not mentioned at all. There is far more racism in China, not to mention anti-religious and totalitarian bigotry, including against Christians and Taoists, than in the United States or Europewhich Tiezzi did not raise. There was no attempt to examine whether this endemic CCP bigotry had an effect on Chinas own international relations. Of course, it does. A case in point is Beijings remarkably successful use of trade and perhaps other more personal kinds of incentive to get majority-Muslim nations around the world to not only endorse Chinas racist treatment of Uyghurs, but actively participate in the form of Uyghur deportations to China, very likely back to the concentration camps in Xinjiang. A perimeter fence around a labor camp in Xinjiang, China, on Sept. 4, 2018. (Thomas Peter/Reuters) Tiezzi claimed, in the interviews introduction, that in the current world order, steeped in colonialist heritage and born in the immediate aftermath of World War II, the assumption of White supremacy continues to guide decision-making in both conscious and subconscious ways. She did not provide evidence for this during the interview, and neither did Nair. Tiezzi claimed that there is a central truth to U.S. criticism of China being imbued with racism. She claimed that there is an inherent Western-centric nature of the Olympics, for example. Again, no evidence. The Olympics has always been explicitly multicultural, which is the obvious source of its global popularity and enduring ethical appeal. It has gone too far this year, to play its games in China despite an ongoing genocide. Tiezzi then conflates Western with White when Western countries are also clearly multiculturalincluding at the highest level of state in the United States, for example, Barack Obamas presidency and Kamala Harris vice presidency. Compare that to the complete lack of non-Han representation at the highest levels of political power in China. There, all seven members of the Standing Committee of the Politburo are Han males. Like Nair, The Diplomat appears too quick and biased in its allegations of racism. Tiezzi did not immediately reply to a request for comment. In the interview, Tiezzi downplays the Uyghur genocide to a real problem rather than labeling it for what it is. She does not mention Beijings military threats against Taiwan, or its occupation of the South China Sea, which is pressuring Vietnamese and Philippine fishing, sometimes to the point of sinking their boats and leaving them stranded in the middle of the ocean. Remember, the CCP is not about the equality that some Marxists promote. Look at its theft of maritime, land, and water resources from countries that are poorer than China on a per capita basisincluding not only Vietnam and the Philippines, but India and Bangladesh. Perhaps because of a proliferation in Marxist-Leninist readings (warpings) of history, which is embedded in many elite universities in the United States and Europe since the 1970s, some do not see clearly the critical importance and agency, robbed by analyses like Nairs, of liberal and democratic countriesincluding Japan and India, all of which are multicultural and supportive of diversity (some not as much as they should be)in stopping what is arguably the worlds most dangerous, racist, and totalitarian threats, including Nazis, Stalinists, and the CCP. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Commentary In a non-peer-reviewed research paper just this week published, Stephanie Seneff, Ph.D., describes a mechanism of the COVID shots that results in the suppression of your innate immune system. It does this by inhibiting the type-1 interferon pathway. In this interview, return guest Stephanie Seneff, Ph.D., a senior research scientist at MIT who has been at MIT for over five decades, discusses her latest paper, Innate Immune Suppression by SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccinations. The Role of G-quadruplexes, Exosomes and MicroRNAs, co-written with Dr. Peter McCullough, along with two other authors, Dr. Greg Nigh and Dr. Anthony Kyriakopoulos. Previously, Nigh and Seneff co-wrote an entire paper detailing the differences between the spike protein and the COVID jab spike protein. In a non-peer-reviewed research paper just this week published on the pre-print service authorea, they and their other co-authors delve deeply into the mechanisms of the COVID shots, showing how they absolutely, in no way, shape or form, are safe or effective. The shots actually suppress your innate immune system. I think McCullough is fantastic and Im so happy to have him collaborate with me, Seneff says. I really hope we will be able to find a journal that is willing to publish it. We may have to seek some kind of alternative media to get it published. Its really incredible the amount of censorship thats going on right now. Im in a state of shock all the time. I just keep thinking its not going to get any worse, and its truly going to get better, and it just seems to keep on getting worse and worse. I dont know where the end is. Its very discouraging Pharma has so much money behind [them] and theyve got it all set up to make sure that nothing gets past them Were hoping to put it up as a preprint, but remarkably, they can reject it at the level of preprint as well. Were working on that angle, but its not easy. When youre writing something this radical, they really fight hard to keep it off the web. On Jan. 16, 2022, the pre-print service Authorea published this paper on its web site, assigning it a DOI, thus making it official. Exceptionally Strong Safety Signals As noted by Seneff, when you look at the various databases for adverse effects, you can see an exceptionally strong safety signaland the COVID shot developers know that. The numbers are out of sight, Seneff says, and this goes for all levels of side effects, from mild to catastrophic. Seneff has been looking at the cancer data, for example, and on average, there are twice as many reports of cancer following the COVID shots compared to all other vaccines combined over the last 31 years. Its just amazing, because its overall two times [higher]. Breast cancer, for example, is three times [higher] for these vaccines in one year, as they are for all the other vaccines for 31 years. Its a hugely strong signal, Seneff says. Lymphoma is also showing up much more frequently with these [COVID shots]. Theres just an amazing signal there in VAERS [the U.S. Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System]. The fact that the signal is that strong is even more remarkable when you consider that most people dont think the COVID shot could be a variable in their cancer emergence, so they never report it. It puzzles me that theyre willing to do such damage to the health of the whole population of the world. I dont understand that degree of evilness, Seneff says. Type-1 Interferon Disruption The shots suppress your innate immune system by inhibiting type-1 interferon. One of the first studies to tip off Seneff and McCullough to this was an Indian study, in which human cells grown in a culture were exposed to the DNA nanoparticles that instruct them to make SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, much like the COVID shots do. The cell strain is called HEK-293. These are cells that were taken from the kidneys of an aborted fetus in the 1980s and are frequently used in research. While taken from the kidneys, these cells have neuron-like properties. When programmed to make spike protein, these cells release that spike protein inside exosomes lipid nanoparticles inside which the spike protein is packaged. Exosomes act as a communication network for cells. When a cell is under stress, it releases exosomes containing some of the molecules that are stressing it. So, in the case of the COVID shots, the exosomes contain spike protein and microRNA. MicroRNAs are signaling molecules that are able to influence cell function. They cause the cell to change its behavior or metabolism. Typically, they do this by suppressing certain enzymes. The Indian study found two specific microRNAs inside the exosomes released by these neuron-like cells: miR-148a and miR-590. The researchers then exposed microglia (immune cells in your brain) to these exosomes. So, as explained by Seneff, youve got neurons in your brain producing spike protein, or taking up spike protein that is in circulation, and reacting to it by releasing exosomes. The exosomes are then picked up by microglia, the immune cells in your brain. When the immune cells receive those exosomes, they turn on an inflammatory response. This is primarily a response to those microRNAs, the miR-148a and miR-590. Of course, you also have the toxic spike protein there. Combined, they cause inflammation in the brain, which damages neurons. This inflammation, in turn, can contribute to a number of degenerative brain disorders. The lipid particles in the COVID shot, which contain the mRNA, are similar to exosomes, but not identical. Theyre also very similar to low-density lipid (LDL) particles. I think the exosomes are probably quite a bit smaller. The vaccine particles are bigger. Theyre more like an LDL particle. The vaccine particles have cholesterol in their membrane, and they have lipoprotein. So, theyre made to look like an LDL particle. But then they throw in this cationic lipid, which is really, really toxic a synthetic cationic lipid that makes it positively charged. Experimentally, theyve found that this lipid, when the particle is taken up by the cell, is released into the cytoplasm, [where] that mRNA then makes spike protein. [The COVID shots] are very cleverly designed, both in terms of protecting the RNA from getting broken down, and in terms of making the RNA be very efficient at making spike protein. Its very different from the mRNA that the virus makes, even though it codes for the same protein. Seneff wrote an entire paper detailing the differences between the viral spike protein and the COVID jab spike protein, together with Greg Nigh, which was published in the International Journal of Vaccine Theory, Practice and Research in May 2021. It basically serves as a primer for understanding what we discuss here. Two microRNAs, miR-148a and miR-590excreted in the exosomes along with the spike proteinsignificantly disrupt the type-1 interferon response in any cell, including immune cells. Getting back to the Indian paper cited above, they found that the microglia ended up producing inflammation in the brain, and the two microRNAs were central in this process. The miR-148a and miR-590 were put into those exosomes with the spike protein, and these two microRNAs are able to significantly disrupt the type-1 interferon response in any cell, including immune cells. Type-1 interferon also keeps latent viruses like herpes and varicella (which causes shingles) viruses in check, so if your interferon pathway is suppressed, these latent viruses can also start to emerge. The VAERS database reveals many who have been jabbed do report these kinds of infections. Suppressed interferon also raises your risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Type-1 Interferon Response Is Crucial in Viral Infections As explained by Seneff, the type-1 interferon response is absolutely crucial as the first-stage response to a viral infection. When a cell is invaded by a virus, it releases type-1 interferon alpha and type-1 interferon beta. They act as signaling molecules that tell the cell that its been infected. That, in turn, launches the immune response and gets it going early in the viral infection. Its been shown that people who end up with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection have a compromised type-1 interferon response. As noted by Seneff: Its ironic that the vaccines are being given to protect you from COVID, yet, they produce a situation where your immune cells are ill-equipped to fight SARS-CoV-2 if it gets into the cell. The trick is, the vaccine produces a tremendous antibody response, and thats typical of severe disease. So, the [COVID shot] fools your immune system into thinking that youve had a severe case of COVID. Its really interesting that way, because its gotten past the mucosal barrier of the lungs, its gotten past the vascular barrier of the blood, into the muscle. Also, its been disguised. The RNA doesnt look like a virus RNA, it looks like a human RNA molecule. Part of the modifications [made to the mRNA in the jab] was to make it very sturdy, so it cant be broken down. Its also very good at making [spike] protein fast, which also has a problem because it leads to a lot of errors, which is another issue The immune cells take up the nanoparticles and carry them through the lymph system into the spleen. Multiple studies have shown that it ends up in the spleen the ovaries, the liver, the bone marrow The spleen, of course, is very important for producing antibodies. Importantly, the antibody response you get from the COVID shot is exponentially higher than what you get from natural infection, and research has shown that the level of antibody response rises with disease severity. So, the shot basically mimics severe infection. In mild infection, you may not produce any antibodies at all, because the innate immune cells are strong enough to fight off the infection without them. Its when your innate immune system is weak that you get into trouble, and part of that weakness is a suppressed type-1 interferon response. If your type-1 interferon response is deficient, your immune cells are not very capable of stopping the spread of the virus in your body. According to Seneff, the reason type-1 interferon supplementation has not been recommended thus far is because you have to time it perfectly in order for the immune cascade to function properly. Type-1 interferon plays a definitive role only at the very earliest stage of the infection. Once youve entered a moderate or severe infection stage, its too late to use it. COVID Shots Confuse Your Immune System As noted by Seneff, the COVID shots are so unnatural that your immune system doesnt quite know what to do anymore. My impression is that the immune cells dont know what the hells going on. Theres this toxic protein being produced in massive amounts by the immune cells. Thats extremely unusual. Theres no sign of any kind of viral infection because these RNAs look like human RNAs. Its as if the human immune cells suddenly decided to make a really toxic protein, and make lots of it which is exactly what theyre doing and the immune system is completely baffled by this. The immune cells have no clue what to do with it. Of course, these immune cells that are overloaded with all this spike protein, they say, Ive got to get rid of this stuff, so they ship it out as these exosomes. The microRNAs [in the exosomes] think that the recipient cells are going to need those particular signaling molecules to help it do whatever it needs to do to cope with this toxic load. So, youre spreading the spike protein around to the rest of the body, just to dissipate the toxicity youre coping with in the spleen, I think. Those exosomes are also very good for training antibodies. There was a nice paper that showed the exosomes being released [have] spike protein in their membrane, the exterior of the exosome. Its quite cool that the spike protein is displayed there, because this allows the immune cells the B-cells and the T-cells that need to get up close and personal to it to figure out how to shape their antibodies. The antibodies get shaped to match the toxic protein thats exposed on the surface of the exosomes. After something like 14 days of the second [jab], the exosomes induced an antibody response. [The researchers] felt the exosomes played a critical role in this extreme antibody response that was produced by the B-cells and the T-cells, the adaptive immune system. But I think the way the vaccine works is that theres no game that you can choose other than to make antibodies. Its the only way you can fight this. Its a toxic protein thats being produced and released by these immune cells, and the only thing you can do to stop it is to make antibodies. They try to make lots and lots of antibodies that will glue onto those toxic spike proteins and block them from being able to get in through the ACE2 receptor. Thats the job of the antibodies. They do a good job of it, initially Its true that they do protect you from disease. Unfortunately, the antibody levels drop pretty dramatically, pretty quickly. There are also antibodies that enhance disease rather than fight it, and the level of these antibodies declines at a slower pace than the protective antibodies. So, after a number of months you end up with a NEGATIVE immune response. In other words, youre now more prone to infection than ever before. As explained by Seneff: Theres a crossover point at which the enhancing antibodies can be stronger than the protective antibodies, and thats when you can get this antibody dependent enhancement (ADE) that people have seen in the past with [other] coronavirus vaccines. Were still trying to see if thats the case with [the COVID jabs]. There is some evidence here and there, but its not [conclusive yet]. The Importance of Cytotoxic T-Cells After the India study tipped off Seneff and McCullough to the interferon problem, they came across a Chinese study that tracked the effect of the COVID jab on the immune system over time. Here, they discovered that the infection caused an increase in CD8+ T-cells, important cytotoxic T-cells that actually remove infected cells. As noted by Seneff, the CD8+ cells are an important part of the defense against SARS-CoV-2. Importantly, CD8+ T-cells were enhanced in response to natural infection, but not in response to the COVID shot. They too found type-1 interferon suppression post-jab. So, in the aftermath of the jab, not only is your first-line response depressedthe type-1 interferon responsebut youre also missing the part of the immune response that cleans away infected cells. The microRNA That Influences Myocarditis Risk A third microRNA (mRNA) created by natural SARS-CoV-2 infection is miR-155, and it plays an important role in heart health. Early on in the pandemic, there were reports of COVID-19 causing heart problems. Seneff suspects the miR-155-containing exosomes may also be present post-jab, and may play a role in the heart damage thats being reported. Specifically, miR-155 is associated with myocarditis. As mentioned earlier, microRNA suppresses certain proteins that then cause a complicated cascade response. When a particular protein that is a critical player gets suppressed by a microRNA, then a whole different cascade takes place. Why Autoimmune Problems May Arise Post-Jab The antibodies produced by the jab also have several short peptide sequences in them that have previously been found in several human cells that are related to autoimmune disease. Seneff explains: Kanduc has written a lot about this. Shes an expert on these antibodies The [SARS-CoV-2] spike protein is very overlapped with human protein. That means when you build a really strong antibody response to the spike protein, those antibodies can get confused and they can attack a human protein that has a similar sequence. Thats a classic form of autoimmune disease. Its called molecular mimicry. There were many different proteins that matched. It was quite surprising It seems to be very well designed to induce autoimmune disease, if you produce antibodies to those sequences in the spike protein. Neurological Problems in Women The shots are also tightly associated with neurological problems such as uncontrollable tremors and shaking. Curiously, this side effect disproportionally affects women. The mechanism here again involves the exosomes. Seneff explains: I feel theres a very strong signal for the idea, which Im pushing, that you have those immune cells in the spleen making spike protein and releasing it in exosomes. Its been shown in studies on Parkinsons disease that those exosomes travel along nerve fibers. Theyll go along the splanchnic nerve, theyll hook up with the vagus nerve, theyll go up to the brain and get into all these different nerves in the brain. When you look at the VAERS database, you see tremendous signals for all kinds of things that suggest different nerves are being inflamed. For example, there are 12,000 cases of tinnitus associated with the COVID-19 vaccine, and thats only whats reported. Tinnitus is a strong signal. Tinnitus is going to be inflammation of the auditory nerve. This means you have to go all the way from the spleen, up the vagus nerve, and then connect to the auditory nerve to cause tinnitus. Then you have Bells palsy, which is inflammation of the facial nerve. You have migraine headache. There are over 8,000 cases of migraine headache, which is linked to an inflammation of the trigeminal nerve. It probably also goes, I suspect, along the nerve fibers of the spinal column, which may be causing some of these cases where theyre finding paralysis. People have a lot of mobility issues connected with these vaccines. I see the possibility of causing a lot of disturbances to the myelin sheath, and we talk about that in the paper. It involves, again, complex signaling. You can get to the myelin sheath problem through the type-1 interferon disruption. That, again, involves something called interferon response factor 9 IRF9. This protein triggers the production of sulfatide in the liver, and this protein gets suppressed by these microRNAs that I mentioned earlier. Sulfatide, an important lipid carrier, is the only sulfonated lipid in the human body. Your liver makes most of the sulfatide, which is then carried by your platelets (blood cells) to other areas in your body. The myelin sheath contains high amounts of sulfatide. Its part of what protects the myelin sheath. In demyelinating diseases, that sulfatide erodes, ultimately allowing the myelin to be attacked. Seneff believes the COVID jab results in significant myelin damage, thanks to these inflammatory exosomes. This damage does not necessarily show up right away, although some jab recipients experience acutely devastating effects. It could take 10 years or more before a demyelinating disease sets in. I think were going to see people getting these neurodegenerative diseases earlier and earlier in life than they used to, Seneff says, and I think anybody who already has any of these diseases is going to have accelerated progression. We May Soon See an Explosion of Parkinsons Cases Disturbingly, loss of smell and dysphagia, the inability to swallow, are both signs of Parkinsons disease, and both of these conditions are being reported post-jab by the thousands. So, in years to come, we could be looking at an explosion of Parkinsons. Parkinsons studies have shown that you can get pathogens in the gut that produce a prion-like protein, which is what the spike protein is. The immune cells then take it up and take it to the spleen. This, of course, causes stress. A stressed immune cell in the spleen upregulates and produces more alpha-synuclein. Alpha-synuclein is a molecule that fights infection, and thats the molecule that misfolds in association with Parkinsons disease. Im fascinated with all of these molecules that are prion-like. Theres the prion protein itself, which is associated with CJD, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, but then theres the alpha-synuclein and amyloid beta, theres TDP-43, which is associated with ALS. All of those diseases are overrepresented in the VAERS database for the COVID shots, compared to all the other vaccines combined over 31 years. Its just completely out of line. There are 58 cases of Alzheimers in association with the COVID vaccines, and 13 in association with all the other vaccines over 31 years. Thats several times more 58 versus 13. CJD is also much more common. Its almost seven times as common in the COVID vaccine cases. CJD is a terrible disease. You get very crippled and die after a few years. Thats the classic prion protein [disease]. Its extremely rare. Only 1 in 1 million gets CJD. There was a person who contacted me from France whose wife got CJD just a few weeks after the second vaccine. He was absolutely convinced the vaccine caused it. There are actually 27 cases [of CJD] reported in VAERS for the COVID-19 vaccines, against only four cases over the entire history of all other vaccines combined. Health Problems We Can Expect to See More Of In time, Seneff predicts well see a dramatic increase in infections and cancers of all types, autoimmune diseases, neurodegenerative diseases and reproductive issues. As mentioned, research has demonstrated that the spike protein accumulates in the spleen and womens ovaries. Without doubt, inflammation in the ovaries is not a good thing. Men also report swollen testes, and that could be indicative of inflammation as well. Preliminary data show women who get the jab within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy have a miscarriage rate of 82% to 91%. There are also VAERS reports describing fetal damage. Of course, it could also impair future fertility. As described earlier, some antibodies produced by the jab can react to human proteins. One protein that is similar to the spike protein that the antibodies attack is syncytin, which is essential for the fertilization of the egg. The concern is that the antibodies might attack and destroy syncytin, thereby disrupting and preventing implantation in the placenta. OmicronA Blessing in Disguise? The jabs also perpetuate COVID, with ever-new variants of the virus. In the first paper that Greg and I wrote, we predicted the vaccines would cause an increased emergence of variants of spike protein, altered versions of the virus, under the pressure of the vaccine, Seneff says. Indeed, it looks to me like thats whats happening. But Im really hopeful with Omicron, because Omicron looks like its a milder virus, but incredibly infectious. Itll flash through the population and give everybody, essentially, a vaccine. Its kind of like a natural vaccine, I think. [Research] showed that having had Omicron, you were protected, to some extent, from Delta. Deltas disappearing anyway, because Omicron is chasing it out. Its really great. I think Omicron is Gods gift from heaven. That blessing may be canceled out in those who have received multiple COVID jabs, however. Each dose erodes your immune response, such that it becomes increasingly compromised with each jab. Again, this has to do with the suppression of type-1 interferon, discussed earlier. What Catalyzes Damage in Athletes? More than 400 cases of serious heart problems and death have also been reported among professional athletes, who are some of the healthiest people on the planet. What mechanism can account for this phenomenon? How is it that the COVID jabs can cause enough damage to take out young people with optimized biology? Seneff suspects that being fit might cause you to have more ACE2 receptors in the heart, and the S1 portion of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binds to the ACE2 receptor. She believes the spike protein is being delivered to the heart via exosomes, by way of the vagus nerve, and, again, the miR-155 exosome is associated with heart problems. Additionally, when the S1 spike protein binds to the ACE2 receptor, it disables the receptor. When you disable ACE2, you get an increase in ACE, which causes high blood pressure and elevates angiotensin 2. When angiotensin 2 is overexpressed, you can get intense inflammation in the heart. If youre engaging in intense exertion and your heart is inflamed, you can trigger cardiac arrest, which is what we see in many of these athlete cases. Theyre collapsing on the field. G-Quadruplexes Another focus of Seneffs and McCulloughs paper is something called G4 or G-quadruplexes. G-quadruplexes are really fascinating, and I dont have a handle on them at all, Seneff says. Its hard biology, even harder than a lot of the other stuff that Ive been reading G4s are basically an arrangement of [guanines]. Guanines are one of the four nucleotides that make up DNA or RNA. Guanine is the G in the G4. What happens is that a sequence of nucleotides on a DNA or an RNA string can fold in on itself and form G-quadruplexes. Its four guanines, at different places on the protein, winding back around and sticking together. Theres a metal in the middle often potassium or calcium that helps to stabilize these G4s. The interesting thing about them is that they make the water around them structured. They make gelled water [aka exclusion zone (EZ) water] Those G4s can form in the DNA, and that actually keeps it from becoming active. [The DNA] doesnt get converted into RNA, and it doesnt make protein if it has those G4s. Probably, the EZ water doesnt allow anything to get close. Think of it as being stuck in a gel. There are a lot of G4s in the promoter regions of these DNA sequences, and there are lots of proteins that have these G4s in their promoter region. Interestingly, there are certain proteins that can unravel them. There are proteins that can bind to them and cause the G4 to undo, and that activates or allows the protein to be expressed. Its a regulatory element that controls which proteins get to be expressed from the DNA. Many of the proteins that have these G4s in their promoter are cancer oncogenes. As long as they stay gelled, theyre inactive, but if they become ungelled, they become active. It turns out that prion proteins [are] made from RNA, and the RNA has these G4s. The protein can bind to the G4s in the RNA and both of them react. The theory is that the protein becomes prion-like. These prion proteins have two ways to be, one is safe and one is not safe, and the G4s increase the risk for prion protein misfolding. The presence of those G4s, and the meeting with those G4s, increases the risk of misfolding in the prion-like configuration.9 The interesting thing about that is that spike protein is a prion-like protein. The RNA they built for the [COVID jab], they did something called codon optimization, which involved putting a lot more guanines into the RNA than [found] in the original [virus]. They enhanced the guanine. Enhancing the guanine means increasing the number of G4s, which means increasing the risk of the spike protein misfolding into a prion like protein. I think that the G4s increase the risk, the danger of spike protein [acting] as a prion-like protein. But we dont really know what the consequence of having all these G4 RNAs in the cytoplasm will be. We have massive numbers of these RNAs sitting there with their G4s. What is that going to do to the rest of the G4 regulatory process? We do not know. Nobody knows. Nobody has a clue. Summary To summarize the central point of Seneffs latest paper, the COVID jab causes alpha interferon suppression, which weakens your immune system. Indeed, regulators in the European Union are now warning that repeat COVID shots can weaken overall immunity. The primary mechanism is the impairment of alpha interferon response, which is essential for the proper activation of your innate immune system, your cellular immunity, mostly your T-cells and killer cells. When functioning properly, the cell launches the type-1 interferon response as soon as its infected with a virus. It triggers the immune cells to come in, kill the virus and remove the debris. This activates the humoral component of your immune system, the antibody production, which takes longer. (Thats why they say you are not protected until 14 days after the injection.) How is type-1 interferon suppressed by the jab? Its suppressed because type-1 interferon responds to viral RNA, and viral RNA is not present in the COVID shot. The RNA is modified to look like human RNA molecule, so the interferon pathway is not triggered. Worse, the interferon pathway is actively suppressed by the large number of spike proteins produced from the mRNA in the shot, and by the microRNAs in the exosomes released by the stressed immune cells. Jack Strong (starring Patrick Wilson) The content is not available due to expiration. Honoree Lara Logan accepts award onstage during the 42nd Annual Gracie Awards, hosted by The Alliance for Women in Media at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. on June 6, 2017. (Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Alliance for Women in Media) Lara Logan Quitting Big Tech, Accuses It of Glorifying Pedophile Content Journalist Lara Logan has announced that she intends to quit big tech social media platforms Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, accusing the networks of allowing pedophilic content to be shared while censoring free speech and alternate perspectives. The award-winning journalist asserted in a Feb. 4 social media post that she cannot in good conscience be part of platforms that glorify & enrich themselves while exploiting children. Discovering that these platforms host content showing abuse and sexual exploitation of children as well as animals was a shock, Logan said. I had no idea such a depraved ideology was being pushed on this scale or the insidious ways the worst of humanity is normalized, promoted & quietly glorified by the same platforms who censor free speech from truckers, doctors, naturalists, vaccine injured & so on. Its wrong, Logan said in another post while adding that she plans on moving to Locals, Gettr, or any other platform that puts a priority on the rights of children, animals, free speech and basic human decency. Logan, who works with Fox News, triggered a controversy in November last year when she compared White House medical advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci to Dr. Josef Mengele, the Nazi physician who earned the nickname Angel of Death. Mengele is known to have conducted experiments with Jews during the Second World War. Logans exit from social media networks once again brings to light the issue of explicit and implicit pedophilic content on these platforms, especially on Twitter. In January last year, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation Law Center (NCOSE) along with two other law firms filed a federal lawsuit against the company. According to the lawsuit, 13-year-old John Doe, the plaintiff, had shared sexual content with traffickers under duress. Three years later, the plaintiff discovered that these sexually explicit videos were circulating on Twitter. The victim and his mother contacted Twitter to get the content removed. The platform not only refused to do so but insisted that the videos did not violate any of the companys policies. Only after law enforcement got involved in the case did Twitter remove the videos. As John Does situation makes clear, Twitter is not committed to removing child sex abuse material from its platform. Even worse, Twitter contributes to and profits from the sexual exploitation of countless individuals because of its harmful practices and platform design, said Peter Gentala, senior legal counsel for NCOSE, in a statement at the time. Despite its public expressions to the contrary, Twitter is swarming with uploaded child pornography and Twitter management does little or nothing to prevent it. In February, Twitter refused to admit that the co-founder of anti-Trump group Lincoln Project, John Weaver, violated its policies, despite 21 young men complaining that Weaver had sent them sexually provocative unsolicited messages. One of the victims was a 14-year-old boy. Crowdfunding website GoFundMe is under fire after it canceled a fundraising campaign for the trucker protest of the COVID-19 vaccine mandates. After initially announcing it would redistribute the millions in donations to other charities, it has now announced it will refund the donations. But the move has drawn growing scrutiny, as calls grow to investigate the company. And in other news, scientists who initially told Dr. Anthony Fauci in a private teleconference that they believed the COVID-19 virus likely originated from a lab in China are now being called to testify over public contradictions of their own statements. In this live Q&A with Crossroads host Joshua Philipp, well discuss these stories and others, and answer questions from the audience. Subscribe to the new Crossroads newsletter and stay up-to-date! Follow EpochTV on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EpochTVus Twitter: https://twitter.com/EpochTVus Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/EpochTV Gettr: https://gettr.com/user/epochtv Gab: https://gab.com/EpochTV Telegram: https://t.me/EpochTV Parler: https://parler.com/#/user/EpochTV French President Emmanuel Macron (R) speaks to Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) in the Galerie des Batailles (Gallery of Battles) as they arrive for a joint press conference in Versailles, France, on May 29, 2017. (Stephane De Sakutin/Pool/Reuters) Macron Heads to Moscow to Push Historic Solution to Ukraine Crisis, Kremlin Expects No Breakthrough French President Emmanuel Macron told a French newspaper on Sunday that he hopes for a historic solution to the UkraineRussia crisis as he heads to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but a Kremlin spokesperson sought to temper expectations, saying no big breakthrough is expected. Macron told the Journal du Dimanche newspaper that he believes Putin is open to talks on defusing tensions that have been ratcheted up in recent weeks as Western leaders have expressed concerns that a Russian troop buildup near Ukraines border is setting the stage for an invasion. White House security adviser Jake Sullivan told Fox News on Sunday that a Russian invasion could be imminent. We are in the window, Sullivan told the outlet. Any day now, Russia could take military action against Ukraine or it could be a couple of weeks from now, or Russia could choose to take the diplomatic path instead. Macron, who will meet Putin on Monday before heading to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said his aim is to prevent the tensions from escalating into a military conflict. The intensity of the dialogue we have had with Russia and this visit to Moscow are designed to stop that happening, Macron told the newspaper, adding that he believes Putins objective was not Ukraine, but a clarification of the rules with NATO and the EU. Russia has denied any plans of attacking Ukraine and has asked the United States and its allies for a binding commitment that they wont accept Ukraine into NATO. Zelensky has pushed for his countrys admission into the military alliance. The Kremlin has also asked the United States and its allies to promise not to deploy offensive weapons and to roll back NATO deployments to Eastern Europe. Washington and NATO have rejected those demands. From our perspective. I cant be more clearNATOs door is open, remains open, and that is our commitment, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in late January, though he renewed an offer of reciprocal measures to address mutual security concerns between Russia and NATO, including missile reductions in Europe. While Putin has signaled Moscows readiness for more talks with Washington and its NATO allies, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday that he doesnt expect a single meeting between the Russian leader and Macron would lead to a major breakthrough. The situation is too complex to expect decisive breakthroughs in the course of one meeting, Peskov said. Macron, while hopeful for a diplomatic resolution, also appeared to temper expectations. Will discuss the terms of deescalation. We have to be very realistic. We will not obtain unilateral gestures, but its essential to stop the situation deteriorating, Macron told Journal du Dimanche. Macron added that he had always been in a deep dialogue with President Putin and our responsibility is to build a historic solution to the issue of European security. I believe President Putin is available for this, Macron said. Peskov said Macrons visit was preceded by three phone calls, describing Macrons visit as very significant, and added that he looks forward to a very substantive and lengthy discussion between the two leaders. The talks between Macron and Putin are expected to kick off at around 5 p.m. Moscow time. In a separate diplomatic effort, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is set to travel to Kyiv and Moscow as part of a bid to defuse tensions. French President Emmanuel Macron (R) speaks with Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) before a meeting at the Chancellery on January 19, 2020 in Berlin. (Photo by Emmanuele Contini/Getty Images) Macron Meets With Putin in Moscow, Seeks to Avoid War In a bid to de-escalate the possibility of a conflict in Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Feb. 7. During the meeting, Macron told Putin that hes seeking a useful response that, of course, allows us to avoid war and to build bricks of trust, stability, [and] visibility. Putin said Russia and France share a common concern about what is happening in the security sphere in Europe. I see how much efforts the current leadership of France and the president personally is applying in order to solve the crisis related to providing equal security in Europe for a serious historical perspective, he said. The talks come as Russia has amassed thousands of troops near its border with Ukraine and is also reportedly carrying out military drills in Belarus in what Russian officials say is a routine exercise. Over the past weekend, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told several TV programs on the morning of Feb. 6 that he believes that Russia will invade Ukraine in the coming days. If war breaks out, it will come at an enormous human cost to Ukraine, but we believe that based on our preparations and our response, it will come at a strategic cost to Russia as well, Sullivan said. Russia has denied that it wants to invade Ukraine. Also on Feb. 7, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, ahead of his first meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden, told The Washington Post that should Russia invade its neighbor, the Kremlin will pay a hefty price. We are ready to take together with our allies all necessary steps, Scholz said in response to speculation that Germany could cancel the Russia-to-Germany Nord Stream 2 pipeline. It is absolutely clear that in a situation like this all options are on the table. Please understand that I will not get into any specifics, but our answer will be united and decisive. A service member walks past tanks of a mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces during military exercises outside Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Jan. 31, 2022. (Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy/Reuters) Before their meeting in Moscow, which was captured on video and in photos, Macron told Le Journal du Dimanche that its indispensable to de-escalate the situation before we build mechanisms and gestures of reciprocal trust. The French president confirmed that hell speak to Putin about the terms for de-escalation. But Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that its not likely that there will be a breakthrough in just one meeting. In recent days, there has been nothing new on the topic of security guarantees for Russia. Our Western interlocutors prefer not to mention this topic, Peskov said, according to Reuters. Previously, both the United States and NATO have ruled out defending Ukraine with military force, saying that they would instead respond to a potential Russian invasion with sanctions, arms shipments, and other deterrent measures. Last week, Biden ordered the deployment of about 3,000 troops in Poland and Romania as part of a NATO agreement. In 2014, Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula and began funding separatist rebel groups in the Donbas region. Moscow has demanded that Ukraine not join NATO, an idea the United States and its Western allies have rejected. A woman holds a smartphone with the Facebook logo in front of a Meta logo in this illustration picture taken on Oct. 28, 2021. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters) Meta Says It Might Have to Pull Facebook and Instagram in Europe Over Data Transfer Rules Meta, formerly known as Facebook, might have to entirely stop operating Instagram and Facebook in Europe, the company warned in its filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The EU has strict data protection requirements regarding the transfer of personal data from Europe to the United States and in 2016, the EU and United States agreed to a framework for data transferred between continents, called the Privacy Shield. But that Privacy Shield was invalidated in July 2020 by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). Europes new laws require users data to be kept and processed on General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)-compliant servers in Europe. In addition, Meta currently relies on Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) to transfer data, which the company says have been subjected to regulatory and judicial scrutiny. The company said (pdf) it received a preliminary draft decision from the Irish Data Protection Commission in August 2020 that Metas reliance on SCCs to transfer European data was not in compliance with the EUs GDPR. The Irish Data Protection Commission proposed that such transfers of user data from the EU to the United States should therefore be suspended. The tech giant warned that its processing of data across continents is crucial for its business, particularly for ad targeting, and that if it is not given the option to transfer, process, and receive data from its European users on U.S.-based servers, both Facebook and Instagram risk being shut down across Europe. We are also subject to evolving laws and regulations that dictate whether, how, and under what circumstances we can transfer, process and/or receive certain data that is critical to our operations, including data shared between countries or regions in which we operate and data shared among our products and services, the company said. If we are unable to transfer data between and among countries and regions in which we operate, or if we are restricted from sharing data among our products and services, it could affect our ability to provide our services, the manner in which we provide our services or our ability to target ads. The Instagram app logo is displayed on a mobile screen in Los Angeles on Nov. 29, 2018. (Damian Dovarganes/AP Photo) Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies at a Senate Judiciary and Commerce Committees Joint Hearing in Washington on April 10, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) Meta went on to clarify that it thinks it will be able to reach new agreements on new transatlantic data transfer frameworks in the first half of 2022. However, it warned that if a new transatlantic data transfer framework is not adopted and we are unable to continue to rely on SCCs or rely upon other alternative means of data transfers from Europe to the United States, we will likely be unable to offer a number of our most significant products and services, including Facebook and Instagram, in Europe. This, it said, could materially and adversely affect the companys business and finances and overall operations. The company also expressed concern about data privacy laws that are currently being weighed by several countries. In addition, some countries, such as India, are considering or have passed legislation implementing data protection requirements or requiring local storage and processing of data or similar requirements that could increase the cost and complexity of delivering our services, the company wrote. New legislation or regulatory decisions that restrict our ability to collect and use information about minors may also result in limitations on our advertising services or our ability to offer products and services to minors in certain jurisdictions. In a statement to London-based CityAM, Metas Vice President of Global Affairs, Nick Clegg, said that the new rules could have a negative impact on all business owners large and small, across multiple sectors. While policymakers are working towards a sustainable, long-term solution, we urge regulators to adopt a proportionate and pragmatic approach to minimize disruption to the many thousands of businesses who, like Facebook, have been relying on these mechanisms in good faith to transfer data in a safe and secure way, Clegg said. A spokesperson for Meta told The Epoch Times, We have absolutely no desire and no plans to withdraw from Europe, but the simple reality is that Meta, and many other businesses, organisations and services, rely on data transfers between the EU and the US in order to operate global services. Like other companies, we have followed European rules and rely on Standard Contractual Clauses, and appropriate data safeguards, to operate a global service. Fundamentally, businesses need clear, global rules to protect transatlantic data flows over the long term, and like more than 70 other companies across a wide range of industries, we are closely monitoring the potential impact on our European operations as these developments progress, the spokesperson added. It comes as Meta is struggling to retain users, registering the first sequential loss of customers in the companys 18-year history. The company dropped to 1.929 billion daily users from 1.93 billion users in the previous quarter, while user growth across the WhatsApp and Instagram platforms was also lackluster. As a result, its share price dropped by 20 percent, losing the company nearly $200 billion in market value, while the company lost $10 billion in revenue. Young student doing homework at home with school books, newspaper, and digital pad helped by his mother. Micro-Schools Grow in Popularity Amid Student Exodus From Public Schools The romantic image of a one-room schoolhouse nestled on the Midwestern prairie has in its modern equivalent todays micro-school, or pandemic pod. Born amid the COVID-19 pandemic, minimalist by design, their founders say these mini-schools may be small in size but theyre large in curriculum scope, offering individualized instruction in a safe, politics-free environment. A micro-school takes the best of different educational formats and brings them together, said Corey Owens, spokesperson for Prenda micro-schools in Arizona. In groups of 5 to 10 students led by a guide, learners engage with a personalized, adaptable curriculum, while getting healthy social interaction and opportunities to learn from one another. The first Prenda micro-school opened in Arizona in 2018 with seven students. Four years later, the organization operates micro-schools in hundreds of communities in a dozen states with more than 3,000 students, 300 guides, and nine school partners that include both charter schools and community groups. From our vantage point, the interest in micro-schools transcends politics and geographics, said Owens, who attributed the phenomenal growth in micro-schools to parents who are looking for an educational setting that lets their child develop a love of learning. Weve seen kids that have struggled with bullying, kids that were having trouble keeping up, and kids that excelled but were bored, but thrive in a micro-school environment, Owens told The Epoch Times. The COVID-19 pandemic has, of course, forced lots of families to consider what format works for them and their child in uncertain times, and many of them are turning to micro-schools. According to Prendas website, a micro-school is a new kind of entity that connects parents with guides who run micro-schools in communities. Prendas tuition-free micro-schools for pupils in K8 are small in size and offer both individualized and group learning in a safe and flexible environment. Some micro-schools are free, some are tuition-based, and some receive funding through various state tax credits and empowerment scholarships. Many parents are referred to the micro-school that best fits their childs needs through school hubs such as Love Your School, an Arizona-based nonprofit that launched three years ago. Students follow along remotely with their regular school teachers online live lesson separated by plastic barriers at STAR Eco Station Tutoring and Enrichment Center on Sept. 10, 2020, in Culver City, Calif. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images) Depending on what they choose, we walk them through that process, said spokeswoman Jenny Clark. All of a sudden we had all these families coming to us initially. I think that there are a variety of issues [driving the trend]a crazy storm of issues. Most importantly, parents want choices, variety, and a trusted education environment that suits kids needs, Clark told The Epoch Times. I think the more parents demand these different options, the more youll see public and private schools responding. Parents know whats best for their kids. I think parents are right: No one knows their child better than them. Adamo Education is another Arizona micro-school, which veteran educator Tamara Becker launched in January 2021 during the height of the pandemic, when micro-schools started spreading like wildfire. Parents are not satisfied with public education models, Becker told The Epoch Times. Theyre not happy with their kids in classrooms of 25 to 30 [students]. Theyre looking for an environment that is safer. Adamo Education meets the needs of its students through a combination of traditional, digital, and at-home learning opportunities with certified teachers in grades K8, she said. My program is different in that I only use certified teachers, Becker said. The power and the role of the teacher is so key, as is the goal of helping students fall in love with education. In learning pods, or micro-schools, small groups of families take turns teaching children, or pool resources to hire a teacher. (Andrii Medvednikov/Shutterstock) I really want kids to love learning and to foster that love of learning, she said. You can do so much more academically and socially. You know your parents and students much more intimately. While the exact number of micro-schools in the United States isnt currently known, theyre estimated to be in the hundreds. Like their public school counterparts, micro-schoolsalt-schools in some circlespride themselves on their individualized, project-based programs of instruction. Some micro-schools are home-based; others provide stand-alone facilities where learning takes place. Its so much more personalized and such a tighter-knit kind of learning environment. We need to disrupt the educational status quo, and micro-schools are going to be the tools to do that, Becker said. At Acton Academy in Laconia, New Hampshire, school administrator Mary MacIntosh launched the micro-school with four students in the fall of 2019 because there was nothing like it in the area. Now in its second year of operation, the micro-school has grown to 20 elementary school age pupils and recently opened a middle school program with seven students. I do think COVID was a factor for a lot of people to choose Acton Academy, MacIntosh told The Epoch Times. They didnt want their children to be remote, and it was safer than sending them to [regular] class. What parents like most about Acton Academy, she said, is the individualized hands-on instruction. Students not only learn about math concepts, they also study physics and gravity in project-based workshops, such as Newtons Toy House. Children can go as far as they need to go in a subject or as slow as they need to go, she said. MacIntosh said the problem with modern public education is that its a gigantic system that just cant keep up with the latest innovations in classroom teaching. Its just too hard the way its set up. Parents concerned about critical race theory took home these buttons from a school board activist training session on Jan. 19 in Sarasota, Florida. (Alexis Spiegelman) Controversial topics such as critical race theory arent taught at Acton Academy, she said. Which isnt to say micro-schools dont have their critics. In August 2020, the National Education Association, the nations largest teachers union, published a report titled The Proliferation of Pandemic Pods, Micro-Schools, and Home Education. The report concluded that alternative forms of education serve to widen the opportunity gap for minority students and worsen school segregation as well-resourced families will disproportionately benefit. Just like any private school, pandemic pods do not guarantee students or educators the same civil rights protections that are required in public schools. Furthermore, pandemic pods will likely not provide the necessary supports for students with disabilities as required under state and federal legislation, the NEA stated in its findings. The NEA also stated that in nonpublic school programs, students arent held accountable to state standards of learning, and educators arent required to be credentialed. Credentialed educators who teach in a pandemic pod have no guaranteed protections or benefits like those secured under contracts working for school districts, the NEA wrote. Private funders have invested approximately $1.7 billion in 2019 in education technology firms. They now see pandemic pods as the way of the future, pushing talking points that traditional public schools are outdated. The National Education Association (NEA) encourages innovative solutions that will allow students to have in-person instruction and important opportunities for socialization with peers; however, the NEA believes that such cohort-style learning arrangements should be organized, implemented, and monitored under the authority of state and district education agencies. Its the sense of parents being disenfranchised by the public education system, however, that has spurred growth in micro-schools, said Rep. Mark Finchem (R-Ariz.). I would say that parents are dissatisfied with public schools. Between material being presented, and the petite tyranny exhibited by leadership in public schools, it is clear that political science now rules over real science and medical science, Finchem told The Epoch Times. The image that Severina Roth sees through her camera lens is a picture of trust. An elegant horse and owner breathe side by side in a posture bespeaking complete ease, camaraderie, and affection. Roth, 44, of Limburg, Germany, has built a portfolio out of magnificent moments between beautiful horses and their owners. Born in Frankfurt, Roth is trained as a dental assistant, works in accounting for a local business, and takes photographs as a part-time job. She is the mother of two sons and she describes photography as her love and her passion. Roths love for photography goes back to her childhood, but she got her start in horse and human photos in 2015 when a friend asked her to photograph her with her horse. It was then that Roth was hooked. She knew she wanted to take photographs for the rest of her life. Horses are beautiful animals, so majestic and proud, she told The Epoch Times. Of all the horses she is familiar with, Roth is particularly fond of cold-blood horse breeds, generally known as work or draft horses with great strength and stable tempers. But of course, I also love the Frisians, Spaniards, and Iberian races with a lot of mane. Working with these exquisite, noble creatures and their owners has resulted in the number of stunning images that grace Roths portfolio, but working with animals also brings some challenges. Roth describes horses as flight animals. In spite of their noble size, they will try to flee if they are threatened or frightened. Trust is an important word, she says. In her career, Roth has had horses run during a shoot. She remembers a session when the horse was frightened in the forest, causing the owner to fall. The injuries were so severe that the owner was picked up by a rescue helicopter. Since then, Roth will never again photograph a horse completely free of a halter. While challenges like these have come up working with animals, Roths journey has led her to know many great horse-and-human teams whose strong bonds of trust have outshone the challenges. She has worked with pairs that she likens to dogs and their owners, where the relationship even enables them to do tricks together. Having seen in action the profound bonds of confidence between these magnificent horses and their owners, Roth tries to show those beautiful moments in her photographs. When asked what she wants to convey through her pictures, she said that she tries to unite and capture the beauty of man and horse. I show what I saw and felt during a shoot I show my eye, she added. Roths eye continues to change, too. After capturing so many great bonds between horses and humans, she is now focused on character-themed works with horse and human subjects, such as her recent series on Vikings. There will be a lot more to come, she said. Im very creative right now and always have new ideas. As her ideas flow, and more photographs are taken, there are a few stipulations to the process. The horses must be trained. Otherwise, a shoot will not be fun, Roth said. And, very rarely does Roth photograph horses apart from their companions. Eighty percent of the time you can see the owner with her own horse in my pictures, she said. While not as common, there are odd times when she uses human models. In those cases, trust remains just as vital an element. Roth may use what she calls steady horses who she knows will be at ease with a stranger. Even a horse has feelings and doesnt want to be touched by everyone, she said. While Photoshop and Lightroom help Roth to get the best out of her photos after she captures her magnificent moments, it is her keen eye that searches them out. And when her work is done, the beauty and connection of her subjects are conveyed in clear focus, a gift from Roths eye to our own. Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Bright newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter Australia's Sydney Opera House hosts over 1,500 performances a year attended by over 1.2 million people. Seven million tourists visit the site each year. National Cabinet to Meet on Overseas Tourist Return Australias international border could soon reopen to tourists, with the federal cabinet set to consider a date for foreign travellers to return to the country. The federal cabinets national security committee will meet later on Monday when the reopening time frame for international tourists will be discussed. Prime Minister Scott Morrison indicated on Sunday he hoped the reopening date would be soon, given the success of partial openings of the international border to students, skilled workers and backpackers. Since the international border reopened late last year, only Australian citizens, permanent residents and their families, along with skilled migrants and students have been able to enter, provided they were fully vaccinated. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said tourists would be the next step in the reopening timeline. We will consider that today, health professionals have been looking at the border restrictions, with respect to tourists in the context of a rising vaccination rate and the rolling out of our booster program, he told the Nine Network on Monday. Now our vaccination rate is higher, we have been changing our border policies. Calls to reopen the borders to tourists comes as Omicron cases across the country appear to have plateaued, despite still high numbers of deaths. Former deputy chief medical officer Dr. Nick Coatsworth said the timing was right for the border reopening to expand to tourists. Its a really important sign for Australians that things are back on the path to normality, he told the Nine Network. The fact that were going to have people coming into the country, students and tourists who have been vaccinated, thats a safe policy and the right time to do it. Coatsworth said the high vaccination rates across the country meant it was safe to let tourists back into Australia. I dont think we can restrict this too much, to be honest, we can safely open borders to people who have had the primary course, he said. The news of a potential imminent reopening for travellers has been met with welcome by the tourism sector, which has been hit hard by the pandemic and border closures. Chief executive of the Tourism and Transport Forum Margy Osmond said she would like to see the reopening date as soon as possible. This will be driven by what government is comfortable with, but we do need a date so weve got a little bit of notice to start gearing things up, she told ABC TV. Wed like a couple of weeks at least, and the most important thing here is to understand that this is a staged process. Meanwhile, Frydenberg has announced the government will provide tax breaks for businesses and individuals who need to use rapid antigen tests for work purposes. He told an Australian Industry Group function COVID-19 testing expenses would be tax deductible for testing taken to attend a place of work. We will also ensure that fringe benefits tax will not be incurred by employers where COVID-19 tests are provided to employees for this purpose, he added. New Jersey, Delaware, Connecticut to Lift School Mask Mandates School mask mandates will be lifted next month in New Jersey and Delaware, and will be lifted by the end of the month in Connecticut, the governors of the respective states announced on Feb. 7. The New Jersey mandate will be lifted on March 7, Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, wrote on Twitter. Balancing public health with getting back to some semblance of normalcy is not easy. But we can responsibly take this step due to declining COVID numbers and growth in vaccinations. Like many states, New Jersey saw an explosion in COVID-19 cases in late 2021, but the numbers have since dropped precipitously, from a peak of 33,459 on Jan. 7 to just 1,625 on Feb. 6. Hospitalizations attributed to COVID-19 have also gone down recently in the majority of states. The number of people vaccinated, meanwhile, has continued to grow. The vaccines offer reduced protection against the Omicron variant of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes COVID-19, but boosters reportedly restore much of the protection for a period of time. Murphy imposed the school mask mandate in August 2021. Anyone telling you that we can safely reopen our schools without requiring everyone inside to wear a mask is quite simply lying to you, Murphy said at the time. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy speaks in Asbury Park, N.J. on Nov. 2, 2021. (Mark Makela/Getty Images) Meanwhile, Delaware Gov. John Carney, also a Democrat, announced on Feb. 7 that the states indoor mask mandate would be lifted on Feb. 11, but the school mask mandate would stay in place until March 31. The school mask mandate extension gives parents time to get their school-age children vaccinated and Delaware officials time to work with schools on how to prepare for when it ends, Carneys office said in a statement. Were in a much better place than we were several weeks ago in the middle of the Omicron surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, Carney stated. Though COVID-19 continues to circulate and still poses a risk of serious illness we have the tools to keep ourselves and each other safe, he said, encouraging people to get vaccinated and, if they already have, to get a booster dose. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced that by Feb. 28, state mask mandates will be lifted for schools and childcare centers. By then, the decision whether to require masks will be made at the local level. Connecticut is seeing a dramatic decline in cases caused by the Omicron variant, and children over the age of 5 have had the ability to get vaccinated for more than three months now, Lamont said. With this in mind, I think we are in a good position to phase out the requirement that masks be worn in all schools statewide and shift the determination on whether to require this to the local level. School children wearing masks walk outside Condit Elementary School in Bellaire, outside Houston, Texas, on Dec. 16, 2020. (Francois Picard/AFP via Getty Images) Other governors have lifted mandates in recent weeks. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, reversed vaccine and mask mandates his predecessor put into place, though the order that lifted Virginias school mask mandate was blocked by a judge for now. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, withdrew the states school mask mandate in January. The governors of New York and Connecticut have also signaled their school masking orders could be rescinded soon. Scott Gottlieb, a former Food and Drug Administration commissioner, said on CBS Face the Nation over the weekend that he expects governors will start to lift mask mandates in schools where transmission levels of the virus are low. When prevalence is low, you have a lot of people whove been infected, who have some level of immunity for a period of time, and you have high vaccination rates, we can start to lean forward and take a little bit more risk and try to, at least, make sure that students in schools have some semblance of normalcy for this spring term, said Gottlieb, a Pfizer board member. In Washington on Feb. 7, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the federal guidance hasnt changed. That guidance, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), says all people in schools should wear masks. Our advice to every school district is to abide by public health guidelines. It continues to be at this point that the CDC is advising that masks can delay, reduce transmission, she said. A man wearing a mask walks along the foreshore in Perth, Australia on Jun. 29, 2021. (Photo by TREVOR COLLENS/AFP via Getty Images) New Measures as Western Australia Enters High COVID Caseload The Western Australia (WA) government has entered its next phase of the pandemic and unlocked new measures that had been drawn up in preparation for when the state reached a high COVID-19 caseload environment. Cases in WA have continued to climb, with the government pulling the trigger on Feb. 7 as the state records 265 active cases. Western Australia is about to embark on its most challenging phase of the pandemic, WA Premier Mark McGowan said. From Feb. 8, anybody deemed a close contact will be required to self-isolate for at least seven days, even if the person is asymptomatic. The definition for close contact will also be changed and will be defined as: A household member of a person with COVID-19 who has had contact with them during their infectious period Someone who had close personal interaction with a COVID-positive person during their infectious period, such as: Had at least 15 minutes of face-to-face contact where a mask was not worn by either party Greater than two hours in a small room where masks had been removed Someone who is told by the WA Department of Health that they are a close contact These measures will apply to schools, meaning entire classrooms will be sent home if one student in the classroom tests positiveregardless of whether the other students are asymptomaticexacerbating fears of a disrupted education for students in 2022. Those with symptoms are required to get a PCR test if available, or a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) otherwise. Reporting of positive RAT results is now mandatory. Quarantine for approved international and interstate travellers will also be reduced to seven days, with the weekly international arrivals cap into the state doubled to 530. Vaccinated direct international travellers are permitted to self-quarantine at a suitable premise for 7 days, or 14 days in a hotel if the traveller is unvaccinated. McGowan warned the states residents of the onset of new disruptions and took the opportunity to encourage the states booster shot roll out. For two years WA has avoided the worst of the pandemic, but as Omicron begins to spread in our community, it will cause problems and disrupt our unique way of life, McGowan said. WA Premier Mark McGowan speaks to media at Dumas House in Perth, Australia on Apr. 23, 2021. (Matt Jelonek/Getty Images) Its so important we continue to drive up third dose vaccinations, to help prevent the loss of life and try to minimise the disruption Omicron will cause in our community and economy. Unfortunately, these new protocols are not a sign of the pandemic ending they signify the real impact of Omicron beginning in Western Australia, he said. Like always, together Western Australians will get through thisby following the health advice and benefiting from high levels of vaccination. It comes after efforts from the WA government to shield West Australians from Omicron, which includes keeping interstate borders sealed, with last month seeing an explosion in cases over at Australias east coast. The state has reached a 44 percent vaccination rate in its 16-and-over population, with McGowan earlier suggesting the state would need to reach 80 to 90 percent before borders reopened. However, while cases in WA have only started to rise, cases in all other states have passed their peak and are on a steady decline. The country has also begun making preparations to open international borders to the fully vaccinated at the end of February. General view of the Sudima Hotel which is currently being used to isolate returning New Zealanders in Rotorua, New Zealand, on Aug.12, 2020. (Michael Bradley/Getty Images) New Zealanders 60-hour Hunger Strike Wins Him Release From COVID-19 Quarantine New Zealand ex-pat Kurt Lehndorf, who resides in Australia, has won release from quarantine after enduring a 60-hour hunger strike to see his dying father. The saga with Lehndorf began five days ago when he arrived in New Zealand from Brisbane, Australia, where he was then placed under managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ). The man hoped to see his dying father, who has terminal acute myeloid leukaemia and was located 30 kilometres north of the MIQ facility at the Sudima Auckland Airport hotel. Lehndorf had applied to quarantine at his fathers property so he could be with him during his final moments. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, which manages the MIQ system, revealed to Stuff media that Lehndorf was granted a temporary visit to see his father before being required to return to MIQ. However, Lehndorf claimed he never received the confirmation and that the Ministry was still processing his application despite extensive paperwork already being handed over, according to Newshub. He decided to roll the dice and go on hunger strike on Feb. 4 after hearing that his fathers condition had worsened to compel authorities to act faster. By 8 a.m. on Feb. 6, Lehndorf had reached the 61-hour mark of his strike and admitted he was feeling dizzy with headache, nausea, and could not get out of bed. By 11.20 a.m. on Feb. 7, authorities relented, and Lehndorf signed an agreement that allowed him to return home and self-isolate with his father and family. Stuff media has reportedly seen the compliance agreement for early release from managed isolation that Lehndorf signed. We won, he said, admitting that without media coverage and pressure, he would not have been released. Lehndorf concedes that the exact time of his release is still to be decided, he told Stuff. At least I get to see [my father], he said. In a statement to The Epoch Times, the MIQ said, This morning Mr. Lehndorfs exemption from managed isolation application was approved, and he is now able to self-isolate in the communitywe are pleased this means he will be able to spend time with his father at this difficult time. The MIQ noted that Lehndorf returned a negative COVID-19 test, which clears the way for his return home. Lehndorf last saw his father in July 2021 but could not return due to the outbreak of Delta and subsequent government moves to shut the border. Lehndorf is double vaccinated, has returned negative test results prior to his flight and upon arrival, and has had COVID-19 previously. New Zealand has maintained some of the toughest international border restrictions over the past two years, which forced national carrier Air New Zealand to recently suspend flights to-and-from Australia over the December period. In early February, the New Zealand government unveiled a phased reopening plan of its international borders for vaccinated travellers. Indian government forces frisk pedestrians along a road in Srinagar on Jan. 25, 2022, after suspected militants threw a hand grenade towards government forces. (Tauseef Mustafa/AFP via Getty Images) News Editor in Kashmir Arrested for Allegedly Glorifying Terrorism A prominent news editor in Indian-administered Kashmir was arrested on Friday for allegedly glorifying terrorism and instigating people, police said. Fahad Shah, the founding editor of The Kashmir Walla, was detained from the southern Kashmiri city of Pulwama on Friday night after being summoned for questioning. Shah has been placed in 10-day police custody, the privately-owned news site said in a statement, adding that the editor had been bed-ridden and was on medication for severe cough and fever since Jan. 31. The team stands in solidarity with Shah and his family at this time of distress and remains committed to providing reliable and on-ground reporting from Kashmir and appeals to Manoj Sinha-led Jammu and Kashmir for the immediate release of Shah and Gul, it said. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Shah had been called in for questioning on Feb. 1 over the sites coverage of a gunfight between militants and government forces in late January. Four suspected rebels were killed in a gunfight in Pulwama on Jan. 30, including 17-year-old Inayat Ahmad Mir, whom the police described as a hybrid militant. The Kashmir Walla interviewed Inayats family, who claimed that he was an innocent teenager and pleaded with the authorities to return his body. The police in a statement carried out by local media said Shah was among some Facebook users who have been uploading anti-national content with criminal intention to create fear among the public. It claimed that the uploaded content was tantamount to glorifying the terrorist activities and causing dent to the image of law enforcing agencies besides causing ill-will [and] disaffection against the country. Police chief Vijay Kumar was quoted by The Kashmir Walla saying: Accused Fahad Shah has been arrested on the basis one of the three [first information reports] lodged against him for frequently glorifying terrorism, spreading fake news, [and] instigating people, for the past 3-4 years. Another journalist who worked for The Kashmir Walla, Sajad Gul, was detained last month under the Public Safety Act and still remains in jail. Steven Butler, CPJs Asia program coordinator, has also called for the immediate release of Shah and called the arrest utter disregard for press freedom and the fundamental right of journalists to report freely and safely. Authorities must immediately release Shah, and all other journalists behind bars, and cease detaining and harassing journalists for simply doing their jobs, Butler said in a statement. CPJ claimed that it had contacted Kashmir Police Director-General Dilbag Singh and Pulwama Police Senior Superintendent Ghulam Geelani several times regarding the arrest but had received no responses. North Dakota Rep. Becker Launches Primary Challenge Against Sen. Hoeven Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) will face a primary challenge in the upcoming election after running unopposed in 2016. North Dakota Rep. Rick Becker, 57, said in the video announcing his bid for Hoevens senate seat that hes a conservative Republican who has helped approve laws protecting unborn babies, lowering taxes, and reforming the criminal justice system. Without mentioning his opponent, Becker said hes an outspoken critic of do-nothing politicians in the legislature and the Republican Party, especially over the runaway spending during the last decade both in North Dakota and in Washington. The nation needs principled conservatives who will do whats right regardless of whether its politically safe in Washington, he said. Hoevens campaign didnt respond to a request for comment and hasnt reacted to the challenge. North Dakota Rep. Rick Becker in an undated photograph. (North Dakota State Government) Becker, a plastic surgeon, announced in January that he was retiring from the state legislature. He was known, in part, for founding the Bastiat Caucus, which is made up of members who push for policies that limit government powers and ensure constitutional principles. Becker was a gubernatorial candidate in 2016, but lost to current North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum. Hoeven, 64, easily won reelection in 2016, capturing more than 78 percent of the votes in the general election after running unopposed in the Republican primary. Hoeven won all but 130 votes in the 2010 Republican primary and easily won the general election. He took a seat held for nearly two decades by former Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.). Hoeven previously served as the governor of North Dakota. Becker joins a slew of candidates challenging Republican incumbents who critics say arent properly representing constituents. Alaska candidate Kelly Tshibaka is taking on Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who has long been unafraid to cross the aisle and vote with Democrats on a range of issues. Over the weekend, Murkowski was endorsed by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.). Sens. John Boozman (R-Ark.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) are among the other Republicans being challenged from the right, while other Republican senators up for reelection are facing Democratic candidates hoping to flip seats. Overall, Republicans are defending 20 seats, while Democrats are defending 14. The Senate is currently divided 5050 between Republicans and Democrats or nominal independents. Democrats control the chamber because Vice President Kamala Harris, who also serves as president of the Senate, can cast tiebreaking votes. The North Korea flag flutters next to concertina wire at the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on March 9, 2017. (Edgar Su/Reuters) North Korean Authorities Arrest Dance Tutor, Students for Practicing Capitalist Dance Moves: Report North Korean authorities have reportedly arrested a dance tutor and several of her students for using foreign media to practice a capitalist dance routine, news outlet Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported on Friday, citing sources in the teachers neighborhood. A resident of the northwestern city of Pyongsong said on Jan. 31 that a dance instructor, who appears to be in her 30s, was caught teaching foreign-style disco dances to teenage students in Yangji-dong of Pyongsong City. In North Korea, anyone caught with large amounts of media from South Korea or the United States could face a life sentence or even a death penalty under the Elimination of Reactionary Thought and Culture Act enacted in December 2020. While enforcement of the law is often lenient around Seollal, which refers to the Korean Lunar New Year, the Anti-Socialism Inspection Group has been particularly active in operating clampdowns this year, according to a source. The Anti-Socialism Inspection Group, a joint operation of the State Security Department and the police, has been intensively cracking down on people for watching South Korean movies and distributing foreign media, the resident told RFA. The source, who was speaking on the condition of anonymity, claimed that officers from the Anti-Socialism Inspection Group monitored the dance tutors residence in plain clothes for two days before conducting a raid. At the scene of the crackdown on the dance instructor that day, a USB flash drive containing foreign songs and dance videos had been plugged in, next to the flatscreen TV, the source said, adding that the flash drive was also seized during the raid. The dance instructor is believed to have been working at Okchon high school in Pyongsong with a monthly salary of 3,000 won ($2.50), before deciding to open a private dance academy in her house for middle and high school students. According to another source, the dance tutor charges around $10 per hour for a twice-weekly dance class. Most of her students come from wealthy families, which are often spared harsh punishment for minor transgressions. However, since the Central Committee has ordered that those who violate the Elimination of Reactionary Thought and Culture Act be severely punished regardless of their rank or class, the foreign dance instructor and students caught this time will not be spared from hard labor, the source said. Their parents are also likely to be punished by being forced to leave the party. Meanwhile, a South Korean-based human rights group reported last year that at least seven people had been put to death for watching or distributing K-pop videos, or Korean popular music, since leader Kim Jong-un took power in 2011. Reuters contributed to this report. Unvaccinated elementary school teacher, Nadia Lyakhnovich, in front of one of New York Citys Department of Education buildings. (Dave Paone/The Epoch Times) NYC DOE Notifies Unvaccinated Teachers of New Termination Date NEW YORKAfter two months of inaction, the New York City Department of Education (DOE) is making good on its threat to terminate unvaccinated teachers. In a Jan. 31 email, the department set a new termination date of Feb. 11. In fall 2021, the DOE offered unvaccinated teachers two packages. The first package gave them the option to quit, be paid for all remaining sick days, and have health insurance for a year, but would have prevented them from suing the DOE. The second package offered teachers unpaid leave and health insurance for a year, but still would have prevented them from suing the DOE. Thousands of teachers opted to not accept either offer and were put on unpaid leave in October 2021. They were told that if they didnt comply, they would be fired on Dec. 1, 2021. Nadia Lyakhnovich, a special education teacher in East Harlem, is one of the teachers to be fired. I knew this was coming, she told The Epoch Times. I didnt see them going back and giving us our jobs back. Rachel Maniscalco, a dual English and special education teacher in Staten Island at both the middle school and high school levels, is a participant in three lawsuits. One is a class-action suit against the New York City Department of Health, the New York Mayors Office, and the DOE. Maniscalco is officially named as the plaintiff, representing unvaccinated teachers. The grounds of the lawsuit is that the mandate is unconstitutional. The second lawsuit is similar, but represents tenured teachers. Theyre arguing that since not getting a COVID-19 vaccine doesnt violate their contract, they should be put on paid leave. Nicole Broecker is named as the plaintiff and the United Federation of Teachers has been added to the list of defendants. The third lawsuit was filed by Maniscalco as a single plaintiff with several of the same defendants. However, in this one, shes not citing a violation of the U.S. Constitution, but of labor laws. In an email obtained by The Epoch Times, the New York City Department of Education sends a notice of termination to unvaccinated employees on Jan. 31, 2022. I did not get this letter, Maniscalco told The Epoch Times regarding the termination email. She speculated that it has something to do with the third lawsuit. They hate me. They want me gone. But I think Ive made such a ruckus, that they cant really do to me what theyve done to other people, Maniscalco said. In addition to DOE employees, she said every municipal worker of the City of New York who didnt comply will be fired, including personnel from the New York Police Department, the Fire Department of New York, and the Department of Sanitation. Thousands of people will be outright terminated, Maniscalco said. Honestly, deep down Ive known since this mandate came down, Lyakhnovich said. I just had a feeling that my career as a teacher in New York City was over. Lyakhnovich has already gotten certified in another state, so shell possibly move out of New York in 2023, most likely to the state in which she obtained certification or another red state. And not a blue city in a red state, she said. I dont want to be in that location, either. Alex Kuszewskiz at the Shen Yun performance at The State Theatre at Playhouse Square, in Cleveland, Ohio on the Feb. 5, 2022. (NTD) CLEVELAND, OhioIts such a thrill to be able to experience the true China in Cleveland, said Alex Kuszewski, a lawyer, who had just seen Shen Yun perform on Saturday afternoon. What a performance! he said. Very strong; very faith-filled. And I think its very interesting that with the Olympics going on in Beijing that the people that we are seeing in the sporting events would not be able to witness such a powerful performance by the very powerful actors in Cleveland today. Shen Yun is a classical Chinese dance and music company originating from upstate New York which is known best for its colorful and elegant portrayal of ancient China. Shen Yun has toured the world annually since 2006, wowing audiences with colorful costuming, creative storytelling, and inspiring tales rooted in faith in the divine. It is for this latter reason that Shen Yun, despite showing the glory of Chinese heritage, cannot be performed in todays communist-controlled China. What Kuszewski saw on stage was the full history of the wealth, beauty, and freedom of where people want to be able to express themselvesand the drive for connecting with your creator. He added that the performance left him with a great elevation of feeling. Truth, Beauty, and Spirituality Traditionally, Chinese people saw themselves as descendants of the divine, and inheritors of a semi-divine culture. They credit their food, celebrations, and medicinal traditions to knowledge bestowed by gods, making every aspect of daily life connected in some way to a higher power. Shen Yuns stories illustrate this little-known, or long-forgotten, characteristic of Chinese culture. It was this that delighted Donna Rae Smith, founder of Bright Side, a behavioral strategy consulting company. Donna Rae Smith at the Shen Yun performance at The State Theatre at Playhouse Square, in Cleveland, Ohio on Feb. 5, 2022. (NTD) I loved it! I loved it! I especially appreciated the spiritual essence of the dance performances, she said. I loved the fact that God our Creator was really center stage in the performance and so for that reason, I found it quite breath-taking. Whats really fascinating is that people dont understand how oppressed of a nation China is. Donna Rae Smith spent time in China and Tibet a number of years ago. Whats really fascinating is that people dont understand how oppressed of a nation China is, she said. When I worked in China, there would be members of the Communist Party who would sit in on the meetingsand they werent participants; they were observers, and I thought that was most telling. Smith has a friend in the United States who escaped from persecution in China, like many of the performers in Shen Yun. Smith said their faith and goodness show in their work. Sitting fairly close to the stage, she said she was able to witness a wholeness that I have rarely experienced. There was total trust and unity among the dancers and their movement which means that that honesty was transcending an individual and it was among all of the dancers. Asked if she could describe the show in one word, Smith said, truth. If someone wants to experience truth, and beauty and spirituality, and be totally engaged by it transformed by it, mesmerized by it, inspired by it, come to this performance! Reporting by Michael Huang 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. Ottawa Mayor Asks Feds to Appoint Mediator to Broker With Truck Convoy Protesters Ottawas mayor is calling on the federal government to appoint a mediator to help end the truckers convoy protest taking place in the city against federal COVID-19 mandates and restrictions. Mayor Jim Watson told CTV News that he has suggested to federal ministers that they appoint a mediator who could be an honest broker on both sides to try to find some common ground. Someone of great stature in our community and the country who can actually open doors and bring some peace and calm to the situation, Watson said. Thats one option that I think the federal government should pursue because right now were at a complete standoff. Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson speaks during an announcement at a public transit garage in Ottawa, on March 4, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has maintained he wont be meeting with the protesters. Convoy organizers say they want to talk with the government, but no representatives from any level of government have contacted them. The first thing theyve got to do is call us were sitting here, were waiting by the phone, protest organizer Benjamin Dichter said in a press conference in Ottawa on Feb. 6. The trucker convoy encamped in Ottawa began as a protest against the federal governments COVID-19 vaccination mandate for all truck drivers crossing the Canada-U.S. border. It soon expanded to a national movement, attracting supporters across Canada who want to see an end to COVID-19 mandates and restrictions. It has also sparked similar protests around the world. The convoy rolled into Ottawa on Jan. 29, and organizers say they will stay in the nations capital until the government lifts its COVID-19 mandates. On Feb. 6, Ottawas mayor declared a state of emergency, saying that the move reflects the serious danger and threat to the safety and security of residents posed by the ongoing demonstrations. It also provides greater flexibility within the municipal administration to enable the City of Ottawa to manage business continuity for essential services for its residents and enables a more flexible procurement process, which could help purchase equipment required by frontline workers and first responders, Watson said in a statement. Watson has called a special meeting with the city council today to discuss the impact of the trucker convoy demonstration on the local residents and businesses. Ottawa Police Seize Fuel From Freedom Convoy Protest Site, Make More Arrests Police in Canadas capital have begun to seize fuel and say they have made multiple arrests after issuing a statement saying that those trying to bring supplies to support the thousands of protesters opposed to COVID-19 mandates and restrictions gathered in the city would be arrested. IMPORTANT: Anyone attempting to bring material supports (gas, etc.) to the demonstrators could be subject to arrest. Enforcement is underway, Ottawa police said in a statement on social media on Feb. 6 in the early afternoon. In a statement issued at 9 p.m. local time, police said they have arrested seven people. The arrests were for mischief charges throughout the day. Police also said they had seized multiple vehicles and fuel containers. Protesters who spoke to The Epoch Times said police didnt arrest them on Feb. 6 for carrying fuel, but gave them a warning that they would be facing arrest for bringing in fuel to the protest site starting on Feb. 7. Earlier on Feb. 6, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson declared a state of emergency, which he said, highlights the need for support from other jurisdictions and levels of government. Protest organizers say their demonstration is peaceful. Protesters gather in Parliament Hill in Ottawa to demonstrate against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions on Feb. 5, 2022. (Jonathan Ren/The Epoch Times) The protest started as a demonstration by truckers against the federal governments requirement for cross-border truck drivers to be vaccinated, but has since evolved into a large movement joined by people from across Canada to oppose different COVID-19 mandates and restrictions. Vehicle convoys came to Ottawa on Jan. 29, and many have stayed in the city, with trucks and other vehicles parked by Parliament Hill. Many protesters say they will remain until the mandates are lifted. The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF), a legal group representing the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa, said police would be breaking the law if police attempt to intimidate or arrest people who bring food or other supplies to truckers who are peacefully exercising their Charter rights and freedoms in Ottawa. People who bring food, water, gasoline or other supplies to peacefully protesting truckers are not breaking any law. There is no basis for this police threat, JCCF lawyer Nicholas Wansbutter said in a statement. Related Coverage Ottawa Mayor Declares State of Emergency Due to Convoy Protest In a free and democratic society that is governed by the rule of law, citizens can freely associate with each other, including the giving and receiving of goods and gifts. There is no law that would allow the Ottawa Police to arrest people for giving fuel or food to another Canadian. Protest organizers say they are willing to talk with the government, but so far no government representatives have contacted them. The first thing theyve got to do is call us. Were sitting here, were waiting by the phone, protest organizer Benjamin Dichter said in a press conference in Ottawa on Feb. 6. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said he wont be meeting with the protesters. Limin Zhou contributed to this report Poilievre Is Articulate and Fearless, but What Does He Stand For? Commentary Pierre Poilievre entered the federal Conservative leadership race before it even started, and while the press are salivating over the horse race, the other nags are smelling the glue factory. But since theres more to politics than just winning, lets take a quick look at whether he should win, and why and how. If Poilievre is not familiar to you, you dont follow Canadian politics. An upset victory brought him into Parliament at age 24 and hes been there ever since, which is bad. But hes been articulate and fearless, which is good. Also abrasive, partisan, and snide, which is good and bad. And he has matured, which is good. Notice I havent yet mentioned ideas. And since Ideas have consequences, in Richard Weavers classic understated formulation, lets see what Poilievres are. OK, first lets sweep into the dustbin of history all the commentators not friendly to conservatism who are predictably offering bad advice on ideas. Specifically, the pundits and consultants telling the Tories, yet again, to dump all that toxic right-wing nonsense then offer a real conservative alternative. Some mean choose Erin OTwo as your leader. Others, slightly more substantively, want an essentially libertarian party, left on social issues, hollow on defence, but pro free markets. But most, when pushed, turn out to be 1980s-vintage neoconservatives committed to pursuing liberal goals through conservative means, for instance a carbon tax. Been there, done that, got nothing. Such Third Way talk of markets and limited government has shown itself to be vapid at best, because proposing to get rid of any public program has them reaching for the smelling salts almost as fast as a truck horn does. And I notice most had little use for Maxime Bernier even before his staunch libertarianism went populist purple. Its odd, especially given endless talk of diversity and tolerance, that with four major federal social democratic parties reputable folks are terrified lest we get one that isnt. You might suppose there are differences between, say, the Bloc and Liberals. But ask either even to express pride in Canadas heritage, warts and all, and you get remarkably similar refusals. And while it is not obvious why the Green Party would favour higher minimum wages or abortion on demand, they do. Yet the world will end if the Tories dont? Since my topic is Poilievre, I should probably say something about whether he actually would differ from the consensus in any major area. But I dont know. I was slightly disheartened, if not surprised, that he kicked off by making it personal, tweeting: Im running for Prime Minister to give you back control of your life. Sign up now to help me replace Trudeau & restore freedom. I yield to no one in wishing the current prime minister a long and happy retirement starting ASAP. But Trudeau, like most politicians, is far more symptom than cause. So lets talk about giving back control of our lives. What does Poilievre mean? Does he envision a significantly smaller role for the feds in our lives? I presume he means no more COVID mandates, to the limited extent that they are federal. An obvious crowd-pleaser, for his crowd. But ephemeral. Is he consistent on the limits of peaceful protest regardless of cause? We need someone who can lower the temperature, and a devotion to truth over tribe would be very helpful there. On the substance of freedom, what else that Ottawa is currently doing would he simply eliminate? Not revamp. Ditch. If the answer is nothing, his conservatism is just more liberalism behind a fierce blue mask. So would he repeal the Canada Health Act? Torque equalization down to a minor annoyance? Restrain the bureaucratic spider currently weaving tens of thousands of pages of petty, vexing regulations every year? Get rid of ministries of social engineering, and the cause they rode in on? Balance the budget by cutting spending? What about climate change? He can growl about carbon taxes with the best of them. But so could Erin OFutile. Will he challenge the science behind climate panic? Or once again attempt to rally opposition round the white flag? As for those disgusting social issues, would he at least allow caucus free votes on abortion? Freedom for MPs as a stepping-stone to freedom for citizens? If Poilievre believes in challenging orthodoxy in public debate, hed be an excellent choice because he wont be intimidated or trip over his tongue when unscripted. And despite his rough edges, he could be a force for calm if hes firm on substance as well as in presentation, because few things are more infuriating than the smooth, smug hypocrisy weve been enduring lately. But we need to know what he stands for, as well as how. Time to get it from, well, the horses mouth. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. This collage of pictures shows the suspect who has been accused of trying to rob a Florida Credit Union bank on Woodland Blvd in DeLand, Florida, on Feb. 2, 2022. (Courtesy of DeLand Police Department) Police Search for Suspect Who Tried to Rob Florida Bank Wearing Sonic the Hedgehog Mask Authorities in Florida are searching for a suspect accused of trying to rob a bank last week while being equipped with a hammer and wearing a Sonic the Hedgehog mask. DeLand Police Department said in a statement on Facebook that officers were dispatched to Florida Credit Union at about 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 2 in reference to an armed robbery in progress. When officers arrived on-scene, contact was made with witnesses who stated that a subject (believed to be a male by their tone of voice) wearing a sonic the hedgehog mask entered the bank displaying a hammer and demanding money from the teller, the police department said. While demanding cash from the teller, the suspect then struck the tellers window with the hammer as he continued with his demands, it added. After being confronted by a bank employee, the suspect fled the location on foot. Investigators said the suspect was last seen wearing a black hoodie and pants. He also carried a black or gray backpack or duffle bag. No arrest has been made yet and police said the investigation remains ongoing. The vice president of Florida Credit Union said nobody was injured while the attempted robbery was in progress and the suspect also failed to take any money, adding that there was no damage to the building or windows. Everybody is safe, nothing was taken, and local police are on it, Brian Leatherman told the West Volusia Beacon. Authorities are urging anyone with information leading to the identification or arrest of the suspect to contact the DeLand Police Department at 386-626-7429. From NTD News Police tape is seen in this stock photo. (Carl Ballou/Shutterstock) Police: Shooter at Apartment Complex Kills 2, Then Himself BROWN DEER, Wis.A man fatally shot two people at an apartment complex in a Milwaukee suburb and later died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said. Three people, including the suspect, were killed and one other person was injured in Saturday mornings shooting, which authorities believe began as a domestic dispute, Brown Deer Police Chief Peter Nimmer said. He said the 26-year-old suspect shot himself and was taken to a hospital, where he died. Nimmer said a 31-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman were also killed. A 36-year-old man was shot in the leg. A child in the apartment was not hurt, he said. Nimmer said he did not know the relationships of all involved. Police were called to the Park Plaza Court apartments shortly after 10 a.m. The suspect fired shots at officers from the second floor but no officers were hurt, although a police car was hit. Nimmer said no officers returned fire and officers afterward heard only one more round firedlikely the self-inflicted gunshot. Local news outlets reported earlier that police vehicles, ambulances, and fire department vehicles had gathered outside the apartment complex and that a Milwaukee County medical examiner had been called to the scene. The Porsche logo is seen on a wheel of the 2020 Porsche 911 Speedster as it is revealed at the 2019 New York International Auto Show in New York City, N.Y., on April 17, 2019. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters) Porsche Expects Another Record Year for Sales Despite Chip Shortage: Automobilwoche BERLINLuxury carmaker Porsche AG expects another record year for sales despite the global semiconductor chip shortage, its sales chief was quoted as saying by industry magazine Automobilwoche. When I look at the current orders, Im confident for 2022. Growth in sales could reach a similarly high level this year as in 2021, Detlev von Platen said in an interview with the magazine. Sales at Porsche, part of Volkswagen, rose 11 percent last year to 301,915 which would mean they could reach more than 335,000 this year if growth maintains the same pace. Van Platen said Porsche wanted to hire 400 more workers. The carmaker has a workforce of nearly 40,000. The high demand was leading to longer delivery times, he said. Wait times can last several months, in some cases up to a year, von Platen said. Carmakers around the world have been hit by a shortage of semiconductors caused by COVID-19 supply-chain disruptions as well as soaring semiconductor demand at consumer electronic companies. A woman closes her eyes after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine at Sydney Road Family Medical Practice in Balgowlah, in Sydney, Australia, on Jan. 10, 2022. (Jenny Evans/Getty Images) Repeated COVID-19 Booster Shots Is Not a Viable Strategy: Doherty Director Leading infectious disease expert and Director of the Doherty Institute, Sharon Lewin, has said a system of chasing variants and giving people repeated COVID-19 booster shots was not a viable strategy. We wont be able to manufacture that amount, and youll never be able to keep up with the variance, Lewin told the Australian Financial Review. An Omicron variant vaccine may not be better than a Wuhan vaccine, even against Omicron. She said a type of vaccine called pan-sarbecovirus was a more sustainable strategy compared to repeated mRNA vaccines. We just dont know enough about how durable the immunities are, Lewin said. She also believes the clinical definition for COVID-19 illness will soon be switched, which will likely change health procedures to focus isolation on vulnerable groups only. That would mean a much simpler messaging to the public to stay at home if sick, Lewin said. The comments from Lewin come after the institute provided the primary research and modelling for Australias plan to reopen the country during the current pandemic. The comments come after a growing number of European countries, and the UK announced the end of most, if not all, COVID-19 restrictions. The World Health Organisation (WHO) similarly said on Jan. 11: A vaccination strategy based on repeated booster doses of the original vaccine composition is unlikely to be appropriate or sustainable. It further added that going forward, current vaccines designed for the original Wuhan variant may need to be updated to continue to provide sufficient levels of protection against Omicron and future variants. The European Unions drug regulator also expressed concern about the repeated vaccinations within short intervals, saying it will not represent a sustainable long-term strategy. Marco Cavaleri, the European Medicines Agencys (EMA) head of vaccines strategy, said the approach of giving repeated booster shots every four months could cause problems with immune response and [the] immune response may end up not being as good as we would like it to be. This comes after the interval for receiving a booster shot in Australia was repeatedly shortened from the initial recommendation of six months and currently sits at three months. Australian governments have urged all eligible residents to receive a COVID-19 booster dose. Meanwhile, the Western Australia, South Australia, and Victorian state governments have mandated booster shots for workers in health care, aged care, and other essential industries. Meanwhile, Prof. Peter Doherty, patron of the Doherty Institute, wrote that masking was important, even when triple vaccinated, because the virus is in the air. So, even if were triple vaccinated, theres a good possibility that well get a significant number (one may be enough) of Omicron virions up our nose and start making new virus progeny in our nasal epithelium, Doherty said. A holographic image of a person is seen at a lab in Vac, Hungary, on Jan. 28, 2022, in a still from a video. (AP/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) Revival of Hologram Technology for Medicine and Security A laboratory in Hungary is taking the decades-old technology of holography and repurposing it to the fields of medicine and security. Holograms are far from being a trendy technology todaythey were invited by a Hungarian-British physicist in the 1940s. But a Hungarian laboratory is attempting to revive their use by finding new applications for them. From a facility about 20 miles north of the capital of Budapest, company HoloTech has joined forces with researchers from the Budapest University of Technology and Economics to reinvent hologram technology. A technology which has been in hibernation for the last 50 or 60 years according to them. Holograms have traditionally been created from analog sources to allow the viewer to see a flat image from multiple angles, creating the illusion of a 3D object. But now, the scientists at HoloTech are using digital data sources to create superior clarity and color in their holograms. They also reached the full parallax effect, meaning that their holograms can show different perspectives not only from side to side, but also up and down. Our mission in the medical field of hologram technology is to try to link our developments with the existing healthcare technology tools that deal with imaging, says Imre Lakatos, CEO of HoloTech. Imre Lakatos, CEO and inventor of HoloTech speaks about the technology of holograms in Vac, Hungary, on Jan. 28, 2022, in a still from a video. (AP/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) Its a welcome new support for medical schools, according to Dr. Andras Csokay, a neurosurgeon at the Hungarian Army Medical Center in Budapest. In anatomy class, for example, its much easier to understand the location of internal organs if we could see them in spatial view. We could see better the irregularities or tumors. If we have a better spatial view, we can better imagine what problems they might cause, or where they might put pressure on certain organs. So in all respects it would be a wonderful new resource, says Csokay. HoloTech has also developed holograms that can assist in the field of security, such as anti-counterfeiting and border security. Police and border services from several countries have sought technology from the company for creating holographic images of humans for potential use in passports and identity cards. Researchers holding a holographic image of a person at a lab in Vac, Hungary, on Jan. 28, 2022, in a still from a video. (AP/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) Within those images, large quantities of coded data on the individual can be hidden and read by security services. If we had such a holographic image on a passport or ID card, it would practically solve the problem of creating (illegal) copies. This is very significant, which is why weve been approached by several countries. Weve made quite a lot of progress on this, and we have all the technology to do that here, says Lakatos. Earlier holograms have struggled to produce true-to-life color and clarity, especially when it comes to human faces. But Dr. Zsolt Papp, a physicist at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics and senior scientific officer at HoloTech, says that the company is perhaps the best in the world at creating true three-dimensional holographic images of humans in realistic detail and color. There are many, many ingredients to a good hologram, and here in this company we have managed to satisfy these conditions relatively well. We have a number of holograms in which we can perhaps be said to be world leaders, says Papp. Using their proprietary laser technology, HoloTech is able to impose the three-dimensional data on special holographic film which is only .024 millimeters thick. Another of their machines can take a holographic print and reproduce it at high speeds and quantities. A view of a Tu-22M3 bomber of the Russian air force seen from the cockpit of another such plane during a training flight, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP) Russian Bombers Fly Over Belarus Amid Ukraine Tensions MOSCOWRussia on Saturday sent a pair of long-range nuclear-capable bombers on patrol over its ally Belarus amid spiraling tensions over Ukraine. The Russian Defense Ministry said the two Tu-22M3 bombers practiced interacting with the Belarusian air force and air defense during a four-hour mission. The flight followed several similar patrols over Belarus, which borders Ukraine to the north. The mission came as the Kremlin has moved troops from Siberia and the Far East to Belarus for sweeping joint drills. The deployment added to the Russian military buildup near Ukraine, fueling Western fears of a possible invasion. Russia has denied any plans of attacking Ukraine, but urged the United States and its allies to provide a binding pledge that they wont accept Ukraine into NATO, wont deploy offensive weapons, and will roll back NATO deployments to Eastern Europe. Washington and NATO have rejected the demands. The West has called on Russia to pull back an estimated 100,000 troops from areas near Ukraine, but the Kremlin has responded by saying it will station troops wherever it needs to on Russian territory. As the tensions over Ukraine rose, the Russian military has launched a series of war games spreading from the Arctic to the Black Sea. The Russian troop deployment to Belarus raised concerns in the West that Moscow could stage an attack on Ukraine from the north. The Ukrainian capital of Kyiv is just 75 kilometers (50 miles) from the Belarus border. In recent months, Russia has conducted a series of joint drills with Belarus and repeatedly sent its nuclear-capable long-range bombers to patrol over Belarus, which borders NATO members Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Belarus authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko, who has increasingly relied on the Kremlins political and financial support amid bruising Western sanctions triggered by his clampdown on domestic protests, has called for closer defense ties with Moscow and recently offered to host Russian nuclear weapons. In an interview with a Russian state TV host aired Saturday, Lukashenko charged that the Russian-led security alliance demonstrated its quick deployment capability when its members briefly sent forces last month to Kazakhstan to help stabilize the situation after deadly riots. The Belarusian leader downplayed the threat of war, but added that if it still erupts it will last for three or four days at most. There is no one there to fight us, he said about Ukraine. On Saturday, the German newspaper Bild published a report alleging that Russia is poised to attack Ukraine from several directions, capture major cities and install a puppet government. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova angrily dismissed the allegations. As war fears mounted, Ukrainian authorities launched a series of civil defense drills for residents. I am here to learn how to defend myself, defend my relatives and also understand how to act in the situation, Kyiv resident Ilya Goncharov said after taking part in drills on the outskirts of the Ukrainian capital. I am happy that I came here to learn the basics of self defense and first aid. Yuri, 12, trains with members of Ukraines Territorial Defense Forces, volunteer military units of the Armed Forces, close to Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Efrem Lukatsky/AP Photo) An instructor trains Rumia, 59, a member of Ukraines Territorial Defense Forces, close to Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 5, 2022. (Efrem Lukatsky/AP Photo) In Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city just 25 kilometers (15 miles) south of the Russian border, thousands of people took to the streets Saturday carrying giant yellow-and-blue banners in the colors of the national flag in a show of determination to protect the city. We want to show that there are people in Kharkiv who are ready to defend it and fight back, said marcher Svitlana Galashko. Amid the standoff over Ukraine, U.S. President Joe Biden has ordered 2,000 U.S.-based troops to Poland and Germany and shifted 1,000 more from Germany to Romania in a show of the U.S. commitment to NATOs eastern flank. Earlier last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin has signaled Moscows readiness for more talks with Washington and its NATO allies. As part of high-level diplomacy to ease the tensions, French President Emmanuel Macron is set to head to Moscow and Kyiv on Monday and Tuesday, while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will travel to Kyiv and Moscow on Feb. 1415. On Saturday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had a call with Macron and they agreed that finding a diplomatic solution to the current tensions must remain the overriding priority. Johnsons office said he and the French president also stressed that NATO must be united in the face of Russian aggression and agreed to continue to work together to develop a package of sanctions which would come into force immediately should Russia further invade Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also spoke Saturday with European Council President Charles Michel, saying on Twitter that the tensions around Ukraines situation must be deesclated. In 2014, Russia annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula after Ukraines Moscow-friendly leader fled the country. Russia also threw its weight behind a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine, where over 14,000 have been killed in fighting. Michelle Smet and her daughter, Heather, attended Shen Yun Performing Arts at The Plaza Theatre, El Paso, Texas on Feb. 5, 2022. (Sonia Wu/Epoch Times) EL PASO, TexasMichelle Smet said one clear message she received from watching Shen Yun Performing Arts at The Plaza Theatre was the beauty of Chinese culture. Smet, a church worship leader, saw Shen Yun with her parents and her children who all really enjoyed the performance. I think it was a good blend of education, of the history of Chinese culture as well as even a look on modern-day [events that are] happening in China, said Smet. She also appreciated the humorous content of some of the stories portrayed. Shen Yuns mission is to revive traditional Chinese culture through the medium of classical Chinese dance, folk dance, and music. The dances portray cherished legends and tales with moral foundations that are still relevant today. They also depict recent events such as the persecution of Falun Dafa, a spiritual practice that originated in China. The persecution of Falun Dafa adherents resonated with Smet who also reflected on the persecution of Christians in China. I did see a lot of connection in the [performance] to the faith part of life, she said. Especially when they showed the persecution. I think about the Christians in Chinaand how much persecution they face if caught There are people putting their lives on the line to share truth and freedom, she said. The Water Sleeves, a dance depicting the imperial court ladies, and the Plum Blossom in Spring dance, were particularly enjoyable, said Smet. Her daughter Heather was excited by the dance, Monkeying Around in Paradise, a humorous piece from the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West about Monkey, Pigsy, Sandy, and Tang Monk. Smet considered Shen Yun very educational and said she had recently read a book on the history of China before communism and was thrilled to find she could correlate many of the story dances with what she had read. Right to Live Free Shen Yun was very entertaining and colorful, said Billy Fondren who was also in the audience. A retiree who had owned several companies, it was Fondrens first opportunity to enjoy Chinese classical and folk dancing. The pandemic had not kept him away. The pandemic is one thing but we have to move on with our lives. And freedom in this country is what we respect the most, he said. Fondren believed that the American people understood the suffering of the Chinese people and that Shen Yun brought hope. Commenting on the Chinese communist regimes destruction of traditional Chinese culture, he noted that human rights were important. We should all have the right to live free and do the things that we need to do within the limits of the law, he said. Marxist Communism Doesnt Work Joe Ontiveros and his wife, Deborah, also enjoyed the performance. Its very vibrant. And the costumes are beautiful, Deborah said. Deborah, a psychologist, and Joe, a retired federal agent, own a psychology service for police officers. The dancing is outstanding, said Joe. And I think the message is on cue because communism is not good. And we need freedom throughout the world and Marxist communism doesnt work. And theres no freedom to practice your religion of any kind. So, they hurt themand this message needs to go out to as many people as it can, he said. Joe practices martial arts and said he was able to relate to the spiritual aspect of Shen Yun. Reporting by Sonia Wu and Diane Cordemans. The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006. Brett and Tatiana Preston at the Shen Yun Performing Arts performance at The Plaza Theatre in El Paso, Texas on Feb. 5, 2022. (Sally Sun/The Epoch Times) EL PASO, TexasThe current view the world has of modern China has blocked many from knowing what China once used to be. With Shen Yun Performing Arts touring internationally, it has reminded audiences that Chinas 5,000 years of civilization havent been completely lost and thats its beauty is something to celebrate. Brett Preston and his wife Tatiana were struck by the depth of culture presented in the performance compared to how little depth there is in communist China now. What I like is it illustrates a culture that most people dont realize exists within China, Preston said. Everybody sees just the communist structure. So theres no depth coming out of the communist regime as far as explaining what the culture is, especially in different regions of the country. He commented on the variety found in Chinese culture and how, in contrast, the ruling communist regime is solely focused on promoting their singular voice. The communist regime just wants to demonstrate just one mantra, he said. Its destroying the culture, the uniqueness of the different regions and everything. Its trying to institute a certain plain message. Dave Dooling (C), Claudia Powell (R), and Hannah Davis (L) at the Shen Yun Performing Arts performance at The Plaza Theatre in El Paso, Texas on Feb. 5, 2022. (Sally Sun/The Epoch Times) Sharing similar feelings were Dave Dooling, his wife Claudia Powell, and their friend Hannah Davis. They shared the belief that the New York-based Shen Yuns mission of reviving Chinese culture and civilization is important. Its good theyre reviving it. So many cultures are getting just washed away, Dooling said. Particularly these days. Its critical that things are saved before theyre gone forever, Powell added. Sometimes I think this many people together is more healing than not together. Claudia Powell The Plaza Theatre welcomed a full house for the evening performance, despite the pandemic. Powell shared that sometimes being with people is better than being isolated. As far as being together with this many peoplesometimes I think this many people together is more healing than not together, she said. Davis had watched one of Shen Yuns performances before and has wanted her friends to attend a performance with her. This lady has been before, and so she said that we had to come and see this, Powell said, indicating Davis. And Im so happy that she insisted that we come and see this because Ive had such a wonderful time. Its so exquisitely beautiful, Powell said. Davis indicated she wanted to attend more Shen Yun performances. Ive been studying Chinese culture for years and I have many friends from China, and seeing these performances brings me closer to the culture and my friends, Davis said. So Im really glad that they started doing this all those many years ago. So hopefully, I get to keep coming back to every show, she added. Reporting by Sally Sun 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. Protesters taking part in a demonstration against the military coup run as security forces launch a clampdown on the protest in Yangon, Burma, on Dec. 5, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Singapore Calls on Burma to Release All Political Detainees On the anniversary of the military coup in Burma, also known as Myanmar, Singapores Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) urged Burmese military authorities to follow through on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Five-Point Consensus and release all political and foreign prisoners. In a statement on Feb. 1, the MFA noted that conditions in Burma have worsened over the year since the military seized power. The death toll in protests since then is at least 1,500 people, according to United Nations human rights office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani. We have documented 1,500 people who have been killed, but this is only in the context of protests, Shamdasani said. The figure includes 200 who were killed due to torture in military custody. This 1,500 does not include people who were killed due to the armed conflict We do understand that they are in the thousands. No Progress Made in ASEANs 5-Point Consensus Meanwhile, the MFA stated, Singapore remains deeply concerned about the situation in Myanmar, and disappointed by the lack of progress in the implementation of the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus. The Five-Point Consensus (pdf) is an agreement reached by Burmese military junta chief Min Aung Hlaing and the leaders of ASEAN member states during the organizations leaders meeting on April 24, 2021. We urge the Myanmar military authorities to swiftly and fully implement the Five-Point Consensus, including by facilitating the Special Envoys visit to Myanmar to meet with all the parties concerned, the MFA said in its statement. The consensus called for an end to the violence in Burma, a special envoy and delegation from ASEAN to visit the country and meet all parties concerned to seek a peaceful solution, and humanitarian assistance to be rendered through the ASEAN Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance. Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Bintan, Indonesia, on Jan. 25, 2022. (Ministry of Communications and Information, Singapore) The military junta, however, hasnt followed through on the agreement, and ASEAN hasnt invited Hlaing to subsequent top-level meetings since late 2021, Radio Free Asia reported. After Cambodia took over ASEANs chairmanship from Brunei for 2022, its prime minister, Hun Sen, visited Burma on Jan. 7 on a two-day trip at the invitation of Hlaing for talks on bilateral and multilateral cooperation and recent developments in ASEAN with the Burmese military. In a top-level bilateral annual meeting between Singapore and Indonesian leaders on Jan. 25, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said: We noted that no significant progress has been made implementing ASEANs Five-Point Consensus since it was adopted in Jakarta in April last year. We are committed to helping Myanmar reach a durable and peaceful resolution in the interests of its people. But it is essential for the ASEAN chair and his Special Envoy to engage all parties involved. Indonesias President Joko Widodo said, Indonesia and Singapore share the same view on the importance of implementing the Five-Point Consensus. This Consensus is a decision that ASEAN has taken at the highest level and should be upheld by all. A week later, on Feb. 2, ASEAN released a statement (pdf) noting the reports of continued violence and deterioration of [the] humanitarian situation in Burma and called for the Burmese authorities to take concrete actions to effectively and fully implement the Five-Point Consensus. Political, Foreign Detainees Should Be Released In MFAs statement, it also called for the release of all political detainees including U Win Myint, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and foreign detainees, and urged the Burmese military authorities to avoid actions that would be inimical to eventual national reconciliation in Myanmar. On Feb. 3, Burmas military filed a new corruption charge against Suu Kyi, the latest of about a dozen filed against the 76-year-old Nobel laureate since the military ousted her elected government and arrested her and top members of her National League for Democracy Party. Reuters contributed to this report. Former Democratic leader in the Georgia House of Representatives and founder and chair of Fair Fight Action Stacey Abrams testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington in a file image. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) Stacey Abramss Campaign Responds After Gubernatorial Candidate Poses Maskless With Masked Children The campaign of Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams responded on Feb. 6 after rivals denounced the Democrat for posing maskless in a room full of masked children. It is shameful that our opponents are using a Black History Month reading event for Georgia children as the impetus for a false political attack, and it is pitiful and predictable that our opponents continue to look for opportunities to distract from their failed records when it comes to protecting the public health during the pandemic, the campaign said in a statement. The photograph in question was posted by the principal at Glennwood Elementary School in Decatur after Abrams visited on Feb. 4. Abrams was the only person in the picture without a mask, including children and faculty in an indoor room. The principal deleted the picture and her Twitter account after Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and former U.S. Sen. David Perdue, two Republicans running for governor, criticized Abrams. Stacey Abrams wants state government mask mandates for Georgians and their children. But it looks like they wouldnt apply when shes attending a photo op, Tate Mitchell, the Kemp campaigns press secretary, said in a statement. This kind of hypocrisy is exactly why Georgians see her campaign for governor for what it truly is: a quest for more power. Perdue added: We all know Stacey Abrams hypocrisy knows no bounds. Liberals thirst for power during this pandemic has caused enormous damage to our kids, while the elite like Stacey continue living their lives. What is even worse is that this is a classroom in Brian Kemps GA, not NY or CA. Abramss campaign didnt respond by press time when asked why the Democrat wasnt wearing a mask. The school didnt respond to an inquiry by press time. The campaign told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Abrams was wearing a mask but took it off so she could be heard while reading to children and while posing for pictures while stipulating that everybody else in the room keep their mask on. A spokesman also said Abrams thinks schools should require masks for students and staff members. The campaign denounced Perdue, noting that he traded stocks shortly after receiving private briefings as a senator early in the pandemic, and Kemp, who was described as having attacked mayors seeking to protect their citizens. Kemp and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, a Democrat, clashed last year over the citys mask mandate, with Kemp issuing an executive order barring all local governments in the state from imposing mask or vaccine mandates. Actress Susan Sarandon looks on during Day 1 of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 25, 2016. (ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images) Susan Sarandon Apologizes for Post Mocking NYPD Funeral Actress Susan Sarandon has apologized after making a controversial Twitter post that mocked a funeral for a slain NYPD officer. On Feb. 4, the Oscar-award-winning actress wrote: I deeply regret the meme I recently shared on Twitter that included a photo of Officer Jason Riveras funeral. I reacted quickly to the picture without connecting it to a police funeral and I realize now how insensitive and deeply disrespectful it was to make that point at that time, said Sarandon, a longtime left-wing activist who supported Sen. Bernie Sanders two presidential campaigns. I sincerely apologize to the family of Officers Rivera and Mora for causing additional pain during their time of grieving. Sarandon, 74, sparked outrage after she mocked the funeral, which showed the procession for Rivera, by writing on Twitter that Im gonna tell my kids this is what fascism looks like. Both Rivera and his 27-year-old NYPD partner, Wilbert Mora, were shot and killed while responding to a domestic dispute in Harlem. Moras funeral was held about a week prior to Riveras funeral, with both drawing thousands of NYPD officers. One of the largest NYPD unions, the Police Benevolent Association, responded to Sarandons initial Twitter post. This is what privilege looks like: a wealthy actress, safe in her bubble, mocking heroes & making light of the crisis that cops are battling alongside our communities. NYC is uniting to stop the violence @SusanSarandon is living on a different planet, it wrote. The National Order of Fraternal Police added: Of all the days for @SusanSarandon to share her true feelings towards police, she picks the day we bury our fallen brother to make such inflammatory & brainless comments. When you spend more time hating on cops than you do your own career, its no wonder why youre a D-list actor. Meanwhile, theater actress Jacqueline Guzman was let go from theater company Face to Face Films in late January after apparently posting a TikTok video ranting about street closures during Riveras funeral, the firm said in a statement. Mora and Rivera were shot after a woman called 911 and reported she was having an altercation with one of her sons inside her Harlem apartment, NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig said in a late January news conference. When they arrived, 47-year-old Lashawn McNeil was in the apartment bedroom, officials said. He abruptly opened the door when the two officers approached and opened fire. As McNeil ran away from the scene, a third officer fired and struck him. McNeil was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. In New York City, seven NYPD officers have been shot and two have died so far in 2022, according to news reports. Teen Shot While Sleeping in Palmdale Apartment, Authorities Searching for Shooter PALMDALE, Calif.A teenage boy was shot on Feb. 6 while sleeping in an apartment in Palmdale, authorities said. The shooting took place around 1:30 a.m. at an apartment in 38000 block of 15th Street East, according to Lt. Thomas Kim of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. The victim was in stable condition at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Kim said. Detectives have no motive for the shooting, and no suspect description is available at this point, Kim said. Anyone with information on the shooting was asked to call the sheriffs departments Palmdale station at 661-272-2400. Tipsters can also call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477. Terrorists Targeting Civilian Guard Groups in Nigerian Villages The air was a chilly 55 degrees Fahrenheit at midnight on Jan. 12, about as cold as it gets on the forested savannah of Nigerias Plateau state. But John Rivi couldnt think about the cold. Despite the darkness, he could see the flashlights of 500 terrorists with assault rifles heading for his village of Ancha, Nigeria, and Rivi, 38, knew that he and 21 young men carrying single-shot rifles were the villages first and only line of defense. As the terrorists approached, the volunteer guards fired their muskets and shotguns at the flashlights, which were moving to encircle the village of approximately 400 people. The response was a rain of fire, Rivi told The Epoch Times. The goal of the guards was to halt the attack long enough for the families with children and senior citizens to find paths out of the village before the terrorists could go from house to house, shooting anyone remaining and burning their homes and food barns. A family of 10 that decided to stay behind to comfort lame, elderly parents was found shot to death a few hours later. When police arrived after sunup, the bodies of two volunteer guards from a neighboring town were found on paths leading away from Ancha. They were men who had joined Rivis guard team. The two guardsmen and 18 Ancha victims were buried that afternoon. The armed volunteers are known across Nigeria as vigilantes, and their losses in recent months have sparked speculation that the bandit-terrorists that are burning whole villages are deliberately taking them out. Close to 200 neighborhood watchmen have been killed while defending communities in recent years, according to leaders of volunteer watch units. Many have been forced to use slingshots and single-shot guns, while the military stands byas it did that night in Ancha. More than 50 vigilantes were killed in January by terrorist attacks in the northern Nigerian states of Taraba, Niger, and Plateau. According to reports, large terrorist gangs in Zamfara state have scattered to neighboring states to the east to escape airstrikes by the Nigerian Air Force. Lawmakers from the region have accused the military of failing to protect local communities. Military authorities have denied the allegation. Vigilantes Step In More than 60 vigilantes were ambushed in northeastern Taraba state, which borders Plateau, Benue, and Nasarawa states, on Jan. 8 as they rode motorbikes on their way to attack a terrorist headquarters, according to TVC News. At least 40 members of the vigilante group were killed. The team had previously raided several terrorist camps in the county while the military stood by, according to local tribal leader Mafindi Danburam. This [the vigilantes] is the only machinery we have on ground for fighting [the terrorists] in Taraba state, Damburam told TVC news. Local reporters in Jalingo, the capital of Taraba state, told The Epoch times the Nigerian military hadnt raided terrorist camps in the area. Maybe the military are being discreet about their operations, but I am not aware of any raid of terrorist camps by them, one reporter said by phone. Revenge Mission Another strike against vigilantes was recorded in Shiroro County in Niger state, where four of them were killed in an apparent revenge mission. Nigerian media outlets reported that 100 terrorists armed with assault rifles attacked a vigilante base on Jan. 30 at noon in the small town of Galadima Kogo. Seven paid civil militia, four vigilantes, and several local residents were killed in the attack. The attack on one of the few surviving towns in the terrorist-infested county was a reprisal for previous raids by vigilantes on terrorist camps, local youth leader Abubakar Yusuf Kokki told The Epoch Times in a text message. I believe the vigilantes were the target since they first attacked. The Jan. 12 attack on Ancha was followed by two targeted attacks on vigilantes that claimed the lives of six members of the group in surrounding towns. On Jan 24, terrorists killed three vigilantes in Dong, in Jos North County, according to Solomon Achus Gwott, the north-central assistant commandant-general in charge of crime at the Hunters Council of Nigeria. The vigilantes were attacked at a mining site located two miles from a prominent military checkpoint, Gwott told The Epoch Times. A civilian woman was also killed in the attack, according to a member of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Dachung Musa Bagos. The three [vigilantes] were members of the same family and my constituents, said Bagos, who represents Jos. Two days after the attack, a late evening ambush in Adu, in Bassa County, saw three more vigilantes killed. The terrorist ambush took place on a bumpy dirt road on the outskirts of Adu as the vigilantes were on a routine patrol, according to Samson James, a guardsman who narrowly escaped the attack. In recent years, close to 200 vigilantes have been killed while defending communities in the Middle Belt of Nigeria, according to Ola Azeez, coordinator of a neighborhood watch group in Plateau state. Azeez said 148 members of the group had been killed since the beginning of 2020. Those are the ones we have documented. Our members face daily attacks that mostly go unreported, he told The Epoch Times by phone. Gwott said 15 of his groups members had been killed in clashes with terrorists since 2020. They are attacking vigilantes because we are the ones giving them headaches. We know the terrain, and we are able to beat their strategies and counter them in the bush, even with their heavy artilleries, he told The Epoch Times. Are Armed Guards Needed? A Nigerian military spokesman insisted that its in full control of security in the central region and that it doesnt need vigilante assistance. Maj. Ishaku Takwa of Operation Safe Haven told The Epoch Times that the vigilantes were inconsequential in fighting terrorists. How can vigilantes confront bandits? Bandits that are operating with RPGs [rocket propelled grenade launchers]? Takwa said. Even yesterday [Feb. 1] with our armored tanks when we went for a raid in Kaduna, these [terrorists] planted land mines on our track, and they exploded. If it was vigilantes, how would they survive? Vigilantes that have Dane guns [single-shot rifles]. Yet the vigilante groups have their defenders among them, including David Otto, a London-based military consultant. The targeting of vigilante networks by terrorists is to break the defenses of communities for easy takeover, Otto told The Epoch Times in a text message. The aim of insurgents is to occupy local territories and win hearts and mindsvigilantes are tasked to prevent such [forceful] occupation. If the vigilantes are forced to stand down, half of Nigerias central region could be lost to terrorists in a few years, according to Bagos. If these attacks continue and [security troops] are forced to withdraw, we are in serious danger, he said. Chris Kwaja, an adviser to the U.S. Institute for Peace, said attacks on vigilantes could force communities to give up on self-defense and surrender to the terrorists. The targeting and killing of vigilantes in Plateau, in Zamfara, in Taraba, or Borno make it difficult for individuals to volunteer themselves to defend against terrorists, Kwaja said. The terrorists themselves acknowledge the efficacy of the vigilantes. In a recent letter to Nigerian officials, Bello Turji, a feared terrorist gang warlordoffered to disarm, but only if the vigilantes would surrender their weapons as well. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree to improve the transport management in the administrative territory of Baku city. According to the decree, the Intelligent Transport Management Center LLC, which is subordinate to the Baku Transport Agency, is transferred to the subordination of the Azerbaijani Interior Ministry. Larger than life: Art that inspires us through the ages With the Amalfi Coast and Pompei as neighbors and the Isle of Capri and Sicily close by, Naples lies at the heart of southern Italy. Historically, it was the gateway to Rome and the north. It was here that the Teatro di San Carlo (Theater of San Carlo) was born and grew to become the cultural heart and symbolic monument of Italys third-largest city. The theater was the inspiration of King Charles III of Spain, who presided over Sicily and Naples in the 18th century. He entrusted architect and Spanish Col. Brig. Giovanni Antonio Medrano with the design. The architectural feat in the neoclassical style was completed in 1737 and restored in 1816 by the Royal Houses architect and set designer Antonio Niccolini after a fire destroyed a large part of it. It stands today as the worlds oldest continuously active venue for opera. The building presents an austere facade. White Ionic columns with gold ornament establish a rhythm across the upper portions and announce Apollo and the muses of the arts atop. At street level, the robust exterior is made of a dramatic dark stone base with arched openings that provide passage through to a contrasting light marble foyer. The monotone foyer of white marble and subtle reliefs establishes a calm setting that serves to highlight the patrons evening dress. Then, when stepping into the theater, one enters an otherworldly realm of wonderment. The first impression is that you have been transported to the palace of an oriental emperor. Your eyes are dazzled, your soul enraptured, the French writer Stendhal said in his Rome, Naples and Florence. On the ceiling painting, Apollo appears in the heavens introducing the worlds greatest poets to Minerva. The poets bless the theater patrons with their divine cultural offerings. Such beauty draws one out from the thoughts of everyday life to explore the exquisite glowing theater. As ones eyes wander over the tiers of ornate balconies, one is immersed in a vibrant luminance of gold leaf, red velvet, and the sea of patrons equally ornate in their refined couture. As ones eyes settle on the elaborately ornamented proscenium (the stage opening), and the lights go out, the curtains part, and the theater fades from sight, its beauty becomes a prelude, and the stage is set for the main event. The facade of Teatro di San Carlo, as seen from a neighboring building. (Luciano Romano/Teatro di San Carlo) The foyer on one of the upper levels with luminous chandeliers and soft coloring has an airy atmosphere. (Luciano Romano/Teatro di San Carlo) A view from within one of the boxes. (Luciano Romano/Teatro di San Carlo) Globe candelabras illuminate the gold-leafed cherubs depicted on the paneling. (Luciano Romano/Teatro di San Carlo) The ceiling fresco invites guests to enter a heavenly realm. The center of the ceiling is decorated with a painting by Antonio, Giuseppe, and Giovanni Cammarano, Apollo Introducing the Greatest Poets in the World to Minerva. (Luciano Romano/Teatro di San Carlo) The royal box holds a key position and extends over two levels of the auditorium. Exotic palms support the box and the royal crown forms its canopy. (Luciano Romano/Teatro di San Carlo) Angels fly with wreaths and hold open drapery to reveal those in the royal box to the patrons in the auditorium. (Luciano Romano/Teatro di San Carlo) The Royal Box is centrally positioned, offering a prime view of the stage. The sculpted gold and red drapery frame the view from within. (Luciano Romano/Teatro di San Carlo) At the center of the proscenium arch, a whimsical scene plays out where, in gold, maidens of music and dance are afloat on clouds. Above them, angels sound trumpets to present the royal emblem. (Luciano Romano/Teatro di San Carlo) The lights fade, all is dark, the curtain rises and the show begins. The light from the stage gently illuminates the proscenium and the gold-leaf decoration around the theater. (Luciano Romano/Teatro di San Carlo) Much has been written about Canadas trucker protests against vaccine mandates and other forms of government overreach imposed by authorities during the COVID pandemic. Writing in The Epoch Times, former U.S. Libertarian Party presidential candidate Ron Paul said: We Are All Canadian Truckers Now! In fact, Canadian truckers have received high praise for their courage from various corners of the free world. Over recent days it has been reported that an American version of the Canadian Freedom Convoy may be in the works. Speaking on Tucker Carlson Tonight, Brian Brase, one of the organizers of a proposed Convoy to D.C. 2022, said his group was motivated by the Canadian example and is planning a protest in support of their own God-given rights in the USA. A man looks at a census and a muster of Virginia which mentions the first documented African woman to arrive in the Virginia Colony in Williamsburg, Va., on Aug. 19, 2019. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images) The True Story of 1619 and Americas Origins Commentary In fall 2019, The New York Times released a special edition of its magazine, highlighting what it claimed was the 400th anniversary of the first African slaves arriving in the territory that would later become the United States of America. The NY Times sought to completely alter the story of Americas past, and it has largely enjoyed stunning success. Despite the fact that this project is now 3 years old, it still carries substantial weight and was even released in book form in late 2021. Millions of dollars from backers have ensured that the 1619 Project has managed to slip into virtually every classroom in the United States. This Black History Month, with so many people still believing the 1619 Projects premises, its worthwhile to review the many, many ways in which they are little more than bankrupt propaganda. The opening page of the 1619 Project asks, What if we were to tell you that this fact, which is taught in our schools and unanimously celebrated every Fourth of July, is wrong, and that the countrys true birth date, the moment that its defining contradictions first came into the world, was in late August of 1619? The alleged importance of the year 1619, it explains, is that the year was when a ship arrived at Point Comfort in the British colony of Virginia, bearing a cargo of 20 to 30 enslaved Africans. Their arrival inaugurated a barbaric system of chattel slavery that would last for the next 250 years. This is sometimes referred to as the countrys original sin, but it is more than that: it is the countrys very origin, the introduction reads. This introduction of black slaves into Virginia, only a short distance from the Jamestown colony, is the premise upon which the rest of the 1619 Project flows. The introduction proceeds to claim that out of slavery grew nearly everything that has truly made America exceptional: its economic might, its industrial power, its electoral system, among a litany of other things. Slavery, they claim, is the defining part of Americas past and the interpretive framework through which everything ought to be viewed. However, the biggest problem with this is that its 100 percent historically wrong1619 wasnt the nations true birth date. Nor was it the beginning of chattel slavery. Nor was it even the first time African slaves were brought to continental America. To start with, slavery existed in the Americas long before any European so much as even dreamed of crossing the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. When Columbus and subsequent Spanish explorers landed in the New World, they discovered that slavery was already deeply entrenched in the indigenous societies there. Indeed, slavery was ubiquitous in pre-Columbian America. The native slave trade was so prolific that wherever European conquistadors set foot in American tropics, they found evidence of indigenous warfare, war captives, and captive slaves, as Fernando Santos-Granero wrote in his book Vital Enemies. Modern estimates suggest that 20 percent to 40 percent of the native American cultures were enslavedputting them on par with the slave empires of the ancient Greeks, imperial Romans, and even the Confederate South. African slaves were introduced to what would later become the continental United States by the Spanish in as early as 1526, when they attempted to plant a colony along the Carolina coast with seven vessels, 600 men and women, among whom were several slaves, and 83 horses, as the Georgia Historical Society recounted in 1923. In 1528, another Spanish expedition set out to explore the continental mainland of America. It was led by Panfilo de Narvaez, who brought with him nearly 400 men, both black and white, among whom was the famed African slave from Morocco named Estevanico. Even if we were to dismiss these two events as outliers and failed ventures, the Spanish still brought nearly 500 African slaves when they successfully founded the permanent colony of St. Augustine in 1565. Lastly, the evidence suggests that the Africans brought to Jamestown in 1619 were incorporated into the colony not as slaves, but rather as indentured servants. The year prior to their arrival, the Jamestown colony began a system where an enterprising captain or ship owner would himself enlist recruits at London, and on arrival at Jamestown, the recruits would be auctioned off to the highest bidder for a specified term, as William J. Wood wrote in an article for the American Bar Association Journal. These white English servants would be sold on an auction block to owners, whom they would serve without pay for whatever was the term of their indenture. This quickly became the standard for Jamestown immigration. Therefore, in 1619, when a privateer brought a captured ship to Jamestown with about 20 African slaves on board, the slaves werent technically sold into slavery, but rather were indentured. At the end of their indenture term, the African servants would be freed just like the white indentured servants from England. Afterward, many were given land to farm and became members of society. One of the original 1619 Africans, Anthony Johnson, actually became a substantial landowner and found the environment of seventeenth-century Virginia conducive to the amassing of property in land or chattel, as James H. Brewer wrote for The William and Mary Quarterly. So then, what may be actually said about the year 1619? It wasnt when slavery was introduced to Americaslavery was a widespread practice among the native Americans. It wasnt the first time African slaves were introduced to Americathat was in 1526. It wasnt the first time African slaves were introduced to a permanent settlement in the land that would eventually become the United Statesthat was in 1565. It wasnt even the first time life-long black slaves were bought and sold in an English colony in Americathe evidence suggests that they were instead introduced as indentured servants under similar terms as white colonists. Ultimately, the only thing we can historically say about the year 1619 is that it represented the first time Africans were introduced as indentured servants into an English-speaking permanent colony in the area that would become the United States of America more than 150 years lateran extremely qualified statement and substantially different from what the 1619 Project falsely claims. During Black History Month 2022, lets learn the truth about our nations past. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Torrance Nun Sentenced to Prison for Embezzling Catholic School Funds LOS ANGELESThe retired principal of a Catholic elementary school in Torrance, who as a nun took a vow of poverty, was sentenced Feb. 7 to 12 months and a day behind bars for embezzling more than $835,000 in school funds to support a gambling habit and other personal expenses. Mary Margaret Kreuper, 80, of Los Angeles, was also ordered to pay $825,338 in restitution, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. Kreuper pleaded guilty in July to federal wire fraud and money laundering charges. After charges were filed, her attorneys issued a statement saying Sister Mary Margaret suffered from mental illness that clouded her judgment and caused her to do something that she otherwise would not have done. She is very sorry for any harm she has caused. Kreuper acknowledged that for a period of 10 years ending in September 2018, she embezzled $835,339 from St. James Catholic School. As principala position she had for nearly 30 years before she retiredKreuper was responsible for the money the school received to pay for tuition and fees, as well as for charitable donations, according to documents filed in Los Angeles federal court. When an audit threatened to expose the scheme, Kreuper instructed St. James employees to destroy documents, according to prosecutors. Kreuper controlled accounts at a credit union, including a savings account for the school and one established to pay the living expenses of nunswho had taken a vow of povertyemployed by the school, prosecutors said. Diverting embezzled funds into secret accounts, Kreuper used the money to pay for expenses that the order would not have approved, much less paid for, including large gambling expenses and trips to Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, and Temecula, according to her plea agreement. She further admitted lulling St. James School and the administration into believing that the schools finances were being properly accounted for and its financial assets properly safeguarded, which allowed her to maintain access to the schools finances. Defense attorneys said Kreuper became a nun when she was 18 years old, and for the next 59 years dedicated her life to helping others and educating children in Archdiocesan schools. As soon as she was confronted, she accepted full responsibility for what she had done and she has cooperated fully with law enforcement and the Archdiocese. U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright II said at last years plea hearing that he was raised as a Roman Catholic, and was educated by nuns. And I dont look at nuns as ordinary people. The judge advised Kreuper that he expected her to make a statement at sentencing, adding, I dont have to worry about [lies] coming from you. Labour Party leader Keir Starmer leaves his home ahead of the weekly Prime Ministers Questions session in the House of Commons in London, on Jan. 12, 2022. (Leon Neal/Getty Images) UK Labour Leader Cleared of Breaking Lockdown Rules Over Office Beer UK Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer has been cleared of breaking COVID-19 lockdown rules after he was filmed drinking a beer in an office. Starmer was pictured having a drink in the office of Mary Foy, Labour MP for the City of Durham, on April 30, 2021, when indoor socialising was banned in England under CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus rules. But he denied he broke the rules, saying that he was working in an election campaign in the run-up to Mays local elections and the Hartlepool parliamentary by-election. Durham police said on Monday that they did not believe any offence was committed. A spokesman for the force said: Durham Constabulary has reviewed video footage recorded in Durham on April 30, 2021. We do not believe an offence has been established in relation to the legislation and guidance in place at that time and will therefore take no further action in relation to this matter. When the video first emerged in January, Starmer explained that he was busy campaigning just days before the May elections. I was with my team going across the country from place to place. Were in the office, working in the office, and we stopped for a takeaway, and then we carried on working and that is the long and the short of it, he told LBC radio on Jan. 17. He said no restaurants or pubs were open and the hotel he and his colleagues were staying in did not serve food, so if you didnt get a takeaway then our team wasnt eating that evening. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street to attend the weekly Prime Ministers Questions in the House of Commons, in London, on Feb. 2, 2022. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) The Labour leader has been calling on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to resign following a series of damaging allegations of 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 COVID-19 pandemic, in violation of lockdown rules written by the government itself. Some Conservative politicians have cited the pictures of Starmer drinking beer as evidence of Labours hypocrisy and called on the Labour leader to apologise. But Starmer insisted he did nothing wrong. We didnt break any rules, we were working in the office and we stopped for a takeaway, he told LBC. PA Media contributed to this report. Britain's Defence Secretary Ben Wallace (R) speaks during a joint press conference with Poland's Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak at the Ministry of Defence in central London on Feb. 7, 2022. (Tolga Akmen/Pool/AFP via Getty Images) UK to Send 350 More Troops to Poland Amid Tensions in Eastern Europe Britain is to send an additional 350 troops to Poland in a show of support for its Eastern European ally, UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said on Monday. Speaking at a joint press conference in London with Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak, Wallace said Britain will send extra troops to Poland to show that we can work together and send a strong signal that Britain and Poland stand side by side. The announcement comes as more than 100,000 Russian troops are believed to have been amassed on Ukraines eastern border. Poland is also facing a crisis on its own border with Belarus, whose leader Alexander Lukashenko, an ally of Russian leader Vladimir Putin, has been accused of sending illegal immigrants across the border to put pressure on the European Union. Undated handout photo of British troops in Poland at the border with Belarus, issued by the UK Ministry of Defence on Dec. 9, 2021. (PA) The UK already has 100 Royal Engineers in Poland to support Polish troops with specific engineering tasks along its border and Belarus. Blaszczak welcomed the additional British deployment. Speaking through a translator, he said he is very grateful to the British government for the support it has provided during the Lukashenko regimes hybrid attack on Poland. He added that his country is facing another challenge today, which is the Russian aggressive policy towards Ukraine. As part of NATO, but also on a bilateral level, Poland and the United Kingdom are ready to take all the necessary decisions in order to deter the potential aggressor, he said. Based on historical experience, we see that only a decisive deterrence policy can stop any potential Russian aggression and, based on the very same history, we do see that the policy of appeasement only encourages the potential enemy to do something. Amid rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine, U.S. President Joe Biden ordered additional U.S. troops deployed to Poland, Romania, and Germany to demonstrate to both allies and foes Americas commitment to NATOs eastern flank. In total, some 1,700 U.S. soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, are expected to be stationed in Poland. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited Kyiv on Feb. 1 to offer support to Ukraine. Speaking at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Johnson said the UK and allies will always stand up for freedom and democracy and Ukrainian sovereignty in the face of aggression. The UK and its Western allies are ready to launch sanctions against Russia the moment the first Russian toecap crosses further into Ukrainian territory, he said. PA Media contributed to this report. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba gives a press conference following his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Jan. 19, 2022. (Alex Brandon/Pool/AFP via Getty Images) Ukraine Foreign Minister Urges People to Ignore Apocalyptic Predictions KYIVUkrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Sunday urged people to ignore apocalyptic predictions about an imminent Russian invasion, saying his country was strong and had unprecedented international support. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said a week ago Ukraine was not a sinking Titanic and accused Washington and media of fueling panic that weighed on the economy when there were no tanks in the streets. Today, Ukraine has a strong army, unprecedented international support, and Ukrainians faith in their country, Kuleba said in a tweet. The enemy should be afraid of us, not us of them. A day earlier two U.S. officials said that Russia may be ready for a full-scale invasion of Ukraine by mid-February as it had in place about 70 percent of the combat power it believed it would need and was sending more battalion tactical groups to the border. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday Russia could take military action any day now but could still opt for diplomacy. Different capitals have different scenarios, but Ukraine is ready for any development, Kuleba said. EU Economic Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni said on Sunday the focus should be on diplomacy. We must help the NATO countries bordering Russia and strengthen them also from a military point of view, he said on Italian national broadcaster RAI. We must also be prepared for economic reactions and sanctions if there is a deterioration. Russia has massed more than 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian borders, sparkling fears of a planned assault. Moscow has said it is not planning an invasion but could take unspecified military action if its security demands are not met. Those include a promise that NATO will never admit Ukraine, a demand Washington and NATO have said is unacceptable. Rear Adm. John Korka, Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC), and Chief of Civil Engineers, leads Navy and civilian water quality recovery experts through the tunnels of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, near Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Dec. 23, 2021. (Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Luke McCall/U.S. Navy via AP) Update: US Military Faces Crisis in Hawaii After Leak Poisons Water HONOLULUA giant U.S. government fuel storage installation hidden inside a mountain ridge overlooking Pearl Harbor has provided fuel to military ships and planes crisscrossing the Pacific Ocean since World War II. Its very existence was a secret for years. Even after it was declassified, few people paid attentionuntil late last year, when jet fuel leaked into a drinking water well, showed up in tap water, and sickened thousands in military housing. Now the Navy is scrambling to contain what one U.S. lawmaker calls a crisis of astronomical proportions. Native Hawaiians, veterans, liberals and conservatives across Hawaii are all pushing to shut down the tanks even though the Navy says theyre vital to national security. Military medical teams have examined more than 5,900 people complaining of symptoms including nausea, headaches and rashes. The military has moved about 4,000 mostly military families into hotels and has flown in water treatment systems from the U.S. mainland. In the first six weeks since the water crisis emerged, the Navy spent more than $250 million addressing the public health emergency. Frankly, its been a nightmare and a disaster. A total disaster, said U.S. Rep. Kaialii Kahele. Kahele, a combat pilot who still serves as an officer in the Hawaii National Guard, is the lawmaker who characterized the crisis as astronomical at a hearing in December. An admiral said that the Navy takes the blame. Mobile Diving Salvage Unit One performs inspection and sampling of a water well near Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Dec. 11, 2021. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Aja Bleu Jackson via AP, File) The Navy caused this problem, we own it and were gonna fix it, Navy Rear Adm. Blake Converse, the deputy Pacific Fleet commander, told lawmakers last month. The military built the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in the early 1940s by excavating caverns within the mountain ridge to protect 20 fuel tanks from aerial attacks. Each tank is about the height of a 25-story building and can hold 12.5 million gallons (47.32 million liters.) The tanks are connected to underground pipelines that send fuel about 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) to Pearl Harbor and to ships and planes used by the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, and Navy. The Navy hasnt determined how petroleum got in the water. Officials are investigating a theory that jet fuel spilled from a ruptured pipe last May and somehow entered a fire suppression system drain pipe. They suspect fuel then leaked from the second pipe on Nov. 20, sending it into the drinking water well. Within a week, military families started complaining about health problems. Lauren Wright remembers her skin peeling, feeling nauseous, and vomiting. Her symptoms disappeared only when she stopped drinking, showering and washing dishes with her homes water. Im a proud Navy spouse, but this is not rightto do this to your families, she said. Since early December, Wright, her sailor husband and their three children ages 7 to 17 have been among the thousands of military families living in Honolulu hotels paid for by the Navy so they can have clean water. The Navy has been trying to clear petroleum from the contaminated well and pump it out of the aquifer. Officials are also flushing clean water through the Navys water systemwhich serves 93,000 people in military homes and offices in and around Pearl Harbor. Teams have separately visited homes and workplaces to flush individual water pipe systems. But Wright said Marines sent to flush a neighbors home received two days of training, failed to follow a checklist for the work and had to be taught how to do the job by a neighbor with expertise. Were all afraid that we are going to be forced into our toxic homes and go right back to it, she said. The first major complaints about the fuel complex came in 2014, when 27,000 gallons (123,000 liters) leaked from one tank but didnt get into the drinking water. The Navy blamed contractor error and ineffective oversight. The Sierra Club of Hawaii and Honolulus water utility warned leaks could seep into one of Honolulus most important drinking water aquifers, located just 100 feet (30 meters) below the tanks, but the Navy resisted calls to move the facility. The aquifer normally supplies more than 20 percent of the water consumed in the city. After the latest spill, Honolulus water utility shut off three wells to prevent petroleum from migrating through the aquifer into the utilitys drinking water. If the biggest of the three wells remains shut, about 400,000 people in neighborhoods including downtown and Waikiki could face rationing and outages during the summer when water demand increases. The Navy last month said it would comply with an order by Hawaii Gov. David Ige, a Democrat, to drain the tanks and not use them until its safe to do so. But it reversed course this week and appealed to get more time to work on solutions. The Navy has said draining the tanks wouldnt affect short-term Pacific operations, but commanders said they would give congressional members a classified briefing on longer-term implications. Many Hawaii residents, including Republican state Rep. Bob McDermott, say the dangers posed by the tanks justify getting rid of the fuel complex forever. The Marine veteran has two sons in the Navy, one son who is a Marine veteran and another currently at Marine Corps boot camp. Im very close to the military, but these things are too old. Its just that simple. And if theyre going to look at infrastructure for the next century, they need to fill these things in with dirt, said McDermott. Forty-eight of the 51 members of the state House of Representatives signed a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin calling for the tanks to be decommissioned. State senators are considering legislation to outlaw them. Hawaiis four-member congressional delegation has secured wording in recent legislation requiring the Navy to study fuel storage alternatives. Esther Kiaaina, a Honolulu city council member, said public trust in the military in Hawaii could be scarred if the Navy doesnt close the tanks for good. This is a watershed moment. This is a turning point for the militarys relationship with Hawaii, said Kiaaina, who was an Interior Department assistant secretary during the Obama administration. She warned that failure to shut them down could jeopardize the militarys ability to obtain lease extensions for state lands under sites like Pohakuloa Training Area, a Big Island site used by the Army and the Marines. Converse, the deputy Pacific Fleet commander, said during the congressional hearing that the Navy is working to restore public trust. We recognize how much these events impacted the lives of so many, and we are firmly committed to restoring safe drinking water in a manner that builds trust and protects the land and the waters of Hawaii, Converse said. Hawaii has been a strategically important outpost for the U.S. military since the early 1900s, when it set up a coal refueling station for steam-powered warships at Pearl Harbor. Today defense spending accounts for 8.5 percetn of Hawaiis gross domestic product. Activist protests got the Navy to stop bombing Kahoolawe Island for target practice in 1990. This time, opposition to the military is broader because it involves water, something that everyone connects to, said Colin Moore, a University of Hawaii political science professor. I dont think they have any friends on the island at this point, he said. By Audrey McAvoy U.S. Army troops of the 82nd Airborne Division unloading vehicles from a transport plane after arriving from Fort Bragg, at the Rzeszow-Jasionka airport in southeastern Poland, on Feb. 6, 2022. (Czarek Sokolowski/AP Photo) US Troops Arrive in Poland to Reinforce Eastern Europe Allies Amid Russian Military Buildup RZESZOW-JASIONKA, PolandA few dozen elite U.S troops and equipment were seen landing Sunday in southeastern Poland near the border with Ukraine, following President Joe Bidens orders to deploy 1,700 soldiers there amid fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Hundreds more infantry troops of the 82nd Airborne Division are still expected to arrive at the Rzeszow-Jasionka airport, 90 kilometers (56 miles) from Polands border with Ukraine. A U.S. Air Force Boeing C-17 Globemaster plane brought a few dozen troops and vehicles. Their commander is Maj. Gen. Christopher Donahue, who on Aug. 30 was the last American soldier to leave Afghanistan. Our national contribution here in Poland shows our solidarity with all of our allies here in Europe and, obviously, during this period of uncertainty, we know that we are stronger together, Donahue said at the airport. U.S. Army General Christopher Donahue (L), commanding general of the 82nd Airborne Division, and Polish General Wojciech Marchwica speak to journalists after unloading vehicles from a transport plane arriving from Fort Bragg at the Rzeszow-Jasionka airport in southeastern Poland on Feb. 6, 2022. (AP Photo) In Warsaw, Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak hailed the deployment, saying that deterrence and solidarity are the best response to Moscows aggressive policy, to the aggressive attempt at reconstructing the Russian empire. Russia has amassed some 100,000 troops on the borders of Ukraine, some for joint military exercises in Belarus, but insists it has no intentions of invading Ukraine. A collective response by NATO members is the best response to a threat, the only method of assuring security to Poland and to other NATO countries on the alliances eastern flank, Blaszczak said. He stressed he has held a number of talks on the subject with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. Biden ordered additional U.S. troops deployed to Poland, Romania and Germany to demonstrate to both allies and foes Americas commitment to NATOs eastern flank amid rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine. NATOs eastern member Poland borders both Russia and Ukraine. Romania borders Ukraine. The division can rapidly deploy within 18 hours and conduct parachute assaults to secure key objectives. Based in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the divisions history goes back to 1917. Earlier in the week, U.S. planes brought equipment and logistics troops in preparation for the arrival of part of the division to the airport. Polish soldiers have previously worked together with the U.S. division on missions in Iraq and Afghanistan and have trained together, according to Maj. Przemyslaw Lipczynski, a spokesman for the Polish Armys 18th Mechanized Division. Some 4,000 U.S. troops have been stationed in Poland since 2017 on a rotating basis, as a security boost in the face of Russias increased military activity. European officials fear that the continents energy supplies are vulnerable in the case of hostilities over Ukraine. By Monika Scislowska and Czarek Sokolowski (LR) CITGO oil executives Jose Angel Pereira, Gustavo Cardenas, Jorge Toledo, Jose Luis Zambrano, Tomeu Vadell, and Alirio Jose Zambrano, standing outside the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service in Caracas, Venezuela, in a file photo. (Posted on Twitter by Jorge Arreaza/Venezuela's Foreign Ministry via AP) Venezuela Upholds Long Jail Sentences for US Oil Executives A court in Venezuela has upheld long prison sentences for six American oil executives detained in the South American country on corruption charges for more than four years. Venezuelas supreme court announced the ruling late Friday, disappointing family members who had hoped the surprise decision last fall to hear the appeal, and by a top State Department official, signified Nicolas Maduros regime was looking to release the men as part of a gesture to engage the Biden administration in talks over U.S. sanctions. The court didnt provide any information on its decision, and the order itself was not immediately available. Venezuelas judicial system is stacked with pro-Maduro officials who routinely issue decrees in accordance with Maduros viewpoints. The men known as the Citgo 6for the Houston oil company where they workedwere lured to Caracas around Thanksgiving in 2017 to attend a meeting at the headquarters of Citgos parent, state-run oil giant PDVSA. Once there, heavily armed masked security officers stormed the conference room where they were gathered and hauled them away. Later they were charged with corruption in connection to a never-executed plan to refinance billions in bonds. The executives appeared in November before a three-judge appeals panel in the same week as the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention took up the case of Tomeu Vadell, one of the six detainees. Five of the men are dual Venezuelan-American nationals who had lived in the United States for many years, while one, former Citgo president Jose Pereira, is a permanent U.S. resident. The men are being held at Caracass Helicoide jail alongside some of Maduros top opponents. The United States has repeatedly called for their release and harshly criticized their detention and conviction as lacking all semblance of due process. Seen by many as political pawns in hostilities between the United States and Venezuela, the men have twice before been granted house arrest. But they were thrown back into jail hours after then President Donald Trump welcomed opposition leader Juan Guaido to the White House in February 2020. They were granted house arrest again last April, but that arrangement ended Oct. 16, the same day that a close ally of Maduro was extradited by the African nation of Cape Verde to the United States to face money laundering charges. Virginia Supreme Court Rejects Lawsuit Seeking to Reinstate School Mask Mandates The Virginia Supreme Court rejected on Feb. 7 a lawsuit that challenged Gov. Glenn Youngkins order barring mask mandates in state schools. The lawsuit was filed in January by a group of parents in Chesapeake against the governors mask order, which stipulated that parents should have the right to choose whether their children should wear masks while in class. Youngkin and Attorney General Jason Miyares both described the ruling as a victory for parents in Virginia. Today, the Supreme Court of Virginia rejected a challenge out of the City of Chesapeake to Governor Youngkins Executive Order Number 2. The Governor and I are pleased with todays ruling. At the beginning of this pandemic, Governor Northam used his broad emergency powers to close places of worship, private businesses, and schools and impose a statewide mask mandate, Miyares, a Republican, said in a statement. The attorney general said his state now has better risk mitigation strategies and vaccines that dont warrant universal masking in schools. We are pleased by the dismissal, Youngkin, also a Republican, wrote on Twitter. We will continue to protect the rights of parents to make decisions regarding their childs health, education, upbringing, and care. According to the Supreme Court ruling (pdf), the justices wrote that they have no opinion on the legality of EO 2 and dismissed the lawsuit on procedural grounds. We deny petitioners motion to amend, the justices wrote, and we dismiss the petition because the relief requested does not lie against any of the respondents. Kevin Martingayle, a lawyer for the parents, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that the courts decision is not a ruling on the merits and suggested the Virginia Supreme Court continues to have questions about Executive Order Two. On Feb. 4, a state judge issued a ruling that temporarily blocked Youngkins order, granting seven school districts a request to have it be temporarily barred. A spokesperson for Youngkin said his office would appeal that ruling. On his first day in office last month, Youngkin issued the mask-optional order. Although some school boards have eliminated mask mandates, others have defied the governors order and claim it circumvents local authority. A growing number of experts and public health officials have suggested an end to school mask mandates. Among them is an infectious disease expert who works for the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who recently wrote an article for The Atlantic describing flaws in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preventions mask recommendation for schools. We reviewed a variety of studiessome conducted by the CDC itself, some cited by the CDC as evidence of masking effectiveness in a school setting, and others touted by media to the same endto try to find evidence that would justify the CDCs no-end-in-sight mask guidance for the very-low-risk pediatric population, particularly post-vaccination, the article, published in January, reads. We came up empty-handed. Travis Reinking (C), reacts as the verdict is read during day five of Reinking's murder trial at the Justice A.A. Birch Building in Nashville, Tenn., on Feb. 4, 2022. (Andrew Nelles/The Tennessean via AP) Waffle House Shooter Receives Life in Prison Without Parole NASHVILLE, Tenn.A man who shot and killed four people at a Nashville Waffle House in 2018 received a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole on Saturday. Jurors handed down the penalty for 33-year-old Travis Reinking after hearing about two hours of testimony from family members of the four people killed. They sobbed and trembled as they talked about their loved ones and how losing them continues to fracture their lives more than three years later. Jurors had the option of giving Reinking the chance for parole after serving 51 years in prison. Naked save for a green jacket, Reinking opened fire inside the restaurant just after 3:20 a.m. on April 22, 2018, killing Taurean Sanderlin, 29; Joey Perez, 20; Akilah Dasilva, 23; and DeEbony Groves, 21. He fled after restaurant patron James Shaw Jr. wrestled his assault-style rifle away from him, triggering a manhunt. James Shaw Jr., who disarmed Travis Reinking during the shooting, reacts as the verdict is read during day five of Reinkings murder trial at the Justice A.A. Birch Building in Nashville, Tenn., on Feb. 4, 2022. (Andrew Nelles/The Tennessean via AP) Ive always been somebody that they say is unbreakable, because no matter what our family has been through, I will always be the one to bring our family up, Patricia Perez said through tears about losing her son Joey. This has broken me. Jurors on Friday rejected Reinkings insanity defense as they found him guilty on 16 charges, including four counts of first-degree murder. The trial opened Monday after jury selection the previous week. Prosecutors in 2020 indicated they would not seek the death penalty and would seek life without parole. Shaundelle Brooks, mother of victim Akilah Dasilva, reacts after the verdict is read during day five of Travis Reinkings murder trial at the Justice A.A. Birch Building in Nashville, Tenn., on Feb. 4, 2022. (Andrew Nelles/The Tennessean via AP) Abede Dasilva, the brother of victim Akilah Dasilva, speaks to reporters after a verdict was issued during day five of Travis Reinkings murder trial at the Justice A.A. Birch Building in Nashville, Tenn., on Feb. 4, 2022. (Andrew Nelles/The Tennessean via AP) Reinkings defense team, which didnt put on any sentencing witnesses Saturday, argued for the possibility of parole, saying he was mentally untethered. Prosecutors argued the evidence shows Reinking planned out the attack and wanted to kill everyone at the restaurant. Prosecutors also directed jurors attention back to heart-wrenching testimony from family members. Shaundelle Brooks said her son Akilah Dasilva was a gifted artist, a brilliant student, and a talented musician who built his own computer to work on his music, which he used to urge people to turn away from gun violence. He loved his family, but most of all Akilah wanted to live, Brooks said, crying. He wanted to create positive change in this world. He showed compassion, not anger. He spread love, not hate. Evidence at trial showed Reinking had schizophrenia and had suffered delusions for years, believing unknown people were tormenting him. He contacted law enforcement several times to report that he was being threatened, stalked, and harassed. In July 2017, he was detained by the Secret Service after he ventured unarmed into a restricted area on the White House grounds and demanded to meet with then-President Donald Trump. State police in Illinois, where he lived at the time, revoked Reinkings state firearms owner identification. But that only meant he had to turn over his guns to someone else with valid identification. Reinking surrendered the guns to his father, who later returned them to his son. Since law enforcement declined to take his delusions seriously, Reinking began to feel that they and other random people were part of a conspiracy against him, psychologists testified. Shortly before the attack, he believed someone had drugged him, broken into his apartment and raped him. Reinking told psychologists that while praying about what to do, he received a command from God to go to the Waffle House and shoot three people. To prove Reinking was not guilty by reason of insanity, defense attorneys had to show not only that he suffered from severe mental illness that left him unable to understand the wrongfulness of his actions. Prosecutors presented evidence that Reinking was calm and cooperative after his arrest, able to understand and respond to commands. Although Reinking was naked when he walked from the crime scene, when he was captured nearly two days later, he was dressed and carrying a backpack loaded with water bottles, sunscreen, a pistol, ammunition, Bible and several silver bars. And they mentioned he had asked to talk to an attorney after his arrest. Prosecutors suggested Reinking was acting out of revenge. He noted that days before the shooting, Reinking stole a BMW from a dealership. Reinking wrote in a journal about plans to drive to Colorado, describing a life in which he would hang out with friends, smoke marijuana, hike in the mountains and repossess cars and houses so that he would not have to work, a prosecutor said. After police took the BMW back the next day, he wrote, This time I would have to punish them by taking something they couldnt take back, some of their own lives, the prosecutor said. Joe Perez Sr., father of victim Joe Perez Jr., reacts after the verdict is read during day five of Travis Reinkings murder trial at the Justice A.A. Birch Building in Nashville, Tenn., on Feb. 4, 2022. (Andrew Nelles/The Tennessean via AP) Prosecutors also emphasized Reinkings own account of the shooting: He said that after killing Perez, I felt like I was going to throw up because this was something God told me to do but it felt evil. The jury also convicted Reinking on four counts of attempted first-degree murder and four counts of unlawful employment of a firearm during commission of or attempt to commit a dangerous felony. In addition to the four people he killed, he seriously wounded Sharita Henderson and Shantia Waggoner. Kayla Shaw and James Shaw Jr., who are not related, suffered lesser injuries. By Travis Loller A woman holds smartphone with Facebook logo in front of a displayed Facebook's new rebrand logo Meta in this illustration picture taken on Oct. 28, 2021. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters) Waning Enthusiasm, Competition Weigh on Meta Stock in Earnings Fallout Facebooks parent company, Meta Platforms, extended its losses on Feb. 7, dipping more than 5 percent as the fallout from a rough earnings report continues. In its fourth-quarter report, the social media giant formerly known as Facebook last week confirmed earnings of $3.67 per share, down from $3.88 in the same period in 2021. Earnings also fell short of the market estimate of $3.85 per share. However, sales surged to $33.67 billion, up from $28.1 billion from the year-earlier period, and topping the median forecast of $33.4 billion. Profits totaled $10.3 billion in the final three months of 2021, down 8 percent from 2020 and below analysts expectations. The tech titan forecast its first-quarter revenue in the range of $27 billion to $29 billion, with Wall Street penciling in $30.15 billion. Industry observers purport that the company is going through a broad array of challenges that could weigh on growth in 2022 and beyond. Falling User Growth For the first time in its 18-year history, daily active users (DAU) declined, falling to 1.929 billion in the three months ending in December 2021. Although the userbase has remained strong across the Meta ecosystem, such as WhatsApp and Instagram, experts contend the decrease in DAUs isnt a surprising trend. User growth on the Facebook app has stagnated in recent years. Its core user base is getting older, the website lacks new countries for expansion, and the social network is failing to attract or retain the imperative younger demographic. Last year, a researcher at the company reported in an internal memo that the number of U.S. teenagers on the Facebook application tumbled by 13 percent in 2019. The Facebook report further discovered that the user production rate and the number of messages sent have fallen considerably. The document forecast that teenage users plunged by as much as 45 percent over the next two years, while young adults aged 20 to 30 would slip by 4 percent. People have a lot of choices for how they want to spend their time, and apps like TikTok are growing very quickly, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in last weeks earnings call. The Social Network Universe In recent years, the social media landscape has ballooned, giving consumers more choice, particularly among the younger demographic. Snapchat recorded its first quarterly net profit as revenue climbed 42 percent to $1.3 billion in the October-to-December period of 2021. However, the figure that many market analysts are monitoring is the number of daily users: 319 million. The logos of mobile apps Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Facebook, Google, and Messenger displayed on a tablet in Lille, France, on Oct. 1, 2019. (AFP via Getty Images/Denis Charlet) The photo- and video-sharing platform has become immensely popular for teenagers under 16 for its privacythe media content disappears in secondsand the ability to share images to only a limited number of people chosen by the user. Twitter is a powerhouse in the social media sector, amassing 396.5 million users, including approximately 206 million daily active users. After several years of lackluster growth, the company witnessed a considerable jump in accounts in 2021. From serving as a venue for finding breaking news to going through several important design changes, Twitter has become the comeback kid, with stock rallied to an all-time high of about $80 in early 2021 before falling more than 37 percent in that span. Chinese ByteDance-owned TikTok has taken the social media world by storm, with 1 billion monthly active users, up from 133 million in 2018. In 2020, TikTok overtook Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram as the most downloaded app in the United States and worldwide, with U.S. users spending on average more than 14 hours per month on the app. LinkedIn is a premier networking arena for professionals. After Microsoft purchased LinkedIn for $26.2 billion in 2016, the website has expanded its suite of tools beyond finding employment opportunities or recruiting potential employees. Today, it allows people to create content, share news, and like posts. Its All About the Data Meta confirmed in its latest earnings report that Apples App Tracking Transparency feature is predicted to result in a $10 billion hit to sales. We believe the impact of iOS overall is a headwind on our business in 2022, Meta CFO Dave Wehner said on a call with analysts. Its on the order of $10 billion, so its a pretty significant headwind for our business. Last year, Apple introduced the mechanism in iOS 14.5. It prevents app producers from tracking your information and selling it to advertisers. Many businesses denounced the move, arguing that it would limit targeted and personalized ads for users and negatively affect businesses that use those ads. Facebook unveiled their new Meta sign at the company headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif., on Oct. 28, 2021. (Tony Avelar/AP Photo) Meanwhile, Meta warned that it could shut down Facebook and Instagram in Europe over new legislation determining how European Union citizens user data is transferred to the United States. If a new transatlantic data transfer framework is not adopted and we are unable to continue to rely on SCCs (standard contractual clauses) or rely upon other alternative means of data transfers from Europe to the United States, we will likely be unable to offer a number of our most significant products and services, including Facebook and Instagram, in Europe, the company said in a statement. But European lawmaker Axel Voss likened it to blackmail, writing on Twitter that leaving the EU would be their loss. Banking on the Metaverse? When the company lost more than $200 billion in market capitalization, many analysts questioned if this has turned into the new normal for the tech juggernaut, a consequence of not releasing an innovative and unique product in years. But Zuckerberg has made it clear that he can turn the business around by investing in seven critical priorities, including artificial intelligence, community messages, privacy, and, most important of all, the metaverse. However, some analysts are confident that Meta is still an attractive investment opportunity. We think Meta remains an attractive business, said Ali Mogharabi, a senior equity analyst at Morningstar, in a note. Its core advertising business, with nearly a 50% operating margin, continues to perform well. While possibly lower ad prices (mainly for short-form video ads) and Apples iOS changes may hurt ad revenue growth more than we initially expected, we think these impacts will be short-term. (L-R) In this handout photo provided by Disney Resorts, hosts Sunny Hostin, Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg, guest John Stamos, Sara Haines and Jedediah Bila pose on ABC's "The View" broadcasting from Disneys Animal Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., on March 6, 2017. (Todd Anderson/Disney Resorts via Getty Images) Whoopi Goldberg Co-Host Responds to People Who Think Suspension Not Enough Sara Haines, a co-host of Whoopi Goldberg from The View, showed support for the long-time talk show host after several fans said they think the length of her suspension is not enough in comparison to what she did. Goldberg has been widely criticized after declaring that the Holocaust was not about racewhich was followed by a statement from the network on Feb. 1 announcing a two-week suspension for the host. Haines posted a selfie on Instagram of the duo laughing, writing in the caption of the post that seeing this picture warmed [her] heart. This just popped up and warmed my heart, Haines said. Thats my Whoops!!!! The 44-year-olds post gained the attention of several of her followers, prompting a debate over the length of Goldbergs suspension. Sara Haines attends the world premiere of Nobodys Fool at AMC Lincoln Square Theater in N.Y.C., on Oct. 28, 2018. (Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures) Responding to the criticism, Haines added a comment to her own post, writing: Id like to invite people trolling the post to go play somewhere else. To learn from a moment is all we can ask of anyone. And prioritizing punitive measures at the expense of the message/issue (and teaching moment) are misguided. Some fans in disapproval of Goldbergs Holocaust remarks said the long-time host should get fired, while another Instagram user called for the show to get canceled. I cannot believe youre making excuses for Whoopie Goldberg anybody else would have been fired!!!! one person commented on Hainess post. Another person wrote that the whole show should be canceled, claiming it includes nothing but hate. Goldberg released a statement one day after her remarksapologizing for the hurt she had caused after a social media outcry over her view on the genocide of 6 million Jews. Whoopi Goldberg attends the world premiere of Nobodys Fool in New York on Oct. 28, 2018. (Charles Sykes/Invision/AP Photo) On todays show, I said the Holocaust is not about race, but about mans inhumanity to man. I should have said it is about both, she wrote. As Jonathan Greenblatt from the Anti-Defamation League shared, The Holocaust was about the Nazis [sic] systematic annihilation of the Jewish peoplewho they deemed to be an inferior race. I stand corrected. Goldberg made her original comments during a discussion on Mondays show about a Tennessee school boards banning of Maus, a Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel about the Nazi death camps during World War II. I misspoke, the host said at the opening of Tuesdays show, a day later. According to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Nazi regime did define Jews as a race. Embracing a social Darwinist survival of the fittest view of human society, the Nazis attributed a wide variety of negative stereotypes about Jews to an unchanging, biologically determined heritage that supposedly drove the Jewish race to struggle to survive by expansion at the expense of other races. From NTD News A military personnel walks past Shenyang Aircraft Corporation's J-16 multirole strike fighter for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) at the 13th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, southern China's Guangdong Province on Sept. 28, 2021. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images) Will China Take Taiwan by Force by 2027 or Sooner? Experts Comment on Invasion Scenarios News Analysis In recent years, Beijing has threatened to take Taiwan by force, if necessary. Will a war soon break out in the Taiwan Strait? Experts and politicians from both countries recently shared their views on the issue. Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) could occupy Taiwan in a week and is not afraid of fighting U.S. forces in the Taiwan Strait, Jin Canrong, a renowned Chinese professor from Renmin Universitys School of International Studies and foreign policy adviser to Beijing, told Nikkei on Jan. 31. It is very likely that the leadership will move toward armed unification by 2027, the 100th anniversary of the PLAs founding, Jin claimed. Since 1949, Taiwan and mainland China have been run by two different governments. In the past decades, the Chinese regime has claimed the island as its own, despite the fact that Taiwan is a de facto independent entity, with its own military, democratically-elected government, and constitution. Voices From Taiwan Yuan Hongbing, a Chinese novelist and a philosopher in exile, believes that Beijing will launch a war to unify Taiwan in 2024. He told The Epoch Times on Feb. 3 that the Chinese regime would put financial and political pressures on Taiwan to provoke it. Taiwanese scholars and politicians dont believe that China can defeat Taiwan in a war, especially if allies and the United States help defend the island. Its not easy [to unify Taiwan by force]. There are a lot of factors that China should think about, Lee Cheng-hsiu, a senior assistant research fellow at Taiwans National Policy Foundation, told The Epoch Times on Feb. 1. Once Beijing launches the war, the international community will react. The situation is dynamic. The capacity of the attacker is changing; same as the defender. Taiwan is strengthening, Su Tzu-yun, a senior analyst at the Taiwan-based Institute for National Defense and Security Research, told the publication on Feb. 1. Taiwan Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu told German media ZDF on Feb. 1, We are very determined to defend our homeland. Wu emphasized that Taiwans defense capabilities continue to improve because of support from the United States, which provides weapons and military training, as well as high-level intelligence sharing between the two countries. A Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force WZ-7 high-altitude reconnaissance drone is seen a day before the 13th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, southern Chinas Guangdong Province on Sept. 27, 2021. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images) The Taiwanese experts believe that under the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) repressive rule, Chinese scholars and experts are under pressure to deliver a message that toes Beijings line, which includes armed unification of Taiwan. The CCP regime will hold its 20th rubber-stamp legislatures conference in the upcoming autumn. [Jin] must be consistent with the CCP leaders and promote Beijings narrative that it will unify Taiwan by force, Lee said. Su believes that the Taiwan Strait issue gives people a chance to choose between Taiwans democracy and the Chinese regimes totalitarianism, rather than simply a question of unifying the two sides. Seventy percent of Taiwanese choose democracy, according to recent polls, he said. Pro-China opinions reflect their arrogance and ignorance of the facts, which brings the real risk and danger to the region. Su emphasized that allies and other countries that uphold democracy and freedom will support Taiwan. Taiwan has military alliances with many countries. Once the Chinese regime launches a war, these countries wont stand idly by. Taiwan soldiers stand next to the domestically produced corvette class vessel Tuo Chiang (R) during a drill at the northern city of Keelung, Taiwan on Jan. 7, 2022. (Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images) Jin suggested that Taipei and Beijing should meet and discuss cooperation. But Su warned that the CCP is not to be trusted. As early as in the 1920s, the CCP used the strategy of negotiating with [then Chinas ruling party] KMT [Kuomintang], but behind the scenes it was fighting and cheating the KMT. Taiwan wont be fooled by the CCPs tricks anymore, Su said. Invading Taiwan Is Risky Yuan doesnt agree with Jin about the PLAs capability in subduing Taiwanese forces, but he believes that Chinese leader Xi Jinping will nevertheless use force to unify Taiwan with the mainland in the near future, even though China may lose in a war. Its hard for the PLA to occupy a city, not to mention a big island. In 1989, hundreds of thousands of PLA soldiers spent almost one month suppressing the students protest and controlling Beijing, Yuan said, in reference to the student-led pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square. Based on my knowledge and understanding, Taiwan can organize three million civilians, and arm them within a short time. They will defend the island together with Taiwan military troops once PLA soldiers land there. The Chinese regimes diplomatic problems are growing. At the same time, Chinas economy is in crisis and its politics isnt as stable as it looks. The regime will face complete financial and political collapse soon. Before this collapse arrives, Xi will try to launch a war in the Taiwan Strait to shift the Chinese peoples focus away from domestic issues, which he thinks will save the CCP, he said. Yuan warned that once Xi launches a war, the Chinese people who are against the CCPs totalitarian rule will stand up and fight for their freedom, which would lead to the regimes collapse. Map showing China, Taiwan, and the Taiwan Strait. (Image source: Central Intelligence Agency) Zheng Yefu, a retired sociology professor from Chinas prestigious Peking University, urged Beijing to get rid of the plan of unifying Taiwan by using force. In an article published on overseas Chinese-language news platforms on Jan. 22, Zheng explained that a lot of Chinese citizens dont want a war, but their voices cant be heard because of Beijings censorship. The threat of using force [to unify Taiwan] will cause a war and the consequences will be catastrophic. Once the war starts, China, Taiwan, and the United States will have no room to make concessions. Once the nuclear-weapon states fight with each other, no power can stop them from using these weapons, Zheng wrote. Luo Ya contributed to this report. ALTON Being snowed in presents the perfect time for everyone in MERS Goodwills Southeastern Illinois communities to rethink their home organization and help create local jobs at the same time. All community members are invited to bring the clothing and household items they no longer need to their closest MERS Goodwill donation center so they can find new use with a new family, a budding hobbyist, or a thrifty deal-seeker, said MERS Goodwill CEO and President Dave Kutchback. The Alton MERS Goodwill, 1719 Homer M. Adams Pkwy., receives more than 100 donations per day, from 10 a.m.-5:45 p.m., seven days a week under the blue awning at the side of the building. Weve had six or seven donations today, but on average we have more than 100 donations a day. Its pretty great, said Alton store manager Lisa Paulin, of Alton, who was at the store Friday after this week's heavy snowfall. Last year, MERS Goodwill received 1,561,256 item donations. With the support of donors, MERS Goodwill programs offer guidance and support to clients seeking stable employment and a brighter future in 2022. The donations that MERS Goodwill receives are invaluable to supporting the organizations life-changing programs, Kutchback said. Its a win-win. MERS Goodwill supporters can clean out their closets and get organized while our shoppers and clients benefit. Paulin began working at the Alton MERS Goodwill store 18 years ago. After eight months she went to manage the Granite City MERS Goodwill for more than 12 years. She came back to Alton as the store manager four years ago. MERS Goodwill District Manager John Feldman, of Glen Carbon, has been with the company 11 years and has been the district manager for five years. MERS stands for Missouri Employment Rehab Services, which includes the Metro East. Its 44 locations stretch from Hannibal, Missouri, to Marion, Illinois. The stores assist with funding MERS Goodwill job training and employment services along with four locations of The Excel Center and a MERS Goodwill Career Center at 2524 State St. in Alton. The four Excel Centers help adults get high school diplomas; its something we are proud of and we support, Paulin said. Another one of the things we do is help individuals with disabilities overcome barriers to employment, and we have several veterans programs, as well. All three of those are close to our heart. Right now MERS Goodwill also is hiring with starting salaries of $13.50 to $23.50 per hour. Interested individuals can scan a QR code at the Alton Goodwill or apply online; more details are online at www.mersgoodwill.org. This is a great place to be; its fun to work here, Paulin said. We have 30 employees at the Alton store. It takes a lot of people with the donations we get. Its just wonderful. The Alton story receives especially large amounts of donations at the beginning and the end of each year, she said, as people clean out their homes, storage and garages. Goodwill representatives suggested now is the perfect time for people to declutter: It relieves stress. With so many external stressors right now, it can be easy for negative feelings to pile up and create emotional turmoil. Getting organized can help lift that weight off of your shoulders! By letting go of what you no longer use, you can gain a clear (and less stressful) outlook on your home and life. It increases productivity. Disorganization can make you feel unmotivated and unproductive. Clearing out what you no longer need can give you the energy to focus on whats important in the new year. If one of your New Years resolutions is getting back on track with healthy habits, decluttering and organizing can be a great place to start! It removes distractions. As you move through the first months of the new year, take a look each day at the things youre actually using in your home. When you allow yourself to reflect on what you need versus what you dont need, you can let go of clutter and set clearer intentions for the future. The Alton store is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. To find other nearby stores, or donation centers, visit https://mersgoodwill.org/stores/. I enjoy it with the staff and the public, get to know your regulars and the people who come in, Paulin said. On the sales floor, someone will run into someone they havent seen in a long time. "It is fun to see relatives meeting up here. Its, just, neat," she said. "Its really been awesome and I plan to hang out with them as long as possible. MERS Goodwills mission is to change lives through the power of work. Its vision is a community where each individual has the opportunity to learn, work and achieve their greatest potential. Annually serving more than 11,000 individuals, the nonprofit is governed by a local board of directors, and operates in 46 locations serving 93 counties in the bi-state area. MERS Goodwill is a member of the United Way and is accredited by the Better Business Bureau. The agency is also profiled on the nonprofit organization database GuideStar, where MERS Goodwill is ranked with the Platinum Seal of Approval. For more information, visit www.mersgoodwill.org and the corporate MERS Goodwill Facebook page. To contact Paulin, or for more information about the Alton store, call 618-462-8828. GIANRIGO MARLETTA/AFP via Getty Images On Friday, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity highlighted data from the Business Formation Statistics Report that shows Illinois is leading the Midwest in business startups and is among the top 10 states nationally. Additionally, the state reached the highest recorded number of business startups, with 198,827 business startups created in Illinois in 2021, up from 170,400 in 2020, highest since data began in 2004. Illinois had 69% more business startups in 2021 than before the pandemic in 2019 (198,827 compared to 117,392). ALTON As part of the upcoming Route 66 centennial, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has a new $4 million grant program to develop tourism, education, preservation and promotion of the historic highway. Often referred to as The Mother Road, Route 66 stretches 2,448 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica, California, including more than 300 miles between its starting point and the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge in Madison. It was designated in 1926 as part of the new numbered highway network, and continued until 1985. Much of it continues to be driveable and is a major tourism draw along its length. Route 66 is an international destination with visitors traveling through our small towns to experience the nostalgia and Americana that can only be found on the Mother Road, said Cory Jobe, president and CEO of the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau, and chair of the Illinois Centennial Commission. 2026 is the centennial year of Route 66. "Promoting. preserving and planned development of the rich history of the road is essential if we want to tell our story to the world," he said. "I support Gov. Pritzkers efforts to draw attention to this economic corridor Route 66 parallels Interstate 55 until Hamel, then splits into two segments used at different times. The 1926-40 alignment follows Illinois 157 through Edwardsville to westbound Old Chain of Rocks Road. It goes through Mitchell and splits into two segments. One goes through Granite City, Madison and Venice to the McKinley Bridge, used from 1926-1930. The second route goes to Chouteau Island and the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, which was the designated alignment from 1930-1940. The second main route goes through Collinsville on U.S. 40, going through Fairmont City and eventually East St. Louis, crossing the Mississippi River at the Martin Luther King, and later Poplar Street bridges. The tourism bureau has been actively promoting The Mother Road since it expanded operations into Southern Madison County. Earlier this week Jobe said they planned to expand those promotions. We have also just launched locally an initiative called 'The Last 100 Miles of Route 66." he said. The initiative includes a planning committee with local representation. We have some projects were working with communities all up and down the route, he said. Because of the upcoming centennial, he said the next few years should see increased interest. He expects 2025 through 2027 to be "great years for the route with an upsurge in international interest. Route 66 traditionally brings a number of foreign visitors through the area. In many cases, Europeans come to either Chicago or Santa Monica, rent a car, and drive the entire route. The No. 1 most recognizable product in the U.S is Route 66, Jobe said, adding that, for many of those travelers, it is the trip of a lifetime. He said the tourism bureau expects to take advantage of the grants, but did not have specifics at this time. The grants are open to the states tourism bureaus. Priority projects include: Projects that are statewide in nature and benefit the entire Illinois portion of Route 66 from Chicago to Chain of Rocks Bridge. Projects that develop new or enhance existing attractions that elevate the Route 66 experience in Illinois. Projects that support improved navigation for visitors traveling Route 66; and Projects that strengthen future tourism trends that include electric vehicles. Route 66 is nearly 100 years old and as we prepare to celebrate its historic centennial, I cant think of a better way to honor its cultural contribution than preserving and promoting it for generations to come, said Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Whether recipients improve sites to be accessible for electric vehicles or breathe new life into beloved roadside attractions, this funding opportunity will help support communities along Route 66. Through a Notice of Funding Opportunity, Certified Conventions and Visitors Bureaus can submit an application until March 7, 2022. To view the NOFO, please visit https://bit.ly/3ojjDFp. For more information about Route 66 in Illinois, visit the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway website at www.illinoisroute66.org. Photo: The view from Grand Street where the Lower East Side skyline is changing yet again. Some of the stories that caught our eye in the past week: Coming up on Tuesday evening, Community Board 3s transportation committee will weigh in on the citys plan to improve safety and traffic flow around the Williamsburg Bridge. Meanwhile, the panel will consider a resolution in support of a protected bike lane on Clinton Street. [CB3] U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney appears to be one of the beneficiaries of redistricting. New maps drawn by the State Legislature excise from her congressional district areas outside of Manhattan where she has struggled to attract an increasingly young, progressive and diverse electorate. [AM New York] Protesters rally against the new Chinatown jail. [AM New York] Theres been a lot of discussion about the impact of those instant grocery delivery startups that have taken over locations in numerous storefronts across the city. Heres another take, citing an example on the Lower East Side, where one of those new outposts is situated right cross the way from the Stop 1 Deli on Rivington St., a longtime independent business. [CNBC] Mayor Adams helped kick off the Year of the Tiger in Sara D. Roosevelt Park while local businesses held onto hopes that Lunar New Year celebrations would lure visitors back to Chinatown. [Channel 2] The Imperial Ballroom Dance Studio is one of the oldest businesses of its kind in Chinatown. [Time] Meet the Mott Street Girls, doing their part to promote community and culture in Chinatown. [Today] Two respected Latin American galleries have joined forces in a shared space on Eldridge Street. [The Art Newspaper] Uncle Lou hated retirement so he went into the restaurant business, opening a Cantonese sspot on Mulberry Street. [Grub Street] Chatham Square Library will host the virtual installment of Talking Books: Asian American Authors in Conversation with eminent author Gish Jen to discuss her recently published collection of short stories, Thank You, Mr. Nixon, on February 9, 6-7 p.m. The talk is part of a conversation series with Asian American authors and their works. Thank You, Mr. Nixon is Jens ninth book. Her short work has appeared in dozens of anthologies, textbooks, and periodicals, including the New Yorker and the Atlantic. Registration is required to receive a Zoom link on the day of this virtual event. Learn more here. Instant unlimited access to all of our content on thenewsguard.com. The News Guard E-Edition Newsletter emailed to you each week, the night before the paper hits the street! This subscription is for NEW or RENEWING online subscribers. (The charge will appear as "Country Media Inc." on your credit card statement) There are many governorship aspirants at the moment struggling to clinch the veto power of Kaduna state and all of them with their different manifestos. The people of Kaduna state had witnessed the administrative style of Governor Nasir Ahmad Elrufai and his leadership can be measured of the yardstick of the good, the bad and the ugly to different set of people of Kaduna state. Among the strongest contestants of Kaduna state is Uba Sani the senator representing Kaduna Central. Uba Sani is believed to be the top aspirant of Kaduna state Governor and he is a close ally to the Governor but there are many skeletons in his cupboard politically and his ambition is not well accepted by the people of Kaduna state and there is reliable information that the Governor may not favor him for the number one seat and the Kaduna state Governor is his only hope. Sani Dattijo has destroyed his hope with his own hands when he called Sanusi Lamido Sanusi the Former Emir of Kano and because of the closest relationship between Nasir Ahmad El-Rufa'i and Sanusi Lamido Sanusi the hope of Dattijo to be the next governor of Kaduna state is thwart. The former governor of Kaduna state, Ramalan Yero has a good chance to become the next governor of Kaduna state but his party are putting high hurdles at him. Many of the party executive members prefer other candidates but now that the party favored his master; Ahmad Muhammad Makarfi there is good hope for him to win the primary ticket of the party for the 2023 election. Danburam Zazzau, Sani Sha'aban is making ways to the throne of Kaduna state but there are many hurdles for him to cross both from the people of Kaduna state, his party and his success light is diminishing. Comrade Shehu Sani, the former senator of Kaduna Central is making way to the throne but it seems as a new PDP member it will be very difficult for him to scale through the primary election of the party as a tradition of PDP party of favoring their diehard supporters. Sulaiman Hunkuyi is facing wrap up in his party. The PDP party is not giving him chance to shine well. His group is sidelined and kept aside from many activities of the party and from calculations it will be very difficult for him to clinch the primary election ticket. Honorable Ashiru Kudan is still gaining ways again for the 2023 general election but the party need a better candidate for the 2023 contest and since he tested the depth of the water the PDP party is secretly planning to hinder his ambition. Another strong fellow of Kaduna state governorship aspirant is Honourable Rufa'i Ahmad Chanchangi the former two times Honourable Member of Kaduna South. Rufa'i Chanchangi is widely known in Kaduna state and is hitting the ground in his campaign to the number one seat of Kaduna state. Chanchangi is well connected in his party and he is the trusted ally of Bola Ahmad Tinubu who is hoped to be the next president of Nigeria. If Rufa'i Ahmad Chanchangi clinched the governorship APC primary ticket becoming the governor of Kaduna state will be very easy and smooth for him because of his popularity and acceptance. During his representations as the House of Representative Member, Rufa'i Ahmad Chanchangi has done very well in social development and youth empowerment and his redoubled generosity of what be grown up seeing his father doing of assisting people and developing their communities has made him the most favorable candidate of the masses and these factors of Chanchangi made Bola Ahmad Tinubu well accepted in Kaduna state from the grassroots of the people. While the only problem of this ambition is the Governor of Kaduna state who is supporting Yemi Osinbanjo to be the next Nigerian president and if Bola Ahmad Tinubu who is the loyalist of President Muhammad Buhari and the APC party strong pillar did good consultation Kaduna state as the centre of the North will be the strongest hold of Bola Ahmad Tinubu. Rufa'i Ahmad Chanchangi will be the best APC party governorship candidate for his good leadership style and magnanimous supporters both in the party and from the people. Other candidates jostling for Kaduna state governorship bearing APC are DSP Sagir Usman Shugaba, Muhammad Sani Bello, Hadiza Bala Usman and Muhammad Hafiz Bayero and Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed under PDP umbrella. Auwal Ahmed Ibrahim Goronyo writes from Kaduna state. He is a political analyst. A United States based South-East Nigeria Democratic League has called on the Minister of Transportation, Chief Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, to make haste and run for Presidency of Nigeria as the most competent and prepared person with the leadership capabilities on demand in present day Nigeria. Coordinator of the US-based South-east group, Prince Jude Emeka Okoye said that Amaechi has acquitted himself creditably as minister who supervises the Infrastructural rejuvenation with tremendous work on the railway system across Nigeria. According to Prince Okoye; " As the Muhammadu Buhari administration nears terminal date, it is very clear that what the country needs now is a courageous, hardworking and widely accepted persons with good knowledge of the system to carry-on with the ongoing infrastructure rebirth and reforms that can ensure survival of the country inspite of multifarious challenges. Amaechi undoubtedly fits the bill." Prince Okoye described Chibuike Amaechi who was recently turbaned as Dan Amanar Daura as a detribalized Nigerian with requisite stature and widespread acceptance across the country's ethnic nationalities and can mobilize support across board for a serve as President. The group with headquarters in Manhattan, NewYork said that they are already mobilizing persons of like-minds to garner necessary support for Chinuike Amaechi and encourage to throw his hat in the ring, convinced that Nigerians will be the ultimate beneficiary of his stewardship. On Monday, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has started that its decision on ban on movement, sale and consumption of Fulani cows throughout the Southeast region remained effective from April 2020. In a statement by the group's Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB insisted that the over N3billion which was spent on cow meat annually is wastages and must put to an end. The group also reaffirmed its call on those dealing with Fulani cows in the region to resort to other alternatives immediately, giving warning that it would not spare any herdsmen cows after the April deadline. The statement reads: We wish to reiterate that our earlier decision to ban the movement and consumption of Fulani cows in Biafra land, from April 2022, is sacrosanct. We also wish to correct the misinformation and misconceptions surrounding our position on the issue which our enemies are peddling to blackmail us. In the first place, the decision was taken as a last resort after many years of patience over the unprovoked genocidal attacks by Fulani herdsmen on our communities, and the failure of the double-faced Nigeria security agencies to rein in the rampaging Fulani mass murderers. We have waited enough and can no longer tolerate the docility and criminal silence of the Federal Government in protecting our communities against these agents of death. Since their cows have been the reason the jihadists are slaughtering our people, destroying our farms, raping our women and kidnapping our men for ransom, we have decided to stop consuming these cursed Fulani cows which have now become a source of sorrow and death. Its better we are alive and eat no Fulani cows than desire to eat them and be killed. The world should note that before arriving at this IRREVERSIBLE decision, we have made several appeals to the federal government and the security agencies to stop the Fulani from their atrocities in our land but they looked the other way, leaving our hapless communities at the mercy of these messengers of death. Our patience has been over stretched beyond its elasticity point. We can no longer afford to fold our arms and be waiting for the last man in Biafra land to be killed by jihadists masquerading as herdsmen. Our people waste huge sums of money up to N3bn every year on cow meat and we wont allow that to continue and encouraging those who have the money to start breeding our local cows (Efi Igbo) and other farming, IPOB will support them to boasts the farming and animal husbandry business. Our decision to ban the movement, sale and consumption of Fulani cows throughout Biafra land with effect from April of this year is not borne out of hate but we are safeguarding our land and our people from the evil agenda of Fulanis. Our decision is born out of the natural desire to preserve our race from being wiped out by the herdsmen. If you are a Biafran dealing on Fulani cows in Biafraland, its better you look for an alternative now because we wont spear any inch regarding herdsmen cows after April this year, dont say we dont warn you. A word is enough for the wise. Dr Walter Rodney, the Guyanese Scholar and activist, was tragically killed in the summer of 1980 amidst political turmoil in Guyana. Rodney was a graduate of the University of the West Indies, Jamaica, and London University, where he obtained his Ph.D in history Before the unfortunate bomb that tragically ended his life in the summer of 1980, Walter Rodney had created a powerful legacy. His classic work, "How Europe Underdeveloped Africa" opened a new perspective to the question of underdevelopment in Africa. It underlines the oppression and exploitations of the African continent by the white man. Tragically, several centuries after, the African continent still remained largely Underdeveloped. Its leaders have learnt nothing from history. The continent's underdevelopment has continued through Neo-colonialism from the imperialist powers aided by some of the continent's greedy and visionless leaders who can barely see beyond the kingdom of their noses. A classical case is the foray of the Chinese into the heart of the continent. In an article published online by a Ghanaian writer, Elvis Adjetey, recently revealed how some Ghanaians are panicking over reports of the Chinese entry into the cocoa industry. (Cocoa to Ghana is what crude oil is to Nigeria) Cocoa is a raw material for making chocolate with the global market value running into several billions of Dollars annually Strangely, Cocoa is mainly produced in tropical regions like in West Africa with Ghana, Ivory Coast and Nigeria as the leading producers. Sadly, on social media many Africans are worried that sooner or later, China could out-do the leading producers of Cocoa, all found in Africa A commentator reacting to the influx of Chinese into the heartland of Africa, lamented that the Chinese started cocoa export in less than a year ago and they have already developed a machine that peels cocoa straight from harvesting According to the commentator, Africa have produced cocoa for nearly 150 years and the African farmers have to marry more wives and give birth to more children to help peel cocoa pods. China has now started exporting cocoa to Europe. Apparently they have grown 2 billion trees over the last 6 years, using agronomists from Ghana, paying them $3800 or so per month. They have also packaged garri like rice and exported to Europe. On the packages, the Chinese have boldly claimed in writing that "from cassava grown on uncontaminated soil". Look at the psychological inference this places in the minds of consumers out there and the financial damage this will do to the African exporters wanting to compete. Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo ( Anambra State Governor-Ekect) Theirs will be shunned outrightly very soon! Thirdly, they have also turned their attention on the pona yam, which is indigenous to Brong-Ahafo and the Northern part of Ghana. According to the "leaked" document, it shows that China is vying to become the world's biggest producer of yams in a matter of a few years from now - with pona as its "star" or most lucrative yam export. Nigeria currently exports about 70% of the world's yam market but not Pona. The problem here is China will again insinuate that our lands are all contaminated, and crush the African exporters. The Chinese are in Africa plotting to subjugate and finally eliminate us - because whoever is hungry and thirsty does not care about gold, land or property. Food and water is next strategy in their war against Africa. That is, the first phase was the loans, followed by the contamination of the land with galamsay. Look at Zambia and see how the Chinese are ruining the land in that African country extracting bauxite, or the Congo with the extraction of coltan, etc. It is not just in Ghana facing Galamsey or illegal mining by the Chinese, etc. Africans need to wake up and collectively boot these enemies out." The commentator concluded Truly, as Africans we must begin to think inwardly, grow our own economy without allowing ourselves to be exploited by the imperialists. This is the revolution Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo is about to unleash in Anambra State as a model for other African countries to emulate! The journey of the continent's greatness and total revival could indeed begin in Anambra State with a visionary and purpose-driven leader like Cee Cee Soludo in the saddle!! Phukets Nita crowned Miss Thailand PHUKET: Manita Nita Duangkham Farmer, 25, who was born and raised in Phuket, has been crowned Miss Thailand 2022. culture By The Phuket News Monday 7 February 2022, 01:18PM Manita Nita Duangkham Farmer, a 25-year-old Thai-American born and raised in Phuket, has been crowned Miss Thailand 2022. Photo: Miss Thailand 2022 Manita Nita Duangkham Farmer, a 25-year-old Thai-American born and raised in Phuket, has been crowned Miss Thailand 2022. Photo: Miss Thailand 2022 Manita Nita Duangkham Farmer, a 25-year-old Thai-American born and raised in Phuket, has been crowned Miss Thailand 2022. Photo: Miss Thailand 2022 Manita Nita Duangkham Farmer, a 25-year-old Thai-American born and raised in Phuket, has been crowned Miss Thailand 2022. Photo: Miss Thailand 2022 Manita Nita Duangkham Farmer, a 25-year-old Thai-American born and raised in Phuket, has been crowned Miss Thailand 2022. Photo: Miss Thailand 2022 Manita Nita Duangkham Farmer, a 25-year-old Thai-American born and raised in Phuket, has been crowned Miss Thailand 2022. Photo: Miss Thailand 2022 Manita Nita Duangkham Farmer, a 25-year-old Thai-American born and raised in Phuket, has been crowned Miss Thailand 2022. Photo: Miss Thailand 2022 Manita Nita Duangkham Farmer, a 25-year-old Thai-American born and raised in Phuket, has been crowned Miss Thailand 2022. Photo: Miss Thailand 2022 Manita Nita Duangkham Farmer, a 25-year-old Thai-American born and raised in Phuket, has been crowned Miss Thailand 2022. Photo: Miss Thailand 2022 Miss Manita was bestowed the title at the grand finale of the Miss Thailand 2022 pageant held at the CentralWorld Live venue in Bangkok last night (Feb 6). Present to crown Miss Manita the 53rd Miss Thailand winner was Miss Thailand 2021 Nattapat May Pongpraphan. Miss Manita bested 24 other contestants to win the title. Anphat Pitiprajakwat of Nakhon Pathom placed 1st runner-up, Vanida Rose of Bangkok placed 2nd runner-up, Athicha Rennie of Kanchanaburi placed 3rd runner-up and Sornson Wittayaruengsuk of Bangkok placed 4th runner-up. A Thai-American with a first-class honours bachelors degree Faculty of Communication Arts from Bangkok University International College, MIss Manita is a sales manager and a volunteer teacher as a special lecturer promoting the use of English for communication at Wat Bang-phai-nat School in Bang Len, Nakhon Pathom. Phuket residents might remember that Miss Manita placed first runner-up in Miss Grand Phuket 2017. Miss Manita also participated in the Miss World Thailand pageant in 2018. She lost 40kg to enter the pageant. Manita used to weigh 90kg. Although she did not win, placing in the Top 12, she continued to strive to exercise and take care of herself, Miss Manita explained in her video interview to viewers of the pageant. Miss Manita credited her win to strong support from Phuket and her experience as a volunteer teacher. Her passion matched the concept of this years competition, Revival of the Original, allowing her to win the crown, she said. In education, being a volunteer teacher made me feel very respectful of real teachers because you have to prepare a lot of documents, especially during COVID-19," she said. "If education can be accessed by children everywhere in Thailand, including in needy areas, Im very happy for the children," she said. "If children have good teaching materials and have access to the Internet, they will have more opportunities to develop themselves, not just learn in the school area. Children will have more ideas and be able to bring knowledge back to develop their homeland," Nita continued. Miss Manita also noted that while she is of two nationalities through her parentage, she is also of two cultures within Thailand. Her mother is from Chiang Mai, but Manita grew up in Phuket. Yet being a child of two worlds does continue to present its challenges, she said. No matter what country we are from, we should be more focused on what culture we grow up in, rather than race, she said, in fluent Thai. I have no choice in what my face looks like, and when people look at my face, they do not speak Thai to me, she said. I always tell them right away, Im Thai, I can speak Thai," she said, confidently with both a smile and laughter. RIDGEFIELD State Rep. Aimee Berger-Girvalo, D-Ridgefield, has announced shes seeking a second term to represent the 111th state House district. Less than 16 hours after announcing her run last week, she raised almost $6,000 from 150 Ridgefield voters, qualifying her for the Citizens Election Program, which provides clean elections financing to candidates running for statewide office. The rapid response ... says while we all feel fatigued by the politics of everything right now, its not gonna stop us from doing the work that needs to get done, Berger-Girvalo told Hearst Connecticut Media. (Were) taking that angst, pressure and stress and turning it into action so we can move forward as quickly as possible. Berger-Girvalo was sworn into the General Assembly on Jan. 6, 2021, the same day rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol building. She was inspired to pursue public office after organizing busloads of community members to attend the Womens March in 2017, she said. Her advocacy helped secure $2 million from the state Bond Commission for the Boys & Girls Club of Ridgefield, which will be used to expand its facilities and benefit its growing membership. She was also instrumental in advancing a bill requiring health clubs and gyms to have an automatic external defibrillator, or AED, on-site. The law took effect last fall. This year, Berger-Girvalo is working on legislation to create a tax credit for families who have experienced a stillbirth, and relieve domestic violence survivors of paying alimony to their abusers. Both items were brought forth by constituents, she said. She also plans to address the states statute of limitation on instances of domestic violence and sexual assault. As a member of the legislatures new Reproductive Health Caucus, she will work alongside fellow lawmakers to shore up Connecticuts protections as it relates to reproductive health. Additionally, the Ridgefield Board of Selectmen asked her to consider creating a bill that would bring stronger penalties to those who violate local demolition ordinances following the controversial demolition of a house on New Street last fall. I want people who dont agree with me to reach out, especially if they need help with an issue, she said. The things that I have become most passionate about are the things that constituents bring to me, because it is so important to them. alyssa.seidman@hearstmediact.com Salem, MO (65560) Today Thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. High 62F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Thunderstorms. Low 56F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Today Mostly cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. High 62F. Winds SE at 15 to 25 mph. Tonight Partly cloudy. Low 41F. Winds SE at 15 to 25 mph. Tomorrow Partly cloudy skies during the morning hours will give way to occasional showers in the afternoon. High 59F. SE winds shifting to NW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%. THE SHORTHORN is accepting applications for summer & fall 2022 for: Writing and editing Photo and design Ad sales and marketing Web development Support staff Apply online & view job descriptions at: www.theshorthorn.com/jobs Current UTA students enrolled in at least six credit hours during the semester of employment and in good academic standing are eligible to apply for these paid positions. Some qualify for internship credit. In the Press Corps of the Indiana Statehouse in downtown Indianapolis, in an office lovingly called "the Shack," 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 content five days a week for this website and 35 professional media partners around the state. SPRINGFIELD To celebrate Career and Technical Education students across Illinois, state Sen. Rachelle Aud Crowe, D-Glen Carbon, has advanced legislation to establish February 2022 as Career and Technical Education Month. Metro East schools have effectively implemented Career and Technical Education programs in agriculture, business, family science, health, technology and engineering, said Crowe, a chief co-sponsor of Senate Resolution 698. CTE programs prepare students for bright futures by providing academic opportunities, real-life skills training and invaluable knowledge necessary to succeed. JERSEYVILLE The Jersey Community Unit School District is now recommending masks be worn in its buildings but not requiring it. The online announcement by Superintendent Brad Tuttle follows Friday's temporary restraining order (TRO) issued in a lawsuit affecting 145 schools, including the Jersey Community Unit District, challenging the state's mask and vaccination executive orders. "This is a temporary restraining order, which is by its very definition 'temporary,' and is not a final disposition of the issues," Tuttle said. "A TRO temporarily enjoins the actions of the parties, but it is not a permanent injunction and is not necessarily a reflection of the final merits of the case. Please take note to recognize that this is a temporary status at this stage in litigation." Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge Raylene Grischow on Friday issued a temporary restraining order on Gov. J.B. Pritzkers mask requirements, quarantines and COVID-19 vaccinations and testing rules issued last fall. Parents and staff at more than 140 schools, including Jersey Community, had filed suit over the order. Tuttle said the district remains committed "to being open for in-person learning" and has followed changing CDC recommendations since the beginning of the pandemic. "The recommended mitigations include universal indoor masking by all students, staff, teachers, and visitors to our school, regardless of vaccination status," he said. "In addition to universal indoor masking, we maintain at least 3 feet of physical distance between students within classrooms to reduce transmission risk." Tuttle noted the Illinois Attorney General is appealing the TRO at the appellate court level with a decision by the appellate court expected within 10 days after the judges decision. He said a stay also could be granted, which would extend Gov. J.B. Pritzker's mask and vaccination mandates for schools until a decision by the appellate court. "The appellate court could uphold or reverse this courts decision," Tuttle said. "Whatever the ultimate outcome, as always, Jersey Community Unit School District No. 100 will follow the law." He said parents or guardians of district students concerned with them attending school should contact their students principal for possible remote options. "Finally, the last couple of years have been rough, to say the least," Tuttle said. "We have and will continue to offer extra learning opportunities to all the families that have been affected by COVID-19. We are proud of all of our employees who have sacrificed extra time and effort for our students during this global pandemic." MADDY BARRETTE, Chariho, Softball, Sophomore; Barrette hit a two-run single in the seventh inning, lifting Chariho past Cumberland. For the week, Barrette was 4 for 8 with three RBIs and a double in three games. MADDIE STEPSKI, Stonington, Softball, Senior; Stepski hit two home runs in back-to-back games for the Bears. In three games during the week, she was 10 for 13 with four homers, two doubles and 12 RBIs. Stepski is hitting .750 for the season with 22 RBIs and six home runs. MICHAEL POOLE, Westerly, Baseball, Freshman; Poole struck out 14 Rogers batters to earn his second win of the season. Poole pitched a four-hitter and allowed just one earned run. For the season, Poole has 19 strikeouts in 12 innings with a 1.14 ERA. SEAN BERGEL, Wheeler, Baseball, Sophomore; Bergel pitched a complete-game two-hitter in a 1-0 win against Putnam. Bergel struck out seven and did not walk a batter. He is 2-1 with a 1.68 ERA this season. Vote View Results As those close to us grow older, it can be harder for them to manage life as they once did, especially in the modern digital world and with changes brought about by the pandemic. This means your loved ones may need more help keeping on top of their finances. Some people have had to rely on online banking services in recent times, as coronavirus restrictions have made it harder to visit branches, while some may be uncomfortable entering crowded areas. Additionally, the elderly may be more vulnerable to scams, and banking online may be more of a challenge for those people who are unfamiliar with the internet or have a lack of computer skills. Lloyds Bank research shows increasing numbers are seeking support in this area. Here, an expert advises how you could help. Poor health or a lack of computing skills mean online banking can be harder for older people There are typically 2,600 search queries per month for the terms 'helping parents with finance' and 'power of attorney', according to Lloyds Bank research(1). Additionally, registrations of power of attorneys a legal document set up by a person to give someone else permission to deal with their personal and financial affairs rose 60 per cent annually in the three months to June 2021 to 162,240, government figures show (2). Jo Harris, Managing Director of Lloyds Bank, says there are a variety of reasons why someone may need help with their finances. Lloyds Bank has spoken (3) to a sample of over 85-year-old consumers and found that rather than lacking the mental capacity or ability to manage their finances, they are looking to prioritise the things they want to spend their time doing. They tend to have straightforward financial needs and are keen to keep it that way. Others have set a power of attorney up for the future so they are prepared and their plans are clear for what should happen if and when their circumstances change. Harris explains: 'Sometimes elderly people can be a bit concerned about managing their money. 'It may be that they are not confident using mobile banking or just want reassurance from somebody they trust.' She says it is important to have open and honest conversations while your loved one can still make decisions for themselves. Here are the most common options available. Support with everyday banking The first step is to sit down with your loved one and discuss the type of support they may need now and in the future. It is important that, with your support, your loved one has the mental capacity to decide the best solution for themselves. There will be alternative options available if they don't have this capacity. Harris says: 'It can be a difficult subject to broach and it is important the elderly person doesn't feel someone is taking over. 'That is why it is important to have a conversation at the outset to understand the person's needs and come up with a solution together.' The next step is to check what support their bank offers as many will be keen to look after their customers. Harris advises that Lloyds Bank customers can get guidance in-branch and on the phone about available support, and the ways you can involve other family members in their financial affairs. She explains: 'It can be a difficult conversation so rather than feeling you need all the answers, there are places where you can get guidance. 'The best approach is to speak with the bank and they can go through all the options. 'They can help make sure what is put in place feels appropriate for the needs of the elderly person.' Lloyds Bank also has an online guide on different ways that you can act on a loved one's behalf financially and how to do it, plus there is even a questionnaire to decide which method could be most appropriate. Help from friends and family Some banks may offer their customers the option to allow someone to help with their day-to-day banking. These are called third party services or mandates and an elderly person or vulnerable person would need to give permission for someone else to access their account and conduct limited activities such as withdrawing cash. They will need to have mental capacity to do this so, it may be harder if your loved one has a condition such as dementia. Help from family: Lloyds Bank can help you help an elderly or vulnerable relative (stock photo) Lloyds Bank runs a trusted person card, where an elderly or vulnerable account holder can appoint a relative or friend to help make essential purchases and withdraw cash up to 100. The third-party permissions will need to be approved by the account holder and you will usually need to come into a branch with them and some ID to set it up. Harris explains: 'A trusted person card may be a good first step for an elderly person to get someone to help with their finances and if they aren't comfortable with or ready to give up full control. 'For example, during the pandemic many trusted person cards were used on behalf of older people who didn't want to go out to the supermarket. 'An account holder shouldn't be giving their own card to somebody else, so a trusted person card is a better way to do this as it belongs to the nominated person and has limits on it.' Consider a power of attorney As your loved ones become older, they may become more vulnerable and need support for all aspects of their daily life. It is important to discuss the best solution with them as what you do next depends on if the person has mental capacity. You may then decide the time is right to consider a power of attorney, although the pandemic has taught us we should perhaps consider a power of attorney at any stage in life. This is a legal document set up by a person to give you permission to deal with their personal and financial affairs depending on the circumstances. There are different types of power of attorney. A general power of attorney can give you control over someone's account if they become ill but only works while they have mental capacity. Alternatively, a lasting power of attorney can be applied for to help someone with their affairs if they are temporarily unable to or permanently after they lose their mental capacity. Harris highlights that Lloyds Bank staff can provide general guidance on the types of power of attorney, and it also has online guides about how they work. There are two types of lasting power of attorney in England and Wales. One deals with managing someone's finances and the other with their health decisions, and you need to apply and pay for each separately. Applying for lasting power of attorney is a legal process you can do yourself or through a solicitor, and you can download the forms from the Gov.uk website to start the process. Your relative, known as the donor, can include who they are giving control to known as the attorneys and how. Once the documents are completed, they need to be registered with the Office for the Public Guardian (OPG) for approval before they can be used. Registering a power of attorney costs 82 in England and Wales, 81 in Scotland, and 151 in Northern Ireland for each document submitted to the OPG. There may be reductions if your relative is on certain benefits such as Universal Credit. You may also have to pay legal fees if you use a solicitor to complete the whole process such as drafting and registering the power of attorney. The documents will also need to be sent to the bank and other institutions once registered so they can record your permissions on their systems. A power of attorney can be registered over the phone with Lloyds Bank, as long as there are no restrictions on the legal document, and the attorneys have a UK mobile number and email address. You will need to complete a form and provide the legal document and some photo ID through a secure link. Once the documents are provided it typically takes about a week for access to be granted. What if they have lost their mental capacity? Sometimes a loved one's condition can deteriorate so quickly that it can be hard to register control of their finances in time if they have lost their mental capacity. This means applying for a deputyship order from the Court of Protection in England and Wales, a guardianship from the Sheriff Court if in Scotland or a controllership order from the high court in Northern Ireland. The court will say what you can and cannot do with the person's affairs and this can be an expensive and time-consuming route. For example, applying for a deputyship in England and Wales has a 371 application fee. Then you will also have to pay 494 if the court decides your case needs a hearing. This underlines why it is especially important to talk and plan these issues while your loved one still has mental capacity and before the circumstances become more challenging. Harris adds 'If someone is starting to say they don't understand their bank statements or are confused about their finances or concerned about fraud, that is the time to have a conversation. 'The answer isn't always a power of attorney and it may not be something that is needed now but it is easier to be prepared for the future.' Lloyds Bank has a guide on how to apply for different types of access including power of attorney - click here. References 1 Lloyds Bank internal research 2 FTadviser.com July 2020 3 Source: 16 x 30 mins tele-depth interviews conducted by external agency CSR with a sample across Over 85s, carers and solicitors. 4th December 2020 Liverpool Victoria looks to have learnt very little from its chastening setback at the hand of its members in December. The campaign by the top team to sell the historic friendly society to private equity barons Bain Capital failed. Instead of the clean break with the existing bosses necessary if confidence is to be restored LV has appointed an interim chairman, Seamus Creedon from the existing board. Chief executive Mark Hartigan, meanwhile, architect of the failed plan, remains at the helm. Instead of a clean break with the existing bosses, LV has appointed an interim chairman, Seamus Creedon from the existing board LV members who refused to back the plan by chairman Alan Cook and Hartigan can breathe a sigh of relief that talks on a previously rejected merger with fellow mutual Royal London are still on. Whether one can have full confidence in Creedon to conduct the negotiations with sufficient speed and independence is a matter of conjecture. Unlike Cook (tainted by his work at the Post Office), he has a credible CV. This includes a role at respected Edinburgh fund managers Baillie Gifford. But there is no escaping the fact that he was one of the nodding dog directors who was willing to disregard the heritage of LV and allow it to fall into the hands of Bain, despite fierce criticism from MPs and this newspaper. Members were to be betrayed for a feeble 100 mess of pottage. To put the meagre payout in context, that is just one-seventh of what households will have to pay in April when the cap on energy bills comes off. What is most troubling is that Hartigan is still in charge in spite of extracting a salary and bonus of 1.2m in 2020. He had the potential to have earned many more millions should the Bain deal have completed. During the course of his unsuccessful and expensive campaign to railroad members into private equity ownership, he accused potential partners Royal London of lobbing a grenade into the deal. Hartigans military background may have taught him to play hardball, but it is not an outburst which will make it any easier to reach a satisfactory deal with Royal London chief executive Barry ODwyer. If they were bigger people, Cook and Hartigan would have recognised the reputational harm being done to the concept of mutuality and stood aside with immediate effect last year, making room for a City or insurance grandee to re-negotiate with Royal London. The delay shows a lack of humility and insensitivity to the best interest of 1m policyholders. Building back better Too often, corporate bullies are allowed to get their own way. So Irene Dorner, chairman of housebuilder Taylor Wimpey, deserves credit for defying activists Elliott in the choice of Jennie Daly as chief executive. Elliott wanted an outsider. Taylor Wimpey benchmarked Daly against outside candidates and defiantly chose the companys operations director. The addition of another woman chief executive to the FTSE 100 is to be applauded, especially in the male bastion of construction. It is further recognition that female bosses have the right problem-solving skills in difficult corporate jobs such as banking and in the troubled water industry. Daly has big shoes to fill after the 15-year sojourn of Peter Redfern, who steered Taylor Wimpey back from the brink of collapse. He shrewdly took the opportunity to strengthen the companys balance sheet during Covid with a 500million rights issue, used to add to its land holdings, while prices were off the boil. The housebuilders need a new image. They have been scarred by fat cattery, the escalation of the leasehold scandal, shoddy construction and the cladding disaster. There is a real opportunity to up governance standards. Over the longer haul that could be a rich legacy for Daly. Accident prone When will it all end? Credit Suisse seems to be permanently in the naughty corner. Its financial errors range from the securitisation of Greensill supply finance to huge exposure to the collapsed Archegos Capital hedge fund. On top of this, it has experienced extraordinary governance failings ranging from alleged espionage by former chief executive Tidjane Thiam to Covid rule breaking by displaced chairman Antonio Horta-Osorio. In the latest imbroglio, it finds itself in a Zurich court fighting charges of laundering of cocaine cash for a former Bulgarian wrestler. More Ozark than Swiss. HSBC is facing a 3billion trial in the US over its involvement in the Allen Stanford Ponzi scandal. A judge found bank staff 'explicitly raised the possibility of fraud' before the 5billion Stanford scam unfolded. US judge David Godbey declared there was enough evidence for a reasonable jury to conclude that HSBC and four other banks offered 'substantial assistance' to the fraudulent Stanford International Bank. Imprisoned: Allen Stanford was jailed in 2012 and is serving a 110-year sentence HSBC alone will face a 2.2billion damages claim, according to US attorney Kevin Sadler, representing investors, with the total claims in excess of 3billion. Sadler accused the bank of 'turning a blind eye' to the fraud. The trial, expected later this year, will bring fresh focus on HSBC's roll call of scandals, including fines for laundering Mexican drug cartel money and tax evasion. Billionaire Stanford ruined thousands of investors in a scam which collapsed in 2009, ensnaring global banks. The 71-year-old Texan, who was jailed in 2012 and is serving a 110-year sentence, sold fraudulent investments through his Stanford International Bank (SIBL). He had poured investors' money into speculative ventures, and used it to fund a lavish lifestyle. A US court appointed receiver has recouped 1billion for investors, and been locked in a legal battle with five banks. The lenders are accused of providing 'banking services that supported and furthered Stanford's scheme'. Last month Judge Godbey issued an order that rejected the banks' attempt to get the claims dismissed through a summary judgement. The judge said evidence suggested HSBC had investigated the money flows and that its probe would have shown the cash was not going into 'bona fide accounts'. Kevin Sadler, of Baker Botts, which works with the receivership, said: 'HSBC has nothing to offer but a head-in-the-sand defence that it didn't know what Stanford was doing Google is being sued for 2.1billion by Swedish price comparison website PriceRunner after the tech giant lost an appeal against a European Commission (EC) ruling, which fined it for violating antitrust rules. Five years ago, the Silicon Valley stalwart was found to have manipulated its search results in 13 European countries to favour its own comparison shopping service at the expense of rivals, thereby giving it an unfair competitive advantage. The European General Court subsequently upheld the decision for the most part last November, including the 2.4billion penalty imposed on Google in 2017 - a record amount at the time for an EU antitrust case. Big Penalty: Google were fined 2.4billion in 2017 after being found to have manipulated its search engine to favour its own comparison shopping service at the expense of rivals But Swedish-based PriceRunner believes Google has yet to abide by the Commission's decision, costing it and other similar businesses significant internet traffic and profits. It said it wants to make Google compensate it for the profits it claims to have lost in the United Kingdom since 2008 and Sweden and Denmark since 2013, which it estimates totals 2.1billion. Citing a study from accounting group Grant Thornton, the firm also accuses the technology company of making consumers in Europe overpay for goods and services, including popular items like apparel and shoes. Boss: PriceRunner CEO Mikael Lindahl said the case was 'a fight for consumers who have suffered tremendously from Google's infringement of the competition law' Though it acknowledged that the legal fight could take many years, the business said in a statement it has 'thoroughly prepared' a lawsuit and has the necessary funds to mount a case, thanks to outside support. PriceRunner chief executive Mikael Lindahl said the case was 'a fight for consumers who have suffered tremendously from Google's infringement of the competition law for the past fourteen years and still today'. 'This is also a matter of survival for many European entrepreneurial companies and job opportunities within tech.' Set up in 1999, PriceRunner recently agreed to be bought for $124.4million by retail bank Klarna, and the deal is expected to be completed sometime in the first quarter. Lindahl added: 'If American tech giants, through a market position almost equal to a monopoly, are allowed to do exactly as they please and manipulate markets, we can almost certainly count on the fact that many tech companies in Europe will be affected far beyond the comparison shopping market in focus today.' A formal European Union inquiry was launched in November 2010 to determine whether Google's search results favoured its services, how it displayed rivals' content and how it managed advertisements. An agreement was reached just over three years later that meant Google avoided a fine, but this was overturned some months later following complaints from its competitors. The EU then formally charged the company in April 2015, accusing it of distorting its search results to favour its comparison shopping service to the detriment of consumers and similar comparison shopping services. The EU Commission handed down its judgement two years later, with Commissioner for Competition Margarethe Vestager declaring that Google had 'denied other companies the chance to compete on the merits and to innovate.' She went on: 'And most importantly, it denied European consumers a genuine choice of services and the full benefits of innovation.' A spokesperson for Google said the company would defend the lawsuit in court. 'The changes we made to shopping ads back in 2017 are working successfully... PriceRunner chose not to use shopping ads on Google, so may not have seen the same successes that others have,' the representative said. FTSE-listed companies Taylor Wimpey and Pets at Home have each appointed women to replace their long-standing chief executives. Internal candidate Jennie Daly will become the housebuilder's new boss in April, taking over from Pete Redfearn, who has been at the helm for almost 15 years. Meanwhile Lyssa McGowan, previously chief consumer officer at Sky UK, will join as the pet retailer's boss in June. McGowan replaces current boss Peter Pritchard, who joined Pets at Home in 2011 as commercial director and was appointed chief executive in 2018. New entries: Jennie Daly (left) will become the Taylor Wimpey's new boss in April, while Lyssa McGowan will take over as Pets at Home new boss in June 'There has long been an under-representation of females running FTSE 350 companies, so it is positive to see two appointments that help address this problem,' said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell - although he stressed that 'there is clearly a lot more to be done'. Daly, Taylor Wimpey's operations director, comes into the top role with almost 30 years of experience in housebuilding and planning. Before joining Taylor Wimpey in 2014, she held roles at Redrow and Westbury, and spent her early career in local authority and council planning roles in Macclesfield and Blackpool. Taylor Wimpey said the appointment comes after a 'thorough recruitment and selection process' which included a long list of industry and non-industry candidates. But it is still likely to anger activist investor Elliott Advisors who, after building up a stake in the FTSE 100 firm, told it to find a chief executive from outside the organisation. Its arrival on the share register in December immediately caused a stir as longstanding chief executive Redfern said he would step down. Departing: Peter Redfern (left) will leave Taylor Wimpey after almost 15 years at the helm, while Peter Pritchard worked at Pets at Home for 11 years, including four as CEO Daly, who will receive a 750,000 annual salary, will be appointed into the role after the firm's annual general meeting on 26 April. She said it was an 'honour and privilege' to take on the role of CEO at Taylor Wimpey, adding: 'This is an outstanding business with a strong landbank and strategic land pipeline, and a talented and committed team. 'Taylor Wimpey is strongly positioned to deliver sustainable sector-leading growth and returns, whilst always operating as a responsible business.' Daly's appointment marks the fourth change of guard at a FTSE 100 company since the start of the year, following top job appointments at Johnson Matthey, Burberry and Anglo American. Analysts at Exane BPN Paribas said Daly's appointment was a 'key positive'. 'A reassuring appointment by the Board and Ms Dalys extensive experience, particularly in land and planning - a key competitive advantage for the group - should be viewed positively,' they said. FTSE 250-listed Pets at Home said McGowan will take over on 1 June from current boss Pritchard, who revealed in November that he would step down. McGowan, who was responsible for Sky UK's 10million customers, was also a non-executive director at Morrisons until its recent private equity takeover. AJ Bell's Mould said her experience in such a top consumer role at Sky could help take Pets at Homes analytical capabilities 'to the next level'. 'Understanding the customer and how they might spend more money is an important goal for retailers,' he added. Ian Burke, chairman at Pets at Home, said they had chosen her after 'an extensive search process across internal and external candidates'. 'Lyssa brings strong corporate, strategic and operational expertise across a range of consumer-facing businesses, and a proven track record of growth at Sky, with significant experience in customer and digital-first initiatives across multiple channels and sites,' Burke added. Fresh questions have arisen over top BT shareholder Patrick Drahi amid claims he has sold Sotheby's pensioners down the river. The French tycoon, who has amassed an 18 per cent stake in BT over the past seven months through his firm Altice, also owns Sotheby's and is looking to list the famous auction house in New York. As part of the float plans, Drahi has closed Sotheby's 'defined benefit' pension plan, a move that has sent shivers down the spines of the thousands of workers and pensioners from BT. Art of the deal: Sotheby's French tycoon owner Patrick Drahi (right) is looking to list the famous auction house in New York The 1,200 members of the Sotheby's pension scheme were formally told at the end of last year that the defined plan would be wound up and sold on to two insurance firms. Members were left aghast by the decision and are considering taking legal action, according to the Antiques Trade Gazette magazine. In a recent trading update Sotheby's said: 'The UK Pension Plan will now go through the required process in order to proceed to a full buyout and ultimate wind-up of the plan in 2022.' The members believe they were not kept properly informed of the changes to the plan and therefore made financial plans based on incorrect knowledge. Eileen Goodway, a member of the Association of Sotheby's Pensioners (TASP), said: 'The salaries were never big at Sotheby's but the company promised to look after its workers in old age. 'The defined pension was delayed remuneration and it helped keep good staff. It is a hammer blow and says a lot about Drahi's attitude. He's taken hundreds of millions of pounds out of the business.' The move comes as 58-year-old Drahi looks to streamline the 277-year-old auction house ahead of a potential float this year on the New York Stock Exchange. Sotheby's has hired Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley and could achieve a valuation of near 10billion, according to analysts. The auction house has thrived during the pandemic, achieving 5.4billion in sales last year after successfully moving the business online. In November alone, Sotheby's raised 1billion through its so-called Marquee Sales, a series of prestige online and in-person auctions. A float would result in a healthy profit for Drahi, who bought Sotheby's for 2.7billion in 2019 and took it private, ending its 31-year run as a publicly traded company. The float has sent tongues wagging in the City, with many predicting that he could use proceeds from the float to help his 'creeping takeover' of telecoms giant BT. Masterpiece: Sotheby's sold Picasso's Femme au Beret et a la Robe Quadrillee (pictured) for 650m Drahi known as the king of cost-cutting is a notoriously private billionaire and prefers to operate under the radar. In business circles he is renowned as a corporate swashbuckler and deal maker, having spearheaded debt-fuelled acquisitions in the US, Israel, France and Portugal. He has also garnered a reputation for ruthlessness from French trade unions for cutting workforces and slashing salaries and spending. Last year he mortgaged the historic London home of Sotheby's. Drahi has always maintained that he has no intention of making an offer for BT and is 'fully supportive' of its strategy. But many in the City believe he is trying to take control by stealth and without ruffling the company's management. He could take control by snapping up the 12 per cent stake held by BT's second-largest investor Deutsche Telekom. With his current 18 per cent stake, this would take him over the 30 per cent threshold at which a takeover offer must be made. There are mounting fears that should he gain control of BT, its pension pot could also be vulnerable. BT has one of the biggest defined benefit pension pots in the UK, with some 275,000 members and 57billion of assets. The scheme closed to new members in 2001. So worried is the Government about Drahi, that Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng is monitoring his movements closely. Ministers are concerned that were BT to cut costs under him it could affect the ongoing broadband rollout. Any future bid for BT will likely to be subject to the National Security and Investment Act, which came into force in January, allowing the Government to intervene in any takeovers that raise national security concerns. Drahi could also face a public relations struggle from retail shareholders, who while only owning 10 per centof the shares number around 782,500 people. LVs disgraced chairman is finally leaving after his controversial plans to sell the mutual to an American private equity giant collapsed. Alan Cook will depart next month after a purge that cost half the eight-strong board their jobs three non-other executive directors lost their roles as well. Critics welcomed the departure of the 68-year-old, who was one of the main drivers of the proposed demutualisation and sale of LV to American private equity giants Bain Capital for 530million. Failing pair: LV Chief executive Mark Hartigan, left, will hang on to his job after chairman Alan Cook's departure But they questioned why LV chief executive Mark Hartigan was still in his job having worked with Cook to sell the 179-year-old insurer. The shake-up came just eight days after the Mail on Sunday revealed Cook and Hartigan have netted 100,000 since the collapse of the deal and asked: Why is this failing pair still at LV? Kevin Hollinrake, a member of the Treasury select committee, welcomed Cooks exit but said Hartigans position was untenable and he should resign. The Tory MP said: He has been inexcusably poor. He decided on the move toward demutualisation and a sale to private equity without giving proper information to members. Royal London eyes bid LV is still in talks with fellow mutual Royal London about a merger. The 179-year-old insurer said it shares a common interest with its larger rival and is exploring a deal. The announcement came after two months of limbo for LV members who voted in December to reject a 530million takeover by hedge fund Bain Capital. A merger would see LVs 1.2m members join 1.6m at Royal London and, crucially, retain its mutual status. This means the business is owned by its members and run for their benefit. A deal would also likely see LV chief executive Mark Hartigan lose his job. Royal London boss Barry ODwyer intervened in the proposed takeover by Bain, insisting he could offer LV members a deal that would protect their cherished mutual status. Hartigan accused ODwyer of lobbing a hand grenade into its deal. Incoming chairman Seamus Creedon said LV have had, and continue to have, discussions with Royal London. Royal London confirmed talks were ongoing but a deal was not certain. To try to railroad through that demutualisation in various ways was simply wrong and unacceptable. Labour MP Gareth Thomas, who is chairman of Parliaments all-party group for mutuals, said Hartigan could not be trusted to act in members best interests. He said: LV members will be glad to see the back of Mr Cook but there are still serious questions about Mr Hartigans future. He showed a clear lack of commitment to mutual values in trying to force through his deal and I cannot see how he can stay in charge and be the honest broker members need to stand up for their interests in talks about LVs future. The boardroom shake-up will also see David Barral leave his post as the senior independent director along with non-executives Alison Hutchinson and Luke Savage. Seamus Creedon, another non-executive director, will take over as interim chairman on April 1 following Cooks departure. The purge came as LV revealed it is still in talks with larger rival Royal London about a merger. Peter Hunt, of mutuals lobby group Mutuo, said it was excellent news that Cook was leaving, but that it would make sense for Hartigan to resign while talks about LVs future are ongoing. But LV said the board has high confidence in Hartigan in a sign that there are no plans in place to replace him. Creedon, who will act as interim chairman while LV recruits Cooks full-time replacement, said Hartigan has been doing an excellent job. He could even receive a bonus of 740,000 for 2021, taking his total pay to 1.26million, despite spending much of the year advocating for the failed sale. Cook, who is paid 205,000 a year, faced months of criticism from members and MPs for the lack of transparency around the proposed deal with Bain. When the deal collapsed, critics called for his resignation immediately. But Cook promised only to leave when a way forward is agreed. His past dealings were also cast back into the spotlight, including his tenure at the Post Office, when it began prosecuting sub-postmasters wrongly accused of theft. He was managing director from 2006 to 2010, when 200 local postmasters were wrongly prosecuted. 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 Instant unlimited access to all of our content on tillamookheadlightherald.com. The Headlight Herald E-Edition Newsletter emailed to you each week, the night before the paper hits the street! This subscription is for NEW or RENEWING online subscribers. (The charge will appear as "Country Media Inc." on your credit card statement) We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Send us your news, photos, and videos and let us know what's going on! Submit Here remaining of SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Funeral services for Mollie Lillian Mirick will be held at 11:00am on Thursday, April 28, 2022, at Trinity Baptist Church with Pastor Ken Burgess officiating. Interment will be in Laurel Hill Cemetery. Mrs. Mollie Lillian Mirick, age 81, of Thomasville passed away on April 26, 2022. She was Kingsport, TN (37660) Today Sunshine and clouds mixed. High around 80F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low near 55F. Winds light and variable. Webster Groves, MO (63119) Today Cloudy with periods of rain. High 67F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Rain and thunderstorms. Low 61F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Locally heavy rainfall possible. Tony Adamis As of Monday afternoon, 6,800 Central Hudson customers in Ulster County remain without power following Fridays winter storm that left up to three quarters of an inch of ice and sleet, the most Ulster County has experienced in over 20 years. By Monday evening, 95 percent of customers will have their power restored, with full restoration coming by Tuesday, the utility said in a press conference on Monday. The historic storm that moved across the United States to the Northeast encased trees and wires in ice that resulted in 81 broken utility poles, 24 reports of wires down, and a total of 65,000 power outages in the region reported to Central Hudson. Ulster County bore the brunt of the region's outages with more than 46,000 customers there left without power on Friday. Service in Columbia County was restored but trouble persisted through the weekend in Ulster County, home to Kingston, New Paltz, Woodstock and Ellenville. Marcia Goddard is an avid camper. Just not in summer, when most people like to pitch a tent. For the New Jersey outdoorswoman who often camps in the Catskills and Hudson Valley, the warm weather just invites too many undesirable elements. For starters, there are bugs. I hate mosquitoes and they're amazingly attracted to me, says Goddard. Also, the heat and humidity are a drag, as are the crowds and loud music that come with a campground in July, she says. But a dead quiet site in February? Thats her kind of outdoor heaven. Ive always been a cold preference person, says Goddard, who has been a winter camper her whole life and has pitched a tent on private land and state forests in the past. Fortunately, she found someone who shares her love of the cold her boyfriend, Gordon Clark. Hes not as vehemently opposed to summer camping as his partner, but he does appreciate the unique perks of sleeping outdoors in winter. When its hot, there's no escaping it, he says. At least in the winter, if it gets too cold, you can always put more clothes on. Clarks winter camping chops are even more hard core. Backpacking in the White Mountains and Presidential Range in New Hampshire, and climbing Mount Rainier in Washington are just some of the places hes slept in the freezing cold, protected only by nylon tent and a sub-zero sleeping bag. So when the two recently camped at a Tentrr site in Pond Eddy in the western Catskills, they found themselves in a far more luxurious situation than theyd previously known possible. I mean thats truly glamping, having a wood-burning stove, having a real bed, having a light [and] a separate bathroom area where you dont have to dig a hole in the middle of winter, said Goddard. Its these little creature comforts that make winter camping feasible for more than just seasoned campers like Goddard and Clark. Campgrounds generally close in the fall and open in the spring, leaving just private and State Forest land available for camping, neither of which are user friendly for novice campers. Gordon Clark Tentrrs mission to make camping more accessible, however, extends to winter. Out of 230 Tentrr sites in the Hudson Valley, about 10 percent are winterized, meaning they have a propane heater, insulated flooring and insulated tent fly or even cozier features. Hall Smyth, who has a trio of Tentrr sites in Pond Eddy along the Delaware River, winterized his tents with wood stoves, carpets with insulated rubber pads and electric heaters (he runs electricity to his sites). But hed never rented them out in sub-zero temperatures until Goddard and Clark booked a site last month on a particularly frigid weekend. At first, Smyth tried to talk them out their ambitious plans, as he did with another group in early January when Pond Eddy was forecasted to have below-zero temperatures. It was going to be -5 which to me is as cold as its ever been since I have lived in this area. Smyth convinced those campers to sleep instead in a cabin that he also rents. But Goddard and Clark were undeterred. It ended up being -9 and I told them the same thing, I said, You know, you might not want to do this. But theyre really diehards. Ultimately he had nothing to worry about. They, in fact, had a wonderful time and were warm the entire time. Being prepared for a little discomfort Gordon Clark In truth, Goddard and Clark mainly camp in 30-degree weather. But Smyths wood stove kept things toasty. The wood stove creates so much heat, and the Tentrr retains it very well, said Smyth, who says it can feel like 80 degrees inside with the stove going, even when its below zero outside. He is happy to provide more supplies than normal for his winter guests, too. One of the perks of winter campers is that they have my deep respect, so I usually give them free firewood, he said. The rest is up to the guests, and given Goddard and Clarks expertise, they knew what to expect. While camping when its freezing means you dont have to worry about lugging a cooler to keep things cold, you do need to worry about food freezing, so they kept things that might freeze in the tent. They also turned their water bottles upside down It freezes from the top down, like a river, said Clark so this ensured they always had some water to drink. Downtime is the best time Make the most of your Hudson Valley weekend, every week with our newsletter. Theres a certain element of discomfort that you have to sort of expect, said Clark. One is being vigilant about keeping warm. If a fire is out for 45 minutes, that sort of wakes you up and just jump up and throw some more logs on the fire, he said. And though they slept in their clothes, they brought plenty of extra layers to change into if needed. The general mantra in cold weather is cotton kills, because if it gets wet or if you perspire and it gets wet, it doesnt dry," says Clark. "And that's actually the biggest danger, not freezing, but getting hypothermia," adds Goddard, who recommends moisture-wicking materials and socks and changing into them as soon as you get wet. Hot Chillys is a brand they like, along with Smartwool. Gordon Clark With all their essentials in place, all that was left to do was enjoy winter at its finest. We were right by [the Delaware] river. The moon was full. We had a big roaring fire going and we had hot cider and it was very, very peaceful and quiet, said Goddard. By day they hiked a towpath along the Delaware River, watching for bald eagles that come to the region to nest this time of year, and other raptors. You can watch some fishing or stealing food from each other, said Goddard. Smyth, who is not a diehard like Goddard and Clark, still appreciates the beauty of camping in winter. The only sound you hear down by the river is that kind of cracking sound that comes from the water and ice and the trees when they move a little bit that's all there is. And similarly, the skies are big in the summer, but they're that much bigger in the winter because there's no canopy. It kind of magnifies the whole experience. ALBANY A Utah man pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court on Monday to charges that he used the dark web to arrange the would-be contract killings of a Hoosick Falls couple to settle a custody dispute. Christopher Pence, 41, was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel Stewart on a charge of using a facility of interstate commerce in connection with murder-for-hire, which carries up to 10 years in federal prison. Pence, of West Cedar City, is accused of trying to arrange the killings of a woman and man in Hoosick Falls in exchange for approximately $16,000 in Bitcoin cryptocurrency, according to court papers filed at the time of Pences arrest on Oct. 27. On Monday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet O'Hanlon told the judge he believed Pence was a flight risk and danger to the community. Pence, joined by his attorney, Eric Schillinger, asked for a detention hearing, which will be held Friday. Prosecutors allege Pence tried to recruit hit men through a site on the dark web between July 16 and Aug. 9 in exchange for the cryptocurrency payment. The would-be killer or killers were provided "names, address and photographs of the intended victims, as well as the manner in which the killing should take place," court papers said. "Specifically, the user advised that the killing should be made to look like an accident or botched robbery, and that, if possible, care should be taken to not harm any of the three children known to be in the care of the intended victims," an FBI agent stated in an affidavit to support the arrest of Pence. Pence's family had legally adopted five children from the couple he allegedly targeted. An escalating dispute between the two families had arisen to where the couple sought to regain custody of their children -- and were involved in reporting of Pence's family to local child welfare authorities, "both of which reportedly angered Pence," the affidavit said. "Furthermore, Pence and the intended victims did not agree on how the children should be raised or the personal choices and lifestyle of the intended victims," the affidavit said. The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote. The couple told investigators they recognized photos Pence had allegedly provided to the would-be killers. They were from photos that they gave Pence's family for use in a "baby book" for their children, court papers said. Pence, who appeared in court in an orange outfit supplied by the Albany County jail, told the judge he wanted a transfer to the Rensselaer County jail because, he alleged, he has not been afforded a change of clothes or bedsheets at the lock-up in Colonie. The police shooting of Jordan Young confronts us with yet another tragic and potentially preventable example of what too often goes wrong when potentially young, ill-trained officers are expected to deal with individuals potentially suffering a mental health crisis. There are many critical questions that need answers such as whether unconscious racism was a factor in the actions of the officers involved. ALBANY A subsidy that could cost taxpayers up to $130 million annually is being proposed by Gov. Kathy Hochul to indefinitely cover the costs associated with bringing farm workers in line with the rest of the labor market with a 40-hour work week. Despite the lofty proposition in the executive budget unveiled last month by the governor, the agriculture industry is claiming it would still leave "cash-strapped" small farmers behind, unable to make it to the end of the tax year for reimbursement. Workers' rights groups assert the refundable tax credit may create too much of a buffer for employers, providing farm owners with little incentive to reduce the hours of their workers if the state plans to cover the difference in overtime costs between the current law minimum 60 hours per week and the proposed reduction in the overtime threshold. Last month, the state's Farm Laborer Wage Board voted to incrementally lower the threshold from 60 to 40 hours over the course of a decade. Hochul's proposed tax credit would provide a subsidy for farm owners for the additional costs that the lowered threshold would cost. The credit is proposed to be permanent. There has been fierce debate on the impact of the lowered overtime threshold, splitting workers' rights advocates and the agricultural industry; the proposal is now awaiting a decision by state Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon. "While we appreciate the governor's proposal, we hope to continue the conversation with her to find the best possible outcome," New York Farm Bureau spokesman Steve Ammerman said in an email. "Ultimately, we are asking for her to maintain the 60-hour threshold so a tax credit would not be needed." Similarly, the New York Civil Liberties Union has called for the attention to remain on instituting the wage board's recommendation to reach a 40-hour workweek. Reardon has until about mid-March to issue a determination. "The Department of Labor must prevent another generation of workers from suffering by accepting the wage boards recommendation, and with Gov. Hochuls dollar-for-dollar refundable tax credit, there is no reason that the overtime threshold cannot be lowered to 40 hours in 2024, eradicating this racist Jim Crow policy once and for all," NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman said in a statement. The board had agreed to a 10-year phase in, reducing the threshold four weekly hours every two years. By 2032, farm workers would have a 40 hour work week. Prior to 2020, farm workers had no cap on the amount of hours they could work before qualifying for overtime. Modern day overtime standards were established by Congress under President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal era agenda. The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 created a federal minimum wage and 40-hour work week, both of which farm workers and housekeepers were excluded from following a compromise with southern Democrats to get them to vote for the bill. New York Republicans, like others, also opposed the worker standards because they asserted farm work should not be regulated by the government and that overtime and minimum wage rules would collapse the industry. Farmers have made almost identical arguments more than 80 years later during public testimony before the wage board. The first year of the tax credit, according to the Division of Budget, would be 2025; the cost would be $26 million because the overtime threshold would only be down to 56 hours at that point. The executive budget, released on Jan. 18, assumes the tax credit would be phased in with four-hour increments every two years, which is the same scale the wage board agreed on in its recommendation. "They will finally get overtime pay for those long hours, so that's a tremendous step forward," said Paul Sonn, state policy program director at the National Employment Law Project. "But it doesn't address the overwork problem." Sonn, who is in favor of the 40-hour work week for farm laborers, noted that if the tax credit is covering the entire cost of the reduction in the overtime threshold, then it "eliminates the incentive" for owners and managers to reduce hours. "You want there to be an incentive for farm owners to think twice before turning to overtime," said David D. Kallick, director of the Immigration Research Initiative and proponent of the 40-hour, lowered threshold. The Farm Bureau, through Ammerman, said that the "year-long plus delay can be a challenge for farms based on overtime cost projections and thin profit margins." The bureau has had conversations with the governor's office about how to ensure the money makes it to farmers on the front-end, not the back-end, said Jeff Williams, director of public policy for the bureau. "The whole concept is certainly in play," Williams said. Cash flow problems are often an issue for nonprofit groups that are reliant on reimbursable grants to do their work. For example, community-based groups working to stem gun violence are paid by the state on the back-end, which can pose a challenge for them to hire people when they need it. The bureau also has repeatedly emphasized that neither the wage board nor the labor commissioner should make a decision on the overtime threshold based on a proposed tax credit because the budget must still be negotiated with the Legislature. All the while the governor's office has emphasized that the budget has a host of benefits for the agricultural industry. Hochul included millions of dollars and expanded tax credits to benefit food pantries, the purchase of new equipment and tax credits for workforce retention. The bureau has praised the governor's budget for many of those other contributions. ALBANY New York ranked fourth in the nation for the highest number of fentanyl deaths last year, according to a new report published last week. Families Against Fentanyl, a non-profit dedicated to raising awareness about the drugs use, authored the study and found that fentanyl poisoning deaths are rising in numerous states, doubling in at least 30 in the last two years. Reported deaths tripled in the teen population from 2019 to 2021, and particularly increased within Black teens, among which the deaths were five times higher. A previous report by the non-profit concluded that fentanyl poisoning is the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45 and that the drug had been responsible for more fatalities than suicide, gun violence or car accidents last year. In June, Albany County was on track for another record year of fatal opioid overdoses. Some blamed the coronavirus pandemic for crushing the economy, shuttering many substance abuse programs and sending those recovering from addiction into relapse. That month, county Executive Dan McCoy announced that at least 37 people had died of an opioid-related overdose from January through May. It had been theorized that opioids were involved in 13 other deaths, he said before toxicology reports for those cases were available. From 2015 to 2021, fentanyl deaths rose 486 percent statewide, according to the recent report, which used data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In that same time frame, the drug was a factor in 14,464 deaths. In six other states: Alaska, Colorado, Louisiana, Mississippi, California and Texas, the numbers were almost five times higher than they previously had been. Florida had the highest number of fatalities and the amount of fentanyl deaths there had more than doubled. The fentanyl crisis is getting worse, not better, James Rauh, founder of Families Against Fentanyl, said in a written statement. Fake pills with deadly amounts of fentanyl are popping up everywhere. Its in fake Xanax and Percocets, its being laced in cocaine and ecstasy. Fentanyl poisoning is tearing families apart and killing our young people at an alarming rate. Possible solutions to lower the numbers include opening overdose prevention centers, treating underlying mental health issues in those fighting addiction and putting more state funding into combating the opioid crisis, said state Sen. Pete Harckham, a Democrat from Westchester County who chairs the Senate's Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Committee. "A week doesn't go by that I don't hear from a family that has lost somebody to overdose," he said. "The numbers are shocking, but there is reason for hope and optimism that we can bring those numbers down." Harckham has been open about his own substance abuse struggles. In December, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill he introduced with Assemblywoman Linda B. Rosenthal, D-Manhattan, which aims to expand access to medication-assisted treatment to help those with medicaid tackle substance abuse. This year the local homicide count continues to spike quickly early in the year. KCMO is already outpacing last year's total which was the 2nd highest year for killings in local history. Here's the first report . . . Homicide 7th and Spruce This morning just after 2am two adult male shooting victims arrived at NKC hospital by private vehicle. Preliminary information was that the shooting possibly occurred in the 700 block of Spruce. Officers responded to that location and located an apparent crime scene. One of the victims is being treated for serious injuries, and the other victim was declared deceased by medical staff. Detectives and crime scene personnel are processing the scene now for evidence and canvassing for witnesses. If anyone has any information they are asked to contact the Homicide Unit directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS, There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to an arrest in this case. ################# Developing . . . Domestic drama turns deadly in Kansas City. Here's what we know so far . . . "Officers responded sometime around 3 a.m. to East 52nd Street and Olive Street to a disturbance call. During the situation, officers shot a man, who was transported to the hospital and later died, according to the Kansas City Police Department." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news links . . . KCPD on scene of officer-involved shooting KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City Police say there has been an officer-involved shooting in the 5100 block of Olive. Police say a man was shot by officers there about 2:45 a.m. Police say they were called to the area on a disturbance call and shots were fired. Man killed in KCPD officer-involved shooting after disturbance call KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- An officer-involved shooting early Monday morning in Kansas City sent a man to the hospital, where he later died. Officers responded sometime around 3 a.m. to East 52nd Street and Olive Street to a disturbance call. Kansas City police shoot and kill man A man is dead after he was shot and killed by a Kansas City, Missouri police officer early Monday morning.Police said they were called to a disturbance in the area of 51st and Olive around 3 a.m.At some point, an officer shot a man. Developing . . . Terre Haute, IN (47803) Today Overcast. High around 70F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Showers this evening, becoming a steady rain overnight. Low around 60F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a half an inch. By Azernews By Vugar Khalilov Baku has handed over back to Yerevan eight Armenian servicemen proceeding from the principle of humanism, Azertag reported on February 7, quoting the Azerbaijani State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing People. Some of them were the servicemen detained while the Azerbaijani armed forces prevented Armenias military provocation on the state border in Kalbajar region on November 16, 2021, the report added. In response to Azerbaijan's humanitarian gesture, Armenia is expected to provide information on Azerbaijani military and civilian citizens who were killed (and most likely buried in mass graves) during the first Karabakh war (1988-1994), as well as the location of their mass graves. The issue was raised by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at the videoconference organized with the participation of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, French President Emmanuel Macron and President of the European Council Charles Michel on February 7. At the videoconference, Aliyev underlined that Armenia had to provide information about the mass graves of Azerbaijani citizens that went missing during the first Karabakh war. Aliyev said that 3,890 Azerbaijani citizens, including 71 children, 267 women and 326 elderly people went missing during the first Karabakh war. In turn, Armenia promised to cooperate with Azerbaijan on this issue, which was also backed by French President Emmanuel Macron, Azertag reported. Meanwhile, European Council President Charles Michel and EU Special Representative for South Caucasus Toivo Klaar welcomed Azerbaijan's step. "The release by Azerbaijan and reparation to Armenia of 8 Armenian detainees is another sign of positive developments following the meeting with Macron, Aliyev and Pashinyan. The EU supports stability and prosperity in the region," Michel said on his official Twitter account. "Welcome the release of Armenian detainees by Azerbaijan. An important humanitarian gesture following the quadrilateral meeting last Friday [February 4] between Aliyev, Pashinyan, Macron and Michel," Klaar tweeted. Former Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee boss Brian Lewis believes newly elected president Diane Henderson has the credentials to serve in that capacity. Lewis says Henderson has the experience since she has been an athlete and also in-charge of sporting bodies. Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov assures that Ukraine continues to assess as low the probability of a significant military escalation on the part of Russia. Thats according to the Defense Ministrys press service, Ukrinform reports. "We have all the information and assess the situation realistically. Many different hypothetical assessments and forecasts are out there now, especially in foreign media. Some even reported that Russia had already invaded. In fact, this did happen, eight years ago. Id like to emphasize once again, as Ive said many times before. It is the duty of our military to look into all possible scenarios, even the worst-case ones, and do everything possible to neutralize threats. This is what were doing. Today, the likelihood of significant escalation is still low," he said. According to Reznikov, theres nothing unexpected in the latest events that have been developing in line with the forecasts announced earlier. "In a few days, the active phase of the Russian-Belarusian exercises will kick off, which will last until February 20. At the same time, forces of Russias Southern Military District will be undergoing exercises in the same period. As I reported at a briefing on Thursday, units are currently arriving in Belarus from the Eastern and Central Military Districts of the Russian Federation something weve been observing for the past few weeks. Some units are yet to arrive. We are doing everything possible to monitor such situations. The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, previously stressed that, since October 2021, the necessary measures have been taken - both at the level of planning and at the level of practical exercises to repel the aggressor. On Friday, I was invited to a major training session held by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. That is, we are acting in a planned and coordinated manner to eliminate any provocations," Reznikov said. The defense chief added that unprecedented military assistance from international partners had significantly increased Ukraine's resilience capabilities. "Our military is already actively training in using defensive weapons. They are a very effective deterrence tool. The deployment of our Armys Territorial Defense Forces is also gaining momentum. Lots of preparatory efforts are underway involving our civilians," said the Minister. As Ukrinform reported earlier, the U.S. administration continues to provide defense support to Ukraine against the background of the buildup of Russian forces near the Ukrainian border. Also, the United States is strengthening its allies on NATOs eastern flank. im Satellite images published by private U.S. company Maxar Technologies showed Russian troops near the Ukrainian-Belarusian border. That's according to Reuters, Ukrinform reports. According to the report, the images were taken ahead of joint drills announced by Moscow and Minsk. The exercises called "Union Resolve 2022," due to be held on February 10-20, are "aimed at training to repel an attack on southern borders of their alliance." The images showed that military units armed with missiles, multiple rocket launchers and attack aircrafts had deployed to Belarus at three locations close to the border with Ukraine. Maxar Technologies said it had collected images of military hardware near Yelsk, Rechitsa and Luninets on February 4. All locations are within around 50 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Satellite images showed 15 Su-25 ground attack aircraft and S-400 air defense system at Luninets airfield, as well as SS26 Iskander missiles and multiple rocket launchers near Yelsk. Photo credit: Maxar Technologies op At the EU-US Energy Council in Washington on Monday, the parties are to discuss ways to strengthen transatlantic energy security, including ways to bolster Ukraine's energy resilience and prevent the use of energy as a geopolitical weapon. Together with the US and other partners, we oppose the use of energy supply as a weapon and geopolitical lever. The recent EU-US joint statement on energy security already places resilience to future price shocks and safeguards against geopolitical tensions at the centre of the transatlantic energy security agenda. We are committed to ensure the energy security of the EU and our neighbours, including Moldova, Ukraine and the Western Balkans, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell wrote in the blog published on the EEAS website. He noted that the EU and the US could effectively tackle the energy security issues in the short-term, while at the same time moving towards a common strategic goal of developing a net zero economy and cutting dependence on fossil fuels. According to Borrell, ensuring security of gas supply is the immediate problem in the short term. This means that the European side should work for greater diversification of import routes and sources. As the EU High Representative noted, the US already is Europes largest Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) supplier, and this cooperation is intensifying. Beyond the US, the EU talks with Norway, Qatar, Azerbaijan, Algeria and others to expand LNG supplies and at the same time works to increase the EU's capacity to adopt and use the energy resource efficiently. Borrell noted that such EUs cooperation with potential LNG suppliers should not be limited to short-term gas supplies to the European market, but should be aimed at developing more strategic relationships the transition to cooperation in the production and use of renewables like hydrogen and solar. While we seek to address the EUs own energy and climate goals and enhance our resilience, we must do the same for Ukraine. In terms of energy security, Ukraine today is already better prepared for any conflict. As in the rest of Europe, true energy security can however only come through more investment in domestic renewables and better connections with the EU market, the EU High Representative stressed. Our meeting [EU-US Energy Council] will be an opportunity to seek even tighter coordination on energy market reforms needed in Ukraine to reinforce corporate governance and transparency ahead of Ukraines synchronisation to the European electricity network, planned in 2023. We will also work on increased reverse flows within the existing gas transportation infrastructures, the statement reads The EU-US Energy Council will be held in Washington on February 7, chaired by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. EU Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson will also be present. ol Ukraine is actively negotiating financial support with the International Monetary Fund, the European Commission, and the United States. "Currently, the situation in foreign markets is unfavorable for Ukraine due to panic and information attacks. Investors are reluctant to buy our Eurobonds. In this regard, we must completely shift the focus to direct borrowings. We are currently actively negotiating with the IMF, the European Commission, and the USA. Canada provided support already. France and Germany also pledged assistance. We want to create a pool of funds that will allow us to cover all financial needs this year," Minister of Finance of Ukraine Serhiy Marchenko said on the air of Inter TV channel. He noted that the launch of a new emergency program of macro-financial assistance in the amount of EUR 1.2 billion was the fastest decision taken by the European Commission recently. "The European Parliament is expected to make a relevant decision on February 14. It will be emergency macro-financial assistance, almost unconditional. The first tranche is unconditional, totaling EUR 600 million. The next one will provide for the fulfillment of certain conditions so that Ukraine can fulfill them in the first half of the year and receive these funds. These issues are technical and will concern economy, energy and, perhaps, anti-corruption measures," the finance minister said. As reported, the President's Office expects to receive at least $3 billion under macro-financial assistance programs from Western partners. ol French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday again spoke with U.S. President Joe Biden as part of his consultations ahead of Monday's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the Russian-Ukrainian crisis. That's according to BFMTV, referring to the Elysee Palace, Ukrinform reports. The 40-minute phone call is part of "a logic of coordination" before the French president's trip to Moscow and then to Kyiv on Tuesday, where he will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the report said. Macron confirmed he would "discuss the terms of de-escalation" on the border with Ukraine, where Moscow had massed tens of thousands of troops for a potential invasion, which Russia denies, claiming only about its own security guarantees. Macron spoke with Biden last Tuesday, when both presidents "affirmed their support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity" and pledged to stay "in close touch" on the issue, the report said, citing a White House statement. "They have agreed to hold talks again soon," the Elysee Palace added. "You have to be very realistic," Macron said in an interview with JDD. "We will not receive unilateral gestures" from Russia, "but it is important to avoid worsening the situation before building mechanisms and gestures of mutual trust," he added. During the weekend, Macron met with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg and the leaders of the three Baltic countries, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda and Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas. op U.S. President Joe Biden's administration continues to believe that Russia may invade Ukraine at any time now, as it has sufficient military deployments around the Ukrainian border to launch the attack. U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said this in an interview with ABC News' "This Week" on Saturday, February 5, Ukrinform reports. "We believe that there is a very distinct possibility that Vladimir Putin will order an attack on Ukraine. It could take a number of different forms. It could happen as soon as tomorrow or it could take some weeks yet," Sullivan said. Read also: Macron again talks to Biden before meeting with Putin He said that Putin "has put himself in a position with military deployments, to be able to act aggressively against Ukraine at any time now." "We are working hard to rally our allies, to provide material support to the Ukrainians, to reinforce our eastern allies, in particular Poland and Romania and the Baltic states," Sullivan said. At the same time, he said, the United States would send a clear signal to Russia that "we are prepared to walk the diplomatic path, to address our mutual security concerns if they're prepared to do so." op The issue of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline is the U.S. leverage against Russia so if the Kremlin moves into Ukraine, the pipe wont be commissioned. Thats according to the U.S. Presidents National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, who spoke with Fox News. And we have been absolutely clear that if Russia invades Ukraine, one way or the other, Nord Stream 2 will not move forward. That's leverage for us that we have right now, so we intend to use that leverage and Vladimir Putin has a choice to make. If he chooses to move on Ukraine, he will not be getting the benefits of Nord Stream 2, Sullivan said in an interview. The advisor added that, being a substantial energy producer, the U.S. is working with partners across the world to frustrate Russias attempts to use energy as a weapon. [I]f Putin turns down the supply of gas to Europe, that we can find cargoes of liquefied natural gas going elsewhere in the world and redirect them to Europe. So the United States is prepared for a contingency against Russia, said Sullivan. The advisor has noted that the United States is investing massively in being a leader in energy transition. The national security advisor said that, for now, the U.S. continues to use fossil fuels but over the course of years and decades, the nation is set to become a clean energy superpower. President Biden's investments and his visions for how to make the United States the world's clean energy superpower, that's what's going to put us in the best strategic position alongside democratic, like-minded allies and partners, Jake Sullivan concluded. The Nord Stream 2 pipeline was built in early September. The pipeline is designed to double the amount of gas flowing from Russia to Germany, bypassing Ukraine, on the bed of the Baltic Sea. The only shareholder in the project is Gazprom. Nord Stream AG on September 6, 2021, submitted an application to Germany's Federal Network Agency for the certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. However, in November, the regulator suspended the certification procedure due to non-compliance with European gas legislation. The operating company Nord Stream AG, headquartered in Switzerland, was to set up a company in Germany to share functions. Such a subsidiary, Gas for Europe GmbH, was further set up in Germany. The German regulator notes that the certification process will remain suspended until the transfer of the main assets and human resources to the subsidiary has been completed and the Federal Network Agency will be in a position to check the unit's documents for completeness. Ukraine, Poland, the Baltic States, other countries, and the European Parliament actively oppose the completion of the project. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky is convinced that the implementation of the Nord Stream 2 project is a weapon against not only Ukraine but the whole of Europe in the future. im Germany has no further plans to provide weapons to Ukraine but is contributing to NATO's defense capabilities in Europe. German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said this in an interview with Funke media holding, Ukrinform reports. "We must prevent war in the heart of Europe and at the same time, we must not question Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and freedom of choice of blocs. These are red lines. Russia has no veto right here," WAZ quoted Lambrecht as saying. The politician said that Kyiv had a sovereign right to apply for NATO membership, noting that the issue was not on the Alliance's agenda at the moment. The German defense minister reiterated the long-standing position of the federal government on the non-provision of weapons to "crisis areas". Asked about Berlin's delay in Estonia's transfer of nine 40-year-old howitzers from the old GDR reserves to Ukraine, Lambrecht said it needed the approval of the federal government, which was currently discussing the issue. "Howitzers are not defensive weapons. In the end, we must make very responsible decisions in this regard," she stressed. She commented on Germanys decision to provide Ukraine with 5,000 helmets, which sparked a lot of outrage and jokes. She stated that this was a quick response to the request of the Ukrainian side. Lambrecht also mentioned other forms of assistance to Ukraine, including the fact that the German side trains Ukrainian soldiers, supplies hospitals with lung ventilators, medical equipment and vaccines, builds a new field hospital with Estonia, and treats seriously wounded Ukrainian soldiers in the military hospitals for years. "Our work is de-escalation. We want to resolve this conflict peacefully," the official said. The German defense minister noted that there were still many ways to work towards a de-escalation. At the same time, Lambrecht clearly stated that "Russia is the aggressor", that 100,000 Russian soldiers on the Ukrainian border are a clear threat, and that any further step by the Kremlin will have very serious consequences. Speaking about sanctions, the minister said that "all options are on the table". As reported, the Ukrainian side sent to the ministries of defense and foreign affairs a list of defensive weapons that it would like to receive from Germany. Berlin not only refuses to help Ukraine with weapons but also prevents other NATO member states from doing so. ol Chief of the Ukrainian Presidents Office Andriy Yermak, along with other Ukrainian officials retains the position that negotiations on settlement in eastern Ukraine should be held with the Russian side, not the Russia-controlled formations operating in the temporarily occupied territories. There are no and cant be any legally binding steps Ukraine must take regarding the occupation formation in Donetsk and Luhansk, Mykhailo Podoliak, Advisor to the head of the Presidents Office, told in a comment to Ukrinform. Andriy Yermak and all other Ukrainian officials assume that it is expedient and fair to negotiate peace in Donbas with the Russian side. It is the Russian side, not any puppet formations, that is the party to a difficult conflict dialogue. There are no and cannot be legally binding steps of Ukraine in relation to the occupation structures in Donetsk and Luhansk. We should talk with decision-makers, not posers," Podoliak stressed. The advisor noted that the Ukrainian side has reaffirmed this position multiple times and that the countrys partners fully understand it. The advisor to the head of the Presidents Office also noted that "from the perspective of Ukraines national interests and elementary decency, it would be nonsense to make representatives of the occupation formations newsmakers." "It is unfortunate that some Ukrainian media, for the sake of hype and manipulative sensationalism, fall down to a level where they view the occupiers and their propaganda spins as a reliable source," Podoliak added. As reported earlier, certain media outlets claimed the head of the Presidents Office, Andriy Yermak, a meeting of advisers to the Normandy Four leaders in Paris on January 26, allegedly undertook to consider "proposals" of so-called "representatives" of the temporarily occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions toward conflict settlement. im German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said the response to Russia will be "united and decisive" should it decide to launch a new invasion of Ukraine. According to Ukrinform, he stated this in an interview with The Washington Post. "We are cooperating with our allies in NATO and [the European Union], and with the United States, on the question of how to react to this threat to Ukraine that is coming from Russia. Our strict response is saying it will have very high prices," Scholz said. When asked about the criticism that Germany has not been a strong enough ally, both to Ukraine and within NATO, he stressed that "we are the strongest economic supporter of Ukraine." "It is approximately 2 billion U.S. dollars so far, [in the past 7 years]," Scholz said. Commenting on the criticism that Germany handed over a batch of helmets to Ukraine and no weapons, Scholz noted that "it was Ukraine that put in the request to send helmets, and we reacted to that." When asked whether the German government will halt the process to open the Nord Stream 2 pipeline if Russia launches a new invasion of Ukraine, the chancellor said he did not want to get into any specifics, but "our answer will be united and decisive." Scholz noted that at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 15, he would try to convey that Russia would have a very high price if it intervened into Ukraine with its military troops. He added that he would meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on February 14 to discuss the full-fledged reinstatement of the Minsk format. Scholz arrived in Washington on February 6 on his first visit as head of government. He will hold talks with U.S. President Joe Biden. op Mustafa Dzhemilev, the leader of the Crimean Tatar people, has long earned the Nobel Peace Prize. "I strongly believe that Mustafa Dzhemilev deserves to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in the current geopolitical situation. That's why I decided to submit his nomination to the Nobel Committee," Deputy Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland Magorzata Gosiewska, who initiated the nomination of Mustafa Dzhemilev for this year's Nobel Peace Prize, told an Ukrinform correspondent. According to her, numerous Polish organizations that cooperated with the Crimean Tatars, supporting their desire for freedom since Soviet times, also urged to do so. As Gosiewska stressed, Dzhemilev's biography and activities should be properly assessed. Back in his youth, he fought for the rights of his exiled people, doing so peacefully, without resorting to violence and terror, and was repeatedly persecuted and imprisoned for his activities. The Polish politician noted that after returning to his homeland, Dzhemilev became the leader of the Crimean Tatar people and continued to defend their rights during the Russian occupation of Crimea. "In my opinion, Dzhemilev should have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize much earlier. However, now is a special period: Vladimir Putin, the aggressor that occupied Crimea, now threatens to attack Ukraine, poses a threat to Europe. Dzhemilev's personality reminds us all, as well as Western Europe and the world, how dangerous the Russian Federation can be as it is constantly trying to restore its former influence and deprive the nations of freedom, seeking to rebuild the empire," said the Deputy Marshal of Polands Sejm. According to her, the world should find out the history of the Crimean Tatars and their struggle. "Mustafa Dzhemilev is a figure who can perform this task perfectly well," Gosiewska summed up. As a reminder, Poland, at the initiative of Gosiewska, nominated leader of the Crimean Tatar people Mustafa Dzhemilev for Nobel Peace Prize 2022. Other nominees are British naturalist David Attenborough, the World Health Organization, Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, Tuvaluan Foreign Minister Simon Kofe, and Pope Francis. l The real signal of de-escalation would be a consistent withdrawal of all Russian forces deployed along the Ukrainian border, not a one-time pullback. This was stated by Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, who spoke at an online briefing on Monday, February 7, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "As for de-escalation, we need to see a systematic withdrawal of Russian troops from the Ukrainian border and the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Meanwhile, a one-time pullback doesnt mean de-escalation," Kuleba said. The head of Ukrainian diplomacy stressed that a clear signal of de-escalation would be the consistent withdrawal of all forces deployed along the border of Ukraine over the past year. As Ukrinform reported earlier, on January 29, Russia announced that the troops and aircraft of the Western Military District had completed a "scheduled combat readiness check" and were allegedly returning to their bases. On January 31, Kuleba said that distrust in Russia's actions and words persisted, so Russia's statements about the start of withdrawal from the areas of the exercise require more detailed information and verification. im Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba will raise the issue of military supplies to Ukraine during the talks with foreign ministers of Germany and France in Kyiv. "The issue of military supplies to Ukraine from Germany or from third countries or international organizations that need German permission will be on the agenda of my talks today [with Annalena Baerbock]," Kuleba said at an online briefing on Monday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. Commenting on Germany's provision of a record number of weapons to other countries in 2021, he noted that Germany had repeatedly and publicly explained this decision. "We consider these explanations to be unfair towards Ukraine and that there is more room for German action. But we must respect the position of the state, however. That doesn't mean we shouldn't work with it. Therefore, we will, of course, continue to work with Germany on this issue," the minister noted. According to Kuleba, the relations between Ukraine and Germany are not limited to the arms supply and are much broader. In this context, Ukraines chief diplomat thanked Germany for the efforts made within the Normandy format and in other areas of bilateral cooperation. However, as Kuleba assured, neither he, nor the President, nor any Ukrainian diplomat will ever turn a blind eye to the problematic issues in relations with Germany. "In the same way, we will discuss this topic [military supplies to Ukraine] during the visit of President of France Emmanuel Macron to Ukraine tomorrow. Because when it comes to strengthening Ukraine and the Ukrainian Armed Forces, there can be no country exceptions with which we do not raise this issue," Kuleba summed up. As Ukrinform reported, German Ambassador to Ukraine Anka Feldhusen said that Germany, together with Finland, would decide whether to allow Estonia to hand over nine Soviet D-30 122mm howitzers to Ukraine. On January 22, The Wall Street Journal reported that Germany refused to allow Estonia to hand over D-30 howitzers to Ukraine. Earlier, Defense Express reported that the Government of Estonia had sent a request to the Government of Germany, asking for permission to supply Ukraine with Soviet D-30 122mm howitzers. Estonia acquired the howitzers from Finland, which in turn had bought them from former East Germany's military surplus supply. ol A meeting in the Normandy format at the level of political advisors may take place this week, according to German government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann. She said this at a briefing on Monday, February 7, answering a question from an Ukrinform correspondent. "Preparations for the meeting in the Normandy format at the level of political advisers are still underway. There are signs that it could take place this week," Hoffmann said. She also noted that Germany is in close contact with Ukraine on the implementation of the Minsk agreements. Hoffmann strongly rejected accusations by a Russian propaganda media member about alleged plans by Ukrainian troops to invade the temporarily occupied areas in eastern Ukraine in the near future. "It is clear that at the moment the threat comes from Russia -- in particular due to the build-up of troops on the Russian-Ukrainian border -- not from Ukraine," she said, adding that "invading your own territory does not make sense." For his part, German Foreign Ministry spokesman Christopher Burger confirmed that Berlin was trying to make progress in the Normandy format towards the implementation of the Minsk agreements. He recalled that German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will pay a visit to Ukraine on February 7 and 8. In particular, she will visit the line of contact in eastern Ukraine and assess the situation there, especially the humanitarian one. "The current situation is a good reason for us to discuss the threat. [] We must be prepared for any scenario," the diplomat said. When asked about possible sanctions against Russia, Hoffmann said that severe sanctions would be imposed only in the event of Russian aggression. For EU and NATO partners, aggression means further violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Sanctions are closely coordinated among partners, but all diplomatic efforts are aimed at avoiding such a scenario. At a meeting of political advisers to the leaders of the Normandy format countries in Paris on January 26, all parties agreed to hold the next meeting in two weeks. According to Ukrinform, this meeting is planned for February 10. But a few days ago, Ukrainian negotiator Andriy Yermak tested positive for COVID-19. op French President Emmanuel Macron will make a visit to Ukraine on Tuesday, February 8. That's according to the schedule of the French leader, published on the website of the Elysee Palace, Ukrinform reports. The visit is expected to last all day. Earlier, Ukrainian presidential press secretary Serhiy Nykyforov said that Macron planned to visit Ukraine on February 8. Macron on Monday flew out to Moscow to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine's borders. Photo: geopolitique.eu op German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has arrived in Ukraine. According to Ukrinform, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba announced this on Twitter. "We started the visit of my German colleague Annalena Baerbock to Ukraine with visiting National Museum of the Holodomor Genocide. We are working to ensure the widest possible international recognition of Stalin's genocide against Ukrainians, including in Germany," Kuleba wrote. On February 7-8, Baerbock pays her second visit to Ukraine at Kuleba's invitation. Both ministers will hold talks, with the key topics being the coordination of efforts within the Normandy format, the implementation of a comprehensive deterrence package for Russia, the development of trade relations, the strengthening of energy security, and the intensification of dialogue on Germany's historical responsibility to Ukraine. During the visit, Baerbock also plans to visit the contact line in the Donbas to get acquainted with the current security situation in the area of the Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict. op Multiple hospitals in Washington state have learned that masks they believed were N95 respirators purchased from 3M, like those above, were actually knockoffs. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th Feb, 2022 ) :The Federal board of Revenue (FBR) on Sunday clarified for paying over Rs.16 billion in Sales Tax refunds to hundreds of big retailers in the past five months. Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has taken a very strong exception to the news story sensationally captioned "Biggest tax scam surfaces in FBR" published in Daily Express Tribune on 6th February, 2022 which is, indeed, malicious in intent and suspicious in content. It has been claimed in the subject news story that a new tax scam has surfaced in FBR where tax authorities illegally paid over Rs.16 billion in Sales Tax refunds to hundreds of big retailers in the past five months, said a press release issued. Unfortunately, the information contained in the instant news story is laughably unfounded, misleading and far from facts. The scribe of the story failed to understand even the basic procedure and relevant laws involved in the issuance of refunds and deduction/disallowance of input tax adjustment. Similarly, the said reporter failed to understand the basic difference between issuance of refund and input tax adjustment. While clarifying its position, FBR has stated that the matter does not relate to refunds as claimed in the news story. Instead, it pertains to input tax adjustment of Tier-1 retailers who failed to integrate with POS System. FBR has explained that an amendment was introduced in the relevant provisions of law recently that all those Tier-1 retailers who failed to get registered with POS System would not be entitled to claim 60% of input tax adjustment in their monthly Sales Tax Return. Legally speaking this is a regular check which Field Formations undertake in routine. However, in order to automate the process, Sales Tax General Orders (STGOs) were issued to do the same through the IT system. This is only ridiculous to assume as in the malicious story that the regular enforcement action got displaced with the issuance of the STGOs. Even otherwise it was only a punitive deferral which is being mixed with refunds allowed. FBR has put in place a very robust system to verify the payment and deduction of input tax adjustment and there are many checks built in the system to authenticate and verify the processes. Reacting to the instant news story, FBR has clarified that the System indicated to the anomaly in the monthly Sales Tax Return of retailers who failed to integrate with POS System. CEO, PRAL with his team explained that the changes in the system had, in fact, suitably been incorporated. The matter was brought to the notice of Chairman FBR/Secretary Revenue Division, Dr. Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmed who ordered a inquiry into the matter to ascertain as to why the changes made into the system were not effectively working. In case of any technical glitch, it would be scrutinized as to how this malfunction occurred and the fault would be rectified in the minimum possible time. Moreover, while responding to revenue loss as mentioned in the news story, FBR has clarified that Field Formations are already enforcing law, and in case any input has been allowed, it would be disallowed in next month's sales tax return, which is a routine function of the tax administration. It is pertinent to mention that FBR had already taken up the matter on its own and Chairman FBR had already ordered an inquiry into the same. Interestingly, this is not something which came to light after the publication of instant news story. Rather, the system itself identified this malfunctioning/anomaly which resulted into an immediate inquiry. FBR has further reiterated that the subject news report is based on incorrect appraisal of facts. Calling it a 'scam' reflects on the irresponsible reporting which must be shunned, by all sane elements in the society. While concluding, FBR has resolved that all unduly allowed adjustments would be disallowed. Lastly, it is pertinent to highlight that FBR has ushered in a new era of a clean taxation through various innovative interventions both at policy and operational level. These out-of-box initiatives have not only have translated into consistent revenue growth but also bridged trust deficit between FBR and taxpayers. Therefore, the on-going drive for digitization, transparency and taxpayers' facilitation across the country has already perturbed those vested economic interests who have largely been the beneficiary of various tax exemptions and revenue leakages for decades, and who could, in fact, be behind such ludicrous content to demoralize the tax administration. Malicious news items like this one are, indeed, published to malign FBR and serve the interest groups who are frustrated by the measures adopted by FBR to maximize tax compliance through a transparent tax system, driven by technological innovations. Chairman, FBR has also instructed Member (Public Relations), FBR to arrange regular training sessions for FBR reporters in tax laws and procedures so as to help them avoid absurd sensationalism in the future. Russia registered 171,905 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, fewer than a day earlier for the first time since Jan. 10, taking the national tally to 12,982,023, the official monitoring and response center said Monday MOSCOW, Feb. 7 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Feb, 2022 ) --:Russia registered 171,905 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, fewer than a day earlier for the first time since Jan. 10, taking the national tally to 12,982,023, the official monitoring and response center said Monday. The nationwide death toll grew by 609 to 336,023, the lowest increase since June 27, and the number of recoveries increased by 55,683 to 10,624,954. Moscow, Russia's worst-hit region, reported 15,442 new cases, taking its total to 2,511,333. To date, Omicron variant infections have been detected in 84 out of Russia's 85 regions. (@FahadShabbir) Minister for Information Chaudhry Fawad Hussain on Monday expressed deep grief and sorrow over the death of the grandmother of Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Feb, 2022 ) :Minister for Information Chaudhry Fawad Hussain on Monday expressed deep grief and sorrow over the death of the grandmother of Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani. In a condolence message, Chaudhry Fawad said he shared the grief of the bereaved family. He prayed to Allah Almighty to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved family to bear this loss with fortitude. At least 19 people were killed by an avalanche on Monday while crossing a remote mountain pass from Afghanistan, a Taliban official said Jalalabad, Afghanistan, Feb 7 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Feb, 2022 ) :At least 19 people were killed by an avalanche on Monday while crossing a remote mountain pass from Afghanistan, a Taliban official said. Najibullah Hassan Abdal, head of information for eastern Kunar province, told AFP rescue workers were still searching at the scene of the avalanche. "Nineteen bodies have been recovered already," he said. (@FahadShabbir) The Central African Republic's prime minister, Henri-Marie Dondra, has been sacked and replaced by his economy minister in the poor, unstable country, the presidency spokesman said Monday Bangui, Central African Republic, Feb 7 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Feb, 2022 ) :The Central African Republic's prime minister, Henri-Marie Dondra, has been sacked and replaced by his economy minister in the poor, unstable country, the presidency spokesman said Monday. "The prime minister was fired, and Felix Moloua was appointed," spokesman Albert Yaloke Mokpeme told AFP. Dondra, who had headed the government of the conflict-wracked country for eight months, confirmed to AFP by telephone that he had resigned, adding that "a new (prime minister) has just been appointed." A civil war broke out in the former French colony in 2013, pitting myriad militias against a state on the verge of collapse. The fighting had lessened considerably in recent years, but about a year ago, fighting resumed abruptly when rebels launched a failed offensive to overthrow President Faustin-Archange Touadera. An online news website, Africa Intelligence, reported Friday that Dondra had "tendered his resignation" to Touadera, who was attending an African Union summit in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. Neither Dondra, nor the president's office, contacted by AFP, would confirm or deny the report. Mokpeme told AFP on Monday that the president wished to "clarify the situation, to end flights of fancy and confusion by signing a decree ending the mission of the former prime minister before signing a second decree naming Felix Moloua." (@ChaudhryMAli88) Iraq's parliament on Monday indefinitely postponed a scheduled vote for the republic's president after most major political blocs boycotted the session Baghdad, Feb 7 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Feb, 2022 ) :Iraq's parliament on Monday indefinitely postponed a scheduled vote for the republic's president after most major political blocs boycotted the session. The sweeping no-show deepens a political crisis in the war-scarred country which, almost four months after a general election, still hasn't chosen a new prime minister. The assembly vote had been set for noon for the head of state -- a post with a four-year mandate held by convention by a member of Iraq's Kurdish minority, and currently occupied by Barham Saleh. But a series of boycott calls had made it highly unlikely the 329-seat parliament in Baghdad's high-security Green Zone would be able to clinch the necessary two-thirds quorum. Then, on Monday afternoon, with only a few dozen MPs in the chamber, an official speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed to AFP that "there will be no vote to elect the president". The turmoil comes after October polls were marred by record-low turnout, post-election threats and violence, and a delay of several months until final results were confirmed. Intense negotiations among political groups since then have failed to form a majority parliamentary coalition to name a new prime minister to succeed Mustafa al-Kadhemi. The largest parliamentary bloc to emerge from the vote, led by powerful Shiite Muslim cleric Moqtada Sadr and holding 73 seats, was first to announce a boycott, on Saturday. It was followed on Sunday by the 51-member Sovereignty Coalition led by a Sadr ally, parliamentary Speaker Mohammed al-Halbussi. The 31-seat Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) then announced it would also stay away, in order to "continue consultations and dialogue between political blocs". Another key bloc, the Cooperation Framework grouping several Shiite parties, also said the session should not take place, citing the recent political turmoil. (@ChaudhryMAli88) One of French painter Paul Gauguin's most famous paintings, "Mata Mua", will return to a Madrid museum on Monday following an agreement between the Spanish government and its owner, who took it out of the country Madrid, Feb 7 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Feb, 2022 ) :One of French painter Paul Gauguin's most famous paintings, "Mata Mua", will return to a Madrid museum on Monday following an agreement between the Spanish government and its owner, who took it out of the country. The artwork had been on display for two decades at Madrid's Thyssen-Bornemisza museum but in 2020 when the institution closed because of the pandemic, the painting's owner Carmen Thyssen moved it to Andorra where she currently lives. Her decision to take "Mata Mua" to the microstate sandwiched between Spain and France raised fears she would remove other works from her collection which are on display at the museum. "It is expected that the painting will arrive today," a spokeswoman for the museum told AFP. The artwork will go back on display to the public "a few days after" Thyssen signs a new agreement with the Spanish state for the lease of her collection, she added. The deal is expected to be signed on Wednesday. Painted in 1892 in vivid, flat colours, "Mata Mua" depicts two women, one playing the flute and the other listening, set against a lush Tahitian landscape. It is one of the stars of Thyssen's collection of several hundred paintings which are on show at the museum, including works by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse and Claude Monet. Her collection had initially been displayed at the Madrid museum as part of a free loan agreement signed in February 2002 that was subsequently extended. But in August 2021 Spain's culture ministry announced it had reached an agreement with Thyssen to rent the collection from her for 15 years for 97.5 million Euros ($111.5 million), with "preferential acquisition rights on all or part" of the works. Aside from housing her collection of works, the museum displays the collection of her late husband, Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza, the Swiss heir to a powerful industrial lineage who died in Spain in 2002. The Spanish state bought his collection in 1993 from 350 million Dollars, according to the museum. (@ChaudhryMAli88) MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 07th February, 2022) The defense team of Russian citizen Viktor Bout, who is serving his 25-year sentence in the Marion Federal prison in the US state of Illinois, is preparing arguments for several options for his early release, Bout's lawyer Steve Zissou told Sputnik. According to Zissou, the defense team continues to build arguments that should become the basis for his release, for each of the possible options, such as transfer to Russia under the convention on the transfer of prisoners, prisoner exchange, or compassionate release. "The arguments for all of these options are interconnected," Zissou said, explaining that, in the end, it does not matter which option works and that the main thing is that it should result in Viktor's release from prison and his return home. In 2008, Bout was detained in Thailand on a US government request as a result of a sting operation by US special services. Bout was then transferred to the United States where a court found him guilty of conspiring to kill US citizens and of supporting terrorism. Sudanese security forces fired tear gas Monday at thousands of demonstrators calling for civilian rule and justice for protesters killed since last year's coup, witnesses and an AFP correspondent said Khartoum, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Feb, 2022 ) :Sudanese security forces fired tear gas Monday at thousands of demonstrators calling for civilian rule and justice for protesters killed since last year's coup, witnesses and an AFP correspondent said. The tear gas was fired as demonstrators were heading toward the presidential palace in the capital Khartoum, in the latest rally against the October coup led by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the correspondent said. Mass protests have been regular in Sudan since the coup which derailed the country's rocky transition to civilian rule following the 2019 ouster of autocratic president Omar al-Bashir. At least 79 people have been killed and hundreds wounded in the crackdown on anti-coup demonstrations, according to an independent group of medics. Monday's protests took place despite heavy security presence in Khartoum and its neighbouring cities of Omdurman and Khartoum North. It came only two days after thousands of pro-military demonstrators rallied against recent UN talks that aimed to help Sudan resolve the political crisis since the coup. On Monday, anti-coup protesters in the city of Wad Madani, south of Khartoum, were seen waving the Sudanese flags and carrying posters of people killed in the crackdown. "No, no to military rule" and "blood for blood," they chanted, according to witnesses. Hundreds also gathered in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan, residents there said. In Khartoum, some protesters also called for the dissolution of the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces commanded by Burhan's deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, an AFP correspondent said. "The Janjaweed should be dissolved," the protesters chanted, in reference to the RSF which grew out of the Janjaweed militias accused by rights groups of atrocities in Darfur. Sudan, which was already in the grip of a dire economic crisis before the coup, has seen vital foreign aid cut as part of the international community's condemnation of the takeover. The United States, which suspended $700 million in assistance to Sudan after the coup, has warned that a continued crackdown by the authorities would have "consequences". Sudanese authorities have repeatedly denied using live ammunition against demonstrators, reporting scores of security officers have been wounded and a police general was stabbed to death. On Monday, the Sudanese Professionals Association, which called for anti-coup protests, said the latest demonstrations were "a message to the dictatorship that authority lies with the people". The Bishops Conference of Haiti is calling on political leaders to prevent the country from slipping further into turmoil and chaos. By Vatican News staff writer Ahead of the end of the current presidential term in Haiti, Haitian Bishops have released a statement calling for unity to overcome the ongoing political and socio-economic crisis in the Caribbean nation. Monday, 7 February, marked what would have been the end of the late President Jovenel Moises term in office, had he not been assassinated during an armed attack at his residence in Port-au-Prince on 7 July 2021. Insecurity has continued to increase since, with growing violence and kidnappings by armed gangs, while a 7.2-magnitude earthquake in August claiming over one thousand lives has plunged the population into further poverty. Political tensions also continue to run high, with opponents to the current Haitian Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, challenging his authority and demanding his immediate departure. Haitian people are 'exhausted' In their statement, the Haitian Bishops emphasize the urgent need for courageous decisions at this difficult time, recalling that the present and the future of Haiti, and therefore its very existence as a people, as a nation, and as a state are at stake. The Haitian people cannot take it anymore. They are tired and exhausted of alienating, humiliating, inhuman, dehumanizing living conditions, they write. This is no time, they continue, for division, disunity, disagreement, discord and fratricidal struggles for power, for the unchecked and shameless pursuit of personal, selfish, and petty interests. Instead, the Bishops appeal for unity and call on all political leaders to seek the the widest consensus possible" so as to definitely exit the crisis. The time has come for unity, which is strength, to pool our ideas and our efforts, for national and patriotic consensus to get our country out of the deep crisis that has been going on for too long threatening its very existence. On the edge of an abyss Referring to Monday's crucial date marking the end of the original presidential term in office, the Bishops call on all Haitians to work together so that 7 February is a day of dialogue, of consensus, and of historic compromise aimed at unifying our people, and of saving and transforming our country, which is on the edge of an abyss. Read also 20/12/2021 Bishops in Haiti call for a jolt of patriotism amidst crisis In its Christmas message, the Bishops Conference of Haiti (CEH) calls for national responsibility and for international solidarity as the country faces political, economic and ... Restoring order, peace, and security The Bishops address themselves specifically to political leaders, asking that they do everything possible to ensure that order, peace, security and respect for lives and property are largely restored. But they also refer to the armed gangs sowing death and fear across the island, urging them to lay down their arms, to give up violence and kidnapping and to stop shedding the blood of our sisters and brothers. Finally, the Haitian Bishops implore the Blessed Virgin Mary's help so as to save the Haitian people from even worse predicaments. National Marriage Week USA and World Marriage Day, promoted by the Bishops of the United States, provide an opportunity to celebrate the vocation of marriage and to focus on the importance of family life. By Vatican News staff writer The Catholic Church in the United States is observing its annual National Marriage Week, which takes place 7-14 February each year on the occasion of Valentines Day, February 14. Strengthening marriage in communities The Week was first launched by the US Catholic Bishops Conference (USCBB) in 2010 as part of an international campaign seeking to bring together individuals, organizations, and businesses for strengthening marriage in communities and influencing modern culture. It encompasses the World Marriage Day celebrated every second Sunday of February, which is on February 13 this year, and ends on Valentine's Day. The week offers an opportunity to reflect on the importance of married life as a gift of God not only to the couple, but to the Church as whole and the world. 'Called to Joy of Love' This years celebration is focused on the theme: Called to the Joy of Love, referring to Pope Francis' 2016 Encyclical on the family Amoris Laetitia, which also inspired the title of the new National Pastoral Framework for Marriage and Family Life Ministry that was approved by the U.S. bishops during their Plenary Assembly in June 2021. The theme was chosen to highlight the many ways that married couples and families are accompanied by the Church to live out the call of love. Resources available US Bishops are encouraging to use a number of resources made available each day of the Week through the USCCBs social media channels: Twitter (@USCCB), Facebook (www.facebook.com/usccb), and Instagram (https://instagram.com/usccb). Daily content will include a series of videos featuring how various ministries are fortifying married couples in the midst of challenges such as infertility, grief for the loss of a child, and the stressors of daily life. Live-streamed events will be available through USCCB social media channels, including the recitation of the Holy Rosary for married and engaged couples and a conversation on what it means to care for a sick spouse. For dioceses, resources available include a flyer that may be used by parishes as a bulletin insert, as well as social media graphics for download in English and Spanish at ForYourMarriage.org/celebrate-national-marriage-week/. The USCCB also offers resources to the faithful for the promotion of marriage as a lifelong union of one man and one woman through its dedicated websites ForYourMarriage.org, PorTuMatrimonio.org, and MarriageUniqueForAReason.org. Victoria, TX (77901) Today Partly cloudy and windy. A stray thunderstorm is possible. High 88F. Winds SSE at 20 to 30 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 74F. Winds SSE at 15 to 25 mph. JACK ALKIRE is a Photographer for The Vidette. Alkire can be contacted at dbalkir@ilstu.edu. Follow Alkire on Twitter at d.jack_alkire IF YOU SUPPORT THE VIDETTE MISSION of providing a training laboratory for Illinois State University student journalists to learn and sharpen viable, valuable and marketable skills in all phases of digital media, please contribute to this most important cause. Thank you. Investors looking to take advantage of lower tariffs must understand and comply with rule of origin guidelines. Vietnam is a party to several free trade agreements making it an ideal destination for manufacturers looking to produce goods there. As Vietnam benefits from the myriad of agreements, it has also increased scrutiny on products that defy rule of origin guidelines. For businesses seeking to take advantage of tariff-free exports and low labor costs, Vietnam has become the ideal destination. In 2019, manufacturing and processing accounted for 64.6 percent of total investment capital and with the recent signing of several free trade agreements, including the European Union-Vietnam FTA (EVFTA) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), this amount is expected to rise. As a compliment to pending agreements, Vietnam already benefits from operational FTAs with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), China, Japan, South Korea, India, New Zealand, Australia, and Russia. Although FTA agreements present a tempting way to lower export costs, the ability to tap into their benefits is largely contingent upon compliance with elaborate rules outlined within each agreement. At hundreds of pages in length, agreements set out specific tariff concessions and compliance requirements at a product-specific level. Rules of origin: A primer In order to ascertain the manner in which goods will be treated, it is first necessary to identify the Harmonized System (HS) code that will be designated to the finished product. This is to determine the applicable tariff. The HS system is a classification of products and allows participating countries to classify traded goods for customs purposes. HS codes classify goods in a six-digit code system. From a compliance perspective, HS codes are also used to determine the requirements that a good will be subject to under an FTA. Areas of compliance will often pertain to the manner in which a good is produced, how it is labeled and the certifications that it requires to be exported and recognized. To understand the specifics applied under a given agreement, one of the most important sections of an FTA is that of rules of origin. Rules of origin establish the method by which signatories of free trade agreements determine if goods entering their borders qualify for the benefits of the agreement. It is also important to note that rules of origin are included and utilized within international law to determine when to apply anti-dumping duties. In order for Vietnamese exports to qualify for tariff reductions under free trade agreements of which Vietnam is a participant, rules of origin requirements mandate varying degrees of the manufacturing process to be conducted within Vietnam. The objective of these rules is to enforce the trade agreement and to prevent third parties from free-riding off of the concessions of FTA signatories. Adapting to the complex and global nature of many corporate supply chains, rules of origin chapters have become increasingly complex and require careful due diligence to ensure compliance. Product-specific requirements For a product to benefit from tariff reduction, it must originate from a country party to the trade agreement. The product can be wholly obtained from that nation or meet certain requirements in the event that the product is not wholly obtained. Wholly obtained goods These generally refer to raw materials and other resources such as livestock and agriculture. These goods must be sourced exclusively from within the FTA zone or territory to qualify for tariff reductions. Under many free trade agreements, a list of goods that must meet these requirements is specified. For companies involved in the sale of similar goods from multiple jurisdictions, it will be important to ensure a thorough understanding of how raw materials and other exports are treated under Vietnams FTA framework. For companies exporting goods from both Vietnam and China, it may not be possible for Chinese produced goods to qualify for tariff reductions under certain agreements. Goods not wholly obtained While some goods must be entirely sourced in Vietnam by their inclusion under FTAs as wholly obtained goods, modern trade agreements also attempt to accommodate the rise of multinational supply chains through certain allowances. Outlined under trade agreements as regulations pertaining to not wholly obtained products, many goods must meet certain requirements to benefit from tariff reductions. There are two ways that a not wholly obtained product is generally classified as eligible for tax breaks: It has been sufficiently transformed within the FTA zone; and A certain percentage of the product is originating from that area. The standard for each of these categories varies based on the agreement and the goods in question. It is common for FTAs to require that a certain percentage of inputs be sourced from within the FTA zone and that the goods undergo a degree of change within the zone to qualify for reductions. Furthermore, the technique by which the value for each category is evaluated differs based on the agreement and the goods in question. For companies attempting to benefit from tariff reductions, the challenge is not only to navigate complex rules that determine an originating product, but also to manufacture goods in a way that is suitable under several trade agreements. It is crucial to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of manufacturing in accordance with the complex FTA guidelines. Supply chain and logistics optimization Vietnamese based operations are never far away from potential suppliers in China and India, while a great distance from sources of demand in the Americas and Europe. To facilitate regional supply chain integration and support the shipment of goods to their final destination, free trade agreements increasingly implement articles dealing with extra FTA supply and transit. Advantages of cumulation In an attempt to further adjust to extensive supply chains, articles pertaining to cumulation allow companies to maintain multinational supply chains without losing originating status. Because it is impractical for businesses to manufacture entirely in one nation, FTAs authorize the producer to tap into tax reductions while utilizing the comparative advantage of several countries that may not be included within the FTA in question. Manufacturers can work in countries within the zone of an FTA or in a nation collaborating with the agreement. For example, under the EU-Vietnam FTA, if a fabric originating in South Korea is brought to Vietnam and further processed, it can be considered as originating in Vietnam and applicable to the tariff break under the agreement. Those with existing supply chains in close proximity to Vietnam should review articles of cumulation found within Vietnams FTA network to ensure that goods are afforded the lowest tariffs possible upon export. Transit/Transshipment To accommodate companies whose products are shipped through several ports, FTAs ensure that applicable goods do not lose preferential status simply due to the transit route. While this gives manufacturers the freedom to ship along the best-suited lane, importers may require proof that the good was in no way altered at an intermediate location, which would disqualify it from the reduced tariff. Challenges The rules of origin under the FTAs are incredibly detailed and complex. Nations may also be part of several FTAs that have different rules of origin. With extensive supply chains, it is important for companies to harmonize them in accordance with the varying trade agreements. Manufacturers are also obligated to keep records of the eligibility of their goods and are subject to customs audits. At the very least, this involves keeping track of the origin of the materials. Note: This article was first published in June 2016 and has been updated to include the latest developments. Vietnam recently issued Decree 111 amending rules on the labeling of goods. Decree 111 takes effect on February 15, but the regulation allows for a transition period. Businesses dealing in the import and export of goods should be aware of the new changes and plan ahead to stay compliant. Vietnam recently issued Decree No. 111/2021/ND-CP (Decree 111), which amends rules on the labeling of goods and takes effect on February 15, 2022. Decree 111 aims to tackle tax evasion and fraud, and mandates individuals and organizations that produce, export, or import goods to record and determine the origin of their goods. Their labels must ensure accuracy, truthfulness, and compliance with legal provisions on the origin of goods imported to, exported from, and manufactured in Vietnam, or any country participating in international agreements with Vietnam. Decree 111 amends Decree No. 43/2017/ND-CP (Decree 43) on product labeling regulations. What are the amendments under Decree 111? Mandatory information on labels for imported goods to Vietnam Decree 111 mandates that goods imported into Vietnam must have their original label either in a foreign language or in Vietnamese with the following information: The name of the goods; The origin of goods; Name or abbreviated name; and Address of the foreign manufacturer or foreign company responsible for importing the goods. Previously under Decree 43, if the original label of an imported good did not conform with the provisions under the decree, then the importer had to make a supplementary label before sending such goods into the market. The origin of goods Decree 43 made it obligatory to display the origin of goods on labels without other alternatives. This caused difficulty for businesses that could not determine the origin of their goods. Decree 111 modifies this by adding a clause whereby if the origin of goods could not be determined, the business can state the place where the final production stage was conducted. The following statements or phrases should be presented together with the country or territory where the final production stage took place: Assembled in; Bottled in; Product of; Made in; Mixed at; Packed in; Manufactured in; or Labeled at, among others. The decree also forbids abbreviating the country where the goods were completed or manufactured. What about exported goods? The scope of regulations for the labeling of goods was restricted to goods imported and circulated in Vietnam, according to Decree 43. Decree 111 has expanded this scope to include exported goods. Goods labeled for export must comply with the regulations of the importing country. The origin of goods labels must comply with Vietnamese regulations or with the international agreements that Vietnam is a signatory to. Further, the label must not contain images or content regarding sovereign disputes or sensitive content that could impact Vietnams national security, society, economics, customs, and diplomatic relations. We have seen in the past where goods involving sovereign disputes have been banned or boycotted by consumers. This is something that businesses should be careful of or risk penalties and losses. Medical device labeling For imported medical devices into Vietnam, the labels must show the following: The name and address of the legal manufacturer; and The name and address of the company or individual who is the registrant (registration number). If the medical device does not have a registration number, the name and address of the company or individual on the import license, as well as the name and address of the owner of the medical device must be written on the label. The label must also be written in Vietnamese. If this is unavailable, then a supplementary label in Vietnamese must be added, while the original label remains unchanged. Plan ahead despite transition period The regulation allows for a transition period for businesses to comply. In scenarios where: goods labels are compliant with Decree 43; and the products were manufactured, imported, or circulated before February 15, 2022. Businesses can continue to circulate them until the products expiry date but no more than two years beyond the effective date of Decree 111. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen admitted an "unintentional mistake" on Monday in taking credit for helping to free an Australian in Myanmar whom the military government said was not being released. Sean Turnell, an economic adviser to deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, was arrested on Feb. 6 last year, a few days after a coup, and is charged with breaching the Official Secrets Act, punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Hun Sen, as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), had earlier said Turnell had been freed following his lobbying of Myanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlaing to let him go, at the request of Australia's foreign minister. "In reality, the Australian national was not released," Hun Sen said in a Facebook post late on Monday. "The confusion is because of me getting information wrong, please forgive me for unintentional mistake." Myanmar military spokesperson Zaw Min Tun told BBC Burmese there were no plans to release Turnell. He did not answer calls from Reuters seeking confirmation. A source close to Turnell had also told Reuters there was no news of his release. Turnell's trial has yet to start. He is among about 11,000 people detained since the coup, say activists. Hun Sen has been eager to engage Myanmar's generals, despite ASEAN concerns about legitimizing their rule. He has repeatedly pressed the military to deliver on commitments with ASEAN to end hostilities and allow dialog with all parties, including the ousted government. A senior Cambodian official told Reuters on Monday the junta boss had agreed to let an ASEAN special envoy meet some members of Suu Kyi's party. Myanmar military leader Min Aung Hlaing agreed to arrange for an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) special envoy from Cambodia to meet members of the ousted ruling party on a future visit, a senior Cambodian official said on Monday. The pledge, made in a Jan. 26 video call with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, represents a small concession in a deadlocked peace process since Myanmar's military seized power a year ago from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD). Min Aung Hlaing did not identify which members of the NLD might be made available, said Kao Kim Hourn, a minister in Hun Sen's office who was part of the video meeting. "They have said during the video conferencing between our prime minister and senior general Min Aung Hlaing that they would provide access to some of the NLD figures, but we don't know those yet," Kao Kim Hourn told Reuters by telephone. A spokesman for Myanmar's junta did not answer a telephone call seeking comment. Myanmar has been in crisis since the military seized power, with about 1,500 civilians killed in the junta's crackdown on its opponents, according to figures cited by the United Nations human rights office. Involving all parties to Myanmar's crisis in dialog is a key pillar of an ASEAN peace process adopted by the 10-nation bloc last year. Among the others are ending violence and welcoming a special envoy. Kao Kim Hourn acknowledged that it was unlikely for the envoy, Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, to meet on his initial trip with Suu Kyi, who has been detained since the coup and is facing various criminal charges that carry jail terms adding up to nearly 150 years. "The idea, the goal is to meet with all relevant, important stakeholders. But it may not be on one go - it could be a number of visits," Kao Kim Hourn said. "So, of course, it would be great to have Madame Suu Kyi be included." Dozens of NLD party members have been detained since the Feb. 1, 2021, coup. Nay Phone Latt, a spokesperson of the NLD's exiled remaining leadership, said any meetings with the ASEAN envoy should be agreed on by the party. Min Aung Hlaing's pledge was not enough for Cambodia to invite Myanmar to next week's ASEAN foreign minister's retreat. Cambodia, this year's ASEAN chair, last week asked Myanmar to name a non-political representative, continuing the exclusion of junta officials that began at last year's annual leaders' summit. French President Emmanuel Macron was meeting in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, trying to curb the threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, but the Kremlin said in advance it does not expect any immediate resolution of its stalemate with the West. At the start of their meeting, Macron told Putin, "This discussion can make a start in the direction in which we need to go, which is towards a de-escalation" to "avoid a war" and "build elements of confidence, stability and visibility for everyone." The Kremlin had said ahead of the talks that it did not expect any immediate resolution of its stalemate with the West. "The situation is too complex to expect decisive breakthroughs in the course of one meeting, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "In recent days there has been nothing new on the topic of security guarantees for Russia, Peskov said. Our Western interlocutors prefer not to mention this topic. Moscow has deployed more than 100,000 troops along Ukraines eastern border with Russia and in its ally, Belarus, with the West fearing that Putin could at any time order an invasion of Moscows one-time Soviet republic. France, the United States and their NATO allies have rejected Moscows demand that they rule out possible Ukraine membership in the Western military alliance formed after World War II. Macron, before leaving Paris, told Le Journal du Dimanche, "We have to be very realistic. We will not obtain unilateral gestures, but it is essential to prevent a deterioration of the situation before building mechanisms and reciprocal gestures of trust." After meeting with Putin, Macron heads to Kyiv for talks with Ukrainian leaders on Tuesday. Meanwhile, in Washington, U.S. President Joe Biden is meeting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the White House in their first face-to-face talks since Scholz assumed power in Berlin in December. Their talks will also center on easing tensions in eastern Europe and preventing a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Biden has ruled out dispatching the U.S. military to fight in Ukraine but now has deployed 3,000 U.S. troops to Romania and Poland on NATOs eastern edge and sent $500 million in military assistance to the Kyiv government. Frustrating some NATO allies, Germany declined to send lethal weapons to Ukraine, citing its policy of not sending arms into conflict zones. The Biden-Scholz discussions are also likely to touch on Germanys reliance on energy supplies from Russia. The U.S. has declared that if Moscow invades Ukraine, it will not allow natural gas to start flowing through the new Nord Stream 2 pipeline running under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany. The U.S., among others, has viewed the pipeline as part of the deterrence of a Russian attack on Ukraine, eliminating potential Russian revenue from the pipeline. Scholz told German broadcaster ARD ahead of his trip to Washington, We have considered all measures (about the pipeline) and there is nothing that is ruled out. The talks Monday in Moscow and Washington come as the U.S. warns a Russian invasion could happen at any time, according to U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. We believe that the Russians have put in place the capabilities to mount a significant military operation into Ukraine, and we have been working hard to prepare a response, Sullivan told NBCs Meet the Press show Sunday. In a separate interview on Fox News Sunday, Sullivan said, Any day Russia could take action against Ukraine, or it could be a couple weeks, with U.S. intelligence officials assessing that Moscow has 70% of its strike force in place for an attack. He said a Russian invasion would come at an enormous human cost to Ukraine but at a strategic cost to Russia, with the U.S. prepared to impose swift and severe economic sanctions against Russia to hobble its economy. Whatever actions Russia takes next, America is ready, Sullivan said. Sullivan, however, said the U.S. is willing to negotiate with Putin over his professed security concerns about the actions of the U.S. and its 29 NATO allies. That includes the placement of certain range systems of missiles, Sullivan said. It includes transparency around military exercises. It includes greater capacity to have a confidence building and to avoid incidents that could lead to escalation or miscalculation. But what we're not prepared to negotiate are the fundamental principles of security that include an open door to NATO for countries who can meet the requirements, Sullivan said in rejecting Putins demand that NATO rule out the possibility of Ukrainian membership. The Western allies say no outside nation has veto power over which countries join the Atlantic alliance. In the NBC interview, Sullivan said Biden has rallied our allies. He's reinforced and reassured our partners on the eastern flank. He's provided material support to the Ukrainians, and he's offered the Russians a diplomatic path if that's what they choose instead, but either way, we are ready, our allies are ready and we're trying to help the Ukrainian people get ready as well. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters. Vladimir Putin has done much to rehabilitate Russias Soviet past, a rehabilitation that has grown apace with memorials once again erected to Joseph Stalin, and officials no longer embarrassed to hang portraits of the late Soviet dictator in their offices. And the Russian president appears also to be copying the coercive diplomacy with its mix of threats, hard power and brinkmanship adopted by his Soviet predecessors, according to historians and former diplomats. The Kremlin and its ally China called on the United States and NATO Friday to turn back on Cold War approaches, but the Russian military buildup on the borders of Ukraine harks back in many ways to the tactics pursued by Stalin and his successor, Nikita Khrushchev. We may be seeing Putins version of former Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchevs bluster and threats in 1961 over then-divided Berlin an attempt to intimidate a U.S. president into offering concessions at a moment of perceived U.S. weakness today as a result of the American defeat and withdrawal from Afghanistan and domestic political division, notes Daniel Fried, a former assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs. He added in a commentary for Just Security, an online national security forum, Thirty years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Putin demands that the West help restore its empire in Europe, the imposition of which by Joseph Stalin was the original cause of the Cold War. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov revealed a lot about Kremlin views of the countries between Germany and Russia when he said in December that the collapse of the USSR and the Warsaw Pact left them not free or sovereign but ownerless. Testing the resolve and resilience of opponents with displays of brinkmanship goes back further and was honed by Stalin, starting almost immediately after the defeat of Adolf Hitlers Reich. In a new book, Checkmate in Berlin, British historian Giles Milton chronicles how Stalin tested and bewildered his wartime Western allies by harassing them at every turn in the German capital, which was divided into Soviet, American, British and French zones of occupation. His goal was to wear them down and evict them not only from Berlin but the whole of Germany. The machinations included military standoffs that saw Red Army troops trespassing into the Wests zones of occupations, stacking the police and district administrations in Berlin with Moscow loyalists and building up the Communist Party, all done with astonishing, clandestine nimbleness to keep the Americans, the British and French wrong-footed. The Soviets used propaganda and misinformation adeptly, making it impossible to determine what news was true and what was false, and with the overall goal of trying to turn Berliners against the West, says Milton. One of the most powerful propaganda tools was Radio Berlin, whose studios had been captured intact in May 1945. None of the broadcasters was subjected to denazification. According to one American intelligence agent, the station continued with the same personnel that had been there under the Nazis. They just changed the colors of the shirts, Milton writes. The crisis slowly came to a head. Washington and London eventually hardened their resistance to Soviet demands and maneuvers, partly persuaded to do so by American diplomat George Kennan, who sent a telegram of more than 5,000 words from Moscow to Washington, the longest the State Department had ever received. In the so-called Long Telegram, Kennan outlined Stalin's expansionist and antagonistic intentions, and recommended strategic patience and containment of the Soviet Union. In June 1948, Soviet forces blockaded rail, road and water access to Allied-controlled areas of Berlin, starving them of electricity as well as essential food and coal. The United States and the United Kingdom responded with a herculean and ingenious campaign, known as Operation Vittles, (Berlin airlift) and airlifted enough food and fuel to feed and provide heat for 2.5 million West Berliners from air bases in western Germany. The crisis ended in May 1949 with the blockade lifted when Stalin eventually conceded he couldnt starve and freeze West Berliners into submission. The United States and Britain also mounted a counter-blockade on eastern Germany, causing severe shortages in turn, which the Kremlin feared might trigger political upheaval in their sphere of influence. The Berlin airlift acted as a spur for Western powers to set up NATO, Milton says. John Lewis Gaddis, an eminent historian of the Cold War, also sees parallels between the coercive diplomacy employed by the Kremlin with its mixture of hard power and diplomatic know-how. In a recent radio interview with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Gaddis said Kennan's analysis of the conduct of Soviet leadership is relevant today. Kennan wrote that the Soviet Kremlin didnt believe in peaceful coexistence with the West, a belief springing from a traditional and instinctive Russian sense of insecurity and a conviction that the West was menacing but wracked by growing internal political convulsions and destined finally to succumb. That is exactly Putin today, said Gaddis. China has ordered a strict lockdown of the southwestern city of Baise after more than 70 cases were discovered in the past three days. Authorities ordered residents in the city, near the border with Vietnam, to stay at home on Monday, leaving their residences only to buy essential items or to test for COVID-19. Local officials encouraged residents to use delivery services rather than travel to a store when possible. Baise has a population of about 3.6 million. The lockdown comes as China hosts the 2022 Winter Olympics in the capital, Beijing, within a strict bubble to prevent the spread of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. American figure skater Vincent Zhou said Monday he was withdrawing from the Games after testing positive for COVID-19. Zhou delivered the news in a tearful Instagram video. The Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center reported Monday that there are more than 396 million global COVID-19 infections and more than 5.7 million global COVID-19 deaths. The center said more than 10 billion COVID-19 vaccines have been administered. Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse. A photographer who previously worked for RFE/RL's Belarus service has been arrested and taken to pretrial detention in Minsk, his relatives say. Relatives of photographer Uladz Hrydzin told RFE/RL on Sunday that he was taken to the Akrestsina detention center and that his trial would take place Monday. The Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAZh) also said police arrested Hrydzin, according to The Associated Press. Hrydzin stopped communicating on Friday, according to his relatives, who went to his house on Sunday and saw evidence that it had been searched. They said things were scattered on the floor and his laptop and camera were missing. The relatives said they subsequently found out he had been taken to the Akrestsina detention center, where many inmates have said they were tortured. Hrydzin worked as a photo correspondent for RFE/RL's Belarus service until August 29, 2020, when his accreditation was revoked. Since then, he has worked as a freelancer. The BAZh also said Hrydzin had been taken to pretrial detention in Minsk but didn't identify the facility by name. It said no information was available on charges against him and that his lawyer had not been able to meet with him, according to AP. Hrydzin was arrested in 2020 for filming a protest that arose after a disputed presidential election and served 11 days in detention. The protest rally took place after authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko claimed victory in the election, which the opposition and many Western governments said was rigged. Hrydzin has won the Belarus Press Photo contest, and his pictures were published by international agencies and mass media. Some material for this report came from The Associated Press. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz set off Sunday for Washington seeking to reassure Americans that his country stands alongside the United States and other NATO partners in opposing any Russian aggression against Ukraine. Scholz has said that Moscow would pay a "high price" in the event of an attack, but his government's refusal to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine, bolster Germany's troop presence in Eastern Europe or spell out which sanctions it would support against Russia has drawn criticism abroad and at home. "The Germans are right now missing in action. They are doing far less than they need to do," Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat and member of the Armed Services Committee, recently told an audience of Ukrainian Americans in his state, Connecticut. This sentiment was echoed by Republican Sen. Rob Portman, who questioned why Berlin hadn't yet approved a request to let NATO member Estonia pass over old German howitzers to Ukraine. "That makes no sense to me, and I've made that very clear in conversations with the Germans and others," Portman told NBC. Ahead of his trip, Scholz defended Germany's position not to supply Kyiv with lethal weapons but insisted that his country is doing its bit by providing significant economic support to Ukraine. Asked about the future of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that seeks to bring Russian natural gas to Germany under the Baltic Sea, bypassing Ukraine, Scholz refused to make any explicit commitments. "Nothing is ruled out," he told German public broadcaster ARD. Germany has come under criticism over its heavy reliance on Russian energy supplies and the gas pipeline has long been opposed by the United States. But it is strongly supported by some in Scholz's center-left Social Democratic Party, including former chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. The 77-year-old Schroeder is close to Russian President Vladimir Putin and heads the shareholders' committee of Nord Stream AG and the board of directors of Nord Stream 2. In a move likely to embarrass Scholz ahead of his first official trip to Washington, the Russian state-owned gas company Gazprom announced Friday that Schroeder who has accused Ukraine of "saber-rattling" in its standoff with Russia has been nominated to join its board of directors. Scholz's spokesman declined repeated requests for comment on Schroeder's ties to Putin. Despite Germany's reluctance to officially put the new pipeline which has yet to receive an operating permit on the negotiating table with Russia, the United States has made clear that even without Berlin's agreement the project is dead should Moscow launch an attack. "One way or the other, if Russia invades Ukraine, Nord Stream 2 will not move forward," U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan told "Fox News Sunday." Scholz will meet President Joe Biden and members of Congress on Monday to try to smooth out differences. The 63-year-old's performance in Washington could have broad implications for U.S.-German relations and for Scholz's standing at home. While former President Donald Trump frequently slammed Germany, accusing it of not pulling its weight internationally, his successor has sought to rebuild relations with Berlin. "Biden has taken some real risks, including on the the issue of the German-Russian gas pipeline," said Jeff Rathke, president of the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies. "(Scholz's) visit to Washington is an opportunity for him to try to turn that page," said Rathke. Having succeeded long-time German leader Angela Merkel last year, Scholz also needs to appease doubters at home who accuse him of pulling a diplomatic vanishing act compared to his European counterparts. With the phrase "Where is Scholz?" trending on social media last week, German conservative opposition leader Friedrich Merz called for "clear words" from the government on the Ukraine crisis. "We must rule nothing out as a reaction to a further military escalation," the leader of Merkel's center-right bloc said, though he too has been skeptical about sending possible German arms shipments to Ukraine. Others in Scholz's three-party governing coalition have struck a harsher tone toward Russia. Speaking alongside her Russian counterpart in Moscow last month, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock of the Green Party branded Russia's troop deployment at the border with Ukraine a "threat." She plans to visit Ukraine on Monday and Tuesday and inspect the front line between Ukrainian troops and areas held by Russian-based separatists in the east. Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, a member of the Free Democrats who chairs Germany's parliamentary defense committee, said Schroeder's work for Moscow "harms the country he should serve" and suggested removing the privileges he enjoys since leaving office. Whatever Germany does to support Ukraine will likely come at a cost. Berlin's approval of 5,000 helmets for Ukrainian troops last week drew widespread mockery. Kyiv has since asked Germany for more military hardware, including medium-range and portable anti-aircraft missile systems, as well as ammunition. Meanwhile, some German officials worry that any mention of further sanctions against Russia, let alone a full-blown conflict, could drive up Europe's already high gas prices. Constanze Stelzenmueller, a specialist on trans-Atlantic relations at the Brookings Institution, noted that Europe will bear the brunt of blowback costs from economic sanctions against Russia. "You have populists in Europe always looking for ways to exploit political differences and tensions," she said. "That's what's at stake here." In an uncharacteristic outburst at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Scholz who was then Germany's finance minister announced that he would be pulling out a figurative "bazooka" to help businesses cope with the crisis by setting aside more than 1 trillion euros ($1.1 trillion) in state aid. Scholz may need to make a similarly expansive gesture to ease concerns in Washington and beyond, said Rathke. "Germany is going to have to show that it is not only committed to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, but that it's putting real resources behind it now, not just pointing to what it's done in the past," he said. The death of an Islamic State leader in Syria last week was hailed as a blow to the group but families in Syria say danger remains, both from the militants and from the coalition fighting them. For VOA, Mouneb Taim has this report from Idlib with Heather Murdock in Istanbul. Israeli and Palestinian public figures have drawn up a new proposal for a two-state confederation that they hope will offer a way forward after a decade-long stalemate in Mideast peace efforts. The plan includes several controversial proposals, and its unclear if it has any support among leaders on either side. But it could help shape the debate over the conflict and will be presented to a senior U.S. official and the U.N. secretary general this week. The plan calls for an independent state of Palestine in most of the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, territories Israel seized in the 1967 Mideast war. Israel and Palestine would have separate governments but coordinate at a very high level on security, infrastructure and other issues that affect both populations. The plan would allow the nearly 500,000 Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank to remain there, with large settlements near the border annexed to Israel in a one-to-one land swap. Settlers living deep inside the West Bank would be given the option of relocating or becoming permanent residents in the state of Palestine. The same number of Palestinians likely refugees from the 1948 war surrounding Israels creation would be allowed to relocate to Israel as citizens of Palestine with permanent residency in Israel. The initiative is largely based on the Geneva Accord, a detailed, comprehensive peace plan drawn up in 2003 by prominent Israelis and Palestinians, including former officials. The nearly 100-page confederation plan includes new, detailed recommendations for how to address core issues. Yossi Beilin, a former senior Israeli official and peace negotiator who co-founded the Geneva Initiative, said that by taking the mass evacuation of settlers off the table, the plan could be more amenable to them. Israels political system is dominated by the settlers and their supporters, who view the West Bank as the biblical and historical heartland of the Jewish people and an integral part of Israel. The Palestinians view the settlements as the main obstacle to peace, and most of the international community considers them illegal. The settlers living deep inside the West Bank who would likely end up within the borders of a future Palestinian state are among the most radical and tend to oppose any territorial partition. We believe that if there is no threat of confrontations with the settlers it would be much easier for those who want to have a two-state solution, Beilin said. The idea has been discussed before, but he said a confederation would make it more feasible. Numerous other sticking points remain, including security, freedom of movement and perhaps most critically after years of violence and failed negotiations, lack of trust. Israels Foreign Ministry and the Palestinian Authority declined to comment. The main Palestinian figure behind the initiative is Hiba Husseini, a former legal adviser to the Palestinian negotiating team going back to 1994 who hails from a prominent Jerusalem family. She acknowledged that the proposal regarding the settlers is very controversial but said the overall plan would fulfill the Palestinians core aspiration for a state of their own. Its not going to be easy, she added. To achieve statehood and to achieve the desired right of self-determination that we have been working on since 1948, really we have to make some compromises. Thorny issues like the conflicting claims to Jerusalem, final borders and the fate of Palestinian refugees could be easier to address by two states in the context of a confederation, rather than the traditional approach of trying to work out all the details ahead of a final agreement. Were reversing the process and starting with recognition, Husseini said. Its been nearly three decades since Israeli and Palestinian leaders gathered on the White House lawn to sign the Oslo accords, launching the peace process. Several rounds of talks over the years, punctuated by outbursts of violence, failed to yield a final agreement, and there have been no serious or substantive negotiations in more than a decade. Israels current prime minister, Naftali Bennett, is a former settler leader opposed to Palestinian statehood. Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, who is set to take over as prime minister in 2023 under a rotation agreement, supports an eventual two-state solution. But neither is likely to be able to launch any major initiatives because they head a narrow coalition spanning the political spectrum from hardline nationalist factions to a small Arab party. On the Palestinian side, President Mahmoud Abbas authority is confined to parts of the occupied West Bank, with the Islamic militant group Hamas which doesnt accept Israels existence ruling Gaza. Abbas presidential term expired in 2009 and his popularity has plummeted in recent years, meaning he is unlikely to be able to make any historic compromises. The idea of the two-state solution was to give the Palestinians an independent state, while allowing Israel to exist as a democracy with a strong Jewish majority. Israels continued expansion of settlements, the absence of any peace process and repeated rounds of violence, however, have greatly complicated hopes of partitioning the land. The international community still views a two-state solution as the only realistic way to resolve the conflict. But the ground is shifting, particularly among young Palestinians, who increasingly view the conflict as a struggle for equal rights under what they and three prominent human rights groups say is an apartheid regime. Israel vehemently rejects those allegations, viewing them as an antisemitic attack on its right to exist. Lapid has suggested that reviving a political process with the Palestinians would help Israel resist any efforts to brand it an apartheid state in world bodies. Next week, Beilin and Husseini will present their plan to U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Beilin says they have already shared drafts with Israeli and Palestinian officials. Beilin said he sent it to people who he knew would not reject it out of hand. Nobody rejected it. It doesnt mean that they embrace it. I didnt send it to Hamas, he added, joking. I dont know their address. French President Emmanuel Macron Sunday downplayed the likelihood of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying in a newspaper interview that the massing of Russian forces on Ukrainian borders is likely part of a wider Kremlin strategy to secure Western concessions rather than a prelude to a full-scale offensive. The geopolitical objective of Russia today is clearly not Ukraine, but to clarify the rules of cohabitation with NATO and the EU, he told Frances Le Journal de Dimanche just hours before boarding a flight to Moscow, where he will hold face-to-face talks Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In a bold claim, Macron said his negotiations with Russia are likely to head off a military conflict. The intensity of the dialogue we have had with Russia and this visit to Moscow are likely to prevent [a military operation] from happening. Then we will discuss the terms of de-escalation, he said. I have always been in a deep dialogue with President Putin and our responsibility is to build historic solutions. His remarks diverge noticeably from how the Biden administration characterizes Moscows military buildup and the danger of a Russian offensive. A Russian invasion of Ukraine could happen at any time, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday, in what would be the biggest military operation in Europe since World War II. We believe that the Russians have put in place the capabilities to mount a significant military operation into Ukraine, and we have been working hard to prepare a response, Sullivan told NBCs Meet the Press show. Sullivan and other U.S. officials estimate that Russia has 70% of a strike force in place for an invasion. Macrons claim that his negotiations with Russia will prevent a military conflict prompted scorn from political foes in France who accused him of grandstanding. Some commentators and analysts warned he was putting his credibility as a negotiator on the line, cautioning that his efforts since 2017 to court the Russian leader have come up short. French presidential elections are to be held in April and Macron's electoral opponents have accused him of seeking to weaponize foreign policy to try to boost his reelection hopes. Whether Macron can win anything from Vladimir Putin is another question entirely, says Mujtaba Rahman, managing director of the Eurasia Group, a global risk and consulting firm. Previous attempts by Macron to reason with the Russian president have fallen flat on their face, he tweeted. Macrons language makes the rest of Europe quite nervous, says foreign policy analyst Ulrich Speck, a visiting fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States in Berlin, a research group. Macron has long called for Russia to be brought back into the Western fold, despite Moscows 2014 annexation of Crimea. In his 2017 campaign book Revolution, Macron said, It would be a mistake to break ties with this eastern European power [over Crimea] rather than forming a lasting relationship. Shortly after entering office, he hosted Putin in Versailles amid talk of detente, but the trip turned sour, the two leaders didnt meet eye-to-eye and Macron took Putin to task for a host of actions at a joint press conference. Macron criticized Russia for seeking to meddle in Western elections by spreading fake news, disinformation and falsehoods. Macron talked about very clear lines of behavior. Two years later, the French president tried again with his search for detente when he hosted Putin at the French presidents summer residence on the Riviera. In a speech, he warned about Europe being caught in the middle of a new Cold War, saying, Its not in our interest to be weak and guilty, to forget all our disagreements and to embrace each other again [but] the European continent will never be stable, will never be in security, if we don't pacify and clarify our relations with Russia. Macron has been reluctant in the past also to impose fresh sanctions on Putins Russia. Some Macron critics say his attempts to reset relations with Moscow are as much about his personal ambitions and aim to boost his role in international affairs as anything else. Much like Frances iconic post-World War II leader, Gen. Charles de Gaulle, Macron sees France as a balancing power between Russia and the United States. His diplomatic forays alarm some of Frances European allies, notably Russias near neighbors. Polish politicians have accused him of ignoring the fact that Russia hasnt really changed its expansionist ways and they worry Macrons efforts as a broker between Russia and the United States will lead to the Europeans placing themselves as an equidistant power between Moscow and Washington. Last month, in a speech at the European Parliament, Macron called for the European Union to pursue its own talks with the Kremlin and said the bloc should negotiate a security and stability pact with the Kremlin. Some central European and Baltic leaders said Macrons comments were ill-timed and risked encouraging the Kremlin to try to play the U.S. and EU off against each other. Carl Bildt, the former Swedish prime minister, said he was at a loss to understand what Macron meant about coming up with a new order of security and stability. These next few months rather seem to call for firm defense of the existing post-1989 order, he said. Bildt was referencing the European security system based on NATO. Both the United States and Britain have warned that a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine could be imminent, part of a bid to restore a Russian sphere of influence in eastern and central Europe. Russia has demanded that Ukraine never become a NATO member and says NATOs military presence should be removed from the former Communist states of eastern Europe that have joined the Western alliance. NATO officials say countries should be free to decide whether to join the alliance. In his interview with Le Journal de Dimanche, Macron spoke again about a new European security arrangement, saying that while the security and sovereignty of Ukraine or any other European State cannot be a subject for compromise, it is also legitimate for Russia to pose the question of its own security. We must protect our European brothers by proposing a new balance capable of preserving their sovereignty and peace. This must be done while respecting Russia and understanding the contemporary traumas of this great people and nation, he said. Justyna Gotkowska of the Warsaw-based Center for Eastern Studies, a research group, questioned who had mandated Macron to talk about a new European security system. What legitimacy does Macron have to propose this? Europeans havent agreed in NATO and in the OSCE on a new balance, to the contrary, she tweeted. French officials say Macrons trip has been coordinated fully with Western allies and told the Reuters news agency that the Elysee Palace has learned from past errors of judgment to ensure that all EU and NATO allies are kept fully informed about Macrons talks with Putin. Speck, of the German Marshall Fund, said it would have been better if Macron had been accompanied by other Western leaders for his trip to Moscow. It would make Europe look much stronger and make sure that there is a united message, he tweeted. He added, What we get instead: an open-ended meeting between Macron and Putin and that nobody else is in the room besides translators. In eastern Ukraine, tensions over threat of a Russian invasion continue to rise, although in the eastern town of Avdiivka, along the frontlines facing Kremlin-backed separatists, the war has never ceased since 2014. For VOA, Ricardo Marquina traveled there and has this report narrated by Elizabeth Cherneff. The mayor of Canada's capital declared a state of emergency Sunday and a former U.S. ambassador to Canada said groups in the U.S. must stop interfering in the domestic affairs of America's neighbor as protesters opposed to COVID-19 restrictions continued to paralyze Ottawa's downtown. Mayor Jim Watson said the declaration highlights the need for support from other jurisdictions and levels of government. It gives the city some additional powers around procurement and how it delivers services, which could help purchase equipment required by frontline workers and first responders. Thousands of protesters descended in Ottawa again on the weekend, joining a hundred who remained since last weekend. Residents of Ottawa are furious at the nonstop blaring of horns, traffic disruption and harassment and fear no end is in sight after the police chief called it a "siege" that he could not manage. The "freedom truck convoy" has attracted support from many U.S. Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, who called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a "far left lunatic" who has "destroyed Canada with insane Covid mandates." "Canada US relations used to be mainly about solving technical issues. Today Canada is unfortunately experiencing radical US politicians involving themselves in Canadian domestic issues. Trump and his followers are a threat not just to the US but to all democracies," Bruce Heyman, a former U.S. ambassador under President Barack Obama, tweeted. Heyman said "under no circumstances should any group in the USA fund disruptive activities in Canada. Period. Full stop." After crowdfunding site GoFundMe said it would refund or redirect to charities the vast majority of the millions raised by demonstrators protesting in the Canadian capital, prominent U.S. Republicans like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis complained. But GoFundMe had already changed its mind and said it would be issuing refunds to all. The site said it cut off funding for the organizers because it had determined the effort violated the site's terms of service due to unlawful activity. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has called it an occupation. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxon tweeted: "Patriotic Texans donated to Canadian truckers' worthy cause." and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said on Fox News "government doesn't have the right to force you to comply to their arbitrary mandates." "For some senior American politicians, patriotism means renting a mob to put a G-7 capital under siege," tweeted Gerald Butts, a former senior adviser to Trudeau. In Canada's largest city, Toronto, police controlled and later ended a much smaller protest by setting up roadblocks and preventing any trucks or cars from getting near the provincial legislature. Police also moved in to clear a key intersection in the city. Many Canadians have been outraged over the crude behavior of the demonstrators. Some protesters set fireworks off on the grounds of the National War Memorial late Friday. A number have carried signs and flags with swastikas last weekend and compared vaccine mandates to fascism. Protesters have said they won't leave until all mandates and COVID-19 restrictions are gone. They are also calling for the removal of Trudeau's government, though it is responsible for few of the measures, most of which were put in place by provincial governments. Papua New Guinea's prime minister has returned home from Beijing after a positive COVID-19 diagnosis upended plans for face-to-face meetings with Chinese leaders, the government said. James Marape was in China to attend the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics but "returned a positive test result upon arrival in Beijing last Thursday evening," the government said in a statement on Sunday. Marape had been expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping but instead held a "virtual meeting" with premier Li Keqiang. The Papua New Guinea leader's trip to France for this week's "One Ocean Summit" hosted by President Emmanuel Macron has been abandoned, officials said. Papua New Guinea has officially recorded 37,390 COVID-19 cases in a country of 9 million people. But testing and tracing are minimal, and the real number is believed to be in the millions. Under 4% of the population is vaccinated. Clinics around the country reported at least 2.6 million people -- more than a quarter of the population -- presented with flu or pneumonia-like symptoms between March 2020 and September 2021. Marape's visit to Beijing had been hailed as another deepening of ties, as China vies with the United States for influence in the South Pacific region. His condition is not known as he was ushered quickly through the airport on Sunday with close contacts prohibited. Marape is now in isolation. Pope Francis on Sunday decried the genital mutilation of millions of girls and the trafficking of women for sex, including openly on city streets, so others can make money off of them. In remarks to the public in St. Peter's Square, the pope noted that the day was dedicated worldwide to ending the ritual mutilation, and he told the crowd that some 3 million girls each year undergo the practice, "often in conditions very dangerous for the health." "This practice, unfortunately widespread in various regions of the world, humiliates the dignity of women and gravely attacks their physical integrity," Francis said. Female genital mutilation comprises all procedures that involve changing or injuring female genitalia for non-medical reasons and violates the human rights, health and the integrity of girls and women, the United Nations says in championing an end to the practice. The practice can cause severe pain, shock, excessive bleeding, infections, and difficulty in passing urine, as well as consequences for sexual and reproductive health. While mainly concentrated in some 30 countries in Africa and the Middle East, it is also a problem for girls and women living elsewhere, including among immigrant populations. According to U.N. figures, at least 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone the practice. The pope also told the faithful that on Tuesday, there will be a day of prayer and reflection worldwide against human trafficking. "This is a deep wound, inflicted by the shameful search of economic interests, without respect for the human person,'' Francis said. "So many girls we see them on the streets who aren't free, they are slaves of the traffickers, who send them to work, and, if they don't bring back money, they beat them,'' the pope said. "This is happening today in our cities." "In the face of these plagues on humanity, I express my sorrow and I exhort all those who have responsibility to act in a decisive way to impede both the exploitation and the humiliating practices that afflict in particular women and girls," Francis said. Russia's geopolitical ambitions in Africa have in recent years been backed by private military contractors, often described as belonging to the "Wagner group" an entity with no known legal status. Most recently, Western nations have condemned the alleged arrival of Russian mercenaries in Mali's capital Bamako, a claim denied by the junta that seized power in 2020. As relations with France worsen, the military rulers may be looking for ways to make up for shrinking numbers of European troops fighting Mali's years-old jihadist insurgency. "Mercs [mercenaries] working in Africa is an established norm" thanks in part to decades of operations by contractors from South Africa, said Jason Blazakis of the New York-based Soufan Group think tank. "The Wagner folks are walking through a door that has long been open to their ilk," he added. No information is publicly available about the group's size or finances. But around Africa, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington has found evidence since 2016 of Russian soldiers of fortune in Sudan, South Sudan, Libya, the Central African Republic (CAR), Madagascar and Mozambique. Botswana, Burundi, Chad, the Comoros, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo-Brazzaville, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria and Zimbabwe are also on the CSIS's list. In Africa "there is a convergence of many states' interests, including China's," Alexey Mukhin of the Moscow-based Centre for Political Information told AFP. "Every state has the right to defend its business assets," he added. 'Hysteria' Wagner does not officially exist, with no company registration, tax returns or organizational chart to be found. When the EU wanted to sanction the group in 2020, it targeted Russian oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin, an ally of President Vladimir Putin who is suspected of running Wagner. It imposed further sanctions in December last year when mercenaries' arrival in Mali appeared certain drawing accusations of "hysteria" from Moscow. Western experts say military contractors are embedded in Russia's official forces like intelligence agencies and the army, providing plausible deniability for Moscow. Their deployment to African countries aims to "enable Russia to... regain this sphere of influence" that fell away with the collapse of the Soviet Union, said CSIS researcher Catrina Doxsee. The mercenaries' presence has been growing even faster since a 2019 Russia-Africa summit. Moscow has been active "especially in what has traditionally been France's zone of influence" in former colonies like CAR and Mali, said Djallil Lounnas, a researcher at Morocco's Al Akhawayn university. While military contractors sometimes shepherd Russian arms sales, the revenue "really pales compared with the profit they are able to generate from mining concessions and access to natural resources," Doxsee said. That makes unstable countries with mineral or hydrocarbon wealth prime customers such as in Syria where the mercenaries first became known to the wider public. No questions asked Lounnas said that another advantage for clients is a lack of friction over human rights and democracy that might come with Western partners. "Russia has its interests. It doesn't ask questions," he added. Reports of violence and abuse on the ground suggest that same latitude may extend to the mercenaries themselves. In the CAR, the United Nations is probing an alleged massacre during a joint operation by government forces and Wagner fighters. One military source told AFP that more than 50 people died, some in "summary executions." On Thursday, the European Union said it would not resume military training in the CAR suspended since mid-December unless the country's soldiers stop working for Wagner. Meanwhile the mercenaries' results do not always measure up to the hopes of the governments that hire them. In Libya, Russian mercenaries suffered heavy losses in Marshal Khalifa Haftar's year-long attempt to conquer the capital Tripoli, which was ultimately unsuccessful. And in Mozambique, the Russians retreated in the face of Islamic State group jihadists, ultimately losing out to South African competitors. Although lacking language skills and experience with the terrain, Wagner "were picked because they were the cheapest", Doxsee said. "They didn't have what it took to succeed," she added, noting that "they've had a fair few failures" across Africa. Succeeding completely might actually harm the mercenaries' business model, which thrives on unrest, conflict and crisis. "If a country such as the CAR hires them to train forces, to help them in their military efforts, its in their interest to accomplish that just well enough to continue to be employed," Doxsee said. "If they actually were to do it well enough to resolve the conflict, they would no longer be needed." Tunisian judges on Sunday rejected President Kais Saied's moves to disband the council that oversees them, a move they see as undermining their independence, setting up a new struggle over his consolidation of power. Saied announced overnight he was dissolving the Supreme Judicial Council, one of the few remaining state bodies still able to act independently of him, the latest in a series of moves his opponents call a coup. In July he suddenly suspended parliament, dismissed the prime minister and said he could rule by decree, and has since said he will rewrite the 2014 democratic constitution before putting it to a public referendum. Saied has vowed to uphold rights and freedoms won in the 2011 revolution that introduced democracy, but his critics say he is leaning increasingly on the security forces and fear he will take a harsher stance against dissent. Tunisia's dire economic problems and a looming crisis in public finances risk undermining Saied's declared plan to reset the 2011 revolution with a new constitution, raising the possibility of public unrest. Saied has been tussling with the judiciary for months, criticizing its decisions, accusing it of corruption and saying it has been infiltrated by his political enemies. The Supreme Judicial Council head, Youssef Bouzakher, early on Sunday said its dissolution was illegal and marked an attempt to bring judges under presidential instruction. "Judges will not stay silent," he warned. Later, two other judicial organizations condemned the move as unconstitutional. The Young Magistrates Association said it was part of a political purge of the judiciary and the Judges Association said Saied was trying to amass all powers in his own hands. Saied, a constitutional law professor before running for president in 2019, is married to a judge and has repeatedly said that the judiciary should remember it represents a function of the state rather than being the state itself. In January, he revoked financial privileges for the council's members, accusing the independent body established in 2016 of appointing judges to their positions based on loyalty to its leadership. "Their place is not where they sit now, but where the accused stand," Saied said of the council members in his overnight speech, delivered from the building of the Interior Ministry, which oversees Tunisia's security forces. Saied had called on supporters to protest against the council on Sunday, but only a few hundred people turned up. Some held a banner saying, "The people want to cleanse the judiciary." Several main parties in the suspended parliament, including the moderate Islamist Ennahda which has been part of successive governments since 2011, accuse Saied of a coup. Ennahda leader Rached Ghannouchi, who is also the speaker of the suspended parliament, said in a statement on Sunday that the body rejected Saied's decision to dissolve the council and voiced solidarity with the judges. Three other parties, Attayar, Joumhouri and Ettakatol, issued a joint statement rejecting the move. At their first meeting in four years, officials of the U.S.-European Union Energy Council confronted an urgent, short-term priority bolstering natural gas supplies amid a Russian threat to invade Ukraine and a longer-term concern: mitigating climate change. "We're coordinating with our allies and partners, with the energy sector stakeholders, including on how best to share energy reserves in the event that Russia turns off the spigot or initiates a conflict that disrupts the flow of gas through Ukraine," said Secretary of State Antony Blinken following Mondays meeting in Washington. Moscow has threatened to halt the flow of gas to Europe if economic sanctions are imposed as a result of any further Russian aggression against Ukraine. This crisis has been pushing trans-Atlantic unity, according to Josep Borrell, the European Unions high representative for foreign affairs and security policy. In the medium term, there is the climate neutrality, explained Borrell, who is also the vice president of the European Commission. In the short term, its security of supplies of gas. Both things go together. Europe is likely to rely more on the United States for its gas supplies as a result of the crisis. President Joe Biden has pledged to help Europe find additional liquified natural gas from sources in the United States and other countries if Russia-Ukraine tensions cause disruptions. We think we can make up a significant portion of it that would be lost, Biden said at a White House news conference alongside German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday afternoon. That is seen by some environmentalists as counter-productive to achieving reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, something the United States and the European Union have pledged to work together to accomplish. European officials are not doing everything they need to be to get their addiction to gas ramped down as fast as possible. They're really convinced that they need gas, and they see the U.S. as a supplier for that, Aki Kachi, senior policy analyst at NewClimate Institute in Germany, told VOA News. Generally, in both the EU and the U.S., there's a lack of understanding about the climate impacts of gas. Germany has decided to phase out the use of oil and gas very soon and by 2045 Germany will have a carbon-neutral economy as one of the strongest economies of the world, Scholz told reporters at the White House. Itll probably be the biggest industrial modernization project in Germany in 100 years. The trans-Atlantic partnership has pledged to increase collaboration on reducing emissions from fossil fuels and expanding use of energy from the sun, wind, batteries and hydrogen. As we face geopolitical tensions and the challenge of climate change, we need more, not less, trans-Atlantic cooperation, Kadri Simson, the European Commissions energy commissioner, said at the meetings opening. At the start of Mondays discussion, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said the goals set out in Washington and Brussels have significant geo-political ramifications at a time when energy prices have gone through the roof on both sides of the Atlantic amid the threats from Russia. This is not just an energy and climate issue, Granholm told the meeting. It also is potentially the greatest peace plan that ever existed, to be able to build out energy independence from clean energy. Together, the economies of the U.S. and the EU represent about 45% of the worlds economic output, and an even smaller percentage of global carbon dioxide emissions. That means for the world to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, the legally binding international treaty on climate change, other major emitters will need to make good on their ambitious pledges. If only the EU and the U.S. are taking action, it wouldn't be enough, Kachi noted. But its not really the case because China and India and other countries are also major investors in renewables. U.S. President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz were meeting at the White House Monday for talks likely to be dominated by efforts to deter a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine. At the outset of their discussions, Scholz, who took power in Berlin in December, and Biden emphasized the close relationship between their two countries. But they have taken different approaches in assisting Ukraine, with the United States sending weapons to the Kyiv government, and Germany sending 5,000 military helmets Ukraine requested, while adhering to its long-held position of not shipping arms into a conflict zone. Biden, nonetheless, said the two countries are working in lockstep to further deter Russian aggression in Europe. Scholz replied, We are closest allies and working intensely together. And this is necessary for doing the steps that we have to do, for instance, fighting against Russian aggression against Ukraine. In an interview with The Washington Post ahead of his talks with Biden, Scholz sought to assure NATO allies of Germanys resolve in confronting Moscow, saying, Our answer will be united and decisive in the event of a Russian attack on Ukraine. The two NATO members have expressed support for bolstering NATO troop positions in the eastern part of the alliance, with the United States ordering extra forces to Poland and Romania and Scholz saying Sunday he was open to strengthening a German-led battle group in Lithuania. Another potential point of contention is Germanys reliance on Russian energy supplies and the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project that is designed to bring Russian natural gas to that country. The pipeline is completed but not operational, with the U.S. saying it will not be opened if Russia invades Ukraine. Scholz told German broadcaster ARD ahead of his trip to Washington that in terms of the pipeline, We have considered all measures, and there is nothing that is ruled out. In addition to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Biden said the two leaders would discuss challenges posed by China, the stability of voting rights in the western Balkans, the coronavirus pandemic, climate change and other issues. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. African leaders meeting in Ethiopia have condemned recent coups in the region. An African Union official says the organization has suspended four nations for unconstitutional changes of power. Leaders gathered at the 35th African Union Summit have condemned the waves of coups seen in Africa. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye is the AUs commissioner of political affairs, peace and security. He said summit attendees took a firm stance against any unconstitutional change of government in Africa. What is important is that our leaders have condemned in no uncertain terms that the African Union, the regional economic communities, will not tolerate a military coup d'etat in any form, he said. To underscore the point, the ambassador noted the AU suspended the membership of four nations: Mali, Guinea, Sudan and Burkina Faso. At Sundays closing session, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta presented a report linking coups to political instability and an absence of good governance that undermine Africas socioeconomic progress. Kenyatta chairs the Peace and Security Council of the African Union. He called on the African Union to address root the causes of the coups. The report also addressed ways to curb terror activities and politically-motivated conflicts across the continent, including in Ethiopia. Ambassador Bankole says the Peace and Security Council is backing efforts to facilitate talks between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front while supporting Ethiopias commission for national dialogue. Armed conflict involving the government and TPLF erupted in November 2020. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. The first U.S. troops reinforcing NATO allies in Eastern Europe and Germany arrived in Germany, Feb. 4, 2022, the U.S. military's European Command said, amid a Russian military build-up on Ukraine's border. (Reuters) On Livetalk, we are talking about COVID-19, the forthcoming council and parliamentary by-elections in Zimbabwe where some former legislators and councilors, recalled by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T, are contesting the March 26th poll under the Citizens Coalition for Change. Russia has assembled at least 70% of the military firepower it likely intends to have in place by mid-month to give President Vladimir Putin the option of launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, U.S. officials say. The officials, who discussed internal assessments of the Russian buildup on condition they not be identified, sketched out a series of indicators suggesting Putin intends an invasion in coming weeks, although the size and scale are unclear. They stressed that a diplomatic solution appears to remain possible. Among those military indicators: an exercise of Russias strategic nuclear forces that usually is held each fall was rescheduled for mid-February to March. That coincides with what U.S. officials see as the most likely window for invasion. The officials made no suggestion that a prospective conflict would involve the use of nuclear weapons, but the Russian exercise likely involving the test-launching of unarmed long-range missiles on Russian territory could be used as a message aimed at deterring the West from intervening in Ukraine. U.S. officials have said in recent weeks that a Russian invasion could overwhelm Ukraines military relatively quickly, although Moscow might find it difficult to sustain an occupation and cope with a potential insurgency. The ongoing Russian buildup comes as the Biden administration has been disclosing intelligence in hopes of preemptively countering Russian disinformation and blocking Putins plans for creating a pretext for an invasion. But it has come under criticism for not providing evidence to back up many of its claims. On Saturday, The New York Times and The Washington Post said officials were warning that a full Russian invasion could lead to the quick capture of Kyiv and potentially result in as many as 50,000 casualties. A U.S. official confirmed that estimate to The Associated Press. But its not clear how U.S. agencies determined those numbers, and any predictions about how an invasion would proceed and the human cost it would inflict are inherently uncertain given the vagaries of war. President Joe Biden has said he will not send U.S. troops to Ukraine to fight a war. He has, however, ordered additional forces, including headquarters personnel and combat troops, to Poland and Romania to reassure those NATO allies that Washington would fulfill its treaty commitment to respond to Russian aggression against NATO territory. Ukraine is not a NATO member but receives U.S. and allied military support and training. Army officials on Saturday announced that Maj. Gen. Christopher Donahue, the commanding general of the 82nd Airborne Division, arrived in Poland. About other 1,700 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne are deploying to Poland from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and 300 soldiers are deploying from Bragg to Germany. In addition, 1,000 Germany-based soldiers are shifting to Romania. With growing nervousness in Eastern Europe over Russias buildup, much attention is focused on its placement of thousands of troops in Belarus, which shares a border not only with Ukraine but also with three NATO nations Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. The Biden administration may soon shift some more troops within Europe to allied nations on NATOs eastern flank, a U.S. official said Saturday without specifying which nations. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said last week that Putin could use any portion of the force he has assembled along Ukraines borders to seize Ukrainian cities and significant territories or to carry out coercive acts or provocative political acts like the recognition of breakaway territories inside Ukraine. More recently, other U.S. officials provided a more detailed breakdown of Russias continuing force buildup, of U.S. assessments of prospects for war, and of the U.S. view of Putins approach to the crisis. The officials reiterated what other Biden administration officials have been saying for weeks that they dont believe Putin has made a final decision to invade Ukraine. But it appears possible that the Russian leader set his intentions and is waiting until the last moment to give the go-ahead for an invasion. Officials sketched out the disposition of Russian forces that have been deployed toward Ukraines borders over the past several months, creating what Western officials see as the threat of a full-scale invasion despite repeated assertions by senior Russian officials that they do not intend to attack unprovoked. As of Friday, the officials said, the Russian army has put in place near Ukraine a total of 83 battalion tactical groups, each of which is roughly equivalent in size to an American battalion of between 750 and 1,000 soldiers. That is an increase from 60 battalion tactical groups in position just two weeks ago, they said. Another 14 battalion tactical groups are on their way to the border area from other parts of Russia, the officials said. Two officials said the U.S. assesses that Russia would want a total of between 110 and 130 battalion tactical groups for use in a full-scale invasion, but Putin could decide on a more limited incursion. Including support units, Russia might be aiming to have 150,000 troops in place for a full-scale invasion, one official said, adding that the ongoing buildup could reach that level in the next couple of weeks. Depending on Putins ultimate objective, the Russian forces could attack Kyiv directly by moving south from current positions in southern Belarus. He might also send forces across the Russian border into eastern and southern Ukraine if his intent is to fracture and destroy a large portion of the Ukrainian army, the officials said. On the lower end of the scale of military action, Putin might order sabotage, cyberattacks and other destabilizing actions inside Ukraine with the goal of removing the current government in Kyiv, officials have said. The United States now believes a Russian invasion of Ukraine could happen at any time, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Sunday, in what would be the biggest military operation in Europe since World War II. We believe that the Russians have put in place the capabilities to mount a significant military operation into Ukraine, and we have been working hard to prepare a response, Sullivan told NBCs Meet the Press show. In a separate interview on Fox News Sunday, Sullivan said, Any day Russia could take action against Ukraine, or it could be a couple weeks, with U.S. intelligence officials assessing that Moscow has 70% of its strike force in place for an attack. He said a Russian invasion would come at an enormous human cost to Ukraine but at a strategic cost to Russia, with the U.S. prepared to impose swift and severe economic sanctions against Russia to hobble its economy. Whatever actions Russia takes next, America is ready, Sullivan said. Sullivan, however, said the U.S. is willing to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin over his professed security concerns about actions of the U.S. and its 29 NATO allies. That includes the placement of certain range systems of missiles, Sullivan said. It includes transparency around military exercises. It includes greater capacity to have a confidence building and to avoid incidents that could lead to escalation or miscalculation. Watch related video by VOA's Arash Arabasadi: But what we're not prepared to negotiate are the fundamental principles of security that include an open door to NATO for countries who can meet the requirements, Sullivan said in rejecting Putins demand that NATO rule out the possibility of Ukrainian membership. The Western allies say no outside nation has veto power over which countries join the Atlantic alliance. U.S. President Joe Biden last week ordered that 3,000 American troops be sent to two eastern NATO countries, Poland and Romania. Reports say troops from the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division have landed in southeastern Poland near the border with Ukraine. Washington has ruled out dispatching troops to fight alongside Ukrainian forces in the event of a Russian invasion. The U.S. has, however, sent $500 million worth of arms and defensive missiles to the Kyiv government. If Russia invades Ukraine, then cuts off its natural gas supplies to European countries in retaliation to U.S. sanctions, Sullivan said the U.S. is moving to help redirect natural gas supplies from elsewhere to its European allies. In any event, Sullivan said if Russia invades Ukraine, its Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline running under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany will not move forward. The pipeline is completed but not yet operational. In the NBC interview, Sullivan said Biden has rallied our allies. He's reinforced and reassured our partners on the eastern flank. He's provided material support to the Ukrainians, and he's offered the Russians a diplomatic path if that's what they choose instead, but either way, we are ready, our allies are ready and we're trying to help the Ukrainian people get ready as well. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Amid ongoing tensions with Russia, the Biden administration is warning that the more than 100-thousand Russian troops along Ukraines border could still launch an invasion at a moments notice. VOAs Arash Arabasadi has more. Zimbabweans teachers boycotted classes today, demanding salary increases of more than US$500 each amid claims by the government that some of them reported for duty. In a statement, Raymond Majongwe of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe said all teachers are too incapacitated to attend classes. Our membership cannot be expected to comply with the directive to reopen schools now, before the government has financially capacitated them. Therefore, the PTUZ position, as advised by its members, is that teachers are not ready for the reopening of school. What they expect is the announcement that government has reviewed their salaries with effect from January 2022. It does not make sense that the government is content to remunerate its employees with about a quarter of the consumer basket, which as of December 2021 stood at about $72,000. None of our members managed to meet their very basic expenses with the measly amount they received as salaries on 18th January, 2022. Why anyone believes teachers managed to spare anything from that amount so they can report for duty on 7 February, 2022 beats us. Majongwe said teachers are also unable to send their own children to school. Our members are pauperized to the extent that none of them, with the money paid to them on 18th January, is able to pay for school or college fees for their dependents. It does not make sense that government expects our members to teach other peoples children while ours are at home. No teacher can send their children or dependents to boarding schools, which even puts those teaching there in a quandary. Most teachers unions have joined the nationwide strike being condemned by the government. In a tweet, information secretary, Nick Mangwana, said some teachers attended classes despite the call for industrial action. Most schools in the country opened for all classes with no teachers and school heads quickly sent children back home, according to an assessment made by VOA Zimbabwe Service. Manyame school teacher, Rosten Mutapwa, said teachers will not be cowed to report for duty due to incapacitation. "Government should learn to engage its workers rather than to be dictatorial when they ask for salary increases. We are incapacitated," said Mutapwa. PTUZ chairperson, Takavafira Zhou, said teachers would only go back to work only when government seriously considers paying its workers in United States dollars, improves benefits and provides Personnel Protective Equipment (PPEs) to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Some schools in Mashonaland West were being manned by school heads despite warnings last week by Zimbabwe National Union of Schools Heads that school heads wont be at work also due to incapacitation. When contacted for comment, Education Ministry spokesperson, Taungana Ndoro, said teachers attendance on the first day was 60 percent. "It's not unusual that not all teachers attend school on the first day because of many reasons. About 60% attended school mostly from rural schools," said Ndoro. But on his Twitter account, Mangwana said, "Nationally some schools have 100% teacher and student attendance while some have poor teacher attendance on the first day of opening." Majongwe said, While it was expected that government would urgently solve the issue of teacher remuneration, it is clear that government does not take the issue of salary negotiations as a priority. Only one round of talks has been held, about three weeks ago, and the feedback given showed that the talks were nothing to write home about The ball is in the governments court. Funeral Announcements A daily list of current funeral annoucements as heard on KXRA 1490 AM/100.3 FM News Updates The daily news, sports, and events delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Sports Update This current sports headlines delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Upcoming Events This email is the events of the area delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Breaking News The big news. Sent only as it happens. The Morristown VFW was packed in December with friends, family and former colleagues during a jubilant retirement party for Morristown Police Department chief Richard Keith, but a few days later, as he recounted his 36 years at the department, he was just plain weary, and counting down the days. It might have been the cumulative effect of being a leader of police at a time when the general public is having a reckoning with law enforcement. It might have been recovering from a recent surgery stemming from that time decades ago when he threw his back out helping lift a person into an ambulance. Or To sum it up, Im just tired, he laughed. I guess at 65, you have a right to be, though, right? Keiths successor, Jason Luneau, is the towns interim chief, a probationary designation that runs until July 1, when he hopes to drop the temporary qualifier. Hes been with the force since 2007 and learned much of what he knows from Keith. I learned from Richard that professionalism is very important in a law enforcement, Luneau said. Richard was always very fair as a leader and a police officer. Tractor to cop car Keith started part time with Morristown in 1985, under then-chief Lawrence Bud LaClair. His first squad car was a 1984 Crown Victoria the ubiquitous cop car for decades, well before anyone decided to order SUVs or pickup trucks, which Morristown largely switched to a few years ago. Keith said, LaClair basically put the department together, orchestrating the construction of the current police station at the end of Lower Main Street. It was built in 1978, so it was still relatively new when Keith came on board, but now its nearing 45 years old a new public safety building is high on Luneaus priority list. When LaClair retired in 1995, Keith was named his successor. Keith didnt get into police work until relatively late in life, after graduating from Peoples Academy and spending 11 years working full time as a dairy farmer. While those skillsets dont overlap much, he said farming and being a cop have one thing in common: hard work and lots of it. I tell people that, especially as a chief, its kind of the same. Its 24/7, he said. Its a life. Its not really a career. Up until a couple of years ago, when the department started promoting some patrollers to sergeants to spread the responsibility around, he was the go-to for just about every decision. Morristown PD was a late adapter to a sort of command chain system, with captains, sergeants, lieutenants and the like. Very few departments stayed with the structure we had as late as we had it, he said. But I live in town, and I was readily available and would answer my phone any time. Keith said he was very selective in his hiring process, something sheriff Roger Marcoux quipped about at Keiths retirement party last month its been true for well over a decade that if you wondered, What happened to that good deputy? you could invariably find him wearing an MPD uniform, perhaps now sporting a beard. Keith could have retired a few years ago and gotten his full pension, but he wanted to make sure he was leaving the department in good shape. But being a police officer in recent years has meant having a certain segment of the population hold a dim view of police a view amplified by the George Floyd murder by an on-duty Minneapolis cop. For Keith, putting on his blue uniform for 36 years meant he worked there long enough to see cops go from being heroes in to being villains, at least in some quarters. While the defund-the-police movement hasnt much affected police budgets locally, and the cop shops still receive plenty of support from their towns, some of that support is eroding. Keith said he recently heard from a town official who suggested the Morristown officers receive training in implicit bias and fair and impartial policing, and he just shook his head, because hed been making that part of his training regimen for more than a decade. For me, it was very frustrating and demeaning to police, he said. Were not Los Angeles. Were not Milwaukee. Were Morrisville, Vermont. The next generation Luneaus trajectory, on the other hand, was established as soon as he graduated from Lamoille Union High School. The Cambridge native, now 38, went to New Hampshire Technical Institute and earned an associate degree in criminal justice. He started with Lamoille County Sheriffs Department in 2004 and jumped over to Morristown in 2007. After about six years as a patrol officer, he went away for a stint on the Northern Vermont Drug Task Force. When he came back, he brought a partner he and Viper became the departments K9 unit, sniffing out drugs and finding fleeing perps. He was then promoted to detective and then sergeant, once the department switched to that command structure. Luneau said Keith placed a high priority on professional development, and the department undergoes monthly training exercises all year, a regimen thats been in place for nearly a decade. And its not all about learning to shoot more accurately or deal with a hostage situation. There are things like the fair and impartial policing strategies Keith referred to. There are always new things, different policies that are being updated, and its important for us to stay on top of that, Luneau said. Take body cameras, for instance. Even as some municipalities are just coming around to the chest mounted video cameras, Morristown has had them since the technology first came out, bulky and cumbersome. Keith didnt have all that constant training when he was first starting out. He had a week of training at the police academy, and that was about it. They jammed us, he said of the academy. We got in on a Monday and got out on a Saturday. Fifty-eight hours and they basically gave you a gun and a badge and said hit the road. With Keith gone, Luneau will still have senior law enforcement officials to look to for advice. Theres his old boss, Sheriff Marcoux, and theres Don Hull, the Stowe police chief. Within his own ranks, Luneau has veteran cops like Ron Audet and Garth Christiansen, whove been patrolling the streets well before Luneau came along. Moving forward with a post-Keith department, Luneau said his two main concerns are with drugs and mental health. He said the town is facing a severe opioid and crack cocaine problem, and hed like the department to be more proactive in tracking that drug traffic. Also, look at any weeks worth of incident logs from Morristown Police Department, and youll see many calls dealing with mental health. Luneau would like to see the three local departments Morristown, Stowe and the sheriffs department share an embedded mental health worker, who would be employed by Lamoille County Mental Health Services but shared by the law enforcement agencies. Its almost daily that we deal with a case that has some nexus to mental health, Luneau said. To address those issues, the department is going to need a some more cops, a refrain familiar in departments all over Vermont and the United States. Morristown is currently down two officers, and Luneau hasnt seen any qualified candidates in a while. With limited staffing, were more reactive than Id like to be, he said. After more than a quarter century preparing the budget, Keith handed over the ledger sheets to Luneau for the most recent round. Keith looked at it, but he let Luneau do all the negotiating with the town. I would say this budget is a reflection of what I want for the department, Luneau said. By Trend Azerbaijani Parliaments committee on international relations and inter-parliamentary ties held a meeting, Trend reports referring to the parliament. The meeting participants discussed the issue of approving an agreement between the governments of Azerbaijan and Turkey on food security cooperation. The MPs noted that the document is aimed at developing cooperation between the parties in the field of ensuring food security. Following the discussions, it was decided to recommend the document for consideration at the plenary session of the parliament. Heading into this year, just 26% of consumers thought it was a good time to buy a home, according to Fannie Mae's Home Purchase Sentiment Index for December, and pictured a house on sale is seen in Washington D.C., on Dec. 12, 2021. Travis Reinking, seen here in Nashville, Tennessee, Friday February 4, was sentenced Saturday to life in prison without parole. Decatur, IL (62521) Today Cloudy with a few showers. High 66F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 57F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible. Pontiff touched on several themes close to his papacy. Here are some of the main points. Pope Francis was a guest of the Italian television talk show Che tempo che fa on Sunday night, discussing a wide range of themes, including war, migrants and the environment, in an hour-long interview. The pontiff connected live with the popular TV programme on state broadcaster RAI via a satellite link from his Casa S. Marta home in the Vatican, with a peak of 8.7 million people tuning in to watch. The interview has received broadly positive coverage in Italian media but was criticised by some commentators on social media, including members of the foreign press, for not asking tough questions in relation to issues such as clerical child abuse or mismanagement of Vatican funds. In response to the show's host Fabio Fazio who asked whether there is anyone who "does not deserve Gods forgiveness and mercy or the forgiveness of men, Francis warned that his answer might shock some people before saying: To be forgiven is a human right. When asked about war, the pope said: "If we were to stop making weapons for one year, we could feed and educate the whole world", adding: "To make war is to destroy." In relation to migrants, a theme close to his papacy, Francis did not mince his words, describing the Mediterranean as "the largest cemetery in Europe" and denouncing the concentration camps in Libya. "The migrant must always be welcomed and integrated", said the pontiff, stressing that each EU country "must say how many migrants it can welcome" before stressing that currently migrants "come to Spain and Italy, the two closest countries, and are not received elsewhere." Pope Francis also addressed the environment, saying that problems such as climate change, deforestation in the Amazon and the "criminal" plastic pollution in the sea risk killing Mother Earth. The pope underlined the deep divisions between developed and underdeveloped countries, with the "very bad temptation to look the other way" from suffering instead of looking at the needs of others. Warning against the "culture of indifference", he stressed: It is not enough to see, it is necessary to feel, it is necessary to touch. The pope identified the problem of "social aggression" and bullying among young people who sometimes suffer an incredible sense of loneliness", and underlined the importance of parents spending time with their children. Addressing more personal matters, the Argentine pope said that as a young boy he thought of becoming a butcher, and that he enjoys listening to classical music and tango. Asked if he had danced the tango as a young man in Buenos Aires, the pontiff responded: "A porteno who does not dance the tango is not a porteno!" When Fazio asked him if he ever felt lonely and if he has "real friends", Francis said he has "a few, true friends" and that he needs "human relationships". The pontiff said this was one of the reasons he chose to live in the S. Maria residence instead of the papal apartments, adding: "The popes who were there before were saints, but me not so much, Im not that much of a saint." Pope Francis concluded his interview by saying: "Pray for me, I need it, and if any of you don't pray, at least send me positive thoughts." Placeholder while article actions load Faced with a new wave of coronavirus infections, Austria and Italy became the first countries in western Europe to make Covid-19 vaccines compulsory. A handful of other nations -- including Indonesia, Turkmenistan, Micronesia and Ecuador -- have also issued such mandates. A number of others have stopped short of that, requiring vaccination for access to public places, in some cases with the option of taking a test instead. Such edicts are controversial. Austrias sparked protests. A requirement by the U.S. and Canada that truckers crossing their border be fully vaccinated sparked demonstrations in Ottawa that were so rowdy the mayor declared a state of emergency. The U.S. Supreme Court Jan. 13 blocked a federal rule compelling large employers to require Covid vaccination or testing. 1. What happens to those who violate a mandate? Mandates dont mean forced vaccinations, but rather penalties or denial of services for those who dont get the shots. Indonesia punishes refusers by levying fines and denying them government assistance. Austria planned to impose a fine of as much as 3,600 euros ($4,000) on unvaccinated people over the age of 18, starting in mid-March. Advertisement 2. What are the rules that fall short of mandates? Frances national assembly approved legislation that would mean only those who are fully vaccinated under local rules can go to restaurants, museums and concerts, or get on trains or airplanes. The law would effectively ban a life out of ones home or workplace for the unvaccinated. Other countries, including Morocco, are requiring proof of vaccination for entry into public places such as restaurants and offices. In Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, the requirement can also be met with proof of recent recovery from Covid. In the Netherlands, a negative coronavirus test is an alternative. Some countries, such as Australia, England, France, Greece and New Zealand have mandated Covid vaccination for certain workers, notably in health care. The Supreme Court in the U.S. let such a rule take effect there even as it quashed a separate mandate for all employees of large companies. 3. Are vaccine requirements something new? Advertisement No. According to a study in the journal Vaccine published in October 2020, before Covid vaccines became available, more than 100 of the 193 members of the United Nations had nationwide mandates requiring one or more vaccines. Of those, 62 imposed a penalty for noncompliance. The most common penalties were fines and denial of school enrollment for children who arent vaccinated. A few countries, including Canada and the U.S., had regional rather than national mandates. Government requirements for vaccines have a long history in the U.S. At the turn of the 20th century, the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts mandated that residents get a smallpox vaccination. Pastor Henning Jacobson rejected both the shot and the obligation to pay a $5 fine, appealed all the way to the Supreme Court, and lost in a landmark 1905 ruling. More recently, New York City ordered people in part of the borough of Brooklyn to be vaccinated against measles or pay a $1,000 fine after an outbreak there in 2019. 4. What happened with the Covid vaccine mandate for U.S. employers? An emergency rule issued by President Joe Bidens administration, applicable to businesses with 100 or more employees, would have required workers to be vaccinated or to wear a mask and start being tested. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration rule was met by a flurry of lawsuits from Republican state attorneys general, companies and other organizations seeking to block it. The Supreme Court said that OSHA had the power to regulate occupational dangers but not public health more broadly. OSHA withdrew the rule as of Jan. 26. Advertisement 5. Can U.S. employers require the shots on their own? They can and they have -- public and private employers both. Most nonunion companies have relatively wide scope to create such requirements largely because employment relationships are presumed to be at-will in nearly every U.S. state. Companies can fire at-will workers for any legal reason, which could include refusal to comply with a vaccine mandate. In addition, employers have a legal duty to provide a safe and healthy workplace. Even before the pandemic, many health-care facilities required workers to get inoculated against certain diseases, sometimes in response to state provisions. Employer mandates of Covid vaccines picked up after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the first time gave full approval in August to such a vaccine -- the one made by Pfizer Inc. and its partner BioNTech SE -- for use in people 16 and older. Previously the vaccine was authorized only for emergency use. The FDA gave a second vaccine, by Moderna Inc., full approval in January. 6. What objections can U.S. workers raise? Advertisement The Americans with Disabilities Act allows a worker to request an exemption from a vaccine mandate if she has a disability thats covered by the law. In such a case, the employer must communicate with the worker to determine whether an exemption is a reasonable accommodation given her disability and job responsibilities -- and isnt an undue burden for the employer. Failing to engage in that process or provide a reasonable accommodation could be grounds for a lawsuit. A worker with a health condition that compromises her immune system has a good chance of prevailing on a claim if she has a doctors advice that she should avoid a vaccine. An employer would need to show that allowing a worker to remain unvaccinated would cause an undue burden or pose a direct threat in the workplace, which would be difficult to do if there are alternatives available such as working from home or moving to an area segregated from coworkers. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which enforces federal laws against job discrimination, has said that ADA protections apply to Covid vaccines. Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act prohibits workplace discrimination based on religion, giving workers the right to seek an exception to a vaccination mandate based on religious beliefs. The EEOC defines religion beyond membership in a church or belief in God. Religion for the purposes of federal anti-discrimination law covers strongly and sincerely held moral or ethical beliefs, according to the agency. But employers can deny religious accommodations if they would create an undue burden. 7. Are vaccine mandates effective? Advertisement There are lively debates among public health authorities and academics about the efficacy of vaccine mandates. Supporters cite studies showing that stricter rules on inoculating schoolchildren lead to lower rates of vaccine-preventable diseases. Most of the data, however, relates to children, whereas a Covid vaccination campaign needs to reach a significant portion of adults. Some health specialists argue that mandates -- especially if theyre imposed by governments -- will boost resistance to taking vaccines and provide ammunition for anti-vaccine activists at the political fringe. On the other hand, theres some evidence that employer mandates work. After Houston Methodist Hospital announced a mandate at the end of March 2021, the portion of its staff who were vaccinated went from 84% in April to 99% in June; 153 people quit or were dismissed because of the policy, but they represented less than 1% of 26,000 employees. Just 3% of employers with mandates reported a spike in resignations in a November survey by Willis Towers Watson. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load An advisory committee will meet next week to discuss whether the Food and Drug Administration should authorize Pfizers Covid-19 vaccine for children younger than 5. To be more specific, they will meet to discuss data data that no one but Pfizer and the FDA has yet seen on the first two doses of what will probably be a three-shot series for those kids. Confused by this strategy? So are some infectious disease experts, pediatricians and parents. Vaccines for the littlest kids have been delayed many times, most recently because the data from Pfizers trial werent a clear home run. Two doses of the vaccine induced a strong antibody response in children aged 6 months to 2 years, but missed the bar the agency had set for 2- to 4-year-olds. Pfizer is testing a third dose, but that data wont be available until spring. In the meantime, the FDA has pushed the company to start handing over information so it can consider getting the first two doses into little arms. Advertisement Parents of preschoolers have been left with scant information and a great deal of uncertainty. If the FDA now finds it prudent to authorize shots for children younger than 5, it will need to explain clearly how well they work and why they matter. Public health and infectious disease experts have suggested several scenarios under which it would make sense to authorize the vaccine for young kids. Maybe because so many more children were infected during the omicron wave, Pfizer now has data showing that the vaccinated kids in their study were protected against serious disease or hospitalization. Perhaps the FDA is factoring in what is now known about waning immunity that lower antibody levels several months after a second Pfizer shot still offer decent coverage. Or it might be that with omicron hitting kids harder, the agency is simply banking on a third dose offering needed protection. All these possibilities could be fair reasons to authorize the vaccines, and to hope that parents will be motivated to get their children inoculated. But they are all guesses. Advertisement Speculation might make sense in the context of scientific debate, says Kasisomayajula Vish Viswanath, a professor of health communication at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. But for a parent? Just give me a straight message: What should I do today for my family? What makes this still more unsettled, the information we have has come not from peer-reviewed publications but via press release and Twitter. It will be another week before the public has access to the documents the FDA advisory committee will consider. Unless the regulators have some new signal that the vaccines prevent serious illness or transmission of the virus, they could end up with an unusual ask of families: Trust that although we lack data to show that vaccines work in 2- to 4-year-olds, we assume they will work after a third shot, so start in on the first two just in case. Advertisement Getting the messaging right on vaccinations for all kids is critical. By January, only 33% of 5- to 11-year-olds had gotten their first dose, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. The KFF poll also found that only 31% of parents planned to get their child younger than 5 vaccinated right away. Theres understandable worry that reluctance around the Covid vaccine for kids might lead to hesitancy around other childhood vaccines. The FDAs approach could make it harder for pediatricians when parents ask what risk their toddlers face of infection, hospitalization or death. Parents will also care about mundane things like whether its safe to allow indoor playdates and birthday parties after kids have two shots. The answers to these questions are always going to depend on an individuals tolerance for risk, and no new data from Pfizer can change that. But public health experts need to at least make the message about effectiveness clear and simple. Advertisement What parents care most about is safety, the KFF survey shows. And from the data available so far, Pfizers shots appear safe in the under-5 population. Of course, the shots also have a good safety record in older children and adults. Mark Sawyer, an infectious disease specialist at Rady Childrens Hospital in San Diego, told me hes 1,000% comfortable giving the Pfizer vaccine to his 1.5- and 2.5-year-old grandchildren. Sawyer is on the FDAs vaccine advisory panel that will assess the Pfizer data. Making the case that vaccines work in little kids will be harder. This, Sawyer points out, hinges on how many people get them and which strains of the virus are circulating factors that are outside regulators control. But the FDA can keep the message as simple as possible by making sure that any decision to allow shots for the youngest children is strongly supported by data. More from other writers at Bloomberg Opinion: Advertisement White House Bumbling Has Kept the FDA Leaderless: Editorial Pfizers Shot and Teen Heart Risks Need Study. Dont Panic: Max Nisen Should Your Kids Be Vaccinated Against Covid-19?: Sam Fazeli This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Lisa Jarvis, the former executive editor of Chemical & Engineering News, writes about biotech, drug discovery and the pharmaceutical industry for Bloomberg Opinion. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load By all appearances, the standoff over Ukraine remains dangerous. Although Russia continues to deny that it plans an attack, President Vladimir Putin has massed troops, hardware, weapons stockpiles and medical units on Ukraines borders, and continues to add to their number. The U.S. is sending 2,700 troops to bolster NATOs eastern flank, with at least 8,500 more ready to deploy. Having previously downplayed the prospect of an imminent Russian attack, Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has more recently warned that the crisis could lead to a full-fledged European war. Even so, there are glimmers of a way out. Confronted with a surprisingly strong and united Western response to his moves, Putin has signaled some willingness to entertain talks on Russias security concerns in Europe. While not bowing to Putins more extreme demands, U.S. President Joe Biden and European leaders should seize the opportunity to find some common ground with him. Doing so has the potential to avert a calamitous conflict and advance the Wests security interests as well. Proposals made by the U.S. and NATO in recent weeks offer a starting point. Among other things, they aim to improve communication between the two sides by resuming mutual briefings on military exercises and nuclear policies. NATOs proposal would reinvigorate the NATO-Russia Council, which has met only sporadically since Russias annexation of Crimea in 2014, and reestablish representative offices. Advertisement The West should push for tangible agreements on key areas of dispute. These should include measures to avoid conflict between vessels in the Black Sea and greater transparency on military exercises, which Russia has skirted in the past. The U.S. can allay Russian anxieties by allowing Moscow to inspect missile-defense sites in Romania and Poland which the Kremlin claims are cover for offensive nuclear-armed missiles so long as Putin agrees to offer access to missile bases in Russia, including those in the region of Kaliningrad, which borders Poland. Bidens offer to discuss such an arrangement is a promising start. If talks move forward, the U.S. should ensure the Romanian and Polish governments are involved and protocols are in place to prevent Russian inspectors from obtaining classified information. As a condition for broader dialogue, the U.S. and Europe should press Russia to abide by its obligations as a member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and agree to update the OSCE agreement on confidence-building measures, like exchanges of military information and notifications of large-scale exercises. Both sides also have an interest in resuming dialogue on nuclear weapons, particularly on preserving the 1987 U.S.-Russian Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which the U.S. withdrew from in 2019. Though the U.S. had grounds to accuse Russia of violating the treaty, abandoning the pact without a replacement has done little to enhance U.S. security and made NATO allies more vulnerable to Russian intimidation. The Biden administration should use Russias proposed draft treaty from late last year, which hinted at greater Russian openness to disarmament-verification measures, as a foundation for resuming talks and restoring the treatys ban on intermediate-range missile deployments in Europe. Theres no guarantee Putin will respond positively to such overtures. Discussions about military transparency and arms control dont address Putins greatest obsession, the eastward expansion of NATO and the future of Ukraine. Even so, the Kremlin has not been explicit on its goals, leaving room for Putin to pull back from Ukraines borders and claim progress on broader security issues as an acceptable outcome. Arms-control diplomacy has worked before. It could buy the world time once again. Editorials are written by the Bloomberg Opinion editorial board. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load The nationwide truckers protest in Canada, known as the Freedom Convoy and centered in Ottawa, reflects so many global trends that its hard to say what it means. But the movement may well end up as the most consequential story of the year. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight Under one plausible reading, many Canadians are exhausted by their governments pandemic restrictions. The protests started in January, when laws took effect requiring truckers who crossed the border to be vaccinated. Since then, the protests have grown to reflect a broader Canadian opposition to Covid restrictions. The Canadian economy, unlike the U.S. economy, saw a big job loss in January, in part because Canada has been more reluctant to liberalize. This reluctance is puzzling, because it is now safe to lift most Covid restrictions, in the U.S. as well as Canada. In that regard, the Freedom Convoy genuinely stands for some important freedoms. Travel, for example either domestic or international is not easy. If you are Canadian and do not wish to be vaccinated against Covid, it can be difficult to lead a normal life. Advertisement That is not to say that all their grievances are justified. I am generally skeptical about government mandates, but I am also very pro-vaccine. At this point in the pandemic, for the vast majority of people, getting vaccinated is far and away the best option. The protests also have a darker side. The protesters have established a serious infrastructure of their own in Ottawa, replete with cranes and tent cities, and control much of the center city. The situation is absolutely catastrophic both for the rule of law and for the long-term security of Canada, tweets Canadian journalist Matt Gurney. Everyone sees this. This is a massive failure of the state. So much of Canadian identity is wrapped up in being nice that it may be hard for Canadians and their leaders to fathom that they could lose control of their capital city. As Gurney says, it is simply assumed that Canada is rich, stable and peaceful, a more polite counterpart to its southern neighbor. But Canadians may be in for a rude awakening about how easy it is for the government to temporarily lose control: I think the danger of a large violent incident in Ottawa is growing fast. Advertisement Obviously the Canadian police and armed forces have far greater power than the truckers. But when it comes to imaginative fervor, the truckers have the advantage, just as did the forces that stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Who would have thought such a thing could have happened? At least some parts of the protests reflect White supremacist and extremist ideas. Confederate flags and swastikas have been spotted, though on Twitter there is vociferous disagreement about how representative these signs are. The debate is not merely over symbols. Using GoFundMe, donors sent C$10 million ($7.8 million) to support the efforts of the truckers. GoFundMe decided not to pass those funds along, claiming the Freedom Convoy had violated its terms of service and promising refunds. Should financial infrastructure companies such as GoFundMe be making such political decisions? While a private company has a legal right to do this, such decisions could end up as de facto restrictions on political speech. Advertisement This is all happening in a country that is already chipping away at free speech. Under the guise of regulating hate speech, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau proposed new restrictions on internet speech last year. Of course such restrictions would have a chilling effect. So maybe the Freedom Convoy is part of a backlash to the underlying trend of restricted discourse. One way or another, freedom of speech will be asserted. So far at least, the Freedom Convoy has yet to attract sustained and widespread coverage in the U.S. mainstream media. Maybe Americans just arent used to Ottawa being the epicenter of political conflict. But now that it is, we should probably be prepared for other surprises as well. More From Bloomberg Opinion: Canada Traders Got Too Far Over Their Skis: Robert Burgess Advertisement Trudeaus Populist Pose Could Hurt Canadas Economy: Michael R. Strain Covid Isnt Going Away. So How Do We Live With It?: Lara Williams (Corrects 10th paragraph to remove reference to Nadine Dorries, who is culture secretary for the U.K., and her proposal to hold services such as Netflix liable for material deemed offensive.) This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Tyler Cowen is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is a professor of economics at George Mason University and writes for the blog Marginal Revolution. His books include Big Business: A Love Letter to an American Anti-Hero. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load Harvard Business School is in the middle of celebrating the 100th anniversary of the case study teaching method, and is doing so with the aplomb that you would expect from the worlds richest business school. The campus is festooned with banners. A website features video lectures by celebrated professors. Forthcoming events include an exhibition in the Baker Library later this month, a Centennial Celebration Day on March 30th, and a colloquium on the future of case studies on May 31st. I say in the middle because the celebration is continuing throughout the 2021-2 academic year. The first case study General Shoe Company was published in 1921. (It dealt with the perennially fascinating subject of what to do about the decline in workers productivity toward the end of their shifts.) The method was properly institutionalized in 1922, when the faculty voted to give it a name and 93 other universities decided to adopt the method. By 1923, two-thirds of the schools courses were taught through cases. The method has evolved a bit over the years. The cases feature a wider range of countries and a more diverse cast of characters. Professors are experimenting with manga cartoons, audiovisual aids and even simulations and immersion placements. But the method is basically the same as the one that was settled upon in 1922: The instructor calls on a student to summarize the case and suggest ways of addressing the central business problem the famous cold call that many business titans still remember with a shudder. A general discussion ensues in which students compete to gut the case and suggest solutions. Advertisement The case method is now both the cornerstone of the HBS experience and a lucrative business in its own right. Students study about 500 cases during their two years at the school a significant exercise in time-management given that the cases average 11 pages in length plus several figures, compared with the sparse elegance of General Shoe Companys single page. HBS faculty produce some 225 new cases a year and each one takes about 160 hours to research and write. The school sold 15.4 million cases globally in the 2021 financial year, mostly to other business schools, generating revenue of $59 million. Other professional schools have also borrowed the case method from HBS, just as HBS originally borrowed it from the law school across the Charles River. Oxford Universitys new (in Oxford terms) Blavatnik School of Government has made a big bet on applying the Harvard method to public administration. It has recruited case-study veterans from HBS such as Karthik Ramanna, a former professor, and Sarah McAra, a former associate director of the schools case-study center. It is building up a collection of public-sector cases such as one dealing with the Vatican Banks financial management and another with the Metropolitan Polices stop-and-search policy. HBSs penchant for self-congratulation can be infuriating. If Robespierre were to ascend from hell and seek out todays guillotine fodder, Philip Delves Broughton, himself an HBS alumnus, wrote during the hoopla surrounding the schools 100th anniversary in 2008, he might start with a list of those with three incriminating initials beside their names: MBA. But in this instance it is justified. The case method is an antidote to the two biggest curses of business education. Advertisement The first curse is scientism: the idea that management is a science that can be derived from rigorous study and applied to all businesses in all circumstances. This was the approach championed by Frederick Winslow Taylor, the so-called father of scientific management and a big noise when HBS was established in 1908. It is also the approach of many ivory tower academics today, from exponents of evidence-based policy-making to devotees of value-free economic models. The case method exposes this approach for the nonsense that it is by focusing students attention on a chunk or reality rather than on theories on the blackboard. The second curse is faddism: the cycle of big ideas that are supposed to offer the secret to revolutionizing the business world, such as business process re-engineering in the 1990s (a Google Ngram search shows it rising steeply from 1987 to 1996 and then dissipating downward) or purpose-driven leadership today. These ideas sweep through the business world, generating dozens of conferences, articles and, these days, Zoom calls, before blowing themselves out, leaving their promises unfulfilled and the landscape flattened. True, HBS-based professors generate many of these fads and Harvard-branded products such as the Harvard Business Review disseminate them. But at least the school is good enough to produce the antidote as well as the venom. The great virtue of the method is that it puts the humanity back at the heart of business thinking. It introduces students to the extraordinary variety of business organizations. It shows that choices are always open-ended. The objective facts of the business case the structure of the industry or the flow of capital may constrain the choices available, but it can never determine them entirely. And it demonstrates that half the battle lies in persuading your colleagues (or in this case fellow classmates) that youve made the right decision. Management is as much about telling a compelling story and crafting a persuasive argument as it is about establishing the facts. Advertisement The method does all this in conditions of relentless pressure: As soon as you have finished one case you have to start another. Powell Niland, a former HBS faculty member who went on to the Olin Business School at Washington University, said that the case system puts the student into the habit of making decisions. David Garvin, also of HBS, talked about developing the courage to act. Isaiah Berlin once wrote an artful essay on political judgment. He argued that the best politicians dont think like scientists who try to generate systematic principles from a welter of facts or like intellectuals who try to come up with exciting ideas. They are nevertheless engaged in a highly sophisticated intellectual activity plucking what they see to be the salient facts from the whirling storm of daily events, processing them with extraordinary rapidity, and then deciding, on the basis of an almost animal instinct, how to make their next move. The British Prime Minister Lord Salisbury was one day asked on what principle he decided whether to go to war. He replied that in order to decide whether or not to take an umbrella he looked at the sky. Political judgment is the art of looking at the sky and producing correct guesses about how the weather will turn out. The same thing can be said about business judgment. What makes a successful businessperson is not their brain power or command of theory. It is their ability to size up ambiguous situations emerging technologies, nascent markets, complex investment instruments and then make a sensible judgment under pressure. This ability to produce sound judgments is becoming more important as politics intrudes even deeper into business life and managers are being obliged to make difficult trade-offs between commercial logic and political pressure and between various rival constituencies. Advertisement The obvious objection to this argument is that all too many business school products have lacked judgment: Look at the great business scandals of the past few years, from Enron Corp. to the global financial crisis, and you will probably find HBS graduates at the heart of them. HBS even wrote a number of case studies lauding Enron as an example of asset light management and the schools alumnus, Enron president Jeffrey Skilling, as a magnificent manager. High-profile lawbreakers like Skilling necessarily attract disproportionate attention. But for every Skilling there are thousands of managers who did the work of running their corner of the business world professionally and honestly. And Skilling was as much as anything an example of the evils of management theory in this case the financialization of everything particularly when that management theory seemed to justify the ancient vice of greed. The case method arguably needs to be reinforced by other pedagogical techniques that are designed to teach judgement: I would advocate obliging MBA students to spend at least some of their time reading great philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle and studying the recent rise of populism (a good name for the course would be Why Do They Hate Us?). But for its part the case method has amply justified its place at the heart of business education. It deserves to remain there for at least another century. Advertisement More From Other Writers at Bloomberg Opinion: CEOs Learn Something in Business School: Matt Levine Modern CEOs Have to Go to Lots of Meetings, Too: Justin Fox No, My MBA Alma Maters Initiation Rite Isnt Hazing: Leonid Bershidsky This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Adrian Wooldridge is the global business columnist for Bloomberg Opinion. He was previously a writer at the Economist. His latest book is The Aristocracy of Talent: How Meritocracy Made the Modern World. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load Navy SEAL trainee dies after grueling test Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight A Navy SEAL candidate who died just hours after completing the grueling Hell Week test was identified Sunday as a 24-year-old sailor who joined the military last year. Seaman Kyle Mullen died at a San Diego-area hospital on Friday after he and another SEAL trainee reported experiencing symptoms of an unknown illness, the Navy said. The other sailor, whose name has not been released, was hospitalized in stable condition, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported Sunday. The cause of death is unknown and under investigation. Both men fell ill just hours after they successfully completed the test that ends the first phase of assessment and selection for the elite Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) class. The Navy said neither one had experienced an accident or unusual incident during the 5 -day Hell Week. Advertisement Rear Adm. H.W. Howard III, the commander of Naval Special Warfare Command in Coronado, Calif., offered his sympathies to Mullens family in a statement. Mullen joined the Navy in March, according to his Navy biography. He reported to SEAL training in Coronado in July, the Union-Tribune said. The Hell Week test is part of the BUD/S class, which involves basic underwater demolition, survival and other combat tactics. It comes in the fourth week as SEAL candidates are hoping to be selected for training within the Naval Special Warfare Basic Training Command. The SEAL program tests physical and psychological strength along with water competence and leadership skills. The program is so grueling that at least 50 to 60 percent dont make it through Hell Week. The last SEAL candidate to die during the assessment phase was 21-year-old Seaman James Derek Lovelace in 2016. He was struggling to tread water in full gear in a giant pool when his instructor pushed him underwater at least twice. He lost consciousness and died. Advertisement His death was initially ruled a homicide by the San Diego County Medical Examiner. A year later, after an investigation, the Navy said it would not pursue criminal charges in Lovelaces drowning. An autopsy revealed he had an enlarged heart that contributed to his death and an abnormal coronary artery, which has been associated with sudden cardiac death, especially in athletes. It was unclear from the autopsy report how much Lovelaces heart abnormalities contributed to his death. In December, a Navy SEAL commander died of injuries he suffered during a training accident in Virginia. Cmdr. Brian Bourgeois, 43, fell while fast-roping down from a helicopter, and he died several days later. Associated Press 10 Cuban migrants rescued off Florida coast: Ten Cuban migrants in a sinking vessel were rescued off the Florida coast, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. A Coast Guard boat spotted the vessel Thursday about 40 miles off Key Largo, the agency said in a tweet. "They didn't have lifejackets or safety equipment," said Capt. Shawn Koch, commanding officer of Air Station Miami. "If the air crew hadn't found them on the patrol, these people would not have survived the night." Six migrants were repatriated to Cuba, and four others were evacuated to Florida for medical treatment, the Coast Guard said. The rescue follows an incident two weeks ago in which a boat believed to be used for human smuggling capsized off Florida's coast on its way from the Bahamas. Only one of the 40 passengers survived. From news services GiftOutline Gift Article Nearly six months after the U.N. climate summit in Glasgow, no large nation has come forward with a bolder climate plan, and none of the worlds top emitters has committed to doing so this year. Placeholder while article actions load Migrant baby shot and killed in mother's arms Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard officers fired at a boat carrying Venezuelan migrants Saturday night, wounding a mother and killing the baby in her arms, authorities said Sunday. The fatal shooting took place as officers tried to stop a boat crossing the Venezuelan border into Trinidad and Tobago, in what the island nations officials described as an act of self-defense, according to a Coast Guard statement. Venezuelan human rights lawyers and opposition officials condemned the shooting and demanded an investigation. The Coast Guard spotted the boat as it crossed the Venezuelan border into Trinidad and Tobago waters just before midnight Saturday, according to a statement posted on Facebook and signed by Kerron Valere, a lieutenant and public affairs officer with the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard. Advertisement The Coast Guard crew tried to intercept the boat using its horn, searchlight and flares, followed by warning gunshots, according to the statement, but the boat continued forward with aggressive moves, attempting to ram into a Coast Guard vessel. Only after the ship stopped did the Coast Guard realize there were migrants hidden on board, and a woman was bleeding, according to the statement. The woman was stabilized and taken to a health facility, but her baby was found unresponsive. Officials did not specify how many people were on the vessel but said the others on board will be processed in accordance with immigration and health protocols. Ana Vanessa Herrero and Samantha Schmidt Ex-foreign minister's candidacy suspended Iraqs Supreme Court on Sunday suspended a former foreign ministers presidential bid over graft allegations, and many lawmakers said they would boycott a Monday vote for a new head of state, prolonging a political standoff. Advertisement The court said the candidacy of Hoshyar Zebari, a Western-friendly Iraqi Kurdish statesman, could not proceed until graft charges from a separate 2016 stint as finance minister were dealt with. The decision was a blow to populist Shiite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, who was the biggest winner in an October election and has vowed to quickly push through a government that could exclude Iranian allies. Sadr; the Kurdish Democratic Party, of which Zebari is a member; and an alliance of Sunni Muslim lawmakers had supported Zebaris bid for president. Reuters Leader's move against judicial council decried Tunisian judges on Sunday rejected President Kais Saieds moves to disband the council that oversees them, a move they see as undermining their independence, setting up a new struggle over his consolidation of power. Advertisement Saied announced overnight that he was dissolving the Supreme Judicial Council, one of the few remaining state bodies still able to act independently of him, the latest in several moves his opponents describe as a coup. In July, Saied suddenly suspended parliament, dismissed the prime minister and said he could rule by decree. He has since said he will rewrite the 2014 democratic constitution and put it to a referendum. However, Tunisias dire economic problems risk undermining Saieds plan to reset the 2011 revolution. Reuters Cyclone kills 10 in Madagascar: A cyclone killed at least 10 people in southeastern Madagascar, the second to hit the Indian Ocean island in two weeks, triggering floods, bringing down buildings and cutting power, officials said. Cyclone Batsirai swept inland late Saturday, slamming into the eastern coastline with heavy rain and wind speeds of 100 mph. The damage compounded the destruction wreaked by deadly Cyclone Ana recently. Advertisement No clear front-runner as Costa Ricans vote: Costa Ricans voted for a new president in elections that did not see a clear favorite emerge among the 25 candidates and was held amid fears of a low turnout because of a coronavirus surge. Costa Ricans will also choose a new National Assembly in the elections. If no candidate captures at least 40 percent of the vote, a runoff will be held April 3 between the top two candidates. From news services GiftOutline Gift Article The family of Frank Stoll, son of the late Herman and Agnes Stoll, invite you to a Celebration of Life honoring Frank. It will be held on April 30, 2022, at 1 p.m. at Providence Mennonite Church, Montgomery. Frank was a 1956 graduate of Montgomery High School. Trusted local news has never been more important, but providing the information you need, information that can change sometimes minute-by-minute, requires a partnership with you, our readers. Please consider making a contribution today to support this vital resource that you and countless others depend on. Ramsay Street, Erinsborough, is an address that echoes in the cultural history of Australia. Over the years, it has been home to Scott and Charlene, Des and Daphne, Dr Karl and Susan, Sheila and many, many more neighbours. For more than 8770 episodes and still counting Neighbours has been a staple of Australian television drama, and Australian cultural exports. It matters more as a window into a fictionalised Australia for British audiences than it does as a continuing drama on local TV. The Neighbours cast in the shows 1980s prime. Which makes British broadcaster Channel 5s decision to end its run of the series all the more significant. The network said: Its been a much-loved part of our schedule for more than a decade, and wed like to thank the cast, Fremantle and all of the production team for their fantastic work on this iconic series. Australias health watchdog has received more than 100 complaints about rapid antigen tests, with consumers raising concerns about false positives and negatives, invalid results and missing parts. It comes as the peak body for pathologists calls on health authorities to start collecting data on negative rapid antigen test results, to better monitor the pandemic. Rapid antigen tests detect about 80 per cent of infections among people with symptoms. Credit:Tanya Macheda While most health experts support the use of rapid antigen tests, concerns have been raised about their accuracy. Associate Professor David Anderson, deputy director of the Burnet Institute, said the tests were a useful screening tool that provided quick results, but they gave people a false sense of security. The surge workforce organised by the federal government to support Omicron-stricken aged care homes has been labelled inadequate and is covering only a fraction of the weekly staffing shortfall, prompting the sector to renew its calls for urgent support from the defence forces. The lack of staff has left aged care homes struggling to meet the basic needs of elderly residents, including providing fresh jugs of water, as nearly 1200 facilities across the country battle outbreaks. In the first five weeks of this year, there were 533 coronavirus-related deaths among aged care residents. Credit:Louie Douvis Nationally, in the past week, 1605 aged-care residents have contracted COVID-19 and 149 have died. Sean Rooney, chief executive of aged care peak body Leading Age Services Australia, said despite ongoing talks with the federal government, there were providers who were struggling to get help. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size text-to-speech on some articles. We are triallingon some articles. Share your thoughts Australias military identity is inexorably linked to the army. Historically, our notion of war has been largely informed by the two world wars, when Australias significant contributions involved heavy losses young men who were willing to put their lives on the line from the bloody catastrophe of Gallipoli to the desperation of Kokoda. More recently, the army has played a key role in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as in peacekeeping and stabilisation missions in Bougainville, East Timor and the Solomon Islands. But with Chinas enormous military build-up, there is growing concern that Australia needs to prepare for a war with a major power. While the likelihood of an actual war is still remote, Beijings actions which include militarising disputed features of the South China Sea and increasing military pressure on Taiwan have made the prospect of a conflict more likely, especially with the US intent on remaining a major power in Asia. In this new era, the Australian Army has struggled to explain to the public its role and relevance in modern warfare. For example, why do we need tanks? Australia has not used a tank in anger since the Vietnam War. In a war with China in the South China Sea or Taiwan Strait, it is difficult to imagine Australias two amphibious warfare ships successfully landing a sizable contingent of soldiers and tanks on land in east Asia. Surely they would be sunk by enemy submarines, aircraft or land-based missiles before they got close to the foreign battlefield. Advertisement A $42 billion investment in the army Over the coming years, Australia will spend up to $42 billion on armoured vehicles, including replacing its 59 Abrams tanks with 75 newer Abrams and building 450 tracked infantry fighting vehicles. That significant investment raises a pertinent question: could these billions of dollars be better spent on more submarines or jet fighters? Marcus Hellyer, a senior analyst with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and former adviser in the Department of Defence, says the fundamental problem with tanks and other heavy land capabilities is that they have a huge logistics trail. Loading Thats OK if we are going to go up against an insurgent force, or some kind of state that doesnt have an air force or a navy, because you can deploy all this stuff there and sustain it, he says. But if youre up against a major power adversary that has significant maritime denial capabilities, how are you getting those heavy land forces there and how are you sustaining them? Hellyer says he isnt against all armoured vehicles, but the focus should be on lighter, more deployable alternatives that can be sent to Australias near region, noting that the wheeled Bushmaster proved to be a good choice in Afghanistan. Defence Minister Peter Dutton says he understands the arguments against Australia buying more tanks, but it is impossible to predict the future and the ADF still needs to prepare for as many contingencies as possible within a finite budget. Advertisement Dutton says Australian tanks may in the future be sent to help a country fight off a terrorist insurrection, or respond to another 9/11, as much as I hope and pray thats never the case. What would be the requirements on the ADF if we were to join, in 30 years time, some strike back against ISIL or al-Qaeda? It would likely involve tanks, Dutton says. The idea of the tanks is to provide support and protection to the infantry. And that has been a well-established military principle and one that we adhere to the existing tanks have a shelf life and need to be replaced, and its a costly business. Why a balanced force? Ever since World War II, Australias military planners have been committed to what is called a balanced force. According to this objective, the Australian Defence Force should, at the very least, be able to do a little bit of everything. This means maintaining a capable army with dozens of tanks and other heavily armed vehicles. Advertisement Australia subscribed to this objective because for decades the advice from its Defence planners was that it would have a 10-year window to build up its defences against a major threat. Realising communism couldnt reach Australia, especially with the anti-communist president Suharto in Indonesia, the army was downgraded after the Konfrontasi a three-year conflict between Indonesia and Malaysia between 1963 and 1966 and the Vietnam War. Loading Instead, the navy and air force were given greater prominence in the 1970s and 80s under the Defence of Australia policy. The army returned to the forefront in the public consciousness during the 1990s with peacekeeping missions in the near region such as East Timor, followed by the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. But the 2020 Defence Strategic Update changed everything, cautioning that Australia no longer had a decade of warning time to prepare for an attack. This now compels the government to make difficult choices, even with its promise to spend at least 2 per cent of gross domestic product on the military. And tanks are in the firing line. Military strategist Hugh White has long argued for Defence to stop spending billions of dollars on tanks, saying money would be better spent on more jet fighters and submarines. Advertisement The only role for the army and this is bad news for the army is to perform the kind of important and relatively low-level operations in the immediate neighbourhood, White says. What you need for that is highly mobile, relatively light vehicles like the Bushmaster and up to the light armoured vehicle the LAV style wheeled rather than tracked. But John Blaxland, professor of international security and intelligence studies at the Australian National University, believes Australia would need tanks in a potential war with China. This is because for Australia to make a significant contribution to a wider conflict, it will need to be able to send its jet fighters from bases deeper into the region, such as Indonesia. If we were to operate our F-35 Joint Strike Fighters through an airfield like at Ambon Island in Indonesia, you would need to provide protection around the airfield out to about 10 kilometres, he says. They have to be protected with a force robust enough to fend off a would-be counterattack. And that takes military muscle. Were talking about a situation, potentially, where the adversary is already well and truly muscled up and is developing the ability to project force through its amphibious capabilities from pretty much anywhere in the archipelago. So its a pretty grim scenario to think about. You dont buy tanks and armoured vehicles to sing Kumbaya; you do it to fight wars or to deter an aggressor from thinking that they can beat you in a war. And its about demonstrating that you are not easily beaten. Advertisement Former Nationals leader Michael McCormack has urged colleagues to focus on winning the next election after days of extraordinary political damage over a leaked text from his successor, Barnaby Joyce, in which he called Prime Minister Scott Morrison a liar and a hypocrite. With furious Nationals MPs planning to rebuke Mr Joyce at a party meeting on Monday, the former deputy prime minister said it would be wrong to try to exact revenge over the furore because the election had to take priority. The remarks came after Mr Morrison tried to calm the political uproar by saying he forgave those who displayed the human frailty shown in angry and bitter remarks like those sent by Mr Joyce in a text message when he was a backbencher last March. But Labor treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers said the government was a smoking ruin of division that could not be salvaged regardless of who led the Liberal or Nationals parties. London: Carrie Johnson has blamed bitter ex-officials for allegations she has too much influence on government policy. Carrie Johnsons role in Downing Street is under fresh scrutiny after a biography containing claims about her wanting to control everything was serialised. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife, Carrie, watch England celebrate after defeating Denmark in their Euro 2020 soccer championship semifinal at Wembley stadium in London in July. Credit:AP The book by Lord Ashcroft, the pollster and former deputy chairman of the Conservative party, claims that Carrie Johnson used her husbands phone to direct his staff during his leadership campaign, with advisers believing the instructions were from him. It also claims that Carrie Johnson orchestrated the sacking of a member of staff she did not like. London: Prince Charles has thanked his mother Queen Elizabeth for publicly stating her desire that his wife Camilla becomes Queen Consort when he becomes king. The Queens statement made to coincide with the 70th anniversary of her accession to the British throne should remove any discussion about future titles upon her death. Queen Elizabeth and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall pictured here at Royal Ascot have increasingly appeared together in public. Credit:AP The 95-year-old Queen said it was her sincere wish that Camilla be known as Queen Consort after Charles takes the throne. Charles responded on Sunday as he led tributes from world and religious leaders to mark the Queens milestone one not reached in almost 1000 years. Scholzs central mission for his Washington visit has to be restoring German credibility, said Thorsten Benner, a founder and the director of the Global Public Policy Institute in Berlin. Its not how Mr Scholz envisaged his first US trip as chancellor, Benner added. But international security was never near the top of his agenda. Loading Scholz, 63, has been a familiar figure in German politics for more than two decades. He was general secretary of his party and mayor of the northern port city of Hamburg before serving in two governments led by Merkels conservatives, most recently as her finance minister. An industrial relations lawyer and lifelong Social Democrat, Scholz narrowly won the election in the fall on a platform promising workers respect and a higher minimum wage, while nudging Germany on a path to a carbon-neutral future. Foreign policy barely featured in his election campaign, but it has come to dominate the first weeks of the new administration. Rarely has a German leader come into office with so many burning crises. As soon as Scholz took over from Merkel in early December, he had to deal not just with a resurgent pandemic but with a Russian president mobilising troops on Ukraines borders. Then-German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, right, drinking a glass of beer with then-Social Democratic member of German parliament, and future Chancellor Olaf Scholz during their visit to the Holsten brewery in Hamburg in 2005. Credit:AP It wasnt the plan, said Thomas Kleine-Brockhoff, vice president of the Berlin office of the German Marshall Fund. This is a government that has huddled around an ambitious plan of industrial transformation, but the reality of a crisis-ridden world has interfered with their plans. Of all of the crises, the standoff with Russia has proved particularly uncomfortable for Scholz. His Social Democrats have traditionally favoured a policy of working with Moscow. During the Cold War, Chancellor Willy Brandt engineered Ostpolitik, a policy of rapprochement with Russia. The last Social Democratic chancellor, Schroder, is not just a close friend of Putins, he has also been on the payroll of various Russian energy companies since 2005, notably Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2, the two gas pipelines connecting Russia directly with Germany under the Baltic Sea. It was not until last week, after Schroders comments about Ukraine, that Scholz felt compelled to publicly distance himself from the former chancellor. There is only one chancellor, and that is me, he told public broadcaster ZDF. There is only one chancellor, and thats me, says German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Credit:AP His partys divisions over Russia are one way to explain why Scholz has shrunk away from taking a bolder lead in the standoff with Russia, prompting some to lament the loss of leadership of his conservative predecessor. Scholz won the election last year primarily by convincing voters that he would be very much like Merkel. Terse, well-briefed and abstaining from any gesture of triumph, he not only learned to sound like the former chancellor, he even emulated her body language, holding his hands together in her signature diamond shape. But now that he is running the country, that is no longer enough. German voters are hungry for Scholz to reveal himself and increasingly impatient to learn who he is and what he actually stands for. Loading As the current crisis unfolds, Scholzs imitation of Merkel is also less and less convincing. She was understated and studious, and often kept her work behind the scenes, but she was not invisible. In the spring of 2014, after Putin invaded Crimea, Merkel was on the phone to him almost every day. It was Berlin that united reluctant European neighbors behind costly sanctions and persuaded President Barack Obama, distracted by domestic affairs, to focus on a faraway conflict. At that point, of course, Merkel had already been chancellor for nine years and knew all of the protagonists well. The crisis came very soon for Scholz, said Christoph Heusgen, a veteran diplomat and Merkels foreign policy adviser during the last Ukraine crisis. Scholzs advisers have been taken aback by the level of criticism, arguing that Scholz was merely doing what Merkel had so often done: Make yourself scarce and keep people guessing while engaging in quiet diplomacy until you have a result. When Scholz has spoken up on the current crisis referring to the Russia-owned gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 as a private-sector project before pivoting to saying that everything was on the table he has conspicuously recycled language that Merkel used before. But given the escalation in the current crisis, that language is long outdated, analysts say. Hes overlearned the Merkel style, Kleine-Brockhoff of the German Marshall Fund said. Hes Merkel-plus, and that doesnt work in a crisis. After facing mounting criticism from Kyiv and other Eastern European capitals, Scholzs leadership is increasingly being questioned at home, too. In a recent Infratest Dimap poll, Scholzs personal approval rating plummeted by 17 percentage points, to 43 per cent from 60 per cent in early January, the sharpest decline for a chancellor in postwar history, the firm says. Support for his Social Democrats fell to 22 per cent, lagging the conservatives for the first time since last years surprise election victory. Scholzs team announced that after returning from Washington, the chancellor will pivot to a full schedule that he hopes will shift German diplomacy into high gear. Following his meeting with Biden, he will meet with Macron; the Polish prime minister, Andrzej Duda; and the three leaders of the Baltic states. The week after, he will travel to Kyiv and Moscow, in that order. Senior diplomats say it is high time for such a pivot, starting with Mondays visit to the White House. Scholz has a seeming center-left ally in Biden, who has so far refrained from publicly criticising Berlin. Not since President Bill Clintons second term have both the White House and the German chancellery been in the hands of centre-left leaders, and for all of the wavering on the German side, the two administrations have been in close contact throughout. But patience is running thin, and Scholz will have to bring something to the table. There has to be a visible sign of commitment to the alliance, Kleine-Brockhoff said. Thats what other allies are doing: The Spanish, the Baltic countries, the Poles, the Brits everyone has offered something to strengthen deterrence on the eastern flank. German lawmakers have started preliminary conversations about beefing up their troop presence in Lithuania, officials say. Other options include more naval patrols in the Baltic Sea and more air patrols in Bulgaria and Romania. As important as any material commitment may be the words Scholz uses or does not use to publicly communicate that commitment. Maybe for the first time he could mention Nord Stream 2 by name when talking about possible sanctions, Kleine-Brockhoff said. One Child, One Adult Dead, Others Critically Injured after House Fire in Little Creek Pictured: new bollards recently installed in front of Louisville Metro Corrections to prevent vehicles from crashing through the front entrance. (WDRB photo) Weatherford, TX (76086) Today Cloudy and windy. A stray thunderstorm is possible. High 83F. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy with late night showers or thunderstorms. Low 59F. S winds shifting to NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Allentown, PA (18103) Today Mostly cloudy with a lingering shower very early or a pop-up shower later in the afternoon; some afternoon sun developing. . Tonight Mostly cloudy. There might be a lingering shower early, mainly north and east. Thank you for reading the Herald-Whig You have reached our free-content limit. If you are a current subscriber, please log in to continue viewing content or purchase a subscription by clicking the Subscribe button below. Thank you for supporting independent Journalism. By Trend NATO supports the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Special Representative of the organization's Secretary General for the South Caucasus and Central Asia Javier Colomina said on Twitter, Trend reports. Commenting on the repatriation of eight servicemen of Armenian origin by Azerbaijan to Armenia, Colomina called it good news. "NATO appreciates the partnership with both Armenia and Azerbaijan, he noted. According to him, the normalization of relations between the countries will contribute to increasing stability and prosperity in the region. Guided by the principle of humanism, on February 7, 2022, Azerbaijan repatriated eight servicemen of Armenian origin to Armenia. Some of them were servicemen detained on November 16, 2021 while suppressing a provocation committed by the Armenian armed forces in direction of the Kalbajar district of the state border. Willmar, MN (56201) Today Cloudy. High 47F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. Low around 35F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. The Domestic Violence Crisis Center is partnering with the Wilton Domestic Violence Task Force to recognize February as National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Wilton Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month programs will include a parent workshop, and a free movie night for teens. Visit https://www.dvccct.org/teen-dating-violence-awareness-month/ for a complete list of the Domestic Violence Crisis Centers activities, and resources for teens, and the adults who support them. The theme for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month 2022 is Talk About It, a call to action to encourage meaningful conversations about healthy relationships, and navigate what may be unhealthy, or even abusive. One in three teens in the U.S., will experience physical, sexual, or emotional abuse from someone, who they are in a relationship with before they become adults. In addition, nearly half of college women report experiencing violent, or abusive dating behaviors. Community education plays a critical role in addressing and preventing teen dating abuse. Unfortunately, young people may not grow up in a home with adults who model healthy relationship behaviors in their own lives. Still, those skills can be learned through preventive education, Domestic Violence Crisis Center Associate Director Ann Rodwell Lawton told Hearst Connecticut Media. Studies show that a young person's first relationship experience sets the tone for their future relationships. Learning to recognize healthy relationship signs and knowing how to access resources for help better equips teens in building healthy relationships now and for their futures, Rodwell said. Wilton Domestic Violence Task Force member Donna Peterson said the partnership with Domestic Violence Crisis Center enables the task force to support teens, and their parents in the community by providing education, and resources on the issue. We are grateful for our partnership with DVCC in raising awareness for the prevention of teen dating abuse. DVCC's prevention educators and counselors provide a vital resource for families in the Wilton community, Perterson told Hearst Connecticut Media. Wilton Teen Domestic Violence Awareness Month Programs include: - A Healthy Relationships Are Learned Parent Workshop, on Thursday, Feb. 17, at 6:30 p.m. The Domestic Violence Crisis Center will join the Wilton Domestic Violence Task Force, the Wilton Youth Council, the Trackside Teen Center, and the Wilton Youth Services department for a virtual workshop for parents, Healthy Relationships Are Learned. Register at us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAldO6urjIqEtC4znzrd1S3ODNjbZkeQLnI. - Movie Night at the Trackside Teen Center on Friday, Feb. 11, at 6:30 p.m. Teens are invited for a free screening of the film, Sierra Burgess is a Loser, at the Trackside Teen Center, located at 15 Station Road in Wilton. After the movie, the Domestic Violence Crisis Centers Prevention Educator will facilitate a short discussion about the relationships, and messages in the film. The event is co-sponsored by the Wilton Domestic Violence Task Force, the Wilton Youth Council, and the Trackside Teen Center. - Book Display at the Wilton Public Library. Novel books can be a powerful way to learn about the dynamics around dating abuse. People can look for the book display at the Wilton Library, featuring novels with teen dating issues as part of the plot. - Download the Domestic Violence Crisis Centers Free Parent Resource Guide. Parents are well-positioned to make a difference in their children's lives. However, in a national online survey of parents with children ages 11 to 18, nearly half, 45 percent, had not discussed dating violence with their children in the past year. View the guide at https://www.dvccct.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/TDA-Parent-Resource-Guide-2.pdf. Tuesday Feb. 8, Wear Orange Day. The Domestic Violence Crisis Center, and the Wilton Domestic Violence Task Force ask the community to recognize the national day to raise awareness about teen dating abuse, and send the message that abuse will not be tolerated by wearing orange. Participants are encouraged to take a picture wearing orange, and post it on social media with the hashtags #TDVAM2022 #Orange4Love #WearOrangeDay and tag @DVCCCT and @WiltonDomesticViolenceTaskForce. For more information about the Domestic Violence Crisis Center's Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month programs, and registering for a workshop, visit dvccct.org/teen-dating-violence-awareness-month/. The Domestic Violence Crisis Center is here to support individuals on their journey to safety. The Domestic Violence Crisis Center advocates for individuals, who are experiencing abuse in personal relationships. The Domestic Violence Crisis Centers multiple services, and professional staff help people, who are experiencing any level of domestic violence, and assists them in building a safer environment for the well-being of themselves, and their families. All victim services are free, and confidential. All services that are offered are multicultural, and multi-lingual. In Fiscal Year 2021, the Domestic Violence Crisis Center provided direct services to 3,481 individuals, and preventive education programs to 5,650 youth in the community. The Domestic Violence Crisis Centers mission is to provide effective services, support, and education for the prevention, and the elimination of domestic violence across the Connecticut communities of Stamford, Norwalk, Darien, New Canaan, Weston, Westport, Wilton, and beyond. If a person, or someone they know needs help, call or text the 24-hotline at 888-774-2900, for more information about DVCC, visit dvccct.org. At long last, actors will tread the boards before a live audience at the newly refurbished Gargoyle Theatre on Ellice Avenue. At long last, actors will tread the boards before a live audience at the newly refurbished Gargoyle Theatre on Ellice Avenue. The brainchild of writer Andrew Davidson and named for his 2008 New York Times bestseller, the Gargoyle is a workshop theatre that seeks to eliminate as many barriers to staging a play as possible. Every play at the Gargoyle will be a world premiere of a new, original work by a Winnipeg creator; its a space for art-making and risk-taking. Rebecca Driedger photo Steve Ratzlaff and Marina Stephenson Kerr rehearse a scene from Sonja and Richard, which opens at the Gargoyle Theatre Wednesday. Owing to the ongoing pandemic, however, the Gargoyle has yet to host a live performance since it officially opened in the fall. But that will change this week when Sonja and Richard, a new play by Winnipeg playwright/actor Steve Ratzlaff, begins its run on Feb. 9. Ratzlaff is thrilled that his will be the first play staged at the Gargoyle. "I think what Andrews done with the Gargoyle, first of all, physically, making it such an attractive, beautiful, charming place to do theatre, and then being so generous for the terms for independent production, I just think its going to be a great thing for theatre in this town," he says. Rebecca Driedger photo Playwright-actor Steven Ratzlaff (left, with Marina Stephenson Kerr) says the Gargoyles support of independent theatre in Winnipeg is potentially transformative. The Gargoyle invites any Winnipeg-based artist, whether they are emerging or established, to pitch an idea for a production. Those with successful pitches which are determined by the strength of the idea, by the way, not ones resume will then have a whole months access to the theatre for rehearsal and tech, with support from venue technician Rebecca Driedger and technical adviser Scott Henderson, as well as a five-day run of shows. There are no rental fees or deposits, and ticket proceeds are split 50/50 all things that are basically unheard of, Ratzlaff says. "I think its potentially transformative. And for myself personally, it makes the difference between being able to do a play or having it sit on a shelf." Directed by Bill Kerr, Sonja and Richard is a two-hander about a married couple who are also both teachers, and how they navigate their overlapping personal and professional relationships. Ratzlaff and Marina Stephenson Kerr will perform in the titular roles. Ratzlaff was a high school teacher (English, Canadian history and drama) for nearly two decades, but Sonja and Richard is not autobiographical. As a playwright, he was interested in "looking at these characters and how they function in a private relationship and how they function in a public relationship, and where are they more comfortable? Where do they just do a terrible job? That public-private realm intrigued me very much." Ratzlaff was also interested in exploring the stories we tell ourselves, and how two people can have differing interpretations of the same event. "To see that kind of blow apart on stage can be quite enjoyable and entertaining," he says. "I hope theres quite a few laughs. It can be entertaining in a way that its not entertaining when youre watching it happen around your own dining room table." Davidsons vision for the Gargoyle as a place to take chances on new works was born out of frustrations hes encountered himself as an artist. "I was working on a musical with a good friend of mine, and it was very, very difficult to find anywhere that plays could be workshopped or produced," he says. "And it just seemed to me to be an area that is ready to be explored, to be opened up, to be offered. Jen Zoratti | Next A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "I mean, I love the other theatre companies in Winnipeg, and I go and see everything. I cant compete with those, Im a much smaller operation. But what I can offer is something different. Thats what Im trying to do." Davidson is excited to give Sonja and Richard its first home. "I think its really great," he says of the play. "I think its well-written, and interesting and raises interesting philosophical questions. And the actors are hitting it out of the park every day in rehearsal. "What I love about theatre is that afterwards, it keeps you thinking for a couple of days, and you cant wait to discuss what youve just seen with your partner or your friend or your wife or your husband, whoever you went with. This is that type of play." jen.zoratti@winnipegfreepress.com Twitter: @JenZoratti If you value coverage of Manitobas arts scene, help us do more. Your contribution of $10, $25 or more will allow the Free Press to deepen our reporting on theatre, dance, music and galleries while also ensuring the broadest possible audience can access our arts journalism. BECOME AN ARTS JOURNALISM SUPPORTER Click here to learn more about the project. Handmade beaded earrings from Winnipeg will adorn the lobes of supermodels at Paris Fashion Week later this month. Handmade beaded earrings from Winnipeg will adorn the lobes of supermodels at Paris Fashion Week later this month. When she started Bead N Butter amid the pandemic, Jessie Pruden could have never in a "trillion billion years" imagined that her creations would one day be worn on a catwalk at one of the worlds biggest high-fashion events. "It feels really surreal," she says over the phone. "I, personally, am not fashionable Ive worn sweatpants, I think, for the past five months but I love fashion and I love looking at it." Pruden started beading after a work injury cut her restaurant serving career short. She tapped into her familys long history of Metis beadwork and taught herself how to make intricate, colourful earrings via YouTube tutorials. Shes been selling her wares online since 2020 and has amassed more than 18,000 followers on Instagram (@bead_n_butter). MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Bead N Butter owner Jessie Prudens beaded creations will make an appearance on the catwalk at Paris Fashion Week. The opportunity to attend Fashion Week came out of the blue at the end of January. Pruden recently partnered with Flying Solo, a New York retailer, and was asked to join the shops Paris runway show after another designer dropped out. The decision was a no-brainer. "I said yes and Ill figure out all the logistics afterwards," she says. "I dont have the money for it, but I knew that my family and my friends and my community would help me out." Attending Fashion Week is a costly endeavour. Registration comes with guaranteed runway placement, media and networking opportunities but can cost thousands of dollars. To raise the $3,000 needed to hold her spot, plus travel expenses, Pruden launched an online raffle with prizes donated by dozens of local makers and retailers. (Tickets are available at beadnbutter.ca; winners will be drawn Feb. 11.) Within days, she had raised the registration and was well on her way to funding the travel for herself and several members of her business team. "Well be able to go as a group, which is really amazing to be able to share this with the people who have helped me get to this place," she says. While flying across the world during the pandemic feels like a significant risk especially since Pruden has stayed home for much of the last two years its one that is worth the potential rewards. As a maker who relies largely on social media to sell products, the chance to meet new retail buyers could be a boon for the business. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Jessie Prudens earrings are based on Metis beading traditions. "It would be really nice to have a steady stream of orders to be fulfilling, so that I dont have to rely so much on pushing stuff (online) social media is so fickle that I never really know what my income is week-to-week," she says. "That, to me, is an invaluable opportunity to be hobnobbing with these folks that could get me to the next level." At the same time, being able to showcase her craft and her culture on a global stage is equal parts daunting and exciting. "To have beadwork represented in such a high venue internationally feels unreal," Pruden says. "I think about my auntie who lives out in the country and beads in her tiny house making these beautiful moccasins that (practice) coming from her and then to me and then to Paris just feels like a lot." Its a responsibility she doesnt take lightly. "I think with more of an audience on (beading), then Indigenous voices also get to be heard and when people start paying more attention in any avenue, then we get to put more of our stories out there and more of our issues out there." Pruden will be taking some of her most popular Bead N Butter designs to Paris, where eight of her earrings will be featured alongside work by other designers during a runway show on Feb. 28 at a venue near the Arc de Triomphe. eva.wasney@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @evawasney If you value coverage of Manitobas arts scene, help us do more. Your contribution of $10, $25 or more will allow the Free Press to deepen our reporting on theatre, dance, music and galleries while also ensuring the broadest possible audience can access our arts journalism. BECOME AN ARTS JOURNALISM SUPPORTER Click here to learn more about the project. OTTAWA - Police are investigating what appears to be an attempt to start a fire in the lobby of a downtown Ottawa apartment building, where tenants say they have been besieged by anti-vaccine mandate protesters raging in the national capital for more than a week. Matias Munoz stands outside his apartment on Lisgar Street, where police are investigating what appears to be an attempt to start a fire in the buildings lobby, in Ottawa, on Monday, Feb. 7, 2022. Tenants say they have been besieged by anti-vaccine mandate protesters raging in the national capital for more than a week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang OTTAWA - Police are investigating what appears to be an attempt to start a fire in the lobby of a downtown Ottawa apartment building, where tenants say they have been besieged by anti-vaccine mandate protesters raging in the national capital for more than a week. Matias Munoz said that when he came downstairs Sunday morning, he saw the carpet and floor were charred, and that there were blackened fire-starter bricks strewn across the lobby. The building manager showed him surveillance video, which he said appears to show two men light a package of the bricks in the lobby and secure the front door handles together before leaving through the side door around 5 a.m. Sunday. The video also shows a different man enter the building and put the fire out a short while later, he said in an interview. There are more than 100 units in the building, he said, and added that he can only imagine what would have happened if the fire had caught the wood panel walls nearby. The building is just seven blocks south of Parliament Hill, and some residents said they were already at their wits' end with the constant noise from honking and fireworks at night, road blockages, reports of broken windows and harassment on the streets. "On top of all that, somebody trying to do something as insidious as taping the door shut so people can't leave if there's a fire in the main lobby it's terror, is what it is," Munoz said. The fire came after a particularly rough Saturday night for the residents of the building and the protesters camped below, Munoz said. It sounded like a war zone out there, he said. Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson brought the investigation up as part of a special council meeting to address the ongoing demonstrations on Monday. He said the "horrific story" clearly demonstrates "the malicious intent of these protesters occupying our city." The Ottawa Police Service arson unit is investigating. In a statement Monday afternoon, police said one or more people entered the building and started a fire using undisclosed materials. "The fire caused minor damage but thankfully no injuries occurred," said the written statement. Police said they are asking the public to help identify two people of interest. Steve Bell, the deputy police chief, told a briefing Monday that as the investigation unfolds, police will be better able to determine whether the fire was directly linked with the protest or not. "That being said, we know there's extreme fear in in these neighborhoods. There's a heightened sense of lack of security there," Bell said, adding police have stepped up their presence in the area. "We're absolutely dedicating resources and officers to be on the ground, walking those neighbourhoods to build back trust and confidence within those areas." Several residents in the building reported some kind of confrontation between the tenants and the demonstrators in the early morning hours. Some described people yelling down at the protesters from their windows. One of the tenants, James Geling, said Monday there had been a number of confrontations between residents in the building and protesters, including one shortly before the fire was set. He said that one started when a protester refused to stop honking around 3 a.m. on Sunday morning, which led to an argument. "People in this building are so fed up," he said while standing in the hallway of the building. "It feels lawless downtown. It feels like you can get away with anything." Geling, who is a chef, said he came upon a couple of people in the lobby late Sunday night after walking his dogs. The people were shooting videos claiming the fire wasn't real, or that it was being blown out of proportion. Munoz had posted about the incident on Twitter Sunday evening. Geling called the fire a "silly attempt," though he admitted the building "doesn't feel safe." He said he is worried that news of the attempted arson will make the building even more of a target. Munoz also said he blames what has developed in downtown Ottawa. "I don't know who it was that lit the fires, but to me, they are connected to the situation that the convoy has allowed to happen here in Ottawa," he said. Residents of the building said the front doors do not lock. The owner of the building did not respond to a request for comment Monday. Christina Braithwaite said she has lived in the apartment next to the elevators since September. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Her apartment is on the first floor and she said she has sometimes seen a woman sleeping in the hallways. She says she slept through the incident on Sunday morning, when the two people captured on video walked past her door. She said she is unsettled by what happened. "I didn't sleep much last night," she said, later adding: "I'm glad (the person who lit the fire) didn't know what he was doing." Braithwaite says her friends have started joking that she must have a "guardian angel," as her previous apartment across the river in Gatineau, Que., was hit by a tornado in 2018 while she was away. She says she doesn't regret moving to her current place, but adds: "If I hear another truck horn " This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 7, 2022. OTTAWA - The mayor of Canada's national capital declared a state of emergency in his city on Sunday in the face of ongoing protests that have overwhelmed local resources shortly before police moved to choke the convoy's supply chain. An Ottawa Police vehicle blocks off Kent Street in front of parked trucks as a protest against COVID-19 restrictions that has been marked by gridlock and the sound of truck horns continues into its second week, in Ottawa, on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang OTTAWA - The mayor of Canada's national capital declared a state of emergency in his city on Sunday in the face of ongoing protests that have overwhelmed local resources shortly before police moved to choke the convoy's supply chain. In a late-afternoon release, the City of Ottawa said Mayor Jim Watson's declaration reflected the "serious danger and threat to the safety and security of residents" from protesters encamped through much of the downtown core. The move gives the city some flexibility to more quickly procure supplies, some of which the brief release noted could help purchase equipment required by frontline workers and first responders. But anything beyond that isn't clear, given that the city's legal staff on Saturday told the police services board an emergency declaration, beyond its symbolic value, doesn't give police or the city any new legal powers. Watson's declaration marked the end of the second weekend of the so-called Freedom Convoy taking over much of the capital's downtown core, with trucks clogging streets and protesters occupying sidewalks in front of Parliament Hill and into nearby residential areas. On Sunday night, police in Ottawa started their crackdown on supplies, raiding a parking lot used by organizers as a logistical hub to seize litres of fuel and arrest two people for mischief. Five others were arrested, including two downtown, where police also appeared on Sunday night to be taking fuel used to keep cars idling in the bitter Ottawa cold. Police had earlier in the day threatened arrest for anyone bringing items like gasoline or supplies to protesters and the 500 vehicles downtown. Other protests took place elsewhere in the country Sunday, though on a smaller scale than the day before when thousands of people opposed to pandemic-related restrictions congregated in cities from coast to coast. Hundreds of trucks and cars caused a backlog in downtown Halifax, but officers were working to clear that out, said Const. John MacLeod. He said the situation had been peaceful with no incidents to report. Ontario Provincial Police closed part of Highway 402 running to the border crossing between Sarnia and Port Huron, Mich., as a safety precaution due to pedestrians on the highway near a convoy of trucks and tractors. In Ottawa, police said they have launched more than 60 criminal investigations related to the protest, and issued more than 100 tickets on Sunday alone, including for "excessive honking." Hundreds more tickets were issues Saturday for red light violations, driving a vehicle on a sidewalk and setting off fireworks, among other offenses. Even though the local force has been bolstered by more than 100 OPP officers and 250 RCMP officers, Ottawa's state of emergency declaration noted that Watson's decision underlined the need for support from upper levels of governments. Earlier Sunday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the province has backed Ottawa during the nine-day protest that critics have branded an occupation. "While we cannot direct the police, we have provided the City of Ottawa everything they have asked for and will continue to provide whatever support they request," Ford said in a tweet. After Watson's announcement, Ford's office said it had nothing to add. The Prime Minister's Office directed questions to the office of Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino, which late Sunday pointed to the extra Mounties sent to Ottawa and said the federal government was ready to provide more help. "While this past weekend saw peaceful protests in cities across the country, the situation in Ottawa remains very concerning," Mendicino spokesman Alexander Cohen said in a statement. Horns echoed through the city's core on Sunday, mixed with the rumbling of semis and shouts of freedom. Organizers had said they planned to stop the honking for Sunday prayers, but that faded early in the morning. St. Patrick Basilica made the decision Friday to close over the risk of civil unrest, while the Christ Church Cathedral opted for online services despite provincial restrictions easing to allow for in-person prayers. Beth Bretzlaff, rector at Christ Church Cathedral, said it wasn't safe to bring parishioners downtown on Sunday. Still, she said, what's needed is a bit of faith in good governance, good policing and people being responsible. "Let's let the people that need to deal with this deal with this, and support them and watch out for each other," said Bretzlaff. Businesses downtown have also closed, including the Rideau Centre mall. Owner Cadillac Fairview cited the ongoing protest late Sunday in deciding to keep the mall closed for the foreseeable future, leaving thousands of employees out of work. The encampment in Ottawa has been a hot topic among some Republicans in the United States. More than a few members of Congress supportive of former president Donald Trump have made a point of expressing solidarity with the protesters, and in some cases, their pointed disdain for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Shelley Cook | Uplift A weekly review of funny, uplifting news in Winnipeg and around the globe that is delivered to your inbox each Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Sen. Ted Cruz on Sunday decried a decision by fundraising platform GoFundMe to cut off donations to the convoy organizers, a move the company said it made because of police reports of violence and other unlawful activity. Appearing on Fox News, the Canadian-born Cruz said he asked American regulators to see whether GoFundMe had engaged in deceptive trade practices before praising those in Ottawa and elsewhere. "They are patriots and they are marching for your freedom and for my freedom," he said. Despite the decision by GoFundMe to cancel the main fundraiser for the convoy, dozens of others are on the website and similar fundraising platforms aimed at helping either individuals or the group overall. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 6, 2022. -- with files from Liam Casey, Allison Jones, Kevin Bissett, Mia Rabson, Nicole Thompson, and James McCarten. REGINA - Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says he will likely lay out the province's plan Tuesday to lift or reduce its remaining public health orders surrounding COVID-19. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe puts on his mask after speaking to media, following a the State of the Province Address Prairieland Park in Saskatoon, Monday, Oct. 25, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Liam Richards REGINA - Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says he will likely lay out the province's plan Tuesday to lift or reduce its remaining public health orders surrounding COVID-19. Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Moe told the John Gormley radio talk show today the province's plan will chart a course forward over the next few weeks. The province's public health orders include a mask mandate, a requirement to self-isolate if you test positive for COVID-19 and a proof of vaccination or negative test to enter most establishments. They are set to expire at the end of February. Moe says with hospitalizations rapidly declining, the province is heading toward a position where people can manage COVID-19 on their own by getting vaccinated, taking rapid tests and accessing antibody treatments. Following a council of federation meeting last week with other Canadian premiers, Moe says many provinces are having this discussion, not just Saskatchewan. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 7, 2022. Realtor Nick Khinda was heading east down Portage Avenue Wednesday afternoon to take a water reading at a building he was selling when he saw the smoke. Then, he saw the fire trucks, the hoses and the police cars blocking off traffic in either direction from the block where he was headed. It was not what he expected to see, and he had to find out what was going on. Realtor Nick Khinda was heading east down Portage Avenue Wednesday afternoon to take a water reading at a building he was selling when he saw the smoke. Then, he saw the fire trucks, the hoses and the police cars blocking off traffic in either direction from the block where he was headed. It was not what he expected to see, and he had to find out what was going on. So Khinda rerouted, and came toward Portage down Langside Street, parking his SUV in a lot near the point from which the smoke was billowing. He got out of his car to ascertain whether it was his listing on fire, or if the blaze was emanating from elsewhere, which turned out to be the case. "I was thinking, (its) not our building," he said as he like many others in downtown Winnipeg watched the multi-use Kirkwood Block, at the corner of Portage and Langside, burn. So he called his client, sending him video footage of the fire as it happened essentially next door to their property. "He was as surprised as I was." Even though the building on fire was not the one Khinda had come to check, he was concerned and upset by what he was watching. "When you see a disaster like this, you have to feel sorry for whoever is involved," he said. He was worried whether anybody was injured, and was relieved to find out nobody was. He thought about how sorry he felt for those who had lost their offices, shops or other possessions in the blaze. He felt sympathetic, and a tad nostalgic, watching the 110-year-old building burn. He remembered fondly Club Morocco, which had been in business when he first moved to Winnipeg about 40 years ago the kind of place where people stayed well past midnight. "That is history," he said, gesturing with his hand. Winnipeg firefighters were called to a condominium complex under construction on Kimberley Avenue in East Kildonan on Jan. 31. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press files) "The last thing we want to see is potentially another fenced-off area for another empty lot, not on Portage," University of Winnipeg geography professor Jino Distasio told the Free Press the day of the fire, lamenting the loss of an architecturally significant building, as well as the businesses and stories it held inside. After its inevitable demolition, thats what the corner will be, at least until another project gets off the ground. Part of living in a city is watching it change, but seeing a building erased like the Kirkwood Block with a ball of fire and a days-long plume of smoke is not the type of change anybody should ever applaud. The same goes for the multi-storey condominium complex that burned to the ground in East Kildonan on Jan. 31. That project, with over 100 units planned, was still being constructed, and was declared a total loss before anyone had ever had the opportunity to live there. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "Buildings under construction are almost like lumber yards. They go up very, very quickly. There are no extinguishment options. Theyre open-air," said Scott Wilkinson, the assistant chief of the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Services, on the day of that fire. Khinda happened to witness to that fire too, though from far further away. "I was just passing by in that area and I saw the smoke coming up," he said. "Its all gone, and you have to feel sorry for the people." He said that in real estate, as in life, surprises happen, and they are not always pleasant ones. Thats something hes learned in his 30 years in the business, in a career that he now shares with his son, Rajan. After checking on the building for his client, Khinda had a full day of business to conduct: a showing for a commercial building in St. Boniface, plus a few residences elsewhere in the city. He said it would take time before he could assess the building a few doors down from the fire, as he had to work on a timeline determined by the fire department. As of Friday morning, he still hadnt had the chance to do so. ben.waldman@winnipegfreepress.com VICTORIA - The latest labour market outlook for British Columbia shows nearly 80 per cent of job openings over the next decade will require some level of post-secondary education, reflecting the changing nature of the economy. People walk past large letters spelling out UBC at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, on November 22, 2015. Nearly 80 per cent of job openings in British Columbia over the next decade will require some level of post-secondary education, reflecting the changing nature of the economy emphasizing the importance of higher skills. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck VICTORIA - The latest labour market outlook for British Columbia shows nearly 80 per cent of job openings over the next decade will require some level of post-secondary education, reflecting the changing nature of the economy. Ravi Kahlon, the minister of jobs, economic recovery and innovation, said eight out of every 10 new openings in the next decade will require post-secondary education or skills training, which points to where the economy is headed and what is needed to get ready. "When I talk to business owners and leaders, I hear the same message over and over again: a skill gap is looming," he said at a news conference. The outlook released Monday by the provincial government also forecasts more than one million job openings in the next 10 years, with about 63 per cent of those replacing people who retire. The remaining 37 per cent of jobs will be created by economic growth and the COVID-19 pandemic recovery, says a news release from the Jobs Ministry. Anne Kang, the minister of advanced education and skills training, said the skills gap needs to be addressed. "We also know that there are approximately 150,000 people who could be working but are not working right now," she said, adding that includes young parents who can't find child care and people who decided to retire early during the pandemic. The government is looking at providing daycare, skills retraining and affordable education to encourage those people to return to the workforce, she said. Kahlon said Premier John Horgan is expected to release an economic plan next week, which will "outline a generational commitment to invest in people through skills, training, education" and supports including child care and housing. The outlook shows the health care, social assistance and education sectors are expected to generate some of the largest employment in services, such as counselling, child protection and community housing. Science and technology jobs will also be in high demand, as will openings in skilled trades ranging from cooks and mechanics to construction workers and hairstylists. Kahlon noted investment in housing is "critically important" as the province looks to fill job openings. "We're going to need to see that investment in housing and in child care and in infrastructure to go along with it." His ministry said people aged 29 or younger entering the workforce for the first time will make up the largest source of B.C.'s new labour supply, with new immigrants accounting for 34 per cent of workers. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Kang said the government is looking at fast-tracking skills recognition credentials for international workers and those who move from other provinces to help fill jobs. Asked if people might be discouraged from applying for jobs in the health-care sector because of recent protests related to the pandemic, Kahlon said he understands that some might be hesitant because of the actions of a "fringe group." "I would say to anyone who's young and up-and-coming or anyone who's looking for a good career, there are huge opportunities in the care economy," he said. "Overwhelmingly, a majority of British Columbians and Canadians, we support our health-care workers, we support the incredibly important work that they do." By Hina Alam in Vancouver. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 7, 2022. BERLIN (AP) The German government is working on plans to relax coronavirus restrictions after the peak in new cases has passed, likely by the end of February. Sandra Fundel, pharmacist at the pharmacy at Bahnhof Zoo, stands outside the pharmacy with vaccination paraphernalia, next to a poster advertising the Corona vaccination in Berlin, Germany, Monday, Feb. 7, 2022. Pharmacists in the country are scheduled to begin offering vaccinations Tuesday, after parliament changed the rules so that they, dentists and vets could administer the shoots.(Christophe Gateau/dpa via AP) BERLIN (AP) The German government is working on plans to relax coronavirus restrictions after the peak in new cases has passed, likely by the end of February. Unlike some of its European neighbors, Germany still has many pandemic restrictions in place that exclude unvaccinated people from restaurants, public venues and some stores. Perspectives for opening are being developed, government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann told reporters Monday in Berlin. She said the measures would be discussed at a meeting of federal and state officials on Feb. 16, but would only take effect when authorities can be sure that Germany's health system won't be overwhelmed. According to experts, that could be by mid-to-end February, she said. Germany has seen a sharp spike in newly confirmed cases in recent weeks due to the omicron variant. Pharmacists in the country are scheduled to begin offering vaccinations Tuesday, after parliament changed the rules so that they, dentists and vets could also administer the shoots. About 74.4 % of the German population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, while 54.3% have additionally had a booster shot. Experts say higher vaccination rates are needed to protect older and vulnerable groups. Jen Zoratti | Next A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. But the governor of Bavaria says he plans not to implement a requirement for staff in nursing homes and medical facilities to be vaccinated, citing concerns about worker shortages. Germany's health minister, Karl Lauterbach, blasted the announcement Monday, saying a half-hearted application of the rules won't just endanger the lives of older people with weak immune systems. You will also endanger the credibility of politics, he said. The federal coalition government has backed a general vaccine mandate but proposals currently being debated by lawmakers are likely months from being approved into law. Follow APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic FREDERICTON - Maple syrup producers in New Brunswick are pushing the provincial government to respond to their request for more Crown land on which to expand production and meet a growing global demand for their products. Boiling hot maple syrup is tested for consistency and clarity in Kawartha Lakes, Ont., Sunday, March 28, 2021. Maple syrup producers in New Brunswick are calling on the provincial government to respond to a request for more Crown land to allow them to expand production. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Thornhill FREDERICTON - Maple syrup producers in New Brunswick are pushing the provincial government to respond to their request for more Crown land on which to expand production and meet a growing global demand for their products. Producers have been waiting two years for the government to respond to a request for an additional 12,000 hectares of Crown forest, Louise Poitras, executive director of the New Brunswick Maple Syrup Association, said in a recent interview. The extra land requested by the association represents about 0.4 per cent of total Crown land in the province, Poitras said. "There's a thriving economy there for our maple syrup industry in New Brunswick. We are just asking for our fair share." The demand for maple syrup is growing, she added. New Brunswick's maple syrup industry had a record year in 2021, producing 10 million pounds of maple syrup. It was all sold by September, indicating there is demand for more, she said. New Brunswick is the world's third-largest maple syrup producer, behind Quebec and Vermont. Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. While the industry waits for a response from government, forestry companies are clear-cutting near existing sugaries, Poitras said. "Once you cut into them, there's less maple syrup to harvest," she explained. "We need an answer from the government." The Department of Natural Resources said in a recent statement it is pleased the maple syrup industry is growing, but it said the request for more land is still being evaluated against other land uses. "We are working to advance this file, which will include consultation with First Nations and further discussion with industry," spokesman Nick Brown wrote in an email. "Approximately 14,000 hectares (three million taps) are leased in New Brunswick and in 2015, we approved the expansion of 4,400 hectares for maple syrup production and the benefits are starting to be seen now," Brown said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 7, 2022. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) South Korea will no longer use GPS monitoring to enforce quarantines and will also end daily checkup calls to low-risk coronavirus patients as a fast-developing omicron surge overwhelms health and government workers. People wait for their coronavirus test at a makeshift testing site in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Feb. 7, 2022. South Korea will no longer use GPS monitoring to enforce quarantines and will also end daily checkup calls to low-risk coronavirus patients as a fast-developing omicron surge overwhelms health and government workers. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) SEOUL, South Korea (AP) South Korea will no longer use GPS monitoring to enforce quarantines and will also end daily checkup calls to low-risk coronavirus patients as a fast-developing omicron surge overwhelms health and government workers. The speed of transmissions has made it impossible to maintain a tight and proactive medical response, Jeong Eun-kyeong, the countrys top infectious disease expert, said Monday. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency reported 38,691 new cases of the virus, a nine-fold increase from the levels seen in mid-January, when omicron became the countrys dominant strain. Jeong said the country may see daily jumps of 130,000 or 170,000 by late February. South Korean prospective soldiers wearing face masks wait to receive a medical checkup at the Seoul office of the Military Manpower Administration in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Feb. 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) South Korea had been seen as a success story during the earlier part of the pandemic after it contained infections and hospitalizations more effectively than most countries in the West. Health authorities worked closely with biotech companies to ramp up laboratory tests and aggressively mobilized technological tools and public workers to trace contacts and enforce quarantines. But the countrys strengths have been rendered irrelevant by the unprecedented spike in infections fueled by the omicron variant, which has stretched health and administrative resources. Officials had already been forced to expand at-home treatments, reduce quarantine periods, and reshape testing policy around rapid antigen test kits, despite concerns over their reliability, to save laboratory tests for people in their 60s or older and those with existing medical conditions who are at higher risk for serious illness. The plans to further ease the monitoring and quarantines came as health and public workers struggle to keep up with the near 150,000 people being treated at home for mild or moderate symptoms, which have led to delays in drug prescriptions and has paralyzed contact tracing. Shelley Cook | Uplift A weekly review of funny, uplifting news in Winnipeg and around the globe that is delivered to your inbox each Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Officials say public workers who had been monitoring virus carriers through GPS-enabled smartphone apps will now be assigned to help with at-home treatments. Virus carriers will no longer be required to report to local health offices when they leave home to visit doctors, while their cohabiting family members can now freely go out to buy food, medicine and other essentials. Low-risk virus carriers, who are in their 50s or younger and have no pre-existing medical conditions, will now be left to monitor their conditions on their own and contact local hospitals if their symptoms worsen. Health workers will still make daily checkup calls to people in their 60s and older or those with pre-existing medical conditions. We are planning to transition toward an anti-virus strategy thats concentrated on maintaining essential social functions while dealing with huge numbers of infections and people placed under quarantine, Jeong, the KDCAs commissioner, said during a government briefing. While omicron is spreading much faster than previous versions of the virus, the rates of hospitalization and death have so far been lower than cases linked to delta, which drove a devastating surge in December and early January. The KDCA said 270 patients were in serious or critical conditions as of Monday, while less than 46% of the countrys intensive care units designated for COVID-19 treatment were occupied. Still, experts say the countrys rapidly growing caseload is likely to drive up hospitalizations in coming weeks. As of Monday, 86% of a population of more than 51 million people have been fully vaccinated and nearly 55% have received booster shots. LOS ANGELES (AP) Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost once made comedy skits on Saturday Night Live, but now the married couple will reunite onscreen to dodge a mind-reading Alexa device in a new Super Bowl commercial. FILE - Colin Jost, left, and Scarlett Johansson arrive at the Oscars in Los Angeles on Feb. 9, 2020. The married couple, who once made comedy skits on Saturday Night Live," are reuniting onscreen for a new Super Bowl commercial. The 60-second ad launches Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, and will be televised during Super Bowl 56 on Feb. 13. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File) LOS ANGELES (AP) Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost once made comedy skits on Saturday Night Live, but now the married couple will reunite onscreen to dodge a mind-reading Alexa device in a new Super Bowl commercial. Johansson and Jost put their normal game-day routine at home into action with the help of the Amazon device a virtual personal assistant that plays music, tells the weather, delivers news and sports. In the ad, the couple is initially in awe of Alexas functionalities, but then imagines a world where Alexa reads their thoughts on a daily basis. The 60-second ad launches Monday and will televised during Super Bowl 56 on Feb. 13. The commercial attempts to take a comical approach on the situation, which Jost believes every couple would relate to on some level. Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. They exaggerated the situation that I think are grounded in reality of couples in general, said Jost, But if what the commercial depicts would actually happen in real life, Johansson said in a recent interview that it would be absolutely terrifying and they would try to live off the grid. Jost said he would take a different approach by confusing the device with his many thoughts at once. But then Johansson jokingly responded to her husband that you already have many thoughts at once. The Black Widow actor and Saturday Night Live star who married in 2020 called their first time working together since they united on the late-night sketch series an enjoyable experience. Jost had written a sketch more than a decade ago featuring Johansson who was a guest host on the show on several occasions. Johansson called filming the commercial fun, but hopes the millions of Super Bowl viewers enjoys their ad as much as them. Of course, you want to make sure it lands, the Black Widow star said. Its a little nerve-racking, but its also exciting to get an audience with that reach. Canada's two main airlines continue to slash their schedules and demand that Ottawa roll back COVID-19 travel restrictions to staunch the cash bleed though experts see glimmers of hope on the horizon. A WestJet Airlines Boeing 737 Max aircraft taxis to a gate after arriving at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, B.C., on Thursday, January 21, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck Canada's two main airlines continue to slash their schedules and demand that Ottawa roll back COVID-19 travel restrictions to staunch the cash bleed though experts see glimmers of hope on the horizon. WestJet Airlines Ltd. has cancelled 20 per cent of its flights in March, extending schedule cuts from February amid ongoing uncertainty that continues to drain demand. Interim CEO Harry Taylor said travel advisories and testing requirements were meant to be temporary, but that after two years the industry crisis has come to a head. "It is disappointing that Canada remains stagnant in its approach and continues to make travel inaccessible and punitive for Canadians and inbound tourists," he said Monday. Echoing demands from Air Canada and Toronto's Pearson airport last month, WestJet called for randomized testing upon arrival only, rather than mandatory molecular testing before takeoff and after landing for fully vaccinated international passengers. The Calgary-based company also wants an end to quarantines for travellers awaiting results when they return from abroad. Canada remains the only G7 country to require pre-departure and on-arrival molecular testing, Taylor noted, adding Ottawa must outline a recovery path for the travel and tourism industry. Since early November, WestJet and budget subsidiary Swoop have cancelled 11,285 trips that they had planned for March, or 48 per cent. Meanwhile, compared with its plan in mid-October, Air Canada has scrapped 16,617 or 41 per cent of its scheduled March flights, according to flight data firm Cirium. More cuts may be en route across the airlines, as passengers hold off on ticket purchases until closer to the departure date to ensure pandemic measures don't mar their travel plans. If the bookings come through, the flight schedule may hold steady, but if they don't then even fewer planes will leave the tarmac than planned. Nowadays many more people are making even their leisure travel decisions at the last minute, because the world is a very fluid place right now and people are finding it difficult to plan months in advance with changing restrictions and changing rules," said David Huttner, a London-based aviation expert. "Maybe Id rather drive in my own car by myself travel habits have changed too, especially on shorter flights. Richard Vanderlubbe, president of Hamilton-base Tripcentral.ca, has cut nearly 60 per cent of his 160 employees and shuttered all 26 office locations in Ontario and Atlantic Canada since early 2020. But the travel agency founder, who offers bookings mainly to Caribbean destinations, remains upbeat. "Im seeing lots of hope," he said. "Consumer confidence is climbing, despite the travel advisory still being there ... Things are returning. We've seen a big uptick." Bookings for winter and early spring are on the rise as Family Day observed in six provinces including Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia reading week and March break approach, Vanderlubbe said. Shelley Cook | Uplift A weekly review of funny, uplifting news in Winnipeg and around the globe that is delivered to your inbox each Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "For summer its a little more wait and see right now." Even with a return of vacation bookings, business remains at 40 per cent of 2019 numbers, Vanderlubbe said. Travel agencies have also had to adjust their approach to pitches and promotions. "We used to sell the resorts and everything about it," he said. "Now people just sorting out through all of the restrictions and rules has become kind of the new marketing for travel, which is very odd." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 7, 2022. Companies in this story: (TSX:AC) WASHINGTON - An outsized American display of financial largesse, political support and right-wing media sympathy for ongoing trucker protests in Canada have observers in both countries accusing some in the U.S. of fanning the flames for their own partisan gain. A protester carries fuel containers on Wellington Street, a day after police seized thousands of litres of fuel from an encampment in an attempt to quell a protest against COVID-19 restrictions that has been marked by gridlock and the sound of truck horns in Ottawa on Monday, Feb. 7, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang WASHINGTON - An outsized American display of financial largesse, political support and right-wing media sympathy for ongoing trucker protests in Canada have observers in both countries accusing some in the U.S. of fanning the flames for their own partisan gain. For more than a week, viewers of Trump-friendly platforms like Fox News, Newsmax and One America News have been getting something exceedingly rare in the U.S. media landscape: regular doses of Canadian coverage. And prominent Republican lawmakers like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz spent the weekend seizing on last week's controversy over the crowdfunding platform GoFundMe to keep the story alive. DeSantis and Cruz both want GoFundMe investigated after it froze roughly $9 million in donations earmarked for the ongoing Ottawa protest, then announced Friday it would issue refunds upon request or distribute the money to charities chosen by the protest organizers. The company reversed course within hours "due to donor feedback," promising automatic refunds. But attorneys general in Florida, Texas, West Virginia and Louisiana Republicans all nonetheless urged donors to come forward in the name of launching investigations. For Bruce Heyman, a former U.S. ambassador to Canada under Barack Obama, it all smacks of foreign interference, and he believes Trump is at its centre. "I do not believe that Americans should fund disruptive activities in Canada. Ever. Full stop," Heyman said in an interview Monday. "What we're seeing through (the) former president, for his disciples, for people who have positioned themselves in the extreme right wing of the Republican Party if we call it that today all of them have now jumped on and (are) somehow using Canada as a cause to galvanize support amongst their followers." For his part, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino wanted nothing to do with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who vowed on Twitter to examine GoFundMe for diverting funds away from a "worthy cause." "It is certainly not the concern of the Texas attorney general about how we in Canada go about our daily lives in accordance with the rule of law," Mendicino said. "We are Canadian, we have our own set of laws, and we will follow them." Added Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair: "We're all entitled to an opinion, and in my opinion, (Paxton is) wrong." White House press secretary Jen Psaki was asked Monday whether the Biden administration is concerned about conservative movements in the U.S. trying to exert influence north of the border. Psaki had some talking points ready, but they were focused on the potential impact of the protests on security at the Canada-U.S. border and on supply chains that are already creaking under the weight of COVID-19. "In terms of an assessment of any other engagement from here, we don't really have any update on that or investigations to read out at this point in time." Brett Bruen, a former diplomat and White House adviser who now works as a consultant in Washington, said it will be difficult to parse the movement's authentic grassroots elements from any political jerry-rigging. "An element is likely organic, but then it gets exploited by other interests including by foreign interests who want to sow further division in Canadian society, but also seek to maximize the benefit for their own political purposes at home," Bruen said. "I think there has to be a close review of some of the laws and regulations that govern what can be funded, what can be done in co-ordination with foreign political interests." Heyman said the last thing he wants to do is tell the federal government in Ottawa how to deal with the situation, but he urged Canadians to band together to fight the hate that has been on display in the national capital. Swastikas, Confederate flags and even the yellow Star of David symbol the Nazis used to identify Jews during the Second World War have all been features of the protest, which has entered its second week. "The symbolism of all of this is real, and it is hateful," Heyman said. "We're seeing this going on not just in Canada and the U.S. but around the world. And this is like a virus in and of itself a virus of hate." On Saturday, a group of young white men wearing red baseball caps with the slogan "Canada First," evoking Trump's signature look and slogan, traded insults with counter-protesters at Ottawa City Hall. One of them identified the group as "Groypers," an extreme-right nationalist movement bent on pushing their views on mainstream conservative politics in the U.S. and around the world. "The Groypers will take back Canada for the Canadian people," said one, who derided the counter-protesters as "globalists" before police intervened. The space vacated by GoFundMe was quickly filled by an alternative service, GiveSendGo, which bills itself as a free "Christian crowdfunding" site. That "freedom convoy" campaign, which has a stated goal of US$16 million, had already raised more than $5 million by late afternoon Monday. Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Most of the donors were anonymous, with typical contributions between $20 and several hundred dollars. Many left comments that suggested they were contributing either from inside the U.S. or from further abroad. "Thank you Canada for showing the western world what matters," said one. "Many of us in the States are with you," read another. Neither crowdfunding site responded to media queries Monday about where the bulk of the money was coming from. But in the case of GiveSendGo, not all of the donations were foreign, nor were they modest sums. The largest, registered on the weekend, was for $215,000, followed by four $20,000 contributions. A gun range in Langley, B.C., offered up $18,000, while an auction house in Chilliwack, B.C., contributed $5,000. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 7, 2022. With files from Mike Blanchfield in Ottawa An advertisement changed Marion Pacys life. In 1993, she came across a flyer touting a support group run by Scleroderma Manitoba, the volunteer-driven charity dedicated to helping patients living with the autoimmune disease. Pacy had been diagnosed with the condition, which causes hardening of connective tissue and organs, earlier that year. Scleroderma is a rare disease that affects mostly women, so Pacy thought attending the support group might be beneficial. "Going to the support group was really good because you got to talk to people, and you got to learn about how they dealt with the disease," the 69-year-old St. Vital resident says. "That was a big help (back then), and it still is today." Approximately 22,000 Canadians, including some 300 to 400 Manitobans, live with scleroderma. It is characterized by an overproduction of collagen and damage to the blood vessels that causes scarring in various organs. This leads to a hardening of the skin and an alteration of the affected organs. In most cases, scleroderma limits the motor skills and dexterity of those affected and causes great physical and psychological suffering because it produces appearance-related changes. Pacy took over as president when Scleroderma Manitoba founder Harriet Carter left the organization in 1994. Other than an occasional year off, Pacy has volunteered on the organizations board of directors ever since. Scleroderma Manitobas mission is to support scleroderma patients by promoting patient outreach and education, raise public awareness, and encourage and support research in Manitoba and Canada. "Through the years, I have worked with a great bunch of volunteers that have worked on awareness for scleroderma," Pacy says, adding that meeting doctors and researchers is an ongoing highlight of her involvement with the organization. "Dr. David Robinson and Dr. Ada Man here in Manitoba have been great in helping us understand the ins and outs of scleroderma." Pacy has also been involved with the national and international scleroderma communities. She helped establish Scleroderma Canada, a national charity, in 1999, and served as its president for two years. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, she travelled to Scleroderma Canada conferences annually. In 2010, Pacy travelled to Florence, Italy, for the first World Scleroderma Patient Congress. "Ive been able to meet so many people over the years and learn about how they approach scleroderma," she says. "Its interesting to talk to these different people and hear their thoughts." Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Jereleen Brydon, who joined Scleroderma Manitobas board of directors in 2016, says Pacy possesses a giving spirit and has done pioneering work when it comes to raising awareness about the disease. When Brydon joined the board, she was immediately struck by how connected and respected Pacy is within Canadas scleroderma community. "Shes got so much experience with the disease, with other peoples experiences with the disease, and working with doctors and people in other provinces," Brydon says. "People really respect her and respect her opinions." Pacy, who has two grandchildren and recently started fostering rescue cats, says shes stayed involved with Scleroderma Manitoba for nearly 30 years because its never dull. "We always seem to have something new on the horizon," she says. "Theres always someone new that we can work with." If you know a special volunteer, please contact aaron.epp@gmail.com IT has been just three weeks since a hostage-taking occurred at Congregation Beth Israel, a synagogue located in Colleyville, Texas. And last weekend, the noise of a local anti-vax convoy decked out in racist and antisemitic symbols could be heard from the comfort of our home, where we were trying to enjoy a Shabbat of peace. Opinion IT has been just three weeks since a hostage-taking occurred at Congregation Beth Israel, a synagogue located in Colleyville, Texas. And last weekend, the noise of a local "anti-vax" convoy decked out in racist and antisemitic symbols could be heard from the comfort of our home, where we were trying to enjoy a Shabbat of peace. The attack in Texas, just like the one following the killing of eleven Jews at prayer in Pittsburgh a few years ago, has profoundly shaken the spiritual and physical security of our community. Im still reeling. The noise of the convoy only added to a feeling of anxiety. This is a terrible feeling to carry. We are aware attacks and hate acts against Jewish people are on the rise. Antisemitism is real, and the hostage-taking in Texas is another sad reminder of how vigilant we in the Jewish community need to be about protecting the safety of all Jews, as well as others who enter our houses of worship. The fear of being attacked in a house of worship is not just a reality for Jews. In recent years, heinous actions have taken place inside other faith settings. We have seen, with increasing alarm, incidents such as the attack and killing of six innocent people in a mosque located in Quebec in 2017, and the shootings at mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand in 2019. There are ways in which those who are not Jewish can help to eliminate antisemitism, bigotry and Islamophobia. Jews need to educate those outside of our community about the dangers of antisemitism; we also ask non-Jews for their help to eradicate this form of bigotry so it is not "just a part of our Jewish reality." There are ways in which those who are not Jewish can help to eliminate antisemitism, bigotry and Islamophobia. Jews need to educate those outside of our community about the dangers of antisemitism; we also ask non-Jews for their help to eradicate this form of bigotry so it is not "just a part of our Jewish reality." We in the Jewish community, as well as those who are Christians, people of all faith and of no faith, must rally together to rid our society of the rampant Islamophobia we are witnessing in our country. One week after the hostage-taking, members of Beth El Synagogue in Durham, N.C., welcomed, Imam Antepli, a local Muslim leader to their Shabbat morning services. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Imam Antepli is an associate professor of the practice of interfaith relations and associate professor of the practice at the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University. Imam Antepli is also a senior fellow on Jewish-Muslim relations at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. Extending "deepest condolences, love and sympathy and prayers of strength and resilience to Jewish communities," the Imam called for "morally required tough conversations" about the rhetoric and attitudes that feed antisemitism and hatred of the other. While the Imam is not alone in such comments, where he suggested people look and what they should do is noteworthy. Antepli called on people to look within themselves and within their own communities to challenge antisemitism. As he put it, "Your prayers mean nothing if you are not doing anything if you only offer consolation (after the fact). It means nothing if you are not doing and saying anything before, and if you are not doing and saying anything after." The Imam reminds us that one does not have to be guilty actually committing hatred to be responsible for it. In a masterful way, Imam Antepli is paraphrasing the sage words of Rabbi/Dr. Abraham Joshua Heschel, a leading theologian and philosopher of the 20th century and a social-justice activist. In 1972, explaining his involvement in the peace movement, Heschel mused that we all must bear responsibility for ending the suffering of all people: "Morally speaking, there is no limit to the concern one must feel for the suffering of human beings, that indifference to evil is worse than evil itself, that in a free society, some are guilty, but all are responsible." That is the call of our day. We are all responsible. Kliel Rose was born in Israel and grew up in Winnipeg. He is the rabbi and spiritual leader of Congregation Etz Chayim. At about 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, fire alarms went off at 575 Portage Avenue. A few hours later, the sky over downtown Winnipeg was filled with black smoke as firefighters battled through frigid temperatures to contain a massive blaze. At about 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, fire alarms went off at 575 Portage Avenue. A few hours later, the sky over downtown Winnipeg was filled with black smoke as firefighters battled through frigid temperatures to contain a massive blaze. The familiar little building that stood on the corner of Langside Street for 110 years was lost forever. Generations of Winnipeggers passed by that building every day, but few people knew its name the Kirkwood Block. It was a "youd know it if you saw it" kind of place. A nice little building, with a cornice and some red brick. Older people might recall spending evenings dancing at Club Morocco upstairs. Some might remember the hobby shop at the corner. Maybe it was your neighbourhood convenience store, or your office. The Kirkwood Block was not a prominent heritage structure. It was just a quaint old building, a little crooked and kind of falling apart, sitting on a block seemingly ready for an urban renewal scheme. A big new building could bring more residents and more jobs the goal of any downtown plan. Firefighters stand outside the ice-encrusted remains of Kirkwood Block, which was destroyed by a fire on Feb. 2. (Brent Bellamy) At least thats what we used to think, and thats why losing the Kirkwood Block is so poignant. The plain old buildings we rarely think twice about play a quiet but vital role in the prosperity of our cities and neighbourhoods. Jane Jacobs, a famed urban observer and author of The Death and Life of Great American Cities, argued that "cities need old buildings so badly it is probably impossible for vigorous streets and districts to grow without them a good lot of plain, ordinary, low-value old buildings." The high construction cost of new buildings requires high rents to support them, meaning their commercial space is often only accessible to larger companies and chain retail outlets. The lower rents found in old buildings create a foundation for strong local businesses, innovative startups and mom-and-pop shops. The Kirkwood Blocks doughnut shop, church, convenience store, hair salon and offices, and its long list of former tenants, are examples of the type of local, sidewalk-focused commercial spaces old buildings support. It is unlikely any of those businesses would be viable in a new building. Old buildings also offer small spaces that are flexible and adaptable to support a range of growing business types and sizes, including startup companies, arts groups and non-profit organizations that find value in the collaborative possibilities offered by being densely clustered in buildings with other creative industries. These spaces often become incubators for businesses that then evolve into larger companies that support investment in new construction and larger buildings. As Jane Jacobs said, "Old ideas can sometimes use new buildings. New ideas must use old buildings." Old buildings also create the streets that attract people to an urban lifestyle, walking to the little grocery, coffee shop, or hole-in-the-wall restaurant around the corner. The Kirkwood and its neighbours might look like a series of small, rundown buildings, but they support dozens of family-owned businesses and community organizations. They provide opportunity for new immigrants and local entrepreneurs, and are intrinsic to the social fabric of the neighbourhood. The texture and variation of their small storefronts along the sidewalk create a strong sense of place and make a much more interesting street to walk down than most new buildings can. In 2016, the American National Trust released the Atlas of ReUrbanism, a study of 50 cities across the United States that seems to validate Jacobs observations by quantifying the role older buildings play in supporting neighbourhood vitality, diversity and density. Crews demolish the 110-year-old Thomas Scott Memorial Orange Hall at 216 Princess St. in Winnipeg on Feb. 20, 2020. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files) The study found neighbourhood blocks with smaller, older buildings have 46 per cent more jobs in small businesses, and 33 per cent more jobs in new businesses, compared to areas characterized by large new buildings. These blocks support 60 per cent more women and minority-owned businesses, have more businesses per commercial square foot, and have a significantly greater concentration of jobs in creative industries. Blocks of older, smaller, mixed-age buildings are also home to a higher density and more diverse residential population. The study found that on these blocks, the median age of residents is typically lower, there are nearly 75 per cent more people of colour, and theres a greater proportion of immigrants and same-sex households compared to neighbourhoods predominantly made up of new buildings. In many cities, there are twice the number of affordable housing units on older blocks, and while some cities have areas where lots of people live in tall buildings, the densest neighborhoods in almost every city studied are characterized by blocks of older, low-rise buildings. We often think of old buildings as a symbol of failure and say good riddance when they come down, while shiny new buildings grab the headlines and are celebrated as a badge of prosperity. The reality is that great cities need both types of buildings, new and old. The density, economic opportunity, social diversity and inclusion that old buildings support is the fertile soil that allows great neighbourhoods to grow and flourish. The Kirkwood Block was just a little old building that might make way for a new one, but the hole it leaves in the fabric of its neighbourhood will likely never be filled. Brent Bellamy is senior design architect for Number Ten Architectural Group. Want more great journalism? Get our best news and features delivered in your inbox every weekday evening. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. YOU have likely heard of shrinkflation, in which companies reduce the quantity of an item they sell you without changing the price. This packaging strategy has been going on for years and creates the illusion youre buying the same amount of product. Opinion YOU have likely heard of shrinkflation, in which companies reduce the quantity of an item they sell you without changing the price. This packaging strategy has been going on for years and creates the illusion youre buying the same amount of product. And when supply chains arent working optimally, food products reach store shelves either less fresh than usual or a little too ripe, robbing consumers of some needed shelf life at home. This is called shelflation. According to a recent poll by Dalhousie University and the app Caddle, 41 per cent of Canadians have thrown away milk in the past 12 months because it went sour before its due date. And 38.5 per cent of respondents have done so at least twice; for 22.8 per cent of those surveyed, it has happened three to five times. Throwing away spoiled products before due dates has always happened occasionally, but such a high number of occurrences is quite unusual. Anecdotally, many Canadians have lately noticed some of their produce isnt as fresh as it used to be, so it rots much sooner. Theres no specific data on this, and I suspect many Canadians havent noticed anything different. But shelflation is quite common, and pandemics arent the only way a products shelf life can be compromised. Delays related to weather, natural disasters (like we witnessed in British Columbia last year), labour disputes, massive recalls or equipment failures can disrupt a supply chains efficiency. Cold supply chains set at 2C to 8C keep perishables fresh from farm to store. But they can be breached for one reason or another. Mechanical breakdowns, hindrances outside the warehouse or unusually warm temperatures, for example, can shorten the life of or even spoil products before a shipment reaches the store. Perishables need to be refrigerated and kept in high humidity, and those conditions arent routinely met along the supply chain. Food distribution is complex. The pandemic has clearly disrupted global food supply chains in more ways than one, so we shouldnt be surprised to see more shelflation. Asking food companies to operate with less staff will eventually bring delays and, of course, more waste. And waste at home will certainly contribute to higher food costs for everyone. The average Canadian family of four will spend about $14,000 on food annually, and at least 50 per cent of that budget is dedicated to perishables. Wasting a good portion of that can be costly. The shelf life of a product is the time between production and the use-by date. The shelf life for highly perishable foods is set rather conservatively to ensure food safety. Expiry dates, or best-before dates, are critical to the fabric of our food safety system, and modern technologies have done wonders to prolong the shelf life of many of our products. In the store, assessing the state of any food with expiry dates is close to impossible due to air-tight packaging. So we zone in on the dates on the packaging. At the grocery store, we essentially buy time along with our food. We will constantly go for products whose best-before or use-by dates are as late as possible. For produce, we go for items that are appropriately ripe based on when we think it will be consumed. But consumers can only go by the information provided at the point of purchase, without knowing the products history before it reached the store. Food waste is a significant challenge in our economy. In Canada, about 2.2 million tonnes of edible food is wasted each year. The most common causes of perishable food waste are retailer overstocking, unpredictable consumer demand, inappropriate quality control and product handling. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. These factors are compounded by issues up the food chain, and retailers dont stand much of a chance. So putting the blame solely on the retailer can be misplaced. Freshness and quality of perishables will obviously vary, depending on where you live and where you shop. Some regions are better served than others. But unlike shrinkflation, shelflation can be dodged. Going to the grocery store once a week or once every two weeks may not be ideal, especially with current food supply-chain woes. Visiting the store two or three times a week and buying enough for the next two to three days may help you waste less. We just need to approach our grocery shopping a little differently. Sylvain Charlebois is senior director of the agri-food analytics lab and a professor in food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University. Troy Media In supporting the 2022 Employee Giving Campaign, Minnesota State College Southeast employees faculty, staff, and administration demonstrated remarkable generosity by giving back to the college and its students. This year, 72% of MSC Southeast employees participated in the Employee Giving Campaign, which supports the Minnesota State College Southeast Foundation. Of the 75 employees who participated, 49 employees gave more than $250. Giving exceeded the campaigns original $25,000 goal by 21% raising a total of $30,365. A 50% participation rate is considered a very ambitious goal at most colleges, said Associate Foundation Director Casie Johnson. We are grateful and overwhelmed by the support of our colleagues. In fact, a 2011 case study of fundraising at 664 colleges and universities revealed that only 23% of all staff across public higher education donated to their institutions. About two-thirds of the Employee Giving Campaign donations were designated to go directly to students in the form of scholarships and scholarship endowment funds. One third, $10,242, was designated for the Foundation to use in the area of greatest need. Vice President of Strategic Initiatives Josiah Litant serves as executive director of MSC Southeast Foundation. Im so proud to be one of the many, many members of our staff and faculty who give in support of the college, because supporting the college means supporting our students, he said. Explaining why she donates to MSC Southeast Foundation, chemistry instructor Leah Schnaith said, By giving to scholarships, were telling students that we believe in them, we think theyve been successful, and we know they will continue to be. We want to support them in their endeavors. Janine Mason, Associate Dean of Nursing, said, I have personally seen the difference that the Foundation makes for our students through emergency funding, through the Foundation scholarships, and other resources as needed. Our students are truly supported here while they are on their educational journey. Student Ethan Johnson explained that he had been struggling with paying for college. One big help has been the scholarships from the Foundation. I also work hours as a work-study, but a good majority of the money that I pay for college comes from scholarships. Without them, I dont think I wouldve been able to go through the entirety of college. When we say #MSCSoutheastCares, we really mean it, said Litant. We have an open access mission thats such an important part of what we do. To be open to everyone, to invite and want and welcome all students here, means that we have a commitment to help support them in any way we can. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Wisconsin FFA Alumni & Supporters Association 42nd convention and annual meeting was held Feb. 4-5 at the Central Wisconsin Expo Center, in Rothschild. The theme was Honoring our Heritage, Cultivating our Future, as the association celebrated the 50th anniversary of its charter. Bentley-Hull V.F.W. Post 6709 in Waupun held its Voice of Democracy Audio Essay Contest Oct. 31, which gave high school students the opportunity to express their opinion on a patriotic theme. This years theme was America: Where Do We Go From Here. Logan Wobschall, a 12th-grader at Central Wisconsin Christian School, won the post competition and went on to place first at the District level where he received $200 and a plaque on Jan. 31 and now qualifies for the State competition. A man living near Merrimac Memorial Community Park is facing multiple drug-related felony charges following a search warrant at his home. Christopher L. Martinez, 27, Merrimac, is charged with possession with intent to deliver THC (>2,500-10,000g), a class F felony, possession of narcotic drugs, possession of methamphetamine and maintaining a drug trafficking place, class I felony charges, and four counts of felony bail jumping. All charges have a repeater modifier attached to the charge which means if convicted he could face additional penalties in the form of fines or time in jail. The three possession charges also have a modifier of possession of a controlled substance on or near a park due to Martinezs apartment being less than 1,000 feet from a school or park. At an initial appearance On Jan. 24, Judge Patricia Barrett set a signature bond of $5,000 with special bond conditions including maintaining absolute sobriety, no possession of alcohol and may no reside within 1,000 feet of a park or a school. According to the criminal complaint, a search warrant was executed at Martinezs residence on Grove Street in Merrimac on Jan. 18 after receiving an anonymous tip that Martinez was allegedly using methamphetamines and had two handguns. The tipster reported Martinez mentioned shooting it out with law enforcement as means of suicide. The tip was made on Dec. 10 and on Jan. 17 the Sauk County Drug Task Force conducted pre-surveillance on Martinezs apartment. The task force reported two vehicles on two separate occasions arrived at the apartment. The complaint states these contacts with consistent with short term drug traffic. The apartment is 859 feet from Memorial Park, 145 Front Street. During the search warrant police located a pressed brick of THC and a total of 2,898 grams of THC plant material, a digital scale with fentanyl residue on with various large vacuum seal bags and sandwich style plastic bags and firearm accessories including ammunition. A Sauk County Sheriff Detective said the evidence recovered at Martinezs home shows there may have been a large quantity of drugs being received at the address. The detective stated some of the evidence is consistent with re-packaging narcotics for sale. The detective alleges the size of the vacuum seal bag with methamphetamine residue suggests a larger amount than just for personal use. The brick of THC found during the search warrant is consistent with an illegal, large scale THC operation. Martinez was not at the apartment and authorities believed he was in a hotel in the Wisconsin Dells area. A Wisconsin State Trooper located Martinez outside of Motel 6. The Trooper spoke with hotel management who said Martinez was staying at the hotel and that there was a strong odor of marijuana coming from the room. The State Trooper spoke with Martinez, he alleged Martinez was extremely high and had constricted pupils. The complaint says Martinez was incoherent and unable to communicate well. The trooper said, based on their training and experience it appeared Martinez was under the influence of a narcotic and allegedly kept nodding off. Martinez was taken into custody and a number of field sobriety test were performed. The results were positive for marijuana, methamphetamine and fentanyl. Martinez is scheduled to be back in court for a return date on April 13 in front of Judge Wendy Klicko in the Sauk County Courthouse. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Please log in to keep reading. Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. BURNETT An annual winter tradition returns to Springbrook Farm on Saturday, Feb. 12, with a full day of horse and winter-related activities. Winter Day at Springbrook will be held at N8400 Highway I. The 132-acre estate is hilly and wooded and has been operated as a bed and breakfast hosting weddings, romantic retreats and family get-aways. Since the winter of 2010 the Wisconsin State Horse Council Equine Foundation has held a winter fun day. The event evolved from a sleigh rally that began in Columbus. For two years, excluding 2021 because of COVID, the event has been held at Springbrook. This is the third year the event is planned at the rural Burnett location. The function runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free, but there will be charges for some activities and food. Were really happy to return to Springbrook, said Sharon Hookstead of the WSHC. Its such a beautiful area and a fabulous facility. The barn is temperature controlled and starting at 8 a.m. 40 to 50 exhibitors will take part in the model horse show and competition. Participants will come from five different states including Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa and Michigan. According to foundation secretary Diane Sackett, its one of the biggest shows in the Midwest and features many unique models. Displays are judged in several categories and awards are given out to the top models. Downstairs vendor booths will be set up with a variety of items for shoppers. The Sleigh Bell Cafe will serve hot food and beverages. Raffles will be held and door prizes will be awarded. Local musician Adam Strohshein will perform. Scheduled outdoor events include dog sled demonstrations from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Alaskan Malamute Club of Wisconsin will conduct educational talks and demonstrations throughout the day. Children will be allowed to pet the animals. Guests may also meet Derek, a former race horse who is the topic of a childrens book by rural Burnett resident Amber Sawyer. Copies of the book will be available for purchase. Doug Rank will perform rope tricks and guests will have a chance to try their skills. A horse and sleigh cutout will provide opportunities for photographs. Public bobsled rides will be offered by the Midwest Draft Horse Enthusiasts (for a fee) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Scheduled to begin at 11 a.m., an open sleigh-driving event will be held. A token (poker) run will be held with competitors gathering cards at designated stops. Advance registration is not required but those interested can contact Dave Kluge of the WSHC for more information at (920) 210-0879. A prize will be awarded for the Long Haul, or participants who have travelled the greatest distance to be there. The first eight drivers and sleighs to arrive will receive a Kwik Trip gift card. People really get a kick out of watching horses and sleighs in action, Hookstead said. A lot of the sleighs and horses have bells on them and the drivers and riders often are decked out in vintage wear. This year sleighs may also be decorated for Valentines Day, which will also be fun to see. Sackett added, The number of participants typically varies from year to year. If there isnt enough snow for the sleighs, the horses can pull carriages, carts or other wheeled vehicles. Well be prepared for whatever the weather brings, whether it includes snow or it doesnt. A sleigh parade will be held at 12:30 p.m. Spectators may vote for their favorite entries and prizes will be awarded. A bonfire will be lit so guests can warm themselves and makes smores (for a donation if desired). We promise the day to be community and kid-friendly, Sackett said. An event like this helps to build interest in equine activities and gets people involved. Hookstead added, It will be a great day to come and make great memories. I just hope we get some snow, which will make it even better. Proceeds are used to support and promote the horse industry around the state. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The inside story of discovering the Omicron variant The Conversation Weekly podcast: What South African scientists' experience offers the world about future variants. What is it like to discover a new coronavirus variant? In this episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, we hear the inside story from one of the South African scientists who first alerted the world to the omicron variant. And a South African vaccine expert explains what lessons the countrys experience can offer the rest of the world about future variants. Were joined by Ozayr Patel, digital editor for The Conversation based in Johannesburg for this story. Plus, new research finds a persons emotional reaction to music has a lot to do with their cultural background we speak to the musicologist behind it. It was nine o'clock on a Friday evening in late November 2021 when Jinal Bhiman and her colleagues at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases first saw the sequencing data for the omicron variant. We hadnt seen those many mutations before, says Bhiman, a principal medical scientist at the institute. The sequencing data came from a small group of eight samples from South Africas Gauteng province where an unusual cluster of cases had been spotted. Over the following week, scientists across South Africas network for genomics surveillance swung into action to sequence more samples, before Bhiman and her colleagues alerted the South African government to their discovery. Things exploded from that week on, says Bhiman. The World Health Organization quickly classified the discovery as a variant of concern and called it omicron. As countries around the world began closing their borders to travellers from southern Africa, Bhiman and some of her colleagues received death threats. That was really scary, she remembers. Scientists were targeted because of the travel bans. They felt that scientists shouldnt be raising the alarm that this is not benefiting us in any way, she says. Bhiman believes that the travel bans were irrational, because of the speed at which the variant moved around the world. Shabir Madhi, Professor of vaccinology at the University of Witwatersrand, is a vaccine expert whos worked on a couple of South Africas COVID-19 vaccine trials. He recalls that when he first saw the sequencing data on omicron, he was fairly optimistic that the immunity built up by vaccines and past waves of infections would protect against severe disease. And he was right. Weve seen a dramatic decoupling of infections, hospitalisations and death, says Madhi. But Madhi criticises the scepticism scientists in the northern hemisphere had about the early omicron data coming out of South Africa. Its a manifestation of cultural imperialism, where we will not believe anyone else unless we show the same first, he says. He believes South Africas experience can offer lessons to scientists in other countries who may discover another coronavirus variant, particularly when it comes to travel bans. I think the global community needs to make a stance that when countries start reporting data, theyre not going to be penalised for it, he says. Madhi also thinks countries need to be careful about using computer modelling about the potential effects of the mutations and extrapolating that this is what will happen from a clinical perspective. In our second story, we explore whether a persons emotional response to music and harmony is innate or shaped by culture. George Athanasopoulos, COFUND/Marie Curie junior research fellow at Durham University in the UK, travelled to a remote region of northwestern Pakistan to spend time with the Kalash and Kho people who live there. His research is revealing that music considered happy to western listeners, for example in a major key, isnt necessarily perceived that way by others. After hours and hours of experimenting with the two tribes in northwest Pakistan, he explains. We found that actually for them, its the minor chord which conveys happiness. (Listen from 34m15s.) And Laura Hood, politics editor for The Conversation based in London, recommends some expert analysis on the political pressures facing the British prime minister, Boris Johnson, over parties held during the lockdowns. (Listen from 47m10s) People wave flags on top of a truck in front of Parliament Hill on Sunday as truckers and their supporters continue to protest against the Covid-19 vaccine mandates in Ottawa. BEIJING, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent a message of congratulations to Sergio Mattarella on his re-election as Italian president. Noting that China-Italy relations enjoy deep historical roots, sound public support and a solid bond of interests, Xi said Friday that the two countries have set an example for the international community of mutual respect, seeking common ground while shelving differences, and win-win cooperation. The two countries have actively cooperated to fight COVID-19, jointly celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Italy diplomatic ties, and supported each other in hosting the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and 2026 Milan Winter Olympics, said Xi, adding that the China-Italy Year of Culture and Tourism is about to restart, which will bring many new opportunities for the development of bilateral relations. Xi said he attaches great importance to the development of China-Italy ties and stands ready to work with Mattarella to deepen mutual political trust, expand exchanges and cooperation in various fields and jointly push for new achievements in China-Italy relations to benefit the two countries and their people. (Source: Xinhua) BEIJING, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Argentine President Alberto Fernandez Sunday in Beijing, saying that China is willing to advance exchanges and cooperation in various fields and usher in another brilliant 50 years under the comprehensive strategic partnership with Argentina. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Argentina, Xi said, hailing mutual understanding and support over the past half century. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the two sides have stood together and helped each other, setting a good example of solidarity and cooperation among emerging market economies, Xi said. China is willing to share development opportunities with Argentina and help Argentina increase exports and promote industrial upgrade, he said. Calling for implementing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, Xi said the two sides should deepen cooperation in the fields including trade, agriculture, energy and mining, infrastructure, investment and financing as well as pandemic response. He also proposed to cultivate new growth points of cooperation in digital economy and green development. Noting this year marks the "Year of China-Argentina Friendship and Cooperation," Xi said the two sides will actively facilitate culture, sport, media, youth and local exchanges. China is ready to work closely with Argentina within the frameworks of the United Nations and the G20 to practice true multilateralism, improve global governance, and jointly advance the Global Development Initiative, Xi said. Hailing the great achievements in bilateral cooperation over the past 50 years, Fernandez said that Argentina is always firmly committed to the one-China policy as well as deepening the friendship between the two sides. He expressed gratitude to China for providing a large amount of medical supplies and vaccines at the critical moment of Argentina's fight against COVID-19, and expressed the hope of continuing to strengthen cooperation with China on vaccine and pharmaceutical production. Argentina will continue to actively participate in Belt and Road cooperation and welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest in the country, said Fernandez, who attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics. The two sides have issued a joint statement on deepening the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership and signed a series of documents for cooperation, including a memorandum of understanding on jointly promoting the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. Chinese, Argentine presidents announce launch of Year of Friendly Cooperation: joint statement China, Argentina sign MoU on Belt and Road Initiative: joint statement (Source: Xinhua) Morning Anchor Evan Leake anchors for 13 News Today and 13 News at Noon. He came to WREX in 2017 and worked his way to the anchor desk in May of 2019.Evan coordinates our "Inspiring 815" series. You can connect with Evan at eleake@wrex.com. Update: Road reopens after incident on A483 between Halton and Ruabon This article is old - Published: Monday, Feb 7th, 2022 Update: Traffic Wales have confirmed the road has now reopened Original: Emergency services are in attendance at an incident between Halton and Ruabon. Traffic Wales is urging motorists to use an alternative route if possible due to heavy congestion in the area. Recovery is underway which will reportedly cause on and off road closures for the next hour. #A483 Incident alert We are dealing with an incident between Halton and Ruabon. We currently have recovery underway and this will cause on and off road closures for the next hour. Please find an alternative route if possible, heavy congestion in the area#TrafficWalesAlert pic.twitter.com/6Xs0jAEesn Traffic Wales North & Mid #KeepWalesSafe (@TrafficWalesN) February 7, 2022 More information when we have it. Picture: Traffic Wales Public urged to share their concerns of crime in their local area as part of North Wales Talking This article is old - Published: Monday, Feb 7th, 2022 A major initiative aimed at understanding local concerns about crime and disorder in communities across the region has been launched. North Wales Police has launched North Wales Talking a key priority of the forces Neighbourhood Policing Teams. Members of the public are being encouraged to take part in a survey and share what it is like to live in your area and what issues matter most to you and your community. It is also an opportunity for you to raise any concerns you may have. Feedback received via North Wales Talking will then be used Neighbourhood Policing Teams, together with partner agencies, to act on the information received and tackle the issues raised that matter most to our communities. Superintendent Helen Corcoran said: Our Neighbourhood Policing Teams want to be sure that were tackling the things that matter most to those we serve you. North Wales Talking will provide residents the opportunity to tell us what issues matter most to them in their local community. It could be anti-social behaviour that is worrying you, or perhaps you have information to pass on about drug dealing in your local area. Our communities play a crucial part in helping us prevent and detect crime and anti-social behaviour. Working together, we can make North Wales the safest place in the UK to live, work and visit We want your feedback which we will use to help identify the top three issues in your area that our Neighbourhood Policing Teams will work on over the next few months. I would also urge you to sign up to North Wales Community Alert when completing the survey. You will then receive updates from your Neighbourhood Policing Team about the action taken to tackle the communitys local issues. To take part and be part of the conversation, visit: www.northwalestalking.co.uk Or www.gogleddcymrunsiarad.co.uk for the Welsh survey. You can also choose to register for the North Wales Community Alert our free community messaging system where you will then receive updates from your Neighbourhood Policing Team on the action taken to tackle the top three local community issues. World first study of new vaccine to fight deadly elephant virus begins at Chester Zoo This article is old - Published: Monday, Feb 7th, 2022 A worlds first vaccine trial for a killer elephant virus has begun at Chester Zoo. A pilot study aims to educate the immune system of the Asian elephant to fight a deadly virus that is threatening the survival of the endangered species globally. Early tests showed the jab developed as a result of a long term collaboration led by scientists at the University of Surrey and Chester Zoo stimulates an immune response after vaccination. Elephant care experts at Chester are now leading the first vaccine pilot study, supported by a host of other major conservation zoos in the UK and Ireland, including Dublin Zoo, Whipsnade Zoo, Blackpool Zoo and Woburn Safari Park. It is the first vaccine of its kind ever to enter a pilot study with elephants, anywhere in the world. A vaccine that can protect Asian elephants, listed as endangered on the International Union for the Conservation of Natures (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, is widely viewed by conservationists as the best hope for tackling the virus, known as elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV). EEHV is a major threat to the long-term survival of the Asian elephant, of which just 40,000 now remain. Reports of wild elephant fatalities at the hands of the disease are on the rise in India, Nepal, Myanmar and Thailand, while cases have been recorded in five further countries across its native range, as well as in zoo conservation breeding programmes worldwide. Without the expertise and opportunities for close contact offered by zoos caring for the species, experts say it would be almost impossible to develop a vaccine, which, if successful, could help to prevent the extinction of the species. Vets and elephant care teams at Chester Zoo home to the first elephant to participate in the pilot study, a healthy 20-year old bull have reported no adverse effects or changes in behaviour. Mike Jordan, Director of Animals and Plants at Chester Zoo, said: Finding a safe and effective vaccine that works for Asian elephants globally is the best way to tackle this devastating disease. This vaccine pilot study is a major milestone for conservation and, while not wanting to get too carried away at this early stage, there does appear to be some light at the end of the tunnel. The only long-term solution to beating EEHV is to find a vaccine. Without zoos caring for the species it would be almost impossible to achieve that but, thankfully, were now making remarkable progress. The global conservation community is today a step closer to finding a viable vaccine to save Asian elephants from this deadly disease. Falko Steinbach, Professor of Veterinary Immunology at the University of Surrey, said: This is an important moment in our research. Now that we have entered a pilot study stage there is real optimism we can find a safe vaccine that works. We are, however, not getting ahead of ourselves. While this is a significant step in right direction, and the initial signs are positive, these are still early days. Dr Tanja Maehr, Lead Researcher at the University of Surrey and Chester Zoo Conservation Fellow, added: The initial results from the pilot study are encouraging, not least that the vaccine appears to stimulate an immune response. This is a small step for vaccines and a large step for the worlds elephants. However, its not yet enough to prove the vaccine will prevent young elephants from dying of EEHV. Itll be several months until the first stage of our work to select the best candidate vaccine and determine optimal dosages and frequencies is complete. Then, if successful, trials in zoos and in the field will need to take place to fully ascertain its efficacy. Elephant conservation experts at Chester Zoo, backed by more than 250,000 in public donations to the charity zoo, have long been at the forefront of the fight to find a solution to the global EEHV crisis and efforts to develop an effective vaccine that can be rolled out worldwide. New Jersey and Delaware are still areas of high transmission, per the CDC, and the White House continues to recommend masks in its schools, though White House press secretary Jen Psaki reiterated that implementation was up to school districts. As COVID-19 infections soar across Australia, record numbers of outbreaks and deaths are being recorded in residential aged care facilities. This is a result of the murderous let it rip policy being pursued by state, territory and federal governments, Labor and Liberal-National alike, sacrificing lives to ensure the uninterrupted flow of corporate profits. Almost one-third of COVID-19 deaths recorded in Australia since the start of this year have occurred in residential aged care, with 533 deaths of aged care residents reported from January 1 to February 4. The death toll in the sector is higher than the 282 deaths recorded in the entirety of 2021, and fast approaching the 685 deaths recorded throughout 2020. There are at least 1,176 active outbreaks of COVID-19 in residential aged care facilities across the country, with 5,439 active infections among aged care residents and 6,541 among staff. The majority of active outbreaks are in NSW (525 facilities), followed by Victoria (275), Queensland (202) and South Australia (137). A man has a sample collected at a drive-through COVID-19 testing clinic at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Mark Baker) The pandemic has intensified a decades-long crisis in aged care. Deepening privatisation and the gutting of public healthcare carried out by successive governments, Labor and Liberal-National, has meant that the needs of the elderly are subordinated to the profit requirements of the corporate and financial elite. Numerous reports and inquiries over decades have revealed abysmal conditions in aged care, with chronic understaffing, a lack of trained staff, and inadequate resources producing the neglect and abuse of residents, who suffer widespread malnutrition, dehydration, untreated sores and infections and social isolation. Nothing has been done to boost the aged care system during the pandemic. In its May 2021 annual budget, the Liberal-National Coalition government announced it would spend a measly $17.7 billion over the next five years on aged care. This is a mere fraction of the $20 billion per year the 2018 Royal Commission into Aged Care calculated as the minimum the sector would require to address the crisis. With large numbers of workers furloughed due to COVID-19 infection or exposure, aged care staff face increasingly brutal workloads. There is constant pressure to work overtime, and staff have reported working as many as 15 days in a row. Some aged care workers who are close contacts of positive COVID-19 cases have been ordered back to work while potentially infectious. Staff in the sector continue to be forced to work across multiple sites. A prohibition on this practice was lifted in November 2020 and has not been reinstated, although this was one of the main ways the coronavirus entered aged care facilities in previous outbreaks. The rapid spread of COVID-19 through aged care facilities has also been fuelled by a lack of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including the necessary N95 or P2 masks, shortages of Rapid Antigen Tests, and inadequate infection control measures. As part of the campaign to normalise mass death, especially among those most vulnerable to COVID-19, health minister Greg Hunt stated that, in aged care: Approximately 60 percent of those that have passed were in palliative care. This amounts to a deliberate culling of the elderly and vulnerable, whom the financial and ruling elite deems unproductive. Moreover, aged care minister Richard Colbeck told a Senate hearing Wednesday that 34 percent, or some 80,000, residents who had received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine had not yet received the necessary booster, with double vaccination providing virtually no effective protection from Omicron. Reportedly, just 40 percent of aged care workers have received a third dose. As with the initial vaccine rollout debacle, Colbeck attempted to shift the blame onto elderly residents and their families for not receiving a booster, declaring that they were, making their own choice. Families of aged care residents have refuted these claims and reported difficulty in accessing boosters, even though some residents received their second dose of a vaccine more than six months ago. The federal governments booster program for aged care facilities only commenced in November last year. Over Christmas, while Omicron spread rapidly and aged care COVID-19 infections mounted, the vaccine program ground to a halt. The private contractors engaged by the government to deliver boosters administered just 2,280 doses across the country between December 23 and January 9. By January 11, just 1,700 out of the 2,700 federally funded aged care services across Australia had been visited by medical firms providing boosters. Federal Labor Party leader Anthony Albanese has called on Aged Care Services Minister Richard Colbeck to resign, in an effort to deflect from the fact that let it rip is a bipartisan policy. Labor state and territory leaders constitute a majority of the National Cabinet and have become some of the most aggressive proponents of living with the virus. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is leading the charge, and has in recent weeks collaborated closely on the reopening of schools with Liberal-National New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet. Previously identified with limited lockdowns and public health measures, Andrews is now providing political cover for Perrottet and Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Morrison declared in a National Press Club address on February 1: Our health response has ensured that our health and aged care system has stood up to the global pandemic. This is an utter lie. As Morrison spoke, there were active outbreaks in around 44 percent of Australias aged care facilities, where more than one third of COVID-19 deaths have occurred during the pandemic. Overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients and staff shortages, hospitals in New South Wales and Victoria have only been able to function in recent weeks through the postponement of elective surgery, including urgent cancer and heart procedures, and the dangerous slashing of isolation rules for potentially infectious workers. Morrison promised aged care workers two $400 retention payments, while rejecting calls for wage rises. The award wage for a full-time, entry-level aged care employee in Australia is just $21.62. In an indication of the growing opposition among workers to the policies of death and exploitation, one aged care worker wrote on Facebook: We don't want a bonus that we get taxed on, give us a bloody good pay rise... I used to love my job, but recently it's been so hard to stay focused when youre pushed to your limits by working short staffed most shifts, wearing full PPE and just worn out! Another wrote: We have been let down by the politicians, CEOs of Aged Care and all departments within. They treat us as slave labour and care little for our wellbeing. This has been going on now for decades and needs to change. A third worker wrote: We need to also look at our union had the union at our facility this week and she said we are fighting hard to get pandemic leave! They have had 2 years to get pandemic leave! also did nothing with the last bonus for all aged care worker to receive it and I guess it will be the same this time. The attacks on public health and aged care services could not have been carried out without the full support of the trade unions, which have enforced stagnant wages through sell-out enterprise and industrial agreements. During the pandemic, the unions have not called for lockdown measures, the closure of non-essential production, or any other public health measures necessary to stop the spread of the pandemic and save lives. Instead they have marched in lock-step with governments in ensuring there could be no impediment to the profit-making operations of business. The death of 1,500 aged care residents since February 2020 is a stark example of the Australian political establishments indifference to the health and lives of the working class. None of the capitalist parties, or the corporatised trade unions, have any intention of ending the pandemic, or of resolving the longstanding issues plaguing the health and aged care sector. To stop the spread of the pandemic and save lives, workers must take matters into their own hands and establish rank-and-file safety committees, completely independent of the unions. These committees must fight to build a broad political movement of the working class to take forward the struggle to eliminate COVID-19, and to fight for a workers government and socialism, under which public health and aged care will be operated to serve human need, not the profit interests of the wealthy elite. With federal parliament holding its first sitting since the summer recess tomorrow, the Liberal-National Coalition government is in its deepest crisis since Prime Minister Scott Morrison was installed as leader in an August 2018 party-room coup. There is intense speculation that Morrison may be deposed before the federal election, which is supposed to be held by May. The position of deputy PM and Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce is also in peril. Intrigues and backstabbing are rife. Parliamentary discussion on any government policy threatens to erupt into open civil war. Australian Minister of Defense Peter Dutton, Sept. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) In the final parliamentary sittings of 2021, in late November and early December, the government was wracked by divisions and paralysed by revolts of backbench MPs who threatened to withhold their votes, some because of their opposition to limited vaccinate mandates. Two months on and its situation is far worse. Together with the state Labor Party and Liberal-National government leaders, Morrison spearheaded the lifting of all COVID safety restrictions in December, and allowed the Omicron variant to enter the country. This has resulted in more than two million infections and unprecedented deaths over the past six weeks. That was after limited public health measures had repeatedly suppressed mass transmission in the first two years of the pandemic. The COVID catastrophe has intensified deep hostility among working people toward Morrison, the Coalition and the entire parliamentary set-up, including the opposition Labor Party, which has offered his government constructive support throughout the pandemic. Popular fury over the pro-business let it rip policies is intersecting with longstanding anger over social inequality and a decades-long onslaught on jobs, wages and working conditions. These sentiments are fuelling the political crisis, which has seen Morrison and the government register their lowest polling results in years. Last Tuesday, Morrison delivered a reset speech to the National Press Club, which included highly conditional admissions that the government had not got it right on every question during the pandemic, accompanied by lies that it was caught unawares by Omicron. Morrison said the government would focus on a militarist and national security agenda and economic recovery. These are codewords for the drive to war against China, further attacks on the democratic rights of the population and increasing corporate profits. The attempt to defuse popular hostility failed entirely. The bid to convince the ruling elite that Morrisons government remains a viable instrument for enforcing its agenda of full reopening and stepped-up pro-business restructuring seems to have gone the same way. In the question period, Peter van Onselen, a journalist for the Australian and Network Ten, cited text messages between former New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian and an unnamed federal cabinet minister. The latter allegedly described Morrison as a psycho and a fraud. After days of speculation over the identity of Berejiklians interlocutor, former Labor Foreign Affairs Minister Bob Carr claimed on Twitter last night that it was Defence Minister Peter Dutton. Dutton has denied the charge, while Carr has doubled down, declaring the information is from a strong source. Carr, who remains a prominent figure in Labor Party circles, undoubtedly has his own motives for making the claim. He has, however, been a political insider for almost 50 years, with extensive connections inside the state apparatus and both major parties. The allegation that it was Dutton, if true, is explosive. As well as defence minster, Dutton is government leader in the House of Representatives and was previously in charge of the powerful Home Affairs ministry. After Morrison, he is among the most prominent members of the government. If he did author the texts, and gave van Onselen the go ahead to release them at the Press Club appearance, it was a decision to undermine Morrisons leadership and blow-up his reset. In his text accusing Dutton, Carr wrote: If PM Morrison has one more week in free fall the prospect of a leadership change pre-election is real. Party rules dont count if most MPs think you will lead them to defeat. Other details point to a destabilisation campaign targeting Morrison. The texts are reportedly two-years-old, relating to the 20192020 bushfire crisis. Portions of Berejiklians side of the exchange were published mid-last year. Van Onselen has said he received the messages directly from the very senior Liberal minister, who previously told him not to release the other side of the exchange. Now, amid Morrisons deep-going crisis, it appears that advice has changed. For the past year, Dutton has been heavily promoted by the Australian, the national Murdoch flagship and one of van Onselens employers. This has been in line with the ratcheting-up of Australias involvement in US preparations for war against China. Dutton, who initiated the 2018 leadership challenge against Malcolm Turnbull, which Morrison ultimately won, harbours his own leadership ambitions. Notably, the Australian, a long-time supporter of Morrison, has begun expressing doubts about his political viability and his governments ability to impose the ruling class agenda of stepped-up economic restructuring. Deputy Prime Minister Joyce was last week caught up in his own texting scandal, with messages he wrote last year describing Morrison as a hypocrite and a liar now published in the press. He apologised and offered to resign, but Morrison adopted a pose of forgiveness. The Nationals federal party-room is holding a pre-parliament meeting this afternoon. In further leaks, the Sydney Morning Herald reported yesterday that this would feature candid conversations about the need for Joyce to lift his game. Speaking this morning, Joyces predecessor Michael McCormack said he would not press for a leadership spill before the election, but would see what happens. Various fissures threaten to dominate parliament. Several moderate Liberal MPs are publicly declaring that they may vote against the governments long-stalled religious freedom bill on the grounds that it could facilitate discrimination. Several hard-right MPs have hinted that they may refuse to vote with the government, as they threatened last year, because of their opposition to limited vaccine mandates. The government has been able to survive its unraveling, thus far, only thanks to Labor and the trade unions. Labor has provided bipartisan support throughout the pandemic, including for the governments massive handouts to the corporations, its endangerment of health and lives in the interests of profit, and the ratcheting up of the US-led confrontation with Beijing. Above all, Labor and the unions have done everything they can to prevent the anger of ordinary people from erupting into a political movement of the working class. The unions have suppressed virtually all industrial action, while enforcing the dictates of governments and employers, including during the current Omicron surge. Labor joined with the government last August to pass anti-democratic electoral laws, aimed at deregistering alternative parties, including the Socialist Equality Party. Amid the government chaos, Labor leader Anthony Albanese is presenting himself as a voice of calm and stability. He has called upon the unknown minister who denounced Morrison to identify himself. Seemingly defending the prime minister, Albanese said Joyces position was untenable after his attacks on Morrison. This is such a distraction. The dysfunction and the dishonesty and disunity is meaning this government is paralysed in taking the action that really does concern Australia, Albanese declared last night. Albanese is pitching Labor to the ruling elite as the party best able to press ahead with live with the virus program and the offensive against workers pay and conditions in a tripartite alliance with the unions and big business. He has also stated that Labor would work more closely with the Biden administration in the US, as it carries out reckless provocations against Russia and China. The interests of working people find no expression in the Coalition, Labor or the parliamentary set-up as a whole. All are committed to a profits-before-lives agenda, and to war. The anti-democratic electoral laws are a warning that the official parties will respond to mounting opposition, and the emerging struggles of the working-class, with a further turn to authoritarianism. Workers and young people must strike out on a new path, in opposition to the entire political establishment and the capitalist system it defends. The fight for health and safety, along with the struggles for decent pay and conditions and an end to war, require a socialist perspective, aimed at reorganising society to meet social need, not the profit interests of a tiny corporate elite. As coronavirus infections reach new daily highs, the German ruling class is discussing lifting even the last protective measures. On Friday, nearly 250,000 people nationwide became infected with the virus, and the seven-day incidence rate rose to 1,350 per 100,000 inhabitants. The incidence level is highest in Berlin (1,803), Bavaria (1,695), Brandenburg (1,683) and Hesse (1,622). In 17 districts, the incidence rate is already above 2,000. In Berlin Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf it is 2,705. The number of positive tests has increased to 41 percent, up by 9 percent compared to the previous week, which suggests underreporting of the actual infection figures. A woman walks past an abandoned coronavirus test center in Frankfurt, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. Numbers of coronavirus infections are rising again in Germany. (AP Photo/Michael Probst) The number of outbreaks in medical treatment facilities, as well as old peoples homes and nursing homes, also continues to rise. Last week, there were 154 outbreaks in medical treatment facilities (29 more than the previous week) and 246 outbreaks in nursing homes and homes for the elderly (15 more than the previous week). This refutes the claims of Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (Social Democratic Party, SPD) made at the last federal press conference that the older generations had been successfully protected from the Omicron wave. Particularly ominous is the rising number of hospitalisations. The adjusted hospitalisation incidence rate is already between 8 and 9 per 100,000 and is showing a strong upward trend. Over 1,200 people are hospitalised every day. The proportion of free intensive care beds is currently just over 10 percent on a national average, considered the threshold for hospitals ability to respond. Since the beginning of the week, more than 600 people have already succumbed to the virus. Contrary to official propaganda, schools are a central driver of infection. The incidence rate in the 15- to 34-year-old age group is 1,684. Among 5- to 14-year-olds it is already 3,818, which means that almost 4 percent of students in this age group are newly infected with the virus every week. In the last four weeks alone, 1,566 outbreaks were reported in schools, although the last two weeks cannot yet be conclusively assessed due to late reporting. The ruling class is responding to this tsunami of infections in the biggest wave of the pandemic so far with an even more ruthless policy of deliberate mass infection. The remaining protective measures are gradually being ended. In the process, politicians and the media are competing with their calls for the lifting of all measures, as has already been implemented in Denmark. On Wednesday, all the federal states uniformly decided to massively increase the upper limit of spectators allowed at large events. This means that up to 4,000 spectators are now permitted indoors and as many as 10,000 at large outdoor events. In states such as North Rhine-Westphalia, the maximum number of spectators had previously been 750. Bavaria, Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt have already announced that they will allow more than 10,000 spectators at events. Numerous government representatives are already calling for more far-reaching relaxations. Last week, Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Soder (Christian Social Union, CSU) demanded consistent steps in opening up [society] and a staggered plan for relaxing the rules in large events and in hospitality. Specifically, he called for an end to the 2G rule (proof of vaccination or a negative test) in retail and the obligation to show a test result in restaurants. Basically, he said, one should proceed according to the principle, Where FFP2 masks are worn, contact restrictions can be lowered. Finance Minister Christian Lindner (Liberal Democratic Party, FDP) has also called for an end to the 2G rule in the retail sector. He told Der Spiegel, We already have to work concretely on when and under what conditions there can be a gradual opening up. The first federal states are already beginning to implement the relaxations. For example, the state administration in Schleswig-Holstein is planning to lift the 2G regulation in shops and to abolish the curfew in restaurants as of February 9. State Premier Daniel Gunther (Christian Democratic Union, CDU) praised the Danish way and declared that his state wanted to move a bit towards normality. A short time later, the Hesse state government also declared it plans to end 2G rules throughout the retail sector. Commentary in the press openly makes clear in whose interests the policy of deliberate mass infection is being implemented. Already, more than 118,000 lives have been lost in Germany alone. Ending coronavirus rigidityfor the sake of the economy is the headline of a commentary in Die Welt. To get out of the coronavirus trap again, the newspaper opines, one thing above all is needed: a shrewd plan on how the country can gradually open upfollowing the example of other countries. In fact, this has been happening for a long time. The first official act of the traffic light federal coalition of the SPD, FDP and Greens was to officially end the designation of a national epidemic situation. Since then, the government parties have proven they are even more ruthless in pushing through the interests of finance capital than the grand coalition of the CDU and SPD before. The quarantine period has been shortened and contact tracing and testing reduced. Now the government, with the support of all the parliamentary parties and the media, is systematically working to fully normalise the pandemic. The campaign claiming that the pandemic would peak and become endemic by the end of February is aimed at accustoming the population to widespread infection and deaths indefinitely. Already, the more than 150 deaths per day hardly find a mention in the news. Reporting on the situation in hospitals or even severe and fatal COVID-19 cases among children and young people are systematically ignored. In the process, an ever greater catastrophe is unfolding. As the entire course of the pandemic so far has shown, the herd immunity policy does not lead to an endemic end to the pandemic but to the emergence of ever more infectious and resistant variants. Already, the Omicron subvariant BA.2, which has 80 to 90 mutations, is spreading rapidly. The only way to end the pandemic and stop the mass deaths is a Zero COVID strategy to eliminate the virus globally. The example of China, in particular, shows that this is possible. However, the governments of the imperialist countries vehemently oppose the Zero COVID strategy because it cuts across the profit-grubbing of the corporations and a small parasitic financial elite. Only an independent movement of the working class can push through the necessary measureslockdowns combined with vaccination, contact tracing and the isolation of infected people. In the US, France, Greece, Austria and around the world, student and teacher struggles are increasingly developing against the policy of herd immunity. In Germany, too, a petition by more than 100 student representatives is currently going viral, opposing the policy of deliberate mass infection in schools. However, a struggle for safe education can only be successful if it is armed with a socialist perspective and does not appeal to the governments that have been deliberately implementing this policy for two years. In his inaugural US visit as German chancellor, Social Democratic Party leader Olaf Scholz will meet with President Joe Biden Monday in Washington. In the days leading up to the meeting, the pressure on the German government to unreservedly support the US war drive against Russia has been sharply intensified. The US and its closest NATO allies have been trying for weeks to either provoke a Russian military move against Ukraine or stage a fake one so as to create the pretext for a war that could turn the world into a nuclear inferno. They are arming the nationalist forces in Ukraine with lethal weapons and deploying thousands of additional NATO soldiers to Eastern Europe. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) delivering his initial governmental address (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) If the chancellor wants to maintain Germanys key role in Europe, he must send a clear message during his visit to the USthis includes a commitment to military deterrence, Thorsten Brenner, founder of the private think tank Global Public Policy Institute (GPPI), told Der Spiegel. Well-connected and leading transatlantic journalists who write for the Suddeutsche Zeitung, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and Die Zeit issued similar calls. (See: Warmongering against Russia in the name of Auschwitz ). Pressure on the German government is also being stepped up from the US side. The New York Times headlined a piece: Germany Falters on Ukraine, and Allies Worry. The Wall Street Journal asked, Is Germany a reliable American ally? and answered in big letters with a German Nein. In Congress, Democrats and Republicans are working on a comprehensive package of sanctions, including against the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which could possibly go into effect even if Russia does not launch a military attack on Ukraine. Germanys reputation has suffered greatly in recent months, explained Thorsten Brenner in Der Spiegel. He continued: Last week, Emily Haber, the German ambassador in Washington, sent an incendiary letter to Berlin. Germany is seen as an unreliable partner on Russia and China policy. Germany is threatened with massive reputational damage. Republicans regularly say that Germany is in bed with Putin. The meeting with President Biden offers Scholz the stage to correct this impression. Brenners Berlin-based think tank GPPI is politically close to the US government. Its Advisory Board includes Ann-Marie Slaughter, who was former US Secretary of State Hillary Clintons director of policy planning, and US investor George Soros. Brenner emphasized that the meeting between Scholz and Biden is about much more than Ukraine. It will include the further buildup of NATO in Eastern Europe and solidarity with the US against China. More importantly, Brenner writes, Scholz should send a clear signal that Germany will make additional military investments in deterring the Kremlin and defending NATO allies on the eastern flank. He adds that Scholz should at the same time make concrete proposals in Washington for transatlantic cooperation on China policy. He should seek solidarity with Washington against coercive economic measures by Beijing, and make it clear that German peace policy is helping to defend the status quo in the Taiwan Straits. Scholz and his foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, have long since made it clear that the German government is on the side of the US and NATO in the conflict with Russia. They have stated time and time again that there would be a great cost to Russia if there were military aggression against Ukraine. After initial hesitation, Scholz also made it clear that Nord Stream 2 would be part of possible sanctions on Russia. Sources from the Chancellery report that Germany and the US have long been working together closely on planning financial and economic sanctions. On Sunday, when he was already on his way to Washington, Scholz assured public broadcaster ARDs Report from Berlin television show: We have had a clear strategy together with our allies for a long time. He added that it will also be made clear that military aggression against Ukraine would have high costs for Russia. He noted that there are very precise agreements on this with the US, the EU and everyone who is concerned. Scholz said the second part of the strategy is getting people talking again. In addition to the talks between the US and Russia, the NATO-Russia Council and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), he highlighted the Normandy diplomatic format, in which Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany are negotiating without the US. As far as the military deployment against Russia is concerned, Berlin is fully on Washingtons side. Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (Social Democratic PartySPD) announced on Sunday that more German army soldiers would be sent to Lithuania, where Germany has been the leading nation in the NATO operation for five years and provides half of the 1,200 men and women in a multinational unit. The German federal government has also decided to send Eurofighter jets to Romania for air surveillance. Within the ranks of the governing Traffic Light Coalition, made up of the Social Democrats, Greens and Free Democrats (FDP), not a critical word can be heard about NATOs war course, which threatens to unleash a third world war. If there are still tensions between Berlin and Washington, this is mainly for economic and geostrategic reasons. The German government fears that Germany, whose energy supply depends on cheap Russian gas imports, will have to bear the brunt of the sanctions against Russia and will be weakened economically, including in relation to the US. Berlin also fears becoming geopolitically completely dependent on American military power. There are strong forces in the German bourgeoisie that want an alliance with Russia either against China or as a counterweight to the US. Ex-Chancellor Gerhard Schroder, who is a friend of Vladimir Putin, heads the Nord Stream supervisory board and has now announced that he will also join the supervisory board of the Russian gas company Gazprom. He is politically isolated, but he has support in business circles. Another reason why the government is holding back is massive popular opposition to war. The last thing the SPD, Greens and FDP want is an anti-war movement like the one that developed in 2003 against the Iraq war. All polls show that the war drive is rejected by an overwhelming majority. According to a Forsa poll, 53 percent fear war, but only 20 percent feel threatened by Russia. Ninety-four percent believe that good relations with Russia are important. According to ARD Deutschlandtrend, 71 percent oppose arms deliveries to Ukraine. Only 20 percent are in favour. The media have reacted to these poll numbers with a hysterical campaign. Bild, the gutter tabloid from Springer, has played an especially prominent role. Its lies are reminiscent of Hitlers minister of propaganda, Joseph Goebbels. Bild claimed in an article published Saturday, headlined Explosive Details of Planned Russian Invasion of Ukraine, that The Russian attack on Ukraine has not even started yet, but the secret services already have information about the period after the great war and the cruel puppet regime that the Kremlin wants to establish in Ukraine. The plans that Bild dreamed up range from the military siege and takeover of Ukraines cities by infiltrated Russian agents, to the convening of a mock parliament, to the setting up of internment camps to break the resistance of millions, to the forced annexation of Ukraine to Russia. Evidence? Bild provides none. A foreign secret service has collected details about Russian post-war plans, the newspaper asserts. A secret report was created from the intelligence gained. Bild is familiar with it. At least since the Iraq war, it is well known what such anonymous secret service reports about weapons of mass destruction and alleged atrocities are worth. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova commented that they have crossed all possible lines of human, genuine morality and ethics. The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) invites all health workers, students, teachers and workers in all industries to attend an online public meeting on Saturday February 12 at 4 p.m. (AEDT). Click here to register. The meeting will discuss the way forward for striking nurses following the call by the New South Wales Nurses and Midwives Association (NSWNMA) for a vote to hold a statewide four-hour strike on February 15. The SEP warns nurses and all health workers: The last thing this union wants is a state-wide strike by nurses that will focus attention on their unsustainable conditions and workloads which the union has presided over. It will do everything it can to either call it off or limit it entirely. The NSWNMA has only called for the strike vote because it can no longer contain the growing anger and frustration among health workers over the disastrous conditions in the health system as the pandemic surges out of control in Australia. The disaster facing health workers, teachers, students and the entire population is the result of the let it rip strategy of all governments, Labor and Liberal. They have removed even the most basic public health measures to contain the virus. Across the country, 3,914 people are hospitalised for COVID-19, with 2,099 in NSW alone. January was the worst month of mass infection and death since the pandemic began, with 2.15 million confirmed cases, meaning 8.6 percent of the countrys population caught it in a single month, and 1,519 confirmed deaths. All this occurred before the schools began reopening across the country. Within a week of reopening, thousands of children and educators have been infected. The stage has been set for the mass infection of students, including unvaccinated children, which will spread the virus to parents and teachers. Educators now face the same catastrophe as the health workers in the hospitals. The reopening of schools was not carried out in the interests of the education of children but to force their parents back into unsafe workplaces. Letting the virus rip has caused a crisis in the already overrun hospital system. In Victoria last month a code brown was called for the first time in the states history. Similar conditions exist in NSW, including the postponement of elective surgeries, and health workers have been called back to work, not only from leave, but from COVID-19 isolation. Nurses have reported that COVID patients are being admitted to non-COVID wards, effectively creating the conditions for the virus to spread throughout the hospitals. Massive staff shortages and increased workloads are pushing hospital staff to the limit and untrained nurses are being forced into ICU wards. The strike vote called by the NSWNMA is designed to limit and constrain the mass anger of nurses to the narrow confines of appeals to the Perrottet government for unspecified improvements to nurse-patient ratios and pay. Like all premiers in the bipartisan National Cabinet, Dominic Perrottet leads a government that deliberately advances profits over lives. The union isolates the action to only nurses who are members of the union. It excludes doctors, paramedics, orderlies, cleaners and other hospital workers, as well as teachers and logistics workers, who are likewise forced back to work, under intolerable conditions with threat of infection. The proposed strike does not demand the reversal of the very let it rip policies that have caused this crisis. This is because the unions did not oppose the reopening drive throughout the pandemic in the first place! The pandemic has proven that capitalism is unable to meet the most basic needs of society as everything, including lives, is subordinated to profit. Epidemiologists and the experiences in China, New Zealand and Australia have proven that a coordinated program of vaccines and public health measures would eliminate the virus. But capitalist corporations will not accept any impediment to their wealth and profits. What is needed to stop the virus is mobilisation of the international working class, based on a political fight for the elimination of COVID-19. Nurses cant be left to fight alone! The SEP calls for nurses to unite with other healthcare workers, as well as teachers, educators, logistics workers across Australia and internationally. Health workers must form independent Rank-and-File Committees, outside the shackles of the trade unions, to coordinate and expand their struggle. We urge you to attend our meeting and participate in this vital discussion. Click here to register. Written and directed by Asghar Farhadi A Hero, written and directed by Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi, begins as a simple tale that ultimately expands into a drama full of ambiguities and complexities. It focuses on the lower echelons of Iranian society. Sahar Goldust and Amir Jadidi in A Hero Farhadi is well known for A Separation (2011) and The Salesman (2016), each of which won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. A Hero received the Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix last year. A socially realistic approach to everyday life characterizes the filmmakers best work, obviously influenced, along with that of other Iranian filmmakers, by post-World War II Italian neorealism (Visconti, De Sica, Rossellini, De Santis and others). Farhadi has said: At a stage the conditions in my country were the same as the conditions of Italy after the war, and we had similar experiences. The candor and directness of Iranian filmmakers like Farhadi and their openness to the drama of quotidian life help account for the fact that the countrys cinema has figured prominently in recent decades. Iranian filmmakers have also stood out, despite the vicissitudes of individual careers, because there is such a shortage of film artists around the world taking these issues seriously. As the WSWS commented a decade ago about A Separation: The central problems in A Separation are deeply human, and thoroughly believable. The film is a realistic, hardly flattering portrait of Iran, a society beset by intense contradictions. The individual degrees of guilt or innocence fade into the background, as the ultimate responsibility for the tragedy clearly lies with the profound social and economic tensions. In A Hero, for the first time, Farhadi probes the lower depths of society. Rahim (Amir Jadidi) is a working class artist and divorced father who has been in debtors prison for three years. A voiceover informs: Time passes slowly here. The sun rises more slowly over these walls than elsewhere and takes its time setting. The walls are high and discouraging here, but still, they give some shade where you can meet for a few moments, dream about after, after getting out. The movies setting is Shiraz, a historic city in southwest Iran and the countrys fifth largest by population. Rahim exits the prison on a two-day leave and his first stop is an astonishing cliff containing the royal tombs of Persepolis, where the bodies of the kings of the Achaemenid Empire (c. 550330 BC) lie. Since the tomb of King Xerxes is built into the mountainside, there is extensive scaffolding with stairs to provide access to the workers doing restoration work inside and outside the necropolis. Having made the interminable ascent, Rahim arrives out of breath to meet his genial brother-in-law (Alireza Jahandideh), who is repairing cracks in the reliefs, and discuss ways the former can repay his debt. Rahim explains: I was a sign painter and calligrapher. Then the printed banners came, and I had to close my business. I got a loan from the bank to start a turkey farm, but it didnt work. They caught some disease, died, and I went bankrupt. I couldnt pay back the loan. My guarantor had to pay for me, he brought a case against me, and I found myself in prison. His creditor, Bahram (Mohsen Tanabandeh), is himself in financial straits and disinclined to forgive the monies owed, despite being related to Rahim by marriage. Rahim has been given his brief freedom from prison to clear his debt. In an apparent stroke of luck, his girlfriend, Farkhondeh (Sahar Goldoost), has found a handbag full of gold coins. But a gold broker informs the couple that the precious metal has dropped in price, and the 17 coins will not be nearly enough to solve the problem. Rahim chooses to return the coins to their rightful owner. In need of good publicity in the wake of a prisoners suicide (who killed himself after six years of incarceration), the prison authorities opportunistically use Rahims act of civic selflessness to present him to the public as a kind of ready-made hero. According to the prison officials, Rahim has proved with this act that one can prioritize good deeds over personal interest. The guileless Rahim is swept up by the publicity after a lifetime of poverty and humiliation. The Mehrpooyan Charity Association, headed by Mrs. Radmehr (Fereshteh Sadr Orafaie), organizes a celebration to award Rahim with a certificate and raise money to pay back his lender. When it fails to generate enough money from its members, the charity pleads with lender Bahram to pardon the heros debt. Bahram: What exemplary attitude are you talking about? My attitude was exemplary when, three years ago, because I considered him a member of my family, I gave a bond check so that he could get a loan, start a business and help his family get through. Im the one who did a good deed! When he didnt meet the payments, I had to sell my daughters dowry and my wifes jewelry to pay off all his debt, plus the interest and penalties to the loan shark! And now hes presented as a hero, and me, who did so much for him, Im the bastard creditor! In other words, Rahims lender himself hovers over a financial abyss. Unable to locate the woman to whom the coins were returned, Rahim cannot prove his story qualifying him for a job at the local council. Meanwhile, rumors are circulating that Rahim has invented the whole good Samaritan affair. In desperation, he confronts Bahram and the encounter turns violent. Bahrams daughter, Nazanin (Sarina Farhadi, the directors daughter), uses a video of the episode to discredit her fathers supposed attacker, prompting the charity to withdraw the funds from Rahim and use them to save the life of a convict about to be executed. As time runs out before he must return to prison, Rahims desperate contortions to salvage his tarnished reputation come to naught. Prisons feature conspicuously in Iranian cinema. People are regularly thrown into debtors prison in Iran, where, according to the authorities, more than 18,000 persons were held in 2018 due to their failure to pay a fine or a contractual obligation. A Hero is a compelling work. Farhadi looks at the tribulations of Iranian societys victims. Although not the poorest of the poor, the films characters are caught in the vice grip of near impossible circumstances, despite their best intentions. They work mightily to overcome the intractable obstacles. At every step, the viewer senses that life holds few rewards for the hard-pressed, including the dour creditor Bahram. No amount of effort, Herculean or otherwise, is sufficient. The innumerable Rahims are being poured into the very bottom of societydebtors prison. As an ensemble, the cast performs skillfully to artistically materialize this reality. Farhadi stands apart from the overwhelming majority of current filmmakers by the depth of his love and empathy for his characters and their difficulties. He sees the latter as social problems and not individual failings. Ultimately, the issue here is not ill will but bad social organization. A Hero Significantly, in an open letter posted November 17, 2021 on his Instagram account, Farhadi responded angrily to an unnamed individual who had claimed the writer-director was both pro-government and anti-government at the same time. The filmmaker vehemently rejected the accusation that he was pro-government. Over the years, he wrote, I have tended to hold my tongue, choosing to focus on my writing and filmmaking. It was my understanding that my work would be the appropriate response to the governments accusations and name calling, and that there was no need for further clarification. However, this silence has caused many to believe that they can say whatever they want about me, and to assume that I would not respond. Farhadi continued: How can anyone associate me with a government whose extremist media has spared no effort to destroy, marginalize and stigmatize me in past years. A government to which I have made my views clear on the suffering it has caused over the years from the cruel discrimination against women and girls to the way the country has allowed coronavirus to slaughter its people. Farhadi referred to the fact that Iranian authorities had submitted A Hero as the countrys entry in this years international Oscar category. Addressing the government, he wrote, if this action has led you to the conclusion that I am in your debt, I am explicitly declaring now that I have no problem with your reversing this decision. I no longer care about the fate of the film that I made with all my heart. Whether in or outside Iran, this movie will live on its merits. At one point in A Hero, Rahim blurts out that I'm too naive for this world. All of his potentialhis creativity, ingenuity, passion and sincerityare no match for the crushing jaws of an inhuman social order. He is tossed about and beaten against the earth. He is punished in the confines of an overcrowded prison, and he also suffers in the arena of the broader Iranian society during his period of freedom. Amir Locke, 22, was killed Wednesday by the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) as they carried out an early morning no-knock raid. Locke was shot by Mark Hanneman, a SWAT officer with the MPD, while he was sleeping on the couch at a family members apartment on the 7th floor. Hanneman opened fire less than 10 seconds after police burst into the apartment. Amir Locke (family photo) MPD released statements immediately after the shooting claiming that they were assisting the St. Paul Police Department in executing a search warrant for a homicide suspect. The initial claim by Interim Minneapolis Police Chief Amelia Huffman was that the officers loudly and repeatedly announced their entry into an apartment. The statement was followed by a press release in the afternoon claiming the following: Approximately nine seconds into the entry, officers encountered a male who was armed with a handgun pointed in the direction of officers. At one point, shots were fired, and the adult male suspect was struck. Officers immediately provided emergency aid and carried the suspect down to the lobby to meet paramedics. The released body camera footage, however, illustrates a completely different reality. Body cam footage of Amir Lockes killing by police (City of Minneapolis) Officers entered unannounced with key fobs they obtained from the building by unlocking the door and loudly rushing into the apartment with weapons drawn, contradicting the initial statements of the MPD. The footage shows a stunned Locke startled awake from his sleep on the couch and multiple shots being immediately fired at him by Hanneman. The video demonstrates that while Locke may have had a firearm, he did not point it in the direction of officers. Initial press releases also claimed Locke was a suspect in a homicide investigation which was being led by the St. Paul Police Department. He was in fact not related to any homicide case, and he had no criminal record. Notably, Huffman made sure to repeat the claims that he was a suspect for homicide multiple times in her initial press statements. This same strategy was used to spread misinformation about previous police murder cases, such as the shooting of Winston Smith in 2021. Immediately after the bodycam footage was released, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey held a press conference Thursday afternoon with Huffman where he engaged in damage control for the initial police efforts to downplay and whitewash Lockes murder. Lawyer Nekima Levy Armstrong was also invited to take the floor with Frey. Levy Armstrong is a consultant and pseudo-left activist who helped organize Black Lives Matter protests in Minneapolis over the previous years. Last year, Frey seated Armstrong on a public safety commission which was intended to advise the mayor on how to expand policing to become safer. At the press conference, Frey first announced that the city would be placing a moratorium on no-knock warrants like the one that killed Locke and Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky, in 2020. Huffman was confronted about her initial press release by several reporters, and in response she presented the same claims from the initial press release. However, she tailored them to appear as if they were what the initial report stated. She claimed that the police opening the door and entering while shouting Police, search warrant is the same as loudly and repeatedly announcing themselves, as claimed by the MPD. When questioned on the fact that the footage shows Locke did not have his gun pointed at Hanneman, Huffman claimed that the officer was out of frame. At this point, the press conference collapsed entirely when Levy Armstrong interrupted Huffman and Frey to confront them about their attempts to cover up the murder of Locke. This is the anatomy of a cover up, she exclaimed as she approached the floor. According to independent reporting, at least three apartments were also raided in the same building during the operation that killed Locke. Protests erupted in Minneapolis for multiple nights following Lockes killing. On Friday, Democratic Governor Tim Walz responded to the protests by activating the National Guard in Minneapolis and St. Paul. On Saturday, over 1,000 protesters marched through the city and gathered outside of the government center building in the sub-freezing temperatures. Andre Locke, Amirs father, attended the protests and spoke on Saturday, When they put the narrative out there that he was a murderer, I couldnt. I couldnt. He continued, emotionally, He was responsible, he didnt deserve to have his life taken from him the way that it was. Why couldnt my son bury me? Why couldnt my son live to see his 40th birthday? Locke was planning to move to Dallas, Texas, this week to be closer to his mother, Karen Wells, and to begin his career as a musician, following in the footsteps of his father. He had already designed a logo for his business and constructed a plan. Lockes murder occurs just as the trials for Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng for their role in the 2020 murder of George Floyd conclude. Derek Chauvin, former MPD officer, was filmed kneeling on Floyds neck while Thao, Kueng, and Lane helped detain Floyd and prevented onlookers from intervening. Chauvin was found guilty of murder and manslaughter at trial in April 2021. Kimberly Potters trial for the murder of Daunte Wright last year also concluded just over a month ago. Potter, who shot Wright during a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center, a suburb of Minnesota, was also found guilty. Lockes death marks the first police killing in Minnesota in 2022, and the third in a span of four months. It is only the latest in an unending wave of killings and violence by police officers in the United States directed towards the working class. Police kill an average of three people every day with approximately 1,000 victims every year, in most cases the police justification is accepted by the media and prosecutors as good coin and officers avoid any criminal charges. As the occupation of downtown Ottawa by the far-right Freedom Convoy entered its 10th day Sunday, Mayor Jim Watson declared a state of emergency for Canadas national capital. Far-right and fascist activists, many of whom are armed, remain menacingly encamped outside Canadas parliament and have clogged downtown streets with some 500 vehicles. They have vowed to remain until all COVID-19 restrictions are scrapped by the federal Liberal government. Protestors show their support for the Freedom Convoy of truck drivers who are making their way to Ottawa to protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandates by the Canadian government on Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022, in Vaughan. (Photo by Arthur Mola/Invision/AP) A statement from the city explained, Declaring a state of emergency reflects the serious danger to the safety and security of residents posed by the ongoing demonstrations and highlights the need for support from other jurisdictions and levels of government. Earlier in the day, Watson told a radio interviewer, The situation at this point is completely out of control because the individuals with the protest are calling the shots. The Ottawa Police Service also announced Sunday it would start arresting people who bring fuel and other supplies to the occupiers, who have begun building wooden sheds to create a community kitchen and shelter. The declaration of a state of emergency followed far-right protests Saturday that drew a few thousand people each to Ottawa and provincial capitals across the country. Police estimated that at its high point, about 5,000-7,000 people joined the Ottawa demonstration. Other mostly smaller Freedom Convoy events were held in Quebec City, Quebec; Toronto, Ontario; Regina, Saskatchewan; Edmonton, Alberta as well as Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia. Nonetheless, corporate media outlets provided wall-to-wall coverage of the protest, seeking to create the impression that the convoy enjoys mass popular support. In reality, the Freedom Convoys views are anathema to the vast majority of Canadians. Canada Unity, one of the organizations leading the convoy, calls for the overthrow of the democratically elected government and the installation of a Junta-style regime that would rule with dictatorial powers for three months to eliminate all pandemic restrictions. Nazi swastikas and Confederate flags are regularly displayed at Freedom Convoy protests. Strong support for the convoy has come from former US President Donald Trump and his fascistic supporters, as well as far-right groups internationally. The police have confirmed that a large number of the convoys occupation force comes from the United States, and announced Sunday that they are investigating the involvement of Canadian, US, and international far-right groups in a series of emailed threats against politicians. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a far-right Republican who is notorious for persecuting scientists advocating for COVID-19 restrictions, vowed to examine legal action against the fundraising platform GoFundMe after it withdrew the Freedom Convoys fundraiser. Republican Senator Ted Cruz, another Trump supporter, tweeted Sunday, God bless these Canadian truck drivers. Theyre defending Canada, America, and theyre standing up for freedom. The convoy has not been able to grind downtown Ottawa to a halt because it enjoys mass support among working people. On the contrary, the movement is a creation of the corporate media and official opposition Conservative Party, which built up the initial protest against a cross-border vaccine mandate and turned it into a far-right extra-parliamentary movement. Even after the rabble ran amuck in Ottawa on the weekend of January 29, assaulting homeless people and workers, throwing rocks at ambulances, and threatening violence against people commemorating the 2017 Quebec City mosque shooting by a fascist gunman, interim Conservative leader Candice Bergen had the temerity to describe the occupiers as patriotic, peace-loving Canadians. In internal emails to top Tory Party advisers, Bergen insisted last Monday that the Conservatives should encourage the convoy to stay in Ottawa to make it Trudeaus problem. The strategy of Bergen and the Tories is to provoke a violent clash between the far-right protesters and the police or military, blame it on Trudeaus intransigence, and use it to intensify pressure for the Liberal government to bow to the convoys far-right demands. Conservative politicians, right-wing media outlets, and the Ottawa Police Service have appealed for a political solution to the standoff, i.e., concessions to the fascistic demands raised by the convoys leadership. Other sections of Canadas ruling establishment and state apparatus are demanding a larger and more aggressive police presence, and have even raised the prospect of deploying the military. Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly, who said Wednesday that requesting support from the Canadian Armed Forces was under consideration, commented at an emergency Ottawa Police board meeting Saturday that the Freedom Convoy demonstration had turned into a siege and appealed for more law enforcement resources. Diane Deans, an Ottawa city councillor who chairs the Ottawa Police board, added, This group is a threat to our democracy. What were seeing is bigger than just a City of Ottawa problem. This is a nationwide insurrection. Working people can place no faith in the institutions of the capitalist state to wage a struggle against the far-right and fascist forces currently camped out in downtown Ottawa. The strengthening of the police or extension of military powers on the pretext of combatting the fascistic far-right would create the conditions for the inevitable deployment of these same forces of state repression against striking or protesting workers. As the Socialist Equality Party explained in its statement published Friday, Canadian workers need a socialist program to defeat the threat of far-right political violence, end the pandemic and oppose war, These extraordinary events underscore the urgent necessity of the independent political mobilization of the working class. Armed with a socialist and internationalist program, the working class is the only social force capable of implementing a science-based Zero COVID policy to end the pandemic once and for all, stop the reckless drive to imperialist war, and halt the danger of authoritarianism and fascistic political violence. The chief obstacles to the independent political mobilization of the working class are the trade unions and NDP, which continued their efforts over the weekend to suppress all worker opposition to the Freedom Convoy and its ruling class backers. After health care workers in Toronto announced plans for a counterprotest Saturday against the presence of Freedom Convoy supporters, the Ontario Nurses Association (ONA) president issued a miserable statement urging his members not to participate. In Ottawa, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) union intervened to sabotage a counterprotest called for by two Reddit users that had won widespread support. PSAC officials cynically justified their opposition to any protest by citing the threat of violence against black, indigenous and LGBTQ participants. For the professional cowards who populate the union bureaucracy, the real threat of political violence against workers is not an occasion for organized resistance, but the smothering of any and all independent working class opposition. The union bureaucracys bitter hostility to any open expression of working class opposition to the far-right Freedom Convoy and its program of mass infection and death is rooted in its class position. Wedded to its corporatist partnership with big business and the minority Liberal government, which only remains in power thanks to the parliamentary support of the NDP, the unions are more afraid of a mass worker-led movement from below than they are of the danger of fascistic political violence. This was summed up in last weeks statement by the Canadian Labour Congress, which demanded that everyone respect the federal election results and let elected politicians get down to work. In practice, this means the continuation of the Liberal/NDP alliance, which has already organized the multi-billion-dollar bailout for the banks and big business, and slashed financial aid for workers amid the Omicron wave of COVID-19. Despite the unions best efforts to block demonstrations against the Freedom Convoy, counter-protests were held over the weekend in Toronto, Ottawa, and Vancouver. The World Socialist Web Site spoke to Andrea and Sergio, two students from the University of Toronto, about why they participated. These anti-lockdown protests have been getting too much attention and too much credit, said Sergio. I think its important to show your support to ending COVID the right way and not the reckless way. The things Im hearing are just absolutely insane from these anti-lockdown protesters. Andrea added, Its about making sure that everyone feels safe and supported, including the marginalized communities that face disproportionate levels of COVID, and lack of support from the government. I want to make sure that the government sees that even though the convoy may have a lot of resources and loud noise, there are people on this side that really care about everyone and their safety. Andrea contrasted the polices kid-glove treatment of the far-right protesters to the ruthless repression she has experienced during left-wing demonstrations. When the police cleared out the homeless encampments in Trinity Bellwoods, I was there. It was a military style operation and highly coordinated. Today at 5:00 p.m., the US National Cathedrals bell will ring 900 times, to mark 900,000 American dead from COVID-19. It has been just 55 daysless than two monthssince the bells of the cathedral rang to commemorate 800,000 deaths. And, at the present daily death rate of 2,700, it will take just 37 more days for the United States to register a million dead. This milestone, a source of pain to millions who have lost their friends and loved ones, was met with indifference in the media. When the United States reached 100,000 deaths from COVID-19 in May 2020, the New York Times devoted its entire front page to a list of the dead. But with the figure nine times that amount, the Times published only a tiny blurb at the bottom of its front page, entitled 900,000 Dead, but Many Americans Move On. A woman passes a fence outside Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery adorned with tributes to victims of COVID-19. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) What unspeakable callousness. What does it mean to move on? This is a phrase that can be used when describing a decision to change jobs. The dead cannot move on. And for the survivors who must cope with the death of a family member or friend, they live with the experience of the loss for the rest of their lives, and all the more so when the death was sudden and unexpected, with little or no time to prepare and say ones goodbyes. And to add to the tragedy of the survivors enduring grief, countless thousands died alone, in ICUs, without being comforted by their loved ones. When the Times speaks of moving on, it is not grief-stricken individuals that it is referring to. The editors of the Times are describing the capitalist class for which it speaks. What moving on means for the governments policy makers, the financial-corporate elite and their media apologists, is that they can act as if the pandemic is over. Federal and state governments are ending restrictions on the spread of the disease. It will not be long before the death toll passes a million. As death is being normalized, reporting is being slashed in a massive coverup. States, one after another, are reducing the frequency of case and death reporting, shutting down their COVID-19 dashboards, and eliminating contact tracing programs. Earlier this month, the US Department of Health and Human Services ended its daily hospital death reporting metrics as part of an international effort to end case and death reporting. The growing efforts to cover up the pandemic and move on coincide with the increasingly horrific reality confronting American society. Each weekday last week, more than 3,000 people died from COVID-19 in America, according to BNO News. A staggering 18,578 people lost their lives in the past week alone. More than 60,000 Americans died in January. It was the deadliest month since February 2021, when the percentage of the population fully vaccinated stood in the single digits. If the present rate of death continues, the month of February will be even worse than January, making it the third worst in the history of the pandemic. Since the start of the pandemic, one in every 366 Americans has lost their life to COVID-19, including one in every 31 Americans over the age of 85. In the first year of the pandemic, 2020, 351,000 Americans died. Another 475,000 died in 2021. So far, more than 75,000 have died this year. If Januarys death rate continues through 2022, the scale of death in the third year of the pandemic will be the highest yet, at 720,000. It is almost impossible to communicate the scale of death that has already occurred. The US COVID-19 death toll is between four and six times greater than the number of people killed in the atomic attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It is roughly equivalent to the entire population of the state of Delaware, and greater than the populations of the cities of Detroit, Washington D.C., Las Vegas, or Seattle. The number of deaths from COVID-19 is greater, by a significant amount, than the combat death toll of every war the United States has ever fought. But even the official figures are a massive underestimation of the loss of life caused by the pandemic, with the Economist estimating that the real number of excess deaths in America stands at 1.2 million. Among the dead are 1,244 children and an average of seven children are now dying each day, according to figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The number of dead, however, fails to capture the massive impact of the pandemic on American society. Dr. Charles Nelson, co-author of a study published last October on COVID orphans, told Newsweek last week that the number of children who lost a parent or primary caregiver to COVID-19 has now surpassed 200,000. The level of trauma that has been inflicted on an entire generation is incalculable. The study noted, Childrens lives are permanently changed by the loss of a mother, father, or grandparent who provided their homes, basic needs, and care. Loss of a parent is among the adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) linked to mental health problems. All of us especially our children will feel the serious immediate and long-term impact of this problem for generations to come, the study concluded. Alongside the growing death toll, millions of Americans now suffer from Long COVID, which includes an array of debilitating symptoms that can affect nearly every part of the body, including the brain, heart, lungs, and other vital organs. While the media and political establishment seek to cover up the growing death toll and refuse to mount any serious response to stop the pandemic, they are braying for war with Russia and China. Having killed over 900,000 Americans, they are engaged in reckless provocations that threaten to escalate into a nuclear conflict that could destroy civilization. On Sunday, the New York Times breathlessly proclaimed in its lead article, and NBC Nightly news in its lead segment, that 50,000 civilians would die in a Russian invasion of Ukraine, ignoring the fact that more than that number of Americans had died from a preventable disease the month before. The ruling class has no intention of ending the pandemic. The 10 wealthiest men in the world have doubled their net worth over the past two years. The S&P 500 has surged more than 40 percent, and every form of financial and real property has soared in value. The international working class is the social force that can and must stop the pandemic. On a world scale, workers are entering into struggle ever more consciously with this aim. Across the US and Europe, educators and students have conducted dozens of strikes and walkouts to demand a switch to remote learning. In Germany, over 100,000 students, parents and workers have signed a petition opposing the governments reckless school reopening policies. This growing movement of the working class must be armed with both a scientific and political understanding of the pandemic. The needless deaths of more than 900,000 Americans amount to a massive social crime that must be investigated and meticulously documented. Last November, the World Socialist Web Site initiated the Global Workers Inquest into the COVID-19 Pandemic to carry out this investigation and uncover the truth of who bears responsibility for the pandemic. The pandemic has revealed before masses of people the true character of American capitalism: a social order devoted to the selfish enrichment of the financial oligarchy, equally indifferent to the fate of the working class in the United States and the whole world. It is a cruel lesson, but one that must be taken to heart. Capitalism is fundamentally incompatible with the needs of modern society. The fight to end the pandemic is inseparable from the struggle to abolish this social order and replace it with socialism. Portugals social-democratic Socialist Party (PS) was returned to power in the January 30 legislative elections, winning a surprise absolute majority. The PS gained 117 seats in the 230-seat Assembly of the Republic, and just under 42 percent of the total vote. This is only the second time in the countrys history that a single party has been able to govern alone. The other was in 2011, when the right-wing Social Democratic Party (PSD) won over 50 percent of ballots. Meanwhile, the petty-bourgeois Left Bloc (BE), the longstanding parliamentary ally of the PS, saw its vote collapse, going from the third-largest party in the Portuguese Assembly to the sixth. In the last election in 2019, the BE had won 19 seats and almost 10 percent of the popular vote, plummeting to only five seats and 4.5 percent of the vote on January 30. The Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU), an electoral alliance between the Stalinist Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) and the Greens (PEV), also saw a significant drop in its support, going from 12 seats and 6.3 percent of the vote in 2019 to six seats and 4.4 percent this year. All six of these seats went to candidates of the PCP, with the PEV losing all its parliamentary representation for the first time. The election took place as the pandemic continued to rage in Portugal. As with the rest of the world, COVID cases have exploded in this country over the last two months, fuelled by the much more contagious Omicron variant of the coronavirus. The seven-day average reached an all-time peak of around 55,700 daily cases on the weekend of the election, with deaths rising to an average of 4050 a day by the end of January, the highest since last February. Around 1 million people were self-isolating due to infection with COVID or contact with a confirmed positive case on the day of the election, according to health authoritiesalmost 10 percent of Portugals population. Those in quarantine were permitted to leave their homes to vote in the election, however, due to fears that skyrocketing infection rates may lead to mass abstention, in what was already a widely unpopular election. While abstention was ultimately the lowest since the 2011 elections, only 57.9 percent of eligible people cast ballots, in a country in which voter participation has continuously fallen since 2005. When turnout is factored in, the PS received the support of less than one-quarter of Portuguese voters. No party had been expected to obtain an absolute majority, with opinion polls in the run-up to the election predicting stagnating or falling support for the PS as compared to their 36.3 percent vote in 2019. Surveys had anticipated a close race between the PS and the PSD, which had been expected to increase its parliamentary representation. This had prompted speculation about whether a minority PSD government could be formed with the support of the fascistic Chega party. The PSDs leader, Rui Rio, however, had ruled out forming a coalition government with Chega, declaring in a debate, I dont want power at any price, and that there are fundamental differences [between Chega and the PSD] which hinder an agreement. The snap elections were called in early November after Prime Minister Costas six-year minority PS administration collapsed amid mass strikes. The previous week, Costas government had failed to pass its 2022 budget in parliament, as the BE and PCP unexpectedly voted against it. It was the first time that a budget had been rejected since the 1974 Carnation Revolution toppled the Estado Novo regime of fascistic dictator Antonio Salazar. Portuguese Prime Minister and Socialist Party Secretary General Antonio Costa delivers a speech during an election rally in Almada, outside Lisbon, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) The vote against the budget by the BE and PCP was not an indication of any principled opposition to the austerity measures the PS government planned to impose and has already been imposing for years. Both parties have loyally supported every PS budget since the party came to power in 2015 and are fully complicit in the attacks on workers living standards that have come with them. Between 2015 and 2019, the minority PS government ruled thanks to an alliance known as a geringonca (an odd contraption or improvised solution) with the BE, PCP and PEVa confidence-and-supply arrangement whereby the pseudo-left and Stalinist parties agreed to support the government on all major votes. Since the elections of 2019, the BE and the PCP have continued to back the PS from outside the government, with no written agreement in place. The last-minute decision of the BE and PCP to vote against the budget came amid a waveof strikes across Portugal, involving tens of thousands of workers from different industries. Rail workers, pharmacists, teachers, subway workers, firefighters, nurses, civil servants and prison guards all took part in industrial action between September and November, mostly calling for increased wages in the face of a significant increase in the cost of living. Terrified of the growing working class anger at years of declining living standards, the BE and the PCP felt compelled to vote against the government they supported, to maintain the charade that they oppose austerity and to stifle social opposition. During the election campaign itself, the BE had groveled before the PS government, pleading with Costa to bring them back into a formal coalition. For five years, the BE made the budgets possible for the minority PS based on agreements to resolve the countrys problems, BE leader Catarina Martins declared in November. This is our willingness. Catarina Martins (Somos Bibliotecas/CC BY 3.0/Wikimedia) While tactical voting to prevent a far-right coalition of the PSD and Chega may have played some role in the increased vote for the PS at the expense of its pseudo-left props, the roots of the disintegration of the BE and the PCP lie in broader processes. The BE and PCP are deeply discredited after years of openly supporting the right-wing policies of the PS government. They no longer have any credibility as a supposed alternative to the PS, having worked hand in glove with the government to impose austerity and break strikes for seven years. Many voters would have seen no reason to cast a ballot for parties which are, in all but name, an appendage of the PS. The other main beneficiary of the collapse in support for the pseudo-left parties has been the far-right Chega (Enough), which increased its seats from one to 12. Its share of the vote, while still small, increased by almost six times, from 1.3 percent in the last elections in 2019 to 7.2 percent this year. Chega emerged as the third-largest party after the PSD, which obtained 76 seats (three fewer than in 2019) and 29.3 percent of the vote. While Chega won a smaller percentage of the ballots than in last years presidential electionswhen their candidate and the partys leader Andre Ventura received almost 12 percent and over 100,000 more votesit has made significant gains in the three years since its founding. Ventura celebrated the partys surge in votes, declaring in a speech on the night of the election What a great, great, great night. He continued: Antonio Costa, Im going after you now, stating that he wants to build a great right-wing alternative to replace the PS in power We will be the opposition in Portugal. Chegas ability to posture as the only opposition party in Portugal is due to the reactionary role played by the Left Bloc and PCP. The example of numerous petty-bourgeois left populist parties across Europe shows the bankruptcy of any perspective oriented to pressuring the ruling class to adopt progressive policies. Wherever these pseudo-left tendencies have come to power, such as Syriza in Greece, Podemos in Spain and the Left Bloc in Portugal, they have demonstrated their hostility to the working class, loyally carrying out the austerity diktats of the banks, big business and the European Union. Workers in Portugal, Europe and internationally must break definitively with these pro-capitalist organisations and build sections of the International Committee of the Fourth International in every country to fight for socialism. More than half of all teachers in the United States, or 55 percent, plan to leave education sooner than expected due to major stressors caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a survey conducted in late January by GBAO Strategies on behalf of the National Education Association (NEA). Teachers identified concerns over COVID-19 and lack of safety protocols at their schools as the primary reasons behind their desire to leave their jobs. Only 38 percent of teachers said their schools had improved ventilation during the pandemic, and just 28 percent said they felt their schools ventilation systems provided enough protection to help lower transmission. Highlighting the immense levels of stress and disillusionment teachers now experience, 90 percent of those surveyed said that burnout is a serious problem, and 91 percent said pandemic-related stress is a serious problem. The percentage of teachers compelled to leave the profession sooner than expected has steadily risen throughout the pandemic. A RAND corporation study found that in January and February 2021, one in four teachers said they were likely to leave, whereas previously one in six teachers were likely to leave. In August 2021, a separate NEA poll found that 37 percent of teachers expected to leave the profession early. Contrary to the lies promoted by the Biden administration and corporate media that the pandemic is over, that schools are the safest places for children and that the population can now return to normalcy, the opposite is the case. The criminal response by the ruling elite to the pandemic has completely transformed society, inflicting lasting trauma on the population due to ongoing mass death, infection and disability. The decades-long attack on public institutions such as healthcare and education has been qualitatively deepened during the pandemic. The official death toll in the US has now surpassed 900,000 deaths. According to Worldometer, an average of 2,500 Americans are dying every day from COVID-19, with deaths continuing to rise. Efforts to keep open the schools, no matter the human cost, have resulted in an explosion of new cases among children. In January alone, more than 3.5 million official child cases were recorded. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least 1,239 children have died since the start of the pandemic in the US, with 144 of those deaths recorded in the past three weeks alone. More than 200,000 children in the US have lost a parent or caregiver during the pandemic. In-person instruction in schools, amid the present surge of the Omicron variant and lack of safety mitigation measures, has placed ongoing stress on children who not only worry about themselves, their peers and their teachers getting sick, but also that they might unwittingly infect their loved ones. In addition to the increasing percentage of teachers wanting to leave the profession early, a mass exodus of teachers has already taken place over the past two years. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data as of February 1 shows that there are presently 567,000 fewer educators in public schools in the US than there were before the pandemic, more than doubling the governments 10-year projections. Prior to the pandemic, BLS predicted that an estimated 270,000 public school teachers would leave the profession during the 10 years from 2016 to 2026. Since the start of the spring semester in January, K-12 districts across the country have reported mass staffing shortages due to employees being sick from COVID-19, exacerbating an already crisis situation in the schools. According to Burbios School Closings Tracker, at least 20,725 schools have closed temporarily as of January 3, many due to severe staffing shortages. Viewing the staffing crisis as an economic setback rather than a public health emergency, the Biden administration has doubled down on its homicidal policy of mass infection by ensuring schools and businesses remain open. With dozens of states recently ending contact-tracing requirements, school districts across the US are now being encouraged to stop individual contact-tracing efforts. CDC K-12 COVID-19 safety guidelines reflect the entirely unscientific reduction in quarantine and isolation times from 10 to 5 days for both staff and students. Now, infected students and staff can return to classrooms as long as their symptoms are improving or they remain asymptomatic. Teachers and students are increasingly conscious that they are being sacrificed, or at least neglected, in the interests of profits. In opposition to open mass infection policies in the schools, a revolt by students and educators against in-person instruction has erupted across the country and internationally. Thousands of students and teachers have expressed opposition through walkouts, sickouts and strikes in multiple cities throughout the US, Canada, Greece, Austria, France and elsewhere. In addition to temporary school closures and the implementation of wholly unscientific CDC guidelines to keep schools open, further reactionary and desperate measures have been taken by school districts, as well as state and local governments, to keep schools open. Districts experiencing bus driver shortages have resorted to calling on teachers and other school staff to drive buses while others are giving stipends to parents to drive kids to school or call Uber. Some districts have utilized charter bus companies at great expense. Massachusetts even deployed the National Guard to drive school buses. Many drivers launched wildcat strikes without union sanction across the US in response to unbearable working conditions and paltry pay. Various police-state measures have also been used to keep schools open. Oklahoma recently allowed unmasked and armed police officers to substitute in classrooms. Arizona has enlisted the National Guard to fill in for sick teachers. In Broward County, Florida, security forces were used to block exits in the schools to prevent students from engaging in a district-wide walkout, protesting unsafe conditions in the schools. One district in St. Louis, Missouri, is using the students themselves to deal with the staffing shortage. In December, the Northwest District hired 20 students part-time to fill nine open positions in maintenance, food service and child care. One child worker, 15, was paid below Missouris minimum wage, prompting anger from community members, with one commenting on the Facebook advertisement for the job fair, It is slave labor. In Michigan, where schools are the number one source of COVID-19 cases, Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a bipartisan bill effectively providing a legal mechanism to keep children in school even without teachers by decreasing requirements for substitute teaching from 60 college credit hours to just having a high school diploma. Missouri, Oregon, Illinois, Colorado, Hawaii and other states have similarly decreased substitute requirements. In Arizona, mirroring the rest of the country, teachers are being forced to cover classes, many with subjects different from their specialization, while losing time otherwise spent on already immense workloads. One Arizona teacher tweeted, I have covered classes 24 times. There were 62 school days in this time period. I have lost 39% of my planning/grading/collaboration time because we cannot find substitutes. Many replied to the Tweet detailing similar circumstance. Support staff and administrators across the state are also being forced to cover classrooms as a result of acute shortages. The mass exodus of educators and the reactionary measures taken by schools to ensure classes stay open exposes the fraudulent claims by the Biden administration, unions and the corporate media that the reopening of schools has to do with concerns over childrens welfare, mental health and learning loss. As Omicron cases continue to surge, the teachers unions have played a despicable role in suppressing the opposition of teachers and reopening the schools. American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten, recently noting that over 98 percent of schools are now open as opposed to 45 percent last winter, said, That shows remarkable strength and courage and fortitude on behalf of teachers and paraprofessionals. The staggering conditions facing teachers and students in K-12 schools point to an entire breakdown of public education under the weight of the pandemic. Public education, a longstanding institution of American democracy and society, has been under bipartisan attack for decades. The ruling elite sees the present situation as an opportunity to deepen the assault, further cut funding for public schools and promote school privatization. Recently, Arizonas Republican Governor Doug Ducey has allowed families to sign up for school vouchers if their schools pause in-person learning. Other proponents of school privatization, such as former US Secretary of Education Betsy Devos and Alabama state senator Del Marsh, are actively promoting legislation to implement school choice and voucher programs, which would undermine public education in favor of privately-run charter schools. Federal funding provided for schools through Bidens American Rescue Plan Act is entirely insufficient to make up for the loss of funding at the start of the pandemic and due to declines in enrollment. Major districts across the country are beginning to see drastic budget deficits lead to further cuts to programs and jobs. Oakland Unified School District in California confronts a $90 million budget deficit, with officials pursuing draconian cuts that include the shuttering of a dozen schools, cutting vital programs and mass layoffs. Against the profit interests of the financial oligarchy and independent of both capitalist political parties and the unions, educators and students must unite with workers and youth internationally and take up a fight for a globally coordinated strategy to eliminate COVID-19 and put an end to the pandemic. The WSWS urges educators to sign up to join and build rank-and-file committees throughout the US and internationally to fight to save lives and guarantee universal access to free, high quality education. The Rank-and-File Committee for Safe Education in Turkey calls on educators, parents and students to oppose the reopening of schools for in-person education on February 7, and to take action to demand remote learning amid the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. The ruling class is removing the remaining measures against COVID-19 in Turkey and internationally, effectively ditching the pretense that it is trying to fight the pandemic. According to its policy, nonessential workplaces and schools must be kept open, regardless of how many millions of people are infected or die. Doctors of the Istanbul Medical Chamber stand in homage to Dr. M. Mustafa Kartal who died of COVID-19, December 11, 2020, Istanbul. [Credit: Istanbul Medical Chamber] Growing mass opposition to this homicidal policy around the world shows the way forward. In the US, Canada, France, Austria, Britain and Greece last month, teachers and students went on strikes and walked out of classrooms against the unsafe reopening of schools. Social opposition to this policy of mass infection is rising in Turkey as well. On February 3, more than 100,000 tweets were posted demanding the resignation of Education Minister Mahmut Ozer. In an online survey of more than 1,400 people, 93 percent of respondents said there should be remote learning in the second semester. University students are campaigning on social media for final exams to be online. Moreover, high living costs due to deadly pandemic policies are driving a wave of wildcat strikes spreading across Turkey. The Rank-and-File Committee for Safe Education calls on educators, parents and students to give this opposition a conscious and organized character and to take action by forming rank-and-file committees demanding an immediate transition to high-quality remote education. They must unify their struggles with the developing movement of the working class. The Omicron variant, which is known to affect children heavily, is spreading rapidly. The reopening of schools is not based on childrens educational or social needs, but on the ruthless profit drive of the ruling class. They aim to use schools as nurseries so that parents can be forced to go to work. However, all experience to date shows that schools are one of the main centers of spread of the virus. Health Minister Fahrettin Kocas claim that there is nothing to be afraid of is based on profit calculations, not scientific facts. According to the Turkish political establishment and trade unions, which directly or indirectly support this policy, it is not a cause for concern that more than 100,000 people are officially infected and over 200 die from a preventable disease every day! After the supposedly mild Omicron variant became dominant, the number of daily cases worldwide rose from under 1 million to over 3 million. The global daily death toll also surpassed 12,000 for the first time since last May. While the total official death toll worldwide exceeds 5.7 million, the actual death toll from the pandemic is estimated to be near 20 million. The official death toll in Turkey has exceeded 88,000, but the actual number is estimated to be at least 250,000. There is no limit, however, to the number of people the ruling class can sacrifice for capitalist profit and wealth. The massive loosening of isolation and quarantine policies, the limitation of COVID-19 testing, and the propaganda that the pandemic is coming to an end reveal that governments are committing a public health crime. The Turkish Medical Association (TTB) and public health experts warn that intensive care units are starting to fill up and that the death toll will surge due to an unhindered spread of Omicron. Contrary to the unscientific claims of Health Minister Koca, the health disaster caused by COVID-19 cannot be compared to influenza. While statistics show that COVID-19 causes about 10 times more deaths, the devastating impact of the pandemic is not limited to this. In addition to the damage by Long COVID, studies show that children are at substantially higher risk of diabetes after COVID-19 infections. As the World Socialist Web Site recently explained, There has also been an unprecedented surge in the rise of croup and tracheitis among children. The Omicron infection of childrens narrow upper airways can cause their breathing to get obstructed and cause a characteristic barking cough. The Turkish government does not allow vaccinations under the age of 12 and also hides statistics on children. However, pediatric data released in the US indicate what kind of disaster is taking place in Turkey and other countries as well. According to data from the American Association of Pediatrics (AAP), more than 3.5 million children were infected just in January in the US, when schools reopened with the New Year. The total number of confirmed cases in children is currently 11.4 million. In 2022, the number of children who died from COVID-19 in the US rose to 72. Throughout the pandemic, a total of over 1,100 children have died from COVID-19 in that country of 334 million people. A US psychologist points to another devastating impact of the pandemic, which has been totally ignored by the political establishment, media and unions: I would argue that mental health has been compromised due to experiencing an ongoing collective trauma Children who lose their caregivers, specifically those who inadvertently infected them, are likely to experience survivors guilt, which is a symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can lead to depression, anxiety, and difficulties with relationships. This disaster is not inevitable! In China, with a population of 1.4 billion, which continues to implement a science-based Zero COVID policy, the total deaths have been kept below 5,000. The total number of cases has reached only 105,000 so far, despite widespread testing of millions of people. The elimination strategy implemented in China combines public health measures such as temporary lockdowns, isolation of infected persons, widespread testing and contact tracing with massive vaccination. Thanks to these measures, since May 2020, schools have been kept open and social life has been largely uninterrupted in China without causing mass infections and deaths. Such a scientific policy must be implemented worldwide. Appealing to establishment parties or unions that have supported or implemented policies of mass death for two years is useless. Implementing a scientific strategy depends on mobilizing the working class and youth, including educators, independently of all establishment parties and trade unions. To save lives, workers and youth must take matters into their own hands and fight for the following demands raised by other rank-and-file committees around the world, with whom we stand in solidarity: * Close all schools and nonessential workplaces until reaching Zero COVID cases. * Funding and implementing high-quality remote education * Financial support for all workers and small businesses affected by temporary lockdowns *Financial support for parents who must stay at home with their children *A program of global mass vaccination, including of children *A program of mass testing and rigorous contact tracing, establishing readily-accessible testing centres in each city and town *Reinstate a 14-day isolation or quarantine for all infected or exposed individuals, with full financial support *Mandatory high-quality masking in all public places. Masks must be provided free of charge. *A science education program for the population, conducted with the assistance of scientists and physicians *Expropriating the wealth of billionaires to meet the needs of society and implement a global Zero COVID program We call on all educators, parents and students who support this perspective to contact us, establish rank-and-file committees for safe education, and expand this vital struggle for public health. 25 years ago: French neo-fascists win local elections National Front leader Jean-Marie Le Pen in 2002 On February 9, 1997, the French neo-fascist National Front (FN) of Jean Marie Le Pen won an election in the small town of Vitrolles near Marseille. The victory in Vitrolles came after the 1995 FN wins in Orange, Marignane, and Toulon. FN candidate Catherine Megret was elected mayor with 52 percent of the ballots cast. Her only opponent, the Socialist Party (PS) council leader Jean-Jacques Anglade, obtained just 47.5 percent of the vote. Total voter turnout was very high, at 82 percent. The new mayor announced the launching of a France First campaign. She told the press, We here in France are now in a state of emergency. Our voters wanted us to scare people who dont belong. She immediately announced the closure of eight community centers that were mainly used by immigrant and anti-racist French youth. Immigrants were also subjected to stepped-up policing and ID checks in the streets. For nearly 15 years, Anglade had presided over a deepening social crisis in Vitrolles. At the time of the election, 22 percent of the population and over 30 percent of youth were unemployed. In the first round of the election, Megret obtained 46.7 percent, Anglade 37 percent, and Jacques Chirac, the candidate of the RPR, Gaullist government party, only 16 percent. The RPR withdrew and together with its coalition partner, the UDF, made a show of antifascism, urging its supporters to vote for the PS in the second round. They called it a republican front for the defense of the republic against the extreme right wing. This led to conflicts within the right-wing political milieu of the ruling parties, who called for their support base to vote FN. But the main factor in the FN victory was the relatively high vote for the fascists in working class neighborhoods that once voted solidly for the Socialist Party (PS) and the Communist Party (PCF). Opinion polls predicted that in a general election, one in three workers and one in three unemployed people would cast a ballot for the FN, placing its vote above that of the PS and the Stalinists of the PCF. Vitrolles was not a local phenomenon. The rise of the fascists was the product of two interconnected phenomena throughout France and all of Europe. First was the dramatic economic and social decay of capitalism. Second was the rottenness of the traditional parties and trade unions in the workers movement which blocked any progressive way out of the crisis for the working class. 50 years ago: UK state of emergency against miners strike Funeral process for Fred Matthews, killed on the picket line by a scab truck UK Prime Minister Edward Heath declared a state of emergency throughout the country on February 8, 1972, as a nationwide coal miners strike continued to paralyze heavy industry and the electricity supply. The emergency declaration, the third such strikebreaking order under Heath in three years, was used to mobilize the military, with army vehicles transporting coal and conducting essential work. The February 9 funeral of miner Fred Matthews, killed February 3 on the picket line by a scab truck, was attended by at least 6,000 workers. The strike then reached its point of highest tension at what became known as the Battle of Saltley Gate. Miners, who had been picketing at the Birmingham fuel storage depot since the day of Matthews death, battled police who attacked strikers and carried out scores of arrests. Workers at Saltley Gate were subject to repeated attacks by trucks ramming through their picket lines in the same manner that had killed Matthews. On February 10, hundreds of miners picketing at Saltley Gate were joined by over 20,000 workers from other industries, forcing the closure of the depot. One miner at Saltley Gate, Tony Morris, told the Trotskyist newspaper Workers Press, We will stay on strike till Ted Heath gets down on his hands and knees. This strike can be won. Weve suffered five weeks, and well suffer another five. Speaking on the solidarity of other workers he continued, We have had one pledge from one factory that if they reopen the gate tomorrow 5,000 will be here. There was massive support for the miners in the British working class. Heaths declaration came as 115,000 power supply workers were gearing up to join the coal strike, posing the potential of the development of a nationwide general strike. Fearing that situation could spiral out of control, the UK government conceded pay increases of around 27 percent on February 18, bringing the strike to an end. Presented by union officials and Labour politicians as a victory for workers, the pay increase was a great bargain for the British ruling class. The trade union bureaucracy, in ramming through the concession, had once again come to the rescue at a moment of revolutionary peril. 75 years ago: Paris Peace Treaties with Nazi allies formally end World War II Bulgarian invaders in Greece, 1941 On February 10, 1947, the Paris Peace Treaties were signed, defining the position of five states that had aligned themselves with Nazi Germany during the Second World War. Overseen by the Allied powers victorious in the war, the US, Britain, France and the Soviet Union, the Treaties were one of the final international conventions formally ending the conflict, which had concluded almost two years before. The Treaties were the subject of the 21-nation Paris Peace Conference, held from July 29 to October 15, 1946. The deliberations were bound up with the formation of the United Nations and the new postwar order of international relations. The nations directly affected by the treaties were Italy, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria and Finland. Italy lost most of its colonial possessions, including those seized before and during the war. Among them were territories in East Africa and Libya in the north of the continent, as well as the Italian concession in the Chinese city of Tianjin. Italys designs on Albania were quashed, with that countrys independence formally recognized. The Dodecanese Islands were returned to Greece and the French border with Italy slightly adjusted in Frances favor. Finland also lost territory, with the treaties upholding the border established in the Winter War of 1940 with the Soviet Union. Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria were also returned to their prewar borders. The Paris Peace Conference had been held when the Allies were still administering Germany through four separate zones, with a modicum of cooperation between the imperialist powers and the Soviet Union. It was one of the last major international forums to end its deliberations without sharp conflicts between the Soviet Union and the US. By 1947, the Truman administration was pivoting to an aggressive Cold War policy, aimed at asserting US hegemony throughout Europe and internationally. 100 years ago: Dutch arrest Indonesian Communist leader Tan Malaka On February 13, 1922, Dutch colonial authorities arrested Tan Malaka, a leader of the PKH, the Communist Union of the Indies (the forerunner of the PKI, Communist Party of Indonesia) for seeking to expand a strike of government pawnbrokers into a general strike of Indonesian workers. The Dutch initially sent Malaka into exile in Timor but later allowed him to go to Holland. Malaka, the son of a relatively well-to-do employee of Dutch agricultural firms, had studied in Holland from 1914 to 1919, where, under the impact of the 1917 October Revolution, he had begun reading key Marxist works. After his return to Indonesia, Tan Malaka began to teach the children of tea plantation workers and sought to establish independent Indonesian schools. He began writing in left-wing and liberal journals, depicting the conditions of agricultural workers. He contacted the ISDV, the Social Democratic organization in Indonesia founded by Henk Sneevliet, which was to become the PKH in 1920 and affiliate with the Communist International. Malaka also participated in nationalist Islamic organizations and was elected as a part of left-wing slate to the colonial Indonesian parliament. Tan Malaka joined the PKH in 1921 and became the leader of the Printing Workers Association, playing an important role in the young Indonesian trade union movement. He became chair of the party but sought to permit dual membership between the Communist movement and Islamic nationalist organizations. During his exile in the Netherlands, Malaka joined the Dutch Communist Party (CPN) and attended the Fourth Congress of the Communist International in Moscow in November 1922, where he proposed collaboration between Pan-Islamism and the Communist movement. He became a representative of the Comintern in Asia, based in the Philippines, but was disoriented by the increasing Stalinization of the International. An abortive revolution led by the PKI in Indonesia in 1926, inspired by the Comintern and opposed by Malaka, led to a major defeat for the party. Subsequently Malaka drew further away from the party into bourgeois nationalist politics. He participated in the Indonesia War of Independence against the Dutch and other imperialist powers after 1945 and was executed by a faction of the nationalist governments military in 1949. As the first US combat troops ordered in by President Biden arrived in Poland and Germany Sunday, the campaign of warmongering mounted by the American government and media reached a new peak of intensity. Some 1,700 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division landed in Poland Sunday, following the arrival of their commanding general, U.S. Army Major General Christopher Donahue, the previous day. The troops will be deployed in southeastern Poland, near the borders with Belarus and Ukraine. U.S. Army soldiers from the 18th Airborne Division walk out to a C-17 aircraft as they deploy to Europe on Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022 from Fort Bragg, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward) At a ceremony to welcome the troops, Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said proudly that this was the first group of American soldiers from an elite unit to be stationed in his country. General Donahue declared, Our national contribution here in Poland shows our solidarity with all of our allies here in Europe and obviously during this period of uncertainty we know that we are stronger together. Another group of about 300 soldiers from the 18th Airborne Corps arrived in Wiesbaden, Germany on Friday, with the Pentagon saying they would establish a headquarters to support the paratroopers being deployed in Poland. Some 1,000 US troops already stationed in the German town of Vilseck, a squadron equipped with Stryker armored vehicles, is being redeployed to Romania. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan appeared on several Sunday television interview programs to warn that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could take place at any moment. On ABC, he said that the US was prepared to respond in a united, swift, and severe way with our allies and partners should he choose to move forward with a military escalation. Virtually all US newspapers led their Sunday editions with reports commissioned by the Pentagon and CIA that Russia would have assembled by mid-February about 70 percent of the military forces required to conquer Ukraine, and that such a war could kill 50,000 civilians and create 5 million refugees. There was no effort to explain the conflict between the headlines about Russia approaching 70 percent of an invasion force and the month-long campaign of hysterical pronouncements by the White House and the American media that an invasion had been fully prepared and was awaiting only a final decision by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Instead, the two lies peddled by the military-intelligence apparatus were combined without even acknowledging the contradiction. The press accounts cited information delivered to Congress last Thursday in briefings by top Biden administration officials, including Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, and Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. A long-planned Russian military exercise with the military forces of Belarus, to be held in that country February 10-20, is now being portrayed as a staging ground for a possible invasion of Ukraine. The American media notes, as though it represented proof of Russias intentions rather than a fact of geography, that Belarus shares a long border with Ukraine and the Ukrainian capital Kyiv is less than 100 miles away. The barrage in the American media has allowed only a handful of facts to slip through that undermine the screams about imminent war, some of them attributed to the Ukrainian government itself, which has some reservations about an effort by Washington to fight Moscow to the last Ukrainian. The New York Times reported Saturday, Under Ukraines assessment, Russia would be unable to sustain an invasion across different points of attack for more than a week because of a lack of supplies including ammunition, food and fuel deployed to front line positions, nor does it have sufficient reserve forces. General Philip Breedlove, former NATO commander, told the newspaper that the satellite images of rows of tanks, regularly shown on television and in US newspapers, were not a force ready for invasion. That is not in tactical or offensive formation, he said. Thats a formation for show. And in a report Sunday from the Ukrainian capital, ABC correspondent Terry Moran admitted there was no fear of imminent war, and people were going about their daily lives undisturbed. Here in Kyiv, in Ukraine, on the knifes edge, things feel very different, he said. The Ukrainian government continues to say that they dont read this situation the same way. They dont see and analyze the Russians as ready to invade. And in fact, Ukrainian government officials suggest that the U.S. may be alarmist. Russias deputy ambassador to the United Nations, Dmitry Polyanskiy responded to the latest round of US accusations on Twitter. Madness and scaremongering continue, he wrote. What if we would say that US could seize London in a week and cause 300K civilian deaths? All this based on our intelligence sources that we wont disclose. Would it feel right for Americans and Brits? Its as wrong for Russians and Ukrainians. But the overall position of Putin and the Russian capitalist class, which he represents, has been to seek an accommodation with the imperialist powers, if not with the US, then with France and Germany. Both French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz are to travel to Moscow in the next weeks for talks on the Ukraine crisis. Putin has reiterated insistently that his government cannot accept Ukraine joining NATO and demands a guarantee to that effect. At the same time, he has called for NATO to return to its 1997 boundaries, before the US-led alliance expanded into Eastern Europe and even into the Baltic States, formerly part of the Soviet Union. At that time, Washington gave repeated assurances that it had no desire to bring NATO to Russias doorstep, only to violate them as soon as the opportunity presented itself. Within the establishment media, there is hardly an ounce of criticism of US moves to provoke a war in Europe which could rapidly engulf the world, and lead to the use of nuclear weapons for the first time since Hiroshima and Nagasaki. A statement last week by the World Socialist Web Site International Editorial Board warned: The American ruling class has shown that it is impervious to mass death. Over 900,000 Americans have died of COVID-19 in less than two years, but the Biden White House does not even speak of it. The evening news anchor discusses the daily weather and not the daily dead. There is not a shred of a conscience that will prevent Washington from starting a catastrophic global war. There is a madness in this policy, but it is a madness with objective causes. The drive to war is fueled by an utterly toxic mixture of deranged geopolitical ambitions and insoluble internal crisis. Whatever the immediate outcome of the manufactured crisis, or its ebbs and flows, the great danger is that the working class is being systematically lied to and excluded politically while the capitalist ruling elite plunges humanity recklessly into the cauldron of war. The decisive issue is the political education and mobilization of workers and youth and the building of a mass movement against imperialist war and for socialism. A union branch meeting at the University of Sydney last Monday provided a revealing picture of how the trade unions are trying to stifle working-class opposition, including among educators and students, to the reopening of campuses, schools and other workplaces amid soaring COVID-19 infections. Across Australia, university managements are moving to resume face-to-face classes, or have already done so, despite the countrys high levels of infections and deaths. This has nothing to do with the education or welfare of students. It is a spearhead in the broader let it rip offensive being waged by the corporate elite and its governments, both in Australia and internationally. The main quadrangle of the University of Sydney (Wikimedia Commons) International students are being flown into Australia and offered visa fee refunds and allowed to work full-time. That is, in order to shore up university finances, boost revenues in tertiary educationone of Australia capitalisms most lucrative industriesand exploit the students as cheap labour. Aware of widespread concern among university workers and students, the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) branch committee called the January 31 meeting to propose a motion that supports the efforts of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) to facilitate returns to workplaces by appealing to employers to produce risk mitigation plans in partnership with the unions. The motion asked management to agree to a series of vague requests, such as that staff who did not wish to return to campus and whose work cannot practicably be done from home should be given alternative duties. Rooms should have minimum ventilation standards, there should be mask-wearing indoors when working with others and management-supplied rapid antigen tests (RATs). The motion employed the language of management itself. It said the two-year experience of the pandemic showed that Covid responses involve trade-offs between costs and benefits and these trade-offs need to be carefully assessed. What the pandemic has actually demonstrated is the readiness of the capitalist elite to sacrifice the health and lives of millions of working people, the elderly and children in order to reap the benefits of soaring profits and wealth. To head off calls for a unified fight by staff and students to stop the dangerous campus reopening, the motion concluded: If management fails to meet these demands we reserve the right to recommend to members not to return to campus, on the basis that doing so would be unsafe. As the discussion at the meeting showed, there are real fears among staff members about being exposed, along with students, family members and the wider community, to infections that could have potentially fatal or long-term health consequences. Among the amendments moved by members were for management to guarantee access to N95 masks, to conduct regular on-campus testing, and to check the vaccination status of people entering the campus. Concerns were raised also about the poor ventilation in buildings where air-conditioning breakdowns commonly occur and windows cannot be opened. One chat comment objected: Very inadequate on ventilation. Where is the purchase of HEPA filter purifiers even? There was no answer from the committee. The NTEU committees central preoccupation was to block discussion on an opposed resolution moved by a supporter of the Committee for Public Education (CFPE), calling for a joint stand by staff and students nationally and internationally against the deadly live with the virus program being imposed by capitalist governments. That resolution began by stating: That this meeting opposes any return to campus amid the Omicron disaster and urges all university workers and students to fight for joint strikes and walkouts to force an immediate return to remote learning, in order to prevent mass COVID outbreaks. The CFPE motion said the countrys governments, Labor Party and Liberal-National alike, were responsible for unfettered Omicron transmission, and pointed to the serious outbreaks occurring in universities across the US. The branch committee insisted that the CFPE motion would not be discussed unless the committees resolution was defeated, and that the hour-long meeting would be devoted to discussing and taking amendments on it. Speaking against the NTEU motion, university worker Zac Hambides, who had submitted the CFPE resolution, said COVID was an airborne virus, which meant there was no safe way to re-open schools and universities during high levels of infection. Masks, vaccines, ventilation are all important measures but cannot be implemented effectively on a mass scale to ensure people are safe, he said. Hambides warned the meeting: The NTEU resolution will result in increased infections and illness among academics, staff, students, their families and the working class more broadly. As a result of the position taken by the branch committee, the NTEU national office and the ACTU, people will die. In an attempt to counter these remarks, a member of Socialist Alternative, a pseudo-left group, spoke to shore up support for the NTEU motion. She claimed to agree with a lot of points from the previous speaker and could not personally agree to a return to campus yet but could still support the motion. She moved an amendment that management should not force us to return to on-campus work with current very high levels of infection. That amendment was overwhelmingly passed, reflecting the extent of the opposition to returning to face-to-face classes and other physical worksites. Like the NTEU motion as a whole, however, it leaves staff members to fight management return-to-campus demands as individuals. NTEU branch president Nick Riemer declared that the amendment was in keeping with the spirit of the committees motion. Before the meeting even started, the committee had engaged in political censorship. It refused to circulate the CFPE motions final section, which urged staff and students to form rank-and-file committees, independent of the unions, to fight for a shutdown of non-essential production, with full compensation for workers, and online learning for the schools and universities. In an email, Riemer informed Hambides that these calls were incompatible with the unions rules, which confined it to protecting the interests of trade unionists. That rejects any broader fight to protect the interests of students, other workers and the wider population in Australia and globally. This epitomises the role of trade unions, which seek to straitjacket workers within the narrow confines of seeking agreements with employers over the terms of continuing the wage labour needed to ensure profitable operations. With the help of the pseudo-left amendment, the NTEU motion was ultimately agreed by about 60 of the 80 or so attendees, with 4 against and 2 recorded abstentions. Members of the CFPE and the International Student for Social Equality (IYSSE) are campaigning for university workers and students to oppose any return to campus during the Omicron disaster and to form rank-and-file committees to link up with the international development of strikes, student walkouts and protests. Such a movement needs to be part of a broader struggle in Australia and internationally for the elimination of the virus and for a socialist perspective, aimed at reorganising society to meet the needs of working people, not the profit demands of the financial elite. In a grim milestone in the pandemic, last week all 72 counties in the state of Wisconsin reported critically high levels of transmission of COVID-19 for a record fourth week in a row. Almost all new confirmed cases are from the Omicron variant, which had surged in the state for weeks until peaking in late January. Almost 2 percent of the entire states population has tested positive for COVID-19 in the previous two weeks, or over 1,900 confirmed cases for every 100,000 Wisconsinites, according to the Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA). According to the New York Times tracker, more than 1.5 million infections have been confirmed since the beginning of the pandemic, equivalent to one quarter of the states population. In Menominee County, which is majority Native American and more than 22 percent of the population lives below the official poverty line, approximately half of all residents have contracted the virus. In this May 11, 2020, file photo, Wisconsin National Guard members administer COVID-19 tests in a parking lot in Milwaukee.(AP Photo/Morry Gash, File) There have been 12,600 COVID-19 deaths across the state, accounting for more than 2 out of every 1,000 residents. There continues to be an average of 44 COVID-19 deaths per day, not far off from the all-time high of 68 recorded in December 2020. Despite attempts by local media to portray the pandemic crisis as subsiding, there is still a consistent rate of over 4,500 confirmed positive cases a day with over 18 percent of all COVID-19 tests in the state coming back positive. The strain on the states health care system can be seen in the rates of hospitalizations due to the disease: the WHA reported on Wednesday 578 new hospital admissions of patients in critical need of care, the highest one-day total since the start of the pandemic. On Thursday, 371 people were admitted, the second highest total in one day. Of the over 1,500 ICU beds in Wisconsin, only 8.5 percent remain available to the public. More than 1,000 people in the state have been hospitalized in the last three days. All of this is occurring as vaccination rates in the state continue to stagnate. Only 59 percent of Wisconsinites are reported as fully vaccinated, with 63 percent of the population having received at least one dose. According to WBAY, the average number of doses being given per day in the last week is around 8,200, the lowest since November of last year. While there is some overlap due to the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, the numbers still reveal a bleak situation. The surge of cases and deaths is hardly over, despite the number of cases themselves declining in the past two weeks. Still, the recommendations for stopping the spread remain tentative at best. Since a statewide mask mandate was struck down last year by the state Supreme Court, Dr. Ryan Westergaard of the Department of Health Services Bureau of Communicable Diseases has asked everyone to voluntarily wear masks in order to stop the spread, hoping to curb the infection rate to less than 400, 500 cases a day, according to Fox 6 Milwaukee. This limited guidance comes as the state hurries to convert Wisconsin National Guard troops into Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) in order to help with severe medical staff shortages. No less than 70 National Guard members are already working in 17 skilled nursing facilities, with more being trained this month. As newly confirmed cases decline and more resources are being used to tend to staffing shortages in medical facilities, a new development has the potential to bring the states health care system even closer to the brink of collapse: the first confirmed case of the new BA.2 subvariant of the Omicron variant was detected in Dane County this week. The subvariant is still mysterious in its transmission rate and lethality, but UW-Health infectious disease physician Dr. Nasia Safdar told WBAY, it seems to be a little even more transmissible than Omicron. Westergaard also offered his analysis, saying that while the new subvariant does not appear to cause any new types of illness, he could not yet predict the its effect on case numbers and hospitalizations. The BA.2 variant, also known as stealth Omicron due to the difficulty of tests to identify this particular strain, being found in Dane County only underscores the seriousness of the situation in the state. Dane County not only contains the states capital in Madison, but also the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which has continued its reckless policy of completely opening up the school to in-person learning despite the massive surge of cases in the state. Wisconsins low vaccination rate and the complete lack of an elimination strategy is setting up the state for a renewed surge of COVID-19, led by BA.2, which has been identified in at least 50 countries. A study from the Statens Serum Institute in Denmark has found the new subvariant to be 1.5 times more transmissible than the original Omicron variant. The World Health Organization (WHO) has not designated the subvariant to be one of concern yet, but said it should be prioritized independently. Westergaard, following the lead of the Biden administration, is participating in the charge to downplay the threat posed by new variants and a pandemic which continues to kill thousands of Americans every day. As reported in The Hill, Westergaard went on the record Thursday to explain how the virus will become endemic by the end of 2022, despite the fact that he did not elaborate how or when this endemic phase would occur. World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus issued a stern warning against this blase attitude to Omicron, and the pandemic in general, as deaths continue to rise worldwide: We're concerned that a narrative has taken hold in some countries that because of vaccines, and because of Omicrons high transmissibility and lower severity, preventing transmission is no longer possible, and no longer necessary. Nothing could be further from the truth. Maria van Kerkhove of the WHO took to Twitter to express her concerns regarding certain countries dangerous plan of getting back to normal, saying, I know everyone wants to get back to normal, but this level of intense circulation and death is not normal. It's not a global situation that should be accepted nor tolerated when we have the tools to change the course of this pandemic. While the WHO refrained from promoting more lockdowns and other measures necessary to eliminate COVID-19 altogether, these voices of deep concern underscore the severity the pandemic still holds, especially for students, teachers, and other front-line personnel being forced to work in person. This normalization of mass death must be stopped! Neither 5,000 cases a day nor 500 cases a day are acceptable for workers risking their lives every day, especially as new and unknown variants circulate wildly with no measures take to stamp them out. It is only the working class, the objectively revolutionary class, under the banner of international socialism with a Marxist program, which can put a stop to the homicidal policies of the ruling class. As government officials and even health care officials attempt to declare the pandemic over, brazenly defying the advice and analysis from the WHO, it is the working class who will primarily fall victim to these policies. Enough is enough! The Socialist Equality Party encourages all workers who oppose mass death and the victimization of the working class to join us in the fight to end the pandemic once and for all. Australia updated the committee on the work of the Informal Dialogue on Plastics Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade (IDP). Sixty-eight members currently participate in the IDP and work is ongoing to draft the plan for implementing the ministerial statement launched in December. New Zealand updated the committee on the joint Ministerial Statement on Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform, likewise launched in December. New Zealand said 45 WTO members have endorsed the statement and that the signatories intend to meet in the months ahead to advance work. The statement remains open to new sponsors, New Zealand said. Several co-sponsors expressed their support, while some members said this issue should not be addressed in the WTO. Canada provided an update on the Trade and Environmental Sustainability Structured Discussions (TEESD). The ministerial statement issued by the TESSD proponents in December 2021 sets out a roadmap of meetings for 2022. Canada said participants in the structured discussions intend to finalize a work plan in the near term. Several members who took the floor noted the issues and elements they suggested be included in the workplan. Canada said the TEESD remains open to new co-sponsors. New Zealand also provided an update on behalf of participants on negotiations towards the Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS). A second ministerial meeting was held in November and the seventh round of negotiations concluded in December. The eighth round will be held in March, New Zealand said. Efforts against deforestation The European Union provided an update on the European Commission's legislative proposal on deforestation as part of a broader update on the European Green Deal. The EU said the objective of the deforestation proposal is to minimize the risk that products associated with deforestation and forest degradation are placed on the EU market. The regulation will set due diligence rules for operators to ensure that only deforestation-free and legal products are allowed into the EU market. The EU said it selected palm oil, soy, cattle, cocoa, coffee, and manufactured products such as leather, chocolate, and furniture to be covered by the proposal based on a thorough scientific and cost-benefit analysis of their impact on deforestation. The EU also presented a timeline for other measures and proposed packages to achieve its environmental objectives. Several members in response said that sustainability initiatives should take into consideration the needs and capacity of developing countries, particularly those that have suffered massive deforestation in the past. Several members urged the EU to favour multilateral cooperation and dialogue in its environmental efforts. The United Kingdom presented to members the Forest, Agriculture and Commodity Trade (FACT) Dialogue it launched with Indonesia last year. The new initiative brings together a number of countries that are key exporters and importers of agricultural products to discuss how to make trade more sustainable and to prevent deforestation resulting from agricultural practices. Twenty-eight countries have agreed on a joint statement on principles for collaboration, which sets out a roadmap for action. The FACT co-chairs will be reconvening officials in March to finalize the workplan for 2022, the UK said. FACT co-chairs and facilitators also welcome further exploration of how to align the FACT and WTO processes. The United Kingdom also updated the CTE on the side event the UK hosted back-to-back with the Committee meeting, titled Implementing Due Diligence on Forest Risk Commodities Recent Developments in the United Kingdom. The webinar explored the UK's proposed implementation of due diligence legislation, which is being introduced through the UK's Environment Act and aims to tackle illegal deforestation in UK supply chains. Environmental database The Secretariat presented its Environmental Database (EDB) 2020 report, which was published in January. The EDB portal now covers information on roughly 7,000 environment-related notifications, 14,500 measures notified under the WTO Agreement, and 9,300 environment-related entries in Trade Policy Reviews. In 2020, 16% of notifications made to the WTO were environment-related as compared to 8% in 1997. There was a 23% increase in the number of environment-related notifications compared with 2019. Around 50% of the environment-related measures were technical regulations and specifications; followed by import and export licenses, bans or prohibitions; and support measures. The EDB can be accessed here. Other items The United Kingdom and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change briefed the committee on the outcomes from the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference. Both expressed their commitment to continue efforts to ensure the implementation of outcomes. Egypt, the host of COP27, said it looked forward to cooperating with all members to build on the success of COP26. The World Customs Organization, the UN Industrial Development Organization, and the UN Environment Programme provided respective reports on their recent activities. Members also took note of the information session organized by the Secretariat on 19 November for delegates from the Least-Developed Countries (LDC) Group to take stock of the role of the committee and review members' initiatives on trade and environment in order to strengthen LDCs' knowledge on the intersection between trade and environment and to enhance their participation in various relevant fora. Update Feb. 10, 12:26 p.m. Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley issued a statement providing clarification to TVA's statement (shown below). Original article below KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WTVA) - Due to federal law, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) will not direct federal resources to the cultivation and/or distribution of marijuana. This comes on the heels of Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves signing a medical marijuana bill. The following is a copy of TVA's statement. This is a complex and evolving issue and one weve been following closely. We respect the role of state government in making these decisions, but as a federal agency, TVA is required to comply with federal statutes. TVA recognizes that we have an obligation to provide wholesale power supply to Local Power Companies (LPCs) under the wholesale power contract, which is governed by federal law, and that LPCs have an obligation to serve local customers under state law. While some states have enacted (or may soon enact) laws permitting the cultivation and distribution of marijuana for either medicinal or recreational purposes, marijuana, regardless of its intended use, remains a Schedule I substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act of 1970. Federal resources and funds may not be purposely used to facilitate activity that potentially violates federal law. Given this important point, TVA will not direct any federal resources or funds to the cultivation and/or distribution of marijuana. If a TVA employee learns that an end-use customer served by an LPC is engaged in activity that may violate federal law governing marijuana, the employee will report the activity to their management, and TVA management will make a determination regarding our reporting obligations to agencies that may have proper jurisdiction to enforce the federal Controlled Substances Act. TVAs current position is based on our assessment of our obligations on this complex issue. We have reached out to and are working with other federal agencies, including the Department of Justice, to ensure that our actions are consistent with applicable federal requirements. Based on that outreach, if TVA must take additional action, we will communicate any changes to our policy to our customers as soon as possible. In the meantime, we will also closely monitor actions and further guidance from Congress that could further inform TVAs position. By Azernews By Kiymet Sezer Turkeys software and systems company HAVELSAN has produced the first HURKUS-B trainer aircraft simulator, Yeni Shafak newspaper has reported. The first HURKUS simulator produced by HAVELSAN, one of the world's leading simulation technology companies with 40 years of experience, will be delivered to Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) by mid-2022, the report added. The new generation basic trainer aircraft - HURKUS was produced with domestic resources by TAI to meet the needs of the Turkish Armed Forces. The HURKUS-B simulator developed by Turkish engineers provides users with a realistic cockpit experience. "As HAVELSAN, we design and manufacture simulators for all Turkish aircraft." The HURKUS-B trainer simulator is one of them. With this system, we have created an environment that enhances the sense of reality. Any type of fault, weather condition, or disaster can be easily recreated. You wouldn't be able to do this on a real plane. It is extremely difficult to have ideal weather conditions at all times." With this technology, all trainings can be delivered in a safe and risk-free manner," officials stressed. It was noted that the simulator, which provides pilots with real flight experience, will not only reduce the risk of death during training but will also save money and time. "More pilots can be trained in less time." Taking off, preparing, maintaining, and commuting in an airplane takes time. It saves time as well. It makes a 50 to 1 difference in terms of cost, including all factors within one hour of the plane's departure," HAVELSAN officials said. The simulator took about 1.5 years to complete. TAI will receive the first delivery of the produced simulator in June 2022. TAI also uses this simulator for engineering purposes during the HURKUS-B development process. It makes a significant contribution to aircraft bug-fixing and development activities. The Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) HURKUS is a tandem of two-seat, low-wing, single-engine turboprop aircraft being developed as a new basic trainer and ground attack aircraft for the Turkish Armed Forces. Vecihi Hurkus, a World War I and Turkish Independence War veteran pilot, Turkish aviation pioneer, and the first Turkish airplane manufacturer, is honored with the aircraft's name. BATON ROUGE After a text surfaced suggesting that Gov. John Bel Edwards knew more than he had acknowledged about the death of a black man in Louisiana State Police custody, what was going to be a tense redistricting session became more contentious. Battle lines were already drawn between Republicans and Democrats over the balance of power in state legislative and congressional seats, and the controversy involving the governor added a new dimension to the fight It also suddenly reversed the roles that Black lawmakers and Republican leaders had played after the death of Ronald Greene in a high-speed car chase in 2019, as if Louisiana politics had fallen through the looking glass. A controversy over what Gov. John Bel Edwards knew about the Ronald Greene incident has added to the tensions at the Capitol over political redistricting. When videotapes were released last May showing that troopers had beaten Greene severely, raising questions about whether he died from their brutality rather than injuries in a car crash, Republicans were largely silent about what had happened to the 49-year-old Monroe man, and Democrats pushed vehemently for justice and accountability. More: Gov. John Bel Edwards denies any connection with coverup of Ronald Greene's death Now Republicans are out for the governors blood, claiming he misled the public about what he knew, and members of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus, the largest group of Democrats in the Legislature, are parsing their words carefully, fearful of harming a long-time ally. Black lawmakers and civil-rights groups know that the threat of an Edwards veto is one of the few levers they have to influence the redistricting process and that anything that weakens Edwards right now benefits Republican efforts to shape the district maps to their advantage. Rep. Tanner Magee, R-Houma, the second-ranking leader in the House, does not fault Black Caucus members for giving Edwards the benefit of the doubt. He said they need to keep their alliance with him to get any of their agenda through. I think that they see for the greater overall picture on these issues that Governor Edwards is probably the best person to facilitate that for them, Magee said. Story continues Rep. Royce Duplessis, D-New Orleans, said Republicans are hammering Gov. John Bel Edwards over his handling of Ronald Greenes death because Edwards is a Democrat. Rep. Royce Duplessis, D-New Orleans, said the Republicans actions speak for themselves. I think we see why they are hammering down, Duplessis said. It's because you have a Democratic governor. Related: Louisiana State Police detectives met with Gov. Edwards' top attorney about Ronald Greene case Whatever the motivations on either side, the reanimation of the Greene tragedy, and the timing, could have far-reaching political consequences. What's at stake for Edwards, Louisiana? Even though Black residents make up roughly one-third of the states population, only one of Louisianas six congressmen is Black, and Black leaders need Edwards support if they hope to add a second majority Black congressional district. Black legislators also want to see the state Senate maps redrawn in a way that would make it easier to elect 13 Black senators instead of the current 11. Republicans on Senate and House committees voted along party lines Friday to advance maps that would leave those racial breakdowns as they are. If those bills pass in both chambers and the criticism of Edwards response to the Greene case weakens him politically, it might strengthen Republicans chances to override any veto. More: Will Louisiana's Senate seats reflect its minority population? Why redistricting matters Louisiana is in a unique situation, having a Republican-controlled Legislature but a Democratic governor. While Edwards has not said what maps he would or would not veto, he has said that he thinks it would be fair if two of the states six congressional districts were majority Black. Just last year, Edwards was able to narrowly avoid a veto override on another sensitive social topic, a bill that banned transgender children from competing in sports. The Senate voted to override, but the House fell just two votes short. An effort to override his veto of a bill to allow for concealed carry of firearms without training narrowly failed in the Senate. Whats at stake in redistricting is the balance of political power for Louisiana for the next decade. Republicans have an interest in preserving the status quo and Democrats have an interest in carving out a few more positions. Greene died in May 2019 after a struggle with State Police troopers following a high-speed chase outside Monroe. Police initially covered up the incident by telling his family that he died in a car wreck. Edwards was largely silent on the matter and declined to characterize police actions until the Associated Press released bodycam videotapes in May 2021 showing the troopers had beaten, stunned and choked Greene. At that point, Edwards called their actions deeply unprofessional and incredibly disturbing, adding that their behavior was criminal. Should the Legislature investigate? The controversy was reignited when the AP released a report on Jan. 28 showing that Edwards had received a text from the State Police superintendent notifying him of the incident hours after the arrest. The text did not contain Greenes name, and it said he had been driving over 110 mph as troopers pursued him. But the text also noted that a violent, lengthy struggle took place and that the suspect became unresponsive before emergency medical personnel arrived. House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, R-Gonzales, said that Edwards told him last summer that there was no need for a legislative inquiry into the incident because Greene died in a wreck, something the governor denies saying. Senate President Page Cortez, R-Lafayette, who was at that meeting, said he does not remember the governor attributing Greenes death to a wreck. He said he also came away with the sense that there was no need to investigate the incident. Schexnayder said the Legislature should investigate what the governor knew. Edwards said any such investigation would be a witch-hunt with no basis in fact. The Louisiana Republican Party also is calling for an investigation, citing Edwards repeated moral failures. Richard Lipsey, a longtime Republican but a supporter of Edwards, fired back at the state party chair. There is no scandal except in your imagination, Lipsey said. You are damaging your own partys credibility. If Edwards is weakened by the controversy, the fight for two Black congressional districts and for additional Black House and Senate seats could be lost. Tanner Magee, the No. 2 Republican in the House, said Black legislators are giving Gov. John Bel Edwards the benefit of the doubt over the Ronald Greene case because they need his support on redistricting. There's gonna have ramifications for sure, Magee said. I just don't know exactly what they are yet. 'How do we deal with this going forward?' Rep. Jack McFarland, R-Winnfield, acknowledged that the controversy had the potential to be a distraction from the business of redistricting. I don't want it to cloud our judgment, on our responsibility, in fairness to redistricting, McFarland said. While Democrats are saying little about Edwards, Duplessis said they are not giving up the fight over what the State Police did to Greene. This issue with Ronald Greene is nothing new, he said. We've been screaming for justice for Ronald Greene. 'I just won't fail him': In Ronald Greene's death, a mother's defiant quest for truth Right now, we're going to continue to focus on justice for Ronald Greene and accountability, he said. And also focused on redistricting. Davante Lewis, a racial-justice advocate, is worried that both parties will try to use the Greene case for political advantage. I don't want the governor to say he would veto a map that doesn't represent Black people adequately, simply because he's trying to buy favor from Ronald Greene, Lewis said. I don't want the Republicans to use Ronald Greene's death and the murder and the coverup or whatever has happened at State Police as an avenue to say they they're the ones about Black people. Peter Robins-Brown, the executive director for Louisiana Progress, an advocacy group, said any issue that receives this kind of national attention forces politicians to make political calculations. For example, how does this look for us? How do we deal with this going forward? And how do we, frankly, use this to kind of further the larger goals we may have? Robins-Brown said. There also is a chance that the controversy could cause Edwards to draw a harder line on what maps he might veto to help shore up his Black support. The governor and the Black Caucus kind of need each other to get the things done that they want to get done, Robins-Brown said. I would think that it's more likely that this helps strengthen the alliance. Robins-Brown also said that any politicization of the tragedy is bad for everyone. We start thinking about the political implications of it and we often lose track of the humanity involved, he said. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Ronald Greene tragedy, Edwards connections could have consequences Preston Summerhays sinks the winning putt at the 2019 U.S. Junior Golf Championship From the time he was a standard bearer at the WM Phoenix Open at age 10, Preston Summerhays dreamed of one day playing there. Since his amateur golf career took off at age 14, Summerhays worked with the goal in mind of returning to the Phoenix Open. Nearly a decade after his first trip to the Phoenix Open, Summerhays has found his way to the tournament as one of five available sponsor exemptions. Summerhays, now a freshman on the Arizona State golf team, received the call while practicing in Scottsdale with his dad and younger brother. Much to his dad's intuition, the call was something worth pulling his phone out to record. Summerhays would be achieving one of his dreams early into his career. To get that call and finally know that Im playing and Im going to be there, not going to lie, I was trying so hard not to cry. It was such an emotional moment and I worked so hard to get there and for it to finally happen was super special, Summerhays said. Summerhays, 19, comes from an accomplished lineage of golfers. His father and coach, Boyd, has been PGA Tour player Tony Finaus swing coach since 2014. Prestons uncle, Daniel, played professionally and had his nephew as standard bearer in Preston's first trip to the Phoenix Open. Prestons great-grandfather, Pres, was a golf coach at the University of Utah. Preston is now one of two in the Summerhays family blazing a path in Arizona State's golf programs. His younger sister, Grace, enrolled early and is currently playing for the womens team. Grace Summerhays (left) and Preston Summerhays (right) take a photo together at the Utah Men's State Amateur golf tournament in July 2019. Boyds oversight of Prestons career has been critical for him, leading him to be the only choice to be his sons caddy this week at TPC Scottsdale. Were so close, we try to work together as much we can. Hes been my coach since I was born. We just work so hard together and spend so much time together, Preston said. To finally have that accomplishment together is really cool, especially with him on the bag as well. More: WM Phoenix Open field continues to stockpile big names Story continues The Summerhays family will see another familiar face on the course as Finau committed to play at the tournament. Finau, who lost the 2020 Phoenix Open to Webb Simpson in a playoff, said that Preston has been his sidekick since he was nine years old. Hes one-of-a-kind off the golf course. Hes got a lot of great qualities about him. I would say hes super humble, hes very competitive, just a great kid overall. I dont think youll find a more mature 19-year-old kid, Finau said. And then hes got the game to back up the name he carries. A lot of the guys out here know of him because of me and because of his dad and his uncle. Preston has already had an impressive amateur career, competing in the 2020 U.S. Open and 2021 Barbasol Championship. In 2019, he solidified his status as a name to watch when he won the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship. The Summerhays family obviously in the state of Utah for golf is a very prestigious family. But hes going to be the best of all of them. Hell be the best of all of them and its only a matter of time before everyone sees what I see now, but its been cool to watch his progression. I cant say enough good things about him, Finau said. The Summerhays family split time between Utah and Arizona when Preston was growing up, and he is a two-time winner of the Utah State Amateur, but he sees this tournament as his home tournament with his family living only five minutes away from TPC Scottsdale. Summerhays is the second ASU golfer since Jon Rahm in 2015 to play in the Phoenix Open as an amateur. Rahm finished T-5 in that appearance. This will be Summerhays first PGA Tour event playing on a sponsor exemption. It's hard to explain. Its nothing like any tour event Ive been to. Its right in my backyard. That tournament has always meant a lot to me and to finally play in it, its really cool, Summerhays said. Reach the reporter at jenna.ortiz@arizonarepublic.com or 602-647-4122. Follow her on Twitter @jennarortiz. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona State's Preston Summerhays returns to his roots at Phoenix Open A look at some of today's top stories, the weather forecast and a peek back in history. An explosion destroyed a Paradise Valley home over the weekend, but natural gas was said not to be involved. 'The greatest story ever told': The Mesa Easter Pageant is returning to the Mormon Temple after a 3-year absence. Here's what's new and how to see it. New restaurants and bars opened across metro Phoenix serving pizza, ramen, sushi, lobster rolls and Italian food. Here's 23 new restaurants to try. Today, you can expect it to be sunny, with a high near 74 degrees. Clear and chilly at night, with a low near 45 degrees. Get the full forecast here. Today in history On this date in 1877, the city of Tucson was incorporated by legislative enactment. In 1922, a state road camp was established near Fairbanks to begin construction of 18 miles of road west to the Pima-Santa Cruz County line. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy imposed a full trade embargo on Cuba. In 1964, the Beatles arrived at New Yorks John F. Kennedy International Airport to begin their first American tour. In 2014, the Sochi Olympics opened with a celebration of Russias past greatness and hopes for future glory. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: AZ Briefing: Explosion destroys Paradise Valley home Cinema Guild has acquired U.S. rights to Cane Fire, an award-winning documentary from director Anthony Banua-Simon, with plans to release it in theaters across the U.S., beginning with a New York theatrical premiere at the Brooklyn Academy of Music on May 20. The filmmakers deal with Cinema Guild also encompassed his short films Third Shift and Pure Flix and Chill: The David A.R. White Story, which will be released on the educational market. More from Deadline Cane Fire examines the past and present of the Hawaiian island of Kauai, interweaving four generations of family history with accounts of numerous Hollywood productions shot there, along with troves of found footage to create a kaleidoscopic portrait of the economic and cultural forces that have cast indigenous and working-class residents as extras in their own story. The film premiered at Hot Docs in 2020, subsequently going on to screen at the Indie Memphis Film Festival, where it won Best Documentary Feature. It also screened at the Hawaii Film Festival and MoMA Doc Fortnight, among other festivals. Banua-Simon wrote and produced it with Michael Vass. Steve Holmgren served as its exec producer, with Sam Schild as associate producer. Cinema Guild has showcased some of my favorite films in recent memory, said Banua-Simon, so its an enormous honor to be included in their collection. Were so excited to be helping Cane Fire find a wider audience, added Cinema Guild President Peter Kelly. Anthony Banua-Simon is an incredibly talented filmmaker who brings a personal angle to an aspect of the visualization of Hawaii that is not dealt with nearly enough. Other upcoming releases from Cinema Guild, a premier distributor of world cinema, independent films and documentaries, include Fern Silvas Rock Bottom Riser, Payal Kapadias A Night of Knowing Nothing and Ramon and Silvan Zurchers The Girl and the Spider. Recent releases include Ernst Karel and Veronika Kusumaryatis Expedition Content, Hong Sangsoos Introduction and Joshua Bonnettas The Two Sights. Story continues Kelly negotiated the Cane Fire acquisition deal on behalf of Cinema Guild with attorney Steve Holmgrenon behalf of the filmmakers. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Dane DeHaan Christopher Nolans Oppenheimer, a biopic about one of the central figures in the development of the atomic bomb, already has a Scarecrow, an Iron Man, a Black Widow, a Jason Bourne, a Mr. Robot, a potential Sue Storm, and a Safdie brother, but now its also getting a Green Goblinnot the one everybody likes, and maybe not even one most people remember, but a Green Goblin nonetheless. Were talking about Dane DeHaan, who you may know from Amazing Spider-Man 2, or A Cure For Wellness, or (if youre potentially Very Cool) Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets. Hes joined the cast of Oppenheimer, but all The Hollywood Reporter knows about his character is that details are being kept in a lead-lined bunker. Maybe hes playing the Green Goblin again? Green Goblins are big again, thanks to Spider-Man: No Way Home, and it makes a fair amount of sense to put a guy with pumpkin bombs in a movie with mushroom clouds or maybe that doesnt make sense. Read more Anyway, in addition to DeHaan, Oppenheimer stars Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer himself, along with Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, Rami Malek, Benny Safdie, and Josh Hartnett. THR says Universal (which won Nolan after his feud with Warner Bros. over HBO Max) is pitching the movie as an epic thriller that thrusts audiences into pulse-pounding paradox of the enigmatic man who must risk destroying the world in order to save it. (Spoiler alert: It takes a few more decades, at least, for the world to be destroyed.) Filming is starting soon in New Mexico, and Oppenheimer is set for a theatrical releaseand only a theatrical release, we assumeon July 21, 2023. Thats a ways off, so well really looking like fools if they world is really destroyed between now and then. TikTok creator Emira D'Spain has just made history as the first Black trans woman to ever work with Victoria's Secret. The model is using her platform to highlight the power of self-love and authenticity. D'Spain's impact is now encouraging trans humans everywhere to not give up on their authentic selves and embrace their true beauty. Victoria's Secret highlighting a trans woman is a huge stretch from their former restrictive brand representation. This partnership can potentially help shift the perception of trans individuals as they finally have positive representation in the media -- quite the shift from the constant violence and exclusion they face daily within society. Victoria's Secret had previously never cast a trans woman of color. In fact, activist and model Leyna Bloom shared with Teen Vogue in 2018 that her goal was to be the first trans woman of color to walk for Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Now four years later, Victoria's Secret has finally collaborated with a trans woman of color. Hopefully, the brand will begin to feature more amazing women like D'Spain and Bloom, or even cast them in their major campaigns. Let's hope that this effort is the beginning of real representation for all humans in lingerie, and not just a fad. Some future efforts that would help the LGBTQ+ community would include more inclusive efforts like lingerie suited for trans women, and underwear options for those outside of the gender binary as well. Stay tuned for all that D'Spain has in store for Valentine's Day with Victoria's Secret on her TikTok. A judge in Canada has barred an unvaccinated man from seeing his 3 kids in person after deeming him a health risk to his immunocompromised daughter The man will now be allowed to contact his children only through phone or over video calls. Aleksandr Zubkov/Getty Images A judge in Canada has barred an unvaccinated man from seeing his three children in person. The children's mother was granted permission to have the children vaccinated without his consent. He will be allowed to contact the children only through phone or video calls. An unvaccinated man in Canada has been temporarily barred from seeing his three children in person after a judge deemed him to be a health risk to his immunocompromised daughter, according to multiple media reports. Justice Nathalie Godbout of the Court of the Queen's Bench in New Brunswick passed the ruling on January 31, CBC News reported. Under the ruling, the children's mother is allowed to vaccinate her children without requiring the father's consent. In her 26-page decision, Godbout wrote that she passed the ruling with a "heavy heart" and that the father poses a health threat to his three children especially to his 10-year-old daughter, who has a blood condition that requires specialized care. Neither parent was named in the ruling. The father and the children's mother separated in 2019 and have joint custody of the children, CBC reported. Per CBC, the mother applied in October to have the father's visitation rights suspended after she found out he and his new partner were unvaccinated. Prior to the hearing in January, the father refused to let the children get vaccinated. The mother's lawyer, Grant Ogilvie, told CBC that the three children have since received their first COVID-19 vaccine doses. Ogilvie told the outlet that, for the mother, pursuing the case was about doing "what's best for the children." Ogilvie did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment for this story. The father will be granted a "generous" amount of contact with his children but only through phone or over video calls, CBC reported. If he gets vaccinated, he can apply to have the ruling lifted. Godbout also dismissed the father's "research" into the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, which led him to believe that it could harm his daughter, noting that he may have only sought information that supported his position on vaccines. Story continues "His own anecdotal research on such a highly specialized topic carries little to no weight in the overall analysis when measured against the sound medical advice of our public health officials," wrote Godbout. According to the World Health Organization, the Pfizer vaccine can be safely administered to people aged five and above, with children receiving a smaller dose than adults. In November, Canada authorized the use of the Pfizer vaccine for children aged five to 11. A Canadian family lawyer told The Globe and Mail the ruling was unsurprising and showed that Canadian courts are acting in support of official health advisories concerning COVID-19 vaccines. "I think courts are more likely right now, especially with the Omicron variant, to make orders actually impacting the parents' access," another Canadian lawyer, Kirsty Warren, told The Globe and Mail. The case is not the first time unvaccinated parents have had their visitation rights suspended. In January, a Quebec judge temporarily blocked an unvaccinated father from seeing his 12-year-old daughter in person, the French-language Montreal newspaper Le Devoir reported. In August, an Illinois judge suspended an unvaccinated mother's right to see her 11-year-old son, according to a report by The Guardian. Currently, about 83% of Canada's population aged five and above are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Read the original article on Insider Feb. 6Slater claims eighth victory at Pipeline Days ahead of his 50th birthday, Kelly Slater claimed his eighth victory at the Billabong Pro Pipeline on Oahu's North Shore, defeating Hawaii's Seth Moniz in the final. In 6-to 8-foot waves, Slater defeated Moniz 18.77 to 12.53 in the final. Slater took control early with a 9.00 on his third wave, then capped his day with a 9.77 on his final wave. Moniz had a 9.43 on his final wave, but it was not enough to catch Slater. Moniz upset fellow Hawaii native John John Florence in the quarterfinals, edging out a 17.93-16.67 win, then topped Brazil's Caio Ibelli in the semifinals. Slater defeated Japan's Kanoa Igarashi and Brazil's Miguel Pupo en route to the final. The women's event is on call for today, with Hawaii's Moana Jones Wong and Carissa Moore looking to win their respective semifinals. Hittle named head coach in Colorado Former Rainbow Wahine volleyball player Tara Hittle has been named the Colorado-Colorado Springs head volleyball coach, the school announced Tuesday. Hittle, a native of Colorado Springs, played volleyball at UH from 2004 to 2008, helping the Rainbow Wahine to four NCAA Tournament appearances. A three-year team captain, Hittle earned All-WAC honors at three different positions outside hitter, right side and libero. Azusa Pacific tops HPU in hoops The Hawaii Pacific men's and women's basketball teams both fell against visiting Azusa Pacific on Saturday, with the men losing 58-54 and the women 81-64 at the Shark Tank. The women took the floor first, and the No. 3 Cougars (17-1, 13-0 PacWest ) led wire-to-wire against the Sharks (4-13, 1-9 ). HPU was led by Avery Cargill with 17 points and seven rebounds, and Jordyn Jensen added 14 points. Azusa Pacific was led by Kayla Shaw's 20 points, with Molly Whitmore adding 19 points and nine rebounds. The men hung close with Azusa Pacific, getting within 55-54 with 22 seconds to go, but the Cougars (12-6, 9-2 PacWest ) iced the game from the foul line. Colton Martin led HPU (3-16, 0-12 ) with 11 points. Azusa Pacific was led by Hayden Gray's 12 points. Story continues HPU splits pair in softball The Hawaii Pacific softball team split a pair of games on Saturday in the Concordia Kickoff Classic in Irvine, Calif., beating Northwest Nazarene 2-1, then losing 3-0 to CSU Monterey Bay. HPU's Taylor Thompson struck out nine to earn the win over Northwest Nazarene (0-4 ), and the Sharks (4-4 ) rallied for two runs in the sixth inning to grab the lead. In the second game, Jensen Main scattered six hits in a complete-game shutout, striking out nine for CSU Monterey Bay (4-0 ). Sheridan Smith stars in the new ITV drama 'No Return'. (ITV) A family holiday abroad might seem like a dim and distant memory for many of us, but that's the setting for new Sheridan Smith drama No Return. She plays a mum whose world is turned upside down when her teenage son is arrested for a crime he says he didn't commit while they are on a trip to Turkey. Read more: All you need to know about Sheridan Smith talent contest Starstruck Facing a legal system she doesn't understand, she must battle to save her son as well as working out what really happened. In real life, the ITV series faced obstacles to filming thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, but did manage its own trip abroad - here's all you need to know about the locations used. Where is No Return set? Where was it filmed? The cast headed to Spain for filming. (ITV) The emotional drama sees Sheridan Smith as Kathy, a mum of two who goes on a family holiday to Turkey with husband Martin (Michael Jibson) and teenagers Noah (Louis Ashbourne Serkis) and Jess (Lily Sutcliffe). She ends up living every parent's nightmare when Noah is arrested for an apparent assault at a party and she has to battle for him through an unfamiliar legal system. Writer Danny Brocklehurst said: "When you go on holiday you go into a holiday bubble. You usually go to a resort where there are a lot of things set up for tourists and you stay largely within that holiday, touristy bubble. But if you actually get taken out of that and into a foreign legal system, what you realise very quickly is you dont understand the country youre in. Read more: Where was The Bay filmed? "You dont understand their rules, you probably dont understand their culture or their attitude to things. Youve just gone on holiday to enjoy the sun, the sea, the pool and the booze. But actually youre stepping into another country." Many of the interior scenes were filmed in Manchester. (ITV) However, while the drama is set in Turkey, much of the filming actually took place in Spain instead, with the remainder of scenes in Manchester and Liverpool. Brocklehurst explained: "It would have been too complicated to shoot in Turkey, including the problems of the pandemic. The area of Spain we have chosen looks like Turkey anyway. All you need to do is change the signage, including an exterior prison location near Malaga with hotel and prison sets built in Manchester. It looks amazing. Story continues Michael Jibson, who plays Martin, added: "We filmed in Spain, doubling for Turkey, for almost four weeks. We flew into Malaga and moved around quite a bit, including to Almeria, a very beautiful Spanish port - not very touristy at all, but a beautiful beach. Thats where we filmed the exteriors for our prison. Filmed at a real working prison. Louis Ashbourne Serkis plays a teen in trouble with the law. (ITV) "Then we moved to a beautiful Spanish resort called Nerja. My family got to come out and join me for a few nights, which was lovely. And then we moved back to just outside Malaga, in and around Benalmadena, where we filmed scenes of swimming pools and holiday areas." He continued: "We filmed all of the interior scenes predominantly in Bolton and in the centre of Manchester. Including a lot of the interior of the hotel, filmed at what was BHS in Bolton. We also filmed at Liverpool Airport." How did COVID restrictions affect filming? Spain stood in for Turkey. (ITV) Although the pandemic was one of the reasons that production headed to Spain rather than Turkey, it wasn't completely business as usual in the Spanish filming locations. Jibson said: "It was all very strange that we were working with people around us actually having real holidays. It was quite reassuring. Everything was open in Spain but they were very strict in terms of COVID. Read more: Where is The Good Karma Hospital filmed and set? "Everybody was still wearing masks. You felt pretty secure out there. Everybody was round the pool and then when they got up to go to the bar they put a mask on, in their swimwear. It became quite normal." How did the cast feel about filming abroad? Michael Jibson said he loved Malaga. (ITV) For Sheridan Smith, who welcomed her first child, Billy, in 2020, having her son with her was key to filming going well. Explaining that Billy had gone to Spain with her, she said: "I think nowadays you can go away and take (kids) with you. I was in Budapest for six weeks on another job and I didnt see him because we were just coming out of the pandemic. I missed him so much. So I hope if I do jobs in the future I can always have him with me. Even if its just for a little bit of it." She added: "Eventually one day hell realise that mummy is doing it for him and hell understand. But at the moment hes just so young and a bit clingy. I just miss him so much when Im away. But its worth it because it is for him." Read more: Vicky McClure's best screen roles Jibson, whose family also joined him on the shoot, said: "I thought Malaga was going to be this Benidorm type place with high rises. But its actually a very beautiful historic Spanish city on the coast with one of the most incredible cathedrals Ive ever seen surrounded by some beautiful Spanish architecture. With great restaurants and shopping. A great place to be." Sheridan Smith says she loves playing a protective mum. (ITV) Smith said that she had appreciated time away, even if it wasn't a holiday: "It was totally surreal to step on a plane for work. Just to get away was nice. They have very strict protocols and we were regularly tested. I was in most of the scenes so I didnt really get time off in Spain. But it was amazing to be abroad. "Its better when you get to lie on the sun lounger in the heat rather than filming. But it was still gorgeous to be in the sunshine. The sun was blazing hot. They would come over with a brolly to try and keep us the same shade. But on the last day of filming I was like, Please, just let me enjoy these last rays! Its going to be raining when I get home. A final bit of sunshine for me. "And I got back to torrential rain. So it was a joy to be away and the fact that my little man got to come out as well was the icing on the cake." No Return begins tonight (Monday) at 9pm on ITV. Watch: Sheridan Smith takes on harrowing role in ITV's No Return In 1971, when Rodney ONeal was admitted to the General Motors Institute in Flint, Michigan, an accredited undergraduate college then owned and operated by the iconic automaker, nearly all of his classmates were white men. Coming from an all-Black neighborhood and schools in Dayton, Ohio, ONeal, a top student, struggled and considered dropping out. A counselor urged him to stay on to challenge the status quo. It shows you how foolish you are when you are young, ONeal said with a chuckle. How was I going to do that? Just seven years after the Civil Rights Act banned discrimination in hiring, Black Americans were making significant gains in the workplace, and ONeal didnt waste his shot. He worked his way up from making steering wheels to running the auto parts division that General Motors spun off as an independent company. Under his guidance, Delphi Automotive Systems navigated a turbulent era in the auto industry, emerging from a massive restructuring with booming sales. ONeals groundbreaking career illustrates the strides corporate America made following the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Yet new data analyzed by USA TODAY reveal how rare stories like ONeals have been in the five decades since his journey to the top began. Rodney ONeal is one of 19 Black CEOs in the history of the Fortune 500 list. Political pressure was opening doors for Black workers when O'Neal started out, but the pace of change slowed in the 1980s. By the time he retired in 2015, ONeal was widely considered the most prominent Black leader in his field. Today he remains part of a very exclusive club, just one of 19 Black CEOs in the history of the Fortune 500 list. When you look at the numbers, what you have is a bunch of activity without much accomplishment, he said. The system has to work for all, and right now, its obviously not. New data shows slow progress USA TODAY gathered federal workforce records from 83 of the nations top 100 companies and found that the status quo is still largely in effect despite corporate pledges to do better after George Floyd's killing in 2020. Story continues White and male employees remain overrepresented in positions that pay the highest salaries, offer the best benefits and provide a path to promotions. Black workers, particularly women, tend to be concentrated in the lowest ranks of Americas leading corporations. At the major companies USA TODAY reviewed, 1 in every 118 white workers is an executive compared to 1 in every 612 Black workers, according to the latest filings available, in most cases covering the calendar year 2020. That means white employees were five times more likely to hold C-Suite jobs than Black employees. Similar, albeit smaller, gaps persisted in other positions with high pay and prestige. While 1 in 7 white workers held a management job, just 1 in 15 Black workers did. More than 1 in 4 white employees held professional roles like accountant or engineer compared to just 1 in 10 Black employees. Meanwhile, Black employees were clumped in job classifications like secretary and warehouse laborer. That holds true at General Motors, where ONeal rose through the ranks. He credits the automaker with recruiting African Americans and grooming them for leadership roles when he was coming up. Yet, while it has made strides in hiring and promoting more women, the company has gone backwards in Black representation at the top, he says. African Americans make up 19% of GMs U.S. workforce yet hold 4% of the executive and leadership positions, according to USA TODAYs analysis of workforce reports that the company files with the federal government. Black women account for just 1% of those top jobs. If you look at the pictures of the GM board of directors and corporate officers, it says that the system has not worked in terms of hiring, identifying, retaining and developing African Americans for their top positions, ONeal said. It does take time to right the wrong of doing nothing for years, but you cant finish until you start. Diversity, equity and inclusion "are more vital than ever to GMs success," Telva McGruder, chief diversity, equity and inclusion 0fficer at General Motors, said in a statement to USA TODAY. "Our DE&I efforts are aimed at increasing the diversity of our talent pipeline at all levels, while maintaining GMs overall commitment to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified candidates," she said. Until Civil Rights Act, near total white male privilege In 1964 when President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act banning discrimination in hiring, there was near-total white male privilege in the workplace, according to Donald Tomaskovic-Devey, a sociology professor who runs the Center for Employment Equity at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. His analysis of decades of federal workforce data shows that Black workers made gains in the 1960s and 1970s, but that those advances fizzled as the push for racial equality faded from the national conversation. President Lyndon B. Johnson reaches to shake hands with Martin Luther King Jr. after presenting the civil rights leader with one of the 72 pens used to sign the Civil Rights Act in Washington on July 2, 1964. The most recent federal workforce data bears out the sluggish progress in recent years. Between 2014 and 2018, Black employment in companies that report their data to the EEOC grew by 5.2% overall but their representation in executive jobs grew by just 0.5% and in managerial jobs by only 2.4%, said Tomaskovic-Devey, co-author of Documenting Desegregation: Racial and Gender Segregation in Private Sector Employment Since the Civil Rights Act. Progress is neither inevitable nor continuous, Tomaskovic-Devey said. Firms have to commit themselves to being inclusive, to nurturing talent and to policing their internal processes, HR practices and culture. Just a handful of companies achieve racial parity USA TODAY found that just a handful of the nations top corporations have achieved equal representation in at least some of their top-ranking jobs. Black workers account for 11.2% of the U.S. workforce, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Yet they held a smaller percentage of executive jobs at all but six leading companies: UPS (20.3%), Lowes (13.7%), Southern Co. (12.7%), Colgate Palmolive (12.4%), FedEx (11.8%), and Bank of New York Mellon (11.8%). Of those, only UPS and FedEx also placed a representative share of Black workers in other management jobs. An additional nine companies had a proportionate representation of Black workers in management jobs but not in executive positions. People celebrate the sentencing of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin on June 25 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The degree of underrepresentation was extreme in many cases. At 53 of the 83 companies, the share of executive jobs held by Black employees was less than half the rate of Black participation in the U.S. workforce. The same was true for other management roles at 37 companies. Five businesses had no Black people in the C-Suite: American Tower Corp.; Booking Holdings; Costco; Metlife; and Oracle. Nine companies had zero Black women in executive roles: Accenture; American Tower Corp.; Booking Holdings; Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.; ConocoPhillips; Costco; Metlife; Oracle; and Qualcomm. Corporate Americas broken promises Corporate America must confront the failures of the past, said Y-Vonne Hutchinson, founder & CEO of diversity, equity and inclusion firm ReadySet and author of How to Talk to Your Boss About Race: Speaking Up Without Getting Shut Down. Its a question of who gets access to power and how much power they are willing to share, Hutchinson said. And the answer is, as it has been for the past 400 years, not much if any. The Executive Leadership Council is a nonprofit that helps develop Black executives. In December, it published a report pointing to the long trail of broken corporate promises including those that followed the 1992 acquittal of four white police officers in the videotaped beating of Black motorist Rodney King. At the time, Los Angeles mayor Tom Bradley teamed up with dozens of companies on a project called Rebuild L.A., which raised more than $500 million. But it was scrapped five years later, having fallen far short of its goals. That same lack of progress is seen in the commitments corporate America has not yet kept since Floyds death, the council found in its report titled Beyond Promises to Progress: Black CEOs and C-Suite Officers Speak Out on Diversity. More recently, corporate America has recommitted itself to improving diversity and equity after the senseless killings of many Black Americans by police. Yet, more than one year after these commitments, visible signs of meaningful change have not been realized for Black people, the authors wrote. What is clear, however, is that the compelling case for racial equity in corporate America has not changed. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Black workers still shut out from top jobs at America's top companies (Getty) Queen Elizabeth II might be the most powerful person in Britain, but she is also one of the most inspiring women in the world. The 95-year-old, is the UKs longest-serving monarch and despite hardly ever discussing womens rights, she has had a watershed impact on empowering women everywhere throughout her reign. The Queen has been described by many as a feminist icon, including Olivia Colman, who plays the monarch in the latest season of The Crown. In November 2019, the Oscar winner told Radio Times: [The Queen is] the ultimate feminist. Shes the breadwinner. Shes the one on our coins and banknotes. In celebration of the Queens Platinum Jubilee on Sunday 6 February, which marks 70 years since she ascended the throne, weve rounded up some of her best feminist moments. When she took Saudi King Abdullah for a spin in her Land Rover Queen Elizabeth II pictured driving her Range Rover to attend the annual Royal Windsor Horse Show in May 2019 (Getty Images) In 2003, the Queen famously took Abdullah, who died in 2015, for a drive in her Land Rover when he came to visit her in Balmoral, Scotland. The story was told in a memoir by British diplomat Sir Sherard Cowper-Cowles, who was Ambassador to Saudi Arabia at the time. After lunch, the Queen had asked her royal guest whether he would like a tour of the estate, wrote Cowper-Coles. Prompted by his foreign minister the urbane Prince Saud, an initially hesitant Abdullah had agreed. The royal Land Rovers were drawn up in front of the castle. As instructed, the Crown Prince climbed into the front seat of the front Land Rover, his interpreter in the seat behind. To his surprise, the Queen climbed into the driving seat, turned the ignition and drove off. The move was particularly significant considering women were not yet allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia, and, as Cowper-Coles writes, Abdullah was not used to being driven by a woman, let alone a Queen. When she quietly oversaw the change in royal rules of succession to allow the eldest woman to accede to the throne (Getty Images) In 2011, the Queen oversaw a major change to succession laws as agreed by the leaders of the 16 Commonwealth countries that meant sons and daughters of any future British monarch would have equal rights to the throne. Story continues Up until that point, the laws of succession dictated that the heir to the throne is always the first-born son of the monarch. But according to the new rules, had the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had a daughter first, she would have taken precedence to the throne over her younger brothers. As it so happens, the couple had a boy first, Prince George. When she became the first female member of the Royal Family to join the Armed Services full-time (Getty Images) One of the reasons why the Queen is such a keen driver (she is regularly photographed behind the wheel) is because in 1945 during World War II, she drove trucks and learnt how to repair cars in the Womens Auxiliary Territorial Service. The Queen learnt to drive in 1945 when she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) as a Subaltern #HM90factshttps://t.co/bDQOVtfTIv The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) March 18, 2016 Shes the only living head of state to have served in the Second World War. When she gave a brilliant speech at the centenary celebrations of the Womens Institute in 2015 (Getty Images) In June 2015, the Queen opened the 100th annual meeting of the Womens Institute (WI) at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The monarch, who became a member of Sandringham WI in 1943, delivered an inspiring speech to more than 5,000 WI members to mark the occasion. In the speech, she highlighted some of the greatest achievements for women in the last 100 years. There has been significant economic and social change since 1915, she said. Women have been granted the vote, British women have climbed Everest for the first time and the country has elected its first female prime minister. She added: In the modern world, the opportunities for women to give something of value to society are greater than ever, because, through their own efforts, they now play a much greater part in all areas of public life. In 2015 it continues to demonstrate that it can make a real difference to the lives of women of all ages and cultural backgrounds, in a spirit of friendship, cooperation and support. Every time she stepped out with Prince Philip and he had to walk behind her (Getty Images) When the Duke of Edinburgh was still alive, you may have noticed that he almost always walked behind the Queen. This is no coincidence. According to tradition, when the royal family is part of a procession, they enter and are seated in the order of precedence, which is the same as the line of succession to the throne. This means that the Queen always walks in front, followed by Prince Philip, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, and then the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and so forth. After Philips death in April 2021, the order of the procession now starts with the Queen, followed by Prince Charles and Camilla, then Prince William and Kate Middleton, and so on. It might be out of obligation rather than choice, but its hard not to feel empowered every time we see the Queen leading the royal family, both symbolically and literally. Abe's Hideout waitress Kristen Sunley, center, serves customers Ashley Carlson of Ottawa, left, and Bonnie Gross of Chebanse at the restaurant on Thursday. The restaurant on South Dirksen Parkway is just down the road from a proposed state data center site. The new data facility may be a boon for businesses in the area. A new state facility will bring hundreds of jobs to the east side of Springfield and may be a boon for businesses in the area. The state of Illinois has purchased 9.4 acres of land at the Dirksen Business Park in the 2900 block of Dotmar Drive. The land will be the new home to an $80.5 million Central Computing Facility run by the state Department of Innovation and Technology. The center will have about 300 employees, most of whom will come from other state facilities, according to Jennifer Schultz, the DoIT communications director. The project's timeline and construction have not been determined. The site's employees will have various roles handling the state's IT infrastructure including managing personal data, maintaining state applications and data systems and production operations, according to Schultz. In 2019, employees with the Department of Innovation and Technology were paid a median of $99,850, according to public records database maintained by the nonprofit Better Government Association. Past coverage: $80 million computing center for state government to be established in Springfield area Stewart Conn owns Abe's Hideout, a restaurant down the road from the proposed data center site. "It's gonna be great for me and great for the east side," Conn said. Conn said he enjoys the business he gets from existing government facilities, such as the state department of transportation headquarters and county offices for juvenile corrections and animal control. He added that he is hopeful the increased number of people working in the area will inspire more restaurants to set up shop. "A lot of times, competition is good if you're doing your job right," said Conn. "They're not gonna eat at my place five days a week." State Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, represented the area for 10 years on the city council and now represents it in the state Senate. She advocated for the site's east side location. Story continues "I'm really excited about it," said Turner, adding that this is going to be a "game changer" for the area. "It's not been easy, but there have been small victories," said Turner. She pointed to hotel developments nearby, restaurants coming in and Ascend, a cannabis dispensary that repurposed a building a mile south of the planned data center site. More: Gov. JB Pritzker's $45.4 billion budget plan includes $1 billion in tax cuts Larry Quinn has helped bring several businesses to the area, including Abe's Hideout. He is a partner in the restaurant and owns the strip mall, with his wife Julie, where Abe's, a nail salon, and chiropractor are located. "If it comes to fruition, and I don't know why it wouldn't, we might build something else," said Quinn, referring to the data center. Though he is optimistic the center will help the restaurant and shopping center, he is less optimistic about retail. Fewer retail stores are opening anywhere. "Thank God for the east side that JCPenney has stayed and they do pretty well," said Quinn. The city of Springfield has been interested in developing the east side for several years. Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder said bringing jobs and business to the area is one aspect of the city's broader plan to address long-term inequities in the area. "You have the main commercial corridors, but there's also housing," said Langfelder. "That's what we're looking at right now." He said the city is considering using funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, federal COVID-19 relief package, for housing initiatives in the area. The data center will be the central computing hub for DoIT and will serve various state agencies. It will be a "24/7/365 operations center," according to Schultz. The facility will be built as a Tier 3 data center, meaning that it has redundant power and cooling systems, allowing staff to work maintenance without shutting anything down. It replaces a 43-year-old data center in downtown Springfield. The land cost $1.55 million, according to an announcement from the governor. The $80.5 million has been appropriated to pay for the project's design and construction. EXP, a Chicago-based firm, is overseeing the project. It has built other data centers around the country. "Through this new facility, were enhancing the state of Illinois digital infrastructure and doing so while bringing hundreds of new jobs to the east side of Springfield," said Pritzker in a statement. The land was selected because of its proximity to other state offices, access to fiber internet and location inside an Enterprise Zone a special taxing district that offers tax exemptions for new construction among other perks for developers. Langfelder also pointed to the city having a local public utility, City Water, Light and Power, as being a selling point for a location in Springfield. Contact Andrew Adams: aadams1@gannett.com; (312)-291-1417; twitter.com/drewjayadams. This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Data center could be "game changer" for Springfield's east side Tinder has swiped left on Shimon Hayut. The dating app has officially banned Hayut, who also used the name Simon Leviev while connecting with potential dates, from using their application after the Netflix documentary The Tinder Swindler detailed his alleged scams. On Monday, Feb. 5, a Tinder spokesperson told E! News, "We banned Simon Leviev and any of his known aliases as soon as the story of his actions became public in 2019. He is permanently banned from Tinder. In the lead up to the release of the documentary, we conducted additional internal investigations and can confirm Simon Leviev is not active on Tinder under any of his known aliases." The Netflix documentary, released Feb. 2, featured interviews with multiple women who alleged they had been conned out of hundreds of thousands [one lost at least $250,000]of dollars by Hayut. Claiming he was the son of Israeli diamond magnate Levi Leviev, the native of Bnei Brak, Israel would lure women in with luxurious first dates. According to Cecilie Schrder Fjellhy, that meant whisking her away to Bulgaria on a private jet. But as time went on, Hayut would begin to open up to his dates about the threats he was facing from so-called enemies in the cut-throat diamond industry. Eventually, he'd say that he feared for his life and would allegedly ask the women to open a credit card in their name and give it to him since he couldn't use his own card for security purposes. Craziest True Crime TV Moments Israel Police and Interpol believe he scammed numerous women out of thousands of dollars. According to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Hayut was previously convicted of defrauding three Finnish women and served three years in prison before being released on bail and disappearing in 2017. TORE KRISTIANSEN/VG/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock The Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang went on to investigate Hayut's multiple scams with the help of Fjellhy, who secretly recorded a conversation with the 31-year-old con man. In the conversation, Hayut denied defrauding her and others, claiming their accusations were born out of a personal vendetta. Story continues But the VG report was seen by one of Hayut's longtime girlfriends Ayleen Koeleman, who tipped off Interpol and Israeli police to his location, leading to his arrest at the Athens airport on Jun. 28, 2019. Convicted of four counts of fraud, Hayut was sentenced to 15 months in an Israeli prison, though he only served five months gaining an early release as part of efforts to decrease the prison population at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Though now it seems he's found himself in Tinder jail. Behind the scenes drama? What do I watch next? Click here to get all the TV scoop straight in your inbox. Photo credit: Steven Ocasio Brandon Tucker, a former Army Ranger from Columbus, Georgia, has just set a new record for the most bar muscleups completed in a 24-hour period. He already holds an officially verified Guinness World Record for doing the most pullups in 24 hours, having cranked out 7,715 reps in 2019 (a number which has yet to be beaten). Muscleups, however, are notoriously more difficult than pullupsas anybody who has tried to do a single rep with good form can attest. Tucker, who served seven years in the U.S. Army as a Ranger before being forced to retire due to a stomach condition, made this new attempt at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio. Unlike Belarusian athlete Maksim Trukhonovets, who set the world record for performing the most muscleups in a row without breaking, Tucker was able to rest between reps. The record Tucker had to surpass was 1,256 muscleups, set by Alejandro Soler TarI in Spain in October 2021. He was successful, churning out 1,300 reps. While this new record is currently unofficial, Tucker expects it to be confirmed by the Guinness Book of World Records once the footage of his attempt has been reviewedbut he believes the real prize here is what he has gained from pushing himself so hard. "It's about growth it's not about the trophy," Tucker told the Columbus Dispatch. "You don't stop because you hit the goal, just like you don't stop when you get your Rangers tab. You keep getting better, pushing yourself mentally and physically to become a better person for the people around you." Photo credit: Steven Ocasio You Might Also Like More global McDonald's customers are facing french fry shortages as the supply chain continues to face strain McDonald's locations in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Taiwan are all facing potato shortages. Japan started rationing McDonald's french fries in December. McDonald's says the supply chain and flooding in Canada are to blame. McDonald's French fries are a fast food staple, and they're becoming harder to get in some countries. Indonesia, Malaysia, and Taiwan all joined Japan in grappling with potato supply issues, constraining french fry availability. On January 31, McDonald's Indonesia tweeted that "Due to the limited availability of French Fries at this time," large french fries would be unavailable beginning February 2. McDonald's Malaysia posted a similar announcement to Instagram, calling it a "large sacri-fries." McDonald's Taiwan had a slightly different potato problem, running out of hash browns in early January, though french fry sales were "normal." These announcements all came after McDonald's Japan made international headlines in December for suspending the sales of medium and large fries at all locations to ration the remaining supply. By the end of December, three US 747s were delivering loads of potatoes to Japan to alleviate the shortage, and normal sales resumed. Issues around potato supply for the fast-food giant all come back to supply chain issues. "Import delays have occurred due to flood damage and the impact of the Corona disaster on the global distribution network," McDonald's Japan said in a statement. A spokesperson for McDonald's Indonesia also attributed the temporary shortage to "delivery constraints of potato supplies related to the COVID-19 pandemic," in quotes to local outlet Detik. He also mentioned that McDonald's has a massive supply chain serving 39,000 restaurants around the world that it can leverage to fix the problem. Asian McDonald's restaurants largely rely on North American potato imports for french fries. Many come through the Vancouver port, which faced its "worst weather storm of the century," according to Canadian officials. Landslides and flooding from the storm shut down highways, railways, and the Vancouver Port, a major point of trade through North America. In December, ships were stuck waiting in long lines to dock, made worse by striking workers. Story continues McDonald's said potato shortages have not been a problem for US stores. Do you have a story to share about a retail or restaurant chain? Email this reporter at mmeisenzahl@businessinsider.com. Read the original article on Business Insider NASAs X-59 supersonic jet, which is being developed with Lockheed Martin, moved one step closer to flight last week after undergoing wind-tunnel tests. Nicknamed Son of Concorde after the Concorde commercial jet launched in the late 1960s, this new generation is called QueSSTor Quiet SuperSonic Technology aircraft. Its designed to minimize sonic booms, which NASA now calls thumps, that forced the Concorde to slow down over land. The X-59 is being built at Lockheed Martins Skunk Works in Palmdale, Calif. NASA awarded the aerospace company a $247.5 million contract to develop the supersonic aircraft. The design team says that it should have a cruise speed of Mach 1.4, or 925 mph. More from Robb Report According to a NASA blog, it was designed with a 30-foot-long nose that lowers the sonic boom when the jet passes Mach 1. That should let it hit supersonic speeds soon after takeoff over crowded metro areas. The original Concorde had to stay at sub-sonic speeds over cities, which increased flight times. The X-59 began final assembly last fall. The first flight is expected this year. - Credit: Courtesy NASA Courtesy NASA The finished aircraft is estimated to be 94 feet long, with a wingspan of 29.5 feet. It will have a maximum takeoff weight of 32,300 pounds, with a top speed of Mach 1.5 (990 mph). A video clip released last August said that the assembly process used pre-drilled parts connecting to pre-drilled full-sized fastener holes. It has significantly reduced the time it takes to locate and fit parts, especially mating large assemblies like this, said David Richardson, Lockheed Martins program. It is sort of like how Legos go together. The X-59 will only have space for one pilot with no passengers, but NASA eventually plans to develop the aircrafts quiet supersonic technology for commercial flight. Story continues The X-59s colorized schlieren image from the wind tunnel testing last week. - Credit: Courtesy NASA Courtesy NASA Other supersonic projects, meanwhile, are moving forward. Boom Aerospace announced it was breaking ground for a new production facility at the Piedmont Triad Airport in North Carolina. The company said it expects its supersonic commercial jet to be in service by 2029. A Chinese company, Space Transportation, released footage of a prototype jet that it said would reach 2,600 mph, that would allow it to fly from New York to Beijing in an hour. Virgin Galactic also has plans to eventually use its supersonic aircraft for more than just sub-orbital flights, and instead carry passengers to far-flung destinations in record time. NASAs aircraft is scheduled to take its first flight later this year, according to the government agency, with low-boom validation scheduled for 2023. Best of Robb Report Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Coconut essential oils in glass bottles isolated on light yellow background Maki Company Limited/Stocksy/Adobe Stock It may be an ancient tradition, but oil pulling has gained traction in the holistic wellness world recently. This alternative oral care practicewhich involves swishing and spitting oil, similar to mouthwashis thought by many to improve oral and dental health. But does it actually work, and is it safe to do? Here, dentists help demystify the process and purported benefits of oil pulling. First, what exactly is oil pulling? Oil pulling, which is also known as "kavata" or "gundusha," first came into play more than 3,000 years ago. "The practice of oil pulling dates back to Indian and Ayurvedic traditional medicine," says dentist Sharon Huang, DDS, of Les Belles NYC. In this ancient gargling process, people swish coconut, sunflower, or sesame oil between their teeth for a couple of minutes to help remove bacteria and debris while also keeping the mouth clean. "Coconut oil is typically the go-to choice for this," says Lilya Horowitz, DDS, of Domino Dental in Williamsburg, N.Y. After that, the oil is spit into the sink and rinsed away. Is oil pulling safe? With no known health risks of oil pulling, it's a generally safe practice. (Just be sure not to swallow the oil, which could upset your stomach.) "Oil pulling is absolutely safe, beneficial, and healthy," Dr. Huang says. "It's a great way to keep your teeth clean and white naturally, and also helps produce additional saliva, which helps keep bad breath at bay." RELATED: 7 Common Teeth Whitening Mistakes to Avoid Alex Rubinov, DDS, a dentist in New York City, explains that oil pulling works like liquid floss. "It's a wonderful way to create a more favorable microbiome in your mouth and make sure there's no harmful bacteria hiding in the crevices of your mouth and between your teeth," he says. "There are no known contraindications to incorporating oil pulling into your daily life, but you might feel a texture change in your mouth from the properties of coconut oil, although most people enjoy the smooth, gliding feel." Story continues What are the top health benefits of oil pulling? Studies show that oil pulling does indeed provide several potential health benefits. It can kill harmful bacteria in your mouth, get rid of bad breath, and even reduce inflammation. Most dentists recommend using an organic oil, and coconut oil is typically the best choice for its nutritional benefits. "Coconut oil contains vitamins A, D, E, and K, and has natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties," Dr. Huang says. "It will help fight plaque and gingivitis." However, oil pulling isn't officially recommended by the American Dental Association, so it's always important to exercise caution and keep up with regular dental cleaningsoil pulling shouldn't replace your other daily oral care practices. The latest research has found that oil pulling can be a safe and effective addition to a traditional dental routine, like daily flossing and brushing, to help maintain optimal oral health and hygiene. RELATED: Is Water Flossing the Key to Whiter Teeth? What's the right way to practice oil pulling? If you're new to the practice, Dr. Rubinov suggests swishing one teaspoon of coconut oil in your mouth for five minutes daily. Eventually, you can try to work your way up to 20 minutes per day for maximum benefits. "Try it as a weekend spa treatment for your mouth and see how you like it," he says. "It's definitely not for everyone, but it's often hard already to get people to floss daily and brush twice, so I would encourage anyone to give it a try and see if it's for them." Are there any risks with oil pulling? The most concerning risk comes from potentially swallowing the oil, however, this should only cause minimal side effects, if any. Since oils used for oil pulling are often used in cooking, they're edible and safe if accidentally swallowed while swishing. That said, for some, "it can cause upset stomach and diarrhea if swallowed, so start off with small quantities," Dr. Huang says. "And only increase once you're comfortable with the practice so you won't swallow the oil." The bottom line? "If you are interested and have 20 minutes a day, there's no harm in trying this method, as long as you also make time for brushing and flossing," Dr. Horowitz says. If you have questions about whether you should give it a go, you can always consult your dentist for advice. RELATED: 13 Advanced Oral Products That Will Change the Way You Brush Your Teeth Last week, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) made it clear that he felt attacks by his political opponents against his grandson are out of bounds in a campaign. In the last two months of 2021, state Sen. Jim Carlin (R-Woodbury) sent four emails attacking Rep. Pat Grassley (R-New Hartford), including allegations Chuck Grassley bought his grandson's seat through PAC donations. "I don't think it's appropriate to bring families into anything," Chuck Grassley told reporters when asked about the situation. I would not bring my opponent's family into it. Grassley spoke with The Hawk Eye and Racoon Valley Radio last week. Other accusations Carlin made against Rep. Grassley include intentionally blocking Carlin's bills and "playing politics." The accusations also have a page on Carlin's website. State Rep. Pat Grassley U.S. Sen. Grassley said he believes in campaigns on the issues, not attacks on family members. The Hawk Eye reached out to the Carlin campaign, but as of Friday morning had not received a response. Previously: Sen. Chuck Grassley criticizes President Joe Biden's withdrawal from Afghanistan during Burlington visit 'It's my job to create law': How Chuck Grassley views Biden's future Supreme Court nominee Chuck Grassley said he's not yet ready to make a determination on whether he will vote for President Joe Biden's nominee to replace Supreme Court Justice Stephen Beyer, who is retiring. "I hope it is someone that doesn't think it's their job to create law," Grassley said. "It's my job to create law. Their job is to interpret it." With the U.S. Senate split 50-50 between Democrats and Republicans, Vice President Kamala Harris would give the Democrats the majority they need to confirm any nominee. However, Grassley said he hopes that a candidate is chosen who will garner bipartisan support. The last Supreme Court justice to be confirmed unanimously was Antonin Scalia, who was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1987. Since, the closest a nominee has gotten to unanimous approval was Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, nominated by President Bill Clinton in 1993, who was confirmed by a 96-3 margin. Grassley voted in favor of both nominees. Story continues More: Sen. Chuck Grassley says meeting with President Biden over Supreme Court was 'very successful' Why Grassley opposes COVID-19 vaccine mandates Also on the topic of the Supreme Court, Grassley said he was frustrated that staff in the health-care field will still have to be vaccinated against COVID-19, even though the court ruled that non-health care employees cannot be forced to take the vaccine. The rule put in place for nearly all workers came through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. That rule said that all employees working for a company with more than 100 workers must either be vaccinated or test each week. Meanwhile, the ruling for health care workers came from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. "I had the privilege of voting for a resolution disapproving of the measure," Grassley said. Grassley also expressed his opinion that COVID-19 will be something America, and the rest of the world, will have to learn to live with. More: Des Moines County COVID-19 vaccine tracker: 49% of people fully vaccinated 'I have to respect state's rights': What about a convention of states? As states around the country try to pass resolutions to enact an Article 5 convention, Grassley said he's not necessarily opposed to the idea. "I have to respect states' rights," he said. "If it were to happen, I think the discussion should be limited to the reason the convention was called." An Article 5 convention allows states to call a new constitutional convention, similar to that the Founding Fathers used when they created the Constitution. In using the convention, states are allowed to propose new amendments to the constitution. However, to call an Article 5 convention, 34 states would have to agree to hold the convention and any proposed amendments would have to be ratified by of the states in order to be enacted as a constitutional amendment. If the amendment would be to require a balanced budget, Grassley said he would be in favor. He has voted several times in an attempt to pass a balanced budget amendment. Such a convention has never been called. Grassley's 3 goals for 2022 Grassley's three goals he would like to accomplish this year are to lower prescription drug prices, put limitations on big technology and create a fair market for cattle. In each of these bills, Grassley is working with at least one Democrat co-sponsor. Two of the bills have made it out of committee, with the prescription drug bill passing 19-9 and the big tech bill passing 16-6. If these three bills do not pass this year, Grassley will continue to work on them if he is re-elected. This article originally appeared on The Hawk Eye: Sen. Chuck Grassley calls opponent's attacks on grandson inappropriate The Omicron variant is still circulating the U.S. at high rates, but its surge is finally on a downward slope. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), new cases in the country fell more than 37 percent in the last week. But while this is undeniably good news, low vaccination rates mean we're not out of the woods yet: Only 64 percent of the U.S. population has been fully vaccinated, per the CDC. Even as Omicron's surge falls here and across the globe, new vaccine requirements are being put into place in 2022 to mitigate the spread of the virus. RELATED: Unvaccinated People Will Be Barred From This, Starting Feb. 28. On Feb. 7, Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that the country would finally be reopening its borders to international travelers nearly two years after it closed itself off to almost all non-citizens as a result of the COVID pandemic, The New York Times reported. But there's one stipulation to Australia's opening: You have to be fully vaccinated to visit. "If you're double vaccinated, we look forward to welcoming you back to Australia," Morrison said in a news conference. Starting Feb. 21, vaccinated tourists, business travelers, and all other visa holders will be allowed to enter the country, according to Karen Andrews, Australia's home affairs minister. The only exception to the vaccine mandate will be visa holders. But those unvaccinated travelers will face strict quarantine requirements and need a travel exemption as well. This new ruling also won't open the entirety of Australia to all international travelers, because individual states control their own borders and can implement their own restrictions, per The New York Times. As of right now, the country's two most populous states, New South Wales and Victoria, have no quarantine requirement for vaccinated travelers, but Western Australia is choosing to keep its borders limited to only certain visitors. Story continues RELATED: For more up-to-date information, sign up for our daily newsletter. Other countries, such as Japan and New Zealand, are choosing to continue to keep their borders closed to all foreign travelers in order to contain the spread of COVID, according to The New York Times. Meanwhile, for countries like Argentina, Bermuda, Canada, and Singapore, only unvaccinated tourists are still being denied entry. "Make sure you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines before you travel internationally," the CDC advises. "Check your destination's COVID-19 situation and travel requirements before traveling. Countries may have their own entry and exit requirements." And while most European countries are allowing in fully vaccinated U.S. travelers, these requirements are getting more stringent over time. On Dec. 21, the European Commission, which is the European Union's (EU) executive branch, voted to adopt rules that establish a binding acceptance period of nine months (270 days) for vaccination certifications when traveling between EU countries. So, as of Feb. 1, any fully vaccinated travelers who received their initial dose or doses more than 270 days before traveling to Europe cannot travel between countries in the union unless they have gotten their booster. If you received your initial vaccination before May 1, 2021 and have not received your additional dose, you're effectively barred from traveling to EU countriesdespite being considered fully vaccinated by the standard definition. This includes 27 different countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden. And while Australia is currently only barring unvaccinated visitorswith no stipulation about boostersmany experts are warning that it's unlikely booster mandates will stop in Europe. "We know that being boosted gives you much better protection, both against illness and serious illness. So it's not surprising," David Weber, MD, a professor of medicine, pediatrics and epidemiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, told USA Today. "I think this will be an ongoing trend for countries that want to limit transmission." RELATED: People Without a Booster Will Be Barred From This, as of March 1. WASHINGTON Three weeks ago, an imprisoned woman known as "Lady al-Qaida" inspired a hostage-taking at a Texas synagogue. This week, an American woman appeared in court on charges she trained other women in the Islamic State and plotted bomb attacks. International terrorism charges against women are extremely rare, according to experts, because men tend to dominate the misogynistic groups such as al-Qaida, the lslamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, or ISIS, and related groups in Pakistan, Afghanistan and elsewhere around the world. But a dozen cases over the last decade of U.S. citizens or permanent residents revealed women shedding traditional caretaker roles to recruit fellow warriors, train others to use rifles and explosives, and even kill. ISIS leader dies, but the terror network has expanded: ISIS leader who died in US raid in Syria assumed low profile as terror network expanded Veteran counter-terrorism officials say that while the latest case against Allison Fluke-Ekren, a former teacher from Kansas, is unusual in terms of the senior operational rank she allegedly achieved in ISIS, women have played important roles in the international Islamic jihad movement. I think it's startling to the American people because they're like, 'Wait, women do this too?' But they've been doing it all along, Tracy Walder, a former CIA counter-terrorism officer who served extensively in the Middle East, told USA TODAY. Fluke-Ekren, 42, is accused of plotting U.S. bomb attacks at a college or a shopping mall, and allegedly training a female ISIS battalion in Syria how to use AK-47 rifles, grenades and suicide belts, according to court records. Her first court appearance was Monday and she has a detention hearing scheduled Thursday. What is unique with this case is the allegation that she was the leader of her own brigade. Especially for someone coming from the west, this is exceptionally rare, said Amarnath Amarasingam, a terrorism expert at Queens University in Ontario, Canada, and associate fellow at the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation. Story continues Law enforcement officers search for the suspects of a mass shooting Dec. 2, 2015 in San Bernardino, Calif. A man and a woman suspected of carrying out a deadly shooting at a center for the disabled were killed in a shootout with police, while a third person was detained, police said. Besides Americans joining the fight, the ranks of women in ISIS could grow because Syria detained thousands of women and children who could become recruits for the Islamic terror groups, experts say. DHS warning: Terrorism warning issued, citing 'diverse and challenging threat environment' Fluke-Ekren and other women were able to assume roles in combat units and provide ideas for attacks abroad, which made them different since women in al-Qaida and its associated groups had more traditional family responsibilities, Javed Ali, a former senior U.S. counterterrorism official at the FBI and Defense Department and at the National Security Council in the Trump administration, told USA TODAY. The Islamic State's power and influence peaked in 2015 with between 20,000 and 32,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria. But Ali and other current and former U.S. counter-terrorism officials fear it is rebuilding and once again training its sights on American targets. DOJ:Former Kansas teacher charged with plotting US attacks appears in court, ordered detained Fluke-Ekren rose in stature with ISIS while her former husbands were killed, according to court records. One late husband was a sniper trainer for the group, another husband specialized in drones before his death and a third husband was responsible for defending Raqqa, where ISIS was headquartered, according to court records. Her lawyer, Joseph King, declined to comment. Walder, author of the 2020 book "The Unexpected Spy," said in as male-dominated an environment as ISIS, Fluke-Ekren would likely have been helped immeasurably by those alleged marriages to a number of prominent and influential male leaders especially ones who died fighting and became martyrs for the cause. As a female, I'm sure that it wasnt, Lets all bow down to her, Walder said of the men in ISIS. However, I think she was respected enough to give her the position that she had," if the accusations listed in the charges against Fluke-Ekren are true. Brian Levin, a former New York police officer who monitors extremist groups, said having an American woman as a member of such an international Islamic terrorist organization is considered highly advantageous because they are familiar with the United States and engender less suspicion. Not only was she radicalized from the heartland and traveled overseas for one, but she actually participated in an all-female fighting force, said Levin, a professor of criminal justice and director of the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism at California State UniversitySan Bernardino. While there is debate in some extremist circles about the role of women and Americans, in some organizations they are highly prized because they are not the 'stereotypical' terrorist.' This undated photo provided by the Alexandria, Virginia, Sheriff's Office in January 2022 shows Allison Fluke-Ekren. Fluke-Ekren, 42, 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 she has been charged with providing material support to a terrorist organization. Other American women have been charged with recruiting and fundraising for ISIS Women contributing to Islamic terrorist causes are rare, but not unique. The FBI estimated that 300 people left the U.S. to try and join jihadists in Iraq and Syria since 2011, according to a 2018 report by George Washington Universitys Program on Extremism. Of the 64 the report studied in detail, 89 percent were men, the report said. Many of the women implicated in terrorism became involved with their husbands, just as Fluke-Ekren's husbands were also active in ISIS. An Alabama woman, Arwa Muthana, was arrested with her husband, James Bradley, in April 2021 and charged with trying to support the Islamic State when they tried to travel to the Middle East aboard a cargo ship leaving from Newark, New Jersey. They have pleaded not guilty. Jaelyn Delshaun Young of Starkville, Mississippi, and her husband, Muhammad Oda Dakhalla, pleaded guilty in 2016 to conspiring to support ISIS as Mississippi State University students who sought to travel to Syria. Participants in terrorist groups including some women have brought the fight to America. A Pakistani-born permanent resident of the U.S., Tashfeen Malik, and her husband killed 14 people and injured another 22 at a holiday party in San Bernardino, California, in December 2015. The FBI investigated it as a terrorist incident, saying the couple was radicalized by foreign terrorist organizations. Some American women have admitted recruiting others for violent attacks or raising money for the Islamic State. A Wisconsin woman, Waheba Issa Dais, pleaded guilty in 2019 to attempting to support the Islamic State through Facebook accounts encouraging people to conduct attacks and distributing information about how to make explosives and biological weapons. A New York woman, Zoobia Shahnaz, pleaded guilty in 2018 to supporting the Islamic State by raising more than $150,000 in wire transfers to Pakistan, China and Turkey. A Georgia woman, Kim Anh Vo, pleaded guilty in June 2019 to conspiring to support the online group United Cyber Caliphate, which distributed propaganda online and posted lists of thousands of people targeted for killing in the New York City area. Protesters rally near the U.S. consulate in Karachi, Pakistan on Sept. 23, 2010, to condemn the arrest of alleged Al-Qaida suspect Aafia Siddiqui. Role of women in jihadist movements is a topic of debate Terrorism scholars have long debated the role of women in jihadist movements, whether in raising families or joining the fight. There has always been contradictory information coming from their own propaganda, sometimes arguing that their role is primarily domestic and other times arguing that combat roles may be required, said Amarasingam from Queens University. Before Fluke-Ekren, there was Aafia Siddiqui, commonly known as Lady al-Qaida. Siddiqui was detained in July 2008 by Afghan authorities, who found handwritten notes in her possession about a mass casualty attack listing locations such as the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge. As U.S. troops tried to interview her in Ghazni, Afghanistan, she grabbed an Army officers M-4 rifle and fired it at others while vowing to kill Americans. Siddiqui learned how to use firearms as a student in Boston, according to evidence at her trial. She is serving an 86 year prison sentence at a federal prison in Fort Worth, Texas, after being convicted in 2010 of attempting to murder U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Last month, a British national, Malik Faisal Akram, took hostages at the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue near Dallas, demanding Siddiqui's release before authorities shot him to death. More: All Texas synagogue hostages safe after hourslong standoff Women are not new to the broader Islamist cause either. Before Siddiqui, there were the Tamil Tigers, a Sri Lankan insurgent group that pioneered the use of female suicide bombers in the 1970s as it rose to become what the FBI would later describe as the most dangerous and deadly extremist outfit in the world. And before the Tamil Tigers, there was Leila Khaled, the longtime active leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. A former Palestinian refugee, Khaled rose to fame for becoming the first female airplane hijacker, first as part of the team terrorizing TWA Flight 840 from Rome to Tel Aviv in 1969 and another flight headed from Amsterdam to New York City a year later. In recent decades, al-Qaida has also trained and equipped women to become terrorists, including the notorious Chechen squad known as the Black Widows. From 2000 to 2006, female terrorists were involved in 22 of the 27 suicide attacks attributed to Chechen rebels, one of many militant groups around the world that are allied with al-Qaida, according to Anne Speckhard, the director of the International Center for the Study of Violent Extremism. The Black Widows included the first Chechen female suicide bombers, Khava Barayeva and Luisa Magomadova, who detonated a truck filled with explosives June 7, 2000, at the temporary headquarters of an elite Russian Special Forces unit, Speckhard said. Mass shootings:Why aren't more shooters charged with hate crimes or terrorism? Speckhard, who has worked with U.S., NATO and United Nations counter-terrorism agencies, has personally interviewed at least 273 ISIS members, mostly in Iraq and Syria. About one-quarter of the subjects were women and each interview lasted at least two hours, she said. She said that even among international terrorist organizations, ISIS has been particularly brutal in its treatment of women. Many have been subjected to sex trafficking and human slavery, and suffered harsh physical punishments for violating strict Islamist rules restricting their personal freedom and education. But ISIS warmed to the idea of using female terrorist operatives in circumstances where they could be more successful than males, such as hiding bombs under their loose clothing while passing through checkpoints. But women still served their husbands first, and the other males of ISIS second, she said. Speckhard voiced skepticism about the charge that Fluke-Ekrent trained a battalion of female ISIS fighters. They were not training all the women. There's no way. I have 273 in-depth ISIS interviews, and I've never heard that. Ever," Speckhard said. "I heard from one Albanian in Kosovo that said, 'I trained my wife to shoot so that when we left them alone to go and fight in the ISIS battles, that if they got attacked they could pick up a weapon and shoot.' But that was it." Experts say ISIS is extremely misogynistic and chauvinistic toward women, and would never allow a woman to ascend to any position of authority in the overall organization. But the terror network did use women to train other women and children in how to use weapons and suicide bomb techniques, they said. And ISIS also allowed women to join its brutal morality police known by various names, including hisbah or the Khansa Brigades. As a woman, she wouldn't have been allowed to have authority over men, which basically rules out most of what matters in ISIS, said Peter Neumann, professor of Security Studies at the Department of War Studies at Kings College London. She might, however, have been a significant player in the Khansa Brigades, whereby women were policing women's behavior, said Neumann, author or of seven books on terrorism, including Radicalized: New Jihadists and the Threat to the West. The morality police -- men and women alike -- would patrol the ISIS stronghold of Raqaa toting Kalashnikov automatic rifles, and would enforce a dress code that required women to cover every inch of their bodies in black, including their hands, feet and eyes. If you got on the wrong side of the hisbah, you got hauled into prison. And if you were a woman, you were undressed, and flogged, or they bit you with metal teeth," Speckhard said. "I've seen pictures of scars and had it described to me and some women were bitten so badly that they bled to death." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Allison Fluke-Ekren: Women charged with helping terror groups rare Feb. 3, 2022: A collection of books covering Black history in Cincinnati. Black history is American history, actor Morgan Freeman said in a 2005 60 Minutes interview. They are not really separate. But there are extra challenges in researching historical events of marginalized populations, where records are more difficult to acquire or were never there at all. We have journals and letters from frontier explorers, but what do we have for the Native Americans from the same period? We have reams of legal records, correspondence and newspapers covering Cincinnati in the 19th century what do we have for the African Americans living here at the time? Mining historical resources to tell stories of those marginalized, ignored Nikki M. Taylor, a history professor at Howard University in Washington, D.C., has written three books on African American history in Cincinnati, including Frontiers of Freedom: Cincinnatis Black Community, 1802-1868 and books on educator Peter H. Clark and the fugitive slave Margaret Garner. Our history: Peter H. Clark educated generation of citys black teachers Our history: Margaret Garners story has resonated for the past 164 years The period I write about is a time when city leaders, officials, politicians, citizens and historical records gatekeepers did not value their perspective or voices, so they did not record the things they said or preserve their documents, Taylor wrote in an email response to questions about the challenges of researching Black history. Although there are a few exceptions, for the most part, the lives, political views, accomplishments, thoughts, intellect, and cultural practices of the masses of everyday African Americans were not deemed valuable. So historians like me, who are committed to African American history, must seek to find them in the sources left by whites. Some of the sources are dripping with vile racism and white supremacy, which was difficult for me to stomach. Taylor gave an example of mining the records of the American Colonization Society that concluded that African Americans should be sent back to Africa. In those records she found that Charles McMicken, who had bequeathed money and property to found the University of Cincinnati, where Taylor worked at the time, had also funded a project, Ohio in Africa, that was a deportation society. Story continues But it is from those same records that I learned that a small group of free African Americans in Cincinnati made plans to leave the country for good on their own terms and go to Liberia, Taylor wrote. They were tired of the obstacles and just wanted to find a place where they could have peace and be free of white racism. This is the start of what we now call black nationalism in the city which amounted to a desire for self-determination and independence back then. The scarcity of resource material can hamper research. Slaves were often prohibited from getting an education. They rarely wrote journals or letters, werent in the census and seldom had legal documents. There are primary sources for almost anything in U.S. history. It takes a commitment to doing that history that matters, Taylor wrote. The sources you find may not all be from the black perspective, though, so you have to read against the grain the sources you do have. For example, if all you have are slaveowners journals and no diaries written by African Americans, then you cannot just throw up your hands and say a book on African Americans in slavery cannot be written because they did not leave primary sources. Much info can be gleaned from the slaveowners journal or other sources. Such resources include the Freedmens Bureau (for assisting those freed from slavery), wills and probate records of slaveowners (because slaves were listed as property), slave schedules for the 1850 and 1860 censuses, plantation records and church records. Compounding the issue are errors in spelling and dates, as well as people lying about birth dates, ethnicity or education. Taylor also wrote of her struggles to access research materials. The archivists that lord over these records are not as helpful as they could be to black scholars, she wrote, describing archivists who watched her carefully, were slow to bring materials or pretended not to have certain records. She eventually befriended a white scholar who retrieved the files for her. This is what black historians go through, she wrote. It is exhausting and very real. I remain committed to amplifying the voices of those muted by history. Our history: Black photographer J.P. Ball was pioneer in Cincinnati, exposed ills of slavery Our history: Book a trove of citys African American history Giving voice to African Americans Slave narratives were popular in the 1830s to 1860s and were often used as tools by abolitionists to expose the harsh realities of slavery. Pro-slavery advocates tried to poke holes in the facts of the narrative, but historians believe that most of the slave narratives were authentic, yet copyedited and corrected for grammar by abolitionists. The autobiography of John P. Parker is a striking local example. Parker was born into slavery in Norfolk, Virginia, but earned money to buy his freedom, and settled in Ripley, Ohio, about 50 miles upriver from Cincinnati in Brown County. There he owned his own iron foundry and secretly worked as an extractor on the Underground Railroad. Assisting the escape of slaves was illegal and dangerous, due to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, so Underground Railroad conductors left few records. Reporter Frank Moody Gregg interviewed Parker in the 1880s, recognizing a rare opportunity to record the African American experience in the Underground Railroad. The manuscript was left unpublished in the Duke University archives for more than a century, then was edited by Stuart Seely Sprague and finally published as His Promised Land in 1996. By comparing the Parker manuscript with another that Gregg wrote based on the interviews, Sprague concluded that the Parker version has a roughness and tiny details that are close to Parkers voice. How I hated slavery as it fettered me, and beat me, and baffled me in my desires, Parker said. It was not the physical part of slavery that made it cruel and degrading, it was the taking away from a human being the initiative, of thinking, of doing his own ways. Such historical finds are rare. About 200 slave narratives have been published in total. But, if there are few records of the African American experience, how are we to learn about it? Jinny Powers Berten, a Cincinnati author who has volunteered at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center for 17 years, faced that problem when writing By His Side: The Story of George Washington and William Lee, a historical fiction about Washington and his enslaved valet. There are no primary sources at Mount Vernon for William Lee, Berten said in an interview. Theres a ton of sources, of course, for Washington, nothing for William Lee. Because the people of the time did not think slaves were of enough value to write down about them. I feel very strongly that those people need a voice. And if you dont give them a voice, its silent. In that case, I had to create the dialogue. So its fiction. Now, Washingtons death scene was recorded so I could get all that, even some of the dialogue. Because the book is historical fiction, some museums wont take it, Berten said. Yet, it is in the tradition of other books that have given voice to African Americans, like Harriet Beecher Stowes Uncle Toms Cabin and Toni Morrisons Beloved. Other resources about Black history in Cincinnati Cincinnati: Black America Series by Gina Ruffin Moore Cincinnatis Colored Citizens by W.P. Dabney Cincinnatis Black Peoples by Lyle Koehler Across the Color Line: Reporting 25 Years in Black Cincinnati by Mark Curnutte The Black Brigade of Cincinnati by Peter H. Clark Cincinnatis West End by John W. Harshaw Sr. Guide to African American Resources (library.cincymuseum.org/aag/guide.html) The Voice of Black Cincinnati (thevoiceofblackcincinnati.com) West End Stories Project podcast This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: A gap in historical records: Challenges of researching Black history Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite Sen. Lisa Murkowski encouraged President Biden to tap a SCOTUS nominee who can get bipartisan support. During a CNN interview, she said that she would be "honored" to support an "exceptional" Black female nominee. Murkowski, who has a moderate voting record, has been receptive to Biden's judicial picks. Sen. Lisa Murkowski on Sunday said President Joe Biden should put forward a Supreme Court nominee who could receive support from Democrats and Republicans, while also noting she would be "honored" to back an "exceptional African American woman." During a joint interview with Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia on CNN's "State of the Union," Murkowski said that Biden tapping a consensus pick would be a much-needed olive branch to Americans who have lamented the increased politicization of judicial nominations in recent years. "It goes back to [the president's] words at the prayer breakfast. How are we going to unify? What is it that we need to do?" she said. "Well, one of the signals that he can send is putting forth a nominee for the Supreme Court that will gain a level of bipartisan support." She added: "And when I say a level, I think it has to be more than just one, because as much as that is, it does not necessarily mean that you have that broader support." In the evenly-divided Senate, Democrats could confirm a nominee with their 50-member caucus and the tiebreaking vote of Vice President Kamala Harris without the need for GOP support but Biden has committed to nominating an individual with impeccable credentials who could receive crossover support. When Justice Stephen Breyer announced last month that he would step down from the Supreme Court at the end of the current term after 28 years on the bench, the president reaffirmed his 2020 campaign pledge to nominate the first Black woman to the body. During the CNN interview, Murkowski spoke of her openness to supporting a candidate that Biden nominates. Story continues "I want to make sure that the president nominates an exceptional candidate, an exceptional individual, and I would be honored to be able to support an exceptional African American woman," she said. Some of the leading candidates to replace Breyer reportedly include Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson of the US Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia Circuit, California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger, and South Carolina US District Judge J. Michelle Childs. Murkowski has supported 79% of Biden's judicial nominees, according to Politico, and last year she voted to confirm Jackson to the District of Columbia appeals court seat. Read the original article on Business Insider Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett told President Joe Biden on a "courageous operation." Anna Moneymaker/ Amir Levy/ Getty Images Abu Ibrahim al-Qurayshi blew himself up during a US special forces raid in Syria last week. Israel's PM Naftali Bennett told Biden that the 'world is a safer place' following the mission. During their phone call, Biden and Bennett also discussed the threat of Iran and Israel's Iron Dome defense system. Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Sunday congratulated President Joe Biden for the US special forces operation in Syria last week that led to the death of ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi. In a phone call with Biden, Bennett said the "world is now a safer place thanks to the courageous operation of the US forces," according to a statement from his office. ISIS leader al-Qurayshi blew himself up during a raid on a compound in northwestern Syria last Wednesday, killing several members of his family. According to the Syria Defense Force, 13 bodies including those of six children were recovered at the raid site. No American casualties were sustained during the operation. According to a White House statement, during their call on Sunday, Biden said the US would continue to back the maintenance of Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system. The pair also discussed the threat posed by "Iran and its proxies" along with the ongoing escalation of tensions between Russia and Ukraine. The White House added that Biden also has plans to visit Israel later this year. Since both taking office in 2021, Bennett and Biden have spoken on the phone three times, The Times Of Israel reported. Read the original article on Business Insider I am curious on why a letter (Florida is not the sanctuary I had hoped, Feb. 6) that makes such a negative statement but provides no context is included in the letters to the editor. The writer states ... left New York and Cuomo, only to be living under DeSantis, for whom I have no kind words. You can sign me very disappointed. The letter ended there. The writer failed to explain why he doesn't have kind words about Gov. DeSantis, and failed to explain why, when asked how he likes Florida, states I don't know, having been nowhere or done anything. I've experienced no restrictions in Florida since the summer of 2020. Floridians got back to work quicker than anyone else. We've had very few restrictions compared to the rest of the country. We are the epitome of freedom, thanks mostly to Gov. DeSantis. Florida is what the rest of America should aspire to be. Tina Rust, Cocoa Beach To submit a letter to the editor, email pcnhletters@pcnh.com. This article originally appeared on The News Herald: LETTER: Florida is what the rest of America should aspire to be LAFAYETTE, La. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards on Tuesday denied any connection to a State Police coverup in the violent 2019 death of Ronald Greene at the hands of state troopers. "I've never done anything to impede an investigation or prevent justice from being served," Edwards said during a press conference. "The implication that I knew more and tried to cover it up is simply and categorically false." Any such allegations are "utterly false and baseless," he added. Edwards addressed the public and press following an Associated Press report last week showing he knew about the death of Ronald Greene hours after it happened through a text from then State Police Superintendent Keven Reeves. Since the AP report, Greene's mother Mona Hardin has called for the governor's resignation, and Republican House Speaker Clay Schexnayder of Gonzales has said a legislative investigation could be in order for the Democratic governor. Edwards insisted the text was standard operating procedure and that it would be months before he knew that Greene's death could have been criminal. "As governor I trusted the matter would be handled properly by the State Police," Edwards said. Greene, 49, died in May 2019 after Louisiana state troopers stunned, punched, choked and dragged him during his arrest in Union Parish, outside Monroe. State Police troopers on the scene first covered up Greene's cause of death by saying he died from injuries he suffered in a car accident during the police pursuit. Since then, the severity of Greene's beating and investigators' records has become public. 'IT IS CRIMINAL: Activists, lawyers demand charges against Louisiana troopers in Ronald Greene's 2019 death Greene's cause of death was first covered up by State Police troopers on the scene who said he died from injuries suffered in a car accident during their pursuit of him before the severity of Greene's beating and investigators' records became public. Story continues Edwards said he never told anyone Greene died in a car crash following the high-speed chase with State Police. The governor met with the Legislative Black Caucus before Tuesday's press conference, where he made his case before them as well. NEW FBI-ORDERED AUTOPSY: Report rejects Louisiana police claim that Ronald Greene died in 2019 car crash Legislative Black Caucus Chair Vincent Pierre of Lafayette told the USA TODAY Network that members still support the governor but weren't satisfied with his handling of the Greene case. "We do believe he could have handled it much better, especially with communications to the State Police," Pierre said. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Ronald Greene death: John Bel Edwards denies connection with coverup Patrick Kelly, director of education at the Stokes Nature Center, inserts a spile into a maple tree during a Jan. 15 maple-tapping demonstration at Patrick Smith Park in Santa Fe. New Mexico State University is collaborating with the center and other institutions to develop a maple syrup industry in a region of eight western states, including New Mexico, Montana and Utah. LAS CRUCES - A New Mexico State University professor is part of a research collaborative that received a $500,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture to develop a maple industry in the nations interior west region. Rolston St. Hilaire, NMSU Regents professor and head of the Plant and Environmental Sciences and Extension Plant Sciences departments in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, serves as the co-principal investigator of the project. The project, a collaboration with Utah State University, aims to develop a maple syrup industry in a region of eight western states, including New Mexico, Montana and Utah, through research and targeted extension activities, St. Hilaire said. The project team includes faculty and Extension personnel from USU and NMSU; The Forest Farmers, LLC, a maple syrup industry consulting company in New York; Montana MapleWorks, a maple syrup company in Missoula, Montana; and the Stokes Nature Center in Logan, Utah. More from NMSU: Renowned pianist to perform at NMSU, mentor music students The overall goal is to tap New Mexico, Montana and Utah maples to determine the conditions that will be needed to produce a quality syrup, St. Hilaire said. Maple syrup is commonly made by boiling the sap of sugar maple trees. But other maples also produce syrup, St. Hilaire said, noting that bigtooth, boxelders and Rocky Mountain maple trees are native to New Mexico, Montana and Utah. The three states also have nonnative maples planted in urban areas. St. Hilaire said the projects team will work to determine the potential for tapping maples in the Intermountain West region for syrup production, using traditional bucket collection and gravity tubing systems. The team will also work to educate hobby producers and landowners about maple sap-tapping techniques and maple syrup-production processes. St. Hilaire said theres a need for alternate areas to produce maple syrup to sustain maple syrup production, given that climate change will likely impact maple-producing areas in Canada and the northeastern U.S. Story continues More from NMSU: Scholars, researchers find answers in NMSU's Mary Daniels Taylor Durango Microfilm Collection This new partnership will allow NMSU to help build the foundation for developing the food value of maples grown in the interior west, he said. As part of the project, Extension staff from NMSU and USU, with support from the Stokes Nature Center, will host maple-tapping demonstrations this year, showcasing traditional and modern methods for tapping maple trees. The first demonstration took place Jan. 15 in Santa Fe. There is a real opportunity for production of maple products in the west that are truly unique, said Patrick Kelly, director of education at the Stokes Nature Center. It was great for our Utah team to come teach in New Mexico and see how enthusiastic folks are about maple tapping here. Im sure Ill be buying an all-New Mexico sourced green chile maple syrup in the very near future. The team also hopes to recruit New Mexico landowners to participate in the project by allowing researchers to conduct maple tapping experiments on their land. Landowners interested in participating should contact St. Hilaire at rsthilai@nmsu.edu or 575-646-5280. Eye on Research is provided by New Mexico State University. This weeks feature was written by Carlos Andres Lopez of Marketing and Communications. He can be reached at 575-646-1955 or carlopez@nmsu.edu. Others are reading: This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: NMSU joins effort to develop maple industry in western US Athens-Clarke police are trying to identify a woman they say went on a fraudulent check-cashing spree in at least eight metro-Atlanta cities, collecting more than $32,000. The victim of the forged checks, a 39-year-old Winterville woman, reported her checks were stolen Jan. 31 when someone entered her car at Southeast Clarke Park on Whit Davis Road. The womans car was one of at least six vehicles broken into that day, according to Athens-Clarke police reports. All of the vehicles were driven to the park by women, including the wife of an Athens-Clarke police officer. Police released these photos Monday of a woman they said cashed forged checks stolen in Athens. Police released photos of the suspect Monday that were taken at one of the locations where forged checks were cashed on Feb. 2 and Feb. 3. The suspect also had the victims drivers license and used it in the transactions, police said. Read More: Athens-Clarke police rescue girl and arrest her suspected Alabama kidnapper Also: Cigarettes stolen in 'smash and grab' burglaries at 2 Athens general stores Police said the stolen checks were cashed in Buford, Dacula, Norcross, Kennesaw, Woodstock, Douglasville, Conyers and Covington. The victim told police that the passenger-side window on her car was shattered by the thief who stole her purse. Another Athens woman told police that her purse was stolen and her debit card was used to take money from her account, but police did not have a figure readily available Monday on the amount stolen. Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to contact Det. Nathaniel Franco at (762) 400-7100 or Nathaniel.Franco@accgov.com. This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Athens GA police seek to ID woman who cashed $32,000 in stolen checks YORK, Maine As the Maine Turnpike Authority begins to look to a future with no cash tolling lanes, some residents are asking why now after pouring millions of dollars into a new toll plaza. It's now nearly six months after the completion and opening of the controversial toll plaza on Interstate 95 in York, which added new high-speed toll lanes and cash toll lanes. When York residents Marshall and Joan Jarvis learned the MTA leadership discussed in a recent meeting all-electronic tolls are envisioned for the future, they were shocked. The couple, along with hundreds of other York residents and the town's Board of Selectmen, argued against building the plaza in a new location in York and in opposition to including cash toll lanes, for years before it was built. The York Toll Plaza is seen ahead of its opening Sept. 15, 2021. You have to really question the integrity of the MTA, and everybody associated with it why did they ignore us? Joan Jarvis said Thursday, Feb. 3. Previous story: New high-speed toll plaza opens on Maine Turnpike in York A day earlier, the Portland Press Herald reported that the Turnpike Authority is looking ahead to cashless tolls. Maine Turnpike Authority Executive Director Peter Mills said in an interview Thursday he had not made an announcement because there was nothing to announce. The Turnpike Authority has no firm deadline to eliminate cash tolls or a plan on how to replace them, Mills added. The opposition in York The Jarvises led a citizens group that opposed the new plaza and spent tens of thousands of dollars to fight it. The group argued the project would be outdated if Turnpike Authority included cash-toll lanes. They also cited safety concerns, possible environmental degradation, noise and light pollution and loss of property values. The group argued that Turnpike Authority should have built the new plaza in essentially the same location as the old one. The group and the town of York believed the best location for the site would have been at mile 7.3, just 400 feet north of the old plaza. Story continues Pay to visit Mt. A?: Here's what York, Maine leaders are planning and why. Instead, the Turnpike Authority went with the recommendation from Jacobs Engineering, which was hired to investigate the best site for the plaza, and relocated the plaza at mile 8.8 on land owned by the Turnpike Authority. In 2017, the Board of Selectmen agreed to take $25,000 from their contingency account to take on the Maine Turnpike Authority at a state hearing on the York toll plaza. The following year, the 12-year battle against plans for a new Maine Turnpike toll plaza came to an end for the town and the citizens group. In York: School Committee votes to keep 'It's Perfectly Normal' after bid to remove book "The citizens of York spent over $100,000 in legal and engineering fees to try and get them to see the light that is wasted money. It's very, very unfortunate and is a poor reflection on government in general, Marshall Jarvis said Thursday, Feb. 3. The Board of Selectmen decided not to appeal a court ruling which upheld the Maine Department of Environmental Protections decision to grant a permit for the new toll plaza in York. The board could have opted to appeal the decision to the Supreme Judicial Court, but did not. The three-year $40 million project was completed last fall. MTA leader defends toll plaza Mills said Thursday he stands by the decision to include cash-toll lanes in York because it will take a number of years for an all-electronic tolling system to be feasible for the Maine Turnpike, and cash-tolls lanes will still be useful in the near-term. Every single lane down here and every single lane on the turnpike is an electronic lane that is the fundamental method by which money is collected on the road. The fact that we have a toll booth adjacent to some of them gives us the flexibility of being able to collect cash everywhere, Mills said. 'Effort to erase past': New York Times journalist to talk NH 'divisive concepts' rules in Portsmouth The people who think the Turnpike Authority made the wrong choice shouldnt underestimate the impact a loss of revenue would have if there were no cash tolls, Mills said. If we hadn't had those extra lanes out to the side, we would have lost millions protecting the revenue is a larger, more important financial consideration of the capital cost of putting in these toll booths, Mills said. Last year, 15% of the agencys toll revenue was paid in cash, about a 60% decline from 20 years ago, Mills said. Mills said the cash lanes can be used as backup if there is a malfunction of the mainline electronic tolling lanes. Toll workers union concerned The amount of toll collectors who work for the Maine Turnpike Authority has been cut in half compared to 15 years ago, with about 95 full-time current employees. Over the years, Turnpike Authority has shifted workers to different jobs within the Turnpike Authority, Mills said. Mills said that when the labor union got wind of his comments to the Press Herald, the union president had reached out with concerns about potential future layoffs. Mills said he told the union workers will not be laid off. In New Hampshire: No cash, no booths: Dover, Rochester tolls going all-electronic on Spaulding Turnpike It's a steadily diminishing workforce. But we're at a point now where we're running pretty much with a skeleton crew on the road. In other words, it's not clear how we would try to run the cash collection system with too many fewer people than we have running it now, Mills said. Maine state senator remains critical of Maine Turnpike Authority State Sen. Mark Lawrence, D-York, in 2019 attempted and failed to pass legislation that would halt the York toll plaza construction and other similar projects in Maine. Lawrence said Friday he is happy to hear that Maine Turnpike Authority has come around to working toward all-electronic tolls. Lawrence also countered Mills defense of the project in York, arguing the MTA leader's reasoning to keep cash-toll lanes is nonsense. I'm pleased to see that Maine Turnpike has come around to this position the Turnpike Authority was so concerned about losing revenue, that it went down this path It should have been done in the first place, but I'm pleased that it's being done now. Lawrence said. Lawrence and the town of York advocated for an al- electronic transponder (AET) system similar to Massachusetts, which uses an all electronic tolling system. The Turnpike Authority argued that the AET alternative is not a practical solution. Mills said the Turnpike Authority is going to explore alternatives to going cashless. Lawrence said he disputes Mills argument that technology has not progressed enough to fully capture a license plate in order to bill the driver. I used to be the district attorney in York County and they have speed detectors that are both handheld and stationary that state police use they can easily detect license plates. So there's the technology, Lawrence said. Lawrence acknowledged that some cars will slip by, but that doesnt occur often enough to dismiss all-electronic tolling. Those are such a small small number that it doesn't warrant creating this special cash lane, Lawrence said. Lawrence said the loss in revenue would not have been as severe as Mills described, and, regardless, it shouldnt have been put ahead of public safety concerns with cash tolls. Mills said the Maine Turnpike Authority will continue to look for solutions. Every road in the country in the world wants to get rid of cash collection if they have it. On the other hand, those that have done so like Massachusetts by going into this AET system it's a very, very cumbersome and inadequate system, Mills said. "No one in the industry has found an ideal alternative yet." This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Maine Turnpike Authority cashless toll lane idea angers York residents Feb. 1BOISE Employees injured by mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations would be eligible for workers' compensation payments under legislation that advanced to the House floor Monday. House Bill 464 is co-sponsored by House Assistant Majority Leader Jason Monks, R-Meridian, and Rep. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa. Idaho employees can already receive compensation for injuries related to workplace vaccines. However, Skaug, a workers' compensation attorney, said there has been confusion regarding COVID-19. Some vaccine injury claims are being denied, even in cases when an employer agrees they should be covered. "This is happening," he said. "We get a lot of these different claims. Most of them are minor. People call up and say they had a reaction to the shot, they missed a couple of weeks of work, but ... the insurance company decided not to cover (their claim). So there's a little bit of a fight and it gets taken care of." HB 464 would eliminate any confusion and avoid the fight, he said. "Insurance adjusters would see this and say, 'Oh, this needs to be covered,' " Skaug said. "I think there will be less litigation than we have now." The bill applies specifically to workers who are required to get the COVID-19 vaccine by their employer, and who later suffer some type of adverse reaction, Skaug said. It doesn't matter whether they wanted the vaccine in the first place, or only got it to keep their job. A handful of people testified in opposition to the bill, saying it essentially codifies an employer's right to require vaccines. "This doesn't seem like it respects the individual rights of the people of Idaho," said Craig Campbell, of Boise. Campbell said thousands of Idahoans have suffered some type of reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine, and a few have even died. "This bill doesn't fix that," he said. "You have to fix the system that damages citizens in the first place, not compensate them for damage after it's done." Story continues Sarah Clendenon, representing Idaho Health Freedom, described HB 464 as a "crumbs" bill. "It's giving our rights to government and then begging for some crumbs back," she said. "We're either free people with inherent rights, or we're slaves who have to come and beg to get some of our freedoms back." However, members of the House Commerce and Human Resources Committee saw the bill as an opportunity to ensure that people who are injured by mandatory vaccinations get compensated for any lost wages and medical expenses. "We've had situations where people were injured," said Rep. Lori McCann, R-Lewiston. "I'm concerned if we don't do something, they'll be injured and not covered." "This isn't a bill for or against the COVID vaccination," Skaug said. "This is about helping people who happen to be injured by the vaccination. ... We've seen some of these claims paid out, but we've also seen some get denied. This bill helps clarify the coverage for someone who's injured by the vaccine. I think it's good legislation for all parties involved." The bill now heads to the House floor for further action. Spence may be contacted at bspence@lmtribune.com or (208) 791-9168. If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Robb Report may receive an affiliate commission. Valentines Day is on the horizon, but you still have lots of time to get a great gift for the woman in your life. And this year, at a time when all of us could do with more than a little pick-me-up, the best gifts for her go way beyond a bouquet of flowers that wont last the week. Below, weve rounded up everything from luxurious beauty staples and accessories shell wear for years to come to a special chocolate tasting experience that neither of you will forget any time soon. More from Robb Report Slim Aarons: Style Slim Aarons: Style In lieu of a Mediterranean getaway, bring a bit of la dolce vita to her. Nobody captured mid-century jet-setters more alluringly than Slim Aarons and this new tome highlights the photographers eye for fashion, featuring some of the worlds most elegant women and men at play from Gstaad to Palm Springs. Buy Now: $85 $74.19 Toak x Robb Report Cask-Aged Chocolate Tasting Experience To'ak x Robb Report Cask Aged Chocolate Tasting Experience If youre trying to show her how you really feel, will any old box of chocolates actually pass muster? Our new collaboration with the artisans at Toak features chocolate aged in two different casks from Sullivans Cove, Tasmanias award-winning distilleryone of the rising stars in the world of whiskey. It also includes one of Toaks all-time favorite editions, aged in a Laphroaig cask. Buy Now: $99 Kule The Monroe Scarf Kule The Monroe Scarf Versatile, irreverently cool and quietly decadent, this faux fur scarf is the cold weather accessory she never knew she needed. Buy Now: $198 Jenni Kayne Cashmere Fisherman Sweater Jenni Kayne Cashmere Fisherman Sweater Jenni Kaynes downy cashmere crewneck comes in a pleasantly chunky ribbed knit with a cut thats roomy but flattering and is available in a range of neutral hues. In other words, a pretty perfect sweater. Story continues Buy Now: $395 Mizuki 14K Gold Freshwater Pearl Earrings MIZUKI Sea of Beauty 14k Gold Freshwater Pearl Earrings There may be no piece of jewelry more timeless than a pair of pearl earrings, making them a failsafe choice for gifting. But rather than the usual staid studs, opt for something more modern like these baroque pearl drops. Buy Now: $460 Sophie Bille Brahe Jewelry Box Sophie Bille Brahe Small Velvet Jewelry Box This petite jewelry box, swathed in lustrous velvet and trimmed with a tassel, would be a welcome addition to any well-appointed vanity. But if you ask us, combine it with those Mizuki earringsor any other precious little somethingand consider your wrapping done. Buy Now: $80 Max Mara Teddy Bear Coat Max Mara Teddy Bear Coat Springing for a mink coat doesnt quite strike the right tone these days, but theres still something about the grand gesture of an extravagant coat. 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Buy Now: 23.33 Finn Letter Necklace with Diamond Accent Finn Necklace A personalized touch makes for a standout gift, and whats more personal than ones own initials? Finns 18k gold necklace combines a sleek letter charm and pear-shaped diamond pendant on a classic chain. If you really want to up the ante, add initials for all of her kids as well. Buy Now: $645 Best of Robb Report Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Elements of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 8, the ITS Cavour Strike Group and the Charles de Gaulle Carrier Strike Group (TF 473) transit the Mediterranean Sea in formation, Feb. 6, 2022. Bela Chambers/U.S. Navy Allies France, Italy, and the US conducted joint naval exercises in the Mediterranean recently. The joint drills were a show of strength among allies, the US Navy said. There's been increased military activity around Europe amid heightened tensions in the region. Three NATO allies France, Italy, and the United States have been conducting joint naval exercises together in the Mediterranean Sea, showing the strength of their partnership with three aircraft carrier strike groups. The US' Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, France's Charles de Gaulle Task Force 473, and Italy's Cavour strike group trained together from February 6 to 7. "The capabilities of a US aircraft carrier strike group are made stronger by operating alongside our allies and partners," US Navy Rear Adm. Curt Renshaw, the commander of Carrier Strike Group Eight, said in a press release. The Italian carrier strike group commander said in a statement that the joint exercise was a chance to "collectively enhance our capabilities, demonstrate the strength of our alliance and increase the interoperability with our partners" while the French commander called the training "essential to Europe security in this strategic area." From right to left, Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), the Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour (C 550) and the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R 91) transit the Mediterranean Sea in formation, Feb. 6, 2022. Bela Chambers/U.S. Navy Though it was planned in advance, this exercise comes amid increased military activity around Europe and as tensions between Russia and the West over Ukraine persist. Russia has moved tens of thousands of troops along Ukraine's border, NATO allies are moving troops and equipment to bolster the alliance's eastern flank, and several big military exercises have been conducted recently or are expected in the near future. For instance, the NATO alliance recently concluded its Neptune Strike exercise on February 4. The exercise was the first time NATO has commanded a full US carrier strike group since the Cold War, the alliance said in a news release, signaling its heightened readiness. This major naval exercise involved both the carrier Harry S. Truman and the Cavour. Russian vessels shadowed participating US ships, Stars and Stripes reported. Story continues During the exercise, Department of Defense press secretary John Kirby told reporters the carrier group will "demonstrate NATO's ability to integrate the high-end maritime strike capabilities of an aircraft carrier strike group to support the deterrence and defense of the alliance." Kirby also said the demonstration was not a direct response to recent Russian aggressions at the Ukrainian border and had been in the works for over a year. The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CV 75) conducts flight operations in the Mediterranean Sea in support of Neptune Strike 2022, Feb. 3 OR-8 Florian Fergen/Allied Joint Force Command Naples These Western exercises come as Russia carries out a massive military build-up near Ukraine, which Moscow denies having plans to attack or invade. And Russian Ministry of Defense announced late last month that Russia has also been moving to conduct sweeping military drills involving all its fleets from the Pacific to the Atlantic, including in the Mediterranean Sea. Read the original article on Business Insider A co-conspirator of a $1 billion federal Ponzi scheme that targeted military veterans and investors has pleaded guilty in Greenville to one count of conspiracy to defraud. Joseph Hipp, who was indicted in July 2019, was accused alongside three others of devising and executing a scheme to defraud and obtain money and property, according to according to the indictment. Hipp's attorney, Jim Griffin, did not immediately respond to calls seeking comment. The Greenville News spent a year investigate this scheme involving the buying and selling of military benefits as part of its Indebted series. Another co-defendant, Scott Kohn, was a leader in the scheme and directed employees to use late-night advertising and the Internet to reach people. Kohn scheme involved more than 90 South Carolinians among others outside of the state, according to The News' series. Kohn's criminal case is still pending, according to Beattie Ashmore, Kohn's court-appointed receiver. Hipp is facing a $250,000 fine, imprisonment for up to five years, supervised release of three years and a special assessment fee of $100, according to the federal plea agreement filed in U.S. District Court in Greenville on Dec. 21, 2021. Related: More criminal charges, suits filed in Ponzi scheme that targeted veterans, investors During the course of the conspiracy, Hipp managed and oversaw investor solicitations for Future Income Payments, LLC. FIP actively recruited pension holders who found themselves in financial distress and desperate for money, in exchange for pensioner selling, assigning or promising to pay monthly payments, pensioners received payment or a loan, according to the indictment. Many of the pension holders were veterans of the United States Armed Forces and federal law prohibits assignments of pension payments. By working through a network of investment advisors and insurance agents, FIP solicited investors to purchase "structured cash flows" that were pensioner monthly payments, according to the indictment. Story continues Through Kohn's business, struggling veterans were provided cash advances typically of $25,000 or less though in some instances the cash advances were as much as $60,000. The veterans werent told it was illegal to buy and sell military benefits. Despite truth-in-lending requirements, they also werent informed that the annual interest rates on these transactions ranged from 29% to as high as 240%, according to prior reporting from The News. More: Marshals capture Scott Kohn, accused in Greenville of preying on veterans and investors More: Federal court cases linger for people accused of preying on veterans and investors FIP ceased doing business in 2018 and investors who had induced to purchase structured cash flows based on active concealment and misrepresentation of material information were owed $297 million, according to the indictment. Tamia Boyd is a Michigan native who covers breaking news in Greenville. Email her at tboyd@gannett.com, and follow her on Twitter @tamiamb. This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Man in $1B scheme targeting veterans pleads guilty in Greenville Bullets holes are seen in a car at the scene of an officer-involved shooting at Northgate Park in Salem, Ore. on Monday, Feb. 7, 2022. This story was updated at 2:45 p.m. A driver was killed in a shooting after three Salem police officers fired their weapons during a traffic stop overnight Sunday in northeast Salem. Four officers have been placed on paid leave following the shooting. Salem police Ofc. Griffin McDowell tried to pull over a driver in a gold 1995 Mercedes in the northeast Salem area at 12:37 a.m. Monday, but the driver did not stop, Oregon State Police said in a release. Police followed the driver to the 3200 block of Northgate Avenue, where he entered Northgate Park through the northeast parking lot off Hawthorne Avenue, drove through a gully and into a field in the park. More officers were called and they stopped the driver of the Mercedes in the field. A "confrontation" began and officials said at least three Salem police fired shots from their duty weapons, OSP officials said. Officers provided first aid to the driver, identified as Richard Allan Meyers, 40, who was taken to Salem Hospital. Meyers later died of his injuries. Police have not clarified if Meyers was shot. Officials have declined to say what the traffic stop was for and if Meyers had a weapon. A Pitbull dog inside the vehicle was also injured and taken to a veterinarian for treatment. The family of the owner decided to put the dog down. Senate Bill 111 requires officer use of deadly force investigations to be conducted by a non-involved law enforcement agency. In this case, state police. Four Salem officers have been placed on paid administrative leave, per the senate bill protocols and department policy. Here are those officers and their time of service with Salem Police: Officer Chad Treichler 1 year 8 months Officer Griffin McDowell 5 years 7 months Officer Jonathan McNichols - 1 year 6 months Officer David Baker- 8 years 11 months As of 12:30 p.m. Monday, four Salem police vehicles, and one from Marion County Sheriff's Office, were visible on the field next to the playground surrounding the Mercedes. Marion County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Sgt. Jeremy Landers said deputies responded, but were not involved in the shooting itself. Story continues One of the Salem police vehicles was positioned head to head with the gold car. The front of the gold car appeared smashed in, its windshield shattered and there were what appeared to be more than a dozen bullet holes in the Mercedes. More than 20 yellow evidence markers have been placed amid the involved vehicles. The perimeter of the park is wrapped in red and yellow caution tape. There are tire marks at the Northgate Avenue entrance of the park as well as some tire tracks in the field. Elizabeth Fonesca, who lives near the park, said she heard at least 10 gunshots around 12:30 a.m. two or three pops, and then several in rapid succession but did not see anything. Fonesca has lived in the area for about eight years and said she keeps an eye on the park and has occasionally called police when she's noticed suspicious activity such as people parking their cars at the park and blaring music late at night. She said this is the first time she's heard gunshots from her home. Another resident who lives near the park, Carl Northcutt, said he heard at least five or six gunshots and saw at least one police car pass in front of his home heading toward the park around the same time as the shooting. Officials said Oregon State Medical Examiner will determine cause and manner of death. State police said investigators will interview additional witnesses, analyze and test evidence, and then, a Marion County Grand Jury will review the case. Marion County District Attorney officials declined to share additional details citing an open investigation. Investigators from Oregon State Police and Sheriffs investigate the scene of an officer-involved shooting at Northgate Park in Salem, Ore. on Monday, Feb. 7, 2022. Virginia Barreda is the breaking news and public safety reporter for the Statesman Journal. She can be reached at 503-399-6657 or at vbarreda@statesmanjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter at @vbarreda2. This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Four officers, driver identified in fatal Salem Police shooting Sweden-based price comparison service PriceRunner has announced that it's suing Google for 2.1 billion ($2.4 billion) after a European court ruled that Google breached EU antitrust laws. Last November, the European Union's General Court upheld a decision to fine Google a record 2.42 billion (US$2.8 billion) for favoring its own comparison shopping services over rivals. "We are ... seeking compensation for the damage Google has caused us during many years, but are also seeing this lawsuit as a fight for consumers who have suffered tremendously from Googles infringement of the competition law for the past fourteen years and still today," said PriceRunner CEO Mikael Lindahl. PriceRunner claimed that Google has a "monopoly-like position" in Europe adding that it believes it has still not complied with the EU Commission's decision and is "abusing it's dominant position." As such, it claimed that traffic and profits are diverted from itself and other shopping services, and that its offers are higher than other services, harming consumers. "Since the violation is still ongoing the amount of damages increases every day, we expect the final damages amount of the lawsuit to be significantly higher," it wrote. Google lost its first appeal against the EU fine, but it launched another one last month, saying "we feel there are areas that require legal clarification from the European Court of Justice." Engadget has reached out to Google for comment on the PriceRunner lawsuit. In February 1952, then-princess Elizabeth arrived in Kenya on an official visit. She left as Queen. With the death of her father, King George VI, back in London, Elizabeth automatically assumed the throne, beginning a reign that has, as of Sunday, lasted a historic seven decades. The Queen is the first British monarch to ever celebrate her so-called Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years on the throne. In that time, 14 prime ministers have led the British government. On Sunday, Buckingham Palace released a new photo of the 95-year-old Queen to commemorate her jubilee, showing her smiling beside a portrait of her late father and next to one of the red boxes in which she receives briefing papers. In a message released Saturday to mark the occasion, she said she views her Accession Day with mixed feelings, remembering it as much for the death of her father as for the day she began her reign. "These last seven decades have seen extraordinary progress socially, technologically and culturally that have benefitted us all," the Queen said in the message. "And I am confident that the future will offer similar opportunities to us and especially to the younger generations in the United Kingdom and throughout the Commonwealth." She also made reference to her late husband, Prince Philip, who died last year at age 99, saying she felt "blessed" to have had a partner who was "willing to carry out the role of consort and unselfishly make the sacrifices that go with it." For the first time ever, the Queen also said that when she dies and her oldest son, Prince Charles, becomes king, it is her "sincere wish" that his wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, be known as queen consort. When Charles and Camilla married in 2005, the royals had said she would only be known as princess consort when Charles assumed the throne. That was believed to be out of respect for the late Princess Diana, as well as the sensitivities around the marriage of two divorced people. Story continues But the Queen, who, as monarch, is also the ceremonial head of the Church of England, appears to have decided that times have changed and Camilla has now been accepted by the public at large. The Queen noted in her Saturday statement that Camilla has put in years of "loyal service." In a statement released Sunday, Charles congratulated his mother for her Platinum Jubilee and thanked her for honoring his wife. "We are deeply conscious of the honor represented by my mother's wish," he said. "As we have sought together to serve and support Her Majesty and the people of our communities, my darling wife has been my own steadfast support throughout." More on this The Yakima Herald-Republic won nine awards, including two first places, on Saturday when the winners of the 2014 Society of Professional Journ David Hinojosa, a former counselor at Toppenish Middle School, is pictured at one of the school's entrances Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022, in Toppenish, Wash. It Happened Here is a weekly history column by Yakima Herald-Republic reporter Donald W. Meyers. Reach him at dmeyers@yakimaherald.com. Sources for this weeks column include Early African Americans in Our Yakima Valley History, compiled by Gilbert B. Chandler and Ester B. Huey; the Rev. Don Davis Jr.; ame-church.com; Encyclopedia Britannica; and the archives of the Yakima Herald-Republic. Selah's Katie Ramos swims in the 200 IM at a CWAC swim meet on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021 at Lions Pool in Yakima, Wash. For those of you old enough to remember the debate over single-sex education, and how VMI fo Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. The joint prime ministerial candidate for the opposition, Peter Marki-Zay, is constantly being attacked because he does not tolerate stealing, claims the Everybodys Hungary Movement (MMM). At the same time, Prime Minister Viktor Orban lies, which is why he is afraid to confront Marki-Zay in a debate. MMM has now launched a nationwide billboard campaign to make Hungarians aware of these things, announced Tibor Bana, Member of Parliament from Vas County and MMM coordinator (pictured), on Friday. Bana said that 1,300 billboards had been put up around the country to highlight the importance of a debate between the two main candidates for prime minister. Marki-Zay has invited Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Janos Lazar, his opponent in the individual constituency where he is also running, to debate him, but neither of them took him up on the offer. Hes afraid to debate because he lies! In every country, in every committed democracy, it is important that the prime ministerial candidates contrast their views with each other on various issues, Tibor Bana said in the outdoor news conference on February 4. Tibor Bana said that in addition to the posters, seven cars will also be driving around to get their message across to voters. During the campaign period that officially starts on February 12, Fidesz will have ten times as many billboards as the opposition, so this is what we have to compete with. - said Tibor Bana. Tibor Bana added that on February 12, the day the election campaign officially starts, the United for Hungary opposition coalition will launch its own billboard campaign. Photo: Mindenki Magyarorszaga Mozgalom / Facebook After last year's great success, the Budapest Office of the Japan Foundation is organizing the Online Japanese Film Festival again this year. From February 14th to 27th, we will be able to watch 20 Japanese works in the territory of the whole country, on the couch in our home, with both Hungarian and English subtitles, free of charge, including critically acclaimed works and entertaining films. This years program includes Kurosawa Akiras classic, Rashomon. One of the top films in the world of cinema, made in 1950 won the main prize at the Venice Film Festival that year. The award-winning contemporary work Awake is a true story-inspired coming-of-age film about much more than just an exciting game of chess between an artificial intelligence and a man. The favorite of many festivals all over the world, Aristocrats is a thought-provoking drama about the lives of todays Japanese women. Under the Open Sky, the drama of one of Japans most promising female directors, Nishikawa Miwa will also be screened. The film made its debut at the Toronto International Film Festivals competition program and won several international awards. Mikami, a former member of the Jacuzzi, is released from prison after 13 years. You want to start with a clean slate, but will you be able to set foot in society? Starring Yakusho Koji is one of the most famous contemporary actors in Japan. Those, being intereted in sport will enjoy SUMODO-The Successsors of Samurai. Sumo wrestling is said to have already existed in Japan over a thousand years ago. This film closely follows famous sumo wrestlers to show how they live, train, and how they feel when they step onto the ring. During the festival, all 20 films are available here They can be viewed several times for 48 hours after pressing the play button. Gevalin Bradbury (Thidiseree) is an education and visa consultant, an Asian travel planner and Thai events & workshops organizer. She got her B.A. in English, at Dhurakijpundit University (Bangkok) She is a nomad working and living in many countries for 15 years since graduated, now in Hungary starting own small business sharing Asian wisdom(s) from meditation, Thai yoga, Thai massage to Thai cuisine , also recruiting Thai students who are interested in studying further in Hungary, assist people who would like to settle down in Hungary from Non- EU countries and planning Asia trips for those wonderous after the world open again. She has been a recruiter and education consultant sending Thai students studying Medicine in Romania for years. Gev was a working holidays maker in New Zealand and Australia and ESL teacher and teacher recruiter in China. International Pai Yoga festival organizer and helper (2018) She got lost everywhere in the 18 countries she has been, even in Budapest downtown - now. ( Why there are so many Istanbul kebab shop!!!) 1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here? December 2018, just right before Christmas and Virus time. I came here with a work permit tied with a company. I came here because I have been recruiting students to study in Romania and I have heard about the business visa, self-employed in Hungary for expats. 2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere? Yes, been a nomad living and working in many countries since 2004 after finished my B.A at the university, I had been an expat in Sweden, New Zealand, Australia, USA, China and now in Hungary. 3. What surprised you most about Hungary? How inexpensive of the cost of living and very convenience to get around. 4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do? Baths, trekking into the Gellert Hill , Bazilika and walking along the Danube. Picnic at the Margaret Island and have a few drinks at a few ruined bars. 5. What is your favourite Hungarian food? Very hard to say, stuffed cabbage ( but I put a lot of chili paste on, sorry) 6. What is never missing from your refrigerator? Daikon, Chinese cabbage, tamarind and lots of paprika hot hot paste. 7. What is your favourite Hungarian word? Koszonom, thank you, easy and people like to hear it. 8. What do you miss most from home? Food, festivals, street food, night markets, family, 9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue? Either a war reporter or a stand-up comedian with lots of dark sides, bad jokes. 10. What's a job you would definitely never want? Post office and those office job 11. Where did you spend your last vacation? Melaka, Malaysia 12. Where do you hope to spend your next holiday? Portugal, Nepal, anywhere to eat, pray and love. 13. Apart of temptation what can't you resist? Spicy Somtum with raw prawns and Salmon. 14. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen? Damien Rice and Lisa Hannigan, Amelie (French Film), I was a party queen in university joining with the Dude Sweet Party group. 15. Red wine or white? Red and dry 16. Book or movie? Book, for sure. 17. Morning person or night person? Both, it depends on the mood if i want to see the sun or the moon. 18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about? Discrimination 19. Buda or Pest side? Both are good. 20. What would you say is your personal motto? "Only you can fill what's missing, it's not something another person can do for you." - Haruki Murakami After discovering that some uncool cats had created a Twitter account impersonating her campaign, gubernatorial candidate Carol Blood received help from one of the stars of the Netflix series Tiger King to shut down the account. Blood said she recently got help from Carole Baskin, whose online greeting hey all you cool cats and kittens became a meme in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when Tiger King exploded in popularity. The deceitful Twitter account used Baskins image as a profile photo. Blood, a state legislator and the only Democrat so far in the governors race, views the account as part of a broader, troubling trend of negative campaigning in state politics. We live in a world of Us vs. Them, she said. And I think its wrong that any of the parties and not just the Republican Party when they participate in that narrative, then they just make politics more divisive, make campaigns more divisive. The fake account appeared when Blood announced her candidacy for governor, she said, as did other fake social media accounts. Baskin is the CEO of Big Cat Rescue and was the target of a murder-for-hire scheme at the center of Tiger King, which debuted in 2020. The account used a convincing username (@BloodForGov, while her official campaign account is @Blood4G), and a recent tweet from the account featured a photo lifted from Bloods official account, according to screenshots shared by Blood. She said tweets from the account were misleading about her positions and her campaign. The account directed people to vote Nov. 9, one day after Election Day. Theyre purposely putting out misinformation, she said. Some people who support her candidacy accidentally followed the fake account first, she added. Blood accused members of the Nebraska GOP of having a track record of clandestine campaigning methods in a statement about the ordeal last week. She stopped short of tying the account directly to the party in an interview with the Omaha World-Herald but said she thinks that, at the very least, the party encouraged it. She said her campaign tracked the Twitter accounts IP address and has an idea of where it came from. According to screenshots, the account linked to a website featuring a negative ad targeting Blood. A disclaimer on the ad says it was paid for by the Nebraska GOP, and a link on the page labeled pitch in to help defeat radical leftists leads to a fundraising page for the party. In a statement Friday, state GOP Executive Director Taylor Gage said he was not aware of the genesis of the website or the deactivated Twitter account but added that the Nebraska Republican Party strongly opposes liberal Carol Bloods bid for governor. Blood doesnt think that the fundraising link is a coincidence. She said she and others reported the account to no avail. Then she contacted Baskin about the use of her image last weekend, she said. Baskin contacted Twitter, and the account was suspended, according to Blood. Baskin responded to a tweet from the now-defunct account: This account has been reported to Twitter for using my photo without my permission for their smear campaign against someone I dont even know. Blood cited legal concerns about using Baskins image. She also said the account appears to be part of an overall shift toward dirty politics. Blood mentioned a 2020 legislative race in Southeast Nebraska that got especially heated and involved accusations of racism and lies. Janet Palmtag, a Nebraska City real estate agent who lost that race to Sen. Julie Slama, has sued the state GOP for defamation. I dont get negative, and I dont think Ive ever had a campaign where my opponents didnt go negative and off the rails, Blood said. And this is a really good example. A newly retired lieutenant colonel from Offutt Air Force Base is the latest Republican to file for the congressional seat occupied by Rep. Jeff Fortenberry. John Glen Weaver said his run for political office provides him an opportunity to continue serving his country. We need a point of reflection and clarity in this country, he said. I want to bring decency and honesty to the district. Weaver, 45, retired as chief of the 55th Wing Command Post. He has served two stints at the base for a total of 15 years. Weaver has served 22 years with the Air Force and has been on 11 deployments, including in the Middle East and Southwest Asia. He has been on the ground and flown combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. His years in the military, his experience with national security and time at Offutt position him well to serve the district, he said. Weaver is an Omaha resident, which places him outside of the 1st Congressional Districts boundaries. He said he intends to move to Bellevue, which is in the 1st District. House members are not required to live within the district they represent. Running against Rep. Don Bacon, a retired brigadier general, in the 2nd District, wasnt an option, Weaver said, adding that the two agree on many issues. Hes my wingman, he said. Weaver will be competing against two well-established Republican political figures and two lesser-known candidates. A major political battle has developed in the 1st District between Fortenberry and State Sen. Mike Flood, a former speaker of the Nebraska Legislature. Fortenberry has been indicted by a federal grand jury on allegations of receiving foreign campaign contributions. Those legal problems have raised the possibility that he has lost the advantage of incumbency and could be vulnerable in the general election. Gov. Pete Ricketts and former Gov. Dave Heineman have endorsed Flood. Also running on the Republican side are Thireena Yuki Connely of Palmyra, and Curtis D. Huffman of La Vista. On the Democratic side are State Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln and activist Jazari Kual. Republicans have held the seat since 1967. The primary election is May 10. In announcing his first bid for elected office, Weaver said he isnt politically connected. But I have faith in the American people and public, he said. I hope they will see me for the authentic and hardworking person that I am. Weaver and his wife, Brianna, a physician at the Nebraska Medical Center, have a daughter and a second child on the way. After a controversial remark from a dealer in Pakistan, Hyundai Motor India has issued a statement stating it stands strong on its ethos of respecting nationalism. The statement was issued by the South Korean giant and India's second largest carmaker after Maruti Suzuki following a backlash on social media to boycott Hyundai and stop buying Hyundai cars. A dealer of Hyundai with handle @hyundaiPakistanOfficial in Pakistan posted a message supporting separatists in Kashmir. The tweet was done to support Kashmir Solidarity day, what it called as "struggle for freedom". Following it, #BoycottHyundai trended on Twitter in India with many people asking to stop buying the company's products in the country. Reacting to the developments, Hyundai Motors India issued a statement reiterating its commitment to the Indian market. "Hyundai MotorIndia has been committed to the Indian market for more than 25 years now and we stand firmly for our strong ethos of respecting nationalism," it said. The company further said, "The unsolicited social media post linking Hyundai Motor India is offending our unparalleled commitment and service to this great country." Reiterating that India is second home to the Hyundai brand, the company said, "We have a zero-tolerance policy towards insensitive communication and we strongly condemn any such view." Hyundai Motor India further said, "As part of our commitment to India, we will continue our efforts towards the betterment of the country as well as its citizens." Also read: Maruti Suzuki offering discounts upto Rs 36,000 on Celerio, Brezza, Alto, Swift Hyundai Motor India is the second-largest carmaker in the country after Maruti Suzuki India. It currently sells 12 models including Creta and Venue in the domestic market. In December last year, the automaker announced plans to invest around Rs 4,000 crore to drive in around six electric vehicles in India by 2028. The company is planning to roll out a mix of models based on its existing range as well as completely new vehicles based on its global platform 'E-GMP' over the next few years. Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Company is present in over 200 countries with more than 120,000 employees. With inputs from PTI Live TV #mute Parliamentary Committee on Public Sector Undertakings has recommended changing the Gaya airport code to 'GAT' from 'GAY'. For a city of religious significance, alternative names like 'YAG' (Yag) have also been suggested. The panel requested that the government take up this issue with the International Air Transport Association and other concerned organizations since the issue involves the inappropriate naming of an airport of a holy city in India. According to the Committee, the use of the GAY code for Gaya airport is unsuitable for the holy city, so the government should attempt to substitute an appropriate code and an alternate code such as YAG is recommended. A spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Ministry said last week that the IATA, the trade association for airlines worldwide, had indicated that a change to the code could not be made without a justifiable reason primarily related to air safety. It further stated that allotted location codes are permanent under Resolution 763 and are not subject to change without a solid justification primarily relating to air safety. IATA assigns airport station codes in accordance with aviation standards. Read also: Kolkata should have a second airport, state govt not giving land: Jyotiraditya Scindia The GAY code for Gaya has been in use since the operationalisation of this airport. Therefore, without any justifiable reason primarily concerning air safety, IATA has expressed its inability to change the code of Gaya airport, the ministry told the panel which was duly mentioned in the panel`s report tabled on Friday. According to the report "The Committee appreciates the efforts of Air India being a member airline of IATA to take up the request with the international air transport association but, yet, re-emphasise the government to make all efforts to take up the matter with the IATA..." According to the panel's first report submitted to Parliament in January last year, the panel was informed that the Civil Aviation Ministry had requested the code of the Gaya airport be changed. To change the code name of Gaya airport, the panel had recommended that all consultations and formalities be completed in a timely manner by the Ministry and Air India. With inputs from IANS Live TV #mute The Indian car market is considered one of the most lucrative markets in the world. As a result, the American electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla is preparing to enter in India. Since the Model Y was spotted testing in India, Tesla may begin operations in the country with its two most affordable models, the Model 3 and the Model Y. Tesla Club India posted a photo of the Tesla Y with the Maharashtra number plate on its Twitter account. Internationally, both the 5- and 7-seat models of the Model Y are offered on the same platform as the Tesla Model 3. It is also similar to the Model 3 as both car shares many components with each other such as the front section, wide LED taillights and more. Read also: First private EV charging point installed in South Delhis Munirka residence On the global market, the car is available with both AWD and performance options. On both trim levels, dual electric motors are offered along with all-wheel drive. A full charge range of 505 km has been claimed for the Long Range, compared to 480 km for the Performance. In Pune. Seems like some Testing is still going on. Thanks @Nitesh6604 for sharing the pic. pic.twitter.com/naz8XK4Rq1 Tesla Club India (@TeslaClubIN) February 5, 2022 In regard to Tesla's entry in India, the company is currently negotiating tax cuts with the government of India on fully imported electric vehicles. Tesla, however, does not intend to qualify for any additional tax exemptions. Instead, the government says it should locally assemble its vehicles in India, as is the norm in the country. As of now, it appears Tesla cars won't arrive on Indian shores until sometime in the future. Live TV #mute New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will make a statement in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha on Monday (February 7, 2022) regarding the attack on the convoy of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi. Shah is likely to make a statement in the Upper House around 10.30 am and will then reiterate the same in the Lower House at around 4.00 pm. It is noteworthy that Owaisi's car was fired upon in Hapur while he was returning to Delhi after attending election-related events in western Uttar Pradesh on February 3. The Lok Sabha MP's vehicle was near the Chhijarsi toll plaza on the Hapur-Ghaziabad stretch of the National Highway 24 when the incident took place at around 6 pm. No one was injured in the incident and Owaisi had urged the Election Commission (EC) to ensure an independent probe into the incident. The Hyderabad MP was then given 'Z' category security on February 4, but the prominent Muslim leader rejected the protection and asked the government to instead make him an 'A category' citizen 'at par' with all. "I don't want Z category security. I want to be an A category citizen, at par with you all. Why was UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) not invoked against those who fired at me? ...I want to live, to speak. My life will be safe when the poor are safe. I will not get scared of those who shot at my car," Owaisi had said in the Lok Sabha. ALSO READ | Killers of Mahatma Gandhi opened fire at me: Owaisi on UP attack Meanwhile, two people, one from Gautam Buddh Nagar and the other from Saharanpur in western Uttar Pradesh have been arrested and charged with an attempt to murder in the case. An FIR has been lodged at the Pilakhua Police Station under IPC Section 307 (attempt to murder) and Section 7 of the Criminal Amendment Act. "One of the accused has been identified as Sachin, a resident of Badalpur in Gautam Buddh Nagar, while the other is Shubham, a native of Nakur in Saharanpur," the police had said in a statement. Two pistols were seized from their possession. A Maruti Alto car has also been impounded in connection with the case, police had said. (With agency inputs) Live TV New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday (February 7) addressed the parliament on the recent firing on AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisis convoy in Uttar Pradesh and said that the security threat on the politician still persists as per the governments assessment and urged him to accept the necessary security arrangements. Requesting the Telangana leader to accept Z category security provided by the Centre, Shah said, The threat to Owaisi has been reassessed and a bulletproof vehicle and Z category security has been given to him. But, as per verbal info by himself, he has refused to accept it. I request him to accept the security given to him by the Central government. The threat to Owaisi has been reassessed and a bulletproof vehicle and Z category security has been given to him. But, as per verbal info by himself, he has refused to accept it. I request him to accept the security given to him by the Central govt: Union Home Minister Amit Shah pic.twitter.com/legNpUcVz0 ANI (@ANI) February 7, 2022 Notably, Asaduddin Owaisi, who was offered Z category security followed the attack, refused to accept the same saying that he wanted to live on par with the normal citizens. About the security lapse, Shah said, Home Ministry took a report from State Govt immediately. On basis of earlier inputs from central security agencies, the Centre had ordered to provide him security. But due to his unwillingness to avail security, Delhi and Telangana Police's efforts to provide him security didn't succeed. Highlighting the events that led to a gap in security arrangements, the home minister said, Owaisi had no prescheduled event in Hapur district, no information about his movement was sent to District Control Room beforehand. About the attack and actions taken ever since, Shah said that the two unidentified people had fired on Owaisis convoy, while he came out safe there were 3 bullet marks on lower portion of his vehicle. The incident was witnessed by three witnesses. An FIR has been registered. Live TV New Delhi: The Assam government on Monday (February 7, 2022) announced that it will withdraw all Covid-related restrictions from February 15 as the pandemic situation has improved with the number of cases declining. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made the announcement and said that there will be no curfew in Assam from February 15. There will be no curfew in Assam from February 15th and all Covid-19 restrictions are hereby withdrawn. I appeal to all students who appear in Class 10th and Class 12th examinations to take Covid-19 vaccines, said Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma. There will be no curfew in Assam from February 15th and all COVID-19 restrictions are hereby withdrawn. I appeal to all students who appear in Class 10th and Class 12th examinations to take #COVID19 vaccines: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma pic.twitter.com/4qTAvrgjkW ANI (@ANI) February 7, 2022 School board examinations, municipal elections, and the by-elections to the Majuli assembly constituency will be held in the next two months, Sarma announced at a press conference here. Along with other Municipal Board elections in the state, Guwahati Municipal Corporation and Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council elections will be held in April: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma pic.twitter.com/pbibtpX38G ANI (@ANI) February 7, 2022 CM Sarma also said that students appearing for the board examinations must get both doses of vaccination. Wearing masks will be mandatory in all places, he added. Meanwhile, Assam registered a decline in new Covid-19 positive cases for the sixth day on Sunday with 256 fresh infections raising the caseload to 7,21,380, a National Health Mission (NHM) bulletin said. The number of coronavirus deaths during the day also came down to 12 from 16 on Saturday. A total of 6,561 people have succumbed to the disease in the state so far. Altogether 2,471 people have recovered from coronavirus on Sunday, taking the total number of cured people to 7,05,118. The number of active cases in the state is 8,354 now, down from 10,581 on Saturday. Live TV New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is likely to release the Class 10, Class 12 Term 1 exam results next week. Once released, the CBSE Class 10, 12 Board Exam 2022 Term 1 result will be available at the official websites- cbse.gov.in, cbseresults.nic.in. According to some media reports, the board might release the Term 1 results this week, but no official announcement was made on the same. Here are the steps to check scores: Step 1: Visit the CBSE official website (cbse.nic.in) Step 2: On the homepage, click 'CBSE 10th Term 1 Result 2022' or 'CBSE 12th Result 2022' link Step 3: Enter your roll number, other details and click on submit Step 4: Your classes 10 and 12 results will be displayed on the screen Step 5. Download your result and take a print out for future reference List of websites, apps to check score: Students can check their scores on DigiLocker app and website (digilocker.gov.in); and on Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance (UMANG) app. Students can also check their scores through an IVRS and SMS. Live TV New Delhi: Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education (HPBOSE) Term 1 Results 2021-22 is likely to be released on Tuesday, according to the local media reports. Students, who appeared in HP Board class 10, 12 Exams, are advised to keep a tab on the official website - hpbose.org, to check their scores for Semester 1. This year Himachal Pradesh Board 10th, 12th Examinations were conducted like CISCE and CBSE exams, i.e, in a semester format. HPBOSE class 10, 12 Term 1 Results 2022: How to check Step 1. Students are advised to visit the official website of Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education - hpbose.org Step 2. They should click on the HPBOSE 10th, 12th Results 2021 for Semester 1 Exams link on the home page Step 3. New page will open. Enter your roll number and other details. Click on submit. Step 4. Your HPBOSE 10th Result and HPBOSE 12th Result will be displayed on your screen Step 5. Download and print a copy for future references Direct Link to check HPBOSE 10, 12 Term 1 Result (To be available soon) It may be noted that Himachal Pradesh Board conducted class 10 exams for Term 1 from November 20 to December 3, 2021 and Class 12 Sem 1 exams from November 18 to December 9, 2021. Live TV New Delhi: Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) is all set to release ICSE, ISC Semester 1 Result 2021-22 today (February 7, 2022). Once released, students can check their ICSE, or Class 10, and ISC, or Class 12, Semester 1 scores on the official website of the council -- cisce.org or results.cisce.org. According to the official notice, CISCE 10th, 12th results will be available for downloading from 10 am. ICSE, ISC Semester 1 Results 2022 can also be checked via SMS. ICSE, ISC Term 1 Result 2022: How to check Step 1. Visit the official website of Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations cisce.org. Step 2. Click on either of the links, 'ICSE/ISC Sem 1 Results 2021-22.' on the Homepage Step 3. A new page will open, enter your unique Id, Index Number and CAPTCHA and click on submit Step 4. Your ICSE Semester 1 Result for class 10 and/or ISC Term 1 result for class 12 students will be displayed on your screen Step 5. Download the scorecard and take a printout for future references. If the students are unable to access the website, they can also check their Semester 1 Results via SMS. Results 2022 for Semester 1 can be checked via SMS by writing this - "ICSE 1234567 (Seven Digit Unique ID)" and then sending the SMS to 09248082883. Similarly, ISC Results 2022 for Semester 1 can also be checked by replacing ICSE with ISC in the format given above. The CISCE Semester 1 papers for both classes were held from November, 2021 to December, 2021 in offline mode. Live TV New Delhi: After days of protest, the Government PU College administration on Monday (February 7, 2022) allowed students wearing Hijab to enter the college campus in Kundapura area of Udupi district in Karnataka. However, such students were made to sit in separate classrooms, informed the administration. "The situation is under control in Kundapura, and students are being allowed to come to the colleges and the campus even if they`re wearing Hijab. There is no law and order situation in Kundapur," said ST Siddalingappa, Additional Superintendent of Police, Udupi. A student of Government PU College said, "Won't remove our hijab until High Court orders. They (administration) won't allow us in classrooms with hijab so we'll sit outside in halls. Classes not going on for us, we're just sitting here." #UPDATE | Students wearing hijab come out of Govt PU College campus for lunch. A student says, "Won't remove our hijab until High Court orders. They(admn)won't allow us in classrooms with hijab so we'll sit outside in halls. Classes not going on for us, we're just sitting here" pic.twitter.com/LYQpKWhgBN ANI (@ANI) February 7, 2022 "College Principal and faculty met us and asked if we want to go to classes by removing hijab, they also took our attendance," said another student of the college. Students were protesting near the campus after they were allegedly denied entry for wearing Hijab into Government PU College on Friday. Earlier in the day, two persons were arrested for carrying a knife near the protesting students, said the police official. "Two persons have been arrested, and three others are absconding. We are trying to trace them. One of them was in possession of a knife. They are not locals, and hail from Gangolli. They have been sent to judicial custody. The case is under investigation," said Siddalingappa. The pre-University education board on Saturday had released a circular stating that the students can only wear the uniform approved by the school administration and no other religious practices will be allowed in colleges. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Education Minister B.C. Nagesh on Monday urged the students not to get provoked and follow government orders regarding the ongoing row. "The court order is coming tomorrow (Tuesday). The state government will take a decision on the issue once the order comes. As the case is before the court I don`t want to speak about it," Bommai said. (With ANI inputs) Live TV New Delhi: The echoes of Karnatakas hijab row were heard in the parliament on Monday (February 7) after the opposition raised the issue in the Lok Sabha calling the recent developments a threat to Indias diversity. Where are we taking our India? We cannot lose our diversity. I request the education minister to intervene in this matter to ensure the constitutional rights of the students, said TN Prathapan, Congress MP from Kerala in Lok Sabha. Earlier in the day, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president D K Shivakumar accused BJP is trying to create unrest among the students and the public in Karnataka over the hijab issue. Shivakumar was leading the party's membership drive in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. Meanwhile, the hijab controversy that began in January at a Government PU College in Udupi where six students who attended classes wearing headscarves in violation of the stipulated dress code were sent out, has now reached the high court. The Karnataka High Court will be hearing the petition over the 'hijab' row on Tuesday, as the controversial issue refuses to die down across the state. On the other hand, male Hindu students at a Udupi college said, if the institution allows Muslim women to wear hijab, they will also come wearing a saffron shawl. The state education board later issued a statement saying that a uniform dress code will be mandatory in all the private and public schools across Karnataka. The ruling BJP's state president and Member of Parliament Nalin Kumar Kateel said the government will not allow hijab at educational institutions and will take strict measures to ensure that things go as per the rules of the school, and won't let things become "Taliban like". Meanwhile, After days of protest, the Government PU College administration on Monday allowed students wearing Hijab to enter the college campus in Kundapura area of Udupi district in Karnataka but denied them attendance in regular classrooms and were made to sit in separate classrooms, informed the administration. Live TV New Delhi: Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu on Sunday (February 6, 2022) assured the people that if he continues as Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) no MLA's son will get special treatment. Sidhu further promised that if some MLA's son gets the chairmanship, he will resign from his post. I promise that if I continue as PCC chief, no MLA's son will get the chairmanship, workers will get...will resign if someone privileged gets it, said Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu. #WATCH | I promise that if I continue as PCC chief, no MLA's son will get the chairmanship, workers will get...will resign if someone privileged gets it...: Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu (06.02) pic.twitter.com/ZcWtpGVU1k ANI (@ANI) February 7, 2022 Navjot Singh Sidhu's remark came before Congress announced Charanjit Singh Channi as its chief ministerial candidate for the Punjab polls. Navjot Singh Sidhu made these statements at a virtual rally in Punjab titled "Aawaz Punjab Di" addressed by former Congress President Rahul Gandhi from Ludhiana. Additionally, while praising Rahul Gandhi's leadership, Sidhu said it was he who made a Dalit the chief minister of Punjab last year. "It is a moment of change, Inqilab, one which can better lives of people," said Sidhu. "We don't need anything, we only need Punjab's welfare. My love for Punjab always wanted its betterment," he added. Meanwhile, according to Congress, the virtual rally has broken all records after its live telecast was viewed by 11 lakh people on social media. The virtual rally was held on Sunday. Congress Social Media Head, Rohan Gupta said, "The unique thing about the rally was the large audience of more than 90,000 people, who watched the rally live, simultaneously at the same time on the Facebook page of Rahul Gandhi. With the current views of 8.8 lakh, 42,000 comments, 1.1 million reach and 6000 shares, making it one of the most successful virtual rallies." Live TV Srinagar: Security Forces on Monday (February 5) have neutralised a LeT terrorist in a brief encounter in Nambal village of Awantipora police district of South Kashmir. IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar confirmed the killing. One terrorist of LET have been killed in an encounter in Awantipora operation, Kumar said adding that the operation was launched on a specific input about the presence of terrorists in the area. A police officer who was monitoring the operation said, "Based on a specific input generated by Awantipora Police, a raid was conducted by a small team of police at Nambal area of Awantipora. During the raid, the hiding terrorist started firing indiscriminately upon the police party which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter. In the meantime, reinforcement of 42RR immediately reached the encounter site. The terrorist killed in the encounter has been identified as Irfan Ahmad Sheikh son of Abdul Rashid Sheikh resident of Karemabad Pulwama linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT/TRF. As per police records, the killed terrorist was a categorized terrorist and was involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on security forces and civilian atrocities. Besides, he was also providing logistics and other support to the active terrorists operating in the area before joining the terror ranks. Incriminating materials, arms & ammunition including a 01 Pistol was recovered from the site of the encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation." This was the 14th encounter of this year and security forces have managed to kill 25 terrorists including three top commanders and 8 Pakistani terrorists 10 active terrorists were arrested alive, and 17 terrorist associates were also arrested. A huge cache of arms and ammunition has also been recovered by security forces in those operations, which include American made assault rifles M4 4, AK56 - 4, AK 47 -5. Live TV PM Narendra Modi today blasted Congress over multiple issues, saying that the states that once rejected the party never accepted them back again. PM Modi said that states like Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Jharkhand and Bihar never voted the Congress to power after rejecting them once. "Nagaland voted for Congress 24 years ago, Odisha voted for you 27 years ago. You won with full majority in Goa 28 years ago," PM Narendra Modi said. "In 1988, Tripura voted for Congress. West Benga voted for Congress in 1972. You take credit for creation of Telangana but the public did not accept you," PM Modi added. He said the statements and the actions of the opposition party suggest that it has resigned itself to staying out of power for 100 years. "We are firm believers in democracy. And we also believe that criticism is an essential part of democracy. But, blind opposition to everything is never the way ahead," Modi said while replying to the debate on the president's address to the joint sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. #WATCH | "Now that you (Congress) have made up your mind not to come to power for the next 100 years, then, 'Maine bhi tyaari kar li hai': PM Modi in Lok Sabha pic.twitter.com/3W7fJI3744 ANI (@ANI) February 7, 2022 #WATCH PM Modi targets Congress in Parliament says, no change in your ego even after being voted out from many states years ago pic.twitter.com/19MKblziYi ANI (@ANI) February 7, 2022 The Prime Minister further slammed Congress and Aam Aadmi Party for allegedly creating panic and triggering migrants crisis during the first Covid wave. "There's a party in Delhi that sent its vehicles in slums, and said that there's a big crisis, run," PM Modi said. During the first wave, when people were following lockdown guidelines suggesting that they stay where they are, the Congress was standing at Mumbai station and scaring innocent people, he said. "The question is not about elections it is about intentions. Despite being in power for 50 years why are the people of the country repeatedly rejecting them. Wherever people have taken the right path, they did not allow you to enter again," he said. The prime minster said the way India handled pandemic is an example for the world. He 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' is the perfect time to think about how India can play a global leadership role in the coming years. PM Narendra Modi further said that Congress is a party that doesn't seem to introspect even after so many defeats. "Question is not about the election result. But you don`t seem to retrospect. Why is it that despite all the electoral losses, it seems you are not ready to give up your arrogance. Also, your ecosystem does not allow you to let it go," he said in a direct attack on Rahul Gandhi`s criticism. Then Modi recited a couplet in Urdu. "Criticism is an ornament of live democracy, but blind opposition is disrespect to democracy," Modi said. Modi also said some people were waiting that coronavirus will damage his image, which was all out of opposition to Modi. "It seems you have decided not to come back to power for 100 years. But now that you have decided it, I too am prepared for it." Live TV New Delhi: Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim, who is serving a life term in jail in Haryana, was on Monday (February 7, 2022) granted a furlough for 21 days. According to reports, he has been asked to stay at his farmhouse in Gurugram and won't be allowed to visit Sirsa, where his Dera is headquartered. Gurmeet Ram Rahim is currently lodged in Sunaria jail in Rohtak district after his conviction in the cases of rape and murder. In 2021, the Dera chief had been given emergency parole from sunrise to sunset to meet his ailing mother. He had also come out of jail on a couple of occasions on health grounds. Singh, 54, is serving a 20-year jail term for raping two of his women disciples in his 'ashram' in Sirsa. He was convicted in August 2017 by a special CBI court in Panchkula. Live TV New Delhi: The Supreme Court-appointed committee arrived in Ferozepur on Sunday (February 6, 2022) to probe the alleged security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Punjab last month. The panel headed by former apex court judge Indu Malhotra visited the road overbridge near Piareana village on the Ferozepur-Moga road, where the prime minister's convoy was stuck up for almost 20 minutes on January 5. The team reportedly stayed there for around half an hour to inspect the site. The five-member committee also visited the rally site and Ferozeshah village to take stock of the sequence of events that took place on that day. It is noteworthy that PM Modi's convoy was stranded on a flyover allegedly due to a blockade by farmers in Ferozepur after which he returned from Punjab without attending any event, including a rally. The Union Home Ministry had described the incident as a "major lapse" in PM's security. The prime minister was on his way to the National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala from Bathinda when the incident occurred. A central team had then visited Ferozepur on January 7. Subsequently, the top court had set up a committee on January 12 to investigate the security lapse. The apex court, while setting up an independent committee, had said that the panel will inquire into the causes of the security breach, persons responsible for it and the measures to be taken in future for preventing such security breaches of VVIPs. The SC-appointed panel also includes the Inspector General of the National Investigation Agency, Director General of Police, Chandigarh, the Registrar General of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the Additional DGP (Security) of Punjab Police. (With agency inputs) Live TV New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who often makes use of shayari and famous verses to support his speeches, has on Monday (February 7) used another during his reply to the Presidents Motion of Thanks in the parliament. Targeting Congresss repetitive defeats in the elections, PM Modi with the help of a Shayari slammed the opposition party for not changing its attitude toward the people and saying that they must understand the reason behind Indias mandate against them. Watch PM Modis satirical Shayari in the parliament here! #WATCH PM Modi targets Congress in Parliament says, no change in your ego even after being voted out from many states years ago pic.twitter.com/19MKblziYi ANI (@ANI) February 7, 2022 "Wo jab din ko raat kahe toh turant maan jao, Nahi kahogey toh wo din mein naqab odh lengey, Zarurat hui toh haqeeqat ko thora maror lengey,Wo magrur hai khud ki samajh par beinteh, Unhe Aaina mat dikhao,Wo aaine ko bhi tod dengey," said Modi During his address to the parliament, PM Modi also talked about his popular Atmanirbhar Bharat and the Make in India movement. Attacking the Congress government for the scams that occurred under its nose, PM Modi said, People have a problem with my Make In India idea because their commission and shady deals with the foreign companies do not happen anymore. If I talk about 'vocal for local' then you ignore it. Don't you want to create India 'Atamanirbhar'? You (Congress) don't want to fulfil the dreams of Mahatma Gandhi, added Modi asking Congress why does it have a problem with the idea of a self-reliant India. Today poor people of the country are getting a gas & connection, house & toilets. They have their own bank account. But unfortunately, some people's (opposition) minds are still stuck in 2014, ANI quoted Modi as saying in Lok Sabha. Modi, who made satirical remarks about its opposition, said that the Congress has decided that it would not come to power for another 100 days. "Now that you (Congress) have made up your mind not to come to power for the next 100 years, then, 'Maine bhi tyaari kar li hai, Modi said. Lucknow: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to begin her two-day visit to Uttar Pradesh on Monday (February 7, 2022) to "support Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav for upcoming state assembly elections" that are scheduled to be held in seven phases beginning from February 10. The chief minister will reach the state today at around 5.20 pm and hold a press conference at the Samajwadi Party office on Tuesday and will appeal to people to support SP in the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls. Earlier, Banerjee informed that Trinamool Congress (TMC) will not contest the Uttar Pradesh elections but will field candidates in the state in the Lok Sabha elections in 2024. "In Uttar Pradesh, I am not going to contest Assembly polls but I am going to support Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav. We (TMC) will contest from Uttar Pardesh in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls," she said, reflecting her national ambitions in the next general elections. The Trinamool Congress is seeking to increase its footprint nationally ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The 403-member Uttar Pradesh Assembly is scheduled to go to the polls in seven phases on February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27, March 3, and 7. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. Live TV New Delhi: The Ministry of Education on Monday (February 7) appointed professor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit as the first woman vice-chancellor of the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University "President Ram Nath Kovind, who is Visitor to the University, has approved the appointment of Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit as JNU Vice-Chancellor. Her appointment is for five years," PTI reported quoting a senior Ministry of Education official. Who is Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit? Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit is currently a political science professor at the Department of Politics and Public Administration at Savitribai Phule University in Maharashtra. The 59-year-old Pandit is also an alumna of JNU where she pursued her MPhil as well as PhD in International Relations. Her thesis was on ' Parliament and Foreign Policy in India -- The Nehru years'. Pandit began her teaching career at Goa University in 1988 and moved to Pune University in 1993. She has held administrative positions in various academic bodies. She has also been a member of the University Grants Commission (UGC), the Indian Council of Social Science Research and Visitor's nominee to central universities. In her career, she has guided 29 PhDs. Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit reaction "As vice-chancellor, JNU, I thank both the prime minister and the Minister of Higher Education for giving me this opportunity as the first woman and alumnus of this esteemed university from the state of Tamil Nadu," Pandit said in a statement. The professor said that her focus would be on the implementation of the National Education Policy and providing a gender-sensitive environment for academic excellence. Pandit said she is looking forward to working with students and faculty members. "The immediate focus of this administration would be to provide clean administration, students-friendly and gender-sensitive environment for academic excellence." Outrage over Pandit's appointment Soon after the appointment was made public, students, as well as a section of social media, started protesting against Pandit being given the new post due to some of her controversial old tweets against JNU protests. Many on social media are accusing her of being Islamophobic. Following the outrage, Pandit deleted her Twitter account. (With PTI inputs) Live TV Srinagar: An unidentified terrorist was gunned down in an encounter with security forces in the Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday. According to the Kashmir Zone Police, the encounter broke out between a group of terrorists and the security forces at Nambal in the Awantipora area of the district in the evening. A J&K Police spokesperson said, An unidentified terrorist was killed in the exchange of firing between the two sides and a massive search is underway at the moment. #UPDATE | One terrorist neutralized in the encounter that broke at Nambal area of Awantipora. The search operation is underway: Kashmir Zone Police ANI (@ANI) February 7, 2022 Further details of the incident are awaited, he added. In a separate incident, some terrorists hurled a grenade at a Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) bunker in J&K`s Ganderbal district on Monday but it exploded without causing any damage. J&K | Terrorists lobbed a grenade towards a security bunker in the Chapargung area of Ganderbal district, however, it missed the intended target and exploded on road. No report of any injury. ANI (@ANI) February 7, 2022 The SSB bunker in Chapergund area of Ganderbal was targeted, the police said. "The grenade missed the target and exploded on road without causing any damage. The area has been surrounded for searches," a police officer said. Live TV Bengaluru: Amid the raging row over wearing 'Hijab' in educational institutions in Karnataka, state Education Minister BC Nagesh on Sunday said students who are unwilling to adhere to the uniform dress code are at liberty to explore other options. "Just as rules are followed in the military, the same is to be done here (in educational institutions) as well. Options are open for those who are not willing to follow it, which they can make use of," Nagesh told reporters in Mysuru. The minister appealed to the students not to become 'tools' in the hands of political parties. The Basavaraj Bommai government had on Saturday issued a circular banning clothes which disturbed peace, harmony and, law and order in the educational institutions across the state. On the circular, Nagesh said the government felt the need to clarify on this matter and issued a circular. He also clarified that the students can come to the school wearing Hijab, but inside the campus they have to place it in their bags. Wondering why the problem emerged all of a sudden when students of all the faiths were coming to schools wearing uniforms, he said everyone was learning and playing together with a sense of equality but never ever have religious differences cropped up. According to Nagesh, trouble began in December when some children in Udupi were instigated to wear Hijab saying 'Sharia' (Islamic law) prescribes such dress code and they were duty-bound to abide by it. The minister further claimed that many children were asked to do so but a majority of them did not agree. "In Udupi school where the incident occurred, out the 92 Muslim children, only six girls came wearing Hijab and succumbed to the 'poisonous seeds'. Other children came to the school wearing their school uniform," he said. Rejecting the Congress party's charge that the BJP government does not want Muslim students to continue their studies, Nagesh pointed out that the Karnataka Education Act was not brought by the BJP but Congress, which had ruled for maximum years in the state. The minister urged the grand old party not to create divisions in the society for political gains. In December last year, some girl students started coming to a government school in Udupi district wearing Hijab, against the prescribed uniform norm. In protest against the violation of dress code, a section of Hindu students also started coming to classes wearing saffron shawls. Even before the matter could be resolved, the hijab-saffron shawl controversy spread to more pre-university colleges in the state. In Kalaburagi district headquarters town, Muslim girls led by the Congress MLA Kaneez Fathima staged a protest on Saturday demanding permission to allow female students in the schools and pre-university colleges to wear Hijab. The issue took a political turn with the political parties in the state indulging in mudslinging. While Congress backed the Muslim girls citing constitutional rights guaranteed, the BJP stood against wearing of 'Hijab' in classes with its state president saying the state government will not allow Talibanisation of the education system. The Karnataka High Court on February 8 will hear the petitions filed by five girls studying in a Government Pre-university College in Udupi, questioning hijab restriction in college. Live TV NEW DELHI: Telugu superstar Naga Chaitanya is all set to make his debut in Bollywood with Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor-starrer 'Laal Singh Chaddha'. The actor reveals that he agreed to make his foray in the Hindi film industry only because of Aamir Khan. Naga was speaking to Hyderabad Times and said, "Since I began my career, my effort has always been to entertain the audience down South. It remains my first love. But growing up, I remember watching Forrest Gump and loving the film. Never would that little kid have imagined being a part of the adaptation one day." In the film, Naga Chaitanya plays the role of Aamir Khan's best friend in the Army. Later, he goes on to run a shrimp business with Aamir in the film. Calling the experience memorable, he said, "It's a challenging character, and I had a great time playing it. There have been minor tweaks done to the character to make it suitable for the Hindi audience, but the essence remains the same. We shot in extreme weather conditions at Kargil for 45 days. It was a truly memorable experience." He also revealed that Aamir Khan was the major reason behind saying yes to the project. The southern actor revealed that he agreed to give his nod to the film as he got the opportunity to share the screen space with the Bollywood superstar. "One of the reasons I said yes to this project is for the opportunity to share the screen with Aamir and learn from him. He's very meticulous on sets and it was great fun to work with him. We also had to work in tough conditions that men in uniform face. The production team had to create a path for us as there was no road near where we were shooting. It was a magical experience," naga told the publications. 'Laal Singh Chaddha' is a comedy-drama and is directed by Advait Chandan. It stars Aamir Khan in the titular character and also stars his '3 Idiots' co-star Mona Singh. Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan will be seen in cameo appearances in the film. Live TV New Delhi: The Department of Public Enterprises under the Ministry of Finance issued an office memorandum in January this year, stating about Board level and below Board level posts including Non-unionised Central Public sector Enterprises (cPSEs)- Revision of w.e.f. 01.01.2007 Payment of IDA at revised rates regarding: "...The rates of DA payable to the Board level and below Board level executives and non-unionized supervisors of CPSEs have been indicated. The rate of DA payable to the executives and nonunionized supervisors of CPSEs w.e.f 01.01.2022 for 2007 pay scales is 184.1%" The above rate of DA i.e. 184.1% would be applicable in the case of IDA employees who have been allowed revised pay scales (2007) as per DPE OMs. dated 26.11.2008, 09.02.2009 & 02,04.2009. The OM has mentioned that all administrative Ministries/Departments of the Government of India are requested to bring the foregoing to the notice of the cPSEs under their administrative control for necessary action at their end. Will Central govt employees get Rs 2 lakh as 18-months DA arrears in one go? Meanwhile, several media reports have also been reporting that the Union Cabinet is contemplating to take the matter for discussion. A Zee Hindi report, quoting Shiv Gopal Mishra of the National Council of JCM, had previously mentioned that the DA arrears of Level-1 employees range from Rs 11,880 to Rs 37,554. Whereas, for Level-13 (7th CPC basic pay scale Rs 1,23,100 to Rs 2,15,900) or Level-14 (pay scale), the DA arrears in the hands of an employee will be Rs 1,44,200-2,18,200 that will be paid, quoted the reports. The report further adds that issues related to arrears were discussed between the National Council of JCM, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) and the Finance Minister. However, no concrete answer was received. The employees are still adamant on the demand and talks are on with the government reportedly. However, it is expected that soon this can be discussed with the Cabinet Secretary. According to the annual report of the Department of Expenditure, there are a total of 48 lakh central employees in the country and about 60 lakh pensioners. Live TV #mute New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday claimed that Bhupinder Singh alias Honey, the arrested nephew of Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, has "accepted" that he received Rs 10 crore cash in lieu of facilitating sand mining operations and transfer or posting of officials in the border state. Honey was taken into custody by the federal probe agency in Jalandhar on February 3 as part of its money-laundering investigation into alleged sand mining operations in Punjab. Honey is the son of Channi's sister-in-law and he is in ED custody till Tuesday. The agency had conducted raids against Honey and others on January 18 and seized about Rs 7.9 crore cash from his premises and another about Rs 2 crore cash from a linked person identified as Sandeep Kumar. The agency said in a statement that it has recorded the statements of Kudratdeep Singh, Bhupinder Singh (Honey), Honey's father Santokh Singh and Sandeep Kumar during the searches and it was "established" that the seized Rs 10 crore "belonged to Bhupinder Singh s/o Santokh Singh." "Further, Bhupinder Singh accepted that he received the seized cash in lieu of facilitation in sand mining operations and transfer/postings of officials," the ED claimed. It said Honey was issued verious summons for his personal appearance before the agency on February 3 along with some documents. "In response, he appeared and tendered his statement, wherein he, inter-alia, stated that he is involved in the mining-related activities, but took an evasive approach when confronted with incriminating data," it said. Honey, Kudratdeep Singh and Sandeep Kumar are stated to be the directors of a company called Providers Overseas Consultants Pvt Ltd that was raided by the ED last month in poll-bound Punjab. Single-phase Assembly polls will be held in the state on February 20 and Channi has been declared as the Congress chief ministerial candidate by party leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday. The counting of votes is slated to be held on March 10 along with four other states. The money laundering case was filed by the ED in November last year after taking cognisance of a Punjab Police (Rahon police station, Shaheed Bhagat Singh (SBS) Nagar) FIR of 2018 that pressed charges under various sections of the IPC and that under the Mines and Minerals (Regulation of Development) Act, 1957 to probe allegations of illegal sand mining. In this police FIR, the ED said, it was mentioned that a team comprising officials of the mining department, civil administration and police made a surprise check in March 2018 based on a complaint received at the Rahon police station regarding illegal sand mining. "Consequently, it was found that several mines were being excavated by various machines and mining was being carried out beyond the designated area," he said. "Accordingly, several tippers/trucks, porcelain machines, JCB machines etc. Were captured and seized by the investigating team. The seized tipper or trucks were also found to be overloaded with sand," the ED quoted the police FIR. The seized weighment slips having office stamps had not been issued by the office concerned and were forged. Subsequently, the mining operation at Malikpur mining site (belonging to Kudratdeep Singh) and the approval of weighment slips were stopped by the team, it said. As per the FIR, the ED said, apart from Malikpur, illegal mining activities were also carried out at Burjtahl Das, Barsal, Lalewal, Mandala and Khosa. Live TV Saudi Fransi Capital, a leading financial services provider that manages fixed-income portfolios, has announced the development of a school in Riyadh through its real estate investment trust (REIT) fund Taleem. Established in 1964, Al Tarbiya Islamya Schools is one of the premier K12 schools in the capital city. The school is located in Ar Rahmaniya district on a land size spanning 45,666.94 sq m with a built-up area of 30,122 sq m. Al Tarbiya Islamya Schools management has undertaken to expand student capacity by developing a new boys section building with a built-up area of 12,900 sq m. Total estimated cost of TIS expansion is SR33.3 million and pending works are expected to be completed by August 2022. This expansion will be financed through shariah-compliant loan facility. The lease addendum starts from September 1 and the terms of the lease addendum are in line with the existing lease agreement with TIS. Saudi Fransi Capital in its capacity as the Fund Manager of Taleem REIT said the expansion will add 28 classrooms and support areas including gym, auditorium and swimming pool. For clarification, this expansion is being done on Schools existing land parcel. In line with Funds strategy to increase real estate portfolio, the Fund has entered into agreements whereby construction works completed to date will be transferred to the Fund at cost. Further, remaining construction will be undertaken by the Fund. One of the agreements novated to the Fund is with a related party, the terms of the contract were set at arm's length. NEW DELHI: After much speculations, it has been confirmed that Bollywood actor Sonu Sood will be hosting the new season of Roadies. The makers have finally released their first promo where Sonu talks about his new and adventurous journey and also shared that this season will be happening in South Africa. In the video, Sonu can be seen savouring samosas at a roadside stall and also seemed excited about his upcoming project. He also went on saying, "I am going to host the new season of Roadies. I am really excited because there is going to be a lot of fun, adventure on the show. This season will have the best roadies of the country. And I am thinking of having some samosas before leaving for South Africa just in case I may or may not get chaat-samosa there." Recently, Rannvijay Singha has shared the news that he has quit the show after a span of 18 years. The news was hard to believe for a lot people who have always seen Roadies with Rannvijay as he has given a lot to the show. Infact, in an exclusive chat with Zee News Digital, Bigg Boss 15 contestant and one of the mentors of Roadies, Karan Kundrra said he cant imagine Roadies without Rann Paji as its his show. According to latest buzz, the makers have changed the complete format of the show which means there will be no gang-leaders or any other host this time and only Sonu will be hosting the show single-handedly. The shoot of the latest season will begin in the second week of February in South Africa and is expected to go live in March 2022 on MTV India, reportedly. "MTV Roadies" is produced by Pippip Media. New Delhi: Stressing that the Apna Dal (S) stands for social justice, Union Minister Anupriya Patel on Monday dissociated her party from Hindutva and all those issues and said it is ideologically different from the BJP. Muslim candidates are not untouchable for her party, the Apna Dal (S) chief said three days ahead of the first round of the seven-phase Uttar Pradesh elections beginning on February 10. "Yes, we are ideologically different from the BJP. People are trying to ask me questions on Hindutva and all those issues, I dissociate myself from all those issues and my party doesn't do religious politics. We stand for social justice. That's our ideology, Patel said. We have always worked for the marginalised sections of society, whether on the streets or in parliament. And this is our philosophy and our founding principles and we only stick to it," she added. The Apna Dal, which has been BJP's ally in the last three elections in Uttar Pradesh, the 2014 and 2019 general elections and the 2017 assembly polls -- has announced its first Muslim candidate this time. Haider Ali, the grandson of Congress veteran Begum Noor Bano, was the first candidate announced by the Apna Dal (S). He is contesting against senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan's son Abdullah Azam Khan from Suar. "I don't know why everybody is looking at a candidate from the perspective of religion. He is a promising youth who is well educated," Patel said. Her party doesn't look at candidates from the prism of religion, she added in response to a question on there not being a single Muslim candidate from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) last time. Ali is the first Muslim candidate for the Apna Dal and also for the NDA. "The first MLA from my party when the founder of my party Sonelal Patel was alive was a Muslim who won the Pratapgarh Sadar constituency and his name was Haji Munnah. Many Muslims have been the state presidents of the Apna Dal. So, for my party, Muslims are not untouchables and I don't look at candidates in light of their religion," Patel. Patel, who is a minister in the Commerce and Industry Ministry, said the Apna Dal (S) had always been at the forefront on raising issues related to the ideology of social justice. It had raised also raised the matter of other backward classes (OBC) reservations in NEET examinations with the BJP's top leadership. She said the mood in Uttar Pradesh is in favour of the NDA and the BJP-led alliance will again form government in the state. "The mood is very clear. We will be retaining the government in Uttar Pradesh. People have seen good governance and inclusive growth in Uttar Pradesh. I think we have been able to fulfil expectations of people in the state to a great extent. People have witnessed good law and order and inclusive growth in the state and will support us," Patel said. On the question of several OBC leaders leaving BJP ahead of the assembly polls, Patel said this is a common trend before elections. Leaders irrespective of caste leave before elections and this crossover of politicians to other parties before elections is a common trend and a common feature, she said. The Apna Dal has so far announced 13 candidates and is expected to announce candidates for five more seats in the 403-member Uttar Pradesh assembly. In the last assembly polls, the party contested 11 seats and won nine. The Apna Dal (S) has two MPs in the Lok Sabha. Live TV Bijnor: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday made a scathing attack on the previous Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh for ignoring Bijnor and doing nothing for the development of the region. Attacking the SP regime, the PM said, The water in the river of development in UP was stagnant. It was stagnating among the fake 'Samajwadis' & their close ones. These people never had anything to do with the thirst of the development of common man, the thirst of progress, the thirst of freedom from poverty. The PM went on to say that All they (Samajwadis) did was to keep quenching their own thirst and that of their close ones. They kept quenching the thirst of their own coffers. This selfish thirst soaks all streams of the river of development. The PM said that "the model of the previous (SP) government was to increase problems and then loot everything. The situation was so sad that women, after their chains were snatched, said thankfully their lives had been saved.'' Furthr taking a dig at the Akhilesh Yadav-led party, the PM said that there was no nepotism and favouritism in the BJP where even a dedicated ordinary BJP worker can rise to the highest ranks through his hard work and honesty. There is no politics of bhai bhatijawad in the BJP. When homes are given, peoples caste or religion is not asked. When women get gas connection their religion is not asked. When the farmers of UP get benefits they are not asked about the political alignment, PM Modi said. PM Modi reiterated that his government is committed to the inclusive all-round growth of all sections of Indian society. "We want that in the next 25 years, when the nation would complete 100 years of Independence, UP makes a mark with its development story. Our govt is making continuous efforts to see that the businessmen, industrialists, farmers here get all possible help.'' the PM said. The PM also apologised to people for not being able to come to Bijnor physically after bad weather conditions forced the BJP to cancel his rally. "I'd like to apologise to you. After some relaxation by the EC, I had thought of beginning my campaign by coming to Bijnor (UP) in person. But due to weather conditions, my helicopter couldn't leave and I could see you only through video conferencing once again.'' the PM said. PM Narendra Modi made these remarks while addressing a virtual rally in Bijnor district via video conferencing. The PMs first physical rally in Uttar Pradeshs Bijnor was earlier cancelled due to inclement weather, forcing him to virtually address the election meeting. Full arrangements were made at the Bardaman College ground here for the prime minister's rally but due to bad weather he could not arrive here, the BJP leaders said. Bijnor has eight assembly seats out of which five are with the BJP at present and the rest three are with the SP. The district, where almost 50 percent population is of Dalits and Muslims, has two Lok Sabha seats-- Bijnor and Nagina -- both of which are with the BSP. Live TV HARIDWAR: Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, who is in Haridwar to campaign for his party, on Monday promised to make the poll-bound hill state of Uttarakhand the international spiritual capital for Hindus. Speaking to reporters, the Delhi CM also promised to create more job opportunities for the educated but unemployed youths of the state. We will make Uttarakhand an international spiritual capital for Hindus. This will enhance the tourism extensively, we hope that it will provide employment to thousands of youth here, Arvind Kejriwal said. We will make Uttarakhand an international spiritual capital for Hindus. This will enhance the tourism extensively, we hope that it will provide employment to thousands of youth here: Delhi CM and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal in Haridwar#UttarakhandElections2022 pic.twitter.com/tilZcuIXHn ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) February 7, 2022 The Delhi CM also said that the upcoming assembly elections in Uttarakhand are historic and there is an opportunity for the voters to elect an honest government to end corruption here. This is a historic election wherein a major change is possible. For the first time, an honest govt can be formed in Uttarakhand. Corruption can be ended, Arvind Kejriwal said in Haridwar. While Kejriwal is in Haridwar to campaign for his party, the ruling BJP, on the other hand, is hoping that the "Modi factor" which is credited for the party's big win in the 2017 Uttarakhand assembly elections, will help it register a repeat performance in the polls just days away. The party believes that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's influence was crucial in the BJP's historic win in 2017 when it bagged 57 out of a total of 70 assembly seats in a one-sided battle limiting arch-rival Congress to just 11 seats. While BJP leaders are understandably optimistic about the Modi factor working in favour of the party, poll watchers who don't rate the party's chances high this time also agree that whatever seats the party wins will be due to the Modi factor. "There is a strong anti-incumbency in the state due to BJP giving three chief ministers in just five years which is all set to spoil the party's chances. However, wherever the party wins it will be on the strength of Modi," Dehradun based political commentator JS Rawat said. The BJP is seeking the mandate for a second consecutive term in office - something which has evaded incumbent governments in the past in Uttarakhand. The BJP seems to be banking heavily on the Modi magic to achieve its target of winning more than sixty seats in the state. BJP leaders campaigning for its candidates in different constituencies through virtual rallies are seeking votes in the name of PM Modi. Live TV SYDNEY: Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday (February 7, 2022) announced that the country will fully reopen its borders to all travellers vaccinated against Covid-19 from February 21. "If you're double vaccinated, we look forward to welcoming you back to Australia," Morrison said during a media briefing. Australia, which shut its borders in March of 2020, has been going through a staggered reopening in recent months, allowing in only its citizens and residents, skilled migrants, international students and certain seasonal workers. Australia has nearly 95% of the eligible population aged 16 and over double-vaccinated against the coronavirus and nearly nine million people with more than two doses. This infographic provides the total number vaccine doses, including daily booster and paediatric doses (children 5-11) administered in Australia as of 6 February 2022. To see a more detailed breakdown of Australias vaccination program, visit https://t.co/lsM33j9wMW pic.twitter.com/j6kLcyycMx Australian Government Department of Health (@healthgovau) February 7, 2022 The government currently requires all international travellers to be vaccinated or provide evidence of a medical vaccination exemption to enter the country. It is noteworthy that while the highly transmissible Omicron variant of Covid-19 keeps spreading, hospitalisations and deaths have been stabilising in Australia. Live TV MOSCOW: French President Emmanuel Macron flies to Moscow on Monday in a risky diplomatic move, seeking commitments from Russian President Vladimir Putin to dial down tensions with Ukraine, where Western leaders fear the Kremlin plans an invasion. Macron has made a frenetic series of phone calls with Western allies, Putin and the Ukrainian leader over the past week. He will follow up on Tuesday with a visit to Kyiv, staking a lot of political capital on a mission that could prove embarrassing if he returns empty-handed. "We`re heading to Putin`s lair, in many ways it`s a throw of the dice," one source close to Macron told Reuters. Russia has massed some 1,00,000 troops near Ukraine and demanded NATO and U.S. security guarantees, including that NATO never admit Ukraine as a member. Two sources close to Macron said one aim of his visit was to buy time and freeze the situation for several months, at least until a "Super April" of elections in Europe - in Hungary, Slovenia and, crucially for Macron, in France. The French leader, who has earned a reputation for highly publicised diplomatic forays since he took power in 2017, has both tried to cajole and confront Putin over the past five years. His efforts have brought close dialogue with the Russian leader as well as painful setbacks. Soon after his election, Macron rolled out the red carpet for Putin at the Palace of Versailles, but also used the visit to publicly decry Russian meddling during the election. Two years later, the pair met at the French president`s summer residence. But Macron`s many overtures did not prevent Russian encroachment into traditional French spheres of influence in Africa, culminating late last year with the arrival of Russian mercenaries in Mali. French officials think they are supported by the Kremlin. Eastern European countries who suffered decades under Soviet rule have criticized Macron`s cooperative stance on Russia, leery of Macron`s talk of negotiating a "new European security order" with Russia. To counter critics ahead of the trip and take on the mantle of European leadership in this crisis, Macron has been at pains to consult with other Western leaders this time, including Britain`s Boris Johnson and U.S. President Joe Biden. The French president`s visit to Moscow and Ukraine comes less than three months before a presidential election at home. His political advisers see a potential electoral dividend, although Macron has yet to announce whether he will run. "For the president, it`s an opportunity to show his leadership in Europe. That he is above the fray," one French government source said. Live TV Islamabad: Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan will visit Russia this month for what would be the first such trip by a Pakistani prime minister in 23 years, local media reported on Sunday. This visit to Russia is taking place at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, ARY News reported. During this visit, Imran Khan is expected to be accompanied by a high-level delegation of ministers from his cabinet. In March 1999, the then Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was the country`s last premier to visit Russia. This comes after reports emerged last month that Moscow and Islamabad are in talks to finalise a plan for Putin`s visit this year. Imran Khan has already extended a formal invitation to Putin, The Express Tribune newspaper had said in its report, adding that Pakistan PM reiterated the invitation to him during his telephonic conversation last month. The Pakistani newspaper had said Putin`s visit was under discussion for the last two years but could not materialise because of several reasons, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Moscow also wants that there must be "big-ticket projects" or other initiatives that the Russian president would announce when he finally undertakes the trip to Pakistan, according to the report. Live TV Washington: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has discussed the Ukraine situation with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said. "Secretary of State Antony J Blinken spoke today with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian about ongoing efforts by NATO Allies, EU partners, G7 members, and other partners to address Russia`s continued military build-up on Ukraine`s borders, and the importance of continuing to support Ukraine`s sovereignty and territorial integrity," Price said in a Sunday statement. Blinken and Le Drian also talked about strengthening NATO presence in Eastern Europe. In addition, they reviewed the latest developments in the Sahel region of Africa, according to the statement. On Sunday, US President Joe Biden discussed Ukraine with French President Emmanuel Macron over the phone, ahead of the latter`s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which will be held in Moscow on Monday. Biden and Macron also held a telephone call discussing Ukraine on Wednesday, following the Pentagon`s announcement regarding the deployment of additional US forces to Poland, Germany, and Romania in the next few days. US officials said the deployment is designed to reinforce NATO`s eastern flank amid the Ukraine crisis. 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 has denied these accusations, repeatedly stating that it is not threatening anyone and at the same time expressing strong concerns over NATO`s military activity near the Russian borders, which it deems a threat to its national security. Moscow has also said Russia has the right to move troops within its national territory. Russia has also warned Western countries that military deliveries to Kyiv may encourage the latter to use them against the breakaway Russian-speaking region of Donbas. The United States has been in the process of delivering USD 200 million worth of security assistance approved by President Joe Biden in December. (ANI/Sputnik) Hace un ano llegaron las vacunas contra la #COVID19 que dieron alegria y esperanza a la poblacion. Hoy, seguimos avanzando con esta gran jornada, protegiendo cada dia mas a ninas, ninos y adultos. #LasVacunasNosDanEsperanza pic.twitter.com/4GLE92uNs9 According to the government department, said support is the result of the efforts made by this sector to allow both bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the face of the environmental emergency caused by the oil spill. The UN Technical Mission has been strengthened with the support of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism in the sending of associated experts; as well as with the sending of a merchant marine expert from Spain; two experts from the Centre of Documentation, Research and Experimentation on Accidental Water Pollution (CEDRE); and a Norwegian expert from the Norwegian Coastal Administration (ACN); among others. In addition, the ministry noted that Peru has been receiving cooperation from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for the sending of satellite images to the National Commission for Aerospace Research and Development (CONIDA) and the forthcoming arrival of nine experts in the management of disasters and responses to oil incidents. For its part, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has pledged to send a technical research mission to analyze hydrocarbon residues in the biosystem and seabed, which will strengthen local capacities. In turn, the Permanent Commission of the South Pacific (CPPS) activated the cooperation mechanism provided for in the Agreement on Regional Cooperation in Combating Pollution of the South-East Pacific by Hydrocarbons and other Harmful Substances in Cases of Emergency, as well as its Complementary Protocol. Other solidarity responses were received from the Andean Development Corporation (CAF), the Pacific Alliance, and the Andean Community, among others. The British Council and the UK Alumni Network delivered an eContent Management Workshop, supported by the British Embassy. The event was attended by alumni members from entrepreneurs, corporate employees, fresh graduates and those interested to learn about eContent for their personal brands. Participants were introduced to eContent Management and the fundamentals of effectively managing and maintaining eContent. They also learned how to manage website traffic and elevate the digital customer experience. The training was delivered at the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF) and led by Ali Hejair and Nishanth Kumar Pathi. Richard Rooze, Country Director of the British Council in Bahrain, said: As we live in a digital era where almost everything is accessible in the palm of our hands, the role of eContent Management and how to effectively portray ourselves and our businesses digitally have become more important than ever. This workshop was a fantastic way to have members of our UK Alumni network learn and share information on this topic. Lulwa Sami, UK Alumni Board Member and Communications & Marketing professional, commented: An important factor in the Kingdom of Bahrains success is its widespread adoption of the most advanced digital technologies and ICT infrastructure from government and corporates to the individual. The way we communicate, we present ourselves or do business has changed thanks to the vast digital communications platforms available. It is very much ingrained in our day to day lives. Digital communications are often rooted to the art of persuasion, how you persuade your audience for call of action by crafting a strong narrative, storytelling which in todays language is known e-Content management. Content of your personal social accounts, entity corporate website or business event promotion. This workshop was an eye opener to our alumni fresh graduates or members who are employees or are self-employed to leverage on the power of digital comms and harness the opportunities it presents. The workshop focused on eContent management essentials such as best practices pertaining to maintaining and updating content; website and social media management; managing SEO and website traffic; and elevating digital customer experience. This workshop is part of the Bahrain UK Alumni Network programme, established by British Council and supported by the FCDO and UK Embassy, which offers a variety of networking, professional development and other global, regional and local opportunities to all UK graduates residing in Bahrain. TradeArabia News Service " " Kodiak bears normally live from 15 to 30 years in the wild and, along with polar bears, are one of the two largest bear species in the world. Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images There are currently eight different species of bears living here with us on planet Earth, but it's a bit more complicated than that. Take, for instance, the brown bear (Ursus arctos), whose range extends from the United States, through Canada and far into China, Russia and Scandinavia. There are many subspecies of the brown bear that hang out in very specific nooks and crannies: the Gobi desert, for instance, or the Russian peninsula of Kamchatka. But the largest of the brown bear subspecies is the Kodiak bear (Ursus arctos middendorffi), which lives only on the Kodiak Archipelago off the southern coast of Alaska. Advertisement Bear Evolution Kodiak bears and the rest of the species Ursus arctos are believed to have first evolved in Asia and spread into Europe around 250,000 years ago. Around 100,000 years ago, they likely moved into North America through Alaska, but didn't move farther south into the lower 48 until closer to between 13,000 and 15,000 years ago. "It's hard to say exactly how brown bears ended up in Kodiak, but the most agreed upon theory is they likely crossed over from mainland Alaska via an ice bridge during the last ice age," says Shannon Finnegan, a Ph.D. candidate at the State University of New York (ESF), and a Kodiak bear researcher at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Kodiak, in an email. "It is believed that some of southern Kodiak may have been unglaciated at this point, and the first Kodiak brown bear population may have taken hold here. As the glacier retreated the bear population likely expanded to occur all across the archipelago taking advantage of the rich food supplies." Advertisement The Kodiak Subspecies The Kodiak Archipelago is a string of islands cut off from mainland Alaska, which is the perfect condition for a subspecies of anything to evolve. However, distinguishing between similar animal species can be difficult, but defining subspecies is even trickier. In fact, biologists don't even completely agree about whether different groups of brown bears should be classified as subspecies or not. "Generally speaking, all brown bears found across the world belong to the same species," says Finnegan. "However, it is said that brown bears can be split into five clades [branches that include a single common ancestor and all of its descendants] based on some genetic and geographical differences. Within this clade system Kodiak bears (Ursus arctos middendorffi) fit into a clade with bears from mainland Alaska." " " A Kodiak brown bear crosses the Ayakulik River in Alaska. DENNIS ANDERSON/Star Tribune/Getty Images Since the Kodiak bear has been living the island life for at least 12,000 years, it has been cut off from others of its species for long enough to display some genetic differences. For instance, the Kodiak bear can grow to larger sizes than any other brown bear weighing in at up to 1,500 pounds (680 kilograms), they rival the polar bear (Ursus maritimus) for the title of biggest bear in the world. Another reason Kodiak bears grow so large compared to their mainland counterparts: Their archipelago is rich in food like Pacific salmon, and there is relatively little competition from other predators. Advertisement Kodiak Facts Bears might have a reputation for being aggressive, but according to Finnegan, Kodiak bears have harmoniously cohabitated with humans on their islands for a long time there has not been a human fatality from a bear attack on Kodiak in over 90 years. "They are extremely adaptable and curious animals, with very distinctive personalities," says Finnegan. "Some bears around the city of Kodiak have even learned how to open car doors and bear-proof dumpsters which are very tricky to try and access human foods." Kodiak bears, like all brown bears, have the ability to delay implantation of a fertilized egg in the womb. They usually breed in June but won't become "pregnant" until later in the fall their bodies have to wait to see whether they can build up enough fat reserves to sustain a pregnancy and provide milk for offspring in the den. Advertisement Kodiak Conservation Kodiak bear populations seem to be relatively stable at around 3,500 individuals on the archipelago. However, this wasn't always the case. "Historically Kodiak bears were heavily persecuted on parts of the archipelago when cattle ranching was a prominent industry," says Finnegan. "They were viewed as vermin and exterminated whenever possible. Hunting groups on Kodiak took issue against this and fought to have protections put in place for the Kodiak bear." Thanks to the efforts of these sport hunters, huge swaths of land were set aside as protected refuge for the bear, and their population increased. Legal hunting of Kodiak bears exists today, however the population is closely managed. Climate change may impact Kodiak bears in the future, particularly if warming waters alter or negatively impact the Pacific salmon they rely on for food. Now That's Interesting A female brown bear can give birth to a litter of cubs, all sired by different fathers. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. Armenias deputy minister of economy Arman Khojoyan and head of the Industry Development department at the ministry Armen Yeganyan departed for Moscow, Russia, to get acquainted with the activity of the Armenian pavilion presented at the Prodexpo international exhibition for food and beverages, the ministry said. The Armenian officials are expected to meet with the representatives of the Russian ministry of industry and trade, agricultural-industrial bloc of the Eurasian Economic Union, X5 Group, etc. They will also attend the Armenian Wine Days event. Wines of 15 Armenian companies will be presented at the exhibition at the initiative of Vine and Wine Foundation of Armenia. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. President of France Emmanuel Macron thanked French diplomats and military officials who have been involved in the process of returning 8 Armenian prisoners of war from Azerbaijan. 8 Armenian detainees were released by Azerbaijan and transferred from Baku to Yerevan. They were reunited with their families, from whom they had been separated for several months. Thanks to our diplomats, as well as our soldiers who were mobilized for this operation, Macron tweeted. On February 4, a remote meeting between the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev took place at the mediation of Emmanuel Macron and Charles Michel. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. Anahit Hakobyan has been appointed Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Artsakh according to the decree of President Arayik Harutyunyan, the Presidential Office said. According to another presidential decree, Lusine Gharakhanyan has been relieved from the position of the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport and has been appointed advisor to the President. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. Irans Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian has sent a message to his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan, congratulating him on the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the Iranian MFA reported. In this message, Amir Abdollahian reminded Iran was one of the first countries to recognize the independence of the Republic of Armenia and to establish official diplomatic relations with the country. The Iranian foreign minister stressed the determination of the Islamic Republic of Iran to further bolster bilateral and regional cooperation with the Republic of Armenia, the MFA said. The diplomatic relations between Armenia and Iran were established on February 9, 1992 with a respective declaration signed in the Iranian capital of Tehran. YEREVAN, 7 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. The French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Moscow where talks with the President of the Russian Federation will be held, ARMENPRESS reports, RIA Novosti informs. Earlier President Macron said that prior to the meeting with Putin he is optimistically minded but doesnt believe in sudden miracless. According to the President, the aime of the visit is not to allow worsening of the situation around Ukraine. After the talks the heads of the two countries will give a press conference. "We already also agreed that we will support Ukraine," Scholz went on to say. "Also, it is absolutely clear that in a situation like this all options are on the table." "I will not get into any specifics, but our answer will be united and decisive," the chancellor said. "We are working very hard with our allies in NATO and in the European Union to make clear what we can do in the specific situation," Scholz said. "But we are also clear about the necessary strategic ambiguity." "This is also critical for giving this strong message that it will be very costly so they cannot go to a computer and count whether it will be too expensive or not," he said. "It would be too high a price to intervene in Ukraine." "On the other hand, that we are working very hard to use all the channels of talks that we have now: talks between the United States and Russia, the NATO-Russia Council, the OSCE and obviously its also the Normandy format," the chancellor said. The interview came out ahead of a visit by Scholz to the US where he is set to meet with US President Joe Biden on February 7. There has been a flurry of statements in the West and Kiev lately that Russia could invade Ukraine. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said they were unsubstantiated escalation and that Russia doesnt threaten anyone. At the same time, he didnt rule out provocations to corroborate these Western statements and warned that the use of force to resolve the crisis in southeastern Ukraine will have serious consequences. The president of the US and France, Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron, on Sunday discussed the situation around Ukraine ahead of Macrons visit to Moscow. February 7, 2022, 10:07 Biden, Macron hold phone talks ahead of Macrons visit to Russia STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 7, ARTSAKHPRESS: "The leaders discussed ongoing diplomatic and deterrence efforts in response to Russias continued military build-up on Ukraines borders," the White House said in a statement. Biden and Macron previously spoke by phone on February 2. Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to meet with the French counterpart in the Kremlin on Monday. The leaders, who spoke by phone three times over the past two weeks, plan to discuss many subjects, according to Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Macron plans to visit Ukraine on Tuesday. French Government Spokesperson Gabriel Attal said Macrons visits to Moscow and Kiev will continue the efforts by Paris to de-escalate the situation around Ukraine. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett implied that ''Israel could launch a military strike against Iran even if the Islamic Republic and world powers revive their 2015 nuclear deal'', The Times of Israel reports. February 7, 2022, 11:09 The Greatest Threat Against the State of Israel Is Iran: Israeli Prime Minister STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 7, ARTSAKHPRESS: ''The greatest threat against the State of Israel is Iran,'' Bennett says at the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem. ''As the government, we are responsible for dealing with the Iranian nuclear program and, of course, we are monitoring the Vienna talks. ''Our position is well-known and clear: An agreement according to the apparent terms will damage the ability to deal with the nuclear program. Anyone who thinks that an agreement will increase stability is mistaken,'' he adds, according to a readout from his office. ''It will temporarily delay enrichment but all of us in the region will pay a heavy, disproportionate price for it.'' President of France Emmanuel Macron thanked French diplomats and military officials who have been involved in the process of returning 8 Armenian prisoners of war from Azerbaijan. February 7, 2022, 15:40 France's Macron thanks diplomats, military involved in return of 8 Armenian POWs from Azerbaijan STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 7, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: 8 Armenian detainees were released by Azerbaijan and transferred from Baku to Yerevan. They were reunited with their families, from whom they had been separated for several months. Thanks to our diplomats, as well as our soldiers who were mobilized for this operation, Macron tweeted. Many aspiring medical students in Dubai looking at international education options may have found themselves at the Grenada pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. With a presence at the global exhibition, St Georges University (SGU) offers an international education to medical students with the goal of drawing the best talent and practices from around the world. In line with Expo 2020 Dubais theme of Connecting Minds, Creating the Future, visiting students can experience how SGU has become a leading center for academic excellence, with a uniquely global perspective, perfectly poised to provide students with a solid foundation in this rapidly changing world. With students coming from the Mena region, the medical school not only educates but, empowers doctors of the future to face any medical challenges, thanks to its international quality training and the exposure students receive during their time at SGU. Lesley Byrne, Vice President, International Student Recruitment at SGU, Grenada explains: Since its founding in 1976 SGU has been a medical school with a worldwide mission. We draw students, graduates, and faculty from more than 150 countries and have contributed over 19,000 physicians to the global physician workforce. This long, proud, and verifiable history of success is supported by implementing a curriculum that is built on fostering diversity, and one that is taught across the globe. Most students now are searching for international and multicultural elements to their medical education, so it makes sense to get this exposure during their learning experiences. Students at SGU have the opportunity to start their studies in Grenada, the UK, or India, and can complete clinical rotations at one of over 70 affiliated hospitals in the US and UK. With our State-of-the-art campus facilities and commitment to pastoral care, students are offered a truly holistic medical study programme. SGU graduate, Dr Georges Karam, MD 03 shares his experience studying at the universitys School of Medicine saying: I learned so much at SGU. The teaching was excellent, and it gave me the springboard for everything I have achieved since. The facilities and resources were outstanding, which made for a very pleasant collaborative learning environment and campus. I made great connections and friendships there. I also took advantage of living on a Caribbean Island and discovered a love of scuba diving. Similarly, Dr Joseph El-Khoury, MD 02, expresses how being a student at SGU was an important and solid steppingstone for him. It was an incredible mix of a studious and serious academic environment alongside Caribbean sunsets, wonderful food, and beautiful scenery. I have very fond memories of my time there. -- TradeArabia News Service Washington and London have cooked up the threat of Russia invading Ukraine for the sake of a "heroic fight" in order to carry out a provocation and then declare victory, which is a way to distract their public from their own domestic crises and restore the "undefeatable" image following the Afghan flop, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on her Telegram channel on Monday, Tass informs. February 7, 2022, 17:49 West cooked up Russian threat to save face after Afghan flop, Zakharova STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 7, ARTSAKHPRESS: The diplomat pointed out the repeated discussion on Europes fate in EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrells blog posted on January 30 confirmed her earlier suspicions that the blog "leads a life of its own," while the European top diplomat "perhaps is not even aware of what sort of bizarre texts are posted on his behalf." "The well-known psychedelic phobias by Western media about the Russian aggression against Ukraine are under development in the forthcoming composition. However, time marches on and Russia is not attacking Ukraine. The calculation by the US who ordered this tune and the British who joined the bandwagon is clear; they cooked up the Russian threat themselves, they braced themselves for a heroic fight against it, in order to commit a provocation and loudly declare their victory," the spokeswoman noted. "Here youve got both an opportunity to divert attention away from their own political crises and a chance to pour billions into arming immature democracies, and a way of reviving the image of the invincible after the Afghan fiasco," she added. The diplomat also pointed out Kievs financial losses from "the 'patriot games that unfolded over recent months," reiterating remarks by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky who stated that the country has already lost $12.5 bln. "As they say, you dont need enemies with friends like this. Then again, we repeatedly said that the West is not concerned at all about Ukrainian interests," the spokeswoman concluded. Sir Michael McBride (Peter Morrison/PA) (PA Wire) Omicron is unlikely to be the last variant of Covid-19 to emerge, but human immune systems will win, Northern Irelands chief medical officer has said. Sir Michael McBride said the vaccination programme, particularly the booster jab, will tip the balance. The death of six patients who had previously tested positive for the virus and another 2,706 cases were notified in the region on Monday. Hospitals remained under pressure with 387 Covid-positive patients in hospital, of whom 31 were in intensive care. Staff direct drivers at a Covid mobile testing unit at Dungannon Leisure centre car park, in Co Tyrone (Oliver McVeigh/PA) (PA Wire) Sir Michael said the region is set to reach the peak of the Omicron wave in the next couple of weeks. He urged the taking up of vaccination. Variants will always arise, he told the PA news agency. This is not the last variant that we have seen, there will be variants after Omicron, we have still, unfortunately, more letters in the Greek alphabet which we will use as those become detected, but what we can say is that increasingly our immune system is in a much better place, our immune system wins in the end and it wins particularly when we tip the balance in its favour and that means all of us getting the vaccine, all of us getting our booster vaccine. What we have seen time and time again even though the pressure is on the virus to mutate, to become more transmissible, to escape from the vaccines time and time again, we have seen the vaccines that we have still offer very good protection against severe disease and hospitalisation, and thats important. Sir Michael said there had been a huge surge of people coming forward for vaccination, but there has been a significant slowdown since Christmas Eve. He said getting all the jabs meant you are 90% more likely to avoid severe disease and require hospital admission. We have seen that right across the United Kingdom as people deferred getting their booster jab over the holiday period, but now were back, holidays are behind us, its really important that people dont rely on two jabs to give them protection, he said. Story continues We now know that three jabs are necessary to protect against severe disease, including reducing the risk of hospitalisation, so dont sit at home and worry about Covid and Omicron if youve your first dose, your second dose, the best thing you can do to keep you out of hospital is to get your booster dose. Earlier, Sir Michael said case numbers will increasingly become a less reliable indicator of how extensive the epidemic in this wave is. Weve seen a significant change in testing behaviour, weve brought about some changes in our testing strategy with removing the requirements for confirmatory PCR tests, but its really important that people still report their positive lateral flow tests because thats important for contact tracing, he told BBC Radio Ulsters Good Morning Ulster programme. Northern Irelands chief medical officer (CMO) Sir Michael McBride receives his Covid-19 booster jab (Brian Lawless/PA) (PA Wire) I think the true peak were likely to see in the next couple of weeks, the next one-two weeks. I think the numbers will be much higher than were actually reporting and are much higher than were currently reporting. Its important to bear in mind that hospital pressures continue to increase and we will see pressures there peak towards the latter end of January and into early February. There is a long and difficult time ahead for our health service and we can all play our part by getting our vaccine, getting our booster and protecting the health service. Asked about Northern Ireland having the worst infection rate in the UK, Sir Michael said comparing regions is complicated, pointing out that there is more testing in Northern Ireland than the rest of the UK. Were testing more people in Northern Ireland than any other part of the UK, we have done for some time were testing more people in Northern Ireland compared to the Republic of Ireland and clearly the more people you test, the more cases you detect because obviously a third of cases are asymptomatic, he said. Some 58,000 new cases of the virus have been reported in Northern Ireland since the start of 2022 more than the total for the first six months of 2021. The 12-week, small-group program is for any adult who has gone through cancer treatment and wants to regain their health and well-being. The program meets for 75 minutes twice a week and at no cost to participants, who work at their own level. Sessions include individual instruction and group activities with cardiovascular exercise, strength training, and stretching and balance work. Program goals include improving energy, self-esteem, strength, endurance, flexibility, balance, circulation and the functional ability for everyday tasks. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, bus driver shortages were challenging New York school districts. And despite some measures taken by Gov. Kathy Hochul's administration at the start of this school year, major problems remain unsolved, Cayuga County-area education leaders said. In September, Hochul announced a series of multi-agency measures to address the shortage, which has been exacerbated by the pandemic. The governor's office said it was taking "short-term steps to remove barriers and recruit traditional and non-traditional Commercial Driver's License holders, expand CDL testing opportunities, and enhance processes all designed to get more drivers into school buses," according to a press release. The state also said it would reach out to over 550,000 commercial driver's license holders in New York, and that longer term steps toward rectifying the shortage included "changes to address the training and licensing of drivers, as well as broader recruitment into the bus driver profession." An attempt has also been made on the federal level to ease the driver shortage issue nationally. On Jan. 4, the U.S. Department of Transportation and Department of Education announced it a temporary measure to allow states to waive the part of the commercial drivers license skills test requiring school bus driver applicants to identify the various "engine the hood" engine parts while still requiring all other components of the written and road tests to be met. But New York and most other states have not accepted the offer because operational and legal issues could not be worked out by a March 31 deadline. While local schools are often looking for drivers, the problem of not having enough people to put behind the wheel came to a head for the Auburn Enlarged City School District in late 2021. On Dec. 17, the district was forced to dismiss high school and junior high at noon due to a last-minute driver shortage. Auburn Superintendent Jeff Pirozzolo told The Citizen that same day that he was informed by First Student, the transportation company Auburn contracts with, that multiple drivers would not be available for afternoon bus runs for varied but unspecified reasons. And in early January, Auburn cited the bus driver shortage along with predicted sub-zero temperatures for cancelling a day of school. The week before winter break started on Saturday, Dec. 18, Pirozzolo said, the district was about 10 to 16 bus drivers short. In order to not dismiss classes early again and keep the same regular schedule, the district needed to "triple our bus runs." The shortages have also brought on extra pressure for Auburn's current bus drivers, he said. Pirozzolo also praised the efforts of the drivers, the district's transportation coordinator Carol Ann DiFabio and the employees at First Student, including transportation director Christopher Filoso. Burdensome license requirements The logistical challenges of providing student transportation during the recent omicron wave of the COVID-19 pandemic may have overshadowed the long-term issues behind the driver shortage. Speaking with The Citizen in an interview Dec. 30, a couple months after Hochul's announcement, Pirozzolo said those measures haven't "helped us one bit, because we still have the same bus shortage numbers that we had before those measures took places." The district's lack of drivers has been a continuous problem for about six years, he said, and the issue worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Pirozzolo cited the difficulty in obtaining a commercial driver's license as a major factor in the shortage. Requirements to secure such a license were changed through federal law a few years ago. One of the conditions for passing the test to get the license needed to drive a school bus is to know every part of their vehicle's engine. Pirozzolo feels that makes sense for the operator of an 18-wheeler truck because if their vehicle breaks down on a freeway they have to fix it themselves, but if a school bus breaks down, a mechanic would be called to handle the issue. "Until they split that CDL license up to conform with the differences of driving an 18-wheeler versus (being) a bus driver, people are going to not get into this profession of driving for buses," he said. Pirozzolo noted that the CDL test requirements are a federal issue and are not handled by the state, though he said the district has advocated to local representatives about the driver shortage. "It doesn't seem to change much," he said. DiFabio also noted that she feels the federal rule requiring bus driver CDL holders to know the various components of an engine discourages those who could potentially be good at the job from applying. Pandemic sets back progress DiFabio said she felt Auburn was in a good position prior to the outbreak. By December 2019, the district built up their roster to the point where they had extra drivers, extra aides and substitutes. However, concerns about COVID-19 then reduced the amount of people available, with many worried about their potential health. The amount of available drivers began dropping off in January and February 2020, before the pandemic began to shut down the U.S. in March 2020. Some drivers were keeping up with how the outbreak was ravaging countries overseas and the district had drivers who were immunocompromised and some who were in cancer treatments, so they felt they couldn't take the risk. 'We had drivers that were afraid to work, understandably so. So they kind of bowed out at that point. We had some drivers that had health concerns where they just could not be in that environment," she said. "So that kind of put us in a downward spiral." While some of those people eventually came back to work, the district ultimately lost a fair amount of drivers, DiFabio continued. "I am honestly impressed with anyone who can handle this situation and make it work for the best effort of our community and our children in our community," DiFabio said. "It blows my mind what people are able to come up with under pressure to make work out for our families." She said in early January that she hadn't seen any changes in the available labor landscape due to Hochul's announced measures. As a part of the state's effort to reach out to more than 550,000 commercial driver's license holders in the state, the district received a list of licensee holders around Auburn's geographic area, but many of those potential drivers had already been snatched up for other jobs, some were concerned about COVID-19 and others had no interest in coming out of retirement. DiFabio said at the time that she didn't think anyone from that list had come to the district. Despite the challenges, DiFabio said she feels bus driving is a "great retirement job" and is hopeful the spring may attract some new applicants. "It's a great way to get to know families in the community because a lot of our drivers do the same run every year so they become close with those families. It is rewarding, it's a great thing to feel like you've done a good thing for your community." she said. "I feel that's what our bus drivers do, that they do a wonderful thing for our community." Struggles are widespread Dr. Terry Ward, superintendent for the Cato-Meridian Central School District, said in an email to The Citizen Jan. 24 that the district is short drivers "like everyone else." He noted that he is currently working on his own requirements to obtain a license to operate a bus, adding "those requirements are not easy to complete." The district is offering any current employee $3,500 to acquire a license to drive a bus. "That stipend of ($)3,500.00 to current employees has saved us on 3 different occasions. In other words, we would have been closed or virtual for 3 days thus far this school year," Ward said in the email. "Luckily, we have been able to avoid that scenario because we have 'emergency bus drivers'. Ward also addressed the state's announced measures to help with the bus driver gap. "Any relief will help, but things move too slow. Currently, it has not had an impact on our shortages," he said. Loretta Van Horn, the Southern Cayuga Central School District's assistant superintendent for business and operations, told The Citizen that their district has its own bus drivers on-staff. Other staff members with the district also have CDLs, including grounds crew members. The district is able to pull from the district's internal staff to cover runs. She said every staff member with a CDL has helped out with a bus route at some point this year. She also pointed out the federal government is setting up another requirement in order to become a bus driver. As of Feb. 7, hopefuls to get a CDL will also need to pass Entry-Level Minimum Federal Curricula Requirements, which entails additional training requirements. Along with the new regulations, from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Van Horn feels the myriad of federal rules makes it harder to obtain drivers and causes people to be more reluctant to pursue a license in order to drive a bus. "I feel frustrated by it because we're in sort of a no-win situation, right? We're at their mercy. It's hard enough to recruit bus drivers because, first of all, they're not an eight-hour employee and some people want full eight hours. Our bus drivers get a guaranteed five-and-a-half hours," she said. "So now if you've got to jump through even more hoops, where's the incentive to become a bus driver?" A state-wide perspective Issues with locating drivers go beyond Cayuga County. David Christopher, executive director of the New York State Association for Pupil Transportation, said COVID-19 impacted the number of drivers throughout the state. The organization estimates there are currently 15-20% less drivers than there were before the pandemic, totaling around 8,200 drivers. The organization advocated for the state to help address the drivers' shortage by expediting bus driver CDL test scheduling, Christopher said, noting that one of the state's announced measures in September was giving priority to CDL bus driver tests. He also praised the measure to waive the former 14-day waiting period between when a person could take the written permit test and when they could take their road test. Some of these measures have helped get more drivers in certain areas, Christopher said, but overall districts are still experiencing difficulty in attracting such personnel. Christopher said the average age for a bus driver in the state is "in their 50s" and a lot of potential bus drivers have gone to the package delivery industry due to better pay and benefits. More federal requirements have also been set upon potential drivers, including more stringent drug testing and continual assessments. While Christopher acknowledges the regulations are "there for a reason," they create challenges for school transportation providers. "I think it has created more what we call 'barriers to entry.' People see that you have to do all of these things to be a bus driver, for continual training and oversight, for what is essentially a part-time job," he said. Christopher said he feels the pandemic has demonstrated how critical bus drivers are, adding that when bus routes aren't taken on, many students simply aren't going to school across the state because they don't have other ways to get there. To attract more people, he suggested districts look at factors such as competitive pay and working conditions, "things that bring people to a job and keep them. "It's important to find more ways to bring people to this industry," he said. Staff writer Kelly Rocheleau can be reached at (315) 282-2243 or kelly.rocheleau@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @KellyRocheleau. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Thousands of students in 14 counties submitted work for the 2022 Central New York Scholastic Art Awards, and hundreds have been recognized aft School superintendents across the state want Gov. Kathy Hochul to set some definite statistical goal that would result in the end of the mask mandate in schools. Hochul seems most interested in one specific metric the number of children vaccinated against the virus as the one that would trigger any decision to unmask New York's children. Hochul's mask mandates, imposed in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the winter surge caused by the Omicron variant of the virus, currently are supposed to expire Thursday for indoor public places and Feb. 21 in schools. Hochul never has set a definite statistical goal that must be met to end those mandates. "I can't sit here today and say I have a number where magic is going to happen," Hochul told The Buffalo News Jan. 24. "I don't think it's too many more weeks out in the future, maybe a few more months, I'm not sure. But there will come a time." While we continue to make progress against Omicron, there is no single metric or threshold that will tell us when we can safely stop requiring masks. Covid-19 transmission remains high, and too many New Yorkers remain unvaccinated, especially kids," the state Health Department said in a prepared statement Saturday. The spike in Covid cases caused by Omicron is disappearing almost as rapidly as it emerged. On Friday, according to data released by Hochul's office, the statewide positivity rate sank to 3.76%, down from a record of 23.2% on Jan. 2. It was the first time since Nov. 26 that the statewide daily percentage of positive Covid tests was less than 4%. So we're getting there, but I would love to see that trend line of younger children more vaccinated as we start making decisions about schools," Hochul said Friday in Kingston. "So that's a message to all parents and school leaders and teachers and influencers, that the more children we have vaccinated, the safer they'll be when they go to school, and get to the time we get to when they won't need a mask anymore, which we're striving for, but we're just not there yet," Hochul said. "But let's know that there's a very safe way to get there. And that is getting more kids vaccinated." Statewide statistics show that as of Thursday, 37.1% of children ages 5 to 11 had received at least one vaccine dose, and 28.8% had completed a vaccine series. For 12- to 17-year-olds, 75.5% have received a jab, while 67.7% have completed a series. Last week, 51 Western New York school superintendents signed letters urging Hochul to make definite plans for how and when the mask mandate will end. The New York State Council of School Superintendents did likewise in a letter to Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett. "We believe we have now reached the time where the state needs to transition schools out from a pandemic learning environment," the state superintendents' group wrote. "We have deferred to public health experts when it comes to universal masking and rules for indoor settings, and we do not seek to engage in a debate on its merits. The critical issue with mandatory masking in schools at this moment is the urgent need for school leaders and parents to know the plan moving forward with concrete assurances from the state," the superintendents' council wrote. Their letter called for "clear guidance on universal school mask requirements and when and how those will evolve. The best way to do this is to provide reasonable, understandable and achievable metrics based on recommendations from medical professionals for when masking rules will eventually be changed. Absent this clarity, families might assume that current rules and regulations will continue in perpetuity," the superintendents' group wrote. "Gov. Hochul and the Department of Health remain committed to doing everything possible to keep children, teachers and staff safe, and our schools open," a Hochul spokesman said Saturday. "As the governor has done throughout the pandemic, we will continue working with superintendents, school leaders, and parents and guardians to monitor Covid rates and protect the health and safety of everyone in our schools." Assemblywoman Monica P. Wallace, D-Cheektowaga, joined the superintendents in looking toward an end to masking. "Now that cases are declining, I encourage the Department of Health to heed this request and develop metrics for determining when discretion will be returned to local school districts," Wallace wrote Friday to Hochul and Bassett. "We need public health guidance that balances the risk of infection with the need to maintain the mental health and well-being of our children," Wallace's letter said. Wallace and the statewide superintendents' group both warned that the public's patience is running out. "Requiring masks in schools regardless of declining or low infection rates will only frustrate the public, sow mistrust, and lead many to disregard any future public health measures that may become necessary," Wallace wrote. "We believe thoughtful changes now could help to sustain acceptance of masking and other rules while they remain necessary," the superintendents' council wrote. "It is crucial to recognize that rules which defy common sense or are inconsistently applied threaten to undermine public acceptance of all rules, including those that remain essential." On Jan. 24, a judge in Nassau County invalidated Hochul's mask mandates, saying they violated a state law passed in early 2021 that took away many of the governor's powers to impose such orders without State Legislature consent. There were reports of many Western New York children going to school without masks the next day. However, the Hochul administration won an appellate ruling that allowed the mask mandates to stay in place while it fights the Nassau ruling. On Jan. 28, Hochul extended the indoor business mask mandate to Feb. 10. That has produced signs on store doors telling customers to wear masks, but Hochul left enforcement up to county governments, most of which have not lifted a finger to enforce her order. However, Democratic Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz imposed his own public mask mandate before Hochul did. Thursday, the County Legislature voted along party lines seven Democrats vs. four Republicans not to take away Poloncarz's emergency powers. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 4 Mobility in the post-Covid-19 phase and the role of Mena mobility leaders in defining the future of mobility in the region are the key topics being discussed at the 4th edition of the Mena Transport Congress & Exhibition 2022. Other topics include smart mobility management, future cities, and the role of female leaders in public transport, a WAM report said. The three-day event opened on February 6 with 1,000 participants and 73 speakers from 19 countries. About 40 entities from 17 countries are taking part in the accompanying exhibition. Under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Media Council, the event is organised by Dubais Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in collaboration with the Belgium-based International Association of Public Transport (UITP). Sheikh Ahmed, who opened the event, was received at Dubai World Trade Centre, the venue, by Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority, and Khalid Al-Hogail, President of the UITP, who briefed him on public transport projects in the region including Route 2020 of Dubai Metro, Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, Bus Operation and Maintenance outsourcing in Dubai, Al Bahrain Metro, Al Riyadh Metro, Bus Service in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, BRT Buses in Jordan, Monorail, Metro and High-Speed Railways in Egypt and BRT Buses in Morocco. Wiebe Wakker, a Sustainable Adventurer, delivered a speech highlighting his experience of travelling by an electric vehicle to Australia and the challenges he faced during the trip. He also talked about his experience of living in the UAE for three months and the key lessons learned, as well as his journey from the UAE to Sydney, Australia. Wakker spoke about his journey by train from the Dutch city of Amsterdam to Dubai. He touched on some of his experiences during the trip in some Arab countries, and how they have enriched his life. He praised the UAEs infrastructure development, the quality of its roads and transportation infrastructure, and the smooth movement between cities in the country. The Congress includes 13 sessions, five of which are main sessions. Other sessions will discuss the smart transport service, eco-friendly electric buses, artificial intelligence and big data, first and last-mile trips, post-pandemic sustainability, post-pandemic public transportation services, and technology enablers. Sheikh Ahmed honoured the winners of the 4th Transport Hackathon for university and college students. The winners of the Hackathon include: 1st Prize Winner: Scooty App An app to make travelling with e-scooters a safer, faster, and a more sustainable experience. It has a ScootAssist to monitor the scooter's speed and the rider's behaviour. It has a virtual map of the safe route for riders scooters on the metaverse. 2nd Prize Winner Salem App An app to monitor the health and safety of delivery personnel using phone sensors, GPS, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to ensure safe driving behaviour is adhered to. 3rd Prize Winner Steady App An app to ensure the smooth mobility of People of Determination in public transport. Its sensors determine their whereabouts and automatically transmits text messages to the staff of public transport stations to keep them notified so that they can sure their safe mobility inside the station and public transport vehicles. Sheikh Ahmed also honoured the Strategic Sponsors of the congress,: the Transport General Authority in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Keolis Group (operator of the Dubai metro and tram) and FAMCO (a subsidiary of Al-Futtaim Group). He also honoured the Gold Sponsors Etihad Rail and Alstom. Additionally, he felicitated the following Main Sponsors: the French RATP Dev, China National Construction Corporation, Hyundai Juma Al Majid, Turkish Gunal Construction, Visa, and Waagner biro. Later, Sheikh Ahmed, accompanied by Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, opened the accompanying exhibition.-- TradeArabia News Service Hyundai India, the country's second-largest carmaker, has come under massive flak on social media after a Hyundai Pakistan dealership posted on its social media account on Solidarity with Kashmir. A large number of social media users on Monday even called for mass boycotts and cancelling bookings of Hyundai cars in India. Not only Hyundai but its subsidiary Kia too has been drawing flak in India due to the posts made by the dealership in Pakistan. The controversy started on Saturday when a Twitter handle called @hyundaiPakistanOfficial wrote on Kashmir. Let us remember the sacrifices of our Kashmiri brothers and stand in support as they struggle for freedom." The post was made online on the same day when Pakistan observed Kashmir Solidarity Day as a propaganda push. While the social media posts were eventually deleted, screenshots went viral. This landed the automaker in the line of fire in India. Social media users in India started tagging Hyundai India, the automaker's global handle and Hyundai Pakistan while venting their anger. #BoycottHyundai started trending on Twitter. After facing strong ire from Indian netizens, Hyundai India issued a statement saying that the automaker has been committed to the Indian market for more than 25 years. (Read full report here) At the time of filing of this report, there has been no message from Kia India. First Published Date: Hyundai India faces social media backlash after a Twitter handle of a Hyundai Pakistan dealership posts message on Kashmiri separatists.Hyundai India points to its 25 years of commitment to the country. Hyundai Motor India issued a strongly-worded statement after it faced enormous social media backlash post a tweet by a Hyundai dealer in Pakistan supporting separatists in Kashmir. The tweet message had mentioned about the struggle for freedom in Kashmir,' drawing massive ire online. As #BoycottHyundai began trending on the social media platforms, Hyundai Motor India had issued a statement on the matter and re-affirmed its commitment to the country. Hyundai MotorIndia has been committed to the Indian market for more than 25 years now and we stand firmly for our strong ethos of respecting nationalism," the message read. "The unsolicited social media post linking Hyundai Motor India is offending our unparalleled commitment and service to this great country. We have a zero-tolerance policy towards insensitive communication and we strongly condemn any such view." What angered netizens, apart from the message posted on the Twitter account of a Hyundai Pakistan dealership called @hyundaiPakistanOfficial is that there was another similar message posted on Facebook by a Kia Pakistan dealership as well. Kia is also owned by Hyundai Motor Group. In India, while Kia made its debut in 2019, Hyundai has been present since 1996 and has been the second-largest car maker here - after Maruti Suzuki - for several years and running. India is also a major hub for exports of Hyundai models to many foreign markets. But while Hyundai and Kia cars are enormously popular in India, there are occasions when messages on sensitive social and/or political topics - not necessarily from the brands - invite massive backlash. In China, for instance, Hyundai sales toppled after Seoul deployed the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system which Beijing had warned it not to do. This was largely seen as a systematic, nationalistic boycott but the cause had nothing to do - obviously - with Hyundai or its models. First Published Date: " " RelaxFoto.de /E+/Getty Images It seems like parallel parking would still be a handy skill to have on this street. If the thought of parallel parking makes you break out in a cold sweat, you aren't alone. Whether you're trying to pass your state's driving test or using those skills to snag the last spot on a busy street, it can be a stressful proposition. Like other tricky driving tasks, parallel parking gets easier with practice, though increasingly more drivers are coming to think of this skill as irrelevant. And, novice drivers who live in certain U.S. states might be able to doze through that part of the driver's ed class and pass the driving test anyway. Michigan is the latest state to float the idea of scrapping parallel parking from the list of requirements to obtain a driver's license. House Bill 4576 was introduced on May 9 by Republican Rep. Sarah Lightner. The congresswoman told Detroit-area news outlets that she introduced the bill after receiving complaints from constituents who were annoyed that they spent $50 on the state driving test only to fail for what they saw as an unnecessary or superfluous skill. Advertisement The bill states, "The Secretary of State shall not require an applicant for an operator's license to demonstrate proficiency in the skill of parallel parking to successfully complete a driving skills test." "The idea behind the bill is that the skills that underlie parallel parking are important and are taught throughout the driver's ed process, but few Michigan drivers are typically in situations that require parallel parking," Rep. Lightner's office said in a statement to HowStuffWorks. "Feedback has been mixed, but has started a great conversation on the skills currently necessary to safely operate a car." In May 2019, 16 states did not require the successful demonstration of parallel parking skills for a driver's license, writes Rob Stumpf for The Drive, though Michigan is resurrecting a debate that lay dormant for a while. Maryland was the most recent state to drop parallel parking from the driving test, and that was back in 2015. Other states that have ditched the skill include Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia and Wyoming. In the case of Maryland, as reported by NPR and USA Today in 2015, the state's Motor Vehicle Administration thought it was too redundant to continue including parallel parking on the test, since the skills used are nearly identical to other segments of the test, such as a reverse two-point turn. At the time, critics suggested that the state's motivations were to both speed up the test and cut down on the number of drivers who had to retake the test, concerns that are echoed by critics of Michigan's proposed legislation. NPR also reported there was plenty of public backlash as well, mostly from older residents of the state who commented on online news stories that it was unfair that younger drivers benefit from an easier driving test. " " Ooh, that's close. simonkr/E+/Getty Images So, what happens to drivers who learn to parallel park, in theory, but never quite master the skill? In a lot of places, it's easy to get around that, thanks to parking lots, parking garages, angled street parking spots and valet parking. And, if you have a newer car, it probably includes at least some technology features to help you out. Some auto manufacturers call these "advanced" or "active" safety systems, while others call them "driver aids" or "driver assistance." The newer and more expensive the car is, the more likely these tech features will appear in a package marketed as some variation of "semi-autonomous" or "self-parking" technology. These features, says AAA, include: Rearview cameras Multi-angle cameras Front and rear parking sensors that detect obstacles near the bumpers Side sensors that let you know when you're close to the curb Systems that help identify a parking spot that will accommodate the car Systems that partially (driver assist) or completely steer the car into the parking spot Eventually, people will be catching rides in fully autonomous cars that won't need as much downtime in a parking space, wrote research firm Deloitte. Though Lightner told Detroit-area news outlets that parallel parking is "becoming an outdated practice," her office told HowStuffWorks that the bill shouldn't be interpreted to mean that new parking technology is a replacement for actual driving skills. Driver-assist systems definitely were among the factors that were considered in the bill, but the bill was not designed specifically based on the idea of drivers relying on parking assist systems, according to Lightner's office. In general, states that have stopped testing parallel parking still require first-time drivers to complete a driver's education course, which still will include parallel parking instruction. Even if the states that have stopped testing parallel parking didn't do so because of the availability of new technology, it seems inevitable that such technology will eventually replace parking skills. After all, if state representatives will introduce bills based on constituents' feedback, and those constituents grow increasingly accustomed to relatively basic features like backup cameras and parking sensors, and more sophisticated tech like parking assist systems that actually help steer the car, well, it's easy to see where this is going. As for Michigan, the home of many automakers introducing these new features as quickly as they can, we'll see if other lawmakers agree with Lightner. To pass, the bill must be approved by both chambers of the state legislature and signed by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Michigan, like the other states that have passed such laws, would still teach parallel parking in driver's education courses. Now That's Interesting The next big thing to change when it comes to parking might not be how your car is parked, but where. Parking generates $30 billion a year in the United States, and the average American spends an average of 17 hours a year looking for a parking spot, according to 2018 Deloitte research. Deloitte predicts that, among other advances, we'll see more parking facilities adopt the space-management technology used in many airport and rental car lots to help cut down on the time spent searching for a spot. Beijing (Gasgoo)- Geelys premium EV brand, ZEEKR, celebrated its achievement in the cumulative delivery volume of 9,537 vehicles in the first 100 days of delivery. According to the EV brand, ZEEKR delivered 3,530 units of its only model on the market, the ZEEKR 001, in January 2022. By the end of January, the auto startup delivered a total of 9,537 vehicles during the first 100 days of delivery, refreshing the delivery record among all Chinese auto startups first model. However, ZEEKR saw a 7% month-on-month decline in delivery from last Decembers 3,796 vehicles. In January, ZEEKR opened up nine more offline stores, including four ZEEKR Space stores, four pop-up stores, and one delivery center, providing opportunities for more users to get to know the brand. In the meantime, ZEEKR now operates wholly-owned charging stations in 19 Chinese cities, including the newly added Hefei, Nanjing, Foshan, and Changzhou. Its cooperative third-party charging network has covered 326 cities, with nearly 300,000 charging piles. The brand intends to continue expanding its wholly-owned charging network. Moreover, the ZEEKR Power project also offers a mobile charging service aimed at contingencies, including a door-to-door charging service and dispatching mobile charging vehicles. The service is provided in six cities currently. Beijing (Gasgoo)- On February 7th, the Korean automaker, KIA, inked an investment expansion agreement with the municipal government of Yancheng and Jiangsu Yueda Group. KIA will form a new joint venture with Yueda. Signing ceremony; photo credit: KIA The two parties aim to raise $900 million for the new joint venture and fast-tracking its auto sales and production capacity utilization through expanding investments, introducing new models, developing new energy vehicles, and establishing export bases. The name of the new joint venture will be revealed to the public in April. In the meantime, the municipal government of Yancheng will support KIA in its Chinese market expansion and help the automaker in its Yancheng factory export trade, as the automaker has helped drive the development of local auto parts industry. Since KIA entered the Chinese market in 2002, it has sold nearly 6 million vehicles. According to KIA, the company intends to promote its global strategic models and new energy models primarily. The new models coming this year will be equipped with massive safety and new technology features to improve product competitiveness, completing its global strategic lineup with the existing Carnival and the Sportage Ace. From 2023 to 2027, the automaker will debut new electric models each year, starting from the latest battery-electric EV6, forming a six-model EV lineup. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- HOZON Auto, the Chinese startup owning the EV brand NETA, delivered 11,009 new vehicles in Jan. 2022, representing a 402% year-on-year hike, the company announced via its WeChat account. NETA V Pro; photo credit: NETA As of Jan. 2022, the startup had achieved monthly sales of over 10,000 units for three straight months. Nonetheless, the EV maker didn't release the sales details of vehicle models. In early Jan., HOZON Auto saw its 100,000th vehicle roll off the production line, only 42 months after the first one was produced. The company said the milestone signifies that HOZON Auto has made substantial progress in such capabilities as design and R&D, technique development, manufacturing, quality control, procurement synergy, as well as operation and management. HOZON Auto's annual deliveries reached nearly 70,000 units in 2021. The volume made it lag behind XPeng, NIO, and Li Auto, but significantly outperform the other two rivalsWM Motor and Leapmotor. HOZON Auto rolled out two new models last year, namely, the NETA U Pro and the NETA V Pro. While the startup celebrating the birth of its 100,000th vehicle, it revealed the monthly order volumes of the NETA U Pro and V Pro had topped 5,000 and 10,000 units. The new product HOZON Auto will highlight this year is the NETA S, the first model riding on its in-house developed full-stack platform for automobile intelligence and safety, named Shanhai. The model's mass-produced version is likely to go on sale at the end of 2022. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- NIO delivered 9,652 new vehicles in January 2022, representing a 33.6% jump compared to the prior-year period, according to the startup's latest monthly sales results. With 5,247 units delivered, the ES6 still served as NIO's biggest sales contributor last month. Besides, the deliveries of the ES8 and the EC6 stood at 1,531 and 2,874 units in Jan. respectively. As of Jan. 2022, NIO had already delivered 176,722 vehicles in total, said the company. NIO Power Swap station; photo credit: NIO The company is on track to rapidly expand its power network. By the end of Jan. 2022, the startup had built 836 Power Swap stations, 3,766 Power Chargers and 3,656 destination chargers. Regarding the deployment of sales and services networks, NIO had already opened 42 NIO Houses, 341 NIO Spaces, 55 NIO Service Centers, and 180 authorized service centers across China as of Jan. 2022. Last month, NIO released Aspen 3.0.5 NO, which is exclusively developed for Norway, to users in the local market, marking its first firmware over-the-air (FOTA) update outside of China. NIO's smart auto operating system riding on the first-generation technology platform (NT1.0) is known as Aspen. The update will be pushed to all NIO ES8s currently sold in Norway armed with Aspen 3.0.0 NO, which is available in both English and Norwegian. SAN FRANCISCOFalcon Studios Group banner Fisting Central has released new title Stripper Hole Tryouts, available via DVD or digital download at the Falcon|NakedSword Store. Directed by Tom Moore, the movie stars Declan Blake, Aiden Ward, Drew Sebastian and Jim Fit as hopefuls jockeying to get hired at a dance club. Elaborates a company synopsis, "After a quick interview, Declan Blake is taking all of Aiden Wards hole-stretchers to completion. To seal the deal on the job, Declan busts out Aidens hole on the pole. When eager Jim Fit auditions to dance, his hole gets more than he bargained for. After cumming hands free, Jim returns the favor to bust out Drews muscle-butt." This stretched cast of men are more than ready to prove why they belong on that stage, says director Moore. These studs really brought it for their Stripper Hole Tryouts, and fans are going to love it. For DVD retail and wholesale purchasing, contact John Gunderson at [email protected]. Contact Toby J Morris at [email protected] with any additional questions or needs. Ferocious winds that sent what was a small wildfire racing toward homes on the outskirts of Flagstaff presented a dilemma. Most residents in the Girls Ranch neighborhood fled the flames. One couple stood their ground. Another raced to save animals on neighbors' properties. Two homes in the neighborhood were among 30 that were destroyed. The 30-square-mile wildfire left a mosaic of charred land before it was almost fully contained Saturday. Across the U.S. West this spring, thousands of residents have been forced to evacuate from their homes because of wildfires. Mercer, one of the world's largest consulting firms, and Bayt.com, the regions largest job site, have partnered to revolutionise regional talent assessment practices through a software. Now on UAE employers will be able to test more than 3,000 skills and learn exact salary information before making a hiring decision. The two firms have offered a software that is likely to significantly impact the hiring, promotion, and remuneration practices in the Mena (the Middle East and North Africa) region by providing employers with objective and skill-based assessment tools and transparent salary databases. The software is intended to allow employers in the Mena region to hire appropriate candidates and to fairly assess their skills based on systematic and precise criteria. Using this technology, employers will analyse a candidate's technical and non-technical skills, along with their personality traits, in order to understand their role-fit, their culture-fit, and their long-term career potential. As a result, they can recruit candidates based on objective data and avoid biases. Among the softwares acclaimed benefits: It tests over 3,000 skills and handles more than one million questions. It covers more than 25 industries and over 200 job profiles. It includes Psychometric and Technical assessments. Ted Raffoul, Career and Workforce Products Business Leader Mena at Mercer said: Implementing these assessments will be a revolutionary move in recruitment practices all over the Middle East. Recruiting suitable candidates based on role-specific tests will help increase employees job-fit and subsequently improve organisational competitiveness and strengthen the workforce. Ahmed Adwan, Director of Employer Solutions at Bayt.com adds: Another benefit from using tests is the reduction of favoritism and ensuring transparent and fair hiring decisions. Such assessments will also aid companies in promoting employees and building career succession plans based on employees skills and performance. Along with launching this assessment platform, a Total Remuneration Survey (TRS) will also be available for the region. Organisations will participate in this survey to declare the salary structure for their job positions and in turn obtain access to competitor salary schemes and benchmarks. This will be an important move for companies to maintain transparency and fair payment practices.-- TradeArabia News Service Update, Feb. 7, 2022: Flagstaff police said Norma Lee Cravens was located and returned to her home by an "alert citizen" Monday morning. Officials thanked community members for assisting in the search and keeping an eye out for Cravens. Police are asking for the public's help in locating a Flagstaff woman missing since Sunday. Norma Lee Cravens, 66, left her home near the 2100 block of west Adriondack Avenue just off Route 66 and Railroad Springs Boulevard around 2 p.m. Sunday to go for a walk in the woods as she normally does, according to Flagstaff police spokesman Sgt. Odis Brockman. Her family became concerned after Cravens did not return home for an extended period of time, Brockman said. They were unable to find her in the wooded area and contacted police. She hasn't been seen since. Officials described Cravens as a white woman with brown hair and eyes measuring 5 feet, 8 inches tall and approximately 165 pouds. She was last seen wearing a hooded red puffer-type jacket. Cravens experiences memory problems and is showing some signs of possible dementia. She left her home without her phone or water. The Arizona Department of Public Safety issued a Silver Alert for Cravens late Sunday. Anyone who sees Cravens or may have information about here whereabouts shoud contact the Flagstaff Police Department at 928-774-1414. Reporter Bree Burkitt can be reached at 928-556-2250 or bburkitt@azdailysun.com. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 4 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A professor at Northern Arizona Universitys Phoenix Biomedical Campus is suing the university for discrimination, saying she was discriminated against because of a disability. Kathleen Ganley, who is also the director of the HonorHealth/NAU Residency in Neurological Physical Therapy, alleges her direct supervisor harassed and treated her differently than other employees after she began showing outward signs of her disability. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in late January. She also accuses the supervisor of disclosing private information about her health to other employees and that she was wrongfully demoted from her associate dean position. University officials did not respond to a request for comment, nor did Ganleys attorneys. A representative for the Arizona Board of Regents, who is also named on the suit, said they do not comment on pending litigation. Ganley is not asking for a specific amount of general damages, but instead requesting for the amount to be determined at trial. Shes also asking for all attorney fees to be paid and an unnamed amount of compensatory damages for emotional distress as proven at trial. The nine-page lawsuit describes Ganley as a skilled employee who consistently earned the highest annual review ranking. NAU harassed and ultimately demoted Ganley, according to the lawsuit, because she had a known disability and medical condition. She alleges that her supervisor disregarded requests to accommodate her disability and directly tried to prevent Ganley from being promoted to the associate dean of Health and Human Services. While she ultimately got the job, she claims that her then-supervisor shared false accusations about Ganley, disclosed information about her disability and discredited her reputation from 2018 to 2020. She also learned from a colleague at another university that her supervisor discussed her private and confidential health information with a leader of another physical therapy program outside NAU, the lawsuit claims. Ganley also alleges in court documents that she was wrongfully demoted from the association dean position on false pretenses. She was told that it was a cost-saving measure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but no other demotions or pay cuts occurred and a very similar position of assistant dean was posted after hers was eliminated. Her personal information was also inappropriately shared while she was on medical leave, the lawsuit says. Ganleys supervisor allegedly provided fake reports about her to the dean. The continuous harassment was extremely stressful and negatively affected Plaintiff Ganleys neurological disability and mental health, Ganleys attorneys write in the complaint. The intentional discrimination caused her a significant loss of wages due to the demotion in addition to emotional distress, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life and damage to her reputation. Reporter Bree Burkitt can be reached at 928-556-2250 or bburkitt@azdailysun.com. Love 1 Funny 7 Wow 1 Sad 1 Angry 3 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. So lieu thong ke moi nhat cho thay hoat ong du lich tren ia ban tinh dan nhon nhip tro lai, dan chung thoi gian gan ay luong khach chon Binh Thuan la iem en cho ky nghi lien tuc tang len. A teacher at Medicine Crow Middle School is going way out of her way to teach science to young teens. Eighth-grade science teacher Jessica Felchle is traveling with students internationally to teach and learn about global STEM topics. Starting with a teacher trip in Panama, she became inspired to host trips for students so far to the Florida Keys and with a plan to visit Puerto Rico in June. This is probably one of the highlights of my career so far, said Felchle of her 16-year career. In Panama, Felchle and 17 other teachers from different places harvested plants alongside indigenous villagers to learn about the region's ecology. They spent time at the village school with local students, and toured the Panama Canal. The village they visited is located on the banks of Lake Alajuela in Chagres National Park, which is home to the Embera people. Among the many adventures, the group boated into the rainforest to harvest mangrove propagules and worked to remove invasive species endangering birds along the shore. Felchle reminisced about the trip and also remembered a meaningful trip she took to Germany while in high school. It wasnt long before Felchle began helping students to fundraise while navigating the travel restrictions and delays of COVID-19. Eight seventh and eighth graders and two teachers traveled to the Florida Keys last summer. 26 students had originally registered but that number dwindled after rescheduling. Its amazing to see them completely immersed with science and outside of the classroom walls. They want to be there, they worked so hard to be able to be there, and they ate up every single opportunity provided, said Felchle. Spending six days, the group snorkeled around coral reefs and studied them with a local biologist. They also visited a sea turtle rescue shelter and ventured into the everglades, wetlands, and swamps, Felchle said. Living in Montana my whole life, it was definitely a different atmosphere down there, said Darcy Merchant, an eighth grader. Merchant sold chocolate for spending money and his parents helped him save for a year and a half prior, he said. The trip costs around $2,500, which includes flights, meals, lodging, and expenses. Felchle works with a company called Education First that connects teachers and students through experiences around the world. I thought it would be a lot more relaxing but we actually covered two to three subjects a day, said Merchant. In Puerto Rico, the group will study tropical rainforests, waterfalls, salt flats, and bioluminescent bays. Felchle plans to offer a trip every year as long as there is interest, she said. Really anytime you travel outside your comfort zone, and for middle schoolers, their comfort zone is Montanayou realize the world isnt all that big and we are all more alike than different, she said. She added that trips help students network, and on a fundamental level they witness human impact on environments. For example, Felchle said guides and biologists at the coral reefs in the Keys noted how clean the water was and how much the reefs had grown likely due to less tourist activity since the pandemic. Students learned how chemicals from sunscreen affect the ecology of the ocean. Medicine Crows principal weighed in, adding that in addition to academic benefits, the trips help students to bond. Its a great opportunity because they take a small group and the kids really get to know each other, said Nikki Hofmann. Theres a better chance of forming some good friendships they get to know kids they maybe would not normally talk to, she said. Love 5 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Billings Police said Monday they are treating as suspicious the shooting death of a 16-year-old boy whose body was found Sunday morning. Police were called to the initial block of Swords Lane in the Billings Heights Sunday about 4:48 a.m., said Lt. Brandon Wooley. They found a 20-year-old man there with an apparent gunshot wound to his leg. He was taken to an area hospital. About two hours later, officers were dispatched to the Country Inn and Suites at 231 Main Street for a welfare check regarding a male who possibly shot himself. A 16-year-old boy was found there dead from an apparent gunshot, said Wooley. Both the 20-year-old and the 16-year-old apparently knew each other. Investigative efforts are focused on determining whether the fatal gunshot wound was self-inflicted or if there was criminal involvement, Police said in a Monday press release. There have been no charges or arrests. Investigators have interviewed several witnesses. The BPD is not looking for any other persons involved or suspects related to the investigation. Detectives with the Investigations Division are actively investigating. The identity of the 16-year-old will be released by the coroners office pending autopsy and notification of family. The death could be the fourth homicide in Billings this year. On Jan. 25, two men were found shot to death on the Billings South Side. A third man was found critically injured at the scene and was taken to a hospital. A few days later, a 15-year-old boy was killed in the Heights. No charges have so far been filed in any of the cases. Last year, BPD launched its first homicide investigation Jan. 11, which resulted in a 21-year-old man being sentenced this month to 75 years in the custody of the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services for killing his mother. In 2020, officers launched their first homicide investigation in April after a 50-year-old man was fatally shot in front of a South Side home. The year 2021 ended with nine homicides, down from the record-setting 22 the previous year. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 4 Sad 12 Angry 13 More detailed analysis will be required before a Bozeman man can excavate rock to assay from a reclaimed gold mine in the Little Rocky Mountains, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality announced on Thursday. DEQ received comments from three Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, all of whom indicated potential serious impacts to cultural resources for the Nakoda and Aaniiih people, explained DEQ Director Chris Dorrington in a press release as the reason for the agencys decision. The proposed exploration area is located on Antoine Butte, a documented vision quest and spiritual area in Phillips County near Zortman, according to DEQs final environmental assessment, which was posted online Thursday. The site for the proposed work is within the footprint of the former Pegasus gold mine on one of 60 mining claims owned by Luke Ployhar, who also operates under the company name Blue Arc. Response Ployhar said he was caught off-guard by the DEQs decision to require an EIS, which could cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars. Needless to say, Im not happy about it, he said. He has proposed excavating one trench, approximately 350 square feet and 25 feet deep, to extract a 125-ton bulk sample for metallurgical testing. The size of the pit was compared to two school buses stacked atop each other. The project includes construction of a 686-foot access road that would be left after the excavation. The work is anticipated to last about 10 days and disturb less than a quarter of an acre. DEQ would require all disturbances except the road to be reclaimed. A separate permit and environmental analysis would be required for Ployhar to operate a full-scale mine. This is the second project proposed by Ployhar in the Little Rockies. The first was authorized last February by DEQ for Ployhars business, Blue Arc, but required a bond before work could start. Rather than pay the $24,000 bond, Ployhar decided to move the project away from previous mine reclamation work to avoid concerns DEQ voiced about possible damage to a portion of the reclaimed mine site. Given DEQ previously approved a larger excavation nearby, Ployhar said it makes no sense to require an EIS for a smaller project 1,000 feet away. Tribes The Fort Belknap Indian Community threatened to sue DEQ last April claiming the agency erred in not consulting with the Gros Ventre and Assiniboine tribes regarding Ployhars first excavation proposal. Earthworks and the Montana Environmental Information Center joined the suit. Derf Johnson, of the MEIC, said the groups wont be dropping the lawsuit and will file it if Ployhar moves ahead with the first proposed excavation. They are two very distinct issues, Johnson said. Dorrington called the DEQs decision commonsense because more analysis was needed. When public comments uncover substantive issues that were not addressed in our initial review, we must do our due diligence and follow the law, he said. Following site visits with members of the tribes, DEQ wrote in the final EA, For the Nakoda and Aaniiih the fact that the Zortman-Landusky mine disturbance exists does not diminish the spiritual importance of the (Little Rocky Mountains), but rather emphasizes the need to continue to protect, and heal this sacred place. Much of the opposition at a January public hearing on the proposal was from tribe members. Phillips County Commissioners and the Montana Association of Oil, Gas and Coal Counties went on record supporting the excavation. Pegasus Part of the problem, as Ployhar sees it, is that hes mining where Pegasus Gold Corp. mined before declaring bankruptcy in 1998. The companys bond didnt cover the cost of cleaning up the Zortman mine site, leaving the state with a $100 million bill and water treatment requirements that are projected to last decades. In part because of the past mining problems, the Bureau of Land Management has proposed a 20-year withdrawal of mining on its federal lands in the Little Rocky Mountains. Ployhar said technology has solved many of the problems created by Pegasus when it mined the area. If he proceeds to the mining stage, Ployhar plans an underground mine instead of an open pit, unlike the cyanide leach facility Pegasus used. DEQs analysis said the excavation permits pose no harm to groundwater. Ployhar contended if he did proceed to mine, part of the work could be to help clean up the existing mining scar and acid runoff problems. He argued the tribes, state and nation lose if the mine doesnt go forward because it could provide jobs and precious metals needed by U.S. manufacturers. There needs to be a balance, he said. Decision DEQ defended its decision in the final EA, writing: Comments on the draft EA presented DEQ with conflicting evidence from credible and potentially expert sources. This evidence raises substantial questions regarding whether significant impacts could occur to historical, archaeological, social and cultural resources as a result of the proposed actions. Based on the current information before us, DEQ cannot say with certainty that potentially significant impacts do not exist, DEQ must comply with the requirements of Montana Environmental Policy Act and complete an Environmental Impact Statement that will further analyze potential impacts. In a statement, the Fort Belknap Indian Community praised the DEQ decision for acknowledging the cultural beliefs and values of the Gros Ventre and Assiniboine Tribes of the Fort Belknap Indian Community and the negative impacts to the area identified in the permit application. President Jeffrey Stiffarm said, We will continue to monitor our ancestral homelands and voice our concerns to protect our homelands for present and future generations. It is our duty to do so. To view the final EA, including a public hearing transcript and comments received, log on to: https://deq.mt.gov/files/Land/Hardrock/Luke-Ployhar/00860_AMD1_Ross%20Pit%20Highwall_2022-02-22_FINAL%20EA.pdf. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 1 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Green River, Wyo. A stranger pulled a Wyoming woman and her four children to safety after their home caught fire early Tuesday morning. A house on the 1600 block of Wyoming Highway 374 in Jamestown, west of Green River, caught fire sometime before 4:30 a.m. The fire was likely started by one of the kids' hoverboards, a kind of electronic scooter, according to the Sweetwater County Sheriff's Office. Green River resident Ryan Pasborg, 32, was on his way to work when he smelled smoke and spotted the blaze. Pasborg pulled over, and watched three kids make their way out of the home, the sheriff's office said in a Thursday news release. The children told Pasborg their 34-year-old mom and little brother were still in there, and needed help. Pasborg entered the home through the garage. The smoke was obscuring his vision, so he "crawled on his hands and knees" until he found the 4-year-old, whom he carried to safety, according to the release. It was below zero that day, so Pasborg put the kids in his truck to warm up. Then he went back in the house. When he found the woman, she was unresponsive. After dragging the woman outside, Pasborg was able to perform "lifesaving measures" to get her breathing again, the release said. He waited with the family in their driveway until crews arrived on the scene. The woman suffered severe burns, which left her in critical condition. Her 4-year-old also sustained minor injuries. The two were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. The woman was later flown to the University of Utah Burn Center in Salt Lake City. Pasborg later spent "several hundred dollars" of his own money to deliver the family clothing and other supplies while they sheltered at their grandmother's house, said Deputy Jason Mower, spokesperson for the sheriff's office. "You know, as a police officer, most of the stories I remember involve bystanders helping first responders in difficult situations," Mower said in the release. "I think this is the first time in nearly 15 years of law enforcement that I've ever heard of a total stranger truly going above and beyond in a way and in a situation that many wouldn't have dared to face." The sheriff's office said Tuesday the woman's husband was at work when the fire broke out. The sheriff's office has not identified the family. Love 14 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Universal Rolling (Unirol) the first manufacturer of steel reinforcement bars in Bahrain will be Steel Sector Sponsor for the Gulf Construction Expo, the Northern Gulf's leading annual exhibition. Taking place at Bahrain International Exhibition Centre the Gulf Construction Expo will be held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, from March 22 to 24, said the event organisers Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions (HCE). Along with this, Bahrain-based HCE will also be hosting Northern Gulf's two other leading annual exhibitions - The Gulf Property Show and Interiors Expo, stated HCE. Announcing the tieup, Unirol plays an active role in the development of Bahrains infrastructure as a reliable supplier of reinforcement steel bars. The company is ready to supply the kingdoms marque projects including the Metro and the new Bahrain-KSA causeway. Operations Director Ali Der said: "2021 was a tough year for the steel sector as it was for all sectors of the economy. We approach 2022 with optimism and confidence brought about by the positive indicators in Bahrains economic recovery." Last year, Unirol had focused on developing its products and upgrading its accreditation certificates. The company has succeeded in obtaining Kuwaits product quality certificate ISO 6935-2, and the recognition of the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) with regard to technical requirements for iron bars in 2020. "Unirol products are proudly made in Bahrain, and we have achieved success in the export field. Our participation at Gulf Construction Expo will utilise the Expo to promote our brand as a reliable steel partner and supplier," he stated. Both additions compliment their certifications portfolio, that includes the UK Cares certification and the ISO 9001 quality management system, he added. HCE Managing Director Jubran Abdulrahaman said: "The Gulf Construction Expo has a reputation for professionalism and dependability. We will continue to strive to provide our Exhibitors with a platform to showcase their brands and products." The long-awaited construction showcase will be staged alongside its sister events- Gulf Property Show and Interiors Expo at the Bahrain International Exhibitions Centre next month, he stated. "We look forward to participating in the Gulf Construction Expo where it gives us the opportunity to listen to customers feedback, meet and connect with potential customers, gain new sales leads, and strengthen the bond with our stakeholders," added Der.-TradeArabia News Service A snowmobiler died on Sunday west of West Yellowstone after an avalanche swept the rider downhill into trees. Attempts to resuscitate the snowmobiler, who has not been identified, were unsuccessful. This is the third avalanche fatality in Montana this winter. The first two occurred in the same incident on Jan. 27 north of Cooke City when Minnesota riders Jesse and Carl Thelen were killed. So far this winter nine people have died in avalanches, four of them snowmobilers, three skiers and two snowshoers. Sundays accident occurred in the Lionhead area on Ski Hill. According to the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center report, the shallow slide broke across a slope on a steep rollover, partially burying the victim. Large avalanches in the West Yellowstone area and near Big Sky and in the Bridger Range are unlikely with the above activity being the tragic exception to overall stability, the center reported on Monday. Additionally, these events signify more trouble to come when the wind blows or snow returns. Avalanche danger in the area was rated low although 5 to 6 inches of new snow had fallen and was being pushed by strong winds. The fatality is the latest incident involving the Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue team in West Yellowstone. Last week the team was dispatched twice to help stranded solo snowmobilers, one in West Denny Creek and the other on Hebgen Mounain. In a press release, Sheriff Dan Springer encouraged snowmobilers to ride with a partner, call for help as early as possible and to pack survival equipment including food, water, fire starter, a flashlight and a battery pack to charge a cellphone. Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 13 Angry 0 What would a higher federal royalty rate mean for oil and gas leasing? Its not an easy question, especially in Wyoming. The answer depends how much higher the rate would be and, of course, on who you ask. Everybodys got their opinion, Gov. Mark Gordon told the Star-Tribune during a press event on Friday. That conversations gone on for 30 years. Just last week, Gordon said, he urged officials from the Department of the Interior, including Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, not to raise the federal royalty rate. The oil and gas industry has expected the Biden administration to raise the federal royalty rate from the moment he took office, said Pete Obermueller, president of the Petroleum Association of Wyoming. The administration has said it will hold its first onshore lease sale Wyomings first since late 2020 in the first quarter of 2022. Because the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) must issue a public notice and allow a month-long protest period before holding a lease sale, and the end of the first quarter is less than two months away, its expected to formally announce the upcoming sale in the next few weeks. The apparently accidental posting of a draft notice on the agencys website may have given the state a glimpse of whats to come. According to the since-removed notice, the royalty rate at the upcoming lease sale would be 18.75%, a substantial deviation from the 12.5% rate used by the BLM for more than a century. Comparatively, the royalty rate on Wyoming state lands is 16.67%. On private lands, its often higher. Nearly half of the land in Wyoming is owned by the federal government, and the state is the No. 1 producer of natural gas and No. 2 producer of oil on federal lands, where drilling is more difficult to permit than on privately owned lands. A 2017 analysis by the Government Accountability Office found that raising the federal royalty rate may slightly decrease production on federal lands, but that the effect on production could be negligible over 10 years if royalty rates increased to 18.75 percent. Obermueller isnt so sure. Any increase in the royalty rate certainly makes it more expensive to do business here, Obermueller said. Multiple studies have shown that Wyoming is already the most expensive oil and gas state for taxes and royalties. So this just bumps it up even further, and we become less competitive. Gordon, meanwhile, said the prospective royalty change was an attempt to shut down the industry on federal lands. Whats happening as a result of these policies is not something thats addressing climate, it is something thats addressing energy development on public lands, he said. And what its doing is its moving it out of places where its more regulated, and more carefully thought through, to places where it isnt at all. Shannon Anderson, staff attorney for the Powder River Basin Resource Council, said an extreme royalty rate hike an increase of 30% or 40% or 50% could have the effect Gordon described. But she said a more moderate increase, to a level more comparable to states royalty rates, could generate millions of dollars for the federal treasury and significantly boost Wyomings share of royalty revenue without driving away producers. The main factors always have been and always will be the price of oil and the geology, Anderson said. Wyoming has good geology, so were good there. Its really just about the price. But with oil and gas producers already subject to Wyomings high property and severance taxes, on top of federal royalties and the complexity of permitting wells on federal lands, Obermueller believes even a moderate increase to the royalty rate will harm industry in the state. I think its pretty apparent to most business owners, he said, that making business more expensive makes it harder to succeed. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 North Dakota public institutions of higher learning are discussing whether to go test optional for admissions. The state Board of Higher Education adopted a policy to waive the standardized test admission requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic. That policy has been extended until the summer of 2023. "One thing I've observed is that out of the 4,000 degree-granting, accredited colleges and universities across the U.S., they're approaching about half to three-quarters of those colleges going 'test-optional' this fall," said Lisa Johnson, North Dakota University System vice chancellor for academic and student affairs. The concern is that use of standardized tests might disadvantage minorities or rural students who may not have access to test centers, according to Johnson. North Dakota uses the ACT college entrance exam. If tests are made optional, there is another issue to be worked out, Johnson told Prairie Public. "One of the big things we use standardized test scores for, in all of our colleges and universities, is the distribution of scholarships and financial awards," she said. "So there are some peripheral things we have to work through if we pull away from standardized tests." Campuses also would have to find other measures for admission. "There could be an entire discussion around variants in calculation of how GPAs are derived across the state, and the consistency in that," Johnson said. A change also might force the University System to look at other assessments of student performance that are being piloted across the states K-12 system. "They look at other aspects of student proficiency, about persistence, interest, goals," Johnson said. "And they aren't necessarily measured on a letter grade, or a four-point scale, that I think could be useful to the colleges and universities." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 When Debbie Fettig and Denise Fettig-Loftenes' mother and father were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease weeks apart in late 2020, one of the first things they did was contact the Alzheimer's Association. The sisters and their seven other siblings coordinated from across the country on Zoom calls with North Dakota Program Director Nikki Wegner to learn how to keep their parents together and in their apartment. "They were our lifeboat for us," Fettig-Loftenes said of the organization. The Alzheimer's Association is one of many charities that benefit from Giving Hearts Day, an annual statewide fundraiser that this year is offering donors incentives and more ways to support charitable organizations. Fettig said the Alzheimer's Association helped the family figure out what the next steps were for their parents, including bringing in an occupational therapist to help keep their apartment safe for them. "There's so many factors that it's just overwhelming," Fettig said. "Besides being diagnosed with it, you have to look at everything else around that." The organization offers no-cost services such as a 24/7 call line, caregiver support groups and connections to other services throughout the state, Wegner said. The Alzheimer's Association is one of 540 charities taking part in Giving Hearts Day on Thursday. Giving Hearts Day is the longest-running day of giving in the nation, Director Amber DeKrey said. The Dakota Medical Foundation started it in 2008, and last year the event raised $22 million from more than 42,000 donors. "It's a day that brings out the best in the community," she said. Donors this year can pledge volunteer hours or donations of goods along with financial contributions. Donors can also purchase gift cards that allow recipients to donate to a charity of their choice. DeKrey said the gift cards are popular stocking stuffers during the holiday season or are used at schools to give students the ability to pick a charity to support. Giving Hearts Day is also offering "golden ticket" prizes. Winners will be selected each hour from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will have the opportunity to have up to $10,000 donated to an organization of their choice. Donors also have the chance to win a 2022 Chevy Silverado for themselves. Organizations such as North Dakota's Gateway to Science rely on Giving Hearts Day to fund large portions of their operating budgets. The hands-on science center in Bismarck does not receive state or federal funding. Development Director Lesley Icenogle said the organization has raised $650,000 through the day of giving since joining in 2012. Donations have grown from $3,500 the first year the organization was involved to over $100,000 last year. "If we didn't have the community supporting us, we wouldn't be able to do what we do," she said. To take part in Giving Hearts Day, go to givingheartsday.org. Reach Sam Nelson at 701-250-8264 or sam.nelson@bismarcktribune.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Taylor Olson has just about done it all in the legal profession in her corner of North Dakota. The Williston city attorney in 2013 and 2014 filled in as interim state's attorney for Divide and McKenzie counties. She also works as a municipal judge in New Town and as a tribal judge for the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation. "People think Williston is the edge of the world and that there's nothing for anybody here," said Olson, who has practiced in Williston since 2011. "And in all of these areas, we all need the same services that the bigger communities do." A shortage of attorneys in rural areas of the state led Olson and others to champion a bill in the 2021 Legislature that established the Rural Attorney Recruitment Program -- now open for applications from attorneys and eligible cities and counties until April 1. A second recruitment cycle could come in the fall if all the spots aren't filled. The pilot program of the state Supreme Court aims to place attorneys willing to work for at least five years in cities with 5,000 or fewer people or counties with 16,000 or fewer people. Attorneys "must agree to live in close proximity" to the community. The incentive program is for four initial placements. It's modeled after a program in South Dakota that currently has 24 participants. Attorneys in the North Dakota program will receive an incentive of $45,000 given in five equal, annual payments. The Supreme Court will pay 50%, the city or county will pay 35% and the North Dakota Bar Foundation will pay 15%. The program is open to any attorney, whether they plan to work or are already working in the public or private sector. Rep. Rick Becker, R-Bismarck, opposed the bill for the program, viewing the state funding as inappropriate and the success of similar programs unclear. North Dakota's seven most-populous counties have 87% of the 1,695 licensed attorneys living in the state, according to a 2021 breakdown from the State Board of Law Examiners. "As a judge, I think it's hard for the judiciary when you need a state's attorney and you need defense counsel and you need public defenders and you need assistance for mental health cases ... I think it can get difficult and very burdensome for people to travel so much, especially in the winter, to do some of those jobs," Olson said. Five counties have no attorneys; 35 counties have fewer than 10 lawyers. The attorneys include ones not in practice, retirees, corporate counsel and judges. "The joke is that you need two lawyers in every community so you have someone to be on the other side," Bar Association Executive Director Tony Weiler said. Remote technology makes many things easier, but a lot of people want to meet face to face with professionals, be it an attorney, a doctor or an insurance agent, he said. Consulting an attorney is a lot like seeing a doctor, according to State Court Administrator Sally Holewa. "You're going to expose your very personal things to them," she said, as in divorces or complicated probates. Other work includes real estate, wills, family law, adoptions, guardianships and counsel to local governments. People also respect a professional they know personally, someone who knows the system and the jargon and different avenues of solutions, Holewa said. "You may not know the law, but you know how you feel about that person's abilities," she said. "I think that's not a connection you're going to make looking up somebody's website or by a random phone call to a stranger." Olson said the program might "take a specific type of person, someone willing to jump in the deep end and really put in the time and effort. "But I think it can be really satisfying for people," she said. Weiler sees the shortage as a nationwide, generational issue of younger people wanting to be in bigger cities with others of their age and more amenities. Northeast District Judge Michael Hurly, of Rugby, is concerned "these courthouses just become museums" in a worst-case scenario of rural decline. He helped lead the recruitment program proposal, hoping to improve access to lawyers. At the least, rural residents have to travel many miles to consult an attorney if none is practicing nearby, he said. Hurly senses a hesitancy among attorneys and young professionals to move to rural areas, but he points out the routine of daily life isn't much different than in urban areas, especially for parents. Also, "I think that people get caught up with there's more things to do in the cities than there is in rural areas, but the question is, do you really ever go and do those things?" he said. Hurly, 45, prefers the rural quality of life, and he keeps busy with volunteerism and his work. His vision for the recruitment program is to see at least 30 attorneys participate at some point. Olson would like to see a mentorship component one day. "When an attorney moves into a community, I think by nature attorneys become very active in the community," Hurly said. "They're going to buy a house in the community. They're going to pay property taxes. If they're going to have children, those children are going to go through the school. There's a lot of benefits to the community to do this." Reach Jack Dura at 701-250-8225 or jack.dura@bismarcktribune.com. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 1 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. North Dakotas oil industry wants lawmakers to change the framework for taxing crude production that abolishes the price-based triggers. Unless oil prices suddenly decline, North Dakotas treasury may start reaping the benefits of a tax increase on drillers that could bump state tax collections by billions of dollars. The present situation with high crude prices is in contrast situation to just a few years ago when low oil prices threatened to trigger a tax break for drillers that would have cost the state lost revenue. Backers of abolishing triggers say it gives drillers certainty and keeps the industrys jobs and revenue flowing Bismarck Republican State Rep. Rick Becker is running for U.S. Senate, touting his ultraconservative nature in eyeing the seat held by one of North Dakota's most entrenched politicians. Becker's announcement comes weeks after he said he wouldn't run for reelection to the state House of Representatives or seek other public office this year. Becker touts his legislative record and business experience in a nearly four-minute campaign video published Friday. "I am an outspoken critic of do-nothing politicians in the Legislature and the Republican Party, especially over the runaway spending during the last decade, both in North Dakota and in Washington," Becker said. "The way I see it, we can't expect our leaders to be the best they can be if we are afraid to critique or challenge them." Becker, 57, has served Bismarck-area District 7 in the House since 2012. He founded the ultraconservative Bastiat Caucus in the Legislature. The caucus supports limited government, tighter budgets and greater gun rights, and has been linked to fissures within the dominant state GOP. He challenges second-term U.S. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., a former governor who since 2004 has won election with more than 70% of the statewide vote. Hoeven, 64, is seeking a third six-year term. He won reelection in 2016 with 78% of the vote. North Dakota's three-member congressional delegation comprised all Democrats from 1987-2011. In 2010, Hoeven won the seat of retiring U.S. Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., and Republican state Rep. Rick Berg unseated U.S. Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D. Becker, who is a plastic surgeon, made an unsuccessful bid for the GOP endorsement for governor in 2016. He said Hoeven has not had a GOP competitor since 2000, when Hoeven first ran for governor after seven years as the leader of the state-owned Bank of North Dakota. Hoeven's victory margins "would appear to a casual viewer as insurmountable. However, there's really not a lot of credence when you drill down into them," Becker told the Tribune. He also said the tone of the country and the state have changed, and he and Hoeven have different styles as elected officials. In a statement, Hoeven's campaign said, We have always expected that there would be challengers in this race as we have had in our previous runs for office. We will continue to focus on doing the things that best serve North Dakota and our country. Whether it is cutting taxes, pushing back on federal overreach, working to secure our southern border, supporting our Second Amendment rights and pro-life legislation, as well as unwavering support for our military, Senator Hoeven has a strong record of accomplishment during his time in the Senate. North Dakota's Republican Party will hold its state convention April 1-2 in Bismarck. Delegates will endorse candidates for state and congressional office. State GOP Chairman Perrie Schafer said he thinks Hoeven "has broad support over the state and has done a very good job as our senator and past governor. Sen. Hoeven has my complete support." The party is charging first-time fees for candidates seeking endorsements at the convention, including $5,000 for U.S. Senate. Voters in the June election will determine political parties' nominees for November's general election. In a statement, Democratic-NPL Party Chairman Patrick Hart said, "Hoeven and Becker have a lot in common, theyre both heavily focused on their own self interests and personal gain. At the end of the day, Hoeven and Becker would both vote however Mitch McConnell tells them to." McConnell, from Kentucky, is the Republican Senate minority leader. Republicans control North Dakota's Legislature and hold every state elected office and congressional seat. Reach Jack Dura at 701-250-8225 or jack.dura@bismarcktribune.com. Love 4 Funny 11 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 2 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Gov. Doug Burgum is improving after testing positive over the weekend for COVID-19, according to his spokesman. Burgum is working from the governor's residence, spokesman Mike Nowatzki said Monday. The governor on Saturday said he is isolating through Thursday and consulting with his physician. Burgum, 65, is vaccinated and boosted for COVID-19. He announced Saturday that he had tested positive for the disease. He initially tested negative on Friday following an exposure notification but then experienced cold and flulike symptoms Saturday morning and was tested again. The governor's office has not said where Burgum was exposed. Burgum and Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford were last in the same room Thursday at the funeral for North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, according to Nowatzki. He said Burgum and Sanford did not sit next to each other. First lady Kathryn Burgum sat between the two of them. Sanford is not experiencing any symptoms and has not been tested for the virus, Nowatzki said. Burgum was the second statewide elected official to test positive for COVID-19 last week. U.S. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., said on Feb. 1 that he had tested positive. He is fully vaccinated and boosted for the virus. He is no longer isolating, per the direction of his health care provider, Hoeven's office said Monday. Reach Jack Dura at 701-250-8225 or jack.dura@bismarcktribune.com. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Heart-Breaking Text Message Exchanges Between My Ripped-Away Daughter and Me by Limin Wang Feb. 06, 2022, Sunday My daughter, Alexandria Wang, almost 18-yrs-old, was blessed to be accepted into the Summer Youth Employment Program to work in the nearby-home World Ice Arena in the summer of 2021, and to continue as a part-time employee there afterwards. However, with time going one, I noticed she grew more and more hostile toward me, sometime her temper was ignited with whatever she took as a reason. One night while I picked her up as usual by walk through the remote, dark, dirty, and dangerous area, she first was silent while I was talking of something, what exactly I am not sure now, probably of her mother's PSYCHIATRIC BEHAVIOR that day, or of some current or recent matters on the news, then she SUDDENLY BECAME EXPLOSIVE AND TEETH-CRUNCHING. Additionally, during the later days, she told me some weird things that happened at World Ice Arena, such as a Jewish kid stealing bottled-soda from a vendor machine or an office there, hundreds of Jewish kids swarming and messing there, a young child taunting her with keeping saying something about "janitor" to her on the ice, a whatever safety device was somehow triggered by someone, police arriving there or the vinicity for some problem, some "coworker" boy of similar age wanting to pay for her cartoon drawing, and some other coworkers walking together off work to Main St in Flushing downtown so she could join them and I then do not need to pick her up anymore, etc. To my notices, during my last rounds of picking her up at night such as 9 pm or even later, there were a police or two standing underneath the I-678 highway passover opposite to the Home Depot corner. I could not tell what they were standing then and there for, because there was no marked crime scene and they were seen there on different DAYS. They did not approach me or any others for any questions. Later, after Alexandria Wang had been seduced and forced to desert me and her psychiatric mother Li Li, according to the INFAMOUS "Decision" of the Oct. 05, 2021 "Family" "Court" hearing, I guess the cops showing then and there could one loop of the American Evil System's premediated and coordinated scheme to rip my almost 18-yrs-old daughter Alexandria Wang away and to demonstrate the cops intimidation toward me so I shall NOT contact my own daughter in any way! The Democraps' handling of the so-called COVID-19 Pandemic finally made students go back to PHYSICAL SCHOOLS on Sept. 13, 2021. But Alexandria Wang brought back with the American Evil System's scheme of her desertion! On Sept. 21, 2021, my elder daughter's 20th birthday, humanscums from NYC Administration for Children Services started to keep coming to my rental residence (136-09 59th Ave, Rear Apartment Ground Floor, Flushing, NY 11355), and kept calling my phone. I asked Alexandria Wang what's going on. She claimed she was contacting her "guidance counselor" at Bronx High School of Science, and the humanscums at school ONCE AGAIN initiated the ACS trash over to me the father, and she had already their arrangement of "FOSTER CARE" at somewhere unknown to the parents. WHAT KIND OF HUMANSCUM SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOL Bronx High School of Science is! Those humanscums, regardless of namely "guidance counselor" Darby McHugh or "social worker" Danielle Heckman-Perez, did NOT show any RESPECT toward the parents. Where had been their COMMUNICATION to the PARENTS before they went down their usual CHILDREN-RIPPING & TRAFFICKING way????????? Not only ACS, some humanscums sent the so-called NYC-WELL personnel, a young black man and a young black woman, to my rental place on Sept. 22, 2021. I told the pair of Negros that I was preparing the Sept. 24, 2021 hearing of the American Evil System's EVICTION CASE onto me, so I would like to have them see Li Li after the EVICTION CASE hearing. However, these two NEGROS brought COPS here, and the COPS threatened to break down the apartment door! I felt the danger of being murder by American cops, so I went to the backyard and started to shout as loud as possible to tell the neighborhood what have happened onto me and my family, and wish they pay attention to what would happen to me when I go to the building front to meet the SWARM of cops. There were cops coming to the backyard direction too. When I did come out to the front, a Chinese-looking cop INITIATED BODY CONTACT TO MY RIGHT SHOULDER from my back. I did not follow into their scheme to have any body reaction to it or him. The cops from Precinct 109 or other precinct have multiple times attempted to fabricate excuses and scenes to EXECUTE me via their PROFESSIONAL AND "LEGAL" MURDER SCHEMES. The white-uniformed officer said it's the two NEGROS from the NYC-WELL program that send the cops over. Think about the Black Lives Matter movement, and think about many negros in my real life experience are so vicious to a Chinese immigrant man! While I admire the blacks' struggle against the American Evil System or Jews' struggle for their own survival, I do hate some, so actually so many, blacks' and Jews' ACTUAL VICIOUSNESS AND SINISTERNESS. IT'S NOT RACISIM; IT IS THE IT IS WHAT IT IS AND THEY ARE WHAT THEY ARE, AMERICAN EVIL SYSTEM AND HUMANSCUMS. On Sept. 24, 2021, I went for an in-person hearing to Queens Court, while the plaintiff/landlord side showed up only virtually, and the male landlord Mr. Maurice Shiau in the actual contacts over the years did not show up. Instead, Mrs. Jyne Shiau showed up out of the back scene. I only get a handwritten note of the next (virtual) hearing. This day, Alexandria Wang did NOT come back at the time expected back. My text messages and calls to her were not answered until very late that night. She claimed World Ice Arena suddenly notified her to fill in somebody's shift that night! When she arrived home, it's about 11:15 pm! and she seemed having not had dinner yet! I was so frustrated that my daughter has growing up more and more STUPID in making decisions on matters. She is in high school SENIOR year now, and she is expected to SERIOUSLY PREPARE FOR COLLEGE APPLICATIONS, as well as to have learned a serious lesson from her scores of only 3 (out of 5) on AP Physics I and Calculus BC in the Junior year's so-called remote learning and her gluing to the computer and phone! Also, I was mad at the recent days' harassments and dangers humanscums brought. Instead of discussing with me the father what's BETTER for her RIGHT NOW, Alexandria Wang simply jumped to once again claim that she had the humanscums' ARRANGEMENT ALREADY for her to live away from home into a "foster-care"! When I asked what has made her to do such sinister things in the back of her father, she could only bring up two things over the decades: 1) I scolded her and her elder sister while I told them to stay on the Main St streetside for a moment so I could have a quick look for whether icecream on sale and found no, but they were GONE before I came out only SECONDS later, and they were shockingly found at home. They were at elementary-school ages, and they claimed that they could NOT find me so they walked home by themselve. After the recent "developments" since Alexandria Wang's desertion at the night of Sept. 24 -25, 2021, I believe that my children have long been influenced by humanscums of the American Evil System, at least to tell lies to the parents on many things. For example, children have not learned well from the school's trashy "teaching", and then they CHEATED on practice tests I implored onto them! 2) AW claims I once hit her when she broke a slipper. I don't remember any bit of such a story, and I don't believe that I would hit her if she did somehow tear a slipper. Her current slippers at home were torn at a position, and I did not criticize her, leaving alone hitting her. My own slippers were worn and torn and fixed by myself for everlasting use to the final breakdown. The verbal communication quickly shifted off the topic and turned into verbal argument. Through her behabior clearly shown on the following text-message exchanges, she then kept talking about her leaving to a foster care and CLAIMING MY SUFFERINGS ARE ONLY MY OWN PSYCHOLOGICAL THINKING! That kind's verbal assault, identical to those from the HUMANSCUMS OF THE AMERICAN EVIL SYSTEM, SUCH AS THE JEW "NEUROLOGIST" AND "PSYCHIATRIST" Robert S. April set up by the "In-surance" and the whole SYSTEM, set me off. I then told her to leave now since she said repetitively she had been arranged to leave the parents, particularly the caring father me! When she did pack her laptop computer and phone and other things into her school backpack and left, I told her to stop, because I wanted the American Evil System to KNOW my still-a-minor daughter was threatening to DESERT. Alexandria Wang did not want the cops to be involved, but she stop at the front yard. The two cops (both male) came only an hour or two after I called 911. Then the cops separated Alexandria Wang from Li Li and me! One was talking to AW in front of 136-11 or -13, while the other stopped me at the building entrance. Then the cop had separat talks with Li Li while I was urged to stay away. After a long time, more than an hour, the cop who was talking to me claimed Alexandria Wang did not want to go back into home, and claimed her intend to commit suicide, so the cops brought an EMS vehicle, and then the cops kind of forced Li Li to go together away while preventing me from going with the child. Li Li was so RESISTENT to go together with her own child Alexandria Wang to whichever hospital! Anyway, in the end, Li Li went together. However, the humanscums did not bring my child to the only blocks-away Queens Presbyterian Hospital. Later I finally learned that they had sent my child so far away into Long Island Jewish Medical Center. The "medical professionals" there did NOT allow Alexandria Wang or Li Li to use the cellphone or laptop computer there! And, often Li Li was NOT allowed to stay together with the minor Alexandria Wang while those medical humanscums were talking or doing whatever crap onto the minor CHILD. THESE MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL HUMANSCUMS HAVE NEVER SEEKED ANY CONSENT OR PROVIDED ANY INFORMATION ABOUT WHATEVER THEIR EVALUATION, TESTS, AND TREATMENTS ONTO THE MINOR CHILD ALEXANDRIA WANG. THE POLICE HUMANSCUMS GAVE THEIR ALL TWISTED AND FABRICATED "POLICE REPORT" THERE, INSTEAD OF TO ME THE 911 CALLER AT MY RENTAL RESIDENCE. Li Li stayed there only as a COVER-UP for those humanscums of the American Evil System to carry out their schemes onto my poor young daughter. Alexandria Wang wanted to come out of hospital that Sept. 25, 2021 morning! Li Li wanted her out too, and I strongly demanded it too, but the HUMANSCUMS OF THE AMERICAN EVIL SYSTEM FORCES ITS EVIL WAY ONTO MY YOUNG DAUGHTER AND THIS TRAUMA-STRICKEN FAMILY! Furthermore, on Sept. 28, 2021, these HUMANSCUMS forced my minor daughter onto a stretcher and into a vehicle and drove away WITHOUT ANY PARENT ALONG, farther far away into Long Island, a PSYCHIATRIC hospital named South Oaks Hospital, while Li Li was told to go HOME with Alexandria Wang's backpack and the stuff Li Li had come back and brought over to LIJMC on Sept. 26, 2021. These HUMANSCUMS called the Unvolunatary Treatment! At SOH, the HUMANSCUMS there kept urging me, sometimes through my HELPLESS YOUNG DAUGHTER IN THAT KIND OF DE FACTO JAIL, to travel there to SIGN WHATEVER NEVER EXPOSED OR EXPLAINED SO-CALLED "RELEASE PAPERS" to get my child back. I KNOW IT'S THE TREACHEROUS SCHEME OF THESE HUMANSCUMS OF THE AMERICAN EVIL SYSTEM TO USE MY POOR YOUNG DAUGHTER AS A BAIT TO GET ME OVER THEM AND THEN THESE HUMANSCUMS WILL LOCK ME UP THERE AND MURDER ME THERE! Plus, I am a person injured from all aspects by the American Evil System. I did not go over there. Instead, I keep the fights against the American Evil System from even more fronts. When the American Evil System is toppled to rubbers, PSYCHIATRISTS, POLICE, AND THE MILITARY, OF THE AMERICAN EVIL SYSTEM NEED TO BE ALL CLEANSED TO BECOME EVERYDAY HUMANS IF EVER REVERSIBLE. God, and Heroes around the world, fight together to destroy the AMERICAN EVIL SYSTEM, so humans can live as humans. Then, on Oct. 04, 2021, the bogus phone hearing was held by the NYC Administration for Children Services. The ACS NEGRO Geraldo Duran FAKED A SEVERE ACCENT TO READ OUT ITS CRAP ALLEGATION WHILE THEY HAD NOT PRESENTED ME AND LI LI ANY WRITTEN ALLEGATION. I demanded Alexandria Wang to talk, and they allowed her, and Alexandria Wang said it's because of Li Li's PSYCHIATRIC BEHAVIOR irritates me Limin Wang, and then the family arguments bother the child, and Alexandria Wang clearly said she wanted to come back HOME! Then a NEGRO WOMAN voice said that's NOT what AW had said to them BEFORE. That's why I have kept reminding my children to write down and to record, because THOSE HUMANSCUMS IN THE AMERICAN EVIL SYSTEM LIE TO EVERYBODY ON EVERYTHING. Then the ACS supervisor NEGRO woman DECLARED the ACS case to be referred to "Family Court." On Oct. 05, 2021, the "Family Court" at Queens held the bogus phone "hearing", and the case worker Nurse humanscum, a mid-aged female voice, CLAIMED THEY HAD ALEXANDRIA WANG ON A PHONE, but Alexandria Wang was NEVER showing up with any conversion or speaking, and AW's phone was brought back by Li Li from LIJMC to home at AW's school backpack! Then the "judge" Emily Ruben made the SHAMELESS INFAMOUS DECISION to rip my child Alexandria Wang away from home. The written allegations, never signed by properly by any accountable humanscum, together with the Oct/05/21 "decision", were brought in handwritten envelopes by Geraldo Duran with two male cops and an obese NEGRO woman to this rental residence at the NIGHT of Oct. 05, 2021. THESE HUMANSCUMS WERE PLOTTING TO MURDER ME AT THIS RENTAL RESIDENCE THAT NIGHT. That enveloped document and some videos of the Oct/05/21 have been put online earlier. My Facebook account Limin Wang (facebook.com/limin.wang.94651) should have them. The "decision" claims restrictions on the parents! Both children since them have been influenced by the HUMANSCUMS OF THE AMERICAN EVIL SYSTEM to NOT TALK WITH THE PARENTS ON THE PHONE, AND to OFTEN THROW CLAIMS OR ALLEGATIONS AGAINST ME THE FATHER SINCE I AM THE ONE STILL TRYING TO KNOW AND GUIDE AND PROTECT MY CHILDREN ON MATTERS. Then, please, readers, look at this kind of text-message exchanges between Alexandria Wang and me the father, My children had NEVER "COMMUNICATED" THIS KIND OF NASTY ANF HOSTILE WAY WITH THE FATHER, and vice versa. WHAT THE HUMANSCUMS, SUCH AS SCHOOL TEACHERS OR STAFF, POLICE, ACS PERSONNEL, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, FOSTER CARE PROVIDERS, HAVE PROVIDED TO A YOUNG CHILD DIRECTLY AND TO AN IMMIGRANT FAMILY DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY? My elder daughter's academic performance was SEVERELY AFFECTED last semester! And this yound daughter Alexandria Wang has kept so many things secret to me! And the HUMANSCUMS OF THE AMERICAN EVIL SYSTEM rarely provided any "information" how Alexandria Wang has been since the "foster-care"! The following text messages should give some CLUE. Feb/03/22, THU, 6:03 PM, to AW: You read my online posts to read their written allegations citing what you and your sister had said to those humanscums. PLEASE DO KNOW HWAT HUMANSCUMS THEY ARE. Feb/03/22, Thu, 6:57 PM, to AW: You remember anything of buying canned food for food donation through school to food bank? Feb/03/22, Thu, 6:58 PM, from AW: NA i dont buy Feb/05/22, Sat, 4:57 PM, to AW: you ok? your things ok? i want to see you, my child. Feb/06/22, Sun, 10:43 AM, to AW: you have any interviews for the college admissions yet? Be RIGHT prepared, and don't tell FALSE things. It would help yourself review your performance if you record the whole interviews. Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:06 AM, from AW: Uhm Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:06 AM, from AW: Fuck no Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:07 AM, from AW: Im not recording people without their permission Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:14 AM, to AW: you have any college offers or interviews now? Stop being so pshchiatrically mad in your responses. Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:15 AM, from AW: Fuck u Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:17 AM, to AW: you are only "taught" by the HUMANSCUMS AS YOUR FRIENDS YOUR WHATEVER GOOD PEOPLE TO BE ANGRY AT YOUR PARENTS FOR WHATEVER THE HUMANSCUMS AND YOURSELF MAY HAVE FAILED YOU. Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:17 AM, from AW: Ur annoying me Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:17 AM, from AW: Stop blaming other ppl for once in ur life [note: I asked AW before, her "ppl" is the abbreviation for "people".] Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:08 AM, from AW: Maybe u should look back at how u treated me and then u'll realize why i dont like u Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:19 AM, to AW: TREAT those humanscums the same way you TRASH your father, and you then be honest to tell yourself what you get from them. Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:20 AM, from AW: Cool those people are a lot fucking better than u were Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:20 AM, to AW: How i treat you? Because i was telling you how to really LEARN so you may be better on REAL Tests? Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:24 AM, to AW: GIVE YOUR OWN PSYCHIATRIC REPSONSE TO THOSE HUMANSCUMS AT BRONX SCIENCE AND ACS AND FAMILY COURT, PLEASE. Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:24 AM, from AW: LOLLL Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:24 AM, to AW: look back what i was asking you today, and then how you go on your sick behavior that the AMERICAN HUMANSCUMS WOULD THEN CLAIM YOU HAVE "SUFFERED" FROM YOUR PARENT(S). YOU HAVE BEEN FUCKED UP IN YOUR MIND AND BEHAVIOR BY THOSE HUMANSCUMS ACTING AS THE SYSTEM'S HELPERS TO YOU. Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:24 AM, from AW: U know what im talking about Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:24 AM, from AW: if u were actually good at parenting then ur children would want to see u during the holidays [Note: It's ONLY AFTER THE HUMANSCUMS OF THE AMERICAN EVIL SYSTEM HAVE KIDNAPPED AND JAILED ALEXANDRIA WANG AWAY TO A NAMELY "FOSTER CARE" UNKNOWN TO THE PARENTS AT ALL, AND HAVE SEVERELY HARASSED MY ELDER DAUGHTER ROSILA WANG (>18-yr-old) at college, then these two daughters MANIPULATED BY THOSE HUMANSCUMS started to not come back home for visits, or for short stays, or for everyday home. My children are intentionally generating the "facts" that those HUMANSCUMS of the American Evil System WANT.] Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:24 AM, from AW: Dont blame other people for ur failures, isnt that what u taught me anyway [Note: AW is fabricating claims while she still keeps blaming the parent(s). From such text message exchanges, honest people can see whether such a teenage daughter would ever LEARN if the parents do teach her.] Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:27 AM, to AW: YOU ARE ONLY WISE ENOUGH TO BE LOST BY THE AMERICAN EVIL SYSTEM WHILE YOUR PARENTS ARE LIKE SO MANY OTHER OPPRESSED PEOPLE AS SLAVES, INJURED SLAVED, AND QUICKLY-DEMISING SLAVES. Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:27 AM, from AW: Ur still blaming others Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:29 AM, to AW: You would look upon on any SUGAR DADDY LIKE JEFFERY EPSTEIN OR THE PIMP EILEEN MAXWELL WHILE YOU DESPISE YOUR POORT BIOLOGICAL PARENT(S). Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:29 AM, from AW: Are u mentally ill Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:30 AM, to AW: YOU EVER BE INTEGRAL ENOUGH TO NOT TELL PARENTS LIES? WHERE WERE THE VIDEOS AND PICTURES OF THE SEPT. 01, 2021 IDA Hurrican FLOOD? [Note: On the night of Sept. 01, 2021, hurricane Ida hit, and torrential rain fell into and rain water gushed back into the rainwater drain well at the backdoor of my rental apartment (136-09 59th Ave, Ground Floor Rear Apartment, Flushing, NY 11355). The wood porch covering the drain well had some two big holes deliberately made by perpetrators, and the drain tunnel also seemed to have been TEMPORARILY DELIBERATELY blocked somewhere down its way to the main drainage system. Alexandria Wang and I were alternating to hold a big umbrella or to frentically manually propelling water away from the drain well with a plastic basin. I closed the backdoor to prohibit water from freely overflowing into the apartment, but water still leaked in, and water gushed out from the wall's bottom edge and a hole on the tiled floor (the drain tunnel passes underneath). Later, while I and Li Li were still dealing with the flooded apartment, I told Alexandria Wang to video and to photo the scences. Days afterward, I told AW to transfer these videos and photoes to the computer, so I could access them. AW then claimed her phone could NOT connect to the computer. I was baffled, but never thought AW soon in that month would DESERT the FAMILY due to the seduction and coercion of the HUMANSCUMS of The AMERICAN EVIL SYSTEM. It appears that Alexandria Wang has been "educated" by humanscums via various venues to a LIAR to the father, even when she was acting fighting together with me the father against an outside-coming danger. If AW had actually taken the videos and audios, then why she would not let me the father have them and use them as evidence on the EVICTION CASE the American Evil System has thrown onto me since March 23, 2021? I have asked AW multiple times about these flooding videos and pics before. She keeps AVOIDING!] Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:31 AM, from AW: Cool ur still pretending like u did nothing wrong Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:32 AM, to AW: ANSWER ME, WHERE WERE THE IDA VIDEOS AND PICS? Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:33 AM, from AW: How about u send me pictures of all the clutter that u created Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:35 AM, to AW: I DO NOT WANT TO WASTE MY USELESS EFFORT ONTO A CHILD SO DEEPLY AND LONG STUPEFIED BY HUMANSCUMS FROM THE AMERICAN EVIL SYSTEM. YOU TELL YOURSELF, DO NOT BRING YOURSELF FAILURES NAD RUINS ONTO YOUR FATHER AS HIS "RESPONSIBILITY". THOSE HUMANSCUMS WANT YOU TO BE THAT PIECE OF TRASH. Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:35 AM, from AW: So i guess u wont be sending me the photos huh Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:37 AM, to AW: ask that NEGRO for the pictures HE TOOK WITHOUT MY PERMISSION ON THE NIGHT OF OCT. 05, 2021. [Note: I meant the "Geraldo Duran", the chubby black man who would not meet me while he only wanted to deliver pieces of shit to the building's front, and who would fake a SEVERE ACCENT to impair my understanding during the NYC Administration for Children Services' sham and shame phone hearing on Oct. 04, 2021, and would take photos of my residence area when he came into my apartment while I was stopped by the two intended-to-murder-me-that-night cops on Oct. 05, 2021, and would even take pictures of my security camera in the hallway that night.] Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:37 AM, from AW: Lol Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:37 AM, from AW: So now u get mad at other people for taking pictures without ur permission Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:37 AM, from AW: But its okay when u videotape other people without their permission [Note: I should have video-taped everything of the Sept 24 -25, 2021 night when Alexandria Wang came back home at ~23:15 and then asserted she had already arranged with humanscums from Bronx High School of Science and others to live away her parents here. The two cops humanscums came so LATE (by an hour or two) after my initial 911 call AMERICAN-DREAMING TO USE COPS TO STOP THE CHILD'S RUNAWAY, and the cops were actually part of the American Evil System destroying my family. They FABRICATED AND DISTORTED ON THEIR "POLICE REPORT" TO ALEXANDRIA WANG, NOT TO ME, WHILE I WAS THE ACTUAL ONE CALLING 911, and ALEXANDRIA WANG WAS NOT WANTING 911 INVOLVEMENT. ALEXANDRIA WANG WAS ONLY LEAVING THIS FAMILY FOR THE HUMANSCUMS-ARRANGED FOSTER-CARE. SO MANY THINGS THE HUMANSCUMS, INCLUDING THE COPS, HAVE BEEN DOING IN THE BACK, EVEN VIA MANIPULATING YOUNG CHILDREN OF THE OPPRESSED PEOPLE. GOD AND HEROES, PLEASE DESTROY THE AMERICAN EVIL SYSTEM AND ITS HUMANSCUMS BECAUSE THEY ARE SO CRUEL AND EVIL TO HUMANS. I happen to get that police report and will show it online! I have warned Alexandria Wang against those humanscums, because if she would not do and say what those humanscums order her against me the father, she could be easily murdered by those humanscums, and then those humanscums would frame her death as a murder to the parent(s) or as a suicide. The American Evil System's humanscums have never valued my two daughters other than tools against me the father Limin Wang. Look what the two daughters have "learned" from them, and "achieved" from them. So poor in sciences and math, and so a bigot in toxic mentality, and no great college or practical program for them. For my elder daughter, she wants to become a Nurse to earn a living early, but the system has SHUT that path CLOSE to her.] Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:39 AM, to AW: IT'S AN ABSOLUTELY DIFFERENT STORY: YOU HAVE BEEN VICIOUSLY LYING TO YOUR PARENT(S) BEFORE YOUR DESERTION AND URGED AND AIDED BY THE AMERICAN EVIL SYSTEM! LIAR. LIAR. LIAR. Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:39 AM, from AW: How is it different Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:41 AM, to AW: COWARD, YOU TRY TO FACE THE REALITY. LOOK ON THE POSTS AND EMAILS WHERE I HAVE EXPOSED WHAT THOSE HUMANSCUMS HAVE CLAIMED YOU AND YOUR SISTER HAVE "SAID" TO THEM! Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:41 AM, from AW: U cant even answer how its different [Note: I have answered in a text message above. Has the American Evil System chopped that text message away from her reception? Or has the American Evil System has stupefied my almost 18-yr-old daughter so STUPID that she could NOT EVEN REALIZE an OBVIOUS answering or so PSYCHIATRICALLY-ILL that she could not acknowledge what's even OBVIOUSLY existent? The teachers at the American Evil System may well have acted the same PSYCHIATRIC way my child is showing now. I still pain on the sufferings Alexandria Wang had from those humanscums as "teachers".] Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:51 AM, to AW: WHY YOU DIDN'T PICK UP MY PHONE CALL? I LEFT A VOICE MESSAGE THERE. YOU SHOULD CHECK IMMEDIATELY IN CASE THE AMERICAN EVIL SYSTEM WOULD SOON DELETE OR DISTORT THAT VOICE MESSAGE. [Note: The American Evil System has controlled the electronic devices. In the past before AW's desertion, my phone call to the children's phones would almost always ENDED as if no phone signal, no pick-up, or immediate mysterious disconnection. And I almost always needed to dial again or even multiple times before I might establish a phone communication with the children. My phone and phone service, showing many symptoms, have apparently been controlled by the American Evil System. My call today to AW was once again NOT picked up by her, instead, it IMMEDIATELY went to a voice message box without a phone ring, as I remember. I told Alexandria Wang at least "earn" a living not via blaming and criminizing the parents especially me the father.] Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:51 AM, to AW: You were viciously lying to me about videoing and picturing the scenes even when you were acting as if fighting together with me against an outside-coming threat and danger! In your psychiatric mind and behavior, you have been moulded by humanscums in the AMERICAN EVIL SYSTEM to HARM YOUR PARENTS SINISTERLY! Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:52 AM, from AW: Cuz i dont like u thats why i didnt pick up Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:53 AM, from AW: Oh so ur the victim now Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:53 AM, from AW: Its pretty clear ur a narcissist that only thinks about himself. [Note: Young people think they have "learned" some "science" when they have met only some new "words". They very absolutely would not be able to understand what the Fuck "American Dream" means in reality meaning, partly because their classroom "teachers" most likely would not be able to explain it in real sense. My young children have equaled my struggle against an evil system and my aspiration for a good system as WHAT?] Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:54 AM, from AW: U were a shitty parent and thats nobodys fault but your own. Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:54 AM, to AW: You like humanscums like jeff epstein and eileen maxwell, as i am worried as your biological father and legal father. Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:54 AM, from AW: I have no idea who the fuck those ppl are [Note: at fucking schools, the kids may only "learn" about jewish holocaust or black slavery stuff, plus other twisted stuff. My almost 18-yrs-old daughter claims she does not know Jeff Epstein and Eileen Maxwell from news or whatever trash social media she's almost glued to. THEY ARE THE "HOPE" OF "AMERICAN DREAM" WHILE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE MANIPULATED TO DREAM TO ASSOCIATE WITH TO ASCEND EASILY AND QUICKLY AWAY FROM SLAVERY INTO DIGNITY. Recent years, Alexandria Wang has claimed that every other kid's family has a BETTER or much BETTER life than this family. Her so-called "friend" Rita living NEARBY most probably contributes part of my child Alexandria Wang's such believing, and in August 2021, Rita at her home for WHATEVER REASON TRICKED ALEXANDRIA WANG to dress and act like drug-addicts and to SHOW SUCH to the street and pass-bys and to RECORD into VIDEOS AND PHOTOS. HOW MY CHILD ALEXANDRIA WANG HAS BECOME SO STUPID AND CRAZY???????????] Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:56 AM, to AW: BRING YOURSELF AN HONEST LIFE BY YOURSELF IN THIS AMERICAN EVIL SYSTEM, NOT THROUGH INTENTIONALLY INFLICTING ATROCITIES TO YOUR POOR BIOLOGICAL PARENT(S). YOU GET YOUR REAL LESSONS FROM THOSE HUMANSCUMS BY YOURSELF. Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:57 AM, from AW: Do u seriously think youre fit to be a parent Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:57 AM, from AW: Just look at how u act Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:58 AM, to AW: THE STORY OF YOU RUNNING AWAY AIDED AND ABETTED BT THE HUMANSCUMS OF THE AMERICAN EVIL SYSTEM IS STILL ON MY FOCUS. YOU CAN PRETEND THOSE THINGS HAVE ON T HAPPENED. Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:59 AM, from AW: Be realistic Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:59 AM, from AW: U cant take care of kids Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:59 AM, from AW: U cant even take care of urself Feb/06/22, Sun, 11:59 AM, to AW: correction: ON T should be NOT Feb/06/22, Sun, 12:03 PM AM, to AW: THE PROSTITUTES OF THE AMERICAN EVIL SYSTEM WAS NOT TELLING CLEARLY WHEN IT WOULD BE THE NEXT BOGUS HEARING. THOSE PROSTITUTES WERE SAYING TO HAVE YOU ALEXANDRIA WANG IN FRONT OF THE "JUDGE". PLEASE NOTIFY ME IF THEY HAVE EVER NOTIFIED YOU THE NEXT "HEARING'S" DATE AND TIME. [Note: The most recent one was on Jan. 10, 2022, and the audio recording was uploaded LIVE to my Facebook account "Limin Wang". The so-called "judge" was reportedly NOT showing up that day, and the court attorney was NOT even clear to say WHEN the next "hearing" would be, after these HUMANSCUMS initially set the next hearing on April 29, 2022, Alexandria Wang's 18th BIRTHDAY. These American Evil System's HUMANSCUMS acted as if they had NOT known the question daughter's DOB! Then a NEGRO sound woman voice CLAIMED the next hearing HAD been already set up before the 01/10/2022 hearing, onto April 05, 2022, a Chinese cultural day of QingMing for the DEAD. In short, those HUMANSCUMS in the American Evil System can be so VICIOUS and FRAUDULENT. They rarely give their so-called "Decisions" or "Notices" through the mail. Instead, they used COPS to come at nighttime again and again for their so-called "Service" to carry out their MURDER plots! All the "Family" "court" virtual hearings since its first on Oct. 05, 2021 to the most recent, those HUMANSCUMS did NOT bring Alexandria Wang to the "court", because those HUMANSCUMS have NOT "EDUCATED"/INFLUENCED my daughter long yet, and thus afraid of what had happened on the ACS's phone hearing on Oct. 04, 2021, where Alexandria Wang said it's the PSYCHIATRIC Li Li, a psychiatric product of the American-Chinese Hybrid Evil System, that often riles the father Limin Wang, and Alexandria clearly said she wanted to go back home. Then a NEGRO woman voice claimed that's not what Alexandria Wang had told them before. I do not know why my almost 18-yr-old daughter still does NOT get the importance of RECORDING. If there had not been a video recording uploaded online, cops would have enjoyed their ruthless killing of George Floyd. Anyone can trust your own life on cops' bodycameras????????] Feb/06/22, Sun, 12:04 PM AM, from AW: Can u take care of urself? [Note: I do not know whether this young girl can define her phrase of "take care of urself". To me, via her talks via recent year or two, such a child has been so INDIFFERENT in her heart to her own father's sufferings --- the physical, physiological, and psychological injuries from the American Evil System's premeditated and coordinated murder-attempts. Has AW been taught well or herself learned well on Biology? Human Anatomy & Physiology? Is the humanscum teacher surnamed Lee in Bronx High School of Science still wantonly chopping grades off her on-remote-learning's NOTE-TAKING???????? From what my daughter AW's such talking to me, I guess all the homeless, all the ones beaten, robbed, pushed to death or injury, all the shot and killed, all the ones died on "medical professionals" hands or at hospitals, would simply be neglected as "not able to take care of themselves"! What the schools, internet, and so-called friends have influenced my young children into such a cold-blood so cold blood even to their caring father still caring their growing up?????? My children were NOT BORN to behavor this way. The more my children were away from the parents' care, the more they become such a mercyless moron. Then why I should not pursue the HUMANSCUMS of the American Evil System for the correction?] Feb/06/22, Sun, 12:08 PM, to AW: I HAVE BEEN TAKING CARE OF THE MATTERS. THE HUMANSCUMS' MURDER-ATTEMPT INJURIES TO ME CAN NOT BE IN VAIN BACK ONTO THE AMERICAN EVIL SYSTEM. YOU MAY BE THAT KIND OF OUTSIDER HUMANSCUM CLAIMING YOUR FATHER HADN'T BEEN ATTEMPTED BY MURDER OR INJURED. I tell myself who cares myself. Feb/06/22, Sun, 12:09 PM, from AW: So basically u cant take care of urself Feb/06/22, Sun, 12:11 PM, to AW: As i predict, you will be forced into a further and further dead-end corner, and you the stupefied youngster would not have the wisdom, courage, or action against the humanscums in the American Evil System, but you would "FREELY" accuse and blame every failure of yours onto your POOR PARENTS WHO HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT VICTIMS OF THIS AMERICAN EVIL SYSTEM. [Note: This paragraph above is boldened only in this post.] Feb/06/22, Sun, 12:12 PM, from AW: Just admit u cant do it Feb/06/22, Sun, 12:12 PM, from AW: Ur not capable of taking care of people [Note: Imagine how the parents can care a child while the child has for LONG YEARS been manipulated by HUMANSCUMS of the American Evil System into this kind of mentality and behavior, and recently taken away from parents to their so-called "foster care"? If there were any GOD, I would pray those HUMANSCUMS in the American Evil System would be punished into women as miserable prostitutes and men as miserable slaves!] Feb/06/22, Sun, 12:13 PM, to AW: IF YOU ARE NOT TALKING, I BELIEVE THE TEXT MESSAGES ARE LIKELY TO BE SENT BY A HUMANSCUM OF THE AMERICAN EVIL SYSTEM. [Note: I can not be sure whether the SAME content would show up on her phone and mine, although Alexandria Wang is more and more "capable" to say such since her so-called summer training through NYC Dept of Youth & Community Dev and then part-time job at the nearby World Ice Arena. I would later talk more of the suspecious things happened around then and from there. In short, I suspect the humanscums could have set up some traps for my young daughter to fall victim into, and then those humanscums blackmail her. Alexandria Wang had told me that JEWISH KID(S) STOLE BOTTLED-SODA FROM VENDOR MACHINES OR THE WORLD ICE ARENA OFFICE(S).] Feb/06/22, Sun, 12:13 PM, from AW: LOLL Feb/06/22, Sun, 12:13 PM, from AW: Ur mentally ill Feb/06/22, Sun, 12:14 PM, to AW: BYE Feb/06/22, Sun, 12:15 PM, to AW: FOREVER IF NECESSARY TO A CHILD PSYCHIATRICALLY MOULDED BY THE AMERICAN EVIL SYSTEM Feb/06/22, Sun, 12:17 PM, to AW: I WISH YOU CAN CLAIM CORRECTLY THAT YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. NEVER FORGET THE DAYS WHEN THE HUMANSCUMS CONTROLLED YOU AS A PSYCHIATRIC PATIENT INTO HOSPITALS AND WANTED TO USE YOU AS A BAIT TO JAIL AND KILL YOUR FATHER LIMIN WANG. Feb/06/22, Sun, 12:17 PM, from AW: Delusional [Note: I still have many recordings of what the COPS, 911 respondents, "medical professionals" at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, South Oaks Hospital (a psychiatric "specialty" hospital, FAR AWAY into Long Island), the NYC ACS peronnel, and some others including "parent advocate" or "lawyers free for parents". Everything necessary would be exposed online for the whole world to judge the "it is what it is, and they are what they are". They are all pretty much the ARROGANT BULLSHIT WHICH WOULD RUTHLESSLY RUIN, INSTEAD OF CARE OR CARELESSLY CARE, PEOPLE'S LIVES AND LIVING.] Feb/06/22, Sun, 12:19 PM, to AW: YOUR TEXT MESSAGES WOULD ALSO BE USED AS AN EVIDENCE HOW MENTALLY SICK YOU ARE WHEN IT COMES TO COMMUNICATION. Feb/06/22, Sun, 12:20 PM, from AW: I think these messages will help me prove how unstable u are as a person [Note: how the argument started today, Feb. 06, 2022? Check what I asked first and how my almost 18-yrs-old daughter in a unknown place termed "foster care" responded. What those humanscums of the American Evil System have "taught" my children? The humanscums made AW to spend FULL DAYS to reportedly visit different doctors, so AW was reported missing from school on Jan. 11, 14, & 19, while the humanscums as teachers once again were dreaming of good days of the so-called "REMOTE LEARNING" while enjoying their great pay and benefits. Why not let public school teachers be in the unemployment and re-employment tide? Humanscums of the American Evil System DRIVE EVERYDAY PEOPLE AND FAMILY CRAZY, and these humanscums have their psychiatrists or cops to stick out labels or guns and put victims into psychiatric or jail cells or into death.] Feb/06/22, Sun, 12:20 PM, to AW: I WILL TELL MYSELF TO LEAVE YOU ALONE, BECAUSE YOU ALWAYS TALK AND ACT THIS VICIOUSLY HOSTILE TO ME THE FATHER. Feb/06/22, Sun, 12:21 PM, from AW: Do whatever u want Feb/06/22, Sun, 12:21 PM, from AW: "Always" huh Feb/06/22, Sun, 12:21 PM, to AW: I WILL PUT THESE TEXT MESSAGES ONLINE NOW. Feb/06/22, Sun, 12:21 PM, from AW: Now ur the liar Feb/06/22, Sun, 12:21 PM, from AW: And u think thats going to make me come back? Feb/06/22, Sun, 12:22 PM, from AW: Is there a single person in the world that wants to talk to u Feb/06/22, Sun, 12:22 PM, from AW: Think about it Feb/06/22, Sun, 12:23 PM, to AW: I will give you an email of the weblink and the post when I'm done with it. Feb/06/22, Sun, 12:25 PM, from AW: Seek mental help [Note: The humanscums of the American Evil System have kept attempting to simply label me as a psychiatric person so they try to discredit whatever I have exposed and is exposing and will expose about them! The EVICTION CASE's housing court has NOT discussed about any of the ISSUES my family have suffered at this rental place (136-09 59th Ave, Ground Floor Rear Apartment, Flushing, NY 11355. Instead, they sent a Negro woman and later together with a Jew-like man under the cover of Adult Protection Service to Li Li, while those humanscums would always write the addresses as "LILI WANG", and on Jan. 21, 2022, that Negro and that Jew came to claim to have a PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION on me, instead of on Li Li. After they insisted so, I told them to get the fuck away from me. I have the related recordings and will put them online, to show what kind of GOVERNMENTAL HUMANSCUMS THEY ARE!!!!!!!!!!!] Feb/06/22, Sun, 12:26 PM, to AW: BE CLEAR TO YOU, I DO NOT WANT ANOTHER HUMANSCUM "EDUCATED" BY THE AMERICAN EVIL SYSTEM AND THEN IMPLANTED TO MY LIVING ENVIRONMENT TO INTENTIONALLY HURT OR EVEN DESTROY ME. I NEED FAMILY MEMBERS AS MUTUALLY CARING PEOPLE. FAIR AND SIMPLE. [Note: Pay attention to what the Humanscums of the American Evil System have done to Li Li and then through Li Li to the whole family. These Humanscums now attempt to pretend they would care Li Li from "domestic violence'. Anyone living in the bottom of social classes, if you have believed what the American Evil System's Propaganda about its "democracy", "liberty", "prosperity", "rule of law", or any other good-sound-bytes, pay some close attention to REAL LIFE TRAGEDY STORIES GENERATED BY THE HUMANSCUMS OF THE AMERICAN EVIL SYSTEM, for your own benefit, so you may make some informed choice out of choices or no choice.] Feb/06/22, Sun, 12:39 PM, from AW: Respect other people and they will respect you. Fair and simple. [Note: if that would work to the RULING AND RUINING ONES, the world would have been so WONDERFUL. I have tried so long and so repetitively to humanscums at businesses and governments, "respect" them would mean to be a "respecting slave" or a "killed" human. I was not aggressive at the slavery warehouse B.Q. Wide Auto Body Parts Supply, Inc, but some humanscums there were always aggressive to me, for example, Sam Liang, the one licking the managers and barking and kicking the slaves, once shouted in front of "coworkers", toward me, "Are you fucking your daughter up there?" I have been avoiding that piece of garbage, ie, I was not prompting him in any way. I was only DILIGENTLY doing the slavery work in the SHAKY AND SQUEAKY 2nd-FLOOR PLATFORM of the automobile mirrors. The trashy platform SHAKES AND SQUEAKS when walking fast on! I was respecting the New York State Workers' Compensation Board, Judges, attorneys, medical professionals, cops well, but what I have got back is only THEIR PREMEDITATED AND COORDINATED EVIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!THESE HUMANSCUMS SIMPLY BELIEVE THEY COULD RUIN PEOPLE LIKE ME WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES BACK ONTO THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE THE AMERICAN EVIL SYSTEM. Then I became this "disrespectful" way to them. My poor children are too young to understand what's real and what's misleading.] Feb/06/22, Sun, 1:13 PM, to AW: Don't use humanscums with their power and money to DESTROY YOUR MISERABLE PARENTS. YOU WILL BE JUDGED BY OTHERS IF THEY EVER HAVE A CHANCE TO KNOW YOU, THE HUMANSCUMS OF THE AMERICAN EVIL SYSTEM, AND THE ACTUAL TRUTH. I am writing down all the recent text messages to an online post. Feb/06/22, Sun, 1:13 PM, to AW: THE AMERICAN PROSTITUTION EVIL SYSTEM MUST BE DESTROYED. [Note: Why the word "PROSTITUTION"? You honestly look how this American Evil System "respects" women, what it keeps infusing into women, how women would prefer as prostitutes to earn a "good life" from the RICH and the POWER to as good wives and mothers in bottom- or even middle-class families. THE HUMANSCUMS OF THE AMERICAN EVIL SYSTEM KEEP SEDUCING WOMEN TO BE "FREE", FREE AS PROSTITUTES, OR HOMOS, OR SINGLES, OR SINGLE PARENTS. Men, then, why such an American Evil System should not be destroyed, even just from the family aspect?] The Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG) has signed a deal with Tata Consultancy Services Limited (TCS) vowing support on various issues from agile government to good governance, education, research, and executive training. Abdulla Bin Zayed Alfalasi, Chairman of the MBRSG Board of Trustees Chairman and Director General of the Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR); Dr Aman Puri, Consul General of India in Dubai, and, Dr Ali Bin Sebaa AL Marri, Executive President of MBRSG attended the MoU signing event, along with Sumanta Roy Vice President & Regional Head for the Middle East Africa (MEA) at TCS; Ajay Singh, Region Head for the UAE, Kuwait, and Oman at TCS; Prof. Raed Awamleh, Dean of MBRSG; Dr.Supriya Kummamuru, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at TCS; and Prof Melodena Stephens, Professor of Innovation Management, and Master of Innovation Management (MIM) Programme Coordinator at MBRSG. The agreement was signed at the India Pavilion Multi-Purpose Hall at Expo 2020 Dubai, by Dr Al Marri and Singh. As the top institution focusing on governance and public policy in the Arab world, the Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government has rolled out a commendable portfolio of programmes and initiatives to train and empower forward-thinking leaders, and enable governments to be more agile and better equipped to not only face future challenges, but also seize promising opportunities, said Dr Al Marri. This new partnership we are establishing with Tata Consultancy Services Limited reflects our commitment to our leaderships directives to collaborate with leading institutions in both the government and private sectors in order to achieve our goals, which are aligned with the UAEs ambitious strategic objectives, Al Marri added. MBRSG and Tata Consulting Services have extensive expertise in their respective fields; we have a lot to offer one another. We at TCS believe in pushing the boundaries when it comes to innovation and knowledge building, commented Roy. Through our MoU with the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government, we have jointly pledged to provide rewarding scholarships for candidates from both organisations, alongside a mutual commitment to create opportunities for knowledge sharing between our entities. Today, TCS has 500,000 of the world's best-trained consultants in 46 countries. Our scholarship will build on this by promoting an innovative culture among students in the UAE. We hope this collaboration makes sure that learning is a lifelong pursuit. For her part, Stephens noted: The Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government has developed a series of courses and programmes to train and empower the leaders of tomorrow and promote innovation as a core value in government work environments. To that end, the School is always looking to expand its network of partners and collaborators. We look forward to using our knowledge and innovation-forward programmes, combined with TCSs extensive insight and capabilities, to offer talented aspiring leaders the opportunity to hone their skills and embrace innovation. UNMISSABLE OPPORTUNITIES Through the agreement, MBRSG will be part of the TCS Academic Co-Innovation Network (COIN). TCS COINs main purpose is to support its stakeholders through open innovation. COIN operates on two fronts: Academic (research collaborations) and Emerging Technology (technology collaborations). As part of the collaboration, MBSRG and TCS are also offering scholarships to enable knowledge sharing between the government and private sector. TCS will sponsor one scholarship for a deserving Emirati student of MBRSG known as the TCS UAE Innovation Scholarship, with MBRSG offering a scholarship of its own for one deserving TCS employee. Alongside the scholarship, TCS will apply its expertise to support the schools Master of Innovation Management (MIM) Programme and the Agile Government System Initiative. TCS will provide research and academic guidance while also conducting courses that leverage its Design Thinking capabilities and other related innovation models applied today across the groups ecosystem. To help prepare students for the future of industries in an increasingly digitised world, and in line with the transformation of government services, the opportunities will introduce MBRSG students to various global government innovation models, spotlighting real-world examples of how institutions and nations can drive innovation. PARTNERING TO ADVANCE POLICY Beyond the various advantages for students, under the Agile Government Systems Initiative, TCS and MBRSG will collaborate to develop a Policy Sandbox for Good Governance. The pair will also work to produce joint policy reports, with TCS contributing to the training of external stakeholders. TCS is an Indian multinational information technology services and consulting company a subsidiary of the Tata Group headquartered in Mumbai. As of February 2021, TCS is the largest IT services company in the world by market capitalisation and operates in 149 locations across 46 countries, including a regional office in Dubai, UAE. MBRSG is the first research and teaching institution focusing on governance and public policy in the Arab world, offering academic and training programmes that aim to train future leaders and prepare them to meet public administration and policy challenges across the region. Courses are developed and delivered by a diverse group of scholars, academics, and researchers.-- TradeArabia News Service A 35-year-old Black doctor in Texas is suing Chase Bank for racial discrimination. In her lawsuit, she says she tried to open an account with Chase to deposit her "first check as a new physician," but Chase asked her "peculiar questions," called the check "fraudulent," told her she was trying to "commit fraud," and threw her out. [Update 2-8-2022: the story that appeared in Black Enterprise, as excerpted below, has disappeared, strangely replaced by an article from October 2021 praising J.P. Morgan Chase! Many other new publications, including The Washington Post, had reported on it. Here's an archive of the original Black Enterprise story. Thanks to the readers who pointed this out] From Black Enterprise: On Feb. 2, Dr. Malika Mitchell-Stewart filed a lawsuit with the United States District Court Southern District of Texas- Houston Division against Chase Bank and its two employees Shae Wells and Trupti Patel for "racial discrimination." The 35-year-old doctor went to the First Colony Bank in Sugar Land, Texas to open an account and deposit a $16,780.16 check from the Valley Oak Medical Group at the "predominantly white" suburban financial institution. Upon giving the check to Patel, the teller asked Mitchell-Stewart "peculiar questions" to reportedly verify who she was and validate the five-figure check. Patel allegedly didn't believe that the check was real nor Mitchell-Stewart was a doctor. Patel then took the check to Wells, an "associate banker." The physician also alleged that Patel and Wells mislead her to think that Wells was a manager when she wasn't. Upon returning to Mitchell-Stewart, Wells accused the shocked woman of having a fraudulent check and did not offer any explanation as to what she thought she discovered. The associate banker did, however, tell the doctor that she wouldn't allow her to open an account at the bank because she believed she was attempting to "commit fraud." Fearing arrest, Mitchell-Stewart left the bank feeling humiliated after being "treated like a criminal." When Dr. Mitchell-Stewart returned to the bank nine days later with her mother, the bank's employees dug in their heels and "explained that it was Chase Bank's discretion whether employees serviced her or not," according to Black Enterprise. Then the lawsuit appeared. Now Chase suddenly wants to "better understand" the matter, sending out a boiler-plate statement: "We take this matter very seriously and are investigating the situation. We have reached out to Dr. Mitchell-Stewart to better understand what happened and apologize for her experience." A woman in Portland, Oregon was working hard to become a DEA agent, but after about a year of going on ride-alongs, sporting an official-looking Drug Enforcement Agency badge, and helping a "federal agent" turn homeless people into informants, she found out she was duped. The "agent" she was training under was actually an imposter. The gentleman, Robert Edward Golden, took the woman (whose name hasn't been disclosed) to shooting practice, talked about DEA agents "Anderson" and "Luis," and put her through what she thought was a DEA school, even giving her fake credentials. But last week the two were spotted by Portland's Sgt. Matthew Jacobsen, who thought something looked suspicious. Once the fake agent, after being questioned by police, realized the jig was up, he tried to dupe the officers into thinking it had all just been part of elaborate cosplaying. From The New York Times: Suspicions arose last week when Sgt. Matthew Jacobsen of the Portland Police Bureau in Oregon saw a man and woman standing near a silver Dodge Charger with red and blue emergency lights and a tactical vest in its trunk with a "D.E.A. POLICE" patch. Sergeant Jacobsen asked them if they were federal agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration, according to a federal complaint. The man, Robert Edward Golden, replied that they were indeed "feds," according to the complaint. Morgan T. Barr, a D.E.A. agent in Portland, said in the complaint that there were several discrepancies in Mr. Golden's portrayal of the profession: The agency does not provide ride-alongs, and it had no "Anderson" or "Luis" working in its district office. Sgt. Jacobsen, who could not be reached on Sunday, found more items in Mr. Golden's possession that burnished his appearance as a bona fide agent, such as handcuffs, badges, holsters and an AR-15-style rifle that was later determined to be a BB gun. Mr. Golden told the authorities he had fake D.E.A. patches, which he said he purchased on websites like eBay and Amazon, because he and the woman were "into cosplay," according to the complaint. As for the Dodge Charger with the red and blue emergency vehicle lights, the complaint said that Mr. Golden told the authorities that he wanted to make others believe that he and the woman were federal agents so no one would bother them near their apartment complex. It's not clear why Golden went to such lengths to deceive the woman, but if convicted, "the impersonation offense is punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000," according to The Oregonian. We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. From Valentine's Day to the Super Bowl to St. Patrick's Day, you've got plenty of fun get-togethers with your friends to look forward to in the upcoming months. And while your artichoke dip and signature cocktails are off the chain these days, having a dinky sound system can really put a damper on your parties. If you're still using that single wireless speaker to provide music for the entire house, it may be time for a little upgrade, a la this Samsung Sound Tower. Backed by a hair-raising 1500 watts of high-power audio, you can bet anything you pump through this thing will really get the party going, so all you'll have to worry about is putting together an epic playlist. What sets this sound tower apart from others like it is its unique bi-directional sound, giving you wall-to-wall coverage that makes anything you play incredibly dynamic. And thanks to its built-in, 10-inch woofer, you'll feel that bass in way more than just your ears. And if you really want to take things up a notch, installing multiple Samsung towers throughout the room can create an immersive sound experience no one will ever forget. Ideal for parties, the Samsung Sound Tower boasts features your guests will have a ball with, like its karaoke mode. Whether you're singing a duet or belting out a ballad solo, the device is equipped with two mic inputs, turning your living room into something that would rival your favorite karaoke bar. The tower is also equipped with external LED lights that flash along with the beat of the music, turning any get-together into a real dance party. From its seamless Bluetooth multi-connection to its dynamic bass, there's a lot to love about the Samsung Sound Tower. That's why it's earned a slew of high ratings online, including a score of 4.7 out of 5 stars on Samsung.com and 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon. Take your party to the next level with the Samsung MXT70 MX-T70 Sound Tower High Power Audio 1500W, now 50% off at just $396.98. Prices are subject to change. The mayor of Ridgeland declared that the city would be withholding its annual $110k of funding towards the local library because of books. The specific books the mayor Gene McGee found "sexually explicit" were children's books that didn't conform to his ideas of what gender roles or appropriate coupling combinations should be. The job of the library, however, is to have all sorts of books, including those with LBGTQ+ characters or themes and the Library said no: In a statement published to the library system's website, Jerry Valdez, president of the system's board of trustees, said all libraries under the board's purview remain committed to serving residents from all walks of life. "The public library is the institution in our society that attempts to provide a diversity of viewpoints on a wide range of topics of interest no matter how controversial or objectionable those ideas may be to some people," he said. "The libraries will always be guided by a sense of responsibility to both present and future in adding materials that will enrich their collections." Well known to make magic happen when a cause is good and pure enough to touch their collective heart, a Furry sounded their little anime trumpet and all the Furries ponied up! When I checked, the fundraiser to make up the $110k shortfall due to bigotry had already reached $96k. The fundraiser is open until February 14th! Clarion-Ledger: A year after trying to land a new Royal Car Wash at a former gas station site in West Seneca, insurance broker Julius Aebly is now planning to use the prime site for his own agency's new offices and, potentially, a future restaurant. Aebly & Associates LLC wants to construct a new two-story professional office building on the northern portion of a 1.22-acre property at the northeastern corner of Union and Center roads. The insurance and investments firm formerly known as the Walsh Group plans to occupy the 3,080-square-foot building, relocating from its current home at 3638 Seneca St. There is a vacant commercial structure and a single-family home on the site, which would have to be torn down. Two area variances are also needed for the project. The property consists of 1465 and 1471 Union, 798 Center and 150 Fremont Ave. Aebly acquired the two Union Road parcels formerly the site of a Sunoco gas station and Affordable Limousine in 2020. Last year, it tried to develop the property, with Daniele Family Cos. of Rochester proposing its fifth Royal Car Wash location for the site. But Daniele and Royal have since been acquired by another firm, so Aebly changed its plans. Now the firm hopes to redevelop the larger southern portion of the property, which spreads outward along Center from Union to Fremont, with a new restaurant and drive-thru facility. The town has already rezoned the land and granted a special-use permit to facilitate the project, but Aebly is still seeking a tenant. Aebly is also asking that the four parcels be combined into two. The West Seneca Planning Board will review the application on Feb. 10. Meanwhile, in Clarence, Natale Builders is seeking to build a new housing development on 61.5 acres at the northwestern corner of Greiner and Shimerville roads, with 14 lots running along an extended Woodside Drive that curves between the two main streets. All except three of the lots would average about five acres in size. And in pending action in Hamburg: Dollar General is asking for site plan approval for a 10.640-square-foot retail store and a two-lot housing subdivision on vacant land at the northeast corner of Lakeshore Road and Big Tree Road. Woodies Ice Cream is seeking to use an existing building at 4438 Southwestern Blvd. for its ice cream shop. Auto Collision & Glass formerly Schmidt's Garage wants to add to its building at 3968 Legion Drive. People Inc. plans to construct an apartment project on the west side of Rogers Road, north of Southwestern Boulevard. Buffalo Solar wants to erect a solar farm on vacant land just west of 6289 Southwestern Blvd., on the south side. Buffalo Next Must-read local business coverage that exposes the trends, connects the dots and contextualizes the impact to Buffalo's economy. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A broad initiative to reshape Catholic parish life amid the Buffalo Dioceses bankruptcy has entered a pilot phase in which groups of parishes will share a priest and collaborate on ministries. The diocese plan does not require any parishes or Catholic schools to close. But the diocese projects that it will have far fewer active priests by 2030, so it will have groups of up to six parishes share a priest, likely with fewer Masses scheduled. Twenty-six parishes divided into six groups two in Buffalo, two in the suburbs and two in rural areas will meet over the next six months to develop plans for how to carry on as families into a challenging future with fewer priests and greater financial constraints. Pastors for the new families of parishes will be appointed in April. Bishop Michael W. Fisher said getting the initiative known as the Road to Renewal off the ground and running has been a top priority in his first year of leading the Buffalo Diocese, which he marked in January. The three-year plan includes the dioceses ongoing legal issues in federal bankruptcy court and with a New York State attorney generals civil lawsuit over its handling of clergy accused of sexually abusing minors, while also examining ways to bring about healing for those who have been harmed, said Fisher. The Road to Renewal is about encompassing those things but moving us forward in hope, he said in an interview with The News. Some abuse victims criticized the renewal as a publicity campaign aimed at turning the page on the abuse scandal, without the diocese holding anyone accountable. The 569,000 Catholics in the eight counties of Western New York will be most directly affected by the new family of parishes model that aims to rejuvenate the spiritual zeal of parishioners, while at the same time encouraging them to take on greater roles in ministry. The pilot phase will join St. Martin of Tours, St. Teresa, St. Thomas Aquinas and Our Lady of Charity in South Buffalo as one family and Assumption in Black Rock and Holy Spirit, St. Margaret, St. Mark, St. Rose of Lima and All Saints in North Buffalo as another. In the Cheektowaga, Depew and Lancaster area, Sacred Heart of Jesus, St. Mary of the Assumption, Our Lady of Pompeii, St. Philip the Apostle, Blessed Mother of Teresa and St. Martha will come together as a family. Other families in the pilot phase are a group of four parishes in Niagara County, a group of three parishes in Wyoming County and a group of three parishes in Cattaraugus County. By July, the groups of parishes assisted by volunteer facilitators are expected to pick a family name; develop a plan for spiritual renewal, outreach, charity and sacramental ministry, including a shared weekend Mass schedule; and create a business manager position to manage all secular affairs and nonpastoral staff for the family. In addition, each family will form a single pastoral council and streamlined finance councils. Renewal organizers also want families to consider having in place within the six months a consolidated rectory, a centralized family office and standardized human resources administration. If the pilots are successful, 10 families of 42 parishes will begin coming together in phase one in October. Phase two, slated to take effect in October 2023, will include 47 parishes joining as 10 families, as well as all college campus ministry programs in the region coming together as a single family. The third and final phase will happen in October 2024, with 41 parishes joining into nine families. The diocese went through tumultuous parish restructurings in 1995 with a plan called New Visions that resulted in the closing of several Buffalo churches and again in 2007 with the Journey in Faith and Grace, which led to the shuttering of many church buildings and merged nearly 100 parishes across the diocese. Leaders of the Road to Renewal said this latest effort is different in that it focuses not on facilities in dealing with a decreasing availability of priests, but on people and on spiritual rejuvenation. Priests are essential to the practice of the Catholic faith, educated and ordained to preside over church sacraments such as Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick and celebration of the Holy Eucharist that are central to church life. But priest numbers continue to decline in the Buffalo Diocese and across the country, with annual retirements far outpacing new ordinations. The diocese has 131 active priests working in Western New York, compared with 174 about a decade ago. Diocese officials project there will be 99 active priests in 2030, with a third of them older than age 70. In addition to the priest shortage, many parishes have struggled to retain parishioners, and the diocese's bankruptcy filing and the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated their financial problems. A negotiated settlement with childhood sex abuse victims in bankruptcy court is likely to cost tens of millions of dollars, and while most of that is expected to come from insurance policies, the diocese and parishes will likely be on the hook for some of it. The Rev. Bryan Zielenieski said it was crucial for parishes to develop more lay leaders now to deal with the reality of whats coming as far as the intensifying priest shortage. To some people it would seem like, OK, theres another reorganization effort, said Zielenieski, the dioceses vicar for renewal and development and pastor of St. Mary Church in Swormville. What makes the renewal different is there is a direct plan for programming and for making sure that evangelization is a priority, making sure that reaching out to our youth and young people is a priority, making sure that we have an infrastructure in place for the future of the church to continue even as priests decline. No church or school closures have been prescribed, but leaders of the renewal effort anticipate that families of parishes will sort through those questions organically as they determine what resources they have as a family and how to live within their means. Organizers said a 2020 Vatican instruction on parishes has guided their thinking on the renewal effort. The document, "The pastoral conversion of the Parish community in the service of the evangelising mission of the Church," said that the parish territory is no longer just a geographical space and that limiting pastoral work to that territory was outdated. "It sent us a message that we need to be thinking about something that's very different than what we have today," said Carrie Frank, a retired health care executive who was part of a diocese task force on renewal. The renewal was initiated under Albany Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger, who served as apostolic administrator of the Buffalo Diocese for about a year before Fisher's arrival. The diocese last summer announced proposed groupings of parishes into families. Those proposals were put on hold for a few months to allow renewal organizers to gather more input. Fisher said he needed additional time to hear from people across the diocese about their concerns and fears. "Most of them understand we can't do nothing," he said. "We have to be honest as a family in the diocese and know that we are faced with many constraints, whether they're pastorally, personnel-wise or financially. Our parishes face these challenges and we need to meet them." The Buffalo News: Good Morning, Buffalo The smart way to start your day. We sift through all the news to give you a concise, informative look at the top headlines and must-read stories every weekday. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Hardy family has been renting the downstairs of a house on Floss Avenue on Buffalos East Side for nearly two years. For much of that time, they say, the home has been infested with cockroaches and rats. We have rats the size of kittens, said Jasmine Hardy, standing in her living room on a recent morning with her three children. If we stay out here and be quiet long enough, they will come from out of the kitchen. In broad daylight, added Robert Hardy, her husband. When housing activists make their case for why they feel city and state housing laws need to be strengthened, they point to tenants like the Hardy family. City health inspectors cited their landlord for the rodent infestation and fire code violations on Wednesday. But the family who stopped paying rent 10 months ago because the landlord did not rectify the rat and roach problem is likely to be evicted now that the states Covid-19 pandemic eviction moratorium has expired. We get calls like this all the time. Its incredibly common, Teresa Watson, housing justice organizer at the Buffalo nonprofit group People United for Sustainable Housing, said of the rats. This is a chronic issue across the city. Watson said PUSH Buffalo expects thousands of tenants to be evicted in the coming months now that the moratorium is over. Photos: A family's nightmare dealing with rat and roach infestation Robert and Jasmine Hardy are living with their three children, ages 16, 7 and 3, in a home infested with rats and roaches. There are many othe Jasmine Hardy played a video for a reporter of one of the rats crawling on top of the familys mini-fridge, nosing around in search of food. She now keeps most of the familys food in plastic storage totes. Each morning, she sweeps rat droppings out of the house before Briyana, 16, James, 7, and Janelle, 3, get up. Im a germaphobe, Jasmine Hardy said. It drives me nuts. I dont eat half the time. I dont want to. Its disgusting. The family stopped paying $750 per month to their landlord to protest the living conditions, she said. I told him, Im not paying yall nothing until you stop rats from coming in my house, Jasmine Hardy said. Ratna Akhter, of the Bronx, owns the home, property records show. He purchased the property in 2019 for $61,000, according to property records. Akhter said the Hardy family owes him nearly $8,000 in back rent. This is a business, Akhter said in a brief interview. Theyre not paying If theres a problem, then move. Akhter said he hired an exterminator for the property in November and made repairs to the foundation. He said the family is exaggerating the conditions and should pay their rent. I live in New York (City), Akhter said. I rent, too. I give every months rent. They are not paying, they are staying. Thats their problem. The Hardys situation is increasingly common throughout Buffalo and Western New York, housing advocates say. Fifty-nine percent of Buffalo residents are renters, Watson said, which is why PUSH Buffalo is pressing for the Buffalo Common Council to adopt a Tenants Bill of Rights as part of the city code. The Council recently voted to support Good Cause Eviction legislation pending in the State Legislature that would prevent landlords from evicting tenants without cause. Watson said she often fields complaints from tenants who say their landlord serves them eviction papers if they request repairs to the property. Its completely legal and it should not be, Watson said. People have a right to a basic standard of cleanliness in their homes, and we do not ensure that. Tenants whose landlords do not make repairs can file a complaint with city building inspectors, make the repairs themselves, and deduct the cost from the next month's rent, withhold the rent or take the landlord to court, according to Legal Assistance of Western New York. New York States pandemic-related eviction moratorium ended Jan. 15. Akhters attorney recently sent a letter to the Hardys Floss Avenue home notifying the family that they have 30 days to vacate. The Buffalo News followed the Hardy family during the height of the pandemic and published photo essays to show how the family was adapting to remote learning. But Jasmine Hardy said the family was embarrassed to admit at the time that they were living in such conditions. City housing records show that since 2020, the Floss Avenue property was cited on two different dates for a total of seven housing violations, including debris and garbage in the rear yard and exterior surfaces that were not properly maintained. Hardy said previous tenants of the upstairs apartment threw garbage out of the upstairs window into the backyard, which she suspects may have worsened the rodent problem. Akhter said he patched holes in the foundation to prevent rodents from getting in. After The News brought the housing conditions to the attention of Mayor Byron Browns administration, a housing inspector this week visited the property and cited Akhter for 10 housing violations. Those violations, which included a furnace that was not repaired properly, missing smoke alarms and signs of rodent and insect infestations, will result in the city taking the landlord to Buffalo Housing Court, said Catherine Amdur, deputy commissioner of the citys Department of Permit & Inspection Services. You could see the frustration on her face, Jasmine Hardy said of the housing inspector. She was like, This is going straight to housing court. She said, Im so sorry. Prior to that visit, Hardy said a city inspector came to the property and instructed the landlord to replace or fix the furnace an expense that Akhter said cost him $900. Im earning money here (in New York) and Im putting money there (in Buffalo) for nothing, Akhter said. Watson, of PUSH Buffalo, said expenses such as extermination and repairs are just part of the cost of business that the landlord chose to run when you decided to rent out apartments. Hardy said an inspector from the Erie County Health Department also recently visited the property. A spokesman for County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz said county agencies could not provide information about recent inspections unless The News submitted a Freedom of Information Law request, which The News did Wednesday. Jasmine Hardy said the family tried to find another apartment after the conditions worsened. She said the family has not been able to find a place they can afford with livable conditions. I live on the East Side of Buffalo nobody cares, she said. And because I cant afford $1,000 or $1,200 rent, Ive got to stay in stuff like this. Watson said that is not surprising. The prices almost quadrupled in a decade locally, she said of the rental market. The pandemic has sped up that increase, but it is a pattern that has been going on for a long time. PUSH Buffalo is encouraging families like the Hardys not to self-evict and leave their apartments without first contacting an attorney or filling out a tenant complaint form on the groups website. They probably have more time than they think, Watson said. But as 3-year-old Janelle wandered through the apartment with a flashlight looking for cockroaches, Jasmine Hardy lamented the fact that she and her husband would be on rodent patrol again that night. We stay up and watch the kids until they go to sleep, to make sure rodents and roaches dont crawl on their face or their mouths, she said. Akhter said the eviction moratorium has left landlords like him without many options and without the cash to make necessary repairs. Its almost two years, he said. Its crazy. Im losing a lot of money for them. But the nightly routine staying on guard for rodents as their children sleep has left the Hardys exhausted as they fear eviction. Im tired, Jasmine Hardy said. I just want them to take responsibility. Is it fair that I have to live like this? Is it? The Buffalo News: Good Morning, Buffalo The smart way to start your day. We sift through all the news to give you a concise, informative look at the top headlines and must-read stories every weekday. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. When in-person learning returned in the fall following a school year when most students were learning remotely for most of the year, Buffalo Public Schools officials looked forward to charting a course to address the uneven experience that resulted from remote and hybrid education. But that plan depended on students returning to the classroom. And many have not. The dramatic drop in attendance last year in Buffalo Public Schools is continuing this school year, with two-thirds of students missing more than 10% of school in the first semester, according to data from the school system. And 38% of students have missed more than one in five days of school since September. The numbers are higher for students of color. Half of Hispanic students have missed more than 20% of this school year. Nearly 40% of Black students are in the same severe absenteeism category, while 29% of white students missed more than 20%, or more than one in five school days. Absenteeism is a harbinger of how well students will learn to read, and later, if they will remain in school and graduate. The connection between instructional time and achievement is intuitive, and there is extensive research in the area of absenteeism that indicates missing 10% of school days tends to be the tipping point when student achievement declines, according to a 2016 memo from the state Education Department to school leaders. Superintendent Kriner Cash said students can't learn what school has to offer unless they are in class. And the factors affecting attendance are many, he said. He believes part of it has to do with society in the era of Covid-19. Many people are showing a great hesitation to rejoin their work and social communities throughout the country, he said. "This fear of contracting Covid in school is a big issue for the Black and Brown community in particular," Cash said. "The schools are a microcosm of what goes on in the community, and I'm seeing that." Staffing shortages, from bus drivers to clerks to cafeteria workers, also play a part because they affect the organization and its ability to function as a whole, he said. The superintendent said transportation, with the shortage of bus drivers causing some buses to be late or miss pickups, is an issue for the district as a system, but he doesn't see it affecting attendance. "They don't get dinged, we do. If they can clearly state and let us know they didn't get to school for transportation issues, they don't get marked absent," Cash said. He does not think absences due to Covid-19 account for a large percentage on the attendance rate. That's because children who are quarantined, and those who have tested positive for the coronavirus, can access school remotely if they are not too sick, he said. But some parents told the district they were afraid to send their children to school, particularly during the Omicron wave last month, he said. The district will soon start a campaign to hear from parents on why they send their children to school, and why they are not sending them to school, the superintendent said. "I want parents to help me find out why they're not coming to school so I can see if it's a barrier we can control or if it's a barrier or issue somewhere else," he said. "For kids not to be in school is equally accountable for the school system and the parent and the child, there's accountability across the board." The number of children whose absences are deemed chronic or severe is 65% this school year, about the same as last year. In the 2018-19 school year, before the pandemic, the rate was 44%. Attendance is divided into four categories: satisfactory where the student is absent less than 5% of days; at risk, absent 5% to 10%; chronic, absent more than 10% to 20%; and severe, absent more than 20% of school days. The number of Buffalo students attending school regularly dropped dramatically last year, when many students were learning remotely at home. The average daily attendance was 75.8% last year, compared to 91.9% in the 2019-20 school year and 87.7% the previous year. The average daily attendance so far this year is 79.5%. But the average daily attendance shows just part of the picture. Education experts believe students who are chronically and severely absent are at much greater risk for poor outcomes. In the 2019-20 school year, the rate of chronically and severely absent children in Buffalo schools was 25.8%. And in the 2018-19 school year, 43.78% of students were chronically or severely absent. A report by McKinsey & Co. said that absenteeism rates have risen throughout the country during the pandemic, and if historical correlations between chronic absenteeism and high school graduation hold, this could translate into an additional 1.7 million to 3.3 million eighth12th graders dropping out of school because of the pandemic. It's not just academics that suffer, but social emotional well being as well, according to Dia Bryant, executive director of Education Trust-New York. When children are not with their colleagues, counterparts and peers, they struggle to get those social skills that are necessary to be able to sort of navigate through society," she said. Course failure in the future can eventually result in the student not being able to get a job with a family-sustaining wage, Bryant said. And children who miss a lot of school in the formative years of kindergarten through fifth grade could find school being perpetually hard for the rest of their academic careers, she said. When students are missing school in those early years, some of the academic issues they have become persistent over time, Bryant said Bryant suggests offering students different learning modalities, including remote schooling. Yes, in-person is the best learning, but if they're not coming, we also have to find a way to get the learning to them, Bryant said. Cash said he wanted to have a remote-only path this year for a limited number of students who do better with it, but he wanted to have children in person this year to address their social, emotional and mental health. He did not rule out a remote school for next year. Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Melissa Parker won the handwriting award in eighth grade at St. Teresas School in South Buffalo circa 1997. That was no surprise. Elegant handwriting runs in her family. The official terms of surrender that ended the Civil War were written not in the hand of Ulysses S. Grant or Robert E. Lee but by Ely S. Parker, a citizen of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation. He was Melissas great-great-great granduncle. Parker was the highest-ranking Native American in the U.S. Army during the Civil War, as an adjutant general to Grant. He was also Grand Sachem (chief representative) of the Haudenosaunee (or League of the Iroquois). And his exchange with Lee at the surrender ceremony is a gem of American history. Lee stared at Parker with apparent surprise, then reached out a hand. I am glad to see one real American here, Lee said. Parkers rejoinder rings across time to our own fractious age. We are all Americans, he said. We would do well to remember that and to remember Parker, too. As it happens, soon you can remember him with a coin in your pocket. His image is etched on one side of what the U.S. Mint calls the 2022 Native American $1 Coin. (The other side, as always, is Sacagawea, the Shoshone guide for Lewis and Clarks expedition.) Parker is depicted seated, holding a quill pen, as he writes out the historic terms of surrender. His name appears on the coin in his cursive signature. Below that is TONAWANDA SENECA and HA-SA-NO-AN-DA, for the name given to him at birth. You can see the image on the U.S. Mint website here; sale of the circulation-quality coins is set to begin Wednesday. Ill be first in line, says Al Parker, Melissas father. Maybe Ill just call the Treasury in Washington and say, This is Mister Parker, calling about getting some coins of Mister Parker. Al, 80, lives in South Buffalo and is retired from General Motors. In 2015 he portrayed Ely at Appomattox Court House, in Virginia, in a reenactment of the surrender upon its 150th anniversary. Al considers it among the proudest moments of his life. How many people does Melissa know outside of her own family who have relatives on legal tender? Yeah, well, none, actually, she says with a laugh. It is pretty neat. As is the story of how her 19th-century relation came to be at Appomattox. Ely Samuel Parker was born in 1828 into the Wolf Clan of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation. He lived in an era when Native Americans were not considered U.S. citizens and were routinely barred from professional ranks. But Parker earned an engineering degree and worked as an engineer on the Erie Canal. He was in Illinois in 1860 supervising construction of a federal customhouse when he met an ex-Army officer working as a clerk in his fathers general store. That clerk was Ulysses S. Grant, and they became fast friends. By the last days of the Civil War, Parker had become one of Grants top aides. At Appomattox, he handed Grant a manifold book which yielded three duplicates of handwritten documents for Grant to write the terms of surrender. Grant passed the book to Lee. They agreed on a few changes; Parker wrote those in. Then the manifold book was given to Theodore S. Bowers, another of Grants adjutants general, to make the official copy in ink. But Bowers was overcome by the gravity of the moment. His hands shook, and he threw out several failed pages. He turned to Parker and asked him to take on the task. So a hinge moment in American history was recorded by Ely Parker, who is buried at Forest Lawn. His remarkable career as a diplomat, engineer, general and chief also includes time as President Grants commissioner of Indian affairs. He was the first Native person to hold that post. He was trying to do his best for the Seneca people while working in the world of white people, Melissa says. He lived a life of struggle. And it is a struggle for a lot of Native people still trying to live in two worlds. So knowing the struggles he had, it is really nice to see him honored this way. Melissas father has told her about Ely ever since she can remember. She wrote a paper about him at St. Teresas, which you can see on this page. It ends, in perfect penmanship, with these words: I am proud to be a descendant of Ely Samuel Parker. St. Teresas is closed now, converted some years ago to apartments known as School Lofts @ Seneca. Thats too bad. If only the school were still open, we know just what it could give to the student with the best handwriting: an Ely Parker coin. It's worth one dollar. And priceless, too. The Buffalo News: Good Morning, Buffalo The smart way to start your day. We sift through all the news to give you a concise, informative look at the top headlines and must-read stories every weekday. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Smart Madinah Forum 2022 has kicked off in the Saudi Arabian city with the participation of thought leaders and technology partners from across the world to share knowledge, expertise and experiences in the field of smart cities. Organised by the Madinah Development Authority under the patronage of Prince Faisal bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Madinah Region and Chairman of the Madinah Development Authority, the forum aims at discussing concepts of smart cities and their relations to improving the quality of life and ensuring the sustainability, reported Saudi Press Agency (SPA). Director General of the World Competitiveness Center affiliated with the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), Prof. Arturo Bris; President and CEO of the World Council on City Data (WCCD) Patricia McCarney; Human Future Founder Jonathan Reichental; and CEO of Data and Innovation at the Madinah Development Authority Abdulrahman Ibrahim participated in the first session of the forum. The forum will also review the experience of Madinah in changing into a smart city, discussing the role of innovation in enhancing sustainable development and getting acquainted with tools of civil innovation, contributing to the empowerment of entrepreneurs to develop technological products through innovation laboratories and smart cities platforms. He wakes up daily at 4:30 a.m., drives a 7-year-old Ford Fusion and worked in construction after graduating from high school. Those who have known Bishop Michael W. Fisher during his 30 years as a priest in Washington expect him to bring that unassuming nature and unrelenting work ethic to the Buffalo Diocese. Fisher sometimes set off alarms at the archdiocese administration building by arriving to the office before anyone else, usually by 6 a.m. His appointment as an auxiliary bishop in 2018 came with a few perks, including a new car, which Fisher politely declined. There wasnt anything wrong with the 2014 Ford Fusion he had been driving, so he would just keep that, he explained to other archdiocese officials. He drove the same car to Buffalo last Sunday. Another perk was a dedicated parking space close to the chancery building. Fisher continued parking near the other employees, as he had before he was named an auxiliary bishop, said Terence J. Farrell, chancellor and executive secretary of the curia for the archdiocese. 'We need to rebuild that trust': New bishop acknowledges clergy abuse scandal Bishop Michael Fisher acknowledged he is taking the helm of the diocese at a time of upheaval from the impact of Covid-19 to bankruptcy and the revelations about decades of clergy sex abuse. Thats just the kind of guy he is, said Farrell, who has known Fisher for many years and worked closely with him in the chancery. Fisher, 62, will be installed today as the 15th bishop of the Buffalo Diocese at a Mass inside St. Joseph Cathedral, joined by a host of other bishops, as well as Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York City. Such installation Masses are often elaborate affairs in the Catholic Church. This one will be noticeably restrained, largely because of the Covid-19 pandemic, which restricts the number of people who will be allowed inside the cathedral and the usual celebratory gatherings that happen after Mass. But a simpler proceeding also seems in keeping with Fishers low-key personality. Friends, advisers and colleagues describe him as an authentic and humble man who has the heart of a pastor and the administrative chops to juggle many tasks at a time. Hes not somebody who aspired to power or anything of that kind. He was following what he was asked, meaning he doesnt seek the limelight, he doesnt want it for any personal gain. Just for whatever hes called to do, he does, said Karen Sachs, administrative assistant to the office of the clergy in the Washington Archdiocese. And hell deal with the hard questions. Sachs characterized Fisher as a standout for his kindness and humility, and she said he has no ulterior motives aside from wanting to serve God and his people. Little public record on how new Buffalo bishop dealt with priest misconduct in D.C. Although Michael Fisher's rise in the church's administrative ranks was launched by Theodore McCarrick, archbishop of Washington, D.C., from 2001 to 2006, Fisher has not been implicated in the scandal over the cover-up of McCarrick's sexual misconduct. Fisher inherits a diocese of 161 parishes and 600,000 Catholics in Western New York thats in crisis. It is 10 months into a bankruptcy process that currently has no end in sight. It is fending off a lawsuit by the state Attorney Generals Office that accuses his predecessor bishops of covering up clergy sex abuse cases. And there continues to be a federal investigation into the dioceses handling of abuse claims. But Fisher has not uttered a word of complaint about the lot he has been dealt since the Vatican announced his appointment on Dec. 1, according to colleagues and friends. They also said they believe Fisher will rise to the challenges in Buffalo, as he did in Washington, D.C., where he spent 15 years in parishes before being promoted into the archdioceses central offices. Much of his time there was spent as vicar for clergy, a post fraught with difficult decisions about clergy discipline, where to assign priests for ministry and care for elderly and ill clergy. I know he has devoted friends, but he understood that part of making the hard decision probably pissed off a lot ... of clergy members, said Courtney Chase, executive director of the archdiocese's Office of Child Protection & Safe Environment. But they all respected him. He absolutely was committed to making sure that the right thing was being done, regardless if it was the hard thing to do, said Chase. Chase said she expects Fisher will continue to make hard decisions and be transparent about them in Buffalo and people will gravitate to him because of his honesty and sincerity. Hes not looking for a popularity contest to win, she said. Hes not a show pony, and his No. 1 priority and objective is to get in and be with the people and lift them up and build confidence not only in Catholicism, but also in him. The archdioceses priests trust and respect Fisher, who was always willing and eager to visit with ill priests and to listen to clergy concerns, said the Rev. John Dillon, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Derwood, Md. There are days in which he would have to have sometimes difficult conversations with people about things people had done and hadnt done that they shouldve done, said Dillon. I think most people saw him as he did what he was supposed to do. I dont think he had any enemies in the presbyterate at all. At Fishers farewell Mass in December in the Washington Archdiocese, Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory told a story of meeting with multiple groups of priests in the early days of his being appointed in 2019 as archbishop of Washington. There was a recurrent theme I heard in almost every one of those gatherings: It was to take care of Bishop Fisher, Gregory said. The priests of this local church have a profound love and respect for you, and they fully anticipate that soon the entire Diocese of Buffalo will feel the same way. A native of Baltimore, Fisher idolized astronauts when he was a boy, flipped burgers at McDonalds as a teenager, and considered joining the FBI prior to entering seminary at age 28. He said he believes his strong work ethic was ingrained in him by his father and grandfather, who both worked hard at their jobs and were able to do their own home and car repairs. Fishers father, William, worked for many years at Martin Marietta, when it was a leading aerospace corporation working on NASAs Mercury, Gemini and part of the Apollo projects and headquartered in Maryland. They were practical men, and Fisher said he hopes he brings a sense of pragmatism to his own work. The eldest of five children, Fisher has held a job since he was an 8-year-old delivering the Baltimore Sun. At various times he was a gas station attendant, built foundations for houses and sold furniture at a department store. He worked his way through the University of Maryland, and after graduating with a bachelors degree in business and accounting, he took a job as controller at a psychiatric practice. In his late 20s, Fisher soon found himself at a crossroads about his future, torn between becoming a certified public accountant or an FBI agent. At the same time, he was attending Mass daily, and thoughts about the priesthood persisted in the back of his mind, as well. It was something that was I think always there, just sort of behind the scene, and I was praying of the crypt church of the shrine down here and one day I guess, it wasnt a voice, but it was a voice in my heart saying, you know, The Lord wants you, said Fisher. Thats when I called the local vocation director here. I havent looked back since. Fisher will be the fourth Archdiocese of Washington priest since 2018 to be installed as a bishop of another diocese. Bishop Barry C. Knestout, ordained to the priesthood a year before Fisher, started the string of recent episcopal appointments when he was installed as the 13th bishop of the Richmond Diocese in 2018. The Rev. Mark E. Brennan was installed as bishop of Wheeling-Charleston in 2019, and last month, the Rev. William D. Byrne was ordained and installed as bishop of Springfield, Mass., after 26 years as a priest in the Washington archdiocese. Monsignor Joseph A. Ranieri, coordinator of pastoral care for priests in the Archdiocese of Washington, said Fisher will find his way in Buffalo soon enough. I think he is so looking forward to this new task because hes in a situation hes never been in before. Hes the bishop of a diocese. Its a challenge for him, and thats a challenge he reaches out to, said Ranieri. He understands there are problems, but hes the type of guy, and hes young enough, to want to do the best he can. The Buffalo News: Good Morning, Buffalo The smart way to start your day. We sift through all the news to give you a concise, informative look at the top headlines and must-read stories every weekday. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Its still standing. What do you know? The Great Northern Grain Elevator on Buffalos waterfront the one that was so severely damaged by a windstorm two months ago that both its owner and the City of Buffalo rushed to demolish it its doing OK. There have been no reports of bricks bouncing off some unlucky noggin or even falling harmlessly to the ground, for that matter. Maybe that will change, but the buildings resilience suggests that this crisis is one less of urgency than expediency and insufficiency. Archer Daniels Midland, owner of the unique and historic structure, has long wanted to raze it and seems to view the December storm as a useful pretext. Several expert observers, including respected developers, say the building is sturdy and can be easily repaired. The culture at City Hall, meanwhile, verges on indifference to the fate of this building, even though historic preservation has been a key component of Buffalos economic revival. Its neither possible nor desirable to save every old building, but its also troubling to see so little passion for structures that help to define Buffalo. Mayor Byron W. Brown seems content to ignore the rising demands to use the law if belatedly to force ADM to make the repairs that should have been done long ago. He wants the building to stay standing, he says, but insists that, by virtue of the city charter, he is basically a bystander to the decision of James Comerford, the citys commissioner of permits and inspections. To do otherwise, he says, would be to politicize the issue, and possibly to risk injuries and liability. Still, its hard not to see a repeat of the mistake Brown made with the citys much-hated red light cameras. He stuck with that program to the lip of his political grave, ignoring the opposition within the community and on the Common Council. The argument over the grain elevator is even splitting Democrats, with State Sen. Sean Ryan of Buffalo organizing opposition and directly criticizing Browns administration which, he complained doesnt even know historic preservation is a thing. Ryan supported Democratic challenger India Walton in last years mayoral election. In a recent meeting with The News editorial board, Ryan observed that municipal benefits such as the states historic tax credit could vanish if the city fails to use them on projects as obvious as this one. Buffalo wouldnt have come as far as it has without that program, which has helped underwrite projects that would otherwise have been unaffordable. What is more, said preservation leader Tim Tielman, the city isnt exercising its ability to rescind the demolition order it claims, unpersuasively, that it cant or even enforcing its own laws. For one thing, he said, a city homeowner who violated codes would have been forced to comply, if only to protect nearby properties. Yet, for years, ADM has been allowed to skip needed repairs on this historic grain elevator. Why wasnt the city worried about falling bricks or other hazards then? Indeed, part of the problem is the structures condition, which ADM and the city have allowed to deteriorate. For some, its hard to picture this unkept and imposing edifice as a refurbished symbol of a shining new city, proud of its Great Lakes heritage. But it can be done. Interested groups have suggested new uses for the building and developer Douglas Jemal has offered to buy it from ADM, which shows not the least bit of interest. OK, fine. But then stop pretending this is an emergency. Fix the building. More than that, make it beautiful. Show some respect for the public interest and the city that helps to support you. ADM may not care much about what Buffalo thinks of its conduct, but the mayor does and hes choosing the wrong side. A previous version of this editorial misidentifed State Sen. Sean Ryan's position. 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. Spring semester is underway. The members of my advanced writing workshop have all renewed their vows. Some have been my students for fifteen years. I tease them about growing old together, but I believe they are continuing the journey because they continue to grow. I do. Oscar Hammerstein II opened Getting to Know You from The King and I with Its a very ancient saying, but a true and honest thought, that if you become a teacher, by your pupils youll be taught. My students have been teaching me since 1970. My first first-graders in a Lower East Side public school taught me, initially with their differences. Sean reading on fifth-grade level before we met and Danny living with his mother and five siblings in a one-room apartment, arriving late every morning, exhausted, hungry, wearing shorts and shoes with no laces needed extra attention. The veteran teacher, who trained and observed me, said I had empathy. Yes. I treasured my connection to my six-year-old pupils. We had what my grandmother called "great rappaport." That teacher also said I was weak in the discipline department. Also, true. With experience, I became stricter, and cultivated a mix of tenderness and toughness. I remind my present adult writing students not to compare themselves to our classs Seans. The range among them is big. I know each ones struggles and progress. I remind them and myself about the difference between self-revelation and self-absorption. It is the difference between "ah-ha" and "oy vey." Sentences beginning with I tell. They do not show. They distance writers from the reader, from themselves, and belong in psychotherapy, not in personal essays expressed from the heart. Avoiding the truth or writing around it does not work. Years ago, the first assignment was an open letter to a person the student knew well but would not mail, sharing something difficult. One student wrote to Christopher Columbus, saying that had he taken another route, life would have been different. I asked this student to write a second letter to someone he knew, expressing something hard. He wrote to his eight-year-old son, whom he had not seen in years since divorcing his mother, sharing his sorrow, telling him he slept holding his picture, asking for forgiveness. This second letter, which I read aloud, choked up the entire class. I made suggestions on how he could improve it, and read his next two revisions. He sent it to his son, whom he began to see, changed the format to a straightforward essay and had it published. Writing is hard. Harder than talking about it. I remind students and myself to write regularly, persevere, revise, and revise. Hemingway revised the ending of A Farewell to Arms forty-nine times. I revise again and again, advising my class to do the same, in order to say it better, clear up clutter and go deeper. The 17th century French mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal said about a letter he sent that he would have made it shorter, but he didnt have the time. Honesty and passion are critical. Reading ones work alone and out loud helps. If it makes the writer yawn, it will bore readers more. I love providing a safe place, and a mix of toughness and tenderness. My students and I have great rappaport. Little did I realize that the resettlement of refugees and immigrants to the West Side of Buffalo was going to reawaken so many memories of my childhood and adolescence. Growing up in North Buffalo during the 1950s, 60s and 70s was like a dream. Social media and video games did not exist, and long hours were spent at Shoshone Park. When we felt really adventurous, we would ride our bikes past the city line, through Kenmore and Tonawanda and, eventually, to the Grand Island bridges. Once we circled Beaver Island, we would retrace our journey back to North Buffalo. Our parents never needed to worry about where we were. As many readers, Im sure, can attest, if you wanted to call a girl back then you stretched the cord on the wall phone as far as it would go and talked in hushed tones in a dark hallway. It was a glorious time. My dad was a first-generation Italian. You can find my grandfathers name, Joseph Messana Lauria, in the logbook on Ellis Island. After shipping back to Europe to fight in World War I, my grandfather returned to the United States, eventually settling on the West Side of Buffalo as a blacksmith. His craft eventually led him to start Lauria Collision, which fixed countless cars, cabs and National Fuel trucks over its 73-year existence. My dad and his brother Joe eventually took the shop over and my brothers, my sister and I toiled there, as well, for many summers during high school and college. Little did I know then that I would be working four blocks away from the site of the shop 45 years later. My good fortune in life continued as I graduated from Georgetown University and from Upstate Medical University in Syracuse. After completing my residency at the old Childrens Hospital on Bryant Street, I started work as a pediatrician at Western New York Pediatrics in Orchard Park, where I would serve for the next 33 years. It is a wonderful place filled with dedicated doctors, nurse practitioners and nurses. I was lucky to work there. But sensing the need to do something different and the Lords call, I began to practice at Jericho Road Community Health Center, exactly four blocks from my dads shop on Niagara Street. Jericho Road is hard to describe without seeming to engage in hyperbole. Words like amazing and incredible just arent good enough. Dedicated staff selflessly serve refugees and immigrants from Burma, Nepal, Congo, Sudan, Eritrea, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Bangladesh and now Afghanistan. The West Side is now truly a melting pot. Give yourself a treat and drive down Grant or West Ferry Street sometime on a sunny afternoon. Or better yet, walk past School 45 on Auburn Street at lunchtime while the kids are at play. As my brother Tommy once remarked, It looks like a postcard for UNICEF. We can learn a lot by watching them. Skin color means nothing. Myself, I am filled with nostalgia almost daily as I meet the parents of these remarkable kids. They remind me so much of my own parents blue collar, very hard working, devoted and extremely family oriented. They often take the jobs that nobody else wants food packing, assembly lines, restaurant workers and hotel maintenance. They want their kids to do so much better. The kids are smart and extremely clever. Buffalo is going to be in a much better place in 20 years when these kids become adults. They are going to be transformative. It behooves Buffalo and all of us to make sure they are well-educated and that the not so hidden scourge of the West Side lead pipes are finally eradicated. I hope my good fortune continues and I am still around to see it. Conservative MP Robert Jenrick has questioned the Foreign Secretarys planned trip to Moscow this week amid the Ukraine crisis. Liz Truss has scheduled a trip to Russian capital to meet with her counterpart, Sergei Lavrov. Speaking to BBC Radio 4s The Westminster Hour programme, the former housing secretary said: Im not sure it is actually wise to go to Moscow. I think that honours Vladimir Putin and plays into his hand I just question the good sense of going to Moscow and honouring Vladimir Putin at a time when he is so aggressive towards Ukraine. Im not sure thats wise. On Sunday, Ms Truss said the depths of Russias attempts to threaten to Ukraine were clear. Russias actions show their claims to have no plans to invade are false, she wrote in a Twitter post. We and our allies stand united in support for Ukraine and our resolve to raise the cost to Russia if they take further action. Ms Truss missed a trip to Ukraine with the Prime Minister last week after testing positive for Covid-19. The Foreign Secretarys visit to Russia would be the first to the country since 2017, when Boris Johnson met with Mr Lavrov. Had to postpone my Ukraine visit this week but will be visiting as soon as possible. I spoke on the phone to @DmytroKuleba on support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. The UK and our allies stand with Ukraine. https://t.co/8Py53E17y6 pic.twitter.com/O4pcyn6sjZ Liz Truss (@trussliz) February 2, 2022 It comes after a former oligarch said the UK providing weapons and training to Ukrainian forces shows to Putin that the war wont be such an easy ride. Story continues Exiled Russian businessman Mikhail Khodorkovsky said bolstering Ukraine defences was the most important way that London could show solidarity with Kyiv in the face of Russian aggression on the border. Speaking on Trevor Phillips On Sunday on Sky News, Mr Khodorkovsky was asked whether putting more pressure on the assets of allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin in the UK would deter Moscow from launching an invasion in Ukraine. The pressure on the assets and the properties of the Russians in Britain has two sides, he said. Putins clique illegally pressurise the British political system, its done in numerous ways. There are legal firms who work for them, sometimes its direct influence on British governing bodies. Its really important to fight this, its a dangerous thing for Britain. Thats one part of it the influence of Putins clique. The other thing is an ethical issue, its a question for British society whether its happy and whether the system is happy to have dirty money on the British territory. As far as Putin is concerned these assets are in enemy territory, he sees this as a betrayal unless these people are influencing the British system. Ukraine Russian tensions Prime Minister Boris Johnson with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, Ukraine (Peter Nicholls/PA) But Mr Khodorkovsky added: More important is supplying weapons and training Ukrainians that shows to Putin that the war wont be such an easy ride if hes planning one. On Saturday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson discussed the situation with French President Emmanuel Macron. They agreed that finding a diplomatic solution to the current tensions must remain the overriding priority, a No 10 spokesman said. The Prime Minister and President Macron stressed that Nato must be united in the face of Russian aggression. They agreed to continue to work together to develop a package of sanctions which would come into force immediately should Russia further invade Ukraine. European leaders are also due to travel to both Moscow and Kyiv in a bid to calm tensions on the Ukrainian border. Mr Macron is set to visit Moscow on Monday and Kyiv on Tuesday, while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will travel to Kyiv on February 14 and Moscow on February 15. SANTA CRUZ, Calif. & SEOUL, South Korea, February 06, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SK Telecom (NYSE:SKM, "SKT"), South Koreas leading telecommunications company, and Joby Aviation (NYSE:JOBY, "Joby"), a California-based company developing an all-electric, five-seat aircraft that can take off and land vertically (eVTOL), today announced they will work together to introduce emissions-free aerial ridesharing services to cities and communities across South Korea. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220206005029/en/ (Graphic: Business Wire) SKTs CEO Ryu Young-sang and Jobys founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt signed a strategic collaboration agreement at Jobys manufacturing facility in Marina, California. The agreement will see the two companies work closely on introducing this revolutionary form of transportation in support of the South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transports "K-UAM" (Korean Urban Air Mobility) Roadmap, first announced in 2020. With a maximum range of 150 miles (241 kilometers), a top speed of 200 mph (321 km/h), and a low noise profile that will allow it to access built-up areas, Joby's piloted aircraft is designed to make convenient, emissions-free air travel an everyday reality. SKT has been promoting the development of urban air mobility by leveraging its expertise in telecommunications, autonomous driving, precise positioning, and security to become a leading company in connected intelligence. As a member of the "UAM Team Korea", SKT is also working together with other major Korean companies to enhance the nations competitiveness in the field. The partners intend to leverage SKs T Map mobility platform, Koreas largest mobility platform, and UT ride hailing service to provide multi-modal journeys to customers seamlessly integrating both ground and air travel. UT was established as a joint venture between SKT and Uber in 2021, bringing together SKs T Map platform and Ubers ride sharing technology. Joby and Uber have been collaborating since 2019. Story continues "By joining forces with Joby, a global leader in this field, we expect to accelerate our journey towards the era of Urban Air Mobility and lead the way on introducing this exciting new technology," said Ryu Young-sang, CEO of SKT. "Collaborating with leading global companies is essential to securing leadership in future industries, which we are confident will be driven by the growth of UAM, autonomous driving, and robots." Joby has spent more than a decade developing the technology behind its aircraft, completing more than 1,000 test flights and becoming the first, and only, eVTOL company to sign a G-1 (stage 4) Certification Basis for their aircraft with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Commenting on the partnership and the opportunity presented by the South Korean market, JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby, said: "We are thrilled to be partnering with the team at SKT who bring a wealth of relevant experience and technology to the table. "With more than 42 million people living in urban areas, South Korea offers a remarkable opportunity for Joby to make air travel a part of daily life, helping people to save time while reducing their carbon footprint." While Jobys aerial ridesharing service will be operated directly by the company and offered to passengers via the Joby app or the Uber app in core U.S. markets, this announcement reflects Jobys strategy to partner with local companies committed to delivering exceptional customer service and operational excellence to launch its service in select markets outside the U.S. Images of the signing ceremony are available here. Photos and video footage of the Joby aircraft are available in Joby's Media Kit. About Joby Aviation Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE:JOBY) is a California-headquartered transportation company developing an all-electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft which it intends to operate as part of a fast, quiet, and convenient air taxi service beginning in 2024. The aircraft, which has a maximum range of 150 miles (241 kilometers) on a single charge, can transport a pilot and four passengers at speeds of up to 200 mph (321 km/h). It is designed to help reduce urban congestion and accelerate the shift to sustainable modes of transit. Founded in 2009, Joby employs around 1,000 people, with offices in Santa Cruz, San Carlos, and Marina, California, as well as Washington, D.C. and Munich, Germany. To learn more, visit www.jobyaviation.com. About SK Telecom SK Telecom (NYSE:SKM) is Koreas leading ICT company, driving innovations in fixed & wireless telecommunications, AI service, and digital infrastructure service. Armed with cutting-edge ICT including AI and 5G, the company is ushering in a new level of convergence to deliver unprecedented value to customers. As the global 5G pioneer, SKT is committed to realizing the full potential of 5G through ground-breaking services that can improve people's lives, transform businesses, and lead to a better society. SKT boasts unrivaled leadership in the Korean mobile market with over 30 million subscribers, which account for nearly 50 percent of the market. For more information, please contact skt_press@sk.com or visit our LinkedIn page www.linkedin.com/company/sk-telecom. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to, statements regarding the development and performance of our aircraft including our initial plant capacity and regulatory outlook; our business plan, objectives, goals and market opportunity; and our current expectations relating to our business, financial condition, results of operations, prospects and capital needs. You can identify forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements may include words such as "anticipate", "estimate", "expect", "project", "plan", "intend", "believe", "may", "will", "should", "can have", "likely" and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of the timing or nature of future operating or financial performance or other events. All forward looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including: our limited operating history and history of losses; our ability to launch our aerial ridesharing service and the growth of the urban air mobility market generally; our plans to operate a commercial passenger service beginning in 2024; the competitive environment in which we operate; our future capital needs; our ability to adequately protect and enforce our intellectual property rights; our ability to effectively respond to evolving regulations and standards relating to our aircraft; our reliance on a third-party suppliers and service partners; uncertainties related to our estimates of the size of the market for its aircraft and future revenue opportunities; and other important factors discussed in the section titled "Risk Factors" in our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-260608), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 29, 2021, and in other reports we file with or furnish to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any such forward-looking statements represent managements estimates and beliefs as of the date of this press release. While Joby may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, it disclaims any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause its views to change. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220206005029/en/ Contacts Media Joby Aviation press@jobyaviation.com SK Telecom Co., Ltd. Irene Kim +82 2 6100 3867 gahaekim@sk.com Rainie Jiang mengyu@sk.com The Tinder Swindler stole an estimated total of $10 million from women he met online (Netflix/iStock) If youve been on social media in the last day or so, youll have noticed that the internet cant stop talking about The Tinder Swindler. The Netflix documentary follows a group of women as they attempt to track down Shimon Hayut, a dating app user from Israel who tricked them out of huge sums of money. Throughout 2018 and 2019, Hayut convinced women his name was Simon Leviev and that he was a wealthy billionaire. According to the documentary, Hayut stole an estimated total of $10 million (7.4 million) after luring his victims with lavish dates to gain their trust. He was later charged with fraud, theft and forgery and sentenced to 15 months in prison but was released in May 2020 after serving just five months. In an interview with Stylist ahead of the Netflix release, a former girlfriend and victim of Hayuts scam said it did not once cross her mind that he wasnt who he claimed to be. Hes just magnetic. He seemed super smart and ambitious, and everyone I met was vouching for him, Cecilie Fjellhy said. Not once did it cross my mind that he wasnt who he said he was. Fjellhy, from Norway, said Hayut would make her feel special during the early stages of their relationship with romantic gestures. Hed send beautiful bouquets to my apartment and text me every morning, she said. Im a sucker for old-fashioned romance, so in some ways, I was the perfect victim. He knew how to reel me in. Things took a turn after Hayut claimed that he had fallen into trouble with people in the diamond industry, and convinced Fjellhy to allow him to use credit cards in her name. According to the latest figures from Which?, published in June 2021, romance scam reports in the UK soared during the pandemic. The consumer groups analysis of Action Fraud data found that reports of romance fraud increased by 40 per cent in the year to April 2021 compared with the previous year, with more than 7,500 scams reported. Reported losses reached almost 74 million but Which? estimated that the true figure was likely much higher as many victims are too embarrassed or upset to tell the authorities. Story continues Popular dating apps such as Bumble, Hinge and Tinder, have a range of safety features and detailed safety advice to help protect users from romance scams. However, as shown in the case of The Tinder Swindler, Hayut was able to paint a convincing story of his false identity. Fjellhy said Hayuts Instagram seemed to confirm things he had told her about his lavish lifestyle, and that he had shared videos taken from private jets. So, when it comes to online dating, what are the tell-tale signs to look out for to make sure you arent being conned? Heres what the experts have to say. Why should you be wary of con artists on dating apps? According to financial guidance provider Money Helper, scammers are drawn to dating sites because they know people on there are looking to make a personal connection, and that they can use this desire for closeness to their advantage. They avoid real connection If a person on a dating app is reluctant to talk on the phone or meet up, and keen to keep the conversation to text, this should be a warning sign that they are not who they claim to be, Money Helper says. While they might not be willing to pick up the phone, they will likely ask to move the conversation to email, text or WhatsApp so that safety features within dating apps dont pick up on their scam. They arent in the country Scammers will use varied forms of manipulation to extort people, but someone youve met online asking you for money, for any reason, should be a warning sign. One common scenario used by con artists on dating apps is pretending to be stuck abroad on a business trip where they dont have access to their bank accounts. Money Helper said victims frequently report being asked to send money internationally to pay for an alleged visa. Which? says another frequently used tactic amongst scammers is to pose as a soldier serving in the military, as this provides an excuse for not meeting in person. Its also a good way to try and win a victims sympathy. If youre dating someone who claims to be in the military, you can offer to give them a call, organise a video chat or send them a letter as they should have a number, internet connection and mailing address. If the person refuses, this should make you suspicious, Which? said. There show too many emotions too soon Relationship experts have long warned about the tell-tale signs of love-bombing a form of emotional abuse in which a person uses proclamations of love to win someones trust and affection. Money Helper says that if a person professes their love for you without meeting up, they could be attempting to gain your trust, so that youll be more willing to send them money. Additionally, they may use stories about personal tragedies to try to win your empathy. Scammers will often tell you that they are recently bereaved or that they or someone they are close to is seriously ill to make you feel sorry for them. Its a red flag that victims often describe in their accounts of being scammed, Money Helper said. They dont have a digital footprint While some people prefer not to use social media apps, computer security company Norton says that it should alert your suspicions if you cant find any trace of a person online. The average Facebook user has 130 friends so people who only have a handful of friends may be fake, it added. Look at the way they use social media and check their friends list its easy to create fake friends but these connections can tell you a lot about them. If theyre on Twitter, look back through their timeline to try and find inconsistencies. The rare diamond is held by Ahmed Bin Sulayem, ExecutiveChairman and CEO, DMCC, and Chairman, DDE, asMartin Leake, Special Advisor Preciou DMCC, a flagship free zone and Government of Dubai Authority on commodities trade and enterprise, has announced that its Dubai Diamond Exchange (DDE) has hosted a tender this week featuring an astonishing 1086.10 carat gem quality diamond. The tender was managed by Koin International and took place ahead of the Dubai Diamond Conference (February 21), which will bring together leaders from across the global industry to discuss the future of diamonds. Sourced from southern Africa, this was the largest ever gem quality rough diamond to be hosted by and sold at the DDE. Given its size, there has been a surge in global interest in the stone, with diamond experts flying in from across the world to view it ahead of its sale this week. The DDE has already hosted six major tenders this year, reaching over $300 million worth of rough diamonds traded. -TradeArabia News Service The Falklands are "part of the British family", according to Liz Truss, after China backed Argentina's claims over the south Atlantic islands. The foreign secretary wrote on Twitter that "China must respect Falklands' sovereignty" after Argentina's President Alberto Fernandez met with Xi Jinping during the Beijing Winter Olympics. The Chinese and Argentine leaders spoke of their "deep friendship", in a statement on China's London embassy website. They agreed on an accord in which China reasserted its support for Argentina's claim to the Falklands, while Mr Fernandez backed Mr Jinping's one-China policy, which claims Taiwan as its own. "The Argentine side reiterated its adherence to the one-China principle and the Chinese side reiterated its support for the Argentine side's request to fully exercise its sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands issue," the statement said. British government officials have stayed away from the Beijing games as part of a boycott by several Western nations, in protest against human rights concerns. Argentina also signed up to China's Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, a global infrastructure development strategy adopted by Beijing in 2013. Read more: China says modern-day Silk Road will be 'project of the century' 'China must respect the Falklands' However, Ms Truss said that the Falklands "are part of the British family" adding that "We completely reject any questions over sovereignty of the Falklands. "The Falklands are part of the British family and we will defend their right to self-determination," she wrote on Twitter. "China must respect the Falklands' sovereignty." In response, Chen Weihua, who is a journalist for China Daily, an English-language newspaper owned by the ruling Communist Party, said: "But it's okay for UK to challenge China's sovereignty in the South China Sea by sending navy vessels? Story continues "At least China has not sent its navy near the Malvinas, or what you call the Falklands." Read more: China's President Xi Jinping vows 'reunification' with Taiwan amid rising tensions China aligning with Russia The joint Argentina-China statement comes after Mr Xi met with Vladimir Putin on the fringes of the Olympics, with the leaders pushing back against United States pressure and declaring their opposition to any NATO expansion - a key issue in the current tensions on the Ukrainian border. Beijing and Moscow criticised "interference in internal affairs" of other states and said: "Some forces representing a minority on the world stage continue to advocate unilateral approaches to resolving international problems and resort to military policy." Read more: Russia-Ukraine: What's happening on the border and why are tensions so high? Vladimir Putin turns to China as tensions with Western leaders increase over Ukraine China has more frequently shown support for Russia in its dispute with Ukraine, which threatens to break out into armed conflict. Tobias Ellwood, a Conservative MP and chairman of the Commons Defence Select Committee warned following the meeting that the increased cooperation with China and Russia "will dominate our era". He wrote on Twitter: "Putin is not in China to discuss the bobsleigh but to further align Russia away from the West to the East. This is the axis of power that will dominate our era. "Any sanctions we impose will only assist Putin with his aim. This is the bigger picture we are missing." Alternative to the liberal world order On Sunday the MP added that "with China now on side - the Russian invasion into Ukraine is now imminent. "Our window for the West to prevent this is now closing fast." As well as Mr Putin, Mr Xi, who has not left China since 2019, has met a range of world leaders visiting for the Olympic events over recent days, highlighting his moves to elevate himself as a major player in world diplomacy, while positioning China's single party authoritarian political model as an alternative to the long-dominant liberal world order led by the United States. Read more: Moscow's plans 'ruined' after US and Britain call out possible invasion 'We need to get used to this': Ukrainians fatalistic about latest Russian threat Russia and China show a united front amid rising tensions with West MADISON, Wis. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is accepting applications for its annual Wisconsin Ethical Hunter Award, which honors hunters actions of exceptional moral actions and character while in the field. The Wisconsin Ethical Hunter Award was established in 1997 to recognize a person whose action represents Wisconsins heritage of responsible, respectful and safe hunting. Ethical behavior demonstrates the moral character of the hunting public and illustrates how people can assist one another while recreating together in the outdoors, said DNR Chief Conservation Warden Casey Krueger. Any hunter or non-hunter can nominate a licensed Wisconsin hunter for the Wisconsin Ethical Hunter Award for their actions during the 2021 calendar year. Although many nominations come from the gun-deer season, ethical actions can occur during a squirrel hunt, turkey hunt, waterfowl hunt or other Wisconsin hunting seasons. Ethical actions come in many forms; examples could include helping another person during a hunt or taking steps to protect our natural resources, Krueger said. Over the years, award recipients have returned lost gear, helped others find lost game or assisted another hunter facing a challenge of some kind. A four-person committee reviews the nominations and selects the recipient. The creators of this award are Bob Lamb, retired editor of the La Crosse Tribune; Steve Dewald, retired DNR Conservation Warden Supervisor and Jerry Davis, a retired University of Wisconsin-La Crosse biology professor and outdoors writer. The nomination committee focuses on a singular action or event rather than individuals with long-term conservation-related programs. Submit nominations by email or letter explaining the ethical act and send to April Dombrowski, DNR Recreational Safety Outdoor Skills Section Chief, at April.Dombrowski@wisconsin.gov or by standard U.S. mail to: Department of Natural Resources Attn: April Dombrowski 101 S. Webster St. P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921 The deadline to submit a nomination is Feb. 26. To become eligible for the 2021 award: The nominee must be a licensed (resident or nonresident) Wisconsin hunter. The ethical hunting act must have occurred in Wisconsin during the 2021 calendar year. Nominations are considered for any DNR-regulated hunting activity in Wisconsin. Written nominations must contain the name, address and telephone number of the witness or witnesses, or be aware of the behavior which led to the nomination. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Illinois has collected more than $400 million in tax revenue from recreational marijuana sales in 2021, and Michigan has collected about $200 million. Wisconsin still bans the drug in most forms, but the legislature continues to flirt with legalizing medical marijuana. In the two years since launching its recreational marijuana program, Illinois has received more than half a billion dollars in tax revenue, according to the Illinois Department of Revenue. Over $100 million of that will finance programs aimed at investing in communities hardest hit by the drug war, with a large chunk going to fund grants for minority communities disproportionately impacted by gun injuries, child poverty, unemployment and incarceration, the state says. About $100 million was deposited into Illinois general fund. Funds from cannabis revenue will also go to local governments, a marijuana regulation fund, facilitating the process of expunging criminal marijuana charges, administrative costs, a public health campaign and research on the effects of legalization. Recreational marijuana tax revenue is a found money resource, where one previously didnt exist, by Douglas Berman, a law professor at Ohio State University and the director of the Drug Enforcement and Policy Center there. If the money is used well, it can do a lot of good, Berman said. Its not going to fill every pothole or solve every pension crisis, however it can be wonderful for additional resources.Of the more than $200 million gathered in Michigan, $20 million will be given annually to clinical trials researching the efficacy of marijuana in treating veterans medical conditions and preventing veteran suicide, according to state documents. Funds will also go to a K-12 school aid fund, repair and maintenance of roads and bridges, and municipalities and counties where marijuana businesses are located. Under Wisconsin law, marijuana possession is a felony, though the state has legalized products from non-intoxicating cannabidiol, commonly known as CBD, and the growing of hemp. Marijuana is classified as a Schedule 1 drug both federally and in Wisconsin, meaning the governments officially consider it to have a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States and that it lacks accepted safety for use in treatment under medical supervision. Other Schedule 1 drugs at the state level include heroin, MDMA and PCP. Theres this widespread sense that the harms expressed at the outset [of legalizing recreational marijuana] may exist a little bit, but they havent been as big a deal as you might think, Berman said.Marijuana legalization has little effect on the crime rate in either direction, according to an ongoing study by the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank based in Washington D.C., though it notes the data is still limited. A study from the National Bureau of Economic Research found little to no change in traffic crashes in places where cannabis had been legalized. Wisconsin state Sen. Melissa Agard (D-Madison) has introduced a bill to legalize recreational marijuana in each of the last five legislative sessions. When she first proposed the bill in 2014, it received only five co-sponsors, she said. Her 2021 effort lists 40 co-authors and co-sponsors of the bill, all Democrats. Republicans, who have controlled the legislature since 2011, have ignored the bill in committee, where it must pass before going to a full vote in the state Senate. The state Senate recently took up a bill that increases penalties for a person who uses a butane torch to extract resin from a cannabis plant. Agard introduced an amendment to the bill that would have legalized marijuana in any form. Republicans killed Agards amendment and passed the initial bill on a 21-12 party-line vote. Agards proposals have now failed to pass in each of her five efforts, she noted. The fact that Wisconsin is an island of prohibition in the Midwest continues to harm folks in our state, Agard said. At a time when economic recovery is at the tip of everyones mind, its really short-sighted that we are not moving policy forward to welcome a billion-dollar industry thats knocking on the door. Minnesota and Iowa have legalized medicinal marijuana, but do not allow its sale for recreational use. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers included a provision in his last budget proposal that would have legalized recreational marijuana, but Republicans cut the proposal before passing the budget. Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) has said the state should wait for the federal government to legalize medical marijuana before doing so. During a WisPolitics.com luncheon last April, LeMahieu, said if the Food and Drug Administration approves medical use, marijuana should be treated like any other prescription drug. If theres advantages to [marijuana], if it helps out people, I have no problem with it as long as a doctor prescribes it, he said. When asked for comment, LeMahieu said through a spokesman that his position on the topic has not changed since April. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) has said he is open to medical marijuana, though he wants it legalized in a limited way that doesnt involve a marijuana shop on every corner. It shouldnt be smoked. It should be taken in pill form. It shouldnt even be edible so a child could get at it, he told News 3 Now in 2019. Vos did not respond to requests for comment. Some Republicans support medical marijuana legalization. Last week, state Sen. Mary Felzkowski (R-Irma) and state Rep. Patrick Snyder (R-Schofield) introduced a bill that would create a new state commission to regulate medical marijuana. Physicians who earn certification from the commission would be allowed to prescribe marijuana. Felzkowski told reporters at a news conference that LeMahieu is more than willing to allow a hearing after a similar bill proposed by her failed to gain any traction in 2021. We have a trend in this state to look for more natural types of healthcare, Felzkowski said in the news conference. Empower those who look to natural immunity, natural healthcare, and beefing up our bodies holistically instead of just using a prescription type of medication. Medical marijuana is very popular in Wisconsin. A 2019 Marquette University Law School poll found 83% of registered voters in Wisconsin backed the idea. A smaller majority 59% supported legalizing marijuana recreationally. Theres always going to be a sort of rural/urban divide when it comes to marijuana because of the politics, but that divide isnt clear in the policy, Berman said. Rural communities generally support the idea. You can grow and make profit in those rural communities or they might be using weed too and people dont realize it. Pot shops in Illinois have sold nearly $2 billion in cannabis products in the two years since marijuana became legal there, with sales doubling from 2020 to 2021. Illinois dispensaries generated more than $430 million in sales by out-of-state customers, according to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. There are many dispensaries within a short drive of the Wisconsin border, including in South Beloit, Galena and Rockford. When you look around the parking lot of the dispensary in South Beloit, I see 90% or more Wisconsin license plates, Sen. Agard said. Those are Wisconsin dollars leaving our state and entering the state of Illinois. The Badger Project is a nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative journalism news organization. For more visit thebadgerproject.org The Badger Project is a nonpartisan, citizen-supported journalism nonprofit in Wisconsin. For more visit thebadgerproject.org. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 7) Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairperson Benhur Abalos on Monday stepped down from his post to work as national campaign manager for presidential candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos. Abalos made the announcement on the eve of the campaign period for the May 9,2022 polls. With utmost gratitude, I respectfully tender my resignation effective at the end of business hour, Feb. 7, 2022. The campaign period is fast approaching and I would need to devote my time to [former] Senator Bongbong Marcos campaign as his national campaign manager, he said in a press conference as he read his resignation letter dated February 4. Abalos designated incumbent MMDA general manager Romando Artes as officer-in-charge, pending Malacanang's appointment of the next chairman. When asked why he supports the son of a former dictator, Abalos said that Marcos is a good person. Napakabait na tao. Lahat po tayo ay may kanya-kanyang pananaw sa lahat ng bagay, sa relihiyon, sa lahat ng bagay maski sa presidente. Okay naman yan, he said. [Translation: He is a kind person. We all have our own beliefs, whether its religion or our preference on president. Thats okay.] Abalos was also Marcos' campaign manager in the National Capital Region during his vice-presidential bid in 2016. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 7) Presidential Adviser for COVID-19 Response Vince Dizon finds the pitch to make booster cards mandatory in establishments too soon amid a low number of Filipinos who have gotten additional protection against the virus. "Right now, I don't think it's possible to do at this point, to require booster shots to enter malls, restaurants," Dizon told CNN Philippines' The Source on Monday. "It's very premature to do that." Dizon was referring to the pitch of Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion, which the latter described as an easier way to build a wall of immunity against the virus. READ: Concepcion: Mandatory booster proof ensures consistent immunity vs COVID The COVID-19 response official argued that Filipinos who have received COVID-19 boosters numbered currently around eight million, which to him is a "very low number." "I would encourage the private sector and Secretary Concepcion to help push our people further in getting their booster shots," he said. "If the private sector can push their employees to get their booster shots, that would further increase these numbers in the coming weeks." Nearly 60 million Filipinos have completed their primary doses so far, but the government still has to fully vaccinate up to 90 million before President Rodrigo Duterte ends his term. Dizon said they seek to reach 70 million by March, especially with the third round of the National Vaccine Days happening this February 10 and 11. The government also seeks to boost the inoculation rate in rural areas, including the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which is "still below 50% (of the population who are) vaccinated," Dizon added. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 7) The Makati City Prosecutor's Office has dismissed the consolidated complaints against those allegedly involved in the death of flight attendant Christine Dacera. A statement on Monday summarizing the prosecutors' resolution dated January 31 said that the complaint for administering of illegal drugs filed against Mark Anthony Rosales, one of Dacera's companions during last year's New Year revelry, has been dismissed due to lack of proof, as Dacera tested negative for illegal drug use. Rosales and another companion Rommel Galido were also cleared from the complaint for attempt to deliver illegal drugs. Aside from Rosales and Galido, John Pascual Dela Serna, Gregorio Angelo Rafael De Guzman, Jezreel Rapinan, Alain Chen, Reymar Englis, Darwin Joseph Macalla and their lawyer Neptali Maroto were absolved from obstruction of justice since "they were simply protecting their rights within the bounds of law." The complaint for falsification against medico-legal officer Police Major Michael Nick Sarmiento was also junked "as it was not established that the fact narrated by him were absolutely false." Galido, Dela Serna, and Macalla, who were previously charged with perjury, were cleared. Dela Serna, Rapinan, Chen, and Louis de Lima, who were charged with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, were also cleared after absence of proof that they "were recklessly imprudent in failing to bring immediate medical attention to Dacera" which may have caused her death. "Evidence suggested that respondents performed CPR immediately upon noticing Dacera's perilous state and sought help from the hotel lobby," the statement read. The counter complaints for illegal detention, arbitrary detention, unlawful arrest, perjury, grave coercion, libel, slander, and cyberlibel filed by Dacera's companions against her mother Sharon, her cousin Katherine Anne Facelo, Sharon's friend and doctor Marichi Ramos, family lawyer Brick Reyes, and Makati police officers PCpl. Louie Lopez, and PSSg. Jun Alimurong were also dismissed due to lack of evidence. The complaint for incriminating innocent person, intriguing against honor and malicious prosecution against them were also "ruled out for lack of merit." The falsification complaint filed by Dacera's companions against National Bureau of Investigation officials Vicente de Guman and Zulikha Marie Conales-Dagomo were also dismissed as "there was no proof or evidence" that their narrations on the case were made with the wrongful intent to injure. Justice Undersecretary Emmeline Villar said the cases mentioned in the briefer are the only ones left involving Dacera. Dacera was found lifeless on Jan. 1 after a New Year's Eve party with friends and acquaintances. READ: TIMELINE: The Christine Dacera case In April 2021, the Makati City prosecutor's office dismissed for "lack of probable cause" the rape with homicide complaint against Dacera's companions. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 7) Parental consent for COVID-19 vaccination is an "absolute requirement" for children or else they cannot get their COVID-19 shots, government officials stressed Monday. As the country kicked off the vaccination for children aged 5-11 on Monday, Presidential Adviser for COVID-19 Response Vince Dizon clarified that they cannot be allowed to receive the vaccine if they do not have their parents' or guardians' approval. "To clarify, it is an absolute requirement," Dizon told CNN Philippines' The Source. "No child can be vaccinated without parental consent." Dizon said children cannot decide for themselves even if they want to get vaccinated but their parent would not allow them to do so. "Unfortunately, they cannot. It is the parents' call if their children will be vaccinated or not," he added. A Department of Health memorandum previously said the state can act as "parens patriae" or parent of the nation to give consent to a child's inoculation even if a parent or guardian refuses. But a new DOH memo released February 4 stated that the provision has been "rescinded." RELATED: DOH rescinds contested policy for consent in kids COVID-19 vaccination During the program launch on Monday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III explained why the DOH rescinded the controversial provision. "Nagkaroon lang ng hindi pagkakaintindihan. Inatasan ko na ang DOH last week na tanggalin iyan," Duque said. "Because unang-una ang parental consent hindi mo pwede i-replace. Ire-replace mo under extraordinary circumstances kung wala ang magulang, wala ang authorized guardian, only then can the state represent the interest of the child." [Translation: There was just a misunderstandting. I already ordered the DOH to remove it. Because you can't replace parental consent. It can only be replaced under extraordinary circumstances, when there is no parent or authorized guardian, only then can the state represent the interest of the child.] "Hindi pwedeng ang estado ang magbigay ng pahintulot kung pwede bakunahan o hindi ang bata edad (The state cannot give consent to a child aged) 5-11 or even 12-17, also 4 and below. Parental consent is absolute," he added. Dizon said there were initially 500,000 children aged 5-11 who have signed up to get their shots. But the government is expecting that around 1.5 million under this age group will receive the vaccine. Dizon assured that the vaccination of younger children has been proven safe, since it was also endorsed by the Philippine Pediatric Society. Through Republic Act 11525 or the Vaccination Program Act of 2021, the government will also shoulder a percentage of the cost if the child experiences any serious adverse effect following immunization, he added. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 7) The Department of Health on Monday said all individuals who have previously generated their digital COVID-19 vaccine certificates through VaxCertPH should request for a new version. It said the QR codes obtained before Feb. 7 will be unreadable and deemed outdated after VaxCertPH was updated with new features. DOH advised individuals to regenerate the code via vaxcert.doh.gov.ph or go to the city of hall of where they got vaccinated. Those who haven't registered yet can make a request 48 hours after their full vaccination. VaxCertPH includes the holder's personal data, brand and lot number of the vaccines, and the place and date when the doses were administered. It also contains a QR code that will be used to match data in the Vaccination Information Management System a central database serving all local government units. It could serve as digital proof of vaccination for those traveling abroad. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 6) Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian believes the booster card requirement in highly vaccinated areas like Metro Manila will encourage more people to get the additional shots. Presidential adviser for entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion earlier suggested that areas with high vaccination rates should require COVID-19 booster cards for additional protection against the disease. I'm for the boostering, I agree with it and people should be looking for a booster card," Gatchalian said. "Making the booster cards mandatory -- they will also get time to get boosted." But National Task Force Against COVID-19 special adviser Ted Herbosa said requiring booster cards is a form of elitism and would restrict the mobility of so many people. "Mababa pa ang ating booster vaccinated status [Our boosted vaccinated status is still low]. Our booster status is about 7 or 8 million pa lang [only]. If you only have few, problema pa yan di ba [its still a problem, right]?" Herbosa said. He added that mandating booster cards is not timely, as many are still waiting for their second dose. "There will be much more people who will complain than the people who will be able to comply. Yan ang problema sa policy na yan [That's the problem with the policy]. Very elitist ang policy," said Herbosa. Middle East ad spend was 22% higher in Q4 2021 than at any point over the past year, while a 25% increase was seen globally, according to Emplifi. A healthy holiday season in the region led paid social to soar 26% year-on-year, and highlights how much more brands generally invest in it over the end-of-year period, said Emplifi, the leading unified customer experience platform, which has released the results of its comprehensive analysis of Q4 2021 social media data, offering key insights into paid and organic user engagement and post interaction on Instagram and Facebook, and social media customer care. Brands seeking to benchmark their social media contents level of engagement as measured in likes, comments and shares will be interested in Emplifis analysis across more than 7,000 brands worldwide. During the last quarter of 2021, Click-Thru-Rates (CTRs) held steady globally, but Cost-Per-Click (CPC) increased, meaning marketers had to pay more for that audience. In the Middle East, the highest CTR was seen on Facebook Instream Video (0.33%) followed by Facebook News Feed (0.19%). While the lowest CPC was Facebook Video Feeds ($0.08), Facebook News Feed ($0.16), and Instagram Stories ($0.68). Organic social media in the Middle East found Live Video to be a clear top-performer, with 38 median post interactions, and 31 interactions more than any other type of post. Whereas on Instagram, Carousel and Instagram TV both had 63 median post interactions. In general, Instagram posts earned higher engagement than Facebook posts globally. In Q4 2021, brands earned approximately 5.3 interactions per 1,000 impressions for a Facebook post, a 19% decrease compared to Q4 2020. Meanwhile, Instagram posts received about 35 interactions per 1,000 impressions in Q4 2021, which was similar to the results of the Q4 2020 report. Looking at the region by industry, the retail category (21.3%, up from 19.2% in Q3 2021) topped the total interactions of brand pages on Facebook, while on Instagram, the eCommerce category (30.4%, up from 26.9% in Q3 2021) led the way for the total interactions of brand profiles on the platform. Etihad Airways had two of the top three performing posts on Facebook, generating 435,159 and 380,437 interactions respectively, while the National Bank of Kuwait (225,069 interactions) and telecom company Ooredoo Qatar (151,696) were the best performing post on Instagram. SOCIAL MEDIA CUSTOMER CARE Its important that brands understand what consumers want and need at each stage of their purchase journey. The foundation of any successful social media campaign is content that truly resonates with your target audiences, which alongside customer care, is a large contributor to a positive customer experience" said Emplifi CMO Zarnaz Arlia. Social media efforts related to customer service are a very recent shift. Gone are the days when consumers interact with brands by just phone or email. Todays consumers spend their time on social media - thats where they want to engage with brands, and they have high expectations on responsiveness. Emplifi also analysed the efficacy of social media customer care by measuring how often brands respond to user questions in the comments (response rate), and the timeliness of their response (response time). In Q4 2021, there was a slight decline compared to Q4 2020 response rates across all three platforms globally Facebook (-3%), Instagram (-2%), and Twitter (-2%). Brands were also more likely to respond to questions on Instagram than they were on Twitter, with the exception of brands in Automotive and Home and Living, which both had higher response rates on Facebook than Instagram. Emplifi data also shows that globally the time it takes for brands to respond is slowly increasing on Facebook and Instagram, with year-on-year increases of 1.0 and 2.6 hours seen on these platforms, respectively. On the other hand, brands' response times on Twitter decreased by 1 hour since Q4 2020. Specifically in the Middle East, the median response time on Twitter to user direct messages and questions in comments is less than two hours. The growing mainstream use of chatbots is also noteworthy. Over time, expect brands to increase both response rate and response time by leveraging AI-powered chatbots to respond to frequently asked questions. People want fast answers to their questions and there is room for improvement when it comes to brands response time on social media. Finding efficiencies for simple inquiries can address consumer expectations and provide support teams with more time to solve complex questions. The businesses that succeed and gain market share understand this, and how it elevates the overall customer experience," said Arlia.-- TradeArabia News Service Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 7) Presidential aspirant Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos has admitted worrying about the disqualification cases against him and acknowledged the possibility of his running mate Sara Duterte's ascension to power if he is disqualified should they both win in the upcoming polls. In a rare instance, he discussed the disqualification petitions he is facing before the Commission on Elections. TV host-broadcaster Korina Sanchez asked Marcos if he feels threatened by these cases. "Of course. I take everything seriously. I have lawyers who are mounting my defense. I think they have it well in hand. Sabi sa akin malakas ang kaso namin [I was told we have a strong case] so we'll see what happens next," he said in the full interview posted on Monday. He was also asked about the possibility of his running mate and another Duterte becoming the president. He replied, "Yes, if I am disqualified. That will be the transfer of power." If he is disqualified with finality after being proclaimed as the new president, the vice president will take over the top position. The tandem of Marcos and Duterte emerged as the top choice in the December election survey conducted by Pulse Asia. The president and vice president are elected separately in the Philippines. There is still no decision on the three consolidated disqualification cases against Marcos nearly a month since the Comelec's first division ended the proceedings and submitted the case for resolution. Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon voted to disqualify Marcos, noting that he was convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude for failing to file his income tax return for four years then again failing to pay fines in the regional trial court. However, her vote no longer holds weight after she retired last week. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 7) The Philippine National Police has identified the TikTok user who allegedly plotted to assassinate presidential aspirant Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., PNP chief Dionardo Carlos announced on Monday. He did not bare the name of the person who posted a comment on the video-sharing app threatening Marcos of assassination, but he explained PNP's next steps. "Identified na po ang gumamit ng TikTok," he said in a media briefing. "Tuloy-tuloy ang kaniyang digital trail at eventual identification. After that magsampa ng kaso, issue ng warrant of arrest, then the tracker team gets the person responsible for this kind of threat." [Translation: The TikTok user has been identified. We identified the person through their digital trail. After that we will file a case, issue a warrant of arrest, then the tracker team gets the person responsible for this kind of threat.] The Marcos camp said Charito Zamora, officer-in-chief of the Department of Justices cybercrime group, has requested TikTok to "preserve the data related to the subject account while the Philippine authorities are working on the legal process for its disclosure." TikTok's Law Enforcement Outreach is also working on the request. According to Zamora, the comment from an account with the username @joiedevivre420 read: "Nagmemeeting kami araw araw para paghandaang ipa aasasinate naming si BBM humanda kayo." Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the National Bureau of Investigation would "give priority attention" to any validated information pertaining to a threat to the personal security of any presidential aspirant. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 7) The Commission on Elections said Monday that it will no longer print new ballots even with the disqualification of some candidates after the scheduled printing. In a briefing, Comelec director Elaiza David also clarified that the name of former senator Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos will stay on the official ballot face, regardless of the decision on the disqualification cases against him. We will not na po. Yung policy will apply not just to Marcos, Jr. but to all din po na would be disqualified after the printing of ballots has already started po, said David during the Laging Handa public briefing. [Translation: We will no longer do that. That policy not just applies to Marcos, Jr. but as well as to other candidates who may be disqualified after the printing of ballots has already started.] David added that there are also no instructions yet if there is a need to reprint the ballots to include the names of declared nuisance candidates, even if they have already secured a temporary restraining order from the Supreme Court. As of now wala pa po kaming nabalitaan o any instruction to stop or to reprint. Gaya po ng nabanggit ko kanina, ongoing pa po yung printing na wala pa pong instruction to reprint or stop printing, she added. [Translation: As of now we have not received any updates or instructions to stop or to reprint. Just like what Ive said earlier, the printing is still ongoing and theres no instruction to reprint or stop printing.] Included on the official ballot face are 10 presidential candidates, nine vice presidential candidates, and 64 senatorial bets. Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez earlier floated the idea of reprinting some of the ballots if ever the SC enforces the TRO barring the Comelec from declaring the said candidates as nuisance bets. The printing of automated election system ballots for the May 9 polls started last Jan. 23. Meanwhile, the printing of manual ballots which do not have preprinted names of candidates began last Jan. 20. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 7) Presidential aspirant and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said he does not consider China an enemy, but stressed Beijing must respect Manila's sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea. "Hindi ko naman sila kaaway [Theyre not my enemy]. I cannot blame (Chinese President) Xi Jinping thinking that West Philippine Sea is theirs. But in the same manner, the kind of thinking, the kind of respect must be given to us. No, its also ours, Moreno told veteran journalist Korina Sanchez over the weekend. "In the meantime, we won in the Hague ruling and rules must be observed. Contracts and agreements must be recognized, he added. Manila filed numerous diplomatic protests against Beijing last year, with the East Asian giant remaining adamant in its maritime claims despite the Permanent Court of Arbitration rejecting these in 2016. RELATED: A look back at PH-China relations, maritime row in 2021 Moreno also said in an earlier radio interview that he will continue to convince other countries to help the Philippines implement the Hague ruling. The local chief executive previously said he wants to modernize the Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard if elected president, stressing this will help ensure that Filipino fisherfolk have unimpeded access to national waters. Moreno also eyes appointing a former Navy flag officer as defense secretary if he wins in the polls, noting a Navy commander has expertise in guarding the countrys borders. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 7) Several vaccination sites in Metro Manila are now ready for the initial rollout of COVID-19 vaccines for children aged 5 to 11 years old, despite a petition filed by two parents to stop the government initiative. To encourage vaccinees, San Juan City will offer a children's party theme at the Fil-Oil arena, providing a pre-pandemic feel while still following minimum health protocols. "Gusto ni Mayor Francis na maging relaxing ang [Mayor Francis wants a relaxing] atmosphere," city information officer Brian Geli said, with coloring activities, film showings, magicians, and cosplayers to entertain the children. San Juan will prioritize its 5,000 children in the inoculation, but will eventually accept kids from other cities. Meanwhile, the National Children's Hospital said it could accommodate 300 pre-registered children, adding that it has enough medical staff on site. The Philippine Heart Center meanwhile said it can vaccinate 600 children per day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. "We have certain number of people to be vaccinated per hour. For example, 8 to 9 a.m., 50 people, we will accommodate 50 people. Nagkaroon na ng [We already had an] online booking before," said Dr. Tony Pascual. "In the afternoon of Tuesday, we will also be doing vaccination for 12 to 17 (year olds)." But some officials do not agree with the vaccination programs policy on consent. A Department of Health guideline allows the state to act as parens patriae and give the necessary consent in case the parents or guardians refuses to allow the minors to be vaccinated, despite their willingness to take the shots. "The fact na hindi pumayag ang magulang, ibig sabihin, yun ang opinyon ng magulang na mabuti sa anak di ba [The fact that the parents refused meant its what they think is best for their children]," Navotas City Mayor Toby Tiangco said. Senator Imee Marcos is also opposing the memorandum, saying the government cannot usurp parental authority. Former ABS-CBN broadcast journalist Dominic Almelor and Girlie Samonte, mother of two children who had health problems after receiving the Dengvaxia vaccine, filed the petition to stop the project through the Public Attorneys Office. The government said the national rollout of the vaccination for children will begin on Feb. 14. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 7) Senator Kiko Pangilinan insisted that the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act that he authored still punishes children who commit crimes, refuting claims the law allows them to just be released. [H]indi totoo na hindi dapat pinaparusahan ang mga batang nagkasala. Hindi rin totoo na pinapakawalan, said Pangilinan on the Rated Korina show that was uploaded on YouTube on Monday. [Translation: It is not true that the children committing offenses are not being punished (by the law). It is not true that they can just be let go.] The Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act raised the minimum age of criminal responsibility from nine to 15. Under the law, children face a minimum of one year in involuntary detention in a youth detention home or rehabilitation center if they commit a serious offense. Merong parusa sa mga bata pero 'wag naman ihahalo dito sa hardened criminals, said the senator. [Translation: There is a punishment for them but we should not mix them with hardened criminals.] His clarification came after President Rodrigo Duterte discouraged people from voting for Pangilinan for vice president, blaming him and the juvenile law for encouraging young people to be more daring in carrying out criminal acts. In 2019, Pangilinan previously pointed out that releasing young offenders without detaining them in a Bahay Pagasa or youth care facility was the wrong implementation of the law. Duterte has criticized the law as early as 2017, with the same argument that it promotes youth crime. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 8) The official campaign period for national post aspirants kicks off Tuesday with presidential candidates set to stage proclamation rallies in different areas nationwide. National candidates are given three months, or until May 7, to present their platforms and convince voters to support them come election day, May 9. Earlier, the Commission on Elections released guidelines on campaign activities to ensure public health and safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic. READ: LIST: Restrictions during in-person campaigns, caravans of 2022 bets A total of 10 candidates are vying to succeed President Rodrigo Duterte, while nine are joining the vice-presidential race. There are 64 hopefuls for the senate seat. To formally begin her campaign, Vice President Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo will be in her hometown in Camarines Sur, with her running mate Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan. Their caravan will tour the whole province, starting in Del Gallego town at 6 a.m., while their proclamation rally will be held at Plaza Quezon in Naga City at 6 p.m. Former senator Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr., meanwhile, will hold his proclamation rally at the Philippine Arena in Sta. Maria, Bulacan at 4 p.m. He will be joined by his running mate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. The tandem of Senators Panfilo Ping Lacson and Vicente Tito Sotto III will be in Cavite, Lacsons home province. They will hear a mass at the Imus Cathedral at 3:30 p.m. before proceeding to the Imus Grandstand where their proclamation rally will begin at 5 p.m. Senator Emmanuel Manny Pacquiao, whose running mate is BUHAY Party-list Rep. Jose "Lito" Atienza, is also expected to mark the start of his campaign in his hometown General Santos City at 3 p.m. Pacquiao's staff on Sunday evening said the venue is still subject to change, with another option being Alabel, Sarangani. The nation's capital will be the venue for Manila Mayor Francisco Isko Moreno Domagoso and vice presidential aspirant Dr. Willie Ong's proclamation rally. It will be held at the Kartilya ng Katipunan in Ermita, Manila at 4:30 p.m. Labor leader Leodegario "Leody" De Guzman, meanwhile, will officially kick off his campaign at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani in Quezon City at 6 p.m. He will be joined by his running mate, former congressman Walden Bello. Other presidential candidates are Ernesto Abella, former spokesperson of President Duterte; Norberto Gonzales, former Defense Secretary during the term of ex-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo; Jun Montemayor, lawyer and doctor; and Faisal Mangondato, a businessman. The campaign period for local candidates which include members of the House of Representatives, and elective provincial, city, and municipal officials will begin on March 25. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 8) President Rodrigo Duterte said he is already packing his things and preparing to move out of Malacanang by March, months ahead of the official end of his term. Nag-iimpake na po akoso I should be out by March. Hindi ko na paabutin ng Abril. Hindi na matutulog rin dito, said Duterte during his weekly Talk to the People briefing on Monday. [Translation: I am already packing my thingsI should be out by March. I wont let it reach April. I wont be sleeping here anymore either.] The President said he will only visit the Palace for work. He also mentioned that he has already sent away some of his things. He said he's also looking forward to the day he would turn over the reins of power to the new president. Duterte said he will invite his successor over to meet with personally in the Palace. Dutertes term will officially end on June 30, also the official start of the new presidents term. The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) will organise a ceremony at its premises during the month of February to honour the winners of the Sharjah Excellence Award 2020-2021. The event will see the honouring of the winners in the following categories: Sharjah Best Security Standards Award Launched in partnership with Sharjah Police General Directorate and with the support of the Sharjah General Directorate of Civil Defence; Sharjah Excellence Award; Sharjah Green Award; Sharjah Entrepreneurs Award; Sharjah Small & Medium Enterprises Award. Also, the evaluation teams, juries, and strategic sponsors will be honoured. About 120 business enterprises, local departments, and entrepreneurs took part in the award, while the evaluation process was carried out by specialists in various areas of assessment, including institutional excellence, green practices, social responsibility, entrepreneurship, and start-ups. Expressing her pleasure with the success of the Sharjah Excellence Award when it comes to the quality and volume of participations, Nada Al Hajri, Award General Coordinator, affirmed that this success reflects the leading position of the award which is one of the SCCI's flagship initiatives. She pointed out that the award aims to encourage the best quality standards and business practices, empower the private sector to improve performance and the quality of services, develop their responsibility towards society, and stimulate establishments to comply with the safety and security requirements and standards. "Honouring the companies and institutions from inside and outside Sharjah aims to support and motivate them to embrace the concepts of excellence and quality," added Al Hajri, noting that the evaluation process was carried out as per arbitration approaches based on the international best practices, as well as the latest institutional evaluation models.-- TradeArabia News Service Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 8) Around 93% of COVID-related deaths in the country were from the unvaccinated, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said. On Mondays televised Cabinet briefing, Duque also noted that those who have yet to receive their vaccine shots comprise 85% of severe and critical cases, highlighting the importance of getting inoculated against the virus. Data showed that the country has so far recorded 54,538 deaths, which represents 1.51% of total infections. From 328 fatalities in December 2021, the number climbed to 1,247 last month, or around 40 deaths per day, based on Duque's presentation. But he added that the number is already expected to decline in about two weeks, following the trend of the decline of COVID-19 cases in the country. During the briefing, President Rodrigo Duterte once again urged the unvaccinated to get their COVID-19 shots, emphasizing that the country is not yet over the hump. Kapag namatay ka at hindi kayo bakunado, well, sabihin ko sa iyo, 'Good riddance' Gusto niyo mamatay eh di sige. Maglakad-lakad ka and if you get contaminated, you will be awfully very, very sorry for yourself and your family, he said. [Translation: If you die unvaccinated, I will say to you 'Good riddance.' You want to die, then go ahead. Walk around and if you get contaminated, you will be awfully very, very sorry for yourself and your family.] Duterte also encouraged parents to get their children immunized, after the government launched its vaccination program for children aged 5 to 11 on Monday. (CNN) Britain's Prince Andrew has agreed to give a statement under oath on March 10 in the UK as part of the civil case against him, a source close to the Duke of York told CNN on Saturday. Virginia Giuffre, who alleges she was trafficked by disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and forced to perform sex acts with the prince at the age of 17, "still hasn't committed to a date or location for her deposition," the source added. Giuffre's lawyer David Boies last month said in a statement that her legal team was looking "forward to confronting Prince Andrew with his denials and attempts to blame Ms. Giuffre for her own abuse at his deposition and at trial." Boies and another lawyer representing Giuffre, Sigrid McCawley, will conduct the deposition, which is expected to last two days, according to the Daily Telegraph. Andrew, 61, has repeatedly denied Giuffre's allegations. The legal drama currently playing out stems from a civil case Giuffre brought against Andrew under New York's Child Victims Act, a state law enacted in 2019 which expanded the statute of limitations in child sex abuse cases to give survivors more opportunities to seek justice. An attorney for Giuffre told CNN in August filing the civil case was to show "all perpetrators of abuse should be held accountable." After a judge ruled the case could proceed, Andrew formally denied allegations and demanded a jury trial, according to a legal filing last month in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. Andrew has until July 14 to potentially answer questions about the case under oath. If the case is not settled, he could face a trial date between September and December 2022. The deposition date revelation comes as Queen Elizabeth marked 70 years on the throne, and the ongoing legal battle will loom over celebrations for the monarch's historic milestone throughout the year. The case could have major ramifications for Buckingham Palace. It would be unprecedented for a senior British royal to be entangled in a very public civil lawsuit that would attract attention from around the world. The long-running allegations against the Queen's third child have already dramatically tarnished his public standing, and he stepped back from royal duties in late 2019. He was also stripped of military titles and charities last month. (CNN) New satellite images released by a US-based technology company appear to show that Russia's military has advanced deployments at several locations in Belarus, a move likely to concern Ukraine and NATO amid fears that the Kremlin is planning an incursion into Ukrainian territory. The deployments are likely linked to joint exercises between Russian and Belarus forces that are due to begin on Thursday. However, other photographs show camps being established close to the border with Ukraine, hundreds of miles from where the exercises are taking place. Russia has repeatedly denied it is planning to attack Ukraine, despite Moscow's massive troop buildup in the region. The Kremlin is believed to have assembled 70% of the military personnel and weapons on Ukraine's borders that Russia would need for a full-scale invasion, according to two US officials familiar with Washington's latest intelligence estimates. However, it is unclear how long it would take Russian forces to ramp up further, or if they would need full capabilities in order to invade. The images from Maxar -- taken Saturday -- are consistent with recently posted social media videos showing Russian forces moving through Belarus and creating field camps within 20 miles of the Ukrainian border. Some of the imagery shows Belarus' Luninets airfield, where Russian fighter jets have deployed ahead of the exercises, dubbed Union Resolve 2022. Photographs show Russian S-400 air defense systems and Su-25 attack aircraft at the airfield. The Russian Defense Ministry released video on Saturday of the arrival of the planes at Luninets. One of the S-400 battalions has traveled from Khabarovsk in the Russian Far East, a journey of more than 5,600 miles (9,000 kilometers), according to Zvezda, a Russian Ministry of Defense publication. Other photographs from Maxar show Russian forces establishing themselves at some distance from where the exercises are planned -- including at Rechitsa, a Belarusian city about 170 miles (270 kilometers) east of Luninets close to where the borders of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine meet. The force gathered there includes tanks, howitzers and infantry fighting vehicles. The images show that for the first time several tent encampments have been created at Rechitsa. That development and recent footage from the area suggest a growing Russian presence there. Videos posted to social media show Russian troops entertaining local people in Rechitsa, with music and demonstrations at an event called Two Nations, One History, One People. Several other images from Maxar show a growing Russian presence southwest of Rechitsa, and within 15 miles (25 kilometers) of the Ukrainian border, in rural areas close to the town of Yelsk. Maxar assesses the deployment near Yelsk to include short-range Iskander ballistic missiles, which have a range of about 250 miles (400 kilometers.) Analysts at IHS/Janes, a military intelligence firm, believe there are elements of at least three Russian Battalion Tactical Group at Yelsk. The massive troop buildup has caused alarm among US and European leaders. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday that Moscow's deployment into Belarus is the biggest since the Cold War. One European diplomat called the massing of forces a "big, big worry," noting this would be the missing piece that Moscow would need to launch a quick attack on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, which is less than two hours from the border of Belarus. Based on publicly available weather calculations, the optimal time for a Russian invasion would be while there is a hard ground freeze, so heavy equipment can readily move. US officials have said Putin would understand he needs to move by the end of March. The White House, however, has stopped saying a potential Russian invasion is "imminent" due to concerns that the term suggests President Vladimir Putin has already made a decision to invade Ukraine. "We still don't know that he's made a decision," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said last week. Ukraine presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak said Sunday there was no evidence Russia will take "critical steps for a full-scale invasion" of the country, but added that Kyiv and its partners are preparing for any possible scenarios. "The situation is completely under control. One way or another, we are not reducing the activity of diplomatic work to ensure a sustainable and full-fledged de-escalation," Podoliak told state media. He noted that the "threatening concentration" of Russian troops at Ukraine's borders remains, but stressed that it has been "going on for several years." This story was first published on CNN.com, "New satellite images show advanced Russian military deployments in Belarus" A Lincoln woman has been arrested on multiple charges in Platte County, including arson. According to a Monday press release from the Platte County Sheriffs Office, a deputy responded to a residence in rural Platte County, near Genoa, at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday to investigate a possible arson. With assistance from the Nebraska State Fire Marshals Office, evidence showed that a fire had been intentionally set outside the residence. Other evidence obtained lead investigators to a suspect Macy S. Nemeth, 20, of Lincoln and other criminal activity. While investigating, police learned that Nemeth was being held at the Platte County Detention Facility on unrelated charges. According to the press release, Nemeth had been stopped by the Nebraska State Patrol at 2:15 a.m. that day for speeding on Highway 81 just west of Columbus. She was being held at the jail on charges of driving under the influence of drugs and possession of marijuana, less than one ounce. According to the press release, Nemeth remains in custody on those two charges, as well as three new charges attempted first degree arson, a class IIA felony; stalking, a class I misdemeanor; and intimidation by electronic device, a class III misdemeanor. The incident remains under investigation by the sheriffs office and fire marshals office. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Platte County Sheriffs Office at 402-564-3229 or Platte County Area Crime Stoppers at 402-563-4000. Reach The Columbus Telegram newsroom at news@columbustelegram.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a number of recalls in the last week, including a Mexican candy sold across the country that may be contaminated with lead. El Chavito Inc. is recalling all lots of its Saladitos dried salted plums and Saladitos Enchilados salted plums with chili because of possible lead contamination. Symptoms to lead exposure include abdominal pain, vomiting, lethargy, irritability, weakness, behavior or mood changes, seizures, delirium or coma. The products sold in 1.7-ounce packages were distributed nationwide and sold online on El Chavitos website from Jan. 9, 2019, to Feb. 2, 2022. There have been no reports of illnesses, and customers who purchased the product should return it to the place of purchase for a refund. For more information, email info@chavitomexcandy.com. A&E Corrales LLC is also recalling its Saladitos dried salted plums with chili because of possible lead contamination. This product was distributed nationwide through retail stores and online at Amazon and the company website from Aug. 1, 2021, to Dec. 31. The affected product was sold in 1-pound bags with UPC of 0661799748162. There have been no reports of illnesses. Customers who have purchased the product should return it to the company or dispose of it. Golden Medal Mushrooms Inc. is recalling all cases of its 7.05-ounce packages of enoki mushrooms with lot number 300511 because of possible listeria contamination. The FDA said the product was distributed directly in Chicago in January before being further distributed to retail stores nationwide. The mushrooms are packaged in vacuum-sealed plastic packaging and is a product of China with no English translation on the label. There are no business names or addresses printed on the packages. No illnesses have been reported, but the potential contamination was found after routing testing by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Customers who have purchased the product should discard them or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. For more information, call the company at 323-720-9126. Undeclared egg is behind the recall of Conagra Brands Wish Bone Thousand Island and Chunky Blue Cheese dressings. There have been no reports of illnesses related to consumption of the product. Affected dressings were sold in 15-ounce and 24-ounce bottles and have best by dates between Nov. 9, 2022, and Feb. 11, 2023. For more information, call Conagra Brands Consumer Care at 1-800-881-3989. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission also reported a number of recalls, including a toy with a choking hazard. Games Workshop is recalling its Koyo Bounca the Squig limited edition plush toy because the pom-poms can detach, posing a choking hazard. No incidents or injuries have been reported. The plush toy was sold at Games Workshop and Warhammer stores nationwide from October 2021 to November. Consumers should take the toys away from young children and return it to a store for a full refund. D&D Technologies is recalling its SureClose Readyfit 180-degree hinge-closer sets because the hinge-closers can malfunction and not fully self-close pool gates when installed. This can lead to unintended access to pools by children. No incidents or injuries have been reported. The hinge-closer sets have model numbers 74108333T and 74108335T and were sold at fence and gate contractors, distributors and gate manufacturers nationwide and online from March 2020 to July 2021. Consumers should stop using the hinge-closures and secure access to areas where gates are used until they have been replaced. Contact the company at 800-716-0888 to receive either a full refund or to schedule a replacement at no cost. Rooms to Go is recalling its River Street five-drawer chests over a tip-over hazard. No incidents or injuries have been reported. The chests were sold in mocha and graphite colors with SKU numbers of 32624252 or 32624238. They were sold at Rooms to Go stores and online from February 2019 to October 2021. Consumers should stop using the chests and contact the company at 855-688-0919 for a free in-home repair by trained technicians, free replacement or a full refund of the purchase price in the form of store credit. Email Naomi Creason at ncreason@cumberlink.com or follow her on Twitter @SentinelCreason Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Residents of Bonne Terre and longtime travelers along U.S. 67 might have noticed a familiar business has changed with the times the old Bonneville Inn Motel has recently been changed to a Motel 6. In December, the mid-century modern motel, at the top of the hill from Route K and near the U.S. 67 overpass, took on the gray and blue colors of the Texas-based, international hotel chain that got its start in Santa Barbara, California, only two years before Bonneville was built. Its owners, the Jhaveri family, have been working hard to renovate the almost 60-year-old motel. General Manager Mikhil Jhaveri said it took at least a year of renovating the building. We took over in July 2020, and we officially finished in November and opened Dec. 2 as Motel 6, he said, adding that theyre hoping to win an award of recognition for the work theyve accomplished. Jhaveri said each room, which can go for $65-70 a night, offers a refrigerator and microwave oven. Lots of things are free coffee, Wi-Fi, local calls, expanded cable and kids stay free, too. Pets are welcome, they have vending machines and coin-operated laundry machines are located on site. The rooms are brightly light with blackout-curtain for the windows, and the floors are a health-friendly barnwood laminate. Right, we tore out the carpeting, it had to go, Jhaveri said. When we took over, things were not in the best condition. Plus, with the hard flooring, it makes it so that we can welcome pets, and people with allergies or who have COVID concerns can feel good about the floors being easier to clean more thoroughly. When it was built in 1964, though, the Daily Journal ad for the Bonneville Inn boasted 28 modern, air-conditioned rooms, with TV and wall-to-wall carpeting." The adjacent restaurant also named Bonneville had two private dining rooms and a coffee shop, with plenty of parking outside. Old-timers will remember every inch of the parking lot would be filled on weekends. Over the years, more motels would spring up in the area. A June 21, 1967, Daily Journal spoke of the four leading hotels: Andrews' TraveLodge brings to four the number of modern motels new to the county within the 1960s, with the other three being Bonneville Inn Motel, Roseners Best Western Motel in then-Flat River and now-Park Hills, and Holiday Inn Jr. Motel just south of Farmington. Only a couple of months later, the owners, Donald and Betty Meyers, announced the restaurant would be managed by a Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Greenfield. "Mr. and Mrs. Donald Meyers, the owners, wish to express their thanks to all those who did patronize the restaurant and will continue to operate the Bonneville Inn Motel, the Daily Journal ad stated. The Bonneville Inn will continue to feature superb service and fine foods, 24 hour service, 7 days per week. Banquet Room available also." Only one year later, according to an Aug. 22, 1968, Daily Journal article, the Meyers sold the Bonneville Inn to Mr. and Mrs. Don Rygmyr of Lawrence, Kansas. At that time, the motel and restaurant were operating outside the city limits of Bonne Terre. A few months later, there was a proposal to city council to annex the area south of Highway K and west of Stormy Lane, including the Hillcrest Subdivision. It didn't seem to be accepted, because it was brought up again four years later, in June 1972. In 1970, the motel was owned by Don L. Jerrell and accepted into Friendship Inns of America, an "international motor inn chain of over 800 of America's finest motor inns..." In April 1971 it won a listing in the Mobil Travel Guide. June 1976, it was announced the motel was under new ownership. This time, in addition to carpeting and air conditioning, amenities boasted color TV and a swimming pool. Bonneville Motel made Daily Journal headlines again on Aug. 4, 1976, when a Kansas City jewelry salesman representing a firm in Boston forgot nine, high-quality diamonds worth $30,000 to $40,000 at that time in a drawer of the room he'd checked out of that morning. Motel staff came across them as they were cleaning, and all efforts were made to contact the salesman, who eventually contacted the sheriff Jim Hickman, who had taken custody of them. He eventually returned to retrieve the diamonds. The weather was rough in 1980. That summer, strong winds caused damage to several properties in July, including the Bonneville Motel, which was by then owned by Robert Ottinger of Bonne Terre. Later in the year, a Thanksgiving Eve and Day snow dumped 10 inches on St. Francois County, the second-heaviest November snow on local record, with Greg Allen of Farmington reporting at the time that the heaviest November snow dropped 16 inches on Nov. 6-7 in 1951. Local hotels were inundated with holiday travelers. A Bonneville Motel spokesman said, "I could have rented three times that many (all 28 rooms). Some people asked if they could sleep in the lobby, but we were able to direct them to other motels with space. Some families did spend the night in their cars in the restaurant parking lot." The Ottingers operated the motel for many years. Tragedy struck the family when Robert died in 1986, following complications involving a heart transplant-gone-wrong, due to a Texas company's initial mislabeling of the organ used in the first transplant operation. The malpractice lawsuit that followed made international headlines. Operated by Roberts widow, Rose, and son, Brian, in the fall of 1987 a Michigan rock hound's stay in the motel proved to save his life. According to an Oct. 2, 1987, edition of the Daily Journal, Charles Kelley, 68, was searching for a rock in an abandoned quarry near Cadet, but fell, breaking his hip. He was stranded for 30 hours, but had earlier that day told Rose where he was going and approximately when he'd be back, in case of such an emergency as this one. "I would always tell Rose when to expect me and if I didn't show up within an hour or so of that to come looking for me," Kelley said. Brian, 24, enlisted the help of friend Jim Pettus who had a truck that could handle the terrain where he thought Kelley might be. Bonne Terre Police, Washington County Sheriffs Office deputies, and the highway patrol were all contacted for help with the search, but day turned into night, and the search was called off. Kelley meanwhile had been able to drag himself partially underneath his truck, but heavy rain storms and 50-degree weather caused him to pass out multiple times during the night. The next morning, Brian, and Pettus resumed the search finally seeing the top of Kelleys vehicle and making their way over to the man about 4 p.m., 30 hours after the man had fallen. Kelley reportedly said, "When I looked up and saw Brian there were tears in my eyes and in his eyes, too." After a week's stay in the Washington County hospital, Kelley flew back to Michigan, but not before reserving a future stay at the hotel, where he'd been staying for about 20 years, visiting three or four times a year. He said he had been staying there when Rose's family owned it and he wasnt about to stop now, they were "just like family to me." The Ottinger family eventually sold it and it changed hands a few times over the years. In a June 14, 1998, Daily Journal, the Bonneville Motel was one of several hotels in the area impatiently waiting for construction to begin on the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center, due to hold-up lawsuits from Opponents of Prison Site Inc. The Bonneville manager at the time, Mike Patel, said they had already remodeled extensively and had planned to double the motel's capacity in anticipation of as many as 450 construction workers living in temporary quarters, but all the hotels were going to have to wait until the suit made its way through the courts. Its twin building, the old Bonneville Restaurant, was torn down in 2006 after being vacant for about 10 years. A large gas station and convenience store now sit at the bottom of the hill from the new Motel 6. Since then, the hotel had seen an increase in crime reports attached to its address. The Jhaveri family hopes to change the old inn's fortunes, Mikhil said last week. Its a lot cleaner than it used to be, said Jhaveri. I understand it really went downhill in recent years, with lots of complaints about the guests. Now, its more brightly-lit at night and definitely quieter. "We have some very nice customers. Sarah Haas is the assistant editor for the Daily Journal. She can be reached at 573-518-3617 or at shaas@dailyjournalonline.com. Love 6 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 1 Angry 2 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Cap America Inc. announced recently Jessica Lewis has been promoted to knit supervisor. Lewis started with Cap America as an EK operator in 2018. Prior to this, she was a production supervisor at Madison County Sheltered Workshop, where she was responsible for teaching and training new employees as well as monitoring daily production goals. Lewis promotion accommodates for exponential growth within Cap Americas USA-made knit department. Starting on Jan. 1, knit production will mirror Cap Americas embroidery production: 24 hours a day, six days a week. Lewis will be one of two supervisors to oversee knit department employees. She will ensure that the department continues to run safely and efficiently and that the highest standard of quality for knit products is met. Lewis will report to Jon Page, vice president of production, who states, Jessica has shown exemplary ambition and drive during her tenure with Cap America. Her skill as an EK operator and her previous leadership experience will both serve her well in this new position. I am confident she will excel and be an essential part of department growth. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Spirit Airlines has added Cancun to its destinations available at St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL). Spirit is the latest airline to fly internationally from STL with direct service to Cancun, Mexico. The airline inaugurated service from STL with four flights in May and began service to three more destinations in November. Spirits flight to Cancun will depart daily at 6:30 a.m. from Concourse C. The airline will also provide a daily return flight from Cancun that is scheduled to arrive at 2:03 p.m. Spirit Airlines' continued growth at St. Louis Lambert International is a great way to end this remarkable year, said Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge, STL airport director. In March, the airline announced its arrival at STL, and today it flies to eight destinations. We are grateful to see Spirits commitment to this region. We sincerely appreciate the warm welcome Spirit has received in St. Louis, and were thrilled to continue investing in additional convenient, non-stop flights to fun destinations, said Nick Bartolotta, senior director of network planning for Spirit Airlines. Cancun, the Mexican city located on the Yucatan Peninsula bordering the Caribbean Sea, is known for its beaches, numerous resorts and nightlife. It becomes Spirits latest destination from STL, which now includes: Tampa, Orlando, Phoenix, Fort Myers, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Spirits flights allow STL travelers to catch nonstop flights to eight citiesand connections throughout the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean often offering lower fares and on-time performance. Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas and Orlando are three of Spirit's biggest cities, which means nonstop flights from STL come with easy connections throughout the United States. Fort Lauderdale is also Spirit's largest gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean, providing access to 16 countries. Spirit continues to seize growth opportunities as demand for air travel increases. This year, 16 new fuel-efficient Airbus A320neo planes joined the airlines Fit Fleet, which is among the youngest in the industry. Next year, Spirit plans to accept another 24 new planes. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 An area man with several pending criminal cases was charged in another case involving a stolen vehicle. Brandon J. Courtois, 43, of Park Hills, was charged Jan. 26 in Washington County with first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle. A probable cause statement from the Potosi Police Department states an officer was called to Pin Oak Drive about a stolen license plate on July 23. According to the report, a man told authorities a license plate was recently stolen from his vehicle. The man informed police he had just found the stolen license plate on a vehicle sitting in a parking lot on Pin Oak Drive. An officer reported that when he arrived at the location, he saw Courtois walking around a black 2012 Kia Sportage and confirmed the stolen license plate was being displayed on the back of the vehicle. When the officer asked Courtois why he had a stolen license plate on his vehicle, the man reportedly said the license plate was already on the vehicle when he purchased it on July 19. According to the statement, the officer ran the VIN on the vehicle, and it came back stolen out of St. Francois County. The report states Courtois again claimed he was the owner of the Kia Sportage. Courtois was booked at the Washington County Jail and a $30,000 bond was set in the case. The charging documents filed note that Courtois is considered a persistent drug offender and has a delivery of controlled substance and vehicle tampering case pending in Washington County. The criminal complaint states the man is facing a life sentence if convicted on the first charge alone in that case, and faces another 10 years in prison if convicted in the case filed this week. Additionally, Courtois has multiple prior felony convictions and is currently on parole from two, 18-year prison sentences he received for manufacturing and trafficking. The man has a pending case of felony stealing and property damage in Madison County and two felony cases in Washington County set for trial in March. One of the two cases set for trial was filed in 2020 after Courtois allegedly broke into a Washington County Road and Bridge District facility and stole nearly $30,000 worth of property. The man is scheduled to stand trial March 3 for second-degree burglary, stealing ($25,000 or more), first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle, and first-degree property damage. According to a probable cause statement from the Washington County Sheriffs Office, Courtois unlawfully forced entry into the Washington County Road and Bridge District Two building, located on Highway 21, on Oct. 21, 2020. The report states Courtois, along with another man, forced their way into the district facility by tearing down a fence on the north side of the property, causing $800 in damages. The two men then reportedly loaded $17,750 worth of items that belong to Washington County into a red 1999 Ford F-350 with a black utility bed. The report states Courtois and the other man cut the facilitys locked gate and stole the truck with all the stolen items in the truck bed. The total value of the items stolen is $27,750, according to court documents. During an interview with law enforcement, Courtois reportedly admitted breaking into the district facility and taking the items. According to the statement, the man also admitted cutting the lock on the gate and driving the truck out of the district property. Courtois reportedly drove the truck to a location and traded all the stolen items. The man then left the truck abandoned near the 11,200 block of Route T, according to the report. The criminal complaint filed in the case states Courtois had been free on a $50,000 bond after being charged in March 2020 for possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. The report did not identify the other suspect or state whether he had been charged. Bobby Radford is a reporter for the Daily Journal. He can be reached at bradford@dailyjournalonline.com Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 6 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. DEAR ABBY: My sister-in-law is increasingly overbearing and abusive to me. It has always been a problem, but I ignored her nasty comments. Now, I am finally sick of it. During the last year, she has begun to insist my husband retire. She wants us to close the doors of a business we have operated for 43 years. We are highly successful. We have more than 23 employees who depend on their salaries for their livelihood, and the business is valuable. I have tried to tell her nicely to butt out, but it has only made her more abusive. I can't draw Social Security yet, so I wouldn't have an income. My husband won't say much about it. Now she's soliciting our friends to call us and harass us about retiring. Help! -- STILL WORKING IN VIRGINIA DEAR STILL WORKING: If anyone tells you to retire and sell your business, an appropriate response would be, "I know you mean well, but when we're ready to retire, we will let you know." DEAR ABBY: I have been involved with someone for more than a year, and he has proposed. Being in a long-distance relationship has been very difficult. In the beginning, he was very attentive. He lives in Tennessee, and I am in Oregon. I love him very much and I thought we were going to have a future together. However, he is very busy with his career so it's difficult making plans. We have set wedding dates a couple of times, and it's always getting put on hold. My problem lately is he hasn't been responding to me by text or email. He said he loves me, but I don't understand why he hasn't gotten ahold of me. What do I do now? -- HANGING IN THE BALANCE DEAR HANGING: I wish you had mentioned how long it has been since he has communicated with you. Could he be sick, injured or incarcerated? If it is none of those and it has been more than a couple of weeks, it would be fair to assume his enthusiasm has cooled, and you should reconsider the long-distance engagement. DEAR ABBY: I am a nonbeliever and I need advice about how to respond when people "send prayers, are praying for you and yours, etc." There are countless "prayer" messages on social media for all occasions. I never know what to say because I don't pray, nor do I send prayers to anyone. Sending "warm thoughts" seems lame. What would be an appropriate response? -- AWKWARD IN NEW MEXICO DEAR AWKWARD: You are not obligated to mention anything about God or prayers. If prayers are addressed to you, thank the sender for their thoughtfulness. If they are addressed to you and your family, include the word "we." If, however, the life challenge is someone else's, some appropriate responses might be, "I am sorry for your pain. I am sending warm thoughts, love, (etc.), with wishes for a speedy recovery, deepest sympathy, (etc.)." DEAR ABBY: I reconnected with my ex-husband, "Liam," a year ago, 16 years after our divorce. (We hadn't seen or talked to each other during that time.) He's remarried with four kids; I am single with two kids. We got married when we were young, but we're now in our early 40s. We know what we want or don't want in a partner, and know what we will/won't put up with, etc. Liam is still legally married, and I have been single for a year. He and his wife have been separated almost two years. We have been intimate, which I feel has brought us closer together. We are very compatible. We get along well, have the same religious beliefs and we're both vegetarians. We had a long talk about our future a few days ago and whether we should try to get back together. Both of us feel the same way. We're still very much in love with each other after all these years. Should we try to get back together when the time is right, or should we leave the past behind us and let it go? Any advice is greatly appreciated. -- SECOND CHANCE IN GEORGIA DEAR SECOND CHANCE: No one can decide FOR you whether you and Liam should try to reconcile "when the time is right" -- which I assume means when he is divorced from his current wife. I can offer this advice: As appealing as the idea may seem right now, do not do it until you have had joint counseling with a licensed marriage and family therapist to resolve any lingering issues that "might" crop up. Also, if Liam is really contemplating offloading his current missus, he needs to consult an attorney who specializes in family law so he will be fully prepared for the battle that's sure to lie ahead. DEAR ABBY: I had substance abuse problems in the past. I have been in a rehabilitation program for a while now, and have been sober for more than a year. I would like to continue my sobriety and feel I could stay sober from drugs and still drink socially. My family is against me drinking at all, even though alcohol is plentiful at their holiday get-togethers. They also don't want me socializing with friends who drink at all, even if these friends don't use other substances. I should mention I am of legal drinking age. How can I convince my family that I will stay off drugs while drinking socially? I know they want what's best for me, but I don't want to feel left out of family events or have to end friendships, which feels extreme. -- RESPONSIBLE SOCIAL DRINKER DEAR RESPONSIBLE: While your family is well-intentioned, I agree their thinking they can maintain your sobriety "for" you by deciding what you may and may not drink on their premises is extreme. And the decision of who you can safely socialize with should be made by you. This is an important subject you should discuss with your sponsor or the administrators of your substance abuse rehabilitation program. Please don't wait to do it. Not knowing you personally, I cannot -- and should not -- advise you further than this. DEAR ABBY: I've been married to my husband, "Derrick," for 32 years. We consider each other to be our best friend, except he refuses to allow me to see or use his iPad. (He has it password-protected.) Derrick and I have been together since high school and have maintained a very good relationship. I'm not sure why it bothers me so much that he refuses to let me see his text messages or emails. I don't think he's cheating, but my intuition is sending me warning signals that this can't be good. Should I be concerned, and should I confront him? -- OPEN BOOK IN NEW YORK DEAR OPEN BOOK: Has Derrick always been this territorial, or is his secretiveness something fairly recent? If it's the latter, then your intuition is telling you something important and you should be concerned. Before you "confront" him, ask yourself what you intend to do if your worst fears are realized, and be prepared for that. Once that's done, tell your husband what you have told me -- that hiding his texts and emails has made you afraid he has been straying, and you need reassurance. P.S. In the 33 years my late husband and I were together, I never, ever felt the need to look at his wallet, his mail or email, or phone because he never gave me reason to. He was always very open, and told me I was welcome to. The reverse was also true. Neither of us kept secrets from the other. That is what I would wish for you and Derrick. DEAR ABBY: My 80-year-old mother has always been "difficult." She's always the victim/martyr and creates drama by fabricating lies, spreading half-truths and embellishing. I have very little contact with her (maybe a text once a month). During a recent physical examination, she was screened for dementia. She passed every test with flying colors. I am retired, and my husband will be retiring soon. We are considering moving out of state, but I am getting a lot of pushback about it from her friends and a few extended family members. I feel my husband and I have worked hard and deserve to retire wherever we see fit. How do I respond to people trying to heap guilt on me for "abandoning my elderly parent"? I would like a snappy comeback to their comments. -- FLEEING IN ILLINOIS DEAR FLEEING: It seems there is never a shortage of "concerned" individuals speaking out about things that are none of their business. I vote for telling them the truth with no sugar coating: "Mom and I have never been close. Our communication is infrequent and usually in the form of a monthly text. Her doctors say she's in excellent health, and we are not worried. This move is something my husband and I have planned for a long time. I'm sure that if anything changes with her you will let me know, and we will handle it then." Period. DEAR ABBY: Should a spouse stay in a marriage with minor children involved if they have fallen out of love and are no longer sexually attracted to their spouse? -- JUST WONDERING IN CALIFORNIA DEAR JUST WONDERING: I don't think so, because under those circumstances, the relationship is likely at some point to implode. The important issue is that the children be provided for financially and co-parented by two loving, supportive adults who can function as a team, even if they are living apart. Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069 Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Dubai Supreme Council of Energy has approved the updated plans and objectives to reduce carbon emissions by 30 per cent by the end of 2030 to support the UAEs efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, a Wam news agency report said. The decision came during the 68th meeting of the council chaired by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman, yesterday. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the council, attended the meeting. Ahmed Buti Al Muhairbi, Secretary-General, also attended along with board members Dawood Al Hajiri, Director General of Dubai Municipality; Abdulla bin Kalban, Managing Director of Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA); Saif Humaid Al Falasi, CEO of Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC); Juan-Pablo Freile, General Manager of Dubai Petroleum; and Nasser Abu Shehab, CEO of the Strategy & Corporate Governance Sector at the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA). The meeting discussed several topics including the successful launch of Dewa-SAT 1, part of Dewas Space-D programme, that His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched in January 2021. Dewa is the first utility in the world to use satellites in its operations. The council reviewed the mechanisms and programmes implemented by the relative bodies under its umbrella in electricity and water production, industries, waste management, and land transport to reduce carbon emissions. These resulted in significant reductions in 2019 and 2020. The meeting also discussed the implementation stage for Resolution number 6 of 2021 issued by the Executive Council of Dubai to regulate district cooling services in Dubai. The Council approved the regulatory framework for cooling service providers and customers to ensure the effectiveness of permit issuance and billing. "In line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to increase the share of clean and renewable energy sources as well as achieve the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions by 2050, the meeting reviewed the plans and roadmap to implement the strategy, using the latest technologies. The council has started evaluating carbon emissions for the next 10 years, in collaboration with the relevant organisations in Dubai to come up with the required measures to reduce emissions. A roadmap will then define the way to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050," said Al Tayer. "We reviewed participations in the fourth edition of the Emirates Energy Award, which highlights the best existing practices in the areas of clean energy, energy efficiency and sustainability in the region," said Al Muhairbi. Winners of the 4th Emirates Energy Award will be announced in October 2022. By Jeff Poole Editor When the Virginia Redistricting Commission finished drawing the states 100 districts for the Virginia House of Delegates, Orange County found itself split between the new 62nd and 63rd districts. The countys western half was apportioned to the 62nd Districtwith Greene, Madison and part of Culpeper counties, while the eastern half of Orange was part of the 63rd Districtwith Spotsylvania County. Previously, Orange has been entirely included within the 30th House of Delegates District. The redistricting effort followed the 2020 Census and the states effort concluded after Orange County had redrawn its five voting districts to evenly apportion its 36,120 citizens. The states redistricting was finalized in late December, nearly a month after Orange County had adopted its redistricting plan. When the new state map was overlaid on the new local districts, county officials found that precincts within District 2 and District 3 were split between the two house of delegates districtswhich is not permissible by state law. In bringing the matter before the board of supervisors, county administrator Ted Voorhees noted that there are no issues with the district boundaries themselves, just the precincts within two of the districts. In particular, District 2 West and District 3 East were split between the two house districts. As such, county staff reconfigured those precincts to incorporate them wholly within one district or another, and in doing so, create an additional precinct for the Town of Orange. (Under the county-adopted map, the town had served as its own precinctDistrict 3 Westwith the balance of District 3 comprising District 3 East.) The proposed new dividing line for District 2 West is Route 522which also marks the boundary between the 62nd and 63rd house districts. District 3 is proposed to include three precinctsthe Town of Orange, District 3 West and District 3 East, with Mount Sharon Road serving as the boundary lineas it does on the house district map. Those east of 522 and Mount Sharon Road would be in the 63rd House of Delegates district with western Spotsylvania County, while those west of those lines would be in the 62nd, with the countys neighbors to the west and north. In proposing the precinct changes, county staff did not propose changes to polling places adopted last yearmost notably that the Orange County Airport would still serve as the polling place for District 3 East and the District 3 West voters. Town of Orange residents would still vote at Prospect Heights Middle School. District 2 West voters would still vote at Lightfoot Elementary School and District 2 East voters would still cast ballots at the Mine Run Volunteer Fire Department. However, the proposed changes would create some disparity in terms of precinct populations. For instance, in District 3, the town precinct would be comprised of 4,552 voters, while the District 3 East precinct would have 1,907 voters and District 3 West would have 779. In District 2, the population differential is more marginalwith 3,937 in the proposed District 2 East precinct and 3,239 in the west. Before the proposed changes can be implemented, the board must conduct a public hearing, much as it did on the initial redistricting late last year. As part of its Feb. 8 meeting, the board will conduct a public hearing on the proposed precinct changes to modify the adopted county map to meet the boundaries and requirements of the state map. Citizens interested in commenting can speak at the Feb. 8 public hearing or send written comments for the boards consideration (by mail or email) to board clerk Alyson Simpson at P.O. Box 111, Orange, Virginia 22960 or by email to asimpson@orangecountyva.gov. Comments must be received by noon, Feb. 8, to be included in that evenings meeting. Related documents may be examined during regular business hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday Friday, at the office of the county administrator, located on the second floor of the Gordon Building, 112 West Main Street, Orange. Materials may also be viewed on the county website at orangecountyva.gov. For more information, call (540) 672- 3313. The meeting will be livestreamed on the countys website for remote viewing: orangecountyva.gov/525/Agendas-Minutes. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. After weeks of record COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, the omicron-fueled surge appears to be slowing down in the area, but the challenge of caring for such large numbers of patients has left nurses and other health care workers exhausted. While we are declining, we are still seeing a very high number of cases, said Dr. Costi Sifri, UVa Healths director of hospital epidemiology, at the medical centers weekly briefing. Even if the cases continue to drop, well still have people in the hospital and will continue to deal with this for weeks to come. At some point [case numbers] will come down to a lower level, but until then we are in a period of high case counts and it behooves us to take precautions. Those precautions include getting vaccinated, wearing a high-quality mask, staying home when you dont feel good and social distancing. The University of Virginia Medical Center and Augusta Health recently partnered on a public education campaign to encourage the community to follow the precautions. UVa started to see the number of COVID-19 patients at the hospital drop this week to under 100, but doctors and hospital leadership have said the recent surge has pushed health care workers to their breaking points. Theres a group of people who have been with us in the ICU from the beginning of the pandemic, but I think for some folks, its become a sense of duty to see this through, said Dr. Taison Bell, director of the medical intensive care unit at UVa Medical Center. I wonder when this is finally over whenever thats going to be I actually think we might have a wave of resignations across the country at that point. Area hospital leaders have described the omicron surge as the most serious challenge the hospitals have faced thus far in the pandemic. Hitting nearly two years into the pandemic, the surge has exacerbated staffing issues. Frontline health care workers were already worn out before the surge, and the more transmissible variant increased the chances that hospital staff would test positive or have to quarantine, which increased the strain on other staff members. Not where they thought they'd be "I think most of us at least hoped, at some level, that we would be in a different spot than we are today and would like to not be spending as much time thinking about, worrying about, and treating COVID, said Dr. Kyle Enfield. Bell said theres no escape from the pandemic for the nurses, nurse practitioners and other staff working the ICU. With high case counts leading to other disruptions in the community, omicrons reach and impact on health care workers has extended beyond the hospital walls. Some might have family members who have gotten sick or become infected themselves. Omicron is literally affecting your life in an adverse way, then youre trying to take care of critically ill patients who are mostly unvaccinated, he said. Although the omicron variant of the coronavirus has been described as mild, Bell said hes seen very sick patients in the medical ICU. Many times theyre young, including 20s and 30s, people that are pregnant, people who dont have a lot of medical conditions, and the only common linkage is that theyre unvaccinated, said Bell. In late January, the medical center had 131 COVID-19 patients, which is more than what the hospital has seen at other points in the pandemic. On Jan. 25, 37 of the hospitals 101 patients were in the ICU and 22 were on a ventilator, according to a breakdown shared by UVa on social media. Since then, the patient count dropped to 89, but 28 people were still in the ICU and 17 were on a ventilator. Dr. Kyle Enfield, director of intensive care at the medical center, said that at one point last month, half of the ICU patients had COVID. Its challenging, because weve been running this race for two years now, said Enfield, who is also a critical care physician. And I think most of us at least hoped, at some level, that we would be in a different spot than we are today and would like to not be spending as much time thinking about, worrying about, and treating COVID. Enfield said the ICU staff is committed but weary. What theyve gone through for the past two years would be trying for anybody, but to do it over and over again, I think takes its toll, he said. The exhaustion has meant that team members might be shorter with one another and less excited to come to work. At the same time, theres a huge amount of professionalism in the team here, he said. Because of that people do keep showing up and are willing to go the extra mile for each other and for our patients, but they are tired, and you can see that in their interactions with each other and their interactions with patients. Inside the ICU By almost every metric, January was the worst month of the pandemic for the Charlottesville area. The health district recorded 11,245 new cases and 191 new hospitalizations far surpassing records set during previous surges. Another 989 new cases have been reported this month already. The new cases added since Jan. 1 make up 30% of all positive cases in the health district since March 2020. The district is currently averaging 256 new cases over a seven-day period. The seven-day average peaked at 435 twice last month. Determining how many died from COVID-19 takes time, but the state started to report deaths from the surge Feb. 2. So far this year, 23 people have died from COVID-19, according to an analysis of health district data. About 73% of people in the Blue Ridge Health District who are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine have received at least one dose, 68.5% are fully vaccinated and 36.8% have gotten the booster. For Bell, the omicron surge has been different from other surges because the hospital staff had a good idea of who would be getting sick or critically ill at the hospital. Chances are I have a middle aged patient, relatively healthy, and they have severe COVID, and theyre unvaccinated, he said. Its all preventable at this point. Thats whats so sad about it. Before the pandemic, Bell said that he used to have to explain in detail to a patient what it meant to go on a ventilator. But now, his patients know. They understand that sentence to mean this might be my last moment alive on Earth, he said. That is whats different about this moment now, because people truly understand how sick they are when theyre sick. Bell said they are continuing to see pregnant women critically ill from COVID in the ICU, which concerns him. That group is among the least vaccinated adult groups, he said, but the COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective for pregnant women. Luckily, weve been able to deliver everyone with healthy babies, but there are a lot of consequences, he said. Those new moms lungs dont function well because of COVID and theyre still on oxygen, he said. Everyone five years and older is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccinate. To learn more or to make an appointment, go to vdh.virginia.gov/blue-ridge/covid-19-vaccination. A little disoriented Nearly a quarter of UVas nursing staff turned over in 2021, spokesman Eric Swensen said. The overall staff turnover rate was 21.7%. Both rates are in line with national trends. For most of our leaders, this is the highest turnover theyve ever seen in their careers, Swensen said. UVa is planning to spend $30 million on compensation increases this fiscal year and has boosted recruiting efforts. Swensen said UVa Health has hired 865 new team members from Aug. 25 to Jan. 11. UVa Health recently hired a senior director for talent acquisition and retention who is tasked with crafting recruitment and retention strategies. To increase the pool of nursing candidates, UVa also is working with Piedmont Virginia Community College. The medical center also has started in-house training programs for local community members such as one that trains new pharmacy technicians and then employs them here at the medical center. As a temporary solution, Swensen said the medical center has also hired hundreds of travel nurses on short-term contracts to fill in as needed. Enfield said the hospital also has opened up more overtime shifts for nurses and doctors and paused the post-COVID clinic to free up staff. The travel nurses have helped, he said, but working with new staff creates other challenges. [Travelers] are often committed professionals, but theyre just not the same as the people youve worked with for a number of years, he said. And you dont have that same rhythm with them. Bell echoed that. With the influx of new hires and those on temporary contracts, everyones a little disoriented, he said. Whether youve been working here for a long time, or you just started, you still dont feel like youre on your A game, he added. Enfield said that hes working to ensure that nurses and the frontline workers have the supplies they need to care for patients and stay safe, which is one way he copes with the stress of the surge. UVa hasnt seen a significant number of providers getting COVID from work, he said, attributing that to the protective measures. He hopes the community will listen to the messages from UVa and Augusta Health to help ease the burden on frontline workers. What I cant protect people from is sort of the emotional strain of working here, he said. City Editor Bryan McKenzie contributed to this report. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Virginia Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a parental challenge of Gov. Glenn Youngkin's executive order to prevent public schools from requiring students to wear face masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The ruling comes three days after an Arlington County judge found that Youngkin did not have authority to supersede the judgment of local school boards in setting policy for reducing the threat of COVID-19 to students, teachers and other school employees. Multiple legal cases in opposition or support of the governor's executive order are moving through the courts while school systems await clarity. In the Richmond area, schools in the city of Richmond and Henrico County continue to require masks while schools in Chesterfield and Hanover counties are mask-optional. Unlike the ruling by Arlington Judge Louise DiMatteo, the Supreme Court did not rule on the merits of the executive order, only the legal path that a group of 13 parents in Chesapeake used to challenge the governor's order allowing parents to choose to send their children to school unmasked. "By this dismissal, we offer no opinion on the legality of [Executive Order] 2 or any other issue pertaining to petitioners' claims," the court states in a footnote on the last page of the three-page order. Attorney General Jason Miyares issued a statement that called the decision "a victory for Virginia families." Youngkin, in a statement on Twitter, said, "We are pleased by the dismissal. We will continue to protect the rights of parents to make decisions regarding their childs health, education, upbringing, and care." "To be clear, this is not about pro-mask vs. anti-mask, but rather parents making decisions about whats best for their childs health," the governor said. "And we are pleased to see that other states, including New Jersey and Delaware, are following our reasoning and a path to normalcy." Kevin Martingayle, the attorney for the Chesapeake parents who filed the lawsuit, called the decision "a procedural ruling" based on the lawsuit's use of two legal paths to reach the Supreme Court directly. The court said neither of those paths works in the parents' challenge of Executive Order Two, which Youngkin signed on Jan. 15, the day of his inauguration. But Martingayle cited the footnote as proof that the Supreme Court has not ruled on the merits of the order itself. "It is a clear signal that the Supreme Court continues to have questions about Executive Order Two," he said in an interview. "This is not a ruling on the merits." Carl Tobias, a professor of constitutional law at the University of Richmond, agreed with Martingayle. "They're not ruling on the merits or the legality," Tobias said Monday, calling the grounds of the ruling "really technical stuff." Victoria LaCivita, a spokeswoman for Miyares, said, "We consider this a win because the court rejected the challenge to EO2, which is what we asked for." LaCivita also noted that the high court said in its opinion that Senate Bill 1303 - adopted by the General Assembly last year to compel public schools to reopen to in-person instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic - "does not impose a universal mask mandate, as the other side has argued." The state law requires school boards to follow the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "to the maximum extent possible." Those guidelines include requiring all students to wear face masks in school. Consequently, some school boards - including Richmond and six others that challenged the executive order in Arlington - have interpreted the law to require universal masking. But the Supreme Court said Monday that the law "necessarily gives the boards a degree of discretion to modify or even forgo those [CDC] strategies as they deem appropriate for their individual circumstances." "With respect to implementing policies on student masking, that discretion persists even if [Executive Order] 2's masking exemption provisions are unlawful," the court said. The high court's interpretation of the state law appears consistent with that of DiMatteo, who made clear during oral arguments last week that she does not consider the state law a mandate for universal masking. However, the Arlington judge said in her opinion on Friday that the law and the constitutional provision that gives school boards power to supervise public schools override Youngkin's authority to issue an executive order that would supersede them. "The single issue before the court is whether the governor, via his emergency powers, can override the decision of local school boards delegated to them under SB 1303," DiMatteo wrote. "On this pivotal point, the court concludes that the governor cannot." What remains unclear from her opinion is how it applies to school divisions that were not part of the lawsuit, especially those that ended their requirements of universal masking after Youngkin issued the executive order. Those includes school boards in Chesterfield and Hanover County, as well as Chesapeake - which lifted its requirement after the parents filed suit to challenge the governor's order. The Hanover board approved a policy making masks optional on Jan. 24 and it took effect a week later on Jan. 31. The Chesterfield School Board voted Jan. 25 to give parents a choice on face masks. Martingayle said his clients are awaiting the judge's order to carry out the opinion to determine its scope and application across the state. But he said, "There's only one opinion in Virginia so far on the legality of Executive Order Two: It came out of Arlington and the [attorney general] lost." Two other lawsuits are pending over the executive order, one filed in federal court by the ACLU to challenge the governor's action because of its effect on families with disabled children and the other by Loudoun County parents over the school board's refusal to comply with the governor's order. Both viewpoints were reflected in political debate on the floor of the House of Delegates on Friday. Del. Nick Freitas, R-Culpeper, expressed outrage over the Loudoun school board's reported threat of criminal arrest of any student who comes to school without a mask. "In the commonwealth of Virginia, we should not be sending someone to jail because they decided not to wear a mask in the public school system," Freitas said. Loudoun County Public Schools said the allegation is untrue and that no student has been arrested on a trespassing charge for coming to school without a mask. The system has 22 students suspended for defying the policy, down from 29 on Friday. The school system "does not have the authority to arrest or charge any suspended students or their parents for trespassing," Superintendent Scott Ziegler told parents and employees on Friday. "Furthermore, LCPS has not requested that local law enforcement charge any student with trespassing in connection with recent suspensions." Del. Kelly Convirs-Fowler, D-Virginia Beach, said she considers it "offensive" that the governor's order would allow unmasked students to potentially threaten the health of her child, whose immune system is compromised because of a disability. "It is time for our governor to listen to all of the parents," Convirs-Fowler said, "not just the parents he is pandering to." Dont pit neighbors against each other We write in support of the sentiments expressed by the Daily Progress Editorial Virginias new tip line divides us, Jan. 29, 2022. As stated in the editorial, a tip line that aims to punish deviation from dogma comes right out of the totalitarian textbook. We, too, support the National Council for Social Studies, the American Historical Association and the 152 professional organizations signing the statement containing the words [k]nowledge of the past exists to serve the needs of the living and [a] white-washed view of history cannot change what happened in the past. Our state and local community is not well-served by placing neighbor against neighbor, family member against family member, and the use of projection tactics to gain power. To quote Winston Churchill in 1948: Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it. We also take this opportunity to commend the Albemarle County School Board for keeping our children, educators and community safe over the past two years with their consistent support of masks and vaccinations as medically appropriate. Diantha McKeel Charlottesville Donna Price Scottsville Jim Andrews Charlottesville Ann H. Mallek Earlysville Ned Gallaway Charlottesville Bea LaPisto-Kirtley Keswick *Authors are members of the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, but are expressing their personal views as individuals and not in any official capacity. Whether as parents or as a community, we have no responsibility more important than protecting our kids. None. That includes keeping them healthy so they may experience enjoyable childhoods and grow to become productive, considerate adults. That is why mask mandates in public schools are so important during the current pandemic. Its painful to see any child hurting. But children with disabilities face some of the most serious struggles and face some of the greatest risks as we grapple with COVID-19 and its variants. At all times, youngsters with disabilities require us to step up our game so that they, like their able-bodied siblings and peers, get the best chance of maximizing their potential. Its heart-breaking to see any child left out. But policies like a ban on mask mandates like the one Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is fighting for is particularly troubling and potentially tragic for any parent of a son or daughter with disabilities. The law must protect these kids while they are in school. This country and this state have not only a moral obligation to them, but also a legal one that extends to the classroom. In 1971, the U.S. Supreme Court rightly ruled that a free, appropriate public education includes children with disabilities. We passed the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. These laws and subsequent court rulings require public schools to educate children with disabilities with their peers and provide reasonable accommodations when necessary. Clearly, we want our kids with disabilities to be educated among other children and treated fairly, even if it takes a little extra effort. Virginia now blocks that goal with the governors recent executive order banning local schools from mandating face masks. The governor appears ready to fight against mandatory face coverings in schools all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. As Virginia's chief executive battles for uncovered faces in classrooms, many children with disabilities are highly susceptible to illness, including those caused by viruses. For example, Down Syndrome often causes immune system problems that make it difficult for the body to fight off infections. Children with cancer can have higher chances of infections due to the effects of cancer itself or the treatments applied. A study of 65 million patients at 547 health facilities found that individuals with intellectual disabilities have the strongest independent risk factor other than age for COVID-19 morbidity. Eliminating the ability of local school divisions to protect all of their students makes no sense from a public health perspective. Raising the risk of students becoming infected with a potentially life-threating disease because they are forced to sit among unmasked classmates breaches responsibility. Forcing school systems to ignore the use of masks recommended by the Centers for Disease Control - as Glenn Youngkin wants to do - runs counter to years of progress that weve made in our country relative to children with disabilities. It will require families to segregate their kids. That separation from the mainstream was forced on them in the past. It was thoughtlessly wrong then and it is thoughtlessly wrong now. Paul Babcock of Williamsburg is the retired President/CEO of The Arc of the Virginia Peninsula, Inc. (now Versability Resources, Inc.) He currently serves as Secretary/Treasurer of The Disability Advocacy and Training Alliance, Inc., a nonprofit he founded with Daily Progress Editorial Page Editor Jim Spencer. Local economies are bouncing back in many communities after the pandemic caused tax revenues to plummet, mirroring national reporting that indicates an economic resurgence aided in part by COVID-19 relief from the federal government. According to a recent Associated Press analysis, state and local governments reported more than $117 billion in lost revenue the first year of the pandemic. As the shortfalls proved to be less severe, many governments found themselves flush with cash, leading some officials to propose new spending and tax cuts. The American Rescue Plan Act signed by President Joe Biden last March included $350 billion in aid to states and local governments. States, counties and larger cities were required to file reports last year detailing their initial plans for the money. Those governments also were asked to estimate losses for 2020 by comparing their actual revenue to their expected revenue under a Treasury formula. More than two-thirds of those reporting their revenues showed at least some losses. Though revenue figures were left blank by nearly one-quarter of the roughly 3,700 governments that filed reports, the data nonetheless provides the most comprehensive picture yet of the financial strain that faced governments during the pandemic's first year. All but three states Alaska, Nevada and Wyoming took in more general fund revenue than originally projected for their 2021 fiscal years, according to a report from the National Association of State Budget Officers. The revenue rebound has exceeded even pre-pandemic levels. Total state tax revenues from last April through November rose 20% compared to the same period in 2019, according to an Urban Institute report. Benton County Benton County mimics these trends, seeing a bounceback last year. Using U.S. Treasury guidelines for doing the calculations, the county reported $3.1 million in lost revenue in 2020 for the calendar year, according to Rick Crager, the countys chief financial officer. Revenue in fiscal year 2020 was $83.4 million. But 2021 is estimated to have brought in $87.2 million. The countys biennial budget is around $350 million. While the county avoided layoffs under the pandemic, it did implement administrative restrictions that included delaying new hires to offset the impact. Under interim rules and a complex Treasury algorithm this past May, the county forecasted a $5.6 million gap on projected revenue for fiscal year 2021. Crager called the process very complex and said there was a lot of pushback against the rule at the federal level. We started with a baseline of how much revenue we had. [Treasury] came up with their own factors, and we forecast out for four years on what would be expected for the county based on their algorithm, Crager said. Then we would compare that to the actual revenues we collected each fiscal year. Final Treasury rules issued just last month give local jurisdictions an exemption option from annual loss calculations in favor of a fixed $10 million grant for losses. Benton County hasnt determined which method it will prefer, though Crager said hes leaning toward the fixed amount, in part because of the complexity and administrative cost of the more detailed reporting process. Benton Countys annual revenue growth prior to the pandemic was around 7.1%. Fiscal year 2021 saw that drop to 4.5%. Crager said the biggest contributing factors were fewer fees collected from county services (especially rentals at the fairgrounds) and reduced interest earnings due to lower investment returns. On the upside, property tax revenue has continued to grow due to set assessed values. Charges to services the revenue hit hardest is coming back in some areas, such as external fleet service charges and hotel taxes. However, Crager said its still below pre-pandemic levels. Were in the process of recovering, Crager said. Crager noted lingering effects to various revenue streams from the pandemic. Among them, "transient lodging taxes," or hotel taxes, are down because of reduced tourism, which has also affected revenue from natural areas and park rentals. Fair revenues dropped with two years of cancellations, and special transportation revenue that comes from dial-a-ride and the like is lagging with less ridership and less state support. However, a major county project is benefiting from the $18 million in federal relief received by Benton County. Crager said without it, the county would not be positioned to advance a new justice compound. The county has $4 million earmarked for site acquisition and development of a behavioral crisis center, which is part of a proposed justice system campus that would also feature a new jail and courthouse. The county also has allocated $1.6 million to upgrade aging facilities, according to Crager. Both projects have other funding mechanisms in place, but the federal funds allow the county to move faster on the crisis center and expand the scope of the facilities improvements. The Benton County Board of Commissioners wants to use around half of the federal relief for a grant program targeting ARPA-eligible purposes, such as small business recovery, housing assistance, responding to the public health crisis, water and sewer infrastructure and more, according to Crager, who said a notice of funding opportunities is forthcoming. The federal money has done several things, Crager said. Number one, its helping us get money into places where it can help those that have been most impacted. Equally important, its an opportunity to move the dial forward on things we would not have been able to do. City of Corvallis Under the Treasury guidelines and formula, the city of Corvallis reported $21 million in lost revenue for 2020, according to Ryan Seidl, finance department director. Revenue in fiscal year 2020 was $155.2 million. It was $151.5 million for fiscal 2021, down 2.5%. Contributing to these losses is that Corvallis had to factor in a growth rate of 11%, based on fiscal years 2017-2019, which included strong development and an influx of the resulting building-related fees in 2018-19. Revenue in the prior years ranged from $110 million to $119 million. The citys annual budget is around $181 million. While there were no citywide layoffs or hiring freezes, Seidl said some hiring was delayed when the need was offset by service reductions. He said additional scrutiny on all financial decisions helped prepare for the unknown level and length of economic shock facing the city. Major revenue sources for the city, such as property taxes, have remained relatively flat, while fees for services are still rebounding to pre-pandemic levels, according to Seidl. He said the infusion of federal cash from both of the pandemic's federal relief bills, ARPA and the CARES Act, helped drive recovery but noted the programs wont last forever. Unfortunately, the city is still not back to pre-pandemic levels on multiple fronts, he said. While we have seen some short-term positive trends on a year-over-year basis, those results can and have been easily eroded as [COVID-19] variants are discovered. Seidl said a significant number of city programs were cancelled because of COVID-19 safety protocols, lowering both costs and revenue. He said most programs resumed in summer 2021, but attendance levels (and the money it generated) were much lower than in previous years, partly because of COVID-19 protocols and public hesitation to engage in group activities. And there are other lingering effects of the pandemic crunch in Corvallis. Seidl said they include consecutive years of tourism/travel and lodging tax revenue losses, reductions to parks and rec programs, reduced water usage fees from a less-occupied OSU, and the inflated costs of materials and personnel. With revenue losses greater than the $13 million in ARPA funds for Corvallis, there is some flexibility in how the money can be used. Seidl said the city is looking to use a portion to help with aging facilities, the issues with which are compounded by expanding city services and staff requirements associated with growth. As of now, there are no specific projects benefiting from the federal relief funds, but the city has decided how to split it up in general terms. Facility improvement projects will get 53.5%, social service providers in the city will get 15%, and the remaining 31.5% is set for future consideration. The city is waiting on more clarity on the state funding through the latest infrastructure bill and the outcome of the Build Back Better legislation, Seidl said. The intent of not selecting any projects at this time is to ensure the ARPA funds remain as flexible as possible and ensure the city maximizes the use of non-local funds first. Associated Press contributed to this report. Cody Mann covers Benton County and the cities of Corvallis and Philomath. He can be contacted at 541-812-6113 or Cody.Mann@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter via @News_Mann_. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Two bills that advocates say will save lives during the next heat wave were introduced in the Oregon House and Senate earlier this month with support from legislators, health professionals, and environmental and housing justice advocates alike. Sen. Kayse Jama, D-Portland, and Rep. Pam Marsh, D-Ashland, introduced two sibling bills meant to provide Oregonians better access to cooling during periods of extreme heat. Last summer's triple-digit temperatures proved to be one of the deadliest recorded natural disasters in Oregon's history. At least 96 people died during the late June heat wave, when temperatures topped out at 116 degrees, according to data the Oregon Medical Examiner's Office released to Oregon Public Broadcasting. Most of the people who died lived alone and did not have access to air conditioning, according to the report. Emergency Heat Relief for Renters Senate Bill 1536 would remove barriers for renters trying to install portable air conditioners, as well as help landlords establish voluntary cooling shelters for tenants through funding and technical assistance. "We as lawmakers have a responsibility to carefully analyze how people are being impacted by extreme heat and take action to protect those who are least likely to survive, " said Jama, the bills sponsor and a Portland Democrat. Air conditioning units aren't commonplace in apartments in Oregon due to its historically mild climate. While last summers blistering heat dome was unprecedented, climatologists say 2021 was just a warning for whats to come. There is language in Oregon law laying out what landlords are required to do to keep a property "habitable," but there are no references to keeping a dwelling "cool." Landlords are even allowed to prohibit tenants from installing their own portable air conditioning units. While SB 1536 doesnt outright prohibit landlords from prohibiting tenants from installing portable cooling devices, it does lift certain restrictions around cooling devices and makes it harder for landlords to terminate a tenants lease due to violations around a portable cooling device. The bill would also allocate $15 million to the Oregon Department of Energy in incentives for landlords to improve electrical, mechanical and other structural barriers that inhibit cooling in multifamily households. Another $2 million would go to the Oregon Department of Human Services to distribute to local and tribal governments to help them establish extreme weather shelters like cooling and warming centers. The bill is scheduled for a work session at the Senate Housing and Development Committee at 3:15 p.m. Wednesday. Another bill, HB 4058, would focus on emergency air conditioning deployment in the short term, as well as establishing a heat pump deployment program through the Oregon Department of Energy. The bill, sponsored by Ashland Democrat Marsh, would allocate $5 million to the Oregon Health Authority for emergency air conditioner and air filtration deployment to complement existing wildfire work. An additional $10 million would go to the Oregon Department of Energy for efficient heat and cooling pump incentives that would prioritize low-income and environmental justice communities, particularly rural communities who utilize bulk fuels like wood, oil, and propane, or electric resistance heating used primarily in mobile and manufactured homes. Heat pumps can cool and heat homes at a much lower carbon cost than AC units and furnaces by transferring heat from one place to another, Oriana Magenera, energy, climate and transportation program manager at Portland-based environmental nonprofit Verde. Magenera is currently working with lawmakers on the heat relief bills. "It's a really efficient way to heat and cool spaces, '' Magenera said. "It's the best possible technology, which is what we're focusing on incentivizing in these bills." Ashley Audycki is a Coos Bay-based organizer for Rogue Climate, a climate justice organization that has installed more than 250 reduced-price heat and cooling pumps to low-income and rural households in Southern Oregon and the south coast. Even on the coast, where temperatures are often moderate, the extreme heat this summer impacted many, especially those without home cooling, Audycki said. HB 4058 was scheduled for a work session at the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee on Monday. While there have been attempts in past legislative sessions to get more heat relief policy on the books, Magenera says the urgency brought on by last years heat wave is putting the issue more on peoples minds. I think the severity of the heat dome last summer and the fact that it occurred on the last day of the legislative session are really important factors for gaining momentum around this particular policy, she said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Air France plans to continue to increase capacity on US routes for the summer 2022 season (April October), beginning with resumption of flights with one daily flight between Paris-Orly and New York JFK from March 27. New York will thus be served by two Paris airports; Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Air Frances international hub, and Paris-Orly, with a total of up to 7 daily flights. On the same day, the airline will resume flights from Paris-Charles de Gaulle to Dallas (Texas), with up to 5 weekly flights. Finally on May 4, 2022, Air France will start operating a seasonal service between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Denver (Colorado) for the second year running, with 3 weekly flights operated. Air France will therefore serve 14 destinations in the US on departure from Paris this summer - Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York JFK, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington D.C, with close to 200 weekly flights, 20% more than during summer 2019. Air France currently serves 11 US destinations (Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York-JFK, Seattle, San Francisco and Washington D.C.), with capacity between France and the United States corresponding to 90% of 2019 levels. Ready To Fly service now available on all flights to and from the US In July 2021, Air France launched Ready To Fly, a free and optional service allowing customers to request and receive confirmation that they have all the health documents required for their trip before going to the airport. This service provides customers greater peace of mind and a smoother boarding process, by avoiding multiple checks on the day of departure. Popular with customers, Ready To Fly is being progressively deployed throughout the Air France network. It is currently available on more than 140 routes on departure from 80 airports, representing more than 600 daily flights including all flights to and from the United States. As part of its commercial policy, Air France is currently offering up to February 28, 2022 fully modifiable tickets for travel until June 30, 2022. Customers can thus modify their reservation free of charge, or request a refundable credit voucher if they no longer wish to travel. If the flight is cancelled by the airline, the customer can choose to postpone their trip, request a full ticket refund or receive a credit voucher, which is also refundable if not used. TradeArabia News Service Welcome to The Denver Gazettes Metro Moves. Youll get the latest metro Denver openings, closings, hiring and promotion briefs here. To submit your companys news, drop an email to dennis.huspeni@gazette.com. New hire Crestone native Conor Hall takes over as the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office director, according to a news release from Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. Hall previously worked at the Trust for Public Land, where he served as director of conservation strategies, policy, advocacy and government relations for the Intermountain West. Outdoor recreation is not only a key pillar of Colorados economy but also a major contributor to our quality of life, mental health and physical health, Hall said in the release. I am thrilled to join (the office) and partner with Colorado communities, and our world-class business and (non-governmental organization) leadership. Together we will support, attract and expand our outdoor recreation industry. In 2020, Colorados outdoor recreation industry accounted for $9.6 billion in consumer spending and contributed 120,000 direct jobs, according to the office. Described as an avid outdoorsman, Hall snowboards, hikes, mountain bikes and climbs. He is a cancer survivor and serves on the nonprofit First Descents Alumni Advisory. He earned a degree in political science and government from Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana. He described his job as helping to promote sustainable economic growth and expand equitable access while prioritizing our shared goals of clean air, clean water and the protection of public lands. Promoted Denver-based Atlas Real Estate promoted Erika Ojeda-Louvier to director of global workforce, according to a news release. Ojeda-Louvier has been with Atlas since 2018 and contributed to the companys impressive growth and market expansion. The company also announced the opening of a remote office in Mexico City. Ojeda-Louvier grew up in Mexico City and earned a bachelor's degree in mass communication from Universidad Intercontinental there. She has a master's degree in business administration from Regis University. Im deeply grateful for the opportunity to drive expansion beyond the U.S. and honored to lead this eager team, Ojeda-Louvier said in the release. They are an integral part of Atlas handpicked for their ability to develop our services and Im excited about collaborating with them in person and building a culture of connectedness. Now open Franchise health business StretchLab opened a new location in Southlands, 6295 Main St., according to a news release. The new operation introduces people of all ages and fitness levels to the various health and wellness benefits of working with highly trained Flexologists in an open, modern, fun and approachable environment, the release states. Its owned by Katie Murphy, who worked as an engineer for two decades before deciding to leave corporate America. She earned a master's degree in business administration from the University of Denver. We want to help people recover better from their job and activities so they can continue to live and enjoy life, Murphy said in the release. Stretching lets our body recover and be able to keep going to work and our activities. Customers of Ugandan operator Smile Communications have reportedly been unable to access its services for several days. The operator acknowledged the shutdown in its last Twitter post, dated 2nd February, in which it said there was no definite timeline for resuming its operations. Local outlet Techjaja reports that customers are not happy, with many calling for the telco to close if it is unable to resume its services promptly. Business Day has reported that the operators Mauritius-based parent Smile Telecoms Holdings has scrambled to secure funding, having thus far stumped up ZAR550 million (US$35.5 million). In April 2021, the parent firms creditors approved a debt restructuring plan that allowed it to defer repayment of its debts until March 2022. Smile has experienced outages before, with its services going offline for three days in 2018 over a financial dispute with its hosting tower companies. The group was established in 2007 and delivers mobile and broadband services in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Nigeria and Tanzania in addition to Uganda. CommsUpdate notes that several operators have exited the Ugandan market over the past few years most notably Africell, which prior to its departure held third place in a market where MTN and Airtel hold an effective duopoly. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and Ministry of Communications in India will engage telecom operators for developing 5G use-cases in the field of precision agriculture and smart farming in collaboration with the agriculture ministry. A team from DoT and the Ministry have visited the campus of the Indian Agriculture Research Institute (ICAR)- Pusa Institute, as part of 5G use case lab exploration with Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoAFW), said a government statement. The campus is a host of excellent digital initiatives on the Smart Farming front. There is a good scope for 5G technology engagement and a Digicom CoE and use case lab at ICAR on Smart AG-Tech Farming. Following the visit, it was decided the DoT will complement digital innovation actions of MoAFW with 5G innovation in the agriculture sector with DoT partnership, build engagement with telecom service providers and 5G industry on precision agriculture and smart farming and explore the opportunity to create a centre of excellence and use-case lab under MoAFW with Digicom solutions. A task force with officers from both sides would develop the work program with deliverables in a time-bound manner, the statement said. Earlier, the DoT formed an Inter-ministerial committee led by Member (Technology) for engagement with 14 Central Ministries and Departments under the guidance of Secretary (Telecom) giving thrust for 5G applications and solutions. A White paper on 5G use cases has been sent to respective Ministries for wider dissemination containing details of use-cases developed from Indian industry, relevant centres of excellence, and DoTs partnership in enabling access to 5G testbed. The suspension of bidding for a second new Ethiopian mobile licence will not affect earlier licence winner Safaricoms permission to offer mobile financial services, according to Dr Eyob Tekalgn Tolina, the State Minister of the countrys Ministry of Finance. It does seem there had been some confusion about the legality of the award, given that the licence for the consortium led by Safaricom, which was awarded last year, was all set to be upgraded to include mobile financial services but only after bidding had finished for the countrys second new mobile operator licence (whose remit also included mobile finance). There is likely to be little interest in bidding for a new licence while the ongoing conflict in the countrys north continues. The Business Daily news service has suggested that almost 3,500 base stations belonging to incumbent Ethio Telecom have been damaged during the fighting. Thus, the authorities have now delinked Safaricom's mobile finance permit from the second operators license and are finalising legal changes to allow the central bank to issue Safaricom with a licence for mobile financial services. That means M-Pesa, or something like it, should roll out in Ethiopia later this year. Business Daily says, quoting Dr Tolina, that the bidding process for the second licence has now been pushed back a few months. It's also worth mentioning that the Ethiopian government had originally planned to hold back on any mobile financial services awards for a lot longer. This would have given incumbent Ethio Telecom and its recently introduced Telebirr service an even more extended free run than it has so far enjoyed. However, lack of interest in the second licence without a finance component seems to have brought about a change of heart. Indeed, Telebirrs success to date underlines the need for mobile financial services in a country that reputedly has an inefficient banking system. However, until the new entrants become part of a competitive landscape, and the planned sale of a 45 percent stake in Ethio Telecom goes ahead, Ethiopia will remain one of the worlds most closed telecoms markets. Given the ongoing conflict its hard to see that changing soon. According to local news reports, the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPS) is supporting the countrys National Broadband Initiative by offering the use of its utility poles for the running of aerial fibre. This could prove a useful source of support for the initiative. JPS is an integrated electric utility company and the sole distributor of electricity in Jamaica. The company is engaged in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity, and also purchases power from a number of independent power producers. There are more than 1,600 JPS team members who provide service to over 640,000 customers each day. According to the Jamaica Information Service website, permission has already been received and JPS is in discussions with the countrys National Works Agency (NWA) about how the work will be carried out. The National Works Agency is directly responsible for Jamaica's main road network, consisting of approximately 5,000 kilometres of class A, B and C roads. A number of parishes have already seem tenders issued for contractors to erect cables. The responses to other tenders are currently being evaluated. In addition it seems discussions are under way with Flow Jamaica to provide free access to two dark fibre strands on the north coast, to supply end-to-end access from St. James to St. Ann, St. Ann to St. Mary, St. Mary to Portland, and from Portland to St. Thomas. Flow is one of many trade names of the Caribbean telecommunications group Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC), now known as Liberty Latin America, used to market cable television, internet, telephone and wireless services provided by the company. The aim of the National Broadband Initiative is to have every household and every community connected to the internet as part of the governments goal of having a truly digital society by 2030. Zain Cloud, the cloud computing service provided by Saudis mobile telecom company, Zain KSA, has launched a suite of new cloud computing products and services to support businesses in the kingdom. Services include tie-ups with leading tech companies like Fortinet, Red Hat, Veritas, SpeechLogix, WakeCap, and Hikvision, said a company release. Zain Clouds new services and products include the Cloud SD-WAN service, in partnership with global company Fortinet, enabling customers to run their applications securely, reliably, and with optimised performance. This is well suited for organisations with several branches throughout the Kingdom and businesses operating across multiple sectors. Furthermore, Zain Cloud, in collaboration with SpeechLogix, launched Zain Calls to offer a fully local cloud-based telecommunications solution for the first time in the Kingdom. Through a partnership with Hikvision, Zain Cloud will provide a video surveillance service that goes beyond monitoring to include visual analysis and intelligent solutions through a single platform capable of linking multiple geographic locations. Zain Cloud has also partnered with Veritas to provide a robust cloud-based backup (BaaS) service using NetBackup as a backup and recovery-as-a-service solution that provides enterprise IT departments with an easy and efficient way to ensure integrity and availability of their data. Zain Cloud will also provide Red Hat Enterprise Linux service to its customers creating a more secure and stable environment for business modernization. This will also provide customers with a robust and reliable platform that is capable of deploying cloud infrastructures to fulfill both existing and future requirements for enterprise-level digital transformation. Zain Cloud also entered into an agreement with WakeCap to deliver next-generation IoT solutions to enable accurate and consistent reporting on project management procedures and worker safety on industrial and construction sites. Elon Musks satellite company SpaceX is aiding the effort to restore telecommunications to the island nation of Tonga after the country was struck by the after-effects of a volcanic eruption. Fiji's Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum posted on social media today (February 7) the SpaceX team is in Fiji to set up a Starlink gateway station to reconnect Tonga, reported Reuters. Starlink is a division of SpaceX and is tasked with launching satellites and delivering high-speed broadband. The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haapai volcano eruption destroyed Tongas only fibre optic cable connecting to the internet and the rest of the world was greatly damaged by the eruption on Jan 15. It also caused a tsunami that destroyed villages and coated the capital city Nuku'alofa in ash. Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk offered assistance on Twitter last month by sending Starlink terminals to the island. International calling returned to the nation last month, confirmed by Digicel, but only 400 calls could be made at one time. SpaceX joined a host of companies offering assistance to Tonga. Intelsat joined with Australian operator Telstra and New Zealand operator Spark to deploy emergency communications to support aid workers. Renowned Spanish hospitality chain, Barcelo Hotel Group, celebrated the Spanish National Day at Expo 2020 on February 2, 2022 with fervour and gaiety. In partnership with Expo 2020, the leading Spanish hospitality chain is the Official Ticket Reseller and a key collaborator of the Spain Pavilion. The renowned brand is hosting Spanish dignitaries along with the Spanish National Ballet in their properties. The significant celebration for Spanish National Day welcomed Spanish President Pedro Sanchez alongside the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Reyes Maroto, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jose Manuel Albares. Chief Executive Officer at Barcelo Group, Raul Gonzalez also made an appearance on behalf of the Spanish hotel group. Gonzalez commented: We are very excited to celebrate Spains National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai today. As part of our commitment of expanding and promoting Spain as a brand globally, across all top tier international forums, we became proud sponsors of the Spain Pavilion in Expo 2020 Dubai and Silver sponsor of the Spanish Business Council in UAE. We are also pro-actively participating in most of the events organised by all Spanish governmental and private institutions during this period. Today has been a great day and a wonderful opportunity to showcase exactly what Spain has to offer. The celebration of the Day of Spain saw the bilateral meeting between important authorities and delegations, who explored the facilities of the Spain Pavilion. Additionally, economic forums were held to encourage debate and collaboration in order to develop sustainable projects that promote the ecological transition in Spain. The Spanish Pavilion commemorated festivities, kicking-off with the Ceremonia Oficial at Al Wasl Plaza with a mesmerising solo dance performance by the Director of the Spanish National Ballet, Ruben Olmo, who performed the Jaulena; a traditional dance inspired the city of Granada which infuses the three disciplines of Spanish dance: stylised dance, the Bolero school and flamenco. The breathtaking performance by Olma was followed by a tantalising musical and drone show, of the enriched Andalusian music Rediscovering Spain by La Accademia del Piacere. Beguiling performances of the Invocacion by the Ballet Nacional de Espana took place at the Expo site where flamenco and the rhythm of the traditional Andalusian dance won the crowds over, tributing the creator of the flamenco himself, Mario Maya. Visitors were also treated to a unique gastronomical experience at the pavilion, which highlighted the brilliancy of Spanish women in gastronomy with a live tasting of the flavours of Spain Spanish Rice. Raquel Lopez Garcia, VP Sales & Marketing GCC at Barcelo Hotel Group, said: We are very proud to represent Spain on such an esteemed global platform that is Expo Dubai 2020, not only as key collaborators of the Spain Pavilion but also as an Official Ticket Reseller. As the leading Spanish hotel chain in the region; we are thrilled to be celebrating Spains National Day at Expo 2020. As preferred hospitality destination, we are humbled to welcome Spanish companies travelling to Dubai to Barcelo Hotel Group as their home-away-from-home during the entirety of Expo 2020, as they showcase the amazing offerings of Spanish culture and business opportunities.-- TradeArabia News Service Eight years ago, Alabama lawmakers approved Sen. Del Marshs controversial measure that would allow students in failing schools to attend a school outside their district public or private with their parents receiving a tax credit to help offset the cost. Concerns about the plan included the subjective determination of failing schools and, once it was in practice, whether students participating actually met the criteria for eligibility. But the biggest concern is that public funds would be taken from the public education system and funneled into private schools. The looming question: Why not improve failing public schools rather than paying students to go elsewhere? Lawmakers are now discussing Sen. Marshs most recent measure, which casts aside pretense and signals a call for wholesale abandonment of public education under the guise of empowering parents. The measure working its way through the legislative process would allow parents to access money the state would have used to pay for a childs education the per-pupil allocation in state funding formulas, roughly $6,300 last year and use those funds for other types of school, including private schools and home schooling. In the times we live in, there are so many choices, Marsh said. And parents should have control over those choices. Marsh fails to acknowledge an important point: Parents already have that control. They can choose to home-school their children. They can choose to send them to private school; virtually every community has multiple private school options at various price levels. The difference is that Marsh wants to open the public education coffers and pay the parents of each departing public school student the amount of money that students school is allocated for his or her enrollment. Each departing child would diminish funding for public schools, eroding quality and likely leading to faculty layoffs. And who could blame the parents of children already in private schools and home schools should they come looking for their share? Theyve paid taxes that fund public education, too. Theres a good reason for compulsory education laws and free public schools theyre to ensure at least a basic level of education for every child. Lawmakers should turn back this dangerous measure, and replace it with a strong and detailed strategy to raise the quality of public education. Abdication of the education of our children is not an option. An artist's impression of the Long Thanh International Airport in the southern Dong Nai Province. Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Transport After inspecting the construction site Sunday, PM Pham Minh Chinh expressed dissatisfaction and criticized a number of units for progress on Vietnam's largest airport Long Thanh. Chinh stated that according to the latest resolution of the National Assembly, the airport must be up for operation by 2025, but land clearance issues remain unresolved. The project has been allocated capital for site clearance in 2021 and 2022, meaning Dong Nai Province People's Committee must take responsibility for handing over the entire site on time. Up to now, the locality has handed over only 1,284 hectares, with 525 hectares outstanding. Chinh acknowledged the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), the airport investor, is overseeing many airport projects, while resources, time, and experience are limited. But he emphasized that ACV leaders must meet with Dong Nai officials and residents to quickly resolve current issues. "Related agencies must clearly discuss current progress and divide responsibilities in order to speed up the project. Those who can do it must be determined and implement it; those who can't, stand aside," Chinh said. The national key project deserves better coordination and management, he said, urging units to prevent corruption in bidding and other tasks in the project. The Long Thanh airport project has a capital of about $5 billion, with many component initiatives. Long Thanh, set to replace Ho Chi Minh Citys Tan Son Nhat International Airport as Vietnams largest when completed, will have an annual capacity of 100 million passengers and five million tons of cargo. Russia is escalating its threat toward Ukraine, said Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman in remarks to the Yalta European Strategy Event. Russia has amassed more than 100,000 troops on Ukraines borders in an unprovoked buildup of military force, and has sent additional troops to Belarus, allegedly for large-scale military exercises. Moscows rhetoric is increasingly harsh and disingenuous, seeking to paint Ukraine as the aggressor. There is no defensive justification for Russia to amass so many troops in such a short time on Ukraines borders, said Under Secretary Sherman, as Ukraine poses no threat to Russia. It bears repeating that it was Russia that invaded Ukraine in 2014 and occupies Crimea to this day, noted Under Secretary Sherman. Russia continues to fuel a war in eastern Ukraine that has claimed nearly 14,000 lives and destroyed entire towns. It is Russia and their proxies that are holding hundreds of Ukrainians as political prisoners. And it is because of Russias actions that nearly three million Ukrainians are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Russia has interfered in Ukraines elections and tried to undermine Ukraines democratic institutions. Russia has blocked energy and commerce, launched cyber-attacks on Ukraines critical infrastructure, and used propaganda and disinformation to sow distrust and destabilization. The United States stands with the people of Ukraine, and we remain committed to Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, reaffirmed Under Secretary Sherman. Since 2014, the United States has committed more than $5.5 billion in security and non-security assistance to Ukraine, including more than $351 million in assistance to those displaced or impacted by Russias aggression. The United States also continues to provide defensive security assistance to Ukraine. President Joe Biden authorized $200 million in security assistance in December and the first shipments began arriving in Kyiv in recent days. The U.S. Congress recently increased funding for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. And the U.S. is working with its NATO Allies, including the Baltic states, to provide diplomatic support and other assistance to Ukraine in this time of crisis. If Russia further invades Ukraine, there will be significant costs and consequences well beyond what they faced in 2014, warned Under Secretary Sherman. The United States and our European allies and partners are working together to prepare coordinated economic measures measures that would exact a severe, ongoing price for Russias economy and financial systemshould Russia take that fateful step. The Department of State took steps to impose visa restrictions on eight Cuban officials who were involved in attempts to deny the Cuban people their fundamental rights through intimidation, unjust imprisonment, and severe sentences. Hundreds of protesters across Cuba remain jailed after the July 11 protests, some with worsening health conditions and no access to proper food, medicine, calls or visits from their loved ones or attorneys. The Department implemented these targeted actions pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 5377, which suspends nonimmigrant entry into the United States of officers and employees of the Cuban government and Communist Party. These eight individuals include Cuban officials connected to the detention, sentencing, and imprisonment of peaceful July 11 protesters. For those who participated in the July 11th protests, the Cuban government imposed harsh penalties, seeking sentences of up to 30 years in prison. Authorities have repeatedly detained Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara, Maykel Osorbo, and Jose Daniel Ferrer, all of whom are currently in prison simply for giving voice to the Cuban peoples desire for freedom. In mid-November, the Cuban regime sent security forces and a government-sponsored mob to bully playwright Yunior Garcia, who took part in the 2020 negotiations with the Ministry of Culture and organized calls for another peaceful protest. He has since traveled with his family to Spain. Cubans have repeatedly asked the government to hear their calls to respect human rights, freedoms of expression and assembly, and democracy. On every occasion, the regime squandered the opportunity for dialogue, doubling down on a bankrupt ideology and failed economic system that cannot provide for Cubans basic needs, said Secretary of State Antony Blinken in an earlier statement. The latest visa actions reinforce the U.S. commitment to supporting the Cuban people and promoting accountability for Cuban officials who enable the regimes affront to democracy and human rights. These actions magnify the impact of four Treasury Department sanctions enacted since July 11 and the Departments November 30 announcement of visa restrictions on nine Cuban officials. The United States continues to use all appropriate diplomatic and economic tools to push for the release of political prisoners and to support the Cuban peoples call for greater freedom and accountability. ELKO Elko Institute for Academic Achievement has received good news on two fronts toward its longtime plan to construct a new school in Elko: approval of a construction loan and approval from the State of Nevada Charter Authority that will allow a new school and the addition of one class per grade level. Thats huge, said the schools vice principal, Lori Lynch, regarding each of the approvals, and she reported that the exciting news is spreading throughout the halls of the charter school, which has been working endlessly over the past four years to build a new facility in Elko. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that EIAA will be receiving an $8.1 million loan, stating that the money will be used to construct a charter school that will serve 396 students in the City of Elko and surrounding area. The new facility will allow the school to move out of their current leased warehouse space and will meet the schools need for additional classrooms, a full-service kitchen, multi-purpose room and space to better support the learning environment. Currently, the charter school leases space on Railroad Street. The school has 198 students with one classroom in each grade from kindergarten through eighth grade. Lynch said the waiting list has continued to grow over the years and is now at more than 200 students. The school started in 2009. EIAA plans a 30,000-square-foot building on 9.33 acres the school acquired in 2020 next to the Peace Park and across Interstate 80 from Great Basin College. Council OKs rezoning for charter school ELKO A zoning change for Elko Institute for Academic Achievements proposed construction of a school has won Elko City Council approval, aft Lynch said Babcock Design out of Salt Lake City has been chosen as the project architect, and the design process is under way. Once the architectural plans are complete, EIAAs plan is to hold several open meeting sessions to allow public comment on the future improvements to the school, she said. The charter school also plans on launching a Capital Campaign project that will help offset the additional costs of the project. When we started this process four years ago, the cost estimate was approximately $6 million and now with the construction costs skyrocketing over the past two years, our project costs have increased to $9.2 million, Lynch said. The state charter authority that granted AIAA permission to amend its charter to permit the school construction and add one class per grade level looked at the schools operations, finances, and academics before approval on Jan. 28. The state charter board members had great things to say about EIAA, and I want to thank the EIAA family and staff for their continued dedication and hard work ensuring our students growth and success, said the schools principal, Ashley Perkins. Lynch said approval for the USDA loan took longer than expected because of the U.S. Census. She said the applicant had to be in a community of 20,000 people or less, and the Elko figure was below that when the school applied. However, the new census would put Elko at 20,078. Back to school, Part 2: Smaller ones find it easier to adapt On Friday, March 13, students and teachers gathered for what would become their last day of normal. With the Governors directive on March 15 EIAA was forced to wait months to hear whether they would qualify for the federal loan or not. In the end EIAAs application was accepted and approved, she said. One of the earlier steps EIAA had to take toward school construction was a zoning change. After purchasing the land for the new school with assistance from Elko Federal Credit Union, the charter school needed the zoning changed from commercial transitional to public, quasi-public. Elko City Council approved the change in January 2021. One of the rezoning conditions is that if the school is not under development within four years, the site reverts to the commercial zone, City Planner Cathy Laughlin told the council at the time. Along with the announcement of the loan for the charter school, USDA also reported that the Elko Band of the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone will use a $19,510 grant to purchase a projector and screen for use during community events. The USDA said that the grant additionally will be used to assist in the replacement of two swamp coolers for the local health and wellness center, and that the projects will serve 797 residents. Love 4 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 An Elko High School graduate was named to the 2021 Fall Deans list at York College in York, Nebraska. Emery Lesbo was named to the Deans list, which is awarded to students who earn a GPA of 3.75 or higher. York College named 103 students to the Deans list for the fall semester. Lesbo graduated from EHS on June 4, 2021. Quinten Wirth of Spring Creek has been named to Dickinson State Universitys Deans List for the 2021 fall semester. At the end of each regular semester, Dickinson State recognizes those students named to the Deans List. Eligible students must be enrolled full-time and must earn a 3.5 GPA or higher. The Universitys mission is to provide high-quality accessible programs, promote excellence in teaching and learning, support scholarly and creative activities, and to provide services relevant to the economy, health, and quality of life for the citizens of North Dakota. In a display of academic achievement, 21 percent of Dixie State University students earned Presidents and Deans List recognition for the Fall 2021 semester. Among the 2,627 students included on the honor roll for the Fall 2021 semester were Melanie Wood, Lizbeth Guerrero and Hannah McIntosh of Elko; Dorian Ard, Grace Pepiot and Grant Brorby of Spring Creek; and Eric Cerna, Lilia Lopez and Jesus Gonzalez of Wendover, Nevada. Congratulations to our amazing DSU students who worked diligently this past fall to achieve the highest levels of learning and classroom performance, Dr. Michael Lacourse, vice president of academic affairs, said. We are proud of their accomplishment and recognition as members of the Fall 2021 honor roll. Love 5 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Nevada System of Higher Education Chancellor Melody Rose accused Regent Byron Brooks of attempting to intimidate her during a private legal briefing in December while Brooks was carrying a firearm on his person the latest serious rift between members of the higher education systems governing board and its top administrative executive. In a letter sent to regents on Feb. 3 from attorney Daniel Polsenberg of the firm Lewis Roca and obtained by The Nevada Independent, Brooks allegedly carried a firearm into a closed-door meeting between regents, the chancellor, two members of the NSHE legal team and lawyers conducting the investigation into Roses ongoing hostile workplace complaint. A spokesman for the chancellor and the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) did not respond to a request for comment on Friday. Polsenberg also did not respond, though Lewis Roca attorney Jennifer Hostetler sent a statement on behalf of Rose. Chancellor Rose is dedicated to doing the job she was hired to do and to making Nevadas higher education system a place where students and faculty alike feel safe, supported, and are given a fair shot at success, Hostetler said. She is committed to taking the steps necessary to ensure those goals are met. In a statement sent via email Friday, Brooks said that it is unfortunate and concerning to me that anyone in the systems office, particularly while attending a Regent meeting, would feel unsafe. According to the letter, Brooks who was elected to the board in 2020 requested permission to carry a firearm onto NSHE property under system bylaws on Aug. 24, and eventually received conditional approval from then-Board Chair Cathy McAdoo on Sept. 29. State law prohibits the possession of weapons, including guns, on NSHE campuses and administrative buildings. However, the boards code allows for written exemptions to be granted either by institutional presidents or by the chancellor if the request is for a system location. Its unclear why the exemption in Brooks case was issued by McAdoo and not by Rose, and McAdoo did not respond to requests for comment. Top regents to leave leadership roles during investigation into hostile work environment complaint Though McAdoo and Carter will retain their seats on the 13-member board, which regents might emerge as leaders in the interim is unclear. In his statement, Brooks said he had requested the exemption after receiving increased threat assessment protocols by university police command in Southern Nevada in August. Though Brooks did not specify the reason for the increased threat assessment, regents were in the midst of intense public scrutiny over the possible enactment of a COVID vaccine mandate for Nevada college students at the time. After discussion with multiple NSHE decision makers and complying with background check and interview protocols, I was granted approval to carry my firearm until a time when external security threats were alleviated, Brooks said. The letter alleges that the chancellor learned Brooks had decided to carry his firearm into the NSHE building for the first time just before the meeting began, something that left her very uneasy because Brooks, the letter said, had spoken to her in an antagonistic and verbally intimidating manner on more than one occasion. After Regent Brooks refused to be seated next to the Chancellor, the meeting began and quickly escalated, the letter reads. Armed and seated directly across from the chancellor, Regent Brooks became visibly agitated that the Chancellor was present at the meeting. The chancellors letter then asks regents to rescind Brooks authorization to carry a firearm on system property immediately and no later than Feb. 10. Failing that, the letter said, the chancellor will pursue all legal and equitable remedies available to her. To this day no steps have been taken and the Chancellor remains concerned for her personal safety while at work, knowing Regent Brooks, who has been openly hostile to her, remains free to carry a weapon onto NSHE property, the memo said. The matter may now be moot, though. Brooks said that following additional safety protocols from university police, he no longer feels a need to carry a firearm into NSHE administrative offices and that he will no longer carry during meetings. The letter described Brooks conduct unnecessarily aggressive and appeared designed to verbally and/or physically intimidate her, stating that Rose left the meeting shaken, scared and concerned for her personal safety. The letter adds that a written report was later submitted by the chancellor to the lawyers investigating her original workplace complaint. Multiple sources confirmed to The Nevada Independent that a report on the investigation into the chancellors complaint was distributed to regents late Friday morning, with a closed-door meeting to discuss the findings set for next week. The report has not been made public, and it is unknown what conclusions investigators reached. Though he did not comment on the substance of the report, Brooks did call the chancellors accusations regarding the Dec. 30 meeting unwarranted, adding that I will allow the official investigative report to speak for itself. The Board of Regents has been embroiled for months in a series of controversies, delays or high-profile decisions. Brooks was also under fire this week from the political left, as the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada (PLAN) criticized him in part for his original petition to carry a firearm on NSHE property. In taking aim at Brooks, PLAN also criticized remarks from another regent, Patrick Boylan, as racist. After a State of System report from the chancellor that included information on diversity initiatives and success rates for non-white students, Boylan said during a meeting in January: We have Black students, we have colored students. White students are invisible. Arent we interested in white students? Arent we interested in helping them? Or do we just say, screw them. He ended his remarks with: Who will stand up for the colorless students? PLAN began circulating a petition calling on regents Boylan and Brooks to resign on Thursday. According to Laura Martin, the groups executive director, 160 individuals signed the petition in the first 24 hours. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Although were a few weeks past the holiday season, were still inspired by the kindness and generosity of our community partners who contributed to a roster of holiday supports in November and December. With tremendous support from our dedicated partners, Communities In Schools of Northeastern Nevada, in collaboration with the very dedicated team from Thanksgiving Dinner for Kids, a successful sixth annual Thanksgiving Dinner for Kids provided more than 150 families with a traditional Thanksgiving meal, precooked meal or a gift card. Nevada Gold Mines also provided meals for 20 families and Elko Dispatch gifted two families with fully cooked meals for the holiday. Thanks to the continued commitment from partners like Ignite Life Chiropractic, nearly 300 pairs of new and gently used snow boots and shoes were donated to CIS. The efforts success is also thanks to community partners that served as drop-off locations for shoes, including Guild Mortgage, St. Mark Lutheran Church and American Staffing. Were proud to announce that our annual Christmas Support drive benefited more than 60 Elko County School District students. Elko County School District and Sierra Java hosted giving trees, encouraging community members to make donations, all of which benefited local students. Other partners that stepped up to the plate include Nevada Gold Mines, which sponsored seven families, Elko Dispatch, which sponsored two families and Lostra Brothers, which brought smiles to the faces of one local family. Finally, two of our longstanding community partners, Shabonya Dutton, State Farm Insurance Agent hosted their 11th annual Coats for Kids Coat Drive and Nevada Gold Mines hosted an employee driven internal coat and winter clothing drives to ensure our students have access to warm clothing throughout the winter months. Thanks to their giving spirit, CIS was able to collect more than 300 winter clothing items, including coats, beanies, pants, snow boots, gloves and sweaters. Looking ahead to the next few months, we remain laser focused on our mission: To surround students with a community of support, allowing them to stay in school and achieve in life. The remarkable kindness and generosity of our community supports our All In For Kids mentality. Thank you to our many partners throughout Elko County. For more information on Communities In Schools of Northeastern Nevada, call us at 775-738-2783. Sarah Goicoechea is Executive Director of Communities In Schools of Northeastern Nevada. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Markor C.A.V.E. (Center for Artistic Visual Experience) is located at No. 99, Chaoyang Menwai Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China's capital city. It was officially completed in October 2020 as a unique world created by Markor Furnishings in exploring new retail art space. Photo taken on Feb. 6, 2022 shows volunteers cheering for Beijing at the Markor C.A.V.E. in Chaoyang District, Beijing, China's capital city. (Wang Xinyuan/Guangming Picture) The facade of Markor C.A.V.E. is consisted of modern and simple blocks arranged in an orderly manner, which look like huge white stones falling from the sky, or flexible, natural white feathers, producing a magical melody. With the new positioning of the new retail art space and the unique design language, Markor C.A.V.E. inherits the tradition and reflects the present. The venue has six floors with a total construction area of 35,000 square meters and a total exhibition area of 23,000 square meters. It inherits the context of Qiuci (an ancient state) cave and art. The new retail exhibition area displays the beautiful household products of 36 brands owned or cooperated by Markor. In addition, the ground and 3rd floors are also equipped with food paradise such as English afternoon tea, Qingjue simple meal book bar, western region restaurant, tent meal bar and outdoor meal bar respectively. From the perspective of architectural design, Markor C.A.V.E. contributes to the development and renewal of Beijing by comprehensively transforming and upgrading the old commercial complex. In terms of culture and art, Markor C.A.V.E. vitalizes the culture through the integrating and interpreting Chinese and Western culture, ancient and modern culture in a completely new way. From the perspective of consumption experience, Markor C.A.V.E. has created the ultimate artistic lifestyle to meet the personalized and continuously upgraded consumption needs of customers and cultivate a new consumer market. Since its completion, Markor C.A.V.E. has been ranked as a landmark building in that region. The business format of immersing new retail deeply integrates art and culture with the whole business place, which meets the consumers pursuit of space and personalization, and becomes a new must-go place for cultural leisure. Photo taken on Feb. 6, 2022 shows the staircase decorated with Qiuci murals at the Markor C.A.V.E. in Chaoyang District, Beijing, China's capital city. (Wang Xinyuan/Guangming Picture) Photo taken on Feb. 6, 2022 shows a child cheering for Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at the Markor C.A.V.E. in Chaoyang District, Beijing, China's capital city. (Li Wenjian/Guangming Picture) As one of the cultural features of Markor C.A.V.E., Qiuci murals, as interior decoration element, can be seen throughout the building. In order to restore the original appearance of murals to the greatest extent, mural artists collected about 60 tons of soil from Kizil Grottoes and transported it to Beijing, completed the murals with the ancient approaches in more than 150 days. Photo taken on Feb. 6, 2022 shows the Qiuci murals decorated at the entrance of the Markor C.A.V.E. in Chaoyang District, Beijing, China's capital city. (Wang Xinyuan/Guangming Picture) At the bottom of the mural is a story of the prince escorting white elephant, the national treasure. As a messenger of peace, the prince presented a white elephant to the enemy country and turned hostility into friendship. At a time of rapid changes, no matter in the face of life, commercial competition or epidemic challenges, peaceful coexistence is an eternal principle to promote the progress of human civilization. We should take a community with a shared future for mankind as the global value and work together to create a better and happy life. Photo taken on Feb. 6, 2022 shows the beams decorated with Qiuci murals at the Markor C.A.V.E. in Chaoyang District, Beijing, China's capital city. (Wang Xinyuan/Guangming Picture) The roof with cloud design of Markor C.A.V.E. is intertwined by several environmentally friendly ecological grids, just like floating clouds in the sky. It skillfully moves the natural scenery indoor and integrates with nature. The entire whiteness unites the roof and the ecological columns in a traceless manner. The soft curve extends the space infinitely, giving people the illusion of lightness, highness and the sense of touching cloud. It also breaks the limitation of the original storey height through the design language. Photo taken on Feb. 6, 2022 shows visitors cheering for Beijing at the Markor C.A.V.E. in Chaoyang District, Beijing, China's capital city. (Wang Xinyuan/Guangming Picture) The installation art of Markor C.A.V.E. is represented by the Internet application of intelligent manufacturing and industry, which helps consumers understand intelligent manufacturing and Markor advanced production system. Following the core competitiveness of combination of science and art, Markor officially launched the intelligent manufacturing project in 2012, making full use of Internet and cloud computing technology to create a Customer-to-Manufacturer intelligent model and realize the rapid response to the personalized needs of consumers. It is a successful demonstration of the double drive of data and art in the field of intelligent manufacturing. In 2015, Markor smart home manufacturing project was recognized by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology as the pilot demonstration project of smart home manufacturing workshop. Markor is the only one engaged in furniture industry among the 46 shortlisted enterprises. Editor: WXY A new study documents an exponential rise in hate on digital platforms in India since BJP came to power in 2014. Snobar | TwoCircles.net Support TwoCircles NEW DELHI Digital platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, Reddit, and GitHub have hastened the proliferation of anti-Muslim hate in India that forms the architecture of Hindutva, a new study by the Center for Culture-Centered Approach to Research and Evaluation (CARE), Massey University, New Zealand has revealed. As online hate is on the rise against Muslims in India, a CARE White Paper Series has revealed the experiences of Muslims on social media. Since the election of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014 and the subsequent electoral victory of BJP in 2019, the hate on digital platforms in India and in the Indian diaspora has proliferated exponentially, the study said. The centre conducted a survey of 1,056 Muslims in India, to examine the exposure to digital hate among Muslims. According to the study, the anti-Muslim hate on digital platforms reflects the broader political ideology of Hindutva that is rooted in the othering of Muslims. The organizing logic of a monolithic state (Rashtra), one people (jati), and a monolithic culture (Sanskriti) forms the ideological apparatus of Hindutva, the study noted. The study noted that the narratives of hate are often centred on specific events, policy decisions made by the ruling BJP, and dissenting responses to Hindutva. The study noted that the content of digital hate driven by Hindutva has been directed at Indias religious minorities, Muslims and Christians, as well as oppressed caste communities (Dalits). Of particular significance are the extreme forms of hate that have been directed at Muslims, including calls for genocide issued by Hindutva ideologues. The findings offer a descriptive framework for understanding the experiences of digital hate among Muslims in India, exploring the implications of the exposure to digital hate, and suggesting strategies for countering the hate. Hindutva adopts white supremacist symbols against Muslims The Hindutva adoption of the white supremacist symbol Pepe the Frog depicts the connections and flows between the different discursive registers of hate, drawn together in their anti-Muslim ideology, the study said. From the discursive architectures of 4chan to white supremacist Twitter spaces to the Hindutva architecture, Pepe the Frog has gone through multiple transformations rooted in Islamophobic hate, it noted. Pepe the Frog is a torturing agent, coloured saffron, wearing a black uniform, a cap adorned with the Om symbol and a saffron armband with writing in Sanskrit. Online hate against Muslims during anti-CAA protests In 2019, the BJP-led central government introduced the National Register for Citizens (NRC) and Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which were widely criticized by civil society as attacks on the citizenship rights of Muslims. According to the study, the discourses around the NRC and the CAA mobilized anti-immigrant sentiments, with several mainstream Hindutva politicians referring to the citizenship acts as mechanisms to filter out illegal Muslim migrants. The discourse of the Muslim migrant, and particularly the illegal Muslim migrant, has proliferated on digital platforms. CoronaJihad, CoronaTerrorism and CoronaBombsTablighi hashtags on Twitter The study found out that in March 2020 as the COVID-19 cases started appearing in India, COVID-related Islamophobic content proliferated across digital platforms. The #CoronoJihad narrative projected the Muslim as a terrorist attacking the Hindu community with the COVID-19 bomb, it said. The stigmatization and blaming of Muslims as super-spreaders based on misinformation resulted in some neighbourhoods attacking and banning Muslims and some healthcare organizations denying treatments to Muslims. Digital content blames Muslims for the pandemic According to the study, 64% of the respondents in the survey reported coming across content on digital platforms that blamed Muslims for the pandemic. 20.5% of the participants somewhat agreed, 21.5% of the participants mostly agreed, and 22% of the participants strongly agreed with the statement I have come across content on Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp that blames Muslims, suggesting that they are responsible for the spreading of the pandemic, it said. Digital hate in the face of #lovejihad According to the study, the disinformation portraying Muslims as conspirators plays out in content that projects Muslims as targeting Hindu women for conversion through romance. The hashtag LoveJihaad is part of a broader global Islamophobic digital infrastructure that flows from far-right, white supremacist, anti-immigrant spaces in Europe to the Islamophobic discursive space in Myanmar, and the anti-Muslim hate in India, the study said. Sexually violent digital content targeting Muslim women The threats of sexual violence targeting women are carried out alongside dehumanizing content depicting Muslims as animals, the study commented. According to the study, 55.3% of the participants agree with the statement, I have come across content on Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp that compare Muslims to pigs and dogs. 16% of the participants indicated they somewhat agreed, 20.5% of the participants stated they mostly agreed, and 18.8% of the participants stated they strongly agreed with the statement, it said. Snobar is an intern with TwoCircles.net. She tweets at @Snobar19 Israel blocks transfer of weapons of its own production to Ukraine media Israel has informed the Baltic countries that it will block the supply of Israeli weapons to Ukraine by third countries, Dzerkalo Tyzhnia reported. "Following the announcement by the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania of having received U.S. approval to transfer American-made weapons to Ukraine as part of efforts to support Kyiv ahead of a potential Russian invasion, the Israeli Defense Ministry informed the three Baltic states that their possible request for the transfer of Israeli-made weapons would be rejected," the publication's website said on Saturday evening, citing Breaking Defense. It is emphasized that this decision was caused by Israel's desire to balance its relations with Russia. "Like the United States, Israel initially approved strict end-user regulations on the sale of weapons that legally limit the ability of the buying country to ship equipment to a third party without the permission of the original manufacturer. The decision to ban was prompted by fears that Ukraine would seek to obtain Spike anti-tank systems, a joint German-Israeli production," the report said. This information was not confirmed by the Ministries of Defense of the Baltic States. The Israeli Defense Ministry also declined to comment on this information, but anonymous sources in the Israeli military department noted the "delicacy of the policy" that the Israeli government should pursue when it comes to Russia. The United States and allies are working on measures taking into account various scenarios for the development of events around Ukraine, since the actions of the Russian Federation against Ukraine could take different forms, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday. "Part of the reason we've been working so intensively over the last few months is not just to prepare for one contingency but to prepare for all contingencies," he said in an interview with NBC. According to him, Russia's actions towards Ukraine could take many forms, including the possibility of "annexing Ukraine's Donbas region," "hybrid actions," including cyberattacks and political destabilization, or a full-scale invasion. At the same time, he stressed that the escalation of the situation around Ukraine could occur at any moment, and, according to Washington, the Russian Federation has concentrated military forces capable of "a significant military operation into Ukraine." Sullivan also recalled the US' willingness to negotiate with the Russian Federation on the deployment of certain missile systems, transparency around military exercises, confidence-building measures and the prevention of accidental incidents. "But we are not ready to discuss the fundamental principles of security, which include NATO's open door policy for countries that meet the requirements [for joining the alliance]," Sullivan said. US Embassy in Kyiv welcomes arrival of eighth aircraft with US military aid to Ukraine The US Embassy in Kyiv welcomes the arrival of the eighth aircraft with US military assistance to Ukraine and assures that there will be even more, the embassy's press service reported on Twitter. "Pleased to announce the 8th delivery of security assistance to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Another 80-plus tonnes of solidarity. More will be coming. Make no mistake: We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine as it defends its sovereignty and territorial integrity," the report said. As reported, an Airbus A400M Atlas military transport aircraft of the British Royal Air Force and an American Kalitta Air Boeing 747 aircraft, chartered by the US Transportation Command, arrived in Kyiv on Sunday. The Egyptian Public Prosecution has released journalists Amer Abdel-Moneim, Hany Gerisha and Essam Abdeen, Head of the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate Diaa Rashwan announced late on Saturday. Hundreds of people demonstrated on Friday in front of the national assembly in Bangui, calling for a constitutional change which critics fear is a push to keep the president of the Central African Republic in power, an AFP correspondent said. 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. Syria's Christian Population Dwindles to Nearly Nothing Two young Assyrians sit next to the fence with a Cross. They fled with their families from Islamic State's held Mosul to Koysinjaq, Iraqi Kurdistan. ( Christiaan Triebert) A 90-year-old resident of Idlib, Syria, who is said to be the last Christian in the area, shared the difficulties he encountered in the face of Muslim persecution. The International Christian Concern reported that Michael Butros al-Jisri disclosed in an interview with Al-Monitor the hardships of being the only Christian left in the city after the majority of believers took flight in 2015 when "opposition took control." Butros, who has no children, revealed it was his decision to stay in Idlib out of his commitment to their property. He said he and his wife along with his father opted to stay when many Christians decided to. "My family is from Idlib city. My family and I used to live here in this house, which became a part of me, and I shall not leave it, come what may. My brothers moved to live in Aleppo while my father, his wife and I chose to stay," al-Jisri said. The International Christian Concern said Christians make up less than 1% of the residents of Idlib where there once was 10,000. The decline started in 2012, a year after the civil war began and then skyrocketed in 2015 when the Islamist rebels began to storm Idlib. This led to the majority of the remaining 1,200 Christians in the city to flee. Five Christians, including al-Jisri, his wife, and father, were left by the end of 2015. His wife and father died recently. "News spreads easily. They put their families in cars and drove away," al-Jisri told The New York Times. "Now, there's no one," he stressed. al-Jisri lamented last Christmas that he had to celebrate the great feast in the cemetery with the Greek Orthodox Christians buried there. He used to be the caretaker of the cemetery for which he organized funerals and attended to the needs of grieving families. "Who am I going to celebrate the holiday with? The walls? I don't want to celebrate if I am alone," al-Jisri said. Last November, Christianity Daily reported that Christians were being bombed out of Syria by Turkish-backed forces. Christian communities in the town of Dil Dara were faced with danger that forced them to eviction due to an ongoing civil war. Christian villages have been abandoned due to the Turkish attacks who persist unless the area's residents leave permanently. Many families have been reported to seek shelter in Lebanon. Syria ranks 15 in the 2022 World Watch List of Open Doors USA, an international persecution watchdog. The list pertains to areas in the world where it is difficult to follow Jesus. The 638,000 Christians left in the country experience "very high" persecution from "Islamic oppression", Open Doors said. "Even though the public threat of ISIS has largely subsided, Christians in Syria still grapple with daily persecution that may become violent. In areas where Islamic extremist groups are active, leaders of historical church communities may be targeted simply because they are more visible. But leaders of other Christian groups are also vulnerable because they may be more active in evangelism. Church buildings are completely destroyed in many parts of Syria where Islamic extremists had control (or continue to maintain control)," Open Doors USA said. United States Department of State Secretary Antony Blinken announced last week that Islamic State leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi was killed in a military operation northwest of Syria. The operation took place a week after the United States assisted the Syrian Democratic Forces in regaining control of the al-Sinaa prison that was attacked by the ISIS militants. The said prison takeover is said to be the largest coordinated attack of the ISIS since 2017. "Throughout that process, the United States took extraordinary care to protect innocent lives and prevent noncombatant casualties. ISIS, however, once again revealed its disregard for human life, including that of women and children, when al-Qurayshi choose to detonate a suicide bomb, killing his own family," Blinken declared. Minister Ali Moselhi added that 'Egypt is looking to procure 4 million tonnes of local wheat from farmers this season' Egypts strategic reserves of wheat and sugar are at 3.6 months of consumption, the supply minister said on Sunday, ahead of the start of the local harvest season. Minister Ali Moselhi added, in a televised interview, that Egypt is looking to procure 4 million tonnes of local wheat from farmers this season. Egypts strategic reserves of rice are sufficient until October, while the strategic reserves of vegetable oils are at 3.7 months of consumption, Moselhi said. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt, the worlds largest wheat importer, plans to procure around 4 million tonnes of wheat from farmers this season Egypt said on Sunday it has harvested around 1.2 million feddans of wheat since the beginning of its domestic wheat harvest season in mid-April. In press statements, Minister of Agriculture El-Sayed El-Quseir said that around 1 million tonnes of wheat have been procured by the supply ministry. He said wheat production this season was promising due to the implementation of quality agricultural practices and seeds with a commitment to technical recommendations issued by the ministry periodically during the harvest season to farmers. Egypt, the worlds largest wheat importer, plans to procure around 4 million tonnes of wheat from farmers this season. Its strategic reserves of grain are sufficient for 3.6 months. According to a draft budget for FY2020/2021 seen by Reuters, Egypt is expected to provide 8.6 million tonnes of wheat to the public, with around 5.1 million tonnes imported. Search Keywords: Short link: Speaker of Egypt's parliament Hanafy Gibali and President of the National Council of Human Rights Moshira Khattab met on Tuesday to discuss the agenda of human rights in Egypt in the coming period. An official statement said speaker Gibali has congratulated Khattab for heading the newly-formed National Council for Human Rights and expressed confidence in the ability of its members to play their national roles in the coming period. Gibali said Egypt's new national human rights strategy, released in September 2021, is an effective translation of Egypt's constitutional articles on rights and freedoms and Egypt's comprehensive vision on the issue of human rights. For her part, ambassador Khattab said that she and NCHR are looking forward for cooperating with the House of Representatives to turn Egypt's new human rights strategy into facts on the ground. "The state's release of the national strategy on human rights creates a high ceiling of expectations in this respect and makes it committed to implementing it on the ground," said Khattab. Search Keywords: Short link: The rights group released a report detailing Israels institutionalised apartheid system, called for an arms embargo and the Right of Return. Israeli authorities must be held accountable for committing the crime of apartheid against Palestinians, Amnesty International said Tuesday in a landmark new report. The years-long investigation details how Israel enforces a system of oppression and domination against the Palestinian people. This includes Palestinians living in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), as well as displaced refugees in other countries. The 280-page report, Israels Apartheid against Palestinians: Cruel System of Domination and Crime against Humanity, sets out how massive seizures of Palestinian land and property, unlawful killings, forcible transfer, drastic movement restrictions, and the denial of nationality and citizenship to Palestinians are all components of a system which amounts to apartheid under international law. This system is maintained by violations, which Amnesty found to constitute apartheid as a crime against humanity, as defined in the Rome Statute and Apartheid Convention. The rights group urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to consider the crime of apartheid in its current investigation in the OPT and called on all states to exercise universal jurisdiction to bring the perpetrators to justice. Amnesty Internationals findings build on a growing body of work by Palestinian, Israeli and international NGOs, who have increasingly applied the apartheid framework to the situation in Israel and/or the OPT. The term apartheid was originally used to refer to a political system in South Africa that explicitly enforced racial segregation, and the domination and oppression of one racial group by another. It has since been adopted by the international community to condemn and criminalise any such system or practise wherever they occur in the world. The report documents how the Israeli authorities enact multiple measures to deliberately deny Palestinians their basic rights and freedoms as well as perpetrate forcible transfer, administrative detention, torture, and unlawful killings, in both Israel and the OPT. It cites the unlawful killing of Palestinian protesters to illustrate how Israeli authorities use proscribed acts to maintain the status quo. In 2018, Palestinians in Gaza began to hold weekly protests along the border with Israel, calling for the right of return of refugees and an end to the 15-year-old blockade of the enclave. Before protests even began, senior Israeli officials warned that Palestinians approaching the wall would be shot. By the end of 2019, Israeli forces had killed 214 civilians, including 46 children. In light of the systematic, unlawful killings of Palestinians documented in its report, Amnesty called on the UN Security Council to impose a comprehensive arms embargo on Israel, as well as impose targeted sanctions, such as asset freezes, against Israeli officials most implicated in the crime of apartheid. The report highlights how successive Israeli governments have considered Palestinians a demographic threat, imposing measures to control and decrease their presence and access to land in Israel and the OPT. These demographic aims are well illustrated by official plans to Judaise areas of Israel and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which continue to put thousands of Palestinians at risk of forcible transfer. In addition to separating Palestinian communities and segregating them from Jewish Israelis, the report documents how the Israeli authorities treat Palestinians as an inferior racial group defined by their non-Jewish, Arab status. For example, Palestinian citizens of Israel are denied nationality, establishing legal differentiation from Jewish Israelis. In the West Bank and Gaza, where Israel has controlled the population registry since 1967, Palestinians have no citizenship and most are considered stateless, requiring ID cards from the Israeli military to live and work in the territories. Palestinian refugees and their descendants, who were displaced in the 1947-49 and 1967 wars, continue to be denied the right to return to their former places of residence. While Amnestys report takes no stand on the Palestinian Right of Return of six million refugees, its language supports it in clear terms. Israels exclusion of refugees is a flagrant violation of international law which has left millions in a perpetual limbo of forced displacement, it says. Amnestys documentation of the Palestinian dispossession is aligned with the Palestinian narrative. The report states that in 1948 Palestinians comprised around 70 per cent of the population of Palestine (then a British mandate territory) and owned about 90 per cent of privately owned land. Jews, many of whom had emigrated from Europe, comprised around 30 per cent of the population and they and Jewish institutions owned about 6.5 per cent of the land. Israeli authorities, it stated, have acted to turn that situation on its head. Today, Palestinian citizens of Israel, who comprise about 19 per cent of the population, face many forms of institutionalised discrimination. In 2018, discrimination against Palestinians was crystallised in a constitutional law which, for the first time, enshrined Israel exclusively as the nation state of the Jewish people. The law also promotes the building of Jewish settlements and downgrades Arabics status as an official language. The report documents how Palestinians are effectively blocked from leasing on 80 per cent of Israels state land, as a result of racist land seizures and a web of discriminatory laws on land allocation, planning and zoning. Since 1948 Israeli authorities have adopted various policies to Judaise the Naqab region of southern Israel, including designating large areas as nature reserves or military firing zones, and setting targets for increasing the Jewish population. This has had devastating consequences for the tens of thousands of Palestinian Bedouins who live in the region. Thirty-five Bedouin villages, home to about 68,000 people, are currently unrecognised by Israel, which means they are cut off from the national electricity and water supply and targeted for repeated demolitions. As the villages have no official status, their residents also face restrictions on political participation and are excluded from the healthcare and education systems. These conditions have coerced many into leaving their homes and villages, in what amounts to forcible transfer, the report said. Decades of deliberately unequal treatment of Palestinian citizens of Israel have left them at a consistent economic disadvantage in comparison to Jewish Israelis. This is exacerbated by discriminatory allocation of state resources: a recent example is the governments Covid-19 recovery package, of which just 1.7 per cent was given to Palestinian local authorities. Since its establishment, the Israeli state has enforced massive and cruel land seizures against Palestinians, and continues to implement myriad laws and policies to force Palestinians into small enclaves. Since 1948, Israel has demolished hundreds of thousands of Palestinian homes and other properties across all areas under its jurisdiction and effective control. The dispossession and displacement of Palestinians from their homes is a crucial pillar of Israels apartheid system, Amnesty said. As in the Negev/Naqab, Palestinians in East Jerusalem and Area C of the OPT live under full Israeli control. The authorities deny Palestinians in these areas building permits, forcing them to build illegal structures which are demolished again and again. In the OPT, the continued expansion of illegal Israeli settlements has been a government policy since 1967. Today settlements occupy 10 per cent of the land in the West Bank, and 38 per cent of Palestinian land in East Jerusalem was expropriated between 1967 and 2017. Palestinian neighbourhoods in East Jerusalem are frequently targeted by settler organisations which, with the full backing of the Israeli government, work to displace Palestinian families and hand their homes to settlers. Since the mid-1990s Israeli authorities have imposed increasingly stringent movement restrictions on Palestinians in the OPT. A 700 km fence, which Israel is still extending, has isolated Palestinian communities inside military zones, and they must obtain multiple special permits whenever they enter or leave their homes. The permit system in the OPT is emblematic of Israels brazen discrimination against Palestinians, said the report. While Palestinians are locked in a blockade, stuck for hours at checkpoints, or waiting for yet another permit to come through, Israeli citizens and settlers can move around as they please. Amnesty said it examined each of the security justifications which Israel cites as the basis for its treatment of Palestinians. The report shows that, while some of Israels policies may have been designed to fulfil legitimate security objectives, they have been implemented in a grossly disproportionate and discriminatory way which fails to comply with international law. Other policies have absolutely no reasonable basis in security, and are clearly shaped by the intent to oppress and dominate. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi received on Sunday his Djiboutian counterpart, President Ismail Omar Guelleh, at Cairo International Airport. El-Sisi and Guelleh will hold a summit on Monday at the Ittihadiya Presidential Palace, Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady said in a statement. The statement welcomed Guelleh, describing him as "the dear guest of his second country, Egypt." During the summit, the two presidents will discuss bilateral relations between Egypt and Djibouti as well as the issues of mutual concern, Rady added. El-Sisi embarked on an official visit to Djibouti in May last year, the first official visit by an Egyptian president to the African country since its independence in the 1970s. During the visit, he agreed with Guelleh on the importance of reaching a legal and balanced deal between Cairo, Khartoum, and Addis Ababa on the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Both presidents also reiterated the necessity of engaging in a path to a political settlement that reaches a fair, comprehensive and lasting solution for the decades-old Palestinian cause. In August, on the heels of El-Sisi's visit, Egypt announced that it will start the construction of a giant obstetrics, gynecology and pediatrics hospital in Djibouti, which will be the first specialised hospital in the African country. The planned hospital is a gift from the Egyptian people to the people of Djibouti and reflects the good and brotherly relations between the two countries, Djiboutian Health Minister Ahmed Abdilleh said. Egypt also backed the health sector in Djibouti last year amid the coronavirus pandemic by sending several planes carrying medical aid. El-Sisi also received Guelleh in Cairo in 2016, where they stressed the importance of enhancing economic and trade cooperation, signed seven MoUs in various fields, including agriculture, technical education, maritime ports and health. The volume of trade exchange between Egypt and Djibouti rose to $48.01 million in 2018, compared to $37.99 million in 2017, according to official figures by the Egyptian Commercial Service. Search Keywords: Short link: President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has reiterated Egypts political will to reach a legally binding agreement on the rules for filling and operating the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) during a meeting with his Djiboutian counterpart Ismail Omar Guelleh in Cairo. President El-Sisi received Guelleh at Cairo International Airport on Monday. An Egyptian presidential statement welcomed Guelleh, describing him as "the dear guest of his second country, Egypt." El-Sisi embarked on an official visit to Djibouti in May last year, the first official visit by an Egyptian president to the African country since its independence in the 1977. At a joint press conference with Guelleh at Cairo's Al-Ittihadiya Palace following their meeting on Monday, El-Sisi said he appreciates very much his recent visit to Djibouti, noting that Guellehs current visit is a continuation of their coordination on all levels. Reaching GERD agreement El-Sisi said he discussed with the Djiboutian president the latest developments in the GERD file and other regional issues. El-Sisi affirmed to Guelleh Egypts will to reach a GERD deal within "an appropriate timeframe in a manner that enhances regional security and stability, based on the rules of law and the decisions of the Security Council." Rounds of African Union-sponsored talks to resolve the decade-long dispute between Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan collapsed in April. In September last year, the UN Security Council adopted a draft presidential statement calling on the three countries to resume negotiations under the auspices of the AU. Various attempts to revive the talks, whether through the African Union or the US envoy to the African Horn, have failed, but the three countries have expressed willingness to resume the stalks under the AU. Egypt and Sudan have been negotiating with Ethiopia for 10 years now to reach a legally binding agreement that regulates the rules for filling and operating the dam, a proposal that has been repeatedly turned down by Ethiopia. Establishing security in Horn of Africa, Red Sea During Mondays presser, El-Sisi said the regional situation in the Horn of Africa was prioritised in his discussions with Guelleh in light of the epicentres of tensions this area contains. This is in addition to working to establish security and stability in this important part of our continent and intensifying cooperation and coordination between Egypt and Djibouti regarding the Red Sea security, El-Sisi added. El-Sisi said he and Guelleh also highlighted the responsibility the riparian countries shoulder to formulate all policies related to this vital waterway from an integrated perspective that takes into consideration the developmental, economic, and security aspects. Guelleh said he and El-Sisi affirmed the importance of activating cooperation to establish regional security and stability and working to enhance cooperation and achieve integration. El-Sisi said his discussions with Guelleh were characterised by frankness and transparency and reflected the convergence of our views on many bilateral and regional files and issues of common concern. Confidence in Egypt hosting COP27 Guelleh, during the presser, renewed congratulations to El-Sisi on Egypt being selected to host the 27th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP27) in November this year in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh. This reflects the international appreciation of [Egypts] efforts to protect the environment and its role in facing the impacts of climate change locally and internationally, Guelleh said. We affirm our confidence in Egypts capabilities and sagacity to make the anticipated summit a success, the Djiboutian president added. El-Sisi said he stressed to Guelleh Egypts keenness to speak about the developments in Africa regarding the climate file during COP27. Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry affirmed that Egypt will speak up for Africa's aspirations to cope with climate change during COP27 in a meeting of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) on the sidelines of the two-day 35th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly, which kicked off on Saturday in Addis Ababa. As the host of COP27, Egypt would adopt "a comprehensive approach that takes into account the concerns and priorities of the various parties," Shoukry said, calling on African countries to support Egyptian efforts in a way that contributes to the success of the conference. Boosting economic cooperation During the presser, El-Sisi said he reviewed with Guelleh boosting the ongoing cooperation between the two countries, especially the economic and commercial relations and investments, so that they cope with their special political relations. We have agreed on the importance of joint work to secure the support required for boosting joint investments and highlighted the need for boosting trade volume between the two countries, El-Sisi said. In 2016, El-Sisi received Guelleh in Cairo, where they stressed the importance of enhancing economic and trade cooperation and signed seven MoUs in various fields, including agriculture, technical education, maritime ports and health. The value of trade exchange between Egypt and Djibouti rose to $48.01 million in 2018, compared to $37.99 million in 2017, according to official figures by the Egyptian Commercial Service. El-Sisi, during Mondays presser, also affirmed the importance of the Egyptian companies contribution to the economic development efforts in Djibouti, highlighting efforts to open a branch of the Egyptian state-owned Banque Misr. El-Sisi also underscored efforts to establish an Egyptian logistics zone in Djibouti, saying he discussed with Guelleh enhancing cooperation in the fields of transport and ports linkage as well as the efforts to launch a direct flight service between Cairo and Djibouti. In March last year, an Egyptian delegation that included representatives from different ministries and companies as well as businessmen visited Djibouti to boost bilateral ties. During the visit, the Djiboutian side agreed to give a license to an Egyptian company to operate flights between the capitals of the two countries to facilitate the movement of passengers and goods, the Egyptian foreign ministry said in a statement without naming the company. Djibouti also allowed an Egyptian bank to operate in the country, the statement added. The Egyptian delegation, led by Assistant Foreign Minister for African Affairs Sherif Eissa, held talks with senior officials in Djibouti, with Egypt's Ambassador to Djibouti Mohamed Moustafa attending. Diverse ties, anti-extremism efforts Guelleh said he agreed with El-Sisi on the vitality of boosting cooperation between the two countries in various priority fields, at the top of which is trade, investments, industry, health, tourism, security, and culture. This is in addition to the sectors of energy, transport, infrastructure, and capacity building, in a way that paves the way for a new phase of partnership between the two sisterly countries, Guelleh added. Guelleh said his visit to Egypt after El-Sisis visit to Djibouti last year reflects the firm strategic relations with Egypt at all levels and the strong political will to expand these relations. In August last year, on the heels of El-Sisi's visit, Egypt announced that it will start the construction of a giant obstetrics, gynaecology and paediatrics hospital in Djibouti, which will be the first specialised hospital in the African country. The planned hospital is a gift from the Egyptian people to the people of Djibouti and reflects the good and brotherly relations between the two countries, Djiboutian Health Minister Ahmed Abdilleh said. Egypt also backed the health sector in Djibouti last year amid the coronavirus pandemic by sending several planes carrying medical aid. During the presser, El-Sisi said he discussed with Guelleh cooperation in the field of countering extremism and training Muslim preachers by spreading the moderate values of Islam through the prestigious religious institutions in the two countries, at the top of which is Al-Azhar. During the Egyptian delegations visit to Djibouti in March, the two sides discussed scholarships given by Egypt's Al-Azhar, the Sunni Muslim worlds top religious institution, along with training more Djiboutian preachers, and setting up Al-Azhar Institute in Djibouti. Search Keywords: Short link: Kuwait will ban a new film adaptation of Agatha Christie's whodunnit "Death on the Nile" with a cast of Hollywood stars including Israeli actress Gal Gadot, authorities said Sunday. The film, directed by and co-starring Kenneth Branagh, is due for release this month in the United States. The story is one of the most famous works of British author Christie, dubbed the "Queen of Crime". But cinemagoers in Kuwait will not be able to watch it, information ministry spokeswoman Anouar Mourad told AFP, confirming press reports. According to Kuwait's Al-Qabas newspaper, the decision was taken following demands on social media for the film to be banned. Social media users pointed to Gadot's praise of the Israeli army and her criticism of the Palestinian Islamic movement Hamas during the 2014 war in Gaza. The war left 2,251 dead on the Palestinian side, the majority civilians, and 74 on the Israeli side, most of them soldiers. Gadot is best known for the lead role in the 2017 Hollywood blockbuster "Wonder Woman" which was banned in some Arab countries. She has frequently come under criticism on social media because she did her mandatory service in the Israeli army. Kuwait is staunchly opposed to normalising ties with Israel -- unlike its Gulf neighbours the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, which have signed peace deals with the Jewish state -- and has long been a supporter of the Palestinian cause. Search Keywords: Short link: He added that this season's harvest is promising for other reasons, foremost of which are the "befitting" climatic factors and rainfall, in addition to paying a stimulating price for wheat to encourage farmers to cultivate more lands and distribute the yield locally. In November, Egypt raised the procurement price by EGP 95 to EGP 820 per ardeb to encourage farmers to increase the size of cultivated land. The decision was taken due to the international rise in wheat prices to their highest records in a decade. In December, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi inaugurated a land reclamation project in Toshka meant to achieve self-sufficiency in wheat, an Egyptian staple. The Toshka project, south of Aswan, is reportedly the largest of its kind in the Middle East and is meant to increase habitable areas from five percent to 25 percent and increase agricultural lands by 500,000 feddans. Egypt has reclaimed 85,000 feddans out of 100,000 feddans as part of the first phase of the Toshka project in 2021. The second and last phase has started in January and will complete the project by reclaiming 500,000 feddans. In 2021, Egypt imported 5.5 million tonnes of wheat. Moselhi expected in December that Egypts wheat imports in 2022 would drop to 5.3 million tonnes due to the increase in locally procured wheat. Israel's domestic spying scandal widened Monday with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett vowing government action following new reports that police illegally used the Pegasus malware to hack phones of dozens of prominent figures. The latest bombshell from business daily Calcalist alleged that Pegasus was used against a son of former premier Benjamin Netanyahu, activists, senior government officials, businessmen and others. Calcalist had previously alleged that the controversial malware, which can turn a phone into a pocket spying device, was used by police against leaders of an anti-Netanyahu protest movement. Hours after Monday's report emerged, Bennett promised that his government "won't leave this without a response. "Things allegedly happened here that are very serious," he said in a statement that also credited Pegasus as "an important tool in the fight against terrorism and severe crime". "But they were not intended to be used in phishing campaigns targeting the Israeli public or officials - which is why we need to understand exactly what happened." As Bennett pledged action, Minister for Public Security Omer Barlev said he would ask the justice ministry to authorise a government commission of inquiry. Barlev said that, if approved, the probe would be led by a retired judge who would question anyone necessary in the political, legal and security system to uncover "violations of civil rights and privacy". Pegasus is a malware product made by the Israeli firm NSO at the centre of a months-long international scandal following revelations that it was used by governments worldwide to spy on activists, politicians, journalists and even heads of state. Israel had come under fire for allowing the export of the invasive technology to states with poor human rights records, but the Calcalist reports have unleashed a domestic outrage. President Isaac Herzog suggested the credibility of key Israeli institutions was at stake. "We must not lose our democracy. We must not lose our police. And we must certainly not lose public trust in them. This requires an in-depth and thorough investigation," Herzog said in response to the Calcalist report. 'Shocked' Calcalist said dozens of people were targeted who were not suspected of any criminal conduct, and without police receiving the necessary court approval. They include senior leaders of the finance, justice and communication ministries, supermarket magnate Rami Levy, mayors, and Ethiopian-Israelis who led protests against alleged police misconduct. In another revelation set to rock Netanyahu's ongoing corruption trial, Calcalist also reported that key witness Ilan Yeshua, former chief executive of the Walla news site, was a target. Avner Netanyahu, one of the premier's sons, was also on the list. "I truly am shocked," he wrote on Facebook. Netanyahu is accused of seeking to trade regulatory favours with media moguls in exchange for favourable coverage, including on Walla. He denies the charges. His lawyers on Monday demanded the trial be halted until the latest revelations were probed. The trial also suffered a blow last week when multiple Israeli broadcasters reported that police may have used spyware on Shlomo Filber, a former Netanyahu ally turned state witness. Those reports, which Netanyahu described as an "earthquake", did not mention Pegasus. Pegasus is a surveillance program that can switch on a phone's camera or microphone and harvest its data. NSO has consistently denied wrongdoing throughout the multi-stranded Pegasus scandal, stressing that it does not operate the system once sold to clients and has no access to any of the data collected. Search Keywords: Short link: Several world leaders lined up Monday to walk a diplomatic tightrope that could mean the difference between war in Ukraine and an uneasy peace there as Russia's menacing actions on the border of its neighbour continued unabated. Russian President Vladimir Putin was back at the Kremlin in Moscow following his diplomatic foray to get support from China over the weekend during the Winter Olympics. Putin hosts the prime meeting of the day as French counterpart Emmanuel Macron visits on a mission to de-escalate tensions. Later in Washington, U.S. President Joe Biden will meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the White House to shore up Western resolve against what they see as Russian aggression. Western estimates that some 100,000 Russian troops have massed near Ukraine are increasing worries that an offensive could be only days away. At the same time, the borders of nations in the NATO military alliance are also being shored up. FRANCE MAKES A BIG PUSH FOR DE-ESCALATION Even if the 27-nation European Union as a bloc has had little impact on the crisis over Ukraine, France has always felt it could force a breakthrough in the East-West stalemate, and Macron is the epitome of that confidence. Moscow is only the first of a one-two diplomatic dance that will also take the French leader to Kyiv on Tuesday. His priority is simple, "dialogue with Russia and de-escalation.'' What makes the execution of that much more complicated is the need to keep a unified Western front among over two dozen players in the face of the Kremlin monolith, where one man's will faces precious little opposition. Macron's essential challenge is to make sure things don't get worse on the ground "before building confidence gestures and mechanisms.'' In an interview with the French newspaper Journal du Dimanche, he said Putin might make Ukraine only a means to achieve a bigger goal. "The geopolitical objective of Russia today is clearly not Ukraine, but to clarify the rules of cohabitation with NATO and the EU,'' Macron said. Even if Ukraine' security cannot be a bargaining chip, Macron said "it is also legitimate for Russia to pose the question of its own security.'' AFTER FRENCH MOVE, GERMANY France and Germany have worked in tandem before. Seven years ago, they were essential in creating a peace deal for eastern Ukraine in a bid to end fighting between Ukrainian government forces and Russia-backed separatists that erupted in 2014 following the Russian annexation of Ukraine's the Crimean Peninsula. Ukrainian officials have called that peace deal unworkable and divisive, but it did tamper down the fighting. Germany has been criticized for being slow and halfhearted in its approach to the Ukraine crisis but on Monday, Europe's economic juggernaut was moving on different fronts. As Chancellor Scholz was getting ready for his meeting with Biden, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock had meetings scheduled in Kyiv with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and is set to visit the "line of contact'' with pro-Russia separatists in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday. Germany's show of solidarity comes amid tensions over Berlin's refusal to send weapons to Ukraine. Yet Baerbock said that "we stand, without ifs or buts, by the territorial integrity of the country and at the side of the people in Ukraine.'' Baerbock added that "together, we will react with hard and very concrete measures to any further Russian aggression against Ukraine.'' To show that the Franco-German diplomatic effort is far from over, Scholz will meet Macron and their Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda to discuss the Ukraine crisis on Tuesday. That will allow the three leaders to compare notes after Scholz's meeting with Biden in Washington on Monday and Macron's trip to Russia and Ukraine on Monday and Tuesday. MORE TROOPS BOLSTER NATO'S EASTERN FRONT Germany is also mulling sending more troops to Lithuania, potentially reinforcing its presence on NATO's eastern flank. Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht has raised the possibility ahead of Scholz's meeting with Biden. The German leader is due to receive on Thursday the leaders of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, the three Baltic states who specifically feel the heat from Moscow, before travelling to Ukraine and Russia next week. Germany has led a NATO battlegroup in Lithuania for the past five years. A few dozen elite U.S troops and equipment were seen landing Sunday in southeastern Poland near the border with Ukraine, following Biden's orders to deploy 1,700 soldiers there amid fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Hundreds more infantry troops of the 82nd Airborne Division are still expected to arrive at the Rzeszow-Jasionka airport, 90 kilometres (56 miles) from Poland's border with Ukraine. Search Keywords: Short link: After total reported overdoses in Annapolis dropped by a third and fatalities fell by nearly half in 2021 compared with 2020, the Office of Emergency Management is hoping to continue making up ground lost in the battle against the opioid crisis during the coronavirus pandemic. Last year, the city recorded 135 total overdoses, 110 of those from heroin or another opioid, according to the Annapolis Police Department. Thats a 33% decrease from 198 overdoses reported in 2020. Overdose fatalities fell from 28 in 2020 to 16 in 2021, a 42% drop. Fourteen of those died from heroin or another opioid. One additional fatality from last year is still pending lab results. Advertisement In the second year of a pandemic, these numbers are extraordinary, said Kevin Simmons, director of the Office of Emergency Management, which oversees the citys response to the opioid epidemic. This year, Simmons is hoping to continue the positive trends while trying to lower the number of overdoses that go undocumented, which often happens when a person walks away before the incident can be recorded. Part of the solution, he said, is to train community members to call 911 before they begin administering treatments like naloxone, an overdose reversal medication, so emergency workers have time to respond and give aid. Advertisement Naloxone was administered 98 times last year, down from 138 administrations in 2020; however, the total percentage of overdoses in which naloxone was applied increased from 70% to 73%. Community members provided the drug in 42% of those incidents, up from 33% in 2020, Simmons said. He credited residents with taking a more active role in responding to overdoses including establishing caches of naloxone throughout the neighborhood for easy access. If more overdoses are recorded, the city can reach people suffering from substance abuse disorders and offer them the chance to enter a drug-treatment program. And once theyre done, they should have access to mental health and recovery services and programs like criminal record expungement and financial literacy programs, Simmons said. The biggest barrier to being successful is that once theyre out of treatment, they feel alone, they feel abandoned, he said. Anne Arundel overdoses, deaths down Overdoses and fatalities also decreased in Anne Arundel County in 2021, down by 18.6% and 18.1%, respectively, compared with 2020, according to data collected by the county and city police departments. Total overdoses plummeted from 1,044 in 2020 to 850 last year, the lowest since 2019 when 889 overdoses were recorded. Fatal overdoses dropped to 158, down from 193 the year before. In 2019, 140 people died of an overdose, county data showed. The decline in 2021 can be attributed to all of the countys drug intervention programs coming back online over the past year as the COVID-19 vaccine was introduced to the public and other restrictions were loosened, Anne Arundel County Health Officer Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman said. After starting 2020 with the promise of more money and resources to combat addiction, the coronavirus pandemic struck in March, derailing outreach efforts. By years end, fatal overdoses in Annapolis had more than doubled from 13 to 28, the most in a single year. Anne Arundel County also saw a 20% increase in fatal overdoses, following a trend seen across the country as the entire support system for people in recovery or seeking recovery services evaporated virtually overnight. Advertisement The surge was an eye-opener for everyone, Simmons said. The city and county were able to restart naloxone distribution, expand the WellMobile and continue the Safe Stations program, located at fire stations throughout the county, among many other outreach efforts in its arsenal, Kalyanaraman said. That has all helped and weve also focused a lot of our outreach on high-risk populations so folks with multiple overdoses, pregnant women, women with children to make sure we get those at higher risk, he said. Its really all of the above. While officials are glad to see the numbers go down, there are still too many overdoses and deaths, Kalyanaraman said, noting that Anne Arundel still has the third-most overdoses in the state of Maryland. He pointed specifically to Black men who have the highest rate of opioid overdose of any race or sex category in the county. In 2021, 21.3 overdoses per 10,000 residents occurred among Black men, county data shows. White men are the most likely to die from an overdose with a rate of 4.3 per 10,000, slightly higher than Black men at 4.1 per 10,000. Simmons said resources must be directed at Black men in Annapolis as well, who accounted for more than a third of all overdoses last year and four fatalities. Advertisement Were glad to see that its getting better, but its still bad, Kalyanaraman said. We want to make sure that these services get to all parts of the county, and so weve got to continue to expand our existing services to make sure that everybody has access to them. New hires and funding In Annapolis, a robust drug intervention program costs about $100,000 annually, Simmons said. He secured that funding in 2021 from a $35,000 block grant from the Anne Arundel County Department of Health and a $65,000 budget appropriation from the city of Annapolis. With the money, Simmons made a slew of hires including a coordinator for the Naptown Anti-Dope MoveMeant, which offers face-to-face interaction for residents and opioid intervention teams, and a project coordinator to collect data and run the ODFree online dashboard. The Morning Sun Daily Get your morning news in your e-mail inbox. Get all the top news and sports from the baltimoresun.com. > Two field support liaisons were hired and deployed in wards 4 and 6, which have historically been hot spots for overdoses. Since 2015, Ward 6 has recorded the most overdoses with 293. Ward 3 is second with 151 and Ward 4 has had 128. After years of lobbying the health department, the city was also able to bring the WellMobile to wards 4 and 6 twice a week. The health treatment clinic on wheels offers drug addiction resources to residents as well as other health services like COVID-19 testing and vaccinations. Simmons also credited efforts by the Annapolis Police Department for several high-profile drug seizures to help reduce the supply of heroin, cocaine and other drugs into the city. The police reentry program, which connects those returning from incarceration to a range of resources, including job training and treatment, has also been a significant asset in the fight against the epidemic, he said. Advertisement Kalyanaraman said his department is focused on addressing a common concern among citizens: They dont know that services exist. The county can pour millions into new initiatives or expand new ones, but they dont work if no one knows about them, he said. Our mission is really to make sure that this information is easy to find in everybodys hands and is accessible when they need it, he said. I think programs like Safe Stations are a good example, right? It is available whenever you need it. Still, officials are keeping the recent gains made in the city and county in perspective. There is still a lot more work to do. This can revert back to where we were if we arent careful, Simmons said. We cant rest on our laurels. The operator of a Nigerian oil vessel that exploded and sank last week said on Monday three bodies had now been recovered, three found alive while four were still missing after the accident. The Nigerian FPSO Trinity Spirit -- a floating production, storage and offloading vessel -- caught fire following an explosion on Wednesday, but the blaze was extinguished a day later. The vessel was located at the Ukpokiti Terminal, along the coast of the oil-rich Niger Delta region. Ten crew members were on board the vessel at the time of the accident. Ikemefuna Okafor, the executive officer of Shebah Exploration & Production Company Ltd (SEPCOL), the vessel owner, said "two further dead bodies were discovered on the deck of the vessel," in addition to one corpse recovered earlier on Sunday. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of all the victims of this unfortunate incident, and we are on hand to provide support to them as required," he said. "Thus far, the potential total number of the crew members accounted for is six, including the three persons who were found alive last week," he said. Okafor said efforts would be intensified in search of the remaining missing crew members. "Our priority remains focused towards establishing the whereabouts, safety, and security of the four crew members still missing." The vessel had a processing capacity of 22,000 barrels per day and a storage capacity of two million barrels, according to the company's website. Environmental campaigners have expressed fears of spills. Idris Musa of the country's spill detection agency NOSDRA told AFP on Sunday there had been "no-spill incident yet other than emulsified oil in small quantity." Nevertheless, he said the agency was "watching more closely". Despite being Africa's largest crude producer, accidents are frequent in Nigeria's oil and gas industry, although they usually occur on land. Search Keywords: Short link: The United States on Monday offered a $10-million reward for information leading to the "identification or location" of the leader of the Afghanistan regional chapter of the Islamic State group. The reward offered by the US State Department was also for any information that would aid in arresting or convicting those responsible for the "terrorist attack at the Kabul airport" on August 26, which was claimed by the Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K). The attack, which killed more than 100 people including 13 American soldiers, was launched as the United States orchestrated its chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan and the evacuation of Afghans deemed under threat by the Taliban's takeover. According to Washington, Sanaullah Ghafari -- also known as Shahab al-Muhajir -- was appointed head of IS-K in June 2020 by the Islamic State group. IS-K is the Afghan offshoot of IS, which originated in Iraq and Syria. "Ghafari is responsible for approving all ISIS-K operations throughout Afghanistan and arranging funding to conduct operations," the State Department said in a statement. He had been blacklisted in November as a foreign terrorist. Little is known about Ghafari, although his nom de guerre suggests he arrived in the region from the Arab world. He is rumoured to have been an Al-Qaeda commander or a former member of the Haqqani network, one of the most powerful and feared factions in the Taliban. IS-K has been responsible for some of the deadliest attacks in the region in recent years, massacring civilians in Afghanistan and Pakistan, at mosques, shrines, public squares and hospitals. The group has especially targeted Muslims from sects it considers heretical, including Shiites -- much like the original IS group. It was hit hard by both the Taliban and US-led forces and was losing influence but its attacks have ramped up since their rival Islamists took power in August. Search Keywords: Short link: A Giza prosecutors office approved on Monday the burial of Nikolaos Katsikas, a Greek veteran correspondent and vice president of the Hellenic Cultural Centre who was found stabbed to death on Saturday in his apartment in Gizas Sheikh Zayed neighbourhood. The 1966-born Katsikas had been missing for several days before his body was discovered. Police have arrested a home delivery courier who worked at a restaurant and knew the victim prior to the murder, according to a judicial source, who said that robbery is believed to have been the motive behind the killing. The Greek foreign ministry has praised the late journalist as a conscientious professional, adding that the Greek consulate in Cairo is maintaining contact with the relevant Egyptian authorities to learn more details about the journalist's death. The Hellenic Cultural Centre in Cairo has issued a statement mourning the loss of its vice president. The Hellenic Cultural Centre of Cairo says goodbye with sorrow to journalist Nikolaos Katsikas, a man who loved his work, Egyptian Greeks and Egypt, the Centre said in a statement on Monday. Katsikas had been working as a correspondent for the Athens Macedonia News Agency (AMNA) in Cairo since September of 2016. He also worked as a correspondent for Cypriot TV in Cairo. An active member of the Greek community in Egypt, Katsikas founded Fos newspaper in Cairo and edited the monthly edition of Alexandrinos Tahydramos in Alexandria. Both publications are produced by the Greek community in Egypt. Search Keywords: Short link: Yemen's exiled government accuses Iran of using Eritrea's Red Sea islands to support the Houthi rebels, claims strongly denied by Eritrea Supporters of Yemen's exiled government have accused Eritrea of supporting the Houthi rebels who now control much of the war-torn country, amid ongoing Saudi-led airstrikes against them. Eritrea's foreign ministry has strongly denied these claims. Yemen's Houthi rebels seized the capital Sanaa last September, and earlier this year extended their control down to the southern port town of Aden. Since 26 March, a Saudi-led coalition has been conducting airstrikes against the Zaydi Shia militants and the forces loyal to their ally, former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, in an attempt to restore exiled Yemeni president Abd Rabou Mansour Hadi to power, after he fled to Saudi Arabia earlier this year. Iran has strongly opposed the Saudi-led campaign against its Zaydi Shia allies. Eritrea is situated along 1,000 km of coastline to the southwest of the Red Sea, opposite Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Independent from Ethiopia since 1991, Eritrea controls the Dahlak island archipelago off its southern port of Assab, across the water from the Saudi-Yemeni border. The list of the exiled Yemeni government's accusations against Eritrea is long, Ayman Shabana, a political science professor at the Institute of African Research and Studies at Cairo University, told Ahram Online. In his words, they include "opening its land and the islands of the Dahlak archipelago on the Red Sea to Iran's elite Quds Force and elements of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, setting up an Iranian missile batteries near the Eritrean port of Assab, providing training, accommodation and [medical] treatment centres for the Iran-backed Houthis, stockpiling Iranian arms, and delivering them to the Houthis in the Yemeni port of Saada on small fishing boats, which wander between Assab and the Yemeni port of Harf Sufyan [in the Amran governorate, south of Saada]." But there is no conclusive physical evidence that proves the existence of Iranian missile batteries on Eritrean territory, said Shabana. Shortly after the launch of the Saudi-led military campaign, the Eritrean foreign ministry strongly denied these accusations, and claimed that they were part of a propaganda campaign against it, triggered by the Ethiopian intelligence services, in collaboration with "other sides" to distort Eritrea's image in Arab public opinion. Eritrea has categorically denied the alleged transfer of Iranian weapons to the Houthi rebels, stressing the impossibility of such movements under the heavy deployment of the US and Western fleets present in the strategic Bab El-Mandeb Strait at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. The African country confirmed its support for Yemen's unity, territorial integrity and political stability, as well as its policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of any state. 'Ties with Iran and Israel' Eritrea's official position on the Yemen crisis has however not helped to dispel the allegations, said Shabana. While African countries Djibouti, Mauritania and Senegal issued statements in support of the Saudi-led military campaign, and Egypt, Morocco and Sudan joined it, Eritrea did not condemn the "Houthi coup", he said, preferring instead to adopt a position of "neutrality" on the issue. After a dispute between Eritrea and Yemen over the Hanish islands in the Red Sea was settled in Yemen's favour in 1998, relations between Eritrean president Isaias Afwerki and former Yemeni president Saleh warmed, with Saleh visiting Eritrea in 2006 and 2010, according to Shabana. Saleh's family holds investments in Eritrea, said Shabana. "Iran has training camps inside the Eritrean territories where militias are being trained in order to be sent back to the areas that serve the aims of the Islamic Republic, particularly in Syria and Lebanon and, of course, mainly to the Houthi rebels in Yemen," Yemeni retired Brigadier General Mohsen Khasrof told Ahram Online. "Iran brings fighters from several countries, especially from Syria and Lebanon's Hezbollah, for military training in full coordination and cooperation with the Eritrean side." Eritrea has also had relations with Iran's arch-enemy Israel, Khasrof alleged. It has however strongly denied any presence of Israeli or Iranian military bases or forces on its territory, especially in the Dahlak archipelago, saying that the Eritrean islands are not for sale or rent. Eritrea has been accused of supporting the Somali al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab militants as well as the opposition in neighbouring Ethiopia, said Khasrof. A 2009 UN Security Council resolution to impose sanctions on Eritrea including an arms embargo and freezing of state assets in international banks claimed that country had "provided political, financial and logistical support to armed groups engaged in undermining peace and reconciliation in Somalia and regional stability". President Afewerki visited Tehran in May 2008, said Shabana, and in 2009 Eritrea publicly announced its support to Iran's nuclear program, a move that angered the Arab Gulf countries especially Saudi Arabia. Eritrea-Saudi relations When he visited Saudi Arabia on 28 and 29 April, a month after the beginning of Saudi-led airstrikes in Yemen, Eritrean president Afwerki met Saudi king Salman and Deputy Crown Prince and defence minister Mohammed bin Salman, who is in charge of the military campaign. Eritrean diplomatic sources told the media at the time that the two countries had agreed on a "military and security cooperation to fight terrorism and piracy in the Red Sea", and not to allow any foreign interference in Yemen. They did not exclude a major strategic alliance between both countries to "militarily resolve the battle in Yemen", they said. After Senegal announced that it would send 2,100 troops to take part in the Saudi-led coalition campaign in Yemen, Eritrea was believed to have taken a similar decision, especially after Afwerki's visit to the kingdom, amid speculations that the Saudi-led alliance might use Eritrea's as a launchpad for a ground invasion. "The Eritrean president's visit to Saudi Arabia in April doesn't mean anything," however claimed Khasrof. "If Eritrea was willing to cooperate with the Arabs, it would have closed its Shia [Islam] schools and Iranian training camps." Search Keywords: Short link: Sudanese security forces fired tear Monday at thousands of demonstrators calling for civilian rule and justice for protesters killed since last year's power grab, witnesses and an AFP correspondent said. The tear gas was fired as demonstrators were heading toward the presidential palace in the capital Khartoum, in the latest rally against the October power grab led by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the correspondent said. Mass protests have been regular in Sudan since the power grab which derailed the country's rocky transition to civilian rule following the 2019 ouster of autocratic president Omar al-Bashir. At least 79 people have been killed and hundreds wounded in the crackdown on anti-power grab demonstrations, according to an independent group of medics. Monday's protests took place despite heavy security presence in Khartoum and its neighbouring cities of Omdurman and Khartoum North. It came only two days after thousands of pro-military demonstrators rallied against recent UN talks that aimed to help Sudan resolve the political crisis since the power grab. On Monday, anti-power grab protesters in the city of Wad Madani, south of Khartoum, were seen waving the Sudanese flags and carrying posters of people killed in the crackdown. "No, no to military rule" and "blood for blood," they chanted, according to witnesses. Hundreds also gathered in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan, residents there said. In Khartoum, some protesters also called for the dissolution of the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces commanded by Burhan's deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, an AFP correspondent said. "The Janjaweed should be dissolved," the protesters chanted, in reference to the RSF which grew out of the Janjaweed militias accused by rights groups of atrocities in Darfur. Sudan, which was already in the grip of a dire economic crisis before the power grab, has seen vital foreign aid cut as part of the international community's condemnation of the takeover. The United States, which suspended $700 million in assistance to Sudan after the power grab, has warned that a continued crackdown by the authorities would have "consequences". Sudanese authorities have repeatedly denied using live ammunition against demonstrators, reporting scores of security officers have been wounded and a police general was stabbed to death. On Monday, the Sudanese Professionals Association, which called for anti-power grab protests, said the latest demonstrations were "a message to the dictatorship that authority lies with the people". Search Keywords: Short link: Three members of the United Arab Emirates' Federal National Council visited Israel's parliament Monday, becoming the first Emirati delegation there since the US-brokered normalisation of ties in 2020. "When we talk about Abraham Accords agreements, we want you to look at the big picture," Ali Rashid al-Nuaimi, chairman of the council's defence, interior and foreign affairs committee, said at the Israeli foreign and defence committee. "It's not a political agreement only, it's not an issue related to security and defence issue. No, it is an agent of change for the whole region," Nuaimi said, advocating "full engagement in all sectors". Prior to the visit to the Knesset, the Emirati delegation visited Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust memorial. The UAE became the third Arab nation to normalise ties with Israel after Egypt and Jordan, a move that angered the Palestinians as it recognised the Jewish state before the establishment of a Palestinian one. Nuaimi said that after the 2021 war between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist rulers of Gaza, "people were questioning what will happen to the Abraham Accords," the name of the agreements brokered under the Donald Trump administration "I want everyone to know there is no way back, we are moving forward, we are not repeating history, we are writing history," he said. Ram Ben Barak, head of the Israeli foreign and defence committee hosting Nuaimi as well as fellow Federal National Council members Sara Falaknaz and Marwan Almheiri, called his guests "neighbours and brothers". "There's a misconception, as though the normalisation agreement was based on just one element, of shared threats and challenges, but that's the smallest part of the deal," he said. "Israel is committed to the agreement and plans on enhancing and expanding it in all fields." Bahrain and Morocco have also normalised ties with Israel under the accords. Sudan has agreed to do so, but formal diplomatic relations have not yet emerged amid escalating instability in Khartoum. Search Keywords: Short link: Defence Secretary Ben Wallace on Monday said 350 more British troops would be sent to the Polish border, to shore up NATO's eastern flank against any Russian aggression. Wallace said the troops would strengthen a contingent of 100 British soldiers already there and would be a "bilateral deployment to show that we can work together and send a strong signal that Britain and Poland stand side by side". The announcement came following talks between Wallace and Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak amid growing fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, which could spark a massive exodus of refugees into Poland. Belarus last year allowed migrants to cross its border into Poland, sparking a humanitarian crisis and prompting the deployment of 100 British troops to strengthen the border. Blaszczak told journalists that the additional British troops would "cooperate with the Polish armed forces on increasing the security, especially when it comes to the threats on the border". Wallace noted that "recently Belarus cynically used human beings as a way of destabilising neighbours". "Using illegal migration or indeed forcing people across the border, Britain stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Poland, and sent 100 Royal engineers to support them in those efforts to counter the use of migrants as a tool." US officials have said the Kremlin has assembled 110,000 troops along the border with pro-Western neighbour Ukraine but intelligence assessments have not determined whether President Vladimir Putin has actually decided to invade. An invasion could trigger a refugee flood of up to five million people, mainly into Poland, the officials added. Russia is seeking a guarantee from NATO that Ukraine will not enter the alliance and wants the bloc to withdraw forces from member states in eastern Europe. Wallace on Monday insisted that NATO is a defensive alliance and that Russian aggression would be counterproductive and lead to "more NATO, the very thing that President Putin says he doesn't want". He said that Russia's "2014 illegal annexation of Crimea led to be enhanced forward presence in Poland, in Estonia, and in Latvia." Search Keywords: Short link: Example 1. On January 12, 2022, Omar Abdulmajeed Assad died at the hands of the Israeli occupation forces. He didn't just die. He was murdered. While different in some details, his murder was not unlike the killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis or Eric Garner in New York City, two Black men who were killed by American police. The deaths of Garner and Floyd became central to the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement. In the early morning hours of January 12th, Mr. Assad, a 78-year-old Palestinian American, driving home from an evening spent playing cards with friends, was stopped by a group of Israeli occupation forces conducting a raid into his village of Jiljilya. Despite being in Area A and therefore presumably under the control of the Palestinian Authority, the Israelis nevertheless claim the right to enter the village at will, raid, harass, and detain Palestinian residents. When stopped by the raiding party, Mr. Assad objected and argued with the Israelis. He was forcibly pulled from his car, handcuffed, and gagged. He was then dragged for about 100 yards and deposited, face down, on the cold 32F degree ground. A few other Palestinians who were detained with him reported that one of the Israelis sat on Mr. Assad's back, holding him down. About an hour later, the Israelis freed the other men and departed. After a short while, the soldiers returned and seeing Mr. Assad still lying motionless, cut the handcuffs from one of his wrists and left his lifeless body on the ground. The other detainees brought a doctor from the village who came to the site, saw that Mr. Assad wasn't breathing, noted that his face was blue, and pronounced him dead. While there are many such gruesome Palestinian deaths at the hands of Israeli occupation forces, most of which are never reported in the West, this one was different because Mr. Assad was an American citizen. A US senator and a group of congresspeople were quick to respond with calls for an investigation, as did the US Department of State. This past week, the Israeli military announced that it had completed its investigation and released its findings hoping to assuage the concerns of the Americans. The military investigation concluded that "the incident pointed to a moral failure and to an error in judgment by the troops, while seriously undermining the value of human dignity." One commanding officer was rebuked, and two of the soldiers involved were dismissed from their service. The Israelis may have hoped that this would be the end of the matter, only to have the US State Department respond that "the Biden administration expects a thorough criminal investigation and full accountability in the case of Omar Assad." The painful death of Mr. Assad at the hands of the Israeli occupation forces raises some deeply troubling concerns. The brutality meted out to Mr. Assad and the callous disregard for Palestinian human life on display in his death hearken back to countless earlier episodes in which Israeli forces have demonstrated that they view Palestinians as less than full human beings. In this case, the members of Congress and State Department are right a criminal investigation is necessary precisely because, given the facts we know, this cannot be dismissed as a mere "moral lapse." The Israeli forces involved displayed criminally negligent/reckless behavior resulting in death. What is to be adjudicated is whether they are to be charged with homicide or manslaughter. Nothing less will do. In the past, such brutality was ignored and never even warranted an investigation. But because Mr. Assad is an American and because there is a growing sensitivity toward Palestinian rights among progressive Democrats, including those in Congress, this case could not be so easily dismissed with a faux investigation that whitewashed this murder. Example 2. While the death of Mr. Assad was still in the news, Israel received yet another blow when Amnesty International released a meticulously documented 280-page report, Israel's Apartheid Against Palestinians: A Cruel System of Domination and a Crime Against Humanity. The report notes that: "Decades of deliberately unequal treatment of Palestinians in all areas under the control of Israel has left Palestinians marginalized and subject to widespread and systematic socioeconomic disadvantage as they are barred from equitable access to natural and financial resources, livelihood opportunities, healthcare, and education." As the report continues, it provides details of Israeli policies that have negatively impacted Palestinians, in different ways, depending on whether they are citizens of Israel, residents of "East Jerusalem," the occupied West Bank, and Gaza, or refugees in exile denied the right to return to their homes and properties. In all cases the report argues, Israel has established laws and practices that privilege one group (Jews) at the expense of Palestinian Arabs in other words, apartheid. Much of what is in the report has been known for decades. (I covered much of this ground in my 1978 book, Palestinians, The Invisible Victims: Zionism and the Problem of Palestinian Rights.) In the past year two Israeli human rights groups Yesh Din and B'Tselem and Human Rights Watch have issued reports making the same charge. But this was different for two reasons. It comes from Amnesty International, which even the State Department regularly cites as the "gold standard" of human rights groups. And it makes the case in international law for why Israel should be charged with "a crime against humanity." As a result, the issue of apartheid will gain currency among groups in the US concerned with human rights. An example: This past week, the Episcopal Church in DC overwhelmingly passed a resolution calling Israel an apartheid state. Israel's main concern is that, with the backing of Amnesty International, others will follow suit and pressure will grow for the International Criminal Court to take up the issue, creating even more attention on Israel's behavior towards the Palestinian people. Because of the prestige of Amnesty International and the urgency their charges have created, whitewashing won't do, so Israel had to take a different tack. For this reason, the Israeli hasbara machinery went into full gear to denounce the report as "malicious" and demonize Amnesty International as anti-Semitic. On cue, pro-Israel groups and members of Congress echoed these charges focusing their outrage on the term apartheid without ever addressing the actual substance of the report or the violations of human rights contained within it. It's not clear how Israel will weather these two storms the murder of a Palestinian American and the charge of apartheid. What is clear, however, is that we are in a new era in which whitewashing crimes or demonizing those who accuse Israel of committing them will not be so easily swept under the carpet. * President Arab American Institute Search Keywords: Short link: Spanish actress Margarita Lozano, who worked with top European directors such as Pier Paolo Pasolini and Sergio Leone, died Monday aged 90, local officials said. The southeastern city of Lorca, where Lozano spent her childhood, declared three days of mourning, referring to her as an "adoptive daughter." "Margarita Lozano left a deep mark on both the cinema and theatre and acted under the orders of the best directors of the time," Lorca mayor Diego Jose Mateos said in a statement. Born in 1931 in Tetuan in northern Morocco which was then a Spanish protectorate to a father who was a soldier stationed there, Lozano initially studied design and fashion. But she abandoned her studies to pursue acting, her true passion, in Madrid, initially in the theatre. She starred in acclaimed Spanish director Luis Bunuel's 1961 drama "Viridiana" about a young nun about to take her final vows. The movie won the top Palme d'Or prize at the Cannes Film Festival that year. In the late 1960s she went to Italy, appearing in Pasolini's 1969 drama "Pigsty" as well as Sergio Leone's 1964 western "A Fistful of Dollars" alongside Clint Eastwood. She retired for a decade to raise her family but returned to Italian cinema in the 80s, appearing in several films by Paolo Taviani and his brother Vittorio Taviani. Her friend, Spanish architect Simon Angel Ros who designed her home in the coastal town of Puntas de Calnegre near Lorca where she was living, said Lozano passed away "peaceful". "Her heart has been weakening slowly, she did not suffer," he told local media. Lozano's only son Paco flew from Italy where he lives on Saturday to be by her side in her final hours, he added. Search Keywords: Short link: A 17-year-old boy was shot and killed in the Village of Owen Brown in Columbia on Saturday night, police said. Howard County Police said they were called to the 7300 block of Hickory Log Circle for a shooting just after 8 p.m. Advertisement Police said they found a victim in the parking lot suffering from gunshot wounds. He was transported to Howard County General Hospital where he died. Police identified the victim Monday as 17-year-old Christian Johnson of Columbia. Advertisement The department said the investigation is ongoing and there is no suspect yet, but there is a $5,000 reward for information in the case. The Cairo Opera House announced on Monday the delay of all of renowned Egyptian musician Omar Khairats February concerts due to the death of his brother. Egyptian Minister of Culture Ines Abdel-Dayem, Cairo Opera House President Magdy Saber, and all the artists and workers are mourning the death of Omar Khairats brother, Ali Khairat, who died on Monday at the age of 76, stated the Cairo Opera House on Monday. The musicians January concerts at the Cairo Opera House were also cancelled, was supposed to hold two concerts on 10 and 11 February before the sad incident forced an indefinite delay. Omar Khairat, 73, has hundreds of compositions in his repertoire. He has composed musical scores for numerous films and television series, including The Sixth Day (1984), The Terrorist (1993), Mafia (2002), Girls Love (2003), The Embassy is in the Building (2005), and Deers Blood (2006). The artist and his orchestra frequently perform on stages in Egypt and across the region, but his Cairo Opera House performances usually attract large audiences, with tickets sold days prior to the event. Search Keywords: Short link: A new, exceptionally virulent strain of HIV has been discovered but scientists stress there is no cause for alarm Related Less than 1% of Egypts population HIV-positive: Health ministry Can Egypt be HIV/AIDS free? 8 tips from a trip to the US Oxford researchers have announced the discovery of a highly virulent strain of HIV that has been lurking in the Netherlands for decades, but because of the effectiveness of modern treatments, they say there is no cause for alarm. Their analysis, published in the journal Science, showed that patients infected with what they call the VB variant had 3.5 to 5.5 times higher levels of the virus in their blood than those infected with other variants, as well as a more rapidly fading immune system. However, the study also found that after starting treatment, individuals with the VB variant had similar immune system recovery and survival to individuals with other HIV variants. Theres no cause for alarm with this new viral variant, said Oxford epidemiologist Chris Wymant, the lead author on the paper, in an interview with AFP. The variant likely arose in the late 1980s and early 1990s in the Netherlands, according to the researchers, but began to decline around 2010. Since modern interventions still seem to work on the variant, the research team believes that widespread HIV treatment in the Netherlands did not contribute to the viruss evolution, and that early detection and treatment are paramount. Our findings emphasise the importance of World Health Organisation guidance that individuals at risk of acquiring HIV have access to regular testing to allow early diagnosis, followed by immediate treatment, said co-author Christophe Fraser, also an Oxford researcher, in a press release announcing the findings. The work also supports the theory that viruses can evolve to become more virulent, a widely hypothesised idea for which few real-world examples have been found. The Delta variant of the novel coronavirus was another recent example. The discovery of the HIV variant should therefore be a warning that we should never be overconfident about saying viruses will just evolve to become milder, Dr Wymant told AFP. In total, the team found 109 people infected with the VB variant, with only four living outside the Netherlands, but still in western Europe. Over 500 mutations The HIV virus is constantly evolving, so much so that each person infected has a slightly different version. The VB variant, however, was found to have over 500 mutations. Finding a new variant is normal, but finding a new variant with unusual properties is not especially one with increased virulence, Dr Wymant said. The research team first identified the VB variant in 17 HIV positive individuals by analysing a broad data set from the BEEHIVE project, a data collection initiative in Europe and Uganda. Because 15 of the 17 were from the Netherlands, they further studied data from 6700 HIV-positive Dutch individuals, identifying 92 others. The earliest appearance of the VB variant in their data was found in someone diagnosed in 1992 who had an early version of the variant, and the most recent in 2014. Researchers have since found other individuals with the variant diagnosed after 2014. Doctors usually measure HIVs deterioration of the immune system by monitoring the decline of CD4 T-cells, which are targeted by the HIV virus and pivotal for protecting the body against infections. In patients infected with the VB variant, CD4 decline occurred twice as fast compared to other variants, placing them at risk of developing AIDS much more rapidly, the researchers said. In addition to its increased impact on the immune system, the team also found the VB variant to be more highly transmissible. They came to that conclusion after comparing the different versions of the VB variant drawn from infected patients. The fact that they were so similar suggests that the virus passed rapidly to someone else before it could accumulate many mutations. Critical to diagnose early Because the VB variant causes a more rapid decline in immune system strength, this makes it critical that individuals are diagnosed early and start treatment as soon as possible, the press statement noted. This limits the amount of time HIV can damage an individuals immune system and jeopardise their health, Professor Fraser said. Professor Fraser is also the principal investigator of the BEEHIVE project, which was launched in 2014 to gather data on how mutations in the HIV virus can lead to varying degrees of severity among patients. Those differences have previously been thought to mostly relate to the strength of individuals own immune systems. The researchers said they could not identify which genetic mutation in the VB variant caused its virulence, but they hope future studies will be able to. Search Keywords: Short link: The U.S. has condemned a series of North Korea's recent missile "attacks" and asked for a meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss fresh sanctions. In an interview with the Washington Post on Tuesday, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said, "We will continue to ramp up the pressure on the North Koreans. Their attacks are a violation of Security Council resolutions." The term is much stronger than the usual "provocations" the North is accused of. "We had an intense discussion about this in the Security Council [last week], and we're likely to have another such discussion over the course of this week," she added. The spokesperson for the U.S. permanent representative to the UN told Voice of America that the U.S., along with Albania, France, Ireland and the U.K., asked for UNSC meeting about North Korea on Thursday afternoon. He said a Russian invasion would come "at an enormous human cost to Ukraine but at a strategic cost to Russia," with the U.S. prepared to impose swift and severe economic sanctions against Russia to hobble its economy. "Whatever actions Russia takes next, America is ready," Sullivan said. In a separate interview on "Fox News Sunday," Sullivan said, "Any day Russia could take action against Ukraine, or it could be a couple weeks," with U.S. intelligence officials assessing that Moscow has 70 percent of its strike force in place for an attack. "We believe that the Russians have put in place the capabilities to mount a significant military operation into Ukraine, and we have been working hard to prepare a response," Sullivan told NBC's "Meet the Press" show. The United States now believes a Russian invasion of Ukraine "could happen at any time," White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Sunday, in what would be the biggest military operation in Europe since World War II. Sullivan, however, said the U.S. is willing to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin over his professed security concerns about actions of the U.S. and its 29 NATO allies. "That includes the placement of certain range systems of missiles," Sullivan said. "It includes transparency around military exercises. It includes greater capacity to have a confidence building and to avoid incidents that could lead to escalation or miscalculation." "But what we're not prepared to negotiate are the fundamental principles of security that include an open door to NATO for countries who can meet the requirements," Sullivan said in rejecting Putin's demand that NATO rule out the possibility of Ukrainian membership. The Western allies say no outside nation has veto power over which countries join the Atlantic alliance. U.S. President Joe Biden last week ordered that 3,000 American troops be sent to two eastern NATO countries, Poland and Romania. Reports say troops from the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division have landed in southeastern Poland near the border with Ukraine. Washington has ruled out dispatching troops to fight alongside Ukrainian forces in the event of a Russian invasion. The U.S. has, however, sent $500 million worth of arms and defensive missiles to the Kyiv government. If Russia invades Ukraine, then cuts off its natural gas supplies to European countries in retaliation to U.S. sanctions, Sullivan said the U.S. is moving to help redirect natural gas supplies from elsewhere to its European allies. In any event, Sullivan said if Russia invades Ukraine, its Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline running under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany "will not move forward." The pipeline is completed but not yet operational. In the NBC interview, Sullivan said Biden "has rallied our allies. He's reinforced and reassured our partners on the eastern flank. He's provided material support to the Ukrainians, and he's offered the Russians a diplomatic path if that's what they choose instead, but either way, we are ready, our allies are ready and we're trying to help the Ukrainian people get ready as well." Chinese President Xi Jinping Sunday held wide-ranging bilateral talks with visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in which they stressed the urgency of providing enhanced international aid to Afghanistan to help it avert a looming humanitarian crisis. The meeting marked the culmination of a four-day visit to Beijing, where Khan was among foreign leaders invited to witness Friday's opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games. A post-meeting joint statement said that China and Pakistan "called upon the international community to provide continued and enhanced assistance and support to Afghanistan including through unfreezing of Afghanistan's financial assets." "The two sides are ready to discuss with Afghanistan the extension of CPEC to Afghanistan," the statement said, referring to a multi-billion-dollar investment program known as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. CPEC is hailed as a flagship of Beijing's global Belt and Road Initiative, which builds roads, power plants and other infrastructure projects in Pakistan with Chinese investments. When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan last August, wide-ranging international sanctions dating back to the Islamist group's first time in power from 1996 to 2001 followed. The Taliban's return to power prompted the United States and other Western nations to immediately freeze more than $9.5 billion in Afghan central bank's assets, mostly held in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The sanctions have pushed the heavily aid-dependent Afghan economy to the brink of collapse and exacerbated a simmering humanitarian crisis in the conflict-torn South Asian nation, where the United Nations estimates around 24 million people, or more than half of the population, face acute hunger. The international sanctions and other punitive financial restrictions, say aid agencies, are impeding the flow of much needed humanitarian aid to Afghans. South Korea has declined for the third time this year to co-sponsor a U.S.-led joint UN statement condemning North Korea's missile provocations. Eight members of the UN Security Council plus Japan issued a joint statement last Friday condemning Pyongyang for the launch of a Hwasong-12 mid-range ballistic missile "in the strongest terms." The U.S. brought the eight other like-minded countries together for a joint press conference to issue the statement as it became impossible to adopt a UNSC resolution to put pressure on the North Korean regime due to the resistance from Chin and Russia, but South Korea was conspicuously absent. The North has fired 11 missiles of various kinds on seven occasions since early this year, and the U.S. has called for an emergency UNSC meeting three times. Each meeting ended with China and Russia blocking discussion of fresh sanctions against the North. Instead, the U.S. pushed through a joint statement co-sponsored by six countries on Jan. 10, a second statement by eight countries on Jan. 20, and the third by nine countries last Friday. Meanwhile the foreign ministers of the 10 member states of ASEAN, including the North's traditional allies Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, also issued a joint statement condemning the North's missile launches, expressing "grave concerns" and urging Pyongyang to comply with all UNSC resolutions. Koreans are up in arms after the government revised its COVID response to offer free PCR tests only to the elderly and vulnerable groups to keep the medical system from being overwhelmed by the Omicron variant. Many are saying they face massive costs for their own PCR tests, especially family members of suspected cases and other caretakers who are hired by patients (US$1=W1,199) Eight permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Japan held an emergency meeting last Friday and issued a statement condemning North Korea's latest launch of an intermediate-range ballistic missile. "We condemn this unlawful action in the strongest terms," they said. But South Korea took no part in the statement even though it was North Korea's seventh missile provocation this year, the most ever in a month, and most of them are pointed at the South. Last month, UNSC members also issued two statements condemning North Korea's missile launches. The EU, Germany and Sweden took turns issuing strongly worded statements against the North, while the foreign ministers of ASEAN members also condemned the North Korea's actions. Even Vietnam and Laos, which are close to North Korea, signed up. Only China and Russia want nothing further done. South Korea took no part in any of those statements. Last month, the top nuclear negotiators of the U.S. and Japan in an emergency meeting condemned North Korea's provocations as violating UNSC resolutions, but the South Korean government merely called for a quick resumption of dialogue with the North. Seoul did not even mention that the UN ambassadors of South Korea, the U.S. and Japan discussed responses to North Korea's missile launches. The U.S. is conducting joint military exercises with Japan and Australia in order to thwart North Korea's military provocations, but the South Korean military is sitting them out. The government here did not even label the North's missile launches "provocations" and merely voiced mild "regret" each time. It finally "condemned" North Korea after the latest launch, and President Moon Jae-in said he is concerned about the North's repeated missile launches "ahead of the presidential election." It is unclear whether he is worried about our country's security or the election results. Moon was quick to voice "strong condemnation" of Yemeni rebels for attacking the UAE halfway around the world, but at home military is busy claiming that the North "exaggerated" the capacity of its purported hypersonic missile, which prompted North Korea to launch another one that flew at a speed of Mach 10. The government even failed to announce the North's launch of a cruise missile in March last year, saying it did not have to mention every single one of these provocations. Yet North Korea's missiles are the biggest threat to South Korea's national security. How does it expect to protect it if it refuses to cooperate with the international community in dealing with North Korea? It is high time for this craven appeasement to end. KYODO NEWS - Feb 7, 2022 - 20:09 | All, Japan Toshiba Corp. said Monday it now seeks to divide into two listed companies instead of three after its initial restructuring plan drew stiff opposition from activist shareholders calling for an increase in corporate value. Toshiba, a Japanese household name with a nearly 150-year history, said the revision of the original plan, disclosed three months ago, aims to cut costs associated with the reorganization and ensure stability in its finances. Under the new plan, the industrial conglomerate will only spin off its device business, including its semiconductor and hard disk drive segments, while keeping the infrastructure unit within Toshiba. Toshiba said it eyes completing the spinoff and listing of the device company by March 2024. It seeks to win enough support over the latest plan from major stakeholders before convening an extraordinary shareholders' meeting by the end of next month. "This is a decision that has been reached to make sure that a split of the company is realized and improve the stability of the spinoff while maintaining the original purpose," Toshiba CEO Satoshi Tsunakawa said in a briefing for investors. Toshiba said it intends to raise shareholder returns to 300 billion yen ($2.6 billion), triple the amount it announced in November, over the next two years. To that end, the company will sell 55 percent of its 60 percent stake in Toshiba Carrier Corp., its air-conditioning subsidiary, to U.S. firm Carrier Corp. for about 100 billion yen. It had planned to break up into three companies -- two spinoffs that would each focus on infrastructure and devices and a third that would own a stake in flash-memory chip company Kioxia Holdings Corp. The rare reorganization of the tech behemoth was seen as an attempt to appease shareholders disgruntled by lackluster efforts to boost growth and corporate value. It had said the three-way split was set to require about 10 billion yen, but the projected cost ballooned following further evaluation. The two-way split is now estimated to cost around 20 billion yen. Speaking at a press conference after the briefing, Tsunakawa apologized for causing confusion by scrapping the initial plan in three months. While insisting the review was a "necessary step to realize the best solution" for all stakeholders, the CEO said Toshiba has no more plans to make changes to its reorganization scheme. In an effort to concentrate its resources on focus areas, Toshiba will also begin the process of selling its elevator and lighting businesses. Toshiba has a variety of businesses, from nuclear power and elevators to hard disk drives and semiconductors. In fiscal 2020, which ended in March 2021, it had over 3 trillion yen in sales. Its strategy was revised after some activist stakeholders voiced opposition against the three-way split. Toshiba, regarded by the Japanese government as a company critical to national security, is nearly 30 percent owned by foreign funds. Their influence in Toshiba grew after the conglomerate floundered following the 2017 bankruptcy of its U.S. nuclear plant subsidiary Westinghouse Electric Co. Following the announcement of the initial plan, Singapore-based 3D Investment Partners Pte., which has a roughly 7 percent stake in Toshiba, said it does not believe that splitting the conglomerate into three is optimal for its shareholders and is "instead very likely to create three underperforming companies." The asset management company last month called for Toshiba to convene an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders at which the three-way split could only proceed if two-thirds of the attendees expressed support. KYODO NEWS - Feb 7, 2022 - 17:53 | All, World, Japan Japan has lodged two protests with Russia after Moscow announced it will hold military exercises this month around islands claimed by Tokyo, the government said Monday. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said the protests were made on Thursday and Friday after Russia issued navigation warnings ahead of target practice exercises from Tuesday through March 1 in the sea southeast of Kunashiri Island. Moscow has also said it will test fire some missiles from Monday through Feb. 25 in a wide area covering the Northern Territories as well as Japan's exclusive economic zone. Kunashiri is one of several disputed islands off Japan's northern main island of Hokkaido called the Northern Territories by Tokyo and the Southern Kurils by Moscow. "Russia's further armament of the four northern islands conflicts with Japan's stance and is not acceptable," Matsuno, the top government spokesman, said at a regular news conference. "We have conveyed that we are closely following Russian military's activities in areas around our country, including the Northern Territories." Tokyo claims the Soviet Union seized the islands, also including Etorofu, Shikotan and the Habomai group of islets, illegally soon after Japan's surrender in World War II in August 1945, while Moscow argues it did so legitimately. On Monday, an annual national rally to demand the return of the disputed islands was held in Tokyo, with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reiterating Japan's pledge to resolve the row, which has prevented Tokyo and Moscow from concluding a postwar peace treaty. "It is truly regrettable that 76 years after the war, the Northern Territories issue remains unresolved and a peace treaty has not been signed by Japan and Russia," Kishida told the gathering, which was largely held online with only a few participants attending amid the coronavirus pandemic. "I will tenaciously advance negotiations in accordance with (bilateral) agreements made so far," including one in 2018, Kishida said. During a 2018 summit meeting, Japan and Russia reaffirmed they would carry out peace treaty talks based on a 1956 joint declaration, which states two of the four islands -- Shikotan and the Habomai islet group -- will be handed over to Japan following the conclusion of a peace treaty. Matsuno, however, said the government's stance to negotiate the return of the four islands remains unchanged. A Texas man pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to making threats to former Baltimore health commissioner Dr. Leana Wen because of her COVID-19 vaccine advocacy. Scott Eli Harris, of Aubrey, Texas, now faces a maximum of five years in federal prison, though his attorney and federal prosecutors will debate what sentence the judge should hand down. Taking into consideration criminal history and other factors, actual sentences are usually less than the maximum. Advertisement A Texas man pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to making threats to former Baltimore health commissioner Dr. Leana Wen (pictured in 2019) because of her COVID-19 vaccine advocacy. (Lloyd Fox/AP) With his plea Monday, Harris admitted sending a threatening email to Wen in July. His email included ethnic slurs, other offensive language and referenced violence, according to his indictment. Never going to take your wonder drug. My 12-gauge promises I wont, Harris wrote. Im a 5th generation U.S. Army veteran and a sniper. I cant wait for the shooting to start. Advertisement Harris demanded in his email to know where Wens office was. Breaking News Alerts As it happens Be informed of breaking news as it happens and notified about other don't-miss content with our free news alerts. > Mr. Harris is embarrassed by his conduct and sincerely apologizes for the harm he has caused, said Harris attorney, federal public defender Elizabeth Oyer, after the hearing. Wen, who regularly appears on CNN as a medical analyst, has been a vocal proponent of the COVID-19 vaccine. The inoculations are critical to stemming the coronavirus pandemic, according to public health experts like Wen, as they dramatically reduce the risk of serious illness, hospitalization and death in people who contract COVID-19. Assistant U.S. Attorney P Michael Cunningham said in court Monday that Wen promptly forwarded Harris threatening email to the FBI, which began an investigation. Federal agents traced the email address and message back to Harris, who sent the email from his cell phone in Texas. Harris is released under the supervision of pretrial services pending his sentence, which has not yet been scheduled, according to court records. U.S. Magistrate Judge A. David Copperthite agreed to modify to Harris supervision last month. According to his order, Harris is not longer prohibited from having a cell phone, so long as he provides all the information about it to pretrial services, which can inspect the phone at any time. KYODO NEWS - Feb 7, 2022 - 07:37 | All, Japan Over 30 percent of the 146 local governments in Japan that have introduced a same-sex partnership system as of Jan. 1 have also signed reciprocal agreements with other municipalities to simplify reapplication procedures when LGBT couples move, according to a Kyodo News survey. The move comes amid criticism that the need for a lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender couple to dissolve a partnership and reapply each time they move causes emotional stress. The cross-municipality cooperation has accelerated since the southwestern Japan cities of Fukuoka and Kumamoto signed such an agreement in October 2019. As of Jan. 1, five prefectures and 141 municipalities had introduced a same-sex partnership system, covering more than 40 percent of Japan's total population. However, often these partnerships are not recognized beyond their jurisdictions, and none of them are legally binding, meaning that it is up to individual entities like hospitals and real estate agents to choose to accept them or not. Under reciprocal agreements between local governments, the certificate and other documents issued when the couple first applied for the partnership can also be used in their new municipality of residence. The couple are also exempted from having to provide documents proving they are not married to anyone else. According to the survey, the number of municipalities that had signed agreements with at least one other local government totaled two in 2019, 12 in 2020 and 46 in 2021. Two additional cities in southwestern Japan -- Ibusuki and Kagoshima -- joined the list in 2022, bringing the total to 48 municipalities across 14 prefectures as of Feb. 1. All of the municipalities in Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, and almost all in Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo, have signed agreements, with many on the southwestern main island of Kyushu establishing agreements across prefectures. Osaka Prefecture is in talks with seven of its cities that have already introduced a same-sex partnership system, and five municipalities in Saitama Prefecture are also considering an agreement. "Cooperation with other local governments will help spread and raise awareness of the system, which in turn will help sexual minorities improve their self-esteem," said an official of Oi, a town in Kanagawa Prefecture that has signed reciprocal agreements with other municipalities. But some local governments have faced obstacles in concluding agreements due to the differing scope and conditions of their respective systems. The city of Takarazuka in Hyogo Prefecture, which limits its partnership system to sexual minorities, said that it could not sign agreements with municipalities whose system also covers de facto marriages between heterosexual couples. KYODO NEWS - Feb 7, 2022 - 22:59 | All, Japan, Coronavirus Japan aims to speed up its inoculation drive to administer 1 million booster shots per day in the latter half of February, in order to stem a new wave of infections spurred by the highly transmissible Omicron variant of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Monday. New cases exceeded 100,000 a day nationwide for the first time last week, but only 5.9 percent of Japan's population of 125 million or about 7.47 million people have received a third shot since the beginning of December as of Monday, according to the government. The percentage is much lower than in Britain, France and Germany, where over 50 percent of the population has had a booster shot. "By setting a clear goal, the government as a whole will work to deliver shots to those who hope to be vaccinated as soon as possible," Kishida said at a parliamentary session. "The third shots are the key to preventing the development of symptoms and severe illness against the highly contagious Omicron variant," he said, adding booster shots at companies and universities will start from mid-February. Junya Ogawa of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan criticized Kishida in the Diet, saying his announcement of aiming for 1 million shots per day is "one or two steps behind." But Kishida countered that a six-month interval between second and third shots is necessary. Prior to the session, Kishida instructed health minister Shigeyuki Goto and other Cabinet ministers concerned to bring forward vaccination campaigns implemented by municipalities, boost inoculation capacity at workplaces and promote the delivery of shots to essential workers including teachers. Meanwhile, the government is considering extending a COVID-19 quasi-state of emergency in Tokyo and 12 prefectures, possibly by three weeks, from the original end date of Feb. 13, government sources said Monday. A final decision is expected to be made on Thursday. The government was looking into an extension by around two weeks earlier but found the plan would not be enough to contain the virus spread, with the nationwide daily tally reaching 68,039 on Monday. Of the total, Tokyo confirmed 12,211 new cases the same day with the seven-day rolling average of 18,193.9, up 20 percent from a week earlier. On Monday, the Self-Defense Forces began operating a mass vaccination center again in Osaka, western Japan. "I wanted to lower my risk of falling gravely ill. My anxiety is eased," said Kosei Inokuma from Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture. The 22-year-old university student from the neighboring prefecture has medical conditions that could see him develop severe symptoms if he is infected with the virus. The Osaka site joins a similar venue in Tokyo relaunched last week that has tripled its pace of inoculations from the previous week to 2,160 shots a day. The pace is set to reach 4,080 on Tuesday and then 5,040 on Thursday. The SDF are operating centers in the two cities again, after doing so last year, amid criticism the government has been slow to offer booster shots. The venues are offering the vaccine developed by U.S. pharmaceutical firm Moderna Inc. through July 31 to people aged 18 or older who received their second shots at least six months ago. The Osaka venue is initially providing 960 shots a day, but Kishida said Monday he will increase the capacity to about 2,500 per day from around Feb. 14. Kishida had faced mounting calls to boost capacity at the Tokyo center since it had provided 10,000 shots per day last year. Slots through next Sunday at the Tokyo center and for the first week at the Osaka venue are already fully booked, according to the ministry. Kishida also said the government is hoping for a swift deliberation on making a domestically developed, oral COVID drug become available. KYODO NEWS - Feb 7, 2022 - 19:00 | All, Japan A Japanese court ruled Monday that the vote weight disparity in last year's lower house election was "in a state of unconstitutionality," becoming the third court to make such a decision The Sapporo High Court in northern Japan, however, dismissed a request by the plaintiffs to nullify the outcome, in the fourth ruling of 14 similar lawsuits filed nationwide by groups of lawyers. The lawyers filed the suits seeking to void the results and conduct a rerun of October's House of Representatives election due to the 2.08-fold disparity in the weight of votes between the most and least populated single-seat constituencies. The Takamatsu and Osaka high courts made a similar ruling, while the Tokyo High Court dismissed the case, saying the election was constitutional. All the high court rulings will be completed by March 9, after which the Supreme Court is expected to make a unified decision. In the 2021 lower house election, voter disparity levels were above 2.0 in 29 constituencies, compared with 1.98 in the previous election in 2017 when electoral districts were rezoned. Related coverage: 2nd Japan court rules Oct. election vote gap "in unconstitutional state" Japan court questions Oct. election outcome over vote-weight gap So far, the top court has found vote weight disparities above 2.0 to be constitutionally problematic, but it has never nullified an election result. It decided in December 2018 that the vote weight disparity in the 2017 lower house election was constitutional. In the October lower house election, the highest disparity in the weight of votes based on the number of eligible voters as of Oct. 31 was 2.08-fold between Tottori Prefecture's No.1 constituency in western Japan with 230,959 voters and Tokyo's No. 13 district with 480,247 voters, according to the government data. By Shogo Watanabe, KYODO NEWS - Feb 7, 2022 - 17:19 | All, World, Japan A year has passed since a military coup overthrew Myanmar's democracy. As of Feb. 1, 1,507 people have been killed, 11,902 arrested and 45, including two children, given the death sentence, a human rights organization has documented. The junta continues to violently repress human rights using the authority it has illegally usurped from the people. Then what is the situation for Myanmar refugees in Japan? After the Southeast Asian country's "transition from military rule to democratic government" in 2011, refugee protection stopped for Myanmar people living in Japan. For the three years to 2020, no applicants from Myanmar were recognized as refugees in Japan. This was despite the military's continued oppression of anyone expressing opposition, especially ethnic minorities. Considering Myanmar as "Asia's last frontier," Japan had abandoned the protection of potential refugees from the Southeast Asian country to pursue its economic and political profits. Around four months after the military coup, Japan's Justice Ministry finally presented its emergency measures for Myanmar people in the country. It determined that they could not be forcibly repatriated even if they were staying in Japan illegally, thus allowing them to extend their stay. The ministry also granted them residency permissions, lasting in principle for six months and allowing them to work. As for asylum seekers, the ministry said it would swiftly examine their applications and grant them refugee status if they met the eligibility criteria. Additionally, it said that applicants who do not fit the criteria would still be granted permission to reside and work in Japan under its emergency measures. In reality, however, Myanmar residents whose status has changed from illegal to legal face restrictions in their working conditions. The process for refugee status recognition has also hardly moved forward, making it impossible to say that these are emergency measures. At the end of 2020, Myanmar people living in Japan numbered around 35,000. By late 2021, around 3,800 people requested the emergency measures, and around 3,600 received residency status, according to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan. However, the Japan Lawyers Network for Refugees has documented that while these Myanmar people were granted residency, around 60 percent of them were not permitted to work more than 28 hours a week, making it difficult to make ends meet. Such status with limited work hours was applied to "those who had lost their original residency status due to their own fault," for example, technical interns under the Japanese government-sponsored program who fled grueling work environments. But by not considering their employers' responsibility, it seems doubtful that this treatment is fair. There were nearly 3,000 Myanmar asylum seekers in Japan last March, but only around 16 people were believed to have received refugee status last year. The number of people whose applications were rejected but given special one-year residency on humanitarian grounds has not dramatically risen. In particular, the government's response toward Myanmar asylum seekers living illegally in Japan is a big problem. Many have repeatedly applied for refugee status and lived in Japan for a very long time. Not a few such asylum seekers are ethnic minorities. It is a race against time to save these people from their lengthy, unstable situations. Most needed is for the government to proactively grant refugee status. The Myanmar military has relentlessly deployed violence against any resistance, whether by ethnic minorities or the majority Burmans. There is no place for hesitation to protect people who fear being burned alive. There is an urgent need to expand the issuance of special permissions to stay in Japan based on humanitarian considerations. Additionally, the government should extend the six-month residency to one that lasts more than one year, thus giving Myanmar people a more stable life. (Shogo Watanabe is a representative for the Japan Lawyers Network for Refugees and is a member of the Dai-Ichi Tokyo Bar Association. He has co-authored books on refugees, including "Nammin Shoso Hanketsu 20 Sen" (20 Selected Winning Cases on Refugees).) Militants of the Islamic State (IS) terror group surrender to intelligence authorities in Nangarhar, Afghanistan, Feb. 6, 2022. Fifty affiliated militants of the Islamic State (IS) terror group surrendered in eastern Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, a provincial official said on Sunday. (Photo by Hamidullah/Xinhua) JALALABAD, Afghanistan, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- Fifty affiliated militants of the Islamic State (IS) terror group surrendered in eastern Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, a provincial official said on Sunday. "A total of 50 members of the IS group give up fighting and surrendered to intelligence authorities in Nangarhar on Sunday," Mohammad Bashir, head of the provincial intelligence office, told reporters. He said the surrendered militants were active in Khogiani, Chaparhar, Shiwa, Rodat, Mumand Dara and Kot districts of Nangarhar, a known IS militants' stronghold. The IS militants have not responded to the report. Militants of the Islamic State (IS) terror group surrender to intelligence authorities in Nangarhar, Afghanistan, Feb. 6, 2022. Fifty affiliated militants of the Islamic State (IS) terror group surrendered in eastern Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, a provincial official said on Sunday. (Photo by Hamidullah/Xinhua) China-Europe freight train X9202 loaded with cars, accessories, food and clothes bound for Ulan Bator of Mongolia prepares to leave a railway station in north China's Tianjin Municipality, May 20, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Ran) BEIJING, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- China and Mongolia have agreed to strengthen cooperation on development in an all-round way in the spirit of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, according to a joint statement of the two countries' governments published on Sunday. The two countries are good neighbors, good friends and good partners, and have always developed bilateral relations from a strategic long-term perspective, said the statement. Respecting each other's chosen development paths, the two sides adhere to the principles of mutual respect for independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality, mutual benefit and peaceful coexistence. Mongolia reiterated its firm adherence to the one-China principle, and supports China's position on issues related to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet. The two sides spoke highly of the China-Mongolia cooperation in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, and agreed to continue working together and supporting each other. They also called on the international community to strengthen communication and cooperation, adhere to science in the fight against COVID-19, oppose politicization of the pandemic and build a global community of health for all. The two sides agreed to strengthen development cooperation in an all-round way in the spirit of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. Mongolia appreciates and supports the Global Development Initiative (GDI), and both sides are willing to further synergize the China-proposed GDI and the Belt and Road Initiative with Mongolia's "Vision 2050" long-term development policy and the new revival policy, to expand cooperation in trade, investment, finance, minerals, energy, interconnectivity, infrastructure, digital economy and green development. The two countries will strengthen cooperation on ecological environment as well as prevention and control of desertification, jointly address global climate change, create a clean and beautiful ecological environment, and build a community of life for human and nature, said the statement. China appreciates Mongolia's plan to plant 1 billion trees and stands ready to actively conduct relevant exchanges and cooperation with Mongolia, it added. The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation on international and regional affairs of common concern, work together to address global and regional challenges, reaffirm the pivotal role of the United Nations (UN) in maintaining international peace, security and sustainable development, uphold the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, jointly safeguard multilateralism and support the international community's efforts to promote peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom as the humanity's common values. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov, who came to China for the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Ding Lin) BEIJING, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- China and Kyrgyzstan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on green development and pledged to further safeguard regional security and stability, according to a joint statement issued on Sunday. The joint statement came following a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and incoming Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov, who attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Winter Games. The two sides spoke highly of the current development of China-Kyrgyzstan relations and underscored the need to strengthen all-round cooperation between the two countries, the statement said. The two leaders pointed out that since the establishment of diplomatic ties 30 years ago, the two countries have forged and developed a partnership of friendliness and trust, and carried out mutually beneficial cooperation in such areas as politics, economy, culture and security, it said. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov, who came to China for the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) Attaching great importance to the implementation of economic, social and infrastructure cooperation projects of great significance to Kyrgyzstan, the two leaders spoke highly of the MoU on promoting investment cooperation in green development signed during this meeting, the statement said. The joint efforts of the two countries have laid a solid foundation for their cooperation, and close political exchanges have pushed for substantial development of bilateral practical cooperation, it added. The two heads of state believe that cooperation in such fields as infrastructure construction, transportation, energy, processing, agriculture, mining, digitalization, tourism and at the local level, as well as in combating climate change and developing green energy, are important directions for bilateral economic and trade cooperation with broad prospects, according to the statement. The two countries will continue to tap cooperation potential, expand trade, optimize trade structure and process, and promote the balanced development of mutually beneficial bilateral economic and trade cooperation, it said. They will strengthen cooperation in the prevention and control of the cross-border spread of COVID-19, and ensure that the number of transit cargo vehicles between the two countries returns to the pre-pandemic level, it added. A batch of China's Sinopharm vaccine is transported at the Manas International Airport in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, March 19, 2021. (Photo by Roman/Xinhua) Noting the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is the main driving force for economic, social and cultural cooperation projects between the two countries, the two heads of state believe that the Belt and Road cooperation should give full play to the potential of transportation and transit transportation, and the development of existing and new routes, especially the construction of new railway lines including the China-Kyrgyztan-Uzbekistan railway, is of great significance to the economic and social development of the region. The statement said both sides are willing to accelerate the project, which will be an important step to fully tap the potential of transit transportation in Central Asia and an important link to promote the BRI. Maintaining regional security and stability has always been one of the priorities of the two countries' foreign policies, said the statement. Recently, the world is facing various global threats and challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and regional security issues resulting from the spillover of the situation in Afghanistan, it said. Both sides believe that it is imperative to support each other on such major issues as fighting the pandemic and maintaining regional security and stability, the statement added. They are willing to further enhance coordination and mutual trust as well as strengthen cooperation between relevant departments of the two countries in such issues as regional security and quick response to security and stability threats of the two countries and the region, according to the document. As China-Kenya cooperation in fields such as agriculture and infrastructure development flourishes, Kenyan potato farmers believe some benefits are flowing their way. NAIROBI, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Eddie Kamau's ancestral village located at the heart of central Kenyan county of Nyandarua has for decades been renowned for producing top-grade potatoes and a wide range of fresh produce including kales and tomatoes. The middle-aged farmer has an emotional attachment to the tuber which has always flourished in his backyard amid cool weather, abundant rains and the presence of volcanic soils. Despite a series of setbacks that have hit potato farming in Kamau's locality, mainly insect attacks, crop diseases, market volatility and extreme weather events, he is yet to give up on the once prized cash cow for his family. "The traditional methods of growing potatoes have proved challenging and that is why we are keen to borrow modern farming practices from China that promise improved yield," Kamau told Xinhua during a recent interview at his farm. He believed eyeing synergy with China to transform potato farming in the lush green plains that dot Nyandarua County has become urgent amid declining productivity linked to poor agronomic practices, soil acidity and pests' infestation. According to Kamau, as China-Kenya bilateral cooperation in strategic fields such as agriculture and infrastructure development flourishes, potato farmers are confident of some benefits flowing their way. He noted that China is both an economic and technological powerhouse whose partnership with the Kenyan government could help transform potato farming through technology adoption and enhanced market linkages. "It is through applying technologies from China for local potato farming that we hope yields will go up, expanding revenue streams for the farmers," said Kamau. "Simple technologies like harrowing machines, tractors for plowing and machines for sorting potatoes are all that we require to upgrade our favorite vocation." Also, through a partnership with China, Kenya could be better placed to develop genetically modified potato varieties that are disease-, pest- and drought-resistant. Kenyan smallholder potato farmers were also keen on adopting best practices on value addition from China, in their quest to boost exports to overseas and more lucrative markets, according to Kamau. "Once we process potatoes into crisps, we are guaranteed a steady market overseas. We look forward to partnership with Chinese retail outlets to market our produce," said Kamau. He said that farmers in Nyandarua County, which produces 32 percent of potatoes consumed in Kenya, have benefitted from China-built infrastructure projects including the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) thanks to seamless transportation of their produce to markets far away. "With modern railway and roads courtesy of our partnership with China, I am able to transport my potatoes to the markets speedily and at my own convenience. This is a milestone for the country," said Kamau. As for Jesse Kamutu, his 25 years' experience in cultivating potatoes has instilled in him the virtues of patience, perseverance and fortitude in the face of setbacks that include losing an entire plantation to voracious pests and potato wilt. Kamutu said that potato farmers in the expansive Nyandarua County are ready to change course as traditional methods of growing the crop have become increasingly unsustainable. According to Kamutu, his peers have lost in the overseas markets due to the inability to grow high-quality potato varieties, thereby worsening their financial hardships and sapping their morale. His optimism is yet to fade as he looks forward to a robust partnership between Kenya and China to modernize potato farming, ensuring the crop is profitable. "I think it is a good idea for us to work with China in the area of potato farming because the country has technologies that can help us address productivity challenges," said Kamutu. "We can even start exporting potatoes that are processed to China and farmers will benefit immensely." Kamutu said that if local potato farmers were assisted with appropriate technologies, had access to improved varieties, fertilizer and pesticides, they would produce higher yields to meet local and foreign demand. Statistics from the Kenyan Ministry of Agriculture indicate that potato is the country's second most important staple crop after maize, grown on about 128,000 hectares per year with average yields of eight tonnes per hectare. Wachira Kangogo, the CEO of the National Potato Council of Kenya, said leveraging Chinese technologies would be key to transforming the livelihoods of an estimated 500,000 smallholder potato farmers in the country. "We have quite a number of technologies out there in China which can fit here including storage and processing. They can transform the entire potato value chain and unleash benefits to farmers," said Kangogo. The Olympic delegation of the People's Republic of China parade into the National Stadium during the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 4, 2022. (Xinhua/Wu Wei) CAIRO, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Following the grand opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday held a flurry of meetings with leaders from the Middle East, charting the course for ever closer ties marked by deepening political trust and mutually beneficial cooperation. Meeting separately with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Xi underscored the importance of dovetailing the development strategies between the two sides. In his meeting with Sisi, Xi urged China and Egypt to join hands to take the lead in China-Arab and China-Africa cooperation, accelerate the building of the China-Arab community with a shared future for the new era, and promote African development and prosperity. During talks with Qatari and UAE leaders, Xi reiterated China's willingness to work with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), of which Qatar and the UAE are both members, to accelerate free trade agreement negotiations. The agreement, if reached, is expected to generate market opportunities that benefit all parties. Positive momentum already emerged three weeks ago as Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosted his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Turkey, and Iran, as well as the secretary general of the GCC, in east China, marking the first round of intensive diplomatic interactions between China and Mideast countries since the start of the new year. Against the backdrop of the raging COVID-19 pandemic and emerging geopolitical changes in the Middle East, enhanced China-Mideast cooperation will leverage respective advantages and tap into their development potentials, particularly in such fields as pandemic response, infrastructure and energy. Workers convey a batch of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines donated by China at Cairo International Airport, Egypt, Feb. 23, 2021. (Xinhua/Wu Huiwo) China has been a staunch supporter for the Middle East in its fight against COVID-19 from the very start. China donated and exported a large quantity of COVID-19 vaccines to Middle East countries in dire need of them, at a time when Western countries largely hoarded vaccines for their own good. In Egypt, Algeria and the UAE, China has helped localize vaccine production to meet the rising demand, demonstrating ever-deepening friendship and mutual trust and opening new areas of cooperation. The development strategies of China and Mideast countries are also highly complementary. China, a big energy consumer and a major country leading the global green efforts, could expand cooperation with Mideast countries in diversifying their economies and optimizing its own energy structure. Meanwhile, China has long upheld the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs and insisted that its collaboration with foreign countries have no political strings attached. This principle as well as natural advantage promises broad prospects for practical cooperation between China and Mideast countries, which are long plagued by interference, sanctions and threats from U.S.-led West. Going forward, China and Mideast countries will continue to benefit from increasingly fruitful cooperation and their common aspiration to build a community with a shared future for mankind. An official of Huawei (L, Front) presents an award to a student during the national awards ceremony for finalists in the Huawei ICT competition in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, Jan. 27, 2022. (Xinhua/Charles Onyango) Thousands of young people in Kenya who participated in the national Huawei ICT competition have gained invaluable skills besides positioning themselves to grab opportunities in the emerging digital economy. NAIROBI, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- While studying at a rural high school in western Kenyan county of Homa Bay several years ago, Terrence Omondi's resolve to plunge into technology-related fields hit the climax thanks to nudging by tutors and close family members. The 22-year-old telecommunications and information engineering major at a public university near the Kenyan capital of Nairobi believes that his youthful agility, energy and passion has placed him at a vantage position to drive his homeland's digital transformation agenda. Having emerged as top winner in the 2021-2022 edition of Huawei's ICT Competition, Omondi's quest to be at the steering wheel as Kenya's fourth industrial revolution unfolds received the much needed vitality. "It feels good to have acquired high-end skills like network security, data transmission and configuration through the Huawei ICT competition," Omondi told Xinhua recently at a ceremony to honor winners of the digital skills contest supported by Huawei. He was among over 3,000 youth drawn from dozens of local public universities who participated in the annual Huawei ICT competition that put to test their ability to navigate the digital space. Omondi and his eight colleagues who qualified for the regional contest to be held at the end of February demonstrated high-level proficiency in advanced ICT skills including networking and managing systems. The ambitious youngster learnt about the contest from a friend toward the last quarter of 2021 and decided to give it a try, even as he grappled with a busy academic calendar. "The competition itself was challenging. I had to juggle class work and rigorous study as well as visit to the labs for practical lessons which were part of the competition," said Omondi. In December, he participated in the final phase of the national contest, and at the beginning of January, he was informed about his sterling performance and eventual qualification for the regional version. Omondi credits Huawei for providing him with a platform to hone his ICT skills, adding that he looked forward to becoming a network engineer and working in any of the large telecom firms in the country. A sizable number of female university students participated in the 2021-2022 edition of Huawei ICT competition, defying culturally sanctioned limitations to prove their mettle. Stephanie Cherono, a 22-year-old electrical engineering major at Kenya's oldest university, the University of Nairobi, said that she was elated to learn that she was among the female winners of the grueling contest. "Participation in the contest was in itself a giant leap of faith in my abilities to operate networking systems, transmit and store data in the cloud," said Cherono. "I knew ICT was a male dominated field but I am determined to prove that even women and girls can excel in this space. In future, I intend to apply skills gained from the Huawei ICT competition to mentor young girls," she added. According to Cherono, it was while she was in high school at a rural hamlet in northwestern Kenya when her physics teacher encouraged her to take up a career in information technology. When an opportunity to participate at the Huawei digital skills contest came knocking her way, she took it gladly, worked hard and outshone fiercely competitive peers to emerge among the top ten winners. "It was not easy to balance class work and the competition which involved lots of reading and prepping ahead of examinations. Nevertheless, it was fulfilling to learn in early January that I was a winner," said Cherono. Thousands of Kenyan youth who have participated in the national Huawei ICT competition have gained invaluable skills besides positioning themselves to grab opportunities in the emerging digital economy. Jerome Ochieng, the principal secretary in the Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs, said that a strategic partnership with Huawei has boosted digital literacy in the country. "Through our partnership with Huawei, we have been able to bridge the skills gap in the ICT sector to help promote growth of the knowledge-based economy in the country," said Ochieng. He noted that Huawei ICT competition has also provided a platform to mentor and upskill the next generation of specialists in advanced fields like artificial intelligence, block chain, network security and cloud computing. Kevin Wen, the director of Enterprise Business Group at Huawei Kenya, said a partnership with Kenya's institutions of higher learning has grown stronger in order to produce a critical mass of skilled workforce that could power digital transformation in the country. Ronna McDaniel, the GOP chairwoman, speaks during the Republican National Committee winter meeting Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Salt Lake City. Republican Party officials voted to punish GOP Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger for their roles on the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) (Rick Bowmer/AP) Let me get this right: The GOP wants to punish Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger (Republican Party further tightens tie to Donald Trump, Feb. 5) for taking the high road and investigating the perpetrators of the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol insurrection. The Republican National Committee last Friday officially declared the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and the events that led to it as legitimate political discourse. The RNC then went on to formally rebuke two lawmakers, Ms. Cheney and Mr. Kinzinger, for taking part in the House select committee investigation of the assault, saying that they were participating in the persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse. Advertisement This legitimate political discourse led to the death of at least seven people, according to a bipartisan Senate report, and the terrorizing and injuring of more than 150 police officers trying to defend the U.S. Capitol, as well as the lawmakers inside doing the peoples business. It also led to sending the lawmakers into hiding! One of the repeated calls that day from the mob was to hang Mike Pence! This censure by the Republican Party of Representatives Cheney and Kinzinger was passed without discussion and almost without any debate. Now, I taught social studies and American history for 37 years, and in all those years I never taught my students that legitimate public discourse was to destroy our Capitol building and terrorize our duly elected public officials. That sounds more like a coup, or an overthrow attempt in a developing country. Advertisement I think the Republican Party, the Republican National Committee, and Republican voters need to do some serious soul searching and some deep reflection as they move forward toward the midterm elections and in the 2024 ballot. What type of government do they want to have for America? Bonnie Schneider, Baltimore Add your voice: Respond to this piece or other Sun content by submitting your own letter. Photo taken on Nov. 19, 2021 shows the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua) "Here is my advice to the United States: Do not go further down the wrong path. It will not only make your own people suffer, but also create more trouble for other countries and the whole world," said China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) Zhang Jun. UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) Zhang Jun on Sunday resolutely refuted the unfounded accusations against China made by Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. UN ambassador, in her interview with CNN. In a press statement, Zhang said that the United States has again made accusations against China and wrongful, irresponsible remarks on issues like the Beijing Winter Olympics, Xinjiang and Taiwan. Such groundless, politically biased words have seriously poisoned the China-U.S. relations. The opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics was attended by around 170 official representatives from nearly 70 countries and international organizations, including 31 heads of state or government, royal family members, and heads of international organizations, he said, noting that many more state leaders and heads of international organizations have called or sent messages to Chinese President Xi Jinping to wish the Beijing Winter Olympics a great success and the Chinese people a happy Lunar New Year. China's Su Yiming competes during men's snowboard slopestyle final at the Genting Snow Park in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 7, 2022. (Xinhua/Wu Zhuang) This fully shows the international community's firm support for China, for the Beijing Winter Olympics, and for the Olympic Movement. The U.S. attempt to make an issue of the Olympic Games has won no support and met with complete failure. Athletes from China, the United States and other countries are competing fairly at the Beijing Winter Olympics. They are the ones that should be in the spotlight, and the U.S. politicians should have left the stage for them long ago, said Zhang. The repeated lies by the United States about the "genocide" in Xinjiang have already been debunked by facts. People of all ethnic groups there are enjoying a peaceful, harmonious and happy life. In Team China, there are 20 athletes from nine ethnic minorities, including Uygur and Tibetan. One of them is Dinigeer Yilamujiang, a Uygur cross-country skier who lit the Olympic cauldron, he noted. Taiwan is an inseparable part of the Chinese territory. The settlement of the Taiwan question is China's internal affairs and allows no interference by the United States or any other external forces. The future of Taiwan lies in national reunification, not some security guarantee from the United States. The United States should stop emboldening and supporting the "Taiwan independence" forces, follow the true one-China policy, and match its actions with words, he said. White flags honoring the lives lost to COVID-19 are seen on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Oct. 2, 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) The United States claims to care about human rights. Yet it has left a disgraceful human rights record, Zhang said. With a population less than a quarter of China's, the United States has a staggering number of more than 900,000 deaths from COVID-19, and that figure is still increasing, almost 200 times the COVID-19 deaths in China. The United States is awash in gun violence, leaving its people with no sense of security. The systematic ethnic cleansing and massacre of the Native Americans throughout U.S. history is the real genocide and crime against humanity. The indiscriminate killing of civilians, including women and children, by the U.S. military in Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq, has already constituted war crimes, said Zhang. People are seen at a memorial service for victims of a mass shooting in San Jose, California, the United States, May 27, 2021. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) The United States is facing serious political, economic, social, security and public health issues. Under such circumstances, U.S. politicians need to heed the voice of the people and solve its own problems, instead of being trapped in the mindset of American supremacy over everything, still less shifting responsibilities, creating confrontations or obstructing other countries' development, he said. "Here is my advice to the United States: Do not go further down the wrong path. It will not only make your own people suffer, but also create more trouble for other countries and the whole world," said the ambassador. OTTAWA, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson on Sunday declared a state of emergency to deal with a nine-day protest that has disrupted the core of the Canadian capital. The declaration "reflects the serious danger and threat to the safety and security of residents posed by the ongoing demonstrations and highlights the need for support from other jurisdictions and levels of government," said a statement issued by the city. Peter Sloly, the chief of the Ottawa Police Service, told a special meeting of the police board on Saturday that his force does not "have sufficient resources to adequately and effectively address this situation while adequately and effectively providing policing in this city." Watson said that the thousands of protesters "are calling the shots" and have made the situation -- where trucks have clogged residential streets and have kept their horns honking well into the night -- "out of control." "They have far more people than we have police officers and I've indicated to the chief that we have to be much more nimble and proactive when it comes to these activities," the mayor told an Ottawa radio station. On Saturday, about 5,000 people and 1,000 tractor-trailers and personal vehicles squeezed into downtown Ottawa to join in on the second week of a protest, which was initially intended to voice opposition to the Canadian government's vaccine requirement for truckers crossing the Canada-United States border. Over the past week, the protest morphed into an occupation, and this weekend, Sloly characterized it as a "siege," while a city councilor called it an act of "terrorism," following reports of protesters involved in assaults and acts of vandalism. Police have made a few arrests and issued more than 450 tickets. But Ottawa residents want tougher action taken and have called on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to take action. One major ask he has declined to agree to, thus far, is calling on the Canadian Armed Forces to disperse the crowds and their vehicles. New Delhi: In a shocking statement, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit on Friday said that more than half of the police forces in the country are "corrupt" while also asserting that they or the paramilitary forces raise slogans on nationalism in a bid to stow away a misdeed. "More than half of the police forces in the country are corrupt. How do they eradicate it? Firstly, raise slogans on nationalism and show that we do such a job which cannot be questioned. When police or paramilitary forces raise such slogans, know that they are trying to hide a misdeed," Dikshit told to news agency ANI. Later, clarifying his stance, Dikshit said, "I said most of them [police] are corrupt, did not say all are corrupt." The statement was slammed by different political parties. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday warned the BJP of not to play with fire and threatened the saffron party of continuous movement till the new citizenship law is revoked. Speaking at a protest rally in the city, the Trinamool Congress supremo said the BJP paints other parties in black and takes pride to portray itself in white. Lashing out at the BJP, the chief minister said that the party does not keep its promises, while referring to Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappas remark about putting on hold compensation to families of police firing victims in the state. The government would not give a single rupee to their families if the investigation proved the involvement of two persons in the violence during the December 19 protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, the Karnataka CM had told reporters on Wednesday. Referring to the students, the WB chief minister asked them to carry on with their protests. She also told them that she will always be by their side. Do not fear anbody, Banerjee told the students. The Trinamool Congress chief, who is leading a protest march from Rajabazar to Mullick Bazar in central Kolkata, said that the students who are speaking out against the CAA are being threatened by the BJP. We express our solidarity with the students of Jamia Millia, IIT Kanpur and other universities who are protesting against CAA and NRC, she said. She said that the students are above 18 years of age and citizens and voters of this country. So if they stage any protest, where is the harm in it, she said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The violent protesters disturbing the peace during the anti-citizenship law protests in Delhi may get a shock now. The Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel, being used to maintain order in various areas of the national capital, are now being given an electric shield to protect and repel violent protesters and rioters. The shields will give electric shock any rioter coming in contact with them. These shock shields cost around Rs 20,000 apiece, according to reports. They will replace the polycarbonate shields currently used by the troops. With these shock shields, RAF troops, at the flip of a switch, can deliver a non-lethal dose of electric shock to rioters coming in contact with them. This is the first time RAF in the national capital is being equipped with such electric shock shields. This shield delivers an electric shock of about 12 volts. There is a red button behind the shield and metal strips on the outside of the polycarbonate. If needed, the RAF personnel can press the button to deliver shock through the strips. India's anti-riot personnel, known as the Rapid Action Force (RAF), number around 10,000 and are called upon to break up riots and communal clashes. On Friday, Delhi Police made elaborate arrangements to check and deal with any untoward situation in the national capital and prohibitory orders were imposed in several sensitive areas of the city. Restrictions under section 144 of the CrPC were imposed in the area near Lal Quila, a large part of northeast Delhi district and around UP Bhawan in anticipation of the protests. In Seelampur where protests turned violent on December 17 but remained peaceful last Friday, section 144 has been imposed and about 15 companies of police force were deployed. The police also carried out a flag march in the morning and urged local Muslim clerics to appeal for peace and tranquillity. According to the police, section 144 has been put in place in 12 police station areas in northeast Delhi. New Delhi: In a bid to boost military cooperation with Beijing and Moscow, Irans armed forces will hold a joint, four-day naval exercise with Russia and China in the northern part of the Indian Ocean. The drill, which is to start on Saturday, 1 will be the first such trilateral exercise. Visits to Iran by Russian and Chinese naval representatives have also stepped up in recent years. Iranian military spokesman Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi said the joint maneuvers, which are aimed at promoting regional security, will extend as far as the Sea of Oman. This comes amid Irans tensions with the US. 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. Earlier this week, Rouhani slammed the irrational withdrawal of the United States from the multinational nuclear deal. This came after Rouhani met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo. "I strongly condemn the US for unilaterally and irrationally withdrawing" from the deal, said Rouhani, who became the first Iranian head of state to visit Japan for two decades. "I hope Japan and other countries will make efforts to maintain this deal," Rouhani said. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe discussed events in Iran with US President Donald Trump in a phone call. The phone conversation, which Abe told reporters took place at Trumps request, came on the same day that Iranian President Hassan Rouhani wrapped up his two-day visit to Japan. Japan is a key US ally that also maintains close diplomatic and economic ties with Iran, and Abe has tried to build bridges between the two rivals. The Abe-Trump phone call lasted about 75 minutes. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday claimed that India could carry out an action of some sort in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to divert attention from its domestic issues and warned that his army was prepared for any such move. Khan made the remarks while addressing a public gathering in Jhelum district, hours after the army said that two of its soldiers were killed in unprovoked firing by the Indian troops along the Line of Control (LOC). I have been telling the world for the past five months that the Modi-RSS government, in order to divert the world attention away from Kashmir and the protests against the (citizenship) law, will definitely conduct some sort of action in PoK, Khan said. The prime minister said he had told army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa about the threats from India and the General told me that Pakistan is prepared for them. He extended condolences to the families of the two soldiers killed on Thursday. Khan said that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens attracted large-scale protests for being against 200 million Muslims living in India. He also said that Pakistan would not do anything as what Prime Minister Modi was doing would create a backlash that would bring his downfall. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: In a bid to ensure no violence, heavy security was deployed in parts of national capital like Delhi 6 (Jama Masjid), Shaheen Bagh, Seelampur. Last week after Friday prayers near Jama Masjid and adjacent areas against Citizenship Amendment Act, the police intensified vigil and patrolling. Last week, thousands of people held a massive protest near the historic Jama Masjid in central Delhi, shouting slogans and holding placards voicing their anguish against the new citizenship law amidst heavy deployment of police and paramilitary forces. A large number of people joined the demonstration after attending the Friday prayers at the mosque. Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad, holding up a copy of the Constitution, was leading the protesters. Some protesters were carrying posters of B R Ambedkar, Kanshi Ram and Bhagat Singh. Delhi police denied permission to hold any protest in the area. Protests were also witnessed in several other areas in the national capital including in northeast Delhis Seelampur, the site of large scale violence by protestors on Tuesday. People carrying out a march from Jama Masjid to Jantar Mantar were stopped near Delhi Gate as police barricaded all the arterial roads in the area, triggering traffic jams. Bhim Army chief Azad had given the call for the protest march from Jama Masjid to Jantar Mantar. Considering sensitivity of the situation, Rapid Action Force was deployed in the area. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) closed at least four metro stations in view of protest in the national capital against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. Entry and exit gates of Chawri Bazar, Lal Quila, Jama Masjid and Delhi Gate metro stations were closed to stop movement of protesters in the area. Police deployed drones to keep a vigil on the gathering. The national capital witnessed massive protest on Thursday too with thousands of students, activists and opposition leaders hitting the streets, defying heavy security clampdown and prohibitory orders. Mobile internet services were suspended in several parts of Delhi on Thursday to quell the swirling agitation. Earlier on Friday, security forces carried out a flag march in Seelampur. Prohibitory orders were imposed in 12 police station areas of Northeast Delhi, officials said, adding police used drones to keep a tab on the law and order situation in the district. Delhi Mahila Congress chief and former president Pranab Mukherjees daughter Sharmistha and some other members of the outfit were detained near Home Minister Amit Shahs residence during a protest against the new legislation For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un may be planning to give him a nice present such as a beautiful vase for Christmas rather than a missile launch. This came after Trump was asked what he will do if North Korea does conduct a long-range missile test. Maybe its a present where he sends me a beautiful vase as opposed to a missile test, Trump said. I may get a nice present from him. You dont know. You never know. Nuclear talks between the US and North Korea have been stalled since a February summit between Trump and Kim fell apart. The North has threatened to take unspecified action if sanctions are not eased by the end of the year, and speculation has centred on the possibility of a new missile test, possibly of an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead. In New York, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric was asked whether Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had a message for Kim on Christmas Eve regarding a Christmas gift. Our message is to the leadership of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea to work for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and to resume working level talks with the United States. Diplomatic engagement is the only pathway to sustainable peace and complete denuclearisation and verifiable denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, Dujarric said. The North is under heavy US and United Nations sanctions over its nuclear programme but it has been frustrated at the lack of relief after it declared a moratorium on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests. Earlier, Russia and China proposed easing sanctions against nuclear-armed North Korea, on condition the regime commits to Security Council resolutions on denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. The draft text said the Council shall adjust the sanction measures towards the DPRK as may be needed in light of the DPRKs compliance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions. It also underlined the necessity of having the most favourable approach towards requests for exemptions from existing UN sanctions against the DPRK for humanitarian and livelihood purposes. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh remained largely peaceful amid tight security arrangements on Friday, a week after the state saw large-scale violence by anti-citizenship law protestors after Friday prayers. "The entire state was peaceful," Uttar Pradesh DGP OP Singh told PTI. He said there was no report of any untoward incident from anywhere in the state. The state was placed under a thick security cover with deployment of central paramilitary forces in sensitive areas. DGP said the toll in the clashes remained at 19. According to PTI, drones were used to keep a hawk-eyed vigil, especially in areas where violence had broken out last week after Friday prayers. Internet services were suspended in several districts of the state to check rumour-mongering. Protesters had hurled stones at policemen and set vehicles on fire. Police used lathis, lobbed tear-gas and have admitted to opening fire in self defence in some places. Reports from Moradabad, Amroha and Hathras districts said the juma namaz was offered at various mosques and the congregations dispersed peacefully. In state capital Lucknow, a heavy deployment of paramilitary force personnel was seen outside the historic Tiley Wali Masjid in the Old City area. Patrolling had been intensified in sensitive areas across Uttar Pradesh ahead of the Friday prayers. Around 3,500 personnel of central paramilitary forces and 12,000 jawans of the UP Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) were on the job to maintain peace, the state police chief said. As a precautionary measure, Internet services which were resumed after nearly a week, were suspended again in over 20 of the 75 UP districts including Ghaziabad, Bulandshahr, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Shamli and Agra. In Gorakhpur, police staged a flag march in Thursday in sensitive areas and held meetings with peace committees to avoid a repeat of the previous Friday's protests. Police have faced flak over the manner in which they handled last week's violent protests, with human rights activists accusing them of using excessive force and targetting innocent people. Most of the deaths during the violence had taken place due to firearm injuries. Officials claimed there was firing at some places by protesters but police opened fire at a couple of places only in self defence. A senior police officer said they also suspected the involvement of the Popular Front of India (PFI), which is allegedly influenced by the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), a banned terror outfit. The protests were over Citizenship Amendment Act that offers easier citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Jains and Parsis who came to India from three neighbouring countries before 2015 after facing religious persecution. It excludes Muslims. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. A U.S. Department of Labor investigation found that Maryland shortchanged correctional officers and other staff at the Jessup Correctional Institution by nearly a half-million dollars in wages over a two-year period. The state paid staff members only through the end of their scheduled shifts and not when workers actually clocked out effectively rounding off overtime for employees who were regularly required to stay late to deal with issues in the institution or wait for other staffers to relieve them. Advertisement The investigation covered the period between November 2018 and November 2020. The federal labor department mailed notices last month, one of which was reviewed by The Baltimore Sun, to correctional officers to tell them theyd been underpaid by the state in violation of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. That law established the minimum wage, requirements for overtime pay and record keeping, and youth employment standards. Advertisement Joanna Hawkins, a spokeswoman for the Labor Departments Philadelphia regional office, said the investigation determined that Maryland owes past and present Jessup Correctional Institution correctional officers $468,238.87. Mark Vernarelli, a spokesman for the Maryland Division of Corrections, said the issue was discovered as part of an internal review that included an audit by the U.S. Department of Labor. He said management improperly required employees to get a supervisors signature on an overtime form when they were held over after the ends of their shifts to cover for late shift changes. Union officials allege that the timekeeping issues routinely occurred at other Maryland prisons, as well. Workers across the state prison system have filed a flurry of new complaints since the Labor Departments finding at Jessup, alleging wage theft at other institutions as well. Its absolutely not fair, said Sgt. Oluwadamilola O. Olaniyan, a correctional officer at Jessup Correctional and the president of the union local that represents state prisons in the Jessup area. Jessup Correctional is a maximum-security facility that is transitioning to medium security, according to the Maryland Manual, the official guide to state government. It has the capacity for 1,800 inmates. [ Former Jessup inmate 'escapes' to college ] Union officials said the timekeeping issues stretch back before November 2018, but federal labor law has a two-year limit for recovering unpaid wages. Olaniyan said prison staff at Jessup and other state prisons routinely work past their quitting time to deal with issues, brief their relief on problems or cover for workers who arrive late. Vernarelli said that practice violates state policy and the corrections division has initiated corrective action to fully compensate the affected officers. Advertisement Vernarelli initially said last week that the wage issues were limited to just one facility, but said Monday that the agency was now aware of additional complaints at other locations and continues to review timekeeping practices throughout its correctional facilities. Patrick Moran, president of Council 3 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, said state prison officials sent a systemwide memo in August ordering changes to how management recorded overtime but have yet to acknowledge keeping full wages from the members paychecks. The AFSCME council represents correctional officers and tens of thousands of other state workers in Maryland. I think they tried to sweep it under the rug, said Moran, who contended that union leaders have raised the issue repeatedly to the state in the past. They finally got busted with their hands in the cookie jar and now theyre going to have to pay. Maryland Policy & Politics Weekdays Keep up to date with Maryland politics, elections and important decisions made by federal, state and local government officials. > The August memo from Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Secretary Robert L. Green was obtained by The Sun. In the memo, Green ordered that the automatic rounding of shift assignments ... will cease and directs timekeepers to only manually adjust an employees records in the agencys timekeeping system with the approval of an authorized supervisor and with an accompanying note explaining the reason for the changes. Vernarelli noted that since the department operates multiple correctional facilities statewide, there has to be uniformity in policy and procedures. The department wanted to ensure that everyone was following the same policy. The memo appeared to have fixed the timekeeping issues and employees have been paid properly since, Olaniyan said. He added that the union will continue monitoring because we cant trust the system right now. Advertisement Olaniyan and other union officials called for a broader outside investigation covering what they believe were records manipulated intentionally to deny workers wages. He said the timesheets of managers who stayed late were handled differently. We showed up for work and followed the process and believe its fair for everybody to follow the process, said Olaniyan. We just want to be paid from the time [the state] began stealing our time. ... We want justice and a proper investigation. Asked about whether the internal review revealed any individual wrongdoing, whether anyone was disciplined as a result of the investigation and the union allegations that timesheets were intentionally manipulated, Vernarelli said the departments investigation is ongoing. There have been no disciplinary actions because at this time, there has been no evidence calling for discipline, he said. New Delhi: Auto industry body SIAM said the electric vehicle policy announced by the Delhi government would help encourage consumers to adopt electric vehicles. Some of the welcome announcements in the policy include measures which would make electric vehicles affordable and acceptable, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) Director General Rajesh Menon said in a statement. These include purchase incentives, interest subvention, scrappage incentive, waiver on road tax, waiver on registration and parking fees and measures to push charging infrastructure, he added. Similarly, Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV) also lauded the policy unveiled by the Delhi government. We are delighted to see the Delhi government take the lead in making EVs more appealing to customers...I am thankful that the government considered most of our recommendations including the conversion of commercial ICE vehicles into electric, E-bike taxi and more such alternatives as they are the key drivers in taking the e-mobility momentum forward, SMEV Director General and Hero Electric CEO Sohinder Gill said. These additional incentives apart from the subsidy offered by the central government would definitely encourage more people to switch to clean mobility, he added. With the introduction of this policy, SMEV is certain that Delhi will lead by example and more states will also emulate such measures to give a boost to the EV industry. If a similar policy is adopted at the national level, we are confident that the electric mobility revolution at a mass scale will kickstart in the country, Gill noted. On Monday, the Delhi Cabinet gave approval to an electric vehicle policy. Under the Delhi Electric Vehicle Policy 2019, the city government is providing a subsidy of Rs 5,000 per kWh of battery capacity on the purchase of two-wheelers. Incentive of up to Rs 5,000 will be offered for scrapping a non-electric two-wheeler vehicle and switching to an electric vehicle. The purchase subsidy of four-wheelers is Rs 10,000 per kWh of battery capacity for the first 1,000 cars subject to a cap of Rs 1,50,000 per vehicle. The Delhi government also aims to transition 50 per cent of the newly-purchased buses into electric buses by 2024 and 100 per cent by 2030. There will be no road tax on registration fees on electric vehicles. All two-wheelers engaged in last-mile deliveries, such as food delivery vehicles, courier services, and e-commerce logistics, will be expected to transition 50 per cent of their fleet to electric by March 2023, and 100 per cent of their fleet to electric by March 2025, stipulates the policy. The purchase subsidy on electric autos, e-rickshaws, and e-carriers is up to Rs 30,000 and loans on a subsidy of 5 per cent will be provided to them. The electric vehicle policy will be implemented through a board to be constituted by the Delhi government. New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Yadav was shot dead in Bihars Vaishali by unidentified assailants on Saturday, reported ANI. The police have begun investigating the matter. Bihar: Congress leader Rahul Yadav shot dead in Vaishali by unidentified assailants.Police begin investigation ANI (@ANI) December 28, 2019 This comes at least two weeks after a constable, 46, posted at the residence of BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has shot himself dead. According to the reports, the official was identified as Unish Kumar of Security Unit of Delhi Police. The constable, Narela resident, killed himself with his service pistol. No suicide note was recovered from the spot. PCR reached the spot and found the body of the PSO lying in pool of blood on the floor with entry and exit wounds in his head. Also Read: All 4 Accused In Hyderabad Rape-Murder Case Shot Dead, Police Action Evokes Mixed Reactions Earlier, in October this year Hindu Mahasabha leader, Kamlesh Tiwari was shot dead at his office by unidentified assailants in a broad daylight in the Naka area of Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh. Tiwari was shot once and stabbed 15 times, the autopsy report revealed. For all the Latest Crime News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Mumbai: Mumbai polices Economic Offences Wing on Friday submitted a 32,000-page charge sheet against five persons in the multi-crore Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank scam in a metropolitan magistrate court. The charge sheet has named former managing director of the bank Joy Thomas, former chairman Waryam Singh, former director of the bank Surjit Singh Arora, along with Housing Development and Infrastructure Limited (HDIL) promoters Rakesh Wadhawan and Sarang Wadhawan. The accused have been charged under various sections of Indian Penal Code including cheating, fraud, destruction of evidence and falsification of documents. All the five accused were arrested soon after the scam at the bank scame to light in September this year, and are presently in judicial custody. Apart from these five, the police has also arrested seven other bank officials, and supplementary charge sheet will be filed against them later. The 32,000-page charge sheet includes the forensic audit report of PMC bank and documents of properties purchased by the accused bank officials with kickbacks received by them for giving undue favour to HDIL and the Wadhawans. The charge sheet has statements of 340 witnesses, including account holders in the bank. The police had recorded the statements of four crucial witnesses before a magistrate under section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The fraud at PMC Bank came to light in September this year after the Reserve Bank of India discovered that the bank had allegedly created fictitious accounts to hide over Rs 6,700 crore in loans extended to the almost-bankrupt HDIL. According to the RBI, PMC bank masked 44 problematic loan accounts, including HDIL loan accounts, by tampering with its core banking system, and the accounts were accessible only to limited staff members. The city polices EOW and Enforcement Directorate has registered offences in the case. On September 23, 2019, the RBI had imposed regulatory restrictions on the bank. The withdrawal limit for account holders was initially kept at Rs 1,000 per day, which was increased gradually to Rs 50,000. For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: A major fire broke out at a residential building in South Delhi's Vasant Vihar on Friday, a fire department official said. The department got a call about the fire around 8.30 pm and four fire tenders were rushed to the spot, he said. No casualty has been reported so far, the official said, adding that the reason behind the fire is yet to be ascertained. Meanwhile, a fire also broke out at a shop in Maharani Bagh area of the national capital. This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more information becomes available. Please refresh the page for the updated version. Keep reading News Nation for all latest updates. For other stories, click on english.newsnationtv.com New Delhi: Hundreds of protesters gathered outside Delhis Jama Masjid after Friday prayer to raise their dissent over the Citizenship Law. As a precautionary measure, the authorities have imposed Section 144 of the CrPC at ITO, Lal Qila, Delhi Gate. Congress leader Alka Lamba was also present at the protest against Citizenship Amendment Act outside Jama Masjid. Prohibitory orders have also been imposed in certain areas of Northeast Delhi, which saw violent clashes last week. Bhim Army staged a protest march in Delhis Jor Bagh area. Meanwhile, several people with their hands tied marching towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence to demand the release of Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Aazad and to protest the amended Citizenship Act were stopped in the way by police on Friday. Amid heavy security arrangement and drone surveillance, the protesters including Bhim Army members started from Dargah Shah-e-Mardan in Jor Bagh in the national capital and were stopped by police at a barricade en route the PM's residence at Lok Kalyan Marg. They participated in the march with their hands tied, saying they did it so that they could not be blamed for violence and arson during the protest. They raised slogans of 'Tanashahi nahi chalegi' and carried posters of Babasheb Ambedkar and Aazad. Several parts of Uttar Pradesh went offline on Thursday as state government amped up security and increased patrolling to ensure peace in view of protests against Citizenship Act. Last week, several districts of the state had seen widespread violence after Friday prayers. As a precautionary measure, internet services, that were resumed after nearly a week, were suspended again in Ghaziabad, Bulandshahr, Meerut, Sarharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Agra, Sambhal, Ferozabad, Aligarh, Kanpur, Sitapur, Mathura and Shamli. Paramilitary force personnel and state police force will be deployed and drone cameras will be used to ensure security in several places on Friday, officials said. Some 1,200 unidentified persons, including students, teachers and non-teaching staff of the Aligarh Muslim University, have been booked for alleged violation of prohibitory orders under CrPC section 144 by taking out a candle-light march on Tuesday. New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday launched a scathing attack against the ruling BJP government and said that he afraid Assam might return to the path of violence due to policies of the governments at the Centre and the state. Gandhi, who was addressing a public rally in Guwahati's Khanapara, said the spirit of Assam Accord which brought peace to the state, should not be ruined. "I fear Assam is returning to the path of violence because of the BJP's policies," he said, referring to the amended Citizenship Act. #WATCH Rahul Gandhi in Guwahati: Hum BJP aur RSS ko Assam ki history, bhasha ,sanskriti par akraman nahi karne denge. Assam ko Nagpur nahi chalayega, Assam ko RSS ke chaddi wale nahi chalayenge. Assam ko Assam ki janta chalayegi. pic.twitter.com/hzg4qaPRPv ANI (@ANI) December 28, 2019 He said the BJP and the RSS will not be allowed to attack the culture, language and identity of Assam and the Northeast. "Assam can never progress with hatred and violence. Everyone has to come together and tell the BJP leaders that they can't attack the culture, language, identity and history of the state," Gandhi added. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: India saw a generally peaceful day as protests against the amended Citizenship Act continued on Friday. Uttar Pradesh, which has seen large scale violence during protests after Friday prayers last week, remained largely calm amid tight security arrangements. In Delhi, police detained at least 350 protesters outside the UP Bhawan as they tried to stage protest against alleged police brutalities. Hundreds of protesters, many of whom gathered after offering Friday prayers at the Old Delhi's iconic Jama Masjid, took out peaceful demonstrations. Meanwhile, Mumbai on Friday saw rallies in support of and against the CAA and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). In Kolkata, where chief minister Mamata Baneerjee has been at the forefront of protests against the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the new citizenship law, the opposition Left Front and the Congress took out a joint rally to oppose the CAA. With last Friday's memories still fresh in the minds of the security personnel and the local administration when the anti-CAA protests turned violent after Friday prayers in Uttar Pradesh as well as in the national capital, security was enhanced and patrolling intensified in sensitive areas across UP to ensure peace during the prayers. Internet Services Restored In Lucknow, Meerut Mobile Internet services have been restored in Lucknow and Meerut on Friday. SMS messages and mobile Internet services of all mobile service providers except BSNL remained suspended in Lucknow on December 27. In Bulandshahar, the services will remain suspended till 6:00 am on December 28. In Agra, Internet Services will remain suspended till 6:00 pm today while in Mathura, Sitapur, Muzaffarnagar, Firozabad and Sambhal, it will remain suspended till further orders. The services will also remain suspended in Bijnor till the night of December 28. People March Towards PM's Residence Flag marches were conducted in some areas of Delhi's Northeast district and heavy police force was deployed in parts of the city. Apart from the Jama Masjid, a protest was also held in Jor Bagh while the planned 'gherao' of UP Bhawan by the Jamia Millia Islamia students was foiled by the Delhi Police as protesters were detained as soon as they reached the venue. Hundreds of people with their hands tied marched towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence to demand the release of Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Aazad and to protest against the new law, but were stopped on the way by police. Aazad was arrested for allegedly instigating protesters to indulge in violence in old Delhi's Daryaganj area last Friday. Amid heavy security arrangement and drone surveillance, the protesters including Bhim Army members started from Dargah Shah-e-Mardan in Jor Bagh in the national capital and were stopped by police at a barricade en route the PM's residence at Lok Kalyan Marg. They participated in the march with their hands tied, saying they did it so that they could not be blamed for violence and arson during the protest. Slogans like 'Tanashahi nahi chalegi', 'CAA murdabad', 'Aazad ko Azad karo' resonated through the day at several protests in Delhi. Congress leader Alka Lamba and former Delhi MLA Shoaib Iqbal were among those who joined the demonstrations. Pro and Anti CAA Marches In Mumbai In Mumbai, students and social activists held a protest against the CAA and the NRC at the Azad Maidan, while a large number of people gathered for a pro-CAA rally at the historic August Kranti Maidan, where a massive anti-CAA demonstration was held last week. At Azad Maidan, protesters shouted slogans against the government with one of the protesters alleging that the act was aimed "not against just one community but against the whole country." At August Kranti Maidan rally, organised by BJP's Sanvidan Sanman Manch', supporters of CAA were seen carrying national flags along with placards with pro-CAA and NRC messages. They were also carrying photographs of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar while pictures of V D Savarkar, Mahatama Jyotiba Fule, Bharatmata and Shahu Maharaj were displayed on stage. Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Fadnavis said the new law does not take away the citizenship of any Indian. The BJP is creating awareness among people that the act intends to help the minorities from neighbouring countries who have faced religious persecution, he said, and accused the opposition of misleading Indian Muslims. "Pakistan did not fulfill the (implicit) assurance during Partition that minorities will be protected (in both the countries). Hence, India has to look after them because they are our people," said the former chief minister. The Sanvidan Sanman Manch' has been organising such rallies in various parts of the city. One such rally in support of CAA and NRC was organised at Dadar last week. The organisers had planned a support march between the August Kranti Maidan to Lokmanya Tilak statue at Girgaum Chowpatty but Mumbai police denied them permission for the march citing law and order issues. Congress-Left Joint Rally In Kolkata The joint rally in Kolkata was led by West Bengal Congress president Somen Mitra and senior Left Front leaders. Carrying posters and placards against the BJP-led Union government, Congress and LF members shouted slogans against bringing in the 'divisive' CAA. The issue of CAA has been a major flashpoint in Bengal politics with Chief Minister Banerjee declaring that it will not be implemented in the state. The state has witnessed violent protests and arson earlier this month. Khadims Of Ajmer Dargah March Against CAA In Ajmer, a large number of Muslims, including khadims of the famous Ajmer dargah, took out a protest march against the amended act, demanding its rollback. The march started from the dargah and concluded at the collectorate, after passing through the crowded dargah bazaar. "The Centre should repeal the act, which is an attack on the Preamble of the Constitution. The government should also say that the NRC will not be implemented (countrywide)," Sarwar Chisty, a khadim of the dargah, said. (With PTI Inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Amid the ongoing CAA-NRC debate, there is a deluge of misinformation on social media. Old photos, videos are being revived to set narrative. One such photo that went viral recently was of an aged man throwing stones during a protest. The photo was being shared in context of the ongoing row over the Citizenship Law. Pakistani-origin columnist Tarak Fateh posted the photo via his official Twitter handle with a caption Meanwhile #, in India a 'peaceful' in action. The post has been retweeted 4.6K times and garnered 14.2K likes. This viral image is being circulated on social media with a message that is trying to portray a communitys action during the CAA protests. Meanwhile #, in India a 'peaceful' in action. pic.twitter.com/cVNeOwTErX Tarek Fatah (@TarekFatah) December 24, 2019 However, it turns out that the photo is NOT from the recent protests. It is actually an old photo from 2016. A Twitter handle posted that photo on January 8, 2016. It was posted along with the message During Malda Riots..Very Peaceful Protestor Tries to Pacify Situation by Throwing a Stone @tathagata2 @bengaleebabu. Fact-checking website ALtNews has also said that this photo of the stone-pelter is an old one, which is being re-circulated on social media to paint a distorted picture. During Malda Riots..Very Peaceful Protestor Tries to Pacify Situation by Throwing a Stone @tathagata2 @bengaleebabu pic.twitter.com/mXtQrESTvM aaaaaa aaaYY (@jitsamar14) January 8, 2016 Similarly, an old accident video was shared by British columnist Katie Hopkins, who claimed it was from the CAA protests. Fact-checking website boomlive.in came up with the real picture that proved Hopkins shared an old video from 2017. The clip was actually from Gujarats Surat, where the public was protesting against authorities after a state-run bus injured a pedestrian in an accident. Several people are protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act that provides Indian citizenship rights to non-Muslim migrants of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the top court issued notice to the Centre on a batch of pleas challenging the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. A bench comprising Chief Justice S A Bobde and justices B R Gavai and Surya Kant fixed 59 petitions, including those filed by the Indian Union Muslim League and Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, for hearing on January 22, next year. The bench also agreed to the submission of lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay that common people should be made aware about the aim, objects and the contents of the CAA and asked Attorney General K K Venugopal, representing the Centre, to consider using audio-visual medium to make citizens aware. For all the Latest Fact Check News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Pasadena: The Mars 2020 rover, which sets off for the Red Planet next year, will not only search for traces of ancient life, but pave the way for future human missions, NASA scientists said Friday as they unveiled the vehicle. The rover has been constructed in a large, sterile room at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, near Los Angeles, where its driving equipment was given its first successful test last week. Shown to invited journalists on Friday, it is scheduled to leave Earth in July 2020 from Florida's Cape Canaveral, becoming the fifth US rover to land on Mars seven months later in February. "It's designed to seek the signs of life, so we're carrying a number of different instruments that will help us understand the geological and chemical context on the surface of Mars," deputy mission leader Matt Wallace told AFP. Among the devices on board the rover are 23 cameras, two "ears" that will allow it to listen to Martian winds, and lasers used for chemical analysis. Approximately the size of a car, the rover is equipped with six wheels like its predecessor Curiosity, allowing it to traverse rocky terrain. Speed is not a priority for the vehicle, which only has to cover around 200 yards per Martian day -- approximately the same as a day on Earth. Fuelled by a miniature nuclear reactor, Mars 2020 has seven-foot-long articulated arms and a drill to crack open rock samples in locations scientists identify as potentially suitable for life. "What we're looking for is ancient microbial life -- we're talking about billions of years ago on Mars, when the planet was much more Earth-like," said Wallace. Back then, the Red Planet had warm surface water, a thicker atmosphere and a magnetic force around it, he explained. "And so it was much more conducive to the types of simple single cell life that evolved here on Earth at that time," Wallace said. Once collected, the samples will be hermetically sealed in tubes by the rover. The tubes will then be discarded on the planet's surface, where they will lie until a future mission can transport them back to Earth. "We are hoping to move fairly quickly. We'd like to see the next mission launched in 2026, which will get to Mars and pick up the samples, put them into a rocket and propel that sample into orbit around Mars," said Wallace. "The sample would then rendezvous with an orbiter and the orbiter would bring the sample back to the Earth." Samples should reach Earth "in the course of a decade or so," he added. To maximize its chance of unearthing traces of ancient life, Mars 2020 will land in a long dried-up delta called Jezero. The site, selected after years of scientific debate, is a crater that was once a 500-yard-deep lake. It was formerly connected to a network of rivers that flowed some 3.5 to 3.9 billion years ago. The crater measures just under 30 miles across, and experts hope it may have preserved ancient organic molecules. The Mars 2020 mission also carries hopes for an even more ambitious target -- a human mission to Mars. "I think of it, really, as the first human precursor mission to Mars," said Wallace. Equipment on board "will allow us to make oxygen" that could one day be used both for humans to breathe, and to fuel the departure from Mars "for the return trip." The ambitions come as a new space race hots up, with Beijing increasingly vying to threaten US dominance. China on Friday launched one of the world's most powerful rockets in a major step forward for its own planned mission to Mars next year. NASA's Mars 2020 will remain active for at least one Martian year, which is around two years on Earth. Also Read: NASA Snaps Christmas Tree Star Cluster: Pic Inside But Martian rovers have frequently exceeded their intended lifespans -- its predecessor Curiosity landed on Mars in 2012 and is still trundling around the planet's Mount Sharp region. For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. London: In a first, researchers have shown that proteins in the legs of malaria carrying mosquitoes help them develop resistant to insecticides, an advance that may lead to new strategies against the disease which kills nearly 4,00,000 people each year. The study, published in the journal Nature, noted that insecticide resistant populations of two malaria carrying mosquitoes -- Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles coluzzii -- express a family of binding proteins situated in their legs. According to the researchers from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) in the UK, the newly found resistance mechanism may be contributing to the lower than expected efficacy of bed nets in Western Africa where these mosquitoes are widely found. "The protein, which is based in the legs, comes into direct contact with the insecticide as the insect lands on the net, making it an excellent potential target for future additives to nets to overcome this potent resistance mechanism," explained Victoria Ingham, study first author from LSTM. Studying the mosquitoes, the researchers proved that the binding protein, SAP2, was found elevated in resistant populations, and further elevated following contact with pyrethroids -- the insecticide class which is used on all bed nets. When the scientists partially silenced the gene that coded for this protein, lowering its production in the mosquitoes, the study said, susceptibility to the insecticide were restored. Conversely, the researchers said, when the protein was expressed at elevated levels, previously susceptible mosquitoes became resistant to pyrethroids. Due to resistance shown by the mosquitoes, new insecticide treated bed nets containing two compounds -- piperonyl butoxide (PBO) as well as pyrethroid insecticides -- have been introduced, the study said. However, the scientists said, mosquitoes are continually evolving new resistance approaches, and the discovery of the current mechanism provides an opportunity to identify additional compounds that could be used to restore susceptibility. According to the researchers, long-lasting insecticide treated bed nets remain one of the key interventions in malaria control. "It is vital that we understand and mitigate for resistance within mosquito populations in order to ensure that the dramatic reductions in disease rates in previous decades are not reversed," said study co-author Hilary Ranson from LSTM. "This newly discovered resistance mechanism could provide us with an important target for both the monitoring of insecticide resistance and the development of novel compounds able to block pyrethroid resistance and prevent the spread of malaria," Ranson added. For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Two Indian Army soldiers were killed while 5, including a JCO, were injured during a bridge construction training exercise at College of Military Engineering in Pune. According to reports, the incident happened during the training on launching of Bailey Suspension Bridge. Construction of tower on one side was in progress and the third row was under construction when the tower tilted and fell down and collapsed. A Court of Inquiry has been ordered into the incident, an official told PTI. A "tower support" collapsed during the training, said an official of the Southern Command of the Army. The injured jawans were shifted to the Military Hospital, Kirkee, he said. "Lance Havildar Sanjivan PK and Naik Waghmode BK sustained serious injuries and lost their lives during the treatment," he said. Four others were undergoing treatment, he added. New Delhi: Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf challenged his death sentence in the Lahore High Court on Friday. In his plea, Musharraf said that the verdict in the high treason case was done in haste. The former Pakistan Army General had a specific objection to the Paragraph 66 of the verdict that ordered Musharrafs corpse to be hanged at D-Chowk in Islamabad. Musharraf was awarded death sentence in the treason case by special court on December 17. The special court announced death sentence for the former military ruler in treason case in a 2 to 1 majority verdict. In its 167-page detailed judgement authored by Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth, who headed the three-member bench, the special court had said the "convict be hanged by his neck till he dies on each count as per charge". "We direct the law enforcement agencies to strive their level best to apprehend the fugitive/convict and to ensure that the punishment is inflicted as per law and if found dead, his corpse be dragged to the D-Chowk, Islamabad, Pakistan and be hanged for 03 days," he wrote. D-Chowk, or Democracy Chowk is close to several important government buildings - the Presidency, the Prime Minister's office, the Parliament, and the Supreme Court. The prosecution team was led by led by Advocate Ali Zia Bajwa, who represented the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government. The prosecution prayed upon the court to amend the indictment against the former military ruler. The special court of Pakistan was constituted to try the former president, who is currently admitted in a Dubai hospital. The case was being heard by a special bench comprising Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth Akbar of the Sindh High Court (SHC) and Justice Shahid Karim of the Lahore High Court. The bench was formed on the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Previously, the special court ordered 76-year-old Musharraf to record statement by December 5 in the treason case after the Islamabad High Court (IHC), after hearing the petitions filed by Dubai-based Musharraf and the Pakistan government, stopped the special court from issuing the verdict on November 28. The high treason trial of the former military dictator for clamping the state of emergency on November 3, 2007, filed during the previous Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government, was pending since 2013. He was booked in the treason case in December 2013. Musharraf was indicted on March 31, 2014, and the prosecution had tabled the entire evidence before the special court in September the same year. But due to litigation at appellate forums, the trial of the former military dictator lingered on and he left Pakistan in March 2016 with the nod of superior courts as well as the interior ministry for medical treatment. According to previous Pakistani media reports, Musharraf had amyloidosis, a rare disease caused by the build-up of an abnormal protein called amyloid in organs and tissues in the body, and is under medication. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh police filed chargesheet against 13 persons in connection with the murder of Hindu Samaj Party leader Kamlesh Tiwari on Tuesday. The chargesheet was filed at a local court in Lucknow. Two of the accused, Ashraf and Moinuddin, have been charged with murder. Kamlesh Tiwari was shot dead at his residence in Khurshed Bagh area of Lucknow on October 18, 2019. The killing was said to be a revenge for remarks that Kamlesh Tiwari had made in 2015 against Prophet Mohammed. The assailants came dressed in saffron kurtas to give him a sweets box with an address of a sweet shop in Surat city in Gujarat. According to reports, eleven of these accused are presently in jail. One person, Kaifi Ali, is out on bail, while Tanveer, a resident of Nepal who had allegedly sheltered the two alleged killers is absconding. The autopsy report of former Hindu Mahasabha leader had revealed some gruesome details. Kamlesh Tiwari was stabbed 15 times, shot in the face and an attempt was made to slit his throat. It seemed that the killers did not want Tiwari to survive under any circumstance. The stabbing was mostly on the upper part of Tiwari's body, revealed the post-mortem report. It added that two deep cut marks on Tiwari's neck underlined that an attempt was made to slit his throat. New Delhi: Delhi BJP President and Lok Sabha MP Manoj Tiwari has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to change the date Childrens Day to December 26 from November 14. The BJP MP in his letter has stated that Childrens Day should be celebrated on December 26 as a mark of tribute to Jorawar Singh and Fateh Singh, two sons of Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru. Children in our country have made innumerable sacrifices and among all of them, the sacrifice made by Sahibzade Jorawar Singh and Sahibzade Fateh Singh (sons of Guru Gobind Singh) is supreme. Showing extraordinary valour, both of them sacrificed their lives in Punjab's Sirhind to protect dharma, Tiwaris letter reads. If Childrens Day is celebrated in the memory of the supreme sacrifices by Jorawar Singh and Fateh Singh, it will boost the confidence of the children in the country, the letter adds. Currently, Childrens Day is celebrated on November 14, the birth anniversary of Indias first prime minister Jawahar Lal Nehru. Moreover, with Delhi set to go to elections next year, Manoj Tiwari is seen as one of the frontrunners for the chief ministerial post in the BJP. In Delhi, Sikhs comprise a significant fraction of voters and the letter is being seen in relation to the polls coming next year. Tiwari belongs to Purvanchal, a region that also has a sizable population in Delhi-NCR. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: At least two people were killed after a massive fire broke out at a three-storeyed building in Ashapura compound, an industrial estate, at Khairani road in Sakinaka on Friday evening. At least 15 fire tenders reached the spot immediately and started the fire fighting operations. Now, the fire has been doused. Bodies of one male and one female, who had gone missing in the fire, recovered. One other person still missing. Search operation underway, said Mumbai fire brigade. #UPDATE Mumbai Fire Brigade: Bodies of one male & one female, who had gone missing in the fire, recovered. One other person still missing. Search operation underway. https://t.co/gb17mHsgFK ANI (@ANI) December 28, 2019 Initial reports stated that flight operations were affected due to the plumes of smoke as the airport is close to the factory where the fire broke out. However, Mumbai International Airport Limited refuted these rumours saying that the flight operations were not affected. Maharashtra: Fire fighting operation underway at the factory in Ghatkopar, Mumbai; 15 fire tenders at the spot. pic.twitter.com/oUOmJTsq96 ANI (@ANI) December 27, 2019 Also Read: Delhi: Major Fires Break Out At Residential Building In Vasant Vihar, Shop In Maharani Bagh Area It is worth mentioning here that this is the second incident of fire within a week in Mumbai. On December 22, the major fire broke out in Mumbai's Vile Parle West area in Labh Shrivalli building. The fire was doused after more than an hour of fire fighting. No casualty or loss of live was reported from that fire. New Delhi: Kerala state cabinet on Thursday gave in-principle approval to give Rs 1.3 crore compensation to former ISRO scientist S Nambi Narayanan. The decision comes after Narayanan filed a case against his unlawful arrest in Thiruvananthapuram Sub Court. In the year 1994, following the arrest of a Maldivian national in Thiruvananthapuram for allegedly obtaining secret drawings of ISRO rocket engines to sell to Pakistan, Nambi Narayanan, director of cryogenic project at ISRO, was arrested by Kerala police, reports The Hindu. Kerala state cabinet today gave in-principle approval to give Rs 1.3 crore compensation to former ISRO scientist S Nambi Narayanan, to settle a case he filed in Thiruvananthapuram Sub Court against his unlawful arrest. (file pic) pic.twitter.com/ii0redpmvL ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2019 Narayanan had alleged that during his 50-day custody, he was not only tortured but was also forced to give false statements. He had moved the apex court challenging the judgment of the Kerala High Court, which did not order an action against former DGP Siby Mathews and two retired superintendents of police KK Joshua and S Vijayan, who were later held responsible by the CBI for the illegal arrest of Narayanan. However, in 2018, the top Court imposed a stay on the arrest of former Narayanan observing that he had been detained "unnecessarily, harassed and subjected to mental cruelty" in connection to the 1994 espionage case, popularly known as ISRO spy case. Narayanan spent around two months in jail before the CBI in its probe concluded that the allegations against him in the infamous ISRO espionage case were false. The former ISRO scientist was conferred with Padma Bhushan this year which he accepted by saying that award gave him a feeling that his contribution had finally been recognised. Addressing a rally in in Keralas Thrissur in January this year, PM Modi slammed the UDF leaders for settling their political scores and damaging the reputation of a scientist. For all the Latest India News, South News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved the conducting of census 2021 and the updation of National Population Register. While addressing the media, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said that the process will be a self declaration process and no document will be required. "Cabinet has approved expenditure of Rs. 8,754.23 crore for the exercise of Census of India 2021 and Rs. 3,941.35 crore for updation of National Population Register (NPR)", Javadekar said. The updating exercise is to commence from April next year. The NPR is a list of "usual residents" of the country. A "usual resident" is defined for the purposes of NPR as a person who has resided in a local area for the past six months or more or a person who intends to reside in that area for the next six months or more. The data for National Population Register was collected in 2010 along with the house-listing phase of Census of India 2011. The data was updated in 2015 by conducting door-to-door survey. The digitisation of the updated information has been completed. Now it has been decided to update the National Population Register along with the house-listing phase of Census 2021 during April to September 2020 in all the states/union territories except Assam, according to the website of the Office of the Registrar General, and Census Commissioner. A gazette notification to this effect was issued in August this year. The NPR will be prepared at the local (village/sub-Town), sub-district, district, state and national level under provisions of the Citizenship Act 1955 and the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003. It is mandatory for every usual resident of India to register in the NPR. The objective of the NPR is to create a comprehensive identity database of every usual resident in the country. The database would contain demographic as well as biometric particulars. The government cleared the decks for the next round of updating the NPR, along with the house-listing phase of Census 2021 in 2020. The Union Cabinet has also approved funds to the tune of Rs 627.40 crore for 10 projects sanctioned during 2018-19 in Swadesh Darshan Scheme. Additional Rs 1854.67 crore during 2019-20 for sanctioning of news projects. On Atal Bihari Vajpayee's birth anniversary, the government will start two new schemes- AtalJal Mission (a6,000 cr Budget-a3,000 cr each from World Bank and government). For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Amid anti-citizenship law protests, internet services have been suspended in Uttar Pradeshs Bijnor, Mathura, Agra, Bulandshahr, Shamli, Firozabad, Saharanpur. The internet services have been suspended as a preventive measure in view of Friday prayers tomorrow and violent protests over the controversial law. Protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act had broken out in several districts of Uttar Pradesh leaving at least 17 people dead and moveable and immoveable assets damaged, mostly in arson. Along with UP, several parts of the country have been witnessing protests against the amended Citizenship Act and the proposed implementation of a pan-India National Register of Citizens (NRC). Earlier on Wednesday, the internet services, which had been suspended in Lucknow last week amid violent protest against the changes in citizenship law and the proposed creation of a National Register of Citizens, were restored. The Citizenship (Amendment) Act allows granting citizenship to persecuted minoritiesHindus, Sikhs, Christians, Jain, Buddhists and Parsis from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladeshwho have taken refuge in India before December 31, 2014. (With PTI inputs) JAKARTA: According to a spokesman for the National Search and Rescue Office, thirteen persons were killed and eight others were injured in a bus accident in Indonesia's Yogyakarta region. The tragedy happened at 13:00 local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Bantul district, and all of the victims were taken to three nearby hospitals, according to the spokesman. The bus carried a total of 40 people, all of them were employees of a textile company who planned to travel to the Parangtritis tourism spot on Java's southern shore, he said. According to Pipit Eriyanto, Press Officer of the Yogyakarta Search and Rescue Office, one of the victims was a child, and four people received serious wounds, while four others received moderate and minor injuries. According to Xinhua reports, the police chief in Bantul district, Senior Commissioner Ihsan, said that the driver lost control of the bus while driving over a downhill road and collided with a higher terrain on the right side. He told reporters that police were conducting an inquiry into the fatal accident, including the cause. AU summit proves game changer in Africa's fight against pandemic: CDC Iraq, Saudi Arabia's FMs meet in Baghdad, discuss Iranian-Saudi talks Iran urges commitments balance in Vienna nuclear talks TEHRAN: A senior Iranian security official expressed cautious hope about progress in Vienna talks aimed at renewing the 2015 nuclear deal, calling for "balance" in the parties' promises. "Despite the modest progress in the Vienna discussions, we are still far from striking the necessary balance in the parties' promises," Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani tweeted on Sunday. "Political decisions in Washington are prerequisites for striking a proper balance of obligations," he explained. In July 2015, Iran and world powers concluded a nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). In May 2018, however, former US President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the accord and reimposed unilateral sanctions on Iran. Eight rounds of discussions between Iran and the remaining JCPOA parties have been held in the Austrian city since April 2021, according to sources. On Friday, the US government announced that sanctions against Iran's civilian nuclear programme will be lifted, allowing international nuclear cooperation initiatives to proceed. Iraq receives 337 antique artifacts from Lebanon Afghan currency rises in value: Central bank Blasphemy accusation forces Afghan professor to resign Campus News New center to explore Black history, racial literacy By MARCENE ROBINSON History is not about patriotism. History is about helping us understand our humanity. Thats the good, the bad and the indifferent. UB will work to improve how Black history and race are taught and learned in schools around the world through the new UB Center for K-12 Black History and Racial Literacy Education. The center, founded and directed by renowned scholar of Black history education LaGarrett King, will use research, teacher professional development, networking and advocacy to answer the enduring question: What is Black history education? King joined the Graduate School of Education faculty this month as an associate professor of social studies education. He was previously the Isabella Wade Lyda and Paul Lyda Professor of Education at the University of Missouri. Prior to Kings move to UB, he launched a similar center at the University of Missouri, the Carter Center for K-12 Black History Education. The UB center will also create a Teaching Black History Certificate program for teachers and educators to use as endorsements for instructing history classes in their school districts. History is not about patriotism. History is about helping us understand our humanity. Thats the good, the bad and the indifferent, King explains. The problem is our U.S. history curriculum dehumanizes those who are people of color. If we understand notions of Black history, then maybe our society will understand Black people. I envision the Center for K-12 Black History and Racial Literacy Education as a very prominent space where K-12 educators, policymakers, teachers and other university personnel come to help us understand the effectiveness of how we should approach notions of Black history education, as well as try to understand the nuances of race and racial literacy, he says. BAGHDAD Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein spoke on the phone with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud to discuss the postponement of Iran-Saudi talks in Baghdad. The two ministers discussed regional security and stability, as well as the reasons for the delay in hosting the fifth round of Saudi-Iranian talks, according to an Iraqi Foreign Ministry statement released on Sunday. The statement reported Hussein as adding, "The Iraqi government would make every effort and spend all of its relations to create an adequate chance for the understanding between Tehran and Riyadh." Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi lauded Iraq's efforts to bring closer viewpoints and strengthen regional security and stability in a phone chat with the Iraqi Minister on Saturday, alluding to Baghdad's sponsorship of the Iran-Saudi Arabia talks. After protests outside its embassy in Tehran in response to the kingdom's killing of a top Shiite cleric, Saudi Arabia broke diplomatic ties with Iran in January 2016. However, since direct discussions between the two sides resumed in April 2021 after a long gap, Iranian-Saudi ties, which are viewed as critical to Gulf developments, have showed signs of detente. Covid-19: Russia sets new record with 1,90,000 daily cases Iran urges commitments balance in Vienna nuclear talks Iraq receives 337 antique artifacts from Lebanon JERUSALEM - Israel has imposed penalties on Lebanese companies in response to Hezbollah's missile programme. Three Lebanese companies were sanctioned by Israel on Sunday for allegedly supplying components to Hezbollah's efforts to construct precision missiles in Lebanon. According to his office, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz signed an administrative order seizing the assets of three Lebanese companies, Toufali, Moubayed, and Barakat. According to the statement, these companies specialise in creating equipment, oils, and ventilation systems for Hezbollah's production lines, including the precision missiles project. The decision has no immediate consequences, but it will allow the international banking system to place the companies on a blacklist, according to the office, which also stated that the decree "would make it very impossible for (the companies) to continue operating." The order is part of the defence minister's efforts to put more financial pressure on Lebanon's precision missile project. Israel and Hezbollah, two sworn adversaries, last fought a full-fledged war in 2006, largely on Lebanese soil. Bus accident in Indonesia's Yogyakarta, 13 death, 8 injured AU summit proves game changer in Africa's fight against pandemic: CDC Iraq, Saudi Arabia's FMs meet in Baghdad, discuss Iranian-Saudi talks New Delhi: After Pakistani Hyundai's controversial tweet on 'Free Kashmir' and BoycottHyundai trend on social media, Hyundai of India has now issued a statement. However, in this statement, they have neither apologized for blocking Indian users nor has said anything to take action against Hyundai Pakistan. In this statement, the company has directly shown how committed they are to India. In this statement, the company has told Indians that they have been committed to the Indian market for the last 25 years and they stand firmly in respect of nationalism here. In their statement, they said that some unwanted posts made on social media are going to hurt their commitment and service. The statement said that India is their second home for Hyundai and they have a zero-tolerance policy for any insensitive dialogue and they condemn them. "As a mark of our commitment to India, we will continue our efforts for the betterment of the country as well as the citizens.' Today Hyundai Pakistan had tweeted. This tweet was about Kashmir. India's automobile company Hyundai Motor India had come under question about this tweet and started trending #BoycottHyundai as soon as I saw it on social media. Many social media users expressed their displeasure over the company's action and complained that India's Hyundai is blocking them for asking questions on social media in this matter. This statement of the company came out in the evening after a lot of panics. But users aren't satisfied with that either. People say that the company is trying to make a fool of the largest market. Paytm plunges into a loss of Rs 750 crore, investors' money sinks Weekend Market: Sensex Slips 143 pts; Nifty Below 17,550 Sensex finishes a 3-day gaining streak with loss of 770 pts, Nifty tops 17,750 The South Korean government formed an inter-agency team to give assistance to North Korean defectors who are facing economic and psychological challenges following their resettlement in the country. The nine-member team, which includes representatives from several government agencies, will assist defectors in areas ranging from education and employment to accommodation and psychological counselling, according to the Ministry of Unification. According to a biannual government assessment done last year, 1,582 defectors were judged to be in need of assistance in addition to the general welfare package offered to all defectors upon resettlement in the United States. Nearly half of them, or 47%, stated they were having problems with their mental health. "Close coordination among various organisations is critical since crisis situations faced by North Korean defectors frequently contain interconnected economic, social, and psychological concerns," Ministry spokeswoman Lee Jong-joo said at a regular press briefing. "We will boost up our help to ensure that they can resettle in our community in a comfortable and reliable manner." After a defector from the North last year purportedly crossed the strongly fortified inter-Korean border to return home last month, the living circumstances of North Korean defectors were brought to light. The man, who is said to be in his 30s, is known to have suffered financially while living in the South. Protesters taking out PM Trudeau's anger over 'Hindu temples' in Canada Bus accident in Indonesia's Yogyakarta, 13 death, 8 injured AU summit proves game changer in Africa's fight against pandemic: CDC Local rice prices were pushed up by a milling oligopolistic taking cover behind import regulation, thus a state-run trading business was given approval to import 20,000 metric tonnes of rice from Burma for 460 US dollars a tonne. After the Cabinet of Ministers approved the importation of 100,000 metric tonnes of rice, the State Trading Corporation has been given permission to import the first shipment. Sri Lanka has prohibited rice imports and imposed a 65-rupee import fee, assisting a milling oligopoly in driving up costs. At the Maradagahamula economic hub last week, the wholesale price of Nadu, the poorest grade of rice, was 128.13 rupees per kilogramme (128,130 per tonne), valuing a tonne of Nadu at 631 US dollars. A tonne of Samba rice is worth $731 USD. The rice is reportedly being imported by the state trading firm in order to'stabilize' the domestic rice price. From Feb 21, Australia's borders will be open to fully vaccinated foreign visitors This Country unveils 'robot chefs' to cut workload, improve meals Chilean President Sebastian Pinera accepts resignation of FM UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his condolences on the death of melody queen Lata Mangeshkar, referring to the 'Nightingale of India' as the voice of the subcontinent, said the spokesperson Farhan Haq. On Sunday, Haq said: "That's terrible news! At this time, the SG (Secretary-General) expresses his sympathies to her family, as well as the people and government of India. She was an entire subcontinent's voice." T.S. Tirumurti, India's Permanent Representative, described her death as a "irreplaceable loss." "The nation has suffered an irreplaceable loss. The world of music has lost an invaluable figure. #LataMangeshkar will always be a Bharat Ratna in our hearts "he wrote in a tweet He also retweeted a statement of grief from Maldives President Ibrahim Mohammed Solih, who stated Mangeshkar's music transcended cultural boundaries. Solih wrote on Twitter: "I was shocked to learn of #LataMangeshkar's death. Her music transcended cultural and linguistic barriers, bringing joy to millions of people all over the world. India has lost a national gem, and I extend my heartfelt condolences to her family and the Indian people." AU summit proves game changer in Africa's fight against pandemic: CDC Iraq, Saudi Arabia's FMs meet in Baghdad, discuss Iranian-Saudi talks Protesters taking out PM Trudeau's anger over 'Hindu temples' in Canada Kathmandu, February 7 The government of Nepal has decided to hold local elections on May 13, 2022. A cabinet meeting on Monday made the decision, a minister tells Onlinekhabar. Earlier, the ruling alliance had made efforts to delay the elections by amending the election laws. However, the government had given in to protests from the press, opposition parties and civil society organisations. Even some leaders of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deubas Nepali Congress had also opposed the plan. The Election Commission had suggested dates of April 27 and May 5 for the polls. As the government delayed the announcement, the commission had suggested the new date of May 18. However, the government announced a date that is five days earlier than the recommended date. Kathmandu, February 7 The government of Nepal is preparing to allow marijuana cultivation for medicinal purposes, informs a source in the Ministry of Home Affairs. The ministrys spokesperson Phanindra Mani Pokharel says the ministrys Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division is preparing a standard operating procedure in this regard. The document will define provisions on the monitoring and regulation of marijuana cultivation, he says, We know it was being used for medicinal purposes for ages, but now it will be brought under the ambit of the law. The ministry is preparing to issue such a rule in the next six months. For the past few years, there are demands rife for legalising marijuana. This rule, if implemented, is likely to open a door to legalisation although partially. So far, production, trade, and consumption of marijuana is illegal in Nepal as per the drug laws. Penguin Chick Rosamond Gifford Zoo It's cool to keep tabs on expecting parents in December. There is an intriguing race to see if theirs will be the first baby of the new year. In the race for first baby of 2022, there was a very unique couple in contention for the honor. They were not humans, however. And they were both males. The proud couple live at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, New York. They are Humboldt penguins. Their names are Elmer and Lima, and they became a couple in 2021. Zoo director Ted Fox told CNN, "The welfare and wellbeing of every animal that lives at the zoo is very important to us and we support and encourage each animal to make its own choices when choosing their mates." Humboldt penguins are in declining numbers worldwide, so the birth of a newborn is significant and valuable. The original penguin pair who laid the egg were determined to be unable to care for it. Apparently just because they were capable of creating a fertilized egg, it did not mean they had the incubating, protecting, brooding, and other skills necessary. Elmer and Lima did. The zoo described their parenting as "exemplary in every aspect of egg care." Elmer and Lima are not alone as a zoo-exhibited same-sex penguin couple. Zoos in Spain, Berlin and Sydney all have similar male couples. The first such couple to gain notoriety was Central Park Zoo's Silo and Roy in 1998 and their chick named Tango. As a gay dad myself, I was very aware of little Tango, and the award-winning children's book, And Tango Makes Three, he inspired. I'm the human version of Elmer and Lima. In 2000, my then-partner and I embarked on our journey as same-sex parents into the world of foster care. We fostered, and later adopted two baby boys, each born to parents who couldn't care for them. Like the penguins, the challenges experienced by the birth parents were such that their offspring would not have survived. We, like the penguins, made the local newspapers who heralded our groundbreaking venture into parenthood and foster care. At the time, California had only recently rescinded a law that mandated same-sex parents be treated as "not recommended" for adoption approval through the foster care system. Story continues My experience is that while many people embrace two people being loving parents no matter what their gender, there are still too many people threatened by the concept. Shortly after becoming a parent, I wrote about it extensively, letting our kind of family be known to the world. I knew I was opening myself up for abuse, and I got it. Penguin same-sex parents, while cute and cuddly animals, are not immune from abuse either. In May of 2015, the Sierra Charter Foothill School in central California had scheduled a performance of a play based on And Tango Makes Three. When the principal heard that it was a play about two gay penguin parents, he sent out a "warning" to the community. He wanted to give parents the opportunity to opt out of the material that was potentially offensive to them. Not only did a vocal group of parents want to opt out, they insisted it be cancelled all together. In 2015, in California, the story of two male penguins raising a baby could not be told. The human reaction by the haters was too great, and the LGBTQIA+ families in the middle felt repressed and threatened. It's now 2022. Much has changed in our society and penguin dads Elmer and Lima are being congratulated on their new baby. Meanwhile in some states, there are school boards seeking to ban books like And Tango Makes Three, which leads me to wonder whether much has really changed at all. Two male penguins are raising a baby, one that may help keep their breed from becoming extinct. It's beautiful and wonderful. And as natural as any act of parenting. (Adds White House statement) JERUSALEM, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said on Sunday he spoke with U.S. President Joe Biden and discussed ways to halt Iran's nuclear program. The two leaders also spoke about Russia-Ukraine tensions and Bennett said he had congratulated Biden on the U.S. raid that led to the death of the leader of the jihadist group Islamic State, Abu Ibrahim al-Quraishi. Bennett said in a statement that he thanked Biden for his support of Israel and invited him to visit. Biden told Bennett he looked forward to a visit later this year, the White House said in a statement. Biden also emphasized to Bennett his "full support" for replenishing Israel's Iron Dome missile-defence system, the White House said. (Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch; Editing by Alexander Smith and Diane Craft) Study: As tectonic plates pull apart, what drives the formation of rifts? A view of the graben, which emerged near the Holuhraun lava field in Iceland. The western boundary of the graben is seen in the foreground, in the center-right portion of the image, where the land begins to dip down. Credit: Stephan Kolzenburg A view of the graben, which emerged near the Holuhraun lava field in Iceland. The western boundary of the graben is seen in the foreground, in the center-right portion of the image, where the land begins to dip down. Credit: Stephan Kolzenburg Research on a young rift in Iceland sheds new light on the process We have to be a bit more nuanced and acknowledge that rift processes do not have to operate identically across the entire globe. Stephan Kolzenburg, assistant professor of geology University at Buffalo BUFFALO, N.Y. At the boundaries between tectonic plates, narrow rifts can form as Earths crust slowly pulls apart. But how, exactly, does this rifting happen? Does pressure from magma rising from belowground force the land apart? Or is a rift just a rip, created mainly by the pulling motion of tectonic plates that are drifting away from each other? A study in the journal Geology explores these questions and sheds new light on how this process works. Past research has pointed to magma as a key driver in rifting events. But the new findings highlight that, We have to be a bit more nuanced and acknowledge that rift processes do not have to operate identically across the entire globe, says lead scientist Stephan Kolzenburg, PhD, assistant professor of geology in the University at Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences. Study tells the story of a newly formed rift in Iceland The new study was published in November 2021. It describes how a trench-like structure called a rift-graben opened in 2014 in Iceland near what is now known as the Holuhraun lava field, in a region that straddles the tectonic boundary between the North American and Eurasian plates. A graben forms when a chunk of land sags downward as the land on both sides of it moves away, creating a chasm called a rift. The team concluded that in this particular case, the slow drift of tectonic plates, and not pressure from a magma chamber along the rift, was the driver. The graben formed within a period of a few days, and then, it just stayed like that, and it didnt care about anything else that happened in the magmatic plumbing system, Kolzenburg says. The graben was remarkably stable even though lots of dynamic processes were happening underneath, such as pressure changes in the magmatic feeder system of the eruption. Magma leaked through the rift once it was open, but that magma didnt appear to be the main force behind the initial creation of the rift, Kolzenburg says. The study benefited from the work of an international group of scientists who had been closely monitoring Holuhraun and the surrounding region, documenting seismic activity and the volume of magma emerging during a period of unrest from 2014-15. Kolzenburgs team compared this information to digital elevation models that detailed how the areas topography changed over time, capturing the grabens sudden appearance and tracking the landscape for nearly five years after the grabens formation. Not all rifts are created the same way The findings apply specifically to the graben the team studied. In other rift zones, different dynamics may be at play, including in the Afar Region of Ethiopia, where magma is believed to play a more important role in driving rift formation, Kolzenburg says. As he and co-authors write in their 2021 paper in Geology, In concert, the data suggest that while some rifts may be magmatically controlled, not all rift zones require the presence of a deep-seated pressurized magma chamber to control their dynamics. The study was a collaboration between Kolzenburg, Julia Kubanek at the European Space Agency, Mariel Dirscherl and Ernst Hauber at the German Aerospace Center, Christopher W. Hamilton at the University of Arizona, Stephen. P. Scheidt at Howard University and Ulrich Munzer at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat. The research team was funded by the Marie Skodowska-Curie Actions Horizon 2020 project; NASA; the Fulbright Program; U.S. National Science Foundation; and the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy in Germany. KIGALI, Rwanda, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has announced an investment by the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), its development impact-oriented subsidiary, into TND SA, a leading FMCG Company in Mauritania. FEDA_Logo This investment will help to diversify TND's business beyond importation to include integrated manufacturing of dairy and poultry products, in a bid to replace imports with locally produced foods, thereby positioning the Company to become a regional player in the medium term. Given Mauritania's reliance on imports for its food needs, this investment presents an opportunity to develop local manufacturing capacity, positively impacting the balance of trade, to promote industrialization and to create new jobs along the value chain. Founded in 2005, TND SA is one of the largest homegrown importer and distributor of goods and consumer products in Mauritania. TND's operations include wholesale and retail of food imports as well as various logistics services. Professor Benedict Oramah, President and Chariman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, commented: "Foreign Direct investments in Mauritania's corporates are few and far between and this landmark transaction highlights FEDA's strong commitment to provide development impact and attract Foreign Direct Investments in all geographies across the continent. Afreximbank, through FEDA, is pleased to do so in particular in Mauritania, one of the first Afreximbank member states to join FEDA. This investment is a demonstration of one of the benefits of this membership." Yann Rogombe, FEDA Investment Director, commented: "We are pleased to partner with TND SA sponsor and management and to support the Company to implement its growth plan. This investment will have a significant developmental impact on the agri-food value chain in Mauritania and position the Company as a fully integrated regional player." Story continues Telmidy El Najim Driss, TND SA Chairman and CEO, added: "We are delighted to have FEDA as an investor and partner. This investment reflects the willingness of both parties to develop the agri-food value chain in Mauritania and will also take the Company to a new level and a new phase of growth. I am confident in the company's development prospects, assisted by our partner FEDA, and we aim to become a leading player in the region in the years to come, thus contributing to food self-sufficiency in Mauritania and the region." FEDA pursues a multi-sector investment strategy along the intra-African trade, value-added export development and manufacturing value chain which includes financial services, technology, consumer and retail goods, manufacturing, transport & logistics, agribusiness, as well as ancillary trade enabling infrastructure such as industrial parks, in Afreximbank's member states. About Afreximbank African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra-and extra-African trade. Afreximbank deploys innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa's trade, accelerating industrialization and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. At the end of 2020, the Bank's total assets and guarantees stood at US$21.5 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$3.4 billion. Afreximbank disbursed more than US$42 billion between 2016 and 2020. The Bank has ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A-), Moody's (Baa1) and Fitch (BBB-). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt. For more information, visit: www.afreximbank.com. Follow us on Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram Media Contacts Amadou Labba Sall Manager, Communications & Events, Afreximbank asall@afreximbank.com Emmanuel Assiak Acting Chief Executive Officer, FEDA eassiak@fedagroup.org Yann Rogombe Investment Director, FEDA yrogombe@fedagroup.org Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1739740/FEDA_Logo.jpg Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/afreximbanks-fund-for-export-development-in-africa-feda-invests-in-mauritanias-leading-fmcg-company-tnd-sa-to-develop-local-poultry-and-dairy-production-301475344.html SOURCE Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), a subsidiary of African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) There is no rest for the weary. The Arizona State men's basketball team is playing five straight nationally ranked opponents with the last three coming in a span of just 94 hours. They have a right to be a bit exhausted after outlasting and upsetting No. 3 UCLA 87-84 in triple overtime late Saturday night at Desert Financial Arena. It marked just the second time in history an unranked team knocked off a top five team in three or more overtimes Next is a 7 p.m. home showdown against rival Arizona (19-2, 9-1), which comes atop the Pac-12 standings and boasting a No. 7 national ranking. The Wildcats swept UCLA and No. 19 USC last week so they are likely to make a jump in the next national polls released Monday. Despite the marathon game Saturday night, senior guard Marreon Jackson says his team will be ready. COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Scoreboard | Statistics | Standings "If you were to ever sit in on one of (Coach Bobby) Hurley's practices with us, you would know how much we run, summer time, never been a part of a program that runs as much," he said. "We're definitely in shape. We're ready. He's made sure of that." It has not been the season Hurley envisioned when practice for the season commenced. Sophomore forward Marcus Bagley, one of just three returning players from last year, has been out since Nov. 15 with a lingering knee issue. Jackson struggled early to find the form that landed him Mid-American Conference Player of the Year accolades last season at Toledo. He chalks that up to a wrist injury he sustained early but says he finally feels right again. There have been far more setbacks than victories, the first coming back in the second game of the season when ASU lost to UC Riverside 66-65 on a three-quarter length heave at the buzzer. ASU went 0-3 at the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas and didn't look good doing it. Then came the abysmal showing against Washington State in the conference opener which the Sun Devils scored a minuscule 29 points. Story continues There were a handful of games canceled, with COVID issues on the part of opponents, then the Sun Devils had to shut down themselves. The 2020-2021 season was a difficult one and the new one wasn't shaping up much better. The Sun Devils have made great strides in the last three weeks although it had not necessarily shown up in the win column. Hurley is hoping the 24-point showing of Jackson against the Bruins is an impetus for good things to come. "The adversity's been well documented and what they've been through, but they haven't given up through all of this and they've really stayed the course and keep trying to get better," Hurley said. "No one exemplifies that more than Marreon Jackson and just so happy to see him come through and make big plays throughout the game and have that kind of feeling that he has right now and because he had just so much expectations and he's, there's nobody that works harder in our program, so it's just great that on this stage he'd come through like that." The Sun Devils went into Saturday's game having lost seven of the last eight with the lone win in that stretch coming over lowly Utah on Jan. 17. It was then next game in which the Sun Devils seemed to turn a corner. They lost to Stanford on the road 79-76 in the infamous game in which the Cardinal shot 41 free throws to ASU's nine. Then came a 78-56 loss at USC in which ASU got off to a good start, only to fade.Then came in 67-56 loss to Arizona at McKale Center a week ago in which ASU held the Wildcats 20 points under their season scoring average. Thursday, ASU lost to USC 58-53, that game tied for the last time with 1:05 to go. Hurley had said the better play in those games was a moral victory but he was happy his team finally has something to show for its efforts. "It would've been a tough one if I walked in here again and we didn't come through with the win," he said, in talking to the media moments after the UCLA victory. "But the morale in the locker room right now is unbelievable because we know that we're not backing into wins somehow like, we're winning these games and we've been very competitive in these games against elite teams and we've been going toe to toe. So to break through and win, hopefully, will build confidence as we keep going." Defense has become the ASU trademark and all know that kind of effort will be required to maintain the momentum. The offense seems to be coming around, the emergence of inside threats in Kimani Lawrence and Jalen Graham drawing the attention of opponents and opening up room for the shooters such as Jackson and D.J Horne. Among the encouraging signs in the recent win was a total of 18 assists on 29 made field goals. ASU turned the ball over only 11 times in the 55 minutes, a noteworthy number given the caliber of the opponent which also prides itself on defense. In comes another formidable foe in Arizona, whose only losses were to UCLA 75-59 at Pauley Pavilion on Jan. 25 and Tennessee 77-73 on the road on Dec. 22. It has chalked up impressive wins over Michigan and Illinois in non-conference play. The Wildcats have four players averaging double figures in Bennedict Mathurin (16.5 ppg, 6 rpg), Azuolas Tublis (14.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg), Christian Koloko (12.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg) and Kerr Kriisa (11 pg). Mathurin is a top contender for conference player of the year honors while Koloko is perhaps the most improved player in the conference. Jackson feels his team is starting to gel and says the players' confidence in each other hasn't wavered. Weve been playing great and hard all season, he said. Everything is starting to come together. Our offense, were starting to get a rhythm. We had 11 new guys with two months to play with each other. I dont know what people had expected. But we stayed together. It's only us. A lot of outside noise and all that, but we stayed together. Theres been a lot of games this season where it was down to two or three plays where we could have won, and weve just been building, Jackson said. All that right there just built character for games like this and hopefully were going to build off of this game and get on a run, keep going. Reach the reporter at Michelle.Gardner@gannett.com or 602 444-4783. Follow her on Twitter @MGardnerSports. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona State men look to build on three-overtime upset of UCLA against rival Arizona NEW YORK, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The latest analysis from BizVibe, a leading company insights platform, provides detailed insights for hundreds of digital greeting card companies and over 70,000 publishing companies worldwide. BizVibe's digital greeting card company insights highlight the strong influence that pandemic-driven purchasing habits are expected to have in the coming years for market participants. Snapshot of key trend impacting BizVibe's timber transport industry group. Get free insights for 100+ digital greeting card companies Key Industry Trend Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic The greeting card industry as a whole has been struggling recently, and while millennials have been accounting for a significant share of greeting card purchases in recent years, the market has still been in decline. The market for digital greeting cards, however, is on the rise, bolstered by the onset of the global pandemic and the need to work remotely and avoid large gatherings in many parts of the world. With fewer opportunities to interact in person or shop in stores, consumers have turned to digital cards in order to connect with friends, family, and coworkers. Some digital card vendors allow users to customize them with images and text, giving them similar features to a physical greeting card. This ease of access and customization will help give digital greeting cards staying power even after the end of the pandemic. Trend Geographic Relevance High Relevance Globally Digital greeting cards don't face the same geographical barriers as traditional paper cards do. Customers can access online greeting card services from around the world, without needing to rely on physical storefronts or shipping. As internet penetration and the adoption of smartphones rise around the world, digital greeting cards can be sent and received with very few barriers. E-commerce also allows for easy browsing and comparison shopping, enabling consumers to find the best card at the best price. View All Digital Greeting Card Company Insights on BizVibe Story continues Detailed analysis of 100+ digital greeting card companies Risk of doing business for all digital greeting card companies Industry trends and challenges expected to impact digital greeting card companies Regional, national, and global competitors/similar companies Key products and services for each digital greeting card company List of key executives and decision makers for each digital greeting card company Get free access to all BizVibe company insights Need More? Are You Looking for Additional Digital Greeting Card Company Insights? Want to evaluate a specific list of suppliers and companies? Need to identify key suppliers and compare which are best suited for you? Looking for extensive related category lists to send RFQs? Trying to invite buyers/sellers to an event you're organizing? Get customized company insights tailored to your exact business needs. Speak to our analysts now! About BizVibe BizVibe is transforming the way buyers and sellers do business online. Our supplier intelligence and sales intelligence tools provide best-in-class company insights to help businesses discover, track, monitor, and evaluate companies of interest. BizVibe's platform contains more than 30 million company profiles, each packed with 50+ unique insights. For more information, please visit www.bizvibe.com or start your free trial today. Snapshot of key trend impacting BizVibe's video distribution industry group. Snapshot of key trend impacting BizVibe's digital greeting cards industry group. BizVibe (PRNewsfoto/BizVibe) Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bizvibes-digital-greeting-card-company-analysis-highlights-key-insights-in-the-area-of-key-industry-trends-and-challenges-risk-of-doing-business-geographic-relevance-and-category-influence-301475056.html SOURCE BizVibe WESTCHESTER, N.Y., Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston Children's Health Physicians (BCHP) is pleased to announce that the following specialty divisions and locations have been recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as Patient-Centered Specialty Practices (PCSP). Boston Children's Health Physicians NY & CT Developmental Pediatrics (19 Bradhurst Avenue, Suite 2400N Hawthorne, New York 10532) Pediatric Endocrinology (755 North Broadway, Suite 400 Sleepy Hollow, New York 10591) Pediatric Gastroenterology (503 Grasslands Road, Suite 200 Valhalla, New York 10591) Pediatric Gastroenterology (148 East Avenue, Suite 2N Norwalk, Connecticut 06851) Pediatric Pulmonology, Allergy, Immunology, and Sleep Medicine (222 Westchester Avenue, Suite 403 West Harrison, New York 10604) These BCHP divisions are the first pediatric specialty practices in NYS to achieve NCQA PCSP recognition. These divisions join an elite group of practices across the country that have been recognized for their commitment to continuous quality improvement and a patient-centered approach to care. This outstanding achievement was attained following an intensive vetting process based on industry-leading best practices. NCQA PCSP recognition means these divisions have achieved this status for providing evidence-based, person-centered care to their patients, have excelled in access, team-based care, care coordination with referring clinicians and have a commitment to continuous quality improvement. These divisions have done a great deal of work to prepare for this recognition. "NCQA Patient-Centered Specialty Practice Recognition distinguishes practices that communicate, collaborate, and integrate care in ways that patients want and that improve quality," said NCQA President Margaret E. O'Kane. "I commend the team at Boston Children's Health Physicians for its achievement and its commitment to continuous improvement." BCHP's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Suzanne Kaseta said "This is a huge accomplishment and one that we are very proud of. Achieving recognition demonstrates that our providers and staff are committed to excellence and to taking the very best care of the patients they serve. Thank you and congratulations to all who have been involved in the transformation." Story continues Gerard Villucci, Chief Executive Officer of BCHP commented on this accomplishment saying "Quality of care for patients is at the center of everything we do in BCHP. NCQA's Patient-Centered Specialty Practice recognition program is incredibly rigorous, and I am proud that BCHP has 5 specialty locations that are PCSP recognized. This recognition shows that BCHP is dedicated to providing the absolute best quality care to our patients. My sincere thanks to all those who have made this recognition possible." Earning NCQA Patient-Centered Specialty Practice Recognition shows that the practice has undergone a rigorous review of its capabilities and is committed to sharing information and coordinating care. Recognition also signals to primary care practices that the specialty practice is ready to be an effective partner in caring for patients. About Boston Children's Health Physicians Boston Children's Health Physicians (BCHP) is a large multi-specialty group with more than 300 clinicians. BCHP proudly offers a full range of care to families in over 55 practices throughout New York's Metropolitan Area, the Hudson Valley, and Connecticut. Working with partners at Maria Fareri Children's Hospital at WMCHealth and New York Medical College, BCHP is dedicated to state-of-the-art patient care, excellence in medical education, and cutting-edge scientific research. BCHP is also part of the Boston Children's Hospital network of care, the #1-ranked children's hospital by U.S.News & World Report. For more, visit our website and follow us on Facebook @BCHPhysicians. About NCQA NCQA is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA's Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. NCQA's website (ncqa.org) contains information to help consumers, employers and others make more-informed health care choices. NCQA can be found online at ncqa.org, on Twitter @ncqa, on Facebook at facebook.com/NCQA.org/ and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/ncqa. CONTACT: Kristen DiBari, Boston Children's Health Physicians 914-594-2319 | kristen_dibari@bchphysicians.org Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/boston-childrens-health-physicians-specialty-divisions-and-locations-have-been-recognized-by-the-national-committee-for-quality-assurance-ncqa-as-a-patient-centered-specialty-practice-pcsp-301476852.html SOURCE Boston Children's Health Physicians Sacoya Cooper, 33, was reported missing Aug. 31. Columbus police and the family of a missing transgender woman are expected to ask for the public's help in locating her during a press conference at 4 p.m. today. Relatives of Sacoya Cooper, 33, have come to the area from out of state to attend the briefing at Columbus Division of Police headquarters, Downtown. Cooper was last seen around 11:30 p.m. on Aug. 31 in a 2009 black Ford Fusion, which has also not been located. Celebrating life: Columbus Transgender Day of Remembrance honors lives taken in deadliest year on record Cooper, who is Black, is about 5-foot-5 and weighs about 145 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes and was last seen wearing black lemonade braids, a black and white summer dress and black and white Baby Phat sandals. Cooper also has two large tattoos, one on each thigh. She was last seen in North Linden near Cremeans Park. Friends said Cooper had been going to a store to get water and stopped answering calls and texts, which is unlike her. Volunteers have searched and the area and posted flyers on multiple occasions, asking for information in the case. Progress: Dion Manley: Gahanna school board member and Ohio's first openly transgender public official Richard Harris, 52, who uses the pronouns he/him and is Cooper's partner, told The Dispatch in September that Cooper received a text message before she left. He said he had gotten text messages demanding money to speak with or return Cooper, which he provided to Columbus police, and was working with detectives to find answers. There had been concerns raised with how seriously Columbus police took Cooper's disappearance initially. In September, Columbus police Deputy Chief Tim Becker said a detective has been assigned to Sacoya's case and they have uncovered no signs to that point that she is a victim of foul play. Cooper disappeared during the same time frame that a search for 22-year-old Gabby Petito drew national headlines, and family members of other missing people particularly missing Blacks questioned why their loved ones do not get the same media attention as the case of the young white, blonde woman. Story continues Petito disappeared in mid-September 2021 during a cross-country trip in a converted van with Brian Laundrie, which the engaged couple documented on social media. Laundrie himself became the focus of a national law enforcement manhunt before his remains were found in October in Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park in Florida. Authorities ultimately determined Laundrie died by suicide. The FBI said Laundrie admitted responsibility for Petito's death in his notebook that was found near his remains along with a handgun. The National Crime Information Center says there were nearly 90,000 active missing persons across the United States in 2020. Anyone with information on Sacoya Cooper's location is asked to call police at 614-645-4545 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS. All tips to Crime Stoppers are anonymous. bbruner@dispatch.com @bethany_bruner This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Update expected in case of missing transgender woman, Sacoya Cooper FILE PHOTO: The logo of Swiss bank Credit Suisse is seen in Zurich By Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi and Silke Koltrowitz ZURICH (Reuters) - Credit Suisse faced charges in a Swiss court on Monday of allowing an alleged Bulgarian cocaine trafficking gang to launder millions of euros, some of it stuffed into suitcases. In the first criminal trial of a major bank in Switzerland, Swiss prosecutors are seeking around 42.4 million Swiss francs ($45.86 million) in compensation from Credit Suisse. They say the country's second-biggest bank and one of its former relationship managers did not take all necessary steps to prevent the alleged drug traffickers from hiding and laundering cash between 2004 and 2008. "Credit Suisse unreservedly rejects as meritless all allegations in this legacy matter raised against it and is convinced that its former employee is innocent," the bank said in a statement to Reuters. It added it would "defend itself vigorously in court". The case has attracted intense interest in Switzerland, where it is seen as a test for prosecutors taking a potentially tougher stance against the country's banks. The indictment runs to more than 500 pages, and centres on relationships that Credit Suisse and its ex-employee had with former Bulgarian wrestler Evelin Banev and multiple associates, two of whom are charged in the case. A second indictment in the case charges a former relationship manager at Julius Baer with facilitating money laundering. A legal representative for the ex-Credit Suisse employee, who cannot be named under Swiss privacy laws, said the case was unjustified and his client denied wrongdoing. That banker would start testifying on Wednesday or Thursday, a preliminary court schedule showed. A lawyer for the two alleged gang members, who face charges of multiple counts of misappropriation, fraud and forgery of documents in the Swiss federal court but cannot be named under Swiss privacy laws, declined to comment. A lawyer for the former relationship manager at Julius Baer did not respond to requests for comment. Story continues Banev, who does not face charges in Switzerland, was convicted of drug trafficking in Italy in 2017 and then in Bulgaria in 2018 for money laundering. He vanished, but was arrested in September in Ukraine. Bulgarian prosecutors are seeking his extradition to face charges of setting up an organised criminal group for money laundering, while Romania seeks him for setting up a group for drug trafficking, Interpol's red list of wanted persons shows. Banev's legal representative had no immediate comment. Julius Baer, which is not facing charges, declined to comment on the case. CASH IN CASES The former Credit Suisse employee brought at least one Bulgarian customer, who was an associate of Banev, with her when she joined Credit Suisse in 2004, prosecutors allege in the indictment. The customer, who was later shot dead as he left a restaurant with his wife in Sofia, Bulgaria in 2005, had begun placing suitcases full of cash in a safe deposit box at Credit Suisse, the indictment says. Prosecutors allege the gang used a practice known as smurfing, whereby a large sum of money is broken down into smaller amounts that are below the anti-money laundering alert threshold, to launder money, putting millions of euros in small-value bills into safety deposit boxes and later transferring them into accounts. The defendants said this was standard practice at the time the deposits were made, although Swiss private banks have since adopted much tougher anti-money laundering know-your-client checks after international pressure. The prosecutors allege the former relationship manager, who left Credit Suisse in 2010 after being detained for two weeks by police in 2009, helped conceal the criminal origins of money for the clients by carrying out more than 146 million Swiss francs in transactions, including 43 million francs in cash. "Our client is being unfairly accused, because Swiss law requires that a person be implicated in order to condemn a bank," attorneys at law firm MANGEAT LLC, representing the ex-employee, told Reuters. "She is innocent, outraged by the accusations. We will plead for her full and complete acquittal." Credit Suisse disputes the illegal origin of the money, a source familiar with its thinking told Reuters, saying that Banev and his circle operated legitimate businesses in construction, leasing and hotels. The Swiss bank, which the indictment says considered Bulgaria as a high-risk country at the time, plans to draw attention to calls made by its compliance department to Swiss prosecutors after Banev was temporarily arrested in Bulgaria in April 2007, the source added. Credit Suisse is hoping that the court will view that its compliance department's move was a sign of the bank taking its anti-money laundering obligations seriously and of cooperating with prosecutors in the matter. In June 2007, the prosecutors asked Credit Suisse for information on accounts held by Banev and his associates in response to a request from Bulgaria, the source added. Noticing a series of withdrawals, the bank's compliance department asked prosecutors whether to freeze the accounts, but was told not to in order to avoid tipping the clients off, according to the source. By the time prosecutors gave Credit Suisse the go-ahead, much of the money had been withdrawn. The prosecutors' office declined to comment on Friday, saying the matter was in the hands of the court. The second indictment filed by federal prosecutors against the former relationship manager at Julius Baer, which is being tried in the same court case, alleges some of the funds were transferred to another Swiss bank. The former relationship manager, who left a few months after the transfers took place, is charged with facilitating money laundering. Julius Baer had refused to accept a suitcase filled with cash from the defendants, the indictment says. ($1 = 0.9245 Swiss francs) (Reporting by Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi and Silke Koltrowitz; Additional reporting by Tsvetelia Tsolova; Editing by Alexander Smith and Barbara Lewis) Matthew Stockman In a teary video posted to his Instagram, silver-medal winning figure skater Vincent Zhou announced that hes withdrawing from the Beijing Winter Olympics after testing positive for COVID-19. It seems pretty unreal that of all the people, this would happen to myself...I have been doing everything in my power to stay free of COVID since the start of the pandemic...The enormity of the situation, the just pain of it all is pretty insane, he said. The 21-year-old Californians heartbreaking withdrawal comes just after he helped the U.S. win a silver medal in the team skating event after placing third in Sundays mens free skating. Zhou tested positive for the virus after the performance and awaited further testing to confirm whether or not he was infected. That tragic confirmation came Monday, forcing the gold-medal hopeful to end his time on the ice. Tears of Despair for Olympic Athletes Forced into Isolation Misery in Beijing While it was always my dream to medal on an Olympic stagewhich I did accomplish before this happened, Zhou said with a chuckle, the overarching dream was just to skate. If I didnt love this, I wouldnt still be doing this. The skater broke down in tears as he reflected on his lifelong efforts to achieve his Olympic dream. Ive lost count of the number of times Ive cried today, but Im happy to say that at least one of those times was happy tears. That was when I found out I become an Olympic silver medalist. Zhou finished sixth in the short program at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, becoming the first skater to land a quadruple lutz in that event. But according to NBC News, he has already fulfilled one Olympic dream in China: performing to music from the 2000 Ang Lee film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in his parents home country. The team gold was won by Russia, thanks to a dominant performance by 15-year-old prodigy Kamila Valieva, who became the first woman to land two quad jumps in the free skating portion. Story continues Fellow skaters Johnny Weir, Kristi Yamaguchi, and Polina Edmunds offered their support and condolences via comments to the post. As his video concluded, the Olympian added, I will be back stronger and better. This is not the endthis is a setup up for a bigger comeback. Vincent Zhou, signing out. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. The College has already received 500-plus more applications this year over last year ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa., Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Elizabethtown College recently reached its largest application pool in the past five years, as enrollment continues to increase for the institution. To date, the College has received 2,657 applications for first-year students who submitted over 2,212 applications last yearwhich is 25.3-percent higher. "With enrollment up for the past two consecutive years and on pace to increase again this year, we are continuing to see a positive momentum in students applying to Elizabethtown College," Elizabethtown College Vice President for Enrollment Management John F. Champoli said. "We offer a highly competitive value for students with exceptional academic programs, highly-talented faculty who serve as mentors, and real-world learning opportunities through hands-on research, internships, co-ops, service experiences, study abroad, and much more to ensure our students graduate with the skills, knowledge, and talents to contribute to society." The College's entering enrollment has grown by over 10-percent for the past two consecutive years and is currently trending upward this fiscal year with first-year students admittance rate up 25.5-percent compared to last year. "We are building a strong academically-qualified applicant pool this year," Elizabethtown College Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management Adam Smith said. "An Etown education is appealing for so many students because we offer highly desirable majors with a vibrant and supportive student life that turns into a connective and lifelong alumni network." The College is on pace to usher in the largest first-year class in more than five years, beating its 2017 marker of 442 freshmen. Applications also are up in every School (School of Arts and Humanities, School of Business, School of Engineering, Math, and Computer Science, School of Human and Health Professions, School of Public Service, School of Sciences) at the institution. Story continues Elizabethtown College will be hosting three in-person Accepted Student Day events on February 12, March 12, April 2. Explore Elizabethtown College at etown.edu. About Elizabethtown College Elizabethtown College, located in southcentral Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, is a private coed institution offering more than 50 health, science, engineering, political science business, communications, fine art and music, humanities, and education degrees. Discover more: etown.edu. Contact: Keri Straub Executive Director of Marketing and Communications Elizabethtown College (717) 725-6907 straubk@etown.edu Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/elizabethtown-college-reaches-largest-application-pool-in-last-five-years-enrollment-continues-to-increase-301476730.html SOURCE Elizabethtown College Washington First lady Dr. Jill Biden admitted Monday that her goal of establishing government-backed, free community college for eligible students is not going to happen at least not anytime soon or as part of some modified version of President Biden's Build Back Better agenda. The legislation is languishing on Capitol Hill, where its key opponent, Senator Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia, says he is not going to do anything to revive it as originally written. But Manchin and other Democrats are hoping to salvage at least some of the proposals through far more modest legislation. Biden told a national association of community college leaders that Congress has so far failed to pass the Build Back Better plan "and free community college is no longer a part of that package. We knew that this wasn't going to be easy and Joe has always said that. Still, like you, I was disappointed. Because, like you, these aren't just bills or budgets to me. We know what they mean for real people, for our students." "And it was a real lesson in human nature that some people just don't get that," she said. It is highly unusual for first ladies to wade into policy fights, especially when it's to admit that their signature issue of concern is on the fritz. But Biden is the first first lady to keep her full-time day job as a community college professor, so her staff says he's eager to remain engaged on the subject. And she's not giving up entirely. In her speech, she added that the president is still fighting for the issue: "Joe doesn't quit. He doesn't give up. He is keeping his promise to rebuild our middle class, and he knows that community colleges do just that. He knows that you are our greatest resource and our best investment. He will keep fighting for us." News of the first lady's speech was first reported by The New York Times. Mr. Biden put forth last year his sprawling $3.5 trillion domestic policy agenda, which included plans for free community college, paid family and sick leave and free pre-Kindergarten. But the proposal was scaled back to address concerns from Manchin and Senator Kyrsten Sinema, a Democrat from Arizona, over its price tag, and proposals for free community college and a paid leave program were dropped. Story continues While the House passed a version of the social spending plan in November, the legislation in its revamped form suffered a fatal blow in the Senate after Manchin announced in December he could not support the proposal. Mr. Biden told reporters during a press conference last month he believes the Democratic-led Congress could approve "pieces, big chunks" of his signature spending package and acknowledged Democrats are "going to have to probably break it up." But Manchin last week reiterated the legislation is "dead." Still, he did not rule out supporting a smaller measure. MoneyWatch: Apple's privacy changes hit Meta's bottom line Rising concerns of a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine David Magees new memoir Dear William details family's trauma with addiction, loss and rebuilding Duluth, MN (55816) Today Rain showers this morning with overcast skies during the afternoon hours. High 47F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Overcast. Low near 35F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. SYDNEY, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Diana Shoolman, former head of professional services at NAB, and former director at PwC and Deloitte, has joined fintech CrowdProperty Australia as its director of strategic partnerships, to spearhead the company's growth of wholesale, sophisticated, and institutional investors. Diana Shoolman Director of Strategic Partnerships, CrowdProperty Australia This appointment is a clear statement of intent of CrowdProperty's determination to change the face of property project finance in line with its vision both here and in the UK. It marks the second senior appointment since the company closed its oversubscribed seed round in October 2021. Ms. Shoolman said she was thrilled to join a leading fintech in the marketplace lending and alternative finance sector. "My years working with two of the 'big four' accounting firms and one of Australia's largest banks gives me deep insight into Australia's wholesale investors and the private wealth sector," she said. "I've spent my career building relationships with leaders in the accounting and investment space and the high-net-worth community. Now to be able to provide access to an alternative investment vehicle that helps fund Australian housing is an exciting new chapter." CrowdProperty Australia CEO David Ingram said the appointment of someone of Diana Shoolman's calibre demonstrated the potential of this leading alternative finance and investment fintech. "Our vision is to enable SME developers to have access to specialist finance and enable them to build sorely needed homes for Australians," Mr. Ingram said. "Finding finance is a huge pain point for SME developers who face significant challenges with banks, private lending, and ever-changing goal posts. Being able to provide reliable access to a source of funds from the wholesale and institutional investment sector, while providing specialist experience in property development to ensure projects are carefully curated and ultimately successful, is a proven opportunity Australia hasn't taken advantage of until now. Story continues "We're looking forward to Diana's contribution in building our wholesale investor community. What's more, the future is looking very bright with the development of products to support sustainable developments, social housing, and to bring a retail investment product to market allowing all Australian investors to invest in a slice of the property development market." CrowdProperty Australia launched in May 2021 to bring its vision of 'property finance by property people' to Australia's badly under-served sector. It is a joint venture with CrowdProperty UK which recently achieved the milestone of paying back over 100m to investors at an average realised IRR of 8.30 percent, while maintaining its 100 percent capital and interest payback track record since launching in 2014. CrowdProperty UK has now funded the development of 360m of property projects, the construction of 1,800 homes, agreed 215m of facilities and lent 170m, all expertly curated from over 8bn of funding applications. CrowdProperty project loan investments offer target interest returns of up to 7%* p.a. secured by first mortgage. Investments are available to wholesale investors (including SMSFs, trusts and investment companies) and sophisticated investors, including institutions and super funds. Projects are expertly curated through a 57-step due diligence process. Investments start from as little as $10,000. Development projects are typically 6 to 18 months. Ms. Shoolman is a Chartered Accountant and former Telstra Businesswoman of the Year nominee. *Target returns, not forecast returns. For wholesale investors only. Terms, conditions, and risks apply. DISCLAIMER The CrowdProperty Investment Trust (the Trust) is an unregistered managed investment scheme. The Trust is only available to investors that are wholesale clients as defined in s761G of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). Investors pledge their funds in the Trust which makes first mortgage secured loans to SME property developers. Withdrawals can only be made when the Investor funds are in Cash Interests in the Trust. Refer to the Information Memorandum (IM) for more information. CrowdProperty Pty Ltd (ACN 633 516 195) is the investment manager of the Trust (Investment Manager). The Investment Manager is a corporate authorised representative (No. 001285637) of Quay Wholesale Fund Services Pty Ltd AFSL No. 528 526, ACN 647 044 602. The Investment Manager's authority under its Corporate Authorised Representative Agreement with Quay Wholesale Fund Services Pty Ltd is limited to general product advice regarding the Trust only. Quay Wholesale Fund Services Pty Ltd is the trustee of the Trust and the issuer of its IM (Trustee). The contents of this document are not intended as financial product advice and have been prepared without taking into account your personal circumstances, investment objectives or particular needs. You should read the Information Memorandum for the Trust in full to consider whether an investment is appropriate for you. Neither the Investment Manager, Quay Wholesale Fund Services Pty Ltd, nor the Trustee guarantee the repayment of capital, the performance of any investment or the rate of return for the Trust. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future performance. An investment in the Trust is not a bank deposit and is subject to greater risk than cash investment products including loans of income and part or all of the capital itself. We strongly suggest that you seek your own professional financial or legal advice prior to any investment decisions. SOURCE CrowdProperty Australia Building on the Success of 'Room to Read,' which has helped 23 million children to access primary and secondary education, John Wood's new venture 'U-Go' will shatter the glass ceiling by giving young women the opportunity to attend university. Driven by the deep belief that "Talent is Universal. Opportunity is Not", John Wood's new venture will help economically-disadvantaged young women across the developing world to attend university by providing financial scholarships. Funded by donors in high-income countries, U-Go's academic scholarships will transform the lives of promising students by helping them to realise their academic potential. U-Go has already achieved enough grant commitments to support 1,000 scholars in its first year (2022) HONG KONG, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, John Wood, Founder of Room to Read, announces the global launch of his new venture U-Go, a non-profit that will help thousands of talented young women in the developing world to attend university. Funded by individuals and corporations in high-income countries, the single-focus NGO will empower ambitious and promising young women in low-income countries, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Vietnam, to pursue higher education and increase their earnings for themselves, their families, and their communities. Logo "Talent is Universal. Opportunity is Not these six words have driven me to build U-Go, my next venture after Room to Read," said John Wood, Founder of U-Go. "U-Go aims to lift the systemic barriers that hinder young women from achieving higher education. The organisation will be laser-focused on helping young women for as long as there is a gender gap." Through a locally-led approach, U-Go will partner with established and trusted local NGOs on the ground to unleash the young women's potential, training more teachers, doctors, or entrepreneurs through mentorship programmes, career development, and life skills training alongside financial scholarships to provide educational support to young women. Story continues De-randomising Academic Opportunities for Women in the Developing World The lowest income countries have the lowest rates of university attainment, and those limited opportunities that exist are more likely to benefit men than women. Disproportional education rates between women and men contribute to wider issues such as the existing earning gaps in low-income countries. For instance, women in Vietnam earn on average 3 million dong less per year than men, approximately one month's income[1]. Overall, in these countries the cards are stacked against young women. When there are opportunities to attend university, they overwhelmingly go to men. World Bank data shows that young men are over 50-60% more likely to attend university than young women in Nepal, Cambodia, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. Young women in low-income countries are lagging far behind their counterparts in wealthier countries in terms of university attainment rate. The average university attainment rate of women in Tanzania, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Vietnam is less than 10%, 30% less than the average rate of Norway, the US, and the UK[2]. U-Go calculates that the cost of sending a young woman in their programme to university is USD $800. For the price of one year of tuition at a private university in the U.S., around 100 young people in low-income countries could also attend university. By providing financial assistance, U-Go will help to remove the systemic barriers that hold women back, and work towards de-randomising academic opportunities. U-Go will Change the Life of Young Women, Empower Families and Communities to Grow and Thrive Educating young women creates a far-reaching positive ripple effect for their families and their wider communities. Women are more likely to share their dispensable income with their family, raising the overall living standard of their households, and eventually lifting up future generations of their families. A report by Mary Ellen Iskenderian for the Harvard Business Review indicates that when a woman earns income, she invests 90 percent of that income into her family, compared to 35 percent on average among men[3]. A report published by the Asian Development Bank reveals that by closing the gender gap, the overall workforce could generate a 30% increase in the per capita income of an average Asian economy in one generation[4]. By empowering more young women, U-Go aims to increase economic diversification and income equality, professionalizing the workforce and gradually creating a pipeline of talent in developing countries. A Helping Hand Out of Poverty U-Go builds on two decades of success and valuable learnings from Room to Read, a global organisation focused on children's literacy and girls' education. Founded in 2001, the NGO has opened more than 46,000 libraries in twenty low-income countries, extending a lifelong gift of education to more than 23 million children. Room to Read has flourished thanks to the support of its dedicated network of donors, supporters and fundraising chapters worldwide. The impact that Room to Read has made has earned international recognition including the UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy, Award for Social Entrepreneurship by the Skoll Foundation, and the David M. Rubenstein Special Response Award of the Library of Congress Literacy Awards Program. Departing Room to Read in December 2021 to found U-Go, John Wood explained: "U-Go will address a dramatically large void in the education space. It will build the next 'social ladder' and empower more young women, creating a far-reaching ripple effect to their families and the wider communities." A World-Class Team of Founding Board Members and Partners John is joined by an esteemed panel of founding board members, including Patricia Horgan, Archana Parekh, Anne Patricia Sutanto, Benjamin Happ, Nicholas Nash, and Tim Caflisch. "With a global team of founding board members, local NGO partners, and volunteers, U-Go has the capability to create direct, positive, and significant impact for young women in developing countries, from day one of our launch. Through building a global alliance of passionate individuals, we will make more dreams a reality going forward", said John Wood. U-Go envisions a world which millions of young women in low-income countries have the opportunity to pursue higher education. Starting from year one, the goal is to offer "year one" financial scholarships, with renewal contingent upon achieving promising academic performances, and family and community co-investment, helping ambitious and promising young women in low-income countries to pursue university education. About U-Go U-Go is a non-profit organisation that aims to help ambitious and promising young women in low-income countries to pursue higher education by providing financial scholarships funded by individuals and corporations in high-income countries. U-Go partners with world-class non-governmental organisations operating across the developing world to provide all-rounded support to young women, including mentorship programmes, career development, and life skills training alongside financial scholarships. U-Go aims to change the life of young women as well as to enrich their families and wide communities. For further details, please visit https://ugouniversity.org/home. Media Assets: [1] Chowdhury, I., Johnson, H., Mannava, A., Perova, E. (2018). Gender Gap in Earnings in Vietnam: Why Do Vietnamese Women Work in Lower Paid Occupations? The World Bank East Asia & Pacific Gender Policy Brief Issue 2. [2] United Nations Development Programme. (2020). Human Development Reports. Retrieved from http://www.hdr.undp.org/en/indicators/63406#. [3] Iskenderian, M. (2011). Banking on Women and Girls: Key to Global Poverty Alleviation. Harvard Business Review. [4] Asian Development Bank. (2015). Women In The Workforce: An Unmet Potential In Asia And The Pacific. SOURCE U-Go SUDBURY, ON, Feb. 7, 2022 /CNW/ - Frontier Lithium Inc. (TSXV: FL) (OTCQX: LITOF) ("Frontier" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that its Board of Directors (the "Board") has approved the appointment of Ms. Tess Lofsky to the Board as an independent director replacing Mr. Bruce Barker effective February 7, 2022. I am very pleased to join Frontier Lithiums Board of Directors. As the Company continues to make progress in its drill and metallurgical programs in furtherance of its Pre-Feasibility Study, it is demonstrating the potential of this impressive deposit in Northern Ontario to become a domestic producer for the growing battery metals sector. said Ms. Lofsky. (CNW Group/Frontier Lithium Inc.) "We want to thank Bruce Barker for his contribution and dedication to our Board over the past several years and are pleased he will continue to support the Company through his role on the Advisory Board" said Mr. Rick Walker, Chairman of Frontier Lithium. "We are delighted to welcome Tess Lofsky to our Board. Tess' focus on Corporate and securities law, governance and regulatory compliance will help us as we continue to grow our business and deliver value." Ms. Lofsky is a business focused, legal executive and Board member with considerable experience in the mining industry. Her understanding of Corporate and securities law, governance, and compliance were developed over 15 plus years of practising law. Prior to her role as Senior Legal Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Bird Construction (TSX:BDT), Ms. Lofsky served as Legal Counsel & Corporate Secretary for the Greater Toronto Airports Authority and Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary of North American Palladium Ltd. At North American Palladium, she provided advice and counsel on a broad range of public company matters including corporate finance and M&A, as well as with respect to environmental, labour and employment, health and safety and indigenous law matters related to their portfolio of assets including mine operations and exploration properties in Ontario and Quebec. Ms. Lofsky received a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree from the University of Ottawa and a Bachelor of Laws from Queens University. "I am very pleased to join Frontier Lithium's Board of Directors. As the Company continues to make progress in its drill and metallurgical programs in furtherance of its Pre-Feasibility Study, it is demonstrating the potential of this impressive deposit in Northern Ontario to become a domestic producer for the growing battery metals sector." said Ms. Lofsky. Story continues Other Matters The Company also announces that pursuant to its "Stock Option Plan" it has granted 1,000,000 stock options, to certain employees, officers and directors. The options are set for a period of five years, expiring on February 7, 2027. The options are priced at $2.71 and are subject to regulatory approval. About Frontier Lithium Inc. Frontier Lithium is a preproduction business that is targeting to become a manufacturer of battery-quality lithium materials to support electric vehicle and battery supply chains in North America. Frontier owns the PAK lithium project, which contains one of North America's highest-grade, large-tonnage hard-rock lithium resources in the form of a rare low-iron spodumene. The project continues to have significant exploration upside with potential to increase the lithium resource. The company is a pure-play lithium development opportunity with the largest land position in the Electric Ave., a premium lithium mineral district located in Northern Ontario. About PAK lithium project The PAK lithium project contains a tier one lithium resource in North America and is one of the global top three premium resources by quality. A 2021 preliminary economic assessment (National Instrument 43-101 technical report titled "Pak property" by BBA Engineering Ltd., issued on April 5, 2021) delivered a fully integrated lithium operation from the resource to achieve downstream conversion plan for production of battery-quality lithium salts. The study resulted in an after-tax net present value (discounted at 8 per cent) of $974-million (U.S.) with a 21-per-cent internal rate of return. The project encompasses 26,774 hectares at the south end of Ontario's Electric Ave., the largest land package hosting premium lithium-bearing pegmatites in Ontario. The project is supported by a measured and indicated resource of 10.49 million tonnes (Mt) averaging 1.78 per cent lithium oxide and inferred resource of 18.48 Mt averaging 1.45 per cent Li 2 O. The project covers 65 kilometres of the Electric Avenue's length and remains largely unexplored; however, since 2013, the company has delineated two premium spodumene-bearing lithium deposits (PAK and Spark), located 2.3 kilometres apart. Considerable exploration upside is supported on the PAK lithium project through two other spodumene-bearing discoveries: the Bolt pegmatite (located between the PAK and Spark deposits), as well as the Pennock pegmatite (30 kilometres northwest of PAK deposit within the project claims). SOURCE Frontier Lithium Inc. Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2022/07/c4885.html SEATTLE, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Coherent Market Insights, The global eSIM market was valued at US$ 8.3 Bn in 2019 and is expected to reach US$ 19.3 Bn by 2027 at a CAGR of 15.9% between 2020 and 2027. Coherent_Market_Insights_Logo An ESIM, or Embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card, is a generic form of non-volatile programmable universal integrated circuit card. It works just like a standard SIM card. It contains stored configurations and can be programmed through connecting the card to a computer or a modem. Esim was developed for the telecommunications industry, specifically for the implementation of network attached storage (NAS). The primary use of esim is for mass production of microsemi switches and other embedded transceivers. There are several manufacturers that provide support for esim based cards. Esim manufacturers support esim through hardware and firmware updates, software upgrades, and their own brand of esim cards. Esim is used in a variety of different types of networking equipment, including digital cellular phones, laptop computers, desktop computers, modems, wireless personal area networks, distribution equipment's, printers, fax machines, and much more. Request for Sample Copy of this Report @ https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/4290 Market Drivers: Growing demand for Esim from tablets, smartphones, and others is driving growth of the market. Recent studies since 2019 suggest that there has been a major jump in the daily hour usage of smartphones per user. "There is nearly a 39 per cent increase in smartphone usage from 2019. Such rise in usage of smartphone is propelling growth of the market. The growth is also attributed to the increasing disposable income of consumers. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), China's rural and urban per capita disposable income reached US$ 5,658.45 from US$ 2,107.2 in 2018. Technological advancement is another key factor propelling growth of the market. For instance, in June 2021, EMnify, announces the release of eSIM for evaluation customers, enabling IoT developers to sign up and develop with the EMnify API immediately, anywhere in the world. The eSIM lets users install EMnify's global SIM profile on a compatible device in seconds without having to order and swap physical SIM cards. Story continues Market Opportunities Growing application of Esim from retail, energy, transportation, automotive and many others is projected to provide lucrative growth opportunities. For example, in February 2018, NXP Semiconductor, Netherland based semiconductor manufacture company launched eSIM enabled devices for 5G and IoT applications. These devices provides end-to-end security in order to provide safe data protection for consumers, service providers and original equipment manufacturers. Similarly, in October 2021, Valid has launched a state of art mioSIM eSIM for Consumer 3.0 solution ready to answer the industry demand for secure transversal applications with the support of Android Strongbox technology an Android Ready SE applet responsible for the secure provisioning of Android keys Increasing penetration of smart meters, smart cities, and electric vehicles is expected to bring bright opportunities to the Esim market. For instance, in November 2018, Workz Group, Dubai based company that offer SIM provisioning solutions announced an agreement with the African government to implement embedded eSIM enabled water meter in the country. Market Trends Growing popularity of integration of devices with eSIM will favour the growth of the eSIM market. For instance, in June 2021, SIMCom announced that the SIMCom NB-IoT SIM7070 module measuring only 24 mm x 24 mm can now be equipped with a compact eSIM security controller from Infineon powered by GSMA-compliant remote SIM management software provided by Kigen (UK) Ltd. Key players are adopting strategic partnership to develop Esim that help to reduce complexity in manufacturing operations and also streamline process. For instance, in August 2021, AT&T and Kigen are working together to help customers streamline their supply chains and reduce the time to market for enterprises who want to leverage SIM, embedded SIM (eSIM) and integrated SIM (iSIM) secured connectivity deep in their IoT devices. Request for Customization @ https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/4290 Competitive Landscape: Major players operating in the global eSIM market include Infineon Technologies AG, STMicroelectronics, Deutsche Telekom AG, Giesecke+Devrient Mobile Security GmbH, Thales Group, KORE Wireless, Arm Limited, Truphone Limited, Workz Group, Sierra Wireless, NXP Semiconductors, AT&T. Market segmentation: Global eSIM Market, By Application: Connected Cars Laptops M2M Smartphones Tablets Wearables Others Global eSIM Market, By Vertical: Automotive Consumer Electronics Energy & Utilities Manufacturing Retail Transportation & Logistics Global eSIM Market, By Region: North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa Buy this Complete Report Now @ https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/buy-now/4290 About Us: Coherent Market Insights is a global market intelligence and consulting organization focused on assisting our plethora of clients achieve transformational growth by helping them make critical business decisions. We are headquartered in India, having sales office at global financial capital in the U.S. and sales consultants in United Kingdom and Japan. Our client base includes players from across various business verticals in over 57 countries worldwide. We create value for clients through our highly reliable and accurate reports. We are also committed in playing a leading role in offering insights in various sectors post-COVID-19 and continue to deliver measurable, sustainable results for our clients. Contact Us: Mr. Shah Senior Client Partner Business Development Coherent Market Insights Phone: US: +1-206-701-6702 UK: +44-020-8133-4027 Japan: +81-050-5539-1737 India: +91-848-285-0837 Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Website: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-esim-market-to-surpass-us-19-3-bn-by-end-of-2027--says-coherent-market-insights-301476350.html SOURCE Coherent Market Insights EDMONTON, AB, Feb. 7, 2022 /CNW/ - As Canada works towards recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, investments in our airport infrastructure continue to be crucial to maintain safety, security, and connectivity for travellers, workers, and communities. Government of Canada investments also help ensure Canada's aviation industry is well positioned to recover from the impacts of the pandemic. Today, the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, and the Minister of Northern Affairs, Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, the Honourable Daniel Vandal, announced $10.4 million in new funding to help the Edmonton International Airport recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and to support continued air services and important transportation infrastructure projects at the airport. The funding, from Transport Canada's Airport Critical Infrastructure Program, will support investments in: information technology infrastructure, including new hardware, software, network and data facilities, to increase security and better protect the airport from potential cybersecurity and system attacks; the replacement of critical infrastructure to enhance the efficiency and security of airport check-in and boarding; and projects to enable COVID-19 testing and screening at the airport. This funding is in addition to almost $18.5 million already announced under the Airport Critical Infrastructure Program in July 2021, for infrastructure improvements including upgrades to runways and airfield lighting, as well as $6.2 million from Transport Canada's Airport Relief Fund to help the airport maintain continued airport operations and essential air services for residents and workers in Edmonton and surrounding communities. Quotes "As we move forward with the safe and gradual return of activity in the aviation sector, in a way that continues to support the health, safety, and security of all Canadians, it will be imperative that we maintain a vibrant and competitive Canadian air sector. These critical investments will allow the Edmonton International Airport to invest in the infrastructure and equipment needed to help re-invigorate the aviation industry and allow Canadians to feel safe and secure when they travel." Story continues The Honourable Omar Alghabra Minister of Transport "The Edmonton International Airport is a key transportation hub not just for Edmonton but for much of north-central Alberta and the territories. It connects us with family and friends, helps us discover new destinations, and is a pivotal transportation corridor for many greater Edmonton businesses and Canada's resource development sector. This funding will enhance airport safety for travellers, air crews and airport workers, while supporting jobs and our regional economy." The Honourable Daniel Vandal Minister of Northern Affairs, Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency Quick Facts The Government of Canada continues to advise all Canadians to avoid non-essential travel outside of Canada at this time. The Airport Critical Infrastructure Program, launched in May 2021, will distribute $571.2 million in funding over five years to airports for eligible infrastructure projects related to safety, security, connectivity to mass transit systems, or testing and screening related to COVID-19 and its variants. First introduced in the 2020 Fall Economic Statement, the Airport Critical Infrastructure Program is part of a federal stimulus recovery plan designed to build a stronger, more inclusive and more resilient economy post-COVID-19. Associated Link Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to e-news or stay connected through Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram to keep up to date on the latest from Transport Canada. This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons living with visual disabilities. SOURCE Transport Canada Cision View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2022/07/c5034.html ALLEGAN A 33-year-old case finds its resolution Monday when Dennis Bowman is sentenced in an Allegan County courtroom for the murder of 14-year-old Aundria, his adopted daughter. Bowman pleaded no contest to second-degree murder Dec. 22, shortly before his case was set to go before a jury. Aundria Bowman, 14, went missing March 11, 1989. Her body was found buried in the backyard of the home of her adoptive father, Dennis Bowman. The body of Aundria, missing since March 11, 1989, was discovered in February 2020, buried in the yard of the Bowman home in Hamilton. Bowman could receive another life sentence Monday to add to the two life sentences he is already serving for the rape and murder of Kathleen Doyle in 1980, another case that was only recently cracked open by Virginia detectives using genealogical analysis of DNA to identify Bowman as the culprit. Bowman pleaded guilty to killing Doyle in 2020. He was then brought back to the Allegan County Jail to face charges related to Aundria's death. More: Bowman pleads to 1989 murder of adopted daughter More: Hamilton man pleads guilty to 1980 murder of Virginia woman More: Police: Body found in Allegan County may be teen missing since 1989 Before she was killed, Aundria had accused her father of sexually abusing her. According to Bowman's statements to police, the day she was killed Aundria was preparing to run away and threatened to again report that he was molesting her. Bowman told police he struck Aundria and she fell "headfirst" down a flight of stairs. When Bowman discovered she wasn't breathing, he moved her body outside to a barn and hid it under a tarp, calling police to report Aundria had stolen some money and run away. He returned later and buried her body. Subscribe: Get unlimited access to our local coverage It wasn't until he was arrested for Doyle's murder in November 2019 that Bowman confessed to Allegan County Sheriff's Office detectives that he had concealed Aundria's death for decades and revealed where her body was. A sample of birth mother Cathy Terkanian's DNA helped confirm that the remains found at the Bowman home were Aundria's. Story continues Terkanian was a vocal advocate for Bowman's responsibility for the murder years before authorities charged him. Terkanian was a teen when she gave birth to Aundria, born Alexis Badger, and gave her up for adoption when Aundria was still an infant. She is expected to speak during Bowman's sentencing hearing. Contact reporter Carolyn Muyskens at cmuyskens@hollandsentinel.com and follow her on Twitter at @cjmuyskens. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Hamilton man to be sentenced for 1989 murder Dotdash Meredith's Alysia Borsa Becomes Vice Chair New Board Members Include Top Executives from IPG Mediabrands, Publicis Media, GroupM, dentsu, and Microsoft NEW YORK, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), the digital media and marketing trade association, today announced that it has elected Krishan Bhatia, President & Chief Business Officer of NBCUniversal, as Chair of the trade organization's Board of Directors. Bhatia previously served as the IAB Board's Vice Chair and has been on the board since February 2019. Alysia Borsa, Chief Business Officer & President of Lifestyle at Dotdash Meredith, has been on the board since February 2020 and has been elected to serve as Vice Chair. (PRNewsfoto/Interactive Advertising Bureau ) "As an active member of IAB's board, Krishan has brought a unique perspective to the table. Understanding the role of content, data, and technology in an increasingly digital world is something that Krishan has been pioneering at NBCU and undoubtedly gives us a glimpse of where the industry is heading," said David Cohen, Chief Executive Officer, IAB. "The industry is at a pivotal moment in time with privacy, identity, and addressability impacting all constituents within the digital ad ecosystem, and IAB is leading the industry forward to hold each other accountable and ensure we evolve to meet the needs of the consumers we serve," said Bhatia. "I look forward to collaborating alongside the rest of the Board of Directors, David Cohen, and all of the members to be a part of this transformation to ensure that we create a thriving and unified marketplace for the industry." Cohen continued, "Krishan and Alysia are extremely well-respected and talented executives who will help escalate the necessary changes the industry needs across the media and marketing landscape. Both executives have demonstrated their eagerness through the teams they have led and we look forward to bringing their new ideas to IAB's membership." Story continues New members of the IAB Board of Directors elected for a three-year term include: Daryl Lee, Global Chief Executive Officer, IPG Mediabrands Helen Lin, Chief Digital Officer, Publicis Media Kirk McDonald, Chief Executive Officer, GroupM North America Doug Rozen, Chief Executive Officer Americas, dentsu Media Rob Wilk, Vice President, Microsoft Advertising The current Board members that have been re-elected for a new three-year term include: Krishan Bhatia, President and Chief Business Officer, NBCUniversal Christine Cook, Senior Vice President, Brand Partnerships, Warner Media Gina Garrubbo, President & Chief Executive Officer, National Public Media Jeremy Hlavacek, Chief Revenue Officer, IBM Watson Advertising Alan Moss, Vice President, Global Advertising, Amazon Advertising Nicolle Pangis, Chief Executive Officer, Ampersand Shenan Reed, Senior Vice President, Head of Media, L'Oreal Nada Stirratt, Vice President North America, Meta John Trimble, Chief Advertising Revenue Officer, SiriusXM Lisa Valentino, Executive Vice President, Client Solutions & Addressable Enablement, The Walt Disney Company Julie Van Ullen, Managing Director, U.S., Rakuten Advertising Joe Zawadzki, Founder, MediaMath & General Partner, Aperiam Ventures The remaining IAB Board of Directors is comprised of the following: Renie Anderson, Chief Revenue Officer & Executive Vice President, Partnerships, NFL Alysia Borsa, Chief Business Officer & President of Lifestyle, Dotdash Meredith Debi Chirichella, President, Hearst Magazines David Cohen, Chief Executive Officer, IAB Eric Danetz, Head of Revenue, Reuters Jerry Dischler, Vice President & General Manager Ads, Google Konrad Feldman, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Quantcast Tom Fochetta, Senior Vice President, Samsung Ads Rajeev Goel, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, PubMatic John Halley, Executive Vice President, Head of Advanced Marketing Solutions and Chief Operating Officer, Ad Sales, ViacomCBS Scott Howe, Chief Executive Officer, LiveRamp Jia Hyun, Vice President, Head of Strategic Accounts, LinkedIn Julie Jacobs, General Counsel, Yahoo Norm Johnston, Global Head of Advertising Strategy, News Corp Craig Kostelic, Chief Business Officer, Global Advanced Solutions, Conde Nast Jean Phillippe Maheu, Vice President, Client Solutions, U.S., Twitter Rob Master, Vice President, Media and Marketing, Unilever Peter Naylor, Vice President Sales, Americas, Snap, Inc. Joy Robins, Chief Revenue Officer, The Washington Post David Spector, Co-Founder & Co-Chief Executive Officer, ThirdLove Deborah Wahl, Global Chief Marketing Officer, General Motors Ex-officio members include: Miranda Dimopoulos, Regional Chief Executive Officer, IAB SEA & India Townsend Feehan, Chief Executive Officer, IAB Europe Stu Ingis, Chairman, Venable LLP (Secretary) Rich LeFurgy, General Partner, Archer Advisors David Moore, Chief Executive Officer, BIGtoken Randall Rothenberg, Executive Chair, IAB John Toohey, SVP, Finance, Cumulus (Treasurer) IAB Executive Committee includes: Krishan Bhatia, President & Chief Business Officer, NBCUniversal (IAB Board Chair) Alysia Borsa, Chief Business Officer & President of Lifestyle, Dotdash Meredith (IAB Board Vice Chair) David Cohen, Chief Executive Officer, IAB (IAB Board President) Gina Garrubbo, President & Chief Executive Officer, National Public Media Jean Phillippe Maheu, Vice President, Client Solutions, U.S., Twitter Peter Naylor, Vice President Sales, Americas, Snap Inc. The new board slate was released at the IAB Annual Leadership Meeting (ALM) . For more information about the IAB Board of Directors, please visit iab.com/boardofdirectors . About IAB The Interactive Advertising Bureau empowers the media and marketing industries to thrive in the digital economy. Its membership comprises more than 700 leading media companies, brands, agencies, and the technology firms responsible for selling, delivering, and optimizing digital ad marketing campaigns. The trade group fields critical research on interactive advertising, while also educating brands, agencies, and the wider business community on the importance of digital marketing. In affiliation with the IAB Tech Lab, IAB develops technical standards and solutions. IAB is committed to professional development and elevating the knowledge, skills, expertise, and diversity of the workforce across the industry. Through the work of its public policy office in Washington, D.C., the trade association advocates for its members and promotes the value of the interactive advertising industry to legislators and policymakers. Founded in 1996, IAB is headquartered in New York City. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/krishan-bhatia-president--chief-business-officer-of-nbcuniversal-named-chair-of-iab-board-of-directors-301476628.html SOURCE Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) /NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE U.S./ Strong zones of copper sulphides intersected by CD-094 at Cabacal and Santa Helena upside reported LONDON, Feb. 7, 2022 /CNW/ - Meridian Mining UK S (TSXV: MNO), (Frankfurt :2MM) (Tradegate :2MM) & (OTCQB: MRRDF), ("Meridian" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an exploration and metallurgical update for its Cabacal copper-gold VMS project in Mato Grosso, Brazil ("Cabacal") as well as introduce a strategic addition to its Advisory Board. Encouragingly, the metallurgical program at Cabacal ("the Program") has recently intercepted some of the strongest intervals of copper mineralization seen to date, including flat-lying semi-massive chalcopyrite layers with local sub-vertical over printing features in CD-094 (Photo 1). This angled hole is providing mineralized material for the Program and was targeting the flank of underground workings in the "Central Copper Zone pipe" one of the richer gold zones historically mined at the Cabacal mine. This drilling further confirms that extensive continuous zones of strong copper-gold mineralization remain intact. Meridian is also reporting the positive assessment of the historical underground Santa Helena zinc-copper-gold-silver-lead mine ("Santa Helena") for open-pit potential. The review has determined that the Santa Helena's 1,000m footprint has strong potential for future open-pit development due to its remaining massive-sulphide orebody, unmined surface mineralization, open historical drill results and the late-stage Cabacal belt gold overprint. The Company is also pleased to announce that Mr. Tommy Humphreys has agreed to join its Advisory Board. Mr. Humphreys is the Founder of CEO.ca, one of the largest mining investor communities, and is an experienced investor in the natural resources sector. He brings strategic capital markets expertise, a strong network within the mining industry, and has been a supportive, long-term shareholder of the Company with an eye to unlocking value. Highlights of today's announcement: Story continues Meridian's metallurgical program intersects layers of semi massive sulphides at Cabacal; Meridian identifies open-pit upside at the historical Santa Helena mine; Mr. Tommy Humphreys, Founder of CEO.ca joins Meridian's Advisory Board. Dr Adrian McArthur, CEO and President comments: "Firstly I wish to welcome Mr. Tommy Humphreys to the Company's Advisory Board. He has been a strong continuous supporter having given great input since we started Meridian back onto the pathway to growth in July 2020, and we look forward to his counsel as Meridian enters the next exciting period with its Cabacal project. We have been drilling at Cabacal since March 2020 with over 12,000m completed and CD-094 is one of the strongest copper sulphide zones visually intercepted to date. The metallurgical program is approximately 75% finished but even so CD-094 is further confirmation that rich continuous Cu-Au VMS stratigraphy remains intact amongst the selective, gold-focussed underground workings. Our first assessment of Cabacal's other historical underground mine at Santa Helena is very positive. It also operated as a selective mine, focused on shallow massive sulphide lenses but closed prematurely after the commodity price collapse of 2008. After the Cabacal mine, Santa Helena is perhaps the most advanced historical prospect with potential to be developed as a satellite open-pit operation, and as with the Cabacal mine, Santa Helena's mineralization is well defined, starting at surface and open. Meridian sees the opportunity to consider all of Santa Helena's shallow zinc-copper-gold-silver-lead mineralization for open-pit development and to incorporate it into the wider belt scale development of Cabacal." "I believe Meridian represents one of the best opportunities in the mining industry as we enter a period of supply constraints for the metals the world needs and which Cabacal has", commented Tommy Humphreys. "I have come to greatly admire the team driving Meridian forward, and am grateful for the opportunity to work more closely with them to grow the Company for all shareholders." Photo 1: Top: rotated view of CD-094 interval 82.4m. Bottom: Semi-massive mineralization in the Central Copper Zone: CD-094 (interval laid out: 82.0- 82.7m). (CNW Group/Meridian Mining UK Societas) Cabacal Metallurgical Program Meridian's metallurgical program is advancing with the additional holes now completed in the Eastern Copper Zone ("ECZ") and Central Copper Zone ("CCZ"); the Program is provisionally expected to be finalized next week. CD-094 was drilled to provide continuous HQ core exposure in the Central Copper Zone and provides a clear illustration of the copper-dominant coarse sulphide assemblage. Additional holes from the Eastern Copper Zone include CD-087 and CD-090, with CD-097 in progress. The ECZ's holes have intersected the stringer to disseminated mineralization typical of this zone. Gold distribution in the ECZ can be variable and underground development was more restricted in this domain. The CCZ's drilling includes periodic breccia to semi-massive sulphide intervals, with XRF data confirming copper-gold-silver-zinc bearing signatures. The Northwest Extension's metallurgical holes are expected to have similar attributes to the historical mine area, being extensions to the VMS mine sequence and overprinted late-stage gold event. Santa Helena Evaluation With Meridian's programs at Cabacal advancing, an initial assessment of the second historical mining centre at Santa Helena is completed. Santa Helena's trend originally formed part of BP Minerals "C2C" target, discovered as a localised gold/base metal stream sediment anomaly (Figure 1). Areas of anomalous geochemistry were followed up with a gossan search, with samples located in subcrop returning characteristic VMS geochemistry (Zn-Cu-Pb signature), many also with an elevated precious metal signature (gold: 0.8 16.2 g/t and silver: 2.5 100.2 g/t). Multiple gold-count-in-soil anomalies were detected; one extending over 400m along the western end of the deposit, and another extending over 750m to the east. Mineralization has been intersected in drilling over a strike length of 1000m. Associated base metal soil anomalies extend over 1200m, with satellite gold in soil anomalies present in offset positions to the south and east. BP Minerals conducted three campaigns of drilling (75 holes for 10,400m), delineating a sulphide body hosted by stratigraphy very similar to the Cabacal Mine's, with the main units being banded cherts, felsic volcanic / volcaniclastic rocks, chloritic schists and gabbroic intrusions. The sulphide assemblage of the C2C deposit was dominated by sphalerite, with chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, and galena. Prometalica Mineracao Ltda ("Prometalica") completed an additional 39 diamond holes for 2,479m between 1999 and 2001. The underground mine operated between 2006 to 2008, closing earlier than planned during a sharp decline in the zinc price. Monthly ROM records archived on Prometalica's production server indicate that from October 2006 August 2008, production amounted to 439,813t @ 6.65% Zn, 1.62% Cu, 1.77g/t Au & 43.02g/t Ag, leaving a over half of the historical reserve unexploited1. _____________________________ 1 The historical resource estimate for Santa Helena (also referred to as Monte Cristo) was completed by SRK and presented to Prometalica in a report dated 30 March 2007: NI 43-101 Technical Report Brazilian Resources Inc. Monte Cristo Mine. State of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Report by SRK Consulting, Project Number 164802. Compiled by Nick Michael, Clay Taylor, Alva Kuestermeyer. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. Meridian has not treated the resource and reserve stated in this report as a current mineral resource or reserves for purposes of National Instrument 43101. Modelling was constrained by a 1% Zinc-Equivalent (ZnEq) grade shell. The ZnEq calculation was applied for reporting the estimates (ZnEq % = Zn% + (2.14 * Cu%) + (0.39 * Au ppm) + (0.007* Ag ppm); Metallurgical Recovery = 89% Zn, 89% Cu, 65% Au, 61% Ag; Au price USD 570 / oz; Ag price USD 11 / oz, Cu price USD 3.36/ lb; Zn price = 1.57 / lb). A density of 3.1 was assigned to all blocks, based on data obtained from 182 specific gravity readings on BP Minerals drill core. A block model was constructed based on block dimensions 15m x 5m x 5m. An inverse distance search method was applied with a three-pass search method for classifying blocks as measured, indicated and inferred. Resources were calculated as at December 21 2006, corrected for mining depletion and including stockpiles, at a 3.0% ZnEq cut-off grade, defining Measured and Indicated resources of 1,120,000t @ 6.20% Zn, 1.32% Cu, 1.29g/t Au, 41.65g/t Ag, and Inferred resources of 37,000t @ 5.81% Zn, 1.29% Cu, 128g/t Au, 40.94g/t Ag. Proven and probable reserves were stated as 1,188,646t @ 5.84% Zn, 1.24% Cu, 1,22g/t Au & 39.14g/t Ag. The Life of Mine Plan envisaged a five-year operation (2006 - 2011) producing at 270,000t per year. Meridian sees an opportunity to optimise Santa Helena's amenability towards open pit development, feeding into a centralized processing plant centred on the Cabacal operation. The mineralization defined to date by drilling is shallow, with much of the mineralization targeted by drilling at depths of <100m below surface. Opportunities to reassess growth potential are through: Drill definition of shallow oxide gold mineralization, which was previously not a drill focus; and Testing for a mineralized halo / potential feeder zones. Figure 1: Top: Location map for Santa Helena mine. (CNW Group/Meridian Mining UK Societas) There are some indications, similar to the Cabacal copper-gold mine, that historical sampling did not always confirm the limits of mineralization. As shown by the examples from both surface and underground grade control drilling (Figure 2): Prometalica Underground drill hole FSS24 returned 17.5m @ 3.6% CuEq (0.7% Cu, 1.0g/t Au, 25. 5g/t Ag & 7.2% Zn from 21.5m (with the last sample ending in 3.2% Cu, 1.7g/t Au, 60.8g/t Ag, 9.1 % Zn & 1.1% Pb); and BP Minerals surface drill hole JUCHD031 returned: 27.6m @ 4.1% CuEq (1.6% Cu, 1.5g/t Au, 36.3g/t Ag & 4.4% Zn from 24.92m, with the first assayed interval grading 0.4% Cu, 0.3g/t Au & 3.4 g/t Ag. These two holes suggest thickening in the mineralization package relating to either structure and/or widening of the VMS pile, and like Cabacal indicates the importance to assay the entire hole. The Company sees the need to supplement the existing drill coverage to cover shallow near-surface mineralization, and deeper drilling to test for plunge extensions. The deposit will be evaluated through additional data compilation, geophysical orientation over the undeveloped extensions, and in due course subject to permits a future targeted drilling campaign. Figure 2: SSW-NE cross section through the Santa Helena deposit showing underground drilling and much broader intersection in FSS24 than predicted by the original resource envelopes (in pink). Holes are coloured and labelled by copper-equivalent grade. (CNW Group/Meridian Mining UK Societas) Grant of Stock Options The Company also today announces that the Board of Directors of the Company has approved the grant of 100,000 options (the "Options") to purchase common shares in the capital of the Company to an advisor of the Company. The Options are exercisable at a price of $1.10 per common share for a term of five years, until February 6, 2027. The granting of the Options is subject to regulatory acceptance of applicable filings. QUALIFIED PERSON Dr. Adrian McArthur, B.Sc. Hons, PhD. FAusIMM., CEO and President of Meridian Mining as well as a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Meridian Mining UK S Dr. Adrian McArthur CEO, President and Director Meridian Mining UK S Email: info@meridianmining.net.br Ph: +1 (778) 715-6410 (PST) Stay up to date by subscribing for news alerts here: https://meridianmining.co/subscribe/ Follow Meridian on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MeridianMining Further information can be found at www.meridianmining.co Notes Results reported from the CD-series holes have been analysed at the accredited SGS laboratory in Belo Horizonte. Gold analyses have been conducted by FAA505 (fire assay of a 50g charge), and base metal analysis by methods ICP40B and ICP40B_S (four acid digest with ICP-OES finish). Visible gold intervals are sampled by metallic screen fire assay method MET150-FAASCR. Samples are held in the Company's secure facilities until dispatched and delivered by staff and commercial couriers to the laboratory. Pulps are retained for umpire testwork, and ultimately returned to the Company for storage. The Company submits a range of quality control samples, including blanks and gold and polymetallic standards supplied by ITAK and OREAS, supplementing laboratory quality control procedures. True widths are approximately 80% of downhole lengths and assay figures and intervals rounded to 1 decimal place. Historical BP Minerals samples from Santa Helena were analysed with a three-acid digest for base metals with atomic adsorption finish, aqua regia digest for silver with an atomic absorption finish, and fire assay of a 50g charge for gold at the Nomos laboratory in Rio de Janeiro. Quality control measures included the use of laboratory standards, blanks, duplicates, and umpire laboratory checks. Samples from Prometalica underground drilling program were analysed in their on-site mine laboratory (archival searches for analytical protocols and QAQC are progressing). * Copper Equivalents ("CuEq") have been calculated using the formula CuEq = ((Cu%*Cu price 1% per tonne) + (Au ppm*Au price per g/t) + (Ag ppm*Ag price per g/t) + (Zn%*Zn price 1% per tonne)) / (Cu price 1 % per tonne). Commodity Prices: Copper ("Cu") and Zinc ("Zn") prices from LME Official Settlement Price dated April 23, 2021, USD per Tonne: Cu = USD 9,545.50 and Zn = USD 2,802.50. Gold ("Au") & Silver ("Ag") prices from LBMA Precious Metal Prices USD per Troy ounce: Au = USD 1781.80 (PM) and Ag = USD 26.125 (Daily). The CuEq values are for exploration purposes only and include no assumptions for metallurgical recovery. ABOUT MERIDIAN Meridian Mining UK S is focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development activities in Brazil. The Company is currently focused on resource development of the Cabacal VMS copper-gold project, exploration in the Jauru & Araputanga Greenstone belts located in the state of Mato Grosso; exploring the Espigao polymetallic project and the Mirante da Serra manganese project in the State of Rondonia Brazil. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information or forward-looking statements for the purposes of applicable securities laws. These statements include, among others, statements with respect to the Company's plans for exploration, development and exploitation of its properties and potential mineralization. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such risk factors include, among others, failure to obtain regulatory approvals, failure to complete anticipated transactions, the timing and success of future exploration and development activities, exploration and development risks, title matters, inability to obtain any required third party consents, operating risks and hazards, metal prices, political and economic factors, competitive factors, general economic conditions, relationships with strategic partners, governmental regulation and supervision, seasonality, technological change, industry practices and one-time events. In making the forward-looking statements, the Company has applied several material assumptions including, but not limited to, the assumptions that: (1) the proposed exploration, development and exploitation of mineral projects will proceed as planned; (2) market fundamentals will result in sustained metals and minerals prices and (3) any additional financing needed will be available on reasonable terms. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. The Company cautions that it has not completed any feasibility studies on any of its mineral properties, and no mineral reserve estimate or mineral resource estimate has been established. Geophysical exploration targets are preliminary in nature and not conclusive evidence of the likelihood of a mineral deposit. The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Meridian Mining UK Societas logo (CNW Group/Meridian Mining UK Societas) SOURCE Meridian Mining UK Societas Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2022/07/c3986.html LONDON, SINGAPORE AND NEW YORK, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Financial technology solutions provider MonetaGo today announced the launch of operations in Europe, effective March 1, 2022, and the appointment of Oswald Kuyler to the newly created role of head of strategy, Europe. Oswald Kuyler, Head of Strategy, Europe Based in London, Kuyler will lead MonetaGo's European expansion, spearheading the company's growth in the region and bringing together European, UK and global institutions to combat financial fraud and overcome paper-based manual document workflow inefficiencies. Kuyler joins MonetaGo following a successful tenure as the first managing director of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)'s Digital Standards Initiative (DSI), which was established in September 2020. During his time at the DSI, Kuyler was instrumental in bringing together participants from across the global trade ecosystem to facilitate interoperability and drive progress in trade and trade finance digitalisation. A leader in trade digitalisation Oswald will remain engaged as Advisor to the ICCs digital standards objectives and work closer with ICC UK in its mission to drive digital trade. Prior to this, he spent seven years at mining giant BHP, where he last held the position of head of data strategy, leading a number of initiatives that covered blockchain technologies, electronic documentation in trade finance, data analytics and process automation. "We are on a mission to enable the financial ecosystem to effectively service more customers - accelerated by increasing the productivity of financial workflows and drastically reducing risks. It is a privilege to join a company where I know the work we do every day will make a difference to so many", says Oswald Kuyler, head of strategy, Europe at MonetaGo. "I look forward to driving the adoption of MonetaGo's Secure Financing and workflow solution products, expanding their reach and effectiveness to the benefit of the worldwide trade finance industry as a collective. This will also enable me to continue my work around pursuing global standards, coalition building and advocating for change." Story continues "MonetaGo's global momentum is driven by our focus on partnerships across the trade ecosystem," says Jesse Chenard, CEO and founder of MonetaGo. "As we continue to work with key international organisations and associations to provide a universal, standardised deduplication utility that will safeguard trade finance, Oswald's proven ability as a convener, thought leader and digitalisation advocate will be invaluable." About MonetaGo MonetaGo provides the first-ever global solution to duplicate financing fraud in trade finance and is the world's foremost provider of such technology to prevent both domestic and cross-border duplicate financing. By reducing fraud in trade finance, MonetaGo's business activities align with worldwide political and regulatory mandates that empower institutions to sustain supply chains and extend their books of business into new markets and to underserved sectors, all while maintaining privacy and enabling critical real-time decision making. MonetaGo's Secure Financing platform is proven in production, having been live since March 2018 with substantial transaction throughput. The Secure Financing solution has been recognised as Best Solution in Trade Finance at the AMTD DigFin Innovation Awards at the Hong Kong Fintech Week 2021, and as Most Innovative Use of Blockchain in Banking and Most Effective Bank-Fintech Partnership at the IBS Intelligence Global Fintech Innovation Awards 2021. For more information, visit www.monetago.com. For media inquiries, contact: Brittney Blanchard Actual Agency for MonetaGo teammonetago@actual.agency SOURCE MonetaGo Sophia Rois Geffen was working in public health when she decided to train as a nurse so she could connect more closely with people. With graduation from the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing about six months away, she and other fellow Hopkins nursing students realized most patients wont see their faces, masked against the persistent coronavirus. Advertisement Its one of the many ways the landscape has changed and challenged nurses in the past two years. But its not deterring Geffen and her classmates from running headlong into a pandemic that pushed many experienced professionals to the exits and created a massive shortage of nurses nationwide. We all came in pretty starry-eyed, she said. Now, we understand its a challenging time just to be in the profession. Advertisement Sophia Rois Geffen, a master's degree student at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, is shown Tuesday. She will enter the health care workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Kenneth K. Lam/The Baltimore Sun) There are big gaps, with some 3,900 nursing vacancies in hospitals around the state, the Maryland Hospital Association reports. Thats up 50% since late August. Nationally, vacancies are up 45% from a year ago and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects 500,000 more nurses to quit this year, leaving the nation short 1.1 million nurses. Nursing shortages arent new. Nurses from the baby-boom generation have been retiring in large numbers and structural changes in health care management led hospitals to keep nursing staffs lean to save money, said Peter Buerhaus, a nurse and a health care economist at Montana State University. Sometimes the number of nurses was short, and other times new nurses lacked the experience of the veterans they replaced, though, for the most part, such deficits were regional. With the pandemic, hospitals across the country just dont have enough of these front-line care providers. Buerhaus said its not yet known what types and locations of shortfalls will remain after the pandemic, but an aging population means demand will remain high. There are things that need to happen now and when we get COVID in the rearview mirror, he said. [ Staffs of Maryland hospitals, stressed and sickened with COVID-19, know cavalry isnt coming ] Lawmakers, nursing schools and others are taking steps to boost the nursing workforce with people like Geffen, and keep the skilled nurses on the job. The University of Maryland School of Nursing has been graduating students slightly early for the past four semesters to get nurses into positions faster and placing trainees in the hospital departments where they plan to work to assure a pipeline and reduce orientation time. Advertisement Gov. Larry Hogan used his emergency powers to temporarily loosen some licensing restrictions for retired and out-of-state nurses, and some of the provisions will remain in effect in coming months, despite the recent expiration of the governors state of emergency. Longer-term plans include recruiting more teachers for nursing schools, repaying school debt for newly hired nurses, and even marketing to potential students about the opportunities and fulfillment that comes with the job. [ Maryland to require hospital, nursing home staff to get COVID vaccine ] There are more than a dozen Maryland universities and community colleges training nurses, and administrators, including Jane M. Kirschling, dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing, have begun recruiting more students and instructors to more sites. For example, she said, enrollment at the schools Rockville campus in the Washington suburbs grew to 200 this year from 120 or so in recent years. Kirschling said she also wants a return to positive images of nurses, who were hailed as heroes early in the pandemic but now feel forgotten or worse. One thing we need to be careful of is portraying nursing as not a desirable career, that we dont need nurses or that maybe if they become a nurse they wont be employed, she said. The truth is, they will have tremendous flexibility over the course of their career. Advertisement In an effort to bolster the nursing workforce, 161 graduating Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students and 11 graduating entry-into-nursing Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) masters students are taking an "early exit" to begin working as nursing graduates. https://t.co/ia6FgmPiid pic.twitter.com/mHEwFdP4Bu UMSON (@MarylandNursing) November 19, 2021 Sarah Szanton, dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, also said she wants more positive marketing to attract more students from all walks of life. She said that includes racially diverse applicants but also men, who make up only 13% of students there. The school also is creating scholarships with millions in philanthropic dollars to make school more affordable. The average nursing student graduates with $110,000 in debt, but their first job pays an average of $66,000 a year, Szanton said. It also means boosting Hopkins annual nursing graduation goal to 400 from 300. We turn down thousands of qualified applicants a year, Szanton said. If nursing schools were able to take them, it would make a big dent in the shortage. Many Hopkins students turn to nursing as a second career and obtain advanced degrees. Szanton said that can put them on a path toward teaching, research or launching health care startups. Geffen, 30, is switching careers. She holds a masters of public health from Hopkins and returned for the nursing program so she could enter clinical work. Advertisement Most recently, she was a contact tracer in her native Boston, notifying those exposed to the coronavirus. She also worked in the LGBTQ community and wants to use her new training to more directly ensure equitable access to health care. Geffen speaks Spanish and hopes that will help lift another burden on disenfranchised patients. She said a scholarship from Hopkins was an enormous factor for me. Tuition in Hopkins masters program in nursing exceeds $65,000 a year and can top $100,000 for all costs, according to the Hopkins website. The emotional roller coaster that comes from hearing about student loan forgiveness on the national stage its exciting, but you dont want to get your hopes up too much, she said. It would offer freedom for so many people, especially people who dont come from a higher socioeconomic status. It would also help develop a workforce that looks like the population they serve. President Joe Biden delayed some school loan payments during the pandemic, and there are other loan forgiveness programs. But advocates say more needs to be done to forgive debt for medical professionals. Maryland advocates are backing legislation during the General Assembly session underway aimed at reducing nursing debt, similar to a program for doctors who practice in underserved urban and rural areas of Maryland. That program gives doctors and physician assistants $100,000 in repayments in exchange for two years of service. Doctors can reapply for another two years for another $100,000. Supporters are hoping to expand it, too. [ Maryland to start testing antibody levels in nursing home residents to determine if fourth shot of COVID vaccine is needed ] Officials from 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, a nurses union representing about 2,000 workers in Maryland, want the program to apply to nurses and other lower-wage medical workers in underserved areas and in specialties with high vacancies. Advertisement Breaking News Alerts As it happens When big news breaks in our area, be the first to know. > Any training costs put programs out of reach for many lower-income people, said Ricarra Jones, the unions political director. For example, training and certification for geriatric nursing assistants, which are in high demand for nursing homes, can cost up to $2,000 and a patient care tech certification can cost up to $2,200. The union also is backing proposals to retain workers by using government funds to match grants offered by employers for training at a community colleges or historically Black colleges or universities and by offering raises to low-paid workers by raising the Medicaid reimbursement rate for medical providers. All the bills are aimed at increasing wages, especially among the lowest paid in the nursing industry, who can make $15 an hour at Walmart or Uber and have less demanding work for the same pay, Jones said. We hear a lot from nurses about being burned out. They are working short-staffed and often doing double shifts and overtime, she said. Other issues are temp agencies are hiring away colleagues and then they come back and make more for the same work, she said. We need to be thoughtful and not just have short-term solutions or five years from now well have the same problems. Geffen remains eager to graduate in August and go to work. But she agreed there need to be policies and practices to show nurses they are valued. That means providing proper protective gear, sick leave, crisis pay and student loan forgiveness. Advertisement I am inspired by the nurses I have seen who are organizing nationally around these issues and advocating for the safety and well-being of themselves and their colleagues, she said. This advocacy and these protections can serve as a promising antidote to the moral injury nurses are currently facing. The grant provides $400,000 over five years of research to improve post-transplant health outcomes MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP)/Be The Match, a global leader in cellular therapy, awarded this year's Amy Strelzer Manasevit Research Program grant to Dan Peltier, MD, PhD. The grant underscores NMDP/Be The Match's commitment to research to advance the future of care and improve patient outcomes for patients diagnosed with life-threatening blood cancer or blood diseases. NMDP/Be The Match Logo Dr. Peltier is an Assistant Professor of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at the University of Michigan specializing in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and cellular therapies. His research interests focus on translational immunology with a particular focus on the role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). GVHD is a post-transplant complication in which donor T cells attack tissues in the recipient's body. Dr. Peltier's research will contribute to increased understanding about how to regulate immune responses to help prevent GVHD, ultimately improving patient outcomes and transplant safety "The NMDP/Be The Match remains committed to investing in research that makes transformative, impactful differences in the lives of transplant and cell therapy recipients," said Jeffery Auletta, MD, Senior Vice President of Patient Outcomes and Experience and Co-Scientific Director of the CIBMTR (Center for International Blood and Marrow Research) at NMDP/Be The Match. "We are very excited for Dr. Peltier and his team, and we look forward to continuing our support of all cutting-edge research supported through the Amy Strelzer Manasevit Research Program, which focuses on improving patient outcomes." The Amy Strelzer Manasevit Research Program, among the largest and most coveted grants in the transplant and cellular therapy field, supports the research efforts of scientists and clinicians early in their careers. Celebrating its 24th year, the award is funded through generous donations to the Be The Match Foundation and focuses on launching young investigators on a lifelong journey of discovery to prevent or treat life-threatening complications following all forms of cellular therapy. The grant will support Dr. Peltier's research through its 5-year provision of a total $400,000. Story continues Dr. Peltier holds a B.S. in Microbiology and Immunology from Michigan State University. He completed the Medical Scientist Training Program at the University of Michigan where he attained an M.D. and a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology. For clinical training, Dr. Peltier completed a Pediatric Residency and Hematology/Oncology Fellowship at the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children's Hospital. After fellowship, he joined the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Division at the University of Michigan and completed post-doctoral training in transplantation biology in Dr. Pavan Reddy's lab. "I am honored to be named among the prestigious list of previous Amy Scholars, and I want to thank Be The Match and its supporters for making this possible," said Dr. Peltier, Pediatric Hematologist and Oncologist at the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children's Hospital. "This generous grant will support a team of researchers and scientists dedicated to finding ways to limit complications for transplant recipients, particularly graft-versus-host disease. My passion is helping children overcome cancer, and I know this research will give hope to patients and their families by making transplant safer." The NMDP/Be The Match established the research program in 1997 to honor the memory of Amy Strelzer Manasevit, a young mother of two children who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 1993 and succumbed from pneumonia following a successful bone marrow transplant. Amy Manasevit's family and friends partnered with the NMDP/Be The Match to establish a research program to help prevent other families from losing loved ones due to complications from hematopoietic cell transplantation. To date, the Amy Strelzer Manasevit Research Program has supported 46 scholars and 13 post-doctoral fellows with financial investments of more than $9 million since 1998. The Amy Scholars have leveraged this funding to develop their research portfolios and win more than $110 million in additional grant funding to support the discoveries that improve survival rates and quality of life for transplant patients. Dr. Peltier will be honored at a reception during this year's Tandem Meetings, the combined annual meetings of the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT) and the Center for International Blood & Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR), being held in April Salt Lake City. Visit our website to learn more about the Amy Strelzer Manasevit Research Program and the many ways NMDP/Be The Match supports transplant and cellular therapy research. About the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP)/Be The Match The National Marrow Donor Program(NMDP)/Be The Match is the leading global partner working to save lives through cellular therapy. With more than 30 years of experience managing the most diverse registry of potential unrelated blood stem cell donors and cord blood units in the world, NMDP/Be The Match is a proven partner in providing cures to patients with life-threatening blood and marrow cancers and diseases. Through their global network, they connect centers and patients to their best cell therapy optionfrom blood stem cell transplant to a next-generation therapyand collaborate with cell and gene therapy companies to support therapy development and delivery through Be The Match BioTherapies. NMDP/Be The Match is a tireless advocate for the cell therapy community, working with hematologists/oncologists to remove barriers to consultation and treatment, and supporting patients through no-cost programs to eliminate non-medical obstacles to cell therapy. In addition, they are a global leader in research through the CIBMTR(Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research)a collaboration with Medical College of Wisconsin, investing in and managing research studies that improve patient outcomes and advance the future of care. Dan Peltier, MD, PhD Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-marrow-donor-programbe-the-match-awards-amy-strelzer-manasevit-research-program-grant-to-dan-peltier-md-phd-301476592.html SOURCE The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP)/Be The Match NEW YORK, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The non-life insurance market in Iran (Islamic Republic of Iran) is segmented into two categories based on the product (health insurance, motor insurance, fire insurance, marine insurance, and others) and distribution channel (direct, brokers, banks, and others). The market share is expected to increase by USD 2.09 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 3.02%. Attractive Opportunities with Non Life Insurance Market in Iran (Islamic Republic of Iran) by Product, Distribution channel, and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026 For further insights on market overview and dynamic analysis, Read our FREE Sample Report Parent Market Analysis Technavio categorizes the global non-life insurance market in Iran (Islamic Republic of Iran) market as a part of the global specialized consumer services market within the consumer discretionary market. Technavio uses the total revenue generated by manufacturers to estimate the global non-life insurance market size in Iran (Islamic Republic of Iran). 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 non-life insurance market in Iran (Islamic Republic of Iran) throughout the forecast period, Download a free sample . Non-life Insurance market in Iran (Islamic Republic of Iran) Value Chain Analysis To maximize profit margins and evaluate business plans, an end-to-end understanding of non-life insurance market in Iran (Islamic Republic of Iran) is required. The report will help vendors drive costs and enhance customer services during the forecast period. Inputs Pitching and profiling Delivery and support Connecting and innovating Marketing and sales Support activities Innovation To unlock information about vendor drive costs and customer service, download our free sample report. Vendor Insights The non-life insurance market in Iran (Islamic Republic of Iran) 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. Story continues We provide a detailed analysis of vendors operating in the non-life insurance market in Iran (Islamic Republic of Iran) market, including some of the vendors such as Arab Insurance Group, Arman Insurance Co., Asia Insurance Co., Bimeh Iran Insurance Co., Mellat Insurance Co., Omid Insurance Co., Parsian Insurance Co., Pasargad Insurance Co., Taavon Insurance Co., and Tejarat Insurance Co. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the non-life insurance market in Iran (Islamic Republic of Iran) are designed to provide entry support, customer profile, and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Product Insights and News Arab Insurance Group - Offers a wide range of non-life insurances such as property insurance, engineering insurance, marine insurance, accident insurance among others. Asia Insurance Co. - Offers a wide range of non-life insurances such as auto insurance, fire insurance, marine insurance among others. Bimeh Iran Insurance Co. - Offers a wide range of non life insurances such as oil and gas insurance, marine insurance, travel insurance, property insurance among others. Non-life insurance market in Iran (Islamic Republic of Iran) forecast report offers in-depth insights into key vendor profiles and offerings Download Free Sample Report Key Market Dynamics- Non-life insurance market in Iran (Islamic Republic of Iran) Key Drivers: A shift in consumer demographics has prompted insurance brokerage firms to develop actuarial models and sales methods in order to implement cost-effective pricing policies. Medical insurance, accidental insurance, and other types of insurance are growing in popularity as the population of baby boomers and millennials continues to grow. Customers' demand for insurance products has risen as a result of the supply of security and tailored financial services. During the forecast period, increased awareness of the benefits of insurance policies will raise demand for such policies, boosting the growth of Iran's non-life insurance market. Non-life insurance market in Iran (Islamic Republic of Iran) Key Trends: Another important element propelling the non-life insurance market in Iran is the emergence of digital marketing platforms as a result of increased internet and smartphone usage (Islamic Republic of Iran). According to the World Bank Group, more than 56 percent of the global population will have Internet connection by 2020. During the projection period, this percentage is expected to rise. As a result, the advantages of digital marketing platforms, such as a competitive edge, ease of engagement with customers, and quick customer reaction, would assist key market participants increase their revenue, driving market growth during the same period. Download a free sample for highlights on market Drivers & Trends affecting the non-life insurance market in Iran (Islamic Republic of Iran). Customize Your Report Don't miss out on the opportunity to speak to our analyst and know more insights into this market report. Our analysts can also help you customize this report according to your needs. Our analysts and industry experts will work directly with you to understand your requirements and provide you with customized data in a short amount of time. We offer USD 1,000 worth of FREE customization at the time of purchase. Speak to our Analyst now! Related Reports: Wellness Real Estate Market by End-user and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025 Life Annuity Insurance Market in Czech Republic by Premium Type and Premium Paid Type - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026 Non-Life Insurance Market Scope in Iran (Islamic Republic of Iran) Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 3.02% Market growth 2022-2026 $ 2.09 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 2.33 Competitive landscape Leading companies, Competitive strategies, Consumer engagement scope Key companies profiled Arab Insurance Group, Arman Insurance Co., Asia Insurance Co., Bimeh Iran Insurance Co., Mellat Insurance Co., Omid Insurance Co., Parsian Insurance Co., Pasargad Insurance Co., Taavon Insurance Co., and Tejarat Insurance Co. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for the forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. About Us: Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ Technavio (PRNewsfoto/Technavio) Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/non-life-insurance-market-in-iran-islamic-republic-of-iran-segmentation-by-product-health-insurance-motor-insurance-fire-insurance-marine-insurance-and-others-and-distribution-channel-direct-brokers-banks-and-others-301475848.html SOURCE Technavio FILE PHOTO: Crude oil storage tanks are seen from above at the Cushing oil hub in Cushing By Laura Sanicola (Reuters) -Oil prices fell from seven-year highs on Monday on faint signs of progress in nuclear talks between the United States and Iran, which could lead to the removal of U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil sales. Crude prices extended their rally last week into a seventh week on ongoing worries about supply disruptions fueled by frigid U.S. weather and ongoing political turmoil among major world producers. Brent crude was down 55 cents, or 0.6%, at $92.72 by 1:59 p.m. EST (1859 GMT), having earlier touched its highest since October 2014 at $94. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell $1.23, or 1.3%, to $91.08 after touching $92.73. U.S. President Joe Biden's administration on Friday restored sanctions waivers to Iran to allow international nuclear cooperation projects as talks on the 2015 international nuclear deal enter the final stretch. Although the sanctions relief will have limited impact on Iran's struggling economy, the move was perceived by markets as a signal that both sides are determined to reach a deal. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a European official said top envoys to the Vienna talks - which are indirect because Iran has so far refused to sit down with U.S. diplomats - were likely to meet on Tuesday in the Austrian capital. Iran could quickly export millions of barrels of crude and help to drive down red-hot oil prices if U.S. sanctions are lifted. "Besides the feel-good vibe coming from the negotiations, the Biden administration is feeling pressure to lower inflation, and the fastest way to do that would be to lower energy prices," said Bob Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho. Crude prices, which have rallied about 20% this year, are likely to surpass $100 a barrel because of strong global demand, analysts have said. However, the relative strength index (RSI), a measure of momentum, shows the oil market is currently overbought, and ripe for a pullback. Fuelling supply concerns, tensions remain high in Eastern Europe, with White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan saying on Sunday that Russia could invade Ukraine within days or weeks but might still opt for a diplomatic path. (Additional reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin in London and Yuka Obayashi in TokyoEditing by Louise Heavens and Marguerita Choy) Singapore, Singapore--(Newsfile Corp. - February 6, 2022) - Radio Caca (RACA) and University of Southern California (USC) have reached an agreement to jointly build a ceremony venue within the United States of Mars (AKA USM Metaverse), a Metaverse created by Radio Caca (RACA), as an effort to push forward carbon-neutral alternatives and help protect the environment. Radio Caca (RACA), the exclusive manager of Maye Musk Mystery Box (MPB) NFT and the USM Metaverse brand issuer, is planning to build a 'Metaverse + Universities' concept in a new battleground for global digital innovation. Radio Caca (RACA) believes that Metaverse technology will turn into a bridge that connects the virtual worlds and the real one. Figure 1 To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7987/112942_figure1.jpg As the first step towards a green future, Radio Caca (RACA), the creator of the United States of Mars (USM) Metaverse, is investing in Metaverse ceremony, an eco-friendly virtual venue, to help reduce carbon emissions and energy reliance. Every year, transportation generates massive carbon emissions and Radio Caca (RACA) believes the Metaverse ceremony initiative can help lower car use and travel activities. A Metaverse wedding ceremony with 100 guests in the USM Metaverse reduces approximately 800 kg greenhouse gas emission, assuming each guest drives 20 miles and each car emits 400 g carbon dioxide per mile. Simply speaking, Radio Caca (RACA)'s USM Metaverse ceremonies would reduce people's carbon footprint and lead to a positive climate impact. Radio Caca (RACA) has been building a massive Metaverse called the United States of Mars (USM), a 3D virtual world where users can own lands, construct buildings such as shops and art galleries, and create their own gaming content and so forth. With regards to Decentralized Finance (DeFi), Radio Caca (RACA) aims to combine blockchain, Metaverse, NFT, and gaming genres to establish a complete new Metaverse economy in line with the current evolution and innovation happening in the NFT and DeFi spaces. Story continues The ceremony system that is being jointly built by Radio Caca (RACA) and the blockchain club of the University of Southern California (USC) will offer various events including wedding and graduation ceremonies, festivities, and other recreational activities. A large variety of ceremonial items and NFTs are being developed and will be available when the product is live including a large collection of moving vehicles, doves, and decorators such as balloons and flowers. Radio Caca (RACA) announced that the United States of Mars (USM) Metaverse ceremonies will be able to accommodate many, if not all, custom needs such as reproducing the dream locations the users crave: Vienna or Bali, English castle or French chateau, to provide the users unparalleled experiences while preserving the earth. In addition to user experience, Radio Caca (RACA) is creating a diverse, reliable, secure, and free culture around the ceremony system within the USM Metaverse. There will be releases as the distribution mechanism for NFTs. The whole proceeds from selling or leasing NFTs will be used to buy carbon offset credits as another measure to positively impact societies' carbon footprint. Another benefit is safety. With the COVID-19 pandemic spreading worldwide, it is necessary to reduce large group gatherings and maintain social distancing in the foreseeable future. The virtual ceremony venue in the USM Metaverse also provides a safe alternative to celebrate with friends and family and have many invaluable memories in this trying time. With infinite potential, the Radio Caca (RACA) USM Metaverse in partnership with University of Southern California (USC) will be able to significantly contribute to the realization of a carbon-neutral future by launching the virtual ceremony system. As the Radio Caca (RACA) USM Metaverse ecosystem grows, more and more content and eco-friendly initiatives will be created by Radio Caca (RACA), its partners, and its community to continually make net positive impacts to the world. Radio Caca (RACA) Social Media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/RadioCacaNFT Medium: https://radiocaca.medium.com/ Telegram: https://t.me/RadioCaca Media Contact: Company Name: RADIO CACA FOUNDATION LTD. Contact Person: Mike Radio Email: mike@radiocaca.com Website URL: https://www.radiocaca.com/ Address: 3 Fraser Street, #05-25, Duo Tower, Singapore, 189352 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/112942 ReconAfrica Logo (CNW Group/Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd.) VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 6, 2022 /CNW/ - Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. (the "Company" or "ReconAfrica") (TSXV: RECO) (OTCQX: RECAF) (Frankfurt: 0XD) is pleased to announce it has entered into a Letter of Intent with its partner, the National Petroleum Company of Namibia ("NAMCOR") to acquire half of NAMCOR's 10% carried participating interest in the approximate 6.3 million acres petroleum exploration licence (PEL 73) in the Kavango basin, NE Namibia (the "Transaction"). Consideration for the 5% carried interest shall comprise (a) 5,000,000 common shares in the capital of ReconAfrica (the "Consideration Shares") having an aggregate value of C$31,750,000 with a deemed price per ReconAfrica Share of C$6.35, and (b) US$2,000,000 in cash. The Consideration Shares will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day under Canadian securities laws as well as certain restrictions on resale as agreed to with the Company. ReconAfrica and NAMCOR shall enter into a mutually acceptable agreement and other related documents containing the terms and conditions of the Transaction, including those that are customary in international oil and gas transactions by February 17, 2022. Closing of the Transaction is expected to occur on or about March 30, 2022, and is subject to the Company receiving all necessary regulatory approvals, including, but not limited to, the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange to the issuance of the Consideration Shares. Immanuel Mulunga, Managing Director, NAMCOR stated, "We are delighted to enter into this strategic and mutually beneficial transaction with ReconAfrica. The transaction, is not only less onerous but adds significant strength to NAMCOR's balance sheet, as well as provides NAMCOR with exposure to the entire Kavango sedimentary basin in Namibia and Botswana. We have the utmost confidence in ReconAfrica as the Company has proven to be a responsible operator in our country with an excellent track record in the performance of its work obligation." Story continues About ReconAfrica ReconAfrica is a Canadian oil and gas company engaged in the opening of the newly discovered deep Kavango Sedimentary Basin, in the Kalahari Desert of northeastern Namibia and northwestern Botswana, where the Company holds petroleum licences comprising approximately 8.5 million contiguous acres. In all aspects of its operations, ReconAfrica is committed to minimal disturbance of habitat, in line with best international standards, and will implement environmental and social best practices in all of its project areas. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information under applicable Canadian, United States and other applicable securities laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, statements with respect to the expected timing for completion of the Transaction, including the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange, and the Company's commitment to minimal disturbances in line with international best standards and its implementation of environmental and social best practices in all of its project areas. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on ReconAfrica's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. 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 these forward-looking statements as a result of the factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section in the Company's amended and restated annual information form dated May 19, 2021, available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. Actual future results may differ materially. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to ReconAfrica. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and ReconAfrica undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. SOURCE Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2022/06/c9441.html "Nature's Surprise" is one of the paintings that will be included in "Recounting," a solo exhibit by Amelia Briske from Feb. 12 to April 30, 2022, at ARS Gallery in Benton Harbor. BENTON HARBOR The exhibit Recounting opens Saturday and continues through April 30 at ARS Gallery Arts and Culture Center, 147 Fifth St. The exhibit features the works of Amelia Briske, a figurative abstract oil painter who lives and works in Millburg, Mich. Her paintings have been described as visual narratives of human emotion that, she says, reflect a colorful romance of everyday life. Briske grew up in Michigan and attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. In Chicago, she received commissions to paint several murals throughout the city and to design more than a dozen restaurants. She became known in the city for her fine painting, sense of color, use of material, handcrafted light fixtures, authentic style and use of Feng Shui. In 2003, she married artist Kirby Brisk, and the two moved back to Michigan, where they renovated a historic barn and opened The Blue Dress Barn Wedding Venue in Benton Harbor. Two more venues, MillCreek Wilde and Sundance, both in Southwest Michigan, followed. An opening reception takes place from 4 to 6 p.m. Feb. 12. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. For more information, call 269-208-4409, email arsarts.culture@gmail.com or visit arsartsandculture.org/gallery. This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Recounting exhibit opens at ARS Gallery "It takes a village..." is a proverb that means a community of people must come together to support those in need. Or in other words, to be a good neighbor. Brothers Jean De Dieu Ntihemuka and Jean Claude Asifiwe say it was the good neighbors of the Spartanburg community who made them feel welcomed and wrapped their family in love and support when they arrived at the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport late one August night in 2015. Jean De Dieu, Jean Claude, and their mother, entered the United States with few belongings, the inability to speak English and a lot of hope. Since 2015, World Relief Upstate SC has been welcoming immigrants and refugees in both Greenville and Spartanburg counties. Jean De Dieu, Jean Claude, and their mother were approved through the United Nations High commissioner for refugees while living in a refugee camp in Rwanda, Africa to be resettled to another country. The family learned one week before leaving Rwanda that they would be coming to South Carolina. Brothers Jean De Dieu Ntihemuka, 32, left, Jean Claude Asifiwe, 28, talk about being forced to leave their home in Congo. The Republic of the Congo is located in northern Africa's western coast. Members of the family are going through the United Nations High commissioner for refugees process to find other countries to live in. Both the brothers have become American citizens; members of the family are still going through the process which picks the country refugees may go. Life in the Refugee Camp Jean De Dieu and Jean Claude were born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Rwandan genocide occurred between April 7 and July 15, 1994, during the Rwandan Civil War. During this period of around 100 days, known as the 100 days of slaughter, members of the Tutsi minority ethnic group, as well as some moderate Hutu and Twa, were slaughtered by armed militias. It is estimated that more than one million people perished during the Rwandan genocide of 1994, according to the United Nations. Jean De Dieu was 7-years-old at this time, and Jean Claude was just 3-years-old. The family was forced to flee their native country of the Congo and walk to a refugee camp in Rwanda. Jean De Dieu Ntihemuka, 32, talks about being told his new home would be the United States. "We didn't just decide to leave," Jean De Dieu said. "We left our country because of the civil war. At that time we were considered Tutsis, and the people committing the genocide were looking for the same people. We walked from the Congo to Rwanda, around 50-62 miles. It took almost a week and many died during that time. During the war, you have to find a safe way to walk, through the bush most of the time during the night." Story continues Jean Claude says he doesn't know how to adequately describe what life in the refugee camp was like. He felt safe from the genocide, but both brothers said they could see how difficult it was for their mother. "In the Congo, we had a farm, property," Jean Claude said. "But they took all of that, killed our animals, and we had to flee. In the camp, there is no school, running water, electricity, or food we knew we would have that day." Jean Claude Asifiwe, 28, reacts on being told his new home would be the United States. Jean Claude looks around the living room in the new house he, his brother, and mother now own in Spartanburg. Closing on their own home last year, owning property again, and in America, was a milestone for their family. "The home we lived in in the refugee camp, the entire space would fit into this one room," Jean Claude said. But being so young when arriving at the refugee camp, the boys soon adjusted to their new life. Resettlement Many countries, including America, provide resettlement programs for refugees. A refugee is defined as people who have been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster. The number of refugees accepted to the United States each year is set by the President in consultation with Congress that must occur before Oct. 1 each year. According to the National Immigration Forum, The Presidential Determination officially setting the refugee ceiling was issued on Oct. 28, 2020, for 15,000 refugees to be resettled in FY 2021. Jean De Dieu said resettlement among the refugees in Rwanda is like a lottery and is determined by many factors. Refugees from their camp in Rwanda are sent to America, Canada, Australia and Scandinavia. Brothers Jean De Dieu Ntihemuka, 32, left, Jean Claude Asifiwe, 28, talk about being force to leave their home in Congo. The Republic of the Congo is located in northern Africa's western coast. Members of the family are going through the United Nations High commissioner for refugees process to find other countries to live in. Both the brothers have become American citizens; members of the family are still going through the process which picks the country refugees may go. "We don't choose where we go," Jean De Dieu said. "They tell us. And to be chosen, there is nothing you can do but apply and wait." Their family's name was chosen in 2011. "I don't want to be called a refugee again," Jean Claude said. "I want to have a home, and now I do." But the process from being chosen to actually getting on a plane and being resettled is extensive and can take up to five years. To be admitted to the United States, refugees go through background checks, screenings and interviews under the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). Arriving in South Carolina The family found out they were being resettled to South Carolina the day before the plane departed from Rwanda in August 2015. Jean De Dieu, Jean Claude, and their mother were all given a loan by the government of $1,340 for their plane tickets which they had three years to pay back. This is a way for refugees to begin building their credit. They were also connected with World Relief Upstate who helped find housing for the family before arriving. Their first three months of rent payments were covered. World Relief and members of the Come Closer organization in Spartanburg met the family at the airport. Their role is to help refugees learn how to shop, connect them with local volunteers and make the Upstate their home. Even tasks as simple as showing the family how to use the stove or microwave since this was their first time seeing appliances in a kitchen. Brothers Jean De Dieu Ntihemuka, 32, left, Jean Claude Asifiwe, 28, talk about being force to leave their home in Congo. The Republic of the Congo is located in northern Africa's western coast. Members of the family are going through the United Nations High commissioner for refugees process to find other countries to live in. Both the brothers have become American citizens; members of the family are still going through the process which picks the country refugees may go. World Relief Upstate office director Brandon Baughn says it's a privilege to help refugees in those first few days. "We cast this picture of the helpless and vulnerable," Baughnsaid. "But they are the most resilient, hard-working people that I've ever met. They've endured so much and still maintain hope." A process and a progress Part of the resettlement process in Rwanda is teaching refugees how different their life will be once resettled in another country. But both brothers said nothing prepares you for how different it will be. They now needed to work to make a living rather than working to provide for the day in Rwanda. Jean De Dieu and Jean Claude both got jobs at the Belk's distribution center in Jonesville as third-shift packers. Volunteers with Come Closer provided transportation for them to get back and forth to work until they were able to purchase their first car. They said learning the language was another big hurdle. They said watching YouTube videos and attending Summit Church in Spartanburg, listening to the service and having conversations with volunteers from church helped them learn English. "It was good to see people from church," Jean Claude said. "When you go to the church, it was different. We are Christian, and it was comforting to go to have people worshipping the same God as us even though the language was different." Jean Claude attended Spartanburg Community College from 2016-2018 through a University Transfer Program, studying science. He said one of the proudest moments of his life was being accepted to Clemson University to study civil engineering in 2018. He is now attending classes at Greenville Tech and will begin working at AJH Renovations as an assistant project manager this week. Jean De Dieu is now employed with Kohler in Spartanburg and says being able to purchase such a beautiful home in the Boiling Springs area for them and their mother in November 2020 was like a dream to him. The American Dream. "To live in a place I can call my home," Jean De Dieu said. "Since we left our home in 1996, we didn't have a home. Now we do." Jean De Dieu says he wants people to have a better understanding of what the refugee resettlement process is and how it works. "I try to put myself in their shoes," Jean De Dieu said. "I don't want people in my country from everywhere who haven't been checked. I understand the frustration but I want the government to communicate with people on who we are. We are here to have a life. We will work hard and pay our own way. I will defend the Constitution and the Constitution will defend me too. I'm grateful to have a place to be home." To Jean Claude, being an American means being able to live the life his mother dreamed for him. When his mother was the age he is now, she was fleeing her homeland from a civil war. But now her sons are citizens of the United States. "My future kids will have privileges I didn't have," Jean Claude said. "The next generation of my family will have a home and never go through what I went through. I found hope from the people here. Spartanburg didn't become just hope to me. It became life." Jim Geyer, a pastor at Summit Church in Spartanburg, attended Jean Claude's citizenship ceremony in November. He was there when the family landed at the GSP airport in 2015 and has walked through life with the family since meeting them, even going back to Rwanda with Jean Claude to visit his sister who still lives at the refugee camp. Geyer wasn't allowed into the citizenship ceremony due to COVID protocols, but he was waiting just outside. He watched Jean Claude walk out with his certificate and an American flag. "It was one of those proud papa moments," Geyer said through tears. "He was dancing and waving his flag. I told him he had to sing a song, and he sang 'I'm proud to be an American.'" Ashley Dill is a native of Spartanburg and has been on staff for the Herald-Journal for 14 years. She covers community news and can be reached at ashley.dill@shj.com or on Twitter at @ashleydill_shj. This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Spartanburg brothers recount journey from refugee to American citizen Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Getty Richard Powers Bewilderment was the most moving and prescient novel I read last year. In the book, an astrobiologist grapples with compounding losses: the death of his wife and the unraveling of his son, Robin; and the environmental degradation and mass extinction that envelops the planet. Before his demise, Robin begins an innovative treatment called Decoded Neurofeedback in which he enters an fMRI machine and learns how to mirror a brain state of his deceased motherrecorded when she was a research subject for the therapy. Through channeling her brain waves, Robin arrives at a place of radical acceptance and even appreciation in the face of crisis. At one point hes described by the lead researcher of the Decoded Neurofeedback program as a junior Buddha. This new treatment is a plot device in the novel, but its not entirely a product of the imagination. Our understanding of brain patterns has increased exponentially in the last decade. Researchers have been able to accurately decode the content of dreams by teaching machines to predict visual imagery based on brain function. Another study found that fMRI machines could confirm whether students had understood concepts based on neural alignment with their teacher. And by examining the brain patterns of patients with major depression, researchers were able to design a computer-based tool to reduce negative negative attention bias, which resulted in a 40 percent decrease in depression symptoms versus a placebo. This window into the brain is one that scientists are already reaching through and tinkering with. And now, neuroscience has found a way to give definition to the brain of meditators and illustrate how meditation changes the brain over time. We can see how neural patterns shift as the brain rewires during meditation and certain neural circuits come online with more regularity. The Buddhist brain has been hacked. And though this may open up the practice of meditation and its benefits to more people, there are also some serious questions about whether something vital is lost in reducing meditation to a series of brain patterns. Much of what scientists have found so far isnt so surprising, but it does confirm long-held associations about what parts of the brain fire up during meditation. One meta-analysis of 110 studies showed the imprint mindfulness can have on the brain, such as increased activation in areas associated with focused problem-solving, self-regulation, self-control. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have been able to teach machines how to recognize meditative states in humans through measurements of brain patterns. We are not far from a reality in which researchers could teach people how to mirror a mindful brain state through a process similar to Powers Decoded Neurofeedback. Story continues Its not hard to see why this would be a valuable practice. Through meditative decoding, practitioners could be steered towards more fruitful brain states in the same way that depressed patients are now being steered away from negative ones. Just as observing game-tape can help athletes analyze the moves they make in physical space and tailor their training accordingly, watching mental states during meditation can help therapists, researchers, and teachers analyze the moves practitioners make in mental space, and tailor their clients training accordingly. But this begs the question: By reducing mindfulness to a brain state defined by brain patterns, are we missing the larger point of the practice of meditation? Some traditionalists have decried the secular divorce of mindfulness from its spiritual underpinnings in Buddhism and other eastern practices. Secular meditation has been called the thin version of mindfulnessa packaging that may make it more palatable, yet less impactful. After all, Buddhist training does not occur in the relative vacuum of a laboratory setting, but in the relative richness of lived experience, and is in turn meant to translate into what happens in our day-to-day lives. In Bewilderment, when Robin can no longer receive the Decoded Neurofeedback treatment, he regresses right back to his unraveling. Harvard neuroscientist Sara Lazar was one of the first researchers to document structural changes in the brain due to meditation. Since Phinneas Gage first met the business end of a tamping iron, it has been understood that ones mind is directly impacted by the physical make-up of the brain. Yet Lazars research revealed the reverse: Ones brain can be directly impacted by the mind and the way one chooses to direct ones attention. For the first time, researchers could correlate the self-reported reduced stress and anxiety of meditators with a shrunken amygdala, underscoring the fact that shifting our mental state can have a physical impact on our brain state. But when asked about the possibility of using neurofeedback to mimic meditative states, Lazar told The Daily Beast she was cautious about the idea of a mindfulness hack. People want a quick fixfor the gadgets or the drugs to do all the work for us, Lazar said. In some circumstances they can help a person get a feel for what an advanced state is like, though neither the machines nor the drugs accurately mimic the real thing. Her point is that mindfulness is an enduring practice, whereas a machine- or drug-induced brain state is reliant upon that intervention. To think about this another way, it would be pretty cool if there were a Steph Curry-brand Three Point Feedback Machine that one could wear to rain down shots from beyond the arc. It would probably help one get a sense for what that feels like. But after removing the machine, one would return to a mere mortal shooting range. To arrive at an advanced state requires learning how to scale all the intermediary states step by step. There is no shortcut to mastery, whether for scoring threes or entering a new state of mind. Ultimately, for mindfulness to do its thing, we have to apply it to everyday life, to see with our own eyes when we think, say, or do something unskillful and then endeavor to learn from that and change our behavior going forward, said Lazar. There is no machine or drug that can help us do that, we need to do that ourselves. Andrew Olendzki, a Buddhist scholar and the director of mindfulness studies at Lesley University in Cambridge, Mass., told The Daily Beast that from the Buddhist perspective, the question of reduction isnt an issue. Science and mindfulness are not mutually exclusive but mutually informative. The Buddhist view is that mind and brain are interdependent and co-arising, said Olendzki. Neither is the primary cause of the other, but they arise together. Mapping out this co-arising can help us further understand the human condition, so long as we dont place a primacy on the physical realm. I would like to see the scientific tradition embrace the subjective dimension of human experience without feeling the need to diminish it by reducing it, Olendzki explained. I would like to see the brain systems of mindfulness identified more precisely, if only to help people learn to access and develop the capacity to be mindful. Science, Buddhism, and secular mindfulness can certainly be allies in this pursuit, so long as we recognize that in the age-old quest for contentment a quick fix is never the answer. Buddhists have been hacking the mind for a couple millennia now, and any dedicated practitioner will tell you it is an ongoing process. Science can help us understand this process, but to make progress on the path one must walk the walk, and a glimpse of the peak is no substitute for the satisfaction that comes from the strenuous effort, sore legs, and unbeatable view. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Announcement of $334 million in support as part of the update of the Quebec Aerospace Strategy (QAS) Horizon 2026 MONTREAL, Feb. 7, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ - Aero Montreal welcomes the Quebec government's commitment to support and strengthen the recovery of the Quebec aerospace industry and to make it a reality through the update of the Quebec Aerospace Strategy (QAS) Horizon 2026. Aero Montreal (CNW Group/Aero Montreal) Pierre Fitzgibbon, Minister of Economy and Innovation and Minister Responsible for Regional Economic Development, announced $334 million in financial support between now and 2024 at the Palais des congres de Montreal. Designed to meet the needs expressed by the industry, this strategy includes self-financed measures and additional credits of $95 million that will support total investments (public/private) estimated at nearly $2.8 billion for the next two years. This new version of the Quebec Aerospace Strategy is the result of an unprecedented collaboration between the Quebec government and stakeholders in the Quebec aerospace industry. Grouped under the Alliance for the Recovery, a Strategic Committee was created in May 2020 under the direction of the Board of Directors of Aero Montreal to accelerate the sector's emergence from the crisis, to revive the industry based on its needs and to propose appropriate solutions to meet them in collegiality with the Ministry of Economy and Innovation (MEI). At the heart of the new government strategy's priorities are three main areas: accelerating innovation in order to integrate the technologies of tomorrow; learning from the crisis by focusing on diversification into promising niches for companies; and strengthening the value chain and its place on world markets. "The Quebec Aerospace Strategy has been revised to meet the needs of our companies, which are evolving in a new reality driven, among other things, by sustainable air mobility. It will act as a lever to enable our members to strengthen their competitiveness and encourage their diversification. It is a pact of trust between the industry and the government that will stimulate the revival of the sector, building a stronger and more sustainable future for the next generation of talent. This strategy will definitely be a key factor in making aerospace a strategic pillar of Quebec's economic recovery," said Suzanne M. Benoit, President of Aero Montreal. Story continues About Aero Montreal Created in 2006, Aero Montreal is a strategic think tank that groups all major decision makers in Quebec's aerospace sector, including companies, educational and research institutions, as well as associations and unions. The activities of Aero Montreal are made possible thanks to the participation of the governments of Canada and Quebec, the Montreal Metropolitan Community, as well as company members of the cluster. SOURCE Aero Montreal Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2022/07/c5908.html Photo credit: Gary Gershoff - Getty Images Rupert Grint has shared a rare photo of his 20-month-old daughter with Georgia Groome, and the photo is *so* adorable. The Harry Potter actor, 33, and Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging star, Georgia, 29, welcomed their daughter Wednesday back in May 2020, after being together for a decade. The family are notoriously private, and Rupert has previously only posted one public photo with Wednesday while announcing her name for the first time back in November 2020. Now, the actor has shared a second sweet update on Wednesday, posting a photo of her sat in her very own mini director's chair. So! Cute! Plus, it seems like the little one has been helping Rupert on set, with the chair promo-ing the third season of the actor's Apple TV series Servant. Take a look at the sweet pic here. Writing in the caption, Rupert told fans, "Hello! Turns out I suck at Instagram. But Happy New Year anyway!" He followed up by thanking viewers for watching the recent Harry Potter: Return to Hogwarts 20th-anniversary reunion show, writing, "Thank you all for watching The HP Reunion. So fun to look back and to share some of those memories with you all." The actor went on to share details on Servant, which launched on Apple TV+ on 21st January, signing off, "Love Rupe". Fans went on to comment on Wednesday's seemingly strawberry blonde hair, with plenty of Weasley jokes in the works. One wrote, "Red hair... must be a Weasley ," while another added, "Another Weasley dare I say." Adorable! Rupert previously introduced Wednesday's name to the world back in November 2020, writing alongside a sweet selfie, "Hey Instagram... only 10 years late, but here I am. Grint on the Gram! Here to introduce you all to Wednesday G. Grint. Stay safe, Rupert." Story continues Here's hoping more sweet Instagram updates are on the way soon. You Might Also Like The Anne Arundel Board of Education announced Monday that it has established a committee to tackle the search for a new superintendent of schools. The board did not renew the contract of Superintendent George Arlotto, who has served eight years in the top position. His contract ends June 30. He announced his departure in December. Advertisement Corine Frank is running for Anne Arundel County Board of Education. (HANDOUT) Board member Corine Frank will chair the search committee, which will include other school board members Dana Schallheim, Gloria Dent and Melissa Ellis. The board said in a December statement that it seeks a new leader who will bring different experiences and vision. Advertisement There is no doubt that Dr. Arlotto cares about the students and staff of this great school system, and we look forward to working together through the remainder of this school year to move our school system forward, the board said in its December statement. As part of the search, the board is looking for a consultant to help find candidates and coordinate public input. The deadline for consultants to apply is Feb. 17. In a request for proposals posted online, the board says it will start working with the consultant in early March. That gives the board less than four months to find a new superintendent, or an interim superintendent, before July 1. Smaller districts in the state also are searching for a superintendent. Frederick County Public Schools, a district half the size of Anne Arundel, hired a consultant last month to assist in its search, The Frederick News Post has reported. Carroll County also is searching for a superintendent after its incumbent declined to be considered for another term. More than a third of the states school systems may see a change in leadership this year. That echoes a national trend and potentially places Marylands turnover rate for superintendents at more than double the pre-pandemic national average. In December, Arlotto said in a letter to parents and students that he would have preferred to stay with the school system. These past 21 months have been difficult. Every one of us has been impacted by the pandemic, Arlotto wrote in the December letter. While we have not all agreed on the path forward during these tumultuous times, please know that the well-being of our students and staff have always been at the forefront of every decision I have made. Anne Arundel County Public Schools has more than 80,000 students and is one of the largest districts in the country, with more pupils than districts in Baltimore City, Milwaukee and Austin, Texas. Under his most recent contract, approved by the board in 2018, Arlottos starting salary was $269,000 plus benefits such as health coverage and a stipend for a car, and eligibility for raises along with other senior staff members. The push for stricter regulation related to members of Congress trading individual stocks has been picking up momentum in 2022. There are currently at least half a dozen bills that have been proposed in recent months to address the issue, which one senator said has gotten out of hand. Too many members of the Senate trade in stocks, and their spouses do, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), the chair of the Senate Banking Committee, said on Yahoo Finance Live (video above). I dont accuse anybody individually of a conflict of interest and in betraying the public interest. But the temptation if you own shares of stock, everything looks like a conflict of interest because we vote on everything in the Senate. We vote on banking rules. We vote on environmental rules. We vote on labor rules. We vote on minimum wages sometimes, so there are all kinds of conflicts. Sen. Sherrod Brown speaks during a Senate Banking Committee confirmation hearing on January 13, 2022. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) Under the STOCK Act of 2012, lawmakers are required to report their stock trades within 45 days of the transactions. However, a report by Insider found that 54 members of Congress have failed to properly report their transactions. We need to write the strongest bill that we can get a majority of senators on, Brown said. It will be a challenge because a number of senators, especially Republicans, have complained about this. And there are a lot of people in the Senate that hold a lot of investments, and Im concerned. 'You're here for public service' Several senators have come under scrutiny for insider trading practices since the pandemic first hit the U.S. In March 2020, the Justice Department announced that it would be investigating some senators to determine whether they traded ahead of the stock market crash triggered by the coronavirus pandemic. An investigation by ProPublica and The Center for Responsive Politics revealed that Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), who was chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee at the time and received confidential briefings about the emerging threat of the coronavirus pandemic, and his wife sold numerous stock shares following those briefings. Story continues Burr denied the allegations, and the Department of Justice ended its inquiry into his trading actions in January 2021, though the Securities and Exchanges Commission (SEC) is reportedly still investigating. Senator Richard Burr delivers opening remarks during a Senate Health Committee hearing to examine the federal response to COVID, January 11, 2022. Shawn Thew/Pool via REUTERS Kelly Loeffler (R-GA), who was a member of the Senate Health Committee, reportedly sold stock on January 24, 2020, which was the same day the committee was briefed by administration officials on the coronavirus. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) were also scrutinized for their stock moves. Youre here for public service, not here to enrich your portfolio, Brown said. If you want to make more money, stay out of it. Dont run for the Senate. Do something else. We have a public trust here. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has been a vocal opponent of banning members of Congress from participating in the stock market. Her husband, Paul, is an active stock trader, according to reports. "We are a free-market economy, she said during a press conference in December, adding that lawmakers should be able to participate in that." Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi arrives with her husband Paul Pelosi during the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States in Washington DC on January 20, 2021. (Photo by JONATHAN ERNST/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Twenty seven lawmakers recently wrote a letter urging House leaders to act quickly to bring "commonsense, bipartisan" legislation to the floor banning members of Congress from owning or trading stocks. In an interview with Yahoo Finance, progressive Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) detailed the fundamental issue as she sees it. "I am a member of Congress: Members of Congress have access to very sensitive security clearances," Ocasio-Cortez said. "We have access to very detailed, tailored briefs. We, our job is to try to anticipate and legislate for what we see is coming. And we should not have the ability to both have access to that information and be able to hold and trade individual stock." 'They were doing stock trading' Members of Congress from both political parties have proposed legislation to limit stock trading among their colleagues. A proposal from Sens. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) would prohibit members of Congress and their immediate family members from conducting any stock transactions while serving in office and confiscate the lawmakers entire salary if they break the rules. U.S. Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) and Chip Roy (R-TX) unveiled a similar proposal to be passed in the House. Sen. Jon Ossoff questions Treasury Secretary Yellen and Fed Chairman Powell during a Senate Banking Committee hearing on the CARES Act September 28, 2021. Kevin Dietsch/REUTERS Republican Senator Josh Hawley has also proposed a bill that would prohibit lawmakers and their spouses from owning or trading individual stocks. Amid these discussions, however, Brown stressed: Dont forget about the Federal Reserve. Last October, Brown co-sponsored a bill the Ban Conflicted Trading at the Fed Act that would prohibit officials at the Federal Reserve from trading individual stocks. This came as a result of ethics concerns surrounding stock trades made by former Dallas Fed President Robert Kaplan and Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren, who both left their roles after scrutiny increased on the Fed. We know about some compromise, if you will, Brown said. Weve had Fed presidents around the country a couple resigned probably because of this. They were doing stock trading. In January, Federal Reserve Vice Chair Richard Clarida resigned earlier than initially planned after it was revealed that he had failed to properly disclose his trading activities in 2020, raising the question of whether or not he benefited from Fed actions. Brown said he would be meeting with fellow lawmakers to get something significant through the Senate. It wont be exactly the bill the way that I introduce it or Senator Ossoff or Senator Merkley, he said. But we need to move and we need to include the Federal Reserve in it. We need to include not all family members, not grown children but we need to include spouses in these rules. Adriana Belmonte is a reporter and editor covering politics and health care policy for Yahoo Finance. You can follow her on Twitter @adrianambells and reach her at adriana@yahoofinance.com. Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Flipboard, and LinkedIn Special Olympics South Dakota and Law Enforcement Torch Run invites students and community members to take part in the 13th annual Watertown Polar Plunge at Stokes-Thomas Lake City Park Feb. 26. On-site registration for the event is at Willys Sports Bar, 1401 Ninth Ave. S.W., in Watertown, from 11 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Participants will then go to Stokes-Thomas Lake City Park to take the Plunge into Lake Kampeska at 2 p.m. As the organizations signature fundraiser for more than 20 years, the Polar Plunge directly benefits more than 2,750 Special Olympics athletes throughout South Dakota and plays a vital role in ensuring that an ever-growing number of children and adults with intellectual disabilities continue to benefit from no-cost participation in life-changing sports, health, education and leadership programs. The Watertown Polar Plunge will be one of five plunge events for Special Olympics South Dakota this year. All participants are asked to raise the minimum of $100 ($50 for students) before taking the icy dip. Plungers can register as individuals or gather friends, family members or co-workers and register as a team. Supporters may also register as Too Pretty to Plunge and raise money without getting wet. We are always amazed by the continued support for our Special Olympics athletes from the communities in Northeastern South Dakota, said Special Olympics of South Dakota President and CEO Darryl Nordquist. It takes those with big hearts to not only raise money and awareness for our athletes, but to also jump into the freezing waters of Lake Kampeska in honor of our athletes. We are blessed to have so many great people helping Special Olympics. In 2019, the Watertown Polar Plunge raised more than $40,000 and had over 160 Plungers hit the chilly Lake Kampeska waters. Visit www.sosd.org/polar-plunge to learn more about the Polar Plunge, to view the full calendar of events, or to register or donate in support of a participating individual or team. This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Special Olympics invites students, community to take the Polar Plunge HANOI, Feb 7 (Reuters) - More than 17 million Vietnamese students were due to return to school on Monday for the first time in about a year, the health ministry said, as authorities announced plans to start vaccinating children from as young as five against COVID-19. The Southeast Asian country lifted many of its coronavirus curbs in October, but almost all students had been confined to taking online classes since early last year. Most schools in the country are due to reopen by the middle of February, the health ministry said in a statement. In a separate statement at the weekend, the government said it intended to buy 21.9 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children aged between five and 12. More than 75% of Vietnam's 98 million people have received at least two vaccine shots and authorities aim to administer a booster shot to all of the adult population by the end of March. Schools in the capital Hanoi will start reopening from Tuesday, with precautions such as temperature checks and protocols in place in case positive cases are detected, authorities said. Vietnam managed to contain the coronavirus for most of 2020 before the Delta variant drove up infections last year. The ministry of health said the country reported 14,112 new cases on Sunday. Overall, Vietnam has reported 2.34 million COVID-19 infections and more than 38,300 deaths. (Editing by Ed Davies) Fredericksburgs City Council and School Board have rescheduled a public hearing to consider a school construction interim agreement for Thursday, March 24, according to a joint press release issued Friday. A public hearing and vote on the draft interim agreementwhich allows the design-build team First Choice, LLC to begin work on the design of a new middle school while parties negotiate a comprehensive agreement that will encompass the final design and constructionhad been scheduled for last month, but was postponed so the city can consider a proposal from Mary Washington Hospital to trade the old hospital building at 2300 Fall Hill Avenue building for city-owned land at Idlewild. Moseley Architects, which is one half of the First Choice public-private partnership, is conducting a feasibility study on repurposing the hospital building for several uses, including a new secondary school, a new elementary school, an office, a center for career and technical education or a facility that would combine those elements. According to the press release, the feasibility study, which is estimated to be complete on March 4, will lead to a list of pros and cons associated with reusing the old hospital building. The citys Economic Development Authority is partially funding the study. Moseley Architects has done a lot of work in Virginia, and in the city, and are familiar with this building as well. They are part of the First Choice team ... and they have a demonstrated ability to be creative, Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw said in the press release. Theyll do a thorough evaluation of the potential for the 2300 Fall Hill building, and also the potential for co-location of a school and an office building on the Idlewild land. It was important to City Council to gather and consider information on all of the possibilities. City Council and the School Board will have time to consider the feasibility study before the rescheduled public hearing on the interim agreement with First Choice. If approved, that agreement will allow First Choice to begin partial design work on a new middle school in Idlewild at a cost of $1.3 million and should take 90 days to complete. The interim agreement will also lead to a refined cost estimate for the entire new school construction, which is currently estimated at $55 to $65 million. The School Board also is planning to use federal pandemic relief funds to renovate Walker-Grant Middle School so that it can be used as a third elementary school. The relief funds must be spent by 2024, School Board Chair Katie Pomeroy said in the press release, so time is of the essence. The School Board identified opening a new middle school and a third elementary school as the primary tools for alleviating significant overcrowding in city schools. Working together with City Council toward an interim agreement is important right now because it will give us the cost of the new middle school, Pomeroy said. But, it will also keep us in the best position to simultaneously open a middle school in fall 2024 and open the existing Walker-Grant Middle School as the third elementary school. According to the press release, City Council also recognizes that school capacity issues are a very high community priority. Adele UphausConner: 540/735-1973 @flsadele Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Theres a scene in the Netflix movie Dont Look Upit doesnt last very longbut one actor leaves an impression without saying a word. While Ariana Grandes character is talking to scientists played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence about their discovery of a massive comet headed toward Earth, the woman sitting next to the pop star has so much attitude, bright hair and screen presence that its tough not to watch her instead. Her name is Cidalia Santos. And locals may recognize her in the film, which was released in December. Santos grew up in Spotsylvania County and graduated from Spotsylvania High School before attending James Madison University. She now lives in Boston, where filming took place in late 2020 and early 2021. Santos was auditioning for all sorts of roles in June 2020, when she saw the casting call for Dont Look Up. She didnt hear back immediately, so she forgot about it until Christmas Eve, when she received a call from the casting director. Things moved quickly after that. She was quarantined in a hotel for nearly three weeks of filming to ensure she was virus-free during her call times. She was cast, in her own words, as one of Ariana Grandes groupies. I was just there to be uppity and own the space and to be rude to Leonardo DiCaprio. She said working with him was a great experience. And, she said, she was grateful she was wearing a mask before cameras were rolling so he didnt notice the small gasp she let out when he entered the set. He was kind and funny and introduced himself to all of us. And he thanked us all for being there, she said. She also appreciated the opportunity to work with director Adam McKay, who she said was committed to doing the background work with us. Since then, shes worked with theater groups in Boston, toured with a band as their manager and has worked as a nanny. She said its all in service of her acting. At the right time, big things are going to happen, she said. Its that confidence that has carried Santos so far. She said local aspiring actors should really ground and believe in yourself. Acting is tough and you have to believe youre the one who is going to make it. If you could see yourself doing anything else, do that. It sounds harsh, but you have to really want it to act. As a teen, she dreamed of performing Shakespeare, and Santos still loves the stage, but theres something about film; [its] more natural and people can understand themselves through the story. Santos knew from an early age that she wanted to be a performer. Her grandparents owned the Loews Palace Theatre, which was open from 1920 to 1977, in Memphis, Tenn. Seeing pictures of old Hollywood premieres during the golden age of cinema was an early inspiration. But she acted in high school productions and was super active in marching band, National Honor Society and other clubs at Spotsylvania High. She continued her dramatic education at James Madison University and the roles she took were increasingly difficult and showed her fiery personality. As a senior, Santos was in the cast of Everybody, a modernized version of the 15th-century drama Everyman. But the parts were chosen at random each night and the cast had to memorize the full script. It was so fun, she said. And in Qui Nguyens dramedy play She Kills Monsters, she got to learn stage combat playing a demon named Lilith. Whoever she plays, shell have a local audience in parents Dimas and Cindy Santos, her brother Ethan Santos and their friends. A suspect in a homicide and multiple shootings in downtown Blacksburg late Friday appears to have recorded his Saturday night arrest by police on Facebook Live. Police took Jamel Flint of Roanoke into custody Saturday and charged him with first-degree murder after a Roanoke high school senior was killed and four other people, one a Virginia Tech student, were wounded in a shooting in downtown Blacksburg late Friday night. Flint also is charged with four counts of attempted first-degree murder, and one count of using a gun to commit a felony, according to records with the Roanoke City Jail, where Flint remained Sunday night. Blacksburg police issued a statement late Saturday saying Flint has been taken into custody in Roanoke Virginia without incident. Flint, 24, appeared to have recorded the arrest on Facebook Live in a video that has been shared and commented on several hundred times since it was posted Saturday night. He appeared relatively calm as he was walking to turn himself into Roanoke authorities, and was smoking a cigarette and drinking a bottle of what appeared to be Gatorade during the video while telling those watching live that he was innocent. Im about to turn myself in. Im clean. Ya feel me. Whatever, we can go from there, he said. Lawyer already on the way. I aint trippin. He could be heard telling officers to chill and that he was unarmed. Flint also said in the video that he was innocent and turning himself in, while also stating that police knocked down his grandmothers door looking for him. The video concluded with officers telling him to get on the ground and placing him under arrest before one officer notices the livestream and the video ended. Police said the shooting took place just before midnight Friday inside Melody Hookah Lounge, located at 109 North Main St., a few blocks from Virginia Techs campus. Montgomery County Commonwealths Attorney Mary Pettitt told The Roanoke Times in an email Sunday that investigators now believe the shooting took place outside of the business. Some victims were outside at [the] door and ran inside. Some were inside, Pettitt wrote. Fridays shooting with multiple victims near Virginia Tech site of one of the countrys worst instances of a mass shooting, in 2007, that left 32 victims dead and others wounded drew almost instant national attention on Saturday. Authorities did not release the name of those who were wounded Friday night but Tech President Tim Sands issued a statement saying that one of the people who was hurt was a student at the university. Tech later announced the student was out of surgery and recovering. In a statement issued Saturday night, Blacksburg police identified the person killed in the shooting as Isiah O. Robinson, 18. He was a student at Roanokes Patrick Henry High School. Robinson, a linebacker and running back on the football team, was mourned in a Saturday post on the Patrick Henry football team Twitter account. It included a picture of Robinson in his Patriots uniform with No. 3 on his chest. Isiah will be missed and our hearts and prayers go out to his family, football family and friends, the tweet said. Roanoke City Public Schools issued a statement expressing sorrow and said counselors will be available Monday for students and staff at Patrick Henry and William Fleming high schools. Law enforcement did not release any updates on the shooting Sunday, and so far, details about the incident have been sparse. The Roanoke Times called the Blacksburg Police Department Sunday for any updated information, but was directed to the voicemail of the departments spokesman, Lt. Josh Teubert. PLATTSMOUTHE. Michael Mike Slattery, who has been the Cass County public defender for 30 years, will not seek re-election. That office is up for election this November. Slattery will finish out this last year of his latest term. I was appointed in 1992 and then elected in 1994, the first of seven terms, he said. Slattery grew up in Cass County and attended St. John the Baptist Elementary School, Plattsmouth High School and Creighton Universitys business and law schools. He was admitted to the Nebraska Bar Association in 1978 and opened a private law practice at the little white house formerly known as Whimpeys Burgers on Chicago Avenue. Shortly after, he was approached to the role as deputy county attorney to prosecute misdemeanor and felony cases. Later, he re-entered private practice, but interest in public service continued. Slattery served as the chairman of the Second Judicial District (Cass, Sarpy and Otoe counties) Mental Health Board for several years. In 1992, he was requested by the Cass County Board of Commissioners to open the first Office of Public Defender here. For several years he was the only attorney in the office providing indigent services for juvenile misdemeanor and felony cases. As a defender of the Constitution of the U.S. I believe everyone has a right to a fair trial, whether they are guilty or innocent, Slattery said. I will miss helping those less fortunate, but I must admit, it is a difficult job sometimes. Over the years Slattery was a mentor to young attorneys in the law practice. All in all, he has been a public servant in excess of 40 years. He and wife, Barb, owner of Slattery Vintage Estates, have three children; Jessica, a foreign service diplomat, Sarah, a chef and a Nebraska Legislature candidate, and Michael, an attorney in Kansas. Five grandchildren and an ornery German Wirehaired pup will keep him busy. I look forward to helping with the family business, Slattery Vintage Estates, and spending more time with my family and friends, Slattery said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Dreamweaver Foundation, a Nebraska-based nonprofit, has announced an expanded partnership with GrandPad, bringing its Connecting Hope program to meet the needs of seniors across the entire U.S. and Puerto Rico. The program provides isolated and lonely seniors with a GrandPad tablet to communicate with family, friends and caregivers through this senior-friendly technology. One of our GrandPad recipients contacted us recently to share her heartfelt gratitude for our help during one of the most difficult times of her life. She couldnt imagine going through COVID-19, her husbands illness and recent passing without her GrandPad from Dreamweaver Foundation. She didnt feel so alone and could be in touch with her family. This is exactly why we work to provide GrandPad tablets to seniors in need, said Cheri Mastny, executive director of Dreamweaver Foundation. Since Dreamweaver Foundation announced the initial partnership with GrandPad it has donated 200 GrandPad tablets to older adults in 25 states. The GrandPad tablet comes with built-in 4G LTE connectivity, advanced security features, ergonomic design, large icons, crisp screen resolution, and two front-facing speakers. Each GrandPad tablet comes with 24/7/365 personalized support for troubleshooting and questions. Loved ones and caregivers can connect to the platform through the GrandPad Companion App when added by a designated administrator. The app is available on Android and iOS. Those who would like to nominate a senior to receive a GrandPad, or to make a monetary donation to help fund the Dreamweaver Foundation Connecting Hope mission, can learn more at dreamweaver.org. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. At least 15 bodies have been recovered after an avalanche hit Afghanistans eastern Kunar Province amid heavy snowfalls. Officials in Kunar quoted by the Bakhtar news agency said that 20 people were hit by the snow in the avalanche in the province's Dangam district. RFE/RL's Radio Azadi reported that heavy snow had fallen in several Afghan provinces, including Maidan Wardak, Parwan Panjshir, Badakhshan, and Baghlan, and a number of highways had been blocked. Mawlawi Najibullah, the chief of the province's information and culture department, told German news agency dpa that the avalanche hit late on February 6 in a mountainous area close to Pakistan. Najibullah said the victims included local people who tried to come to the rescue of those trapped by the heavy snow. The official said residents were trying to recover the bodies of those still missing. Some 15 to 20 people are still missing, according to a local elder. Last month, local media reported that at least five residents of Badakhshan Province died due to heavy snow in the Raghistan district. With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Azadi and dpa The United States has offered a $10 million reward for information that helps identify and find the leader of the Islamic State (IS) group's affiliate in Afghanistan. The U.S. State Department also offered a $10 million reward for information that would aid in arresting or convicting the people responsible for a suicide bombing outside the Kabul airport on August 26 that killed at least 173 people, including 13 U.S. soldiers. Responsibility for the attack was claimed by Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K), the extremist groups affiliate in Afghanistan. Sanaullah Ghafari, also known as Shahab al-Muhajir, has been identified by the United States as the leader of IS-K. The U.S. State Department said in November that Ghafari was appointed to lead IS-K in June 2020 and that he is responsible for approving all IS-K operations throughout Afghanistan and arranging funding for activities. The State Department at the same time designated Ghafari and two other leaders of the extremist groups affiliate in Afghanistan as global terrorists. The Pentagon said last week that its investigation into the airport suicide bombing concluded that a single bomber carried out the attack, which occurred during the final chaotic days of the withdrawal of the U.S.-led military coalition from Afghanistan. The bomber was later identified by Islamic State as Abdul Rahman al-Logari, who was released from prison by the Taliban after the militant group took control of Kabul on August 15. The bomb exploded outside one of the airport's gates as thousands of people pushed to try to get inside the airports perimeter and join an evacuation mounted by the United States and its allies. Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters There are many lessons we can take from the pandemic and economic roller coaster that our state and country have endured the past two years. On the financial side of the lessons-learned list, however, one is clear: bold action is imperative and can work to save communities and businesses. The federal government took unprecedented action to help Americans weather this storm, from PPP, or Paycheck Protection Program loans and grants, to stimulus checks, the child tax credit, and more. The challenge moving forward is to take the best of those ideas and help them evolve into a better system for families and small businesses, administered in a more equitable way. That will be a job for Marylands next comptroller. Advertisement Our state comptroller is the financial guardian of Marylands money collecting and tracking state taxes, revenue and payments. But good stewardship of tax dollars cannot simply mean knowing where every dollar is. It must also mean knowing what every dollar does. We must be bold and creative in how we use the federal infrastructure dollars coming to Maryland, and how we use our state revenue as well, and we must use rigorous data analysis to ensure we are seeing positive results from those expenditures. There are several obstacles that could lead to reduced public trust when it comes to our finances: ineffective government spending, lack of transparency in how tax dollars are managed, poor and, sometimes, harmful results, and unavailable funding for what does work. As a state delegate, Ive spent eight years asking the questions of not only where our money is going, but who it is serving and how it is helping. Advertisement We know that often programs, however well-intentioned, are not delivering the desired results. We need an office that can track that data, share information with our General Assembly and local governments, and ensure our dollars are being spent in equitable and successful ways. For instance, at least two state programs can help us reduce gun violence in Maryland but are seeing zero or too little investment. We know that community-based violence intervention programs show positive results in reducing gun violence without relying on police. State Sen. Jill Carter and I created and mandated funding for the Maryland Violence Intervention and Prevention Program several years ago, over a gubernatorial veto. This program, launched with bipartisan support, not only funds SafeStreets and hospital-based intervention programs, it requires evaluations so that we can learn what works and what doesnt. We know, for instance, that the hospital-based intervention program at Shock Trauma Center found an injury recidivism rate of just 5% for participating patients, compared to 36% for non-participants. Although the General Assembly mandates annual funding of $3 million for the program, far more is needed. We also need to build on what works when it comes to reducing recidivism in the state of Maryland. Our state spends a staggering sum on incarcerating individuals who were recently released from prison, with an overall recidivism rate of 40%. The Public Safety Compact in Baltimore City showed promising results to address that. From 2010 to 2015, the safety compact aggressively treated addiction issues and improved post-incarceration employment opportunities by letting graduates of the program earn expungement of their record. Those Marylanders experienced a recidivism rate of just 9%, drastically less than the city and state average. Addressing the root causes of recidivism through programs like this save money and lives. These are just two of many examples that demonstrate how we can get more value from our tax dollars by rethinking how we tackle challenges. We have a golden opportunity to design and implement smart policy that saves the state money and leads to better outcomes for all Marylanders. Data must drive our decisions, pushing us to move money from systems that do not work to ones that do. As comptroller, I will double down on the data collection resources at our disposal, make them transparent and available to the public, and use them to make state services smarter, streamlined, and solution-focused. Spending money wisely means spending it on programs that actually work. It is time to refocus our government on better results. With creative and bold thinking that brings everyone to the table, we can deliver more value for all Marylanders. As comptroller, I will see it as my job to make sure your tax dollars work just as hard as you do. Brooke Lierman, a state delegate for the 46th District, is a Democratic candidate for comptroller of Maryland. Two members of Pakistan's paramilitary Frontier Corps were wounded in an explosion in Pakistan's southwestern city of Quetta on February 7. The separatist Baloch National Army (BNA) claimed responsibility for the attack, which came days after intense fighting between Baluch separatists and Pakistani security forces in Balochistan's Naushki and Panjgur districts. Quetta is Balochistan's capital and its largest city. Police officer Naveed Alam told journalists that the blast was caused by a roadside bomb and the target was a paramilitary patrol. A civilian passerby was also wounded in the blast. Separately, a hand grenade was lobbed at a police station in Balochistan's Kharan area, police officials said, adding that the attack did not cause casualties. No group so far has claimed responsibility. Resource-rich Balochistan, which borders Afghanistan and Iran, has been plagued by sectarian violence, attacks by Islamist militants, and a separatist insurgency that has led to thousands of casualties since 2004. Even though the Colorado Supreme Court told jurists statewide it was cooperating with an investigation into allegations of misconduct, the body that investigates judges still says otherwise. Police arrested a man suspected of trafficking and pimping two young women at a Colorado Springs hotel Thursday, law enforcement announced. Officers arrested 32-year-old Princeton Jackson after responding to a disturbance in the 8100 block of North Academy Boulevard inside a hotel after Jackson tried to enter a room with two women in it, police said. When police arrived they discovered the women and Jackson had traveled from Kansas. One of the women told the officers she had been sex trafficked and provided evidence. The other woman told police Jackson was pimping her, police said. Police booked Jackson into the El Paso County jail on suspicion of human trafficking for sexual servitude and pimping among other allegations. Click or tap here for more local crime news. At least three Colorado Supreme Court justices including Chief Justice Brian Boatright and his successor Justice Monica Marquez have quietly but persistently been lobbying lawyers and lawmakers about concerns they have with proposed legislation that aims to create an independent office of judicial discipline the court would not control. Police say one suspect is connected to two early morning shootings on Sunday in Colorado Springs. At 2:43 a.m. officers responded to shots fired in the 5200 block of Galena Drive. When they arrived, police determined the shots were fired at a vehicle after an attempted assault. Gazette news partner KKTV reported there were no injuries in this shooting and the suspect fled the scene before police arrived. As officers investigated the shooting on Galena a call came into the police departments communication center to report a woman had been shot in the chest multiple times at an apartment complex about 2 miles south in the 3500 block of Rebecca Lane. The woman sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a local hospital where she was treated and later released. Police said they linked both shootings because suspect information and the description of the vehicle matched. Police have not yet identified the suspect, they said. Anyone with information about these shootings is asked to call Colorado Springs police at 719-444-7000 or Crime Stoppers at 719-634-7867. People can make anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers. Click or tap here for more local public safety and crime updates. Colorado Springs police arrested a 24-year-old man early Sunday morning whom they say fired shots downtown after leaving a local bar. Andrew Chandler was arrested for weapons offenses and for driving under the influence, police said. Just before 2 a.m. officers who were downtown responded to the area of Kiowa and Tejon streets after hearing shots fired, police said. Witnesses pointed out a car parked in the area occupied by two people. Police said they determined the driver, Chandler, had fired six to eight shots into the air after leaving a local bar. Police said they did not know why Chandler fired the shots. Officers recovered a loaded handgun from the vehicle and arrested Chandler, they said. No injuries were reported. Just five weeks into the new year, El Paso County already is on track to substantially surpass last years record-high death rate, according to El Paso County Coroner and Medical Examiner Dr. Leon Kelly. As we begin 2022, the increase of deaths has not only continued but appears to be accelerating, he said. Through the end of January, the county is on pace to perform 1,700 autopsies this year, Kelly said, which would be 250 more than last years preliminary totals. Ten confirmed homicides countywide thus far this year, compared with three at this time in 2021, are one factor, he said. Of those, eight homicides have been in city limits, compared with one last year. And while COVID-19 fatalities appear to be on a waning trajectory, drug overdoses continue to plague the population the community's increase in sudden and unexpected deaths is being led by the rise of fentanyl fatalities, the coroner said. The county recorded just five fentanyl-related deaths in 2017, with the number essentially doubling each year since then. Kellys preliminary total for 2021 is just over 100 fentanyl overdose deaths countywide more than double the 2020 total of 47-related fentanyl deaths and up from 21 in 2019. Five of last years victims were minor children under age 18, the coroner said. Fentanyl is a powerful prescription painkiller thats sometimes mixed with heroin or pills and often ingested unknowingly. And there could have been more deaths. Colorado Springs Police Department patrol officers administered Narcan, an antidote to opioid overdose, 21 times in 2021, according to Lt. James Sokolik, spokesman. Thats up from 13 uses of Narcan by city police in 2020 and 17 in 2019, he said. Final toxicology reports are still pending on many local deaths from December, Kelly said, so the official numbers could change. The county coroners office in 2020 handled a total of 186 drug-related accidental deaths, up from 130 in 2019. Officials partially attributed overdose increases to pandemic lockdowns and shutdowns of in-person treatment and other assistance. Deaths in El Paso County are up in most categories, with the exception of teen deaths by suicide. Early annual totals show the county had just four youth suicides in 2021, Kelly said, down from 15 in 2020. That tied the record high first set in 2016. The county saw nine youth suicides in 2019 and seven in 2018. So despite every indication of increased mental health challenges for kids preceding and including the pandemic, we have been able to prevent the worst outcomes meaning that intervention strategies and the de-stigmatization of mental health seeking behavior is working to save lives, Kelly said. Adult suicide deaths in 2021 have not yet been tallied, but Kelly expects to see numbers continue a flat trend of the past two years, with 178 suicides in 2020 and 180 in 2019, a record high. To some degree, that should be seen as a success, given all the additional stress the pandemic has placed on all of us, including those most at risk of severe mental health disorders and self-harm, Kelly said. The coroner hopes as COVID-related fatalities continue to drop, that will allow us to begin focusing on some other immediate challenges concerning public health and safety, including substance abuse and mental wellness. El Paso County Public Health does not have a prevention program specifically for opioid overdoses, said spokeswoman Michelle Beyrle. However the two top priorities of the Community Health Improvement Plan are improving mental health and preventing substance abuse, she said. A Healthy Community Collaborative with representatives from various sectors is identifying strategies to reduce substance use and improve mental health, she noted. El Paso and Teller counties also are preparing to receive money from a nationwide legal settlement with opioid drug manufacturers. Officials are in the process of forming a Regional Abatement Council, which will determine how to distribute the funds according to the intended purposes, which include treatment, intervention, training and research, said Natalie Sosa, El Paso County spokeswoman. Nearly 100% of cities and counties in Colorado have joined the agreement, Attorney General Phil Weiser announced last month. Colorado is slated to receive $385 million of the $26 billion settlement with the nations three major pharmaceutical distributors. Investing in our community's health and healing from the opioid crisis through education and treatment will help those struggling with addiction and save lives, Sosa said. Court proceedings that may have been tough to get to before the pandemic are now accessible online through a system called Webex, which has reshaped public access. For reporters and the public, access to court proceedings in the Webex era has been a mixed bag, as varied as the judges who run them. But overall, Webex is seen as a positive development. Many in the Colorado justice system want online courtrooms to remain post-COVID, including the chief justice of the Colorado Supreme Court. In an interview, Brian Boatright told The Denver Gazette that despite glitches early on, virtual law is here to stay. "The pandemic has taught us that oral arguments can be efficient and effective when done virtually. I expect that attorneys who previously had to travel significant distances to present their arguments will want to take advantage of that option," Boatright said. Still, Webex doesnt solve access problems if judges decide not to allow it. In March, not many people will see what happens when a former Kiowa County sheriff's deputy goes on trial in connection with the controversial killing of a beloved local handyman because 15th Judicial District Judge Mike Davidson has opted not to allow people to watch on Webex. Quinten Stump is facing three felony charges, including two counts of attempted second-degree murder and one count of assault with a deadly weapon in the death of Zach Gifford. The 39-year-old was shot in the back while he was running away during a traffic stop. Stumps trial will be in Eads, a tiny town near the Kansas border that's a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Denver and two-and-a-half hours from Colorado Springs too far for news outlets with limited resources to assign a reporter to cover it from beginning to end. Eads local newspaper, The Kiowa County Independent, will likely be the only eyes and ears for the public. "It makes sense to stream it on Webex for taxpayers who are interested. Its about transparency," said Kiowa Independent reporter Betsy Barnett, whose office is across the alley from the Kiowa County Courthouse. She will split time with an assistant to cover the trial. Ray Satter, a former Denver County Court judge, said Davidson's decision not to make the trial available online is silly. "He could be barring people from being in his courtroom," Satter said. Even though Webex makes him feel like a talkshow host, Satter said he likes it for routine cases like DUIs and landlord disputes. As a traveling senior judge, the Webex option means fewer long and sometimes dangerous drives across the state for hearings. "It's really slick," he said of Webex, but added sometimes people ruin the experience, like the time a defendant took his cellphone to the bathroom during a hearing and didn't turn it off. Or the guy accused of driving without a license, who attended the Webex while driving his car. Webex has been shown to work well in high-profile cases. The murder trials of Mark Redwine in La Plata County and STEM school shooter Devon Erickson in Douglas County were broadcast without a hitch. Retired Denver County Court Judge Gary Jackson told The Denver Gazette staying on top of virtual hearings first presented a challenge for him, but it was not impossible. "I would have a protest case where a protester would call in wearing a clown suit. Or theyd give you the finger. Ive seen inappropriate objects on the walls," Jackson said. When those kinds of events happened, Jackson relied on his court clerk to exclude the offensive Webex participant. Thats great for judges who have the staff to help, but sometimes judges in rural areas are short-staffed and don't always have a tech-savvy clerk to solve problems that come up during hearings and require quick decisions. Carolyn Tyler, spokeswoman for the Second Judicial District in Denver, said Webex has been effective for alleged victims who don't want to face their offenders in the courtroom. "There was a case where a soldier stationed overseas was able to listen in because Webex made it happen," Tyler said. In Chaffee County, 15th Judicial District Judge Ramsey Lama on Monday mentioned problems with the live Webex courtroom video stream for his change of venue order in the high-profile murder trial of Barry Morphew. Lama decided to move the trial to Fremont County from the 24-seat Salida courthouse. In his order, Lama noted the problems the court had early in the case when 1,100 people listened into the Webex feed simultaneously. The crowded livestream made the Webex chat rooms impossible to control. In response to that episode, Judge Patrick Murphy, who oversaw the case until recently, banned recordings and rebroadcasts of any Morphew proceedings. Listening in on the case got even more restrictive last month when it appeared the Webex had been hacked. Lama reacted by removing live reporting courtroom privileges from journalists covering the case. Colorado First Amendment attorney Steve Zansberg says this comes down two simple words: open court. He believes its the judges job to figure out the technology so the public can keep up with court proceedings. "This is just an 'off' button that you push. Courtrooms have to be open," Zansberg said. He has seen the evolution of courts pre- and post-Webex. "I remember when judges wouldnt let you read the newspaper in court. When cellphones first came in, you couldnt use those," he said. "Virtual court proceedings have made the judicial process more transparent because they allow journalists to cover trials and allows the public to gain access," said Jeff Roberts, executive director of the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition. "Its been good for the poor reporters who have multiple stories to cover, trying to do their jobs to inform the public." Roberts added since the COVID-19 pandemic began, public accounts have increased at the Colorado Supreme Court Library, where users have been able to get free access to civil court records to search cases and download the documents as PDFs. According to an email from Supreme Court law librarian Chris Hudson, that perk will continue post-pandemic, even though the library has reopened to the public. Zansberg says people are intimidated by the court system, so he teaches them their rights early on. "I take students on field trips to trials and theyre stunned when they realize courtrooms are open to the public. They say, 'You mean we can just walk in?'" Retiring Colorado Springs Chief of Police Vince Niski and El Paso County Sheriffs Office Undersheriff Joseph Roybal discussed recruitment and policing issues at a public safety forum at the Valley Hi Grill and Pub Thursday night. Niski and Roybal were joined by 4th Judicial District Attorney Michael Allen, City Council President Tom Strand and El Paso County Coroner Dr. Leon Kelly. The forum was hosted by Republican Rachel Stovall, a candidate for the House District 17 seat. While the forum covered many hot topics such as crime particularly homicide rates homelessness and fentanyl use, the issue of policing and recruitment produced familiar discussions against the backdrop of a nation that has been split on police accountability for years. Niski and Roybal agreed that law enforcement recruitment efforts have been hit hard. Roybal said his offices major role is the management and operation of the El Paso County jail, which serves Colorado Springs and its surrounding areas. To that end, the department has seen success by providing incentives to those with corrections experience. Roybal said the sheriffs office this year is going to have its largest number of academy participants since 2015. The Colorado Springs Police Department had 1,250 applicants in 2019. That number fell to 850 last year, according to Niski. The decline in recruits is not about money, Niski said. He pointed to pressure from families particularly those in the minority community who want their loved ones to be done with such a polarizing career. Law enforcement is a dirty [phrase] in some areas, he said. To combat the downturn in interest, Niski said his staff has touted the city as a law enforcement-friendly town to potential recruits. Echoing that sentiment, Strand told those in attendance to thank police officers much like they would thank military members. In response to a question posed to the five-man panel, officials attempted to repudiate any notion that people of color are being targeted by law enforcement. The perception among minority groups, people of color, is that theres a focus and more attention paid to them, Strand said. We need to allow the public to understand how our police and sheriffs department operate in enforcing laws and ordinances. Strand also suggested the public do ridealongs with law enforcement to get an understanding of what goes into a traffic stop or how peace officers approach a variety of situations. Niski said CSPD is undergoing a use-of-force study by a professional group that is analyzing the departments statistical data. He said researchers have told him simply comparing arrest data with demographic data doesnt always paint a complete picture. The perception that we target minority groups, we target people of color, I dont agree with. I have never agreed with that, Niski said. Could it happen in communities? Absolutely. Could it happen in entire police departments? I dont think so in Colorado. Later in the forum, Niski indicated that he didnt see the need for City Councils creation of the Law Enforcement Transparency and Accountability Commission in 2020. One of the stated goals of the commission is to provide a conduit for the concerns and needs of both citizens and the police department to be shared and discussed with City Council, the citys website said. Niskis statement drew an audible response from Jacqueline Armendariz Unzueta, who said she is an unaffiliated voter in House District 17. The fact the chief still believes LETAC wasnt necessary, when there is very clear evidence it was a strong desire of the community, shows his vow to protect and serve is just lip service, Unzueta told The Gazette afterward. CSPD seems to think residents should simply obey and comply because they exist in a bubble of nearly infallible beliefs and are frustratingly unable to be introspective. What hubris. Such arrogance is dangerous for bullies with badges and guns. A judges recent ruling that Gov. J.B. Pritzkers COVID-19 mask mandate was authorized illegally prompted chaos and confusion Monday morning at school districts across Illinois, as increasingly volatile battles over virus mitigation strategies further divided communities and forced some schools to cancel classes. Meanwhile, the Illinois attorney generals office filed an appeal Monday, demanding a stay to Sangamon County Circuit Judge Raylene Grischows Friday decision to grant a request from downstate attorney Tom DeVore to temporarily roll back the governors executive orders on masking and quarantining for schools. Advertisement At least two school districts, St. Charles Community Unit School District 303 and Geneva Community Unit School District 304, took an emergency day and shuttered schools. Chicago Public Schools continued to double down on COVID-19 protocol, including mandatory masking, which officials said is allowing them to protect the safety of students and staff and keep schools open for in-person learning. Students arrive wearing masks to Kozminski Community Academy in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood on Feb. 7, 2022. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune) Chicago Teachers Union Vice President Stacy Davis Gates pointed to the unions agreement with Chicago Public Schools that calls for everyone entering a CPS facility to wear a face mask. Advertisement We are willing to stand shoulder to shoulder with Mayor Lightfoot and (CPS CEO) Pedro (Martinez) against those who really are harming our school communities with this dangerous rhetoric, with this divisive tone that puts educators and school systems and families against each other, Davis Gates said at an unrelated news conference Monday. In her ruling, the judge sided with about 700 parents who signed onto a lawsuit against 146 school districts alleging that students who object to wearing masks or being excluded from school for being a COVID-19 close contact are entitled to due process. A second lawsuit challenging the vaccine or test mandate for school district employees was filed against 21 districts. While the restraining order only applied to families, staff members and school districts that are part of the litigation, the judge also found that the states emergency rules implementing the mandates were void, leading to a range of responses from local school districts. Some are going mask optional or recommended, while others are exempting only those students whose parents signed onto the lawsuit from wearing masks. Students will still be required to wear masks while riding the school bus in accordance with a federal policy. Parents and students protest against mask mandates in schools on Feb. 7, 2022, outside the District 181 Administration Center in Clarendon Hills. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) Pritzker on Monday said school districts that arent named as defendants in the lawsuit should continue to follow the prescribed public health protocols, which have proven to reduce school exclusion rates and have made it possible for our kids to continue learning safely in person. You ought to err on the side of protecting everybody in the school and particularly all the people who interact with the school, Pritzker said. Thats the goal here. That was always the goal. Advertisement Grischow created a tremendous amount of confusion even in the way she wrote her decision, Pritzker said at an unrelated event in Chicago. With the states measurements of coronavirus transmission headed in the right direction, the governor said he hopes to provide some additional guidance (on the states indoor mask mandate) in the coming days as we continue to evaluate the numbers. Asked what would be the specific benchmark for removing the mask mandates, Pritzker said, Hospitalizations, hospitalizations, hospitalizations. While he didnt provide a specific number that would trigger a removal of the mask requirement, he pointed to the period last summer when it was lifted temporarily. When the requirement was lifted June 11, the state was averaging 760 COVID-19 patients in hospitals per day, compared with an average of 3,192 during the week ending Sunday. As for the ramifications of Fridays ruling, Pritzker said, poor legal reasoning should not take one of our most effective tools off the table. Advertisement The ruling also has the potential to hinder the states ability to control future surges of COVID-19 or future pandemics, he said. Even when if we remove the requirement that people wear masks in various settings, there may come a time in the future when we would want people to put their mask back on, Pritzker said. Thats why were fighting this case and appealing this case. DeVore, who is representing parents and school personnel in the lawsuits, questioned the CTUs position that their collective bargaining agreement requires they follow the virus mitigation guidance, saying you cant take the rights away from these families and their students, who are not part of the teachers contract. DeVore said following the judges ruling, around 200 Illinois school districts, including most of the districts named in the lawsuits, have moved to a mask optional or mask recommended position. With around 25% of those districts, nobody told them they had to do it, but this ruling gave them the courage, DeVore said. In regards to the pending appellate court decision, DeVore said, how do you put that genie back in the bottle? The differing approaches to masking have heightened tensions in the classroom. Police were called to Fremd High School after a dispute erupted Monday between students over masking. Advertisement Students and staff leave Fremd High School in Palatine at the end of the school day on Feb. 7, 2022. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) The classroom teacher acted swiftly to prevent the situation from escalating and immediately notified administration, who worked with the Palatine Police Department to resolve the situation, Township High School District 211 spokeswoman Erin Holmes said. The safety and security of our students and staff is a top priority. Palatine police Cmdr. Jason Watson said the incident at the high school is under investigation, and there is no threat to the public at this time. Officials at the states largest teachers union said the ruling has the potential to shut our schools down, effectively closing our school buildings and perhaps being potent enough to stop in-person learning altogether. Weve been able to have students in classrooms all over the state for this school year and last and thats because public health safety measures have been taken that follow the advice of scientists and health care professionals, Illinois Education Association President Kathi Griffin said. Without those safety measures in place, we risk forcing thousands of teachers, education employees and students to be out sick or forced into quarantine, Griffin said. Still, some parents with children who attend Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic schools, which like CPS, is continuing to follow the states COVID-19 mitigation guidance, said they are troubled that the private school system is not moving to a mask recommended stance. Advertisement Students arrive wearing masks to Kozminski Community Academy in the Hyde Park neighborhood on Feb. 7, 2022. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune) I think the path forward always was giving parents a choice, and the (judges ruling) forced people to do it sooner than they wanted to, said Maryann Zaleski, 38, mother of two, and a former high school teacher whose daughter is a kindergartner at St. James School in Arlington Heights. We are realizing the emperor has no clothes, and the mandate really didnt have the authority to tell us these things, Zaleski said. Arlington Heights dad Nathan Ulery disagrees, and says despite the ongoing legal battles, parents should still be adhering to the advice of public health experts, including the Illinois Department of Public Health, whose guidance is based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. My son never once complained about wearing a mask, and my personal opinion is, the only ones who say they are struggling are those whose parents dont like them to wear masks, Ulery said. The confusion over masking rules for schools comes as the omicron surge in Illinois continues to subside at a rapid pace. State health officials on Monday reported 4,701 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19, dropping the average number of new cases over the past week to 7,221 per day. Thats down from an average of 32,501 per day during the week ending Jan. 12 and the lowest level since the week ending Dec. 14. Advertisement Cases have become a less reliable indicator of the viruss spread due to the prevalence of at-home testing and other factors, but hospitalizations have been on a similar downward trajectory. The 2,744 COVID-19 patients in Illinois hospitals as of Sunday night was down from 3,870 a week earlier and from a pandemic high of 7,380 on Jan. 12. Health officials on Monday reported 31 additional fatalities, bringing the statewide death toll to 31,483 since the pandemic began. But the rate of deaths also is starting to slow, averaging 81 per day over the past week after peaking at 132 per day during the week ending Jan. 25. Chicago Tribunes Tracy Swartz and Joe Mahr contributed. kcullotta@chicagotribune.com Twitter @kcullotta So on it goes: the pursuit of financing for projects such as "Fading Gigolo" and "Going Places," in and among film work that pays the bills and often more than that, and theater work that merely pays the bills. "My agent always yells at me and says I could be a very wealthy person," Turturro laments with a smile. "Well. I do the best I can. Small parts, big parts." Medium-budget pictures, he says, "don't exist anymore, not really." He cites director Robert Redford's "Quiz Show" (Redford's finest directorial hour to date) as a prime example. "I used to make a very good living doing medium-sized movies." Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline has subpoenaed the state Judicial Department -- and by extension its Supreme Court -- over access to information in its investigation of misconduct, setting up constitutional showdown over which has authority over the other. The planned merger announced Monday between bargain-fare airlines Frontier and Spirit could help the Colorado Springs Airport add more destinations in coming years, an airport official said Monday. Greg Phillips, Colorado Springs aviation director, doesnt expect any changes in Frontier service for up to a year if the deal is approved, but he said the local airport could benefit from the combined carrier reducing the number of flights to cities where Frontier and Spirit compete. That could free up aircraft to add additional routes in Colorado Springs and other cities. "This (merger) will potentially be a good thing for COS (the Colorado Springs Airport) and could lead to additional flights from a much larger network than either Frontier or Spirit alone. It will definitely shake up the low cost carrier world," Phillips said in an email. "We will be anxiously watching how this will unfold. Colorado Springs Airport officials have been meeting for several years with Spirit executives about adding Colorado Springs as a destination, most recently in February 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic began slowing air travel. Phillips and other local airport officials are scheduled to meet with Spirit executives next week during the Routes Americas 2022 conference in San Antonio, Texas, where airline and airport officials gather to discuss potential expansion opportunities. Frontier has served Colorado Springs since 2008, except for a three-year gap from 2013-2016, when the Denver-based carrier halted all service to Colorados second-largest city. Frontier operates nonstop flights several times a week from the Springs to Las Vegas, Phoenix and Orlando, Fla. The airline flew 90,890 passengers on outgoing flights last year, or 9.7% of the airports overall total. Frontiers local passenger numbers peaked in 2018, when it carried 259,946 passengers on outgoing flights, or 30.3% of the overall market, second only to United Airlines then. LifeServe Blood Center is urging community members to spread the love, roll up a sleeve and give blood as soon as possible. According to the press release, one blood donation has a huge local impact. In one hour, a single blood donor will help save or enhance the lives of up to three hospital patients in local medical centers. Local residents are encouraged to make an appointment at the upcoming neighborhood Osage Community Blood Drive from 1-6 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 21 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 833 Ash Street. Appointments are required. To schedule a blood donation appointment, go online at lifeservebloodcenter.org or call 800-287-4903. LifeServe Blood Center is a non-profit, community based blood center that has served the needs of local hospitals and patients since 1963. As one of the 15 largest blood centers in the country, LifeServe Blood Center is the sole provider of blood and blood products to more than 120 hospitals located across Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Another busy week at the Capitol. On Tuesday, I met with FFA groups from Lake Mills and Clear Lake and discussed their current activities in FFA and future plans in Agriculture. I enjoyed conversations with members of RSVP organization and their volunteer work in our communities. Travel Iowa held their reception Tuesday and it was great opportunity to visit with people from around the State including Jean and Norlyn Stowell from the Top of Iowa Welcome Center. Other groups at the Capitol this week included the Iowa State Police Association, Correctional Facilities Employees, Sheriffs & Deputies' Associations, and Orchard House Child Guidance Center. In our first debate of the session, the Iowa House passed the Renewable Fuels bill with strong bipartisan support (81-10). This bill is a win for Iowa agriculture and Iowa consumers, making E-15 available to more Iowans. As with most businesses in Iowa, one of the top concerns school administrators expressed to me is a teacher shortage and the difficulty filling many positions in our school systems including substitute teachers, bus drivers and other support staff. This shortage is putting a major strain on our already overworked teachers. House Republicans are moving quickly to pass legislation that will help reduce this shortage, making it easier for Iowans to become teachers, while maintaining the level of quality Iowa students deserve. Legislation includes: House Study Bill 632 and House File 2085 create alternative licenses for teachers. These bills make it easier for Iowan's working in other fields to become teachers, allowing more professionals to enter the field. House File 2081 eliminates exams teachers have to take between graduation and certification. This will allow graduates to more quickly and easily enter the workforce. House File 2083 expands the Iowa Scholar Program to increase eligibility for teachers who apply for the grants. This will help put teachers where we need them by giving support to teachers who work in districts that are understaffed. House File 2158 allows student teachers to also serve as substitute teachers. House File 2170 increases the amount of money an IPERS recipient can earn before their IPERS is decreased. This will allow more retirees to return to the classroom part-time if they so desire. The House Income Tax reduction bill (HSB 626) passed out of subcommittee this week and it will go to the full committee for discussion and a vote next week. This bill eliminates tax on retirement income and reduces rates to a flat 4% over 4 years. As always, feel free to contact me with your concerns or questions on issues. Phone: 515-281-2331 Email: jane.bloomingdale@legis.iowa.gov Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Over the years, especially Stateside, Oscar Wildes fin de siecle satire The Importance of Being Earnest has been turned into more of a hootenanny, replete with Lady Bracknell played in drag, campery of all sorts, and enough nods, winks and character ticks that those radical Wildeian aphorisms barely have the air to breathe. This is not such a production. Advertisement Writers artistic director Michael Halberstams seasonal Glencoe staging of one of the most daring and socially significant comedies ever penned in the English language, the greatest-ever takedown of Victorian priggishness and hypocrisy, is respectful, cautious and dignified, perhaps to a quite lovely fault. Mercifully, Ross Lehman, who plays two of the funniest butlers ever conceived for the theater, apparently did not get that memo. Advertisement One stupendously sardonic and the other seemingly sozzled, Lehmans Lane and Merriman provide an anarchic spirit of which, frankly, this entire production could use a dose, in the service of laughs and, given that we are watching Wilde, the satirizing of the self-important. For while The Importance of Being Earnest might look like an elitist comedy of manners, it is a play that oozes subtext and that mocked the original audience by revealing all that they would have held dear (class, parentage, social standing, the privilege of the patriarchy) to be malleable, purloined and, in the final analysis, arbitrary. The young women known as Gwendolen Fairfax (Jennifer Latimore) and Cecily Cardew (Rebecca Hurd) run this play; the men, Algernon Moncrieff (Steve Haggard) and John Worthing (Alex Goodrich), are charming but mostly pathetic. And, of course, Lady Bracknell (Shannon Cochran) is a persona with a power and wit to rival Elizabeth I, who was probably the woman who most readily entered the heads of those nervous, dinner-jacketed, 1890s British males who wanted to embrace the gay new thing but doubtless suspected subversion of a kind they could not yet fully understand. Theres that. But there is also your need to enjoy a classy Christmas outing with the family, and rest assured that this production will serve you well in that regard. The design elements especially the witty way in which Mara Blumenfelds black, white and one other color costumes are coordinated with Collette Pollards various toned settings are an enormous pleasure to behold. And with its two intermissions and swift pacing between them, the night has a decidedly social air as you watch the likes of Miss Prism (Anita Chandwaney) and the Rev. Canon Chasuble (Aaron Todd Douglas) scooting around. (For the record: This show opened amid an ongoing, yet-unresolved internal investigation into a former dramaturgs claim on Twitter that Halberstam behaved inappropriately in a Writers Theatre rehearsal room some 13 years ago). Youll have seen funnier Lady Bs than Cochrans, but thats partly a tribute to her determination to build a character who might actually exist. Its quite the naturalistic portrait, and you could argue that Wildes lines are better served by such, even if I think it could use a little judicious comic license here and there. My other complaint about the performance Tuesday night was that some of the cast has a way of swallowing the internal words of Wildes one-liners there arent so much punchlines here as lines that are funny in totem, and unless you spit out every last syllable, they dont all land. Thats a problem in Act 1 with Haggard and Goodrich, although it gets infinitely better as it goes, and both men then find their way into the world of Wildeian amusement, led by a director clearly determined to let the author still be the star and by the young women playing ancestors who already knew how to deal with a man-child. Times two. Chris Jones is a Tribune critic. Advertisement cjones5@chicagotribune.com The Importance of Being Earnest (3 stars) When: Through Dec. 23 Where: Writers Theatre, 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe Running time: 2 hours, 25 minutes Tickets: $38-$80 at 847-242-6000 or www.writerstheatre.org Enjoy someone else's drama A great theater city deserves a great theater critic. Enter Chris Jones. Subscribe now and get 4 weeks of full access for only 99. [ From 2016: True story of Oscar Wilde searches for new meaning ] [ 'Hamilton' writer plans a new Chicago theater project ] [ Writers Theatre investigating sexual harassment claim against Michael Halberstam ] CEDAR FALLS Police have identified a Clear Lake man as the person killed in a Sunday morning shooting on College Hill. Authorities identified the deceased as 19-year-old Arthur Craig Lang. A Mason City man is charged with shooting another person who was helpless on the ground during what was described as a brief gunfight. Cedar Falls police arrested Brandon Javon Mitchell, 25, of Mason City, on charges of attempted murder, intimidation with a weapon and felon in possession of a weapon. His bond was set at $100,000 during a Monday morning initial appearance in Black Hawk County District Court in Waterloo. Also arrested in the case is Daniel Martez Judon, 24, also of Mason City, on charges of intimidation with a weapon. His bond was set at $25,000. Authorities continue to investigate the shooting. Court records indicate Lang, Mitchell and Judon were in a black SUV that pulled up next to two pedestrians who were standing at the entrance to the Lot G parking area at the intersection of College and 22nd streets around 1:45 a.m. Sunday. Police believe Lang was initially driving the vehicle. The shooting was captured on a nearby security camera, and it shows one of the pedestrians approached the SUV and began talking with someone inside. Two people exited the SUV from the drivers side during the conversation. The second pedestrian began to approach the SUV but then backed up and began shooting, according to court records. Judon, seated in the SUVs front passenger side, retrieved a gun from under the seat, exited and moved to the back of the vehicle where he started shooting, according to court records. One of the pedestrians was shot in the chest, and both ran through the parking lot until the injured man collapsed. Lang was also hit by gunfire, and Judon apparently suffered lesser injuries, likely from debris, police said. The SUV started to drive off down College Street, and about a block later Mitchell climbed out of the vehicle and headed back toward the scene of the shootout. Mitchell fired more shots at the man on the ground, missing others in the area, including people behind his target, according to court records. Mitchell then ran back to the SUV and left. The SUV then drove to Sartori Hospital where Lang was pronounced dead, according to police. Court records indicate the man who collapsed in the parking lot hadnt fired any shots during the encounter. He was flown to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and is currently in stable condition and is expected for survive, according Cedar Falls police. The mans identity hasnt been released. Court records allege Mitchell is barred from handling firearms because of a 2021 misdemeanor domestic violence conviction in Cerro Gordo County and a restraining order. Police said none of the people involved in the shooting had connections to the University of Northern Iowa. Love 0 Funny 4 Wow 1 Sad 1 Angry 4 ramyasree0299 wrote: Can someone explain me why the option E is wrong, because it clearly proves that for interpersonal intelligence test few of the high LI people got similar scores as Normal LI, doesn't that weaken the argument that LI might not be an important factor for II? Hey,So IMHO, this option is incorrect because it talks about only a "few" test takers. On the GMAT words such as "few", "many", "most" , etc hold a lot of value. So we have to see if the argument speaks in the context of only a "few" people or all people in general.Hope this helps Mayor Tyler: In 1982 the courthouse that Roseville still needs would [ #permalink Mayor Tyler: In 1982 the courthouse that Roseville still needs would have cost $26 million. Now in 1992 the same building is costing the city close to $30 million to build. If the courthouse had been built in 1982 when I first showed how the building would relieve the overcrowding we were experiencing, Roseville would have saved at least $4 million by now.Councillor Simon: Your own financial reports inform us that $26 million in 1982 dollars is equivalent to $37 million in 1992 dollars. Adding that difference to the money Roseville has saved by not having to maintain an underutilized courthouse for ten years, we can only view the delay as a financial boon for Roseville.Which one of the following, if true, most strongly supports Mayor Tylers conclusion?(A) A shortage of courtroom space was not experienced until 1990, but from 1984 to 1992 the city spent a substantial amount of money each year to rent extra office space that the new courthouse would have provided.(B) Roseville had substantially fewer court cases in 1992 than in 1982, but in 1982 the number of court cases was exceptionally large because of challenges to a controversial law passed in 1981 and repealed in 1982.(C) There was more opposition to the mayors proposal in 1982 to build a new courthouse than to the proposal in 1992 for the courthouse to be built.(D) In 1980 Councillor Simon supported a proposal to build a courthouse that would have cost substantially more than $26 million.(E) In 1987 a prominent judge resigned from office in protest against crowded prison conditions in the Roseville district._________________ PROVIDENCE, N.C. Authorities are still looking for suspects and trying to determine a motive in the fatal shooting that killed a Danville man at Luckys bar early Sunday morning. Daren Lorenzo Hairston, 21, of Danville, died from a gunshot wound in the parking lot at the nightclub just across the North Carolina border in Caswell County, said Caswell County Sheriffs Office Sgt. Greg Ingram. The shooting occurred between 1:45 and 2 a.m. Sunday. Multiple shots were fired in the incident, Ingram said, without being able to say how many shooters there were or how many shots were fired. Further details were not available. Were trying to get some things tied down, Ingram said of the investigation. We dont know the motive for the shooting. Were trying to get in contact with different people who may have been there or who may have seen something. There are no suspects, he said. The bars parking lot was empty except for two vehicles Monday morning. An employee inside the establishment would not speak on the record to the Danville Register & Bee. The doors to the building were locked, with one glass door that appeared to be shattered. Pool tables lit by overhead lamps lined the inside, which was dark and empty. In a news release Sunday, the sheriffs office described the incident as a discharge of a firearm that escalated into a homicide investigation at 268 Gatewood Road in Providence. This is an active investigation and more information may be released at a later point in time, the news release stated. Anyone with information about the incident can contact the Caswell County Sheriffs Office at 336-694-9322 or Crime Stoppers of Caswell County at (336) 694-5199. Those who provide information leading to an arrest or indictment could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000. Information provided will remain confidential. This marks the second homicide at the bar near Danville in two years. In March 2020, Keith Hayes, of Danville, was killed at the establishment. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. If youve been to a DMV in North Carolina, chances are you have spent hours waiting in line there. In 2018, state residents reported waiting as long as seven hours to get a new drivers license. The NCDMV has since implemented measures to avoid long lines, like expanding online services and extending the hours at some drivers license office locations to accommodate more people. Here are some ways to avoid long lines at the DMV: Complete your transactions online The North Carolina DMV offers more than a dozen online services for vehicle registration transactions, including license renewals, property tax payments on new vehicles and specialty license plate orders. Any person who meets any of the following requirements must visit an NCDMV driver license office to renew their license: Has a suspended license or outstanding debt with NCDMV Has a restriction other than Corrective Lenses on their drivers license and/or 24 on their full provisional license Needs to renew a commercial drivers license, regular Class A or B drivers license, limited provisional license, limited learner permit or learner permit Has a U.S. government document indicating legal presence Has used the online system for previous renewal. Individuals can only use the online system every other license renewal. Online services are unavailable on Sundays from 4 a.m.-noon for routine maintenance. Make an appointment Appointments can be made online to skip the line at NCDMV offices. If you cant find an available slot, the NCDMV advises checking their website regularly, as new appointments are added each day. Renew your license by mail A North Carolina resident can renew their standard drivers license by mail once in their lifetime if they are temporarily living outside of the state for at least 30 continuous days. If they are on active duty with the U.S. Armed Forces and stationed outside of the state, an N.C. resident may renew their license twice. Avoid peak times The best times to go to the DMV are Tuesday-Thursday, mid to late afternoon, when most people are working. You can also save time by going in the middle of the month, since many drivers flood the DMV at the beginning and end of each month to get licenses renewed. Some Wake County school librarians are speaking out in defense of several LGBTQ-themed books that some parents want removed from school libraries. Parents in Wake County and across the nation are challenging books, often with LGBTQ content, that they say are pornographic because of graphic language or images related to sex. But a group of Wake County school librarians urged the county school board this past week to reject the challenges and to keep the books on the shelves. This board needs to decide what story will be told about WCPSS when our students identities were challenged and access to books in our libraries were jeopardized, Chris Tuttell, the librarian at South Garner High School, told the board. Did we speak up in favor of tolerance, empathy and compassion or did we remain silent? Our students are watching and listening and they deserve a board that shows them our beliefs arent just words but actions. Critics, however, say the graphic content in the challenged books makes them unsuitable to be in school libraries. Remove the books with extreme sexual content from school libraries, Shelley Peele said in written public comments submitted for this weeks board meeting. Why does a school child need access to books describing how to engorge a clitoris with blood for orgasm or visual depictions of oral sex? Book challenges and legal complaints are being filed across North Carolina and the nation. A group of parents and community activists filed nine criminal complaints in December with the Wake County Sheriffs Office accusing the school system of distributing obscene and pornographic material. Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman says she wont file charges because she doesnt believe the complaints rise to the level of being a criminal matter. Lawn Boy challenged Some of the books targeted include Gender Queer: A Memoir, Lawn Boy and Melissa, formerly called George. Those books previously have come under fire in North Carolina from Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, a Greensboro Republican, and nationally for their sexual content. Chad Slotta, a parent at Cary High School, had challenged having Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison in the schools library. Lawn Boy is a coming-of-age story about a 22-year-old man who is growing up in poverty. A News & Observer analysis of the book found it has three scenes involving sexual situations, including the main character recalling how as a 10-year-old he had oral sex with another boy at a youth group gathering at their church. A six-member committee of parents, teachers and staff at Cary High unanimously rejected Slottas challenge. Slotta appealed the decision to a district review committee, which in January backed Cary High on the grounds that the book has literary merit and contributes to the diversity and representation of characters and experiences in the librarys collection. The district committee also pointed to how Lawn Boy is not used in classrooms so reading it is voluntary. Slotta told the school board last month that he planned to appeal Cary Highs decision. Slotta read aloud excerpts from Lawn Boy, saying the language there would not be allowed if it was said in a classroom. We have a responsibility to protect and safeguard our children, Slotta told the board. Exposing them to obscene, sexually explicit and pornographic material harms their physical and emotional health by normalizing the sexualization of children and stealing their innocence. Wake County Public Libraries rejected a challenge made against Lawn Boy. The library system briefly removed Gender Queer before returning it to circulation while it reviews the process for handling book challenges. Gender Queer is a graphic novel, or story told in a comic-strip format, about author Maia Kobabes journey of identifying as nonbinary and asexual. An analysis by The News & Observer found a few sexual scenes in this book, as well as a few illustrations involving nudity and erotic scenarios. Book challenges harm the students Amid the challenges, several Wake County school librarians attended the recent board meeting to argue that keeping those books helps the districts LGBTQ students. Julie Stivers, the librarian at Mt. Vernon Middle School in Raleigh, called the book challenges an attempt to deny the ability of LGBTQ students to see themselves reflected in the books in their libraries and classrooms. These challenges target Black, Latinx and queer stories, said Stivers, the Wake County school systems librarian of the year. Not only does this harm the students whose identities are authentically and thoughtfully portrayed in this literature, it harms all students who do not get to learn and build empathy. Stivers read comments that she said came from students who wanted the books kept. The students talked about how having LGBTQ books makes them want to read again and makes them feel safe and seen. I mean people know that reading about something in a book doesnt mean well go and do it, right? Stivers said as she read one of the student comments. Do they realize I read about dragons and dont start breathing fire? But Peele, one of the parents who wants the books removed, said in her comments that this isnt anti-LGBTQ propaganda. This isnt about censorship of ideas, Peele continued. It is one of the most basic non-refutable arguments that simply cant be ignored. You are in effect peddling porn to our children. Some want to fire the librarians The spoken and written public comments from the various school librarians has drawn both praise and criticism. Some have thanked the librarians, saying theyre making sure that the voices of students are being heard. Powerful advocacy from WCPSS school librarians at last nights board meeting in response to the recent wave of book challenges, most targeting LGBTQ+ titles, Casey Rawson, a teaching assistant professor in library science at UNC-Chapel Hill, tweeted Wednesday. So grateful for the tough work these folks are doing to ensure that ALL students are represented in the library. But some have called for the school librarians to be fired. The position of those woke librarians is that pornography should be allowed in schools, Jon Warren, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, tweeted Wednesday. Got it. Now fire them. The Headache Wellness Center in Greensboro is recruiting migraine patients ages 12 to 17 for a new clinical research study. The center is one of more than 90 sites in the U.S. that are participating. Researchers are looking at whether the migraine drug marketed to adults as Nurtec ODT is safe and effective in teenagers. It is sponsored by New Haven-based Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, which makes the drug. Participants will receive either the drug or a placebo as investigational treatment for up to two moderate or severe migraine attacks. To enroll, participants must have at least one migraine per month and have at least a six-month history of migraine. For information, call 336-574-8000, email cwagner@headachewellnesscenter.com or visit www.pediatricmigrainestudy.com. * * * * The Womens Resource Center of Greensboro will offer the virtual workshop Boost Your Midlife: How to Reduce Stress and Build Resilience from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 10 for women. Participants will learn how to use powerful strategies that will reduce feelings of stress and being overwhelmed, so they can feel more focused, confident and fulfilled in a midlife they enjoy living. To register, visit tinyurl.com/mnynzmuy or call 336-275-6090. * * * * A virtual TEDxGreensboro Salon event focused on hair and its impact on society is set for 6 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10. The hosts will explore the provocative and interesting aspects of hair the value we place on it, why people discriminate based on it and our fascination with it. The TEDx Salon Series features smaller, community-focused events. The salon is free, but registration is required at https://tedxgreensboro.com/salons. * * * * YWCA High Point Womens Resource Center is hosting a Love Yourself to Better Health workshop series from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursdays, Feb. 10-24: Feb. 10: Physical (in person) Feb. 17: Nutritional (virtual) Feb. 24: Spiritual (virtual) To register, call 336-882-4126 or email rjohnson@ywcahp.com. * * * * AuthoraCare Collective, in partnership with AARP North Carolina, Duke Clinical and Translational Science Institute and SAGE of Central North Carolina will present the Power of Knowing: Aging in LGBTQ+ Communities. The two-part free webinar will be from noon to 1 p.m. Feb. 10 and 17 on Zoom. Part One will explore the impact of cultural devaluation and discrimination of LGBTQ+ people to reveal the role care providers can play in creating inclusive and safe places for aging LGBTQ+ patients and clients. Register at tinyurl.com/2p8bnsbj. Webinar ID is 863 3995 0967. Part Two will focus on how to give and get information from care providers to care for LGBTQ+ seniors and their loved ones. Register at tinyurl.com/bdzm8e4v. Webinar ID is 832 3886 2842. To join webinars via phone, call 312-626-6799. The webinars will stream on demand at authoracare.org/knowing after airing. To learn more, or to register, visit www.authoracare.org/knowing. * * * * Hirsch Wellness Network offers multiple healing arts programs in February and March that are free to those with cancer, cancer survivors and caregivers. Highlights in February include: Perceptions for Healing An Introduction to Mindfulness and Compassion Meditations: 4-5 p.m. Feb. 9 and 23 Collective Sharing: 1-2 p.m. Feb. 14 Yoga to Release the Tension in the Neck and Shoulders: 6-7 p.m. Feb. 17 Also, Introduction to Digital Photography (online) is planned for 1 to 2:30 p.m. March 11, March 25, April 8 and April 22. Join photographer Dave Dulaney for this four-session workshop that covers the basic concepts and practices of digital photography. For a list of classes, visit www.hirschwellnessnetwork.org. Registration is required. For information, call 336-209-0259. * * * * The American Heart Association will offer a Red Dress Tea and Sunday Afternoon Jazz event from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Feb. 20 on Zoom. The event will focus on mainly African American congregations in Forsyth County and Charlotte to help bring awareness to the increased risk for Black women for heart disease and stroke. Email Sarah.Fedele@heart.org for the Zoom link. Send press releases to people@greensboro.com. GREENSBORO Last week, Taiwo Tai Jaiyeoba started work as the new city manager, overseeing 3,000 employees and a half-billion dollar budget. Jaiyeoba was hired from the city of Charlotte, where he served in a dual capacity as assistant city manager and director of the Planning, Design and Development Department. He also was a member of Charlottes executive leadership team, providing support to the departments of Planning, Transportation and Charlotte Area Transit Services. Jaiyeoba led several initiatives all designed to improve the citys ability to create more affordable housing. Prior to Charlotte, he served as director of the Sacramento Regional Transit District in California, and director of planning and development in Grand Rapids, Mich. Jaiyeoba enters his job as the city is struggling to contain a rising homicide rate and a police department thats battling vacancies and other challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. In an interview with the News & Record, Jaiyeoba discussed combating crime, changing the approach to affordable housing, doing more to protect the environment and how he wants to build credibility with the public. Q: City Council and many people in the community are talking about crime. Thats one of your priorities. What are some strategies that the city can use to approach crime, the homicide rate and public safety in general? Jaiyeoba: The (police) chief and I have had extensive conversations. Thats one of the reasons that over the next several weeks, were having community conversations. So concurrent with the listening sessions, well have a community survey where we want to hear from them. And as we do so, ideas will come up. Questions will come up. Then its now for us as a city and as leaders to sit down and say, Here are the best practices. These are the things that have worked for us to reduce our homicide rate one year ago to where we are today. Can we invest more in this? I have told the chief he is the subject-matter expert when it comes to policing. Fire Chief Jim Robinson is the subject-matter expert when it comes to fire. My role as city manager is to understand them and work with council to make sure that we give them the resources that will support them to do the work that they do best in keeping our residents and businesses safe. Q: Lets talk about housing. Obviously real estate prices have still risen even though we remain more affordable compared to other cities. What are some solutions to the affordable housing shortage? Jaiyeoba: Developers of affordable housing will tell you that one of the things that makes housing affordability difficult for them is the process itself, the regulatory process. So how can we look at how long it takes for us to review permits and to review those things today? And is it possible for us to be able to save some time? In the state of North Carolina, we cannot mandate affordable housing. But we can incentivize them. And one way by which you can incentivize them, this is on the front end, maybe there are fees that we can waive. Jaiyeoba said many people in Greensboro dont like the suggestion that affordable housing belongs in low-income parts of town. But thats often where developers locate their projects. Hed like to change that approach. Jaiyeoba: So if were building it on a particular side of town, we probably need to diversify it with different types of houses. So its not just one type, and also different types of uses. We can build it around a grocery store, for example. You can build it around a medical facility, for example, so that theres a secondary use. While housing could be primary use, you can have a secondary use and so it will not necessarily result in displacement of people. Jaiyeoba has extensive transportation experience, and one of his goals is to encourage the city of Greensboro to help develop transportation with fewer emissions, such as the citys electric bus system. Sustainable energy is also important to him, especially in city buildings. He talked about his environmental priorities. Jaiyeoba: We have to make sure that we put emphasis on our trees because theyre not only visually pleasing, but theyre also lifesavers. How can we design our environment in such a way thats environmentally sustainable and safe? Thats why I like the whole idea behind the Toyota EV battery plant (in Randolph County) because we want to be a force. We were the first city in this state to have a battery-powered fleet bus system. Right now, we have an environmental action plan thats out there that were going to implement. Thats something people dont pay attention to. I like us to think that every action we take is about saving energy. Its also about protecting our environment because weve got to leave a legacy behind. Q: There are some people who distrust the city. How would you build a culture of trust? Jaiyeoba: People think we dont follow up, and people think we dont follow through. And I believe that you start building credibility when people see that what they told you a month ago did not just go into a black hole, but youre actually walking through it and youre working on process, which means you have to have a regular check-in with people. I have said this to our staff that these community listening sessions are not a one-and-done thing. We will do this, but well come back again. And I think its important for the community to see that you close the loop. In other words, we heard from you back in February or March. We documented all this, but six months, eight months, 10 months down the line, here is where weve moved the needle. Here are the areas where we may not be able to legally do something, but we heard you and that idea is not gone. But its tabled until were able to legally do that. Because if an idea is not doable today, it could be doable in five years time. One of the ways by which I believe credibility is built is going to the community, not sitting in our building. And so Im going to go out. Im going to meet our people. Of course, the pandemic has made how we engage the community very different. So were going to be engaging in a hybrid manner, but the pandemic will gradually go out and I think that you build trust when you meet people, they look at you in the eye and they talk to you. And they understand that you have their best interest at heart. Contact Richard M. Barron at 336-373-7371 and follow @BarronBizNR on Twitter. From her office in Birmingham, Alabama, DeJuana Thompson looks across the street and sees a daily reminder of terror. Her window overlooks the 16th Street Baptist Church, where a bomb in 1963 killed four young Black girls. Living in the era of bomb threats is not new to people of color, said Thompson, president and CEO of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. Advertisement Nearly six decades after that bombing by the Ku Klux Klan, the FBI is now investigating last weeks bomb threats against at least 17 historically Black colleges and universities across the U.S. Thompson said the threats underscore the need to teach new generations the history of violence targeting people of color so the lessons of the past can be applied to the present. The FBI said the hate crimes probe involves more than 20 field offices and is of the highest priority. Investigators have identified at least five persons of interest, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The official could not discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. Advertisement A man speaks with a police officer in a patrol vehicle outside the Spelman campus Tuesday morning, Feb. 1, 2022 after two historically Black colleges in Georgia received bomb threats Tuesday morning, a disturbing trend that many HBCUs across the country have been threatened with in recent weeks. Fort Valley State University and Spelman College were among several HBCUs nationwide that received threats, according to published reports. The Atlanta University Center Consortium, a partnership of the city's HBCUs, said it is working with public safety teams on each campus to ensure the safety of students, faculty and staff. (John Spink / John.Spink@ajc.com/AP) In one of the cases, a caller claiming to be affiliated with the neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division described a plot at Bethune-Cookman University in Florida involving seven bombs hidden in bags, Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young said. University campuses are considered soft targets, but theyre not as soft as they used to be, said Robert McCrie, a professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. Universities have traditionally been easily accessible to the public, but many hardened their security after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. Now, picture IDs are needed to enter buildings on McCries campus and others, he said. Though no devices were found at the schools threatened last week, people of color dont have that privilege to think its not real, said Lance Wheeler, director of exhibitions at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta. The bomb threats against Black institutions are deeply rooted in U.S. history. In Alabama, people used to call Birmingham Bombingham because of how many bombs and bomb threats occurred, Thompson said. Among the many victims: the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, a civil rights leader whose home was damaged on Christmas Day in 1956 by 16 sticks of dynamite placed beneath his bedroom window. When a KKK member suggested he leave town, Shuttlesworth responded that I wasnt saved to run, U.S. Rep. John Conyers Jr. told the House of Representatives after Shuttlesworth died in 2011. How we responded then is how we are responding now, Thompson said. We will not stand for these hate crimes, we will not stand for this intimidation, we shall not be moved. The Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus statement on the latest bomb threats recalled 1969 racial segregation protests at North Carolina A&T that prompted an armed response by the National Guard and police. One student was killed, dozens injured and more than 300 people arrested as gunfire was exchanged from campus buildings. The protests followed the first sit-in at a whites-only lunch counter by four Black men, later known as the Greensboro Four. We know from history that in spite of external threats, HBCUs are resilient institutions that will persist through all forms of adversity, the statement said. Universities in Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, and other states targeted last week have resumed operations since the lockdowns. But many still worry about future threats and efforts to prosecute those responsible. Advertisement Maurice Mitchell, national director of the Working Families Party and strategist for the Movement for Black Lives, said HBCUs and independent Black institutions are targeted because they represent independence and resilience for African Americans, which is a threat to a white supremacist ideology. The mere existence of Black schools, Black churches, Black political organizations and Black business are a threat, he said. We see upswings in these attacks as backlash to Black resistance, the exercising of independent Black political power, the influence of Black social movements. The attacks are ways to try to put fear into communities that are trying to obtain freedom, Wheeler said. The impact of the Black vote this last election has been felt at the ballot box, such as Georgia flipping two Senate seats for Democrats including the election of Raphael Warnock as the first Black senator to represent the state. And the Black Lives Matter movement has led a national push for protests against police violence and injustice, including murder convictions for the men who killed Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia and George Floyd in Minneapolis. There is a culture of fear of Black independence, of Black people building our own institutions, our own power and setting out our own direction politically, economically. Theres always efforts to suppress that, and I think that is whats happening right now, Mitchell said. The best way to challenge these white supremacists and haters is by doubling down and investing in HBCUs long term and strengthening them as institutions. National Urban League President Marc Morial called the latest bomb threats part of the poisonous tree of hate, putting them in the same category as legislative proposals that would suppress the vote, the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, a spike in hate crimes and backlash against affirmative action. Advertisement Terrorism is always about creating discord, creating unrest and fear its about disrupting society, said Warren Eller, who also teaches at John Jay. Delaware State University President Tony Allen said students and community members shouldnt let threats disrupt their spaces. Sharing in Thompsons message, Allen wrote a letter to the university community shortly after a bomb threat on his campus. Here is what I say to these bullies, these fearmongers of our day: We shall not be moved, he said. Well get to it in a moment but, first, lets talk about Maus. That, of course, is Art Spiegelmans two-part graphic novel of his fathers experience in the Holocaust, which was banned last month by the school board in McMinn County, Tenn. Sadly, that in itself does not make Maus unique. To the contrary, book banners are having a field day ransacking school libraries for texts that violate their conceptions of decency. Everything from Toni Morrisons Beloved to Dav Pilkeys Captain Underpants and the Preposterous Plight of the Purple Potty People is being consigned to the metaphorical fire. Somewhere, Josef Goebbels is smiling. But the McMinn County school boards unanimous decision to pull Spiegelmans Pulitzer Prize-winning work still struck me like a rock. You see, Maus is one of my favorite books. Its one of the best things Ive ever read. If youve read it, you know what I mean. In telling his story, Spiegelman uses animals as stand-ins for humans: the Nazis are cats, the Americans, dogs, the Jews, mice, etc. And if youre thinking, Well, that sounds cute it isnt. Within that deceptively anodyne framework, he erects worlds of emotional dynamism, particularly in exploring his own fraught relationship with a father left indelibly scarred by what he witnessed and endured. The McMinn school board somehow managed to reduce all of that to cuss words and nudity; i.e., cartoon mice without their clothes on. Journalist David Corn of Mother Jones reports that at least one board member admitted to having not even read the book. Hence, the modest proposal well discuss in a sec. Some of you will recognize the reference to a famous 1729 essay by Jonathan Swift, some wont and a few may remember it vaguely for advocating that people eat the children of the poor, failing to realize (as often happens) that Swift was actually satirizing societys callousness toward those children. Which raises a question: Given that diversity of comprehension, how would you teach Swift in 2022? Would you even try, knowing how easily it could provoke a visit from some furious parent claiming her child was traumatized? Not so long ago, Swift was considered required reading for cultural literacy. People who read and thought about literature for a living had reached a consensus that his work, challenging though it was, was important. But nowadays, that consensus is supposed to also include school board members and parents, most of whom, we may safely assume, havent read the work. How are those interests supposed to align? The fact is, they cant. Thats how you get embarrassments like the one in Tennessee. Small wonder a graph of kids test scores looks like a ski slope. So, heres my modest proposal: How about we respect educators as the trained professionals they are? How about we trust their judgment? How about we stop requiring them to reach consensus with those who have not the first clue? If a parent feels their child cant handle some challenging material, fine: empower that parent to opt the child out of the lesson not to deny the lesson to everyone else. And voters, vote. Purge school boards of the sort of bluenose martinet who thinks you should teach the Holocaust the Holocaust! without painful words and images. If we want to save American education, the first step should be obvious. Let teachers teach. Leonard Pitts Jr. is a columnist for the Miami Herald, 3511 NW 91st Ave., Miami, FL 33172. Readers may contact him via email at lpitts@miamiherald.com. Two foreign residents working in Phillips County on temporary visas were recently cited with falsifying their voter registration information prior to the 2021 Dodson municipal election. Grace O. Albia and Jannet Benitez Zeta, both Philippine citizens, were cited Jan. 11 and both have pleaded not guilty in Phillips County Justice Court, the county attorney's office stated in a press release. The investigation began after the county clerk and recorders office asked the sheriff to investigate a pair of potentially invalid voter registrations and ballots submitted in the municipal election, Sheriff Jerry Lytle said in an interview Monday. After reaching out to the U.S. Border Patrol, Lytle said his office confirmed that neither Albia nor Zeta were U.S. citizens and were ineligible to vote in the election. Several other county residents also raised the issue with local election officials, the press release stated. Albia and Zeta were each cited for deceptive election practices and for violating the states law requiring U.S. citizenship to register to vote. Phillips County Clerk and Recorder Lynnel LaBrie, who oversees the county's elections, confirmed Monday afternoon that the two votes in question were counted in the municipal race. Incumbent mayor Angel Arocha won by 21-19 over Glenn Dolphay, according to the county's official canvass of the results. Both of the allegedly falsified registrations have been canceled, according to a public list of voters in the municipal election provided by LaBrie's office. But the voting list also shows that both ballots were among those that were accepted. It does not indicate how voters cast their ballots. Dodson is a town of 125. Reached by phone on Monday afternoon, Dolphay said he plans to ask for a recount if the two women are found guilty. "This is a bad situation," Dolphay said. LaBrie said she's unsure what the next steps would be if the ballots are determined to be fraudulent, including whether a recount could be conducted or what the procedure would be in the event of a tie. It's also unclear why the ballots were counted in the race. Voters in Montana are required to submit documentation to prove their identity when they register to vote, which can include the last four digits of their Social Security number, photo identification or a driver's license number. If they are unable to provide the required documentation when they register, election officials can register them on a provisional basis, which flags their registration in the system until they provide that documentation. Regina Plettenberg, legislative chair of the Montana Association of Clerk and Recorders, said Monday that provisionally registered voters can still receive a provisional mail-in ballot. But, she said, those voters and their ballots are typically flagged by election administrators and not counted toward the final vote until the required documentation is provided. Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsens office did not respond Monday to questions left by phone message and email. Her office sent a press release announcing the case at the end of the business day Friday. It did not include any information on how the registrations were processed, whether the ballots were submitted on a provisional basis or whether they had been counted toward the municipal election outcome. Lytle declined to elaborate on whether Albia and Zeta knew they were ineligible to vote at the time they cast their ballots, citing the ongoing case. Albia and Zeta are both first-year teachers at Dodson Public Schools, superintendent Gary Weitz confirmed Monday. The two women were not immediately available for comment, he said. No attorney has been appointed to represent them, according to the county attorney's office. Their cases are scheduled for omnibus hearings on Feb. 23, Lytle said. Each of the charges is a misdemeanor and carries a maximum penalty of $500 in fines and up to six months in jail. Instances of voter fraud are exceedingly rare in Montana. Lytle said Phillips County is no exception. Ive been here 18 years, and this is the first Title 13 citation Ive ever written, he said, referring to the section of Montana statutes dealing with election law. Despite a proliferation of conspiracy theories alleging coordinated attempts to commit voter fraud during the 2020 elections, no evidence to support those claims has surfaced to date. In early 2020, a Gallatin County man used his drivers license number to submit a phony voter registration under a different name. Michael Winters didnt attempt to vote either ballot, according to prosecutors, but was caught after allegedly talking about how easy it would be to commit voter fraud. He was found guilty of falsifying information on a voter registration application and sentenced last year to a six-month suspended jail sentence. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 2 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. In 2020, two days after his acquittal in his first Senate impeachment trial, President Donald Trump took retribution against two officials who had delivered damaging testimony; he ousted Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a national security aide, and Gordon Sondland, his ambassador to the European Union. In 2021, After moving south to a new team and conference, Tom Brady led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 31-9 Super Bowl victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on the Buccaneers home field. Pope Francis resumed greeting the public in St. Peters Square, seven weeks after he interrupted the Sunday noon ritual to discourage crowds from gathering during the COVID-19 pandemic. DECATUR Tyler M. Blackburn, a felon prosecutors say was caught in Decatur with a handgun he said he carried for his own defense, was warned Monday he faces more than 30 years in prison if convicted. Blackburn was arraigned in Macon County Circuit Court on Monday on charges of armed violence, a Class X felony, and the unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon. Judge Rodney Forbes said the Class X felony carried a sentencing range of 15-30 years upon conviction; the unlawful possession charge had a sentencing range of 3-14 years. The judge agreed to appoint a public defender to represent Blackburn, but the 28-year-old man, who lists a home address in Clinton, Indiana, said he had hopes of hiring a private attorney after tax filing season. I believe that, eventually, when some of my people get their tax returns, I will get to hire an attorney, he told Forbes. Blackburn, who has yet to formally enter a plea, will be back in court for a preliminary hearing Feb. 16, when Forbes will weigh the evidence and see if there is probable cause to try him. A sworn affidavit from Decatur police said the defendant was arrested Jan. 29 after a traffic stop on a vehicle in which he was the rear seat passenger. A police dog alerted to the presence of drugs and police said they found a gram of meth in Blackburns pants pocket. The affidavit said the loaded Smith & Wesson handgun was found hidden underneath the front passenger seat. Tyler acknowledged he was not allowed to possess the handgun due to being a convicted felon, but stated he carried it with him for protection, the affidavit said. Police said a check of criminal records showed Blackburn had previous convictions out of Indiana for battery involving serious bodily harm and residential burglary. And at the time of his arrest in Decatur he also had an outstanding warrant from Edgar County in Illinois for criminal trespass to a house. Blackburn remains held in the Macon County Jail with bail set at $210,000, which means he must post a bond of $21,000 to be released. Contact Tony Reid at (217) 421-7977. Follow him on Twitter: @TonyJReid Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ARCOLA After the events of Aug. 15, when the Taliban captured the Afghan capital of Kabul, Army veteran Ilene Henderson received frantic calls from several former interpreters she worked with during her time in Afghanistan in 2003. Having served in the military for 21 years, Henderson and her mother, Inge Henderson, and aunt, Sue Montgomery, decided to create the Afghan Welcome Home Project of Central Illinois to help support Afghan refugees with the hopes of relocating some to the regions into a home of their own. Now, with about eight evacuees already resettled in Central Illinois, the Afghan Welcome Home Project has welcomed 10 more Afghan evacuees to Arcola. We really have had a great outpouring from the community and thats been our thing from the beginning, Henderson said. Thats nothing against the official government resettlement process and infrastructure, it has its place but I dont think anything can do as much as the power of the community and the people. Currently, Henderson said the 10 men are being temporarily housed in Arcola until they can find permanent jobs with a sustainable income that could lead to permanent housing. The men served as members of the Afghan National Army working alongside the United States military and even helping special operations forces in missions as peers, Henderson said. With their wives and children still back in Afghanistan, Henderson said they are determined to make money to send back home and eventually resettle their families in the states. Unfortunately, there are already some roadblocks they have faced. When looking for jobs, Henderson said some of the men were hoping to find skill-based positions as truck drivers or manufacturers since that was what they had experienced prior to the military. The problem is they would need to receive training and take a certification test to even get a chance. Coupled with the fact that all of them speak little English and cannot read or write in their native language of Pashto, Henderson said its become increasingly difficult to find permanent positions for them to take. If theres any kind of a challenge or roadblock that is encountered, everyone just seems to freak out and say they dont want to have to deal with it rather than come up with an alternate way of doing things, Henderson said. Most of the guys that are here, no one speaks English but they all understand some works and are very intelligent and can learn. Another issue they have crossed has been with management companies refusing to rent property to anyone due to them not having a credit or background history that would show up, Henderson said. Companies are even refusing when local organizations are willing to cosign and provide funds to cover the costs, so Henderson said they are now looking for private individuals who rent properties that might be interested. Also, Henderson said each of the evacuees is here on humanitarian assistance, which is only valid for two years before they need to leave, and are looking for someone versed in immigration law to help file and apply for special immigrant visas that would allow them to stay. These guys have fought and put their lives on the line for the United States just as much as I did as an American veteran, Henderson said. I mean, I hold a personal responsibility to help them because they deserve as much help as possible. Individuals interested in volunteering or donating items to the evacuees can learn more at afghanwelcomehomeproject.blogspot.com about any opportunities or updates on necessities. If someone seeking to help is local to the Arcola area, they can contact organizer Juanita Marner at 217-246-6141 to drop off donations. A volunteer informational and planning meeting will also be held at the First Christian Church of Arcola, 311 E. Main St., at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 8. The meeting will discuss both small and big ways to get involved in the project and help facilitate the resettlement of these evacuees in Central Illinois. There's something for everybody, whether its big or small theres always something that anyone can do to contribute," Henderson said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. JOLIET A judge on Monday delayed for three months a hearing on former suburban Chicago police officer Drew Peterson's request to toss out his murder conviction in the killing of his third wife after his attorney said he needed more time. Will County Judge Edward Burmila set the next hearing date for May 18. During a brief hearing, Assistant Public Defender Jason Strzelcki told the judge he needed time to interview witnesses, several of whom live outside Illinois. He also said he planned to amend the petition that Peterson filed himself last year. "We will be adding several claims," said Strzelcki, who did not detail what those might be. The judge's decision keeps alive Peterson's legal effort to vacate his 2012 conviction of first-degree murder in the 2004 slaying of Kathleen Savio. He was sentenced to 38 years in prison. Savio's body was found in a dry bathtub in her home. Her death was originally ruled accidental, but after Peterson's fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, disappeared in 2007, authorities reopened the investigation. Her body was exhumed and after a second autopsy, her death was classified as a homicide and Peterson was arrested. Peterson is also a suspect in the disappearance of Stacy Peterson, who is presumed dead. Drew Peterson has not been charged in her disappearance. Peterson, who was a police sergeant in Bolingbrook, has maintained his innocence. In his handwritten petition, he argued that he was provided ineffective counsel by his lead attorney, Joel Brodsky. He also alleged that Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow intimidated witnesses, a contention Glasgow has denied. Peterson also argued that Burmila should not have allowed a pastor and a divorce attorney to provide hearsay evidence when they testified that Stacy Peterson talked to them about Savio's death and her concerns about her safety. Peterson remains in prison and did not attend Monday's hearing. His attorney, whom Burmila appointed to represent him, said he didn't believe that Peterson would attend the May 18 hearing either. The judge could decide then that there is enough information to go forward, a decision that could lead to a hearing in which Brodsky, Glasgow and others could be called to testify. In 2016, he was sentenced to an additional 40 years in prison for trying to hire someone to kill Glasgow. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 For months, President Joe Biden has given the impression that he is prepared to play hardball with Iran over its nuclear program. As the world powers have negotiated with the Islamic Republic to revive the 2015 agreement known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the U.S. has maintained that the theocratic regime in Tehran would get no relief from sanctions until it returns to compliance with the deals terms. The Biden administration also let it be known that it had reviewed a range of military options to prevent Iran from producing a nuclear weapon. When Tehran ignored the admonition and ramped up its uranium enrichment capacity, the U.S. took its tough talk up a notch, saying fresh sanctions would be imposed if the negotiations in Vienna to restore the deal didnt produce results. The objective of the escalating threats was to get the Iranians to blink. But it is Bidens resolve that now seems to be weakening. The U.S. State Department announced on Friday that it was waiving some sanctions on Irans nuclear program, apparently to induce some reciprocal concession from Tehran. No dice. The Iranians quickly dismissed the U.S. overture as insufficient. The waivers allow foreign firms to work on some non-military aspects of Tehrans nuclear program; this was barred in 2020 by sanctions imposed by Bidens predecessor. (President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the JCPOA in 2019 on grounds the deal didnt do enough to restrain Iran.) The Iranians know an empty gesture when they see one: It is highly unlikely any foreign company would engage with the nuclear program when there was a risk it might be required to abruptly pull out if the negotiations in Vienna end in failure. Tehran says it wants all sanctions withdrawn, and a U.S. commitment not to reimpose them in the future a guarantee no president can give. The Iranians will also recognize in Bidens waiver a wavering of presidential will. If the U.S. is willing to make some concessions unilaterally, it might be willing to make other, more substantial ones. Because the gesture comes on the heels of Secretary of State Antony Blinkens warning that Iran will soon be a matter of a few weeks from having enough fissile material for a bomb, Tehran will conclude that its nuclear brinkmanship is working. Why not stick with it? While holding out for the withdrawal of more sanctions, the regime will note with satisfaction that Fridays waivers in effect reinforce the idea that there are non-military aspects to the Iranian nuclear program. This is Tehrans long con. In truth, Tehran has no non-military need for a nuclear program. There is no energy imperative: Iran is blessed with some of the worlds largest reserves of oil and natural gas and isnt making any meaningful investments in renewables. Nor is there any great scientific objective: Nuclear technology is hardly the holy grail it was in the middle of the last century, and the ability to enrich uranium brings Iran no bragging rights. The only reason the Islamic Republic has a nuclear program at all is to menace its neighbors and blackmail the wider world into giving the theocrats of Tehran what they want: money, from unrestricted oil and gas exports as well as access to frozen assets abroad; and power, which comes from using the money to acquire weapons and finance terrorist groups throughout the Middle East. Biden may think his sanctions waivers will persuade the Iranians to back off their nuclear ambitions. But the message they will receive is just the opposite. Bobby Ghosh is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 ABINGDON, Va. The Blended Pedaler has opened a second location inside the Blue Mills Healthy Food Market in Abingdon. The eatery, which opened last week, is at 130 Pecan St. SE. Courtney Kilgore, 22, who used to work at the Bristol location and now manages the Abingdon store, said customers can browse the market while they wait for their smoothies and bowls. The Blended Pedaler opened in Bristol, Virginia in September and has become a favorite for individuals in the surrounding community to get their daily dose of acai bowls and super-fruit smoothies. Kilgore said she has been amazed by the reception the business has received from the community, and shes happy to see familiar faces from the Bristol location among the customers. A lot of our regulars in Bristol drove from Abingdon. They drove from Chilhowie, like they drove further up from this way, so a lot of our clients that weve seen in Bristol we see here, Kilgore said. Its been really busy, really good business. The Abingdon menu offers the same items from Mango-Tango and Berri-Nana bowls to How I Met Your Matcha, as well as chocolate-peanut butter and berry chocolate smoothies. The prices for the bowls range from $7.50 for a 12-ounce bowl, $9.50 for a 16-ounce bowl and $13.99 for a 24-ounce bowl. Smoothies are $6.99 for 24 ounces. For first-time customers, Kilgore recommends they start with The Pedalers Way. Its got your banana, kiwi, strawberry. All of your basic fruits, and you kind of can branch out from there, she said. A significant difference between the Abingdon and Bristol location is that E-bikes are not available for rent in Abingdon. The Abingdon Blended Pedaler is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. It was a weekend of confusion for school districts across the state. On Friday, a downstate Illinois judge ruled to suspend mask mandates. On Saturday and Sunday, school districts scrambled to provide a response and clarify expectations going forward. On Monday, when students show up for class, different districts may be taking different approaches to masking and COVID-19 protocols. Advertisement Sangamon County Circuit Judge Raylene Grischow granted a request Friday from downstate attorney Tom DeVore to temporarily suspend Gov. J.B. Pritzkers executive orders on masking and quarantining for schools. Students arrive wearing masks to Kozminski Community Academy in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood on Feb. 7, 2022. A judge tossed out the mask mandate for districts who were sued but Chicago Public Schools says it will stay the course and keep requiring masks. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune) Pritzker issued a statement late Friday saying hed asked the attorney generals office for an immediate appeal of the decision. Advertisement On Sunday, the Northern Illinois Public Health Consortium released a statement that recommended local districts continue to adopt a layered approach to mitigation to prevent the transmission of COVID-19. The precautions include vaccination, masking, and isolation of ill individuals. But some suburban districts, like District 25 in Arlington Heights, said masks would be optional. At Timothy Christian Schools in Elmhurst, masks will also be optional, according to a letter the superintendent, Matt Davidson, sent to parents Friday. Im happy to announce that the judge presiding over the case issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) which restrains the State from (among other things) order districts to require individuals to wear masks in the school buildings, Davidson wrote. Therefore, Timothy will be mask-optional effective immediately. I hope and pray this ruling stands, as it is subject to immediate appeal. The Chicago Teachers Union issued a statement Friday saying its January 2022 agreement with Chicago Public Schools, which guarantees masking, will keep schools open and safe. Meanwhile, a statement from Chicago Public Schools reassured parents and guardians that masking and vaccination have been key parts of keeping the virus transmission low in their classrooms. The courts current ruling does not prohibit CPS from exercising its authority to continue its COVID-19 mitigation policies and procedures, including universal masking by students and staff and vaccination and testing requirements for staff members. Our caseload is declining and the number of vaccinated students and staff continues to increase. We will stay the course. Canadian protests over Covid-19 regulations are stretching into a second week of blocked roads and boisterous demonstrations, with claims of hate-related incidents under investigation and arrests made amid reports of rocks and eggs thrown. Sparked by a group of truckers who drove into the heart of Ottawa on January 29 to protest new coronavirus vaccine and testing rules, other protests sprouted over the weekend in major cities across the nation, including Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto and Quebec City. Keep scrolling for a gallery of photos from the protests in Canada Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson declared a state of emergency Sunday afternoon as the capital city has become a focal point of the "Freedom Convoy" protests. Most of the more than 60 criminal investigations underway in Ottawa involve hate crimes, property damage, thefts and mischief, police there said. "Declaring a state of emergency reflects the serious danger and threat to the safety and security of residents posed by the ongoing demonstrations and highlights the need for support from other jurisdictions and levels of government," Watson said in a statement. At least seven arrests were made Sunday and at least 450 citations issued since Saturday morning, the Ottawa Police Service said. Demonstrators "exhibited extremely disruptive and unlawful behaviour," police said in a statement, which created "risks to public safety and unacceptable distress" for residents. While mostly acting peacefully to voice their disapproval of recent vaccine mandates, demonstrators' tactics of idling trucks and blocking motorways have become a greater nuisance with each passing day for residents and businesses. The majority of businesses in downtown Ottawa have been closed for more than a week or have been operating with reduced hours, and owners are complaining to city officials of financial difficulties as customers dwindle. Still, some attendees of the protests say they're not going anywhere until changes are made. "The whole event has gone beyond just vaccines, and it is now about the entire ordeal," protester James MacDonald told CNN, adding he's been in Ottawa since last weekend and has no plan to leave until health measures are dropped. The demonstrations began as an objection to a recent vaccine mandate requiring truckers entering Canada to either be fully vaccinated or face testing and quarantine requirements. Other protesters have joined to rail against mask mandates, lockdowns, restrictions on gatherings and other Covid-19 preventative efforts. Canada has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world, with about 4 in every 5 Canadians fully vaccinated, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Ottawa police investigating potential hate crimes Police have responded to more than 650 calls for service in relation to the demonstrations since they began, they said Sunday. The city's hate-motivated crime hotline -- established after reports of anti-Semitic, racist and homophobic acts at the Covid-19 protests -- has also gotten more than 200 calls, according to police. "We already have a number of hate-related incidents that we're investigating," Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly said last week. "We encourage anyone who's been the victim of a hate crime or think they may have been the victim of a hate crime or exposed to hate incidents to contact us." Road closures and barricades remained in place Sunday morning across much of Ottawa, especially in the city's downtown core, according to police, who have repeatedly advised demonstrators to "not enter Ottawa, and go home." Police issued hundreds of notices over the weekend, including for excessive honking, driving the wrong way or on a sidewalk, not wearing a seat belt, having alcohol readily available and having the improper class of driving license, they said. Vehicles and fuel have been seized, police said, and they are advising "anyone found bringing fuel to the demonstration trucks in red zone could be subject to arrest and charges." A weekend of arrests and protests In Vancouver, several hundred vehicles traveled through the city en route to demonstration there, Vancouver Police said. Five people were arrested Saturday amid reports of "rocks and eggs being thrown, cars being kicked, and nails being strewn on roadways," police said. The five were taken to jail and released, police said. Among them was a 29-year-old US citizen from Washington state who was arrested after officers saw him wearing a balaclava and pulling a wagon full of egg cartons, police said. The man had a knife in a sheath tied to his belt, and two eggs in his jacket pocket, they said. "Everyone has the right to peacefully assemble and express their views, and the Vancouver Police Department is committed to providing a safe environment for lawful protest," said police Sgt. Steve Addison. "Today's protests attracted thousands of people who feel passionately about their causes. While most protesters were peaceful, some had to be arrested for violent behavior and unlawful conduct." In Toronto, Canada's largest city, thousands took to the streets Saturday. And despite the efforts of Toronto police, several trucks blocked a major intersection for hours. Police reported problems clearing the way for emergency vehicles near the protest, warning again in a statement this was "unacceptable and will not be tolerated." Quebec City similarly reported thousands of protesters and hundreds of trucks clogging streets while residents and visitors tried to enjoy a winter carnival. In Winnipeg, a demonstration Friday night turned dangerous when a man drove into a crowd, hitting four people, according to the Winnipeg Police Department. Three of those hit didn't require medical attention and the fourth was treated and released from an area hospital, police said. The suspect, who was arrested after a brief struggle with law enforcement, faces 11 charges, including assault with a weapon, dangerous operation of a conveyance and failure to stop after an accident, authorities said. *** PHOTO GALLERY CNN's Joe Sutton, Keith Allen, Laura James, Melissa Alonso, Caroline Kucera, Caroll Alvarado, Eric Levenson and Hannah Sarisohn contributed to this report. The-CNN-Wire & 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. A suspect in a homicide and multiple shootings in downtown Blacksburg, Virginia late Friday appears to have recorded his Saturday night arrest on Facebook Live. Police took Jamel Flint of Roanoke, Virginia into custody Saturday and charged him with first-degree murder after a Roanoke high school senior was killed and four other people, one a Virginia Tech student, were wounded in a shooting in downtown Blacksburg late Friday night. Flint also is charged with four counts of attempted first-degree murder, and one count of using a gun to commit a felony, according to records with the Roanoke City Jail, where Flint remained Sunday night. Blacksburg police issued a statement late Saturday saying Flint "has been taken into custody in Roanoke Virginia without incident." Flint, 24, appeared to have recorded the arrest on Facebook Live in a video that has been shared and commented on several hundred times since it was posted Saturday night. He appeared relatively calm as he was walking to turn himself into Roanoke authorities, and was smoking a cigarette and drinking a bottle of what appeared to be Gatorade during the video while telling those watching live that he was innocent. Im about to turn myself in. Im clean. Ya feel me. Whatever, we can go from there, he said. Lawyer already on the way. I aint trippin. He could be heard telling officers to chill and that he was unarmed. Flint also said in the video that he was innocent and turning himself in, while also stating that police knocked down his grandmothers door looking for him. The video concluded with officers telling him to get on the ground and placing him under arrest before one officer notices the livestream and the video ended. Police said the shooting took place just before midnight Friday inside Melody Hookah Lounge, located at 109 North Main St., a few blocks from Virginia Techs campus. Montgomery County Commonwealth's Attorney Mary Pettitt told The Roanoke Times in an email Sunday that investigators now believe the shooting took place outside of the business. Some victims were outside at [the] door and ran inside. Some were inside, Pettitt wrote. Friday's shooting with multiple victims near Virginia Tech site of one of the country's worst instances of a mass shooting, in 2007, that left 32 victims dead and others wounded drew almost instant national attention on Saturday. Authorities did not release the name of those who were wounded Friday night but Tech President Tim Sands issued a statement saying that one of the people who was hurt was a student at the university. Tech later announced the student was out of surgery and recovering. In a statement issued Saturday night, Blacksburg police identified the person killed in the shooting as Isiah O. Robinson, 18. He was a student at Roanokes Patrick Henry High School. Robinson, a linebacker and running back on the football team, was mourned in a Saturday post on the Patrick Henry football team Twitter account. It included a picture of Robinson in his Patriots uniform with No. 3 on his chest. Isiah will be missed and our hearts and prayers go out to his family, football family and friends, the tweet said. Valley Park, MO - The Nebraska bowling team competed at the Columbia 300 Saints invitational and finished with a 5-3 record and total pinfall of 9,900, which put them in second place. The Huskers started baker style play with a loss against McKendree (937-974), but quickly bounced back in match two against Maryville (1,027-840). Nebraska fell to Wisconsin Whitewater (908-954), and then played a bye match (938). The Huskers ended the day with a final victory against Central Missouri by a score of 991-954. Two Huskers made the all tournament team this weekend. Kayla Verstraete claimed second place and had a total pinfall of 1,082 and an average of 216.4. Cassidy Ray , closely behind, secured third place with a total pinfall of 1,080 and an average of 216. Nebraska will return to the lanes February 18th-20th at the Mid-Winter Invitational in Jonesboro, Ark. Columbia 300 Saints Final Standings: McKendree Nebraska Maryville Wisconsin Whitewater Central Missouri Follow the Huskers: Fans can follow @NEBowling on Facebook and Twitter, and @huskerbowling on Instagram for the latest news. MATTOON The Mattoon School District returned to class Monday, continuing to require that masks be worn by all students, with the exception of those whose parents are part of lawsuit against the district and state. According to the ruling and confirmed with our attorney, only students of the parents named in the lawsuit are directly impacted by the order and will not be required to wear masks at school unless the local health department issues a quarantine. For other students, we will continue to operate under our current plans, including the wearing of masks, the district said in a note to families. Furthermore, while our nurses will continue to conduct contact tracing, we will only notify parents that their child was a close contact. We will not require them to pick up the students unless they have tested positive or are symptomatic. School exclusion will be the sole responsibility of the health department, the email said. Sangamon County Circuit Judge Raylene Grischow on Friday granted a request from attorney Tom DeVore to temporarily halt the Gov. J.B. Pritzkers executive orders on masking and quarantining for schools, finding that the measures are beyond the governors authority and deprive students of due process. "This court acknowledges the tragic toll the COVID-19 pandemic has taken, not only on this state but throughout the nation and globe," Grischow wrote in a ruling that affects 146 Illinois school districts, including the public school system in Chicago. "Nonetheless, it is the duty of the Courts to preserve the rule of law and ensure that all branches of government act within the boundaries of the authority granted under the Constitution." Mattoon was one of the districts named in the Austin v. Pritzker lawsuit. The state is expected to file an appeal. "District officials are reviewing the judges ruling this weekend and will distribute notices as soon as possible as to the extent to which the ruling impacts our school community," Todd Vilardo, superintendent of Charleston schools, said in a prepared statement Saturday to the JG-TC. The mask mandate will be a topic of discussion at the Mattoon school boards regular meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 8, in the Riddle Elementary School cafeteria. The Charleston school board has scheduled a special meeting on the topic at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 8, at the Dr. Nell Wiseman Media Center at the high school. This story will be updated. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Several members of the Forsyth County legislative delegation are taking a wait-and-see approach to whether the massive Winston Weaver Co. Inc. fertilizer plant fire could be the impetus for amending state Building Code regulations dating back to the 1930s. However, other Triad legislators are hopeful that the General Assembly will go beyond a deep sigh of relief of no injuries from the fire to enact building code changes affecting the grandfathering of older buildings, particularly those that contain hazardous materials. Winston Weaver specializes in all-purpose plant food and specialty fertilizer. The fire began the night of Jan. 31 in the 65,423-square-foot plant at 4440 N. Cherry St. Winston-Salem Fire Department officials ordered a voluntary evacuation of about 6,500 individuals within the one-mile radius around the 8.46-acre site because of the presence of an estimated 500 tons of combustible ammonium nitrate at the plant and nearly another 100 tons in an adjacent rail car. The fact of the matter is that at the beginning of this incident, there was enough ammonium nitrate on hand for this to be one of the worst explosions in U.S. history, fire chief William Trey Mayo said Wednesday. Residents were allowed to go back home Thursday when the restricted area was reduced to a 1/8-mile radius. The fire appears to have affected about 36 employees. We have been in contact with officials about the fire and continue to monitor it, the countys four Republican state legislators said in a joint statement Friday Sen. Joyce Krawiec and Reps. Donny Lambeth, Lee Zachary and Jeff Zenger. Since it is still an active fire and an investigation is ongoing, it is too early to make any decisions about changing state laws or regulations. Expectations Yet, there are expectations that local, state and federal investigatory findings will prompt, if not compel, state lawmakers to review state building codes that allowed Winston Weaver to store that amount of ammonium nitrate on site without requiring alarms or sprinkler systems. With the plant being constructed in 1939 and opening in January 1940, the original 1936 code still applies to four of the campus five buildings. Sprinklers were not required until the 1953 code amendment, and only for buildings two stories or higher. A city inspection report dated Dec. 27 indicates that no violations/hazards were found at the plant. But additional notes at the bottom of the two-page report say that parts of the building are in poor condition; note that an un-mounted extinguisher (was corrected) during inspection; and that a discussion about extension cords being for temporary use only was had. Because of those inspections, the fire department knew the company stored ammonium nitrate on site and had a pre-fire plan already in place. Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines said Wednesday that the plant has been inspected. Its operating as safely as possible. Theres no legal way we could force them to move. State building codes The states regulatory building codes have been amended at least 18 times by the legislature since being established in 1936. The latest formal amendment occurred in 2012, with the current Building Code being in place since 2015. The key element is that facilities are required to be in compliance with the code in effect when it was built. The pattern has been to grandfather older facilities, rather than require upgrading to meet new business code standards. Winston-Salem fire investigator Rick McIntyre said Thursday that the 1936 code had very little in it to control how chemicals are kept on the site. The building codes today have a lot more detail and requirements in regard to chemical processes and chemical storage, McIntyre said. Now, it is much more detailed, and that is what they would be required to meet if they built there today. The goal with grandfathering is limiting infrastructure upkeep and renovation expenses for older buildings to keep them viable as competitive options to new construction. There is nothing, however, that prohibits building owners and operators from voluntarily bringing older buildings up to the latest Business Code standards. The fertilizer plant fire definitely raises questions and concerns about the safety of a building that involves highly explosive materials, said Dave Simpson, president and chief executive of Carolinas AGC (Association of General Contractors). However, the idea of requiring all older buildings to come up to modern code, when they were built many years ago without such codes in place, would be costly and impractical at a time when the building codes are constantly changing. Simpson said the Winston Weaver fire could present good timing to take a look at buildings that pose very serious public safety risks with the idea of preventing another such fertilizer plant explosion in the future. Waiting on answers The state Building Code also limits what elected officials can tell residents who live around plants containing hazardous materials. Sen. Paul Lowe, D-Forsyth, said we are continuing attempts to understand the fire ... that has displaced many residents. There are many questions that we are asking that remain unanswered, but the situation is being monitored and investigated, Lowe said. There can be no concrete statements or answers to questions concerning the situation until the completion of the investigation and its discoveries are made known. Zachary said in a separate comment to the Journal that my opinion about this terrible fire is that were jumping the gun. Ive not heard the cause of the fire. Zachary said the voluntary evacuation of about 6,500 individuals in the one-mile radius has been traumatic. I feel very bad for those folks. I worry about future events that might affect them and larger areas. When a cause is determined, then there might be a need for legislation, Zachery said. In todays world, there are lots of hazards in certain manufacturing processes. Once the cause is determined, I feel certain the Insurance Department and our very able (Insurance) Commissioner Mike Causey will take appropriate action. Meanwhile, Rep. Jon Hardister, R-Guilford, and House majority whip, said while I cant speak to the history of building codes, this is definitely something that we need to take seriously and examine ways to enhance safety. Apex plant fire Rep. Pricey Harrison, D-Guilford, said the Winston Weaver plant fire brought to mind hazardous waste plant fire in Apex in October 2006. She praised the swift response to the Apex fire that culminated in the General Assembly passing House Bill 36 in June 2007, which made several major changes to how hazardous waste materials are handled in North Carolina. The NCGA immediately jumped into action and passed legislation that made these types of facilities safer, Harrison said. It is not clear that it would apply to this fertilizer facility, but it could be that the legislature may react similarly and take action to address deficiencies. The chemical fire on the EQ Industrial Services campus produced what The Associated Press reported as a thundering series of explosions that filled the overnight sky with fireballs and a spooky yellow haze. The fire began about 10 p.m. on Oct. 6, 2006, prompting officials to go on local television begging people to stay away from the citys downtown. Officials initially urged about half of the Apexs 32,000 residents to evacuate, then expanded the request as a dangerous plume of smoke and chemicals started to grow. No serious injuries were reported. Wake County officials said that 44 people went to emergency rooms, most of them complaining of respiratory problems. Similar to the Winston Weaver plant fire, several hundred people took shelter at area schools or other venues. Others stayed with friends or at nearby hotels. Nearby schools in Apex were closed the next day. AP reported the EQ plant handled an array of industrial waste, from paints to solvents, and housed chlorine, pesticides, herbicides, sulfur and fertilizer. The volatile mix led firefighters to take extra care over several days. An initial assessment found that the building had collapsed onto itself. In March 2006, the then-N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources warned of a potential disaster at the plant site. EQ had failed to maintain and operate the plant to minimize the possibility of a sudden or non-sudden release of hazardous waste ... which could threaten human health or the environment, the department reported when it issued a $32,000 fine for six violations. AP reported EQ paid more than $400,000 in penalties, fees and reimbursements related to the October 2006 fire. In October 2007, the company relinquished its permit for the Apex site. Federal officials released a report that determined that the EQ Industrial Services Inc. plant in Apex lacked tools to control fires. The plant didnt have firewalls and suppression systems to stop the fire from spreading, and officials said that it wasnt prepared for after-hours fires. In April 2008, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board called for a new national fire code for hazardous-waste processing plants based on its study of the Apex chemical fire. State law changes The state law passed in House Bill 36 in June 2007 tightened regulations that: Required applicants for permits for commercial hazardous waste facilities to demonstrate financial responsibility for corrective action, and for screening for potential off-site migration of contamination in the event of a release of hazardous waste or hazardous waste constituents into the environment; Required applicants to seek input from local government and emergency response agencies on their contingency plans for the facilities; Required operators of commercial hazardous waste facilities to maintain certain information at an off-site location and make them accessible to local and state emergency response agencies that have a role under contingency plans. Required applicants for a permit for a commercial hazardous waste facility to notify persons who reside or own property within one-fourth mile of the proposed facility that application has been filed and what their emergency response plans include; and Requires commercial hazardous waste facilities to provide security and surveillance at the facility at all times in order to monitor site conditions and to control entry to the site of the facility. It has been my experience that it is easier to pass legislation that imposes additional regulations if non-conforming structures/businesses/etc. are grandfathered in, Harrison said. That is certainly not my choice, but I am in the minority. With regard to state Building Code issues in general, they continue to be rolled back, a practice that started in 2011, and continues to this day, including several in the current session. No timetable for report There has been no timeline set for completing local, state and federal investigations into the cause of the fire, as well as determining whether there will be long-lasting environmental hazards. Winston Weaver officials have not disclosed how or if they plan to resume business. According to the latest corporation filing with the N.C. Secretary of States office, Michael Carroll is listed as company president, G. Dallas Barnes Jr. as vice president and Joshua Abrahams as chief financial officer. Carroll is listed as executive with Meherrin Fertilizer Inc. of Severn, according to Meherrins website. A Lexus-Nexus search for Barnes lists him as vice president of Meherrin. Carroll and Barnes have not returned messages left at their Meherrin offices in Northampton County. Company representative Andrew Carroll released a statement Tuesday through the city of Winston-Salem that read that there have been no injuries or loss of life to any employees, fire responders or citizens at this time. We will continue working with first responders and relevant officials to ensure safety of the community, and we will participate fully in the investigation into the cause of the fire, the statement said. McIntyre said he could not speculate on how much it would cost the company to build the plant to current standards. Causey said Tuesday the Insurance Department has two investigators from the state Office of Fire Marshals, along with a drone, at the plant site. There are just a lot of unanswered questions, Causey said. Causey said the department is gathering information on whether Winston Weaver had insurance on the plant. Thats going to be a key to the business getting back on its feet, Causey said. It depends on what type of insurance coverage it had, if they had a business interruption policy. Its too early to tell if it is a total loss, but what I have heard from the fire chief is that there has been tremendous structural damage, most of the structure consumed by the fire. Many times, when a business is destroyed like this, it tends to disappear. Reactions Legislators should be given time once the investigation into the Winston Weaver plant fire is disclosed to contemplate what changes should be made to the state Building Code, said Mitch Kokai, senior policy analyst with Libertarian think tank John Locke Foundation. Government makes some of its worst decisions in knee-jerk reactions to high-profile incidents, Kokai said. Its much better to step back, examine all of the pros and cons of changing a policy, look for potential negative unintended consequences, and take a thoughtful approach to potential changes of existing rules. A wait-and-see approach makes sense for this issue, as with most other controversies the General Assembly is asked to tackle. The fortunate outcome of no deaths or injuries related to the blazing fire could lead to legislative inaction, said Zagros Madjd-Sadjadi, an economics professor at Winston-Salem State University. Unfortunately, what ends up causing action are fatal disasters that throw a bright light on a situation, Madjd-Sadjadi said. When you have a near miss, it typically disappears from the political view fairly quickly. In addition, there may be some degree of systemic racism at play here in that when poor or minority areas are the ones primarily being affected, there is a lot less political will to get things done. Journal reporters Scott Sexton and Wesley Young contributed to this article. 336-727-7376 @rcraverWSJ The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The potential combination of national carriers Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines could lead to an expansion of low-cost service at Piedmont Triad International Airport. The parent companies of the two airlines announced their merger plans Monday with Frontier shareholders owning 51.5% of the combined company from the $2.9 billion cash-and-stock deal. If approved by federal regulators and shareholders, the transaction could create the nations fifth largest airline by seat capacity in the second half of 2022. Neither airline currently serves PTI, with Frontier ending its nonstop flights to Denver in 2019, and Spirit suspending its Florida routes in June 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemics initial drastic impact on passenger travel. Kevin Baker, PTIs executive director, could not be immediately reached for comment about the proposed deal. The airlines said a combined company would offer more than 1,000 daily flights to more than 145 destinations in 19 countries. It would add more than 350 aircraft on order to deliver more ultra-low fares. Frontier began flights from PTI to Denver in May 2013 at that time the longest nonstop route at the airport three to four days a week during its seasonal schedule. Part of the appeal of the Frontier nonstop flights to Denver were connections to 17 additional Western cities, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Seattle. Meanwhile, Spirit put its PTI service on hold after the U.S. Transportation Department approved the airlines COVID-19 restructuring proposal. The airline primarily has served the Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Tampa, Fla., market out of PTI since September 2018. Each destination had added a winter-season flight each November. Spirit had as much as a 5.2% market share during its first two years at PTI. Spirits website still lists PTI as one of the routes, but with no available flights. Given all the recent good economic news linked to, for example, Toyota and Boom Supersonic, I expect the Triad airport to be more competitive in attracting air passenger service in the long term, said Keith Debbage, a professor of geography and sustainable tourism and hospitality at UNC Greensboro. The airlines said there are plans to increase the combined workforce by 10,000 direct jobs and thousands of additional jobs at the companies business partners. Frontier and Spirit expect to change the industry for the benefit of consumers, bringing more ultra-low fares to more travelers in more destinations across the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, including major cities, as well as underserved communities, the airlines said in their joint news release. The stronger financial profile of the combined company will empower it to accelerate investment in innovation and growth and compete even more aggressively, especially against the dominant Big Four airlines, among others. Mac Gardner, Spirits chairman, said the combination is all about growth, opportunities and creating value for everyone from our guests to our team members to the flying public at large. Were a perfect fit our businesses share similar values, including our longstanding commitment to affordable travel. At the same time, we have complementary footprints and fleets, including one of the youngest and greenest fleets worldwide. The only low-fare carrier currently serving PTI is Allegiant with non-daily flights to Daytona Beach, Orlando/Sanford and Clearwater/St. Petersburg, and Tampa, Fla. Allegiant announced in January 2021 plans to offer flights on Thursdays and Sundays to Nashville International Airport, beginning June 3. However, the launch of the Greensboro to Nashville route was delayed by the pandemic. The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Nearly 60,000 diapers in a nearby warehouse were likely damaged in the fire that destroyed the Winston Weaver Co.s fertilizer plant in Winston-Salem, an official with the Diaper Bank of North Carolina says. The fumes and chemicals in the air more than likely make our diapers unsafe to distribute, said Michelle Old, of Durham, the founder and executive director of the Diaper Bank of North Carolina. We are still analyzing it. The fire last Monday night quickly spread at the fertilizer plant on 4440 N. Cherry St. As the fire burned, it poured smoke and pollutants into the air, raising concerns about the air quality over much of Winston-Salem and western Forsyth County. The Winston-Salem Fire Department initially withdrew its firefighters because of the danger that about 500 tons of ammonium nitrate could cause a massive explosion. The fire department allowed the fire to burn throughout last week in order to eliminate the fuel from the ammonium nitrate. Those chemicals are used in fertilizer. A hazardous materials team from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency informed Diaper Bank officials that the fumes and chemicals generated by the fire could have harmed its supply of diapers and related projects inside its warehouse at 4500 Indiana Ave., Old said. The affected diapers were lying on 10 pallets inside the warehouse, which is less than 100 yards from the fertilizer plant, Old said. These diapers were not contained in their manufactured wrapping and might have to be thrown away, Old said. Many other diaper-related products such as wipes and adult incontinent diapers also may have been affected. The organization has asked its diaper manufacturers to conduct tests to determine if the affected diapers are safe to distribute, Old said. We are probably going to lose some diapers, Old said. We dont know what the loss will be or what we need to recover. The organizations Greater Triad branch operates the warehouse and distributes 100,000 diapers a month to low-income families in Forsyth, Guilford, Davidson, Randolph, Stokes, Surry and Yadkin counties, Old said. Since the fire, the organizations Triangle branch in Durham distributed diapers and other products to the Greater Triad branchs recipients, Old said. Authorities allowed the Diaper Banks representatives to briefly visit its Winston-Salem warehouse Friday, Old said. The plant and nearby areas including the warehouse had been closed since the fire started. We had to halt all that distribution from the warehouse because we couldnt get in, Old said. The branch is closed. The warehouses roof has a big leak, which damaged many empty pallets inside the warehouse, Old said. Two employees work at the warehouse, and hundreds of volunteers also helped distribute the diapers and related products, Old said. We cant use the diapers until we make sure they are safe, Old said. We cant utilize our volunteers to get the diapers out, and our staff cant come in. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The COVID-19 pandemic claimed another six Forsyth County residents over the weekend. Mondays update from the N.C. Department and Health and Human Services listed Forsyth with 708 COVID-19 related deaths for the pandemic. Forsyth ended January with 73 related deaths, the highest monthly death toll to date. There have been 16 related deaths reported so far in February. 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 have cautioned that an elevated number of COVID-19-related deaths could persist through early- to mid-February. However, those same officials have expressed confidence that the surge in cases caused by the omicron variant is waning. Forsyth reported 793 new cases between Friday and Monday, including 139 Monday the lowest daily count since the omicron variant began spreading in late December. DHHS does not provide county-level daily case counts on Saturdays or Sundays. The highest-ever daily case count for Forsyth was 1,318 on Jan. 18. Overall, Forsyth has had 88,519 cases since the pandemic began. Positive tests trend down Forsyths positive test rate over the past 14 days was 28.8% as of noon Monday, down from a record 38.4% on Jan. 27. Mondays statewide rate was 19.3%, down from 21% on Friday. With Mondays report, Forsyth is averaging 117 cases per 100,000 individuals over the most recent two-week period. A record-high of 259 cases per 100,000 was reported on Jan. 21. Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines has said he will use two criteria in deciding whether to lift the citys mask mandate: The city must have a COVID-19 positive test rate of 5% or less for at least two weeks; and must average fewer than 10 new cases per 100,000 people over five days. Dr. Christopher Ohl, an infectious diseases expert with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, said Thursday he believes COVID-19 cases in Forsyth and the Triad will continue to drop. I would think cases would decrease fairly rapidly for a while before reaching a (plateau) on the curve like we saw with delta, Ohl said. Statewide update DHHS reported North Carolina had 4,727 new cases Monday, along with 9,195 Sunday, 10,145 Saturday. Mondays total is the lowest daily count since the onset of the omicron surge. By comparison, the record-high daily case count stands at 35,759, reported Jan. 14. North Carolina has recorded 2.49 million cases and 21,249 COVID-related deaths since the pandemic began. The number of deaths statewide was up 152 from Friday. According to Thursdays DHHS respiratory surveillance report, between Jan. 1, 2021 and Jan. 29, 2022, there have been at least 415,992 COVID-19 cases involving residents with at least one vaccine dose. During that same period, there have been at least 1,384 deaths among North Carolinians who had received at least one vaccine dose, mostly individuals with health conditions that left them immuno-compromised. The surveillance report also said that North Carolinians who have received at least one vaccine dose made up 39% of COVID-19 cases statewide during the week that ended Jan. 22. Local, state and national public-health officials have said since the introduction of COVID-19 vaccines that the shots will not prevent people from becoming sick but will help ensure cases are less severe. Hospitalizations There were 4,032 COVID-19 hospital patients statewide as of Sunday, down 79 from Saturday and down 303 from Friday. The record high was 5,158 on Jan. 27. The statewide hospitalization count has dropped over 11 consecutive days. Hospitals in the 17-county Triad region reported a combined 895 COVID-19 patients Sunday, down 70 from the previous report. Statewide, 483 patients are on ventilators, including 107 in the Triad region. There were 77 children hospitalized with COVID-19 statewide, including 17 in the Triad region. The state said that, as of Jan. 29, unvaccinated patients make up 66.9% of COVID-19 hospitalizations and 76.9% of COVID-19 ICU patients statewide. Vaccination, booster data About 51% of adult North Carolinians have received a booster shot, or 3.01 million, as of noon Monday. That includes 69% of North Carolinians ages 65 and older. In Forsyth, 106,843 residents have gotten a booster shot, or 46.1% of the 230,968 considered fully vaccinated. Fully vaccinated continues to be defined as vaccinated with two doses of Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or one dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Under that definition, 71% of North Carolinas adults are considered fully vaccinated. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A jury of eight men and four women was selected Monday in the trial of Chicago Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson, the grandson and nephew of the citys two longest-serving mayors who is the first member of his familys political dynasty to face federal criminal charges. Thompson, 52, who represents the 11th Ward where the Daley family built its once-formidable political machine, is charged with filing false tax returns and lying to federal agents about a line of credit he received from a Bridgeport bank that later collapsed. Advertisement The alderman walked into the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in the Loop shortly after 8 a.m. He sat next to his attorney in U.S. District Judge Franklin Valderramas courtroom, dressed in a dark suit and wearing a face mask. He was introduced to the panel of prospective jurors only as Pat Thompson. Valderrama announced the panel of 12 regular jurors at about 3:45 p.m., after spending more than five hours questioning potential jurors about their backgrounds and answers to a questionnaire that identified Thompson as a Chicago alderman and probed their knowledge of the Daley family and its politics. Advertisement Among those picked to serve on the jury: An IT professional, a customer service representative and part-time music teacher, a sales associate at a furniture store, a high school teacher, a physical educational instructor, a rail car cleaner, and a shipping manager at a dental center. Another juror, a woman in her 20s, works as an EMT and said her mother works as a machine operator for the Chicago Tribune. Four alternate jurors all men were then selected before the whole panel was sworn in and the judge broke the trial for the day. Opening statements in the case were set for Tuesday morning. Most in the jury pool said theyd never heard of Thompson or read any news reports about the case. One man, however, an internal audit manager at Chicago bank, said he had heard through his job that the bank at the center of the allegations, Washington Federal Bank for Savings, had folded and was in receivership with the FDIC. Thompsons attorney asked that the man be stricken for cause, but the judge declined. He wound up being cut as part of the defenses peremptory challenges. Another man, a residential contractor, was cut by the prosecution after he said during questioning he was a fan of and proud of the Daley family. Thompson is the first sitting alderman to face a jury since the Operation Silver Shovel probe more than two decades ago. But even more importantly, Thompson will be the first member of the Daley clan ever tried on federal charges a prospect that would have been virtually unthinkable when the family was at the height of its power, holding sway over virtually every aspect of the citys political structure, including who would serve as the U.S. attorney. Advertisement Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson arrives at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse for his federal trial on Feb. 7, 2022. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) The trial is slated to last at least a week. Thompson, who has been on the City Council since 2015, was charged last April in a seven-count indictment with filing false tax returns and lying to Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. officials about $219,000 in loans hed received from clout-heavy Washington Federal before it was shuttered in 2017. The indictment alleged Thompson filed false tax returns stating he had paid a total of more than $171,000 in interest to Washington Federal related to the loans, when actually he had paid nothing, the indictment alleged. He also allegedly understated his taxable income on those same returns, according to the indictment. Thompsons attorney, Chris Gair, has sought to portray any discrepancies in the paperwork as sloppy bookkeeping, not fraud. In a statement after the indictment was announced last year, Thompson said his conscience was clear and that hes paid the back taxes owed and repaid the rest of the loan in question. I did not commit any crime, I am innocent and I will prove it at trial, the statement said. The charges in the indictment do not relate in any way to my public service or to my professional life. I remain 100% dedicated to serving the people of Chicago to the best of my ability. The more serious charges of making false statements carry a maximum of 30 years in federal prison, while the tax counts are punishable by up to three years behind bars. Advertisement Meanwhile, a conviction on any of the counts would likely force Thompson to immediately resign his seat on the council. The case is an offshoot of a bigger probe filled with intrigue. The banks president, John Gembara, died by suicide at the home of a customer days before the feds shut it down. A massive federal investigation later led to criminal charges accusing a number of former bank employees and customers of running a multiyear, $31 million embezzlement scheme that doled out millions of dollars in loans with no collateral or expectation of repayment. Thompson was not charged as part of the embezzlement scheme and U.S. District Judge Franklin Valderrama has barred any direct testimony about it. Instead, the evidence in Thompsons case will be largely dry, focusing on his bank records and tax returns. The evidence is also expected to contain little if any mention of Thompsons position as an elected official or his role in the Daley family. In fact, the indictment doesnt include the Daley name at all, only his middle initial, and the judge has barred Thompsons attorneys from showing the jury the aldermans biography posted on the 11th Ward website. A questionnaire filled out last week by prospective jurors, however, does identify Thompson as a Chicago alderman and states his grandfather was the late Mayor Richard J. Daley and his uncle is former Mayor Richard M. Daley. Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse for his federal trial on Feb. 7, 2022. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) To help weed out any potential biases, the questionnaire asked whether anything about those facts would lead them to treat him differently in this case than someone not in politics. Advertisement At a hearing Friday night, nine potential jurors were stricken for cause, all due at least in part to their views of the Daleys and their ability to remain impartial. Thompson, a real estate attorney who still lives in the Bridgeport bungalow where his grandfather, Richard J. Daley, raised his family, began his political career when he was elected to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District a decade ago. With the support of his uncles, former Richard M. Daley and Cook County Commissioner and 11th Ward Democratic Committeeman John Daley, he then promptly won a seat on the City Council in 2015, representing the South Side Bridgeport neighborhood that has been his familys seat of political power for decades. Observers noted Thompsons jowly, blue-eyed resemblance to his grandfather, a connection bolstered by the fact that he and his family live in his grandfathers former home. Since his indictment, Thompson has remained involved with City Council issues. He attends nearly all the Zoom meetings for council committees on which he sits, frequently questioning Lightfoot administration officials about the potential impact their proposals will have on city policies and finances. Advertisement And he has spoken up repeatedly during the city ward remap fight in defense of keeping the Back of the Yards neighborhood in the 11th Ward, instead of cutting some of it out as part of a move to create Chicagos first majority Asian ward. jmeisner@chicagotribune.com An amusing coincidence I was quite intrigued when I read the Jan. 28 editorial Celebrate our bridges, highlighting the recognition of the design of the Green Street pedestrian bridge and its arched structural supports. Did anyone else find it an amusing coincidence that the bridge designers name is Donald McDonald and the design project managers name for this expensive, enhanced design is Rodney Money? Thankfully they didnt paint the arches golden! Hopefully you wont choke on your hamburger as you chuckle! Bob Young Clemmons Very dangerous It looks like former President Trump is running around the country making speeches again. He just cannot accept that he is no longer president. I have never seen someone so sore about losing an election. There have been other candidates who ran for president and did not win, but they were not sore losers. OK, so Trump did not get elected. He also did not end up in jail. He had followers do his dirty work while he and his family watched the attack and seemed to be having a good time. Trump told his followers to march down to the Capitol. He said, Ill be there with you, but that was a lie. So much pain was brought by those who did it. There should be a place to put Trump and his followers so they can think about what they did. It seems as if Trump might want to run again, and his speeches sound as if he wants to get revenge because he lost the election. To pardon people who listened to him and attacked is very dangerous. I am very thankful we have Joe Biden as president and Kamala Harris as vice president. James Fleming Clemmons We need the Journal I want to thank executive editor Andy Morrissey for his article People read the Journal for a reason on page A2 of the Jan. 30 Journal. I strongly agree that we need the Winston-Salem Journal. Without the news from the Journal, our community would be at a loss for what is going on around town and around the state. A great example of this is the recent fire at the Winston Weaver Co. fertilizer plant. Yes, this is national news (unfortunately), but it is necessary that we hear it from our journalists first. In addition, without the Journal, we would miss the smaller news, some of which is positive and brings a smile. I really need positive news during this time! And the quality of our journalists is top-notch. I read news from other outlets too, but my first stop almost every morning is the Journal. Of course, an added perk is the puzzles! Gayle Goldsmith Clemmons Chief Mayo What a treasure Winston-Salem has in our fire chief, Trey Mayo. His calm management and wisdom to confer with national experts on the Winston Weaver Co. disaster, a fire the likes of which our city fire departments have never seen, exemplifies superior leadership. The weight of resolute responsibility Chief Mayo carried was evident in every public update he provided. Each and every fireman on duty deserves the highest gratitude for their exhausting, dangerous and dedicated work. May they soon enjoy a well-deserved respite, especially Chief Mayo. Thank you, chief, for keeping our city calm and safe. Bonnie J. Doerr Winston-Salem No more extremes Wow, the liberals sure are riled up. Let me just say, in response to the Feb. 3 letter Free market forces, that Im against fascism and Im against Marxism. Im for democracy and for responsibility and for the U.S. Constitution. Republicans arent banning books theyre withdrawing them from school curricula when they determine that the books in question are not appropriate for certain age levels. Theyre not denying history of course racism exists. Theyre trying to prevent todays children from being indoctrinated by racist Marxists who want to blame all white people for what happened. Our history of slavery needs to be taught but the idea that all white people are bad because of their skin color shouldnt be. Too many people are invested in extremes today, on the left and on the right. Cant we meet in the middle and do whats right? Jerry Agee Winston-Salem WAVERLY HoneyCreek Dining was packed on its last full day of business. The wait for seating neared an hour at the height of the dinner rush, and it took just as long for customers to get their meals, even with last-minute server reinforcements called in. The Waverly dining staple had been open since 1976, but, like many other casualties of the COVID-19 pandemic, the owners struggled to staff its full-time positions. It closed for good after the first of the year. A Facebook post announcing HoneyCreeks fate was shared almost 1,000 times and generated more than 50 comments, and a few lamented that the restaurants closing would leave just a few eateries still in Waverly. You can count the local establishments on one hand: Vikes Corner Kitchen, Trackside Bar and Grill and Great Wall. Then there are the chains: McDonalds, Runza. Subway closed its location on U.S. 6 last June. Caseys General Store and Mammoth Station both have quick food options, too. Abbey Pascoe, Waverly City Council member and chair of the citys Fiscal and Economic Development Committee, understands the need for more dining options in town, but its not as easy as putting up a For Lease sign and waiting for the phone to ring. Particularly in the midst of a pandemic that has caused supply chain issues and staff shortages. We do have options, Pascoe said, but we do need more. To survive the pandemic, Vikes Corner Kitchen had to cut its hours considerably, to 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. Owner Rae Fraley said that was the only way she and her husband Nick could make it work with those hours, she and Nick are the only staff needed. In the best of times, with no labor shortages, its very difficult to find people that will mesh with your team and can perform the duties that you need them to perform, Fraley said. She said she knows the new hours dont work with a lot of peoples schedules. But its been necessary, especially because their food costs have risen 30%-40% in the past two years, she said. We feel bad about that. But we are actually making more profits without the added labor. Waverly has a unique set of challenges, too. Chief among the limitations is its lack of vacant commercial space. Mike Palm, Waverlys building and zoning administrator, said there are very few openings in Waverlys strip malls and in areas zoned for commercial use. We would like to see more commercial growth here, I think, but we cant really force the (property) owners to create more buildings for small businesses and whatnot, Palm said. Were just a little limited right now. Another problem, Pascoe said, is Waverlys proximity to Lincoln. When a business owner is thinking of opening a new restaurant and is considering Waverly for the location, they have to decide whether it would make more sense to open where the potential for customers is greater. We're, you know, five to seven miles away, on a quick-access street, she said. So, of course, that's going to come into play. And when a business does open in Waverly, Pascoe said, its important that Waverly residents hold up their end of the bargain. We have to make sure that were patronizing their establishment to make sure that theyre successful, she said. Because, if they bet on Waverly, we have to reciprocate, as well. Natasha Hoyer bet on Waverly in April of 2021, opening her hybrid womens clothing store and coffee shop Patina Joe. She originally opened in Eagle, but as a Waverly resident, leasing a space with a shorter commute made more sense. And, so far, the bet has paid off. It was definitely the right move, she said. Its been really good for my business. The communitys been awesome and very supportive. But opening in Waverly wasnt without its hurdles. She hoped to lease a space in a building with a drive-thru window, but because of the limited retail and commercial space, she compromised with two bays next to the former Subway location. Customers can place their coffee orders on an app and stop by for quick pick-up. I feel like we have accommodated as best as we can, Hoyer said. Supply chain issues were a struggle at first, too. Hoyer said her shop had to use yellow Subway lids for its coffee cups more than once in the first couple of months. But despite the obstacles for a new business owner, she said, shes had people contact her asking if the former Subway space was available for lease. Its not. Hoyer would know, because she inquired about the space, too. After all, it has a drive-thru window. But as soon as she heard about Subways closing, another business had already jumped on the opportunity. El Portal Mexican Restaurant plans to open in the space sometime this year. But delays in acquiring heavy-duty kitchen equipment have pushed their opening back. According to Pascoe, the owners are moving forward with interior construction. The restaurant also has locations in Auburn and Nebraska City. Pascoe thinks El Portal could cause a domino effect and serve as a vote of confidence for business owners to open in Waverly. I think that will show not just that business, but also other businesses, that, you know, this is something Waverly asked for, she said. I anticipate lines forever when they get here. Pascoe said conversations are ongoing to lure business owners to Waverly, which has an easy selling point: exponential population growth. But with that growth, its also important for the city to offer the restaurants and shops that citizens want and need. Its crucial for our continued growth to be able to have more businesses and restaurants come into our community, she said. Shes confident Waverly citizens would support more restaurants and small businesses, but its tricky to create the perfect set of circumstances for business owners to take a chance on the city, whether its finding the right location or hiring enough staff. Were doing as much as we can to try to bring these (businesses) in for the community, Pascoe said. But with the current climate, the lack of vacant buildings, its just slower than I would want and what most people want. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 It's no secret that the coronavirus pandemic has led to more mental health issues, especially among youth. Suicide was already the second-leading cause of death among Nebraskans ages 15-24, and the disruption caused by the pandemic has led to an increase in mental health issues and suicide attempts among even younger teens and children. "We've seen rises in the number of children and teens presenting with suicide attempts, depression and anxiety," said Chanda Chacon, president and CEO of Children's Hospital and Medical Center in Omaha. Chacon said emergency room visits at Children's for mental health issues rose 27% in kids ages 5-11 and 31% in kids ages 12-17 from April 2019 to October 2020. And in the first half of 2021, instances of self harm rose 45% for kids ages 5-17. She also said research has shown that the overall percentage of kids experiencing mental health issues has risen from about 20% before the pandemic to about 25% now. "COVID-19 has really disrupted lives in a way that has taken an impact on their social and emotional and mental health," Chacon said. The numbers certainly show the need for more intervention to help youths with mental health conditions, and a Nebraska group hopes its new app can provide that help, especially when it comes to preventing suicides among the state's young people. The Nebraska State Suicide Prevention Coalition last week announced the release of a new app called My Companion, which is designed to help young people cope with mental health issues and prevent suicide. My Companion has a variety of features divided into four primary tabs: reflections, connections, resources and emergency. Users will be able to log daily reflections, input contacts who could be reached in an emergency, access resources, submit anonymous tips and easily reach hotlines. The application allows youth to communicate their feelings in a journal-like format and to create a support system and crisis system, including warning signs of suicide and access to emergency resources, said Dr. Dave Miers, founder of the Nebraska State Suicide Prevention Coalition and director of behavioral health services at Bryan Medical Center. Work on My Companion actually began well before the pandemic, in July 2018. It was created by Lincoln-based Dont Panic Labs in collaboration with Boys Town National Hotline. The app was modeled after a similar app released in Utah under the name SafeUT. According to the 2020 SafeUT annual report, more than 800,000 students accessed the app between August 2019 and May 2020, which resulted in more than 500 lifesaving interventions. The creators of My Companion said they hope to see similar success in Nebraska. Suicide is preventable and there is hope, there is help and there are resources, Miers said. This app is a great way for youth to interact in a positive, healthy way and have this resource available if needed. Connectedness saves lives and this app will make a difference. The My Companion app is available from both the Apple App Store and Google Play. Reach the writer at 402-473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LincolnBizBuzz. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Build your health & fitness knowledge Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A Bellevue woman has sued the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services for refusing to provide treatment to her mentally ill son despite a court order. In the meantime, 21-year-old Quentin Renner remains at the Sarpy County Jail, which his mother, Melissa Renner, alleges is a violation of his civil rights. His case raises an issue known to happen in Lancaster County, Sarpy County and elsewhere in the state. Defendants accused of crimes and found incompetent for trial sit in jail sometimes several months sometimes longer than they could face if convicted of the underlying allegations waiting for a bed at the Lincoln Regional Center. In Renner's case, it started over an incident June 6 where Quentin Renner had been acting strange and talking to himself all morning, then began kicking the couch at his mom's house. When she tried to let the dog out, he pushed her into the door, according to a Bellevue police officer's affidavit. Two months later, on Sept. 1, police arrested Renner for it, and Sarpy County prosecutors charged him with third-degree assault and criminal mischief, misdemeanors. In a civil complaint filed this week in Lancaster County District Court, the Renners' attorney, Dave Domina, said Quentin Renner has remained in jail since he appeared in court Nov. 5 on a motion raising the question of his competency. Then, in an order Jan. 7, Sarpy County Court Judge Robert Wester found him incompetent to stand trial and ordered HHS to "provided suitable treatment and care to restore competence." But, Domina said, HHS refused to accept him as a patient, despite what he called their "nondiscretionary duty" to commit him to their care and provide treatment under a state statute regarding competency. By statute, if a judge determines a defendant is mentally incompetent to stand trial but that there's a substantial probability the defendant will become competent within the reasonably foreseeable future, "the judge shall order the defendant to be committed to the Department of Health and Human Services to provide appropriate treatment to restore competency. This may include commitment to a state hospital for the mentally ill, another appropriate state-owned or state-operated facility, or a contract facility or provider pursuant to an alternative treatment plan proposed by the department and approved by the court ... until such time as the disability may be removed. When the judge learned about the department's refusal to take Renner, Wester ordered Dannette Smith, the CEO of HHS, to appear in his courtroom to give testimony. And HHS gave notice of its intention to appeal. In a filing, Special Assistant Attorney General Ryan Patrick said the court had been wrong to order her to testify and to order Renner to be placed at an inpatient psychiatric hospital at noon Jan. 11 at HHS's expense unless another suitable placement had been arranged. The matter hasn't yet been resolved by a district court judge, and HHS hasn't yet filed an answer in the newly filed civil lawsuit. In it, Domina said: "Without any justification, and without any legal authority to do so, one or more of the defendants, acting together and in concert with one another, refused to obey the courts order committing Mr. Renner to DHHS care." To detain him at jail, rather than as a patient, poses a substantial likelihood of continuing the violation of his civil rights, he said. A spokeswoman for HHS didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Reach the writer at 402-473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSpilger Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. State lawmakers dreams of making major tax cuts this year are about to collide head-on with the pandemic-driven costs of caring for Nebraskas most vulnerable citizens. On the one side are proposals to reduce individual and corporate income taxes, exempt Social Security benefits from taxes and drive down property tax bills with increased state aid for schools. On the other are providers such as Alan Zavodny, CEO at North Star Services, talking about his board approving pay raises that could send the longtime developmental disability service provider over the edge. He said the no-win decision puts North Star more than $400,000 into the red, but may allow the agency to compete for workers in an increasingly tight labor market. The agency only survived this far by using ridiculous amounts of overtime and having supervisors take shifts as front-line workers. Never has the future of the DD system hung in the balance more than today, Zavodny told members of the Legistlature's Appropriations Committee last week. I dont know if theres enough duct tape and baling wire in the world to hold this thing together and keep it from flying apart. He was among numerous people who urged the committee to put money in the state budget for higher payment rates to Nebraskas health and human services providers. They spoke in support of bills to raise provider rates by 10% to 15% in the fiscal year starting July 1, proposals that would boost state spending by $75 million or more for the two-year budget period. Based on the committees preliminary budget plan, that would leave $30 million or less for tax cuts or other spending priorities. The amount available could change after a state panel meets in late February to update state revenue projections. Sen. John Stinner of Gering, the Appropriations Committee chairman, said rate increases are necessary to fulfill the states obligations in an unprecedented time. He said he hopes to lay a foundation, between state dollars and federal pandemic relief money, so providers can emerge from the pandemic with competitive wages and the ability to provide critical services. Increasing provider rates is something you have to do, he said. You do not want to call out the National Guard for group homes. All Im trying to do is do whats right, trying to keep people in business, trying to keep services going. But it will be up to the full Legislature to decide where to put the states money. One testifier last week spoke against the rate increases and urged the Appropriations Committee to exercise fiscal restraint. Instead of looking for ways we can spend, spend, spend, we should be looking for ways to return money to the taxpayer where it came from, said Terry Jessen, who identified himself as a taxpayer, voter and Nebraska resident. We shouldnt get caught up in, hey, we have a pot full of money, lets see how fast we can spend it. Gov. Pete Ricketts did not include any permanent rate increases in his budget proposal, while calling for nearly $67 million worth of tax cuts in the budget period ending June 30, 2023. His proposal would leave about $40 million for other tax cuts or spending priorities. However, his administration boosted select provider rates for the first six months of this year, using $61 million of federal pandemic relief dollars, federal matching funds and unspent state dollars. He also proposed using the one-time pandemic relief money to extend some child welfare rate increases for a year. Among those not included in the temporary rate increases were the states behavioral health providers, who told the Appropriations Committee of staff shortages and rising costs that reduce their ability to help people, at the same time that the pandemic has created an explosion of anxiety, depression, substance abuse, family conflict and trauma. Jon Day, executive director at Blue Valley Behavioral Health, said his mostly rural agency has seen a 20% increase in adults and children seeking services since the start of the pandemic, compared with the 3% or 4% annual increases pre-COVID-19. People are truly hurting in a way that weve never experienced before, he said. Nursing home representatives and child welfare providers painted much the same picture. In long-term care, representatives told of nursing homes forced to boost beginning wages for certified nursing assistants to $20 or $22 an hour, up from $12.50 an hour, yet still unable to fill all the staff vacancies. They told of revenues declining as staff shortages and pandemic fallout translate into fewer residents. Nathan Schema, president and CEO of the Good Samaritan Society, said his organization closed three Nebraska homes at the end of last year when the financial trends could not be reconciled. Our costs have gone up exponentially in the last two years, he said. In child welfare, providers described wait lists for services to heal troubled families and help abused and neglected children. They told of payment rates that have increased only 6% since 2010, while state requirements have raised costs. They testified about family reunifications delayed because of staff shortages and of cases turned away because agencies could not afford the losses on driving long distances or providing intensive services. We have found ways to cobble things together over the years, said Jeff Schmidt, president of Jenda Family Services. Were at a point where that is no longer possible. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A test method for encouraging the viability of the endangered pallid sturgeon in the upper Missouri River has been aborted because of a lack of water. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said last week it would not conduct special test flow of water out of Fort Peck Dam in Montana. The decision is the latest sign that drought is affecting uses of the Missouri River, which communities in Nebraska and Iowa depend upon for water and industry. About 87% of the basin is abnormally dry, said Kevin Low, hydrologist with the Missouri Basin River Forecast Center of the National Weather Service. Last year was the 17th-driest for the basin, he said. For now, the corps continues to project another dry year along the river, and the National Weather Service says it's possible Nebraska could see drought worsen in its interior. Plains and mountain snowpack are below normal, as is soil moisture, Low said. However, about 40% of the snow season remains, so there remains time for snowfall to catch up, he said. The upcoming year was the first time the corps was going to test special spring releases out of the Fort Peck dam to see if the additional water created better conditions for fish to spawn and their larvae to survive. John Remus, who oversees management of the Missouri River for the corps, said there's not enough water behind the dam to run the test. While it's possible that late-season snows or spring rains could replenish the reservoir, Remus said there's not enough remaining time to notify all involved parties. The test release came out of an agreement between the corps and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as an avenue of complying with the Endangered Species Act. The corps is managing the river for drought conditions, which means that it has limited releases from its dams to the minimal amount practical including 12,000 cubic feet per second out of Gavins Point Dam on the Nebraska-South Dakota border. Remus said the river will carry enough water this year to meet water supply needs. Communities along the river depend upon it for drinking water, and multiple utilities and industries rely on it for their operations. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SOMERS The University of Wisconsin-Parkside had the lowest graduation rate of all the schools in the University of Wisconsin System over the past six years, even as the states graduation rate surpassed the national average. Thats according to according to new data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, which found more than 70% of Wisconsin college students who enrolled at a higher education institution in 2015 graduated within six years. The report tracked and compared six-year graduation rates at four-year public universities, two-year public colleges and four-year nonprofit universities. It shows about 62% of all college students in the U.S. who enrolled as freshman in 2015 graduated within six years. Graduation rates for 2014s freshman class vary significantly by UW System campus, but the average for all students at all campuses is about 65%. According to the report, UW-Madison the UW Systems flagship school had the highest six-year graduation rate among UW campuses at about 88%. Parkside had the lowest rate, with 38.6% of 2014 freshman graduating within six years. While the six-year graduation rate has been improving in Wisconsin, notable gaps exist when comparing rates among students who are Black, Native American and Hispanic to students who are White. According to UW System data for the 2014 freshman class, students listed as underrepresented minority had a six-year graduation rate of 48.% Students listed as non-underrepresented minority or white, other Asian American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander had a six-year completion rate of 67%. Location, family history Rob Ducoffe, UW-Parkside provost and vice chancellor for academic and student affairs, said graduation rates at the campus are likely lower than other UW system schools because the university serves more first-generation college students and many of them come from low-income households. If you look at the 13 universities in University of Wisconsin system, UW-Parkside has the highest percentage of first-generation students, the highest percentage of students who are eligible for Pell grants from the federal government because they come from families that dont make that much money, the highest percentage of students of color who historically have not been as well-served by higher education, and the highest percentage of students that work and so are unable to just focus on school, Ducoffe said. Those reasons explain why students take longer to graduate from UW-Parkside. Ducoffe said in four of past five years, the six-year graduation rate at UW-Parkside hit a record high. Even though the rates are still low and have a lot of room for improvement, they have improved a lot, he said. Ducoffe said the university still has a long way to go. Its our top priority, he said. In the last two academic years, even during the pandemic, we set historic records for the number of students that graduated each year. More students are graduating from UW-Parkside because we realize that students who earn a degree are much more likely to have successful careers and happy and successful lives, Ducoffe continued. Most of our students come from Kenosha and Racine and need access to a high-quality public university close to where they live. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 RACINE Hundreds of housing projects are being funded through a pair of City of Racine initiatives. Last week, the Community Development Authority released the amounts generated last year from Tax Incremental District Nos. 22 and 23. Tax increment districts are created for the purpose of development or rehabilitation; TIDs 22 and 23 are both focused on rehabilitation. What's a TID? Tax Increment District earn money in the following way: the city sets a base value when the TID is created, with that value being the cumulative value of all properties within the district's borders. As property values increase, the difference between the base value and increased value will be set aside to be used for residential projects within the district. The CDA presented a proposal on Thursday that outlined how the funds will be allocated in the near future to help homeowners within the TIDs pay for home repairs or improvements. TID 22 has an allocation of just under $1.5 million. At the close of the application process last October, qualified requests included 92 home repair projects and 56 enhancement projects. Matt Rejc, assistant director for the citys Department of City Development, said there was enough funding for all the projects. After looking at the funds that we have available, looking at the need and the requests, the proposal that we have before us is to fund all of the qualified applications, Rejc said. TID 23 has a $474,218 allocation. The CDA will begin to take applications for those funds in 2022. However, the process of applying for TID 23 funds will be different than TID 22. Rather than having an application period, the CDA intends to accept applications on a rolling basis and plans to use the funds as available, Rejc said. Rejc said the CDA has contracted with Corey Prince, a consultant who is also a leader within NAACP Wisconsin, and to help get the word out in the neighborhoods within the TID. Mayor Cory Mason said the city also intends to market the programs. We are trying to be intentional about doing outreach so thee is a diversity of residents who get the opportunity to make use of the funds, Mason said. Projects The funds generated from the TIDs will be used for the Homeowner Repair Program and the Property Enhancement Program. The Homeowner Repair Program allows up to $10,000 per household to be used for repair of code violations. The Property Enhancement Program was designed to facilitate existing homeowner investment into permanent assets on their property with a 1:1 match of private dollars up to $10,000 per property. In order to be eligible for this program, expenses must relate to projects that will increase the assessed value of the property. The city assessor will have the sole opinion on whether the project increases the assessed value of the property and is therefore eligible. 22 & 23 TID 22 is located on the citys north side. It is bordered by the lake to the east, roughly the corner of Rapids Drive and Northwestern Avenue to the west, Melvin Avenue to the north and Rapids Drive and Goold Street to the south. TID No. 23 is on the citys south side and is bordered by 12th Street to the north, DeKoven Avenue to the south, the lake to the east and Center Street to the west. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. KENOSHA Since the riots and looting in Kenosha in August 2020, there have been 94 cases charging 56 separate individuals identified in the chaos. Now the public has a chance to add more names to that list. The Kenosha County District Attorneys Office on Friday launched a website with still photographs taken from video of yet-to-be-identified people connected to the looting and vandalism. The website can be accessed online at: www.kenoshacounty.org/2157/Looter-Identification. Viewers can leave an anonymous tip via email that will go directly to the Kenosha County Sheriffs Departments Detective Bureau, which will then investigate that individual to see if a positive identification can be made. Were a year and a half since the riots happened, and at that stage, we wanted to be sure we spoke to the public about where we were as a community in terms of being able to hold anybody accountable, District Attorney Michael Graveley said. Having a direct link to the Detective Bureau didnt happen by accident, he said. Weve learned that the way youre going to get the most response (has to be the) easiest possible process, Graveley said. That was a priority for the people who partnered with us, which were the local computer folks, who put this website together for us. Graveley said a number of high-quality videos were available during the riots, but without identification, those people have been able to elude prosecution. We have very good pictures, but we dont know who it is, in many cases he said. Those photographs have been distributed among the law enforcement community, both in Kenosha and in surrounding areas, Graveley said. Now its at the point where the public can access the new website to offer its help. Graveley said there may be up to another 100 people who have yet to be charged, and that was a big reason his office is partnering with law enforcement to take the effort to the next phase. It felt like we should be a partner now to try and expand that effort, he said. Statute of limitations Graveley said there is a six-year statute of limitations to prosecute these cases, and hes confident there still is plenty of time to file charges if and when new people can be identified. Im hoping were going to increase the percentage of folks who committed these felonies in our town back in (2020) and try to get a higher percentage of them charged, he said. Graveley said he has a message for those who have yet to be identified but now have photographs of them in the act for the public to see. All the parties who can figure out a way to hold you responsible are going to try and do that, he said. And for the public? Now is the time to step up and help, he said. Please take a look at the pictures and be good citizens and help us be sure we hold people responsible who devastated our community, he said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. History In the 20th century, the federal government backed investments in homeownership for the middle and lower classes that explicitly excluded people of color, but especially black people. The Federal Housing Administration was created in 1934 with the specific purpose of increasing housing stock and homeownership in the U.S. To meet its goal, it subsidized the creation of suburbs that were, by federal law, exclusive to white families. Additionally, the FHA also refused to insure mortgages for homes in black communities, or even homes near black communities, which came to be known as redlining for the red lines that usually marked the locations of black neighborhoods. Mason defended the CDAs commitment to investing in racially diverse neighborhoods, even if it meant the five homes the city is having built lose money. I think we have to show how were investing in all of our neighborhoods, Mason said. The CDA also discussed the inclusion of minority-owned, women-owned businesses in the bidding process. Mason said while the city would post the call for bids as it usually does, staff also keeps a list of contractors from minority-owned and women-owned businesses who would be contacted directly. SPRINGFIELD As Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker tries to fend off Republican rivals who accuse him of being soft on crime, his office is announcing the arrests of about a dozen people in the last several months for crimes on Chicago-area expressways. The rise in violent crime afflicting parts of the state has not spared the citys expressways, which are patrolled by Illinois State Police. There were roughly 260 shootings on Chicago-area expressways in 2021, about double the number on those roadways the previous year, according to the state police. Advertisement Those arrested for expressway-related felonies since October face charges ranging from first-degree murder to attempted murder to fleeing a law enforcement officer. Warrants have been issued in other cases. Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks at the Cook County Democratic Committee slating meeting on Dec. 14, 2021, in Chicago. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) In one of the cases, state police arrested a 31-year-old man on Jan. 31 on a murder charge in the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old man almost exactly a year earlier on the Kennedy Expressway near Division Street. Also last month, state police arrested a 19-year-old man on an attempted murder charge for the December shooting of a 32-year-old man on the Bishop Ford Freeway in the south suburbs. Advertisement A news conference is scheduled for Monday to discuss the arrests. In an interview with the Tribune on Friday, state police Director Brendan Kelly described why catching the culprits in expressway shootings is often difficult. The crime scene itself is moving at 70, 80, 90 miles an hour down the expressway, said Kelly, who was tapped by Pritzker in 2019 to lead the state police. The evidence is more like a debris field than it is at a typical crime scene on a street corner or in a parking lot, wherever the case may be, within a home or within a business, it is spread out all over the place. And then you have people literally driving through the crime scene repeatedly until law enforcement is able to get there and secure the scene, Kelly said. People that are the victims of these cases may not be able to identify what they saw. So, all that is moving very quickly. Illinois State Police investigate the scene, littered with bullet casings, following a shooting on the Dan Ryan Expressway's inbound lanes at 91st Street in Chicago on July 7, 2021. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) Republicans seeking their partys nomination to take on Pritzker in November have all used variations of tough-on-crime rhetoric, while the governor has mostly promoted his administrations efforts to address root causes of violence. Those efforts include an allocation in the budget Pritzker proposed last week of $240 million for violence prevention organizations across the state that specialize in street conflict mediation, and connect at-risk individuals with mental health providers, job training and other social services. Butin recent public appearances, the governor has stepped up his support of law enforcements role in tackling crime. If we want to reduce crime, we have to solve crimes, Pritzker declared during his annual State of the State and budget address last week in Springfield. He noted in his remarks how his proposed budget for fiscal year 2023 would increase the number of state police forensic scientists and evidence technicians. He also talked about the building of a new, state-of-the-art crime lab near Joliet and another one opening in Decatur. Pritzker also wants to add the largest number of state police cadets in any single year. Advertisement In tackling the problem of expressway crime, state police investigators have become increasingly reliant on surveillance footage from cameras mounted along the roadways. Since Pritzker took office, the state allocated $12.5 million for the state police to place high-resolution cameras along the Cook County expressways, equipping them with license plate-reading technology. So far, according to Kelly, about 100 have been installed, with about 200 more to go. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 7 Vehicles drive along the Dan Ryan Expressway near West 31st Street on Aug. 25, 2021 in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) That license plate-reading technology, along with the air operations that we have, along with the additional trooper presence that we have thats whats helping us to be able to be more effective from a criminal investigative standpoint, said Kelly. But some observers have been skeptical of the technology, as scant research exists to gauge how successful it is in helping reducing crime. There are also concerns among civil libertarians about whether the technology could be an invasion of privacy. You ought to have a privacy policy that is available to the public, so they know how the data is going to be used, and how long its going to be stored, Edwin Yohnka, a spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, said Friday. State police officials have said the agency will keep the data collected from cameras for only about three months if its not connected to a crime, but the agency isnt required to do that by law. The expressway camera law that provides the $12.5 million, however, prohibits state police from using the monitors to go after petty offenses. Advertisement Yohnka said independent reports should be issued annually to look at the efficiency and the effectiveness of the license plate readers. He also said the public should have some input as to where the surveillance system is installed because in a free society, people ought to be able to have input into what level of surveillance theyre going to have in their neighborhood. Kelly said he thinks the extra cameras are essential to solving expressway-related crimes since criminals have been aware for years that surveillance cameras are ubiquitous in neighborhoods particularly in parts of Chicagos South and West sides that see a lot of shootings. The expressways have become an easy escape route if you were going to commit that type of violence, Kelly said. jgorner@chicagotribune.com Wisconsin lawmakers are considering legislation to make it easier to sell off public lands, raising concerns that the proposal could undermine trust from private donors whove helped preserve thousands of acres. The bill would allow the sale of some lands purchased with Knowles-Nelson Stewardship funds, a program through which the Department of Natural Resources helps local governments and nonprofit organizations preserve land for nature-based use by the public. Since its creation in 1989, the Knowles-Nelson program has been used to preserve more than 800,000 acres throughout the state, including places like the Pheasant Branch Conservancy and Cherokee Marsh. Current law prohibits the sale of Knowles-Nelson lands without DNR approval, something the agency rarely grants. Companion bills sponsored by a pair of northern Wisconsin Republicans would allow lands acquired through grants to nonprofit conservation groups and local governments to be sold for private use so long as the state grant is repaid. Groups including Clean Wisconsin, The Nature Conservancy, Trout Unlimited and the Wisconsin Bike Fed oppose the bill, which they say would compromise the stewardship program and the states outdoor economy. Its a pretty significant departure from where the law stands now, said Charles Carlin, director of strategic initiatives for Gathering Waters, an alliance of more than 40 private land trusts. It undermines this incredibly popular conservation program. While the bill would require repayment of state grants, theres no such provision for private donors who often put up half the funds to buy the land or people who sell at below-market prices with the expectation that land will be conserved for the public. This bill is really about honoring the commitments weve made, said Peter Burress, government affairs manager for Wisconsin Conservation Voters. Carlin notes the bill affects just a fraction of Wisconsins roughly 6 million acres of public land but would make it harder for conservation groups to help local governments acquire public lands. Madison Audubon has used Knowles-Nelson funds to protect more than 2,700 acres, including the roughly 700-acre Goose Pond Sanctuary in Arlington. Executive director Matt Reetz said the limitations on future use are essential to securing matching funds. It gives people the assurance that the conservation of that land is forever, Reetz said. You have that trust. Conservation groups also warn the bill could create a perverse incentive to use stewardship funds as low-interest financing for land speculation. If youve got a park and you conserved it 25 years ago and now the real estate value is 25 times what it was you can sell it to a developer, Carlin said. Fear tactics The sponsors say they are simply trying to make it easier for grant recipients to get rid of land that no longer meets their needs something thats currently burdensome and rarely ever approved, said Sen. Mary Felzkowski of Irma. No one is required to sell their stewardship land, said Rep. Calvin Callahan, R-Tomahawk. We are simply attempting to make it easier for those who no longer need the land for their own conservancy goals. The DNR estimates about 10 properties would be sold off each year if the bill is passed. DNR spokesperson Sarah Hoye said the agency has not approved the sale of any land bought with Knowles-Nelson funds but has approved some land swaps in cases where the land was subject to eminent domain or otherwise sold to a utility or the state Department of Transportation. Under the bill, a county or other landowner would simply have to notify the agency, pay back the grant with interest and keep the land open until its sold. In comments submitted to an Assembly committee last week, Felzkowski said her office has received an influx of calls from people concerned she is gutting the stewardship program. This is incredibly far from the truth, and were extremely disappointed with these fear tactics, said Felzkowski, who accused opponents of being more concerned with protecting their business than preserving healthy ecosystems. Boy Scout site Collin Driscoll, an aide to Felzkowksi, said the bill was drafted in response to a request from Langlade County, which is seeking to sell part of a former Boy Scout camp it bought about five years ago with Knowles-Nelson funds. County Administrator Jason Hilger said the board wants the option to sell some of the 652 acres to fund improvements on the rest. I understand some (people) may not like what were proposing, Hilger said. Why couldnt we sell a few lots to help develop the rest of the property? There are better ways to patch local budgets, said Mike Kuhr, state council chair for Wisconsin Trout Unlimited. Selling off public lands is a short-term fix, an economic band-aid that robs future generations of their outdoor recreation rights and prevents the expansion of our sustainable outdoor recreation economy. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Government agencies couldnt require employees to attend training courses about topics related to systemic racism under a Republican-authored bill that will be the subject of a public hearing Tuesday, the latest example in Wisconsin of a divisive national issue playing out in a major election year. The bill would almost certainly be vetoed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who has directly sought to address unequal outcomes for historically marginalized Wisconsinites. Evers last week vetoed a Republican-backed bill Friday that would have prohibited teaching concepts related to critical race theory. The bill coming before the Senate Government Operations, Legal Review and Consumer Protection Committee at noon on Tuesday is part of a nationwide surge in Republican bills pushing back against teachings about systemic racism and systemic sexism. Supporters at an August hearing made clear the bill was taking a stand against critical race theory, a decades-old academic framework that can be used to understand how systemic racism prevails through laws and institutions. The people of Wisconsin deserve to know their state and local governments are not pushing political and racist training such as Critical Race Theory, Rep. Gae Magnafici, R-Dresser, said in a statement, adding, To claim that America was founded on racism and that our constitution and way of life should be overthrown is just wrong. In part, the bill prohibits teaching employees that they may be consciously or unconsciously racist or sexist because of their race or sex; that a person bears responsibility for what people of the same race or sex did to others in the past; and that people should feel discomfort or guilt because of their race or sex. Under the bill, state agencies violating the prohibition would be subject to a 10% funding reduction for all positions in the following year unless they comply within 10 days of being informed of the violation by the state Department of Administration. Similarly, local agencies would forfeit 10% of shared revenue payments for the following year if the Department of Revenue finds a violation and the agency doesnt correct it within 10 days. The reduced funding for state and local agencies would revert if they later comply with the training prohibition. The bill would also require local and state agencies to make available to the public any training materials that are not confidential. I ask you to remember that those who deny their past, who refuse to learn from it, are doomed to repeat it, said Rep. David Bowen, D-Milwaukee, in a statement against the bill. The National Association of Social Workers Wisconsin chapter executive director Marc Herstand said in a statement that the bill aims to ban something that does not exist, saying there is no evidence of Wisconsin agencies teaching its employees to hate each other or white people. The biggest danger from this bill is the unintended consequences of intimidating state and local government employers who are simply trying to help their employees understand and respect the different racial and ethnic backgrounds and experiences of their fellow employees and the Wisconsin residents who they help every day, Herstand said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 RACINE "Rebellious Fibers," a two-person exhibit featuring mixed media works by Yvette Kaiser Smith and Bobbi Meier, will be on exhibit through April 16 at OS Projects, 601 Sixth St. At first glance, "Rebellious Fibers" reads as a lesson in dichotomy. Meiers forms are organic, soft-edged, exuberant and boisterous. Kaiser Smiths works are architectural, industrial, ordered and, in comparison, subdued. Sustained viewing, however, reveals similarities and kinship beyond the superficial. Both bodies of work are responses to the times we live in. In reaction to the widening divisions in our society, Kaiser Smith looks for simple and direct ways to combine disparate materials and challenge our perceptions of difference. Her works ask viewers to consider whether we see diversity as a hard difference that leads to the notion of otherness, or rather as variation within a unified group. Meier embraces color as a means of transcending the darkness of the pandemic and its attendant sadness. She creates work that is enticing, revelatory and joyful. Her objects embrace our desire and need for touch while exemplifying a way of moving from confinement to openness. The works in "Rebellious Fibers" engage fabric, sewing, tucking, padding and weaving. Many parts are assembled to create one garment, one body, one whole. Yet neither Kaiser Smith nor Meier considers herself a fiber artist, instead identifying as mixed media artists who make sculptural objects using the language of fiber and fiber traditions. Their respective bodies of work share a rebellious spirit that colors outside of the lines of traditions and generates new idioms within sculpture and fiber art. About the artists Kaiser Smith uses number sequences to create wall-based, geometric abstractions, where values of digits direct a compositions formal structure. Born in Soviet-occupied Prague, Kaiser Smith has resided in Chicago since 1991. She holds a bachelor of fine arts from Southern Methodist University, which includes a fellowship to Yale School of Art Summer Program, and an MFA in sculpture from University of Chicago. Kaiser Smith has exhibited at regional museums, art centers and university galleries throughout the U.S. Exhibitions abroad include U.S. Embassies in Moscow, Ankara, and Abuja; the National Art Museum of China (Beijing); and alternative galleries in London, Rome, Berlin and Bulgaria. Kaiser Smith has also exhibited her work at Bridges Mathematical Art Exhibitions in Austria and Sweden and created site-specific commissions for Facebook Chicago, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Rosewood Hotel Abu Dhabi and PricewaterhouseCoopers in NYC, among other clients. She has been awarded residencies at Ragdale Foundation and, most recently, ARV.International in Vishovgrad, Bulgaria. Meier is a Chicago-based visual artist. Lifes frustrations, joys and fears are embedded into her abstract sculptures, drawings and installations through her provocative use of materials such as pantyhose, spandex, porcelain, and found home furnishings. Meiers work has been exhibited both regionally and nationally and is in the collection of the Kohler Foundation and John Michael Kohler Arts Center. Recent solo and two-person exhibitions in Chicago include "Strange Etiquette" at Salonlb, "Domina Domi" at Okay Gallery, "Visceral" at Extra Projects Gallery and "Perspiration Glitz" at Roots & Culture. She has been awarded residencies at the John Michael Kohler Arts/Industry Program, Ragdale Foundation, Vermont Studio Center, Ox-Bow School of Art, Anderson Ranch and Sanskriti-Kendra in New Delhi. Meier is a co-director of ADDS Donna, an artist-run space in Chicago. She earned her master of arts in art education and master of fine arts in fiber and material studies from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. OS Projects is a contemporary art gallery in downtown Racine featuring visual artists in solo and small group exhibits. The gallery's primary focus is on artists living and working in the Chicago-Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee urban corridor. While the range of media the gallery presents is broad encompassing painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, photography, and installation the exhibited artists are unified in their engagement with topical issues, experimentation with materials and processes, and adherence to craft. Gallery hours are noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays and by appointment. For more information, go to osprojects.art. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 1. Yes. Raising the bar for future developments will boost the citys housing market. 2. Yes. It will help in newer areas, but more needs to be done to change Killeens image. 3. No. The new standards will just slow down homebuilding and drive away developers. 4.No. The ordinance will do little more than drive up the price of new homes in the city. 5. Unsure. Its hard to say what the effect will be until they have been in place for a while. Vote View Results Drew Petersons attorneys asked for more time Monday as they interview witnesses and plan further arguments after the former cop petitioned to vacate the jurys verdict more than nine years after he was found guilty of killing his ex-wife. During a brief hearing in Will County court, Assistant Will County Public Defender Jason Strzelecki said he will file amendments to the six-page handwritten motion Peterson filed in October asking for a new trial, but they first need to review more material. He said he needed more time to interview several new and former witnesses, and some live out of state. Advertisement Drew Peterson, in a 2009 file photo. (M. Spencer Green / AP) We will be adding several claims, Strzelecki said. Strzelecki asked for a 90-day extension to allow for the interviewing of the witnesses, and Will County Judge Edward Burmilla agreed. The case is due in court again May 18 and Peterson, who is serving his time at an Indiana prison, will not be present. Advertisement In 2012, Peterson was sentenced to 38 years in prison for the death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio. Her death was reexamined after Petersons fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, went missing in 2007. The former Bolingbrook police sergeant has been identified as a suspect, but never charged, in Stacys disappearance, which remains an open investigation. Peterson argued his lead attorney Joel Brodsky, did not provide effective counsel and that other attorneys who represented him were threatened with removal from the case by Brodsky if they disagreed with him. Peterson also argues that two of the states key witnesses, Neil Schori and Harry Smith, should not have been allowed to testify about what Stacy Peterson told them regarding Savios death or her own concerns about her husband. Peterson argues conversations with Schori, a pastor, and Smith, an attorney, should have been privileged. However, both were allowed to testify under the states hearsay law. He also blamed media and Hollywood attention, arguing that a TV movie starring Rob Lowe portrayed him in a negative light before his trial and hindered his chances at a fair trial. The Will County States Attorneys Office filed a 23-page response to Petersons claims, noting that many were already addressed in a previous appeal and higher courts have upheld his conviction. Peterson was also sentenced to 40 years in prison after he was convicted in 2016 for trying to hire someone to kill Will County States Attorney James Glasgow. Peterson is being represented by a public defender in his current petition at his own request. He sent a handwritten letter to Burmilla on Dec. 1, 2021, asking for the public defender. Thank you for going forward with my post-conviction petition, Peterson wrote. Its hard enough to deal with a case while free. Dealing with a case while incarcerated is almost impossible. I find myself indigent and Im requesting from the court, a court-appointed lawyer. Im financially unable to retain counsel on my own. Advertisement mejones@chicagotribune.com KEARNEY Unforeseen conditions will delay completion of the Kearney Whitewater Park and cause additional costs, but they wont derail much-awaited efforts to build manmade rapids in the paddlers park near Kearney Cinema 8. During its meeting Tuesday, the Kearney City Council will approve changes in the design of the whitewater park to stabilize the shoreline and creek bottom. Unforeseen conditions were encountered in the riverbed during initial excavation by the contractor, Scott Hayden, director of the Kearney Park and Recreation Department, said in a memo to the City Council. In the memo, Hayden asked permission to spend more money and work into the whitewater park. Initially, the project was supposed to cost $583,916, but with the added work necessary to stabilize the creek bottom and shoreline, the project will cost $662,528. Thats an additional $78,612. The contractor, Whinnery Construction Inc., will use steel sheet piling to stabilize the project area. According to Hayden, Whinnery has worked in the past with the designer of the whitewater park S20 Designs of Lyons, Colorado. Acquiring the steel sheet piling and installing it will add two weeks to the completion of the whitewater park, Hayden said. That means the project still will be finished in mid- to late-spring. Location for the whitewater park is in the north channel of the Platte River, known as Turkey Creek. The site for the manmade rapids is on the west and east sides of Second Avenue near the hotel district in south Kearney. The city of Kearney has worked with the Kearney Whitewater Association to make the whitewater park a reality. The paddlers organization volunteered to clear the bottom and shorelines of Kearney Canal and Turkey Creek. The whitewater group raised $250,000 for the project. Because of the added costs, the Kearney Whitewater Association will contribute an additional $25,000. The city will commit an additional $14,040 from municipal sales taxes and $39,570 from the project contingency funds. The citys initial stakes of $400,000, included $300,000 in sales tax revenues and $100,000 in CARES Act stimulus money. Tuesdays council meeting is open to the public and begins at 5:30 p.m. in council chambers at City Hall. MADISON, Wis. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking public comment now through Feb. 18, 2022 on an interim forest management plan for a portion of Wildcat Mountain State Park in Vernon County. Interim Forest Management Plans are intended to guide timber management on properties that do not have formal master plans. The department expects to complete detailed master plans for this property at a future to be determined date. Until then, the interim forest management plan for Wildcat Mountain State Park will guide forest management of the pine plantation on the property until the master plan for the property is complete. The draft Interim Forest Management Plan for Wildcat Mountain State Park and a complete list of properties with Interim Forest Management Plans can be found on the DNRs Interim Forest Management Plans webpage. The Interim Forest Management Plan is important because it guides forest management and incorporates ecological, economic and recreational considerations, said John Pohlman, DNR Property Planner. The plan is a component of the departments efforts to ensure state-owned forests are sustainably managed. The planning process also provides an opportunity for interested and affected stakeholders to have input on forest management. People want to know we are managing their lands well, and consumers increasingly prefer products from sustainably managed forests. Wisconsins 17 million acres of forested land both public and private provide raw materials for Wisconsins forest products industry, which generates $24.7 billion per year and directly supports nearly 65,000 jobs. Through the DNRs use of sustainable forestry practices, trees are grown and harvested responsibly ensuring the economic, social and ecological benefits of the forest products industry. The public is encouraged to submit comments regarding the interim forest management plan for Wildcat Mountain State Park by 4:30 p.m. CST on Feb. 18 to: Department of Natural Resources, C/O John Pohlman, DNR Property Planner 101 S. Webster St., P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707. Phone: 608-264-6263 or Email: John.Pohlman@wisconsin.gov Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Vernon County Dairy Youth Fund is upping its scholarship offering to high school seniors and current college students with two $1,000 scholarship offerings. Previous scholarships were $500. To apply, a student must meet the following qualifications: High school seniors with current membership in 4-H, FFA, or a junior dairy breed organization with an emphasis on the dairy project. College students need not meet this requirement however previous membership is preferred. Enrollment in a two-year or four-year college or university or the Farm & Industry Short Course to pursue a career in agriculture. Home residence in Vernon County. Prior recipients of the Vernon County Dairy Youth Fund Scholarship are not eligible. Applications must be typed and submitted by April 1 to Julie Larson at julielarson2424@gmail.com. To have a copy of the application emailed to you, please contact Julie Larson at 608-778-2459 or julielarson2424@gmail.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 ST. PAUL, Minn. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, is urging extreme caution downstream of Lock and Dam 8 in Genoa this week. There will be an abundance of ice being released and subsequent open water and/or thin ice, causing possible safety concerns for anyone on the ice downstream. It is highly recommended that recreational users do not fish below the lock chamber or below the dam due to the unknowns of these conditions as well as the possibility of being stranded due to the open water. The release of ice is due to contractor movements in the lock chamber associated with the ongoing winter maintenance. The contract fleet will back out of the lock chamber, turn around downstream and then park on the lower guide wall. All lock construction activities are scheduled to be completed during the winter to avoid impacts to the navigation industry. The completed work will improve safety for Corps lock operators and industry deckhands. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A number of North Side La Crosse properties will either need to undergo some construction or enter into a deed restriction with the city in order to become compliant with floodplain regulations. More than 30 properties are in violation of FEMA regulations because their garages lie two feet or less below the floodplain, which threatens the citys ability to be eligible for flood insurance. In order to become compliant, about 23 of those properties will have the choice to either bring the garage out of the floodplain or install flood vents in the garage, or receive a deed restriction from the city. The deed restriction would limit any building or work done on the garages until a vent is installed or some other work is done to bring the property into compliance, such as filling or raising the garage, or demolishing it. Both the Floodplain Advisory Committee and the Finance & Personnel Committee approved the deed restrictions on Thursday, and it will need approval from the La Crosse Common Council next week before it is adopted and letters are sent to residents notifying them of the choice. In 2020, FEMA told the city of La Crosse its residents were at risk of seeing a 10% increase in flood insurance rates because of the violations. Not all of the properties in violation will get a choice, however. The citys floodplain manager, Sarah Rafajko, said that about 13 properties in total have garages that are more than two feet below the floodplain and dont qualify for a deed restriction. Instead, they will either need to install a vent, raise or demolish their garages. These residents have all been notified, Rafajko said. In addition, there are eight properties in the city that were previously incorrectly issued letters of map revisions, or LOMRs. An LOMR is essentially documentation of whether or not a property lies within a floodplain or not. In this case, the properties were incorrectly told they were not in the floodplain, and because of this some may have made changes to their property that violate FEMAs regulations. Rafajko said that federal, state and local floodplain regulations all differ, causing the confusion. Letters have gone out to six of these properties and Rafajko is attempting to work with FEMA to remove two of those from the violations list. Two of these properties are city-owned, including 2710 Onalaska Ave. and the building at Badger Hickey Park, and it is unclear what the resolutions will be. These properties will likely need to make alterations to their properties in order to come into compliance. One property on Liberty Street was highlighted by officials because of how large the error listed on its elevation certificate was. An elevation certificate, or EC, indicates exactly how far a property lies within a floodplain. As far as why it was so far off I dont have an answer, said chief city inspector David Reinhart. He said he reviewed the certificate, which was completed in 2007, and that it was signed off by city staff. This is another example of why the city should not be providing elevation certificates for these properties, Reinhart said. The city would take on liability in this particular case, if it was done by a private surveyor they would take on the liability for the incorrect EC. The exact next steps for all of these properties is not completely known as the city will need to figure out if it will cover the cost of any of the solutions. Rafajko said she will continue to try and contact homeowners in violation. Of the owners that I have talked to, they do remember two years ago when they were told that the city was going to be paying for vent installation and a lot of these things, Rafajko told the Floodplain Advisory Committee. Next steps also kind of depend on what is decided as far as whos paying for this or how were paying for this and if were paying for it, she said. In addition to the North Side, Rafajko said that additional properties in the Ebner Coulee area which has recently gone through a massive re-study of its floodplain map could be removed from the floodplain. Residents of the neighborhood have argued about their designation in the floodplain by FEMA, which requires them to pay for flood insurance. In addition to the 120 structures removed, 29 are also being removed after their elevation certificates were verified. This affects 33 parcels, Rafajko said, and letters are still to be sent to property owners. This leaves 62 structures and 56 parcels still in the Ebner Coulee floodplain, but of those, 39 dont have elevation certificates on file, meaning theres still the potential that they could be removed. The city is notifying properties that should complete an elevation certificate, which could either help them be removed from the floodplain or get a break on their flood insurance premiums. Rafajko said she spoke to about 60 property owners in the Ebner Coulee area and that they indicated they could pay for the elevation study themselves. Thats not making or breaking anyone in that area, at least that I talked to, Rafajko said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Protesters gather Monday morning near Lockport Township High School, the first day of school following Friday's judicial order of a temporary restraining order regarding Gov. J.B. Pritzker's mask mandate. (Wendy Fox Weber / Daily Southtown) As a court ruling put in limbo, at least for the time being, a mask mandate at many school districts throughout the state, some south and southwest suburban districts were taking varied approaches to the temporary restraining order. The decision Friday by a Downstate judge temporarily halted enforcement of Gov. J.B. Pritzker in about 150 of the states approximately 840 school districts, with the state appealing the ruling. Advertisement Some southwest suburban districts named as defendants in the lawsuit, in response to the judges ruling, suspended mask mandates Monday while continuing to maintain other COVID-19 protocols, such as social distancing, hand washing regimens and sanitizing. Elementary districts including Homer District 33C, Burbank District 111, North Palos District 117, New Lenox District 122, Worth District 127 and Orland District 135, were among those named as defendants and which relaxed masking requirements. Advertisement Following an emergency school board meeting Saturday, Frankfort District 157C said it would make masks optional, but will provide child-size KN95 masks to families who want their children to continue to mask. In a letter to families, the district noted the lawsuit doesnt name the Illinois Elementary School Association as a defendant, and that students and staff would continue to wear masks in association-sanctioned activities, such as sports. Matt Moeller, picking up his nephew Monday at High Point Elementary in Orland Park, said he wishes the mask mandate would just go away for good. He said his nephew was not a fan of having to wear them in school. He said it was just a general pain to wear, Moeller said. Staci Andrews said her daughter, a fourth grader, had always complained about hard it is trying to talk to the teacher with it on. I know they had to do this as far as the district following the governors mandate, but I dont know if masks really do much to keep people safe, Andrews said. Students are picked up outside of Orland Elementary District 135's High Point Elementary School Monday after masks became optional following a court ruling. (Mike Nolan / Daily Southtown) Some students walking out of the building were without masks while others hand them on or draped down on their chin. Monica Cartwright said she has disagreed with the mandate for schools and other places from the start and toyed with the idea of home schooling before the school year started. They shouldnt have had it in the first place, she said. I hope its gone for good. Advertisement Regardless of the district, masks are still required to be worn by students on school buses, which come under a different federal mandate. High school districts named in the lawsuit were taking a very narrow stance on the temporary restraining order. Lockport Township District 205 said it is still requiring masks, with the exception of students who are plaintiffs in the lawsuit, but it was not immediately clear how many students that involved. Outside the high school Monday morning, a small group of people gathered in protest of the mask mandate. High School District 218, which has Eisenhower High School in Blue Island, Richards in Oak Lawn and Shepard in Palos Heights, said it would continue to impose the mask order with the exception of one student who is a plaintiff in the case. High School District 230, with Carl Sandburg in Orland Park, Stagg in Palos Hills and Andrew in Tinley Park, said that seven district students are plaintiffs in the lawsuit, and while it was recommending that students and staff who havent been vaccinated continue to wear masks, they would be optional under the judges decision. Advertisement The district also said it would no longer require quarantining of students or staff in close-contact cases unless COVID-19 symptoms occur. Although not a defendant in the case, Lincoln-Way High School District 210, with schools in Frankfort and New Lenox, said it was adopting a mask-optional policy. Because of the publicity the temporary restraining order had received, some Southland school districts, including Oak Lawn-Hometown District 123 and Forest Ridge 142 in Oak Forest, posted notices at their websites letting families know that their districts were not part of the lawsuit and that masking would still be the norm. Students are picked up outside of Orland Elementary District 135's High Point Elementary School Monday after the district made masks optional. (Mike Nolan / Daily Southtown) Orland District 135, also in response to the temporary restraining order, said it would halt contact tracing and quarantining of students and staff in instances of close contact. Superintendent John Bryk said that students and staff quarantined due to close contact are able to return to school provided theyre not exhibiting symptoms. Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday > The superintendent noted that with further court action to come in the case, the question of whether the temporary restraining order will stand is yet to be answered. Bryk also told families in a letter that not all students and faculty might decide to jettison masks. These next few days and the potential for additional rulings in the coming weeks will provide new challenges for our families, students and staff, he said. I ask everyone please be kind to each other and respect the choices of families, students and staff when it comes to masking. Advertisement Before the start of the school year and Pritzkers mask mandate in early August, some school districts were planning to reopen without masks being required. Following the governors mask order, parents rallied against it and urged school districts to defy the governor. District 230 Superintendent Bob Nolting, in a message to families, said the pandemic has created a difficult situation where our school community continues to be fractured. Like Bryk, he asked that those on both sides of the mask matter be respectful. Any comments, criticism, or harassing individuals based on their choice regarding masking will be absolutely not tolerated, Nolting wrote. mnolan@tribpub.com The average length of a song comes out to roughly three and a half minutes. However, if a song is memorable enough, it has the power to stretch on for a lifetime. Just ask Lauren Knatz, 63, of Maytown. For the last two decades, Knatz has dedicated her life to performing as an eldercare and hospice musician across several counties in central Pennsylvania. With her Martin guitar, music stand and well-worn music binder, Knatz travels from homes to senior facilities with the intention of providing musical solace to those in desperate need of it. On an average day, Knatz communes with people close to the end of their days, and in some cases, close to their very last breaths. Towards the end of life, you lose the ability to speak, Knatz says in her Maytown home. With elders, there's a prevalence of Alzheimer's and dementia. Your ability to communicate is compromised, they have difficulty just stringing sentences together depending on where they are in the illness. We know that there's a part of your brain that is responsible for musical memory. It's completely unscathed by the cognitive decline of Alzheimer's, so you just play a song and they're right back to wherever they are in time. Knatz refers to the concept of MEAMs - not the funny picture you just shared on Facebook, but music-evoked autobiographical memories, which is the idea that a song from youth can stimulate brain function in ailing patients in a way that other triggers cannot. Peer-reviewed studies exist confirming this notion, supported by experiments conducted in a controlled lab environment. Knatzs work, however, is one-to-one in the field, and is captured in the form of her first book, The Gatekeeper, which is currently available as an e-book and soon to receive its first printing. Because of the apathy and neglect that the brain (in dementia and Alzheimers patients) goes through, if you don't trigger those areas, they don't respond, says Dr. Andre Lijoi at WellSpan York Hospital, who has invited Knatz to give presentations on narrative medicine. The Gatekeeper is essentially a collection of short stories presented in the form of heavily researched journal entries. Each chapter was written in the immediate aftermath of an experience with a specific song and elder that she has performed for during the last three years. After detailing the songs importance and story, Knatz details the history of each piece. You of course lose people, there's no question in hospice work, Knatz says. But when you know that you have contributed to their quality of life, just the knowledge that you contributed to their dignity at end of life, it's incredibly uplifting. I know with hospice work, it's always like, 'oh my gosh, how do you do that?' but it feeds my soul, it's absolutely beautiful. 'Its a real mission While shes been a guitar player since age 12, Knatz first brush with narrative medicine came in 2007, as she found herself back in school to finish a music therapy degree she began years prior. A gerontology class assignment found Knatz interviewing her own father, leading to new life discoveries and a renewed bond. By combining music and the concept of oral histories, Knatz discovered her own way to deliver dignity to patients near the end of their lives. For many elders, hearing songs initially discovered between the ages of 10 and 30 can lead to what is called a reminiscence bump. The stories with The Gatekeeper are filled with such bumps. For example, in a chapter centered around the song Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, Knatz details the experience of performing the song for two different individuals in the span of two weeks. For the first person, Knatz made it to the second verse, and just as she sang If you get there before I do/Coming for to carry me home/Tell all my friends Im a-coming too, the patient died. For the second patient, Knatz adapted the line, knowing that his wife had passed away years prior. Tell my wife Im a-coming too, and at the same spot, the second patient died, just as peacefully as the first. When you're doing this work, it's only you behind the guitar, Knatz says. It's hard to explain, but you're kind of tuning into their energy and focusing on them. [Swing Low] is a powerful song. It's the encoded memory that's a part of that song, that longing for freedom. Just being on the threshold of death and transitioning from the worldly plane to death. In another chapter, Knatz recalls playing Hank Williams one of peoples biggest favorites in this area, according to Knatz for a group at a home in York. Just after performing I Saw the Light, a resident spoke up to mention how he had seen Williams at Valley View Park in York, a onetime country hub that also hosted the likes of Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash. The man mentioned to Knatz that he remembered the crowd having to scatter at one point because of the threat of lightning. With oral history, it's easy to question the accuracy, understandably, you're talking to a 95-year-old, Knatz says. When I was writing that particular chapter, I thought to see if I could find any information about this. Here I found an article in in the York Daily Record about Hank Williams coming during a thunder and lightning storm, and that his plane was delayed at the Lancaster airport! For Dr. Lijoi, Knatz work in narrative medicine goes beyond a prescription. Lauren is not really a music therapist, per se, she's so much more than that. Dr. Lijoi says over the phone. She really has this gift that is quite extraordinary. The way I describe it is that she sees things that others don't see, and it comes through in the repertoire she curates for the people that she attends to. Following the release of the book in November, Knatz has also been invited to speak to narrative medicine students at Columbia University. Knatz is now developing a curriculum to help guide other musicians on the path of narrative medicine through her own business, Instrumental Peace. When you're doing this work, you're almost an observer, in a way, Knatz says. You're allowing the music to do this thing. In an interesting way, that kind of protects you in that it's not you, per se - it's the music, it's the song that has all that incredible energy. It's the love in the room. It's all of that that you're tapping into and just having such reverence for the process and reverence for the individual." I was pretty sure I was done with Zoom before 2020 was even over. Outside of a few live shows and interviews, the service everyone used to stay connected during the early months of the pandemic wore on me almost instantly. Why then, now at the beginning of 2022, do I still get giddy at the thought of opening the program every one or two weeks? Two words: Record Chat. In April 2020, my cousin Joey, along with five of his high school friends Scott, Anthony, Kevin and brothers Nick and Peter began what was then a weekly, online free-form conversation about music. Someone would pick an album, and then the next week, each person would give a review and a number score between one and 10. The group of friends had mostly met on the Emmaus High School swim team, keeping in touch through college and beyond. In these first few months, albums varied wildly, with anything from A Tribe Called Quest to King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard popping up for discussions sake. In October, a funny thing happened due mostly to scheduling conflicts, their friend Kevin couldnt make the Zoom calls anymore, so Joey thought to call me, a rabid fan of music who is also named Kevin. I was familiar with the four other guys through the closeness of my extended family. When Joeys family had gatherings growing up, wed exchange the same sort of pleasantries that you would have with a cousins friends at a party. My joining couldnt have come at a better time, structurally instead of random albums, the group would follow a proper theme, forcing the participants to think a little further out of their respective comfort zones. That first theme of film soundtracks was a rich vein to begin with, as Princes Batman soundtrack rubbed shoulders with Han Zimmers Gladiator score and my inaugural pick, Talking Heads iconic Stop Making Sense soundtrack. Anyone with a longtime group of friends knows that you can very easily go in circles if youre not careful. I love my friends dearly, but I am sure they are absolutely sick of me talking about Steely Dan or NRBQ whenever I get the chance. Joining this new group allowed me a chance not only to expose myself to music I didnt know or had forgotten, but it also allowed me to take in the musical theories of people with different tastes than me. Nearly a year and a half later, we have, impossibly, kept this thing going, although now it is maybe more insular than ever. There is a dedicated Whatsapp chat filled with homemade memes that only five other people would even want to understand. There are offerings, nonsensical doctrines like Joeys Gift Points which allows us to go back and add or subtract a point from past scores. Theres even a full-blown group deity, The Wheel, which we rely on to pick the order of reviews, themes and anything else that requires multiple choices. Themes have continued to evolve, as well. Weve done final albums, albums by female rappers, music to take on a journey through space and the current theme, with rules so complex that I wont waste space elaborating on them Anthonys House of Game Vol. 1: Shadow Round. In the last year and a half, Ive watched these five longtime friends become closer despite their distance, with Nick in New York, Anthony in Washington, D.C., and the others scattered around Pennsylvania. Im happy to say that I seem to have been ingratiated in this clique as well. Since October 2020, weve gathered for a summer camping trip and now two yuletide White Elephant vinyl record exchanges. Hilariously, when weve attempted in-person reviews at these meetups, they never seem to be as fun as when were on Zoom in our own living rooms. This weeks album? A little gem called The Freewheelin Bob Dylan. What number out of 10 would you score it? And most importantly, what would you say about it, if given the chance and a rapt audience of five to hear you say it? So, yes, I would throw Zoom in a fire if it were not a digital application immune to flame, but I must give thanks at least for this one recurring instance. If there ever is a post-pandemic, I can absolutely see us continuing this chat long into the future. Heres to hoping the other Kevin doesnt come looking for his spot back anytime soon. Unscripted is a weekly entertainment column produced by a rotating team of writers. A man entered a Lancaster city convenience store Friday and demanded money from employees who believed he had a gun, according to city police. David Lee Pilgrim, 49, of Lancaster Township, ordered employees at a Turkey Hill store at 701 North Plum Street to give him cash from the registers just after noon, according to an affidavit of probable cause. Pilgrim, who wore a black mask during the robbery, kept his hand in his jacket pocket during the incident, giving employees the impression that he had a gun, police said. The affidavit did not state if Pilgrim actually had a gun at the time. Employees emptied two of the stores registers, giving Pilgrim $281 in cash which he placed in a plastic grocery bag before running away. Surveillance footage in the area showed a man matching Pilgrims description fleeing the store and then driving away in a car that had been parked in the 500 block of East New Street. Detectives used the surveillance footage to track the vehicles license plate to a friend of Pilgrims, who told police Pilgrim had borrowed the car during the time of the robbery. Pilgrim, who was also found to have an existing arrest warrant for a parole violation, surrendered to police after initially refusing to leave a bathroom in the residence, according to the affidavit. Pilgrim was charged with robbery and theft by unlawful taking. An attorney for Pilgrim was not listed in court documents. Judge David Miller set Pilgrims bail at $75,000. He remains in Lancaster County Prison, unable to post that amount, court records show. A preliminary hearing will take place before Judge Andrew LeFever on Feb. 14. Pilgrim has previously pleaded guilty to numerous felony and misdemeanor offenses since 1992, including robbery, kidnapping, simple assault and theft, according to court records. East Hempfield Township police CRIMINAL MISCHIEF EAST HEMPFIELD TWP.: The rear plastic window of a convertible vehicle in the first block of Colonial Crest Drive was slashed, causing $400 in damage, sometime between Jan. 28 and Feb. 2, police said. EAST HEMPFIELD TWP.: An unidentified vandal threw an object at a window in the 700 block of Scarsdale Circle, breaking the glass and causing $225 in damage, sometime between 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Jan. 29, police said. ROBBERY EAST HEMPFIELD TWP.: Paul William Reardon, 35, and Ellyn Christi Pawlowski, 34, both of Ephrata, were each charged with robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, retail theft and conspiracy to commit retail theft following an incident at a Lowes store at 25 Rohrerstown Road on Jan. 19, police said. THEFT EAST HEMPFIELD TWP.: A 16-year-old boy, of Columbia, was charged with retail theft after he was seen taking multiple vape pens from a Sunoco A-Plus Mini Market store at 520 Centerville Road and then running away at 4:16 p.m. on Jan. 29, police said. Manor Township police found the boy shortly afterward in the 3100 block of Columbia Avenue, police said. EAST HEMPFIELD TWP.: A duffel bag filled with clothes and two prescription medications, all valued at a combined $410, were stolen from a vehicle in the 1500 block of Swarr Run Road sometime between 10 p.m. on Jan. 30 and 11:45 a.m. on Jan. 31, police said. Manheim Township police FIREARMS VIOLATION MANHEIM TWP.: Jason Matthew Slaugh, 47, who is homeless, was charged with two firearms violations after being found with a loaded gun while being arrested for outstanding warrants out of Cumberland County following an argument with a person in the 2300 block of Lititz Pike at 8:34 a.m. on Feb. 2, police said. Slaugh is not allowed to have a firearm due to prior criminal history, police said. STALKING LANCASTER TWP.: Cassandra Marie Walleigh, 26, of Lincoln University, was charged with stalking sending 210 text messages and 92 calls from 16 different phone numbers to a person in the 300 block of Elmshire Drive between Oct. 4 and Jan. 3, police said. Of the 16 phone numbers used, three of them showed Walleighs name on caller ID, police said. Susquehanna Regional police DUI CONOY TWP.: Emily Ann Winters, 28, address unknown, was charged with driving under the influence after striking two parked vehicles in the first block of North Second Street at 9:07 p.m. on Dec. 19, police said. Winters was drunk at the time, police said. West Lampeter Township police THEFT WEST LAMPETER TWP.: Richard A. Ramsey, 55, and Darlene M. Ramsey, 48, both of Elkton, Maryland, were each charged with retail theft after they were seen stealing $1,293.31 worth of Dewalt tools from a GR Mitchell store at 14 Beaver Valley Pike at 5:26 p.m. on Dec. 30, police said. When: Christiana Borough Council meeting, Feb. 1. What happened: Borough Council discussed potential improvements to the water system, starting with a new roof on the reservoir. Background: While there is no leakage through the roof, the rafters are warping. Roofers who have looked at the situation speculate that condensation along with limited ventilation are the cause of the problem. Why its important: Council is leaning toward adding a metal roof. The reservoir, measuring 35 by 52 feet, would be drained prior to the roof work, giving the contractor an opportunity to examine and clean the reservoir liner at the same time. The cost: One estimate for a metal roof is around $10,000. Council would like to see if this cost could be paid with American Recovery Plan Act funds. What happens next: Last June, the borough received $61,283 in ARPA funds and will get another payment in the same amount in June of this year. There is also potential to receive funds for water or sewer system improvements under the bipartisan infrastructure law. If enough funding becomes available other potential projects could include a water storage tank, slip lining of pipes or improvements to the water and sewer treatment systems. Quotable: It would be great if we could put a (water) tower in. It would do wonders for everybodys pressure, council president Robin Coffroth said. Other happenings: There was discussion of the future use of the Green Street property, purchased by the borough last year as a potential site for a new well. There are two vacant homes on the site. The Christiana Historical Society has expressed an interest in renovating the older building. Council debated subdividing and selling the second building, but no firm decision was made at this time. Despite a temporary restraining order issued Friday by a Downstate judge canceling emergency executive orders pertaining to masking and other policies related to combating the COVID-19 pandemic, Elgin Area School District U-46 intends to stay the course with measures it has in place. Sunday night, U-46 Superintendent of Schools Tony Sanders issued a memo saying that the districts plan for reopening will still be in place. Advertisement There are students who have exceptions due to being included in the lawsuit pending against the district. Sanders said in his message. The district has already reached out to those students who are included in the lawsuit. Students who have medical exceptions will continue to be exempt from masking, but all other students will continue to follow the requirements of our plan, the message says. Advertisement Sanders notes that things are getting so close with our ever-declining cases to returning to a sense of normalcy, which likely will include a movement toward masks being optional " But he is asking everyone to support the safety of students and staff by wearing masks, for now. I believe that requiring masks is one of the most effective strategies to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Sanders said in his message. U-46 is one of more than 140 school districts named as defendants in litigation brought by parents concerning masking and quarantine guidance they feel oversteps its bounds. In the case of U-46, that guidance has been provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Kane, DuPage, and Cook County health departments. On Friday, Sangamon County Seventh Judicial Circuit judge Raylene DeWitte Grischow found in favor of the plaintiffs and granted the temporary restraining order. The ruling is not a class action, but only applies to the school districts specifically named in the lawsuit. Sanders message notes the restraining order is being appealed to the Illinois appellate court and that there is a motion to halt the implementation of the restraining order. However, Sanders said that the judge recognizes the independent authority of school districts. Sanders message said that in August, the U-46 Board of Education approved a resolution for returning to in-person instruction that supports following recommendations and guidance pertaining to the pandemic issued by the CDC, IDPH, and the health departments in the three counties in which it has schools. Grischows ruling also recognizes that collective bargaining agreements with its employee groups would also need to be considered, as those were not contemplated within the litigation, Sanders says. Advertisement Based on negotiated agreements with three unions, Sanders said, I still have the authority to require masks and other mitigations in order to protect the health and safety of students and staff. From Peru to Australia, Madagascar to California, the world has many wonderful tree species. How many? A new study suggests there are about 73,000 kinds of trees, many of them still undiscovered. Such information reminds us of how much more we can learn about the Earth, experts say. Largest forest database Researchers recently revealed the world's largest forest database, one that is made up of more than 44 million trees at more than 100,000 locations in 90 countries. Researchers used the data to estimate that Earth has about 73,300 tree species. That number is about 14 percent higher than earlier estimates. Of that total, about 9,200 are estimated to exist based on mathematical predictions but have not yet been identified by science. Many of these trees grow in South America, the researchers said. South America, home to the Amazon rainforest and Andean forests, was found to have 43 percent of the planet's tree species and the largest number of rare species, at about 8,200. Roberto Cazzolla Gatti of the University of Bologna in Italy was the lead writer of the study that appeared recently in the publication Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Trees and forests are much more than just oxygen producers, Gatti said, explaining that they play an important part in the health of the environment. He added, Our society often considers forests as just pieces of wood and trees as natural resources... From trees and forests humanity gets inspiration, relaxation, spirituality and essentially the meaning of life. The research team estimated that South America has about 27,000 known tree species and 4,000 yet to be identified. The team also had estimates for other areas of the world. Europe and Asia have about 14,000 known species and 2,000 unknown species. Africa has 10,000 known species and 1,000 unknown; North America including Central America has 9,000 known and 2,000 unknown; while Oceania including Australia has 7,000 known and 2,000 unknown. Importance of the study Study co-writer Peter Reich of the University of Michigan and University of Minnesota said that by measuring the number of trees "our study can contribute to tree and forest conservation efforts." Conservation is a term that means the protection of plants, animals, and the natural environment. Reich believes that "tree species diversity is key to maintaining healthy, productive forests, and important to the global economy and to nature." He added that the information in the study is important because tree species are going extinct due to deforestation and climate change, and understanding the value of that diversity requires us to know what is there in the first place before we lose it." This study did not estimate the total number of individual trees globally. But 2015 research led by one of the co-authors put that number at about 3 trillion. The new study identified global tree diversity hot spots in the tropics and subtropics in South America, Central America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It also determined that about a third of known species can be classified as rare. The researchers used methods developed by mathematicians to estimate the number of unknown species by using the numbers of known species. Tropical and subtropical areas in South America may have 40 percent of these yet-to-be-identified species, they said. Jingjing Liang of Purdue University in Indiana was a co-writer of the study. "This study reminds us how little we know about our own planet .there is so much more we need to learn about the Earth so that we can better protect it and conserve natural resources for future generations," Liang said. Im John Russell. Will Dunham reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story species n. biology : a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants : a group of related animals or plants that is smaller than a genus inspirationn. something that makes someone want to do something or that gives someone an idea about what to do or create : a force or influence that inspires someone relaxation n. a way to rest and enjoy yourself deforestation -- n. the act or result of cutting down or burning all the trees in an area The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) is trying to prevent a food crisis in Africas most populous country, Nigeria. A conflict between farmers and herders, who raise animals, has resulted in deaths, fires and a lack of food in recent years. In the north-central Benue state, farmers once grew so much rice, yams, and soybeans that the area became known as the food basket of Nigeria. Now, farmers like Ibrahim Mohammed are having trouble. He once produced 10 bags of rice from his land each year. But he only harvests three now. Attackers burned his land and home a few years ago. Mohammeds family includes his wife, Hannah, and three children, including an 18-month-old daughter. They do not know whether they will have enough to eat from day to day. In the early afternoon recently, Hannah asked Mohammed if she could take her first rest from working so she could feed the baby. Because he cannot produce enough rice to sell, Mohammed cannot buy small plants to grow new crops. He wants to grow yams, soybeans and sorghum. Sometimes we manage to eat once (per day), he said. He thanked God for helping his family stay alive. More than 1 million farmers like Mohammed have been pushed from their land because of fighting. Samuel Ortom is the governor of Benue state. He said: We are heading to a food crisis. The WFP said at least 13 million people in Nigeria are facing hunger after a season that produced less food than usual. Violence has slowed production and made it difficult to send food around the country. Rice production has dropped and prices have increased sharply. At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic has made it hard for the U.N. to get food to the people who need it. The conflict in Nigeria is between farming communities and cattle herders who are fighting over access to water and land. The farmers say the herders are illegally using their land. The herders, who mostly belong to the Fulani ethnic group, say the farmers are using their traditional land once used by their animals. The Nigerian government is trying to solve the problem. But until a solution is reached, people are running away from the fighting and having trouble finding food. About 3,000 people now live in a camp in the Guma government area. Mtonga Iliamgee worries each day if she will be able to feed her 10-person family. We dont know what tomorrow will bring, she said while preparing the days only meal. Felix Agune works to educate the children in the camp. He said sometimes children come to school and say they did not eat the first meal of the day. Rex Elanu works with a program called One to One Healthcare Initiative. He said small organizations are trying to feed people. But the problem is spread across the Benue state. Nigerias government said it is trying to help the herders change their way of life so they do not need as much land. The government is also trying to give the farmers fertilizer and seeds so they can produce more food and make farming more appealing to young people. Theodore Ogaziechi works with Nigerias agriculture ministry. He said small farmers are important to the survival of the nation and they are trying to do their best to produce food. But Ortom, the governor of Benue, said the farmers are afraid. Some who have tried to go back to their land have been killed. Ortom said things must get better than they are now for farmers to get back to work. If there is security for these farmers, well continue to retain our position as the food basket of the nation, he said. Im Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by the Associated Press. What do you think will happen with the farmers and animal herders? Write to us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page. Words in This Story herder n. a person who keeps a herd of animals though usually not on a farm or in a set place basket n. a simple container usually made by weaving materials together access n. the ability to get something, enter a place or meet someone fertilizer n. material that is added to soil to help the growth of plants retain v. to keep When an online app used for ordering takeout kept listing the menus of his Salvatore's Tomato Pies restaurants without his consent, owner Patrick DePula became irritated. "Even though we would tell them to take the menus down, they would go away, then come back," DePula said. Third-party food delivery services such as Grubhub, DoorDash, Uber Eats and Madison-based EatStreet can help restaurant owners connect with customers, especially during COVID, but they also can cause problems when they don't have a restaurant's permission to list their menus. A bipartisan bill introduced in the state Legislature last month seeks to rein in those services. DePula couldn't wait for a legislative remedy, so when Grubhub kept posting his menus without permission, he took matters into his own hands. Grubhub drivers would show up in his restaurants on Livingston Street and in Sun Prairie, and try to use a credit card to pay for something while jacking up the price paid by the customer to absurd levels, unbeknownst to DePula. As a test, DePula said he had Grubhub deliver a single pizza, on the menu for $22, and it became $38 after fees and tips. DePula said he finally told his employees to start charging the drivers a fee. "The first time it happened, we just charged an extra $300 on the Grubhub credit card. And they were like, 'Uh, there's a mistake.' And I'm like, 'Yeah, there's a mistake. Stop doing it.'" After he repeated that a couple of times, he said Grubhub got the message and took Salvatore's off its platform, but now his other restaurants are showing up on Uber Eats. 'Basic guardrails' In the last few years, with indoor dining curtailed or eliminated by COVID-19 and its restrictions, delivery services have gotten more popular, and restaurant owners have complained about services putting menus on their sites without permission and charging exorbitant fees that can increase an order by as much as 30%. Sen. Patrick Testin, R-Stevens Point, the bill's lead author in the Senate, said legislators were approached by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association to take up the matter. "They want some basic guardrails and assurances," Testin said. "We want to make sure that there's an agreement between any third-party vendor and a restaurant, that the restaurant agrees to have their information up there and to participate in the service." Testin said he was part of a stakeholder meeting Wednesday between the Wisconsin Restaurant Association and representatives from the third-party companies. "I think we agree in principle that this is something that needs to be addressed," he said. "We're working with both sides of this to come to a good compromise that will be in the best interests of everyone." Kristine Hillmer, president and CEO of the Wisconsin Restaurant Association, said some third-party delivery services take the logo, the name, an old menu and old pricing, and put it on their app. Then they will deliver for these restaurants with no formal relationship between them. The restaurant may not even have the ingredients to make the dishes that are ordered, she said. "What it does is it puts the restaurants in a difficult position because they don't have a relationship with that company," Hillmer said. "It inserts themselves between the restaurant and the customer." Third-party delivery is not all bad, she said, "but this practice of saying they represent these restaurants when there's no relationship really is very harmful." Hearing set The bill, which will get a hearing at 10 a.m. Tuesday before the Senate Labor and Regulatory Reform Committee, at the Capitol in room 300 SE, would require that the delivery services ensure that menus, descriptions and prices related to a restaurant are accurate. Under the bill, the services must also disclose to restaurants the amount of any commissions, delivery fees and promotional fees charged. They must also ensure that their delivery drivers have knowledge of basic food safety principles. The services must also give restaurant operators access to details related to orders and must let operators view and respond to consumer feedback and reviews. Testin said the bill as it is currently written, will likely be amended to accommodate some of the changes that were discussed at the stakeholders' meeting. Legislators will also take a look at language that was adopted in similar bills in Missouri and Texas, he said, adding that nine states plus the District of Columbia have passed legislation addressing the issue. Product control Matt Van Nest, co-owner of Brasserie V on Monroe Street, said he's had trouble with Grubhub ordering his food, and more than half the time it was food the restaurant was no longer serving. It's infrequent, he said, and 90% of the time his employees have caught it and refused to make the food. Van Nest said he's had a good experience with EatStreet, the Madison-based food delivery company, and it's the only delivery service he uses. He likes EatStreet because it has its own employees, instead of private contractors. His restaurant doesn't see a lot of delivery business, maybe two or three orders a night, and having EatStreet handle delivery is preferable to him coordinating that service and having to worry about insurance and liability. "That's not what our model is. We're not a delivery place," Van Nest said. Hillmer said EatStreet is a valued partner to a lot of restaurants and not one of the big three: Uber Eats, Grubhub and DoorDash. "They are also at the table," she said about EatStreet. "A restaurant needs to be able to have control over their product and what's happening with it and not have companies insert themselves into that relationship," she said. "We just want the restaurant to be, pun intended, in the driver's seat to say who can and who cannot deliver their food," Hillmer said. Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. doesnt remember what happened the night he was accused of evading and outrunning police after a night out, according to a police interview the sheriff had with investigators. Special co-prosecutor David Thomas, in a states recovery response filed Feb. 3 obtained by the Post-Tribune, wrote that oral and written statements by (Martinez) to incriminate himself are included in the Indiana State Police incident report and supporting documents. The supplements include an interview conducted Oct. 28 in which Martinez claimed of not remembering what occurred in the day of the charged offense, Thomas wrote. Advertisement Thomas said Martinez also denied the pursuit and resisting arrest to a man who runs a social media page devoted to running police news releases during the City of Hammonds holiday parade Dec. 4. The recovery response also includes a list of 20 people who may be called as witnesses at the trial, according to the response, and includes a search warrant and affidavit of the 2021 Jeep Trackhawk Martinez is alleged to have been driving as well as his cellphone records, videos from businesses that caught the incident and a list of Lake County Sheriff Departments Commissary-purchased vehicles, among other items. Advertisement The response comes on the heels of the presiding judge ruling that special prosecutor Stanley Levco can remain on the case and appointed Thomas as co-counsel in the case despite protests from Martinezs attorneys. During a hearing last week, Michael Woods, one of Martinezs attorneys, said the case is not a paper case with a lot of records to review and that theres nothing particularly complex about an allegation of a high-speed chase. A petition to appoint a special prosecutor was filed on Sept. 27 because the relationship between the parties involved is such that there is a conflict of interest unless the Office of the Lake County Prosecutor is disqualified, according to the court order, and stated a special prosecutor was needed to avoid a conflict of interest and the appearance of impropriety. While Levco did orally move to withdraw and that motion was granted, he still has work to do on the case, according to the court order. The basis for appointing Levco still exists and a special prosecutor is still needed in the case, according to the court order. Given the request to expedite the case and the numerous subpoenas, the court ruled in favor of appointing co-special prosecutor Thomas. During a hearing last week, Newton County Circuit Court Jeryl Leach approved a three-day jury trial starting April 11, with a pretrial hearing set for March 7. Paul Stracci, one of Martinezs attorneys, requested a trial date as early as possible because Martinez is on the May Democratic primary ballot seeking reelection. The state charges stem from a Sept. 18 incident in which Crown Point Police officers conducting a traffic stop at about 11:30 p.m. in the 9000 block of Taft Street saw a black SUV traveling northbound on Main Street at what appeared to be at a speed well above the 45 mph posted limit. The SUV continued at this speed onto Taft Street in Merrillville, passing the stopped officers. In seeing the speeding violation, officers attempted to catch up to curb the vehicle, according to a police report. The report continues, saying the SUV was seen making a right-hand turn onto eastbound U.S. 30 in Merrillville. As officers were catching up to the vehicle, the driver activated emergency red and blue police lights, giving notice that it was an unmarked police car. In seeing the lights, officers stopped trying to catch up. Advertisement A Jan. 6 indictment states that Martinez did knowingly or intentionally flee from Crown Point police and that he did recklessly operate a motor vehicle by driving at such an unreasonably high rate of speed as to endanger the safety or property of others. In October, the Lake County Commissioners sent a letter to Prosecutor Bernard Carter seeking an investigation into the alleged misuse of some of the countys new police vehicles. Martinez has denied the charges and blamed his political opponents. Alexandra Kukulka contributed. Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune. Quadren L. Wilson, the Black man whose family said was shot multiple times Thursday by a white officer from the state Division of Criminal Investigation on Madisons Far East Side, has been taken to jail less than a day after undergoing surgery for his wounds. Wilson, 38, was booked into the Dane County Jail shortly after 5 p.m. Sunday for a probation violation, jail records show. Authorities have released few details about what they said was an officer-involved shooting, including who was shot and by whom. The Dane County Sheriffs Office is investigating the shooting. Family members say Wilson was shot at least five times in the back by an undercover officer with the state Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation. Wilson is in medical isolation at the jail and is going without post-surgery pain medication, family members said Sunday. The Sheriffs Office has declined to share further details with the family, they said. The Sheriffs Office declined to comment on the investigation Sunday and said it could not comment on Wilsons medical status at the jail because it is protected by HIPAA regulations. They have not led with transparency, said Lorien Carter, Wilsons cousin. Family initially feared that Wilson would be left paralyzed from the shooting, Carter said, adding that her cousin still has minimal feeling in his feet. He aint doing good, Mane Morris, Wilsons brother, said in an interview. Wilsons shooting has ties to another officer-involved shooting in Madison. Wilson is related to Tony Robinson, who was fatally shot by a Madison police officer in 2015. Carter, who is Robinsons aunt, said the situations have been similar, with officials sharing few details with the family. The family and activists blocked off a portion of Williamson Street Sunday night in front of the apartment building where Robinson was shot. For about an hour the few dozen demonstrators held signs calling for police accountability and read poetry as unmarked police vehicles kept a distance further down the street. This is a family affair, said Tyrone Henry, who is Robinsons grandfather and Wilsons uncle. Henry said he hoped the demonstration brings greater transparency to the shooting of Wilson, and seconded other family members complaints of a lack of dialogue with law enforcement. As a family all we want is justice, Henry said. Let the facts speak for themselves. The Sheriffs Office confirmed that a 38-year-old man was shot by law enforcement around 8:20 a.m. Thursday near the intersection of American Parkway and Eastpark Boulevard. In a brief update Friday, the Sheriffs Office said the man was wanted on a state Department of Corrections warrant. Wilson has an open disorderly conduct case and several other criminal convictions that he has served sentences for, but its unclear whether those are related to the warrant. On Saturday, Wilsons mother, Stacy Morris, told the Wisconsin State Journal her son had detailed the shooting to her during a brief conversation at the hospital. Wilson told her he was at a stoplight when two trucks pinned in his vehicle. Undercover officers then got out of the vehicles and smashed the windows of Wilsons vehicle and told him to put his hands in the air before opening fire. A silver sedan was wedged between two SUVs at the scene of Thursdays shooting. The Department of Justice did not respond to a request for comment Saturday. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. For the third straight night, the protests in downtown Kenosha on Friday following Sunday's shooting of Jacob Blake by a Kenosha police officer took on a theme of unity and purpose. Not present again were the chaos, rioting, violence and destruction of the first three nights of the drama. Instead, Civic Center Park, which has played center stage all week, was filled with prayer and passion. Even some armed law enforcement officers who were stationed in their compound behind the tall fence in front of the Kenosha County Courthouse and in front of the Dinosaur Discovery Museum flashed peace signs, smiled and waved at passersby who waved to them. As evening arrived and the 7 p.m. curfew drew nearer, several preachers set up in the middle of the park and delivered uplifting messages to the patrons gathered, imploring them to stand up and fight for the rights of Black Americans. Isaac Wallner, a lifelong Kenosha County resident and activist who leads the Human First Project, delivered an emotional plea for people to fight and advocate for change in Black communities. An announcement was made that Blake's family is hosting a march at 2 p.m. Saturday on 52nd Street, across from the Boys & Girls Club. Jasmine Davis led a rendition of "Amazing Grace." Then everyone present gathered for a candlelight vigil. "It was important to see the community gather together to uplift its African American community," Wallner said. "We the people are powerful. The government works for us, so if we gather together we can make it a better community and one day a better world for all people." Wallner also denounced violence and destruction, continuing the pattern in which protesters have tried to separate themselves from those who engaged in that violence and destruction to area businesses that occurred Sunday through Tuesday nights. Wallner said feelings of hope and positivity are catching on. "I feel like it slowly is, especially when we keep having moments like this peaceful moments that really spread that message, and eventually people will catch on," he said. "They may be resistant to it for a while, but eventually when this starts to become a bigger movement it already is but when the movement starts to hit heavy here in Kenosha ... (violence) will be outcast at that point." As the gathering of prayer was wrapping up in the middle of Civic Center Park, other preachers were plying their trade across the street off the southwest corner of the park. That one, led by Evangelist preacher Rickey Caster of Team Rescue, was more of the sound-and-fury variety. "The world's got to come to repentance," Caster said. "God is calling every man and every woman. We tried rioting, we tried City Hall. It's time to repent and it's time to aggressively stand up and preach the gospel. "Not in anger, but in love, and tell the truth in love." Just before curfew, a group led by the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression marched from the park northeast across a vacant lot to the parking lot of the Municipal Building. They shared some messages there then dispersed, as the majority of the crowd both in that group and in the park chose to observe curfew. One of those marching and waving a flag in that group was Roberto Marquez of Dallas. Emblematic of the international contingent that's descended on Kenosha this week for a variety of reasons, Marquez is a painter who two years ago decided to devote his life to art and arrived here Wednesday morning. Marquez paints stories of activism and has chronicled caravans migrating from Central America to Mexico and the George Floyd protests in Minneapolis. Now, Kenosha. "I needed to get a story, to bring it to the canvas," Marquez said of finding activists. "And I didn't have it. So I figured I should find it." "... Kenosha is something that has surprised me, because after George Floyd I was expecting maybe a lot of people were expecting not to have this problem to escalate. And this really got me confused to the point where, 'What's next?'" Only the weekend can tell. Its not every day that middle school orchestra students get to learn from a peer like eighth-grader Momo Fredrickson. Momo, a student at Hamilton Middle School, placed first in the Midwest Young Artists Conservatory junior orchestra division of the Walgreens National Concerto Competition. She competed in late December and won with her performance of Bruchs Violin Concerto No. 1. She has been invited to play as a soloist with MYACs Concert Orchestra in its winter concert Feb. 19 in Pick-Staiger Concert Hall at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Niiki Hakala is a first-year orchestra teacher at Hamilton after teaching band for 19 years at four other schools. She said Momo is the most talented student she has taught, and while Hakala can work with students on the basics, Momo can teach them the more technical aspects of playing instruments in an orchestra. Momo plays viola at her school because her parents thought it was a good idea to broaden her musicality. Obviously, she has more experience in orchestra than I do, Hakala said. If she needs to explain more, like curve your finger a little more, she could explain that better than I ever could. Hakala said she considers Momo an assistant. One of my biggest concerns when I realized her experience and skill was that she would be completely bored in class but giving her that leadership role gives her more of a purpose, Hakala said. The students totally respect her. No one is jealous of her. They appreciate her help and they ask her for help. MYAC is the Midwests largest center for youth music education and includes orchestra, jazz, choir, chamber music, music theory and composition programs. This is the fourth year Momo has taken part in the Walgreens National Concerto Competition. She also won when she was a sixth-grader and competed last year but was not allowed to place because of the contest rules regarding repeat winners. She also received an honorable mention as a fifth-grader. Momo said playing with the orchestra and working with the conductor a second time will be easier in some ways and harder in others. It will be easier to understand the orchestral part, but it will be a different orchestra and the piece she is playing this time is quite complex. Because this is two years later, I feel like I have more experience and knowledge than I did in sixth grade. So I hope I can share my ideas more clearly with the orchestra and I am really hoping that they will have an equally stimulating experience preparing this piece as I am, she said. Momo said she started playing violin through Suzuki Strings of Madison when she was 3. After quickly progressing, she graduated from the program and continued her studies with a different private instructor so she could learn more advanced music. Later, the instructor suggested she to go to the summer camp at MYAC, where she joined the chamber music and youth orchestra programs. Momo was invited to perform at one of the master classes at MYAC, which was taught by world-renowned violinist Janet Sung, a violin professor and strings department chair at DePaul University School of Music in Chicago. They formed a mutual connection, and later Momo started taking lessons from Sung, whom Momo considers her dream teacher. I could see that she had wonderful potential, even at that young age. She already had considerable technique and musicality for her age, and was also eager to learn and quick to respond to suggestions, Sung said. Winning the Walgreens competition and having the opportunity to perform solo with orchestra is a huge honor. It takes musical maturity to manage that situation. Momo said she spends almost every Saturday from late August to sometime in May in the Chicago area where she has a lesson with a private teacher and practices with two orchestras and a chamber music group at the Midwest Young Artists Conservatory. Momos family, which includes her dad and mom, Danny and Rie Fredrickson, and her sister, Charlotte, 2, all pile into the family vehicle at 5 a.m. for the trip, arriving home usually around 10 p.m. Were like Momos team, Rie Fredrickson said. Momo, who also studies piano with a private teacher and attends summer music camps, said her parents encouraged her to practice when she was young. Her mom said it didnt take long for Momo to show some real interest in playing the violin. When she was little we just did our best to keep up with her, Rie Fredrickson said. Momo plans to attend music conservatory and become a professional violin soloist. As I got older I realized that my dream is to be a soloist and that motivated me to practice more and study a wider variety of music, she said. A bipartisan group of prominent Wisconsin business leaders is voicing support for the state's embattled elections administrator, her staff and local election officials, issuing a letter Monday backing Meagan Wolfe even as Republicans have called for her resignation and pursued investigations into how the 2020 election was run. The Wisconsin Business Leaders for Democracy Coalition, formed last year, sent letters offering sincere gratitude and full support to Wolfe, the Wisconsin Elections Commission and more than 1,800 municipal clerks who run elections in the battleground state. This is just such a critical issue to me and others in this group, Tom Florsheim, chairman and CEO of Milwaukee-based Weyco Group and a signer of the letter, said in an interview. "For me, Im publicly stepping up for really the first time maybe ever because I see this as so critical in terms of whats happening here threatening democracy. Florsheim, a Democrat, said the group intentionally reached out to business leaders who had voted for and donated to Republicans in the past, including Austin Ramirez, CEO of Husco, and Paul Sweeney, partner of PS Capital Partners. Other signers included Peter Feigin, president of the Milwaukee Bucks and Fiserv Forum; Matthew Levatich, the former president and CEO of Harley-Davidson; and Sachin Shivaram, CEO of Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry. Florsheim said he hoped the Republican-controlled Legislature takes notice and might "rethink some of what theyre trying to do. We just see it as an existential threat to stability here in the state, Florsheim said of the attacks on the integrity of the election. If we have people question every election and we go through all this turmoil, thats going to make our state look bad and it affects businesses. Republican pressure on state and local elections officials increased exponentially after Donald Trump refused to concede his defeat to President Joe Biden in Wisconsin. Biden won by nearly 21,000 votes, an outcome that has withstood recounts, investigations and lawsuits. There is no evidence of widespread fraud, as Trump and others have falsely claimed. Still, Republicans who control the Wisconsin Legislature have called for scrapping the bipartisan elections commission, created by the GOP-controlled Legislature in 2016, forcing commissioners to resign and ousting Wolfe. Republican candidates for governor also support dissolving the state commission. Republican candidates for secretary of state are running on the platform of moving elections administration duties back to that office, a job it hasn't had for more than 40 years. There is also an ongoing Republican-ordered investigation into the 2020 election that is embroiled in numerous court battles. The elections commission is fighting a subpoena it received seeking a vast array of data and a private interview with Wolfe. Florsheim decried the investigation being led by former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, accusing him of harassing and threatening elections officials. It just makes you shake your head and make you wonder whats going on here," Florsheim said. Wolfe has refused to resign and has called attacks against her baseless. She was appointed director by the commission in 2019 and confirmed unanimously by the Republican-controlled Senate for a term ending in the middle of 2023. Current and former election officials have repeatedly warned that the unrelenting attempts to discredit Bidens win have led to an erosion of public confidence in elections and threats of physical violence against election workers. They worry that longtime election officials will be driven from their jobs, creating a vacuum of experience that in some cases could be filled by partisan actors. We will continue to call upon our colleagues and peers to stand with us, support the Wisconsin Elections Commission, and commit to efforts that defend our democracy from further attack, the letter said. The letter follows a similar one sent last year by a bipartisan group of more than 50 election experts from across the country calling Wolfe one of the most highly-skilled election administrators in the country. The leader of a sprawling, taxpayer-funded probe of Joe Bidens victory in battleground Wisconsin ignited his political career in 2008 by unseating the first Black justice on the state Supreme Court, capitalizing on an ad that sparked ethics complaints and allegations of racism. Michael Gablemans commercial against then-Justice Louis Butler drew comparisons with the infamous Willie Horton ad from the 1988 presidential race and an official complaint from the state judicial commission. But the ad paid off as Gableman, then a little-known circuit judge in rural Wisconsin, became the first challenger to defeat a sitting justice in 40 years, tilting the courts balance in favor of conservatives. Gableman, 55, who left the high court after one 10-year term, is now bringing the same bruising and, to his critics, fact-challenged approach to the election probe. Bidens narrow 2020 victory in Wisconsin has withstood recounts, lawsuits and multiple reviews. There is no evidence of widespread fraud. In his seven-month inquiry, Gableman has been sued over his response to open records requests and subpoenas and countersued. Hes been criticized for scant expense records, ridiculed for sending confusing emails and making rudimentary errors in his filings and called out for meeting with conspiracy theorists. Election experts and members of both parties have dismissed Gableman as a partisan hack for claiming, even before he was appointed to lead the probe, that the election had been stolen from Donald Trump. He faced even more criticism for filling his investigative team with former Trump staffers or supporters. Show of support A bipartisan group of Wisconsin business leaders wrote letters of support Monday for the states embattled elections officials. One of them, Tom Florsheim, a Democrat and chair of Milwaukee-based Weyco Group, said in an interview that Gableman was harassing and threatening elections officials, which is bad for the state and the business climate. It just makes you shake your head and makes you wonder whats going on here, Florsheim said. Other signers of the letter supporting the Elections Commission included Austin Ramirez, CEO of Husco; Paul Sweeney, partner of PS Capital Partners; Peter Feigin, president of the Milwaukee Bucks and Fiserv Forum; Matthew Levatich, the former president and CEO of Harley-Davidson; and Sachin Shivaram, CEO of Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry. State Sen. Kathy Bernier, R-Chippewa Falls, a former elections clerk who is retiring next year, has called Gablemans review a charade and said no one should falsely accuse election officials of cheating. Former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, also a Republican, has called the Wisconsin investigation part of a national disinformation campaign designed to keep the lies of the 2020 election alive. I dont think he has an ounce of credibility because he is someone who has always had a cloud over him in public life, said Sachin Chheda, a Democratic strategist who ran Butlers unsuccessful reelection campaign against Gableman 14 years ago. Gableman has said hes simply seeking the truth. And his defenders say he has been unjustly criticized for years by political opponents seeking to discredit his work. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, who hired Gableman and handed him a $676,000 budget, has stuck by him and defended his investigation. Probe defended Gableman did not respond to messages seeking comment. His attorney, James Bopp, called him very conscientious and very committed to following the law as a justice, as a person, as a special counsel. He considers it a very important responsibility. He would like to restore confidence in the Wisconsin election process, Bopp said. Vos, the states most powerful Republican, hired Gableman last summer after Trump accused Vos of trying to prevent an investigation of the election. Gablemans probe has since bogged down in a series of lawsuits challenging his subpoenas. A Nebraska-based voting machine company, ES&S, refused to comply, calling his subpoenas a quintessential fishing expedition. The subpoenas have also been ridiculed for spelling errors and incorrect names and for asking for data that cities dont have. The mayor of Green Bay has filed a complaint against Gableman, saying he should be forced to pay a fine and take out a full-page newspaper ad to correct misstatements about how the mayor, a Democrat who was elected on a nonpartisan ballot, responded to his subpoena. Past controversy Gablemans 2008 campaign ad made it sound like Butler had let a convicted child molester, Reuben Lee Mitchell, out of jail early in a case he handled when he was a public defender. The ad showed a close-up of Butler and Mitchell, both of whom are Black, on the screen at the same time. It drew an immediate comparison to a political action committees TV commercial attacking Michael Dukakis in his 1988 campaign against George H.W. Bush. That ad featured a closeup of Horton, a Black convicted killer who committed a rape after being granted a weekend furlough in Massachusetts when Dukakis was governor. Butler found a loophole. Mitchell went on to molest another child, the narrator said in the Gableman ad. But the ad was misleading: Butler had won an appeal for Mitchell, but the state Supreme Court did not overturn his conviction. He did commit another sex offense but only after he had been released on parole. Gableman won the race, but the Wisconsin Judicial Commission, a nonpartisan and independent agency, filed a complaint against Gableman saying he had lied in the ad. The Supreme Court (with Gableman not participating) deadlocked 3-3 on whether Gableman had violated the judicial ethics code, effectively clearing him, but even the conservative justices who sided with Gableman called the ad distasteful. He ran a dishonest, racist campaign, said Jim Doyle, the former governor who appointed Butler to the court. It was just, Lets go find a Black person who did a horrible crime and somehow tie him to Louis Butler. ... Thats how he did it. Never was apologetic. Low profile With the political landscape favoring Democrats in the 2018 midterm election, Gableman chose not to seek reelection. His seat was taken by a liberal candidate that spring in a year where Democrats swept every statewide office in the fall. Gableman kept a low profile after leaving the court but reemerged in November 2020 to speak at a rally of Trump supporters in Milwaukee, where he said the election had been stolen. Gableman further fueled his critics in October, telling the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he didnt have a comprehensive understanding of how elections work. And he only increased suspicion about his work by traveling to Arizona to observe the widely ridiculed recount there, and attending a symposium in South Dakota headed by MyPillow chief executive Mike Lindell that included presentations from conspiracy theorists. Doyle, the Democratic former governor and former attorney general, said he has been stunned by how Gableman has run the investigation. Its obviously totally amateurish, said Doyle, an attorney who spent 12 years as Wisconsins top law enforcement officer. I dont know how the Republicans are looking at this now, but after the way hes conducted it I bet they are wishing he would just go away and this would all disappear. U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson came under fire from his Democratic challengers Monday after saying over the weekend hes not fighting to persuade Oshkosh Defense to locate 1,000 jobs in Wisconsin rather than South Carolina. The Republican told reporters at a news conference Saturday that he was not trying to get Oshkosh Defense to put the jobs in his hometown of Oshkosh as part of a multibillion-dollar contract the company won last year to build new delivery vehicles for the U.S. Postal Service. The company announced in June that the vehicles would be built in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Its not like we dont have enough jobs here in Wisconsin, Johnson said Saturday. The biggest problem we have in Wisconsin right now is employers not being able to find enough workers. Johnson also said that he wouldnt insert myself to demand that anything be manufactured here using federal funds in Wisconsin. Obviously, Im supportive of it, he said. But in the end, I think when using federal tax dollars, you want to spend those in the most efficient way and if its more efficient, more effective to spend those in other states, I dont have a real problem with that. His top Democratic rivals were dumbfounded at his comments. Once again Ron Johnson has turned his back on Wisconsinites, Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes said in a recorded statement on Twitter. If Ron Johnson wont rebuild the middle class, were going to do the work for him. Barnes on Monday sent letters to Oshkosh Defense, President Joe Biden and members of Congress asking that the trucks be built in Wisconsin. When asked at a news conference why Wisconsin should go after the jobs despite existing problems with worker shortages, Barnes said: Ive never heard that take before. Why limit ourselves? he asked. Treasurer Sarah Godlewski said Johnson doesnt care about Wisconsin workers. A U.S. Senator should fight tooth and nail to bring good jobs and taxpayer dollars back to our state, instead, hes just giving up, she said in a statement. Alex Lasry, who is on leave from his job as an executive with the Milwaukee Bucks, said in a statement that Johnsons comments were just another example of how out of touch he is with Wisconsinites. Tom Nelson, the county executive in neighboring Outagamie County, said the 1,000 jobs would have a multiplier effect leading to even more jobs in the region. Wisconsins biggest problem is Ron Johnson, Nelson said Monday. This is one more reason we must do everything we can to defeat him. We need a senator who will stand up and fight for Oshkosh and Wisconsins working families each and every day. Johnson responded Monday and said his comments, in which he voiced support for Oshkosh Corp. while also saying he wasnt going to get involved, had been taken out of context. The Biden administration and Democrat policies have left this country with supply chain issues and a worker shortage crisis, Johnson said in a statement. We need less government interference, not more. For months, as I have traveled around the state every business owner I speak with tells me they cannot find enough workers, even causing businesses to adjust hours or shutter their businesses altogether. Barnes, Godlewski, Lasry and Nelson are among a crowded field of Democrats who will square off in the Aug. 9 primary to face Johnson in November. Oshkoshs decision not to build the vehicles in Wisconsin has drawn blowback from Wisconsins other senator, Democrat Tammy Baldwin, as well as U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, a Democrat from neighboring Michigan. They, along with unionized workers in Oshkosh, have been working to persuade the company to locate the jobs in Wisconsin. Baldwin and Peters sent Oshkosh Defense officials a letter in November asking for more information about its plans to build the trucks in South Carolina. Oshkosh Defense will build 50,000 to 165,000 van-like vehicles during the next 10 years, replacing a fleet that is up to three decades old. Its my job to support job creation in Wisconsin and I want the trucks built here, Baldwin said in a statement. To me, its simple I want Oshkosh Defense to manufacture trucks in Oshkosh with Wisconsin workers. A Republican state lawmaker who falsely claimed that former President Donald Trump won Wisconsins 2020 election and proposed a resolution aimed at reclaiming the states 10 electoral college votes received guidance from a top Trump attorney alleging that the state Legislature had the power to select electors as it sees fit. The Dec. 30 memo, first reported by Rolling Stone, was sent to Rep. Timothy Ramthun, R-Campbellsport, from Trump attorney John Eastman and alleges that, if illegality in the conduct of the election occurs, and is not remedied by the Wisconsin Elections Commission, then the power to direct the (appointment) of electors devolves back onto the Legislature. Eastmans memo further underscores efforts by those in Trumps inner circle to circumvent the Electoral College process in several states including Wisconsin following the 2020 election, despite recounts and court decisions affirming that President Joe Biden defeated Trump in the battleground state by almost 21,000 votes. While I acknowledge that the question posed of me places us in uncharted territory, my conclusion is that the state legislatures, which exercise plenary authority under (the U.S. Constitution) to direct the manner for choosing presidential electors, do have the authority to de-certify the election of presidential electors in their state upon a definitive showing of illegality and/or fraud in the conduct of the election sufficient to have altered the results of the election, Eastman wrote in the memo. Eastman added that the counter arguments increase in strength with each successive event, citing several deadlines in the electoral process including the certification of the election, the Dec. 8, 2020, safe harbor date for states to certify their results, the Dec. 14, 2020, casting of electoral votes, the counting of the electoral votes on Jan. 6, 2021, and the Jan. 20, 2021, presidential inauguration. More than a year after the final deadline cited by Eastman, Ramthun proposed a resolution on Jan. 25 aimed at reclaiming the states 10 electoral college votes granted to Biden. Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke, R-Kaukauna, who vowed to kill Ramthuns proposal, has said the resolutions intent was illegal and just plain unconstitutional. Days before Ramthun proposed his resolution, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, disciplined the lawmaker by removing his lone staff member, but not for Ramthuns comments about who won the states 2020 election. Rather, the removal of Ramthuns staffer stemmed from his false accusations that Vos had signed a deal with attorneys for former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton to authorize absentee ballot drop boxes, Vos office said. Sen. Kathy Bernier, a former elections clerk who chairs the Senate elections committee, said she like Vos requested a memo from the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau that confirmed the Legislature cannot affect the electors after an election has taken place. Bernier, R-Chippewa Falls, said on Monday she hadnt seen Eastmans memo to Ramthun, but described the ongoing push to decertify the 2020 election, which has been accepted and counted by Congress, as the dumbest thing I have ever heard of in my life. Its just ludicrous to think somebody is just going to keep pursuing this avenue, I just dont get it, Bernier said. Support from the base Despite the disciplinary measure, Ramthun told Rolling Stone his proposal has boosted his support among some conservatives, due in part to incorrect reporting on the matter by conspiratorial website Gateway Pundit, which falsely claimed the Legislature had voted to withdraw its electoral votes for Biden. They want me to run for governor, Ramthun told the media outlet, adding that hes considering it. Ramthuns efforts to overturn the states 2020 election results also drew praise from Trump, who called the state lawmaker in early December to thank him for his efforts, Rolling Stone reported. Trump also issued a statement that month praising Ramthuns proposal. If Ramthun launches a bid for governor, he would join an already crowded GOP primary that sees former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch facing Marine veteran and self-proclaimed anti-establishment candidate Kevin Nicholson. The winner of the August primary will go on to face Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who is seeking a second term this fall, in the November general election. Trump has not yet formally endorsed a candidate in the gubernatorial race, but the former presidents backing could provide a pivotal boost among Republican voters. Ramthun did not respond to a request for comment Monday. Opinions differ Documents obtained by the liberal watchdog group American Oversight show that the states nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau sent two memos to Vos on Nov. 16, 2020, indicating that the Legislature has the ability to determine how presidential electors are selected but may not affect the electors after an election has taken place, as the legislature has no unilateral authority to reverse the choice of the people of the state. However, a Nov. 18, 2020, memo from Boston-based attorney Kenneth Chesebro sent to former Dane County Circuit Court Judge Jim Troupis alleged that there is a very strong argument, supported by historical precedent that the real deadline to come to a conclusion on the states election results was Jan. 6, 2021. The memo was sent a month before 10 Wisconsin Republicans convened in the state Capitol on Dec. 14, 2020, to sign official-looking documents falsely affirming that Trump had won the state. The meeting occurred on the same day that the Democratic slate of Wisconsin electors met in the same building to deliver the states 10 electoral votes to President-elect Biden. The meeting of Republicans occurred after the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that Biden had won the election. Chesebros memo corroborates reports that the fake GOP electors were coordinated by Trumps legal team in an attempt to present Vice President Mike Pence with conflicting slates of electors during the congressional certification so that he could throw the election to a House vote, which would have handed the election to Trump. Eastman, who sent the legal analysis to Ramthun late last year, was the same Trump attorney who wrote the legal memo suggesting Pence could overturn the election result. Pence refused to participate in the purported scheme on Jan. 6, 2021, the day Trump supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol. Jan. 6 subpoenas The Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol has subpoenaed 14 people who signed the phony election documents in the seven states, including Andrew Hitt, former chair of the state Republican Party, and 8th Congressional District GOP chair Kelly Ruh. The subpoenas call for Hitt and Ruh to provide documents by Friday detailing any information about your role and participation in the purported slate of electors casting votes for Donald Trump and, to the extent relevant, your role in the events of January 6, 2021 and sit for depositions on Feb. 28. Hitt is listed in the signed documents as the chairperson, and Ruh is listed as the secretary. Eastman has also been subpoenaed by the U.S. House committee. Multiple complaints regarding the fake electors were filed last year by liberal law firm Law Forward with the Wisconsin Elections Commission and Milwaukee County District Attorneys Office alleging the Wisconsin Republicans committed fraud. A third complaint was filed against Hitt with the Office of Lawyer Regulation, the agency that handles complaints against lawyers. So far, none of the agencies have formally taken up the complaints, while Milwaukee County Assistant District Attorney Matthew Westphal recently suggested that the state or federal justice department would be best suited to determine what steps, if any, should be taken on the matter. The Elections Commission could take up the complaint as early as next month, and Law Forward attorney Jeffrey Mandell has warned that if no action is taken soon, the group will file a lawsuit over the matter. The results of the 2020 election have been confirmed by county canvassing boards, which compare vote totals against paper records and other procedures designed to catch and correct errors; recounts in Dane and Milwaukee counties; post-election audits by local and state election authorities to identify cases of possible voter fraud, which are then referred to prosecutors; a voting equipment audit by the Elections Commission; and reviews by the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau and the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, which found ways in which elections could be improved but no evidence of widespread fraud. Multiple court rulings have also found no evidence of irregularities. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. I am 74 years old, and my ancestors emigrated from all parts of Europe in the 1800s. I believe they were welcomed with open arms and given a chance for a better life, of which I am the beneficiary. It is hard for me to understand or accept the barriers that America has now established toward those people trying to bring their families here for a chance to escape war, poverty and persecution. This is especially true when there is such a need for workers. With the exception of Native Americans, what gives us Americans the right or privilege to deny the orderly process of immigration? What gives us the right to hold tens of thousands of poor families living in desperate conditions at our southern border, to separate children from their parents at the border or to designate countries whose people are not welcome? For a country claiming to be a God-fearing people, this is unconscionable. Doug Zwank, former mayor of Middleton, Vietnam War veteran On December 6, 2021 local time, Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio met with Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Yang Jiechi in Freetown. Yang Jiechi conveyed President Xi Jinping's sincere greetings to President Bio. Noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Sierra Leone, Yang Jiechi said, President Xi Jinping had a phone conversation and exchanged congratulatory messages with President Bio, reaching important consensus on consolidating political mutual trust and deepening cooperation in various fields. At the just-concluded Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), President Xi Jinping made important proposals on building a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era and announced a series of major initiatives, demonstrating China's sincere willingness to further strengthen solidarity and cooperation with African countries. China is willing to work with Sierra Leone to implement the initiatives of the forum, align the outcomes of the conference with Sierra Leone's demand for development, and further boost cooperation in such fields as COVID-19 response, agriculture, fishery, education, and infrastructure, helping Sierra Leone fight against the pandemic and recover its economy. China is willing to further deepen coordination and cooperation with Sierra Leone in the United Nations and other multilateral organizations, safeguard the common interests of China and Africa, as well as developing countries at large, and jointly defend multilateralism and norms governing international relations. Bio asked Yang Jiechi to convey his best wishes to President Xi Jinping and extended warm congratulations on the successful convening of the sixth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee. He said, China has made significant contributions to world peace and development, setting an example for developing countries. Sierra Leone firmly backs the one-China policy and supports the Beijing Olympic Winter Games. Sierra Leone and China have fostered profound traditional friendship and solid political mutual trust, with fruitful results in cooperation and broad development prospects. Sierra Leone thanks China for giving it strong support at critical moments, including the fight against Ebola and COVID-19. Sierra Leone warmly welcomes the new initiatives on China-Africa cooperation announced by President Xi Jinping at the opening ceremony of the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the FOCAC. Sierra Leone stands ready to actively advance the bilateral cooperation within the framework of the FOCAC, further beef up coordination on multilateral affairs, and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of China and Africa, as well as developing countries at large. On the same day, Yang Jiechi also met with Sierra Leonean Foreign Minister David Francis. Much thanks to the Wisconsin State Journal for its excellent article in last Friday's paper "Scheme started just after election." It was about the national and state effort to install alternative electors to help keep former President Donald Trump in office. Trump's Wisconsin attorney notified of fake electors strategy weeks after 2020 election The memo was sent a little over a month before 10 Wisconsin Republicans convened in the state Capitol on Dec. 14, 2020, to sign official-looking documents purporting that Trump had won the state. I hope the paper continues its investigative effort to uncover the extent of this seditious conspiracy, particularly at the state level. Attorney Jim Troupis and his co-conspirators' actions strike at core values of our democracy: elections, not secret meetings, determine our elected leaders, and all citizens' votes count equally. State Republican leaders who signed on to the false claim that Trump won the election claim their attorney made them do it. That's on its face laughable. Local government attorneys in Milwaukee and Madison, such as district attorneys and city attorneys, should not wait for the Wisconsin attorney general to open an investigation. They should do so now to protect the value of their citizens' overwhelming support for President Joe Biden. Any criminal, seditious activity by Republican leaders in Madison to overturn the result of our election should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Dennis McGilligan, Madison WASHINGTON U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Wednesday that the agency is investing $1.4 billion into rural economies through job training, business loans and the expansion of technical assistance. Its a good day for rural America, Vilsack, a former governor of Iowa, said during a call with reporters. Eight programs will dole out 751 awards across 49 states, including Idaho. Vilsack added that these programs will help create wealth in rural communities. The rural economy, which plays an important role in our national economy, has historically lagged behind the urban and suburban counterparts, he said. Thats why its important for us to focus on building back that rural economy better. Those eight programs are the Business and Industry (B&I) Loan Guarantees, the B&I CARES Act Program, the Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) Grants, the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program, the Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program, the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program, the Intermediary Relending Program and the Value-Added Producer Grants. Idaho companies and associations received $12.6 million through the B&I Loan Guarantees program, $1 million through the Intermediary Relending Program, $1.2 million through the Rural Innovation Stronger Economy Grants program, $58,720 through the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program, and $1.4 million through the Value Added Producer Grants program. Some of the grants and loans will assist with needs ranging from housing to expansion of small businesses and family farms to providing capital for new small businesses owners. One of the programs, the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program, allocated $8.4 million in grant awards and $1.7 million in loans. In Iowa, the Pella Cooperative Electric Association received a $300,000 grant from that program to replenish the associations revolving loan fund, which will help fund the construction of a womens housing and health care facility. The Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program gave out $5.8 million in grants. Some grants were awarded to cooperatives such as the Georgia Cooperative Development Center, which received $70,000 in funding, and the Cooperative Development Foundation in Virginia, which received a $200,000 grant. Several universities also received those grants, such as Ohio State University, which received nearly $200,000 and the Board Of Regents, the governing body at the University Of Nebraska, which was awarded $200,000. Vilsack added that the agency is also hoping to partner with other entities to ensure that the workforce needed is being trained and is being prepared to take on that opportunity and responsibility. Idaho Capital Sun editor-in-chief Christina Lords contributed to this report. 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With disappearing deductibles, the longer you go without being in an accident, the lower your insurance deductible. Progressive deducts 25% from your total deductible amount for every claim-free policy period. After four consecutive claim-free periods, your deductible will be $0. Other RV insurance companies that offer disappearing deductibles cap the discount to a maximum of $500 if your deductible exceeds $500, youd still have to pay the remaining amount. Disappearing deductibles, also known as vanishing deductibles, do have an additional cost. However, its included if your vehicle is valued at $25,000 or more, and you purchase the comprehensive and collision coverage package. Both riders are recommended, so the vehicle is covered for car accidents and non-collision events, like a fire. Accident forgiveness which keeps your premium rates from increasing if claims are for $500 or less is included at no additional cost. Best for Customer Service: Auto-Owners Insurance Pros Premium reduction if RV is equipped with certain safety features Towing and roadside assistance in all 50 states and Canada Mobile app for Apple and Android Cons No online quotes Why we chose this company: Auto-Owners is our pick for the best personalized customer service because of its network of independent agents, online customer center and mobile app. Customers can access claims, billing, and other important policy documents on their phone, tablet or computer Auto-Owners has an impressive customer service record, with fewer complaints on record with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) than most competitors. It also ranked above average in several regions in J.D. Powers 2021 Auto Insurance Customer Satisfaction study. Unlike other companies, Auto-Owners only sells its insurance products through independent agents. Instead of contacting the company online, you work directly with local agencies which can better advise you regarding specific insurance requirements in your area. For example, bodily injury and property damage liability limits set by law vary by state. Auto-Owners offers various discounts for being a multi-policy holder, making on time for the past 36 months and paying the annual premium in full. Other discounts are available when you enroll in paperless billing, take a driver safety program or are over 50. Like most insurers, they also offer lower premiums for those with a favorable loss history no recent claims or at-fault accidents. Best for RV Roadside Assistance: Foremost Pros Roadside assistance available regardless of who is driving Coverage for emergency expenses if camper is damaged or destroyed Pays for transporting damaged RV to storage, repair shop, or home Special policies for USAA members Cons Not available in DC or Hawaii Doesn't provide discount information on website Coverage varies by state Why we chose this company: Foremost is our top choice for the best roadside assistance for the wide variety of emergency- related services it covers. Insurance companies usually offer roadside assistance for an additional cost. Foremost includes it free of charge as part of its motorhome and travel trailer insurance package. The plan includes jumpstarts, flat tire changes, fuel delivery, towing, and locksmith services. These services dont entail an additional cost, and are available if youre driving in either the US or Canada. If you own a travel trailer or a fifth wheel, the vehicle used to haul it is also covered. Foremosts standard insurance package also includes vacation liability, comprehensive, total loss replacement, emergency expenses and replacement cost coverage. The company also offers coverage for full-time RVers and a special insurance program for stationary travel trailers and fifth wheels. The program provides extensive comprehensive and content coverage if the vehicle is used as a seasonal or permanent residence. Best for Affordable Rates: Geico Other RV Insurance Companies We Considered During our research for the best recreational vehicle insurance providers, we narrowed down our initial list to 11 companies. The following four didnt make our final cut, not because they were lacking, but rather because they didnt stand out. Other RV insurance providers we considered While we were doing our research into the best recreational vehicle insurance, we narrowed down our initial list to 11 companies. The following four didnt make our final cut, not because they were lacking, but rather because they didnt stand out. AAA Pros Covers motorhomes, travel trailers, and campers Drivers can include RV protection as an endorsement to an existing auto policy Membership plan includes roadside assistance, hotel discounts and more Extra coverage for lodging and transportation if your RV is damaged Cons Coverage options are not standard across regions (southwest, northeast, etc.) RV policy not available nationwide Allstate Pros Discount if you transfer from another insurance company Discounts for drivers 55 years or older Gas price locator to help you find the cheapest gas Cons Limited information on company website Online quotes not available Pros Online quotes not available Windshield deductible covers all repairs and charges $50 for replacements Personal effects replacement limits up to $100,000 Free accident forgiveness for drivers who have been accident-free for 5 years or more Cons Limited information available on company website Enhanced RV coverage available in all states except HI, MA, MI, and NC Total loss replacement coverage availability may vary by state and vehicle value Pros Loan or lease protection coverage available Deductibles diminish $100 per year up to $500 Insures motorhomes valued at up to $1 million Coverage available for custom equipment Cons Only covers vehicles used 250 days or less per year Limited information available on website No online quotes available Farmers Pros Part-time users can opt for storage-only insurance during the off-season Policy extends to travel anywhere in Canada Insures equipment permanently attached to your RV Cons No information regarding discounts No online quotes USAA Pros Discounts for safe driving, original ownership, and multiple policies Coverage for all RV classes, including slide-on campers Members get a 5% discount on policies Cons Policies only available to military families 5% members-only discount not available in all states Country Financial Pros Multi-policy discount Mobile app for Apple and Android devices Cons Only available through agents Operates in only 19 states National Interstate Pros Options for RV full-timers 25% off deductibles for each consecutive claim-free year Windshield replacement coverage Coverage for commercial RVs Cons Only available through agents Website lacks information about terms and discounts The Hartford Pros Lifetime guarantee for repairs done in authorized repair shops 24/7 claims submission RV replacement if it's totaled in the first 15 months Cons Only available for AARP members Not available in U.S. territories Invest in your RV with an insurance policy and protect your second home. With Good Sam, you can have an RV Insurance quote in just a matter of minutes. Get yours now by clicking below. RV Insurance Guide Types of RVs Recreational vehicles, more commonly known as RVs, can be classified into one of four categories: Class A, Class B, Class C, and towable RVs. The first three are motorhomes, which means theyre drivable units equipped with living quarters and appliances. Towable RVs, also called campers or trailers, can have home amenities too. However, some are designed to transport animals or cargo. Heres the rundown of the different types of RVs available: Class A motorhomes are the most luxurious and spacious.They are similar to commercial buses, measuring anywhere between 24 to 45 feet in length and fitting as many as 12 passengers. However, their size can make them difficult to drive and limits their mileage at around 10 or less miles per gallon. Class B motorhomes, known as camper vans, are the smallest and least expensive, with a length of 17 to 19 feet. These are standard-sized vans usually packed with a compact kitchen, bathroom and foldable or fixed bed. Their limited living space makes them suitable for four passengers or less who enjoy minimalist traveling. Class B+ or B Plus motorhomes are the big siblings of Class B camper vans. These vehicles measure between 17 and 30 feet, fitting bigger beds and more spacious bathroom and kitchen areas. Class C motorhomes are the middle ground between Class A and B RVs. They can measure between 21 to 41 feet in length and are easily recognized by their over-cab sleeping or storage area. Although theyre smaller than Class A RVs, Class Cs are suitable for full-time occupancy while delivering better gas mileage and easier maneuverability. These vehicles can fit up to eight passengers and include a fully equipped kitchen, dining area and a spacious bathroom and living room. Towable RVs are pulled by hitches on SUVs, pickup trucks or any vehicle that can tow the RVs weight. Towable RVs that feature living quarters include fifth wheels, toy haulers, travel trailers and pop-up campers. These range from under 10 feet for pop-ups to 30 feet for fifth-wheel trailers. Truck campers are also considered towable RVs, but a hitch doesnt pull these. Instead, they sit on the bed of a pickup truck. Other types of towable RVs include utility, cargo and horse trailers. Types of RV Insurance Because RVs can be both a vehicle and a primary residence, there are special considerations when insuring them. Insurance options for RVs include: Property-damage liability coverage: Pays for damages that you cause to another persons property or vehicle. Bodily injury liability coverage: Helps pay for medical expenses and to those you injure in an at-fault accident. Collision coverage: Covers repair to your RV after an accident with another vehicle, whether youre at fault or not. Comprehensive coverage: Pays for damages caused by theft, vandalism, natural disasters or fire other non-collision accidents. Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage: Covers the cost of repairs to your RV and medical bills if youre in an accident caused by a driver that doesnt have insurance or who has insufficient coverage to pay your claim. Personal Injury Protection (PIP): Covers medical expenses for both you and your passenger in the event of an accident, no matter who was at fault. It also covers lost wages. Campsite/vacation liability coverage: Helps pay for legal expenses if youre found at fault for the injuries suffered by a non-family member while in your campsite area or inside your RV during a short trip. Roadside Assistance: Offers around-the-clock repairs, towing, and emergency assistance should your RV experience a flat tire, battery discharge, or other malfunction. Best insurance features for full-time RVers Full-time RVers should consider having a more comprehensive policy with these coverage add-ons: Personal property coverage: Covers the cost of replacing any damaged or stolen personal effects. This includes clothing, furniture, jewelry, and computers, for example. Total loss replacement: Replaces your RV with an equal or similar model if your vehicle is ever stolen or totaled in an accident. In other cases, the insurer might just reimburse you the original purchase price. If your RV is financed, this coverage may be required by the lender. Full-time RV liability coverage: Adds extra liability, and medical expenses coverage if you live in your RV for six months or more each year. Emergency expense allowance: Covers living and travel expenses like car rentals, lodging and food for up to a specified amount if your RV leaves you stranded, usually more than 100 miles away. Specialized coverage: Can replace appliances like awnings, satellite dishes, and solar panels and can even provide coverage for any pet injuries that happen in the vehicle. Loss assessment: Helps pay for fees charged by RV associations for damage to common areas in a campsite, for example. How to Buy RV Insurance Take the time to shop for quotes The cost of RV insurance varies depending on your driving history, the state where you live, the vehicle type and whether you intend to live in the RV full-time or use it for vacations. Additional coverage options like pet and accessories insurance will hike up your premium. Shopping for multiple quotes can work out to your advantage. The best rates often go to those who compare estimates and coverage options before choosing. If you dont have the time to shop around, you can consult with an independent insurance agent. Theyll usually provide inside information and guide you toward companies with attractive rates. Bundle Multiple Policies Most insurance providers offer a multi-policy discount when you combine your RV insurance with other qualified policies. You can save on premiums by combining your RVs policy with your current auto, home or boat insurance. Some insurers also let you bundle your policy with renters or life insurance policies. Bundling multiple policies under one provider can also lessen the hassle of dealing with different companies for claims. If you dont want to pay two premiums, you can consider adding your RV to your existing auto insurance policy. However, a cars coverage usually extends only to towable campers or trailers, not motorhomes. Also, keep in mind that car insurance might cover damages to the RV and liability but not belongings or appliances inside the RV. Homeowners insurance might also offer some coverage for RVs, but only when the vehicle is parked the insured propertys premises. If you have umbrella insurance, it could also cover your RV. This type of insurance covers liability claims that exceed the limits of your primary auto, home, or RV policy, for example. However, do note that its coverage will only kick in if your RV is covered by an underlying policy that meets the liability requirements of the umbrella policy. Check for Available Discounts Besides the savings for bundling multiple policies, companies often also offer discounts for: Paying the total annual policy upfront Making monthly payments on time Staying claim-free during the previous policy period Being the vehicles original owner Installing safety features in your RV (a tire pressure monitoring system, for example) Having a favorable loss history (the record of insurance losses associated with the vehicle) Being a safe driver (staying accident-free for at least three years) Taking safety courses Being a member of an RV association Reduced insurance premiums are also available for drivers aged 50 and up and not insuring drivers under 25 on the policy. Buyers can also save by going paperless instead of receiving documents or bills through the mail. Renters Insurance If you plan on renting an RV for a vacation, you should consider getting RV rental insurance. This type of policy is similar to car rental insurance since both usually provide liability, collision damage waiver, personal accident or personal effects coverage. Policies can be purchased through the rental company or your own insurance provider, if they offer such coverage. However, keep in mind that your current car or RV insurance possibly already extends some coverage to the rented RV. Coverage may not be available in all states or for trips longer than 30 days, so you should call your insurer to verify before heading out. Some insurance companies also cover your RV while traveling through Mexico. While this type of policy can be useful for someone planning a vacation, it is more commonly recommended for RV owners who frequently cross the border. On the other hand, if you rent your RV to others it is considered a commercial use, and your insurance policy wont cover the renter. The person must obtain their own rental insurance for the trip. If youre merely lending your RV to a friend or family member, your existing coverage may extend to them, depending on the details of your policy. However, its important to note that some states, including Arkansas and Wisconsin, require drivers to get special licenses to drive RVs. If you live in one of these states and you lend your RV to someone, that person must have the required license if you want your insurance policy to cover them. RV Insurance FAQ How much is RV insurance? RV insurance costs depend significantly on various factors, including the type of policy you choose, add-ons and your driving record. According to The Wandering RV, the lowest insurance rates are found in North Carolina and Massachusetts, where the average cost of RV insurance ranges from $860 to $1,128 per year. Michigan is the most expensive state, with an average of $4,490 per year. According to the website, the vast majority of states "fall between the two extremes." What does RV insurance cover? Some companies offer standard coverage that includes collision, comprehensive, and liability protection. Some may even cover personal effects, up to a maximum amount, usually around $3,000. But insurers, for the most part, custom build your policy to fit your individual needs. The most common coverages are property-damage liability, bodily injury liability, uninsured/underinsured motorist, personal injury protection (PIP), and towing and roadside assistance. Other optional coverages may include personal property coverage, total loss replacement, full-time RV coverage, emergency expense allowance, campsite/vacation coverage, as well as specialized coverage for more expensive equipment. Who has the best RV insurance? The best RV insurance policy for you will depend on a number of factors, such as your driving habits, age, and class of RV. You also want to consider how often you'll be using your RV throughout the year. Check out our RV Insurance Guide's How to Buy RV Insurance section for more essential factors to consider before making your choice. The more quotes you get from different insurance companies, the better your chances of obtaining the best rates. What kind of insurance do I need to rent out my RV? You'll need at least liability coverage for all motorized RV vehicles, which pays for damages or injury you may cause to other people and their property in an at-fault accident. With the exception of New Hampshire, all states, and the District of Columbia, require that vehicles, including RVs, have some form of liability coverage. Insurance for towable RVs is another matter. When you're towing your RV behind another vehicle instead of driving it, you only have to worry about having enough coverage to protect your belongings, without worrying about additional liability insurance. What is the best RV roadside assistance program? The best roadside assistance is offered by and includes towing and roadside assistance coverage. Its service offerings include jumpstarts, flat tires, roadside assistance, fuel delivery, towing, and locksmith services. How We Chose The Best RV Insurance We chose companies that: Offer the standard auto coverage as well as RV-specific insurance Cover as many RV types as possible, both motorized and towable Offer discounts and savings Have high ratings and positive reviews Summary of Moneys Best RV Insurance of 2022 Good Sam Best RV Insurance Agency Nationwide Best for Multiple Discounts National General Best for Full Replacement Cost Coverage Progressive Best for Disappearing Deductibles Auto-Owners Insurance Best for Customer Service Foremost: Best for RV Roadside Assistance Copyright 2021 Ad Practitioners, LLC. All Rights Reserved. This article originally appeared on Money.com and may contain affiliate links for which Money receives compensation. Opinions expressed in this article are the author's alone, not those of a third-party entity, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed. Offers may be subject to change without notice. For more information, read Moneys full disclaimer. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A firestorm of conversations around paid family leave are taking over LinkedIn feeds. In the name of transparency, major employers are sharing their paid leave policies openly across the professional networking website and the conversations are spilling over onto Twitter and other social media. A recent LinkedIn post from theSkimm, a media company known for its daily newsletter, called on employers to be more upfront about their leave policies especially for parents who are adjusting to life with new babies, adoptions or foster children. TheSkimm added pressure to do so by telling LinkedIn users to tag the companies whose policies they wanted to see. Employers, its time to #ShowUsYourLeave, read the now-viral rallying cry. TheSkimm kicked off the initiative by posting its own policies, which include 18 weeks of paid parental leave, flexible scheduling for parents, bereavement leave for pregnancy loss and unlimited paid time off. The campaign triggered a flurry of responses. Adobe, Bank of America, DoorDash, Instacart, Live Nation, Nestle, Ocean Spray, Reddit, Snapchat and others followed suit by posting branded fact sheets on LinkedIn and other platforms that outlined their paid leave benefits. Get a Free Resume Review and start a new chapter today A Resume Builder can not only help improve your resume, but also match it with your career goals. Click on your state to get started. Some notable leave policies include: Live Nations paid parental leave of up to six months for birth or adoption Adobes 26 weeks of fully paid parental leave for birth parents and 16 weeks for non-birth parents Reddits paid parental leave of up to 26 weeks for birth parents and 16 weeks for non-birth parents Bank of Americas 26 weeks of parental leave total 16 of which are fully paid Of course, many companies took this opportunity to flex other attractive benefits. Instacart, Live Nation and Patreon underscored their flexible or unlimited paid time off policies. Adobe boasted its four-to-six-week sabbatical perk for workers employed for five years or longer. While not a result from the #ShowUsYourLeave campaign, Google announced an overhaul to its leave policies in late January. The tech behemoth says birth parents can now take off up to 24 weeks, up from 18. Non-birth parents will be able to take off up to 18 weeks, an increase from 12. Additionally, Google bumped up its baseline paid time off policy to 20 days for all employees. The call for transparent leave policies comes as the Great Resignation rages on. In December, 4.3 million workers quit their jobs while layoffs hit the lowest level ever recorded by the Labor Department. The result? An extremely tight job market where workers are in high demand. To attract (and keep) workers, employers are experimenting with enhanced retirement benefits, increased wages, student loan repayment programs and paid leave which companies are increasingly expanding to include paid time off for mental health and extended bereavement as they grapple with the realities of pandemic life. Build your professional brand with a Resume Builder. TopResume offers a place to take your career stories and create your professional brand, starting with a great resume. Click below to get started. Parental leave laws in the U.S. The parental leave policies of many companies above are in stark contrast to what federal legislation requires. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides only 12 weeks of unpaid parental leave, and the leave is only available to Americans who work at employers with at least 50 employees. Under the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act (FEPLA), the federal governments 2.8 million workers are able to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave for a new birth, adoption or foster. Meanwhile, Labor Department data show only 23% of privately employed workers have access to any paid parental leave. In general, the U.S. lags far behind other nations in providing paid leave. According to the intergovernmental Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the U.S. is the only member nation to not offer paid parental leave. By contrast, Estonia, the OECD member with the highest amount of parental leave, guarantees 86 weeks. Money Classic To celebrate our 50th anniversary, we've combed through decades of our print magazines to find hidden gems, fascinating stories and vintage personal finance tips that have withstood the test of time. Dive into the archives with us. More from Money: Copyright 2021 Ad Practitioners, LLC. All Rights Reserved. This article originally appeared on Money.com and may contain affiliate links for which Money receives compensation. Opinions expressed in this article are the author's alone, not those of a third-party entity, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed. Offers may be subject to change without notice. For more information, read Moneys full disclaimer. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Like many teenagers, Jeff Burkes daughter has a summer job. She doesnt legally have to file a federal tax return, because her income is too low. But her father, a financial planner in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, makes sure she files a return anyway. The potential benefits, he says, are too good to miss. In 2020, about 17.6% of Americans between the ages of 16 and 19 had paying jobs while also enrolled in school. They earned a median income of just under $250 a week. Many of those young people were only enrolled seasonally, working summer or holiday jobs. Theyre often in the same situation as Burkes daughter: they dont legally have to file a return, but they should consider doing so anyway. Experts say the benefits are more than worth the minimal hassle. Have you started filing your 2021 Taxes? Select your state to begin the process of filing your taxes with TurboTax. When do teens have to file a return? Americans are legally required to file federal tax returns when they make at least $12,550 the standard deduction for the 2021 tax year. Earn less than that, as many teenagers do, and you dont have to file a federal tax return. The exception, says Yves-Marc Courtines, a financial planner in Manhattan Beach, CA, is for the so-called kiddie tax. A dependent child with more than $1,100 in unearned income (from interest or investments, typically) has to file a return. Any unearned income above $2,200 is taxed at the parents rate. This means that the teen who earned a wage by working as an ice-cream scooper or summer camp counselor and made less than $12,550 during 2021 isnt legally required to file a federal tax return. A kid who has done well in cryptocurrency or stock trading, on the other hand, may need to file. Improve your potential refund amount - Prepare and file your federal income tax return using tax preparation software Tax preparation software companies like TurboTax will help improve your earning potential. File anyway, even if it isnt required Its still worth spending a few minutes to file a federal tax return, even if the law doesnt require it. First, a teenager who earned less than $12,550 last year probably doesnt owe any federal or state taxes. Filing means getting a refund of any taxes your employer withheld from your paychecks. It also lessens the chance of a misunderstanding in which the IRS wonders why you had a job but didnt file a tax return. A tax return also creates a paper trail for a Roth IRA, though technically you can contribute to a Roth without filing. If youre at least 18 years old, you can start a Roth in your own name; parents or guardians can set up beneficiary Roth accounts for younger teens. This is a big reason that Burkes daughter files a return, he says. Even though her earnings are low enough that she doesnt have to pay taxes, she can still contribute to an investment account, he says. Since her current tax rate is zero, we have her contribute to a Roth account, where she will get tax-free growth. In essence, this is money that will never be taxed. That money has a lot of time to grow. Begin contributing $100 a month to a Roth when youre 15 years old, and youll have $382,697 when you turn 65, if you keep your contributions at that modest level, assuming an average annual return of 6%. Money Classic To celebrate our 50th anniversary, we've combed through decades of our print magazines to find hidden gems, fascinating stories and vintage personal finance tips that have withstood the test of time. Dive into the archives with us. A return can help families afford college By putting money in a Roth, families get another benefit. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, doesnt consider money thats in a Roth as available to pay college expenses. Otherwise, half of student income above $6,600 will count against any financial aid award. Filing a tax return also helps families expand their opportunities to take advantage of educational tax credits. College students are eligible for the American Opportunity Tax Credit, which lets filers claim a maximum tax credit of $2,500 per student for each of the first four years of higher education, as well as for the Lifetime Learning Credit, which is worth up to $2,000 a year per student for an unlimited number of years. Taxpayers can choose which credit theyll take in a particular year, and they can take different credits for different dependents. They cant take both credits for one student in the same year. Both these credits have income limits: a phase-out for single filers with between $80,000 and $90,000 in annual income, and between $160,000 and $180,000 for married couples filing jointly. Earn more than $90,000 as a single filer or $180,000 as joint filers, and you cant take either credit at all. Parents might earn too much to claim either credit. A student who files a tax return, however, might have an income thats low enough to take these creditsif her parents dont claim her as a dependent. The IRS lets parents claim students as dependents up to age 24, but it isnt required. By not claiming a student as a dependent, parents lose a $500 dependent credit, but the student may get a credit worth much more. A student who files as her own dependent could also get the last $1,400 of pandemic stimulus money, which was sent out as an advance tax credit based on IRS information from 2019 and 2020. But thats only if her parents didnt already receive that money on her behalfa detail that both the IRS and accountants are likely to check. Need some financial aid to cover tuition? A Student Loan can help. When you need a hand to cover the many costs that come with higher education, a Student Loan is a good option. Click below for more information. More From Money: Copyright 2021 Ad Practitioners, LLC. All Rights Reserved. This article originally appeared on Money.com and may contain affiliate links for which Money receives compensation. Opinions expressed in this article are the author's alone, not those of a third-party entity, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed. Offers may be subject to change without notice. For more information, read Moneys full disclaimer. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 BOISE Legislation to enhance protections for gun makers, sellers and weapons carriers during declared emergencies in Idaho headed to the full Senate on Monday. The Senate State Affairs Committee voted to approve the measure that alters the states disaster preparedness act by prohibiting the closing of gun-related businesses during emergencies. Republican Gov. Brad Little issued a temporary stay-at-home order in early 2020 to prevent the states health care system from collapsing because of the coronavirus pandemic that quickly sickened residents and health care workers. Some workers and businesses were declared essential and allowed to continue operating, but others werent. Gun businesses were recognized as essential businesses under Littles order. But we may not always have the current governor that we have, and even the current governor felt it was necessary to call out whether a firearms business is an essential business or not, said Republican Sen. Todd Lakey, the bills sponsor. He said the bill clarifies that. When somebody is making an order of a disaster emergency and theyre determining which businesses are essential and which are not, this clarifies that those are essential. The legislation also prevents Idahos concealed weapons laws from being circumvented, and that weapons used legally cant be confiscated during disasters. The bill also clarifies that the protections regarding firearms also cover ammunition, components and accessories. Democratic Sen. Grant Burgoyne said he couldnt support the bill because it involved riots and civil disorder. Through 2020, one might have thought, Well, thats not a really big deal. We dont have those kinds of situations in the United States acts of riot or civil disorder, he said. But after Jan. 6 of 2021, he added, referring to the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, I think we do know we have riot and we do have civil disorder. And that none of us, none of our states, can be assured that theyre going to be free of that. He also said Idaho was among the most unrestricted when it comes to gun laws and that their legal use is already protected by the 2nd Amendment. And the suggestion that were not (protecting those rights), I think, creates an issue for our people that need not exist, Burgoyne said. Brady Hall, Littles chief legal counsel, told lawmakers the state is still under an active emergency declaration due to the coronavirus pandemic. Hall said that allows the state to get money from a disaster emergency account and gives Little flexibility to deploy the Idaho National Guard to help with health care. There are currently no restrictions, and no restrictions have been in place on any rights or constitutional privileges whatsoever, Hall said. It largely exists as an administrative document at this point. BOISE Senate Minority Leader Michelle Stennett, D-Ketchum, announced Monday in a press release that she will not run for reelection to the Idaho Senate after 12 years in office. My time as senator has been an extraordinary and humbling experience for which I am grateful, Stennett said in the release. I will continue to do my best to serve the people of our district and the state until my term ends in December, but will not seek reelection. Stennett was first elected to the seat in 2010 to succeed her husband, former Sen. Clint Stennett, who represented Blaine County for more than 20 years and died of cancer in October of that year. She was elected to the seat the following month with 57% of the vote. Stennett is a member of the Health and Welfare, Resources and Environment and State Affairs committees in the Idaho Senate. She was last re-elected in 2020, winning with 56% of the vote over Republican Eric Parker, who has declared his candidacy for the seat this year as well. Parker is a member of the Real 3%ers militia group in Idaho and is known as the Bundy Ranch sniper for pointing a rifle at federal authorities in Bunkerville, Nevada, in 2014. He has raised more than $33,000 so far for the campaign. Rep. Laurie Lickley, R-Jerome, has also announced her intention to run for the Senate seat after redistricting put her in contention for District 26. She has raised more than $7,000 in 2021 and the first months of 2022 as a candidate. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 FAIRFIELD Camas County Republican Steve Miller has announced he will be running for District 24s B seat in the Idaho House of Representatives. A third-generation dryland farmer, Miller previously served three terms as a representative from 2012 to 2018. He said he decided to run for a return to the House after the Idaho Supreme Court upheld new legislative district maps that combine Camas County with Gooding and rural Twin Falls counties. Some of Millers legislative priorities include education, which he said hed worked on quite a bit during his previous tenure as Representative. He said hes a big supporter of local control and giving local school boards more opportunity to determine how they want to do things. As a state, we can do a better job of making that spending more effective, Miller said. It isnt always more money that makes something better. Sometimes many times its how that money is spent. Miller also highlights agriculture and water as policy areas he would like to contribute to at the state level. Idaho is an Ag state, and its a big part of our economy, our heritage, and quality of life, so I want to see that supported, Miller said. Prior to Millers three terms as Representative, he served as Camas County Commissioner, and he served on the Planning and Zoning commission for 17 years. Miller was also Camas County Soil Conservation District supervisor and ascended to become president of the Idaho Association of Soil Conservation Districts, eventually becoming Secretary and Treasurer on the National Board of Soil Conservation Districts. The filing period for candidates seeking to appear on primary election ballots is from Feb. 28 to March 11. The primary election is on May 17. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 For the sake of argument, say the leading critic of Idaho public education budgets in the Legislature works for a private academy. The more he complains about the shortcomings of public schools, the more likely it is that some parents will turn to the private education model and possibly his own school. Or what if a legislative budget writer spends his winters in Boise critiquing the state Lands Department while devoting his spring, summers and autumns to running his private timber farm? Youd have to question where his primary loyalty lies. So why does state Rep. Ron Nate, R-Rexburg, get a pass? From his perch on the Legislatures Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, Nate last week waged a one-man interrogation of the three state university presidents. As reported by Idaho Education News Kevin Richert, Nate grilled Boise State University President Marlene Tromp three times about how she implemented last years $1.5 million budget cut and whether she followed legislative directives to withdraw what he called wasteful spending on social diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Rather than accept her answers, Nate accused Tromp of expanding the programs he finds so objectionable. Am I missing something? he asked. When it was Idaho State University President Kevin Satterlees turn, he seemed to mollify Nate with promises that any diversity program on his campus was funded by voluntary fees rather than state or student tuition dollars. By the time he got to University of Idaho President Scott Green, Nate challenged an office of equity and diversity that he said engages in social justice advocacy, as well as the College of Engineerings director of engineering diversity. Green cut him off with a 26-page investigative report from the law firm Hawley Troxell, demonstrating that Nate and his allies within the Idaho Freedom Foundation had engaged in a false narrative. Nate may be an outlier on the budget committee. But he holds great sway in the Idaho House, which for two consecutive years has followed his lead by rejecting the higher education budget. Last year, it trimmed not only $1.5 million from BSU, but $500,000 each from UI and ISU over allegations of social diversity indoctrination on the campuses. But this high-profile, not to mention effective, nemesis to Idahos four-year college and universities is hardly a disinterested party. Nate teaches economics at the Mormon church-owned Brigham Young University-Idaho. It would make no difference if his paychecks came from Northwest Nazarene University or the College of Idaho. The point is private schools compete to some degree with public institutions of higher learning. And Nate is on the private side of the equation. Private and public schools compete for students. In todays environment of tight state budgeting and a falling rate of Idaho high school graduates continuing their education, tuition income is just as important to a public school as it is to a private institution. Tuition dollars cover roughly half the cost of classroom instruction at Idahos college and universities. When it comes to auxiliary services, student fees are even more vital. They compete for talent. Because Idahos compensation package hasnt kept pace, turnover among faculty and staff is rising at the public schools. If a lawmaker helps to not only cut state funding but goes on to undermine programs that promote diversity in hiring, how can that not further impede a state institutions ability to recruit and retain quality faculty and staff? No college or university, public or private, can survive without generous contributions from a limited pool of donors. If a lawmaker is generating negative headlines from a legislative committee room, could that turn off the spigot? Nate can say he is doing the IFFs bidding here. It has zeroed in on social diversity and allegations of indoctrination at Idahos institutions of higher learning as well as its public schools. And Nate obviously cherishes his near-pristine 99% ranking on the IFFs Freedom Index. But why arent his superiors at BYU-Idaho publicly embarrassed by what Nate is doing in Boise? Or are they privately cheering him on? If Nate continues sabotaging higher education budgets later this spring, youll have your answer. M.T. 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. Love 3 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 On the morning of February 6, 2022, President Xi Jinping met with Singaporean President Halimah Yacob, who came to China to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, at the Great Hall of the People. Xi Jinping pointed out, since I paid a state visit to Singapore in 2015, the bilateral strategic mutual trust has been constantly deepened, pragmatic cooperation has been continuously expanded, and our development interests have been closely integrated, thus vividly interpreting China-Singapore all-round cooperative partnership that keeps pace with the times. In the face of the global changes and the COVID-19 pandemic, both unseen in a century, China-Singapore relations need to buck the overall downward trend all the more and demonstrate vigor and vitality. Both sides should strengthen planning, deepen the synergy of development strategies, ensure the steady and long-term development of China-Singapore relations in the post-pandemic era, and make greater progress on the basis of past achievements, so as to better benefit the two peoples and promote regional prosperity and development. Xi Jinping stressed, Singapore has been deeply involved in China's development since the beginning of the reform and opening-up. Currently, China is accelerating the construction of a new development pattern, and the two sides should take advantage of each other's strengths to pursue win-win cooperation. Singapore is welcome to play a greater role in China's economic "dual circulation" through the subnational cooperation mechanisms that it established with China's provinces and cities. The two sides should deepen cooperation in green development, strengthen cooperation in digital economy, smart cities, scientific and technological innovation and other fields, foster new growth points of cooperation, and inject new impetus into respective development. Efforts should be made to set a benchmark for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, strengthen the role of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor in propping up the industrial and supply chains in the region. Efforts should be made to implement the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and jointly advance the process of regional integration. The two sides should jointly translate the Global Development Initiative into concrete actions, safeguard fairness and justice, and demonstrate responsibilities and commitment. Halimah said, in 2008, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew came to China to attend the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, and I'm honored to come to China to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022. The performance at the opening ceremony fully demonstrated China's outstanding ability and level in this respect. I believe that the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 will be held in a green and safe approach to promote international solidarity and cooperation. The foundation of Singapore-China ties is very solid, with the Suzhou Industrial Park, the Tianjin Eco-City and the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity representing the high level of Singapore-China cooperation. Singapore is willing to work with China for a shared future in the spirit of keeping pace with the times and seeking cooperation in solidarity. Singapore takes a positive view of the Global Development Initiative, and stands ready to work with China to strengthen green development, digital economy and other fields to promote regional integration. Ding Xuexiang, Yang Jiechi, Wang Yi, He Lifeng and others were present at the meeting. Editors Note: Ginny Rhodes is the sister of the subject of this story, Whitney Moore. Old Fort Elementary students raised over $1,000 for one of their beloved teachers who has been in the hospital battling COVID-19 for over a month. Whitney Moore, an instructional assistant at Old Fort Elementary, is currently hospitalized in Asheville, where she has been since Dec. 26. Moore suffers from two underlying health conditions CVID, (common variable immune deficiency), and GLILD, (granulomatous lumphocytic interstitial lung diseases). She was diagnosed with these illnesses in 2015. The combination of these diseases makes her body unable to create antibodies and causes inflammation in her lungs that is treated with weekly infusions and chemotherapy. After receiving a positive COVID-19 test in late December, Moore was soon hospitalized for low oxygen levels. She was on a ventilator for 15 days, and in ICU for most of her stay. Although considered critical, Moore fought hard to recover from her sickness. Currently, she is waiting on a room at Care Partners for rehabilitation and physical therapy. Whitney is a huge part of our OFE family, and she is greatly missed. We want her to get better soon so she can come back to school, said Old Fort Principal Jill Ward. For the past two weeks, students at OFE brought in pocket change to vote on which teacher they wanted to pie in the face. All of the proceeds from the event went to Moore and her family. On Friday, the whole school and Moores family members gathered in the auditorium for a check presentation and to witness pies being thrown at the top five teachers who brought in the most money. Moores daughter, Presley Moore, accepted the check on behalf of her mother. Boys and girls, you raised $1,008.55 for Mrs. Moore, Ward announced at the assembly. We have already put this in her bank account so she can buy plenty of red lipstick. Moore joined the celebration via FaceTime on a projector and was able to see her school family for the first time since before Christmas break. Moved by the outpouring of love, Moore could be seen shedding tears as her students chanted her name, waved at her and blew her kisses. I want you all to know that I am so thankful for all of the support, and I love and miss you all so, so much, Moore said over the phone. The name of a boy and girl from each grade level was chosen to throw a pie in the face of Old Fort staff, including gym teacher Jeff Tilson, kindergarten teacher Alyson Blackwelder, first-grade teacher Rhonda Tipper, custodian Steve Ray and art teacher Stephanie Lindley. Presley threw the first pie at Tilson, and the students went wild. Im so thankful for how far God has brought me from where I was to where I am now, Moore said. I truly feel all the prayers and community support surrounding my family during this journey. I hope to be home soon. I love you all A red lipstick challenge has been created on Facebook, where folks shared pics of themselves wearing red lipstick in honor of Moore. Hundreds have already submitted a picture. There is a Team Whitney Facebook page where you can follow updates on her condition. Hwy. 55 Burgers & Fries is hosting a pancake breakfast for Moore and family on Saturday from 7-10 a.m. Tickets are $6 and include pancakes, sausage, bacon and a drink. Carryout and deliveries are available. Donations can be made at www.gofundme.com/f/team-whitney-moore. Upon the high instructions of King Mohammed VI, Morocco has decided to support the bid of the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to host the World Expo 2030 in the city of Riyadh, said the ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement. This support is in harmony with the distinguished relations that bind the two Kingdoms and falls within the framework of the bonds of sincere brotherhood between King Mohammed VI and his brother the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. This support is also in line with the tradition of continuous solidarity, active cooperation and unwavering and mutual support between the two brotherly countries, the statement added. The Moroccan government has reaffirmed that the autonomy plan offered by the Kingdom for a lasting resolution of the Sahara regional conflict is the only doable solution to this issue which is fuelled by the Algerian military regime. The unwavering stand was voiced by Moroccos top diplomat Nasser Bourita in an interview with France24 TV Channel and RFI radio station on the side-lines of his participation in Addis Ababa in the latest African Summit. In Morocco, there is a desire and willingness to achieve a solution within the framework of the Moroccan autonomy initiative and nothing else but the Moroccan autonomy initiative, he underlined, affirming that this issue can be settled only through the UN-round tables format with the participation of the main stakeholder to this regional dispute, making reference to Algeria Morocco, which is in its territory and is in its self-defence, has never sought confrontation, added Mr. Bourita, noting that the North African Kingdom is for a solution within the framework of the United Nations and within the framework of autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty. Morocco also adheres to UN resolutions on the Sahara, he said, recalling Algerias systematic refusal of the UN resolutions and decisions of of the international community. UN Sahara envoy Staffan de Mistura is working to re-launch the round-table dialogue. But if Algeria refuses to take part in the UN-led process, it would seriously undermine the UN efforts, warned the Moroccan foreign minister. Regarding Algerias unilateral decision of cutting sever diplomatic relations with Morocco, Bourita said the Algerian escalation showed that that the ruling regime of this country is a real problem in this region. Under the wise guidance of King Mohammed VI, Morocco has chosen to ignore the provocative actions of its neighbour, maintaining its composure and focussing more on whats unites the two countries and peoples sharing a common history. The inauguration of the African Migration Observatory in Morocco demonstrates Africas capacity to be a frontrunner with regard to the new migration governance advocated by the Marrakech Compact on Migration, says King Mohammed VI, Leader on the issue of Migration, in a report on the follow-up to the operationalization of the Observatory. Thus, at a time when African migration is being stigmatized and associated with binary conceptions, Africa has positioned itself as a key player in the implementation of the Compact, states the report that was presented Sunday before the African Union Summit, held in Addis Ababa this February 5-6. The African Migration Observatory in Morocco is a direct response to the Marrakech Compact, and in particular its first objective, which is to collect and use accurate data to develop policies based on factual knowledge, says the Report. I have sought to ensure that the main goal behind the operationalization of the African Migration Observatory is for the Continent to take ownership of the migration issue and of the various dynamics it implies inside Africa, the Sovereign underlines in this report. Another aim for me was to deconstruct the negative perception of migration by establishing a new, positive and objective approach to the issue, while highlighting the human element as a lever for the Continents development, the Sovereign notes, adding that from design, to development to implementation, Morocco has spared no effort to carry out each one of the steps aimed at turning my proposal to set up the African Migration Observatory into a reality. The actual setting up of the African Migration Observatory, which is the very first AU institution to be based in Morocco, has certainly been a first major step through which Africa has positioned itself as a key player in the implementation of the Compact. Similarly, Africas noteworthy participation in the Multi-Stakeholder Migration Fund, which is a mechanism set up to assist countries in implementing the Compact, confirms Africas commitment to better migration governance, the report stresses, noting that 41% of the total number of projects selected for funding were submitted by African countries. Africa has also distinguished itself with 4 collective projects, setting the example for concerted regional management advocated by the Marrakech Compact. In addition, and consistent with my mandate as Leader on the Issue of Migration in Africa, at the 33rd African Union Summit, I offered to host the African Regional Forum for the implementation of the Marrakech Compact, the Sovereign recalls in the report. Thus, last September, Morocco organized the Intergovernmental Meeting for the African Regional Review of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. The objective of that meeting, which was held jointly with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Migration Network, was to examine the implementation of the Marrakech Compact in Africa and come up with conclusions to enrich the International Migration Review Forum, to be held in 2022. Another objective was to identify priority actions to make the Marrakech Compact a platform for action for the Continent by mainstreaming migration management in our development and governance models. Similarly, Morocco has been designated Champion Country for the implementation of the Marrakech Compact. In that capacity, in 2022, it will hold a ministerial meeting bringing together all Champion Countries to raise awareness on the need for full and effective implementation of the Compacts 23 objectives, the report notes. In this regard, Morocco will continue to make Africa an ongoing priority as far as its commitments are concerned. My country is ready to share information and data regarding the National Immigration and Asylum Strategy, which I launched in 2013, as well as the various measures I have taken in this regard, the King says in the report. As was the case with the approach I advocated with regard to the African Agenda for Migration and in the Marrakech Compact, the aim is to ensure greater coherence between national, regional and global commitments, and to move as closely as possible towards the objective of optimizing and organizing migration, instead of fighting it. The report also analyzes the impact of the pandemic on the state of migration in Africa, outlines the main challenges related to the full operationalization of the African Migration Observatory and puts the governance of migration in Africa in the context of the post-Covid recovery and the implementation of the Marrakech Compact. The report insists that the approach to migration should be imbued with a sense of responsibility and solidarity and that a security first approach should be abandoned African leaders at the African Union (AU) summit have unequivocally condemned the recent wave of coups on the continent, the pan-African organizations commissioner for political affairs, peace and security said Sunday. Every African leader in the assembly has unequivocally condemned the pattern, the resurgence, the cycle, the wave of unconstitutional changes of government, Bankole Adeoye said at a press conference during the AU summit, which runs until Sunday evening in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. The AU will not tolerate any military coup in any form, he added, recalling that countries that have faced coups have been suspended by the AU Peace and Security Council. Do your research, at no time in the history of the African Union, we have had four countries in one calendar year, in 12 months, suspended: Mali, Guinea, Sudan and Burkina Faso, he added. Referring to the case of West Africa, he said that the Sahel must not become a hotbed of unconstitutional changes of government, described as a scourge. In his opening speech at the summit on Saturday, the chairman of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, referred to the disastrous wave of coups detat and stressed the known causal links with the development of terrorism. The Movement for Safeguard and Restoration, the Burkinabe military junta that has been in power since January 24, announced on Saturday night the creation of a Commission to draw up a Charter and a transition timetable. Lieutenant Colonel Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba, head of the junta, issued a decree to this effect. This technical Commission is composed of members from very different backgrounds. Lawyers, sociologists, journalists, a philosopher and a military officer Fifteen personalities appointed by presidential decree have two weeks to work on a way out of the crisis. Their mission: to propose a charter, an agenda, a duration and the modalities of the future transition. To carry out this mission, the technical commission must first consult the nations active forces, the decree states. It must also have recourse to the national history and experiences elsewhere while favoring innovation and creative imagination. All this within a period of fifteen days. The military junta insists on the independence of this commission. It is true that most of the people chosen have never had any connection with the MPSR, explains one of its members. Note the total absence of political figures. The juntas stated intention. During his meeting with the political forces last week, Lieutenant Colonel Damiba insisted on this point. I want to preserve the apolitical image of my actions, he said, according to several sources present that day, and rely on compatriots who can help. Three civilians were killed by suspected ADF rebels in the Beni region of northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where six others were wounded by a homemade bomb explosion, local officials said. The three civilians were killed Friday night on National Road 4 during the passage of a group of ADF (Allied Democratic Forces) from the east to the west of Beni territory in North Kivu province, local civil society leader Patrick Musubao said. Then on Saturday, we recorded six wounded in the explosion of a homemade bomb at the entrance of the big market of Beni, not far from the police facilities, said Colonel Narcisse Muteba Kashale, mayor of this city. The ADF, presented by the jihadist organization Islamic State (EI) as its branch in Central Africa, is accused of numerous massacres in the eastern DRC, where it has been established since the 1990s, and of recent jihadist attacks on Ugandan soil. North Kivu and the neighboring province of Ituri have been under a state of siege since May, an exceptional measure that gives full powers to the army and police, but has so far failed to put an end to abuses by armed groups. Credit: CEU/Daniel Vegel Young infants' search for potential hidden objects is influenced by how many objects another person believes to be hidden, according to a new study by researchers Agnes Melinda Kovacs at Central European University (CEU) and Dora Kampis at the University of Copenhagen (KU), published at the end of 2021 in the journal Open Mind: Discoveries in Cognitive Science. Imagine you are at work and put keys in your bag, and then later you need them again. If you are very convinced they are in your bag, you will continue to search there even if you happen not to find it right away. If however, you think maybe you left them in the kitchen, you may stop searching in the bag sooner. Now imagine that your colleague, seeing your despair, tells you that she thinks the keys are likely in your bag. Even if she did not see what happened, you might double-check again in the bag. This is because interestingly, our behavior is influenced by what others say or believe, even when these should be given little or no weight, because as in this case, we have reliable first-person memory of a situation while the other is clearly ignorant. The researchers think such effects can be explained by the ultrasocial nature of humans, which makes us especially attentive to others and spontaneously taking into account their mental states (goals, knowledge, beliefs), even when we should not do so. "But what would infants do? Would the origins of this ultrasociality be found early on?"asks Kampis, researcher at the University of Copenhagen to describe the key question of the study that was part of her research as a Ph.D. student at CEU. Kovacs and Kampis hypothesized that for young infants, other people's beliefs may carry high importance, and may therefore be more readily influenced in their own behavior than by another person's seemingly irrelevant belief. In the above example, this would mean searching longer for potentially hidden objects in a location where based on infants' own knowledge there is nothing left, but based on another person's belief there is still something left to search for. To test this question, the researchers developed a task where infants were presented with an opaque box and saw some objects hidden there. As a next step, infants saw all objects being taken out. Earlier studies suggest that infants search less in such situations, compared to when one object remained in the box (but unbeknownst to them was hidden in a secret compartment). Importantly, in this new study there was also another person present, who saw almost everything infants did, but did not see the last object removed. Then, infants were allowed to search in the box. While infants could know the box was empty, this other person believed that one object remained. The novel findings of this study was that infants continued to search if the other person believed one object remained, despite the person not saying anything, her belief being seemingly irrelevant, and infants still believing the box was empty. According to the researchers, these counterintuitive results reflect an important feature of human cognition that may be particularly strong in infancy. To learn important knowledge about the world, it is beneficial to rely on other people's knowledge and perspectives. In very young infants, this reliance on others' perspective may be so strong that it leads to such interesting "mistakes." Overall, however, this strong sensitivity to their social world may play a crucial role in how infants become knowledgeable members of their cultural environment. Explore further Study shows the way an object is named is instrumental in infants' memory of an object More information: Dora Kampis et al, Seeing the World From Others' Perspective: 14-Month-Olds Show Altercentric Modulation Effects by Others' Beliefs, Open Mind (2022). Dora Kampis et al, Seeing the World From Others' Perspective: 14-Month-Olds Show Altercentric Modulation Effects by Others' Beliefs,(2022). DOI: 10.1162/opmi_a_00050 Provided by Central European University (CEU) (HealthDay)If your baby has a cough, you might immediately think it's COVID-19, but coughing is a common wintertime symptom, a pediatrician says. Dr. Mona Patel of Children's Hospital Los Angeles offers some advice on what to do when your baby develops a cough. Congestion and postnasal drip will worsen the cough, especially during naps or at night during sleep, so try to keep nasal passages as clear as possible. A cool-mist humidifier in your child's bedroom will help moisten airways to reduce the coughing caused by postnasal drip. Give your child lots of liquids such as water or juice. Warm, decaffeinated tea may also help ease the tickle that triggers coughing. If your child doesn't want a drink, try a popsicle, Patel suggested in a hospital news release. A spoonful of honey before bed can coat the throat and alleviate soreness. However, never give honey to children younger than 1 year old, and it's not recommended for children under 2 years old. In younger babies, honey can cause botulism, a life-threatening illness. Children's Tylenol or ibuprofen can keep babies with a fever comfortable. Never give your toddler cough or cold medicines. They aren't effective for young children and can cause dangerous side effects, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns. For little ones who can't blow their noses yet, use nasal saline drops and a bulb aspirator to suction a runny nose. Patel recommended consulting your child's doctor if the cough doesn't improve, or in these situations: Onset of cough within the first few weeks of life. Cough with fever lasting more than five days. A cough lasting for eight weeks. A cough getting worse by the third week. Associated difficulty in breathing or labored breathing. Night sweats, weight loss, coughing up blood. A wet or dry, hacking cough without wheezing or fast breathing, day or night. A cough and stuffy nose that persist for more than 10 days without improving. Testing is the only way to tell if a child's cough is caused by COVID. Whether or not you think your child has COVID-19, if they are having difficulty breathing, are unresponsive or unable to eat or drink, seek immediate medical care, Patel said. More information: For more on coughs, go to the For more on coughs, go to the American Academy of Pediatrics Copyright 2021 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A Chinese city of 3.5 million near the border with Vietnam was on lockdown Monday after more than 70 coronavirus cases were discovered there over the past three days. China, the only major world economy still sticking to a staunch zero-COVID policy, is on high alert for any outbreaks as it hosts the Beijing Winter Olympics. Local officials in the city of Baise in the southern Guangxi region announced Sunday that no one would be allowed to leave the city, while residents of some districts would be confined to their homes. "Citywide traffic controls will be implemented," vice-mayor Gu Junyan told a briefing. "In principle, vehicles and people cannot enter or leave the city... with personnel control strictly enforced and no unnecessary movement of people." Residents of some neighbourhoods in smaller rural cities and counties under Baise's jurisdiction have been placed under strict home confinement, while others cannot leave their district, Gu added. Baise, located about 100 kilometres (62 miles) from the Vietnamese border, on Friday discovered its first local casea traveller who had returned home for the week-long Lunar New Year holiday, according to officials. Since the pandemic, China has built a heavily enforced wire mesh fence along its southern border to keep out illegal migrants from Vietnam and Myanmaras well as potential COVID-19 infections. Mass testing is already under way for residents, authorities said. Since the coronavirus pandemic first emerged two years ago in Hubei province's Wuhan, China has used strict local lockdowns, mass testing and contact-tracing apps to try and eliminate outbreaks as soon as cases are detected, sparing the country the mass deaths witnessed around the rest of the world. Millions were confined to their homes in multiple Chinese cities in the run-up to the Olympics after cases involving both the Delta and Omicron coronavirus variants flared. The outbreaks were mostly stamped out. In December, 13 million residents of the northern megacity of Xi'an were placed under strict home confinement for over a month after an outbreak of more than 2,000 cases. Residents complained of grocery shortages and overly harsh enforcement of lockdown measures by local officials, which saw patients blocked from receiving critical medical treatment, leading to deaths in some cases. China reported 79 new cases nationwide Monday, of which 37 were in Guangxi. Meanwhile, Hong Kong's zero-COVID policy is on the ropes after a record number of new infections was announced over the weekend, sending officials scrambling to ramp up testing capacity and warning that a tightening of virus-control measures could be needed. China's borders with the rest of the world, including Hong Kong, are largely sealed. Explore further China quietly locks down area near Beijing with Olympics a week away 2022 AFP On the afternoon of February 6, 2022, at the Great Hall of the People, President Xi Jinping met with Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene, who came to China to attend the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022. Xi Jinping asked Oyun-Erdene to convey his sincere regards to President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh. He pointed out that China and Mongolia are important friends and neighbors connected by mountains and rivers. Maintaining, consolidating and developing a good China-Mongolia relationship accord with the fundamental and long-term interests of both countries. China always upholds the neighborhood policy of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness towards Mongolia. China will work with Mongolia to deepen mutual trust, friendship and cooperation in a bid to bring the China-Mongolia comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level. Xi Jinping stressed that both sides should respect each other's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, respect each other's choice of development path, accommodate each other's core interests, and firmly steer the proper development of China-Mongolia relations. China will maintain high-level exchanges with Mongolia and deepen exchanges on governance experience to diversify the content of bilateral relations. He hoped both sides will implement the joint statement made by the two governments to make early and more essential achievements. In the past two years, China and Mongolia reported remarkable cooperation in combating the pandemic, particularly including the widely praised "gifting one another with sheep and tea", which built up the friendship ties. China will continue cooperation with Mongolia and is ready to provide support and assistance to Mongolia in combating the pandemic, boosting economy and improving people's livelihood. The two sides should uphold true multilateralism, safeguard international fairness and justice, and protect regional peace and stability. Oyun-Erdene delivered President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh's sincere regards to President Xi Jinping. He said that China's overcoming of the difficulties brought by the pandemic and hosting of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 as scheduled have boosted the world's confidence in defeating the pandemic. He expressed that the Olympics is a symbol of peace and solidarity for humankind and Mongolia firmly opposes the politicization of sports. He extended sincere appreciation for China's timely supply of vaccines when Mongolia was in urgent need. China is a "more valuable than gold" neighbor of Mongolia. China's development into a great power makes the world attach more importance to Asian values and cultures. Mongolia will board the express train of China's development and deepen cooperation with China. Mongolia will well align its new revival policy with China's Belt and Road Initiative and 14th Five-Year Plan, elevate the Mongolia-China comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level, and make the bilateral relations a model of relations between neighboring countries as well as in international relations. In the capacity of the Chairman of the Mongolian People's Party, Oyun-Erdene once again congratulated on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and wished the CPC's 20th National Congress a great success. He added that his party is willing to enhance communication and exchanges on governance with the CPC. Ding Xuexiang, Yang Jiechi, Wang Yi, He Lifeng and others were present at the meeting. Credit: Shutterstock One of the many challenges over the course of the past two years has been in understanding the importance of the different routes of transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID. Understanding the role of the different infection pathways plays a vital role in prioritizing what we should be doing to prevent disease. The World Health Organization advises COVID transmission mainly occurs during close personal contact and via aerosols in poorly ventilated or crowded spaces. But the WHO also acknowledges people can become infected by touching their eyes, nose or mouth after coming into contact with contaminated objects or surfaces. Over time we've seen a reduced emphasis on preventing surface transmission and a greater focus on preventing person-to-person and aerosol transmission. This focus reflects how our understanding of transmission pathways has improved but it is still important to understand as much as we can about surface transmission. New Japanese researchpublished online and not yet reviewed by expert peersexamines how long the SARS-CoV-2 virus survives on skin and plastic. It investigates differences in survivability between the original Wuhan strain of the virus and subsequent variantsalpha, beta, gamma, delta and omicron. The study claims to be the first to include omicron in such side-by-side comparisons. The researchers report SARS-COV-2 variants are able to survive on skin and plastic more than twice as long as the original Wuhan strain. Of particular interest, the omicron variant was found to survive on plastic for 193.5 hours and on skin for 21.1 hours. What's inferred is that this longer survival on these surfaces contributes to omicron's increased infectivity, because there's more likelihood of picking up viable virus from surfaces. But is that really likely? The study has yielded interesting results, but has limitations that mean understanding the significance of these findings to the real world is difficult. A Chinese official claims COVID was found on a letter sent from Canada to a person first reported to have omicron in China. Officials have earlier suggested COVID may have come into the country through frozen food. https://t.co/dS7yV1Vau2 Kristina Jovanovski (@kjovano) January 17, 2022 How much virus? The most important limitation of the study, and one that is shared with similar survivability studies published earlier in the pandemic, is generalizing survival times in the laboratory to survival times in the real world. The main reason for this is the lack of a clear rationale for the decision on the amount of virus added to the surfaces tested. In the preprint study, Omicron survived over 20 hours on skin. Credit: Shutterstock, CC BY This is important because the ability to detect viable virus on a surface over time is hugely influenced by the amount of virus seeded on the surface in the first place. Theoreticallyand not to suggest the researchers in this study did thisyou could contrive any survival time in the laboratory if you deposit enough virus at the outset. How the amount of virus used in this study relates to how much virus might be deposited on a real world surface by an infected person is not clear from the preprint article. The laboratory versus the real world It's also worth noting the study was completed under highly controlled laboratory conditions. It is reasonable to speculate real world conditions would be harsher and more changeablein terms of temperature and humiditywhich may reduce virus survival times considerably. On the plus side, researchers used the same set of conditions when assessing all variants so comparisons of survival times are likely to be a good indicator of relative environmental stability. Therefore the increased survival time of the omicron variant compared to other variants is likely to indicate mutations that make it more resilient. This could contribute to its increased infectiousnessbut the extent of any increase in the amount of surface transmission, the relative contribution of surface transmission to omicron infections, and what causes this enhanced environmental stability are key questions that were beyond the scope of the study. So, handwashing and disinfecting surfaces is still very important.https://t.co/lYlgkQJsHd Professor Adrian Esterman (@profesterman) January 24, 2022 A secondary finding of the study suggests that in vitro (in other words, in test tubes or culture dishes) the Omicron variant was slightly more resistant to the disinfectant properties of ethanol than the Wuhan strain. But an evaluation on human skin in the laboratory demonstrated that a 15 second exposure to 35% alcohol was equally effective at inactivating the virus, regardless of the strain. So the good news is that all of the variants seemed equally vulnerable to alcohol-based disinfectants when used on skin. In terms of which findings from this study are of public health significance, confirmation of the effectiveness of disinfectants may be the most important. At times criticized as "hygiene theater", disinfecting retains an important role in infection control practices. Let's be clear. These results don't prove that we're at increased risk of picking up the omicron variant from surfaces. But what it does do is confirm that wiping down surfaces and hand sanitizing with disinfectants are effective methods of killing any live virus that may be lurking there. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. When confronted by extreme threats, human and animals sometimes defend themselves by fighting against the threats. Xie and colleagues report that this important survival behavior is controlled by GABAergic neurons in the anterior hypothalamic nucleus of mice. The image illustrates a drunken hero who was bravely fighting against a ferocious tiger. Credit: Xie et al. In his most renowned work, "On the Origin of Species," Charles Darwin introduced the idea that species need to continuously fight for their existence, and that only the most fit for a given environment survive. This notion, commonly known as the "survival of the fittest," has now been discussed and explored by countless scientists worldwide. Although Darwin suggested that only the fittest species survive, he did not explain how this struggle for survival is reflected in the brains of humans and other animals. In recent years, many studies rooted in evolution, ethology and neuroscience have tried to answer this rather elusive question. Researchers at the National Institute of Biological Sciences in Beijing, Beijing Normal University and other institutes in China have recently carried out a study investigating the neural underpinnings of innate defensive behaviors in mice. These are aggressive behaviors that animals can automatically adopt when responding to threatening stimuli in their environment. The team's recent paper, published in Nature Neuroscience, suggests that mechanically evoked defensive behaviors are at least in part controlled by GABAergic neurons in the anterior hypothalamic nucleus (AHN), a central region within the frontal part of the hypothalamus. The anterior hypothalamus is a vital brain region known to be associated with self-regulatory bodily functions, including the regulation of the body's internal temperature and sleep. "One goal of our laboratory is to elucidate how the brain initiates diverse behaviors for prey-predator competition, an important form of 'struggle for existence,'" Peng Cao, one of the researchers who carried out the study, told Medical Xpress. "In our previous studies, we systematically explored the brain circuits that underlie predator avoidance and prey capture in mice. In our new work we focused on anti-predator defensive attacks." As part of their recent study, Cao and his colleagues carried out a series of experiments on mice. In these experiments, they triggered defensive behaviors in the mice using experimental stimuli and then tried to determine the neural underpinnings of these behaviors. They found that GABAergic neurons in the AHN mediated the mice's experimentally evoked defensive attacks. "The brain area that may control mechanically evoked defensive attack should fit three fundamental criteria," Cao explained. "Firstly, the inhibition of neurons in this brain area should suppress mechanically evoked defensive attacks. Second, the neurons in this brain area should encode mechanical force and optimally respond to noxious mechanical stimuli. Third, the activation of these neurons should evoke attack behavior and suppress other types of ongoing behaviors." In their experiments, Cao and his colleagues were able to show that GABAergic neurons in the AHN fit all these three criteria. Their study thus identifies the AHN as a central brain center behind defensive attack behaviors in mice. "We found that photoinhibition of vGAT+ AHN neurons abrogated mechanically evoked defensive attack," Cao said. "Then, using fiber photometry, we found that vGAT+ AHN neurons specifically respond to noxious mechanical stimuli. Finally, using single-unit recording, we showed that vGAT+ AHN neurons encode the strength of mechanical force. We found that photostimulation of vGAT+ AHN neurons evoked attack behavior toward a live predator and suppressed other ongoing behaviors." The findings gathered by this team of researchers shed some new light on the neural underpinnings of survival-related defensive behaviors in mice. Future studies could try to determine whether GABAergic neurons in the AHN are responsible for these same behaviors in other animal species, including humans. As many violent crimes in human societies arise in response to aggression or danger, this recent study could ultimately have broad and far-reaching implications. For instance, it could pave the way towards a better understanding of how the human brain initiates violent crimes in response to real or perceived environmental threats. "We now plan to expand our research on defensive attack," Cao added. "For instance, we will explore how the amygdala, the center of fear, may be involved in mechanically evoked defensive attack, which will then allow us to compare the involvement of the AHN and amygdala in defensive attack. Explore further Scientists identify a novel neural circuit mediating visually evoked innate defensive responses More information: Zhiyong Xie et al, Mechanically evoked defensive attack is controlled by GABAergic neurons in the anterior hypothalamic nucleus, Nature Neuroscience (2022). Zhiyong Xie et al, Mechanically evoked defensive attack is controlled by GABAergic neurons in the anterior hypothalamic nucleus,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41593-021-00985-4 Congping Shang et al, A parvalbumin-positive excitatory visual pathway to trigger fear responses in mice, Science (2015). DOI: 10.1126/science.aaa8694 Congping Shang et al, Divergent midbrain circuits orchestrate escape and freezing responses to looming stimuli in mice, Nature Communications (2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03580-7 Congping Shang et al, A subcortical excitatory circuit for sensory-triggered predatory hunting in mice, Nature Neuroscience (2019). DOI: 10.1038/s41593-019-0405-4 Meizhu Huang et al, The tectonigral pathway regulates appetitive locomotion in predatory hunting in mice, Nature Communications (2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24696-3 Journal information: Nature Neuroscience , Nature Communications , Science Provided by Science X Network 2022 Science X Network Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain An international team of scientists has used atlases of the human brain informed by genetics to identify hundreds of genomic loci. Loci is plural for locus, and in genetics indicates the physical location of a gene or variant on a chromosome. The work was led by Chi-Hua Chen, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Radiology at UC San Diego School of Medicine. The findings are published in the February 3, 2022 online issue of Science. "The complexity of the human brain has equally eluded and fascinated scientists for centuries," said first author Carolina Makowski, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow working with Chen. "A large part of how our brain is shaped boils down to what is entwined in our DNA. The last decade has seen a flourish in studies mapping different regions of the brain to unique genetic codes that naturally vary in the population. The way these brain regions are defined, however, can have an important impact on findings, something that we highlight in this work." By and large, construction of the human brain is determined by heredity, though factors like environmental exposures also play a role, particularly during sensitive periods of neurodevelopment during childhood. Large-scale MRI and genetic datasets have increasingly illuminated the common genetic variants that help build the human cerebral cortexthe outer, layered sheet of wrinkled tissue associated with humans' highest mental capabilities, such as language, memory, perception, awareness and consciousness. The latest study goes further, using genetically informed brain atlases in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of regional cortical surface area and thickness in 39,898 adults and 9,136 children. GWAS are studies that scan complete sets of DNA or genomes of many people to find genetic variations, usually those that may be associated with a particular disease. The team focused on the cortex and used atlases with boundaries defined by genetics that had been developed previously by the study authors, including William S. Kremen, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry, and Anders Dale, Ph.D., professor of neuroscience and radiology, both at UC San Diego School of Medicine. "Imagine you're planning a cross-country road trip," said Makowski. "You would likely turn to a road map or GPS to navigate your way around, and you would be less interested in consulting other maps based on topography or physical features of the landscape to get to your destination. "Similarly, how we define brain regions should depend on the research question at hand. With this approach of using genetically defined atlases, we were able to uncover the largest number of genetic variants to date associated with the size and thickness of the cortex." The researchers found 440 genome-wide significant loci in the discovery cohort and 800 in a post-hoc combined meta-analysis. "Intriguingly, many of the genes that these loci map to are also associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism, epilepsy and intellectual disability, and dementia," said Chen. "To some extent, the molecular machinery for normal brain development and disorders overlaps, which could reflect a continuous spectrum of genetic effects on normal brain structural variation to aberrant neurodevelopment. One possible mechanism is that certain genetic compositions cause abnormal brain development, which leads to neurodevelopmental disorders. The loci we discovered can be used by researchers for further mechanistic studies of how genes impact the brain and diseases." Co-authors include: Weixiu Dong, Hao Wang, Yan Wu, Jingjing Zou, Cin Liu, Sara B. Rosenthal, Donald J. Hagler Jr., Chun Chieh Fan, Terry L. Jernigan and Kun Zhang, all at UC San Diego; Dennis van der Meer and Ole A. Andreassen, University of Oslo, Norway; Peter M. Visscher, University of Queensland, Australia; Jian Yang, Westlake University, China. Explore further Researchers discover genes that shape human brain surface More information: Carolina Makowski et al, Discovery of genomic loci of the human cerebral cortex using genetically informed brain atlases, Science (2022). Journal information: Science Carolina Makowski et al, Discovery of genomic loci of the human cerebral cortex using genetically informed brain atlases,(2022). DOI: 10.1126/science.abe8457 Sandra Fundel, pharmacist at the pharmacy at Bahnhof Zoo, stands outside the pharmacy with vaccination paraphernalia, next to a poster advertising the Corona vaccination in Berlin, Germany, Monday, Feb. 7, 2022. Pharmacists in the country are scheduled to begin offering vaccinations Tuesday, after parliament changed the rules so that they, dentists and vets could administer the shoots. Credit: Christophe Gateau/dpa via AP The German government is working on plans to relax coronavirus restrictions after the peak in new cases has passed, likely by the end of February. Unlike some of its European neighbors, Germany still has many pandemic restrictions in place that exclude unvaccinated people from restaurants, public venues and some stores. "Perspectives for opening are being developed," government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann told reporters Monday in Berlin. She said the measures would be discussed at a meeting of federal and state officials on Feb. 16, but would only take effect when authorities can be sure that Germany's health system won't be overwhelmed. "According to experts, that could be by mid-to-end February," she said. Germany has seen a sharp spike in newly confirmed cases in recent weeks due to the omicron variant. Pharmacists in the country are scheduled to begin offering vaccinations Tuesday, after parliament changed the rules so that they, dentists and vets could also administer the shoots. About 74.4 % of the German population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, while 54.3% have additionally had a booster shot. Experts say higher vaccination rates are needed to protect older and vulnerable groups. But the governor of Bavaria says he plans not to implement a requirement for staff in nursing homes and medical facilities to be vaccinated, citing concerns about worker shortages. Germany's health minister, Karl Lauterbach, blasted the announcement Monday, saying a half-hearted application of the rules "won't just endanger the lives of older people with weak immune systems." "You will also endanger the credibility of politics," he said. The federal coalition government has backed a general vaccine mandate but proposals currently being debated by lawmakers are likely months from being approved into law. 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: CC0 Public Domain Hard-hit Iran on Monday registered more than 100 new deaths from COVID-19 over a 24-hour period as the aggressive omicron variant spreads in the country, state TV reported. The report said 104 patients died from the disease since Sunday, when the Islamic Republic announced 85 new deaths over a day's time. Monday's new tally more than doubled that of Feb. 1, when the death toll was 50. With 132,934 total deaths by Iran's official count, the country has the highest national toll in the Middle East. Iran says it has has vaccinated some 80% of its population above age 18 with two vaccine shots. It has only vaccinated 27% of that group with three shots. Authorities say the aggressive omicron variant is now dominant in the country and have urged hospitals to prepare for a new wave of hospitalizations. "Every day we see a 10 to 15 percent increase in cases," said Nader Tavakkoli a health official in Tehran province, the semiofficial ISNA news agency reported on Monday. The Monday report said 2,615 patients were in critical condition220 more than Sunday. Health professionals registered 39,819 new cases since Sunday, about 4,390 more than reported that day. On Sunday, Health Minister Bahram Einollahi urged people to follow health measures like wearing a mask and social distancing. Iranian authorities say less than 50% of Iranians are following the rules. "Unfortunately, the sixth wave has begun and we are in the middle of the wave. We think that we will receive the peak of the wave in two to three weeks," he said. "We ask people to follow protocols." Some 50 lawmakers in Iran's parliament have contracted the virus. The chamber has 290 seats. Also on Monday, Iran said it will celebrate the 43rd anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution with the participation of only cars and motorbikes for the second straight year because of the pandemic. Iran has relied on Sinopharm, the state-backed Chinese vaccine, but offers citizens a smorgasbord of other shots to choose from, including Oxford-AstraZeneca, Russia's Sputnik V, Indian firm Bharat's Covaxin and its homegrown COVIran Barekat shot. British-Swedish AstraZeneca makes up a substantial amount of Iran's inoculations. Explore further Report: Iran announces 1st case of omicron variant 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Over a decade ago, a "brain-mapping" technology known as QEEG was first used in a Florida death penalty case, helping keep a convicted Miami killer off death row by swaying jurors that brain damage had left him prone to violence. In the years since, brain mapping remains very much a legal gray area, inconsistently accepted in a small number of death penalty cases across the state. In some, prosecutors fought it as junk science and judges agreed to block results. In others, prosecutors raised no objections to the tests. The questions surrounding brain mapping will soon be on trial again in the most high-profile Florida death penalty case in decades: Florida versus Nikolas Cruz, the gunman convicted of murdering 17 students and staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland in February 2018. Cruz's defense lawyers have listed QEEG experts, and test results, as one part of their case intended to persuade jurors that brain defects should spare him the death penalty. The Broward State Attorney's Office has now signaled in a court filing last month that it will challenge the technology, and will ask a judge to exclude the test resultsnot yet made publicfrom jurors. The former Stoneman Douglas high student has already pleaded guilty but a jury must be selected to consider whether he should be executed or sentenced to life in prison. The sentencing trial could start in April, as prosecutors and defense lawyers line up a battery of mental health experts who could testify on both sides. What is a QEEG? Electroencephalogram tests, known as EEGs, record electrical energy in the brain through sensors attached to the head. The results are displayed as squiggly lines on paperbrain wave patterns that have been used by medical doctors for decades to detect evidence of stroke damage, epilepsy or other neurological problems. More recently, computers have been used to create the "Quantitative EEG," known as QEEG, which translates the results into a digital image of a patient's brain to help analyze brain-wave frequenciesand compare it against a data base of other normal and abnormal patterns. The technology was first used in a major Florida case in 2010, in the death-penalty prosecution of Grady Nelson, who stabbed his wife 61 times, then raped and stabbed her 11-year-old mentally disabled daughter. The wife died, while the girl survived. Nelson's defense team argued that earlier brain damage had left the killer prone to impulse and violence. Prosecutors fought to strike the QEEG test as evidence, arguing the science was unproven and used improperly to explain away Nelson's calculated, heinous crimes. "It was a lot of hocus pocus and bells and whistles, and it amounted to nothing," the Miami-Dade prosecutor on the case, Abbe Rifkin, told the Herald at the time. "When you look at the facts of the case, there was nothing impulsive about this murder." But Circuit Judge Jacqueline Hogan Scola agreed the science was sound and allowed jurors to hear about the QEEG. At the sentencing phase, a defense expert presented jurors with a computer slide show replete with colorful graphics of Nelson's brain, and explanations of the effects of frontal lobe damage. Jurors rejected the death penalty. Two jurors later told the Herald the QEEG evidence swayed them. "The moment this crime occurred, Grady had a broken brain,'' his defense attorney, Terry Lenamon, said at the time. "I think this is a huge step forward in explaining why people are brokennot excusing it. This is going to go a long way in mitigating death penalty sentences.'' Science questioned Despite that success, the widespread use of brain mapping hasn't materialized in Florida death-penalty cases. In the ensuing years, judges in at least five cases refused to allow the QEEG evidence to be presented to jurors. Upstate, those cases were: Byron Burch, in Hernando County, Vernon Stevens, in Charlotte County and Joshua Fulgham, in Marion County. All were strangulation murders. All wound up getting life prison sentences anyway. In Miami-Dade, a judge excluded QEEG results for Miami cop-killer Dennis Escobar, who ultimately pleaded guilty and was spared the death penalty, and Joel Lebron, the ringleader in the brutal rape and execution-style shooting of Ana Maria Angel, who'd been kidnapped from South Beach. Lebron got the death penalty, although it was later reversed for unrelated legal reasons. One expert, Dr. Charles Epstein, who testified for the prosecution in the Nelson case, believes there is limited value in brain-mapping results through electrodes placed on the outside of the skull. Newer technology, such as MRIs, could provide more precise pictures. "We are recording through skin and bone and fluid to sample a piece of our brain and it's just very imprecise," said Epstein, a professor of neurology at Emory University who has studied QEEGs for 40 years. Even in the tests for supposedly "normal" people used for comparison, brain-wave signals can be affected by any number of random factorsmaybe the person being tested had too much coffee that day, for example, or suffered a migraine or subtle withdrawals from marijuana use, he said. "A brain wave may be different, but that doesn't mean that the difference has anything to do with the responsibility for a crime," Epstein said in an interview with the Herald. "That's a big leap." Still, in more recent years, prosecutors in several counties have not opposed brain mapping testimony. The reason, according to Dr. David Ross, a Plantation neurologist and QEEG expert, is that more scientific papers and research over years has validated the test's reliability over the years. That has helped brain mapping gain wider use in mental-health diagnosis and treatment, though its effectiveness there also remains a subject of dispute. "It's hard to argue it's not a scientifically valid tool to explore brain function," Ross said in an interview with the Herald. Ross himself testified at the 2017 trial of William Edward Wells, the so-called "Monster of Mayport," who killed an inmate in a Bradford County prison. Wells, at the time, was serving a life sentence for murdering his wife, four others and living with the body for several days. Prosecutors did not object to the QEEG evidence. Ross told jurors his testing showed Wells had frontal lobe damage in his brain, and it led to his impulsive murders. "And was acting not in a premeditated way, but in an impulsive way because of the stress of all this," Ross said. "He could not control it." Jurors rejected the death penalty and Wells got life. He later murdered another inmateand was ultimately sentenced to death for that killing. Looming legal fight In Cruz's case, it's not yet clear how much stock the defense intends to place on brain mapping in the legal strategy to convince jurors to keep the killer off Death Rowor how jurors will react to it if it is admitted. According to a court document, the defense intends to ask jurors to consider "mitigating" factors, such as his tumultuous family life, a long history of mental-health disorders, brain damage caused by his mother's drug and alcohol use, and claims that he was bullied and sexually abused by a "trusted peer." Among the listed defense witness, at least two cite experience with the QEEG: Dr. Richard Adler, a forensic and clinical psychiatrist of Seattle, and Wesley Center, a licensed professional counselor and "neurofeedback specialist" from Focus for Living, a center in Burleson, Texas. The Broward Public Defender's Office turned over a 192-page QEEG "analysis" to prosecutors, who declined to release the report because it is considered private medical information. In a motion to delay the trial filed last month, the Broward State Attorney's Office said that after analyzing the data, it will file a motion to strike the QEEG as "not reliable among the scientific community" and won't pass the legal standard used to allow jurors to hear about the test. A lengthy evidentiary hearing over whether the QEEG results can be shown to jurors is expected to take place in the coming weeks. Explore further Jurors mull whether Theranos founder guilty of fraud 2022 Miami Herald. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. In this photo of a study participant's eye with the implanted chip, the magenta oval shows the size of the beam projected from the glasses onto the retina. Credit: Yannick Le Mer Two years ago, a Stanford researcher and his team showed that with a thin, pixelated chip and specially designed glasses, they could restore limited vision in the center of the visual field of patients suffering from macular degeneration. In a recent, follow-up study, the researchers found that this prosthetic vision naturally integrated with the patients' peripheral vision, which was unaffected by the disease. The patients could simultaneously identify the orientations of colored lines in the center and sides of their visual field. The results suggest that the treatment could be used to restore functional vision. That the patients were able to see a coherent image "is very exciting news," said Daniel Palanker, Ph.D., professor of ophthalmology, because all previous retinal implants created "very distorted" perception. A paper describing the new research findings was published Jan. 26 in Nature Communications. Palanker, the lead author, worked with a team of ophthalmologists in France. Macular degeneration, which affects 200 million people worldwide, most of whom are over 60 years old, causes patients to gradually lose sight in the center of their visual field. It's debilitating because the remaining peripheral vision has low resolution. These patients have difficulty reading, recognizing faces and performing other tasks of daily living. The condition occurs when the photoreceptor cells in the center of the retina, known as the macula, degenerate. These tightly packed cells, which line the back of the eye, sense light and send signals to other retinal neurons, which transfer them to the brain, allowing visual perception. When photoreceptor cells degrade, the brain no longer receives the information it needs to create a detailed and coherent picture. Current treatments for macular degenerationsuch as vitamins and drugs targeting blood vessels that invade the macula and block visioncan slow the visual decline. But they can't stop the degeneration or restore sight once the photoreceptors are gone. Restoring sight Nearly two decades ago, Palanker had the idea of creating a retinal prosthesis that would replace photoreceptor cells and take over their role of the light relay, as long as the nerve cells that the photoreceptors talk to were intact. (Inner retinal neurons can be destroyed by other visual disorders, such as glaucoma.) The first step was to develop a thin device that could convert light into electric currents and that surgeons could implant into the back of the eye. The 1/12-inch pixelated chip sends electrical signals through the retinal neural network to the brain, restoring perception in the center of the visual field. The team also developed glasses equipped with a video camera that transmits images to the chip. A near-infrared display on these glasses beams the intensified video stream to the chip in the back of the eye. "We are replacing lost photoreceptors in age-related macular degeneration with photovoltaic pixels," Palanker said. "And we activate them with invisible light projected from the augmented reality glasses." After extensive preclinical research, Palanker's collaborators in France recruited five patients, all over 60, who had advanced macular degeneration with no photoreceptors left in the central macula. The patients retained the inner retinal nerve cells that could receive signals from the implant. Surgeons detached the retina above the blind spot, slid the chip underneath and reattached the retina over it. The procedure lasted about two hours. A few months after the surgery, the team found that with the help of the implant, patients were able to sense light and see patterns projected from the camera onto their retinas, such as lines and letters. Palanker and his team published the results of that first study in February of 2020. A coherent picture But two questions remained for a follow-up study. The first: Would patients be able to integrate their prosthetic central visual perception with the remaining natural peripheral vision? The initial tests were conducted with the virtual reality glasses: They explored only whether patients could see the projected lines and letters, while the peripheral natural vision was blocked. The second: Would this prosthetic vision last? According to the new study, the answer to both of those questions is yes. In the initial study, one patient's chip was implanted incorrectly, and one patient later died of causes unrelated to the implant. In the follow-up, not only were the three remaining patients able to see images projected onto the implant, but they could simultaneously use their peripheral vision. The researchers showed the patients pictures of two linesone projected directly onto the implant with invisible near-infrared light, the other, displayed on a screen farther away. The latter forced them to use their natural peripheral vision. Each line was of a different color, and scientists asked patients what the orientations of each line was. The patients had "no trouble properly seeing both patterns at once," said Palanker, "indicating that the brain can perceive the prosthetic and natural retinal codes simultaneously." The results were "even better than we expected." Currently, the prosthetic visual acuity is limited to about 20/460, which allows the patients to see large letters. "This is an exciting proof of concept," Palanker said. "However, to make it a really useful device and applicable to many patients, we need to improve resolution." His team is working on an implant with much smaller pixels, which already matched the natural visual resolution in rats. He hopes that the new chip will provide better visual acuity for patients, potentially exceeding 20/100. Future studies will also test the implants in more natural settings, like the home, with more patients and for longer periods of time. Explore further Combining natural and artificial vision to treat a common form of blindness More information: D. Palanker et al, Simultaneous perception of prosthetic and natural vision in AMD patients, Nature Communications (2022). Journal information: Nature Communications D. Palanker et al, Simultaneous perception of prosthetic and natural vision in AMD patients,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28125-x School-aged children were shown masked and unmasked faces both upright and inverted. Credit: York University Children are having difficulty recognizing faces that are partially covered by masks. This could potentially impact social interactions with peers and educators, as well as the ability to form important relationships, according to a new study led by York University. Previous research found mask wearing hindered facial recognition in adults. This new study by researchers at York University and Ben-Gurion University in Israel, looked at 72 children, ages six to 14, to see if their experience was similar to that of adults. Faces were presented with or without masks, both upright and inverted. "Faces are among the most important visual stimuli. We use facial information to determine different attributes about a person, including their gender, age, mood and intentions. We use this information to navigate through social interactions," says York University Assistant Professor Erez Freud of Faculty of Health, the study's senior author. The research shows children's face-perception abilities are not only profoundly impaired when people are masked, but their level of impairment is greater than that experienced by adults. Children have about a 20 per cent impairment rate for recognizing masked faces compared to about a 15 per cent rate for adults. The study also revealed children process faces differently when the face they are looking at is masked, compared to one that's not. Their ability to holistically process faces, which is necessary for face perception, was disrupted and became more analytical. Typically, humans process the face as a whole rather than by its individual features. "Not only do masks hinder the ability of children to recognize faces, but they also disrupt the typical, holistic way that faces are processed," says Freud. The researchers used the kids' version of the Cambridge Face Memory Test the most validated measure of face perception abilities in humansto test the ability of school-aged children to recognize faces with and without masks, both upright and inverted. "If holistic processing is impaired and recognition is impaired, there is a possibility it could impair children's ability to navigate through social interactions with their peers and teachers, and this could lead to issues forming important relationships," says Freud. "Given the importance of faces to social interactions, this is something we need to pay attention to." With children back to school with mask mandates once again, future research should explore the social and psychological ramifications of wearing masks on children's educational performance, he says. The paper, published today in the journal Cognitive Research: Principles & Implications, was led by Freud and undergraduate psychology student Andreja Stajduhar, in collaboration with Professor Shayna Rosenbaumall from York University's Department of Psychology and the Centre for Vision Research. The paper was co-authored by Professors Tzvi Ganel and Galia Avidan in the Department of Psychology at Israel's Ben-Gurion University. The study was funded by the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada and VISTA (Vision Science to Applications). Explore further Do I know you? Researchers evaluate how masks disrupt facial perception Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain When the nearest psychiatrist's office is dozens or even hundreds of miles away, a virtual connection may be enough to help people living with serious mental health conditions get effective care through their local primary care clinic, a new study shows. The randomized study of just over 1,000 people with post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder or both conditions shows that most patients engaged with either of two types of telehealth. The study also gives insights into which patients might need additional support when getting such care. Half of the patients connected directly with a far-away psychiatrist and psychologist, while the other half mostly engaged with team members at the local primary care clinic who received guidance from distant psychiatrist. Either way, most patients responded well to medication and/or psychotherapy (sometimes called 'talk therapy') for their condition. One major difference emerged: Those patients who were assigned to get a form of psychotherapy from a specially trained nurse or social worker on staff at their local clinic ended up completing 60% more of these types of sessions than those who were assigned to connect with a psychologist via video. The ongoing in-person contact with their nurses or social workers checking on their other health needs may have been a contributing factor. The findings, published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, come from the Study to Promote Innovation in Rural Integrated Telepsychiatry, or SPIRIT trial, which involved patients from 24 safety-net clinics in Michigan, Washington and Arkansas. Jennifer Severe, M.D., of the Department of Psychiatry at Michigan Medicine, the University of Michigan's academic medical center, led this secondary analysis of the SPIRIT data along with fellow U-M psychiatrist Paul Pfeiffer, M.D., M.S., and John Fortney, Ph.D. of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington. The study was conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic. "The study started at a time where clinicians had reservations about treating psychiatrically complex patients with telehealth or integrated care models. Understandably, engagement in care was one of the many concerns," said Severe. "This study showed that patients with multiple psychiatric conditions and who also struggle with several chronic physical health problems can engage well in mental health treatment with their primary care doctors or remote mental health specialists." The two approaches used in the study were: Telepsychiatry Collaborative Care, in which a psychiatrist makes the initial diagnosis via video and the local clinic team provides brief psychotherapy while the local primary care physician handles medication prescriptions with consultation from the telepsychiatrist Telepsychiatry/Telepsychology Enhanced Referral, in which a psychiatrist makes the initial diagnosis and handles medication prescriptions, and a psychologist provides psychotherapy by telehealth Last summer, another study using data from the SPIRIT trial showed that patients in both groups reported substantially and statistically significant improvements in perceived access to care, decreases in their mental health symptoms and medication side effects, and improvements in their quality of life. There was no difference between the groups, and there were no differences in outcomes regarding age, gender, race or ethnicity. The new study dives deeper into how patients' own clinical characteristics affected their experience with telehealth, and how well they stuck with the treatment course. Two-thirds of the patients in the study had incomes or disabilities that made them eligible for Medicaid, and 50% were unemployed. The analysis shows that patients who have issues with drugs, as well as those experiencing manic symptoms from their bipolar disorder, may need additional support to get started on psychotherapy or to stay with it. It also shows that those who have multiple physical health conditions may be most likely to keep pace with their mental health medications and talk therapy programs, likely because they are already coming to the primary care clinic for other types of care. Severe, Pfeiffer and co-author Rebecca Sripada, Ph.D., also of the U-M Department of Psychiatry, are members of the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation. Explore further Telepsychiatry found to be a resounding success in 5-year trial More information: Jennifer Severe et al, Clinical Predictors of Engagement in Teleintegrated Care and Telereferral Care for Complex Psychiatric Disorders in Primary Care: a Randomized Trial, Journal of General Internal Medicine (2022). Journal information: Journal of General Internal Medicine Jennifer Severe et al, Clinical Predictors of Engagement in Teleintegrated Care and Telereferral Care for Complex Psychiatric Disorders in Primary Care: a Randomized Trial,(2022). DOI: 10.1007/s11606-021-07343-x Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Results published in CJASN that describe patients' and caregivers' experiences and attitudes while being involved in kidney diseaserelated studies may help strengthen efforts to involve patients in clinical research. It's becoming increasingly clear to scientists that efforts to improve health outcomes for patients should consider what's important to the patients themselves, along with their caregivers. "Without speaking directly to patients and their families and actively including them in our research, we are missing an enormous opportunity to optimize our resources and make our research more meaningful," says Talia Gutman, Ph.D., of the University of Sydney, in Australia. "However, to be able to do this we need to understand their motivations for becoming involved and how to address barriers and support." To address this, Dr. Gutman and her colleagues conducted interviews of 23 adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and caregivers who had previously been involved in research in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Denmark. "We wanted to speak to patients and caregivers with lived experience of kidney disease to find out what drives their involvement, the challenges they've faced, and what has worked well to support them," Dr. Gutman explains. The team found that participants faced challenges including the burden of living with kidney disease, the responsibility to seek out involvement opportunities, and obstructions of involvement by big agendas and power dynamics. Interview responses also highlighted opportunities to maximize patient and caregiver involvement through seeing the whole person rather than just a patient, being sensitive to the complexities associated with financial reimbursements, and recognizing the importance of the patient voice. The researchers used the results to develop a practical framework for investigators that may help them involve more patients and their families or caregivers in research. "These findings highlight the need to include usconsumersas early and as often as possible in the study design, bringing about benefits for the study, the researchers, and the consumers," noted co-author Nicole Scholes-Robertson, BAppSci, a patient involved in the study. "I have learnt so much as a consumer involved in many different types of research." Scholes-Robertson, who is a physiotherapist and a Ph.D. candidate at The University of Sydney, added that a statement regarding the degree of consumer involvement (or lack thereof) should be a compulsory part of research publication. Any accompanying Patient Voice article offers insights from Kevin Fowler, who received a kidney transplant in 2004 and is principal of The Voice of the Patient, Inc., a patient advocacy and patient-engagement consulting business. Explore further Study: Telehealth services for the elderly should include caregivers More information: The article: "Patient and Caregiver Experiences and Attitudes about Their Involvement in Research in Chronic Kidney Disease," February 7, 2022, The article: "Patient and Caregiver Experiences and Attitudes about Their Involvement in Research in Chronic Kidney Disease," February 7, 2022, DOI: 10.2215/CJN.05960521 The Patient Voice article: "Advancing Patient-Centered Research: Enabling the Patient Voice to Be Heard," February 7, 2022, DOI: 10.2215/CJN.16401221 You are here: China South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region has reported multiple local infections amid the latest COVID-19 resurgence. As of Sunday noon, 98 people tested positive for the virus during a city-wide massive nucleic acid testing campaign launched by the region's Baise City, said local health authorities Sunday. Over 207,000 residents in the city have been sampled, among which results of 87 people are yet to come out. As of 4 p.m. Sunday, Baise City had logged a total of 43 locally-transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases, mainly in its Debao County. Meanwhile, a traveler heading home for the Spring Festival holiday tested positive for the coronavirus on Sunday in Jiangnan District of Nanning, the region's capital city. The city has upgraded its epidemic prevention and control measures, including strengthening local travel restrictions and launching mass nucleic acid testing. Dr. Juan Jaumes promising research could revolutionize management of a disease affecting an estimated 1.6 million Americans. Credit: University of Toledo Promising research from The University of Toledo suggests it might be possible to cure Type I diabetes by reprogramming a patient's own immune cells to heal the pancreas and restore the body's ability to make insulin. The project, led by Dr. Juan Jaume, could revolutionize management of a disease affecting an estimated 1.6 million Americans. "This could change Type I diabetes from a lifelong condition requiring careful monitoring and daily insulin to one that's curable, possibly even with a single immune-cell infusion," said Jaume, an endocrinologist, professor of medicine and director of UToledo's Center for Diabetes and Endocrine Research. Jaume's approach centers on an innovative process known as CAR T cell immune therapy. Immune cells are collected from a patient's blood and then modified in the lab so they zero in on a specific target. After given time to multiply, they are then reintroduced to the patient via an infusion. CAR T cells are already being used with success in the treatment of some cancers, including leukemia and lymphoma. However, Jaume's regulatory CAR T cells are meant to stop a target-specific immune responsenot supercharge one. Unlike the much more common Type II diabetes, which typically develops later in life and is characterized by the body's inability to effectively use insulin, in Type I diabetes the pancreas is unable to produce insulin. "Type I diabetes is an autoimmune disease. The immune system is attacking the pancreas and preventing it from making insulin," Jaume said. "We are taking these regulatory immune cells and giving them a GPS address to the pancreas's insulin-producing islets, where they cool down the immune response and allow the insulin-producing target cells to repopulate. If we can direct a regulatory immune cell to exactly where we want and heal instead of kill, then we could have a cure for the disease." Last year, his lab completed a small-scale study that found their regulatory CAR T cell therapy was able to completely reverse the disease in mice that Jaume and his collaborators previously developed to mimic the full scope of human Type I diabetes. While still under review by an academic journal, Jaume's findings combined with a patent application for the therapy were enough to draw the attention of the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, a global philanthropic organization that invests heavily in early-stage Type I diabetes research. In December, Helmsley awarded Jaume a grant to replicate his earlier 30-day animal study as a six-month preclinical trial to not only show the effectiveness of the treatment but gather additional safety data. At the same time, Jaume's group will be studying the therapy's effect on human cell settings in the laboratory. Researchers hope the additional data can move the therapy closer to early-stage human trials. "This is going to take some time, of course, but I'm really confident that we are on the right track," Jaume said. "Within 20 days, our mice started making insulin again. We don't know what the response is going to be in humans, but that's the goalwe want to make this therapy available to humans." Explore further A new mouse model may unlock the secrets of type 1 diabetes Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Clinicians are calling for coping and social skills training and more extra-curricular activities in schools to help prevent increasing mental health problems in children, according to a new study. The research, led by the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) and published in PLOS ONE, found clinicians were also pushing for more effective ways to upskill educators in mental health prevention, identification and early intervention including peer support for school psychologists and mental health literacy education for teachers. The study involved 143 Victorian and South Australian clinicians who were interviewed about their views on how the education system could better support student's mental health and improve access to support services. The clinicians, involving psychiatrists, pediatricians, psychologists and GPs, believed the education system could play an important role in improving access to mental health services by harnessing existing staff or co-locating mental health clinicians. They also suggested schools could identify at risk children, use prevention and early intervention strategies, and implement coping and social skills programs. MCRI researcher Kate Paton said some clinicians felt that schools were well placed to identify students with mental health problems as systems existed within the education sector for monitoring such as access to attendance and academic records. "Schools as buildings act as a trusted physical space where mental health clinicians could offer services that are otherwise challenging to access," she said. Clinicians believed teachers can offer prevention by supporting children through school wide psychoeducation, sport and social skills and coping programs." Ms Paton said given clinician's voices were frequently missing from the debate, she hoped the findings would help to address the need for mental health support in schools. "Whilst educators have identified many challenges to providing this support, including perceived stigma, lack of resources and an overcrowded curriculum, understanding clinicians' views on the role of educators and schools and how they could work together to achieve good mental health outcomes are important questions," she said. "It's important to understand whether different perspectives may exist between educators and mental health clinicians which need to be bridged if these professionals are to work successfully together to achieve both good education and mental health outcomes." The research builds on MCRI's efforts to establish mental health support in schools. A pilot mental health program, developed by the MCRI in collaboration with the University of Melbourne and the Victorian Department of Education and Training was expanded to a total of 100 schools in 2022, after being trialed in Victorian primary schools. The program was piloted in 10 primary schools in 2020 with feasibility results encouraging, strong support from schools and indications that it could improve care pathways for children with emerging mental health issues. The initiative embeds a child mental health and wellbeing coordinator within schools to help identify and manage emerging mental health issues in students and provide connections between education, social and health services. MCRI Professor Harriet Hiscock said the prevalence of mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression, which were the major source of disease burden, had remained unchanged for the past 20 years. "With about 50 percent of mental health disorders beginning before the age of 14 years, prevention and early intervention are paramount if we want to reduce lifetime prevalence of mental health disorders and allow children to live their best possible lives," she said. Improving mental health for children and adolescents has therefore become an international priority." Professor Hiscock said mental health problems have such a large adverse effect on children's education progress that academic potential couldn't be achieved unless schools address student mental health. Researchers from the University of Melbourne, The Royal Children's Hospital, Institute for Social Neuroscience, University of Adelaide and the Women's and Children's Health Network in Adelaide also contributed to the study. Explore further Children with mental health problems at increased risk for mental disorders as adults More information: Kate Paton et al, How can the education sector support children's mental health? Views of Australian healthcare clinicians, PLOS ONE (2022). Journal information: PLoS ONE Kate Paton et al, How can the education sector support children's mental health? Views of Australian healthcare clinicians,(2022). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261827 Graphical abstract. Credit: DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c20491 A new type of lightweight 3D-printed back brace capable of sensing how effectively it fits patients could lead to improved treatment for scoliosis, its developers say. Scoliosis, a common form of spine deformity, affects around three percent of the population, most often between the ages of 10 and 15. It can be corrected in younger people by a back brace, which is worn until the child stops growing. While back brace treatment is effective, it can be uncomfortable and can require a time-consuming trial-and-error process to find the best fit for each patient. A team of engineers and medics from the UK and the United States have combined polypropylene, a lightweight recyclable plastic, with carbon nanotubes to create a cellular material capable of sensing the amount of strain (and stress) it experiences while in use. The researchers say this material could be used to create a 'smart' brace capable of detecting the pressures it applies on the human body, allowing better fine-tuning of the brace and making the process of treatment more comfortable. In a new paper published in the journal ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, the University of Glasgow-led team describe how the carbon nanotubes, placed throughout a material known as polypropylene random copolymer, gave it the ability to form an electrically-conductive network across its structure. They used 3D printing to create lattice-like structures made from the material and subjected them to static and cyclic loadings, while measuring how the change in electrical resistance of the smart composite under load. This measure of the material's changing piezoresistance is what could help to create a smart brace in the future by allowing medics to see which areas of the body are exerting the maximum pressure on the brace. Their tests showed that, even after 100 cycles of loading and unloading, the material retained its ability to sense the strain experienced by the material, suggesting it could be sufficiently smart to make it suitable for use in a brace. Dr. Shanmugam Kumar, of the University of Glasgow's James Watt School of Engineering, is the corresponding author of the paper. Colleagues from Texas A&M University, Massachusetts General Hospital and Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States of America also contributed to the research. Dr. Kumar said: "Scoliosis is a painful and debilitating disorder, and while the current generation of braces are better than they have ever been, there is still a lot of room for improvement. "The self-sensing material that we've developed has a great deal of potential to deliver that next generation of improvement. What we hope to see is a future where scoliosis patients can be individually assessed by a doctor and have a 3D-printed brace produced for them which is unique to their condition. "Then, after a few weeks of wearing it, they can return to their doctor and use the readout from the piezoresistive strain sensing brace to have it adjusted to make it even more effective, without the trial-and-error process that clinicians have to rely on at the moment. "That could help patients benefit from more accurate adjustments to the stiffness of the bracing in different directions, better data to inform the optimal timing and manner of brace adjustments. That would make them a potentially significant improvement over conventional rigid bracing made from passive materials via conventional manufacturing approaches. Cellular designs of smart composites make the braces lightweight besides offering tuneable mechanical and functional attributes." "We're keen to explore the real-world applications for this technology, and we're in the early stages of talks with doctors here in the UK and a medical devices company to look at the possibility of trialing these braces in a clinical environment." The team's paper, titled "Synthesis and characterization of carbon nanotube doped thermoplastic nanocomposites for the additive manufacturing of self-sensing piezoresistive materials," is published in ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. More information: Pawan Verma et al, Synthesis and Characterization of Carbon Nanotube-Doped Thermoplastic Nanocomposites for the Additive Manufacturing of Self-Sensing Piezoresistive Materials, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces (2022). Journal information: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces Pawan Verma et al, Synthesis and Characterization of Carbon Nanotube-Doped Thermoplastic Nanocomposites for the Additive Manufacturing of Self-Sensing Piezoresistive Materials,(2022). DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c20491 UC Davis staff collecting wastewater samples on campus. Since September 2020, UC Davis researchers have been monitoring wastewater on the UC Davis campus and in the city of Davis for COVID-19 through the Healthy Davis Together program. A new article published Feb. 8 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reviews their experiences and the advantages and limitations of wastewater testing as a public health tool in the COVID-19 pandemic. Credit: UC Davis Since September 2020, University of California, Davis, researchers have been monitoring wastewater on the UC Davis campus and in the city of Davis for COVID-19 through the Healthy Davis Together program. A new article published Feb. 8 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reviews their experiences and the advantages and limitations of wastewater testing as a public health tool in the COVID-19 pandemic. Assistant Professor Heather Bischel and doctoral student Hannah Safford, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Karen Shapiro, associate professor in the School of Veterinary Medicine, manage the city/campus wastewater monitoring program, which now includes collections weekly, triweekly or daily from over 50 sites distributed across the UC Davis campus and city of Davis sewer networks. Their results have supported the return of students to campus and helped officials understand the spread of COVID-19 in the community. "Continued deployment of wastewater-based epidemiology in ways that take into account the needs of decision makers, and pragmatically weigh costs and benefits, will no doubt do much to help end the pandemic," they wrote. Advantages and limitations Because infected people begin excreting virus days before developing symptoms, wastewater monitoring can provide an early warning of infection in the community. The approach is also more cost-effective than large-scale individual clinical testing when it comes to gathering data on disease levels in a region. But as Safford, Shapiro and Bischel explained, wastewater monitoring also has limitations. It is less effective as an early-warning system when community transmission is high. And while relatively inexpensive, wastewater monitoring is not cost-free. It requires specialized equipment such as autosamplers, as well as staff to collect, process and analyze samples. Investing in wastewater monitoring can also divert time and resources from other efforts. Finally, deciding how to act on wastewater data can be challenging, as the results do not show who may be infected: They can only point to a neighborhood or a building complex (such as a university dorm) of possible concern. In Davis, Healthy Davis Together has used wastewater data to strategically target email, text alerts and incentives encouraging Davis residents to get tested when local virus levels are on the rise. The PNAS piece includes a series of recommendations for using wastewater monitoring in COVID-19 response. These include avoiding redundancy with clinical testing, thoughtful design of sampling and data-analysis plans, defining action thresholds, monitoring fewer sites but more frequently, building on existing infrastructure and being prepared to adapt and communicate with other practitioners, epidemiologists and public health officials. Explore further CDC turns to wastewater data to track COVID's spread More information: Hannah R. Safford et al, Opinion: Wastewater analysis can be a powerful public health toolif it's done sensibly, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2022). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Hannah R. Safford et al, Opinion: Wastewater analysis can be a powerful public health toolif it's done sensibly,(2022). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2119600119 A motorcycle crash left Michel Roccati with complete lower-body paralysis from a devastating spinal cord injury. That was in 2017. But now, the Italian native is walking again, courtesy of groundbreaking Swiss research that restores motor function within one day by means of carefully targeted electrical stimulation. "At the beginning, I was unable to move the muscles of the legs, and I feel nothing," Roccati recalled recently. Now he can stand, walk and do stairs. In fact, "everything I have in mind to train I can do with the stimulation," Roccati said at a press briefing hosted by Nature Medicine, which recently published the findings. According to the World Health Organization, every year from 250,000 to a half-million people around the world suffer a seriously disabling spinal cord injury, most often the result of a fall, violence or, like Roccati, a traffic accident. Compared to people without this injury, they are two to five times more likely to die prematurely. Roccati is one of three patients enrolled in the Swiss effort, all men between 29 and 41 years old. Each had experienced a complete spinal cord injury at least a year prior to the study's launch. "This means that they could not move the legs, and they did not have any sensation over the legs," said study co-author Dr. Jocelyne Bloch, a neurosurgeon and chief of the functional neurosurgery unit at Lausanne University Hospital in Switzerland. Speaking at the briefing, Bloch noted that in 2020 the three men underwent surgery at NeuroRestore in Lausanne to implant a pacemaker in the abdomen and electrodes directly onto the spinal cord. Those electrodes are themselves an important innovation, explained study colleague and neuroscientist Gregoire Courtine. Constructed to be permanent, they are "precisely positioned to target all the regions of the spinal cord that are relevant to activate trunk and leg muscles," said Courtine, who is with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne. The electrodes were then paired with new software that facilitated a highly personalized mapping of each patient's spinal cord, Courtine said in the briefing. The software also provides a simple tablet-based interface that allows patients and physical therapists to easily set up semi-automated stimulation programs that enable a variety of movements. Patients can operate these programs themselves, via a tablet and small remote controls that can communicate wirelessly to the patient's pacemaker. For Roccati, all this meant that following a 10-day post-surgery recovery period, rehab beganand "I was able to walk after one day," he said. The remote controls are attached to his walker. "Thanks to this technology, all three patients, immediately after surgery, were able to stand up and walk," said Bloch during the briefing. Pedaling, swimming, and torso movement were also enabled. None reported any pain or side effects triggered by the stimulation. Still, Bloch noted that motor control "was not perfect at the very beginning." And Courtine emphasized that regaining movement post-surgery is a process, "not a miracle." with patients initially needing a lot of physical support. Also, "the recovery of sensation is very different from one patient to the other," he added. "But what it does, is enable an immediate ability to train," Courtine noted. And because the technology is small and portable, that training can take place out in the real world. Every day, with the stimulation turned on, "Michel is able to stand for two hours, and he walks almost 1 kilometer (.6 of a mile) straight, without stopping," in addition to climbing up and down stairs, said Courtine. "When the stimulation is turned off, he had some recovery, but to a very limited extent." Bloch said the technology would almost certainly work equally well among female paralysis patients. And while future research may expand what's possible, Bloch acknowledged one key limitation: "We need at least 6 centimeters of healthy spinal cord under the lesion. That's where we implant our electrodes." Claudia Angeli, director of the University of Louisville's Spinal Cord Injury Research Center in Kentucky, agreed the Swiss team's work is "encouraging," but said other approaches also show merit. "This group is using a very specific stimulation" signaling method, while alternative efforts attempt to enable motor control via direct stimulation of brain signals, she said. Such alternative approaches "have shown similar results," Angeli noted. "There has not been a direct comparison of the two methods, but both are showing promise for recovery following spinal cord injury." Meanwhile, the Swiss team has a trial in the works in the United States. The researchers noted that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a "breakthrough devices" designation to expedite the process whereby the technology could become commercially available. This designation would also ensure coverage through the Medicare Coverage of Innovative Technology program if larger clinical trials are successful, the researchers said. As for Roccati, after nine months of Lausanne-based rehab, he now lives independently in Italy. "I continued rehab at home, working alone, with all the devices," he said. "And I see improvements every day." Explore further Breakthrough neurotechnology for treating paralysis More information: Andreas Rowald et al, Activity-dependent spinal cord neuromodulation rapidly restores trunk and leg motor functions after complete paralysis, Nature Medicine (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41591-021-01663-5 Journal information: Nature Medicine Andreas Rowald et al, Activity-dependent spinal cord neuromodulation rapidly restores trunk and leg motor functions after complete paralysis,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41591-021-01663-5 Copyright 2021 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The treatment of serious prodromal cervical cancer, CIN3, can cause problems during later pregnancy amongst women of fertile age. A new registry study from Karolinska Institutet shows a higher risk of several adverse pregnancy outcomes after such treatment, but the risks have declined over time and the increased risk of infant death no longer exists. The study, which included a large number of births in Sweden over a 46-year period, is published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. There is a known correlation between the treatment of severe prodromal cervical cancer (CIN3, or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3, high-grade dysplasia) and higher risk pregnancies later in life, including preterm and very preterm birth, neonatal sepsis and early infant death. In Sweden, between 10,000 and 20,000 women are treated for cellular aberrations as a prophylactic for cervical cancer. Interventions against CIN3 have advanced over the years, and are much less invasive now than they were ten years ago. However, the degree of effect that these medical developments have had on the risk of perinatal complications has not been established. Scientists at Karolinska Institutet, Zhejiang University, China, and University of Gothenburg have now conducted a comprehensive registry study to compare the pregnancies of women who had been treated for CIN3 with those of women without such a medical history. The registry study included a total of 4.6 million births between 1973 and 2018. The researchers studied the birth outcomes of 78,450 women with diagnosed CIN3 and compared them with those of 784,500 women without CIN3. The two groups were comparable in terms of most variables, such as age, educational background and BMI. They also compared the outcomes for a group of women(23,199) with a CIN3 diagnosis and their sisters (28,135) without a diagnosis. The study sourced its data from the Medical Birth Registry (MFR) and the National Board of Health and Welfare's Cancer Register and Statistics Sweden's Multi-Generation Register, Education Register and Swedish population register. Their results show that the treatment of high-grade dysplasia entails a higher risk of preterm and very preterm delivery, intrauterine infection, neonatal sepsis and early infant death. According to the researchers, this suggests that pregnancies after treatment of CIN3 should be managed as high-risk pregnancies to reduce the risk of adverse outcomes. "The good news is that all these risks declined dramatically over time to disappear altogether for early infant death towards the end of the follow-up period," says the study's first author Wei He, affiliated researcher at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet. "A possible explanation for this is less invasive treatment methods for prodromal cervical cancer. This is important information for doctors and women in Sweden and the rest of the world." In countries with population-based screening programs and follow-up cellular assays, an estimated six cases of dysplasia are treated to prevent one case of cervical cancer. "To get the optimal balance between obstetric safety and risk of cancer, careful considerations should be made on a case-by-case basis," says the study's last author Kamila Czene, professor at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet. "This is one of the major challenges in the field, requiring proficiency not only in treatment but also in management and colposcopy to identify the right women to treat." One of the study's weaknesses is the lack of data on the actual treatment of CIN3. Explore further Cervical cancer, CIN3 in young women plummeted after HPV vaccination More information: Wei He et al, Pregnancy outcomes in women with a prior cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 diagnosis: a nationwide population-based cohort study with sibling comparison design, Annals of Internal Medicine (2022). Journal information: Annals of Internal Medicine Wei He et al, Pregnancy outcomes in women with a prior cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 diagnosis: a nationwide population-based cohort study with sibling comparison design,(2022). DOI: 10.7326/M21-2793 Vaccine effectiveness (any vaccine) against SARS-CoV-2 infection of any severity in 842 974 vaccinated individuals matched to an equal number of unvaccinated individuals for up to 9 months of follow-up The association is shown using proportional hazards models with 95% CIs (shaded areas) and restricted cubic splines. The model was adjusted for age, baseline date, sex, homemaker service, place of birth, education, and comorbidities at baseline. Credit: DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(22)00089-7 The vaccine-induced protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection wanes within a couple of months, but at different speed according to vaccine type. However, protection against severe COVID-19 appears to be better maintained. This is shown in a nationwide, registry-based study performed by researchers at Umea University that now is published in The Lancet. "The bad news is that the protection against infection seems to be diminished by seven months after the second dose of vaccine," says Peter Nordstrom, professor of geriatric medicine at Umea University. "The good news, however, is that the protection against a severe infection that leads to hospitalization or death seems to be better maintained. Vaccination is therefore very wise and important." The study, which received much attention once first posted as a 'preprint' in October, has now been peer-reviewed and the results as such confirmed. Following extensive revision and additional analyses, leading to results that more clearly show that the protection against severe COVID-19 seems better maintained than that against infection, the study has now been published in The Lancet. The study is a nationwide, observational study based on registry-data from the Public Health Agency of Sweden, the National Board of Health and Welfare, and Statistics Sweden. The main analysis included almost 1.7 million individuals, and the results were confirmed in an even larger population of almost 4 million individuals. The results showed that protection against infection of any severity waned progressively following the peak which occurred a month after the second dose. Six months after vaccination, the remaining protection against infection was 29 percent from two doses of Pfizer, and 59 percent from two doses of Moderna. There was no remaining protection from months and onwards for AstraZeneca. With respect to infections that were severe enough to warrant a hospital stay, or where the individual died within 30 days of confirmed infection, the protection was better maintained. Protection against severe disease was 89 percent after one month and 64 percent from four months an onwards during the rest of the maximum follow-up of nine months. There was some evidence to suggest a lower protection in the oldest individuals and in individuals with homemaker service. "The results underscore and support the decision to offer a third dose," says Marcel Ballin, doctoral student in geriatric medicine at Umea University and co-author of the study. In particular, the results show that it was correct to prioritize the oldest and frailest individuals." Prior to this study, a few observational studies and follow-up studies of the clinical trials have investigated waning vaccine protection in other countries. However, these have mostly covered the initial four to six months, and for the Pfizer vaccine. "What this study contributes with is the longer follow-up time and the fact that we were able to explore how well the protection is maintained according to different types of vaccines," says Anna Nordstrom, adjunct professor in public health at Umea University and co-author of the study. "The strengths are that we have been able to do this in a real-world setting based on a population-based sample of the total population of Sweden. This increases the possibility to generalize the results to other countries with similar population structure as in Sweden." More information: Peter Nordstrom et al, Risk of infection, hospitalisation, and death up to 9 months after a second dose of COVID-19 vaccine: a retrospective, total population cohort study in Sweden, The Lancet (2022). www.thelancet.com/journals/lan (22)00089-7/fulltext Journal information: The Lancet Peter Nordstrom et al, Risk of infection, hospitalisation, and death up to 9 months after a second dose of COVID-19 vaccine: a retrospective, total population cohort study in Sweden,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(22)00089-7 MONDAY, Feb. 7, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- The type of drill your dentist uses just might determine your chances of catching COVID-19 while in the chair. So claims new research that suggests dentists can significantly improve patient safety during the pandemic by switching the type of drill they use. British researchers used a harmless virus similar in size and structure to SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, to compare the aerosol spray patterns produced by conventional air-driven drills and newer electric drills. Reducing aerosol spray provides a safer environment for both patients and the dental team. Using a dummy head and simulated saliva, the researchers found that the electric drill produced 99.98% less aerosol spread of the virus into the air, compared with the air drill. When a dental suction tool was used with the electric drill, there was no detectable virus on surfaces or in air samples taken six to 10 minutes afterwards, the findings showed. The researchers also found that changing from air to electric drills can significantly reduce the time needed between appointments to make dental spaces safe, potentially enabling dentists to see many more patients during the pandemic. The study was published recently in the Journal of Dental Research. "The issue for dentists during the coronavirus pandemic is that their routine work involves creating an aerosol spray in a confined space with an associated risk of airborne spread of COVID-19," said lead clinical author Brian Nattress, a professor in the University of Leeds' School of Dentistry. "This is the first time the spread of a harmless COVID-19-like virus has been analyzed during routine drilling procedures," Nattress noted in a Leeds news release. "If the spread of that aerosol spray can be reduced or eradicated, that has enormous, positive implications for how dentists can go about their daily business, not just during the coronavirus pandemic, but also during future virus outbreaks," according to Nattress. Study co-author David Wood is director of research and innovation at Leeds' School of Dentistry. He said, "This robust scientific evidence addresses how the risks associated with the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus via dental drills can be successfully managed." More information The American Dental Association outlines what to expect when you visit your dentist during the COVID-19 pandemic. SOURCE: University of Leeds, news release, Jan. 31, 2022 You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. MONDAY, Feb. 7, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Got dry, itchy eyes? Working out might help, a new study suggests. "Instead of having to use eye drops or other alternative treatments, our study aimed to determine if remaining physically active can be an effective preventative measure against dryness," said study co-author Heinz Otchere. He is a doctoral candidate in vision science at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada. The small study divided 52 participants into two groups athletes and non-athletes. The athletes exercised on a treadmill at least five times a week, while non-athletes did so no more than once a week. The researchers assessed the moisture level of participants' eyes before and five minutes after each workout. While the athletes had the greatest increases in tear quality and tear film stability after their workouts, the non-athletes also saw a significant increase, the findings showed. The report was published in the January issue of the journal Experimental Eye Research. With so much of people's time spent looking at screens, dry eye symptoms are on the rise, Otchere said in a university news release. "It can be challenging for people to regularly exercise when the demand is there to work increasingly longer hours in front of screens," he said. "However, our findings show physical activity can be really important for not just our overall well-being, but for our ocular health, too." Every time you blink, your eyes get covered in tear film, a protective coating that's crucial for maintaining healthy eye function. Healthy tear film is made of three layers oil, water and proteins called mucin that work together to hydrate the eye surface and protect against irritants like dust or dirt. When any part of the tear film becomes unstable, the eye surface can develop dry spots, causing symptoms like itchiness or stinging and burning sensations. More information For more on dry eye, go to the U.S. National Eye Institute. SOURCE: University of Waterloo, news release, Feb. 3, 2022 You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. MONDAY, Feb. 7, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- It's a fate many older women fear: loneliness and isolation as they age. Now, new research suggests those feelings may also predispose them to heart disease. The findings may be especially relevant now because of social distancing required by the pandemic. "We are social beings. In this time of COVID-19, many people are experiencing social isolation and loneliness, which may spiral into chronic states," said study first author Natalie Golaszewski, a postdoctoral scholar in the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at the University of California, San Diego. "It is important to further understand the acute and long-term effects these experiences have on cardiovascular health and overall well-being," she added in a university news release. The study included nearly 58,000 postmenopausal women in the United States who responded to an initial questionnaire assessing social isolation in 2011-2012, followed by another questionnaire in 2014-2015 that assessed loneliness and social support. The women were followed through 2019 or until they were diagnosed with heart disease. During that follow-up, nearly 1,600 were diagnosed with heart disease. Social isolation and loneliness independently increased heart disease risk by 8% and 5% respectively. Women with high levels of both had a 13%-27% higher risk than those with low levels of social isolation and low levels of loneliness. The researchers pointed out that socially isolated people are not always lonely, and that lonely people are not necessarily socially isolated. "Social isolation is about physically being away from people, like not touching or seeing or talking to other people. Loneliness is a feeling, one that can be experienced even by people who are regularly in contact with others," explained senior author John Bellettiere, assistant professor of epidemiology at the Wertheim School of Public Health. "We do not yet know whether the increased risk of cardiovascular disease is due to acute exposure to social isolation and loneliness, or whether prolonged exposure accumulated over a lifetime is the culprit. Further studies are needed to better understand that," Bellettiere said in the release. One-fourth of adults 65 and older report social isolation, while one-third of adults 45 or older report being lonely. Previous research shows that social isolation is more common among women than men. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for U.S. women, accounting for 1 in every 5 deaths, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Measures of social isolation and loneliness -- even with brief questions as was done in our study -- should be incorporated into standard care," Golaszewski said. "We monitor our patients' blood pressure, weight and temperature, and it might also be beneficial to capture the social needs that individuals may be lacking to better understand cardiovascular risk and develop solutions," she added. The study was published online Feb. 2 in the journal JAMA Network Open. More information The U.S. Office on Women's Health has more on heart disease. SOURCE: University of California, San Diego, news release, Feb. 3, 2022 You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. MONDAY, Feb. 7, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- A motorcycle crash left Michel Roccati with complete lower-body paralysis from a devastating spinal cord injury. That was in 2017. But now, the Italian native is walking again, courtesy of groundbreaking Swiss research that restores motor function within one day by means of carefully targeted electrical stimulation. "At the beginning, I was unable to move the muscles of the legs, and I feel nothing," Roccati recalled recently. Now he can stand, walk and do stairs. In fact, "everything I have in mind to train I can do with the stimulation," Roccati said at a press briefing hosted by Nature Medicine, which recently published the findings. According to the World Health Organization, every year from 250,000 to a half-million people around the world suffer a seriously disabling spinal cord injury, most often the result of a fall, violence or, like Roccati, a traffic accident. Compared to people without this injury, they are two to five times more likely to die prematurely. Roccati is one of three patients enrolled in the Swiss effort, all men between 29 and 41 years old. Each had experienced a complete spinal cord injury at least a year prior to the study's launch. "This means that they could not move the legs, and they did not have any sensation over the legs," said study co-author Dr. Jocelyne Bloch, a neurosurgeon and chief of the functional neurosurgery unit at Lausanne University Hospital in Switzerland. Speaking at the briefing, Bloch noted that in 2020 the three men underwent surgery at NeuroRestore in Lausanne to implant a pacemaker in the abdomen and electrodes directly onto the spinal cord. Those electrodes are themselves an important innovation, explained study colleague and neuroscientist Gregoire Courtine. Constructed to be permanent, they are "precisely positioned to target all the regions of the spinal cord that are relevant to activate trunk and leg muscles," said Courtine, who is with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne. The electrodes were then paired with new software that facilitated a highly personalized mapping of each patient's spinal cord, Courtine said in the briefing. The software also provides a simple tablet-based interface that allows patients and physical therapists to easily set up semi-automated stimulation programs that enable a variety of movements. Patients can operate these programs themselves, via a tablet and small remote controls that can communicate wirelessly to the patient's pacemaker. For Roccati, all this meant that following a 10-day post-surgery recovery period, rehab began -- and "I was able to walk after one day," he said. The remote controls are attached to his walker. "Thanks to this technology, all three patients, immediately after surgery, were able to stand up and walk," said Bloch during the briefing. Pedaling, swimming, and torso movement were also enabled. None reported any pain or side effects triggered by the stimulation. Still, Bloch noted that motor control "was not perfect at the very beginning." And Courtine emphasized that regaining movement post-surgery is a process, "not a miracle." with patients initially needing a lot of physical support. Also, "the recovery of sensation is very different from one patient to the other," he added. "But what it does, is enable an immediate ability to train," Courtine noted. And because the technology is small and portable, that training can take place out in the real world. Every day, with the stimulation turned on, "Michel is able to stand for two hours, and he walks almost 1 kilometer (.6 of a mile) straight, without stopping," in addition to climbing up and down stairs, said Courtine. "When the stimulation is turned off, he had some recovery, but to a very limited extent." Bloch said the technology would almost certainly work equally well among female paralysis patients. And while future research may expand what's possible, Bloch acknowledged one key limitation: "We need at least 6 centimeters of healthy spinal cord under the lesion. That's where we implant our electrodes." Claudia Angeli, director of the University of Louisville's Spinal Cord Injury Research Center in Kentucky, agreed the Swiss team's work is "encouraging," but said other approaches also show merit. "This group is using a very specific stimulation" signaling method, while alternative efforts attempt to enable motor control via direct stimulation of brain signals, she said. Such alternative approaches "have shown similar results," Angeli noted. "There has not been a direct comparison of the two methods, but both are showing promise for recovery following spinal cord injury." Meanwhile, the Swiss team has a trial in the works in the United States. The researchers noted that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a "breakthrough devices" designation to expedite the process whereby the technology could become commercially available. This designation would also ensure coverage through the Medicare Coverage of Innovative Technology program if larger clinical trials are successful, the researchers said. As for Roccati, after nine months of Lausanne-based rehab, he now lives independently in Italy. "I continued rehab at home, working alone, with all the devices," he said. "And I see improvements every day." More information There's more on spinal cord injuries and paralysis at Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. SOURCES: Claudia Angeli, PhD, assistant professor, School of Engineering, University of Louisville, and director, Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center; press briefing, Feb. 2, 2022, and Nature Medicine, Feb. 2, 2022 You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. MONDAY, Feb. 7, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Omicron COVID-19 patients are younger and have more breakthrough infections, a new study finds. But people infected with Omicron are also less likely to be hospitalized or need intensive respiratory support than those who'd gotten the earlier Alpha and Delta variants. The researchers examined data on patients at Houston Methodist hospital, where by the start of 2022, Omicron was responsible for 98% of all new COVID-19 cases. By Jan. 5, Omicron had infected 4,468 of the hospital's patients, according to the study. It took only three weeks from the time Houston Methodist identified its first patient with Omicron for the variant to account for the majority of new COVID-19 cases. It took about three months for the Delta variant to reach that milestone, the study authors noted in a hospital news release. Viruses constantly change, resulting in variants that can be more or less severe. The study found that the average age of Omicron patients was 44.3 years, compared with 48.3 for Delta patients and 50 for those with the first highly publicized COVID variant, dubbed Alpha. The length of hospital stay was 3.2 days for Omicron patients, 5.4 days for Delta patients, and 5.1 days for Alpha patients. And 55% of breakthrough infections in vaccinated patients were caused by Omicron, compared with just over 5% for Alpha and 0.9% for Delta, the findings showed. As of mid-January, the hospital had identified three patients with the so-called stealth Omicron (BA.2) variant. These were the first three cases discovered in Texas. The study, published online Feb. 3 in The American Journal of Pathology, is the first peer-reviewed study of U.S. Omicron patients and their outcomes, according to corresponding author Dr. James Musser and colleagues. Musser is head of pathology and genomic medicine at Houston Methodist. The hospital has sequenced nearly 80,000 SARS-CoV-2 genomes since the beginning of the pandemic one of the largest, most comprehensive COVID sequencing studies in the United States. More information There's more on the Omicron variant at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. SOURCE: Houston Methodist, news release, Feb. 3, 2022 You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. About 20 people showed up Sunday to a rally on Reserve Street in Missoula to protest vaccine mandates in Canada and the U.S. The event featured a speech by state Sen. Theresa Manzella, a Republican from Hamilton. The rally was sponsored by local groups Face of Freedom and Western Montana Liberty Coalition. The groups, waving anti-vaccine signs, got lots of honks in support from the busy Sunday traffic. "I believe in freedom and personal choice and informed consent," Manzella said. "If people want to get a vaccination and if they're fully informed about the risk, then that's certainly their decision to make." Mandatory vaccinations are a no-go in the United States of America, she added. Manzella said after she moved to Montana from Michigan in 1991, she was "attacked by the left" for starting a horse rescue operation. "I realized the animal rights movement is just another arm of the left," she said. "They seem to give animals greater rights than people." It was then that she decided she would uphold the U.S. Constitution if she ran for public office, she said which she did. "You will hear me say regularly, the Bible and the Constitution are the solutions that we need in this country," she said. She went on to say that she believes in limiting the powers of the federal government, including the power to enforce vaccine mandates. Roger Mitchell of Stevensville, spokesman for Face of Freedom, said he organized the event to "stand in solidarity and collaboration with the truckers' convoy in Canada to protest the totalitarian mandates laid down by Canadas government." "Human freedoms and individual liberties have been decimated over the last two years due to the opportunistic power grabs by overzealous governments worldwide in response to the COVID-19 virus," Mitchell said. "We are standing with the truckers to restore their freedoms and our own." Manzella has been "labeled the Donald Trump of Ravalli County due to her outspoken conservative viewpoints, Mitchell said. The Freedom Convoy is a group of truckers and other protesters calling for an end to vaccine mandates in Canada. They succeeded in briefly clogging the Coutts-Sweetgrass port of entry between the U.S. and Canada last week, but that has since been reopened. U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, also weighed in on the matter on Twitter. "Trudeau brushing off the truckers standing up for freedom by calling them a 'fringe minority' that only reflects 'conspiracy theorists' & 'tinfoil hats' is shameful," Daines wrote, referring to Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau. "Montanans and our neighbors to the north are sick & tired of overreaching mandates!" Daines also criticized a decision by GoFundMe to take down the Freedom Convoy's fundraising page. He has encouraged Montanans to get vaccinated, saying he is "pro-vaccine but anti-mandate." There is currently no vaccine mandate in Montana. A law passed by the state Legislature in 2021, HB 702, makes it illegal for an employer to discriminate based on vaccination status. A recent opinion poll by Abacus Data found 68% of Canadians felt they had "very little in common" with the protesters, while 32% said they "had a lot in common" with the truckers, according to BBC News. The Missoula City-County Health Department recently released some statistics on the differences between unvaccinated residents and vaccinated residents. For Missoula County residents who tested positive for COVID-19 during a 90-day period starting on Oct. 16 last year, unvaccinated people died from COVID-19 at a rate 15.45 times higher than their vaccinated peers. Nationally, the omicron variant appears to be slowing down, but deaths are still on the rise. The virus is killing roughly 2,600 Americans per day, on average," said Kye Davenport, a deputy public information officer for Missoula County's COVID-19 response team. "Those deaths were almost entirely preventable. The overwhelming majority of people dying from COVID were unvaccinated." You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 7 Funny 6 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 26 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Pompeys Pillar is falling down. The historic sandstone landmark where William Clark carved his initials on July 25, 1806, is cracked and deteriorating. The main gist of it is, there are these big heavy sandstone blocks supported by crumbling shale, said Dave Lefevre, Billings Field Manager for the Bureau of Land Management. Through Feb. 22, the BLM is taking comments on its proposal to keep Pompeys Pillar intact. The plan is outlined in a 77 page draft environmental assessment. The work would include filling cracks, bolting large rocks in place, creating a buttress to hold up an overhanging rock threatening to topple, spraying a silicone preservative to protect the rock and removing vegetation and loose stones. Work could start as soon as this summer. Without the work to stabilize the feature, public access would have to end, Lefevre said. History Clark stopped at the site along the Yellowstone River, 30 miles east of Billings, after exploring a route to the Pacific Ocean with the Corps of Discovery. Also led by Meriwether Lewis, the Corps trip extended from May 1804 when it left St. Louis, Missouri, to 1806. On the way back, the group split. Lewis followed the Blackfoot River upstream and then down to the Missouri. Clark and his squad explored the Yellowstone River to its confluence with the Missouri. Clarks signature is the only visual sign of the legendary journey left on the landscape, except for archaeological discoveries at campsites. It was Clark who named the site Pompeys Tower. Pomp was the nickname of Sacajaweas son. She was the Corps Native American guide. The editor of Clarks journals later changed the name of the feature to Pompeys Pillar. As far as were concerned, its a very significant site, said Paul Eppinger, executive director of the Friends of Pompeys Pillar. Its the only spot you can go to see visual evidence of the expedition. Long before Clark left his mark, the block of stone was known as a navigational aid and ceremonial location for Native Americans. Indigenous people also left signs of their visits in the area with paintings and etchings that have been dated to the 1700s. Earlier ones may have vanished from the highly erosive stone. One inventory of the pillar counted 2,000 separate names, dates and initials on 147 separate panels from the 11 sections of the butte, according to the environmental assessment. Recognizing the significance of the site, in 1965 the pillar was granted National Historic Landmark status. Since the 1990s it has been managed by the Bureau of Land Management. In 2006, the agency opened an interpretive center on the six-acre site that helps explain the Corps of Discoverys trip. About 30,000 visitors annually make a pilgrimage there. Stone Although made of stone, Pompeys Pillar is not immune to the threats of water, cold and time. The geologic makeup of the Pillar (sandstone, shale, and siltstone) lends itself to degradation through wind, moisture, and temperature changes, the EA noted. Investigation into the stability of the Pillar led to its temporary closure in March of 2020 due to concerns for public safety. The BLM hired a geotechnical engineering firm to examine the site before reopening the stairways that wrap around and climb up the feature. However, the agency kept the lower viewing deck closed out of precaution against falling rock. In July 2020, the engineering firm also installed a Rock Block Monitoring System to detect and automatically report any movement at different locations to more thoroughly monitor geohazards. Two areas of specific concern are the Signature Block and Turtle Rock areas. Installation of the monitoring system gave the BLM enough confidence to reopen the sandstone block to visitors. Preserve Its been a pretty complex project and has been heavily evaluated, said John Reffit, monument manager for the BLM. The whole point, he added, is to preserve the historic integrity of the signatures, pictographs and petroglyphs on the mound while ensuring visitors are safe. Lefevre couldnt say what the cost of the work might be until it goes out for bid, but indicated it would be one of the more significant contracts the agency has issued for maintenance. Part of the funding would come from the Great American Outdoors Act, he said. The idea is that its a lifetime fix, not a temporary solution, Lefevre said. A somewhat similar project is being considered to preserve portions of Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado where a slab of sandstone is threatening to fall off above one of the parks historic cliff dwellings used by Pueblo Indians. Pictograph Caves outside Billings has been repaired to preserve the rock at the historic site containing ancient Native American rock art. Kevin Kooistra, executive director of the Western Heritage Center museum in Billings, noted that Clark's signature at Pompeys has been recarved twice because it was eroding. "In the museum, our job is only to slow down the inevitable decomposition of artifacts like photographs," he said. Even with climate controlled storage and special handling they often fade with time, although their life can be significantly extended, he added. "You record and document it well, but let it go," Kooistra said. To comment on the plan log on to BLM's eplanning website and click on the participate now button for Pompeys Pillar. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Every week Jan Boogman bakes thousands of the cookies with the gooey caramel center that the customers at his Caramel Cookie Waffles cafe are eager for. During busy lunch hours, its not uncommon for customers to be lined up to the door of the small neighborhood cafe in the 1700 block of 17th Street West in Billings. Boogman and his wife Judy arrive before dawn six days a week cooking and serving customers, many of whom have become friends over the decades. The days are long and filled with physical labor for the couple, who are not really talking about retirement even though they are at the age for it. Jan just turned 70 and Judy turns 66 later this year. The question of retirement is posed in a new documentary film about Jan and Judy, The Cookie Man, which will screen at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival Feb. 19 and 26 in Missoula. The 30-minute documentary is up for the Big Sky Award, which recognizes films that honor the American West. They hope to screen The Cookie Man in Billings later this year. The couples youngest daughter, Alette Boogman, who works as a music producer in the Netherlands, co-directs the film with Thomas Schenk, of the Netherlands. I think this is Alettes way of getting us to retire, Judy said. Jan shrugs off the limelight and jokes, We didnt know she likes us this much to make a movie. Alette explained that she wanted to make the film to tell her fathers unique story as a professional runner from Holland who ended up being a cookie baker in Montana. The film is such a beautiful mirror of Jan looking at his own life, but its also a mirror into my own," she said. "And, I hope thats how viewers relate to it too. Being in my 30s, I struggle with a lot of these same things in my own life choices, purpose and identity." Alette had to stop the interview with her father when he was reciting lines from Robert Frosts poem, "The Road Not Taken, she said, because they were both overcome with emotion. It felt like a challenge at the time, but ultimately you get to hear that moment on film, and its just raw, honest and beautiful, Alette said. After graduating from the University of Montana, Alette moved to her fathers homeland of the Netherlands. The Boogmans oldest daughter, Saskia, lives in Billings. A trailer for the new film shows Jan running for the University of Texas in the late 1970s, a lean and bearded young man. Jans beard is gone now, but he still has a lanky frame and runs or bikes to stay in shape, sometimes in his signature orange jacket with the name of his hometown of Utrecht on the back. The Boogmans met in 1981 in Holland when Judy, who ran track for the University of Montana, was visiting the Netherlands with a group of athletes. Judy grew up on a ranch in Roundup and fell in love with the Netherlands which she described as being like a fairyland, and the delicious stroopwafels, or caramel cookies, that she discovered at a farmers market. When Jan found out what a good cook Judy is and that she enjoyed art and culture as much as he did, Jan invited her home to meet his family. He told his mother he wanted to marry me, and we hadnt even gone on a date yet, Judy said. The couple got married on Judys family ranch in Roundup in 1983 with Jans parents coming over for the ceremony. Since they both had teaching credentials, the Boogmans had the idea they would spend the school-year teaching in the U.S., and then live in Holland during the summer months. But teaching jobs were hard to come by in the 1980s. They shared one teaching post for Two Eagle School on the Flathead Indian Reservation and Judy taught at Belfry, but they ended up abandoning the teaching plan and making cookies instead. In the early days, they would set up a food truck at community events, including MontanaFair and sell their cookies. They opened the cafe in 1987. We were lucky we had a lot of community support, Jan said. We are very grateful for the people who come here. The customers helped the cafe grow, he said People would say, Why dont you do this? And we would. We werent pushed by the spreadsheet. We have a good product with value and good customer service. We dont gouge people. Judy adds, We put our two girls through college. The Boogmans shipped their waffle cookie oven over from Holland, removing the large glass panel from the front of the cafe to get it inside. On cookie days, when Jan supervises the baking and layering of caramel, they will bake as many as 5,000 cookies, most of which are sold in the cafe. They are also available at select coffee shops around Montana and at Ace Hardware stores. Jans brother Han was a partner in the cafe until 2014 when he moved to Lewistown, and eventually retired. The workload became heavier with Hans departure, but the Boogmans pressed on, and recently hired a new chef to help out, along with their staff of 10 to 12 employees. The Dutch Brothers Bakery is still part of the name, but like Jan says, Its only one brother now. In the film, Jan quotes his father saying, Nobody ever died from working too hard. I guess Im sort of testing that hypothesis. But later in the film, he laments, The waves keep coming and coming and I dont want to surf anymore. Whether or not the Boogmans look at retirement soon, they hope to keep feeding Billings their signature caramel cookies. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 " " Many more people are working from home these days; how does that affect their taxes? Alistair Berg/Getty Images If your morning commute takes you from kitchen to couch, consider it a win. Maybe it took years to convince your employer that you'd make an ideal telecommuter. Now you are enjoying the fruits of your labor, a perfect blend of working at home and traveling to consult with clients in other states. Plus, you get to skip roadway hassles and dive straight into your workday. Or maybe you never planned to work from home, but the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the main office and turned everyone into remote workers. You might have moved back to your parents' house temporarily during the pandemic or rented an Airbnb with some buddies in Montana to wait out the crisis. Advertisement Then, tax time arrives. Suddenly, you're faced with paying taxes in your state of residence and the states in which you work. Or are you? The internet is full of questionable tax advice for people working in one state and living in another, including a few dubious suggestions that you're pretty sure could land you in hot water. To make matters more complicated, the rules and regulations covering personal income tax vary from state to state. If you commute across state lines to get the job done, it can have specific and surprising consequences on your personal income taxes. These 10 tax tips can help you navigate the way. 10: Understand Residency, Nonresidency and Your State Taxes If you're living and working in two different states, you'll need a firm understanding of key tax-related definitions. The distinctions between residency and nonresidency and, more importantly, how they affect your taxes vary from state to state. You'll want to investigate the tax rules and regulations that apply to each of the states in which you lived and worked during the tax year. It may seem obvious, but it's worth mentioning that the state in which you reside is considered your state of residency. In general, you'll pay state taxes on all the personal income you earn in your home state (unless you live in a state without personal income taxation). If you work in a state but don't live there, you are considered a nonresident of that state. So, who gets to tax you? It's a little complicated. It used to be that both states might try to take a bite of the apple, but in 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court outlawed such double taxation, and barred two states from taxing the same earnings. That means that if you live in Maryland but actually earn your money and pay taxes on it in Pennsylvania, Maryland can't tax you for that same income. Instead, the state has to issue a tax credit for the amount that you've paid to Pennsylvania [source: Wolf]. Essentially, the state where you actually work gets precedence, unless the two jurisdictions have an agreement to allow you to pay taxes where you live [source: Turque]. 9: See If Reciprocity Applies Sixteen states and the District of Columbia have reciprocity agreements with neighboring states, which means that if you work in D.C. but live in Virginia, you don't have to pay taxes in D.C. or even file a return. All you've got to do is document your residency to your employer, so that they will withhold taxes for your home state, but not for the two states [source: Moreno]. In addition to the District, the states with reciprocity agreements with neighboring states are New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana and Arizona [source: Moreno]. In the remainder of the country, you may have to spend some time and money filing a nonresident state tax return in both places, but you can take a tax credit for whatever amount of tax you may owe in the state where you work [source: Moreno]. Some states have an earned-dollar threshold that must be met; others have a time threshold. In Massachusetts, for example, nonresidents are required to file state taxes if the income they earn in the state exceeds $8,000 or reaches a certain portion of their overall income. In Kansas, nonresidents are subject to tax withholding from the first day they travel to the state for work [source: Massachusetts Department of Revenue]. 8: Check to See If You're Covered by the "First Day" Rule A blast of chilled air finds its way into the jet bridge, offering a greeting as bracing as it is refreshing. You deplane and check emails on your smartphone while walking through the Denver International Airport. It may not look like you're clocked in, but you are mentally preparing for a business meeting. And even though you don't live in Colorado, today you'll be part of its workforce if only for about 24 hours. You may not realize it right now, but you'll soon join Coloradans in paying income tax, too. That's because Colorado, like two dozen other states in America, operates under a "first day" rule. This means nonresident workers will owe Colorado state taxes even if their work there is temporary. Once you set foot on "first day" soil for work, you'll pay the price come April 15. In addition to Colorado, there are "first day" personal income tax regulations in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont. Illinois used to be on that list, but switched to a 30-day minimum for tax years starting after Dec. 31, 2020. So did West Virginia, starting Jan. 1, 2022. If you travel for work, it's a good idea to brush up on state tax code or consult a knowledgeable tax professional [sources: Mobile Workforce Coalition, Povich]. 7: Understand the State Waiting Period There are great variations among states when it comes to requiring nonresidents to pay taxes. In addition to the "first day" rule, some states have a waiting period. This waiting period allows nonresidents to earn income in the state for a specific period of time before subjecting that income to taxation. For example, in some states, you can be a nonresident who works in-state for two to 60 days (it varies by state) before becoming liable for nonresident income tax. Alternatively, a handful of states California, Idaho, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Wisconsin have earned income thresholds instead of waiting periods. Georgia has a combination, in which you must have taxes withheld if you've worked for more than 23 days or else made $5,000 or 5 percent or more of your total income in Georgia [sources: Mobile Workforce Coalition, Povich]. Arizona and Hawaii don't tax income from out-of-state sources if you're a nonresident [sources: Arizona Dept. of Revenue, Hawaii Dept. of Taxation]. There are other states in which personal income tax is not withheld for residents or nonresidents. Despite this lack of income tax, you may still need to file a tax return in those states if you live or temporarily work there. 6: Working in a Tax-free State Is Still Taxing There are nine U.S. states that do not withhold income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming (New Hampshire still taxes investment income and interest, but that will start to phase out in 2023) [source: Probasco]. Still that doesn't mean you won't pay taxes on the income you earn while working in these nine states. If you work in one or more of these income tax-free states, but live in a state that does withhold income tax, you'll still need to pay taxes on the money you earned in the tax-free state. You'll claim these earnings on the tax return you file in your resident state. For example, Lois lives in New Mexico but earned an income of $25,000 while working in Texas. Lois won't owe any state income taxes in Texas, because Texas is one of the nine states in the U.S. that doesn't require its workers to pay personal income tax. However, because Lois lives in New Mexico and New Mexico is a state that withholds personal income tax, she will need to report her Texas income on the taxes she files in New Mexico [source: Moreno]. 5: State Income Tax Isn't the Same as Federal When it comes to paying personal income tax, it's rarely as simple as "one and done." Especially for people who live in one state and work in another. Don't fall into the trap of thinking that if you file federal taxes, you've covered all the bases. State income taxes follow entirely different rules and regulations. What's more, these rules and regulations vary by state. People who live in one state and work in another could find themselves filing tax returns in multiple states. In fact, there are accounts of road warriors who work in as many as 20 or 30 states, each with different rules for reporting income for taxes [sources: Moreno, Povich]. This presents a significant record-keeping problem not only for workers, but also for the companies that employ them. As a result, some multistate companies, as well as tax professionals, are turning to software developers for programs that can track interstate taxation among employees. However, the complexities and ever-changing nature of the tax code make it a monumental task. For example, some regulations tax nonresident workers who enter the state for one day, which poses issues for workers who might do business on a smartphone during a lengthy layover or attend a conference at which work is discussed [source: Povich]. 5: Know Where You Don't Have to Pay Taxes " " If that executive jet takes you to work in a different state from where you live, check as to whether you need to file taxes in both states. Bob Thomas/Getty Images The location of your employer's corporate headquarters doesn't have any effect on where you pay taxes if you work at a branch office in another state. For example, you might live in Connecticut and work for a California-based company, but if your office is in Connecticut, that's the state that gets to withhold your taxes and require you to file a return, because you actually perform your job duties in Connecticut instead of California. The only complication to this is if your company inadvertently withholds taxes in its home state. In that case, here's some bad news you may have to file a tax return there in order to get a refund [source: Moreno]. A different sort of complication arises if you work in the U.S. capital. The District of Columbia allows residents of any U.S. state an exemption from D.C. income taxes, although they still must file in their home states. Other multistate regions aren't quite as accommodating. In fact, some would even argue that some states are overtaxing workers. Keep reading to find out more. 4: Be Wary of the New York-Connecticut Trap As we previously explained, there are many states with reciprocity agreements that save taxpayers from having to file tax returns in two places. Unfortunately, though, not all neighboring states have such agreements. If you live in Connecticut, for example, but work in New York, you'll have to file both a nonresident tax return in New York and a resident tax return in Connecticut. You'll be allowed to claim a tax credit for income tax paid in New York on work you do there by filing a Form CT 1040, Schedule 2, and attaching your New York return, according to the state of Connecticut's official online portal [source: Ct.gov]. Another problem is that the credit amounts to the lesser of the tax paid to New York or the tax that Connecticut would impose on the wages, meaning that if you earned a lot of money in New York, you still owe taxes in Connecticut even with the credit. If the amount owed is $1,000 or more, you'll also be required to file quarterly estimated tax payments to Connecticut, due April 15, June 15, September 15 and January 15. See, we warned you this was going to get complicated [source: Ct.gov]. 3: File in the Right Order Most people filing a state tax return only need to do so in a single state. For those who live in one state and work in another, the process is a bit more complicated. There's a specific order in which you'll need to file multiple state tax returns. First, you'll file in the nonresident state or states in which you've earned income. For example, if you were not a resident of Missouri, but worked there for three months as a contractor, you'll need to submit your tax return to Missouri before submitting one to your home state. Keep in mind, you'll only need to do a tax return in your home state if it levies income tax against its residents. The reason for filing in the nonresident state first is to determine the amount of credit or deduction you can claim for taxes already paid in other states before completing the tax return from your resident or "home" state. Even if you don't owe taxes in your home state perhaps your only income for the tax year was earned in another state you may still need to file a state tax return to get a refund [source: Caplinger]. 2: Be Aware of Telecommuting Complications For many years, Sarah worked and lived in New Mexico, the same state in which her employer was located. Then she and her family moved to Colorado, where she continued to work for her employer. So, what's the problem? The solution is simple enough, right? Sarah will need to file taxes in the state in which she lives and works: Colorado. Most states have a physical presence rule, and Colorado is one of them. In short, this means Sarah's wages will be taxed where the work is done. If Sarah lived in one of the five states that does not follow the physical presence rule (Alaska, Oregon, Montana, New Hampshire and Delaware), she'd have different rules to follow. The wages she earned would be taxable in the state where she lives and the state where her employer is located. There are a couple of exemptions, including an exemption for work that could only be performed out of state. An employee who works in sales and covers an out-of-state sales territory is a good example of this exemption [sources: Schapiro, Avalara]. A few states have also issued exemptions for workers affected by COVID-19 "stay at home" orders. Georgia, for example, has offered tax protections to workers who temporarily relocated to Georgia and telecommuted to work. They do not have to pay Georgia income tax for the time that they were working in Georgia under an official stay at home order or during quarantine from exposure to COVID-19 [source: Georgia Dept. of Revenue]. Most states have not changed their income tax rules in response to the pandemic, so check with your state department of revenue for more information. (The law firm Hodgson Russ has provided a chart showing the tax implications related to telecommuting during the COVID-19 crisis for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Many states, according to their chart, have so far not offered any specific guidance.) 1: There May Be Corporate Tax Implications Telecommuting from another state may not pose a problem for you, but it could for your employer. When a telecommuter works for an employer in another state, the employer establishes "nexus," or a business presence, in the telecommuter's state. And this can have tax consequences. The employer may need to file a corporate income tax return in the state in which their employee is working. In general, these corporate tax implications have little to do with your personal income tax. Although you could get some blowback from an employer who is reluctant to spread its corporate reach to another state for just one employee, there's not much to worry about from an individual standpoint, aside from being phased out. The truth is, the location of your employer's corporate offices has nothing to do with your tax responsibility. You'll pay taxes in the state or states where you work, as long as they tax personal income. In most cases, states are giving corporations a pass for employees who relocated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In other words, state tax authorities are not requiring corporations to establish "nexus" in their state if an employee relocates there temporarily due to the pandemic. Again, if your employer mistakenly withholds tax in the state in which it is headquartered, you'll have to voluntarily file a return in that state. That way, you can get any refund you are due [source: Moreno]. Home Office Expenses If you've been required to work from home because of COVID-19 restrictions, you may be wondering whether you can deduct any home-office expenses (like internet access or office supplies) from your taxes. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act eliminated deductible expenses tied to maintaining a home office unless you are an independent contractor. Originally Published: Dec 18, 2014 Several studies of free-ranging, white-tail deer in the upper mid-west and on the east coast have found that roughly a third of all animals tested have been infected by the COVID-19 virus. Last August investigators with the U.S. Department of Agricultures (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced that serum samples taken from white-tail deer populations in Illinois, Michigan, New York, and Pennsylvania all contained anti-bodies showing theyd been exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The virus was most common in white-tail deer populations in Michigan, where 67% of all test samples detected COVID-19 antibodies. A similar study by researchers at Pennsylvania State University yielded comparable results, where 94 of the 283 white-tailed deer tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies. The Penn State study focused upon both free-ranging and captive white-tail deer in Iowa, and was conducted between September 2020 and January 2021. Thus far there have been no reports of wild deer being sickened by COVID-19, and none of the captive deer experimentally infected with SARS-CoV-2 have expressed clinical signs of the illness. However, researchers are concerned that widespread infections of COVID-19 within white-tail deer populations could create a reservoir of the virus, independent of human populations, that could potentially mutate within the animal and then reinfect humans with a new variant. White tailed deer feed on a hillside overlooking the Missouri River south of Great Falls on Thursday, April 16, 2020. The deer apparently live with COVID-19 quite well, but rapidly spread it amongst the herds, said Dr. Kevin Kavanagh in an interview with the medical journal Infection Control Today. Thats actually very problematic, because if it finds a host that it doesnt make sick it can mutate and change and then reinfect other animals plus mankind. That is one of the worrisome scenarios that could take place. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that some coronaviruses that infect animals can be spread to people, and then spread between people, but the incidence in rare. Story continues This is what happened with SARS-CoV-2, which likely originated in bats, the CDC reports. At this time, there is no evidence that animals play a significant role in spreading SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, to people. Based on the available information to date, the risk of animals spreading COVID-19 to people is considered to be low. Still, the widespread occurrence of COVID-19 in deer is concerning, in large part because white-tail populations exist in every state of the United States except Alaska, and often come in close contact with humans. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates the total nationwide population of white-tail deer to be around 30 million animals. According to the CDC the transmission of infectious disease from animals to humans is very common, both in the United States and around the world. The CDC estimates that more than six out of every 10 known infectious diseases in people can be spread from animals, and three of every four new or emerging infectious diseases in people come from animals. Common examples of these zoonotic diseases include salmonella, West Nile virus and Lyme disease. However, the reverse process is far less common. Animals do not typically contract infectious disease through human contact. APHIS researchers emphasize that exactly how the deer were exposed to COVID-19 remains unknown, but the fact that no SARS-CoV-2 antibodies have been detected in samples taken from deer prior to January 2020 suggests the virus spread from humans to deer and not the other way around. While the precise route(s) of transmission of SARS-Cov-2 from humans to deer are unknown, there are several ways in which deer may be exposed to the virus from humans, the Penn State study state. These include through feeding in backyards or even when a susceptible deer may come in contact with potentially infectious material (saliva, urine, etc.) from an infected human in forested areas or exurban environments. Dr. Jennifer Ramsey, wildlife veterinarian for Montanas Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks said this is the first potentially widespread outbreak of a reverse-zonoses shes encountered during her career. White-tailed deer graze on a golf course on Feb. 12. No one knows yet how that transmissions occurring, whether its coming through some sort of direct contact, or is somehow being transmitted from humans out into the environment and then on to deer, Ramsey said. Thats a big question that folks are going to be trying to figure out. Ramsey said wildlife biologists in Montana have not yet begun sampling the states white-tail deer population for the SARS-CoV-2 antibody, but that Montana FWP researchers would be cooperating with the USDA in a national surveillance study of COVID-19 in deer scheduled to take place next hunting season. Hunting season is our best opportunity to get our hands on a lot of hunter-harvested deer samples, she said. Ramsey added that hunters and meat processors should always exercise caution when handling wild game. Theres potential for zoonotic diseases in any animal, whether your hunting or trapping or a rancher handling livestock," she said. Handling the respiratory tract during field dressing would probably present the best opportunity for exposure. Theres just a lot we dont know yet about this particular virus and how likely it is to be transmitted from an infected deer to a human." Can COVID-19 infected deer spread the virus to humans? There is no evidence that animals, including deer, are playing a significant role in the spread of COVID-19 to people; however, that possibility has not been ruled out. Based upon the limited amount of information currently available, the risk of white-tail deer spreading COVID-19 to people is low; however, more research is needed. Do deer show clinical signs of COVID-19? Thus far there have been no reports of clinical illness associated with COVID-19 in the deer populations that were surveyed, and clinical signs of COVID-19 have not been observed in wild white-tailed deer. Can other animals besides white-tail deer contract COVID-19? Recent experimental research shows that many mammals, including cats, dogs, voles, ferrets, bats, hamsters, mink, pigs, rabbits, raccoons and shrews can all be infected with the COVID-19 virus. In December, three snow leopards at the Lincoln Childrens Zoo in Nebraska died of complications from the virus. The nation of Denmark culled 17 million minks in November in response to Covid-19 outbreaks at more than 200 mink farms. Is hunter-harvested game meat safe to eat? There is no evidence that people can get COVID-19 by preparing or eating meat from an animal infected with COVID-19, including wild game meat hunted in the United States. However, hunters can get infected with many other diseases when processing or eating game. How can I protect myself and my family? Do not allow contact between wildlife and domestic animals, including pets and hunting dogs. Do not harvest animals that appear sick or are found dead. Keep game meat clean and cool the meat down as soon as possible after harvesting the animal. Avoid cutting through the backbone and spinal tissues and do not eat the brains of wildlife. When handling and cleaning game wear rubber or disposable gloves and do not eat, drink, or smoke. When finished handling and cleaning game wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Clean knives, equipment, and surfaces that were in contact with game meat with soap and water and then disinfect them. Cook all game meat thoroughly (to an internal temperature of 165 F or higher). Check with your State wildlife agency regarding any testing requirements for other diseases and for any specific instructions regarding preparing, transporting, and consuming game meat. This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: FAQ: Can deer infected with COVID-19 pose a risk to human health? MILWAUKEE Federal prosecutors have charged the CEO of a Milwaukee fuel company with wire fraud after he allegedly bilked investors out of more than $6 million by exaggerating the companys performance. According to court documents filed Wednesday in the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Blessing Egbon, CEO and founder of Exit 7c, Inc., bilked investors out of the money between August 2018 and and July 2020 by exaggerating profits, sales volume, growth and overall financial performance. He allegedly used the money to visit luxury nightclubs, fly on private jets and rent villas. Court documents filed Thursday show he has agreed to plead guilty to three counts of wire fraud. Egbons attorney, Michelle Jacobs, declined comment. RELATED: Young entrepreneur who founded Exit 7c startup fleeced mentors and investors out of millions, feds say Egbon also faces a civil lawsuit brought by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. That action was filed in August 2021. A jury trial has been set for this August. Exit 7c sells fuel in bulk to trucking companies, rental car agencies and other transportation businesses. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Exit 7c CEO Egbon bilked investors of $6 million, to plead guilty Flash Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent a message of congratulations to Sergio Mattarella on his re-election as Italian president. Noting that China-Italy relations enjoy deep historical roots, sound public support and a solid bond of interests, Xi said Friday that the two countries have set an example for the international community of mutual respect, seeking common ground while shelving differences, and win-win cooperation. The two countries have actively cooperated to fight COVID-19, jointly celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Italy diplomatic ties, and supported each other in hosting the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and 2026 Milan Winter Olympics, said Xi, adding that the China-Italy Year of Culture and Tourism is about to restart, which will bring many new opportunities for the development of bilateral relations. Xi said he attaches great importance to the development of China-Italy ties and stands ready to work with Mattarella to deepen mutual political trust, expand exchanges and cooperation in various fields and jointly push for new achievements in China-Italy relations to benefit the two countries and their people. Daniel Morgans victory over Col. Banastre Tarleton at the Revolutionary War Battle of Cowpens on Jan. 17, 1781, was one of the most brilliantly planned and executed military engagements in American history. Morgan used the strengths and limitations of his men and their placement on a field of his choice to his advantage. Knowing the battlefield tactics of his opponent enabled him to set the trap. Ever the strategist, Morgan (the city of Morgantons namesake) had been maneuvering his men to draw Tarleton away from a larger British force under Gen. Cornwallis, forcing Tarleton to pass through countryside already stripped of much-needed provisions by Morgans men. On Jan. 15, 1781, Tarleton feigned setting up a night camp on the Pacolet River before moving downstream and crossing, thus putting him dangerously close to Morgans men. When Morgan was made aware of Tarletons proximity the following morning, he interrupted breakfast and immediately ordered his men to be on the move, positioning militia under the command of Burke Countys Joseph McDowell, a soldier Morgan trusted, to cover the retreat. Prior to the Kings Mountain campaign, Maj. Joseph McDowell had served under the command of his brother, Col. Charles McDowell. More than a decade younger than his brother Charles, Joseph had shown himself to be, in the words of Overmountain Man Benjamin Sharp, a brave and efficient officer. The previous September, Joseph McDowell had fearlessly rallied his men while facing a counterattack from Patrick Fergusons Loyalists at Cane Creek near the Burke-Rutherford County line. A month later, in the same vicinity, a council of officers in pursuit of Ferguson decided to appoint Virginian William Campbell to lead the combined forces. Charles McDowell, who was passed over for command, then agreed to ride to Hillsboro and meet with Southern Commander Nathaniel Greene to request the appointment of Daniel Morgan to lead the forces operating in the foothills. Joseph McDowell replaced his older brother to lead the Burke militia. On the way to Hillsboro, at todays Cherry Mountain in Rutherford County, Charles McDowell came upon a camp of Thomas Sumters men, led by William Hill and Edward Lacey, who were having a command dispute with Col. James Williams. As a result of McDowells chance encounter, these soldiers caught up with the force pursuing Ferguson in time to join the fight at Kings Mountain. The men serving under Joseph McDowell from the counties of Burke and Rutherford were volunteers armed with long rifles, a valued possession on the frontier. Rifles were more accurate at a greater distance than muskets, but took more time to reload, and, unlike muskets, couldnt mount a bayonet. While advancing at Kings Mountain, facing a bayonet charge, McDowells men had to retreat while reloading before returning fire, a skill that would prove valuable at Cowpens. Several days after the battle, arriving at Quaker Meadows after a hard march through a downpour and crossing a rising Catawba River, Joseph McDowell gained further respect of the men when he offered his fence rails for firewood to warm the wet, shivering soldiers. At Cowpens, Daniel Morgan selected McDowells riflemen to advance to deliver the first volley with skirmishers from South Carolina and Georgia. When Tarleton then sent his mounted dragoons to attack and drive back the skirmish line in an attempt to learn the placement of Morgans men, they were turned back by McDowells riflemen and Maj. John Cunninghams Georgians. Tarleton then deployed infantry which met heavy fire from McDowell and his men as they withdrew to the militia line as instructed, giving Tarleton the impression they were retreating toward Broad River. Waiting, just over the hill, were seasoned Continental Line soldiers from Maryland and Delaware. It was during the retreat that McDowells foot soldiers made a heroic stand against mounted dragoons hacking away with swords and cutlasses, stalling the British charge just long enough to give William Washingtons cavalry time to respond and cover Morgans right flank. According to historian Lawrence Babits, in his masterful study of the battle, McDowells flanking skirmishers caused a crucial delay that was critical to American success. In the last stage of the battle, McDowells men emerged from Maple Swamp to cut off any chance of retreat as Tarletons forward force, besieged and surrounded, were forced to surrender, and the heretofore vaunted and feared commander Tarleton made his escape. In a period of just over three months, 24-year-old Joseph McDowell had led his Burke County citizen militia in two engagements that turned the tide of the Revolutionary War in the south and helped set in motion a chain of events that would ultimately lead to American independence. Following the war, Joseph McDowell pursued a successful career in politics, eventually leading to his election as a representative in the United States Congress, where Congress Joe, a staunch Antifederalist, represented the interests of the backcountry farmers who had served under his command. For further reading, see A Devil of a Whipping: The Battle of Cowpens by Lawrence Babits. Montana Tech's Highlands College and Black Butte Copper (BBC) are partnering to provide a training program and pathway beginning with non-credit certifications through credited certificate and degree programs for Black Butte Copper employees. The training program will allow BBC employees the opportunity to receive a certificate or associate's degree in Mining Technology from Montana Technological University, according to a press release. The partnership has the opportunity to train as many as 240 employees. The three-phased approach will have clear pathways to academic credentials in the form of short courses and industry certifications, a one-year certificate of applied science, and a two-year associate of applied science in Mining Technology. The partnership kicked off in January and runs through December 2024. "We are looking forward to our partnership with Black Butte Copper," noted interim dean of Highlands College Karen VanDaveer. "Our goal is to develop innovative educational pathways for new mine employees emphasizing competency-based education through on-site and online delivery." Phase one will launch with the creation and addition of a position to oversee the development and implementation of the employee training program. The position will be located at Highlands College for the first year as they develop the training program for Black Butte Copper. The training will be available through a hybrid delivery that will provide industry certifications, micro-credentials, and digital badges in such areas as Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), working in teams, basic computing, and risk management, among others which can then be applied towards the certificate of applied science or associate of applied science in Mining Technology through prior learning credit. The training program will be built and will include a strategic training schedule, training delivery formats designed for adult learners, and comprehensive competency, outcome, and assessment metrics. After year one, the training position will move to White Sulphur Springs and oversee all aspects of the training program. We are thrilled to have a signed contract with Highlands College creating this synergistic partnership, said Rob Scargill, CEO of Sandfire Resources America. The foundation of every successful company is high quality employees and our people are truly our most valued resource. Employee development and growth potential are paramount for healthy retention. This relationship with Montana Tech is an important step toward delivering a solid workforce development program providing important growth opportunities that will benefit all of us, with the company, in the community, and across Montana. Phase two of the project will focus on creating a certificate of applied science and associate of applied science in Mining Technology. The two-year associate of applied science in Mining Technology will be a stackable credential that can be applied towards a bachelor of applied science. The certifications, micro-credentials, and digital badges achieved in the Black Butte Copper training program will be accepted for prior learning credit towards course and/or credit completion in the certificate and associate of applied science in Mining Technology. Employees who wish to earn the certificate or associate of applied science degree will need to be admitted to the program through Highlands College. Montana Tech and Highlands College will employ online and/or hybrid course delivery. Additionally, Highlands College and Black Butte Copper will work with the Department of Labor to create an apprenticeship program for employees working toward the AAS degree. Phase 3 will work toward a Bachelor of Applied Science and potential Masters degree opportunities. For more information, contact Michelle Morley, director of workforce development, 406-496-3778 or mmorley@mtech.edu. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 From 1935 to 1944, photographers from the Farm Security Administration (FSA)-Office of War Information (OWI) crossed the country to document American life during the Depression and as World War II began. Several of those photographers came to Butte. New York-born Arthur Rothstein was 24 years old when he came to Butte in the summer of 1939, when the price of gasoline was 18 cents a gallon. One of his iconic photos is of the gas station at 501 East Park Street, at the northeast corner of Oklahoma. The northern side of that intersection is lost today, beneath the modified land on the side of the Berkeley Pit, but in 1939 the photographer looked north on Oklahoma Street to see the headframe of the Moonlight Mine with the Anaconda headframe to the right on the skyline, both in the pit today. Rothstein photographed a tall standpipe labeled steam baths in vertical letters. It served a building in Finntown on Broadway Street that held a sauna. That part of Broadway, the 500 block, is also within the Berkeley Pit today, or under the rocks defining its southern margin. There were scattered buildings along East Park Street in the mid-1880s, but the cross streets, Oklahoma, California, Nevada, and Oregon were not platted until about 1889, when they were defined as part of the Leggatt & Fosters Addition. A small two-story shotgun house was erected at 501 East Park about 1890, with a separate wood cabin and stable behind it. Those buildings lasted until the late 1920s when the land was cleared for the service station Rothstein photographed in 1939. Consumers Oil was probably a franchise of a company based in Greeley, Colorado, with stations in Helena and Missoula as well as Butte. There is no listing for Consumers Oil Company in the city directories, so it was likely a name used by a local operator. By 1951 the gas station was boarded up and vacant, and it was probably gone by about 1960 as the Berkeley Pit expanded and streets in the vicinity were re-routed. The oldest surviving gas station in Butte, one of the oldest in Montana, stands at the southwest corner of Granite and Wyoming Streets. It was built about 1927. Photographer Arthur Rothstein died in 1985. 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. Love 4 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Grumblings about perceived bumblings by public officials, along with a deep affection for Deer Lodge, led Jim Jess to run for mayor. In November, he won, comfortably, an experience he likened to bringing home a new baby. He felt a tad overwhelmed. His first day as mayor was Jan. 3. His term is four years. I was pretty nervous coming in, but the staff and the city council have been great, Jess said. Like everybody else, I used to complain a lot. I used to attend city council meetings and Id get frustrated, he said. They never did anything the way I wanted. Now, Im getting an education. The things that I found frustrating there were very valid explanations for, Jess said. He recently received a dose of public indignation from callers upset that the city had altered how it plows certain streets. I think the city should have been more proactive, Jess said, about alerting citizens to the new approach and the reasons for its adoption. James Stephen Jim Jess, 52, was born and raised in Anaconda, a son of Mary Kay and Carl Jess. Mary Kay managed the Anaconda bureau of The Montana Standard. Carl worked as a barber. Jess worked years ago as a bartender in Deer Lodge before becoming a resident. Hes lived in the city for about 32 years. He and his wife, Linda, have two children. Jess works as an institutional probation and parole officer for the Montana Department of Corrections. He said that job has helped him develop the thick skin he might need as a public official. Ive got people at the prison threatening to kill me on a regular basis, and they mean it, he said, wryly. The mayors job in Deer Lodge is a paid position but not meant to be full-time, Jess said. His schedule as a probation and parole officer is flexible, he said, and he is currently in city hall when his schedule permits - including a full day on Fridays and a half day on Thursdays. This is considered a part-time job, but it takes more time than I realized, Jess said. I do have 20 years in with the Department of Corrections and I could retire at any time. If something has to give, this is definitely my priority. He said Jordan Green, the citys chief administrative officer, has been remarkably helpful. I couldnt do this job without Jordan. He has the education I dont have. He keeps me in line, Jess said. The citys organizational chart demonstrates that Deer Lodges chief executive is its mayor. Jess said he hopes ongoing efforts to improve infrastructure, including drilling a third water well, will continue with grant funding. He said the Deer Lodge police department is under-funded, with officers driving squad cars that barely run. He said hed like for the city to offer officers more competitive pay to reduce turnover. Rising housing costs have become a vexing problem across Montana. The same is true in Deer Lodge. Jess said the Montana State Prison has a host of openings but people who might be interested in a job there fret about finding an affordable home. It seems theres no shortage of challenges. Hes learned that tackling them can be akin to wrangling a bull bison. The days of assumption-driven carping about local government are done. Jess said his wife suggested he run for mayor after listening for years to his complaining about city government and learning that former mayor Diana Solle wasnt seeking re-election. My poor wife just finally said, This is your chance. Love 2 Funny 4 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 ARCHIVED - Wind and cold put eleven communities on alert: Spain weather February 7-11 Several regions in Spain will experience decidedly spring-like weather this week The second week of February is set to bring a mixture of weather conditions to Spain, with several communities on alert for low temperatures and rough coastal phenomena, while a new anticyclone will mean tempertaures rise in many areas. On Monday February 7, the wind is predicted to reach up to 80 kilometres per hour in the northeast of Spain with temperatures expected to dip as low as -6C. A maritime storm on the Cantabrian coast and the west of the Canary Islands has put eleven communities under a yellow warning. As reported by the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet), Aragon, Catalonia and the Valencian Community will experience strong winds, with Tarragona and inland Castellon also on alert. On the other hand, meteorologists have predicted a predominantly dry and sunny first half of the weak in much of the rest of the country, with temperatures slightly higher than normal. However, from Thursday February 10, the cloudiness will begin to increase, and Friday widespread rain is likely in the northern part of the country. La tendencia prevista por el modelo IFS (ECMWF) para la proxima semana (7 al 13 de febrero) preve una continuidad de tiempo en general estable y calido, con precipitaciones significativamente por debajo de los valores normales de la epoca y con temperaturas mas altas. pic.twitter.com/5CNkCXHQ2D SINOBAS (@AEMET_SINOBAS) February 4, 2022 The average value of accumulated rainfall in the whole of Spain between October and February has only reached a total of 192 litres per square metre, a far cry from the average 299 litres that would normally be expected. With precipitation in the coming days isolated to just parts of Spain, the drought situation is becoming extremely precarious; overall, most regions in Spain are below their normal values with Andalucia and the islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura bearing the brunt, at less than 25% of their average rainfall. See also: Understanding water and drought in Murcia and the Segura basin Image: Aemet You are here: World Flash Fifty affiliated militants of the Islamic State (IS) terror group surrendered in eastern Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, a provincial official said on Sunday. "A total of 50 members of the IS group give up fighting and surrendered to intelligence authorities in Nangarhar on Sunday," Mohammad Bashir, head of the provincial intelligence office, told reporters. He said the surrendered militants were active in Khogiani, Chaparhar, Shiwa, Rodat, Mumand Dara and Kot districts of Nangarhar, a known IS militants' stronghold. The IS militants have not responded to the report. A driver led police officers to speeds nearing 100 mph during a vehicle pursuit Friday night, according to American Canyon Police. The chase began at 9:50 p.m. on southbound Highway 29 near Napa Junction Road, after officers saw an Acura they learned had been reported stolen, according to Sgt. Nicol Dudley. When police tried to stop the car, the driver instead sped off, starting a chase down the highway and south into Vallejo, Dudley said. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. After the Acura crashed into a utility pole at Broadway and Illinois Street in Vallejo, police detained both the driver, who fled the crash on foot and his passenger, who was arrested at the scene, according to Dudley. No injuries were reported. The motorist, 40-year-old Alexander Armenta of Lower Lake, was booked into the Napa County jail on suspicion of evading police officers as well as possessing a stolen vehicle, stolen property, and a controlled substance. He continued to be held at the jail Sunday evening on those allegations, along with warrants from Sonoma and Alameda counties. Lauren Brooke Jones, a 33-year-old Crockett resident identified as the passenger, was booked into jail on a misdemeanor count of possessing burglary tools before she was released shortly after 4:15 a.m. Saturday, according to jail booking records. Superintendent Marylou Wilson has announced she will retire on June 30 after an eight-year tenure with the St. Helena Unified School District. "The Board would like to thank Dr. Wilson for her commitment, professionalism, and hard work that led to the success of so many children in our educational system," according to a press release issued Monday. "Dr. Wilsons leadership provided continuity where systems and structures were put in place that ensured past successes and future stability. Her focus on staff capacity building allowed SHUSD to succeed in overcoming incredible challenges: operating during the COVID-19 pandemic, wildfires, and economic downturns for the community. "Dr. Wilsons constant priority of focusing on students first, and their success resulted in the improvement of core subject competencies as well as a narrowing of the achievement gap. Her commitment to providing support systems for parents and students means that 'student wellness' at SHUSD is not just a phrase, but a measurable success story. Her work with the City of St. Helena, Boys and Girls Club, and the UpValley Family Center resulted in after-school enrichment programs and strong partnerships that provide multiple services to students and families." The press release noted that St. Helena schools reopened in November 2020, with no school closures since. "This feat is one that almost no TK-12 district with our student population achieved in the State of California, much less the country," the press release stated. Board President Lisa Pelosi stated, Dr. Wilson is a steadfast and focused leader who prioritizes students, every day. She is balanced in her approach to management, and we are fortunate to have her consistent leadership, especially with the challenges facing our schools in the last few years. We know SHUSD is poised to continue onward and upward with the foundation that Dr. Wilson has created. We will miss Dr. Wilson and cannot thank her enough for her contribution to SHUSD. During the COVID-19 pandemic, school facilities have hosted vaccine and testing clinics. The school board will initiate a search for a new superintendent. Trustees will release an action plan and timeline in the coming weeks. As the Bay Area continues to struggle under the weight of its homelessness crisis, officials and nonprofits are asking local residents to do more than hand out meals or donate spare change. They're asking them to open up their homes. Nearly 30,000 people are unhoused in the five-county Bay Area and there isn't nearly enough room in the region's existing affordable housing developments. To fill the gaps, service providers increasingly are recruiting private landlords to take in homeless tenants. Some property owners are renting out entire units in exchange for agreements that the government or a nonprofit will cover the rent. Others are offering up spare bedrooms in their homes sometimes in exchange for a small stipend, and sometimes as a purely charitable act. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. But it's hard to find owners willing to take a chance on someone down on their luck. At least one program recently ended because of a lack of landlord interest. "This is something that someone can do when they just feel that despair of 'oh my gosh, I just can't stand seeing these poor people on the streets near my home,'" said Christi Carpenter, executive director of East Bay nonprofit Safe Time, which places unhoused college students and families in spare bedrooms for between one and six months. Since 2017, the group has made more than 60 placements. Richmond Mayor Tom Butt recently partnered with the Rotary Club to match unhoused people with local landlords. The small program will be funded entirely by private donations and landlords will get one year's rent in advance. The number of people Butt can house depends on donations and volunteer interest, but he already has two more landlords lined up. "There are a lot of people out there who want to do something meaningful to try to alleviate the homelessness problem," Butt said. Butt made his first placement last month a family of six, including four children, who were living in an RV encampment off Castro Street. For a while, the COVID-19 pandemic made it easier to recruit landlords, said Kara Carnahan, vice president of programs at housing nonprofit Abode Services, which runs matching programs throughout the Bay Area. "When we started this program, it was much easier because landlords needed us. There were such high vacancies," she said of an Alameda County program that started during COVID. "The things that we can offer to landlords is we'll pay our rent. You will get guaranteed rent from us." As virus restrictions have loosened, landlords have more options and are more hesitant to take on homeless tenants who may have poor credit and/or a criminal record, Carnahan said. But the need remains huge. Abode has been matching homeless clients with landlords for years, but the nonprofit dramatically ramped up its efforts in Alameda County to house the hundreds of homeless people who were given temporary pandemic shelter in hotels through Project Roomkey and needed housing as those hotels closed. Abode more than doubled its number of Alameda County landlords during the pandemic, and has housed about 600 former Roomkey participants in private homes or apartments, Carnahan said. Landlords charge market-rate prices, tenants pay 30% of their incomes toward rent and utilities, and Abode uses state and federal funding to make up the difference. In the other Bay Area counties Abode serves Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz and Napa the nonprofit has brought on nearly 500 landlords during the pandemic. Most are in Santa Clara County. Jessica Valdez, 35, was living in her car with two of her children after serving time in Santa Rita Jail for stealing a car. About a year ago, Abode found her a two-bedroom apartment in Hayward. Now, instead of sleeping in a cramped car and relying on libraries for internet service, her sons have their own room and online access. "It's the best thing for them," Valdez said. "They have their own little space." Abode helped her pay her rent for the first year. Last month, Valdez who now is working two jobs made her first payment on her own. In Santa Clara County, the Bill Wilson Center ran a program matching young, homeless, LGBTQ adults with people who had a spare room. But the program struggled to recruit hosts and closed in June, after housing 21 people, said Pilar Furlong, chief community resources officer. Recruiting landlords also is a challenge for the Homecoming Project, which houses formerly incarcerated people a group that's often stigmatized. Using donations, the nonprofit pays hosts in Alameda and Contra Costa counties $30 a day to house someone in a spare bedroom for six months. Each former inmate is matched with a case manager to help them find a job and save money for a permanent home. Sex offenders aren't eligible. "When we first started talking about this project people thought we were crazy. You're going to put somebody from prison into somebody's house?" said Aishatu Yusuf, vice president of innovation programs at Impact Justice, which runs the project. But the nonprofit has housed nearly 70 people so far, none of whom have gone back to jail or prison. Zach Stein and his wife volunteered with Safe Time in 2020, opening their spare bedroom in Albany to a struggling young woman for three months. "In some ways, it was really weird," having a stranger there, Stein said. But the experience seemed to make a big difference in the woman's life. Stein and his wife recently had a baby, and hope to continue hosting once they get settled as parents. They were able to buy their house because they inherited money, and they want to share that good luck with those less fortunate. "Being in a position to do that, especially in a place like the Bay Area," Stein said, "it felt really important to us to find ways to open that up." How to help These groups are looking for property owners who have a rental unit or extra bedroom and are interested in housing someone who is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Abode is seeking landlords with apartments throughout the Bay Area. Landlords will be paid rent by the tenant and by Abode. Call 1-800-811-0393, email landlords@abodeservices.org or visit . The Homecoming Project is looking for people in Alameda and Contra Costa counties with a spare bedroom. Participants would host a formerly incarcerated person for six months and receive a $30 a day stipend. Visit . Richmond Mayor Tom Butt is looking for landlords in West Contra Costa County with a studio, one-bedroom or two-bedroom apartment. One year's rent would be paid in advance. Email tom.butt@intres.com. Safe Time needs hosts with spare bedrooms to take in college students for between one and six months in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Hosts are not paid. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Ryan Brasher heard the whirring overhead during his morning swim Tuesday at the local YMCA in Redding and knew something unusual was happening. When he looked up, he spotted the airplane pulling a banner through the sky, reminding Shasta County voters it was Recall Day. "That kind of money," said the political science professor at Redding's Simpson University, "that's not here in Shasta County." Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. In the past week, this Republican-stronghold in Northern California became the latest focus of the recall fever spreading through local politics across the country, especially in places where conservative voters are fed up with politicians who aren't conservative enough. But Shasta County's version came with a new extremist twist. Fueled by outside funding and growing anti-government sentiment, a militia-backed coalition in the rural northern county appears to have succeeded in recalling a more mainstream Republican member of the Board of Supervisors, handing control of the board to right-wing populists. The election has prompted speculation the proponents' success will inspire copycat attempts elsewhere and raised questions about the future of the GOP in Shasta and beyond. "It's not some fly-by-night operation," Leonard Moty, the subject of the recall, said Thursday during a phone interview with the Bay Area News Group. With the votes still being counted, results as of Friday showed the recall succeeding with roughly 56% of the vote. A former Redding police chief and longtime county board member, Moty was accused of a range of sins, including too willingly accepting state COVID-19 restrictions and not doing enough to support Second Amendment gun rights in the fiercely independent county roughly 160 miles north of the capital. "This is not really driven by, like, social conservatives," Brasher said of the recall effort. "It's more driven by anti-government, anti-vax, 'keep out of my hair,' extreme libertarian-type thinking." The election has divided local Republican Party members, with a certain segment of constituents still deeply Trumpian and distrustful of traditional government. First, there was anger over state pandemic mandates. Then more anger over Donald Trump losing the presidency, with many parroting unfounded allegations that it was stolen from him. Pile on anger over liberal darling Gov. Gavin Newsom beating his recall attempt, and inject some tantalizing conspiracy theories about vaccines, the virus and Moty being a shill for Newsom. At a supervisors' meeting in 2020, local militia group member and recall proponent Carlos Zapata blasted pandemic restrictions. "It's not going to be peaceful much longer, OK? And this isn't a threat. I'm not a criminal. I've never been a criminal," Zapata said. "But I'm telling you good citizens are going to turn to real-concerned and revolutionary citizens real soon." Members of the State of Jefferson movement also backed Moty's ouster. The separatist group calls for northern, conservative counties to break away from deep blue California to form a new state. It has been promoted by Rep. Doug LaMalfa, the Republican congressman representing Shasta County, who has conducted virtual meetings with a State of Jefferson flag behind him. The State of Jefferson's central focus on secession is not an inherently extremist idea, said Rachel Goldwasser, a research analyst with the Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors hate groups and extremists. But the movement in recent years has become increasingly conspiratorial and aligned with militia groups that do tend toward anti-government extremism. Moty sees that extremism taking hold locally and is worried the election will help alt-right views make inroads elsewhere. Back when he was a younger police officer, the beleaguered Moty recalled, his chief used to say that if you tell someone a thousand times a green door is actually red, soon enough they'll start to agree. "Pretty soon people want to believe it because they want to blame somebody," he said. "I think I'm just the person at the wrong place at the wrong time." That deep-seated anger is popping up elsewhere. Moty said he's "heard people say Shasta is a canary in a coal mine." He's heard talk of alt-right efforts to upend traditional conservative politics in other rural counties, such as Nevada and Placer. Elsewhere, Trump loyalists are vowing to oust other Republican lawmakers they , such as Rep. David Valadao in the Central Valley for voting to impeach the former president. Nationwide, Goldwasser said, "there are a number of extremist-linked candidates. Many, many unfortunately." "Any time you see something has sort of worked out successfully for people who have views that align with yours, you're at least considering you could do something the same or similar," she said. The recall in Shasta did have the benefit of something that could be harder to replicate elsewhere, however: hundreds of thousands of dollars in outside cash. A wealthy East Coast film producer named Reverge Anselmo contributed more than $400,000 to a pro-recall political action committee, which is big money for a rural, local supervisor race. Anselmo has a personal beef with the county. Years ago, officials halted a Shasta County development he was building, leaving him fuming. "I get the feeling without the money, it wouldn't be a big deal," said Brasher, the political science professor. How much the recall will actually shift politics in Shasta County or send tremors throughout the state remains to be seen. The two men most likely to replace Moty Dale Ball, a construction superintendent, and Tim Garman, a local school board member campaigned on messages of liberty and freedom, particularly from COVID-19 mandates, but are not thought to be militia members themselves. As of Friday, Garman was leading a recall field of four with 2,315 votes, or 37.85% of the vote, about 125 votes ahead of Ball. Neither man responded to a request for comment. Still, Goldwasser said, they relied on support from extremist factions. "They may feel they owe this election and their spot to these groups. And in that case, I think there's a concern over some level of quid pro quo and opening doors to these groups," she said. "That's extremely concerning." Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Pigs set free 250 years ago by Spanish missionaries have proliferated and evolved in California, largely untouched by predators, into what some lawmakers, wildlife officials and farmers now say amounts to a growing menace to Wine Country vineyards and suburban yards. Rooting for food with formidable tusks and elongated snouts, the opportunistic, night-roaming omnivores are especially attracted to irrigated vineyards that offer moist soil in the midst of a prolonged drought. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. "It's really gotten out of hand," said Duff Bevill, a longtime Healdsburg grape grower who owns and manages 1,200 acres of Sonoma County vineyards. "They're raising hell in agriculture right now." Looking back 50 years, Bevill recalled planting a 1-acre Dry Creek Valley vineyard with about 500 vines, new stakes and drip irrigation lines only to find two months later all the vines "popped out of the ground perfectly, row after row." Last summer, he said, feral swine came up from Dry Creek, a year-round source of water released from Warm Springs Dam, uprooting the plants and tearing up the lawn in his backyard. Following October's rains, the pigs have disappeared from the valley, but Bevill plans to put heavy-duty, expensive fencing around his yard. "They're too smart to go into traps," he said, before outlining other options, including hunting. "There's always the .357 pill, but that means you gotta stay up all night." Over in Napa Valley, wild pigs are ravaging vineyards and residential property at the edge of cities and towns. "They'll just tear it up," said Eric Sklar, a state Fish and Game commissioner, grape grower and pig hunter. "It's like a rototiller came through. It's just getting worse. Every year we have more." Sklar expressed his concerns to state Sen. Bill Dodd, a Napa Democrat and longtime friend dating back to when Sklar was a St. Helena city councilman and Dodd was a county supervisor. Sklar, who has hunted pigs on private land near Lake Sonoma, said current state law makes it "harder than necessary" to combat pig damage by hunting the animals that have no significant predators other than humans. Dodd responded with a bill last month aimed at streamlining the process, largely by replacing the wild pig tag requirement for hunters, which costs $15 per kill, with a season-long validation, also for $15, that allows an unlimited number of harvests. "Unfortunately, swelling numbers of wild pigs have become a scourge on California wild lands, endangering sensitive habitat, farms and other animals," Dodd said this week in a news release. His bill, SB 856, which has no immediate co-sponsors nor identified opponents, will "increase opportunities to hunt them and do so more economically so that we may bring our pig population under control." Dodd, a prolific lawmaker known for legislation on business, insurance and wildfire issues, acknowledged that the wildlife measure is "a little afield from where I usually go." But he describes himself as a conservationist and a duck hunter. Sklar describing feral pigs as "mean and nasty," with tough, hardened fat over their shoulders and chest. Hunters "eat what they kill," he said. In Sonoma County, wild pigs are damaging vineyards, ranch lands and large rural residential properties, largely in the Cloverdale, Geyserville, Healdsburg and Cazadero areas and off the Russian River, said Stacy Martinelli, a Santa Rosa-based biologist with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. Wild pigs are on several lists of the most destructive invasive species in the United States, if not the world. The population boom and accompanying assault on agriculture is nationwide, with an estimated price tag of $2.5 billion a year. There are 6 million to 9 million hogs running wild in 42 states, according to a National Geographic report last year. Most live in California and in a band of states from Texas to the Carolinas. In 1982, feral pigs were in 544 counties nationwide; in 2020 they were in 1,915 counties, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. No pig is native to the Western Hemisphere, and they were brought here by early explorers and colonists as far back as at least the 16th century. They also can pose a public health menace, carrying 30 diseases including 20 that can be transferred to humans and five pathogens that can contaminate drinking water. Pigs were considered the "prime suspect" in the E. coli outbreak in spinach from Salinas Valley fields in 2006, according to a University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources report. The Department of Fish and Wildlife's 41-page "Guide to Hunting Wild Pigs in California" lists 29 federal, state or local government lands where pig hunting is allowed. "Wild pig hunting on public land is poor to very poor and the presence of wild pigs is often infrequent," it cautions. The guide presents five wild pig recipes, including Zuni Boar and Hominy Stew and Wild Boar and Kraut Casserole. A total of 3,905 pigs were harvested in 48 California counties in the 2020-21 season, according to a Fish and Wildlife report based on pig tags returned by hunters. Monterey County recorded a harvest of 1,118 pigs, the most by far, and Sonoma County, with 95 pigs, ranked 10th on the list. Mendocino County had a harvest of 195 pigs. The annual pig harvest averaged 3,898 animals from 2018 to 2020, down from the 4,463 average from 2015 to 2017. Recreational hunting is a "popular method" of pig population control, but is not, by itself, an effective one, according to the UC report. Wild pigs will move away from areas where they are hunted, and even the most efficient removal programs "will suffer from frequent reinvasion from neighboring pig populations," the report said. Jayson Collard, an avid hunter and director of the Friends of Lake Sonoma hunting program, said the impact of Dodd's bill will be limited because the public cannot hunt on most of the land inhabited by pigs. Most privately owned areas with pigs "want them there," he said in an email, noting that Lake Sonoma, a popular pig hunting destination in Sonoma County, is surrounded by such large private ranches. All control methods, including trapping, are only effective if adjacent property owners work together, the UC report said. The domestic pigs set free by the padres at Mission San Juan Bautista in 1769 interbred with the Russian wild boars introduced in Monterey County for sport hunting in the 1920s, according to the UC report. They are now spread among 56 of the state's 58 counties, with about 75% of the population in the coast region of Mendocino, Sonoma, Santa Clara, Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife doesn't survey or track the wild pig population, but bases its estimates on the pig license tags returned by hunters. The same geographic range also includes many of the 29 tracts of public land open to the state's year-round pig hunting season. In Sonoma County, hunting on public land is allowed only at Lake Sonoma from November to March and restricted to bow and arrow and crossbow hunters, while some private landowners offer hunting for a considerable fee. Wild pigs are rooting at the 26,600-acre Eel River Canyon Preserve just acquired by The Wildlands Conservancy on the river straddling the Mendocino and Trinity county border. "We clearly observe some of the damage," said Landon Peppel, the conservancy's resource conservation director. Wild pigs are smart, adaptable and voracious, consuming 3% of their body weight a day. Mature males weigh 200 pounds or more, females about 175 pounds. They breed twice a year, with an average litter size of five to six, and live in groups called sounders, led by a dominant female. "They have a lot going for them in terms of keeping the population high," said Martinelli, the wildlife biologist. Coyotes and mountain lions can prey on young pigs, but adults have no natural enemies. "Pigs can be ferocious animals," she said. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. According to information published by Jennifer Boykin on February 7, 2022, Virginia-class submarine Montana (SSN794) successfully completed alpha sea trials. Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link Virginia-class submarine USS Montana (Picture source: HII) Montana (SSN-794) is a Virginia-class submarine of the United States Navy. Montana was rolled out on October 15, 2020, and will be delivered to the Navy by mid-2022. The submarine was launched in February 2021. The Virginia class, also known as the SSN-774 class, is a class of nuclear-powered cruise missile fast-attack submarines, in service in the United States Navy. Virginia-class submarines are designed for a broad spectrum of open-ocean and littoral missions, including anti-submarine warfare and intelligence gathering operations. The Virginia-class submarine has a length of 114.8 m, a beam of 10.36 m, and a displacement of approximately 7,800 tons. The submarine can reach a top speed of 28 miles per hour (45 km/h). She has a crew of 132 people including 15 officers and 117 enlisted. On Feb. 1, Pikeville Medical Center (PMC) President and CEO Donovan Blackburn, right, and Missy Matthews, President of Childers Oil/Double Kwik, presented a check to Christian Appalachian Project (CAP). The two companies raised a combined total of $42,000, which CAP representatives will distribute to individuals and families in western Kentucky whose lives were affected by the deadly tornado outbreak on Dec. 10. The City of Ottawa declared a state of emergency Sunday afternoon in response to ongoing protests in the downtown core, while Mayor Jim Watson described the situation in Canadas capital as the "the most serious emergency our city has ever faced," CBC reported. Watson said the declaration will help Ottawa Police get the supplies and equipment they need faster. "The state of emergency gives our staff and our city a few extra tools to speed up things like procurement," he said in an interview with CBC News Network on Sunday evening. "We're in the midst of a serious emergency, the most serious emergency our city has ever faced, and we need to cut the red tape to get these supplies available to our police officers and to our public works staff." Earlier in the afternoon, Ottawa police announced they would ramp up enforcement on protesters in the city's downtown core, handing out tickets and announcing that anyone looking to bring "material aid," such as fuel, to protesters could be arrested. Ottawa Police issued a statement late Sunday saying that seven people had been arrested and more than 100 tickets had been issued. The force said 60 criminal investigations were underway, mostly for mischief, theft, hate crimes and property damage. The truckers convoy began as a protest against a Canadian federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers, but it has developed into a larger demonstration against public health measures related to the coronavirus pandemic. Swearing should be forbidden. Swearing as a moral norm has been banned in Armenia, it is banned, and I hope it will remain banned. Vladimir Vardanyan, a member of the ruling majority Civil Contract Faction of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia and chair of the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs, told this to reporters in the NA Mondayand referring to the Freedom House statement where this non-profit organization expressed concern over the first criminal conviction of an Armenian citizen under the new provision of the Armenian Criminal Code criminalizing serious insults against government officials. "Swearing as a category should be excluded from public discourse in general. Unfortunately, through the spread of social mediawhen a person, in fact, would not otherwise swear because he would have been subjected to at least some moral reproach, under the influence of social media, it has become a field that can lead to much more criminogenic phenomena. Swearing is not a manifestation of freedom of speech. Swearing is one of the legitimate cases of curtailing of freedom of speech, when, in fact, even the ECHR will not provide protection to the person who cursed. The purpose of passing the [aforesaid Armenian] law is to correct this situation," Vardanyan added. Freedom House: We call on parliament to revoke this law that violates principles enshrined in Armenian Constitution The European Union is talking to the United States and other suppliers about boosting gas deliveries to Europe amid concern over supply from Russia, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. We are building a partnership for energy security with the United States, which is primarily about more LNG gas supplies. We are talking to other gas suppliers, for example, Norway, about increasing their supplies to Europe, von der Leyen told a conference organised by German media Der Tagesspiegel, Die Zeit, Handelsblatt and Wirtschaftswoche on Monday. Escalating tensions between the West and Moscow over Ukraine have raised concerns about Russian gas supplies to Europe. Prices have soared to record levels in recent months. Gas storage in Europe is about 10 percent less than usual at this time of year. " Gazprom has said it is fulfilling all long-term contracts, but has been accused by EU officials and the International Energy Agency of contributing to an undersupply to Europe amid the standoff over Ukraine." Von der Leyen said it was "strange" that Gazprom was not interested in increasing gas supplies to Europe despite record high prices and huge demand. There are increasing signs that the Kremlin is continuing to use gas supplies as a means of exerting political pressure, she said. Russia supplies about 40 percent of the EU's gas. The potential impact on that supply if Russia invades Ukraine has prompted the EU to increase supplies from other countries. Senior EU and US officials will meet Monday in Washington for talks on liquefied natural gas. EU talks are also continuing with major gas producer Qatar, and EU energy chief Kadri Simson visited Azerbaijan last week. The EU said its storage infrastructure and ability to import more LNG should protect countries from major shocks, although analysts say a complete halt to supplies from Russia would also require emergency measures such as plant closures. Von der Leyen said gas prices could remain high. Most EU countries have introduced tax breaks, subsidies and other measures to shield consumers from higher bills in response to the recent price spike. It cannot be ruled out that gas prices could remain at a high level for a while, she concluded. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock promised unequivocal support for Ukraine on her way to Kyiv, Reuters reported. Ukrainian officials have publicly criticized Germany for refusing to sell defensive weapons to Kyiv and for its unwillingness to prevent gas from flowing through the Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia if Moscow attacks. Baerbock's visit to Kyiv, the second in three weeks, is one in a series of visits by high-ranking NATO officials to show solidarity with Ukraine. During my visit to Kyiv, I will once again make it unmistakably clear where we stand: as Ukraines partner in the EU, NATO and G7, with no ifs and buts on the countrys territorial integrity and on the side of the people of Ukraine, Baerbock said ahead of her arrival. Together we will respond to any further Russian aggression against Ukraine with tough, very concrete measures, she added. Baerbock is scheduled to hold talks in Kyiv the day before French President Emmanuel Macron arrives to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday. Ukraine has demanded military hardware from Germany. According to a letter from the Ukrainian embassy last week, seen by Reuters, Kyiv is requesting anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems, drone defense equipment and demining equipment.